Liverpool fans have been left in a frenzy after fresh reports emerged surrounding long-term target, Timo Werner, this week.
According to The Athletic, via Anfield Edition, the Reds could agree to a similar deal to that of Naby Keita with RB Leipzig, meaning the German striker remains in the Bundesliga for another season.
While this hugely remains to be seen, the current financial climate and situation facing football clubs post-pandemic raises plenty of question marks, but that hasn’t stopped the Anfield faithful from going nuts on Twitter.
It’s believed that Werner and Liverpool are destined to meet at some stage given the substantial amount of reports circulating over the past year or so and for the time being, it is hard to envisage him getting a place in Jurgen Klopp’s starting XI as Mo Salah, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane still the main trio.
The 24-year-old has been in impressive form this campaign, providing 27 goals and 12 assists in 37 appearances in all competitions, via Transfermarkt.
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Sky Sports claim that the Leipzig talisman has a £52m release clause which is set to expire on June 15th, so a decision would have to be made very soon – and clearly plenty at Anfield are desperate to land him.
Here’s what has been said…
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Everton star Richarlison has taken a lot of heat this season over diving claim.
Against Tottenham Hotspur last week, the Brazilian was seen to take a tumble from a tackle from Serge Aurier late on. However, angles showed that there was no contact from the Spurs man, as he only intercepted the ball.
This was also not the first time this has happened. On the opening weekend, Sky Sports pundit Charlie Nicholas hit out at Richarlison for diving from a challenge with van Aanholt. In this circumstance, the 22-year-old was not booked, and he wasn’t during the Spurs fixture either.
In fact, as shown by The Athletic’s Patrick Boyland, Richarlison has not received one yellow card for simulation in English football.
In fact, Sadio Mane, Raheem Sterling and Dele Alli all have three, whilst Wilfred Zaha leads the way with four cautions for diving.
After the revelation of the eye-opening statistic, Everton fans have taken to Twitter to offer their thoughts.
Jordan Pickford did not have the busiest of nights for England against Montenegro.
Indeed, on just two occasions was the goalkeeper called into action to make a save, but he made a wonderful stop to keep out a bullet header from Marko Simic in the first period.
And many football fans have taken to social media to praise the 25-year-old for the role he played in Thursday night’s Euro 2020 qualification match.
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Pickford entered the clash off the back of keeping just three clean sheets in 12 Premier League appearances for Everton during the 2019/20 campaign.
The stopper remains England’s number one, though, having featured in each of their last 13 matches in all competitions.
And surely something dramatic would have to happen for the 6 ft 1 ace not to be between the sticks for his country’s Euro 2020 opener next summer.
Supporters from a variety of clubs were keen to pay tribute to the Toffees star on Thursday evening, a selection of which can be seen below:
Rangers have received a big boost regarding their current injury situation, with Light Blues boss Philippe Clement providing a key update on a 23-year-old “fighter”.
Injury problems hampering Rangers
The Gers return to Scottish Premiership action on Sunday lunchtime, making the trip to Kilmarnock ahead of what feels like a must-win clash for Clement’s side.
It has been an adequate start to the season for Rangers, but a far from perfect one, allowing Celtic and Aberdeen to gain an advantage at the top of the league table, while Champions League elimination at the hands of Dynamo Kyiv has already come their way.
One thing that has played a part in the Scottish giants not always hitting top gear is injuries, with Clement having to make do with numerous key players throughout this season. The likes of Ridvan Yilmaz, Rabbi Matondo and Ross McCausland are among those struggling with fitness issues.
Having a fully fit squad could make such a difference for Rangers, handing them stability while also giving them more opportunities to rotate – and a positive update has now emerged about the situation.
Rangers given injury boost
Speaking ahead of the weekend clash with Kilmarnock, Rangers manager Clement said that Yilmaz should return to training “next week”, also giving an update on other players:
“Hagi is suspended. Cortes will be out for several weeks. Ridvan I expect back in training next week, Matondo later on next week or the following week. Danilo is back training with the squad – we will see how fit he is for the weekend.”
This is welcome news regarding Yilmaz, and others for that matter, with the left-back limited to just two starts in the Scottish Premiership so far this season. His last appearance came against Dynamo Kyiv back in August, with his two-month absence a big blow for Clement.
His 2023/24 stats for Rangers show that he averaged 1.5 key passes and 1.3 dribbles per game across 26 league appearances last season – ranking third and first respectively within the Gers squad – showing his attacking quality.
The £12,000-a-week Turkey international has been hailed as a “fighter” by Clement, while Barry Ferguson said of him last season: “The little man has made a huge impression ever since the winter break and has nailed down the left-back berth for himself.”
However, it is important that Yilmaz is eased back into the fold rather than rushed back in, with his lengthy absence potentially meaning he may take time to get back to his sharpest form.
If he can get fully fit and back in the team by the end of the month, it will be fantastic news for Rangers, providing Clement with more depth and giving sterner competition to the likes of Jefte and Dujon Sterling.
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Yilmaz is still a young player with so much to offer for the Gers, so the hope is that this latest absence is his last injury setback for a while, allowing him to excel as his side’s first-choice left-back.
Manchester United are planning to move one of their current players out the door in a bid to help them sign a promising Premier League player, according to a new report.
The Red Devils had a productive summer, moving players on and bringing in fresh faces, but as of yet it hasn’t had the effect on the pitch that they would have hoped for. It seems that while Erik ten Hag’s future remains up for discussion, United’s hierarchy have plans to be busy in 2025.
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1 ByBrett Worthington Oct 2, 2024 Man Utd transfer news
Man United will be hoping 2025 will be a better year for them than how 2024 has gone so far, and it appears it could be a busy calendar year, as they have their eye on several incomings. It emerged earlier this week that Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi is on the radar of the Red Devils, as they potentially eye more defensive reinforcements in the New Year. Guehi’s stock has risen quite considerably in recent months, and that has put him on United’s radar, but they are unlikely to be the only team chasing his signature.
Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi
As well as Guehi, United are also looking at signing another defender in Fulham’s Antonee Robinson. The Red Devils are looking to progress their plans to sign a left back and have had Robinson on their radar for some time. Liverpool and Chelsea are also interested in the player, but United are planning to test Fulham’s resolve next year, meaning a formal bid is probably in the offing.
£100m star on United's radar as Eriksen exit beckons
According to TEAMtalk, Manchester United are planning to move Christian Eriksen on so they can make a move to sign Adam Wharton from Crystal Palace. The report states that the Red Devils are ready to let Eriksen leave, as he is out of contract at the end of the season, and replace him with a younger player.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe and sporting director Dan Ashworth are keen to see the best British talent at Old Trafford, and Wharton has caught the eye of the recruitment team with his performances for Palace. United, as well as Arsenal, Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur, and Bayern Munich, have all been keeping an eye on his progress, which has been hailed as “incredible” by Gareth Southgate, who even likened his rise to current United sensation Kobbie Mainoo.
United see Wharton as a replacement for Eriksen, who is unlikely to seal a new contract at Old Trafford – The Premier League side wants to keep the average age of the squad down and focus on the best young talent in England.
Apps
23
Goals
0
Assists
4
Wharton’s chances of leaving Selhurst Park in January are slim, but United are plotting a move next summer, and it is a deal that won’t come cheap. The midfielder is considered one of the biggest rising stars in the league, and many believe he has the same trajectory as Arsenal’s Declan Rice, as Palace believe he should be valued higher than the £100 million spent on Rice and Chelsea’s Moises Caicedo.
Glasgow Rangers returned to domestic action last weekend with a whimper rather than the bang that many of the Ibrox support were expecting.
Of course, Dundee United at Tannadice was always going to be a tough challenge, but after Tom Lawrence scored the opening goal after just seven minutes, that was as good as it got for Philippe Clement’s men.
One of the most positive aspects of the underwhelming 1-0 victory was summer signing Hamza Igamane receiving a 25-minute cameo.
The Moroccan youngster took the game in his stride, showcasing his talents despite limited minutes. Could Clement unleash him from the starting XI this evening?
Hamza Igamane should start for Rangers vs Dundee
Despite arriving at Ibrox during the summer transfer window, it took a few weeks for him to build up his fitness.
Clement brought him off the subs bench during the 3-0 defeat to Celtic at the start of the month, but he was only given 11 minutes.
Against United, however, it was a different story. His inclusion made the Gers much more dynamic going forward, with his excellent ball control and special awareness giving him plenty of freedom in the final third.
With more clinical finishing, he could have had an assist after a wonderful through ball, but it was a solid cameo overall.
With Cyriel Dessers in need of a rest, this is Igamane’s chance to shine against Dundee in the League Cup quarter-final.
Opposition
Result
Date
Livingston
4–0 Rangers
September 27, 2023
Dundee
1–0 Rangers
October 18, 2022
Livingston
2–0 Rangers
September 18, 2021
St Mirren
3-2 St Mirren
December 16, 2020
Livingston
1–0 Rangers
September 25, 2019
There could well be more than one change, as one of Clement’s other summer signings is ready to make his first start for the Light Blues.
Why Nedim Bajrami should make his first start for Rangers
The Albanian scored after just 23 seconds against Italy at Euro 2024 in the summer, impressing for his country despite the fact they exited at the group stage.
In Serie A last season, the attacking midfielder scored twice and grabbed two assists for Sassuolo, although he couldn’t prevent the club from being relegated.
Bajrami also created three big chances, averaged 0.8 key passes per game and succeeded with 57% of his dribble attempts, demonstrating his attacking qualities in one of the top European leagues.
It was seen as a coup when the Gers announced his signing, with Kai Watson, founder of the Rangers Journal lavished praise on the midfielder, saying: “A technically gifted, intelligent footballer than can play in multiple positions with plenty of Serie A experience.”
He was limited to an appearance from the bench last weekend, coming on for the second half, showing flashes of his brilliance.
He managed to succeed with two of his four dribble attempts, while also winning 50% of his total duels in what was his introduction to Scottish football.
With a chance to progress to the semi-finals of the League Cup for the fourth consecutive year, the onus will be on Clement to mix things up and give a few new arrivals some game time.
This could see Igamane and Bajrami form a wonderful duo as they bid to take down the Dens Park side this evening at Ibrox.
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Tottenham Hotspur are also targeting Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi this summer but face competition from a host of Premier League clubs.
Who are Spurs signing?
The north Londoners, boosted by new manager Ange Postecoglou's official arrival last weekend, have already made some serious summer moves.
Dejan Kulusevski and Pedro Porro have put pen to paper on permanent deals from Juventus and Sporting Lisbon respectively, while the likes of Guglielmo Vicario and James Maddison joined them from elsewhere this window.
Maddison, who signed for £40 million from Leicester City, has ended Tottenham's long-wait for a playmaker in the mould of Christian Eriksen – while Vicario's arrival could allow long-serving number one Hugp Lloris to depart.
Former Fulham loanee Manor Solomon is also said to be having a medical today ahead of a proposed free transfer to Spurs, coming after a FIFA ruling which allows the Israeli to depart Shakhtar Donetsk before the actual expiry of his contract.
It is widely believed that the signing of a star centre-back will follow these transfers, with the Lilywhites enduring a woeful 2022/2023 season in terms of goals conceced.
No other top flight side above 15th leaked more at the back than Spurs last season, a fact Postecoglou will be fully aware of as he seeks to bring back faith in the Tottenham cause.
Wolfsburg's Micky van de Ven, Bayer Leverkusen defender Edmond Tapsoba, Fulham defender Tosin Adarabioyo and Clement Lenglet from Barcelona are the centre-backs most heavily linked with a move to north London as of now.
Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi.
However, according to Football Insider and journalist Pete O'Rourke, coming from a "well-placed source", Tottenham chiefs firmly have their eye on Guehi of Palace as well.
The England international, who impressed under both Patrick Vieira and Roy Hodgson at Selhurst Park last campaign, is also attracting interest from Newcaste, Liverpool and north London rivals Arsenal.
Spurs are among the sides ready to battle for Guehi, as this report suggests, but a deal could be hard to do given the Eagles could demand in excess of £60 million.
What's been said about Marc Guehi?
As per WhoScored, the 22-year-old was a mainstay for Palace last season, having featured over more league minutes than any other Palace player.
Guehi averaged the highest passing accuracy (85.5%) of any Palace player too, indicating he could fit into Postecoglou's system as a brilliant ball-playing defender.
The defender averaged their joint-highest rate of blocks per 90 and second-highest number of clearances on average, just behind fellow centre-half Joachim Andersen (WhoScored).
Guehi's quality isn't lost on Club Brugge keeper Josef Bursik, who called him an "absolute tank" when asked to pick the strongest player in England's Under-21 squad a couple of seasons ago.
"Easy, Marc Guehi. He’s an absolute tank,” Bursik said.
“It’s like having a brick wall in front of you, he’s massive.”
Meanwhile, Hodgson has also praised Guehi for his ball-playing ability and composure on the ball.
“Marc Guehi and (Joachim) Andersen are very good players," Hodgson explained.
“They’re good defenders and good on the ball, which is very useful because it helps you start attacks, switch play and develop the composure you need to build attacks up.
“They’re both very useful to the club and would be to any club because they’re good players.”
Arsenal just fell short in the hunt for the Premier League title last term, finishing five points behind Manchester City after a poor final few fixtures.
There was nothing wrong with their attacking qualities, as they managed to score 88 league goals, and they even had the joint second best defensive record in the division, however, the Gunners conspired to concede 18 goals during the final 11 fixtures, which saw the momentum shift in favour of City.
It was no coincidence that William Saliba was missing for these games having suffered an injury against Sporting CP in the Europa League and Mikel Arteta had to utilise Rob Holding at centre-back.
The defender must surely be ditched this summer as he ranked in a lowly 17th position in the squad for average rating via Sofascore while also ranking 16th for tackles per game and 15th for interceptions per game, clearly suggesting he isn’t of the required standard if the club want to win the title next term.
With this in mind, the Gunners have been linked with a move for Sporting defender Goncalo Inacio according to Spanish news outlet AS (via Football 365) and Arteta may just be able to secure a bargain, with the centre-back available for a fee of around €45m (£39m) as per the report.
Could Arsenal sign Goncalo Inacio this summer?
A move is within the realms of possibilities, however the North Londoners face competition for the 21-year-old alongside Newcastle United and Liverpool.
Making him the focus of their attention could be a shrewd move by Arsenal, especially judging by his statistics over the previous year, with his passing ability and forward-thinking mentality having the potential to suit Arteta.
Across the next eight competitions on the continent, Inacio ranks in the top 4% for progressive passes per 90 (9.04), progressive carries per 90 (1.9), passes attempted per 90 (88.63) and successful take-ons per 90 (0.65), demonstrating that he can bring the ball out from the back with ease and is always keen on starting attacks from his own half, something which Arteta looks for in his defenders.
goncalo-inacio-liverpool-transfer-premier-league
In contrast, Holding doesn’t even rank in the top 10% across Europe’s big five leagues for any of these metrics, suggesting that Inacio would be a major upgrade on the Englishman and improve their strength in depth.
The 6 foot 1 starlet was even described as being “underrated” by journalist Zach Lowy a couple of years ago, but with his numbers over the previous year ranking him highly across a range of metrics, Arteta would certainly render this praise obsolete.
An update has emerged on Manchester United and their pursuit of a deal to sign Mason Mount during the summer transfer window…
What’s the latest on Mason Mount to Manchester United?
CBS journalist Ben Jacobs has revealed that the Red Devils are set for discussions with Chelsea over a possible deal to sign the England international in the coming days.
The reporter told Caught Offside:
"Manchester United haven’t yet walked away from pursuing Mason Mount and there will be further club-to-club talks this week.
"Their latest £50+5m offer, despite being officially rejected, remains on the table. There is frustration from Manchester United that it wasn’t accepted given Mount only has a year left on current his Chelsea deal.
"Manchester United still want to get a deal done, so this could yet prove a big week, but they refuse to accept Chelsea’s £58+7m counter. This should come as no surprise. Manchester United have never been willing to pay more than £60m for Mount."
Would Mount be a good signing for Manchester United?
The 24-year-old maestro has the potential to be an exceptional addition to Erik ten Hag’s side as his previous form indicates that he could be the manager’s own version of Manchester City superstar Kevin De Bruyne.
Mount is coming off the back of a disappointing Premier League season.
He averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.05 across 24 league outings and contributed with three goals and two assists for the Blues.
The Chelsea academy graduate did not make a big impact in the final third on a regular basis and would not be a worthwhile signing for the Red Devils based on that form, as at least five United players managed more goals or assists last term.
However, Mount's exceptional performances during the 2021/22 season would indicate that he is worth taking a gamble on.
The 5 foot 11 dynamo averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.43 – a score that would place him second in Ten Hag's squad in 2022/23 – across 32 league appearances and chipped in with an outstanding 11 goals and ten assists from his midfield position.
Manchester City midfielder Kevin De Bruyne.
FBref have listed De Bruyne as one of the most similar players to the English whiz based on their respective displays that term, as the Belgian phenomenon scored 15 goals and assisted eight in 30 top-flight matches for City, and they both ranked in the top 7% of players in their position for progressive passes per 90 in the Premier League that season.
This shows that both players are creative playmakers that have the quality to deliver goals and assists on a regular basis while also being able to progress the play at an outstanding rate with their passing ability to get their teammates into positions higher up the pitch in order to give them a greater chance of being able to make things happen in the final third.
No United player, aside from Marcus Rashford, scored more than eight league goals during the 2022/23 season, and no one produced more than eight assists.
Therefore, the potential is there for the Blues magician, who was once hailed as "outstanding" by ex-Arsenal attacker Paul Merson, to be a De Bruyne-esque player in midfield for Ten Hag with his goal contributions and progressive play, if the manager can help him back to his best.
The departure of club legend N’Golo Kante has been confirmed, and with the exits of Mateo Kovacic, Mason Mount, and Ruben Loftus-Cheek seemingly on the horizon, Chelsea’s midfield requires a thorough overhaul.
Enzo Fernandez, the Premier League’s record signing, has his place in the starting lineup already cemented and Mauricio Pochettino will work closely with the hierarchy to find his perfect partner.
But this process has already been complicated – Manuel Ugarte has opted to join Paris Saint-Germain, Brighton are demanding an extortionate £120m fee for Moises Caicedo and Arsenal are aiming to complete a double swoop for Romeo Lavia and Declan Rice.
The Blues may be pushed to seek alternatives and Sandro Tonali has been linked with a move to Stamford Bridge.
What’s the latest on Sandro Tonali to Chelsea?
According to The Athletic, Newcastle has submitted a bid in the region of €50m (£43m) for the AC Milan man, but the report states that Chelsea still retains a serious interest.
It will take a monumental effort for the Blues to secure this outlandish coup as he is of insurmountable importance to the Rossoneri, and Eddie Howe’s side has the added bonuses of being able to offer a far more stable environment and Champions League football.
Who can Sandro Tonali replace at Chelsea?
The 23-year-old has made a mammoth 48 appearances in all competitions this year and has notched 12 goal contributions.
In the league, he has averaged 1.9 tackles per game and 1.8 key passes per game, as well as registering the third-best rating in the Milan squad.
In the 2020/21 season, the Italian made 36 Serie A appearances as Milan secured their first Scudetto since 2011.
Described as “extraordinary” by his former manager Eugenio Corini, the 14-cap international will captain Italy at this month’s U21 European Championship this summer.
A player of pedigree, reputation, and potential would deservedly start at Chelsea, and he could shift Conor Gallagher, who has dramatically divided opinion throughout the campaign.
Conor Gallagher Chelsea
In a recent interview, the Englishman said he loves Chelsea and is looking forward to working under Pochettino, all but confirming he will stay, but he is yet to convince fans of his quality or consistency.
Disappointingly, the former Crystal Palace man recorded just the 19th-highest WhoScored rating in the squad and his lack of conviction and composure on the ball has become a defining factor of his tumultuous term.
Darren Bent has described Gallagher as looking like a “fish out of water” in West London and his ability to play in a possession-based outfit is under scrutiny. Indeed, he placed 15th in the squad for pass success rate and compared to Tonali, succeeded with 1.3 tackles and just 0.6 key passes per game in the top-flight last term.
That said, even if Chelsea managed to sign Tonali, Gallagher’s athleticism and energy make him a valuable squad member, and he could be effectively utilised on a rotatory basis.
Though, with any chance of securing regular minutes surely out of the question, it would be a transfer that predominantly represents bad news for the England international with Tonali appearing to be a more attractive option that could dominate under Pochettino.