Tottenham Hotspur are looking to finish the season on a high and could land a summer coup involving one of Europe’s highly-rated young defenders, according to a report.
Tottenham Hotspur prepare for Europa League date with destiny
There are no two ways about it; Spurs face arguably the biggest week in their modern existence as Ange Postecoglou prepares his side to take on Manchester United in Wednesday’s UEFA Europa League final.
Financially, the winners of the competition stand to earn £10.95 million for a victory in the final, which has created a unique sense of jeopardy between two of England’s most reputable clubs.
Factor in money accumulated across the course of their run to Bilbao and subsequent qualification for the Champions League, there could be a bounty exceeding £80 million in store for either Tottenham or Manchester United.
However, Spurs may have to navigate the showdown without Pape Matar Sarr after he was taken off during their 2-0 defeat to Aston Villa last Friday.
Speaking about his latest injury scare, Postecoglou stated: “Pape felt something in his back, so we took him off as a bit of a precaution. I don’t think it’s anything too significant, speaking to him afterwards but he just felt something in his back.”
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Dejan Kulusevski and James Maddison will miss the final for Tottenham, who know the implications of Wednesday’s final and what it could mean when it comes to attracting potential recruits this summer.
Ultimately, having the Champions League carrot ready to dangle could be a key advantage in the race for talent, though they are now reportedly looking at signing a Paris Saint-Germain star who has earned intriguing recognition.
Tottenham Hotspur looking to sign PSG defender Axel Tape
According to Sports Zone, Tottenham are circling for Paris Saint-Germain defender Axel Tape this summer amid his reported decision to leave the French giants on a free transfer.
Bayer Leverkusen are said to be in ‘pole position’ to sign the 17-year-old, while Bournemouth and Chelsea are also in the hunt to offer a Premier League avenue to the youngster.
Likened to Dean Huijsen by Rising Gems, Tape has made three first-team appearances for Paris Saint-Germain this campaign and primarily features as a central defender.
Daniel Levy is well-known for his penchant to facilitate the arrival of young talent to develop into first-team stars, which is a brief Spurs could look to fill once again should the Bondy-born man arrive in London.
Prodigious figures such as Archie Gray, Lucas Bergvall and Mikey Moore have all been given senior minutes this term, even if the root cause of their frequent involvement has been an injury crisis.
Looking to the future, Tape could be the latest to join a conveyor belt of youthful assets who are only going to multiply in value under Postecoglou’s watch.
And just like that, Tottenham Hotspur’s worst season in a generation is just one game away from becoming their most memorable.
Last night, Ange Postecoglou’s side travelled to the Arctic Circle to play the second leg of their Europa League semi-final against Bodo/Glimt, and while they were still favourites, all the ingredients for an upset were there.
However, as they have in so many of their European games this season, the North Londoners rose to the occasion and ran out comfortable winners in the end.
While practically the entire team did themselves and the manager proud last night, two players, including Pedro Porro, really stood out.
Porro's performance vs Bodo/Glimt
While Porro has come in for plenty of criticism for his defensive failings this season, much of which has been justified, the Spanish full-back has massively stepped up both legs of this semi-final.
He was instrumental in the home win, providing a perfect pass for James Maddison to score the side’s second goal, and he was arguably even better last night.
Not only was he pretty solid in defence, but he was a complete menace in attack, testing the keeper with a brilliant free-kick in the first half and then getting his just rewards with a cross-come-shot that sailed into the top corner in the second 45.
It was practically the complete performance from the former Sporting CP star, which explains the 9/10 match rating Alasdair Gold gave him at full-time.
It might sound hyperbolic, but we can assure you it’s not, as exemplified by his statistics from the game.
Minutes
95′
Expected Goals
0.11
Goals
1
Expected Assists
0.12
Clearances
3
Interceptions
1
Dribbled Past
0
Ground Duels (Won)
3 (2)
Fouls
0
Key Passes
2
Shots on Target
2
Dribbles (Successful)
1(1)
In 95 minutes of action, he amassed a combined expected goals plus assists figure of 0.23, made three clearances, won two of three ground duels, made one interception, wasn’t dribbled past, played two key passes, took two shots on target, was successful in 100% of his dribbles, won one foul and didn’t give any away himself.
Overall, it was a superb display from Porro, but there was another starter who might just have pipped him.
Performance in Numbers
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Spurs' best player vs Bodo/Glimt
Now, there are certainly a few players you could pick from for this title, like Dominic Solanke, Micky van de Ven or even Rodrigo Bentancur.
However, for our money, the player who really stood up and stood out last night was Cristian Romero.
The Argentine international has not had a great season, with constant injuries and the odd mistake defining it thus far, but just like he was in the first leg, he was sensational for Postecoglou last night.
It goes without saying that the World Cup winner is undoubtedly built for big games, and from the first to the last minute, he was incredible in the Arctic Circle.
On top of being a wall at the back and cheering every block or tackle like it was a title-winning goal, he also managed to provide the assist for Solanke’s opener, which all but ended the tie then and there.
Unsurprisingly, Gold was just as impressed, awarding the centre-back a 9/10 match rating at full-time, while Spurs fan and content creator Ben Bowman simply described him as “unreal.”
Such appraisals are more than backed up by his statistics as well, as in 95 minutes of action, he made five clearances, blocked one shot, wasn’t dribbled past even once, made one interception, won three of four ground duels, lost the ball only once, completed 96% of his passes, played one key pass, was accurate in 100% of his long balls and created one big chance.
Minutes
95′
Clearances
5
Shots Blocked
1
Dribbled Past
0
Interceptions
1
Ground Duels (Won)
4 (3)
Lost Possession
1
Passing Accuracy
26/27 (96%)
Key Passes
1
Long Balls (Accurate)
2 (2)
Big Chances Created
1
Ultimately, the entire team played well last night, but Porro and particularly Romero were even better, so much so that the latter may now be the club’s best player.
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Manchester City will be hoping to claim the FA Cup for the third time under Pep Guardiola this season. It might not make up for a truly dismal campaign in the Premier League and Champions League, but it might offer some solace heading into the summer.
Results and form have improved over the previous few months. Guardiola did go big in the winter transfer window, splashing out around £190m on several signings. Given how well some of them have settled, this could prove to be a masterstroke ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.
The likes of Omar Marmoush, Vitor Reis, Abdukodir Khusanov, and Nico Gonzalez have settled in nicely at City and could take the club into a new era from this summer onwards.
There is still plenty of work to be done to this squad, however, especially with the news that Kevin De Bruyne will depart after 11 years once the season is complete.
City will find it hard to replace a player who registered 284 goal contributions across 417 matches for the club. But that is the challenge awaiting Guardiola.
Elsewhere, he will also be keen to add some more attacking firepower to his first-team squad. Could this involve raiding one of the best teams in Europe this season?
Manchester City eyeing move for PSG starlet
According to TEAMtalk, City are considering a stunning move for Paris Saint-Germain starlet Desire Doue this summer in a bid to bolster their attacking options.
Manchester United are another Premier League side who are keen on securing his signature, while Chelsea and Arsenal, who both tried to sign him before his move to PSG, may well reignite their interest in the player.
Guardiola is an admirer of the teenager and has even sent scouts to monitor his performances for PSG over the previous few months. It appears as though he has been impressed, and this could lead to a bid being made this summer.
The French side will not be keen to lose him and will only listen to offers of €100m (£85m) or above for Doue.
There is no doubt that PSG’s youngster is one of the most talented teenagers on the continent at this moment in time. Signing him this summer could potentially be as transformative a signing as when Erling Haaland made the move from Borussia Dortmund to City back in 2022.
Erling Haaland has been one of City’s best-ever signings
Haaland was one of the most in-demand centre-forwards in the world before his move to England. After scoring 86 goals in just 89 matches for the German side, City won the race for his signature, paying a reported fee of £51.2m for the Norwegian forward.
This has turned out to be a massive bargain. At the time of writing, Haaland has netted 120 goals across 138 appearances for Guardiola, and his signing led to the most impressive season in City’s history.
Indeed, the club won a treble of Premier League, FA Cup, and Champions League during the 2022/23 season, finally claiming glory in Europe’s premier club competition.
Haaland’s 52 goals in all competitions went a long way to the club achieving this feat, and the striker also helped propel them to a record fourth consecutive Premier League title last season.
Of course, he isn’t easy on the eye and perhaps lacks the work rate of others in the team, but his record in the final third is second to none.
Despite enduring his least productive spell this season since joining, he still ranks in the top 6% for goals (0.76) per 90 and in the top 4% for shots on target (1.96) per 90 when compared to his peers in the Premier League.
A move for Doue may well get Haaland back to his devastating best ahead of next season, no doubt about that.
Why Manchester City should sign Desire Doue
It is no secret that Guardiola has had plenty of issues on the left flank this season. Jack Grealish has scored just three goals all season when being deployed out wide. Jeremy Doku has also struggled at times, netting six goals throughout the entire season, starting just 19 games in all competitions.
Doue would add something different to this area. Indeed, for PSG this term, the youngster has registered 25 goal involvements – 13 goals and 12 assists – which have helped power the club to another Ligue 1 title and a Champions League semi-final.
Goals
3
6
Assists
2
6
Big chances created
4
16
Shots per game
1.8
1.9
Key passes per game
0.9
1.9
The future is bright for the Frenchman, and his move to PSG has helped showcase his talents.
He was praised heavily by respected analyst Ben Mattinson earlier this year, who said of the youngster: “Absolute genius and freak profile. Look how comfortable he is in all these different zones. How he can create something out of nothing.”
Genius indeed. When compared to his peers in Europe’s top five leagues, Doue ranks in the top 11% for shot-creating actions (5.24), and in the top 8% for progressive passes (6.67), progressive carries (5.69) and successful take-ons (3.01) per 90 in the previous 365 days.
These statistics highlight just how effective the teenager is in the final third, and he has proven so during his first season at PSG.
Many players of his age might have struggled to cope with the demands of leading the club to a maiden Champions League trophy, but Doue has been sensational.
This will also give Guardiola plenty of confidence that the youngster could sparkle for City should he make the move to England this summer.
Marmoush has offered some dynamism to the club’s attacking output in recent months, but bringing in a talent like Doue could take City back to the summit of the Premier League table.
They will have to break the bank to sign him, but there is no doubt a move for the French teen sensation could turn out to be their most important signing since Haaland arrived three years ago.
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Liverpool are on the verge of winning their second-ever Premier League title in the coming weeks, as they sit 13 points clear at the top of the table with just six games left to go.
The Reds have only won the Premier League once in the history of the competition, winning under Jurgen Klopp in the 2019/20 campaign, and are not set to secure their second.
Arne Slot is on course to claim the title in his first season as a manager in England, having arrived from Feyenoord last summer, and he will go down as the latest in a long line of impressive recruits from the Eredivisie.
Liverpool have tapped into the Dutch market for players in the past, whether that has been directly from the Eredivisie or not, and have now done so to find a brilliant manager, having been successful in the past on the playing side of recruitment.
Liverpool Manager ArneSlotcelebrates at the end of the match
One Dutch recruit, who did not come directly from the top-flight in the Netherlands, was integral to the first Premier League title success, as central midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum played a key role.
Why Wijnaldum was integral to Liverpool's title win
The Netherlands international played 37 of the club’s 38 Premier League matches that season, starting 35 of them, as part of a regular midfield trio of himself, Jordan Henderson, and Fabinho.
Of the players to start at least one game, no Liverpool star completed a higher percentage of their passes than Wijnaldum (90.8%), which shows how reliable he was with the ball at his feet.
He also averaged 4.20 progressive passes and 2.27 progressive carries per 90 to build up play from a midfield position, which shows that the Dutch ace did not always play it safe with the ball at his feet.
Wijnaldum’s development at Anfield was interesting because he was signed from Newcastle United in the summer of 2016 off the back of a return of 11 goals and five assists in the Premier League for the Magpies during the 2015/16 campaign.
The Dutch star arrived at Liverpool as an attacking midfielder who had proven his quality at the top end of the pitch in the top-flight for his previous club, but Klopp developed him into an all-round midfielder who could be a solid option as a number eight.
He ended his Liverpool career with just 22 goals, four of which came in the Premier League in the title-winning campaign, in 237 matches, which illustrates his change in style from Tyneside to Merseyside.
Jurgen Klopp and Gini Wijnaldum
That change in style, however, made him integral to Klopp’s title-winning team because Wijnaldum was a consistent performer, hence his 35 starts, who offered reliability and progression in possession, putting in the hard yards whilst providing quality on the ball.
Instead of being a consistent goalscorer or constantly creating chances, the former Newcastle star did his job in the middle of the park without too much fuss, chipping in with the odd goal here and there, to make himself a reliable figure for the German head coach.
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Liverpool have, now, unearthed their new version of Wijnaldum in the current squad, and it is not Alexis Mac Allister – despite his impressive form of late, with a goal and an assist in his last two matches.
Liverpool have unearthed their new Georginio Wijnaldum
Mac Allister did arrive at Liverpool off the back of scoring ten goals in the Premier League for Brighton & Hove Albion in the 2022/23 campaign, but six of those strikes came from the penalty spot.
This meant that the Argentina international only provided four goals and two assists in the top-flight outside of penalties before his move to Liverpool to become a well-rounded midfielder at Anfield.
Alexis Mac Allister celebrates for Liverpool
Whereas, Dominik Szoboszlai scored ten goals and provided 13 assists as an attacking midfielder for RB Leipzig in all competitions during the 2022/23 campaign before his switch to England, and only two of those goals were penalties.
The Hungary international, as Wijnaldum did when he joined from Newcastle, arrived at Anfield as an incredibly promising attacking midfielder who had the potential to provide goals and assists, and has followed the Dutchman’s path to becoming an all-rounder in the middle of the park.
Szoboszlai has scored eight goals and provided seven assists in 63 appearances for Liverpool in the Premier League to date, which illustrates the shift in style in his game since his time in the Bundesliga.
The Hungarian dynamo has been moulded into a perfect box-to-box midfielder for the Reds since switching Germany for England, utilising his fantastic work rate and engine in midfield more so than his ability to score and create goals.
He has started 24 of his 30 appearances in the Premier League so far this term and, interestingly, offered more than Wijnaldum did during the title-winning campaign under Klopp in several parts of the game as a midfielder.
As you can see in the chart above, Szoboszlai has been far more creative with his use of the ball than the Dutchman was, whilst also doing more out of possession by making blocks, tackles, and interceptions.
That chart shows that the 24-year-old Liverpool star, who was described as “unstoppable” by Fabrizio Romano earlier this year, is a brilliantly well-rounded midfield figure because he can combine quality on the ball with hard work and defensive quality off it, making him a key player for Slot in the middle of the park.
Appearances
30
Goals
5
Big chances created
9
Assists
3
Tackles + interceptions per game
1.3
Duels won per game
2.9
As you can see in the table above, Szoboszlai has still found a way to incorporate his attacking qualities into his game, with eight goal contributions, but they are not as prevalent as they were during his time with Leipzig in the Bundesliga.
Therefore, Liverpool have repeated the masterclass they played with Wijnaldum, turning him from an attack-minded midfielder into an all-round number eight, with the Hungary international, who is now set to have played an integral role in the club’s second-ever Premier League title success.
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Hopefully, this trophy will be the first of many titles in his Premier League career with the Reds, as they will hope that this season is far from a one-off success.
Chelsea have seen a huge improvement defensively in recent weeks, keeping five clean sheets in their last seven games, only conceding two goals and 16 shots on target across those seven games.
However, the attacking prowess does seem to have tailed off, with the Blues only scoring nine in their last seven games, with four of those goals coming against bottom of the Premier League, Southampton.
Enzo Maresca will be keen to add some extra firepower to his forward line this summer, with a new striker high on the wish list, alongside a new winger who suits the Italian’s system.
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The Blues have been linked with a number of forwards over recent months, from Newcastle superstar Alexander Isak to Ipswich forward Liam Delap.
However, they’re not just casting their net across the Premier League but across European football, too.
Indeed, according to reports from TBR Football, Chelsea are interested in signing AC Milan’s £150m-rated winger, Rafael Leao. The player’s camp are currently assessing the player’s options ahead of the summer.
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That being said, the Blues could face competition from London rivals Arsenal, who are also now emerging as an option for the Portuguese winger.
Both Chelsea and Arsenal are keen to add a right-footed left-winger who offers a direct goal threat, speed in transition and creative qualities to unlock a game through their individual brilliance.
Leao has made 43 appearances for the Italian outfit this season, scoring ten goals, providing nine assists and totaling 2,997 minutes.
Chelsea are also reportedly in the race to sign Borussia Dortmund’s Jamie Gittens, so just how do the pair compare?
How Leao compares to Gittens this season
Dortmund’s Gittens is another target emerging for Maresca’s side and it’s easy to see why.
The 20-year-old sensation – who is seen as the future of English football – has made 42 appearances for the German outfit this season, netting 12 goals and providing four assists.
He notably shone in the Champions League, scoring against Real Madrid, and would be a superb signing. Still, he’s not quite as good as Leao.
Both players fit the bill of a Maresca winger, looking to get into plenty of 1v1 isolations with the opposition fullback, capable of going both inside and outside and having the directness to drive towards the box themselves.
One factor that could be slightly more worrying surrounding Leao compared to Gittens is work rate, with Maresca often asking his wide players to work hard defensively.
Goals
0.28
0.43
Assists
0.26
0.11
xG
0.28
0.20
xAG
0.27
0.13
Progressive Carries
4.86
5.74
Progressive Passes
3.67
2.08
Shots Total
2.30
2.59
Key Passes
2.09
1.09
Shot-Creating Actions
4.37
3.77
Successful Take-Ons
2.99
3.81
Whilst Gittens has a slightly higher shot volume, manages more progressive carries and successful take-ons, Leao offers more through creative passing, with more key passes, more shot-creating actions and higher assist numbers.
Described as one of football’s “cheat codes” by analyst Raj Chohan, Milan’s Portuguese star has blistering pace, the persistence to be direct and attack the opposition full-backs. He always forces them into uncomfortable scenarios and has the ability to create something out of nothing in a split second.
AC Milan's RafaelLeao
Both players would be excellent signings for Chelsea, but with the Blues already having such a young and inexperienced side, an addition like Leao could provide more of an instant boost, with a big-name signing to raise morale and ready to play a significant part in a title challenge.
Glasgow Rangers lost for the third time in six league matches as they were beaten 2-0 by Hibernian at Ibrox in the Scottish Premiership on Saturday.
Goals from Dylan Levitt and Martin Boyle either side of half-time secured all three points for the away side in front of a frustrated home support.
Barry Ferguson is in interim charge until the end of the season and this current run of results in the league is not doing his chances of landing the job permanently any good.
The Scottish boss has to be ruthless with his team selections in the final weeks of the 2024/25 campaign, and one player who should be dropped after the Hibernian loss is Mohamed Diomande.
Why Mohamed Diomande should be dropped
The Ivorian attacking midfielder lined up as the number ten behind Cyriel Dessers at Ibrox on Saturday and failed to offer enough in possession to make a difference in the match.
Diomande did not register a key pass or a shot on target, with one shot that was blocked, in 75 minutes on the pitch before Ferguson decided to withdraw him from the field.
The left-footed whiz did win four of his eight duels – holding his own in physical battles – but that did not make up for his complete lack of impact at the top end of the pitch, which is why the manager should take him out of the starting XI.
Diomande, however, was not the worst player on the pitch for Rangers. Dessers was even worse than the former Danish league star and must finally be dropped from the team.
Why Cyriel Dessers must be dropped
The Nigeria international has started each of the last six league matches and played all bar two minutes of those games, resulting in three defeats for Rangers.
Cyriel Dessers
Ferguson must, now, finally take him out of the starting XI after another dismal display at the top end of the pitch from the former Cremonese marksman, who had even fewer touches (24) than goalkeeper Jack Butland (33) yet still managed to spurn more than one opening to score.
Dessers was even worse than Diomande because he was incredibly wasteful in front of goal in the defeat to Hibs, missing two ‘big chances’ without creating a single chance for his teammates.
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Unlike the midfielder, the Nigerian forward also failed to hold his own in his physical duels, losing five of his eight battles, which shows that the Hibs defenders had an easy afternoon against him.
Minutes
90
90
88
Shots
1
12
4
Shots on target
0
9
1
Big chances missed
0
5
2
Goals
0
1
0
Duels won
1/11
4/8
3/8
As you can see in the table above, Dessers has struggled across his last three starts in the division against Celtic, Dundee, and Hibernian – scoring once from 17 shots.
Seven ‘big chances’ missed and one goal in his last two appearances tells a worrying story for Rangers, as their number nine is not good enough in the vital moments to be a reliable figure in front of goal for the club.
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Therefore, Ferguson must be ruthless and drop Dessers from the starting line-up to show that consistently missing huge opportunities is not rewarded with more playing time.
When Arne Slot spoke in his pre-match press conference ahead of Liverpool’s trip to Elland Road to face Leeds United, it was pretty sobering for the head coach to suggest that the focus is on securing a place in next year’s Champions League proper, and not battling to defend their hard-won Premier League title.
Slot’s right, of course, with Liverpool so far removed from last year’s indomitable success that talk of mounting a challenge against high-flying Arsenal would be scoffed at by even the most ardent supporters.
Among Liverpool’s biggest problems this season has been a struggle in the build-up, especially on the right side. Trent Alexander-Arnold’s absence is keenly felt, and sporting director Richard Hughes is looking to replace the former vice-captain’s creativity.
Liverpool looking to replace Alexander-Arnold
Liverpool have technically replaced Alexander-Arnold already, signing Jeremie Frimpong for £29.5m this summer. However, neither Frimpong or Conor Bradley boast the same playmaking ability as the 27-year-old, who plies his craft for Real Madrid after leaving Anfield at the end of his contract in June.
The £116m signing of Florian Wirtz was meant to help the passing of the creative torch, but Wirtz’s struggles have been well-documented this season, and, as analyst Raj Chohan puts it, “the build-up combination is horrible” on Liverpool’s right-hand side this season.
Those around him know Wirtz has world-class potential in the Premier League and could become a superstar playmaker, a poster boy. However, he doesn’t really operate down the right lane, and this is where Slot and Hughes need to fix Liverpool’s progressive passing.
Perhaps that’s why FSG are showing an interest in signing Bayern Munich winger Michael Olise, having shortlisted the France international this week, according to German outlet BILD.
Olise, 23, has only gone from strength to strength since swapping Crystal Palace for the Allianz Arena in 2024, and if Liverpool want to secure his signature, ostensibly as Mohamed Salah’s long-term replacement, they will need to pay over £100m.
BILD believe that Liverpool have placed Olise back onto their shortlist despite Bayern’s not-for-sale stance.
What Olise would bring to Liverpool
Alexander-Arnold’s influence at Liverpool cannot be understated. Quite simply, he is a one-of-a-kind type of player, and his departure to Santiago Bernabeu was always going to be more than just a blow to the Anfield side’s pride.
1
Trent Alexander-Arnold
64
2
Andy Robertson
60
3
Leighton Baines
53
4
Graeme Le Saux
44
5
Kieran Trippier
38
Olise might not be a right-back, but he would prove the perfect Salah replacement at right wing in that he would not try to mimic the Egyptian’s clinical output, and instead bring his own flavour to Merseyside.
At Bayern, the former Palace star has posted 29 goals and 34 assists across 76 matches. He is regarded as “one of the best players in the world” by teammate Serge Gnabry.
Physical and athletic, Olise is also near matchless when it comes to creating for his peers, setting up passing patterns and adding pressure in the final third with unplayable passing.
As per FBref, he ranks among the top 1% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for assists and shot-creating actions, the top 4% for progressive passes, the top 12% for progressive carries and the top 5% for successful take-ons per 90.
That is not to say he’s a one-trick pony, with fearsome ball-striking qualities that the Premier League’s many defenders and goalkeepers know only too well.
He has proven himself to be a superstar in the English game, and since levelling up in Germany, Olise has fostered the playmaking brilliance that would see him reinvent Slot’s right flank and rekindle the presence of Trent at Anfield.
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Arne Slot’s Liverpool frontline is not quite right this season.
Liverpool are in uncharted waters, with these deep fathoms threatening not only the future of Arne Slot, who won the Premier League a matter of months ago, but that of Mohamed Salah, one of the greatest players in the club’s history, too.
Where is the respite? At the moment, Liverpool can’t catch a break, fumbling a two-goal lead to draw 3-3 at Leeds United on Saturday after previously drawing against well-worth-their-money Sunderland at Anfield. All told, the Reds have won only two of their past ten league fixtures, losing six.
But Liverpool have sculpted this disaster themselves. They have patented a startling ability to wreak havoc on their own progress, with tactical imbalances sparking crises of confidence, sparking mutiny.
Salah’s flaming interview at Elland Road will go down in the history books, and though FSG have since underlined their faith in Slot’s stewardship, the severity of this crossroads cannot be understated.
The latest on Slot's Liverpool future
Slot is in an unenviable position, with Salah’s outburst proving the latest and most damaging in a long line of mishaps since the summer.
While FSG retain the faith in the 47-year-old, who led Liverpool to the Premier League title last year after Jurgen Klopp stepped down, there’s an acceptance that results are needed quickly if something is to be salvaged from this campaign.
The fact of the matter is that Slot’s Liverpool started wobbling well before the end of the 2024/25 campaign, and he now needs to show that he can sort out the defence and restore balance to the team. He needs to show that quickly.
27
Games
52
23
Wins
26
3
Draws
10
1
Losses
16
2.66
PPG
1.69
73
Goals scored
91
27
Goals conceded
69
Liverpool are in big bother, and though FSG have been steadfast in their backing of the Dutchman, their leniency will only stretch so far, especially when there is such an exciting successor for Michael Edwards and Richard Hughes to consider.
Liverpool could hire Slot upgrade
Last week, it was reported that FSG have been considering Julian Nagelsmann as a candidate to replace Slot, should the Reds coach be sacked, though they will face a tough task in wrestling him away from the German national team, especially with the 2026 World Cup looming large.
Nagelsmann, 38, is among the world’s finest young coaches, having managed Hoffenheim, RB Leipzig and Bayern Munich in his homeland.
Would he be willing to park his international ambitions? Probably not. That’s why it’s anticipated he could be lined up ahead of the start of next season, meaning Liverpool would need to find an interim boss if Slot is dismissed before the end of the term.
What Nagelsmann would offer Liverpool
Nagelsmann has been described as the “best young coach in Europe” by journalist Josh Bunting, and though he’s the junior of practically all of the game’s standout managers, he’s hardly inexperienced, with a keen tactical mind that could be the remedy to a Liverpool team who have fallen by the wayside.
Bayern's Julian Nagelsmann
This is a fluid and interchangeable tactician. Nagelsmann employed a counter-pressing system at Leipzig before changing to a more dominant playing style at the Allianz Arena. He recognises the quirks and whims of the players at his disposal, and he crafts a system that caters to his troops.
Journalist Kai Iliev has even named him a “world-class manager” for his ability to fix a range of flaws within Germany’s national set-up. Now they are contenders. Now they believe again.
Liverpool could do with a bit of that, right? The appointment of Nagelsmann might even play into keeping Salah at the club; with the Egyptian King’s relationship under Slot having broken down, something has to give.
Liverpool, of course, will now back Salah over Slot. To do the contrary would result in anarchy. But this latest splinter in an outfit splitting wide open is not the root cause. Slot’s system is in a tailspin, and if he cannot establish form and fluency quickly, he will find that he has exhausted all the credit in the bank, and Edwards and Hughes will be forced into making a tough call.
The German coach’s principal 4-2-3-1 set-up would accommodate new signing Florian Wirtz and allow Salah to arc inwards once more and find passages into the danger area. This season, the 33-year-old has only posted five goals and three assists across all competitions.
Who could have expected this when Liverpool lifted the Premier League title? Salah was not the main man but the author of his long-term outfit’s illustrious success.
It’s not controversial to suggest that many, many Liverpool supporters would be dejected if Salah were to leave this winter, and it would be sure to put more than just a dampener on Slot’s reign at the Anfield helm.
If results do not continue over the coming weeks – with Salah off to AFCON after Liverpool host Brighton & Hove Albion in the Premier League this weekend – FSG will have to face the reality of theirt spiraling situation and make a change.
Could that prompt Salah to stay? Working under Nagelsmann on Merseyside, it just might, though whether the Reds are able to keep the African legend appeased and reach a decision that would see him remain at the club he has served so well over the past nine years remains to be seen.
In any case, this is a staggering, stomach-sinking situation, one that nobody could have foreseen, and Liverpool’s powers that be need to make sure an upswing is found – quickly.
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All the talk at Elland Road at the moment centres on whether Daniel Farke will remain in the Leeds United dug-out, heading into an unforgiving December list of fixtures.
With five defeats from your last six games in the Premier League, the last thing a bruised Whites outfit needs is back-to-back fixtures against Manchester City and Chelsea up next, especially as City will want to immediately respond to their Champions League embarrassment at the hands of Bayer Leverkusen.
Therefore, an Erling Haaland-led effort could take their frustrations out on the pitiful away side, with the German’s grip on his job post looking even more fragile, if they’re on the receiving end of a drubbing.
The powers that be in West Yorkshire will surely have a plan up their sleeve if they do decide to finally bite the bullet and get rid.
Who could replace Farke at Leeds?
As the 49ers gear up to potentially replace Farke at Elland Road, one man who is unlikely to move to England is former Union Berlin boss Bo Svensson.
Indeed, according to reports from Germany, he is unlikely to return to the managerial game soon, having recently turned down approaches from Rangers and Union Saint-Gilloise. He has also been allegedly on the relegation-threatened side’s radar, but that looks like it will now be stopped in its tracks, before anything serious materialises.
This surely swings the door wide open for Brendan Rodgers to be a prime candidate to oust the ex-Norwich City boss.
TEAMTalk recently revealed this week that the former Celtic manager would be keen on a return to the Premier League with Leeds.
After all, Rodgers has been here before when picking up the pieces post-Claude Puel’s failed stint at Leicester City, with the Northern Irishman even going on to clinch an FA Cup success with the Foxes, before furthering his varied managerial career in Glasgow.
The out-of-work 52-year-old coming in now could well be a masterstroke as Leeds attempt to turn around their hopeless season.
Perhaps Rodgers could have the same impact at the Whites that Regis Le Bris has managed to have at Sunderland, in such a short space of time.
How Rodgers could be Leeds' own Le Bris
Scanning back to just last season, Leeds did finish above the Black Cats in the Championship promotion standings, accumulating 100 points to lift the title, while Le Bris and Co secured promotion via the more adventurous route of the playoffs.
Yet, in the here and now, the Wearside underdogs find themselves all the way up in a dizzy seventh position in the early top-flight standings, while Farke hangs onto his employment, as he drags Leeds into the relegation spaces.
Sunderland fans are rightly singing the praises of their overachieving manager at this moment in time, with Leeds now potentially wanting a Le Bris-style figure of their own in Rodgers, to bring the good times back to Elland Road.
Rodgers, before going on to manage at Liverpool and the King Power Stadium, did manage to show off a similar breakneck transition to the Premier League like Le Bris is experiencing at the Stadium of Light.
His Swansea City side jumped all the way up to 11th in the league standings, right after promotion was sealed come the end of the 2010/11 season.
Games
312
Wins
139
Draws
71
Losses
102
Points accumulated
488
He would further reinforce his reputation as a capable boss in the tough division with the Reds, as he nearly delivered a Premier League triumph at Anfield. But, it will be his transformative presence at Leicester that will give Leeds fans the most hope that he can push them up the division, much like Le Bris has managed on Wearside.
From four full seasons at the King Power helm, Rodgers would collect 64 league victories, with a fifth-place finish clinched during his first full season at the helm quite the achievement, considering Puel ended his reign with the Foxes on five defeats from his final six games.
Coincidentally, that is the exact form Farke now finds himself deep in at Leeds, with a move for such a “world-class” manager in Rodgers – as Gabriel Agbonlahor once labelled him – perhaps just what the doctor ordered in turning around the Whites’ dismal fortunes.
Le Bris is yet to receive such a wild tag, but it surely won’t be far off if he clinches an unbelievable mid-table finish for the Black Cats.
Yet, with time on Leeds’ side still, they could also mount a surge up the division, too, if they were to gain Rodgers’ services.
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Leeds are set to be active in the January transfer window, with Troy Parrott a leading target.
Newcastle United are now reportedly ready to launch their offer to sign Palmeiras midfielder Allan Elias, who has a release clause worth as much as £88m.
Newcastle are in desperate need of an attacking spark not named Nick Woltemade. The German simply cannot do it on his own and needs fellow big-money signing Anthony Elanga to finally find some form.
Despite being one of Newcastle’s most-expensive ever signings, the former Nottingham Forest star is yet to score in the 17 games that he’s played for the Magpies. As a result, he’s gradually lost his place to Jacob Murphy as Eddie Howe looks to find a solution to his side’s attacking problems.
Having his say on his recent struggles and subsequent place on Newcastle’s bench, Elanga chose to take an optimistic approach whilst on international duty with Sweden.
It would undoubtedly provide the Magpies with a major boost if Elanga found form after the international break. Only Leeds, Nottingham Forest and Wolverhampton Wanderers have scored fewer Premier League goals than Newcastle’s 11 so far this season and something must change.
With the January transfer window less than two months away, new sporting director Ross Wilson has already set his sights on much-needed reinforcements to get Howe’s side firing once more.
Newcastle ready to launch Allan Elias move
According to reports in Brazil, as relayed by Sport Witness, Newcastle are now ready to launch their move to sign Allan from Palmeiras. The 21-year-old attacking midfielder has impressed the Magpies as well as Everton and Brighton & Hove Albion, and may now be on his way to the Premier League in 2026.
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The deal may not come cheap, however. Palmeiras are in a strong negotiating position thanks to the Brazilian’s €100m (£88m) release clause and could demand that in full to sell their young talent.
That being said, it is believed that Newcastle are extremely keen and want to strike an ‘immediate’ deal.
Praised by South American expert Nathan Joyes for his “impressive” cameos at the Club World Cup last summer, Allan has since kicked on in Brazil. The attacking midfielder has scored twice and assisted another eight goals in the current campaign, with one of those assists coming at the Club World Cup against Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami side.
Several clubs have benefited from investing in South American talents in the Premier League and now Newcastle could be next in line to welcome a rising star.
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