يشهد سوق الانتقالات في الدوري السعودي للمحترفين منافسة شرسة بين الأندية، حيث دخل الأهلي بقوة على خط المفاوضات لضم المدافع الدولي علي البليهي، نجم فريق الهلال الأول لكرة القدم.
وكشفت صحيفة “الرياضية” السعودية أن إدارة شركة النادي الأهلي قدمت عرضًا رسميًا للاعب يمتد لموسمين.
يأتي هذا العرض في توقيت حاسم، حيث دخل البليهي، البالغ من العمر 35 عامًا، الفترة الحرة من عقده مع الهلال في مطلع شهر يناير الحالي.
هذه الفترة تُتيح للاعب التفاوض والتوقيع مع أي نادٍ آخر دون الحاجة لموافقة ناديه الأصلي، وهو ما شجع الأهلي على التقدم بعرضه.
وبحسب ما نشرته “الرياضية”، يتضمن عرض الأهلي حصول البليهي على 11 مليون ريال سعودي في الموسم الواحد، أي بإجمالي 22 مليون ريال خلال مدة العقد.
طالع أيضًا | ألافيس الإسباني يوضح موقفه من التعاقد مع لاعب الهلال ومنتخب السعودية
ويُعتبر هذا العرض مغريًا للاعب، خاصةً إذا ما قورن بعرض التجديد الذي قدمته إدارة الهلال سابقًا.
وكانت إدارة الهلال قد عرضت على البليهي تجديد عقده لمدة موسمين مقابل 9 ملايين ريال في الموسم الواحد، إلا أن اللاعب طلب زيادة هذا المبلغ بعد أن تم الاتفاق مبدئيًا بين الطرفين على التجديد لمدة موسمين، هذا الخلاف حول الجوانب المالية فتح الباب أمام الأهلي للدخول في المفاوضات وتقديم عرضه الرسمي.
يُذكر أن علي البليهي انضم إلى صفوف الهلال في موسم 2017 قادمًا من نادي الفتح، وخلال مسيرته مع الفريق العاصمي، خاض 238 مباراة في مختلف المسابقات، سجل خلالها 22 هدفًا وصنع 4 أهداف أخرى.
كما حقق البليهي نجاحات كبيرة مع الهلال، حيث توج بـ13 لقبًا، بطولة الدوري السعودي للمحترفين 5 مرات، دوري أبطال آسيا مرتين، كأس خادم الحرمين الشريفين 3 مرات، كأس السوبر السعودي 3 مرات.
Chelsea's interest in Liverpool's Caoimhin Kelleher has been played down as the Blues have plenty of options between the sticks.
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Kelleher looking to leave Liverpool
Chelsea linked with stopper
But Blues well-stocked for goalkeepers
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WHAT HAPPENED?
Kelleher is facing an uncertain future at Liverpool, with the stopper expected to depart in the summer transfer window. The Reds have already confirmed Giorgi Mamardashvili will arrive from Valencia in 2025 in a move which will push Kelleher further down the pecking order. Liverpool's back-up stopper has readily admitted he "wants to go somewhere and be a number one" which has led to speculation about a potential move to Chelsea. However, the Blues are "not interested" as they already have Robert Sanchez and Filip Jorgensen, while Mike Penders will arrive in summer 2025 from Genk, according to Ben Jacobs.
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Kelleher has been thrust into the first XI this season after Alisson was ruled out with a serious hamstring injury. The 25-year-old has impressed for the table-topping Reds and will surely not be too impressed to drop back down to the bench when Alisson is fit again. Head coach Arne Slot has been full of praise for Kelleher, despite the stopper publicly stating he wants to leave Anfield, but may be unable to keep the goalkeeper at the club past the end of the current campaign.
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Kelleher has also been in action over the international break and saved a penalty for the Republic of Ireland in a 1-0 Nations League victory over Finland.
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WHAT NEXT FOR KELLEHER
Alisson is due back shortly for Liverpool, but Kelleher will continue until the Brazilian is match fit. The Reds face some crucial fixtures before the end of the year, with games against Real Madrid, Manchester City and Everton coming up after the international break.
Liverpool are believed to be in final negotiations with a 23-year-old who Zinedine Zidane rates as a player, according to a report from his homeland.
Liverpool transfer news
The Reds are still waiting for their summer to ignite in terms of new signings to bolster Arne Slot's squad, but some business should still be expected in the coming weeks and months.
Adrien Rabiot is a reported target for Liverpool this summer, with the 29-year-old wanted by a number of other clubs, including Premier League rivals Manchester United. He is now available on a free transfer having left Juventus, so there could be a scramble to snap him up – though the Merseysiders are thought to be the current frontrunners.
Another transfer claim has stated that the Reds are interested in signing Celtic attacking midfielder Matt O'Riley, who looks increasingly likely to leave the Hoops during the current window. That being said, Atalanta appear to be in pole position to sign him.
Dani Olmo is arguably one of the summer's most talked-about players having starred for champions Spain at Euro 2024, and Liverpool are seen as one of the teams in the mix to acquire his signature. Again, United are battling with them, as well as Manchester City.
Liverpool in talks with player who Zidane rates
According to Japanese newspaper Sports Nippon (via This Is Anfield), Liverpool are in the "final stages" of negotiations over Real Sociedad winger Takefusa Kubo, with a potential £50.6m deal on the cards.
In fact, the 23-year-old's agent has already reportedly headed to England to strike a deal, with the situation seemingly gathering steam all the time.
Takefusa Kubo
While a new winger isn't necessarily seen as priority business for Liverpool this summer, Kubo could represent a fascinating option in terms of increasing competition for places out wide.
The Japan international bagged seven goals and four assists in La Liga last season and is a former Real Madrid player, albeit having never made an appearance for them. He caught Los Blancos manager Zidane's eye during that period, with the legendary Frenchman saying of him during his loan spell at Real Mallorca:
"I think he’s having a good season. He’s playing a lot and that’s what we all wanted. He is a very interesting player, for the present and the future. I’m happy he’s doing well."
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The Reds are yet to start their summer business.
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At 23, Kubo is still a young player who could improve further alongside superior players under Slot, and his searing pace down the right flank could be a great weapon to have off the substitutes' bench.
He could even be viewed as a long-term replacement for Mohamed Salah, although whether he can ever reach the Egyptian's level or not is up for debate. Their compared stats last season show that there isn't too much difference in certain areas, though:
Takefusa Kubo v Mohamed Salah (2023/24 league stats)
O intervalo do Flamengo sem jogos chega ao fim da maneira como o clube não esperava. Isso porque as duas semanas cheias para trabalhar serviriam para descansar, treinar e preparar o elencopara as partidas dos últimos meses do ano. No entanto, a realidade é que o Rubro-Negro convive com pelo menos oito baixas e dúvidas para a partida contra o Palmeiras, neste domingo.
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A primeira baixa veio com Bruno Henrique, que teve uma lesão na coxa direita ainda na partida contra o Grêmio, válida pelo jogo de ida das quartas de final da Copa do Brasil. O camisa 27está em recuperação de lesão muscular no CT, massegue como desfalque para o time de Renato Gaúcho.
> Entendacomo o Flamengo teve um final feliz com David Luiz
Rodrigo Caio também não estará à disposição de Renato Gaúcho, conforme informou inicialmente o site “ge”. O zagueiro, vale lembrar, realizou primeiro treino completo junto ao elenco do Flamengo na última quarta-feira.
No entanto, a comissão técnica que a volta do jogador, que se recupera de uma lesão no joelho, quando ele estiver 100%.Sem atuar desde 25 de julho, Rodrigo Caio chegou a realizar, segundo o clube, um trabalho de reequilíbrio biomecânico e muscular após uma série de lesões.
> Veja a tabela do Brasileirão
Na última quinta-feira, Filipe Luísrealizou exames que constataram lesão na panturrilha esquerda.As dores no local, inclusive, fizeram com que o lateral-esquerdo trabalhasse à parte do grupo ao longo da última semana.
No dia seguinte, o Flamengo informou que Diego estácom um edema na panturrilha direita. Assim, o Rubro-Negro perdeu mais um jogador para a partida contra o Palmeiras.
Já no último sábado mais uma baixa surgiu.Gabigol se reapresentou no Ninho do Urubu com dores musculares e, assim, sequer viajou com o grupo para São Paulo, conforme informou primeiramente o UOL.
Kenedy ainda segue de fora. O atacante já foi apresentado e teve o nome publicado no BID (Boletim Informativo Diário) da CBF, mas cumpre etapas para o recondicionamento físico. Ainda vale lembrar que o jogador chegou a testar positivo para Covid-19 antes de ser liberado para viajar ao Brasil.
Já o lateral-esquerdo Renê segue em recondicionamento após uma lesão muscular e, também, por ter testado positivo para o novo coronavírus. Dessa forma, a tendência é de que o jovem Ramon ganhe a titularidade diante do Palmeiras, neste domingo.
Outra baixa é Piris da Motta. O paraguaio ainda está no processo de recondicionamento físico após problema no tendão de Aquiles. Segundo o UOL, ele antecipou a volta da seleção paraguaia e também está vetado para o jogo contra o Alviverde.
Vale destacar que outros problemas ainda podem aparecer.Arrascaeta e Isla, que defenderam as seleções do Uruguai e do Chile, respectivamente vão direto para São Paulo e lá serão avaliados. A dupla é considerada como dúvida para a partida.
Dessa forma, com oito baixas confirmadas e com duas dúvidas, o Flamengo chega para enfrentar o Palmeiras, às 16h, no Allianz Parque. A partida, que será válida pela 20ª rodada do Brasileirão, terá transmissão em tempo real do L!.
They absorbed all the pressure from the spinners and finished off the game in calculated manner
Sidharth Monga06-Nov-20202:33
Gautam Gambhir: RCB didn’t deserve to qualify for the playoffs
Two Test captains saw a jittery Sunrisers Hyderabad chase of 132 through, and their shirts and hair had sweat to show for it. Brought into the side after they failed to chase 127 against the Kings XI Punjab, Kane Williamson and Jason Holder absorbed all the pressure from the spinners on a turning pitch, saw the asking rate of eight when they came together nudge 10, but finished off the game in calculated manner with two balls to go. This was the Sunrisers’ fourth straight win in a must-win game, and the Royal Challengers Bangalore’s fifth straight loss after an excellent start to their season. The Sunrisers set up a virtual semi-final with the Delhi Capitals for the right to play the Mumbai Indians in the final.Having recovered successfully from the injuries during the season to Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mitchell Marsh and Vijay Shankar, the Sunrisers were now missing the man significantly responsible for their comeback, Wriddhiman Saha. The Royal Challengers had to contend with their talisman Chris Morris’ absence, out with a quad injury. They made wholesale changes, punting on two legspinners and also getting Moeen Ali and Aaron Finch in.On a pitch that offered both seam and spin, the bowlers from both sides were on top of their games. Eventually, only AB de Villiers and Williamson rose above the conditions, and they had to score their runs without taking risks because they didn’t have batting cover behind them.If Sandeep doesn’t get you, Jason willSandeep Sharma came into the match with nine wickets in the powerplay this IPL, and Jason Holder none. Opening for the first time this IPL – perhaps he wanted to try it sooner but his side couldn’t seal the playoff spot befire their last match – Virat Kohli was watchful in the first over, keen not to fall to Sharma an eighth time. Holder, though, got a glove from him down the leg side with his extra bounce. He then cramped up Devdutt Padikkal on the pull, making it a third Padikkal dismissal to a short ball this IPL. Padikkal has scored just 46 off 50 such balls.AB plays himself in, others play themselves outIn as early as the fourth over, de Villiers had no choice but to eschew any risk. He would go 20 balls before hitting his first boundary and reaching a run a ball. It was imperative that Finch take the pressure off, but life at the pitch was a struggle for him. He struggled to adjust to the pace of the surface, and was stifled by the accuracy of the Sunrisers bowlers. The first 10 overs featured just four boundaries, the joint-fewest in the tournament, all off the bat of Finch.Just as he looked like he might be turning a corner with a big six off Rashid Khan, Finch holed out to deep cover with Shahbaz Nadeem defeating him with a wide one as he backed away early. Ali walked out with a red carpet of a free hit rolled out for him, but he patted it to extra cover and ran himself out thanks to a Khan direct hit. The Royal Challengers were 62 for 4 in 10.4 overs.AB masterclass loomsBetween the Sunrisers and a facile chase stood the genius of de Villiers. Having scored 20 off 22 so far, with one edged boundary, de Villiers was just entering the genius phase of the innings. Without taking risks – he couldn’t afford to – de Villiers still managed to score 36 off the next 21 balls he faced. However, the Sunrisers were excellent against the others – Shivam Dube and Washington Sundar – bowling 19 balls to them without a boundary. The Royal Challengers were 111 for 5 in 17 overs.AB de Villiers – feeling the weight of single-handedly carrying RCB?•BCCIThe Natarajan masterclassThere was still time for de Villiers to do damage. Teams know he can still win matches even from here, especially when he is 40-plus balls into an innings. T Natarajan then had an unenviable task to bowl overs 18 and 20. He has had an unenviable task all season, bowling the really difficult overs for his side. He came into the playoffs with 14 wickets to his name, 10 in the death overs. In the 18th he made it 12. Sundar was regulation, timing a chip too well and getting caught at deep cover.The next one was one for the ages. A cross-seam yorker, dipping and beating the master and ripping the middle stump out of the ground. This just brought the total crashing down with just 20 runs coming off the last three.Warner is sent offMohammed Siraj removed Saha’s replacement, Shreevats Goswami, in the first over, but David Warner and Manish Pandey staged a recovery after playing themselves in against the seaming ball. Pandey broke free first, and in the final powerplay over, Warner, too, cut Siraj for two boundaries. Then he survived an appeal for caught behind. Or so he thought. The Royal Challengers took the matter upstairs. Replays showed this delivery pass the bat and pad at the same time, and there was a spike on UltraEdge. In a decision bound to cause controversy, the third umpire felt it was conclusive enough for him to overturn the on-field call. The Sunrisers 43 for 2 in 5.4 overs.The spin choke is onThat Warner wicket was huge not only because of Sunrisers’ middle-overs troubles, but because of the Royal Challengers’ attack composition. Warner feasts on legspin: he averages 61 and goes at 9.1 an over against legspin. Now they could unleash both their legspinners at right-hand batsmen. Pandey soon fell to the pressure created. Fourteen bowls of legspin for seven runs later, he played an ambitious late-cut and toe-ended to de Villiers. Priyam Garg faced 14 balls of legspin for seven runs himself. Then tried to drive over cover but holed out to the boundary rider. Six overs, 20 runs, two wickets.Test captains come togetherWith 64 required off the last eight overs, came together Williamson and Holder, two of the calmest players in international cricket, two players used to carrying their sides with them. They kept picking the singles, not worrying about the rising asking rate. Kohli had to eventually take the legspinners off. With 59 required off 38, Williamson tried to hit his first boundary, slog-sweeping Sundar as he overpitched. That took him to 19 off 25.Back came the legspinners. Back came the boundary drought. Back it went to 41 off 25. Out came the slog sweep again as Chahal overpitched this time. Williamson reached a run-a-ball 32 with this. Now Kohli had to go to pace. The dew began to play its part too. Navdeep Saini and Siraj took the high-risk route of bowling yorkers with both third man and fine leg up. While it provided them cover down the ground, a deft batsman such as Williamson kept finding the boundaries and twos behind square to never let the asking rate go past nine. And Holder then killed it off with two fours in the last over. The 65-run partnership comprised just two sixes and five fours.
The upcoming summer transfer window officially opens for business later this month and it could be a busy period for Glasgow Rangers as they look to improve their squad.
Brazilian left-back Jefte has already agreed to join on a permanent deal from Fluminense to bolster the team's options at left-back, following Borna Barisic's departure on a free transfer.
Kemar Roofe, Jon McLaughlin, Ryan Jack, and John Lundstram have also been released by the Light Blues, which means that the roster has lost depth in multiple positions.
Manager Philippe Clement and head of recruitment Nils Koppen must navigate the upcoming window to ensure that they come out the other side of it with a squad that can compete to win the Scottish Premiership title.
The Ibrox giants have not won the division in any of the last three seasons, with their rivals Celtic pipping them to it once again this term, but did lift the League Cup during the 2023/24 campaign.
Changes could be made to the defensive options at Clement's disposal as the Belgian boss is reportedly looking at a deal for a young central defender.
Rangers interested in AC Milan youngster
According to the Gallant View podcast, Rangers are eyeing up a bargain swoop to sign Clinton Nsiala on a free transfer from Italian giants AC Milan this summer.
The 20-year-old enforcer is out of contract ahead of the 2024/25 campaign and could arrive at Ibrox on the cheap, as they would not have to pay a transfer fee to bring him to Scotland.
However, it currently remains to be seen how far advanced a potential deal is and how interested in making the switch to Glasgow the defender is, as he may prefer to remain in Italy or assess his options elsewhere.
It was recently reported by Al-Riyadiya, as relayed by BBC Sport, that Steven Gerrard is lining up a swoop to sign centre-back Connor Goldson for Al-Ettifaq.
The former Gers boss would like to reunite with the English battler and Light Blues captain James Tavernier, with the ex-Liverpool midfielder preparing moves to sign both of them ahead of next season.
That report did not reveal how much Rangers would demand for either of those players or whether they are prepared to cash in on them at all.
Clement could, though, wave bye-bye to Goldson and cash in on him amid this interest in his services by securing a deal to sign Nsiala from Milan on a free transfer.
Why it could be time to move on from Connor Goldson
The veteran defender turns 32 later this year and the Light Blues may not get many more chances to make money from him before his value starts to decrease with his age rising into his 30s.
He has racked up 309 first-team appearances for the Scottish giants in all competitions throughout his career to date, and has undoubtedly been a fantastic servant to the club – given how many times the star has played for them over the years.
Connor Goldson and James Tavernier
However, Rangers have only won one league title in his six years at Ibrox and it could be time for a fresh approach to the new campaign, with new heroes emerging.
Clement may want to fully start his own era, in his first full season in charge, by offloading the experienced players who have been at the club for many years and consistently lost out on the title to Celtic, to then bring in new talents who are not weighed down by failures of the past.
Goldson, at 31, is heading into the latter stages of his career and has been on the wrong end of too many title races during his time in Glasgow.
Rangers defender Connor Goldson.
He is not a player with the potential to grow and improve and keeping him at Ibrox now could see his powers wane as his age rises and his mobility declines, which is why now could be the perfect time to part ways with him.
If Gerrard and Al-Ettifaq are ready to put millions on the table to snap the defender up then it could be an ideal move for all parties involved, with the Saudi side getting their man, Rangers getting money in return, and the player getting a chance to reunite with his former manager.
Why Rangers should sign Clinton Nsiala
However, the Gers would need to bring in another centre-back in order to wave bye-bye to Goldson first and Nsiala could be the man brought in to facilitate that exit.
The former France U16 international is a left-footed star who operates on the left side of the defence, which means that he would not be a direct replacement for the English ace.
However, his arrival at Ibrox would then allow the right-footed John Souttar, who played on the left side this season, to move over to his stronger foot next to Nsiala.
John Souttar
It would be a risky move by Rangers, though, as Nsiala is yet to make his first-team debut and that means that he is not a proven senior performer who you could confidently predict to hit the ground running in Glasgow.
However, his sublime form at U19 level for Milan during the 2023/24 campaign suggests that the potential is there for him to emerge as an excellent signing for the Gers.
23/24 season
Clinton Nsiala (Campionato Primavera 1)
Connor Goldson (Premiership)
Appearances
31
30
Goals
3
0
Pass accuracy
87%
86%
Interceptions per game
3.2
0.3
Ball recoveries per game
10.8
5.5
Duels won per game
6.8
6.1
Aerial duel success rate
58%
67%
As you can see in the table above, Nsiala was an aggressive defender for the Italian giants' youth side with almost twice as many ball recoveries and over ten times as many interceptions per game as Goldson made for Rangers in the Premiership.
This suggests that the 20-year-old colossus could win possession back for his side more frequently by winning the ball back through recoveries, interceptions, and duels won – limiting the number of chances that are created on Jack Butland's goal.
However, the Gers star has the advantage over him when it comes to his success rate in the air, which could be an area for the young star to work on if he arrives in Glasgow this summer.
Clement could sign his own Aaron Ramsey in early Rangers swoop
The Light Blues have been linked with an interest in the England international.
By
Dan Emery
Jun 4, 2024
Whilst there is no guarantee that Nsiala will be able to translate that level of performance over to the Premiership, his form in Italy is an indicator of the kind of talent Clement could land and why it could allow him to wave bye-bye to Goldson and kickstart a new era in the Light Blues defence.
Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney have made quite the impact at Wrexham, with their exploits considered to make rival supporters jealous.
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Stunning takeover completed in 2021
Overseen back-to-back promotions
Fully invested on and off the field
WHAT HAPPENED?
Every club wants owners that are fully committed to the collective cause, with assistance from the boardroom being offered on and off the pitch. Hollywood co-chairmen at SToK Racecourse have quickly become the poster boys for such support, with faith and funds aplenty being invested in North Wales.
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The Red Dragons have taken flight into League One, courtesy of back-to-back promotions, and continue to see their stock soar around the world courtesy of the award-winning ‘Welcome to Wrexham’ documentary series. Understandably, the attention they have received has not been universally embraced within the football community.
WHAT TRUNDLE SAID
Quizzed on whether EFL foes are envious of what Wrexham have going on, former frontman Lee Trundle – speaking in association with – told GOAL: “I think it makes fans jealous. Fans would be more jealous. If you’re a player and coming to play against them, I think you understand that if you were part of that squad, what a great ride to be on. Not only what they are doing football-wise, going through the leagues, but the way the club is off the field as well. It’s brilliant what’s going on at Wrexham at the moment. When you say jealousy, I think that comes from the fans when you see on social media and hear fans speak, it is coming from a lot from them. In the professional realm, and in teams, I think they respect what Wrexham are doing.”
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DID YOU KNOW?
Trundle added on the impact that Reynolds and McElhenney have made since completing a stunning takeover in 2021: “When they do stuff and they speak, when they do stuff on social media and the documentary, they come across as honest people – I don’t think they are in it to just try and get that fame, or be an owner and then sit back and let the club run how it is. You can see that they want to be hands-on, not only in the football team but helping with Wrexham as a place – going into the town and making that better, getting involved with charities around the city. It’s brilliant and I think they are great for football.”
In January, Jurgen Klopp shocked the footballing world with the announcement that he would step down as Liverpool manager at the end of the 2023/24 season, 21 months after signing an extension that would keep him at Anfield until 2026.
But Klopp ran out of energy, and when the larger-than-life German reveals that his batteries have been depleted, you know there's more than a modicum of truth in the revelation: he meant it; it was time to leave.
It's probably fair to say that there was more than a measure of anxiety coursing through Merseyside as Liverpool prepared for the unknown, but FSG have acted with real purpose, dissembling Anfield and restructuring it in a way that speaks of further success down the line.
Arne Slot has been announced as Klopp's successor but it is the duo of Michael Edwards and Richard Hughes who will prove decisive in recruitment, and given that one of Europe's hottest prospects is being pursued, the club seems to be in safe hands.
Liverpool fighting for elite talent
According to Dutch outlet Eindhovens Dagblad, Liverpool are hoping to sign PSV Eindhoven winger Johan Bakayoko this summer, who has been valued at £43m by the Dutch Eredivisie champions.
Johan Bakayoko for PSV
The 21-year-old is also attracting attention from German giants Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund, though Liverpool can find early positivity in the latter's reluctance to pay such a sum.
Liverpool have been tracking Bakayoko for over a year and Slot will know him well following his tenure with Feyenoord, so this is definitely one to keep an eye on.
Why Johan Bakayoko is attracting interest
Journalist Ben Mattinson has gushed over Bakayoko's "insane" ability this season, with the right-sided forward enjoying an incredible season after cutting his teeth with PSV's first team last year, scoring five goals and adding as many assists.
Scoring 14 goals and adding 14 assists in all competitions this season, Bakayoko has been an imperious figure down the right channel for PSV, and while his direct contributions speak of exciting attacking potential in a division such as the Premier League, it's the underlying numbers that have arrested Edwards' attention.
Indeed, as per Sofascore, the Belgium international has complemented his 12-goal, nine-assist return in the Dutch Eredivisie this term with 2.9 shots and 2.1 assists per game, ensuring that his output is reflected through his success.
Moreover, an 87% pass completion rate highlights his elite technical skill and crispness, with 3.4 ball recoveries, 2.8 dribbles and 4.7 successful duels per game wrapping up an illustration of high-level athleticism that makes him a factory-crafted fit for the rigours of English football.
Johan Bakayoko for PSV
Bakayoko is in the maiden phase of a promising career but he has demonstrated enough to suggest that he has what it takes to succeed at the highest level, perhaps even proving to be the dream successor for Mohamed Salah, whose future at Anfield is uncertain.
How Johan Bakayoko could fit in at Liverpool
The Saudi Pro League's pursuit of Salah risks entering the realm of monotony, with The Telegraph revealing that interest in bringing the Egyptian to the Gulf might now be cooled until 2025 when his contract on Merseyside will reach its conclusion.
But considering that by that point Salah will have reached his 33rd birthday, it might not be the worst decision in the world for FSG to allow their £350k-per-week star to enter the twilight phase of his glittering career elsewhere, especially if Liverpool are forearmed with Bakayoko, who will have enjoyed an invaluable year as Salah's understudy.
Bakayoko is an immense talent but it's unclear at this stage if he will ever develop into a free-scoring phenomenon like his prospective predecessor; quite simply, that just might not be his area of expertise, and that's perfectly okay.
Liverpool are evolving and it might prove an imprudent move to shoehorn a player into Salah's position on the right flank, especially given Slot will now look to inculcate his own philosophy into the team.
Instead, Bakayoko could bring his own, all-encompassing attacking game to ensure that Liverpool enjoy a new chapter with a new star down the right channel, different but deadly.
GK – Simon Mignolet
RB – Trent Alexander-Arnold
CB – Joel Matip
CB – Dejan Lovren
LB – Alberto Moreno
DM – Jordan Henderson
CM – Emre Can
CM – Gini Wijnaldum
RW – Mohamed Salah (G, 57')
LW – Sadio Mane (G, 29')
CF – Roberto Firmino (G, 55')
Salah ranks among the top 4% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for goals, the top 1% for assists and touches in the attacking penalty area and the top 20% for shot-creating actions per 90, but he also ranks among only the top 51% for progressive carries and the top 78% for successful take-ons per 90.
As he's aged, the one-time Chelsea starlet has refined his game to fit his slowly but inexorably declining athleticism, which is still elite but finds him more effective in shifting into the danger area, collecting and unleashing.
The spark that Bakayoko would offer Anfield could work wonders in offering something different, with his speed and dribbling prowess seeing the young Belgian rank among the top 6% of positional peers across divisions similar to the Eredivisie over the past year for touches in the attacking penalty area but, crucially, among the top 1% for progressive carries and the top 4% for successful take-ons per 90.
His fleet-footed style has led Bakayoko to be hailed for his "electric" qualities by talent scout Jacek Kulig, accurately portraying a style of play that appears perfect for Slot's high-energy, fast-pressing brand of football.
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Who knows, after spending a season absorbing the fruits of Salah's labour, Bakayoko could grow into his skin without the heavy weight of succeeding one of the Premier League's all-time forwards instantly.
Former Premier League chief Keith Wyness has shared what he’s heard about a potential second buyer emerging to complete a takeover of Everton.
Everton takeover latest
The Blues have had a season full of controversy and struggles, having to accept a couple of points deductions in the league, threatening their top-flight status in the process. Thankfully, Sean Dyche has done an excellent job, ensuring his side are all but safe even despite their penalties.
Away from that issue, there is also constant concern over the credentials of 777 Partners as Everton's next owners, with one recent report claiming that Deloitte have been called in seek new backers, following an update from journalist David Hellier.
Meanwhile, a fresh report from BBC Sport on Thursday provided another update regarding the current takeover situation at Goodison Park. They state that "Everton's prospective buyers have held discussions with a private equity firm specialising in 'distressed debt' as they aim to complete a protracted takeover of the club", once again posing further questions over 777's capabilities and funding.
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Speaking to Football Insider, 66 year-old Wyness has now talked up the idea of a Tim Cahill-led Qatari takeover of Everton happening in the near future, in a decision that could split opinion: "Tim Cahill has been linked as the face of any potential Qatari bid. Tim has done a great job down there with the Aspire Academy and is very involved at a high level with the Qatar national team and their football plan.
"If he was to get the right ear of people in Qatar, he’s a very forceful personality and has done well in business since leaving football – it could be a possibility. Qatar is not ridiculous. I think it would be well received by fans. There are obviously the political issues which would have to be resolved.
“But of all the nation states, Qatar would be accepted by the Everton fans. As with anything in football, it’s 50/50. 50% will hate it, and 50% will love it – that’s just how it goes."
This is certainly an alternative option that could appeal to Everton supporters, who will no doubt be growing increasingly frustrated with the situation surrounding 777 Partners, considering they agreed to buy a 94% stake in the club all the way back in September.
Not only could the Qataris stand out more financially, but the fact that Cahill is the face of the operation could make it even more ideal.
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The Australian is arguably one of the Blues' most popular players of the Premier League era, scoring 68 goals in 278 appearances, and the fanbase could have faith in him having the club's best interests at heart, which is so important to any takeover.
Liverpool's last lap under Jurgen Klopp has seen a detrimental stumble that has allowed Arsenal and Manchester City to take command in the Premier League title race, with hopes of clinching the trophy minute at this point.
To triumph against the odds would take an incredible nosedive in form from both rivals at the final stage, compounding the recent struggles that have seen Liverpool crash out of the FA Cup and the Europa League.
And while the Carabao Cup was clinched back in February, there is an unavoidable, unshakeable sense of poignancy, of regret, surrounding what teased to be a stunning ending, fitting of the dynasty that the 56-year-old created on Merseyside.
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp
Still, Liverpool have rebuilt following the dismal efforts of the 2022/23 campaign and perhaps it's apt timing for Klopp to stand down, relinquish the reins and allow the club to enter its next phase.
Arne Slot is the man to succeed the German, and he will find the complex situation around Mohamed Salah at the forefront of his concerns when he touches down in Liverpool this summer.
Mohamed Salah's recent form
Last summer, with Liverpool losing their place among Europe's elite, Saudi side Al-Ittihad sought to secure a flagship signing by bringing Salah to the Middle East, though their eye-watering £150m advance was rejected by FSG last August.
Salah, who was respectful throughout the process, remained at Liverpool and proved exactly why keeping him in the squad was such a pivotal success, having plundered 24 goals and 13 assists across 41 appearances for the Reds this season.
Liverpool star Mohamed Salah
The Egyptian star ranks among the top 5% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for goals, the top 1% for assists and touches in the attacking penalty area and the top 21% for progressive passes per 90, as per FBref.
He's been the linchpin of a largely excellent campaign, though this recent decline in form has been concurrent with his side's acute nosedive, with Liverpool's wastefulness in front of goal the crux of the slump.
Indeed, the £350k-per-week forward has scored just one goal across his past six Premier League outings, failing to assist a teammate and winning only two matches.
The 31-year-old still has much to offer at the apex of the great game and pointers suggest that he feels remaining at Liverpool, where he has bagged 298 goal contributions from 346 fixtures, notably winning the Premier League and the Champions League, is the best place for his remarkable career.
However, Salah's imperfections have been accentuated following the recent dip, the fatal blip, and now there is a palpable sense that Slot may not view Salah as the fulcrum of his Liverpool attack when the Dutch manager gets to work on English shores.
Slot and his tactical brand have a semblance to that of his Anfield predecessor, Klopp, but there will of course be changes and his thrash-metal style could see the prolific Egyptian lose that unwavering starting berth that has already cracked, a fissure stemming from his decline and seeing Klopp bench him twice in the past four top-flight outings – erupting in a heated touchline row.
Should Salah remain at the club, as is expected at this point, it's unlikely that a high-profile, high-cost replacement will be targeted this summer, but Dominik Szoboszlai could find himself undergoing a tactical alteration…
Why Slot must unleash Szoboszlai at right wing
Few would question that Klopp knew what he was doing when he fashioned Szoboszlai into a deeper-lying midfield position than he might be accustomed to, signing the Hungarian gem from RB Leipzig for £60m last summer.
Turbo-powered, elegant and enterprising, Szoboszlai proved to be a colossal upgrade on Henderson in the centre of the park, even being declared as an "artist" by talent scout Jacek Kulig for his early exploits in the Premier League.
Dominik Szoboszlai for Liverpool.
But injuries and an unrelenting schedule have taken their toll on the 23-year-old, who has been one of the most noticeable strugglers throughout the recent period of inconsistency in Liverpool's campaign, starting only one of the Reds' last three league games.
Still, as per Sofascore, over the duration of the Premier League season, the £120k-per-week dynamo has completed 87% of his passes, averaging 1.7 key passes and 5.6 ball recoveries per game.
But this has all been as an operator in the heart of the midfield, a position that is not his natural placement but necessary to charge Klopp's team – the recreation of players such as Gini Wijnaldum in the past further proves this point.
Slot plays with a 4-2-3-1 formation and, as such, will probably not use Szoboszlai at the base of the engine room, where Alexis Mac Allister would thrive alongside a specialist No. 6.
Right winger
24
8
5
Right midfield
8
0
7
Left winger
7
2
1
Attacking midfield
3
0
0
Central midfield
3
0
0
Hailed as a "generational talent" by journalist Marcel Moeller during his career in Germany, Szoboszlai might just find that in a new system, playing a role that better suits his skill set, he rises to a position of prominence and sustains it under the guidance of Slot.
Last year, with Leipzig, he principally played on the right wing, reaping the lion's share of his direct goal contributions through such means. Salah will hope to hold down his long-time Liverpool position but Slot's football demands energy, movement and multi-functionality.
Salah is averaging 0.8 dribbles per game in the Premier League this season, winning 35%, as opposed to 2.2 per fixture during his historic 2017/18 term, succeeding with 63% of his forward forays. Szoboszlai, clearly, offers more energy than that declining aspect of the Egyptian game.
Liverpool midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai.
Ranking among the top 1% of midfielders across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for shots taken, the top 4% for progressive carries and the top 5% for touches in the attacking penalty area per 90, the 6 foot 1 player is patently pushing toward his favoured role in and around the final third.
He might not have the elite goalscoring ability of Salah, but this style of play could suit the new regime just perfectly, with Trent Alexander-Arnold spraying passes into the danger area that his Hungarian counterpart can latch onto with penetrative pace and power.
Who knows, perhaps Salah might find himself shaping into a new, more central position, where he can maintain his sharpening playmaking ability – no Premier League player has created more big chances than he this term (21) – and benefit from the robust creative qualities of Szoboszlai.
One thing's for certain, Slot has much to chew on when he arrives at Anfield, tasked with leading Liverpool to more glory after the brightest period in generations.
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