England must be careful, there’s nobody able to replace this maligned figure (not Rooney)

Roy – don’t leave, don’t walk away. Don’t leave the FA with a decision that is frankly impossible.

I’m not saying that it would be impossible to replace the current England manager, but I am saying that the alternatives frighten me to death. There are no viable options.

England boss Roy Hodgson will not be given a new deal until after Euro 2016 to avoid the “unsavoury position” that emerged under Italian Fabio Capello, which rather leaves things up in the air.

Under Hodgson, England won all of their 10 games in their qualifying group for the tournament in France this summer. At the 2014 World Cup, however, the Three Lions went out in the group stage without winning a game.

The weekend’s win over Germany in Berlin saw a different look to the team, as they pressed and played more fluidly. They more than matched the reigning world champions and should never have conceded the two German goals. That victory was followed by a narrow loss at home to the Netherlands, but one feels the last few days have strengthened Hodgson’s claim for a new contract.

At this moment in time other alternatives have been mentioned and none of them fill me with any confidence. Better the devil you know sometimes, as long as improvements are being made.

The first alternative being mentioned is ex-Liverpool boss, Brendan Rodgers. The Northern Irishman is apparently joint-favourite for the job, but football fans are undecided as to whether his Liverpool side’s 2013/14 Premier League title challenge was down to his brilliance or Luis Suarez. However, the fact remains that with the right players, Rodgers could easily manage at international level and it would probably excite him enough to say yes. As the England set-up has a number of young players coming through, his record with youth is solid. At Liverpool the homegrown talent was evident in the fact seven of the 23 England players in the last World Cup squad were either Liverpool players at the time or bought in that summer.

At just 38, Eddie Howe is the youngest manager in the Premier League and although his achievements in such a short managerial career has been outstanding, his lack of time in management and at the highest level counts against him. It would be a risky appointmentment, but the job that he has done at Bournemouth does mean this his name is being mentioned.

Arsene Wenger has also been a name thrown into the mix, and some Arsenal fans will be glad to see him leave the Emirates. Wenger is all about the philosophy of the game and seems uninterested in the financial areas, and at international level this would be a seemingly great fit. In truth, the likelihood is different. Should Wenger decide to leave the managerial role at Arsenal, he would probably go ‘upstairs’ as Director of Football. Failing that, perhaps, he would emerge as a future France manager, but either way, Wenger as England manager isn’t likely.

The bookies’ favourite appears to be the recently management-scarred Gary Neville. Many see Neville as the natural successor to Hodgson, however, Neville’s first taste of management has been a train wreck with his Valencia side looking over their shoulder at relegation from La Liga. His credibility, image and furthermore his reputation are in tatters, as he tries to shore up the foundations at the rapidly crumbling Spanish side. Neville has the experience of playing at the highest levels and could be better as a No.2 rather than as a boss, but if he were to take over, it would appear that most football fans would accept the decision quietly without too much vitriol.

Other names are less sensible to discuss in any depth, as they are just ludicrous. Can you imagine Sam Allardyce or Mauricio Pochettino as England manager? Even less likely are Jose Mourinho or Pep Guardiola, but both are being mentioned.

This time last year, you could have included the likes of Alan Pardew and Garry Monk, but see what a difference a year makes.

All in all, if Roy can get England to make a decent fist of the EUROs, my money is on him to stay until at least the 2018 World Cup.

Sometimes the grass isn’t always greener.

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West Ham’s fairy-tale remains alive even with recent blows

The 2015/16 campaign has certainly proven to be a successful one for Slaven Bilic’s Hammers thus far. As the East End outfit could still end the current term with a long awaited FA Cup in the trophy cabinet and the prospect of Champions League football waiting patiently on the table ahead of next season, there has arguably never been a better time to be an Irons fan in Premier League history.

Yet despite the Hammers’ admittedly impressive form so far this season, Bilic’s determined side have nonetheless dropped several key points in the race for an illustrious top-four place in recent weeks, after several controversial refereeing decisions have ultimately hindered their progress.

So then, in light of Mark Clattenburg’s latest high profile calamity involving the unfair dismissal of Cheikhou Kouyate last time out at the Boleyn Ground – is an all-important place among the Premier League’s top-four now out of reach for West Ham United?

Well, as each of Arsenal, Manchester City and Manchester United successfully picked up all three points last weekend in relatively assured style, perhaps West Ham may have ultimately lost their opportunity to steal a march on their star-studded opposition.

Arsenal know what it takes to qualify for the Champions League year after year after year, Man City obviously have the strongest squad on paper to fall back on in this now crucial stage of the campaign, and Louis van Gaal’s Red Devils also out-punch their east London opposition in terms of overall experience and resources available.

Had West Ham not been subject to such a poor standard officiating in their last few Premier League outings, then perhaps the dynamic would have proven more favourable for Bilic’s side at this current stage, but seeing as the Hammers have it all to do between now and the end of the season, their overall chances of a top-four finish remain slim at best right in the here and now.

But as the 2015/16 campaign has so far proven one of the most unpredictable in recent memory, with the league’s so-called ‘bigger’ teams consistently slipping up when the odds are supposedly stacked in their favour, why can’t the Upton Park faithful look to dream big in their last ever season at the Boleyn Ground?

Such an approach has worked wonders for supporters at the King Power Stadium, after all. As we all are well aware that top-flight Premier League proceedings are ultimately played out on the pitch as opposed to on paper, there really is no specific reason to count West Ham out of the running with seven important league fixtures left to be decided.

Bilic’s ambitious outfit have several significant upcoming home games to contend with in the not too distant future, and with the squad is nearing full fitness, with the exception of one or two stand-out contributors, if the Premier League’s proud selection of often sub-standard referees can finally get their act together before the culmination of the campaign, West Ham remain well-placed even at this particular stage in the proceedings.

So then, although very few genuine Hammers fans would be disappointed with the second-choice option of Europa League football at the Olympic Stadium next season, a place among the top-four isn’t quite yet out of reach.

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Five reasons Klopp must not give up on key Liverpool star

Liverpool have made more than their fair share of transfer howlers over the past decade or so, and they simply must not do so again. Selling Daniel Sturridge would be tantamount to goalscoring suicide by Jurgen Klopp and, although he wasn’t given a start in the Europa League last week, everyone knows how crucial he is for the Reds.

Since the traumatic sale of Luis Suarez, Liverpool have been putting all of their eggs firmly into Daniel Sturridge’s basket, clutching on to hope that he will retain fitness for the season. They’ve had to make some dodgy signings to compensate for their reliance on Sturridge, with Christian Benteke’s poor first season at Anfield showing how good the ex-Chelsea and Man City man is, and has been.

Raheem Sterling joined Luis Suarez in forcing his way out of the club and Sturridge is the last man standing of the infamous 2013/14 ‘SAS’. Sturridge departing the club may well be justified in terms of Klopp wants to do long-term, but we reckon it would be a horrible decision.

So, here are FIVE reasons to keep the England international…

Goals goals goals

Strikers are not just there to score goals, but Danny Sturridge provides more than his fair share.

In each of his Premier League campaigns with Liverpool he has averaged better than one in two and he has continued that fine form this season. When others have struggled to find the net, Sturridge has been a ruthless finisher and his eye for goal has carried Liverpool at times.

Who else?

Who can Liverpool realistically attract that will provide a better all-round performance than Daniel Sturridge?

His goals-per-minute record is sensational and the Reds, without Champions League football, cannot compete for the true elite European strikers. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Gonzalo Higuain or Zlatan Ibrahimovic will not look to move to a club that isn’t competing in Europe and Liverpool aren’t exactly guaranteed to make the top four next season.

He’s got it all..

Not many players can boast a complete a game as Sturridge.

Other than his weaknesses in the air, Sturridge has a lot of pace, a precise left-foot and, aside from the occasional greedy moment, has really developed his link-up play. As with many strikers, Sturridge’s first instinct is to shoot and this can seem ambitious. However, when you score them as often as he does, you can get let off.

Changing face…

Liverpool may well have a squad overhaul this summer. Their striking options are probably the best of any position within their squad and selling Sturridge would make for more changes than are really needed.

It is likely a goalkeeper, centre-back and defensive midfielder will be signed, whilst a winger is probably a likely addition, too. Any club wants to minimise the amount of turmoil within a campaign and Liverpool should be no different.

Building chemistry

Liverpool’s various attacking options are beginning to work together better than ever before, why change it?

Selling Sturridge and bringing in a new forward would, you’d expect, set that back somewhat. Firmino, Coutinho, Lallana and Sturridge are working well together and linking up in mouth-watering fashion, it’d be criminal to change that.

Five EURO 2016 stars to turn Tottenham in to serious title challengers

Tottenham took major steps toward becoming one of the Premier League’s best this season.

Having run Leicester so close in the title race last term, it finally looks like Mauricio Pochettino has the barrage of young weapons to prevail atop the standings.

Spurs’ nucleus of young stars— Harry Kane, Dele Alli and Eric Dier, to name a few— impressed most. However, Tottenham need another goal-scoring striker to alleviate the pressure on Kane.

So here are FIVE Euro 2016 stars that could help Tottenham win the Premier League title that has eluded them for so long…

Álvaro Morata

Football – Manchester City v Juventus – UEFA Champions League Group Stage – Group D – Etihad Stadium, Manchester, England – 15/9/15Alvaro Morata celebrates after scoring the second goal for JuventusReuters / Phil NobleLivepicEDITORIAL USE ONLY.

The Juventus striker brilliantly fit into Antonio Conte’s scheme at Juventus, and now the new Chelsea boss is keen in bringing Morata to Stamford Bridge.

It would take some strong convincing to join the Premier League in another destination, but Pochettino should try and convince him White Hart Lane is the better option.

Koke

This is another difficult acquisition, but someone of Koke’s skill is just what Tottenham need.

He is Xavi’s rightful successor as Spain’s next brilliant midfielder. Spurs were too reliant on Harry Kane’s superman-capabilities this season, and building a quality attack around him is Pochettino’s top priority.

If the 24-year-old could join Dele Alli in London, expect titles to follow.

Pavel Kadeřábek

The Croatian defender was linked to deals with Premier League sides this season.

Kadeřábek’s experience as a winger hastens him forward into the attack.

Burak Yilmaz

Football – Chelsea v Galatasaray – UEFA Champions League Second Round Second Leg – Stamford Bridge, London, England – 18/3/14Galatasaray’s Burak Yilmaz (L) in action with Chelsea’s Eden HazardMandatory Credit: Action Images / Andrew CouldridgeLivepicEDITORIAL USE ONLY.

Before he started playing in China, Yılmaz was the top striker in Turkey.

His most apparent strength is finding the net— he won the golden boot in the Turkish League with two different times before jumping on the Chinese Super League bandwagon.

Domagoj Vida

Tottenham could use some grit in its defence, and that’s what Vida provides.

The Dynamo Kviv product’s versatility also makes him a marketable commodity, as he can play any spot on the backline.

Burnley – 16/17 Premier League Season Preview

When Burnley were relegated two years ago, their squad was broadly weaker than most of the other Premier League teams. They had spent only £10m in transfers the summer before their Big League odyssey, and that patently wasn’t enough. The Clarets had almost been promoted too early; their approach to development was evolution over a period of years, attempting to build a Premier League squad through slow growth.

After relegation, Burnley kept a hold of their nucleus, their manager and added strategically to their squad – though interestingly chose to spend close to around that £10m mark on one player, Andre Gray, whilst in the Championship. That saw them come straight back up, and this time they’re much better prepared.

Last season

It’s a great feat to manage to bounce straight back up from what is perhaps the hardest league in the world, the Championship. There are so many games, form is so important, and the gap between the teams in terms of quality is usually fairly minimal.

It’s unfair to say that Burnley changed tack, after all, the squad is fairly similar to the one that got relegated the season before last. But they did spend money on Gray, and that was money well spent as far as they’re concerned.

What does success look like?

Sean Dyche equipped his side very well for life in the Premier League last time, but ultimately they came up short. This time, the goal will be the same: to progress as a club and be better than they were last year and the last time they were in the Premier League.

If they do that, they’ll have a successful season, and they’ll stay in the division.

How has the summer gone?

Just like their last foray into the Premier League, Burnley haven’t done much in the transfer market. At present, the two main signings are Charlton pair Johan Berg Gudmundsson and Nick Pope – and Pope, the goalkeeper, can hardly claim to make the squad stronger; Tom Heaton will surely be number one this season.

Burnley are looking ill-equipped to take on the Premier League with a squad already weaker than it was last season after the departure of Joey Barton. It’s all the more interesting after spending money this time last year, but there is still almost a month to go before the start of the Premier League season, and surely there’s Lancashire money to be spent!

Key man

Last season’s Championship player of the season Andre Gray is a player many eyes are fixed on. Whether or not they can make the stop up is a long-held worry with players arriving in the Premier League from the Championship, such is the gulf in class between the two leagues.

But we saw last season that Gray is a match-winner, and the success of Bournemouth last season was a feat of a team who had a great togetherness, a clear plan, and one or two players who can make a difference – and that’s exactly what Burnley have in Gray.

Make or break season

Rouwen Hennings was utilised more as a super sub last season than as a starter. That might have something to do with the sensational form of Andre Gray as Sean Dyche’s main man last term, but the fact he also scored only one league goal is probably a large factor, too.

There’s no doubting that Hennings has talent, but if he found last season in the Championship hard, then life in the Premier League will surely be excruciating.

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3-5-2: How Aston Villa should line up to beat Barnsley

A last minute goal last time out for Aston Villa against Newcastle saw them get their sixth draw of the season – amazing considering it’s still only September.

The Villans have found it tough going since their relegation from the Premier League and are hovering above the relegation zone, but with that latest point, the signs suggest they may be able to compete over the coming months.

Newcastle are widely expected to at least challenge strongly for promotion, so Villa’s refusal to be beaten will have impressed their fans and they’ll be hoping they can build on that performance against Barnsley tonight.

The Tykes have started the season well, surpassing early expectations, and so it’s going to be another tough battle for Roberto Di Matteo’s side.

Nevertheless, they’ll go into the game with belief and here at FootballFanCast we think they should go with this line-up to win the game…

Goalkeeper – Pierluigi Gollini

Britain Soccer Football – Aston Villa v Brentford – Sky Bet Championship – Villa Park – 14/9/16Aston Villa’s Pierluigi GolliniMandatory Credit: Action Images / Craig BroughLivepicEDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or “live” services. Online in-match use limited to 45 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. Please contact your account representative for further details.

Defenders – Tommy Elphick, Nathan Baker, James Chester

Britain Soccer Football – Aston Villa v Nottingham Forest – Sky Bet Championship – Villa Park – 11/9/16Aston Villa’s Tommy Elphick celebrates after Rudy Gestede scored their second goal Mandatory Credit: Action Images / Craig BroughLivepicEDITORIAL USE ONLY.

Bar Tommy Elphick’s own goal against Newcastle, the back-three looked pretty solid and so there should be no reason to change it. James Chester has come in alongside the former Bournemouth man to join Nathan Baker in a defence that is looking as solid as it has done for Villa in recent times.

Midfielders – Aaron Tshibola, Mile Jedinak, Jordan Amavi, Leandro Bacuna, Ashley Westwood

Britain Football Soccer – Aston Villa v Newcastle United – Sky Bet Championship – Villa Park – 24/9/16Aston Villa’s Aaron Tshibola celebrates scoring their first goal Mandatory Credit: Action Images / Alan WalterLivepicEDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or “live” services. Online in-match use limited to 45 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. Please contact your account r

Villa’s midfield should welcome back Aaron Tshibola after he came on to rescue a point against the Magpies. Mile Jedinak has been impressive and should once again be involved whilst Ashley Westwood will have to get on the ball and help Villa tick over. Jordan Amavi and Leandro Bacuna have the important job of getting up and down the flanks once again.

Forwards – Jordan Ayew, Jonathan Kodija

Jordan Ayew is going to score eventually because he’s playing too well to not to, whilst Jonathan Kodija needs to show why the club spent so much money on him or he’ll be out of the side soon.

The line-up…

http://lineupbuilder.com/350×500/?p=11&a=1&t=&c=ad11a3&1=GK_1%20Gollini_1_388_174&2=MC_18%20Tshibola_18_174_211&3=DC_2%20Baker_2_320_122&4=DC_12%20Chester_12_322_227&5=DC_6%20Elphick_6_336_174&6=MLA_7%20Bacuna_7_204_64&7=MCL_15%20Westwood_15_203_138&8=DM_25%20Jedinak_25_260_178&9=MR_23%20Amavi_23_203_286&10=FC_10%20Ayew_10_115_141&11=FC_26%20Kodija_26_72_211&c2=00ddfa&c3=ffffff&output=embed

A 3-5-2 for Villa then. They’ll need Jedinak to be that strong defensive presence in midfield whilst if Tshibola can continue his goal-scoring in this game the Villa fans will be more than happy.

Five of the Bundesliga’s hottest rising stars

You would have to go a long way to find a stronger league in Europe than the Bundesliga. Rising stars, world-class talents and superb teams make this one of the finest leagues on the planet. What excites that fans of German more than anything else is the quality of youth players regularly produced in the league.

We have put together a list of five rising stars in Germany that are yet to hit the heights of greatness as of yet. From a relatively unknown Scottish talent to some of France and Germany’s finest our list comprises of some of Europe’s best young stars.

The Bundesliga has kicked off with two matches played and some of the young stars are once again producing at the highest level.

Do you agree with our top five or is there someone you would have chosen?

Lukas Klostermann

RB Leipzig’s young right-back could be argued as the continent’s hottest young full-back following his impressive performances in the 2. Bundesliga. He did impress on a regular basis with his enterprising forays into opposition territory, contributing to one goal and four assists in his second season for the club.

His challenges in the top-flight will have to increase tenfold as the wingers in the Bundesliga will test the young right-back’s credentials as he still has a lot of room for improvement, but another successful season at Leipzig may see a big-money move to one of Europe’s biggest sides.

Oliver Burke

Football Soccer – Scotland v Denmark – International Friendly – Hampden Park, Glasgow, Scotland – 29/3/16Scotland’s Oliver Burke warms up before the matchReuters / Russell CheyneLivepicEDITORIAL USE ONLY.

In August 2016, Burke signed for the Bundesliga’s RB Leipzig for a reported fee of £13 million, making him the most expensive Scottish footballer of all time. Burke joined the German club after a breathtaking start to the season at Championship side Nottingham Forest.

Burke scored five goals in four games for Forest this season before his mega-money move. The Scottish international has been likened to Gareth Bale and it would be foolish to rule out the possibility of another British superstar.

Alen Halilovic

Despite being unable to hold down a regular start in Barcelona’s star-studded team, people must remember how many clubs once wanted Alen Halilovic prior to his move to Catalonia. Now at Hamburg, Halilovic has become a regular in their side.

Hamburg pounced on the chance to bring him to the Bundesliga, an ideal league for promising young players to flourish, when the opportunity presented itself. Halilovic has already hit the ground running in German football and should his form continue we will see Halilovic at the top of the European game once again.

Ousmane Dembele

The youngster lit-up Ligue 1 last season, winning the award for the best young player in the top-flight. His devastating trickery and cool head in front of goal saw him destroy teams for Rennes.

The 19-year-old France Under-21 international finished top scorer for the Ligue 1 outfit with twelve goals in just 26 appearances last season. Dortmund were quick to snap him up as he looks set to become one of the rising stars in the league.

If Dembele can reproduce the form he once showed at Rennes we may see one of the finest players seen in a generation.

Christian Pulisic

Still not even 18 years of age, Christian Pulisic has already played eight times for the United States of America and scored three goals during that time. Having made his debut just this calendar year for Borussia Dortmund, the midfielder has scored two goals already.

Likened to Bayern Munich and German great Lotthar Matthaus, Pulisic was subject of  interest from Liverpool and Stoke this summer but Dortmund managed to hold onto one of their prized young assets. If Pulisic can produce anything close to the career Matthaus had, then we will have one of our very own superstars right before our eyes.

Massive overspending? The market value of Man City’s top players revealed

The Premier League’s biggest spenders over the past eight years, ever since the City Football Group took over in Manchester’s blue side, City have gone from strength to strength.

When Manchester United and Arsenal were battling it out for titles in the early 2000s, that was the time that money started to really enter football. Commercial opportunities in far-flung parts of the world were possible as satellite TV became the norm, and the clubs right at the top of the tree were in a position to take advantage of that. For teams like Manchester City, breaking into that cabal a decade later meant spending the money they’d lost out on over that period – and they could only do that if they had the appropriate financial backing from outside.

It’s no surprise these days when City field a squad chock-full of expensively acquired talent, but we always feel it’s a bit lazy to characterise them as ‘big-spending’ without actually delving into the issues. So we’ve looked into transfer mad website, TransferMarkt.com, to count down the ten most expensive players currently at City by market value. It has nothing to do with the amount they paid for them, just what they’re worth in the market – have City paid too much for their talent?

10. John Stones (£21.8m)

For nearly £50m, Manchester City bought – according to TransferMarkt – £21.8m of talent.

Did City pay over the odds? Yes. But did they buy exactly the sort of young talent who will star at centre back for their club and instil a kind of pass-from-the-back identity that the club craves? Oh, absolutely yes!

So did Stones cost too much money? Only time will tell, but if his first few months are anything to go by, City seem to have a player who will be a huge figure in their club for years to come – and I bet they’d consider that a steal at £50m!

9. Fernandinho (£23.8m)

It’s quite satisfying to see Fernandinho on this list. Manchester City paid quite a bit of money for him in 2013, and whilst he may be advancing in years, he is arguably one of City’s best players. Technically, he is outstanding, but he combines that with an incredible work rate and an uncanny strength. He could play anywhere on the pitch, and under Guardiola he may just be asked to.

His value will decrease over the next few seasons, however, given his age – so you wouldn’t expect that City will be able to recoup the £34m they paid for him.

8. Vincent Kompany (£25.5m)

Given his injury struggles, these are worrying times for Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany. The tragedy of finding him in this list is probably the fact that you know he certainly can’t be sold for over £25m today – his injuries would put off any club in the world at that price.

But if he does manage to get fit and put his career back on track, Kompany will be a huge asset on City, not just in the heart of their defence, but as a financial asset, too.

7. Leroy Sane (£25.5m)

Manchester City paid more than the going rate for former Schalke sensation Leroy Sane, but that just seems to be a sign of the times.

Just like with John Stones, City paid over the odds precisely because the odds are so high that Sane will turn into a top class winger in a few years – and when you’re a club looking to be successful on the pitch in order to create revenue off it, then you can’t skimp on the talent.

6. Ilkay Gundogan (£25.5m)

TransferMarkt seem to think that Manchester City paid about the going rate for Ilkay Gundogan. Gundogan seemed to be Pep Guardiola’s first thought when he took over at City. The German international was injured, but that didn’t stop Guardiola from asking those with the chequebook to splash out on a man who is a talented and elegant box-to-box midfielder.

At only 25, you’d imagine City will be hoping for years of solid performances to see a return on that investment.

5. Nicolas Otamendi (£27.2m)

Bruising centre-back Nicolas Otamendi is often the bull to City’s china shop in the heart of the defence, and it is surprising, then, that they paid so much money for him last summer.

The former Valencia and Porto central defender still comes in as one of the most valuable players currently at the club, but a lot of that might have to do with the fact that City bought him for so much money in the first place.

4. David Silva (£28.05m)

We’re getting to the cream of Manchester City’s squad by this point in the list. David Silva may have passed the 30 mark in terms of age, but it’s clear that he is still a vital cog in Pep Guardiola’s machine.

Silva has over 100 caps for Spain and only eight men have more caps, whilst manager Pep Guardiola managed only 47, even whilst spending a footballing lifetime at Barcelona.

His market value might be high, but you get the feeling that his value to the club will be even higher than that.

3. Raheem Sterling (£38.25m)

It’s another familiar story of Manchester City paying a huge sum of money for a footballer whose market value is much lower than his last transfer fee.

Yet that doesn’t tell the whole story – not only is the Sterling situation similar to that of John Stones and Leroy Sane in that City have paid the price for potential as well as current ability, but it’s also the case that his poor performances at times last season as well as for England at Euro 2016 have seen his market value fall.

This season, it’s a different story, and if he keeps playing like he has been this season, you get the feeling that value will rise rather dramatically.

2. Sergio Aguero (£51m)

Number two on the list is Sergio Aguero – and perhaps it is only surprising that he’s not number one. The Argentinian striker is one of the best in the world, and he has been scoring for fun so far this season.

The only downside for Aguero and his prestige, really, is the fact that he shares an era and a nationality with Lionel Messi. If it weren’t for Messi, Aguero would surely be Argentina’s golden boy.

1. Kevin De Bruyne (£51m)

Number one on TransferMarkt’s list, Kevin De Bruyne is given the same value as Sergio Aguero, but probably has his name added to the top rather than a place below thanks to his age and the fact that he was bought for a higher price tag just a year ago.

Since moving to City, though, De Bruyne has surely increased his stock given his recent performances, and if City were to sell him now, they’d surely recoup the club record transfer fee they paid for him and then some.

West Ham fans react to Sturridge links

Daniel Sturridge is a tricky sort of player to get your head around, as he has an abundance of talent but often succumbs to injury problems throughout the season.

The England international is capable of hitting 20 goals in the campaign easily but it would also not be surprising to see him hit double figures in the injuries he picks up- which begs the question, is he worth it?

That’s what West Ham fans have had to ask themselves this week after Sturridge was linked with a move to the London Stadium, as Liverpool are ready to cut their losses in a striker who has netted 43 goals in 77 Premier League appearances for the Reds.

Those numbers put Sturridge amongst the best in the division but his lack of consistency is an issue. However, if the 28-year-old can find his feet at West Ham he could be the catalyst to drive the Hammers towards regular European football.

There’s no right or wrong answer to this question and West Ham fans have been very vocal in their views on the matter.

Three reasons Carroll could help West Ham beat Arsenal

West Ham United host Arsenal at the London Stadium this evening and they could be boosted by the return to fitness of striker Andy Carroll.

The 27-year-old has once again been hampered by injury troubles this season – making just four appearances in all competitions before he suffered a knee problem back in August.

However, the frontman is set to return to action this weekend and that will be welcome news for Irons manager Slaven Bilic, who has seen his side score just 14 goals in 13 Premier League matches so far this term, meaning they sit just one point above the relegation zone as a result.

With Diafra Sakho having been ruled out for six weeks and Simone Zaza struggling to adapt to the English game, Carroll could well start against the Gunners if he’s chosen ahead of midweek goalscorer Ashey Fletcher.

Here are THREE reasons Carroll could help West Ham to the three points when they host their London rivals…

His strength will cause problems

Football Soccer – FC Astra Giurgiu v West Ham United – UEFA Europa League Qualifying Play-Off First Leg – Stadionul Marin Anastasovici, Giurgiu, Romania – 18/8/16West Ham’s Andy Carroll applauds their fans at full timeAction Images via Reuters / John SibleyLivepicEDITORIAL USE ONLY.

The big striker brings a real presence and strength up top, and that is something that Arsenal have known to struggle with over the years.

While Laurent Koscielny is quite tough himself and has experience of facing Carroll, it is a different story for his likely centre-back partner, Shkodran Mustafi.

The German would certainly have a battle on his hands against the 6ft. 4” attacker, and it is one that he could come off second best in.

He has previous

Football Soccer – West Ham United v Arsenal – Barclays Premier League – Upton Park – 9/4/16Andy Carroll celebrates scoring the second goal for West HamReuters / Stefan WermuthLivepicEDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or “live” services. Online in-match use limited to 45 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. Please contact your account representative for further detail

Carroll has previous for being a thorn in Arsenal’s side, and the visitors only have to think back to last season to recall those bad memories.

The Gunners appeared to be cruising to a routine win when goals from Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez put them 2-0 up at the Boleyn Ground, but two Carroll goals saw the two teams go in level at the break.

Incredibly, he completed his hat-trick seven minutes after the interval, only for Koscielny to net an equaliser as the match finished in a 3-3 draw.

He’s an outlet

Britain Football Soccer – West Ham United v Stoke City – Premier League – London Stadium – 5/11/16West Ham United’s Dimitri Payet looks dejectedAction Images via Reuters / Tony O’BrienLivepicEDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or “live” services. Online in-match use limited to 45 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. Please contact your account representative for furth

With creative stars such as Dimitri Payet and Manuel Lanzini in the side – the former has created 46 chances in the Premier League this season, which is 11 more than any other player – West Ham have been crying out for someone to finish those opportunities.

As well as having that ability, Carroll also provides a big target from crosses and set pieces and that could be even more effective with the wing-back system that Bilic is currently using.

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