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Is this midfield titan really unwanted at Bayern Munich?
Bastian Schweinsteiger could be saying farewell to Munich according to journalist Graham Hunter. This would be unthinkable as the German international is an excellent midfielder who excels tactically, technically, and mentally. Yet Pep Guardiola apparently thinks that Schweinsteiger should look elsewhere for first-team minutes because of how he plays the beautiful game.
Pep Guardiola does want to move Schweinsteiger on. He feels Schweinsteiger doesn't move the ball quickly enough for the brand of football he's trying to implicate.
Pep Guardiola could be known as The Ruthless One for how he goes about his work sometimes. He looks cool, suave, hygienic, and genteel but make no mistake about his relentless pursuit of excellence. He isn't an overlord at FC Bayern though and the German core of high-performing players won't be discarded so easily. Karl-Heinz Rummenigge and the supervisory board will see to that. Maybe the players are finding the adjustment to greater rotation a little more disconcerting than they expected but if they do leave, an unlikely event, it will be to clubs competing in the Champions League.
Just move Xherdan Shaqiri on to Liverpool because he doesn't move himself quickly enough from the bench to the touchline when required.
A North London club likes to have "deep conversations" with other people.
Arsenal are trying to bring in players according to chief executive Ivan Gazidis.
Transfers are obviously important and we are deep in conversations already. I am confident we will add what we need this summer. The manager is not scared to spend, has the experience, but as always will have to juggle a set budget. We are all really pleased with securing Champions League qualification again. Last season was a great experience for players to win the FA Cup and now we want more.
Yes, yes, yes. This all sounds pleasant and reassuring but Arsenal fans will need to see some players holding shirts, smiling awkwardly, and Wenger extolling his technical qualities on the official site otherwise it'll be a case of pernicious "media luvvies" all over again.
One Brit with grit moves from one rival to another on a freebie.
The name's Jack Colback and he knows how to track back. He's moving from Sunderland to Newcastle United on a free transfer and he managed to rejected a lucrative deal from West Ham to become Newcastle's first permanent signing in around 18 months. Lovely or terrifying depending on how one views such events on Tyneside. Another point of interest is that he's not French, which is a surprise but Yohan Cabaye has been showing his support for his fellow Frenchmen back at his old club through his own team selections on Football Manager. We really are in a different era when a player apparently criticises his old manager through selecting a different side in a simulation of the sport and tweeting it in relation to his compatriot, Gaël Monfils taking on Andy Murray in the French Open quarter finals. For those who don't know, Britain's Andy Murray won. Rafael Nadal unfortunately was in unforgiving mood in the semi-finals.
Jack Colback is a player a lot of Sunderland fans were excited about when he broke into the first-team and many believed that he would eventually be a better player than Jordan Henderson when the youngster left Wearside for Merseyside. Although he came through the Sunderland academy, he supported Newcastle as a kid and probably held a candle for them whenever he took to the field.
A former Villain pitches up at Leicester City.
Marc Albrighton is a player I have time for. I just googled his name to see if he was still available on a free as he may have been a decent addition for Newcastle considering they're looking to add more British talent and spend no money in the process of doing so. To my surprise, he's already moved to Leicester City and that's another good move by the newly promoted club. He will work hard defensively down the right flank, offers crossing and set-piece capability, pace, enthusiasm, and gets involved in the game.
It's a shame Albrighton wasn't offered a new contract but at his age, he needs to be playing regularly to progress as a player. Benteke, Weimann, and Agbonlahor was the preferred counter attacking front three of Paul Lambert so minutes were hard to come by even when Benteke got injured. Here's hoping he finds what he's looking for.
Spanish side sign a left-back allowing English side to sign a left-back
Guilherme Siqueira has moved to La Liga champions and Champions League runners up Atlético Madrid from Granada. Now Chelsea can strike for Filipe Luís and create a mini Atlético tribute act in London under the auspices of Mourinho and Abramovich. Lovely.
Is Ivan Rakitić an upgrade on Cesc Fàbregas?
Both are excellent players but Barcelona have signed the Croatian midfielder to presumably replace the departing Fàbregas. Rakitić has signed a three-year deal and Sevilla are to receive €20 million (€15 million fee and €5 million in bonuses) for an excellent midfielder who had only one year remaining on his contract. Unai Emery will need to find a solution to replace his talismanic midfielder but Luís Enrique's Barcelona revolution is gathering pace. Alen Halilovic, Marc-André ter Stegen, and Ivan Rakitić is an impressive way to start transfer business under a new manager. Koke could be next. Wow.
As for Fàbregas, his stock has fallen somewhat and that's difficult to comprehend for a number of reasons. He remains an outstanding passer of the ball, technically superb, and possesses rare vision. Partnering Fàbregas with Nemanja Matić in a double pivot would give Chelsea greater urgency in midfield as well as guile. Along with the signing of Diego Costa, Chelsea will be a more formidable prospect for 19th century football sides. Fàbregas likes getting forward and will contribute some of the goals that Frank Lampard used to. For a side that's as disciplined and robust as Chelsea, there can be joy in adding Cesc.
