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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.

Aston Villa are back in action in Europe tonight, as Unai Emery’s side hope to kickstart their progression in Group E of the UEFA Europa Conference League against Zrinjski.

Despite cruising through the qualifiers with an 8-0 aggregate win over Hibernian in an all-British tie, the Villans were dragged back to reality in the opening group game as they faced defeat to Legia Warsaw in Poland.

Emery’s side were hit with a footballing lesson against Legia, losing the game 3-2 in what was an overall disappointing performance by the Midlands club who were well poised to top the group at first glance.

What is the latest Aston Villa team news?

Just as Villa learnt in their opening game of the tournament, no side should be underestimated, which is a lesson that must be carried over to tonight’s contest as Zrinjski were victorious in their opening fixture against AZ Alkmaar.

Villa got back into their groove last weekend by seeing off Brighton & Hove Albion 6-1 at Villa Park, however the match saw two integral members of Emery’s squad sustain knocks forcing them to withdraw from the contest.

The Spaniard confirmed in his pre-match press conference that he will be without Moussa Diaby and Boubacar Kamara for the showdown at Villa Park, with both players having not trained following their withdrawal against Brighton.

Another unfortunate blow is Jacob Ramsey, who scored his first goal of the season against the Seagulls after missing the start of the campaign due to a broken metatarsal injury, with Emery confirming that the Englishman is also unavailable.

In the Conference League opener against Legia, a host of players were far below par, leaving questions over whether Emery will continue to rotate his side to accommodate those that were incapable of fighting for the win in Poland last time out.

Should Douglas Luiz start against Zrinjski over Leander Dendoncker?

Away from the Conference League, the manager opted to rotate his squad against Everton in the Carabao Cup, seeing Leander Dendoncker come into midfield to hand Kamara a rest.

Now that the Frenchman is out of contention, the Spaniard should avoid rotating the former Wolves dud back into the side, after his woeful performance against the Toffees that saw him earn a 6.4 Sofascore match rating.

Instead, Luiz should partner Youri Tielemans, who despite being another poor performer on the night, has shown glimpses of what he can offer to the side when at the top of his game.

Once lauded as a “warrior” by journalist Jack Grimse, Luiz has been the glue to Villa’s transformation in the middle of the park, and while the Brazilian would be the natural target of rotation due to his importance, tonight’s fixture poses little room for error.

With just 33 touches and a failure to impose himself defensively in midfield against the Toffees, Dendoncker was hooked at halftime, with Birmingham Live's John Townley writing that the 28-year-old was 'slow in possession and didn’t progress the ball particularly well'.

Considering Villa’s growing injury problems, Emery will be short on his options in midfield after losing both Kamara and Ramsey, however he should opt against risking another Dendoncker disasterclass.

After the defeat to Legia, Villa must begin to make waves in the group, which they could start tonight with a win over Zrinjski, which they will have to be at their best to ensure with Luiz often possessing the keys to the squad’s success.

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.

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.

Newcastle United have been put through the wringer this summer, having missed out on key attacking targets in Liam Delap, Bryan Mbeumo, Joao Pedro and now Hugo Ekitike.

However, context is important, and in the latter’s case, Liverpool have moved ahead with a bumper deal after Eddie Howe and co stood firm on their stance that Alexander Isak is not for sale.

Ekitike, valued at €100m (£85m), has handed in a transfer request at Eintracht Frankfurt as he edges closer to Anfield. Thus, Newcastle have turned their attention to Brentford’s Yoane Wissa.

However, the Magpies may be foiled once again with that one.

Newcastle lining up Ekitike alternatives

On Friday afternoon, Manchester United finally achieved a breakthrough in their long pursuit of Bryan Mbeumo, with a £71m fee agreed between the Premier League clubs.

This transfer may run counter to Newcastle’s ambitions regarding Wissa, for the Bees have already lost Thomas Frank and their captain Christian Norgaard, and thus will be loath to part with their central striker too.

Thus, Newcastle need – once again – an alternative.

Well, according to Sport BILD, Howe has lined up Napoli’s Victor Osimhen as an ambitious alternative, with the free-scoring marksman said to be one of the players who is on the Magpies’ ‘radar’.

While the £64m-rated Osimhen is the centre of talks between Napoli and Galatasaray, with whom he spent the 2024/25 season on loan, the allure of the Premier League could work in the Toon’s favour.

Why Newcastle want Victor Osimhen

Osimhen is one of the most feared and famous centre-forwards currently competing in Europe. The end of an unhappy marriage with Napoli led to his loan move to Galatasaray in the Turkish Super Lig, but who can say he hasn’t made good use of the cards dealt?

The prolific star’s meaty haul does suggest that he’s got every bit the clinical nature of Isak, with Statman Dave even commenting that he’s “the best striker on the market” right now.

With Isak’s long-term future a debatable thing, there’s a chance that Osimhen could prove to be not just a fitting replacement but an incredible upgrade. Indeed, his goalscoring consistency can be viewed across a number of years and a number of countries.

24/25 – Galatasaray

41

37

8

23/24 – Napoli

32

17

4

22/23 – Napoli

39

31

5

21/22 – Napoli

32

18

6

20/21 – Napoli

30

10

3

A title winner who is more than just a goalscoring focal point, Osimhen could be the perfect man to add another layer to this incredible Newcastle side.

Isak, a world-class striker, scored 27 goals across 42 matches last season. Osimhen, meanwhile, bagged 37 times over 41 games. Though the Nigerian competed in a division of inferior quality to the Premier League, he scored six goals across seven matches in the Europa League, including a brace in a 3-2 win over Tottenham Hotspur.

Moreover, Isak’s six Champions League outings in 2023/24 yielded just the one goal, and no assists either. Conversely, Osimhen’s prolificness in the European theatre is underscored further by his record of nine goals and an assist across 17 Champions League fixtures.

And Osimhen could even emulate his positional peer in regard to movement and intelligence. As per FBref, he ranked among the top 4% of strikers across Europe last season for shot-creating actions and the top 18% for progressive carries per 90.

Ultimately, Newcastle have scored a winner by keeping hold of Isak, and in Osimhen, they could land a new number nine to challenge him for that first-choice spot, certainly proving an upgrade on the young Ekitike.

He’s Lewis Miley 2.0: Newcastle agree terms to sign "exciting" sensation

Newcastle are looking to strengthen for the present and the future

ByJoe Nuttall Jul 17, 2025

Just a matter of weeks ago it looked like Chelsea were in the title race but things have rather unravelled for Enzo Maresca and Co in recent weeks.

The Blues did pick up a point against Arsenal with ten men but results since then have been bleak, losing 3-1 to Leeds United and drawing 0-0 with Bournemouth.

Cole Palmer’s return to fitness has been timely, but according to the manager, he’s still not up to full speed just yet.

The latest Chelsea injury news

Palmer returned from the bench against Bournemouth at the weekend but in a fresh blow to Maresca and Co they have decided that the attacking midfielder will not travel with the squad for the Champions League trip to Atalanta.

That said, no fresh injury has been sustained. The manager has confirmed the forward is simply being rested as part of his recovery.

Palmer had missed a period courtesy of a groin injury and then had to spend an extra week out after breaking a toe at home.

That said, he is now slowly working himself back. Maresca said: “Cole is in part of his process in this moment. He’s not available, he can’t play two games in a row in three days. So we planned that, and it’s just a way to protect him.”

As far as Liam Delap is concerned, the news isn’t ideal there. The striker injured his shoulder against the Cherries and will now miss a period of time.

Commenting on the striker’s situation, the Chelsea boss stated: “Liam, fortunately, there is not any fracture, so that is good news. In terms of how long he will be out, we are not sure at this stage to be honest.”

What Delap's injury means for Chelsea

Well, it certainly means that Joao Pedro is likely to play a lot of minutes over the festive period and there could well be a rare slice of minutes for Marc Guiu who has barely kicked a ball this season after being recalled from his early-season loan spell with Sunderland.

That said, it’s unlikely we’ll see a recall for a certain Raheem Sterling who remains out in the cold alongside centre-back Axel Disasi.

A January exit looms for both players and it would be a surprise if we saw either in a Chelsea shirt again.

Maresca said in his press conference: “In terms of Raheem, once again it’s the same thing I said about Axel, they are Chelsea players. Now also we are in December, January is coming, so anything can happen, obviously.”

Sterling signed at Stamford Bridge in a deal worth £47.5m back in the summer of 2022 but has not lived up to expectations, scoring just 19 goals in 81 outings. A season-long loan spell with Arsenal in 2024/25 failed to get his career back on track either.

As for Disasi, he had a loan spell with Aston Villa in the back end of last campaign but has not been seen in Chelsea blue this season. He once cost the club a whopping £38.5m but there is seemingly no way back for him.

Chelsea flop has fast become their biggest liability since Bakayoko

Chelsea and Maresca need to move on from the walking disaster as soon as possible.

1 ByJack Salveson Holmes 3 days ago

Manchester United have now joined the race for a “sensational” Champions League midfielder, with manager Ruben Amorim personally an admirer.

Man Utd eyeing new midfielder amid Mainoo issues

After scoring in the shock 2-1 FA Cup final victory over Manchester City in 2024, few would’ve predicted Kobbie Mainoo’s Man United career would pan out the way it has, with the midfielder falling down the pecking order considerably.

Former striker Teddy Sheringham has made it clear he doesn’t believe Amorim is a fan of the youngster, saying: “He’s [Mainoo] obviously not Amorim’s type of player. He’s very casual on the ball, but obviously plays the game in his own way. I’m not saying that in a derogatory manner; I’m saying that he has a certain style that Amorim obviously doesn’t appreciate.

The 20-year-old has featured for just 113 minutes in the Premier League this season, and it has now been suggested he could be the next player to leave United and go on to flourish elsewhere.

With Mainoo’s future up in the air, the Red Devils are now looking to sign a new young English midfielder, according to a report from BILD (via Sports View), which names Borussia Dortmund’s Jobe Bellingham as a target.

Amorim is said to be a fan of Bellingham’s robustness and physicality, with Man United now plotting a move for the former Sunderland man, who is a few months younger than Mainoo. There is set to be competition for his signature, with Crystal Palace also named as potential suitors.

The 20-year-old only arrived at Dortmund in the summer, joining in a package widely reported to be worth £31m, but his start to life in Germany has been far from ideal, with his dad causing controversy after entering the dressing room after a draw against St. Pauli in August.

"Sensational" Bellingham would be risky signing for Amorim

Given that Jude Bellingham has already established himself as one of the world’s best midfielders at just 22, the Dortmund youngster is likely to be feeling the pressure, although it is important to remember he is still just 20-years-old.

Fabrizio Romano shares what he's heard from Man Utd on £190k-p/w star's Old Trafford future

The Red Devils hold him in high regard and he would be a big loss…

BySean Markus Clifford Oct 13, 2025

Much like his brother, the starlet has been impressing at senior level since a very young age, with journalist Josh Bunting hailing him for a top display for Sunderland just over two years ago.

That said, Bellingham would be a risky signing for Man United, given that he is yet to establish himself at the top level, making two Champions League appearances, and it may be a better idea to bring in a midfielder who has more experience.

Sunderland have a reputation for being a hotbed that allows young talents to shine and prosper, going all the way back to Jordan Henderson’s emergence up the ranks at the Stadium of Light.

Henderson would go on to be a household name in the Premier League with Liverpool after kickstarting his career in the senior game on Wearside, whilst the likes of 19-year-old Jobe Bellingham in today’s squad are expected to go on and achieve similarly big things when leaving the Black Cats.

Bellingham also has a teammate in the middle of the park who is being tipped to be a superstar as he continues to develop, with Chris Rigg already a first-team face week in week out for Regis Le Bris’ side in the Championship at the tender age of 17.

Rigg's time at Sunderland

Rigg only being a wide-eyed teenager still must stun those looking in from the outside, considering the Black Cats number 11 has been in and around the side since early 2023.

When making his first professional appearance in January of that year, the teen went down as the second youngest player ever to don a Sunderland jersey, with the starlet never looking back as more and more first-team chances opened up.

Now, Rigg has made 40 appearances in the senior mix with six goals fired home across that span of games, as the introduction of Le Bris in the dug-out has managed to get even more out of the raw youngster.

Three of those strikes have come in Championship action under the Frenchman, including a stunning flicked finish against Middlesbrough back in September, which narrowly won his table-topping side the contest 1-0 against Michael Carrick’s men.

There could be some regret on the end of the second-tier outfit now that they didn’t try and keep another Rigg-like homegrown product over the summer, particularly considering Le Bris’ tutelage is seemingly working wonders on other young faces in the squad.

The Sunderland youngster who could have been the first Rigg

The former academy prodigy here is Ellis Taylor, who walked away from the Sunderland U21 structure in May after not being gifted a new contract at his boyhood employers.

He has since moved on to League Two Harrogate Town, but it will feel like a case of what could have been when it comes to the 21-year-old, especially when you consider how quickly Rigg has taken to Le Bris’ new managerial methods.

LB

13

3

2

LM

10

1

0

RM

8

4

0

RB

8

6

1

CF

5

2

2

CM

3

0

0

AM

2

0

0

RW

1

1

0

DM

1

1

0

Playing in a staggering nine different positions for Sunderland when on the roster of their U21s, everyone at the club must have been anticipating that the Hartlepool-born youngster would eventually make a name for himself in the first-team fold.

He was even touted as having a “really bright future” at the Stadium of Light by Sunderland sporting director Kristjaan Speakman in 2021, only for him to go on to make a disappointing five first-team appearances in total before Harrogate picked him up for nothing.

He has since gone to be a hit for the Sulphurites – after being labelled as an “exciting” new signing by Harrogate head of recruitment Lloyd Kerry when the capture was announced – with the versatile 21-year-old scoring three times from 20 games, matching Rigg’s goal numbers for the season in the process.

Of course, the Black Cats ace is shining two leagues above his counterpart, but Taylor hasn’t allowed his career to fall off a cliff after departing his boyhood club.

Instead, he has taken to his new League Two environment well, with the potential there one day for Taylor to face off against Le Bris’ men down the line, if he can rise up the EFL ladder.

Chris Rigg is not the only Sunderland star being tracked by massive clubs

A concern for Regis Le Bris….

ByTom Cunningham Nov 13, 2024

Arne Slot has engineered victories over Real Madrid and Manchester City in the past week, dispatching both without conceding a goal and consolidating Liverpool’s position as Premier League and, to a lesser degree, Champions League favourites.

The nine-point Premier League lead over Arsenal and Chelsea, united in second place, bears testament to the Dutch coach’s unflappable mentality and innovative tactics, shaping Jurgen Klopp’s talented team to his own design.

Redmen from all angles have stepped up to bring elation to the Merseyside masses, who can scarcely believe the incredible start to the season that has suggested an illustrious finish is on the horizon.

At the front, though, is Mohamed Salah. The 32-year-old’s future is up in the air but this is hardly affecting his performances, notching a brace against Pep Guardiola’s withered crop to raise his haul to 11 goals and seven assists across 13 top-flight appearances this term. He’s posted six goal contributions from seven matches in further competitions.

1.

Wayne Rooney

Man United

276

2.

Ryan Giggs

Man United

271

3.

Harry Kane

Tottenham

259

4.

Thierry Henry

Arsenal

249

5.

Mohamed Salah

Liverpool

241

It’s clear that Salah wants to renew his £350k-per-week salary, but whether FSG bypasses their strict wage structure remains to be seen. Time’s ticking. Liverpool’s sporting director Richard Hughes is prudently looking at potential successors, and he’s found an excellent choice to possibly replace the Egyptian king.

Liverpool eyeing Salah replacement

The Athletic have reported that Salah is open to extending his Liverpool contract by a single year but is frustrated by FSG’s handling of the situation. It’s not a good look, whichever angle it is viewed from.

The fact is, FSG have their parameters and will not acquiesce to Salah’s demands if they are deemed untenable. If the dreaded eventuality becomes reality for the Reds, Omar Marmoush is the player who is being lined up to take his place according to Sky Germany’s Florian Plettenberg.

Marmoush, Salah’s teammate with Egypt, has been in remarkable form for Eintracht Frankfurt this season and carries the kind of dynamic attacking qualities that would allow him to dovetail into Slot’s high-flying system.

The £50m-rated forward has been brilliant this season, for sure, and could forge a deadly partnership with Liverpool’s attacking options, especially Cody Gakpo.

Imagine Omar Marmoush & Cody Gakpo

Marmoush, who is 25, scored 17 goals across 41 appearances for Frankfurt last season as he established himself as one of the most promising forwards in German football.

This season, the Egypt international has been on a different level, harvesting 17 goals and 11 assists across 19 matches in all competitions, meaning that he is incredibly outscoring Liverpool’s very own Salah.

Transfer Focus

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

As per FBref, the 5 foot 9 ace also ranks among the top 1% of forwards across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for assists and the top 2% for shot-creating actions per 90, thus showcasing a creative side to his game that would see him emulate Salah as an elite multi-faceted attacking outlet.

1.

Harry Kane

12

14

7

21

2.

Omar Marmoush

12

13

7

20

3.

Mohamed Salah

13

11

7

18

4.

Robert Lewandowski

15

15

2

17

4=

Raphinha

15

9

8

17

While Marmoush is typically found at centre-forward, his pace and movements allow him to operate on the left wing too, promoting his playmaking side. This could see him flourish alongside Gakpo, whose own positional versatility has been streamlined this term, and he is now reaping the rewards.

Goals against Real and Man City have taken the Netherlands international’s haul to eight goals under Slot’s wing, though it’s more impressive still when seeing that he has actually only been handed ten starting berths.

Exclusively posting his strikes from that left channel, it’s fair to say that Gakpo is loving life under his compatriot’s wing, and is actually thriving with Luis Diaz as the pair jockey for placement on the left.

As you can see below, Salah’s defence-splitting arced pass undid the shaky City backline on Sunday, finding the surging Gakpo and sending Anfield into an exultant roar. He had no trouble bundling the ball in, and it’s something that Marmoush might have taken note of.

Gakpo’s hardly just a marksman either, once hailed for his “special skill set” by Klopp’s former assistant manager Pep Lijnders, endowed with physical strength, shifty motions and impressive technicality that might just see him forge an innate bond with the equally dynamic Marmoush.

Though it’s easy to get ahead of the track, Liverpool fans must remember that there is plenty of football still to be played this season, with twists and turns and bumps and blocks all sure to threaten the Anfield side’s place in the ascendency.

Salah might be the cream of the crop, but players such as Gakpo are proving to offer quality fit for the biggest and shiniest titles.

To lose Salah at the supposed height of his powers is unthinkable, and surely must not be allowed to happen, but Liverpool will need to replace their 32-year-old phenomenon at some stage, and Marmoush is blessed with the talent to succeed in his stead.

Alongside Gakpo and co over the coming years, it might even be a move that maintains Liverpool’s position at the very summit of English and European competition.

Fewer touches than Kelleher: Liverpool must boldly axe 8/10 ace after City

Liverpool swatted Manchester City aside in the Premier League to go nine points clear at the top.

1 ByAngus Sinclair Dec 2, 2024

With or without Champions League football, it looks as though Tottenham Hotspur are set to continue their backing of Ange Postecoglou, who has seen a number of new players arrive during his first year in charge. Now, reports suggest they are considering a bid to welcome a record-breaker in the summer.

Tottenham transfer news

Daniel Levy and co have splashed the cash in the last two windows to welcome the likes of James Maddison, Micky van de Ven, Radu Dragusin and many more, and this summer looks set to be no different. Whilst the Lilywhites won't have the Harry Kane money to spend this time around, the rumour mill indicates that they'll still be in a position to strengthen Postecoglou's squad.

"Incredible" £200,000-a-week Tottenham player "will leave" this summer

The Lilywhites will finally cash in on him.

ByBen Browning Mar 30, 2024

Among those who have already grabbed the headlines regarding Spurs is Morgan Gibbs-White, who is looking likely to be among those sacrificed to help Nottingham Forest avoid a second PSR punishment. Sitting one point adrift of safety after their four-point deduction, Forest may even lose Gibbs-White for an even cheaper price if they suffer relegation this season.

Elsewhere in the Premier League, Spurs are eyeing a shock summer move to land a record-breaking defender. According to reports in Spain, Spurs are considering a bid to sign Harry Maguire from Manchester United, who has enjoyed a resurgent spell after a torrid time at Old Trafford.

Initially signed for £80m back in 2019, Maguire broke the record to become the most expensive defender of all time in a tag that has only stood in his way ever since. Now, United are almost certain to suffer a major loss if they decide to sell the former Leicester City man this summer. Benefiting from that, reports suggest, may well be Spurs, as they look to bolster Postecoglou's backline.

Given the injury troubles of Van de Ven, welcoming Maguire would certainly be a wise piece of business from Spurs, especially if they can land a bargain deal this summer.

"Proactive" Maguire can forget United struggles with Spurs move

Whilst Maguire has put an end to the negative noise at Manchester United, that may only be temporary given the pressures of Old Trafford. And if the England international gets the chance to put an end to his current nightmare for good, he should take that chance. He wouldn't be stepping down to a different level, either, with Spurs also a top-six club vying for a place in the Champions League.

Maguire's stats also show that he'd be more than capable of stepping in and keeping up with Cristian Romero if Van de Ven's injury issues persist next season.

Blocks

2.02

1.43

0.71

Interceptions

1.47

1.62

0.76

Aerial Duels Won

3.72

2.52

1.41

Progressive Passes

4.19

6

4.06

Erik ten Hag could yet be hesitant to lose Maguire after his recent return to form, however, having sung his praises earlier this season. The Dutchman said via The Guardian: “I have to say Harry is playing like we want him to play. Very proactive out of possession, dominating his opponent, stepping in when necessary, reading the game, good covering but also in possession very proactive, stepping in, delivering good passes, switching; yes, I am happy with his performance.”