Bargain Bafatimbi?

Swansea City have completed the signing of Bafatimbi Gomis on a free transfer from Lyon. Under appreciated at the club, Gomis has finally departed the Ligue 1 outfit after almost 5 years. Reported to have had a number of teams trialling the Frenchman, Gomis has opted for Swansea over options rumoured to include Shakhtar Donetsk and Fiorentina. On a free transfer, Gomis could be a absolute master stroke for Swansea and here is why.

One thing that must be underlined is, Gomis is not world class, not by a long shot. But, Gomis could prove to be a potent attacker for Swansea should he be given game time and could quickly repay the faith Swansea have shown in him. Regularly scoring in Ligue 1 for Lyon, Gomis is blessed with physical prowess due to his stocky build and is his main strength that aides him in the box.

Gomis arrives on a free transfer at Swansea

Don't expect Bafatimbi to be taking players on and scoring goals from outside the box, Gomis is a old fashioned striker that carries out most exploits in the box, getting flick ons and rebounds in and around the area. He has the potential to be a 10-15 goal a season striker under Gary Monk next year and his partnership with Wilfried Bony will be very interesting.

A Bony - Gomis partnership should they get the two working together could be a real handful for defenders. Similar in playing style and stature, the duo could become free scoring and the main source of goals for the Welsh outfit. These two upfront are both dangerous in the box and strong as bulls, especially with the likes of Michu, Hernandez and Dyer supplying them.

Gomis scored 62 times in 172 appearances for Lyon

Gomis could provide a side like Swansea with a steady supply of goals, helping manage the load with Wilfried Bony who was heavily relied on for goals last year. Gomis is a name that has always flirted with a move to the Premier League in the past, with Liverpool, Newcastle and Tottenham all having linked with the 12 times capped Frenchman in previous years.

On a free, Gomis is very good business. Swansea fans have something to look forward to next year in Gomis as Gary Monk looks to keep them in the top flight for another year. Gomis could become a fan favourite is he continues to be the steady supply of goals he has been at Lyon. Will Bafatimbi be the bargain of the season?

A Southampton exodus: Not the sinking ship some might think

Players gone, manager gone and players possibly still going, things may currently look like a desperate sinking ship as all involved at St Mary's' future remains uncertain. Ronald Koeman installed at the helm of Southampton after the impressive Manuel Pochettino left for Tottenham, things will certainly be different next year for the saints. However, although the club seem to be going through a period of exodus, it may not all be bad. 

£4m for Rickie Lambert, £30m for Luke Shaw and £26m for Adam Lallana. On paper, Southampton have lost two key players and a huge talent in Shaw, but financially have gained £60m which they can choose to reinvest alongside their original transfer budget in new players or can spend in a different way, placing faith and giving a chance to the impressive youth system Southampton have in place.  

Ronald Koeman faces one of the toughest, yet exciting jobs in the English league. He will be tasked with a total rebuild of the team yet produce results for the expectant Southampton fans, who have seen their team steadily improve since their promotion with the ambition of next year bettering last year's impressive feats.   

What can the fans expect from Koeman? Firstly, change. That is expected with the players that are leaving and a new manager coming in. The Dutchman preferences youth and has developed players that now feature in the national side such as De Vrijj, Jordie Classie and Martins Indi from his time at Feyenoord. Koeman's preference to develop youth bodes well with the policies Southampton have in place and something that made Pochettino so successful during his time at the club. Under Koeman, Feyenoord's academy was voted the best in Holland, ahead of other famous footballing institutions such as Ajax and PSV. 

Ronald Koeman arrives at Southampton having previously
coached sides like Benfica, Ajax and PSV

A £60m transfer kitty in more than enough to bring in some real quality and possibly in the long term be a blessing in disguise for Southampton fans. The money generated from the sale of star players could propel the club into realms which where unimaginable to some a few years ago, European football or even silverware. Koeman won't hesitate to delver into transfer funds either if he sees fit and could bring in talent like John Guidetti, Graziano Pelle or Divock Origi. Southampton fans could be on the verge of the beginning of a heavy Dutch influence in terms of talent, something that will excite the fans. 

The sale of Rickie Lambert came to a surprise to many, but due to his 32 years of age was let go relatively cheap for a 20 goal-a-season striker. However, Southampton would have found it extremely hard to keep hold of the English international considering it was his boyhood club Liverpool that wanted him. Keeping Lambert against his will could have been damaging for the side. 

Interest in Lallana was expected this summer following his previous year, where form has seen him handed his England debut. Although, Southampton getting a fee of around £26m for the attacker is very good business, they are making a huge profit of the man they got from Bournemouth, who receive 25% of the sell on fee from Southampton. His ability does not reflect the valuation Liverpool have of him and with the money Lallana has generated, Southampton can easily replace him with a top player.  

Southampton's academy system has to applauded, as they have created the most expensive British teenager in Luke Shaw's sale to Manchester United for £30m. Southampton fans will initially feel disappointed at the sale of Shaw, but the club know that it would have been impossible in today's modern game to keep a talent like Shaw at St Mary's for the whole of his career. When a 18 year old makes such a impact like Shaw has done, Southampton would have found it increasingly difficult to knock back transfer fees like Manchester United offered. Southampton have done very well to get £30m for Luke Shaw and it is hard to think of many 18 year olds that are actually worth that, but if Shaw continues his rate of growth at United, there is no doubt in 10 years time he will have justified that fee.   

Lallana will look to build on a year that saw him
feature for England under Brendan Rogers at Liverpool.

Other key players may also leave the club, with transfer bids rumoured to be submitted for Morgan Schnederlin, Gaston Ramirez and Dejan Lovren. The later has reported to have handed in a transfer request, whereas a move abroad looks likely to Gaston Ramirez who has failed to adjust to English football. Koeman faces a struggle to hold onto players as more and more start to think the grass maybe greener elsewhere.  

Whatever the situation is at Southampton, fans must be understanding this is the biggest transition the club has gone under since returning the Premier League. The faithful of Southampton will have to go through the pain of witnessing former fan favourites representing the colours of Premier League rivals, but Koeman will remedy the situation with his £60m war chest. It is going to be a very busy transfer window at Southampton this year! 

The 11 stars to watch this World Cup

With the World Cup fast approaching in Rio, football fever has certainly gripped Brazil's capital. But, who are the stars that could set the tournament alight this summer? Here is the top 11 stars that will entertain, shock and look to win the coveted prize.

11. Ciro Immobile, Italy
Following his stellar season as Serie A's top goal scorer, Ciro Immobile has more than earned his place in the Italian national team. Prandelli's wild card recently sealed a move to Borussia Dortmund from Torino and with his poacher instincts, he could well be battling for the golden boot.

10. Keisuke Honda, Japan
Alongside Shinji Kagawa, Honda is Japan's talisman. Considered one of the dark horses for the tournament, Japan always seem to do better than expected in major tournaments and Honda is a consistent performer in the side. Honda applies his trade at AC Milan but following his slow start to life in Italy, the midfielder will look to perform in Brazil. A dead ball specialist with aesthetically pleasing technique, Honda was one of the stand out stars last World Cup.

9. Daniel Sturridge, England
A prominent goal scorer next to Luis Suarez in a over achieving Liverpool side this season, Sturridge will look to replicate his sizzling form he has produced domestically. The forward will be England's first choice striker and is likely to be the national side's top scorer if the bookies are anything to go by. England will be reliant on Sturridge's direct pace and killer instincts in front of goal if they are to progress.

Sturridge will lead England's front line in Brazil this
summer and will want to grab a few goals under Hodgson

8. Yaya Toure, Ivory Coast
Considered the best African team in the tournament, the Ivory Coast will be hoping Yaya Toure performs this summer. Enjoying his best season to date with Manchester City, the Elephants will need Toure at his goal scoring best to do well in the tournament. Toure's midfield engine twinned with his long powerful legs allow him to cover the whole pitch and given the opportunity, he can punish with precision shooting.  

7. Romelu Lukaku, Belgium
With Christain Benteke out injured, Belgium's goals are likely to come from the young striker. On loan at Everton from Chelsea, Lukaku has once again impressed in England and each season looks more and more like the finished article. Strong, powerful and a aerial threat, Belgium's crafty wingers will look to feed Lukaku with plenty of goal scoring chances and if he gets them, will score.  


6. Diego Costa, Spain
A naturally born Brazilian, Diego Costa opted to choose Spain over Brazil when given the the choice of the two sides. Just the one cap to his name, Costa has already been told by Vincinte Del Bosque that he will be leading Spain's front line at the World Cup. Costa  has had the season of his life, winning the league and scoring a majority of Atletico Madrid's goals as they also got to the Champions League final. If he produces what has done all season following his injury, Diego Costa will be a defender's nightmare.

Diego Costa has enjoyed the finest of seasons with Atletico
Madrid and will want to add to the silverware gained this season

5. Mario Balotelli, Italy
The second Italian in the list, Mario Balotelli has got to number 5 for wrong reasons just as many as there are right ones. The frustrating Italian can either help or hinder and will feature against England in the group stages. Blessed with unbelievable talent and the potential to be one of the world's best, "Super Mario" often wastes his talent with immature and quite frankly stupid mistakes, childish sulking or poor discipline. Whether or not he produces, Balotelli is more than entertaining and certainly one to watch.

4. Luis Suarez, Uruguay
Public enemy number one in South Africa for his hand ball on the line that robbed Ghana of progressing into the next round, Suarez will also feature against England with PSG's Edinson Cavani upfront.  The top scorer this year in England for Liverpool, Luis Suarez will need to be watched very closely due to his close control dribbling, clever flair and deadly long shots. However, Suarez is more than a controversial character and is not exactly beloved in England for the number of high profile incidents he has been involved in. Hopefully he will keep his behaviour in check but if he doesn't he can expect a torrent of abuse.

3. Lionel Messi, Argentina
A man that needs no introduction, Messi has not enjoyed the best of seasons by his exceptionally high standards and will look to rectify the disappointing season he has suffered at Barcelona in the World Cup. Messi will also be out to prove critics wrong, as he is often accused of being unable to produce his Barcelona form for the national side. Argentina's squad are blessed with a abundance of attackers and Messi will not be short of service. Argentina will be relying heavily on their talisman in Brazil as they look to add yet another World Cup title and there will be nothing sweeter than winning it in their own rivals' backyard.

Messi was part of a disappointing campaign
with Barcelona under Gerard Martino

2. Cristano Ronaldo, Portugal
This year's Balon D'or winner, Cristano Ronaldo has the weight of a nation on his shoulders. Portugal will be heavily reliant on the attacker in Brazil and will need to produce if Portugal are to do well. Having just won the Champions League final, Ronaldo will be trophy hungry and the World Cup is a title that has eluded him in previous years. At the peak of his powers, if Ronaldo is to win the World Cup, now is the time.

1. Neymar, Brazil
The nation's golden boy, Neymar is Brazil's icon for this tournament. All eyes will be on Neymar and much of Brazil's attacking moves will come through the pace, flair and skill of the tricky left sided forward. Anyone that watched Brazil during the Confederations Cup will have seen how Neymar produces for his national side and can be incredibly potent for manager Scolari. The country expects the World Cup trophy to be won on home soil and if Neymar does not produce, this task will become a lot harder.

Lampard: Gone, but still a role to play

Jose Mourinho has spoken of how Frank Lampard will one day return to Chelsea in "any way he wants." Lampard left the club on a free transfer this summer after his contract expired at the club, but Mourinho has said the midfielder could become his assistant in the future.

A Chelsea legend and the club's all time top scorer on 211 goals, Mourinho has spoke about how the door at Stamford Bridge is always open for a return. Lampard is a fine representative of the club's image and has embraced the club's values since his arrival from West Ham. Adored by the Chelsea faithful, it has been hard for fans, staff and team mates to see such a figure leave the dressing room.

"You can't imagine how difficult it was for him to leave," said Mourinho in a recent interview. "But at the same time I can feel some happiness in the process because for sure he comes back to Chelsea one day. For sure."

"He can come back the way he wants. Mr Abramovich has left the door completely open for him on the understanding he can do anything he wants at the club: he can try things, feel where he is better suited, we can feel as a club where he gives us more, but he can come back when he wants and, to repeat Mr Abramovich's words, the way he wants."

Frank Lampard has left Chelsea on a free transfer
and is rumoured to be on his way to the USA.

"He can be a coach, he can start at the academy, he can start being my assistant at the same time as he is doing his coaching badges, or he can start in a different role." A return to Chelsea seems to be written in the future for Lampard and will be interesting to see how he returns to the club.

Vice captain of the club for under the many mangers that have been in charge, it is clear that Lampard has the leadership qualities needed to be a coach or assistant, twinned with his years of playing top flight football at the club.

A coaching role is likely for Lampard in the youth set up to gain management experience to which if he feels he is ready a more advanced role, possibly as Mourinho has suggested, as his number two. A replication almost, of Ryan Giggs at Manchester United who was recently given a management role after his years of experience at the club.  

Could Frank Lampard become Jose Mourinho's
number two in the future? 

Another possible avenue to go down is to become the club ambassador. "Super Frank" represents the clubs values and morals and would be a perfect role model given the things he has done at Chelsea. This a route similar to the role Javier Zanetti has taken up at Inter Milan as sporting director of the blue half of Milan.

But a return to London is some way in the future, as Lampard embarks on the latest chapter in his playing career. Promising to never play for another Premier League club, it seems a journey abroad is what the English international faces after the World Cup.

 

A farewell to Fabregas

Barcelona's Cesc Fabregas looks set it to leave the Nou Camp with a return to England looking increasingly likely. Just 3 years ago, Barcelona worked so hard to bring back their former youth product from Arsenal but his return has never been what he expected. So how did it get to this?

Xavi, Neymar, Pique and co all modelled the new Barcelona kit at their release photo shoot but there was one high profile absence, Cesc Fabregas. Although small, this is was the first real sign that Fabregas could potentially leave. Sure, there could have been a hundred reasons why Fabregas was unable to attend the photo shoot, but Fabregas has never been truly appreciated.

In a recent interview, team mate Gerard Pique said that Fabregas was "not valued as he deserves" at the club. There is truth to this statement, as Fabregas has never been one of the first names on the team sheet like he was at Arsenal. Although there is much more fierce competition at Barcelona than there is at the Gunners, Fabregas still finds playing time sparingly.

Cesc Fabregas is currently with the Spain squad in preparation
to retain the World Cup title they won in South Africa . 

In what was a disappointing campaign under Gerard Martino, the Catalan giants decided to install Luis Enrique, a former player at the club, as their new manager. In his first interview as head coach of Barcelona, Enrique gave away the biggest hint that Fabregas was not in his plans. When asked questions about individuals like Neymar and their futures, Enrique was more than happy to comment on the matter. However, as soon as a question regarding Fabregas at the club, Enrique did not want to comment.

The news soon broke that Fabregas was available for transfer and to the displeasure of Arsenal fans, his destination is not going to be a reunion with Arsene Wenger. Fabregas, currently on international duty with Spain, is the focus of local rivals Chelsea and money bags Manchester City. Where ever it is revealed that Fabregas is going, Pique let slip in a interview that a deal was already done.

It is reported that while Pique was in a press conference with manager Del Bosque, he did not realise that his microphone was still on and revealed a deal was done. He is supposed to have said: "He told me a deal was done. He is already leaving, he told me it is 33 million." Del Bosque replies: "Poor president (in reference to club president Josep Maria Bartomeu). He can't win for losing."    

Pique, a close friend of Fabregas, let slip about
a potential "done deal." 

Could this be a wind up from Pique and Del Bosque? Pique is a notorious prankster and as soon as they spoke, they start smiling and cover up their mouths. Pique fails to mention which club Fabregas is heading so could merely be stirring the pot. 

This maybe one of the biggest deals of the summer transfer window and is sure to be tracked by every sporting media outlet. Where could Fabregas end up? And what for what fee? This could turn into a hugely played out saga that goes on for some time, but will surely be interesting!