Eljero Elia Could Bring a Dutch Attacking Flair to the Arsenal Midfield

Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images

(Bleacher Report)Hamburg HSV and Dutch International left midfielder Eljero Elia could bring his attacking flair to Arsenal in the absence of Samir Nasri. The young player made a huge splash in the 2009-10 season as he scored six goals and provided eight assists in his first full season in the German Bundesliga.

Since then he has been linked all around Europe and England with Chelsea, Liverpool Juventus and Arsenal all possible suitors for the 24-year old. At his age he is in that age niche that Arsene Wenger likes to exploit.

He is just young enough to have loads of improvement before he reaches his prime, but he is old enough to have valuable experience in a top European league.

Wenger has a history of honing his young players skills at that age, and Elia has a unique skill set of speed and quick passing that also plays well into the Frenchman's fluid playing style.

In most cases the young Dutchman could be a remarkable value at around £6 million and it would allow plenty of left over funds for Wenger to continue spreading around the park to bring in at least another midfielder, defender and center forward.

The most recent rumors for the player have him said to prefer a move to Arsenal or Chelsea over Italian giants Juventus whom reportedly are the current highest bidder for his services.
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Eljero Elia Could Bring a Dutch Attacking Flair to the Arsenal Midfield

Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images

(Bleacher Report)Hamburg HSV and Dutch International left midfielder Eljero Elia could bring his attacking flair to Arsenal in the absence of Samir Nasri. The young player made a huge splash in the 2009-10 season as he scored six goals and provided eight assists in his first full season in the German Bundesliga.

Since then he has been linked all around Europe and England with Chelsea, Liverpool Juventus and Arsenal all possible suitors for the 24-year old. At his age he is in that age niche that Arsene Wenger likes to exploit.

He is just young enough to have loads of improvement before he reaches his prime, but he is old enough to have valuable experience in a top European league.

Wenger has a history of honing his young players skills at that age, and Elia has a unique skill set of speed and quick passing that also plays well into the Frenchman's fluid playing style.

In most cases the young Dutchman could be a remarkable value at around £6 million and it would allow plenty of left over funds for Wenger to continue spreading around the park to bring in at least another midfielder, defender and center forward.

The most recent rumors for the player have him said to prefer a move to Arsenal or Chelsea over Italian giants Juventus whom reportedly are the current highest bidder for his services.

You can follow me on Twitter @thedailyatz and Facebook or visit my personal WebSite

Liverpool To Sure Up the Defense

Article first published as Liverpool To Sure Up the Defense on Technorati.
Reports Indicate that Liverpool will continue to Strengthen as Promised

by Rhydon Atzenhoffer
February 15, 2011

Another few days worth of transfer rumors have the Reds looking to strengthen from the back in the summer. Several targets have appeared in the media in the last couple of days as the Merseyside club failed to land a defensive transfer in the January market. While being largely linked to Aston Villa and former Liverpool defender Stephen Warnock in the light of Paul Konchesky moving on after his failed stint in Red.

Enrique, Boom or Bust?

The left back saga of the Reds continued for the entire window, and was only satisfied when Kenny Dalglish instilled Glen Johnson as his new choice leftback with Martin Kelly being catapulted to the spot light in the right back position where he has blossomed under his new manager.

With all that said it looks as though the Reds will be looking to bring in more options in the summer. With eyes looking north to Newcastle again there are reports that there is a possibility of Spanish attacking wing back Jose Enrique making the same trip that Andy Carroll made recently.

A possible make weight in the move for the defender, whom has received mixed reviews during his time in service on the Toon, could possible be Joe Cole. Cole has failed to ever make his presence felt in Red. his first game saw him Red Carded at Anfield, and a brief sign of life during the Europa League campaign has given way to another nagging injury that has kept the 29-year old England attacker sidelined yet again.

With Liverpool courting other attacking options of a more youthful age and injury status, Cole could see himself go North in the midst of a player and cash deal with Newcastle for the services of Enrique.

Another young defender on the up with the Liverpool camp's radar is Wolfsburg starlet Simon Kjaer. After impressing with Serie A side Palermo, along with the likes of heavily rated midfielder Javier Pastore, the 21-year old made his move to the Bundesliga outfit during the summer.

Danish Star Eyes Agger Pairing.

It now appears that after only a short time the German side is ready to cash in on their young talent in hopes of more options. Tottenham Hotspur have reportedly been tracking the young Dane and Liverpool reportedly had a bid turned down for him during the January window.

Liverpool's Danish contingent of Daniel Agger and Christian Poulsen could help in swaying the youngster to Anfield, and the possible arrival of another fellow compatriot in Christian Erikson could way heavily on the mind.

A Danish back line containing the international pairing would certainly add a solid understanding and partnership for both Liverpool and the Danes.

Jovanovic to fill Dzeko's Boots?

Article first published as Jovanovic to fill Dzeko's Boots? on Technorati.

Liverpool Winger Milan Jovanovic still pursued by VfL Wolfsburg.

by Rhydon Atzenhoffer
January 26, 2011

Former England boss Steve McClaren is still in search of an offensive wide attacker to assist in filling the void left by Manchester City's most recent high profile signing, Edin Dzeko. The Serbian has been a fringe player under both Roy Hodgsen and now Kenny Dalglish. He was the last signing of Rafa Benitez's reign in Anfield, signed as a free transfer from Belgian side Standard Liege.

Jovanovic Runs to Space

Jovanovic has failed to truly impress in his five starts in the premier league and has only produced 2 goals from his seventeen first team appearances. A recent interview in LFC Weekly revealed that Milan is relishing his time under Kenny Dalglish and that the Liverpool legend is indeed something special to the players and the club.

However, his admiration of his new boss doesn't seem to be enough to warrant him a spot in the first eleven, nor even many cameo appearances from the bench. Wolfburg's signing of Jovanovic's former Standard teammate and strike partner, Dieumerci Mbokani, from Monaco might sweeten the resolve of the Serbian to move on.

A £6 Million offer was reportedly made yesterday, and also a possible loan move till the summer surfacing earlier this morning. It appears that despite his desire to fight for his place under the new guard, the needs of Kenny Dalglish and Damien Camoli to raise quick cash to bolster the front lines with a second quality striker seem more paramount.

UEFA Champions League Knockout Stage is Set

The Top 16 Teams from across Europe look to Square of and await the Knockout Stage Draw on December 17, 2010

By Rhydon Atzenhoffer
December 9, 2010

The last 16 of the UEFA Champions League have been decided. Some squeaked by, others dominated, and some surprised even the most hopeful in their campaign towards Europe's most elite club championship. With all the teams from Europe's three biggest leagues, English Premier League, Spain's La Liga, Italian Serie A, advancing the remaining qualifiers will be tested once again by Europe's finest clubs.

Tottenham Hotspur and Internazional Milan battled it out in Group A with the Lilly Whites taking the top spot in the group. Many did not predict this, nor did many predict the mercurial form of Gareth Bale to step into the spotlight in such a fashion. With the help of Spurs newcomer Rafael Van Der Vart, and midfield maestro Luka Modric, the London club look to continue their demolition of competition in the next round. Former Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez led his new charges at Inter to the second place spot and will look to continue marching on despite his squads injury problems at the back.

Despite their horrid domestic form, German Bundesliga's Shalke 04 took top honors of Group B. The club will look to continue their European success in the light of a struggling league campaign despite the ranks of Klaas Jan-Huntelaar, legendary Raul, and captain fantastic goalkeeper Manuel Neuer. French side and prominent Champions League club Lyon continue onto the knockout stages through their second place finish.

Sir Alex Ferguson's Red Devils of Manchester United cruised through to the second round atop of Group C. The Rooney saga of the early season seemed to have little affect on the wildly successful Scot's charges. Spainish side Valencia also had a relative dominant group stage and advanced by a margin of five points ahead of third place Rangers whom will have to ply their trade in the Europa League.

Barcelona and FC Copenhagen were the advances from Group D as both moved on with comfortable margins. The Danish club were nearly able to shock the dominant Spanish side but only managed a draw that was not deserved by the Catalonian Giants in any form, and Copenhagen will have to put up that same kind of challenge against whomever they face over their two legged tie.

Group E produced some fine matches and out of the frenzy. German Champions Bayern Munich advances in first place while Italian slumpers AS Roma side the coattails of success into the knockout stages. Chelsea crushed nearly all in their path on the way to winning Group F while Marseilles and Spartak Moscow fought till the final day to see whom would move on with the French side taking the honors and Moscow dropping to the second tier Europa League.

Spanish Giants Real Madrid under Jose Mourinho obliterated Group G with a draw against AC Milan thanks to Mourinho's only fear, Fillipo Inzaghi. The Serie A table toppers took the second prize with an 8 point gap behind the Madrid wrecking crew, barely staving off Ajax Amsterdam. They will hope for better performances in the Knockout Stage or else they will be set for a quick return home to the peninsula.

Group H saw Shakhtar Donetsk advance from the top stop while Arsenal had to punch their ticket to the next round on the very last day. Arsene Wenger's men are in fine form at the moment and with the timely return to health of Robin Van Persie, whom captained their 3-1 win over Partizan Belgrade to see them through, the London club may be hitting health and form at the right time.

The draw for the knockout round is set for December 17th and we will await the match-ups with great anticipation. It will be very interesting to see what happens with the draw and this could prove to be one of the best knockout stages of the last few years.