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As Dortmund’s demise in the Bundesliga this season has seen a plucky Wolfsburg side rise up at take their place, Ivan Perisic has found a new lease on life with Dieter Hecking’s team, with the Croatian international continuing to impress during 2014/15.

In the Bundesliga, Europa League, and even in last summer’s World Cup, Wolfsburg’s current sensation has seen his stock rise with a series of stand-out goals and performances. Alongside the likes of Kevin de Bruyne, Ricardo Rodriguez, and Ivica Olic, Ivan Perisic has become an integral part of a team that could really be going places this year.

Now with the January transfer window upon the footballing world once more, will Wolfsburg be able to keep hold of their star man, or will Perisic look to test himself elsewhere?

Wolfsburg’s mercurial no. 9 has all qualities of a bustling winger as well as a rampant goal scorer. He already has three goals this season, and whilst that may seem a slightly disappointing number considering that the German league is roughly half way completed, everyone involved with Die Wolfe this season expects more to come from Ivan Perisic.

Last season, the Croatian talent finished the 2013/14 campaign with a total of 10 goals in the Bundesliga, as well as one in the DFB-Pokal. Perisic has more to his game than just scoring goals however. With five assist already recorded this season, the 25-year-old rising star is a supplier as much as he is a goal scorer. There is something slightly Arjen Robben-esque about his style of play, and whilst he may not match the Dutchman for his pace, Perisic is just as daring, just as creative and almost as much of a threat as Bayern’s fiery winger is.

Alongside the likes of Luka Modric, Mateo Kovacic and Ivan Rakitic, the Volkswagen Arena favourite is expected to make up a dangerous midfield that should see his native Croatia become a real force in Euro 2016.

In light of this news, as is always the case when the January transfer window arrives, Ivan Perisic has drawn attention from the Premier League and beyond this winter. Serie A giants, Inter Milan and Napoli, are both said to be reportedly interested in the Croatian winger in recent weeks, but Perisic’s greatest admirers were previously thought to be Everton.

Throughout the summer, Roberto Martinez and the Toffees apparently done all they could to bring the 25-year-old to Merseyside, which would have signalled a great move for fans of the Premier League in general.  Perisic would have fitted into Everton’s plan nicely, and alongside the likes of Leighton Baines and Kevin Mirallas, the current Wolfsburg no. 9 would have provided the perfect ammunition for Romelu Lukaku to boost his goal-scoring stats for the 2014/15 season.

Although the Toffees could have supposedly signed Perisic for as little as £8 million in the summer, it now seems that the Premier League side may have missed their chance. With Ivan Perisic’s stock continuing to rise throughout Europe at the minute, if he were to eventually leave Wolfsburg, it would likely be to a bigger team than the likes of Everton.

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Whilst the Wolfsburg bosses have been clear in their desire to hold on to their latest star man, it would seem that Perisic could still be on the move in the near future if he manages to maintain his high standard in performances. At the moment though, the Croatian talent remains very much a Wolfsburg player, with Everton seemingly missing their chance to land his signature in the summer.

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Former Everton manager Howard Kendall has lambasted Toffees defender John Heitinga for his erratic performances this season.

Heitinga has made over 100 appearances for the Merseysiders since signing from Atletico Madrid in 2009 and he was voted the clubs’s player of the season last season, after winning many plaudits for impressive displays at central defence.

But the Dutch international defender has failed to hold down a regular starting berth in Everton’s line-up this season after several unconvincing performances. Heitinga was at fault for Newcastle’s early goal in Everton’s 2-1 Premier League victory at St James’ Park on Wednesday, after failing to deal with a routine punt forward from Magpies goalkeeper Tim Krul, to which Papiss Cisse reacted the quickest.

And Kendall, who managed at Goodison Park in three different spells, feels the 29-year-old is not reliable enough to be playing in the Toffees’ backline.

“Heitinga’s form this season hasn’t come near the standards he set last season when he won Player of the Season awards,” Kendall told the Liverpool Echo.

“And if Everton are going to get the best out of him I think they need to keep him out of the penalty area.

“Maybe he’s trying too hard to impress, but he is doing far too many rash things, like that premature leap at St James’ Park.

“Sylvain and Phil Jagielka are clearly the better defensive partnership, and maybe Heitinga would be better served playing in a holding midfield role.

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“His form simply isn’t reliable enough at the moment to be playing in central defence. He can still be effective for Everton, but not in their penalty box!”

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There is something so relentless about Heung-min Son that a defining impact from his role on the left-hand side of Tottenham’s attack, particularly at Wembley, now seems inevitable in practically every match.

Tireless, tenacious, ruthlessly quick and the kind of forward who makes his own chances as much as he feeds off team-mates, he’s perhaps the only Tottenham player to truly benefit from the temporary change in stadium – the expanse feel of the Wembley pitch giving him those extra few yards to explode into.

14 of his 17 goals this season have come at home, including a strike against Juventus on Wednesday night as Tottenham unfortunately crashed out of the Champions League to the Serie A title-holders, an erroneous few minutes in the second half costing them dearly as Gonzalo Higuain and Paolo Dybala turned the tie in its head midway through the second half.

Before all that though, Tottenham were hitting their groove – the constant mobility and guile of their front four proving too much for Juventus’ monolithic defence to handle as they exploited the space between the backline and the midfield.

And it was Son who shone brightest for the hosts; he took seven chances at goal, completed two dribbles, made two chances and tellingly of his industriousness, also won two tackles. The South Korean earned his just rewards as well; as Kieran Trippier flashed a cross along the six yard box, his scuffed connection looped the ball beyond the grasp of a floored Gianluigi Buffon.

That goal wasn’t enough to see Tottenham through, but the 61-cap attacker was unlucky to end the night on the losing side. Home performances this season have not only made him one of Spurs’ most important players but also one of the most devastating attackers in the Premier League.

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Former Liverpool defender Steve Nicol believes that the club’s owners can justify not backing Brendan Rodgers in the January transfer market thanks to his below par record when it comes to buying players.

With the Reds having made a disappointing start to the season, the Northern Irishman is understood to be ready to bring in new players next month in a bid to steer his side towards a top four finish.

But there have been suggestions that Liverpool’s owners, Fenway Sports Group, are reluctant to give him funds, with Rodgers having already overseen a spend of in excess of £200m since his arrival.

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Daniel Sturridge and Philippe Coutinho have been, arguably, his only successful deals, with the likes of Mario Balotelli, Dejan Lovren and Lazar Markovic – who cost a combined fee of around £50m – among the contenders for the worst signing of the summer transfer window.

And Nicol believes that such a hot and cold hit-rate means that FSG must have serious doubts about handing him more money:

“If I was John Henry [Liverpool’s owner] I would be very scared to give a lot of money to someone who has shown in the transfer market there have been more misses than hits.” he told talkSPORT.

“Of that £200million he’s spent there have been only two successes – and that’s Daniel Sturridge and Philippe Coutinho to a certain extent. The other 18-19 players he signed haven’t kicked a ball and that’s a horrible percentage when it comes to signing players.

“So if I’m John Henry I’ve got a really tough decision as to whether I give Rodgers any more money.

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“He has to prove last season wasn’t a fluke. Other than [Luis] Suarez, he’s got the same players and is supposed to have added quality. So he has to prove he can get this team playing the sort of football they played last season and give Henry a reason to back him in the transfer market.”

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Arsenal are preparing a January bid for Sunderland goalkeeper Simon Mignolet, according to reports from the Daily Mail.

Arsene Wenger is thought to see the Belgian as an ideal back-up stopper, and somebody who provide a challenge to first-choice Wojciech Szczesny.

The Frenchman has a number of goalkeeping options already, but is unconvinced by the likes of Lukasz Fabianski and Vito Mannone, both of whom have enjoyed spells between the sticks in recent seasons.

A bid of £5m is being prepared by the North Londoners, but it remains unclear as to whether the Black Cats will be willing to part company with their man, who has kept six clean sheets this season.

It had been thought that Wenger was considering a move for Liverpool’s Pepe Reina, but the Spaniard would likely cost around £20m.

Mignolet has been a solid performer for the Stadium of Light-based club since his arrival in 2010.

The 24-year-old profited heavily from the injury woes of former Sunderland goalkeeper Craig Gordon, to become first-choice at the club.

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If a move does materialise next month, it’s likely that Wenger will allow Fabianski to leave the club in search of regular football.

Mannone could be also be allowed to move on, although the Gunners are likely to want keep hold of the Italian as a back-up option.

Heung-Min Son is enjoying an impressive campaign for Tottenham Hotspur.

Indeed, the 25-year-old has managed 15 goals and nine assists in 41 appearances in all competitions for his Premier League club.

Son hit a brace in Tottenham’s victory over Huddersfield Town at Wembley on Saturday afternoon to take his tally of Premier League goals to 28 since moving to England.

The attacker has also netted three times in the Champions League this season, and will hope to be in the side that takes on Juventus in the second leg of their last-16 tie on Wednesday night.

On Monday, Tottenham’s official Twitter account posted a GIF of one of Son’s goals against Huddersfield at the weekend.

As expected, the message brought a host of responses from the club’s supporters, who were keen to pay tribute to a player that continues to go from strength to strength.

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A selection of the Twitter reaction can be seen below:

Steven Gerrard is commonly recognised as the best player not to win the Premier League, and that’s hard to argue against when he has been consistently at the top of his game for over a decade. Gerrard’s most successful moments for Liverpool have come in the Champions League and, after a brief absence from the competition, the Reds have returned, only to be drawn against Real Madrid and the dreaded PFC Ludogorets Razgrad. As per usual, a side who has been withdrawn from European competitions are struggling to balance domestic football alongside travelling around the continent.

Liverpool FC in general are not having a very good time of it. Their strikers can’t score, their midfielders can’t create, and their defenders still can’t defend. Even their ever-present Captain Gerrard is struggling to find any form, but with his contract into it’s final months it would be wrong not to renew soon.

Steven Gerrard must still be considered a key player at Anfield. There is no doubting his ability, and although he’s yet to take to his deeper role, the familiar cliché of ‘form is temporary, class is permanent’ springs to mind. He may well be 34 years old and in some players (usually the ones who rely on pace) the end is nigh, others who learn and adapt to dictate play from deep using their vast experience can still be an effective asset at 35-40 (e.g. Pirlo & Giggs).

You’d expect that a player as loyal to one club such as Gerrard would be offered a contract at first opportunity, but Steven was forced to come out and explain that he isn’t going to just retire if Liverpool don’t put a new contract offer to him – a messy situation for one of the club’s most dedicated players.

Brendan Rodgers was quick to react to Stevie G’s comments as he expressed how brilliant he has been for the Northern Irish manager during his time with the club. Rodgers also told how contract negotiations are in fact underway and that he certainly sees Steven as a part of his plans for the coming seasons. However, it’s still bizarre that he’s been allowed to drift well into the final year of his contract with no real rush to secure the player who was once the player who the rest of the squad was built around.

Of course there’s a possibility that Gerrard may well be demanding more money than the club are willing to offer, especially for a 34-year-old during what Rodgers has described as a ‘transitional season’. Yet no manager before him would have dreamt of putting a price cap on the ex-England captain’s wages but is that ideology simply deemed as living in the past?

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OK, Gerrard isn’t the player he once was, but his presence both on and off the pitch – as captain – has been integral to any success that Liverpool have had during his time at the club. To let somebody as loyal and effective to just walk out of the door and find another club would be distasteful of Rodgers, and something which would devastate all Liverpool fans.

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Liverpool profited from James Collins own goal 11 minutes from time to come from behind and beat West Ham at Upton Park.

Sam Allardyce will point to the loss of Mohamed Diame to injury in the second as the catalyst for their downfall  after his half time introduction had inspired them to a memorable 3-1 victory over Chelsea seven days prior.

The Reds, without the suspended Luis Suarez, have found the winning groove of late and displayed their fighting spirit to turn a one goal deficit around in the dying embers of the game to record their first win after a Europa League game in nine attempts.

It was certainly a surprise when the visitors took the lead with just 11 minutes on the clock given the absence of Suarez and 20-year-old Jonjo Shelvey leading the line.

But there was nothing they could do to stop former charge Glen Johnson opened the scoring in spectacular fashion, taking Steven Gerrard’s pass and cutting in from the right before smashing an unstoppable left footed strike into the top corner.

The hosts responded and from Matt Jarvis’ cross Diame saw his shot deflected wide by teammate Carlton Cole before Daniel Agger had to stretch to stop the Hammers striker later on.

But they finally forced an equaliser in the 36th minute when Joe Allen was penalised by referee Lee Probert for handling Guy Demel’s strike and Mark Noble stepped up to beat Pepe Reina from the spot.

Things got worse for Liverpool three minutes before the break as Gerrard headed Jarvis’ cross into his own net. Shelvey, who suffered a frustrating afternoon, saw a deflected effort tipped over before Diame’s departure in the 72nd minute allowed the away side to take a foothold.

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It proved a crucial blow to West Ham as four minutes later as Joe Cole, another former Upton Park favourite, adding a measured finish to Raheem Sterling’s pass to level the game.

And there was one last sting in the tale for the hosts as Collins attempted to pip Shelvey to Jordan Henderson’s cross but contrived to lift the ball over Jussi Jaaskelainen to hand the Reds victory.

England further elevated the sudden optimism surrounding this young and promising side on Sunday by obliterating Panama 6-1 in their second World Cup Group G clash. The win ensured England’s place in the first knockout round but much more than that, it also instilled real belief in a new breed of Three Lions player who appear brave and technically gifted enough to play attacking football at major international tournaments.

After the match, we asked England supporters to issue performance ratings for each of those involved in the 6-1 victory. Here’s a rundown of the three players who impressed Three Lions fans the most, picking up the highest average scores out of ten…

Kieran Trippier – 7.4: He was arguably more effective against Tunisia with those Beckham-esque deliveries from out wide but the Tottenham star played a key hand in getting England on the front foot on Sunday, setting up John Stones for the early opener with another precision ball from a corner. Few right-backs or right wing-backs have impressed as much as Trippier at the World Cup so far.

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Harry Kane – 7.8: The Tottenham talisman may have bagged a hat-trick but it appears his overall performance didn’t resonate that loudly with England supporters. In fairness, Kane notched up two penalties before claiming the match ball with the most fortuitous of flicks, deflecting a Ruben Loftus-Cheek shot to send the Panama goalkeeper the wrong way.

Jesse Lingard – 7.9: The roaming No.8 slots have been a key feature of Southgate’s England setup and Lingard particularly has thrived in the role, showing off not only his quality on the ball but also his relentless energy in pushing on from midfield to join the attack. The Manchester United ace was a crucial component of Sunday’s win as well – claiming the foul that allowed Kane’s first spot kick before curling an absolute beauty into the back of the net. He now appears to be one of the first names on Gareth Southgate’s team sheet.

View the results in full below…

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Liverpool lead FC Porto 5-0 going into the second leg of their Champions League last 16 tie at Anfield on Tuesday night, and Reds fans are all making the same surprise claim about goalkeepers Loris Karius and Simon Mignolet.

The former has established himself as the Merseyside outfit’s first-choice stopper between the sticks in recent months, and he kept a clean sheet as his team beat Newcastle United 2-0 at home in the Premier League on Saturday.

With their progression to the quarter-finals of the Champions League looking to be all but guaranteed, manager Jurgen Klopp will be tempted to give some of his fringe players – of which Mignolet is now one – starts, but the Anfield faithful certainly aren’t keen on the Belgian replacing Karius on his 30th birthday, even with the great position the club finds themselves in ahead of the match.

Liverpool supporters were quick to have their say on the situation via social media, and while one said “I hope Karius continues in goal”, another said they would “be livid if Mignolet starts tonight”.

Here is just a selection of the Twitter reaction…

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