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Wolverhampton Wanderers fans may rue the £54m sale of Pedro Neto to Chelsea, but a prudent approach this summer has ensured that Gary O'Neil's frontline is well-stocked.

Neto, moreover, has long been accepted to be Wolves' most saleable asset and his departure surprised no one. Adding to Max Kilman's £40m move to West Ham United earlier in the window, sales have crossed the £100m ballpark.

It's a healthy situation to be in, and while the Neto situation has been dealt with pleasingly, Kilman is yet to be replaced. If Wolves wish to impress in the Premier League, addressing that issue feels paramount.

Wolves transfer news

According to Football Insider, Wolves have set their sights on Sheffield United centre-back Anel Ahmedhodzic, who was one of the Blades' standout performers in the Premier League last season.

Sure, the Blades were relegated after a dismal year, but the 25-year-old proved his top-flight quality and could be a real titan in sturdier conditions at Molineux. It is perhaps for this reason that O'Neil's are ready to 'test [their] resolve' with a bid.

With a mooted market price of £20m, this feels like an affordable deal for a talented defender, and Fosun have to get it done.

Why Wolves should sign Ahmedhodzic

The obvious point: O'Neil might find himself short-handed without an exciting Kilman replacement, with the Englishman excelling in progression, playing forward to influence Wolves' attacking fluency.

Ahmedhodzic would bring the kind of steely defensive quality needed for the season ahead. Last term, in the top flight, he flattered to deceive but it was difficult to perform to the height of his level considering the catastrophic nature of the Bramall Lane team's season.

But he still managed to showcase some of his exciting qualities. As per Sofascore, the Bosnian centre-half started 29 Premier League matches, and while he was rash at times, he averaged 2.1 tackles, 3.4 ball recoveries and 4.3 clearances per game while winning 56% of his 4.5 contested duels per match – respectable numbers for one mired in the mud of a relegation scrap.

Often have relegated players been picked from established outfits and added to strengthen the ranks, so Ahmedhodzic could be the perfect player to join a Wolves team with a pleasing level of togetherness under O'Neil's leadership. The United titan, to put it another way, has yet to show the full scope of his talent.

This season, for example, he has starred across Sheffield United's opening Championship fixtures, completing 93% of his passes. A strong passing game is within his capability, and the Old Gold could help him realise that.

United averaged a measly 36% of possession in the Premier League last season, ranking bottom, whereas O'Neil's Wolves had a counter-pressing way about them but still retained the ball with greater confidence, with a 49% average that placed them 11th in that ranking.

Ahmedhodzic could bring his latent ball-playing ability to the fore while fostering his defensive acumen further, and given that FBref's player comparison model has likened him to Everton's Jarrad Branthwaite, it's definitely one to get over the line as soon as possible.

O'Neil's own Jarrad Branthwaite

Branthwaite was a revelation for Everton last season, bringing authority and a rock-solid defensive skillset that saw the Merseysiders shape into one of the Premier League's most formidable units.

Standing at 6 foot 5, he's a daunting opponent and has even been described as an "absolute monster" by talent scout Jacek Kulig for his performances over the past 12 months.

A mainstay last season, he started 35 times in the league and has been the subject of transfer interest with Manchester United this summer, though Everton have rejected the advances and maintained that the 21-year-old will only be allowed to leave for a £75m figure, placing him in the same ballpark as the Premier League's most expensive defenders: Virgil van Dijk, Harry Maguire and Wesley Fofana.

Ahmedhodzic does not have that same reputation right now, having sat at the epicentre of the Premier League's worst-ever defence last season – the Blades conceded a staggering 104 goals, branding them with an unwanted record.

But he's got talent, and a statistical deep-dive into the players' respective 2023/24 campaigns highlights a number of metrics that suggest Wolves would be wise to snap the 24-year-old up.

Neither centre-back stood out in regard to the crispness of their passing last year, but then that is principally down to Everton and Sheffield United sitting at the bottom of the year's possession charts.

But Ahmedhodzic was slightly more creative and more inclined to carry the ball forward, nearly equal to the Toffees sensation in goal-scoring and actually proving to be crisper in the tackle.

It seems like Wolves are focusing on signing a goalkeeper as the first port of call at this late stage of the transfer window, with The Athletic's David Ornstein recently revealing that the Midlands side have submitted a proposal to sign England international Aaron Ramsdale from Arsenal on a loan deal that would contain a clause to make the move permanent.

This would be a major step in the right direction and is clearly the issue currently being addressed, but Ramsdale will need a sturdy backline in front of him and Ahmedhodzic could complete the set.

Therefore, Wolves simply have to get the signing of the defender over the line. He's demonstrated that he has the right skillset to succeed in the Premier League and could ensure that a smooth season lies ahead for an ambitious outfit.

Wolves could land dream signing for Cunha in deal for "remarkable" PL star

O’Neil has plenty of money to play with following the sale of Pedro Neto

By
Ross Kilvington

Aug 17, 2024

Harry Maguire has turned around his situation at Manchester United and has reportedly now held talks with the Red Devils over a contract extension.

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Maguire opens renewal talks with Man UtdWas likely to leave the club in the summerRuben Amorim praises Maguire as 'perfect'Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Maguire was very unlikely to stay at Manchester United this summer after his devastatingly poor season at Old Trafford under Erik ten Hag. However, after his transfer links with the likes of West Ham amongst other clubs went nowhere, the former Red Devils captain decided to stay at the club and turn around his situation.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Despite Manchester United's abysmal start to the season which saw Ten Hag sacked and replaced, Maguire has shown quite a bit of experience and skill and has been one of the Red Devils' most consistent performers. The 31-year-old's performances have helped him hold 'positive' contract renewal talks with United.

Speaking to the media, Maguire said: “I haven’t really thought about it. I’ve still got this year to go with an option in their hands. But all the signs are positive at the moment and the chat that I’m having is really positive.”

Getty Images SportWHAT AMORIM SAID

Maguire has played a pivotal role under Amorim and after Manchester United's 2-1 win over local rivals Manchester City, the Portuguese coach couldn't help but praise the defender.

Amorim said: “[Harry] Maguire is perfect when you play with the three defenders. I think in the middle [he] is perfect. Then the way that the striker that they have [Erling Haaland] with the long balls, you need to be really strong and so was perfect for him. Not just Harry, all the guys, defend really well. They were really focused and that is the key to play better. I think he did a great job and also his team-mates did a great job.”

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WHAT NEXT FOR MAGUIRE?

While Amorim has been switching up his squad from matchday to matchday, Maguire has been one of the regular starters and will likely be a starter when Manchester United take on Tottenham Hotspur on Thursday, December 19.

The Villans and the Magpies have not sustained the form that saw them reach the Champions League and are dropping back down the Premier League table

In the 21st century, finishing inside the Premier League's top four can be celebrated as much as winning the whole thing altogether. The riches of qualifying for the Champions League can prove transformative.

That's what took Tottenham from just another top-flight team to a member of the 'Big Six'. Since their first qualification in 2010, only three sides from beyond that bracket have cracked the top four – 2015-16 champions Leicester City, Newcastle United in 2022-23, and Aston Villa in 2023-24.

It's proven a pretty closed shop towards the top of the table. The views from the summit's peak are mostly exclusive and often a once-in-a-generation look for the outsider.

As Newcastle and Villa are discovering this season, it's one thing to crash the Champions League party, but another to stay and make yourself feel welcome. Both have stumbled through the campaign and are unlikely to rank fourth or higher come May. But just why have they found it so hard to maintain that previously upward trajectory?

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• AFP
  

  Lacking element of surprise

  "We have to try to keep balance. I know this year is going to be more difficult," Villa boss Unai Emery said after Sunday's 3-0 loss away at Chelsea, taking his side's recent record to eight games without a win in all competitions. "We are going to try to recover our confidence and everything we are doing, as well as trying to understand this year is more difficult. We need points, now thinking of the top eight and if we want to get into the top five. We have to come back.

  "This year has been different because we are not a surprise like last year. They [opposition teams] don't have doubts now like they had last year. We were being consistent last year with the same style and a lot of the same players. This year, a lot of teams are facing us thinking we are a top-seven opponent. We have to keep calm, thinking of the next match and trying to cut this spell."

  On the pitch, that's the long and short of Villa and Newcastle's problems. There hasn't been enough evolution to match their previously striding progress up the table. Life's very different when you're the hunter rather than the hunted.

  It's why Sir Alex Ferguson and Pep Guardiola were and have been able to have such extensive legacies – they set tactical trends and adapted to them as well, forever chopping and changing to suit the needs of the contemporary game.

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• AFP
  

  Lightning in a bottle?

  Such has been Newcastle and Villa's lack of transformation from finishing fourth that you start to question how they even reached the Champions League in the first place. Were they really that much better than some of the challengers and pretenders from those respective seasons?

  It's easy to get swept up in a story or narrative when wins are falling and points and stacking up. Both Newcastle and Villa weren't expected to challenge for a spot in the top four, and it was a delightful treat when they made that leap early.

  But there's every possibility that these were simply two good-not-great teams who went on a tear and put some results together to the extent they leapfrogged the slackers in the 'Big Six'. You can only get so far without star power in the Premier League.

  Remember, before the 'Big Six', we had the 'Big Four' – Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United. All of those remain established at the top, with City's Abu Dhabi Group-backed spending propelling them into the discussion. The only outliers are Tottenham, who have followed a plan of sustainability and marginal improvement, as well as supposedly forgoing other competitions in pursuit of Champions League money – this particular element has left the fanbase divided on the work of chairman Daniel Levy.

  That's the line the outsiders have to tread. Without freedom to spend millions with little repercussion (at least to this point), you need to be supremely focused and driven to reach the top four and stay there.

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Squads not built to cope

  Obviously every top-half Premier League team could prove hard to stop in their tracks if they had all 25 players in their first team fit and fresh for a whole season, but that's not how football works. It's a squad game.

  With the calendar full to the brim and on the brink of overflowing already, there's no respite for the game's best athletes. If you're indispensable, then you're likely undroppable week to week.

  That's especially true in teams trying to punch above their weight. It's difficult enough as is trying to put together 11 players who can challenge for major honours or a high position in the standings, let alone double that tally.

  The gap between your best starters and your worst cannot be a massive chasm. The big dogs will eat you up. Newcastle barely survived their injury crisis of 2023-24 as it derailed their form domestically and on the continent, while Villa's barren run has Emery scrambling for solutions, as calm as he has preached he is and needs to be.

  Balancing Premier League and European campaigns with a small roster is tough. It's much easier with mass rotation or without the burden of extra fixtures.

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  PSR concerns

  Most Newcastle and Villa fans will point to restrictions over their transfer activity for their decline. To which, consider this a rebuttal – stop blowing money up the wall, guys.

  Villa were prevalent spenders even before Profit & Sustainability Rules (PSR) came into effect, somehow managing to stray close to the red despite the £100 million sale of Jack Grealish. Which, to be fair, is quite remarkable and hard to bounce back from, so well done.

  The Magpies splashed the cash upon the Saudi PIF takeover in 2021, which helped them break free from relegation battles and into a new tomorrow. That's fine if it's within your means, which they were in a hassle to ensure they were by the end of June 2024.

  PSR isn't fool proof and there should probably be some amendments to stop the trading of homegrown assets for the sake of staying within limits, to ensure youngsters aren't just bargaining chips in the name of 'pure profit'.

  Newcastle were forced to sell promising midfielder Elliot Anderson to Nottingham Forest, where he is now thriving and sitting above his boyhood side in the table. Meanwhile, Villa pushed Douglas Luiz out the door to Juventus in part-exchange for two young players, Samuel Iling-Junior and Enzo Barrenechea, who have already left on loan. The best players at St James' Park and Villa Park were there for the rise and didn't just meet them at the peak.

MatériaMais Notícias

O Bahia fecha o domingo de maneira feliz. Na Arena Fonte Nova, o Tricolor bateu a Chapecoense por 3 a 0 e deixou a zona de rebaixamento.

+ Veja no aplicativo do LANCE! o resultado dos jogos da rodada

Além do resultado positivo, outro fato que foi motivo de comemoração é a fase do sistema defensivo, que ainda não foi vazado com o novo treinador.

‘Fruto do trabalho. Desde que o professor chegou, passou confiança. Uma coisa que tinha que melhorar era a parte defensiva. São quatro jogos sem levar gol. Agora é crescer ainda mais na tabela, porque esse clube merece muito’, afirmou Luiz Otávio ao Premiere.

Calendário

Agora, o Bahia ganha uma semana de descanso e volta a campo para encarar o Ceará, na Arena Castelão.

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As they look to hand their attack yet another boost following the pending arrival of Joshua Zirkzee, Manchester United are reportedly set to make their first offer to sign another Euro 2024 star in the "coming days".

Man Utd transfer news

The Red Devils have seemingly sprung into action this summer to edge closer to securing the arrival of Zirkzee from Bologna in what could be Sir Jim Ratcliffe's first purchase since buying a minority stake at Old Trafford. The Dutchman will be hoping to make an instant impact in a struggling frontline to hand Erik ten Hag the ultimate boost ahead of next season.

Following such a disappointing season going forward last time out, Zirkzee may not be the only fresh face in United's attack next season, either. According to Turkish journalist Ali Naci Kucuk (via FourFourTwo), Manchester United are set to make an official offer to sign Baris Alper Yilmaz in "the coming days" as they look to follow up on Zirkzee in perfect fashion.

The Turkey international enjoyed a solid tournament and, like the rest of his teammates, was unfortunate to be dumped out by the Netherlands in the last eight amid their resolute effort in a narrow 2-1 defeat.

Man Utd discussed move for striker who Alan Shearer says batters defenders

The Red Devils are eager for attacking reinforcements this summer.

By
Tom Coates

Jul 9, 2024

Doing enough to earn the interest of both United and Tottenham Hotspur nonetheless, the Galatasaray right-winger could now be on the move this summer. The deal could quickly turn into a bargain, too, with the Turkish club reportedly demanding just €30m (£25m) to sell the 24-year-old in the coming months.

"Nuisance" Yilmaz would be an instant Antony upgrade

For a far cheaper price than what they paid for struggling winger Antony, Manchester United could welcome an instant upgrade in the form of Yilmaz. He proved that he can compete with the very best by handing Virgil van Dijk a difficult game in Turkey's last-eight defeat, earning a "nuisance" tag by an impressed Sam Tighe, and at 24 years old, he should only get better.

With seven goals and 12 assists to his name in all competitions for Galatasaray last season, the Euros was just an extension of a solid season in Turkey for Yilmaz, who could now get the ultimate reward.

Compare his season with Antony, who managed just three goals and two assists in all competitions, and there's only one player that Ten Hag should turn towards for Manchester United's Premier League attack next season.

After a few weeks of relative silence, Tottenham Hotspur made a bold move in the transfer market this week and announced their first permanent signing of the window: 18-year-old wonderkid Archie Gray.

The former Leeds United prospect has joined the Lilywhites with plenty of hype and excitement, but based on recent reports, Daniel Levy and Co are still busy looking for more quality additions to bolster Ange Postecoglou's squad.

One of the names that has been touted for a move to N17 for quite some time is Crystal Palace star and England international Marc Guehi.

While he'd be a brilliant player to add to the squad, the club already have an incredible star in that position, and he's worth even more.

Cristian Romero's Spurs career

The player in question is Argentine international Cristian Romero.

Spurs paid Italian side Atalanta around £42m for the then Serie A Defender of the Season in the summer of 2021, and to say he's been a success in North London since would be an understatement.

The World Cup winner has made 98 appearances for the Lilywhites, scoring six goals, providing one assist, and playing under four different permanent managers.

Appearances

98

Goals

6

Assists

1

Yellow Cards

28

Second Yellows

3

Red Cards

1

He has undoubtedly been rash at points during his time in England, picking up 28 yellow cards, three second yellows and one red card, but over the last year or so, he has significantly improved and picked up just seven yellows and one red in 34 games.

The defensive "monster", as dubbed by journalist Charlie Eccleshare, has also become one of the key leadership figures within the team, and was named co-vice-captain alongside James Maddison before the start of last season.

He has also won plaudits from Lionel Messi, who described him as the "best defender in the world" last year, and we reckon the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner probably knows a thing or two about football.

Unsurprisingly, after years of impressive performances and international success, his valuation has increased and is higher than his potential new teammate's, Guehi.

Cristian Romero's valuation in 2024

According to a report from the Sun earlier this week, Spurs will have to get ahead of several other interested parties, such as Arsenal, Real Madrid, Barcelona, and Juventus, if they want to bring Guehi to N17 this summer.

However, the crucial part is that they'll have to spend around £50m to secure his services, as Palace wants a fee similar to the one they will receive for Michael Olise.

If the North Londoners can get ahead of the pack, it would represent a significant investment in the team, but the potential price tag is still less than Romero's valuation.

According to the CIES Football Observatory, the 26-year-old is worth up to €67m, which converts to a cool £57m, which is about £7m more than the Eagles' star centre-back could cost the club.

This high valuation is likely due to a combination of factors, such as his international success, strong form last season, or the fact that he's still relatively young for a top-level centre-back.

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ByJack Salveson Holmes Jul 2, 2024

Ultimately, signing Guehi would undoubtedly improve Postecoglou's squad this summer, but the Australian is already lucky to have a player as talented and valuable as Romero in his team.

Ipswich Town are already showing to their fans that they won't roll over and just allow relegation to happen moving up to the Premier League, with a new record buy now in through the door.

Omari Hutchinson has now officially rejoined the Portman Road ranks, signing for a record £20m fee, and will hope he can perform as well as he did in Ipswich's promotion story, whilst now playing in the elite division for Kieran McKenna's men.

It's unlikely that this will be the only statement buy from an Ipswich perspective in the weeks to come, with links now suggesting the Suffolk outfit are keen on signing a deadly striker to add even more firepower to the camp.

Ipswich keeping a close eye on Chile international

According to football journalist Darren Witcoop via social media, Ipswich are eyeing up the services of former Blackburn Rovers striker Ben Brereton-Diaz this summer, with the Chile international keen on a return to the Premier League.

On loan at Sheffield United for the back half of the campaign and making an impact for Chris Wilder's beleaguered Blades, Brereton-Diaz could be tempted by the prospect of joining another relegation-threatened team in Ipswich and being a hero, with fellow promoted side Southampton also reportedly interested.

What Brereton-Diaz can offer Ipswich

Ipswich will hope the current Villarreal man, who has struggled to be potent out in Spain since moving out there in 2023, can be a reliable source of goals, alongside Hutchinson, when making the switch back to England again.

The two new recruits could form a deadly partnership over time, as Ipswich aim to take teams by surprise with attacking intent – which saw them net 92 strikes in the Championship – over just being defensively staunch in the top division.

Last term, Ipswich's new signing scored ten goals and registered six assists in Championship action, leading us to believe that it could be quite the sight if he partnered Brereton-Diaz in attack.

Away from being a renowned cool finisher in the second tier, bagging 14 goals in his final full season at the level with Blackburn, Brereton-Diaz also showed, whilst playing at Bramall Lane on loan, that he won't let the bright lights of the Premier League faze him.

The striker helped himself to six goals from just 14 Blades games, scoring every 185 minutes for his short-term employers subsequently, to try and lift spirits in South Yorkshire away from the doom and gloom of a miserable relegation.

Brereton-Diaz

43

14

4

Conor Chaplin

44

13

9

George Hirst

26

7

6

Nathan Broadhead

38

13

4

Omari Hutchinson

44

10

6

As can be seen looking at the table above, the 25-year-old will hope he can be Ipswich's leading man in attack next season if signed, having beaten all of his competition in the Tractor Boys ranks last season for goals scored across a full Championship campaign.

Moreover, whilst Nathan Broadhead, Hutchinson and Conor Chaplin tore the second-tier apart from down the wings and behind the lone striker, Ipswich's number 27 in George Hirst struggled with just seven goals managed from the striker spot, with injury problems constantly troubling the former Leicester City man.

Therefore, it could be a wise buy from the powers that be at Portman Road to sign Brereton-Diaz, especially with Kayden Jackson no longer at the club and Freddie Ladapo looking to be moved on in the centre-forward spots.

Described as being "extraordinary" by former Riversiders boss Tony Mowbray, Brereton-Diaz will hope his goals, if he does move to Suffolk, helps Ipswich pull off an unbelievable escape from relegation.

Hutchinson & £20m+ star join: Ipswich's dream XI after the transfer window

Kieran McKenna would love to have this Ipswich Town starting eleven next season.

ByKelan Sarson Jun 30, 2024

West Ham United have been in touch with the representatives of a £30m+ attacking star ahead of a possible move to the London Stadium.

West Ham’s summer signings so far

New manager Julen Lopetegui and technical director Tim Steidten have already brought in two new players this summer, with plenty of change expected ahead of Lopetegui’s first season in charge.

Teenager winger Luis Guilherme was the first to arrive from Palmeiras, with the Brazilian costing around £25m. Experienced goalkeeper Wes Foderingham has also recently signed Hammers terms after he left Sheffield United upon his contract expiry.

West Ham willing to move for "devastating" forward compared to Salah

He’s valued at up to £30m.

ByCharlie Smith Jun 27, 2024

Now, more signings are wanted. West Ham are hoping to seal a deal for Wolves centre-back Max Kilman, whereas further attacking additions are wanted alongside Guilherme.

Former Crystal Palace winger Wilfried Zaha, now at Galatasaray, and Fluminense forward Jhon Arias are two players who the Irons have reportedly bid for, whereas the club have also made it clear they are open to signing Albert Gudmundsson from Genoa. Talks have also been held for Lille striker Jonathan David, but a new final third target has emerged in Hull City’s Jaden Philogene.

West Ham make Jaden Philogene contact – Fabrizio Romano

Speaking on his Here We Go podcast, relayed by GiveMeSport, transfer expert Fabrizio Romano revealed that West Ham, as well as Ipswich Town, have already made contact with Philogene’s representatives to understand the conditions of any transfer. He also added that Aston Villa have a clause to match any bid for the winger after selling him to Hull.

"There is also interest from several Premier League clubs, especially from West Ham and Ipswich Town. These two clubs have already reached out to the player's side to understand the conditions of the deal in this case.

"Remember that the player, in the future, will have a possibility to return to Aston Villa. Villa have a matching clause into the contract of Philogene, so they have the possibility in the future to bring the player back. Let's see what's going to happen in terms of negotiations, but for sure, it's going to be one to watch in the next few weeks."

Hull City signed Philogene from Aston Villa in a permanent transfer last year, costing around £5m, and it has been claimed in recent months by Hull owner Acun Ilicali that an asking price would be more than £30m.

“This will be our policy. Just like Real Madrid bought Arda Güler. We can guess how much he will be from now on. We need to catch players like that. We got Jaden Philogene for £5m, now it’s £30m, but we have no intention of selling for £30m.”

Barcelona have also been heavily linked with a move for the 22-year-old, holding talks for a possible shock deal, with Philogene starring in the Championship last season. The Hammers could be ones to watch in any transfer race for the winger, who scored 12 goals and provided six assists in 32 appearances last season, resulting in his Transfermarkt valuation rocketing to a career-high €15m.

Everton have often struggled within the transfer market, conducting deals that either see the club lose a lot of money or selling a player for well below his value.

Outgoings have been crucial for Sean Dyche’s side as they aim to avoid any further punishment for breaking the Premier League’s strict PSR rules.

He’s done an admirable job leading the club clear of any impending danger and securing their Premier League status for another season despite being hit with an eight-point deduction.

His side ended the 2023/24 campaign 14 points clear of Luton Town, with the club needing to build on their success in recent weeks ahead of their 33rd consecutive Premier League campaign which commences in August.

Whilst they’re not in the clear regarding any further punishments, the Toffees are in a solid place under Dyche, but it could’ve been even better had they kept hold of a couple of players who have gone on to develop into top-quality talents away from Goodison Park.

Ademola Lookman’s stats at Everton

Everton signed forward Ademola Lookman from Charlton Athletic for a fee in the region of £7.5m in January 2017, with the youngster touted as 'one for the future' by boss Ronald Koeman after he arrived at Goodison.

Arriving at the club as a 19-year-old, Lookman made an instant impact on the first-team, scoring on his debut in a 4-0 rout over Manchester City.

However, the goal against Pep Guardiola's side would be the only time he scored for the Toffees before leaving the club to join RB Leipzig on loan.

Despite his tender age, Lookman excelled in Germany, scoring five times in just 11 Bundesliga appearances – form that saw the youngster receive his maiden England U21 call-up.

Upon his return for the 2018/19 season, the forward was restricted to limited minutes for the Toffees, featuring for a total of 601 minutes throughout the entire campaign. Lookman subsequently rejoined RB Leipzig permanently in the summer of 2019, for a fee rumoured to be in the region of £18m – a deal that still brought a £10m profit for the Blues.

However, nearly five years on from his move away from Merseyside, the 26-year-old forward has taken his game to the next level – scoring 15 goals and providing eight assists in all competitions this season, which includes a hat-trick in the Europa League final triumph over Bayer Leverkusen.

Why Everton made a bigger mistake selling Anthony Gordon than Lookman

Despite Lookman’s exploits in the final victory, the club arguably made a bigger mistake allowing fellow winger Anthony Gordon to depart Goodison Park, with the youngster finally starting to flourish following his £45m move to Newcastle United in 2023.

The 23-year-old was expected to leave his boyhood club, in order to bolster the club’s battle against PSR, but that doesn’t take away from the fact he would’ve dramatically improved Dyche’s forward line.

Gordon has bagged 11 goals and ten assists in the Premier League in 2023/24, hitting double figures in both tallies for the first time in his professional career.

As a result of his excellent form, the “phenomenal” talent, as dubbed by Newcastle journalist Thomas Hammond, now boasts a transfer value of £68m, as per CIES Football Observatory Tool – a jump of £23m since his move just less than 18 months ago. Lookman, meanwhile, is said to be worth £42m less at 'just' £26m, according to CIES.

Gordon has also been included in Gareth Southgate’s provisional 33-man training squad ahead of the European Championships in Germany this summer, with the attacker staking a claim to be in the final squad given his superb performances for Eddie Howe’s side.

His move away from Goodison didn’t sit well with the supporters, but they simply can’t deny they would’ve loved to have kept hold of the youngster given his rapid progress at St James’ Park.

Everton hit gold signing star who'd be worth more than Branthwaite in 2024

He made a huge impact at Goodison despite his short stint at the club.

By
Ethan Lamb

May 20, 2024

A "sensational" Liverpool player could leave the club "within a year" alongside Mohamed Salah, according to a concerning claim that has emerged.

Liverpool transfer news

Jurgen Klopp is about to face his last game as Reds manager before a new era gets underway with Arne Slot at the helm. The Dutchman will no doubt be eyeing new signings, and various transfer rumours have dropped regarding incoming players.

A new centre-back could be high on Slot's list of priorities, considering Joel Matip is leaving this summer and that Ibrahima Konate struggles to stay fit for long periods. To this end, Benfica star Antonio Silva is considered a target for Liverpool. In fact, they are trying to hijack Manchester United's move for him, which would make snapping him up extra sweet.

Leeds United winger Crysencio Summerville has also been backed to move to Anfield in the near future. The Dutchman has been one of the Whites' star men in 2023/24, helping them reach the Championship play-off final with his attacking brilliance.

Two Serie A targets have also emerged in Federico Chiesa and Teun Koopmeiners, with Liverpool recently sending scouts to watch them in action for Juventus and Atalanta respectively.

On the flip-side, there are concerns that certain big names on Merseyside could depart before next season gets underway, and Salah is likely to be the subject of more interest from the Saudi Pro League. Now, another star man is being linked with an exit, too.

Concerning Liverpool exit claim

According to journalist Juan Carlos Pasman on DSports Radio (via Sport Witness), Alexis Mac Allister could leave Liverpool for Real Madrid "within a year", in what would be a shock development.

He claims it is "very possible" that he trades the Reds for the La Liga giants, with the Argentine being "closely followed" by Los Blancos and seen as a replacement for Luka Modric and Toni Kroos.

To lose Mac Allister after just one season would be a disaster for Liverpool, considering he has been their standout summer signing from last year, making a huge difference in the midfield.

Appearances

32

Starts

30

Goals

4

Assists

5

Tackles per game

3

Key passes per game

1.4

Pass completion rate

87.7%

The £150,000-a-week World Cup winner has undoubtedly been one of the Reds' best players throughout the campaign, and at 25, there is still so much more to come from him. Alan Shearer has certainly taken note of the ex-Brighton star, lauding his quality on Match of the Day 2 earlier in the season:

"What a signing he has been, he is having a great season. He was absolutely sensational [against Brighton] playing slightly higher up the pitch. Those three points that they got, I know Salah got the goal, but a lot of it was down to him."

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The Reds are looking to replace the Cameroonian after his exit was confirmed.

ByTom Cunningham May 18, 2024

The hope is that Pasman is wide of the mark with his comments and that Mac Allister is at Liverpool for many years to come, but it is hard not to be worried about the threat Madrid pose as they continue to build a team full of superstars.