All posts by z3u9t.icu

Liverpool have taken their Premier League title challenge with Manchester City down to the last day of the season after taking all three points from St Mary’s last night.

Jurgen Klopp made the decision to rest key players like Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane, Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold for their penultimate league game after a tough 120 minute FA Cup Final on Sunday against Chelsea where the club picked up their second trophy of the season.

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Luckily for the German coach his decision to rest players paid off. Although the game was tight between the two teams, Liverpool pulled through and prevailed in their efforts winning 2-1.

Despite the tight scoreline, the Kopites dominated in every area of the game with 71% possession, 20 more shots, over twice as many accurate passes and winning more duels than Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side on Tuesday evening.

The goal-scoring started with Southampton taking an early lead when Nathan Redmond found the back of the net in the 13th minute of the game, but it wasn’t enough to hold off Liverpool’s FA Cup and Carabao Cup top scorer Taki Minamino who delivered a defiant response by equalising in the 27th minute.

In the second half, the hosts struggled to contain their visitors and Joel Matip managed to put one past Alex McCarthy in the 67th minute to kill the game and ruin Manchester City’s Premier League title party and take their title chances all the way to the final day of the season.

One player who didn’t get on the scoresheet but remained resilient and put on a solid performance to become Klopp’s unsung hero in the game was James Milner.

According to SofaScore, the 36-year-old midfielder was supreme in possession, making 123 touches, 86 passes, six key passes and successfully delivering 100% of his long balls.

The former £150k-per-week England international was also superb from a defensive point of view, winning 80% of his duels whilst making four tackles, one interception and producing a clearance, proving that he was a huge presence in the centre of the pitch.

With those kinds of statistics in mind, it’s hardly a surprise that writer Taj Ali took to Twitter to describe the veteran as a “beast.”

The Liverpool vice-captain is currently negotiating a new deal with the club after Jurgen Klopp reportedly wants to keep the former Man City star at the club for next season, and spoke out on Klopp and his current contract situation recently in an interview with Alan Shearer for The Athletic:

“He’s one of the very best managers in the world and if he wants me here for another year, it would be silly not to play, wouldn’t it?”

The Merseyside giants will have to hope Steven Gerrard’s Aston Villa can steal the game from Man City on Sunday if they have any chance of winning the league but Klopp’s side have done their job in making sure they can stay involved with the challenge which is all the manager can ask from his side ahead of their Champions League final clash with Real Madrid at the end of the month.

AND in other news: Liverpool eyeing bid for “complete” £36m-rated colossus, he’s even better than Fabinho…

Karl Darlow is reportedly now ‘set to leave’ Newcastle United once the summer transfer window opens.

The Lowdown: Out of favour

Darlow has been out of favour at St James’ Park this season, having played just eight times in the Premier League and not featuring since November (Transfermarkt).

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Last term, he made 26 appearances in total, and even kept number one Martin Dubravka on the bench after some impressive performances.

Former Tottenham Hotspur and England international goalkeeper Paul Robinson even went as far as to dub him ‘exceptional‘, but it seems as if Dubravka is firmly the number one under Eddie Howe.

The Latest: To leave

Taking to Twitter, Tyneside journalist Scott Wilson has revealed that Darlow is now ‘set to leave’ the Magpies in the summer, with Middlesbrough ‘ready to move’ for his signature:

“Boro will listen to offers for Joe Lumley and Luke Daniels this summer – and are ready to move for NUFC goalkeeper Karl Darlow. Darlow set to leave St James’ this summer in search of regular football…”

The Verdict: Move on

It is clear that Darlow is not a starter in Howe’s eyes, and at 31 years of age, it is now time to move him on.

He has been a good servant to the North East club over the years, and his performances in the last campaign that helped them stay up will not be forgotten, but going into the new era, it does not make much sense to stay put, for player or club.

The Toon may even look for a new goalkeeper to replace Dubravka as number one, which would place him further down the pecking order.

In other news, find out which ‘absolute beast’ NUFC are now preparing an ‘offer’ for here!

Transfer insider Dean Jones has made a claim regarding the futures of Aston Villa defenders Ezri Konsa and Tyrone Mings, GiveMeSport report.

The Lowdown: Summer shake-up?

Steven Gerrard is preparing for a first full season in charge at Villa Park and looks set to be backed by owners Nassef Sawiris and Wes Edens in the transfer window.

Reports last month suggested that Gerrard will be backed financially ahead of a ‘huge’ overhaul.

Villa are apparently likely to spend more than £150m over the coming months and are happy to break their transfer record once again, 12 months on from a £34.56m move for Emiliano Buendia.

The Latest: Jones’ claim

Talking to GMS about Konsa and Mings, Jones believes the pair could both depart the Midlands this summer, adding that ‘it’s not impossible’ Gerrard could bring in decent value replacements.

“They both could leave. I think that that’s plausible. And it’s not impossible that they could find two replacements at a decent value.”

“Mings and Konsa, for where Steven Gerrard is heading with this side, I think it’s plausible that they would be open to offers for both players.”

The Verdict: Interesting…

Konsa and Mings have been regulars under both Dean Smith and Gerrard this season, so it would be a shock if both moved on over the coming months.

If they do depart, Gerrard would be left with just Calum Chambers and Kortney Hause as senior options, so you could argue that three could be required.

Stefan de Vrij, Filip Helander, Victor Nelsson, Joe Gomez and Duje Caleta-Car are just some of the centre-backs who have been linked with a move to Villa, so it could prove to be a busy summer when it comes to defensive incomings and outgoings.

In other news: Villa now edging closer to summer move for ‘clinical’ ace as Gerrard gets his way. 

Manchester United reportedly sent scouts to watch SC Braga defender David Carmo ahead of a possible summer swoop.

The Lowdown: Carmo profiled

Carmo is a left-footed centre-back who can also play in a holding midfield role. The 22-year-old stands at 6 foot 4 and has made 54 senior appearances for Braga.

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Labelled as a player with ‘enormous physical capacity and tactical awareness’, Carmo has been limited to just 14 senior appearances this season due to an ankle fracture.

He returned to action in February and helped Braga end FC Porto’s 58-game unbeaten streak in the league earlier his week.

The Latest: United watching on

Sports Witness relayed an update from Record regarding Carmo on Wednesday. They claimed that several clubs sent scouts to watch the defender in action in the week, one of which was United.

Carmo has a €40m (£33.6m) release clause in his Braga deal, with Premier League rivals Liverpool, along with sides in Spain and Italy also keen.

The Verdict: Impressed?

Manchester United scouts may have left Portugal fairly impressed with Carmo following his display against Porto in the 1-0 win.

As per SofaScore, he made six clearances, two interceptions and wasn’t dribbled past all evening, ending with a match rating of 7.1/10, better than any Porto defender.

Carmo also completed seven of his ten attempted long balls and won three duels, so United may look to check in again on the defender before the summer, where defensive reinforcements could be high on Erik ten Hag’s wishlist.

In other news: ‘Been told’ – Sky Sports journalist says ‘incredible’ speedster wants to join Ten Hag at Man Utd. 

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has been dealt another blow with an injured star now facing several weeks on the sidelines.

Arsenal navigate plethora of injuries to top Premier League table

Considering the sheer number of key first team players who’ve been sidelined at various points already this season, Arsenal’s position at the top of the Premier League table is all the more impressive.

The Gunners have endured a torrid season with injuries, much like last campaign, which has severely tested Arteta’s squad depth.

While Arsenal have still begun the campaign very strongly, and are unbeaten in their last 18 matches across all competitions, their relentless succession of fitness problems has affected big-name personnel across multiple positions.

Arsenal 3-0 Nottingham Forest

Athletic Bilbao 0-2 Arsenal

Arsenal 1-1 Man City

Port Vale 0-2 Arsenal

Newcastle 1-2 Arsenal

Arsenal 2-0 Olympiacos

Arsenal 2-0 West Ham

Fulham 0-1 Arsenal

Arsenal 4-0 Atlético Madrid

Arsenal 1-0 Crystal Palace

Arsenal 2-0 Brighton

Burnley 0-2 Arsenal

Slavia Prague 0-3 Arsenal

Sunderland 2-2 Arsenal

Arsenal 4-1 Tottenham

Arsenal 3-1 Bayern Munich

Chelsea 1-1 Arsenal

Arsenal 2-0 Brentford

August proved particularly damaging, with Kai Havertz, Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard, Ben White and William Saliba all sustaining injuries.

Odegaard’s MCL knee injury against West Ham in early October proved especially problematic, keeping the captain out for nearly two months and robbing Arsenal of their creative heartbeat during crucial fixtures.

Gabriel Magalhaes remains absent for weeks following a thigh injury sustained during Brazil’s November friendly against Senegal. His regular partner Saliba has battled recurring problems, missing recent matches against Chelsea and Brentford due to an unspecified knock.

Arsenal handed Declan Rice injury twist after pre-Aston Villa update

The England international has been their arguable player of the season.

ByEmilio Galantini Dec 5, 2025

Summer signing Cristhian Mosquera compounds Arteta’s concerns after suffering a ‘complicated’ ankle injury that will require further testing to determine his recovery timeline.

Declan Rice provided fresh worries after limping off late against Brentford with a calf problem, and while the England midfielder insisted he felt “fine” ready to play against Aston Villa this afternoon, Arteta suggests he’s subject to a late fitness test.

Leandro Trossard has missed matches with muscular issues but should return within ‘days’ according to Arteta’s latest briefing, with the same going for Saliba.

Havertz suffered a setback in his knee rehabilitation and won’t return until possibly late December, while Gabriel Jesus finally returned to contention recently after missing nearly a year recovering from an ACL tear.

Summer signing Noni Madueke was out for two months after knee damage against Man City in September, though scans cleared him of cruciate ligament damage. The winger has since returned to action, providing Arteta with a renewed attacking threat.

That is a staggering 10 first-team stars who’ve been sidelined at various points, or still are, with a pretty concerning update now coming to light on Mosquera’s condition.

Cristhian Mosquera facing eight weeks out after Arsenal injury blow

The Spaniard was forced off early doors during Arsenal’s 2-0 win over Brentford in midweek, and according to BBC journalist Sami Mokbel, Mosquera now faces ‘at least’ six weeks out through injury in ‘another blow’ to Arsenal.

The key phrase there is ‘at least’, and it could be as long as two months, with Saliba’s fitness now becoming more crucial than ever.

If the Frenchman is still unable to start, then Arteta will have little choice but to play Jurrien Timber alongside Piero Hincapie for this afternoon’s crunch clash against Villa in the Midlands.

White would then likely be handed his second consecutive league start at right-back for the first time since May, with Arsenal’s strength in depth now set to play an even more pivotal role in their quest to win a first league title in 22 years.

It is important to note that the timeframe for Mosquera’s injury lay-off are initial concerns from within Arsenal, with the ex-Valencia starlet set for further testing to determine his exact recovery timeline.

It is a blow for the centre-back personally after his fine start to life at N5, despite having to contend with being a back-up to Arteta’s first-choice centre-back pairing.

Arsenal believe Mosquera could become one of the best centre-backs in world football in a few years, according to some reports, and nothing we’ve seen so far disproves that theory.

Ruben Amorim is edging closer to his one-year anniversary since he was appointed Manchester United manager, but it’s safe to say it’s not been an easy ride in the role.

The 40-year-old was seen as the perfect man to come in and change the Red Devils’ fortunes, but his spell at Old Trafford certainly hasn’t gone the way many anticipated.

He’s only achieved a 40% win rate since taking the reins last November, losing 20 of the 48 matches he’s taken charge of across all competitions – the worst of any manager of the club post World War 2.

The 2024/25 campaign was a dismal one for all involved at the Theatre of Dreams, registering their lowest-ever Premier League finish, but he was still handed over £200m to make the changes he desired.

After just a couple of games of the new campaign, judgment may have to be reserved until the new additions are settled, but that hasn’t stopped rumours from circulating about his future in the role.

The latest on Amorim’s future at Man Utd

Despite losing two of the first five league games of the 2025/26 season, the United board have stated that they will continue to back Amorim in his quest for success at the club.

The likes of Sir Jim Ratcliffe were at the training ground last week, but it’s been claimed that they still have full faith in the Portuguese boss to transform the club’s fortunes.

However, that could all be about to change in the coming weeks, especially if the latest rumours around the current managerial situation are to be believed.

GIVEMESPORT have reported in recent days that the staff behind the scenes at Old Trafford are huge admirers of Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner and could be tempted to appoint him should they part ways with Amorim.

The report also states that no move or decision on either situation has yet been made, but the 51-year-old remains a boss they’re tracking in case they decide to make a change.

Why United’s manager target is an upgrade on Amorim

The new generation of United supporters have only endured disappointment and frustration, subsequently failing to reach the heights achieved during the Sir Alex Ferguson era.

The Scotsman won 13 Premier League titles during his time in charge at Old Trafford, the most of any manager in the division’s history, with the former boss putting the Red Devils on the map.

However, since his retirement in 2012/13, the club have failed to win a single league title, with second-placed finishes in 2017/18 and 2020/21 as good as it’s got for the fans in the last decade.

Amorim will undoubtedly be hoping to change such a drought, but up to now, he’s failed to create a side and system that looks remotely close to even challenging for a European spot.

Such failures could lead to the hierarchy making a change in the next few weeks/months, with Glasner the leading candidate to take over, as seen by recent reports.

When comparing the duo’s respective stats in England’s top-flight, the Austrian has achieved a far better record, doing so with a shoestring budget compared to Amorim.

Glasner, who’s been labelled “incredible” by Pep Guardiola, has achieved a better win percentage than Amorim – leading the Eagles to a 12th-placed finish last season, ending the year three places higher than United.

Games managed

70

48

Wins

34

19

Draws

21

9

Losses

15

20

Points per game

1.76

1.38

Win percentage

48.5%

39.5%

Goals scored (per 90)

1.71

1.96

Goals against (per 90)

1.14

1.92

Trophies won

2

0

He’s also notched a better point per game record, whilst also achieving a better win percentage, highlighting how impressive he’s been since taking the reins at Selhurst Park.

Glasner has also created new history for the Eagles, winning the FA Cup against Manchester City last campaign – subsequently claiming the club their first ever major trophy.

There’s no debating that the Austrian is a phenomenal manager, with any potential move to Old Trafford giving the fanbase an added reason to be excited in the near future.

It’s unclear at present if the 51-year-old would want to leave his current employers, but it’s certainly a situation for the fanbase to keep a close eye on.

Even though the board aren’t planning for a change, it could only take a couple of poor results to change that – with Glasner needing to be the priority if the Red Devils are to have any chance of ending their drought for a league title.

Outperforming Mainoo: Man Utd must regret losing "sensational" star for £0

Manchester United made a huge mistake in allowing one young talent to leave the club on a free.

1 ByEthan Lamb Sep 23, 2025

Liverpool’s summer transfer window was defined by big spending, but also by letting some of their most promising youth talent depart.

While the Anfield hierarchy pursued marquee signings such as Florian Wirtz, Alexander Isak, and Hugo Ekitike, a quieter narrative was simultaneously unfolding.

Several academy graduates, once thought of as future first-team players, left the club in search of regular gametime and development opportunities that Liverpool could not immediately guarantee.

Harvey Elliot went on loan to Aston Villa with a £35m obligation next summer, Jarell Quansah moved to Bayer Leverkusen for £35m, and Ben Doak joined Bournemouth for £25m.

These departures, while financially reasonable, highlight the ongoing challenge Liverpool face in balancing youth development with immediate competitiveness.

Sometimes, trusting homegrown talent pays dividends, as 17-year-old Rio Ngumoha demonstrated with his 100th-minute winner on Premier League debut against Newcastle, reminding the club of the potential locked away in its academy.

For one player, however, leaving Liverpool has opened the door to a role that is allowing him to flourish at one of the European elite in a role that had long been earmarked for Real Sociedad’s Martin Zubimendi, who ultimately moved to Arsenal for £60m.

The lesson for Liverpool's youth talent

Liverpool’s history of allowing talented youngsters to leave and succeed elsewhere is not new.

Raheem Sterling’s departure is one of the most notable examples.

Sterling left Anfield in 2015 for Manchester City at just 20 years old in a £44m deal, making him the most expensive English player at the time.

His career trajectory underlines the risks of selling promising youth too early, even at a premium.

Sterling went on to score 131 goals and register 86 assists in 339 appearances for City, winning four Premier League titles and earning inclusion in the 2018/19 PFA Team of the Year.

Sterling’s success serves as a benchmark for evaluating the club’s current youth departures which include the likes of Dominic Solanke, Neco Williams and most recently Jarell Quansah.

Quansah, however, was not the only Kirkby graduate to flee Merseyside for Europe in the summer of 2025.

Where Are They Now

Your star player or biggest flop has left the club but what are they doing in the present day? This article is part of Football FanCast’s Where Are They Now series.

From Liverpool to Lyon

Tyler Morton, a 22-year-old local talent, joined Liverpool’s academy at just seven years old.

After progressing through the ranks, he experienced loan spells at Blackburn Rovers and Hull City before making his Premier League debut against Arsenal and his Champions League bow against Porto.

During his time at Liverpool, Morton made 14 appearances in all competitions, gaining valuable experience in a squad filled with international stars, while also contributing to the U21 European Championship victory over the summer.

This summer, Morton left Liverpool for Lyon in a £15m deal, a move that has allowed him to start playing consistently in Ligue 1 as a deep-lying playmaker.

This role mirrors the one Martin Zubimendi excelled at in La Liga before his £60m transfer to Arsenal, making Morton’s progression particularly noteworthy.

Liverpool had a bid for the Spain international rejected last summer, even though they may have already have their equivalent in the squad. Ultimately, Zubimendi went elsewhere, and Liverpool lost one of their most promising academy graduates too.

Regardless, Lyon and Morton have started the season strongly, winning three games from three, with the ex-Liverpool midfielder earning praise for his performances.

Against Metz, he played the full 90 minutes, recorded 84 touches, completed 63 of 69 passes (91%), delivered four key passes, three accurate crosses, four long balls – all successfully executed – and won four ground duels.

Bence Bocsák described Morton as a “quality midfielder,” highlighting the attributes Liverpool’s coaching staff have long admired, while Jurgen Klopp labelled him as an “outstanding” player.

His ability to control tempo, execute progressive passes, and contribute defensively makes him a versatile asset, one that Liverpool could have nurtured as in-house but instead allowed to blossom elsewhere.

Statistically, Morton’s style closely mirrors the deep-lying playmaking role that Zubimendi has excelled in.

Matches Played

36

Goals

2

Assists

1

Progressive Carries

38

Progressive Passes

195

Both operate in the transitional midfield zone, blending defensive awareness with progressive passing and the vision to influence play across the pitch.

While Zubimendi’s high-profile switch made headlines, Morton’s development in Lyon represents a potentially missed opportunity for Liverpool to cultivate a similar talent internally.

The youngser’s exit also underscores a recurring theme at Anfield and within the wider Premier League.

Clubs are increasingly letting promising youngsters leave only to see them thrive elsewhere.

Sterling set the precedent; Morton is now another example of Liverpool’s academy producing talent that, for reasons ranging from tactical fit to financial prudence, finds success beyond Merseyside.

While investing in high-profile signings is essential for immediate results, the club continues to face the delicate task of integrating its academy graduates into a star-studded first team.

Not Frimpong: Liverpool man who's "not at the races" is this season's Trent

Liverpool could have the next Trent Alexander-Arnold on their hands…

1 ByJoe Nuttall Sep 10, 2025

Celtic ended their season on Saturday and the attention will now turn to the summer transfer window and what they need to improve the squad to go again next term.

The Hoops already know that they might have to bolster their options out wide after Portuguese winger Jota suffered an injury that is set to keep him out for a large chunk of the 2025/26 campaign.

He was forced off with a knee injury during the first half of the 5-0 win over Dundee United and is now set for between six and nine months on the sidelines with a cruciate ligament injury.

This means that the attacker, who rejoined the Hoops from Rennes on a permanent deal in January, could miss most or all of the first half of next season.

Jota had produced four goals and two assists in seven starts in the Scottish Premiership prior to his injury blow, which illustrates the kind of quality that Brendan Rodgers has lost because of this news.

Celtic may, therefore, be in the market for a new winger in the summer transfer window, which officially opens for business next month, and one forward who is of interest to the club is Sondre Orjasaeter.

Why Sondre Orjasaeter could be a good signing for Celtic

Writing for Sky Sports on Saturday, journalist Anthony Joseph claimed that the club could go back in with a move for the Sarpsborg star this summer.

The reporter added that the Premiership champions had multiple bids turned down for the Norway youth international, before they eventually signed Jota from Rennes.

67HailHail reported during that window that the Hoops had an offer of £4.4m turned down for the 21-year-old starlet because the Norwegian side were holding out for a fee of £7m.

£7m is a significant amount of cash to splash on a young talent who has not proven himself outside of his own country, but his form for Sarpsborg does suggest that the potential is there for him to be an exciting signing for Celtic.

Appearances

28

7

Goals

5

1

Big chances missed

5

2

Big chances created

12

7

Key passes per game

1.9

2.0

Assists

5

2

Dribbles completed per game

2.4

2.7

As you can see in the table above, Orjasaeter has provided quality as both a scorer and a creator of goals, mainly the latter, in the Eliteserien since the start of last year, which is why he could be an excellent signing to fill the void left by Jota’s injury.

However, the £7m price tag could be a sticking point, particularly with Jota due to return at some point next season, and that is why they could look to an alternative option to forget about Orjasaeter.

Celtic could return for Belgian star

In the aforementioned article for Sky Sports, Anthony Joseph also reported that Royal Antwerp attacker Michel-Ange Balikwisha has been a long-term transfer target for Celtic.

The journalist added that the 24-year-old wizard has been highly recommended to the club by their scouts, who have been impressed by his performances in Belgium.

Transfer Focus

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

Joseph claimed that the Scottish giants could go in with a swoop for the Pro League star in the upcoming summer transfer window, and he could come cheaper than Orjasaeter would.

The Scottish Sun reported in April that the impressive winger is currently valued at £5m by Royal Antwerp, which means that he could be £2m cheaper than the Norwegian whizkid.

With this in mind, Rodgers could forget all about Orjasaeter and save the club £2m in transfer fees by pushing for the board to sign Balikwisha as an emergency replacement for Jota this summer.

Why Celtic should sign Michel-Ange Balikwisha

As per UEFA, Belgium is currently ranked the eighth best European league based on the coefficient rankings, three places above Norway in 11th. This suggests that the standard in Belgium, at least among the top clubs, is better than the standard in Norway.

You could, therefore, put more weight behind Balikwisha’s performances in the Pro League than Orjasaeter’s in the Eliteserien when judging how effective they could be at making an impact at Celtic, particularly in the Champions League, next season.

Whilst the Norwegian starlet has caught the eye with six goals and seven assists in his last 35 Eliteserien games for Sarpsborg, the Belgian ace has delivered similar levels of quality whilst playing in a more challenging league.

One scout, Emir, on X, described the £5m-rated star as a winger who “wins games on his own” and a “no-brainer” signing for top teams because he is ready to take the step to the next level.

Balikwisha’s performances in the Pro League suggest that he is a player who can be a difference-maker in the final third to win matches for his side, with goals and assists.

Starts

27

11

xG

6.46

2.26

Goals

7

4

Big chances created

6

7

Key passes per game

1.5

1.6

Assists

5

3

As you can see in the table above, the Belgian gem has produced 11 goals and ‘big chances’ created in 11 starts in the Pro League this season since returning from injury, which speaks to the kind of quality he can provide at the top end of the pitch.

Balikwisha, who is a right-footed left-winger, has also outperformed his xG in each of the last two seasons in the Belgian top-flight, which shows that he can be an effective and efficient finisher in front of goal.

The Celtic target also produced one goal and one assist in two Champions League qualifiers to help his side qualify for the group stage in the 2023/24 campaign, before scoring one goal in five matches in the group stage.

This shows that, unlike Orjasaeter, he also has experience on the top stage of European football, which could be useful ahead of Celtic’s qualifiers for the competition later this year.

He'd take Engels to the next level: Celtic expected to move for £10m star

Celtic are expected to make a move to sign a star who could take Arne Engels to the next level.

ByDan Emery May 26, 2025

Therefore, Rodgers must urge Celtic to forget about Orjasaeter by signing Balikwisha, who could provide more quality and experience whilst costing £2m less this summer.

After confirming the arrival of Jeremie Frimpong from Bayer Leverkusen, Liverpool have now reportedly joined the race to sign a La Liga defender who incoming goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili knows well.

Liverpool confirm Frimpong deal

On the same day that Trent Alexander-Arnold completed his move to Real Madrid a month earlier, with the Spaniards paying €10m (£8m) to do so, Liverpool officially welcomed his replacement in the form of Frimpong. The Dutchman has officially completed his summer switch to Anfield, arriving from Bayer Leverkusen for a reported €35m (£30m) fee.

After completing his move, Frimpong told Liverpool’s media channels: “I think this is the best stadium I played in when I was with Leverkusen: the atmosphere, the fans, the team as well. The whole package is great.

“I don’t need to say too much about the quality [of Liverpool]. They won the league. For me, playing against Liverpool when I was in Leverkusen, really difficult. Really, really difficult. How can I say it? Obviously Leverkusen were still good but you can see that Liverpool is next level.”

“You always want to play for the top teams as a footballer, as a kid. Of course, when I was younger and Liverpool first came, that was a no-brainer as well, but due to transportation and all these sorts of things, I had to go a different way. And look at me now. So, it has worked really well.”

Alexander-Arnold is not an easy name to replace at Anfield, but Frimpong is more than familiar with playing at an elite level, having been part of Leverkusen’s invincible team under Xabi Alonso in the 2023/24 campaign.

In a busy summer for Liverpool, the Dutchman could just be the first of several arrives, which looks likely to include former Leverkusen teammate Florian Wirtz and perhaps even a La Liga defender.

Liverpool join race for Valencia defender Mosquera

According to Caught Offside, Liverpool have now joined the race to sign Cristhian Mosquera from Valencia, who value their impressive centre-back at just €30m (£25m) this summer. The Reds aren’t alone in their quest to sign the 20-year-old, with RB Leipzig currently in pole position, but they could yet one advantage if they push on with their move.

After Wirtz: Liverpool join race for £30m star who can ‘reach Mane level’

Premier League champions Liverpool are looking to complete quite the summer of spending.

ByAngus Sinclair May 30, 2025

Incoming goalkeeper Mamardashvili already knows Mosquera well during their time together in Valencia’s backline and could yet help to convince his former teammate to join him at Anfield this summer. Given how he has impressed in Spain, meanwhile, Anfield chiefs should certainly step up their chase to sign the defender.

Dubbed “one of the most talented U-21” defenders in Europe by football talent scout Jacek Kulig, Mosquera looks like a player destined for the top, whether that comes courtesy of Liverpool or another club.

Football pundit Micah Richards believes a Leeds United target who the 49ers have made an approach for will “light it up” should he leave Man City this summer, according to a new report.

James McAtee’s Man City career could be coming to an end amid Leeds links

James McAtee has been at the Etihad for his entire football career, but he has yet to nail down a regular starting spot. The 22-year-old has played just 34 times for City in total, 15 of which have come this season in the Premier League.

He'd be Farke's next Buendia: Leeds make enquiry to sign special £35m star

Leeds United have already wasted no time in making a move to land one Premier League star this summer.

1 ByEthan Lamb May 15, 2025

McAtee’s most successful time in recent seasons came on loan at Sheffield United, where he was a regular starter and thrived in the second tier.

After his latest spell with the Blades, City decided to keep hold of McAtee, but it is a move that has seen his career stall, as he’s struggled to win over Pep Guardiola, and it’s now been reported that he is ready to leave the Etihad.

The attacking midfielder is out of contract in 2026, and given his situation at the Etihad, Premier League-bound Leeds United have made an enquiry over the possibility of securing a transfer for McAtee this summer.

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The Whites are not the only team chasing McAtee, as Nottingham Forest are also keen on landing the England under-21 international. It could be a costly deal for the Yorkshire side, as City are said to value the midfielder at around £35 million.

Micah Richards: McAtee will "light it up" should he leave Man City

The latest development in McAtee’s situation at Man City saw the midfielder left out of their FA Cup final squad on Saturday, and according to pundit Micah Richards, McAtee would “light it up” should he leave the Blues.

Former Newcastle United striker Alan Shearer believes McAtee needs to leave City if he wants to play regularly. Speaking on the latest episode of ‘The Rest Is Football’, via Leeds Live: “He [McAtee] is not getting in their team. He’s another one that is going to have to leave.”

Richards went on to agree with Shearer’s comments and added that “he’s got something special” and will “light it up” in a new team.

McAtee has played 48 times in the Premier League, scoring six goals in the process, and if Leeds do sign him, they will hope his experience of the division, even though it is limited, will help them next season, and he can be a creative force in their forward line.