Arsenal consider move for Vinicius-like ace after extensive Edu scouting

by h716a5.icu Uncategorized

Arsenal are considering a move for a 23-year-old forward, with sporting director Edu Gaspar having personally kept tabs on him since July.

Edu and Arteta targeting new Arsenal striker for 2025

Their failure to land RB Leipzig ace Benjamin Sesko in the summer left the Gunners without a fresh centre-forward option, but that is something they could look to rectify next year, regardless of Kai Havertz’s excellent run of form.

"All-round" £50m Premier League player could now join Arsenal in January

He’d be an interesting new addition.

ByEmilio Galantini Oct 11, 2024

Arsenal had an offer rejected by Sesko, who chose to sign an extension with Leipzig instead, and Edu did not move for an alternative after the Slovenian.

Havertz has instead repaid that faith with six goals across 10 appearances in all competitions already, but well-connected former chief scout Mick Brown has “heard” that Arsenal could still look to bring in a new number nine as early as January – if the right man presents himself.

“Havertz has been brilliant recently,” said Brown.

“You have to give people like that a lot of credit because questions have been asked of him and a lot of people would have shied away. But he’s done a great job for them. You have to credit Mikel Arteta because he’s brought this out of him. I’ve heard, though, that if there was the right option out there, Arsenal still want to buy somebody in that position.

Bournemouth (away)

October 19

Liverpool (home)

October 27

Newcastle United (away)

November 2

Chelsea (away)

November 10

Nottingham Forest (home)

November 23

“The problem is there’s not a long list of players who are good enough to play that role and are also available to come to the Premier League. Arsenal won’t want to waste any money they have on a player they don’t need.

“They’ll be prudent, but I know they’ll be looking for areas they can improve, and I think that will be one even with Havertz playing as well as he has been.”

A fair few strikers have been linked already, but a new name is now being mentioned in Botafogo star Igor Jesus.

Arsenal consider Igor Jesus move after extensive Edu scouting

According to The Boot Room, Arsenal could consider a move for Igor Jesus, following extensive scouting by Edu personally – which has been ongoing since as far back as July.

The 23-year-old scored on his debut for Brazil early Friday, making a major impact during their FIFA World Cup qualifying win over Chile in South America, and he’s bagged seven in all competitions at club level after making a switch from UAE side Shabab Al Ahli Dubai Club in the summer.

Chelsea are also keeping a watchful eye on the player amid their ongoing search for Brazilian talents, with Jesus himself describing his playing style as “similar” to his country’s fellow stars Gabriel Martinelli, Vinicus Jr and Rodrygo.

“The national team has a very pacey attack when you look at players like Vinicius, Rodrygo and Martinelli,” Jesus said to FIFA’s official website.

“I think my game is quite similar to theirs. I like to try to attack the spaces and I am mobile. I don’t just stay in the box. I am capable of holding onto balls played out by the keeper and holding off defenders, which I think helps to ease the pressure on the team in tough passages of play.

“I hope I can play well so that I get called up for future squads too.”

£17k-a-week West Brom player with "huge" personality could miss Plymouth

by n8rngtd.top Uncategorized

A West Brom player with a “huge” personality could miss his side’s Championship clash with Plymouth Argyle this weekend, according to Carlos Corberan.

West Brom look to stay top of Championship

The Baggies found themselves top of the Championship table at the end of last weekend, having produced a superb performance in their 3-0 win away to Portsmouth. That, coupled with Sunderland’s surprise 3-2 loss away to Plymouth, meant that Corberan’s side reached the table’s summit, meaning they are now the team to beat in the division.

Next up for West Brom is Saturday’s visit of the Pilgrims at The Hawthorns, and while the hosts will be resounding favourites to get all three points, their opponents showed against previous league leaders Sunderland what they are capable of.

While there is much to be positive about from a Baggies perspective currently, a concerning injury update has dropped regarding an important figure.

West Brom suffer injury concern before Plymouth

Speaking ahead of the clash with Plymouth, Corberan revealed that West Brom ace Jayson Molumby is a doubt for Saturday’s game because of a calf complaint:

“Molumby still didn’t recover well from the calf perspective, he was playing with some problem during the Portsmouth game. During training he couldn’t make a normal week, so let’s say he’s a doubt, we have to see how he reacts in the last days to see if he can be involved or he can’t.”

Not having Molumby available would be an undoubted setback for West Brom, given his quality and experience at the heart of his team’s midfield. The 25-year-old now has 108 appearances to his name for the Baggies, not to mention winning 25 caps for the Republic of Ireland, while Corberan has made it clear what he thinks of him, hailing his personality:

“I think the personality and the goals that he has are very huge. The commitment that he has with himself, with the club, with the team, he was playing today with a lot of pain in the ankle. He was having to have an injection to play today, yesterday he couldn’t complete training, only half, but he is going to make a career because he has the determination to make it. Some people with adversity – they give up. Molumby is not going to do that.”

This perfectly sums up what a big character Molumby is and why West Brom will miss not having him to call upon this weekend, having started every other Championship game so far this season. In that time, the £17,000-a-week Irishman has enjoyed an 88% pass completion rate and averaged two clearances per game, showing that he is a force both in and out of possession.

Cost £8m, now he's unemployed: Bilic made a mistake signing West Brom flop

West Bromwich Albion won’t want to fall victim to a similar transfer misfire soon.

1

By
Kelan Sarson

Sep 20, 2024

Looking at the table, West Brom should still have enough to get past Plymouth, even though their key midfielder will be a miss if he is out, and it would be a disappointment if Corberan’s men weren’t still top of the Championship when this weekend reaches its conclusion.

Adam Lyth serves reminder of Championship's raison d'être as Yorkshire hold Nottinghamshire up

by h716a5.icu Uncategorized

Few players embrace county game like Lyth, whose innings leaves Notts chasing fourth-day victory

David Hopps23-Sep-2021Nottinghamshire 296 (Clarke 109, Evison 58) and 42 for 1 require a further 132 runs to beat Yorkshire 73 (Evison 4-13, Fletcher 3-31) and 396 (Lyth 153)”I wouldn’t be here playing four-day cricket if I didn’t want to play Test cricket again,” said Dawid Malan back in June. “I still feel like I’ve got a hell of a lot to give”.Malan’s ambition as he approached his 34th birthday had to be applauded – and he got his wish as he returned to the Test side soon afterwards. But what does that say about the County Championship, 2021-style, if some of the best players would not even be there if they were not wishing to be somewhere else? And Malan is not alone. It is just that not everybody states it so baldly. For lovers of the Championship, these are worrying times.More pertinently, what does that say about a player like Adam Lyth, who is a year younger than Malan but who must know deep down that his England days have gone? Lyth still attracts honourable mentions from time to time – such has been the state of England’s top order, how could it be otherwise – but they have arisen more from a journalist’s desperation for a time-honoured intro than any real possibility that he adds to his six Tests after an absence of six years.Somewhere between Malan, who had only been with Yorkshire for three months when he tacitly dismissed the intrinsic worth of the Championship, and troupers like Darren Stevens, who is playing deep into his 40s and who will feel bereft the day it all comes to an end, is Lyth. County cricket alone must now sustain him.It took him until his last innings to address a wretched season. He had last made a Championship fifty in April and his recent run of scores looked like a couple of credit-card PINs. He would have been dropped for the final Championship match of the season if Gary Ballance had not announced himself too ill to take part on the first morning. The decision by Yorkshire’s coach, Andrew Gale, would have been a reluctant one, arguably a belated one, because nobody rates Lyth more highly. Famously, he once suggested he had more natural talent than Joe Root.Related

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What followed was a reaffirmation of his talent. Lyth only made four (from a laboured 27 balls) in the first innings as Yorkshire were bundled out for 73, following scores of 108 and 117 against Warwickshire the previous week. Much will be made of how Yorkshire showed resilience the second time around in making 396 – and they did, even if batting conditions had eased. But it was Lyth who found that durability, Lyth who looked into himself and presumably knew he still cared, as he responded with 153 in nearly eight-and-a-half hours at the crease. It certainly made a change from eight-and-a-half minutes.That innings means that Nottinghamshire are unlikely to secure victory, if victory it is, until after lunch on the final day. They need 174 and they finished the third day stable enough at 42 for 1. The pitch has slowed and there is minimal chance of turn. Yorkshire need the ball to swing but overcast skies could arrive too late.Nottinghamshire can qualify for next week’s Bob Willis Trophy between the top two if they beat Yorkshire – as long as Warwickshire don’t beat Somerset at Edgbaston. But just for a minute, around 5pm, and against all expectations, they appeared to have a chance of winning the Championship. Lancashire needed two to beat Hampshire at Aigburth with the last pair at the crease and a tie would have let Notts back in the race. Then Dane Vilas swept a winning boundary and the excitement vanished as quickly as it had appeared.By then, Lyth was in his customary place at second slip, weary and satisfied. He began the day with 73 to his name and continued in the same unobtrusive, controlled fashion, reining his game back to the basics. Before he settled, he edged Luke Fletcher uncertainly wide of the slip cordon, but his 27th first-class century was secured with impeccable timing just before the second new ball as he glided Steven Mullaney through point.That second new ball was a non-event and it was into its 12th over before Harry Brook, who had driven Fletcher for four boundaries in an over as the ball failed to swing, nibbled at one from Dane Paterson to fall for 43. Thompson later edged a fine offcutter from Mullaney to second slip. Patterson bowled with commendable economy, but it was Brett Hutton who fulfilled the workhorse role, sending down 34 overs and deserving a couple of late lbws by virtue of perseverance alone as Yorkshire kept Notts in the field for 142.2 overs.Lyth played and missed at Fletcher, on the walk, in the last over before lunch and Joey Evison fancied he might get an lbw decision on 120, his race-down-the-pitch appeal straight from the Stuart Broad school. It was Evison who finally ended Lyth’s stalwart and high-class innings when his challenging line found the outside edge.As Yorkshire struggle to emerge from a transitional stage to become real Championship contenders – with a lack of first-innings runs their most glaring weakness – they still need Lyth. What’s more they will feel doubly confident that he needs them and that will bring general delight because he has become the very stuff of Yorkshire cricket. Were ever to feel that Championship cricket was not a life worth living, we might as well all give up. He has embraced county cricket for 15 years and. although he is not one for great speeches, he has emotionally lived every minute. He has some way to go before becoming Yorkshire’s Trescothick, but many who have watched him over the years will hope it can satisfy him for a good while yet.As for the Championship, the global alternatives on offer insist that it must re-evaluate or ultimately pay the price. To value its past is not to safeguard its future. It must produce England players, but it must be loved for itself. Quality must be put ahead of quantity. The appeal of white-ball specialism is growing. For all those who play it, whether they possess England ambitions or not, it must be a pleasure not a grind.

Ipswich Town may sell Liam Delap to rivals for record £30m+ fee in January

by h79snht.top Uncategorized

Ipswich Town could now sell star striker Liam Delap in the January transfer window to a Premier League rival, according to a new report.

Delap a shining light in Ipswich Town's start to Premier League season

The Tractor Boys and Kieran McKenna are still searching for their first Premier League win of the 2024/25 season, with the latest setback coming at Portman Road against Everton. McKenna’s side fell to a frustrating 2-0 defeat to the Toffees, with first-half goals from Iliman Ndiaye and Michael Keane enough to earn the visitors three points.

Ipswich let youth star leave for £0, now he’s outperforming Hutchinson

Ipswich Town must have some regrets when it comes to letting this youth player go.

ByKelan Sarson Oct 21, 2024

It has been a disappointing start to the campaign, but one shining light has been the form of forward Delap after his permanent move from Manchester City in the summer.

Delap netted his first goal for the club against Fulham and followed that up with a brace against Aston Villa and another in the loss to West Ham before the international break.

McKenna has praised Delap’s start to life at Portman Road, saying: “Liam has had a very good start. He is a young striker who has had three loans in the Championship and he is still finding his way in the game.

“His body has developed a lot over the last 12 months, which I think is important for a forward player playing in the physicality of the Premier League and even in the Championship. He is developing well.

“For 21 years of age, the start he has had in the Premier League is really promising. But it is a handful of games and he knows there is still a long road ahead of him and lots of things to still improve on. He has made some really good first strides though.”

However, his impressive form has caught the eye of a number of Premier League rivals, with a concerning transfer update now emerging.

Tottenham leading race to sign Liam Delap from Ipswich Town

According to Caught Offside, Tottenham are considering a move to sign Delap from Ipswich Town in January. The report states that Ipswich have an asking price of €40m (£33.3m) when it comes to the £20,000-a-week forward, with Arsenal, Aston Villa, Newcastle United and former club Manchester City also keen.

Ipswich are prepared to evaluate offers for Delap in the New Year and would make a huge profit on the initial £15m they spent in the summer, should they accept a £33m+ offer.

Ipswich Town record departures

To

Fee (Transfermarkt)

Tyrone Mings

Bournemouth

€11.3m

Connor Wickham

Sunderland

€9m

Richard Wright

Arsenal

€9m

Kieron Dyer

Newcastle

€9m

Titus Bramble

Newcastle

€6.8m

It is Spurs who are leading the race for Delap’s services, though, and any exit over £30m would smash the club’s current transfer sale. For now, Delap will be looking to continue his solid start to the campaign, hoping that more goals in the top flight will translate into Premier League wins for the Tractor Boys.

برونو جيماريش: ليفربول لا يقتصر على محمد صلاح.. لديهم ثنائي خطير

by h79snht.top Uncategorized

يرى برونو جيماريش، لاعب فريق نيوكاسل يونايتد، أن ليفربول يمتلك ثنائي يمثل خطورة مماثلة لتلك التي يشكلها النجم المصري محمد صلاح.

جاءت تصريحات برونو جيماريش قبل مباراة ليفربول ونيوكاسل يونايتد، في نهائي كأس رابطة الأندية الإنجليزية، كاراباو، على ملعب “ويمبلي” يوم الأحد المقبل.

ويمثل محمد صلاح عنصرًا أساسيًا في كتيبة آرني سلوت هذا الموسم، حيث سجل 32 هدفًا وصنع 22 في 42 مباراة في مختلف المسابقات.

اقرأ أيضًا.. جرايم سونيس بعد أداء محمد صلاح أمام باريس: يستحق أمرًا ما مع ليفربول

ورغم خطورة محمد صلاح، إلا أن برونو جيماريش يرى أن ليفربول لا يقتصر على المصري.

وقال برونو جيماريش، في تصريحات نشرتها شبكة “ياهو سبورتس” الإنجليزية: “ليفربول من أفضل الفرق في العالم، ولديهم خط وسط يمرر الكثير من الكرات الجيدة إلى محمد صلاح ليتألق”.

وأضاف: “لكن الأمر لا يقتصر على محمد صلاح فحسب، بل إن خط الوسط هو ما يجعلهم يتألقون أيضًا”.

وواصل: “ليفربول يمتلك لاعبين جيدين، يجيدون الدفاع والهجوم، يحافظون على الكرة ببراعة، كانوا رائعين هذا الموسم، خاصة أليكسيس ماك أليستر وريان جرافنبرخ، لقد بذلا قصارى جهدهما”.

Rahul: 'I may end up letting the team down if I play the way I want to play'

by h79snht.top Uncategorized

For the fourth year in a row, he is among the top three scorers in the IPL but his strike rate has been dipping

Alagappan Muthu07-Oct-2021There has always been a clamour for KL Rahul to bat freely. He has all the shots in the book and, at a pinch, he is more than capable of inventing a few new ones. Those abilities were all on show in Punjab Kings’ final match of IPL 2021 when Rahul scored 98* off a mere 42 balls in his side’s six-wicket win. So why does he always insist on batting within himself?”I feel like I may end up letting the team down if I play the way I want to play.”Rahul has been a sedate presence at the top of the order ever since he was made captain of the Punjab franchise. This added responsibility may well be playing a part in his throttling down, and so too a middle order that doesn’t really have a mainstay.Related

KL Rahul smashes six-studded 98* to keep Punjab Kings' dreams alive (just about)

Runs continue to flow no matter what method he uses though.In 2018, when he broke the record for the fastest fifty in IPL history, he finished as the tournament’s third-highest run-getter with a strike rate of 158. In 2019, he was second with a strike rate of 135. In 2020, he finally claimed the orange cap but the strike rate came down to 129.This season Rahul seems to have found a better balance, his 626 runs – leading the charts right now – coming at a strike rate of 139. Aggression up top was the need of the hour on Thursday after Chennai Super Kings were restricted to 134 on a good batting pitch.”We wanted to score it before 14 overs [to try and stay in playoff contention],” Rahul said at the presentation. “Today was one of those days where I could hit every ball. [I] had complete clarity of what I wanted to do. No better feeling than hitting the ball from the middle of the bat.”Rahul’s innings featured so many stunning hits. Not least of which was the one he took on his own body. A Josh Hazlewood bouncer left a bruise to the batter’s forehead, but he shook it off very quickly and launched into the fast bowler, taking him for 4, 4, 0 and 6 and setting the tone for a near-flawless innings.The Kings captain cruised to fifty off 25 balls and was within sight of a hundred even in a small chase.”I don’t think these innings come too often in this world,” team-mate Aiden Markram said after the game. “He needs to enjoy that. He’s done something quite special tonight. Hopefully he appreciates it. This team, behind the scenes, has gone crazy after every shot as you can imagine. It’s been unbelievable to watch.”Proof of Markram’s words came later in the day at the post-match press conference when Chris Jordan gushed about Rahul’s batting prowess.”KL is a world class batsman. It’s such a joy to watch him play. I first played with him when I played for RCB back in 2016 and even then, some of the shots he played, I just knew he was a class player. It just seemed like, especially today, any time he felt like hitting a six, he just took it, no matter where the ball was. As I said he’s such a high quality player, can play in various situations and in various ways and he’s more or less a 360 degree player as well. It was just great to see him go out there today and lead from the front and get us over the line in timely fashion to give us an outside chance of qualifying.”Whether Kings make the playoffs or not – and it looks unlikely, they still need Kolkata Knight Riders and Mumbai Indians to lose and lose big – Rahul’s form all through the IPL has been a huge plus for them, and for India as well as they prepare for the upcoming T20 World Cup.

Man City plotting swoop for £51m-rated star as possible Rodri replacement

by z3u9t.icu Uncategorized

Manchester City are weighing up whether to make a move in January to replace the injured Rodri, with a Brazil international one of two players they are looking at, according to a recent report.

Man City eyeing Vlahovic move as Juve prepare to take huge loss on £66m fee

City could soon land their long-term replacement for Julian Alvarez.

ByBrett Worthington Oct 1, 2024 Man City transfer news

Pep Guardiola is going to be without Rodri for the rest of the season, which leaves a big hole in City’s midfield even despite the emergence of Rico Lewis in that role. This means the club has a decision to make when January arrives about possibly replacing the Euro 2024 winner with an outside signing.

It has been reported already that Man City are in talks with Torino over the signing of Samuel Ricci. The 23-year-old is seen as a future star in that position, and the Blues could look to pursue a move when the January transfer window opens.

Udinese's Lazar Samardzic in action with Torino's Samuele Ricci

As well as Ricci, it was reported earlier this week that Inter Milan midfielder Nicolo Barella is of interest to City. This report stated that the Italian was considered a top target for City, as he impressed Guardiola last month when the two teams met in the Champions League. However, a deal in January may be difficult to make happen, as Barella has not long ago signed a new contract and Inter are said to value him at £75 million.

Man City eye £51m-rated star as possible Rodri replacement

According to Caught Offside, Manchester City are interested in signing Atalanta’s Ederson as they consider whether to sign a replacement for Rodri in the winter window. As well as looking at Ederson, the Blues are also interested in Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton, but face competition from other Premier League teams for his signature as well as a massive price tag from the Eagles.

Ederson for Atalanta.

City are not going to panic and rush into the market for a replacement, but this report states that they have “stepped up their efforts” in monitoring Ederson, sending scouts to Atalanta games to keep an eye on the physical and tough-tackling midfielder.

Ederson has been in impressive form since joining the Serie A side, and he played a key role in their Europa League triumph last season. He was then the subject of interest from Manchester United and Liverpool during the summer, with it being reported that he had a price tag of 60 million euros, which is roughly £51 million.

Apps

98

Goals

8

Assists

3

This report goes on to add that Ederson would be City’s preference at this moment in time, but it remains unclear if the Serie A side will let go of one of their key players midway through the campaign. The 25-year-old has started all of Atalanta’s games this season; he has yet to grab a goal but has provided an assist in Serie A. The midfielder has also been capped by Brazil twice, as he starts to get recognition on the international stage.

Arsenal target dream Martinelli upgrade in "unstoppable" £100m star

by rastrear-estafeta.com Uncategorized

The last few seasons have seen Arsenal go from fighting for a place in the Champions League to fighting for the Premier League title.

It’s true that Mikel Arteta’s side haven’t been able to get over the final hurdle just yet, but aside from an injury-induced mini-crisis at present, it would be hard to deny that the team have steadily improved over the last few years.

William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes have become some of the best centre-backs in Europe, Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard are sensational in the midfield, and Bukayo Saka continues to lead the attack with an ever-improving Kai Havertz down the middle.

However, while most of the team are playing better than they did two years ago, some players have struggled to kick on, such as Gabriel Martinelli, and based on recent reports, the Brazilian’s place in the team could soon be under threat from an exceptional winger on the continent.

Arsenal transfer news

According to a recent report from journalist Graeme Bailey, Arsenal are one of several clubs keen on Napoli star Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.

Napoli's Khvicha Kvaratskhelia

The report claims that the Gunners are set to battle fellow Premier League side Liverpool for the Georgian international next year, as were he to leave Italy for England, his preference would be a move to the Emirates or Anfield, despite interest from the likes of Chelsea, Manchester United, Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur.

While the winger’s desire to join the North Londoners over some of their rivals is undoubtedly a positive development, there is still the small matter of the potential transfer fee needed to get him out of Naples, which Bailey claims would stand at a whopping £100m if he were to agree to a new deal this season.

It would be an exceptionally costly transfer to get over the line, but given Kvaratskhelia’s incredible ability, it is one well worth pursuing, even if it could spell real trouble for Martinelli’s place in the starting lineup.

Transfer Focus

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

How Kvaratskhelia compares to Martinelli

Now, while Kvaratskhelia has played in a few positions across his career, the vast majority of his games have come out on the left.

So, if he was to join Arsenal at some point next year, his biggest competitor for a long-term place in the starting lineup would be Martinelli, so how do the pair stack up against one another?

Well, when it comes to the most important metric of all for an attacking winger, their raw output, there is no competition, as even with his brilliant form in the 22/23 season, the Gunners’ number 11 doesn’t come close to the Georgian over the last few years.

For example, in his 102 games since the start of that campaign, the former Ituano gem has scored 25 goals and provided 14 assists, equating to a goal involvement once every 2.61 games.

Appearances

46

43

Goals

15

14

Assists

6

17

Goal Involvements per Match

0.46

0.72

Appearances

44

45

Goals

8

11

Assists

5

9

Goal Involvements per Match

0.29

0.44

Appearances

12

10

Goals

2

4

Assists

3

2

Goal Involvements per Match

0.41

0.60

In contrast, the “unstoppable” Napoli star, as dubbed by talent scout Jacek Kulig, has scored 29 goals and provided 28 assists in 98 games, which equates to a goal involvement on average every 1.71 games, which is made all the more impressive considering how poorly the team performed as a whole last season.

Ultimately, Martinelli is an undeniably talented winger and has shown signs of getting back to his best in recent weeks, but Kvaratskhelia has been exemplary for a few seasons now and looks like he could become one of the best attackers in world football, so if Arsenal have the chance to sign him next year, they should take it.

Contact made: Arsenal keen on signing amazing £75m Trossard upgrade

Arsenal could take their attack to the next level with the sensational forward.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Oct 23, 2024

Barca want him: Liverpool must axe star who earns more than Gakpo & Diaz

by n8rngtd.top Uncategorized

Liverpool sit pretty at the top of the Premier League heading into another international break, after Arne Slot’s men got the better of Crystal Palace 1-0 away from home on Saturday.

It wasn’t the most convincing win in the end, with Diogo Jota’s early strike ending up being the difference maker between the two sides on the day, but the Reds won’t care one bit as they go about continuing their excellent start to the campaign under their new Dutch manager.

Liverpool head coach Arne Slot

Slot made some big calls in the build-up to this clash with the Eagles, as Luis Diaz dropped down to the bench amongst other notable switches, but Cody Gakpo’s inclusion from the get-go proved to be an inspired alteration by the ex-Feyenoord boss.

Gakpo and Diaz's importance to Liverpool

Gakpo stood out for the Reds in attack on their travels down to South London, with the exciting 25-year-old forward combining well with Jota for the only strike of the contest.

Amassing five key passes on the day as a livewire for Oliver Glasner’s men to keep tabs on, Gakpo also fired two efforts of his own towards the Palace net to try and make his table-topping side’s win more emphatic away from the solitary Jota goal.

That was the Liverpool number 18’s first start in the Premier League this campaign, and certainly won’t be his last based on the numbers he put in, with Slot rubbing his hands with delight at the amount of options he has at his disposal up top.

Diaz will hope he can break back into his manager’s XI regardless of Gakpo’s stellar showing, however, with the Colombian attacker boasting fine numbers himself this campaign, having bagged an impressive five goals from seven Premier League contests.

Luis Diaz celebrates

Whilst Diaz will be confident that he can re-enter the lineup soon, Darwin Nunez won’t feel so optimistic, with the Uruguayan left on the bench even during the latter stages of the win at Selhurst Park.

The latest on Darwin Nunez's future at Liverpool

It has also been reported that there are interested parties looking at the inconsistent striker, with GIVEMESPORT claiming that Barcelona could be preparing a bid for Nunez soon to give him a way out of Anfield this January.

Liverpool would look to recoup some of the whopping £85m they splashed out on Nunez if they were to offload him soon, with a sale also allowing the aspiring top-flight champions to free up some space on the wage bill, as the South American centre-forward is a high earner in the current Reds camp.

Nunez’s goal record by season at Liverpool

Season

Games played

Goals scored

24/25

7

1

23/24

54

18

22/23

42

15

Sourced by Transfermarkt

Despite only firing home one lacklustre strike so far this season, Nunez rakes in a high £140k-per-week salary, with 34 goals from 103 total games donning Liverpool red so far not exactly blowing away the Anfield masses either.

Both Gakpo and Diaz earn smaller pay packets despite both shining more for Slot’s men this season than Nunez has managed, with the Dutchman earning £120k-per-week and the 27-year-old winger earning £55k-per-week respectively.

Darwin Nunez for Liverpool

Whilst Diaz will be confident that he can force his way back into the main lineup soon, Nunez won’t be so sure, with only one start coming his way in the top-flight this season as Jota makes that spot up top his own.

The Portuguese forward will be even harder to shift after his winning strike against Palace, with his counterpart – who was labelled as “very wasteful” by ex-Reds great Robbie Fowler last campaign – very wary about his future in England and perhaps tempted by a switch to the Camp Nou subsequently.

Darwin Nunez for Liverpool

Of course, the season is still in its infancy, and as Gakpo proved last time out against the Eagles, opportunities are there for the taking when Slot does decide to freshen up his XI.

Klopp wanted to sign "world-class" £85m star but Liverpool got Gravenberch

In hindsight… this all worked out okay.

By
Angus Sinclair

Oct 4, 2024

Southampton team news: Double injury update emerges before Leicester clash

by h716a5.icu Uncategorized

Southampton face a crucial Premier League clash with Leicester City this weekend and they’ve been boosted by some positive team news over the international break.

Southampton prepare for huge Leicester game

It’s fair to say that life back in the top flight has been a baptism of fire for Saints, having come crashing back down to reality after their Championship playoff final win over Leeds United last season. Russell Martin’s side have only picked up one solitary point from their first seven league matches in 2024/25, which came at home to fellow newly-promoted outfit Ipswich Town.

For that reason, many feel that Southampton are on their way back down to the Championship, and if results don’t improve fast, they could quickly find themselves cut adrift in the relegation zone and a change in manager could be needed. On Saturday afternoon, a massive game awaits, as Leicester make the trip to St Mary’s Stadium.

The Foxes have fared slightly better than Saints so far this season, sitting 15th in the division, but Martin’s men know that victory over their opponents this weekend would put them just two points behind them. Injuries will play a key part in the remainder of the campaign and a big update has now dropped regarding Southampton’s fitness situation.

Southampton receive double injury boost

Writing on X on Thursday, Rees-Julian confirmed that Will Smallbone and Kamaldeen Sulemana are fit for Southampton’s clash with Leicester on Saturday, although Ross Stewart is out injured.

Having Smallbone and Sulemana available for selection against the Foxes can only be a good thing, both in terms of the quality they possess and the depth it will give Martin. Neither are the first name on Martin’s team sheet, having only started three Premier League games between them this season, but injuries are a big reason for that, with Smallbone sidelined since the end of August and Sulemana not being available at all yet.

The former was such an important part of Southampton’s promotion campaign last time around, featuring in all 46 Championship matches and starting 38 of them, while the latter featured 15 times in the competition. It would be a surprise if either Smallbone or Sulemana came straight into Southampton’s starting lineup for the Leicester game, given their lack of minutes, but having them as options from the substitutes’ bench is a major boost for Martin, at a time when he needs as many players as possible.

Southampton take damning step behind the scenes that's bad news for Martin

A concern for the Saints boss…

ByTom Cunningham Oct 10, 2024

The importance of three points for Saints this weekend cannot be overstated, with defeat potentially signalling the end for the manager, who knows that he is under immense pressure. On the flip side, victory could spring their season into life, paving the way for an improved run of form.