With the January transfer window now closed, Arsene Wenger has six months of the season remaining to decide who does and who doesn’t have a long-term future in his Arsenal squad, before it reopens in July.

Barring the superfluous form of £35million summer signing Alexis Sanchez, it’s been a rather unspectacular season at the Emirates, with the Gunners currently fifth in the Premier League table and yet to hit top gear.

Resultantly, it seems the squad is in need of a reshuffle at the end of the season, swapping some of their lesser effective players for some fresh faces, so just in case Wenger is short on ideas, we’ve listed the FIVE players we think should be thrown on the transfer scrapheap this summer.

SANTI CAZORLA

Santi Cazorla, reinvigorated in his new central midfield role, has been in sensational form over the winter period, with a superfluous run of six goals and eight assists in his last 16 Arsenal appearances earning the playmaking maestro the PFA Fans’ Player of the Month award for both December and January.

Indeed, amid a rather unspectacular season at the Emirates, the Spain international has emerged as one of the only genuine contenders to rival £35million signing Alexis Sanchez for the Gunners’ Player of the Season award come the summer.

Now 30 years of age however and strongly linked with a move to Atletico Madrid via Sky Sports’ La Liga specialist Guillem Balague, the north Londoners would be wise to part with Cazorla on a high.

His sheer presence in the starting Xi tends to create more problems than it solves – especially regarding Mesut Ozil. Arsenal bought a £42.2million No.10 but Cazorla’s incredible form is continually forcing Arsene Wenger to field the German World Cup winner in wide positions, where he’s persistently struggled to prove effective in the Premier League.

Whether Ozil deserves to start over Cazorla centrally right now is certainly debatable, but there’s no dispute over who features heavier in Wenger’s long-term plans.

Similarly, this is the best form of the Spaniard’s career according to the Gunners gaffer, so selling him now will ensure maximum profit – an area of transfer policy the Emirates outfit have really struggled with throughout Wenger’s reign.

JACK WILSHERE

A suggestion arguably even more controversial than the last – but the fact of the matter is that Jack Wilshere has shown worryingly little progression since he first became an Arsenal regular at 19 years of age.

Of course, injures have played a huge part and even the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi would struggle to improve their games if they endured nine serious injuries in just six seasons like the England international has. Similarly, Wilshere’s passion for the club, having originally joined the Arsenal academy at just nine years of age, remains without doubt.

But the gulf in quality between the 23 year-old and the Gunners’ other midfield options is becoming worryingly noticeable. Compared to the quality of Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez for example, or the contributions of Santi Cazorla, Aaron Ramsey, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Mikel Arteta and even Tomas Rosicky over the last few seasons, Wilshere is lagging worryingly behind.

The tabloids have recently linked him with a move to Liverpool and although that may seem a rather unimaginable scenario, we’re getting to the point where the Three Lions playmaker’s development might be better served at another club. He’s certainly a long way shy of the Barcelona-standard playmaker he was once heralded to become.

NACHO MONREAL

The criticism often thrown Nacho Monreal’s way is probably a little disproportionate to his actual performances; although the Spaniard is a rather inconsistent character, he’s put in some important displays over the last two seasons and made the best of a difficult situation earlier in the season when a serious injury crisis obliged Arsene Wenger to throw the 5 foot 11 full-back in at centre-half.

Yet, the former Malaga star has never quite lived up to the billing of an attacking full-back capable of breeding a new sense of energy and dynamism into the Gunners left flank – now 28 years of age, his ability to get up and down the pitch is slowing diminishing.

Arsenal’s defence could do with something a little different – even if it’s in Monreal’s unenviable back-up full-back role – and in my opinion, Ipswich Town prodigy Tyrone Mings, whom Arsene Wenger admitted was on his radar during the January window, remains the perfect candidate to provide it.

The Tractor Boys defender is a quick, ambitious and progressive full-back, yet blessed with the towering 6 foot 5 frame of a Premier League centre-half. You don’t see too many of Mings’ ilk around in world football, and his physicality would add a new edge to Arsenal’s backline.

MATHIEU FLAMINI

With his contract set to expire at the end of the campaign, it’s likely Arsene Wenger is already planning for life without Mathieu Flamini.

But it’s worth reminding that adding a top-class holding midfielder to their squad is essential if Arsenal expect to be competing with the likes of Chelsea and Manchester City for the Premier League title any time soon – not to mention the Champions League title.

It’s a department that’s been neglected for seasons, with makeshift options such as Mikel Arteta, Abou Diaby and Francis Coquelin continually preferred over the more conventional, coveted and costly play-breaker on the market.

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With Flamini finally moving on, there’s no excuse for Wenger not to sign an upgrade this summer.

WOJCIECH SZCZESNY

With Wojciech Szczesny enduring a rather turbulent campaign both on and off the pitch, committing the most defensive errors, six, and the most errors leading to goals, three, of any player in the Premier League whilst simultaneously being caught smoking in the Southampton shower rooms, it’s time for Arsenal to strongly consider signing an upgrade.

That may seem like a rather harsh analysis considering the Poland international has now served as Arsenal’s No.1 for the best part of five seasons and for a goalkeeper aged just 24, has always performed to an acceptable level.

Yet, Chelsea’s Petr Cech will almost certainly be on the market this summer and for Arsene Wenger to ignore the availability of one of the greatest goalkeepers in Premier League history, purely for the sake of Szczesny’s Arsenal career continuing, would be an almost unforgivable sin.

The one-time Brentford loanee is a decent goalkeeper by all means – but he’ll never come close to paralleling the quality of a 32 year-old Cech with 331 games’ worth of Premier League experience under his belt.

It’s certainly a little cut-throat but for a club that prides itself on open, attacking football, a world-class goalkeeper is essential.

According to recent reports from Sky Sports, Mino Raiola – current agent of the ever-enigmatic Mario Balotelli among others – has claimed that Brendan Rodgers is doing more for the Italian striker’s career than any of his previous managers.

The 24-year-old front-man may be enduring a more than testing time with the Reds this season, especially with only four goals scored in all competitions throughout 2014/15 – yet Balotelli’s agent believes that his client’s season on Merseyside has been particularly good for his progression as a player and as a man;

“Right now, I think Mario has a very interesting development for his career,

“He has found a coach who asks of him things that had never been requested of him until now, including this discipline of running without the ball.

“This allows him to grow as a person and as a football player. He’ll come out even stronger. He is proud of his team [Liverpool] and that is the most important.”

Brendan Rodgers may therefore have gained a one up on the likes of Roberto Mancini and Jose Mourinho, who have seemingly been unable to have the same effect on the Italian striker.

If Mario Balotelli simply continues to underachieve at Anfield however – such statements will ultimately amount to very much in the grand scheme of things.

The Liverpool faithful are seemingly growing tired of their £16 million striker’s shortcomings this season, and as Balotelli really doesn’t have a great deal more time left to stake his claim with the Reds, the Italian’s Anfield career could be over almost as soon as it’s begun.

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Even during the campaign that saw Liverpool come perilously close to lifting their first title in decades, the defence was a major issue. Probably the one that cost them the trophy come last May.

Brendan Rodgers thought he had addressed this issue with the acquisition of highly coveted Croatian centre back Dejan Lovren from Southampton. However, his nightmare start, combined with the injury to Daniel Sturridge at the other end, left them a shadow of the side they had been only months previous.

But Liverpool’s defensive salvation would come through another of their summer signings.

Emre Can, bought from German side Bayer Leverkusen for nearly £10 million was originally bought in as a cultured midfielder, someone, who along with Gerrard and Henderson could add more flair and technique into the central areas.

His early season form, like many of his counterparts was poor. Struggling to make the desired impact in a team which were doing the same.

Then at Burnley away, Rodgers made a change that would not only revitalise the team’s fortunes but kickstart the 21-year-old’s burgeoning Kop career. In the 11 league games since the switch, his side have only conceded a miserly six goals, recording seven clean sheets on the way.

Can has developed into a defender in the Daniel Agger mould, assertive and strong in defensive situations while attacking with real intent and quality.

Although, the switch to three at the back has been partly responsible for the upturn in fortunes at Anfield, the colossal performances of their new German defender have been the main reason for the dramatic turnaround.

While the fans on the Kop still have their reservations about almost every other defender (and keeper) in their squad, Can has become a mainstay. One that can be trusted and one that is becoming the first name on the teamsheet.

It may have been a stroke of luck, or the plan all along, but Rodgers has found a combination in defence that is as mean as any in the country. His calmness is the perfect antidote to the sometimes haphazard and calamitous Mamadou Sakho and Martin Skrtel.

As well as his abilities on the pitch, his leadership skills have come to the fore, first to console Lovren after his penalty miss and first to bring the team together after Balotelli’s penalty saga against Besiktas. An approach the real captain could only have wished to take. With the captaincy situation still yet to be clarified, the German could be the man with the armband come next August.

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His manager had previously stated the former Leverkusen man could be world class, at the time it seemed an almost laughable presumption. Now Rodgers is the man who is laughing.

Ironically Jamie Carragher, one of the club’s great centre backs, has only just vacated the 23 shirt that Can now wears. If his upward curve in English football can continue, Liverpool may have inadvertently stumbled upon his ready-made replacement.

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Arsenal are enjoying a superlative end to a promising campaign, set to clinch runner-up spot in the Premier League and almost certain to retain the FA Cup upon facing Aston Villa at Wembley next month.

Yet, the Gunners still seem some way off achieving their ultimate aim of claiming their first domestic title since the Invincibles campaign way back in 2003/04, with monolithic table-toppers Chelsea standing firmly in the way.

And although Arsenal’s season is ending positively, it hasn’t always been smooth sailing. In fact, the north Londoners have spent just 13 out of a possible 33 match-days in the Premier League’s top four this season, and only two matches in the top two.

Clearly, some work needs to be done if the Gunners are to truly rival the Blues for next season’s title. But we at Football Fancast think some astute signings this summer could well be the ultimate difference – and just to prove it, we’ve listed FIVE signings we think will guarantee Arsenal next term’s crown.

PETR CECH

David Ospina has performed well since taking the No.1 mantle from Wojciech Szczesny, going on to record seven clean sheets in 13 Premier League appearances.

But Arsenal still need an upgrade between the sticks – a goalkeeper comparable to the talents on show at Chelsea, Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham – and there won’t be a better value-for-money ‘keeper on the market this summer than Chelsea’s Petr Cech.

The Czech international is indisputably one of the greatest goalkeepers in Premier League history, boasting three (almost four) league titles, a Champions League title and 332 top flight appearances, and at 32 years of age is still firmly within his prime.

After losing his starting role to the prodigious Thibaut Courtois, Cech is widely expected to leave Stamford Bridge this summer and Mirror Football believe Chelsea will demand just £10million for his services.

According to Goal.com, however, the Blues hierarchy won’t sell their decade-spanning servant to a direct divisional rival.

JAVI MARTINEZ

An audacious suggestion perhaps, but I believe signing Javi Martinez would be a major step in transforming Arsenal back into regular Premier League title winners.

The Bayern Munich enforcer represents everything they currently lack in the middle of the park – height, strength, aggression and natural defensive awareness – yet he’s also blessed with all the technical quality you’d expect from a Spain international plying his trade in a Pep Guardiola side.

Arsenal attempted to prize the 6 foot 3 battering ram away from the Allianz Arena last summer to no avail, according to The Telegraph, but they could find better luck in the coming transfer window.

After all, the 26 year-old has spent the majority of the current season out injured but the Bavarians have hardly struggled in his absence – in fact, they signed Mehdi Benatia and Xabi Alonso last summer precisely to fill his void.

Even so, widely regarded as one of the top defensive midfielders in world football – with the added bonus of being equally adept at centre-back – Bayern could command anything between £30million and £50million for his signature.

MORGAN SCHNEIDERLIN

A widely rumoured transfer target who’d also add some much needed physicality and defensive awareness to Arsenal’s midfield is Southampton star Morgan Schneiderlin.

The France international has emerged as one of the Premier League’s most formidable enforcers since the Saints’ top flight ascension in summer 2012, this season averaging the second-most tackles per-match, 3.7, of any player in the division.

Perhaps more importantly for Arsenal, he’s also consistent and confident on the ball; this term, the 25 year-old has averaged 61.2 passes per match (the seventh-most of any Premier League player) with a completion rate of 89.3%.

After three consistent seasons in the top flight, Schneiderlin seems destined to join one of the division’s higher powers this summer, with the tabloids mooting a transfer fee around the £20million mark.

But Arsenal are by no means the 6 foot 2 midfielder’s only suitors – he’s been linked with Chelsea, Manchester United and Spurs to name a few.

Mats HUMMELS

Mats Hummels is predominantly considered a Manchester United target, but there’s no reason Arsenal can’t register an interest in the Borussia Dortmund skipper too.

He is, after all, widely viewed as one of the top centre-backs in world football, affirming such status last summer by lifting the World Cup with Germany, and looks set to leave Westfalen in the coming transfer window after the Bundesliga outfit’s failure to qualify for next term’s Champions League.

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The 26 year-old combines an aerially dominant 6 foot 4 frame with the quality and confidence to join or instigate attacks from deep positions, often drawing parallels with Mannschaft legend Franz Beckenbauer.

That could make him and the more defensive Laurent Koscienly a very compatible partnership, and The Daily Mail believe he could be available for just £21.5million this summer.

As previously stated, however, a move to Old Trafford this summer is the likeliest scenario.

GONZALO HIGUAIN

Thierry Henry believes Arsenal need an upgrade on Olivier Giroud if they’re to claim next season’s Premier League title and I firmly agree. Although the France international has impressed this term, he’s still some way behind the Premier League’s top centre-forwards.

Enter Napoli’s Gonzalo Higuain, who Arsenal came close to signing in summer 2013 until a lengthy dispute with Real Madrid over his price-tag.

The 27 year-old boasts a career return of 212 goals in 447 appearances, throughout his spells with River Plate, Los Blancos, Napoli and the Argentina national team, but he’s no stranger to the assists charts either; he’s claimed eleven set-ups for Albiceleste in 47 appearances, and amassed a further 15 during his last two Serie A campaigns.

He’s expected to leave the Naples outfit this summer if they fail to qualify for the Champions League – they need to overcome a five point deficit on Roma in their last five league fixtures – and back in January, The Metro rated him at a more than reasonable £30million.

Finally, an England performance to get excited about. It was by no means flawless from the Three Lions – Phil Jones’s defensive horror show indicates there is plenty of work to be done by Roy Hodgson and Gary Neville to improve the team’s shaky backline – but the attacking verve and fluidity which was on display in the 3-2 Euro 2016 qualifying win against Slovenia was certainly encouraging, and was all spearheaded by one man.

Jack Wilshere doesn’t make life easy for himself sometimes, but his stellar, two-goal display on Sunday went a long way to convincing his doubters – somewhat belatedly, one could argue – that he is a footballer who possesses supreme talent. While his first goal was a wonderfully taken strike in its own right, blasting the ball into the top-left corner from outside the box to level the scores on the hour mark, it was his second finish 15 minutes later that really showcased his abilities.

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By now thriving in a more advanced attacking midfield role having initially started the game in a deeper position, Wilshere completed a magnificent England team move – and credit must also go to Liverpool duo Jordan Henderson and Adam Lallana for the part they played in this – by launching an absolute humdinger of a shot which seared past the hapless Slovenian goalkeeper and into nearly the exact same area of the goal as his earlier effort.

To produce such quality once in a game is impressive; to do so twice shows that what we are dealing with here is a special player who, on his day, can turn games around single-handedly. For all the talk of Raheem Sterling being their next best hope and most skilful footballer, it is easy to forget that in Wilshere, the Three Lions have someone with exquisite technical footballing ability that is rare to see in an England player.

And yet, the reasons as to why the 23-year-old is perhaps under-appreciated when it comes to his country are understandable, and indicate that the Arsenal youngster may still need time to mature before he can emerge as one of England’s finest footballers.

A succession of lengthy spells on the sidelines through injury has impacted his still-fledgling career, and he cannot be blamed for this, however when fit, the times when Wilshere has dazzled for either club or country have been too seldom, too irregular. The fact that his brace against Slovenia marked his first two senior goals for his country on his 28th cap – not to mention his meagre return of six goals in 100 league appearances over seven seasons at Arsenal – shows there is much work to be done.

Nevertheless, he remains an exciting footballer with ample time on his side. Wilshere has won Match of the Day’s Goal of the Season competition for two years running, while the show’s host Gary Lineker – England’s all-time second highest scorer and one of their finest-ever players – claimed his second strike against the Slovenians was one of the top ten goals in Three Lions history. His ability to score such spectacular efforts suggest his most effective position is as an advanced central midfielder; Roy Hodgson and Arsene Wenger may very well have taken note of this.

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If Wilshere can produce such moments of magic on a more regular basis (and maybe avoid getting in trouble with the FA for once) then he could soon receive the backing of a still-sceptical England fanbase and ultimately be remembered as one of the country’s most celebrated – rather than most underrated – footballers.

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Spurs have had a familiar season. A Cup final with such a young team was a good learning curve, as was the amount of starts and the encouraging performances of youngsters like Eric Dier, Nabil Bentaleb and Ryan Mason. And then there’s Harry Kane – far beyond encouraging he’s been sensational.

What’s been frustrating, however, has been the form of players like Christian Eriksen and Erik Lamela. They’ve shown in very small glimpses what they can do, they’re clearly world class players, so why can’t they show that more often? This is a make or break season for both of these players. If they can do it, Spurs could be on course for something special. If not, it’ll be same old, same old at White Hart Lane.

On the basis that Spurs aren’t that far off the Champions League, perhaps the key is their form more than their personnel. This is perhaps more of Pochettino’s dream XI, but if gets Champions League football, who cares?

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Hugo Lloris

This is a big one. If they can keep hold of their goalkeeper this season they’ll have kept hold of one of the best in the league. The France captain is now vastly experienced and established as a very good Premier League goalkeeper.

If Manchester United are forced to see David De Gea, though Spurs may have to fight hard to keep their number one. If they don’t manage to it’ll be tough to replace him. If United come calling, keeping Lloris would be like the signing of the summer for Spurs.

Kieran Trippier

One of Burnley’s stars of the season, Kieran Trippier is a new Spurs signing, and he’ll probably get the chance to prove his worth to his new club right from the off.

It’s a little harsh on Eric Dier who has done well this season and is still very young. Dier, however, is probably more of a centre back than a full back and someone more suited to this position would do Spurs’ defence a world of good.

Toby Alderweireld

The rumours are that Spurs are about to complete the signing of Toby Alderweireld. Perhaps he’s not the most exciting addition to a Dream XI, but if he’s on his way, he’ll probably be in the starting XI come September.

He also knows Jan Vertonghen quite well from the Belgian national team, and perhaps Pochettino is counting on the two Belgians forming a bond in the centre of the Spurs defence.

Alderweireld is an accomplished defender who was part of one of the league’s best defences last year at Southampton. He’d be a good fit for Spurs.

Aymen Abdennour

So if Alderweireld comes to Spurs it would be natural to see Vertonghen alongside him. Spurs have also signed former Cologne centre back Kevin Wimmer, and Pochettino probably sees him as the man to play alongside Alderweireld.

But this is a Dream XI. We know that Spurs need to sort out their defence –  they conceded more goals than relegated Hull and the same amount as relegated Burnley – and a sought-after centre back like Abdennour from one of the meanest defences in Europe would be a great signing.

Monaco conceded only 26 goals last season and Abdennour is one of the main reasons why.

Danny Rose

If Spurs can sort out their back line they’ll be a force to be reckoned with next season. Pochettino has gambled a little bit, if Wimmer and Alderweireld are his starting centre backs and Kieran Trippier will be his right back, he’ll be using at least two players who aren’t accustomed to life at the top of the league – and that’s where Spurs are hoping to be.

Danny Rose, however, has been a rare standout player in Spurs’ defence this season. He’s done well from full back and is certainly progressing into a good player. It’s not quite make or break this season for Rose, but he is getting to a point in his career where we expect him to be an established full back.

At 24, he’s not a kid anymore and he’ll be 25 before the end of next season. It’s a big season for Rose especially if he hopes to be England’s left back after Leighton Baines retires from internationals – but he has stiff competition from Luke Shaw. But play well this season and he might find himself in the Euro 2016 squad, that might be the motivation he needs.

Nabil Bentaleb

Bentaleb has come on really well over the last year or so and has created a partnership with Ryan Mason that has got Spurs fans excited. They’re both young and promising and that could be a midfield pairing for the North London side for years to come.

It’s a big season, though. Like Harry Kane, many people will be watching to see if they are just a flash in the pan rather than the real deal. Pochettino will give youth a chance as always, but if Spurs are to kick on and mount a serious challenge to the top four then they need to have their midfield playing well.

Morgan Schneiderlin

Well it’s been on the cards for a while.

If Spurs can sign Schneiderlin they’ll have to sacrifice one of the youngsters in the centre of midfield, but they’ll be replacing him with real proven quality.

The Frenchman is well-known to Pochettino of course, and if he takes over from Ryan Mason Spurs fans shouldn’t be too disappointed. After all, they’re not far off a Champions league spot, and improvement is just what they need.

Christian Eriksen

This is a huge season for the Dane. Eriksen has shown in fits and starts that he’s a good player, he even looked to be showing it towards the start of the season.

But he faded after the Capital One Cup Final. He wasn’t the only one, but he’ll need to do it for the whole of next season if Spurs are to challenge for the Champions League.

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He’s well capable of taking the game by the scruff of the neck, and if Spurs can get him firing he’ll be like a new signing. We said that last year, though.

Erik Lamela

Another player who we all know is quality but who needs a big season to prove it. We all remember the rabona he scored in the Europa League, we know he’s quality, we just need him to show it!

Just like Eriksen, if he gets going he’ll be like a new signing, but just like Eriksen we said that last year too. These two are like the Spurs side in microcosm – if they do well Spurs will do well.

Yannick Ferreira-Carrasco

Spurs have been linked with the Argentine youngster currently plying his trade at Monaco in Ligue 1. He’s a tricky, speedy player and has done well in a Monaco side that came good towards the end of the season to nab a Champions League place ahead of one-time title challengers Marseille.

With Moussa Dembele, Nacer Chadli and Andros Townsend still at the club he’d be taking the place of an established player, and as always with this type of signing there’s a risk to be taken – just look at the flops that Spurs bought with the Gareth Bale money! But if he does it in the Premier League Spurs could have a player on their hands.

Harry Kane

It’s going to be hard for Kane this season. The eyes of the world are going to be on him and they’ll expect him to display the Midas touch that he exhibited last season. You just know that’s not going to happen, though. Not unless he gets some help from those behind him.

The trick will be how he deals with dry spells. Everyone striker has them but that doesn’t mean they aren’t good players. Kane will no doubt have to deal with that this season, but if Spurs find Lamela and Eriksen on form too then it won’t be so much of a problem.

And without the whole of the Tottenham expectation weighing on Kane’s young shoulders then he’ll have the chance to recover from any dry spell. He’ll do well this year, but only if the media and even the fans let him.

Liverpool came from behind against Leicester City in the English Premier League on Saturday, eventually winning 2-1 at Anfield to end 2017 on a positive note.

The Reds’ defensive frailties came to the fore again in the third minute when the Foxes capitalised on a Joel Matip error to score through Jamie Vardy, a lead that the visitors held until half-time.

However, a sensational Mohamed Salah double in the second half secured all three points and left supporters once again in awe of his ability.

The Egyptian is having a quite ridiculous season and has now scored 23 goals in all competitions for Liverpool, also providing eight assists. All of that in just 29 appearances.

Supporters simply can’t get enough of the attacker and can’t wait to see what he’ll manage to do in the second half of the season.

If he has as good a 2018, the Liverpool can feel confident of securing a top four position in the English Premier League.

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Fans took to Twitter to enthuse about his performance on Saturday…

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According to reports in the Liverpool Echo on December 15, Brighton and Hove Albion are one of the clubs interested in signing Liverpool midfielder Marko Grujic on loan during the January transfer window.

The Liverpool Echo says that the Seagulls, along with Championship high-flyers Aston Villa, are keen to bring the 21-year-old in until the end of the season with the Serbian struggling for game time so far this term.

The report adds that Reds boss Jurgen Klopp is considering sending the midfielder out on loan in the New Year, but the German wants him to continue his development in the English game and is unwilling to let him join a club from abroad after Galatasaray registered their interest in the former Red Star Belgrade man.

Meanwhile, Newcastle United’s freefall down the Premier League table continued as their 1-0 defeat against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday saw them drop into the relegation zone, and they have now taken just one point from the last 27 available in the top flight.

Magpies manager Rafa Benitez will already be looking at transfer targets he could add to his struggling squad next month, and bringing Grujic to St James’ Park could prove to be a shrewd move.

Here are three reasons Newcastle should hijack Brighton’s bid to sign the 21-year-old…

The Shelvey issue

With Shelvey, Mikel Merino and Isaac Hayden in the middle of the park Newcastle look to be well stocked in central midfield, however the actions of the former may see Benitez look to bring in someone else in January.

The 25-year-old picked up a red card on the opening day 2-0 defeat at home to Tottenham Hotspur, and he then picked up a second yellow in the last minute of the 1-0 defeat against Everton last week.

That was Shelvey’s first start in three matches after he had been relegated to the substitutes’ bench, and Rafa Benitez may not feel he can trust the midfielder in the second-half of the campaign.

Bringing in someone like Grujic on loan in the New Year could help to solve that issue.

His ability

While he has struggled to break into the Liverpool first team this season, the 21-year-old has still made three Premier League substitute appearances, as well as coming on once in the Champions League group stages.

He also played 90 minutes in the 2-0 EFL Cup defeat to Leicester City in September, and Serbian football journalist Vlastimir Stefanovic certainly had some big praise for the midfielder when he arrived in England.

According to Sky Sports, the 21-year-old has been described as tall, rangy and comfortable on the ball, and he has been dubbed the new Nemanja Matic.

Stefanovic disagrees with that comparison though, and he told Sky Sports: “If I had to compare Marko Grujic to anyone in terms of style of playing, I’d compare him to Steven Gerrard.”

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While he often plays as a central or defensive midfielder, he has shown during his time with Liverpool that he can also play further forward if required, and that versatility could be useful for Newcastle.

Loan deal

Even if the proposed Newcastle takeover goes through in the next couple of weeks, Rafa Benitez may not get the January transfer boost he would have been hoping for when talks between Mike Ashley and Amanda Staveley began a few weeks ago.

It could mean that the Spaniard is working with a tight budget next month, and using his good relationship with Liverpool and being able to sign Grujic on loan may prove to be an attractive option, allowing him to invest the money he does have into other key areas on the pitch.

Do you agree, Magpies fans? Let us know below.

According to Get French Football, Leicester City are on the verge of signing Gazelec Ajaccio forward Fousseni Diabate.

What’s the story?

Rumours of Leicester’s interest in Diabate has gathered pace over the last 24 hours, and according to Get French Football, the 22-year-old has now completed a medical with the Foxes ahead of a £4.4m move.

It is understood that the forward has signed a four-and-a-half-year contract with the former Premier League champions, with a deal to be announced in the early stages of this week.

Leicester boss Claude Puel will reportedly move a couple of strikers on this month, and Diabate’s arrival could well see the likes of Islam Slimani and Kelechi Iheanacho depart the King Power Stadium.

Southampton, Wolfsburg and Rennes were also believed to be interested in Diabate, but Leicester have won the race in the early stages of the January transfer window.

What are Diabate’s credentials?

It would be fair to say that Diabate is not exactly a household name, and the majority of Leicester supporters will be wondering what type of player their club has signed.

Well, the 22-year-old joined Ligue 2 club Gazelec Ajaccio during the summer transfer window, and has scored three times and provided one assist this season.

The attacker was born in France, but plays his international football for Mali – turning out on three occasions for their Under-23 outfit.

He is a player capable operating in a number of positions in the final third of the field, and Leicester fans will be hoping that they have another N’Golo Kante situation on their hands.

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It remains to be seen what type of impact Diabate makes at the King Power Stadium, but his performances in Ligue 2 this season should certainly excite the Leicester supporters.

Ross Barkley’s first outing for Chelsea was a frustrating affair. After replacing Willian against Arsenal with an hour left on the clock, the 22-cap England international struggled to truly impose himself on the match, and eventually ended up on the losing side.

But it would have been unfair to expect instant fireworks from the Blues’ January signing. He’s been sidelined with injury since the start of last season, and still hasn’t had long to ease into life in west London.

A starting berth would surely help that process though, so we asked Chelsea fans earlier this week whether the former Everton playmaker should be included in the XI that takes on Newcastle in the Fourth Round of the FA Cup on Sunday.

And according to our poll, a whopping 90% of Chelsea supporters would like to see Barkley start against the Magpies in the 1.30pm kickoff. How would you line up Antonio Conte’s side? Let us know by commenting below…

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