Manchester United interested in Coleman but bid yet to come

   

Seamus Coleman is of interest from Manchester United but a formal bid for the Everton full back has yet to come from the Red Devils.

Manchester United have been strongly linked with Everton full-back Seamus Coleman over the weekend but The Guardian suggest that a formal approach for the Irishman has yet to be made.

Coleman, 26, is believed to be on a transfer target shortlist set byLouis van Gaal for this summer for Ed Woodward to deal with.

The Everton player joined the Toffees in 2009 for just £60,000 and is one of the bargains of the decade for a Premier League club, having turned into one of the best full-backs in England.

Coleman bid yet to be made

Despite reports that United had bid for Coleman, with Everton valuing him at £20 million, The Guardian say that a formal bid for the 26-year-old is yet to come from United.

United are in dire need of a right-back, with Antonio Valencia only a stand in, much preferring his original position on the right wing.

Meanwhile, Rafael Da Silva has been plagued with injuries this season and has yet to replicate form seen under Sir Alex Fergusonwhich saw him labeled as the best right-back in England on many occasions.

United desperately need new right-back

Coleman signed a new contract at Goodison Park last summer, keeping him at the club for 5 years but with United circling, his resolve will be tested.

Last summer he was linked with David Moyes' United, having been named as the right-back in the PFA Team of the Season, and a deal was thought to be agreed.

Again, in January he was linked with United and in May he wasrumoured to be of interest for Premier League Champions, Chelsea.

Dani Alves was targeted by Van Gaal and United but he signed a new contract at Barcelona to put rumours to bed of a move to the Premier League. Nathaniel Clyne was also a target, but Liverpool swooped in as United delayed and have agreed a deal to sign the Southampton right-back for £12.5 mllion.

Arsenal plotting bid for Ezequiel Garay

Arsenal are reportedly eyeing up a bid for Argentine international, Ezequiel Garay.

Arsenal are reportedly plotting a bid for Zenit Saint Petersburgdefender, Ezequiel Garay in an attempt to bolster their back line ahead of next season.

The Argentine international has just completed his first season in Russia, following his move from Benfica, and has already been tipped to leave the club despite signing a five year contract last summer.

The former Real Madrid man has been on the radar of an abundance of Premier League clubs since the turn of the decade, including Manchester United, due to his stellar performances in Premiea Liga and the Russian Premier League.

Arsenal are now being reported as potential suitors for the centre-back as they look to further strengthen their squad during this transfer window, with rumours circulating over deals for Petr Cechand Arturo Vidal.

The 28-year-old was instrumental in helping Zenit to their first league title since 2012, partaking in 27 of his side’s 32 domestic games last season. His darkest moment came in a Russian Cup defeat to a team named, ironically, Arsenal Tula, scoring an own goal in the dying embers of the game.

He is currently on duty with his national side in the Copa America, asArgentina look to win the trophy for the first time since 1993. Garay has been an ever-present for Gerardo Martino’s men, partneringJavier Mascherano ahead of the likes of Martin Demichelis andNicolas Otamendi respectively.

Confident on the ball, the defender scored La Albiceleste’s second penalty in a quarter-final shoot-out with David Ospina’s Colombiaon Friday night. His spot kick was fired past the Arsenal ‘keeper, who had an outstanding game, to ultimately set up a semi-final clash with Peru.

Garay nets past Ospina.

Arsenal move could prove beneficial for both parties

Garay would be a welcome edition to the Emirates Stadium, suitingArsene Wenger’s style of play with composure and quality when passing the ball from the back. Lifting six major honours during his tenure in Europe, the World Cup runner-up has shown his capabilities as a high class defender in both the Champions League and Europa League.

The Gunners may see him as a possible replacement for the agingPer Mertesacker, 31, or Laurent Koscielny, who has been subject to interest from Rafa Benitez’s Real Madrid this month. The FA Cup holders will be desperate to retain the services of the latter, with the Frenchman developing into the best centre-half at the club since his arrival in 2010.

The £13m addition of Garay would ensure fierce competition for places in North London, with Gabriel and Calum Chambers also in the ranks. With the Zenit player looking for a move to cement his place in the national set-up, this move could either prove hazardous or beneficial for the in demand defender.

How did Liverpool's players fare at the 2015 Copa América?

With Brazil's elimination from the Copa América on Saturday night, all of Liverpool's representatives in Chile have now been dumped out of the tournament - but how did they fare?

Liverpool had only three representatives out in Chile for the 2015 Copa America, all of whom were sent crashing out in the quarter-finals stage.

Philippe Coutinho and Roberto Firmino both featured regularly forBrazil, who lost out to Paraguay in a penalty shoot-out on Saturday night - after Sebastian Coates' Uruguay had been eliminated by hosts Chile three days earlier.

Philippe Coutinho and Roberto Firmino's Brazil 

Coutinho's excellent form with Liverpool in 2015 saw him rightly rewarded with a spot in the Brazilian national team for his first ever major tournament.

The 23-year-old, who swept the Reds' end of season awards in May, impressed in their warm-up friendlies beforehand, but had to wait until their second group game to make his impact.

Firmino, meanwhile, featured for the last 15 minutes of Brazil's opening game, a 2-1 win over Peru - though he was only able to manage one shot on goal, along with a mere 14 touches and eight attempted passes, only 50% of which were accurate.

Nevertheless, the then-Hoffenheim attacking midfielder was handed a start by Dunga for their second game of the competition, as they took on Colombia, who they had knocked out of the 2014 World Cuplast summer.

Unfortunately, Firmino was kept quiet for much of the game, as Brazil fell to a 1-0 loss. He played the full 90 as a lone striker, making 64 touches, but failing to get any of his three attempted shots on target.

The 23-year-old was tidier in possession, completing 79% of his passes, which including two key passes - though overall Firmino was unable to help his side avoid defeat, including a horrific open goal miss - as he sidefooted an effort over the crossbar with the goal at his mercy.

Equally as restricted was Coutinho, who came off of the bench at half-time to replace Fred. Taking 38 touches and completing 75% of his passes, he was unable to put his creative stamp on the game as Jeison Murillo's first-half goal settled proceedings.

Nevertheless, both of the pair started Brazil's final group game - as they went out to ensure a spot in the knockout rounds without the suspended Neymar. 

Firmino finally expressed the best of his abilities, despite having been largely ineffective for the Seleção until their 2-1 win overVenezuela - in which he scored the telling goal of the game.

Leading by Thiago Silva's goal, Firmino doubled his side's lead shortly after half-time - as Willian neatly curled a ball across the face of goal for Firmino to direct into an open net.

Elsewhere, Firmino was at his confident best in posession, completing 84% of his passes - including two key passes and a single successful dribble, a successful evening's work given that he was kept to the lowest amount of touches of the outfield players in Brazil's side.

Coutinho, meanwhile, managed a higher 56 touches - but was less able to contribute. Only completing a surprising 80% of his passes, Coutinho only registered one key pass, as he struggled to assert himself on the game - though they were able to grind out a win regardless.

Having officially signed for the Reds only a few days before, many Liverpool supporters tuned in to see Firmino join Coutinho in the starting line-up for their crunch clash against Paraguay.

But fans were left a little disappointed by their new boy. The £29 million signing was largely insignificant throughout, despite somewhat playing a part in his side's goal - as his missed flick allowed the ball to run through for Robinho to put them ahead.

It was definitely an evening to forget for Firmino, however, who had fewer touches than any other starting Brazilian teammate, with 39, whilst his 60% pass completion rate was the lowest of anyone in the Brazil team.

His defensive work was a little more commendable, winning two tackles and an interception, as well as adding a clearance - but Coutinho had the slightly more enjoyable evening in Concepcion as Firmino was withdrawn after 69 minutes.

The Liverpool no.10 was only denied by Justo Villar's palms early in the first-half, after a well-hit strike from range forced a strong save. Brazil were largely flat throughout, but Coutinho was generally at the heart of everything they did in the final third.

Enjoying more touches (60) than any other Brazilian starter, a lot of Brazil's best football went through Coutinho - who successfully completed four dribbles and managed a 100% shot accuracy.

He was impressive in possession, completing 38 passes and managing an accuracy rate of 87% - only bettered by Willian and Robinho, of those who started from the off.

Ultimately, Coutinho was unable to make any telling contributions - as the game stretched to penalties after Derlis Gonzalez had converted from the spot in normal time.

Thankfully, having been one of the better performers in a poor side, Coutinho was able to dispatch his penalty in the shoot-out to avoid having put his country out, though Gonzalez ensured Paraguay's place in the final four by scoring again from 12-yards immediately afterwards.

Sebastian Coates' Uruguay 

Coates, who looks set to make the permanent switch toSunderland within the coming days, played in only one of Uruguay's four games throughout the competition - being an unused substitute in the other three.

The towering centre-back was crowned Young Player of the Tournament in the 2011 Copa America, but could only make the bench for his country's 1-0 win over Jamaica, and their 1-0 loss to Argentina - but filled in for the suspended Diego Godin in their final group game.

Coates completed 76% of his passing, won three aerial duels and completed five tackles and a single interception as he duly went about his business, though he was unfortunate not to reach a deep cross into the box with his head in the first-half. 

The 24-year-old could not help his side keep a clean sheet, thoughtheir 1-1 draw with Paraguay did seem them through to the knockout rounds.

However, Óscar Tabárez' side were dumped out in the last eight asMauricio Isla's 81st minute strike ensured Jorge Sampaoli's Chileput themselves into the semi-finals. 

How did the trio do overall?

It may have been a forgettable tournament on the Liverpool trio's part, but it certainly will have provided a valuable learning experience for Brazil duo Roberto Firmino and Philippe Coutinho.

At the creative heart of an underwhelming Seleção side, they were unable to really demonstrate their abilities, but they justified their inclusions in brief glimpses. 

The outgoing Sebastian Coates was a fleeting figure for his country, but only had a bit-part role on-loan at Sunderland last season and so his lack of game-time can largely be accredited to that, and the fact that Uruguay have some very talented centre-backs ahead of him in Diego Godin and Jose Maria Gimenez.

In terms of how much Liverpool supporters can take away from the performances of their players at the Copa America, Firmino in particular. They are much more capable than their showings in Chile made out.

Coutinho will be disappointed that he wasn't able to carry his club form into his performances with Brazil, whilst Firmino was restricted to sporadic highlights, but the pair will still be more than able to light it up together at Anfield next season.