All posts by z3u9t.icu

Liverpool are now reportedly ready to launch an offer worth over £35m to sign a key defensive addition instead of Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi in 2026.

Carragher admits it's "crisis time" at Liverpool

Liverpool look out on their feet. Mentally and physically, they have simply not competed in the last month. Defeat against Crystal Palace was a warning sign, before games to forget against Chelsea, Manchester United and now Brentford arrived to compile the Reds’ misery.

Off the back of four Premier League defeats in a row, the Premier League champions no longer look inevitable. They look like one of the most beatable sides in the top flight. It has been an inescapable disaster for Arne Slot in the last month, who couldn’t help but admit that even he’s not sure how to solve his side’s current problems after defeat at Brentford.

Meanwhile, Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher went as far as to say that it’s “crisis time” for those at Anfield: “To see the champions lose 4 games in a row in the Premier League with the expenditure in the summer, I think we’re in crisis time for Liverpool right now.”

Serious questions have now been asked about Liverpool’s summer spending. They finally broke the bank, handing Slot the keys to the kingdom with a spending spree worth over £400m.

They broke records to sign Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz while also welcoming Hugo Ekitike and Milos Kerkez, among others, all arrived. It was, barring Guehi’s collapsed move, the perfect summer.

Yet, months later, and only Ekitike has shown signs of real instant quality and the Reds have seemingly been forced back to the drawing board in need of defensive improvements.

Liverpool ready to launch Ordonez offer

As reported by South American outlet Bolavip and relayed by Sport Witness, Liverpool are now ready to launch an offer to sign Joel Ordonez ahead of Inter Milan worth over €40m (£35m) in 2026.

Liverpool lining up January move for starting calibre centre-back wanted by Real Madrid

Would this be a dream addition for Arne Slot?

ByHenry Jackson Oct 27, 2025

The Club Brugge defender would act as an alternative to Guehi, who has interest from Anfield and elsewhere ahead of becoming a free agent next summer.

With Ibrahima Konate yet to sign a new deal and Virgil van Dijk approaching his final year, Liverpool desperately need to organize the future of their backline. If they are to miss out on Guehi, then they must go all out on an alternative like the Ecuador international.

Minutes

532

742

810

Progressive Passes

4.83

4.51

6.22

Tackles Won

0.52

1.22

0.44

Successful Aerial Duels

2.41

4.27

5.11

Whilst there should be concerns about Ordonez’s aerial ability, his work in possession would at least help provide a solution for Liverpool, who have struggled to progress play without Trent Alexander-Arnold.

Described as “hyper aggressive” by analyst Ben Mattinson, the 21-year-old will be one to watch if Liverpool miss out on Guehi and Konate departs in 2026.

Wolves have sent a proposal to a Jorge Mendes client regarding a possible £12.8m move to Molineux in the summer transfer window, according to a fresh update from abroad.

Wolves transfer news

Constant transfer rumours continue to emerge from Wolves, with new signings hopefully coming in soon, but current squad members also potentially heading out of the Molineux exit door.

One such figure in the latter category is young left-back Hugo Bueno, who is the subject of interest from a number of different clubs, including Feyenoord, who have made contact over a move. The likes of Leeds United and Celtic are also believed to be in the mix, though, as the 21-year-old potentially heads out on loan before the new Premier League season gets underway.

In terms of possible incomings, Colombian legend James Rodriguez has emerged as an audacious rumoured target for Wolves, with his spell at Brazilian side Sao Paulo coming to an end after they ended his contract. The veteran creative maestro shone for his country at Copa America, registering six assists in many matches, which means there is expected to be plenty of interest in him this summer.

Max Kilman's exit to West Ham has left a void at the heart of Gary O'Neil's defence and Burnley centre-back Maxime Esteve has been linked with a summer switch to Molineux. He started 15 Premier League games last season, averaging 3.4 clearances per match, and at just 22, represents a long-term option.

Wolves send proposal to Mendes client

According to a new report from AS, Wolves have sent a proposal to Valencia midfielder Andre Almeida over a summer move to the club, with the Portuguese midfielder a client of Mendes' Gestifute Agency, who have sent many players to the Old Gold in recent years.

A deal could cost as much as €15m (£12.8m), with the 24-year-old's current deal at the La Liga club not expiring until the end of the 2027/28 season.

Almeida could be a strong addition to Wolves' midfield ahead of the 2024/25 campaign, having now racked up 56 appearances in a Valencia shirt, proving to be a key figure in that time. Last term, he appeared 18 times in La Liga, scoring twice, as well as averaging 1.4 tackles per game, chipping in with quality both on and off the ball.

The fact that the Valencia ace is a Mendes client can only be a positive, too, considering how many Wolves players have been represented by the world-renowned agent down the years, suggesting that relations between himself and the club are still healthy.

At 24, there is still a lot more to come from Almeida, too, and he will hope to make the step up to senior international football for Portugal, having won a total of 50 caps at youth team level for his country across seven different age groups in the past.

Contact made: European club make move to sign £10,000-a-week Wolves player

He’s attracted plenty of interest this summer…

ByTom Cunningham Aug 5, 2024

Playing for Wolves could only help in that respect, with the magnitude of the Premier League exposing him to a wider audience, as O'Neil eyes him as an ideal addition in the middle of the park.

Ipswich Town hadn’t been blown away in any Premier League contest to date, with valiant displays against the likes of Aston Villa and Fulham sticking out, until their visit to West Ham United this weekend.

The Hammers, who went into this game on a poor run of form under new boss Julen Lopetegui, ended up just brushing the Tractor Boys aside, as Kieran McKenna’s side fell victim to a 4-1 bruising on their travels to London.

The popular Ipswich boss will have plenty to ponder concerning his troops after this collapse on the road, mainly whether or not he should persist with Kalvin Phillips in the middle of the park, who struggled against his former loan employers.

Phillips' performance in numbers

It was always going to be a big risk bringing the Manchester City flop in and expecting him to instantly set the world alight considering how poor he was for West Ham last season.

Phillips must have felt charitable coming up against some familiar faces this weekend, with the ex-Leeds United man inexplicably surrendering the ball within the first minute, which then allowed Michail Antonio to find the back of the net.

Moreover, after some horrible play out from the back presented an opportunity for Jarrod Bowen to run at the Tractor Boys’ defence early in the second 45 minutes, the brand new Ipswich number eight just couldn’t get tight to the ex-Hull City attacker who fired home a decisive strike to make it 3-1 on the day.

Phillips was hauled off the pitch late on consequently after failing to show to his former side his true self, as the 28-year-old continues to slip up when it comes to resurrecting his career.

Not many Ipswich players could hold their heads high after this humbling loss, in all fairness, with Omari Hutchinson notably poor too in attack for McKenna’s visitors.

Hutchinson's performance in numbers

Hutchinson isn’t quite living up to his summer price tag of £20m playing in the Premier League, after regularly coming up trumps for the Tractor Boys in the Championship.

The ex-Chelsea youngster only has a mere assist next to his name from seven top-flight games so far, with zero goals also a worrying number when looking at his output, and it was clear for all to see why he’s been so ineffective this season watching his display up against the free-flowing Hammers.

Minutes played

83

Goals

0

Assists

0

Touches

44

Accurate passes

21/26 (81%)

Possession lost

17x

Shots

0

Successful dribbles

3/4

Duels won

4/12

As much as Hutchinson would trouble the West Ham defence on occasion with a slaloming run, the 20-year-old lacked any end product to go with a mazey burst forward, with zero shots attempted on Alphonse Aréola’s goal.

He was also poor on the ball in patches of the contest, with the former Chelsea man squandering possession 17 times in total away at the London Stadium.

It would result in a low 5/10 match rating being dished out to Hutchinson come full-time by journalist Alex Jones, who was said he was given ‘little space’ by the Hammers defenders to strut his stuff.

McKenna will be tempted to rejig his attack now in an attempt to get more out of his underperforming number 20, with the 5 foot 9 trickster perhaps moved out to the wing – where he shone last season during his side’s promotion heroics.

He could, also, just be dropped, with Phillips no doubt worried about his starting spot too moving forward.

Hutchinson does have an audacious strike like the one above up his sleeve, but the top-flight is a different kettle of fish altogether from the Championship, as many of Ipswich players are now well aware of.

Ipswich must regret not signing £16m PL star who's better than Hutchinson

The exciting star would have been incredible under McKenna.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Oct 3, 2024

A new club have emerged in the race to sign an “excellent” Wolves player permanently in the summer transfer window, according to a fresh claim.

Wolves exit rumours emerge

Wanderers will be looking for plenty of incoming transfer business at the end of the season, but doubts surround the futures of several current players.

Matheus Cunha is the most high-profile Wolves hero who looks the most likely to move on this summer, with the Brazilian far from without suitors. A number of top clubs are keen on snapping him up, and Vitor Pereira will know that he has a battle on his hands to keep hold of him.

Elsewhere, Tommy Doyle has also been linked with leaving Molineux before next season gets underway, with journalist Graeme Bailey explaining the situation: “It seems Doyle is increasingly likely to go. There’s a lot of Championship interest in him, we’re going to see a fair few Championship players go, so there’s plenty of opportunities for quite a few teams [to sign him]. He’ll find a club, he’ll be alright, it’s just he’s not particularly suited to Vitor Pereira’s system, that’s just how it is.”

Fabio Silva is currently out on loan at Las Palmas and seemingly doesn’t have a long-term future, with prevuous suggeston they were ready to sell for £25m. Now, a new update has dropped regarding the Portuguese attacker, having reportedly held talks with Eintracht Frankfurt earlier this week.

"Excellent" £17m Wolves ace in talks to join new club

According to Sky Sports journalist Florian Plettenberg on X, VfL Wolfsburg have now held talks to sign Silva from Wolves this summer, providing competition for Frankfurt. Interestingly, Wolves’ asking price has dropped from £25m to £17m.

This summer definitely feels like the right time for Wolves to sell Silva, even though Stuart McCall hailed him during a loan stint at Scottish Premiership giants Rangers, saying:

“The one thing Silva has done well today, because he’s not been on the ball much, is his movement. It has been excellent. Lovely ball, really nice finish.”

As mentioned, the 22-year-old has been a huge disappointment for Wolves overall, scoring just five goals and registering only six assists in 72 appearances for Wanderers. Given the money they spent on him, that is a dismal return, and while he is still a young player, it is hard to see him ever being good enough for the Premier League.

Ivory Coast star likely to move in summer amid Everton and Wolves interest

Both sides are interested in bringing him to the Premier League.

BySean Markus Clifford Apr 19, 2025

If Wolves could get the £17m that they crave for Silva’s signature this summer, it could end up being seen as good business, even if it is a loss on what they paid Porto for him initially back in 2020.

Glasgow Rangers have identified their no.1 target for transfer deadline day as they look to round off a busy summer transfer window for Philippe Clement's side in strong fashion.

Rangers looking to end summer on a high

Ibrox chiefs have already welcomed eight new faces this summer, headed by Ousmane Diomande and centre-back Robin Propper, but there is still a desire to complete more business as they look to wrestle the Scottish Premiership title away from Celtic.

Rangers' Summer 2024 signings so far

Player

Fee (as per Transfermarkt)

Ousmane Diomande

€5m

Robin Propper

€3.2m

Hamza Igamane

€2.36m

Jefte

€800k

Valcav Cerny

Loan

Connor Barron

Free

Liam Kelly

Free

Clinton Nsiala

Free

Having dropped out of the Champions League in disappointing fashion to Dynamo Kyiv, there is less money available at Ibrox than might otherwise have been the case, and the club have already shelled out close to £10m including the loan fee required to bring winger Vaclav Cerny to Scotland, though a goal and an assist in just three outings suggests it has been money well spent.

Clement still expects more though. “I expect a busy week but more busy with incoming and a few outgoing," the Rangers boss revealed when asked about movement earlier in the week.

"I think the most important thing for every club is to get the right players in, to get the right quality. And everybody is in the club, I know, working really hard on that."

The Ibrox side have agreed a deal to sign defender Neraysho Kasanwirjo, according to reports in the Netherlands, with the move consisting of a loan move with an option to buy the player at the end of the campaign. Now, they are trying to use that same formula to pull off another deal before the window slams shut.

Rangers identify top priority signing

That comes as reports claim Rangers are trying to pull off a loan move to sign Nedim Bajrami, which would include an option to buy. According to The Daily Record, Bajrami is keen to move to Ibrox after suffering relegation from Serie A with Sassuolo last time out.

The midfielder still has three years left to run on his £24,000 a week deal with the Italian outfit, but has decided that a move to Scotland is his next target.

Rangers agree deal to sign £8,800-a-week ace in deadline-busting transfer

He will be able to cover several positions for Philippe Clement’s side.

ByBen Browning Aug 30, 2024

For their part, it is added that Rangers have made the Albanian their "top target" in the final hours of the transfer window, and are hoping that the loan-to-buy formula will prove tempting enough for Sassuolo to part ways with their midfielder.

Bajrami had started each of his side's first Serie B games, as well as starting in their Italian Cup win, but was an unused substitute for their most recent outing, which could suggest that a move could well be possible.

Should he arrive, the Albanian international could be another coup for the Glasgow giants and would round off a busy summer for Clement's side.

West Ham continue to dip into the market, with the striker position being a real position of interest this summer, as the Hammers look to address their goal-scoring woes from the number nine position, ahead of their 2024/25 Premier League campaign.

Jarrod Bowen was the first West Ham player to score 20+ goals in a season, in 19 years, despite being played out of position (as a striker) at times, due to a lack of centre-forward options. The last time a West Ham player hit 20+ in a season was 2004/05, when Teddy Sheringham and Marlon Harewood both achieved it.

Last season, West Ham's only out-and-out strikers were Michail Antonio and Danny Ings, who only managed eight in 62 appearances between them, totalling 2,798 minutes. Antonio scored seven of the eight goals, whilst Ings only managed one all season.

West Ham transfer news

According to some reports on social media, West Ham had been in talks with Chelsea over a potential loan deal for striker, Samu Omorodion. This could have come down to Chelsea landing long-term target, and Napoli striker, Victor Osimhen.

With Osimhen reportedly demanding to leave, being left out of the Napoli Coppa Italia squad at the weekend, and Chelsea still battling hard for his signature, it looked as though it could have opened the door for West Ham to strike a loan deal for the 20-year-old.

However, with his proposed move to Chelsea now 100% off according to brand new reports in the last 12 hours, reporter Fabrizio Romano has claimed that there is a chance he could join another team in the coming days.

Could that side be West Ham? There's already reported interest there so, speculatively, they could chance their arm before the window is done.

Omorodion made 36 appearances in all competitions for Alaves (and Atlético) last season, scoring nine goals, providing one assist, and totalling 2,096 minutes played.

Omorodion vs Fullkrug comparison

The 20-year-old Omorodion and the 31-year-old Fullkrug are at different stages of their careers, the latter producing a better output season in 2023/24, scoring 16 goals and providing ten assists for Dortmund.

However, Omorodion, who is described as a "monster in the making" by scout Jacek Kulig, missed the most big chances in La Liga last season, missing nine. Whilst this could be seen as a bad thing, the fact the 20-year-old is getting into these positions at such a high frequency shows his striking instincts and movement is at a top level already.

Goals

0.39

0.40

Assists

0.04

0.25

xG

0.52

0.48

Progressive Carries

1.35

0.76

Shots

3.02

2.34

Shots on Target

1.16

0.93

Shot-Creating Actions

1.49

2.52

Touches (Att Pen)

5.05

4.46

Successful Take-Ons

0.99

0.18

Aerials Won

2.75

3.49

Both strikers are big target men, who rank highly for aerials won per 90, Omorodion averaging 2.75, whilst Fullkrug averages 3.49. However, the way they go about using their physicality is slightly different.

Omorodion will often look to post up on a defender, use his body to back into the man, and win aerial duels off the spot, whereas Omorodion, whilst he can also use this "back down" technique, will often use clever movement, to then attack the ball and use his unbelievable physicality to win his duels.

The new Chelsea signing offers that slight bit of extra box presence, with 5.05 penalty area touches per 90, and also has a higher shot volume than Fullkrug. This allows him to produce slightly more xG per 90 (0.52 to Fullkrug's 0.48), which could lead to a bag full of goals if his composure and finishing goes up a level.

West Ham enquire about “special” star who could make Fullkrug unplayable

West Ham looking at winger to unlock Niclas Fullkrug

ByConnor Holden Aug 8, 2024

One of the biggest debates in English football is which club has the best academy. Manchester United’s esteemed Carrington academy is one that has produced some legendary players, and some of the Premier League’s top players at the moment revived their footballing education there.

Three of the most notable academy players currently on United’s books are Marcus Rashford, Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo. Rashford has represented the Red Devils on 402 occasions and has scored 131 times so far. Garnacho and Mainoo both won the FA Youth Cup in 2022 and just two years later were both goalscorers as United lifted the FA Cup at Wembley over Manchester City.

In fact, the Citizens are another academy that can boast some excellent products. The most notable two are Phil Foden and Cole Palmer. Both represented Pep Guardiola’s side, with Palmer now plying his trade at Chelsea and Foden still a key player at the club.

Two London academies, Chelsea’s Cobham and Arsenal’s Hale End, have also produced some excellent players. The best current examples include Mason Mount, a Cobham graduate, and Bukayo Saka, who came through at Hale End.

In total, United boast nine academy graduates in their squad. However, rumours have been circling this week that one of those could depart Old Trafford during the transfer window.

Man Utd academy graduate could leave

The Carrington graduate in question here is Scotland international Scott McTominay. The 27-year-old midfielder has played an important role under Erik ten Hag so far during his time as manager but could leave the club this summer.

According to CaughtOffside, the Red Devils could cash in on McTominay this summer. The report suggests that one club in England and another in Europe are interested in signing the Scot.

One is West Ham United, who are rumoured to be preparing to 'open talks again' for the United number 39. The club in Europe are believed to be Galatasaray, who would prefer a loan move for the midfielder.

Recently, their vice-president Ibrahim Hatipoglu confirmed the club’s interest, explaining that Galatasaray 'are interested in a player from the Premier League and Manchester United'.

McTominay’s transfer value in 2024

In 43 games in all competitions last season, McTominay found the back of the net on ten occasions, registering three assists along the way.

Premier League

32

1892

7

1

Champions League

6

502

2

1

FA Cup

5

381

1

1

In the words of Danny Murphy, he has been "a nightmare to play against" at times, scoring some vital strikes in 2023/24. That included two in stoppage time against Brentford to help United come from behind and win 2-1 and first-ever Champions League goal away to the club that now wishes to sign him, Galatasaray.

As a result, his transfer value has spiked considerably. According to reports, the Scotland international is now valued at £29m by his club. Interestingly, that is more than one of the Premier League’s most exciting midfielders Adam Wharton.

The young Crystal Palace midfielder is worth slightly less, at £17m as per Football Transfers, a few months on from when the Eagles signed him from Blackburn Rovers.

Why is this relevant? Well, the newly-capped England international has been linked with United in recent days and could coincidentally arrive as McTominay's dream replacement, sliding in alongside the equally as talented Kobbie Mainoo. The teenager is now valued at £20m by Football Transfers, although it's safe to say both players would fetch a bit more than that when accounting for inflation in the modern game.

Although Wharton would be a superb signing for the Red Devils, there is no doubting the unique profile that McTominay brings to the squad. Described as a "physical monster" by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, he's certainly more of a box-crasher, as evidenced by his goal tally for Ten Hag's side last term.

Despite that, selling him represents pure profit, given he is an academy graduate. That money could be reinvested into other areas of the squad – such as the Palace midfielder – who would better fit the manager's game model and ideas.

For a potential fee of around £29m, it is perhaps too good of a deal for United to turn down. There is no doubt that McTominay has been a wonderful servant to United, but his sale could help improve the squad for the season ahead. They have already struck gold by raising an academy graduate to regular first-team football but a big sale wouldn't go amiss.

Man Utd want "outstanding" England ace who could be their own Rice

Manchester United are focusing on midfield recruits.

ByMatt Dawson Jul 16, 2024

Everton manager Sean Dyche has already begun the summer transfer window by selling two players and releasing two.

Lewis Dobbin has joined Aston Villa, while defender Ben Godfrey has reached an agreement to join Atalanta for a fee in the region of £10m.

Combine these sales with the fact that Dele Alli and Andre Gomes have both been released, Dyche has slashed the wage bill considerably.

Could this mean he is about to delve into the market to sign some players ahead of next season?

Everton transfer news

According to a report from journalist Graeme Bailey earlier this week, Everton are interested in signing Peterborough United defender Ronnie Edwards during the current transfer window.

Newcastle United and Southampton are also keen on luring the youngster to the Premier League.

Sky Sports state that a transfer fee of around £10m could be more than enough to prise Edwards away from the Posh, who would be making a substantial profit on the centre-back.

With Godfrey leaving to move to Italy, there is a space for another defender in the Everton squad and a move for Edwards could see Dyche forget all about Godfrey, no doubt about that.

Ronnie Edward’s season in numbers

Football analyst H has lauded Edwards previously, claiming that he “will play for England one day” and his stats from last season suggest he is going right to the very top.

The 21-year-old made 55 appearances for his club last season, missing just one league match all campaign, showing a remarkable level of consistency as he came so close to leading his side back to the Championship via the playoffs.

Accurate passes per game

83.4

Total duels won per game

4.2

Possession lost per game

8.6

Clean sheets

13

Tackles per game

1.3

Interceptions per game

1

The Englishman shone among his teammates in the third tier, ranking third with regards to overall Sofascore rating (7.21), first for accurate passes per game (83.4), first for accurate long balls per game (6.9), and first for clearances per game (4.1), showing how important he was for the club.

Director of football at Peterborough, Barry Fry, has heaped plenty of praise on Edwards previously, saying: "Ronnie is a Rolls Royce. We knew that when we signed him.

"It’s no secret how highly Ronnie is rated by other clubs and by the England set up. We had 18 Premier League scouts watching him play for the under 23s at our stadium".

It will surely only be a matter of when and not if the youngster makes a move to the Premier League, and he has all the necessary tools to shine in the top flight.

Dyche should use the funds gained from the sale of Godfrey to bring Edwards to Merseyside, as the Toffees could be the ideal place for him to get regular first-team football in one of the best leagues on the continent.

Everton enquire about Branthwaite replacement who will "play for England"

He is wanted by a few clubs in the Premier League this summer

ByJoe Nuttall Jun 27, 2024

It was the best of times at Liverpool, for that opening month of action under Arne Slot. But the Reds faced a “reality check” against Nottingham Forest last weekend, said Virgil van Dijk, who lamented his team’s “unacceptable” Anfield defeat in the Premier League.

But there were always going to be peaks and valleys throughout the first phase of the new era, and the fanbase seems to have quickly forgotten that Liverpool stormed into a perfect start prior, thrashing Manchester United at Old Trafford before the international break.

Now, it’s Champions League time. It’s a fantastic time. The perfect time to put things right. Slot’s outfit has jetted off to the global hub of fashion and design in Italy’s vibrant city of Milan, though creativity will be reserved for the field against Paulo Fonseca’s AC Milan, who won 4-0 at the weekend in Serie A.

The weekend defeat was a blip, yes, but now we will see what Liverpool are made of. Can they bounce back? Will the Reds return to form and prove to supporters that they have what it takes to succeed in this post-Jurgen Klopp world?

Slot, it would seem, needs to rotate his line-up at the least.

Liverpool team news

Harvey Elliott fractured his foot and will miss out once again for Liverpool in Italy. It’s annoying, as the dynamic young playmaker would have featured tonight and indeed throughout the gruelling run of fixtures ahead.

17/09/24

AC Milan (A)

Champions League

21/09/24

Bournemouth (H)

Premier League

25/09/24

West Ham (H)

Carabao Cup

28/09/24

Wolves (A)

Premier League

02/10/24

Bologna (H)

Champions League

05/10/24

Crystal Palace (A)

Premier League

Liverpool have scarcely made any changes to their starting lineup across the opening four fixtures of the Premier League campaign, so it would be wise for Slot to ring the alterations here, with a Premier League bounceback against Bournemouth on Saturday imperative.

Federico Chiesa will be in the matchday squad for the first time since signing from Juventus in August, but the Dutch boss has admitted that “it would be a surprise” for the Italian to receive a starting berth.

He has, however, shed light on Alexis Mac Allister’s likely role, stating that the influential Argentine will start the affair but might not play the full 90 due to minute management.

This is crucial, and though Ryan Gravenberch will be hoping to reprise his role in a deeper-lying midfield position, Dominik Szoboszlai flattered to deceive against the Tricky Trees and should be dropped for this one.

Why Slot must drop Dominik Szoboszlai

Szoboszlai fizzled out last season after starting his Liverpool career with aplomb. There’s been a lot to like about him under Slot’s wing but The Athletic’s James Pearce has branded him as “wasteful” in crucial attacking moments and this is a sentiment that would be echoed by the lion’s share of the fanbase.

He just wasn’t at the races last time out. Slot bemoaned his side’s lack of control and Szoboszlai played into the chaos, losing possession 18 times and committing three fouls, as per Sofascore, which inhibited Liverpool in their (unsuccessful) efforts to assert their authority and dominance.

AC Milan will bring a wholly different test to the table, playing a high-pressing game that will seek to overpower Liverpool’s passing passages. Fonseca has had something of an indifferent start to life at the club after joining this summer but he plays expansively and attractively.

Liverpool have to implement Slot’s plans to the perfect level, and in order to achieve this, Szoboszlai needs to be dropped.

The player to replace Szoboszlai

hailed for his “truly special” skill set by one eagle-eyed analyst, Curtis Jones should step in, with the Scouse-born midfielder boasting the perfect skillset for tonight’s clash.

Jones has endured a frustrating 2024 so far. The 23-year-old entered the field for the final stretch against Nottingham Forest in what was his competitive debut under Slot’s guidance, having been set back by injury throughout August.

He’s perfect for the new Reds style though. Jones would offer far more control and fluency in the middle of the park against a raucous San Siro home side.

As per FBref, Jones ranks among the top 7% of midfielders across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for pass completion, the top 7% for progressive carries, the top 8% for successful take-ons, the top 10% for blocks and the top 15% for assists per 90.

He’s robust and technically sound, with a passing game that really highlights his skill and intelligence in shipping through the ball and retaining possession when Liverpool need to slow the tempo down. Think of him as a metronome. It’s no wonder Slot admires him so.

Not only is he an uunerring distributor, but Jones is also athletic and enjoyed bombing forward to stretch lines and shift into the attacking line, as evidenced by his progressing carrying and ability to tae on defenders with the ball.

This would be perfect for Mac Allister, who will sit deeper and dictate Liverpool’s play. The former Brighton star has been quietly spectacular so far this term, completing 88% of his passes in the Premier League and winning 2.3 tackles, 5.3 duels and averaging 5.5 ball recoveries per game.

He does the nitty gritty bits so well, and will prove to enable the prospective success of Jones under the European lights tonight.

Liverpool need to start their Champions League campaign on strong footing, and putting Jones into the starting mix could be key to doing exactly that.

Liverpool man sold by Klopp for just £4.3m is currently outperforming Salah

Liverpool fans will be surprised to hear how well this dud is now doing.

ByKelan Sarson Sep 16, 2024

Ipswich Town fans would have filtered out of Portman Road extremely proud of their side's efforts against Liverpool, battling away valiantly with Arne Slot's Reds for the most part, before the away team's eventual class shone through.

A killer pass from Trent Alexander-Arnold deep into the second 45 minutes would allow Mohamed Salah the freedom to pick out Diogo Jota for the opening strike before the Egyptian star took over proceedings himself and sealed the three points by cooly slotting home for 2-0.

Still, there will be plenty of positive takeaways for Kieran McKenna's men to latch onto, even if their display going forward lacked bite, with a paltry two shots on target managed.

Therefore, even more firepower could soon enter through the door at Portman Road, to complement the likes of Sammie Szmodics.

Ipswich targeting swoop for Premier League attacker

Reports emerged from journalist Stuart Watson last week that Ipswich are keen on adding Armando Broja to their Premier League attacking arsenal this transfer window after barely threatening Allisson's goal in the 2-0 defeat.

Linked with various different clubs this summer, including the likes of Gary O'Neil's Wolverhampton Wanderers, Ipswich will hope they can race to the front of the queue to pick up the Albania international, especially when you cast an eye over Liam Delap's forgettable debut up top.

What Broja can offer Ipswich

Only managing to register 21 touches of the ball against the Reds, Delap's place could be threatened by the arrival of the 6 foot 3 attacker, who was even out with his underdog nation at the Euros recently.

Valued at £30m, this would likely be a loan switch initially – according to Watson – with money already lavishly spent at Portman Road this window, in the form of Sammie Szmodics and other major new recruits.

If Szmodics can worm his way into McKenna's main XI, in front of first-team stalwart Conor Chaplin, he could well strike up a terrifying attacking duo with Broja, who will want to get back to his best in Suffolk.

Ipswich won't want to take too much notice of Broja's last loan spell in the top division, with the towering 22-year-old routinely firing blanks for Fulham last campaign, managing zero goals from just eight games at Craven Cottage.

Instead, McKenna and Co will hope he can get back to firing on all cylinders like he has managed in the past for Southampton and Vitesse away from Stamford Bridge, with nine strikes registered from 38 clashes in all competitions for the Saints, when they were in the top-flight during the 2021/22 season.

Games played

32

44

Goals scored

6

27

Assists

0

4

Shots per game

1.4

3.3

Big chances missed

5

17

Big chances created

2

7

Away from obviously offering Ipswich more of a goal threat in the top league, with a golden boot next to his name in the Championship off his exploits last season, Szmodics could also turn Broja into more of a clinical finisher in the process.

With seven big chances and four assists created last campaign, the Republic of Ireland international might well take a back-seat in the Premier League as the main source of goals (he scored 27 last season) for the Tractor Boys and become a bigger creative spark.

He'll know he doesn't have to step up and be the sole hero anymore, away from an environment where Blackburn Rovers were going through desperate times.

The likes of George Hirst, who only bagged seven strikes last campaign amidst an injury-ravaged time in the 25-year-old's career, shone without ever being that deadly centre-forward, which could see Broja equally come into his own as a result, linking up with faces such as ex-Chelsea teammate Omari Hutchinson.

Labelled as "unique" in the past by football scout Antonio Mango, it's make-or-break time for the Albanian in terms of his stuttering career, with McKenna potentially the perfect manager to raise his confidence again.

Imagine him & Phillips: Ipswich close to signing another “exciting” CM

Kieran McKenna is continuing to strengthen his Ipswich Town side ahead of the Premier League kicking off.

ByKelan Sarson Aug 16, 2024