Following the disappointment of a transfer window in which their club lost Neymar to PSG, failed to land many of the big-name transfer targets they were actively pursuing and were caught being decidedly “economical with the truth” regarding Lionel Messi’s future, Barcelona fans must now resign themselves to further months of speculation about their star player’s next move. Messi is reported to be irritated with his club’s various embarrassments during the January window and may very well up sticks and head for Manchester City when his contract expires next summer. An intriguing report from Spanish news outlet Don Balon suggests that it was the Argentinian who blocked an approach from Barcelona for Arsenal’s midfielder Mesut Özil, as he did not think a move for the former Real Madrid player would be a shrewd one.
Arsène Wenger has made headlines with the revelation that he considered quitting his post at Arsenal before signing his two-year contract extension during the summer. Those among Arsenal’s fan-base who campaigned so vociferously for him to leave are unlikely to take comfort from speculation that he will attempt to sign Monaco’s Thomas Lemar at the next available opportunity, following his failure to do so last week.
Monaco’s vice president, Vadim Vasilyev, has said that Lemar was interested in joining Arsenal or Liverpool before the transfer window closed last week, but was ultimately convinced to stay at the Stade Louis II. “It was not easy,” said Vasilyev. “Thomas wanted to go to Arsenal and to Liverpool, but we had discussions and we took a communal decision so that he could stay here. He is a very important player for us. We could not have sold him, it would have affected the entire team and the individuals.”
Still a free agent after being released by Manchester City this summer, Bacary Sagna could be on his way to Leicester City. Foxes manager Craig Shakespeare is in the market for cover for Danny Simpson and could use a man of Sagna’s considerable experience, although the 34-year-old has also attracted interest from Crystal Palace, West Ham and Brighton, as well as clubs in Portugal, Turkey, Italy and his native France.
And finally, Frank De Boer is prepared to change the tactics that have contributed so much to Crystal Palace’s haul of no points from their first three Premier League games, but is concerned that he may not be around to implement a new policy of hoofing it long to the channels against Burnley at Turf Moor next weekend. Palace have yet to score in the Premier League this season and Roy Hodgson, Sam Allardyce and Slavisa Jokanovic are all being linked with the Dutchman’s job.
