All eyes were on Olivia Smith, the record-breaking £1 million signing from Liverpool, and the 19-year-old Canadian didn’t just live up to the hype, she blew the roof off with a sensational strike on her debut. Riding on the sensational solo goal, the Gunners demolished London City Lionesses 4-1 at the Emirates in front of 38,142 roaring supporters.
Smith scores wonder strike on debutArsenal cruise past London City LionessesTeenager hungry for more after sensational debutFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
Despite Arsenal’s pedigree as champions of Europe, it was the WSL newcomers who stunned the crowd first. In the 17th minute, Katie Reid clipped Kosovare Asllani inside the box. The experienced Swede dusted herself off and coolly slotted her penalty low past Daphne van Domselaar to hand the Lionesses their first-ever top-flight goal.
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For a moment, it looked like Arsenal’s season opener might turn sour. Enter Smith. Picking up possession outside the box, the teenager skipped past Maria Perez before unleashing a scintillating curling effort that bent away from the goalkeeper and nestled perfectly into the bottom corner. And the Emirates erupted.
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WHAT SMITH SAID
Speaking post-match to , Smith could hardly contain her delight: “That’s the kind of goal I want to score. Whenever I see a gap, I’m going for it. To do it here, on my debut, was special.”
India will go from their 0-3 defeat to New Zealand to Australia in a couple of weeks’ time and they will face that challenge without the aid of any practice matches. This was their choice. They’ve scrapped a game they were supposed to play against India A at the WACA in favour of centre-wicket training with India A. This means the first game of any kind they will play during the Border-Gavaskar series is the opening Test match in Perth.India took this decision before the whitewash happened on Sunday and the captain Rohit Sharma explained why. “Look, you know, rather than practice match, we planned a very match simulation kind of a thing with India A,” he said. “I think sometimes when you play that practice match, we’re travelling with a squad of 19 players and it was only three days that were allotted to us. And I don’t know how much workload we can get done in those three days in terms of getting everyone prepared.”So we, as a management as well, we feel that rather than having that, the match simulation where the batters can spend more time in the middle, batting in the middle, and then the bowlers as well can bowl a lot of balls, so that is something that, we as a team feel more comfortable doing rather than playing a practice game because game time is not a problem. All of us have been playing a lot of cricket. So it’s just about spending time in the middle.”Related
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India A are already on site and have played a four-day game against Australia A in Mackay. That squad includes members who are part of the Test squad as well and several other leading performers in first-class cricket. So Rohit is hopeful of getting reasonably good prep, especially now with the shift from practice match to match simulation.”If a batter gets out, he has to sit in the dugout for the whole day, you know, and he doesn’t get too much of batting done,” Rohit said. “Whereas in match simulation kind of a thing, you know, the batters can go out and play 50-70 balls and then if you feel that he’s had enough, we can retire him out and then get someone else in. So that is the plan.”We want to maximise this three-day slot that we’ve got and I feel this is the best way to do it where the batters can have a lot of time in the middle and the bowlers at the same time can get their workload in terms of getting the number of balls bowled in the middle. So that was the idea and we will be.”I think we’ll be training at WACA, which is as close to Optus where you have that bounce and carry. So hopefully we can use those three days perfectly and maximise how much ever we can from our point of view.”The five Tests in Australia now assume even greater importance because India will need to win four of them to make it to the WTC final next year. They may have to start the series without Rohit, who mentioned that he “wasn’t too sure if I’ll be going to [Perth]. But let’s see. Fingers crossed.”
West Ham United’s notable exits this summer look as if they will be continuing on way past Mohammed Kudus’ crushing departure to Tottenham Hotspur.
The next reality check in the transfer department could come very soon, as Lucas Paqueta appears to be edging for a move away from the London Stadium, amid interest in the midfielder’s services from Manchester City and the aforementioned North Londoners.
It remains to be seen whether the Hammers would let Paqueta go during the same demoralising summer that saw Kudus defect to Spurs, as a new Paqueta-style figure appears on Graham Potter’s shopping list anyway.
West Ham ask about signing £30m midfielder
Potter’s men look as if they will be busy between now and September’s approaching deadline, with a whole host of names being tipped to join the East London ranks.
New reports have suggested that Cagliari attacker Roberto Piccoli might join the building to help boost the ex-Chelsea manager’s options up top, alongside the Hammers also eyeing up promising Sheffield United goalkeeper Michael Cooper to add depth in between the sticks in the wake of Lukas Fabianski’s retirement.
Sheffield United'sMichaelCooper
West Ham are further assessing their options in the EFL away from just the Blades when it comes to Southampton starlet Mateus Fernandes, with journalist Jack Rosser via X speculating that the Hammers have approached the Saints about a potential move for the rising Portuguese star.
It is stated that they haven’t been left with much encouragement from these conversations, however, with Atletico Madrid also keen on the 21-year-old, who is touted to be worth around the £30m ballpark.
Standing out as a shining light last season, even as his South Coast outfit plummeted to relegation, Fernandes could kick on and become an even brighter talent at the London Stadium if a deal can be secured, potentially filling the hole left behind by Paqueta in the process.
Why Fernandes could be the next Paqueta
£30m does feel like a steep amount to splurge on a midfielder that has just tasted the unwelcome flavour of relegation, but the 21-year-old did manage to come out of Southampton’s basement finish with his head held high, at least.
Lucas Paqueta in action for West Ham United.
Indeed, come the end of the depressing campaign for his team, Fernandes would still manage to tally up two goals and four assists for his lowly team in Premier League action.
All this frenzied interest has come his way off the back of completing such an impressive individual campaign, despite the many setbacks facing him at St. Mary’s.
Amazingly, Fernandes’ standout 2024/25 output is more goals and assists than Paqueta would manage back at the Irons across the same span, with the spotlight on the Brazilian more focused on controversies off the pitch, away from him only collecting a disappointing four goal contributions.
However, whilst the 21-year-old would shine in this regard, he is also similar to his South American counterpart when considering his overall, varied game, which would make him a perfect replacement for Paqueta in the long run. Indeed, as hailed by analyst Ben Mattinson, he is the “complete” talent.
Fernandes’ league numbers (24/25) vs Paqueta’s (24/25)
Stat – per 90 mins*
Fernandes
Paqueta
Games played
36
33
Goals scored
2
4
Assists
4
0
Touches*
53.3
58.6
Accurate passes*
29.0 (85%)
33.6 (79%)
Big chances created
6
4
Tackles*
2.5
2.0
Ball recoveries*
5.0
4.5
Total duels won*
5.8
6.0
Stats by Sofascore
Looking at the table above, it becomes far clearer as to why Mattinson described Fernandes as a ‘complete’ talent from the middle of the park.
The former Sporting youngster matches Paqueta and even betters him when it comes to the more defensive aspect of their games, when glancing at their numbers in the Premier League last season, as seen in him averaging more tackles and ball recoveries last campaign per match.
Even FBref states that the midfielders are statistically similar, with Paqueta also a versatile performer, much like the 21-year-old, when previously lining up down the left flank for the Irons.
Fernandes is some way off establishing himself as a Premier League regular like the “mind-boggling” Paqueta – as former teammate Declan Rice once described his ability – but his time could soon come to become an established talent at the level, particularly if the Hammers cough up what Southampton want this summer.
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Afghanistan lost their last six wickets for only 21 runs, crumbling swiftly on a slow and used Sharjah surface
Himanshu Agrawal09-Nov-2024First, Afghanistan’s spin quartet ended with combined figures of 38-0-144-7. Bangladesh’s trio replied with 21.3-2-72-5. But where Afghanistan’s quicks bowled 12 overs for 108 runs without a single wicket, Bangladesh’s fast bowlers were more incisive with four wickets in 22 overs, which went for only 111. That was the difference in the end as Afghanistan fell 68 short in their pursuit of 253 and Bangladesh levelled the three-match series with one game to play.Bangladesh’s win was set up by captain Najmul Hossain Shanto’s 76. When Shanto fell on his 119th ball in the 41st over of the first innings, his innings appeared to be too slow. But the value of his runs was visible when the Afghanistan batters struggled to get going, justifying that batting wasn’t easy on a slow and used Sharjah surface. Six of Afghanistan’s top eight scored at least 14, but only one could go on to score a half-century. Rahmat Shah’s 76-ball 52 remained the highest.Afghanistan’s chase of 253 began in sedate fashion. The Bangladesh quicks started with tight lines and lengths with the new ball swinging, but their first two breakthroughs were down to some fantastic catches. Soumya Sarkar anticipated a ball rushing onto him at wide slip to have Rahmanullah Gurbaz caught off Taskin Ahmed, while Mehidy Hasan Miraz – at square leg – leapt and plucked one to send Sediqullah Atal back off Nasum Ahmed’s first ball.Atal departed for 39, ending a 52-run second-wicket partnership with Rahmat, but his dismissal started a sequence where Nasum and Mahmudullah kept a check on Afghanistan, conceding only 19 runs across the next seven overs.Mehidy took over captaincy duties after Shanto had to leave the field with a hand injury, and brought himself back to bowl in the 24th over. One over past the halfway mark, Afghanistan’s required rate had crossed six runs an over, and the slide began in the 29th.Mustafizur Rahman had Afghanistan captain Hashmatullah Shahidi caught at fine leg for a 40-ball 17 and then Nasum bowled Azmatullah Omarzai for his second duck of the series with a beautiful ball which turned away to hit off stump.Three balls later, Rahmat paid the price for a mix-up with Gulbadin Naib, who pushed one to cover and called. With Naib watching the fielder, Rahmat was halfway down the pitch, and ultimately both ended up running towards Jaker Ali, the debutant wicketkeeper. Jaker, playing in place of the injured Mushfiqur Rahim, threw the ball to Nasum at the other end and Rahmat was well short.Thus, Afghanistan lost three wickets in the space of six deliveries, and although Naib swung his bat around for an entertaining 26, and added 44 for the sixth wicket with Mohammad Nabi, his dismissal left the rest with too much to do. They lost their last five wickets for only 21 runs and folded for 184 in 43.4 overs.That batting performance made Shanto’s half-century and Jaker’s death-overs batting cameo look even better. Bangladesh had lost Tanzid Hasan early in the afternoon, but Shanto and Soumya accelerated. Despite a Shanto slowdown after the powerplay, Bangladesh made 82 in 14 overs.However, it took a further 23 overs to get another 82 for Bangladesh, despite losing only two more wickets in that period. All four of Afghanistan’s spinners – Rashid, Nabi, Nangeyalia Kharote and AM Ghazanfar – operated during that phase, and conceded just two fours and a six.Rashid broke the 71-run second-wicket partnership between Shanto and Soumya when he trapped the latter lbw. Soumya, on 35, didn’t review despite a consultation, and later saw the replays show the ball had pitched outside the line.In all, Shanto took 75 balls to get to his half-century, which he completed halfway into the 28th over. Both Mehidy and Shanto struggled to put the Afghanistan spinners away, and had to rely on their running between the wickets amid a plethora of dots. In the 32nd over, Shanto was given out lbw on 55 off Ghazanfar, but he reviewed and overturned the decision.But Rashid broke the 53-run stand when he cleaned Mehidy up with a googly next over. With 12 overs to go and Bangladesh on 174, Bangladesh were on course for a strong finish but with Shanto slow but Kharote struck three times in the next three overs to dent their cause. Towhid Hridoy, Shanto and Mahmudullah all departed in quick succession.But Jaker and Nasum ensured Bangladesh would post a competitive score. The last six overs were taken for 60 runs, as Nasum started the fun with a slog sweep for six off Kharote. When Afghanistan switched to pace in the 47th over, Jaker bashed Fazalhaq Farooqi for back-to-back sixes, with one landing over the roof beyond deep midwicket. Nasum hit 25 at just better than a run a ball, while Jaker put the finishing touch. The debutant ensured Bangladesh crossed 250.
علق عماد النحاس، المدير الفني للنادي الأهلي، على فوز فريقه على نظيره حرس الحدود 3-2، في اللقاء الذي أقيم بين الفريقين في بطولة الدوري المصري الممتاز.
والتقى الأهلي مع حرس الحدود، على أرضية استاد الكلية الحربية، في إطار لقاءات الجولة الثامنة من الدوري المصري.
وقال عماد النحاس، في المؤتمر الصحفي بعد اللقاء: “الحمد لله كسبنا مباراتين متتاليتين، والكل يعرف أن التفكير ممكن يكون في مباراة القمة، واستقبلنا أهدافًا من أخطاء وهذا قدرنا”.
طالع|أيمن يونس يكشف أمرًا خطيرًا في الأهلي.. ويؤكد: فوز مروان عطية بجائزة رجل المباراة مجاملة
وتابع: “جراديشار اشتكى من الإصابة ولم نكن نرغب في المجازفة باللاعب، ولدينا الكثير من الغيابات لذلك لم نرغب في زيادة عددها”.
وأضاف: “عبد القادر ظهر في وقت صعب وأدى بشكل جيد وعاد من شد في العضلة الخلفية، ولدينا 5 أيام قبل لقاء القمة وسنعمل على تجهيز الفريق”.
وكشف: “ياسين مرعي عاد من إصابة لذلك لعبه في مركز الظهير الأيسر يحتاج لبذل مجهود أكبر لذلك عاد مرة أخرى لمركزه، وضغط المباريات والاجهاد تخطيناه ولا أرغب في الحديث عنه”.
وواصل: “أما بشأن تحامل اللاعبين على نفسهم من أجل المشاركة هذا لا أستطيع الرد عليه”.
وعن إهدار الفرص؟، قال: “لو معاك بجنيه توفيق سنسجل لذلك دائما أراه توفيق وعدم توفيق وأكبر دليل كرة ياسر إبراهيم، ومحمد علي بن رمضان سليم ١٠٠٪ لكننا لم نرغب في المجازفة به”.
واختتم: “تغيير تريزيجيه، ماذا لو حصل على إنذار آخر وغاب عن القمة، دعم الجماهير لم يقل ولكن علينا أن نتحمل بعض”.
A round-up from the opening day of the WBBL season which sees six teams in action
ESPNcricinfo staff27-Oct-2024
Shikha Pandey played a key role with the ball on her WBBL debut•Getty Images
Brisbane Heat earned a modicum of revenge for their defeat in last season’s WBBL final by toppling defending champions Adelaide Strikers by four wickets in the opening game of the season. Having restricted Strikers to 133 for 5, Charli Knott controlled the chase with a crisp 44 off 30 balls although there was a late wobble when Megan Schutt claimed two wickets in three balls.Grace Harris had laid a base for the chase before falling to superb caught and bowled by Jemma Barsby. When Lauren Winfield-Hill was bowled by Orla Prendergast, giving the Ireland allrounder her first wicket on debut, Strikers were back in the game but by the time Anesu Mushangwe struck with her first delivery – having been held back until the 16th over – the game was all-but done despite Schutt’s intervention.Related
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Strikers had struggled for momentum with the bat: after the powerplay they were 39 for 1 (despite the fourth over, bowled by Sianna Ginger, costing 20) and at the halfway mark 59 for 2. Laura Wolvaardt had been given a life on 0 when Grace Harris spilled a chance at mid-on but couldn’t take advantage as she drove Shikha Pandey to mid-off where Jess Jonassen held on with a juggle.Katie Mack and Tahlia McGrath lifted the tempo with a third-wicket stand of 53 off 41 balls but the middle order couldn’t kick on with overs 14 to 17 bringing just 14 runs. McGrath, who has struggled in T20s this year, brought up a 40-ball half-century. Pandey and Jonassen were outstanding with the ball as their combined eight overs brought 3 for 30 with 25 dot balls.After taking 2 for 25, Ellyse Perry smacked 81 in 38 balls•Getty Images
Sydney Sixers 179 for 7 (Perry 81, Bryce 36*, Wareham 3-26) beat Melbourne Renegades 178 for 8 (Wareham 61, Webb 43) by three wicketsEllyse Perry trumped Georgia Wareham in the battle of two superb all-round efforts in the second match as Sydney Sixers started their new WBBL season with two points. They chased the target of 179 set by Melbourne Renegades, with Perry leading the way with 81 off only 38 balls.With 11 fours, three sixes and a strike-rate of 213, Perry helped the Sixers raze down 121 runs off the target in 12 overs. When she fell to Wareham at the beginning of the 13th, Sarah Bryce’s unbeaten 25-ball 36 took the Sixers home. Caoimhe Bray – age 15 years, 34 days – started the day as the WBBL’s youngest ever cricketer, and finished it with her cameo of 12 in five balls that included the winning runs in the 19th over. Wareham fell on the losing side but had the game’s best figures of 3 for 26 in three overs.
Wareham was equally impressive with the bat. Even though Renegades’ 178 for 8 proved not to be enough, it was Wareham’s 31-ball 61 at a strike rate of 197 that set Sixers a chase of nearly nine runs per over.She walked in when Deandra Dottin was dismissed by Bray in the ninth over, and fell only on the last ball of the 20th over. Before her dismissal though, she had smacked Sophie Ecclestone for four, six, six in the final over to lift the team’s total. Her innings was complemented by opener Courtney Webb’s 43, but Emma de Broughe (19), Dottin (15) and the captain Sophie Molineux (17) failed to capitalise on their starts, proving costly on a good batting track.Alana King celebrates the key wicket of Ines Mckeon•Getty Images
Fast bowler Chloe Ainsworth picked up from her impressive returns in last season’s WBBL with two key wickets as Perth Scorchers defended what appeared to be an under-par 122 at the WACA.Ainsworth produced a pair of superb off cutters to claim Meg Lanning and Annabel Sutherland after 17-year-old debutant Ines McKeon, who has previously played 16 T20Is for France, had given Stars a brisk start. But the game really turned for Scorchers when Marizanne Kapp was run out at the non-striker’s end from a deflection into the stumps by Alana King. From there, Stars lost 8 for 53.King struck again the same over to trap Rhys McKenna lbw and then had McKeon stumped the ball after she reached fifty, which had included a monstrous straight six off King. Scorchers’ other spinners also played a key role while Carly Leeson held a sharp return catch from a powerfully struck drive by Kim Garth. Scorchers weren’t perfect in the field, including a missed stumping by Beth Mooney, and conceded 15 wides but still had enough runs.Scorchers hadn’t found life easy with the bat, either. Mooney had laid a foundation before walking past one from left-arm spinner Sophie Day, last season’s leading wicket-taker, who claimed 3 for 21. Chloe Piparo made an important 23 off 19 balls – the highest strike-rate of the match.
Alexander Isak has achieved greatness at Newcastle United, bestowing upon Tyneside a new form of striker over the past three years and crowning his journey with a triumphant Carabao Cup campaign last year.
He scored in that Wembley final against Liverpool, but it’s the Reds who the Sweden star may well be playing for this time next month, with FSG having seen a £110m offer rejected last week. They are primed to jump back in.
Isak’s goals have helped Newcastle along to Champions League-qualifying campaigns in two of the previous three Premier League terms, and he reached a new level last year, his complete and destructive performances at the front of the pitch leading pundit Jamie Carragher to name him “the best striker in the Premier League.”
Replacing him will be no easy feat, but that is the present task of new technical director Sudarshan Gopaladesikan, who has overseen a first formal offer for RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko.
Newcastle pushing for new centre-forward
Though Sesko’s future remains up in the air, Newcastle are engaged in a direct tussle with Manchester United for the Slovenian striker, and both Premier League clubs have placed bids.
There’s a growing sense that the Red Devils are encouraged in their pursuit, which could lead to Eddie Howe being forced into seeking alternative options once again.
It’s been a testing transfer window for the Toon, who have missed out on any number of top targets. Anthony Elanga was signed from Nottingham Forest for £55m, ending an interminable search for a right-sided forward, but more is clearly needed.
Well, according to transfer reporter Ben Jacobs, Newcastle have engaged in club-to-club talks with Chelsea for striker Nicolas Jackson, who is surplus to requirements at Stamford Bridge following the latest overload of arrivals there.
Man United are also keen on the Senegalese, but would not move ahead with a deal should they secure Sesko’s signature this month.
Jackson is thought to be valued at £70m by his employers.
Why Newcastle could sign Nicolas Jackson
Chelsea signed Jackson from Villarreal in 2023, and he has since made steady progress on English shores. Sure, he’s ebbed and he’s flowed, but the mobile striker has proven himself in the Premier League across two campaigns, capable of sustaining runs of prolific form.
Nicolas Jackson
However, there’s no denying that the 24-year-old needs to be more consistent. Although you wonder whether he would find more stable soil underneath his feet at St. James’ Park, for he would be entrusted with the leading role in Howe’s frontline, flanked by Elanga and the ever-dangeous Anthony Gordon, who may well be promoted to talismanic status if Isak leaves.
Sesko, 22, is a talented number nine, but he’s hardly proven on the grandest stage, and his return of 27 goals and seven assists across 64 Bundesliga matches aligns quite similarly to Jackson’s haul in the Premier League.
24/25 – Chelsea
30 (28)
10
5
23/24 – Chelsea
35 (31)
14
5
22/23 – Villarreal
26 (16)
12
4
21/22 – Villarreal
9 (0)
1
0
Sesko, indeed, scored 13 goals across 33 matches in the Bundesliga last year, and on the basis of the evidence, is there really a concrete chance that he would bring a surpassing level of central striking threat to Howe’s project?
Moreover, Jackson developed his goalscoring potential as a foreigner in La Liga, as was the case with Isak at Real Sociedad. This linearity of progress emphasises Newcastle’s interest, and indeed why they could do a lot worse than sign the Chelsea striker.
Praised for his “special” skills by journalist Rahman Osman, Jackson is also more dynamic across the board, technically and physically. As per FBref, he ranked among the top 18% of strikers across Europe’s top five leagues last season for pass completion, the top 17% for progressive carries, the top 21% for assists and the top 22% for shot-creating actions per 90.
Clearly, he’s got the wide-ranging qualities to make a real difference at Newcastle, should Isak leave. The Sweden striker is, after all, his most statistically comparable player, according to the data-driven website.
Thus, he could become the Tyneside outfit’s ready-made replacement, combining with the squad’s existing wide forwards to maintain a sense of fluency and oneness that Howe has so carefully woven together since replacing Steve Bruce at the helm.
For example, Gordon should stay, but it’s actually Elanga who could combine with Jackson over the coming years to become Howe’s latest Isak-Gordon duo.
Gordon is a high-speed winger, and Elanga considers himself to be “one of the fastest players in the league.” Across two campaigns with Forest, he has posted 11 goals and 21 assists across all competitions, instrumental in securing European football last season.
Though Jacob Murphy has plied such fine work on the right wing, this injection of depth will only be a good thing for a Toon team on the up.
The likes of Elanga and Gordon playing either side of Jackson might just prove to restore a sense of fluency that will seem to many to be lost if Isak does leave for Anfield.
Yes, Jackson could be cooler, more composed in the final third at times, but his overall play and athleticism and energy make a firm comment on his place at the Premier League’s round table of star strikers.
Is Howe not one of the finest managers and tacticians in the game? He will surely fashion a new partnership for the ages in Elanga and Jackson.
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The experienced international could boost morale at Newcastle.
Though Liverpool have strengthened well in the summer transfer window, Arne Slot likely needs more parts if he’s to lead his side to glory once again next season.
The Anfield side won the Premier League last season after Jurgen Klopp stepped down from his iconic post. No one thought this relatively unknown coach from Feyenoord could carry the weight of a legend’s departure, but Slot has proved himself the perfect man to lead this club, championing the virtues that are rooted so deep in the Merseyside soil.
And he’s been rewarded in the transfer market. FSG have smashed Liverpool’s transfer record to sign Florian Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen for an initial £100m figure, which could rise to a British-record £116m.
Slot also has a new full-back pairing to work with, Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez both impressing during Liverpool’s emotional pre-season outing against Preston North End.
Jeremy Frimpong and Arne Slot
However, Liverpool’s head coach may well feel that there’s still something missing in his rearguard, with the Merseysiders’ interest in a new centre-back well documented.
The latest on Liverpool's search for a defender
Back in May, Liverpool’s chiefs were working on a deal to sign Dean Huijsen, 20, after his spectacular breakout year with Bournemouth in the Premier League.
The problem was, most high-profile clubs across the continent wanted the Spain international, and that’s a list which included Real Madrid, who indeed won the race after activating his £50m release clause.
This in itself isn’t detrimental to the Liverpool cause, but now that Jarell Quansah has completed a £35m transfer to Bayer Leverkusen, it feels important that the Reds push ahead and sign a replacement.
Well, FSG have got one in mind all right.
According to reports relayed by The Mirror, Liverpool are preparing to launch a £40m bid for Crystal Palace centre-back Marc Guehi, looking to take advantage of the player’s contract situation, entering the final year of his deal at Selhurst Park.
Guehi is understood to favour a move to Anfield over Arsenal and Newcastle, though he wants assurances over his playing time.
Given that the England international, 25, is willing to run his contract down if push comes to shove, this could prove to be a delicate situation, with Slot no doubt wary about entering the forthcoming campaign with limited options in defence.
Why Liverpool want Marc Guehi
Guehi is a robust and reliable defender who has built himself up over a number of years at Crystal Palace, joining from Chelsea in a £18m deal four years ago.
Crystal Palace's Marc Guehi against Man City's Omar Marmoush in the FA Cup final.
His rounded technical qualities and deceptive aggression suggest he would be perfect for this high-flying Liverpool side, and given his two-footedness and leadership skills, he might even be the man to succeed Virgil van Dijk.
Van Dijk is one of the greatest defenders of his generation, instrumental in building Klopp’s dynasty at Liverpool. To replace him would be a daunting thought for any positional peer, but Guehi has what it takes, having been hailed as a “monster in defence” by reporter Bobby Manzi.
Crystal Palace's MarcGuehireacts after the match
Guehi has spent several years honing his skills in the Premier League, and now he’s ready to take the leap to the highest level. Van Dijk did something similar.
However, one could actually say that Guehi is more accomplished than the Liverpool skipper was during his Southampton days. After all, Guehi captained the Eagles to their incredible FA Cup triumph, defeating Manchester City in the May final at Wembley.
But looking at their respective performances across the past term in the Premier League, it’s clear that Guehi still has a level or two to scale before he can claim to be in the same ballpark as Van Dijk.
Prem 24/25 – Guehi vs Van Dijk
Stats (* per game)
Guehi
Van Dijk
Matches (starts)
34 (34)
37 (37)
Goals
3
3
Assists
2
1
Clean sheets
11
14
Touches*
64.9
90.4
Pass completion
84%
92%
Key passes*
0.5
0.3
Dribbles*
0.4
0.1
Ball recoveries*
4.3
3.1
Tackles + interceptions*
2.6
2.5
Clearances*
4.6
5.1
Duels (won)*
4.9 (59%)
4.7 (69%)
Errors made
2
4
Data via Sofascore
But, no doubt, the seeds are there, and two seasons alongside the legend could prove to sharpen his tools to the keenest edge, allowing him to become a superstar on Merseyside.
The Palace man is technically sound and creative besides. Moreover, he would emulate Van Dijk in arriving from a divisional rival lower down the ladder, with the Netherlands captain joining Klopp’s cause from Southampton way back in January 2018 for a £75m fee – a world record for a defender at the time.
Guehi’s ball-playing game, actually, is almost underrated, for he is not jsut assured but remarkable in his passing and movement, making things happen as he coolly collects and picks out forward-running teammates, be that with a swept pass or by dribbling upfield and playing a tidy layoff.
As per FBref, the one-time Chelsea prospect ranked among the top 12% of centre-backs across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for shot-creating actions and the top 2% for through balls, illustrating that Van Dijk-esque quality that would prove so useful for Slot.
But pedantry matters for a mind as analytical as Michael Edwards’. Guehi has been described as “one of those versatile centre-backs who can play both sides equally as comfortably” by analyst Ben Mattinson, and his propensity for the left side only fuels the argument that he could be Slot’s new version of Van Dijk.
Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk
Van Dijk is irreplaceable, but in Guehi, Liverpool might just sign the closest thing to a successor possible. He’s dynamic, combative and commanding, embodying the qualities required of a superstar centre-half at Anfield.
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Liverpool are planning to sign a new striker in the summer transfer market.
Liverpool have welcomed a range of new signings to Arne Slot’s title-winning squad, spanning Giorgi Mamardashvili between the sticks to Hugo Ekitike as Anfield’s new talismanic frontman (for now).
A bid for Newcastle United’s Alexander Isak remains in the pipeline, though the prospect of the all-powerful striker completing Liverpool’s attacking set remains reliant on the Magpies finding and signing adequate replacements. Don’t hold your breath.
A deal has been agreed for Parma teenager Giovanni Leoni, and Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi remains a top target.
However, several Liverpool stars may yet be on the move before the September 1st deadline.
Who Liverpool could still sell
Liverpool have recently sold forwards Luis Diaz and Darwin Nunez, but Federico Chiesa may yet leave too, with a return to his Italian homeland on the cards after a frustrating year on Merseyside.
Harvey Elliott is also planning to leave, for the young playmaker has been reduced to a peripheral role in Slot’s system, and will likely find his match action further impeded after the £116m signing of Florian Wirtz.
Harvey Elliott celebrates for Liverpool
Such players would be allowed to leave with little complaint, but that isn’t the case as far as Ibrahima Konate is concerned.
Instrumental in winning the Premier League last year, Liverpool’s Konate has entered the final year of his £70k-per-week contract, and while long efforts to renew terms have been made, sporting director Richard Hughes has yet to make a breakthrough.
And now, according to transfer insider Simon Phillips, Chelsea are willing to join Real Madrid in bidding for the centre-back this summer, prepared to offer a significant sum to bring him over to Stamford Bridge. A figure in the region of £43m has been mooted elsewhere.
Liverpool's IbrahimaKonatecelebrates after winning the Premier League
Were the Les Bleus powerhouse to choose the latter option and sign for Chelsea, might Liverpool be looking at a dreadful repeat of that one-time loss of Fernando Torres to the London side?
Liverpool must not sell Ibrahima Konate
The thought of Konate linking up with Trent Alexander-Arnold at Real Madrid is bad enough, but to consider him wearing blue under the Stamford Bridge lights is to swallow a bitter pill indeed.
Ibrahima Konate warming up for Liverpool
More still, the 26-year-old would be directly strengthening a Premier League title rival at their time of need, Chelsea having lost Colwill for the lion’s share of the season.
Having spent four seasons with Liverpool, it’s no coincidence that the France international’s injury-riddled stay smoothed out last year, the first term he has lifted the Premier League with the Redmen.
Liverpool must fight tooth and nail to keep such a player in their mix, especially as Virgil van Dijk edges toward the twilight of his illustrious career.
Under new management, Liverpool enjoyed collective improvements on the fitness front last season, with Slot and his team’s renown for maintaining high availability levels paying dividends. Longer sessions with reduced intensity did the trick, along with calculated substitutions across the campaign.
Konate indeed benefitted, enjoying more Premier League football than ever before across the span of a league season.
Ibrahima Konate – PL Career
#
Apps (starts)
Games Missed
24/25
31 (30)
6
23/24
22 (17)
4
22/23
18 (17)
17
21/22
11 (11)
1
Data via Transfermarkt
Were the Reds to lose their “monster” of a defender, as he has been called by analyst Josh Williams, while reaching the peak of his powers, it could be reminiscent of that deal that allowed Torres to head to Chelsea for a record-breaking £50m fee.
The Spanish legend had torn English football to shreds after leaving his homeland and joining Rafa Benitez’s Liverpool side in 2006, scoring 81 goals and supplying 19 assists across just 142 matches in all competitions.
Liverpool-Torres-Anfield-Premier-League
He never found the same degree of invincibility with Chelsea, although he did win a host of honours with club and country, including the World Cup and the Champions League, but El Nino, to be sure, harks back to his time on Merseyside as the finest football he has produced on an individual level.
Torres’ decision to leave Liverpool for Chelsea stung, but the candid truth is the Blues were higher up the food chain at that point in time. The bigger beast.
Stamford Bridge can no longer claim that narrative, and for Konate to depart and rehouse himself in west London would be a gut-punch of a move for those of a Liverpool persuasion.
With Hughes at the head of the table, let’s hope that that unthinkable eventuality does not become a reality.
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Liverpool are looking to seal a few exciting signings to close the transfer window.
As Alexander Isak edges closer to the exit door, Newcastle United are beginning to map out life without their talismanic striker.
The Swede’s choice to skip Newcastle’s pre-season tour of Southeast Asia and instead train at former club Real Sociedad has only heightened speculation about his future.
Newcastle striker Alexander Isak
While Liverpool lodged a bid to secure his signature, the Magpies are already working on contingency plans. In Benjamin Šeško, Newcastle believe they have identified an heir to Isak’s throne.
A towering presence at 1.94m, the 22-year-old is equally capable of leading the line with intelligence and intensity.
RB Leipzig's BenjaminSeskoheads at goal
Despite the club’s willingness to meet RB Leipzig’s valuation, the Slovenian appears to prefer a move to Manchester United – even in the absence of European football.
This has left the door open for alternatives.
One name is emerging as a serious contender – a raw but high-ceilinged talent who combines power, pace and composure in front of goal.
Newcastle looking at Europe's next powerhouse forward
According to TEAMTalk, Newcastle and Aston Villa are among five Premier League clubs interested in Porto striker Samu Aghehowa.
FC Porto's SamuOmorodioncelebrates scoring their first goal
The 21-year-old Spanish-Nigerian powerhouse has taken Europe by storm since joining Porto from Atlético Madrid for around £15m last summer.
Aghehowa has scored 27 goals in 45 games, including six in the Europa League and two against Manchester United, evidence of his ability to shine on the biggest stage.
As per the report, sources close to the player suggest he is keen on a move to the Premier League, drawn by its competitiveness and global appeal. However, Porto’s valuation, a steep £70 million, partly due to Atlético Madrid’s 50% sell-on clause, may complicate matters.
Nevertheless, it’s believed a lower fee could be negotiated, with £50m-£60m having been suggested.
Why Samu Aghehowa Might Be the Next Šeško — Or Better
Standing at 1.93m, Aghehowa fits the same physical profile as Šeško. Indeed, analyst Ben Mattinson described Omorodion as an “absolute powerhouse”, while also noting that he is the “real deal”.
Samu Aghehowa in action for Porto.
Crucially, he’s already proven capable of shouldering a club’s attacking burden, an attractive quality for both Newcastle and Villa, especially with the latter facing uncertainty over Ollie Watkins’ future.
Should Newcastle miss out on Šeško, Aghehowa represents a similarly ambitious gamble, albeit one with a potentially higher ceiling.
Benjamin Sesko
In truth, comparisons between the pair are as inevitable as both are towering, physically dominant forwards.
What’s more, both are under the age of 23 and represent the archetype of the modern target man: capable of bullying defenders whilst also possessing the technique to play in dynamic, high-tempo systems.
According to data from FBref, his non-penalty expected goals (npxG) stood at 8.4, with 11 goals scored in open play, and he averaged 2.5 shots per 90 minutes. But as promising as those numbers are, Aghehowa’s hold up well in comparison.
In the Liga Portugal, the Porto man scored 19 league goals and added three assists. Across all competitions, he notched 27.
The same data shows he ranks in the 75th percentile for non-penalty xG per 90 (0.43) and the 86th percentile for total shots per 90 (3.10).
In terms of pass completion, he’s even more efficient than Šeško, ranking in the 96th percentile (77.8%), demonstrating his ability to play quick link-up football.
Additionally, the former Atleti starlet is an active presence in the box.
Sesko vs Samu
He ranks in the 86th percentile for touches in the attacking penalty area (5.45), and, surprisingly for a striker, in the 73rd percentile for interceptions – testament to his defensive work rate.
Šeško, for all his finishing prowess, has a more passive off-ball profile. With Isak increasingly detached, training independently at Real Sociedad and unlikely to return without resolution, Newcastle’s hierarchy must make a call.
Wait for a Šeško U-turn, or invest in the next rising star before the market catches up?
Aghehowa might not be a household name yet, but neither was Haaland before his Salzburg breakout, nor Šeško before Leipzig.
The traits are all there: size, speed, hunger, and a fearless eye for goal. In the end, signing him wouldn’t just be a response to Isak’s departure, it could be a defining statement of ambition for the years ahead.
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