Leeds United have now been provided with an injury update on a key player, who manager Daniel Farke has previously described as “unbelievable”.
Leeds already struggling on the injury front
With three games played of the new Premier League season, Leeds are likely to be happy with the start they’ve made, having collected four points and kept clean sheets in both of their games at Elland Road.
That is despite the fact two first-team players have already suffered injury setbacks, namely Ao Tanaka and Ethan Ampadu, who are set to spend a little while longer on the treatment table due to MCL issues.
Losing Tanaka will be particularly frustrating for the manager, as the midfielder made a fantastic start to the campaign, being voted Player of the Match for his performance in the 1-0 victory against Everton.
With the international break now upon us, the most important thing for Farke will be all his players returning to Elland Road unscathed, but there has already been a cause for concern.
As reported by the BBC’s Adam Pope, Joe Rodon has withdrawn from the Wales squad ahead of their matches against Kazakhstan and Canada, but thankfully it is not thought to be a major issue.
Leeds United's JoeRodonreacts
Pope added: “I’m told it’s not serious & he should be ok to face Fulham.”
It has since been widely reported that concussion protocols meant Rodon couldn’t be called up for his national side, which will no doubt be frustrating for the 54-time international, but it is a boost for Leeds that he should be fit for the trip to Fulham on September 13th.
"Unbelievable" Rodon has made impressive start to the campaign
Getting a positive result at the Emirates Stadium was always going to be a tall order, and the Whites struggled as expected, but otherwise they have made a promising start to the new campaign, and the Welsh defender has looked impressive.
The 27-year-old has started all three games, most recently putting in a solid display to keep Newcastle United at bay, with a point against a Champions League side certainly not to be sniffed at.
Statistic
Number completed
Duels won
4
Clearances
3
Interceptions
2
Passes completed
44/49 (90%)
Farke has also made it clear just how highly he rates the defender, who is widely reported to pocket £40k-a-week, saying: “He has unbelievable pace and it is good when we have to defend that high in the field, it helps.
“He brings also aerial threat into our game, we have many smaller, not the tallest players, (it’s) also important for us in terms of set-pieces he is strong in duals and build up passes in his technique.”
As such, the Leeds boss will be grateful Rodon’s injury is likely nothing to be worried about, ahead of their trip to Craven Cottage in just over one week.
Leeds United head coach Daniel Farke will be hoping for more additions to the playing squad before the end of the summer transfer window next week.
Lukas Nmecha, Dominic Calvert-Lewin, and Noah Okafor have been added to the group to bolster his options in the final third, but the former Norwich City manager wants more.
Earlier this month, the boss said: “There is no doubt we need reinforcements, especially in the offence. Dominic can’t be the only step. We are on a good path, prepared for the first games and I hope when the transfer window is over we have a squad who is capable of fighting because we have one clear target – to stay in this league.”
It is hard to blame Farke for having that stance when you consider that the West Yorkshire outfit have only scored two goals in their first three competitive games: a penalty and a Jayden Bogle goal against Championship side Sheffield Wednesday.
Another winger, on top of the signing of Okafor from AC Milan, is on the agenda and it will be interesting to see who they go for before next Monday’s deadline.
One player who has been linked with a move to Elland Road before the end of the window is Tottenham Hotspur forward Manor Solomon, who spent last season on loan in West Yorkshire.
Manor Solomon's impact at Leeds last season
The 26-year-old attacker spent the season on loan to help the Whites win the Championship and earn promotion back to the Premier League at the second time of asking.
Wilfried Gnonto and Dan James were already in the building as wide options for Farke to call upon on the left and the right flanks, but he was able to break into the team and establish himself as a key player for the German boss.
Solomon went on to start 30 of his 39 appearances in the Championship, per Sofascore, on the club’s way to hitting a staggering 100 points in the second tier last term.
xG
8.14
Top 8%
Goals
10
Top 6%
Shots on target
25
Top 12%
xA
10.30
Top 1%
Chances created
67
Top 5%
Assists
12
Top 3%
As you can see in the table above, the Israel international made a huge impact in the final third in those 39 appearances, scoring or creating 22 goals in 30 starts.
These statistics show that he performed consistently in front of goal to win vital points for the Whites with goals and assists that changed and won games in the Championship.
Leeds United'sManorSolomoncelebrates scoring their first goal
Whilst the club may yet look to bring him back before the deadline, the Whites are reportedly looking at another player who could be the new Solomon at Elland Road.
Leeds eyeing move for Nottingham Forest winger
Former Manchester United and Blackburn Rovers chief scout Mick Brown has revealed that the 49ers are eyeing a last-gasp move for Nottingham Forest forward Jota Silva.
Speaking to Football Insider, Brown said: “I hear Leeds are interested in signing Jota Silva. They need new wingers, and he is one of the names on their list of targets.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
“When he’s been involved for Forest, he looks busy and bright, always looking to make things happen and not afraid to get on the ball. He likes to get at people and he’s capable of producing in the final third as well.
“He’s a bit of a maverick, and those types of players are always welcome at Leeds. Forest have signed a number of wide players, and spent a significant amount of money on him, so I hear he is questioning where he fits in.”
Nottingham Forest's Jota Silva celebrates with Chris Wood.
It was reported by O’Jogo earlier this summer that Sporting were hoping to land him for a fee of around £10m including add-ons, and it remains to be seen if Leeds are prepared to pay that kind of money for his services.
Why Leeds should sign Jota Silva
Leeds should swoop to sign Jota Silva from the Tricky Trees because he could be a more affordable option on the flank, given that Solomon reportedly has a price tag of £20m over his head.
The Whites save £10m and land their next Solomon by signing the Portuguese star, as another winger who has become surplus to requirements at a Premier League side, just as was the case with the Israel international last summer.
Jota Silva only started five of his 31 appearances in the Premier League for Forest last season, per Sofascore, but showed glimpses of the kind of quality that he has the potential to provide on a regular basis at that level.
The 26-year-old ace scored three goals and created eight ‘big chances’ for his teammates in 891 minutes of action, which shows that he was an effective contributor in the final third despite limited minutes on the pitch.
Jota Silva’s form for Vitoria in Portugal in the 2023/24 campaign, before his move to England, shows that he can deliver consistent quality on the flank when starting regularly.
Appearances
33
xG
7.99
Goals
11
Big chances created
8
Key passes per game
1.0
Assists
5
Dribbles completed per game
1.3
As you can see in the table above, the Portugal international caught the eye with 19 goals and ‘big chances’ created in the top division in his country.
These statistics show that he can be an efficient finisher who also looks to create chances for his teammates on a regular basis at the top level, when playing week-in-week-out, which is why he could be an exciting signing for Leeds.
The versatile forward, who can play on the right or the left as a winger, could be the new Solomon at Elland Road by arriving from a Premier League team to light up the flanks in West Yorkshire with his quality in the final third.
Given the difference in price between the two players, Jota Silva may even be a better option than signing Solomon permanently because he has shown that he can deliver in the English top-flight as recently as last season.
Better than El Khannouss: Leeds prepared to make move for magic £30m star
Leeds United are reportedly considering a move to sign a star who is even better than Bilal El Khannouss.
Chelsea are now preparing a £43m offer for a “world-class” Real Madrid target, who could be brought in as a replacement for Levi Colwill, according to a report.
Blues readying bid for centre-back after Colwill blow
There were always concerns that competing in the Club World Cup may have a negative knock-on effect going into the new season, and the Blues have already suffered a major injury blow, with Colwill set to miss most of the campaign due to an ACL injury.
Since then, Enzo Maresca has hinted that another centre-back could be brought in to account for the loss of the 22-year-old, with the manager saying: “It depends – we will wait and see.
“You know in our way, how important Levi has been. I spoke with him yesterday and I told him that if we achieve what we achieved last year, it is also because of him – and he was a main player for us.”
It has since been revealed that the west Londoners are expected to make a bid for Barcelona defender Ronald Araujo imminently, but a Premier League centre-back has also now entered the frame as a potential option…
That is according to reports in Spain, which state Chelsea are now preparing a €50m (£43m) offer for Liverpool defender Ibrahima Konate, who is also being targeted by Spanish heavyweights Real Madrid.
Madrid are confident about securing Konate’s signature on a free transfer next summer, upon the expiration of his contract, but the Blues have now entered the race, and they are willing to pay the exact amount Liverpool are looking for.
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At present, however, a move to Real Madrid is still the most likely outcome, given that the Reds are reluctant to strengthen one of their direct Premier League rivals, and the player himself is leaning towards a move to the Santiago Bernabéu.
"World-class" Konate would be major coup for Chelsea
In truth, it seems unlikely that the Blues will be able to get a deal done, considering the French defender has no reason to leave the reigning Premier League champions, and Liverpool are hesitant to let him move to Stamford Bridge.
However, the Reds are at risk of losing the 26-year-old on a free transfer if they don’t cash-in this summer, which means it could be tempting to sanction a sale, and he could be a fantastic acquisition for the Blues.
The France international played a major role in Liverpool’s 2024-25 Premier League title triumph, making 31 appearances, and journalist David Lynch believes he is now “world-class”.
Konate is clearly entering the prime of his career, and it would be a major coup if Chelsea were able to get a deal done, but it seems extremely unlikely that Arne Slot’s side will agree to a sale, given that they are already light on centre-back options.
Leeds United have only just announced the £12m capture of Sean Longstaff, but another midfield deal looks to be nearing to completion to complement the ex-Newcastle United man’s arrival.
Indeed, it is now being reported that Daniel Farke’s Premier League newcomers will welcome Anton Stach to the building imminently, with the versatile Hoffenheim presence going down as their sixth summer buy for around the £17.4m mark.
Longstaff and Stach might just be the start, however, before another wave of new faces joins very shortly, with attacking signings now looking to be a priority.
Leeds chasing deal for Premier League youngster
Away from Stach offering Leeds more options in midfield alongside the 27-year-old giant, the other signings through the door this summer have mostly been defensive, besides Lukas Nmecha.
Therefore, attack is surely the next part of the pitch due for a makeover, with Rodrigo Muniz reportedly still on the Leeds agenda, on top of new, exciting targets such as Igor Paxiao coming to the surface to gift the Whites more options on the left and right flanks.
Whilst Muniz is a buy that will appeal to Whites supporters everywhere, when assessing his weighty 17 goals in the Premier League, Leeds’ other pursuit of Marc Guiu might well raise some eyebrows.
Chelsea's Marc Guiu celebrates
Football journalist Graeme Bailey claims that Leeds could soon chase a loan deal for the Chelsea youngster to boost their options up top, having looked at him previously.
Whilst Guiu does come highly rated from Stamford Bridge, his lack of Premier League experience would worry those at Elland Road as they jump back up to the gruelling division.
Yet, the Spaniard might well go to be an even bigger talent than Mateo Joseph if he does move to West Yorkshire, which would unfortunately push his fellow compatriot down the Whites pecking order even more.
How Guiu could be a bigger talent than Joseph
Joseph must already know deep down that his Premier League minutes next season are going to be somewhat sparse, considering only 11 league starts were handed to him last season on the way to Farke and Co. sealing the title.
A promising three goals and three assists would come his way, but the 21-year-old hasn’t quite shown enough in these bursts of quality from the bench to suggest he should be pushing for more consistent first-team minutes. Whereas, Guiu at Chelsea might well fancy his chances at being a second-in-command to Joel Piroe, and even more, based on his blistering cameos in West London last campaign.
Games played
16
73
Goals scored
6
6
Assists
0
4
PL appearances
3
3
Amazingly, despite appearing 57 times less for Enzo Maresca’s outfit overall when weighed up next to the 21-year-old’s haul at Elland Road, Guiu finds himself on the exact same goal tally Joseph has next to his name at Leeds, with all six of those efforts also staggeringly coming about last season as Chelsea ran out convincing champions of the UEFA Conference League.
Of course, the quality of the opposition can be questioned here, but Guiu does look ready for more senior chances, with those six goals coming about from just four starts, meaning he’s a far more lethal and composed finisher from limited chances than his Whites counterpart.
With two goals under his belt in the senior ranks at Barcelona, too, the 19-year-old would surely go on to enhance and elevate his game surrounded by the likes of Piroe as a hungry asset wanting to learn more, as opposed to Joseph, who has made his intentions clear on his desire to move on from West Yorkshire.
Once labelled as a “nightmare for centre-backs” to contain by football talent scout Jacek Kulig off the back of his high-energy game, Guiu might well be the perfect impact bench option for Farke to call upon next season, away from landing a more seasoned head such as Muniz.
Marc Guiu
With all these thrilling new buys in the offing, there might not be a place for Joseph at Leeds very soon, as fresh blood is potentially preferred over the reserve striker.
Even better than Paixao: Leeds hopeful of sealing signing of £50m striker
Leeds United are hopeful of signing a star who is even better than Igor Paixao.
Nottingham Forest have now made an approach to sign an “unstoppable” forward, who is set to be available for a fee of £39m this summer, according to reports.
Nottingham Forest eyeing replacement for Elanga
Anthony Elanga is set to sign for Newcastle United in a £55m deal, meaning Edu Gaspar’s first task as Global Head of Football will be to find a replacement for the winger, although it may not be a quick process.
Speaking about the way in which he goes about making new additions to the Forest squad, Edu said: “You can’t just sign for the sake of signing. It has to be a process that takes weeks and weeks. Right there on my desk, I have reports with over 180 pages on a player. It’s really detailed.
“Physical, technical, and mental profiles, whether they have Premier League experience, whether they’ll be able to adapt. It’s all there. We analyse our weaknesses, where we can improve, where we can invest, and then we go looking for that new name.”
Seemingly PSV Eindhoven’s Johan Bakayoko ticks a lot of boxes for Edu, as Forest have now entered talks over a deal for the winger, who is viewed as a direct replacement for Elanga.
PSV Eindhoven's JohanBakayokoin action
However, the 22-year-old is not the only option on the shortlist, with the Tricky Trees also making an approach to sign Benfica winger Kerem Akturkoglu, according to an update from reporter Kutlu Akpinar on X.
Forest were the “first” team to make contact over a deal for the forward, and they were told that €45m (£39m) would be enough to get a deal done, although there could be competition for his signature.
The Turk has made it clear that the only team he wants to play for in his home country is Galatasaray, but there could be rival interest from within the Premier League, as Sunderland and Everton are also named as potential suitors.
Nottingham Forest join race to sign "fantastic" £50m+ Elanga replacement
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"Unstoppable" Akturkoglu could be fantastic signing for Forest
Once lauded as “unstoppable” by U23 football scout Antonio Mango, the Benfica star was a regular source of goals and assists last season, picking up 22 goal contributions in the Liga Portugal alone.
With Forest set to embark on a European adventure, Nuno Espirito Santo will also be keen to bring in players with experience in the biggest competitions, and the 26-year-old also caught the eye in the 2024-25 Champions League, netting four goals.
Considering the former Galatasaray man has predominantly featured at left-wing throughout his career to date, it is unclear whether he would be viewed as a direct replacement for Elanga, but he could be a fantastic addition to the squad nonetheless.
Not only that, but Forest should be in a strong position to beat Sunderland and Everton to Akturkoglu’s signature, given that European football will be on offer at the City Ground next season.
يستهل منتخب البرتغال مشواره في تصفيات أوروبا المؤهلة لمونديال 2026 بلقاء منتخب أرمينيا خارج ملعبه، ويطمح رفاق كريستيانو رونالدو لتحقيق بداية قوية.
ويحل منتخب البرتغال في المجموعة السادسة في تصفيات أوروبا المؤهلة لكأس العالم 2026 إلى جانب منتخبات المجر وأرمينيا وأيرلندا.
وسيلعب منتخب البرتغال ضد منتخب المجر المباراة الثانية والتي ستوافق يوم الثلاثاء القادم 9 سبتمبر خارج ملعبه أيضاً.
اقرأ أيضاً.. موعد والقناة الناقلة لمباراة البرتغال وأرمينيا اليوم في تصفيات كأس العالم 2026.. والمعلق
وبحسب إحدى وسائل الإعلام العالمية “تريبونا” فقد نشرت أن كريستيانو رونالدو واجه موقفاً صعباً قبل انطلاق لقاء أرمينيا مساء اليوم.
Cristiano Ronaldo HUMILLA un fan que solo quiere un autógrafo, ese es tu idolo?pic.twitter.com/HeLmJMJfX5 — Tendencia en X HOY (@TendenciaenXHoy) September 5, 2025
وقد اندلعت فوضى عارمة عندما لمح الجمهور في أرمينيا اللاعب الفائز بجائزة الكرة الذهبية خمس مرات، وقد انتشر على وسائل التواصل الاجتماعي لقطة تثير الشكوك حول حمايته هناك، خاصة عندما حاول أحد المشجعين الاقتراب منه قبل أن يتم إبعاده عن طريق رجال الأمن.
ومن الواضح أن كريستيانو رونالدو لم يكن راضياً عن سلوك هذا المشجع، بعد أن أثار وصول مهاجم ريال مدريد ومانشستر يونايتد السابق ضجة في المطار في أرمينيا، مما استدعى إبعاد أحد المشجعين عنه.
The former South Australia and Adelaide Strikers coach will oversee two four-day matches in Darwin next month
ESPNcricinfo staff24-Jun-2024Jason Gillespie’s first tour since being named Pakistan’s Test coach will see him back in Australia as he oversees two four-day matches for the Shaheens (Pakistan A) in Darwin next month.Pakistan Shaheens will play two four-day games against Bangladesh A between July 19-22 and 26-29 with Gillespie head coach for those matches before returning to Pakistan to prepare for a two-Test series against Bangladesh.Related
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The Shaheens will remain in Darwin during August, playing 50-over matches against Northern Territory and Bangladesh A, before taking part in an expanded nine-team Top End T20 series for the second year running.”The opportunity to be the head coach of Pakistan’s Test side is fantastic,” Gillespie, who quit as South Australia and Adelaide Strikers coach, told a PCB podcast shortly after his appointment. “It’s an honour. I’ve been coaching for quite a while now in various roles around the world, but one thing I haven’t done is coach an international Test side. When this opportunity presented itself, I jumped at it.The Top End series, staged from August 9 to August 18, will also feature a Bangladesh High Performance side. Perth Scorchers and Adelaide Strikers will send teams while Tasmania will also feature. Academy sides from Melbourne Renegades and Stars will again take part as in previous seasons while defending champions NT Strike and the ACT Comets make up the tournament.The PCB has announced a Shaheens’ squad, with one further player and a captain to be confirmed before the tour, which features fast bowler Khurram Shahzad who made his Test debut against Australia in Perth last year before his tour was ended early by injury.”I am grateful to Northern Territory for inviting the Pakistan Shaheens for the second successive year,” PCB director of international cricket Usman Wahla said. “Last year, the players had a memorable experience and enjoyed playing and performing in excellent playing conditions, in front of enthusiastic cricket fans.”This year we have added red-ball cricket matches to give more exposure to our cricketers and I am confident the players will benefit from this tour and will return as better cricketers.”During the Test series, which Pakistan lost 3-0 but pushed Australia in Melbourne and Sydney, then team director Mohammad Hafeez said there were discussions between the PCB and CA on future touring opportunities for development teams.For the Australian domestic cricketers involved, the Top End T20 series will provide pre-season opportunity for those not in action overseas.”The competition adds another layer to what our pre-season would typically be, exposing players to tournament conditions ahead of the Australian domestic season,” Kade Harvey, Perth Scorchers’ general manager, said. “It’s also a great opportunity for some of WA’s most promising prospects to test themselves against quality opponents from Australia and Asia.”Last year the tournament featured Jake Fraser-McGurk and Will Sutherland who have since represented Australia, and in Fraser-McGurk’s case taken the T20 world by storm at the IPL.”To have two cricket powerhouses in Pakistan and Bangladesh now participating alongside half of the Big Bash League franchises is a testament to the potential of winter cricket in the Territory.” NT Cricket CEO Gavin Dovey said.Further squads for the Top End T20 series will be confirmed in the coming weeks.Pakistan Shaheens to tour Darwin Haseebullah, Hunain Shah, Kamran Ghulam, Kashif Ali, Khurram Shahzad, Mehran Mumtaz, Mohammad Huraira, Mubasir Khan, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Omair Yousuf, Sahibzada Farhan, Shahnawaz Dahani, Tayyab Tahir, Umar Amin
A £70m Premier League forward is now “very open” to signing for Arsenal in the summer transfer window, according to reliable reporter Ben Jacobs.
Gunners set sights on new forwards
After another trophyless campaign, Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville has made it clear that he thinks the Gunners will need to bring in a new striker this summer, with Mikel Arteta being left “woefully short up top” at times this season.
Neville also added: “I’ve been arguing this all season, it’s ridiculous that they’ve left Mikel Arteta – or Mikel Arteta’s left himself – so short. They’ve spent £750m and signed one striker.”
In fairness, Arteta has been unlucky with injuries, which have hindered his side’s Premier League title push, with both Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus suffering season-ending setbacks, leaving Mikel Merino as the only real option at centre-forward.
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Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli have also spent time on the sidelines, which underlined the lack of depth at Arteta’s disposal in attacking areas, and there has now been a suggestion the manager could look to sign a winger alongside a striker this summer.
In an interview with GiveMeSport, Jacobs has now stated that AFC Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo would be keen on a move to the Emirates Stadium this summer, should the Cherries choose to cash-in on the winger.
Antoine Semenyo for Bournemouth.
The reporter said: “I’m also told that if Semenyo is to leave, he would be very open to Arsenal and London. I believe he grew up as an Arsenal fan, even as a kid. But they are not as advanced or set on making a move yet.”
A deal could be on the expensive side, however, withn reports suggesting Bournemouth may look to hold out for a fee of £70m, amid rival interest from Manchester United.
Semenyo could be "sensational" signing for Arsenal
It is no surprise there is growing interest in the Bournemouth star, considering the level of his performances in the Premier League, having frequently shown his ability to take-on opposition defences and get shots off on goal.
The Ghanaian is among esteemed company on those attacking metrics, while he also received from journalist Thierry Nyann, who lauded his compatriot as “sensational” after scoring against Southampton earlier this season, adding to a solid goal record.
Competition
Appearances
Goals
Assists
Premier League
35
9
6
FA Cup
4
2
1
Semenyo has been a stand-out player for Bournemouth this season, and it is clear that Arsenal need to bring in additional attacking depth in the summer, so it is promising news that he would be keen on a move to the Emirates Stadium.
At some point this week, Liverpool could be crowned champions of the Premier League, should Arsenal lose at home against Crystal Palace on Wednesday evening or Anfield claim three points against Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday.
Of course, neither juncture could turn the Reds toward the title, but there’s no doubt in anyone’s mind that the Redmen’s romp toward the finish line has turned into a procession.
Liverpool head coach Arne Slot
The Premier League is lauded by many as the toughest, most competitive and most prevalently entertaining division in the world, and while some would claim that the top flight has lulled this term, Liverpool have capitalised emphatically to defy pre-season predictions and move Arne Slot within touching distance of the crown in his first year.
It’s quite the feat, especially since he entered an outfit dealing with three contractual conundrums which have itched at Liverpool’s campaign all year long.
Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah have penned extensions, but there’s been radio silence from Trent Alexander-Arnold.
However, noise from the media suggests that his move to Real Madrid on a free transfer is a matter of when, not if.
What Liverpool will miss when Alexander-Arnold leaves
Alexander-Arnold scored the winner against Leicester City at the weekend, and his celebration felt like a farewell of sorts, hanging his shirt on the corner flag.
While the most optimistic Liverpool supporters are holding onto hope that the 26-year-old will pen a new deal with his boyhood club, Fabrizio Romano and the rest have confirmed that Trent’s camp and Los Blancos are working toward an agreement on a summer move.
He will be missed. Not only is the emotional connection strong, but Alexander-Arnold is one of the most distinctive players in the game.
The unique advantage that the right-back offers, sparking attacking play with such frightening consistency from an unconventional ball-playing position, has helped Liverpool maintain their place as the Premier League’s most creative team for the past five seasons.
*24/25
Liverpool
97
23/24
Liverpool
102
22/23
Liverpool & Man City
103
21/22
Liverpool
97
20/21
Liverpool
82
Conor Bradley may well get the nod as Slot’s first choice at right-back next season, but Liverpool are going to need to replace Alexander-Arnold’s ball-playing genius somehow.
Liverpool lining up potential Trent replacement
Reports in recent weeks have suggested that Liverpool could make a move for two full-backs, namely Jeremie Frimpong of Bayer Leverkusen and Nottingham Forest’s Ola Aina.
Yet, could Slot replace Trent’s creativity from a different area of the pitch instead?
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
Well, according to Spanish sources, Liverpool are ready to compete with Manchester United for the signing of Xavi Simons this summer, with the RB Leipzig magician now said to be a ‘top target’ for the Reds.
A transfer fee might prove a sticking point, though, with the Germans looking to bank around €100m (£87m) for the 21-year-old this summer, just one year after buying him from Paris Saint-Germain for a €50m (£43m) fee.
However, if sporting director Richard Hughes can move discussions into a more agreeable zone, this could be a stunning capture for Liverpool.
What Xavi Simons would bring to Liverpool
Don’t worry, we’re not suggesting Simons could take Alexander-Arnold’s berth at full-back. However, the little Dutchman is one of the most exciting attacking midfielders in the business, and he’s still got plenty of development left to complete.
However, the Netherlands international does have a similar sort of ball-playing strength that could be utilised and unleashed to preserve Liverpool’s slick offensive play, maybe even unlocking a new dimension.
Matches (starts)
21 (21)
Goals
9
Assists
5
Pass completion
84%
Big chances created
10
Key passes*
2.2
Dribbles*
1.3
Ball recoveries*
5.1
Tackles + interceptions*
1.5
Duels won*
4.4
He’s a complete midfielder, capable of shifting into flanking positions too. Simons’ 2.2 key pass average this term actually stands taller than Alexander-Arnold’s 1.9 average, further evidence that he has what it takes to thrive at Anfield.
But to emphasise it more clearly, the Dutchman ranks among the top 13% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for passes attempted, the top 19% for shot-creating actions, the top 10% for progressive passes and the top 7% for ball recoveries per 90, as per FBref.
There’s a reason Simons is shaping up to be such a hot commodity with his talent for picking at the seams of opposition defences, something Liverpool could make good use of, especially if Alexander-Arnold leaves.
Simons’ playmaking superiority over the Liverpool man may in part be down to positional placement but it doesn’t detract from his being a high-level “game-changer” with his passing and flair, as has been said by talent scout Jacek Kulig.
It’s exactly the kind of quality that Liverpool will need. Trent has scored 23 goals and racked up 90 assists across his 350 career appearances as a Liverpool player, described as a “genius” by reporter Neil Jones.
Simons may still be young, but his 41 goal involvements across 72 Leipzig games, partnered with the underlying creative metrics that speak in his favour, do suggest that Slot could make good use of his countryman’s qualities, transferring Liverpool’s playmaking hub to a more central area.
Liverpool boss Arne Slot
It’s possible that Liverpool have accelerated their plans to sign Simons due to the growing sense that Alexander-Arnold is going to leave the club this summer. Maybe, tacitly, those in FSG’s head offices already know the outcome.
With plans already being drawn up for a new centre-forward, it might be worthwhile to sign such a player to sit in behind, jockeying with Dominik Szoboszlai for a regular starting berth and enhancing the overall fluency of the Anfield side.
Xavi Simons celebrates
In any case, it might be good for Slot to steer the creative heartbeat toward the middle of the park, with Simons, who has been described as a “superstar” in the making by analyst Ben Mattinson, capable of anchoring Liverpool’s inventiveness behind the frontline, reorienting toward a more conventional well of supplementation.
Truth is, though, it’s far simpler: the Dutchman is a brilliant young player, one who could do really well in Slot’s Liverpool team.
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Glasgow Rangers continued their dismal campaign when they were beaten 2-0 by Hibernian in the Scottish Premiership last weekend, failing to shorten the gap to their rivals at the top of the table.
The Scottish giants, excluding penalties, have lost in normal time in five of their last ten matches in all competitions, and have now lost seven times in the league.
Barry Ferguson replaced Philippe Clement earlier this year to become the interim head coach until the end of the season, and results like this are not doing his chances of landing the job permanently any favours.
The Scottish boss has lost two of his five Premiership matches in charge and the team have conceded a staggering 11 goals in those five matches.
Cyriel Dessers
Defending has not been the only issue for the Light Blues in recent weeks, or over the course of the campaign, though, as they missing chances has also been a problem, with centre-forward Cyriel Dessers being a serial offender in front of goal.
Why Cyriel Dessers has cost Rangers this season
The Nigeria international joined the club from Cremonese in the summer of 2023, signed by Michael Beale, and has failed to offer consistency in his finishing in front of goal over the past two seasons.
Dessers missed a whopping 29 ‘big chances’ on his way to 18 goals in the Premiership and the Europa League last term, and he has missed 26 ‘big chances’ in those two competitions so far this season.
Minutes
90
90
88
Shots
1
12
4
Shots on target
0
9
1
Big chances missed
0
5
2
Goals
0
1
0
Duels won
1/11
4/8
3/8
As you can see in the table above, the experienced forward has been particularly wasteful with the chances that have come his way in the last few matches, scoring one goal and missing seven ‘big chances’ from 17 shots on goal.
Dessers missed two huge opportunities to find the back of the net in the 2-0 defeat to Hibernian, which could have changed the game to either put Rangers ahead to pull it back to 2-2 to set the team up to find a winner late on.
Cyriel Dessers
His missed chances mean that the Gers often fail to capitalise on the pressure they put on opposition defences, which then provides them with more opportunities to go up the other end and score – as Hibs did last weekend.
That is why Dessers’ wasteful finishing, which has been a theme throughout his Ibrox career, has cost the Light Blues this season, and why the club must address that position in the upcoming summer transfer window.
The Scottish giants, however, once let go of a young prospect who has since developed into being an upgrade on the Nigerian forward in the present-day – Ryan Hardie.
Why Rangers sold Ryan Hardie
The centre-forward came up through the academy system in Glasgow and first broke into the senior side when Rangers were in the Championship in the 2014/15 campaign, scoring two goals in five league matches.
Hardie went on loan to Raith Rovers in the following season and scored an eye-catching six goals in ten Championship games, before spending time at St Mirren and Raith Rovers on loan in the second tier in the 2016/17 season – scoring nine goals in 34 matches.
His impressive form as a young striker out on loan led to him being a part of Steven Gerrard’s first-team squad in the first half of the 2017/18 campaign, playing seven Premiership matches but only being on the pitch for 55 minutes.
His lack of minutes on the pitch led to him spending the following 18 months on loan at Livingston, a season of which was in the Premiership. He scored seven goals in 21 Premiership matches for the relegation-threatened side in the 2018/19 campaign.
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However, Hardie’s form on loan at Livingston was not enough to convince Gerrard that he had a long-term future at Ibrox under him, which led to a permanent move to Blackpool in England for an undisclosed fee in the summer of 2019.
Ryan Hardie
This meant that the Scottish attacker moved on from Glasgow after a return of two goals in 17 first-team matches for the club, spread across multiple seasons and leagues, but the Gers may, now, look back on him as one that got away from them.
Why Ryan Hardie is an upgrade on Cyriel Dessers
Hardie, who scored a winning goal against Liverpool in the FA Cup earlier this season, currently plays for Plymouth Argyle, who he signed for six months after joining Blackpool.
In his time with the English side, the former Rangers academy graduate has scored 72 goals and provided 23 assists in 243 matches in all competitions, helping the club to go from League Two to the Championship.
His Transfermarkt value has soared from £214k at the time of his Gers exit in 2019 to £1.5m at the time of writing, an increase of 601% – showing that the Scottish giants did not get maximum value out of him.
Since Plymouth were promoted to the second tier in England, Hardie has provided a reliable presence in front of goal to give his team a fighting chance of staying up, most recently scoring a brace in a 2-1 win over Norwich City last weekend.
The 28-year-old marksman, who was dubbed “incredible” by former boss Ian Foster, has been delivering quality for a team challenging at the bottom of their respective league, whilst Dessers has been less-than-impressive in front of goal for a team that should be challenging for titles.
Starts
55
46
Goals
20
28
Big chances missed
22
44
Shots per game
1.9
2.5
Shots
142
167
Big chances created
7
10
Assists
7
6
As you can see in the table above, Dessers has missed twice as many ‘big chances’ as Hardie, despite starting fewer matches, but only scored eight more goals.
These statistics suggest that the Scottish striker would currently have more goals than the Nigerian forward if he had been presented with the consistent stream of huge openings that Dessers has had in the Premiership over the past two seasons.
Hardie has proven his worth with Plymouth in the Championship, becoming a regular scorer in the English second tier, and has done so in a team that has not created many ‘big chances’ for him – compared to the amount Rangers create for their forward.
Therefore, the former Gers gem could have been an upgrade on Dessers if he had stayed at the club because of his ability to find the back of the net at an impressive rate without missing as many ‘big chances’ as the Beale signing, who is consistently letting his side down.
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