All posts by rastrear-estafeta.com

Arsenal summer signing Cristhian Mosquera has piled praise on two Hale End academy gems he’s noticed since his arriving in North London, claiming they boast maturity far beyond their years.

Hale End prospering with conveyor belt of Arsenal sensations

Arsenal’s academy has long been a cornerstone of the club’s identity, and in recent years, it has blossomed into one of the Premier League’s most established talent factories.

Since the rise of England winger Bukayo Saka, whose breakthrough into the first team has been nothing short of spectacular, the academy’s reputation for developing technically gifted, versatile and exciting young players has only grown stronger.

Appearances

270

Goals

73

Assists

71

Bookings

31

Red cards

0

Minutes played

20,448

Saka, who’s about to be rewarded with a brand-new contract which could make him the club’s only £300,000-per-week player, set a very high benchmark for Hale End graduates.

His success has inspired a new generation of starlets emerging from the club’s youth ranks, many of whom are now knocking on the door of the senior squad or making waves in loan spells elsewhere.

15-year-old Max Dowman is chief among them, having just become the second-youngest debutant in Premier League history behind fellow rising Arsenal star Ethan Nwaneri.

Ethan Nwaneri

15 years, 181 days

Arsenal

Max Dowman

15 years, 235 days

Arsenal

Jeremy Monga

15 years, 271 days

Leicester City

Harvey Elliott

16 years, 30 days

Fulham

Matthew Briggs

16 years, 68 days

Fulham

Dowman, after coming on against Leeds United, marked his first Arsenal league appearance by winning a penalty for Viktor Gyokeres to fire home in a 5-0 thrashing of the newly-promoted side.

Meanwhile, left-back Myles Lewis-Skelly, despite his ongoing battle with Riccardo Calafiori for a starting place this season, established himself as an England international during his breakthrough campaign last term.

The teenager started every Champions League knockout game for Arsenal in 24/25, including both of their semi-final legs against PSG, with Lewis-Skelly making 39 senior appearances in all competitions as a firm regular in Mikel Arteta’s starting eleven.

Sporting director Andrea Berta awarded both Lewis-Skelly and Nwaneri with new long-term contracts in the summer to stave off interest from some of Europe’s biggest clubs, and Mosquera has already been blown away by what he’s seen from the pair.

Cristhian Mosquera piles praise on Lewis-Skelly and Nwaneri at Arsenal

Speaking to The Athletic, Berta’s recruit lavished praise on Lewis-Skelly and Nwaneri, saying the youngsters already “play like they’re 30” and it’s “incredible” to behold.

As Lewis-Skelly fights for his left-back spot, Nwaneri is yet to start a single Premier League game so far this season — but that is testament to the abundance of attacking quality in Arsenal’s squad.

Martin Odegaard’s new injury could free up space for the latter to accumulate more minutes, if Eberechi Eze doesn’t completely steal the number 10 role, but it is important to remember that Nwaneri is still very much in his infancy.

Interestingly, Arsenal chiefs hold very high hopes for Mosquera too, and there is a belief behind-the-scenes that their new defender could soon become one of the best centre-backs in world football.

Glasgow Rangers restored some pride when they avoided defeat to their city rivals in their last match in the Scottish Premiership last weekend.

The Light Blues had already had their second-placed finish confirmed, as Celtic won the league title at the end of last month, but they avoided their misery being compounded with a defeat.

Cyriel Dessers opened the scoring for the Gers in front of their home supporters with a composed finish before the break, but Adam Idah secured a point for the away side with a clever turn and finish inside the box in the second 45.

Whilst it was a decent point for the Light Blues, that result did extend Barry Ferguson’s winless run to six matches in all competitions, and he has won just four of his 12 games in charge so far.

There were some more positives to extract from the 1-1 draw with Celtic, though, including the performance of central midfielder Mohamed Diomande.

The Ivorian star assisted the goal from Dessers and won nine of his 12 duels throughout the game, as he showed that fans can be excited about what he could produce next season.

Why Rangers fans should be excited about Mohamed Diomande

The 2024/25 campaign has been the left-footed star’s first full season at Ibrox, having joined on a permanent deal last summer after his initial five-month loan, and he now has plenty of experience under his belt.

Diomande has played 70 matches in all competitions for the Light Blues to date, including 51 in the current campaign, and is now primed to kick on as a star for the club next term, having had 18 months of experience in Glasgow.

It did not take too long for the central midfielder to announce himself in Scottish football after his initial loan move from FC Nordsjælland, as he scored against St. Johnstone in February 2024.

His performances in that loan spell led to the club deciding to sign him on a permanent deal in the summer of 2024, with Philippe Clement in charge, and he has kicked on to become a key player in the current campaign.

Diomande showed potential as a goalscorer, as shown by his stunning strike against St. Johnstone, and as an all-action defender in his time on loan, but his creative quality has shone through this term.

Appearances

13

33

Goals

2

4

Big chances created

1

10

Assists

0

7

Tackles + interceptions per game

2.3

1.8

Ball recoveries per game

4.8

4.3

Duel success rate

52%

55%

As you can see in the table above, the left-footed star has created nine more ‘big chances’ and delivered seven more assists than he did in the second half of the 2023/24 campaign for the Light Blues.

Rangers fans should, therefore, be excited about what the £12k-per-week star could do next season, after 18 months of adjusting to Scottish football, as he has already shown plenty of signs of promise in the Premiership with his work in and out of possession.

Diomande provides great value for money, given that he is the 12th-highest earner at Ibrox, but that is not the case for every player in the squad. In fact, one of the players who should be sold by the 49ers this summer, Kieran Dowell, earns even more than the Ivorian.

Why Rangers should sell Kieran Dowell

The English attacking midfielder reportedly earns £16k-per-week, which is more than the likes of Diomande, Hamza Igamane, Jefte, and John Souttar, among others.

He has, however, not provided value for money for those wages because the former Norwich City man was deemed not good enough for the squad in January and was loaned out to English League One side Birmingham City.

Dowell enjoyed a successful second half of the season with the Blues, who won the League One title with a staggering 111 points, as he caught the eye with goals and assists.

The left-footed star ended the campaign with five goals, nine ‘big chances’ created, and four assists in 19 appearances in the third tier of English football, and is now set to return to Ibrox this summer.

Birmingham do not have an option to make the deal permanent but manager Chris Davies revealed that they will explore the possibility of a move to bring him back to England ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.

The 49ers, once the takeover is finalised, and sporting director Kevin Thelwell must take advantage of this interest from the Blues in order to ensure that Dowell never plays at Ibrox again.

He has one year left on his contract in Glasgow and this means that the upcoming summer transfer window would be the best time to cash in on the attacking midfielder if they are not planning to extend his contract beyond next year.

Dowell’s performances for Rangers since his move to Scotland on a free transfer from Norwich City in the summer of 2023 do not suggest that the 49ers should be aiming to extend his deal.

Appearances

12

12

Starts

5

2

Goals

2

0

Big chances created

1

4

Assists

2

0

Duel success rate

49%

46%

As you can see in the table above, the 27-year-old flop failed to nail down a place in the starting XI on a regular basis under Michael Beale or Clement, and only contributed two goals and two assists in 24 appearances in the Premiership.

His underperformance on the pitch for the Light Blues in his first 18 months at Ibrox led to him being loaned out in the January transfer window, which shows that he was deemed surplus to requirements at the start of the year.

Therefore, Dowell has not done enough to justify his £16k-per-week wages, particularly when the impressive Diomande earns even less than him in Glasgow, and that is one of the reasons why the 49ers must ruthlessly cash in on him this summer.

The Gers should attempt to extract a fee from Birmingham for the English dud and ensure that he does not play for Rangers at Ibrox ever again, because the midfielder has not done enough in a Light Blues shirt to suggest that he would be a key player for the next manager coming in.

Not just Gerrard: "Error prone" Rangers star must not be part of 49ers era

Steven Gerrard is not the only big name who should not be part of the 49ers era at Rangers.

ByDan Emery May 8, 2025

Chelsea have been in constant contact to discuss the signing of an “unbelievable” Barcelona player who they absolutely love, according to a report.

Blues' summer transfer plans taking shape

The Blues’ form in the second half of the Premier League season has been patchy to say the least, but they have returned to form in recent weeks, securing two wins on the spin to ensure they are firmly in contention for the Champions League places.

As such, Enzo Maresca should be well-positioned to attract some top players this summer, and the manager appears to be especially keen on signing a new striker, with Borussia Dortmund’s Serhou Guirassy and Ipswich Town’s Liam Delap among the targets.

Maresca is also eager to bolster his options at the opposite end of the pitch, with a new centre-back of interest, and the west Londoners are now believed to be the favourites to sign AFC Bournemouth’s Dean Huijsen, having proposed a seven-year contract.

Chelsea now have "strong" chance of signing £206k-per-week Barcelona star

Enzo Maresca’s side have thrown their hat in the ring.

1 ByEmilio Galantini Apr 26, 2025

Huijsen is attracting widespread interest, however, which means Maresca may have to move on to alternative targets, and a report from The Boot Room has revealed Chelsea absolutely love Barcelona defender Jules Kounde.

The Blues have been in constant contact with Kounde’s agents, such is their level of interest, with the Frenchman’s future now up in the air, given that he is yet to commit to a new contract to extend his stay at the Camp Nou beyond 2027.

Barca want to keep hold of the defender, and talks have been held over a new deal, but a move could be possible if the two parties are unable to make any progress, with Arsenal, Manchester City and Liverpool also in the picture for his signature.

"Unbelievable" Kounde could upgrade Maresca's backline

It is little wonder the Blues are so keen on signing the France international, given that he has been a vital player for a Barca side on course to win a treble this season, after defeating Real Madrid 3-2 in the Copa del Rey final on Saturday.

Kounde scored the winning goal with just minutes left to play in extra time, finding the back of the net for the fourth time this season, while he has also showcased his attacking threat by picking up eight assists.

The 26-year-old has predominantly featured at right-back, but he is also very much capable of playing in the centre of defence, and he has impressed manager Hansi Flick with his fitness levels, which were lauded as “unbelievable” earlier this season.

The £223k-a-week defender could be a fantastic signing for Chelsea this summer, but it looks like it could be difficult to pull off, given that he has been one of Barcelona’s most important players this season, and his recent performance against Real Madrid may make them even more hesitant to sanction a departure.

With transfer deadline day now hurtling into view, almost all of the teams that make up the 24 outfits that compete in the Championship will be scrambling to get last-minute deals done.

West Bromwich Albion will be no exception, as Carlos Corberan and Co attempt to sprinkle in some last bits of added quality to their already talented squad, before waiting it out until January to then commence business again.

The Baggies could well even be closing in on a deal to see a star man return to the Hawthorns on a permanent deal.

West Brom close in on late signing

According to a report by the Express and Star, West Brom are closing in on a major deal to bring back Mikey Johnston to the second-tier club on a permanent basis after he set the Championship alight last campaign on loan from Celtic.

Scott Parker's Burnley were also reportedly keen on adding Johnston to their ever-changing squad, but it now appears that the Baggies have won their desired man, with a £3m bid predicted to be enough for West Brom to regain the Republic of Ireland international for good.

This might well result in Tom Fellows being allowed to depart, with talk that Ipswich Town and Southampton are very much enamoured by the tricky right winger after a bright start to the new Championship season.

But, West Brom's sadness when it comes to this potential sale would be arguably lessened by Johnston dramatically returning right at the end of the window.

What Johnston would offer West Brom

Selling on Fellows would be somewhat of a gut punch for the promotion hopefuls, with the exciting West Brom number 31 already picking up three assists so early into the fresh second-tier campaign.

Yet, Johnston would be able to fill this hole adequately if he is to rejoin Corberan's camp shortly, just based on his whirlwind loan stint during the 23/24 campaign that instantly made him a firm fan's favourite at the Hawthorns.

Games played

18

Goals scored

7

Assists

1

Shots per game

1.3

Scoring frequency

168 mins

Expected goals (xG)

3.01

Big chances created

4

Far outperforming his xG of 3.01 with seven sublime strikes for his loan employers, plenty more could, therefore, come from the current Celtic man if he is to permanently relocate to West Brom, with four big chances also created across the 18 games he played for Corberan's side, before having to return back to Scotland.

Across 49 games to date for the Baggies, Fellows is amazingly two goals short of Johnston's number at five, despite the obvious difference in games managed between the attacking pair.

Described as being a "special" talent by Corberan when at the top of his Baggies game last season, everyone associated with the Championship promotion hopefuls will hope Johnston can just recapture this electric best when fighting for a spot back in the team, with Karlan Grant now nervously looking over his shoulder at ongoing transfer developments.

West Brom would be gutted to lose one of their own in Fellows, but if the Saints or the Tractor Boys do end up matching The Baggies' bumper £15m valuation, they would be arguably foolish not to accept, considering players such as Grady Diangana are at Corberan's disposal as well down Fellows' familiar right.

With West Brom wanting to show to the Championship that they are serious about being promotion challengers once more, sealing a last-gasp deal for Johnston at just £3m feels like an almighty statement purchase worth making, regardless of any disappointing outgoings.

Enquiries made: West Brom intensify move for instant Styles competition

West Bromwich Albion are continuing to hunt new additions ahead of transfer deadline day.

ByKelan Sarson Aug 28, 2024

Journalist Graeme Bailey has claimed that an “awesome” Sheffield United could depart alongside Gustavo Hamer in the summer transfer window.

Hamer has been linked with Sheffield United exit

The Blades suffered Championship playoff final heartbreak on Saturday, losing 2-1 to Sunderland in the dying seconds at Wembley, bringing an end to an ultimately disappointing season.

Hamer has been sensational for United this season, scoring 10 goals and registering eight assists in the league, not to mention winning the Championship Player of the Year award, highlighting what a magnificent individual campaign he enjoyed.

Sadly, the Blades now face a real battle to retain the services of the 27-year-old, who may want to test himself in the Premier League or another top division moving forward, rather than staying put in the Championship for another year. Everton have already been linked with a move for Hamer earlier this month, whereas Leeds United tried to sign him last summer.

Hamer may be far from the only United player to move on to pastures new, however, with plenty of other heroes potentially wanting a new challenge after the misery of Saturday and failure to get back into the top flight. Now, a worrying update has emerged regarding one such figure.

Sheffield United could also lose "awesome" star

Speaking to EFL Analysis, Bailey said that Sheffield United could also lose Vinicius Souza this summer, ahead of a potential exodus:

“I don’t see how they can hang onto their Brazilian stars, though. Gustavo Hamer ran the final before going off injured, which is a very strange repeat of what happened to him whilst with Coventry City. The other is Vinicius Souza – a huge talent, quite literally – the giant Brazilian has been awesome for United but there are a host of clubs looking at him. I also think their Bosnian star Anel Ahmedhodzic is unlikely to want another Championship season.”

Souza is another key man for United, so losing him would be a major setback, following a season that has seen the 25-year-old shine at the base of Chris Wilder’s midfield.

The Brazilian averaged an impressive 3.2 tackles per game across 38 Championship appearances, as well as two clearances per match, while Jimmy from Blades Ramble has hailed his performances, admitting he has proven him wrong:

“I have to hold my hands up because I did not think there was a player in there and one performance does not make an absolute superstar, but everything he’s showing at the minute is showing that he can definitely cut it at this level. It was one of the most impressive performances on Friday night, and he won Player of the Match. If we can keep hold of him, I think we’ll do really well.”

3 amazing defenders Sheffield United can sign to replace Robinson in the PL

Sheffield United could look to axe Jack Robinson with the experienced defender’s contract nearly up.

ByKelan Sarson May 20, 2025

United must do all they can to convince Souza to remain at the club and try his luck again this season, but in truth, it is easy to see him joining Hamer out of the Bramall Lane exit door.

In what would send quite the statement, Arsenal are now reportedly battling to beat Real Madrid in the race to sign one of Europe’s best players for Mikel Arteta and his side next summer.

Arsenal transfer news

The Gunners are well and truly back among Europe’s elite both on and off the pitch, putting an era of moments to forget behind them and looking ahead as they look to make it third time lucky in their pursuit of dethroning Premier League champions Manchester City.

On that front, it’s been a case of so far, so good. Those at the Emirates have put themselves straight into the title picture once again in a battle only set to heat up between themselves, City and Liverpool.

The Gunners’ project is one that is still in its infancy, and those in north London could yet welcome further additions to take things up yet another level under Arteta – especially if they beat Real Madrid to a star man on both of their respective radars.

Arteta could replace Havertz by unleashing Arsenal's sensational "wizard"

Mikel Arteta is looking for Arsenal’s fifth straight win in all competitions.

ByEthan Lamb Oct 19, 2024

According to Sky Sports’ Florian Plettenberg, Arsenal are now battling Real Madrid to sign Florian Wirtz, who has also attracted the interest of Premier League rivals Manchester United, Manchester City, Liverpool and Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich.

Such interest in the Bayer Leverkusen star should come as little surprise. The German played a starring role as Xabi Alonso’s side remained invincible in domestic action last season to win the Bundesliga in historic fashion, suffering their only defeat in all competitions against Atalanta in the Europa League final. Since picking up where he left off, Wirtz could soon be on the move.

"Incredible" Wirtz would take Arsenal up a level

The idea of Wirtz partnering up with Martin Odegaard within Arsenal’s attack is a mouth-watering prospect, enough for the German to become one to watch in 2025.

The Bayer Leverkusen star was simply on another level to most in the last campaign, and at just 21 years old, there is no limit to what the £72,000-a-week ace could go on and achieve in either German or English football – and potentially at Arsenal for years to come.

Goals

11

8

Assists

11

10

Key passes

73

102

Expected goals

8.9

7.4

Already earning the praise of those in English football, Joe Cole told TNT Sports last season: “Incredible. I’ve watched him three times this year now and he’s blown me away every time.

“He’s got a South American flair with a German efficiency about him. We’ve all heard of Jude Bellingham, Cole Palmer and Phil Foden, and [Jamal] Musiala. This lad will be new to the British viewers. Let me tell you, he is every bit as talented as those players. He could go on to be anything.”

Liverpool continued their perfect start to life under Arne Slot in the Premier League with an impressive 3-0 victory over Manchester United on Sunday.

The Reds have now won all three of their top-flight matches without conceding a single goal and are second in the division, only behind Manchester City on goal difference, heading into the first international break.

Much was made of Jurgen Klopp's exit, after almost nine years and Premier League and Champions League trophies, when he made the decision to part ways with the club in the summer.

However, Slot has hit the ground running and implemented his style seamlessly with a terrific start to the 2024/25 campaign, which may have eased any fears about a bumpy transition.

What makes this impressive start to the season all the more eye-catching is that the manager only made one signing during the summer transfer window.

Federico Chiesa arrived on a permanent deal from Juventus towards the end of the window and has yet to make his debut for the club, which means that the players Slot inherited have all adapted to his style quickly.

Luis Diaz and Mo Salah are shining

Luis Diaz and Mohamed Salah are two players who have thrived under the new boss in the opening three games of the season, and they were in sublime form against United on Sunday.

The duo linked up for the opening goal in the first half as the Egypt international was played in down the right channel and clipped a delightful ball to the back post for his teammate to head the ball into a virtually empty net.

It was the same combination again for the second goal before the break, with Salah prodding the ball across for Diaz to brilliantly slide a shot into the bottom right corner.

The Liverpool icon went from provider to scorer in the second half as he walked onto a pass from Dominik Szoboszlai to slot the ball into the corner past Andre Onana, ending the game with one goal and two assists.

Appearances

3

3

Goals

3

3

Assists

1

3

Big chances created

2

4

Key passes per game

2.3

1.7

As you can see in the table above, the wing wizards have now combined for six goals and four assists in the first three games of the Premier League season.

Slot's exciting, progressive, style of football has put both players in positions to cause constant problems for opposition full-backs, and it has resulted in them providing regular quality in the final third.

However, they were not the only stars of the win at Old Trafford as Szoboszlai was as good as Salah and Diaz with his display in the number ten position.

Dominik Szoboszlai's performance against United

Szoboszlai, who was handed a player rating of 8/10 by 90min writer Jude Summerfield, put in a fantastic display in the middle of the park against Erik ten Hag's side.

Firstly, the Hungary international did not stop running from minute one to minute 90. His incredible engine was there for all to see with his superb pressing work to ensure that United's players did not have time and space to do what they wanted to do in possession, in the areas that he was covering.

The former RB Leipzig star won four of his six physical duels out of possession, all of which came on the ground, and made three tackles and one interception throughout the match, which illustrates his defensive impact for Liverpool to help his side to another clean sheet.

In possession, Szoboszlai was uber reliable for Slot in the role behind the front three, as he completed 90% of his attempted passes, with 35 out of 39 passes completed.

That did not take away from his creativity and risk-taking in the final third, however, as the Hungarian maestro provided an assist for Salah's goal with a drive through the middle and lay-off to the winger.

His assist for the Liverpool forward was one of three key passes made throughout the match, to go along with a 100% success rate in long passes and crosses (2/2).

Overall, it was a phenomenal shift from Szoboszlai, who proved his worth to the team in and out of possession, as he matched Diaz and Salah as one of the top performers in the team.

Slot is turning Szoboszlai into a monster

With a lack of signings during the summer transfer window, Slot had to improve the players he already had at his disposal when he arrived and the Dutchman appears to have done that already with the Hungary international.

Szoboszlai has produced two 'big chances' and registered one assist in the first three matches of the season, which shows that he has started the campaign in fine form offensively.

His work out of possession has not suffered as a result of that, though, as the central midfielder has averaged 6.3 ball recoveries per game and won 50% of his ground duels, compared to 5.2 recoveries and a 42% ground duel success rate in the Premier League last term.

Albeit based on a small sample size, the ex-Bundesliga starlet has improved his defensive work by winning possession back more frequently and more efficiently.

Appearances

33

3

Sofascore rating

7.15

7.63

Big chances created

7

2

Key passes per game

1.7

2.7

Pass accuracy

87%

93%

Ball recoveries per game

5.2

6.3

As you can see in the table above, the 23-year-old maestro's use of the ball has also improved under Slot on the evidence of this season so far.

He has been more secure in his passing whilst also offering more creativity, averaging 1.0 more key passes per match, and this suggests that the manager has helped him to be more efficient and effective in a number ten, or advanced eight, position.

These statistics show that the Dutch head coach is turning Szoboszlai into a midfield monster who can make a big impact in and out of possession for Liverpool and, hopefully, it will continue for the rest of the 2024/25 campaign.

Liverpool hit gold with Klopp signing who’s worth millions more than Chiesa

He’ll be hoping to raise his level under Arne Slot this season…

1 ByAngus Sinclair Aug 31, 2024

Glasgow Rangers head into their second Premiership match of the season under severe pressure to secure all three points.

The 0-0 draw against Hearts last week immediately put the Light Blues on the back foot, meaning a win over Motherwell this afternoon is a must.

Philippe Clement should make a few changes to his starting XI. Will a player who has started the opening two games of the campaign be dropped?

Tom Lawrence’s stats vs Hearts

Tom Lawrence was deployed as the number ten in the season opener against the Jambos due to the likes of Ianis Hagi and Todd Cantwell being on the verge of leaving the club.

During the tie, the Welshman completed just 21 passes, created just one big chance and made one key pass while succeeding with only one of his four dribble attempts. These are hardly the statistics of a player looking to carve open opposition defences.

Defensively, the former Derby County gem lost possession 11 times throughout the game, along with winning just four of his 15 total duels, showing how poor he was in one on one battles against the tricky Hearts side.

Rangers simply couldn’t find a way through the defence last week and there is no doubt that a greater threat in the final third is required against Motherwell today.

Touches

43

Accurate passes

21/25

Key passes

1

Big chances created

1

Total duels (won)

15 (4)

Dribble attempts (successful)

4 (1)

Via Sofascore

Could Clement relocate a player into the number ten slot against Well? As Mohamed Diomande has the ability to shine in a more advanced position.

The man to replace Lawrence vs Motherwell

The Ivorian has forged a solid partnership already with new signing Connor Barron in the heart of the midfield.

With a win needed, however, could Clement place Dujon Sterling in the centre of the midfield alongside Barron, moving Diomande into the attacking midfield slot?

During the second half of last season, the African averaged 1.5 key passes per game in the top flight, while also creating one big chance and succeeding with 62% of his dribble attempts, solid statistics as he adapted to Scottish football.

Prior to this, he was in excellent form for Danish side FC Nordsjaelland, as he showcased his abilities going forward during the first six months of the Danish top flight.

Indeed, the 22-year-old grabbed three assists, created three big chances and averaged 1.1 key passes per game. These statistics came in just 13 matches, making them stand out a lot more.

Lauded as “aggressive” by analyst John Walker, moving Diomande slightly further forward could be a masterstroke by the Belgian this afternoon.

He wouldn’t be sacrificing anything in the middle of the pitch, as Sterling has proved capable of starring in that area previously, therefore it is a gamble certainly worth taking in a must-win clash.

There is no doubt that the Light Blues do need to bring another attacking midfielder to the club, as Clement cannot rely on Lawrence between now and 2025, especially with his previous injury issues.

Diomande as the number ten behind Cyriel Dessers today? Yes please.

As bad as Souttar: Clement must bin 2/10 Rangers man after Kyiv no-show

The Light Blues attacker endured a frustrating evening in the Champions League.

ByDan Emery Aug 7, 2024

Social media propagated the idea that Liverpool were set to suffer a reversal under Arne Slot, stepping into Jurgen Klopp’s shoes, but such hopes from arch-rivals have been proven false after an excellent start to the campaign, with nine wins from ten matches across all competitions.

Of course, the one blot on the record came in a shock Anfield defeat against Nottingham Forest in the Premier League – a match that arrived straight after the September international break.

Now, the October international break has hit like a stabbing storm, and minds will be inevitably ahead to the home fixture against Chelsea next weekend. Could lightning strike twice, or will Slot devise a plan to avoid another setback on Merseyside?

With the backline shored up, Liverpool still needs to work on finishing their chances, even though they have one of the best strikeforces in Europe. According to Understat, Liverpool’s xG (expected goals) stands at 16.55 after seven fixtures, and they have scored 13.

This is by no means poor – after all, the Reds are table-toppers right now – but it’s something Slot will want to consider, especially if Mohamed Salah packs his bags in May.

Liverpool transfer news

Salah is out of contract at the end of the season, like skipper Virgil van Dijk and vice-captain Trent Alexander-Arnold. It’s a quandary, to be sure, but in Michael Edwards and Richard Hughes, Liverpool are in safe and discerning hands.

Regardless, Liverpool are interested in bolstering their frontline, with reports suggesting that Eintracht Frankfurt forward Omar Marmoush is firmly on the radar.

According to Sky Germany earlier this week, Liverpool are monitoring the Bundesliga star – as well as Borussia Dortmund’s Karim Adeyemi – in the eventuality that Salah, his Egyptian teammate, does leave.

Die Adler want to extend the 25-year-old’s deal after his brilliant start to the season, but it’s thought that a fee of €47.5m (roughly £40m) would make them consider parting ways.

Why Liverpool want to sign Omar Marmoush

Marmoush joined Frankfurt last summer after his contract expired with Bundesliga rivals VFL Wolfsburg. Last term, he helped his side to a sixth-placed finish, qualifying for the Europa League. The Egypt international scored 17 goals and added six assists across 41 appearances, leading talent scout Jacek Kulig to hail him as a “10/10” signing for the club.

Jumping into the Premier League from overseas can often be an onerous translation, but there’s a high chance that Marmoush’s athleticism and natural-born potency, in the same vein as that of Diogo Jota, could cinch his success at Anfield.

A versatile forward, Marmoush would compete for a place against a high-class attack with a breadth of experience and pedigree, but he could prove to be an upgrade on Darwin Nunez if the Uruguayan doesn’t convince Slot of his place in good time.

Centre-forward

120

45

16

Left winger

24

6

4

Right winger

14

0

0

Second striker

13

5

3

Attacking midfield

4

1

0

Nunez’s wastefulness is the grist for detractors mills, but dig a little deeper and you shall find that he is a dynamic and influential forward. As per FBref, he actually ranks among the top 20% of forwards across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for assists, the top 12% for shot-creating actions, the top 10% for progressive carries and the top 6% for tackles per 90.

Liverpool must not discard him just yet, though a season that fails to showcase improvements upon his first two terms on Merseyside could leave Slot fixed on giving in to that flash of ruthlessness and moving for Marmoush.

The Egyptian isn’t exactly struggling for purchase in the final third this season, with nine goals and six assists from nine matches in all competitions. His compatriot Salah can’t even keep pace with that record, with the 32-year-old chalking up ‘just’ six goals and five assists across all fronts.

Sky Sports’ Dougie Critchley recently described him as a “relatively late bloomer”, but oh how he’s soaring to the skies for Frankfurt. He’s actually considered to be a similar player to Nunez by FBref, who have crunched the data and delineated the differences between the two. Let’s take a look.

Goals scored

0.51

0.71

xG (expected goals)

0.73

0.57

Total shots taken

4.74

3.59

Assists

0.24

0.36

Shot-creating actions

3.52

3.80

Progressive carries

2.57

3.48

Successful take-ons

0.83

1.60

Ball recoveries

2.41

3.20

Tackles + interceptions

1.38

1.14

The above illustration highlights some impressive metrics from both forwards – from statistics pulled across the past 12 months – but there’s little chance that Nunez can stake a claim to be the superior finisher at the moment, with Marmoush eclipsing him for goals scored per 90 (0.71 vs 0.51) while far outstripping him in regard to the economics too, for he is overperforming in front of goal, as per the xG (expected goals) and has fire shots on goals at a more conservative rate.

What does this actually tell us? Well, it certainly makes a comment on Marmoush’s faculty for efficacy in front of goal while also speaking of the sharp rate of scoring (and assisting, for that matter) that he has infused into his game, also more progressive and creative in his overall play too – as per further underlying metrics.

Would it be a punt? In fairness, Liverpool need not spend on another forward unless absolutely certain that he is going to make a difference in Slot’s side, but there’s every chance that Marmoush can hit the ground running; should Nunez fail to put in his best performances yet over the coming months, it might be time to shuffle the pack. It’s a new era after all.

£216m duo sign: Liverpool starting XI if Trent, Salah & Van Dijk all leave

Let’s take a look at this worst-case scenario, shall we?

ByAngus Sinclair Oct 9, 2024

What is there to say about Harry Kane that has already been uttered? Quite frankly, very little.

The striking sensation – who famously left Arsenal behind as a boy – is now a Tottenham icon and leads Spurs’ scoring charts.

If ever you needed any further evidence of his goalscoring prowess, the England international is also his nation’s top scorer, topping a certain Wayne Rooney a few years ago now.

Kane continues to go from strength to strength and since moving to Bayern Munich last season after finally leaving Spurs behind, he has been a man-possessed.

Kane’s time at Bayern so far

With Kane in tow, Tottenham failed to win a trophy. With Kane in tow, Bayern Munich failed to win a trophy.

Perhaps it’s just him? Despite all of the goals and indeed the personal accolades, the striker’s misfortune is quite incredible.

He’s lost a Champions League final, two European Championship finals, a World Cup semi-final and he’s not scored in any of them. Perhaps Kane is not made for the biggest of occasions then.

We jest, of course, but it was rather typical that Bayern’s 11-year dominance of the Bundesliga came to an end the campaign Kane joined.

That said, the centre-forward enjoyed a remarkable season himself, scoring a staggering 44 goals in 45 games for the German outfit. Now 31, however, the former Spurs man is showing no signs of slowing down having already found the net on four occasions in three top-flight games this season. It’s safe to say he’s pretty damn good.

On that note, however, there is a player who recently left Spurs who can now boast Kane-like numbers.

Spurs may have sold their next Kane

Over the summer supporters got a wonderful opportunity to watch teenage sensation, Mikey Moore, in action.

Now 17 years of age, the attacker is one of the best young properties in the Premier League right now and actually found the net over pre-season, notably scoring impressively in the clash with Hearts.

Moore looks destined for a bright future in the game but as he will know, plenty have tried and failed to cross the bridge between academy and first-team football.

Dane Scarlett is currently at Championship side Oxford United on loan while a certain Troy Parrott is plying his trade in the Netherlands.

The Irishman was sold in a permanent deal over the summer, a move that was reported to cost Dutch side AZ Alkmaar a paltry £6.7m to finalise.

So, how is the 22-year-old faring in the Eredivisie so far?

Troy Parrott’s time at AZ Alkmaar

Well, it just so happens that the Irishman is one of the most prolific forwards on the continent right now.

Having swapped London for the Zaan district in the Netherlands, the forward has quickly made a name for himself in his new setting.

MK Dons (loan)

47

10

7

Preston (loan)

34

4

0

Excelsior (loan)

32

17

5

Ipswich (loan)

18

2

0

Spurs U18s

15

17

3

Spurs U19s

9

9

2

Spurs U21s

14

5

1

Millwall (loan)

14

0

1

AZ Alkmaar

5

4

0

Spurs first team

4

0

0

Parrott happened to spend last term on loan at Rotterdam club Excelsior where he thrived, scoring 17 times in 32 outings across all competitions. It would appear that he impressed those in the Eredivisie, with Alkmaar shelling out to sign him over the summer.

Since then he’s continued to score on a regular basis, finding the net on four occasions in five matches. That stat might be a tad misleading, however, as all four of those goals came in the same match.

During a staggering 9-1 win for AZ against Herenveen last weekend, Parrott was the main source of goals as he beat the goalkeeper on four occasions. To make this story even more intriguing for those of a Spurs persuasion, who was managing the opposition? A certain Robin van Persie.

The former Arsenal and Manchester United star certainly knows a thing or two about scoring goals but even he would have been blown away by the Irishman’s performance.

Such a tally of goals means that he’s now scored as many as Kane has in the Bundesliga for Bayern Munich this term.

Tottenham’s record scorer netted his own hat-trick last weekend, putting Holstein Kiel to the sword in a 6-1 drubbing.

While those incredible results were happening, Postecoglou’s men would go onto lose to their fierce rivals Arsenal. They did not score but you can bet your house on the fact they would have done with Kane in the team.

While they will sill no doubt lust after his return, they can probably be secure in the fact that they sold Parrott at the right time. That’s unless he goes onto become a world-beater in the years to come.

Spurs could axe Johnson by unleashing "outstanding" academy teen instead

The incredible youngster could be something quite special.

1 ByJack Salveson Holmes Sep 17, 2024