Liverpool are reportedly one of a number of clubs keen on signing a "fantastic" player in the summer transfer window, seeing him as a possible replacement for a current hero.
Liverpool transfer news
The Reds continue to be linked with a host of new players to take the club forward after Jurgen Klopp leaves this summer, with Arne Slot on course to be the new manager at Anfield.
West Ham attacker Mohammed Kudus is one player who has been linked with an exciting move to Anfield at the end of the season, having impressed for the Hammers during his first year at the club. The Ghana star has bagged seven goals and six assists in the Premier League in 2023/24, linking effectively with the likes of Lucas Paqueta, Jarrod Bowen and Michail Antonio.
West Ham forward Mohammed Kudus.
A shock rumour has also emerged linking Liverpool with former Everton winger Anthony Gordon, who has impressed since trading Goodison Park for Newcastle United. He is also pushing hard to be a part of England's squad at Euro 2024, meriting a place out on the left-hand side more than the likes of Marcus Rashford and Jack Grealish, both of whom have had quiet campaigns.
In terms of younger potential signings, teenage Sunderland midfielder Chris Rigg is reportedly wanted by the Reds this summer, with the 16-year-old already a fixture in the squad at the Stadium of Light, appearing 21 times in the Championship this summer.
Liverpool eyeing free transfer for Alex McCarthy
According to a new update from The Daily Mail, Liverpool could look to sign Southampton goalkeeper Alex McCarthy this summer for free, should Caoimhin Kelleher move on. The Irishman may want to be a No.1 elsewhere, with Celtic emerging as an option for him, among other clubs.
The report states that the Englishman, who will be a free agent this summer as things stand, "is emerging as a summer option for Scottish Premiership leaders Celtic as well as Liverpool and Newcastle United, adding that the Premier League pair are "monitoring developments with McCarthy as they draw up shortlists for back-up keepers."
McCarthy could be an ideal backup option to Alisson if Kelleher does opt for a fresh challenge this summer, ticking so many boxes when it comes to what Liverpool are looking for.
Firstly, he is a homegrown player, helping ensure that the Reds meet their quota, but he now also possesses a huge amount of experience in English football. He has made 147 appearances in the Premier League, not to mention being capped once for England, and Southampton manager Russell Martin said of him after Sunday's 0-0 draw at West Brom:
"He's been great. He was massive today, (he has great with) long throws and the way he came and dealt with things. The last two weeks I’ve loved the way we’ve defended. I just don't think anything phases him. He has that laid-back mentality but he really backs himself as a goalkeeper. He has been fantastic."
Liverpool make early move to sign "generational" star who'd unlock Nunez
This remarkable forward would make a big impression on Arne Slot’s team.
ByAngus Sinclair May 13, 2024
At 34, the £50,000-a-week McCarthy may be content to warm the substitutes' bench at a huge club most weeks at this point in his career, but he would still have chances to shine in cup competitions, and also likely in the league, given Alisson's slightly injury-prone nature.
But points out tournament will only be possible with the health ministry’s nod
Nagraj Gollapudi06-Jun-2020
The Barbados Tridents players celebrate with the CPL trophy•Getty Images
The CPL has received a shot in the arm after the Trinidad & Tobago government indicated that it is “very, very much open” to hosting the 2020 edition of the tournament in the country. However, Shamfa Cudjoe, the Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs, stressed that a final decision would be subject to permission form the health ministry and the CPL providing a “commitment” to stick to the guidelines.Earlier this week, the CPL submitted a proposal to hold the entire tournament comprising 34 matches at two main grounds in Trinidad. Originally the CPL, which comprises six teams, was scheduled to take place between August 19 and September 26 at six venues. In its proposal, the CPL mentioned that it would conduct the tournament across 25 days with several double headers.In 2018, the CPL had signed a three-year contract with the T&T government to host the semi-finals and the finals in addition to home matches of the local team, the Trinbago Knight Riders. Last year, Trinidad hosted eight matches comprising five of the TKR home matches along with the knockouts in addition to two T10 women’s exhibition matches. As per the contract T&T government is meant to pay US $ 1 milion to CPL to facilitate the matches in the country.On June 4, CPL had its first meeting with the T&T government, which was attended by Cudjoe along with the country’s chief medical officer and officials from the Ministry of Health. According to Cudjoe, the CPL proposal, which she called a “draft document”, primarily focused on health protocols and travel arrangements for the six franchises to follow.”They wish to hold CPL in Trinidad and Tobago ,” Cudjoe told , a Trinidad-based radio station, hosted by local broadcaster Andre Errol Baptiste, hours after the meeting. “The proposal speaks primarily to the health protocol, and doesn’t cover budget or anything of that sort. I must commend CPL for taking this time out to touch on and examine each and every part of the health protocol – from quarantine period after the players land, as to how they are going to be housed, how they are fed and how to maintain social distancing, even rules as to whether saliva or sweat can be used on the ball – they went into detail.”Despite both parties walking out optimistic from Thursday’s meeting, Cudjoe said without the health ministry’s green light nothing would move forward. “Most importantly, we are asking the Ministry of Health to give us clearance, and guidelines, to see if this is even possible, and what’s the best way to execute these games. But we are open to hosting, and as long as our numbers (Covid-19 cases) remain low, and we can establish the right health protocols and guidelines, and get the commitment from CPL to abide and adhere to those guidelines, then we are very much, very, very much open to hosting the CPL at this point in time.”Cudjoe did not reveal tournament dates, but said CPL was “recommending mid-August, very early in September, playing games almost every day”. Cudjoe reiterated that the government would not gamble with the safety of the people at a time when the pandemic has caused close to 400,000 deaths worldwide. T&T has remained vastly unaffected so far with 117 people having tested positive for Covid-19 with 8 deaths.”All of that (the tournament dates) would have to be looked at based on the health guidelines and the protocols from the Ministry of Health and Ministry of National Security,” Cudjoe said. “You don’t want to chance anything. Our priority is safeguarding the athletes, the workers and all the stakeholders, most importantly the wider public of Trinidad and Tobago.”So we will not be taking any chances, we have to examine these protocols very, very meticulously, and then we will come up with a way forward as to whether this makes sense, whether we can remain healthy, whether this is safe, before we give the go-ahead. We will be deliberating on the matter during the next week, and we hope to come up with a proper and solid response to CPL soon.”Cudjoe said, as part of the next step, the CPL has been asked to present the “budgetary items”, which would be initially examined by the Sports Company of Trinidad & Tobago, the government arm administering various sport in the country. A “concrete position”, Cudjoe said, is likely to be taken next week once CPL returns with further details in the proposal. That then would be heard by the T&T government cabinet before taking a decision.
O volante Willian Farias, do Coritiba, titular e um dos destaques da equipe alviverde, pediu intensidade máxima do grupo para a sequência da temporada visando a liderança da Série B. Para ele, alcançar a ponta da tabela será importante para todos.
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– Estamos nesta briga pela liderança e buscando a ponta da tabela de classificação. O campeonato está muito equilibrado. Temos que manter essa intensidade para chegarmos aos nossos objetivos nas próximas semanas.
Segundo Farias, a meta do Coxa é vencer o Náutico, atual líder da disputa, neste final de semana.
– Vamos para um jogo muito complicado diante do Náutico. Um triunfo nos colocará bem próximos da liderança novamente. Vamos em busca da vitória.
نجح فريق الكرة الأول بنادي أهلي جدة، من تحقيق فوز كبير على نظيره التعاون، بنتيجة 4-2، خلال المباراة التي انتهت منذ قليل ببطولة الدوري السعودي.
والتقى الأهلي مع التعاون على أرضية استاد مدينة الملك عبدالله الرياضية، في ختام مواجهات الجولة الثالثة عشر لمسابقة الدوري السعودي.
وتقدم جواو بيدرو بالهدف الأول للتعاون في الدقيقة 22، من تسديدة خارج منطقة الجزاء باغتت حارس المرمى وسكنت الشباك.
طالع أيضاً.. بثلاثية.. الهلال يخطف فوزًا قاتلًا من الرائد في الدوري السعودي
وأضاف موسى بارو الهدف الثاني للتعاون في الدقيقة 23 بتصويبة صاروخية من خارج منطقة الجزاء، سكنت المرمى مباشرةً.
وفي الدقيقة 45+8 سجل روجر إيبانيز الهدف الأول للأهلي، بعد تنفيذ ركلة حرة مباشرة بقدم رياض محرز من منتصف الملعب وصلت إلى إيبانيز ووضعها داخل المرمى.
وأحرز فراس البريكان الهدف الثاني في الدقيقة 52، بعد مراوغة ممتازة من ألكساندر ثم توغل داخل منطقة الجزاء ومرر الكرة إلى البريكان ووضعها داخل شباك التعاون.
وتقدم روبيرتو فيرمينو بالهدف الثالث للأهلي في الدقيقة 63، بعدما وصلت إليه تمريرة من فراس البريكان ووضعها داخل الشباك.
وسجل رياض محرز الهدف الرابع في الدقيقة 73، بعد كرة وصلت إليه ليسددها ويضعها داخل الشباك.
بتلك النتيجة، وصل الأهلي إلى النقطة 23 محتلاً بها المركز الخامس في جدول ترتيب الدوري السعودي، بينما يتواجد التعاون بالمركز التاسع، ولديه 18 نقطة.
It is currently difficult for Leeds United's chiefs to make any concrete plans to bolster their playing squad in the upcoming summer transfer window.
Daniel Farke and his team do not yet know what division they will be playing in during the 2024/25 campaign and that could significantly impact their recruitment.
Players they may want for another season in the Championship may not be suitable for a Premier League term and players they could target for the top-flight may not be attainable, financially or in terms of their desire to join, if they remain in the second tier.
Their fate will be sealed by this time next week, though, as they have their huge play-off final clash at Wembley against Southampton this Sunday.
A win will secure their instant return to the Premier League but a loss will consign them to a second straight year in the second division, which speaks to the importance of this game.
If Farke and his side do come out on top and make their way back to the top table of English football, they could repeat the masterclass they played with Joe Rodon by swooping to sign another underused talent from Tottenham Hotspur.
Leeds urged to pursue deal for English dynamo
TEAMtalk writer James Marshment has urged Leeds to pursue a deal to sign Ryan Sessegnon on a free transfer from Spurs in the upcoming transfer window.
The former England U21 international is set to be released by the Premier League side this summer and the reporter has suggested that the Whites should swoop in to snap him up if they are promoted to the top-flight.
In the same article, TEAMtalk states that Rodon's priority is to complete a permanent move to Elland Road from Tottenham, and that a deal worth around £15m including add-ons should be enough to get a move over the line.
Fabrizio Romano recently reported that there is plenty of interest from teams in England and in Europe to sign the versatile left-footed star, who is due to be a free agent.
Ryan Sessegnon.
The Italian journalist added, however, that the player's preference is to remain in the Premier League next season, which would be a boost for Leeds should they win the play-off final and decide to make a move for him.
Farke could now repeat the masterclass he played with the signing of Rodon from Tottenham by signing Sessegnon to bolster his squad ahead of the 2024/25 campaign.
The masterclass Leeds played with Joe Rodon
The Wales international had only made 24 appearances for Spurs in three years at the club prior to his initial loan move to Elland Road last summer.
He had spent the 2022/23 campaign on loan with Rennes in Ligue 1, playing 16 league matches, and Leeds opted to gamble on him in the hope that the defender would hit the ground running and be a rock at the heart of their defence.
Joe Rodon passes the ball for Leeds United against Leicester City.
That is exactly what Rodon has been for the Yorkshire-based outfit this season as he has been in fantastic form at centre-back, and has proven that there can be big benefits to snapping up underused talent from big Premier League teams.
HIS performances in the play-offs have been particularly impressive, as the right-footed star won six of his seven ground duels and eight of his ten aerial battles in the two clashes with Norwich in the semi-final, helping his side to keep a clean sheet in both matches.
The 26-year-old titan's dominant defensive work was also on display during the regular season to help the team to finish third in the Championship, earning them a place in the play-offs.
23/24 Championship
Joe Rodon (Leeds)
Appearances
43
Clearances per game
4.5
Ground duel success rate
69%
Aerial duel success rate
67%
Tackles + interceptions per game
2.3
Clean sheets
17
Stats via Sofascore
As you can see in the table above, Rodon rarely lost a physical battle, on the floor or in the air, across 43 appearances in the regular Championship campaign.
These statistics, and his outstanding work in the play-offs so far, show that Leeds played a masterclass when they brought him to the club last summer.
They plucked out an underused gem from Tottenham on loan and turned him into a star at Elland Road, which is what they could do by signing Sessegnon on a free transfer.
Why Leeds should sign Ryan Sessegnon
Firstly, this would not be a risk-free addition for the Whites as he has missed 62 matches for club and country through injury over the last two seasons, mainly due to hamstring issues.
This means that Farke would be taking a gamble on his fitness and hoping that the defender can get back to playing consistently without any major problems during the season.
Ryan Sessegnon
It was one they took with Sam Byram, who had played 30 league games in the previous three seasons with Norwich, and he has played 34 league matches – including the play-offs – for Leeds this term, which shows that those gambles can pay off.
Sessegnon, who can play at left-back or on the wing, has only made 57 appearances for Spurs since his move to the club from Fulham in the summer of 2019.
However, the 24-year-old ace, who was once hailed as "incredible" by talent scout Jacek Kulig, did play 17 times and start nine matches in the Premier League last season for Tottenham.
Ryan Sessegnon vs full-backs
22/23 Premier League (per 90)
Percentile rank
Expected Assisted Goals (0.12)
Top 20%
Shot-creating actions (2.55)
Top 19%
Progressive carries (2.66)
Top 21%
Successful take-ons (0.55)
Top 49%
Touches in attacking penalty area (2.99)
Top 7%
Non-penalty goals (0.22)
Top 4%
Stats via FBref
As you can see in the table above, Sessegnon caught the eye with his superb play in possession in those 17 games, as he ranked well above average against his positional peers as both a scorer and a creator from left-back.
The 5 foot 10 whiz, who scored two goals in the Premier League last term, was also only dribbled past 0.4 times per match on average, which shows that opposition wingers found it hard to get the better of him.
Whereas, current Leeds left-back Junior Firpo was dribbled past 1.2 times per game in the division last season and did not rank above the bottom 44% of full-backs in the league in any of the aforementioned statistics that Sessegnon excelled in.
Leeds have "inquired" about signing £55k-p/w star who'd thrive with Gnonto
The Whites are reportedly interested in a swoop to sign the soon-to-be free agent defender.
ByDan Emery May 22, 2024
This suggests that the potential is there for the free agent defender to come in as an upgrade on Firpo at Premier League level, due to his greater threat on the ball and stronger defensive work to avoid being dribbled past.
This is why Farke could repeat his Rodon masterclass with a move for the young star, who could be a fantastic addition if the gamble pays off and they can get him fit and firing.
Board not convinced with Malik’s response to corruption charges
Danyal Rasool10-Jul-2020
Saleem Malik is all smiles after leaving the sessions court•AFP
Saleem Malik’s ongoing quest to be reintegrated into Pakistan cricket has been pushed back once again by the PCB. The board believes Malik hasn’t again responded satisfactorily to the contents of a conversation 20 years ago in which he talked about fixing cricket matches.While Malik insists he had submitted a response last month to the board regarding a sting operation by an English tabloid 20 years ago, the PCB does not believe his response appropriately addresses the matter.After the Qayyum report was released in 2000 – in which Malik was banned for life – the now-defunct newspaper released a video in which Malik was allegedly caught offering to potentially corrupt players and games in exchange for money.The reporter involved in the sting – Mazher Mahmood – was the same as the one that carried out the 2010 Lord’s spot-fixing operation. The revelations and allegations arising from the sting were not part of the Justice Qayyum inquiry; that inquiry took place in the year before this story and the report had been made public days before the sting.While Malik remained out of the fold for a number of years, he has recently begun to appeal to the PCB to reintegrate him, and made himself available for coaching or mentoring roles. The PCB, however, remain adamant that will not be possible until Malik has substantively dealt with the questions that the sting raised.Malik submitted his response in June, but the PCB’s statement on Friday makes clear they are not satisfied with its contents. ESPNcricinfo understands the board believes the response to be irrelevant to the issue at hand. “In the backdrop of the above, the PCB will be unable to proceed any further until such time you respond on the said matter,” the statement said.Malik’s cricketing career was ultimately sullied by match-fixing scandals. In a judicial inquiry that began in 1998 and continued for 13 months, he was found guilty of bribing Australian cricketers Shane Warne and Mark Waugh to lose the 1994-95 Karachi Test. Malik was fined Rs 1 million and banned for life in 2000, but eight years later his sentence was overturned by a Lahore sessions court, allowing him theoretically to return to the fold. However, today’s statement from the PCB makes clear little progress has been made between the two parties since Malik began his latest attempt to completely rehabilitate himself.Danish Kaneria after his meeting with the PCB integrity committee•AFP
The PCB accused the former captain of “denial and avoidance” with respect to the transcripts, and referred to an apology he had made in 2014 in which he appeared to “accept my wrongdoing, apologise to the fans and start my rehabilitation process”.The PCB also addressed Danish Kaneria’s recent appeals for rehabilitation. The legspinner was banned for life in 2012 by the ECB after a disciplinary panel found him guilty of corruption after a stint in county cricket in the UK, implicated during fellow player Mervyn Westfield’s criminal trial. The board told the player he was appealing to the wrong party, and was advised to approach the ECB, the board that had banned him in the first place.”You were banned for life by the ECB’s Cricket Discipline Commission after it was established that you had ‘knowingly induced or encouraged Mervyn Westfield not to perform on his merits in the Durham match'” the statement said. “You subsequently challenged the decision before the Appeal Panel of the Cricket Disciplinary Commission, which was upheld. Then, you appealed before a commercial bench of the High Court in London, which was dismissed. Then, you appealed before the Court of Appeal (Civil Division), which was rejected. The PCB’s rehabilitation programme is offered to players upon conclusion of the respective periods of ineligibility and not for players who are serving life bans.”
Apto para estrear no Corinthians, o meia Giuliano, primeiro reforço do clube na temporada, está ansioso para atuar já no próximo domingo (8), no clássico contra o Santos, na Vila Belmiro, pela 15ª rodada do Campeonato Brasileiro, às 16h.
Apresentado oficialmente nesta quarta-feira (4), o atleta vestirá a camisa 11 e afirma que poderá atuar até mesmo durante os 90 minutos contra o Peixe.
– Tô ansioso. Faz três meses que não jogo. Tô evoluindo a parte física. Tô à disposição. Minha vontade é estrear domingo. Ainda não conversei com o Sylvinho. A minha vontade é de estar no jogo. Se não para iniciar, jogar 10, 15, 35 minutos. Quero ser útil para a equipe do Corinthians – disse o jogador.
>> Baixe o app do LANCE! e simule os próximos jogos >> Confira a tabela do Brasileirão e simule os próximos jogos
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Giuliano e Sylvinho se conhecem ‘de outros carnavais’. A dupla trabalhou junta na Seleção Brasileira, em 2018, quando à época o atual treinador corintiano fazia parte da comissão técnica de Tite.
– Já trabalhei com ele (Sylvinho) na Seleção. Sei o que ele entende como jogo, como trabalha.
já trabahei com ele na seleção, o que ele entende coo jogo, como trabalha, s equiser contar comigo no doi9ingo estou a disposiç~çao, pra cinco mi8nuitos, 10, 45 ou jogo todo. Se tiver condições de star eu gostaria
Sem atuar desde abril, quando realizou a sua última partida pelo Istambul Basaksehir, da Turquia, clube que ele defendia antes de chegar ao Timão, Giuliano se sente bem fisicamente, mas é cauteloso ao falar sobre estar 100% em condições de jogo.
– Me sinto bem fisicamente. Estou ganhando ritmo de treino, mas é muito diferente de jogo, 90 minutos, condição normal. É muito subjetivo quanto o corpo vai aguentar. Eu me sinto bem, mas quando for para uma situação específica sentirei como está realmente. Não consigo dizer quantos jogos. É uma questão de jogar. Prefiro progredir e evoluir. O fato de não jogar no meio de semana, dá mais tempo de treinamento. Estou adquirindo esse ritmo, mas preciso de algum tempo para estar 100%. Não sei quantos jogos, mas preciso de tempo para isso.
Registrado no BID, Giuliano já treina com bola há duas semanas é presença praticamente certa entre os relacionados no Clássico Alvinegro deste fim de semana.
England bowlers struggle after lunch on rain-affected first day
The Report by Valkerie Baynes05-Aug-2020
Babar Azam drives down the ground•Getty Images
Babar Azam and Shan Masood lifted Pakistan on a day punctuated by shifting fortunes on the field and above it as the first match in the three-Test series against England began.A moment of silence to remember those who have lost their lives in the Covid-19 pandemic before play began under heavy skies put the match in perspective and emphasised the efforts of both countries to stage this contest behind closed doors at Emirates Old Trafford.Having been in England for a month, preparing in the relative anonymity provided by England’s series against West Indies, Pakistan arrived to their first Test since February as questions swirled over their readiness to face an opposition which has three matches’ worth of competition fitness in them.By the time rain brought about an early tea and delayed the evening session by nearly three hours, it was batsmen Azam and Masood who looked to be in a groove against a bowling attack that seemed to have turned rusty at lunch.After his captain, Azhar Ali, won the toss and elected to bat first – opposite number Joe Root said he would have done the same – Pakistan opener Masood withstood a tricky period against Stuart Broad and James Anderson first up, accompanied by Abid Ali in a partnership that was approaching fifty when Jofra Archer entered the attack.Having rounded off his first over with a couple of steepling bouncers which were evaded well by Abid, Archer struck with the first ball of his second over when he bowled Abid with a beauty through the gate and into off stump, thus ending a patient start by Abid and the partnership on 46.After a brief rain interruption, Masood settled, guiding Archer through the bare gully region with smart, soft hands for four.But then Chris Woakes, who had relieved Anderson after five overs, struck with a full delivery that thwacked Azhar Ali on the pad in line and sent him on his way for a six-ball duck, despite his swift call for a review, which only confirmed the lbw decision.That brought Azam to the crease and he showed his class, somehow escaping a testing first delivery from Woakes that narrowly missed the outside edge and off stump and negotiating the ever-challenging Archer.But it was against Anderson after lunch that Azam settled into his stride, finding the boundary three times in as many overs to bring his spell to a swift end.Anderson even became the first bowler to be called for a front-foot no-ball – a rarity for him – by the third umpire in Tests under the new system being trialled during this series when he over-stepped bowling to Azam in the 31st over.Meanwhile, Masood was enjoying almost as good a time against Broad and, by the time Root turned to Archer and the offspin of Dom Bess, the batsmen were in a decent flow. They had put on 78 runs together and, as Azam brought up his half-century off just 70 balls with a punch into the covers off Bess and then passed it with two runs behind square off Archer, the rain hit.By that stage, Masood had moved to 45 not out, Pakistan had recovered from 43 for 2 to 121 for 2 and the players faced a long stay in the dressing rooms.Manchester was eventually bathed in bright sunshine but, by the end of mopping-up operations, play resumed under lights with the dim skies back overhead.Archer, who had bowled one ball before the lengthy stoppage, finished his over with plenty of short stuff, which meant Root was forced to turn back to spin, bringing himself on with Bess.Masood added just one run, having faced 152 balls – more than any other visiting opener in England since 2016 – for his 46 not out before bad light forced play to be abandoned for the day.In the course of his innings, Masood had two lives, both from Jos Buttler off the bowling of Bess. On 45, he survived an edge through to the keeper, and he hadn’t added to his score when, after the rain break, he charged at Bess, attempted to hit the ball to the leg side but missed, only to be saved when the ball bounced out of Buttler’s gloves. At the other end, Azam had moved to an unbeaten 69 off 100 balls in a third-wicket stand of 96.
The Arne Slot era is not yet underway at Anfield but Liverpool are already preparing to make some impactful moves in the transfer market this summer.
Jurgen Klopp’s shocking news that he would step down at the end of the 2023/24 campaign rocked the boat but FSG’s judicious planning has seen Michael Edwards reinstated as CEO of Football Operations and Richard Hughes welcomed from Bournemouth as Liverpool’s new sporting director.
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp bows out
Transfer strategy has gone somewhat awry in recent years and fans will now hope to see some excellent additions made to bind the forthcoming chapter and ensure that the facets come together, so that the Redsl keep fighting at the top.
Liverpool leading race for talented target
According to Tuttosport newspaper – via Football Italia – Liverpool are the frontrunners to sign Federico Chiesa from Juventus, though face competition from Antonio Conte’s Napoli for the versatile forward.
Newcastle United have also been credited with an interest in recent weeks, believed to be willing to pay in excess of £50m to land the Italy international.
Juventus forward Federico Chiesa.
Chiesa – who can play across the frontline – is out of contract in 12 months and given the Old Lady’s financial concerns, cashing in might be the best course of action. Liverpool would love to take advantage of such a situation.
Federico Chiesa's season in numbers
Chiesa, aged 25, has been blighted by damaging injuries over the past several years but after returning to form at the end of the 2022/23 season, he has enjoyed a comparatively unaffected year, missing four matches through December and January but ending with a Coppa Italia trophy and ten goals and three assists from 29 starting appearances.
Typically playing off the shadow of the centre-forward, Chiesa is mobile and multi-faceted, usually lingering closer to the left side of the pitch before weaving inward to wreak havoc, indeed creating 12 big chances in Serie A and averaging 1.6 key passes and 1.1 dribbles per outing, as per Sofascore.
The 26-year-old’s ability to find success from a plethora of angles, merging an innate eye for goal with sharp playmaking qualities and true positional flexibility, suggests that he has all that is needed to succeed at Liverpool, potentially boasting the perfect skill set for Darwin Nunez.
Imagine Federico Chiesa & Darwin Nunez
Retired Italian footballer Alessandro Pierini once said of Chiesa: “He’s world-class. He has all the ability and desire of a great player.”
And, truly, the Italy international’s biggest detractor is his own body, with injuries limiting him to just 17 Serie A starts across the 2021/22 and 2022/23 league seasons, but he’s now demonstrated something of an athletic resurgence and could make a real difference for Liverpool under Slot.
Nunez is Liverpool’s club-record signing at £85m – including potential add-ons – and while he has proven himself influential and electric, his errant shooting has left plenty to be desired.
Darwin Nunez: PL Stats Comparison
Stat
22/23
23/24
Matches played
29
36
Matches started
19
22
Goals
9
11
Assists
3
8
Big chances missed
20
27
Pass completion
67%
72%
Big chances created
11
11
Key passes per game
1.0
0.9
Dribbles per game
0.6 (49%)
0.4 (43%)
Duels won per game
2.8 (38%)
2.4 (38%)
Stats via Sofascore
As you can see, the Uruguayan has been more effective with his creativity in his second Premier League campaign but has still failed to bring it all together, missing an almighty catalogue of chances.
But with Chiesa playing off him, that might just change. As per FBref, the £153k-per-week Juve star ranks among the top 1% of forwards across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for shot-creating actions, the top 14% for progressive passes, the top 3% for progressive carries and the top 16% for successful take-ons per 90.
His natural aptitude in progression has found a new focal point in creating chances with frightening regularity – a product of the positions he is finding himself in – and so Nunez would have a partner, playing off him, who could serve him chances on a silver platter. If that won’t work – what will?
Liverpool forward Darwin Nunez
Azzurri legend Giorgio Chiellini has said in the past that Chiesa is “unstoppable” when at his best, and while there might be concerns over signing an injury-prone attacker, Liverpool have a superabundance of options to ensure that the Italian is managed carefully.
With such a dynamic and creative approach, he might just be the perfect player to charge Nunez and ensure that Liverpool maintain that fright factor despite waving goodbye to an icon in Klopp.
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