West Ham UEL team news: Ben Johnson could miss Frankfurt

David Moyes has delivered some important West Ham injury news ahead of their upcoming Europa League clash against Eintracht Frankfurt on Thursday night.

The Lowdown: Missing from the matchday squad

The Irons recently suffered a 2-1 defeat to Arsenal in the Premier League in their race for a top-six finish, but first team regular Ben Johnson appeared to be missing from the starting XI and wasn’t even occupying a seat on the bench, with teammate Vladimir Coufal taking his place.

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The 22-year-old has been in impressive form under Moyes this season so it was a surprise to see him not named in the match-day squad, however, it’s now been revealed that there was a very good reason as to why.

The Latest: Injury concern

The Athletic correspondent Roshane Thomas shared the news in a Twitter post, revealing: “Moyes says Ben Johnson has a thigh strain.”

Johnson joins a long list of defensive injuries at the London Stadium including Issa Diop and Angelo Ogbonna.

The Verdict: A massive blow

If the versatile wing-back is unavailable for selection in the second leg against the Bundesliga outfit, then this would come as a huge blow for the Scottish manager who needs all of his experienced defenders accessible to him, should the Irons have any chance of turning the tie around.

Despite Johnson only making 16 top-flight starts this term, he has been an absolute rock at the back for the Hammers, averaging 2.7 clearances, 1.8 tackles, and 1.2 interceptions per 90 minutes, via WhoScored.

Dubbed a “brilliant” player by pundit Paul Robinson since making his stamp on the first team, the £2.5k-per-week ace would be hugely missed if not declared fully fit in time, but will hopefully come back into contention for his side as soon as possible.

In other news… a BBC pundit has backed West Ham to make a move for a Championship starlet who could ‘do a Jarrod Bowen’.

Aston Villa: Media blown away by Iroegbunam

Aston Villa midfielder Tim Iroegbunam was at the centre of huge praise from the media for his display against Norwich City this afternoon.

The Lowdown: Villa cruise…

Steven Gerrard’s side cruised to a 2-0 victory at home to the Canaries with goals from Ollie Watkins and Danny Ings in either half cementing all three points.

Villa’s first win in six games was the perfect response to an otherwise regrettable recent run as Gerrard and co get back on track and look to finish 2021/2022 on a positive note.

One huge positive from today was the assured and noteworthy full Premier League debut for young midfielder Iroegbunam.

The Latest: Media rave…

The 18-year-old, on his first full English top flight start, seriously impressed a few journalists during the win over Norwich today.

Lauded for playing in defensive midfield with ‘aplomb’, it seems as if Gerrard and Villa may have a ‘proper talent’ on their hands.

Here’s how the media reacted:

“Big positive from the first 45 was Tim Iroegbunam. Grew into the game and showed great awareness. Just 18 and playing DM with aplomb in the Premier League. Looks a proper talent.” – Mark Samuels, as seen on The Guardian.

“Tim Iroegbunam comes off. A great debut for the 18-year-old, especially off the ball. Step by step, baby.” – Luis Miguel Echegaray, Que Golazo Podcast, CBS Sports.

“Standing ovation for Tim Iroegbunam as he is replaced by Douglas Luiz. A bright performance from the 18-year-old.” Gregg Evans, The Athletic.

The Verdict: Bright future…At just 18, the talented homegrown ace certainly proved his worth on his first full league start.According to SofaScore, Iroegbunam won a brilliant 4/6 duels in total – proving to hold his own as an anchor in front of the back four – and even managed a higher match rating than first team captain Tyrone Mings.If the starlet continues in this vain, Gerrard may have a real prospect on his hands.

He's becoming a Saka & Eze hybrid: Arsenal have signed an "agent of chaos"

It’s been an incredible week to be an Arsenal fan.

On Sunday, Mikel Arteta’s side demolished Tottenham Hotspur in the North London Derby to extend their lead at the top of the Premier League.

And then, if that wasn’t enough, the Gunners brushed aside the excellent Bayern Munich to go top of the Champions League table.

There were sensational performances across the pitch for Arsenal, including from someone who is becoming something of a hybrid between Eberechi Eze and Bukayo Saka.

Eze & Saka's performances vs Bayern

While the likes of Declan Rice and Jurrien Timber are getting most of the praise following Wednesday night, and rightly so, Saka also put in a performance to be proud of.

Now, it’s true that he didn’t get on the scoresheet himself, but he did provide the assist for the opening goal and was a constant threat throughout his time on the pitch.

At certain points, he had to deal with three Bayern players on his own, but still managed to create two big chances, complete three of four crosses, take one shot on target and recover the ball twice.

It’s clear that the Hale End superstar is still not quite at his very best, but even without a goal to his name, he’s impacting games in a big way.

Likewise, Eze didn’t score a fourth goal in two games, but once again showed why he is one of the best number tens around against the German giants.

It was just before the visitors scored that he helped create a chance with some tidy footwork, only for him to just overhit the pass into Saka.

Then in the second half, every time he had the ball at his feet, he was looking to do something positive.

It was this mindset that saw him play an excellent ball over the top for Gabriel Martinelli to knock around Manuel Neuer and secure all three points.

Overall, Saka and Eze weren’t necessarily the best players on the pitch against Bayern, but they put in strong performances, and now it looks like Arsenal have a player who is becoming a hybrid of both.

Arsenal's Saka & Eze hybrid

With Saka undoubtedly being Arsenal’s most important player and Eze proving to be one of their best signings from the summer, a player would have to be pretty special to be described as a hybrid of the two.

Chalkboard

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

Fortunately, despite certain sections of the fanbase clearly thinking otherwise in the summer, Noni Madueke has proven himself to be just that.

Now, nobody is saying the former Chelsea ace is as good as his compatriots, but he certainly shares some similarities with them.

For example, like the former Palace star, he is someone who can make something happen from nothing.

Granted, that hasn’t necessarily translated into a goal or assist this season, but he is such a direct attacker that, with the ball at his feet, he can make opposition defenders panic.

Moreover, like the 27-year-old, given his ability to make something of nothing, Arteta seems to have given him more freedom to try things on the ball.

Arsenal writer Adam Keys perhaps put it best when, after his goal against Bayern, he described the 23-year-old as an “agent of chaos,” which is just the sort of player the North Londoners have been missing in recent years.

Expected Assists

0.26

0.27

Progressive Passes Received

12.9

12.4

Key Passes

2.29

2.21

Live Passes

32.9

33.5

Tackles Won

0.57

0.58

Successful Take-On %

42.1%

40.5%

Carries

26.9

29.5

Now, when it comes to Saka, the similarities come down to their left-footedness, their close control, and the fact that FBref ranked the Hale Ender as the sixth-most similar attacking midfielder or winger to Madueke in Europe’s top five leagues.

The best way to understand how they came to this conclusion is to look at the underlying metrics they rank closely in, metrics like expected assists, key passes, tackles won, successful take-on percentage and more, all per 90.

Ultimately, while his signing was not universally celebrated across the fanbase, Madueke has proven himself to be a more than useful player for Arsenal, and the fact that he shares so many traits with Saka and Eze can only be a good thing.

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Jamie Carragher switches sides when asked to pick Celtic or Rangers

Pundit Jamie Carragher has switched sides when asked for his favourite Scottish club out of Celtic and Rangers.

A Liverpool legend, Carragher made 737 appearances for the Reds across 17 years and has since been a regular for Sky Sports alongside former Manchester United right-back Gary Neville.

As a player, Carragher won numerous domestic cup competitions but never lifted the Premier League title. In Europe, the defender won the UEFA Cup in 2001 and the Champions League in 2005, featuring in the historic final against AC Milan in Istanbul.

Champions League

2005

UEFA Cup

2001

UEFA Super Cup

2001, 2005

FA Cup

2001, 2006

League Cup

2001, 2003, 2012

Community Shield

2001, 2006

Interestingly, the former Reds defender never played against Rangers in his career but did feature on three occasions against Celtic.

In 1997/98, Carragher was an unused substitute in the 2-2 draw at Celtic Park in the UEFA Cup First Round first leg. In the return fixture, Carragher started as the Reds qualified on away goals with a 0-0 draw at Anfield.

When the two sides met again in the UEFA Cup quarter-finals in 2002/03, Carragher played every minute of action as the Hoops famously won 3-1 on aggregate.

Martin O’Neill’s side would go on to reach the final at the Estadio Olimpico in a historic European run before losing to Jose Mourinho’s FC Porto 3-2 in extra time.

Carragher chooses between Celtic and Rangers

Players and managers who aren’t associated with either Celtic or Rangers are often asked who they prefer, and Carragher is no different.

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Talking on American network CBS Sports as he covered the Champions League in 2024, Carragher was asked to pick out of Celtic and Rangers by fellow pundit Micah Richards. The former England defender simply said:

However, back in 2020, Carragher was asked the same question on an Instagram Q&A, and replied at the time: “Right now it’s Rangers because of Steven Gerrard but as soon as Steven leaves it’ll be Celtic.”

Steven Gerrard, a long-term teammate of Carragher’s at Anfield, left his role as Rangers manager back in 2021, which has resulted in Carragher swapping back to green and white.

Winning the Scottish Premiership at Ibrox, Gerrard had a successful spell in charge of the Gers but departed for Aston Villa.

His stint in charge at Villa Park wasn’t as positive as he’d have hoped, which led to Gerrard moving to Saudi Arabia with Al-Ettifaq until 2025.

45 y/o Mourinho alternative is serious option to replace Martin at Rangers

With his job seemingly hanging by a threat, one managerial candidate is now reportedly a serious candidate to replace Russell Martin at Rangers.

Russell Martin Rangers sack update

Without a win in the Scottish Premiership in five attempts, the pressure is mounting on Martin at Ibrox. Reports have insisted that he still has the backing of the 49ers, but Martin admitted that there were a number of fans who didn’t want him at the club in the first place.

It has reached a stage where even attempts to enjoy a team bonding session at Loch Lomond have received a fair share of criticism. Simply put, Martin can currently do no right in Scotland.

Other reports have claimed that it will be game over if Martin fail to defeat Hibernian in the Scottish League Cup quarter-final this weekend. Defeat would make it six straight games without a win in all competitions and it would be hard to argue a case that the former Southampton manager should still be in charge.

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For the 49ers, it would be back to square one if they chose to sack the manager that they had so much faith in at the start of the summer. Whether one particular name would take the job would be the big question in the face of such a decision.

Gerrard now a serious option to replace Martin

In an unexpected turn of events, it could be out with the new and in with the old at Ibrox. According to TeamTalk, Steven Gerrard is now a serious option to replace Martin now that he is free from previous contractual issues from his time at Al-Ettifaq.

The emergence of the former Rangers boss comes after the news that Jose Mourinho is set to return to Benfica, rather than remain a candidate to join the Gers. The so-called ‘Special One’ was considered an option, but Rangers’ ability to reach his wage demands have often been questioned whenever those rumours have emerged.

So, the attention has gone back towards Gerrard. The 45-year-old remains the last Rangers manager to win a Scottish Premiership title, sealing victory in 2020/21, but will have some making up to do after ditching the club for Aston Villa midway through the campaign that followed.

That said, if the 49ers are looking for someone who knows how to transform Rangers into winners, then Gerrard is arguably their man ahead of the likes of Sean Dyche and Danny Rohl.

£190k-p/w Man Utd star who Amorim wants to keep considering big money exit

Manchester United now have only the weapons at their disposal until January after Monday’s transfer deadline, but that doesn’t mean clubs elsewhere aren’t looking to snap up their own assets, with some windows around the world not yet closed.

Manchester United look ahead after promising transfer window

Results haven’t been too kind to Ruben Amorim this season, but there have been flickering signs that performances at Old Trafford are beginning to come together after some high-profile signings during the transfer window.

Bryan Mbeumo, Matheus Cunha, Diego Leon, Senne Lammens, and Benjamin Sesko took Manchester United’s summer spending spree to around £225 million, illustrating a level of ambition from INEOS to help the Red Devils challenge at the top end of the Premier League.

Ultimately, four points from nine available in the top-flight and a shock cup exit to Grimsby Town is unlikely to win any favour among supporters. Still, there is no doubt that this is a transitional season for Amorim’s men as they recover from an unfateful 2024/25 campaign.

Now, the focus is on integrating new faces for an important run of upcoming fixtures, starting with an away trip to rivals Manchester City after the international break, before a home clash with Chelsea.

After sustaining an injury against Burnley, former Wolverhampton Wanderers man Cunha confirmed via social media that he will be back sooner rather than later, stating: “What an incredible environment, it’s great to be here. I’ll be back soon, always with joy and gratitude. Thanks for all the messages.”

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With the window now over in Europe, fans could be forgiven for thinking the Red Devils’ squad is now settled for time to come, but clubs are already scouring the market for players who may become of interest, and in some cases the window is still open…

Harry Maguire attracting interest from Saudi Pro League

According to The Sun, two Saudi Pro League clubs want to sign Manchester United’s Harry Maguire, with their window open until September 23. The player himself is considering the move, but only at the end of this season, which is perhaps a hit to INEOS and a boost for Amorim, as the Red Devils will lose out on a transfer fee but the manager keeps a consistent starter this season.

Indeed, the £190,000 per week earner is committed to remaining at Old Trafford until his contract expires in the summer of 2026, but this looks like one to watch once his deal ends when he could receive a massive pay hike.

Becoming a pillar of the Red Devils’ backline in recent years, Maguire has registered 16 goals and nine assists in 249 appearances for the club. He will be 33 by the time his Manchester United contract comes to an end, and it is clear that he has plenty of options open if he wants to seek a new career challenge elsewhere – or generational wealth.

TEAMtalk report that Manchester United could look to extend his contract, citing Amorim’s belief that he is a ‘crucial’ part of the dressing room, but it appears he could now be set to follow Andre Onana amid interest from Saudi clubs in the Cameroon international.

Rangers bid made: 49ers table offer to bring "spectacular" 22 y/o to Ibrox

Glasgow Rangers have made a formal bid to sign another full-back for manager Russell Martin after an Ibrox deal for Max Aarons.

Rangers sign Aarons on loan as Gers announce deal

After confirming a deal which was agreed earlier in the year to sign midfielder Lyall Cameron, the Gers and 49ers Enterprises have moved efficiently to bring Aarons to Ibrox.

Moving to Glasgow on a straight loan deal from Bournemouth, Aarons got straight to work with Rangers and said after penning his contract:

Ahead of Rangers’ Champions League qualifier against Panathinaikos and Scottish Premiership opener at Motherwell, Martin and the Gers will be looking at more additions, with further defensive signings on the agenda.

Leicester City centre-back Conor Coady is open to a move to Rangers following contact, whereas Liverpool’s Owen Beck is another transfer target. Talks were thought to be opened by Rangers over a move for Beck, and a new update has emerged.

Rangers make bid to sign Owen Beck

According to DaveOCKOP, ‘Rangers have now made their interest formal with a bid for the 22-year-old’.

Liverpool have held talks with Beck over extending his contract and sending him out on loan, whereas Rangers are interested in a permanent deal for the left-back.

Beck spent last season on loan at Blackburn Rovers and won their Young Player of the Season award after making 24 Championship appearances. Prior to his time at Ewood Park, Beck also had loan spells at Famalicao, Bolton Wanderers and Dundee United.

The Welshman was actually described as “spectacular” by scout Jacek Kulig, who also compared him to Andy Robertson when coming through Liverpool’s academy.

Elsewhere, former Liverpool U21 coach Barry Lewtas called Beck a “consistent performer” back in 2022. “I thought Owen was fantastic. The progress he has made over his time at the Academy, but certainly the last couple of years, is a credit to him with the work he puts in [and] how coachable he is because he listens and takes on board the information we give him. He has become a real consistent performer for us and in my opinion he was the standout player against Derby.”

Rangers deal agreed: Gers accept bid to sell Ibrox ace without Martin's approval

They won’t be making a profit either.

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Now, a move to Glasgow with Rangers could be one to keep an eye on following the update of a formal bid being submitted.

Leeds hold internal talks to sign £40m+ "monster" with same agent as Bogle

Leeds United and the 49ers have held internal discussions over signing a £150,000-a-week “monster” who shares the same agent as Jayden Bogle.

49ers looking at Leeds signings alongside Rangers takeover

The Whites are preparing for life back in the Premier League following a brilliant 2024/25 campaign in the Championship, and chairman Paraag Marathe seemingly has big plans at Elland Road this summer.

Talking earlier this month, Marathe confirmed Farke would lead Leeds in the top flight and promised to “spend to be competitive in the Premier League”.

“Together we are going to build the best squad we can, with every penny we are allowed to spend to be competitive in the Premier League. We are going to attack the transfer market and it’s something I’m really excited about.”

49ers now preparing £15m+ bid to sign "playmaker" who Farke wants at Leeds

The Whites are plotting some intelligent moves under Daniel Farke…

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As well as looking at summer transfers for Leeds, the 49ers have now announced their takeover of Scottish giants Rangers, with Marathe named as vice chairman at Ibrox.

There have already been transfer rumours regarding Leeds and Rangers, with the Whites thought to be interested in Gers star Nicolas Raskin, who plays as a central midfielder.

However, he isn’t the only central midfield target for the 49ers, who are eyeing up a potential reunion in Yorkshire.

Leeds hold internal talks over Kalvin Phillips return

According to The Daily Mail, who have shared an in-depth transfer update from Elland Road, Leeds have ‘discussed’ a return to Elland Road for Kalvin Phillips this summer.

Sold to Man City for an initial £42m in 2022, Phillips has struggled for game time at the Etihad and has been sent on loan to West Ham and Ipswich Town as a result.

Alongside internal talks for Phillips, Leeds also have their eye on Borussia Monchengladbach midfielder Julian Weigl, with Farke a fan after working with the 29-year-old in Germany.

On £150,000-a-week, Phillips, who shares the same CAA Stellar agency as Bogle, Dan James, Joe Rodon, Wilfried Gnonto and Patrick Bamford, could be a risky signing for Leeds, considering he has recently undergone an operation on his Achilles and is set to be sidelined until August.

Games

234

Goals

14

Assists

13

Yellow cards

54

Red cards

4

Minutes played

18,257

Trophies

1

That would rule him out of the majority, if not all of pre-season, and with his lack of game time over the last three years, may not be the best of decisions to come in and rival Ethan Ampadu, Ilia Gruev and Ao Tanaka.

Phillips has been called a “monster” in the past, though, and by the looks of things, a move could still be one to watch, although the injury update could mean the 49ers pass on any transfer.

Crystal Palace now keen to sign £20m maestro; could join in Guehi swap deal

Crystal Palace are now eager to sign a £20m midfielder, who could join as part of a swap deal for Marc Guehi in the summer, according to reliable reporter Alan Nixon.

Guehi could be heading for the exit door

It was widely reported that Palace chose to reject a £70m bid for Guehi from Tottenham Hotspur back in January, and their decision to hold on to their captain was vindicated by their surprise triumph over Manchester City in the FA Cup final.

However, the England international is yet to commit to a new contract, with just over a month remaining on his current deal, and it now looks as though he could be heading for the exit door, considering this summer will be the Eagles’ last chance to cash-in.

The 24-year-old defender would be keen on talks to join Tottenham Hotspur, who have now sealed a spot in next season’s Champions League, while there may also be a temptation to join former club Chelsea, with a £60m move possible.

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However, according to Alan Nixon, the two clubs may also be able to strike a deal of a different nature, as Crystal Palace are now keen on signing Chelsea midfielder Andrey Santos, who could join as part of a swap deal for Guehi.

Palace would prefer to pay straight cash for Santos, who impressed on loan at Strasbourg this season, and the Blues are now prepared to cash-in on the midfielder for a fee of around £20m, but a swap deal is not completely off the table either.

Santos is "one-man war machine" in midfield

The Brazilian is yet to make an appearance for Chelsea, but there are signs he could now be ready to start for a Premier League side, having made significant improvements to his game during the 2024-25 campaign.

Andrey Santos

On loan at French side Strasbourg, the Rio de Janeiro-born ace picked up ten goals and four assists in Ligue 1, while he is very impressive at winning back possession, as demonstrated by the number of tackles he has completed per 90 over the past year.

Statistic

Average per 90

Tackles

3.47 (97th percentile)

Non-penalty goals

0.32 (97th percentile)

Blocks

1.45 (77th percentile)

Clearances

2.11 (79th percentile)

Having performed well across several key attacking and defensive metrics, the Chelsea gem is clearly a well-rounded player, and the 21-year-old has also received plaudits from football talent scout Jacek Kulig, who described him as a “one-man war machine in midfield.”

Santos could be a fantastic signing for Palace this summer, as Oliver Glasner looks to build a squad capable of competing in the Europa League next season, but they should be hesitant about sending Guehi in the opposite direction unless they receive a huge fee for their captain.

Slot's own Firmino: Liverpool in talks for "monster" £84m Isak alternative

Liverpool’s title success may have been unexpected at the start of the campaign, but it highlights the excellent work done by Arne Slot in his first year at the helm.

The Dutchman has created a seamless transition after taking the reins from the departing Jürgen Klopp, claiming the club’s second-ever Premier League title.

Whilst they’ve failed to win any of their last three outings after claiming the trophy, the hard work in the early stages has allowed them to enjoy the last few weeks of the season.

Liverpool manager ArneSlot

However, with just one game left in 2024/25, attention will now undoubtedly switch towards the transfer market, with key additions needed in multiple areas to aid the manager in replicating the success.

The manager has already wasted no time in strengthening his squad, with Jeremie Frimpong edging ever closer to a switch to Anfield, potentially being joined by various other stars in the coming months.

The latest on Liverpool’s hunt for new signings

Alexander Isak has been a name constantly touted with a switch to Liverpool this summer, understandably so given his record of 23 goals in 33 league outings this campaign.

However, such a player comes at a premium, with Eddie Howe’s side demanding a fee in the region of £150m to part ways with their star attacker during the off-season.

Such a figure could lead the hierarchy to different targets ahead of the summer, with work already being done to land RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko, according to DAVEOCKOP.

The report states that the Reds have been in talks with the Bundesliga outfit over a move for the Slovenian international, who currently has a £84m release clause in his contract.

It also claims that the 21-year-old would be open to a move to Merseyside, but no formal approach has yet been made despite the keen interest in his signature.

Why Liverpool’s £84m target could be Slot’s own Firmino

Brazilian forward Roberto Firmino was an unknown quantity to many Liverpool supporters before his switch from Hoffenheim back in 2015, but it didn’t take long for him to adhere himself to the fanbase.

The Reds forked out £28m for his services, a fee that proved to be a bargain given his stint at Anfield, registering over 100 goals in his 362 appearances.

He often operated in a false nine position, with his best campaign coming in 2017/18, when he registered 27 goals and 16 assists in his 54 appearances across all competitions.

However, he departed in the summer of 2023 on a free transfer, joining Saudi side Al Ahli, with the Reds desperately missing a centre-forward of his calibre since his move away from Merseyside.

That could all be about to change this window, with Slot able to replicate such a move if they land the services of Sesko – following suit of Firmino in joining the club from a Bundesliga outfit.

RB Leipzig's BenjaminSeskocelebrates

If he manages to get anywhere near close to the levels produced by the Brazilian for the Reds, he would be one hell of an addition, already showcasing his talents despite his tender age with Leipzig this campaign.

The 21-year-old, who’s been labelled a “monster” by talent scout Antonio Mango, has registered 21 goals in all competitions this season, with four of which coming in the Champions League – highlighting his ability to thrive at the top level.

Arnaud Kalimuendo

Stade Rennais

33

17

Hugo Ekitiké

Eintracht Frankfurt

33

15

Emanuel Emegha

Strasbourg

27

14

Benjamin Sesko

RB Leipzig

33

13

Mika Biereth

Monaco

16

13

Liam Delap

Ipswich Town

36

12

Thierno Barry

Villarreal

34

11

Joao Pedro

Brighton

27

10

His underlying stats have been just as impressive, registering 1.2 shots on target per 90 and a dribble success rate of 55%, handing Slot an excellent all-round option in the final third.

Sesko has also won 57% of the aerial duels he’s entered, handing the side the focal point they’ve often lacked despite their success throughout 2024/25.

It’s likely that the club would be able to negotiate a deal below his £84m clause, with the youngster having all the tools to develop further and become a leading player for the side for many years to come.

If the Reds are to take the next step under Slot and maintain their first-season success, additions will need to be perfect, with the Slovenian offering the manager a sensational option in forward areas.

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