Tottenham’s narrow 1-0 victory over Crystal Palace on Sunday may well have been totally different had it not been for the imperious form of their French stopper. Lloris has been a rock since his move from Lyon last summer; a deal which in hindsight looks to have been a massive coup for the North Londoners.

Following an excellent first term in England, and an apparent continuation of his form into the new season, do Spurs now have the best keeper in the Premier League?

The acquisition of keepers always seems to be greeted with a feeling of ambivalence from most quarters, there is never the same buzz that is created with say the capture of frontman like Roberto Soldado. This is totally natural and understandable, but the signing of Lloris for a fee of around £8-12m back in 2012 is something that should never be understated. My belief is that the Frenchman’s signature represents the single most important transfer by the club in the Villas-Boas era.

Down the years Spurs have had a history of excellent shot stopping keepers whose instinctive reactions have been undeniable. Even in the current squad Gomes and Friedel represent excellent blockers, whose all round game is now totally inadequate for the way Spurs are looking to play under Villas-Boas. The pace of the timeless Friedel is no longer sufficient for a role as a sweeper keeper and similarly the kamikaze tendencies of Gomes were unlikely to fit any clubs system.

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The improvement Spurs have in Lloris is that they now have someone with the all round game to suit the dynamic style that Villas-Boas wants to play. Much has been made of the high tempo pressing game that features a much higher defensive line to squeeze the opposition. Central to this system is the need for a highly mobile and intelligent keeper to read the game and instinctively react when the time comes to sweep up play. This was time and time again exemplified during the Palace game when balls in behind were comfortably mopped up before chance could really ever materialise.

Spurs in my mind have always been distributionally quite weak from the back, all too content to hit a long ball up towards the diminutive Defoe rather than get the ball down early. There has been a definite shift towards building from the back, and utilising the pace of Walker and now Rose to their advantage. Lloris on average had the second lowest distance from goal kicks last year that illustrates this point perfectly, number one was Szczesny whose Arsenal side engender the sort of passing game that Spurs want to imitate and possibly now improve on.

My main fear with Lloris was that he would struggle to adapt to the physicality of the English league. Even at 6ft 2in the Frenchman never appears the most imposing because of his slight frame. The concern was that he would come largely unstuck at the set piece, much like De Gea did during his first season in England. Thankfully for Spurs Lloris has coped admirably in this respect and continued to improve and adapt to the specifics of Premier League football.

He relies heavily on his punch, which unlike predecessor Gomes, has turned into something of a weapon when alleviating pressure from the box. Gomes was all too keen to rush out and flap at the ball, or punch someone in his own backline. Instead Lloris appears calm and collected under the high ball and chooses intelligently when to come and when not to. Whilst he is becoming more and more comfortable in this regard, I fully expect him to continue improving well into this season.

So is the 26-year-old the best? In my opinion he is certainly the best sweeper-keeper in the league and therefore the ideal man for Spurs. Lloris definitely occupies a place in the top bracket of Premier League stoppers alongside the likes of Cech and De Gea. An inconsistent season for Joe Hart in my view sees him slide from the upper echelons of the leagues stoppers. The world’s best keepers are those that go very quietly about their business, doing the basics right and occasionally pulling off the more spectacular. Cech during his brightest spell at Chelsea captured this sentiment exactly, taking a great deal of pressure off the defensive line in the process. When comparing De Gea and Lloris I see two exceptionally gifted keepers who will both no doubt be at the very top of the world game. As it stands Lloris appears ahead in his development, unsurprising given their ages, and has seemed less susceptible to the occasional mistake that De Gea makes. Who knows the Spaniard may at some point eclipse the Frenchman but only time will tell in that respect.

Spurs were incredibly shrewd in their capture of the Frenchman, a small price to pay  really for a central figure to Villas-Boas’ Spurs strategy. There is little to choose between Cech and Lloris in my book, but from a Spurs perspective I cannot see a better or more suitable option for them as a club specifically.

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Do Spurs now have the best stopper in the Premier League?

Join the debate below!

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Liverpool’s impressive start to the Premier League season has surprised everyone.

This time last year the Reds were in eleventh place with only three wins to their name. 12 months on, Liverpool have improved drastically.

Second in the table, eight points better off and two points from top spot is something that every Liverpool fan wants to see, so it’s no surprise that every red is full of optimism this season. However, will Brendan Rodgers’ change of formation potentially damage the rest of his side’s season?

Before the 2-0 away to defeat to Arsenal at the start of the month, Liverpool’s formation of 3-5-2 was working wonders. Victories over Manchester United, West Brom and Aston Villa were earned because of this tactical tweak. But the defeat to Arsenal highlighted how exposed Liverpool can be at the back when playing against certain opposition. This then lead to the Northern Irishman changing his formation  to 4-3-3 when Fulham visited Anfield last week, and even though the Cottagers were exceptionally poor, the formation worked as Liverpool went on to win the game 4-0.

Before the end of 2013, Liverpool will face Everton, Hull, Norwich, West Ham, Tottenham, Cardiff, Manchester City and Chelsea; games which will show the squad’s strength as we are fast approaching the congested part of the season.  And with these games being played over a period of five weeks, Brendan Rodgers has announced that he will be making huge changes to the team, once the festive season is upon us.

“I have said to the players that between now and January we have one game a week,” Rodgers said.

“The players are working very well and very hard on a daily basis but I need to give oxygen to some players, so they can see a light at the end of the tunnel. It is important that I use the players well.”

This comes after centre back Kolo Toure was replaced by Daniel Agger in the 4-0 drubbing over Fulham last weekend. This was the first time since 1st September that Toure had missed a league match for Liverpool, and his replacement Agger, was making his first appearance for the Reds since October.

However, the 40-year-old defended the move by stating it was just rotation.

“Kolo has been sensational since he has been in but Daniel Agger is a top player. I just need to balance the team out when I can,” he added.

I think many fans are jumping the gun to suggest that rotation and a change of formation will hamper an entire season. Brendan Rodgers is a clever manager who likes to experiment with the players he has got at his disposal, and if he were to drop points due to a change of formation from the previous game, he will do his best to rectify his mistake.

Liverpool are going to drop points this season regardless what formation they play, and with the fixture pile up soon upon us, this can be a chance for the fringe players at Liverpool to get their chance in the starting XI, to prove to Rodgers that they deserve to be in that Liverpool first team. Players such as Luis Alberto, Iago Aspas, Raheem Sterling, Jordan Ibe, Tiago Ilori, Aly Cissokho, Martin Kelly and Joe Allen are just some of the stars that the former Swansea and Reading manager will be experimenting with over the next few weeks.

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Liverpool fans should be looking forward to a great season which lies ahead, because if they continue to play how they are, Champions League football is on the horizon.

Could Rodgers’ tinkering be Liverpool’s downfall this season?

Join the debate below

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Paul Lambert has said Gabriel Agbonlahor will have to wait to open talks over a new contract at Aston Villa, reports the Birmingham Mail.

Agbonlahor’s contract expires in the summer of 2015, and Villa’s current longest serving player has admitted he would love to sign an extension and see out his career at Villa Park.

The forward was last handed a new contract by former Villa boss Gerard Houllier in November 2010, and while he still has a year and half to run on that deal, Agbonlahor has made no secret of his desire to sign an extension at his boyhood club.

Agbonlahor has said he would gladly play at Villa until he retires, claiming it would be ‘weird’ to wear the colours of any other club.

However, manager Paul Lambert is reluctant to open discussions over a new deal just yet, claiming there is no rush to secure the striker’s future.

“When you look at 15 months it’s still a long time in football,” Lambert said.

“In years gone by you used to never find out what was happening to you until about a week before the end of the season.

“Then all of a sudden it goes full circle and it’s 15 months or two years. It’s just strange in football.

“I understand what he’s saying but I think there’s a long, long way to go before anything like that. I think he’s enjoying his football.

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“I think you look at all these sort of things at the end of the season, for everybody.”

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Arsenal are confident that Jack Wilshere will be fit to face Liverpool on Saturday, while Mikel Arteta and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain are also set to return to full fitness, according to the Telegraph.

Arteta and Oxlade-Chamberlain both suffered knocks during Sunday’s 2-0 win over Crystal Palace, and neither have required additional treatment.

The pair will be fully assessed today, and the hope is that they will both join the returning Wilshere in full training this week.

That would give Wenger a huge boost ahead of their showdown with Liverpool at Anfield on Saturday, with Mathieu Flamini suspended and Aaron Ramsey and new loan signing Kim Kallstrom both injured.

Arsenal’s trip to Anfield is followed by a massive run of fixtures, that includes games against Manchester United, Liverpool again in the FA Cup, and Bayern Munich in the Champions League.

And goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny believes the Gunners excellent defensive record will prove crucial over the coming weeks.

“It’s massive for us,” Szczesny said. “We realise if you want to win the Championship then you have to be solid defensively and that is the most important thing. We know that clean sheets give you the best platform to go and win games.

“Whether you need a striking force like Man City or a defence like we have had recently, I think you have to mix the both together to find a perfect team but we will see at the end of the season which one pays off.

“The teams that go to the Etihad now are sort of scared of them. You have to credit them, they’ve been fantastic. We just hope that we’ve got the edge. What we care about right now is being top at the end of May.”

Click below to see Liverpool v Arsenal EXCLUSIVELY LIVE!

As much as Manchester United needed to sack David Moyes after the disaster of this season, it couldn’t have happened in a worse year.

There’s no getting around the idea that last summer was the time to appoint a top manager. Carlo Ancelotti, who may yet be moved on from Real Madrid, though increasingly unlikely after his side’s performance over two legs against Bayern Munich in the Champions League, was there for the taking. Similarly, Jose Mourinho, bringer of ‘anti-football’ though successful nevertheless, couldn’t hide his interest in Alex Ferguson’s job. Laurent Blanc was up for grabs, too, if United were after a manager who knew the club. Importantly, United weren’t burdened with the feeling of trepidation at having made a recent mistake on the managerial front.

This time, they must get it right. They must restore order and a winning mentality. The charitable nature of United at Old Trafford this season needs to be done away with and teams need to genuinely fear the current reigning champions. Crucially, the players need to fear and respect the man chosen to replace David Moyes.

Ryan Giggs is the sentimental choice, but the wrong one. There’s an ease and familiarity about what may come with the Welshman in the dugout, but this isn’t a time for gambles of that nature.

Instead, Louis van Gaal looks the most likely candidate. United were ambiguous in their statement on the weekend that nothing was signed between the club and the Dutchman. Nothing has been signed, OK, but there may be an agreement? Talk of Patrick Kluivert assisting the current Netherlands coach allows us to assume so.

But van Gaal will be caught up in the World Cup, unavailable until sometime in July and seemingly a world away in Brazil. The mistakes of the short-lived Moyes Era was that the club dithered, looked lost, missed out on excellent players in the market, particularly in midfield, and ended up with something they certainly didn’t need and likely didn’t want.

This summer, the overhaul is set to be huge. At the very least, United need three defenders. The fact that they’ve only scored 60 goals in the league at this stage (Liverpool have 96, Manchester City have 93) more than suggests added firepower is needed. But where is the figure to lead that campaign in the market?

Van Gaal knows the market, he knows what he likes and where to find them. If he is set to become United manager, he’ll more than likely lean on the rich-in-talent German market. But if left to him, United may only get their first major piece of business done by August. Clubs know this is a team who are desperate and willing to spend. There’ll be no easy ride.

The positive, though a small one, is the expertise at securing Juan Mata from Chelsea in January. Reportedly, United’s communications with Chelsea was kept at a distance and indirect, thus avoiding a discussion on Wayne Rooney. Ed Woodward, equally culpable for the tone-setting summer last year, may be learning the ropes quickly if we look to the signing of Mata, but the difficulty of this summer’s operation will dwarf that of landing the Spanish midfielder.

Do United need a director of football? It wouldn’t go amiss. This may be a club who end up appointing a small handful of managers over the next few years before they land on one who is set to be a mainstay in the United dugout for a prolonged spell – and that’s only if we accept United’s ideal of wanting consistency and stability; modern football may not allow for it.

A director of football – maybe Woodward, the title isn’t as important as effectiveness in the role – will allow the club to buy and sell without having to rely on a manager. This summer, it would be extremely useful. Develop a dialogue with van Gaal while he’s in Brazil; you’d assume the club wouldn’t be so naïve as to hold off on first contact until after the tournament. So gather an understanding of what the manager wants and needs.

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In all of this, you really struggle to ignore the negligence of allowing both Ferguson and David Gill to move on without one bedding in the other’s successor.

But for now the worry is that United still look leaderless on that front. It’s not just in finding an individual to take on the job, it’s in finding an individual who is capable of getting the job done and avoiding humiliations that led to no-goes with both Cesc Fabregas and Ander Herrera.

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We’re now midway through the summer and the World Cup is over, so attention can officially switch to the new Premier League season! The transfer window, like or loathe it, brings excitement and opportunity, which teams across the division are sure to exploit in search of all important upgrades.

From big money signings, to clever under the radar arrivals, there are many ways to take advantage of the situation, and there are some clubs that will need to make more use of it than others.

Here are five outfits we at FFC believe will be looking for much-needed upgrades in the coming weeks.

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Click on Arsenal to reveal

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Tottenham

Although they ended the season in sixth, hopes were much higher at White Hart Lane heading into last season. Okay Gareth Bale had been sold, but with £110m having been spent on talent from across Europe, there was a genuine belief in the white half of north London that the top four and maybe even a trophy was possible.

However, managerial disruption and arrivals failing to settle saw the Lilywhites’ campaign end in disappointment, which was amplified by massive defeats at the hands of top four clubs and Liverpool – dubbed as direct rivals for a Champions League spot – taking the title battle to the final day.

Pochettino has been brought in as an upgrade to the much-maligned Sherwood, and there is a lot of talk of new signings heading to ‘The Lane’. Bony or Lukaku would be a cut above Soldado up top, while Davies of Swansea is seen as an upgrade on Rose at left-back.

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Manchester United

The Moyes reign ended in an absolute farce, with the Scot seemingly dismissed via Internet rumours as he barely touched the sides of Sir Alex Ferguson’s large boots at Manchester United.

Signings are already through the door at Old Trafford in the shape of Ander Herrera and Luke Shaw, who should be able to provide the upgrades needed in their respective roles.

Vidal, Hummels and di Maria are said to be the next targets, which would certainly hint at a better season at the Theatre of Dreams for 2014/15 and maybe even a title push.

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Arsenal

Arsenal did what Arsenal do last season, started well with a title push before slipping away to a fourth place battle… which they won. As well as this they ended a nine-year trophy drought with the FA Cup, but there is still a feeling that a few upgrades could be the key to better times.

Sanchez is through the door and looks to be the real deal, while Debuchy will fill the Sagna-shaped hole at right-back, however there are more upgrades needed, chiefly in central midfield, where Arteta’s best days are behind him. Bender of Leverkusen is being talked about, but the ultimate upgrade would be Vidal, who could be the man Arsenal have missed since Vieira’s exit.

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West Ham

West Ham were pretty difficult to watch last season. Allardyce’s brand of direct football may always be enough to ensure safety, but the Irons’ fans are beginning to dream of more after watching the likes of Swansea make inroads at the upper end of the Premier League in recent years.

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Zarate should add more flair but to play better football, many new players will be needed across the pitch. Upgrades on the likes of Nolan, Jarvis and Downing would almost guarantee that Carroll gets the service he needs, with the big man boasting a proven record of scoring goals with both his head and his feet.

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Swansea City

The burden of Europa League football was a big one for Swansea last season, as they slipped from upper mid-table to relegation fodder. The Swans play attractive football, but sometimes a soft underbelly can be exploited by more savvy sides, which could be addressed with a few upgrades.

A new midfielder and a top class partner for Williams at the back – Chico can be a liability – would bulk out the core, while a fresh winger with a little more end product could help to maximise Bony’s output.

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Mikel Arteta’s injury suffered in the away trip to Besiktas on Tuesday night highlighted an urgency for Arsene Wenger to invest in his squad in these final days of the transfer window. If Arsenal lacked quality prior to the Spaniard’s injury, that situation has now become critical, with Arteta limping out of the Ataturk Stadium in a protective boot.

But that need to invest in the midfield is equally as important at centre-back. Calum Chambers was by far Arsenal’s best player in Turkey in midweek, playing alongside Laurent Koscielny at centre-back in the absence of Per Mertesacker. But having seen just over twenty Premier League games prior to this season, and all at right-back, now isn’t the time for Wenger to place all his faith in a 19-year-old.

Even ahead of Thomas Vermaelen’s sale to Barcelona, Arsenal were short of quality at centre-back. What is even more alarming is that there is little to nothing in the way of adequate cover coming up through the academy. Arsenal’s centre-back options last season were very much limited to Mertesacker, Koscielny, Vermaelen, and Bacary Sagna. As of now, that situation hasn’t improved, with the latter two departing and only Chambers arriving from Southampton.

The positive is that the club do appear to be on the hunt for another centre-back this summer. Kostas Manolas has been strongly suggested as the next defensive recruit at the Emirates, but Winston Reid’s name has also been thrown into the mix.

The West Ham centre-back was part of an at times good defensive unit last season, and Arsenal are said to be looking to take advantage of Reid’s current contract situation, with his deal running out at the end of the season.

The only drawback is Reid’s inexperience in European football, but with Mertesacker and Koscielny the first-choice pairing, much of Reid’s contribution is expected to be in domestic play. He’s aggressive, will do a lot to combat the physicality of opponents, and is unlikely to kick up too much of a fuss with regards to being third or fourth choice at the club.

In comparison to Manolas, it’s easy to see why fans would deem the Greek international an attractive option. He stood out as one of the better performers for his country at the World Cup, and has experience at the highest level of club football with Olympiakos. Moreover, at 23, he’s exactly what Arsenal need as a means to see their central defensive unit get younger. With Mertesacker turning 30 in September, Manolas would offer something long term if he were to fulfil his potential at the club. Chambers, even at this early stage, looks certain to feature heavily for the club at centre-back in the coming years.

But Arsenal are reportedly not the lone runners in the race for Manolas, with interest coming from Italy too. Even with the financial might available to Wenger, it’s likely he’ll still refrain from entering into a bidding war, especially if he feels another option is available elsewhere.

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Reid’s Premier League experience and leadership qualities would make him a good addition at Arsenal. It’s always been a case of adding depth, rather than identifying a starting centre-back. Reid should come relatively cheap, with plenty of resources left to be invested in the problem position of defensive midfield.

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The summer window may have closed but we at Football FanCast are already looking forward to the January spending spree.

And it appears that Arsenal, despite just coming to the end of the most lucrative window in the club’s history, are also looking forward to the market reopening in 2015.

Indeed, the Gunners took a step towards Premier League title contention with the signings of Alexis Sanchez, Calum Chambers, David Ospina, Mathieu Debuchy and Danny Welbeck, but further recruitment is needed if the north London side are to compete with Chelsea and Manchester City at the league’s summit.

Subsequently, the tabloids are already filled with rumours of potential January acquisitions at the Emirates, so being the lovely bunch we are, we’ve listed FIVE of them

So without further ado, here’s the FIVE January deals already being eyed by Arsenal.

[ffc-gallery]CLICK ON ARSENE WENGER TO REVEAL ALL

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WILLIAM CARVALHO

Arsenal’s midfield has lacked top level physicality ever since Alex Song departed for Barcelona in summer 2012.

This is no great secret – but the good news for Gunners fans is that Arsene Wenger appears to be finally coming to the same conclusion, as he revealed in an interview with beIN SPORT yesterday afternoon:

And it’s believed the physical midfielder in question could be Sporting Lisbon hotshot William Carvalho, who was linked with an Emirates move throughout the summer and again by the Independent after the transfer window had closed:

The 22 year-old has emerged as one of European football’s hottest youngsters after breaking through to the Sporting first team last season, eventually muscling his way into Portugal’s World Cup squad. Here’s his stats from Brazil 2014:

Carvalho measures in at 6 foot 2, comes with an imposing physique and is famed for his simple-yet-effective style. Here’s a look at the midfielder in action:

//www.youtube.com/embed/A8jRQbn1LzE?rel=0

The holding midfielder comes with a £35million release clause, which is almost certainly too rich for Wenger’s blood. But the Portugal international rejected new terms at Estadio Jose Alvalade earlier this month, and resultantly, the Metro believe the Primeira Liga could eventually settle at £24million.

ADRIEN RABIOT

Another, significantly cheaper, holding midfield option known to be on Arsenal’s radar (making it significantly more likely than a bank-breaking bid for William Carvalho) is PSG prodigy Adrien Rabiot:

The 19 year-old, who once spent a season at Manchester City’s academy, is highly-rated in the French capital and amassed 34 appearances in all competitions last season, producing three goals. Here’s a look at his stats from Ligue 1:

And a gander of Rabiot in action:

//www.youtube.com/embed/88HpUceQvFo

But the floppy-haired playmaker has continually rejected contract extensions at PSG, citing a lack of assurances over his first team role.

And with his contract set to expire at the end of the season, a January departure is looking increasingly likely – PSG want at least a small return for bringing the teenager to the attention of the European elite.

That includes Arsenal, but in truth, there’s a host of clubs lining up for the France U21’s signature:

PEDRO

Arsenal have already raided Barcelona once this summer with their £35million capture of Alexis Sanchez, but the north London club are reportedly prepared to follow up in January by swooping for former Catalans team-mate Pedro:

As the headline suggests, the two-time Champions League winner remains disillusioned at the Nou Camp after being continually linked with Manchester United and Liverpool throughout last season. He’s yet to play a full ninety minutes under new manager Luis Enrique and is concerned that he’ll be forced into a bit-part role when Luis Suarez returns from his four-month suspension.

The 27 year-old winger-forward has been part of the Nou Camp tapestry for some time; he’s won eight major honours with Barca since his 2008 debut and in that time has amassed 102 goals in just over 300 appearances. Pedro was also part of the Spain side that won the 2010 World Cup and the 2012 European Championship, further highlighting his pedigree.

Here’s a look at the Roja star’s Top Ten goals:

//www.youtube.com/embed/YO3qqjzFJxQ?rel=0

A tenacious forward with fantastic stamina and a potent eye for goal, Pedro would certainly be an impressive addition to Arsenal’s forward line.

But Liverpool remain equally keen after coming close to signing the Spaniard in the summer and will be hell-bent on adding Champions League quality to their squad.

PACO ALCACER

Arsenal may have splashed out £16million on Danny Welbeck in the final hours of summer deadline day but their forward line still lacks potency and depth, following an injury to Olivier Giroud that will see him sidelined until the new year at the earliest.

And according to The Express and The Metro, the Gunners are planning to remedy their striking woes with a January swoop for Valencia starlet Paco Alcacer:

The 21 year-old’s stock has continually soared since muscling his way into Los Che’s first team last season, with Vincente del Bosque using the international break to hand him his competitive debut as a Spain senior.

Indeed, Alcacer has been nothing short of potent over the last twelve months, as shown below:

Most appealingly, the 5 foot 11 striker’s contract currently includes a £15million release clause, leading one Spanish publication to dub him ‘the bargain of Europe’.

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But Chelsea have also been strongly linked by the tabloids, whilst The Express claim Valencia are planning a pay-rise that will see Alcacer’s buy-out fee jump up to around £25million.

If Arsenal can convince the Spaniard to delay until January however, they could unearth a real transfer gem. Here’s a look at Alcacer in action:

//www.youtube.com/embed/RCKK3deKD2w?rel=0

WINSTON REID

After selling Thomas Vermaelen to Barcelona in the summer and with Mathieu Debuchy and Kieran Gibbs both sidelined through injury, Arsenal are a few bodies short in defence.

Thus, by the time the winter window arrives, Arsene Wenger could feel compelled to revive his interest in an old target – West Ham centre-back Winston Reid, who was linked with an Emirates switch last January and on summer deadline day:

The 26 year-old has shown remarkable consistency since the East Londoners returned to the Premier League in 2012, claiming the Hammer of the Year award the twelve months later. Here’s a look at the 6 foot 3 defender in action:

//www.youtube.com/embed/vhYZjrgfBsA?rel=0

He was in prominent form at the start of last season before the New Zealand skipper was sidelined with an ankle injury, which prevented Arsenal’s reported interest from materialising into an official offer. Here’s his stats from the campaign:

By no great coincidence, West Ham’s league form plummeted in his absence, and although Reid may be no world beater, he’s a reliable, incredibly athletic centre-back who would fit the natural hierarchy of Arsenal’s squad.

Furthermore, Reid’s contract is set to expire at the end of the season and a new deal is looking increasingly unlikely, with negotiations yet to get under way. That could see him arrive at the Emirates for a nominal fee.

Xherdan Shaqiri has once again put Liverpool on red alert by backtracking on his stance that he’ll be staying with Bayern Munich.

The Reds chased the Swiss ace for much of the summer after being impressed with his World Cup showings, but ultimately missed out on him as the Bavarians held firm in their stance that he was not for sale.

At 22, Shaqiri is seen as a top prospect at the Allianz Arena, but over the course of his two years at the club the winger has been an infrequent starter.

WANT MORE? >> Liverpool transfer news | Latest transfer news

But just a matter of days ago he revealed that he’s content to stay put, with battling for action in Germany his aim.

Yet now the former Basel ace has revealed that he will once again consider his options ahead of the January transfer window:

“In the summer I said that I would like to have more playing time.” He is quoted by the Daily Star.

“I sat down with the club and made my position clear.

“I accepted staying, but in the winter we need to sit again and look at the situation.

“The key to performing well is to maintain good contact with the coach and to enjoy his confidence, but it has not always been the case here.

“I need confidence and I struggle to contribute if something is amiss.”

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Since their reported contact with Shaqiri over the summer, Liverpool have snapped up Serbian ace Lazar Markovic, but Brendan Rodgers is rumoured to remain interested in boosting his wide attacking options.

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Sean Dyche has admirably led his Burnley side, with comfortably the league’s lowest budget, into every chance of survival, despite the bookmaker’s vast doubts.

Burley began the season as relegation favourites at just 1.25/1, and after twenty games that has drifted out to 1.55/1, they remain the primary choice.  Even now, few outside Burnley seem to honestly believe they can stay up, which appears extremely harsh on a side who have improved as the season has progressed.

The Clarets had a terrible start, gaining just four points from 10 games, but, since their first win -a 1-0 success at home to fellow strugglers Hull – they have not looked out of place in the Premier League. Thereafter a Danny Ings double secured a first away success at Stoke, before a run that incorporated beating high-flying Southampton and four credible draws. Burnley have shown great character, equalising late against Aston Villa and more recently mounting a stunning comeback to draw 2-2 at the Etihad.  The Clarets backed this up by equalising three times against Newcastle recently, with opposition manager John Carver admitting the away side deserved to win.

The contrast to their early season form is marked, with the only real disappointment being a 2-0 loss at fellow strugglers QPR. Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur could only narrowly beat the Clarets, who have developed into a difficult test for the top teams.  In contrast, Burnley lost four of their first 10 games this season by two goals or more, most humiliatingly going down 4-0 at fellow strugglers West Bromwich Albion. The Clarets gained just four-points across this period, but have more than tripled this return, gaining 13 points from the following 10 matches. This has seen them move from rock bottom, and five points shy of escaping the relegation zone, to being inside it only on goal difference.

Sean Dyche has been a huge part of this turnaround, through trusting his methods and backing his players, who have responded magnificently. Fellow strugglers appear to already be panicking, seen by managerial changes at West Brom and Crystal Palace, with potentially Hull City and/or Leicester set to follow this trend. In contrast, Burnley will benefit from the stability of their faith in Dyche, who deserves this chance, having magnificently guided the Clarets to promotion last season. They began the campaign fifth favourites for relegation – Burnley and Dyche enjoy defying the bookmakers.

Dyche has helped his players to find the confidence that they can perform at this level, particularly offensively, where they appeared to have major problems. In early season Burnley failed to score in six successive games in all competitions. However, the Clarets have scored 12 in their last 10 games, primarily through talismanic Danny Ings, though George Boyd has also been excellent. The attacking midfielder has scored crucial goals, such as the third and final equaliser at Newcastle recently, whilst working hard to keep his defensive discipline. Boyd ran 8.1 miles on both Boxing Day against Liverpool, and just two days later against reigning champions Manchester City, and is unmatched in this regard.

Striker Ashley Barnes has eventually settled nicely into the Premier League, taking the burden off Ings by scoring an important winning goal at home to Southampton, and equalisers at the Etihad and White Hart Lane. Moreover, Burnley striker Sam Vokes, who was vital in last season’s promotion with 20 goals before a bad injury, is only now returning to add further firepower.

In summary, Burnley’s recent performances and obvious improvement suggesting definite capabilities of Premier League survival. This has been aided by an excellent manager in Sean Dyche, an improved attacking threat and players continuously gaining confidence that allows them to match the division’s best teams. The Clarets now face fellow strugglers QPR, Crystal Palace at West Brom at Turf Moor and also travel to Sunderland. By replicating their current performance levels Burnley can gain the necessary results to climb comfortably out of the drop zone. The momentum is very much with the Clarets, so you’d appear foolish to write them off anytime soon, no matter what the bookmakers might tell you.

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