I’ll start this week by speaking about Vinicius Junior’s links to Arsenal. It would be a massive statement to bring him to the club, and I know they need to strengthen in that area after losing Leandro Trossard.
But I don’t think he will leave Real Madrid, and I expect him to sign a new contract. It’s been reported that he wants something like £400,000 a week, and I don't think Arsenal are going to be able to pay that.
Clinton was speaking on behalf of Freebets.com home to the best betting sites.
'Arsenal won't land Vini Jr.'
There’s also a lot of talk about Rodri joining Real Madrid, but Manchester City need to fight tooth and nail to keep him.
I was reading something which said that the Real Madrid president Florentino Perez needed to make that final decision whether to pursue a deal, but I'm surprised he hasn't said that Rodri is our number one target, because he's the best holding midfielder in the world at the moment.
He wasn’t always at his best after coming back from injury at Man City last season, but Pep Guardiola said that you'll see the best of Rodri at the World Cup. And what did we see? We saw the best player at the World Cup. Rodri was outstanding.
I know he's got a back issue and needs to recuperate after his operation, but I'm sure Man City will be doing all they can to keep him and ensure he signs a new contract. There’s no question that it would be an incredible signing for Real Madrid, but I want to see the best players in the Premier League, so I'd love Rodri to stay at Man City.
Moving on to Chelsea, and I can understand the decisions to sign both Danny Welbeck and Jordan Henderson. Chelsea's motto has always been to sign younger players, but that didn't work for them last season.
There were too many younger players that didn't have enough experience to manage the group.
That's why I think they tried to sign Granit Xhaka earlier in the window, and Xabi Alonso clearly wants to bring a wiser head into the squad.
Looking at Welbeck, he was one of the top scorers in the Premier League last season and would be a good addition. They've got the likes of Joao Pedro, and we don't know what's happening with Nicholas Jackson or Liam Delap, but at least one of them will probably move on.
Henderson would also provide more leadership in that Chelsea squad, and I feel they will have a right go at the Premier League next season with no European football to play. We saw that with Manchester United last season.
Moving on to Liverpool, and there’s plenty of talk that Bradley Barcola could join for more than €100 million. He’s a good player, but it’s a lot of money, and I feel like he has to improve technically. But one thing he's got, is pace to burn and he's a threat. You saw that at the World Cup for France and last season at Paris Saint-Germain.
Liverpool need to bring in a winger, not to replace Mohamed Salah, because no one can replace Mo Salah and I don't think anyone will get his numbers. But Barcola is at a good age, he's got pace, and he'd be going to a big football club with a top manager in Andoni Iraola. He would be a decent signing.
They have some defensive issues to address as well. I saw that Micky van de Ven has been linked with Liverpool, and that would make good sense to go and sign him. He regularly plays with Virgil van Dijk for the Netherlands, and there’s a brilliant understanding between the two of them. Although, I think Tottenham Hotspur will keep him now, as Cristian Romero looks as though he’ll leave this summer.
There have also been three big appointments at international level, with Germany, France and Italy announcing new managers. Jürgen Klopp is the perfect manager to take charge of Germany, who will be trying to turn their fortunes around after a very disappointing World Cup. I would have loved to have seen him back in club football, but that wasn't going to happen unless he came back to Liverpool
As for Zinedine Zidane, he said this was the job he always wanted. He's not worked for a while and had other job offers, but held out for this one. He brings that aura when he walks into a dressing room, because people respect him after his incredible career, he's proven himself as a brilliant manager too.
There’s plenty of talent at his disposal in that France squad. I know they didn't turn up in the semi-final against Spain, but it's still a top country with top players. I think both Klopp and Zidane will improve their respective nations massively. The Euros in two years’ time will be very interesting!
As for Roberto Mancini, he faces a massive rebuilding job with Italy. I don't understand how they've not qualified for a World Cup for so long. They got knocked out in the play-offs before this year’s finals, but there was no excuse for that, considering the players at their disposal. I think it’s a good call to bring back Mancini though, and hopefully they can start regularly qualifying for major tournaments again.
I’ll finish this week by talking about the world’s oldest professional footballer, Kazuyoshi Miura, who scored his first goal in almost four years last weekend. To still be playing at 59 is unbelievable. I go to the gym at my age and I'm knackered afterwards! I've been for two days and my body is in tatters, I feel like I can't walk, and he's still playing at 59. It's a testament to keeping yourself in good shape and loving the game.
But at 59, I don't even think I'll be walking that straight, let alone running around a football pitch for 90 minutes. I hope he continues playing beyond the age of 60. What a career he's had, and huge congratulations to him.
