All posts by z3u9t.icu

Before we know it, the Champions League will be returning to our screens and Football FanCast has run through the tournament’s key dates, qualified teams and much more.

Who has qualified for the Champions League?

Manchester City, Manchester United, Arsenal, Newcastle United

Sevilla, Barcelona, Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid, Real Sociedad

Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, RB Leipzig, Union Berlin

Napoli, Inter, Milan, Lazio

Paris Saint-Germain, Lens

Feyenoord, PSV

Benfica, FC Porto, Braga

Antwerp

Celtic

RB Salzburg

Red Star

Galatasaray

Young Boys

Shakhtar Donetsk

Copenhagen

A real mix of teams this year, then. We've got plenty of historic names there, with Real Madrid, Milan, Barcelona and Bayern Munich being some of the most successful teams in the competition's history.

But we've also got quite a few rare names. Newcastle United appear for the first time in 20 years, as do Lens. Union Berlin have never appeared in the competition and will debut. We can't help but note the return of Arsenal, too, even if their absence hasn't been quite as long as some of the names mentioned.

What is this year’s Champions League format?

This year’s Champions League is the same as what we have come to know it as – 32 teams will be split into eight groups of four, where the top two sides will qualify for the last 16.

Here, it will be a straight knockout over two legs, where away goals no longer count. The final is one leg, which includes extra time and penalties if required.

This will be the last time the Champions League plays out in this format, with the 2024/25 campaign set to be a completely different style.

The next edition of the Champions League will see the number of teams increased from 32 to 36, all competing in one league. Each team will play eight games, upping the total of matches from 125 to 189.

When is the Champions League group stage?

August's play-off rounds saw the likes of Rangers, AEK Athens, Maccabi Haifa, Molde and Panathinaikos bow out, with all having to be content with a spot in the group stage of the Europa League.

For the victors in midweek, however, the Champions League group stage beckons, and takes place between 19th September and 13th December.

Here are those group stage dates in full:

19th-20th September

3rd-4th October

24th-25th October

7th-8th November

28th-29th November

12th-13th December

What are the Champions League pots?

Manchester City

Real Madrid

Shakhtar Donetsk

Young Boys

Sevilla

Manchester United

RB Salzburg

Real Sociedad

Barcelona

Inter

Milan

Galatasaray

Bayern Munich

Borussia Dortmund

Braga

Celtic

Napoli

Atlético Madrid

PSV

Newcastle United

Benfica

RB Leipzig

Lazio

Union Berlin

Paris Saint-Germain

FC Porto

Red Star

Antwerp

Feyenoord

Arsenal

Copenhagen

Lens

Maybe it's just us, but those pots look a lot stronger than usual – perhaps because of the surprise returning and debuting teams this time around.

Napoli winning Serie A, for instance, pushes Inter into pot two and Milan into pot three. All three are amongst the strongest in their pots.

A top seed getting Real Madrid is essentially a nightmare scenario for any of them, while Newcastle being in pot four will terrify everyone.

A team could conceivably start in Pot 1 and end up with Real Madrid, Milan and Newcastle United. Bayern Munich or PSG could end up with that, in fact.

One other consequence of 'smaller' teams getting into the competition is that Pot 4 is unusually scary. You'd typically see it full of smaller nations' champions, with little threat to the bigger teams.

But Spain, England, Germany and France all have teams in there thanks to surprise entrants. Sociedad, Newcastle, Union and Lens have little European history, but all placed at the top of elite European leagues.

Who could Newcastle United draw?

Newcastle United return to the Champions League for the first time in a long, long time – but they won't have it easy. They're in Pot 4 as a consequence of their lack of European football.

And that sets up some scary-looking prospects, here. Their worst-case scenario essentially creates a 'Group of Death' as many will have them down as the strongest side in that final pot.

Worst-case scenario: Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, Milan, Newcastle United

There's an argument there that Milan are actually the weakest side in this particular group, depending on how you view their transfer business this summer. After all, they did lose Sandro Tonali to the Magpies. Really, though, no one is enjoying that group one bit.

Best-case scenario: Feyenoord, Porto, Copenhagen, Newcastle United

From this one, Newcastle might even be favourites to progress along with Porto. Feyenoord comfortably feel like the weakest of the Pot 1 teams, while Copenhagen have received a boost into Pot 3 because of the newbies in this year's competition.

Who could Arsenal draw?

Arsenal are back in the Champions League after six years away and find themselves in Pot 2. They can possibly consider themselves a little fortunate after their absence – the Gunners are the lowest-ranked side in the second tier of teams.

It makes their best and worst-case scenarios significantly more palatable. In fact, Arsenal will surely be down as one of the favourites to progress no matter who they end up with on Thursday.

Worst-case scenario: Bayern Munich, Arsenal, Milan, Galatasaray

It's very possible that we're being generous to Galatasaray by putting them in this, but of all the Pot 4 teams, they're the ones who made the biggest moves of the summer (Newcastle aside). They'll be a threat if things click for them. Of course, Bayern are there because Arsenal are forever obliged to run into the German giants at some point.

Best-case scenario: Feyenoord, Arsenal, Copenhagen, Royal Antwerp

Quite honestly – and perhaps this is harsh on Feyenoord – this is a group that Arsenal could chase maximum points from. It reads more like a Europa League group, in fact, and the Gunners would be overwhelming favourites to progress, along with the Dutch champions.

Who could Celtic draw?

Brendan Rodgers will lead a Celtic team back into the Champions League this season – but it's not a competition he's had much luck in. We'll see if he can change that this time around.

Of course, a lot of that depends on the group Celtic get. They've always gone into the competition knowing that there's potential for a devastating draw, but things could look on them favourably this time around with a bit of luck.

Worst-case scenario: Manchester City, Real Madrid, Milan, Celtic

You would imagine that most Celtic fans would never expect to get out of such a group – they may not even expect to get a single point. This would see the last two champions, after all, as well as a Milan side boasting some fantastic talent right now.

But honestly, you can build quite a few scary-looking groups for the Bhoys – Bayern Munich, Arsenal, Lazio, Celtic is marginally kinder, but not exactly by much.

Best-case scenario: Feyenoord, Porto, Copenhagen, Celtic

While Celtic wouldn't be certainties to progress from this group, with some real fortune going their way, they'd have a real chance. They could easily target a Europa League spot, too, but second place really wouldn't be out of the question. Fingers crossed, they get the luck of the draw on Thursday.

Where is the 2024 Champions League final?

The Champions League final will be held at Wembley Stadium in London on 1st June 2024.

It will be the first time the stadium has held the showpiece event since 2013 when Bayern Munich triumphed over Bundesliga rivals Borussia Dortmund. Last season's Champions League-winning captain Ilkay Gundogan was on the losing side that night as Arjen Robben's winner broke the hearts of Jurgen Klopp and the Yellow Wall.

Where can I watch the Champions League final in the UK?

The Champions League final will be available to watch on TNT Sports – previously BT Sport – as well as streamed for free on YouTube for those who do not have the relevant subscriptions.

BT Sport has been the home of Champions League football in the UK since 2015 and enters a ninth season as rightsholder under its new guise in 2023/24.

How will the 2024/25 Champions League format work?

Not without its controversy, the Champions League is going through a major shake-up going forward. In the 2024/25 format, 32 teams will become 36, while the number of games will increase from 125 to a total of 189.

This is because every team qualifying for the Champions League will compete in one league, in which all teams will play eight matches. The top eight teams will qualify directly for the knockout stage, with the following 16 teams (placed 9th-24th) entering a two-legged play-off round in order to claim a place in the round of 16.

From here, the format will remain the same as we currently know it. But can anyone stop Pep Guardiola's men this year?

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola is urging Etihad officials to sign RB Leipzig defender Josko Gvardiol this summer, Football Insider report.

What’s the latest on Man City and Gvardiol?

It could well be a busy summer for City chiefs, with a new midfielder possibly on the agenda to replace Ilkay Gundogan. The German is out of contract in Manchester at the end of the season and has reportedly held talks with Barcelona. City have Bundesliga duo Jude Bellingham and Florian Wirtz as potential replacements for Gundogan, and it appears as if a new centre-back is of interest as well.

The club are willing to sell Aymeric Laporte after falling out of favour under Guardiola, with the City boss seemingly identifying his top defensive target. Football Insider provided a Manchester City update they have heard regarding Gvardiol in the last 48 hours, revealing that Guardiola is a big fan of the player and has personally urged the club to sign the centre-back.

Chelsea and Real Madrid are also interested in Gvardiol, who will have a £97m release clause in his deal from 2024. As a result, there could be a rush to secure the player’s services this summer.

Has Guardiola already laid the groundwork?

Guardiola had the chance to watch Gvardiol in action in Manchester City’s last 16 Champions League tie with Leipzig, with the 21-year-old scoring a first-leg equaliser in Germany. The player admitted that he had a conversation with the City boss after the second leg in Manchester but refused to go into detail, saying:

"I extended my hand to Guardiola and congratulated him on advancing in the Champions League. Guardiola, a great coach, threw a few words at me, but I will keep them to myself."

Therefore, Guardiola may have already laid the groundwork and hinted to the player over a potential summer move to the Etihad.

The left-footed centre-back recently starred at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar for Croatia and has been called 'sensational' by members of the media. Former midfielder and pundit Owen Hargreaves has also declared that Gvardiol will be "the best centre-back in the world one day", which highlights his potential, which he may end up fulfilling in Manchester.

Should Laporte depart as speculated, Gvardiol could prove to be a brilliant long-term replacement, looking to establish himself as a regular ahead of the likes of Ruben Dias, Nathan Ake, John Stones and Manuel Akanji.

Gianluca Scamacca’s time at West Ham United was a disaster.

There are still many question marks shrouding the signing.

Firstly, the transfer strategy of the hierarchy to pinpoint the Italian as the preferred target, when his style dramatically contrasts what David Moyes was trying to achieve.

Secondly, the striker's own obvious lack of motivation or willingness to adapt, eventually lead to his career in east London petering out into irrelevancy.

This summer, the Irons have massively strengthened the midfield with Edson Alvarez and James Ward-Prowse and added Konstantinos Mavropanos to the defence.

The final piece of their window is the striker and a new name has emerged as a possible target…

What’s the latest West Ham United transfer news?

According to the Guardian, West Ham are looking to add some attacking reinforcements, with Ajax’s Mohammed Kudus and free agent Jesse Lingard tipped to join the London Stadium.

But, as per the Daily Mail, a lesser-known figure by the name of Georges Mikautadze, is also under consideration for the Irons.

Read the latest West Ham transfer news HERE…

The forward could possibly be available for around £8.5m this summer and a move to the Premier League could be his chance to formally announce himself to European football.

Currently, Moyes’ striking options consist of the veteran Michail Antonio, the influential Danny Ings, and the young Divin Mubama, so there is definitely an opportunity for Mikautadze to shine.

Who is Georges Mikautadze?

The 5 foot 9 phenom signed his first professional contract with Metz in 2019 and joined Belgian First Division side Seraing on loan – across two seasons and 57 appearances, he registered 40 goal contributions and in the summer of 2022, he returned to France looking to prove a point.

In the 2022/23 campaign, the former Lyon academy graduate recorded 31 goal involvements in Ligue 2, which meant he was named the League’s best player and top-scorer as his side secured promotion.

In the first two games of the current Ligue 1 season, Mikautadze has scored once and crafted an assist, with his manager Laszlo Bolini showering the youngster with praise, calling him a “deadly striker.”

After looking at the manner in which the 16-cap international has excelled at his previous clubs, it would be worth West Ham opting to take a punt on his potential.

It would be difficult for Mikautadze to perform worse than Scamacca in east London.

Over the past 365, ranked against his positional peers in Europe’s top five leagues, the Italian sits within the lowest 15% for non-penalty xG per 90, touches in the attacking penalty area per 90, and assists per 90, as well as the bottom 49% for shot-creating actions per 90 and progressive passes per 90.

This is a damning indictment of his inability to contribute towards offensive sequences or get on the end of chances.

Antonio alluded to the fact that Scamacca wasn’t a good fit for West Ham and said:

"The problem is, he can’t play the way the gaffer plays. He needs a different type of manager to play his type of football, [one who can] have other players play off him and stuff like that.”

Therefore, the £14k-per-week gem deserves a chance and he could continue his excellent form in the Claret and Blue of the London Stadium.

Manchester United have reportedly identified a left-field option to help strengthen their centre-back ranks this summer, amid reports that Erik ten Hag is showing an interest in Everton youngster, Jarrad Branthwaite.

How much would Jarrad Branthwaite cost?

According to journalist Simon Jones – writing in his Transfer Confidential for the Daily Mail – the 21-year-old is a 'surprise name' that has been mentioned by those at Old Trafford, with the England youth international having 'impressed scouts' during his spell on loan at PSV Eindhoven last season.

That stint in the Netherlands saw the Carlisle native – who has two years left to run on his existing deal with the Toffees – link up with United legend, Ruud van Nistelrooy, albeit with the 6 foot 5 starlet having since made his return to Goodison Park.

Read the latest Manchester United transfer news HERE…

If the Red Devils are to prise him from the Merseyside outfit then it has previously been suggested that a fee of around £20m could be required, albeit with alternative reports indicating that the one-time Blackburn Rovers loanee could fetch as little as £5m-£6m.

How good is Jarrad Branthwaite?

The Toffees sensation has clearly been on the radar of Ten Hag and co in recent times with reports last year indicating that the Premier League giants were targeting a move for the then-teenager, ahead of their first window with the Dutchman at the helm.

That interest is likely to have only been heightened by the towering rock's form while at PSV last season, with the Eredivisie clearly a league that Ten Hag continues to keep a close eye on, with the former Ajax boss having recruited the likes of Antony, Lisandro Martinez and Tyrell Malacia from his homeland during his United tenure to date.

The hope will be that Branthwaite can emerge as a dream heir to that man Martinez as a natural fit in a left-sided centre-back berth, with the Carabao Cup winners having been forced to deploy Luke Shaw in that role at times last season due to the lack of adequate cover.

While physically somewhat different to the 5 foot 9 Argentine, the Everton ace does appear to share the 25-year-old's quality on the ball, with former Carlisle boss Steven Pressley having previously stated:

"The truth is, I think he has got everything. He can pass the ball almost equally as good with both feet. He’s a terrific footballer."

Also dubbed "complete" by Van Nistelrooy, Branthwaite's ability to play out from the back is shown by the fact that he has averaged 3.61 progressive passes per 90 across the last 365 days, with that a similar record to what Martinez has achieved in that time (3.96 per 90).

That is significant as the latter man has been lauded for his ball-playing prowess during his time at the Theatre of Dreams, having been described as "so clean and composed" by ex-United man, Patrice Evra.

Defensively, Martinez has also been an "absolute monster" – according to teammate Luke Shaw – having averaged an impressive 3.2 tackles and interceptions per game in the Premier League in 2022/23, with young Branthwaite only just behind after averaging 2.3 in that regard in Holland.

With the World Cup winner having arguably been a "huge miss" after he was ruled out of the final stretch of the season through injury, as per Paul Scholes, it would make sense to bring in a suitable understudy, like Branthwaite, who can help to plug the gap, while also proving a dream successor in the long run at the heart of the defence.

Glasgow Rangers central midfielder Joe Rothwell appears to be heading for a quick exit from Ibrox, just months after joining on a permanent deal from Bournemouth in the summer.

The Daily Record reports that Sheffield United are confident that they can get a deal over the line to sign the 30-year-old midfielder when the January transfer window opens.

Chris Wilder’s side are pushing to land the former Leeds and Southampton loanee, who has not featured for Rangers in the Scottish Premiership since October.

The experienced flop has only started five league games, per Sofascore, and has failed to establish himself as a regular in the middle of the park since the new manager came through the door.

Rangers want to sign new central midfielder

Rothwell’s move to Sheffield United, should that go through next month, would create the space in the squad for Danny Rohl to bring in a signing of his own to replace him.

Transfer Focus

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

According to TEAMtalk, Glasgow Rangers are ready to sanction an exit for Rothwell because they have identified a player who could come in as his replacement.

The report claims that the Gers want to sign Tromso central midfielder Jens Hjerto-Dahl to replace the experienced Englishman in the January transfer window.

It adds that the Light Blues have been impressed by his performances this season, having sent scouts to watch him in action, and now they want to add him to their squad.

TEAMtalk reveals that a fee of around £5m will be required to convince Tromso to part ways with the talented youngster, who would come in as a perfect upgrade on Rothwell.

Why Rangers should sign Jens Hjerto-Dahl

Rangers Journal creator and analyst Kai Watson described Hjerto-Dahl as “one of the biggest talents in Norway” and stated that it would be a “huge coup” for the club to bring him to Ibrox in January.

The 20-year-old star’s form in the Eliteserien in the 2025 campaign suggests that he would come in as a big upgrade on what Rothwell has offered in midfield for the Gers so far, and backs up Watson’s claim that he is a big talent.

Hjerto-Dahl was a regular starter for Tromso in the 2024 and 2025 Eliteserien campaigns, despite the fact that he only turned 20 in October, which speaks to how big a talent he is, as his club have viewed him as a key first-team player since he was 17.

As Rohl looks to the future at Ibrox, signing a 20-year-old starlet who has plenty of upside as a replacement for a 30-year-old dud who has failed to make an impact at Rangers makes perfect sense.

Rothwell has not delivered enough quality on the pitch for the Scottish giants this season in the Premiership, which is in stark contrast to Hjerto-Dahl’s form for Tromso this year.

Appearances

30

8

Goals

4

0

Big chances created

5

2

Assists

4

1

Dribbles completed per game

1.3

0.5

Tackles + interceptions per game

2.5

1.9

Duels won per game

5.0

2.0

As you can see in the table above, the Norwegian talent’s form in 2025 suggests that he would come in as a massive upgrade on what Rothwell has provided on the pitch for the Gers so far.

Hjerto-Dahl appears to be capable of offering more in front of goal, as both a scorer and a creator of goals, whilst also being more combative in his duels, tackles, and interceptions to win the ball back for his side.

These statistics suggest that the £5.3m-rated star would significantly improve the squad as a replacement for Rothwell in the short-term, if he can adapt to Scottish football and translate his form from the Eliteserien over to the Premiership.

Hjerto-Dahl, who once scored the beautiful goal in the clip above, is also ten years younger than Rothwell, who is 30, which means that he has far more time left to develop and improve as a player.

The Norwegian star, therefore, would be a perfect upgrade on Rothwell because he has the potential to be an immediate improvement on the Englishman with what he can offer in the second half of the season, whilst also having many more years left to get even better.

Rohl must drop Fernandez & "rotten" Rangers flop who belong in Caixinha era

Danny Rohl should drop this Glasgow Rangers duo who belong in the Pedro Caixinha era after their performances against Ferencvaros.

ByDan Emery 2 days ago

This is why the Gers should push hard to make Hjerto-Dahl one of Rohl’s first signings at Ibrox, after allowing Rothwell to join Sheffield United next month.

Journalist Mitch Fretton has hailed the sky-high potential of Tottenham Hotspur youngster Alfie Devine, currently on loan at Port Vale, after some recent news this week.

Tottenham Hotspur youth academy

As new Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou oversees a truly excellent start to the new Premier League season with his senior squad, there are currently a crop of very exciting youngsters honing their skills in the background.

Indeed, perhaps the most exciting potential starlet to emerge in recent years is striker Dane Scarlett, who was once compared to Man United star Marcus Rashford by ex-Lilywhites head coach Jose Mourinho.

“He is a diamond, a kid with incredible potential,” Mourinho told BT Sport in 2021 (via talkSPORT).

“He has worked many times with the first team and that gives him a different personality. He is still 16, 17 soon [in March] and I believe next season he will be a first-team squad player because he has a lot of talent.

“He is going to be a fantasic player and I hope everything around him goes well. He is a striker, a number nine, I have been playing him from the sides similar to Marcus Rashford and he is very clever."

Scarlett is currently on a temporary spell at Ipswich Town in the Championship, and it will be very interesting to see how he fairs in a tough, tough division.

Meanwhile, young striker Troy Parrott, who was once tipped as a potential heir to Harry Kane, is also out on loan at Eredivisie side Excelsior as the Republic of Ireland international looks to kick his career on the right path.

The aforementioned two are just some examples of the talent N17 can produce, and another one who has been tipped for stardom is midfielder Devine.

How good is Alfie Devine?

The 19-year-old, who is currently on his own temporary stint at League One side Port Vale, has been praised by Sky Sports pundit and Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher in the past.

Devine received quite the accolade this week, having been given the opportunity to train with England's senior side as they gear up for a UEFA Euro qualifying match against Ukraine on Saturday.

The teenage talent was praised by sections of the media as a result of this news, including reliable football.london journalist Alasdair Gold.

"Big week for Alfie Devine," said Gold on X.

"First that terrific performance for Port Vale, with a goal and assist, and now drafted in from the England U20s to train with the senior side under the watchful eye of Gareth Southgate."

Another reporter in Fretton, who works as an editorial content executive for LiveScore, added fuel to the fire with his own assessment of Devine; explaining how he can become "huge" for Spurs.

"I know he’s a long way off yet, but I’m so happy for Alfie Devine to be training with the senior England squad," wrote Fretton on X.

"He has huge potential and I can’t wait to see him get regular minutes for Spurs, absolutely incredible talent!"

Following his stint at Vale, it appears Postecoglou may have a future prodigy on his hands once Devine returns to his parent club.

Sky Sports reporter Michael Bridge has made an exciting Tottenham Hotspur transfer claim on how many incomings there could be before the deadline.

What’s the latest Spurs transfer news?

Spurs manager Ange Postecoglou and chairman Daniel Levy have been busy so far this summer with eight new players signed so far.

James Maddison, Pedro Porro, Micky van de Ven, Dejan Kulusevski, Guglielmo Vicario, Alejo Veliz, Ashley Phillips and Manor Solomon have all made permanent moves to north London at a combined cost of £165m.

The club have managed to bring in around £94m in player sales, with Harry Kane’s move to Bayern Munich one of the biggest moves of the summer, with Harry Winks also leaving on a permanent basis.

As a result, Spurs appear to be after a new forward of their own, with the likes of Gent’s Gift Orban, Nottingham Forest’s Brennan Johnson and Arsenal’s Folarin Balogun all linked as potential targets.

However, alongside a new attacker, it appears as if Spurs are also interested in strengthening another area of the pitch.

Speaking on Sky Sports, Bridge was asked if he feels Spurs could be active in the final week of the window. The reporter believes the club could still make two more signings, one in attack and one in defence, admitting he knows they are two areas the club want to add to in an exciting transfer claim.

“Yeah, I think Spurs could have a busy final week. I still think maybe two – I think three is probably pushing it.

“I know they would still like another defender and a forward, whether that’s a winger/forward, like I’ve said throughout the months, you don’t replace Harry Kane like for like and I don’t think Ange Postecoglou has any intention of replacing Harry Kane like for like as you simply can’t.

“So we’ll see what the forward options will be, but as I say for now, outgoings are very important.”

Who could Tottenham sign?

As mentioned, Orban, Johnson and Balogun are just some of the attackers to be linked with a move to Tottenham, with Postecoglou only having Richarlison when it comes to senior centre-forwards.

However, plenty of other names have also been mooted in the final days of the window. Recent reports have claimed that Lille star Jonathan David is of interest, as is Brentford’s Ivan Toney.

Read the latest Tottenham transfer news HERE…

Meanwhile, at the back, a move to re-sign defender Clement Lenglet appears to be a possibility, with Fabrizio Romano saying that a deal is one to watch.

“Clement Lenglet could return to Tottenham.

“At the moment it’s not concrete or advanced, but in the final days of the window, in case Barcelona can’t find another solution for Lenglet, it could be one to watch.”

Therefore, should Spurs add to both areas, the club would have ended up bringing in 10 players over the course of the window, and with Postecoglou getting off to a solid start on the pitch in charge in north London against Brentford and Manchester United, it feels like the start of a new beginning.

The focus of Liverpool conversation is on the transfer of Southampton's Romeo Lavia, with Jurgen Klopp's side set to lodge a second offer for the Belgium international this week, but there is perhaps room for another midfield acquisition after a tumultuous window thus far.

The Reds knew that they would lose a large chunk of their centre, with James Milner, Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain all leaving in June after concluding their contracts, but stability was threatened when Saudi Arabian outfits emerged as suitors for Jordan Henderson and Fabinho, who join the aforementioned trio in leaving Anfield.

Moves have been made to upgrade on last season's options and Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai certainly look to be fantastic purchases for the Merseyside outfit, but even if the deal to sign Lavia, aged 19, steers over the line, some might feel that another defensive midfielder would be necessary to truly restore the equilibrium.

Who will Liverpool sign this summer?

According to journalist Bruno Andrade – via Sport Witness – Fluminense ace Andre's agent Jorge Mendes is currently 'in the process' of transferring the 22-year-old to England, and despite rival interest from Fulham, Liverpool are believed to be in the driving seat.

A fee of €20m (£17m) would be enough to prise Andre away from his homeland, with Klopp chasing a deal this summer.

How good is Andre?

Yet to dip his toes into European football, Andre has made quite the name for himself in Brazil and is an integral part of Fluminense's system, hailed as a "leader" by talent scout Jacek Kulig, who are currently fourth in the Série A.

As per Sofascore, the gem has averaged a match rating of 7.09 this season after 14 matches, completing 94% of his passes, averaging 2.1 tackles and 1.5 interceptions per game, and succeeding with 71% of his dribbles and 62% of his duels.

Those statistics are illuminated in glory by FBref who rank him among the top 1% of midfielders across Men's Next Eight divisions for pass completion and the top 6% for successful take-ons per 90. As such, he might just be the perfect man to bolster Liverpool's midfield and ensure that Lavia does not find too great a weight heaped upon his shoulders.

With right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold's new hybrid role foraying into midfield and unleashing his creativity and superlative ball-playing ability from the centre, an industrious and composed figure such as Andre could pay dividends.

The England international has rebuked for his defensive mishaps last term as Liverpool struggled for any vestige of form and fluidity, even being called a "training dummy" by reporter Casey Evans after being obliterated by the fleet-footed Vinicius Jr. in the Champions League.

A tactical alteration from Klopp saw Alexander-Arnold move in-field, playing in a double-six, and Andre could indeed be the perfect partner to allow him to exhibit his flair.

Indeed, the 24-year-old was a centrepiece during Liverpool's late-season resurgence and was hailed as "sensational" by commentator Martin Tyler after clinching eight goal contributions from the final ten matches of the league campaign.

It would be an astute purchase, and if Liverpool can afford to part with the reported £17m they simply must do so in order to chart a course for success.

Everton manager Sean Dyche has been tirelessly searching for a new strikeforce at Goodison Park this summer and could look to swoop on an outfit relegated from the Premier League…

Who do Everton want to sign?

As per multiple reports, Southampton winger Kamaldeen Sulemana is attracting the attention of the Toffees after impressing in spells for the Saints after completing a £22m transfer from French side Rennes in January.

BBC Sport confirmed last week that he has indeed been earmarked by the Merseyside outfit, eyeing up a loan deal after missing out on the Ghanaian six months ago.

And now, Daily Express reporter Ryan Taylor has offered his insight into the situation for GIVEMESPORT, stating that completing a swoop for the 21-year-old would be a "very good" move.

Read the latest Everton transfer news HERE…

Taylor said: "I think they would be two very good signings [Sulemana and Wilfried Gnonto]. Ultimately, I think that's the kind of market they should be shopping in because they don't have the kind of cash that can really sign game-changing players.

"So I think they would be smart moves. I would like to see Everton do something like that in the market. I think their signings are a little bit predictable. Danjuma was a step in the right direction. I think they would be smart acquisitions."

How good is Kamaldeen Sulemana?

Sulemana did not transform the Southampton attack but he did add a new dimension and impressed with his "incredible speed" – as has been lauded by Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag – and directness down the flanks.

Having played 18 times in the Premier League, starting ten matches, Sulemana scored two goals and registered one assist, but it was not until the term's culminating match week that he truly exhibited the class that the south coast club hoped would catalyse their weary campaign.

In an enthralling 4-4 draw against Liverpool to end the season, with Southampton's fate already sealed, Sulemana utilised the freedom to dance sinuous lines around the Reds.

He netted twice and earned a stunning match rating of 8.7, also succeeding with two of his three dribbles, winning six of his nine duels and really just producing the all-encompassing display that the Saints hierarchy knew he was capable of.

He would bring a new threat to the Toffees attack, and a very different approach to that of Jack Harrison, who is a brand new arrival at Goodison Park side having also been relegated from the English top-flight this year, with Leeds United.

Where Sulemana utilises his blistering pace and dribbling ability (indeed, the £8k-per-week ace ranks among the top 2% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for successful take-ons per 90, as per FBref) Harrison flourishes through his ball-playing skill and technicality.

Once described as "explosive" by former manager Jesse Marsch, Harrison scored six goals and supplied ten assists across all competitions last season and could use his creativity to provide Sulemana with a constant flow to latch onto – the likes of Alex Iwobi could also aid in this regard.

Truthfully, Everton's issue has long been scoring and last weekend's 1-0 home defeat against Fulham highlighted this issue, the Blues taking 19 shots to the Cottager's nine but failing to bypass Bernd Leno's net, and Sulemana would not bring the incisiveness to rain goals in abundance, that is a fact.

But the 5 foot 9 ace would be another layer to the attack, another string to the bow, and with Harrison alongside him Everton would creep closer to where they need to be.

Said to be a "brilliant player" by talent scout Jacek Kulig, Sulemana and Harrison could wreak havoc in a manner that has not been seen on the blue half of Merseyside for some time, and the divergence from the offensive inefficacy that has plagued the club for several years now could well be set to take its leave ahead of an exciting new chapter for Everton.

There has been an update in Arsenal's pursuit of Brentford goalkeeper, David Raya, with the Gunners seemingly closing in on the signing of the contract rebel…

How much is David Raya worth?

As per transfer guru Fabrizio Romano, the north London outfit having seemingly moved a step closer to sealing a move after agreeing personal terms with the 27-year-old, with the Spaniard seemingly destined for an exit with just a year left on his existing deal in west London.

Writing on Twitter, the respected insider stated: "Understand David Raya has reached an agreement in principle with Arsenal on personal terms. Brentford have been informed by player side that he wants to join Arsenal — and talks between clubs over formula/price are now expected to accelerate."

Read the latest Arsenal transfer news HERE…

This claim has also been supported by the Evening Standard's Nizaar Kinsella, who revealed that the ex-Blackburn Rovers stopper – who is valued at around €20m (£17m), according to CIES Football Observatory – is set to command a fee of £40m.

Is Raya better than Ramsdale?

While that figure may appear rather steep for a player who is approaching the end of his current contract, there is an argument to be made that the Barcelona-born ace could represent a big upgrade on Aaron Ramsdale at the Emirates, with Raya having been branded a "better keeper" by talkSPORT pundit, Gabby Agbonlahor.

Although Ramsdale was crucial in the Gunners' attempted push for the Premier League title last season – having been branded "phenomenal" by club legend David Seaman – the England international did endure something of a rough patch in the latter stages of the campaign.

Despite his heroics away at Anfield in April – in which he was "fantastic" according to Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville – the 24-year-old was culpable after conceding a goal inside 27 seconds in the 3-3 draw to bottom side Southampton, having been punished amid his attempt to play out from the back.

That had come after the former Sheffield United man had also failed to keep out Jarrod Bowen's equaliser in the 2-2 draw with West Ham United, with Jamie Carragher stating on commentary at the time that Ramsdale would be "disappointed" not to have kept the attempt out.

Those woes have continued on pre-season as the one-time Bournemouth 'keeper also failed to save Bruno Fernandes' long-range effort against rivals Manchester United, while he 'could arguably have done better' for Jadon Sancho's subsequent strike, according to football.london's Kaya Kaynak.

To then oust Ramsdale from his starting berth with a player who made the most saves in the division last season in the form of Raya could be a wise move, with the Bees ace having also been hailed as "top class" and "one of the best goalkeepers in the Premier League" by pundit, Michael Owen (Premier League Productions, 06/03/2023, 19:35).

Raya's notable strength appears to be his ease at playing out from the back as he ranks in the top 6% among his European peers for touches made, while the current Arsenal man, by contrast, ranks in just the bottom 12% in that regard.

Crucially, however, the Gunners target is also adept at keeping the ball out of the net as he ranks in the top 8% with regard to save percentage and in the top 7% for crosses stopped as a sign of his ability to dominate his area, while Ramsdale ranks in just the top 23% and the top 50% for those same two metrics, respectively.

With Raya also a master at racing off his line to sniff out danger, as he ranks in the top 20% for defensive actions outside of the penalty area – in contrast to Ramsdale (top 40%) – it may be that the one-time Southport loanee is set to be more than just a quality backup option next season.