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Upon the arrival of new manager Arne Slot, Liverpool have reportedly made their first move to bolster the Dutchman's midfield in what would be Michael Edwards' first signing since making his Anfield return.

Liverpool transfer news

The Reds could certainly be in for a busy few months as Edwards looks to shape the current Liverpool squad into Slot's vision and away from that of Jurgen Klopp's, who said one final goodbye this week after a legendary tenure that will forever have its place in the Anfield history books.

With the Slot era set to get underway, however, potential changes have already stolen the headlines in Merseyside, with the likes of Rodrygo and Aurelien Tchouameni linked with sensational switches from Real Madrid in what would be some statement from all those at Liverpool. That said, Edwards has since instead turned his attention towards Portugal when it comes to handing his new manager a boost in the middle of the park, a familiar hunting ground for both he and his once successor, Julian Ward.

According to Leo Pardizo via GiveMeSport, Liverpool have enquired about signing Alan Varela, who reportedly has a release clause of £60m this summer. The Argentine, who earns a reported £13k-a-week at Porto, is still just 22 years old and has attracted the interest of Liverpool, Manchester City and Bayern Munich, leaving him with quite the decision to make this summer.

Liverpool hit the jackpot with £4m man now worth more than Jota & Salah

Arne Slot could nurture this player toward the top of the Premier League.

By
Angus Sinclair

May 29, 2024

Liverpool aren't afraid to splash the cash to improve their midfield, as proved last summer of course. And now they could finally welcome a long-term defensive midfielder, with Wataru Endo already 31 years old and unlikely to be at his best for an extended period of time, such is the ruthless nature of the Premier League. But that should allow Varela to step in at the perfect time.

"Wonderful" Varela can replace Endo

As surprisingly good as Endo has been for Liverpool since arriving last summer, the Reds need a long-term solution for that defensive midfield role if they are to permanently unleash Alexis Mac Allister's best form. And that solution should be the former Brighton man's compatriot in Varela this summer.

Valera's numbers on the ball are particularly impressive and there could be an argument that he's yet to even reach his best form at 22 years old. A move to Liverpool this summer would, on paper, result in significant improvement if all goes well under Slot. The Argentine has certainly earned fans during what is still a young career, with Football Talent Scout's Jacek Kulig describing him as "wonderful" on X.

When the summer transfer window arrives, the Porto star will be one to watch amid impressive interest, as Liverpool look to end any doubts about their midfield once and for all.

28 wins, 89 points – a record that would have seen Arsenal win the Premier League title in 15 previous seasons, as well as finish joint-top in a further five.

That is a reminder of the levels that Mikel Arteta's side reached in 2023/24, although that remarkable run will count for nothing if it is not built on next term, with quality recruitment needed to help bridge that minute gap with rampant champions, Manchester City.

Talk is already rife that the Gunners have their eyes fixed on a new centre-forward signing in the form of RB Leipzig's Benjamin Sesko, although the Slovenian sensation may not be the only exciting, young attacker to arrive at the Emirates in the near future.

Arsenal in the race for Eredivisie star

According to Het Belang van Limburg – via Sport Witness – the north Londoners and rivals Liverpool are said to be among the clubs who have made an approach for PSV Eindhoven star, Johan Bakayoko, with German giants Bayern Munich also in the mix.

Having previously turned down the likes of Brentford and Burnley last year, the 21-year-old could finally be on his way to England if Arsenal get their way, with the Belgian having caught the eye since making his first-team debut in 2022.

As per the report, there have been claims that the wing wizard could be available for a fee of around €50m (£43m), representing a cheaper alternative to another reported Gunners target, in the form of Crystal Palace's £60m ace, Michael Olise.

How Bakayoko compares to Olise and Saka

The suggestion at present is that Arteta and co are keeping an eye on the in-demand Olise this summer, with the 22-year-old courting attention from a raft of top-flight clubs after contributing 16 goals and assists in just 19 games this season for the Eagles.

If the Emirates outfit do wish to consider a possible rival or alternative to the former Reading man, then they should look no further than Bakayoko, with the PSV dynamo also able to offer that creative, clinical spark from the right flank.

A left-footer like Olise, the youngster is a real "handful for defenders" – in the words of broadcaster Jack Collins – having bettered the Palace man's return with 12 goals and nine assists in the Eredivisie this season.

With 14 goals and 14 assists in all competitions in total, the wideman now boasts a haul of 40 goal involvements in just 85 games for his current side – remarkably similar to Olise's 41 goals and assists in 90 games at Selhurst Park.

A worthy option in place of Olise, the suggestion is that Bakayoko could also potentially even threaten Bukayo Saka's regular role on the right flank, with data analyst Ben Mattinson noting that he would represent "genuine competition for Saka" in that wide berth.

Also described as the right-winger with the "profile most similar" to the England international, in the words of Mattinson, Bakayoko compares favourably to Saka with regards to his ball retention, dribbling prowess and ability to beat a man – as indicated below.

Of course, operating in the Premier League is a different kettle of fish to the Dutch top flight – as the likes of Antony have found out at Manchester United – yet it seemingly bodes well for the impact that the ten-cap Belgium international could make under Arteta.

With no real obvious competitor to Saka at present in the senior ranks, signing someone to keep the Hale End hero on his toes – and afford him the chance to be rested on occasion – could work a treat.

Arsenal could land Martinelli upgrade in "unstoppable" £80m Sesko partner

The incredible attacker could be transformational in North London.

By
Jack Salveson Holmes

Jun 1, 2024

Wrexham are reportedly in talks to join the Welsh League Cup, and reports have shed light on the Welsh Football Association's stance on the matter.

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• Wrexham hoping to join Welsh League Cup
• Winner reaches UEFA Conference League
• Welsh FA on board with plans

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Reports from earlier this month claimed Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney-owned Wrexham are in discussions to enter the Welsh League Cup, alongside the likes of Cardiff City, Newport County and Swansea City. This move could open a pathway for Wrexham to qualify for Europe, as the winner of the Welsh League Cup secures a spot in the UEFA Conference League.

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  According to the Daily Mail, the Football Association of Wales is backing the proposal. Influential members of the FAW believe that adding Cardiff, Newport, Swansea and Wrexham to the Welsh League Cup would boost investment throughout Welsh football. Wrexham, with their growing fanbase thanks to Reynolds and McElhenney's support – especially in the United States – would likely bring significant attention to the competition, increasing its visibility and appeal.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  However, there’s a trade-off in the rules for the Welsh clubs should the move come to fruition. To participate in the Welsh League Cup and pursue European qualification through that route, Wrexham and the other clubs would have to forfeit any chance of qualifying for Europe via English competitions.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR WREXHAM?

  For the moment, the Red Dragons can do nothing but focus on continuing their good start to the League One season as they hope to achieve their third-straight promotion to the Championship.

Lionel Messi equalled rival Cristiano Ronaldo's record after scoring a hat-trick for Argentina against Bolivia in World Cup qualifying.

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• Messi equals Ronaldo's record
• Scored 10th international hat-trick against Bolivia
• Netted three goals and provided two assists in Argentina's win

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The Argentina skipper was in red-hot form against Bolivia on Tuesday as he scored a hat-trick and provided two assists in his team's 6-0 win over Bolivia in a 2026 CONMEBOL World Cup qualifying match. It was Messi's 10th international hat-trick as he equalled Ronaldo's all-time international record.

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  On the same night, Ronaldo was also in action for Portugal against Scotland in the Nations League. The Al-Nassr star had a disappointing outing as the resilient Scots held the 2016 European Champions to a goalless draw, forcing their skipper to throw tantrums at the end of the game.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  La Albiceleste registered their seventh win of the 2026 CONMEBOL World Cup qualifiers as they are on course to book a berth in the flagship competition from South America. They are currently three points above second-placed Colombia and six above arch-rivals Brazil.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR LIONEL MESSI?

  The 37-year-old will return to club football after displaying a mesmerising performance for the national team. He will be next seen in action for Inter Miami on Saturday against the New England Revolution in MLS.

The 2023/24 campaign fizzled out like a disappointing firework at Molineux but Gary O'Neil and his Wolverhampton Wanderers squad have shown enough to suggest the upcoming term will bring promise and thrills.

Many supporters are left waiting for an unconscionable amount of time during the early phase of the summer transfer window but Wolves have already signalled a statement of intent by signing 20-year-old winger Rodrigo Gomes from Braga for a £13m fee.

He's pacy and nimble and willing to put in a shift, and if the £60m-rated Pedro Neto is to be sold this summer, prudent moves have been made to secure his services.

Wolves still hope to sign a centre-forward, however, and if Neto is indeed allowed to leave, O'Neil will have ample funds to bolster his frontline, with one long-term target appearing to be the perfect fit.

Wolves could sign new striker

Only a few weeks ago, it looked nailed-on that Che Adams would join Wolves upon the expiry of his contract with Southampton this month, but interest from a host of other suitors has since cast the deal into doubt.

Still, Fabrizio Romano has confirmed that Wolves will indeed sign a striker this summer, and with this in mind, Fosun could now act on interest in Salernitana striker Boulaye Dia.

According to Italian newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport earlier this week – via Sport Witness – Wolves' pursuit of Dia has hit a snag, with the Premier League side yet to meet Salernitana's price tag of €20m (£17m).

Why Boulaye Dia would be perfect for Wolves

Dia has suffered a series of disagreements with his Serie A team over the past year and this has inhibited his chances of building on an exemplary 2022/23 campaign.

The 27-year-old has proven himself a high-level goalscorer and in new conditions at Wolves, he may be able to shift the currents that have disrupted his football of late.

Scoring 16 goals (in 2022/23) while only missing five big chances is a remarkably clinical ability; it's no wonder that journalist Jonas Adnan Giæver hailed him as a "beast" and an "absolute monster" back in 2021, a portent of success to come.

The Senegalese's creativity and dynamism are characteristics that make him much more than simply a goalscorer, with his ball-playing ability simply a further instrument to a wide-ranging array of qualities. As per FBref, the £42k-per-week ace actually ranks among the top 1% of forwards across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for pass completion.

This level of technical ability would only serve to boost the recently-signed Gomes, whose dynamic wide role – on either flank – demands a clinical talisman who also offers connective play through crisp passing movements.

Target Scouting reporter Joe Pearce said that the Portuguese starlet "has rapid acceleration and the stamina to make real lung-bursting runs from deeper positions.

"When he spots space ahead, he attacks it and shows real intensity in wanting to break forward and anticipate second balls, attacking the back post and following up on shots looking for rebounds, and has scored and assisted from this type of situation."

Gomes is a young talent and will indeed need assistance in acclimatising to life in the Premier League, and while Molineux already boasts a top-class striker in Matheus Cunha, Dia could take his place in the team if need be.

With such a versatile approach to his attacking play, Dia could even be a feasible replacement for Cunha, should the Brazilian leave this summer.

Wolves hope to continue their 2023/24 top scorer, but with Manchester United in pursuit and Cunha admitting that he is flattered by the Red Devils' interest, saying "it’s a real honour to have your name linked to Manchester United. One of the biggest clubs in the world."

Cunha might have enjoyed a rich goalscoring season but that is merely one string to a vibrant bow, also ranking among the top 14% of forwards across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for assists, the top 10% for pass completion, the top 12% for progressive passes, the top 5% for progressive carries, the top 3% for successful take-ons and the top 17% for tackles per 90.

Dubbed "a complete player" by former Wolves boss Julen Lopetegui, Cunha is a fantastic, influential player but Dia could certainly imitate his role in O'Neil's team, should push come to shove.

How Wolves' starting XI could look after £83m summer spending spree

The Old Gold might not boast the deep pockets of other teams but some exciting arrivals could be welcomed this summer.

By
Angus Sinclair

Jun 9, 2024

Toni Kroos insists that the Ballon d'Or has "no place" in football after Vinicius Junior opted to snub the ceremony, with Rodri poised to win.

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• Kroos hits out at Ballon d'Or
• Believes Rodri will win
• Vinicius skips ceremony

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Vinicius has skipped the Ballon d'Or ceremony, with Rodri poised to win the award after his superb season for both Manchester City and Spain. Vinicius scored 24 goals and registered 11 assists for Los Blancos as Real won La Liga and the Champions League, as well as the Supercopa de Espana, but clearly did not do enough to win the biggest individual prize in the sport. Rodri won the Premier League with City and Euro 2024 with Spain.

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  Kroos maintains that the prize is redundant in a team sport, although that may be a view informed by the fact his team-mate has tasted disappointment. His old midfield partner, Luka Modric, was the last midfielder to win the Ballon d'Or. Kroos finished ninth in this year's voting.

• WHAT KROOS SAID

  Kroos said: “Rodri will win the Ballon d’Or. I’ve never seen the importance of these individual awards in football, they have no place”.

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  WHAT NEXT?

  Real Madrid play Valencia on November 2, before taking on AC Milan in the Champions League. Vinicius will be out to prove the awards panel wrong.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is now very close to sealing his first signing of the summer, in a forward who could reportedly leave for half of his release clause.

Edu and Arteta seek midfield and forward upgrades at Arsenal

Sporting director Edu wants to shore up a variety of key areas for Arteta, as the Gunners look to mount a third-successive Premier League title challenge and thwart long-time champions Man City.

Ex-CEO says £60m player is in talks to join Arsenal from his former club

He’s exactly the kind of player “Arteta likes”.

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By
Emilio Galantini

Jun 21, 2024

Midfield and further forward are two areas that the north Londoners are keen to address this summer, with engine room ace Thomas Partey looking likely to depart Arsenal amid rumoured talks with Saudi Arabia.

They'll need a midfield replacement for the Ghana international, as Arsenal look to bring in both his heir and an alternative to star man Declan Rice in the midfield. Arteta could also sign a new attacker or two to bolster their forward line, despite Arsenal scoring over 90 goals in the Premier League alone last season.

Kai Havertz dazzled in a makeshift centre-forward role under the Spaniard last season, with Leandro Trossard and Bukayo Saka also leading the way in terms of goals scored. However, it is believed Arteta personally wants a young striker to partner Havertz going forward.

Arsenal were in the race to sign RB Leipzig ace Benjamin Sesko for the role, and made a proposal to sign the Slovenia international before he opted to sign a new deal at his current club instead.

Now, they're targeting alternative strikers they could do a deal for, and one is believed to be Sporting Lisbon sensation Viktor Gyokeres. The Swede, who bagged a head-turning 43 goals and 15 assists in all competitions last season, averaging one every 97 minutes, is attracting attention across Europe as a result.

There's an £86 million release clause in his contract, but respected Italian newspaper La Gazzetta Dello Sport recently claimed that Sporting could actually sell Gyokeres for in and around £42 million – as there is a belief the player will be very tempted if some of the continent's biggest clubs come calling.

Arsenal "very close" to signing Viktor Gyokeres

As per Portuguese news outlet Leonino, Arteta's side are doing "everything they can" to seal a move for the striker. They add that Arsenal are actually "very close" to signing Gyokeres, with the deal only being held up by financial details as things stand.

If the 26-year-old does put pen to paper, it could be one of the coups of the summer, with Tony Mowbray having also highlighted Gyokeres' physical attributes as another plus point: “(He) is too fast, too strong and too big."

"You would suggest Haaland is like that and Gyokeres in this league looks a yard faster and stronger than the players he plays against in the Championship. The way he buys himself space to shoot is pretty impressive and Coventry did well to hold onto him, he looks a really talented boy.”

Wolverhampton Wanderers can overall be pleased with how their 2023/24 campaign went, despite what looked like it could be a tough season for the Midlands side after Julen Lopetegui left so close to the start.

In fact, Phil McNulty, the BBC’s chief football writer, predicted them to come 18th in the Premier League, explaining that he had a “very, very worrying feeling” about last season.

However, it did not turn out that way. Instead, Gary O’Neil’s exciting transitional football helped his side reach 14th in the Premier League table, earning 46 points in total. They were just three points behind 10th place Crystal Palace, and at times during the season, a top-half finish did not seem out of reach.

Wolves did somewhat overachieve last season, however. According to Understat’s expected points metric, they should have earned just 39.79xPTS, a far cry from the 46 points they actually won. As per the expected points table, this would have placed Wolves 17th in the table.

A lot of this overperformance was down to some of their star players standing up for the count. O’Neil’s system suited many of them perfectly, and it helped the Midlands side to an impressive finish in the end. However, there are recent rumours that one of those key players could be on his way out of Molineux this summer.

Wolves could lose key attacker

The player in question here is Wolves and South Korea attacker Hwang Hee-chan. It has been a very impressive campaign for the 28-year-old, which has led to one of Europe’s elite clubs targeting him this summer.

According to a report from French news outlet L’Equipe, the South Korea international is “part of the list” of potential new attackers wanted by French giants Olympique Marseille. This is a move that has been approved by Roberto de Zerbi, the club’s new manager who took on the job after leaving Brighton at the end of last season.

Marseille are, at this current time, thought to be the only club who are in the running to sign Hwang this summer. Furthermore, they have yet to open talks with Wolves over a move for the 28-year-old.

At this stage, a price for the South Korean has not been officially named in the media. However, Hwang is valued at £13.6m by Football Transfers. Given his contract does not expire until 2028, he could cost anywhere between that value or even more, as Wolves are under no pressure to sell him this summer.

Hwang’s parallels to former Wolves star

The South Korean has been a vital player for O’Neil this season. He played 29 times in the Premier League, scoring 12 goals, and registering three assists along the way, He is a quick, direct attacker who possesses good movement in the penalty box, perfect for their system.

Last season, the 28-year-old registered the second-most amount of goal involvements for the Molineux side in the top flight. His 15 goals and assists were only beaten by fellow attacker Matheus Cunha, who was directly involved in 19 goals and assists last season, as per SofaScore.

Should the 28-year-old depart Molineux this summer, it would be similar to when Diogo Jota left Wolves for Liverpool in 2020 for £41m. They would be losing a key player to a big European powerhouse, just as they did when Jota left the club four years ago.

Wolves initially loaned the South Korean, but then made the signing of Hwang permanent in January 2022, when Bruno Lage was in charge at Molineux.

They paid £14m for him, just slightly more than the £12.8m they paid for the Portugal international. However, the similarities don’t end there, as Jota was also bought permanently after joining the club on a loan deal initially.

Since leaving Wolves, Jota has gone on to do great things at Anfield, including reaching a Champions League final and lifting the Carabao Cup twice and the FA Cup. He was superb at the Midlands side, and his record speaks for itself. It is even better than Hwang’s record, who struggled to find the back of the net at times before last season.

Wolves are in a powerful position when it comes to selling Hwang this summer, given his contract has another four years left to run. Whilst it is unlikely to stop them selling him if an offer comes in, they should do all they can to keep him at the club.

He is central to O’Neil’s system, and is clearly a player who the manager rates highly. He explained in an interview last season that Hwang gives Wolves "something very different".

Should they part ways with the 28-year-old this summer, he would be a big loss to Wolves as they hope to climb up the table next season and push for a top half finish, which is why the manager is now at risk of another Jota situation for the club as Marseille show interest in the forward.

Erling Haaland had a message for Manchester City fans after a rare off night in Lisbon against Ruben Amorim's Sporting CP.

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• Haaland had an evening to forget against Sporting
• Drew a blank as City succumbed to a 4-1 defeat
• Took to social media and shared a rallying cry

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The English champions are going through a slump and suffered their third consecutive defeat to the Portuguese outfit, despite drawing first blood through Phil Foden. When the world was keenly following Haaland, another Scandinavian sensation, Viktor Gyokeres, stole the spotlight with a sensational hat-trick to fire his side to a thumping 4-1 win.

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  Haaland could have handed City a lifeline, if he had converted from the spot in the second half, but could only hit the crossbar from 12 yards. To rub salt in the wound, Gyokeres buried two spot-kicks at the other end of the pitch to seal a remarkable victory for the Portuguese side, before Amorim heads to Manchester United.

• WHAT HAALAND SAID

  After spending almost a day reflecting on the defeat, Haaland took to social media and sent out a rallying cry to his teammates.

  He wrote: "Only one way to move on from last night – work even harder and come back fighting from this."

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  WHAT NEXT FOR HAALAND?

  After a disappointing continental evening, Haaland will look to make amends against Brighton in the Premier League on Saturday evening prior to the international break.

The transfer window has been open for just over four weeks now, and aside from making David Raya's deal permanent and bringing in 18-year-old goalkeeper Lucas Nygaard, Arsenal have remained relatively quiet.

Now, while confirmed transfers have been hard to come by for the Gunners, they do seem close to securing Italian defender Riccardo Calafiori, and have been linked with plenty of stars, including England international Eberechi Eze.

The Crystal Palace ace would be an exciting addition to Mikel Arteta's squad, and interestingly, the latest player touted for a move to the club has been compared to him in the past.

Arsenal transfer news

According to a recent report from Football Transfers, Arsenal are one of two sides tipped to land Napoli star Khvicha Kvaratskhelia this summer.

The report has revealed that the Georgian international's former coach, Gela Davitadze, has named the Gunners and Manchester City the two most suitable destinations for the incredible winger in the coming weeks.

However, the potential interest of City is not the only obstacle Edu Gaspar and Co would have to contend with to land the 23-year-old, as the story claims any move would cost in excess of €100m, which converts to around £84m.

Signing Kvaratskhelia may prove to be extremely challenging and expensive, but given how well he's played in recent seasons and at the Euros this summer, it may be the kind of statement transfer Arsenal need to make, and the comparisons to Eze are certainly a bonus.

How Kvaratskhelia compares to Eze

So, before looking at how well Kvaratskhelia has played over the last couple of seasons, let's examine this comparison to Eze and where it has come from.

It originates from FBref, which compares players in similar positions across Europe's top five leagues and creates a list of the ten most similar players for everyone. In this case, they consider the Palace star the seventh most comparable attacking midfielder or winger to the Georgian.

The best way to see the areas where the two stars overlap is to look at their most similar underlying numbers.

In this case, that includes metrics such as non-penalty expected goals and assists, actual assists, shots on target, live passes, goal-creating actions, interceptions and carries, all per 90.

However, it's not just the similarities to the former Queens Park Rangers star that would make the "unstoppable" winger, as talent scout Jacek Kulig dubbed him, such a great signing.

He's also been in fine form for Napoli over the last couple of years.

In 2022/23, he scored 14 goals and provided 17 assists as the Partenopei won their first league title in the 21st century, while last season, he racked up 11 goals and nine assists in 45 games for the Italian giants.

Forget about Gyokeres: Arsenal want to sign "unstoppable" £42m striker

The goalscoring “machine” would be incredible in North London.

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By
Jack Salveson Holmes

Jul 12, 2024

Ultimately, Kvaratskhelia has shown more than enough quality over the last few seasons to justify the price tag on his head, and if Arsenal really want to make a statement this summer, then signing him would be the ideal way to do that – and the comparisons to Eze are a wonderful bonus.