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Borussia Dortmund accrued an impress roster of youngsters on their way to last season’s Bundesliga win, and none have impressed more than Shinji Kagawa.

These performances have drawn attention from far and wide, and with Dortmund out of the Champions League, Liverpool, Man Utd and AC Milan are set to tempt the striker away.

Dortmund paid just £300,000 to the J-League’s Cerezo Osaka for the player but his value has risen dramatically, and Italian site ITA reports AC are set to offer €15 million for the player, a move talkSPORT believes will likely prompt similar action from at least one, if not more, Premiership clubs.

As well as a great young player, these clubs may also have an eye on the possible financial benefits that come with signing an Asian player. Man Utd have long been cashing in on Park JI-Sung in the Korea market, But China’s Dong Fangzhou shows the limits to these transfers. Liverpool will be hoping Kagawa has more in common with the former than the latter.

Man Utd’s interest reflects their current rebuilding phase, and SAF’s policy of snapping up the best youngsters across Europe to build a United team that can go on challenging Man City and others for years to come. Kagawa would fit nicely slongside the likes of De Gea, Jones, and Smalling in this future team.

Kagawa, just 22, looks set to make these clubs wait however as he recently told German paper Die Welt “”Right now, it’s just about me being successful here with Dortmund”, and went on “For a player like me to come here and win the championship is really an honour”.

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His contract runs until 2013, and the player doesn’t seem like he will force a move away, but will Dortmund be able to resist cashing in on the player for a big profit?

It’s been coming for nearly 20 years now, but finally the money men of the Premier League have finally won the power battle with the FA. Last Wednesday the FA gave their ‘private’ response to the government recommendations about the structure of the FA and it’s governance and it’s widely thought that the FA have handed over all governance of the league over to Premier League chiefs.

In 1992, the FA allowed the top clubs to share the new money coming in from Sky between them and not between the 92 clubs that make up the football league, allowing rich owners to get richer and poor clubs to get poorer or end up bankrupt. Fast forward twenty years and that is exactly what has happened, although now the Premier League wants more power and has got it.

The document is thought to have been a reshaping of the FA’s board, however plans to reduce the number from 14-10 is still a sticking point the FA seem unwilling to budge on.

It will also reshape the maze of decision making structures, which is where the Premeir-League will gain most of it’s powers. The FA will not have a say in the decisions made by the Premier-League, although they will be able to veto some changes.

The FA chairman David Bernstein was pleased with how well the FA and Premier League have got on while dealing with these new reforms, probably because Bernstein and the FA have given up trying to hold their own against the might of the Premier-League and have basically bent over for them.

Now that the Premier-League has won this power battle, what’s to stop them wanting even more, a majority of top flight clubs want B teams like they have across Europe to help them blood new talent, what if the Premier League created their own B league with Sky paying money for the television rights. How many football league clubs would try and jump ship? Leaving the FA with nothing but memories of it’s glorious past?

The problem has always been the poor running of the FA and it’s now too late for Bernstein to save it.

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Are the FA right to give the Premier-League power? Tweet me your view @deanmears.

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Wigan’s mini-revival was brought a stuttering halt as Arsenal scored four without reply to run out convincing winners at the DW Stadium and move to within two points of the Premier League top four.

Following last week’s dramatic late win at Sunderland the Latics went in search of back-to-back victories for the first time season but were brought thumping back down to earth by the clinical Gunners. A promising start from Roberto Martinez’s side gave way to an Arsenal side who are still undergoing an renaissance of their own and they displayed their class with Mikel Arteta and Thomas Vermaelen scoring within a minute of each other to send the visitors into the break with a two goal advantage. Gervinho extended that lead in the second half before Robin Van Persie continued his prolific form in 2011 with his 37th goal in all competitions during the calendar year. The win saw Arsene Wenger’s men climb to fifth in the table behind Chelsea who beat Newcastle earlier in the day.

The home side will be disappointed that they were beaten in such a manner on their home turf as they slipped back into familiar territory with this defeat sending them back to the bottom. Still brimming with confidence following their first win in 10 games Wigan looked bright in the opening stages with Victor Moses and Connor Sammon causing the away side a few problems. Still they look impoverished in attack and were made to pay for some substandard finishing as the Gunners raced into a two goal lead before the hosts even had time to blink. Firstly, Arteta opened the scoring on 28 minutes lashing a long range a shot towards goal that passed through the hands of goalkeeper Ali Al Habsi. The Oman stopper really should have done better and he found himself picking the ball out of the net just a minute later after Vermaelen powered in a header via the post to give his side a nice cushion going into the second half.

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Wigan briefly threatened a comeback after the break with Moses flashing a shot across goal before Mohamed Diame went close with an effort. Arsenal started to dominate again and felt they should have had a penalty after Aaron Ramsey was fouled by Steve Gohouri in the penalty area. They didn’t have to wait long to increase their lead with Gervinho making it 3-0 just after the hour stabbing home from close range after Al Habsi had spilled Van Persie’s effort. There was still time for the Dutchman to grab a goal waiting till the 78th minute before scoring his 13th of the season sweeping the ball home after being set up by Theo Walcott to make it six wins in seven games since their defeat against Tottenham in October.

Theo Walcott is gunning for a berth in the Arsenal forward line next season after five years on the wing at the north London club.Walcott, 22, joined English Premier League side Arsenal from Southampton in January 2006.

He has made 114 appearances in all competitions for Arsenal, the majority of them coming in a wide role.

Now set to embark on his fifth full season in the Arsenal first team, the England international has his sights set on a centre-forward spot.

“I was signed as a striker – I want to play up front. I think I have done my trade out on the wing,” Walcott said.

“I think a lot of people forget I’m not a winger. I see myself as a striker, but if I get played up front it will take me a few games to get used to playing there again because I haven’t played there for about five years.”

“I think I have done a fairly good job on the wing for Arsenal. For this team I will play anywhere, but hopefully the fans will start seeing me up front a bit more.”

Walcott could be set to follow the path of former team-mate Thierry Henry, who made the transition from an unproductive wide role at Juventus to starring as a striker for Arsenal.

“I’ve been practicing my finishing after training,” Walcott said.

“This season, 15-20 is my target.”

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“I know I’m not going to play every single game. I always work at a high intensity so I’m not going to be able to do every single game.”

“The boss will know that as well. Hopefully I will be given a bit more of a free role as well. I’m intrigued to see what happens.”

Arsenal finished fourth in the English Premier League last season, losing in the Carling Cup final to Birmingham City and bowing out of the Champions League and FA Cup to Barcelona and Manchester United respectively.

Germany coach Joachim Loew was delighted with his side’s 2-1 win over Austria in Vienna on Friday to all but secure a place at Euro 2012.The win lifted the Germans seven points clear of Belgium on top of Group A, with Belgium having played one game more than the leaders.

While Loew acknowledged Germany were not at their best after a long Bundesliga season, the coach said they were happy to overcome a tough test and deal Austria’s qualification hopes a hammer blow.

“I am delighted that we won the match,” Loew said. “It’s good to come to Austria and get the three points even when we haven’t played so well.”

“Some players were clearly at the limit of their strengths – we made mistakes that could have been avoided.”

“Austria brought everything to this game. They were good and fought hard, and perceived this match as their last chance.”

“I am happy because it was fortunate, but also proud because the players wanted to win this game.”

Defender Philipp Lahm said the squad was pleased with the win, and insisted they were looking forward to securing full points against Azerbaijan on Tuesday before taking a well-earned break.

“We should talk again after Tuesday,” Lahm said. “We must win in Azerbaijan, but it is looking good for us.”

“We worked hard today and collected three points. Now after Tuesday we can reassess and then we’ll be able to go on holiday without any worries and I believe that qualification will then be all but assured.”

Real Madrid boss Jose Mourinho launched a remarkable outburst at the ‘power’ of Barcelona over referees after Wednesday’s 2-0 defeat.In the third of four El Clasicos, Barcelona took the advantage after the first leg of the Champions League semi-final tie at the Bernabeu, courtesy of a stunning Lionel Messi brace.

Messi’s masterclass ensures the task of Mourinho guiding Real through the second leg at Camp Nou next Tuesday and into the final at Wembley is a tough one.

“The return game is mission impossible,” former Chelsea and Inter Milan manager Mourinho said.”Barcelona has qualified for the final.”

But while he conceded the tie to Pep Guardiola’s side, Mourinho launched a vicious tirade over the performance of the match officials, accusing them of handing his opponents preferential treatment.

The Portuguese suggested Pepe’s sending off in the 61 minute for an untimely lunge on Dani Alves was a result of outside forces gifting the Catalans an upper hand.

“Sometimes I feel disgusted about this football world of ours. (And) yes, we have already been knocked out,” said Mourinho, who himself was sent to the stands for his protests over Pepe’s dismissal.

“No one has any chance against Barca. Where does all this power come from? To win like this is very nasty.”

“We had the intention to keep the game at 0-0, then bring on a striker, then a third phase with a number 10 behind three forwards. But the ref didn’t allow it.”

The reigning Champions League winning coach also alluded to the controversial circumstances with which eventual 2008/09 champions Barca qualified for the final after knocking out Chelsea in the semi-final, likening his former side’s plight to his own.

“I would be ashamed if I was Barca, how they won Champions League in 2009 – (it) was the scandal of Stamford Bridge,” he said.

“(And now) this is the scandal of the Bernabeu.”

“But I just do not understand why Barcelona always receives the help of the referee. All my life I will be asking myself this question, and one day I hope to receive an answer.”

“I don’t understand why Barcelona have this power. It happened two years ago to Chelsea (in the 2009 semi-finals), almost to my Inter last year, and also to Arsenal this year.”

“Why do the opponents of Barcelona always have a man sent off? Where does this power come from? Maybe it is to give more publicity to UNICEF, maybe because of the power of (Spanish federation president Jose Angel) Villar in UEFA.”

Sergio Batista has been sacked as coach of Argentina’s national football team, it was announced on Monday.Batista took over the reins at the South American powerhouse from legendary player Diego Maradona 12 months ago – initially in a caretaker position, before being handed the role proper.

The Argentine Football Association’s executive committee met on Monday, and made the decision to move on the 48-year-old former Argentina international.

The move comes swiftly following Argentina’s failure to fire at their hosting of the Copa America, registering just one victory and bowing out in the quarter-finals, despite holding aces such as Lionel Messi, Carlos Tevez and Gonzalo Higuain.

Lasting in the job just under one year (he was hired on July 27, 2010, and fired on July 25), Batista most memorably steered Argentina to a 4-1 win over World Cup holders Spain and also to a 1-0 win over Brazil.

His luck ran out at the recent Copa, which Uruguay won for the 15th time in their history, when pressure on his star-studded side saw Messi struggle to enforce his influence, and resulted in Tevez missing the decisive penalty in the shootout against the eventual champions.

Former Manchester United defender Gary Neville has dismissed England’s chances of winning Euro 2012, stating that the core of the team is not as strong as other nations.

The 2-2 draw with Montenegro in Podgorica on Friday night assured that Fabio Capello’s men will take their place in Poland and Ukraine next year.

Despite an unbeaten qualifying campaign, the 85-times capped full-back is not convinced by The Three Lions’ chances.

“It’s as though we think one world class player might be able to propel us to a major trophy,” he stated in the Mail on Sunday.

“And now we are talking about Rooney possibly missing two games at Euro 2012 when what we should be talking about is the spine of a team that has no mobility and can’t keep the ball.

“When I look at it coldly, a team that has John Terry, Gary Cahill, Scott Parker, Gareth Barry, Darren Bent and Rooney in its central positions is nowhere near good enough to take on the major nations such as Spain.

“I’m not having a go at individuals; there are some very good players among those names. Collectively, Rooney aside, there is hardly any pace, very little invention and hardly any rotation of positions.

“The real issue is that the spine of the team is not good enough, as it stands, to take on Spain, Italy, France or Germany at Euro 2012,” he stated.

Neville picked the world champions out as a particular team of strength, that England may not be able to compete against, but will come head-to-head with on November 12th in an international friendly.

“Compare England with the spine of Spain: Carles Puyol, Gerard Pique, Xabi Alonso, Xavi, David Villa and Fernando Llorente. That’s the issue Fabio Capello now has to resolve and why the Wembley friendly is so much more than a practice.

“Never has a friendly been more important.

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“It’s like a Cup final. Somehow, Capello has to do something that no England manager has done in 15 years, and that is make the England players believe that this next match could be the most important of their life,” he concluded.

By Gareth McKnight

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Harry Redknapp revealed that he would be happy to see David Beckham at Tottenham, when the player’s contract expires at the LA Galaxy. Harry says he is still a quality Premier League player and would welcome him with open arms should he wish to move to North London.

Elsewhere in the papers the Everton board hits out at protest; Villas-Boas reveals he won’t be afraid to wield the axe, while Roberto Martinez believes that Manchester City are unplayable.

Harry open to Beckham return – Sky Sports

I could drop both Torres and Lampard, admits Villas-Boas – Guardian

Dalglish backs Carroll after criticism – Guardian

Pardew frustrated over failure to buy a striker – Guardian

Pearce wants to get his Phil for kid Lions – Sun

De Gea keeping the faith despite mistakes – Daily Telegraph

Everton board hit back at angry fans in row over sale of cash-strapped Toffees – Daily Mail

Martinez: Manchester City are ‘unplayable’ title contenders – Sun

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Arsenal scouts keeping tabs on Anderlecht’s midfield anchor Biglia – Daily Mail

QPR manager Warnock hits out at ‘pathetic’ internationals – Daily Mail

AC Milan join Liverpool in chase for Ajax teen sensation – Talksport

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Newcastle recorded an impressive 3-0 win over Manchester United on Wednesday night, with Demba Ba continuing to impress his boss Alan Pardew and all other onlookers.

The Senegal international scored the opening goal, before a superb Yohan Cabaye free kick doubled the Toon’s lead; Phil Jones put through his own net late in the game to compound the Premier League champions’ misery.

Newcastle manager Alan Pardew will now be without Ba, as the striker goes to compete in the African Cup of Nations, but was happy with his team’s performance.

“We won because we controlled the game in terms of what we wanted to do, we wouldn’t let them play,” he told Sky Sports.

“Physically and aerially today we had an advantage. It was a great victory for us – we beat the champions 3-0 and we probably deserved that scoreline.

“You’ve got to have brave players who are going to push on – we had some outstanding performances individually,” he stated.

The result leaves United three points behind cross-town rivals Manchester City at the top of the Premier League, but Sir Alex Ferguson refuses to panic after the defeat.

“It’s advantage to City, of course. But it’s not a time to panic – we have the experience to cope with that,” he commented.

“We started reasonably well. But they scored a fantastic goal and it really picked everyone up in the stadium.

“The second was a killer for us. We didn’t make enough of our possession,” he concluded.

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By Gareth McKnight

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