The Outsider Game:The original "Big Four" [FIFA MANAGER 18]

Big changes this season inside the Premier League as the vintage "Big Four" decided to change their manager. Speculations have been going on and on for quite some time and it seems that today, Saturday the first of July, Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool are all presenting their managers to the media:

Diklas Feberson, a young manager from Sweden who went through all the managing positions at the Djurgårdens academy then brang the first team up to the final of the Europa League two seasons ago is heading towards Old Trafford. The former Swedish international (4 caps) who played most of his career in England (Watford where he is a fan's favorite, Bolton and Bristol City), signed a 3 years contract for an undisclosed fee. Sir Alex Ferguson publicly praised him, qualifying him as "the future of football management". Is he the new " chosen one" ?

The defending champions lost their manager, Antonio Conte left his office for personal reasons. This is quite unprecedented and the task for Chelsea board to find an other gaffer with International reputation wasn't going to be easy. Former Brazil manager Luis Castolo is known to have a particular style of management, tough and hard on the man as some of his former players qualified him. But the Brazilian coach clearly has a big CV although he never coached in England. Probably the biggest unknown for next season is going to be this 2017-2018 Chelsea team.

"Wenger Out", that was the quote all other British medias last May, and now Arsenal can finally think about the future not through the Wenger prism. Isah Jidda former club legend is taking the position for his first experience as number one. Patrick Vieira's former assistant coach says he is now ready but Arsenal might be taking a big risk. The ex-Nigerian International and CL winner with Bayern has a lot to prove.

Sota Yamashita, this name might not tell you much but he just won 5 titles of Champion of Japan with the Gamba Osaka alongside two Asian Champion's League, so be careful before calling him a marketing " coup". His intentions for Liverpool are clear, win a title within 3 years! Liverpool board guaranteed a big envelope to spend on the transfer market, and that's the news Liverpool fans are probably happy to hear.

Our investigation team managed to put a hand on the budgets from the PL clubs for next season, have a look for yourself.










Diklas Feberson is bringing his team to Mexico for a training camp where his team will face the locals Tigres, then Manchester will have to fly back in order to play a friend against Leyton Orient. Prestige fixture will follow for the Red Devils, the European Supercup on the 8th of August against Real Madrid. As a reminder, Feberson's men are playing Tottenham for the opening day.

Chelsea is now leaving to Dubai for the pre-season journee, they'll face the local champions Al Ain, then they'll come back to London for an early derby versus Fulham. The Charity Shield versus Arsenal will be played the 6th of August and the opener is against Swansea.

Arsenal journee starts at the green from Switzerland where a friendly is planned against FC Sion. Friendlys against Notts County and Preston are also planned before the Charity Shield. West Ham is Arsenal first fixture and the game is going to be played at the Emirates.

Liverpool pre-season tour will take place in Fukuoka, Japan. Marketing and Football hand in hand. They'll face Kawasaki Frontale for the club's anniversary, then Barnet and Whitwell will be next Arsenal's sparring partners. Opening day away at Stoke !

6th Of July, first transfers and rumors, here is your report club by club.

Manchester United
Sky Sports affirm that United just met Real Madrid officials as they plan to break Varane's transfer clause for an estimate fee of 24M£. The club is also looking for an other option for the striking line, few names have been put on paper, including Griezmann, Heung-Min Son and Luka Jovic. The Sun affirm that United is close to sign Alex Sandro aswell, but Juventus is for now asking around 60M£ which is certainly not a problem for United. On other news, the young right back Alex Tuanzebe has been loaned to Queen's Park Rangers till the end of the season !

Chelsea.
The Times announced that a fight began against Chelsea and Barcelona in order to negotiate Fabinho's transfer. 40M£ is the price now the clubs have to find an agreement with the player as soon as possible. A few others signing are awaited at Stamford Bridge, especially on the front line. Bale is the big name announced in order to make up a partnership with Costa and Hazard. Depay might make a comeback to England after 6 months in France, but Aulas probably won't sell his player that easily. Veteran Goalkeeper Eduardo has been sold to Twente for 300k£, and three loans already: James to Preston, Charly Jr Musonda to Cardiff and Clarke-Salter to Sheffield United.

Arsenal.
Nothing seems to be really happening at Arsenal, a few contract extensions for the u23s, and two loans out, Calum Chambers is loaned to Sunderland where the Netflix crew is already waiting for him, and the striker Chuba Akpom is going to have a spell at Bolton until the end of the season.

Liverpool.
First step for Liverpool is sells: Adam Lallana has been sold for 11M£ to Newcastle while Coutinho refused to train and seems to be on its way out, Di Marzio said Barça proposed a first offer to the board but other offers are awaited. 3 players are going out on loan: Solace to Wolverhampton, Joe Gomez found an agreement to go to Sheffield Wednesday and the Serbian Marko Grujic is loaned to Derby County. Yamashita expressed during yesterday's press conference in Japan that he wanted to sign a goalkeeper and central defender. He refused to comment on the Oblak rumor.

This is it. The first big move of the so-called "mercato", Coutinho refused to join Barcelona in order to sign with the Gunners ! 50M£ is the fee Jidda and Yamashita agreed on, but what might have convinced Coutinho to sign with Arsenal is a 13M£ per season 5 years deal, what a piece of business from the Brazilian.

Ish Jidda concluded the press conference with a clear statement: " Arsenal is back on". Chills, literally chills.

Today's headline is, as you can imagine, the Fabinho's signing by Chelsea. Luis Castolo has a high estime of his compatriot and hopes of an association with Kanté might cheer up the fans after Conte's departure. SkySports is announcing 40M£ of transfer fee, might be more with add-ons.



And at the moment I'm talking to you, Varane just passed his medical and can now sign with Manchester United. 24M£ is an absolute bargain and now Feberson is going to be able to enjoy the player services for 5 years. Varane said he is delighted to join the club and be one of the main pieces of the team. Apparently the player was exchanging with his National Team teammates through WhatsApp, and he said "Paul and Anthony convinced me to join Manchester" . Great news for Didier Deschamps, his players are going to be able to work on their automatisms in preparation of the World Cup.



Goalkeepers are moving away from Liverpool, Loris Varies is moving to Wolves for 2.4M£, Adam Bogdan is sold to QPR for 700k£ while Jon Flanagan fly to Fulham for 1.2M£. WonderKID Harry Wilson will have a spell at Nottingham Forest for the 2017-2018 season.

Wait, we have some breaking news. Chelsea is not done for the day as Antoine Griezmann just set foot to London to pass his medical! More news to follow but it is possible that the club broke its record signing fee. 80M? 90M ? 100M??

Tuesday, 11th of July
Friendlies.

Manchester United 1 - 0 Tigres UANL
Solid performance from Manchester under difficulty conditions, dry field and the sun was hitting hard in Mexico. Anthony Martial has been impressive and scored the sole goal of the game with a special Lukaku's assist.




Chelsea 2 - 0 Al Ain
Chelsea have been particularly quiet during the first half then managed to be absolutely effective and score two goals despite the game being absolutely boring.




Arsenal 2-2 FC Sion
Jidda first game didn't go as well as planned, Arsenal managed to obtain a draw only at the 88th minute thanks to a brace from Giroud. On other news Xhaka has been incredible on his home soil.




Liverpool 3 - 2 Kawasaki Frontale
Spectacular game in Japan, where both teams displayed a fantastic show to the crowd. The Liverpool is still very much under construction and it's hard to take conclusions out of this game, but Sturridge has been absolutely magnificent, so maybe there is not much need to bring back Suarez has the last rumors might have suggested.

Monday 17th of July 2020

Heung-Min Son is now a Manchester United player and is the new number 7 holder. An important fee (around 40 to 50M£) has been necessary and the contract expiring next season probably convinced the Tottenham board to let go their jewel.



Leon Goretzka, the German international signed with Arsenal last week for 20M£, but is it going to be enough to fix Arsenal midfield ? And observers are not convinced that him and Xhaka are going to combine well together. Let's wait and see.



Virgil van Dijk, and it's seems quite natural for some reason signed his contract with Liverpool. A five year contract, 5M£ a year, and 40M£ for Southampton.
Seems to be an habit now, a player that refuses to sign a new contract and then threatens the club to not train in order to get a move, well this is Gianluigi Donnarumma story, the new Liverpool goalkeeper. The most prominent talent at this position is going to fix Liverpool issues with its last keepers. 36M£ were necessary but it is today's market prices unfortunately!
Yannick Ferreira Carrasco not desired by his club anymore has been presented alongside Donnarumma. The Belgium winger is joining the Merseyside club for 21M£ and a half.





France really can't keep a good player for too long. Memphis Depay is back in the Prem, and Stamford Bridge is his new garden. The Blues spent 22M£ on the Dutch for a 4 years contract.



Luke Shaw just signed a 3 years contract with Swansea and promised to play a big role for the Welsh side in order to stay in the Premier League. Estimations are around 12M£ which represent a loss of 18M£ for Manchester United in 3 years. The kid from Salford left with tears his dream club, Jesse Lingard is moving to the 2016 Champions for 8.5M£. Manchester also loaned freshly signed Lindelof to Watford for a season.




Arsenal is loaning young players everywhere: Rob Holding to Nottingham, Maitland-Niles to Middlesbrough, Rene-Adelaide to Nantes and Joe Willow to Sheffield United.

Other clubs:
Ivan Perisic from Inter Milan to Zenith for 10M£
Max Meyer from Schalke to Real Madrid for 26M£
Pol Lirola from Sassuolo to Atletico Madrid for 16M£