Emery ponders January signing after Bellerin injury
Unai Emery admitted Arsenal has limited scope to address their defensive headaches in January after Hector Bellerin joined a long injury list during the loss to Southampton.
Right-back Bellerin could be unavailable until the new year after sustaining a suspected calf issue shortly before half-time in the 3-2 defeat at St Mary’s.
Emery described the problem as “small” but expects his Spanish compatriot to have “some weeks off” in another blow to a backline which lost Sead Kolasinac to thigh tightness before Sunday’s match.
Rob Holding is already out for the season and Konstantinos Mavropanos has not been sighted this term, while Laurent Koscielny appeared well off the pace in his first Premier League start since April.
Shkodran Mustafi and Sokratis Papastathopoulos have, however, served their one-game Premier League suspensions and Emery may have to make do without further reinforcements.
“I don’t know now because we don’t have a lot of possibilities in January, but maybe we can think of someone to sign to help us,” the Gunners boss told reporters.
“[But] only if we think they are the player that can give us good performance. It’s not easy. I don’t believe a lot in this transfer window because it’s not a big possibility with players.
“The club is working and only if some player can help us with a high level [will we make a signing].”
Ex- Man Utd defender, Blind, scores hat-trick in Ajax 8-0 win
Former Manchester Utd defener, Daley Blind is one of two men to find the net three times as Ajax registered their biggest home league win for over 17 years.
Ajax stayed within two points of Eredivisie leaders PSV in spectacular fashion as Hakim Ziyech and Daley Blind scored hat-tricks in an 8-0 demolition of bottom club De Graafschap.
Blind spent four seasons at Manchester United between 2014 and 2018 as a utility player shifting between defence and midfield.
Jose Mourinho, however, did not see the Netherlands international as a regular part of his first team, and he made just seven Premier League appearances in 2017-18 before returning to his first club.
Blind is not exactly known for his goal scoring prowess, having scored just nine times in his entire club career prior to Sunday.
Ziyech also scored three times, taking his league tally up to 10 in 13 outings in 2018-19.
Lenoโs early Xmas present ends Arsenal’s unbeaten run
Arsenalโs, 22-game unbeaten run came to an end as their depleted defence was exposed by a rejuvenated Southampton side.
It was Claudio Ranieri who earned the famous nickname โthe Tinkermanโ after constantly changing his tactics when he was manager of Chelsea.
Arsenal head coach Unai Emery has embarked on a similar path this season, making various tactical changes and deploying players in unorthodox positions as he gets to know his new squad.
Against Southampton, the Spaniard was forced to be inventive due to the suspensions of Sokratis Papastathopoulos and Shkodran Mustafi and the injury to Rob Holding. Those defensive absences called for Granit Xhaka to start at left-back – a position he had played in earlier this season when Sead Kolasinac and Nacho Monreal were unavailable.
Emery began the game at St Maryโs with three in defence but quickly found out that it wasnโt working. Alex Iwobi was a frustrated figure as he was forced to drop deep and collect the ball after being man-marked by Southamptonโs centre back Jan Bednarek.
Real to pay โฌ15 million for Palacios
River Plate midfielder, Palacios is being linked with a move to Real Madrid.
The midfielder’s agent confirmed this week that Real had enquired after the Argentina international but said a move would not happen before June.
The midfielder is a long-time target of Madrid, and this week Riverโs president Rodolfo DโOnofrio confirmed that the European champions have enquired about bringing the Argentina international to the Santiago Bernabeu.
Madrid had hoped to bring the player in as early as January, but Palaciosโs agent Renato Corsi has said it is his clientโs preference to remain in Argentina with River until at least the summer.
Corsi also suggested that Real will have to pay significantly more than the โฌ15 million (ยฃ13.5m/$17m) release clause in Palaciosโs contract in order to land their man.
But River captain Ponzio, who played alongside Palacios at the Bernabeu as the club won their rearranged Copa Libertadores final second leg against Boca Juniors last Sunday, said his team-mate has the attributes to be a hit at Madrid.
Smalling signs new Man Utd contract
Chris Smalling has signed a new contract with Manchester United which will keep him at the club until 2022.
The fresh terms penned by the long-serving defender include the option for a 12-month extension.
Another deal for the 29-year-old means that he will pass the 10-year mark at Old Trafford in 2020.
Smalling has been with the Red Devils since joining from Fulham in 2010, with a move agreed by Sir Alex Ferguson in the January of that year.
While delighted to have committed his long-term future to United, Smalling is aware of how important the present is for the Red Devils.
Granqvistย sure shock Man Utd move won’t happen
Andreas Granqvist is โ99.9 per centโ sure that he will not be making a shock move to Manchester United during the January transfer window.
The Swedish defender was reported to be among the options being considered by Jose Mourinho.
The Red Devils boss has made no secret of his desire to bring centre-half reinforcements into Old Trafford, having missed out on top targets over the summer.
Former Wigan star Granqvist was mooted as a potential short-term fix for United in a problematic area of the field.
Granqvist spent a little over a year in English football with Wigan between January 2007 and March 2008.
He took in 14 Premier League appearances during that spell before returning to his homeland for a loan Helsingborgs and then heading to the Netherlands with Groningen.
Spells in Italy and Russia have been taken in since then, before returning to his roots once more in January.
An impressive showing for Sweden at the 2018 World Cup is said to have brought him to the attention of United, but it appears as though their ongoing search for a new centre-half will lead them down a different avenue.
Wilson won’t be sold by Bournemouth despite Chelsea talk
Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe has warned off any potential admirers of Callum Wilson, by stating he will not be sold when the transfer market opens next month.
The striker has enjoyed a prolific season, with only three players (Mohamed Salah, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Harry Kane) netting more league goals than the Bournemouth man in 2018-19.
Unsurprisingly, the 26-year-old has been linked with a move to a host of other clubs, including Chelsea. However, speaking in his press conference ahead of Saturdayโs game against Wolves, Howe said he has no plans to sell any players next month.
His impressive showings were recognised earlier this year with a first England call up, and the marksman celebrated the occasion in typical fashion by bagging a goal against USA in a 3-0 victory.
Palace monitors Abraham
Crystal Palace is targeting a January swoop for Chelsea loanee Tammy Abraham, claims the Telegraph.
Abraham who is on loan at the Villa Park has been in blistering form for Dean Smith’s side with 11 goals in 15 league matches this campaign.
His form has attracted Roy Hodgsonโs side who have struggled to score 14 goals so far in the English top-flight.
Ranieri targets Slimaniโs reunion at Fulham
Fulham manager Claudio Ranieri is looking to reunite with Leicester City loanee Islam Slimani at the Craven Cottage.
Daily Mail claims that Ranieri is ready to strengthen his squad with the Algerian forward and help him rediscover his goalscoring touch.
The 67-year-old brought Slimani to the Premier League from Sporting Lisbon as Leicester’s record signing in 2016 but the attacker has struggled for form scoring three goals in 16 games at Fenerbahce this season.
Ancelotti to make decision on Diawara
Napoli boss Carlos Ancelotti is set to decide on Amadou Diawaraโs future at the club, Tutto Napoli reports.
Diawara, keen on regular first-team football, has attracted interest from Tottenham Hotspur and Wolverhampton and the Italian gaffer has been asked to decide if the 21-year-old leaves permanently or go out on loan in January.
The Guinean midfielder has made five starts and three substitute appearances in the Serie A this season.
Ismaily put El-Hadary on transfer list
Egyptian Premier League club, Ismaily is ready to part ways with veteran goalkeeper Essam El-Hadary by placing him on their transfer list.
The action added with a fine come as punishment for El-Hadary who skipped the clubโs CAF Champions League trip to Burundi.
El-Hadary who joined Ismaily for his third stint last summer was also stripped of the captain’s armband.
Bassogog dreams of Arsenal move
Henan Jianye attacker, Christian Bassogog has revealed his childhood desire to play for Arsenal in the English Premier League.
With the 2018 Chinese Super League season over, Bassogog who scored six goals in 27 matches during the campaign is hopeful of a return to Europe with Unai Emery’s side his favourite.
Galatasaray plot Bony move
Galatasaray is looking to sign Swansea City forward Wilfried Bony when his contract expires at the end of the season, Fanatik reports.
Bony recently returned from sidelines after a nine-month injury he suffered against Leicester City in February and has featured in three matches thus far.
The Lions are interested in taking the Ivorian star on loan for free in January until the end of the 2018-19 campaign as he is said to be earning ยฃ100,000 a week in the Championship club.
Napoli set Koulibaly price
Manchester United have been told to pay more than world-record ยฃ90million to sign Napoli defender Kalidou Koulibaly, Sunday Times claims.
Koulibaly is considered as Jose Mourinho’s top target in the January transfer window as he seeks to improve his team’s defence.
As a step in making the transfer possible, United officials have reportedly already held talks with the Serie A side and were quoted ยฃ90 million.
Niasse to join Cardiff on loan
Premier League side, Cardiff City is considering a loan move for out-of-favour Everton striker Oumar Niasse.
The Mirror reports that the Bluebirds boss Neil Warnock is desperately looking to bolster his attacking options next month as they prepare for a relegation battle.
And Niasse having not started a Premier League game all season for Marco Silva is on his hit-list.
Espanyol plot ambitious Bailly move
Espanyol are plotting a move to bring Manchester United defender Eric Bailly back to the Spanish LaLiga, according Manchester Evening News.
The Catalan outfit are reportedly ready to swoop for their ex-youth player Bailly if current centre-back Mario Hermoso is snapped up by Real Madrid in January.
This season, the Cote d’Ivoire international has been forced out of first team action at Old Trafford owing to injury and tactical reasons.
