Real Madrid goalkeeper Iker Casillas has revealed that he is open to a move to Major League Soccer, amid the European champions’ interest in Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea, according to the London Evening Standard.
Casillas is adamant that once his career at the Santiago Bernabeu comes to an end, he is keen on a move to the MLS.
“I have no problem of saying that I would like to play in the U.S,” he is quoted by LES.
“I would be unable to leave Real Madrid and join a competing team but I could leave to have an adventure, maybe not at that level in Europe, but innovative and different in a growing league like MLS.
“I would like to experience a different kind of football and put into perspective all the time I’ve been at Real Madrid”
He added: “It has been a tough year and a half. Only those close to me know about the suffering and the happiness I’ve gone through. This experience makes you stronger mentally and makes you focus on the things in life that really matter.
“I’ve been playing 40 or 50 matches each season for years and then I had an injury – that makes your game go down a notch.
“You understand that there are others who deserve to play and you can’t do anything but wait for your opportunity.”
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The La Liga giants have been heavily linked with United’s De Gea to replace the Spain veteran, who expects to be leaving Real in the near future.
However despite Red Devils manager Louis van Gaal stating earlier that he is confident De Gea will extend his contract with the Old Trafford club, the former Atletico Madrid star has yet to pen a new deal.
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The 24-year-old has been in fantastic form for United, making some brilliant and crucial saves, which have earned him rave reviews.
De Gea’s performances have even catapulted him to become Spain’s number-one, replacing Casillas as they country’s top goalkeeper.
As reported by The Telegraph last week, Arsenal are set to go back in for Chris Smalling this summer, after being linked with the Manchester United defender at the start of the campaign.
The rumoured £12million fee is certainly a reasonable price for an established England international – but could the Gunners do better?
After all, the 25 year-old has spent much of his Old Trafford career under a rather dark cloud, maligned by large sectors of the fanbase and rarely living up to the hype he received at former club Fulham.
There’s plenty of alternative defenders out there who would bring far more quality to the North London outfit’s backline, and just to prove it, we at Football Fancast have listed FIVE of them.
Who would you prefer to see at the Emirates next season Arsenal fans? Chris ‘deer in headlights, bambi on ice’ Smalling, or one of these FIVE alternatives?
BENEDICKT HOWEDES
If it’s Chris Smalling’s versatility Arsene Wenger finds most appealing, then he should shift the Gunners’ focus to Schalke skipper Benedikt Howedes.
The 27 year-old proved his utility at last summer’s World Cup, filling in as Germany’s left-back – no easy feat when you’re born with the towering 6 foot 2 frame of a centre-half – and throughout his career, has also featured at right back, wing-back and defensive midfield.
At club level, Howedes has been regarded as one of the top centre-backs outside Europe’s elite clubs for some time, serving at the Veltins Arena since 2007 and going on to make 53 appearances in the Champions League and Europa League, whilst picking up 32 caps for his country.
Set to end the season with two years remaining on his current deal, the summer represents a fantastic opportunity for Arsenal to convince the Miners to sell. Even so however, the Bundesliga side would likely demand in excess of £15million – according to The Daily Star.
FABIAN SCHAR
Statistically speaking, Fabian Schar was the best defender in the Champions League last season, earning an average rating of 7.61 from stat enthusiasts Whoscored.com whilst averaging an imperious 3.3 tackles, 4 interceptions, 6.7 clearances and 1.8 successful aerial duels per match.
And in addition to his defensive qualities, the 23 year-old is renowned for his marauding style, often instigating attacks from deep positions, in a comparable manner to Tottenham’s Jan Vertonghen.
FC Basel recently extended the Swiss international’s contract by another year. But now set to expire in 2016, they’re widely expected to sell the 6 foot 1 defender this summer.
There’s plenty of competition for Schar’s signature however, with the Gunners, Spurs and West Ham all recently linked by talkSPORT.
JOHN STONES
Home-grown talent has been a huge factor in Arsenal’s transfer policy over the last few years and assumedly one of the reasons behind Arsene Wenger’s interest in Chris Smalling.
John Stones may not have reached the Manchester United defender’s level of performance just yet, but the Everton prodigy certainly isn’t far behind, dazzling the Goodison Park faithful last term with his jinking forward runs from the back.
Defensively too, the 20 year-old is solid; four of Everton’s clean sheets in the Premier League this term have been in the England international’s presence from 15 league starts, compared to just three without him.
The right-back-come-centre-back is blossoming into a real talent, seemingly improving by the game. But his valuation has already reached the £20million mark in the tabloids.
MIRANDA
Atletico Madrid star Miranda may not offer Arsenal much in the way of longevity – in fact, at 31 years of age, he’s the oldest defender on this list.
Yet, at the heart of Diego Simeone’s industrious, well-organised and hardworking Mattress Makers side, the Brazilian has emerged as one of the most dependable centre-backs in Europe over the last few years, helping the Vincente Calderon outfit claim Europa League, Copa del Rey and La Liga titles.
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He’s basic but effective and a phenomenal athlete – the kind of brutish presence Arsenal’s defence currently lacks.
The 6 foot 1 defender’s £24million release clause remains somewhat hard to justify. But with just a year left on Miranda’s contract and promising youngster Jose Giminez emerging as his potential successor this term, Atletico could settle for less.
LOIC PERRIN
Many chuckled when Loic Perrin was linked with a move to the Emirates last January, but the Saint Etienne captain has been, without a doubt, one of the top-performing defenders in Ligue 1 over the last 18 months.
This season, for example, the Frenchman has averaged an impressive 2.5 tackles, 1.5 interceptions, 9.8 clearances and 4.4 successful aerial duels per match from his 26 league outings, also earning him four Man of the Match awards from Whoscored.com.
He’d unlikely be an automatic starter for Arsenal but would certainly add considerable depth to their squad, being equally adept at right-back, centre-back and defensive midfield.
The Metro claimed yesterday afternoon that the Gunners are likely to revive their interest in the summer. Having penned extended terms last September however, Saint Etienne are under no obligation to sell.
Tottenham’s role as the nearly-men of English football has continued this season, with the White Hart Lane outfit seemingly a top-quality player or two away from a consistent challenge for Champions League qualification.
The North London side will look to bolster the playing contingent this summer, with Mauricio Pochettino surely wanting to put his own hallmarks on a squad that he inherited ahead of this season.
Although there are a number of areas where the Argentine needs to reinforce, arguably the trickiest is on the right-hand side of midfield.
In Pochettino’s 4-2-3-1 formation, Spurs have lacked a consistent option on the right flank to contribute to the team’s attacking efforts over the course of the campaign.
Andros Townsend is one of the homegrown players that have progressed through the youth ranks into the first team and on to gain England recognition.
The speedy winger’s showings for the North London club have been mightily frustrating for the White Hart Lane outfit to stomach however, with the former QPR loanee not fully convincing.
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The lack of end product has been the main issue, with Townsend seemingly more effective for his country than club.
The other option currently at Pochettino’s disposal is his compatriot Erik Lamela, who was signed at great expense last summer but has failed to live up to his billing as a player capable of filling the sizeable void left by Gareth Bale.
Although the Argentine attacker has improved this season and clearly has excellent technique, he has struggled to influence games and his lightweight frame has held him back in English football.
Although splurging on a new addition to bolster Spurs’ options in the position is a real option, there may well be another player already at the club to fit the bill.
Alex Pritchard has been on loan at Brentford this season and continues to impress in The Championship, with high hopes from the Spurs faithful that the 21-year-old is ready for top-flight action.
After temporary spells at Peterborough and Swindon over recent seasons, the homegrown star has shown maturity, trickery and speed in abundance to make him one of the standout players in the England second-tier this season.
11 strikes in The Championship so far in 2014-15 show that the youngster has an eye for goal, while his individual displays of skill and ability to deliver a killer pass have also stood out.
Although the step-up in quality from the English second tier to the Premier League is considerable, Pritchard looks to have all the attributes to be given a chance to impress in the big time.
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With regular showings for England under-21’s also and the European Championships in Czech Republic happening this summer, the youngster will have another chance to impress.
Pochettino has shown faith in academy graduates at both Southampton and Tottenham; it looks like Pritchard is the next in line to follow in the footsteps of Harry Kane, Ryan Mason and a promising contingent of young Spurs stars.
Much has been said about whether Manchester United’s Robin Van Persie will be staying or leaving Manchester United this summer.
With United having finally found a successful line up that has shot the Red Devils up to third with only a handful of games left this season, it does seem unlikely that there’ll be many opportunities for the Dutchman to prove that he is still a quality striker.
A move away from Old Trafford, and perhaps England, would provide the 31-year-old a fresh start and chance to play regular football, though probably at a lower level than he is used to.
Despite a dip in form and injury to contend with, Van Persie has still scored 10 goals for United and would be perfect as a back-up striker for another club.
Here are five teams that could use a talented forward like Van Persie next season…
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Real Madrid
The Champions League winners were in the market for a back-up striker 20:16 and took a chance on Manchester United reject Javier Hernandez.
The Mexican has scored only four goals during his limited playing time at the club and is unlikely to have his year long loan deal made permanent.
If Van Persie is willing to spend most of his time coming on as a super sub rather than starting matches then he could be winning major trophies with Real Madrid next season.
Fenerbache
Turkish giants Fenerbache may be willing to offer the forward one last big money contract before he ends his career.
Apart from the lucrative wages, another incentive to make the move would be the chance to reunite with former Netherlands team mate Dirk Kuyt, who has been with the side for the past three years. Fenerbache won the Turkish Super Lig last season, though did not feature in this year’s Champions League or Europa League due to a two year ban for match fixing.
This shouldn’t be a sticking point for Van Persie, though, as the ban should be lifted ready for next season.
Juventus
According to the Daily Express, the Italian champion’s have shown some real interest in taking Van Persie off of United’s hands.
Serie A is a much less physical league than our own, which should prevent some of the injuries that have marred his season while also extending how long he can sustain his top level career.
Juventus would also give Van Persie the opportunity to keep playing at the highest level via the Champions League.
AS Monaco
Despite Financial Fair Play, Monaco are still a very wealthy club and would be able to afford Van Persie’s considerable wages.
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The Ligue 1 side have made it a habit in recent years to sell off their very best players, so they are always in the process of rebuilding.
Manchester United’s loanee Radamel Falcao is hugely expected to be sent back to Monaco, though they are also looking unlikely to keep hold of him in favour of finding a different attacking option.
Van Persie could very well be the striker that they need, and I suspect that only a permanent deal would be considered by United.
The MLS
The MLS is growing in wealth and is an emerging force on the footballing scene, where top players go for one last hoorah. Some may say that it is just a big payday from a league that has nowhere near the competitive quality found in other parts of the world.
But with players like David Villa, Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard all signed on for the upcoming season, Robin Van Persie could do a lot worse than play alongside these still very talented and highly relevant stars.
He has been hailed as his team’s best signing of the season – by none other than Paul Scholes. The media have hailed him for his performances. There was uproar when he was benched for consecutive weeks. So what has happened to Ander Herrera?
He played the full ninety minutes against West Brom at home. How he managed to stay on the pitch for the entirety of the game, and Louis Van Gaal did not see the need to substitute him is baffling, because it was arguably Herrera’s worst performance in a Manchester United shirt.
Ander Herrera’s performance was Cleverley-esque. He was making simple mistakes continuously. How many of his passes were misplaced? As with the rest of his team proving possession is nothing without chances – plenty of passes are meaningless, when they are not going to your own players.
Herrera cannot be blamed for the overall performance of his side – no one was on top of their game, for various reasons – but had Herrera focussed, there certainly would have been more chances created.
So, what is the issue for Ander Herrera and his lack lustre performance? It cannot be knocked confidence. Despite the brief benching scenario earlier this yea, Ander Herrera has been a constant in the starting eleven. The partnership of Herrera and Mata has been hailed; and they had deserved the praise.
But it could be complacency. As he no longer has to warm the bench, he does not have to work for his place. As Louis Van Gaal has tried to stick with the same starting eleven (injuries aside – something Herrera is not suffering from at present) Herrera does not have to worry about fighting for a place. Now he should, as it is becoming an issue.
If Louis Van Gaal can relieve Robin Van Persie of his penalty taking responsibilities on the basis of one missed pen, he can drop Ander Herrera on the basis of one poor performance.
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According to Don Balon, Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho wants to sign Real Madrid midfielder Mateo Kovacic in the January transfer window.
What’s the story?
Mourinho recently refused to rule out January signings at Old Trafford as the Portuguese considers boosting his squad at the mid-point of the campaign.
Michael Carrick’s absence has been a big one for United this term, while the uncertainty surrounding the future of Marouane Fellaini has left the Red Devils short of options in the middle of the park.
Scott McTominay has emerged impressively in recent weeks, but it is thought that Mourinho wants another central midfielder in his first-team squad.
According to Don Balon, Real Madrid midfielder Kovacic has been identified as the perfect signing, with the United boss believing that a bid in the region of £27m would be enough to convince the Spanish and European champions to sell.
Would Kovacic be a good fit at United?
Kovacic, 23, joined Real Madrid from Inter Milan in the summer of 2015.
He is fast closing on 100 appearances for the Spanish giants, but the presence of Toni Kroos, Luka Modric and Casemiro at the Bernabeu has made it difficult for the Croatian international to gain a regular spot in the team.
Indeed, Kovacic, who is a 38-time Croatia international, has not started a single league match for Real Madrid this season.
An energetic midfielder with an impressive range of passing, there is no question that Kovacic has the attributes to play in the Premier League. He is still young, but has a wealth of experience at the top level.
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United need a player that will complement Nemanja Matic and Paul Pogba in the middle of the park, and Kovacic could prove to be a very smart signing for the 20-time English champions.
According to the Manchester Evening News, Manchester United are interested in signing Napoli midfielder Jorginho as a replacement for Michael Carrick.
What’s the story?
Carrick is still United’s captain, but the 36-year-old has not represented the Red Devils since undergoing a heart procedure on September 20.
It is widely thought that the Englishman will retire next summer, whilst there are question marks surrounding the future of Marouane Fellaini, who is also out of contract at the end of the season.
According to the Manchester Evening News, United boss Jose Mourinho wants to sign at least one new central midfielder, and the Portuguese has identified Jorginho as a potential signing.
The report claims that United would like the deal to be completed in the January transfer window, although Jorginho would not be eligible to represent the 20-time English champions in the Champions League.
What are Jorginho’s credentials?
Previously linked with Arsenal, Jorginho is a classy midfielder who combines mobility with a slick passing style.
The 26-year-old started his professional career with Verona before joining Napoli in the summer of 2014, and he has made more than 130 appearances for the Naples club in all competitions.
This season, Jorginho has scored twice and provided three assists in 15 Serie A appearances, whilst he has also netted once in the Champions League term.
It is understood that Mourinho sees the midfielder as the perfect foil for Paul Pogba and Nemanja Matic as the United boss looks to spend big once again in a bid to close the gap on Manchester City.
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Jorginho, who is valued at £25.2m by transfermarkt.co.uk, might well command a high transfer fee, but he has all of the qualities needed to be a star in the Premier League.
According to reports in French publication L’Equipe, Liverpool have been boosted in their January pursuit of Monaco star Thomas Lemar after the Ligue 1 club’s manager Leonardo Jardim refused to rule out selling the Frenchman during the January transfer window, but The Mirror says they will have to pay £90m to land him.
What’s the word, then?
Well, according to L’Equipe when Jardim was questioned about the future of Lemar, he said: “We are not used to selling in the winter, but the transfer window lasts until the end of the month and many things can happen.”
The France international is a target for the Reds to replace Philippe Coutinho after the Brazilian joined Barcelona over the weekend, but The Mirror says they will have to pay a club-record £90m fee if they want to bring the 22-year-old to Anfield.
The latest reports in L’Equipe suggest that while Monaco haven’t ruled out selling Lemar if they receive an acceptable offer, it seems unlikely that they will be willing to negotiate on their asking price this month.
How has Lemar done this season?
He certainly hasn’t been as good as he was during the previous campaign, but he has still done well.
The versatile Frenchman, who has proven that he can play on either flank or in more of a central attacking midfield role, has scored two goals and provided a further four assists in 19 appearances in all competitions this term.
That record is relatively disappointing when you consider that he netted 14 goals and picked up 17 assists in 55 outings in total for Monaco last season, but there is no doubt to the potential that he has.
Will Liverpool bid £90m for him this month?
It’s difficult to say, and depends on how desperate Jurgen Klopp is to bring in a replacement for Coutinho.
The German boss will likely know that he will have to pay over the odds for a player in January given the huge fee they received for the Brazilian, and it is up to him to decide whether they can through to the end of the campaign without replacing the 25-year-old, or whether they need to do it now.
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The Merseyside outfit have certainly shown that they aren’t afraid to splash the cash on the right players, and they will risk missing out on Lemar if they don’t sign him before January 31.
According to Sky Sports, Southampton could sign reported target Andy Carroll from West Ham United if they offer £20m for the striker.
What’s the word, then?
Well, The Sun reported on January 4 that the Saints were eyeing up a move for the Irons centre-forward as they look to find cover for the injured Charlie Austin, with Chelsea also said to be keen on the 29-year-old.
Sky Sports’ Transfer Centre, via the Daily Star, had claimed earlier this week that West Ham were demanding £35m for the former Liverpool and Newcastle United man, but now Sky Sports understand that they are in fact willing to listen to offers of around £20m.
Southampton manager Mauricio Pellegrino is still looking to make his first signing this month with his side just one place and one point above the Premier League relegation zone, and Carroll could now be an option with little progress in a deal for Monaco’s Guido Carrillo.
How has Carroll done this season?
It has been another injury-hit campaign for the 29-year-old, who has scored two goals and picked up one assist in 12 top flight appearances.
The striker has only played a role from the substitutes’ bench in recent weeks with Marko Arnautovic preferred in the lone striker position, while he was left out of the squad altogether for the Premier League clash with Huddersfield Town last weekend and the FA Cup third round replay against Shrewsbury Town at the London Stadium on Tuesday night.
Carroll would certainly prove to be useful at both ends of the pitch for Southampton in the air though, as according to WhoScored.com he has won 70 of the 118 aerial duels he has faced in his dozen league matches this term.
Would he be a good signing for Southampton?
If he stays fit he would certainly be a good addition and prove useful in their fight against the drop, but you can’t help but feel that they may prefer a loan deal rather than shelling out £20m for a player who will likely have little re-sale value.
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Even if Saints decide to push ahead with a move for the 6ft 3in centre-forward they will likely face stiff competition from Chelsea, who according to The Telegraph have opened talks with West Ham about signing the 29-year-old on a permanent deal this month, while West Ham may not want to sell to a potential relegation rival.
Manchester United fans will be very keen to see Alexis Sanchez for the first time if he makes his debut at Huish Park against Yeovil Town in the FA Cup this evening.
The Chile international stunned everyone by joining the Red Devils after being heavily linked to United’s local rivals Manchester City for months.
Sanchez moved to Old Trafford from Arsenal in a swap deal, which involved Henrikh Mkhitaryan joining the North London outfit.
While fans will be happy to see their new signing pull on the United shirt for the first time, there is another player who the supporters are desperate to watch.
Seventeen-year-old Angel Gomes could feature against Yeovil this evening as the Manchester Evening News reports that the teenager was part of Jose Mourinho’s travelling squad.
The London-born midfielder has been associated with United since he was six years of age and has been lighting up the youth ranks in recent seasons.
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Ahead of this evening’s FA Cup fourth-round encounter, fans have been calling for Gomes to play.