With their transfer record broken and a genuine world superstar in the shape of Samuel Eto’o having been signed, Everton have enjoyed one of their better transfer windows recently.

But with Europa League football on the horizon, there are worries that a small-ish squad and travelling across the continent could be a drain on them, meaning that another body or two could be needed.

We at FFC Towers have been searching the bargain bin, and among the Jeremy Clarkson DVDs and ‘hits of the 70s’ CDs, we’ve found these six stars…

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CLICK ON JONAS TO REVEAL THE SIX

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Sotiris Ninis

Once a player tracked by Europe’s elite, Ninis is now without a club at the age of 24. TWENTY FOUR. The tricky attacking midfielder was axed by Parma recently after failing to adjust to Italian football, but Roberto Martinez could wave his managerial magic wand and extract some of the massive potential once seen in the Greek ace.

Who knows, this fella could well be one of the best signing the Spaniard could ever make.

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Jonas

A star for Valencia in recent seasons and a fully-fledged Brazil international, Jonas looks to be the absolute pick of the freebies this summer. Los Che terminated his contract in a bid to meet Spain’s fierce non-EU player rules, and Everton could profit to land the 30-year-old.

Even with Samuel Eto’o in, the Toffees are short of options to cover Romelu Lukaku, which makes Jonas a tempting proposition. The South American can also play in a deeper role, and would certainly help in terms of numbers with the Europa League beckoning.

Nilmar

Another player who was once on the radars of the big boys but is now unemployed in Nilmar. The Brazilian speedster terminated his contract with Middle Eastern side Al-Jaish, and is thought to be eyeing a move back to Europe.

Nilmar impressed with Villarreal in 2010/11 with 18 goals and still has the tools to do it at the top level at 30.

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Park Chu-Young

One of Arsenal’s worst ever signings, the Gunners finally got rid of the South Korean over the summer after loaning him out. Park is still considered to be a big name in his homeland, and with a fine scoring record through his career (prior to joining the Gunners) there must be some talent in there waiting to be extracted.

Roberto Martinez could use his skills to get the best from the 29-year-old, who may just require some patience and game time to show his abilities.

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Modibo Diakite

Sunderland beat a host of big teams to nab the big defender last summer, but the switch proved to be a disaster for all involved. Now with his contract having been cancelled, Diakite is available for free, which could tempt Everton as they look to bulk out their backline.

At 27, the enforcer is entering his peak, and he could show what all the fuss was about under the right guidance. Step forward, ‘Bobby’.

Hugo Almeida

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An obvious stand-in for Lukaku, Almeida could be a solid signing for the Toffees. West Ham are also chasing the Portugal international, whose wage demands scuppered summer moves and saw him cut loose by Besiktas.

With lots of European experience, the 30-year-old could be a vital tool for Everton as they journey into Europe and would provide cover for the club’s current strikeline.

Since their promotion from the Championship in the 2010/11 season, life has been going swimmingly for Swansea in the Premier League. For a side who were playing in League Two just 10 seasons ago, their success has been phenomenal. During that time period they’ve managed to surpass their once superior local rivals, and have now left them in their dust.

One of the main reasons for their recent success has been getting consecutive managerial appointments spot on. Two of Swansea’s most recent managers have moved on to bigger clubs after successful spells in South Wales. Roberto Martinez won League One with The Swans before moving on to Everton via Wigan Athletic and Brendan Rodgers won promotion from the Championship with Swansea before taking his current job at Liverpool.

The appointment of Michael Laudrup should not be undervalued either, as following Liverpool’s capture of Rodgers, the Dane arrived and was – for one season at least – fantastic. He won the clubs first ever major trophy in English football and he also developed a fantastic style of football, which the club are still renowned for.

It’s been a quite incredible decade for the South Wales club. However, following the disappointing end to Laudrup’s time with The Swans, things were not looking so bright.

Garry Monk’s appointment as a player-manager to see out the 2013/14 season came as a surprise and most expected this would be all Monk would be asked to do. Though that wasn’t to be the case, and when Garry Monk hung up his boots, he snapped up the managerial job full-time.

His maiden managerial job, and it just so happened to be in the Premier League – a daunting task for anyone. But still, after spending 10 years as a player with Swansea, not many know the club as well as Garry. The players already had a good relationship with Monk, and vice-versa.

Regardless of that, the transition from full-time player to full-time manager was a big ask. But after 11 games into his first full season as manager, and with his die sitting pretty in the top 5 of the Premier League having already beaten Arsenal and Manchester United, it’s safe to say that things are going just fine at the Liberty Stadium.

Due to the divergence of fortunes between Swansea and Cardiff City, they’re rarely thought of in the same bracket anymore. Cardiff City may be currently being run like a circus but it wasn’t always the case that Swansea were so considerably better than their arch-rivals.

Cardiff were only recently  fighting it out in the Championship while The Swans toiled in England’s lower divisions. Yet when Swansea finally caught up with The Bluebirds, it didn’t take them long to surpass them.

The gap between the two sides was to become larger still as Cardiff could only manage one season in the top flight, finishing it rock bottom, with the owner Vincent Tan making more headlines of the pitch than the team made on it.

Not only are Swansea now performing much better, but they still play in their traditional white kit which they’ve sported since their formation in 1912. Meanwhile over in Cardiff, their rivals had an uninterrupted 104 years of playing in blue before their delusional owner forced the club to play in red, to the dismay of the club’s fans.

As hard as it is for any football supporter to praise their main rivals, Cardiff City fans are now surely feeling just ever so slightly jealous of their neighbours. I can’t imagine how embarrassing it has become for The Bluebirds supporters, having once been ahead of their rivals and yet now so far behind.

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The Jacks are now flying high in the Premier League under a manager with a strong affiliation to the club, and Cardiff are struggling to find any form in the Championship whilst their Malaysian owner attempts to destroy the club’s history and values.

The days of Cardiff supporters boasting over their south-Wales rivals have long gone, and they won’t be back anytime soon as long as Tan is the man in charge.

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They’re few and far between, old players still at the top of their game. Especially in the Premier League, with its overly physical nature and higher than average tempo. Few outfield players last past their 32nd birthday at the very top; a select elite extend past 35; the very truly super-human past 37.

This is not in reference to ‘good’ players who lasted late into their thirties – but more in reference to the truly exceptional. Teddy Sheringham was remarkable in playing until he was 41, but ultimately wound up at Colchester in the Championship – a level far below his peak.

Giggs, Scholes, Seedorf, Stam, Zanetti, Cafu, Maldini, Raul – all these players were still pivotal for their respective teams in Europe late into their thirties. They’re the elite who could still influence the biggest games.

There should be more of them knocking about, too. Of course, there’s an element of fortune to being able to compete at the highest level for so long. One bad injury can be career-ending when you get to that age, making physical conditioning on a daily basis a complex and integral task.

Football’s fickle nature also plays its part in their scarceness. In an age of knee-jerk reactions and hugely pressurised jobs, ageing players can often be cast aside unfairly as a manager assumes that they can find younger, fitter alternatives who can make a faster impact.

And it just that, fitness, that is often the catalyst in manager’s looking for replacements.

‘They understand the club and it’s purpose, they will march with you and defend the principles on which we operate’, Sir Alex Ferguson explains of his old players in his autobiography. In the 2009 Champions League Final, Anderson managed just 3 passes in the first half. Paul Scholes managed 25 in the last 20 minutes. ‘You forget how good they are’, Ferguson ponders, regrettably.

Those who last, do so because they can fall back primarily on their technical ability. Frank Lampard was cast aside at Chelsea because his physical regression rendered him incapable of conforming to Jose Mourinho’s intense midfield pressing game. Ryan Giggs finished his career in the centre of midfield, as did Javier Zanetti, away from the physical demands of wide play.

Andrea Pirlo, 35, still remains an integral cog at Juventus because his game has never been based around mobility. Cafu, of course, remains the exception to the rule, but that’s due to his abnormal physical stamina.

Complete dedication is still required. ‘Ryan had to develop a meticulous fitness program,’ Ferguson explained with regard to Giggs. ‘Yoga and his preparation routines were at the route of longevity. Ryan was religious about yoga’.

Player management is integral, too. The impression you get is that these old players are still capable of playing for 90 minutes, but it’s the recovery post-game that takes significantly longer. Retiring from international football is usually the first step that most take to prolong their club careers, especially in an age of 60 game seasons.

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But efficient management is fundamentally key, as summarised by the heavy scrutiny of Steven Gerrard’s sporadic appearances under Brendan Rodgers at the moment.

Ultimately, Frank Lampard’s unexpected revival at Manchester City shows that you can never write off someone for being too old – Drogba too. Old players’ experience shines through to add a irreplaceable quality to their respective dressing rooms. That’s something that cannot be purchased or coached; it’s somewhat unattainable and perpetually unique.

Lampard could well be sitting on a beach somewhere, waiting for the MLS season to start up again. Instead, he’s still making a big impact in the title race. For the very elite, age really is just a number.

When Everton forked out a club-record £28million fee for Romelu Lukaku last summer, it seemed like a justifiable price for one of the Premier League’s most promising talents.

This is, after all, the same Romelu Lukaku that’s been compared to Didier Drogba since Chelsea first signed him aged just 18, that’s already scored 38 Premier League goals at just 21 years of age, that lead the line for Belgium, reaching the quarter-finals, at the 2014 World Cup, that netted 15 times on loan at Goodison Park last season, firing the Toffees to their best finish in the English top flight since 2009.

If there’s one thing Everton intrinsically lacked throughout the David Moyes era, it was a dependable, long-term goalscorer. The Belgium international more than fitted that category, and if the Toffees weren’t paying £28million for the youngster’s enormous potential, it was, at the very least, to remedy a problem that’s plagued them for the best part of a decade, hopefully for the best part of the next decade, by signing a player already proven to fit the template at Goodison Park.

Half a season and a string of disappointing performances later however, producing the miserly return of six goals in 21 Premier League outings, and that figure is suddenly beginning to look a rather extortionate one. Resembling closer the next Emmanuel Adebayor than the next Drogba, did Everton overpay for their club record signing?

Of course, Everton’s many problems this season, as they lay in 12th place, can’t be solely pinned on their goal-shy frontman. Ropey defending has been the predominant issue, resulting in the third-worst goals conceded record in the division, in addition to a laborious, full-back-centric approach in attack, which has often rendered Lukaku a lonely and frustrated figure in the final third. Steve Bruce believes a team can only be as good as it’s strikers; but a striker’s ability to effect a match is intertwined with the performances of the ten men behind him.

That being said, the former Chelsea prodigy has looked a disturbingly less complete striker this season and one ponders how far along the development curve he actually is. His strength, power and speed remain undoubted but the technical side of his game, particularly his link-up play and close control, leaves a lot to be desired. He currently averages more unsuccessful touches per match than Charlie Austin, Mario Balotelli, Danny Welbeck, Wilfried Bony, Bafetimbi Gomis, Andy Carroll, Graziano Pelle and Loic Remy to name a few – strikers who all cost their respective clubs parallel or lesser amounts than Lukaku’s £28million.

Equally, for a 6 foot 3 front-man blessed with an imperious leap, 1.5 successful aerial duels per match is an incredibly underwhelming return – for comparison, compatriot Christian Benteke is at 4.7 per match and West Ham’s Andy Carroll leads the Premier League rankings with 9.3 – whilst in terms of movement in the final third, he just hasn’t been in sync with those around him this season.

Once again, the style of Everton’s build-up play is a significant factor. Last season, the Toffees were varied in their play and rhythm, the midfield and full-backs providing the aesthetic passing game one would expect of a Roberto Martinez side and Lukaku offering a diversely direct, alternative avenue forward.

Opposing defences struggled to contain both at the same time, and it was upon switching between the two that the Belgium international became his most effective. In sharp contrast, Everton’s build-up play this year has been short and slow, the expansive Martinez philosophy becoming increasingly dogmatic, and Lukaku simply isn’t receiving the same kind of service.

Yet, any brand of football under Martinez will always be technically-demanding – the customary hallmark imprinted on every team he’s managed. For £28million, you’d expect a striker, regardless of his individual style, to have a varied enough game to participate effectively. Wilfried Bony, for example, whom Manchester City paid an identical fee for this January, has improved his close control, movement and link-up play at a considerably superior rate since first joining Swansea City, another Premier League beacon of tiki-taka enthusiasm, 18 months ago.

His attitude this season has been equally concerning; instead of being one of the players to make a difference to the Toffees’ troubling form, as his lofty price-tag would initially suggest, Lukaku’s arguably more guilty than most of playing within himself, almost to the point of anonymity. With no speculation over his immediate future, unlike the last few seasons, and subsequently, less pressure to perform, suddenly it feels like the Belgian prodigy isn’t being challenged in quite the same way and struggling for individual motivation.

Lukaku remains a long-term investment that will be depreciated over a number of seasons. And should the 21 year-old emerge as the world-class front-man he’s heralded to become, eventually Everton’s original fee will be reimbursed fully with several more millions slapped on top.

But in the context of this season alone, I believe the Toffees have overspent on Lukaku for one simple reason, shedding some light on the slump in form throughout the squad; having paid £28million for a player they had on loan last year, in addition to the £2million on Gareth Barry, Everton have spent almost the entirety of their summer budget on simply maintaining their squad from the campaign previous. Meanwhile, the rest of the Premier League has moved forward.

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Whether Everton are taking an inevitable step back to do the same in the long-run, or if Lukaku isn’t the future world star they he was thought last season, remains to be seen.

It’s deadline day, this North London pub is rammed and I’m surrounded by discussion of the top of the Premier League when suddenly I hear discussion about ‘Jason Puncheon’s big ears’.

In a room surrounded by fan channels, ex-players and fans who largely seem concerned with simply the top six of the Premier League, it’s a refreshing change of topic.

After receiving a quick tackle of my knowledge for all things Crystal Palace, and passing the test I find myself interviewing prominent comedian Sean Hughes on Pulis, Pardew, and most importantly those ‘big ears’ of Puncheon’s.

Now an established comedian who tours nationwide, we got to know Sean at the Ladbrokes #ForTheFans Transfer Deadline Day party.

Ladbrokes invited Ian Wright, Chris Kamara, Peter Reid, Jason McAteer and 50 fans to a north London pub to take part in the Ladbrokes #ForTheFans Transfer Deadline Day party, fans were treated to free bets, the latest reaction to transfer moves and news by our panel of legends, a singing Kammy and a free bar to keep the night flowing.

Naturally, given our setting, I must start by asking Sean what he has made of Palace’s business in the January transfer window?

SH: We’ve bought those two French players and that was fine, but it’s really weird to get Zaha on a five-and-a-half year deal but when he’s been there all season it’s not that exciting is it?

FFC: (I cannot help but interrupt with surprise) Are you really not excited to get Zaha back?!

SH: I’m delighted but hes been there all season so he doesn’t feel like a new signing. However, I think he’s a great player and I think he has matured a lot as well. When I used to see him as a kid he used to take a lot more shots on goal and not score, and now he passes a lot more.

FFC: So you think that Zaha’s decision making has improved then?

SH: I think that year at (Manchester) United kind of sorted him out a little bit.

FFC: But are you worried that if he finds that forms of old once again he won’t be at Palace for long?

SH: When you think about it with the transfer deadline would you, all of a sudden, be told tomorrow, you are living in, kind of, Winbourne for the next two years – it’s a big decision. I think Zaha was brought up with the Palace academy so it was nice for him and I know he sent a tweet tonight saying it’s great to be home, because of I don’t think people think too much about that, how appealing that is.

FFC: So you think Zaha will stay a lot longer this time than most people might expect?

SH: A 5.5 year deal it was, so obviously if we’re going to sell him it will be for a lot of money. I think he probably had his head turned when (Manchester) United came in for him like anyone would then realised he was never going to get a chance there.

FFC: What have you made of the return of Alan Pardew, this time as Palace manager?

SH: I love the fact that Palace are a bit of a community team in the sense that it’s great to have one of our own back. The thing is people say he is a hero, he did score a goal against Liverpool in the semi-finals of the FA Cup, so people remember him for that, but he was pretty much a fairweather player.

FFC: So do you think that idea has been over-egged a bit then?

SH: It’s great to have one of our own back, I didn’t understand why we brought in Neil Warnock the second time because he’s so old school. I think Pardew’s a great manager and the proof in the pudding is his tremendous start. It was weird though, I was there recently and a lot of the people I go there every week with where still saying ‘our run in is very dodgy.’

FFC: So you are still not confident of survival then?

SH: I think the bottom 10 are in trouble and if you have a bad run you are right back in the mix but, weirdly, I don’t know whether it’s vindictive but I hope West Brom go down because of the way Tony Pulis left us.

FFC: Would you boo Pulis when he returns to Selhurst Park in the future?

SH: I wouldn’t be a boo-er but I’d certainly have no respect for him. Respect what he did for us, but you leave someone two days before the season and I can’t really talk about why he left but I know he left and I know it was for selfish reasons. I could tell you but I’ll go to court!

FFC: Who has been your player of the season thus far?

SH: Bolaise was great ‘til he went to Africa, everyone loves Speroni in goal, Joe Ledley is obviously phenomenal, he’s just one of the top players I wish I could get an interview with him (fear not Sean, this might cure that). The weird thing is there is no really individual standing out – we have played like a team which is what we have needed to do.

I haven’t got a real hero there at the moment but when Zaha gets on it’s quite exciting, because he just runs down the wing and he makes a fool of a lot of his opposing defenders.

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FFC: Puncheon has been impressive across recent seasons too though right?

SH: Puncheon has been very good this season, ever since he missed that penalty against Tottenham a couple of years ago, really badly. I think he’s tried to make up for that. The only thing with Puncheon is, and I don’t want to slag him off, but he’s got really big ears and his goal celebration is the thing with his ears and your like don’t…. kind of…show people your ears!

FFC: Finally and most importantly, will Palace stay in the Premier League this season yes or no?

SH: I live in hope but I’m a pessimist. The thing is I started supporting Palace when they were in the Old Third Division… I think we will stay up.

Top chat Sean, you saved your punchline for injury time but when it arrived it was certainly a screamer.

Sean Hughes was speaking at the Ladbrokes #ForTheFans Transfer Deadline Day part.

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Steven Gerarrd vs. Manchester United… there have been some great memories. However, his last – well, possibly – appearance looks to be one that will be remembered alongside the goals and kissing of the camera, but for all the wrong reasons.

In case you spent your weekend under a rock or oblivious to football (how?!?!) Gerrard was sent-off at Anfield against the club’s bitter rivals just 48 seconds after coming on as a half-time substitute.

His stamp on Ander Herrera was as shocking as it was unexpected, with the 34-year-old having matured into a composed player in his ‘elder statesman’ years. His slip against Chelsea cost Liverpool the title last season and this misdemeanour could end up preventing them from returning to the Champions League…

However, there are eight games to go, so all is not yet lost, however, the Merseysiders cannot afford any more mis-haps.

So having Gerrard out for a decisive run of games could be a positive… and here are FIVE reasons why…

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Liability

48 seconds and a red card with his team 1-0 down. If that’s not the actions of a liability, then what is?

Gerrard was clearly pumped up and wanted to make his impact, and he can be forgiven for that, as he was operating on emotion and adrenaline, but the maliciously stamp on Ander Herrera seconds after clattering Juan Mata with a risky challenge was rather brainless.

Passion and guts are part of the game, but with Liverpool already trailing a fairly astute Man United team, the Reds needed to show some guile.

And now with the gap between the sides five points, careful tactical planning is needed more than ever over the coming eight games.

Allow Joe Allen and Jordan Henderson to stay in the middle

Even though United and Swansea have both closed out the Reds’ midfield combo fairly effectively in the past two games, Henderson and Allen look to be the best the club have, and have shown signs of genuine promise.

While the Welshman is all about recycling the ball and using it well in transition, the vice-captain provides energy and tenacity, making them useful in between two wing-backs and behind creative players such as Philippe Coutinho.

Gerrard’s lack of energy is a drawback if put in for either player, while reverting to a diamond to get him into the holding role may interrupt the form of Coutinho.

He’s just too slow

At 34, it’s clear that Gerrard will not ever be the physical specimen he was.

Time has not been kind to the Liverpool skipper, who, unlike great rival Frank Lampard, built his game on physicality and driving runs. While ‘Lamps’ has been able to continue his style of clever movement, Gerrard has been forced to manage his game after being ruthlessly exposed by the likes of Stewart Downing and Gabby Agbonlahor at the start of the season.

Liverpool now need quick, incisive passing and neat movement around the final third, which Gerrard cannot offer anymore.

Prepare for life without him

The reality of Liverpool without Gerrard will kick in in a few short months time.

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The veteran midfielder will enter semi-retirement (no offence, MLS) with the LA Galaxy, leaving the Reds somewhat rudderless. Despite his ailing form, ‘Gerro’ is still a key influence at Anfield, and not having him as captain will take some time and adjustment.

More preparation without him is sure to be of use and getting Henderson more accustomed to skippering the side can only be of benefit for when, rather than if, he takes the armband.

Save him for the FA Cup

As narratives go, Gerrard lifting the FA Cup on his final appearance for Liverpool on his 35th birthday is pretty special.

The Reds have to negotiate a quarter-final replay at Blackburn without their captain, but winning at a midtable Championship side’s home ground shouldn’t really be a major issue, and from there Aston Villa await at Wembley.

Tim Sherwood’s side are much improved and Gerrard’s experience in London could be needed, with a potential final against Reading or, more likely, Arsenal on the horizon.

A short rest for Stevie G now could line him up for a full-throttle charge at silverware.

Over the last sixth months, both North London rivals Tottenham and Arsenal have been rumoured to be in the market for a new centre forward, with Fernando Llorente’s name consistently being mentioned as a potential target.

The Spain international has proven himself over the years as a reliable and powerful striker, with the burly forward a star for Athletic Bilbao before switching to Juventus last summer.

Although teething problems limited his playing time in the early days in Turin, Llorente formed a formidable strike partnership with Carlos Tevez in the second part of last season and contributed to the Bianconeri being crowned Italian champions for the third consecutive year.

This season the 30-year-old has been in and out of Max Allegri’s side but has found in recent times that compatriot Alvaro Morata has been getting the nod more often than not, leaving Llorente on the bench.

So with every chance that the Spain international will be available this summer, should Tottenham or Arsenal swoop for him?

Tottenham’s over-reliance on Harry Kane to get goals this season and the low confidence of back-up options Emmanuel Adebayor and Roberto Soldado mean that it would be a major shock if Mauricio Pochettino did not make a move for a new striker this summer.

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There are certainly positives in a prospective move for Llorente.

In the side’s 4-2-3-1 formation the Spaniard would surely thrive as he has the physical attributes to hold the ball up and the predatory nature to capitalise on the creative presence of others around him.

He would provide Spurs with an aerial threat and allow Kane to drop off into the number 10 role.

However, the player’s age may well be an issue given Spurs’ new-found emphasis on youth and the thrifty Daniel Levy could be reluctant to dish out the required transfer fee with the knowledge that the veteran would have no real sell-on worth.

For Arsenal, Llorente could also fit in as the side’s lone frontman and would surely relish linking up with compatriot Santi Cazorla.

Given the superb service of the likes of Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil also, Llorente has the potential to be a 20-goal-a-season centre forward for the Gunners if given a chance.

That said, with Llorente’s attributes very similar to those of Olivier Giroud and the Frenchman on form, it would be something of a shock if Arsene Wenger sanctioned a move for the Juventus star.

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If Arsenal are to sign a new striker this summer it would surely be a truly world-class forward that would be an upgrade on Giroud – it remains to be seen whether Llorente is that man.

In conclusion, Llorente would be an asset to both Tottenham and Arsenal given his physical and technical attributes, with the Spaniard possessing the calibre to bag a lot of goals in the Premier League.

However, he is not an ideal fit to either side and as such don’t expect to see the experienced striker in North London any time soon.

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Charlie Austin’s Queens Park Rangers may have been relegated at the end of the season, but it seems the striker will get a chance to stay in the Premier League after all.

After a spectacular 18-goal campaign, Austin now finds a number of clubs clamouring for his signature. QPR have set a £15 million price tag on his head, but that hasn’t stopped new Newcastle boss Steve McClaren from identifying Austin as his first choice. But Liverpool are reportedly also set to make a move.

The Magpies suffered from multiple injuries and suspensions, ending the year with only 40 goals in 38 games. The Reds also lacked the necessary firepower up front with early exits from the Champions League and Europa League tournaments, and couldn’t sustain a top-four finish.

Both teams would obviously benefit from Austin’s consistent offensive production, but where would the England international flourish the most?

At St. James’ Park, Austin would be pretty much guaranteed a starting slot in McClaren’s lineup. Newcastle are notoriously weak in the finishing and aerial duels department, both of which the 25-year-old excels at. The Magpies also favour attacking down the wings, but putting Austin at centre forward in a 4-2-3-1 formation would add depth to their attacking options and allow the youngster to shine in a fast-paced environment.

Liverpool have already secured a number of signings this summer, including Manchester City midfielder James Milner and Burnley striker Danny Ings. The Reds rely on possession football and strong passing, which isn’t Austin’s greatest strength. Ings is a much better dribbler, and has the versatility to drop back to centre midfielder if needed. 

Austin’s goalscoring ability may give him an edge statistically, but it’s hard to see him reaching his potential in a less aggressive, passing-focused style at Anfield.

As the lone bright spot in a dreadful season for QPR, Austin has shown his ability to succeed in even the most dire of situations. He could provide the same spark for Newcastle while adding depth to the team’s attack, with the potential to become the squad’s No. 10 player. At Liverpool, Austin would be a flashier but ultimately less useful option for Brendan Rodgers’ possession game.

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There’s no denying Austin’s impressive ability. But when it comes to where he’ll make the most impact, the striker may be destined to fight another relegation battle.

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Whilst many top talents have come and gone from Arsenal throughout the years, reaching a real level of consistency in the Premier League and proving massive hits for Arsene Wenger and his determined Gunners outfit whilst they were at it – Abou Diaby’s recent stint in north London must nonetheless be shelved in the unfulfilled potential category at the Emirates.

His story with Arsenal has rather unfortunately become defined by a series of ‘what ifs’ and ‘maybes’, in regards to how well the unflappable French midfielder could have actually done at the club. Without the frustrating threat of injuries coming along to restrict his progress seemingly with every passing season, the now 29-year-old really had it in him to take the Premier League by storm, and become an even better asset for his loyal boss, Arsene Wenger.

However, as fate for injury-prone modern day footballers invariably never quite turns out as well as initially hoped for, Diaby is now looking to begin the 2015/16 campaign with Marseille back in his native France, after officially ending his infrequent spell with the Gunners.

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In light of the centre-midfielder’s eventual move away from the Emirates, is it about time Arsene Wenger finally cut the club’s ties with the former Auxerre star and French international, or could Arsenal have perhaps got just a little bit more out of Abou Diaby before he ultimately decided to move on from north London?

Well, from the perspective of what the player can actually do with the ball out on the pitch, Arsene Wenger and the loyal Emirates faithful may have just about lost one of the best midfielder’s to ever set foot at the club in recent history. When Diaby is free from injury and well within the flow of the week-to-week Premier League schedule, the former Arsenal no. 24 has rarely disappointed.

Even when the Frenchman has made just the odd cameo appearance once returning from a long-term spell on the side-lines, the creative midfield enforcer seriously knows how to dictate proceedings for his side in the middle of the park. Abou Diaby is a very clinical passer of the ball, a sheer beast in the tackle yet equally as adept at the technical side of the game, as well as a truly dominant force that can simply provide match winning performances when the situation allows.

The former Emirates favourite was therefore just as solid in attack as he was in defence of Arsenal, making the now 29-year-old a definitive box-to-box master of the modern era. With every single one of his nine Premier League seasons for the Gunners proving difficult in the injury department however, Arsene Wenger rarely got to utilize Abou Diaby’s wide-ranging skill-set on a regular basis.

Whilst it would have been nice to see the recently acquired Marseille man do his thing at the Emirates for a good while yet to come, such a romanticized way going about business very rarely proves profitable for Premier League football clubs in the end. So, even though this current Arsenal outfit would certainly look a great deal stronger with a fit and firing Diaby involved, the Gunners ultimately made the right decision in choosing to let him go this summer.

Sometimes you just have to know when to give up on certain players if you want your club to truly progress into the future, and as the towering Frenchman was definitely more of a spectator than regular player for Arsenal in recent seasons, the north Londoners simply had to cut their ties with Abou Diaby sooner or later – such an outcome was merely inevitable.

The talented midfielder can now look to the upcoming 2015/16 season with a renewed sense of hope and optimism, as he finally begins a new league campaign away from the injury related frustration developed at the Emirates.

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Tony Pulis and West Brom reportedly wanted to keep the former Arsenal man within the Premier League ahead of the new season, but as the midfielder himself is likely looking forward to turning over a fresh leaf in a new league and different surroundings completely, the prospect of seeing Diaby playing for West Brom next term ultimately seemed like an unlikely one at best.

So then, even though Arsenal somewhat missed a trick in never being able to rely upon their former no. 24 throughout the years, the decision to part way with Abou Diaby this summer was certainly the correct one in the cold light of day.

When the fixture list was announced, once Manchester United fans had already found games against Liverpool and Manchester City, and once they’d seen the opening day fixtures and all the other milestones they often look for, they might have been forgiven for thinking that their festive period could have been a time to really build momentum.

After facing Arsenal and City in successive weeks in December, then came the likes of West Brom, Leicester and Burnley around Christmas before facing Southampton and Everton around the new year. It certainly wasn’t supposed to be this difficult.

United haven’t won since mid-December in any competition, and they’ve conceded six goals in their last three games. If the title race wasn’t already over after losing to Pep Guardiola’s cross-city Blues, it surely is now. And with two games to come in just three days, things could easily get worse.

With that in mind, should Jose Mourinho be resting his one in-form attacking player this weekend?

It’s a huge dilemma: United need a ‘quick win’, something to take the pressure off, but they also have two games in quick succession. The first is against a Southampton side who have just conceded five goals and lost their best defender, whilst the second is against an Everton team whose defence is rejuvenated under Sam Allardyce, having kept give clean sheets in the eight matches he’s presided over since taking charge.

Does that mean that Jesse Lingard – Messi Lingard – the man who salvaged a draw with Burnley and provided three goals and an assist in his last three games, should be kept for the Everton game despite only playing 45 minutes on Boxing Day? Or should he be thrust back into the action on Saturday evening while he’s still hot, the fire from his last match? Have your say below….

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