Arsene Wenger

Spanish and European champions Barcelona have made no secret of their desire to return homegrown talent Fabregas to Camp Nou, perhaps acutely aware that midfield superstar Xavi is now the wrong side of 30, and Arsenal’s Premier League title rivals have been busy forming a queue to sign Nasri.

The Frenchman used his first press conference ahead of the new season to dismiss suggestions he and Nasri were certain to leave in what promises to be a fascinating close-season at the Emirates (7/1 Arsenal – Premier League outright).

“Our position is always the same – we want to keep Cesc and I will fight as hard as I can to keep him. Samir Nasri is exactly the same. We will do everything we can to keep him,” said Wenger. “I’m confident we can get both of them to stay.”

The situation is clear with Nasri in so much as he has just 12 months left on his contract and conjecture about any player’s future at such a juncture is inevitable.

It was telling and curious that Wenger intimated only Nasri knows whether he will put pen to paper.

Asked about his countryman, Wenger added: “Will he be at the club next season? I say yes. The second part (of the question) – will he sign a new contract? I hope yes, but I am not the only one to decide.”

A disparity in the clubs’ respective valuations of 24-year-old Fabregas has stopped  his move back to his place of birth and so the wait goes on, but it is fair to suggest something has to give if the World Cup winner has decided home is really where his heart is.

Wenger has also confirmed the signing of the Ivory Coast forward Gervinho from Lille and revealed Nicklas Bendtner and Manuel Almunia have not travelled to the Far East because they are in talks with other clubs about leaving Arsenal.

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Manchester United

The Scot probably has more to be happy about than any other manager involved in the title race at the halfway point. We examine which of the title contenders are likely to be full of Christmas cheer and which will be saying humbug to the festivities.

Manchester United

We’ll start at the top with a side some might refer to as Christmas fairies. Ferguson’s men made a pretty slow start to the season, dropping points on their travels at every available opportunity it seemed. Late goals at Fulham and Everton cost them all three points, while Sunderland, Bolton and West Brom also managed to take a share of the spoils against them.

While United still aren’t pulling up trees like they have in the past, they have done what all good teams do and that is to win when you aren’t playing well. Take Stoke away and Wolves at home as prime examples of that.

Ferguson’s men might have made a slow start but they are getting up to speed and with Wayne Rooney looking sharp again, you certainly wouldn’t bet against them winning yet another league title.

With games to come against Sunderland (11/1 to beat United), Birmingham, West Brom and Stoke over the festive period, Ferguson should feel like a kid on Christmas morning with the way his team is coming together at just the right time again.

Arsenal

Arsenal’s season so far should remind people of that big box you sometimes found under your tree on Christmas morning. Sometimes it would have exactly what you wanted in it and at other times it would be a total let down. The Gunners have been that box, on occasions out of this world and on others a wet blanket.

They go into Christmas as runners up, a position they have gotten used to in recent years given their trophy drought. However, it could have been so much better for the Gunners had they managed to control their nerves against the big sides and take their chances against others.

Arsenal fans might have believed this would be their year until another disappointing defeat to Manchester United a fortnight ago. And while United looked like potential champions, the Gunners looked way off that mantle.

Arsenal are 9/2 to win the Premier League and those odds could drift out even further if they don’t take positive results from games against Chelsea and Manchester City over Christmas. Expect Wenger to choke on his turkey when he thinks about his missed opportunities.

Manchester City

Where do you start with City’s first half of the season? At times it has been like a cracker with no bang and I think this is the abiding memory City fans will take with them into the Christmas period. Monday’s home defeat to Everton probably ruined many supporters’ Christmas wishes as they failed to secure top spot.

City look destined for another season of under achievement unless Roberto Mancini wishes really hard and gets some new toys in the new year as some of his old ones seem to have broken. For example Mario Balotelli might have plenty of potential but he doesn’t look like he will fire them to Premier League glory.

Ignoring City’s price to win the league, City are 4/11 to finish in the top four, a present many City fans would be happy to receive any time of the year. Judging by City’s season so far, expect Mancini to enjoy a dinner with all the trimmings but no stuffing.

Chelsea

What a Christmas it was shaping up to be for Chelsea supporters at the start of November. A slip up to Liverpool aside, the west London outfit were looking good for the Christmas number one spot. However, like many of us, Chelsea have endured a horrible build-up to Christmas and might be glad to see the back of it.

The best present Carlo Ancelotti will have hoped for is to have the majority of his squad fit and he has got that. The spine of the Blues – John Terry, Frank Lampard and Didier Drogba – are all back and ready to power the team through the clichéd hectic festive period.

At the moment, Chelsea’s festive comparison can be made with Scrooge. They might be heading into the Christmas period dreading it but they are likely to come out the other side with a great deal of joy. Expect Chelsea to make their turnaround at Arsenal (7/5 to beat the Blues) on December 27.

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The duo have been linked with moves away from the Britannia Stadium, after falling from favour at the end of last season.

And they were both left at home on Saturday when the Potters beat Burnley 2-1 at Huddersfield’s Galpharm Stadium. Beattie has played less than 45 minutes of pre-season so far, while Kitson has been confined to playing in second-string friendlies.

But Pulis said supporters should not read much into that.

Pulis told the Sentinel: “Beattie trained with the other players who never came, because I wanted to give Mama Sidibe, Ricardo Fuller and Tuncay time in the middle.

“James would have just sat it out, so he had a training session back at the ground instead and I’m told he worked his socks off.

“Beattie and Kitson are both Stoke City players.

“At the moment they are working hard to keep fit and if we need them, we need them.”

Beattie’s future at Stoke (3/1 for top half finish) has been in major doubt since he clashed with Pulis over the manager having allegedly gone back on his word regarding the club’s Christmas party. The player initiated a club disciplinary action against Pulis, but it went against him.

Kitson failed in his first season at the Britannia Stadium but won his place back for a time last season and looked to have impressed Pulis, finishing with eight goals in the campaign – three of them coming on loan with Championship side Middlesbrough.

Beattie played in 24 games last season and only scored two goals – both in the 2-1 win against West Ham in October. But he had scored seven in 16 games at the end of 2008/09.

Beattie has been linked with a £1.5m move to West Brom, but Pulis refused to comment on the speculation.

The Potters manager also said there was “no truth whatsoever” in reports that he had tabled a £9m bid for West Ham striker Carlton Cole.

However, he said: “We are not just after a striker, but three or four players if we can.

“We have money to spend, but it’s got to be the right players at the right prices.”

City are shortly to learn the extent of injuries to midfielders Glenn Whelan and Rory after both went off during the first half against Burnley.

Whelan looked the more serious after pulling up with a calf strain that could sideline him until the start of the season on Saturday week.

Delap went off after his back locked, but Pulis was hoping to see him back in training ahead of tomorrow’s friendly at Bristol Rovers.

Player-of-the-year Matthew Etherington remains under treatment for the groin injury sidelining him on Saturday.

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Liverpool

Reds boss Roy Hodgson revealed over the weekend that Torres is unsettled at Liverpool and has a “beef” with the club.

He intimated, after speaking to the former Atletico Madrid ace about his future, that he could do no more to persuade the striker to stay on Merseyside.

Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini has since said he would be interested in signing Torres – if the price was right – while Chelsea and Barcelona have also been linked with big-money swoops.

Torres has so far stayed silent on his future but is still on holiday after his exploits with Spain at the World Cup and is not due back on Merseyside for another week.

Hodgson had hoped the fact skipper Steven Gerrard has committed his future to the club, coupled with the capture of Joe Cole on a free transfer, would help persuade Torres to stay but it appears the 26-year-old is yet to be convinced Anfield remains the place to be.

Dalglish, though, is confident Torres will eventually decide to stay with the Reds.

“When Torres sees that (Gerrard staying and Cole’s signing) and talks with Roy I’m sure he’ll give us good news,” Dalglish told BBC Radio 5 live.

“I hope Torres stays. Only Fernando knows what he is going to do. Unfortunately for him he is injured but he is a fantastic player and is very happy around the club and the city.”

He added: “The fact that Stevie is staying will be a great help and players like Joe Cole, Milan Jovanovic, Jonjo Shelvey and Danny Wilson mean there is buying for present and the future.”

Torres is recovering from a groin injury will not feature in Liverpool’s first competitive match of the season, the Europa League qualifier against Rabotnicki on Thursday (Rabotnicki 12/1 to win, Liverpool 1/5- first leg 90 minutes) but may be fit, should he decide to stay, for the opening Premier League game of the season against Arsenal on August 15 (Liverpool 5/4, Arsenal 7/4 – 90 minutes).

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Nemanja Vidic

The centre-half has been one of the best defenders in the Premier League since his arrival at Old Trafford in 2006 and there were rumours some of Europe’s top sides were preparing bids for Vidic.

Jose Mourinho was reportedly keen to add Vidic to his Real side as the Portuguese coach prepares for his first season as boss at the Bernabeu, while Barcelona and clubs in Italy and Germany have been credited with an interest in the past.

United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has maintained throughout the close season that he expects the 28-year-old to remain with his side and Old Trafford chief executive David Gill has now confirmed that both Vidic and the club have agreed terms on a new deal.

“I am very pleased to confirm that we agreed terms with Nemanja three or four weeks ago on a new long-term deal with the club,” Gill told MUTV. “We sat down with Nemanja and his advisor at the end of last season and started discussions. They broke up when Nemanja went away to the World Cup, but resumed when Serbia were knocked out.

“It’s yet to be signed – the paperwork is now being sorted by our lawyers and being checked by Nemanja’s advisors. He’s still away on holiday but the plan is that when he gets back the papers will be signed.

“We’ve shaken hands on it and we’re confident it will all be signed and sealed in early August. It’s great news for Manchester United  and great news for Nemanja and the fans.”

Vidic is currently resting after his World Cup campaign with Serbia but will link up with the rest of the United squad when they return from their tour of America.

United kick off their Premier League campaign with a home tie against newly-promoted Newcastle United on August 16 but first they face Chelsea in the Community Shield on August 8, with Vidic expected to face the current champions after signing a new deal (Chelsea 13/10, draw 11/5, United 2/1 – 90 minutes).

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Steven Gerrard

Gerrard’s future has been the subject of plenty of speculation this summer following Liverpool’s disappointing campaign last season and the subsequent departure of boss Rafa Benitez to Internazionale.

However, Hodgson has indicated Gerrard spoke to Cole to convince him to make the move to Anfield while the two were together at the World Cup with England, and it would now come as a major surprise if the 30-year-old opted to leave the club he has served so well for his whole career.

Hodgson’s first major signing since taking over the Reds was a major coup with Spurs, Arsenal and West Ham all keen on signing the free agent following his release from Chelsea and he revealed Gerrard, along with team-mate Jamie Carragher were influential in helping Cole decide where to play his football next season.

“Jamie Carragher and Steven Gerrard did a good job in selling the club to Joe at the recent World Cup,” said Hodgson.

“He was undecided about what he wanted to do and to be fair it takes a bit more selling to persuade a Londoner who has played all his life in London to move up to Liverpool. The simple solution would have been to stay in the London area.”

Carragher himself is delighted with the capture and says it proves Liverpool (7/4 to finish in the top four) under Hodgson mean business.

“We have signed a top international player who has been really important for Chelsea,” he said on the club’s website.

“A lot of clubs wanted to sign him but it is a real coup that he has chosen to come here and you have got to give the manager and the board a pat on the back for convincing him to come here.

“Every supporter that I have spoken to is absolutely delighted and all the players are the same – it’s given everyone a boost, just at the right time.

“It’s good news again and, hopefully, there will be more to come. It’s the kind of signing that we needed to make.”

Carragher added: “Joe is someone I have known for a long time from playing with England. He is a great lad to have around the squad, he mixes well and is a lively character – he’s also an outstanding footballer.

“In the modern game, you need forwards that can function in two or three different positions and Joe will do that, no problem at all. He can play on the right, through the middle or on the left.”

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Newcastle United

The Magpies are back in the Premier League after a season’s absence in which they dominated the Championship.

Now the North-East club are looking to utilise all the key players that helped them secure promotion last season as they look to retain their Premier League status.

Owner Mike Ashley has told Hughton that he will not be able to spend big this summer on new signings, making it even more imperative that the likes of Steven Taylor, Andy Carroll and Jonas Gutierrez stay at the club.

Hughton started as the care-taker manager of Newcastle but impressed after guiding the club back to the top flight.

The 51-year-old has stated that other clubs should look elsewhere for signings this summer.

He said:  “I can categorically say that we have not had one bid or any interest in any of our first team players and we wouldn’t welcome any either.

“There have been no offers for either Steven or Andy. They are important players for us.

“The interest that we’ve had in our players has been about the younger lads, possibly taking them on loan, and that is something that we have to decide on later in the summer.”

Newcastle have been linked with signings of their own in this transfer window.

Bolton Wanderers have reportedly turned down a £1m bid from the Magpies for the defender Jlloyed Samuel.

The 29-year-old has 12 months left on his current deal at the Reebok Stadium and the former Aston Villa player has not featured in Owen Coyle’s plans.

Newcastle could be tempted to offer an improved bid as Hughton looks to strengthen his squad with a long season ahead.

The St James’ Park club have also declared their interest in the former Bolton loan player Jack Wilshere.

The Arsenal (6/1 to win the Premier League) youngster is set to have another season on loan from the Emirates Stadium as he looks to develop his game by playing regular football.

Hughton has expressed his interest in the 18-year-old for next season.

He said: “Wilshere is a very good young player and I think young players should get the chance to mature. They are the type of players I am looking at.”

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Fabio Capello

Lampard was also quick to quieten the storm created by Chelsea colleague John Terry’s comments regarding Capello’s tactics.

The midfielder tried to play down the impact of Terry’s outburst as the thoughts of a player who has the passion to play for his country and who does not want to make an early exit from the tournament.

Lampard said: “I saw some of his comments and John is very passionate, as are all 23 members of this squad. He has been here a long time and is an experienced player.

“He was talking about being 100% behind the manager, that the team wanted to turn it around.

“One of us gets put up every day to speak and John was trying to convey the message that we are going to fight and try and turn things around.”

Lampard added: “I don’t like talking about meetings because the reason we have meetings together is so they can stay in-house.

“But it certainly wasn’t a crisis meeting. The manager spoke, we watched some of the Algerian game, which wasn’t the best.

“We had a look at things that we need to put right – and that was it.

“On the other hand, if the players do want to speak to the manager or (general manager) Franco Baldini, the door is always open for them to speak to them.

“I think people have jumped on things, saying it was a huge crisis meeting with people having it out. But at the meeting yesterday, we just dealt with the Algerian game.

“In terms of team selections and tactics, I’ve always grown up in football where the manager dictates those sort of things.

“If you want to speak to him, that’s fair enough, but it is the manager’s responsibility to get the best out of his players and pick the team.”

Lampard stressed the need to focus on Wednesday’s game.

“We are footballers and when the politics and the off-the-pitch stuff start taking over everything then there is something a little bit wrong.

“We have to be concentrated now on the game and what we do on the pitch.

“I try not to pay too much attention to what is written or said.

“I don’t know how everyone deals with it but as a group we have to stay strong and try not to let outside influences affect how you perform.”

Lampard has immense respect for Capello and would like him to remain in charge whatever England achieve in South Africa.

He said: “The manager did not have to reaffirm his authority at the meeting.

“He got authority from the moment he walked into this job two years ago and continues to have that.

“Everyone can see that in his manner, in his record, and the players have complete respect for him.

“I’ve really enjoyed working with him, I’ve respected everything about him and yes, I would like him to stay.

“It’s a question for him and the FA but I’ve been lucky enough to work with some fantastic managers and Fabio Capello is right up there.”

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Fabregas has been strongly linked with a return to the club where he started his career as a youngster.

However, Silva, who spent six years at the Emirates before moving to Greek side Panathinaikos, believes the Arsenal captain should stay at the Gunners.

He said: “I hope he stays. He is a big person and must ask himself and think very carefully if he has to go or not.”

“But of course the final decision (is something) he has to do. In case this situation happens, it will be a big blow for Arsenal. But let’s wait and see,” he added.

Barcelona have already had a £30m bid turned down for the Fabregas but have stated that they will continue their efforts to sign the player during this summer’s World Cup.

The 23-year-old is currently preparing for Spain’s opening game of the tournament, which is against Switzerland on June 16.

Fabregas will be looking to feature in the starting line up for a side that are seen as one of the favourites to lift the World Cup on July 11.

Spain (18/5 to win the World Cup) have been bolstered by the return of Fabregas who fractured his fibula playing in the Champions League against Barcelona.

Liverpool’s Fernando Torres has also returned from injury however Andres Iniesta could miss out on the opener against the Swiss after picking up a leg injury against Poland.

Fabregas featured for the first time since the injury against South Korea and came close to hitting the back of the net after hitting the crossbar in a match the Spanish won 1-0.

Former team-mate Silva is also preparing for the World Cup with another side who are tipped to well in the tournament in South Africa.

Brazil face Group G minnows North Korea in their opening game and will look to put their stamp on the competition. The 33-year-old believes the Samba boys can live up to the expectations that they face before every World Cup.

He said: “Of course, in our squad everyone is happy to be here and to represent our country.

“But we know our responsibility in the game and what it means to all of us what it means to wear this shirt.”

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Luka Modric

Manchester United and Chelsea had been linked with a move for the playmaker, who arrived at White Hart Lane from Dinamo Zagreb in 2008.

Modric was instrumental as Spurs qualified for the Champions League last season and he revealed that he feels that they can continue to progress: “Tottenham Hotspur gave me my chance in the Premier League and I want to go on to achieve great success here with them.

“Yes, there have been enquiries from other big clubs, but I have no interest in going anywhere.

“Last season’s Top 4 finish was an indication of where we are as a club and I feel I can continue to improve and go on to achieve everything I want to at Spurs.”

The news is a major boost for Spurs’ ambitions next season. Modric was only two years into a five-year contract, but his performances ensured that the Croatian international secured a major pay increase (Croatia are 10/11 to win Euro 2012 qualifying Group F).

Earlier this week, the Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp had spoken out about his reluctance to sell Modric: “There’s no chance of it happening at all. Luka’s key to everything that’s happening at this place.

“Everybody knows what I think of him. And if you want to move on to higher levels you don’t start flogging off your best players – to anyone.

“I have an excellent squad and I stress, Luka Modric is going to remain a part of it.”

In his two seasons at Spurs, Modric has made 77 appearances and scored eight goals. He has played mainly on the left side of Redknapp’s midfield, but featured in a more central role during Tottenham’s crucial Premier League run-in as they secured fourth place.

Modric has been described by Redknapp as, “Tottenham’s one world class player.”

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