Since Gareth Bale made the huge move to Real Madrid from Tottenham Hotspur in the summer of 2013, he has regularly been mentioned in the transfer gossip pages.
Initially, rumours of feeling homesick stirred reports that he could make a return to the Premier League, and now his fitness has become an apparent issue in the Bernabeu.
According to Spanish publication AS, Los Blancos are open to offloading the Wales international this summer, but will not accept less than £88m for his signature.
Bale has had a hugely successful time in Spain given that he has won 10 trophies, including three Champions League crowns, but this season he has been affected by injuries.
The attacker has made 29 appearances in all competitions so far and has still managed to score 12 goals, but it spells on the sidelines have reportedly made Madrid bosses consider their options.
Manchester United are the first club that tend to be mentioned with regards to Bale’s future, but Tottenham have entered the rumour mill in recent months.
After hearing of the 28-year-old’s alleged £88m price tag,
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Queens Park Rangers (4-4-2): Green, Isla, Dunne, Caulker, Hill, Vargas, Barton, Mutch, Fer, Zamora, Austin
Queens Park Rangers have only two major injury concerns with Alejandro Faurlin and Yun Suk-Young both unable to feature whilst Sandro and former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand are still a doubt. This means Richard Dunne will start alongside Steven Caulker while new loan signing Mauro Zarate may only have a place on the bench. The injury to Suk-Young will mean Clint Hill is likely to get the knod to start ahead of Armand Traore. Harry Redknapp looks to use the aerial abilities of both Charlie Austin and Bobby Zamora to cause problems for United’s back line.
Manchester United (3-5-2): De Gea, Jones, Smalling, Blind, Valencia, Fellaini, Carrick, Di Maria, Shaw, Falcao, Rooney
Manchester United’s injury crisis is almost over with Ashley Young the only major concern for Louis van Gaal while Marcos Rojo, Rafael, and Robin van Persie are still a doubt for the trip to Loftus Road. Luke Shaw, Daley Blind, and Marouane Fellaini all featured in last week’s lost to Southampton and could be used once again for the clash with Queens Park Rangers. Louis van Gaal looks to continue his 3-5-2 formation, but with the ankle injury to van Persie, he could move Wayne Rooney back to his usual strikers role alongside Radamel Falcao while Angel di Maria is dropped back into a more midfield role.
What the fans are saying…
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Earlier this season in the reverse fixture, Manchester United kept a clean sheet over Queens Park Rangers with a 4-0 victory. Both teams need to win this match as Louis van Gaal must keep pace with the top four while Harry Redknapp’s job is said to be on the line.
For Daniel Levy, the January window hasn’t open yet, and that may be the positive fans can draw from the lack of arrivals at Tottenham this month.
Lewis Holtby’s summer move from Schalke has been brought forward, and that’s naturally going to be a boost for Andre Villas-Boas and his squad. But while the German is not short of being able to make an impact for the remainder of the reason, the Tottenham manager will be hoping that his chairman will spring into life come sometime this Thursday and present him with a signing in the mould of Rafael van der Vaart.
And it’s not that Spurs are desperate for a midfielder – although a short-term replacement for the injured Sandro wouldn’t go amiss – but rather a striker who captures the imagination in the same manner that the Dutchman did during his time at White Hart Lane. Holtby isn’t that player yet, however it will be interesting to see how he works out in England. But Levy must surely be aware of the prize that’s sitting on the table and waiting to be snapped up. Champions League football is on the horizon and well within sight. Tottenham are looking a far better and more assured outfit this season than their north London rivals, and teams like Everton may not have that extra gear to push them into a top four spot.
As of now, Spurs are also without the spark that could turn a very big likelihood into something further down the meter towards a guarantee. Injuries may come into play and you really can’t bet for sure that Tottenham will be able to fend off any unexpected problems that may arise between now and May. But Levy really needs to make sure that the club have done all they can to qualify for next season’s Champions League.
What would have happened if all of Tottenham’s summer signings were done before the start of the season? The team weren’t playing badly, but it wasn’t enough to turn a loss into a draw or a point into three. What if by the end of the season a place in the top three of the league is lost because Spurs were one point shy?
The thing is it doesn’t even have to be a big signing whose name alone will inspire the crowd. Bringing in good players who are flying well under the radar may be the way Levy wants to go, and it may certainly be best if he’s not willing to spend big. Clint Dempsey has a few goals in recent games, but it should never have come down to him being the only senior striker available. He may provide goal numbers in double figure, but that’s not the point.
Jermaine Defoe has played well for the majority of the season but his injury remains a concern. Furthermore, how much faith can be placed in Emmanuel Adebayor? He’s always been a striker who works for himself, and now that he has the stability of a contract at Tottenham, it might be unwise to expect similar performances to that of last season.
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At this point, it’s still too early to say whether Levy has done enough for Villas-Boas this January. He may even opt to look past the deadline on Thursday and towards the summer where he can strengthen with choices closer to the top of his list. If European football is not the priority (which seems doubtful) then Tottenham are well on course to overachieve on what might have been expected of the new manager this season. But if the top tier of European football next season is the ultimate goal, it’s imperative Levy strengthens this side now. It may still be a few years before Tottenham can spend in the same market as teams like Chelsea, which is why such an opportunity this season cannot be taken lightly.
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According to a report by Italian media outlet Calciomercato, Everton are one of three Premier League clubs interested in signing in-form Valencia striker Rodrigo, who flopped during a loan spell with Bolton Wanderers in the top flight previously.
What’s the word, then?
Well, the Spain international has been in fine form for the La Liga side this season and Calciomercato says that his form hasn’t gone unnoticed by the Toffees, Tottenham Hotspur and Brighton and Hove Albion.
Calciomercato says that the 27-year-old only recently signed a new contract with Valencia that doesn’t run out until 2022 and includes a release clause set at €120m (£105m), but the Merseyside outfit and their Premier League rivals are ready to offer €40m (£35.1m) to bring him to England ahead of the 2018/19 campaign.
The attacker joined Bolton on a season-long loan deal in 2010, but he scored just once in 20 appearances before returning to Benfica.
How good has Rodrigo been this season?
He has been excellent and has helped his team currently lie fourth in the La Liga standings, just one point adrift of third-place Real Madrid.
The Spaniard, who primarily plays as a centre-forward but can also play on either wing if needed, has scored 16 goals in 35 outings in all competitions for Valencia, providing a further seven assists.
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Would he be a good signing for Everton?
While his record this season is good and he would provide some much-needed competition for Cenk Tosun up top, the Merseyside outfit would have to make sure that he isn’t another Sandro Ramirez.
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The forward, who is currently on loan at Sevilla, had a decent goalscoring record for Malaga last term but struggled to adapt to life in the Premier League, and there could be fears that it could be the same situation for Rodrigo given his struggles with Bolton when he was younger.
The fact that he could cost so much because of the release clause he has in his contract means he is a player that Sam Allardyce, who continues to be unpopular with the Goodison Park faithful, and Everton shouldn’t be willing to take a risk on, and they should look elsewhere instead.
Tonight was the French U21’s 19th compeittive appearance for the Gunners and, finally, after so many memes, vines and jokes about the hapless striker, Yaya Sanogo found the back of the net for Arsene Wenger’s side! And after just 73 seconds!
Arsenal are learning
When Alexis Sanchez doubled Arsenal’s lead, you could sense the world of football hold its breath, as they waited to see whether the Gunners would take note of their recent capitulation against Anderlecht and, instead of going gung-ho for the third, they’d instead retreat, relax and see out the game. Thankfully, they did the latter and comfortably saw out the three points.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has the world at his feet
It is quite incredible that tonight’s game against Dortmund was the England international’s 100th appearance for Arsenal; he turned in another impressive display and that will excite the Gunners faithful, and also followers of the Three Lions.
Newcastle welcome QPR to St James’s Park and without the hosts even realising it so much in recent weeks it has unexpectedly become a relegation clash and a must win game for both sides.
It seemed highly unlikely not so long ago that Alan Pardew’s men would be fighting for survival as they were looking at the upper echelons of the Premier League.
The Europa League has taken its toll and the side have lost six of their last seven games and only sit two points away from the drop zone in a disappointing 15th place.
QPR fans would settle for that position at the moment though. Things are looking brighter for the R’s since the appointment of Harry Redknapp as they remain unbeaten in his first 5 games, and the last time they tasted defeat was at Old Trafford.
Adel Taarabt’s one man master class display against the Fulham hinted at a return to form for a player who can be the equal of Newcastle’s Hatem Ben Arfa on his day. They also seem to be not leaking as many goals at the back.
The Magpies know this is a huge fixture for them with their next two games being at the Emirates and Old Trafford respectively against Arsenal and Manchester United.
The hosts have to contend with the loss of influential midfielder Hatem Ben Arfa (hamstring). Cabaye and Taylor are also huge blows for the long term for the Magpies.
The versatile James Perch is a doubt with a neck problem but should just about be ok to play. Gabriel Obertan is ready for selection now too.
Goalkeeper Julio Cesar and right-back Jose Bosingwa are both still missing for QPR. Kieron Dyer remains another player who is on the injury list; it doesn’t even come as a surprise anymore for him. Ji Sung Park is still having knee problems. Andy Johnson and Bobby Zamora don’t look set to play for the R’s anytime soon.
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Demba Ba has scored six goals in his last seven Premier League appearances at St James Park and will hoping to be on target again on Saturday to move his team to safety, despite midweek comments angling for a move to Arsenal.
Prediction: Newcastle 1-0 QPR
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Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has admitted that he does not know whether Jack Wilshere will sign a new contract at the Emirates Stadium.
Wilshere’s current deal with the Gunners will expire at the end of June, and the two parties are yet to come to an agreement.
The midfielder looked to be on his way out of the club in the early stages of the campaign, but he has since worked his way back into favour at Arsenal.
Wenger, whose own future is also under the microscope, has revealed that there is a contract offer on the table for Wilshere, but the Frenchman is unsure whether it will be signed.
Wenger told reporters at his pre-match press conference ahead of Thursday’s Europa League last-16 second leg against AC Milan:
“On my side nothing has changed. Jack will be free at the end of the season, we have made a proposal to him and I want him to stay and be linked with the club for the future, I hope he will do it.”
Wilshere, who is believed to be on £90,000 a week at Arsenal, has scored twice in 30 appearances in all competitions for the Gunners during the 2017-18 campaign.
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The 26-year-old spent last season on loan at Bournemouth before returning to the English capital.
Chelsea have long been linked with Roma’s Mattia Destro, but it’s now emerged that Arsenal are firmly in the battle. The Italian is one of his nation’s most highly-rated forwards, and has once again been in decent form for his side of late by notching four Serie A goals.
However, we think Arsenal should avoid Destro, and here are FIVE reasons why…
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CLICK ON THE STRIKER TO REVEAL WHY
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Better options out there…
Even though Destro boasts a decent record in Italian football, there are better options out there for around £20m. West Brom’s Saido Berahino is likely to come in at a similar value, while a fee of around £10m more would land Gonzalo Higuain from Napoli. Both players are more likely to compete with Danny Welbeck for a guaranteed starting berth, while the Baggies ace can also operate from the flank.
No better than Danny Welbeck
Football – Arsenal v Galatasaray – UEFA Champions League Group Stage Matchday Two Group D – Emirates Stadium, London, England – 14/15 – 1/10/14Arsenal’s Danny Welbeck looking dejectedMandatory Credit: Action Images / Andrew CouldridgeEDITORIAL USE ONLY.
As mentioned before, Destro would probably not be a significant upgrade on Welbeck. The Italian’s strengths are present in the 18-yard box, while, as unglamorous as it may sound, ‘Welbz’ offers energy and industry through runs into the channel. His assist for Alexis Sanchez at Swansea was a prime example of the threat the Englishman brings with his selfless playing style.
May not adapt to English football
On the most part Italian strikers have struggled to transfer their abilities across the to the English game. The pace and intensity, although a little cliché, in the Premier League differs from Serie A, and while Gianfranco Zola and a few other have thrived, Mario Balotelli and Fabio Borini’s struggles at Liverpool right now illustrate the very opposite end of the spectrum.
A central midfielder/centre-back is a more pressing concern
While attracting a striker would be a massive boost for the Gunners, snapping up a centre-back or holding midfielder look to be priorities for Arsene Wenger. A lack of depth at the back has been ruthlessly exposed by injuries so far this term, while the energy now missing from Mikel Arteta’s game is a problem in the engine room. The likes of Fabian Schar and Virgil van Dijk are cost-effective options at the heart of the rearguard, while Christoph Kramer is a rumoured target for the centre of midfield.
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Joel Campbell deserves a chance
After his World Cup heroics over the summer, it seemed a certainty that Campbell would be given his chance this season. However the Costa Rican has barely been given any playing time, leading to inevitable links with a January move away from the club. Campbell has been a Gunners player since 2011, but work permit issues forced a series of loan deal. Now eligible, surely he’s earned a shot?
Newcastle manager Alan Pardew has confessed that there is not much he can do to keep Demba Ba at the club.
The Senegal international has been heavily linked with a move away from the Premier League outfit, with his much reported buy-out clause tempting the likes of Liverpool and Arsenal.
It is thought that a fee in the region of £7m will allow Ba to leave St James’ Park, and Pardew admitted that if such a bid is received, the decision will be entirely down to the player himself:
“It’s unfortunate that the contract he has leaves open a lot of questions because we have this clause and every window that comes around, I have to answer the same questions.
“It would be disappointing for him to leave in this window for this club and for his team-mates here, but the decision will be his, ultimately, because that clause is there.
“The most important things we have got with Demba is he is someone who is a goalscorer and he is scoring goals, and that’s very, very important to a side. His commitment to and work-rate for the team, I don’t fault.”
Ba was critical of the Magpies’ current tactics in an interview with Canal+, but Pardew insists that no disciplinary action will be taken against him:
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“It was quoted in England not correctly, and that’s unfair on Demba and unfair on us.
“There will be no disciplinary procedure against him. There was one procedural matter where he could have informed us and should have, really, but that’s neither here nor there.”
Hazlewood’s four-for helped Australia bowl India out for 150 but the visitors ended the day on top
Tristan Lavalette22-Nov-2024Befitting the rivalry between Australia and India, the latest tussle for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy started in eventful fashion with wild momentum swings and a DRS controversy as pace bowlers from both attacks thoroughly dominated in favourable conditions at Optus Stadium.By the end of a madcap first day’s play, India had remarkably finished on top after stand-in captain Jasprit Bumrah tore through Australia’s top-order with spectacular seam bowling. He finished with 4 for 17 from 10 overs.He claimed debutant Nathan McSweeney for 10 in the third over before dismissing Usman Khawaja and Steven Smith with consecutive balls in the seventh over to turn a fast-moving first Test on its head.Related
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Stats – India's woeful year with the bat continues in Perth
In just his second red-ball match opening the batting, McSweeney faced a baptism of fire and initially judged the length well before Bumrah adjusted to a fuller length and trapped him on the pads. Smith’s shift back to his favoured No.4 did not start well after he shuffled across his stumps and was plumb lbw by a wicked Bumrah delivery that decked back a mile.Australia nosedived further when Travis Head was bowled by a cracker of a delivery from debutant quick Harshit Rana, while Mitchell Marsh and Marnus Labuschagne fell to Mohammed Siraj.Mohammed Siraj struck twice, including trapping Marnus Labuschagne lbw•Getty Images
Having started the season slowly, Labuschagne had an excruciating time. He was dropped by Virat Kohli at second slip after edging Bumrah and didn’t score off his first 23 deliveries faced. He received mock applause from the terraces when he finally broke his drought, but Labuschagne could never get going and made a painstaking 2 off 52 balls.Bumrah wasn’t quite done as he returned in the shadows to dismiss Pat Cummins as Australia limped to stumps at 67 for 7.It was a remarkable turnaround after India were bowled out for 150 in just 49.4 overs. Nine of Indian batters were caught behind the wicket – keeper or in the well-stocked cordon – in a mode of dismissal that has been common in Perth over the years at Optus Stadium and at the nearby WACA ground.After India sensationally left out veteran spinners R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah elected to bat after winning the toss. With overcast skies above a green-tinged surface, it was undoubtedly an agonising decision but batting first appeared the logical move given the pitch is expected to deteriorate amid warmer weather later in the match.With unseasonal wet weather ahead of the match, there had been particular intrigue over how the pitch would behave. There was movement and bounce, but perhaps not the minefield the scoreboard indicates.India’s top order were all at sea against superb new ball bowling from Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood, who claimed all four wickets in the first session. Starc, especially, was outstanding to set the tone for an Australian pace attack that strangled India.Having pushed through injury issues last summer, Starc entered the season fit and firing. He continued his strong form with fast and probing bowling, especially troubling the left-handers with an immaculate line and away swing.Marnus Labuschagne took a good relay catch to dismiss Harshit Rana•Associated Press
Seemingly attempting to start the series in the same fashion as the Ashes series in 2021-22, Starc’s first delivery was an anti-climax and missed the leg stump of opener Yashasvi Jaiswal and flew to the boundary.He was on target after that and his accuracy overwhelmed Jaiswal, who on his eighth delivery, as he tried to score his first runs in Australia, drove on the up and edged to McSweeney in the gully.With his bat well in front of his body, it was an errant stroke that had echoes of an ungainly dismissal for Pakistan captain Shan Masood in last year’s Perth Test.With captain Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill unavailable, Devdutt Padikkal received an unexpected opportunity at No.3 after impressing in the India A matches recently. But he was totally shackled by the quicks and did not score off his first 22 deliveries faced. The pressure proved too much with Padikkal on the next ball edging Hazlewood behind with an angled bat trying to defend to covers.All eyes were on Kohli, who received healthy applause from the 31,302 crowd although Indian fans in the terraces were vastly outnumbered in a rare sight.India desperately needed their long-time talisman to shrug off a form slump on a ground he scored a brilliant century in the 2018-19 series. Kohli batted well outside the crease in a well-worn strategy he had successfully implemented previously in Australia.But Hazlewood, who has had great success against Kohli over the years, adjusted and bowled a back of length. Kohli on 5 could only fend a lifting Hazlewood delivery that landed straight to first slip.Opener KL Rahul, who just a week ago had been struck on the elbow in an intra-squad match simulation, bravely batted through the carnage. He struck India’s first boundary off the bat in the 12th over in ungainly fashion when he tried to evade a Cummins short ball only for it to hit his bat and fly over the slips.Rishabh Pant doing Rishabh Pant things, playing a remarkable falling scoop off Pat Cummins•Getty Images
Rahul made it to 26 before being given not out by on-field umpire Richard Kettleborough after Starc appealed for caught behind. After Australia reviewed, Snicko showed a spike as the ball passed the bat and the decision was overturned. Having indicated that the bat hit his pad, Rahul trudged off the ground shaking his head as India slumped to 47 for 4.After lunch, allrounder Marsh made a successful return to bowling with the wickets of Dhruv Jurel, who had been selected on the back of his performances for India A, and Washington Sundar.Marsh had only bowled four overs since tearing his hamstring at the IPL. But he ran in powerfully and finished with 2-12 from five overs in a boost for an attack without allrounder Cameron Green, who will miss the entire series due to a back injury.India’s hopes rested with a counterattacking Rishabh Pant and debutant Nitish Kumar Reddy, who combined for 48 runs – the biggest partnership of the innings.Pant was typically adventurous, marked by an audacious scoop for six off a full delivery from Cummins, while Reddy mixed orthodox drives with paddle sweeps to thwart offspinner Nathan Lyon.But both were unable to kick on as India were dismissed by tea. In his first red-ball match since the New Zealand Tests in March, Cummins looked a little underdone and was unable to find a consistent length as he finished with 2 for 67 from 15.4 overs.He did dismiss Pant and Reddy and left the field mightily pleased with Australia’s performance. But Cummins’ mood soured quickly and just over two hours later he trudged off the field after being dismissed by his opposite number.