All posts by rastrear-estafeta.com

Unai Emery's policy on youth has been clear since taking the reins at Aston Villa. With the signing of young stars like Jhon Duran or the continued integration and development of Jacob Ramsey for example, it's shown that if you're good enough, you're old enough.

Alternatively, there are some that can slip through the Villans' net. A prime example of such is the high-flying Jaden Philogene-Bidace.

Where did Jaden Philogene come from?

Philogene-Bidace, although now playing without that second surname, is an electric 21-year-old winger. Born and raised in west London, Philogene somehow didn't get picked up in a formative academy fashion like so many youngsters in the city.

Instead, he got his start through the Pro: Direct Academy. Here, he shone and had a pick of Football League clubs back in 2018. He settled for Aston Villa and saw three years in the youth setup before making his senior breakthrough in 2021.

While he had shown great tenacity up to this point with academy showings, as well as consummate preseason involvements for Villa – Philogene found opportunities elsewhere with loan deals for Stoke and Cardiff City, respectively.

He may have been too late of a developer for Villa, yet Philogene had a safety net of multiple suitors primed on departure, and now he finds himself in the Championship with Hull City as well as flourishing in England's U21 side.

What has Philogene done since leaving Aston Villa?

Such has been the creative winger's attitude and skill, that his Premier League exit has done him little negative damage. At Hull, there have been more opportunities in a highly developmental side, and it has of course reaped further individual chances.

Of these chances, Philogene's momentum saw, of course, an England U21 debut with two brilliant goals against Serbia.

In just seven games this domestic season, Philogene has demonstrated his raw talents and looks to be keeping up with his former place competitor Moussa Diaby at Villa.

Diaby has five goal involvements (two goals, three assists) in eight Premier League games. Philogene has five goal involvements (one goal, four assists) in one less game. Add those aforementioned strikes at international level into the equation and he's even outscored the French summer signing in 2023/24.

It's said that despite a football academy grounding, Philogene was consistently the best player in his schooling. This raw tenacity looks to be bearing fruit and in future, this season could be seen as the true kickstart for his career.

FBref reflects a player who potentially needs to strengthen offensive output – yet the creative sparks are present. For his low non-penalty xG of 0.17, there's a high shot total of 2.76 per 90.

While he doesn't have high pass completion compared to others in his position at 71.8% per 90 – he has a brilliant successful take-on rate of 2.60 per 90.

Other high-scoring marks come with blocks (1.38 per 90) and tackles (2.64 per 90). Compared to others in his position (those stats put him in the top 15% and 3% percentiles), Philogene presents as this tenacious force raring to get stuck in. If he can tailor his raw craft to the effective stats, then Aston Villa will be ruing his £5m departure even more.

Manchester United just can’t seem to catch a break when it comes to injuries, with news of another blow to a "magic" player.

Man Utd injury updates

The Red Devils have had a frustrating season so far, although Erik ten Hag’s side are now one of the form teams in the Premier League. The Dutchman guided United to a 1-0 win over Luton Town prior to the international break, and after the game, which saw United pick up a fourth top-flight win in five games, Ten Hag said:

“We are also stepping up – even with the team we have, we often have to change. We are stepping up, with better football, better performances. In the last five league games, we won four and, as you know, it’s not easy to win games in the Premier League because every one is a battle. I’m pleased with that. It is a signal that we are in the right direction.”

However, United once again had to cope without a number of players due to injury. Defenders Lisandro Martinez, Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia have been out with long-term issues, while Jonny Evans, Casemiro and Amad Diallo were also absent and right-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka missed the game through illness.

In the win at Old Trafford, both Christian Eriksen and Rasmus Hojlund had to be replaced after suffering injuries of their own, and an update has been shared regarding their fitness status.

Relayed by Fabrizio Romano on X, United stated that Eriksen’s is the worse of the two, with his knee problem likely to keep him out of action for a month, whereas Hojlund could return before the end of the month.

“Injuries again at Man United. Club confirms Christian Eriksen is suffering from a knee injury that is expected to keep him out for around a month. Rasmus Hojlund is suffering from a strain as club hopes he will return before the end of November.”

Man Utd’s next fixtures

With so many players sidelined, Ten Hag may be quietly concerned, especially as the games are set to come thick and fast before the New Year. We are about to enter one of the busiest months of the season, and with United still in the Champions League, some important games are coming their way.

Man Utd's upcoming fixtures

Competition

Date

Everton (A)

Premier League

26th November

Galatasaray (A)

Champions League

29th November

Newcastle United (A)

Premier League

2nd December

Chelsea (H)

Premier League

6th December

AFC Bournemouth (H)

Premier League

9th December

Bayern Munich (H)

Champions League

12th December

Liverpool (A)

Premier League

17th December

West Ham (A)

Premier League

23rd December

Aston Villa (H)

Premier League

26th December

Nottingham Forest (A)

Premier League

30th December

As can be seen, United have eight Premier League games as well as two crucial Champions League fixtures against Galatasaray and Bayern Munich. Hopefully, United will be able to call upon Hojlund and others for those games, whereas Eriksen, labelled as “magic” in the media, could miss both in what could be another blow for the Red Devils.

Everton boasted the second-best defence in the bottom half of the Premier League heading into Sunday's clash against Manchester United at Goodison Park. However, as a result of three goals flying past Jordan Pickford, the Toffees have now fallen below Brentford's ranking and moved into third.

While Everton created a lot of chances during the game, ending the proceedings with an xG of 2.5, Sean Dyche's side gave the visitors plenty of opportunities to punish them on the break, conceding an xG of 2.07, according to Understat.

Two of United's three goals came from the wide areas, with one defender in particular struggling to keep up with the youthful vibrancy of the opposition's forward line.

Ashley Young's stats this season

Ashley Young has proven himself to be a reliable fullback under Dyche ever since making the move from Aston Villa during the summer transfer window for free. This season, the former Man United wide-man has made 12 appearances in the Premier League in a blue shirt, starting in 92% of Everton's games so far.

Nevertheless, the 38-year-old had a disastrous game against his old side on Sunday and played a helping hand in United's first two goals.

While Alejandro Garnacho stunned the Gwladys Street End with a stunning bicycle kick to open the scoring, the Argentine wonderkid was Young's man at the back-post but could only stand and watch in horror and awe as the ball sailed past Pickford and into the net. Later in the game, Young conceded a penalty which was smashed home by Marcus Rashford, all but putting the tie to bed.

Young lost five of his eight defensive duels throughout the match, lost possession of the ball nine times, committed three fouls in total and was lucky to stay on the park after tripping Anthony Martial in the box to concede a spot-kick, having been booked in the first half for a reckless challenge on Garnacho. The Liverpool Echo ranked Young's performance as a dismal 3/10, calling his display "awful".

With just over 15 minutes remaining, the veteran was replaced by the man who should be given the nod in the future.

Nathan Patterson's stats this season

Nathan Patterson moved to Goodison Park in 2022 during Rafa Benitez's time at the club for £16m having won a Scottish Premiership title with Rangers the year prior.

However, since becoming a Toffee, the young defender has appeared just 37 times in all competitions, including 15 this season. Despite making 12 Premier League appearances this term, the 22-year-old has only been in Dyche's starting lineup in 38% of Everton's games.

Regardless, the manager still believes that Patterson is an excellent player, calling him "tremendous" after Everton smashed Brighton and Hove Albion 5-1 away from home at the end of last season.

Patterson will be champing at the bit to make the right-back berth his own and, after Young's display on Sunday, he may just get the nod from the boss at Nottingham Forest this weekend. The Scotland international has even been outperforming Young in a number of key metrics for a fullback.

Assists

0.13

0

Expected Assists

0.11

0.07

Progressive Passes

3.77

3.73

Progressive Carries

2.13

1.73

Progressive Passes Received

3.77

1.18

Key Passes

0.82

1

Passes To Final 1/3

3.61

3

Crosses To Penalty Area

0.66

0.45

Tackles

3.11

1.55

Tackles Won %

73.7%

64.7%

Stats via FBref & FotMob.

Statistically, Patterson is an improvement on Young offensively and defensively and while he may not have the experience of his counterpart, the Scot should be given a run of games by Sean Dyche to prove his long-term worth to the team.

Daniel Farke had to resort to using his third-choice goalkeeper for Leeds United's last match versus Birmingham City, Kristoffer Klaesson drafted in at the last second and keeping a clean sheet to the relief of the German boss.

The Whites were left with no option but to give the unproven Norwegian shot-stopper a chance owing to Karl Darlow picking up an injury prior to the Blues clash and Illan Meslier still being suspended after petulantly picking up a red card away at Preston North End.

Locking horns with a Lilywhites player and lashing out was always going to result in Leeds' first-choice keeper being given his marching orders at Deepdale, with Farke now wondering whether the Frenchman deserves the status of being the number one in-between the sticks after such an outburst.

Transfer rumours indicate that Leeds could well swoop in for this goalkeeper from Italy amidst growing doubts, sensationally waving goodbye to Meslier in the process.

Leeds transfer latest – Bartomej Dragowski

In recent days, TuttoMercatoWeb have reported on the possibility that Leeds will sign Spezia goalkeeper Bartomej Dragowski this January, with the Polish shot-stopper allegedly eyeing up a move away from the Serie B outfit.

Leeds aren't the only club name-checked in the report from England however, with fellow Championship club Hull City also tempted to test the waters and land the 6 foot 3 keeper this month.

Previously on the books at Fiorentina, Dragowski would aim get to his career back on track if signed by Leeds and become a star at Elland Road ahead of Meslier.

The stats that show Dragowski would be a good signing for Leeds

Capped by the senior Poland side twice, Dragowski has been a reliable shot-stopper throughout his career for many different Italian clubs.

Whilst playing for Empoli out on loan from Fiorentina, Dragowski stole all the headlines when he pulled off a remarkable 17 saves in just one game versus Atalanta towards the tail end of the 2018-19 campaign – Empoli singlehandedly kept in the game by the heroic exploits of their loanee, a 0-0 scoreline somehow the final outcome.

It was a loan spell that saw Dragowski enter Empoli folklore, football talent scout Jacek Kulig even labelling him as a "superman" during his time with the relegation candidates.

In the present, however, Dragowski's game time has been cut in Serie B and so Leeds could offer the one-time Empoli monster a chance at redemption.

Leeds could sign Kamara upgrade in swoop for £9m-rated “war machine”

Leeds United could sign this top talent in January to give Glen Kamara a run for his money.

ByKelan Sarson Jan 4, 2024

When the towering stopper has played for Spezia this campaign, the 26-year-old has shown glimpses of why he was so highly regarded early into his fledging career – impressively pulling off nine saves in November for his Serie B outfit versus Cremonese.

In contrast, Meslier has struggled at points this campaign with Leeds routinely cruising in contests and then the nerves are suddenly ramped up out of nowhere due to an erratic error or lapse in concentration from the 23-year-old – who pundit Jamie Carragher previously criticised for having "no presence" in the sticks.

That was seen in Leeds' slender 2-1 win over Plymouth Argyle a few months back, Meslier unable to keep the Pilgrims out all game with Ben Waine scoring late on despite the visitors from Devon only registering three on-target efforts.

It could well be a worthwhile buy adding Dragowski to the Leeds ranks this month therefore, further bringing competition to the goalkeeper positions at Elland Road with Farke then faced with the prospect of using four goalkeepers in just one season.

Reliable transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano has shared what the West Ham board and directors are currently "working" on for January.

Fulham 5-0 West Ham

Before Sunday's embarrassing result at Craven Cottage, Irons boss David Moyes was enjoying a fine run of six wins over West Ham's previous eight games in all competitions – including victories against the likes of Arsenal and Tottenham.

Few could've predicted that West Ham would be on the wrong end of a 5-0 humbling at Fulham over the weekend, and it's a result which has piled the pressure back on Moyes.

Player facing "difficulties" inside West Ham as "tension" with Moyes shared

He’s apparently having a tough time.

ByEmilio Galantini Dec 9, 2023

The Scotsman's contract expires at the end of this Premier League season, and reports suggest Moyes is likely to leave West Ham in 2024 and not be offered fresh terms to stay.

The extent of West Ham's defeat at Fulham has resulted in some calls for West Ham to part company with Moyes sooner than that, but it's reported that Moyes is in no danger of an imminent sack despite the big loss (The Guardian).

Speaking after the trip to west London, Moyes was apologetic over the performance but admitted that, on paper, West Ham are still in fairly good stead after two tough away games.

"Everyone had two away games or two homes in this period and not many have taken six points," said Moyes on the Fulham defeat (via whufc.co.uk).

"Two away games, if you’d given me three points Id have probably said yes. If you’d given me two draws we’d have said that might have been good results away from home, so to get three points from the two games wasn’t that bad.

"But more importantly it was a disappointment today in how we performed."

West Ham arguably missed Edson Alvarez in midfield and were forced to play Jarrod Bowen as a makeshift striker again in the absence of Michail Antonio.

Technical director Tim Steidten wants to sign a new forward for West Ham as we approach the January window, according to club insider ExWHUemployee, as their lack of depth up front has arguably been exposed lately.

The winter transfer market represents an opportunity for West Ham to strengthen in key areas, and hopefully avoid terrible defeats akin to the weekend.

Fabrizio Romano shares West Ham transfer plan

Now, renowned transfer reporter Romano has shared an update on West Ham's transfer plans for January. Sharing what the club's board and directors are plotting next month, the journalist claims they could actually be set for a busy month as the Hammers hierarchy get "working".

“I expect West Ham to be busy in January as they’re looking at opportunities around," said Romano to Caught Offside.

"Though it’s still too early to say anything about specific names. Nothing is advanced, but the owners and directors are working on it.”

This will come as a promising bit of news for supporters, and we believe the signing of a new striker should take first priority.

Everton are under genuine threat of suffering a 12-point deduction this season, but a new update has revealed some positive news on the situation.

Everton in danger of points deduction

The Blues are going through a really tough time of things at the moment, with so many negatives on show at the club ahead of their move to Bramley Moore Dock next summer. The sad news of chairman Bill Kenwright's passing has devastated everyone affected with the club this week, and he will be sorely missed on Merseyside for the person he was regardless of any thoughts on his abilities in the boardroom.

Meanwhile, talk of an Everton takeover continues to rumble on, with no agreement in place yet with 777 Partners, and there is now also the worrying matter of the Blues potentially suffering a 12-point deduction, due to possibly being found guilty of financial breaches.

That could be an unbelievable blow for Sean Dyche and his players, as they look to avoid relegation from the Premier League, with 12 points lost suddenly making a drop down to the Championship look highly likely as the campaign progresses.

Everton are already sitting 16th in the league table after nine matches, having only won two of those games to date, highlighting exactly why the deduction could hurt them so badly, at a time when they cannot afford to go down to the second tier of English football.

Everton confident of beating Premier League charge

According to a fresh update from Football Insider journalist Sean Fisher, those high up at Everton are confident of avoiding a points deduction, contrary to the recent reports :

"Everton are confident of avoiding the 12-point deduction suggested by the Premier League, Football Insider has been told.

"The Toffees began their disciplinary hearing with the Premier League at the start of the week addressing allegations that they breached spending rules. The hearing is set to be concluded in the coming days."

This is an update that will likely make Everton fans breathe a certain sigh of relief, even if they are far from in the clear when it comes to the financial accusations being levelled against them.

The fact that those at the club are seemingly confident about a points deduction being avoided can only be a good thing and it will be a massive relief if the potential charges are dropped or only lead to a slap on the wrist.

It is vital that this saga, among numerous others, doesn't affect Dyche and his players, however, with results so important in the Premier League at the moment, as they look to bounce back from the disappointment of losing 2-0 away to Liverpool in the Merseyside derby last weekend.

Sunday's trip to West Ham will be a good place to start, with victory at the London Stadium representing a huge statement against a team who are the reigning UEFA Europa Conference League holders.

Every point feels absolutely vital for the Blues at the moment, and with the threat of a points deductions there for all to see, it makes any positive result feel even more priceless at this point.

After suffering the heartbreak of Premier League relegation, Leeds United were forced to bid farewell to a number of players in the summer transfer window, giving new manager Daniel Farke an immediate headache at the start of his tenure.

The former Norwich boss recruited well, however, alongside new owners the 49ers Enterprises, and the Whites are now in the race for automatic promotion alongside Ipswich Town and Leicester City.

Farke's attention may soon turn towards the January transfer window and keeping hold of the new stars that have emerged this season at Elland Road. The last thing he'll want is to do is lose players once again in what would be a major dent in his side's Championship promotion push. And reports suggest that the manager is set to get his wish when it comes to keeping one particular player, too.

Leeds United transfer news

Whilst exits took place during the summer, they did at least give Farke the opportunity to discover new options at Elland Road, whether through the market or the academy. And that includes Archie Gray, who has emerged as one of Leeds' standout stars this season. The teenager has taken his opportunity incredibly well and has quickly become an important part of Farke's side – so much so that the Whites may face a battle to keep hold of him.

Phil Hay shares off-field Leeds agreement from Elland Road

Good news for Leeds fans…

ByTom Cunningham Nov 24, 2023

According to Football Insider, Leeds and the 49ers are set to reject offers for Gray during the January transfer window and are adamant that he'll be staying at the club amid reported interest from Liverpool, Everton and Crystal Palace. The midfielder's current deal runs out in 2025, which hands Leeds a fairly urgent task when it comes to securing his future in Yorkshire, and talks are thought to be in the works over a new contract.

"Fantastic" Gray has become key for Farke

Gray's stats this season show just how important he's been for Leeds. The 17-year-old has started plenty of Championship games throughout the current campaign, whether that be in midfield or at right-back, proving his versatility. Still so young, Gray is only likely to get even better, which is exciting for those at Elland Road.

Farke is certainly a fan too, speaking about Gray's ability to fill in at right-back, saying:

"For Archie, it's definitely not a bad choice at times. We don't play him there just to develop him, it's more we've got the feeling for this game, we need a player there who is capable to handle the pace and the speed and the mobility of the opponent's wingers.

"Also to play a bit more like an inverted full-back, a bit more like a traditional midfield player, Archie would have been the right choice. Thank God he repaid my trust and played some really good games there. He was fantastic in the last home game, solid last away game and he was crucial, especially in the second half."

West Bromwich Albion haven't been blessed with the best luck when it comes to injuries in their squad this season, with significant players for the Baggies spending more time out of the side than in the team owing to various different knocks, scrapes and afflictions.

The likes of Matt Phillips, Daryl Dike and Josh Maja have been major injury casualties for the Championship promotion hopefuls in recent weeks, with Maja now expected to be out for four months with ankle ligament damage.

Carlos Corberan will pray that Jed Wallace isn't out for a similarly lengthy period, the ex-Millwall man leaving the field of play during the 1-0 win over Leeds in some discomfort on the 70th-minute mark after battling valiantly all afternoon.

It would be a major blow for the Baggies if Wallace was ruled out for the game away at Swansea City today, the experienced winger running his socks off against the Whites in another stellar individual display.

Jed Wallace's game vs Leeds United in numbers

The 29-year-old was key throughout West Brom's statement victory over Daniel Farke's flat Leeds side, Wallace causing havoc down the left-hand channel whilst his midfield partner Grady Diangana down the opposite flank was equally as lively.

The Baggies captain was unfortunate not to add another assist to his season tally against the lacklustre visitors from West Yorkshire, managing to make three key passes – as per Sofascore – in the contest.

Wallace also registered four successful crosses in the hard-fought 1-0 victory, wanting to tee up Brandon Thomas-Asante to score again to make the win more convincing and calm any nerves inside the Hawthorns as the game dragged on.

The EFL veteran couldn't quite muster up an audacious strike of his own in the game either akin to his stylish free-kick against Rotherham United, registering just one effort on Karl Darlow's goal that was blocked by a Leeds shirt.

Corberan will just be keeping everything crossed that Wallace can shake off his knock to start again versus the Swans today, the 29-year-old midfielder a key part of the West Brom jigsaw at this moment in time as a cool and composed head.

If Wallace was deemed unfit to start in Wales, the Spanish second-tier manager could resort to giving Adam Reach a start in his place – the ex-Sheffield Wednesday man an adaptable and flexible presence, the perfect utility option to rely upon when injuries begin to pile up.

Adam Reach's game vs Leeds in numbers

Adam Reach did competently fill in for the injury-stricken Wallace as the clock ticked down versus the Whites last match, the 30-year-old coming on with the sole aim of helping his side preserve their clean sheet over creating more openings.

The versatile number 20 won two of his three duels in the game, West Brom holding out in the end for a 1-0 win courtesy of Reach's solid cameo.

The former Owls midfielder also notched up one on-target effort to try and catch out a shaky Darlow late on, Reach certainly impressing off the bench which could see him start versus Swansea.

Birmingham Live journalist Joseph Chapman gave Reach a 7/10 rating for his efforts late on at the Hawthorns in his post-match musings, stating that the substitute was sent on to a 'defensive job' and completed his duties with flying colours.

In the past, Corberan has waxed lyrical about Reach – stating earlier in the season to the Express and Star that the 30-year-old is "perfect" for how he sets his Baggies team up as an expansive wing-back and cursed that he was out with an injury at the time.

Yet, for the clash at the Swansea.com Stadium today, Corberan could utilise his handy number 20 as a left winger with Wallace potentially deemed too vital to the promotion cause to be risked in Wales.

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has enjoyed a number of huge successes in the transfer market over the years throughout his time at Anfield.

The likes of Virgil van Dijk, Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane, and Alisson were all signed by the German head coach and went on to become influential players for the club, with some of them remaining key figures to date.

Who are Klopp's most expensive Liverpool signings?

Klopp has not been afraid to splash the cash when provided the chance to do so by FSG and has struck gold a number of times since his move to the club in 2015.

Virgil van Dijk

£73.8m

Darwin Nunez

£69.7m

Dominik Szoboszlai

£61m

Alisson

£54.5m

Naby Keita

£52.3m

Whilst it is easy to focus on the big-money signings who caught the eye and became stars for the club, Klopp also played a blinder with the bargain signing and then sale of winger Xherdan Shaqiri.

He was a solid and reliable performer for the Reds during his spell at Anfield and the German boss went on to sell him at the perfect time before his market value plummeted.

How much did Liverpool pay for Shaqiri?

The Reds reportedly splashed out a fee of £13.5m to sign the Switzerland international from Stoke City in the summer of 2018 after they activated a relegation clause in his contract with the Potters, who dropped down to the Championship that year.

Klopp described it as a "perfect" move and a no-brainer for the club as the talented forward had already proven his quality at Premier League level. Coincidentally, he'd also proven himself to be a little like one former Red. After scoring at Euro 2018, just a month before his move, one football writer Andrew Beasley said: "That Shaqiri goal reeks of Suárez against Everton at the Kop end in 2014."

The Swiss joined Stoke from Italian giants Inter in the summer of 2015 and enjoyed an impressive few years at the club with 15 goals and 15 assists in 92 appearances in all competitions.

His most productive season in a Potters shirt came during the 2017/18 campaign as he contributed with eight goals and seven assists in 36 Premier League starts.

The Switzerland forward averaged a phenomenal Sofascore rating of 7.24 which happened to be the highest score within the squad, ahead of second-placed Kurt Zouma's 7.07.

Shaqiri was unfortunate to end the season with only seven assists as the left-footed winger created a whopping 14 'big chances' for his teammates and provided 2.1 key passes per game, as per Sofascore, 1.2 more per match than any other Stoke player with more than one league appearance.

That sublime form came after the ex-Bayern Munich prospect produced four goals and two assists in 21 Premier League starts during the 2016/17 campaign. In that time, he created five 'big chances' and delivered two key passes per outing.

These statistics show that Liverpool were bringing in a player who had already proven himself to be an effective forward in the top-flight of English football for a relatively low fee.

How many goals did Shaqiri score for Liverpool?

The Switzerland star racked up eight goals in 63 appearances in all competitions for the Reds in three seasons with the club before his exit in 2021.

Shaqiri, who joined as a back-up to the likes of Mane and Salah, caught the eye when called upon by the ex-Dortmund head coach throughout his first season on Merseyside.

The talented attacker scored six goals and provided three assists in 11 Premier League starts for the Reds, which worked out as an average of one goal contribution every 1.2 starts. Evidently, he was a reliable option for Liverpool to bring in when one of the frontline options needed a rest or missed a game through injury or suspension.

Only Roberto Firmino, Mane, and Salah scored more league goals for Liverpool than Shaqiri during the 2018/18 campaign, illustrating how impactful he was in spite of his limited game time on the pitch.

He also provided two assists in two Champions League starts for the club that season as Klopp's side went on to win the competition with a 2-0 victory over Tottenham Hotspur in the final.

However, Shaqiri then struggled even more for minutes on the pitch over the next two years as he managed seven Premier League starts in his final two campaigns at Anfield, in which time he chipped in with one goal and two assists.

Where is Xherdan Shaqiri now?

Liverpool ended up playing a blinder with the Swiss gem as they opted to sell him to Lyon in the summer of 2021 after his lack of game time. Since then, his value has plummeted, suggesting a sale was made at precisely the right time.

Football Transfers rated his Expected Transfer Value (xTV) at €11.2m (£9.8m) in December of 2021, shortly after his move to France.

Shaqiri only played 16 matches for the Ligue 1 outfit and contributed with two goals and three assists before a move to MLS side Chicago Fire in 2022.

He has racked up 12 goals and 11 assists in 59 appearances for the American team to date and has scored three goals and produced three assists in 26 MLS outings in 2023 so far.

At the time of writing (25/09/2023), FootballTransfers has his xTV at €2.9m (£2.5m), meaning that his market value has dropped by a staggering 74% in just two years since his move from Liverpool.

Klopp clearly made a terrific decision to cash in on Shaqiri when he did as the 31-year-old has struggled to get back to his best and currently finds himself playing outside of Europe's major leagues with a decreasing market value.

Liverpool picked him up for a fairly cheap price and enjoyed his talents throughout the 2018/19 season and, although they may be disappointed with how the next two years went, have now been able to watch on as he has struggled since moving on from Anfield.

Everton's takeover saga continues to rumble on with no end in sight, and a new update from journalist Paul Brown could raise eyebrows amongst supporters at Goodison Park.

Everton takeover updates

Talk of a potential takeover has dominated the headlines on the blue half of Merseyside of late, with the situation somewhat overshadowing what the Blues are doing on the pitch, as they look to steer themselves away from the Premier League relegation zone this season.

As it stands, 777 Partners are the front-runners to come in and bring an end to the Farhad Moshiri era at Everton, which is something that many supporters want to see happen, following a turbulent reign in charge that has led to protests outside the stadium and during matches in 2023.

There are concerns over whether 777 are the right people to come in, however, with doubts over their finances, and it is making for a murky situation at the club that feels a long way from ending. Another update has now emerged – one that sheds further light on whether 777 will be the people to lead the Blues forward ahead of move to Bramley Moore Dock at the end of the season.

Less than 50% chance of Everton takeover

Speaking to Give Me Sport, Brown assessed Everton's chances of being taken over by 777 Partners, saying that former Arsenal chairman David Dein knows those involved in the talks well, but it looks lower than a 50% chance of happening at the moment:

"He (Dein) is at least someone who knows all of the people involved, and they think will be able to pave the way for the takeover to be approved.

"I think it is still fraught with difficulty for them and I think their finances and being able to provide the right documentation for the regulatory bodies to get this signed off is a problem for various reasons. So I think it's still up in the air and I've been told that the chances are less than 50/50 of it going through at the moment."

This is an update that will once again likely cause frustration among the Everton fanbase, with the saga feeling never ending at this point, when a smooth transition from Moshiri to a new owner would be far more ideal.

It is vital that a takeover is completed in time for the January transfer window, potentially generating more funds for Sean Dyche to spend on new signings at that point, and it is important for the general feel-good factor of the club, bringing a stability to proceedings in the process.

The longer this goes on, the harder it is going to be for Dyche and his players to simply focus on getting positive results, and similarly, supporters are going to games with a negative mindset at times because of the unresolved issues higher up.

Whatever happens, Moshiri's time as owner needs to come to an end, and whoever comes in to replace him must tick every box, rather than a gamble which could potentially put Everton in even more financial strife.