Roberto Soldado says that he is hopeful that he can repay the faith shown in him at Tottenham in the past few months to improve his goal return.
The Spanish striker ended a nine-game run without finding the back of the net last weekend against Cardiff, which was met with visible signs of relief from the player.
Soldado only arrived at White Hart Lane last summer, but after failing to live up to his £26m price tag so far, there have been murmurings that both he and the club are dissatisfied with the situation.
But now the 28-year-old is hopeful that he can build on his latest strike and prove his abilities to those who have supported him as Spurs push for a top four finish:
“It was a long expected goal for me and especially for my team-mates and the fans,” he is quoted by The Metro.
“Despite it has been a long time without scoring the support I have received on the social network has been amazing.
“Every time I touch the ball people are expecting to see the best of me and the reaction after my goal was amazing. I feel very loved here despite I haven’t proved anything to them.
“I still have time to change the situation. There are two months left, the most beautiful part of the season, and I hope to reach my top.”
Soldado went on to say that earlier in his career he may have considered a move back to Spain at the end of the season, but that now he is ready to fight for his future at the club:
‘”have to face the challenge with maturity,
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“If I would experience this struggling situation as a 22-year-old I would probably go back home one month later but not now. It is a positive experience for me, for my family and for the education of my children.”
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Tottenham are a club in a desperate search for answers. It seems ridiculous for a club to spend over £100m on players to still fall so desperately far short of their Premier League ambitions. Those that tipped Spurs for a title tilt will be disappointed to find the North Londoners struggling to even squeeze their way into the Europa League reckoning for next season.
Liverpool by contrast are flying high and will enter Sunday’s encounter with Spurs chasing their 7th consecutive league victory. Despite playing a game less, the ‘Reds’ have opened up a 9-point league over Spurs, and this is in no small part down to their enigmatic Uruguayan frontman Luis Suarez.
The diminutive frontman has netted 28 times in the league this season and looks to have set Liverpool on course to challenge for league honours this May. When Tottenham’s Jan Vertonghen was asked to give a reason for the gulf between the sides this season he answered bluntly:
“Suarez,” he said. “Suarez is the reason for that.”
“At the moment he is up there as one of the best strikers in the world. I think he is the difference between the teams. (Daniel) Sturridge obviously is doing well and those two are very hard to stop.”
“They are one of the best teams in the league and they show it every week,” Vertonghen said.
“It is going to be very hard, especially at Anfield, and I hope we can play as we did last season because we did very well, not the result but the performance.”
So is it really as simple as that?
Spurs fans may point to the summer departure of Gareth Bale as the sole reason behind their recent demise; but for me putting down this season’s woes down to any individual is slightly missing the point.
Personnel isn’t really the issue for Spurs, it is how they are being used. The likes of Lamela, Eriksen, Chadli and Soldado are all quality footballers in their own right but of late they just look like ill-fitting cogs in an underperforming Spurs machine. I’m not suggesting that any of these players are at Suarez’s level, but he alone isn’t enough to explain the difference in league position this season.
Suarez’s impact isn’t just down to individual brilliance, he is part of a Liverpool side that is geared towards getting the best out of the resources they have. Brendan Rodgers hasn’t simply hashed together a side; he has meticulously planned the ins and outs of how he wants to play and the ways in which he can achieve that with what he has at his disposal.
Some say world class players are able to perform in any side and in any game, but I doubt Luis Suarez would enjoy half the success he has at Liverpool if he was part of the current Spurs set up. If it was down to Tim Sherwood he would probably be playing the Uruguayan as a lone striker, with Michael Dawson entrusted with pumping a series of hopeless long balls up to the pint sized forward.
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I can accept that Spurs no longer have a Gareth Bale to pop up with a 30-yard screamer to grab the points regularly, but to suggest that their failings are down to the players they have is woefully ignorant.
The most exciting playmaker the club has had since Modric is forced to play on the wing, while one of the most clinical strikers in Europe is made to play as a lone target man; surely these are the kinds of issues holding the club back?
A world-class player like Suarez would only paper over the clubs at Spurs, a desperate quick fix for a club with endemic problems running throughout. Rather than throwing money at players Spurs would do well to take a look at Rodgers’ Liverpool, a side that has spent considerably less yet still achieved the kinds of results Spurs could only dream of.
Will it need more than a simple solution for Spurs?
Former Tottenham playmaker Rafael van der Vaart has refused to rule out a move to QPR, although he admitted there has been no official contact yet.
The Dutch playmaker has emerged as a target for the Super Hoops in recent weeks, with manager Harry Redknapp understood to be keen to set up a reunion with him.
‘Arry snapped up the now 31-year-old in 2010 while in charge of Spurs, and the pair enjoyed a productive spell with the Lilywhites making it into the Champions League quarter-finals with the silky passer netting over 20 goals in the Premier League over two seasons.
WANT MORE? >> QPR transfer news | Latest transfer news
Van der Vaart left England in 2012 to re-join Hamburg, but with the German side having only narrowly avoided relegation last term there is talk of him moving on.
Although the former Real Madrid and Ajax man says that he hasn’t been talking to QPR, he opened the door for a switch by revealing that he loved working under Redknapp in the past:
“Harry Redknapp has not been in touch with me. He has not phoned me.” He is quoted by Sky Sports.
“In football you never know, but so far we have not been in touch.
“Harry Redknapp and I enjoyed a really great relationship back at Tottenham. He is a top-quality manager.
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“I was in great form back then. I scored 12 (Premier League) goals in one season and I netted 13 in the other season.”
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Jose Mourinho has claimed that the ‘love story’ between Chelsea and Frank Lampard is over after the midfielder scored a late goal to salvage a draw for Manchester City on Sunday night.
The Englishman left Chelsea after his contract ran out during the summer and was brought off the bench to tie the game 1-1 in the 85th minute.
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Mourinho’s men were close to keeping their 100% Premier League record when Man City defender Pablo Zabaleta received his marching orders due to a second yellow card, and Andre Schurrle broke the deadlock not too long after.
But Lampard spoiled the party by equalizing five minutes from the end of normal time, as well as not celebrating to acknowledge his former supporters.
After the game Mourinho was prompted what he made of Lampard scoring the equalizer, which he told Sky Sports: “I don’t make (anything).
“He is a Man City player. Maybe I am too pragmatic in football but he decided to come to a competitor of Chelsea and love stories are obviously over.
“He did his job as the super-professional he is and he scored.
“This is England, and this is Chelsea. Chelsea people can never forget what people have done at this club.
“It happened with me when I met Chelsea with Inter, and it happened with Lamps.”
The ‘Special One’ also added that despite conceding a late goal, it was a good point against the defending champions at the Etihad.
“It was a big game. I think maybe in the end 1-1 was a fair result.
“We went 1-0 up after they had a player sent off and Diego (Costa) hit the post, but then they had a reaction.
“Even playing with one player less, they had a reaction and equalised.
“The conclusion we made in the dressing room is that we came here as leaders with two points more than the second-placed team.
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“We played in the champions’ house, and we leave with three points more than second, so it is a good weekend for us.”
There’s an incredibly unhealthy attitude towards young players within the England set-up, especially those that play for the Premier League’s top clubs.
Here’s a little game to prove my point; create an Xi of English players who’ve made more than ten appearances for Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester United or Liverpool in the last 15 years but not earned a senior cap. If your team features a higher calibre of player than Richard Wright, Jody Morris and Jay Spearing, I’ll be pleasantly surprised.
This trend is further epitomised by Calum Chambers’ recent inclusion in the Three Lions fold. I certainly have no qualms with the Arsenal defender; indeed, he likely has a long, successful career ahead of him for both club and country.
Yet the 22 year-old didn’t get a look-in internationally whilst at Southampton last season, despite making 22 Premier League appearances and usurping Nathaniel Clyne from the No.2 spot at St. Mary’s. A £16million move and just six outings for the Gunners later however, Roy Hodgson called him up to face Norway in August.
Of course, a significant portion of Hodgson’s mandate as England boss is to build for the future. In fact, the entire England set-up and the FA have become obsessed with ignoring the present for the sake of long-term planning, as Greg Dyke sets the target of winning the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
Amid periods of such despair, with England currently 18th in FIFA’s world rankings, emphasising the importance of the next generation by promoting them to senior level early is largely inevitable. Some would even argue it’s the wisest strategy to follow.
But what did Calum Chambers genuinely learn from facing San Mario, the lowest-ranked side in world football, and European minnows Estonia over the course of the international break?
Neither side came close to testing his qualities as an international-standard defender – both gifted England around 78% possession and amassed a combined total of just two shots on target – whilst Chambers’ weaknesses on the ball drew criticism from a fan base seemingly rattled by their own boredom.
So what did the 22 year-old take from facing the two least competitive sides in Group E?
The rather sombre experience of playing in front of an apathetic 55,000 home crowd – the lowest attendance in new Wembley history? The important lesson that some pitches in international football, such as Estonia’s, would be showed up by many in League Two? Perhaps that the Three Lions are intrinsically ill-equipped to break down small, organised opponents?
Perhaps that this mundane pattern of pointless opposition, farmyard pitches, limited crowd participation and England’s lack of invention in attack will go on to constitute vast majority of his Three Lions career?
Admittedly, every England international has to go through this process at some point, so why not while they’re young.
But after two almost ceremonial victories for England, with the only true variable from the off being the score line, Chambers is no better prepared to face genuinely competitive international opposition – the kind England will surely come up against at Euro 2016.
Chambers didn’t need to be involved with the England seniors; in fact, he was scheduled to join the U21 squad until John Stones’ ankle injury proved worse than initially feared. The Junior Lions took on Croatia, a 2-1 victory decided by a Saido Berahino penalty in the 85th minute.
Of course, the pressures of U21 football in comparison to senior internationals are remarkably less, but the Croatia clash included more intensity and competitiveness in the first fifteen minutes, as the visitors took a surprise 1-0 lead, than England’s seniors endured over the course of 180.
We’ve never utilised the U21 squad properly in this country and even less so under Roy Hodgson. The Germany U21 squad that claimed the 2009 European Championship included Manuel Neuer, Sami Khedira, Benedikt Howedes, Jerome Boateng, Mesut Ozil and Mats Hummels, all of whom went on to lift the World Cup together this summer.
Stuart Pearce on the other hand, lost his job as Junior Lions boss in 2013 after Phil Jones, Jack Wilshere, Danny Welbeck and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlin were deemed unavailable to the U21s, as they crashed out of the European Championship’s group stages without a single point.
Many will argue circumstance, rather than design, is what has thrust Chambers into England’s starting Xi, whilst the experience, although in my opinion incredibly futile, has done nothing to halt his international career.
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But why not give the opportunity to someone who needs to fight their way back into the England fold? Nathaniel Clyne for example, who ended up warming the bench for both fixtures, or the Three Lions’ forgotten man Micah Richards, now showing decent enough form on loan at Fiorentina. Stoke City’s Ryan Shawcross is surely deserving of an England outing, albeit a token one, for the tremendous consistency demonstrated throughout his Premier League career.
Instead, Hodgson gave the nod to Chambers – a player whose England career is already set in stone and essentially had nothing to gain or lose from facing Estonia and San Marino. A player who could be learning so much more with the U21s – an age bracket he’s yet to actually represent for England.
Until England’s attitude towards young players becomes more patient and professional, and until we view the U21s with a higher level of importance, our youngsters will always inevitably fail to live up to expectations in comparison to other countries.
It seems as Manchester United’s desperate search for centre-backs has seen them linked with every player to have ever taken to the backline of a Premier League side (although we’re still waiting on a Titus Bramble rumour). And the latest name out of the ‘Red Devils desperation defender generator’ (catchy, we know) is Ryan Shawcross of Stoke.
In truth, the Red Devils have been linked with the robust enforcer on a number of occasions over the years, with the now Potters ace having started his career at Old Trafford. Some fans have met the rumours with sneers, yet this potential deal could actually make some sense…. And here are FIVE reasons why…
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CLICK ON THE MAN HIMSELF TO REVEAL THE FIVE
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United’s desperate need for a centre-back
Paddy McNair and Tyler Blackett starting games this season really does sum up the problems at United. A failure to replace either Rio Ferdinand or Nemanja Vidic (inexcusable given their knowledge of their contracts and plans) was inexcusable, and has been ruthlessly punished by injuries to the likes of Jonny Evans and Phil Jones already.
In truth, any centre-half with Premier League experience (well, almost any) would be a step up, and Shawcross certainly knows his stuff in the top tier. He would add physicality and know-how to United’s shaky rearguard.
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Knows the club
Despite failing to make any sort of first-team impact at United, Shawcross did indeed start his senior career as a Red Devil. The defender graduated from the club’s academy before leaving in search of regular action, which eventually led him to Stoke.
In the modern game knowledge of a team’s workings is not really regarded as key, yet Shawcross’ know-how behind the scenes and familiarity with ‘the United way’ could be vital with the club searching for its identity after the turbulent last two years.
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Home grown
With quotas of English players and those trained at the club now genuine issues for the top Premier League sides, the addition of Shawcross makes real sense. The rugged defender qualifies for both criteria, which would free up space for United to add yet another high-profile foreign import without worry of matching regulations.
United have plenty of young players knocking around, but an experienced pro top fit in and boost their quota would be a major positive.
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Leader
As Stoke’s captain (a title he’s held for a while) the 27-year-old’s ability to command his team-mates’ respect is not in question. Shawcross has been the Potters’ leader for their Premier League tenure, with his fierce competitive nature and desire to get results having been infectious at the Britannia Stadium.
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He would by no means take the armband from Wayne Rooney, but his presence at the back may provide a hint or organisation.
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In his prime
At 27, Shawcross is just entering what should be the best years of his career. Centre-backs are typically able to perform at their best until around the age of 33/34, meaning that with his experience (over 200 outings for Stoke) the fierce enforcer has plenty of miles left on the clock and knowledge of top level action at his disposal.
The uniquely chaotic winter schedule is what makes the Premier League the most exciting and demanding top flight in world football, and it’s thrown up a fantastic fixture this year in Manchester United’s visit to Tottenham.
Both clubs have endured their struggles this season after welcoming new managers in the summer, but with Louis van Gaal and Mauricio Pochettino’s methods finally seeming to kick in, results have improved over the last few months. Spurs have won four of their last seven in the Premier League, whilst United haven’t lost in eight.
The White Hart Lane clash on Sunday will feature two sides high in confidence and resultantly, it’s difficult to pick a winner.
But fixtures of such festive feistiness are usually decided by who dominates the individual battles, so with that in mind, here’s FIVE that could determine the outcome on Sunday.
Robin van Persie vs Jan Vertonghen
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Currently on a run of four goals and two assists in his last five Premier League appearances, there’s no question that Manchester United’s Robin van Persie is back to his former best. That includes a brace against Southampton, a single strike against Liverpool and this absolute stunner against Hull City:
As Gary Neville has often argued, the Dutchman is like a burglar – just as you think he’s in your pocket, he steals a yard of space to net a worldie.
Resultantly, Tottenham’s star centre-back Jan Vertonghen will have to be in top form on Sunday. He’s still yet to rekindle the magic of his debut Premier League campaign but the Belgium international’s performances have taken a notable upturn recently.
With rumours he could leave White Hart Lane in January after refusing to sign a new contract in September, this battle with van Persie is Vertonghen’s chance to prove he’s a part of the world’s centre-back elite, just ahead of the transfer window.
Wayne Rooney vs NABIL BENTALEB
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Nabil Bentaleb has forced his way into Mauricio Pochettino’s first team plans over the last month or so, ahead of Paulinho, Mousa Dembele, Benjamin Stambouli and Etienne Capoue to name a few, with a string of impressive performances against the likes of Everton and Crystal Palace.
The youthful defensive midfielder will face arguably his toughest challenge yet in Manchester United’s Wayne Rooney however, who’s been in predictably consistent form this season to claim six goals and three assists in 13 Premier League appearances.
It remains to be seen where the United skipper will feature against the Lilywhites – he’s been tested as a striker, a No.10 and more recently, a central midfielder under Louis van Gaal and injuries will likely factor into the Dutchman’s team selection.
But with either central or attacking midfield his most likely positions, it will be Bentaleb’s job to halt Rooney’s surging midfield bursts as much as possible.
He passed the ball around for fun against Aston Villa too, recording 94 passes with a 93% success rate, so Tottenham must put as much pressure as possible on the England captain when in possession or he’ll quickly pick them apart.
CHRISTIAN ERIKSEN VS MICHAEL CARRICK
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There’s grounds to suggest Michael Carrick will have to fill in at centre-half against Spurs, with Chris Smalling and Marcos Rojo still yet to return from injury.
But working on the proviso that he’ll feature in his preferred position of central midfield, the former England international’s main priority will be nullifying the talismanic threat of Spurs’ Christian Eriksen.
The Danish prodigy has been enjoying some fantastic form this term, finding six goals and one assist in 17 Premier League outings, and is certainly beginning to deliver on his much-heralded potential.
But perhaps most importantly, he’s Tottenham’s leading creator this season in terms of chances per match, as detailed below:
So if Carrick can stop Eriksen, Spurs will struggle to conjure up regular goalscoring opportunities.
The 33 year-old will have to stay switched on for the full 90 minutes however; Eriksen’s scored two last minute winners already this season, against Swansea City and Hull.
ANGEL DI MARIA VS KYLE WALKER
Once again, one can only speculate how Angel Di Maria will be utilised upon his return to fitness, but whether playing centrally or on the wing, it’s the left-hand pocket he loves to attack most.
That channel has brought him considerable success too, amassing three goals and six assists in 12 Premier League appearances since moving to Old Trafford for a record-breaking £59million this summer.
Thus, he’ll be regularly drifting in and out of Kyle Walker’s defensive remit, who is still on the mend after spending the first portion of the campaign sidelined through injury.
Stopping the 26 year-old midfielder will be no easy task, but famed for his blistering pace and trickery, Walker’s speed will be a huge asset when defending against Di Maria – particularly amid his trademark advances on the break.
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Whether that’s enough to halt arguably the most talented midfielder in the Premier League however, remains to be seen.
HARRY KANE VS UNITED’S BACK THREE
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Manchester United’s three-man defence had the desired effect against Arsenal and Liverpool, whilst the returns to fitness of Johnny Evans and Phil Jones have further strengthened it somewhat – at least on paper.
But it’s still very much a work in progress, with chaotic organisation and unfamiliarity aplenty, and it seems inevitable that it will become unravelled at some point over the winter period.
With that in mind, Spurs youngster Harry Kane could already be licking his lips in anticipation for the United clash. The industrious striker is amid a prolific bout of form at the moment, netting three goals in his last three appearances across all competitions – including this opener against Burnley last weekend:
High on confidence and seemingly spurred on by the spirit of the Tottenham support, especially at home, Kane will relentlessly pressure the Red Devils’ shaky backline all afternoon.
That work-rate may not necessarily translate into a goal, but it will undoubtedly lead to scoring opportunities for Spurs.
After a week or so of ‘will he or won’t he’ chat about Wilfried Bony’s potential move to Manchester City it was finally revealed as a ‘done deal’ this afternoon.
Even when the deal was in its early stages there was a mixed bag of opinions amongst fans of all clubs. Some were questioning whether City even needed Bony, while others insisted Bony would hugely increase City’s changes of successfully defending their Premier League crown.
Either way, you have to feel for Swansea, who have arguably lost the one player that were half-relying on to fire them in to the top half of the table.
An outlay of £28m is peanuts to a team like Man City, but with a strike force that includes the likes of Sergio Aguero, Stevan Jovetic and Edin Dzeko, you wonder where he’s going to fit in exactly.
And that’s what a lot of fans on Twitter are asking, while others were hailing it is a brilliant signing…
“Forget about Mario Balotelli, he is an absolute waste of time. He shouldn’t be anywhere near this team.” Once again Mark Lawrenson, the former Liverpool man has stuck the boot in on the struggling Italian striker. As Liverpool laboured to a 0-0 FA Cup quarter final draw with Blackburn Rovers last weekend, second half substitute Balotelli was again the only player to be publicly chastised.
Super Mario has become the ‘Super Scapegoat’.
Even on a night when he won his side a game, this time against Besiktas, the headlines were not of Mario rescuing a turgid Liverpool performance with a late penalty. Instead it was how ‘disrespectful’ he was. Taking the penalty off Jordan Henderson to selfishly ensure his side took a lead to the second leg.
Even captain Gerrard had to run with this story rather than one about a young player, struggling at a new club, who managed to keep his nerve in a pressurised situation.
When he scored, arguably his most important Liverpool goal, a late winner against top four rivals Tottenham, the story that dominated social media the next day was how ‘arrogant’ Balotelli did not even celebrate, showing his disregard for the club. It is almost like being the sole reason for a team’s failure can begin to grind.
There is no doubt that the former Manchester City man has struggled since his arrival on Merseyside. His most positive performance for his club came on his debut, when he and Sturridge cut ribbons through Tottenham in an emphatic away win.
Then the injury to Sturridge came and Mario was expected to lead the line by himself, a role which has never and will never suit his style of play. Although the whole side was struggling for form, unable to replicate the heroics of the previous season, only Balotelli was continuously picked out and derided for his form.
A lot of the negative attitudes towards the Italian stemmed from an incident where he swapped shirts at half time against Real Madrid. Something so trivial which helped to overshadow the fact that they had just been humiliated at home against the Spanish champions.
Anything to take away attention.
A lot of the criticism for the form of Balotelli should be placed at the door of the manager. Brendan Rodgers knew the player he was signing; it was not like it was some unknown talent he was acquiring. The issues that have been so troubling to club and manager are ones that have always been tagged with the striker.
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When Liverpool signed him, they signed a precocious talent, one that needed nurturing and cherishing. Instead it seems he was bought almost for the sole purpose of taking attention away from an underperforming team.
The method is simple, if the Liverpool team are struggling, bring him on and let him be the story.
If Super Mario can rebuild his Liverpool career it would be one of the great stories in English football, if only to make sure Mark Lawrenson is proved to be an incompetent fool. Again.
There has been a lot of talk surrounding Lyon’s Alexandre Lacazette recrntly and it’s not surprising. The 23-year-old striker has been in excellent form so far this season and has attracted interest from some of Europe’s biggest clubs, including some in the Premier League.
The Frenchman has excellent ability that will make him one of Europe’s best strikers for many seasons to come. He has remarkable pace alongside concise dribbling skills that makes him very difficult for any defence to handle. His goalscoring form this season is one of the best in Europe, with only Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo having scored more so far this term.
He has 21 goals in 23 appearances in Ligue 1 since the beginning of the campaign, with 19 of those strikes coming from his lethal right foot. His movement and skill is similar to that of Luis Suarez and, despite being only 5’8, he is a very strong figure who is difficult to knock off the ball.
There is no doubt that the young striker has bags of ability. he has a higher take-on success percentage than the likes of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo as well as having a very strong 68% shot accuracy. He is one of the most dangerous strikers in Europe at the moment and it will not be long before the striker will leave Lyon in search of bigger things.
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The striker has received no shortage of praise in recent months and he has been absolutely vital to Lyon’s success in the league. In the five recent matches that Lyon were without Lacazette due to a thigh injury, they failed to record a single victory. Thierry Henry described Lacazette as ‘extraordinary’ and former Liverpool manager Gerard Houllier believes the striker can become world-class due to his ability and professionalism, so hopefully he can live up to the high expectations.
The question surrounding Lacazette’s future is intriguing. His pace and finishing ability means that he will be well suited to any of the best leagues in Europe, but there is rumoured to be strong interest from the Premier League in the shape of Arsenal and Liverpool. Arsenal lack a real pacey striker that has a current goalscoring record like Lacazette and Arsene Wenger’s French connections will undoubtedly represent an attractive option for the striker.
Liverpool’s interest will depend on whether the team qualifies for the Champions League next season, though, as Lacazette will want to be playing his club football at the highest level in order to cement a regular place in France’s international squad.
If Lacazette continues to replicate the form that has made him one of the hottest prospects in Europe so far, there could be a huge transfer tug-of-war for the player’s services in the summer. The French league has improved in terms of quality in recent seasons and his current goal tally is something that should not be sniffed at.
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France seem to have developed a knack of producing talented frontmen, and Lacazette is no different. The striker has spent his entire career at Lyon so far but it would be surprising if the striker didn’t move on at the end of the season. Wherever he ends up, Lacazette looks certain to be Europe’s next biggest attacking talent.