B/R Gossip Roundup: Rooney in Focus, Reus in Demand and Menez Must Stand Tall
The summer transfer window may be a distant memory, but that does not stop rumours, gossip and speculation from hitting news stands on a daily basis.
This week we have talk of Wayne Rooney being untouchable, a Germany international who is very much in demand and defensive concerns for Arsene Wenger's Arsenal.
That and more await in this week's B/R Gossip Roundup.
Barcelona Will Not Allow Munir to Leave Without a Fight
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Amid the excitement over the signing of Luis Suarez in the summer, Barcelona supporters could have been forgiven for failing to notice one young player making his mark in pre-season.
As the news reports centred around the arrival of the Uruguay international and the effects of his lengthy suspension for biting Giorgio Chiellini during the World Cup, Munir El Haddadi was making his mark with style and stealth.
So it came with some surprise to read Jamie Anderson of the Daily Express claiming that the 19-year-old would be joining Arsenal in a cut-price deal in January.
According to the report, the Gunners will meet the £9.4 million buy-out clause for the Spain international, whose early-season form convinced Vicente del Bosque to call him into his squad for the Euro 2016 qualifier against Macedonia earlier this month.
With Munir needing to displace Suarez, Lionel Messi and Neymar in order to make his mark on the Barcelona first team, the report suggests he would opt to move if his release clause was met by a club who would guarantee him first-team football.
However, Luis Enrique is no fool and will recognise the need for back-up in his bid for silverware in domestic and European competition.
Munir has already proved to be an ideal figure to turn to for the Catalan club this season, with a goal in their opening-day win over Elche and a starting place in every league match so far.
Obviously, with Suarez suspended and Neymar still returning to full fitness after his back injury in the World Cup, there is a place at Camp Nou for the teenager. But few would argue that he is deserving of his opportunities so far.
And that's where this rumour begins to fall apart. Why would Enrique and Barcelona allow their young prodigy, who is already proving himself and realising his potential, to join another club?
Leaving fellow fringe players Pedro and Rafinha trailing in his wake, Munir is already keeping Neymar out of the side—the Brazilian scored twice as a substitute in the win over Athletic Bilbao in Barcelona's last league outing, which suggests his fitness may not be too much of a concern any more.
Arsenal's interest may, of course, be genuine—who wouldn't want such a prodigious talent? But meeting a buy-out clause does not automatically mean a player will sign.
Munir's star is on the rise with Barcelona, and there is little doubt his current deal—from his time with Barcelona B—will soon follow suit; according to Mundo Deportivo (h/t Football Espana), the club have already opened talks over a new contract with the player's agent.
Believability Meter: Low
Munir has given no sign that he is looking to leave Barcelona, and the Camp Nou club have shown no indication of wanting to let him go.
An agent's hand might be at work here, but few Barcelona supporters will balk at the idea of the young forward being offered better terms by the club.
Everton Ground Move Desperately Needed to See Toffees Progress
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The question has often been asked, why has a major investor never made a move for Everton Football Club?
The response could be a relatively simple one: there is no room for development at the Merseyside club's long-time home, Goodison Park.
Now, however, the Toffees have announced plans to build a new stadium a short distance from Goodison at Walton Hall Park, as Marc Waddington of the Liverpool Echo reported.
According to the article, Liverpool Council will become an official partner in the scheme as part of a regeneration project for the area in the north of the city.
Everton's search for an alternative to Goodison Park has been a long-term one, with previous plans for a move to the King's Dock on the waterfront and Kirkby failing to come to fruition.
When Goodison was first opened in 1892, it was the first football-specific ground in England, and it has since become a part of the game's folklore.
However, for anyone who has visited the ground—as a home or away supporter—in recent seasons will recognise that Goodison now pales in comparison to new grounds such as the Etihad and Emirates.
Before the turn of the century, there was a split among Everton supporters over the possible move under former chairman Peter Johnson, which resulted in the formation of a group—Goodison For Ever-ton—to campaign against the switch.
Johnson, though, was an unpopular chairman among many Everton supporters, and he resigned from his role in November 1998, as BBC News reported.
The design of Goodison Park in the heart of the Walton district in Liverpool is such that redevelopment of the ground would be difficult without the removal of homes surrounding the stadium.
But Everton have watched on as clubs such as Manchester City and Arsenal have built new stadia and prospered.
For the purist, grounds such as Goodison Park and Highbury are the rich seams of football history, but a new ground will bring with it added earning potential.
With Everton enjoying a renaissance under the management of Roberto Martinez, the time is right for the Blues to make their move to build for the future.
Believability Meter: High
Goodison Park is rich in football history, especially that of Everton. As the home of the club for almost 125 years, it has been the scene of the club's greatest triumphs.
It was also used as part of the 1966 World Cup finals, staging matches involving Pele and Brazil, Eusebio and Portugal and the iconic quarter-final between the Portuguese and North Korea. West Germany's semi-final win over the Soviet Union was also staged at Goodison.
However, time waits for no man and Everton need to build for the future.
After Spectacular Backheel, Jeremy Menez Must Find Consistency at AC Milan
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One particular piece of sublime impudence took our collective eye last weekend when AC Milan eventually saw off the challenge of Parma in Serie A.
The Rossoneri had found dogged resistance in their opponents, with their every strike being countered by the lowly home side.
Something special was needed to ensure Milan left the Stadio Ennio Tardini with all three points, but few expected the answer to be quite so special.
In the 79th minute, with the scoreline at 4-3 in favour of Milan, the France international pounced on a loose back pass before appearing to lose control of the ball as it passed through the six-yard box.
However, Menez caught up with his poor touch and cleverly backheeled the ball home to seal Milan's victory, as Liam Prenderville of the Daily Mirror reported. It was enough to bring a smile to the face of the most cynical of football fans.
Such is the way with the 27-year-old, though, one moment of brilliance married to lengthy spells of nothingness has characterised his performances in the past at both Paris Saint-Germain and Roma.
But there seems to be something new in the way Menez is approaching his football under Filippo Inzaghi at the San Siro.
His brace at Parma made it three goals in two games following his summer move from the reigning Ligue 1 champions.
Menez has been used as a central striker so far, but the arrival of Fernando Torres could see the Frenchman move wide.
But it is clear that the player's confidence and self-belief are reaching bulging proportions with the Italian giants, which will only serve to benefit Milan and Inzaghi.
The inconsistency that has dogged Menez's career may just be about to be put to bed if he keeps up his spectacular return to form with Milan.
Believability Meter: Medium
There has never been any doubt that Menez has the ability to be an elite player, but his apparent lethargy at previous clubs has scuppered any hopes of making an impact.
Under Inzaghi at Milan, though, the France international is clearly relishing his game once more. This time, hopefully, he will maintain that level of performance beyond that brilliant backheel.
The Rossoneri boss must be wary, though, that his introduction of Torres to the team does not disrupt Menez.
Lack of Arsenal Defensive Cover Exacerbated by Injury to Mathieu Debuchy
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We doubt there was a person in the world who couldn't see the gamble Arsene Wenger was taking in the summer as he failed to shore up his defence in the transfer window.
With Thomas Vermaelen heading to Barcelona and Bacary Sagna heading toward Manchester City, there were some gaping holes that needed filling—and with some urgency, Gunners supporters might argue.
It was a situation that was simply asking for trouble. Sure enough, it came even earlier than Wenger and Arsenal had expected. Mathieu Debuchy hurt his ankle during the 2-2 draw with Manchester City, as Jeremy Wilson of the Daily Telegraph reported.
Debuchy was a defensive summer signing, along with Calum Chambers from Southampton, but there is now a lack of depth along the back line—something Borussia Dortmund would have ruthlessly exposed if Henrikh Mkhitaryan had come close with a number of attempts.
Instead, the Gunners left Germany on the wrong end of a 2-0 defeat after Wenger was forced into playing Hector Bellerin at full-back after Chambers was brought down by tonsillitis before the Champions League opener.
Add in the fact that Nacho Monreal also missed the Dortmund loss, and the midweek picture for Arsenal was a particularly bleak one.
Chambers, of course, is a capable replacement for Debuchy at right-back, but he also represents the only central-defensive cover for the Gunners.
The former Newcastle United man had slipped effortlessly into the role vacated by Sagna, leaving many to wonder why they were so concerned at the prospect of him joining City.
Mathieu Flamini is a possible makeshift full-back for the north London club, but these are threadbare times for a team that had hoped to build on their FA Cup triumph last season.
With the Gunners competing in three domestic competitions and the Champions League before the January transfer window opens, there will have to be a huge effort in the treatment room and a hefty dose of good fortune to prevent a season of hope being ended before it really begins.
Believability Meter: High
The lack of experience in the Arsenal rearguard came undone in the team's Champions League defeat to Borussia Dortmund, in which only profligacy in front of goal spared the Gunners from a hefty loss.
But for a team that was meant to be challenging for the Premier and Champions League this season, Debuchy's lengthy injury underlines the gamble Wenger has taken.
Tweeting to Buy Marco Reus Is Easy, Making Liverpool Transfer Happen Won't Be
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Liverpool owner John W Henry might not be the most prolific tweeter out there, but when he does say something within 140 characters, it can create a buzz among Liverpool supporters.
Sure enough, this week brought a wave of excitement across Anfield as the Reds chief shared an article on the God particle on his Twitter feed.
But it wasn't his view on the Higgs Boson that sent thrills through Liverpool supporters, it was his immediate follow-up tweet, which simply said: "Oh and sign Reus!" that took the attention.
As a successful businessman, Henry would not have released such information in a public arena by error, but that didn't stop the speculation that Liverpool were looking to sign the Borussia Dortmund star, as Chisanga Malata of the Daily Star reported.
However, the more likely scenario is that Henry was responding to regular requests from Liverpool fans to add the Germany international to Brendan Rodgers' squad.
There is no doubting the purchase of Marco Reus would be a major coup for the Reds, but the reality is it will take some negotiation and offer to prise the 25-year-old from Westfalenstadion.
After losing Robert Lewandowski to Bundesliga rivals Bayern Munich, another major name departing the club so soon would not go down well with supporters.
Alex Richards of the Daily Mirror reported in August how Dortmund chief executive Hans-Joachim Watzke was adamant the player would not be leaving the Bundesliga club.
Before the month was out, Dortmund manager Jurgen Klopp had joined the chorus of voices saying Reus was staying, as Thomas Zocher of Sky Sports recorded.
The prospect of Reus lining up on the opposite flank to Raheem Sterling is understandably appealing for Liverpool, but its likelihood is unrealistic at the moment.
Believability Meter: Low
Henry might have sent the excitement levels soaring with his tweet regarding Reus, but his tongue was clearly in his cheek.
However, stranger things have happened in the transfer market—Mario Balotelli moving to Anfield for one—although this surprise move might be some way off yet.
Wayne Rooney Is Manchester United's Leader, but He's Not Untouchable
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Wayne Rooney is undroppable, is the inference to take from Louis van Gaal’s Friday press conference ahead of the club’s clash with Leicester City on Sunday.
Addressing the press, Van Gaal said:
"There are always players you put in a team. My captain shall always play and normally the goalkeeper, so it’s not a surprise.
I don’t think any player is fixed. Only the captain has more privileges, but no other player has privileges, I think.
"
So, as captain, Rooney will be on the United team sheet every time he is fit. That has proved to be the case so far this term, as Rooney has been an ever present in the Red Devils’ starting XI in the league.
Van Gaal’s comments could place Rooney in a position of comfort, but the player would do well to ignore his manager’s words.
No player can be undroppable. As captain, there is privilege and you do have more right to be selected than most. After all, the manager has chosen you to be the team’s leader.
However, a player has to be selected on merit. With Robin van Persie and Radamel Falcao vying for positions in the Manchester United attack, the competition is certainly fierce.
Should Rooney’s form dip, then his place would come under threat like any other player.
Believability Meter: Low
Van Gaal may boldly claim that his captain will always find his way onto the team sheet, but the Dutchman is a strong enough character to drop a player if he is not playing well.
