Chelsea have confirmed that Marko Marin has joined Trabzonspor on loan. What a world. What a transfer window. What a system. It’s time for me to say goodbye and leave this blog. Thanks for reading, emailing and commenting. Bye!
There is chat about of Bayern Munich sniffing around Kevin de Bruyne. What a competitive league!
West Brom’s chairman, Jeremy Peace, has been talking about Berahino. “Our position remains unchanged,” he said. “The sale of this player is not on our agenda.”
There are reports that Tottenham have had a second bid for Saido Berahino rejected. West Brom are standing firm.
Updated
Russell Crowe will apparently not be taking over Leeds United. He posted the following in a series of tweets, before punching Twitter.
“1 LUFC These are my discoveries, my musings and my personal truth.
“2 I stand by my belief that LUFC is a massive opportunity. When my trusted associates tested the idea... We found multiple potential...
“3 ... I’m 51, I answered questions on a topic, a passion...I did not create the agenda... As you may well know...
“4 in 2006 I took over the 1908 formed South Sydney Rugby League team. 9 years of hard yakka later we broke a 43 year drought and won!!
“5 so... I know what it takes . I’ve been through it, I look at the Mighty Leeds opportunity and I evaluate it through the time stolen ...
“6 from my kids. Economics tell the folks in my organisation we could smash this, but, I know the personal toll it takes, and I know ...
“7 without my actual hands on the wheel in Leeds I can’t guarantee investors a return. I’ve loved Leeds all my life. I will always.
“8 I will not though steal anymore time from my children. It’s that simple.
“9 think about this...there’s a hundred thousand who will march on together at least, stand up Leeds ... Stand and be counted. marchingontogether.”
Juventus have completed the loan signing of Mo Salah Victor Moses Kevin de Bruyne Andre Schurrle Juan Cuadrado from Chelsea. It was always going to end this way.
My colleague David Hytner is reporting that Tottenham are considering a move for Real Madrid’s Asier Illarramendi.
Updated
David Sullivan: “Oh Peter Bradshaw, I’m coming for you.”
It’s David Sullivan Week. Now he’s a film reviewer.
Here’s Manchester United’s provisional squad for the game in Bruges.
Provisional squad: Romero, Johnstone, Blind, Darmian, McNair, Shaw, Smalling, Carrick, Fellaini, Herrera, Mata, Schneiderlin, Schweinsteiger, Young; Depay, Hernandez, Januzaj, Rooney.
“Having had it stuck in my head for a while now, can I also suggest “Govin” as a nickname for Jason Denayer as well, pulling from Kula Shaker’s oeuvre,” offers Michael Hunt. “I also Second “Jase”.”
Have you ever watched Sky Sports News all day? It’s enough to make me something something.
“Lots of Arsenal fans are being unrealistic in their expectations of Wenger’s transfer dealings,” says Cameron Yule. “They are clamouring for us to sign a ‘world class striker’, yet there aren’t any that we can sign. The best strikers - Suarez, Benzema, Ibra, Aguero and Lewandowski - are simply not for sale; even our supposed pursuit of Benzema looked futile. Other names linked with us, such as Higuain, Cavani and Aubameyang, are all good players, but would they - especially the first two - be worth their huge transfer fee? We’d be better off signing another defensive midfielder (Krychowiak at Sevilla, maybe?) and starting Oxlade-Chamberlain instead of Ramsey, instead of splurging unnecessarily.”
News!
Roberto Martinez has had his say on Chelsea’s interest in John Stones. Again.
“Once more, it is always the same question and always the same answer,” the Everton manager said. The only thing that matters now is the game we have in front of us. There is nothing to announce or discuss. I know it is your job to keep asking the same question and unfortunately it is my job in this case to always give you the same answer.”
Asked specifically what the club’s response would be to a Stones transfer request Martinez added: “There is nothing to comment on that.”
If Manchester City’s players need a nickname for Jason Denayer, I suggest Climate Change. Or Jase.
We don’t really have self-respect around here. That was a lie.
“Blogging equivalent of Seinfeld?!” says Ryan Dunne. “What happened to The Fiver’s well-deserved self-deprecation Jacob! (Currently watching The Limo episode, suppose that’s kinda like transfer deadline day hmm).”
This isn’t the Fiver, Ryan. We have self-respect around here.
“Arsenal could do better than Giroud, there is no doubt about that however the priority has to be cover or a partner for Coquelin,” says Josh G. “There are goals within any of the three you might find behind the big Frenchman and the calibre of player Arsenal require in the central/defensive midfield is certainly more available in comparison to world class strikers.
On a slightly different note, not quite sure why more isn’t being said about how narrow Arsenal are currently playing, creates masses of congestion in the midfield, forces the full backs to far up the pitch to make up for Sanchez’ and Ramsey’s inward runs leaving the centre backs exposed on either side at times, Coutinho exploited that space throughout the entirety of last nights game, thankfully Lallana wasn’t available to do the same.”
They could have bought Morgan Schneiderlin.
“Names?” roars Admir Pajic, before giving me names. “Edinson Cavani. His team-mate Zlatan. Marco Reus. There are players who would fit the bill.”
It’s Marlon Harewood’s 36th birthday.
But is it a convenient excuse from Wenger? Is Benzema the only striker he could sign? Arsenal fans - throw me some names.
“Is there a pact of gentlemen between Arsene Wenger and Louis Van Gaal that says neither of them will fill the holes in their respective teams so that Manuel Pellegrini can sleep tight without worrying for his job?” says Admir Pajic. “The whole world knows that Arsenal need a world-class striker and a cover for Coquelin while United need a world-class central defender and a striker but two legends have their own world(s). And Van Gaal even has his own language!”
Arsene Wenger has been interesting on the lack of top-class strikers in Europe. Here’s an exchange from a recent press conference.
Q. Why is there a lack of centre forwards?
A. One of the basic reasons that we produce fewer centre forwards is that we produce few centre backs. Because before the teams practised in the park in winter, when you had to lift the ball, to go behind. Today the pitches are all perfect. We develop only midfielders now. The education is about passing on the ground on perfect pitches. Before you had to kick the ball from the back to get behind, to fight with the centre back to win the ball and have a chance to retain it. This is not the case anymore. The whole conditons have changed we have not adapted in our education. We just develop players who are good passers of the ball but not any more tough defenders and not any more players who are used to go into the fight.
Q. Does it disappoint you?
A. It is evolution. Look across Europe now, many centre forwards are south American.
Q. Can it come back?
A. If we adapt in our education. Maybe we have to create specific schools for centre forwards. In Europe we produce now plenty of good technical midfielders. When I arrived in England in every single club there was a guy who before the game you’d say, be careful he’s good in the air. Be careful because he’s aggressive. Every club.
Q. Can you coach it?
A. Yes, you can coach everything. But it’s true you always wanted perfect pitches, I’m involved in that. In the past, in training you needed to fight for the ball, to try to win it.
Roma are signing PSG left-back Lucas Digne.
An on-message Aaron Ramsey reckons that football should have video replays after he had a goal wrongly ruled out for offside against Liverpool last night. “At the end of the day we should have been 1-0 up,” the Arsenal midfielder said. “To look at a video for 20 seconds in the game would have changed maybe the outcome of the game. I think we could take a leaf out of rugby. They do it really well. You see it on the screens, they go off for 20 seconds and they get the decision right in the end. I think football can learn something from that. I thought held my run a bit, I thought I was onside but I obviously took a glance over to make sure and saw the flag was up.”
Mario Balotelli has done some speaking. “I’m happy to have returned,” he said on Milan’s website. “I have little to say, just that I’m looking forward to train and prove my worth. I’m physically well - I just have to train with the squad. I have a lot of motivation but I just have to work and not speak. Did I think I would return to Milan? Yes, I always had Milan in my heart and I always had hope that I would return one day. Will I end my career here? I just have to start to work and have a good year, just have to work and that’s that.”
Mario Balotelli has passed his Milan medical. Do medicals measure workrate? Here’s a statement: “Mario Balotelli has completed his medical. He is expected to arrive to Casa Milan at 13:30.”
Updated
Ajax keeper and penalty-saving expert Jasper Cillessen reckons he won’t be joining Manchester United. “As far as I know it has never been a thing,” he said. “I, the club, or my agent have never heard anything. As for me, this season begins and ends at Ajax.”
This’ll do. It looks like 2010’s Marko Marin is going to join Trabzonspor soon. Apparently he is still a Chelsea player. Incredible.
This is the blogging equivalent of Seinfeld, a blog about nothing, only no one is laughing here, except for my bosses, at me. Can someone sign someone?
Below, my friends, is the England U21 squad for the upcoming matches against the USA and Norway. And what a squad it is.
Goalkeepers: Angus Gunn (Manchester City), Jordan Pickford (Preston North End [on loan from Sunderland), Christian Walton (Bury [on loan from Brighton & Hove Albion]
Defenders: Calum Chambers (Arsenal), Eric Dier (Tottenham Hotspur), Brendan Galloway (Everton), Joe Gomez (Liverpool), Kortney Hause (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Dominic Iorfa (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Jack Stephens (Middlesbrough [on loan from Southampton]), Matt Targett (Southampton)
Midfielders: Dele Alli (Tottenham Hotspur), Nathaniel Chalobah (Chelsea), Jake Forster-Caskey (Brighton & Hove Albion), Ruben Loftus-Cheek (Chelsea), James Ward-Prowse (Southampton)
Forwards: Chuba Akpom (Hull City [on loan from Arsenal]), Jordon Ibe (Liverpool), Solly March (Brighton & Hove Albion), Nathan Redmond (Norwich City), Duncan Watmore (Sunderland), James Wilson (Manchester United), Cauley Woodrow (Fulham)
David de Gea is not in the squad for Manchester United’s trip to Club Brugge. You know what means? He’s not in the squad for Manchester United’s trip to Club Brugge.
West Ham are talking to Chelsea about signing Victor Moses. Chelsea want £10m but the Hammers are trying to negotiate a lower price for the winger, who would improve their attack hugely.
Neymar. Karim Benzema. Mario Balotelli. Modibo Maiga. John Stones. Pele. Charles “Charlie” Charles. A piece of the moon. Football. Gareth Bale. Leandro Damiao.
The transfer window is great, isn’t it.
Juan Cuadrado is expected to complete his move from Chelsea to Juventus today. I am shocked that one hasn’t worked out.
Chelsea are after a new centre-back. There is a bit of talk about of them making a move for Zenit’s Argentina centre-back, Ezequiel Garay, who presumably owns adult shinpads, unlike a certain captain, leader and legend.
Updated
“There seem to be a growing number of Pogba to Chelsea reports,” says Andrew Simmons. “Anything to suggest that this is nothing other than Mino Raiola being mischievous?”
Surely everyone’s default position must be that Mino Raiola is always being mischievous. That said, the stories have floated around for a while, though it does seem unlikely that Juventus would let go of him this close to the window. But you never know with these things, do you? Hmm. You don’t get that level of fence-sitting on other sites.
Thinking about West Ham and their need for some more attacking options who aren’t Manuel Lanzini and Mauro Zarate, this quote from the club’s legendary former CEO, Scott Duxbury, about the signing of Luis Jimenez in 2009 came to mind.
I think that Jimenez is absolutely huge for us - a massive, massive signing. He’s a top drawer player, he’s exactly what we’ve been missing. We had a barbeque at Gianfranco’s house and were just talking - but his whole team revolves around Jimenez.”
What a barbecue that must have been. At Zola’s house! Jimenez went on to start six league games, scoring a gentleman’s one goal during that time, and I believe he now plays for Al Nasr. Which could be where Modibo Maiga, sweet Modibo Maiga, sweet prince, could be heading.
Updated
Arsenal still haven’t signed Karim Benzema yet.
Arsenal haven’t signed Karim Benzema yet.
Mario Balotelli has said goodbye to the many, many friends he’s made at Liverpool, got on a plane and flown to Italy. He is now undergoing a medical at Milan. “At 8:26 this morning, Mario Balotelli has arrived to La Madonnina Clinic to undergo today’s medical,” a faceless Milanese statement droned this morning. I imagine the medical will be a bit like the scene where the police search The Mask’s pockets.
Preamble
Morning! Let’s start with a juicy one to get the ball rolling. Should Arsenal sign a striker? And if so, who? How about ... Karim Benzema! Stay tuned for the next eight hours as we make sure we don’t miss Arsenal either signing or not signing Karim Benzema. Also Tottenham might make another bid for Saido Berahino, so keep your eyes peeled for that one, and Manchester United will continue pretend they’re going to make a really big effort to sign Neymar.
Updated
