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Inzamam-ul-Haq & Co will have to answer some tricky questions when they sit down to finalise the 15 for the showpiece tournament

Danyal Rasool17-Apr-2019When it comes to World Cup squads, the fans’ perspectives are often more interesting in Pakistan than they are elsewhere. Even today, you will invariably find lists with Imran Nazir or Shahid Afridi’s names in them. For the selectors – now led by Inzamam-ul-Haq – the job of finalising the squad is often a thankless one, impossible as it is to fulfil the wishes of 200 million people. And it’s not just the fans – sure as night follows day, a former player will be on air the day the squad is announced ranting about nepotism or negligence, often both.There are, however, legitimate questions for Inzamam and Co. to consider before they decide on the 15 and get to that press conference. So no list of our own, but here are some of those factors.The pace line-upUnquestionably, the best problem Pakistan have. There are so many candidates to choose from that the only concern is who to leave out. Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Afridi and Hasan Ali are presumably guaranteed their spots, but Pakistan must still choose two from among Usman Shinwari, Junaid Khan, Wahab Riaz, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Hasnain and Mohammad Amir. That’s quite an embarrassment of riches.The last name there – Amir – wouldn’t even be in contention if any other bowler had his figures for the past two years. Since the Champions Trophy final in June 2017, Amir has taken five ODI wickets in 101 overs of bowling at an average of 92.60 per wicket. Unsurprisingly, this is the worst for all bowlers to have sent down over 600 balls in this period. For an idea of just how bad that is, the second poorest specialist fast bowler in that list is Mark Wood, with 20 wickets at 47.75, nearly twice as good as Amir.Mohammad Hasnain claims the wicket of Aaron Finch•AFPWhat Amir does have going for him is an economy rate of 4.58 for the same period; his career economy rate stands at 4.78. It is worth noting that among fast bowlers from World Cup-playing teams, only Jasprit Bumrah (4.30) has been more economical these past two years.Admittedly, Amir’s switch from the tearaway quick who could shoot out oppositions to a bowler who keeps the runflow in check has been a sharp one. But, irrespective, can Pakistan afford to overlook the 27-year-old left-arm paceman, given what he did when he last played an ODI in England?The opening slotsFakhar Zaman and Imam-ul-Haq will be the first-choice openers. Now, and this is by no means an Achilles heel for the team, but Fakhar’s recent loss of form has been most untimely, and inopportune. Since the Zimbabwe series in August last year, runs haven’t flowed as freely off the left-hander’s blade, 377 at an average of 29. That is against a career average of 53.4. Fair enough, you might say; he bats aggressively, so a lean run is always around the corner. That’s true, but in this period, he has struck at a strike rate of 83 in ODIs; before this spell, it was 102.Which brings us to the reserve opener. Abid Ali has come from nowhere to emerge as a serious contender, especially with Shan Masood not helping himself in the series against Australia. But while Abid’s domestic record leaves little room for debate, Inzamam & Co. will have to consider whether taking him along on the basis of one international innings is a punt too left field.Asif Ali tries to go big•AFPThe Asif Ali dilemmaTake him. There is little doubt Pakistan will. He’s the only legitimate power-hitting option Pakistan have lower down the order, so it’s really as simple as that. But it’s more a question of how Asif Ali will be used.He batted at No. 6 in the Asia Cup; even Mickey Arthur admitted Pakistan fluffed that one up by sending him in too high. The coaches believe Asif is too one-dimensional to bat higher, which suggests No. 7. But that makes fitting Shadab Khan, Faheem Ashraf and Imad Wasim in to the side that bit harder. If one of them bats above Asif, the problem of a reliable No. 6 still isn’t resolved (Shadab could do it in the long-term, but the World Cup is too immediate for that sort of trial). That means Asif’s game time might come at the cost of one of the allrounders.In any case, Asif still hasn’t truly established himself in the format. A stellar series against Zimbabwe was followed by low scores in the Asia Cup and after that, but the sample size just isn’t big enough to call it either way.Shoaib Malik – not a shoo-in any morePerhaps the prickliest question facing Pakistan is whether to take their most experienced player to the World Cup for a swansong or not.Shoaib Malik is bowled•Getty ImagesJust months ago, when Sarfraz Ahmed was struggling, there was talk that Shoaib Malik might lead the team at the tournament. A T20I series loss against South Africa, a clean sweep by Australia, and a poor campaign with Multan Sultans at the PSL has put that thought firmly to bed.Should he even go to the tournament, particularly with Mohammad Hafeez looking like he will recover in time? Malik isn’t a realistic bowling option anymore and has an abysmal ODI record in England, averaging 13.6 with the bat in 23 innings. For the past two years, he has struggled to serve as the launchpad Pakistan want at No. 5, Malik’s most frequent batting position in that period. His strike rate of 82.11 in that timeframe is almost identical to his career number. Also, he has also fallen into the habit of getting starts and then getting out: ten of his last 11 ODI innings have seen the 37-year-old dismissed between 10 and 31.Even so, excluding him would be a brave call. No other player from any side at the tournament will boast a career that commenced in the previous century, and his laid-back demeanour is unlikely to be a heavy, unwanted presence in the Pakistan dressing room. And, in any case, Pakistan have a habit of ending players’ careers just after the World Cup, rather than just before, so Malik has history on his side.

The South Africa U-19 captain talks about his role models, transformation targets, the pressure of leading the home team at the ongoing World Cup

Sreshth Shah in Potchefstroom30-Jan-2020With 245 runs in three innings, at an average of over 81, you’re the highest run-scorer after the group stage. Has captaincy helped you up your game?I’ve always enjoyed the responsibility of being a captain. It lets me knuckle down a bit more in the middle. Being a normal player, I don’t tend to focus as much. Being a captain puts extra pressure on me, and I enjoy the pressure.But you need to also thank the rest of the batting order. The success of the top order has been really good in the first few games. The few good starts have let me come in against the spinners, and be nice and attacking and take them on. That’s my natural game, and going into the knockout games, I hope to continue.What qualities make you the captain you are, and whom do you look up to?I’m a natural leader; I can make people bond. That’s probably my main attribute. [I] Need to work on a few other things, I’m not a finished product yet, but I like how I’m getting there. I’ve just got the ability to have people gravitate towards me. People have always had…I don’t know how to explain it, but starting from primary school, I’ve always been given roles as a leader. It’s natural.I learnt a lot from Graeme Smith, who also went to King Edward VII, my school. Neil McKenzie – the former Lions captain – too, the way they dealt with interviews and post-match presentation. I got the roots from King Edward VII, and looked up to them whenever I can.

As for transformation and targets, they have to be there. With the wrongdoings of the past, we know where we have to go as the side. But we can’t get caught up in it, though…We are just focused and determined as a unit.Bryce Parsons

So, cricket…where did the love story start?Must be from my parents. They would chuck cricket balls to me from a young age. [In] Primary school, [I] played a bit of tennis-ball cricket, and then moved to Gauteng and then to King Edward.Growing up, I always loved how Adam Gilchrist, Herschelle Gibbs and Brian Lara played – just a natural flair, always enjoyed that. I’ve taken to quite attacking batsmen, and these days, I model my game around Quinny [Quinton] de Kock. He doesn’t overthink, he’s more instinctive, and that’s how I want to play.(Laughs) Obviously, you must think when you have to think, but I don’t want to overthink. Overthinking is a reason for the downfall of many cricketers these days. I just want to play my game since it’s gotten me this far. I always had a love for batting. Although I’ve become a sort of frontline offspinner now, it’s always been batting ever since I was young.Before the World Cup squad was announced, South Africa had lost 7-0 to Pakistan in a series under your captaincy. Were you still expecting to be captain when the squad was announced?Bit of a weird day [it was], to be honest. I captained the Pakistan series, so there was a chat that we may have a captaincy change. It was a natural choice at that point to go for a different captain. Going down 7-0 wasn’t great.I always knew I’d be in the squad, but wasn’t sure if I was captain. Hearing I was captain was a huge privilege. Lots of emotions that day…leading the country at the World Cup. But I always knew I wanted that responsibility.The South Africa U-19 team is a bit of a mix: some from elite sporting schools, the others not so much. And then, there are transformation targets within the squad.I don’t think school plays that much of a defining role. We’ve all come through the CSA system, so our mindsets and processes are now well aligned. Schools played a role in us entering the provincial set-up, but now we all have a common goal to play for South Africa, so schools cricket is long forgotten.As for transformation and targets, they have to be there. With the wrongdoings of the past, we know where we have to go as the side. But we can’t get caught up in it, though. We have all bonded as a team, [share a] common goal, and have become really close. We can’t let the noise from the outside bother us, though. We are just focused and determined as a unit.How has the experience of leading the home side at a World Cup been so far? Does it add more pressure, considering South Africa often trip up in crucial stages of multi-team cricket tournaments? It’s just a massive privilege. We saw in Kimberley the number of people who came out for us. For us youngsters, it was always a dream to play at the U-19 World Cup. We know everyone can’t make it; a lot of players don’t make it, so we need to take responsibility of this privilege and let the South Africa flag flying high.Getty ImagesWe’ve spoken a bit about it, what you’re saying – that as a team we have struggled in the past to get past the big moments in big games. But the last two games – against Canada and UAE – were must-win games, so going into the quarter-finals, we know what we have to do. Nothing has changed. The pressure is obviously there, but we have the quality to get through.So, what happened in the first game, where South Africa were undone by Afghanistan’s spin?Credit has to go to Afghanistan in the tournament opener; they were really good. We may have had some nerves, but we can’t give excuses getting bowled out for 150. The good thing is we bounced back well, scoring 300-plus scores in the next two days. It was a tough day; we were all disappointed the way we played, and we figured a plan to how to play spin moving forward.The way we play spin after that first loss has definitely changed from the first game. That’s a positive, because we’ve been able to adapt really quickly. We know we will face more spin moving forward, but are prepared for it.You have made the quarter-finals after winning two do-or-die games. Do you think you can be the second South Africa captain – after Aiden Markram – to lift the trophy, come February 9?We must be seen as real contenders now. We’ve shown that in the last two games. With a strong bowling attack and now that our batting that’s clicking, we’ve shown we can win this tournament. We’re a force to be reckoned with but don’t want to get carried away either. We can’t wait to show how we deal with pressure come the quarter-final.What makes an U-19 World Cup special?It’s the exposure. Before the World Cup, not many people have seen us play. People don’t really watch U-19 cricket, so TV games help people see the skills and talent that young guys possess around the world. In the India-Australia game, we saw there was so much talent on the show.Through the tournament, people have realised that every team has some special players and players that will make a career out of the game. That’s really what the U-19 World Cup brings.It’s the knockouts now. Regardless of the result, what sort of legacy do you want to leave as the captain of South Africa?We just want to show that this badge carries a massive honour. We want to show we give everything out there. No matter the result, we want to fight every day, every game. That’s what we want to show to future South Africa U-19 players, the 15- and 17-year olds who will be in this team in the years to come. Personally, I have no idea where my life will take me. We’ve got massive games coming up for the country, so why look so far ahead?Lastly, what’s your message to the people of South Africa?Just come down and support us. We’ll give everything on the field, I assure you that. Hopefully, results go our way, but [I] promise, we’ll make you all very proud of us.

Aston Villa are thought to be best placed to sign a star in a transfer that could cost a total of £130m over five years, according to a former scout.

Rashford impressing at Aston Villa as Romano shares update

Marcus Rashford has been catching the eye at Villa Park after joining Villa on loan with a £40m option to buy in the summer from Manchester United.

Under Unai Emery, Rashford has impressed enough to break back into the England side, now under Thomas Tuchel, and he recently scored his first goals for Villa against Preston North End in the FA Cup and followed that up with another against Brighton on Wednesday.

There have been rumours of a permanent move to the Midlands for the forward, and Fabrizio Romano recently shared what he knows about the situation.

“Aston Villa are very happy with Marcus Rashford in general,” said Romano.

“So I don’t think, in any case, if they decided to trigger the £40m option clause, I don’t think they would do that just to sell the player again. So in that case, I see Marcus Rashford staying at Aston Villa and having the opportunity to make something long-term with the club. What I can say about Marcus Rashford is that it’s going to be really important to understand financially what happens for Aston Villa.”

Now, another promising claim has been made on the 27-year-old sticking around at Villa Park.

Aston Villa in pole position to sign Rashford in potential £130m package

Ex-scout Mick Brown now believes that Aston Villa are in the best position to sign Rashford on a permanent transfer. There have been claims by Football Insider that a transfer could cost £130m due to Rashford’s £350,000-per-week wage over a five-year period alongside the £40m fee.

Games

11

Goals

3

Assists

4

Talking to FI, Brown said: “Marcus going out on loan has been a win-win. There was no way his situation at Man United was going to improve, so from that point of view he’s gone away and improved his position. There’s never been any doubt about Marcus’ talent, and now he’s found a platform to display that.

“Aston Villa have gained from it because they were brave enough to take him on loan. Now, I think they’ll be in the best position to keep him on a permanent deal even though there’s going to be interest from elsewhere.

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“He’s established there and it’s been a good deal for everybody involved. I think there’s more to come for him there now that he’s got his first couple of goals – that link up with Asensio has been excellent. If they can keep that going and Villa can keep him at the club they’ll be much better for it.

“Manchester United will no doubt benefit as well because they can maximise his price tag when if he had stayed he was a depreciating asset.”

Rashford is also of interest to Bayern Munich, with reports at the end of February saying that the German giants are going all in to sign the winger. However, Brown believes Villa are best placed to seal a transfer, although it could be very expensive for NSWE between now and 2030.

Celtic are pushing on with their hunt for another domestic treble, but they will also be planning ahead for the summer window to navigate potential incomings and departures.

Celtic expecting movement in both directions this summer

The Bhoys only require three more victories at a maximum to guarantee a fourth successive Scottish Premiership title and travel to St Johnstone this weekend hoping to hasten the process ahead off taking on Kilmarnock next Saturday.

Brendan Rodgers could also secure the Scottish Cup should he navigate past the Perthshire side at Hampden later in the month followed by either Hearts or Aberdeen in the final. Still, the Irishman will have one eye on a summer transfer window that is set to produce incomings and outgoings at Parkhead.

Notably, Kieran Tierney will complete an emotional return to Celtic on a free transfer once his contract at Arsenal officially expires. Expected to be joined by plenty of new faces, the Scotland international is likely to become the preferred choice at left-back ahead of next season’s Champions League qualifiers.

Honing in on the engine room, the Hoops also have Augsburg midfielder Elvis Rexhbecaj on their radar and the Kosovo international may be attainable for a fee between £3 million and £3.5 million.

Celtic’s upcoming fixtures as run-in begins for Brendan Rodgers

St Johnstone (A)

Scottish Premiership

Kilmarnock (H)

Scottish Premiership

St Johnstone

Scottish Cup semi-final

Optimism is high in Glasgow’s east end over new signings, though several key stars may be linked with moves elsewhere following an excellent campaign for all involved at Parkhead. Reo Hatate, Nicolas Kuhn and Daizen Maeda are all players Rodgers will be desperate to keep hold of heading into 2025/26.

Nevertheless, the former Liverpool boss may be forced to part ways with one of his established core in the off-season, per recent developments.

Dinamo Zagreb table significant offer to sign Celtic's Greg Taylor

According to The Daily Record, Dinamo Zagreb have put forward a contract offer to Celtic star Greg Taylor that is deemed to be a ‘significant increase’ on his current £15,000 weekly pay packet at Parkhead.

The Scotland international has also attracted interest from Major League Soccer, which isn’t dead in the water, but a switch Croatia’s reigning champions appears to be his likeliest port of call. Rodgers previously emboldened him to extend his time at the club, though has now publicly conceded defeat on that front.

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Taylor has gone on to become a valiant servant for Celtic since arriving from Kilmarnock back in 2019, registering nine goals and 32 assists in 208 appearances across all competitions.

Playing his part in the Bhoys claiming ten trophies, the Greenock-born man has earned respect from his peers north of the border after seeing off the likes of Boli Bolingoli, Diego Laxalt and Alexandro Bernabei for the first-choice left-back slot in Glasgow.

However, all good things come to an end, and it appears that Tierney’s arrival from Arsenal has prompted Taylor to look elsewhere as he approaches the prime of his career.

Liverpool are believed to be keeping tabs on a Vinicius Junior-esque starlet with a massive future in the game, according to a new transfer update.

Liverpool close in on title as transfer rumours ramp up

The Reds need just one more win to seal the Premier League title, following Sunday’s 1-0 triumph away to relegated Leicester City. They could even be crowned champions on Wednesday evening, should Arsenal lose at home to Crystal Palace, which feels unlikely.

Away from the on-pitch action, Liverpool continue to be linked with new signings, ahead of what promises to be a busy summer at Anfield. Nottingham Forest right-back Ola Aina has been mentioned as a potential replacement for Trent Alexander-Arnold, should he depart for Real Madrid.

Bryan Mbeumo has also been mentioned as an option for the Reds for many months now and the Brentford ace is still being discussed as a summer target. A £50m bid for the Cameroonian is reportedly likely to be accepted by the Bees at the end of the season.

Liverpool are thought to have made contact with RB Leipzig ace Xavi Simons over a switch to Anfield, too, even though he only joined permanently from Paris Saint-Germain in the January transfer window.

Liverpool keeping tabs on Leicester teenager Monga

According to a report from Spain, Liverpool are eyeing a summer move for Leicester City teenager Jeremy Monga, who is considered one of the brightest young prospects in English football.

Chelsea and Manchester City are also thought to be interested in signing the winger, who recently became the first-ever player born in 2009 to play in the Premier League, and the second-youngest appearance-maker in the competition’s history.

Monga is a player who is being talked about as a special prospect, with scout/writer Jacek Kulig heaping praise on him and even comparing him to Madrid superstar Vinicius.

“Very positive on the ball, unpredictable, and confident of his skills. Doesn’t hesitate to use his weaker left foot and is capable of dribbling, passing, and scoring comfortably with it. Player has the potential to become a key player in a top European club.”

Liverpool should always be looking to sign the biggest young talent around and Monga could be an exceptional signing, maturing into a sensational player over time.

To have already played in the Premier League at the age of just 15 is an incredible achievement, and he was even introduced as a late substitute against the Reds on Sunday, making his second senior appearance in the process.

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Monga has already made a combined 23 appearances for Leicester at Under-21 and Under-18 level, shining way above his own age group, so Liverpool pipping rivals to his signature could look like a masterstroke over time.

Crystal Palace are now “interested” in signing a “fantastic” Premier League player, who is set to be available for a bargain fee in the summer transfer window, according to reliable reporter Ben Jacobs.

Palace set sights on new midfielder

Palace may have their work cut out trying to keep hold of some of their key players this summer, with the likes of Marc Guehi and Jean-Philippe Mateta attracting widespread interest, alongside Adam Wharton, with Liverpool now ready to sign the 21-year-old.

With attacking midfielder Eberechi Eze also catching the eye, Oliver Glasner may be tasked with bringing in at least one new midfielder in the summer transfer window, and the manager has several potential options in mind.

Sunderland’s Chris Rigg is of particular interest, with the Eagles racing a number of their Premier League rivals for the 17-year-old, while they are also eyeing a move for Rigg’s teammate, Jobe Bellingham, who Glasner is believed to be a big fan of.

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The Eagles have made contact over a move for a defender, who is capable of playing in five positions.

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According to Ben Jacobs, Crystal Palace have now joined the race for a new central midfield target, with the reporter taking to X to reveal they are now “interested” in signing Leicester City midfielder Wilfred Ndidi.

With Leicester’s relegation from the Premier League now confirmed, they could be in line to lose one of their key players on the cheap, with Ndidi set to leave for just £9m due to a clause included in his contract.

There is widespread interest in the central midfielder, with Premier League rivals Everton and Fulham also emerging as potential suitors, while Saudi Pro League side Al-Ahli have him on their “radar”, although they are yet to make an official approach.

"Fantastic" Ndidi has talent to remain in Premier League

Leicester’s performance in the Premier League this season has been nothing short of dismal, having collected just 18 points throughout the campaign, but the Nigerian midfielder has impressed in the top flight in the past.

The Lagos-born maestro was once described as a “monster” after impressing against Liverpool, while he has also been lauded as “fantastic” by members of the media, in light of his performances for Nigeria at international level.

Not only that, but the 28-year-old has been one of the standout players in a poor Leicester side, and he has performed well across a number of key attacking and defensive metrics over the past year, indicating he is a well-rounded midfielder.

Statistic

Average per 90

Assists

0.18 (84th percentile)

Tackles

3.37 (96th percentile)

Clearances

3.06 (97th percentile)

Aerials won

2.32 (95th percentile)

At just £9m, Ndidi could be a shrewd acquistion for Crystal Palace this summer, and they should be in a strong position to win the race for his signature, having shown they can compete for major honours by progressing to the FA Cup final against Manchester City.

There is a big task ahead for Daniel Farke and the recruitment team at Leeds United after the 2024/25 season ended with promotion to the Premier League.

The Whites lifted the Championship trophy at Home Park after they beat Plymouth Argyle 2-1 on the final day of the campaign, thanks to a last-gasp winner from Manor Solomon.

They ended the season with a staggering 100 points on the board, beating Burnley to the title on goal difference, and can now prepare to play in the top-flight next term.

The three newly-promoted clubs have all been relegated from the Premier League in each of the last two seasons, which paints a picture of how difficult it is going to be for Leeds, and Burnley, next term.

They will need to nail their recruitment to build a squad that is capable of following in the footsteps of the six teams that have fallen before them, which makes the summer transfer window absolutely vital.

Leeds need to land top-quality players who can come in to make an instant impact in the first-team, as they did when they once splashed the cash on Rio Ferdinand.

Why Rio Ferdinand was a great signing for Leeds

Back in November 2000, the Whites swooped to sign the England international from West Ham United for a reported fee of £18m, which was a British record fee at the time.

Although Ferdinand was only 22 at the time of the move, Leeds knew that they were signing a quality operator at the heart of the defence because he had already played 155 times for the Hammers in their first-team.

The English colossus made 32 appearances in all competitions during his first season at Elland Road, including seven in the Champions League, before he hit his stride in his second year in West Yorkshire.

Ferdinand went on to play 41 times in all competitions in the 2001/02 campaign and was named in the PFA Team of the Year in the Premier League for his performances at centre-back, which speaks to how impressive his displays were.

His form for Leeds in those two seasons led to interest from elsewhere, and Manchester United swooped in to sign him for a British record £30m in the summer of 2002.

This shows that the defender was a great signing for Leeds because he was one of the best centre-backs in the Premier League in his second season, as shown by his inclusion in the Team of the Year, and they made a substantial profit on him within two years of his arrival.

Leeds could, now, find their next version of Rio Ferdinand by moving to sign a new central defender this summer, amid reported interest in a Ligue 1 star.

Leeds eyeing move for Ligue 1 star

According to The Sun on Sunday’s print edition (4 May, page 55), as relayed by MOTLeedsNews, Leeds have sent scouts to watch Marseille defender Leonardo Balerdi in action this season.

The report claims that the West Yorkshire outfit have made the centre-back one of their top targets heading into the summer transfer window, following their promotion to the Premier League.

It states that Marseille are looking for a fee in the region of £20m for the 26-year-old defender, but it remains to be seen whether or not the Whites are willing to pay that much money for him.

The outlet also reveals that the Argentina international, who currently plays under Roberto De Zerbi in France, would be interested in a move to England, which should come as a boost to Leeds in their pursuit of the £20m-rated star.

Transfer Focus

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

It is now down to Leeds to enter talks with Marseille, if they decide to press ahead with their interest in the Argentine ace, to wrap up a deal for Balerdi before any other teams enter the race for his signature.

If the Whites can get a move over the line for the Ligue 1 colossus in the summer transfer window, the right-footed titan could be Rio Ferdinand 2.0 for the club.

Why Balerdi could be the next Ferdinand for Leeds

As aforementioned, part of what made Ferdinand such a great signing for Leeds was that he was already an experienced player at the top level who could slot straight into the side.

Balerdi has played 161 times for Marseille, 124 times in Ligue 1, and has been capped six times by Argentina at international level, which shows that he has plenty of experience at the top level.

This means that Leeds would not be signing a young player with little experience in Europe’s major leagues and taking a big gamble on a promising gem, they would be signing a star who is ready to make an instant impact in the Premier League.

Balerdi’s performances in Ligue 1 for Marseille this season suggest that he could come in as an instant upgrade on Joe Rodon, despite the Welsh star’s solid showings in the Championship.

Appearances

24

46

Tackles per game

2.0

0.9

Interceptions per game

1.3

0.6

Duels won per game

5.0

4.4

Aerial duel success rate

65%

60%

Ball recoveries per game

6.1

4.0

As you can see in the table above, the Argentina international has made more defensive actions – recoveries, tackles, duels won, interceptions – per game than Rodon has on average, whilst also being more dominant in the air.

These statistics suggest that he could make an instant impact at Elland Road because he has already outperformed the Wales international at a higher level, which suggests that he could be an upgrade on him.

In March, De Zerbi described him as an “extraordinary” player and hoped that “big European teams” forgot about him in the summer transfer window.

This suggests that Leeds would also be signing a player who could be on the radar of ‘big’ European sides in the future, which could see him sold on for a profit further down the line if he is a success in the Premier League.

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Balerdi could, therefore, arrive as Ferdinand 2.0 as a proven top-level centre-back who could hit the ground running before being sold to a huge club in the future for a profit on the £20m that could be spent on his services this summer.

Another “unique” player is believed to be in “advanced talks” with Liverpool over joining Jeremie Frimpong at Anfield, according to an update from journalist Matteo Moretto.

Liverpool closing in on Frimpong signing

The Reds are acting fast in their search for a Trent Alexander-Arnold replacement this summer, with Bayer Leverkusen star Jeremie Frimpong seemingly the man to come in at the end of the season.

The Dutchman was left out of the German side’s starting lineup for their final Bundesliga game of the season at Mainz on Saturday, and has now undergone a medical with Liverpool ahead of his move being completed.

Frimpong has the potential to be such an exciting signing for the Reds, with the 24-year-old possessing blistering speed and impressive end product, having racked up 30 goals and 44 assists in 190 appearances for Leverkusen.

There is no guarantee that the Netherlands is being brought in as a right-back – he can play on the wing, too, and Conor Bradley is already a great option there – but it would be a surprise if that wasn’t the case. Now, an exciting update has emerged regarding a target on the opposite flank.

Kerkez in "advanced talks" with Liverpool

According to Moretto on X, Liverpool are now in “advanced talks” with Bournemouth left-back Milos Kerkez, as a move to Anfield edges closer: “Milos Kerkez is in very advanced talks with Liverpool over contract terms.”

And while Moretto only stated negotiations between the clubs would begin soon, Fabrizio Romano has since added those are now advancing as well: “Understand Liverpool have contacted Bournemouth for Milos Kerkez deal with talks now advancing.”

Romano also confirmed Moretto’s claims that the player is keen to join and is “completing the agreement on personal terms”.

If Liverpool manage to snap up both Frimpong and Kerkez before the next transfer window has even technically opened, it would represent such a promising start to the summer.

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Kerkez looks like a perfect option to come in and be Andy Robertson’s long-term successor, with the Hungarian ten years younger than the Reds legend, and possessing more pace and energy, which is understandable given the different points their careers are at.

The Bournemouth ace has shone throughout this season, bagging five assists and a couple of goals in the Premier League, while goalkeeper and former teammate Mathew Ryan has lauded him in the past.

The idea of Liverpool having Frimpong and Kerkez marauding down either flank next season is a mouthwatering prospect, giving them an extra dimension under Arne Slot, and the future feels extremely bright at Anfield.

Targeting attacking reinforcements this summer, the 49ers are now reportedly leading the race to sign an impressive 21-goal striker for Leeds United in the coming months.

Leeds set to back Daniel Farke with new striker signing

If recent reports are anything to go by, then Leeds are set to go all out in preparation for the Premier League this summer. The 49ers seem determined to back manager Daniel Farke, who will be looking to earn Premier League redemption of his own following previous relegations with Norwich City.

There was a stage in which rumours were emerging that Fake wouldn’t get that chance, however, with those at Elland Road unsure on his top flight record. Club chairman Paraag Marathe has since put those rumours to bed, telling reporters in the middle of Leeds’ title celebrations: “I’m very excited to run it back with Daniel and collaborate with him.

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“I’m under no illusions that it is going to be easy. The past two seasons the three promoted teams came straight back down but we have something they don’t have, we have Daniel Farke first of all. I have ended the speculation. He is my man.”

Desperate to avoid the same mistakes that Southampton, Leicester City and Ipswich Town made this season, Leeds have reportedly set their sights on signing proven Premier League players this summer, with names such as Kostas Tsimikas and even Jamie Vardy already mentioned as potential targets.

Tsimikas would be a particularly strong signing, given that he’s fresh from becoming a Premier League champion with Liverpool. The Greek left-back would instantly replace Junio Firpo, who is currently on course to leave Elland Road at the end of his contract next month.

Although the focus on Premier League targets is clear, however, the 49ers have also reportedly set their sights on an impressive goalscorer from outside of English football.

Leeds leading race to sign Vanat

According to reports in Ukraine, as relayed by Sport Witness, the 49ers and Leeds are now ahead in the race to sign Vladyslav Vanat from Dynamo Kyiv this summer alongside fellow Premier League side Fulham. The 23-year-old has enjoyed an excellent season, scoring 21 goals and creating a further eight in all competitions, and could now be on the move as a result.

Dubbed an “all-round centre-forward” and praised for his “powerful ball-striking” by analyst Ben Mattinson, Leeds could welcome a hidden gem by signing Vanat this summer.

Whilst his name wouldn’t steal the same headlines as the likes of Vardy, his numbers suggest that he could be an even better signing than the Premier League veteran. Racing against Fulham for his signature, Leeds should push on and formalise their interest in signing Vanat when the summer transfer window swings open.

Liverpool are now leading the race to complete the signing of a “great” player in the summer transfer window, according to a new update from Fabrizio Romano.

Liverpool eyeing signings on either flank

Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson have been a legendary full-back pairing for the Reds over the past seven or eight years, but there is a changing of the guard at Anfield this summer.

Sadly, Alexander-Arnold has opted to leave Liverpool in order to almost certainly join Real Madrid, which unsurprisingly hasn’t gone down well with many supporters, while Robertson isn’t the force he once was at left-back – no surprise, considering he is now 31 and has years of relentless running behind him.

Jeremie Frimpong is set to arrive from Bayer Leverkusen, potentially coming in as a right-back, but he is also more than capable of taking up a more attacking right-sided role. It remains to be seen how Arne Slot will use him, and if Conor Bradley will be first-choice right-back moving forward.

Meanwhile, Milos Kerkez has emerged as the strongest option at left-back, following an excellent season with Bournemouth, although Fulham’s Antonee Robinson and Ajax teenager Jorrel Hato have also been mentioned as options. Manchester City have reportedly been looking to hijack a move for Kerkez, though, being seen as “genuine rivals” for his signature.

Liverpool in pole position to sign Kerkez after talks

Taking to X on Sunday, Romano said that Liverpool are in pole position to sign Kerkez from Bournemouth this summer, with talks continuing to head in the right direction:

Kerkez really does feel like the natural fit to come in and be Liverpool’s new first-choice left-back, ticking so many boxes, in terms of what Slot will be looking for.

The 21-year-old Hungary international is strong at both ends of the pitch, bagging seven goal contributions (two goals and five assists) in the Premier League this season, as well as averaging 2.6 clearances and 1.4 tackles per game.

Appearances

37

Starts

37

Minutes played

3,251

Goals

2

Assists

5

Clearances per game

2.6

Tackles per game

1.4

Interceptions per game

1.2

Key passes per game

0.9

In fact, Kerkez’s performances haven’t been lost on Slot, who has said he has enjoyed a “great season”, while football talent scout Jacek Kulig called him “amazing” after Bournemouth beat Manchester City earlier in the season.

At this point, it could be a surprise if the Cherries star didn’t join Liverpool, in a summer transfer window that is already threatening to be legendary.

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If the Reds manage to sign Kerkez, Frimpong, Florian Wirtz and a top-quality striker, it will be significant business that may only make them far stronger heading into next season.