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Is Sergio Busquets a realistic transfer target for Arsenal?

Barcelona's defensive midfielder has been linked with a move to the Emirates, as Arsene Wenger looks to strengthen his squad for this season

According to Spanish newspaper Sport, Arsenal are ready to make an offer for Barcelona's defensive midfielder Sergio Busquets, it is stated that the Spanish World Cup winner is top of Arsene Wenger's wish list for this summer.

The report suggests that the Arsenal manager sees Busquets as being able to add more balance to the Gunners midfield and give guidance to Francis Coquelin, who was a revelation last season following his loan recall from Charlton this January.

How likely is this transfer?

At this present time it is just pure speculation with neither side admitting that there is a shred of interest. There also is still a transfer embargo on Luis Enrique's side, which would seem to eradicate any possibility of the transfer happening anytime soon

Barcelona's 27-year-old was ever-present last season, making 47 appearances in all competitions and helping the Catalonians to a league and cup treble. 

Additionally, the player only signed a contract extension in February this year, which will keep him at the Camp Nou until 2019. 

Arsenal's defensive midfield dilemma

You could be forgiven for thinking there was a need to even address this area, with all the talk of Karim Benzema to Arsenal in recent days. The truth is a world class striker and an additional holding midfielder is paramount to whether or not Wenger's men are capable of a serious title challenge during the 2015-16 campaign. 

Coquelin answered his critics continually when he came into the team last season, and has earned his place for this season. The 24-year-old Frenchman remains the only real candidate to anchor the Arsenal midfield. 

Jack Wilshere is a name that many have put forward due to his "new England role", but the jury is still out on him. Wilshere excels when he plays in the final third and has looked impressive in pre-season, something that Arsenal fans will hope he carries through until next May.

Abou Diaby was released this summer after a catalogue of injuries, unfortunately he was never able to fulfill has huge potential and has since headed back to Ligue 1 with Marseille. 

The ageing Mikel Arteta and Mathieu Flamini were both used in the Emirates Cup last weekend, but they are past their best and it would be inconceivable that they are used as direct back-up to Coquelin.

It is an issue that has troubled Wenger several seasons. Arsenal have, for most part, been a credit to free-flowing football but without the right amount of solidity in front of the back four it will forever be a case of promising so much and delivering so little.

Manchester United 0-2 Paris St Germain: Player Ratings

Player Ratings of every Manchester United player in their 2-0 International Champions Cup loss to Paris Saint Germain.

After a disappointing 2-0 defeat to French and newly crowned International Champions Cup champions Paris Saint-Germain, this is a look at how the Manchester United players did.

United lose to French champions in final pre-season game

David De Gea - 5.5 Only played the first half of the game and made an error leading Ibrahimovic to a one on one opportunity - at fault for the first goal.

Matteo Darmian - 8 Looked very sharp going forward and defensively. Moved to left-back in the second half and still put in a great shift.

Phil Jones - 5 Very woeful at the back, could not read anything PSG did, particularly struggled to deal with their counter attacks.

Daley Blind - 6 Looked more comfortable than Jones, despite not being in his natural position, playing at centre-back; but looked slow and struggled to deal with the runs of the likes of Lucas Moura.

Luke Shaw - 8 Looked very sharp, solid at the back and pacey going forward. Made near to none mistakes. His overlapping runs worked very well with Ashley Young.

Michael Carrick - 6.5 Very simple, struggled to work with Schweinsteiger, didn't cause PSG many problems.

Bastian Schweinsteiger - 7.5 Kept high pressure on PSG and produced some brilliant long rage passing. Probably his best performance in a United shirt thus far.

Juan Mata - 6.5 Didn't look too sharp and struggled to produce anything outstanding. Struggled both out wide and central.

Memphis Depay - 7 Linked up very well with Wayne Rooney but struggled with his final product. Looked sharp and fit, ready for the start of the season against Tottenham Hotspur.

Ashley Young - 6 Looked very average on the wing and didn't really cause any problems for PSG, not the best performance from the Englishmen - especially with Pedro rumours swirling.

Wayne Rooney - 6 Struggled to get into the game, and didn't do anything stand out. Unable to get himself into any good positions but didn't have many chances.

Sam Johnstone - 6.5 Fairly comfortable, kept a clean sheet in the second half that he was in goal for, nearly conceded when he misjudged a long ball, but other than that he didn't have much to do.

Morgan Schneiderlin - 7 Played some great long passes, and straightened out the midfield issues when he came on.

Andreas Periera - 7 Played very well with Shaw behind him on the left hand side and put some brilliant balls into the box, with PSG's defence playing well to deny him an assist.

Chris Smalling - 7 Looked settled in the 30 minutes he played with Daley Blind, no notable mistakes.

Antonio Valencia - 6 Picked up a booking when he came on having lost the ball too far upfield and going in for a rash challenge. Not worthy of a start against Spurs.

Sean Goss - N/A Got very few minutes for his United debut, brought on just for the point of it by Louis van Gaal. Will hopefully get another chance in the first team during the season.

Chelsea (4) 2-2 (2): Mourinho's men beat Barça on penalties in International Champions Cup

Chelsea ended their International Champions Cup campaign on a high with a penalty shoot-out victory over Barcelona.

Premier League champions Chelsea ended their International Champions Cup campaign and their pre-season tour of America on a high beating European champions Barcelona on penalties.

It was the Blues who drew first blood with Eden Hazard scoring with a spectacular first-half solo goal to give the west London club the lead before Uruguayan striker Luis Suárez equalised for the Catalan club.Luis Enrique's side then took the lead through Sandro Ramirez but defender Gary Cahill's headed effort was enough to force extra-time. Chelsea dominated from the penalty spot eventually winning 4-2, finishing their ICC tournament with a win.

Blues storm into the lead early on

Youngster Kenedy was handed his first run out in a Chelsea shirt with Brazilian side Fluminense giving him permission to play. The 19-year-old was a bright influence early on when he was bundled over and the resulting set-piece nearly led to the opening goal.

Former Barça midfielder Cesc Fábregas whipped in the resulting free-kick into the area, which found the head of young defender Kurt Zouma - whose effort produced a decent save from Marc-Andre ter Stegen to keep it out.

Chelsea continued to pressurise their Spanish opponents but couldn’t quite find the finishing touch, Nemanja Matic and Diego Costa both had half-chances with the Serbian heading a free-kick over the crossbar while the striker created space in the Barca defence which created a chance for Oscar, but it was easy for ter Stegen to collect in the end.

Hazard broke the deadlock - in some style

Their early dominance eventually paid off just eleven minutes in when they took the lead in spectacular fashion, Hazard showed exactly why he was voted the PFA Player of the Year last season when he picked up the ball just outside the centre circle and went on a mazy run past two defenders and managed to hold off another two before slotting between the legs of the German goalkeeper and into the bottom corner of the net.

Barca replied almost instantly when Suárez played the ball through to Ivan Rakitic - who hit a thunderous shot from ten yards out, butThibaut Courtois did brilliantly to palm the shot over from such a close distance.

Suárez weaves his trademark magic

It was then the former Liverpool forward who had the opportunity to equalise when talented youngster Munir played it from the byline into his feet but again Courtois was equal to it to keep the Blues ahead. Minutes later he was in action when Sandro had a shot from distance but the 23-year-old was there again to block.

The Uruguayan eventually got an effort on target to equalise for Barça seven minutes after the restart. Like Hazard, Suárez showed some great trickery in the area with his fake shot sending the Chelsea defender completely out of the way before chipping it over Courtois' head into the net.

In the 66th minute, the Blues found themselves behind for the first time in the match. Sandro received the ball on the wing before cutting inside into the area, before curling the ball brilliantly beyond the reach of Courtois into the bottom corner.

Chelsea continued to push for an equaliser going into the final ten minutes of the match and eventually did in the 86th minute with the help of substitute goalkeeper Jordi Masip. The ball ended up in the air but the 'keeper was not quick enough to get to it and Cahill rose highest to head it into the net despite getting a punch in the nose but you would expect that will be the least of English centre-back's troubles.

Penalties followed and it was Andres Iniesta who stepped up first and the Spanish veteran coolly slotted home, new signing Radamel Falcao followed and just like the midfield maestro, he slotted home cooly. 

It was Barca who had the first miss of the shootout when Alen Halilovic attempted the chip, but it bounced off the crossbar. Victor Moses gave Mourinho’s side the lead, Gerard Pique was next up, but his effort was brilliantly saved by Courtois which gave the London club a comfortable cushion.

Ramires and Sandro both scored to make the score three-two in favour of Chelsea, Loic Remy stepped up for the critical spot-kick and did not disappoint sending the 'keeper the wrong way to give Chelsea the win. 

Do Liverpool need another left-back to compete with Alberto Moreno?

There have been strong reports that Liverpool want to sign Lucas Digne from Paris Saint Germain recently, but do the Reds need another left-back or can they utilise the players they already have?

Liverpool have been heavily linked with current Paris Saint Germain left-back, Lucas Digne in recent weeks, sparking rumoursover the future of current first-choice Alberto Moreno.

The current PSG manager, Laurent Blanc, has confirmed that the 22-year-old defender has asked to leave the French club, and Liverpool are reportedly leading the race to sign him - but what does it mean for Moreno?

Liverpool have signed numerous players

The Reds have seemed to strengthen in every part of the team so far this summer, except in the left-back area, which remains rather sparse.

Joe Gomez and Nathaniel Clyne were added to the squad to increase competition for the centre-back and right-back roles at the club, whilst James Milner and Roberto Firmino were purchased to strengthen the central and attacking areas of midfield.

Brendan Rodgers also significantly bolstered his side's attack by signing Danny Ings and Christian Benteke. Finally, Adam Bogdanwas brought in to challenge Simon Mignolet for the number one spot.

However, Liverpool have yet to sign a new left-back after Alberto Moreno had what was deemed a poor season in his first 12 months on Merseyside, and the future of Jose Enrique looks uncertain - meaning the role is potentially there for the taking.

Who can play at left-back?

Moreno was signed last summer from Sevilla for £12 million this time last year, and fans saw, the now 23-year-old player, being their number one left-back for a long time.

However, after a poor first season, fans are calling for Liverpool to sign a replacement to challenge the Spaniard for a first-team place, which could help the Spaniard become a better player.

Jose Enrique was the back-up left-back for a long time at Anfield, but having been left at home during Liverpool's pre-season tour, it seems as though his career at the club is all but over, despite the fact that there hasn't been many reports linking him with any new suitors.

With Moreno injured and Enrique left at home, Joe Gomez filled in down the left in pre-season and impressed hugely. 

He was initially signed as a future prospect, but after some terrific performances during the tour, many fans believe he has what it takes to be the new left-back for Liverpool in the upcoming season, or at the very least a back-up - despite the fact right-back and central defence are more natural roles for the Englishman.

Liverpool fans are also eager to see the return of Jon Flanagan, who played a formidable part in Liverpool's title surge two seasons ago by filling in at left-back, but injury kept him out for the entirety of last season and he is set to miss a chunk of this season as well through the same problems.

Should Liverpool sign an alternative?

Moreno may have had a poor debut season, but he is still young and should be given time - after all, this comes only a year after he was brought in for a sizable lump sum.

Also, with Brendan Rodgers confirming that Gomez won't be going out on loan, perhaps he should be allowed to challenge for a place, rather than signing a new player.

That said - Liverpool should consider signing a new left-back, if Enrique is offloaded and Flanagan's issues persist, but if things stay as they are - then the Reds may have enough depth to survive.