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.

Chelsea spent €238.50m (£197.2m) in the 2024/25 summer transfer window, bringing ten new players to the club on permanent deals, and one player on an initial loan deal (Jadon Sancho). The investment was made in positions all over the pitch, signing two goalkeepers, four defenders, one midfielder, three attackers/wingers, and one centre-forward.

However, the one centre-forward signed was Marc Guiu, who joined from Barcelona for a fee of around £5m. The 18-year-old striker was bought as a future investment, and the Blues were looking at other strikers alongside him during the summer window, to join and compete with Nicolas Jackson upfront.

Chelsea have been linked with the likes of Jhon Duran, Victor Osimhen and Viktor Gyokeres in the recent past, but they could now dip into the January transfer market, and acquire their very own answer to Gyokeres, with this 18-year-old striker sensation.

Chelsea's search for a striker

According to reports from Patrick Berger (Sky Sports Germany), Chelsea are interested in signing FC Nurnberg striker, Stefanos Tzimas, who is also subject to interest from the likes of Aston Villa and Newcastle.

The report states the 18-year-old striker would likely cost around £18-19m. The Greek forward has made 14 appearances in all competitions this season for FC Nurnberg, scoring seven goals and providing two assists in 922 minutes played.

Talent scout Jacek Kulig labelled Tzimas a “natural-born killer” and a “true monster”, showing elite levels of clinical finishing since playing at professional level.

Equally, data analyst Ben Mattinson stated Sporting should be going after Tzimas as their “Gyokeres replacement”, showcasing the worthy rival the teenager could be to Jackson at Stamford Bridge.

Jackson vs Tzimas comparison

Jackson has made 16 appearances for the Blues this season, scoring nine goals, providing three assists and totalling 1,221 minutes played. The 23-year-old striker has become integral under Enzo Maresca, for both his in and out of possession qualities.

However, Chelsea are clearly looking for an alternative profile, in order to equip Maresca with the necessary tools to switch up in games, and apply all the tactical tweaks he wants in order to give his side the best possible chance of winning.

Stats (per 90 mins)

Jackson

Tzimas

Goals

0.69

0.69

Assists

0.23

0.10

xG

0.65

0.61

xAG

0.14

0.09

Progressive Carries

2.14

2.98

Progressive Passes

1.22

1.60

Shots Total

3.13

3.92

Goals/Shot

0.22

0.18

Key Passes

1.07

0.64

Shot-Creating Actions

2.67

2.66

Touches (Att Pen)

5.95

7.55

Aerial Duels Won

0.61

0.43

Tzimas is just 18 years old and already stands at 6 foot, with a stocky upper body frame. His ability to use his strength to bully defenders, gain touches in the opposition penalty area (7.55 per 90) and pin central defenders is something the Blues are looking for.

He is also believed to be still growing and developing, and is seen as a player with untapped aerial potential, despite only winning 0.43 aerial duels per 90.

Transfer Focus

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

What makes Jackson so important to this Chelsea side, is his ability to drop deep and link play, and by acquiring Tzimas, you gain a unique profile, who offers that physical frame and robust nature, whilst also having the quality to join in build-up, as demonstrated with his progressive passing and carrying metrics.

That no doubt mirrors the aforementioned Gyokeres – who averages 1.81 progressive passes and 4.20 progressive carries this season – with the prolific Swede also a towering presence at 6 foot 2, while boasting the clinical nature to match, after netting 61 goals in 2024 to date.

If the Blues were to sign Tzimas, Jackson would retain his number nine position which his performances have earned, whilst providing a new profile for the squad, one that is needed, and someone to compete with and push Jackson, challenging for minutes.

Sancho loves him: Maresca must now unleash Chelsea teen to replace Mudryk

Enzo Maresca already has the perfect Mudryk replacement with this Chelsea teenage sensation

ByConnor Holden Dec 17, 2024

Aston Villa are now keen on signing a £25m striker this January, with Unai Emery planning up to three signings, according to a report.

Mixed first half of the season at Villa Park

Villa fans will have mixed emotions about their side’s first half of the campaign, given that they are in a strong position to qualify for the next round of the Champions League, but are struggling to reach the heights of last season in the Premier League.

The Villans remain within touching distance of the top four, six points behind fourth-placed Chelsea, so there is still time to turn things around, but Emery may feel some new additions are needed in the January transfer window.

One potential option for Emery this winter is Paris Saint-Germain’s Milan Skriniar, with a price tag of €35m (£29m) being set by the French club, making the 29-year-old a relatively affordable option if Emery wants to pursue a defender.

However, the manager appears to be more keen on strengthening his attacking options, with Villa in the race for a number of forwards, including Atalanta’s Mateo Retegui and teammate Charles De Ketelaere, who operates in attacking midfield.

Now, another option has also entered the frame, with The Daily Mail reporting that Aston Villa have reignited their interest in Borussia Dortmund Donyell Malen ahead of the January transfer window.

The Villans are said to be keen on signing Malen, who can operate across the front line, with Emery keen to add depth to his squad as we enter the second half of the season.

Dortmund are said to value the Dutchman at around £25m, as he now enters the final 18 months of his contract with the Bundesliga club.

The report also states that Emery is planning up to three signings in the January transfer window, so there could be a number of new faces through the door over the next few weeks.

Aston Villa now plotting move to sign "aggressive" £46m forward for Emery

He’s enjoying an excellent season…

ByTom Cunningham Dec 28, 2024 Malen is a versatile option for Emery

The 25-year-old is capable of playing on both wings and through the middle, making him a versatile option for Emery, should he complete a move to Villa Park this winter.

Ever since breaking into the PSV Eindhoven team, the Netherlands international has shown a keen eye for finding the back of the net, as displayed by his goal record in the league.

Season

Appearances

Goals

2019-20

14

11

2020-21

32

19

2021-22

27

5

2022-23

26

9

2023-24

27

13

Lauded as “unstoppable” by football talent scout Jacek Kulig, the former PSV Eindhoven man ranks in the 99th percentile for non-penalty goals per 90 over the past year, highlighting his ability in front of goal.

Villa are not short on top strikers, with Ollie Watkins and Jhon Duran performing well this season, but Malen’s versatility and eye for goal could make him a great option for Emery, as he looks to get his side back on track in the second half of the campaign.

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.

After suffering a rather baffling 2-1 defeat at the hands of Ipswich, perhaps this international break came at exactly the right time for Ange Postecoglou’s Tottenham side.

This has been a topsy-turvy campaign, to say the least, with the Aussie battling against all sorts of demons on the domestic and continental stage.

It was classic Spurs, really. They had enjoyed a thrilling week where they beat Manchester City and Aston Villa only to lose their next two, against Galatasaray in the Europa League and then to relegation-threatened Ipswich just a few days later.

Postecoglou will have had plenty of time to get things right over the last week and a half, therefore, but it doesn’t get much easier with Manchester City to come on Saturday evening. Fortunately, some of his star players enjoyed a cracking time of it with their international sides.

Spurs' star players during the international break

This wasn’t the busiest of breaks for those who don Spurs colours with plenty of stars actually not called up. Yet, those who did get the call-up certainly caught the eye.

Club captain Heung-min Son scored twice for South Korea, once against Kuwait and another against Palestine.

There was also good fortune for Dejan Kulusevski who has only gone from strength to strength this season. He featured in Sweden’s 2-1 win over Slovakia last week before truly dazzling against Azerbaijan in a 6-0 win for the Swedes on Tuesday evening.

Man in demand Viktor Gyokeres helped himself to four goals while the other two came from the boot of Kulusevski who enjoyed an excellent night for his country.

Seemingly rejuvenated by playing in a more central role, he flourished as a no.10 behind the aforementioned Gyokeres and Newcastle striker Alexander Isak.

Not only did Kulusevski score twice but he supplied an assist and managed a total of six shots on the night, also boasting 113 touches, the most of anyone by a margin of 30.

Minutes played

90

Touches

113

Goals

2

Assists

1

Passes completed

56/68 (82%)

Dribbles completed

4/4

Key passes

8

Fouls won

4

Duels won

9

That said, he wasn’t the only Spurs star to catch the eye over the last few days. Wales’ Brennan Johnson also delivered an impressive performance on Tuesday night.

Brennan Johnson's performance in numbers

This has been a real breakthrough campaign for Johnson so far, notably scoring seven goals for Spurs with six of them memorably coming in six consecutive matches.

Not just a livewire at club level, the former Nottingham Forest winger has also shone on the international stage, scoring for Wales against Iceland during October’s international break.

He was in fine form again in the latest set of fixtures, scoring for Craig Bellamy’s side against the Icelandics again on Tuesday during a 4-1 victory. Not just content with finding the net, Johnson also registered an assist for a goal scored by Liam Cullen.

It was a phenomenal display from the 23-year-old who was awarded a 9/10 match rating courtesy of Sofascore and his overall stats summed up why.

Minutes played

89

Goals

1

Assists

1

Touches

49

Accurate passes

24/27 (89%)

Key passes

2

Accurate crosses

1/3

Shots on target

2

Successful dribbles

2/2

Duels won

8/9

Fouls won

3

Tackles

3

During the contest, Johnson impressively completed 89% of his passes and created two chances. Completing 100% of his dribbles and winning eight of his nine duels, the Icelandic defence never stood a chance of containing him.

No player on the pitch won more ground duels while no player in the Welsh attack left the field boasting more touches of the ball (49).

Hopefully, Postecoglou will get a similar tune out of the wide man against City this forthcoming weekend.

Johnson axed for "special" £50m signing in dream Spurs XI after January

Ange could be tempted to ring the changes in the transfer market this winter after Spurs’ slow start.

2 ByAngus Sinclair Nov 17, 2024

It’s been an interesting season for Tottenham Hotspur so far this year.

Ange Postecoglou’s side have played some of the most entertaining football in the Premier League this season and have picked up some big wins along the way, like the ones against Manchester United and Aston Villa, but slip-ups against the likes of Brighton & Hove Albion and Crystal Palace see them remain out of the top four at present.

However, where the North Londoners have been inconsistent in the league, they have been exemplary and remain undefeated in both the League Cup and Europa League.

1

Lazio

8

9

2

Tottenham Hotspur

5

9

3

Anderlecht

4

9

4

Ajax

7

7

5

Galatasaray

4

7

6

Frankfurt

3

7

7

Midtjylland

3

7

8

Athletic Club

3

7

9

Bodo/Glimt

2

7

10

Lyon

4

6

In fact, the Lilywhites are second out of 36 teams in the latter, and with that, they can afford to rest a few players for the game against Galatasaray tonight, especially as one of the stars Postecoglou should start is more than good enough to help shut down Victor Osimhen.

Why Postecoglou should rest starters

Okay, there is certainly an argument to be made that, given the strength of Galatasaray and the intimidation factor their stadium can provide, Postecoglou should be looking to start his absolute strongest lineup tonight.

However, there are a couple of reasons why this might not be necessary or the best idea, with the first being quite obvious: injuries.

The club’s campaign was utterly derailed by a rash of unfortunate injuries around this time last year, and given how injury-prone the likes of Micky van de Ven, James Maddison, and Rodrigo Bentancur seem to be, it feels unwise to risk them tonight, especially when there is a potential banana skin waiting for the team on Saturday in the guise of Ipswich Town.

The second reason is that tonight’s game is the perfect opportunity to hand out more game time to those who might not start every week and to put them into what could be the most hostile environment of the season to test their mettle.

Moreover, as we saw against Manchester City and in the game against Aston Villa, the players outside of Postecoglou’s first-choice XI are good enough to make a difference in challenging games, and there is one player in particular who deserves to start, someone who could play a significant role in keeping Victor Osimhen quiet.

The Spurs ace who deserves to start against Galatasaray

As we said, several players deserve to start in Turkey tonight, but in this case, we are talking about Yves Bissouma in particular.

The Mali international has made ten appearances for Postecoglou this season, but in the last two games, he started on the bench, with Bentancur and Pape Matar Sarr the manager’s preferred midfielders to play alongside the incredible Dejan Kulusevski.

Yet, in both games, he came off the bench to play a significant role in two outstanding wins.

Against City, he played the entire second half and was a constant nuisance for the Champions’ attackers, earning himself a 9/10 match rating from LondonWorld’s Rahman Osman for his tireless defensive work and sensational goal-line clearance to deny Nico O’Reilly from grabbing an equaliser.

The “world-class” defensive midfielder, as dubbed by Sky Sports presenter Adam Smith, didn’t do anything quite as eye-catching in his 34 minutes of action against Villa, but was once again a constant throne in the opposition’s side.

He won 100% of his ground duels, made two clearances, one interception, one tackle, lost the ball just twice, maintained a passing accuracy of 100% and took 29 touches.

He was so effective that despite his relatively short time on the pitch, the Standard’s Dan Kilpatrick awarded him an 8/10 on the night, writing that he ‘impressed again off the bench, snapping into tackles and helping Spurs to win the midfield battle in the second half.’

So, with back-to-back brilliant displays off the bench against two of the best teams in England, it would be fair to say the former Brighton & Hove Albion star has more than earned a chance to start tonight’s Europa League clash.

Ultimately, if he can keep the likes of Phil Foden, Ollie Watkins, Bernardo Silva and Savinnho quiet in the space of a week, he should be able to handle Osimhen, who’s not been playing top opposition week in and week out this season.

The new Kane: Spurs have unearthed their next £100m star in the making

The incredible attacker has been unreal for Spurs this season.

1 ByJack Salveson Holmes Nov 6, 2024

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

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

Aston Villa have taken the lead in the race to sign a young international goalkeeper, according to a recent report. The Villans’ run of three straight wins ended on Saturday night, as they were beaten 2-1 by Nottingham Forest. Unai Emery will be hoping this is just a bump in the road as his side prepare to face Manchester City at the weekend.

Aston Villa keen on signing 21 y/o Real Madrid gem seen as ideal for Emery

He’s come through the academy.

ByCharlie Smith Dec 15, 2024 Aston Villa transfer news

The inconsistent form for Villa this season will have alerted Emery to areas in his team that need addressing. Indeed, the Premier League side have already been linked with plenty of new faces ahead of next month’s transfer window.

Villa have made contact with the representatives of defender Antonio Silva, so they can get an understanding of the costs of a possible transfer. The Benfica centre-back is admired a lot by the Midlands side but they are not alone, as other Premier League teams, as well as big European sides, are also keen on signing the talented defender. The president of Benfica is reportedly set to meet with Silva’s agents ahead of the January transfer window.

As well as looking at Silva, Villa are also in signing Real Madrid defender Raul Asencio, but again face competition from their Premier League rivals. The young man has impressed in his limited appearances for the Spanish giants, and Emery sees him as someone who could improve his side’s defence, given where he has been playing his football.

Aston Villa lead transfer race to sign youngster after impressing scouts

According to Birmingham Live, Aston Villa have taken the lead in the race to sign Pierce Charles from Sheffield Wednesday. The 19-year-old came through the academy at Manchester City, but he left the Premier League side and joined the Owls in 2020.

Charles has worked his way through the club’s under-18s and under-21s, and he is now a part of the first team picture. The goalkeeper has yet to appear in the Championship, but he has been on the bench for every league game this season apart from two.

Despite him not being Wednesday’s regular keeper, Charles has been capped four times by his country, Northern Ireland. It is on the international stage where Charles has left scouts impressed, with them coming away from recent Nations League games giving the player “glowing reports”.

Apps

6

Goals conceded

8

Clean sheets

1

The young man’s ability to play out from the back has meant top clubs from the Premier League have identified him as a top target, and that includes Villa. The Villans are willing to move second-choice keeper Robin Olsen on in favour of bringing in emerging talent should the opportunity arise. Villa can offer Charles a number two slot in their squad, and he may see this as his chance to move into the Premier League.

Liverpool have always been regarded as a behemoth of the English game, but Anfield and its many supporters languished as a fallen giant for many interminable years and that’s a fact.

Jurgen Klopp stretched his influence onto Merseyside in 2015 and painted the football-frenzied city in brilliant red once again, but it wouldn’t be fair to say that Liverpool were bereft of joy and excitement in the overtures of the German’s appointment.

The 2014/15 campaign was drab and, perhaps more aptly, disastrous. It was Brendan Rodgers’ last full campaign and a return to disappointment for the club, but the year before, while bringing about no silverware, was an unforgettable rollercoaster.

Luis Suarez in the front seat, of course.

Luis Suarez's Liverpool brilliance

He might not have got his paws on the Premier League title, but Suarez’s name is certainly woven into the very fabric of Liverpool’s storied history.

The recently-retired Uruguay international joined Liverpool from Ajax in a £22m deal way back in 2011, having earned a reputation of great promise during his time with the Dutch giants.

His time on Merseyside was a thing of singular brilliance. Even now, over a decade beyond his departure date, Suarez is hailed among the finest players to have performed in England’s top flight, and perhaps the architect of the most awe-inspiring individual campaign since the modern Premier League was founded in 1992.

Still kicking about in the MLS with pal Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami, Suarez has led an unforgettable career, and though the riches ran deeper with Barcelona and Atletico Madrid in Spain, the 39-year-old’s 31-goal haul, with 11 assists too, across just 33 top-flight matches in 2013/14 almost single-handedly supercharged an unlikely title conquering.

It wasn’t to be. Suarez understandably wanted to leave in search of pastures new after that agonising failure. This was over a year before Klopp would even alight in Liverpool, remember, and when Barcelona offered a jaw-dropping £65m sum for his signature, it was a no-brainer.

Now, a new era. The annals record that one-time Suarez-fevered patch to be several ages in the background at Anfield, in fact. Klopp’s time has flown past and now Arne Slot is at the wheel.

This is a team studded with first-class stars, but there’s one in particular who could be Slot’s own version of the Uruguayan great, and no, it’s not Suarez’s countryman Darwin Nunez.

Luis Diaz could be Liverpool's next super-money star

As the more discerning minds might have guessed from the big blocked text right ahead, the man in question is Luis Diaz, who has gone from strength to strength under Slot’s wing this season.

Last year, Klopp utilised Diaz’s electric pace and penetrative dribbling to a positive effect, but Slot has seized such qualities and refined them into something potent and deadly.

Having scored 13 goals and supplied five assists across 51 matches in all competitions in 2023/24, Diaz was definitely effective, but under Slot’s wing, he’s notched nine goals and two assists from merely 16 appearances.

The 27-year-old carries a very singular threat, and in such a way, is a bit like Suarez in that he’s so distinctive. His loping gait is instantly recognisable and there’s a real menace to his attacking approach, crackling with energy and ideas upon every final third entry.

Matches (starts)

37 (32)

11 (8)

Goals

8

5

Assists

5

2

Touches*

43.8

41.8

Shots (on target)*

2.5 (0.9)

1.6 (0.8)

Pass completion

85%

87%

Key passes*

1.8

1.4

Ball recoveries*

3.4

2.8

Dribbles (completed)*

1.8

1.5

Tackles + interceptions*

1.0

1.4

Total Duels won*

4.6

4.0

As per FBref, Diaz ranks among the top 4% of Premier League attacking midfielders and wingers in 2024/25 for goals scored, the top 7% for pass completion, the top 10% for shot-creating actions and the top 15% for successful take-ons per 90, highlighting his robust style.

Of course, he’s not a centre-forward and nor is he stylistically similar to Suarez, but Diaz is one of Liverpool’s most profitable players to be sure, and recently bagged a Champions League hat-trick when placed at number nine by Slot during Liverpool’s 4-0 romping of Bayer Leverkusen.

His silky-smooth style of performance has even drawn comparisons to players such as Bayern Munich’s Jamal Musiala, who has been on fire himself this term, scoring nine goals and supplying four assists across 13 matches.

According to FBref, that is, with the stats-built site revealing that, stylistically, the respective stars align. With this in mind, Diaz could perhaps fetch a transfer fee surpassing that of Suarez’s, for Musiala has been attracting attention from Manchester City of late and is believed to be transfer-priced for a fee in excess of £100m.

He wouldn’t command the same dizzying transfer fee that Philippe Coutinho’s sale to Barcelona marked, but Diaz would certainly be sold for a handsome sum, and given that La Blaugrana have a long-standing interest in the South American, perhaps his stunning exploits could lead him to a lucrative transfer to Spain, much like Suarez.

Indeed, Diaz, who has been hailed as an “incredible” signing for Liverpool by Klopp, was pursued by outfits as mighty as Barcelona this summer, and The Athletic reported that Liverpool would only entertain proposals that far outstretched the £50m total fee that was paid to bring him in from Porto several years ago.

Perhaps, in today’s bonkers market, that £65m figure that Barca paid for Suarez might not even cut it for Liverpool. Whatever happens, the Reds have well and truly hit the jackpot with this one. Diaz is sure to play a significant part in the trophy-hunting efforts of Slot’s side, and maybe he’ll be allowed to venture off to Spain at some stage – for a most lucrative sum.

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