A shambolic window by all accounts has left many fans of Manchester United already disillusioned by the new regime at the club. Be it the perceived inadequacies of Ed Woodward or David Moyes, the Premier League club have been left well behind their rivals going forward. The endless string of sponsorship deals will be scant consolation for a summer of disappointment for the Manchester club.

But is there a beam of light at the end of the tunnel? Was the deadline day capture of Marouane Fellaini the tonic to the fans’ transfer woes?

The capture of the Belgian midfielder in the late hours of Monday was meant to be the addition required to bolster a somewhat ailing United side. Moyes has long admired Fellaini, having acquired him at Everton where he proved highly successful, but is it time he stopped resting on his laurels at United?

The Fellaini deal just embodies the amateurish new face of Manchester United for me. A club that used to have the first pick on the worlds finest, now subjected to the second tier of footballs offerings.

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If United wanted Fellaini so badly why not pay his release clause in July rather than pay £27.5m in September? This was a costly knee-jerk by the club, that in reality is unlikely to ever have the effect of galvanising the club as was hoped.

A team that wins the domestic league clearly doesn’t need a mass overhaul, but what it does need are small tweaks to allow it to stand up to competition. The teams around United are all getting better and therefore the champions had to be on their game this summer.

The priority for me was always an enforcer. United have never effectively replaced Roy Keane, and this physical side to their midfield has been decidedly lacking. Is Fellaini the answer? Not really.

Fellaini is of course capable of playing the deeper holding role, but he is it at his absolute best playing further up the pitch where he is able to assert himself more readily on the game. His physicality combined with undoubted ability made him a menace to opposition at Everton, and whose to say this won’t be the case at United? Fellaini is a quality player, but when you have Rooney, Kagawa and Welbeck able to play just in and around Van Persie is he really that necessary. Were United not better off buying a ready made holding midfielder?

For much less money United could have got Luiz Gustavo or the exciting young Dutchman Kevin Strootman. Fellaini may well be very good but does he really improve upon what United have already?

Even if the priority was to get in someone a bit more creative, surely Luka Modric or Mesut Ozil were better bets?

To me this underlines United’s problem this window. Whether it is Moyes or not, United do not seem to have the same pull of previous years. Failure to bring in their first choice targets has left them in a state of panic where they have had to go back in for a player who was obviously deemed overpriced and overrated in the early months of the summer.

United fans clamoured for that big name signing all summer and Moyes obliged.

I don’t think United fans are so short-sighted that they will be near satisfied with this move. A desperate attempt by the management to save face, but in reality all the deal has done is ask more questions about the new naïve approach to management at United. Long gone are the days of prudent planning and targeted approaches, replaced by panicked knee jerks.

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Fellaini is a quality player, but he is not the answer to United’s problems. Until Moyes can grapple with the changing horizons at the club he may well be in trouble going forward. Whilst the Belgian may offer some reassuring comfort to the manager, it should only spread worry amongst the fans of the Manchester club.

Was the signing of Fellaini a panicked end to a disappointing summer for United?

Join the debate below

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The win at home against Arsenal should have been the turning point in the league. Following the 1-0 victory, Manchester United were only five points off Arsene Wenger’s league leaders. The win in Germany and five goals scored against an otherwise good Bayer Leverkusen should have provided the much-needed confidence to push on.

Clubs like Manchester United can afford to go through blips, as they’re so often called. United have history, traditions of winning; they’re the biggest club in England and they’re not going anywhere.

The loss at home to Everton, though, is one that will be used to measure David Moyes and his credentials as worthy successor to Alex Ferguson. Yet even now, after two points from their last three league games, I’m not drawing any conclusions about Moyes.

This isn’t his team. In fact, this, in comparison to teams of the past two decades, isn’t one that can be called a typical Manchester United team with comfort and assurance. How did they win the Premier League title last season? A combination of factors: everyone else was poor, and the influence of Ferguson, who himself knew that last season’s league triumph was the final victory he would extract from this particularly lacking squad.

What is Moyes’ task? Is it, as he suggested of Roberto Martinez, to “keep it going?” Well no. Manchester United’s defence is in a transition from the older heads of Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic to the younger names brought in during the final years of Ferguson’s tenure.

The wings, where so much of United’s success was built, need a complete revamp. Antonio Valencia isn’t good enough to be a starter at a club like United, Nani hasn’t fulfilled his promise, and Ashley Young hasn’t turned up for almost two seasons. Combined with the need for a genuine creator in the midfield, these are the mountains Moyes will have to overcome if he’s to turn this club into a successful one post Ferguson.

The stature of Manchester United makes the job even harder, but it’s not a club where such prestige is central to just them. Real Madrid, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Juventus have equal status in their leagues. They’re the biggest and best. But in recent years, the success of each of those teams has been on the back of a (re)building project where each manager was given the tools to succeed.

At Barcelona, Pep Guardiola had the fruits of the academy, transforming them into one the most dominant teams in the history of the game. Jupp Heynckes, when Bayern needed to recover and push on from their Champions League and domestic failure in 2012, was given Javi Martinez and Mario Mandzukic. Bayern were far from a bad side before that, but they needed more.

In comparison, Moyes hasn’t had any of that. He’s inherited a squad whose positives do little to outweigh the negatives. Is he solely at fault for the club’s failure to bring in adequate reinforcements in the summer? No. Even Ferguson had the aid of David Gil in negotiations. Bringing in two new faces in key areas, Moyes and Ed Woodward, will naturally raise problems of speed and fluidity in the market.

United are a poor squad, but some perspective is needed. The match against Everton could have gone the other way. What if one of United’s many chances went in? Wayne Rooney’s efforts, Patrice Evra’s? It’s fine margins. If they had won, it would have been described as a gritty victory and one telling of a team who know how to win ugly. Instead, the loss will wrongly focus on any shortcomings of the manager.

Moyes of course does have his flaws. You still sense that he needs to adopt a winning mentality now that he’s moved up the ladder. But he hasn’t been entrusted with turning this team in champions. Anyone could have seen that this United team didn’t have the strength or quality of Manchester City or Chelsea. The form of Arsenal thus far has only further highlighted the inadequacy of this team to generate long winning runs.

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As it’s so often called, Moyes has a project on his hands to overhaul this squad. They don’t need one or two; many are right when they say United need six or seven new players. Struggles and inconsistency, therefore, are to be expected.

Moyes will have the aid of a January window, where you’d hope the club make better use of it than they did in the summer. We can fully weigh up and judge how well Moyes has done by the end of the season. But what this season is highlighting so far is the skill of Ferguson to turn this squad into contenders and champions; this group’s final offering of note.

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Arsene Wenger was delighted with the resilience shown by his league leaders during yesterday’s 1-0 win over Newcastle at St James’s Park, reports the Guardian.

The Gunners have been continually written off throughout the season, by pundits who believe they do not have the winning mentality to last the distance in the title race after an eight year trophy drought.

But Wenger believes the back-to-back away wins at West Ham and Newcastle – which have propelled his side back to the top of the Premier League – have answered a lot of questions about his side.

“In the last 15 minutes ,we have shown another aspect of our team – resilience, fight. We threw our bodies in the box,” the Frenchman was quoted as saying by Arsenal.com.

“You have seen today a technical aspect of our team that was quite good but as well a mental aspect that was needed in a game of that stature.”There is something in the team that is special on the mental front where we have many times been questioned.”But we have shown that at West Ham when we were 1-0 down, we have shown that again today when we were a bit backs to the wall in the last 15 minutes. There’s a great solidarity and a great spirit in the side.”Arsenal missed the opportunity to go five points clear at the top of the table earlier in the month, after a 1-1 draw with Everton at the Emirates, and a 6-3 thrashing at the Etihad.But overall Wenger is delighted with the way his team have come out of the hectic Christmas period.”We’ve come out of very difficult games,” Wenger said.”We played Everton, we played Man City, Chelsea, at West ham, at Newcastle and we dropped some points but I felt it was more down to the heavy schedule and short recovery time we had than to the difficulty of the games.” Click below to watch Man United vs Spurs LIVE!

Amid Manchester United’s capture of Juan Mata and the assumed resurgence that would start immediately after his helicopter touched down in Manchester, it was easy to forget the strong position Liverpool had ahead of United (and Everton and Spurs) for a place in the top four.

Following Brendan Rodgers’ high praise of his “SAS” attack towards the end of last year, it appeared that all Liverpool needed was another strong January window to supplement Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge, who together have been the primary reason for Liverpool’s continued stay either in or just below the Premier League top four.

It goes without saying that both Liverpool and United have a lot of work to do, but Liverpool are further down the road to being a side complete and fully able to land fourth in the Premier League this season. At this stage, and considering the might of Manchester City and Chelsea, Liverpool look to be out of the title race.

What was a little worrying, though, is Rodgers’ pursuit of Yevhen Konoplyanka, a talented and exciting winger who would have been a good long-term addition at the club. But Liverpool seem to be in a state of score more than the opponent, which they’re more than able to do with Suarez and Sturridge in such good form.

The problem for the team is at the back, where evidently they’re never too far away from a Kolo Toure or Martin Skrtel-sized slip up.

The loss of Lucas Leiva to injury seemed to confirm what most already knew: Liverpool needed further protection ahead of the back four. Not only that, but a system which best utilises Coutinho, Suarez and Sturridge as a front three needs strong, able and technically gifted runners in the midfield; players who can work at both ends of the pitch and won’t allow themselves to be overrun.

So far, and even with Lucas available, Liverpool haven’t always looked secure ahead of the defence. It’s certainly a worry that they’re light of creative talents, but thus far we’ve seen that Suarez and Sturridge are either able to work in tandem or able to craft their own scoring opportunities. Liverpool could afford to address the issue of creativity at a later date.

What is needed, however, is a Nemanja Matic. The Serbian was a pricey acquisition for Chelsea, albeit one well worth the money, but Liverpool should have been hot on the tails of a player of similar ability. Games like the recent draw with West Brom will come around again, and it’s to be expected: there will be games where Rodgers’ primary goal threats fail to hit the target. But Liverpool as a collective haven’t been goal-shy this season. Liverpool have only failed to score twice in the league this term.

Liverpool may yet finish fourth. Being two points ahead of Everton and seven ahead of United, it’s not out of the question. But the decision to overlook the reinforcing of the midfield may come back to haunt Rodgers. The club had the opportunity to round out the current squad with one or two additions but failed to make a signing.

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Rather than pulling away from those just behind with a much-needed January addition, Liverpool, for now at least, remain very much in the mix.

Click below to see Liverpool v Arsenal EXCLUSIVELY LIVE!

John Terry is a divisive figure here in the Football Transfer Tavern, but our punters want to hear what the Daily Express has to say about the Chelsea skipper.

The publication have claimed that Terry and Chelsea are in talks over a new deal at Stamford Bridge and that the defender wishes to sty at Chelsea ‘forever’.

As our punters note while at the pool table, when it comes to his on-field talent, the defender is second to none, but his off-the-field antics have caused a fair few issues including his omission from the PFA Team of the Year and indeed his exit from the England international set-up.

Terry was called just as good as when he first played under Jose Mourinho by the manager at his press conference yesterday ahead of the Atletico Madrid clash, and Terry followed this by pledging his future to the Blues.

He noted: “I think when the manager speaks about forever I agree,

“I’ve been here since I was 14 and nowhere else. I want to stay here for the rest of my footballing days.

“We are still in talks which are on-going, because of the big games recently we haven’t spoken for a few weeks. But I hope it gets done as I want to stay.

“I hope things can be wrapped up by the end of the season.

“It’s down to the club. They know I want to stay.”

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One thing that Terry did close the door on however was a recall to the England side, with the defender claiming that will never happen  – and the only way he will be involved in the World Cup this summer will be via a TV screen.

Is John Terry fully deserving of a new deal at Chelsea? Is there a scenario where he will ever be capped by England again? Let us know your thoughts below.

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Mario Balotelli continues to be linked with a move to Arsenal this summer, with further reports adding that Puma, who sponsor both Arsenal and Balotelli, are willing to help facilitate the move.

The Italian forward has an eye-catching record in front of goal for Milan since his move in January 2013, but the club are looking to raise funds via the player’s sale and Arsenal could look to do business, with Arsene Wenger on the hunt for a world-class striker to round out the attack at the Emirates.

Balotelli’s erratic nature is a concern, but if he can raise his game in Brazil in the way he did during Euro 2012, he may see himself with a large number of suitors come the end of the tournament.

Arsenal are in need of a large number of quality signings this summer, and if Balotelli is to lead the way, these are SIX players who could follow the Italian to north London.

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Jackson Martinez

Jackson Martinez has once again emerged as a target for Arsenal this summer, according to the player’s agent. The striker market is looking thin at the moment for Arsenal, who need someone who is capable of scoring 20 league goals at least next season. But Martinez has been linked with a move out of Portugal for much of the past year, with clubs around Europe impressed by the Porto forward’s scoring record. The Portuguese club are notoriously difficult to negotiate with, which makes it difficult to see Wenger moving for the Colombian. But Wenger may well be convinced if the forward has a good World Cup. Based on stats alone – 20 goals in 30 league games last season – he’d be a good buy for the club.

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Carlos Vela

If reports are to be believed, Arsenal have been in talks to sign Carlos Vela all week. The Mexican forward is available to the club for £3.5 million, but it’s been suggested that Wenger will buy back the forward and immediately sell him on at a profit. Vela has all the qualities to be a success at the club at the second time of asking, but he appears to have burnt his bridges with Wenger after a string of indiscretions during his first spell. Vela would be a very good buy for the club this summer, given his price tag, allowing for the club’s budget to be focused on other areas of the team in equal or greater need of address.

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Calum Chambers

It would be enormously risky of Arsene Wenger to sign 19-year-old Calum Chambers and have him battle Carl Jenkinson for a starting position at right-back next season, but it’s not something you’d put past the Arsenal manager. Wenger is reportedly an admirer of the Southampton youngster, who is on Arsenal’s radar as they search for a replacement for Bacary Sagna. The only way this makes sense is if Arsenal land Chambers and another experienced right-back, while loaning out Jenkinson. Chambers has shown a lot of potential this season, and with the paucity of quality at right-back for England, looks set to become a full international in the near future.

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Pepe Reina

Pepe Reina had a good season on loan in Italy, winning the Coppa Italia, and now looks to be on his way permanently out of Liverpool, with the club invested in Simon Mignolet. Reina has lost a lot of support in English football due to the nature of his mistakes over the past few years and the belief that he’s now declining as a player. But as a member of the Spanish World Cup squad, he’d be a valuable asset to have as backup to Wojciech Szczesny at Arsenal. The big problem is his wages, but Wenger is a known fan of the goalkeeper, and adding an experienced figure to the goalkeeping department would be a wise move.

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Alvaro Morata

This one is set to drag on deep into the summer, with Real Madrid insisting on £25 million for Alvaro Morata or £15 million plus the option to buy him back in the future, reportedly. Wolfsburg were said to close to a deal, but that appears to have gone quiet, while Juventus and Arsenal have been admirers for much of the off-season so far. Morata would add a good deal of depth to Arsenal’s front line, but isn’t yet the finished article to lead a team to the league title. The sticking point will be Wenger’s obvious reluctance to spend that lavishly on a player who will only be a backup/prospect.

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Luiz Gustavo

Luiz Gustavo was heavily linked to Arsenal last summer, with the club seemingly intent on adding a specialist in the defensive midfield position. But for one reason or another, Gustavo joined Wolfsburg from Bayern, strengthening a squad that is shaping up to be one of the most impressive in the Bundesliga. The Brazilian was a starter in the World Cup opener on Thursday night, partnering Paulinho and performing well, covering for David Luiz whenever the PSG defender roamed forward. Wolfsburg have no financial need to sell, but further good performances at this World Cup could alert Arsene Wenger, who has made a defensive midfielder one of his top priorities this summer.

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Newcastle have been one of the Premier League’s most active and impressive clubs in the transfer market this summer.

The Magpies have already spent nearly £40million, bringing in the likes of Remy Cabella, Siem de Jong, Emmanuel Riviere and Daryl Janmaat, all of whom arrive on Tyneside with preceding reputations from their former clubs.

But there’s still plenty of work to do on Tyneside before the transfer window on September 1st, a number of loose ends that need to be tied up in the coming days.

Thus, being the ever-helpful bunch we are at Football FanCast, we’ve listed the FIVE lingering issues that the Toon need to resolve before deadline day.

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Find a buyer for Hatem Ben Arfa

It’s no secret that Newcastle are looking to offload Hatem Ben Arfa this summer.

Alan Pardew sent the mercurial forward back home to France in April for ‘the good of the club’, and amid a summer window that’s seen several new arrivals on Tyneside, Ben Arfa has also been stripped of the No.10 jersey, which now belongs to Siem de Jong.

There’s certainly a market for the misguided 27 year-old however, in no small part due to his ability to occasionally pull off the sublime, such as this goal against Bolton back in 2012:

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His planned move to the Qatari league fell through, but Everton and AC Milan have both been linked to Ben Arfa over the last month:

Alan Pardew clearly doesn’t want the France international around at St. James’s and with just a year left on his current contract, the Magpies need to sell before losing Ben Arfa for nothing.

A prolific goalscorer

Newcastle have already made several impressive additions to their front line this summer, including Facundo Ferreya, Emmanuel Riviere and Ayoze Perez whilst Siem de Jong can also operate as a centre-forward and believe it or not, Papiss Cisse is still knocking about on Tyneside.

But all of Newcastle’s striker signings, although highly-rated, are yet to reach prolific levels of goalscoring in their careers. Ferreya netted just six times in all competitions for Shaktar last year, Riviere’s career return stands at 46 in 183 and 21 year-old Perez is still learning his trade.

Not that the absence of a star striker would seriously endanger the Magpies’ season, but it can certainly be considered a piece of the jigsaw that needs to be put in place.

The Toon management appears to feel the same. After missing out on Lyon star Alexandre Lacazette, the Tyneside club have targeted Wolfsburg striker Bas Dost:

The Dutch forward bagged an outstanding 45 goals in 66 appearances during two seasons with Heerenveen, but has struggled to transition that form for the Bundesliga, netting just twelve times since moving to the Volkswagen Arena in summer 2012.

Newcastle appear prepared to take a punt on Bas Dost however, and measuring in at a whopping 6 foot 4, he could well prove to be a better fit for the Premier League. Here’s a look at the striker in action:

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Another winger

Newcastle have already done great work in bringing their year-long pursuit of Remy Cabella to a positive conclusion this summer, but the Tyneside outfit are still short of quality out wide.

Against Manchester City at the weekend, Yoan Gouffran was handed a starting berth whilst Gabriel Obertan, who has scored just once in 40 league appearances for the Magpies, was given a spot on the bench.

Moussa Sissoko, Jonas Gutierrez and Sammy Ameobi are also options on the flanks but if Newcastle are to compete as expected next season they need another winger thrown into the mix – especially with Hatem Ben Arfa only moving further away from the Toon first team.

Manchester United’s lost prodigy Wilfried Zaha has been mooted and the England international would certainly be an impressive addition. But the Tyneside club have also been linked to Ghana star Andre Ayew who netted twice at the World Cup:

The 24 year-old is an impressive talent, having claimed 46 goals and 16 assists in 164 appearances for Marseille. And with his contract set to expire at the end of the season, it’s believed he’ll be available for as little as £10million this summer. Here’s a short clip of Ayew in action:

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Decide the fates of fringe players

Newcastle currently have 42 players with listed numbers which is obviously far too many.

Over the next few weeks, Alan Pardew needs to trim the fat a little and decide the fate of several fringe players.

Shane Ferguson for example, although once heralded as a future star of the Magpies first team, is now 23 years of age and has mustered up just 52 league appearances in his entire career following two rather lukewarm loan spells with Birmingham City.

Steven Taylor too only appears to be moving further way from the Newcastle starting XI. He’s made less than 50 league outings over the last three seasons and at 28 years of age appears unlikely to muscle his way back in any time soon. Likewise, namesake Ryan Taylor has missed the entirety of the last three campaigns injured, which must have an unjustifiable impact on the St. James’s wage bill.

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Then there’s youngster Medhi Abeid. The 22 year-old has constantly struggled on Tyneside but netted seven times on loan to Panathinaikos and his expected departure would certainly add a few pennies to the summer transfer kitty.

On top of that, prospects Curtis Good, Adam Armstrong, Haris Vuckic, Remie Streete and Gael Bigirimana need to get some game time under their belts and would all benefit from loan spells.

None of the aforementioned names are likely to have a significant impact on Newcastle’s 2014/15 campaign and would thus be better off at a new club, either on a permanent or temporary basis.

Sell a left-back

It may seem like a rather marginal issue but suddenly Newcastle find themselves overinflated with left-backs.

Davide Santon is considered the resident no.3 but Paul Dummet muscled his way in towards the end of last season and also started against Manchester City at the weekend, due to the Italian missing the entirety of pre-season with a knee injury.

Following on is 21 year-old Massadio Haidara, but utility men Vernon Anita and Jack Colback, signed this summer from Sunderland, also provide cover at left-back and physio bench regular Ryan Taylor is also another option – when fully fit.

In short, it’s simply too much money tied into one area of the squad that could be better spent on other departments. It may be an unpopular choice, but there is some logic in parting with Italy international Davide Santon.

Not least because, although the defender was in customarily consistent form last season, as detailed below:

There’s a huge market for his services over in Italy. AC Milan, Roma and Fiorentina have all been linked to the 23 year-old this summer, and with so many interested parties, Newcastle would certainly get a good deal for the former Inter Milan youngster.

West Bromwich Albion striker Saido Berahino has rejected claims that he is refusing to put pen to paper on a new contract due to a desire to play Champions League football.

During Friday’s press conference at the Hawthorns before Sunday’s fixture against Newcastle United, the 21 year-old striker admitted that he may leave the Baggies to progress his career, but is unsure of when that time will come.

The youngster burst onto the Premier League scene last year and has made a highly impressive start to the current season, scoring seven goals in nine appearances.

This has unsurprisingly attracted the attention of a host of clubs – including Manchester United, Liverpool, Tottenham and Everton – yet Berahino is keen to stress that his feet remain firmly on the ground and that an extension of his contract at the Midlands club is a possibility.

“My ambition will be to play in the Champions League and be involved in England seniors and go and play in big tournaments like the World Cup and the Euros,” Berahino said.

“Me saying that doesn’t mean I will leave this year or next year.

“No-one knows. It is just an ambition I have but no-one knows what the future holds.

“I am enjoying my football and I’m playing well at the moment and scoring goals so I’m just letting my football do the talking.

“I am still young and learning in every game. I am taking each game as it comes and I’m still a long way from where I want to be as a player.”

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It has been a memorable start to the season all round for Berahino, with his excellent form in the Premier League earning him a first call-up to the England senior squad for their upcoming fixtures against Slovenia and Scotland.

Got any questions? Follow me on Twitter @GruffuddOwen

After months of hype, the Indian Super League is finally underway. Sunday’s clash between Atletico de Kolkata and Mumbai City – in which Kolkata ran out 3-0 winners – marked the inaugural game of the first-ever Super League season, and with a crowd of 70,000 people turning up for the occasion, an enthusiasm for domestic football has swept across the enormous country in a way that has never been witnessed before.

India, after all, is the footballing epitome of the sleeping giant. With a population of over 1.2 billion people, its potential is frightening, yet football has never come close to matching the levels of popularity that cricket boasts, which remains the country’s favourite sport by a considerable distance. So barren is India’s footballing heritage that the national side’s enduring legacy is refusing to participate in the 1950 World Cup – the only edition of the tournament that they have ever qualified for – due to a ban by Fifa on playing barefoot – a story which is itself largely grounded in fiction.

The Blue Tigers are currently 158th in the world rankings having recently lost to Palestine, a result which led to the resignation of head coach Wim Koevermans. Such a lowly position in the rankings for a country of India’s size merely highlights the chronic lack of interest in the game, and it may be some years yet before they have a realistic chance of qualifying for the World Cup. However, its organisers are confident that the Super League will prove to be the catalyst for football to explode in India, and the early signs are admittedly promising.

The very format of the league has been specifically designed to maximise the chances of the sport’s growth. Adopting the American MLS model, there is no relegation or promotion systems, as eight teams – or franchises – compete for the top four spots, which qualify them for the playoff-style finals series in November and December. Each team is obliged to sign at least one ‘marquee’ player along with seven other foreign players (five of whom must be chosen through a draft system), while the teams must also have fourteen Indian domestic players on their books, with at least four being local to the city.

This balance between ensuring that there is an annual contigent of crowd-drawing stars in the league and committing to the development of Indian footballers is a sensible approach by the league, and the list of household names it has managed to attract for its debut season is certainly impressive. World Cup winners David Trezeguet, Alessandro del Piero and Joan Capdevilla have been chosen as the marquee players of Pune City, Delhi Dynamos and NorthEast United respectively, while Marco Materazzi – who lifted the World Cup with Italy in 2006 – is the head coach of Chennaiyin FC. Other notable managers in the league include Brazilian legend Zico, former England goalkeeper David James and Peter Reid, while Luis Garcia, Robert Pires, Nicolas Anelka and Freddie Ljungberg are just some of the other decorated footballers who have decided to play their part in this exciting new chapter in Indian football.

The bidding process for each franchise began earlier in the year, and the occupations of their new owners suggests that a desire to see football grow in India has gained popularity in two of the country’s biggest domains of entertainment – cricket and Bollywood. Indian cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar owns the Kerala Blasters franchise, Sourav Ganguly entered a partnership with Spanish side Atletico Madrid to purchase Atletico de Kolkata, while Bollywood stars John Abraham, Ranbir Kapoor and Salman Khan were also successful in their bids for franchises. Such interest in the game from India’s most famous faces – idolised by millions across the country – is crucial if football really is to come to life.

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In all likelihood, football will never overtake cricket as India’s preferred sporting pasttime. Nevertheless, the early enthusiasm for the fledgling Indian Super League is encouraging – with star faces, famous backers and a commitment to nurturing domestic talent, it has the potential to kick-start a golden age of football in India.

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With the news all Liverpool fans feared – Daniel Sturridge’s injury – now confirmed, there is a mild feeling of panic on Merseyside. The Reds’ talismanic striker is set to miss the rest of 2014 – he’s been out since August already – leaving the Anfield club reliant on Fabio Borini, Rickie Lambert and Mario Balotelli in the meantime. With the threesome yet to find the back of the net in the Premier League January deals are expected, and one name doing the rounds today is Divock Origi.

The 19-year-old Belgian is owned by Liverpool, but as a part of the £10m summer deal for his signature he’s back at Lille on loan for the season. A £3m fee to cut that stint short has been mooted, with Brendan Rodgers having been impressed by the teenager’s four Ligue 1 goals this term. But is Origi the right man? Must he be left in France to develop?

We think that Liverpool should be targeting other players, and here are FIVE…

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CLICK ON DIVOCK ORIGI TO REVEAL THE FIVE ALTERNATIVES

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Saido Berahino

The Premier League’s highest scoring Englishman with seven goals to his name, Berahino has enjoyed a whirlwind start to 2014/15. The Burundi-born ace was always tipped for a bright future, yet the 21-year-old had appeared to have been stalling in terms of development. But this season has been a good one for the 21-year-old, whose antics for West Brom have earned international recognition at a senior level, and attracted some of the division’s big hitters.

Liverpool are among the names hunting Berahino, with Brendan Rodgers thought to see him as a good option as he looks to get his underperforming frontline firing. The Baggies won’t let their man go on the cheap, with talk of a £25m+ price tag doing the rounds…

Andre Schurrle

Schurrle not? All joking aside, the German attacker would be a good addition for Liverpool. Although a wide midfielder by trade, Schurrle has been used as a striker by Blues chief Jose Mourinho, with his tall frame and ferocious pace major weapons in the final third.

Despite helping Germany to World Cup success over the summer, the ex-Bayer Leverkusen man has remained a bit part player at Stamford Bridge, leading to speculation that he may be sold by Mourinho – who is after Marco Reus. An offer of over £20m could land the versatile ace, who may be able to fill in up front while Sturridge recovers before bulking out Rodgers’ wide options.

Ezequiel Lavezzi

PSG’s Lavezzi is, in some ways, similar to Luis Suarez. Although not of the Uruguayan’s quality, the Argentine is a hassling forward with bags of energy who very much leads from the front with a high pressing style of play. Think Mario Balotelli’s opposite. With the Parisians boasting a wealth of attacking talent and desires to land even more big names, the ex-Napoli man may well be sold this January after being linked with a summer move to Liverpool.

Goals have never really been the 29-year-old’s forte, yet his all-action style may be the spark that Liverpool have been missing this term, with Balotelli’s lack of desire almost infectious. Rumours of a £30m valuation are a little wild, but a deal for below £20m could make sense for the Reds.

Jackson Martinez

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Another forward to be linked with Liverpool in recent weeks is Martinez, who has long been hailed as one of Europe’s most dangerous forwards. To be fair it’s easy to see why, with the Colombian having averaged better than two goals every three games since swapping Mexican side Chiapas for Porto in 2012.

The Portuguese league may not always be a barometer for success, but such a hit rate for a big club – who play Champions League football pretty much every season – is not to be sniffed at, even if he’s valued at £30m.

Carlos Tevez

Let’s put aside the Manchester United and Manchester City history with this one and just appreciate his raw ability. Tevez is, arguably, the closest player out there to Suarez in terms of talent, style and temperament, and would surely be a massive boost for Liverpool’s struggling forward line.

His goal return at United, City and Juve has been impressive – especially given that he has often operated from a wider role – while his never say die attitude on the pitch is just what the Reds have been missing. Reports suggest that Tevez himself is in no rush to sign a new contract with Juventus, so a January move cannot be ruled out for the 30-year-old.