Arsenal seem quite literally cursed by frequent injuries to important players. Since 2002, Arsenal lead the way for injuries in the Premier League by a comfortable margin, and they’re under stress again at this very moment.

The Gunners have had 891 injuries in the past 12 years of the Premier League, Manchester United are a not-so-close second with 794. Tottenham Hotspur, Newcastle United and Everton make up the top five with 788, 777, and 666 respectively. I can’t even begin to suggest a reason why Arsenal seem to get more injuries than anyone else but we’ll just go with a curse for now.

Perhaps when Wenger joined Arsenal in 1996 a curse was placed upon him that he will never go a season without a chain of injuries affecting his side. Or maybe he buys crooked players who are then run into the ground and eventually break under his guidance?

It does seem that the curse is more present in modern times at The Emirates stadium and there are some statistics on past players which are quite astounding:

Samir Nasri – has missed 50 days with Manchester City in the past three seasons. Missed 180 days in the same time period with Arsenal. Alex Song – picked up no injuries with Barcelona during his two seasons at the Nou Camp. Missed 75 days during his time with Arsenal (four seasons). Gael Clichy – No injuries with Manchester City over the past three seasons. Missed 130 days in three seasons with The Gunners. Cesc Fabregas – Missed 42 days in three seasons with Barcelona, compared with 299 days in the same time period with Arsenal. Lukas Podolski – Out for 74 days with FC Koln during three seasons. Out for 117 days so far during just two seasons at The Emirates. Mesut Ozil – Never injured during three seasons with Real Madrid. Already missed 52 days and facing up to 80 more with his current long-term injury.

Say what you like about these statistics but they look a little more than coincidental. However, these players of recent years only equate to a tiny amount of the total amount on Arsenal injuries during the past 12 years. So why is it that Arsenal not only continue to pick up a vast amount of injuries, but they also cannot seem to prepare for such eventuality.

It seems that Arsenal’s squad depth is never quite strong enough, and when every Gunners fan knows that they are bound to face some painful injuries throughout the season, why aren’t they seemingly prepared for what everyone else is waiting for?

Arsenal have a squad of 28 players, that seems a decent amount. However currently The Gunners have nine players out through injury so Wenger can only pick from 19. Of those nine players, six are not expected to return inside this calendar month. Arsenal’s crisis continues and with less players now having to play more often, Arsenal will be expecting more injuries soon. The Gunners may have the most current players out injured in the Premier League but they’re not far ahead of the pack – in fact, they’re joint with Newcastle United on nine. Burnley, Everton, Liverpool, Man United, and West Ham are all currently missing eight players – so is there even an excuse to be had, or can Arsenal just not cope with their lack of squad depth?

Every team has key players and you’d argue that none of them can afford to lose them for a long amount of time, but not having a squad with depth incase of these injuries is suicide. The lesser sides of the Premier League don’t have the strongest of squads in general but they usually have back-up players of similar quality to their first team. However, the bigs clubs tend to have a larger gap between their first choice players and their back-up players. Arsenal for example will experience a bigger drop in performances without nine first-team players than a team like Burnley or West Ham would – not to say that they’ll do well, but they weren’t expected to do particularly well in the first place.

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Arsene Wenger is spending more money during transfer windows and is signing excellent players, however, due to injuries plaguing his squad again, he’ll be under pressure from the Arsenal fans come January to sign even more – can’t he do anything right?!

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It’s been an incredibly frustrating season for Mario Balotelli. The Liverpool striker is still yet to find his first goal in the Premier League since joining the Anfield ranks this summer, and his goal-shy run was epitomised yesterday afternoon with a harrowing point-blank miss against QPR.

An eternally enigmatic figure, critics of the Italy international are not hard to find. Alan Shearer and John Hartson both gave Balotelli a stern tongue-lashing on Match of the Day 2 yesterday evening, and after suuch a disappointing performance, Brendan Rodgers might soon find himself convinced into dropping the 23-year-old.

But we at Football FanCast believe that would be a huge mistake and just to prove it, here’s FIVE reasons the Reds gaffer must maintain his faith in the £16million signing.

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What he’s capable of

Amid his harrowing absence of form, it’s worth reminding ourselves of just how talented Mario Balotelli actually is.

Take this worldly stunner for example:

Or this one:

Or this goal with his shoulder:

Or for that matter, any of these:

//www.youtube.com/embed/hZ2GEP2pPX8?rel=0

Clearly, the Italian international is yet to produce that kind of quality for Liverpool, with him still waiting to hit the net in the Premier League and missing this absolute sitter against QPR yesterday:

But finally breaking his league duck will breed huge confidence in the 24 year-old, hopefully instigating a return to the 40 yard piledriving Balotelli we’ve all enjoyed watching over the years.

No Daniel Sturridge

Injured striker Daniel Sturridge, who could now be out until mid-November, is a massive loss for Liverpool, but even more so for Mario Balotelli.

Indeed, whilst the England international possesses the pace and agility to test the space behind defensive lines, Balotelli’s presence in the final third is far less penetrating, often dropping deep and operating with his back to goal.

There’s certainly nothing wrong with that, but it does contrast quite significantly with Liverpool’s style of play last season, defined by the sensational speed of Sturridge, Luis Suarez and Raheem Sterling on the counter-attack.

Balotelli needs Sturridge’s penetration to create him more space in the final third – in fact, the entire starting XI has struggled to rediscover the breakneck intensity they played at last season – and it’s incredibly telling that the only game to witness both strikers feature together thus far was a 3-0 thumping over Tottenham at White Hart Lane:

//www.youtube.com/embed/ZRs95LZqchk?rel=0

And having the 25 year-old back will not only improve Liverpool’s attack from a tactical perspective, but perhaps most importantly, alleviate the pressure on Balotelli to score goals.

He’s not Liverpool’s only (or biggest) problem

Indeed, with Liverpool already looking so far behind the team that rocketed their way to a runner-up finish in the Premier League last season, it can be easy to scapegoat a single player – especially one as controversial as Mario Balotelli.

But in truth, the vast majority of Liverpool’s squad have struggled to hit top gear this season, as shown below:

And the Reds looked equally as suspect during a shaky 2-1 victory over Southampton and a 3-1 loss to Manchester City without Balotelli as they have with the Italian international in the side.

Shoddy defending has arguably been an even bigger problem – Liverpool’s twelve goals conceded is the worst defensive record in the Premier League’s top half:

And Brendan Rodgers should be more concerned with the fact Liverpool conceded twice against a QPR side that until the weekend had averaged just 0.29 goals per match.

Likewise, even Captain Fantastic Steven Gerrard’s form has been called into question this season as he finds himself marked out of games at the base of Liverpool’s diamond:

So it’s not as if Balotelli’s wayward form is the only dilemma Brendan Rodgers currently faces.

He is trying

Whether Mario Balotelli has the right ambition, attitude and temperament to become a top-class striker remains open to debate, but no one can discredit his level of effort since joining the Anfield ranks. Take his heat map against QPR for example:

And compare it to Daniel Sturridge’s against Spurs back in September:

As you can see, hardly poles apart. In fact, the Italian has arguably been making the job tougher on himself by coming deeper and deeper to try and get on the ball.

Likewise, only one player in Europe’s top five leagues has averaged more attempts on goal than Mario Balotelli this season – Cristiano Ronaldo – so clearly, he is trying to influence games.

In fact, the 24 year-old’s biggest problem right now is arguably trying too hard instead of relaxing:

This is the deal with Mario Balotelli

To amalgamate this entire article into one single point, this is essentially the deal you get with Mario Balotelli.

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Rarely accused of having a mediocre game, the Italian tends to be either the hero or the villain of the piece, producing stunners like this:

…or absolute howlers like this:

There is no real middle ground, no half measures. Fans either love or loathe Balotelli, just as he’s either at top gear or stuck in reverse, which is probably why he only cost Liverpool £16million this summer.

Look on the bright side. First of all, horrendous form currently suggests proficiency could be just around the corner. And secondly, at least Balotelli hasn’t got himself sent off yet:

//www.youtube.com/embed/a1gVj_4fiiw?rel=0

//www.youtube.com/embed/soS4GYmT0U0?rel=0

//www.youtube.com/embed/Dy3I8QzpvfU?rel=0

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Home of the current European champions, the current Europa League champions and two of the greatest institutions throughout the history of football, there’s plenty of talent to be found in La Liga.

Furthermore, whilst we in the Premier League have developed a culture of splitting television revenues fairly evenly, over in Spain there’s a lot more disparity between Barcelona and Real Madrid and the rest of the pack, meaning the majority of La Liga stars and starlets can be sourced on the cheap.

With that in mind and Arsene Wenger’s adoration of developing young talent well known, here’s a list of FIVE La Liga starlets that should be giving the Arsenal boss food for thought.

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AYMERIC LAPORTE

//www.youtube.com/embed/vXqN7EieWVs?rel=0

Already known to be on the Arsenal radar, Athletic Bilbao centre-back Aymeric Laporte has been mooted by the tabloids as the ideal January signing to provide some much-needed depth to the Gunners defence:

The 20 year-old has enjoyed some fantastic form since his La Liga debut in December 2012, last term playing a major role in the Basque outfit’s Champions League qualification with 35 league appearances. This year, his performances have reached an even higher level, with the young Frenchman currently fifth in La Liga’s interceptions rankings:

Here’s a more eclectic look at Laporte’s stats over the last few campaigns:

The beauty of signing Laporte from Arsenal’s point of view that although he’s more than capable of challenging for a regular first team role, he won’t be too disappointed in playing second fiddle to Laurent Koscielny and Per Mertesacker for extended periods. He can also slot in at left-back – a position where the north Londoners have really struggled with injuries this season. Even so, the France U21 is rated at around £30million, whilst known long-term interest from several other top European sides could be another stumbling block for the Gunners:

Leo Baptistao

//www.youtube.com/embed/lDzZEWJPVw8?rel=0

Famed for his diminutive style, agile frame and netting prowess, Brazilian hotshot Leo Baptistao is often referred to as ‘the second-best Leo in La Liga’ – after Lionel Messi, obviously. Here’s the striker putting Angel Di Maria on his backside:

//www.youtube.com/embed/g3mO99ws51Q?rel=0

The 22 year-old rose to acclaim after bagging six goals and seven assists from 28 league appearances during his debut campaign with Rayo Vallecano, triggering a move to Atletico Madrid in summer 2013.

Things didn’t work out too well with the Mattress Makers and the young Brazilian is now back with Los Vallecanos on loan. Once again, his form in front of goal is attracting attention:

The majority of his finishes are simple but effective, such as this strike against Eibar:

Atletico spent a combined €63million on forwards Antoine Griezmann, Mario Mandzukic and Raul Jiminez last summer, so it remains to be seen if room can be made for Baptistao at Vincente Calderon when his loan spell comes to an end. Should the La Liga champions look to sell, Arsenal would be wise to pick up the pieces. There’s no doubting the 5 foot 11 front-man’s pedigree – he played for the same junior side as Barcelona star Neymar: //www.youtube.com/embed/IUUaTg-ijWA?rel=0

PACO ALCACER

Another young La Liga striker already known to have caught Arsenal’s attention is Valencia prodigy Paco Alcacer:

The 21 year-old has been more than reliable in the final third for Los Che since becoming a starting Xi regular last season, as detailed below:

In fact, that’s propelled him to the forefront of Vincente del Bosque’s plans for the Spanish national team, and Alcacer now has three goals and five caps for La Roja following his September debut. Here’s a clip of the 5 foot 9 forward in action:

//www.youtube.com/embed/l5gCwc49wxA?rel=0

Fernando Torres-esque dare I say? Boasting no defining attribute but an impressive, effective all-round game.

Most appealingly, Alcacer currently has a £15million release clause in his contract, leading one publication to dub him ‘the Bargain of Europe’ earlier this season. A new deal has been reported as in the offing for some time, allegedly bumping up his buy-out to £40million:

But nothing’s materialised just yet and we’re now just a month from the January window, suggesting Alcacer could be prized away in the New Year.

Fede Cartabia

There must be something in the water at the Mestalla – fellow Valencia academy product Fede Cartabia has also emerged as one of La Liga’s hottest prospects this season. The young winger is currently on loan at Cordoba and has amassed a decent return of three goals and three assists in twelve La Liga outings. Here’s a clip of Cartabia in action: //www.youtube.com/embed/zmUCdkoym48?rel=0 Most impressively however, the 21 year-old is establishing himself as one of the Spanish top flight’s most proficient dribblers – despite immense competition – with his current average only matched by a certain Lionel Messi:

He turns out pretty decent on Football Manager 15 too:

Already looking a level above Los Califas, it’s likely Valencia will want Cartabia at the heart of their first team next season. Even so however, having demonstrated his enormous potential in the early part of the season, the Gunners would be wise to attempt a swoop for the flamboyant wideman next summer.

Grzegorz Krychowiak

The lack of physical presence in Arsenal’s midfield is well known and one tabloid-sourced solution comes in the form of Sevilla’s Grzegorz Krychowiak:

The 24 year-old only joined the Sevillistas from Reims this summer as a replacement for Barcelona-bound Ivan Rakitic, but he’s already cementing a reputation as one of La Liga’s top enforcers. Here’s a look at his vitals over the last few years:

It remains to be seen if the Poland international’s impressive form is sustainable, but that mixture of aerial dominance and industry represents exactly what the Gunners lack in the middle of the park.

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Having signed for Sevilla just a matter of months ago however, if Arsene Wenger wishes to sign Krychowiak in January, it could set him back as much as £20million according to some reports:

It could be worth the punt however – here’s a clip of the midfielder in action:

//www.youtube.com/embed/oTHutzqkgaM?rel=0

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Two teams with contrasting fortunes this season are Liverpool and West Ham. The Reds enjoyed an excellent 2013/14, while the Hammers endured managerial turmoil and a brief flirtation with the idea of relegation, but this term the tables have been flipped, with Brendan Rodgers flailing in midtbale while Sam Allardyce looks longingly at the top four. It may be a bit simplistic, but a key part of this change in fortunes has been the role of Alexandre Song, who was linked with Liverpool, before eventually joining West Ham on loan for the season.

The impact of the ex-Arsenal man has been truly staggering so far, with his robust nature, quality on the ball and steadying influence in the middle of the park all major boosts to the Irons’ quest. And it appears that Song’s influence has been so great that the Merseysiders are now back in the running for his services.

Reports claim that the African ace could be Gerrard’s long-term replacement. But, does such a scenario make sense? And should Liverpool pursue him?

The statistics really do make for interesting reading. For the purposes of comparison, let’s line Song up alongside Gerrard, obviously, Emre Can and Lucas – who both operate as holders at Anfield – and Fabian Delph, who himself is reportedly a candidate to replace the 34-year-old. Although Song rarely top the standing in a set area, the Cameroon star clearly provides better cover defensively than Gerrard, with his tackles won, interceptions and superior aerial record all factors. Lucas’ shielding may be slightly superior, while Can has impressed in the air, but the Brazilian’s all-out holding style of play and the German’s presence in a back three may sway the figures.

//www.youtube.com/embed/JMabc5sacaw

There is so much more to Song’s game than purely sitting, with the video above taking a trip down memory lane. In his time at Arsenal, the 27-year-old was deployed as a deep-lying playmaker, with his eye for a pass enough to tempt Barcelona at the peak of their powers. He may not have made the grade at the Nou Camp, many have struggled, but a return to familiar ground England has coincided with an upturn in fortunes.

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So, is he worth it? Dependent on the fee Barca demand and their willingness to sell, YES. Song offers much that Gerrard cannot provide and would be the perfect anchor to a midfield that has lacked a shield in front of the backline. His presence could free up Jordan Henderson to move forward, while keeping Coutinho nearer the final third.

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Losing the League Cup to Chelsea, knocked out of Europe by Fiorentina, and now it looks like they will not be able to secure a top four spot – thing aren’t looking great for Mauricio Pochettino and his Tottenham side. With things going a bit downhill for the North London club, where now for Spurs?

Spurs are currently sitting in seventh place in the Premier League table, but are equal on points with Ronald Koeman’s Southampton. At this point in the season, things can change drastically overnight. The latest fixtures in the league saw Chelsea dropping points to Southampton, Burnley beating current champions Manchester City and Arsenal taking all three points against West Ham. Although Spurs may be outside of the top four now, this may not be the case by the end of the season.

Tottenham Hotspur can certainly win all their remaining nine games, but some of them will be challenging for the London side. Their next fixture sees Spurs hosting bottom placed Leicester, which many will have down as a banker for Pochettino’s men. Spurs will be spending more of the remainder of the season travelling – five of of their final nine are away from White Hart Lane. They will be travelling to Turf Moor, St James’s Park, St Mary’s and the Britannia. Arguably, their most difficult game in the next few weeks, aside from the away clash with Southampton, will be hosting Manchester City.

Spurs were unfortunate not to progress into the last 16 of the Europa League. Before they faced Fiorentina, they were on a good run in Europe. They recorded some big wins, notably against Asteras Tripolis in the group stages – a 5-1 home win and 2-1 away win.

They have also caused upset in the league this season, beating Arsenal 2-1 at White Hart Lane in the all important North London Derby. Despite Chelsea fans dubbing Spurs’s home ground the ‘three point lane’, Harry Kane and co. dominated their home game against the league leaders, with a huge 5-3 win on New Years’ Day.

Pochettino’s first season in charge of Spurs may have fallen short in terms of trophies, but he has done exceptionally well in this role. He has gotten the best out of some of his players, and managed to maintain their biggest asset, albeit surprise package, in Harry Kane. With whispers of Real Madrid having their eye on goalkeeper Hugo Lloris, Pochettino should do their best to keep the shot stopper, too.

Building on their already strong side in the summer will bring Spurs even closer to picking up some silverware next season, as they weren’t a million miles away from it this season.

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On Monday night, Newcastle United struggled to play a determined Liverpool squad who were not quite ready to give up on their top four aspirations. The Magpies finished the match with only ten men after Moussa Sissoko was shown his second yellow and were fortunate to only be beaten 2-0. The defeat was their fifth in a row and unsurprisingly supporters are angry.

The situation has got so bad that a boycott is being planned for Newcastle’s next Premier League game against Tottenham. No doubt Interim Head Coach John Carver is feeling the pressure to turn things around within their last six games even though their campaign is all but over and he’ll still surely lose the role this coming summer.

Down in South London ex-Magpies manager Alan Pardew has had a glorious three months at Crystal Palace. When Pardew joined, the Eagles were down in 18th fearing the dreaded drop but fast forward to April and with just over a month until the season ends the Englishman has reorganised his men into a cohesive match-winning side who have jumped a massive seven places up to 11th.

Palace have won four of their last five and look set to finish their campaign higher than Pardew’s former employers in the North East.

So should Newcastle regret the loss of Alan Pardew?

Well, although playing better under Pardew it should be remembered that supporters were very vocal about their distaste for the man. They created such a hostile environment that when Pardew got the chance to jump ship he took it.

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Despite the difficulties faced by both Pardew and Carver their tactics are not what has been wrong with the club. Owner Mike Ashley is the problem. Back in 2012 and 2013 Newcastle were building a strong side and playing well but then notably a big offer came in for key playmaker Yohan Cabaye and rather than hold onto their best player Ashley allowed him to leave. To this day supporters haven’t forgiven this decision believing that greed has been more important than the development of the team.

Since Pardew’s abrupt departure in January Newcastle have surely been drawing up a manager wish list. Many names have been associated with the role though why any of them would want the hassle is beyond me. Whoever takes the job will have little or no say regarding the comings and goings in the transfer window and will have to work for an owner who has proven he cares little for the wellbeing of the club and thoroughly lacks ambition.

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No one wants to see empty football stadiums but maybe loss of revenue is the only thing that will hit Ashley where it hurts. Apart from that Magpie supporters can only hope that whoever is chosen to manage their beloved club this summer will get a decent amount of good results and bring some joy back to St. James’ Park, otherwise the managerial door will continue revolving. Good luck to Newcastle but Pardew was right to make his escape when he did as life was far from rosy under Mike Ashley’s regime.

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Replacing a long-serving manager is not an easy task and can have a substantial negative impact on a football club – just ask Manchester United.

Like the Old Trafford outfit and their task of filling Sir Alex Ferguson’s sizeable shoes, Arsenal have a similar unenviable task lying in wait.

Love him or loath him, Arsene Wenger has been a saving grace for Arsenal in his tenure in North London.

The experienced French coach will leave the Emirates Stadium as one of the club’s best ever managers, leading the Gunners to significant periods of success.

Although silverware has been light on the ground in recent campaigns, replacing Wenger given his track record and the nostalgic factors that surround the decision, is not something the Arsenal powers that be will relish.

Wenger has shown in the second half of this season that he still has what it takes to get the best from a group of Arsenal players that he has nurtured and hand-selected, with the North Londoners England’s form team.

But, the fact remains that the Frenchman is not getting any younger and looks set to be replaced in forthcoming years.

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For Arsenal, finding a manager that can take on the role and follow in his predecessor’s footsteps by staying with the club for a long period of time seems ideal.

As such Wenger’s replacement will ideally be loyal, ambitious, young and passionate.

Enter Jurgen Klopp.

The German head coach has announced his decision to leave Borussia Dortmund at the end of the current season and stated that he is ready for the next challenge in his managerial career.

Even before the ex-Mainz coach became available, he was one of the names consistently mentioned as having the attributes and potential to be Wenger’s successor.

Although the timing is less than ideal given Arsenal’s much-improved form in the second half of the current campaign, allowing Klopp to become a stalwart elsewhere could be a fatal error.

As such, accommodating the German seems like a canny move, even if Wenger oversees the club in a director of football role.

Another key reason why Arsenal should look to Klopp relates to player recruitment.

The Gunners have shown in the last couple of months that they have what it takes to fight for silverware and as such one or two top players of real quality is all that is needed this summer to make the Emirates Stadium outfit a real powerhouse.

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There is an argument to suggest that a top-notch central defender to replace Per Mertesacker and and a central midfielder of distinction could complete the package.

Mats Hummels and Ilkay Gundogan would be ideal additions for Arsenal and have been linked consistently with the London club; securing Klopp as the new manager would play a massive role in the Germany internationals following him to England.

No-one likes change and a period of transition would follow, but appointing Klopp before another major European club does would be a decision to take Arsenal to the next level.

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The summer’s big transfer saga appears to be entering it’s final stages, despite the fact that the transfer window is yet to actually open!

Reports claim that Manchester City are ready to meet Liverpool’s £50m valuation – or pay close to it – for Raheem Sterling and with football experts such as the Times’ Tony Evans saying that a deal will “definitely” be done, all signs point to the 20-year-old heading away from Anfield.

Whether or not it’s the right move for the youngster or the correct way to go about things for Liverpool themselves, Brendan Rodgers is set to be landed with a big headache: what to do this summer?

Well, here are FIVE options for B-Rod…

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Alter to a 4-4-2…

Liverpool’s most successful period over the course of the past two seasons coincided with Rodgers’ move to a 4-4-2 with a narrow diamond midfield. Okay, Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge in top form would have made practically any formation look impressive, but the system also got the best out of the likes of Philippe Coutinho and works well with progressive full-backs such as Alberto Moreno.

The set-up is also less reliant upon wide attackers, and with Sterling’s best position being on the flank his impact will be least missed. Coutinho could be deployed in the ‘No.10’ behind a front two (Mario Balotelli even works well in a two-man attack) while the likes of James Milner, Emre Can and Jordan Henderson could make up the block of three behind.

Look to Jordon Ibe or Lazar Markovic…

Sterling is good, but he’s not irreplaceable. In fact, there is a belief among large sets of Reds supporters that Ibe is actually a more promising talent, and it’s easy to see the logic behind this. Okay, the former Wycombe Wanderers trainee is a little more raw, but he’s a more direct runner, more powerful on the ball and appears to have made the adaptation to Premier League football a little quicker than Sterling did. Ibe is a similar style of player to Sterling in terms of position (he can even play as a wing-back) making him a ready-made replacement.

Markovic – who will not be allowed to believe despite suggestions of a return to Benfica – is another option for Rodgers to consider, with a tough debut campaign likely to have helped the young Serbian no end. The ex-Partizan Belgrade man has been talked about as one of the best youngsters in Europe for a while, so there must be something there waiting to be extracted.

Sign a replacement…

https://vine.co/v/eilOaBXBTTv/embed/simple

The beauty of a potential early sale – the transfer window hasn’t even officially opened yet – is that Liverpool will have plenty of time to draft in a replacement. Roberto Firmino of Hoffenheim appears to be a candidate at the moment, while speculation also suggests that the infamous botched transfer of January 2014 may be revived for Yevhen Konoplyanka – albeit he’ll be a free agent this time, so there will be no stubborn Ukrainian chairmen to deal with.

Do nothing

Is Sterling even vital? Can a 20-year-old truly be the key cog for a top side? Opinion is divided, but with Sterling having not truly done anything special for the Reds – what has he won? What has he really contributed to? – there is the chance to just carry on as if nothing has really happened. Signings could be made and players will need to fill in, but is there really any need for special measures?

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Dig in and keep him…

Okay, not exactly a ‘Sterling exit’ strategy, but Liverpool can just dig in. There is no release clause being spoken of, Sterling has two years to run on his contract and Liverpool have shown that they will not be bullied into selling in the past – The whole Luis Suarez ‘what are they smoking at the Emirates’ episode springs to mind.

Comments from the ever-lovable Aidy Ward seem to suggest that relations have completely broken down between club and player, but Sterling is in no position to go on strike. He’s unproven, needs to play to improve and has no chance of earning a massive transfer unless he continues to impress.

With the signing of Sergio Romero from Sampdoria, you wonder whether David de Gea getting closer to the Old Trafford exit door and what effect that could have on Louis Van Gaal’s side.

In one word, it would be big. As it was once said by the great Sir Alex Ferguson, “a top goalkeeper gets you 15 points per season” and last season many would agree that de Gea did at least that.

And if he did leave, de Gea’s departure would cost United dear. Not only is he a fantastic keeper who makes some ‘good’ saves, he made great saves when United need him to the most last term.

Of course with a goalkeeper it is tough to exactly work out how many points they earn their side over the course of the seasont as they do not score goals. Clean sheets don’t really tell you everything.

But of course when a player leaves, the replacement of said player can either soften or accentuate the void. There’s no doubting Romero’s ability, but he’s not of de Gea’s standing, so perhaps in this instance the replacement won’t quite match up and points could be lost over the course of a season instead.

The stats do show that de Gea had the impact many on lookers would have thought last season. His impact was huge in the United goal, as clear chances missed against the Spaniard was up at 68% second highest in the league. When compared to the league average, the Spaniard is keeping out 10% more clear chances than the any other goalkeeper in the Premier league.

One thing that highlights this point is how, according to Opt,a no Premier League side made more unpunished errors leading to chances than United last season. The reason why they didn’t lead to goals was down to the Spanish international’s heroics between the sticks.

The stats show that de Gea’s brilliance last season prevented five goals that should have gone in, but for the Spaniard’s efforts five goals may not seem like a lot.

But it depends on what five goals you are talking about. In the five games where the opposition missed more than three clear cut chances against United, the Reds won by more than one goal just once, meaning de Gea arguably won his side 12 points last season.

And for arguments sake, those 12 points could prove huge if he does indeed leave. It could be the difference between a fourth place or spot just inside the top seven. Or even the title and third place.

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His impact can’t be underestimated and his departure would have a huge impact on the Reds should they let him go this summer.

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According to reports on The Mirror’s live transfer blog on Thursday , Everton’s January transfer window plans may have changed after they were offered the chance to sign Sunderland defender Lamine Kone in a cut-price deal.

What’s the word, then?

Well, The Mirror says that the Toffees can bring the Ivory Coast international to Goodison Park for £10m in the New Year, just 18 months after they bid £19m to bring him to Merseyside, and it could prove to be an attractive proposition considering they have been linked with a £30m move for West Brom’s Jonny Evans and a £20m move for Lille’s Adama Soumaoro.

Everton boss Sam Allardyce knows Kone well having brought him to Sunderland in 2016 during his spell in charge at the Stadium of Light, and the 63-year-old could jump at the chance to be reunited with the centre-back after he played a key role in keeping the Mackems up in 2016.

How has Kone done this season?

The 28-year-old was unable to prevent Sunderland being relegated from the Premier League for the second successive campaign, and he made 11 Championship appearances for them before picking up a knee injury which has kept him on the sidelines since.

However, Kone showed the ability that he has earlier in the season and according to Squawka, the centre-back has won 33 of the 48 aerial duels he has faced in England’s second tier this term, while he also made 103 clearances, 18 interceptions and seven blocks.

Would he be a good signing for Everton?

He certainly would be, yes.

While some Toffees supporters may be put off by the fact that Kone was part of a poor Sunderland team and defence last season, the 28-year-old has shown on an individual basis that he is more than good enough to perform at a high level in the Premier League.

The Merseyside outfit need a younger but experienced defender to replace the likes of Ashley Williams and Phil Jagielka in the long-term – and with summer addition Michael Keane struggling and left out of the team in recent weeks – and the Ivory Coast international could certainly do that.

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If Allardyce could bring Kone to Goodison Park for around £10m, he would probably be more than happy to do it considering some of the high prices they may have to pay for other targets next month.