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While the goals weren’t overflowing at St James’ Park on Saturday, Eddie Howe’s Newcastle United did at least pick up a much-needed 1-0 win in Premier League action over lowly Wolverhampton Wanderers to finally get a victory on the board.

Before this confidence-boosting victory on home soil, the Magpies only had a point next to their name in league action, as they feared what a post-Alexander Isak reality would look like.

Now, however, with Nick Woltemade leading the line, the near future looks far more rosy, as the former Stuttgart goal machine scored on his debut to secure a slender victory over Vitor Pereira’s visitors.

Woltemade's dream debut

With Howe revealing before the Wolves clash that Yoane Wissa was going to be absent due to a knee injury, the pressure was severely ramped up on the new £69m striker to deliver some instant goods as the Toon’s fresh centre-forward option.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

He didn’t disappoint either on his first outing at St James’ Park, with the clinical number 27 finding himself in the perfect position to head home a Jacob Murphy deep into the first 45 minutes, which did see Wolves have a few openings.

Thankfully, after Woltemade headed past Sam Johnstone, the tight game swung in favour of the hosts.

More goals should soon come the 6-foot-6 attacker’s way, too, considering he was purchased for that lavish amount, off the back of him powering home a lethal 18 strikes from just 36 contests wearing Stuttgart white.

However, while the Toon masses are undoubtedly enthused by the potential of Woltemade, they look to be less overjoyed by the presence of Harvey Barnes in the first-team ranks as one of the German’s attacking partners, if his out-of-sorts showing against the Old Gold is anything to go by.

Unlike Murphy on the right wing, who assisted Woltemade’s game-clinching goal, Barnes would fail to deliver a single accurate cross all night to the head of the towering striker.

To add insult to injury, the ex-Leicester City attacker would also go the entire contest without testing Johnstone with an on-target effort.

With Anthony Elanga waiting in the wings, it does appear that Barnes might be on borrowed time as Howe’s dependable left-wing option, with Newcastle now left to rue the departure of an enigmatic forward, who could have been a dream partner for Woltemade to bounce off of, over relying on the 27-year-old.

Newcastle must rue selling "breathtaking" Barnes upgrade

Barnes has shown glimpses of his immense quality donning Newcastle black and white, away from a slow start this season.

In particular, last campaign saw the former Foxes hero pick up nine goals and four assists in league action.

But, the alarm bells will be ringing now surrounding the Burnley-born forward, with a poor injury record also weighing heavily next to his tally of no goals and no assists from his opening four league clashes this time around.

In an ideal reality, Newcastle would love to have a “breathtaking” Allan Saint-Maximin back in their ranks, as he was once labelled by former Magpies boss Steve Bruce, as a Barnes upgrade, with the slick Frenchman always consistently entertaining the St James’ Park masses when situated on Tyneside.

Lauded as a “special” talent by Jamie Carragher when at the peak of his powers in England, Saint-Maximin would always have a piece of magic up his sleeve, even when Newcastle found themselves in the doldrums.

In total, the brand-new Club America number 97 would tally up 13 goals and 21 assists for Howe and Co. before moving on to Al Ahli in 2023.

On the contrary, while Barnes does boast one more Toon strike, he only has eight assists next to his name, with Saint-Maximin’s trickery, matched with his eye for an assist, potentially music to the ears of the lofty German if he were still lining up for Howe’s side today.

With two goals already tallied up at Club America from just one league start in Mexico, meaning he’s further started the season in better form than a low-key Barnes, it’s clear to see that Newcastle prematurely got rid of their “rare” talent – as he was once dubbed by Paul Robinson – particularly with Woltemade now in through the door.

Games played

111

Goals scored

12

Assists

19

Big chances created

29

At the time, however, cashing in Saint-Maximin for £30m might have been viewed as a smart move.

But, with the silky Frenchman previously creating big chances for fun in the Premier League, Woltemade could well have even more excellent service to depend on if Saint-Maximin were still at the Magpies, over Barnes failing to spark into life.

Howe's "best" Newcastle duo are now more important than Bruno & Tonali

Eddie Howe might now have unearthed an even better duo at Newcastle United than Bruno Guimaraes and Sandro Tonali’s midfield partnership.

ByKelan Sarson Sep 13, 2025

A petition calling for footballing authorities to ban brick walls around touchlines has been launched following the death of ex-Arsenal youngster Billy Vigar. The Chichester City FC striker suffered a "significant brain injury" during an Isthmian League Premier Division game last weekend, before later passing away on Thursday. Now, fans want action to make the sport safer..

Football in shock over Vigar's death

The former Arsenal youth player reportedly collided with a pitch-side wall while playing for the non-league team away at Wingate and Finchley last Saturday. The 21-year-old died on Thursday after several days in an induced coma, with his family saying they were "devastated" that this had happened while he was playing the "sport he loved".

"After sustaining a significant brain injury last Saturday, Billy Vigar was put into an induced coma," the family said. "On Tuesday, he needed an operation to aid any chances of recovery. Although this helped, the injury proved too much for him, and he passed away on Thursday morning. The responses to the original update show how much Billy was loved and thought of within the sport."

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta paid tribute to Vigar and his family and now, football fans have launched a petition to try and make sure something like this can't happen again.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesVigar's law petition continues to grow

Shortly after his death, a petition titled, 'Vigar's Law – Ban brick walls around football pitches' was launched, and has quickly achieved more than 7,500 signatures. Those behind the petition have called on the Football Association to remove brick walls and other hard, immovable structures around football pitches. It adds that this is not an "isolated incident". 

Part of the post reads: "We, football lovers, urgently call for the removal of brick walls and other hard, immovable structures surrounding football pitches. This petition is driven by the heartbreaking death of Billy Vigar, a young and talented footballer whose life was tragically cut short after a collision with a pitch-side brick wall.

"Billy's passing is not an isolated incident – countless players at all levels have suffered serious injuries, including broken bones, concussions, and life-altering trauma, as a result of these dangerous barriers.

"Football is meant to be a sport of passion, skill, and community – not a place where a simple fall or a mistimed run can result in permanent injury or death. Yet many pitches, especially at grassroots and community level, remain bordered by solid brick walls placed only a few feet from the touchline. These walls serve no essential sporting purpose, yet they create an undeniable and avoidable hazard."

Calls for 'urgent action' in football

The petition set out four key pillars and a list of demands going forward. They are: Player safety must come first, preventable tragedies, no justifiable purpose, and duty of care. 

It points out that walls can be "lethal", and collisions with them can cause broken limbs, spinal injuries, and head trauma. They "offer no benefit" that cannot be achieved by "safer alternatives" such as mesh fencing, railings, or padded barriers. 

Moreover, they have called on councils, football associations, governing bodies, and facility owners to: "Immediately assess all football pitches for the presence of brick or concrete walls within the playing vicinity. Remove or replace these walls with safer alternatives (such as mesh fencing or padded railings) within a defined timeframe. Introduce strict guidelines prohibiting the construction of new hard-surface barriers near active playing areas."

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FA to review football grounds' perimeter walls

The FA says it will carry out an immediate safety review of perimeter walls at football stadiums for many non-league sides after Vigar's death. 

An FA statement said: "We will now conduct an immediate review, working with leagues, clubs, and relevant stakeholders across the game, that will focus on the safety of perimeter walls and boundaries around pitches in the National League system. This will include looking at ways we can assist National League system clubs to identify and implement additional measures at their stadiums that they determine will help to mitigate any potential safety risks."

Australia allrounder Ashleigh Gardner has been named Gujarat Giants captain for WPL 2025, ending fellow national team-mate Beth Mooney’s two-year reign at the helm.”It is an absolute honour for me to be named the captain of Gujarat Giants.” Gardner said in a Giants statement. “I have loved being a part of this team and I am excited to lead this fantastic group in the upcoming season. We have a great mix of young and experienced players and plenty of Indian talent in our squad. I am looking forward to working with the team and making our fans proud.”Related

• WPL 2025: Can new captain Gardner change Gujarat Giants' fortunes around?

• Shafali, Reddy and other players who could take the WPL route to Indian team

• Mithali Raj, Nooshin Al Khadeer part ways with Gujarat Giants

• WPL 2025: Chinelle Henry replaces injured Alyssa Healy at UP Warriorz

Gardner has been a vital cog for Australia across formats, chipping in with her all-round credentials. In the recent Women’s Ashes, she picked up five wickets including a second-innings four-for in the only Test match – a pink-ball affair at the MCG – and scored her maiden ODI century in the third ODI of the series. She missed the T20I leg of the multi-format series with a calf strain but had provided a reminder of her bowling abilities by picking 16 wickets for Sydney Sixers in WBBL 2024.”She is a fierce competitor,” Giants head coach Michael Klinger said. “Her game awareness, tactical acumen, and ability to inspire players make her the ideal choice to captain Gujarat Giants. We believe she will lead from the front and guide the team towards a successful campaign.”Gardner has been with Giants since the inaugural season and the move to elevate her to captaincy was made to free up Mooney, who is also the designated wicketkeeper and the opening batter for them. Gardner was also Giants’ vice-captain for most of the first season after Mooney picked up a calf injury one game into WPL 2023.Gardner is the No. 1-ranked allrounder in ICC’s ODI rankings while Mooney is the leading T20I batter.”I would like to thank Mooney for her highly valued leadership,” Klinger said. “Now, she will be able to focus on wicketkeeping and opening the batting lineup. She continues to be a major leader of our group.”Ahead of the auction for WPL 2025, Giants rejigged their support staff with assistant coach Nooshin Al Khadeer and mentor Mithali Raj parting ways. Australia assistant coach Daniel Marsh joined as the batting coach while IPL team Lucknow Super Giants’ spin-bowling coach Pravin Tambe is the bowling coach.

An “interesting” striker is now a top target for Glasgow Rangers in the summer transfer window, with Gers manager Russell Martin personally green-lighting the move.

Rangers need response after Martin criticism

It’s fair to say that Martin has already made his presence felt as Gers boss, producing some stinging criticism of his players after last weekend’s 1-1 draw away to Motherwell on the opening weekend of the Scottish Premiership season.

“Some of them have to drop their ego, I’ll look at us tactically and accept my responsibility in it. But today, it’s not really tactical, it’s a mentality problem, and we got more than what we deserved actually.

“We need work out who really wants to be all in and who doesn’t. But Europe is not an excuse. This club demands to play in Europe. We’ve qualified for that, so we’re going to be playing in Europe a lot and we’re going to have games after the European games a lot, and we have to manage them way better than today.”

Granted, Rangers did bounce back in midweek with a 3-0 win at home to Viktoria Plzen in Champions League qualifying, but a response is still required in the league on Saturday, as Martin’s side host Dundee.

The draw with Motherwell was further proof that additional firepower is needed for the Gers before the transfer window closes, and a key update has now emerged regarding one target.

Martins green-lights Rangers' move for striker

According to TEAMtalk, Macca Tel Aviv striker Dor Turgeman has now “emerged as one of Rangers’ top targets” in the current window, with a move for him being approved by Martin.

The 21-year-old is mentioned in the report as “one of the best strikers in the Israeli Premier League”, but the Gers “will have to sell players before committing to new signings”, amid doubts over the futures of the likes of Cyriel Dessers and Hamza Igamane.

Turgeman was linked with a move to Rangers last month, and it is easy to see why the Premiership side are such admirers of him, given his status as an exciting young player.

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ByBen Gray Aug 7, 2025

The youngster has scored 32 goals in 113 appearances for Tel Aviv, while at international level, he has one goal to his name in 10 caps for Israel. Scout Jacek Kulig has lauded Turgeman as an “interesting” striker, while journalist Kai Watson has heaped further praise on him.

“If you’ve followed me for any length of time you won’t be surprised to see Dor Turgeman here. The 21-year-old Israeli international is great with both feet, a strong carrier of the ball and lethal inside the box. He has all the tools to go to the top.”

As mentioned, Rangers’ pursuit of Turgeman could ultimately be dependant on what happens with other strikers at the club this summer, but he stands out as a talented long-term option who could be a star at Ibrox.

أعرب المهاجم الإسباني فيران توريس، مهاجم الفريق الأول لكرة القدم بنادي برشلونة عن استيائه وحزنه الكبير بعد ترتيب زميله في سباق الكرة الذهبية 2025.

وأعلنت مجلة فرانس فوتبول هوية الفائز بجائزة الكرة الذهبية “بالون دور” للعام 2025، مساء أمس، الإثنين، في الحفل الذي أقيم بمدينة باريس عاصمة فرنسا.

وتنافس على الجائزة 30 لاعبًا، بينهم النجم المصري محمد صلاح، جناح فريق ليفربول الإنجليزي، بعد الموسم المميز الذي قدمه مع ليفربول.

اقرأ أيضًا | لابورتا يكشف تطورات عودة برشلونة إلى “كامب نو” وموقف تجديد عقد دي يونج

وحصد الفرنسي عثمان ديمبلي المركز الأول في سباق الفوز بالبالون دور، فيما جاء لامين يامال، نجم منتخب إسبانيا وبرشلونة في المركز الثاني، وفيتينا البرتغالي جاء بالمركز الثالث، بعدما توج مع باريس سان جيرمان ببطولات مميزة، بجانب فوزه بدوري الأمم الأوروبية مع البرتغال.

واندهش توريس من ترتيب زميله بيدري، نجم خط وسط الفريق بعدما جاء في المركز الـ11 في ترتيب مجلة فرانس فوتبول للفوز بجائزة الكرة الذهبية 2025.

ونشر المهاجم الإسباني صورة ترتيب بيدري عبر حسابه الرسمي على انستجرام وكتب رمزين تعبيريين، للتعبير عن خيبة أمله ومفاجأته وذهوله لانخفاض تصنيف الإسباني بهذه الجائزة الفردية.

Big Picture

After a T20 series where the view was longer-term to 2026, a number of big names were missing and the decider was washed out on a horrid day in Manchester, it feels like this upcoming five-match ODI series – yes, old-school and, yes, probably overkill – has a little more immediate relevance with an eye on next year’s Champions Trophy as some key multi-format players return.To highlight the shrinking relevance of bilateral ODIs, this is just the second series for both England and Australia since their contrasting World Cup campaigns last year: England lost 2-1 in West Indies last December while Australia beat the same opposition 3-0 in February. Quiz question: name the XIs these two teams put out in the final matches of those series (no cheating by clicking here and here).Related

• Australia's fast-bowling injuries a reminder of the juggling act to come

• John Turner hoping to finally cap rise to prominence with England

• Switch Hit: Manchester rains save Aussies (again)

• Zampa: 'It hits different when you play for your country'

One significant player who won’t feature in these matches is Jos Buttler after a setback in the recovery from his calf injury. It means Harry Brook joins the list of England captains for the season, and it’s probably not insignificant given the feeling he is a genuine long-term option to lead the side. There will also be plenty of interest in how Jofra Archer goes in his first 50-over appearance in 18 months. It will be a significant increase in workload for him, although he will be carefully managed.Australia, meanwhile, have had an influx of senior names with Steven Smith, Marnus Labuschagne, Glenn Maxwell and Mitchell Starc all part of the series. Alex Carey is also in the squad but, in ODIs, he is now Josh Inglis’ understudy after being dropped early in last year’s World Cup. Either way, the tour will include his return to Lord’s next week, the scene of a dramatic storyline in Carey’s career.Steven Smith was among those Australia players joining for the ODI leg•PA Photos/Getty Images

At the other end of the experience scale – you couldn’t actually go much further – is the call-up of quick bowler Mahli Beardman as a back-up player. With just one professional game under his belt it has certainly generated a talking point and, though he isn’t officially part of the squad yet, it wouldn’t take much more than some general soreness among the other fast bowlers for him to make a further step up.”He’s a ripping young kid,” Mitchell Marsh, a fellow West Australian, said. “For a 19-year-old he’s got a lot of talent, he showed that during the Under-19 World Cup. I think he’s going to learn a lot by being here. I’ve certainly faced him in the nets a few times. We’ve seen over the history of Australian cricket we’ve got a long list of guys who have been plucked, I guess, out of nowhere but Mahli is certainly extremely talented and bowls fast.”

Form guide

(last five completed matches, most recent first)
England LWLWW
Australia WWWWW

In the spotlight: Jofra Archer and Glenn Maxwell

The A-word will never be far away. So much of what England are doing at the moment is with an eye on the 2025-26 Ashes and the rehabilitation of Jofra Archer is at the top of that list. This match will be his first 50-over game – international or domestic – since March 2023 having until now been kept on a diet of T20 action in a carefully-managed return to action. That step-by-step approach will continue and there’s a chance he may not even bowl his full allocation of 10 overs, but it marks another significant step in Archer’s comeback and another stage towards what is hoped is an eventual return to Test cricket.Glenn Maxwell was rested for the series against West Indies earlier this year so hasn’t played an ODI since the World Cup final. After his horror leg injury in late 2022, the effects of which he still has to manage, he is another player who will be carefully handled by the selectors. At the age of 35 he’s one of those who may not be around come the next ODI World Cup in 2027, so the Champions Trophy could be a 50-over farewell for one of the most dynamic white-ball cricketers there has ever been.Jofra Archer’s previous ODI was in March 2023•AFP

Team news: Archer plays; opening question for Australia

Ben Duckett will open for the first time in his ODI career with stand-in captain Brook slotting in at No. 4. Jamie Smith has been confirmed as wicketkeeper and it is likely he would have done so even if Buttler had been fit. Archer will play the opening match of the series. Jacob Bethell is in line for a debut and the final decision would appear to be who goes at No. 6 with Liam Livingstone’s bowling likely to swing things his way to allow Brook to spread overs between him, Bethell and Will Jacks.England: (probable) 1 Ben Duckett, 2 Phil Salt, 3 Will Jacks, 4 Harry Brook (capt), 5 Jamie Smith (wk), 6 Liam Livingstone, 7 Jacob Bethell, 8 Brydon Carse, 9 Jofra Archer, 10 Adil Rashid, 11 Reece TopleyAustralia’s squad has been reportedly hit by a virus after captain Mitchell Marsh missed the second T20I with the illness. It may severely stretch their already thin squad for the first ODI with a number of senior players affected. As in T20s, Australia are searching for a long-term replacement for David Warner. Inglis and Jake Fraser-McGurk ended up there against West Indies after Travis Head was rested following the opening game so there are no shortage of options. Marsh has previously had success there, too, and if he goes in up top it potentially creates room for both Smith and Labuschagne. Inglis did not train much ahead of the opening match due to quad soreness so there may be a question mark over whether he plays. If so, Carey would come in.Australia: (possible) 1 Travis Head, 2 Mitchell Marsh (capt), 3 Steven Smith, 4 Cameron Green, 5 Marnus Labuschagne, 6 Josh Inglis/Alex Carey (wk), 7 Glenn Maxwell/Matthew Short, 8 Sean Abbott, 9 Mitchell Starc/Ben Dwarshuis, 10 Adam Zampa, 11 Josh Hazlewood/Aaron Hardie

Pitch and conditions

Trent Bridge can be a great place to bat in one-day cricket: since 2010 it has the highest average and strike-rate of all England and Wales venues. But the ball can also swing which gives the bowlers a chance. The sunny weather is set to hold on for at least the start of the series.

Stats and trivia

• Australia are on a 12-match winning streak in ODIs. A victory in Nottingham would put this side joint second with Sri Lanka, behind Australia’s own 21-match run in 2003.
• Adam Zampa will play his 100th ODI: since the 2020 tour of England he has taken 94 wickets at 21.71
• The last time the sides met in an ODI at Trent Bridge, England made a then world-record 481 for 6. It is one of only four times the teams have met in a one-dayer at this venue.

Quotes

“That’s a long way away yet. Personally, I’m just going to try and concentrate on each game and I’d probably urge everybody else to try and do that as well.”
“It’s certainly a busy schedule and there are times when we might have to manage guys through and playing five games in 10 days is certainly a big ask but we’ll manage that the best we can.”

The India captain was thrilled to be able to give departing coach Rahul Dravid a major trophy: ‘You saw how proud he was and how excited he was’

Sidharth Monga30-Jun-20248:43

Rohit Sharma on Dravid, key moments of the final and more

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.Just because of the desperation with which he coveted a world title, Rohit Sharma placed this T20 World Cup win as the greatest time of his career, the greatest achievement. “This has to be the greatest time, I can say that,” Rohit said at the press conference after the match. “It’s only because how desperately I wanted to win this. So, all the runs, all the runs that I’ve scored in all these years, I think it does matter, but I’m not big on stats and all of that. I think winning games for India, winning trophies for India, that is what I look forward to all the time. And having this now right beside me probably has to be, I don’t know, honestly, I don’t know if it’s the greatest or what but it is definitely one of the greatest, I can say that.”Rohit spoke of the desperation again when asked to describe his mental state when he sunk onto the ground and celebrated the win. “I wanted this badly,” he said. “It’s very hard to put it in words because that moment, I don’t want to say what I was thinking and what was going in my mind, but it was a very emotional moment personally for me.Related

Dravid: India's T20 World Cup win a 'great testament to the fight in the team'

Bumrah and Hardik script stunning comeback to lead India to T20 World Cup glory

Rohit: It's not what we did today, it is what we have done for three-four years

Magic moments – Bumrah, Klaasen and SKY go flash, bam, alakazam

South Africa were winning, then came Jasprit Bumrah

“I wish I could capture that moment myself but not really, you can’t do that but I will always remember that. Yeah, those are the moments you wait for and then you don’t plan these things, it just happens because you’re so desperate for certain things in life and I was very desperate for this in my life. So happy that we eventually crossed the line this time.”Rohit brought the trophy to the press conference. He has been close to a World Cup many times since winning his first back in 2007. He lost out on being selected in 2011 at the last moment, and had then been a critical part of India’s five knockout appearances in six World Cups. The last defeat, at the end of an unbeaten run at home, left him the most heartbroken.In the absence of a clear transition plan, Rohit and coach Rahul Dravid agreed to give it another shot. Rohit had high praise for Dravid. “More than any one of us, I think he deserved that trophy,” Rohit said. “What he has done for Indian cricket for the past 20-25 years, I think this was the only thing that was missing in his cabinet. I am very happy from all of us on behalf of the entire team that we could actually do this for him. You saw how proud he was and how excited he was.Rohit Sharma stressed how much the victory was for, and because of, Rahul Dravid•Getty Images”He’s done so much for Indian cricket when he played. Over the last three years, he has worked hard with this team. He has had to suppress his instincts on many an occasion because it is not that easy for the boys to match his wavelength. So Rahul bhai suppressed himself. He learnt what the boys wanted. He prioritised that. Rahul bhai did that for the whole team. He tried to understand what the boys wanted, and what is needed to be given to the boys. Because eventually we have to do the job, Rahul bhai can’t go and bat.”For three years he has provided the boys role clarity. The boys who are not with the team, he has stayed in touch with them: keep telling him what is up with the team, when they can come ack, what their role will be when they come back. Rahul is a studious person. He was the first one to take care of this when he came: we have to tell the boys what we want from them.”Rohit hinted at some disagreement among the brains trusts ahead of the final, but as a captain he ruled he needed to bat first. He has won four of his six IPL titles batting first. “I’m a believer of just having runs on the board in big games,” he said. “That’s how my mind works. It is not necessary that everyone thinks like that in the team.Rohit Sharma: ‘I was very desperate for this in my life’•Getty Images”But I have a decision to make and I made it very clear that no matter how the pitch is, whatever it is, we have to try and put runs on the board and then fight it out. You have the talent in your bowling and I have seen what the guys have done with the ball. So, I had that confidence that whatever score we have, we can try and defend it.”I know the result came in our favour, but even if the result didn’t come in our favour, I would have still completely backed the decision of batting first. Although I thought the pitch really played well, throughout the 40 overs the pitch was really good. It didn’t grip as such, which we really thought it would after the first half, with the sun beating down so hard, there is no grass on the pitch, it looks a lot drier. But obviously a lot of rolling and water must have gone in there to make it nice and hard. But, yeah, that was the thought and we were very clear with that decision as well, that we want to put runs on the board and try and defend it later.”While Rohit went through a whole host of contributors to the win in the final, he reserved special praise for the Player of the Tournament Jasprit Bumrah. “I don’t know how much I can talk about Bumrah,” he said. “Obviously, we’ve been seeing this with him for such a long time now. Whenever he has ball in his hand, he tends to create magic for us every time. I am very lucky to have players like this in my squad. Players who are playing for me and Team India. Really, really grateful.”

Liverpool are not resting on their laurels after they won the Premier League in Arne Slot’s first season as the manager in the 2024/25 campaign.

The Dutch head coach arrived from Feyenoord last summer to replace Jurgen Klopp in the dugout at Anfield and clinched the top-flight trophy at the first time of asking.

Despite that incredible achievement, Slot and his staff are looking to bolster the squad with reinforcements to achieve even more success, hopefully across multiple competitions, next season.

One star who is reportedly on the club’s radar is Bayer Leverkusen attacking midfielder Florian Wirtz, who was recently the subject of a £105m bid by the Premier League champions, as per Sky Sports.

It now remains to be seen whether or not the Reds can get a deal over the line for the Germany international in the weeks to come during the summer transfer window.

Liverpool have, however, already completed and announced a move for Jeremie Frimpong from the Bundesliga club, and he may not be the only full-back to arrive at Anfield this summer.

What Jeremie Frimpong could bring to Liverpool

Firstly, the Reds have already found their replacement for Trent Alexander-Arnold, who has completed a transfer to Real Madrid on a permanent basis, in the form of Frimpong.

Liverpool reportedly paid a fairly modest fee of £29.5m, thanks to his release clause, to sign the Netherlands international, which makes him a fairly cost-effective replacement for Trent this summer.

In terms of his style of play, Frimpong is a very front-footed and attack-minded ‘defender’ who will want to be on the last line and make runs to impact games from an offensive perspective.

The 24-year-old star primarily played as a wing-back for Leverkusen down the right and could push on very high and wide for Liverpool, which would suit Mohamed Salah well, as he likes to drift infield onto his favoured left foot to score and create goals.

24/25

48

5

9

23/24

47

14

10

22/23

48

9

10

21/22

34

2

8

As you can see in the table above, Frimpong delivered goals and assists at an impressive rate, for a wing-back, for the majority of his time with the German side, which shows that he could bring goals and assists to the Liverpool team next season.

This could also provide Salah with more room to work with, because opposition full-backs may have to pay extra close attention to Frimpong’s runs, possibly creating space for the winger to receive the ball with fewer defenders on him.

Frimpong, however, may not be the only full-back to arrive at Anfield in the coming weeks, as Liverpool are reportedly eyeing up a left-back from the Premier League.

Liverpool set to bid for Premier League defender

According to journalist Ben Jacobs, Liverpool are interested in a deal to sign Bournemouth full-back Milos Kerkez during the summer transfer window.

The reporter claims that the Premier League champions are set to make a formal bid to sign the Hungary international in the coming days, as they look to bolster their options at left-back.

Transfer Focus

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

Jacobs does not reveal how much the bid from Liverpool is set to be worth, but does claim that Bournemouth are looking for a fee of at least £40m to allow their star defender to move on from the Vitality Stadium.

The journalist also states that the 21-year-old Premier League star has ‘already agreed to the move’ to Anfield, which means that there would not be any issues on personal terms if the Reds were able to agree a deal with the Cherries in the coming days.

If Liverpool do wrap up a transfer to bring Kerkez over to Merseyside this summer, then it could be a repeat of their Sadio Mane masterclass back in 2016.

Why Milos Kerkez could be Sadio Mane 2.0

The club reportedly paid a fairly modest fee of £36m to sign the Senegal international from Southampton after the 2015/16 campaign, in which the forward had produced 11 goals and six assists to lead his side to European football.

Mane went on to score 120 goals and provide 46 assists in 269 appearances for Liverpool in all competitions during his career at Anfield, winning the Champions League and the Premier League during that time.

This shows that Liverpool hit the jackpot with the exciting attacker because they snapped up a star who was shining for a team punching above their weight in the Premier League, and he was able to adapt to a team that wanted to win trophies year-on-year.

Bournemouth finished ninth in the top-flight, just shy of a spot in Europe for next season, and Kerkez played a significant role in their achievement of finishing in the top half with his impressive performances in the left-back position for Andoni Iraola’s side.

Appearances

38

33

Goals

2

0

Assists

5

1

Big chances created

8

7

Tackles + interceptions per game

2.6

1.8

Dribbled past per game

0.4x

0.6x

Duel success rate

54%

48%

As you can see in the table above, the Hungarian star outperformed Andy Robertson with his work in and out of possession during the Premier League season, by offering more as a scorer and a creator, whilst also being more effective defensively.

These statistics suggest that Kerkez has the quality to make an instant impact at Anfield as an upgrade on Slot’s current left-back option, which is another reason why he could be a repeat of Mane, who became an instant star with his goals and assists on the wing.

As Izzy Christiansen said in the clip above, the “machine” is only 21 and is not close to reaching his peak, which means that Liverpool would also be paying for the potential that he has to get even better.

Like Mane, who joined at the age of 24, Kerkez would arrive at Anfield with time on his side to be a key player for the Reds for many more years to come, which is yet another reason why he could be a fantastic signing after the Frimpong deal for the opposite flank.

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Barcelona’s treble-winning 2008-09 team is often considered the greatest club side of all time, as they won La Liga, the Copa del Rey and the UEFA Champions League.

The best football team of all time

Spain dominated football between 2008 and 2012. The Spanish national side achieved a historic three-peat of consecutive major international tournaments, being crowed European Champions in 2008 and 2012, either side of their success at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

Legendary players like Xavi, Andres Iniesta, Sergio Busquets, Carles Puyol and Gerard Pique weren’t satisifed with only international success however. Barcelona won four La Liga titles in a five-year period between 2008 and 2013, while also wining the Champions League twice, in 2009 and 2011.

Barcelona's 2008-09 team in pictures

Central to both teams’ greatness was the iconic midfield trio of Xavi, Iniesta and Busquets, which formed the model for how managers across the globe tried to build their midfields for years to come.

The elegance and playmaking of Iniesta combined with Xavi’s control and tempo along with the security of Busquets, who was simulataneously suave and destructive, seemed virtually impossible to beat or replicate.

One of the only teams who gave Barca a run for their money during the late 2000’s was Manchester United, led by one of the greatest managers of all time in Sir Alex Ferguson.

The Red Devils had won the Champions League title in the 2007-08 season, beating Chelsea in the final on penalties, and made their way to the last two again the following year, only to fall 2-0 to goals from Messi and Samuel Eto’o.

United’s famous ‘class of 92’ were coming to the end of their period of dominance, and one of their greatest ever players, then 34 year-old Paul Scholes, was only able to play the final 15 minutes of the final as a substitute. That may have been a big let off for the Spanish giants, as Xavi once claimed Scholes was the best and most complete midfielder he has ever seen.

Xavi: Scholes was the best midfielder in the world

Speaking in 2011, Xavi heaped praise on Scholes, revealing the England international was on a par with the iconic Spain and Barcelona trio.

Appearances

716

Goals

155

Assists

82

Yellow Cards

145

Red Cards

9

Major trophies

20

Scholes won 11 Premier League titles with Manchester United, and is widely regarded to be one of the best midfielders in Premier League history.

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Many have argued over the talent in midfield of England’s ‘golden generation’, with Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard and Chelsea goal machine Frank Lampard often put on a pedestal alongside Scholes. One thing is for sure though, there is only one of them who Xavi wanted alongside him in Catalonia.

Many Liverpool fans will likely be hoping that Newcastle United’s Alexander Isak will be playing Premier League football in red next season, but it doesn’t look likely.

The Magpies are third in the standings with five games to play, two points ahead of sixth-place Aston Villa, who sit just outside the Champions League-qualifying zone.

26/04/25

Ipswich Town (H)

18th

04/05/25

Brighton (A)

10th

10/05/25

Chelsea (H)

7th

18/05/25

Arsenal (A)

2nd

25/05/25

Everton (H)

13th

Having beaten Arne Slot’s side in the Carabao Cup final and set to restore their place at Europe’s elite table, Newcastle hold all the cards, and they aren’t willing to sell, even listing Isak north of £150m.

FSG, quite rightly, won’t entertain such talk and are gearing up to turn their attention elsewhere.

After all, Liverpool will bring in a new number nine this summer, with Darwin Nunez all but confirmed to have entered the final weeks of his Merseyside career.

Liverpool set to sell Darwin Nunez

It’s been clear for several months, Liverpool having rejected winter approaches from Al-Nassr in the Saudi Pro League due to the importance of keeping the title-challenging squad together.

Fabrizio Romano has now updated the situation, claiming that Liverpool’s plan is to sell their club-record signing, Nunez having scored just seven goals across 42 matches for Slot’s Reds.

Nunez has only started once in the Premier League since Boxing Day, scoring in a win over bottom club Southampton last month.

Having missed 53 big chances in the Premier League since his 2022 arrival, Nunez hasn’t responded to Klopp and Slot’s tactics and can’t shake the erraticness from his final play, thus consigning him to a bittersweet exit, leaving disappointed but with a winner’s medal around his neck.

Isak may well be out of reach, but Liverpool are open to looking elsewhere. Now, news has emerged that FSG are in for a somewhat left-field forward.

Liverpool lining up Nunez replacement

As per Caught Offside, Liverpool are interested in signing Brentford’s star man, Bryan Mbeumo, this summer.

Transfer Focus

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

In fact, the Champions Elect have received a boost in their pursuit, with Brentford – who are believed to be open to offers – willing to discuss Mbeumo’s sale for the right price this summer.

Mbeumo, 25, has been one of the Premier League’s standout forwards this season and is also being tracked by Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United.

The Cameroon international supposedly has a £50m price tag, something that has caused Newcastle United to pull out of the race.

Why Liverpool should sign Bryan Mbeumo

Mbeumo has proved over a number of years his capacity for goals and success in the Premier League, having been involved in 68 goals across 131 divisional outings.

This year alone, the versatile forward has netted 18 goals and laid on six assists across 32 top-flight appearances, a haul bettered only by Salah, Isak, Erling Haaland and Chris Wood.

Right winger

28

14

6

Centre-forward

6

4

1

Attacking midfield

1

0

0

Though he’s principally a right-sided forward, Mbeumo has been known to play as the focal frontman and has done so to a prolific effect.

We’ve seen throughout the campaign Slot’s willingness to reshape typical widemen – like Luis Diaz – into central attackers, and who’s to say it hasn’t worked out? Liverpool are on the cusp of the title, after all.

Affectionately described as a “mini-Salah” by talkSPORT’s Jason Cundy, Mbeumo carries the air of a goalscoring forward who brings much more to the table.

As per FBref, Mbeumo ranks among the top 8% of positional peers in the Premier League this season for goals scored and the top 12% for crosses made per 90.

This takes a step toward underscoring Mbeumo’s dynamism, chiefly a goalscorer but also willing to hang wide and whip crisp deliveries in.

The 32-year-old Salah might be staying put for the next couple of years, but he won’t be around forever. The Bees forward could eventually take the veteran’s berth in the years to come.

But for now, he’s more than capable of taking Nunez’s place as Liverpool’s centre-forward, perhaps sharing the berth with Diaz and Diogo Jota.

Given that Mbeumo has only missed eight big chances in the Premier League this term, having scored a whopping 18 times, fans won’t need to worry about Nunez-esque profligacy to hinder Liverpool in their efforts to retain their expected title.

But like all great forwards, those capable of starring for a top-performing outfit such as Slot’s Liverpool, Mbeumo isn’t a one-trick pony either.

He’s averaged 1.8 key passes per top-flight fixture and has created 16 big chances. He might take his share of set-pieces, but this denotes a ranged approach to his play that very much aligns with the role Salah performs with such matchless aplomb.

Analyst Ben Mattinson has recently dubbed Mbeumo as “one of the most deadly players in transition in the Prem,” further evidence – if you needed it – that he’s perfect for this Reds team.

Slot arrived in the Premier League with a reputation for being more ball-focused than his Anfield predecessor, but title-surging Liverpool only rank third in those standings with a 58% average.

This is, of course, not counter-attacking football, but Slot commands one of the deadliest teams in world football when on the break, making that final statement on the myriad reasons behind why this would be a good deal to end Nunez’s frustrating stay and sign the perfect Salah heir at the same time.

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