All posts by n8rngtd.top

The Athletic's leading transfer correspondent David Ornstein has recently confirmed the news that Liverpool fans all know: FSG are eager to strengthen Arne Slot's squad with a new centre-back this summer.

Wataru Endo impressed during the 2023/24 season after surprisingly signing from Stuttgart for £16m, working like an industrious ant for Jurgen Klopp, but the 31-year-old is flawed and not the long-term solution for a high-aspiration Anfield side.

That leaves the other priority position: out wide. There has been plenty of noise around the flanks and how Liverpool are keen to strengthen, but it's uncertain which side will receive the most attention, with Mohamed Salah, on the right, out of contract in 12 months and Luis Diaz, left, continuing to catch Barcelona's eye.

Diaz is one of the most likely high-profile Redmen to potentially depart Liverpool this summer, with Barcelona clearly having a vested interest in the Colombian but unable to secure his services and meet Liverpool's €75m (£63m) valuation.

Liverpool lining up Diaz replacement

Last weekend, transfer insider Graeme Bailey revealed that the Reds were set to rival Tottenham Hotspur for the signing of Crystal Palace sensation Eberechi Eze, who has a £60m release clause in his contract.

Called up to the Three Lions' EURO 2024 squad following his exemplary campaign, Eze would offer genuine quality to Slot's Liverpool frontline, with the perfect skill set to effectively succeed Diaz.

With Manchester United also considering joining the race for the 25-year-old, Liverpool must act swiftly if they are to prevail and land one of the Premier League's most exciting players.

Eberechi Eze's season in numbers

Eze was in emphatic form for Crystal Palace last season as he alternated between the left wing and in a more central attacking midfield role, praised for his "individual brilliance", "unique" style of play and ability to "go on and play for one of the top teams" by pundit Rio Ferdinand.

Across all competitions this season, Eze scored 11 goals and supplied six assists for his teammates, with all of said strikes arriving across his 24 starting displays in the English top flight, a testament to his clinical edge.

That return included a composed finish to round off a stunning, sweeping Palace move at Anfield back in April, with that crowning a 1-0 win for the visitors to help dampen the spirits surrounding Klopp's farewell, as Liverpool's title hopes effectively went up in smoke following that shock result.

Complementing his goalscoring return, as per Sofascore, the £100k-per-week star completed 84% of his passes, created seven big chances and averaged two key passes, 2.6 dribbles, six duels and five ball recoveries per game, truly emphasising just how dangerous he is.

Have a look at how that compares to Diaz – his prospective predecessor on Merseyside – when comparing the fleet-footed forwards' respective Premier League campaigns.

It doesn't take Pep Guardiola to deduce which play performed to the superior standard during the 2023/24 season, with Eze enjoying greater athleticism, commitment, drive and reward.

He might have a broad-ranging skill set but Eze is undoubtedly built upon his prolific ability, ranking among the top 6% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for goals, the top 5% for shots taken and the top 10% for successful take-ons per 90, as per FBref.

That final metric illustrates his breezy, weaving movements, indeed thriving as one of English football's finest ball-carriers over the past few years. See the clip below to observe Eze taking Arsenal's elite-class midfield for a walk in the park.

Eze is a talented player, and if Liverpool were to replace Diaz with him, they might even sign their own version of Anthony Gordon. A better version, perhaps.

Why Eberechi Eze could be Liverpool's own Anthony Gordon

Eze has been praised for his remarkable ability with a football by many, but his skills and efficiency are perhaps best encapsulated by Wolverhampton Wanderers manager Gary O'Neil, who lauded both him and his Eagles strike partner Michael Olise.

Moreover, analyst Ben Mattinson has dubbed him a "superstar" and it's quite clear that, going off his current trajectory, the Greenwich-born gem is headed for greatness. Why wouldn't Liverpool want that to be at Anfield?

There were tentative reports several weeks ago concerning Liverpool interest in Newcastle United's Gordon, who joined the Magpies from Everton for £45m back in January 2023, but it's always been unlikely that Eddie Howe's side would sell the fast-rising winger despite concerns relating to PSR.

Well, considering that Gordon plays to the tune of Eze and Diaz's style, Liverpool might be in luck if Barcelona do decide to swoop and sign Slot's current left-wing option for around £63m.

In the Premier League last term, Gordon, who is 23, scored 11 goals and supplied ten assists across 35 matches, with his exploits earning him Newcastle's Player of the Season honour.

He created 16 big chances, completed 82% of his passes and notably made 1.6 key passes and tackles, 1.5 dribbles and 5.3 won duels on average per match. Bruno Guimaraes gushed over his "unbelievable" campaign and indeed the Premier League – and Gareth Southgate – has taken note.

This is an impressive collection of qualities and no doubt showcases his tenacious and unflappable mentality, closing opponents down with constancy and charging up and down the left flank like a raging bull, but Eze, simply, is performing to a higher standard.

Slot could repeat Coutinho move by selling £63m Liverpool sensation

This sale could kickstart a revolution at Anfield.

By
Angus Sinclair

Jun 11, 2024

Nottingham Forest have already signed seven new players this summer and are showing no signs of slowing down in the transfer market, as Steve Cooper endeavours to build a squad fit to compete in the Premier League for the first time in 23 years.

The newly-promoted side have already lost a number of last season’s squad, with James Garner returning to Manchester United, Djed Spence completing a move to Tottenham Hotspur, Keinan Davis returning to Aston Villa and Brice Samba making a permanent move to Lens.

Nevertheless, Forest are wasting no time in their pursuit to maintain their Premier League status next season and are filling key positions comfortably despite deadline day being still over six weeks away.

After signing Dean Henderson on loan from Man United, despite reports linking Garner with a return to The City Ground, it would be impossible to complete a straightforward loan deal as Premier League clubs are not allowed to loan two players from the same club at the same time.

As a result, Cooper could land his dream replacement for the young Red Devils midfielder by plotting a move for a player who has already been linked with a move to Forest this summer, Amadou Onana.

The £50m midfielder – who was hailed a “huge talent” by Jacek Kulig – has put in some impressive performances and been a consistent force in Ligue One over last season.

Over 32 league appearances last season, Onana scored one goal and created three big chances, as well as made an average of 1.5 tackles and won 3.4 duels per game, in addition to completing the majority of his dribbles.

Tackling, ground duels and ball control are strengths noted by SofaScore, proving that he is a six-foot-five powerhouse with bags of potential to develop into a great player in the right team.

The Belgian 20-year-old is a very hot prospect and has been linked with a number of clubs this summer including Liverpool, Arsenal, Newcastle United and West Ham United.

With that being said, Forest will need to act fast if they do want to sign the Lille OSC midfielder this summer, as West Ham United have already reportedly tabled a £32.3m bid.

AND in other news: Bid made: Nottingham Forest in talks for £10m “nightmare”, he’s a big Colback upgrade

Former Leeds United goalkeeper Paul Robinson has been reacting to Raphinha’s proposed move to Barcelona.

The Lowdown: Fee agreed

Raphinha remained in Yorkshire over the weekend looking to resolve his future as Leeds jetted to Australia for their pre-season tour, and it now looks as if he will get his wish with a move to Barcelona well and truly in the pipeline.

Fabrizio Romano revealed on Tuesday that an agreement was in place for Leeds to receive a guaranteed €58m (£48.9m) plus bonuses.

Phil Hay stated on Wednesday morning that the winger is heading to Barcelona to undergo a medical ahead of an Elland Road exit, with the club eventually confirming a deal is in place worth a total £55m with add-ons.

The Latest: Robinson reacts

Robinson, who contributes for Sky Sports, was talking to MOT Leeds News following the updates on Raphinha.

He was stunned that Barca have managed to agree a fee, labelling their financial situation as ‘incredible’ – the La Liga giants are in a scarcely believable boardroom meltdown for a club of their stature, currently owing millions to their players in outstanding wages.

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“Barcelona’s financial situation is incredible.

“They’re always going to be Barcelona and always have the pull, they’re one of the biggest clubs in the world and it’s a huge thing.

“But financially, they haven’t got the muscle they had of old.”

The Verdict: Big loss

Raphinha has clearly had his heart set on a move to Barcelona, and it’s fair to say he’ll leave with best wishes from the Elland Road faithful regardless of the bizarre circumstances surrounding the Catalan club’s finances.

If it wasn’t for his 11 goals and three assists last season, Leeds may have been preparing for life back in the Championship and Raphinha would have left for much less.

The Brazilian will be a big loss in Yorkshire, though, with Victor Orta labelling him as a player who is ‘physically very good’. Indeed, he didn’t just contribute with goals and assists but was also top of the charts when it came to sprints per game, fouls won, and key passes completed per 90 minutes. [WhoScored]

Hopefully, new signing Luis Sinisterra will be able to fill the void left by Raphinha, but it’ll be a big ask in his first season in the Premier League.

Glasgow Rangers and Giovanni van Bronckhorst hold a definitive ‘interest’ in bringing Malik Tillman to Ibrox.

The Lowdown: Matondo signs

The Gers confirmed the signing of Rabbi Matondo from FC Schalke 04 on their official website on Tuesday afternoon.

The winger has signed a four-year deal at the club for an undisclosed fee, and becomes their fourth senior signing of the summer (excluding John Souttar).

Now the Light Blues can focus on other targets as the new Scottish Premiership season draws nearer, and there have been plenty of rumours surrounding Tillman after Rangers Review heaped praise on the American starlet in a scouting report this week.

The Latest: Tillman ‘interest’

Taking to Twitter, journalist Fraser Fletcher has confirmed that Bayern Munich attacking midfielder Tillman is now of ‘interest’ to the Teddy Bears, and has emerged as one of their next potential targets:

“Malik Tillman is of interest to Rangers, the attacking midfielder is one of a number of potential targets for the club.

” The 20-year-old USA international has made 2 appearances for his country and is contacted until 2024 with the German champions.”

The Verdict: Get it done

There is no reason why RFC should stop with their summer transfer business, and adding Tillman would prove to be another shrewd signing.

He has already received an aforementioned glowing review from Rangers Review journalist Craig Vickers, who hailed the six-foot-one gem as a ‘beast physically’ with ‘very, very good technique’.

Tillman broke into Bayern’s first team last season at just 19 years of age, and made seven appearances in total over all competitions for the European giants, scoring one goal (Transfermarkt).

He is capable of playing anywhere in midfield or across the front line, which should give Rangers and van Bronckhorst that extra incentive to sign him up and add some attacking quality to fill the Joe Aribo-shaped hole in their squad.

Steven Gerrard could add some much-needed creativity to his Aston Villa squad by signing Sergio Gomez this summer.

The versatile Anderlecht wing-back has been linked with a move to the Midlands in recent weeks, with transfer insider Dean Jones adding further fuel to the fire with a recent update on the matter.

“Sergio Gomez was a player that actually had a lot of clubs looking at him at the backend of last season coming into the summer window. So, Villa are one of those,” he revealed to GIVEMESPORT.  “I don’t know how much progress has been made to this point, but he’s definitely one to keep an eye on.”

The former Rangers boss took the helm back in November and steered the Villans clear of the relegation zone, before eventually finishing in 14th place.

A quick glance of the Premier League standings would suggest where the main problem lies, having ended the 2021/22 campaign on a negative goal difference.

With 52 goals across their 38 outings, you could argue that Villa struggled to score enough and that may well boil down to the lack of inventiveness in the squad.

Big signings such as Emi Buendia, Leon Bailey and to some extent, Danny Ings, have failed to step up to fill the void left behind by Jack Grealish.

The arrival of Philippe Coutinho certainly took steps towards solving that but with five goals and three assists, Gerrard needs much more in the final third.

Gomez can certainly aid that issue, after all, he has been described as a “playmaker” and the “king of assists” by scout Jacek Kulig.

Indeed, last season the Spain U21 international delivered a whopping 15 assists in the Belgian top-flight, also contributing seven goals, which is a pretty remarkable feat considering he largely featured at left wing-back, as per Transfermarkt.

Whilst it is only the Jupiler Pro League, the youngster came through the famed La Masia academy at Barcelona and has featured for Borussia Dortmund, largely as an attacking midfielder, though.

There aren’t many in Gerrard’s squad that matched these numbers last term, with only three players surpassing his goal tally, whilst Villa’s best provider finished on only six assists, via WhoScored.

Gomez, who has also been lauded as “simply amazing” by Kulig, would certainly be a top signing for sporting director Johan Lange to make this summer.

The £9m-rated gem could prove to be an outstanding bargain indeed.

AND in other news, Ashley Preece drops big Aston Villa transfer claim…

FSG have landed Liverpool three excellent signings already this summer, with Fabio Carvalho, Calvin Ramsay, and a club-record £85m deal for Darwin Nunez all being secured, but will there be a fourth?

This seems to be a question at the forefront of every Liverpool fan and Jurgen Klopp might want to add another fresh face or two, especially considering the recent departures.

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Fan favourites Sadio Mane and Divock Origi have already moved on to pastures new with Bayern Munich and potentially AC Milan respectively, with Takumi Minamino also leaving the Anfield side and joining Monaco.

With the club looking to go far in every competition next season, depth will be needed across all areas of the pitch, and Klopp might be looking at another attacker, with a young Brazilian being touted for the very top and could be on his way to Liverpool according to reports.

Following a match between Santos and Corinthians at the end of June, Brazilian presenter Milton Neves made comments regarding 19-year-old Marcos Leonardo, saying: “Corinthians yesterday escaped being defeated by the Santos kids. Marcos Leonardo, who’s going to Liverpool, this guy is the new Romário!”

This comment might sound light-hearted and throwaway but pundit Veloso claimed that Leonardo has already been sold to an English club and should be leaving in the next transfer window.

Leonardo, who is valued at £6.3m, is contracted to Santos until 2026, so if there has been a deal agreed with an unnamed English club, then the fee might be significantly higher than his value.

The Brazilian has already scored 25 times for Santos in just 95 appearances, living up to his tag of a “huge talent” in the words of Jacek Kulig. Having already been compared to Seleção legend Romario, who won the World Cup in 1994 with Brazil and netted 55 times in 71 matches for the national side, Leonardo evidently has got a lot to live up to.

If Liverpool are the English side mentioned, then Klopp might just have a generational talent on his hands.

AND in other news: Big mare: Liverpool could unearth Balotelli 2.0 as FSG plot bid for “unacceptable” dud

Liverpool have been heavily linked with a move for Jude Bellingham over the last few months, and now there has been a new update on the club’s progress in making the signing.

What’s the latest?

According to 90min, Liverpool are now confident they can sign Borussia Dortmund midfielder Bellingham next summer.

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As per the report, Liverpool’s interest in the star could come as a blow to Real Madrid – who are also interested in signing Bellingham in 2023.

Imagine him & Thiago

It has been reported that Liverpool are making the signing of a midfielder a priority this summer, but with the latest update on Bellingham, it may be that the club will wait another season to improve their midfield.

The Reds will be wanting to inject some youth into the centre of the pitch with Jordan Henderson, James Milner and Thiago Alcantara all now in their 30s, and the Bundesliga youngster would be the perfect fit for Jurgen Klopp’s team of the future.

Bellingham has been impressing during his time at Borussia Dortmund, and again last season proved he possesses the star quality that could be a huge asset at Anfield.

The £80m talent scored three goals, delivered eight assists and created 10 big chances over his 32 Bundesliga appearances last term, as well as making 1.3 key passes, 1.6 tackles and 1.3 interceptions per game, in addition to winning the majority of his duels combined (51%) and successful in completing the majority of his dribble attempts (57%) – proving that he is the complete midfielder.

Bellingham has been the recipient of high praise, with the England manager Gareth Southgate hailing the 18-year-old “phenomenal” and an “exciting player” in a press conference after naming the young talent in his Euro 2020 squad.

Southgate claimed: “Jude is phenomenal. Just in training in the last couple of days, to have a 17-year-old, who wants to compete with senior players, not only has the technique, but the competitiveness and maturity, he’s a hugely exciting player.”

Klopp could form a formidable partnership in the centre of the pitch between Thiago and Bellingham if he makes the move to Merseyside combining the Spanish star’s experience with the Englishman’s raw talent, as the side continue their pursuit for trophies.

With that being said, the powers at Anfield must prepare for competition when it comes to signing the wonderkid next summer, as Bellingham will add high quality to the heart of the midfield in any team he joins.

AND in other news: Klopp can land his own Tchouameni as Liverpool now plot £5m offer for “absolute star”

An update has emerged on Rangers and their attempts to bring a new number nine to Ibrox in the summer transfer window…

What’s the talk?

Journalist Jonas Advan Giaevar has confirmed that Rangers have made contact with one of their transfer targets.

He Tweeted: “It’s true that Rangers at least have enquired about Erik Botheim. Remains to be seen whether that leads to an offer or not.”

The centre-forward is currently a free agent after deciding to rip up his contract with Russian club FC Krasnodar, merely months on from joining them from Bodo/Glimt.

The new Alfredo Morelos

By securing a deal to sign the free agent, Ross Wilson can land Gio van Bronckhorst his new Morelos to lead the line next season.

The Light Blues are reportedly in talks with Besiktas with a view to potentially selling the Colombia international this summer and that would leave a huge hole to fill at the top end of the pitch.

In the Premiership last season, the 26-year-old scored 11 goals and provided seven assists for his teammates, showing that he can have a major impact in the final third.

Botheim, who was once dubbed a “complete forward” by scout Jacek Kulig, can be the ideal replacement for the predator this summer.

The Norweigan striker enjoyed a terrific spell with Bodo/Glimt and proved that he has the quality to score and assist goals on a regular basis. In the 2021 Eliteserien campaign, he found the back of the net 15 times and managed three assists in 30 matches.

He also caught the eye in the Europa Conference League as he produced a stunning four goals and four assists in six games, averaging a phenomenal SofaScore rating of 7.57.

This means that he scored 19 times and assisted seven in 36 outings for Bodo/Glimt in 2021/22 before sealing his transfer to Russia, proving himself domestically and in Europe.

The 22-year-old attacker can, therefore, be van Bronckhorst’s new Morelos as he has the potential to replicate the current Gers gem’s output in the final third, based on his form in Norway.

He has shown that he can score and assist goals at a similar rate and it will now be down to whether or not he can adapt to Scottish football, which is a risk that Wilson and the club will need to take if they lose their number nine.

AND in other news, “The edge..”: Transfer insider drops big Rangers claim that’ll delight supporters…

Aston Villa are reportedly set to snub the chance to sign Liverpool midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, despite the rampant speculation regarding a move for the Englishman in recent weeks.

What’s the word?

According to BBC Sport journalist Phil McNulty, following the recent links that the 28-year-old could be a player of interest for the Midlands outfit, the belief is that Steven Gerrard and co will not be pursuing a deal this summer.

Writing on Twitter about Villa’s possible interest, the respected source stated: “Aston Villa will not be making any move to sign Liverpool’s Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and their position on Luis Suarez remains unchanged. No move planned.”

Previous reports had suggested that the Reds are keen to cash in on the former Arsenal man this summer – who they signed from the Emirates in 2017 on a £35m deal – with the reported asking price believed to be just £10m, with only a year remaining on his existing contract.

Supporters annoyed

That would have seen the Villa Park outfit able to land the 35-cap gem for a relative bargain price, yet as it is supporters are set to be disappointed and annoyed, with Gerrard seemingly set to pursue other targets to that of his former Three Lions colleague.

A new midfielder is believed to be on the agenda for the 42-year-old in the current window – despite having already signed Marseille’s Boubacar Kamara – yet it would appear that Oxlade-Chamberlain is not viewed as the right fit.

Although there may perhaps be understandable concerns over his fitness record – as he has endured lengthy spells on the treatment table during his time on Merseyside – the £14.4m-rated man is a player with a wealth of experience at the elite level and has won a host of major honours, hence the possible fury that Villa are set to snub a move.

While the most recent campaign saw him make just 28 appearances in all competitions for Jurgen Klopp’s side, the £125k-per-week ace still managed to chip in with a respectable tally of six goal contributions, proving he may simply need regular game time in order to totally showcase his talent.

Once dubbed a player who “offers something totally different” by pundit Rio Ferdinand, the one-time Southampton man also compares favourably to those in his position across Europe’s top five leagues, ranking in the top 3% for touches in the attacking penalty area, the top 4% for progressive carries and the top 8% for dribbles completed, illustrating his dynamism from his central midfield berth.

A player who can also offer invaluable versatility – having wing-back role during his time in north London – it would seem a bold call not to at least attempt to try and secure a deal this summer, with little to lose for Gerrard and co with the reported fee so small.

As it is, supporters will likely be fuming if the Portsmouth-born maestro goes on to be a success elsewhere next term, unless Villa can recruit a notable alternative.

IN other news, AVFC face battle to land “aggressive” £60m machine, he’s one of the “best” in his role

Manchester City could launch a bid to sign West Ham United star forward Jarrod Bowen this summer, according to reports.

The Lowdown: Pep preparing…

The Premier League champions are already preparing to defend their English top flight crown for the 2022/2023 campaign having recently announced the arrival of star signing Erling Braut Haaland.

A sweeping summer of change is possible at Eastlands as the likes of Raheem Sterling, Gabriel Jesus, llkay Gundogan and Riyad Mahrez enter the final years of their contracts (The Times).

Nathan Ake and Oleksandr Zinchenko are other first teamers linked with moves away from the club as La Liga giants Barcelona also eye a move for City star Bernardo Silva.

Of those who could come in, Leeds United midfielder Kalvin Phillips stands out as the most repeated name, but City could now also make an offer to sign Bowen.

The Latest: City bid could be launched for Bowen…

As shared by one transfer reporter who writes for Italian news outlet Calcio In Pillole, the Irons star is ‘admired by Pep Guardiola’ and a Sky Blues ‘bid’ for Bowen ‘could be launched’.

However, this could be dependent on whether Mahrez leaves Manchester this summer.

The Verdict: Ideal replacement?

If the Algeria international does depart Guardiola’s side, it’s safe to say Bowen would be a brilliant man to arrive in Mahrez’s stead.

The 25-year-old has played his way into Gareth Southgate’s national team squad for England, finishing 2021/2022 as West Ham’s top goal scorer with 12 and providing a brilliant ten assists (WhoScored).

Bowen was also West Ham’s best-performing player by average match rating, even above superstar Declan Rice, and CaughtOffside claim the Hammers value him at around £75 million.

While it remains to be seen whether City would be willing to table an offer around that mark, there is no questioning Bowen’s ability.

In other news: Man City now a ‘dream’ destination for very exciting defender, find out more here.