All posts by z3u9t.icu

The summer transfer window officially opened for business earlier this month and Newcastle United have completed two incoming signings already.

Lewis Hall has joined on a permanent deal from Chelsea after his initial loan spell and Lloyd Kelly has agreed to join on a free transfer from Bournemouth, once his contract with the Cherries expires at the end of this month.

Eddie Howe and his team now have around two months left to complete any more business that they would like to do to bolster the squad ahead of the 2024/25 campaign.

Newcastle will not be competing in any European competitions next season and, as a result, may want to carry a smaller squad to concentrate on the Premier League.

Despite that, the Magpies must opt to replace centre-forward Callum Wilson if they decide to cash in on him before the end of the summer transfer window.

The club have already been linked with moves for Serhou Guirassy and Dominic Calvert-Lewin this month but they are now reportedly eyeing one of the stars of the 2024 Euros.

Newcastle eyeing up Euros sensation

According to Football Insider, the Magpies are considering a swoop to sign FC Metz centre-forward Georges Mikautadze to bolster their frontline.

The report claims that Newcastle, Borussia Dortmund, Marseille, Napoli, Lyon, and Monaco are among a clutch of clubs interested in snapping up the Georgia international this summer.

Metz only just signed the striker on a permanent deal after he had spent the second half of last term on loan from Dutch giants Ajax, but they are prepared to instantly cash in on him.

Football Insider reveals that the Ligue 2 outfit are willing to sell the impressive marksman for a fee of around £21m, after they were relegated from Ligue 1 at the end of last season.

Newcastle may need to move quickly to beat off competition from other teams, though, as Fabrizio Romano has provided an update on Monaco's pursuit of the forward.

The Italian journalist claims that the Ligue 1 side have agreed personal terms with the young star and have sent an offer in with the hope of agreeing a deal with his club, as they would like to wrap up a move before the end of the Euros this summer.

Howe and his staff must now swoop in to get a deal over the line before Monaco can sign him as he could come in as an upgrade on Wilson for the Magpies ahead of the 2024/25 campaign.

Callum Wilson's uncertain future at Newcastle

TEAMtalk recently reported that the club are 'keen' to sell Wilson as they are 'under pressure' to generate funds this summer for financial reasons.

The outlet claimed that teams from England, Germany, and Saudi Arabia are all interested in a possible deal to sign the England international.

It stated that they hope to rake in a 'decent' fee for his services, although it remains to be seen exactly what that means, and that Howe is prepared to allow him to leave.

TEAMtalk added that the Magpies have already had preliminary discussions with teams, including some from the Saudi Pro League, but nothing has been agreed as of yet.

Moving him on this summer could be a shrewd decision due to his contract situation and his unreliable fitness record during his time at St. James' Park.

He only has one year left to run on his current deal on Tyneside and this window could be their last chance to recoup some money for him, rather than allowing the striker to leave for nothing next year.

2020/21

4

18

2021/22

2

30

2022/23

2

9

2023/24

5

28

As you can see in the table above, Wilson has also missed 18 or more matches in all competitions in three of his four seasons at Newcastle since his move from Bournemouth in 2020.

The 32-year-old striker was absent with hamstring, calf, and chest injuries during the 2023/24 campaign, which caused him to miss 28 games, which limited the impact he could have on the pitch for Howe.

Given his age, consistent injury issues, and contract situation, this appears to be the perfect time for Newcastle to sell Wilson, and Mikautadze could come in as an upgrade on the former Cherries star next season.

Why Newcastle should sign Georges Mikautadze

Firstly, the 23-year-old marksman is currently flying at the European Championship in Germany with Georgia, which means that he would arrive at St. James' Park on a high.

The Euros sensation has scored three goals from 2.26 xG and created two 'big chances' for his teammates, to go along with 1.7 key passes per game, in just three appearances in the tournament so far.

His impressive start to the competition is not a flash in the pan for the Georgian ace, however, as he was also on fire in Ligue 1 for Metz this year, after the Magpies target had only played six Eredivisie games for Ajax during the first half of the campaign.

Appearances

20

20

xG

9.54

8.87

Goals

13

9

xG differential

+4.46

+0.13

Assists

4

1

Key passes per game

1.1

0.4

As you can see in the table above, Mikautadze outperformed Wilson in the final third with significantly better finishing and far more creativity for his teammates, as he scored over four more than expected based on xG.

The £21m-rated star also completed 2.1 dribbles per game in Ligue 1, compared to the Englishman's 0.7 in the Premier League, and this suggests that his ability to beat defenders in transition or to open up space in a low block could be very useful to Newcastle.

Mikautadze, who was once dubbed "deadly" by manager Laszlo Bolini, also fired in a staggering 23 goals in 35 starts in Ligue 2 during the 2022/23 campaign, which shows that the forward has consistently scored goals at an impressive rate over a significant period of time.

Newcastle make approach for £40m dream Botman partner

He used to play in the Premier League

ByJoe Nuttall Jun 28, 2024

The Georgia international appears to have the quality, as a finisher, creator, and dribbler, to be an upgrade on Wilson for Newcastle, whilst also having the potential to develop further at the age of 23, and that is why Howe must swoop to sign him this summer.

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.

Manchester City have now made contact over a deal for a 58-cap international, who is able to play in a number of positions.

Man City looking to increase squad depth after Bayer Leverkusen defeat

Pep Guardiola clearly had a lot of faith in some of his back-up options heading into the Champions League tie against Bayer Leverkusen, having made ten changes to his starting XI, but his side came up short in a 2-0 defeat.

The Spaniard has since admitted he probably made too many alterations, saying: “I always had the belief of the long season and everyone had to be involved but maybe it was too much. They played not to make mistakes instead of doing what we had to do.

“It was not the performance that we thought. I take full responsibility. We missed something. We missed an incredible opportunity and now we need to fight in the next games.”

Despite limiting the German side to an xG of just 0.51, the Blues conceded two goals for the second game on the spin, and having kept one clean sheet in their last seven games, they have now joined the race for a new defender.

That is according to a report from TEAMtalk, which states Man City have now made contact over a deal for versatile AS Roma defender Zeki Celik, who is able to play as a wing-back, full-back and at centre-back.

Celik could be available for a bargain fee in the January transfer window, given that his contract is set to expire at the end of the season, but if the Italian club are unwilling to sanction a departure, City could wait to snap him up on a free next summer.

Worse than Savinho: Man City star is in danger of becoming another Grealish

This Manchester City star is in danger of becoming the next Jack Grealish after another off-performance versus Bayer Leverkusen.

2 ByKelan Sarson Nov 26, 2025

There may be competition for the defender’s signature from a plethora of rival Premier League clubs, however, with Manchester United, Arsenal, Liverpool and Chelsea also making enquiries of their own.

"Perfect player" Celik impressing for club and country

The 58-cap Turkey international was recently lauded by national team manager Vincenzo Montella, who said: “He’s the perfect player for any coach,”

“Celik is professional, reliable, does his job wherever you play him. In a locker room it is always needed to have guys like him.”

The 28-year-old has also put in some impressive performances for AS Roma as of late, recently scoring and recording a 95% pass-completion rate in his side’s 2-0 victory over Udinese, with the latter statistic indicating he could be ideal in a Pep system.

As such, Celik could be a solid addition to the Man City squad, particularly on a free transfer, with Guardiola clearly keen on bolstering his options at full-back, given that a Bundesliga star has also been identified as a potential target…

The future is looking incredibly bright for Crystal Palace at the moment.

Following the arrival of Oliver Glasner last season, the Eagles have become one of the most entertaining teams to watch in the country, but with the transfer window now open, Steve Parish and Co have to do all they can to keep a hold of their star players while also adding a few more.

Unfortunately, Marc Guehi, following his impressive Euros showing, has been one of the latest names touted for an exit from Selhurst Park.

However, while losing the Englishman would be far from ideal, reports have revealed that they may be able to bring in the perfect replacement.

Crystal Palace transfer news

Alongside Guehi, Michael Olise has been heavily touted for a move away from South London over the last few weeks, and according to a report from The Sun earlier this week, Chelsea could offer defender Trevoh Chalobah as part of a player plus cash deal.

With the Frenchman's exit looking increasingly likely as more and more teams get linked to him, securing a reasonable fee and a player of Chalobah's quality simultaneously seems like a no-brainer.

Especially as TEAMtalk revealed that the South Londoners were interested in him earlier this year and the Telegraph reported that the Blues value him at £25m last month.

In all, it might not be the most exciting development for fans, but if Guehi and Olise leave the club this summer, bringing in a player of Chalobah's quality alongside a hefty pile of cash seems like a smart move.

How Chalobah compares to Guehi

Now, replacing Guehi at Palace is no small task, but luckily for Glasner and Co, Chalobah looks like a player who could take that task on.

Like the England star, the Chelsea ace is a right-footed centre-back and is just one year older at 24. However, one of the first apparent differences between the pair is that he is 6 foot 4 tall, whereas the man he could replace is just 6 feet.

While shorter defenders can occasionally be more effective than their taller teammates and rivals – just look at Lisandro Martínez – it is always a bonus when a centre-back can tower over most attackers.

Aside from their physical attributes, how do the pair stack up when you look at their underlying numbers?

Well, somewhat surprisingly, the Chelsea ace doesn't just hold his own, but he actually comes out ahead in most metrics.

Non-Penalty Expected Goals + Assists

0.02

0.05

Non-Penalty Goals

0.09

0.00

Progressive Passes

2.92

2.98

Progressive Passes Received

0.85

0.31

Shots

0.19

0.22

Goals per Shot

0.50

0.00

Shots on Target

0.19

0.00

Passing Accuracy

89.4%

86.9%

Live Passes

70.4

55.6

Tackles

1.51

1.24

Tackles Won

1.13

0.84

Blocks

0.75

0.98

Interceptions

0.75

0.80

Clearances

4.81

3.96

Ball Recoveries

4.34

5.33

Aerial Duels Won

1.79

1.29

For example, the Blues "monster", as dubbed by talent scout Jacek Kulig, scored more non-penalty goals, received more progressive passes, took more shots on target and scored more goals per shot, made substantially more live passes while maintaining better-passing accuracy, made and won more tackles, won more aerial duels and made more clearances, all per 90.

In his defence, the Eagles' star produces a higher non-penalty expected goal and assists figure, produces more progressive passes, takes more shots, makes more blocks and interceptions, and completes more ball recoveries, but that's it.

Now, if Chalobah played an entire season of first-team football at Selhurst Park, his underlying numbers would probably come down slightly, but they're undeniably impressive and suggest that he'd be a brilliant Guehi replacement for Glasner.

Therefore, even if the club don't sell Olise, they should look to sign the Chelsea defender anyway this summer. He looks that good.

Crystal Palace eyeing "special" £21m Olise replacement

Bringing the “special” talent to Selhurst Park could prove to be shrewd business.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Jun 18, 2024

Everton are planning a new approach for an "amazing" Premier League player in the coming days, according to a new transfer update.

Everton transfer news

The Blues have been backed to sign plenty of players in the summer transfer window, having already completed some effective pieces of business. Iliman Ndiaye has come in from Marseille, while Aston Villa midfielder Tim Iroegbunam has also completed a move to Goodison Park.

In terms of other potential new signings, Leeds United winger Wilfried Gnonto has been mentioned as a strong target for Everton, with the Italian someone who could dovetail nicely with Jesper Lindstrom, who has joined on loan from Napoli until the end of the season.

Lyon and Republic of Ireland centre-back Jake O'Brien is another target reportedly close to joining the Merseysiders. The 23-year-old is an impressive young defender who started 27 matches in Ligue 1 last term, scoring four goals and registering two assists for good measure.

Another target is believed to be Juventus striker Arkadiusz Milik, who has proven himself at the top level for a sustained period of time, scoring 17 goals in 73 caps for Poland. At 30, he isn't getting younger, but he has shown what a force he can be in front of goal and could give Sean Dyche the extra firepower that he craves.

Everton plan new approach for "amazing" ace

According to a new update from CaughtOffside, Everton are now planning a fresh approach for Chelsea striker Armando Broja this summer.

This report also states that the Albania international is "still waiting to see if AC Milan make a move in the final part of the transfer window", adding that "Brentford could also look to do business for him".

Broja arguably hasn't quite reached his potential as a footballer considering how highly rated he has been since a young age, with former Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino saying of him last season:

"The potential is amazing. We’re talking about one of the young strikers in England and in Europe with [the] most potential. But the problem now is he needs to push himself, and we’re going to try to help him to realise that never it is enough."

The Albanian has been around for some time, but it is easy to forget how young the £40,000-a-week Broja still is at 22, and there is no doubt that he is a hugely talented player with an eye for goal, having netted 16 times in 35 appearances for Chelsea's Under-18s during his teenage years, and also finding the net five times for his country to date.

Dyche already has an upgrade on £50k-p/w Everton star who could be sold

The Toffees are still looking to offload numerous first-team players.

ByEthan Lamb Jul 27, 2024

With Dominic Calvert-Lewin's Everton future up in the air amid interest from other clubs, the Chelsea attacker could be an intriguing replacement for the Englishman, coming in as a player who is still raw, but someone who is capable of finding further levels in the coming years.

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.

Just 12 days away from transfer deadline day, Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly preparing an offer to sign a defensive reinforcement who would be their sixth signing of the summer.

Tottenham transfer news

It looked for some time as though Spurs' transfer window was going to be one focused on the future rather than welcoming the marquee signing that they arguably so desperately needed. Dominic Solanke's arrival has since ticked that box, however, with the Lilywhites finally getting their replacement for Harry Kane a year on from his departure to Bayern Munich.

The north London club have since followed that up with another attacking arrival too, signing Wilson Odobert from Burnley, who stood out despite suffering relegation with Burnley last season.

The winger expressed his delight over the move, telling the club's official media channels via Football London: "First and foremost Tottenham is a big club and it's hugely ambitious too. I think the club and myself share the same ambitions, we're pretty much on the same wavelength.

"I've got a decent amount of pace. I like to take people on in one-on-one situations and dribble, I like to get on the ball and have plenty of touches. I like to bring other in, to entertain and at the same time enjoy my football too. I really feel I'll be part of a great project here which enjoys fantastic support and a superb stadium."

Tottenham make approach for "exciting" forward alongside £25m Odobert

Spurs announced the latter’s signing in very sudden fashion on Friday.

ByEmilio Galantini Aug 17, 2024

Now, having strengthened in attack, the Lilywhites have reportedly turned their attention towards their backline. According to journalist Bruno Andrade, Spurs are preparing an offer to sign Vanderson worth €32m (£27m) plus add-ons, with talks ongoing between themselves and AS Monaco.

The right-back would likely arrive to replace Emerson Royal, who recently left for AC Milan, in a move that could also give Spurs fans a hint that Archie Gray will be seen as a midfielder rather than a right-back under Ange Postecoglou.

"Obscene" Vanderson can provide backup for Porro

There's no doubt that the right-back spot is Pedro Porro's to lose in North London, but those in north London saw just how big a drop-off in quality their side suffered whenever the Spaniard was unavailable. By signing Vanderson, that problem could be solved. The Brazilian, still just 23 years old, has impressed during his time at Monaco.

Assists

1

7

Key Passes P90

1.04

1.49

Tackles Won P90

2.25

1.84

Ball Recoveries P90

6.92

5.80

Minutes

1,641

3,089

Whilst Vanderson struggled to produce the same impressive output as Porro, he excelled off the ball when winning back possession, which is a vital trait for a potential Postecoglou player to have in abundance.

Praised for his "obscene pace" by U23 scout Antonio Mango, the Monaco right-back could yet be on his way to the Premier League in the final two weeks of the transfer window. Replacing Royal with the 23-year-old would certainly be solid business in North London, particularly if Spurs can land Vanderson for a reported £27m this summer.

Perhaps the best January signing Manchester United have ever made was a deal to bring Bruno Fernandes to Old Trafford. He signed from Sporting CP for upwards of £67.7m including add-ons, the fifth most expensive January deal of all time.

Fernandes’ impact on the club has been unfathomable. He is the United captain and has played 268 times for the club. In that time, he has scored 88 goals and registered 77 assists, a remarkable record.

Perhaps United’s most recent reported January target can have the same impact as their Portuguese Magnifico.

Man Utd's search for a striker

The player in question here is Juventus forward Dusan Vlahovic. According to a report from Graeme Bailey, the Red Devils are thought to have enquired about his current ‘situation at Juventus’, and could pursue a late move.

They will face competition from some big Premier League rivals. North Londoners Arsenal and top four contenders Aston Villa have also asked Juve about the striker’s situation. Given it seems unlikely he will sign a new deal, there is a chance they could bring him in.

Why Vlahovic would be a good signing

Despite a lack of opportunities under Juventus manager Thiago Motta, Vlahoivc has still been in impressive form during the 2024/25 campaign. He has played 28 games so far this term and has 13 goals and two assists in that time.

Perhaps the striker’s most significant contribution this campaign came against Manchester City in the Champions League. He scored one goal in Juve’s 2-0 win over the Premier League champions. It is certainly a strike that will resonate with the Red Devils fans.

Should United get a deal for the Serbian “monster” – as hailed by analyst Ben Mattinson – over the line, he could be a perfect alternative signing to Bayern Munich attacker Mathys Tel. The Frenchman seems unlikely to make the move to Old Trafford, according to Jamie Jackson.

Now, there is no doubt that Vlahovic and Tel are slightly different players. The Juve man is an out-and-out centre-forward, whereas Tel is more versatile and can play up front or out on the wing.

However, United need goals at the minute, so it is surely not much of an issue for the Red Devils. In fact, to get an idea of how good of an alternative Tel would be to Vlahovic, you can compare them statistically on FBref.

Using data from the past two domestic top-flight seasons in Italy and Germany respectively, Vlahovic’s natural striker instinct shines through, as shown by his expected goals tally of 0.65xG compared to just 0.31xG for Tel.

Furthermore, the Serbian international is someone who can bring teammates into the game and actually averages 0.93 key passes per 90 minutes over the past two seasons. That is slightly more than Tel, who plays 0.9 key passes per game.

Stat (per 90)

Vlahvoic

Tel

Expected goals

0.65xG

0.31xG

Goals per shot on target

0.35

0.33

Goals

0.59

0.48

Shot-creating actions

2.53

3.38

Key passes

0.93

0.9

Signing Vlahoivc could be the perfect alternative move to Tel. The Frenchman seems unattainable for United now, but the chance to sign Vlahovic, a “deadly” striker as Mattinson described him, might be too good to be true.

This could be United’s dream signing, and perhaps end up being their best January addition since Fernandes five years ago.

The next Martial: INEOS continue Man Utd talks for "very special" signing

Man United need to add some attacking depth

ByJoe Nuttall Feb 3, 2025

Leeds United are back in action in the Championship this evening as they prepare to travel to Turf Moor to take on Burnley in a huge clash at the top of the table.

Defeat for the Whites in Lancashire will see their opponents move level on points with them in the division, although it would take a four-goal or higher victory for the Clarets to put them on top due to goal difference.

A win for Daniel Farke’s men would place them four points clear of Sheffield United, who lost 3-0 to Hull City on Friday night, in second place, leaving them in a great position in the race for automatic promotion.

The West Yorkshire outfit beat Norwich City 2-0 in their last match at Elland Road, thanks to goals from Manor Solomon and Dan James, and it is fair to say that scoring goals has not been a huge problem for Leeds.

They are the top scorers in the division, with 53 goals, but Farke is still keen to add more attacking quality to the group, with a reported interest in Emiliano Buendia, but they look set to miss out on the midfield magician…

Why Leeds could miss out on Emi Buendia

Firstly, it was recently reported that Leeds are playing the long game with the Argentina international and have been hoping that the later it gets in the window the bigger chance they have to sign him.

A transfer that would comprise of an initial loan move from Aston Villa with an obligation to make it permanent upon promotion to the Premier League has been touted for the former Norwich City star.

Buendia scored 15 goals and provided 16 assists in 39 Championship appearances in the 2020/21 campaign under Farke, which was their last season working together, to win the league title.

The German head coach may want to work with the Argentine talent again with the hope that he can get back to that form, although the winger was out for almost a year with an ACL injury and only returned last August, which means that it may take time to get back to his best.

Leeds, however, may not have to worry about whether or not Buendia can get back to his best because interest from a Champions League side has emerged.

Sky Sports journalist Florian Plettenberg has claimed that Bayer Leverkusen, who won the Bundesliga title last season, are exploring a deal to sign the midfielder, and are interested in an initial loan with an option to make it permanent in the summer.

It could be incredibly difficult for Leeds to convince the 28-year-old ace to turn down interest from a Champions League and Bundesliga side, competing for major trophies, to return to the Championship, which is why they look set to miss out on his signature as it stands.

If that turns out to be the case and Leverkusen secure a deal for Buendia ahead of Leeds, Farke could move on from his former sensation in a late swoop for Aston Villa starlet Louie Barry.

Leeds United's interest in Louie Barry

The 21-year-old forward is set to leave the Premier League side on loan before the end of the January transfer window. Unai Emery recently confirmed that their plan is to tie him down to a new contract before sending him out on loan for the second half of the season.

Transfer Focus

Leeds, Sheffield Wednesday, and Middlesbrough have all been linked with an interest in the former Stockport County loanee, as they look to bolster their respective attacks.

Scottish giants Celtic were interested in a permanent deal for the English winger and saw an offer of £10m turned down by Aston Villa earlier this month, leaving them out of the race for his signature.

Emery’s confirmation that the forward will be leaving on loan before February’s deadline will come as a boost to Leeds, Wednesday, and Middlesbrough, although Boro completed a deal to sign Morgan Whittaker from Plymouth Argyle last week, so it remains to be seen whether or not they are still in the market for a winger.

Why Louie Barry could be a good signing for Leeds

If the West Yorkshire outfit can win the race for Barry’s signature in the next week or so, Farke can forget about Buendia by signing another supremely talented attacker.

The Argentine winger has failed to provide a goal or an assist in 11 Premier League matches so far this season, which suggests that the Whites would not have been signing the same player who was in the form of his life for the German in the past.

Whereas, Barry is coming off the back of an incredible time on loan with Stockport County in League One. Albeit at a lower level, he is a player full of confidence and could step straight into a thriving Leeds team to hit the ground running, which may not have been the case with a low-on-confidence Buendia.

The English ace, who was once hailed as having “incredible” composure by Declan Rice, scored nine goals and provided four assists in 17 starts in League Two in the second half of last season with Stockport, and made the step up to the third tier this term.

Appearances

23

Goals

15

Big chances missed

6

Big chances created

5

Assists

2

As you can see in the table above, Barry racked up 20 goals and ‘big chances’ created in 23 appearances in League One, which shows that he can adapt his game to higher levels, going from League Two to League One.

He has scored five more goals than any other Leeds player at league level this season, with Joel Piroe currently leading the way for the Whites with ten, which suggests that he has the potential to provide a big goal threat in the second half of the season.

Whilst he has not enjoyed a Championship season as successful as Buendia’s 2020/21 campaign, Barry is an in-form player who could come in and hit the ground running and that is why Farke could move on from the Aston Villa outcast by signing his teammate.

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Football’s back for those of a Liverpool persuasion, and it’s a big one at that.

Having sat out last weekend due to an early exit from the FA Cup, Arne Slot’s Liverpool return to action in the Premier League as they host resurgent Everton.

The international break is typically a gruelling thing, stunting progress and halting anticipation as teams fight for their respective goals. Liverpool, however, may have found the sojourn to have been a blessing, falling in the Champions League before losing the Carabao Cup final against Newcastle United.

Ah well, there’s always next season – for those honours, anyway. Liverpool are still hunting down the Premier League title, 12 points clear of second-place Arsenal with nine matches to play.

Everton have been reborn under David Moyes’ wing, the Scotsman replacing Sean Dyche in January and crafting a nine-match unbeaten run after losing his league opener to Aston Villa at Goodison Park.

24/25

Goodison Park

2-2 draw

23/24

Goodison Park

2-0 loss

23/24

Anfield

2-0 win

22/23

Anfield

2-0 win

22/23

Goodison Park

0-0 draw

Everton’s patch of Merseyside was left giddy, exalted, after James Tarkowski hit parity in the dying embers last month, but Slot will hope for a different outcome here as his side look to end their dip in form across recent matches.

Liverpool team news

Trent Alexander-Arnold, who looks set to join Real Madrid when his contract expires this summer, is still sidelined after injuring his ankle against Paris Saint-Germain.

Compounding the issue, Conor Bradley is not quite ready to return to the starting line-up after his period of convalescence; with Joe Gomez also out, Slot is likely to pick Jarell Quansah to deputise at right-back once again.

Ryan Gravenberch and Alisson Becker, however, are both expected to be fit following respective scares for their nations over the past two weeks.

This is all well and good, but Liverpool’s recent issues derive from a dried-up pool of attacking fluency. Indeed, Liverpool have been a day late and a dollar short of late, and fans online have been murmuring about freshening things up with a tactical tweak to the frontline.

However, Federico Chiesa may not be the answer for this one, not in Slot’s mind.

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Liverpool struggled to get going at Wembley, but it was substitute Chiesa who latched onto Harvey Elliott’s tidy through ball in stoppage time to spark fleeting hopes of a comeback.

But Liverpool failed to stage the desired response; time had been exhausted. Chiesa, however, did show off a glimpse of the quality that prompted the Anfield side to pay Juventus for him back in August, a quality that is illuminated given the ongoing profligacy of Darwin Nunez, Diogo Jota and Luis Diaz.

The international break will hopefully have served as a reset button for the wasteful bunch, but it more importantly means a fully-fit Cody Gakpo is ready to return from Netherlands duty brim-full, having only just returned from injury before the break and indeed last starting a Premier League fixture in mid-February.

It’s been a big blow for the Merseysiders, for Gakpo has been in fine fettle this season, scoring 16 goals and providing six assists across all competitions. The 25-year-old is currently level with last term’s haul, but he’s matched it in over 800 fewer minutes across all fronts.

Gakpo has to start against Everton, his clinical shooting giving rise to the success of his frontal peers. Diaz’s makeshift dynamism in a central striking role, for example, is heightened by the Dutchman’s presence, easing the goalscoring burden on Salah.

1.

Mohamed Salah

15

2.

Cody Gakpo

12

3.

Luis Diaz

7

4.

Diogo Jota

4

5.

Darwin Nunez

3

5=

Dominik Szoboszlai

3

5=

Alexis Mac Allister

3

The table above makes for somewhat grim reading, with Liverpool’s lopsided frontline clear through the shooting success clinched on home turf.

However, it does highlight Gakpo’s confidence on home soil, scoring three-quarters of his strikes this year at Anfield. Indeed, the Netherlands star has actually bagged in each of his past eight starts at Liverpool’s home ground.

His quality has been streamlined by Slot’s decision to field him in a more structured role off the left flank, as opposed to Jurgen Klopp’s choice of deploying across myriad points of the pitch.

This, of course, has meant Diaz’s qualities have been required in a more central position, but since Gakpo is now fit and ready to fire once more, would it really be wise to unleash Chiesa from the outset in an important derby fixture?

The stakes are high. With Arsenal narrowing the gap after beating Fulham, Liverpool cannot afford to fumble at this stage. The need for Chiesa’s finishing is effectively neutered by Gakpo’s return as he restores the balance and balance of potency up top.

The £120k-per-week Gakpo, after all, ranks among the top 4% of attacking midfielders and wingers in the Premier League this term for goals scored per 90 (0.51), as per FBref. It’s no wonder he’s been praised by Fabrizio Romano for “flying for Liverpool this season.”

Conversely, Chiesa has struggled to buy a game. Though he’s posted two goals and two assists apiece across 11 matches in all competitions – just three starts – Slot has thus far been unwilling to hand him any starting roles in the Premier League, and that’s not going to change in an important league fixture against heated rivals Everton, who are in hot form at that.

While we’d all like to see Liverpool’s nifty Italian earn some more action, it doesn’t feel probable that he will play from the opening bell in this one.

That said, if Gakpo can work toward establishing a healthy lead for Slot’s team, Chiesa could surely enter the fray in the second half – and with a point to prove.

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