All posts by n8rngtd.top

Chelsea have started their Club World Cup campaign with a relatively straightforward 2-0 victory over LAFC in the searing heat of Atlanta.

Enzo Maresca’s side were always expected to win, and it gave the Blues a solid start to the tournament. Next up is Brazilian side Flamengo this evening, and another win would seal a place in the knockout rounds.

The aim is to go as far as possible in the United States, especially with prize money for the winners of the competition set to reach $125m this summer.

Goals from Pedro Neto and Enzo Fernández on Monday were enough to seal the win over the MLS side, but it was the debut of Liam Dealp that was one of the most positive aspects of the win.

The striker arrived for a reported fee of £30m from Ipswich Town a few weeks ago, and on the surface, this move could turn into a bargain for the Stamford Bridge side. Indeed, just how well did the Englishman perform during his cameo against LAFC a few days ago?

Liam Delap’s game in numbers vs LAFC

Maresca went with Nicolas Jackson as his lone centre-forward against the American side, and he performed fairly well, grabbing the assist for Neto’s opener.

After 65 minutes, the Senegal international was subbed off in place of Delap, who was given just over half an hour to demonstrate his talents.

During this time, Delap made two key passes, succeeded with 100% of his dribble attempts, and created one big chance against LAFC.

It was his assist that showed exactly what the striker can do. He delivered a fine cross from the right flank straight into the path of Fernandez, who finished easily to seal all three points.

While Delap may have been signed to provide competition for Jackson in leading the line, his cameo proves the youngster can drop deeper and generate chances for his teammates.

It will be interesting to see whether Maresca deploys him from the start against Flamengo this evening or if he will remain on the bench.

With the transfer market now in full swing, the manager appears to be keen on signing another winger or two to add something different to his squad.

Jamie Gittens has been earmarked as the main transfer target, and it remains to be seen whether the Blues will secure a deal to sign the Borussia Dortmund winger over the next few weeks. There are plenty of alternatives, however, especially those who have plenty of Premier League experience…

Chelsea’s search for a new winger

According to the Guardian, Chelsea have made Gittens a priority this summer in a bid to bolster their attacking options.

Dortmund rejected a bid of around £42m for the young English talent, and it remains to be seen just how much Maresca will have to pay to secure his signature.

The report goes on to state that the Blues have also made contact with West Ham United to sign Mohammed Kudus this summer.

West Ham rejected an initial approach from the Stamford Bridge side regarding a swoop for the former Ajax man, who has also been targeted by Manchester United and Newcastle United.

The Irons would prefer a straight sale amid Maresca’s attempts at offering players in any prospective deal, and the Ghanaian sensation has a release clause worth £85m, which is valid for Premier League sides throughout the first ten days of July.

It remains to be seen if he will cost more than a potential deal for Gittens, though. Given his Premier League credentials and ability to develop further, might he not only be a better signing, but also could Kudus work well with Delap?

Why Chelsea must sign Mohammed Kudus

Kudus was excellent during his spell with Ajax. A total of 39 goal contributions across 87 games saw West Ham pay £38m to bring the winger to the Premier League.

Across his two seasons so far with the Irons, Kudus has scored 14 and five goals respectively, attracting attention from the likes of Chelsea and Man United.

The Ghanaian international has been hailed as a “generational talent” by journalist Gary Al-Smith when he is at his free-flowing best.

While he shone throughout his debut campaign, the 2024/25 season saw his goal output drop rather sharply.

While this may be a worry, Kudus still shone across a range of attacking metrics. Indeed, when compared with his positional peers in the top flight, the 24-year-old ranked in the top 17% for crosses into the opposition penalty area (0.52) per 90, while also ranking in the top 2% for take-ons attempted (7.23) and in the top 3% for successful take-ons (3.2) per 90 last season.

These attributes regularly see the winger beat his man to deliver balls into the box. Given Delap scored 11 of his 12 goals from inside the penalty area, he will usually be well-placed to tuck away chances created by Kudus.

Despite a fairly underwhelming season last term, throughout 2023/24, Kudus not only managed to create five big chances for West Ham in the Premier League, but also succeeded with an impressive 3.2 dribbles per game – a success rate of 62% – and averaged 0.8 key passes per match.

A move to Chelsea may reinvigorate the former Ajax starlet, especially as he will return to the Champions League, a competition he has previously starred in.

Indeed, the winger scored four goals and grabbed two assists in just six matches for the Dutch giants. With the Blues returning to Europe’s premier club competition next term, having someone like Kudus at his disposal could make Maresca’s job much easier.

Much will depend on the fee that can be agreed between the two clubs, but a potential deal for the 24-year-old could be a shrewd one for the club.

There is plenty of time left in the window, but with other clubs circling, Maresca may need to act swiftly.

A better move than Gittens: Chelsea make contact to sign "insane" £70m ace

Chelsea are searching for Jamie Gittens alternatives in the transfer window.

1

By
Jack Salveson Holmes

Jun 20, 2025

Mohamed Salah signed a two-year contract extension in April to keep him at Liverpool for the upcoming two seasons, ensuring Arne Slot has usage of his talisman as he looks to plunder further riches after an incredible term.

Liverpool won the Premier League in their first season since Jurgen Klopp stepped down from his post, and Salah was the main man. The Egypt international, who turned 33 last week, scored 29 goals and added 18 assists en route to the title, becoming the first man to achieve 47 goal involvements in a single 38-game English top-flight campaign.

However, as he gets older, Salah could do with some cover, especially with Federico Chiesa looking to return to his Italian homeland. Thus, a new right-sided forward should be signed.

How curious that Salah might be replaced by Liverpool’s next version of Sadio Mane.

Liverpool lining up new winger

What a summer this has been for the mighty Reds already. Florian Wirtz is expected to arrive in a jaw-dropping £116m deal, joining from Bayer Leverkusen alongside Jeremie Frimpong, while Milos Kerkez is set to sign from Bournemouth too.

Who could be next? Well, it might be another English-based player according to reports.

As per Caught Offside, Liverpool have entered the race for Southampton star Tyler Dibling, who is likely to leave St. Mary’s this summer. Chelsea are also keen, however, no official talks have taken place yet.

RB Leipzig have already seen a €35m (£30m) bid rejected for the England U21 international, with relegated Saints instead holding out for something more like €60m (£51m).

With so many teams in the race, Liverpool will need to act quickly to ensure they secure the signature of a teenage prospect who has the potential to become a superstar.

Why Liverpool should sign Tyler Dibling

Described as an “unreal talent” by analyst Ben Mattinson, there’s certainly something special about Dibling’s style, with his flamboyant dribbling, fast pace and capacity to manoeuvre out from tight spaces underscoring his potential in the Premier League.

Southampton endured a miserable campaign as they crashed back into the Championship, but the 19-year-old Dibling was a breath of fresh air, dynamic and positionally flexible, while simultaneously showing an attacking instinct which could be sharpened into something deadly over the coming years.

Who knows, given he has made his name with Southampton, Dibling might even prove Liverpool’s next version of Mane, certainly boasting the elasticity and electricity of the Senegalese legend, if not yet the crisp ball-striking.

Mane joined Liverpool from the southern outfit way back in 2016, in a deal worth £34m. Mane, 24 upon signing, had spent two seasons with Southampton, scoring 25 goals and laying on ten assists.

He had pace and skills and all the rest, but it was under the Anfield lights that he became a superstar, Klopp fashioning him into one of the world’s best.

Now, Dibling could do the same, but with a new man at the helm. The English youngster has even been called by former Saints Under-21 head coach Adam Asghar a “special” and “fearless” talent who “is an unbelievable ball-carrier and is always impacting games.”

He’s like a young Mane in that way, and indeed, would actually be making the move to Merseyside five years the left-sided forward’s junior, when he made the leap from Southampton.

Dibling would provide relief for Salah while proving himself useful across a range of different positions as Liverpool look to challenge for silverware across multiple fronts.

He’s the real deal, and Liverpool need to bring him over before they lose him to a divisional rival.

Their new Mo Salah: Liverpool favourites to sign "incredible" £84m striker

Liverpool are planning to sign a new number nine in the summer transfer market.

By
Angus Sinclair

Jun 16, 2025

With a new era on its way at the Hill Dickinson Stadium, The Friedkin Group and Everton are reportedly looking to sign fresh stars to match their new ground, which could yet see a £50m+ winger arrive.

Everton eyeing attacking reinforcements

It’s not the first time that the Toffees have been linked with attacking additions so far this summer and their plan of attack is clear. Looking to make a statement ahead of their first full season at the helm, Friedkin’s priority, based on recent rumours, is to add much-needed star power to David Moyes’ frontline.

That plan should come as no surprise, either. Whilst Everton improved their attacking numbers last season, they still lacked a consistent threat within their frontline even after Beto’s form picked up under Moyes. And with Dominic Calvert-Lewin still on course to leave the club as a free agent this summer, the Merseyside club must invest up front.

The main factor behind their struggle is clear for all to see. Last season, although improved, was still not a campaign full of goals to savour and only the bottom three managed to score less than Everton.

That stat, alone, may have been enough to send Everton marching towards the transfer market with rumours coming thick and fast as to who could arrive this summer.

Already, names such as Jack Grealish have already threatened to steal the headlines in what would certainly be a statement move by Friedkin. The Premier League-winner is on his way out of Manchester City, having been left out of their Club World Cup squad, and Everton could take full advantage.

He’s not the only name on their radar, however. Reports are also indicating that those in Merseyside have also set their sights on the “king of Lisbon”.

Everton battling to sign Geny Catamo

If not Grealish, then Friedkin could spend big on a talented alternative. According to Caught Offside, Everton are now battling to sign Geny Catamo from Sporting Club this summer. They are reportedly joined by Atletico Madrid, Arsenal, Aston Villa and others in a hectic race to welcome the 24-year-old in the coming months, but the deal won’t come cheap.

Everton fighting Leeds, Burnley and Sunderland for free agent signing

The Toffees are lining up a bargain transfer…

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By
Sean Markus Clifford

Jun 11, 2025

As reported, Catamo has a release clause worth as much as €60m (£51m) in Portugal and Sporting Club look likely to demand that in full if they are to sell their winger this summer. Of course, that verdict should not come as a surprise, given that the Everton target was dubbed the “King of Lisbon” by scout Jacek Kulig after he scored the winning goal against Benfica last year.

Whether Friedkin and Everton deem Catamo a player who is worth over £50m will be the big question in their pursuit. The winger himself, meanwhile, could yet decide to rescind his crown in Portugal this summer amid several interested parties.

Liverpool are basking in the glory of becoming Premier League champions and have now lined up a World Cup winner who could help their cause heading into next season.

Liverpool ready to strike in the summer window

Arne Slot and his group have reveled in the opportunity to celebrate their top-flight title triumph and finally got their hands on the trophy on Sunday afternoon after playing out a 1-1 draw with Crystal Palace at Anfield.

Despite the joyous scenes among supporters in the stadium on Sunday and at their parade on Monday, attention at the club will already have turned to what will happen next at Anfield as Liverpool look to become England’s dominant force for years to come.

The Dutchman shares that sentiment and is in for the long haul on Merseyside, as he said last week: “I could see myself working here for a long time because it’s a great club to work for and I’m really happy over here.”

Backing from FSG will likely play a huge part in his positive morale, which will be helped enormously by news that Bayer Leverkusen duo Florian Wirtz and Jeremie Frimpong are likely to sign for Liverpool this summer.

Developments of late indicate the finer details are what remain to be signed off on regarding both deals, and they won’t be the only arrivals at Anfield over the next few months to freshen up a squad that could be altered significantly.

Forget Gravenberch: Slot's 6/10 Liverpool star showed why he must be axed

Liverpool drew against Crystal Palace before lifting the Premier League trophy at Anfield.

By
Angus Sinclair

May 25, 2025

Carrying a ruthless streak is paramount to guarantee a consistent flow of success. Tough decisions need to be taken, though you get the impression that Slot isn’t one for letting sentiment get the better of him, with Milos Kerkez expected to come in to replace Andy Robertson at left-back.

Stocking up in defence, the former Feyenoord boss is now keen on bringing another steely operator to Anfield in light of Trent Alexander-Arnold’s departure.

Liverpool in the mix to sign Atletico Madrid's Nahuel Molina

According to CaughtOffside, Liverpool are willing to sign Atletico Madrid right-back Nahuel Molina, who could be available for between £25.1 million to £29.3 million this summer if Diego Simeone decides to cash in on the Argentina international.

Newcastle United, Inter Milan, Roma and Juventus are also in the race for the 27-year-old, who also thrived in Serie A at Udinese.

Praised by Lionel Messi for his role in Argentina’s win over the Netherlands at the 2022 World Cup, Molina has registered a goal and three assists in 44 appearances across all competitions this season.

With Conor Bradley already on the books at Anfield and Frimpong set to join him, it would be a surprise if Liverpool were to bring in a third right-back once the window opens.

However, depth is needed to juggle multiple competitions, so it may be a case of covering all bases for Slot in his pursuit of further silverware, and perhaps Frimpong’s ability to play further up makes room for another natural full-back.

A three-time league champion has now reportedly held talks with Rangers about becoming their next permanent boss this summer.

Rangers manager latest as 49ers eye new Ibrox boss

it has been confirmed that Barry Ferguson won’t continue in charge of the Gers, having only come in as interim boss midway through the campaign, taking his side into the Europa League quarter-finals but ultimately not doing enough to get the job on a full-time basis.

Instead, Rangers and prospective new owners the 49ers Enterprises now looking for the perfect manager to come in and guide the Scottish Premiership giants to future success, with club CEO Patrick Stewart recently providing an update on the search, saying:

“The review is progressing well. We have got a lot of insights into things that are going well and not well at Auchenhowie. I would really compliment the staff and how open and honest they’ve been. And they provided really valuable feedback to myself and also the consultants we’ve got on supporting with it. And we’re beginning to get some real tangible insights that are flowing into real recommendations that we’re starting to action.”

Steven Gerrard has constantly stood out as a leading choice for Rangers, having won the league title with them back in 2020/21, while Real Madrid assistant manager Davide Ancelotti has also been linked with the job.

Former Italy international Gennaro Gattuso is another rumoured contender, and now a new name has been thrown into the mix.

3-4-3 manager holds talks with Rangers

According to a significant update from BBC Sport, former Feyenoord manager Brian Priske has held discussions with Rangers about being their next boss.

The 48-year-old departed the Dutch club in February, being sacked after a disappointing run of results, but it looks like he is on the Gers’ list.

Priske is certainly a more proven option than the likes of Gerrard and Ancelotti, considering he has won an impressive three league titles in his managerial career to date.

Two of those came in his time in charge of Czech giants Sparta Prague, while another was during his stint at Danish outfit Midtjylland. He has also won one Czech Cup and Danish Super Cup apiece, so he knows how to deliver trophies.

Priske favours a 3-4-3 formation, getting the most out of his wing-backs, but he is also versatile in his tactics, switching to a 4-3-3 system at times with Feyenoord.

Stewart and those high up at Rangers have a massive decision to make this summer, and it is vital that they make the right appointment, following the doomed reign of Philippe Clement.

Rangers can forget about Gerrard & Ancelotti by hiring "one of the best"

Rangers are considering a few names to be the new manager at Ibrox

By
Ross Kilvington

May 23, 2025

The Gers need to hit the ground running next season, not allowing Celtic to pull away in the title race, and in Priske, they may have an experienced option who could back himself to win plenty of silverware at Ibrox.

Celtic ran out in front of their own supporters at Parkhead for the first time since they won the Scottish Premiership title when they faced Hibernian on Saturday.

The Hoops clinched the league title with a 5-0 win over Dundee United away from home at the end of last month, before they travelled across Glasgow to play out a 1-1 draw with their rivals last weekend.

It did, however, look as though Hibs were going to spoil the party when they took the lead at Celtic Park thanks to an opening goal from Martin Boyle in the 25th minute.

The Premiership champions, though, bounced back and led before the break after goals from Nicolas Kuhn and Adam Idah turned the game around, before Reo Hatate added a third in the second 45.

Cameron Carter-Vickers, who has suffered with hamstring injuries this season, was given the weekend off by Brendan Rodgers, in order to manage his minutes in the final few weeks of the season.

That opened up a position at the heart of the defence and the Northern Irish head coach opted to go with Auston Trusty next to Liam Scales.

Scales and Trusty's performances for Celtic this season

The Hoops reportedly paid a fee of £5m to sign Trusty from English side Sheffield United in the summer transfer window last year to bolster their left-sided centre-back options.

The USA international and Scales have competed for the starting berth next to Carter-Vickers at centre-back, but they have also had to play alongside each other at times when the former Spurs man has been unavailable, like on Saturday.

Although Celtic won the match comfortably in the end, Trusty, who lost 100% of his ground duels, had a moment to forget when his poor attempted clearance dropped straight to Boyle to find the back of the net.

Unfortunately, errors have been too common for the former Arsenal defender in the Premiership this season since his £5m move to Parkhead, particularly in comparison to Scales and Carter-Vickers.

As you can see in the table above, Trusty has made more errors that have led to shots, more errors that have led to goals, and been dribbled past more times, despite playing fewer matches than the other two centre-backs.

This also shows that Scales, who was unlucky to give a penalty away at Ross County, has been more reliable than the American dud in the Premiership.

This is despite the former Aberdeen loanee being worth just £3m, as per Transfermarkt, which is £2m less than the fee the club paid Sheffield United for the other left-footed defender.

The Ireland international has not made as many errors as the former Premier League flop and that may be why Rodgers has preferred him over Trusty alongside Carter-Vickers in recent weeks.

However, the Celtic boss did still opt to select Trusty on the right side of the defence over Maik Nawrocki, a naturally right-footed player, and the Hoops must ruthlessly ditch the Polish centre-back this summer as a result of his lack of minutes on the pitch this season.

Why Celtic should cash in on Maik Nawrocki

The 24-year-old defender, whose Transfermarkt value is just £1.7m, was an unused substitute once again against Hibernian, as he failed to add to his paltry two appearances in the Premiership in the 2024/25 campaign.

When questioned about Nawrocki’s lack of game time in March, Rodgers explained that it was because he prefers to have left-footed players on the left. He said: “I do always prefer where I can a left-footed centre-half on that side, in all honesty, because that allows you to get through the pitch quicker and have more speed playing forward.”

However, Carter-Vickers was unavailable against Hibernian and the manager still opted for Trusty on the right side, despite him being a naturally left-footed player who has the same problems that Nawrocki has playing out on his weaker side.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

This suggests that the former Legia Warsaw star’s lack of game time goes beyond Rodgers’ concerns about which side of the centre-back pairing he plays, as he was unwilling to give him minutes against Hibernian with no other right-footed centre-backs available and the title already wrapped up.

The most frustrating part of this for Nawrocki, however, may be that this has come after his impressive performances in the Premiership in his two outings in March.

All the way back in January of last year, Nawrocki told reporters that he was prepared for his moment to shine in a Celtic shirt, and that moment eventually came in March of this year when Trusty and Scales were injured and he was named in the XI against Rangers and Hearts.

As you can see in the table above, the Polish star took his chances to impress with dominant and reliable defensive displays in those two matches, which led to pundit Chris Sutton hailing him as “fantastic”.

However, Nawrocki has been an unused substitute for four matches, missed out on the matchday squad twice, and not played a single minute of football since the win and clean sheet against Hearts.

As aforementioned, his Transfermarkt value now stands at just £1.7m. This means that he is worth less than Scales (£3m) and Trusty (bought for £5m), whilst also being the least used centre-back option, with just two league outings.

Therefore, Celtic must brutally axe the 24-year-old outcast from the squad in the upcoming summer transfer window because he is a depreciating asset who is not getting enough minutes on the pitch.

Celtic could sign £11m star who'd be their best striker since Edouard

Celtic could land their best striker signing since Odsonne Edouard by signing this star.

By
Dan Emery

May 8, 2025

Rodgers has shown that he is not ready to trust Nawrocki ahead of Scales or Trusty and it is now down to the board to find a team that is willing to snap him up so they can recoup some money for his services ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.

Celtic are thriving on the field under Brendan Rodgers, but they may now be set for an unexpected turn of events behind the scenes following recent developments.

Brendan Rodgers aims to maintain Celtic winning culture

Evaluating the landscape of Scottish football, Celtic find themselves head and shoulders above the rest as they close in on another domestic treble.

Brendan Rodgers knows his side only need to defeat Aberdeen at Hampden later this month to achieve that feat, while he is also the third-most successful manager in the club’s illustrious history behind Willie Maley and Jock Stein.

However, there has been some speculation surrounding the Celtic boss as he heads into the final year of his contract at Parkhead with little to no update on a potential extension.

Like any manager worth his salt, Rodgers wants full backing from the Hoops hierarchy before his side take on the challenge of facing whoever they draw in the final round of Champions League qualifying.

Citing the need for signings, Celtic are very interested in Red Star Belgrade defender Veljko Milosavljevic, potentially laying down a marker with regard to what supporters can expect from their club in the summer market.

Fewer minutes than Nawrocki: Celtic must axe flop who's "not good enough"

Celtic must finally part ways with this player who has played fewer minutes than Maik Nawrocki.

By
Dan Emery

May 9, 2025

Stability at Parkhead has led to a steady stream of success. That hasn’t just come from the manager, but the rank and file department members that exist below his sphere of influence.

Nevertheless, everyone at one point will look to strike out on their own should the opportunity present itself. That is just the reality of career progression in the cold light of day.

With that in mind, Celtic could face a fight to hold onto one of their trusted coaches after the club were approached over his availability, per recent developments.

Swansea City approach Celtic to land Darren O'Dea

According to Sky Sports journalist Anthony Joseph on X, Swansea City have approached Celtic as they look to appoint Darren O’Dea as their assistant manager following Alan Sheehan’s appointment as head coach at the Swansea.com Stadium.

Former Republic of Ireland international O’Dea is currently the Bhoys’ Professional Player Pathway Manager, though he could now be set to swap Glasgow for the EFL Championship side if all parties agree on a deal.

O’Dea has also managed Celtic’s B Team in conjunction with Stephen McManus, and his departure may come as something of a surprise despite his ambitions of entering the dugout at senior level.

Either way, Hoops fans and figures from inside the club will wish him well if he were to take up Swansea on their offer, given his reputation as a bright young coach who has worked his way up the Lennoxtown ranks.

When the Premier League campaign kicked off, most watching Arne Slot away from a Liverpool prism harboured major doubts that he would be able to pick up where Jurgen Klopp left off.

It was the undoable task, the insurmountable obstacle, taking a long-held dynasty to another level. Both Arsenal and Manchester United slumped after their historic managers departed, but Liverpool have bucked the trend and then some.

Most harboured doubts, but Slot and his squad beavered away and built atop the firm foundations Klopp left. Now they are Premier League champions, and dominant winners at that.

Liverpool are now ahead, but they aren’t going to quit, rather build on Klopp’s crafted squad and go again next season. Attacking additions feel the most necessary, with Diogo Jota, Darwin Nunez and Federico Chiesa all reportedly at risk of being sold this summer.

However, the Reds will know that strengthening in the offensive third is something which could be achieved through different routes, and challenging Dominik Szoboszlai for a higher output is one of them.

Why Dominik Szoboszlai needs competition

Szoboszlai is the first Hungarian to win the Premier League, with his running power and energy so important to a Liverpool team that relies on transitions and overwhelming opponents.

However, in spite of his brace of assists as the title was clinched against Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday, he’s only posted 14 goals and 13 assists across 90 Liverpool appearances.

Liverpool need a more prolific attacking midfielder. That could be Szoboszlai, but he needs to up the ante in front of goal, perhaps taking a leaf from Philippe Coutinho’s book.

Coutinho was the harbinger of a new era of success at Anfield, the shining light during those few dreary post-Luis Suarez years before signing for Barcelona in January 2018 in a £142m deal. It sparked new levels of success, but Liverpool did lose an incredible attacking midfielder.

Coutinho was playing like a man possessed during that half-season, playing, admittedly, like a footballer hoping to transfer to Barcelona. In any case, he staked his claim as one of the Premier League’s most iconic playmakers.

There’s no doubt that Slot has taken Szoboszlai’s game to the next level, but it needs to rise higher still if he’s to solidify his status as a superstar at Liverpool.

Maybe he needs some fresh competition in attacking midfield, a Coutinho-esque player who could add that X-factor to the ranks. FSG appear to be keen on following that train of thought.

Liverpool chasing Premier League star

As per Football Insider, Crystal Palace star Eberechi Eze is ready to reject a move to Manchester United in favour of a move to either Liverpool or Arsenal this summer.

The 26-year-old doesn’t feel that a move to Old Trafford, which Gary Neville recently called a “graveyard for players and coaches,” would be in the best interest of his career trajectory.

Valued at £50m, Eze would mark a significant outlay and FSG have some doubts regarding his consistency in front of goal, but Slot’s coaching acumen would be sure to take the England international’s game to the next level.

Why Eberechi Eze could be perfect for Slot

While the right-footed Eze’s fleet-footedness lends itself to a place on the left flank, he’s played plenty of football in a more central berth under Oliver Glasner and could be utilised across two areas at Liverpool.

Slot, shrewd tactical mind that he is, would be sure to raise Eze’s game to the next level, having proved himself across a number of years as one of the Premier League’s finest.

Fulham manager Marco Silva even waxed lyrical about the player’s quality earlier in the season, saying: “Everyone who loves football should enjoy seeing Eze on the pitch.”

He’s certainly backed up that praise with high-level performances in the Eagles regime, scoring nine goals and providing 11 assists across all competitions in 2024/25.

As per FBref, he ranks among the top 18% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for assists, the top 8% for ball recoveries and the top 15% for successful take-ons per 90.

This effectively underscores the creativity and athletic approach that Eze brings to the table. It’s a blend which could even see the talent become Liverpool’s next version of Coutinho.

Transfer Focus

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

The Palace man is certainly capable of producing show-stopping moments, rifling a stunning strike past Aston Villa’s Emi Martinez last weekend to send his side to the FA Cup final, where Manchester City now await.

Respected journalist Henry Winter hailed the midfielder for his “magnificent goal and display,” proving to the world that he has that fizzling quality which could see him slot right into Liverpool’s system as the new version of Coutinho.

Of course, Eze has also been described as a “magician” by pundit Micah Richards in the past, with that unique take on the game to remind Liverpool fans of the thrill of having such a silky attacking midfielder in their mix.

Like Coutinho back in his Liverpool heyday, Eze is also willing to get stuck in, averaging 1.2 tackles and winning five successful duels per Premier League fixture, as per Sofascore, something, if you refer back to the table from earlier, Coutinho excelled at.

With ten big chances created across 28 top-flight starts this term too, Liverpool truly could get their hands on one of the most exciting players below the top rung of the divisional ladder.

His playmaking skill could be doubly important given Liverpool are set to lose Trent Alexander-Arnold this summer, but whichever way you swing it, Eze is an exciting talent capable of seat-raising stuff, just like Coutinho.

Liverpool struck gold on "world-class" star who was worth more than Palmer

This Liverpool star has immortalised his name after his years of service.

1

By
Angus Sinclair

Apr 28, 2025

Everton’s winless run against Manchester City continues as Pep Guardiola’s side scored twice in the final ten minutes to secure victory.

Not since a 4-0 victory during the 2016/17 season have the Toffees tasted success against the Etihad side, although they did come close to sealing a draw at Goodison this afternoon.

David Moyes’ men held out resolutely throughout the match, but in the end, City’s quality shone through as goals from Nico O’Reilly and Mateo Kovacic stole the three points.

With Premier League survival sealed, Moyes can now experiment over the final few matches of the campaign.

Against City, several players starred, whereas others struggled to make much of an impact.

Everton’s best and worst players against Man City

Before coming off with an injury, James Tarkowski enjoyed a solid display. He won 100% of his total duels contested, along with losing possession just four times. Would Everton have lost if he had still been on the pitch? Hindsight is a wonderful thing.

Elsewhere, Abdoulaye Doucoure looked solid after netting a late winner last week. He succeeded with all four of his dribble attempts while winning 50% of his total duels during the game.

These two were the standouts, but a few of the starting XI struggled to contribute much. Jack Harrison delivered yet another poor performance on the right wing. He failed to deliver a single accurate cross from five attempts, lost possession 13 times and made just one key pass.

Armando Broja was by far the worst performer in an Everton shirt at Goodison today, however, that’s for sure.

Why Armando Broja must be axed by David Moyes

The on-loan striker had made just nine Premier League appearances prior to the City clash as he has been hampered by injury issues.

Indeed, he was making only his third start for the Toffees at Goodison today, but he failed to offer much threat in the final third.

Throughout his 63 minutes on the pitch, Broja completed just four passes while taking 22 touches, 30 fewer than Jordan Pickford in goal. The Albanian even failed to register a single shot at goal while winning just a single ground duel and losing the ball 14 times.

Moyes must axe the striker, as he offers no major threat when chosen to start as a centre-forward.

Journalist Chris Beesley of the Liverpool Echo gave the striker a match rating of 5/10, stating that he ‘worked hard to try and make an impression but needed to be stronger as little stuck before he was hooked again’, yet this simply wasn’t good enough for Moyes.

His loan deal expires at the end of the current season, and given his current form, he will return to Chelsea ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

Beto replaced him during the City clash, and going forward, he should be the one to start games under Moyes. That’s a certainty.

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2

By
Sean Markus Clifford

Apr 18, 2025

There was certainly no shortage of drama as Manchester United played out a thrilling 2-2 draw with Lyon on Thursday night, with the Europa League first-leg tussle living up to the billing following some notable pre-match jibes.

Much of the talk heading into the trip to France, of course, was centred around the war of words between Andre Onana and former United man, Nemanja Matic, with the Serbian giant branding the current Red Devils star “one of the worst keepers in Man Utd history” during the pre-match press conference.

Onana – who had ignited such criticism after stating that Ruben Amorim’s side are “way better” than their opponents – proceeded to hit back with a reference to the lack of silverware that Matic was able to achieve at Old Trafford, with the Cameroonian posting an image of him holding the FA Cup trophy aloft on his social media accounts.

That trading of verbal blows set things up nicely for the game itself, although while Lyon’s veteran midfielder watched on from the from the bench, United’s first-choice goalkeeper continued to dominate the headlines, having been arguably at fault for both of the hosts’ goals.

Talk is now rife regarding the 28-year-old’s future at Old Trafford – amid claims he could be dropped for Sunday’s clash away at Newcastle United – with it looking as if the former Inter star could even be on his way this summer, after just two years in Manchester.

Matic, meanwhile, may be hoping to be involved in Thursday’s reverse fixture, with the 36-year-old seeking to get one over on his former employers.

Nemanja Matic's Man Utd record

Following in the footsteps of the likes of Juan Mata before him, the towering midfielder was plucked from rivals Chelsea on a £40m deal in the summer of 2017, with the one-time Benfica star having just played his part in claiming Premier League title glory under Antonio Conte.

The ability to snap up a then-28-year-old Matic appeared to be a real coup for Jose Mourinho and co, not least with the aforementioned Conte seemingly displeased at the nature of the sale, having described the exit as a “great loss” for the Blues.

Having ultimately decided to reunite with Mourinho, the left-footer – who ranks fifth with regard to appearances made under the Portuguese coach in his managerial career – went on to rack up 189 appearances in all competitions for United over the next five years, while scoring four goals and registering 11 assists.

A pillar in the United midfield in those early years, he was even dubbed an “island of personality and desire and control” by his manager following a narrow FA Cup win over Brighton in 2018, with Mourinho singling him out in relation to his underwhelming colleagues.

As stated, such displays could not inspire the Red Devils to any form of silverware, although Matic certainly had his moments, including netting a stunning long-range volley to seal a 3-2 win away at Crystal Palace in 2018.

Frustratingly, however, the subsequent arrival of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer saw the oft-maligned Fred and Scott McTominay partnership take precedence, with the ageing Matic becoming ‘something of an issue”, as per The Athletic’s Carl Anka, due to his lack of mobility.

There were still moments of quality, prior to his exit on a free transfer in 2022, with the 48-cap international memorably teeing up Cristiano Ronaldo with a delightful dink in the 1-1 draw with Chelsea in that final campaign.

As Anka noted, while he may have been a ‘flawed signing’, when the now-veteran ‘was good, he was very good’, with his experience and quality shining through, even as his athletic qualities began to fade.

Could history be repeating itself with Casemiro?

Man Utd have now unlocked the new Nemanja Matic

In many ways, the capture of the Brazilian mirrors the signing of Matic, with United – then managed by Erik ten Hag – moving to land the Real Madrid man on a £70m deal in 2022, having been in need of a short-term, instant fix at the base of the midfield.

Again, like Matic, Casemiro did enjoy a fruitful first season at the Theatre of Dreams, as the Red Devils finished third and claimed Carabao Cup glory, with the serial-winning star even scoring the opener in that Wembley showpiece.

As the £350k-per-week star has since admitted himself, that 2022/23 campaign was individually the “best season” of his entire career, with Ten Hag dubbing him the “cement” in the side due to the influential nature of his displays.

Frustratingly for all concerned, the 33-year-old has been unable to build on that early promise amid United’s collective woes since then, with pundit Jamie Redknapp even suggesting last season that Casemiro looked like “he’s in Soccer Aid”, amid the dire nature of his displays.

Former Liverpool hero Jamie Carragher also famously suggested that the ex-Madrid man should “leave the football before the football leaves you”, with Casemiro going on to play a bit-part role in the early knockings of the current campaign.

Speculation continues to link the ageing talent with a move away from Old Trafford, despite his public desire to see out his contract, although in recent weeks, he has begun to find his groove again under Amorim.

Like Matic, the mobility may no longer be there, although Casemiro continues to show his class when utilised correctly, having notably put in a “monster shift” in the recent Manchester derby, as per Statman Dave, after winning 11 tackles on the day.

Even despite his age, the one-time Porto man appears to have ousted Manuel Ugarte as Amorim’s go-to figure in the midfield two, with the United boss admitting that he is now “learning how to use” the Selecao star.

The old cliche of ‘form is temporary, class is permanent’ certainly applies in the case of Casemiro, much like Matic before him, with Amorim wise to be maximising everything he can out of a player who has enjoyed such a storied, successful career to date.

Yes, the legs may have gone, but as that derby display, in particular, showcased, the fight remains. There’s life in the old dog yet…

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