All posts by z3u9t.icu

Liverpool have forked out over £200m on new first-team signings this summer, and there’s more still to come from sporting director Richard Hughes, whose task is a significant one.

Last summer, the former Bournemouth technical director came under fire for his supposed hesitance in the transfer market. Liverpool had clawed their way back into the Champions League and had won the Carabao Cup, but Jurgen Klopp had managed his last and signings were needed, were they not?

But Federico Chiesa was the only man added to the ranks, joining from Juventus for a cut-price £12.5m (aside from Giorgi Mamarashvili, who has now completed his £29m move from Valencia after spending the 2024/25 campaign back on loan with the La Liga side).

But Hughes’ long-term plan was vindicated when Arne Slot led Liverpool to the Premier League in his first season, almost nine years after Klopp replaced a bruised Brendan Rodgers.

The Reds finished ten points ahead of second-place Arsenal, and now they are showing their hand; now they are spending. Florian Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez have reshaped the squad – and there’s more still to come.

The latest Liverpool transfer news

Luis Diaz and Darwin Nunez remain the most likely Liverpool stars to complete high-profile exits, with the former coveted by Barcelona and Bayern Munich, the latter by the Saudi Pro League.

Liverpool want to sell Nunez, who hasn’t worked out three years on from his big-money move from Benfica. Diaz, however, is set to stay put unless a mammoth bid comes in.

Should the Merseysiders be roped into selling, however, they want to set themselves up. As such, Newcastle United’s Anthony Gordon has been earmarked, one year after a saga emerged concerning the Magpies winger and the Reds.

Rodrygo, otherwise, would be the dream, albeit the Brazilian is worth €100m (£85m) and is fixed in Arsenal’s sights.

Who knows which way the wind will blow with those murmurings? However, Nunez is set to leave, and Liverpool had wanted another Newcastle sensation to replace him: Alexander Isak.

However, the Toon closed that door, and Liverpool have instead moved for another, and he wants to join.

Liverpool on the brink of signing

According to Sport BILD, Liverpool are edging closer toward signing Eintracht Frankfurt’s Hugo Ekitike, though the German club are holding out for €100m (£85m).

Transfer Focus

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

However, the French forward wants to sign for the Anfield side and has even submitted an official transfer request to manoeuvre the discussions into the closing stages.

Personal terms are all but finalised, no problem there. However, the outfits need to iron out the details, with an official proposal now imminent.

The 23-year-old should sign as Liverpool’s new number nine, and in doing so, may emulate Virgil van Dijk, in a sense.

Why Liverpool are signing Hugo Ekitike

It’s not over till the fat lady sings. A saying that’s well worth remembering in football. Take Van Dijk. Liverpool signed him for £75m in late December 2017 – some Christmas present, that.

But months earlier, Liverpool had been left hot under the collar after Southampton put paid to their advances, ending the building saga in June 2017 after an alleged illegal approach. FSG apologised for “any misunderstanding” and put their bid on hold.

But Van Dijk had caught a whiff of Klopp’s project and was sold. Well, he was several months on, in any case. The Netherlands international handed in a transfer request later in the 2017 summer window and informed Saints he wanted to sign for Liverpool.

The rest is history, with Van Dijk, now 34, one of the most decorated and accomplished defenders of his generation. Ekitike is no doubt eager to take a leaf from the centre-back’s book, having established himself in the Bundesliga, posting 40 goal contributions from 64 matches in a season-and-a-half with Frankfurt.

Make no mistake, we’re not claiming Ekitike will be utilising his 6 feet and 3 inches to protect the box, rocketing up with steely headers and flying this way and that with tough challenges. This, clearly, isn’t Slot’s Van Dijk heir.

But there’s a pattern to the respective deals which highlights FSG’s method, having identified one of Europe’s most exciting up-and-comers and spent the big bucks on reeling him over to Anfield.

Early into his career, Ekitike – described as “unreal” by analyst Ben Mattinson – has demonstrated growth and ability, which has already led to a €35m (£30m) transfer from Reims to Paris Saint-Germain.

24/25 – Frankfurt

33

15

8

23/24 – Frankfurt*

14

4

2

23/24 – PSG

1

0

0

22/23 – PSG

25

3

4

21/22 – Reims

24

10

4

20/21 – Vejle*

11

3

2

20/21 – Reims

2

0

0

Sure, Isak would have been nice. The 25-year-old is, after all, “the best striker in the world”, as analyst Raj Chohan put it last season, but Hughes’ contacts with Newcastle turned up nought. We’d have been looking at something in the £200m ballpark, which is a nonsensical figure.

But in Ekitike, Liverpool have a rising phenom, the perfect profile. He’s mobile, slippery and intelligent, a fierce and constant pepperer of the goal. His finishing leaves something to be desired, but this can be worked on. FBref record that Isak is one of his most statistically comparable players, after all.

Journalist Graeme Bailey has even called the France talent “the next Mbappe”, with his creativity, pace and dynamism making him more than just a player of French likeness.

Was Van Dijk the finished product when he first alighted in Liverpool? Were the detractors not vocal in their scorn? Liverpool paid over the odds for some half-decent defender, they claimed.

The Reds skipper is now considered one of the finest players of his generation, one of many cases of FSG’s data department coming up trumps.

With Ekitike, they may well strike gold once again.

Better than Isak & Ekitike: Liverpool make £142m "monster" a dream target

Liverpool have two primary candidates to bolster their forward line; Alexander Isak & Hugo Ekitike.

1 ByMatt Dawson Jul 17, 2025

Tottenham are battling Internazionale for the signing of a highly-rated player, according to reports, and the man in question has now decided which club he’d rather join this summer with personal terms agreed.

£43m star "clear" he wants to join Tottenham in talks with club chairman

He’s expressed his desire to seal a Spurs switch.

3 ByEmilio Galantini Jul 15, 2025

Spurs boss Thomas Frank has overseen his first training sessions since replacing Ange Postecoglou as manager, with the Dane set to take charge of his first game this Saturday in a pre-season friendly against Reading.

Expectations around N17 are suddenly high after their triumph in the Europa League last season, and Frank is also braced for his debut managerial campaign in the Champions League.

Son Heung-min

7.00

James Maddison

6.98

Pedro Porro

6.95

Dominic Solanke

6.84

Dejan Kulusevski

6.83

via WhoScored

The 51-year-old has never known pressure like this at his previous clubs, but chairman Daniel Levy is moving to back the tactician with an array of key signings to bolster his new squad.

Tottenham sealed a £55 million deal for West Ham winger Mohammed Kudus last week, with the Ghanaian joining both Kota Takai (£5 million) and Mathys Tel (£30 million) to take their summer expenditure up to around £90 million.

Nottingham Forest star Morgan Gibbs-White was meant to be added to this list of major incomings as well. The England international was scheduled to have a medical last Friday, but Forest have since blocked the transfer and are taking legal action against Spurs for an alleged illegal approach.

Reports suggested that Tottenham were still likely to sign Gibbs-White anyway. However, Sky Sports’ Rob Dorsett, who originally broke the story, now shares another stunning twist – with Forest standing firm and adamant that he’s “going nowhere”.

Considering Spurs reportedly triggered his £60 million release clause, it remains to be seen if the Premier League will even allow Forest to halt Gibbs-White’s switch to N17, but this is a very bizarre situation.

Koni de Winter decides whether he's joining Tottenham or Inter Milan

In the meantime, Tottenham do have other transfer targets, and one of them is versatile Genoa defender Koni de Winter.

The former Juventus starlet has been sporadically linked with a move to Frank’s side before deadline day, and reports in Italy claim that Spurs are among the main contenders to sign de Winter.

According to Belgian newspaper Nieuwsblad, via FC Inter News, the Nerazzurri are also competing for his signature, and he’s decided which club he’d rather join.

It is believed that de Winter has expressed his preference to join Inter ahead of Tottenham, and there is already a “practically done” agreement over personal terms. A multi-year contract is “ready” for the 23-year-old to sign, but the Serie A side are yet to find an agreement with Genoa, who are asking for around £22 million.

He’s been praised as an “unreal” up-and-coming defender by U23 scout and content creator Antonio Mango, and while de Winter has his eyes on a move to Inter, you can never say never in the transfer window – given there is still time for Spurs to hijack this move.

Liverpool are the champions of the Premier League once again. And what’s more, Arne Slot has been backed by FSG this summer as they prepare to do it all over again.

While the bulk of transfer activity has been dealt with already on Merseyside, there’s more to come, with Darwin Nunez the centre of ongoing talks between Liverpool and Napoli after an opening €55m (£48m) bid was rejected.

Many would hope that FSG are gearing up to splash out the cash on Newcastle United’s Alexander Isak, but the “world-class” goalscorer, as he has been described by pundit Alan Shearer, will likely prove too expensive.

And anyway, Slot has proven his ability to grow exciting talents into superstars. See the 22-year-old Ryan Gravenberch and Cody Gakpo.

Now, the Dutch coach is hoping to sign his next version of the former, whose meteoric rise last season led to him being crowned the Premier League Young Player of the Season.

Liverpool's next top transfer targets

After missing out on Dean Huijsen, who swapped Bournemouth for Real Madrid after his £50m release clause was met, it was clear from the early stages of the transfer window that Liverpool are interested in signing a centre-back.

Marc Guehi is the man at the top of the shopping list, and while developments appear to be minimal at the moment, expect FSG to try their luck before the summer window slams shut.

Liverpool need a new central defender, to be sure, but Slot knows that the 33-year-old Mohamed Salah will need greater attacking support than he received last term, practically engineering the incredible Premier League success of 2023/24.

And indeed, Nunez’s forthcoming sale will demand that sporting director Richard Hughes signs a successor, one who is fit to serve as Liverpool’s out-and-out frontman over the coming years.

Well, the Reds have just the player in mind, and their interest is beginning to get stronger and stronger.

Liverpool with growing interest in new striker

As per transfer insider Graeme Bailey, Liverpool’s interest in Eintracht Frankfurt striker Hugo Ekitike is indeed getting more intense as Nunez edges closer to a transfer to Napoli.

The Premier League champions have been among the frontrunners for the 23-year-old in recent months, with Chelsea and Manchester United also keen on bagging his signature.

However, the sticking point is that Frankfurt are happy to play hardball, seemingly unwilling to budge on their €100m (£85m) valuation.

What Hugo Ekitike would bring to Liverpool

In 2022, Paris Saint-Germain signed a teenage Ekitike from Ligue 1 rivals Reims for a fee in the region of £30m. Newcastle had come close to a deal but failed to close it.

The Frenchman might not have brought it all together for PSG, only scoring four times across 33 senior matches, but he’s certainly built himself back up in Germany, with analyst Ben Mattinson hailing him as “one of the best strikers out there” after his 2024/25 term with Frankfurt.

Notching 36 goal involvements across all competitions for Frankfurt last season, Ekitike is clearly a “special talent”, as has been noted by journalist Bence Bocsak.

But it’s his dynamism and fluency that makes him such an attractive option for a club like Liverpool, finishing the 2024/25 season ranked among the top 6% of strikers across Europe’s top five leagues for shot-creating actions, the top 4% for both progressive carries and successful take-ons, and the top 20% for ball recoveries per 90, as per FBref.

The fact that he’s more complete than Gravenberch was when he joined Liverpool from Bayern Munich in August 2023 bodes well for his potential at the highest level of the European game.

As you will see in the table below, Gravenberch bloomed into a midfielder of remarkable quality and confidence last term, sitting deep in the centre of the park in spite of early career criticisms that he lacked the temperament and composure for such a role.

Looking at the Dutchman’s gains under Slot’s wing last season, as opposed to his less defined role when a part of Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool, it’s very easy to see that Slot’s tactical grasp brought out the best in his young compatriot.

Matches (starts)

26 (12)

37 (37)

Goals

1

0

Assists

0

4

Touches*

28.8

66.5

Pass completion

83%

89%

Key passes*

0.6

0.9

Dribbles*

0.9

1.0

Ball recoveries*

2.8

5.2

Tackles + interceptions*

1.5

3.5

Total duels (won)*

2.8 (47%)

5.0 (57%)

The same could be said for Gakpo, of course, but given that Ekitike is an exciting young player from the Bundesliga who has previously struggled to bring it together after a big-money move to a European superpower, he could emulate the silky holding midfielder.

And without a doubt, Ekitike has the technical ability to become the kind of all-encompassing centre-forward that Slot wants to connect his frontline.

Given the high regard Ekitike is held in already, it’s frightening to consider what Slot might manage to achieve in elevating the weaker points of his game and polishing any blemishes which a rising talent is naturally going to bear.

Gravenberch, certainly, has improved, having been branded a “passenger out of possession” by journalist Danny Corcoran during his maiden term in English football.

He’s now a player of smooth ability, one of the finest in Europe. Slot has earned his flowers, all right, and he’ll receive a whole bouquet if allowed to tinker away at Ekitike’s mechanics, shaping him into a world-beater.

Talent scout Jacek Kulig claimed that the Die Adler star “could reach world-class striker levels” after his excellent campaign, and if he moves to Liverpool, his chances of this happening will increase tenfold.

Slot's new Diaz: Hughes plotting Liverpool bid to sign £100m "nightmare"

Liverpool may have to sell their versatile Colombian forward this summer.

2 ByAngus Sinclair Jul 11, 2025

West Ham United are now in talks over a deal for a “spectacular” midfielder, and they are leading their Premier League rivals in the race for his signature, according to a report.

West Ham set sights on midfielder amid Paqueta uncertainty

Lucas Paqueta has been one of West Ham’s key players over the past three seasons, picking up 18 goals and 14 assists during his time at the London Stadium, but it now appears as though the attacking midfielder could seek pastures new this summer.

Indeed, Paqueta now wants to leave the Hammers, amid interest from clubs in Saudi Arabia and Brazil, and the board are willing to cash-in, should they receive an offer in the region of £30m.

As such, Graham Potter’s side have now set their sights on a new attacking midfielder to replace the 27-year-old, with targets being identified from the Belgian Pro League and within the Premier League.

Target

Current club

League goal contributions in 24/25

Harvey Elliott

Liverpool

3

Mario Stroeykens

Anderlecht

10

Not only are the Irons keen on an attacking option, but they have also made progress in their pursuit of Borussia Monchengladbach defensive midfielder Rocco Reitz, according to a report from TEAMtalk.

The report states that talks over a deal for Reitz are now underway, with the Monchengladbach ace expected to leave in this window, given that the £17m release clause in his contract is set to become active next summer.

Everton in race with West Ham to sign midfielder who can leave for £25m

Everton are now involved in a Premier League race to sign an experienced international midfielder.

ByBrett Worthington Jun 26, 2025

The German side don’t want to lose the midfielder for such a low fee, and a transfer battle, which may drive up the price, could be on the cards this summer, with the likes of Brighton, Fulham and Inter Milan also keen.

A number of bids are now expected imminently, and the Hammers should be well-placed to win the race for the 23-year-old’s signature, given that they are thought to be ahead of their Premier League rivals.

Reitz could be "spectacular" signing for West Ham

England were ultimately triumphant in the U21 European Championships, defeating Germany 3-2 in the final, but the Monchengladbach gem impressed throughout the tournament, picking up two assists in five matches.

Not only that, but the German has flourished defensively over the past year, placing very highly across a number of key metrics, when compared to his positional peers.

Statistic

Average per 90

Interceptions

2.61 (99th percentile)

Blocks

1.92 (95th percentile)

Clearances

2.90 (96th percentile)

U23 scout Antonio Mango has also been left impressed by the maestro in the past, singling him out for praise after his Germany U21s debut.

As such, Reitz could be a fantastic signing for West Ham this summer, and it is promising news they are leading the race for his signature.

Burnley have now reached an agreement over the signing of a “talented” player, according to a hugely promising update from Sky Sports.

Burnley busy early in summer window

The Clarets continue to pursue potential new signings ahead of their return to the Premier League in August, as Scott Parker looks to give his side the best chance of avoiding a speedy relegation back into the Championship.

Loum Tchaouna has been a leading target over the past week or so, with Burnley reportedly close to sealing a move for the young Lazio forward ahead of next season, having already added permanent deals for Marcus Edwards, Zian Flemming and Jaidon Anthony to their attacking ranks.

France Under-21 international Tchaouna would be considered an exciting long-term addition for Parker, having already made 37 appearances for Lazio at senior level.

France Under-21s

5

1

France Under-20s

12

4

France Under-19s

17

7

France Under-17s

5

3

France Under-16s

9

2

Meanwhile, in defence, Bashir Humphreys has already signed permanently and Karlsruher SC goalkeeper Max Weiss is among the players to have also been linked with joining Burnley this summer, as well as Liverpool centre-back Joe Gomez.

Burnley reach full agreement to sign Weiss

According to an update from the Sky journalist Florian Plettenberg on X, Weiss’ move to Burnley is now considered a “done deal” after an agreement was reached over a move to Turf Moor, with a medical up next on Monday.

Weiss will be an exciting signing for Burnley, with the German a talented young ‘keeper who has the ability to be a mainstay between the sticks for the Clarets for many years, as Plettenberg alludes to.

At just 21, he has already played 42 times for Karlsruher, keeping 12 clean sheets, and he has been capped for Germany across three different youth age groups, winning a total of six caps.

With huge doubts lingering over the future of James Trafford at Burnley – Newcastle United have continually been strongly linked with signing him – a top-quality ‘keeper needs to arrive this summer.

While the more cautious option could be to bring in an experienced head who has played in the Premier League before, it is refreshing to see the Clarets once again taking a punt on youth again, backing Weiss to be able to do the job.

Burnley now "one step away" from signing "amazing" £12m forward for Parker

The update has been provided by a reliable journalist.

1 ByHenry Jackson Jun 17, 2025

That’s not to say that an older alternative couldn’t come in as well, should Parker feel the need, but the Karlsruher ace needs to be trusted to come straight in and be an important part of Burnley’s plans, helping play a key role in them remaining in the top flight beyond 2025/26.

Rangers are set to be very busy in the transfer market in the next few weeks.

Ever since Russell Martin was unveiled as the new manager last week, the Ibrox side have been linked with umpteen new signings and rightly so, considering their squad requires a major overhaul this summer.

So, could the Gers’ land an attacker labelled “unplayable” in a move reminiscent of a recent fans’ favourite?

Rangers' interest in a new midfielder

According to a report by Joshua Barrie of the Rangers review, Rangers are ‘interested’ in signing Kwame Poku this summer.

The 23-year-old is a free agent having left Peterborough United, with there unsurprisingly plenty of competition for his signature, including from newly-promoted Championship side, Birmingham City.

Poku began his senior career in non-league, representing Cray Wanderers and Worthing, earning a move to Colchester before joining Peterborough in 2021, making 147 appearances for Posh, most notably winning back-to-back EFL Trophies at Wembley.

Transfer Focus

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

Peterborough chairman Darragh MacAnthony believes he will “be a Premier League star in the future”, estimating that he’ll one day “cost £30 million”, so could Rangers tempt him north of Hadrian’s Wall on a Bosman?

Joe Aribo's Rangers career

Six years ago, in an eerily similar deal, Joe Aribo arrived at Rangers as a free agent, a reported £300,000 in compensation was paid, from Charlton Athletic, who were also in EFL League One at the time.

Aribo would go on to make 149 appearances for the Light Blues, scoring 26 goals and registering 25 assists, most famously breaking the deadlock in the Europa League Final against Eintracht Frankfurt at Estadio Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán.

A few days later, the Nigerian international helped Rangers win the Scottish Cup at Hampden, but this would prove to be his last outing in a blue jersey, sold to Southampton for £6m in the summer of 2022.

So, could Poku have a similar impact to that of Aribo? Let’s compare the duo to find out.

Appearances

31

39

Minutes

2,364

3,413

Goals

12

10

Assists

11

5

As the table outlines, Poku’s statistics this season were actually more impressive than those of Aribo from his final season at Charlton, despite the fact the former sat out three months of the campaign following hamstring surgery in December.

Writer Kai Watson labels the Ghanian international a “strong ball carrier” who is excellent at “cutting in on his left and getting a shot away”, concluding that he would be a “bargain” on a free transfer. Peterborough boss Darren Ferguson, meanwhile, asserts that he can be “unplayable” at times.

Meanwhile, Oliver Walton of Football League World described him as ‘one of the most in-form players in English football’ earlier this season, while Venkatanarayanan of Total Football Analysis outlines how he boasts the best ‘attacking numbers’ across the entirety of the EFL, praising his ‘excellent finishing’.

So, let’s assess that assertion.

Minutes

2,058

223rd

Goals

12

11th

Goals per 90

0.52

7th

Assists

8

5th

Assists per 90

0.35

1st

Shots per 90

2.71

12th

Goals per shot

0.19

18th

Big chances created

9

28th

Successful dribbles per 90

1.9

2nd

As the table highlights, Poku had an exceptional season at Peterborough, ranked first for assists per 90 and second for successful dribbles per 90 as well, on top of his generally impressive attacking statistics across the board.

Venkatanarayanan of Total Football Analysis also believes his best position is as an attacking midfielder, albeit he can be deployed out-wide, noting that his ‘biggest strength’ is his ability to progress the ball through midfield.

Meanwhile, Fintan O’Reilly of Total Football Analysis labels him a ‘thrilling playmaker’ who is ‘great in tight spaces’ and a ‘very intelligent passer’, destined to go to the very top, so Rangers should do everything in their power to make this deal come to fruition.

Russell Martin considering selling "brilliant" Rangers 22 y/o who wants to stay

He wants to stay at Ibrox, but the decision could be made up for him.

ByHenry Jackson Jun 10, 2025

The Liverpool and Manchester City duopoly in the Premier League continues. Arne Slot has taken the title from Pep Guardiola, ending four years of dominance and doing so in his first season at the helm.

As all of a Liverpool persuasion will be aware, it’s gearing up to be a significant summer for the Anfield side, with sporting director Richard Hughes and Michael Edwards, FSG’s chief executive of football operations, planning for a wave of first-team investment.

Last year, City enjoyed their record-breaking fourth Premier League title in succession, and most thought that they would retain their throne once more. Or, otherwise, fall against an Arsenal side that has been on the rise for several years now.

But it wasn’t to be. Liverpool, still bruised from Jurgen Klopp’s decision to step down from his long-held seat in the Anfield dugout, have been head-and-shoulders above their rivals since the early knockings.

Candidly, clinching the title has almost looked a formality since January, with the Darwin Nunez-inspired victory at Brentford lifting the Reds six points clear of second-place Arsenal, and with a game in hand at that.

But there’s been something missing. Nunez isn’t good enough and will be sold this summer, while various concerns relating to defence will call for change there too. However, Liverpool will jump on a new centre-midfielder if an opportunity presents itself.

The missing piece in Liverpool's midfield

In fairness, Liverpool’s midfield doesn’t need to undergo major surgery. Klopp’s dramatic rebuild of 2023 has proved a bona fide success, with Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai and Ryan Gravenberch starting the lion’s share of Liverpool’s Premier League fixtures and Wataru Endo earning cult status for his combative cameos.

Curtis Jones, 24, has also enjoyed the outstanding season of his career thus far, starting 17 league games and earning praise from his manager for his “complete” take on the midfield game.

It’s remarkable that these players have stepped up and delivered England’s prized trophy after FSG failed to convince Real Sociedad’s Martin Zubimendi to leave the Basque Country and join this new project.

Liverpool opted against signing a different deep-lying midfielder and were met with frustration from supporters, derision from rivals. Gravenberch’s incredible rise from a previously middling role has been the core of Liverpool’s successful season.

Matches (starts)

26 (12)

34 (34)

Goals

1

0

Assists

0

4

Touches*

28.8

67.3

Pass completion

83%

89%

Key passes*

0.6

0.7

Dribbles*

0.9

1.0

Ball recoveries*

2.8

5.3

Tackles + interceptions*

1.5

3.6

Duels (won)*

2.8 (47%)

5.0 (58%)

Indeed, the owners’ decision has been vindicated now that Slot has sealed the club’s record-equalling 20th top-flight trophy.

There have been times when the engine room has looked a little tired of late, namely during costly defeats against Paris Saint-Germain and Newcastle United in the Carabao Cup final.

If the right player comes along, Liverpool will pounce, with one of the Premier League’s finest very much on Hughes’ radar.

Liverpool learn conditions for PL star

According to TEAMtalk, Liverpool have learned that it will take a mammoth fee of £80m to convince Crystal Palace to part with Adam Wharton this summer.

Liverpool are keen admirers of the deep-lying playmaker, who has been a revelation since joining the Eagles from Blackburn Rovers in the Championship last year for a £18m fee.

The 21-year-old is also on Man United’s radar, but given that he fits the profile to jockey with Gravenberch for that number six spot, it might be the perfect move for Slot’s fluid system.

Why Adam Wharton is perfect for Slot

Liverpool’s current midfielders have cemented their legacies and then some, joining the illustrious names of old: Fabinho, Gini Wijnaldum, Jordan Henderson, Steven Gerrard, Xabi Alonso.

Wharton has the talent to add his name too, hailed as an “unbelievable talent” by BBC analyst Raj Chohan after his incredible start to life in Oliver Glasner’s Palace team last season.

This term, despite injuries, he has played a big part for his London-based side, actually earning praise from respected journalist Henry Winter for being a “passing machine” as Aston Villa were comprehensively defeated in the FA Cup semi-final, also hailing him as “the best player on the pitch.” Big-game quality, confirmed.

As per FBref, he actually ranks among the top 8% of midfielders across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for both progressive passes and ball recoveries, the top 12% for shot-creating actions and the top 15% for assists per 90, perfectly illustrating his passing prowess and an athleticism that Slot seems to desire so greatly.

Wharton still has much to learn, but with such exciting ball-playing skills, he could take the shape of a former Liverpool star like Alonso, slotting into a similar role for the Reds’ flourishing coach.

Alonso might be one of the most esteemed managers at present, leading Bayer Leverkusen to an invincible domestic double last year and now the firm favourite to succeed Carlo Ancelotti at Real Madrid, but he was once a superstar of a midfielder.

A Spanish maestro, Alonso starred across, winning the Champions League and FA Cup across five campaigns before walking that well-trodden path from Anfield to the Spanish capital, sold to Madrid in a £30m package back in 2009.

Gerrard once claimed that Alonso was his “favourite partner for club and country,” with the 43-year-old’s silky and cerebral approach to the midfield game something that opened up new lanes from which the robust Three Lions star could travel.

Wharton boasts a similarly high footballing IQ and could take the likes of Mac Allister and Gravenberch to the next level.

Transfer Focus

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

Adding Wharton to the fold would certainly serve to elevate Slot’s existing midfield options, with the young playmaker operating in a deep-set role to influence and advance fluency in a similar vein to a former Liverpool hero named Alonso.

Liverpool could sign their best forward since Salah in £87m "superstar"

This talented player is open to leaving his club this summer.

ByAngus Sinclair May 2, 2025

This summer presents Liverpool boss Arne Slot with an opportunity to strengthen his squad and build on the success endured in his first campaign at the helm.

He’s already managed to claim the Premier League title in his debut year in charge, but will want to make additions to the side to aid their ambitions of retaining their glory next time around.

Handing new contracts to Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk is undoubtedly the best business they will conduct this summer, keeping hold of two of their star men from their title-winning side.

Despite their success in recent months, if they are to have the best chance of being involved in a title race again during 2025/26, they will need to be joined at Anfield by new signings.

With the transfer window rapidly appearing on the horizon, Slot and the hierarchy have already wasted no time in identifying potential additions, with numerous names already appearing on their shortlist.

An update on Liverpool’s hunt for new signings this summer

Over the past few months, Bournemouth duo Milos Kerkez and Dean Huijsen have both appeared on the club’s shortlist, looking to bolster the Reds’ defensive department.

Both players have starred in the Cherries’ success over the last few months, leading to huge links to a potential double switch to Merseyside during the off-season.

However, attacking options have really been the talking point, with a new centre forward desperately needed – leading to links with Atlanta forward Mateo Retegui, according to Anfield Watch.

Their report states that the Reds’ hierarchy have been keeping a close eye on the 26-year-old’s progress, excelling in Serie A, as seen by his tally of 24 goals and five assists in his 32 outings.

It also claims that the board feel he has the quality to deliver the goods at Anfield, potentially leading the line for Slot’s side and providing the added quality they’ve been hunting for.

Why Liverpool’s target could be Slot’s own Luis Suarez

Luis Suárez is just one talent who’s captured the heart of most during his spell at Anfield, registering 82 goals in his 133 appearances during his three years at the club.

The Uruguayan joined the Reds as an unknown quantity to many after completing a switch from Ajax back in 2013, but his endless goals quickly saw him become a fan-favourite.

From multiple hat-tricks against Norwich City to numerous Merseyside Derby goals, the striker had it all, going down as one of the best forwards to ever play for the club.

His unpredictable nature made him such a hit with the fanbase, potentially having the chance to land their next version of the talisman in the form of Retegui this window.

The Italian has been labelled as a ‘pit bull’ type forward by analyst Ben Mattinson, following the style of Suarez, with both possessing an instinctive nature in the final third – as seen by their respective goalscoring tallies.

When comparing his stats to current striker Darwin Núñez, Retegui has massively outperformed the Uruguayan in multiple key areas, showcasing why he would be a superb option for the Reds this summer.

The Atalanta star, who’s been labelled “one of the best strikers” by The Overlap’s analyst, has massively outscored Nunez, whilst also posting a higher shot-on-target rate – further proving his abilities in attacking areas.

Games played

32

26

Goals & assists

29

7

Goal per shot-on-target

0.7

0.4

Passes completed

77%

70%

Shots on target per 90

1.2

1

Aerials won

1.9

1.4

Aerial success rate

43%

35%

He’s also completed more of his attempted passes, along with more aerials won, handing Slot the all-round centre-forward he’s craved since taking control of the side.

Whilst it’s unclear how much a deal would set the hierarchy back this summer, he’s proven that he has the tools to be a success in the Premier League and possibly emulate Suarez’s success.

If he manages to get anywhere near the level produced by the Uruguayan at Anfield, he will be a monster hit with the supporters in the club’s attempts to continue their success domestically and push for continental glory.

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Omar Marmoush has been a revelation since making the move to Manchester City in the January transfer window. The Egyptian star joined for £59m at the back end of the winter window, and has been in scintillating form ever since.

In 14 appearances for Pep Guardiola’s side so far, he has managed to score seven goals and register one assist. That included a fantastic hat-trick against Newcastle United, which came in the first half of a 4-1 win in the space of 15 minutes.

Perhaps, with the goals Marmoush has scored in a City shirt so far, he could be on track to be as prolific as Sergio Aguero was for the East Manchester side.

Aguero’s Man City career

“We cannot replace him” were Guardiola’s words when Aguero departed the Etihad Stadium at the end of the 2020/21 campaign. Well, that didn’t turn out to be entirely true, with Erling Haaland and, more recently, Marmoush, providing the goals that the legendary striker brought.

In his prime, few were better than Aguero. He scored an extraordinary 260 goals for City in 390 games, notching up 64 assists in that time, too. Only four players in Premier League history scored more goals than the former Argentina international, who bagged 184 Premier League goals.

At one stage, Aguero was described as “the best striker in the Premier League” by a man who knows what that means, Alan Shearer. There were six seasons in which he scored 20 or more goals in one top-flight campaign, including his first, in 20211/12.

However, as the saying goes, all good things must come to an end, and Aguero’s final season for City showed just how much he struggled. He only managed six goals in all competitions in 2020/21 and became more of a squad player under Guardiola.

A decline of a club legend like that is always sad to see, and unfortunately, City fans could be seeing a similar thing with another player currently at the club.

Man City’s new Aguero

Perhaps a bigger legend than Aguero in City colours is Kevin De Bruyne. The Belgian legend recently announced that he will leave the club at the end of the season, and has been linked with a move to MLS side Chicago Fire on a free transfer.

His time at City has been nothing short of extraordinary. De Bruyne has been the spearhead of all the success the club has experienced under Guardiola, with the icing on the cake, of course, the iconic treble in the 2022/23 campaign.

His current record in that famous Blue shirt is phenomenal. The City number 17 has played 415 games for the club, scoring 107 goals and registering 177 assists. It is no surprise that football statistician Statman Dave once described him as a “genius”.

The 33-year-old enjoyed his best individual Premier League season in 2019/20. That year, he managed an outrageous 13 goals and 20 assists in 35 games, scooping up the player of the season award for his incredible campaign.

However, his decline this season has been steep. The Belgian has struggled with injuries this term, and, like Aguero, has become more of a squad player. He has only played 33 times in all competitions, with five goals and eight assists to his name.

Premier League

22

1279

3

7

Champions League

7

397

0

0

FA Cup

3

198

2

1

Community Shield

1

1

0

0

We have still seen quality from De Bruyne in his final season as a City player, despite his decline. That included a fantastic free kick against Crystal Palace in their most recent Premier League outing.

With that being said, it is a shame to see such a legend of the game in the final throes of his Premier League career. He has given so much to the game and has been sensational in a City shirt for years.

Their fans will no doubt want to see him end on a high in the final weeks of his time at the club.

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The final few months of the season are vital for Manchester United. Ruben Amorim’s side are chasing a spot in the Champions League, although not from their finish in the Premier League. The Red Devils’ only hope of returning to Europe’s elite club competition is by winning the Europa League.

They will no doubt be looking to end the campaign on a high, starting with a win over Manchester City on Sunday afternoon. They then face Lyon in the Europa League quarter-final, first leg, away from home next Thursday. They are just two ties away from the final.

Getting Champions League football will be key for United, to attract the best players in the world. In fact, they have been linked with someone who certainly fits into that category.

Man Utd's search for a striker

One of the most intriguing transfer sagas in the 2025 window might well be clubs battling it out to sign Victor Osimhen. The Nigerian forward is currently on loan at Galatasaray from Italian giants Napoli but seems set to leave the club in the summer.

Transfer Focus

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According to a report from journalist Buchi Laba, United have ‘made it clear’ to the 26-year-old that he is ‘their first option’ this summer when it comes to signing a new centre-forward. Laba reports that an unnamed club from Spain has also informed Osimhen of the same thing.

In terms of a price for Osimhen, United could be looking at a fairly costly deal. The on-loan Galatasaray star reportedly has a release clause of £62.1m.

Last summer, when United signed Joshua Zirkzee, they agreed to pay slightly more than his Bologna release clause but will pay it off in installments, so perhaps there will be scope to structure the deal for Osimhen in a similar way.

Why Osimhen would be a good signing

Make no mistake about it, Osimhen would immediately upgrade the Red Devils’ side. Football statistician Statman Dave described him as “the best number nine on the market” after he scored his 14th goal in ten games for club and country over the weekend.

His form for Turkish giants Galatasaray this term has been extraordinary. In 32 games across the campaign, he has found the back of the net 28 times, as well as chipping in with five assists.

Two of those goals came away from home against United’s Premier League rivals, Tottenham Hotspur, in the Europa League.

The 26-year-old has shown consistent goal-scoring form over the past few seasons. His record for Napoli is excellent, with 76 goals in 133 games for the Italian giants. In each of his four seasons at the club, he scored at least ten Serie A goals, including 26 in 32 games in 2022/23.

As for Osimhen’s underlying numbers on FBref, they are nothing short of elite. For example, he averages 0.78 goals each game, ranking him in the top 10% of strikers across Europe, and averages 3.44 shot-creating actions per 90 minutes, placing him in the top 8%.

Goals

0.78

90th

Shots

5.94

99th

Shots on target

2.73

99th

Expected goals

1.04

99th

Shot-creating actions

3.44

92nd

Just imagine how deadly he would be playing with Bruno Fernandes. The United captain has been sensational this term, with an extraordinary 16 goals and 16 assists in 45 games. He has been the key source of creativity for the Red Devils.

In fact, just like Osimhen, his underlying numbers on FBref are some of the best in the world and showcase just how elite he is. Two standout numbers are the 3.05 key passes and 9.49 progressive passes per game, which rank him in the top 1% and 2% of midfielders across Europe, respectively.

That seems like a match made in heaven. An elite goalscorer like Osimhen, combined with one of Europe’s best creators in Fernandes, would surely be a dream combination for the Red Devils.

Although a deal to sign Osimhen could be costly, they surely cannot afford to pass up on the chance to sign one of the deadliest finishers in Europe, especially when they have a star like Fernandes playing behind him. In that sense, this seems like a transfer United have to get over the line.

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