http://www.caughtoffside.com English Premier League Football News Blog Thu, 23 May 2013 15:16:43 +0000 en-US hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.5 http://www.caughtoffside.com/2013/05/23/time-to-buy-ten-big-name-players-arsenal-must-target-this-summer/ http://www.caughtoffside.com/2013/05/23/time-to-buy-ten-big-name-players-arsenal-must-target-this-summer/#comments Thu, 23 May 2013 13:39:57 +0000 Mark Brus http://www.caughtoffside.com/?p=146045 Ten realistic big-name signings that could help make the Emirates Stadium side title challengers again.



Check in to Transfer Window: Done Deal Alerts



10. Victor Valdes (Barcelona)

The long-serving Barcelona shot-stopper has announced his intention to leave the club this summer, saying he wants a new challenge and expressing a particular fondness for English football. What better opportunity then for Arsenal to upgrade on Wojciech Szczesny? The Polish 'keeper has had a disappointing season and doesn't look like fulfilling his potential at the Emirates Stadium since his breakthrough a couple of seasons ago. If Arsenal choose to compete with the likes of Manchester United and PSG for Valdes, they will be adding a three-time European champion and six-time La Liga winner to their ranks, which is just the kind of experience they need in a squad consisting mostly of young players or of players who haven't ever won anything.

Although he is 31 and would certainly command high wages, he could still be a bargain for the Gunners with just a year remaining on his current contract at the Nou Camp, and that experience and extra bit of quality to make game-changing saves at important times could be enough to make the difference over the course of a season.





9. Gokhan Inler (Napoli)

The Swiss midfielder has been one of the best and most consistent performers in Serie A for the last six years since he joined Udinese from FC Zurich. Now 28-years-old, he is a key player for Napoli, and helped guide them to second place in Serie A this season with his tough tackling and battling displays in the middle of the park, as well as providing six goals and two assists.

It could be a summer of exits at the club, with star striker Edinson Cavani wanted by the likes of Chelsea and Manchester City, and manager Walter Pazzarri possibly leaving to take over at Inter Milan. Inler has been linked with Arsenal before, and now may be a good time for the Gunners to move for him as Napoli undergo a series of changes in this transfer window. He would be expensive, but he'd be an immediate starter in this current Arsenal team, providing more protection to the back four than the likes of Mikel Arteta and Aaron Ramsey, who have been played somewhat out of position this season.





8. Ilkay Gundogan (Borussia Dortmund)


This latest prospect coming out of Germany is another player who could fill the defensive midfield void at Arsenal left by the departing Alex Song last summer. The 22-year-old has established himself as a key member of Borussia Dortmund's team and has all the attributes to be a fine player for almost any top club. Manchester United and Barcelona have shown an interest in him, but Arsenal have also been linked with a £22million bid, which is just the kind of ambition they need to show this summer.

Ilkay Gundogan would slot right in to the Arsenal team and could be their midfield enforcer for many years to come, and what a boost it would be for the club's fans to know they beat other big teams to his signature - just the kind of lift they need after eight years without silverware.





7. Yohan Cabaye (Newcastle)

With Newcastle performing below expectation this season, it is no surprise to see star midfielder Yohan Cabaye being linked with a move away. Arsenal have been linked with him several times now since he moved to the Premier League and quickly showed he could take his fine form with Lille to the English game. Manchester United are also interested in the Frenchman as they eye a long term replacement for the retiring Paul Scholes, but Arsenal could also do with a player like Cabaye to take the pressure off main playmaker Santi Cazorla. The 27-year-old is also an experienced France international who could give the Gunners something a bit different with his excellent long range shots and free kicks, putting an end to this current crop of players' obsession with trying to walk the ball into the net.

Cabaye would cost around £20million, but he belongs at a bigger club and would surely jump at the chance to link up with Arsene Wenger and play in a team that would suit his technical playing style perfectly. One potential problem is his fitness, which has seen him miss a lot of this season, though he has still managed six goals and two assists in 26 league games for Alan Pardew's side, adding to his five goals and nine assists from the season before. If Wenger fails to land Cabaye, there are several other high profile players at Newcastle who might feel they want to leave the club for bigger things this summer, such as Hatem Ben Arfa, Tim Krul and Papiss Cisse.





6. Marouane Fellaini (Everton)

It's been a brilliant season for Marouane Fellaini, standing out as Everton's best player with 11 goals and 5 assists in the league, helping them to an impressive sixth place. His displays will surely have caught the attention of the Premier League big boys, and the biggest rumour at the moment, somewhat understandably, is that the Belgian will follow departing manager David Moyes to Manchester United.

Chelsea are also interested in the 25-year-old, but Arsenal should make sure they are in the running too. The towering midfielder can play a defensive midfield role as well as off the striker, providing a physicality and aerial threat that is currently desperately missing from Arsenal's play, both in the midfield engine room and in attack. Fellaini reportedly has a minimum release fee clause of around £25million and Arsene Wenger would be well advised to fork out for this player, who looks like being the missing link between the Gunners and glory at the moment. He is a big name as well, after many years in the Premier League, and would certainly sell shirts and create a buzz around the Emirates Stadium next season.





5. Mathieu Valbuena (Marseille)

Arsenal have been linked several times with this talented French attacker, and he, along with Yohan Cabaye, could be another excellent addition to their midfield this summer. The 28-year-old has an excellent record over the last couple of seasons as he has really reached his peak at Marseille, with 9 goals and 16 assists in 2011/12 and a further 5 goals and 14 assists this year. The playmaker has 20 caps for France and is a Ligue 1 title winner as well after helping Marseille to glory in 2009/10. He is just the player Arsenal need to take the workload off the likes of Santi Cazorla and Jack Wilshere and give them more option to rotate their squad, which would in turn help avoid the injuries that have plagued Wilshere in particular over the last couple of years.

Valbuena will surely be keen to work with French legend Arsene Wenger at the Emirates Stadium, and Wenger too will be a fan of the way Valbuena plays the game, as he is a skillful passer and unselfish player from midfield.





4. Dani Alves (Barcelona)

With it looking increasingly more likely that Bacary Sagna will leave Arsenal in the summer, a new right-back is a must. Carl Jenkinson has shown himself to be a decent backup, but he is not ready to replace the long-serving Frenchman just yet. Rumour has it, Barcelona's Dani Alves could be available after a less than convincing season this year. Still, the 30-year-old has fantastic ability on his day and would be a great addition to the Arsenal squad. He has been linked with a move to the Gunners before, and with one goal and seven assists this season, he would be a significant improvement going forward on Sagna, who has 0 goals and 0 assists this term.

Sagna may be more reliable defensively, but Alves is arguably under-rated in this regard, and could slot in nicely into Arsenal's back four, whilst also providing far more width and ammunition for the front players, as attacks currently have a habit of breaking down when they reach Sagna on Arsenal's right-hand side. Like Victor Valdes, Alves has a very healthy collection of winners' medals from his time with Barca and this experience could be invaluable to Arsenal as they seek to end their eight-year wait for trophies next season. This may be a risky signing, but the Brazilian is still a big name whose skills will get fans of their seats at the Emirates Stadium.





3. Stephan El Shaarawy (AC Milan)

Arsenal have already been linked with a surprisingly ambitious bid for AC Milan starlet Stephan El Shaarawy. The 20-year-old is one of the brightest prospects in world football, catching the eye in Serie A this season with 16 goals and 4 assists, playing both as a winger and as a forward. He is already a full Italian international, with six appearances and one goal for the national side, and has regularly shown himself to have an eye for the spectacular, with some wonderful goals for Milan this year. Manchester City are also interested in the youngster, who would cost close to £30million, but will surely be one of the best players in the world for much of the next decade.

Arsenal are still lacking a regular goal scorer upfront since Robin van Persie left, and El Shaarawy can certainly give them that extra quality in the final third. Milan will be keen not to sell, but Arsenal should try as hard as possible for this world class talent.





2. Stevan Jovetic (Fiorentina)

The Fiorentina striker has been linked with Arsenal for much of the season, and is one of the biggest names in Serie A at the moment. A striker is clearly a priority for Arsene Wenger this summer, and this deal could go through in the next few weeks. He should be something of a bargain at around £15million, but he's still the big name Arsenal need. Manchester City and Chelsea have also been linked with Jovetic, and it would be a real boost for the Gunners to sign an established player that their rivals have shown an interest in.

The Montenegro international has 13 goals and 5 assists for La Viola this season, and looks like the all-round skillful forward that Arsenal need, who can score goals and play in team mates like van Persie used to. He should be their first major signing of the summer and may well prove to be the most important.





1. Gonzalo Higuain (Real Madrid)

Gonzalo Higuain has been unfortunate to find himself on the transfer list at Real Madrid this summer, after a good seven years with the club. The Argentine has fallen down the pecking order this season in a difficult year for the club all round, and is simply the victim of the owners' desire to make wholesale changes in the upcoming transfer window. The 25-year-old has still managed 17 goals in a season spent mostly on the bench, and is the kind of expert finisher that Arsenal have been looking for for many years.

Real Madrid have set an asking price of around £22million for the striker, and the Gunners will likely face competition from Juventus, Manchester City and Tottenham for Higuain's signature. This interest in him shows his talent and potential, and Arsenal would do very well to lure him to the Emirates Stadium, where he would almost certainly be one of the Premier League's top scorers, and a more reliable marksman than some of the players in Arsenal's recent history, who have been known for missing relatively easy chances and costing their side crucial points.


]]> Ten realistic big-name signings that could help make the Emirates Stadium side title challengers again.



Check in to Transfer Window: Done Deal Alerts



10. Victor Valdes (Barcelona)

The long-serving Barcelona shot-stopper has announced his intention to leave the club this summer, saying he wants a new challenge and expressing a particular fondness for English football. What better opportunity then for Arsenal to upgrade on Wojciech Szczesny? The Polish 'keeper has had a disappointing season and doesn't look like fulfilling his potential at the Emirates Stadium since his breakthrough a couple of seasons ago. If Arsenal choose to compete with the likes of Manchester United and PSG for Valdes, they will be adding a three-time European champion and six-time La Liga winner to their ranks, which is just the kind of experience they need in a squad consisting mostly of young players or of players who haven't ever won anything.

Although he is 31 and would certainly command high wages, he could still be a bargain for the Gunners with just a year remaining on his current contract at the Nou Camp, and that experience and extra bit of quality to make game-changing saves at important times could be enough to make the difference over the course of a season.





9. Gokhan Inler (Napoli)

The Swiss midfielder has been one of the best and most consistent performers in Serie A for the last six years since he joined Udinese from FC Zurich. Now 28-years-old, he is a key player for Napoli, and helped guide them to second place in Serie A this season with his tough tackling and battling displays in the middle of the park, as well as providing six goals and two assists.

It could be a summer of exits at the club, with star striker Edinson Cavani wanted by the likes of Chelsea and Manchester City, and manager Walter Pazzarri possibly leaving to take over at Inter Milan. Inler has been linked with Arsenal before, and now may be a good time for the Gunners to move for him as Napoli undergo a series of changes in this transfer window. He would be expensive, but he'd be an immediate starter in this current Arsenal team, providing more protection to the back four than the likes of Mikel Arteta and Aaron Ramsey, who have been played somewhat out of position this season.





8. Ilkay Gundogan (Borussia Dortmund)


This latest prospect coming out of Germany is another player who could fill the defensive midfield void at Arsenal left by the departing Alex Song last summer. The 22-year-old has established himself as a key member of Borussia Dortmund's team and has all the attributes to be a fine player for almost any top club. Manchester United and Barcelona have shown an interest in him, but Arsenal have also been linked with a £22million bid, which is just the kind of ambition they need to show this summer.

Ilkay Gundogan would slot right in to the Arsenal team and could be their midfield enforcer for many years to come, and what a boost it would be for the club's fans to know they beat other big teams to his signature - just the kind of lift they need after eight years without silverware.





7. Yohan Cabaye (Newcastle)

With Newcastle performing below expectation this season, it is no surprise to see star midfielder Yohan Cabaye being linked with a move away. Arsenal have been linked with him several times now since he moved to the Premier League and quickly showed he could take his fine form with Lille to the English game. Manchester United are also interested in the Frenchman as they eye a long term replacement for the retiring Paul Scholes, but Arsenal could also do with a player like Cabaye to take the pressure off main playmaker Santi Cazorla. The 27-year-old is also an experienced France international who could give the Gunners something a bit different with his excellent long range shots and free kicks, putting an end to this current crop of players' obsession with trying to walk the ball into the net.

Cabaye would cost around £20million, but he belongs at a bigger club and would surely jump at the chance to link up with Arsene Wenger and play in a team that would suit his technical playing style perfectly. One potential problem is his fitness, which has seen him miss a lot of this season, though he has still managed six goals and two assists in 26 league games for Alan Pardew's side, adding to his five goals and nine assists from the season before. If Wenger fails to land Cabaye, there are several other high profile players at Newcastle who might feel they want to leave the club for bigger things this summer, such as Hatem Ben Arfa, Tim Krul and Papiss Cisse.





6. Marouane Fellaini (Everton)

It's been a brilliant season for Marouane Fellaini, standing out as Everton's best player with 11 goals and 5 assists in the league, helping them to an impressive sixth place. His displays will surely have caught the attention of the Premier League big boys, and the biggest rumour at the moment, somewhat understandably, is that the Belgian will follow departing manager David Moyes to Manchester United.

Chelsea are also interested in the 25-year-old, but Arsenal should make sure they are in the running too. The towering midfielder can play a defensive midfield role as well as off the striker, providing a physicality and aerial threat that is currently desperately missing from Arsenal's play, both in the midfield engine room and in attack. Fellaini reportedly has a minimum release fee clause of around £25million and Arsene Wenger would be well advised to fork out for this player, who looks like being the missing link between the Gunners and glory at the moment. He is a big name as well, after many years in the Premier League, and would certainly sell shirts and create a buzz around the Emirates Stadium next season.





5. Mathieu Valbuena (Marseille)

Arsenal have been linked several times with this talented French attacker, and he, along with Yohan Cabaye, could be another excellent addition to their midfield this summer. The 28-year-old has an excellent record over the last couple of seasons as he has really reached his peak at Marseille, with 9 goals and 16 assists in 2011/12 and a further 5 goals and 14 assists this year. The playmaker has 20 caps for France and is a Ligue 1 title winner as well after helping Marseille to glory in 2009/10. He is just the player Arsenal need to take the workload off the likes of Santi Cazorla and Jack Wilshere and give them more option to rotate their squad, which would in turn help avoid the injuries that have plagued Wilshere in particular over the last couple of years.

Valbuena will surely be keen to work with French legend Arsene Wenger at the Emirates Stadium, and Wenger too will be a fan of the way Valbuena plays the game, as he is a skillful passer and unselfish player from midfield.





4. Dani Alves (Barcelona)

With it looking increasingly more likely that Bacary Sagna will leave Arsenal in the summer, a new right-back is a must. Carl Jenkinson has shown himself to be a decent backup, but he is not ready to replace the long-serving Frenchman just yet. Rumour has it, Barcelona's Dani Alves could be available after a less than convincing season this year. Still, the 30-year-old has fantastic ability on his day and would be a great addition to the Arsenal squad. He has been linked with a move to the Gunners before, and with one goal and seven assists this season, he would be a significant improvement going forward on Sagna, who has 0 goals and 0 assists this term.

Sagna may be more reliable defensively, but Alves is arguably under-rated in this regard, and could slot in nicely into Arsenal's back four, whilst also providing far more width and ammunition for the front players, as attacks currently have a habit of breaking down when they reach Sagna on Arsenal's right-hand side. Like Victor Valdes, Alves has a very healthy collection of winners' medals from his time with Barca and this experience could be invaluable to Arsenal as they seek to end their eight-year wait for trophies next season. This may be a risky signing, but the Brazilian is still a big name whose skills will get fans of their seats at the Emirates Stadium.





3. Stephan El Shaarawy (AC Milan)

Arsenal have already been linked with a surprisingly ambitious bid for AC Milan starlet Stephan El Shaarawy. The 20-year-old is one of the brightest prospects in world football, catching the eye in Serie A this season with 16 goals and 4 assists, playing both as a winger and as a forward. He is already a full Italian international, with six appearances and one goal for the national side, and has regularly shown himself to have an eye for the spectacular, with some wonderful goals for Milan this year. Manchester City are also interested in the youngster, who would cost close to £30million, but will surely be one of the best players in the world for much of the next decade.

Arsenal are still lacking a regular goal scorer upfront since Robin van Persie left, and El Shaarawy can certainly give them that extra quality in the final third. Milan will be keen not to sell, but Arsenal should try as hard as possible for this world class talent.





2. Stevan Jovetic (Fiorentina)

The Fiorentina striker has been linked with Arsenal for much of the season, and is one of the biggest names in Serie A at the moment. A striker is clearly a priority for Arsene Wenger this summer, and this deal could go through in the next few weeks. He should be something of a bargain at around £15million, but he's still the big name Arsenal need. Manchester City and Chelsea have also been linked with Jovetic, and it would be a real boost for the Gunners to sign an established player that their rivals have shown an interest in.

The Montenegro international has 13 goals and 5 assists for La Viola this season, and looks like the all-round skillful forward that Arsenal need, who can score goals and play in team mates like van Persie used to. He should be their first major signing of the summer and may well prove to be the most important.





1. Gonzalo Higuain (Real Madrid)

Gonzalo Higuain has been unfortunate to find himself on the transfer list at Real Madrid this summer, after a good seven years with the club. The Argentine has fallen down the pecking order this season in a difficult year for the club all round, and is simply the victim of the owners' desire to make wholesale changes in the upcoming transfer window. The 25-year-old has still managed 17 goals in a season spent mostly on the bench, and is the kind of expert finisher that Arsenal have been looking for for many years.

Real Madrid have set an asking price of around £22million for the striker, and the Gunners will likely face competition from Juventus, Manchester City and Tottenham for Higuain's signature. This interest in him shows his talent and potential, and Arsenal would do very well to lure him to the Emirates Stadium, where he would almost certainly be one of the Premier League's top scorers, and a more reliable marksman than some of the players in Arsenal's recent history, who have been known for missing relatively easy chances and costing their side crucial points.


]]> http://www.caughtoffside.com/2013/05/23/time-to-buy-ten-big-name-players-arsenal-must-target-this-summer/feed/ 0 Mark BrusThu, 23 May 13 14:39:57 +0000Ten realistic big-name signings that could help make the Emirates Stadium side title challengers again. http://www.caughtoffside.com/2013/05/23/top-ten-premier-league-wingers-in-201213/ http://www.caughtoffside.com/2013/05/23/top-ten-premier-league-wingers-in-201213/#comments Thu, 23 May 2013 13:32:27 +0000 Mad Dog and Glory http://www.caughtoffside.com/?p=145769 It's end of season poll time.



We invite our readers to vote in a poll that will help us to produce a Premier League Best XI of 2012/13.

Today is the turn of the wingers.



Gareth Bale (Tottenham)

May well end up winning this poll by a country mile, such has been his level of form throughout the campaign. 21 Premier League goals to his name.



Adam Lallana (Southampton)

Saints hero has adapted well to life in the top tier, one of the St Mary's sides chief creators.



Kevin Mirallas (Everton)

Stylish Belgian has done well in his first season in the English top flight, nine goals and six assists to his name.



Steven Pienaar (Everton)

South African has impressed this term, working well in front of Leighton Baines on the flank.



Eden Hazard (Chelsea)

Belgian, who also got a nod in our creative midfielder category, is also worth a mention on our winger poll, 20 assists in all competitions!





David Silva (Man City)

Perhaps a less glorious individual campaign than last term but the crafty Spaniard is still one of the Premier League's most effective attackers.



Aaron Lennon (Tottenham)

Perhaps Bale's displays have left the England man in the shadows somewhat but the pint sized performer has nonetheless impressed this term.



Robert Snodgrass (Norwich City)

Canaries are no doubt indebted to the efforts of the Scottish international.



Theo Walcott (Arsenal)

Arsenal man may like to be considered for the striking role at the Gunners but out wide he has had a very effective campaign, 14 goals and 10 assists in Premier League action alone.



Shaun Maloney (Wigan Athletic)

The Latics may have been relegated by Maloney has still been a very productive player this season.

]]> It's end of season poll time.



We invite our readers to vote in a poll that will help us to produce a Premier League Best XI of 2012/13.

Today is the turn of the wingers.



Gareth Bale (Tottenham)

May well end up winning this poll by a country mile, such has been his level of form throughout the campaign. 21 Premier League goals to his name.



Adam Lallana (Southampton)

Saints hero has adapted well to life in the top tier, one of the St Mary's sides chief creators.



Kevin Mirallas (Everton)

Stylish Belgian has done well in his first season in the English top flight, nine goals and six assists to his name.



Steven Pienaar (Everton)

South African has impressed this term, working well in front of Leighton Baines on the flank.



Eden Hazard (Chelsea)

Belgian, who also got a nod in our creative midfielder category, is also worth a mention on our winger poll, 20 assists in all competitions!





David Silva (Man City)

Perhaps a less glorious individual campaign than last term but the crafty Spaniard is still one of the Premier League's most effective attackers.



Aaron Lennon (Tottenham)

Perhaps Bale's displays have left the England man in the shadows somewhat but the pint sized performer has nonetheless impressed this term.



Robert Snodgrass (Norwich City)

Canaries are no doubt indebted to the efforts of the Scottish international.



Theo Walcott (Arsenal)

Arsenal man may like to be considered for the striking role at the Gunners but out wide he has had a very effective campaign, 14 goals and 10 assists in Premier League action alone.



Shaun Maloney (Wigan Athletic)

The Latics may have been relegated by Maloney has still been a very productive player this season.

]]> http://www.caughtoffside.com/2013/05/23/top-ten-premier-league-wingers-in-201213/feed/ 0 Mad Dog and GloryThu, 23 May 13 14:32:27 +0000It's end of season poll time. http://www.caughtoffside.com/2013/05/23/newcastle-united-deny-approach-for-liverpool-striker-andy-carroll/ http://www.caughtoffside.com/2013/05/23/newcastle-united-deny-approach-for-liverpool-striker-andy-carroll/#comments Thu, 23 May 2013 13:29:09 +0000 Mark Brus http://www.caughtoffside.com/?p=145996 Newcastle not in for Liverpool striker.

Check in to Borussia Dortmund vs Bayern Munich - 2013 UEFA Champions League Final

Newcastle United have supposedly ruled themselves out of a bid for Liverpool's Andy Carroll, according to Sky Sports.

The striker initially joined Liverpool from Newcastle for in 2011 for £35million, a record transfer fee for a British player. However, the 24-year-old has not been a success at Anfield, scoring just 11 goals in 58 appearances for the club.

He has since been farmed out on loan to West Ham, and his form has improved at Upton Park under Sam Allardyce, who is now keen to land the England international on a permanent deal.

The Hammers have agreed a fee of £15million with Liverpool, who have no plans to keep Carroll, and his former club Newcastle have also been credited with an interest in his services.

However, the club claim they will not be making a move for their old player, who is said to be weighing up other options before committing to a move to West Ham.

Monaco have been linked with a surprise interest in Carroll, and Tottenham are also said to be monitoring his situation, and he would favour a switch to a club playing European football.


]]> Newcastle not in for Liverpool striker.

Check in to Borussia Dortmund vs Bayern Munich - 2013 UEFA Champions League Final

Newcastle United have supposedly ruled themselves out of a bid for Liverpool's Andy Carroll, according to Sky Sports.

The striker initially joined Liverpool from Newcastle for in 2011 for £35million, a record transfer fee for a British player. However, the 24-year-old has not been a success at Anfield, scoring just 11 goals in 58 appearances for the club.

He has since been farmed out on loan to West Ham, and his form has improved at Upton Park under Sam Allardyce, who is now keen to land the England international on a permanent deal.

The Hammers have agreed a fee of £15million with Liverpool, who have no plans to keep Carroll, and his former club Newcastle have also been credited with an interest in his services.

However, the club claim they will not be making a move for their old player, who is said to be weighing up other options before committing to a move to West Ham.

Monaco have been linked with a surprise interest in Carroll, and Tottenham are also said to be monitoring his situation, and he would favour a switch to a club playing European football.


]]> http://www.caughtoffside.com/2013/05/23/newcastle-united-deny-approach-for-liverpool-striker-andy-carroll/feed/ 0 Mark BrusThu, 23 May 13 14:29:09 +0000Newcastle not in for Liverpool striker. http://www.caughtoffside.com/2013/05/23/juventus-reach-agreement-to-sign-arsenal-target-gonzalo-higuain/ http://www.caughtoffside.com/2013/05/23/juventus-reach-agreement-to-sign-arsenal-target-gonzalo-higuain/#comments Thu, 23 May 2013 12:23:20 +0000 Mark Brus http://www.caughtoffside.com/?p=146028 Italian giants enter chase for Real Madrid striker.

Check in to Transfer Window: Done Deal Alerts

Italian news source La Repubblica reports that Juventus are now favourites to sign Gonzalo Higuain from under the noses of Arsenal.

The Argentine striker has been put up for sale by Real Madrid this summer, and Arsenal were told to pay around £22million to bring him to the Emirates Stadium.

The Gunners are known to be on the lookout for a striker in this transfer window, as the likes of Lukas Podolski and Olivier Giroud have not quite helped fill the void left by Robin van Persie.

Higuain is said to be a main target, though Arsenal have also had their eye on Stevan Jovetic of Fiorentina, who may be available for cheaper, at around £15million.

Juventus have also shown an interest in Jovetic, though Fiorentina's reluctance to sell to another Serie A club has seen the Italian champions make their move for Higuain instead.

The talented finisher has 120 goals for the Bernebeu club in 264 appearances, but has fallen down the pecking order this season and could make way as the club look to reel in bigger targets, such as Tottenham's Gareth Bale.


]]> Italian giants enter chase for Real Madrid striker.

Check in to Transfer Window: Done Deal Alerts

Italian news source La Repubblica reports that Juventus are now favourites to sign Gonzalo Higuain from under the noses of Arsenal.

The Argentine striker has been put up for sale by Real Madrid this summer, and Arsenal were told to pay around £22million to bring him to the Emirates Stadium.

The Gunners are known to be on the lookout for a striker in this transfer window, as the likes of Lukas Podolski and Olivier Giroud have not quite helped fill the void left by Robin van Persie.

Higuain is said to be a main target, though Arsenal have also had their eye on Stevan Jovetic of Fiorentina, who may be available for cheaper, at around £15million.

Juventus have also shown an interest in Jovetic, though Fiorentina's reluctance to sell to another Serie A club has seen the Italian champions make their move for Higuain instead.

The talented finisher has 120 goals for the Bernebeu club in 264 appearances, but has fallen down the pecking order this season and could make way as the club look to reel in bigger targets, such as Tottenham's Gareth Bale.


]]> http://www.caughtoffside.com/2013/05/23/juventus-reach-agreement-to-sign-arsenal-target-gonzalo-higuain/feed/ 0 Mark BrusThu, 23 May 13 13:23:20 +0000Italian giants enter chase for Real Madrid striker. http://www.caughtoffside.com/2013/05/23/real-madrid-offer-43m-plus-choice-of-quartet-in-mammoth-player-swap-offer-for-tottenham-attacker-gareth-bale/ http://www.caughtoffside.com/2013/05/23/real-madrid-offer-43m-plus-choice-of-quartet-in-mammoth-player-swap-offer-for-tottenham-attacker-gareth-bale/#comments Thu, 23 May 2013 11:56:18 +0000 The Newshound http://www.caughtoffside.com/?p=145951 Spanish giants REALLY want White Hart Lane winger!



Check in to Transfer Window: Done Deal Alerts

By all accounts Real Madrid are desperate to sign Tottenham winger Gareth Bale and the Daily Star is now reporting on a new offer that may well give White Hart Lane chairman Daniel Levy something to think about.

The Spanish giants are ready to offer £43m, some way below Tottenham's apparent valuation of the 23 year old Welsh international, as well as the choice of a quartet of Real Madrid talents who could help sweeten the deal.

Bernabeu president Florentino Perez is keen to bring in a massive signing to take the club's supporters minds attention away from what has been a very bad season for Real Madrid and will hope that capturing Bale would help his chances of re-election.

The La Liga side are willing to more than match the contract offer Tottenham are currently lining up for Bale and clearly the chance to compete in the Champions League and for major honours in general may well tempt the former Southampton man to consider his future at White Hart Lane.

Madrid have offered Spurs the choice of four players as makeweights in any deal – Pepe, Marcelo, Gonzalo Higuain and Angel di Maria.

One would imagine that of the four players on the table it would be Argentine forward Gonzalo Higuain who would most interest Andre Villas-Boas as the Tottenham attack is certainly the area of the club's squad that is in the most need of attention.

Bale has of course had an outstanding season, scoring goals aplenty (many of which being of the spectacular variety) and being Villas-Boas's most consistent performer on the whole by some distance, however even with his best efforts Tottenham could not secure a top four finish and that has led many to wonder just how likely the talented attacker is to stay at the North London club.

]]> Spanish giants REALLY want White Hart Lane winger!



Check in to Transfer Window: Done Deal Alerts

By all accounts Real Madrid are desperate to sign Tottenham winger Gareth Bale and the Daily Star is now reporting on a new offer that may well give White Hart Lane chairman Daniel Levy something to think about.

The Spanish giants are ready to offer £43m, some way below Tottenham's apparent valuation of the 23 year old Welsh international, as well as the choice of a quartet of Real Madrid talents who could help sweeten the deal.

Bernabeu president Florentino Perez is keen to bring in a massive signing to take the club's supporters minds attention away from what has been a very bad season for Real Madrid and will hope that capturing Bale would help his chances of re-election.

The La Liga side are willing to more than match the contract offer Tottenham are currently lining up for Bale and clearly the chance to compete in the Champions League and for major honours in general may well tempt the former Southampton man to consider his future at White Hart Lane.

Madrid have offered Spurs the choice of four players as makeweights in any deal – Pepe, Marcelo, Gonzalo Higuain and Angel di Maria.

One would imagine that of the four players on the table it would be Argentine forward Gonzalo Higuain who would most interest Andre Villas-Boas as the Tottenham attack is certainly the area of the club's squad that is in the most need of attention.

Bale has of course had an outstanding season, scoring goals aplenty (many of which being of the spectacular variety) and being Villas-Boas's most consistent performer on the whole by some distance, however even with his best efforts Tottenham could not secure a top four finish and that has led many to wonder just how likely the talented attacker is to stay at the North London club.

]]> http://www.caughtoffside.com/2013/05/23/real-madrid-offer-43m-plus-choice-of-quartet-in-mammoth-player-swap-offer-for-tottenham-attacker-gareth-bale/feed/ 0 The NewshoundThu, 23 May 13 12:56:18 +0000Spanish giants REALLY want White Hart Lane winger! http://www.caughtoffside.com/2013/05/23/transfer-rumour-gossip-chelsea-target-real-madrid-dream-team-gunners-skipper-set-for-5m-exit-higuain-serie-a-bound/ http://www.caughtoffside.com/2013/05/23/transfer-rumour-gossip-chelsea-target-real-madrid-dream-team-gunners-skipper-set-for-5m-exit-higuain-serie-a-bound/#comments Thu, 23 May 2013 10:07:56 +0000 Mark Brus http://www.caughtoffside.com/?p=146025 A round-up of Thursday's biggest transfer stories.

Check in to Transfer Window: Done Deal Alerts

French giants PSG are readying a bid of £40million for unsettled Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney.

Full story: Daily Mirror.

Former Real Madrid president Roman Calderon believes Cristiano Ronaldo could follow Jose Mourinho to Chelsea this summer.

Full story: talkSPORT.

Chelsea veteran midfielder Frank Lampard has hinted he could stay at Chelsea for a further three years.

Full story: London Evening Standard.

Arsenal are willing to listen to offers for their captain Thomas Vermaelen, and may accept as little as £5million for the unsettled defender.

Full story: The Sun.



Liverpool want to sell Stewart Downing on a permanent deal, and won't listen to loan offers for the winger. Fulham are said to be interested.

Full story: Daily Mirror.

Darren Bent has reportedly been told that he can leave Aston Villa this summer after being frozen out by manager Paul Lambert.

Full story: Daily Mail.

West Ham are leading the chase to land young Chelsea striker Romelu Lukaku on loan next season after an impressive spell with West Brom this year.

Full story: The Metro.

Arsenal target Remy Cabella has had a huge price tag of £85million stamped on his head by current club Montpellier.

Full story: talkSPORT.

Chelsea duo Rafael Benitez and Fernando Torres are both targets for Serie A side Napoli this summer.

Full story: Daily Mirror.



Tottenham are planning an ambitious £36million double move for strikers Roberto Soldado of Valencia and Leandro Damiao of Internacional.

Full story: Daily Express.

Reports in Italy say Arsenal look like missing out on Real Madrid striker Gonzalo Higuain to Italian giants Juventus.

Full story: La Repubblica.

Chelsea have enquired about free-scoring Galatasaray striker Burak Yilmaz, who has also been watched by Arsenal and Liverpool.

Full story: The Guardian.

Queens Park Rangers goalkeeper Rob Green wants to stay at the club and fight for his place in the Championship next season.

Full story: London Evening Standard.

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers admits Luis Suarez has his price, but that he does not want to sell the striker this summer.

Full story: The Metro.

However, Bayern Munich are big fans of the Uruguayan striker, and may hand new manager Pep Guardiola the funds to sign him.

Full story: Daily Mirror.



Newcastle are not interested in making a bid to bring Liverpool striker Andy Carroll back to St James' Park.

Full story: The Telegraph.

]]> A round-up of Thursday's biggest transfer stories.

Check in to Transfer Window: Done Deal Alerts

French giants PSG are readying a bid of £40million for unsettled Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney.

Full story: Daily Mirror.

Former Real Madrid president Roman Calderon believes Cristiano Ronaldo could follow Jose Mourinho to Chelsea this summer.

Full story: talkSPORT.

Chelsea veteran midfielder Frank Lampard has hinted he could stay at Chelsea for a further three years.

Full story: London Evening Standard.

Arsenal are willing to listen to offers for their captain Thomas Vermaelen, and may accept as little as £5million for the unsettled defender.

Full story: The Sun.



Liverpool want to sell Stewart Downing on a permanent deal, and won't listen to loan offers for the winger. Fulham are said to be interested.

Full story: Daily Mirror.

Darren Bent has reportedly been told that he can leave Aston Villa this summer after being frozen out by manager Paul Lambert.

Full story: Daily Mail.

West Ham are leading the chase to land young Chelsea striker Romelu Lukaku on loan next season after an impressive spell with West Brom this year.

Full story: The Metro.

Arsenal target Remy Cabella has had a huge price tag of £85million stamped on his head by current club Montpellier.

Full story: talkSPORT.

Chelsea duo Rafael Benitez and Fernando Torres are both targets for Serie A side Napoli this summer.

Full story: Daily Mirror.



Tottenham are planning an ambitious £36million double move for strikers Roberto Soldado of Valencia and Leandro Damiao of Internacional.

Full story: Daily Express.

Reports in Italy say Arsenal look like missing out on Real Madrid striker Gonzalo Higuain to Italian giants Juventus.

Full story: La Repubblica.

Chelsea have enquired about free-scoring Galatasaray striker Burak Yilmaz, who has also been watched by Arsenal and Liverpool.

Full story: The Guardian.

Queens Park Rangers goalkeeper Rob Green wants to stay at the club and fight for his place in the Championship next season.

Full story: London Evening Standard.

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers admits Luis Suarez has his price, but that he does not want to sell the striker this summer.

Full story: The Metro.

However, Bayern Munich are big fans of the Uruguayan striker, and may hand new manager Pep Guardiola the funds to sign him.

Full story: Daily Mirror.



Newcastle are not interested in making a bid to bring Liverpool striker Andy Carroll back to St James' Park.

Full story: The Telegraph.

]]> http://www.caughtoffside.com/2013/05/23/transfer-rumour-gossip-chelsea-target-real-madrid-dream-team-gunners-skipper-set-for-5m-exit-higuain-serie-a-bound/feed/ 0 Mark BrusThu, 23 May 13 11:07:56 +0000A round-up of Thursday's biggest transfer stories. http://www.caughtoffside.com/2013/05/23/tottenham-launch-36m-strike-pair-bid-in-hope-of-convincing-gareth-bale-to-remain-at-white-hart-lane/ http://www.caughtoffside.com/2013/05/23/tottenham-launch-36m-strike-pair-bid-in-hope-of-convincing-gareth-bale-to-remain-at-white-hart-lane/#comments Thu, 23 May 2013 09:05:35 +0000 Charlie Yaxley http://www.caughtoffside.com/?p=146017 Spurs keen to bring in big signings to persuade Gareth Bale to remain at White Hart Lane.

Check in to Transfer Window: Done Deal Alerts

Tottenham are ready to move fast in this summer’s transfer window as they look to persuade Gareth Bale to stay at the club according to The Express.

Spurs are still reeling from the disappointment of missing out on Champions League football after finishing one point behind their bitter North London rivals Arsenal.

That prompted speculation that their star player, Gareth Bale, could be set to leave but Spurs are keen to prove their ambitions in the hopes of persuading Bale to stay.

Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy has now sanctioned a £35 million double swoop for strike pair Leandro Damiao and Roberto Soldado.

Spurs have been linked with Damiao for some time with the Brazilian striker thought to have been close to a move during the January transfer window only for the club to fail to agree a price with Internacional.

Tottenham are also ready to bring in Valencia’s Roberto Soldado, who has been highly impressive this season for the Spanish side after netting 22 goals.

Andre Vilas-Boas has reportedly identified new strikers as his number one priority after seeing Jermain Defoe struggle for goals following the turn of the year and Manu Adebayor managing a paltry five goals all season.

]]> Spurs keen to bring in big signings to persuade Gareth Bale to remain at White Hart Lane.

Check in to Transfer Window: Done Deal Alerts

Tottenham are ready to move fast in this summer’s transfer window as they look to persuade Gareth Bale to stay at the club according to The Express.

Spurs are still reeling from the disappointment of missing out on Champions League football after finishing one point behind their bitter North London rivals Arsenal.

That prompted speculation that their star player, Gareth Bale, could be set to leave but Spurs are keen to prove their ambitions in the hopes of persuading Bale to stay.

Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy has now sanctioned a £35 million double swoop for strike pair Leandro Damiao and Roberto Soldado.

Spurs have been linked with Damiao for some time with the Brazilian striker thought to have been close to a move during the January transfer window only for the club to fail to agree a price with Internacional.

Tottenham are also ready to bring in Valencia’s Roberto Soldado, who has been highly impressive this season for the Spanish side after netting 22 goals.

Andre Vilas-Boas has reportedly identified new strikers as his number one priority after seeing Jermain Defoe struggle for goals following the turn of the year and Manu Adebayor managing a paltry five goals all season.

]]> http://www.caughtoffside.com/2013/05/23/tottenham-launch-36m-strike-pair-bid-in-hope-of-convincing-gareth-bale-to-remain-at-white-hart-lane/feed/ 0 Charlie YaxleyThu, 23 May 13 10:05:35 +0000Spurs keen to bring in big signings to persuade Gareth Bale to remain at White Hart Lane. http://www.caughtoffside.com/2013/05/23/top-ten-most-valuable-football-players-in-the-world/ http://www.caughtoffside.com/2013/05/23/top-ten-most-valuable-football-players-in-the-world/#comments Thu, 23 May 2013 00:14:31 +0000 Mark Brus http://www.caughtoffside.com/?p=145977 A look at ten of the world's most valuable big-name footballers.

Check in to Transfer Window: Done Deal Alerts

This list takes into account a player's current market value, future earning potential, sponsorship revenue and long term marketability.



10. Sergio Aguero (Manchester City)

The Argentine star has established himself as one of the best strikers in the world, having already made two big-money moves in his career so far, at only the age of 24. Aguero first joined Atletico Madrid as a teenager for £19million and his displays in Spain attracted the attention of Manchester City, who then paid £38million for him, making him their record signing. He has gone on to enhance his reputation playing in the Premier League, scoring 23 goals in his first season for the club, including the memorable title-winning goal against Queens Park Rangers on the final day of 2011/12.

He makes nearly £11million a year in wages from his club, with an extra £2.3million from sponsorship deals and endorsements with the likes of Puma. This world star has been linked with Real Madrid in recent months, and few others could afford his transfer fee of what should surely be a £40million, as well as his enormous wages. His ability on the pitch as well as his off-the-pitch marketability and popularity would make him an excellent investment, though City are unlikely to want to let him go.





9. Mario Goetze (Borussia Dortmund)

This exceptionally gifted 20-year-old has risen to world class status in a very short space of time since making his debut for Borussia Dortmund, and has recently become the most expensive German player of all time with a lucrative £31million move to Dortmund's rivals Bayern Munich. This big-money move to the Bundesliga champions and the country's most famous football club will surely see Goetze set for stardom for many years to come.

His young age and potential makes him a good investment for the club, and his skillful attacking play will suit the style of football played at the Allianz Arena, which will also surely improve under incoming manager Pep Guardiola, who turned Barcelona into a world force during his time at the club. The attacking midfielder will now earn around £6million a year at Bayern Munich, alongside his sponsorship deal with Nike.





8. Gareth Bale (Tottenham)

Gareth Bale's rise over the last few years has been phenomenal. Starting off as something of a laughing stock for the club, he is now considered one of the best players in the world. The Welsh winger has something of a Cristiano Ronaldo feel about him, exciting crowds with his tricks, dribbling and exceptional technique with long range shots and free kicks. After lighting up the Premier League this season with 21 goals, he was crowned double Player of the Year by both the Professional Footballers' Association and the Football Writers' Association, and is now being lined up as the next 'Galactico' signing by Spanish giants Real Madrid.

Real are said to be willing to make him the second most expensive player of all time with a massive offer to Tottenham of £65million. Spurs are understandably keen to keep the 23-year-old, who has almost single-handedly won games for the team this season as they narrowly missed out on a Champions League place. His ability to win games with a moment of magic out of nowhere obviously make him incredibly valuable on the pitch in terms of winning points, and the money made from the star player's shirt sales is also an important asset to the North Londonders. They are said to be willing to offer him a massive £150,000 a week to remain at White Hart Lane, but Real Madrid have also said they can beat that offer if they sign him. The Spurs star also recently signed a lucrative three-year sponsorship deal with BT to appear in their adverts and work for them as a guest pundit.





7. Andres Iniesta (Barcelona)

The 29-year-old is undoubtedly one of the biggest names in football now, after years of success with both Barcelona and the Spanish national team. Arguably his finest moment came when he scored the winning goal against the Netherlands in the 2010 World Cup final, truly announcing himself on the world stage.

After coming up through Barcelona's famous La Masia youth system, there is no suggestion that he would ever be sold by the club with which he has spent his whole career, but his market value is said to be around £61million taking into account his ability, influence and marketability. He currently has a salary of over £4million a year, plus extra money from sponsorship deals with the likes of Kalise, an ice cream manufacturer.





6. Edinson Cavani (Napoli)

The much in-demand Napoli striker is likely to be one of the biggest transfer stories this summer as he makes a big money move to any one of Manchester City, Chelsea or Real Madrid. The 26-year-old has been a star in Serie A over the last few years, proving himself to be one of the world's most lethal goal scorers.

He currently has a salary of around £3.8million per year, but that will surely rise this summer when he makes a move to a bigger club. Prospective buyers will be expected to pay around £54million for the Uruguayan, such is his reputation now as a skillful match-winner of immense ability, who will surely go on to enjoy further success in the future with goals and silverware galore.





5. Radamel Falcao (Atletico Madrid)

Another player whose stock has risen dramatically this season is Atletico Madrid striker Radamel Falcao. The Colombian has an excellent record of 34 goals in 40 appearances in all competitions this season for the Spanish side and is unlikely to remain for much longer at the Estadio Vicente Calderon, after attracting interest from the world's richest clubs, such as Chelsea, Manchester City, Real Madrid, PSG and Monaco. Behind only Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi in La Liga's scoring charts this year, the 27-year-old has shown his ability to perform on the biggest stage, performing in high profile games such as the Super Cup win over Chelsea, where he netted a superb hat trick, and scoring against giants Real Madrid and Barcelona in league games.

He is an exciting player to watch, scoring a variety of goals from different positions, and will only improve when given service from better players in the teams that hope to sign him. He has already moved for big money in the past, joining Atletico Madrid from Porto in 2011 for £34million plus add-ons, and will surely move for close to £60million this summer, given his importance to the team. He would reportedly become one of the best-paid players in the world if he joined Chelsea, who will offer him a weekly wage of around £200,000. He currently has a sponsorship deal with Puma, and is certainly on his way to becoming one of the world's most marketable players.





4. Neymar (Santos)

Despite only being 21, Neymar's estimated market value is around £44million. The Brazilian starlet has earned rave reviews for his performances for Santos since making his debut as a teenager, and quickly gained world-wide exposure after appearing for the Brazilian national side shortly afterwards. He is one of the brightest prospects in world football after some mesmerizing solo goals in the Brazilian league, likening him to Barcelona star Lionel Messi. Barcelona could be the next destination for Neymar, who is widely expected to make a greatly anticipated move to Europe this summer.

The striker is sure to be a world class performer for the next decade or so, and the Nou Camp would be a fitting stage for him to showcase his talents, as his exciting attacking instincts would certainly fit in well with Barcelona's expansive style of play. He is already one of Brazil's best-ever paid players with his sponsorship deals with Nike and Volskwagen, and he will gain even more exposure if he can perform for Barcelona. The two clubs are said to currently be negotiating a fee, and the usual suspects - Real Madrid, Chelsea and Manchester City - will all be monitoring the situation as they hope to make a late move for the Santos star, who will no doubt be one of the most talked about transfers this summer.





3. Wayne Rooney (Manchester United)

Surprisingly, Manchester United might part company with Wayne Rooney this summer after the England striker is said to have submitted a transfer request at Old Trafford. The 27-year-old has been at the club for nine years and is almost certainly the most valuable English player since David Beckham. Having moved for close to £28million as an 18-year-old from Everton, he has gone on to enjoy immense success at one of the world's biggest and most famous football clubs.

He is one of the world's best paid players, earning £15million a year from Manchester United, and has sponsorship endorsements with big names such as Nike, Nokia, Ford, Coca Cola and Asda, as well as appearing on the front cover of every FIFA video game since 2005. His marketability makes him incredibly valuable, and though he may move for a cut price of around £30million, he is probably worth closer to £57million and will be a big business boost for whichever club signs him, due to the number of shirts he would sell, and of course his influence on the pitch when he reaches his best form.





2. Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid)

You could certainly say Cristiano Ronaldo is somewhat undervalued by his current club Real Madrid, earning a relatively low £10million a year from the Spanish giants. The Portuguese winger is one of the world's biggest names after first establishing himself at Manchester United before his record-breaking £80million move to Real Madrid in 2009. He is the most expensive player of all time, and it's easy to see why with his phenomenal goal scoring record.

The 28-year-old has managed 201 goals in 199 games for Madrid, a better goal scoring tally than you'll see from anyone in the world, and he continually scores goals of exceptional quality as well, with many coming from long range or one of his trademark free kicks. His buyout clause with the club is currently close to £1billion, which gives some indication into how much he would cost to be prized away from the Bernebeu.

PSG have been linked with making him the most expensive player in history again, and are said to be willing to offer between £84million and perhaps even £100million for him. If he moves to yet another big team in another high-profile transfer, his stock will only continue to rise, and he is likely to find himself as one of the world's best paid footballers.





1. Lionel Messi (Barcelona)

Lionel Messi has an estimated personal wealth of around £73million, and is without a doubt the world's most valuable footballer. The Argentine star has never commanded a high transfer fee due to his development from the Barcelona youth team, but after his world class displays over the last few years, in which he has helped the club win every trophy possible, he would be valued at around £105million in today's transfer market.

The 25-year-old still has many years left at the top, and although you could argue his reputation couldn't possibly improve as he is already regarded as perhaps the best player of all time, he will carry on scoring his fine individual goals and helping Barcelona to trophies. A World Cup win with Argentina is probably the only thing missing from his collection of achievements, and would surely cement his place as the best of all time.

Although he is not the stereotypical celebrity footballer, his ability has unsurprisingly shot him to fame, and he has appeared on the covers of both the Pro Evolution Soccer and FIFA video games, as well as on several adverts for Adidas, Pepsi and even a Japanese face wash 'Scalp D'. He is also an ambassador for Turkish Airlines.

]]> A look at ten of the world's most valuable big-name footballers.

Check in to Transfer Window: Done Deal Alerts

This list takes into account a player's current market value, future earning potential, sponsorship revenue and long term marketability.



10. Sergio Aguero (Manchester City)

The Argentine star has established himself as one of the best strikers in the world, having already made two big-money moves in his career so far, at only the age of 24. Aguero first joined Atletico Madrid as a teenager for £19million and his displays in Spain attracted the attention of Manchester City, who then paid £38million for him, making him their record signing. He has gone on to enhance his reputation playing in the Premier League, scoring 23 goals in his first season for the club, including the memorable title-winning goal against Queens Park Rangers on the final day of 2011/12.

He makes nearly £11million a year in wages from his club, with an extra £2.3million from sponsorship deals and endorsements with the likes of Puma. This world star has been linked with Real Madrid in recent months, and few others could afford his transfer fee of what should surely be a £40million, as well as his enormous wages. His ability on the pitch as well as his off-the-pitch marketability and popularity would make him an excellent investment, though City are unlikely to want to let him go.





9. Mario Goetze (Borussia Dortmund)

This exceptionally gifted 20-year-old has risen to world class status in a very short space of time since making his debut for Borussia Dortmund, and has recently become the most expensive German player of all time with a lucrative £31million move to Dortmund's rivals Bayern Munich. This big-money move to the Bundesliga champions and the country's most famous football club will surely see Goetze set for stardom for many years to come.

His young age and potential makes him a good investment for the club, and his skillful attacking play will suit the style of football played at the Allianz Arena, which will also surely improve under incoming manager Pep Guardiola, who turned Barcelona into a world force during his time at the club. The attacking midfielder will now earn around £6million a year at Bayern Munich, alongside his sponsorship deal with Nike.





8. Gareth Bale (Tottenham)

Gareth Bale's rise over the last few years has been phenomenal. Starting off as something of a laughing stock for the club, he is now considered one of the best players in the world. The Welsh winger has something of a Cristiano Ronaldo feel about him, exciting crowds with his tricks, dribbling and exceptional technique with long range shots and free kicks. After lighting up the Premier League this season with 21 goals, he was crowned double Player of the Year by both the Professional Footballers' Association and the Football Writers' Association, and is now being lined up as the next 'Galactico' signing by Spanish giants Real Madrid.

Real are said to be willing to make him the second most expensive player of all time with a massive offer to Tottenham of £65million. Spurs are understandably keen to keep the 23-year-old, who has almost single-handedly won games for the team this season as they narrowly missed out on a Champions League place. His ability to win games with a moment of magic out of nowhere obviously make him incredibly valuable on the pitch in terms of winning points, and the money made from the star player's shirt sales is also an important asset to the North Londonders. They are said to be willing to offer him a massive £150,000 a week to remain at White Hart Lane, but Real Madrid have also said they can beat that offer if they sign him. The Spurs star also recently signed a lucrative three-year sponsorship deal with BT to appear in their adverts and work for them as a guest pundit.





7. Andres Iniesta (Barcelona)

The 29-year-old is undoubtedly one of the biggest names in football now, after years of success with both Barcelona and the Spanish national team. Arguably his finest moment came when he scored the winning goal against the Netherlands in the 2010 World Cup final, truly announcing himself on the world stage.

After coming up through Barcelona's famous La Masia youth system, there is no suggestion that he would ever be sold by the club with which he has spent his whole career, but his market value is said to be around £61million taking into account his ability, influence and marketability. He currently has a salary of over £4million a year, plus extra money from sponsorship deals with the likes of Kalise, an ice cream manufacturer.





6. Edinson Cavani (Napoli)

The much in-demand Napoli striker is likely to be one of the biggest transfer stories this summer as he makes a big money move to any one of Manchester City, Chelsea or Real Madrid. The 26-year-old has been a star in Serie A over the last few years, proving himself to be one of the world's most lethal goal scorers.

He currently has a salary of around £3.8million per year, but that will surely rise this summer when he makes a move to a bigger club. Prospective buyers will be expected to pay around £54million for the Uruguayan, such is his reputation now as a skillful match-winner of immense ability, who will surely go on to enjoy further success in the future with goals and silverware galore.





5. Radamel Falcao (Atletico Madrid)

Another player whose stock has risen dramatically this season is Atletico Madrid striker Radamel Falcao. The Colombian has an excellent record of 34 goals in 40 appearances in all competitions this season for the Spanish side and is unlikely to remain for much longer at the Estadio Vicente Calderon, after attracting interest from the world's richest clubs, such as Chelsea, Manchester City, Real Madrid, PSG and Monaco. Behind only Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi in La Liga's scoring charts this year, the 27-year-old has shown his ability to perform on the biggest stage, performing in high profile games such as the Super Cup win over Chelsea, where he netted a superb hat trick, and scoring against giants Real Madrid and Barcelona in league games.

He is an exciting player to watch, scoring a variety of goals from different positions, and will only improve when given service from better players in the teams that hope to sign him. He has already moved for big money in the past, joining Atletico Madrid from Porto in 2011 for £34million plus add-ons, and will surely move for close to £60million this summer, given his importance to the team. He would reportedly become one of the best-paid players in the world if he joined Chelsea, who will offer him a weekly wage of around £200,000. He currently has a sponsorship deal with Puma, and is certainly on his way to becoming one of the world's most marketable players.





4. Neymar (Santos)

Despite only being 21, Neymar's estimated market value is around £44million. The Brazilian starlet has earned rave reviews for his performances for Santos since making his debut as a teenager, and quickly gained world-wide exposure after appearing for the Brazilian national side shortly afterwards. He is one of the brightest prospects in world football after some mesmerizing solo goals in the Brazilian league, likening him to Barcelona star Lionel Messi. Barcelona could be the next destination for Neymar, who is widely expected to make a greatly anticipated move to Europe this summer.

The striker is sure to be a world class performer for the next decade or so, and the Nou Camp would be a fitting stage for him to showcase his talents, as his exciting attacking instincts would certainly fit in well with Barcelona's expansive style of play. He is already one of Brazil's best-ever paid players with his sponsorship deals with Nike and Volskwagen, and he will gain even more exposure if he can perform for Barcelona. The two clubs are said to currently be negotiating a fee, and the usual suspects - Real Madrid, Chelsea and Manchester City - will all be monitoring the situation as they hope to make a late move for the Santos star, who will no doubt be one of the most talked about transfers this summer.





3. Wayne Rooney (Manchester United)

Surprisingly, Manchester United might part company with Wayne Rooney this summer after the England striker is said to have submitted a transfer request at Old Trafford. The 27-year-old has been at the club for nine years and is almost certainly the most valuable English player since David Beckham. Having moved for close to £28million as an 18-year-old from Everton, he has gone on to enjoy immense success at one of the world's biggest and most famous football clubs.

He is one of the world's best paid players, earning £15million a year from Manchester United, and has sponsorship endorsements with big names such as Nike, Nokia, Ford, Coca Cola and Asda, as well as appearing on the front cover of every FIFA video game since 2005. His marketability makes him incredibly valuable, and though he may move for a cut price of around £30million, he is probably worth closer to £57million and will be a big business boost for whichever club signs him, due to the number of shirts he would sell, and of course his influence on the pitch when he reaches his best form.





2. Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid)

You could certainly say Cristiano Ronaldo is somewhat undervalued by his current club Real Madrid, earning a relatively low £10million a year from the Spanish giants. The Portuguese winger is one of the world's biggest names after first establishing himself at Manchester United before his record-breaking £80million move to Real Madrid in 2009. He is the most expensive player of all time, and it's easy to see why with his phenomenal goal scoring record.

The 28-year-old has managed 201 goals in 199 games for Madrid, a better goal scoring tally than you'll see from anyone in the world, and he continually scores goals of exceptional quality as well, with many coming from long range or one of his trademark free kicks. His buyout clause with the club is currently close to £1billion, which gives some indication into how much he would cost to be prized away from the Bernebeu.

PSG have been linked with making him the most expensive player in history again, and are said to be willing to offer between £84million and perhaps even £100million for him. If he moves to yet another big team in another high-profile transfer, his stock will only continue to rise, and he is likely to find himself as one of the world's best paid footballers.





1. Lionel Messi (Barcelona)

Lionel Messi has an estimated personal wealth of around £73million, and is without a doubt the world's most valuable footballer. The Argentine star has never commanded a high transfer fee due to his development from the Barcelona youth team, but after his world class displays over the last few years, in which he has helped the club win every trophy possible, he would be valued at around £105million in today's transfer market.

The 25-year-old still has many years left at the top, and although you could argue his reputation couldn't possibly improve as he is already regarded as perhaps the best player of all time, he will carry on scoring his fine individual goals and helping Barcelona to trophies. A World Cup win with Argentina is probably the only thing missing from his collection of achievements, and would surely cement his place as the best of all time.

Although he is not the stereotypical celebrity footballer, his ability has unsurprisingly shot him to fame, and he has appeared on the covers of both the Pro Evolution Soccer and FIFA video games, as well as on several adverts for Adidas, Pepsi and even a Japanese face wash 'Scalp D'. He is also an ambassador for Turkish Airlines.

]]> http://www.caughtoffside.com/2013/05/23/top-ten-most-valuable-football-players-in-the-world/feed/ 0 Mark BrusThu, 23 May 13 01:14:31 +0000A look at ten of the world's most valuable big-name footballers. http://www.caughtoffside.com/2013/05/22/top-ten-premier-league-players-who-could-greatly-benefit-from-a-loan-move-next-season/ http://www.caughtoffside.com/2013/05/22/top-ten-premier-league-players-who-could-greatly-benefit-from-a-loan-move-next-season/#comments Wed, 22 May 2013 18:41:09 +0000 Mark Brus http://www.caughtoffside.com/?p=145969 Ten youngsters who need experience, or simply squad players who need more games and could benefit from a loan move next season.



Check in to Transfer Window: Done Deal Alerts



10. Oriol Romeu (Chelsea)

The young midfielder arrived from Barcelona as an exciting prospect in 2011, though he has not looked quite ready to be a regular for Chelsea. He has barely featured for the first team this season and when he has he has looked a little slow and off the pace. No doubt a talent if he was produced by Barca's famed youth system, but at 21 he could certainly benefit from more experience and regular football at a lower level Premier League club.





9. Tom Carroll (Tottenham)

This skillful midfielder is highly thought of at Tottenham, drawing comparisons with Arsenal starlet Jack Wilshere for his playmaking abilities with his left foot from the middle of the park. However, he has a lot of competition ahead of him at Spurs and sitting on the bench isn't doing much good for his development. The 20-year-old has had previous loan spells at Leyton Orient and Derby County, and could be on his way to another Premier League team on loan next season to show what he can do when given more of a chance.





8. Nick Powell (Manchester United)

This 19-year-old midfielder is one of many exciting young players to have come from Crewe Alexandra's youth system, and earned a big move to Manchester United last summer after impressing with the League 2 side. Opportunities have been unsurprisingly hard to come by in this United side, though he has managed to score one goal for the club. With a host of summer signings expected to come in, Powell may be on the way out, at least for the season, as United need him to be playing and gaining experience at this stage in his career.





7. Ryan Bertrand (Chelsea)

Ryan Bertrand has had to make to with playing second fiddle to Ashley Cole for a number of years now at Chelsea, but they are keen to keep this talented youngster around. Still, he is now 23 and no longer going to benefit from simply making brief appearances as a substitute or playing in the less-important cup games. Cole isn't going anywhere any time soon, so why not let Bertrand get a few more games elsewhere next season? This skillful attacking left-back certainly won't be short of suitors from a number of Premier League clubs.





6. Wojciech Szczesny (Arsenal)

Though hardly an inexperienced youngster, Wojciech Szczesny has hit a difficult spell in his Arsenal career. The Polish goalkeeper was very highly rated at the club for a number of years, but was arguably made first choice too soon at the age of 20. He has suffered a dip in confidence and perhaps needs a move away from the spotlight for a while. The talented Pole could do well to spend next season on loan while Arsenal bring in a more experienced short-term solution between the posts to aid their push for silverware. Szczesny certainly won't want to be on the bench at this stage in his career.





5. Raheem Sterling (Liverpool)

It's been a decent breakthrough season for Raheem Sterling, one of the most exciting young players at Liverpool, but it's clear that the 18-year-old winger still looks a bit raw for this level. Sterling has done well to make 36 appearances for Brendan Rodgers' side this season, scoring 2 goals, and also earned a call-up to the England national team. Still, it may all be a bit much too soon for the teenage talent, and he could certainly do with a temporary step down to a lower level Premier League side or maybe even to the Championship, which has shown itself down the years to be a great starting point in many players' careers.





4. Victor Moses (Chelsea)

Perhaps an unexpected signing by Chelsea from Wigan last summer, Victor Moses has unsurprisingly not been a regular feature in the side this season. Still, he has a great deal of potential and perhaps made his big move a bit too early. The Nigerian forward is still only 22 and his talents would surely be in-demand by many mid-table sides next season, with Swansea said to be showing an interest. Chelsea probably won't be using him, and he could come back to them a better player. A similar move has worked wonders for fellow Chelsea youngster Romelu Lukaku this season.





3. Jonjo Shelvey (Liverpool)

This talented 21-year-old has shown what he can do in limited appearances for Liverpool this season, and deserves more of a chance to be playing regularly. A previous loan spell at Blackpool in 2011 worked wonders for Shelvey's confidence, and his stock has certainly risen to Premier League level now. He still may not quite be ready for the Reds' first team, but time out on loan could certainly provide him with the experience he needs to make an impact at Anfield the following year.





2. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (Arsenal)

A lot was expected of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain when he signed for Arsenal from Southampton for around £12million as a 17-year-old. The winger had a decent first season with the club, but has failed to reproduce his form this time round. At this age he is still likely to be inconsistent, but the talent is there and the experience of playing every week would do him the world of good. Arsenal may not find a place for him next season as they strengthen their squad this summer, so a loan move to a lower level Premier League team could benefit both parties greatly.





1. Javier Hernandez (Manchester United)

Another player who is not a youngster in need of experience, but simply a talented striker who has gone off the boil slightly. Javier Hernandez made a great immediate impact when he joined United in 2010, but he has been in and out of the team over the last couple of years, and will be frustrated not to have cemented a regular place due to his finishing abilities. United may or may not want to keep him, but they would be unwise to sell this talented goal poacher without giving him more of a chance. If he cannot get games at Old Trafford next year, there are many Premier League sides who would take him and give him the opportunity to show what he can do at this level.

]]> Ten youngsters who need experience, or simply squad players who need more games and could benefit from a loan move next season.



Check in to Transfer Window: Done Deal Alerts



10. Oriol Romeu (Chelsea)

The young midfielder arrived from Barcelona as an exciting prospect in 2011, though he has not looked quite ready to be a regular for Chelsea. He has barely featured for the first team this season and when he has he has looked a little slow and off the pace. No doubt a talent if he was produced by Barca's famed youth system, but at 21 he could certainly benefit from more experience and regular football at a lower level Premier League club.





9. Tom Carroll (Tottenham)

This skillful midfielder is highly thought of at Tottenham, drawing comparisons with Arsenal starlet Jack Wilshere for his playmaking abilities with his left foot from the middle of the park. However, he has a lot of competition ahead of him at Spurs and sitting on the bench isn't doing much good for his development. The 20-year-old has had previous loan spells at Leyton Orient and Derby County, and could be on his way to another Premier League team on loan next season to show what he can do when given more of a chance.





8. Nick Powell (Manchester United)

This 19-year-old midfielder is one of many exciting young players to have come from Crewe Alexandra's youth system, and earned a big move to Manchester United last summer after impressing with the League 2 side. Opportunities have been unsurprisingly hard to come by in this United side, though he has managed to score one goal for the club. With a host of summer signings expected to come in, Powell may be on the way out, at least for the season, as United need him to be playing and gaining experience at this stage in his career.





7. Ryan Bertrand (Chelsea)

Ryan Bertrand has had to make to with playing second fiddle to Ashley Cole for a number of years now at Chelsea, but they are keen to keep this talented youngster around. Still, he is now 23 and no longer going to benefit from simply making brief appearances as a substitute or playing in the less-important cup games. Cole isn't going anywhere any time soon, so why not let Bertrand get a few more games elsewhere next season? This skillful attacking left-back certainly won't be short of suitors from a number of Premier League clubs.





6. Wojciech Szczesny (Arsenal)

Though hardly an inexperienced youngster, Wojciech Szczesny has hit a difficult spell in his Arsenal career. The Polish goalkeeper was very highly rated at the club for a number of years, but was arguably made first choice too soon at the age of 20. He has suffered a dip in confidence and perhaps needs a move away from the spotlight for a while. The talented Pole could do well to spend next season on loan while Arsenal bring in a more experienced short-term solution between the posts to aid their push for silverware. Szczesny certainly won't want to be on the bench at this stage in his career.





5. Raheem Sterling (Liverpool)

It's been a decent breakthrough season for Raheem Sterling, one of the most exciting young players at Liverpool, but it's clear that the 18-year-old winger still looks a bit raw for this level. Sterling has done well to make 36 appearances for Brendan Rodgers' side this season, scoring 2 goals, and also earned a call-up to the England national team. Still, it may all be a bit much too soon for the teenage talent, and he could certainly do with a temporary step down to a lower level Premier League side or maybe even to the Championship, which has shown itself down the years to be a great starting point in many players' careers.





4. Victor Moses (Chelsea)

Perhaps an unexpected signing by Chelsea from Wigan last summer, Victor Moses has unsurprisingly not been a regular feature in the side this season. Still, he has a great deal of potential and perhaps made his big move a bit too early. The Nigerian forward is still only 22 and his talents would surely be in-demand by many mid-table sides next season, with Swansea said to be showing an interest. Chelsea probably won't be using him, and he could come back to them a better player. A similar move has worked wonders for fellow Chelsea youngster Romelu Lukaku this season.





3. Jonjo Shelvey (Liverpool)

This talented 21-year-old has shown what he can do in limited appearances for Liverpool this season, and deserves more of a chance to be playing regularly. A previous loan spell at Blackpool in 2011 worked wonders for Shelvey's confidence, and his stock has certainly risen to Premier League level now. He still may not quite be ready for the Reds' first team, but time out on loan could certainly provide him with the experience he needs to make an impact at Anfield the following year.





2. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (Arsenal)

A lot was expected of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain when he signed for Arsenal from Southampton for around £12million as a 17-year-old. The winger had a decent first season with the club, but has failed to reproduce his form this time round. At this age he is still likely to be inconsistent, but the talent is there and the experience of playing every week would do him the world of good. Arsenal may not find a place for him next season as they strengthen their squad this summer, so a loan move to a lower level Premier League team could benefit both parties greatly.





1. Javier Hernandez (Manchester United)

Another player who is not a youngster in need of experience, but simply a talented striker who has gone off the boil slightly. Javier Hernandez made a great immediate impact when he joined United in 2010, but he has been in and out of the team over the last couple of years, and will be frustrated not to have cemented a regular place due to his finishing abilities. United may or may not want to keep him, but they would be unwise to sell this talented goal poacher without giving him more of a chance. If he cannot get games at Old Trafford next year, there are many Premier League sides who would take him and give him the opportunity to show what he can do at this level.

]]> http://www.caughtoffside.com/2013/05/22/top-ten-premier-league-players-who-could-greatly-benefit-from-a-loan-move-next-season/feed/ 0 Mark BrusWed, 22 May 13 19:41:09 +0000Ten youngsters who need experience, or simply squad players who need more games and could benefit from a loan move next season. http://www.caughtoffside.com/2013/05/22/real-madrid-look-to-hijack-manchester-city-move-for-isco/ http://www.caughtoffside.com/2013/05/22/real-madrid-look-to-hijack-manchester-city-move-for-isco/#comments Wed, 22 May 2013 15:31:55 +0000 Mark Brus http://www.caughtoffside.com/?p=145889 Real join chase for in-demand Malaga ace.

Check in to Malaga CF vs Deportivo La Coruna

Real Madrid could attempt to hijack Manchester City's attempts to sign attacking midfielder Isco from Malaga, according to talkSPORT.

The talented 21-year-old is one of the most sought-after young players in the world, impressing a number of top clubs after his displays for Malaga this season.

Chelsea and Manchester City have long been chasing the Spaniard, but City's impending appointment of Malaga manager Manuel Pellegrini looked like swinging the deal in their favour.

However, with Isco having a minimum release fee clause in the region of £20million, Real Madrid may look to activate it and keep the exciting prospect in La Liga.

Isco may still favour a reunion with his manager Pellegrini at the Etihad Stadium, but the two clubs will now battle it out to land the midfielder, who has scored 8 goals in La Liga this season.

It is understood that Real Madrid have upped their interest in the Malaga man after missing out on their main target Gareth Bale, who looks set to sign a new contract to stay at Tottenham.

Manuel Pellegrini has also identified the likes of Marco Reus and Jesus Navas as targets for when he joins Manchester City this summer.

]]> Real join chase for in-demand Malaga ace.

Check in to Malaga CF vs Deportivo La Coruna

Real Madrid could attempt to hijack Manchester City's attempts to sign attacking midfielder Isco from Malaga, according to talkSPORT.

The talented 21-year-old is one of the most sought-after young players in the world, impressing a number of top clubs after his displays for Malaga this season.

Chelsea and Manchester City have long been chasing the Spaniard, but City's impending appointment of Malaga manager Manuel Pellegrini looked like swinging the deal in their favour.

However, with Isco having a minimum release fee clause in the region of £20million, Real Madrid may look to activate it and keep the exciting prospect in La Liga.

Isco may still favour a reunion with his manager Pellegrini at the Etihad Stadium, but the two clubs will now battle it out to land the midfielder, who has scored 8 goals in La Liga this season.

It is understood that Real Madrid have upped their interest in the Malaga man after missing out on their main target Gareth Bale, who looks set to sign a new contract to stay at Tottenham.

Manuel Pellegrini has also identified the likes of Marco Reus and Jesus Navas as targets for when he joins Manchester City this summer.

]]> http://www.caughtoffside.com/2013/05/22/real-madrid-look-to-hijack-manchester-city-move-for-isco/feed/ 0 Mark BrusWed, 22 May 13 16:31:55 +0000Real join chase for in-demand Malaga ace.