Glasgow Rangers welcome Panathinaikos to Ibrox this evening in the first leg of their second round Champions League qualifier, and one player who will not be involved in Ridvan Yilmaz.

The Turkey international was left out of the squad for the match, with Jefte and Max Aarons preferred in the full-back department, and it remains to be seen if his future is in Scotland.

It was recently reported that the left-back has agreed to return to Besiktas this summer, but it is now down to the clubs to thrash out a deal for the defender.

Yilmaz only started 11 matches in the Scottish Premiership during the 2024/25 campaign and may be looking at a return to his home country to play week-in-week-out.

Rangers in talks to sign new left-back

The Light Blues should sanction an exit for the 24-year-old flop this summer because they are currently pursuing a deal for a player who would be a big upgrade for Russell Martin.

Transfer Focus

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

According to DaveOCKOP, Rangers are in talks over a deal to sign Liverpool left-back Owen Beck to bolster their options at the back for the 2025/26 campaign.

The report claims that the two clubs are locked in negotiations but the Light Blues are progressing in their pursuit of a swoop for the Welsh full-back.

It adds that the Premier League champions are currently holding out for a fee of £10m for their academy graduate, whilst the Gers would like to pay around £7m for him.

However, John Percy has since claimed that Derby County have agreed a deal to sign the defender on loan, which means that the Light Blues will need to step up their pursuit immediately to hijack a move.

Why Rangers should sign Owen Beck

Martin should push for the club to reach an agreement with Liverpool in these talks because he is a proven Scottish Premiership performer who would come in as a big upgrade on Yilmaz this season.

The 22-year-old star, who was once described as a “spectacular” player by talent scout Jacek Kulig, spent last season on loan at Blackburn Rovers, playing 24 times in the Championship, but previously shone on loan at Dundee.

Beck played 25 matches in the Premiership whilst on loan at Dundee in the 2023/24 campaign and caught the eye with his impressive displays at left-back, earning a place in the Team of the Year.

Appearances

25

17

Big chances created

6

4

Assists

4

2

Key passes per game

2.3

1.2

Tackles + interceptions per game

3.9

1.8

Ground duel success rate

57%

60%

Dribble success rate

60%

0%

As you can see in the table above, the Liverpool loanee provided quality as both an offensive and defensive force down the left flank that season, as he created goals and prevented them by making tackles and interceptions.

These statistics suggest that the left-footed star has the potential to be a big upgrade on Yilmaz for Rangers, as he could provide more quality as a creator at the top end of the pitch whilst also offering a more well-rounded defensive presence, thanks to his strength in duels on the ground and in the air.

Given that his performances came in the Premiership, as well, the Light Blues would be signing him with almost a guarantee of quality, as Beck has been there and done it at that level.

As dispensable as Nsiala: Teams have major interest in Rangers flop

There are teams eyeing up moves for this flop and Clinton Nsiala from Rangers this summer.

ByDan Emery Jul 21, 2025

This is why the Light Blues should be pushing to sign the ace who was once considered the best left-back in Scotland, because he would improve the team and allow the club to send Yilmaz back to Besiktas, should an acceptable offer come in.

England battle back in three-wicket over but are unable to rein in free-scoring opponents

Valkerie Baynes16-Nov-2024

Shai Hope went on the attack in a 23-ball half-century•Getty Images

A stunning display of ball-striking from openers Shai Hope and Evin Lewis led West Indies to a record-breaking consolation win in their penultimate T20I against England.The pair staged a 136-run partnership off just 55 balls to mow down a large chunk of their 219 target, scoring 10 sixes and 11 fours between them, before Rovman Powell’s 23-ball 38 made further inroads and Sheraine Rutherford saw them home in the highest successful run-chase in T20Is at Darren Sammy Stadium, and their second-highest in all T20Is.Half-centuries from Jacob Bethell and Phil Salt took England to the joint-highest first-innings score at the venue, matching West Indies’ 218 for 5 against Afghanistan at this year’s T20 World Cup. That was after Salt and Will Jacks had made a quickfire start on an excellent pitch to take England past fifty inside the first five overs of the match. But on this occasion, West Indies had the firepower to match them and salvage something from a series already sealed by England, who won the first three games.Hope springs, Lewis launchesJohn Turner, making his T20I debut after his first two appearances for England during the ODI leg of this tour, opened the bowling and conceded just five off his first over. Saqib Mahmood followed up with a maiden, but Turner’s second went for an eye-watering 25, starting with Lewis’s six over deep backward square and ending with 4, 4, 6, 4 from Hope as West Indies signalled they were up for the fight. Hope stayed sublime with back-to-back fours off Mahmood, who had caused the hosts no end of trouble this series, followed by a gorgeous drive off Sam Curran.Hope brought up his fifth T20I fifty – and third this year – in just 23 balls with a cracking four in front of square off Rehan Ahmed, three balls after hitting him over deep midwicket for six. Lewis sprung into action with a six over long-on as Liam Livingstone entered the attack, followed by a four to bring up West Indies’ hundred off 7.3 overs. Lewis’s next six, measured at 105 metres, was truly jaw-dropping as he latched onto Livingstone’s leg-break and deposited it firmly over long on, and he rounded out a 30-run over with one more, evading Bethell as he launched himself in vain just inside the rope at deep midwicket. Lewis brought up his fifty in 26 balls with four off Curran and he reached 68 from just 31 balls before holing out to Dan Mousley, running in from the cover boundary off Rehan.Powell beats crazy collapseHope was run out next ball when Nicholas Pooran nudged a Rehan delivery to mid-on then sent Hope back as Livingstone fired the ball in to the bowler with Hope still backing up. Then Pooran edged Rehan’s next ball, a googly, onto his off stump. After 10 overs, West Indies were 138 for 3, their highest score at the halfway point of a T20I innings, needing 81 runs in 60 balls and with two fresh batters at the crease. It suggested more twists to come.Livingstone took an excellent catch over his shoulder running back from mid-on to remove Shimron Hetmyer but left the field after appearing to have jarred his knee in his exertion. Of equal concern to England at the time was the fact that West Indies captain Powell was looking all business, having raced to 27 in 14 balls. He became Turner’s maiden T20I wicket, pinned on the back thigh in line with off stump, leaving his side with 23 runs to get from 21 balls.Highest targets successfully chased by West Indies at home•ESPNcricinfo Ltd

Rutherford skied Curran high over the bowler’s head and when it dropped in the middle of four converging fielders it felt like being West Indies’ night, if any more evidence was needed. Rutherford and Roston Chase held firm, Rutherford’s six down the ground off Mousley taking his side to within one boundary of victory with seven balls remaining. He took just one, slamming the very next over deep midwicket for another maximum, and victory.England’s flying startAn expensive opening over from Obed McCoy included four leg byes, thanks to some questionable fielding, bookended by two fours off Salt’s bat, clipped in front of square and launched over mid-off. Akeal Hosein didn’t fare any better upon his introduction in the third over, two short balls in succession dispatched by Salt for four through the covers and a thumping six over midwicket before Jacks chimed in with a straight six to make it 18 runs off the over.Jacks maintained his onslaught against McCoy and Alzarri Joseph, crashing the latter for an 89-metre six over long-on as England’s openers took their team past fifty in 4.2 overs. Joseph’s celebration was non-existent when he accounted for Jacks with a short ball, top-edged behind square leg, Pooran running round to gather comfortably as Joseph simply frowned, put his head down and stalked away to take his place in the outfield. But Salt carried on, raising his fifty with back-to-back fours off Powell, clubbed straight down the ground and cut deftly through backward point. It was his third half-century of this tour to go with his unbeaten 103 in the first T20I.Bethell’s blitzSalt held his breath moments later when he miscued off Hosein towards McCoy, who did well running in from long off to meet it as it dropped a fraction short of his dive. He was out a short time later though, attempting a pull shot off Chase, the ball brushing his glove and sailing down the leg side to a waiting Pooran for a 35-ball 55.Jos Buttler looked set to continue England’s impressive gambit as he picked off boundaries from Chase and Gudakesh Motie, but the pair combined to end his innings on 38 as Buttler reverse-swept Motie to Chase at backward point. Motie then removed Livingstone cheaply, caught by Hetmyer at deep midwicket. However, while Bethell’s half-century in the first match of this series had come in a supporting role to Salt, here he took the lead with Salt already back in the changeroom. Three sixes in succession off Chase took Barbados-born Bethell to a 22-ball fifty, his third of the tour, and he remained not out on 62 off just 32 balls after clearing the boundary five times in all and striking four fours.

Gareth Bale lit up the footballing world with both Tottenham Hotspur and Real Madrid during his career, becoming a five-time Champions League winner at the Bernabeu.

Regarded as Wales’ greatest ever player, Bale somewhat surprisingly called time on his career at the age of just 33 back in 2023.

Gareth Bale at Real Madrid	Record (Transfermarkt)
Appearances	258
Goals	106
Assists	67
La Liga titles	2016/17, 2019/20, 2021/22
Champions League titles	2013/14, 2015/16, 2016/17, 2017/18, 2021,22

Since then, Bale’s obsession with golf has grown and the former winger now spends even more time on the course, with his handicap down to an impressive 0.5.

Talking last year, now Grand Slam champion Rory McIlroy was impressed with what he saw from Bale on the course, saying the ex-footballer has the potential to get his handicap to zero (scratch).

Bales has also made guest appearances at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, BMW PGA Pro-Am, the All-Star Ryder Cup match at Marco Simone and The Dunhill Links, but what’s in Bale’s bag out on the course? The whole lot will cost you just shy of £3,000…

Gareth Bale: British manager toughened me up and made me one of the best players in the world

The Welshman gave a lot of credit to his former manager.

By
Tom Cunningham

Jun 15, 2025

Gareth Bale’s golf clubs in detail

TaylorMade Stealth Driver

Starting with the longest club in the bag, the driver. Bale is currently using the TaylorMade Stealth Driver which has an RRP of £499.

Bale’s driver has a loft of 10.5˚ and the Mitsubishi Tensei 85 TX-Flex shaft, being described as ‘hugely impressive’ with a ‘strong ball flight consistency, especially in the wind’.

TaylorMade Stealth 2 Fairway Wood

Often considered the hardest club to hit in the bag, the fairway wood Bale uses has been labelled ‘a cheat code’ by Golf Monthly.

His TaylorMade Stealth 2 Fairway 4 Wood has a 16.5˚ loft and, like his driver, the Mitsubishi Tensei 85 TX-Flex shaft. The RRP for this wood is £299.

TaylorMade P770 Irons

Continuing the TaylorMade theme, Bale uses the TaylorMade P770 Irons starting at a 3 iron and all the way down to the pitching wedge.

The P770 irons are recommended for golfers with handicaps ranging from scratch to 10 and are ‘designed for golfers who consistently strike the ball well and have a solid understanding of their swing’.

In limited edition phantom black, the P770 irons have an RRP of £1400, and Bale’s grip is the Golf Pride MCC.

TaylorMade MG3 Wedges

Clubs: GW, SW, LW

Bale’s current wedges are the TaylorMade MG3’s, one down from McIlroy and Collin Morikawa’s MG4s.

The Welshman has 50˚, 54˚, 58˚ in his bag, which are thought to be worth around £400 in total. They have a 4.5/5 star rating on Golf Monthly, who state the wedges are ‘extremely high-spinning’ and ‘delivers the control golfers are looking for with ample versatility and a soft, solid feel’.

TaylorMade Spider Tour X Putter

Finishing the bag with one of the most important clubs, the putter, and Bale’s TaylorMade Spider Tour X Putter is the same as McIlroy, who has put it to good use in 2025 as he sits in the top 10 on the PGA tour in strokes gained putting.

With a SuperStroke grip, the RRP is around £299 and is described as ‘one of the most forgiving putters on the market’, with ‘the Spider Tour X design one of the best TaylorMade putters’.

Arsenal are about to wrap up some key summer transfer deals, but Mikel Arteta could also see a host of players go the other way.

Gyokeres would love him: Arsenal eyeing up move for £100m "nightmare"

The international dangerman would be unreal for Arsenal.

2

By
Jack Salveson Holmes

Jul 23, 2025

Sporting CP striker Viktor Gyokeres is about to become an Arsenal player after a month of intense talks with the Primeira Liga champions, finally culminating in Fabrizio Romano dropping his famous ‘here we go’ tagline to the move earlier this week.

Arsenal transfer spending under Arteta (via Sky Sports)	Money on new signings
19/20 – winter	£0
20/21 – summer	£81.5m
20/21 – winter	£900k
21/22 – summer	£156.8m
21/22 – winter	£1.8m
22/23 – summer	£121.5m
22/23 – winter	£59m
23/24 – summer	£208m
23/24 – winter	£0
24/25 – summer	£101.5m
24/25 – winter	£0
25/26 – summer	£140m

Plans are in place for Gyokeres to undergo his medical in Singapore and link-up with Arteta’s squad for their pre-season tour of Asia (The Independent), after Arsenal agreed a potential £64 million fee for the forward, including add-ons.

Gyokeres and defender Cristhian Mosquera – Arsenal’s two most recent arrivals – could be joined by a central attacking midfielder, which is seen as their next priority.

Arsenal are still reportedly planning to accelerate a move for Eberechi Eze after sealing Gyokeres (Pete O’Rourke), but they may have to start thinking more about outgoings too, in an attempt to balance the books and err on the side of caution with PSR.

Leandro Trossard has emerged as a recent target for Bayern Munich amid their struggles to land Liverpool forward Luis Diaz, according to Bundesliga insider Christian Falk, and sporting director Andrea Berta could be forced to consider a bid given the Belgian’s contract expires next year.

Meanwhile, Fulham are in talks over another loan deal for Reiss Nelson (Dharmesh Sheth), so there are a couple of opportunities for Arteta to trim the squad before deadline day on September 1.

However, one of the few stars they won’t be prepared to sell is mainstay defender William Saliba.

Agent offers William Saliba to Real Madrid with Arsenal unhappy

The France international has been a pivotal member of Arteta’s defence since the beginning of 2022/2023, forming an unbreakable partnership with Gabriel, and this has attracted interest from Real Madrid.

The La Liga heavyweights are continuously linked with a move for Saliba, and they’re believed to view the ex-Saint-Etienne star as a “game-changer” (Fabrizio Romano).

Only an offer of around £100 million would get Arteta’s side thinking, according to Sky Switzerland’s Sacha Tavolieri, but the Gunners are currently in advancing talks to extend Saliba’s deal.

As per a report from Football Transfers this week, Arsenal are close to agreeing a new long-term contract with Saliba, which comes as very good news for Arteta. However, they’re unhappy with the conduct of his agent, who offered the 24-year-old to Xabi Alonso’s side via a phone call.

Saliba’s representative, Djibril Niang, is said to have fuelled rumours of a departure by contacting Real, and they faced similar situations with him when Edu was sporting director.

Heated exchanges between Edu and Niang apparently nearly resulted in the defender’s exit during his loan spell at Marseille, but luckily for Arsenal, Saliba’s potential extension will quash any possibility of a Real move for the summer.

Liverpool won the Premier League last season, and they won it rather easily.

But it’s a new season, and though the Reds have welcomed a wide range of exciting additions in the summer window, the jury remains out as to how they will adapt to life in Arne Slot’s title-winning side, and indeed, how swiftly the Reds will establish their free-flowing finest form.

The likes of Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk will lead by example, instilling confidence in the dressing and quality on the field, but it would seem that, in spite of the thrilling signings that have been made over the past few months, one or two more are required if the Anfield side hope to challenge for gold across all four fronts next term.

Liverpool's outstanding transfer plans

With Luis Diaz having completed a transfer to Bayern Munich and Darwin Nunez nearing a move to Al Hilal after a fee rising to £57m was agreed with the Saudi Pro League side, it’s clear that Liverpool need another forward.

That forward would appear to be Alexander Isak, who is locked in purgatory at Newcastle United as the Magpies struggle to find a replacement at centre-forward. Isak is determined to join Liverpool this summer.

Bolstering the midfield has been a scarcely discussed topic on Merseyside. This, in part, is because the £116m signing of Florian Wirtz will see Dominik Szoboszlai fielded deeper, as a number eight, with greater consistency, and Alexis Mac Allister and Ryan Gravenberch will operate in deeper, press-resistant roles.

Gravenberch, 23, is proof of Slot’s elite coaching, taken from being a talented prospect and developed into the Premier League Young Player of the Year, Liverpool’s unlikely solution as the central anchor.

Now, Slot has the chance to repeat the trick.

Liverpool leading the race for Premier League star

According to The Telegraph, Liverpool remain the favourites to sign Marc Guehi from Crystal Palace this summer, despite growing interest from a number of Premier League rivals.

Chelsea are searching for a centre-back following Levi Colwill’s ACL injury, but as it stands, are prioritising other targets. Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur both have a vested interest in the England international, but it is indeed Liverpool who lead the race.

Guehi, 25, has entered the final year of his contract at Selhurst Park and is valued at £50m by chairman Steve Parish; however, such a figure is beyond what FSG would be willing to pay.

Why Liverpool must sign Marc Guehi

The most obvious reason: Liverpool are rather short on central defenders. Though Ibrahima Konate’s long-term future remains up for dispute, it doesn’t seem likely that the France international will leave Anfield this summer, even if his contract expires in 2026 and Real Madrid lurk in the background.

Van Dijk will hope to steer the Reds toward another Premier League title, but the skipper turned 34 in July, and a success plan should be put in place, both for the next two years and that unknown world beyond.

With Jarell Quansah having joined Bayer Leverkusen for £35m, a defender of Guehi’s distinction could add the requisite depth but also an upgrade in quality that would propel the Reds even further into the ascendancy.

Last season, the England international started 34 Premier League matches for Palace, captaining them often, and impressed with a 63% ground duel success rate and an average of a key pass every two games, as per Sofascore, noteworthy for a centre-half.

Of course, defeating Manchester City in the FA Cup final was the cherry on the cake, and given this clear abundance of talent and confidence, might it be that Guehi is the perfect candidate to join Slot’s Liverpool and become the Dutchman’s latest version of Gravenberch, who unlocked new levels to his game upon entering the new system?

As you will see in the table below, the improvements that Gravenberch made when entering Slot’s world is nothing short of remarkable, with pundit Peter Crouch hailing him as “an absolute revelation” for the Reds last term.

Ryan Gravenberch in the Premier League

Stats (* per game)

23/24

24/25

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

0.7

Dribbles*

0.9

1.0

Ball recoveries*

2.8

5.2

Tackles + interceptions*

1.5

3.5

Duels (won)*

2.8 (47%)

5.0 (57%)

Stats via Sofascore

Previously discarded as flotsam by Bayern Munich, Gravenberch has become one of the best midfielders in the world, and Guehi could follow suit as Slot’s latest player project at Liverpool, having previously been cast out by Chelsea, who sold him to Crystal Palace for £18m in 2021 after he graduated from their academy, making only two appearances for the senior side.

Not just a stern defensive force and an “incredible” player, as he has been called by The Athletic’s Sturart James, Guehi also boasts a wide technical range, suited for the layered and intricate tactics of Slot at Liverpool.

As per FBref, he ranks among the top 12% of positional peers across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for shot-creating actions and the top 2% for through balls per 90, clearly fostering a ball-playing game under Oliver Glasner that would lead to a smooth transition over to Merseyside.

There are many central defenders floating about who could add the depth needed for Liverpool to challenge across multiple fronts next season, but in Guehi, FSG might just land the pick of the bunch, an immense player who has yet to even reach the full scale of his potential.

Related The next Wirtz: Liverpool can forget Isak by signing "one of the best LWs"

Liverpool are ready to make one more marquee move for an elite forward this summer.

Posts ByAngus Sinclair Aug 9, 2025

Liverpool made Premier League history with another late show at Burnley. Mohamed Salah converted a 95th-minute penalty to earn the reigning champions three points at Turf Moor. No top-flight team has ever won four games in a row in such dramatic circumstances, with Arne Slot’s side making a habit of securing vital victories as the clock ticks down.

• Started the season in style at Anfield

  Liverpool opened the defence of their top-flight crown in 2025-26 with a testing home date against Bournemouth. They threw away a two-goal lead in that contest before seeing Federico Chiesa and Salah find the target beyond the 88-minute mark.

Advertisement

• Getty
  

  Dramatic victories over top-four hopefuls

  Teenage wonderkid Rio Ngumoha then hit a 100th-minute winner in a five-goal thriller at Newcastle, before Dominik Szoboszlai struck a stunning 83rd-minute free-kick to secure a 1-0 win over Arsenal at Anfield.

• Salah held his nerve at Turf Moor

  It appeared as though points would be dropped during a visit to Burnley, but a moment of madness from Hannibal Mejbri saw him block the ball with his arm and concede a dramatic penalty. Salah made no mistake when slamming home from 12 yards.

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• How Liverpool made Premier League history

  Liverpool have become the first Premier League team to “win four consecutive games thanks to winning goals scored in the final 10 minutes or later”. They are certainly displaying the spirit of champions.

After Tottenham’s late collapse in the UEFA Super Cup on Wednesday evening, Spurs chairman Daniel Levy and technical director Johan Lange are under slightly more pressure to reinforce Thomas Frank’s squad with proven quality.

In truth, Spurs were extremely impressive against last season’s French treble-winners, especially considering they were minus chief creators Dejan Kulusevski and James Maddison.

Frank’s side found themselves 2-0 up just after half-time, and deservedly so, courtesy of two excellent finishes from central defensive duo Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero.

However, for all their dogged defending thereafter, PSG managed to claw their way back in with two very late strikes from Lee Kang-in and Gonçalo Ramos – taking the game to penalties.

Luis Enrique’s men reigned victorious in the shootout, but the PSG boss himself admitted that Spurs were superior and deserved something from the game.

Barring their capitulation in the dying minutes, there were definitely positives for Frank to take from this game, but the Lilywhites now head into their first Premier League match of 2025/2026 on the back of defeat.

There are still over two weeks to go until the summer window closes, with supporters extremely eager to see Levy make a late transfer statement ahead of a long campaign – even more so after their PSG loss.

Earlier this week, reports emerged that Tottenham opened talks with Crystal Palace to sign Eberechi Eze, who’s been a long-time target for north London rivals Arsenal, as Spurs look to beat them to the punch.

Eze, who bagged 14 goals and 11 assists in all competitions last season, would fill the gaping creative void left by Maddison’s long-term absence.

The England international is reportedly open to joining Tottenham as well, but the Lilywhites have a limited time only to trigger Eze’s £68 million release clause – which expires this Friday.

The 27-year-old isn’t Levy’s only late-summer attacking target, either, with Spurs also in talks over a deal for Man City winger Savinho.

Tottenham place opening bid for Man City forward Savinho

Right now, the Londoners are negotiating moves for both forwards in separate moves (Fabrizio Romano), so the prospect of Tottenham making a very ambitious double-attacking signing is very much alive.

There is a case to be made that the direct and pacey Savinho would be a perfect replacement for club legend Son Heung-min, and according to journalist Jorge Nicola, who spoke to the player’s agent, Tottenham have now placed their opening bid.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, as translated and relayed by Sport Witness, Nicola shared some intriguing information he’s heard from the 21-year-old’s representative, Frederico Moraes.

It is believed that Tottenham’s opening bid of £42 million has been rejected, and City are holding out for a fee closer to the £67 million mark if they’re to do business.

Pep Guardiola is also yet to give his green-light to the player leaving as well, so it appears Levy and Lange still have work to do when it comes to signing Savinho.

The South American, who only joined City from sister club Troyes last summer, was once a key member of Girona’s squad that surprised everyone by challenging for the La Liga title in 2023/2024.

Brazil’s winger bagged 11 goals and 10 assists that year, with Savinho also hitting double-figures for goal contributions in his first season at the Etihad.

When Trent Alexander-Arnold left Liverpool behind prior to the Club World Cup, fans at Anfield were left furious.

In all honesty, it was no secret that Trent was going to head to Real Madrid, but the way in which he departed has rubbed some the wrong way.

The Liverpool-born full-back had been part of the Reds setup for nearly his entire life and it came to a point where he refused a new deal at the club.

The fact they weren’t initially getting a fee for one of their prized assets was remarkable, really, but he did eventually fetch £10m when Madrid decided they wanted him in the squad for the Club World Cup.

Liverpool have since replaced him but have they truly replaced his best qualities?

How Liverpool can replace Trent

With Trent gone, Richard Hughes and Co moved swiftly to secure the services of Jeremie Frimpong who like Florian Wirtz, traded Bayer Leverkusen and Germany for the Premier League.

Frimpong is incredibly attack-minded, just like Alexander-Arnold, but he’s more about pace and aggression, soaring down the right wing, rather than inverting and spraying passes.

Both are progressive but in their own different ways. So, how can Slot rediscover that progression from central areas?

Well, Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton wouldn’t go a miss.

Transfer Focus

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

Reports in recent weeks have linked Liverpool with a move for the England international and he’s still being touted with a switch.

talkSPORT report this week that Manchester United are considering a bid for the midfielder amid doubts surrounding their pursuit of Brighton’s Carlos Baleba.

The report further notes that Liverpool are long-term admirers of the former Blackburn Rovers star.

While it’s unlikely Wharton moves this summer, particularly amid a £100m asking price, this is certainly one to watch for Richard Hughes and Co heading into 2026.

How Wharton could replace Trent’s best qualities

While Liverpool won’t lose any attacking intent having swapped Alexander Arnold for Frimpong, they will lose a big dose of creativity.

We’re all familiar with how Frimpong loves to get down the flank but what that means is that he’s not going to be someone who plays passes through the lines.

According to data supplied by FBRef, in the 2024/25 Bundesliga, Frimpong made just 2.14 progressive passes and 1.17 key passes per 90 minutes, metrics that ranked him in the very worst 11% of full-backs in the division for the former and the top 34% for the latter.

Liverpool’s former number 66, however, was very strong in this department. In the 2024/25 Premier League, the scouser made 8.83 progressive passes per 90 minutes, ranking him in the best 1% of positionally similar players. He also supplied 1.98 key passes every 90 minutes, ranking him in the top 5%. It’s safe to say he’s an elite creator.

So, where do Liverpool rediscover those attributes with a player in the centre?

Wharton would certainly help. Described as a “generational talent” in the words of former Sky Sports employee Matthew Stanger, he is one of the calmest and composed players in possession in England.

Last season, he made 1.78 key passes per 90 in the league, more than Frimpong and also registered 7.31 progressive passes across the same time frame. That ranked him among the division’s finest 7% of midfielders for that metric.

Not just creative from central zones like Alexander-Arnold was, he could be a defensive upgrade too.

Tackles won

0.96

1.90

Interceptions

1.37

1.18

Aerials won

0.48

0.11

Errors

0.00

0.15

Yellow cards

0.14

0.19

A look at the numbers indicates that while the former Red got through his fair share of tackles, overall, Wharton is a lot more complete from a defensive point of view, winning more aerial duels and making a higher volume of interceptions.

So, while the Palace superstar may not play in the same position as Alexander-Arnold, he could be everything that was hoped of Trent if he had eventually become a midfielder.

New Coutinho: Liverpool considering late move to sign £86m Isak alternative

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Tottenham are continuing their plans to back Thomas Frank in the transfer market ahead of his first full season in charge, amid the drama surrounding Morgan Gibbs-White and his potential move to N17.

"It's done" – £80k-a-week attacker submits transfer request to join Tottenham

He’s apparently desperate to join the Lilywhites.

3 ByEmilio Galantini Jul 17, 2025

Spurs remain in pursuit of the England international, despite Nottingham Forest’s threat of legal action against both the Lilywhites and his agent (Sky Sports), with reliable journalist Fabrizio Romano confirming that Gibbs-White is their priority as of now.

Tottenham appeared set to sign the 25-year-old nearly a fortnight ago after a round of quick-fire talks, even going as far as to book a medical for Gibbs-White on July 11, but Forest’s legal objections have seriously delayed his switch to London.

Son Heung-min

7.00

James Maddison

6.98

Pedro Porro

6.95

Dominic Solanke

6.84

Dejan Kulusevski

6.83

via WhoScored

There have even been some reports that this Forest reaction is down to Tottenham hijacking Man City’s part-exchange deal for Gibbs-White involving James McAtee (Football Insider), with Evangelos Mariniakis and co furious at the attacker’s last-gasp U-turn.

While this theory is yet to be backed up elsewhere, the consensus is that Spurs are still hopeful of eventually sealing a deal for Gibbs-White, but in the meantime, chairman Daniel Levy and co have other targets in mind as well.

Tottenham are keen on a new holding midfielder, amid repeated links to Bayern Munich’s Joao Palhinha, and there is a belief that Frank’s side are also looking at signing another centre-back too (The Telegraph).

Brentford star Yoane Wissa, who scored 20 goals in all competitions under Frank last season, also remains a top target.

Spurs face stiff competition from Newcastle United for the Congolese’s services, with the Magpies already having a £25 million offer turned down for him in the last few days.

There is an expectation that Eddie Howe’s side will go back in with an improved offer, but we cannot discount Tottenham, as explained by reliable journalist Ben Jacobs.

Yoane Wissa in London for crunch talks over Brentford future

Jacobs, taking to X, claims that Wissa is now in London for talks over his Brentford future after departing their pre-season training camp in Portugal.

The reporter says that while Newcastle are confident they can sign the 28-year-old, Wissa is also open to joining Tottenham, so there remains a distinct possibility that Frank could reunite with his ex-star striker at Hotspur Way.

Spurs’ boss has already praised Wissa’s “nose for goals”, and if signed, question marks will surely surround the long-term future of Richarlison, who’s attracting rumoured interest from a host of clubs abroad.

“I think they are super players,” said Frank about Wissa and his former Brentford side in 2023.

“Wissa, we knew, has always been a goalscorer. He scored seven goals in the first season and seven in the second in the Premier League, for a player that didn’t play much. It’s remarkable. I definitely think he is best as a 9. He’s got that nose for goals.”

Jason Gillespie has resigned as head coach of the Pakistan Test side, according to the PCB. This was officially confirmed after a few days of lingering uncertainty, culminating in Gillespie refusing to board his flight to join the Pakistan Test team in South Africa. Gillespie’s scheduled flight to South Africa was at 6AM Adelaide time on Friday, but he informed the PCB he had no intention of boarding it, deciding instead to walk away as relations between the coach and the board hit an all-time low. Aaqib Javed will take over as Test coach on an interim basis for the series in South Africa; he is currently the interim coach of both white-ball sides.ESPNcricinfo had first reported that Gillespie’s days as head coach of Pakistan were done last month, and that Aaqib would take over across formats. At the time, the PCB responded by refuting that story, insisting Gillespie would be coach for the two Tests against South Africa, while pointedly declining to commit to stating that he would see out his contract. However, the relationship between the board and the coach only went from bad to worse, and Gillespie would not take charge of another Test for Pakistan again.As ESPNcricinfo first reported, Gillespie was left particularly angered after the PCB decided against renewing high-performance red-ball coach Tim Nielsen’s contract, and had been left considering his options. Gillespie was offended he wasn’t consulted, or even told, before that decision was taken, and is understood to have left a lack of respect on part of the PCB. Nielsen told ESPNcricinfo he was happy to continue, and fully available for Pakistan’s Test series in South Africa and at home against the West Indies next month, but he was informed his services would no longer be required.Related

• Gillespie: I was 'completely and utterly blindsided' by the PCB

• Ramiz on Kirsten's departure: 'Not going to be easy for Pakistan to hire international talent'

• Aaqib Javed set to replace Gillespie as Pakistan head coach

• Kirsten resigns as Pakistan's white-ball coach

This appears to have been the final straw for Gillespie. ESPNcricinfo understands he communicated his intention not to travel under present circumstances to the board. Whether the PCB have made contact with him to persuade him to travel is unclear; a source close to Gillespie said the PCB had made no contact with him over the past day.Either way, a relationship which has continually fractured over the past few months reached breaking point. Gillespie was hired by the PCB to great fanfare alongside Gary Kirsten in April, with chairman Mohsin Naqvi saying his “stellar track record” preceded him. But since October, the board has cooled on the Australian, initially removing him from the selection panel for the Test side. It left him believing he was merely a “matchday analyst” pointing out it wasn’t what he signed up for. He is believed to have had negligible input on the selection of the Test squad for the tour of South Africa, and was out of the loop for the decision not to extend Nielsen’s contract.There was limited communication between Gillespie and the board since the end of Pakistan’s white-ball series in Australia, where he coached the side on an interim basis after Kirsten quit. The PCB did initially ask Gillespie to take up that position until the Champions Trophy, but without an accompanying financial offer to reflect the increased scope of his role. It was another factor that led to relations between the board and the head coach being strained.Gillespie’s anger is understood to partly stem from what he felt was a great rapport Nielsen had developed with the players, a point he had made more than once in public. It is believed both Gillespie and Nielsen consider the fact that Nielsen is not based in Pakistan as the reason his contract hasn’t been extended, though, as Nielsen confirmed, he would have been available for the upcoming two tours in their entirety.While it is understood the PCB has not yet made a decision on any potential replacement for Nielsen, the current administration has sought to replace overseas coaches it appointed earlier in the year with Pakistan-based ones. Aaqib, who took over the white-ball teams on an interim basis next month, now becomes the all-format coach, and is also on the selection panel.Gillespie resigning potentially spares the PCB from paying out the entirety of the remainder of his contract, as they would have needed to if they had decided to sack him. It was believed to be a consideration in Gillespie’s initial reluctance to quit, even as it became clear the PCB no longer wanted him there.Pakistan play the first Test in Centurion on December 26, with the second in Cape Town starting on January 3.