All posts by z3u9t.icu

Liverpool’s rivals are only going to get stronger after Arne Slot’s dominant debut season in England, guiding his new club toward the Premier League title, and comfortably at that.

But, the Reds have reinforced their defensive flanks with the additions of Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez, also signing German playmaker Florian Wirtz for a £100m fee, which could rise to a British-record £116m with add-ons.

However, Darwin Nunez has been mooted for a transfer to Napoli after a campaign which left much to be desired, having started only once in the top flight since Boxing Day.

And now, Luis Diaz’s future on Merseyside has been cast into further doubt, despite Liverpool retorting with an emphatic no when Barcelona came calling a month ago.

The latest on Luis Diaz's Liverpool future

Liverpool will be expecting a fresh approach from Barcelona for Diaz, who, aged 28, is entering the next-to-last year of his contract amid concerns over his £55k-per-week contract.

Furthermore, Bayern Munich have been reported by BILD to have agreed personal terms with the versatile forward, and an official bid is expected to follow.

In 2024/25, Diaz enjoyed his most productive season in a Liverpool shirt, scoring 17 goals and eight assists across all competitions.

Jurgen Klopp praised him as an “incredible talent” after his Reds debut in 2022, and Slot’s coaching has raised his game to an even higher level.

If Diaz does leave – and it would take a significant figure for FSG to acquiesce to his sale – Liverpool would need to sign a replacement to contest with Cody Gakpo on the left wing. And they appear to have lined up their man.

Liverpool plan hijack for Premier League star

As per The Independent’s Miguel Delaney, Liverpool are contemplating a bid for Crystal Palace’s Eberechi Eze, although Arsenal are firm favourites to sign the attacking midfielder.

Eze, 27, is of a ‘long-standing interest’ to the Anfield side, and Delaney believes they could act on it if Diaz is sold, as is becoming increasingly likely, should recent developments be anything to go by.

With a £68m release clause in his contract, the Three Lions star certainly wouldn’t come cheap; however, he’s been tracked for a while and might prove the perfect replacement for the noncommittal Diaz.

What Eberechi Eze would bring to Liverpool

Eze isn’t an out-and-out winger; endowed with blistering pace and dynamic physical qualities, he has more often than not been deployed as a mobile number ten, hailed as a “magician” by pundit Micah Richards.

However, with Wirtz already signed and similarly able to shift from wide to central berths with effortless style, Liverpool could score a blinder by reeling the Premier League-proven talent in to contest with the goal-focused Gakpo.

Having scored the winning goal in Palace’s extraordinary FA Cup final triumph over Manchester City in May, Eze certainly has the big-game aura to succeed in Slot’s Liverpool, improving year by year after leaving Queens Park Rangers.

24/25

43 (40)

14

11

23/24

31 (26)

11

6

22/23

40 (30)

10

4

21/22

19 (7)

1

1

20/21

36 (31)

3

6

As per FBref, Eze finished the 2024/25 Premier League campaign ranked among the top 6% of attacking midfielders and wingers for shots taken, the top 11% for shot-creating actions, the top 10% for successful take-ons, and the top 14% for ball recoveries per 90.

How about Diaz? The South American player was more prolific, ranked among the top 4% of positional peers for goals scored per 90, but also the top 18% for shot-creating actions, the top 17% for successful take-ons, and the top 47% for ball recoveries per 90.

Diaz, then, was a tad more reserved in his athletic output. Oh, he has the pace and power and the energy levels, but there’s no denying Eze yields more responsibility in making things happen in the final third, and this could be utilised superbly by Slot at Liverpool.

The vibrant midfielder’s duties as an Eagle have seen him become something greater than his natural ability. He has taken his root qualities and nurtured a growth which has blended all that natural aptitude with a tenacious mentality and a will to see his name scrawled across the headlines.

Described as a “superstar” by analyst Ben Mattinson, the England talent is stepping into his prime, and he proved as such last season. He proved he has the tools to perfectly replace a player such as Diaz. After all, he notched 25 goal contributions across the campaign, as many as his Liverpool counterpart.

But Eze isn’t just a prolific threat, and he’s not all creativity either. Sofascore have recorded that the fleet-footed talent averaged 4.6 ground duels and 1.1 tackles per top-flight fixture, also keeping it crisp with an 82% pass completion rate.

Eze has never demonstrated he can hit the kind of goalscoring numbers Diaz did at Liverpool last year, but then the Colombian has been settled into a fluent and imperious outfit, one of the finest on the continent.

And is such pedantry truly an accurate representation of the respective forwards? Eze, after all, bagged 14 goals across the recent campaign, finishing only three behind the Reds star.

In any case, both are fantastic players, and if Diaz does leave for Germany or Spain, Liverpool could do a lot worse than signing a Premier League sensation in Eze. Saying that, could the Premier League champions do any better?

Slot's own Zubimendi: Liverpool submit bid to sign "incredible" £35m star

Liverpool could sign a new centre-midfielder this summer.

2 ByAngus Sinclair Jul 4, 2025

Wrexham are reportedly interested in completing the signing of a “brilliant” England international defender this summer, as they eye some massive pieces of business.

Wrexham linked with some huge signings

Phil Parkinson’s side are preparing for life in the Championship next season, following a third promotion in a row that saw them get out of League One automatically, in an incredible achievement by the club.

Financially, Wrexham appear to be in a healthy position, which is why they are being linked with some exciting players, with a shock move for Leicester City legend Jamie Vardy mooted. While that may not happen, it is a sign of the ambition of co-owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney.

A new striker appears to be high up on their list of summer options, with former Liverpool ace Danny Ings and Leeds United attacker Joe Gelhardt also both mentioned as choices. Speaking of the Reds, young left-back Owen Beck is believed to be a target, too, with Milos Kerkez’s arrival at Anfield possibly paving the way for him to leave Merseyside.

Sheffield Wednesday midfielder Barry Bannan’s future at Hillsborough is up in the air currently, especially with the club failing to pay players’ wages on time, and the Scot has been mentioned as an eye-catching target for Wrexham who could add so much quality in the middle of the park, even during the autumn of his career.

Wrexham eyeing move for £80k-p/w Premier League defender

Now, according to a fresh claim from Sports Boom, Wrexham want to sign Everton centre-back Michael Keane this summer, with the England international out of contract at the end of this month.

The Welsh outfit are “hoping to entice the experienced centre-back to join their ambitious push for promotion”, although the fact that he may want to remain in the Premier League acts as a potential stumbling block. It is added that Keane ‘could be tempted by a move to Wrexham given the club’s ambition to win promotion straight into the Premier League’.

The £80,000-a-week Keane would be an audacious addition for Wrexham, in a signing that many supporters could only dream of a few years ago.

Granted, he is now 32 years of age and arguably not quite at his peak, but he is a hugely experienced footballer who has now racked up 253 appearances in the Premier League, not to mention winning 12 caps for England.

Keane has been described as “absolutely brilliant” by presenter Jeff Stelling, while David Moyes heaped praise on him last season, saying:

“Michael Keane, who has had some difficult times, played so well today and was immense for the goal off the corner. He’s a great boy and showed his professionalism as we’ve had injuries to (Jake) O’Brien and (James) Tarkowski and we looked different at the back.”

Everton

230

16

10

Burnley

108

7

5

Leicester City

27

3

0

Blackburn Rovers

13

3

0

Derby County

8

0

0

Manchester United

5

0

0

There are few negatives to Wrexham signing Keane, and while it will be hard to pull off, getting a deal over the line would feel like a major statement of intent.

With Andrea Berta now Arsenal’s transfer chief, replacing Edu a few months ago, there is a different feel to the club’s transfer strategy this summer.

In fact, it’s quite a clever one really. Berta isn’t putting all of his eggs in one basket. Instead, he’s advancing a number of deals before concluding which would be the best one to proceed with.

If you believe reports, then the Gunners have held negotiations over deals for both RB Leipzig forward Benjamin Sesko and Sporting’s goal machine, Viktor Gyokeres.

The latest on that is the Swede is now ‘dreaming’ of a move to the Emirates Stadium this summer.

Alas, signing a striker isn’t Arsenal’s only priority over the transfer window. They also need a winger.

Arsenal's pursuit of a new winger this summer

This is a busy old time for Berta and if he can remodel Arsenal’s attack successfully, he will become a quick fan favourite in north London.

On the agenda on the flanks is Real Madrid winger Rodrygo, with Arsenal having reportedly held talks to bring the Brazilian to the Emirates.

If a move cannot be done there, they may well turn their attention to Athletic Bilbao’s Nico Williams again. The Spaniard, who scored in the Euro 2024 final last summer, caught the eye of the Gunners during that tournament but despite the winger’s release clause, did not look at doing a deal.

A year on, they could revisit their interest. That’s according to reports in Spain who claim that while Williams is hoping to stay in Iberia, where Barcelona are very much interested, Bayern Munich and Arsenal are also looking at the 22-year-old.

Williams ‘likes’ the idea of moving to Barca but Bayern and the Gunners are now ‘willing to meet’ his bargain £53m release clause. They are also willing to lodge a high salary offer in a bid to tempt him away from the clutches of the Camp Nou.

Why Williams could be Arsenal's answer to Florian Wirtz

In the opening ten days of the summer transfer window before it shut again due to the Club World Cup, it was all very much about Florian Wirtz.

Why the summer transfer window will close for six days and re-open again

Premier League clubs have recently voted for the transfer window to open early this summer – here’s how it will work and why it’s happening.

ByStephan Georgiou Mar 27, 2025

Liverpool have pulled no punches in their bid to capitalise on a title-winning season and they have done so by breaking a British transfer record.

Wirtz will arrive from Bayer Leverkusen in a deal worth £116.5m. In the words of former Leverkusen striker Patrick Helmes, he’s “probably the best midfielder in the world,” but that doesn’t mean he can’t shine in other areas.

The German is predominantly a no.10, cut from the same cloth as a Mesut Ozil or Kevin De Bruyne, but he’s also very much capable of featuring from the flanks.

Aged just 22, coincidentally the same age as Williams, the Spaniard could be the Wirtz-like signing that Arsenal really need to kick on themselves.

If there was one area of weakness at Anfield this season, it was the no.10 role. Dominik Szoboszlai is certainly no mug, but his goalscoring ability has been questioned, notably finding the net just six times in the Premier League throughout 2024/25. Well, Arne Slot has already solved that problem; Wirtz bagged ten Bundesliga goals and beat the goalkeeper on 16 occasions in all competitions.

So, Arsenal now need to address their own weakness, and it’s on Williams’ left-hand side.

Bukayo Saka is always going to guarantee you output on the right and whatever you say about Mikel Arteta’s lack of a striker, Kai Havertz was on for a 20-goal season before his injury and Mikel Merino scored six in 12 outings as a centre-forward.

It’s the left flank where the biggest imbalance in quality has arguably been seen. Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard scored eight goals apiece in the league this season.

Their biggest issue is consistency and to be fair, you may well argue that with Williams, too. The Spain international bagged 11 in all competitions with only five coming in LaLiga. Judging by that, you may well question where the upgrade is coming from.

The numbers below suggest Williams would certainly be a significant upgrade in some areas. He’s a better and more regular dribbler, while the sheer number of shot-creating actions suggests he could be an enormous threat in the Premier League.

Goals

0.23

0.28

0.31

Assists

0.23

0.25

0.16

Key passes

1.80

1.45

1.57

Progressive passes

3.11

3.57

2.05

Shot-creating actions

5.05

3.29

2.91

Goal-creating actions

0.59

0.28

0.28

Attempted take-ons

8.42

3.04

4.29

Successful take-ons

3.06

1.34

1.30

Progressive carries

5.32

2.83

4.88

Additionally, as he was described by Bilbao’s official channels, Williams is “one of the best wingers in the world”. He famously showcased that for Spain at Euro 2024, thriving in a much better team. He registered two goals and one assist in his six European Championship matches, while during the recent Nations League campaign, the young winger scored two goals in four games, also registering a solitary assist.

This is a player whose output could soar to new heights in a team like Arsenal. He’s already an “electric” talent in the words of content creator, Statman Dave, and given Arteta’s track record of improving young talent, Williams would surely thrive at Arsenal.

Like Wirtz at Anfield, the young Spaniard could solve one of the Gunners’ biggest problems in attack.

Transfer Focus

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

With Jobe Bellingham set to join Borussia Dortmund, Sunderland have instantly reportedly turned their attention towards the transfer market and an impressive Ligue 1 forward.

Borussia Dortmund set to sign Jobe Bellingham

Despite earning promotion to the Premier League, Sunderland have lost Bellingham to Dortmund this summer. The midfielder will follow in his older brother’s footsteps by swapping English football for the chance to play for the Bundesliga giants. It’s a path that led Jude Bellingham to Real Madrid and one that his younger sibling will hope to take with similar success.

As for Sunderland, whilst they’ll be frustrated to lose such a talented young player ahead of their Premier League return, they’ll at least have money to spend following his departure.

Bidding farewell to the 19-year-old in a deal which could eventually rise to as much as €40m (£34m), the Black Cats could instantly put that transfer fee to good use and set Regis Le Bris’ side up for first-time survival next season.

On that front, the rumours as to who could arrive have already been circling. Recent reports have mentioned names such as Tommy Doyle, who could replace Bellingham, and former Tottenham Hotspur defender Japhet Tanganga.

The latter would be a particularly impressive arrival. Following his Championship revival at Millwall, Tanganga is ready to step back into the Premier League and could yet do so courtesy of the Black Cats. It’s there that he could be joined by a talented Ligue 1 forward too.

Sunderland in direct contact to sign Matthis Abline

According to Sky Sports’ Sacha Tavolieri, Sunderland are now in direct contact to sign Matthis Abline after they ‘sounded out his entourage’, rivalling Marseille for the Nantes forward this summer in a deal worth €20m (£17m).

The Ligue 1 forward enjoyed an impressive campaign in France, scoring 11 goals in all competitions in a Nantes side that only escaped a place in the relegation play-off place by three points. Now, after a standout season for his side, the Abline could yet be on his way to the Premier League.

Minutes

2,768

3,174

Goals

9

13

Assists

2

2

Expected Goals

8.5

15.2

Of course, Abline wouldn’t be the first French striker to arrive at the Stadium of Light. It wasn’t so long ago that Wilson Isidor was arriving and he has thrived ever since – scoring 13 Championship goals last season.

Sunderland now plotting 8-figure move for hugely in-demand Asian talent

He could become a star at the Stadium of Light.

ByHenry Jackson Jun 9, 2025

The Nantes forward, once dubbed a “top talent”, could be even better than the Sunderland star, however. After outperforming his expected goals last season, whilst Isidor underperformed significantly, Abline has the potential to only increase his numbers with better chance creation around him. And at 22 years old, he may just be getting started.

Everton are believed to be willing to pay £16.8m to complete the signing of a midfielder who possesses “enormous qualities” this summer.

Everton pushing to sign £30m Liam Delap

The Blues have been linked with various potential new signings of late, but Liam Delap is a name who has stood out as a particularly exciting option, as they look to bolster their attack ahead of next season.

It has been claimed that David Moyes has even held face-to-face talks with the Ipswich Town striker, who looks almost certain to leave Portman Road in the summer transfer window, following relegation from the Premier League to the Championship.

Delap has enjoyed a hugely impressive season, despite the demise of his own team, scoring 12 goals in 32 starts in the league, which is three more than any Everton player managed in the competition, with Iliman Ndiaye leading the way with nine strikes.

The 22-year-old stands out as a brilliant option for the Blues with a £30m release clause, considering he is a young striker who should only mature as the years pass, and he should be looked at as the leading choice to come in and lead the line at the club’s new Bramley Moore Dock stadium this summer.

Everton also ready to pay £16.8m for new midfielder

According to a new update from Africa Foot [via Sport Witness], Everton are ready to pay £16.8m to sign Lille midfielder Ngal’ayel Mukau this summer, having sent scouts to watch him in action in recent weeks.

He is actually valued at £12.6m by the Ligue 1 club, but the Blues are willing to bid higher to get their man, seeing him as another strong option alongside Delap.

Mukau may not be as well-known to Everton fans as Delap, due to him not playing in the Premier League, but he is an exciting young player in his own right.

The 20-year-old has scored twice in six Champions League starts this season, as well as averaging 1.5 tackles per game across 22 matches in Ligue 1 in 2024/25. Meanwhile, Lille head coach Bruno Genesio hasn’t held back in his praise of him, saying:

Everton keen on stunning signing of "special" Liverpool ace in shock move

This piece of business would create shockwaves.

ByHenry Jackson May 24, 2025

“He’s an aggressive player, with a big volume of play, capable of recovering balls from the opponent’s feet. He’s also a forward-thinking player, who can get forward from the first touch and find verticality.”

Lille president Olivier Letang has also described him as a “very likeable lad” with “enormous qualities”, adding that “he burst onto the scene” and “we know his potential and his state of mind.”

Everton could do with fresh blood in the middle of the park, considering Abdoulaye Doucoure is leaving and Idrissa Gueye is now well into his 30s, and Mukau could be a great choice to add into Moyes’ squad.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s future is still up in the air, but that won’t prevent Everton from signing a new striker this summer.

After an impressive start to life at the helm, David Moyes is looking for ways to take the Toffees to the next level. It’s like he never left.

Backed by The Friedkin Group, Moyes means business. However, his efforts to sign Ipswich Town’s Liam Delap appear to have been thwarted, the English striker opting to sign for Chelsea.

He’s not the only talented forward on the market, though, and Everton may yet secure a thrilling addition.

Everton could sign Delap alternative

As reported earlier this week by German outlet BILD, Everton are among the clubs to have registered their interest in Stuttgart striker Nick Woltemade this month, though the DFB-Pokal champions are hoping to tie the 23-year-old down to a new deal.

Arsenal and Atletico Madrid are among the other contenders, so it won’t be easy for The Toffees, but Moyes will hope to convince the German that he would be making a prudent move by joining the ranks at Bramley Moore.

Stuttgart have placed a loose valuation on their towering talisman, but they could be seeking as much as €50m (£42m), should the competition remain thick over the coming weeks.

Why Everton should sign Nick Woltemade

With Delap a no-go, Everton would strike gold in signing Woltemade, with his distinctive, rounded style of play leading data-driven site FBref to record Newcastle United’s Alexander Isak as one of his most comparable players, among those in his postition across Europe’s top five leagues.

Woltemade scored 17 goals across 33 matches in all competitions this season, including every round of Stuttgart’s triumphant DFB-Pokal campaign, and has been hailed for his “sensational” finishing ability by reporter Bruno Alemany.

That 17-goal return surpasses Delap’s, the Ipswich man bagging 12 from 37 matches in the Premier League, but it’s his complete skill set which suggests Moyes should do everything he can to complete a deal.

Harking back to FBref, Woltemade is recorded to have ranked among the top 3% of centre-forwards across Europe’s top-five leagues over the past year for shot-creating actions, the top 11% for passes attempted, the top 13% for progressive passes and the top 4% for successful take-ons per 90.

He’s the full package, all 6 foot 6 of him. It’s definitely a peculiar profile, with Woltemade a clinical finisher, progressive passer and creative outlet, with neat footwork and clever movements.

This does bear a similarity to Isak, who has been hailed as “the complete striker” by Newcastle legend Alan Shearer.

Matches (starts)

34 (34)

28 (17)

Goals

23

12

Assists

6

2

Shots (on target)*

2.9 (1.4)

1.8 (0.9)

Big chances missed

18

11

Accurate passes*

14.9 (77%)

12.3 (72%)

Big chances created

11

8

Key passes*

1.1

1.3

Dribbles*

1.2

1.1

Duels won*

2.8

4.4

The Sweden striker scored 27 goals from 42 appearances this season, but he also dazzled with his silky running and nimble shimmies from left to right, left to right.

He’s of course operating at a higher level than Woltemade, but the template is there and Everton could offer the grounded pathway to achieve his goals.

The problem, as ever, is that Woltemade is a talented striker with a good track record, and thus bagging him will be no easy feat. But if Everton can sign such a unique profile, physical and imposing and technical and dynamic, it could revolutionise the club’s frontline.

With similarities to Newcastle’s Isak, throwing the kitchen sink at a deal is surely a no-brainer.

Moyes' own Richarlison: Everton to make huge offer for "sensational" CF

Everton could be about to land a star who could follow in Richarlison’s footsteps on Merseyside.

ByEthan Lamb May 29, 2025

Already thinking about summer reinforcements, the 49ers are now reportedly plotting a fresh Rangers move to sign a relegated Premier League defender at a bargain price.

Rangers' managerial search hits Ancelotti stumbling block

With the Scottish Premiership season coming to an end, Rangers’ search for a new manager is only likely to heat up. It’s one that the 49ers desperately need to get right after showing plenty of patience in their decision ahead of an all-important summer transfer window.

Just who arrives with that said is the big question. So far, the biggest names mentioned have been Steven Gerrard and Rafael Benitez., whilst Davide Ancelotti – the son of Carlo Ancelotti – has also threatened to steal the headlines as of late.

While he would have been an exciting appointment however, the young coach has decided he will not step into senior management just yet and will instead continue as his father’s assistant when the latter takes up his post as the Brazil national team boss.

Davide Ancelotti set to follow Carlo to Brazil in huge blow for Rangers

The young coach will not make the move to Ibrox this summer.

ByHenry Jackson May 16, 2025

Meanwhile, if those at Ibrox are looking for the manager who’s most eager for the job then interim boss Barry Ferguson may find himself at the front of the queue this summer. He told reporters when quizzed on whether he’s keen to take the job a few weeks ago: “Everybody’s got an opinion, I don’t care about people’s opinion, I know I can do the job.

“I know I’ve got a real good staff behind me. I’ve been asked this question two or three weeks in a row, I think it’s clear, it doesn’t scare me one single bit. I know there’s a hell of a lot of work to be done, everybody knows that. And that’s a challenge that I would meet head on. And I know I would change it.”

As candidates continue to battle it out for the 49ers’ attention, it’s only set to get busier at Ibrox, with the summer transfer window now fast approaching. On that front, it could also be a big few months for the Gers as they attempt to bridge the gap on Scottish champions and Old Firm rivals Celtic.

Rangers plotting Burgess move

According to Rangers Review, the 49ers are now plotting a bargain Rangers move to sign Cameron Burgess from Ipswich Town this summer. The Premier League defender is set to become a free agent at the end of his contract at Portman Road next month, allowing those at Ibrox to come swooping in to land a free deal.

Whilst the current campaign ended in disaster for Burgess and his teammates, with relegation confirmed for Kieran McKenna’s side, the defender looks set to receive a fresh start, no matter what in the coming months.

Ipswich boss McKenna has been full of praise for Burgess since his debut for the club, with his comments back then shedding light on the type of personality the Ibrox faithful would be getting: “I spoke on Tuesday night about Cam Burgess; how he’s conducted himself and applied himself over the last couple of months that I’ve been here. He’s been excellent so I’m happy for him that he’s going to get his opportunity to play on Saturday and then obviously in some more games going forward.”

With a decision to make, the Ipswich defender could now be on his way to the Scottish Premiership and Rangers when his current deal comes to an end at Portman Road.

Liverpool’s season will live long in the memory, but FSG won’t want the 2024/25 campaign to stand as an outlier in the post-Jurgen Klopp years.

Luckily, that doesn’t look likely, not when Arne Slot is at the helm and thriving. The Dutch coach has been a remarkable success story, arriving last summer after several trophy-laden years in his homeland with Feyenoord.

The record-equalling title triumph must now be used as a foundation, built upon over the coming years to create another dynasty on Merseyside.

Arsenal and Manchester City will both feel their campaigns have been laced with disappointment, and they will be determined to strengthen over the next few months.

Liverpool need to do the same, especially after such nominal transfer activity in recent years. While a striker is among the priorities, it’s Anfield’s defence that could see the most dramatic shifts.

Liverpool's defensive plans this summer

Trent Alexander-Arnold will leave Liverpool, but he will leave a two-time Premier League champion and one of the harbingers of the illustrious modern age for the club.

Liverpool are going to need to replace their vice-captain, even if Slot is willing to give Conor Bradley the chance to prove himself as the first-choice option. However, matters are complicated by the urgency for a new left-back, with Andy Robertson showing signs of decline.

FSG do have a name in mind. Milos Kerkez is the far-and-away favourite to join Liverpool’s ranks this summer, having enjoyed an exemplary campaign on the south coast with Bournemouth.

The Telegraph claim Wolves are growing in confidence that they can tie Rayan Ait-Nouri down to a new deal, with Liverpool ready to bin their interest in the Algerian in favour of signing the £45m-rated Kerkez.

That’s not all. Andoni Iraola is doing a fine job at the Vitality Stadium, and the Reds are keen on raiding the European contenders for their star centre-back Dean Huijsen too.

Huijsen, 20, has been one of the most exciting prospects in the Premier League this term, with analyst Ben Mattinson even going as far as to call him “the most in-demand centre-back in the world.”

With a £50m release clause, the young Spain star is wanted by every top team, but Liverpool need a long-term Virgil van Dijk replacement.

And there’s more going on in central defence too, with one of Slot’s superstars continuing to pad along without any real clarity on their future, and whether that will remain on Merseyside.

In any case, Liverpool have struck gold on their towering titan.

Slot has hit gold on "monster" defender

Liverpool have a self-sustaining model under the ownership of FSG. This has rankled at times, but who can say the Premier League champions have been unsuccessful over the past decade?

This model does mean that certain hardships have to be endured, with some talented players warming to the idea of a pay rise that simply won’t be granted. Van Dijk and Mohamed Salah, it must be said, are the two exceptions to the rule.

However, in the case of Ibrahima Konate, it feels we have an incipient transfer saga on our hands, Reds, with the France international about to enter the final year of his £70k-per-week contract.

It’s understandable that he should want a new deal to better reflect his “monster” defending alongside the skipper, as has been said by Liverpool writer Josh Williams. However, if reports are to be believed, Konate is looking for a £200k-per-week salary to stay put.

This would make him the third-highest-paid player in Slot’s senior squad, perhaps not an unfair reflection of Konate’s worth, but maybe a little tall.

There’s also the matter of Real Madrid. That ever-present and ominous shadow that lurks over Liverpool. They are taking Trent, and now they want Konate too, disassembling and then piecing back together the right side of Slot’s backline, though in a shiny white hue.

Market Movers

Football FanCast’s Market Movers series explores the changing landscape of the modern transfer market. How much is your club’s star player or biggest flop worth today?

According to Spanish outlet Marca, Konate is very much a transfer target for Los Blancos, but given that he is valued at €100m (£85m) by Liverpool’s chiefs, they are hoping to call upon more dark magic and sign another world-class player on a free transfer.

This is quite the hike in value for the 25-year-old, who first arrived in Liverpool from RB Leipzig in 2021 after his £36m release clause was met.

24/25

29 (27)

1

2

12

23/24

22 (17)

0

0

5

22/23

18 (17)

0

0

7

21/22

11 (11)

0

0

4

It’s a neat reflection of Konate’s improvements on the fitness front; never has the 6 foot 4 star been so consistently available in a Liverpool shirt.

His value as one of Europe’s elite defenders is further underscored by how far he is currently away from up-and-comers like Kerkez and Huijsen, whose combined transfer value would only exceed Konate’s by about £10m.

Both talented players, the young Bournemouth duo are worthy of a move to Merseyside this summer, but they are not yet the finished article.

Konate has spent several years learning from Van Dijk beside him, completing 90% of his passes in the Premier League this season, winning 71% of his aerial battles, as per Sofascore.

He’s athletic and imposing, technical and tenacious. Liverpool have reaped the fruits of his labours for several years now, but he’s truly made himself known as an elite player under Slot’s wing, so important in winning the title.

Liverpool have hit the jackpot on their French defender, but it won’t feel that way in 12 months, if the ghost of Alexander-Arnold returns to take another top-tier player away from Slot’s ranks on a Bosman.

It’s paramount that FSG manage to engineer a new deal for this wonderful player. Maybe £200k-per-week demands aren’t so absurd after all.

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As Arne Slot’s current side continue to thrive, FSG have reportedly turned their focus towards the future and sent Liverpool scouts to watch the U17 Africa Cup of Nations, where one midfield star has caught their eye.

Liverpool need reinforcments despite incredible league campaign

As impressive as Liverpool’s midfield has been this season, it could be argued that the likes of Ryan Gravenberch have slowed down in recent weeks as the Reds’ congested fixtures schedule across the campaign catches up to him. And that should come as little shock for Slot, who has started the Dutchman in every single one of his side’s 32 Premier League games.

At this stage of the season, such little rotation often catches up to sides and Liverpool are no different. The champions-elect were relatively poor against West Ham United and were left relying on Virgil van Dijk’s late winner to take a key step towards title glory just a week after suffering shock defeat against Fulham.

Now as many as 13 points clear of Arsenal, Liverpool got away with slipping up against Fulham but it was a warning sign they very nearly ignored against West Ham. As good as they’ve been and as deserving as they have been on their way towards the title, Slot’s side are far from perfect and finding a backup for Gravenberch should be among their priorities this summer.

Just who that might be remains to be seen, however, with reports focused on the Reds’ attacking department and names such as Alexander Isak as the summer transfer window approaches.

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If that is to be their focus, then Slot’s solution for what could be a pending Gravenberch problem may eventually come through the arrival of a young player who’s been compared to Carlos Baleba.

Liverpool plotting Mohamed Sako move

According to The Boot Room, FSG have now sent Liverpool scouts on a fresh mission to watch Mohamed Sako at the U16 Africa Cup of Nations in Morroco. The Burkina Faso midfielder has so far impressed too and is among those on the radar of the Reds alongside Chelsea, Arsenal and Newcastle United at a tournament full of talent.

Compared to Brighton & Hove Albion star Baleba, it’s fair to say that Liverpool would be landing quite the player if Sako matches the growth of the Seagulls midfielder.

Starts

25

32

Progressive Passes

108

153

Ball Recoveries

159

171

Tackles Won

35

30

If Liverpool focus their finances on their frontline and left-back problem this summer, then welcoming Sako as one for the future rather than splashing out on a backup for Gravenberch could be the way forward.

There’s certainly a route into the first-team too. Curtis Jones, Harvey Elliott and Jarell Quansah have all played roles under both Jurgen Klopp and Slot and Sako could yet follow suit if those at Anfield make their move.

Liverpool have made an enquiry to sign a new midfielder who has been compared to Reds star Ryan Gravenberch.

Liverpool prepare for summer transfers after Salah and Van Dijk deals

Arne Slot has enjoyed a brilliant first season in charge at Anfield, with the Reds closing in on the Premier League title. Liverpool can be crowned champions this weekend, should Arsenal suffer defeat against Ipswich Town and the Reds beat Leicester City on Sunday afternoon.

The main headlines at Anfield recently have been with Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk’s new contracts. The pair have both penned new two-year deals, with Van Dijk set to earn more than £40m on Merseyside between now and 2027.

Talking about Van Dijk’s new contract, Slot said that keeping the centre-back and Salah means that it is “already a big summer” for Liverpool.

“[Van Dijk’s contract] tells you that we want to keep our best players. The players that have played a great season for so many years in row. When we are able to keep them as free agents, it tells you the ambitions we have for the upcoming years.

“I’m really happy they both extended. Virgil is so important, defensively and offensively, in and around the dressing room. A great personality and a great football player. I think at Liverpool there is always a big summer and it is already a big summer now. Maybe the players don’t follow everything what has been said in the media, me neither, but what I do know it was it was a big thing – ‘can we hold onto them?’ – and by already holding on to two it is already a big summer.”

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New signings could join Van Dijk and Salah ahead of the 2025/26 season, and a new defensive midfielder appears to be on the wish list.

Liverpool make contact to sign £60k-p/w Nicolo Rovella

According to reports in Italy, relayed by Sport Witness, Liverpool have made an enquiry over a move for Lazio midfielder Nicolo Rovella.

The 23-year-old is also wanted by Arsenal and Manchester City and could now be set to leave the Serie A side following their Europa League exit to Bodo/Glimt on Thursday.

Lazio would want to keep their star players including Rovella this summer, however, the financial implications of not qualifying for the Champions League may mean they cash in on some.

Currently sixth in Serie A, Lazio only have Rovella on loan from Juventus, although there is an obligation to buy with certain conditions. Liverpool could swoop in over the coming months and land the holding midfielder, who has been compared to Gravenberch among others, as per FBref.

Ryan Gravenberch

Liverpool

Moises Caicedo

Chelsea

Koke

Atletico Madrid

Billy Gilmour

Napoli

Leandro Paredes

AS Roma

Rovella, on around £60,000-a-week, was also hailed as “wonderful” by Italy boss Luciano Spalletti last year, and by the looks of things, a move to Anfield could be one to keep an eye on.