Liverpool Plotting Swoop To Bring £17m "Mountain" To Anfield

Liverpool are considering a summer swoop to bring Torino defender Perr Schuurs to the Premier League, according to reports.

Who is Perr Schuurs?

Schuurs is a centre-back who currently plays his football for Ivan Juric’s side having joined from Ajax last summer, and he’s been a regular feature during his debut season, clocking up a total of 33 appearances to date.

The Dutchman still has another three years to run on his contract, but being the Serie A outfit’s top-performing defensive player, has caught the eye of Jurgen Klopp, and it’s not the first time he’s been talked about at Anfield.

The Reds reportedly wanted to sign the 23-year-old back in 2020 but never fully pursued a move, though with the boss believed to be entering the market for a new centre-back during the upcoming window, it appears that he’s ready to return and take a second bite of the cherry for his former target.

Are Liverpool signing Schuurs?

According to CaughtOffside, Liverpool have “added” Schuurs to their “list” of transfer options ahead of the 2023/24 campaign. The Merseyside outfit are “considering” an approach for the 6 foot 3 colossus who is also attracting interest from Juventus, and it’s stated that Torino would be “ready to start negotiations” for a fee between €20-25m (£17-21m) in order to sanction his sale.

Netherlands defender Perr Schuurs.

Should FSG submit an offer for Schuurs?

Football Insider have reported that Liverpool are open to offers for Joel Matip and Nat Phillips this summer so backline reinforcements will be needed should one or both of the duo depart, and having been dubbed a “mountain” by journalist Josh Bunting, Schuurs could be a perfect acquisition.

The Nike-sponsored titan averaged 3.2 clearances and two aerial wins per league game last season, via WhoScored, not to mention that he made 51 tackles which was the second-highest number in his squad, highlighting how much of a rock he can be (FBRef).

The Nieuwstadt native, who has the versatility to operate slightly higher up in defensive midfield, can also get involved at the opposite end of the pitch having posted three goal contributions (two assists and one goal) in 33 outings for Torino.

Finally, Schuurs already knows what it takes to compete for silverware and be successful at the highest level having secured six trophies throughout his career, so he would be able to match and even add to the winning mentality of the current squad already at Anfield.

Phil Hay Throws 46-Year-Old Into The Mix For Leeds Job

Leeds United are believed to be interested in making Daniel Farke their next manager, according to an update from reliable journalist Phil Hay.

How is the Leeds manager search going?

The Whites have been hard at work looking for a new manager since Sam Allardyce departed earlier this month, with a host of names thought to be in the conversation. It is an appointment that is so important as Leeds prepare for life back in the Championship, so it is imperative that the decision isn't rushed, with the right man coming in.

The likes of Steven Gerrard and Carlos Corberan have emerged as apparent frontrunners to take charge at Elland Road as things stand, but there doesn't appear to have been any significant progress made with either.

A new update suggests that another candidate has now been thrown into the race to find Leeds' new manager, in what could be an interesting appointment.

Could Farke be heading to Elland Road?

Taking to Twitter, Hay claimed that Farke was a strong contender to replace Allardyce and begin the rebuild with the Whites, also naming four other individuals at the same time:

"Appointing a head coach is the club’s key priority. Corberan/Parker/Gerrard/Rodgers all been looked at. Mentioned in this piece, Daniel Farke now very much in the mix too."

Farke could be a really positive appointment this summer if a move comes to fruition, with the 46-year-old proving himself in English football in the past.

He guided Norwich City to the Premier League on two separate occasions, winning the Championship title in 2018/19 and 2020/21, while he is also fresh off the back of a spell at Bundesliga side Borussia Monchengladbach, albeit after being sacked recently.

Farke is more proven than someone like Gerrard or Corberan in terms of age and experience at this level, so he could be considered a safer pair of hands by incoming Leeds owners 49ers Enterprises.

The fact that he has proven to be an expert at getting out of the Championship is arguably his greatest asset, though, with the Whites desperately in need of making a quickfire return to the Premier League rather than languishing in the second tier for too long.

Jurgen Klopp once hailed the "incredible" job that Farke was doing at Norwich, which is big praise from such a huge figure in the game, and he should be considered one of the stronger candidates to take over at Leeds.

Nick Lee appointed Sri Lanka's trainer

Nick Lee, the 32-year-old former right-hand batsman from Kent, has been appointed Sri Lanka’s trainer, the SLC announced on Sunday

ESPNcricinfo staff25-Sep-2016Nick Lee, the 32-year-old former right-hand batsman from Kent, has been appointed Sri Lanka’s trainer, the SLC announced on Sunday. Lee will replace Michael Main, the former Hampshire strength and conditioning coach, who was initially appointed for a two-year term in May last year but quit from his post at the end of the home series against Australia. Lee will assume his role from October.Lee was part of the minor county side Suffolk, and was a presence in the Minor Counties Championship tournament for over six years, until 2010. He played 13 matches in his first-class career, in which he scored 490 runs at 30.62, including three half-centuries and a highest of 79 not out. He is part of the Sussex set-up in county cricket, currently working as a strength and conditioning coach.

"Exceptional" Coach Could Be Leeds’ New Manager

The futures of both Leeds United and chairman Andrea Radrizzani are unclear but the Italian could still have a big say in the decisions that take place at Elland Road over the summer.

The West Yorkshire outfit look destined for the Championship after Sam Allardyce's interim appointment failed to have the desired effect, while Radrizzani is seemingly still in conversation with the 49ers over a potential buyout.

However, the Italian chairman could leave Leeds with a parting gift, if he can convince Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou to become the new manager at the club.

Could Leeds hire Ange Postecoglou?

According to Football Insider, the 57-year-old is keen on a move to England this summer and is on the wanted lists of both Tottenham Hotspur and Leeds, with the Bhoys fearful that he will depart Celtic Park.

Whether or not Postecoglou would swap the Champions League for the Championship next season remains to be seen but there is little doubt that the former Yokohama F. Marinos boss could bring success and attacking football back to Elland Road, given his superb tenure at Celtic.

Since his appointment in 2021, the experienced manager has taken charge of 111 games for Celtic, earning a remarkable 2.3 points per game, while also winning two league titles and two Scottish Cups.

For context, Marcelo Bielsa would manage just 1.61 points per game across 170 games in charge of Leeds, which emphasises just how much of a winning mentality Postecoglou has cultivated at Celtic.

Leeds United chairman AndreaRadrizzanilooks on from the stands

Previous spells in Australia and Japan have seen him develop an "exceptional" knowledge of a relatively underused footballing market, certainly in England, with the likes of Reo Hatate, Kyogo Furuhashi and Daizen Maeda all joining from Japanese sides and playing a big part in Celtic's recent success.

Postecoglou would certainly bring an attacking, adventurous style of play to Elland Road should he become Leeds' new manager, with both Pep Guardiola and Raheem Sterling impressed after a pre-season game against Yokohama.

Guardiola said: "Yokohama played some incredible football and they were an incredible test for us. I knew how good they were and it was tough for us."

Sterling added: "They’re probably one of the best teams I’ve seen play out from the back and they played some great football so it was a great test for us."

If he was given time to rebuild Leeds, Postecoglou could be the perfect man to re-establish the winning mentality at the club which has been missing in recent seasons, so Radrizzani should definitely be doing all he can to bring him in regardless of what happens this weekend.

West Ham Could Start £65k-p/w Star v Alkmaar

West Ham United are in action on Thursday night as they bid to reach the final of the Europa Conference League.

The first leg started worryingly for the Hammers, as AZ Alkmaar took the lead just before the interval through a strike from Tijjani Reijnders that shocked the London Stadium.

Luckily for David Moyes, his side put things right before the end of the first 90-minute instalment of the tie, thanks to a Said Benrahma penalty and a 75th-minute Michail Antonio winner.

On Thursday, the Irons take a 2-1 lead to the AFAS Stadium with the goal to reach the final against one of Basel or Fiorentina in Prague.

A lot of West Ham’s success this season rides on the outcome of the semi-final, with the Hammers just scraping safety, Moyes’ influence could be further questioned should his side fail to make the final.

Should Lukasz Fabianksi start in the semi-final?

Following the first leg of the semi-final, there has been increased debate about whether Moyes should hand Lukasz Fabianski his first minutes of European football this term in the semi-final.

The 38-year-old has been favoured in the Premier League over Alphonse Areola, who has played every game in the Conference League this campaign.

In the last fixture, the Frenchman was arguably at fault for Alkmaar’s opener, with his attempt to keep the ball out from his near post dubbed as “shocking” by one prominent West Ham fan account on Twitter.

While the two shot-stoppers are perhaps similar in quality, the former-Arsenal shot-stopper has the edge in one crucial attribute that could merit his start on Thursday evening in a game that could define the club’s season.

Lukasz Fabianki for West Ham

Indeed, Fabianski has 11 Premier League penalty saves to his name in 350 appearances, and has been lauded for his abilities at saving penalty kicks in the past, including being praised as “faultless” by Arsene Wenger in 2010 for his Champions League spot save against Partizan Belgrade.

Last time out the £65k-per-week ‘keeper earned a Sofascore match rating of 7.5 against Brentford in the Premier League, a performance higher than Areola’s in the European competition, who scored 6.5 in the first leg.

It’s a tough call for Moyes to make, with the Frenchman being a professional member of the squad in his patience which is rewarded through his starting place in the cup competitions.

With so much at stake for both manager and club, only time will tell if the Scotsman makes the audacious decision to switch who starts between the sticks in the Netherlands.

Newcastle Eyeing Move For £35m-Rated "Wonderkid"

Newcastle United could be set to raid a Premier League rival this summer, with recent reports suggesting that the Magpies are interested in Leeds United sensation, Wilfried Gnonto.

What's the latest on Gnonto to Newcastle?

According to club insider, NUFC Blog, the Tynesiders are seemingly keeping a close eye on the Elland Road outfit's fight for survival, amid the prospect of potentially snapping up the teenage Italian on the cheap this summer if his current side are to suffer relegation.

The report suggests that Eddie Howe and co are 'aware' that 'several capable Premier League players will be available' at the end of the season with the likes of Leeds, Leicester City and Everton all battling to avoid the drop, with Gnonto among those of interest to the St James' Park hierarchy.

The diminutive 19-year-old only made the move to Yorkshire on a £3.8m deal last summer, although a move away from the Whites could already be on the cards, with the likes of Arsenal and Manchester City also reportedly keeping tabs on his progress.

Should Newcastle sign Gnonto?

Despite his relative youth, Gnonto has enjoyed an impressive debut campaign with his current side thus far despite the club's collective woes, having contributed four goals and four assists in 24 games across all fronts thus far.

A real livewire in attack, the 5 foot 7 ace seemingly has that "X-Factor about him" – according to writer Casey Evans – having also been lauded as a "wonderkid" by talent scout Jacek Kulig during his time at former club FC Zurich, where he provided 22 goal involvements 74 games in all competitions.

The Verbania-born speedster was also dubbed the "new Obafemi Martins" by Kulig after leaving Inter Milan's youth ranks in 2020, with the ex-Newcastle striker having also left the Serie A side in order to make his move to Tyneside back in 2006.

Newcastle United's Wilfried Gnonto

While Martins may not be a real star name for those of a Magpies persuasion, the now-retired marksman did enjoy a respectable three-year spell in the northeast, having scored 35 goals and racked up ten assists in 104 games in total.

Something of a unique talent, the 42-cap machine was hailed as a "special player" by former boss Kevin Keegan back in 2008, with the legendary figure also going on to state that he had "never worked with a player like him".

Gnonto, too, is also able to offer a rather unpredictable quality having been lauded as "like a firework" by pundit Noel Whelan, as he is just such an "exciting player", with it easy to see why the £35m-rated asset is attracting such interest.

The hope will be that the youngster can prove a more successful signing than that of Martins – who was part of the side that suffered relegation in 2009 – and go on to become a leading figure in Howe's squad over the coming years.

Tottenham Hotspur Linked With "Extraordinary" 64 y/o Manager

Tottenham Hotspur could look at appointing Lazio boss Maurizio Sarri as their new manager, according to recent reports from Italy.

What's the latest Tottenham manager news?

The Telegraph have reported Tottenham have compiled a four-man shortlist of managers, with Julian Nagelsmann said to be their top target, however they face a potential stumbling block, as the compensation may be too expensive.

If Spurs are unable to bring in the German, they could look at appointing Fulham boss Marco Silva, with Football Insider recently detailing the Cottagers are set for contract talks for the 45-year-old, in order to prevent an approach from the north London club.

Journalist Dean Jones has reported the Lilywhites are still interested in Burnley's Vincent Kompany, while the likes of Brendan Rodgers, Thomas Frank and Oliver Glasner could also be considered, as per a report from 90min.

It is still anyone's guess as to who will take over at Tottenham this summer, and there has been a surprise name thrown into the mix by Italian outlet Il Messaggero, as relayed by Citta Celeste (via Sport Witness).

Spurs could reportedly make a move for Sarri, who is said to be attracting the interest of a number of Premier League clubs, and strangely he has also been linked with a move to Newcastle United, who don't look like they'll need a replacement for Eddie Howe any time soon.

The report speculates that a move to Tottenham makes the most sense of the name-checked suitors, but Sarri has recently rejected a big-money move to manage in the United Arab Emirates, indicating he is pretty happy at Lazio.

Should Tottenham go for Maurizio Sarri?

It seems unlikely that Daniel Levy would approach the Italian, although he has done a very good job as manager of Lazio this season, with his side currently sitting second in the Serie A standings.

Arsenal midfielder Jorginho has previously hailed the 64-year-old as "extraordinary", and he did enjoy some success during his last spell at an English club, leading Chelsea to a Europa League triumph in 2019 and finishing third in the Premier League.

Known for utilising an attacking 4-3-3 system, there are indications the Napoli-born tactician would bring an exciting brand of football back to Tottenham, but he is not the manager they need at this moment in time.

At just 35-years-old, Nagelsmann is likely to be a more viable long-term option than Sarri, and he should remain the club's top target.

Arsenal Tipped To Make 3 "important" Transfers

Journalist Fabrizio Romano has revealed that Arsenal could sign as many as three "important" players in what will be a "busy" transfer market this summer.

What is the latest Arsenal transfer news?

After a comprehensive 4-1 win on the weekend, the Gunners have maintained their eight-point lead at the top of the Premier League table.

And with just nine games left to play, Mikel Arteta and co will be firmly focused on winning the club's first title since the 2003/04 season.

However, some figures behind the scenes – such as sporting director Edu Gaspar – will no doubt be making big plans for the future.

With that in mind, while talking about the club's future transfer business on the House of Champions: A CBS Soccer Podcast, Romano revealed some exciting information.

Indeed, the journalist explained (15:13): "I think it's going to be a busy summer for Arsenal, they will try to go to the next step of the project.

"So to bring in important players. They had kind of rebuilding in the last few years, but now they want to bring in maybe 1,2, 3 important players and so let's see what they're gonna plan.

"I'm sure midfielders, offensive players, maybe [a] fullback. This could be the market for Arsenal. But now the full focus is on the Premier League.”

Who are Arsenal trying to sign this summer

It remains to be seen who exactly the Gunners will target but one man heavily linked is West Ham and England midfielder Declan Rice. While a big bid was launched in January to try and land Moises Caicedo.

Beyond those two, fullback Ivan Fresneda of Real Valladolid was also reportedly targeted in the winter window, so perhaps Arsenal will come back in for him – especially if Kieran Tierney leaves amid transfer exit talk.

Oleksandr Zinchenko in action for Ukraine.

Those are just a few names and that doesn't account for the potential "offensive" option Romano also references with his latest update.

Of course, the Gunners will likely already have a list of names drafted up as targets but their ability to land their number one options may well depend on whether or not they can win the title.

At the very least, they will almost certainly be able to offer Champions League football next season, which will come as a big draw for many players from across Europe.

And so, taking it all into account, it does seem as though Arteta will get a few new shiny toys to play with next season, on top of his already exciting squad.

Leeds Want 8-Trophy Defender

Leeds United appear to be ‘in the front row’ to sign full-back Alex Grimaldo on a free transfer.

What’s the latest news on Leeds and Grimaldo?

Grimaldo has been on the books with Benfica since 2016 but could be about to end his seven-year association with the Portuguese side over the coming months. The 27-year-old, who shares the same agency as Leeds wingers Luis Sinisterra and Crysencio Summerville, has made 292 appearances for Benfica, contributing to an impressive 87 goals.

Capable of playing further as a left-midfielder if required, Grimaldo has won eight major trophies during his time with Benfica. His contract is set to expire at the end of June, though, with Elland Road seemingly a potential destination.

One Italian outlet provided an update on the defender’s future in the last 48 hours, with Leeds receiving a mention. They claimed that Juventus are eyeing a possible transfer, Napoli have set their sights on the player and Barcelona could be in the running. However, the report adds that Premier League sides are also keen, with ‘Leeds in the front row’.

Would he fit in at Elland Road?

Junior Firpo was the club’s only senior left-back option at the start of the season, however, with the Spaniard missing large parts of the campaign through injury, former manager Jesse Marsch decided to use centre-back Pascal Struijk in that position.

Struijk is now considered a left-back by Transfermarkt as a result of his 20 appearances during the current campaign, but there could be an argument for Leeds to bring in another full-back over the coming months, especially a player of Grimaldo’s quality. The Spaniard has been used to turning out in either the Champions League or Europa League since moving to Benfica, gaining plenty of experience at the highest level.

He has proven quality in the final third with 87 goal contributions and once came in for heavy praise from former Benfica sporting director Tiago Pinto, who said two years ago that Grimaldo ‘is one of the best five left-backs in Europe’ and ‘is good enough to play for any side’.

Therefore, should head coach Javi Gracia guide Leeds to safety over the coming months, a move for Grimaldo could well be one to keep an eye on, and securing his services would certainly add quality to the club’s left-back ranks, possibly resulting in Struijk returning to his former central role in the process.

Newcastle eyeing Napoli winger Hirving Lozano

Newcastle United are reportedly eyeing up a potential move for Napoli and Mexico winger Hirving Lozano this summer.

The Lowdown: Attackers wanted

Newcastle are in the market for new attackers in the summer, having recently been linked with the likes of Liverpool winger Diogo Jota and Reims striker Folarin Balogun, who is on loan from Arsenal.

Despite sitting in sixth place in the Premier League table, they are only the 10th highest scorers, and with their defensive record so good, the forward line is the area that they will likely want to strengthen first come the next transfer window.

The Latest: Lozano interest

As per Italian news outlet Il Mattino, the St. James’ Park outfit are one of a number of clubs ‘interested’ in signing Lozano this summer, with both Arsenal and Chelsea also thought to be in the mix.

The Mexico international would ‘accept’ a move to the Premier League, should Napoli sanction his sale.

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The Verdict: Get it done

Lozano boasts plenty of high-level experience at the age of just 27, as he has played 372 games at club level and also boasts 63 senior caps for his country (Transfermarkt).

In those matches, he has managed an impressive 129 goals, mainly operating from the wings.

Hailed as a player with ‘unique quality’ by his Napoli manager Luciano Spalletti, Lozano would add a different dynamic to the Magpies’ attack for next season, and it would be a real coup to sign him ahead of high-flying Arsenal and ‘big six’ club Chelsea.

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