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Eden Hazard’s arrival at Chelsea this summer was a signing of intent and ambition. The Marko Marin signing, while a little perplexing at this time, was also to strengthen the core of the squad, focusing again on youth. And now with the possible arrival of Oscar from Internacional, the aging European champions are becoming an exciting, energetic and technically excellent team. Success is possible, but something fresh and adventurous on the pitch is even more likely. The goal seems simple: Snap up the best young stars available and form a dynasty—even if it is to the detriment of one of the club’s most promising youngsters.

It wasn’t too long ago that Josh McEachran was likened to Jack Wilshere at Arsenal. An academy graduate who was excelling at the game and who would likely be a regular in the England setup sooner than later. However, the new arrivals at Chelsea and the ambition to build on the successes of last season has shifted the focus even further away from youth development. There is a great concern that McEachran may never get a real chance at Chelsea.

Even though his impact at any stage has not been as significant as Wilshere’s, McEachran has been one of the few bright sparks in English youth football. A player who looks comfortable on the ball and a possible candidate to fill one of the midfield roles in any ambitious side for many years. Yes it’s a lot of talk and there are always likely to be problems along the way. But unfortunately for the midfielder, it seems as though his club are sailing away from the desire to develop him into one of their own.

From a fans perspective, it’s always a great and uplifting sign that a club are moving ambitiously in the transfer market, clearly mapping out the next few years. But surely there should be a desire to develop your own and see the products of the clubs youth system succeeding on the big stage.

McEachran’s development has not been halted entirely by his parent club, however. The midfielder’s loan spell at Swansea was greatly disappointing, showing only one league start during the six-month loan. It’s a fair argument and a good one that Swansea’s midfield were outstanding throughout and achieving results. But at the very least, some action should have been taken to ensure McEachran wasn’t wasting half-a-season’s worth of his development on the bench.

It’s also a fair point to raise that Chelsea have indeed used their younger players at various stages last season. Although not their own, Daniel Sturridge has played his part, as has Ryan Bertrand—a surprise inclusion in the Champions League final. But where is the drive to build on that? Oriol Romeu looked like he was developing well whenever given a chance under Andre Villas-Boas, but his lack of inclusion was a concern later in the season.

McEachran’s career may not be sinking at this stage—he’s got plenty of open road ahead of him to continue his development. But this summer is an important one for him, whereby the club need to decide if he genuinely is in their plans. This is unlikely to be the last summer of ambitious spending by Chelsea, so does that equate to McEachran being pushed further down the ladder due to future arrivals? A loan move picked out of a hat is no good, either. If the youngster is to go on loan then it must be to a club who have a desire to aid in his development. Another season on the bench could bring a halt to his own ambitions of succeeding in the top-flight of football.

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Chelsea’s intentions may be clear from within, and they may genuinely have no interest in McEachran going forward. But if that is the case, then a player touted as one of England’s best should not simply by pushed to the side. It sets the wrong example and it allows the country to further become entrenched in a cycle of false dawns and very little progression.

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Inter Milan defeated Celtic 2-0 despite being reduced to 10 men in their Dublin Super Cup pre-season match on Saturday.Luc Castaignos and Giampaolo Pazzini scored first-half goals to put the Italian side ahead at the Aviva Stadium, and despite Tiago Motta’s dismissal for a second yellow card, Inter held on to record a victory.

Despite the win, Inter remain second on the Super Cup table after day one following Manchester City’s 3-0 victory over an Airtricity XI of players from the Irish Premier League.

With new signing Sergio Aguero watching on from the stands, Roberto Mancini fielded a side largely made up of reserve and youth team players, but it made little difference as the English Premier League side controlled the match.

One of City’s forgotten men, Shaun Wright-Phillips, broke the deadlock on 52 minutes, before Adam Johnson made it 2-0 seven minutes later and young substitute Luca Scapuzzi finished off the victory with a third on 83 minutes.

City will face Inter on Sunday to decide the winner of the tournament.

In London, Arsenal threw away a two goal lead and were forced to settle for a 2-2 draw against Boca Juniors in the Emirates Cup.

Robin van Persie and Aaron Ramsey had given the Gunners a comfortable lead in the first half, only for defensive lapses to allow Lucas Viatri and Pablo Mouche to equalise for the Brazilian side after the break.

The New York Red Bulls top the Emirates Cup table after day one following their 1-0 win over French side Paris Saint-Germain, with Joel Lindpere scoring the winner in the 27 minute.

Fernando Torres was on target as Chelsea won the final of the Barclay’s Asia Trophy 2-0 against fellow EPL side Aston Villa.

Youngster Josh McEachran opened the scoring in the first half before Tores deflected a Florent Malouda strike past Villa goalkeeper Shay Given to register just his second goal in a blue shirt.

Blackburn easily defeated Hong Kong side Kitchee 3-0 in the third-place playoff.

Elsewhere, Everton beat newly relegated Birmingham City 2-1 at St Andrews, Bolton defeated Conference outfit Newport County 3-1 and Norwich won 3-0 away to Coventry City, while West Brom and Wolves also recorded narrow victories over Bristol City and Ipswich Town respectively.

Goalkeeper Shay Given is expected to return to Manchester City’s starting line-up in Tuesday’s FA Cup third round replay against Leicester City.

It will be the Irish international’s first senior appearance in a month but manager Roberto Mancini is quick to point out that Joe Hart remains his preferred custodian.

Shunted down to second choice because of Hart’s impressive form, the former Newcastle man is keen to leave City and reignite his career.

Yet Mancini has warned Given it is not certain such a move will be granted.

“It is not a simple position,” Mancini told the Manchester Evening News.

“You can change the other players every game but the goalkeeper is different.

“That is the only reason why Shay has not played so often because he is a fantastic goalkeeper.”

City will only allow Given, 34, to leave if they find a replacement first, with Coventry City’s Keiren Westwood, a former City reserve and now Given’s understudy for the Republic of Ireland national team, among the options.

The City boss has not exactly made life easier for Given by opting not to select him when opportunities have arisen.

His last senior appearance was on December 16 in the Europa League tie with Juventus, which ended 1-1.

Veteran midfielder Patrick Vieira is in a similar situation, having started just two Premier League games all season but eight in cup competitions.

Vieira is one of a number of fringe players Mancini is preparing to introduce against Sven-Goran Eriksson’s Championship outfit as City look to confirm a fourth-round trip to Notts County.

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“Patrick Vieira is an important member of our squad,” Mancini said.

“He is a good player, who has lots of experience. He will probably play, along with Jerome Boateng, James Milner, David Silva, Jo and Joleon Lescott. We have other players that we can win this game.”

“I don’t like this replay because we have a lot of matches to play until the end of the season already.”

“But we want to win because we want to get to Wembley. For me, that is very important.”

The old-fashioned mecurial playmaker, Ganso has been tipped for big things since breaking into the Santos first team in 2008. He was since been involved in three consecutive Campeonato Paulista title wins as well as lifting the Copa do Brasil and Copa Libertadores. But for all the success of his team, the 22-year-old’s displays over the last year have failed to show why he is so highly rated on a consistent basis.

Throughout his time with the Peixe, Ganso has suffered from intermittent but lengthy injuries. He was sidelined in August of 2010 and did not make his return until March of the next year. After playing a pivotal role in the last 16 Libertadores elimination of Club America he was consigned to the treatment table once more in early May, causing him to miss the quarter-final and semi-final stage of the tournament. He only made his return in the second leg of the final, but he did manage to put in a decent performance as Santos defeated Penarol 2-1.

His delicate touch and piercing passes created some of his side’s best opportunities across the 90 minutes but it failed to be a similar story when Mano Menezes selected him as his playmaker-in-chief for Brazil’s Copa America campaign soon after. Ganso was frequently isolated in a disjointed 4-2-2-2 formation and bore a lot of criticism for the Selecao’s lack of ingenuity. It would not be the only time he would struggle on the big stage.

After limping off while on international duty against Ghana in September last year, he spent two months in the out through injury again. He was passed fit weeks ahead of the Club World Cup but against Kashiwa Reysol and Barcelona he looked devoid of ideas. He was not only one. Santos were simply outclassed by the Catalan side who eased to a 4-0 win over the Peixe.

Since then he enjoyed a consistent run in the side throughout the state championship, producing two stand-out performances. One came as Santos won the first leg of the Paulista final against Guarani, with Ganso scoring the only goal and the other in the Libertadores last 16 second-leg against Bolivar in which he netted twice in an 8-0 drubbing. It appeared he had returned to his best as he conducted the attack with consummate ease, yet these displays came against two vastly inferior sides.

As Santos’ run in the Libertadores continued, Ganso opted to undergo knee surgery which made him unavailable for the recent friendlies with the Brazilian national team. He returned for the Classico Alvinegro against Corinthians in the semi-final but he was hugely ineffectual. He may have been out of practice but he failed to unlock a team who are known for their resilient defending and his side were eliminated.

Not only did he suffer continental heartache but by foregoing the Selecao’s recent games he may have surrendered his spot in the starting line-up ahead of the Olympic Games this summer to Oscar. The Internacional midfielder exceeded all expectations and now there are questions as to whether Ganso deserves to be in the side. Menezes could opt to use both, pushing Oscar out to the right but could dampen his influence.

The 22-year-old is thus yet to be a consistent performer on the big stage despite having a Libertadores title to his name. He has put in no performances at the international stage worthy of such hyperbole. The pressure and responsibility that comes with great expectations may weigh heavy on his shoulders, yet his club and international team-mate Neymar seems to have coped with his well enough.

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But rumours over Ganso’s future remain rife with one particular club, Porto, possibly offering him his best chance of European success. He is not ready for a move to one of the top three leagues this side of the Atlantic Ocean and he would possibly look out of his depth. Inconsistent performances and injuries mean that he remains somewhat of an unknown quantity.

It remains unlikely that he will move to Europe before the World Cup, similarly to Neymar. This may not only benefit the player, but also his potential suitors. Ganso will almost be 25-years-old come the end of the World Cup and he will have crossed the line from potential talent, to actual talent. If he impresses with his country then there will be heated competition for his signature, if he fails to live up to expectations then it would be best for the elite clubs to avoid him.

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Liverpool’s restructuring under Kenny Dalglish continued last week, with the signing of Blackpool’s Charlie Adam being heralded by many as one of the missing pieces in the Anfield midfield, a quality passer with a pin-point final ball. However some have questioned his class, saying that he is a one-trick pony who can hit a good freekick but not much else.

With all respect to the Blackpool team that Adam formed a key part of last season, one of the reasons behind the confusion over his quality is due to the unpredictable nature of the Tangerines over the last year. Playing Blackpool last season was similar to playing Russian Roulette; you simply had no idea whether they would be firing on all cylinders or shooting blanks.

So let’s look past the team and just focus on Adam. While his goalscoring record was impressive last season, scoring more in the league than Didier Drogba, Frank Lampard and Wayne Rooney with his total of 12 goals, it is important to note that only 2 of those came from open play. 8 were penalties, for which he will be behind Steven Gerrard and probably Dirk Kuyt in the pecking order at Anfield, and 2 were from freekicks. But goals are not what he is here to score, but instead provide.

One area that Liverpool have been lacking in is a left-footed set piece taker, with the unfortunate Fabio Aurelio injured more often than not. This gives the Reds a more reliable variation when it comes to freekicks and corners. Last season Adam put 196 balls into the box, and although less than 1 in 4 found an orange shirt, you have to think that Andy Carroll will be a more combative target man than the likes of DJ Campbell, so that figure will increase. Further encouragement for the likes of Carroll comes from the news that he created a total of 80 chances last season, of which only 8 were taken by his Blackpool team mates. A more prolific goalscorer will surely feast on the chances created by the Scot, and if he at least works the goalkeeper there is always the chance that Luis Suarez will be in the area fast enough to tuck away the rebound.

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A lot has been made at Liverpool about the failure to replace Xabi Alonso following his move to Real Madrid two years ago, and some see the arrival of Charlie Adam as a step towards putting that right. The Spaniard, made famous for his long-range passing (and shooting), has been sorely missed by the Merseyside club, and comparisons between new and old players are always bound to arise. Adam’s passing ability is one of the key aspects of his game, and last season he proved that by making an accurate long or chipped pass every 7.5 minutes per game. His forward-looking game is also something that will benefit the team, making 63% of his passes upfield and only 27% backwards or to either side. This positive approach is something that will benefit the Liverpool side as a whole.

For many fans, the signing of Andy Carroll was a turning point under the new owners, a sign of genuine ambition and a new focal point for the faltering Liverpool attack. But in footballing terms, it was just the beginning of a new wave. And this new wave needs players that have the ability to create chances. Charlie Adam is arguably one of these players. As is Stewart Downing, touted by many to be soon following the former Blackpool midfielder through the doors at Anfield. Downing may not have the star power of an Alexis Sanchez, but he offers what Dalglish is looking for; young, British and with ability. All that Adam needs is some discipline in order to stop his sometimes sloppy ball-retention, and he will be free to fuel the Anfield strikeforce.

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Ian Holloway will not allow transfer rumours and contract negotiations to distract his Blackpool players.

Holloway is keen to focus on the task in hand – securing Premier League survival – and the Seasiders boss is keen to keep his players performing despite transfer speculation surrounding his big names.

David Vaughan, Charlie Adam, Luke Varney and Matt Gilks are among the names at Bloomfield Road whose futures have come under the spotlight in recent weeks but Holloway is keen to ensure the speculation does not detract from Blackpool's efforts on the pitch.

He told the Blackpool Gazette: "Whether it be lads who are yet to agree new contracts or someone being linked with Charlie (Adam), staying in the Premier League is more important than anything. Nothing will get in the way of it."

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Blackpool have been the surprise package in the Premier League this season as they currently sit in 13th place despite being tipped for the drop at the start of the campaign.Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email

As the Premier League season comes to a close this weekend, with still much to play for, there will be many players glad to see the back of the 2011/12 season and looking to pastures new.

With no fewer than 124 players in the Premier League out of contract in the summer, and a plethora of players who are deemed either surplus to requirement, or simply fancy a change of club in order to progress their career and play at a higher level. There will certainly be a hive of transfer activity this summer that will keep supporters interested and no doubt give the press-men plenty of column inches to fill in the newspapers within the coming weeks.

Some player transfers will be obvious, while some will undoubtedly catch their employers on the hop as players look to force a move by various different means as we always seem to witness season on season.

This list looks at the 20 Premier League players whose career is certainly at a crossroads.

Click on Sigurdsson below to unveil the top 20

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Porto’s Rolando has stated that he would love to work with former manager Andre Villas Boas again, and has issued a come-and-get-me plea to Chelsea.

The Portuguese champions had a massively successful 2010/11, winning their domestic league and the Europa League, with much of the credit given to attackers Hulk and Radamel Falcao. Despite this, the side from the Estadio do Dragao had a miserly defence also, and the Portugal international centre back was the key reason for this.

Similar to what Jose Mourinho did when he first joined Chelsea, the new coach is expected to raid his former club for players, something the 25-year-old would relish.

“Andre Villas-Boas has my number. If he is interested, he knows that I loved working with him,” the Cape Verde born man stated in The Daily Mail.

“I have been in Porto for three years now and now could be a good time to leave, I just want to continue to win, whether here or somewhere else. There are clubs in Europe who Porto cannot compete with, financially, and if an offer comes in, we will see,” he concluded.

Villas Boas is yet to make his first signing as Chelsea manager.

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Everton are thinking of replacing Steven Pienaar for South Africa international Siphiwe Tshabalala should his departure be confirmed.

The Toffees look to be fighting a losing battle in their bid to keep Pienaar and manager David Moyes has reportedly begun looking for a replacement.

Moyes is thought to be casting an eye over Tshabalala having been impressed with the winger during the World Cup.

The 26-year-old looks as though he would be a solid investment at £2.5million, with current club the Kaiser Chiefs reportedly happy to accept that amount for their star man.

Having been heavily linked with a move for Tottenham's Niko Kranjcar it looks as though Everton will turn their back on the £8million Croatian in favour of the cheaper Tshabalala once Pienaar departs.

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Everton are currently in 15th place in the Premier League and will be hoping to power up the table by beating relegation-threatened Wigan Athletic at Goodison Park on Saturday.Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email

Since television started ruling football, there have been some strange kick off times for many a match. 11am, 5pm, 10:30am, occasionally even 3pm on a Saturday afternoon. Now however, ITV have raised the bar by placing an FA Cup semi-final between Chelsea and Spurs on a Sunday at 6pm, to lock viewers into the final episode of Titanic (according to the Daily Mirror).

Chelsea’s original concern was that with a semi-final against Barcelona in the Champions League on the Wednesday, it gave insufficient time to recover in between the two matches. Chelsea are fine with playing on the Sunday, acknowledging Liverpool’s refusal to play on the anniversary of the Hillsborough tragedy, but have pleaded for an earlier kick off- a lunch-time kick off would make a difference, recovery-wise. In other countries, their FAs give preferential kick off times to teams in European competitions to maximise their chances. When Jose Mourinho was Porto manager, his team was sometimes allowed to play league games on a Friday night. Sam Wallace argued on the Sunday Supplement that the FA are right not to give the big teams preferential treatment as it isn’t fair on the other teams, and they have the resources to cope. I agree in principle, but when teams in other countries are getting special treatment, then it puts English teams at a disadvantage. Napoli played on Friday night before both their games against Chelsea, as did Benfica the other week.

But the main stupidity of this kick off time has nothing to do with Chelsea’s showdown with Barcelona. Apart from the fact it just feels wrong to watch a semi-final on a Sunday evening, it is inviting trouble to allow two sets of fans a whole day of drinking before kick off. The late kick off gives scant regards to families wishing to attend the match with the schools open the next day, and the usual engineering works on the rail network will only add to the difficulty in getting home at a reasonable time, especially if there is extra time and penalties.

The FA have declined to comment over Chelsea’s complaints, though I am not sure how much leverage they have over the scheduling by TV companies. Since the FA Cup semi-finals went to the new Wembley in 2008, the Sunday tie has always kicked off at 4pm. However, Manchester United play Aston Villa at that time, and ITV don’t want a clash.

Di Matteo’s suggestion of a Friday match was always a non-starter. As Sam Wallace has also commented, the dates (if not the times) are set in stone, agreed with Brent Council months in advance.

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Money talks of course, and clubs have been happy to take this money and spend it. ITV paid £275m for a four year deal to show England and FA Cup games, and they need to recoup their outlay. A lunch time kick was thought to have risked a 50% drop in viewers. It’s a shame that the needs of football clubs at a vital time of the season are pushed to one side by a television company picking a time for a football match that gives them the maximum viewers and thus revenue, but that is the world we live in now.

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