Why big US law firms are on a UK hiring spree

When private equity lawyer David Higgins left Freshfields for Kirkland & Ellis on a reputed $10m a year package, his move reflected dramatic shifts in London’s law firms.

The 48-year-old last year became the latest star lawyer to defect to a US firm from the traditional “magic circle” — the elite cadre of London firms, privately owned by partners, who work on the most prestigious corporate deals.

Until recently, few lawyers who reached the top ever left the magic circle — and it is easy to see why. Step inside their offices and you could be inside an investment bank, with cavernous, marble-floored receptions and corridors of meeting rooms adorned with expensive modern art.

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Arsenal discover Ousmane Dembele's price tag as Luis Suarez outlines what he must do

Ousmane Dembele may well be on the move in the coming months with his transfer to Barcelona not going to plan.

Signed for an eye-watering €105million (£93.4m) last summer from Borussia Dortmund, the Frenchman endured a frustrating start to his Nou Camp career with a thigh injury forcing him to miss 20 games.

Netting four goals for the club, including one in the Champions League against Chelsea, during the second part of last campaign, the 21-year-old has once again found himself in and out of the team this term.

Having called in sick prior to the international break, the club doctor was sent around to his house but found nothing wrong with his health.

it is believed that the World Cup winner has been told to get his act together or forget about making it at Barcelona.

Linked with Arsenal and Liverpool, Barcelona-based publication Sport claim that any club interested in signing the attacker would need to pay €100m (£89m) to sign the ex-Rennes man.

Although he would cost a lot of money to lure to the Emirates, Sven Mislintat knows the player well from his time at Dortmund and he would help give the team more balance on the left wing.

While there is the chance he could still turn around his career at Barcelona, teammate Luis Suarez has told him what he must do if he wants to remain at the Nou Camp.

"I think being a footballer is a privilege," he said ahead of Uruguay's game against France.

"I think he should focus on football, and take inspiration from the exemplary professionals in the Barcelona dressing room."

Given it looks unlikely he will be moved on in January unless the club receive an offer they cannot refuse, Arsenal fans may just have to wait until the summer to see if Mislintat and Unai Emery launch a move for the talented player.

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Selling Willian and Morata out - The three ways Chelsea could line up with Christian Pulisic

It has been a busy week for Chelsea in the news with the Blues reportedly on the verge of facing a two-year transfer ban following a FIFA investigation into their signing of foreign U18 players.

If the Blues do have a ban imposed on them in the future then it could make January an important month to make some signings and Borussia Dortmund winger Christian Pulisic appears to be right at the top of that list.

The Blues are not lacking in quality in their wing department. Eden Hazard leads the way, while Willian, Pedro and Callum Hudson-Odoi have the ability to really cause a lot of trouble for defenders.

So what are three options that Maurizio Sarri could use Pulisic should he make the move to Stamford Bridge?

Pulisic on the right

The first role for Pulisic and the most likely scenario for the American at the Blues would be to see him play on the right, the way that he has played for Dortmund.

Eden Hazard is obviously the number one man on the left, as he has been throughout his Chelsea career, and the position on the right wing has always had a slight question mark over it, with either Willian or Pedro taking the role.

However, signing Pulisic would surely mean that one of the two wingers would find their way out of the door, if not both being sold to make way for the 20-year-old.

But would Pulisic be an upgrade right now? Willian has two goals and two assists in the league, with Pedro netting four times and grabbing one assist. Meanwhile, Pulisic has one goal and two assists in th Bundesliga.

However, his age is certainly a factor and he really has the capacity to add more to his game, which is something Sarri could bring out of him.

Pulisic on the left

The only way that Pulisic is going to be playing on the left is either Hazard is injured, rested or, even worse, has finally been sold to Real Madrid.

That would give the American the chance to play off the left, which would bring a lot of pressure on his shoulders as a lot of Chelsea's attacking play is dictated down the left.

With Marcos Alonso using his attacking ability, while either the left midfielder of Ross Barkley or Mateo Kovacic are the more attacking option than N'Golo Kante on the other side.

Pulisic's main position as been on the right, so the left might be a little bit alien to him at first. However, for a player with his ability, playing on the left could actually open up more of his game.

Pulisic through the middle

Something that Maurizio Sarri had a lot of joy with at Napoli was the front three combination of Lorenzo Insigne, Dries Mertens and Jose Callejon, neither of them being out and out strikers.

The interchanging of the three would make it difficult for the defence to keep tracks on them, while playing at pace and ability to high press made it the perfect way of implementing Sarri's style.

It's not something we have seen yet at Chelsea, with Pedro, Willian and Hazard not getting the chance to play together quite yet, while Morata and Olivier Giroud still getting the nod.

But it is still an option up Sarri's sleeve and Pulisic could be an interesting player to have in that line up with the pace and ability to move and connect with the rest of the forward line.

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Arsenal defender hints at summer exit and reveals contract offers have already arrived

Julio Pleguezuelo has revealed that a return to Spain could be on the cards if Arsenal do not hand him a contract extension.

The defender, who finally made his senior debut for the Gunners during the 2-1 success against Blackpool in the Carabao Cup last month, will be be able to leave the Emirates for free at the end of the season when his current deal expires.

Pleguezuelo’s aim is to stay at the Emirates, however, but he has admitted he has already had offers arrive from clubs in Spain.

“I’m waiting to see how everything develops," Pleguezuelo told Marca.

"I have to talk to my representative. My goal is to stay at Arsenal. I would like to continue and, if it is not here in England - I have offers in Spain.

"But at the moment it’s not my idea to go back.”

Pleguezuelo arrived at Arsenal from Barcelona in 2013 but has struggled to make his mark in the senior side.

His debut against Blackpool came after five years in north London and as head coach Unai Emery was struggling to deal with a defensive injury crisis.

The 21-year-old has not featured since and with Laurent Koscielny and Konstantinos Mavropanos due back imminently after long-term spells on the sidelines, Pleguezuelo’s pathway to the first-team is about to get even tougher.

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N'Golo Kante speaks out on his new role under Maurizio Sarri at Chelsea

France international N'Golo Kante has spoken about the "challenge" of playing under Maurizio Sarri at Chelsea.

After taking charge of the Blues in the summer, the Italian has moved the midfielder into a slightly more advanced position.

During his title-winning spells with Leicester City and his current club the 27-year-old was deployed in front of the defence in all-encompassing role that saw him win the ball and dominate the cente of the pitch.

However, ex-Napoli playmaker Jorginho has taken charge in that area of the pitch for Sarri, with Kante forced to get up and down the field not unlike a box-to-box midfielder.

"I am enjoying the role," he said when asked about life at Chelsea in a France press conference."It is a new challenge for me.

"I try to understand the move and the right players' combinations. I think we are doing well. We need to keep working and keep improving and I think we can enjoy a good season together."

Didier Deschamps also opened up about the Chelsea head coach and his decision to play one of France's most important players in a slightly different positions.

"He can also play deeper where he is very useful and very powerful," said the World Cup-winner. "At Chelsea he's in more of a creative role.

"With what his coach asks him, and his system, he is brought to play very high.

"He has more freedom. He is very comfortable with the ball, so it doesn't cause him any problems. He's always having fun.

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Olivier Giroud has a new job and it might surprise Chelsea fans

Olivier Giroud has a new job.

Fear not Chelsea fans, the big likeable striker is not hanging up his football boots just yet, rather doing a job on the side, and it might surprise a few people.

Giroud has had to share striker responsibilities with Alvaro Morata in Maurizio Sarri's system this season - a part-time role if you will.

And he now has another role - in a film.

According to French football writer Jeremy Smith, the 32-year-old is to voice a character in the French-dubbed version of the new Spider-Man - Spider-Man: New Generation.

Giroud will be the voice of the Green Goblin, who has been played by Willem Dafoe, James Franco and Dane Dehaan recently.

And the Blues frontman is not the only member of the France squad to be taking on a film role, with team-mate Presnel Kimpembe to be the voice of the Scorpion.

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Arsenal told how much it will cost to sign striker replacement in January

Arsenal will have to fork out over £25million if they want to sign Genk striker Leandro Trossard.

That's according to their manager, Philippe Clement, who remains confident he can keep the 23-year-old in Belgium in January despite Arsenal's interest in his striker.

Scouts from the north London clubs have been spotted watching the 23-year-old, who has scored ten goals in 13 appearances in all competitions so far for his boyhood club.

Unai Emery had been keen to add another forward to his squad in January and after Danny Welbeck's injury in the Europa League against Sporting Lisbon, that area now looks to have become a priority.

There had been rumours that Trossard would leave Genk in the summer after his performances in the Belgian top division the season before, but the club managed to hold onto him, despite Clement being worried they wouldn't be able to.

But the Genk manager is in a different mood heading into January, where he says it's not common for a club to lose one of their best players, despite Arsenal's reported interest in his star man.

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