OptiNews - Friday 07 to Thursday 13 July 2017

Sourced from Sky Sports article

Premier League and EFL wage rises analysed in Deloitte study

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Premier League revenues may have hit record levels - but player wages are soaring, too, reveals a study into football finances.

The Deloitte Annual Review of Football Finance 2017 takes an in-depth look at club finances from the 2015/16 season - the latest season in which complete records are available - and tells some interesting stories about the correlation between wage structure and league finishing positions.

In 2015/16 Premier League revenues were up nine per cent to a record £3.6billion but spending on wages was up 12 per cent to £2.3bn.

That outlay on wages grew at almost twice the rate it had in the previous two years.

However, Leicester City’s remarkable Premier League win highlighted that high wages do not necessarily translate into success on the field.

The Foxes’ £80m spend meant they had just the 15th highest wage bill in the division - £13m less than Aston Villa, who finished rock bottom of the table that season. Leicester’s wage bill would have been even less had they not had to pay out player bonuses for winning the title.

Other notable differences were seen at Chelsea, who finished 10th, despite having the second-highest wage bill in the division (£232m), and newly promoted Watford (£58m) and Bournemouth (£60m), who secured Premier League survival although they had the lowest spend on wages.

Tottenham (£105m) were the only club to reduce their wage bill year-on-year, while Manchester United (£241m) spent the most.

Interestingly, Aston Villa (88 per cent), Swansea (85 per cent), Palace (80 per cent), Stoke (79 per cent), Everton (78 per cent), Sunderland (78 per cent) and West Brom (75 per cent) all had a wage/revenue ratio above 70 per cent - the threshold level used by UEFA as part of Financial Fair Play Regulations, according to the report.

In the Championship, clubs’ spending on wages went up by four per cent to £561m, with the wage/revenue ratio alarmingly exceeding 100 per cent for the third time in four years.

In total, 13 clubs spent more on wages than their revenues, with Nottingham Forest’s wages/revenues ratio at 173 per cent.

League One clubs spent £113m on wages, a six per cent increase, while spending in League Two was up just two per cent to £60m.

Combined, Premier League and EFL wages increased to £2.65bn (up from £2.35bn) - more than double the total spent by clubs in Germany, Spain, Italy and France.

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Sourced from A tweet by SouthamptonFC tweet

@SouthamptonFC - Southampton FC

Coming soon: Say What? :joy:

Find out how good #SaintsFC’s @sammcqueen123 and @SamGallagher40 are at lip-reading:

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Summary of non-mainstream articles: 12/07/2017 17:38:39

| | Virgil van Dijk to Liverpool deal ‘is close’, Danny Murphy believes as more signings expectedSPORT360 |
| | Transfer news LIVE: Giroud, Arnautovic, King and moreFOURFOURTWO |
| | Villarreal brilliance suggests Luciano Vietto signing could be a Southampton masterstrokeHEREISTHECITY |
| | ‘He would hardly be a coup’, ‘Huge potential’ … Southampton fans divided on link to attackerFOOTBALLFANCAST |

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Summary of non-mainstream articles: 12/07/2017 18:00:03

| | Transfer news LIVE: Giroud, Arnautovic, King and moreFOURFOURTWO |

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Premier League managers: Every top flight club’s boss ranked on their playing career – from worst to best

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The English Premier League is home to a selection of the world’s finest managers, but were they as successful as players?

With a whole host of names having joined the top flight last season and throughout this summer, we’ve decided to compare each manager on how successful their career as a football player was.

Scroll through the gallery above to find out where your Premier League club’s boss ranks on his ability on the field.

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Virgil van Dijk to Liverpool: Danny Murphy opens up on possible transfer

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That’s the opinion of former Red Danny Murphy who is convinced Jurgen Klopp will know what he is doing.

Murphy has criticised the transfer window as a concept and believes it means everything will happen in late August.

“My understanding is that they are trying desperately hard to improve the squad and they are willing to put quite a few pounds behind that,” he told Sky Sports News.

TRANSFER NEWS LIVE: All the latest gossip, rumours and done deals

“I hope they get Van Dijk. I hope that happens because I think defensively is where they need to get better. They need a left-back of course.

“But you know, he is not a stupid man Klopp. He has seen now everything that he has got and what he needs.

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Saints discover Checkatrade Trophy opponents

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SAINTS have been drawn in a group with Cambridge United, Peterborough United and Northampton Town in the Checkatrade Trophy.

A team of the club’s under-21 players will compete in the tournament for a second successive season, having reached the first knockout stage last season.

The competition, which Saints won as a League One club during its days as the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy in 2010, opened its doors to Category One status academies for the first time last season.

Saints were very pleased with the experience for their young players, as Martin Hunter’s side took valuable lessons from playing League One and Two teams on a competitive stage.

After beating Crawley and Colchester United - and drawing with Charlton Athletic, the club’s under-23s reached the knockout stages, before losing out to Reading’s academy on penalties.

And after seeing Josh Sims and Sam McQueen break into the first team, after impressing in the Checkatrade Trophy, Saints decided to accept an invitation to next term’s tournament.

In Wednesday’s group stage draw, they will face League One sides Peterborough and Northampton as well as fourth tier outfit Cambridge.

The selection criteria for invited under-21 teams is ‘six players from the starting 11 must be under the age of 21 as of 30th June 2017’.

The first round of fixtures are scheduled to take place week commencing 28th August.

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Summary of non-mainstream articles: 12/07/2017 19:00:13

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| Southampton reportedly chasing Atletico Madrid strikerSBNATIONSTMARYSMUSINGS |
| | Liverpool’s attempts to sign Keita and Van Dijk a question of patienceANFIELDHQ |
| | Academy Sides Now Drawn For EFL Trophy 2017VITALFOOTBALL |
| | COBBLERS TO FACE SAINTS IN CHECKATRADE TROPHYNTFC |
| | Danny Murphy: Liverpool are ‘close’ to signing Virgil Van DijkANFIELDHQ |
| | LATEST NEWS: Peterborough United to play Saints in CheckatradePETERBOROUGHNOW |
| | Southampton test for Cambridge United in Checkatrade TrophyCAMBRIDGENEWS |
| | Virgil van Dijk deal is ‘close’ says former Reds midfielderGOLIVERPOOL |

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Sourced from Southampton FC - Official Site article

Saints’ Checkatrade Trophy opponents confirmed

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Southampton have today been drawn alongside Northampton Town, Peterborough United and Cambridge United in the group stages of the 2017/17 Checkatrade Trophy.

Saints, who are in Southern Group H, are one of the Category One status Academies invited to pit their wits against 48 League One and League Two sides after the change in format last season.

Martin Hunter’s men reached the knockout stages of the competition in 2016/17, before losing out to Reading on penalties.

The provisional dates for the fixtures are as follows:

Full match details and dates will be confirmed in due course.

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Sourced from talkSPORT article

Transfer news: Every Premier League club ranked by net spend so far this transfer window

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This summer’s transfer window looks set to break all manner of records.

So far Premier League clubs have spent £571million making it the fifth biggest window on record – and there’s still 50 days to go.

But, which club has splashed the most cash in this window according to net transfer spend?

Scroll through the gallery above to see who the league’s biggest spenders are this summer.

Figures from Sporting Intelligence correct as of 10/7/17.

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Summary of non-mainstream articles: 12/07/2017 20:00:20

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| SOUTHAMPTON U21’S JOIN U’S IN CHECKATRADE TROPHY GROUP STAGECAMBRIDGEUNITEDFC |
| | Transfer news LIVE: Giroud, Mbappe, Aubameyang and moreFOURFOURTWO |

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Sourced from A tweet by SouthamptonFC tweet

@SouthamptonFC - Southampton FC

Think you can take pictures like these?

#SaintsFC is on the lookout for another photographer to join the club:… https://twitter.com/i/web/status/885229624669741056

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Sourced from Sky Sports article

Premier League transfers rated by Fantasy Football

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We look towards the new Sky Sports Fantasy Football pricing list to see how highly the Premier League signings so far are rated.

While a lot of English talent has been on the move, clubs have also turned their heads to foreign imports and brought ashore some of the biggest names in Europe.

Following the launch of Sky Sports Fantasy Football’s 2017/18 version, and the pricing up of these new arrivals, here is how they would have scored in the game last season.

Whether Alexis Sanchez leaves Arsenal this summer or not, the signing of Alexandre Lacazette means the Emirates faithful are assured of skill, flair and goals this season. After scoring 27 times in 30 Ligue 1 games for Lyon, while also providing three assists, he arrives in north London with expectation but the talent to fulfil it. Lacazette’s £11.8m price tag is one of the highest in the game, £0.3m higher than compatriot and team-mate Olivier Giroud, but still a cheaper option to lead your attack than Sanchez (£12.7m), Sergio Aguero (£12.8m) or Harry Kane (£12.9m).

Chelsea’s airtight defence was a key factor in their Premier League title triumph last season, racking up 16 clean sheets, and Antonio Conte has built on that with the signing of Antonio Rudiger. The 24-year-old heads to England full of confidence after helping Roma finish second in Serie A, before winning the Confederations Cup with Germany this summer. Besides Kurt Zouma, who has been linked with a loan move to West Brom, Rudiger is the only Chelsea defender available for less than £10m this season, and looks worth the money after playing his part in 11 clean sheets last season.

Such was Manchester City’s speed in securing Bernardo Silva’s services it is almost easy to forget that he’s among the summer signings. Pep Guardiola wasted no time in splashing £43m on the talented Monaco attacking midfielder, who has been touted as a long-term replacement for his namesake, David Silva (£10.6m). The 22-year-old’s stats from last season suggest the transition could be sooner rather than later, having scored eight goals and provided nine assists in Ligue 1, trumping his new team-mate in both tallies.

Players moving from the Eredivisie do not have the most consistent record of lighting up the Premier League, but Davy Klaassen is a player who can defy that trend. The Netherlands international scored 13 goals from midfield last season at Ajax, while also providing nine assists from 57 chances created. If he can continue that form at Everton, then his £8.6m price tag will be one of the bargains of the season - making him cheaper than David Silva, Leroy Sane and Henrik Mkhitaryan, who all scored less than Klaassen’s estimated total last season.

After struggling to make his mark at Chelsea, Mohamed Salah silenced his critics at Roma last season with 15 goals and 11 assists in 31 games. One of only eight players to hit double figures in both columns across Europe’s top five leagues, his reward was a second chance in the Premier League, this time with Liverpool. His estimated points total puts him right up there with the best in England last season, making his £9.4m price tag a deal many will not want to miss out on.

After Romelu Lukaku’s departure, Sandro Ramirez may arrive at Everton with big boots to fill, but he also brings a fantastic scoring record with him. The former Barcelona man scored 14 times in 30 games for Malaga last season - despite them finishing 11th in La Liga. After proving himself in one of Europe’s big leagues, Sandro comes into Sky Sports Fantasy Football at a very reasonable price, costing less than Jamie Vardy, Olivier Giroud and Marcus Rashford - who all scored fewer goals last year.

Leicester City have been splashing the cash already this summer, including spending £15 million on Vicente Iborra. The 29-year-old arrives from Sevilla having not played as big a role as he may have hoped - starting only 12 of his 31 appearances in 2016/17 - but he still managed to make an impressive impact with seven goals and two assists. After being involved in a goal every 167 minutes, his price of £8.3m could be a real coup in this year’s game.

Benfica’s Primeira Liga title win last season was largely down to their league-best defence - one which kept 19 clean sheets in 34 games. At the heart of that was 22-year-old Victor Lindelof, who won 69 headers over the season while averaging six defensive actions per game. The Sweden international is an exciting addition to Jose Mourinho’s well-drilled team and comes into Sky Sports Fantasy Football as a cheaper option than many big names - such as Virgil van Dijk, John Stones and team-mate Eric Bailly.

Who will make your team? Draft your side, create and league and invite your mates to play for free here.

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Summary of non-mainstream articles: 12/07/2017 21:00:27

| | SA Teen Lands Pro EPL DealSOCCERLADUMA |
| | Harrison Reed is sure Norwich City will look the part under Daniel FarkeTHEPINKUN |
| | Cobblers handed Southampton Sixfields date, and face trip to Posh in Checkatrade TrophyNORTHANTSNEWS |
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| Liverpool Deal for Virgil Van Dijk “Close” Says Ex-RedSBNATIONTHELIVERPOOLOFFSIDE |

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Sourced from A tweet by SouthamptonFC tweet

@SouthamptonFC - Southampton FC

Day three in Austria: :white_check_mark:

Take a look through the best images as #SaintsFC continued their intense schedule:… https://twitter.com/i/web/status/885248905730035714

Retweets: 0

Favourites: 7

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Summary of non-mainstream articles: 12/07/2017 22:00:35

| | Transfer news LIVE: Januzaj, Mbappe, Aubameyang and moreFOURFOURTWO |
| | Murphy hopeful Liverpool can complete ‘phenomenal’ Van Dijk dealFOURFOURTWO |
| | Transfer news LIVE: Januzaj, Mbappe, Aubameyang and moreFOURFOURTWO |
| | Ex Liverpool star provides exciting inside update on Virgil van Dijk pursuitGIVEMESPORT |

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Sourced from A tweet by DExpress_Sport tweet

@DExpress_Sport - Express Sport

I think Virgil van Dijk is close to joining Liverpool - Former Anfield star Danny Murphy #LFC #saintsfc
http://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/828013/Virgil-van-Dijk-Liverpool-Danny-Murphy-Jurgen-Klopp-Premier-League-Transfer-News-Gossip

Retweets: 6

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Summary of non-mainstream articles: 12/07/2017 23:00:52

| | West Ham considering third Arnautovic offerREADWESTHAM |
| | Bookies make Everton and Southampton 8/1 outsiders to sign Oliver BurkeHEREISTHECITY |

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Summary of non-mainstream articles: 13/07/2017 00:01:05

| | EFL chief lifts lid on avoiding Pompey-Southampton clashPORTSMOUTHTODAY |

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