Category Archives: Ligue 1

Clinton N’Jie: Why the Lyon starlet is on the radar of Spurs and Arsenal

  By O-Posts Team | August 2, 2024 - 17:26 | , , , , , , ,
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Reports in the Le Parisien claimed that Spurs had tabled an offer worth over £7m for 21-year-old Clinton N’Jie, but the Ligue 1 side was holding out for double the money. Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas has denied these reports, but interest from London is there and even Tottenham’s arch-rivals Arsenal are said to be interested in the player. Newcastle United have also been linked with the player.

Lyon had a lot of players making headlines for them, especially a certain Lacazette, but the 21-year-old Cameroonian was also extremely impressive for the French side and displayed time and again that he has a bright future ahead of him.

Taking Samuel Eto’o’s starting spot in the national team for the African Cup of Nations qualifiers, N’Jie impressed and showed that the African nation possibly has an extremely talented striker in its team, someone who could go on to do very well in the future.

N’Jie started his career with Lyon as a youngster and spent three years with the club’s B team. He made his senior debut for the club in 2012 in a 3-0 win over Reims. However, he did establish himself in the senior side till last season. Before that, he hardly played a few minutes as a substitute here and there.

Last season though, N’Jie started 15 games and appeared in another 15 from the bench. He showed his capabilities by scoring 7 goals and grabbing another 7 assists.

The 21-year-old averages 2.9 shots and 1.5 key passes every 90 minutes. His direct style of play and speed are especially attractive and can be lethal in a team that thrives on the counter-attack. He likes to dribble and the fact that he is good at holding on to the ball helps his cause. He is also not afraid to shoot from the distance and his long shots are actually pretty decent.

He doesn’t have to play as a central striker and has been used as a “wide forward” and as a number 10 on occasions. The player has done well even playing out of his favoured position making him a valuable, versatile option to have. His ability to play as a wide forward could suit coach Mauricio Pochettino’s high pressing 4-2-3-1 system in which he could incorporate both Harry Kane and N’Jie.

Spurs have so far offloaded unwanted players like Younes Kaboul, Benjamin Stambouli and Paulinho but are yet to add an exciting offensive player. If they want to try and finish in the top four, they would need more firepower up front and it is not surprising that they’ve lined up a move for N’Jie.

The player could prove to be a perfect addition for the side. Pochettino also likes to work with younger players and could get the best out of the Cameroonian.

For the player, however, a move would not prove to be the best option. He no doubt has a lot of ability, but staying at Lyon for at least another season looks like the best bet. The striker needs to establish himself and make sure he’s not a one season wonder.

Moreover, he needs to play more games and he is certainly going to get a chance to do that at Lyon. A move might mean that he adds a lot more pressure on himself at a young age when he is relatively unproven at the highest level.

 

 

Written by Aakriti Mehrotra

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Jordan Veretout: Why the Nantes star is another fine Ligue 1 signing for Aston Villa

  By O-Posts Team | July 30, 2024 - 15:41 | , , , , , , , , ,
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Aston Villa seem to be on the Newcastle path as they close in on the fourth arrival from Ligue 1 and arguably the most exciting or as exciting as Amavi - Jordan Veretout.

Veretout was a standout performer in the first half of the 2014/15 season. In the first 18 games he scored six times and grabbed three assists, a praise-worthy feet for any footballer. He was instrumental in helping Nantes stay in the top half of the table. His form dipped towards the second half of the season as he only scored once more along with giving three assists in the next 18 games for Nantes.

But for a player who is still not a finished article – and it would be wrong to say that he is – Veretout did remarkably well last season and just at 22, was a leader for the French side.

He has been linked with Atletico Madrid, Inter Milan, Newcastle and most recently Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur. However, it is Aston Villa who seem to be landing him.

He has made 130 appearances for Nantes in his career which shows how much experience he already has and it is no surprise that a call from Premier League has come his way after a promising second season in top flight.

The Frenchman can play anywhere in the midfield and has been used both ahead and behind the centre midfielder role. Arguably, he is best in a box-to-box role, but he can perform well even when he plays slightly behind in a holding position. He averaged 2 tackles and 1.3 interceptions every 90 minutes last season which shows that he does more than decently in the defensive facet. 1.5 shots, 2 key passes and 1.2 successful dribbles per 90 minutes indicate he is equally good in his natural attacking side of things.

He has got excellent skills and techniques and importantly works very hard. He has great potential, but it is still not yet realized.

Tim Sherwood and Aston Villa need to make Veretout play one role and it should be his preferred playmaker and box-to-box role. With Gueye already there, someone who is developed and perhaps in the peak of his career, it makes no sense to place Veretout in the holding role.

He should play in the heart of the midfield, or slightly ahead, as his style of play can ensure Villa dominate the crucial second third of the pitch. Basically, Veretout can no longer afford to be a jack of all trades. He has to decide or it must be decided for him, where he wants to establish himself in the midfield.

The youngster quietly goes about his game and life and isn’t one who particularly wants the limelight. He wants to focus on his football and break into the senior France side.

Competition is immense at the moment but there is no reason why he won’t get under former Nantes graduate Deschamps, if he can become a regular at Villa.

 

Written by Aakriti Mehrotra

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Alexandre Lacazette: Arsenal and PSG-linked goal-getter set on staying with Lyon

  By O-Posts Team | July 27, 2024 - 17:14 | , , , , , ,
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Alexandre Lacazette has attracted a lot of attention this summer. Nothing else can be expected for a player who scored 31 goals in the previous season. Arsenal, Manchester United, PSG, Liverpool were said to be keen on the player with the Gunners seeming like they were leading the race for his signature at one time. However, it seems like the Frenchman will continue at Lyon.

Lyon coach Hubert Fournier said he saw Lacazette staying with the club, “He has said he wants to stay with us. Of course, some clubs are going to be attracted to the sort of player he is but he is under contract at Lyon and with all of the different competitions we have this season with the Champions League and the domestic French cups, we obviously want to keep him at the club.”

Lacazette is essentially a centre forward, but has also been deployed on the wings. He is a poacher or “a fox in the box”, and his finishing makes him a goal-scoring threat. He has scored a lot of impressive goals ranging from long shots to volleys.

The 24 year-old scored 15 league goals in the 2013/14 season and he seems to be improving constantly. This is important to mention because Lacazette’s name started doing rounds in every “best youngsters” list at a much younger age. After all, it was he who netted the game-winning goal in the 85th minute against Spain to clinch the 2010 UEFA European Under-19 Football Championship. But the striker has now established himself, and it can be said that he is a finished product.

Lyon’s chairman Jean Michel Aulas said earlier this year that Lacazette was better than Gareth Bale and was basically un-transferable. He said at a time, “What is the name of that Welshman at Real Madrid? [Lacazette] is much better than him. There is no point even discussing transfer fees.”

Many think the player is overrated. Maybe the comments of Lyon’s president and coach over the course of last four months make him sound way better than he actually is. However, it is completely justified for a team - which came agonizingly close to the title last season - to do anything to keep the many suitors away from their most prized asset. Then of course, how over-rated can a player who scored 27 league goals last season be? And saying “it’s the weak French league” will be a sorry excuse.

Lyon don’t want to sell Lacazette for more than one reason and it is not difficult to figure out why the club values the striker so highly. It’s not just the goals. Lacazette has a big symbolic significance to the club. They don’t want another case of Karim Benzema, who was sold to Real Madrid for £30m back in 2009.

Benzema has been the biggest academy graduate for the French side and his sale still brings unwelcoming memories for the management and the fans. Lacazette is just like that for the club.

It is imperative for them that he stays, and by the looks of it, he might just be.

 

Written by Aakriti Mehrotra

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Jemerson: Why is Lyon willing to break the bank for Blackenbauer?

  By O-Posts Team | July 26, 2024 - 15:50 | , , , , , ,
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It’s always difficult to judge how a South American youngster will adapt to playing abroad, one reason why, with a few notable exceptions, the transfer fees European sides pay for young Brazilians are generally far below a player’s eventual value. That being the case, reports that Lyon were preparing a bid of €25 million for Jemerson came as a shock to most European observers, many of whom had never heard of the Atlético Mineiro centre-back.

L’Equipe, in reporting on the bid, dubbed the Afro-Brazilian ‘Blackenbauer’ for the similarity in his style of play to German legend Franz Beckenbauer. The comparison flatters the 22-year-old, but there is certainly a resemblance, with his languid, at times almost effortless, style of defending evoking memories of Der Kaiser.

Jemerson is rapid and dominant in the air, with perfect timing in the tackle and, while he cannot claim to match Beckenbauer’s attacking prowess, he always provides a threat attacking corners and free kicks.

The defender was a late arrival in professional football, having spent his formative years playing in the amateur leagues of his native Bahia. His break came when, as an 18-year-old, he was spotted by scouts of Serie D outfit Confiança, for whom he impressed so much that club bosses quickly resolved to cash in by selling him on to one of Brazil’s big boys.

First up were trials with Santos, Palmeiras and Vasco, but all three passed on the youngster before Atlético took the plunge, a decision that has looked a better one with every game Jemerson has played in the alvinegro shirt.

His first chance at first-team football came on loan at Democrata in 2012, but with captain Réver and veteran stalwart Leonardo Silva forming an awesome central defensive partnership, there did not appear to be much prospect of Jemerson breaking into the Atlético first team any time soon. However, the captain’s misfortune in suffering a serious injury early in 2014 gave the youngster a chance that he grasped with both hands.

Such was his form that when Réver, hero of Galo’s victorious 2013 Copa Libertadores campaign, recovered he was deemed surplus to requirements and sold to Internacional.

Now the partnership Jemerson has formed with Leo Silva is a key ingredient to the success of the Levir Culpi team that currently tops the table, seeking to end Atlético’s 44-year wait for a league title. Galo fans, however, are right to worry that their young star might not see out the current campaign, with Jemerson having made no effort to hide his strong desire to play in Europe and represent Brazil.

As he told Globoesporte last year: “My objective is to perform well for Atlético and keep improving, but who knows, maybe one day I can play in Europe and for the Seleçāo? You have to dream.”

 

Written by Calum Leahy

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Javier Manquillo: Ex-Liverpool loanee set for another loan sojourn at Marseille

  By O-Posts Team | July 24, 2024 - 19:39 | , , , , , , ,
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Javier Manquillo was headed on loan to Marseille a year back. But Premier League sides Arsenal and Liverpool came in the fray for the youngster and soon after, news broke that the Reds had agreed a deal for a two year loan for the Atletico Madrid right back.

Not much was expected from the youngster initially, mainly because he was fairly unheard of. However, Manquillo was used by Rodgers regularly at the start of the season and he performed strikingly, surprising a lot of people. There were times last season when Manquillo was the only player performing consistently for the side, especially in the tempestuous opening half of the season.

But ironically, Rodgers shifted the formation to a three man back-line to get the best out of the remainder of the team and Manquillo became redundant as he couldn’t be used as a right wing-back. Many would argue that he wasn’t given much of a chance to prove whether or not he could, but when he was used, like he didn’t have that much attacking instinct in him to do justice to that role.

The Spaniard spent the remainder of the season on the bench and recently had the second year of his loan with Liverpool scrapped out.

Things aren’t so bad for the youngster though, as he is now reportedly headed to Marseille (there was significant interest from AS Roma as well), and under the tutelage of Marcelo Bielsa, who was said to be keen to acquire his services a year back as well.

Bielsa is getting a fine young player to work with as Manquillo has shown the qualities to become a solid right back.

What is especially incredible about the 21-year-old is the fact that his defensive abilities are pretty good, especially good in a day and age for the “modern full-back” where there is more focus on attack than on defence.

In the 10 games he played in the Premier League (started all), he averaged 3.8 successful tackles per 90 minutes in an average attempt of 4.5 tackles per 90 minutes. He also averaged 2.6 successful interceptions every 90 minutes. That is incredible for a full-back in today’s time because so much importance is given to the offensive side.

Brice Dja Djédjé, who primarily played as a right back for Bielsa last season, averaged 1.8 successful tackles every 90 minutes. These numbers can be misleading because Dja Djédjé played in the midfield in some games, as well as played 23 games more than Manquillo, but we can still form a vague picture of what Manquillo brings to a team.

The Spaniard has certain areas to improve, namely his offensive side. His crossing is not very good and for a full-back, it is essential.

At Marseille and under Bielsa, he will have the perfect opportunity to do the same. He will perhaps be a squad option initially, but the Argentinean is likely to give him enough opportunity to impress and he should look to nail down a starting spot in the team. Marseille have plenty of games with Europa League and cup competitions to play besides the league.

If the Spaniard wants to go back and play regularly for Atletico Madrid and get into the senior Spain side, he will need to do well on loan this season.

 

Written by Aakriti Mehrotra

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Jordan Amavi: Why the promising left-back is an impressive signing for Aston Villa

  By O-Posts Team | July 21, 2024 - 15:38 | , , , , , ,
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Jordan Amavi ended speculation regarding his future by signing for Aston Villa for a reported sum of £10 million. The left-back joined the Claret and Blues from French side Nice and signed a five-year contract.

Amavi joins an Aston Villa side that has not had particularly great left-backs in a long, long time. With Aly Cissokho and Kieran Richardson the competition for the left-back spot, Amavi is expected to slowly become a first team regular.

For Aston Villa, this is a massively impressive signing. They’ve definitely got a player that has the potential to do big things in the future. They have to hold on to him for as long as they can.

Amavi’s rise has been extremely rapid. Signing his first professional contract with Nice in May last year, the player’s game and future has been constantly on the rise. Amavi spent his childhood years at his local club Sporting Toulon Var and was picked up by Nice in 2010. In 2013/14, he was picked from the academy to be cover of first choice to Timothee Kolodziejczak.

A string of injuries and a reported fall out with manager for “Kolo” meant that the young Frenchman had chances to impress. Impress he did, as he went on to appear 19 times and sign his first professional contract. After Kolodziejczak left for Sevilla in the summer, Nice knew they didn’t need to bring in a left-back who would start every game as they had the right person within their ranks.

Voted the best U-21 player by Whoscored.com for the 2014-15 season, Amavi was absolutely sensational last season (he was also the second highest rated player in Ligue 1, next only to Zlatan Ibrahimovic). The 21-year-old started 36 league games for his side last season. He averaged a whopping 3.9 successful tackles per 90 minutes and his unbelievable reading of the game was illustrated through the fact that on an average, he made 4.6 interceptions per 90 minutes.

He looks effortless in the game and his maturity and cool-headedness are beyond his years. The fact that he doesn’t make too many fouls goes on to show that he doesn’t rush into many tackles and be reckless on the pitch.

As expected from a full-back, Amavi is lethal going forward. Defenders have often struggled to cope with his dribbling ability and he averages 1.9 dribbles per 90 minutes. He is comfortable with cutting inside and carrying the ball forward and his pace coupled with his dribbling skills, makes him an offensive threat.

He does have to better his end product, namely his crosses, which don’t usually find a player at the end of them. He himself is a decent player to have in the box for free-kicks and corners and even scored two headed goals for Nice last season.

The biggest advantage Amavi has is the fact that he is only 21. He has not even reached the peak of his game and already looks so promising. It’s a frightening how good he can be in three-four years, if he progresses on this path.

Tim Sherwood and Aston Villa have acquired a top player and one who can be truly world class in the future. It’s easy to hype up players, but any Ligue 1 followed will rave about the Amavi of last season.

The player needs guaranteed game time if he wants to break into the French national team and has plenty of competition for the spot with the likes of Digne and Kurzawa vying for the same spot. However, if Tim Sherwood can guide him and help him develop his game which already looks extremely promising, Aston Villa really have some player with them.

 

Written by Aakriti Mehrotra

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Adrien Rabiot: Why Tottenham and West Ham should seek the PSG starlet

  By O-Posts Team | July 20, 2024 - 07:23 | , , , , , , ,
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It isn’t really news that Adrien Rabiot is unhappy — with his role — at PSG. The talented youngster has once again demanded to leave the club and his mother and agent was supposed to meet the PSG president to request a move away from the club.

Tottenham have been on his tail for a while now and have been severely linked with the Frenchman in the last two windows. Recent reports say they have reignited their interest in the player. West Ham are also said to be keen on the player.

Even though there isn’t any real indication as to whether Tottenham or West Ham are genuinely interested in the player, it is definitely clear that Rabiot doesn’t want to stay at PSG. The 20-year-old midfielder feels he needs to be play more and it is understandable for him to want to move to a place where he gets more game time, especially if he wants to be chosen for the senior France side for the upcoming Euros.

Spurs need a central midfielder, someone who can command the midfield and do so with conviction and in Rabiot, they will get exactly that.

The Frenchman started his career playing in the suburbs of Paris for US Creteil Lusitanos before Manchester City came offering him a place in their academy. Then 13 year old, Rabiot struggled with life at city as he faced big problems due to the language barrier.

Just six months hence, he decided to leave England and move back to his native France. His boyhood club, PSG came asking for his services and the youngster joined the Parisian giants, quickly making his way up the ranks.

Rabiot is capable of playing anywhere in the midfield, from the holding role to a more box to box attacking role. He has usually been deployed in a deeper role for PSG and has proved his worth. He doesn’t shield the defence and at the same time he doesn’t bombard forward regularly to try and get to the final third. Instead, he sits in the centre and starts plays from the heart of the pitch, to try and orchestrate things from the centre.

His biggest strength has to be his positioning. He is not caught out of position and even if he is, he is quick enough to track back. He is not the bulkiest of players so instead of using his physicality, he uses his vision to help his side. He can thread neat through balls and passes to his teammates and move the play forward.

With competition from the likes Marco Verratti among others for a place in PSG’s midfield, it is understandable why Blanc hasn’t given him the game time he thinks he deserves. He started 10 league games last season and came off the bench in 11. He scored four goals and got an assist to his name last season. With a lack of starts and goal scoring not being his main priority, these stats can show a glimpse of how talented the midfielder is.

Tottenham and West Ham can definitely use a player like him even though he’s not yet the finished article and may take a while for him to get going, if either of the Premier League clubs lands him, they will have a great player for the future within their ranks.

 

 

Written by Aakriti Mehrotra

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Angel Di Maria: The Argentine could wave goodbye to United, but will still be a huge coup for PSG

  By O-Posts Team | July 15, 2024 - 20:58 | , , , , ,
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In the midst of the excitement borne out of the frenzy of free spending that has landed Manchester United Bastian Schweinsteiger and Morgan Schneiderlin, there is some warning to be found in the tale of Angel Di Maria that big reputations partnered with big fees will not always be the formula for success. A year since United shelled out a British record sum of £59.7 million for Di Maria, it seems that fresh interest from Paris St Germain may end his short-lived time in England.

Louis Van Gaal may be reluctant to admit his time with the winger, who was the headline of his first transfer window in charge, is up after just one season but the Dutchman, who has given indications to his ruthless streak by flogging his countryman Robin Van Persie to Fenerbahce, will appreciate that it is business.

Van Gaal’s total summer outlay has neared £70 million with the signings of Memphis Depay and Matteo Darmian as well as Schweinsteiger and Schneiderlin, and with the potential of more to come, a reported £43 million sale will be an important recoup of funds. United’s eye-watering revenue streams means Financial Fair Play regulations are never a concern at Old Trafford but a chance to balance the books will be welcomed as they look to fund moves for PSG’s Edinson Cavani, possibly as a direct swap for Di Maria, and Valencia’s Nicolas Otamendi.

PSG meanwhile have benefitted from the relaxation in the FFP ruling that prevented them from beating United to Di Maria’s signature last year. UEFA sanctions handed to the French champions for breaking the governing bodies’ rules on finances have been identified by Nasser Al Khelaifi, PSG’s Qatari owner, as the main reason behind their failure to lure Di Maria directly from Madrid.

The announcement from UEFA president Michel Platini in May about the easing of those restrictions has permitted PSG to enter the market with the same aggression that previously snared David Luiz, Thiago Silva, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Lucas Moura, Marquinhos and Cavani as their ambitious owners, the Qatari Investment Authority, sought to establish their club as a European powerhouse. Their refreshed spending powers has reportedly allowed them to offer Di Maria a package of the same £200,000-a-week wages he is currently on at United.

Their work in this summer’s market has so far been slow, spending £7 million on Serge Aurier from Toulouse and £6.6 million on Eintracht Frankfurt’s Kevin Trapp, deals offset by the £9 million sale of Yohann Cabaye to Crystal Palace. But a move for Di Maria will be a statement of intent in-keeping with their desire to make it deeper into the Champions League than the quarter-final stage that has so far been an impasse for the club under Carlo Ancelotti and Laurent Blanc.

Di Maria of course won that competition with Real Madrid only 14 months ago and was a vital part of his country’s run to the World Cup final just a month later before injury robbed him of the chance to compete against Germany in the Maracanã showpiece. He moved to United as La Liga’s leading assist maker and as the player Cristiano Ronaldo personally lobbied Florentino Perez not to sell.

Man of the match in the 4-1 triumph over rivals Atletico as Real brought home La Decima and a big part of the 2012 La Liga championship under Jose Mourinho having fought back from a difficult start to the season, Di Maria’s stock was extremely high. His genius apparent, Van Gaal could justify all of the money it took to buy him.

Back then, that is. Di Maria ended his season of struggle at United with just one start in the last eight games after getting sent off for pulling the referee’s shirt in an FA Cup tie with Arsenal. Before then hamstring injuries had blocked a promising start in which he was named player of the month for September and illustrated his vast talent with an audacious chipped goal against Leicester. Off the field, there was also the misfortunate case of his house being attacked by men with scaffolding poles.

Di Maria witnessed the incident with his wife and daughter who probably would have met with relief Van Gaal’s announcement in May that he would be interested in selling the winger if he asked to leave. United’s raft of new arrivals is likely to mean there will be a shift to a 4-3-3 and no room for Di Maria in the midfield role he prefers, leaving the position on the right-flank of an attacking trio where he will face competition from Juan Mata.

Though with 11 assists last term he was United’s creative player and he remains for Van Gaal a vital asset who can dictate the pace of a game with his intelligence and guile, as he did in the away victory over Liverpool in which he produced a delicate lofted pass for Mata to dispatch the game’s winning goal. He is still the player that can produce pivotal performances of the kind that guided Argentina past Paraguay in the semi-finals of the Copa America with a 6-1 win.

Though he limped off with injury in the final defeat to Chile, his two goals and an assist in the demolition of Paraguay posed a dilemma for Van Gaal as much as it would have attracted PSG.

With the Dutchman toying with the temptation to try and find a way of fitting Di Maria into his side and PSG looking for a replacement for Ezequiel Lavezzi who is set on a return to Italy, there are many questions to answer but with a hugely talented player determined to get his club career back on track at the centre of them all.

 

Written by Adam Gray

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Yohan Cabaye: An Incredibly Surprising and Astute Signing for Crystal Palace

  By O-Posts Team | July 10, 2024 - 17:53 | , , , , , , , , , ,
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It’s not everyday you hear Crystal Palace sign a player who was playing Champions League football just a season before. But the Premier League side have made an incredibly smart and astute signing by landing Yohan Cabaye from French champions Paris St-Germain. They have done the same for a club-record transfer fee of £10m.

Of course, it is a bit surprising. Why would Cabaye leave one of the most ambitious European side for a mid-table English club? Well, after a dream move to PSG, the Frenchman spent more time on the bench than on the pitch. He made just 13 Ligue 1 starts for the Parisian club last season and only once did he finish the match after starting it. Cabaye, who signed for PSG in the winter of 2014, but he has found chances extremely limited.

As opposed to his stint at Newcastle United, where he was one of the key players in the side and basically indispensable, he was a luxury commodity at PSG and if he wished to play next year’s Euro’s that France are hosting, he needed to play every week and impress Deschamps. Cabaye is aware that there are plenty of young Frenchman who are waiting to gobble up a spot the national squad.

There were some links with Arsenal and Liverpool at one point of time. He also attracted interest from West Ham United, who could offer the player Europa League football this season, and Roma and Atlético Madrid, who would be playing the Champions League. But it was Palace he decided to opt for.

Alan Pardew was the one of the main factors in landing the 29 year-old. Cabaye and Pardew maintained an extremely healthy relationship at Newcastle. Pardew did a fantastic job at Palace after taking over mid-season and helped the club finish in the 10th place, an incredible achievement for a side battling relegation for some time last season. The Eagles look like they’re ready to step up their game and push for a top half finish this season.

Cabaye has apparently also sought reassurances about the club’s ambition and the fact that “he will not be the only major signing this summer”. The Eagles have been linked with QPR’s Charlie Austin and Swansea’s Ashley Williams and will to step up their pursuit of the player.

Cabaye’s arrival will only help the team further. More importantly, it could prove to be detrimental in their case to persuade existing players like Bolasie and Gayle, who have been linked with a move away from the club, to stay at the club.

Cabaye is certainly the next building block for Palace, who look like an ambitious side trying to build on the success of last season and ensure it isn’t a one-off thing. It will be interesting to see who makes way for him- Joe Ledley, James McArthur, Mile Jedinak or Jason Puncheon- and it will be further interesting to see whether he operates in a more attacking role, or plays a deeper role, trying to orchestrate things from the centre of the pitch.

Cabaye has done well playing the deep-lying playmaker role, and it will probably be the way to go for Pardew who could then use the Frenchman as well as Puncheon in the same eleven.

This is definitely just a start, but Palace fans can dream about the side pushing for a European spot next season. However, more signings of the same or close to the same level need to be made for that to happen.

Stoke City have been linked with Xherdan Shaqiri while West Ham United have landed Dimitri Payet. Hence, teams in the same category, more or less, are also strengthening considerably.

Cabaye is an extremely smart investment, nonetheless, and one which can have a big impact on Crystal Palace’s future.

 

Written by Aakriti Mehrotra

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Aymen Abdennour: Why are major European sides eyeing AS Monaco’s quality center-back

  By O-Posts Team | July 8, 2024 - 20:57 | , , , , , , , , , , , ,
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Silly season always brings to the fore some players that are very vigorously in the news throughout. It’s almost traditional. There are of course, the high profile cases of David de Gea, Raheem Sterling and Sergio Ramos but another player has been linked with a move away from his club pretty vehemently, and that is AS Monaco’s Aymen Abdennour. Barcelona, AC Milan, Liverpool, Inter Milan, Juventus, Tottenham and most seriously West Ham have been linked with the player.

The 25 year old was born in Tunisia and started his career at Etoile Sportive du Sahel in 2008. He quickly became a fan favourite despite being pretty young and inexperienced. In Jan 2010, the Tunisian signed a six month loan deal with SV Werder Bremen. The German club did have the option to sign the player permanently but they did not exercise it and the defender returned to his native country.

But a European call wasn’t too far away and just the next year (July 2011), Abdennour signed a long term contract with Ligue 1 side Toulouse. In January 2014, he was snapped up on loan by AS Monaco and his impressive performances for the side meant this club didn’t waste the opportunity and made his signature permanent the following summer.

Last season, he made 24 appearances for Monaco in all competitions and caught the eye of most in an especially impressive performance against Arsenal in the Champions League.

The Tunisian used to play on the wings and in an attacking role in his younger days but has established himself as a central defender now. Because he played on the flanks, he can also be operated in the full-back position if required.

The 25 year-old has been noted for his passing ability. He likes to play short passes and ensures the ball stays with his team, which can be seen by the fact that he has a pass success rate 82.8% in all competitions last season. He can also hold on to the ball with composure, a beneficial trade for any player. He is a strong reader of the game and can help build the game from the back.

The fact that he can maintain his concentration for the entirety of the game also helps matters. He boasts an impressive stature standing over 6 feet 2 inches tall and can bring his physicality into play both in defence and occasionally in offence. His leadership skills along with the fact that he can effectively organize the back-line add to his game.

Combining pace and power, the Tunisian is an impressive defender and it isn’t a surprise so many teams are interested in him although it will be slightly surprising if West Ham land him, given the interest of more elite teams.

Monaco are in no rush to sell and rightly so. West Ham have reportedly been the only team to formalise their offer with a €20m bid. The French side should wait to see if other teams come in and raise the offer for the defender.

If they are willing to sell a solid player, they should at least get good amount for him.

 

Written by Aakriti Mehrotra

Follow Aakriti on Twitter @Aakriti1

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