Celtic currently have the biggest squad in the Scottish Premiership according to Transfermarkt with a total of 31 players in their senior ranks at Ange Postecoglou’s disposal.
Out of those current squad players, a handful of them made their way through the club’s youth academy to get where they are now.
One of which is right-back Anthony Ralston, who made ten appearances for the Hoops’ youth sides before eventually making his senior debut back in May 2016 in a 2-1 league defeat against St. Johnstone under former Celtic manager Ronny Deila.
Since then, the 23-year-old has gone on to make 59 appearances for Postecoglou’s side across all competitions, chipping in with seven goals and nine assists along the way.
The full-back has appeared in 21 of Celtic’s 30 league games in this campaign, scoring four goals and providing seven assists, showing just how much of an attacking threat he has been for the side from a defensive position.
As well as his incredibly useful attacking prowess, the Scotsman has not shirked away from his defensive duties either, having racked up an average of 1.6 tackles per game, leaving only Greg Taylor with a higher rate of tackles that has played more than two league games in this campaign.
In addition to this, Ralston, who is currently picking up a weekly wage of £7.5k-per-week according to Salary Sport, has made 1.7 clearances per game as well as 0.5 interceptions and 0.4 blocks.
His overall performances in the league have earned him a rating of 7.57, making him the second-highest rated player currently in Celtic’s squad according to WhoScored, as well as being the third-highest rated in the entire league.
Back in March 2018, Transfermarkt rated the defender’s market value at £450k, whereas it now stands at £1.62m, highlighting the significant increase it has taken as a result of his impressive efforts on the pitch for his side in recent weeks and months.
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Labelled as a “warrior” on the pitch for the Parkhead club as well as being a “huge” player for them according to his manager, Ralston has certainly been a success story for the club in terms of coming through their academy and becoming an important and impressive figure for them.
In other news: Ange drops behind the scenes Celtic update that will leave supporters devastated
Wolves have been fairly active in the transfer market since Fosun took charge of the club back in 2016 in terms of bringing new players to Molineux.
However, one example of a potential transfer deal that the Midlands club didn’t secure that has now proved to be a big mistake from the Chinese conglomerate is one for Jude Bellingham.
Back during the 2020 January transfer window, journalist Alan Nixon claimed that the Molineux outfit were “desperate” to sign the former Birmingham City midfielder before he eventually joined German club Borussia Dortmund in the following summer window in a deal worth a reported fee of £25m.
Since joining the Bundesliga side, the Englishman has gone on to make 81 appearances across all competitions including the Champions League and Europa League, scoring ten goals and providing 16 assists along the way.
This season has seen the midfield maestro play more minutes in the Bundesliga than any other outfield player in Marco Rose’s squad, chipping in with three goals and six assists, ultimately earning himself an overall performance rating of 7.2 from WhoScored, making him the third-highest rated Dortmund player below Erling Haaland and Marco Reus, showing just how important he is to his team.
The 18-year-old sensation has also started to become a regular in the senior England national team by making ten appearances since his debut in November 2020.
In April 2020, a few months after Wolves missed the chance of securing a deal for the midfielder, Transfermarkt rated his market value at £9.9m, but it now stands at a massive £67.5m, highlighting just how much the teenage talent has blossomed since his move to Germany.
Labelled as a “leader and also one of the most vocal in the team” according to Dortmund teammate Mats Hummels, as well as having a “scary” amount of potential by Roy Keane, it’s safe to say that Fosun dropped the ball by not securing Bellingham’s signature when they were apparently so eager to sign him.
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With the Englishman having been linked with a move back to the Premier League with Liverpool and Manchester United reportedly interested in him, it’ll be intriguing to see whether Wolves will be facing off against their previous transfer target in the future and see first-hand why they made a mistake in not signing him.
In other news: Insider drops big behind-the-scenes Wolves claim, supporters surely buzzing – opinion
As reported by The Daily Record, Rangers are interested in bringing former West Bromwich Albion defender Gareth McAuley to Ibrox this summer.
What’s the story?
The Light Blues know that in order to compete for silverware next season they must sort out their defensive line, conceding far too many goals in the Scottish Premiership last term.
The club are reportedly close to bringing Brighton man Connor Goldson to Glasgow, and it appears they’re already lining up his potential defensive partner.
The Daily Record report that Director of Football Mark Allen has already made contact with veteran Gareth McAuley’s representatives ahead of a potential switch to Ibrox this summer.
The defender left West Bromwich Albion after their relegation from the English Premier League and the paper say he is keen on a move to Ibrox to get first team football and extend his international career with Northern Ireland.
The Record also report however that Gerrard has yet to sign off on a move for the player, but is looking to sign as many as four defenders in this summer’s transfer window.
[brid autoplay=”true” video=”252976″ player=”12034″ title=”Watch 21 things that will definitely happen at the World Cup”]
Would he be a good signing?
With 78 caps for his country and over 200 English Premier League appearances to his name, McAuley does have immense experience that would be a benefit to Rangers next season.
However, at 38 years of age, he might have too many miles on the clock.
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The failure of Bruno Alves and Russell Martin last season brought into sharp focus that the Scottish Premiership is far from easy for established, experienced internationals and the worry would be that McAuley would end up similarly off the pace.
He played just nine times in the Premier League last term for the worst team in the division, so is clearly on the decline, and Gerrard needs young, hungry and ambitious players if he is to forge a winning side.
Three of four years ago this would have been a brilliant signing for the Light Blues, but now? The jury is out.
Liverpool have not been at their best this season, but Arne Slot will be relieved to have seen signs of progress throughout December, having climbed to fifth in the Premier League and crafted a six-game unbeaten streak.
However, the champions have recovered only the vestiges of their imperious form of last season, so confident and coherent as they stormed through the season and ended Manchester City’s dominance.
Sweeping summer transfer changes have left something to be desired, and it’s clear that Liverpool have joined the jam-packed race for Bournemouth forward Antoine Semenyo.
Liverpool looking at Semenyo alternative
Liverpool want Semenyo, but he is not the only talented winger on the market. Fabrizio Romano confirmed that Liverpool opened talks with the Ghanaian’s representatives last month, though have since cooled their interest.
But that could now change, with Alexander Isak ruled out for several months after fracturing his fibula against Tottenham last weekend. Moreover, uncertainty lingers over Mohamed Salah and his Anfield future.
But with both Manchester giants thought to be leading the race at this stage, Liverpool always needed to earmark alternatives, and they’ve found one who boasts even more talent than the Cherries star.
According to TEAMtalk, Liverpool have been in talks with the agent of Real Madrid icon Vinicius Junior, who has refused a contract extension at Santiago Bernabeu and is ready to leave next summer, before the final term of his £400k-per-week deal.
Chelsea and Manchester City are also keen, so sporting director Richard Hughes will need to put his negotiating skills to the test as he looks to complete a marquee signing to complete Liverpool’s frontline.
He won’t come cheap, however, with one report suggesting he’s worth a whopping £131m. That would make him the most expensive player ever in the British game.
Why Vinicius Junior would be Liverpool's best left winger since Mane
Vini’s soon-to-expire contract also means he might be available for a cut-price £80m fee, which isn’t too far above Semenyo’s valuation, with his £65m release clause active for the first ten days of the January transfer window.
Hailed as a “superstar” of a forward by former Los Blancos teammate Luka Modric, Vinicius Jr is a rare forward, endowed with strength and speed and an aura in the final third that translates to trophies and significant goal hauls.
He has only scored five goals in La Liga this season – supplying eight assists besides – but notched 41 goal contributions in all competitions last year, when he was on his A-game and feeling the love in the Spanish capital.
And even with the Brazil international finding himself out of form, he still ranks among the top 6% of positional peers across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for shot-creating actions, the top 1% for progressive carries and the top 4% for successful take-ons per 90, as per FBref.
He would add directness and danger to Slot’s Liverpool ranks, and his positional dynamism could even see the 25-year-old take the mantle as Liverpool’s new version of Sadio Mane, who was as sharp as a blade for the Reds, principally a left winger but with skills that translated across the frontline.
Vinicius Jr – Career Stats by Position
Position
Apps
Goals + Assists
Left wing
303
90 + 79
Centre-forward
64
29 + 16
Right wing
15
3 + 2
Attacking midfield
2
2 + 1
Data via Transfermarkt
Mane scored 120 goals across 269 Liverpool appearances, and he won the full gamut. Like Vini Jr, he boasted a wide repertoire of skills and he was excellent on the grand stage. Both widemen have starred and scored in Champions League finals.
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Luis Diaz is missed on Merseyside this season, having been sold to Bayern Munich in August, but Mane was a grade above, and he would be born again in the form of not Semenyo, but Vini.
Fleet-footed and invariably sharp in the final third, Mane was a crowd-pleaser, and his personality on the field helped endear him to the Anfield crowds. Vinicius Jr, you would think, would do the same.
Mane was a unique winger, deadly in front of goal and fiery and combative too. Vinicius Jr shares some interesting attributes with Jurgen Klopp’s old superstar, and he would be the perfect talent to improve Liverpool’s ranks in 2026.
Liverpool star looked like "the best player in the world", now he's Keita 2.0
One of Liverpool’s superstars has encountered a frustrating number of obstacles on Merseyside.
Wolves’ defence has been the fourth-best team in the league, conceding just 21 goals, but on the flip-side, just Norwich City and Burnley have failed to better their tally of 24 scored.
Fans have been crying out for more quality in attack for some time now, stretching as far back to the dull days of Nuno Espirito Santo, before he endured even duller days at Tottenham.
Daniel Podence, Raul Jimenez and Hwang Hee-Chan have all scored five each this campaign, and the first two, in particular, seem to have hit a bit of form recently, having produced seven goal contributions in 2022 already between them.
One player who has struggled in particular though, is on-loan Barcelona winger Francisco Trincao, who could be signed by Wolves for £25m at the end of the season should they choose to.
However, given that he has registered zero goals and zero assists in the Premier League since arriving at Molineux, the likelihood of that transfer fee being paid by manager Bruno Lage is becoming increasingly unlikely – particularly with the return of fan-favourite Pedro Neto imminent.
The forward has been out of action since last April, after fracturing his kneecap during a match against Fulham, but prior to that he had scored five goals and provided six assists in 31 Premier League appearances – earning high praise from Jamie Carragher, who labelled him as a future “superstar”.
With both Trincao and Neto left-footed wingers capable of operating off the right-flank, it seems illogical to continue starting a player who is just on-loan, and hasn’t shown enough of a cutting-edge in the final third, opposed to starting a contracted Wolves player who has already won the fans’ hearts partially thanks to his significant goal contributions last year.
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Despite taking 1.1 shots per game, the Barca loanee has a total expected goals for the season so far of just 2.7, as well as an expected assists tally of 0.9, meaning it is clear that things haven’t worked out for him at Molineux, and it’s time to see the former Lazio man who cost £16m return to the starting line-up.
In other news: Lage must now finally unleash WWFC’s “very fast” £4.6m “wonderkid”, he’s game-changing…
Manchester United have held ‘positive talks’ with Ajax boss Erik ten Hag, Sky Sports News report.
The Lowdown: Four candidates
The Red Devils are making a start on their search for a new full-time manager, with interim boss Ralf Rangnick expected to move into a consultancy role at Old Trafford over the summer.
Ten Hag is thought to be a candidate for the position along with Paris Saint-Germain manager Mauricio Pochettino. The pair have been linked with the Old Trafford post for a number of months, however, Julen Lopetegui and Luis Enrique are now thought to be two other options that United chiefs have discussed.
The Latest: Sky Sports update
Sky Sports News shared a breaking update live from TV regarding United’s managerial search on Twitter on Wednesday morning.
They revealed that Ten Hag has held ‘positive talks’, however, they added that ‘Sky Sports News have been told’ that there is no favourite for the role at this moment in time, with United wanting to speak to the other candidates.
The Verdict: Good signs
It is good to see that the club are getting a head start on their search for a new boss instead of leaving it until the end of the season.
Ten Hag, who likes to play a 4-3-3 system, has an attractive CV, averaging an impressive 2.35 points-per-game with Ajax and lifting five honours as manager.
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He has clearly made a good first impression to United following talks, so it’ll be interesting to see how this one develops over the coming months.
In other news: ‘I’m told…’ – Insider now drops major Man Utd and Pogba update after Fabrizio Romano reveal.
With the typically ever-present Bruno Fernandes forced to take on a rare watching brief for Manchester United’s clash with Newcastle United, all eyes were on who would be the man to step up in the Portuguese’s absence.
For much of the first half, it was fellow playmaker Mason Mount who looked like taking on that mantle, with the resurgent Englishman at the centre of everything for the Red Devils, both in and out of possession.
The 26-year-old’s growing importance was none more so evident than when he was ultimately absent after the break, with the hosts simply retreating in that backs-to-the-wall second-half performance.
Frustratingly, it would appear that the ex-Chelsea man’s fitness woes have reared their ugly head again, with Mount simply unable to prove himself as a reliable presence in Ruben Amorim’s side, having lasted the 90 minutes on just two occasions all season.
As was evident with his strike away at Molineux, there is a quality player in there. Unfortunately, with his talents repeatedly overshadowed by injury, Amorim and co are in need of an upgrade.
Man Utd make Premier League midfielder their No.1 target
While Mount – signed for £55m back in the summer of 2023 – has typically been deployed in a left-sided number ten berth in Amorim’s 3-4-3 set-up, the recent tactical reshuffle has seen United’s number seven slot into something of a deeper role, orchestrating proceedings in almost Fernandes fashion.
It was the midfielder’s stunning switch which picked out Patrick Dorgu at Villa Park, in the build-up to Matheus Cunha’s agonising missed header, with there having been promising signs from the Champions League winner in recent weeks.
As already stated, however, Mount is frustratingly unable to remain fit and firing, with the need to continually manage his game time ensuring he has started just 29 of his 63 games for the club in all competitions.
With that in mind, and with the recent change to a back four seemingly set to continue, Mount could be a potential casualty, not least if INEOS are able to land Nottingham Forest sensation, Elliot Anderson.
According to the Daily Mail’s Nathan Salt, the 23-year-old is now the Old Trafford side’s “No.1 target”, with the England international wanted as the centrepiece of United’s midfield overhaul in 2026.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
As per the report, the ex-Newcastle man is likely to be more of a summer target for Amorim’s side, with the likes of James Garner being considered as more short-term alternatives for the New Year.
As previously indicated, any deal for Anderson – be it next month or next summer – is likely to cost upwards of £100m.
Why Anderson could be the perfect Mount upgrade
It hasn’t been seen enough, yet Mount’s quality is hard to question, with Amorim having singled him out as a “proper footballer” following his appointment back in November 2024.
When fit and firing, the injury-prone talent can be so influential to the current United iteration, notably ranking in the top 11% of attacking midfielders in Europe’s top five leagues for non-penalty goals per 90, as per FBref, as well as ranking in the top 8% for tackles made per 90.
He is an asset then at both sides of the game, although that is certainly also true of Anderson, with the Forest playmaker a master at breaking up play, albeit while having that progressive quality to match in possession.
Now the leading candidate to partner Declan Rice at next year’s World Cup, the youngster’s all-round quality was on full display in the Three Lions’ autumn internationals,
Indeed, he averaged 8.6 ball recoveries per game in World Cup qualifying, while also boasting a stellar 93% pass accuracy, as per Sofascore.
Such standout form has also been replicated even amid a turbulent Premier League campaign at the City Ground, averaging 8.4 ball recoveries, while also recording 1.6 key passes per game from his 17 starts.
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For comparison, Mount averages just 2.7 recoveries per game, even while leading the press under Amorim, having also averaged just 0.8 key passes from his 15 outings, only ten of which have come from the start.
Anderson vs Man Utd (01/11/25)
Stat
Record
Minutes
90
Touches
84
Pass accuracy
75%
Key passes
3
Possession lost
25
Dribbles
2/2
Tackles won
1/1
Recoveries
14
Total duels won
7/14
Stats via Sofascore
It may not seem as if Anderson would be a direct competitor to his compatriot, although it’s fair to say he isn’t just a safe and steady number six, with talkSPORT’s Max Scott even going as far as to suggest that he is like “Roy Keane, Paul Scholes and Zinedine Zidane all rolled into one”.
Also lauded as a “world-class” talent by commentator Jamie Martin, the in-demand Geordie has the tools to operate in a more advanced, box-to-box role if required, memorably registering 13 goals and assists in just 21 games on loan at Bristol Rovers a few years ago.
Unlike Mount, who hasn’t featured for his country since the 2022 World Cup, Anderson is now a central figure in the Thomas Tuchel regime, showcasing which of the pair really is the man on the rise right now.
Mount might be Amorim’s man, yet with Friday evening having been the latest in a long line of frustrating setbacks in his stop-start United career, the time might have come for the Portuguese to hang his hat on another classy midfield operator like Anderson.
Tevez 2.0: Man Utd "maverick" is looking like a bigger talent than Semenyo
Manchester United may appear set to miss out on Antoine Semenyo, but that isn’t the end of the world.
Transfer insider Graeme Bailey has revealed that Newcastle United could now be in the mix to sign Harry Kane this summer.
The Lowdown: Future uncertain
Kane’s future at Tottenham Hotspur remains uncertain, with Manchester City still and Manchester United now reportedly interested in signing him in the summer.
Some pundits believe that he will leave Spurs, especially if they fail to qualify for the UEFA Champions League.
Kane has just picked up the Premier League’s Player of the Month (POTM) award for March, which is a joint-record seventh time with Sergio Aguero, and really needs to be playing in a team with the ambition to win trophies.
The Latest: Kane on radar
Writing in his latest piece for 90min, Bailey has revealed that Kane is one of a number of high-profile players on the St. James’ Park faithful’s radar this summer, should he end up quitting North London.
Kalvin Phillips, John Stones, Sven Botman, Nico Schlotterbeck, Lloyd Kelly, Hugo Ekitike, Darwin Nunez, Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Patrik Schick are also mentioned, as well as a potential permanent deal for Matt Targett.
Bailey has also revealed that the Tyneside outfit have set a £100m budget for the summer transfer window, and taking to Twitter, he added that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) consortium’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) have made it clear that money is available for marquee signings:
“Newcastle have set a transfer budget for the summer. Eddie Howe will be allowed to mould squad and will look for evolution rather than revolution. That said majority owners PIF have made it clear that there is a money available for marquee signings.”
The Verdict: Exciting
While there are some very exciting targets listed, Kane is the one that really stands out, and the fact PIF are willing to splash the cash if a marquee option becomes available should have supporters on Tyneside buzzing for the summer.
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After a slow start, he now has 22 goals and six assists in total over all competitions so far this season (Transfermarkt), and would no doubt be the kind of marquee signing that would make the world take notice of the Magpies.
Of course, Kane would have to believe in the long-term project, but with the ambition that the new owners have, he could well win trophies at the Toon in time if he joined.
In other news, find out what ‘interesting’ NUFC transfer update Craig Hope has now revealed here!
Having only recently returned to action after a long injury layoff, 18-year-old Celtic centre-back Bosun Lawal has wasted no time in relaunching his offensive on a regular spot within Ange Postecoglou’s senior squad.
Indeed, speaking back in December of last year, the defender made it perfectly clear that, having made a move from the Watford academy in the summer prior, his ambitions are to make his mark within the first-team setup at Parkhead before the current season is up, stating:
“Things have gone really well. I just hit the ground running and things have been going well for me personally. The hope is to make my debut with the first team, get my chance and really grab the moment and show people I’m capable of playing at a high level.
“I’ve trained with the first team a couple of times and it’s a really good level. The main point is the intensity, everyone is always at it, there’s no slacking. Ideally, I would like to achieve my goals this season. I just have to be ready and wait for the call.”
And, after putting on a dominant display in Celtic B’s recent 1-1 draw with Rangers in the Glasgow Cup, talk has already intensified regarding the teenager’s future at Celtic Park.
Indeed, during the fixture, former Celtic defender Tom Boyd – who was commentating on the match – was clearly extremely impressed with Lawal, stating of the youngster:
“I could do that; be comfortable on the ball, break forward, use your pace and speed. He’s certainly got a lot of those attributes. Sometimes that can be the thing that unlocks the door with [Celtic].
“Certainly the first team, the way we press, and the way we get forward and play in advanced areas. It’s often the centre-backs that are playmakers.
“He looks as though he’s very accomplished, very comfortable. [He can] just cause confusion in organised defences that we go up against. He’s certainly one that’s stood up and looking very comfortable in possession, a physical presence as well.”
Furthermore, Kieran Devlin also suggested that there is a great deal of enthusiasm surrounding the centre-back’s potential, writing in a recent article for The Athletic:
“Bosun Lawal is very well-regarded too, and there is enthusiasm about the possibility of [Lawal and Dane Murray’s] solid partnership extending to first-team level over the next few years.”
Indeed, it is not difficult to see why this opinion has been formulated of the youngster, as it was evident throughout the 1-1 draw with Rangers B that Lawal is a defender who is extremely comfortable on the ball, often bursting out of the backline on a surging run, or picking out a line-breaking pass with ease.
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The centre-back well and truly proved his creative eye in the second half of the fixture, picking the ball up in the opposition half, before playing a deft no-look pass through to Mackenzie Carse who subsequently fired home Celtic’s equaliser – as can be seen here.
As such, should Lawal continue to demonstrate this level of form over the remainder of the season, it would not be surprising to see the youngster earn a call up to Postecoglou’s first-team squad before the campaign is out – a move that, if the 18-year-old carries on his current level of trajectory, could well save the Bhoys millions of pounds in transfer fees.
In other news: Ange must avoid disaster on “big player”, he may be Celtic’s next £49.5m-rated talent
Richard Hughes has now been put on red alert in the race to sign Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk successor ahead of Real Madrid, according to recent reports.
Liverpool on red alert in race to sign VVD heir
The Reds have had a centre-back problem ever since missing out on Marc Guehi on deadline day. Left with just Ibrahima Konate, Van Dijk and the injury-prone Joe Gomez to choose from, Arne Slot has seen his side suffer defensively and forced to adopt a more pragmatic approach in recent weeks.
Slot's own Coutinho: Liverpool lodge enquiry over signing £70m “magician”
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ByAngus Sinclair
It’s a problem which could become worse before it gets better, however, with Ibrahima Konate still on course to leave the club as a free agent at the end of the season. It would leave Liverpool with just two senior central defenders and desperately needing to secure Guehi’s signature.
To that end, recent reports have claimed that Anfield chiefs are ready to make an offer to sign the Crystal Palace defender in hopes of beating the likes of Real Madrid to his signature next year.
That would at least replace Konate before their Van Dijk problem emerges. The Liverpool captain has less than two years remaining on his current deal and is likely to bring an incredible Anfield spell to an end when next season concludes.
His exit will hand the Reds an impossible task. Van Dijk has been one of, if not their most important players of their most successful Premier League era and there is arguably no one like him in European football.
Nonetheless, those in Merseyside are certainly willing to give it a good go. According to TeamTalk, Hughes is now on red alert in the race to sign Alessandro Bastoni.
£66m Bastoni could replace Van Dijk
Liverpool are reportedly among the clubs to be contacted by intermediaries about a potential move to sign Bastoni in 2026. Sources told TeamTalk: “Alessandro is happy at Inter, and in Italy, but at 26, there is the belief he might look to try his hand abroad. He is at the top of his game, and not many in the world currently compare to him.”
In terms of price, Liverpool will have to splash the cash once again if they want to sign the Italian from Inter Milan, given that the Serie A giants have set their price-tag at a hefty £66m. That fee would quickly look like a bargain if Bastoni became the heir to Van Dijk’s Anfield throne, however.
League stats 25/26
Bastoni
Van Dijk
Minutes
1,223
1,440
Progressive Passes
80
110
Tackles Won
25
5
Ball Recoveries
51
32
When compared to Van Dijk it’s easy to see why Liverpool have their sights set on Bastoni. The Italian has that unique composure in possession combined with a more aggressive nature off the ball than the Anfield captain.