STAN COLLYMORE A dream DO MORE TO SLAY DEMONS fix for the top
Follow us on Twitter: @peoplesport IT should not be too difficult for Mauricio Pochettino to keep his entire squad together, maybe Kyle Walker excepted.
But that may not be the case a year from now, particularly if Harry Kane and Dele Alli go to Russia next summer on the back of a trophyless campaign and have a good World Cup with England. It would be folly to rely on the likes of Heung Min-Son and Vincent Jan Janssen as back-up should e either of his front men pick up an injury.
Spurs need additional cover at the back – Kevin Wimmer looks to be on his wa way out and they’ll need help if Wa Walker goes too – but Ph Pochettino’si most pressing need is a top-quality alternative up front to Kane.
I know I’m not going to be popular with Celtic fans but I’d go and throw money at the Scottish giants and prise MOUSSA DEMBELE (above) from Brendan Rodgers’ clutches.
He’s young, has pace, and clearly knows where the net is.
If I was 20, like the French youngster, I’d jump at the chance of joining the young talent at Spurs. PEP GUARDIOLA does not have a problem in the top half of the pitch where he has options aplenty.
But, like Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool, his most pressing issues are in defence.
It’s clear from the number of times he’s overlooked them that he doesn’t really fancy Pablo Zabaleta or Aleksandar Kolarov, so reinforcements at full-back are required.
But an absolute priority has to be a partner for John Stones at centre-back.
If Pep is to persist using Stones as a ball-playing centre-half, then he needs a proper defender as his partner.
No manager can hang his hat on Vincent Kompany given his injury record over the past two seasons and Nicolas Otamendi is not up to it.
If I was in charge at the Etihad I’d move mountains to beat Chelsea to the signature of Southampton’s VIRGIL VAN DIJK (above).
First and foremost a defender, he is also comfortable in possession.
With Chelsea homing in on the Premier League title – and the race for the top four almost over – it’s time to play fantasy football. The summer transfer scramble is just around the corner and the big clubs will be clamouring to cream off the top talent. So, with that in mind, here is my guide to the players the top-six clubs must add to their squads. GUNNERS supporters need a cuddle and a bucket-load of reassurance. But most of all they need a marquee signing to prove they are capable of challenging the best.
I’d stick Olivier Giroud and Danny Welbeck on the market. Gir Giroud doesn’t scare top defenders and Welbeck’s injury rec record is poor.
Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil are talking about c committing their futures to Arsenal only if they g get paid £300,000 a week.
That’s £15million a year each – if we are in th that territory, perhaps Arsene Wenger should try to sign a genuine A-lister.
I would think big and approach Real Madrid for the services of f GARETHG BALE – if you don’t ask, you don’t get.
It’s touch and go whether the forward would want to swap the Bernabeu for the Emirates but if Arsenal are serious about climbing back up the table they need to attract a game-changer.
Yes, he’s an ex-Spurs player but Gunners need to make a statement. What better way to do so than by bringing Bale (right) back to the Premier League? UNITED’S campaign would have looked a lot sorrier without the goals and influence of Zlatan Ibrahimovic. We keep hearing that Jose Mourinho will sign Antoine Griezmann from Atletico Madrid but he’s not the leader of the line that the United boss likes. If he is spending in the region of £100million he should look instead to Juventus and offer them a quick return on the cash they laid out last season on GONZALO HIGUAIN. The Turin giants paid just north of £70m for the Argentina international (left) 12 months ago. OK, he might be 29 but you are getting a man in his prime who, with the likes of Juve, Real Madrid and Napoli on his CV, knows what playing for a big club is all about. ANTONIO CONTE has based his title charge this season on the spine of his team. That may change if Diego Costa gets his wish to cash in on a move to China and the obvious response for Conte would be to sign Romelu Lukaku from Everton. But Conte’s top addition could be KYLE WALKER, who is on the market after a fall-out with the decision-makers at Spurs. Rumour has it that he fancies a move back up north but if I was in charge at Stamford Bridge I’d be moving heaven and earth to sign him. No doubt Daniel Levy won’t want to lose a talent like Walker (above) but, if ever there was a player made for the wing-back role, it’s the England man. He’s such an athlete and would be a better bet than Victor Moses, who has done well there for Chelsea this season And as well as Marcos Alonso has done, I’d sign Luke Shaw from Manchester United for the left-wingback slot. People might be surprised that I’ve not suggested discontented Arsenal striker Alexis Sanchez. The Chilean would strengthen any squad but I suspect, if he does leave the Emirates, that he’ll head abroad. IT is easy to see where the Reds need improvement – at the back.
Jurgen Klopp has a big problem with his goalkeepers because I don’t think Loris Karius or Simon Mignolet is up to the job. Leicester keeper Kasper Schmeichel would be perfect for them but the Foxes would surely demand a king’s ransom for him.
I would therefore go for the best shot-stopper I’ve seen in Europe – JAN OBLAK from Atletico Madrid (right)..
The big Slovenian has presence, is tall and athletic, and would inspire confidence in those in front of him. His arrival would turn Liverpool from top-four contenders into title hopefuls. IN THE wake of Aaron Lennon’s problems coming to light, I received messages via text and social media from five current footballers.
All of them had mental-health issues that they wanted to address. One had even contacted the Professional Footballers’ Association but was not impressed with how he was received and wanted advice about who to turn to next.
It’s almost 20 years since I sat in the home of Doug Ellis, then the chairman of Aston Villa, and explained my own problems to him. PFA chairman Gordon Taylor was in the room with me.
Although there is more awareness about mental health these days, I still feel that the service provided is inadequate.
The PFA said that 62 current players have come forward, and around 100 retired players have also asked for help.
That in itself shows the scale of the problem. But, judging from my own experience this week, I’d wager there are plenty of players out there still unsure of the reception they will receive from their union.
My offer still stands. I’m happy to be a point of contact if anyone out there is struggling.
And if the PFA need my assistance to highlight the services they provide, or if they want to ask what more they can do, all they have to do is contact me and I’ll be happy to help.