Football News: Transfer Talk #1 Super Samir Handanovic

Welcome to the first installment of Transfer talk series.

In this series I'll be predominantly talking about Manchester United, however I'm more than happy to talk about other teams transfers if people enjoy what I'll be writing.

My aim is to try and post something new every day, but I do have work to attend too so bare with me if I miss a day or two.

So where else to begin article number 1 than with a number 1, Inter's shot stopper Samir Handanovic. The Slovenian is a keeper I started following in the 11/12 season - his last with Udinese.

So let me give you a bit of a break down about Handanovic, he's 30 years old, and at the start of next season he'll be 31, he stands at a relatively towering 6ft 3.

Inter manager Roberto Mancini recently said after the weekends victory at home to Lazio that Handanovic may leave due to the club not being able to fulfill is demands - which aren't financial demands, they're playing demands. Handanovic believes he needs to play in the Champions League and a keeper of his standard should be, Inter look unlikely to be playing midweek football on a Tuesday or Wednesday for the short term and at what would be 31 Handanovic can't wait 2 or 3 years to possibly play in the Champions League.

With this knowledge, we know that Handanovic is likely to leave, but only to a club playing in the Champions League or with very real prospects of breaking into a Champions League position next season.

Manchester United certainly fall into that category, however so do Liverpool & Arsenal - all 3 teams are having uncertainties surrounding the futures of their goalkeepers.

PSG keeper Sirigu has recently regained form and looks to keep his place for the forseeable future, while most top teams around Europe already possess a top class goalkeeper.

Arsenal is looking likely to press for Cech, while United could lose De Gea this summer (Although Real Madrid are a possibly destination for Handanovic also).

Liverpool would have also have the Slovenian watched, but with financial restrictions they may opt for a premier league proven alternative such as Stoke's Asmir Begovic (if reports of unrest are to be believed).

So is Samir so special?

Over the course of the season, having only missed 1 out of 35, he's kept 11 clean sheets at Inter behind a defense that isn't to dissimilar of a wreckage to Manchester United's.

During those 34 games, he's conceded 3 or more goals 4 times this season, and conceded 2 or more goals a further 6 times. Overall he's conceded 39 goals in 34 games. Making 71 saves over the course of the season and astonishingly saving 80% of penalty kicks.

In terms of collecting the ball, one of the bigger dangers for Goal Keepers coming to the Premier League, he's managed to lay claim to 94% of aerial balls entering his box.

His distribution could do with a little work though, Inter tend to play a longer, more direct game so that is something could heavily affect his stats.

His stats, realistically aren't to dissimilar from David De Gea's but the important thing to consider is that Handanovic is pretty much the finished article, bar an expected peak into his early to mid 30's he's unlikely to improve an awful lot.

That said, he's certainly a top quality keeper who puts in a constant shift with a weak back 4, although with the goalkeepers potentially available this summer he wouldn't be my first choice.

Verdict:

Likelihood of signing 6/10 - slightly above average

Keeping De Gea has to be priority, failing that moving in for Lloris with Cech as a back up should be the order of priority.

Thanks for reading Article one guys, let me know what you think and if there's any players you want me to discuss in future articles let me know, if you're a fan of a fellow side then also comment and let me whether you think I should discuss players linked with your clubs.

Written by Jordan Lombard May 14 2015 15:16:46