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Liverpool star Mo Salah risks causing huge anger in his native Egypt as he prepares for showdown talks with national boss Hossam Hassan to discuss missing a key warm-up match ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations. The Pharaohs have a friendly with Nigeria planned in early December, but lands in the same week as key matches for the Reds setting up a potential club-v-country row, which Salah hopes to avoid.

Liverpool braced for Salah exit

Hassan would be expected to call-up Salah for the training camp and friendly match which has been scheduled for December 12th. But Liverpool face vital Champions League and Premier League fixtures against Inter Milan and Brighton that same week. The Liverpool talisman has endured a tricky season for the champions and is understood to prefer staying with his club for these competitive matches, according to a report in the . This follows a previous disagreement two years ago when Liverpool successfully requested Salah's delayed release, angering some fans in Egypt. The upcoming talks aim to find a resolution that satisfies both parties and prevents a repeat of past tensions. 

AdvertisementAFPFixture congestion for Liverpool during AFCON

Salah's upcoming meeting carries significant weight, as the two parties look to finalise the player's release date for the tournament in Morocco which runs from December 21st to January 18th. The talks follow the Egyptian King’s controversial early departure from the last tournament due to injury, which caused frustration among Egyptian fans. The forward, who is just six goals shy of Hassan's own national team scoring record, could miss crucial games for Liverpool. If Egypt, one of the tournament favourites, reach the final on January 18, Salah could be unavailable for up to ten matches, including Tottenham (a), Wolves (h), Leeds (h), Fulham (a), Arsenal (a) and Burnley (h) plus a Champions League game at Marseille and an FA Cup third round tie. These negotiations aim to prevent a repeat of past tensions and find a resolution that works for both the club and country.

High praise from Reds boss

Salah has struggled at times this season, seemingly struggling in a new playing system and a number of key new players in attacking positions at Anfield. But boss Slot was clear in explaining why Salah remains so important to his team after reaching the incredible milestone of 250 goals for the Merseysiders.

Slot said: "It is huge. It's almost unbelievable he has scored 250 goals at one club. Scoring 250 goals is already unbelievable, let alone at one club. You don’t see it that much in football anymore. Apart from the goal he scored tonight he had a very good performance. When we had to play long we played mainly long towards him and he could hold the ball and because of that the rest of the team could come to him and we could keep playing. 

Slot added: "What I also liked is that he didn’t only do his offensive work really well, but he helped the team out defensively as well. After the 1-0 he was helping Virgil (van Dijk) around the halfway line and this combination of things led to me liking his performance tonight. It’s special for him to score 250 but for him to score is not special as we always know he will score."

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Getty Images SportMan City boss relaxed about AFCON

City boss Pep Guardiola isn't worried about losing Omar Marmoush and Rayan Ait-Nouri for an extended period of time. Marmoush only returned to the starting XI following injury in the recent 3-1 win over Swansea, a game the 26-year-old scored in. Asked about the scheduling of the tournament, Guardiola said: "This competition (is) for their countries so they have to go. Always I try to solve the problem when the problem is in front of me. Right now I don’t think (about it). I have to use them for Sunday and next Wednesday and next Sunday before the international break. When it is going to happen they cannot be here and we will see the situation and take the decisions."

Harris stuns with 16-ball fifty as Bears triumph, despite Suzie Bates’ best allround efforts

ECB Reporters Network31-May-2025Bears 193 for 6 (Perrin 87, Harris 55, Bates 2-23) beat Durham 151 (Bates 65, Davis 3-27) by 42 runsLaura Harris introduced herself to Edgbaston with an explosive 16-ball half-century as Warwickshire beat Durham by 42 runs in the women’s Vitality Blast at Edgbaston.Australian new signing Harris smashed 55 from 21 balls to support Davina Perrin’s classy 87 from 61 as the home side piled up 193 for 6.Durham replied with 151 all out in 19 overs, their Blast campaign destined to start with defeat after their reply rapidly declined to 15 for 3. Suzie Bates (65) and Bess Heath (45) assured respectability for their side but Georgia Davis took 3 for 27 to seal Warwickshire’s first win of the tournament following their opening-game tie with The Blaze at Trent Bridge.After choosing to bat, Warwickshire were given an excellent platform by Perrin and Abi Freeborn. Restricted to just a single from the first over from Lauren Filer, they worked the ball around intelligently to add 70 from 57 balls.Freeborn departed after Filer turned in her follow-through and threw down the stumps as the batter sought a single. It was excellent work from the bowler but she soon wished she hadn’t bothered. Nineteen minutes later the new batter had 50.Harris got off the mark with a straight six off Katie Levick, followed that with successive fours and then swung a Filer full toss over the long leg rope to thunder to 25 from eight balls. Her third six, smote straight off Levick, raised her half-century from 16.Even after Harris was slickly stumped by Heath off Bates, there was little respite for Durham as Perrin took three fours and a six off a Mady Villiers over. A deserved century beckoned for Perrin but she spent much of the closing overs at the non-striker’s end before, having hit 12 fours and two sixes, she fell to a stinging return catch by Bates in the final over.Durham’s reply started badly when Katherine Fraser edged the third ball, from Issy Wong, to wicketkeeper Freeborn. Wong struck again with her seventh ball when Hollie Armitage missed an attempted scoop off middle stump and was lbw. It was 15 for 3 after Mady Villiers drove Charis Pavely straight to extra cover.There was no way back from there. Bates and Heath added 80 from 64 balls but the required rate hit 11 runs per over and Warwickshire captain Davis exploited the pressure with two wickets in four balls. Heath and Mia Rogers were bowled and stumped respectively after missing slogs.Bates accelerated boldly but when she missed a scoop and was lbw to Hannah Baker, the tail was left to find 51 from the last three overs. It couldn’t.

The club bounced back from five straight losses last season to make the finals

ESPNcricinfo staff20-May-2025

Peter Moores will be looking to build on Melbourne Stars’ resurgence last season•Getty Images

Peter Moores has signed a two-year extension as Melbourne Stars head coach in the BBL following a season where the team produced a remarkable turnaround to reach the finals.Stars lost their first five matches but then went on a five-game winning surge before falling to Sydney Thunder in the Knockout final. With Hobart Hurricanes winning the title last season, Stars are now the only club not to have a title in BBL history.”I’m absolutely thrilled to sign on for another two years,” Moores said. “I’ve already experienced some incredible moments with the club and there was no better place to be last summer than the MCG when we got on a roll. It was a great reminder of what this club and our members and fans are capable of.”Stars were captained by Marcus Stoinis who Moores said “will only grow in that role again.” They currently have 10 players on their list, including allrounder Tom Curran and new signings Liam Hatcher and Mitchell Swepson, with the overseas draft to take place on June 19.”Our list is in a really good place, and we’ve got a great opportunity to strengthen a couple of key areas in the upcoming draft,” Moores said. “I’m not putting a limit on what we can all achieve together.”Stars general manager Max Abbott said: “The feedback from all parts of the organisation has been overwhelmingly positive in the way Peter led the group as coach over the last two seasons.”You don’t come back from a 0-5 start to make the finals without leadership in the dressing room and that is a testament to the way Peter was able to maintain camaraderie and belief within the playing group to turn the season around.”Moores’ new BBL contract follows the appointment of Andy Christie as Stars’ WBBL head coach on a two-year deal after the club parted ways with Jonathan Batty following just two wins in 10 games during the 2024-25 campaign.

Arsenal are trying to lock star defender William Saliba down with a brand-new contract, but Andrea Berta is forced to contend with the temptation of a move to Real Madrid.

Mikel Arteta dealt William Saliba concern as Arsenal contract runs down

As things stand, the Frenchman’s deal is set to expire in 2027, and as each day passes, Mikel Arteta grows more and more vulnerable to losing his pivotal centre-back who’s formed a stellar partnership with Gabriel.

Saliba and the Brazilian have been a vital ingredient of Arsenal’s trophy challenges since the beginning of 2022/2023, with the pair often praised for being the best central defensive pairing in Europe.

It is testament to summer signing Cristhian Mosquera, who’s seriously impressed in Saliba’s absence, that Arteta’s side have conceded just once in five total games so far this term.

The 24-year-old is pushing to play in Arsenal’s vital Premier League clash against Man City on Sunday, according to Arteta in his pre-match press conference, but behind-the-scenes, tying Saliba down isn’t exactly plain sailing.

Liverpool

£415,000,000

£187,000,000

£228,000,000

Chelsea

£285,000,000

£288,000,000

-£3,000,000

Arsenal

£255,000,000

£9,000,000

£246,000,000

Newcastle

£250,000,000

£152,000,000

£98,000,000

Man Utd

£216,000,000

£68,000,000

£148,000,000

Nottm Forest

£205,000,000

£107,000,000

£98,000,000

Tottenham

£181,000,000

£36,000,000

£145,000,000

Sunderland

£162,000,000

£44,000,000

£118,000,000

Man City

£152,000,000

£53,000,000

£99,000,000

West Ham

£124,000,000

£55,000,000

£69,000,000

via BBC

While there is optimism among reliable media sources that Saliba could eventually commit his future to Arsenal, with talks currently ongoing (Fabrizio Romano), some reports suggest that negotiations are moving at a slow pace (Football Insider).

This could give Real hope of signing the ex-Saint-Etienne star in 2026, with an update now coming to light on the situation courtesy of El Desmarque.

Arsenal set William Saliba price tag after blunt response to new contract offer

As per the outlet, Saliba has already rejected the Gunners’ first offer of a contract renewal, and El Desmarque report that the Bernabeu is a realistic destination for him.

According to their information, Saliba is prepared to leave Arsenal amid Real’s serious interest, and Xabi Alonso’s side view him as a “dream” signing.

Arsenal have also set a “high” price tag for the France international at around £70 million, which can be considered lofty when factoring in he’ll have just one season remaining on his deal by next summer.

Real are aiming to make a splash through the signing of superstar defenders next year. It apparently hasn’t been ruled out that they could sign both Saliba and Liverpool star Ibrahima Konate, which would be quite the statement of intent from Florentino Perez.

Arsenal simply cannot lose William Saliba

Saliba’s importance extends beyond raw defending. He is comfortable in possession, rarely flustered and plays a huge role in starting Arsenal’s build-up from the back.

Real’s interest is no surprise — he’s exactly the level of player they’re regularly target. However, Arsenal are no longer in a position where they can be bullied into selling their stars. With the team now competing consistently at the top, losing Saliba would send the wrong message and tear a significant hole in Arteta’s carefully constructed long-term project.

Signing a replacement for Saliba would be Berta’s most almighty task yet, and it is something they’ll be looking to avoid at every cost.

In spite of all the drama that has plagued Newcastle United throughout the summer transfer window, there’s a sense that Eddie Howe will be rather pleased with the lion’s share of his club’s business.

Newcastle rebounded from a frustrating start to the 2024/25 campaign and qualified for the Champions League, finishing fifth in the Premier League, having also defeated Liverpool at Wembley to lift the Carabao Cup.

But the feel-good factor faded out after the curtains draped on a successful season, with a slew of failed bids for top targets dampening the mood and then some.

This has been a transfer window of attrition, but one that Newcastle have weathered and now appears to be emerging from victoriously, having strengthened across the park.

And while the pursuit of a new striker has been an interminable and fruitless thing up until this stage, Newcastle have finally made headway, welcoming Nick Woltemade from Stuttgart for a club-record fee.

Why Newcastle signed Woltemade

While this remains conjecture at this stage, all the pointers suggest that Woltemade has been welcomed to Newcastle as Alexander Isak’s replacement.

Newcastle’s free-scoring talisman has made a menace of himself on Tyneside for three years now, but has essayed to secure a move to Premier League champions Liverpool for over a month, and appears set to get his wish.

A blow, no doubt about it. To Sky Sports’ Jamie Carragher, Isak was “the best striker in the Premier League” last season, after all. He scored 27 goals across all competitions, and replacing him was understandably viewed as a steep task.

But Woltemade, 23, has all the tools to thrive as the Sweden star’s successor. Across all competitions last year, the 6 foot 6 centre-forward scored 17 goals and supplied three assists, with talent scout Jacek Kulig hailing his “unstoppable” form in front of goal.

A fantastic signing, of course, but there’s little evidence at this stage that Woltemade will hit the ground running, especially since Newcastle plan to further bolster their frontline with the signing of a Prem-proven number nine, Brentford’s Yoane Wissa at the top of the list.

Landing the German was fine business, but Newcastle aren’t done there. Indeed, Howe and United’s transfer officials have their sights set on a centre-midfielder to complete the set.

Newcastle in last-gasp race for midfielder

As per Caught Offside, Newcastle have joined a late transfer tussle for Atletico Madrid midfielder Conor Gallagher, who is anticipated to be on the move ahead of Monday’s deadline.

Valued at £45m by the Spanish giants, Gallagher only swapped the Premier League for La Liga one year ago, and though he showed plenty of promise under Diego Simeone’s wing last year, he is open to making a dramatic return to his homeland.

Tottenham Hotspur are understood to be leading the race at this stage, but Newcastle are ready to pounce if the chance presents itself, with Crystal Palace and Manchester United also interested.

Transfer Focus

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

What Gallagher will bring to Newcastle

Now that Woltemade has arrived, Newcastle are in a far better position to tackle the campaign ahead. However, his signing comes with the caveat that Isak will leave, and however you brush it up, that is a big blow.

But Gallagher would only reinforce a deep and dynamic midfield cohort, and having been described as being “like a machine” in midfield by former Chelsea teammate Moises Caicedo, it’s clear he has the backing of those billed as superstars in the Premier League.

And, moreover, he has a tried-and-tested method of success in England’s top flight, having showcased technical skill, intensity and energy throughout his years at Stamford Bridge and his loan spells with West Bromwich Albion and Crystal Palace, routinely covering the most distance in a match while at Selhurst Park.

Newcastle lost Sandro Tonali and Joelinton to injury after Monday night’s agonising defeat against Liverpool, and Gallagher’s presence would have gone a long way toward injecting that extra bit of quality and drive against the Reds, who withered and were pressed against the ropes on

Matches (starts)

35 (18)

37 (37)

Goals

3

5

Assists

1

7

Pass completion

85%

92%

Big chances created

5

11

Key passes*

0.6

1.4

Dribbles*

0.7 (50%)

1.0 (68%)

Ball recoveries*

5.1

6.3

Tackles*

1.3

2.3

Duels (won)*

3.5 (45%)

5.7 (50%)

Across the past year at Atletico, Gallagher has played an important role, featuring 52 times and contributing to ten goal contributions. His prowess translated to life in Spain, and his ability to operate across a range of midfield roles in England speaks for itself.

Woltemade, for all his promise and potential, scored 12 times in the Bundesliga last season, and that doesn’t issue a fail-safe promise of prolificacy in the Premier League, considered by many to be the toughest division across the continent.

But how can Gallagher’s skill on English soil be contested? He has performed with aplomb for three different clubs, all of differing levels, and demonstrated his range while doing so.

There’s no doubt that Woltemade will alight on Tyneside with a weight of expectation, and that he has big boots to step into, but Gallagher would merely add to a midfield circle that already operates so fluidly and aggressively, and his skill set suggests he would dovetail right in.

And with someone like Wissa, who scored 19 times in the Premier League last season, there’s actually every chance that Woltemade could spend the campaign jockeying for a place at the front of the ship and taking a seat on the bench for a multitude of matches.

This shouldn’t be a negative thing for the Toon, however; even with the potential sale of Isak, Newcastle have recruited shrewdly, and have a wealth of options ready to raise Howe’s system up another gear.

Upgrade on Joelinton: Newcastle in talks over signing “one of the best CMs”

Newcastle are looking to make another addition to their midfield ranks…

ByWill Miller Aug 30, 2025

Celtic are now “ramping up their pursuit” of a “really impressive” player this summer, Sky Sports reporter Anthony Joseph has claimed.

Celtic "lack ambition" in transfer market

Time is running out for the Hoops to make more signings, and while they are again primed to win the Scottish Premiership title this season, new additions are still needed in the new week or so.

Brendan Rodgers hasn’t been overly happy with this summer at Parkhead, and now Celtic podcaster Paul John Dyke has echoed the thoughts of the manager in an interview with Sky Sports News.

“Brendan Rodgers is the only spokesperson at Celtic at the moment, I think he’s becoming frustrated answering the same questions every day when it comes to recruitment. Why can’t we get the deals over the line? This is a big issue. As fans, I think we’re balanced.

“I think they look at it and say, well, some players will be hedging their bets to see if Celtic get into the Champions League proper and I totally understand that, but Celtic need to be decisive in the transfer market. I think that we lack ambition. I don’t think that the boardroom has the same ambition as Brendan Rodgers and certainly the same ambition as a lot of the fans.”

It would be a surprise if Celtic failed to conduct any more incoming transfer business before the end of August, with a new transfer claim now emerging.

Celtic increase efforts to sign young attacker

According to an update from Joseph on X, Celtic have now held “fresh talks” over the signing of £5m-rated Go Ahead Eagles attacking midfielder Jakob Breum.

Breum could be just what the Hoops are looking for this summer, with the 21-year-old seen as not only a key figure from the off, but also a young player who is capable of reaching further heights in the coming years.

He has been capped for Denmark across four different youth levels, making a total of 21 caps for his country, while content creator Antonio Mango has described him as “really impressive”, also mentioning his versatility.

Jakob Breum’s international stats

Caps

Goals

Denmark Under-21s

6

0

Denmark Under-19s

9

7

Denmark Under-18s

2

2

Denmark Under-17s

4

0

While £5m is far from cheap for Celtic, Breum has the long-term potential to make that look like a bargain over time, and Rodgers’ mood will likely improve if the club strike a deal for the youngster.

Russell Martin’s turbulent start as Rangers manager plunged into fresh chaos after he dragged his struggling squad into the freezing waters of Loch Lomond for a bizarre team-bonding session. Just 48 hours after another miserable defeat, this time to Hearts, the 39-year-old boss opted for swimming and hiking instead of the usual drills at the training ground.

• Sink or swim at the Ibrox

  With five Premiership games gone and not a single victory on the board, desperate times have led to desperate measures. On Monday, the under-pressure Gers boss swapped cones and footballs for hiking boots and icy dips. The squad first trekked up Conic Hill before plunging into Loch Lomond’s bone-chilling waters. Martin’s belief? A change of scenery would reset the mood and spark a response.   

Advertisement

• Getty Images Sport
  

  O'Hara rips into Martin

  Rangers icon Barry Ferguson admitted he couldn’t see the point of Martin’s surprise excursion. But it was ex-Tottenham midfielder and current pundit Jamie O’Hara who unleashed the fiercest attack. Speaking on Sky Sports, he slammed: "Rangers is a massive football club and he’s getting it all wrong. He’s in disarray. If I was a player and the manager wanted us to go on something like this to Loch Lomond I'd be absolutely fuming. I’d be like, ‘Is this guy having us on?’ Why would I want to go swimming in Loch Lomond as a team-bonding session?" 

  O’Hara mocked the idea of climbing hills and braving icy waters as a way to lift spirits and instead suggested: "Give me some golf clubs or get the fishing rods out and go out on a boat for the day. That’s fair enough. But going swimming in a freezing lake? How is that a team-bonding session? That's pain. Then you want me to go and walk up a mountain? Come on. Do me a favour.  

  "You can’t tell me the lads want to be doing that. Why don't you go and have a round of golf, get some buggies out and have a laugh or a drink in the bar afterwards. But going for a hike is not an activity that you want to be involved in as a football player. Russell Martin's getting it all wrong. That’s not team-bonding, that’s making it worse. If you're organizing a team-bonding session four or five games into a season, you've got serious problems."

• Wrong man for the job

  O'Hara pulled no punches when assessing Martin’s credentials after a winless start in the Premiership and predicted that his days are numbered at Ibrox. 

  "He’s going to go. It’s just a matter of time," he said. “I was in Scotland last week and Rangers fans are absolutely fuming. They can’t stand him. What credentials did he have to get the Rangers job in the first place? All right, he did a half-decent job at Southampton – but Rangers is one of the biggest clubs in the world. 

  “It's like being the Manchester United manager. There’s constant scrutiny and you’ve got to win every week. He ain't been used to winning. When he was at Southampton, they got pumped when they came up into the Premier League. They want to play tippy-tappy football, but that’s not what Rangers need. They need winners, they need leaders, they need fight and spirit. I don't know if Russell Martin's that guy. And I just think it's a huge decision the club’s made and one they've got all wrong.” 

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  Chance against Hibs to turn it around

  With the knives out and pressure building by the day, Martin will cling to the hope that Saturday’s Premier Sports Cup tie with Hibs provides a lifeline. 

  O'Hara added: “The league's over already, right? They can't win the league. So they've got to decide what the objective is now for the season. There’s three competitions left. If he loses in the Cup to Hibs this weekend he’s definitely gone.

  “I wouldn't give them any hope in European football, the way they're playing. They're absolutely terrible. I watched one of the European qualifiers and they were absolutely awful. So forget that. Normally when I've watched them in European competitions, they're solid, they have a fight and a spirit. Everyone’s behind them in the home games, there's an atmosphere. Let me tell you, there’s no atmosphere at Rangers at the moment.” 

Wanindu Hasaranga has been ruled out of the ODI series against New Zealand, having sustained an injury to his left hamstring while bowling, in the second T20I, on Sunday. Hasaranga was seen hobbling through his later overs, and was also limping between the wickets while running.He has been replaced in the ODI squad by Dushan Hemantha, another legspin-bowling allrounder. Hemantha has played five ODIs and has recently been among the wickets for the Sri Lanka A team.Hasaranga’s absence will be significant for Sri Lanka, particularly as he had been Sri Lanka’s most successful bowler in the T20Is, taking 2 for 20 in the first match, then 4 for 17 in the second, while also producing an important 22 off 23 in the first T20I.Related

• Kusal Mendis credits bowlers for getting the job done in rain-hit game

• Bracewell admits NZ 'didn't time the chase very well'

• NZ vs SL ODIs: New faces, spin pitches and Champions Trophy watch

• Ferguson ruled out of ODIs against Sri Lanka with calf injury; Adam Milne called up

Sri Lanka already had another legspinner in the squad, however, in Jeffrey Vandersay, with Maheesh Theekshana and Dunith Wellalage the other frontline spinners.Hasaranga becomes the second player to be ruled out of the series owing to injuries sustained in that second T20I, with New Zealand fast bowler Lockie Ferguson also unavailable due to a calf injury.The series begins on Wednesday, with the first match to be played in Dambulla, and the remaining two games in Pallekele.

As Chelsea continue to assess their wide options in the transfer market, their focus has returned to one long-standing target.

While efforts remain ongoing to secure Xavi Simons, the club are also monitoring a dynamic winger who combines the explosiveness of Noni Madueke with the creativity of Pedro Neto.

Having emerged as a Premier League force in recent seasons, this forward’s statistical output paints a compelling picture.

Not only does he rival Madueke for goalscoring impact and Neto for progression and movement, but he also offers a unique blend of the two that could fit Chelsea’s evolving attacking blueprint.

As relations with his current club continue to sour, and with his valuation falling significantly, Chelsea are understood to be keeping close tabs, ready to move if circumstances allow.

Chelsea looking at Premier League star

Alejandro Garnacho has long been touted as a future star.

Since arriving from Atlético Madrid in 2020, the Argentine has impressed at every level, from leading Manchester United’s youth side to FA Youth Cup glory, to making a smooth transition into the senior setup.

Transfer Focus

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

Senior figures at Old Trafford have long spoken about Garnacho’s ability to spark games into life.

After a Europa League match in 2022, Paul Scholes drew early comparisons with one of United’s most iconic players. “I think this lad was really entertaining. Almost like a young Cristiano at that age.”

Former Manchester United winger Febian Brandy echoed the sentiment, labelling Garnacho a “full-back’s nightmare. He can go either side, cut inside, he makes it difficult for defenders all game.”

Despite all of that, it looks as though he could be on his way out of Old Trafford this summer. According to Fabrizio Romano, the 20-year-old wants to remain in the Premier League, with Chelsea and Aston Villa among those monitoring his situation.

Initially priced at £70m, United have now dropped their asking price to £40m according to other reports, a valuation that may tempt Chelsea if they wish to act before his value rebounds.

How Garnacho compares to Madueke and Neto

According to data from FBref, Madueke and Neto are the first and fifth most similar players in European football to Garnacho across the last year.

More generally, across his senior career, Garnacho has averaged 0.27 goals per 90 minutes, behind Madueke (0.39) but ahead of Pedro Neto (0.16). In terms of total goal involvement per 90, he sits between the two as well: 0.40 for Garnacho, compared to 0.58 for Madueke and 0.42 for Neto.

Garnacho’s directness is a defining trait. He averages more shots per 90 (3.50) than either Madueke (3.09) or Neto (2.12), though his shot accuracy (31.3%) is lower than Madueke’s 42%.

Those numbers reflect a player still learning to pick his moments, but with a clear intent to impact games regularly. In terms of progression, he also offers plenty. Garnacho averages 5.93 progressive carries per 90, again, sandwiched between Madueke (6.56) and Neto (5.10), underlining their ability to get at their full-back.

His passing numbers are more modest: 2.19 progressive passes per 90, compared to Madueke’s 3.90 and Neto’s 2.32. But he still maintains a healthy pass completion rate (77.2%), while registering a solid 3.77 shot-creating actions per 90.

While he attempts fewer take-ons than his Arsenal and Chelsea counterparts, with just 1.45 successful dribbles per 90, Garnacho’s overall attacking involvement is consistent. He touches the ball in the attacking third 27.3 times per 90, just behind Neto (28.5) and Madueke (30.4), suggesting a player fully embedded in the final-third phase.

Crucially, Chelsea are weighing his profile not just against their current squad, but against their future vision.

Garnacho’s combination of aggression and youthful energy offers a stylistic contrast to more intricate wingers like Cole Palmer.

For a side seeking to sharpen its transitions and threaten on the break, he offers a compelling solution.

Yet despite that promise, United are keen to let him go.

A strained relationship with manager Ruben Amorim has meant Garnacho, along with Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho, Antony and Tyrell Malacia, has reportedly been told to find a new club this summer.

Rashford has already joined Barcelona on loan, while Garnacho’s own future appears to lie away from Old Trafford.

He may not be the finished product, but the underlying data, coupled with a proven ability to excite and influence matches, makes him one of the more intriguing options on the market.

Whether Chelsea firm up their interest may depend on the Simons deal and their broader squad strategy. But in Garnacho, they could secure not just a winger but a player who, if harnessed correctly, could help reshape their attack for seasons to come.

Chelsea star says yes to joining Madrid; his exit can fund Simons & Rodrygo

Losing the international star would be far from ideal for Chelsea.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Jul 23, 2025

Liverpool are the champions of the Premier League once again. And what’s more, Arne Slot has been backed by FSG this summer as they prepare to do it all over again.

While the bulk of transfer activity has been dealt with already on Merseyside, there’s more to come, with Darwin Nunez the centre of ongoing talks between Liverpool and Napoli after an opening €55m (£48m) bid was rejected.

Many would hope that FSG are gearing up to splash out the cash on Newcastle United’s Alexander Isak, but the “world-class” goalscorer, as he has been described by pundit Alan Shearer, will likely prove too expensive.

And anyway, Slot has proven his ability to grow exciting talents into superstars. See the 22-year-old Ryan Gravenberch and Cody Gakpo.

Now, the Dutch coach is hoping to sign his next version of the former, whose meteoric rise last season led to him being crowned the Premier League Young Player of the Season.

Liverpool's next top transfer targets

After missing out on Dean Huijsen, who swapped Bournemouth for Real Madrid after his £50m release clause was met, it was clear from the early stages of the transfer window that Liverpool are interested in signing a centre-back.

Marc Guehi is the man at the top of the shopping list, and while developments appear to be minimal at the moment, expect FSG to try their luck before the summer window slams shut.

Liverpool need a new central defender, to be sure, but Slot knows that the 33-year-old Mohamed Salah will need greater attacking support than he received last term, practically engineering the incredible Premier League success of 2023/24.

And indeed, Nunez’s forthcoming sale will demand that sporting director Richard Hughes signs a successor, one who is fit to serve as Liverpool’s out-and-out frontman over the coming years.

Well, the Reds have just the player in mind, and their interest is beginning to get stronger and stronger.

Liverpool with growing interest in new striker

As per transfer insider Graeme Bailey, Liverpool’s interest in Eintracht Frankfurt striker Hugo Ekitike is indeed getting more intense as Nunez edges closer to a transfer to Napoli.

The Premier League champions have been among the frontrunners for the 23-year-old in recent months, with Chelsea and Manchester United also keen on bagging his signature.

However, the sticking point is that Frankfurt are happy to play hardball, seemingly unwilling to budge on their €100m (£85m) valuation.

What Hugo Ekitike would bring to Liverpool

In 2022, Paris Saint-Germain signed a teenage Ekitike from Ligue 1 rivals Reims for a fee in the region of £30m. Newcastle had come close to a deal but failed to close it.

The Frenchman might not have brought it all together for PSG, only scoring four times across 33 senior matches, but he’s certainly built himself back up in Germany, with analyst Ben Mattinson hailing him as “one of the best strikers out there” after his 2024/25 term with Frankfurt.

Notching 36 goal involvements across all competitions for Frankfurt last season, Ekitike is clearly a “special talent”, as has been noted by journalist Bence Bocsak.

But it’s his dynamism and fluency that makes him such an attractive option for a club like Liverpool, finishing the 2024/25 season ranked among the top 6% of strikers across Europe’s top five leagues for shot-creating actions, the top 4% for both progressive carries and successful take-ons, and the top 20% for ball recoveries per 90, as per FBref.

The fact that he’s more complete than Gravenberch was when he joined Liverpool from Bayern Munich in August 2023 bodes well for his potential at the highest level of the European game.

As you will see in the table below, Gravenberch bloomed into a midfielder of remarkable quality and confidence last term, sitting deep in the centre of the park in spite of early career criticisms that he lacked the temperament and composure for such a role.

Looking at the Dutchman’s gains under Slot’s wing last season, as opposed to his less defined role when a part of Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool, it’s very easy to see that Slot’s tactical grasp brought out the best in his young compatriot.

Matches (starts)

26 (12)

37 (37)

Goals

1

0

Assists

0

4

Touches*

28.8

66.5

Pass completion

83%

89%

Key passes*

0.6

0.9

Dribbles*

0.9

1.0

Ball recoveries*

2.8

5.2

Tackles + interceptions*

1.5

3.5

Total duels (won)*

2.8 (47%)

5.0 (57%)

The same could be said for Gakpo, of course, but given that Ekitike is an exciting young player from the Bundesliga who has previously struggled to bring it together after a big-money move to a European superpower, he could emulate the silky holding midfielder.

And without a doubt, Ekitike has the technical ability to become the kind of all-encompassing centre-forward that Slot wants to connect his frontline.

Given the high regard Ekitike is held in already, it’s frightening to consider what Slot might manage to achieve in elevating the weaker points of his game and polishing any blemishes which a rising talent is naturally going to bear.

Gravenberch, certainly, has improved, having been branded a “passenger out of possession” by journalist Danny Corcoran during his maiden term in English football.

He’s now a player of smooth ability, one of the finest in Europe. Slot has earned his flowers, all right, and he’ll receive a whole bouquet if allowed to tinker away at Ekitike’s mechanics, shaping him into a world-beater.

Talent scout Jacek Kulig claimed that the Die Adler star “could reach world-class striker levels” after his excellent campaign, and if he moves to Liverpool, his chances of this happening will increase tenfold.

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