ENGLISH FOOTBALL - NEWS

Firmino fails to deliver

Liverpool new boy Roberto Firmino delivered an ineffective performance before being subbed off as Brazil crashed out of the Copa America on Saturday.

The Reds’ £21.3m signing from Hoffenheim started up front against Paraguay but ended up watching their penalty shootout defeat from the bench after he was replaced by Diego Tardelli on 69 minutes.

Firmino’s display will have done little to convince Liverpool fans he can be the one to reinvigorate their mis-firing attack – the forward didn’t get a shot away during his time on the field and only one of his passes led to a team-mate taking a crack at goal.

The closest he got to contributing to Robinho’s opener was a flailing attempted-flick at Dani Alves’ cross. Fortunately for Brazil, Firmino didn’t get a touch and the former Man City forward was able to convert from close range.

The 23-year-old had fewer touches (39) and a poorer pass completion rate (60 per cent) than any other Brazilian who started the game.

He did demonstrate his ability to contribute at the other end of the field, completing two tackles, one interception and one clearance but it was a less than inspiring performance from Liverpool’s big-money signing.

As he packs his bags to leave Chile, Firmino will at least be able to reflect on his winner against Venezuela in the first knockout round – but, in all, as for Brazil as a team, the 2015 Copa America has proved to be a frustrating and disappointing tournament for the forward. 

Report: Chelsea closing on Begovic

Chelsea are favourites to secure the services of Stoke goalkeeper Asmir Begovic, according to reports on Sunday.

The 27-year-old is into the final 12 months of his contract and is understood to have talked with manager Mark Hughes and chief executive Tony Scholes over his future, with the club not wanting to see their keeper leave.

It is understood that Stoke rejected a bid from Aston Villa for Begovic on Friday.

But on Sunday, Sky Sports reported that Chelsea now head the queue for the Bosnia-Herzegovina international, although there remains "lots of interest" from other clubs.

The Stamford Bridge club will be keen to acquire back-up for Thibaut Courtois with Petr Cech on the verge of completing a move to Arsenal.  

Begovic signed for Stoke from Portsmouth in 2010 and quickly established himself as the club's first choice, but he was left out of a number of Premier League games at the end of last season - something boss Hughes admitted the keeper did not take kindly to.

Jack Butland, the England U21s keeper, was preferred ahead of him and Sky sources understand that should Begovic leave, Butland will become their No 1. If Begovic stays, Butland will be allowed to leave the Britannia on loan.

Born in the former Yugoslavia, Begovic moved to Canada with his family at 10 years old. He played youth football in Germany for FC Kirchhausen and became a Canada U20 international before his senior international debut with Bosnia. 

Begovic moved to Portsmouth in 2005 and had loan spells with Yeovil, Bournemouth and Ipswich.

Vidal deal done - Report

Arturo Vidal, a reported Arsenal target, has already been sold to a "top European club", according to reports.

Spanish publication Marca says Serie A side Juventus, who have lost Carlos Tevez to Boca Juniors, have already sold Chile captain Vidal, but won't reveal his new club until after the Copa America.

Arsenal are the latest club to be linked with Vidal, 28, who has hit the headlines recently after being charged with drink-driving after crashing his Ferrari while at the tournament in his homeland.

Vidal's Chile compatriot Alexis Sanchez is believed to have been asked to try and persuade the player, who was heavily linked with a move to Manchester United last summer, to make a £21.3million move to The Emirates.

Marca, however, reports a deal has already been wrapped up, but Vidal's destination and the details of the transfer are a secret until after the conclusion of the tournament on July 4.

Vidal, who is joint-top scorer at the Copa America with three goals, is currently preparing for Tuesday's semi-final clash with Peru in Santiago.

Giggs: United to strengthen spine

Ryan Giggs says Manchester United are keen to add heavyweight names to the spine of their team in a bid to regain their place at the top of English football this season.

Welshman Giggs, assistant to Louis van Gaal, agrees with the manager’s assertion that United are close to competing for the top honours again after two lean campaigns following the departure of Sir Alex Ferguson.

United’s record appearance holder told the Sunday Times that it was vital they strengthened in the middle of the park and added star names to the squad, if possible.

Newspaper reports have linked the Red Devils with moves for World Cup winners Sergio Ramos and Bastian Schweinsteiger, while Sky sources understand that United are in talks with Southampton over a move for Morgan Schneiderlin.

But Giggs insisted that if United were to compete for major honours again they would need to be more consistent than last season.

He said: “If there are players available who are winners, who are proven, then, yeah, let’s go and get them.

“And with any good team the spine is important. Midfield, striker, centre-backs, goalkeeper. I’m sure we’ll be looking to strengthen the spine all the way through.

“We obviously need to strengthen because we were fourth. We weren’t first, second or third. And the teams above us will strengthen, too. There’s the added challenge of the Champions League, and we need players that are going to improve us.

“But we’re not too far away. We had a great record last season in the big games and the problem was the consistency. We dropped points we shouldn’t have and got off to a bad start. We drew a lot of games away from home against teams we should have been beating.

“You tot up the games you think you should have won and think, ‘Yeah, we should have been much closer’ – but you have to go out and do it, and in the Premier League that’s not easy.”

Giggs served as caretaker boss at Old Trafford after David Moyes left the club in April 2014.

Retiring after a highly decorated career in which he won 24 major trophies as a United player, the 41-year-old has since taken over as van Gaal’s assistant.

As a result, the days of turning up for training as a player and focussing purely on the session ahead of him are gone.

“With coaching you’re in at eight o’clock and you leave at five, and after that you’re at home still thinking about it.

“You turn on the TV and instead of just relaxing in front of a game, you’re watching it for different things, looking for things coaches may have worked on, or different details. Basically you don’t switch off.

“On holiday I was still on the phone to the manager and Albert (Stuivenberg, van Gaal’s other assistant) about players coming in and plans for the new season.

“After a defeat, as a player you basically just analyse yourself. How did I do? But as a coach you’re thinking about the whole thing: ‘Should we have made that substitution? Did we pick the right team? Did we train them too hard?’ But this is what I want. Just as much as when I was a player, I’m excited about a new season starting.”

And he has enjoyed working under former Barcelona and Ajax coach van Gaal, adding to everything he had learned previously under Sir Alex Ferguson.

“It was nothing new in terms of the detail, the hunger, the professionalism, the experience. I’d seen the same with Sir Alex.

“But there were little innovations that you’re seeing for the first time as a coach, where you thought ‘that’s brilliant.’ And just the overall experience. Especially in the big games.

“You saw someone who wasn’t afraid – or who didn’t show it – and showed what he can do tactically, and in his overall leadership. Everyone at the club – the staff, the players –know who the leader is. And that’s Louis.”

Giggs also said fans at Old Trafford will take to the club’s newest addition Memphis Depay, labelling him as a ‘United type’.

Bought from PSV Eindhoven for £25m, United fans will be hoping that Depay will prove to be an exciting player in the mould of Giggs and Cristiano Ronaldo – a match-winning winger.

Giggs said: “(Depay) is the type Old Trafford will warm to. He’s an exciting player, but there’s also substance behind it. He was top scorer in the Dutch league and got plenty of assists as well. He’s a ‘United’ type. Our fans demand exciting players, players who can get them off their seats and score spectacular goals.

“One thing we probably have lacked since Cristiano - and Becks (David Beckham) before him – is free-kicks. And it looks like Depay has a great track record from free-kicks as well. Over a season, if you can score more from free-kicks and corners it adds up and makes a real difference in winning games. So, no pressure…but hopefully he’ll score 10 free-kicks every year.

“Old Trafford is the right stage for a player like him,” said Giggs. “Because if you try things that don’t come off the fans will stay behind you. You’re at a club where they want you to do things off the cuff, to entertain them.”