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Birmingham City will head into their Boxing Day clash with Burton Albion sitting pretty at the top of the League One table, as Blues fans already begin to dream about a title triumph.

It has been a flawless December for those with allegiances to the table-toppers, with six wins picked up from six in all competitions, which included a hard-fought victory against Crawley Town being picked up last time out.

Nobody watching the game would have been shocked to see Jay Stansfield pop up with another strike, but the scoreline would only read 1-0 come full-time surprisingly, as the Blues’ defence had to stand firm throughout to avoid an unwanted slip-up.

Standout Birmingham defenders this season

Birmingham will know they cannot underestimate any team in the tricky division, even with Crawley loitering near the foot of the League One table.

In the end, the narrow three points were secured, but the likes of Krystian Bielik and Christoph Klarer had to remain alert across the 90 minutes to ensure no goals were given up, with the pair winning a stunning 21 duels combined.

With Ben Davies also having to complete seven clearances, it certainly wasn’t a vintage Birmingham performance all across the pitch, but the defence at least did their job at the Broadfield Stadium.

Only leaking 16 goals from their 19 league clashes to date, Chris Davies will hope his back four continues to valiantly battle, especially as more tense games loom on the horizon in 2025.

Unfortunately, whilst the Blues defence remaining staunch will please Davies, this could signal the departure of a forgotten figure at St. Andrew’s this January, who has barely featured this season despite once being an integral part of the first team.

Dion Sanderson's future at Birmingham

Reports have now surfaced that Dion Sanderson could be off to Coventry City this coming transfer window, with the reserve defender finding game-time hard to come by recently.

Yet, these links with a move up to the Championship showcase how talented a centre-back Sanderson can be on his day, with the Blues number 5 donning the club’s armband last season in the second tier.

He would shine for Birmingham on an initial loan deal during the 2022/23 season, before leaving Wolverhampton Wanderers behind permanently for St. Andrew’s the following campaign, having been branded as a “fantastic” pick-up to make by then Blues boss John Eustace.

Eustace would have felt vindicated by his words – even as he was eventually dismissed – with Sanderson going on to amass ten clean sheets for the club in the league last season, all whilst Birmingham disastrously slipped down to the third tier.

The towering 6 foot 2 defender must have been hoping that a dire change in division would see him become an even more crucial part of the jigsaw, but plenty of new recruits at the back after Davies’ arrival onto the scene have seen him slide down the pecking order.

Not helped by injuries or suspensions, the ex-Wolves man has only started one paltry game in League One so far, which came all the way back on the opening day of the season versus Reading as Davies went about still constructing his new-look team.

Games played

15

18

37

Touches*

108.8

99.4

46.3

Accurate passes*

79.5 (89%)

74.8 (87%)

30.7 (85%)

Interceptions*

2.2

1.0

1.4

Ball recoveries*

5.7

3.5

3.4

Tackles*

1.9

1.4

1.0

Total duels won*

8.3

6.5

3.4

Looking at the table above, it’s also clear that Davies prefers using both Bielik and Klarer over Sanderson owing to their standout traits, with far more touches and accurate passes averaged this season by the pair than the reserve defender managed last campaign, alongside also winning a heftier amount of duels.

Birmingham fans would be sad to see Sanderson depart, but with the defence the Blues can now boast, it feels inevitable that the 25-year-old will have to leave to gain more minutes elsewhere.

SCL must finally bin Birmingham dud who Eustace thought was "great"

This Birmingham City dud could soon leave St. Andrew’s for good.

ByKelan Sarson Dec 23, 2024

INEOS have sent scouts to watch a “complete” striker ahead of a possible Manchester United transfer, according to a recent report.

Man Utd transfer news

If Ruben Amorim had his way, this January transfer window would be very busy for the Red Devils, but due to financial fair play rules, the Premier League side have to be very careful with what business they conduct, and it mainly relies on players leaving Old Trafford first.

£820,000-a-week Man Utd quartet could leave Old Trafford with Rashford

If United were to get their way this month, Marcus Rashford may not be the only player to leave the club.

1 ByBrett Worthington Jan 2, 2025

Paris Saint-Germain left-back Nuno Mendes is someone that United are very much keen on signing this month. Mendes worked with Amorim at Sporting, and given he has refused to sign a new contract in Paris, it means he is open to a move and is said to be keen on reuniting with the Portuguese manager at Old Trafford.

But again, his arrival will depend on which players, if any, leave United in the coming weeks. It has now been claimed by Sky Sports that Christian Eriksen, Victor Lindelof, Casemiro, and Antony could all leave Man United this month, as the club are open to offers. Eriksen and Lindelof are out of contract at the end of the season, and Casemiro and Antony are players who have fallen out of favour. The Red Devils are looking to move them on as they don’t have a future at the club and are open to permanent as well as loan offers.

Man Utd send scouts to watch "complete" striker

As United wait to see what players may leave this month, it hasn’t stopped them from putting their own transfer plans in place. According to the Daily Mail confidential, relayed by United in Focus, Manchester United sent scouts to watch Porto striker Samu Omorodion in action on Saturday ahead of a possible transfer.

Samu, who has been described as “complete” by Football Talent Scout Jacek Kulig, joined Porto during the summer transfer window from Atlético Madrid after being linked with a move to Chelsea. The forward is only 20, and he has been in sensational form in Portugal after his protracted move to Stamford Bridge fell through at the final moment.

The Daily Mail reports that United had scouts in place for Porto’s game against Boavista on Saturday, and it is believed they were there to watch him in action. The scouts would have left the game impressed, as the forward netted twice and Porto won 4-0 to continue their charge to catch Sporting.

Apps

21

Goals

18

Assists

2

A move this month hasn’t been ruled out, but it could be one that materialises in the summer, when Amorim will hope more funds are available. The United boss will be aware of Samu’s attributes, as he will have seen him closely in Portugal before he moved to Manchester. He is under contract until 2029 at Porto, and in this current form, the Portuguese side are going to play hardball when it comes to keeping their star striker.

Fair to say, Celtic’s Tuesday night visit to Dens Park was a lot more eventful than anyone could’ve forecast.

When Celtic midfielder Luke McCowan headed home the opener against his former club inside five minutes, most assumed the champions would cruise to a comfortable victory in the City of Discovery.

However, Dundee hit back not once, not twice but three times, Cameron Carter-Vickers the scorer of an unfortunate own goal mere seconds after Yang Hyun-jun had nodded the Hoops in front, the visitors thereby requiring a 93rd minute Arne Engels spot-kick to salvage a draw.

Brendan Rodgers was clearly fuming at full time, but the two points dropped has little tangible consequence, with Celtic now 16 points clear at the top of the Scottish Premiership, ahead of Rangers’ clash with Aberdeen on Wednesday night.

When asked for an update about January transfers post-game by Sky Sports’ Luke Shanley, Rodgers said “nothing as of yet, I’ll probably find out over the next couple of days”, so could the Celts’ first signing of the window be imminent?

Celtic chasing a highly-rated teenager

As first reported by Mark McCadden of the Irish Mirror, Celtic are “leading the race” to sign St Patrick’s Athletic striker Mason Melia.

This came after Melia visited Glasgow last week for talks, having accepted a similar invitation from Tottenham before Christmas, while Serie A side Bologna are also mentioned as “eager” to sign him, with further interest from Bundesliga and Belgian clubs.

So who is Melia, and why is he so sought after?

Mason Melia's record at youth level

Still only 17-years-old, he’s made 54 appearances for League of Ireland side St Pat’s, scoring ten goals, helping the Red Army finish third last season.

Transfer Focus

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

Back in November 2023, he came off the bench as St Patrick’s Athletic beat fierce Dublin rivals Bohemians 3-1 in the FAI Cup Final.

The match was played in front of 43,881 supporters at the Aviva Stadium, a record-breaking attendance for an Irish cup final, with Melia becoming the youngest-ever player to feature in a FAI Cup Final, doing so at the age of just 16 years and 50 days.

Journalist Conor McEvoy described Melia as a “terrific talent”, with Mark Gallagher of Extra Ireland believing he is valued at €1m (around £835,000), which would smash the League of Ireland record, currently held by Liam Scales, who joined Celtic for €600,000 from Shamrock Rovers in 2021.

As noted by Football Insider, due to Brexit regulations, Melia cannot join a British club until after his 18th birthday, meaning no move will take place until January 2026 at the earliest, but that does not mean Celtic, or anyone else for that matter, cannot agree a deal now.

How Mason Melia would fit in at Celtic

Should the teenager choose to make the move to Parkhead, he would face tough competition for a starting spot from fellow strikers Kyōgo Furuhashi and Adam Idah.

Idah became an instant Celtic hero by scoring a 90th-minute winner against Rangers in last season’s Scottish Cup Final, but has not lived up to these lofty expectations since his move from Norwich was made permanent, at the huge cost of £9.5m.

He came in for scathing criticism from Sky Sports pundits Kris Boyd, Neil Lennon and James McFadden after Tuesday’s game, with Boyd saying “he doesn’t seem to be the same player” as last season, adding “he needs to do more”.

So, perhaps there would be room in the squad for Meila to make an impression?

Regardless of current form, Idah, as well as the aforementioned Scales, are simply the latest in a long line of Irish Celtic players, 22 have made a senior appearance to be exact, some of whom are amongst the club’s biggest legends.

Pat Bonner

1978–97

646

0

12

Patsy Gallacher

1911-25

464

192

13

Sean Fallon

1950–58

254

14

6

Aiden McGeady

2004-10

252

37

7

Anthony Stokes

2010-16

192

77

7

Charlie Gallagher

1958–68

171

32

6

Chris Morris

1987–92

160

8

3

Billy Cook

1930-32

109

0

2

Tommy Coyne

1989-93

105

43

0

Mick McCarthy

1987-89

55

8

3

Roy Keane

2006

13

1

2

Robbie Keane

2010

19

16

0

Some all-time legends are on this list, none more so than Pat Bonner, only five players have made more appearances than him in the club’s entire history, while Roy Keane and Robbie Keane are at the other end of the scale as football greats, if not so much when bedecked in green and white hoops.

So, if Melia does move to the Scottish champions, he’ll be following in the footsteps of plenty of Irish legends… and Shane Duffy, but we don’t mention him.

Palma replacement: Celtic plotting to sign Hooper 2.0 in club-record move

Celtic are reportedly interested in a deal to sign the talented English forward.

ByDan Emery Jan 14, 2025

Aston Villa are now closing in on a £35m double deal to boost Unai Emery’s ranks ahead of the second part of the Premier League season as they look to qualify for the Champions League once more next season.

Aston Villa in European race

Though they fought back from 2-0 down to secure a 2-2 draw against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium in their most recent outing, Aston Villa still dropped down the Premier League over the weekend.

Wins for Bournemouth and Manchester City saw them slip to eighth, though they remain just two points outside the top four and are part of a gaggle of clubs looking to grab a spot in next season’s European competitions.

Aston Villa agree £6m deal to sign another new star; Unai Emery was key

The Villans have acted once again…

ByTom Cunningham Jan 18, 2025

As things stand, just five points separate Manchester City in third and Fulham in 10th as the sides challenge for what is likely to be eight European spots available, including five in the Champions League.

With teams so close, every point is vital and Aston Villa have already moved to strengthen their ranks this winter with the arrival of Donyell Malen from Borussia Dortmund, who has replaced Jaden Philogene in Unai Emery’s ranks after the latter completed a move to Ipswich Town.

Though there has been significant speculation around Jhon Duran once more, no deal seems likely this winter. The same cannot be said for Diego Carlos though, who, like Duran, was strongly linked with a move away from Villa Park in the summer but now seems set to exit six months later with a deal to join Fenerbahçe now in its final stages in a move set to net Villa in excess of €10m.

Meanwhile, Villa have lined up two more signings of their own in a bid to bolster their ranks in the wake of his exit.

Aston Villa close in on £35m deals

That is according to a report from The Boot Room, who claim that Aston Villa are closing in on the signings of Sevilla defender Loic Bade and Levante defender Andres Garcia in deals totaling £35m.

The Villans are “in advanced talks” to sign Bade in a deal worth “£30m including add-ons” as they look to plug the gap left by Carlos’ impending exit. The Frenchman has shot to prominence with Sevilla, helping them to European success and seeing his stock rise since.

Appearances

16

Pass Accuracy

85.3%

Tackles and interceptions per 90

3.16

Clearances per 90

4.41

Aerial Duels % won

66%

Dubbed “fantastic” on the ball by members of the media, Bade has emerged as a target for Aston Villa and now a deal could be close after they failed to find a route to signing Oscar Mingueza.

Meanwhile, the Villans are set to sign Garcia from Levante in a separate deal worth £5m, and Villa are “hopeful of both transfers being completed before the weekend”, when they play host to West Ham.

The two deals will take Villa’s spending this month to close to £60m, having also shelled out just over £6m to sign Yasin Ozcan from Turkish side Kasimpasa, though he will not join up with Unai Emery’s side until the summer. Will it be enough to see them land a spot in the Champions League for next season?

In what could only push them further towards Champions League qualification, Nottingham Forest have now reportedly submitted a hefty bid to sign a Premier League forward.

Nottingham Forest transfer news

Those in the Midlands are rightly acting with all the ambition in the world after pushing into the Premier League’s top four. Without a defeat since the beginning of December, they’re better placed than ever in the Premier League to set their sights on a certain calibre of stars. It’s a rise which has already seen Forest linked with a number of impressive names, from Alex Baena all the way to Luiz Henrique.

Reports have even gone as far as to suggest that Forest have activated the £50.7m release clause in pursuit of Baena as they look to fend off any competition and secure the arrival of the Villarreal midfielder this month.

Baena’s arrival would be quite the statement of intent from a side clearly eager to ensure that this season’s run is not just a flash in the pan and instead a permanent feature in England’s top flight.

Club now open to selling Nottingham Forest target with 23 goals last season

2024 was a very fruitful year for the striker.

ByBarney Lane Jan 17, 2025

The Villarreal man isn’t the only one that those at the City Ground are reportedly willing to splash out on either. According to David Ornstein of The Athletic, Nottingham Forest have submitted a bid worth £22m to sign Yoane Wissa from Brentford this month. As far as the Bees are concerned though, they’ll have to do better than that to secure the forward’s signature.

Whether Forest increase their bid to sign Wissa remains to be seen, but there’s no denying just how much of an impact he could make in the second half of the campaign. Given the fact that the Brentford man also has the same agent as Morgan Gibbs-White, personal terms could be easier than they otherwise would have been to agree.

"Remarkable" Wissa would be excellent signing

Amid doubts over Taiwo Awoniyi’s future, signing another forward certainly wouldn’t be a bad idea, especially if it is Wissa who enters the City Ground this month. The 28-year-old could be an instant upgrade on the West Ham-linked Awoniyi and would likely even force Nuno Espirito Santo into a change of system to accommodate a partnership between the Congo man and Chris Wood.

Starts

19

22

Goals

11

14

Assists

2

2

Expected Goals

10.2

8.1

Two players outperforming their expected goals rate, Wissa and Wood could form one of the deadliest duos in the Premier League.

Those in the Premier League are already well aware of just how well the Brentford man can work in a partnership, given how successful he’s been alongside the equally impressive Bryan Mbeumo this season. Now, he could replicate that with the New Zealand international at the City Ground.

Previously described as “remarkable” by Brentford boss Thomas Frank, Wissa could have quite the decision to make in the closing weeks of the January transfer window if Forest come calling once again.

Chris Wilder has now penned a new deal to extend his Sheffield United stay until 2028, with the Blades faithful no doubt pleased by this news when you consider their current high standing in the Championship.

Indeed, the South Yorkshire club look revitalised this season under the popular boss despite a troubling relegation having the potential to leave a hangover, with the second automatic promotion spot in the division in their clutches.

Regardless of these many positives, Wilder will want to see some more activity in through the door between now and Monday’s final day of the transfer window to aid his team’s promotion chances, with one midfield recruit being eyed up to potentially link up with Hamza Choudhury.

What Hamza Choudhury brings to Sheff Utd

Before delving deeper into who could line up next to Choudhury, the 27-year-old is more than a welcome addition to Wilder’s ranks.

The promotion hopefuls are somewhat threadbare in the holding midfield positions with Ollie Arblaster out with a serious injury, whilst the likes of ex-Everton man Tom Davies battles with his own fitness concerns.

Therefore, Choudhury’s addition would have been received with open arms when the loan signing was officially confirmed, with Wilder already familiar as to what the midfield battler will offer his team having previously managed him at Watford.

Whilst he didn’t contribute with a single goal or assist in the league during the 2022/23 season, Choudhury shone with his grit and determination more than anything else for the Hornets, with 5.1 duels won on average per league contest.

Last season before his Leicester City journey went south, the 27-year-old also played his part in the Foxes winning promotion up to the Premier League, with those at Bramall Lane hopeful he can add another to his CV in the near future.

He could line up next to a fresh midfield partner too if a move gets over the line before deadline day, as the Blades continue to flex their muscles in the market.

Sheff Utd could land dream Choudhury partner

As reported earlier this week, the promotion chasers could be back in for Beskitas ace Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, with the Blades previously linked with the ex-Liverpool man earlier in the window.

The report states that Oxlade-Chamberlain would be keen on returning to England with both Wolverhampton Wanderers and Leicester City pondering a loan-to-buy deal alongside Wilder’s men.

With such a lack of game time coming his way in Turkey as of late, with just two league starts tallied up for his current employers during 2024/25, he could look to the Championship side as a way to boost his confidence and minutes over a Premier League switch.

After all, despite struggling for action this campaign, Oxlade-Chamberlain has shone previously at Beskitas with his Super Lig numbers last season sticking out.

Stat – per 90 mins*

Oxlade-Chamberlain

Games played

20

Goals scored

4

Assists

1

Touches*

34.5

Accurate passes*

21.3 (87%)

Looking at the table above, Oxlade-Chamberlain could come in and be an experienced and composed head in the middle of the park with an 87% pass accuracy average, on top of the fact he also helped himself to an impressive five goal contributions.

The “outstanding” – as he was once labelled by Jurgen Klopp – 31-year-old could also complement Choudhury’s more attritional game well, with both loanees linking up to gift the Blades more steel but further quality centrally.

The former Champions League winner might not immediately break into the starting XI but adding in the versatile figure feels like a smart buy to make, as Wilder goes about adding in quality here and there to give his side the best fighting chance at an instant promotion.

Their next McBurnie: Sheffield United in the race to land "heroic" talent

Sheffield United could strike gold snapping up this new recruit.

ByKelan Sarson Jan 28, 2025

Leeds United have garnered a reputation for not being flash spenders during the winter transfer market in recent years with this quiet window being no exception to that rule.

This time last year, the promotion-chasing Whites only welcomed Connor Roberts through the door on a disappointing loan switch.

In 2025, no deals were clinched by Daniel Farke and Co ahead of the crucial Championship promotion run-in to follow.

Consequently, this could well leave the West Yorkshire side a little short on numbers in some positions of the pitch, with a lack of depth perhaps hurting them moving forward in the number ten spot.

Leeds were interested in adding some more personnel to this area according to reports…

Leeds' chase of Emiliano Buendia

Indeed, Farke would have loved for a reunion to take place for Emiliano Buendia to move away from Aston Villa to the high-flying Whites, having been a transformative figure for the Argentine attacker at Norwich City.

Across their celebrated time together in Norfolk, the South American ace picked up a stunning 24 goals and 41 assists in total, culminating in two promotion successes up to the Premier League.

Therefore, it would have been a no-brainer for Farke to try and get his hands on Buendia again, with reports linking him with a move throughout the window. The 28-year-old’s uplifting presence alongside the likes of Joel Piroe and Wilfried Gnonto would no doubt have helped Leeds seal a return to the top flight.

But, in the end, Buendia joined Bayer Leverkusen on loan instead, as the Whites boss was left with a feeling of what could have been.

Frustratingly for the promotion-chasers, they could have already had their own version of the ex-Norwich star…

The player who could have been Leeds' very own Buendia

Even the most ardent Leeds fan might struggle to remember Mateusz Bogusz’s stop-start time at Elland Road looking back, considering the Polish midfielder only ever made three first-team appearances.

Often chucked out on loan instead of being given his big break in the Whites senior fold, there will be a slight regret in the air now that Leeds didn’t try a bit harder to gift him more chances to shine before offloading him for good, especially when you look at how he’s developed since exiting the club.

Year

Games played

Goals scored

Assists

2024

48

20

11

2023

42

4

8

Sourced by Transfermarkt

Bogusz would become a different beast altogether when signing for LAFC in the MLS straight after his underwhelming stay in Yorkshire, with a staggering 31 goal contributions coming his way last season from 48 clashes.

Capable of playing all across the forward positions too – with one of his preferred spots being that number ten spot Buendia has thrived in – the 23-year-old could well have been an ideal alternative for Farke to rely upon.

After all, the exciting 5 foot 9 talent was labelled as a “dangerous” attacker by football journalist Greg Beacham during the peak of his powers in Los Angeles, with Bogusz now moving on to Cruz Azul to further advance his career.

Of course, the gulf in quality is there between the American game and the high-stakes pressures of the English game, but there will be a lingering regret still that Bogusz wasn’t given a fair crack of the whip.

With no Bogusz or Buendia to call upon, Farke will just have to keep everything crossed that Brenden Aaronson doesn’t fall victim to fatigue as his team’s only out-and-out number ten.

Leeds struck gold on “electric” star who's worth millions more than Archer

This singing has been a success for Leeds

ByJoe Nuttall Jan 31, 2025

Let’s take it back to August – when Liverpool held off a spirited Ipswich Town side to claim a 2-0 victory on the road and start the Arne Slot era on strong footing.

Liverpool oozed quality and slickness after the interval but were stodgy and incoherent over the first 45. For Anfield’s new tactical warden, the jury was still out.

But Liverpool have thrived, confidently in pole position to win the Premier League for the first time since 2019/20 (Jurgen Klopp’s lone triumph), having also reached the last 16 of the Champions League and the Carabao Cup final, set for mid-March against dangerous Newcastle United.

That first victory against Ipswich said a lot about how Liverpool would shape up under their new coach, but it failed to portend the incredible efforts that have cushioned the fallout from Klopp’s shock step-down.

The likes of Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk have been at the top of their games, fronting the charge, but Slot has also triumphed in taking the less-prominent (but still important) members of the team and pushing them toward greener pastures.

Cody Gakpo is among the biggest winners in that regard, recently awarded Liverpool’s Player of the Month award for January.

Liverpool's January Player of the Month

Last season, Gakpo played an important role for Klopp’s Liverpool, filling in across numerous roles to combat the injury issues that ultimately unravelled the multi-front charge toward the end of the campaign.

Centre-forward

27

12

3

Left winger

12

3

3

Right winger

7

1

0

Central midfield

7

0

0

This was a blessing and a curse for a forward who was unable to craft a run of true consistency in his best role. Under Slot, there have been no such problems, with Gakpo invariably deployed off the left flank.

With 16 goals and five assists from 35 matches, the 25-year-old has matched last year’s tally having played roughly 1,000 fewer minutes across all competitions. Correspondent David Lynch summed it up nicely: “He has been reinvigorated by Arne Slot simplifying his role.”

Gakpo draws on the power of Anfield’s roaring crowd to produce his finest results, scoring in seven successive home games, but he’s proved to be a title-winning force for a Liverpool side that has been overly reliant on Mohamed Salah at times in recent years.

Having claimed four goals and an assist in January, the £120k-per-week ace was awarded the Player of the Month award as a result.

The nature of the Netherlands star’s role means that he takes the limelight more than others, but he’s not the only late Klopp signing to have gone from strength to strength this season.

Slot's influence on Liverpool's midfield

Slot was always going to need a high-octane and technical engine to charge his team. It was frustrating at the time, but it’s perhaps a testament both to Klopp’s vision and Slot’s wherewithal that he made do with the pieces at his disposal – botched bid for Martin Zubimendi notwithstanding.

Alexis Mac Allister is an industrious and dynamic part of the team once again, having thrived for most of his debut campaign. Ryan Gravenberch is bound to collect the ‘most improved’ trophy at Liverpool’s end-of-season award ceremony, but he’s reaping the plaudits for his efforts.

Only two weeks ago, Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher revealed that he’s still not convinced by Dominik Szoboszlai, who Klopp signed from RB Leipzig last summer for £60m to begin a much-needed rebuild.

Szoboszlai started the 2023/24 campaign with such vim that he drew comparisons to Steven Gerrard for his all-action presence in and around the centre circle.

However, he petered out as the year dragged on, but has seemingly found his feet under new management, excelling as the unsung hero in a multi-title-chasing team.

Dominik Szoboszlai's improvements in 'Slot-ball'

Klopp ran out of patience with the ebb and flow of Szoboszlai’s levels last term and restricted him to a bit-part role over the closing months of the 2023/24 term, with the midfielder starting only one of the final six top-flight matches after previously being hooked at half-time as Liverpool lost at home to Crystal Palace.

It wasn’t all doom and gloom. He showed many fine qualities. Reporter Bence Bocsak even hailed him for his suitability in the Merseyside outfit. “He is a pressing machine. Perfect for Klopp.”

Well, it’s starting to seem like Slot’s football is actually where it’s at for the Hungary captain. Szoboszlai plays with unbridled enthusiasm, blending his energy and technical qualities to a resounding effect. You can see below that his ball-playing metrics in particular have been straightened out this season.

Goals

0.13

0.19

Assists

0.09

0.12

Touches

77.08

61.79

Pass completion

82.6%

85.7%

Progressive passes

6.50

5.25

Shot-creating actions

4.92

4.81

Progressive carries

3.21

3.21

Ball recoveries

7.31

5.31

Tackles + interceptions

2.01

1.54

Aerial duels won

0.51

0.99

In the Premier League this season, Szoboszlai’s subtle shift into a more controlled role – with retained energy levels – is indeed emblematic of the changes enforced by Slot.

Market Movers

Effectively, the 24-year-old has been calmed down, structured into a more disciplined No. 10 role, less raging bull, more athletic and artful matador.

He lopes and drives, chasing down lost causes and showcasing his clever movements by picking at the right opponent, thus creating space for his fellow forwards in red.

Oh, he’s got his detractors, sure, but Szoboszlai is one of the business, with Transfermarkt currently marking his transfer value at £63m, meaning that he’s currently worth more than the fast-improving Gakpo (£50m) and indeed Salah – who is worth £46m when not considering his contract situation.

This goes to show that he’s a top-class midfielder with plenty still to give. You could argue that at 24, his prime years are very much in front of him, and that market value could continue to mushroom up.

Slot-ball has restored Liverpool’s belief that they can conquer football’s biggest prizes. The new system’s in full swing, so polished that you can hear it squeak.

Szoboszlai might not be the most clinical attacking midfielder in the business, but he’s indispensable, the facilitator who provides forwards such as Gakpo and Salah with the space and support to shoot, and to score, and to claim win after win after win.

He's outperforming Diaz: Liverpool will rue selling "world-class" star

Liverpool may be looking to invest in a new wideman in the coming transfer windows.

ByAngus Sinclair Feb 11, 2025

Newcastle United are believed to be closing in on the signing of an “exciting” young attacker ahead of Arsenal, according to a recent transfer update.

Newcastle prepare for Liverpool as they eye new centre-backs

The Magpies face arguably their biggest test of the season so far on Wednesday night, making the trip to Premier League leaders Liverpool, in an important game for both sides.

Eddie Howe’s side have shown that they are a match for anyone on their day in recent years, and this will be a great gauge of where they are at as they prepare to take on the Reds in the EFL Cup final at Wembley next month.

When the summer transfer arrives, it is important that Newcastle bring at least one new centre-back, with former Napoli ace Kalidou Koulibaly linked with a move to St James’ Park. The 33-year-old is currently at Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal, but he may like the idea of a return to European football.

Bournemouth teenager Dean Huijsen is another central defender who has been mentioned as an option for Newcastle, following a hugely impressive season for the Cherries. At just 19, he already looks a top-level player, so he could be a great long-term investment if Paul Mitchell can entice him to the club.

Newcastle closing in on "exciting" ace

According to a new claim from Spain [via Sport Witness], Malaga winger Antonio Cordero is “getting closer and closer” to completing a move to Newcastle this summer, and “negotiations are about to be closed”.

The 18 year-old’s deal expires at the end of this season, and while his current club want to tie him down to an extension, it looks as though St James’ is going to be his next destination, as they pip Arsenal and Manchester City to his signature in the process.

This is great news, not least the fact that Cordero looks set to choose Newcastle over two of the best teams in the country, making it a statement signing. Granted, the winger is still a young player who is maturing as a footballer, so he shouldn’t be seen as a key starter, but he can add much-needed depth out on the right wing, being lauded by analyst Ben Mattinson.

“Antonio Cordero is another exciting winger in Segunda Division. Antonito is direct and comfortable either wing. Quality crossing on either foot. At RW, he’s good at bombing down the line, keeping the ball away from the defender and whipping/floating in crosses on his right foot.”

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Hopefully, Cordero will grow into a superstar for the Magpies over time, and 13 goal contributions (five goals and eight assists) in 47 appearances for Malaga shows he has some end product already to make his spark out wide.

Pep Guardiola must be ruthless in the transfer window this summer if he is to take Manchester City back to the top of English football.

The Spaniard splashed millions on four new signings during the winter window – most notably Omar Marmoush – and while they all look promising, it might take a few months for the four to properly gel.

Over the years, he hasn’t been shy about spending money on bringing the best talent to the club, that’s for sure.

Manchester City’s most expensive signings under Guardiola

The former Barcelona manager has signed a host of players for over £60m in his spell as City boss. Ruben Dias cost £62m back in the summer of 2020 and instantly bolstered his defensive options, now captaining the club on regular occasions.

One of the most important signings made by the manager was that of Rodri, who cost £62.8m in 2019. He may have taken a year or two to settle, but now he is definitively the best player in the world, having won the Ballon d’Or a few months ago.

Josko Gvardiol was the second-most expensive signing made by Guardiola, splashing out £77.5m to secure his signature after some impressive showings during the 2022/23 campaign and he’s only gone from strength to strength, scoring ten goals from full-back over the last season and a half.

Only once has the manager spent £100m or more on a player since taking over the club in 2016 and this came three and a half years ago. Jack Grealish emerged as one of the brightest talents in the Premier League, leading to City spending £100m on him in 2021.

The Etihad side became the first English club to spend this amount on a single player, with Director of Football, Txiki Begiristain, delighted to sign him, admitting that Grealish was an “incredible talent” upon his arrival.

Despite this lavish fee, the Englishman hasn’t quite lived up to expectations.

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The former Villa talent scored five goals in his first season, winning his first Premier League title in the process. Since then it has been steady progress. That was, until, the last year or so.

That debut campaign was followed up with 16 goal contributions during the 2022/23 season, as City became the second English side to win the treble of Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League trophies.

Since then, however, things haven’t been great for the 29-year-old. A tally of six goal contributions was a poor return last season and this stagnation has crept into his game throughout the current term.

The winger has netted just twice, against PSG and Salford City, while starting only 14 games in all competitions under Guardiola.

Despite this lack of impact on the pitch, Grealish is currently earning a staggering £300k-per-week at City, ranking him joint-third out of everyone at the club.

Only Kevin De Bruyne and Erling Haaland – two of City’s most influential players – are ahead of him, suggesting that Guardiola must move Grealish on this summer.

Goals

0

Assists

1

Key passes per game

1.4

Big chances created

2

Total duels won per game

2.8

Shots per game

0.8

He was previously linked with a move back to Aston Villa during the winter transfer window, but nothing came of it.

With two years left on his current contract, will the manager cash in this summer? He should do.

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