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With the FFP sanctioning on Manchester City, Manuel Pellegrini will need to make very smart choices in selecting his upcoming signings during the transfer window. They cannot make unnecessary buys unless they really need them and will look add players who can make an immediate impact.

City have a very star-studded side with a lot of friendly competition for places, but is lacking any real stable partnership in the back line. Vincent Kompany is the only centre-back who will be selected week in week out as the club will need to search for a permanent fix.

We take a look at SIX players that can make and instant impact upon joining the club in order to help them retain the league trophy as well as battle it out in Europe.

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CLICK ON DIEGO GODIN TO SEE THE FULL LIST

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Isco

Name: Isco

Age: 22

Position: Attacking Midfield

Nationality: Spain

Club: Real Madrid

Price: £25 – £30 million

Although Manchester City already have a star-studded midfield, the addition of Isco could give Manuel Pellegrini’s squad extra depth in their bids to challenge for more trophies, especially the Champions League.

The fact that Real Madrid will need to balance their books since their signing of James Rodriguez, they could allow the likes of Isco to leave the club for a much cheaper price than expected. His bid for first time football could be another factor pushing him towards a La Liga exit.

Eliaquim Mangala

Name: Eliaquim Mangala

Age: 23

Position: Centre-Back

Nationality: France

Club: FC Porto

Price: £20 – £25 million

Manchester City have their fair share of right and left backs, but somehow lack adequate cover in central defence. Although they have one of the best centre-backs in the English Premier League with Vincent Kompany, they don’t have somehow who is capable of creating a long term partnership with him.

Mangala is somebody who has been impressive over the past season and could easily step into the physicality of the league as he could use Kompany as his role model. Manuel Pellegrini should consider added him into his defence if he wants to avoid any last minute season defying injuries.

Paul Pogba

Name: Paul Pogba

Age: 21

Position: Central Midfield

Nationality: France

Club: Juventus

Price: £40 – £45 million

Paul Pogba recently won the award for best young player at the World Cup and if that isn’t enough to show just how good it is, then nothing will sway you. Having him in the squad will be seen as an instant boost in quality as he won’t need too much time to adapt to the English game.

Having been let go from Manchester United, Pogba could want the chance to hit back at his former employers to show just how big a mistake they made when they considered him to not be good enough to play for United. Since he already made a few Red Devils appearances in the past, he would already know how the game is played.

Diego Godin

Name: Diego Godin

Age: 28

Position: Centre-Back

Nationality: Uruguay

Club: Atletico Madrid

Price: £20 – £25 million

Diego Godin is another centre-back that could easily step into the Manchester City defensive role and make an instant impact with his vast experience for club and country. Having been part of the Atletico Madrid that boast the best La Liga defensive record as well as winning the entire league proves that he is an amazing player.

As a defender he even managed to net seven goals the previous season, only with a vital headed goal for the Uruguayan national team that defeated Italy 1-0 at the World Cup. His aerial presence both in attack and defence is a huge asset to whichever team can acquire his services.

Mats Hummels

Name: Mats Hummels

Age: 25

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Position: Centre-Back

Nationality: Germany

Club: Borussia Dortmund

Price: £25 – £30 million

Mats Hummels made himself one of the world’s best centre-backs with his display at the World Cup as he showcased his talents both defensively and in the attack. He managed to net two goals in Brazil, the most important one being the all important header against France that ended the match at 1-0.

Although being heavily linked with league rivals Manchester United, any concrete deal isn’t in negotiations leaving a possibility he could consider a switch elsewhere. Hummels is someone who can surely form a long-term partnership with club captain Vincent Kompany.

Raphael Varane

Name: Raphael Varane

Age: 21

Position: Centre-Back

Nationality: France

Club: Real Madrid

Price: £25 – £30 million

Dubbed as one of the best young centre-backs in the world, Manchester City should really consider making a move for Raphael Varane. Although only 21, he has a stable role at Real Madrid as well as for the French national team where he continues to impress. If they ever want to find a suitable replacement for Vincent Kompany, then this is as close as they will get.

Latest rumours suggest that Varane is still considering his options and he is still waiting for a new contract offer which will see him triple his current salary so that he can be more in par with other Real Madrid stars. Should talks of a new deal be put on hold, Manuel Pellegrini may want to find a way lure him away from Spain.

Every season Harry Redknapp seems to make the right signings but somehow the outcome is always the same.

This transfer window saw the him make some great additions to the Loftus Road outfit but I still have a bad feeling that they will end up back in Championship next season.

On transfer deadline day, Queens Park Rangers reunited two former Spurs boys Sandro and Niko Kranjcar, which in my opinion are great additions but I still can’t see it saving their season from relegation. Similarly to the last time the Hoops were in the Premiership, a squad bursting with talent couldn’t save them from an embarrassing relegation. Stephane Mbia, Chris Samba, Djibril Cisse… Surely enough arsenal to enable a decent run in the league, even mid-table obscurity would have been acceptable. Admittedly, though, Mark Hughes had left the club in a terrible state and low on morale after no wins and sitting rock bottom of the top-flight.

I was surprised that QPR managed to claw their way back to the top tier, with that much needed last minute goal from Bobby Zamora in the play-off final against Derby. Harry himself even admitted that if they hadn’t been promoted back at the first time of asking he would have considered quitting.

I’ve never been one to admire Redknapp’s tactical approach to the game but he has always seemed an effective man manager, getting the best out of the likes of Peter Crouch, Jermain Defoe and Gareth Bale from his days at Tottenham to name a few. I’ve even heard him comically referred to as football’s ‘Mr. Motivator’ – definitely not a name I’d ever call him.

Now as much as I rate Redknapp and this array of talent he’s surrounded himself with – including the appointment of former England manager Glenn Hoddle – somehow they never pull together and make it happen. Two seasons ago when they were previously in the top flight they had great players, some of the world’s top stars, but there was no chemistry at all.

I’ve heard it said, from back in his Portsmouth days, that he keeps signing players until he runs the team bankrupt and into administration. He seems to be a good coach with money but otherwise it just doesn’t work out.

The West London club always seem to have stars in their side, such as Julio Cesar, Loic Remy and Adel Taarabt to name but a few. For me that is the one most significant criticism that instantly comes to mind as a reason why they constantly underachieve – the money.

The Premier League is synonymous with big wages that often attracts the game’s biggest stars. Just look at Radamel Falcao and Angel Di Maria going to Manchester United, despite the club not competing in the Champions League this season. Premiership teams have the bottomless purses to pay players ludicrous amounts of money just to secure their signature.

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Just like other top-flight sides. QPR chairman Fernandes is synonymous with it and Redknapp loves it. He just buys to fill voids instead of setting up a strong foundation for the squad.

Last time my assessments of QPR’s Premier League adventure was cruel, but in this instance Redknapp, Hoddle and co. have a whole season to prove me wrong.

Let’s just see how they fare.

Arsene Wenger’s post-match interview with BBC Sport’s Jacqui Oatley following Arsenal’s 2-2 draw with Hull City in the Premier League over the weekend made for pretty awkward viewing. The reporter’s hard, probing questioning was a refreshing change to the usual interviewing formula of briefly asking the manager how the game went, evaluating the performance of a goalscorer or star player, and occasionally discussing any controversial decisions that may have occurred during the match, yet Wenger’s barbed, brusque responses were inappropriate given that Oatley was merely doing her job as she saw fit.

The Match of the Day commentator may simply have caught the Frenchman on a bad day, and a bad day it was for the Gunners, with Danny Welbeck having to rescue a point in stoppage time. Arsenal have now won only twice this season and are already 11 points off league leaders Chelsea, and despite the fact that the North London side are well known for their slow starts, Wenger’s cantankerous conduct with the press in the bowels of the Emirates Stadium may be a sign that he is finding it particularly difficult to cope with the demands and expectations of the current campaign.

After winning the FA Cup in May – their first piece of silverware in nine years – there was a firm hope among Arsenal’s fan base that this year would mark the mounting of a genuine title challenge after a number of seasons of being off the pace. Nevertheless, Wenger’s reluctant admission to Oatley that it is his team’s defensive shortcomings that are to blame for Arsenal’s record of two wins in eight implies that the Gunners have failed to adequately strengthen their backline, and with infuriating inactivity in the transfer market being a recurring criticism of Wenger, one can see why he may have found it uncomfortable to face the truth in front of the cameras.

Indeed, when Oatley dared to voice the genuine concerns of many Arsenal fans as to why the club refused to sign a centre half or a defensive midfielder in the summer, Wenger adopted a prickly tone, curtly and confusingly saying that the problem against Hull wasn’t the defence despite his admission to the contrary just moments before.

The maths just don’t add up for Wenger. Offloading four defenders over the summer (Bacary Sagna, Thomas Vermaelen, Carl Jenkinson and Ignasi Miquel) and bringing in two replacements (Calum Chambers and Mathieu Debuchy) has left Arsenal with a backline deficit of two compared to last season. Debuchy already faces a lengthy spell on the sidelines due to injury, and the Gunners are clearly struggling with a lack of defensive cover with Chambers’ recent suspension and Spanish full-back Nacho Monreal also crocked.

All of which points to a glaring oversight on Wenger’s behalf in not adequately reinforcing his defence during the transfer window. The Frenchman has since promised Arsenal fans that he will be delving into the market in January, but if the Gunners continue to slip up in the league until then, any purchases may ultimately be futile.

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Winning the league already looks to be beyond Arsenal this season, which will not not please their fans. If Wenger had only taken care of his defence earlier, he might not be feeling quite so hot under the collar, and we might have all been spared his petulant behaviour on Saturday.

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How many club captains are far from the fan favourite? West Ham’s for one.

Kevin Nolan has been the captain of West Ham United ever since he joined the Hammers in June 2011. He replaced an average captain in Matthew Upson and he was reunited with Sam Allardyce who chose the then 28-year-old to captain the side as they started their bid for an instant return to the Premier League.

Nolan left Newcastle United for West Ham where he was captain of The Geordies. Kevin scored 12 goals in The Championship campaign and helped guide The Hammers back to the Premier League via the playoffs. In the two Premier League campaigns that followed he was the clubs top goalscorer, albeit in a poor West Ham side in terms of attacking. So that’s both seasons that Nolan has been with West Ham in the Premier League that he has outscored all of his teammates – yet he still gets more criticism than most.

As the ‘Kevin Nolan saga’ continues, does he deserve to start for West Ham, and more bluntly is there any room for him?

Let’s get one thing straight, a captain’s influence is as much off the pitch as it is on it, and Nolan’s work behind he scenes seems excellent. He is one of the senior figures and with 359 Premier League appearances to date, he has a wealth of experience beyond most. He has personally shielded Andy Carroll and Ravel Morrison from the press’ jibes and he seems a popular figure within the squad, which has an obvious high level of morale.

He has been a consistent pick in West Ham’s squad under Sam Allardyce and hasn’t missed a game when fit. Many Hammers fans have been calling for Ravel Morrison to replace him, mainly during last season, but Big Sam has stuck by him. Now Morrison has gone on loan to Cardiff the competition for that centre-attacking midfield spot has weakened. Mauro Zarate can and will play there but West Ham’s formation has changed, and that’s why Morrison was allowed to leave on loan again.

The Hammers are largely donning a 4-3-3 formation with a free-roam given to Stewart Downing who’s excelling in his new role. Enner Valencia is playing out wide and both are supporting Sakho up top. Three central midfielders has been the order of the day for Big Sam’s new look West Ham.

Everyone knows that Nolan’s best position is in behind the front-man, and that’s how he has notched so many Premier League goals over the years from midfield. However, West Ham aren’t currently starting with a player in that position. Having said that, the Hammers are to be without Mark Noble and Cheikhou Kouyate for Sunday’s home game against QPR as they were for the trip to Old Trafford last weekend. This somewhat forced Big Sam’s hand into playing a centre-attacking midfielder, which Stewart Downing obliged. It wasn’t West Ham’s best performance of the season so far, but they should have got something out of the game after Wayne Rooney was sent off.

Kevin made his return from injury against Man United when he replaced Diego Poyet for the final 15 minutes. He showed that his knack of arriving late in the box is still present and he tucked away an equaliser which was rightly ruled out for offside but could have easily of been given on another day.

I think Sam will stick with his line-up against Man United for the visit of QPR and I fully expect Kevin Nolan to be used as a substitute, where he may well be just as effective as scoring late goals. His overall lack of effort during games won’t be missed so it’ll keep the Hammers fans happy if he is called upon late to find important goals, rather than to contribute very little to the team.

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Kevin’s days of playing in the Premier League are numbered, and that will be the case as he enters the final years of his career, but he can still do a job, and if he wants another job I wouldn’t mind him being a part of the coaching staff when that day comes. He’s a leader who is excellent for morale – he just doesn’t quite offer enough during the full 90 minutes anymore.

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The summer transfer deadline day headlines were well and truly stolen by Manchester United, who well and truly splashed the cash. The Red Devils took their total spend to an eye watering £150m thanks to a late loan deal for Radamel Falcao, who arrived amid a flurry of excitement and talk of a Premier League title charge.

Yet the Colombian’s time at Old Trafford has been, so far, relatively underwhelming, with fitness issues and competition for places having been factors in his lack of impact. Not yet a United player permanently, there have been suggestions that Louis van Gaal is considering backing out of a full transfer all together now, and here are FIVE reasons that may make sense…

Lack of playing time so far

Despite arriving in a headline grabbing loan deal with a reputation as one of Europe’s very best forwards, Falcao’s outings have been sporadic so far. The Colombian has featured nine times in total, five have been as a substitute, netting just two goals in the process. A troublesome calf injury has limited his time on the field, which has prevented United from getting a sound return on their considerable investment so far.

That knee injury

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Much of Falcao’s 2014 has been spent on the sidelines. The South American damaged his ACL way back in January while at Monaco, forcing him to sit out the back end of last season and the World Cup. United were stringent in their medical examination of the former Atletico Madrid and Porto ace, yet with such a problem, there’s always a chance of recurrence. Also, Falcao seems short of the yard of pace that made him such a hit, with his explosiveness having been his major strength in the past.

Age debate

While his birth certificate suggests that Falcao is 28, there are some suggestions that he may actually be 30. There is little proof to back up this claim, yet talk in his home continent circles around when he actually made his first-team debut, which, if everything lines up correctly, may have been in his early teens.

His birth certificate has been revealed, but there are numerous cases of incorrect documentation in some of the world’s poorer countries, so there’s potential for Falcao to be older than he says…

Massive fee

United have already paid a massive loan fee (rumoured to be around £6m) for Falcao and are handing him a wage in the region of £300,000-per-week, yet to keep him permanently another £43m will be needed. At the age of 28, the Monaco man has very little in the way of re-sale value and is now in the very middle of his ‘peak years’, making him a short-term fix. Wayne Rooney is of a similar age, while Robin van Persie is the wrong side of 30, so perhaps a younger option may be wiser.

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Where does he fit?

Now that Louis van Gaal has switched back to a 3-5-2 set-up, Falcao has been able to slot into a two man attack. Yet, when LVG has his defensive options in place, he may look to utilise his favoured 4-3-3 set-up, which allows him just one centre-forward. Rooney, Van Persie, James Wilson and Falcao will be his options, while there are suggestions that another big name striker is on the club’s transfer radar. Keeping so many stars happy will be tough, and it’s unlikely that Van Gaal will drop his captain or compatriot, so Falcao could be the man with the axe hovering above.

There has been a lot of speculation over the past week regarding the future of Manchester United’s goalkeeper, David de Gea. Many media outlets are reporting that Real Madrid are likely to pursue their interest in the Spanish goalkeeper, either during this transfer window or in the summer. And with the Independent suggesting de Gea will be available for £50 million; this begs the question, should United cash in on their number one with Victor Valdes waiting in the wings?

There is no doubting that de Gea has been United’s standout player this season, saving them from countless situations and winning points on his own. Without him it is very possible United wouldn’t be in the top four, suggesting what a great influence he has been this season.

The Spanish international joined the Red Devils from Athletico Madrid in 2011 for around £18 million at just 20-years of age. He endured a difficult first season at Old Trafford, with many experts stating that de Gea wasn’t ready to be the number one keeper at United. But in his second season he helped United secure their 20th and last top flight title to date, putting in a much improved season.

Over the past 18 months or so, de Gea has proven to be one of the best goalkeepers in the Premier League, if not in World football. But now with over 150 United appearances under his belt, it might be time for him to leave for bigger and better things at Real Madrid. Madrid are in search for a long term successor to Iker Casillas and, at 24, de Gea seems like the perfect man to take over.

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With the Red Devils obviously reluctant to sell now, the summer will more than likely be the best time to consider cashing in in order to get the most money for him. If the rumoured £50 million price tag is accurate then it would make de Gea comfortably the most expensive goalkeeper in the history of the game. De gea has 18 months left on his current Old Trafford contract and it is not guaranteed that he will sign a new deal.

So with that in mind, and Financial Fair Play forcing the need to function at a profit, selling de Gea might not be a bad option, especially for the astronomical fee reported. They shouldn’t stand in the Spaniard’s way should he want to leave and it isn’t the end of the world, not with another world-class goalkeeper ready to take over.

Victor Valdes has been one of the world’s most outstanding goalkeepers in the last decade or so. At 33, he still has plenty of years left in the game at the very highest level. He made over 500 appearances for Barcelona, winning six La Liga titles, three Champions Leagues and two Club World Cups. Valdes will go down as one of, if not the, best goalkeepers in Barcelona’s history. Whilst Barcelona had a world-class defence, Valdes often bailed his team out with quality and consistent performances that made him so highly regarded.

He was one of a host of world-class players for Barcelona and, despite injury ruling him out for the best part of a year, there is no doubt that he can still put in those types of performances for United in the Premier League. Valdes also has a lot more experience than de Gea, especially in big matches, which would benefit Van Gaal’s side should de Gea leave the club. There’s also no doubting that Valdes is at a very similar level to de Gea quality wise, with Valdes’ experience perhaps just edging it in terms of being the better goalkeeper. That might be an unpopular statement, but it’s accurate nonetheless.

If David de Gea was to leave for United, either now or in the summer, then Victor Valdes is exactly the type of goalkeeper Van Gaal would want to call upon as a replacement.

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Baring in mind Valdes is already at the club, then it might not necessarily be a bad thing if de Gea left.

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Following almost a year out of football due to a serious knee injury sustained back in January 2014, Theo Walcott has struggled over the last few months to get a run of games. Now with only 15 months left on his Arsenal contract, the winger and his club have been unable to come to an agreement.

Walcott currently earns around £90k-a-week, but is said to want a big rise to well over £100k, though Arsenal are understandably unwilling to meet this. That’s no surprise really, considering that the young man has spent a lot of time suffering with injuries and can’t even secure a place in the starting XI.

The problem is that since the arrival of both Alexis Sanchez and Danny Welbeck there is enough talent and cover in his position. A number of other players are also able to fill the wide position on the right, notably Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Santi Cazorla and Mesut Ozil all of whom have featured in this role.

Walcott is a talented player and has been important for the Gunners in the past but times have changed and the 26-year-old should be more focussed on winning back his place rather than negotiating for more cash.

Question is: would he really be willing to leave Arsenal over money?

According to the Daily Mirror Liverpool are ready to make an offer for him. The Merseyside club might have an important departure of their own this summer, with Raheem Sterling’s contract discussions also breaking down, and Walcott is seen as a worthwhile replacement. Manager Brendan Rodgers is said to be a huge admirer of Walcott and an enquiry was even made by Liverpool to bring the England international to Anfield before he signed his current Arsenal deal.

Sterling is expected to stay at Anfield, though, and the two players will get the chance to link up shortly while on international duty. Both Sterling and Walcott have been included in Roy Hodgson’s England squad to face Lithuania, a 2016 European qualifier, and an international friendly against Italy.

While it is true that Sanchez is hogging Walcott’s positio – the Chilean’s 13 league goals are only helping to further secure his place – it is also true that Walcott is loved by Arsenal supporters and they would be sad to see him go, especially to a top four rival like Liverpool. But Walcott needs to know that next season he’ll get to start a decent amount of games and actually have a good run, otherwise what’s the point in staying.

If Wenger can reassure Walcott that he has an important part to play in Arsenal’s future then he should focus on finishing this campaign strongly and look to fight for his position next season. Either commit to Arsenal and just take whatever offer the club puts on the table or leave for a team that will give him a fresh start and the pay packet he thinks he deserves.

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But at no cost should Wenger let him go on a free this time next year.

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Arsenal’s superb victory over Liverpool on Saturday lifted them up to second place in the Premier League table, and having opened up a nine-point gap over their last opponents in the race for the top four, they look like certainties to qualify for the Champions League once again.

Nothing new there, then.

Over the last decade this has been the norm for the Gunners and while fans have enjoyed the consistency of top four finishes, there has been little else to celebrate as their side have rarely threatened a realistic challenge for Premier League or Champions League glory, lifting just a solitary trophy thanks to their FA Cup victory last year.

But recent weeks suggest things could be about to get a lot more serious at the Emirates and judging by their emphatic display against Liverpool, it looks like Arsenal are finally emerging as genuine title contenders.

There have been plenty of calls for Arsenal to get rid of Arsene Wenger over the last few seasons, and after an awful display at home to Monaco in the Champions League, the pressure piled back onto the Frenchman as fans vented their frustration.

But aside from that disappointing European night, Arsenal have been on a tremendous run of form that has created a real positive atmosphere around the club. Since defeat at White Hart Lane back in February, they have won six consecutive games in the league, as well as reaching another FA Cup semi-final thanks to an impressive victory at Old Trafford. Nine wins from their last 10 Premier League games mean they are the form side in the division, culminating in a manager of the month award for Wenger. And there is now even talk that they could possibly catch Chelsea at the top of the table.

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While this looks extremely unlikely, that fact it is even being mentioned goes to show just much Arsenal have improved recently and they can take plenty of positives going into next season where they can then really challenge for the title.

While Arsenal’s ability to beat the lesser sides in the division has never really been questioned, it was their inability to pick up points against the bigger clubs that often proved to be their downfall. But having left both Manchester sides with victories since the turn of the year, and then hammering Liverpool at the weekend, they seem to have turned a corner.

With the emergence of Francis Coquelin epitomising their new found resolve, they look a far more solid outfit defensively that has improved the balance of the side. Coquelin’s inclusion in the side has allowed their attacking quality to thrive in recent months, and there’s no doubt they have one of the best array of options available going forward in the division.

Alexis Sanchez has been superb since his arrival, and with the likes of Mesut Ozil, Aaron Ramsey, Santi Cazorla, Danny Welbeck and Theo Walcott all guaranteeing goals, Wenger is hardly short of options going forward. The ability of all these players to rotate and play anywhere across the midfield or attack gives the manager real options when selecting his team and allows his side to continue playing the attractive style of passing football that they have become famous for.

Add to this their in form striker Olivier Giroud and they really have all the ingredients to challenge for the league next season. The Frenchman joined Wenger in picking up the player of the month award for March thanks to his five goals last month. Since his nightmare against Monaco, Giroud has shown his class and importance to the team with seven goals in as many games, and he also netted for his country during the international break.

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If Arsenal can continue their impressive run of form until the end of the season, they could ultimately end up with a second-placed finish as well as another FA Cup trophy, which would have to go down as a successful campaign. With one or two new recruits in the summer, Wenger will be quietly confident that his team could then go one better next season and end their wait for another Premier League crown.

Providing they can stay clear of injuries, which have proved a real burden over recent seasons, Arsenal may well be about to step it up another level.

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Tottenham will not break into the top four this season, but should be competing once again in the continent’s second best tournament next term.

It doesn’t sound like a great campaign until you factor in the obstacles Spurs have had to face. New manager Mauricio Pochettino has had to familiarise himself with the squad and work out a viable formation.

This has not been easy considering that a number of key roles lack players who have the necessary ability to do the job right. It has been expected for a long time now that Pochettino will be dumping as many underachieving players as he can this summer in order to free up money for important signings.

Fortunately there have been a few very capable players this season that the club must hold onto and here are five of them…

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Harry Kane

No list of Tottenham’s most important players would be complete without a mention for Spurs wonder kid Harry Kane.

The 21-year-old has lit up the league this season by scoring 20 goals, becoming Spurs’ main striker and game changer. Kane has a bright future ahead of him, just as long as this spectacular year doesn’t turn out to be fluke.

If he really is that good then offers from the richest clubs in Europe will come flooding in and may already be on their way but Tottenham must do everything they can to convince him to stay put.

Hugo Lloris

A goalkeeper of Lloris’ quality was always going to be the club’s first choice between the sticks, so when he signed back in 2012 it was no surprise that long term keeper Brad Friedel was forced out.

Now in his third season, having been one of the Premier League’s best, there are rumours circulating that the Frenchman could be poached by a number of different clubs in the summer.

Lloris has made numerous important and impressive saves to keep Spurs in European contention and they’ll certainly need him once again next season if they want to break into the top four.

Christian Eriksen

Christian Eriksen has had his ups and downs this season but when he has been on form then he is a vital cog in Spurs’ midfield.

The 23-year-old joined Spurs in 2013, and this season he has found the net 10 times – making him the squad’s joint second most prolific player.

The Dane still isn’t the finished article but given more time he can mature into a great attacking midfielder, and Spurs will want him in their ranks when that occurs.

Nacer Chadli

Like Eriksen, Nacer Chadli has scored 10 league goals for Spurs but he has gone one better and provided five assists, which is three more than the Dane.

Chadli only scored one league goal last season, so his improvement this campaign has been significant and is perhaps in part down to the arrival of Mauricio Pochettino.

The winger has made over 30 appearances in what has been a period of transition for the club, who are hoping that next year’s squad will return much stronger.

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Pochettino will have decided which of his players deserve to stay this summer and Chadli has proven he is definitely one of them.

Danny Rose

Since joining Tottenham back in 2007 Danny Rose has been loaned out four times.

But in the last two seasons under both Tim Sherwood and Mauricio Pochettino, Rose has found himself featuring heavily at White Hart Lane.

Though at only 24-years-old, the left-back has drawn attention from big spenders Manchester City, who would like to add him to their ageing squad, but Spurs will reportedly ignore all offers.

Rose signed a new 5-year-deal last year that should keep him at White Hart Lane until 2019, which by then may finally see Spurs regularly competing in the Champions League as planned.

One deal is done and dusted, with plenty more action to occur for Manchester United over the coming weeks and months. But there could be as many players going out as there is coming in. Without realising it, have we seen some Manchester United players play their final game at Old Trafford?

There is a massive air of uncertainty surrounding David De Gea’s future at Manchester United. Rumours have been rife for months that Real Madrid are interested, and De Gea is willing to go. Team mate Juan Mata is unsure over de Gea’s future, as is the boss.

Louis Van Gaal addressed the situation: “He is Spanish and his girlfriend is Spanish and he can go to another great club, so it is difficult for him to decide.

“David De Gea shall not leave us so easily because we are a great club and he wants to participate.”

This is the first real indication Van Gaal has given that De Gea’s time as a Manchester United player is up. When Real come calling, it is hard to turn down. But could De Gea handle the pressure? Or will he even get the minutes ahead of Iker Casillas?

Radamel Falcao looks more certain to leave Manchester United. Based on the fact his contract is a season long loan deal with the option to buy, but the price tag is up in the air. At the beginning of the season, it was thought to be around £43million, but with Monaco in a financial situation with Financial Fair Play, it could be dropped.

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Even if his fee came at a cut price, it would not be enough to justify his season. Just four goals to his name is not enough for a world class striker, and you cannot just throw money at a player who will not deliver.

Or else, you take the risk and hope it pays off. As they share the same agent, it had been said that Falcao’s United future had to be linked with De Gea’s. Falcao waved off fans, presumably for the last time, as he was subbed off for another player who could be leaving.

That player being Robin Van Persie. He walked into the team in the first half of the season, despite suffering from a ‘World Cup hangover’ – seeing as he played under Van Gaal then, you can see why he was chosen. But with injuries, and an improved team performance since he hadn’t been able to play, things haven’t looked so good in the second half.

Louis Van Gaal also needs to be realistic. Van Persie, while he is still a good forward, and should be commended for his season despite his hardships, is at an age where the clock is ticking on his career. Rumour has it Juventus are interested in the Dutchman.

It just hasn’t been Angel Di Maria’s season, but the dream isn’t over just yet. He may not have many goals, but he has plenty of assists (second behind Fabregas for the season), and his recent comments suggest he is determined to prove himself at his new club. He has admitted he has struggled to adapt to English football, but he wants to become “part of the history of Manchester United.”

With a hefty price tag – the most expensive in English football – it’s easy to see why he wants to stick it out and prove himself. Fleeing off to PSG would put di Maria in the history books as a huge waste of money.

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He didn’t feature in the game, nor did he even make the bench, which gives a pretty clear indication that Jonny Evans will be playing elsewhere come August. The six match ban brought an incredible run of form for Manchester United, and highlighted how weak a link Evans is at the back. V

an Gaal has given more opportunities to younger players who have shown potential, while helping to push Evans out the door.

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