Roberto Firmino: Liverpool's Marquee Signing

In a bid to change around Liverpool's fortune, Brendan Rodgers has targeted 3 big name South Americans to add to his squad hoping to get back into the top 4 next season. Overnight he has successfully got his first of his 3 targets after signing 23 year old Brazilian playmaker Roberto Firmino from Hoffenheim on a 5-year-deal. The fee is estimated to be around £21.3 million however the fee could rise to £28 million with the additional transfer fee coming via add ons. Firmino isn't exactly a household name over here just yet but I feel he can possibly become a fantastic addition to both Liverpool and the Premiership.

Firmino has had a very impressive season scoring 15 times in 45 appearances and providing 10 assists for Brazil and Hoffenheim. Roberto Firmino finished as the Bundesliga's third best player this season and finishing only behind Kevin De Bruyne and Arjen Robben (according to whoscored.com).

He is naturally an attacking midfielder who tends to play just off the striker and could form a formidable partnership with the likes of Daniel Sturridge this season.

My only concern about Firmino joining is what will happen to Phillipe Coutinho as his performances have been one of the only positives Liverpool can take from this season. Rodgers has often used one attacking midfielder and two wingers and the signing of Firmino would surely force Coutinho out wide or out of the team all together. 

Firmino is the fifth player so far to move to Anfield alongside James Milner, Adam Bogdan, Danny Ings and Jospeh Gomez but I feel this is by far the most significant of their new signings. Either way if Firmino is regularly playing and used well, then Liverpool may well return to their former glory.

Bobby Wood: Klinsman's latest hidden gem?

Since Jurgen Klinsman's reign in charge of the USA national side, he has been tactically scouting players from Germany or playing in Germany who are eligible for the United States. He included 5 of these players in his 2014 World Cup squad with big names such as Jermaine Jones and Julian Green included. He has encouraged the USA to play more aggressive and attacking football which helped them have an impressive World Cup campaign. The success is continuing with the USA side after picking up two impressive victories away in Europe beating the Netherlands and World Cup Winners Germany 3-4 and 1-2 respectively.

In these 2 friendly matches, a hidden talent has proven to come off the bench and score in both fixtures. This is 22 year old Bobby Wood who plays his club football for Erzgebirge Aue in the German second division. Despite the low level domestic football and his lack of previous fame, his recent impressive form for the national side may revitalise his career.

This is big risk for the USA but if players like him can continue to play impressively for the national side, the American's national football talent will soar to development which will help further the domestic league in terms of popularity and standard of football. Particularly with the likes of Frank Lampard, Steven Gerrard and Kaka recently arriving at the MLS.

The question is, could Bobby Wood a poorly-known second tier striker use his International opportunity to become a global household name like Landon Donovan once was?

Pedro Obiang: Who is he?

West Ham have made their first signing of the summer by bringing in 23 year old Spaniard Pedro Obiang from Sampdoria. West Ham fans will be excited of the new arrival, but many football fans will be thinking, who is he?

Obiang has joined on an undisclosed fee from Sampdoria after spending his first 5 years as a professional with the Italian giants. In that time Obiang has made over 130 appearances scoring 4 times with 3 of them coming in this season. Obiang has had an impressive season in Sampdoria playing 33 times and finishing as their 4th best player of the season (according to whoscored.com). 

Obiang has been often used as a central midfielder by Sampdoria this season although he has also proved himself at on either side of the midfield, or sitting just in front of the back 4. Obiang is probably best known for his defensive contributions and was last season ranked 5th for average tackles per player in Serie A.

Obiang has featured 8 times for Spain at youth level representing the Under 17's, Under 19's and Under 21's. Obiang could be a key man in midfield for "The Hammers" this season potentially forming  a midfield partnership with Cheikou Kouyate and could be filling the role left behind by Alex Song after his loan spell expired.