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Tottenham Hotspur have been told that manager Ange Postecoglou cannot afford the latest “big blow” coming his way, as one of his “mainstay” players faces a prolonged absence.

Postecoglou makes Spurs trophy promise in second season

Postecoglou caused a slight stir with his recent comments that he “always” wins silverware during his second season in charge of any club he has managed, with the Australian making a bold promise to deliver trophies this campaign as a result.

Pundit now urges Tottenham to bring "incredible" loanee back in January

He’s been praised for his form away from north London.

By
Emilio Galantini

Sep 25, 2024

Tottenham’s last honour came in 2008, when the north Londoners beat English capital rivals Chelsea to lift the Carling Cup, as it was then known. It’s been 16 years since, and Spurs have come close on a number of occasions, most notably their Champions League final against Liverpool in 2019.

“Usually in my second season I win things,” said Postecoglou on ending Spurs’ trophy drought, in an interview with Sky Sports.

“That’s the whole idea. First year is about establishing principles and creating a foundation. Hopefully the second year is going on to win things. Of course it’s easier said than done, particularly in the Premier League and the competition we’re in. That’s always the way I’ve looked at it, is that the second year you should be in a position where you can push on, depending on how the first year has gone.

Tottenham’s top goalscorers in all competitions – 2023/2024
Player	Goals scored
Son Heung-min	17
Richarlison	12
Dejan Kulusevski	8
Brennan Johnson	5
Cristian Romero	5
James Maddison	4

“Last year we had some really good moments, obviously we had some tough moments. I think we learnt as much from the tough moments as we did from the good stuff, and hopefully that means we’re in a good place. We’re definitely a better-prepared team than we were last year.”

Earlier this month, he doubled down on that pledge, by stating he “always” wins things in his second year rather than just “usually”. His confidence will at least be an encouraging sign for supporters, who have also watched Spurs sign a prolific goalscorer in Dominic Solanke to help them along.

Tottenham can't afford "big blow" as Bentancur faces 12-game ban

Unfortunately for Postecoglou, he has to entertain the possibility of being without £22 million midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur for a prolonged period. The Uruguayan was asked by a TV presenter in June for a Tottenham shirt, and he replied: “Sonny’s? It could be Sonny’s cousin too as they all look the same.”

Of course, this unacceptable comment has caused a stir, and Bentancur now faces a 12-game ban by the FA pending the result of an investigation. While the recommendation is likely to be six games, the prospect of double that length is a very real one, and even six would still hurt Spurs’ short-term future.

Speaking to Tottenham News, Sky Sports pundit Paul Robinson says Spurs can’t afford the “big blow” of Bentancur missing weeks of action.

“It’d be a big blow because he’s a mainstay in the midfield; it’s usually him and a teammate,” said Robinson.

“Postecoglou normally plays with two holding midfielders as a rule, and he’s one of them. I think the squad is unbalanced as it’s overladen by wide players and attacking midfielders, and light in other areas, and that’s potentially one of them. Without Bentancur, Pape Sarr or Archie Gray could play in there.

“It’s a big squad but I think it’s unbalanced, so it’s an area where they can’t really afford to lose a key player such as Bentancur.”

MatériaMais Notícias

O Flamengo, mais uma vez, não deve contar com Hugo Moura para a temporada. Assim como no ano passado, o clube carioca recebeu uma proposta de empréstimo do volante, que, dessa vez, pode se transferir para o Athletico-PR (clique aqui e saiba mais). Por isso, abaixo, o LANCE! traz um panorama de como está a posição para o Rubro-Negro em 2022.

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>Ano novo, vida nova! Lembre as metas estipuladas pelo Flamengo para 2022

Nomes à disposição de Paulo Sousa:

Caso o negócio se concretize, o Flamengo conta com os seguintes nomes para a posição neste ano: Willian Arão, Piris da Motta, Thiago Maia, João Gomes e Andreas Pereira. Além deles, Diego aparece na posição de meia no site oficial do Fla, mas, quando acionado, tem atuado como volante.

Situação contratual de cada um:

Andreas Pereira – vínculo válido até30/06/2022.

Diego Ribas -vínculo válido até31/12/2022

João Gomes -vínculo válido até31/12/2025

Piris da Motta -vínculo válido até31/12/2022

Thiago Maia -vínculo válido até30/06/2022

Willian Arão -vínculo válido até31/12/2023

Futuro e possibilidades:

Inicialmente, vale lembrar que Thiago Maia e Andreas Pereira estão emprestados pelo Lille, da França, e pelo Manchester United, da Inglaterra, respectivamente. No caso do primeiro, o Flamengoavançou nas negociações para mantê-lo na Gávea em definitivo.

Já o segundo, apesar da falha na final da Libertadores, está consolidado entre os titulares. No entanto, por outro lado, tem uma opção de compra alta – o valor, inclusive, é mais caro do que os Red Devils pagaram para ter Cristiano Ronaldo.

Willian Arão já está consolidando no time titular e é uma das peças chave do Flamengo dentro de campo. Piris da Motta, um concorrente na posição de primeiro volante, perdeu espaço nos últimos anos, chegou a ser emprestado e atuou em apenas seis partidas em 2021.

João Gomes, por sua vez, terminou a última temporada em alta. O jogador, que é cria da base do Flamengo, aproveitou as oportunidades recebidas e, inclusive, já se reapresentou no Ninho do Urubu para iniciar os trabalhos para 2022.

Por fim, como já dito acima, Diego Ribas é um meia mais avançado, mas que tem sido utilizado como segundo volante. Na última temporada ele perdeu espaço entre os titulares para Andreas Pereira, mas renovou o contrato por mais um ano e aparece com uma das opções para Paulo Sousa.

Wolverhampton Wanderers may be sitting bottom of the Premier League table, but a win over Brentford could be the catalyst the Old Gold need to push them away from the drop zone.

Gary O’Neil may come under some pressure should he fail to lead his side to all three points against the Bees, and he will need to see some improvements from players such as Matheus Cunha.

Matheus Cunha’s season in numbers for Wolves

Last season, Cunha was the club’s top scorer, netting 14 goals in all competitions, but so far during the current campaign, he has managed to find the back of the net on just two occasions in the top flight.

Goals

0

Key passes

1

Dribble attempts (successful)

1 (1)

Total shots

2

Ground duels (won)

6 (4)

Touches

47

Despite his lack of goals, Cunha has been impressive for the club. Indeed, he has created two big chances in the top flight, averages 1.5 key passes per game and has succeeded with 1.7 dribbles per game, showcasing his qualities going forward.

The goals will come, that is certain, but might O’Neil unleash someone in the team who could potentially revive the Brazilian? Creating more chances for him during games in which he can add to his goal tally.

Hwang Hee-Chan has only started three times this term under O’Neil, but could he be unleashed against Brentford this weekend?

Why Hwang Hee-Chan should start against Brentford

Like Cunha, Hwang was on fire for the Old Gold last term, netting 13 goals across the entire season, looking like a man reborn under the new regime.

The South Korea international also managed to succeed with 55% of his dribble attempts, create four big chances and averaged 1.6 shots per game, working well alongside Cunha when the pair were chosen together in the starting XI.

Unfortunately, they haven’t had many chances to recreate this magic during the current season, but if O’Neil can get them firing against Brentford, it could allow Wolves to secure three points.

The forward was hailed by Ian Wright a few years ago, who said: “He has got everything, he has got pace, skill, touch and awareness and he’s always driving to get into the box.”

While he may not have enjoyed the start to the season he would have liked, it is still early for him to start building momentum. The club have scored just six league goals all campaign, which clearly suggests O’Neil needs to unleash some firepower against the Bees.

In the Premier League last term, Hwang ranked in the top 9% for successful take-on percentage (52.2%) when compared to his positional peers, along with ranking in the top 5% for goals per shot on target (0.65) per 90, underlining how effective he was in the opponents half of the pitch.

While it is too early in the season to say that a defeat could be damaging this weekend, Wolves have to improve and get results sooner rather than later. If they don’t, it could be yet another relegation scrap.

The next Kilman: Exciting Wolves youngster could soon make his debut

Wolves could have their Max Kilman heir in the pipeline

ByConnor Holden Oct 3, 2024

كشف مصدر داخل الجهاز الفني لنادي الزمالك النقاب عن موقف لاعب الفريق أحمد سيد “زيزو”، من المشاركة في مباراة الفريق المقبلة أمام بتروجيت، بعد تردد أنباء عن غيابه بسبب الإيقاف.

وكان زيزو قد حصل على بطاقة صفراء خلال مشاركته اليوم في مباراة فاركو، أشهرها في وجهه حكم اللقاء عبد العزيز السيد بالدقيقة 83 بداعي لعب الكرة بعد إطلاق الصافرة.

فيديو | الزمالك يتخطى فاركو بصعوبة في الدوري المصري

وأوضح المصدر لـ بطولات أن زيزو حصل على إنذارين فقط خلال الموسم الحالي، الأول في مباراة سيراميكا كليوباترا، والثاني خلال مواجهة فاركو اليوم، ما يعني أنه لا يزال بعيدًا عن الإيقاف، حيث يتطلب الأمر الحصول على ثلاثة إنذارات للغياب عن مباراة واحدة وفقًا للوائح المسابقات. 

ويستعد الزمالك لمواجهة بتروجيت في الجولة القادمة من الدوري المصري، حيث يسعى الفريق الأبيض لمواصلة نتائجه الإيجابية والمنافسة بقوة على مراكز الصدارة.

يذكر، أن الزمالك قد نجح في تحقيق الفوز على نظيره فاركو بهدف دون رد، تسبب فيه أحمد سيد زيزو، بعد إرسال عرضية ارتطمت بدفاع فريق فاركو وسكنت الشباك.

ومن المقرر أن يواجه الزمالك نظيره فاركو مساء الأحد المقبل في خضم منافسات الجولة الرابعة عشر من عمر الدوري المصري الممتاز.

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Com o Grêmio afundado na zona de rebaixamento, o presidente Romildo Bolzan apareceu. Apesar das críticas da torcida, o mandatário deu as caras e negou que seja omisso.

+ Veja no aplicativo do LANCE! o resultado dos jogos da rodada

‘O que temos que fazer é uma operação de guerra para conseguir as mobilizações necessárias. Nós damos o suporte, estamos sempre juntos, nunca deixamos de estar. Não é falar todos os dias, é uma liderança coletiva, que compartilho. Pode ser uma virtude, mas para muitos é um grande defeito. Não estamos conformados. Ninguém está acomodado aqui’, afirmou, antes de completar:

‘Não pensem que não estamos cientes da gravidade da situação, mas não pensem também que estamos omissos, contemplando’.

Calendário

Empolgado pela vitória contra o Bragantino, o Grêmio foca no duelo do próximo sábado, quando o time gaúcho visita a Chapecoense, na Arena Condá.

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Pakistan left-armer could be available for up to seven group games and the knockouts

ESPNcricinfo staff20-Apr-2021

Mohammad Amir celebrates a wicket•PCB

Mohammad Amir, the Pakistan fast bowler, has signed to play for Kent in this year’s Vitality Blast. He is set to arrive for the second half of the competition, after the conclusion of the rearranged Pakistan Super League, and be available for up to seven group matches, as well as the knockouts if Kent qualify.Amir, 29, retired from international cricket last year and is effectively a T20 specialist, having not played any other format since 2019. He was a World T20 winner in 2009, helping Pakistan to lift the title at Lord’s, and played for Blast champions Essex during the group stage two summers ago.His first game could come against Essex, with Kent travelling to Chelmsford on June 25 – although his involvement will depend on the progress of Karachi Kings at the PSL. The final of the PSL is scheduled for June 20 in Karachi, but Amir’s arrival from Pakistan, which is currently on the UK government’s travel “red list”, is likely to mean serving a period in quarantine.Related

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“I am excited to join a Kent team full of potential,” Amir said. “I have always enjoyed playing at Canterbury, and I hope I will be able to help Kent win a trophy this year.”Amir, a PSL winner with Karachi last year, has taken 220 wickets in 190 T20 appearances, with a career economy of 7.09. He played in the Blast for Essex in 2017 and 2019, has featured regularly in the Bangladesh Premier League, and was involved in last year’s inaugural Lanka Premier League.The left-armer also played a pivotal role in Pakistan’s 2017 Champions Trophy success in England, and was a member of the 2019 World Cup squad, but retired from Test cricket the same year in order to manage his workload. His last international appearance came on the 2020 tour of England, before a falling out with the Pakistan management.Kent’s director of cricket, Paul Downton, said: “We’re delighted that a player of Amir’s quality has agreed to join us for the later stages of the Vitality Blast this year. His skill and experience will be an invaluable addition to our bowling attack and I’m sure our members and supporters will share our enthusiasm in welcoming Amir to the club.”Kent have reached the quarter-finals of the Blast in two of the last three seasons, but last made an appearance at Finals Day back in 2009.

Fast bowler hits back at Michael Vaughan following criticism of attitude to longest format

Andrew Miller11-Mar-2021Eoin Morgan has insisted he has no concerns about Jofra Archer’s enduring motivation to play for England in all three formats, after the bowler himself used his newspaper column to hit back at suggestions – most notably from the former England captain, Michael Vaughan – that he “does not love Test cricket”.Archer played in the first and third Tests of England’s 3-1 series defeat to India, claiming four wickets at 30.50, a return that was consistent with his current Test average of 31.04. However, having bowled just five overs in the latter match, doubts about his appetite for the longest format resurfaced after he missed the series finale with an elbow injury.A similar affliction – later diagnosed as a stress fracture – had ruled him out of the back end of England’s tour of South Africa last winter. However, writing in the Daily Mail, Archer stated that the two issues were unrelated, and expressed his annoyance that he seems to be judged more harshly than his team-mates whenever he has a quiet game.”A lot of people are saying a lot of things about my right elbow, and so as the person the elbow belongs to, I would like to say something in response,” Archer wrote. “Let me be clear about something: I’ve never changed my attitude towards playing for England. I’ve always wanted to play all three formats. That hasn’t changed, and never will as far as I’m concerned.”I always dreamed of playing Test cricket and don’t feel I’ve had a bad game so far — yet unless I am taking four or five wickets in an innings, I am placed under scrutiny and some people start trying to decipher what’s going on.”Comments like ‘he’s not committed’ or ‘he’s not good enough’ appear as soon as you are not 110 percent. I find it quite annoying how people read into stuff and form their own opinions.”I saw one article from Michael Vaughan in which he said: ‘If Jofra doesn’t love Test cricket, England need to find out why.’ We’ve never had a conversation about cricket, so I found it a bit odd. He doesn’t know what makes me tick. He doesn’t know what’s driving me.”Archer bowled well in the first Test in Chennai but bowled just five overs in the rest of the Test series•BCCI

Speaking on the eve of the T20I series, Morgan confirmed that his strike bowler was fit and ready to take part in the opening fixture at Ahmedabad, and gave his own perspective on the insinuations that Archer is a difficult player for England captains to manage.”He’s a huge asset,” Morgan said. “He’s a guy that bowl in three parts of the game and can be threatening whenever he comes on. He obviously has express pace, can bowl cutters, variations, and has a very good yorker. He’s a huge asset in any format.”I do [find him easy to manage]. He’s always been engaging,” Morgan added. “He is a younger member of our squad that has different interests to the majority of our squad, because the majority of our squad is in their late 20s, early 30s.”He loves enjoying what he does, in travelling, playing Xbox, playing cricket, playing in front of big, big crowds and he is a huge family man. The more I have got to know him: one, the better our relationship is but two, the more I have grown to enjoy his company away from the game because I have got to know him more. He’s a funny guy.”Related

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Archer, who turns 26 next month, also pointed out that James Anderson and Stuart Broad, the “two great bowlers in this England set-up”, needed time and patience to develop their own games at Test level – after 13 Tests, the same number that Archer himself has now played, the pair averaged 33.00 and 38.68 respectively.”Everyone must start somewhere, and I am still relatively new to Test cricket,” Archer wrote. “I am making my way, much the same as … Anderson and Broad, once did. And I am happy with a bowling average of 31 so far because I can get better.”The beauty of where those two are in their careers, with so many wickets to their names, is that they get the benefit of the doubt if they have a quiet match of only one or two wickets.”People will argue, quite rightly, that they have got to where they are for a reason and will come back strongly, whereas I don’t feel there is the same understanding given or faith placed in others.”Part of being a bowler is accepting there will be games when you don’t enjoy as much success as you would like but you must tick them off, and when the conditions are right for you to take your big haul, use them.”Asked whether he believed that Archer’s elbow could stand up to the rigours of international cricket across three formats, Morgan reiterated the ECB’s desire to manage his workload across a hectic schedule that includes 17 Tests and a T20 World Cup in the space of 12 months.”From a medical perspective, I can’t give you an accurate answer but I know Jofra’s ambition has always been to play Test cricket for as long as he can,” he said.”If you’d look back at the back end of the summer, and most of January, Jofra had [time] off. And there will be different pockets throughout the year – after the IPL, into our summer, and before the World Cup – when Jofra will be rested and really well looked after, both physically and mentally.”

روى اللاعب الدولي عمر مرموش المحترف ضمن صفوف فرانكفورت آينتراخت الألماني تفاصيل رحلته الطويلة والشاقة في عالم كرة القدم، بدءًا من مراحل الناشئين في نادي وادي دجلة وصولًا إلى الاحتراف في أوروبا واللعب مع بقميص الفراعنة.

وقال مرموش في تصريحاته: “بدأت رحلتي في كرة القدم مع أكاديمية آرسنال، حيث لعبت هناك لمدة عام أو عامين، قبل أن أعود إلى ناشئي وادي دجلة وألعب مع الفريق الأول تحت قيادة كارتيرون، كانت تلك مرحلة محورية، حيث لعبت أول مباراتين مع الفريق الأول، ثم بدأت مع ميدو في الموسم التالي، هذه الفترة كانت من أهم الفترات في حياتي، وتوجتها بالمشاركة مع منتخب مصر للناشئين في بطولة بزامبيا”.

عاجل | الصفقة تمت.. فابريزيو رومانو يعلن انتقال عمر مرموش إلى مانشستر سيتي

وأضاف: “منذ صغري، كان واضحًا أن كرة القدم هي شغفي، كنت ألعب الكرة في المنزل لدرجة أنني تسببت في كسر العديد من الأشياء! ورغم محاولاتي تجربة رياضات أخرى مثل السباحة وكرة السلة والطائرة، لم أجد نفسي سوى في كرة القدم”.

تحدث مرموش عن دعم عائلته وصعوبات الموازنة بين الدراسة والتمرين: “كانت أمي قلقة بشأن تأثري الدراسي بسبب التدريبات، لكنني كنت أصر على أن كرة القدم هي حلمي، أختي وأخي دائمًا كانا سندًا لي، وساعداني في التغلب على الكثير من التحديات”.

كما استذكر تجربته الاحترافية الأولى: “عندما كنت في الرابعة عشرة، حصلت على فرصة معايشة في فريق بالسويد، كانت تجربة صعبة؛ سافرت بمفردي، وعانيت من الغربة والضغط النفسي، أتذكر أنني كنت أبكي في غرفتي بالفندق وأتساءل عما إذا كنت قد اتخذت القرار الصحيح، ولكن تلك التجربة علمتني الكثير عن صعوبة الاحتراف وأهميته، وكانت نقطة تحول كبيرة بالنسبة لي”.

تطرق مرموش إلى انتقاله إلى ألمانيا في عمر الثامنة عشرة بعد أن شاهده كشاف مع منتخب الشباب: “شاركت في اختبارات مع أندية مثل بوروسيا دورتموند وفولفسبورج ومالاجا، بعد مباراة ودية مع فولفسبورج، طلبوا التعاقد معي مباشرة، هذه الفرصة لم تأتِ بسهولة، لكنها كانت تتويجًا لسنوات من العمل والالتزام”.

وأشار إلى الفارق بين التدريب في مصر وأوروبا: “في الخارج، أساليب التدريب مختلفة تمامًا، عندما عدت من السويد إلى مصر، كنت أعلم ما أريده بالضبط وأين يجب أن أكون”.

كشف مرموش عن تلقيه عرضًا لتمثيل منتخب كندا، قائلًا: “عائلتي كانت تعمل في كندا، ولديهم الجنسية الكندية، بالفعل تواصل معي المنتخب الكندي، والمدير الفني تحدث معي شخصيًا لإقناعي بالانضمام إليهم، ولكن بالنسبة لي، منتخب مصر كان دائمًا في مكانة عالية، لحسن الحظ، بعد فترة قصيرة من وجودي في ألمانيا، تواصل معي منتخب مصر، وحينها شعرت بأن حلمي يتحقق”.

وواصل مرموش تصريحاته برسالة ملهمة عن اللاعبين المصريين: “لدينا في مصر مواهب رائعة، لكننا بحاجة إلى تطوير أفضل في التأسيس والبنية الرياضية. أنا فخور بما حققته، وأتطلع دائمًا إلى تمثيل مصر وتحقيق المزيد في مسيرتي”.

وتابع: “كنت مسافر ألعب كرة وأحقق حلمي، لكن أول سنة كانت صعبة جدًا. لعبت 4 مباريات فقط، والحلم كان يبتعد عني. ضحيت بسنة ونصف ولم أجد أي شيء يقرّبني من تحقيق طموحي. المدرب كان يعتقد أنني ألعب بطريقة غير مناسبة لهم، وفكرت جديًا في العودة إلى مصر.”

وأردف: “في نهاية السنة، قررت أن أستمر، وقلت لنفسي إنه لن يقف أي شيء في طريقي بعد الآن. المدرب لم يكن مقتنعًا بي ولم يمنحني الفرصة، لكنني اجتهدت حتى جاء اليوم الذي أصيب فيه المهاجمان الأساسيان، حصلت على فرصتي في المباراة التالية وسجلت 3 أهداف وقدمت أداءً رائعًا، بعدها لعبت 12 مباراة وسجلت 9 أهداف، لكن توقفت الكرة بسبب جائحة كورونا.”

وعن نقطة التحول في مسيرته، قال مرموش: “بعد استئناف النشاط الرياضي، تم تصعيدي إلى الفريق الأول لفولفسبورج. عندما بدأت التدريبات معهم، قال لي المدرب: ‘طول ما أنا موجود، ستكون معي في الفريق’. لعبت أول مباراة لي مع الفريق الأول، ومن هنا بدأت حكايتي الحقيقية.”

After the previous campaign saw them rely heavily upon the goals of Jarrod Bowen, West Ham United appear eager to bolster their attacking firepower with a new forward player.

West Ham target new attacking stars

Aside from the aforementioned Bowen's sixteen league goals last season, no West Ham player managed to find the back of the net on more than eight occasions last term.

West Ham targeting £21m titan who's an Aguerd & Kilman hybrid

West Ham looking to make another defensive reinforcement

1 ByConnor Holden Jul 28, 2024

Jarrod Bowen

34

16

6

Mohammed Kudus

33

8

6

James Ward-Prowse

37

7

7

Tomas Soucek

37

7

2

Michail Antonio

26

6

2

Lucas Paqueta

31

4

6

In regard to fresh faces in attack, the Hammers have already got one player through the door in the form of Luis Guilherme. The Brazilian winger arrives in East London in a £25.5million move from Palmeiras. Penning a five-year deal at the London Stadium, the 18-year-old could play a big part in Julen Lopetegui's side next season.

Not content with just the one new arrival, West Ham have also been linked with a number of different players who can bolster their attack. According to a report last week, the Hammers are one of the main sides showing interest in Vitoria Guimaraes winger Jota Silva.

Joining Silva on the Hammers' list of targets is Aston Villa's Jhon Duran. West Ham have already had one offer rejected for the Colombian with the player himself now pushing for the deal to get done. With Villa willing to part ways with the striker for £40 million, it appears that the club are now weighing up whether to match this valuation.

Hammers return for Brazilian attacker

As first reported by Sport Witness, the Brazilian press are claiming that West Ham are back in the mix to sign Corinthians’ Yuri Alberto. The outlet states that Lopetegui has made contact with the club, likely to find out about the player's situation ahead of the Hammers making their first "official offer" for the player.

Alberto may be a familiar name to some among the Hammers' faithful with the club previously attempting to bring the Brazilian to East London back in August 2023. The 23-year-old came as close as agreeing personal terms with the Hammers, however a failure to agree upon a price with Corinthians saw the Premier League outfit walk away from negotiations.

The Hammers may have better luck in agreeing a deal this summer with Corinthians reportedly resigned to the fact that Alberto will be departing the club during the window. It is claimed that Everton have taken a look at the striker whilst an unnamed Saudi Arabian club have offered around £17 million for Alberto.

Alberto's popularity this summer is to be expected with the striker finding the back of the net on seventeen occasions this season. With multiple clubs eyeing up a deal for the 23-year-old, it may be in the Hammers' best interest to use their previous negotiations to get the deal done quickly this summer.

Calmest man in the arena. Trent Alexander-Arnold stepped up when England needed him most, expertly dispatching his decisive penalty, his team's fifth, in the quarter-finals shootout against Switzerland to advance to the semi-finals of Euro 2024, where the Netherlands now await.

The Liverpool vice-captain has been on the periphery this summer after being shoehorned into the centre of the park in the Three Lions' opener and failing to hold a motley crew together against Serbia.

It was always going to be an uphill battle, but Liverpool fans will be safe in their knowledge that their homegrown talent is one of the very best in the business.

Courted by Real Madrid and entering the final year of his contract, there's an uneasy focus on the 25-year-old's future, with his technical quality and presence in the Anfield side simply irreplaceable.

However, for all his strengths, he's not the most valuable member of Arne Slot's first team, with one of Jurgen Klopp's later signings actually overtaking him in that regard.

Why Liverpool signed Cody Gakpo

The man in question is none other than Cody Gakpo, who is starting to show signs of growing into the player that Liverpool envisaged when they paid PSV Eindhoven the big bucks to bring him to the Premier League in January 2023.

Liverpool paid £35m for Netherlands international Gakpo's services, with the dynamic forward having lit up the Dutch Eredivisie and turned global heads onto his journey after an impressive campaign in Qatar, at the 2022 World Cup.

As per FBref, he ranks among the top 18% of forwards across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for assists, the top 6% for shot-creating actions, the top 7% for progressive passes, the top 11% for successful take-ons and the top 8% for tackles per 90.

Liverpool might not feel that they have quite got bang for their buck just yet but Gakpo is a unique attacking outlet and he could positively explode under Slot's leadership in just over one month.

Cody Gakpo's market value in 2024

Hailed for his "special skill set" by Klopp's former assistant manager Pep Lijnders, Gakpo has not seen his market price skyrocket since alighting in Liverpool, but he's made steady progress that has been reflected through his impressive overall tally of 23 goals and nine assists across only 46 starting appearances.

The 25-year-old, who is thriving at the Euros and has notched three goals and an assist over five matches for Oranje – set to meet England at the penultimate hurdle on Wednesday – has so much more to give, but this is a wonderful illustration of just how talented a player the Reds have at their disposal.

Make no mistake, some of the listed market prices below are a tad modest, but there's no question that numbers have been crunched to accurately establish the most important and marketable members of the Anfield crop. Alexander-Arnold, despite his glittering quality, doesn't even make the grade, with the site recording his current market value at £33m, likely due to his contract situation.

1.

Dominik Szoboszlai

£46m

2.

Alexis Mac Allister

£45m

3.

Darwin Nunez

£43m

4.

Cody Gakpo

£40m

5.

Luis Diaz

£36m

Gakpo's place in the rankings bears testament to his high-class ability. While he hasn't always been performing at the apex of his game at Liverpool under Klopp, the Dutchman is a sharp goalscorer with a dynamic and far-reaching skill set.

Supporters might be yearning for new signings on Merseyside, but if Alexander-Arnold is kept on the books and Gakpo is provided the license to thrive under his countryman's tutelage, Liverpool might just find they have the tools to sculpt the illustrious success they so dearly crave.

Liverpool hit gold on Klopp superstar who's worth more than Anthony Gordon

This talented player could explode under Arne Slot’s management.

ByAngus Sinclair Jul 5, 2024