I said on this website a few weeks ago that was going to happen, and last night I was proven right as Liverpool have sacked Kenny Dalglish.
There is no room for sentimentalism in football anymore. Kenny is a Liverpool man, an icon, or anything you want to say, but the club needs Champions League football and under Dalglish they missed it by a big margin.
He was given funds, he bought big, he supported those who were not performing, he tried everything, but did not bring the expected results on the pitch.
The Suarez controversy and how he handled it, certainly did not help either, but overall the results are what mattered.
It looks like Robero Martinez,Brendan Rodgers and ABV are the chosen ones as Unai Emery (ex Valencia) early favourite, is now out of the running, having gone to Spartak Moscow).
Regarding players, many are on file, but certainly a new manager will bring his own list, so we will wait on this one.
Juventus have recently won the scudetto and became the new serie A champions.
They are a club that are being linked with many players, as suddenly they have become interesting again.
Their main target is a 20+ goals a season striker. It seems Van Persie is their number 1 choice, but they do not want to enter a bidding war with Manchester City, as they realise they can not win. At the moment Juve has decided to sit on the fence and wait what happens.
Higuain is plan B. He has a contract with real Madrid until 2016 and his buy out clause is too high for the Turin club. However, the player wants a move away from Madrid, and his ex footballer dad, wants him to choose Juventus, above Chelsea and PSG.
Another big name on their radar is Edison Cavani, but again, they are not sure they can compete with Chelsea and Manchester City
Someone that can return to the club from Parma is Giovinco (Juventus co-owns him with his current club), but he also has been approached by Napoli, and if Juventus gets a big name striker, he may end up in Naples.
A surprise name on Juventus’ list to replace the leaving icon Del Piero is Pescara’s number 10 Verratti,
In defence, the names sounding more and more in the Turin giants are Brazilian Dede and Spurs’ Assou-Ekotto.
And there is also room for a couple of promising youngsters. From River Plate, Lucas Ocampo. The President of the Argentinean club is due in Italia, Spain and Germany next week to meet Juventus, Barcelona and Bayern people to try and negotiate the future of the 17 years old prospect. The intention is to keep him on loan for another season in Buenos Aires.
Pogba is expected to be in Juventus’ squad at the beginning of next season.
And Brazilian Elkeson of Botafogo is also a target for the club.
Arsenal started brightly on their dealings in the market, but have reverted to their old indecisive selves.
It is not a criticism, but a reality
It looks like the offer made to Van Persie, has been met by the dutch striker with disappointment, but negotiations have not totally broken down, yet.
The club are trying also not to lose their nerve in the race to sign M’Vila, as they are not 100% happy with some of the aspects of the deal they have been discussing.
The player himself is a little annoyed at how things have slowed down, when everything was looking done.
A player that has come back into the frame is Giroud (also wanted by PSG), particularly if RVP leaves.
Vertonghen is not 100% out of the frame, but Arsenal, for some reason, got cold feet at the last minute and with player and his club ready to sign on the dotted line.
At the club they were unhappy about the way the Podolski deal was announce that early (by Koln) so Arsenal, are going to wait until after the Euros to announce any signings they have done or will complete from now until then (as much as they possibly can).
I don’t know why, but that seems to be the way the club wants to go and it is not a bad thing at all. (I have no news on how the Suarez residency is and on when Holtby will be announced)
There are many names doing the rounds being linked with the club, but none of them in a concrete manner (from our point of view)
AW still keeping his hand close to his chest, but we think Gourcuff. could end up at the Emirates (fits the budget, the talent, and the style of the club).
Inter started their internal discussions to identify their targets. Their president, Moratti, is obsessed with bringing Lavezzi to the club, but el Pocho will nearly sure be a PSG player next season (remember that despite all the denials from Napoli, fans, and journalists close to the club and player, we said to you back in November that Lavezzi would be leaving Naples)
Nobody admits it at the Club, but we believe Palacio will arrive at Inter from Genoa.
The black and blue team from Milan, are also tracking Brazilian defender Dede (the same as Juventus), and M’Vila (although at the club they think he will end up at Arsenal)
They are in talks with Anzhi, to try and get former player Eto’o on loan, as Forlan seems destined to leave for Brazil.
AC Milan, are a little bit in turmoil. Robinho is in talks with a Brazilian team. The old guard of Gattuso, Nesta, Inzaghi, Van Bommel, Seedorf, Oddo, Zambrotta, are all out of contract and leaving the club, and Ibrahimovich, wants guarantees of a competitive team to fight in domestic and European fronts.
The red and black side from Milan, have already secured the signings of Traore and Montolivo.
But they are after big names to appease the fans. On their list appear: Tevez (could arrive in exchange for Ibrahimovich), Balotelli, Lloris, Lucas Moura, Mascherano (could arrive in exchange for Thiago Silva)
Lazio, having lost Podolski to Arsenal, are now determined to get Yilmaz who has been very prolific in Turkey this season.
Manchester United lead the race to sign Borusia Dortmund revel Kagawa. And have nearly sure signed Nicolas Gaitan from Benfica.
After losing the title to fierce rivals Manchester City. Sir Alex Ferguson is reassessing his options and not much of real substance has been leaking through just yet.
Manchester City are preparing an offer to activate the release clause of Fernando Llorente of Athletic Bilbao, but not sure the big striker will want to leave the Basque team at this stage.
Also, as we mentioned before there is the chance of attempting a swap between Ibrahimovich and Tevez. Mancini managed the Swedish player at Inter and is a great admirer of him.
Also it looks like Eden Hazard could arrive at the Etihad stadium.
Napoli who are bound to lose Lavezzi, and probably Cavani, are already in talks to bring Palacio from Genoa, Giuseppe Rossi from relegated Villarreal, and one for the future, and certainly one to watch and remember Matias Vecino, an extremely talented Uruguayan midfielder.
Totenham, are tracking Seedorf, who could arrive as a free agent. Also Lloris, the French goalkeeper.
There are many others on Redknap’s list, but it will depend on who leaves the club, on Champions League football and if Harry is still Spurs' Manager next season, which not be the case according to us.