As far as I'm aware, there are no bookies doing
odds on who is the favourites to sign Hughes. If there were, I'm almost
100% sure Liverpool would be the favourites. The strong favourites.
The
first reason is that Hughes is a massive Liverpool fan. The second
reason is that Liverpool seem to have shown the most keenness in Hughes.
There was a lot of speculation that Andre Wisdom's loan deal to Derby
from Liverpool was used as a sweetener in any potential deal, but this
has been strongly denied by Derby.
ONY McCOY was out of luck with his three rides at Stratford yesterday in his quest to reach a record 4,000 winners over jumps.
A double at Ffos Las on Tuesday left the champion nine winners away from the incredible milestone.
"Like a lot of the novices, My Tent Or Yours, Our Conor and the rest, they all have to improve a huge amount to beat Hurricane Fly, the winner of last season's Champion Hurdle."
GISTS
Liverpool or Manchester: Which City is England's Biggest Breeding Ground for Top Talent?
08:04 Unknown 0 Comments
Liverpool and Manchester are two of the most decorated footballing cities in the world.
RICKY HATTON reckons Amir Khan CAN become the first man on the planet to beat Floyd Mayweather.
No-one has come close to beating Mayweather in his 45 fights.
However, former two-weight world champion Hatton is convinced that Khan can push the American all the way.
Speed Hatton said: "Amir has the style that could cause Floyd problems and give him a real headache.
"You would get good odds on Amir winning and he would definitely be worth a punt."
Hatton, 35, says the fivedivision world champion can be beaten by Khan.
The 26-year-old Bolton bruiser is 10 years younger than Mayweather and has won 28 of his 31 contests.
"Amir is probably the only one around who can match him for speed," said Hatton, who lost to Mayweather in August 2007.
"Floyd can attack but he prefers to defend and sit on the ropes. Staying low is his trademark.
Ricky Hatton believes that Amir Khan dethrone the pound for pound king [GETTY]
"I can't remember too many fights when he has had to go on the front foot and attack.
"Amir loves to get involved in wars and that's why we all love to watch him, but he cannot let his heart rule his head and go steaming in.
"If he's on the back foot, he can make Floyd the hunter, rather than jumping down his throat like I did.
"Mayweather is used to people flying at him like I did, like Miguel Cotto did and like Juan Manuel Marquez did. That's what he likes. We all lost to him because of our approach. It meant he could sit back and roll his shoulder and use his defence.
"But I wonder what it would be like if he had to go on the front foot, cut the ring down and attack an opponent like Khan.
"Let's just see what Mayweather is like if he has to go on the front foot, stalk Amir around and cut the ring down.
"He doesn't need money, he needs a challenge - and you cannot get bigger than Floyd.
I don't think there will be many people who would pick him to win, and he'd be the first to admit that.
"But there is so much to admire about Amir. He is still aiming for the top, which is why he wants Floyd."
Will
Hughes is one of the hottest properties in England and with a £12
million price tag being slapped on him by Derby County, it's clear that
whoever does manage to sign Hughes will be given the task of turning him
into a world beater. So, who are the favourites?
1. Liverpool
2. Arsenal
Arsene
Wenger's preference to youngsters is well known. Hughes would suit
Arsenal's style of play, Wenger has probably the best record of
developing youngsters in the Premier League. The move to the Emirates
would mean that Hughes would be a part of an increasingly English
Arsenal side that already has Walcott, Wilshere, Gibbs,
Oxlade-Chamberlain and Jenkinson.
Arsenal, also, reportedly have a very large budget for the upcoming transfer window, so Hughes is by no means out of reach financially. The problems with this deal would be that Arsenal's midfield is highly competitive at the moment and it would seem that game time would be at a minimum.
Arsenal, also, reportedly have a very large budget for the upcoming transfer window, so Hughes is by no means out of reach financially. The problems with this deal would be that Arsenal's midfield is highly competitive at the moment and it would seem that game time would be at a minimum.
3. Tottenham Hotspur
The
positives and negatives of this deal happening are similar to
Arsenal's. Spurs' summer spending has meant that the team is highly
competitive in certain areas and only Townsend, Walker, Rose and
Naughton are the only English youngsters that have recently been
developed by Tottenham.
Spurs have also got good links with Derby, with Adam Smith and Simon Dawkins both currently spending loan spells at Pride Park. As mentioned before, Spurs spent a lot of money in the summer. The question remains: how much of it is still available and will they be willing to spend it on a youngster?
Spurs have also got good links with Derby, with Adam Smith and Simon Dawkins both currently spending loan spells at Pride Park. As mentioned before, Spurs spent a lot of money in the summer. The question remains: how much of it is still available and will they be willing to spend it on a youngster?
4. Manchester United
Not
sure about this. Manchester United have quite a mixed record when it
comes to developing. Phil Jones and Chris Smalling are getting a good
amount of game time and look to be progressing well. On the other hand,
players like Wilfried Zaha have been almost frozen out, playing just one
game this season in the Capital One Cup.
One thing that I cannot ignore for some reason is the Paul Scholes effect. I see a lot of comparisons between the two and with Scholes still at United as a coach, who better to turn Hughes into the new Paul Scholes than Scholes himself? There is the small worry about United's form in the league so far. David Moyes could face immense pressure to spend in January if United are in a similar position to what they are now, and by spend, I mean on a proven world class player, not a youngster.
One thing that I cannot ignore for some reason is the Paul Scholes effect. I see a lot of comparisons between the two and with Scholes still at United as a coach, who better to turn Hughes into the new Paul Scholes than Scholes himself? There is the small worry about United's form in the league so far. David Moyes could face immense pressure to spend in January if United are in a similar position to what they are now, and by spend, I mean on a proven world class player, not a youngster.
5. Everton
Potentially
a dark horse here. Hughes would suit Martinez's style of play, would
join a young side and would likely get a lot more game time than if he
were to go to any of the other teams in this list. The Toffees have been
linked with Hughes and have sent scouts to look at him.
Two problems would be that as aforementioned, Hughes is a Liverpool fan, and money. Everton did spend a good amount in the summer and I'm unsure to how much they will have available.
Two problems would be that as aforementioned, Hughes is a Liverpool fan, and money. Everton did spend a good amount in the summer and I'm unsure to how much they will have available.
6. Chelsea
Chelsea
don't usually look to the football league for youngsters. The youngest
Englishman to have played for Chelsea this season is Ryan Bertrand (24).
With most of their youngsters going out on loan, not many have broken
into the first team. Money of course is not really a problem, but I
doubt this would happen.
7. Manchester City
Of
course money is no object for City, but I really can't see this
happening. City's recent record with English players has been highly
publicised, with Scott Sinclair and Adam Johnson spending more time
warming up than playing. City are more known for buying proven class
than potential class, and with City also having a highly competitive
midfield, I'd have thought Hughes would prefer an alternative to that of
City.
8. Barcelona
Hughes
was linked with the Spanish giants last year, causing Derby fans to
suddenly realise how highly rated he is. Apart from that, not much else
has really been heard. It could have be paper talk with not much truth
behind it and I think that is exactly what it was. He'd fit the style of
play and Barca give youngsters a chance, but I'd be incredibly shocked
if I heard about the Catalan giants preparing a bid. Is Hughes good
enough to play for Barcelona? Perhaps.
• • •
As
I say, I think Liverpool are definitely his most likely destination.
Derby have placed a £12 million price tag on him and anything below
eight figures will be of great disappointment to the Rams. I wouldn't be
surprised if Hughes was loaned back to Derby till the end of this
season if he were to go in January. Wherever Hughes goes, he needs first
team football. Hughes could be a big player for England in 10 years
time, but only if a team develops him correctly.
GISTS
Ex-footballer beheaded then has head put in rucksack and left outside family home
07:55 Unknown 0 Comments
A FORMER professional footballer's head was severed and left on the doorstep of his home for his horrified wife to discover.
WRESTLING
Wrestling: Bret 'Hitman' Hart gives the low down on fans, stardom and Hulk Hogan
07:51 Unknown 0 Comments
WHEN Bret “Hitman” Hart takes the time to sit down and speak to you, my advice is to shut up and listen.
SIR BRADLEY WIGGINS and Mark Cavendish have been warned they will not walk straight into the GB team pursuit line-up.
LEWIS HAMILTON believes Mercedes can be successful with or without Ross Brawn.
BRENDAN RODGERS has blasted Arsenal for trying to sign Luis Suarez.
Liverpool were determined to keep hold of their man and it was mission complete when Suarez U-turned and agreed to stay.
Rodgers said: "It [the move to Arsenal] was something that was never going to happen.
"For us and the institution we are we certainly weren't going to sell to a rival, a competitor, and that was something which was very strong from the off.
"There was all sorts of gossip on the summer but we were very firm in our leadership, from the top right the way through, that this was something we didn't want to do.
"It was a great credit to the owners and the leadership of the club that they stood by what my thoughts were as a manager and they backed it all the way.
"There is no greater stage for him than a club like this.
"He is a player, like some of our other players, who deserves to be playing at the highest level of European football but we believe he can do that at Liverpool."
Liverpool take on Arsenal at the Emirates tomorrow.
CHELSEA star John Obi Mikel has revealed the secret to Jose Mourinho's success - his win-win mentality.
On Tuesday, Borussia Dortmund announced that their coach Jürgen Klopp had signed a new five-year deal that will keep the German at the North Rhine side until 2018. For the club it’s a shrewd a signing as any player in their history.
Soccer
SNAPPED! David Beckham pops back into Manchester United to watch son Brooklyn trial
07:34 Unknown 0 Comments
England midfielder Tom Cleverley got Becks to pose for a picture when he popped back into the Carrington training ground, which he posted to his 1.3m followers.
The caption was simple: legend.
Beckham was in town to play proud dad to Brooklyn, 14, on his big United chance.
Soccer
The Premier League is There for the Taking: Is This The Most Competitive Title Race Ever?
07:28 Unknown 0 Comments
The turn of the 21st century has seen incredible growth in the game of football, in popularity, access and exposure. The days of only being able to see a game by going to the ground has become less and less true as football grew within mainstream media.
So Jose wants to touch his people and goes a bit nuts, leaping into the crowd after Torres’s late winner against Manchester City. He claims he wanted to celebrate with his son Jose Mario Junior (egotistical, moi?) who is 14 and now has a Chelsea season ticket behind the dugout. Or was Jose just trying to reserve a seat for the next time he’s sent off? Sadly, Mourinho Senior never made it to Jose Junior. He leapt into the stand like Superman, only to be impeded by man hugs from an amorous bloke in a purple t-shirt. Mourinho has form for this, having celebrated Porto’s Champions League defeat of Man United with that famous run down the touchline in his black overcoat.
