Despite seeing out a large portion of the 2015/16 Premier League campaign in rather assured circumstances at the Emirates this term, Arsene Wenger and his increasingly predictable Gunners outfit look set to end the current season firmly placed within those all-important top-four spots, but still seemingly miles off claiming the league title outright.

Several high profile assets in the current Arsenal contingency could therefore be forced to pack their bags this summer due to the distinct lack of progress made in 2015/16, and seeing as the former England international and Southampton youngster can’t even make the Gunners’ starting XI right in the here and now, Theo Walcott could be one the those players to bid farewell to the Emirates in the not too distant future.

So then, although the 27-year-old striker is still one of Arsenal’s highest earners, has Walcott really come to the end of the road with his current employers, or must Wenger persuade the out-of-sorts front-man to stay on at the Emirates for at least another season?

Well, although the former Three Lions favourite has certainly suffered with his fair share of injury related issues whilst operating in north London, the 2015/16 campaign has proven one to forget for the current Gunners no. 14 when all is said and done.

For one reason or another, Walcott hasn’t delivered on the apparent potential he once had to offer. While the lightening-quick forward still admittedly resembles something close to a dangerous option when playing to the very best of his abilities, the former Saints graduate has failed to truly progress while representing Wenger’s side.

The long-term Gunners boss has toyed around with Walcott’s so-called ‘preferred’ playing position for so long now it remains somewhat difficult to place the 27-year-old in his ideal slot out on the pitch. Is his pace best utilised out wide on the flanks? Should Walcott be played solely as a centre-forward with no defensive responsibility whatsoever? Or could the widely admired striker simply be in need of a recognised strike-partner?

It remains somewhat hard to settle upon a definitive answer. Even though Walcott was once considered one of the most significant shining lights on the international scene for England just a handful of short seasons ago, his overall failure to develop as an Arsenal player has now seen the likes of Harry Kane, Daniel Sturridge, Jamie Vardy and Danny Welbeck quickly rise above him in the Three Lions’ pecking order.

Walcott should therefore consider the option of moving on this summer, for despite admittedly failing to set the Premier League alight in recent years, a fair amount of attacking potential does still theoretically reside somewhere within the former Southampton front-man.

If the versatile forward were to try his hand in a new environment for the upcoming 2016/17 campaign, under a different manager with fresh ideas looking ahead to the future, it remains more than plausible for Walcott to rediscover his once formidable mojo.

The writing does seem to reside right there on the wall for Walcott at this particular stage in his career, even if Wenger would still want to keep the out-of-form striker on the Arsenal books for at least another season.

As Jurgen Klopp and Liverpool will reportedly come a-callin’ for the quick-footed striker’s services sooner rather than later, perhaps it’s time the Emirates faithful finally readied their goodbyes for this talented, yet often equally frustrating, striker.

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Ok, so the realisation that their club officially cannot win the title this season has hit our Tottenham Hotspur supporting locals pretty hard in recent days.

Still, there’s so much to be excited about at White Hart Lane and the more optimistic bunch in the Transfer Tavern are consoling those who are feeling as if the world might just about end.

The feeling of optimism doesn’t just end with the fans it seems. Spurs playmaker Christian Eriksen has told the Daily Mail he is excited for the future under the masterful stewardship of Mauricio Pochettino.

The Argentine has revamped the club from bottom to top and the 44-year old looks well placed to carry on his good work, having agreed a new long-term deal in North London.

Eriksen believes the former Southampton coach may well even lead them to a first Premier League title after narrowly missing out to Leicester City this season.

‘From the first day he has been focused on taking the club to the next step and he has done that’, revealed the Dane.

‘So hopefully he will take it to the next step and from then on it can only go one way.’

‘We have the quality and the youth and the engagement to go into a game and win, no matter who we are playing.’

Will Spurs win a league title under Pochettino? 

Last season should have been a different one for Everton.

With Stones at the back, Barkley in midfield and Lukaku up front, a thin spine had formed, but whilst there were great expectations only sheer mediocrity surfaced.

Roberto Martinez paid for the lack of improvement with losing his role as Toffees boss, as the fans’ frustration became increasingly noticeable.

One lamentable performance after another, as the Everton team conceded goals aplenty and lost games, they would normally contrived to win. Star performers withered away to become shadows of their former selves and the board knew it was time for change.

With the introduction of Ronald Koeman as the new boss, in comes a war chest of around£100m. A blue revolution is in the air as Koeman goes shopping.

Here are his ten intended targets…

Axel Witsel

Witsel managed three goals and two assists in 29 league appearances from a defensive midfield position for Zenit last season.

After a sound individual display in the Euro’s, Witsel will have choices of where to pursue his career, but Koeman is keen.

Tim Krul

After the signing of Maartin Stekelenburg, Koeman still wants a No.1.

Fellow Dutchman Krul has impressed with Newcastle United and it’s thought that Krul will be making his way to Merseyside soon.

Krul is still under contract at Newcastle for another year meaning this summer will be the last big chance to cash in on the Hague-born stopper.

Graziano Pelle

Ronald Koeman is reportedly interested in reuniting with former striker Graziano Pelle, with a fee of up to £20m being talked about.

The Italian international has just one year left on his contract, so the Saints will demand a high fee for the 30-year-old.

Juan Mata

At £20m, Koeman is definitely interested in this midfield playmaker. A transfer to Goodison Park would reunite The Spaniard after their time at Valencia.

Michael Keane

Koeman has already failed with one bid to entice Keane away from newly promoted Burnley.

The 23-year-old has been a rock at the heart of Burnley’s defence this season as Sean Dyche’s men have won promotion back to the Premier League. Expect further bids as Stones departs.

Saido Berahino

The 22-year-old has just one more year left on his contract and has wanted to leave The Hawthorns for some time.

An ideal replacement for the outward bound Lukaku?

Yannick Bolasie

The Eagles are thought to be willing to allow the DR Congo international move on this summer after last week’s capture of Andros Townsend, and it’s believed that the Toffees are leading the chase for a player, who could end up costing around £20million.

Bolasie has been the Eagles’ stand-out performer of the last two seasons.

Kamil Grosicki

£10m-rated Polish winger Grosicki is currently with French side Rennes and is now on the Everton wish-list.

The speedy attacker has been tracked for some time by Koeman, who is keen to inject pace into his forward line. Grosicki, 28, is right-footed, but has been playing on the opposite flank for Poland during the Euro’s.

Morgan Schneiderlin

Rumoured to be happy to be reunited with Koeman at Everton and thought to be leaving United under Mourinho’s shake-up.

Mateo Kovacic

The Croatian midfielder has struggled to break into the team at the Bernebeu and it’s reported that Real Madrid are keen to recoup some of the outlay they paid Inter Milan last summer.

£30m is supposedly the asking price.

It may only have just got under-way but the new Premier League season has already thrown up some interesting plot lines.

The opening fixture saw champions Leicester succumb to a 2-1 defeat at the hands of everyone’s relegation favourites Hull City in a game that looks like it will set the tone for the Foxes season.

Teams know how to play Leicester now and for the first time perhaps in their history, they have a target on their back. Everyone they face is going to up their performance because they are the title holders.

The opening weekend also saw the first chance to see what the pretenders to their crown could do and one of the most impressive performances, came from Manchester United. The Red Devils got off to a winning start at Bournemouth and things are certainly looking good for a run at the title.

It’s early days of course, but the signs are there.  So here are FIVE reasons why United could be lifting the Premier League trophy in May…

Jose Mourinho

He’s a serial winner, what more do you need for a manager. Yes he may be abrasive to say the least at times but you cannot doubt the fact that he will get United close to the title by hook or by crook.

Bringing in Mourinho almost guarantees trophies and after what happened at Chelsea he may feel he has a point to prove, the rest of the league better watch out.

Ibrahimovic looks settled

There may have been some doubt as to whether the former PSG man could be a success in the Premier League given his age but he looks set to banish these rather quickly.

He scored the winner in the Community Shield before scoring the third against Bournemouth to kill off the game. If he stays in this form with his wealth of title experience United have to be confident.

Eric Bailly

Bailly looks like a real find. Signing from Villarreal few expected him to be such a star so early on in his United career but he’s arguably their first choice centre half already.

He looks strong and composed at the back and doesn’t look like he’s going to get bullied by Premier League forwards. All this combined with his young age means the Red Devils have someone who will allow them for continued success.

Gritty performances

The performance against Bournemouth wasn’t outstanding because of the football United played but the sheer nature of their victory. They didn’t actually play that well but took their chances when presented with them and defensively looked very good. They look like they’ve taken on board their new manager’s tactics quickly too and so this combined with winning whilst playing badly can only lead to success.

Fear factor

United are gradually building back that fear factor again that has been missing for the last three years. Jose Mourinho knows how to mix it with the best managers in the world and get under their skin whilst players like Ibrahimovic, Bailly and Paul Pogba aren’t going to be intimidated.

United desperately needed a confidence boost and a reminder of who they were and it already looks like they’ve got it.

If the Arsenal fans in the Transfer Tavern were asleep during the transfer window, they’ve definitely woken up as the season has begun – it’s been a mixed bag for the Gunners so far!

Gunners fans were longing for some transfer activity and they finally got some with the signings of Shkodran Mustafi and Lucas Perez, but compared to some of their rivals – it’s all felt a little underwhelming.

On the pitch, it’s been okay – well, at least in the sense that it’s gotten better than that defeat to Liverpool in the season opener.

And while some aspects of the Gunners’ game has gotten a little better, it’s evidently clear that there are some stars in that Arsenal team that just aren’t pulling their weight.

But who are those lazy names we speak of?

Transfer Tavern writer Hayden Atkins takes us through the THREE Arsenal players that are extremely overrated. Do you agree?

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain

It’s pretty tough to judge the Arsenal players based on the first game against Liverpool because they were all pretty darn awful.

Against Watford, on the whole, it was a lot better – but we felt Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was still flattering to deceive.

He’s been on the fringes of the Arsenal first team for a long time now, and although he started this game – he proved to be ineffective.

There are plenty that admire his directness and drive here in the Football Transfer Tavern, but for me, he needs to find that cutting edge again.

It all feels a little “training match-esque” at the moment.

Francis Coquelin

The young Frenchman has been a kingpin in the Arsenal side for a long time now, but this season he’s had a slightly shaky start.

It’s been far from the dominant showings we saw last season and it was his performance against Leicester City that showed cause for concern.

He was nearly sent off and was charging around like a Spanish bull, he lacked some serious composure.

Our landlord thinks that he needs to take it down a notch or risk being expelled from the first team. With Mohamed Elneny waiting in the wings, it could be a tough old season if he can’t sustain his form.

Alex Iwobi

Alex Iwobi was thrown in at the deep end last season and excited the Arsenal fans who were in desperate need of some entertainment.

In particular, in the game against Liverpool our landlord thought he was poor.

Considering he’s had the summer off whilst some of his colleagues have been at the Euros, it’s been a slow start.

Hopefully he can pick it back up but right now, he’s overrated.

West Brom’s transition from yo-yo club to perennial mid-table-sitters has been a smooth one. Several managers have taken the reigns, but the period has not been littered with near-miss disasters like many others in their situation.

The closest thing to terrorising drama for the Baggies has been the saga of Saido Berahino. Continued mismanagement of the situation from all parties has seen this disrupt the club for far longer than any would wish to remember. Although the fact that it is such a standout issue at the club goes to show that things are not exactly rocky.

Rumblings of discontent from Tony Pulis about the summer window suggest the club could be about to enter another transitional period, though. Squad management has not been a disaster, but it does raise questions about where they are aiming to go.

Without further ado, here are THREE reasons the Baggies should reach for the top…

On the brink

An end of season slump worsened West Brom’s eventual finish last time around, but the Baggies were secure from relegation way before the dreaded ‘business end’. The year before it was the same, finishing with a comfortable 13th placed finish.

Consolidation is a process talked about a lot with the lower mid-table Premier League clubs and, under the stringent guidelines of Pulis, it is fair to say West Brom have passed it with flying colours. Relegation this season is still a possibility, as it is for 12 or 13 clubs, but it would be going against the grain a little.

Calculated spending and a change of tact could see West Brom burst through the Premier League’s glass ceiling. It may seem irrelevant, but becoming a top half side makes a marked difference to the stature of a club.

Little to lose

The relative safety from relegation gives West Brom a springboard. Secure from the risks of plunging to an Aston Villa-esque collapse and with a manager who can always revert to a defensively astute system, it is hardly a leap of great faith to free up a little.

Pulis has built a squad with the experience, nous and commitment to remain in the Premier League. Now, however, that is complemented by some attacking flair. If this can be harnessed in equal measure, we could be staring at a truly formidable team. Matt Phillips, Nacer Chadli and Salomon Rondon can cause problems for the best of defences, for instance.

Purpose

Making a bold assumption here, but getting footballers is not all about offering the most money.

To attract greater talents/the players required, clubs need to be able to offer something. In this sense the transfer market is self-fulfilling. A public effort to push the side into a different realm of Premier League contention might be needed for West Brom to lure potential signings into scribbling on the dotted line.

By the same logic, it can only help the club in retaining some of their current players too. Perhaps even Saido Berahino would have been tempted into remaining at the club.

Perhaps these discussions are beginning internally at The Hawthorns. There must be people invested in taking the side to the next level, particularly with such a low level of risk. It doesn’t have to be brave, bold or groundbreaking, but slight tweaks could see West Brom shift their place in the Premier League and begin another transition towards regular top half competitors.

Liverpool and Everton are reportedly about to do battle over £6m midfielder Soualiho Meite, with West Ham United also interested.

Both Merseyside clubs are watching the under-20 midfielder, who is currently playing in Belgium for Zulte Waregem while on loan from French side Lille.

The Frenchman has also been attracting attention from big clubs around Europe, including Schalke 04 and Borussia Dortmund, who bought fellow French youngster Ousmane Dembele from Rennes over the summer.

Meite has been quietly going about his business in Europe, plying his trade in Lille’s reserve and senior team as well as in the Belgian First Division to clock up 69 first-team appearances before the age of 22.

An unfamiliar name in these shores despite his promise, not a lot is known about the youngster among English fans.

Here at Football FanCast, we’ve compiled a list of three things you need to know about the Everton, Liverpool and West Ham target.

HE IS A POWERFUL MIDFIELDER

French clubs seem to be brilliant at producing strong, athletic young players and Meite is another in that mould.

Like Blaise Matuidi, Moussa Sissoko and Yann M’Vila, Meite is strong, quick and able to cover a lot of ground.

Standing at 6 feet 2 inches, the 22-year-old is able to distribute and carry the ball as well as get around the pitch.

He is solid in a defensive role, which is possibly what makes him so appealing to Jurgen Klopp and Slaven Bilic.

HE CAME FROM THE SAME YOUTH SIDE AS MEXES, CISSE AND CANTONA

While Meite has spent much of his career at Lille, he didn’t actually come through their youth ranks.

The Frenchman started his career at AJ Auxerre – who produced Phillipe Mexes, Djibril Cisse, Eric Cantona and About Diaby – playing for them between 2011 and 2013 and making 22 appearances for the first team while he was only 18.

While they are currently playing in Ligue 2, it wasn’t so long ago that Auxerre were a big French side; they were appearing in the Champions League only five seasons ago.

HE PLAYED IN THE SAME U-17 SIDE AS ZOUMA AND LAPORTE

It is a little strange Meite isn’t better-known, having appeared at every national team youth level apart from the Under-21s.

The Frenchman was also part of the Under-17 World Cup squad that got to the quarter-finals in 2011, where he appeared alongside the likes of Kurt Zouma, Aymeric Laporte and Tiemoue Babayoko.

While a number of players from that side have failed to live up to their potential, Zouma and Laporte in particular have gone on to excel at the highest level, while Babayoko and Benjamin Mendy are establishing themselves at Monaco and Sebastien Haller is doing well with Utrecht in Holland.

Here’s a quick look at the youngster in action for France’s U17 squad:

According to reports from Gazzetta dello Sport, summarised in English by Sport Witness, Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United transfer target Andrea Belotti is set to agree a new contract with an £80million release clause.

Who?

Andrea Belotti may not be a household name in England just yet but he’s causing quite the stir over in Serie A. He bagged an impressive twelve goals for Torino last season and has begun the new campaign with ten in as many league starts – alongside three assists. In fact, he’s the Italian top flight’s joint-leading goalscorer alongside Edin Dzeko and Mauro Icardi – two far more experienced strikers spearheading the attacks in theoretically stronger teams. Whoscored.com actually rate Belotti as the third-top performer in Serie A this season, as shown below.

The 22-year-old’s international career has got off to a flyer as well, with three goals in five appearances since making his senior debut for Italy in September – albeit coming against rather modest opposition in Macedonia and Liechtenstein.

Who’s interested?

Due to his fine flow of form and the inevitable cost of signing ready-made world-class strikers in the current transfer market, pretty much every major Premier League club has been linked with Belotti in recent months.

Indeed, back in October, CalcioMercato cited interest from Arsenal and claimed Liverpool were preparing a £19.5million bid for the January transfer window, whilst fellow Italian publication TuttoSport mooted Everton as potential suitors last week. Likewise, Gazzetta dello Sport’s report, which has been adopted by Mirror Football, The Daily Star and The Express alongside Sport Witness, focuses on Manchester United’s apparent plans to sign the prodigious Azzurri ace.

So, what’s the word?

According to GdS (screenshot above), Belotti’s agent Sergio Lancini is due to meet with Torino next week to discuss a new contract for his client. However, it appears the terms of the new deal are already agreed in principle.

His wages will be increased to around €1.5million per season, the new contract will expire in 2021 – a year later than his current terms – and most significantly of all, it will include a €94million release clause, which converts to just short of £80million.

Consequentially, a new deal will rule out the chances of a January move – although we can’t see any of the aforementioned clubs forking out a staggering £80million for the 22-year-old at this point in his career anyway.

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As reported by the Daily Mirror, Everton have joined the race to sign Bournemouth’s in-form striker Callum Wilson this January.

What’s the word?

We discussed last week that Slaven Bilic was making Callum Wilson one of his transfer window priorities. He now faces a massive challenge to land the forward with another big Premier League club set to rival him.

The Mirror report that Ronald Koeman is also an admirer of Wilson and that interest could trigger a transfer battle with West Ham who remain interested in bringing the striker to London.

The paper reckons it could cost up to £20m to have Bournemouth sell their star man.

Is he worth it?

Wilson has scored 5 goals in 13 appearances and would certainly add firepower to both sides if he moves in January. That total already equals his haul for the entirety of last season and he looks set to have one of his best seasons in a Bournemouth shirt.

£20m seems like a lot of money but transfer prices are ballooning in England like never before and it’s a fair fee considering the Cherries aren’t in a position where they need to sell their top talent.

West Ham in particular need goals and bring Wilson to the London Stadium could be the difference between Premier League survival and relegation.

With two clubs now interested in the striker, it would appear his days at Dean Court are limited.

Much has been made of the need for Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho to sign a defender this January, but I think it’s the midfield that needs greater attention.

The Red Devils have been in brilliant form of late and one of the main factors behind this is the team’s well-balanced midfield, consisting of French star Paul Pogba, Ander Herrera and the experienced Michael Carrick.

Mourinho flirted with a 4-2-3-1 formation early in the season with Pogba and Marouane Fellaini sitting deep, giving Juan Mata the freedom to play higher up the pitch.

This system didn’t yield good results for the club, though, as flamboyant Pogba, who should have been utilised in a more attacking zone due to his good dribbling ability and shot power, was rather lost given his defensive responsibilities.

However, Mourinho seems to have finally found the right formula in midfield with Carrick sitting deep in, giving Herrera and Pogba the license to roam forward and do their thing.

The trio have complemented one another really well and there seems to be no problem in the engine room, but with a closer look at the midfield, it’s clear that there is a lack of depth.

Morgan Schneiderlin and Bastian Schweinsteiger might have been considered good back-ups for both Herrera and Carrick, but with the former expected to leave the club this January and uncertainty over the future of the latter, the only other option is the unreliable Fellaini.

Mourinho has shown so much trust and belief in the Belgian, who has had his own share of criticism from fans and the media, but he’s too slow in possession, clumsy in tackling and simply unreliable. The drop in quality from any of Carrick, Herrera or Pogba to Fellaini is simply too huge.

It is, therefore, curious that Man United have been more heavily linked with a move for a central defender rather than a midfielder in the January transfer window. Victor Lindelof and more recently Jose Fonte have been aligned with the club, and it would be no shock to see one, or even both, join.

Man United duo Phil Jones and Marcos Rojo have formed an unlikely partnership in defence and have both been impressive so far this season, so there is no desperate need to get a new man in.

It is true that they might not be the long-term options at centre-back for United but with Chris Smalling, Eric Bailly and Daley Blind available there is no need to panic, as there is enough strength in central defence.

With Man United challenging on four fronts – the Premier League, Europa League, EFL Cup and the FA Cup – they will most likely need another midfielder given Herrera, Pogba and Carrick can’t play every game.

For Manchester United to improve their chances of success this season, Mourinho should look to add a midfielder to the squad rather than a defender.

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