It has been a rather lacklustre season for Southampton so far as they have failed to impress on the pitch.
Manager Mauricio Pellegrino, who was appointed as Claude Puel’s successor last summer has come under fire from the club’s following over results and style of play.
The team have not won a Premier League games since November, and as a result, the Saints sit one place above the relegation zone due to a better goal difference than Stoke City.
Pellegrino has an opportunity to turn things around by bringing in some new players this month that will boost the squad.
One man who BBC Sport claims is wanted by Southampton is Theo Walcott – a former academy graduate who joined Arsenal in 2006.
The coastal club have been dealt a blow in their rumoured pursuit, as Everton manager Sam Allardyce confirmed in a press conference that the Toffees are in talks with the Gunners over a permanent deal for Walcott.
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Southampton fans have been tweeting their reactions.
As the Champions League round of 16 fixtures loom, we take a look at the Premier League club’s prospects in the competition.
While Arsenal and Manchester City undoubtably have the most daunting fixtures, facing Bayern Munich and Barcelona respectively, but all sides have a good chance at qualification.
Arsenal vs Bayern Munich
Reeling from last year’s narrow defeat to Bayern (only losing on away goals after winning 2-0 at the Allianz Arena), Arsenal will be looking for revenge on the Bavarians. Much improved from last year, Arsenal are firmly in the Premier League race and will look to make a statement. Having exacted revenge on Liverpool on Sunday in the F.A cup, the confidence will be high. Bayern are also more formidable than last year, unbeaten in their last 20 league matches and 16 points adrift in the Bundesliga. This clash is sure to entertain.
Prediction: Arsenal 4-4 Bayern Munich – Arsenal through on away goals
Manchester City vs Barcelona
Goals-a-plenty are expected in this clash, with the sides possessing two of the highest tallies of goals across Europe. Much is made of Barca’s faltering form, but the Catalans are still a force to be reckoned with. City will be reeling from the loss of Sergio Aguero and Fernandinho, but will be confident ahead of the clash.
Prediction: Manchester City 4-5 Barcelona
Manchester United vs Olympiakos
United will be searching for salvation in what has been a dismal season for the Red Devils. The defending champions sit in seventh place in the league with a top four place looking increasingly unlikely. Their opponents Olympiakos are the reigning Greek Champions and are in fine form in the league. They will miss top goalscorer Kostas Mitriglou who mades the move to Fulham, and will be weakened because of his loss.
Prediction: Manchester United 4-2 Olympiakos
Chelsea vs Galatasaray
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The return of Dider Drogba to Stamford Bridge will make for quite the spectacle for all supporters. The Ivorian legend will be forever loved by the Chelsea faithful and will look forward to an applause. His side may not share his reception however, as Mourinho’s men are as strong as ever in recent years. Resurgent since the return of Mourinho, the blues currently lead the league and will look to keep their momentum going in the Champion’s league.
Both Darren Fletcher and Steven Fletcher have been named in the Scotland squad for October’s World Cup qualifying fixtures, Sky Sports report.
The Manchester United midfielder has been on the sidelines for eight months with a chronic bowel condition, but after making a return to action at Old Trafford has been recalled to the national set-up.
Sunderland striker Fletcher has impressed since moving to the Stadium of Light from Wolves in the summer, and has scored five Premier League goals so far for the Black Cats.
Fletcher and Scotland boss Craig Levein have had a well-publicised spat, but the under-fire coach has managed to persuade the attacker to re-join his contingent.
Scotland face Wales and Belgium throughout October.
Squad in full:
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Adam (Stoke), Berra (Wolves), Brown (Celtic), Caldwell (Wigan), D Fletcher (Man Utd), S Fletcher (Sunderland), Forrest (Celtic), Fox (Southampton), Gilks (Blackpool), Hanley (Blackburn), Hutton (Aston Villa), McArthur (Wigan), McGregor (Besiktas), Mackie (QPR), Maloney (Wigan), Marshall (Cardiff), Martin (Norwich), Miller (Vancouver Whitecaps),Morrison (West Brom), Mulgrew (Celtic), Naismith (Everton), Phillips (Blackpool), Rhodes (Blackburn), Snodgrass (Norwich), Webster (Hearts)
According to reports in The Sun, Arsenal could sell midfielder Aaron Ramsey this summer if he fails to sign a contract before the start of next season, and Manchester United should look to bring the Wales international to Old Trafford.
What’s the word, then?
Well, Ramsey’s contract at the Emirates Stadium is due to expire this summer, and the 27-year-old has yet to commit himself to a new long-term agreement with the north London outfit.
The Sun says that talks between the two parties have been going on for months with no real progress made, and they could be tempted to put the £40m-rated Welshman up for sale in order to ensure they aren’t held to ransom again after they were given the run-around by both Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil this season.
Meanwhile, Red Devils manager Jose Mourinho may well be looking to bring in a new central midfield partner for Nemanja Matic and Paul Pogba this summer with Michael Carrick retiring and the futures of Marouane Fellaini and Ander Herrera looking to be in real doubt, and Ramsey could be their ideal man.
How did Ramsey do this season?
Despite it being another hugely disappointing campaign for Arsenal as they finished sixth in the Premier League table and were knocked out of the Europa League by Atletico Madrid at the semi-final stage, the 27-year-old was one of their better performers.
The central midfielder, who can play in that role or either a defensive or attacking position through the middle too, scored 11 goals and provided a further 12 assists in 32 appearances in all competitions for the Gunners, which included a hat-trick against Everton in February.
Would he be a good signing for United?
He certainly would be.
As well as being neat and tidy on the ball and often proving to be influential in the final third, Ramsey is also well aware of his defensive duties – which of course is something Mourinho demands of his United players.
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The chance to pick up a player with huge experience in the Premier League and Champions League – and one with such an impressive overall record in terms of goals and assists – should be one that is too difficult to turn down, as he could prove to complement Matic and Pogba perfectly in the middle of the park for the Red Devils, whose fans on Twitter would be willing to let Anthony Martial go if they got a £90m-rated attacker in return.
Newcastle United are having a turbulent few months due to the takeover drama, results on the pitch and uncertainty over transfers.
Rafael Benitez is trying to make sure that the Magpies stay afloat in the Premier League, but at the moment the team are only three points above the relegation zone.
January can be an important transfer window for clubs in Newcastle’s predicament, as they can aim for members who could be the difference between staying up or dropping back into the Championship.
The North-East outfit have been linked to numerous targets, particularly forward players due to the current team’s continuous misfiring.
Within the rumour mill emerged a story from ESPN, who claimed that Newcastle were weighing up a move for Everton winger Aaron Lennon.
If the club’s interest was serious then they have been dealt a blow as BBC Sport claim that Burnley have agreed a deal to sign Lennon for an undisclosed fee.
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After hearing the reports, Newcastle fans gave a mixed response on Twitter.
Stoke manager Mark Hughes is plotting a January swoop for Borussia Monchengladbach striker Luuk De Jong, according to reports from TuttoMercato.
‘Sparky’ has set about transforming the Potters’ image as a long ball team since taking over from now Crystal Palace chief Tony Pulis over the summer and has been successful to a certain extent.
Stoke have enjoyed a solid start to the campaign, with their shock 3-2 win over Chelsea on Saturday moving them into 12th.
Hughes invested in multiple players during the last window to aid his cause, but is still thought to be eyeing further additions next month.
De Jong is one man he has been tracking for some time, and rumoured that he may be available have seen the club’s interest spike.
The 23-year-old is not seen as a key man at Monchengladbach, with the German side said to be prepared to let him leave.
Hughes is open to offering him the chance of a Premier League switch, where he could be used alongside Peter Crouch.
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De Jong has attracted interest from some English football’s top sides in the past, and has represented his nation seven times at senior international level.
Reading welcome Newcastle to the Madjeski Stadium on Saturday, in desperate search of Premier League points.
Brain McDermott’s men recorded their first domestic win of the new campaign in midweek, beating QPR 3-2 in the Capital One cup on Wednesday evening.
Newcastle suffered defeat at Old Trafford in the same competition, but have made a decent start to their league campaign, and picked up an important three points at home to Norwich last time out.
Reading striker Jason Roberts has a chance of playing for the first time this season. Roberts faces a fitness test after recovering from a calf injury. Mali winger Jimmy Kebe played against QPR in midweek and his hamstring problem will be assessed before the match.
Newcastle will assess the fitness of Danny Simpson and Tim Krul before the match, with the pair attempting to return from hamstring and elbow injuries respectively.
“Danny will train Thursday or Friday all being well. Tim is looking for the all clear on Wednesday to start back,” Pardew told the Evening Chronicle.
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This will be Alan Pardew’s first game in charge since the announcement he has signed a new 8-year-deal with the club.
According to ESPN FC, Tottenham Hotspur have joined Premier League rivals Leicester City and West Ham United in the race to sign giant 6ft 5in tall West Bromwich Albion defender Ahmed Hegazi, and Everton must also look to target the in-demand 27-year-old.
What’s the word, then?
Well, ESPN FC report that Spurs are targeting a move for the Egypt international, who the Baggies face a real fight to keep hold of following their relegation to the Championship.
ESPN FC says that the north London club view the centre-back as a possible replacement for Toby Alderweireld, with doubts over his future and whether he will still be with them next season.
The report adds that Mauricio Pochettino’s men will face competition from Leicester and West Ham if they do try and get Hegazi, who doesn’t have a release clause of £2.5m in his contract as per a previous report in The Sun.
Meanwhile Everton, whose new DOF Marcel Brands can become an instant hero if he finds agreement with 20-year-old attacker, will surely be targeting a new centre-back this summer with Ashley Williams and Phil Jagielka getting no younger, and Ramiro Funes Mori’s future at Goodison Park likely to be in doubt.
How did Hegazi do this season?
While West Brom suffered the disappointment of relegation, the 27-year-old impressed and established himself as one of the best out-and-out defenders in the Premier League in what was his debut campaign in England.
The Egyptian centre-back showed he is strong and decent in the air, while he is prepared to put his body on the line for his team – as shown by the fact he and Craig Dawson were picked ahead of captain Jonny Evans in the closing weeks of the season.
Meanwhile, he also showed how reliable he can be by featuring in all 38 of their Premier League matches, and only coming 33 minutes away from playing the entirety of their campaign.
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Would he be a good signing for Everton?
He certainly would be, and he could be the perfect dominant partner for Michael Keane at the heart of the defence.
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Former Everton director of football Steve Walsh played a big role in bringing the former Burnley man to Goodison Park, but it was something of a rollercoaster campaign for the England international as he struggled for form and consistency.
Bringing in Hegazi alongside him would certainly help him to improve, and the fact that the Egypt international is a strong character would mean that he make a really big impression on his 25-year-old teammate and the defence in general.
According to ESPN journalist Mattias Karen on his official Twitter account, Southampton have been dealt a huge blow in their attempt to bring Arsenal winger Theo Walcott back to the club during the January transfer window after Gunners boss Arsene Wenger said he ‘wants him to stay’.
What’s the word, then?
Well, the 28-year-old has emerged as one of the south coast outfit’s top targets this month as they look strengthen their attacking options having only scored 21 times in their 22 Premier League matches so far this term – a record that has contributed to them only lying outside of the relegation zone on goal difference.
Mauricio Pellegrino is keen to bring the England international back to St Mary’s 12 years after he left for Arsenal as a 16-year-old, and he would have been hopeful of doing so with the winger struggling for game time in the English top flight having only featured for a total of 49 minutes across five substitute appearances.
However, Wenger’s latest comments suggest that he isn’t ready to let Walcott – who has 18 months left on his contract – leaving during the current window.
What did he say?
According to Mattias Karen on Twitter, the Frenchman said…
Is a deal dead?
Probably not but it could depend on a few things.
Firstly, whether Alexis Sanchez stays or goes this month will certainly have an impact, as Wenger will lose an attacking option if the Chile international is sold now rather than leaving for free in the summer.
In addition it could also depend on Olivier Giroud’s recovery time with the France international currently sidelined with a hamstring injury, although he is expected back in action soon.
What can Southampton do now?
They may have to wait a few weeks longer, but that certainly isn’t an ideal scenario given the position they find themselves in.
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Given that Walcott is keen to play regularly to try and reclaim his spot in Gareth Southgate’s England squad before the World Cup in the summer, perhaps if he pushes a little more for an exit then a deal may be more likely to go through sooner rather than later.
Everton are lining up a £15million bid for Wigan midfielder James McCarthy, according to the Daily Star.
The Toffees are keen to sign the Irish star, but will have to sell before they can make a move for the 22-year-old.
But with Marouane Fellaini and Leighton Baines the subject of a bid from Manchester United, a move could happen soon for McCarthy. United had a £28million joint bid for the Everton pair rejected, with the fee not matching Martinez’s valuation of the two players.
Baines has a price tag of £18million, whilst Fellaini will cost any side at least £20million. But David Moyes is confident he can push through a transfer despite his initial bid being far from Everton’s desired value.
McCarthy is also a transfer target for Newcastle, however a move to Everton is much more likely, in a move that would reunite him with Roberto Martinez. The pair won the FA Cup together last year despite being relegated, and McCarthy is reportedly keen on a move back to the Premier League.
McCarthy played in Wigan’s defeat at Bournemouth on Saturday, as his teammate Callum McManaman was sent off for a reckless challenge. But the Irish star will be hoping it is the last Championship match he has played.
Would McCarthy do well at Everton? Is he worth £5million?
Join the debate below!
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