All posts by z3u9t.icu

Aston Villa are certainly acting fast with regard to doing the majority of their business before pre-season starts.

Unai Emery is on the verge of selling Douglas Luiz to Juventus, with an agreement in place that will see Enzo Barrenechea and Samuel Iling-Junior move in the opposite direction as part of the deal with the Italian side.

Furthermore, Villa are also close to selling youth prospect Omari Kellyman to Chelsea, while another exciting talent, Tim Iroegbunam, has moved to Everton.

Of course, the club have been forced to sell players before the end of the month in order to comply with financial fair play regulations, plus the money raised from sales will allow Emery to sign a few players this summer.

Financial Fair Play: What is PSR, how does it work and who's in trouble?

Leicester City have become the latest club charged with an alleged PSR breach, but what could happen next?

ByStephan Georgiou Apr 16, 2024

The Spaniard is showing interest in a few new additions to his squad in order to bolster his midfield options.

Aston Villa close to signing another midfielder

Although there have been a few players moving on, Emery is close to sealing a deal to sign Ross Barkley.

That’s according to Fabrizio Romano, who said on X: “Aston Villa are prepared to enter into formal stages of Ross Barkley deal after agreement with Luton Town.

“Fee around £5m, contract details already agreed and now waiting on medical.”

This could be a smart piece of transfer business by Emery. Barkley knows the Premier League well, has played for Villa before and for such a bargain price, could add some much-needed depth to the squad ahead of the 2024/25 campaign.

If the club do sign the Luton man, he could follow another midfielder to Villa Park…

Aston Villa's other midfield targets

According to the Express, Villa are eyeing up a move for a Real Sociedad midfielder, Brais Mendez, as Emery seeks to improve his options in the middle of the pitch.

They have reportedly made contact with his entourage ahead of making a swoop, but they face some serious competition to secure his signature.

Manchester United are keen along with Serie A sides Juventus and AS Roma, meaning the playmaker has no shortage of options should he wish to leave Sociedad this summer.

Mendez has a release clause of £52m and this would break Villa’s transfer record for a player, overtaking the £51.9m they splashed on Moussa Diaby last term.

With the 27-year-old at the peak of his powers, Emery could strengthen his side by signing the player, especially with Champions League football on the horizon.

Moussa Diaby

£52m

Bayer Leverkusen

Emilano Buendia

£38m

Norwich City

Pau Torres

£33m

Villarreal

Leon Bailey

£30m

Bayer Leverkusen

Ollie Watkins

£28m

Brentford

How Brais Mendez compares to Ross Barkley

Aged 29, Barkley is certainly nearer the end of his career rather than the beginning. Might the capture of Mendez prove to be a better deal for Villa in the long run? Indeed, the Spaniard enjoyed a more productive season during 2023/24, especially in front of goal.

The Sociedad gem thrives either as a number ten or out wide, where he can showcase his excellent attacking abilities, whereas Barkley tended to occupy a deeper position, either in the heart of the midfield or just in front of the defence for Luton Town last term. That said, he first started out as an energetic attacking midfielder with an eye for goal.

The Englishman still managed to record five goals and six assists across all competitions in what was a solid season for the Hatters, thus earning a move to Villa Park, but Mendez enjoyed a far more fruitful season in the final third.

In 44 matches for Sociedad, Mendez scored eight goals while registering nine assists, which included four goal contributions in the Champions League against the likes of Inter Milan and Benfica, demonstrating how effective he can be in Europe’s premier club competition.

Brais can count the likes of key passes, direct free-kicks and through balls as major strengths according to WhoScored, while Barkley can count aerial duels, concentration and dribbling as his, which suggests the pair offer different sets of skills.

With the likes of Boubacar Kamara, John McGinn and Youri Tielemans all slotting into the heart of the midfield, Emery is clearly well-endowed in this area.

With regard to a proper number ten, however, Mendez could fit into this slot with ease and become one of Emery’s finest signings this summer.

Brais Mendez’s season in numbers for Sociedad

Mendez has been wonderful in front of goal, but he also offers many more qualities going forward.

Among his teammates, Mendez ranked first for shots on goal (2.1) in La Liga last season, while also ranking second for big chances created (nine), second for key passes per game (1.3) and sixth for successful dribbles per game (0.8), again, evidence of his tremendous attacking capabilities which could serve Villa well next term.

It wasn’t just among his own squad that the midfielder sparkled either. Indeed, when compared to his positional peers in Europe’s top five leagues, Mendez currently ranks in the top 3% for non-penalty goals per 90 (0.25), the top 10% for assists per 90 (0.21) and in the top 2% for total shots per 90 (2.42), proving he was one of the best in his position across these three attacking metrics.

Emery has had plenty of success at recruiting from Spain. Alex Moreno has been a solid option at left-back since January 2023, while Pau Torres acquainted himself well with the Premier League during his debut season, winning over half of his total duels and finishing the campaign with an 88% pass success rate.

Mendez – lauded as a “smooth operator” by journalist Zach Lowy – could become the latest Spanish talent to move to the Midlands and make a name for himself in the English top flight.

£52m is certainly a lot of money, but if the manager is serious about continuing Villa’s progression in the Premier League, plus being competitive in the Champions League, then investment is vital.

It might not work out, but given how well he has done in Spain over the previous 12 months, it looks as though Mendez could thrive in England, improving even more as a player under the watchful eye of Emery.

Transfer window 2024/25: All the latest transfers from England and Scotland

With the summer transfer window coming to a close, here are all the latest deals involving clubs from England and Scotland.

ByStephan Georgiou Aug 30, 2024

Everton are now believed to be looking to bring in a “fantastic” manager to replace Sean Dyche as the Friedkin Group close in on a takeover from Farhad Moshiri.

Everton takeover latest

The Blues are still without a win in the Premier League this season, although Saturday’s 1-1 draw away to Leicester City did at least see them get their first point on the board. There was an element of disappointment about the result again however, considering Everton were leading through Iliman Ndiaye’s goal and because they were up against a team who were playing Championship football last term.

This terrible start to the campaign has understandably meant that there is huge pressure on Dyche to keep his job, with the Englishman seemingly losing admirers by the week among the Goodison Park faithful and a potential takeover sure to change his status as well.

On that note, it appears John Textor has taken too long trying to sell his stake at Crystal Palace, as it is now the Freidkin Group closing in on a deal, with reliable reporter Mark Douglas revealing on Monday that an Everton takeover is “very close” and Friedkin is plotting “significant” investment and an “immediate review of football operations” – something which may place Dyche’s position in danger.

Moyes favourite to be new Everton manager

A new report from Football Insider claims that Everton are now looking to bring David Moyes back to Goodison, should they decide that Dyche is no longer the right man for the job. The Scot is considered a “popular appointment” by both “the boardroom and the fans”, having enjoyed such an impressive stint in charge first time around, although it is unclear how much of that support is from the potential new investors.

Opinion may be divided among Everton fans when it comes to a Moyes return, with some no doubt happy about the potential for it happening, and others perhaps feeling that a younger option is needed. He enjoyed a good second spell at West Ham, not least because he won the UEFA Europa Conference League back in 2022/23, but has ironically struggled against Dyche in his career, barely averaging over a point per game against the 53 year-old and winning only 3 of 11 head to heads.

Legendary centre-back Martin Keown lauded him during his last stint with the Hammers, saying: “I think David Moyes deserves credit because you know he’s at the back end of his career but I think he’s getting ever-better. He’s actually showing improvements. Fantastic work they’re doing in Europe, and he seems to be relishing the battle right now.”

Moyes is known for adopting a 4-2-3-1 formation, and while not necessarily the most attack-minded manager around, he could arguably play better football than has been on show under Dyche, with entertainment value severely lacking under his management and only four goals scored in the league so far this season.

West Ham

230

1.53

West Ham

31

1.19

Sunderland

43

0.72

Real Sociedad

42

1.21

Man Utd

51

1.73

Everton

518

1.54

Preston North End

211

1.72

Moyes’ vast experience could help Everton get themselves out of this current hole, in a period where avoiding relegation from the Premier League this season is paramount ahead of the move to Bramley Moore Dock.

Rangers have reportedly told a European side that they want to sign their £5m-rated “monster” for Philippe Clement this summer.

Clement and Koppen secure three signings for Rangers

The transfer window has only just officially opened, but that hasn’t stopped Clement and director of recruitment Nils Koppen in making a head start on the club’s summer business.

Already, those at Ibrox have secured moves for Jefte, Oscar Cortes and Clinton Nsiala and don’t appear to be planning on stopping there. Alongside the trio, Rangers are also leading the race to sign 20-year-old forward Yusuf Kabadayi from Bayern Munich in a permanent transfer and out-of-contract midfielder Connor Barron from Aberdeen.

Rangers plotting cut-price move to sign Euro 2024 forward ahead of Celtic

He was linked back in January.

ByCharlie Smith Jun 12, 2024

It is promising to be a busy few months for the Gers ahead of the 2024/25 Scottish Premiership campaign, where Clement will be hoping to lift as much silverware as possible in what will be his first full season in charge. To help him do that, Rangers appear to be keen on finally securing a deal for a player they were first linked with back in November.

Rangers tell club they want to sign £5m defender

According to journalist Anel Avdic, Rangers have been in contact with Hammarby IF over a deal for defender Nathaniel Adjei. The Gers are also joined by RSC Anderlecht, with Hammarby wanting €6m (£5m) to sell the player this summer.

“Glasgow Rangers and RSC Anderlecht have informed Hammarby IF that they want to buy Nathaniel Adjei. A first suggestion is to wait shortly. Bajen requires just over six million euros to sell the centre-back this summer.”

Adjei, an out-and-out centre-back, spent the second half of the recent campaign out on loan with French side FC Lorient, making 15 Ligue 1 appearances. He's also made 32 senior appearances for Hammarby.

The Ghana U23 international could now be on the move again, this time in a permanent transfer, with Rangers seemingly keen on his services. The 21-year-old’s Transfermarkt valuation currently stands at €2.5m, so Rangers will need to pay more than twice that amount to secure his services.

Should he move to Scotland, Clement could be getting an imposing 6ft 2 centre-back who Kai Watson, founder of the Rangers Journal, dubbed a “physical monster” when analysing the defender following rumours of a move to Ibrox last year.

Rangers currently have Connor Goldson, John Souttar, Ben Davies, Leon King and Leon Balogun as their centre-back options, so Adjei could be viewed on an upgrade on a few of the names mentioned, making this a deal to keep an eye on once more.

While they are still some way from being the finished article, Chelsea have built a squad full of incredible players over the last few years.

The likes of Moises Caicedo, Cole Palmer, Marc Cucurella, and probably even Enzo Fernández would be able to get into most Premier League teams.

However, at the same time, West Londoners also have more than a few players who are arguably holding them back, with Tosin Adarabioyo perhaps the most obvious example over the last few weeks.

The former Fulham star has been at the centre of more than a few dire defensive performances for Chelsea, so it’s not all that surprising to see reports linking them to someone who’d be a dream upgrade.

Chelsea target Tosin upgrade

While talk of a title race might be a tad premature for Chelsea this season, they are most certainly in a race for the Champions League place.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

With that in mind, it’s unsurprising to see them linked with a plethora of talented players ahead of the transfer window reopening next month.

For example, the Blues are among several Premier League sides who have shown real interest in RB Leipzig’s Yan Diomande and have also been linked with Juventus’ Kenan Yıldız.

However, while hugely talented, neither of those exciting wingers would help solve the West Londoners’ defensive problems, nor send Tosin packing, unlike Castello Lukeba.

Yes, according to a recent report from TEAMtalk, Chelsea have maintained their intense interest in the French centre-back.

In fact, the report goes further, revealing that the Blues are now ready to submit a bid of up to £52m for the player in the coming weeks.

Interestingly, while the 22-year-old has a release clause worth around €80million in his contract, which is £70m, the report claims that Leipzig may be willing to cash in on the player for that £52m fee in January.

However, it might not be all that straightforward, as the story also states that Bayern Munich are keen to make a mid-season move for the highly rated defender.

In all, it could be a costly and complicated transfer to get over the line, but given Lukeba’s ability and potential, one Chelsea should be pursuing, especially as he could send Tosin packing.

How Lukeba compares to Tosin

Now, when it comes to midfielders, forwards and wingers, it can be relatively straightforward to compare players, as more often than not, their goals and assists are going to be what matters most.

However, when it comes to defenders, and centre-backs in particular, it can be a little trickier, and as a result, you have to go into more detail, you have to take a look under the hood at their underlying numbers.

Unfortunately for Tosin, doing so demonstrates just how far ahead of him Lukeba is.

Non-Penalty Expected G+As

0.10

0.02

Progressive Passes

4.17

2.90

Progressive Carries

0.83

0.48

Key Passes

0.33

0.00

Shot-Creating Actions

1.25

0.48

Goal-Creating Actions

0.17

0.00

Blocks

1.92

0.65

Interceptions

1.58

0.97

Clearances

5.67

6.77

Successful Take-Ons

1.00

0.00

Ball Recoveries

5.67

2.58

For example, according to FBref, the Frenchman comes out on top in the vast majority of relevant metrics, including, but not limited to, blocks, interceptions, and ball recoveries, all per 90.

In other words, as analyst-turned-scout Ben Mattinson puts it, the Frenchman is a “defensively exceptional” centre-back.

However, his advantages over Tosin extend to more than just his ability off the ball.

For example, the “outstanding” titan, per Mattinson, also comes out on top in metrics like progressive passes and carries, shot and goal-creating actions, key passes, successful take-ons and more, all per 90.

Essentially, the Leipzig star is someone who can snuff out an opposition attack and then, either through his carrying ability or range of passing, kickstart one for his own side.

Ultimately, from every conceivable angle, it’s clear that Lukeba would be a massive upgrade on Tosin and, therefore, Chelsea should do all they can to sign him in January.

Gittens upgrade: BlueCo convinced they must sign £87m star for Chelsea

The sensational superstar in the making would be an incredible signing for Chelsea, but bad news for Gittens.

ByJack Salveson Holmes 1 day ago

During the last couple of years, Tottenham Hotspur have started to splash the cash in the transfer market to aid them in their quest for success in the Premier League.

In the last four years alone, the hierarchy have dropped over £400m on new additions, but not all the big-money additions have made the desired effect in North London.

Tanguy Ndombele is just one of the players who cost a pretty penny, with the Frenchman costing a reported £63m in 2019 – a deal that was then a club-record.

He was only able to rack up 91 appearances for the Lilywhites over a five-year period, before leaving on a free transfer last summer to move back to his homeland.

With the January window on the horizon, the board and Thomas Frank will need to keep such a deal in mind to prevent themselves from losing a huge chunk of their investment.

The latest on Spurs’ hunt for new additions this January

In recent weeks, Juventus defender Gleison Bremer has been one of the latest players touted with a move to join Spurs during the upcoming transfer window.

It’s been reported that Frank’s men are willing to fork out £35m for the Brazilian centre-back, as the board aim to add key depth and quality to the backline.

The Lilywhites have shipped 11 goals in their last three competitive outings, which could make the 28-year-old a viable option for the upcoming window.

However, the attacking department could also be subject to improvement, with Monaco star Maghnes Akliouche once again emerging on their radar after previously wanting to sign the forward in the summer.

According to Sacha Tavolieri, the Lilywhites are extremely keen on a deal to land the 23-year-old this winter, but a deal could cost the hierarchy a pretty penny.

The journalist has stated that the Ligue 1 side are currently demanding a fee in the region of €70m (£61m) for his signature, a deal that would be one of the most expensive in their history.

Why Spurs’ £61m target would be Simons 2.0

Spending big on a young attacker hasn’t been alien for Spurs in the last couple of months, with the board splashing a reported £52m on the signature of Xavi Simons last summer.

The Dutchman’s move generated huge excitement, with the hierarchy selecting the 22-year-old as the player to fill the void in the number ten role after James Maddison’s injury.

However, a couple of months on from his mammoth transfer, the youngster has struggled to hit the ground running, as seen by his tally of zero goals and just two assists to date.

Frank has also evidently been frustrated by the Dutchman’s lack of quality, with the manager leaving him on the substitutes bench in each of the last two outings.

A little ounce of leeway must be handed Simons’ way though, especially with the attacking midfielder often having to operate in a somewhat unnatural left-wing role in multiple of his starts.

However, the club could be about to land another version of the big-money talent this January, especially if they manage to complete a deal for Akliouche in the near future.

He’s been ranked as a similar player to Simons in the Champions League by FBref, with the pair even facing off against each other in the clash between the two sides in October.

When comparing the pair’s respective stats in such a campaign, the Frenchman has dominated the current Spurs star, which could hand Frank the attacking talent he’s craved in recent months.

Akliouche, who’s been dubbed “world-class” by one analyst, has achieved a higher tally of combined goals and assists in the Champions League at present.

Games played

5

5

Goals & assists

2

1

Pass accuracy

83%

81%

Progressive passes

6.3

4.7

Passes into final third

3.8

2.9

Take-ons completed

2.7

2.1

Carries into final third

2.1

1.3

Crosses completed

2.4

2.1

He’s also completed more of the passes he’s attempted, with more of his efforts going into the final third – showcasing his creative nature when in possession.

The aforementioned tallies would undoubtedly hand Frank the big-money talent he’s been craving since taking the reins in North London during the off-season.

The Monaco star has also completed more take-ons per 90 in Europe this season, whilst achieving more carries into the final third per 90 – reaffirming his incredible ability with the ball at his feet.

£61m in today’s market for a player of Akliouche’s quality would be an excellent deal, with the 23-year-old having bags of time to reach the next level in his development.

As for Simons, the Frenchman’s potential move could push him down the pecking order further, but it could also provide him with the

needed kick to ignite his career in North London.

Romero upgrade: Spurs "ready to make" £35m bid for "world-class" defender

Tottenham Hotspur look set to make a huge January move for a new centre-back.

1 ByEthan Lamb Nov 28, 2025

Having made the decision to sack Alan Sheehan after just six months in charge earlier this week, Swansea City have now reportedly opened talks with Kim Hellberg.

The South Wales outfit felt a change was needed following a 4-1 defeat at the hands of Ipswich Town on Saturday which left them as low as 18th in the Championship. Sheehan lasted just six months at the club and ended his tenure with 17 wins in 39 games.

Ultimately, despite a positive start to life at Swansea last season, it was Sheehan’s recent four-game losing run which acted as the nail in the coffin for his tenure. The international break also hands the club some much-needed time to get their next appointment right.

Swansea owners Brett Cravatt and Jason Cohen told the club website after announcing their decision: “Alan has been instrumental in helping improve the club through two periods of time. Alan has a tireless work ethic, an honest approach and a positive attitude.

“He has put his full effort into the job on behalf of the club. The club would like to place on record its thanks to Alan for all of his hard work during his time at Swansea City. We wish Alan and his family all the best for the future.”

Those in Wales will hope to have an appointment through the door by the time that they return from the international break to face Bristol City on 22 November. They’ll also be desperate to hire a manager that lasts longer than six months and can provide a long-term solution to their current struggles in the Championship.

Swansea hold talks with Kim Hellberg

As reported by Sky Sports’ Anthony Joseph, Swansea have now held talks with Hellberg, who is currently in charge of Swedish side Hammarby IF. The Swans are reportedly “keen” to hire the 37-year-old and have identified him as one of the early leading candidates to take their vacant role.

Whilst Hellberg isn’t the most experienced manager that Swansea could find, he is impressive in his own right.

The young manager has earned plenty of praise from those in Sweden, including IFK Varnamo sporting director Enes Ahmetovic, who worked with Hellberg at the club and said: “An incredibly skilled football coach. He spends a huge amount of time on every detail. I’m completely convinced that Hellberg will coach much bigger clubs than IFK Värnamo.”

Operating in a 4-2-3-1 system, Hellberg would also suit Swansea’s current squad who are used to the formation thanks to their time working under Sheehan.

Every Premier League and EFL manager sacked in the 2025/26 season

Everton need to win against Fulham in the Premier League on Saturday afternoon.

It’s a strange thing to say, almost. Clubs seek victory each time they enter the field, but after just one win across seven recent top-flight outings, David Moyes’ side need to return to form at the Hill Dickinson and pause for the November international break on a high.

Crucial in achieving this will be the availability of talisman Iliman Ndiaye, who was withdrawn after an hour against Sunderland on Monday evening with a suspected knock, limping off the field.

The latest on Iliman Ndiaye's fitness

In short, Ndiaye has been cleared to play. The Senegalese winger has been nothing short of brilliant this season, with his return of four goals and an assist across ten matches.

But that hardly paints the full picture. It was the goal that counted at the Stadium of Light, but the manner in which the 25-year-old skipped his way into the box, wrongfooted one man, two, and then struck so sweetly past Robin Roefs, who was not wrongfooted but frozen in place.

He’s fast, furious and clever in his decision-making. So guileful. There has been concern that he will sit this one out, but Moyes revealed on Friday morning that the winger had trained as usual and is ready to play.

Given that Moyes has been so reluctant to start the 19-year-old Tyler Dibling this season, Ndiaye’s availability is crucial, not least because Fulham are a resilient and well-structured outfit, and his maverick nature could unlock that backline.

However, he’s not the only one who has the skillset to shine. Pitted against Everton at the Hill Dickinson will be their former star Alex Iwobi, and Moyes has found the Toffees’ new version this season.

Moyes must unleash Everton's new Iwobi

Iwobi was a trusty servant across his four years on Merseyside, and it was under Frank Lampard’s wing that he was resfashioned from an electric winger into a robust central midfielder.

Here the Nigerian’s creativity has been allowed to flourish, hitting 15 goal involvements in the league last year. Everton have missed this kind of player, but in Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Moyes might have signed the solution.

Dewsbury-Hall, 27, joined the club from Chelsea for a £28m fee this summer and he has impressed across his nine Premier League starts, scoring one goal, assisting one more, and creating four big chances. Sofascore record that he won 55% of his ground duels and completed 71% of his dribbles, too.

This is a complete midfielder, and while he doesn’t shirk from defensive responsibilities, Dewsbury-Hall’s bread and butter is his passing, and this makes him the perfect solvent of Iwobi’s talent, for he could overpower him in his number ten role.

The pair are considered statistically similar players in the Premier League this season by data-led platform FBref, and the £90k-per-week Dewsbury-Hall could now prove his worth by stepping up and leading the Toffees toward three points.

Goals

0.11

0.11

Assists

0.11

0.22

Touches

43.93

57.59

Pass completion (%)

77.2

79.2

Progressive passes

5.19

6.24

Shot-creating actions

3.50

3.56

Through balls

0.56

0.45

Crosses

4.63

2.67

Progressive carries

1.36

4.46

Successful take-ons

1.13

0.56

Ball recoveries

3.05

4.23

Tackles + interceptions

1.47

1.34

Playing balls in behind is Dewsbury-Hall’s speciality. He has the athleticism to dribble the ball forward, but is designated as the Blues’ conduit between midfield and attack, passing through the spaces and creating for his teammates.

Iwobi has probably enjoyed the better season so far, as the statistics will tell you above, but this is a chance for Everton’s summer recruit to properly announce himself and become the “revelation” that former boss Brendan Rodgers said he was at Leicester City.

Fulham are a tough team, and they thrashed lowly Wolves last weekend after skidding to four successive defeats. One point and one place behind Moyes’ side, they will be hungry to cause an upset.

If Dewsbury-Hall turns up, he could not only stand out and overshadow his opposite number in Iwobi but also take Everton back into the win column.

Everton flop "failed a succession of managers", now he's saving Moyes

This Everton veteran is proving to be the unlikely signing of the summer.

ByAngus Sinclair Nov 7, 2025

Anfield erupted. It really did. That was the performance Arne Slot’s Liverpool have been searching for this season, with Alexis Mac Allister’s second-half header putting Real Madrid to the sword in the Champions League.

Real Madrid were overwhelmed, enervated, reduced to mincemeat in a similar fashion to last season’s win over the La Liga giants, and it could have been a wider, more sobering margin for Europe’s biggest hitters, but for a strong performance from Thiabaut Courtois between the posts.

The win over Aston Villa in the Premier League at the weekend stopped the rot, ended the four-game losing run, but this was a display of a different nature, the Reds going from strength to strength and reminding Europe of their prowess.

There have been many issues and imbalances within Slot’s squad this season, but this was an emphatic performance, outstanding from every department, both in possession and against the ball.

Epitomising this mini-revival on Merseyside, of course, was Conor Bradley.

Bradley proves too much for Real (again)

Not for the first time over the past year, Bradley came up trumps against Real Madrid’s devastating frontline, this time focusing his sights on Vinicius Junior, who was ineffective all evening against the Northern Irish star.

Content creator George Scaife remarked that he had “the game of his life” against Los Blancos, winning all three of his tackles, winning eight duels and recovering so many balls.

With Jeremie Frimpong sidelined with an injury, the 22-year-old has a real chance to kick on now and nail down a starting berth after a shaky start to the campaign which has presented him as unsure and somewhat unfit at times.

There have been times when Bradley’s place in the Liverpool side has been called into question, but he has the ability to replace Trent Alexander-Arnold, who made an unsuccessful return to Anfield on Tuesday, in the long run.

However, there’s another star who has become their main man, having looked endangered in the starting line-up after the summer spending spree.

Liverpool star is becoming one of world's best

There’s no question that Liverpool have been woefully out of sorts this season, but Dominik Szoboszlai has been a pillar of strength throughout the opening months.

Effortlessly good as an all-action midfielder and tenacious and industrious in a makeshift right-back berth, Szoboszlai’s energy and enterprise on the ball have been second to none, and he has been hailed as “our most important player” by one prominent Reds fan, also admitting that he “would be one of the ones to drop out of the XI” after a summer of spending that saw Florian Wirtz signed for a record-breaking £116m fee.

But the Hungary skipper has been nothing short of sensational, and he was once again the star of the show, peppering the Real Madrid goal and assisting the winner with a delightful set-piece delivery.

Minutes played

90′

Goals

0

Assists

1

Touches

54

Shots (on target)

5 (4)

Accurate passes

30/39 (77%)

Chances created

3

Crosses

3/3

Interceptions

1

Recoveries

6

Duels won

2/9

The Liverpool Echo saw it fit to hand the 24-year-old a 9/10 match rating, ahead, even, of the goalscoring Mac Allister, producing a masterful creative display and working overtime to overwhelm the Spanish midfield.

While the likes of Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk continue to stand proud as the leaders in Slot’s squad, there’s little question that Szoboszlai is outplaying the lot this term, and as the Reds click into gear, raising their collective level, Szoboszlai could hit staggering individual heights.

Another Chiesa: Slot's treatment of Liverpool star is a "sackable offence"

Liverpool have a shrewd solution to one of their biggest problems this season.

ByAngus Sinclair Oct 30, 2025

Arsenal have now made an approach to sign a new centre-back, but they will need to fend off competition from one of their Premier League rivals, according to a report.

Arsenal transfer news

If the Gunners are going to be in the race for the Premier League title once again this season, they may need to strengthen in attacking areas, given that they don’t have a player in the mould of Erling Haaland or Mohamed Salah in front of goal.

As such, there have been reports linking Sporting CP’s Viktor Gyokeres with a move to north London, while they are also said to be keen on signing RB Leipzig’s up-and-coming striker Benjamin Šeško. Mikel Arteta’s side have been particularly impressive defensively in recent times, conceding the fewest goals of any Premier League side last season, and the manager’s marquee summer signing was Riccardo Calafiori.

However, there are indications that Arteta may need to bolster his backline further in the January transfer window, considering that Jakub Kiwior is said to have been put up for sale.

Arsenal targeting Ousmane Diomande

With that in mind, Arteta appears to have identified a potential replacement in defence, as reports from Portugal (via Sport Witness) state that an approach has been made for Sporting CP defender Ousmane Diomande. However, the 20-year-old will not come cheap, as he has a release clause of €80m (£66m) included in his current contract, which Sporting continue to refer to in their negotiations.

The report states that both Arsenal and Chelsea have already made approaches for the defender, which have been knocked back by the Portuguese club, while German giants Bayern Munich are now intensifying their efforts to get a deal over the line.

All three clubs are said to hold a ‘serious’ interest in the centre-back, and while he is aware that club are beginning to queue up for his signature, he is focussed on his career at Sporting in the meantime.

If the Gunners are able to win the race for the youngster, he could be a solid addition to the squad, with football scout Jacek Kulig claiming that he has “absolutely everything to become a top-class CB”. Performance analyst Jack Fawcett has also been full of praise for the Sporting starlet.

Even though the Ivorian is just 20 years old, he has a plethora of first-team experience with Sporting, making 26 league appearances in the title-winning 2023-24 season, and he has made three outings in the Champions League in the current campaign.

As such, there are clear signs that Diomande could be destined for great things, so it is promising news that Arsenal appear to be one of the clubs firmly in the race for his signature, and it will be interesting to see how the situation develops before January.

While they might not have spent the truly vast sums of money they have in windows past, Chelsea have still been busy in the market this summer.

As things stand, the Conference League champions’ standout signings are Joao Pedro, Liam Delap and Jamie Gittens, and they are set to secure the highly rated Jorrel Hato any day now.

However, for all the brilliant deals they’ve been able to get over the line, they had to watch Liverpool get their hands on the free-scoring Hugo Ekitiké, who was touted for a move to Stamford Bridge earlier in the window.

Fortunately, if reports are to be believed, the West Londoners could be closing in on a player who could be their own version of the French attacker.

Chelsea target their own Ekitike

Now, while plenty has already happened this summer, and it is often hard to keep track of every deal and rumour, it’s true that Chelsea were linked with Ekitike at several points towards the start of the window.

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However, with the Blues clearly focusing on other, more pressing targets, and likely not being quite as interested as some stories suggested they were, Liverpool stole a march on them and secured the Frenchman’s services for a fee of around £69m.

Interestingly, while the former Eintracht Frankfurt star is now obviously no longer available, the West Londoners do appear like they are closing in on another attacking gem who could be their version of him.

At least that is according to a recent report from German outlet Bild, which reaffirms Chelsea’s intense interest in the talented Xavi Simons.

The report goes a step further, revealing that the Blues have now reached a broad agreement on terms with the player himself, and while they’ve not made an official offer to RB Leipzig just yet, it’s believed the German outfit are holding out for a fee of €70m, which is about £61m.

It would be an expensive transfer to get over the line, but given Simons’ ability and potential, it would be worth it, especially as he could be their own Ekitike.

Why Simons could be Chelsea's own Ekitike

Now, the first thing to say is that while Simons is an incredibly versatile player and someone who has made a few appearances up top, he is not a centre-forward like Ekitike, but there are still several reasons the former could be Chelsea’s version of the latter.

Firstly, the young Dutchman would also be making his way to a ‘big six’ side in the Premier League from a Bundesliga side outside the traditional big two in Leipzig, similarly to how the Frenchman’s moving to Merseyside from Eintracht Frankfurt.

Second, both players are making their moves at similar ages, with the midfield maestro being just 22 and the exciting centre-forward just turning 23 years old.

The last somewhat surface-level similarity is the fact that both of them spent time playing for Paris Saint-Germain.

Simons joined the French side’s youth system in 2019 and then left and rejoined over the following years until his move to Leipzig was made permanent this January, while the new Liverpool star joined the Parisians in July 2022, and then left for Germany on a permanent deal two years later.

Finally, while the former PSV Eindhoven dynamo is unlikely to match the 22 goals in 48 games Ekitike scored last season at Stamford Bridge due to the position he tends to play in, he still has the ability to be an attacking tour de force, and could help flip games on their head for Maresca and Co.

For example, in just 33 appearances last season, totalling 2763 minutes, the Amsterdam-born “game-changer,” as dubbed by talent scout Jacek Kulig, scored 11 goals and provided eight assists.

Appearances

33

Minutes

2763′

Goals

11

Assists

8

Goal Involvements per Match

0.57

Minutes per Goal Involvements

144′

In other words, the sensational talent, who one analyst has dubbed “one of the best 10s in the world,” managed to average a goal involvement every 1.73 games, or every 144 minutes.

Ultimately, while it wouldn’t be cheap, Chelsea should be doing what they can to bring Simons to West London this summer, as he could add some real quality to their attack and be an answer to Ekitike.

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