Kai Havertz: The German international being tipped to replace Mesut Ozil at the Emirates and compared to Michael Ballack
The question that has been asked most often at Arsenal this season is, whether or not Mesut Ozil will remain at the club this summer?Despite long being considered as a world-class player, the German has slowly declined over the past 18 months, with his role reduced to that of a bit-part player under Unai Emery.3Even though he is the highest earner at the club, with two-years left on his contract, Arsenal are keen to get rid of the World Cup winner who is not a long-term part of the manager’s plans.And if they do, it would seem the Gunners have got a ready made replacement to fill his void.Rising German star Kai Havertz has enjoyed a promising season with Bayer Leverkusen and has 11 goals in all competitions, courting interest from footballing heavyweights Barcelona and Real Madrid.And it’s likely he’ll be in action for his nation – live on talkSPORT 2 – against Serbia on Wednesday night. The 19-year-old is a classy, technically astute midfielder and like any gifted individual, they are naturally compared to their nations’ star players.Think Neymar/Pele, Wayne Rooney/ Paul Gascoigne, Lionel Messi/ Maradona, you get the picture.In the case of Havertz, similarities have been draw to midfield legend Michael Ballack, he is also 6ft 2, and like the ex-Chelsea man is adept using either foot and is an excellent passer of the ball.Former Leverkusen boss Heiko Herrlich once remarked that Havertz is the most talented player he has seen since Real Madrid conductor Toni Kroos.33His versatility would be a major asset to an Arsenal side who could end the summer without Ozil and will definitely be without Aaron Ramsey, once he departs for Juventus.While Havertz is capable of playing across the midfield, even out wide, he is best suited to a central role, behind the strikers as a number ten, where he is most dangerous.

LIVE on talkSPORT

There are eight live commentaries across the talkSPORT network this week. Find out what they are and where to hear them, below...

• Germany vs Serbia (Wednesday) – talkSPORT 2
• Kazakhstan vs Scotland (Thursday) – talkSPORT 2
• England vs Czech Republic (Friday) – talkSPORT
• Walsall vs Barnsley (Saturday) – talkSPORT 2
• Shrewsbury vs Portsmouth (Saturday) – talkSPORT 2
• Gibraltar vs Republic of Ireland (Saturday) – talkSPORT 2
• San Marino vs Scotland (Sunday) – talkSPORT 2
• Netherlands vs Germany (Sunday) – talkSPORT 2

Yes goals and assists are a huge part of Havertz’s game, but there is more to him than a mindless desire to continuously attack.While Ozil is hailed for his contributions in the final third, his ability to assist others, tracking back and busting a gut to retrieve possession has never been his forte. This would not be an issue with Havertz.According to bundesliga.com, the youngster has made 221 successful tackles this season, which ranks him 12th in the league. This awareness and understanding of what is expected at such a young age is extremely impressive.Arsenal would do well to bring the German on board sooner rather than later and with his best years still ahead of him, the Emirates could very well be the venue for him to flourish.

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Alexis Sanchez turns attention away from football to make acting debut in film Trouble Aston Villa could face points deduction in Premier League Man United transfer news live: Rooney wants
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Glenn Hoddle latest: Tottenham and Chelsea favourite recovering at home after suffering heart attack The 61-year-old was taken to hospital in October and his family have since thanked hospital
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Chelsea news: Odds slashed again as Manchester United defeat sees Maurizio Sarri's future looking bleaker Blues could be without a manager come the League Cup final against Manchester City on Sunday
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round-up Premier League results: West Ham beat Huddersfield in seven-goal thriller, Leicester strike late against Burnley, Newcastle claim dramatic point at Bournemouth
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Jose Mourinho returning to Real Madrid would be a mistake, Mauricio Pochettino would give them the shake-up needed
With every passing point that is dropped the most recent a humiliating 2-0 home defeat to Real Sociedad the prospect of SantiagoSolari remaining Real Madrid manager next season grows slimmer and slimmer.The real question is just who will replace him?6The majority of the worlds true elite coaches will likely be unavailable: Jurgen Klopps project at Liverpool is only just starting to reach its potential, Pep Guardiola would rather eat his own shoe than coach Madrid, and Diego Simeone would rather eat both.Nor will there be a feasible option of promoting from within, Solaris struggles showing that Zinedine Zidanes success was to do with the Frenchmans unique talent, not some universal recipe for success in bumping the B-team boss up to the seniors.More than ever, the options are limited, which isnt exactly something the most successful side in European football history are accustomed to.6Under those tricky circumstances, one name just wont go away.The man who Madrid president Florentino Prez never wanted to see leave the Santiago Bernabu in the first place, who also happens to be the man who managed to drag Manchester United to the worst start to a Premier League season in the English clubs history.Less than a month after his Old Trafford departure, reports in the UK suggest Madrid have opened a line of contact with Jose Mourinho.Reports in Portugal suggest they had already done so as far back as October, while he was still in a job and when Madrid were looking for someone to replace Julen Lopetegui.6Considering Prezs well-known admiration for the Portuguese coach, who he holds in higher esteem than perhaps any other, its not unfathomable that both stories are accurate.Guardiolas globally admired Barcelona were the scourge of the Madrid president in the early years of his second spell in the Los Blancos top job.Mourinhos feat of beating that team to a La Liga title in the 2011/12 and by extension, knocking the Catalans off their perch, endeared him hugely in the eyes of his employer.6But while a second coming of Mou fits the personal preferences of Prez, it is difficult to make a case for it being a good idea.Mourinho may have departed the Spanish capital in 2013 with the presidents favour in-tact, but the same could not be said about either the players, nor the supporters.In the case of the latter, the coach became a hugely divisive figure, with some sectors of the Bernabu faithful backing him, and others vehemently opposing him due to his perceived poor treatment of club legend Iker Casillas.6Casillas wasnt the only player that Mourinho fell out with, and several more relationships broke down to a standstill by the end of the managers tenure.Some of those footballers are still at the club, their status at Madrid only growing in the time since. Sergio Ramos, by now a Real Madrid legend to rival most, would not welcome a reunion with his old coach.Its no coincidence the defender became visibly annoyed when asked about rumours of a Mourinho return last month, nor that he pointed out that Madrid had won everything in the time since he left. Its not only the impact Mourinho would have on the fans and the dressing room heavyweights that makes his potential return problematic.A change in the way the La Liga sides squad has been built and the kind of transfers they carry out these days also raise questions.The recent arrival of Brahim Daz means Los Blancos now have nine players in their first team squad aged 23 or under.Many of them, like Vinicius Junior (18), Dani Ceballos (22) and Marcos Llorente (23) are hoped to be future starters, and could even end this season in that position.If theres one thing that Mourinhos premature end at Manchester United has taught us, its that he has lost his touch with players.6In particular, he lacks an understanding of the younger generation, whose personalities require a different kind of man-management in the age of instant stardom for bright talents.Gone too is his ability to improve blossoming footballers five minutes on the phone with Jesse Lingard, Anthony Martial or Marcus Rashford would be enough for Madrids hopes of the future to turn around and run a mile.Theres a far more compelling case to be made for a younger, fresher coach like Mauricio Pochettino to come to Spain and give Madrid the real shake-up they need to launch a new era, and the Argentine could yet be convinced, but circumstance and presidential preference will also play their part.If the phone rings, Mourinho may well consider going back to his former club, but perhaps he should call old mentor Louis van Gaal before deciding.Van Gaal won four trophies in his first spell at the Camp Nou, at the time becoming Barcelonas most successful coach since Johan Cruyff.Two years later he returned for a second bite at the Bara job. He didnt make it past January.

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Former Manchester City and Chelsea winger Shaun Wright

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The Republic of Ireland escaped with a 0-0 draw against Group B4 winners Denmark in their final Nations League match in Aarhus. Martin O'Neill's side are now four games without a goal and this
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Jurgen Klopp has insisted every player in Liverpool's squad must accept they cannot play all the matches in their title run-in. The Anfield chief played down rumours of unrest between him and captain Jordan Henderson after the England midfielder reacted angrily when substituted in the goalless draw at Manchester United.
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Real Madrid have signed Serbia forward Luka Jovic from Eintracht Frankfurt, the LaLiga club have confirmed. A statement on Los Blancos' website announced the capture of 'one of the great sensations of European football', who scored 27 goals in all competitions in 2018/19.

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Jurgen Klopp and James Milner send poignant messages to Liverpool fan who has just days to live Daily Mail 15:41 31-May-19 Without 'Milly', it wouldn't work at Liverpool, says Jurgen Klopp talkSPORT 15:15 31-May-19

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Peter Crouch has been forced to clarify to fans that his new baby boy has not been named after Liverpool striker Divock Origi. Crouch and his wife Abbey Clancy welcomed their fourth child into the world on Monday and the former Reds striker took to Twitter to celebrate the news.
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Manchester United news: Romelu Lukaku reportedly set to miss Ole Gunnar Solskjaers first two games on compassionate leave
Romelu Lukaku will reportedly miss both of Ole Gunnar Solskjaers first two matches as Manchester United caretaker manager.The 45-year-old was appointed as the clubs new boss on Wednesday following Jose Mourinhos sacking the day before.2While the specific reason behind the Belgian strikers absence is unknown, the Mail are reporting that he has spent this week on compassionate leave.He is understood to be unlikely to return until December 30, ruling him out of Uniteds games against Cardiff and Huddersfield.2In his first interview since taking the reigns, Solskjaer told MUTV that he will be giving all of Uniteds players a fresh start upon his arrival.We have to rotate, the United legend continued, Everyone will get a chance. Everyone starts with a clean slate.Youve got to start somewhere. Ive seen the last few games. You pick a team now and you move on. Everyone will get their chance.

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Reaction and tributes as Gordon Banks, the goalkeeper in England's 1966 World Cup-winning team, dies at the age of 81. Cup winner dies aged 81; Former goalkeeper won 73 caps for England
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Babel, 32, admitted he would have a different career decision with the right guidance after moving to play in the UAE at the age of 28. The ex-Liverpool man has now opened up on some of his frustrations with the football industry in an interview with Sky Sports.
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Liverpool team news: How the Reds may look against Crystal Palace without Trent Alexander-Arnold and Joe Gomez
Liverpool managed to get through the Brighton game with only one fit out-and-out centre-back but the injury problems in defence continue to worsen for them.The latest setback sees right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold ruled out for up to a month with a knee ligament injury.6The 20-year-old was injured during the warm-up before theirvictory over Brighton but, after moving gingerly at points, he soldiered on and ended up playing the full 90 minutes.However, it appears he hasn’t recovered from the knock and Alexander-Arnold joins Joe Gomez, Dejan Lovren and Joel Matip on the treatment table as Liverpool prepare for their next Premier League game at home to Crystal Palace on Saturday.Meanwhile, there are also concerns surrounding the fitness of midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum too. So ahead of the Palace game at Anfield, who could Jurgen Klopp pick for his starting XI?Below you can see the different team selection scenarios facing the Liverpool boss in light of the latest injury news.6It’s been a positive season for Liverpool thus far, so it’s only appropriate to look at the best case scenario for Klopp this weekend.Lovren and Matip are injured but both are close to a return with Matip even returning to training on the eve of the win against the Seagulls.If Lovren and Matip are both available then the Croatian will probably partner Virgil van Dijk but Matip is closer to full fitness so is the likely choice.Meanwhile, midfielder Fabinho could play at right-back as not only does he have some experience at playing as a centre-back for Liverpool, he has a wealth of experience at full-back during his career.6However, James Milner can also play at full-back. The 33-year-old played the bulk of the 2016/17 season at left-back and also played on the right during Liverpool’s 4-0 win at Bournemouth in December.This would then see Fabinho play in his natural holding midfield position alongside captain Jordan Henderson.6If Lovren and Matip are not considered fit enough to play, Klopp will be forced to do a bit more rejigging.Fabinho could slot in at centre-back as he did against Brighton, where he looked comfortable, while Milner could play at right-back.Wijnaldum’s knock could therefore give low on confidence midfielder Naby Keita a chance to prove himself in a game against a Palace side where Liverpool are expected to carve out many goalscoring opportunities.6If Klopp is feeling particularly daring though in Lovren and Matip’s absence he could play Milner at right-back and Fabinho in his natural position.This could then give Ki-Jana Hoever a second appearance for the senior side after the 16-year-old acquitted himself well during the Reds’ FA Cup defeat to Wolves.But this is the Premier League which Liverpool are clearly prioritising so it’s doubtful Klopp would try anything like that.6

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Getty Images Rafael Benitez has vigorously defended his policy of not risking Newcastle's Premier League status by chasing FA Cup glory. The Magpies have been heavily criticised by the club's fans for fielding a weakened line-up when his side were held 1-1 at home by Blackburn in the third round.
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Chelsea news: Maurizio Sarri SLAMMED for 'stubborn' decisions - 'My way or the highway' Chelsea, who beat Malmo in the first leg of their Europa League last-32 tie at Malmo on Thursday, are heading into their biggest week of the season.

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Chris Hughton has been sacked as Brighton boss. The Premier League club announced on Monday morning that they had taken the tough decision to bring Hughton's four-and-a-half year reign to an end
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Chris Hughton's time as Brighton boss is over The 60-year-old led the Seagulls to promotion from the Championship in 2016/17. They finished 15th last term to retain their Premier League status and again escaped relegation this season but have picked up just two wins from 18 top-flight matches since the turn of the year.
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Liverpool kept the pressure on Premier League leaders Manchester City with a dramatic 1-0 victory over Everton at Anfield. The Reds' forgotten man Divock Origi scored the winning goal in the sixth minute of added time in a tense Merseyside derby where both teams missed glorious chances.
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Solskjaer is not only winning games like a United manager is expected to win, he is also talking and acting like one. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was appointed Manchester United caretaker manager in
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Daniel Farke's Canaries beat Blackburn Rovers 2-1 at Carrow Road to seal automatic promotion from the Championship with a match to spare. Goals from Marco Stiepermann and Mario Vrancic put Daniel Farke's side 2-0 up inside 20 minutes, only for Lewis Travis to pull one back immediately for the visitors.
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