Arsenal FC: Why the Futures of Sergio Aguero, Karim Benzema and Samir Nasri Could be Linked

With Arsene Wenger confirming that he will be active in this summer transfer window, it is no surprise that there are a number of players who have been linked with a move to Arsenal. Though a number of talented youngsters like Alex-Oxlade Chamberlain and Carl Jenkinson have been linked with a move to the Emirates, Wenger is likely to bring in some experienced players who can help the Gunners win trophies.

A number of players ranging from the unfortunate Owen Hargreaves to the unknown Ricky Alvarez has been linked with the Gunners and with clubs likely to move early in the transfer market, it is imperative that Arsene Wenger thrashes out the deals for new signings as soon as possible. With a number of Arsenal players on the verge of leaving the club like Nicklas Bendtner and Denilson, the manager is likely to bolster the squad by spending his transfer budget on a few experienced players.

One of the players that Arsenal have been constantly linked with is Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema and Arsene Wenger, who is normally within himself when it comes to transfers, admitted his admiration for Benzema also adding that a deal to sign the striker was not impossible. He possesses all the characteristics of a player that Wenger likes - young, talented and French!

The news that Sergio Aguero has officially informed Atletico Madrid's officials of his decision to leave the club is one of the most important developments in this transfer window. The talented striker intends to move to one of the biggest clubs in Europe which can offer him an opportunity to win trophies as well as present him with an opportunity to excel in the Champions League.

Real Madrid, Chelsea, Manchester City and Juventus are amongst the various clubs that are interested in signing the Argentina International but it does seem like Aguero is likely to move to either Chelsea or Real Madrid. His team-mate Thomas Ujfalusi was of the opinion that Aguero intends to move to Atletico's rivals while Spanish newspaper Marca was reporting that Real Madrid are very likely to sign the striker.

If the Los Blancos do sign Aguero, then they would have three excellent strikers in Gonzalo Higuain, Karim Benzema and Sergio Aguero in their squad and it is conceivable that the club will sell one of the strikers because none of the strikers will be happy with a role on the bench for most of the season. Though Higuain has not played for a large chunk of the season due to injury, he is one of the fan favourites and Real Madrid are not likely to sell him.

The exclusion of Karim Benzema from the world cup squad was his lack of enough playing time at Real Madrid and he would not be content with a bit-part role at Madrid. If the Los Merengues do sign Aguero, it is likely that Benzema will leave and Real Madrid could sign Emmanuel Adebayor as well to ensure enough depth in the squad.

Though Robin van Persie has been prolific for the Gunners, Arsenal have suffered because of his injuries and they have not had a player who can consistently score 25 goals in a season since the departure of the legendary Thierry Henry. The signing of Karim Benzema will provide a huge impetus to the Gunners who had a disappointing end to the season.

Samir Nasri has not signed a new deal to stay at the Emirates and he is a player that Arsenal will not want to lose. Arsene Wenger has already said that he will do everything to retain the services of Samir Nasri and signing his compatriot Karim Benzema could also play an important role in Nasri's contract situation.

Every player has the desire to win trophies and etch their name in history and Nasri could be frustrated by the lack of trophies in the recent past. If Arsene Wenger does sign a player of the calibre of Karim Benzema, it will mark a huge change in Wenger's transfer policy and could convince the French midfielder that trophies will arrive at the Emirates.

Arsene Wenger is likely to test the resolve of Real Madrid with a bid and he will hope that he can sign the striker and hold on to Samir Nasri, who is certain to move if he does not sign a new contract. As the days goes by, it is expected that a clear picture will emerge regarding the futures of these three talented footballers and Arsenal supporters will hope to see both Samir Nasri and Karim Benzema in the new Arsenal jerseys.

Real Madrid: Can Mourinho Resurrect Adebayor's Career and Win Titles In Spain?

It is official that Emmanuel Adebayor has been signed by Real Madrid on loan for the rest of the season and they do have the option of signing him on a permanent basis at the end of the season. The former Arsenal striker has endured a tough time at Manchester City and has spent a lot of time on the bench due to the manager's preference to play Carlos Tevez as the lone striker.

The tall striker emerged as one of the most promising strikers in the world with some stirring performances for Arsenal where he endured a successful spell but things did not go according to Adebayor's plans after a few seasons and he lost the support of the fans. He moved to the ambitious Manchester City, then managed by Mark Hughes in a 25 million transfer move but he has not had a great time in Manchester.

Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho is a person who has immense belief that he can secure titles for the club but he has not been satisfied with the inconsistent performances of Karim Benzema. Though he said that he admires Gonzalo Higuain, the Argentine's injury has meant that the Portuguese tactician has had to play Benzema in more games than he wished for. It is not that Benzema is not talented; he is not the type of striker that Mourinho requires for Real Madrid.

Benzema is young and talented but he is not the finished product and has a lot to learn. Though the Los Merengues are a young team, the former Inter Milan manager will not be pleased with anything less than winning the La Liga and the Champions League. The Madrid no.9 has been given an extended run due to the lack of striking options other than Higuain who is injured but has not grabbed his opportunities despite scoring two hat-tricks this season.

At times, Mourinho has adopted a formation without any natural strikers which clearly underlines the fact that he does not have enough faith in the French International. Though the Real Madrid hierarchy and Mourinho did not seem to agree on bringing a striker in January, the manager has convinced the board to bring in a new striker to bolster their chances of winning titles this season.

Adebayor may not be the striker that Madrid fans wished for and most of them would still have preferred to
have the legendary Ruud van Nistelrooy back in the squad instead of the mercurial African. Though he has not been in good playing form of late having not played enough minutes for City, he is very talented and if he gets his confidence back, he can be inspirational for Los Blancos.

Arsene Wenger is a manager who recognises if a player has good potential and he certainly saw a bright future for Adebayor and if not for the off-field issues, he could still be playing at the Emirates. The big striker would certainly want to prove that he is still a world class player and in Mourinho and Real Madrid, he certainly has the support to do so.

Mourinho has preferred to have a talented target man in his team who is physically strong and can be direct. Adebayor is a volatile individual but the Real Madrid coach has excellent man-management skills and could instill confidence in the Togo striker. He is still only 26 and can improve on his game to a large extent. Diego Milito was not considered a world-beater till he signed for Inter Milan and under Mourinho, he proved his calibre by emerging as one of the best players for the Nerazzurri.

Adebayor cannot wish for a better opportunity to resurrect his career and he has the privilege of working with the "Special One" and could still reach the heights that he is capable of. Mourinho has won this important battle with the Real Madrid board and now that he has got a new target man in the squad, it is up to him to prove that he can achieve success with the resources he has at his disposal.

The Manchester City striker has only been signed by Real Madrid on a loan deal and though the Spanish club has the option of making the move permanent at the end of the season, it is still doubtful if they will opt for the move when prolific Argentine Gonzalo Higuain returns to full fitness. However, it is a golden opportunity for Adebayor to secure a permanent move by grabbing the opportunity to shine for Real Madrid and he has the chance to make history with Los Merengues.

Real Madrid Transfer Prospects: The Pros and Cons of signing Ruud Van Nistelrooy

Real Madrid remained only two points behind the leaders Barcelona in the La Liga thanks to another stupendous performance from Cristiano Ronaldo who has been immense this season. Los Blancos have relied on the influential Portuguese captain for the majority of the goals this season due to the injury to Gonzalo Higuain and the inconsistency of Karim Benzema. Jose Mourinho has plenty of options when it comes to midfielders but he has not got many strikers at the club.

Mourinho is a manager who prefers to have a striker who is technically good as well as someone who has good physical qualities and can hold the ball. His successes with Chelsea and Inter Milan was linked with the consistent performances of Didier Drogba in England and Diego Milito and Samuel Etoo in Italy. He has two good strikers in Higuain and Benzema but the Argentine's injury has meant that Mourinho has no good optional striker from the bench.

Van Nistelrooy does want to return to his former club for whom he scored a number of goals after his transfer from Manchester United. He is reportedly interested to move to Real Madrid but Hamburg are reluctant to release the player whose contract ends in the summer. The Dutchman has a knack of scoring goals and believes that he has still got a lot to offer the Spanish club and his experience could be vital to the Los Blancos to develop young strikers like Morata.

Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho has already admitted that he would like a player of Van Nistelrooy's quality to join the club and that he knows the striker from his Manchester United days. The Portuguese tacticians would like to have someone as experienced as the Dutchman in his squad and if Benzema does get injured, he could still employ the same formation with Van Nistelrooy as the lone striker instead of playing six midfielders.

The deal would not be very costly considering that the Dutchman only has six months left on his contract and is past his prime which would mean that he should cost less compared to many other strikers in the world. Also, Van Nistelrooy is interested in playing again for Real Madrid which would make the deal a lot easier to happen if Los Merengues do lodge a proper bid for him in this January transfer window.

Advantages

Ruud Van Nistelrooy may not be in his prime but he certainly retains the compsure and killer instinct in front of goal. He still has good physical strength and has a lot to add to Real Madrid. Nistelrooy has also played for Madrid in the recent and it will not take him long to adjust to the rigours of the La Liga and having enjoyed a successful spell with the Los Blancos, he will be confident of reproducing his best under Jose Mourinho.

Also Nistelrooy's experience could be vital to guide young strikers Higuain and Benzema who both have the habit of missing some easy chances which should be converted by players of their quality and talent. The Dutchman will not only provide good cover for these two but would also be an excellent player to have on the bench to create an impact if necessary. With the departure of the legendary Raul, Nistelrooy's presence in the dressing room will certainly provide a boost to the club and his experience could be vital for the club.

Disadvantages

Nistelrooy is certainly past his prime and could find it difficult to adjust to the fast game that Real Madrid play under Jose Mourinho. One of Real Madrid's greatest strengths under the Portuguese tactician has been the speed of the counter attacks and with the Dutchman in the team, he cannot get in behind defences like Benzema or Higuain. Also if Nistelrooy is signed, it would end their search for a striker and better strikers could not be targeted if Mourinho and Los Blancos decide to make a deal with the Dutchman and Hamburg.

Also someone like Higuain or Benzema could feel unsettled by the arrival of Van Nistelrooy who is a crowd favourite at the Bernabeu and that could add more pressure to perform. However Jose Mourinho is excellent in man-management skills and will ensure that he gets the best from his players. The other thing to be considered is whether the Dutchman would accept if he is benched to accommodate a younger striker like Benzema.

Can Ruud van Nistelrooy help Real Madrid win the La Liga and the Champions League?

Real Madrid would be severely affected if Benzema does sustain an injury over the course of the season and having a player of the calibre of Nistelrooy will only add more quality to the squad. It is debatable whether signing Van Nistelrooy could prove pivotal to their title hopes but the addition of an experienced player like him will instill a positive mentality in the camp.

Also, Van Nistelrooy has been successful against the best teams in the world and does know what it takes to achieve victory over quality teams. He can guide youngsters to perform better under pressure and can also add a number of useful goals for the club. There is a good possibility that Real Madrid might attempt to sign the Hamburg striker and it would be great for them if the Dutchman does sign for the Los Blancos.

Arsenal Transfer Rumours: Analysing the Pros and Cons of the Benzema-Clichy deal

Gael Clichy has drawn a lot of criticism for his rather ordinary performance against Manchester United with Arsenal legend Lee Dixon saying that he has not progressed enough for the Gunners. He is a quality player and at the moment, it does seem that he does lack the confidence to be at his best. The French International is in the process of negotiating his contract which runs out in 2012 and is attracting the interest of European giants Real Madrid.

There was supposed interest from Spanish giants Barcelona on acquiring Clichy in the summer; however, they signed Adriano putting an end to the rumours linking Clichy. However in recent days leading to the January transfer window, there have been reports linking their Spanish rivals Real Madrid with the left back.

Arsenal are estimated to value Gael Clichy in the range of £15-20 million and will try to get the best value for the last remaining "Invincible." Real Madrid are reported to offer Karim Benzema to the Gunners as a part of the swap deal to tempt the Gunners to accept the offer.

In my opinion, both the clubs have high aspirations for the Champions League and having qualified for the knock-out phases, they would look to utilise the best opportunities. Gael Clichy and Karim Benzema have both played a role for their respective clubs and so a January transfer is ruled out in my opinion.

However, a summer transfer is still very probable considering that if Clichy does not sign till the end of the season, then Wenger might look to cash in on the French International.

The Present Scenario of Gael Clichy

Clichy has come under immense scrutiny after his errors in this season and with the steady emergence of Kieran Gibbs, it does look like Clichy might have to move on in the future to accommodate the young Englishman. Gael Clichy might be lured by the prospect of playing in Spain for one of the biggest clubs in the world in Real Madrid and might move on to undertake different challenges.

Kieran Gibbs has suffered numerous injuries this season and missed a large portion of the last season due to a long term injury. He is a youngster of immense potential but his injury troubles means that it might be a gamble by Wenger to sell Clichy.

Arsene Wenger shares an excellent relationship with Clichy and could convince him that he has a bright future at the Emirates which could result in him signing a new deal by the end of the summer.

The Present Scenario of Karim Benzema

Real Madrid welcomed the arrival of Jose Mourinho in the summer and the Portuguese tactician brought a number of youngsters to the Bernabeu. However, Benzema has not endured a good period in his reign so far and has been benched for a large part of the season, so far. He was signed for £30 million last summer but has failed to produce his best form and with limited opportunities, he does not have enough confidence at the moment.

Arsene Wenger will understand the French Striker's talent and has an excellent record of harnessing the potential of many young players. Benzama is a player of undoubted potential but has suffered due to the high profile move to Madrid which has put him under immense pressure.

There are a number of transfer reports linking Real Madrid with many prolific strikers like Edin Dzeko, Carlos Tevez and Diego Milito. With the injury to Argentine striker Gonzalo Higuain and Mourinho's lack of confidence in Benzema, there is an excellent probability that a new striker might arrive in January.

If that is the case, Karim Benzema who is already not enjoying a good period with the Los Mernegues might look to move on if he does get the chance. Juventus have offered the escape route for him but he might be tempted by the possibility to play for Arsenal considering his excellent rapport with his French teammates Samir Nasri, Bacary Sagna and Abou Diaby.

Arsenal's Advantages in Signing Karim Benzema

The Gunners signed the Moroccan International Marouane Chamakh to give them an extra dimension in attack and he has had a good start to the season. He has been very impressive with his work rate and has already scored 10 goals in the seaosn. However, he is not a prolific goalscorer and is not very clinical when it comes to finishing with his feet.

Since the departure of Thierry Henry, Arsenal have not had a striker who could notch around 25 goals in a season, which has contributed greatly to their title drought. Robin van Persie has the ability to score goals consistently but has never been able to avoid getting injured over the course of the season which has left Arsenal struggling in the past.

Henry was struggling for Juventus after he moved from Monaco but under Wenger, he found his confidence and went on to become arguably the greatest striker for Arsenal. Benzema's case is not too different; he scored 55 goals in two seasons at Lyon but has been unable to produce the same form at Madrid. Wenger is known for resurrecting careers of players with immense potential and it is a gamble worth taking.

Arsenal's Disadvantages in the Deal Involving the Departure of Gael Clichy

Gael Clichy is the longest serving player at Arsenal at present and has immense experience after playing in the first team regularly over the years. Though Clichy does make the odd error, he is a quality left back and provides a lot of stability to the team. Arsenal have not had a stable defence for some time now and replacing Clichy with Gibbs will be a risk to say the least.

Kieran Gibbs is quite prone to injuries and Arsenal might suffer if he cannot keep himself fit for most part of the season. Also, if Clichy does leave, then Arsenal will have no experienced alternatives other than Gibbs and the lack of competition might not produce the best from the Englishman.

Armand Traore who is currently on loan at Juventus will be expected to be the second choice Left Back while Thomas Cruise could be a surprise retention in the squad to be the third choice left back.

For a defence which has leaked a number of goals in the recent few years, letting one of the most experienced players forming the backline is a risky decision. However, Wenger should decide when it is time for Gibbs to take over from Clichy as the Englishman needs to be playing regularly in the future.

The Nicklas Bendtner Situation

Nicklas Bendtner has voiced out against being regularly amongst the Arsenal substitutes and wants to play regularly. However, with Robin van Persie and Marouane Chamakh ahead of him in the pecking order, he has endured plenty of frustration being on the bench coupled with lot of injuries he has suffered in this season.

Bendtner has been with Arsenal from a very young age and Wenger has high hopes for the Denmark International. The Dane showcased in the latter stages of the last season that he is capable of leading the line in the future, but his development has been hampered by injuries and lack of playing time. He is also not a clinical finisher and has squandered numerous opportunities in the past.

Bendtner has been linked with Bayern Munich and Ajax, who could lose their start striker Luis Suarez in the future to bigger European clubs. Arsenal value him at around £10-15 million and could allow the striker to leave if he wants a move away from the Emirates as his lack of playing time could even cost him a place in the National team.

Analysis of the Deal

If the deal does go through in the future, then it is certain that Arsene Wenger will allow one of his strikers to leave which will probably be Nicklas Bendtner. If that is the case, it could be Karim Benzema who will be the third striker at Arsenal with Gibbs taking over as the first choice Left Back with Armand Traore his deputy.

Arsene Wenger does not spend too much on a transfer and that will be the case in this deal too. He will have to pay around £6-8 million in addition to Gael Clichy going the other way in order to secure the services of Karim Benzema. He can recoup the money spent by the transfer of Bendtner who is sure to fetch a minimum of around £10 million.

If Real Madrid do offer the deal to Arsenal, then Arsene Wenger should analyse this deal because it could be profitable for the Gunners in terms of acquiring the players who could win titles for the team. He must also decide whether Kieran Gibbs is ready to step into the first team on a regular basis and if the team can cope with the loss of Clichy to Real Madrid.

Cesc Fabregas, Fernando Torres linked with Barcelona; Where do their Futures lie?

Barcelona recently inked a shirt deal with the Qatar foundation, the world's most expensive shirt deal at present. This will provide the Spanish giants with more revenue and help them reduce their debts to a large extent.

Barcelona are arguably the favourites to lift the Champions League at Wembley after showing their prowess against Spanish rivals Real Madrid. They have a superb style of play which can be matched by no one in the world and have been extremely successful under Guardiola. It is hard to find a soft area in the current Barcelona team which is why it is a surprise that they are linked with moves to Cesc Fabregas of Arsenal and Fernando Torres of Liverpool.

The Spanish internationals were linked with the Catalan club in the last summer as well but both of them stayed at their respective clubs. As the January window approaches, it is hardly surprising that there are speculations concerning them. In this article, I will discuss the possibilities of the two Spaniards moving away from their respective clubs in the summer.

Cesc Fabregas

Barcelona tried to convince Fabregas of a move to his homeland but failed to make a substantial offer last season. The French tactician, who has played an integral part in the development of Cesc Fabregas, convinced the Spanish international to stay for the season.

Fabregas has a long term contract till 2015 and his potential is undeniable considering his rapid progress at Arsenal into a superb midfielder at the age of 23. It would take a massive bid of close to £50 million to entice Arsenal into considering the offer. The Gunners hold all the trump cards in the deal and will demand the price that they think is necessary to part ways with their captain.

Inter Milan have been linked with a big-money move in the past, but Fabregas has made it clear that if he does move from Arsenal, it will only be to Barcelona.

Fabregas has suffered numerous injuries in his career, but his recurring hamstring injury is a cause of concern because it could have long-term implications, not unlike the case of Michael Owen whose career was greatly affected by hamstring injuries. However, that is unlikely to put off Barcelona from launching a strong bid in the summer to bring back their former youth player, who remains special amongst the Barcelona crowd.

Arsenal's Point of View:

Arsenal and Wenger understand that it is inevitable that Fabregas will leave the club, but they will look to groom their replacement before he does join FC Barcelona. Aaron Ramsey is highly rated and if not for his double fracture, he would have got many chances this season and Wenger could have utilised him in the attacking midfield role when Fabregas is injured.

Samir Nasri can play in the role and has proved to be effective in the past. The versatility of some of the players at Arsenal might mean that Wenger does not sign a new playmaker to replace Fabregas. The Spanish International has been affected by injuries this season and it would have given Wenger some idea as to how they would cope without their inspirational talisman.

Even if Wenger feels he could let Fabregas move, Barcelona will have to come up with the right offer or they could expect to be snubbed by the Arsenal manager because they do believe that a price of around £50 million is justified for a player of Fabregas' class.

Barcelona's Point of View:

Barcelona have made it clear that they would be glad to sign Cesc Fabregas and with Xavi Hernandez not getting any younger, Cesc Fabregas could be groomed for the next two seasons to take up the mantle for the Blaugrana. They are a club which have paid big money in the past and with the new revenue from the shirt deal, Guardiola might spend the money to acquire the Arsenal captain.

However, signing the Arsenal captain would mean that the chances for Thiago Alacantara and Jonathan dos Santos, who are promising central midfielders, would disappear. Also, Ibrahim Afellay was signed recently by the Blaugrana and there could be some youngsters who could leave the club in search of more playing time.

Fernando Torres

The Spanish striker was clearly unhappy that his side could not compete in the Champions League this year and was linked with a number of clubs in the last summer. However the new manager Roy Hodgson convinced him to stay with the club. He was also influenced by the decision of Steven Gerrard and the signing of Joe Cole but it has not worked well for him this season.

He has looked off form for most of the season but turned in a brilliant performance against current champions Chelsea to defeat them by two goals to nil. His talent is undeniable and he has proven that he is a world class striker. However he has been a pale shadow of himself due to his lean patch which extends to the World Cup in June.

Torres is an ambitious striker and believes he should be playing in the Champions League and that could be a reason he could force a move from the club in January or in the summer. Manchester City were heavily linked with him in the summer and could test his resolve again.

Liverpool's Point of View:

It will be very difficult to convince Torres to stay with the club after a very disappointing start to the season and though he has not been in form, the supply to him in general has been quite poor and he has also suffered because of it. Ideally, Liverpool would like to hold on to their striker but if the striker decides to move on, there is not much that the club can do but to negotiate smartly in order to gain the best deal.

Liverpool's new owners might hold the key to whether or not he will stay at the club. Roy Hodgson's time with Liverpool is numbered if he does not start producing the results and if things do not go his way, the new manager and the owners' willingness to spend the money to acquire new players could also determine whether Torres will stay at the club or not.

The Clubs that could Sign Fernando Torres

Manchester City are one of the strong contenders to land the Spanish striker considering they need a prolific established striker if their former captain Carlos Tevez does force a move out of the club. They have the financial clout to meet Liverpool's asking price but the question is whether Torres will move to a club where a player's future is not always certain (read Roque Santa Cruz, Adebayor et al). Also, Torres named Liverpool as the biggest club in England and moving to City will not impress the Liverpool supporters.

Chelsea were believed to have made a bid in the summer for Torres and after seeing the striker's prowess against them, they might want to add the prolific striker to their roster. Also, Didier Drogba and Nicolas Anelka are both on the wrong side of 30 and the London based club might let Anelka leave if they can sign Torres.

Real Madrid are interested to sign a striker in January or in the summer and do have the finances to sign the Spanish International but there is a very good possibility that Torres might not want to play for the Los Blancos considering he played for Atletico Madrid in his early years and the club remains close to him.

Barcelona were also one of the clubs linked with the star striker and it was reported that Sandro Rosell was keen on bringing the Spanish International to the Camp Nou. Torres is not averse to a move there and the Blaugrana are capable of paying what it takes to land Torres. David Villa and Fernando Torres share an excellent relationship and that could also be a factor. The only thing which Barcelona have to consider is whether Torres is needed at the club and that his signing will hinder Bojan Krkic from having regular opportunities. For Torres, he needs to playing regularly and should he be assured by Guardiola of a chance to prove his calibre, there is a good chance he would be interested.