Who will be packing their bags this summer transfer window?

  With a little over two months until the summer transfer window slams shut, there is still plenty of transfer business to be done. Now that most of next seasons managers are in place, barring Real Madrid and potentially PSG, they can begin to build their squads for the coming season. A number of deals have already gone through, most notably being: 

Neymar - Barcelona

Falcao, Carvalho, James Rodriguez and Moutinho - AS Monaco

Jesus Navas and Fernandinho - Manchester City

Iago Aspas, Kolo Toure and Luis Alberto - Liverpool. 

Stekelenberg and Amorebieta - Fulham

Schurrle - Chelsea

Llorente - Juventus

However, there are still some players who are still unsure of where they will be plying their trade next season. 

Gonzalo Higuain:  The Real Madrid forward has been linked with a move away from Real Madrid, with Juventus and Arsenal hot on his heels. Madrid have confirmed that they are prepared to listen to offers for the 25-year old Argentinian striker. There are even rumours that talks with Arsenal are in an advanced stage. Whatever that means! If this is true then it would be a real coup for the North-London club who are desperate for some much needed fire-power up front. 

Edinson Cavani: Another striker who has been linked with a number of top European clubs, including Manchester City, Chelsea and Real Madrid. The Uruguayan who netted 38 times in 43 matches for Napoli last season, has a rumoured buy-out clause in his contract of £54m. However, his recent performances for Uruguay in the Confederations cup have been somewhat disappointing which could leave some clubs wondering whether he would be worth anywhere near this sum of money. 

Wayne Rooooooooney: After a title-winning season with Manchester United, many have noticed that Rooney is clearly an unsettled player, especially when he handed in a transfer request! Potential suitors for the England striker are PSG and surprisingly, Arsenal. The Gunners have insisted that they would be able to accommodate the high wages that Rooney would command. The current project at PSG would seem to be a much more natural place for Rooney to get involved with, although he would find himself in a fierce competition for starting places against Ibrahimovic, Lavezzi and Lucas Moura. 

Gareth Bale: After picking up  this seasons awards for PFA Player of the Year and Young Player of the Year, the young Welshman has become one of Real Madrid's top summer targets. Spurs are determined to hold on to the Welsh Wizard as he was so influential in last seasons campaign. For a player of Bale's calibre, a dream move to sunny Madrid would be extremely hard to resist. Furthermore, if Real were to offer a sum in the range of £60m it would be difficult for Spurs to turn that sort of money down. 

David Luiz: With the arrival of the so-called 'Special One' or as he would call himself, the 'Happy One,' David Luiz's tenancy at Chelsea is being questioned. The twizzler-haired, often clumsy yet entertaining Brazilian has been linked with a move to Barcelona. The question is whether Mourinho feels there is an available position for Luiz for next season. With Mikel being rumoured to leave Chelsea during this transfer window, maybe a defensive midfield position could be the key for David Luiz to remain at Chelsea. But in terms of David Luiz playing in a centre-back position, I think many at Chelsea might be running out of patience with his constant mistakes and questionable positioning. 

Paulinho: Since the end of the season, the majority of the transfer talk around White Hart Lane has been concerning the possible departure of Gareth Bale. However, there could be some good news for Spurs fans, as the Brazilian central midfielder, Paulinho, has caught the eye of Daniel Levy and AVB. Last week it was revealed that a formal bid for Paulinho has been submitted by Tottenham. A potential central midfield partnership of Paulinho and Sandro could be a force to be reckoned with for next season. 

Cristiano Ronaldo: Could the Portuguese talisman be heading back to Old Trafford for a second stint? He has excelled beyond belief in his time at Real Madrid, scoring 200 goals since his £80m transfer in 2009. He was also part of the team that knocked Barcelona off their La Liga throne in the 2011/12 season. However, he has stressed that he is yet to sign a new deal at Real, leading many to speculate that a return to Manchester United could be on the cards. What an ideal beginning to David Moyes' managerial term that would be! 

Luis Suarez: The fiery Uruguayan striker could be on his way to Madrid, after publicly stating his desire to leave Liverpool. Suarez received a 10-game ban for biting Chelsea's Brana Ivanovic, therefore he is set to miss the first few games of next season. This could be an added incentive for Liverpool to cash in on a substantial offer from Real Madrid, should it arise. One thing that is for certain is that Ivanovic will not be too sad to see the back of the hungry Uruguayan. 

     These are just a few of the many transfers rumours that could become a reality over the next couple of months but there are many other dealings that could be in the pipeline for various clubs. Keep your eyes peeled for those ever-present transfer rumours and done-deals over the course of the summer!

The Final Four - Who will be crowned Champions of Europe?

The Road To Wembley 2013

    With the Champions League Semi-Final draw being held tomorrow in Nyon, Switzerland, it seems sensible to weigh up the remaining four clubs' chances of European glory. The 'Final Four' are made up of two fierce rivals from Spain's Primera Division, Real Madrid and Barcelona; and two delegates of Germany's Bundesliga, Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund. This semi-final makeup highlights the strength of these two leagues compared to the rest of Europe. I would currently consider the top three leagues in Europe to be: The Premier League, the Primera Division and the Bundesliga. However, the absence of any Premier League club from the quarter-final stage onwards would suggest that they have not been able to go toe-to-toe with their Spanish and German counterparts during this campaign. 

Borussia Dortmund

Having relinquished their Bundesliga title to Bayern Munich with still six league games remaining, its fair to say that Dortmund would not consider their domestic season to have been a magnificent success. On the other hand, their journey in this years Champions League has been one that has reminded us all of the Borussia Dortmund of years gone by. After being drawn in the so-called 'Group of Champions' along with Manchester City (Premier League winners), Real Madrid (La Liga winners) and Ajax (Dutch Eredivisie winners), it was always going to be a tall task to even make it to the last sixteen of the competition. But this did not phase the team from Dortmund, easing through as group winners and sending out a strong message to the rest of the competition. Following on from their group stage success they swept aside Ukrainian side Shakhtar Donetsk, setting up a quarter final meeting with Champions League new boys, Malaga. Dortmund wasted a host of clear-cut chances in the first leg at La Rosaleda, resulting in a 0-0 draw. The second leg in Germany was a much more even affair, with Dortmund snatching victory in the dying seconds in fairly controversial circumstances. Nevertheless, Borussia Dortmund remain the only team left in the competition to remain unbeaten. They have a contingent of extremely gifted players in the form of Robert Lewandowski, Mario Goetze, Marco Reus and Mats Hummels. But do they have what it takes to go all the way and revel in Champions League glory?

Real Madrid

Its been a number of years now since Real Madrid last tasted Champions League success. Not since 2002, when they faced Bayer Leverkusen at Hampden Park, Glasgow. It was on this night that Zinedine Zidane scored arguably one of the greatest goals in Champions League history to make sure the trophy would be coming back to Madrid. Real have had a similar domestic campaign to that of Dortmund's, in the sense that they are a long way off challenging for the La Liga title. So when they too emerged from the 'Group of Champions' it became clear that the trophy with the big ears was to be their main priority. After finishing as Group D runners-up, they were drawn against Manchester United in the round of sixteen. Many, including myself, thought that Fergie's force would brush Mourinho's men aside, but this was not to be the case. Following on from a 1-1 draw at the  Santiago Bernebeu, Madrid came from behind to beat United 2-1 on the night and 3-2 on aggregate. For their triumph over Manchester United, they were rewarded with a quarter-final clash against Galatasaray. Apart from a spirited Galatasaray fightback late on in the second leg, Madrid progressed to the last four fairly comfortably and with no real concerns. Jose Mourinho is looking to become the first manager to win the Champions League with three different clubs, having already won it with FC Porto and Inter Milan. I certainly wouldn't bet against the 'Special One' in doing this as he has a strong squad made up of global superstars. When you've got a player of Ronaldo's calibre on your side and Mourinho at the helm, anything's possible. 

Bayern Munich

   After last years penalty shootout heartbreak in the Champions League final, Bayern Munich will certainly be hoping to make amends. The fact that this years final won't be held in Bayern's own back yard, may take the pressure off them that they clearly felt last year. Since that night of disappointment, the Bavarian team have strengthened their squad with signings such as Javi Martinez, Mario Mandzukic and Brazilian centre-back, Dante. Having already wrapped up the Bundesliga, Bayern will be focusing all their concentration on winning this seasons Champions League. Their journey to the semi-finals has certainly not an easy one. After coming through the group-stages fairly unscathed, they came up against Arsenal in the last sixteen. It was clear after the first leg at the Emirates stadium that the Gunners were no match for the might of Munich, the German team winning 3-1. However, the return leg at the Allianz Arena saw a very different Arsenal side turn up, one that was able to inflict Bayern's first defeat of 2013 with a 2-0 victory. Overall, this was not enough for Arsene Wenger's men as Bayern progressed on the 'away goals' rule. The quarter-finals was to be no easier for Bayern Munich as they faced an in-form Juventus. Unfortunately, this tie didn't really live up to the billing as Bayern were on the right side of a 4-0 aggregate scoreline. With the imminent arrival of a certain Pep Guardiola next season, this is a real chance for Bayern to show the Spaniard what the team are made of. A Champions League title will certainly top off what has been a truly incredible season for Bayern Munich so far. 

Barcelona

During this Champions League campaign, Barcelona have definitely not been the usual side that everybody fears to play against. A shock 2-1 defeat against a passionate Celtic was not something that Barcelona fans have grown accustomed to in recent years. Still, they progressed as group winners and faced a difficult last sixteen tie against seven-time European Cup winners, AC Milan. The Rossineri outplayed the Catalonians in the first leg at the San Siro, convincingly winning 2-0. If Barcelona were to progress it would be the first time any team had come back from a two goal deficit without an away goal to aid them. For most other teams this would be a mountain far too high to climb but this is Barcelona we're talking about. They won 4-0 on the night, adding to record-breaking list of achievements. A cash-rich Paris Saint Germain was to be Barcelona's next opponents. PSG have recently invested heavily in the transfer market, bringing top players such as Ibrahimovic, Thiago Silva, Pastore and Lavezzi into their ranks. The first leg saw a rare start for David Beckham, pleasing many English television viewers, but he was unable to seal a home victory, the match ending two goals apiece. Barcelona suffered a temporary scare in the second leg when Javier Pastore put the visitors ahead in the tie for the first time, but this was short-lived as Pedro bagged the equaliser and earned Barcelona their sixth Champions League semi-final in as many years. This Barcelona squad absolutely have what it takes to win themselves another European trophy, especially with Lionel Messi on their side. However, it must be said that they do not appear to be the ruthless force that won them their last two Champions League titles. 

Having weighed up the winning chances of all four teams, it is obvious that each one of them has an extremely good chance. Personally, I would love to see Borussia Dortmund win the coveted trophy, as I think their attractive playing style during this years campaign has been something to savour and frankly what the Champions League is all about. However, if I was to pick the team that I think is most likely to win the competition, then my money would have to be on Bayern Munich. They have a score to settle after last years fall at the last hurdle and this time I think they will take the gold. 

Injuries, Injuries and More Injuries - Abou Diaby's Struggle For Fitness

   

Abou Diaby

   Everyone who plays sport knows that injuries are something that can happen at any moment. Whether it be whilst you're competing, training for your next event or simply going about your day minding your own business. Bayern Munich defender, Jerome Boateng, fell victim to a rather unlucky injury during an aeroplane flight, when a drinks trolley aggravated a knee injury that he had recently picked up. Some would say this is a terribly unlucky injury, but I would say he shouldn't have had his knee in the aisle. However, for current Arsenal midfielder Abou Diaby, injuries have plagued his professional career thus far,  and have ultimately prevented him from fulfilling his footballing talent. 

    Abou Diaby is a player that has been compared on numerous occasions to the legendary ex-Gunner and fellow Frenchman, Patrick Vieira. Many have pointed out that Diaby has the potential to be the strong, dominant box-to-box midfielder that Vieira was during his time at Arsenal. 

   Abou Diaby joined Arsenal in 2006 and has made 178 appearances scoring 19 goals. He started his senior playing career at Auxerre, a club that has nurtured talented individuals such as Eric Cantona and Laurent Blanc to name just a few. Since transferring to Arsenal, Diaby has constantly been on and off the injury table. The Paris-born Frenchman managed 40 appearances in the 2010-11 season. However, ankle and calf problems have prevented Diaby from having any other injury-free campaigns. 

   In the last couple of weeks, Arsenal have confirmed that Abou Diaby will be out of action for a further eight or nine months, after rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament in his knee. According to The Sun it will be his 36th injury in just seven years (The Sun Online). With absolutely no chance of playing again this season, Diaby is unlikely to play again until 2014. For any footballer this time away from the game is a hard pill to swallow, especially a player of Diaby's calibre, who has been lauded time and again by the Gunners manager, Arsene Wenger. Such praise and belief from 'the boss' must surely provide a huge amount of motivation for Abou Diaby to bounce back and repay the faith that Mr. Wenger has shown in him. 

   The fact of the matter is, that some players will go through their whole professional careers without picking up one serious injury. However, at the opposite end of the spectrum there are players, like Abou Diaby, who are labelled as 'injury prone.' The reason for this is difficult to pinpoint. It could be down to the competence of a club's medical team, the injury-risk of the position they play in or just simply pot-luck. Nevertheless, for the sake of Diaby's future at Arsenal, it is of paramount importance that he is able to stay fit for two or three successive seasons. Otherwise, he might find himself plying his trade somewhere other than the Emirates Stadium. 

Neymar - The new Pele or just a YouTube sensation?

   

Neymar da Silva Santos Junior

    Neymar da Silva Santos Junior, or more commonly referred to as Neymar, is a player that has burst onto the footballing scene in the last five or so years. At just 21 years of age, he is already being deemed by some as 'the new Pele.' Although, the fact that he is currently playing his football for Brazilian club Santos, means many are yet to witness the young man's talent first-hand. The majority of football fans around the world have only seen Neymar's ability through the medium of YouTube. Therefore, this begs the question: Does Neymar truly have the potential to compete alongside the best in the world, or is he just a player that looks good on YouTube?

    Firstly, it cannot be denied that Neymar has bagged a serious amount of goals during his time at Santos. His record currently stands at 101 goals in 167 appearances for Santos. For the Brazilian national first team he has netted 17 times, earning 30 international caps. It is plainly obvious that these are impressive stats for a 21-year old striker, but they are somewhat marred by the fact that he is yet to be tested in a major international tournament and he is playing in a league that is arguably a lower standard than some European leagues. 

    With Brazil's participation in the Confederations Cup just around the corner and the World Cup being held in Brazil next year, Neymar certainly has a chance to prove himself to the world of football. With clubs such as Barcelona, Real Madrid, Manchester City and Chelsea all keeping tabs on the young Brazilian, he will not want to disappoint. Especially, seeing as the World Cup is being held in his own back yard, he should feel confident playing in front of his adoring fans. The term 'adoring' is not used lightly on this occasion, as Neymar is worshipped as a hero figure by the supporters of Santos. Fans have been known to wear face-masks resembling their talisman striker as a sign of their devotion to him. However, this was taken a step to far by Neymar himself when he decided to celebrate one of his goals by donning his very own Neymar face-mask, which led to him subsequently being given a second yellow card and being asked to leave the field of play. Certainly not one of his finest moments in the spotlight. 

    In terms of Neymar's YouTube presence, there are literally thousands of videos documenting the striker's prowess in front of goal, his silky skills and of course his self-indulgent celebrations. For example, Neymar's 2011 Puskas Award-winning goal which he scored against Flamego. This goal has been watched by football fans all over the world over and over again because of its sheer brilliance. It won the afore-mentioned 2011 FIFA Puskas Award, an award given to the best goal of the year. There are also many montage videos showing Neymar's best moments of his footballing career so far. Clearly, these clips show Neymar to have an impressive talent on the pitch but it still needs to be highlighted that these 'highlights' are in a less testing league than leagues such as La Liga and the Premier League. 

    Personally, I cannot see Neymar leaving Santos before the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, mainly because he is under contract until then. Also, because he is likely to want to prepare for the World Cup in a comfortable environment, which he is currently in with Santos. Until a big money move to Europe does occur, I do not think that Neymar can live up to compatriots such as Pele. For now he will just continue to be a player that pops up now and again on YouTube.

Odemwingie's Affair With Twitter

Now, we all know it's no secret that West Bromwich Albion's Peter Odemwingie has not had the best of starts to 2013. After unexpectedly turning up to QPR HQ on transfer deadline day and literally being refused entry into the building, he wasn't exactly the most popular striker amongst Albion staff and fans. 

This furor all began when WBA rejected a £2m bid from QPR. This prompted Odemwingie to take to the social networking site, Twitter, and publically criticise West Brom's actions. He tweeted: 

"I can understand the reaction of few Albion fans on my desire to leave the club. Real reason? Cos they once doubted my commitment."

Understandably, the club were extremely unhappy with Odemwingie's comments and rejected an improved transfer offer from QPR. Following on from the Nigerian striker's deadline day embarrassment, he apologised to the staff and supporters of West Brom, explaining the situation as a genuine mix-up. 

However, over 2 months on from Odemwingie's Twitter outburst, he has once again taken to the social media site and further criticised the club that pay his wages. This time he is unhappy with the club's unwillingness to give him any playing time. He tweeted: 

"Keeping me on the bench now is worst than what they did on the 31st. New advisers told me to take say its all my fault cos its better or me."

I think what Mr. Odemwingie is trying to say here, ignoring his hideous attempt at writing in the Queen's English, is that he is still unhappy with the way in which the club is treating him. West Brom have since told the media that they will deal with Odemwingie's actions internally. Whether this be by fining the player a few weeks wages or continuing to grant him any first-team playing time, it is clear that Premiership clubs are struggling to control the social networking discipline of some of their players. 

In my opinion, players need to understand that whatever they write on social networking sites can be hugely damaging to their own careers and the representations of the clubs they play for. Not to mention, letting the fans down that pay outrageous ticket prices to come and see them play week in week out. A player may want to push through a transfer or improve their contract situation, but what they forget is that Twitter outbursts are not forgotten by potential clubs that may be in the market for a new player. 

Overall, I feel for the clubs that have to deal with disrespectful players and their social media antics. I think that the players owe them a lot more than a cheap dig sent in the form of a tweet.