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Eduardo Vargas will prove to be one of many players to use this summer’s World Cup in Brazil as a means to secure a positive move away from their current club.

That’s not to say the Chilean international has struggled for a respectable platform in recent years. Currently on the books of Napoli, Vargas spent the second half of last season on loan at Valencia. This summer, he’s been linked with a host of clubs in the Premier League.

It’s been suggested that Arsenal will be in the market for one more forward before the transfer deadline, with Shakhtar Donetsk’s Douglas Costa and PSG’s Edinson Cavani both linked. At the start of this week, at was reported that Arsenal were close to landing Vargas, with Napoli seeking either €12 million or a loan deal.

But that looks to have hit the rocks – and that’s assuming Arsenal even held any strong interest. The frontrunner for Vargas’ signature is now said to be QPR, who will see the Chilean arrive on loan.

A blow for Arsenal? Well not really. It isn’t really clear where Vargas would fit in at the Emirates. He’s a tricky wide player who is able to play across the front four, but Arsenal aren’t really struggling for numbers. Vargas certainly doesn’t offer Arsene Wenger an upgrade over what he currently has.

If there was to be any weight in this rumour, it would have been because Theo Walcott had come across complications in his bid to return to full fitness following his injury suffered in January, but that doesn’t appear to be the case.

The other could be that Alexis Sanchez has made a recommendation on his countryman. There are a few Chilean internationals who would be warmly welcomed at the Emirates, but Vargas isn’t one of them, despite his impressive performances at the World Cup and during Jorge Sampaoli’s spell as national team coach.

Vargas’ inconsistency at club level has been a major factor in discouraging big clubs around Europe from making a move. He’s yet to settle down in European football, with his best form coming at international level. Of course, it could be said that here is a player with experience at the highest level and with obvious talent, needing simply a manager who can unlock that talent on a permanent basis. Arsenal, however, have no pressing need for a project of that kind.

There are still plenty of fans who want to see Arsene Wenger invest in one more forward. Olivier Giroud still has his detractors, and some simply can’t accept the notion that Alexis can be used through the middle. In addition, Theo Walcott will come back and add even more depth in attack.

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Unless Arsenal are bringing in a player better than what they have, or unless one of the first-team regulars are moved on, it’s likely Wenger will go with what he has. Having spent over £30 million on Alexis, it just isn’t in the manager’s nature to spend equally as much or even more on another striker.

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Well what a weekend that was for Coventry City with a new signing and a 5-0 rout at Hartlepool.

Now no Coventry fan in their wildest dreams would have predicted that at the start of the week.

In terms of the new signing well I personally had not heard the name Blair Adams before but a player coming from a Premier League side is nearly always a good sign. He is a left back who is described as being equally capable as playing as a winger. This worried me a little when I first heard it as it is very much defensively that we need improvement in but getting a brief look at him over the weekend and he seems very capable defensively.

I think the way Robins describes him sums it up perfectly in that he suggests he has a bit of nous which for his age and lack of experience is a real bonus. So often this season we have had naive players at the back who have allowed the opponents attackers to get in behind far too easily. He showed us on Saturday that there is clear potential that he is going to be a good addition to this squad and that just maybe defensively we can think of becoming a little more solid.

It is also positive that the lad chose to come to us over other clubs although I obviously don’t know who the other clubs interested were. For all I know it could have been Plymouth Argyle in which case it wouldn’t have been a hard decision for the lad. Still it is another good addition from Robins and adds even more competition ready for the busy Christmas period ahead.

From one positive to another with the unbelievable result we managed to achieve on Saturday. I unfortunately missed the match this weekend as I was working but I remember the moment I found out the result. I went to my locker and took out my phone to find a text from one of my friends telling me Coventry had just won 5-0. Like any Coventry City fan I didn’t believe it until I saw it with my own eyes. I checked once and even double checked just to make sure it was true and even then it still took time to for it truly sink in.

It sounded like it was a great game and I have only heard good things about the performance. The stats of the game also tell the story of a very dominant performance from the Skyblues who not only monopolised possession but also created far more chances than their opponents. I think a personal favourite stat was that the majority of the chances created ended with shots that were on target.

This suggests a change in confidence and belief around the attackers at the club. For such a long time we have had attack minded players who were afraid to shoot at goal because they lacked belief in themselves that they could score. This is looking like it is changing with shots coming in from all areas in the game against Hartlepool and well the score line shows how successful this made us.

It is hard to say what a result like this will do to Coventry going forward. It should in the perfect world act as a catalyst and mean our season now truly starts here. We should take so much confidence from both the result and the performance and the players should now be chomping at the bit to get back out on that field to try and recreate that result and winning feeling every week.

I can’t however help but think it may be a bit of a one off result. The typical Coventry City thing to do would be to go to Colchester and not turn up and end up leaving their having been beaten by 3 or 4 goals.

Positivity is rare when it comes to Coventry City and we often have to clutch at single results and performances in order to have anything to be happy and excited about. I pray that this isn’t going to once again be another one off and that we go to Colchester and put on the same level of performance and come out of there with a positive result.

If we can get another positive set of results over the next five games or so leading into the Christmas period then we give ourselves a real chance of making significant movement up the table. This is often the hardest part of the season to be consistent with games coming thick and fast so if we can be one of the few teams who mange it then its onwards and upwards for the rest of the season and hopefully beyond.

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This currently feels like a pipe dream though and until I witness the performance on Tuesday at Colchester I refrain myself from getting excited at the prospects ahead.

This 5-0 result could be the turning point in what has so far been a disappointing season but I fear that it might just be a positive blip and i am hoping that normal service does not resume against Colchester.

PUSB!!

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With a new manager at the helm, Arsenal’s players will need to fight for a place in the first team by impressing prior to the start of the season.

For a number of those players, they have an opportunity to catch Unai Emery’s eye during the World Cup in Russia, but in Alex Iwobi’s case, he may have harmed his chances of first-team action.

The 22-year-old, who is valued at £13.5m by Transfermarkt, started for Nigeria in Saturday’s Group D match against Croatia, which ended in a 2-0 defeat for Iwobi’s side.

The Arsenal man played out wide, but was largely ineffective and eventually was substituted in the 62nd minute to make way for Ahmed Musa.

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Last season for the Gunners, Iwobi made 38 appearances in all competitions but only contributed with three goals and created seven for his teammates.

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The attacker’s playing position has been debated many times, with some suggesting that he is much more effective when selected as a striker rather than a wide man.

This discussion was raised by Arsenal fans following Nigeria’s defeat to Croatia, as was his overall performance.

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As reported by The Daily Mail, Liverpool are tracking Tottenham Hotspur star Victor Wanyama’s situation at the London club, with a view to potentially replacing Emre Can.

Wanyama has failed to start a single Premier League match since returning from serious injury at the start of January, leading some to question his long-term future in Mauricio Pochettino’s first team.

The paper say that Liverpool, Manchester United and Chelsea are all keeping tabs on the Kenyan.

The player of course has already made an impact on Merseyside this season, blasting home a stunning goal when the two sides met at the start of February.

Reds fans though aren’t wholly convinced he would be a good fit for Jurgen Klopp’s side.

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Some are certainly keen and would love to see him at Anfield, but others suggest he’s a player that they should avoid this summer.

They took to Twitter to share their thoughts on the rumours…

Manchester United had to come from behind to beat Liverpool 3-1 in Miami in the final game of their US preseason tour.

It brings to a close a sequence of games in North America where United went unbeaten and saw the rediscovery of form of a number of players, as well as the importance of new signing Ander Herrera.

It would be natural to get carried away at this stage, but it is hard not to be impressed by the work of new manager Louis van Gaal.

With the season less than two weeks away, here are FIVE things we learned from United’ win over Liverpool…

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Van Gaal having an immediate impact

Though Man United’s defence and central midfield still needs a little work, going forward, the team look completely revitalised and happy to work to Louis van Gaal’s tactical setup.

It was the case in all US preseason games, not just in the win against Liverpool. The team look far more fluid now than they did under David Moyes, with the problem of integrating Juan Mata and Wayne Rooney into the same starting XI a thing of the past.

We know all about van Gaal and his reputation across European football, but if these games in preseason are anything to go by, the Dutchman is making easy work of the apparent colossal job to turn the club’s fortunes around of the events of the past year.

It may just be a preseason friendly, but United certainly didn’t have a comeback in their locker last season. Van Gaal’s influence is clear for all to see.

Ashley Young could have a future at the club

It was widely expected that Ashley Young would be sold this summer and finally bring to a close his chapter with Manchester United.

But the winger has apparently looked to start afresh where he is, picking up the award for best player at the International Champions Cup.

Young has shown his worth to van Gaal this summer, performing in wing-back roles and showing his flexibility to play on either flank. His performances, especially with basics such as crosses into the box, have drastically improved under the new manager.

The win against Liverpool provided just another reason for van Gaal to keep hold of Young for the season ahead.

A big season ahead for Rooney

Maybe all Wayne Rooney needed was a change from Alex Ferguson.

Last season, Rooney was surprisingly one of United’s best players, though such was their overall poor form throughout, that isn’t really saying much.

But Rooney clearly reacted positively to something different in David Moyes, and is looking to follow the same path under another manager in Louis van Gaal.

Rooney has looked lively in preseason and started United’s comeback against Liverpool by scoring their first goal.

Having been close to an exit from Old Trafford, the club are now tied to the player after his recent contract renewal. But it’s looking far from a bad thing, with the England international one of many to thrive under the guidance of van Gaal.

Phil Jones still has some work to do defensively

There’s something about the way Phil Jones defends that shouldn’t fill most with confidence, always acting in a last-ditch effort to prevent a goal, but often conceding a free kick within range or a penalty.

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The same as the case for Liverpool’s opener, in which the United defender felled Raheem Sterling inside the box. For much of the first half, Jones struggled with the pace of Liverpool’s forward, and further raising doubt as to his immediate suitability for the centre-back role.

Perhaps it can be attributed to a lack of consistency in game time, owed to regular injuries. But such is the manner of Jones’ mistakes, it generally points to his own shortcomings as a defender. It’s something van Gaal will need to address over the coming season.

United need at least two new centre-backs

There’s no way Man United can get through this season with the centre-back options currently available to van Gaal. Yes, Thomas Vermaelen has been linked, but even if he arrives – which may not be the case, with Arsenal unwilling to sell and Barcelona also interested – further reinforcements will be needed.

It isn’t just a matter of injuries with regards to Phil Jones, Chris Smalling and Jonny Evans; the former two are still short of being good enough to be regulars at centre-back for the club.

The pursuit of Mats Hummels is a waste of United’s time, with Dortmund uninterested in entering negotiations for the centre-back. But in the win against Liverpool, van Gaal would have seen more than enough evidence that he’ll have to seriously reconsider his suggestion that United’s transfer business could be done.

Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini has hinted that Yaya Toure may be offered a new deal with the club.

The Ivorian has become a key member of the Citizens’ midfield following his arrival from Barcelona two years ago, with his all-action displays helping the team to their first Premier League crown since 1968.

Toure recently told reporters of his desire to remain with the club for the rest of his career and Mancini responded by suggesting a new deal may be on the table for the midfielder.

“I think so,” He answered when asked by SkySports if a new contract would be offered to the midfielder.

“Because Yaya for us is a very important player and for me, personally, he is one of the best players in Europe.

“In my life, I saw a lot of big players and I think Yaya is part of this.”

The Italian was also positive about his Toure’s recent displays, despite a slight drop in form:

“It is probably because we had many injuries, to many important players like David Silva,

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“If we play David and Samir (Nasri) then Yaya will play better, this is sure.

“But also, when Yaya is not 100 per cent, he is important for us.”

According to HITC Sport, the Blues are eyeing up a move for ex-England veteran stopper Robert Green.

What’s the Story? 

Birmingham City have reportedly moved for the 38-year-old free agent, who spent last season as a back up keeper for Premier League Huddersfield Town.

Robert Green is probably best known for his howler in the 2010 World Cup, as England failed to beat the USA, after he fumbled a speculative Clint Dempsey effort. He is however vastly experienced, having made over 200 appearances for both Norwich City and West Ham United. Green has not started regularly since he was Leeds United’s first choice stopper in the 2016/17 season, managed by Blues manager Garry Monk.

The news comes after David Stockdale and Tomasz Kuszczak have both been told they are free to leave the club. 

A good move for the Blues? 

Robert Green did not make a single appearance for Huddersfield last season, and is certainly reaching the tail end of his career at the age of 38. This would suggest he might not be the solid goalkeeper Birmingham need to help push the club on, having flirted with relegation last season.

Conceding the most away goals in the Championship last season, the position is certainly something Birmingham need to strengthen in. Speculation that he is to join the Blues as a first choice stopper would likely be worrying news for Blues fans, who will be hoping to see improvements in that particular position.

However, if Robert Green can keep himself match fit, Birmingham City might feel he is a reasonable goalkeeper for the number 2 spot, who can do a job if called upon.

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After a season on the fringes of the Huddersfield Town squad, it is likely that Robert Green has accepted that this will be his role if he is to remain playing football in the top two levels of English football.

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One of the first fixtures that Arsenal fans look for at the start of the season is the North London derby against arch rivals Tottenham Hotspur.

On Saturday, Arsene Wenger’s side will travel to Wembley to face their enemies in the Premier League.

The Gunners already have one up on their rivals given that the team sealed a 2-0 victory at the Emirates earlier in the season.

Both clubs are in good form as Arsenal head into the encounter on the back of a 5-1 hammering over Everton, while Spurs host the match after claiming a late, dramatic 2-2 draw with Liverpool, as well as a triumph over Newport in the FA Cup.

A question mark hangs over Arsenal’s goalkeeper selection, with Petr Cech a doubt due to injury.

If the former Chelsea shot-stopper does not make it, then second in command David Ospina is likely to step in.

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With the important match just two days away, Arsenal fans have been debating who should go in goal.

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We’re just months away from one of the most anticipated tournaments in sport – the World Cup in Brazil.

But while everyone pays attention to the build up to what is regularly labelled as the ‘biggest sporting event in the World,’ there has been a significantly more important World Cup going on in Brazil – The Street Child World Cup.

The Street Child World Cup tournament not only provides children with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to play football with people from all over the world, it is an important platform that draws the world’s attention to the struggles of street children.

In 2013, BT Sport’s charitable initiative, The Supporters Club, gave substantial grants to aid three charities to send teams to take part in the Street Child World Cup.

Team Brazil Girls, Tanzania Boys and India Boys each received a two-year investment in their sports programmes which support local street children. Tanzania Boys and Brazil Girls both won the Street Child World Cup in early April.Team Brazil (girls) come from the IBISS charity who work in the toughest 60 slum communities in Rio de Janeiro (Brazil).

Team Tanzania have been recruited by the Caretakers of the Environment charity based in Mwanza, who provide emergency support, on-going rehabilitation and education to Mwanza’s street children. Team India have been brought together by Karunalaya, a charity that works on the streets of Chennai supporting hundreds of children living around the railway station and seven slum areas.

Brazil girls and Tanzania boys won their respective tournaments, while the other supported team, India, were unfortunate not to progress from their group.

To see just how much of an impact this event and The Supporters Club can make on street children around the world, BT Sport are filming a one-hour documentary that follows the three teams on their journey through the tournament. The doc will be presented by former Arsenal defender Gilberto Silva and will premier on 5 May on BT Sport 1 at 8pm.

Click on Gilberto Silva to see some images from the tournament

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Football chants remain a problem in football, with last weekend’s North East derby being a perfect example as unsavoury chants from both fans marred the clash.

Newcastle United fans weren’t the only ones to make light of the shocking revelations into Jimmy Savile’s private life, Leeds United fans also glorified the sick man. The last meeting between Liverpool and Manchester United was dominated pre-match and post-match by discussions of rival chants mocking moments of tragedy.

This hasn’t been a great period for the sport. The ugly scenes in Serbia over-shadowed the England under 21s’ progression to their fourth straight European Championship. But with all the horrors of last week put into context, I still think policing and football atmospheres are improving.

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Sure there’s still plenty of progress that can be made, but long gone are the days when black players have to put up with bananas being thrown on to the pitch, plus fears about hooliganism is almost a thing of the past. As a punter I really can’t remember ever feeling genuine fear in and around a football stadium.

Swearing, chanting and tribal behaviour of such are much rarer. Standing is discouraged in football grounds and generally Premier League games pass by without incident. At times football matches can even be overly policed by stewards now. Sunderland fans were kicked out at Anfield a few years ago for bringing beach balls to the game in reference to the corresponding fixture that year. In the past, Sir Alex Ferguson has criticised the lack of volume at Old Trafford – perhaps a result of greater policing and care around stadiums.

While all will be aware of the shocking incident in which Chris Kirkland was assaulted by a mindless thug, it was also extremely unnerving to see the hooligan re-enter the crowd. Although security was poor on that occasion, it’s easy to see this incident as somewhat of an anomaly and not something we’ll see again hopefully this season. The last incident personally of this gravity I witnessed was Shay Given being goaded by Sunderland fans on the pitch in 2008.

I think there’s a risk that a few poor incidents in rare, aggressive rivalries overshadows how the majority of football fans are well-behaved. This was one of the bitterest rivalries in football and Steven Taylor received ‘special’ treatment, due to quotes mocking the supporters and club. This was not an everyday situation, that’s likely to regularly reappear in the 38 game Premier League season at Sunderland. It is also highly unlikely the incident will reoccur in the Premier League this weekend as only a couple fixtures in the Premier League calendar match Sunderland and Newcastle for unnecessary nastiness.

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I always believe it’s misleading to devote too much coverage, well beyond making people aware of the moment’s malice, and forgetting just how safe football has become.

I personally don’t believe football chants are spiralling out of control. If you want to bring more examples to the table, or disagree please get in touch with me on Twitter: @jimmylowson