England under 20 World Cup hero, Dominic Solanke has joined Bournemouth from Liverpool for a reported fee of around £19 million. Solanke joins the Cherries in the hope of getting more first team game time which was been hard to come by at Anfield due to Anfield’s triple threat front three; Mo Salah, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane.
Bournemouth Boss Eddie Howe is securing Solanke’s services to replace Jermaine Defoe as he has joined Rangers on a long-term loan deal. Solanke will need to replicate his Under 20 World Cup form to persuade Howe to start him upfront instead of Josh King and Callum Wilson.
Nathaniel Clyne joins Solanke at Bournemouth from Liverpool, on an 18-month loan deal. Clyne suffered a number of injuries over the 2017/18 campaign which saw the likes of Trent Alexander-Arnold make a strong claim for the right back position. The deal could not have come at a worse time for Liverpool boss, Jurgen Kloop. Alexander-Arnold now joins an already exhaustive injury list of players; Dejan Lovren, Joel Matip and Joe Gomez already out and Alexander-Arnold who will now miss the next two weeks due to injury. Bournemouth have confirmed that Clyne’s loan deal cannot be cut short and he will remain with the Cherries.
In the meantime, Fulham have acquired the services of Ryan Babel from Besiktas for the duration of the season. The 32-year-old striker is not new to the Premier league having spent three and a half years at Liverpool in 2007. Fulham boss, Claudio Raneri will be hoping that Babel can provide more goals than his out of form teammate Aleksander Mitrovic, whose goals have been few and far between since his in the beginning of the season.
Chelsea seem to have been the busiest in the past two weeks and may still have a few more transfers up their sleeve. First off, their departures. The Blues could provide a duo transfer to Monaco, with Cesc Fabregas ending a 16-year stunt in the Premier League with Arsenal and Chelsea to join the Principality club. Fabregas has struggled for first team football at Stamford Bridge under new boss Maurizio Sarri and will hope his move to the Ligue 1 side will help him to rekindle his form.
Fabregas will be in good hands under the tutelage of former Gunners striker and now Monaco manager, Thierry Henry. Fabregas will have three and a half years to prove his worth at the French side with his first task to assist the Principality club to avoid relegation.
Michy Batshuayi is close to joining Fabregas at Monaco after his loan deal with Valencia was cut short. The Belgian striker was only able to register 4 goals for the Bats during his time at the club. Hopefully linking up with Henry who assisted the Belgian side during the 2018 World Cup will help him to find form at Monaco.
With two players going out it is important for Chelsea to replace the hole that Fabregas left in their midfield. Christian Pulisic was bought from Borussia Dortmund for a reported £57 million. Dortmund placed a lot of faith in the young winger giving him 115 appearances for the German giants. The American will hopefully provide Chelsea with an alternative attacking option with both their front men being out of form in front of goal. Pulisic will remain at the German club on loan for the remainder of the season and will only join the Blues in the summer.
Pulisic’s move to Stamford Bridge may lead some fans to think that their star man, Eden Hazard is off to rescue Real Madrid’s season. However, nothing has been set in stone. Begs the question though, will this be the year that the Belgian man departs to Spain? While on the note of Spain, Alvaro Morata will surely be looking to return to Spain where he seemed to have left his goals and form. Talk of the town is that Atletico Madrid are looking to purchase the striker. Gonzalo Higuain could find himself at Chelsea next season if that move is finalised. Juventus surely do not look as if they will require his services anytime soon.
Sick of people getting butthurt about Hazard waiting to see if Real come for him.
– Does it suck for us? – Yes
– Is it unfair on the board/Sarri? – Sure
But he’s never wavered. He loves Chelsea & London. Real was his dream. The story hasn’t changed. It will be decided soon.
— Alex Goldberg (@AlexGoldberg_) January 15, 2019
All eyes are primed on Chelsea to see if they will accept a bid from German Giants, Bayern Munich for one of their star youth players, Callum Hudson-Odoi. However, Chelsea have reportedly rejected Bayern’s most recent bid for the player. The fans definitely do not want to see the young player leave the Bridge.
“HUDSON-ODOI WE WANT YOU TO STAY ???? ????”
Bayern fans won’t love you like we do @Calteck10 #DontLetCHOGo pic.twitter.com/Fm69dvNJ1s
— . (@OfficialCheIs) January 14, 2019
Over at the Emirates, playmakers are being made to jump through hoops or jump out under Unai Emery. Mezut Ozil looks to have fallen out of favour with Gunners boss. The playmaker was not selected for the match day squad at the weekend against West Ham and falling their defeat fans are beginning to ask why. Ozil is the highest paid player at Arsenal, if he doesn’t play it makes no sense to keep him on the payroll? However, having played in Germany and Spain, where could the playmaker be headed next or will he fight for his spot at the Emirates?
Another seasoned Arsenal playmaker has bowed out of the chase to catch Emery’s starting 11. Aaron Ramsey has agreed in principal to join Juventus in the summer. Ramsey has reportedly already undergone a medical with Bianconeri officials. The serie A champions will gain another free agent as they prepare a £6 million bid for the Arsenal man. Arsenal will not see the Welshman leave the club any earlier.
