Ahead of Arsenal’s trip to the west of Germany on Wednesday evening, Borussia Dortmund manager Jurgen Klopp has described both teams style of football in a unique manner.

Klopp describes the side from North London who are currently sitting on top of the Premier League as an orchestra, with their intricate pass and move game. However, the eccentric German describes his side, who are currently sitting second in the Bundalisga as a piece of heavy metal, with their hard, in your face game. Klopp, 46, then went onto say that despite Arsenal’s beautiful style of play; the Gunners will never be a truly great team under Wenger unless they change their style. Is he right in saying that?

Wenger changed the face of English football when he first arrived in England in 1996: Signing unknown talented foreign players, changed the players diet, used unique training methods and had an attacking mind set which made Arsenal into one of the best clubs in the world. However, in recent years his Arsenal team have been in decline as the Gunners have lost major stars, underachieved in the league, and most importantly, have gone nine seasons without a trophy, which is too long for a club of Arsenal’s nature. So is this down to the football that Arsenal play?

Wenger’s style of football has helped win a number of trophies for Arsenal which includes three league titles and four F.A Cups, however, Arsenal have been playing the same football for the last few years which has left them short of success. The type of football Arsenal play makes every single football fan love the game. Their one touch movement will frustrate their opponents as they can’t get the ball where they will be chasing shadows and effectively chasing the game, but this football has left Arsenal second best since 2005.

Arsenal have been accused of ‘trying to score the perfect goal’ in the past, which has effectively lost the Gunners points on numerous occasions, most notably against Bolton in April 2011.

After the cup final defeat to Birmingham, Arsenal had gone six league games without a win, and needed to end this run against a team who they had struggled to beat in the past, at their ground.

Arsenal lost the game 2-1 tanks to a late Tamir Cohen goal, which was the Gunners seventh straight league game without a win which knocked them out of the title race. However, the Gunners could have avoided defeat if they just did one thing, shoot.

Robin van Persie, Cesc Fabregas and Jack Wilshere all had changes to smash the ball passed Jussi Jaaskelainen, but instead were looking for that ‘final through ball’ to score the perfect goal which left Arsenal fans fuming. So, does Klopp have a point here?

Since Klopp took over as Dortmund manager in July 2008, he has seen his team win two league titles, one German Supercup, one German cup and get to a Champions League final. In that same time, Arsenal have finished either third or fourth in the league, lost a League Cup Final (a game which they should have won handsomely, no disrespect to Birmingham) bought and sold Samir Nasri and have seen Emmanuel Adebayor, Robin van Persie, Gael Clichy, Alex Hleb, Cesc Fabregas and Alex Song all depart from the club, whilst Dortmund have kept onto their main stars such as Jakub Błaszczykowski, Marco Reus and İlkay Gündoğan.

The style of play which both managers use can affect the teams morale, and when Arsenal’s pass and move game left them unsuccessful in many competitions over a certain period of time, it’s no surprise that many of the clubs first team players left, as they wanted to be in a team whose style of play is capable of winning trophies.

The German manager is a very casual, cool and knowledgeable football manager, who knows how to win games in a certain manner. His physical, aggressive, gritty, fast counter attacking play was what helped his side destroy Stuttgart 6-1 on Friday night, a game which they amazingly fell behind in.

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Klopp, who stated that the Arsenal gaffer should be knighted as he refers to the Frenchman as, “Sir Arsene Wenger”, describes Arsenal’s football as perfect but also states that being ‘perfect’ doesn’t always win you titles.

“When I watch Arsenal in the last 10 years, it is nearly perfect football, but we all know they didn’t win a title. In Britain they say that they like Arsenal but they have to win something. Who wins the title? Chelsea, but with different football, I would say. This is the philosophy of Arsène Wenger. I love this but I cannot coach this because I am a different guy. You think many things are similar? I hope so in some moments, but there are big differences, too.”

I’m not saying that Arsenal’s style of play is wrong, as it’s very impressive to watch. Jack Wilshere’s goal against Norwich a few weeks back is the prime example of scoring the ‘perfect goal.’ However, if Arsenal want to win the league for the first time since 2004, they also need to attack like dogs to earn hard fought wins, as intricate pass and move football doesn’t always win you games.

West Ham are closing in on a shock loan deal for powerful Ivorian striker Lacina Traore, according to reports from the Daily Mail.

The 6ft. 8” front-man has recently agreed a deal to join Monaco from Anzhi Makhachkala, following the Russian side’s financial woes, but is set to be immediately loaned to the Hammers.

Dispute the lanky hit-man being highly-rated, the French giants are said to be willing to let him leave straight away to play regularly for the remainder of the season, which Sam Allardyce has moved to take advantage of.

It is understood that the player himself has agreed to the switch, and is set to fly to London to undergo a medical and pen a short-term deal – which will be dependent on a work permit hearing.

Traore has long has a reputation as one of European football’s top young target-men, with the 23-year-old’s considerable frame making him a handful for even the most experienced of defenders.

Allardyce is known to be desperate to add to his attacking ranks with Andy Carroll sidelined, and sees the former FC Cluj ace as the ideal man to slot into his first-team in the Geordie’s absence.

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Manchester United fans must have looked on at the Monday night showdown between Chelsea and City with a degree of envy. It was less than a year ago that United would have found themselves in a Premier League table topping contest, but those days now seem long gone.

Instead of a title tilt, United are finding themselves heavily embroiled in a peripheral contest for that last Champions League place, how the mighty have fallen. But could this all have been different had they put their faith in the wily Portuguese tactician rather than the dour Scotsman they now have at the helm?

For many United fans Monday night represented a case of what might have been for them, seeing the magical Mourinho in action, a man surely with the touch to steady an ailing United ship and bring them back on course.

I don’t doubt Mourinho’s credentials, and clearly he would have been the better appointment at least in the short term, but for me it wouldn’t have made a lot of difference. United’s problems run a lot deeper than simply managerial, and to simply dispense with Moyes would be a clear oversight. Moyes’ tactics and selections may at times be quizzical, but for me he isn’t getting enough wrong alone to explain the worrying downturn in form.

The reality for United is that Ferguson in his latter days was holding together a side on the decline, something that he should be applauded and criticised for in equal measure. The managerial issue has been a fall for United’s problems; the deeper issue is a squad that is worryingly lacking in quality. Maybe you can blame Moyes for not averting the crisis, a bolder Mourinho may well have pressed the owners harder for the revamp they needed, but in the end the fault is at boardroom level as much as it is with the manager.

For all his magic I really doubt Mourinho could have done much more than Moyes with the current United squad. Lacking the quality in the centre of the park, their impressive attack unit has been stymied of any really service and given the weaknesses in an ageing backline you can start to see the problem.

I don’t doubt Mata’s quality, but was he really the pressing need at United?

This is actually where Mourinho would have seen a bit of sense. Signing defensive midfielders is never the most captivating of deals for fans, but someone in the Nemanja Matic mould could have had a far more profound affect on United’s season. United aren’t missing a top level manager, they are missing someone to actually co-ordinate improvements to their playing staff. Mourinho has always been a man to control everything of a footballing nature and maybe David Moyes has left too much up to an unconvincing Ed Woodward. I doubt we would have seen the current transfer window shambles under David Gill’s tenure.

I think United fans yearning for Mourinho are looking for the quick fix, a simple answer to the woe they now find themselves in. It isn’t that simple, and the current state of disarray has been building for a while now and it is a shame that those with power at the club couldn’t see it.

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Mourinho’s appointment may well have necessitated a revolution at the club, transforming it from the verge of ruin, but based on squad alone the difference would have been negligible. Moyes is becoming an easy target and a scape goat for the chaos at United, those with genuine affection for the club should be venting their frustration elsewhere.

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Tottenham are in a state of utter disarray at the moment. Meandering towards a season of disappointment with the Premier League top four challenge flagging and Europa League hopes now almost non-existent. The blame though is shifting; the animosity towards Sherwood is being replaced by more vitriol targeted at the club more generally.

Clearly there are concerns about boardroom level management; the new stadium, StubHub as well as the mismanagement of the playing squad and general poor treatment of fans are all emotive topics for Spurs fans. This is far from a happy club.

Last night capped off a preiod of discontent at Spurs with a 3-1 reverse at the hands of an impressive Benfica side. Sherwood was quick to praise the opposition who clearly arrived with a well-constructed plan and carried it through with ruthless efficiency, but Spurs themselves were disappointingly spineless. Man for man Spurs have the better side, but as a collective the North Londoners fall woefully short of what is required.

In years gone by Spurs have had their standout players, the like of Carrick, Berbatov, Modric and Bale were all rightly treated as the luxury assets they were; for me though in the current squad every player is readily dispensable.

So what next?

There are so many players in the Spurs squad that have underwhelmed, and more worryingly just don’t look like they care. Paulinho and Vertonghen have been playing with one eye on their flight to Rio; and many Spurs fans probably now hope that ticket is one way. Clearly there needs to be some drastic changes at the club, but is there anything that can be salvaged from the mess at White Hart Lane?

Spurs need a focal point, someone to build the side around; at the moment it is nothing more than a chaotic mess of individuals with no orchestrator. Spurs have missed Luka Modric for a number of years, in my opinion their biggest loss in the modern era, but in a certain diminutive Dane I believe they have the answer.

It would be difficult to suggest anyone had a good game last night; but Christian Eriksen offered more last night in brief spells than the rest of the Spurs side combined. At the moment he is just one ill-fitting cog in a crumbling machine, he needs to be made the main man.

The only man to drive forward, to actually try to create something meaningful rather than to sit back deliberatively, Eriksen was my standout man last night and he has been for the whole season. At just 22 people already expect a lot from the prodigious Dane, but if Spurs put their faith in him I think they will be rewarded.

The greatest Spurs sides down the years have been built around a playmaker, from the late great John White to Luka Modric, the idea of a tempo setter has been central to the clubs successes. In Christian Eriksen Spurs have the new breed, someone with the vision and passing range to unlock a defence in a split second and turn a game.

It seems bizarre that Sherwood is intent on playing the Dane out of position, last night he was forced out wide to make way for Harry Kane playing in what the manager described as a ‘Rooney role’. When you spend big money on the best players, at least play them in their natural positions.

Everyone else at Spurs is expendable as far I am concerned; the likes of Vertonghen and Paulinho are welcome to walk if their valuation is met.

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Spurs’ summer experiment just saw them buying top-level players that weren’t gauged towards any particular system. This summer it is time to rewind and build back from the foundations, with Eriksen at the heart, Spurs need to incorporate players that complement him and will flourish in a team built around him.

Expect this summer coming to be as turbulent as the last. Spurs need a makeover, and only a select few should be safe from the White Hart Lane axe.

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Name: Divock Origi

Nationality: Belgium

Club: Lille

Age: 19

International Caps: 7 (1 goal)

Position: Striker

Anyone who watched Belgium at the World Cup would have seen a glimpse of Divovk Origi, who dislodged Romelu Lukaku to lead the line for the Red Devils in Brazil. Naturally raw given that he’s still just 19, the teenager found the back of the net in the group stage, which was actually the effort that sealed the nation’s qualification for the last 16.

So what will Liverpool be getting for their money?

Potential. Origi is largely unproven and was relatively unknown outside of France prior to the World Cup. He netted five goals for Lille last season as the Ligue 1 club narrowly missed out on Champions League qualification, showing signs that he has the talent to succeed. Originally a wide attacker, he moved into a central role when it became apparent that his powerful frame would be of use to the French club, and he looked more settled in the role. Tottenham have also been linked with him, so there clearly is bags of talent in the young man’s legs.

Will Origi be worth it?

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£10m is not much money in modern football, particularly when the Premier League’s new TV deal is brought to the table. It’s unlikely that Origi will be seen at Anfield until at least 2015, with a loan move back to Lille looking probable, which will give him time to develop. This seems initially like a little bit of a waste, with some of Brendan Rodgers’ spending due to make no impact over the coming 12 months.

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Will he soften the blow of losing Suarez?

Yes and no. A loan back to Lille means that he will play no part in replacing ‘El Pistolero’ in the short-term, but as another striking option for the future he may go some way to filling the void to be left by the Uruguayan.

Thumbs up or thumbs down?

Somewhere in the middle from us. There really isn’t a lot to go on with Origi, so keeping an eye on his performances in the increasingly competitive Ligue 1 next season will be vital in assessing the teenager further. He has bags of potential, and with Belgium having produced Lukaku and Benteke in recent years, the signs are good.

Angel Di Maria played fantastic against QPR last weekend in his home debut at Old Trafford for Manchester United. He provided the Red Devils with a goal and an assist in their 4-0 victory.

The quality which the Argentine showed during this game will be something that Manchester United hope lasts throughout the season as they aim for to achieve their target of playing Champions League football next season.

If they do and Di Maria is the cornerstone behind it, he could turn out to be one of the bargain transfers of the summer.

The 26-year-old transferred to Manchester United from Real Madrid this past summer transfer window for a fee of £59.7m on a five year deal. This is the highest transfer fee ever paid by a British club so you may be thinking, how on earth could this turn out to be a bargain buy?

Since the departure of Cristiano Ronaldo to Real Madrid back in 2009, United have been crying out for someone to fill the legendary number seven shirt once worn by the likes of David Beckham and Eric Cantona. Ronaldo was sold to Madrid for a fee of £80m and has since left a void in the squad which United have tried – and failed – desperately to fill.

During his time in the Premier League with United, Cristiano Ronaldo scored 84 goals and provided 48 assists from 196 appearances. I believe Di Maria has been brought in to replicate this Cristiano Ronaldo. Whilst they don’t need the goals thanks to prolific goal scorers in Wayne Rooney, Robin van Persie and the recent arrival of Radamel Falcao, they do need someone to provide the assists. During his time in the La Liga at Real Madrid, Di Maria scored 22 goals and provided 62 assists in 124 appearances. This is 14 more assists in 72 less appearances than what Cristiano Ronaldo did during his time at United.

Di Maria has similar characteristics to Cristiano Ronaldo as well. Both players are strong at playing key passes, holding on to the ball, taking long shots, taking set pieces, and cutting inside. Quintessentially, you could say Di Maria is the poor man’s Cristiano Ronaldo if you consider the difference between rich and poor being just over £20m!

Many United fans have deemed Cristiano Ronaldo irreplaceable, but Di Maria may prove that he can come closer than any other player before him to replacing him. One of the add-ons in Di Maria’s contract with United is if the Argentine wins the FIFA Ballon d’Or, Madrid will receive an extra £4m.

Some critics consider this an ambitious clause in his contract that will never be activated. However, I believe it could be activated one day because of the similarities to Di Maria and Cristiano Ronaldo. The Portuguese has won the award once whilst with Madrid so with Di Maria being a similar type of player, he could be destined with the same fate.

There is one major difference between the two players which was mentioned above. Di Maria only cost United £59.7m whilst Cristiano Ronaldo cost Madrid £80m.

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But buying a Ronaldo-esque player for just over £20m less? That’s what you call the bargain of the summer.

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The summer transfer window may be over but we at Football Fancast are already looking forward to it’s winter counterpart.Indeed, the January window rubs certain Premier League managers up the wrong way (ahem, Arsene Wenger), but there are certainly deals to be had, providing you’re looking in the right places.That’s something Louis van Gaal should Âparticularly take on board – his ‘Gaalacticos’ saw Manchester UnitedÂspend around £150million during the off-season, and if more recruitment is planned for January, it should be done with value-for-money in mind.Thus, just in case the Dutchman is short on ideas (although telling him that to his face probably isn’t wise) we’ve come up with a list of FIVE transfer opportunities United must capitalise on in the new year.Some want to experience a higher level of football, others have ridiculously cheap release clauses and a few are bosman-bound stars, about to be thrown on the transfer scrapheap. So without further ado…

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RON VLAAR

With Manchester United’s attempts to persuade Mats Hummels to swap Borussia Dortmund for Old Trafford falling on deaf ears, the Red Devils need to line up some more realistic centre-back targets for the January window, specifically Aston Villa’s Ron Vlaar.

Concrete Ron may not be the most talented centre-half to ever grace Carrington, but he’s as tough as… well, concrete, and has more than proved himself in the Premier League over the last few years by captaining the Villians to consecutive top flight survivals.

Furthermore, the 29 year-old’s World Cup displays at the heart of Louis van Gaal’s Netherlands side were nothing short of talismanic. Here’s a look at Vlaar in action for Oranje:

With Johnny Evans now constituting Manchester United’s most established defender at the ripe old age of 26, the Red Devils’ defence is calling out for a character like Vlaar to add experience and organisation.

Furthermore, his contract at Villa Park is set to expire at the end of the season, an issue so urgent Paul Lambert is holding a meeting with Randy Lerner in the US to discuss his budgets.

Unless Vlaar agrees new terms, Aston Villa will be obliged to sell in January. There are already rumours of a £4million bid from United:

But Arsenal, Tottenham and Southampton, to name a few, have all been linked since the summer.

JAN VERTONGHEN

A more coveted – and thus expensive – option at centre-half could come in the form of Jan Vertonghen.

The Tottenham star is regarded as one of the Premier League’s top centre-backs and his front-footed style epitomises Louis van Gaal’s attacking ethos – in truth, the Red Devils should have been targeting him months ago.

Indeed, the 27 year-old gained his standing in England through marauding displays during his inaugural Premier League season, finishing up with seven goals in all competitions – the majority of which were from open play. Here’s a look at his stats from that campaign:

And the Belgium international in action:

Manchester United’s defence has lacked that kind of ball-playing presence ever since Rio Ferdinand’s pace began to wane, whilst his leadership qualities will be vital to a Red Devils backline that’s lacked direction and organisation this season.

Despite Louis van Gaal’s interest in the defender seemingly rather limited, a prime transfer opportunity has come United’s way. Vertonghen has just ended contract talks at White Hart Lane without signing a new deal, putting his future in serious doubt:

Daniel Levy is known for his persistent refusal to let Tottenham’s star players leave for rival Premier League clubs. But he may be forced to make an exception with Vertonghen if he’s approached with a decent offer – likely around the £20million mark – in January.

MARCO REUS

The last thing Manchester United need right now is another attacking signing. Louis van Gaal is already struggling to find room for Juan Mata, Robin van Persie, Wayne Rooney, Angel di Maria and Radamel Falcao in the same starting line-up.

But come the January window, upon the proviso that circumstances do not abruptly change, the Red Devils will find the opportunity to snap up Germany ace Marco Reus impossible to ignore.

Indeed, the Borussia Dortmund winger has been nothing short of incredible after moving to Westfalen in 2012. He helped the Black Yellows reach the Champions League final a year later and last term claimed the Bundesliga’s Player of the Year award.

In the process, Reus’ goals and assists – an incredible 16 strikes and 14 set-ups in the league last season – has seen his stock dramatically rise throughout Europe. Here’s a look at the 25 year-old in action:

Reus can adopt the roles of scorer or provider, capable of playing anywhere across the front and even at No.10. His technical qualities are underpinned by incredible pace – something the current United squad, in comparison to its many forbearers, desperately lacks.

Most appealingly of all, the German international’s contract includes a £20million release clause. That’s not set to come into effect until next summer, but unless Dortmund get their star attacker to agree new terms, it will be impossible for them to turn down large offers in January.

But Arsenal and Liverpool have been strongly linked too, and in truth, most clubs in Europe will be keen to test the waters when the transfer window reopens.

PACO ALCACER

Manchester United are hardly short on front-men right now. In fact, on paper, they possess one of world football’s most fearsome strike-forces.

But with Radamel Falcao and Robin van Persie suffering from long-term injury problems, and van Gaal essentially dismissing Wayne Rooney’s future as a striker last month, another goal-getter wouldn’t go amiss in the new year.

In that regard, the Red Devils should be targeting Valencia prodigy Paco Alcacer, already dubbed as ‘the bargain of Europe’ by one Spanish publication due to his £15million release clause.

Indeed, the21 year-old has been nothing short of potent over the last twelve months, as shown below:

Here’s a look at Alcacer in action:

Fernando Torres-esque dare I say, and after such strong form, Alcacer has muscled his way into Vincente del Bosque’s Spain squad, netting four times in three international appearances since his debut in August.

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The Spaniard looks like a real talent and at £15million is more than worth the gamble. Arsenal and Chelsea have also been linked however, whilst reports claim Valencia are about to bump up Alcacer’s release clause to a whopping £40million:

SAMI KHEDIRA

Louis van Gaal appears to have his heart set on signing Netherlands international Kevin Strootman in January, but should the midfield enforcer not be available, Real Madrid’s Sami Khedira remains an impressive alternative.

A Champions League and World Cup winner, the 27 year-old is considered to be one of the leading midfielders in world football. Here’s a look at the Germany international in action:

Khedira isn’t quite the tough-tackling holding midfielder he’s often made out to be. Just take a look at his heatmap from Germany’s 7-1 victory over Brazil in the World Cup semi-finals:

And his statistics compared to Europe’s other top defensive midfielders last season:

But he provides box-to-box energy and power, inventiveness going forward and added threat in the air. Amid the players of great technical quality Louis van Gaal amassed during the summer, Khedira’s battering ram approach could be the pefect compliment.

Furthermore, a January departure from the Bernabeu is looking increasingly likely, with the former Stuttgart star yet to extend his contract past the summer. That could see him leave Los Blancos for a pittance, but speculation thus far suggests Arsenal are his likeliest suitors:

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At the start of the season, Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal gave Ashley Young an opportunity to prove his worth at the club. In the first three games of the season, the 29 year old played well, but after picking up a groin injury after the Burnley game, he felt out of selection and has only played 14 minutes against West Brom since.

Young’s contract at the club doesn’t expire till the summer of 2016, but it doesn’t look like he will be offered a contract extension anytime soon. With the density of the Red Devils midfield especially on the left, Young doesn’t really have a chance of breaking back into the squad unless a lot of players become injured or suspended. He is therefore more likely to receive more playing time if he leaves the club.

If he does decide to leave, here are FIVE possible clubs he could play for next…

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Aston Villa

A move back to his previous club, Aston Villa, could be an option for Ashley Young. Villa will be looking to spend in January to bolster their squad due to their disappointing form recently. The club has only managed to score five goals this season. Bringing Young back to the club would provide another player in attack for opposing defences to consider and increase the amount of goals they score.

Sunderland

Young was also linked with a move to Sunderland over the last summer. Currently William Buckley plays most often in right midfield for the Black Cats, but he hasn’t been playing with consistency. Young could be brought in to replace him to provide more assists and opportunities for Steven Fletcher and Connor Wickham to score.

Southampton

Southampton was also linked with Young during this past summer. Whilst now with the Saints fantastic position in the league purchasing Young may not be a necessity, he may still be brought in in order to provide competition against Shane Long, Steven Davis, and Jack Cork. This competition is needed to keep the Saints pushing towards a European finish, rather than slipping back down the table like they did last season.

Real Sociedad

A move to Real Sociedad would see Young link up with former Manchester United manager David Moyes. Whilst the Scotsman was at the Red Devils, the Englishman was used frequently, making 30 appearances in all competitions. The 29 year old may be brought in to help the Spanish club remove themselves from danger in La Liga.

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Newcastle United

Another club linked with Ashley Young’s services is Newcastle. Alan Pardew’s side has recently hit a run of good form, winning their last four games which have caused them to shoot up the table. Similar to Southampton, to keep the Magpies in this position in the table and away from the relegation zone, they need competition amongst their players for places to keep them on their toes. Young would beneficially add to their position competition, and a transfer there would bring the best out of himself, Yoan Gouffran, and Remy Cabella.

When Tony Pulis left his managerial post at Selhurst Park just 48 hours before the start of the season, Crystal Palace were always going to find it difficult to find the right replacement for a man who saved Palace from relegation the season before.

Step in Neil Warnock, a man who previously managed at Crystal Palace before being sacked in 2010. He was not the favourite to take the reins at the Selhurst Park and many thought the club were taking a backwards step in hiring a former manager. His reign at the club didn’t last very long, however.

A number of poor results meant that Warnock became the first managerial casualty of the 2014/15 season. Despite an excellent 3-1 victory against Liverpool earlier in the season, recent results have not been up to scratch and Palace now found themselves looking for another new manager to lead them away from relegation struggles.

Here are five managers that could replace Warnock…

Alan Pardew

The Newcastle United manager has experienced a variety of emotions this season. The Magpies’ start to the season was not a particularly successful one and Pardew was under a huge amount of pressure from the Newcastle faithful. However, the former Southampton manager turned his side’s fortunes around and victory against Chelsea, the only loss for the Blues this season, resulted in Newcastle rising up the table and away from danger.

The lure of managing a club that Pardew knows very well will certainly interest the 53-year-old but leaving Newcastle for a team battling relegation may be an unnecessary gamble. Pardew prompted speculation linking him with the Palace job after he refused to talk to the media following Newcastle’s victory against Everton.

If Pardew does take charge of Palace, it will represent a bit of a coup for the South London club but they will have to pay a hefty amount of compensation if they are to buy Pardew out of the last five and a half years remaining in his Newcastle contract.

Tim Sherwood

The former Tottenham Hotspur manager gained a lot of fans with his no-nonsense, bullish approach to management in what was a successful but short reign at White Hart Lane. His approach would certainly spur the Crystal Palace players into life and there is no doubt that Sherwood can get the best out of his players.

Another advantage is that Sherwood will not feel pressured to play the club’s star names. Instead, he is very much a man of principle who will choose players that are performing well in training rather than consistently playing the same team that may be struggling to achieve results. Although Sherwood does look like an attractive proposition for Palace, his lack of managerial experience may prompt the club to look elsewhere.

However, if Sherwood is appointed, it would be a popular decision amongst the Selhurst Park faithful.

Chris Hughton

The former Newcastle manager has been out of a job since he was sacked by Norwich City in April 2014 and has rejected the prospect of returning to management in an assistant managerial role since then. Although he may not be the first choice to succeed Warnock as the next Palace manager, he is a viable option for the board as he won’t cost a lot of money to hire due to the fact that he is not working in management at the moment.

Although Hughton has been sacked from Premier League posts with Newcastle United and Norwich City, he does have a lot of top flight experience both as a manager but as a coach as well. He has proved popular amongst playing staff throughout his managerial campaign and this may benefit the players who are struggling with confidence at the moment.

Tony Popovic

The former Selhurst Park favourite played for the club for five years between 2001 and 2006. He currently plies his trade in Australia, where he has impressed since being in charge of Australian side Western Sydney Warriors. He has recently won the Asian Champions League and is now looking to develop his managerial career further in Europe.

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Palace chairman Steve Parish is understood to be a big admirer of the 41-year-old. However, throwing Popovic in the deep end could backfire as the Australian lacks any managerial experience in the Premier League. His appointment would be a risk, contrasting to the rather unambitious appointment of Warnock earlier in the season. Many Palace fans will believe that there are better options for the club in terms of achieving Premier League survival.

Keith Millen

He is currently undertaking his third spell as caretaker manager of Crystal Palace and has personally stated that he is ready to take the top job at Selhurst Park. Millen will be desperate to become manger of his hometown club having been in the shadows of many Crystal Palace managers who have failed to bring success to the Eagles in recent seasons.

It is understandable that Millen feels he is ready to become manager of the club he has served for so long. In his eight games as caretaker manager of Crystal Palace, he has registered two wins, two draws and four losses. However, this doesn’t reveal a lot about how Millen will plan to take the club forward and whether he can turn Palace’s season around. Again, it is a decision that could backfire and the Parish needs to make the right decision if his club are to avoid the drop.

Ask any Arsenal fan what the club’s priority should be in the summer transfer window, and the answer will likely be ‘a holding midfielder’ – to many, Arsene Wenger’s eternal blind spot in the transfer market, where make-shift options such as Mikel Arteta, Abou Diaby, Mathieu Flamini and most recently, Francis Coquelin, have been preferred to the more costly, more conventional play-breakers attainable from other clubs.

The problem eternally plaguing the Gunners however, is that they’re obliged to be more stubborn than most when adding to the midfield – particularly in deep-lying roles. The need for some physical variety in the engine room is obvious – currently, Aaron Ramsey and Diaby are the only midfielders that measure at above six foot – whilst the defensive capabilities of a tried and trusted anchorman would accommodate for the creative licence Arsenal’s more offensive midfielders have become accustomed too.

Yet, a beastly juggernaut like Marouane Fellaini, Mile Jedinak, Victor Wanyama or William Carvalho would look disastrously cumbersome in a midfield where silky skills and technically-demanding build-up play reigns supreme. At least the academy products, although lacking the more familiar characteristics of defensive mids, are well-versed in the Arsenal philosophy.

In other words, physically imposing midfield generals that don’t juxtapose Arsenal’s definitive brand of creative, expansive football – 6 foot 4 monoliths blessed with the technical quality and composure participate in Gunners’ passing game without slowing it down or conceding possession – are an exceptionally rare breed.

One might look at Chelsea’s Nemanja Matic, Manchester City’s Yaya Toure or Barcelona’s Sergio Busquets, but these are amongst the best in their trade; even if Arsenal hypothetically had the money to sign them, convincing top stars to leave top clubs is a gargantuan task within itself – especially for a club that’s won just a single trophy in the last decade, and never claimed a Champions League title.

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Indeed, unless Arsene Wenger plans on rebuilding Arsenal’s philosophy from the ground up, he can only settle for the perfect candidate to anchor his midfield – someone not only blessed with an eclectic blend of defensive awareness, height, strength and quality on the ball, all at Premier League title-contending standard, but perhaps most importantly, feasibly within the north London club’s reach this summer.

One defensive midfielder that might just embody all of those requirements however, is Bayern Munich’s Javi Martinez – a bullish, brazen, 6 foot 3 battering ram, also capable of playing at centre-back, boasting all the technical mastery one would expect from a regular Spain international plying his domestic trade under tiki-taka specialist Pep Guardiola.

The 26 year-old is no Xavi or Pirlo, but for a player of his imposing frame and bellicose nature, a pass completion rate of 89% over the last two campaigns, jumping up to 93% in the Champions League, with a forward pass bias of 80%, is certainly nothing to be sniffed at, especially when combined with averages of two tackles, 1.8 interceptions and 3.4 successful aerial duels per match.

Likewise, although holding position remains Martinez’ predominant job, it’s by no means his only mode of play; during his time at Athletic Bilbao and inaugural season with Bayern, the Spaniard made bullish runs forward one his trademarks, regularly fighting, wrestling and contesting his way up field – in a not too dissimilar fashion to Chelsea’s Diego Costa – to produce a healthy supply of goals; 25 in 240 for the Basque outfit, three in 43 during his first campaign at the Allianz Arena.

That diverse dynamism could serve Arsenal equally well in defence and attack, but perhaps most importantly of all, Martinez represents the size and calibre of player capable of competing effectively with Chelsea’s Matic and City’s Toure. In my opinion, this has been the ultimate difference between Arsenal and the Premier League’s table-toppers over the last few season – the glass ceiling that perpetually limits positive results against the title contenders.

You might be wondering why Bayern Munich would be prepared to part with such a player – as I’ve billed him, a domineering battler of brawn and skill, adept enough aerially and defensively to even play at centre-back – and officially, they aren’t.

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But Martinez has never quite captured Guardiola’s imagination in the same way as predecessor Jupp Heynckes, making nine appearances less than the campaign prior under the former Barcelona boss in 2013/14. He’s yet to feature this season due to a long-term injury, but that convinced Guardiolo to sign both Xabi Alonso and Medhi Benatia towards the end of the summer window, two coveted names Martinez will struggle to reclaim his place in the starting Xi from. From playing a pivotal role in the Bavarians’ 2013 Champions League title campaign, he’s now being pushed to the peripheries of the squad.

In my opinion, that gives Arsenal a way in – albeit, an exceptionally expensive one, having originally cost Bayern an eye-watering €40million. Yet, for what Arsenal desperately require in their midfield, the unique demands aforementioned, and the positive effect Martinez could potentially have on them, breeding a new sense of balance into an otherwise attacking-centric starting XI, any price can quickly become a justifiable one if it paves the way for titles and silverware.

Southampton’s Morgan Schneiderlin, Real Madrid’s Sami Khedira or Sporting Lisbon’s Cavalho are perhaps cheaper options, but the Bayern Munich star remains the real McCoy. Add him to Arsenal’s starting XI, and suddenly they’re a very different, far more formidable proposition.

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