Life’s A Pitch: Shopping in the summer sales

With the domestic football season over the focus now shifts to player recruitment and sales ahead of another competitive Premier League campaign. But which players will be signed by which clubs? We take a look.

One of the best rumours doing the rounds this week was that Athletic Bilbao’s outstanding striker Fernando Llorente (pictured above) was coming to Arsenal for £25million. Life’s A Pitch panellist Rory Smith, of The Times, was disappointed to shoot down that theory though, being a fan of the big man.

Manchester United, meanwhile, are set to sign Crewe’s prodigious talent, Nick Powell, for £4million, according to Mike Calvin. Read his blog from this week for more detail on why this could prove to be United’s most significant transfer for some time.

Serial flirt Eden Hazard is also on the move. And after telling half of the Premier League that he’d fancy playing for their team, it seems he’s settled on Champions League winners Chelsea. Mike Calvin hasn’t enjoyed Hazard’s toying with teams and hopes the Belgian can back up his talk with action.

We’ve also had French football expert Laure James on the site this week looking at the players in Ligue 1 under the beady eye of Premier League teams. Fans of Newcastle, Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Man Utd and Man City will find this most interesting.

And there is the usual assessment of the latest transfer rumours doing the rounds, including Matias Suarez to Liverpool, whether Bas Dost will head to West Ham, and Fulham’s interest in Huddersfield’s Jordan Rhodes.

Talking of Liverpool, Mike Calvin explains why he thinks Brendan Rodgers fits the bill for Liverpool.

Expert video pundits

Llorente to Arsenal, PSG target Berbatov, De Jong to QPR?

Find out if rumours linking Llorente, Berbatov, and De Jong are true as the Life’s A Pitch team get their microscope out.
Llorente to become a Gunner? >

Suárez to Liverpool, West Ham want Bas Dost, Rhodes to Fulham?

Get the latest on transfer rumours linking Matías Suárez to Liverpool, Bas Dost to West Ham and Jordan Rhodes to Fulham.
Two Suarezes better than one >

Carroll unlikely to “scare people witless” in England attack

The Life’s A Pitch team tries to get its head around the fact that Andy Carroll looks like leading England’s attack in the Euros after the season he’s just had.
Danger man? >

“Still a chance” Di Matteo might get Chelsea job

Roberto Di Matteo’s chances of getting the Chelsea job appear to be diminishing by the day. The Life’s A Pitch team discuss his prospects.
In limbo >

Lively opinion blogs

Why Rodgers fits the bill for Liverpool

Mike Calvin explains the reasons why Swansea’s Brendan Rodgers is the best candidate for the new management structure that Liverpool have devised.
Mr Right >

English clubs set to raid the French markets this summer

Having seen Newcastle pick up some bargains from France, numerous other Premier League clubs are eyeing Ligue 1 this summer for talent, writes Laure James.
French fancies >

Welcome to England, Eden. You’d better be good

After months of speculation, Eden Hazard finally confirmed that he is moving to Chelsea for £35million. Mike Calvin has found the whole process rather tedious.
Time to deliver >

Man Utd have got a future star in Crewe’s Nick Powell

Manchester United are expected to sign Crewe’s Nick Powell after the League Two play-off final and Mike Calvin reckons they will have a future star on their hands
The sky’s the limit >

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