Forget Trent: Liverpool have another £100m star in the making

Liverpool Football Club have an interesting period of time coming up off the pitch. New boss Arne Slot has made a superb start to his tenure as manager, with his side currently sitting top of the Premier League table on 18 points, one more than Manchester City and Arsenal in second and third, respectively.

Off the pitch, however, some of their biggest stars have some important decisions to make regarding their current deal.. The contracts of Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold are set to expire at the end of the season.

Salah and Van Dijk would be not as much of a loss given they are 32 and 33 years old respectively. However, it would be a huge blow to lose local hero, Alexander-Arnold.

Alexander-Arnold’s contract situation

The 26-year-old England international is a product of Liverpool’s esteemed academy that has produced the likes of Steven Gerrard, Jamie Carragher and Steve McMannaman. He is the latest Merseysider off that famous production line.

Trent Alexander-Arnold for Liverpool

The Reds’ number 66 has an extraordinary record for his boyhood club. He has played 319 times for the club, scoring 19 times and registering an incredible 83 assists. He has registered ten or more assists in the Premier League in three separate seasons.

The Englishman, who has 32 caps and four goals for his country, has been a crucial player for the Reds in recent years. He was imperative to Jurgen Klopp’s dominant Liverpool side in the late 2010s, helping win their first Premier League title and sixth European Cup.

Recent reports in Spain have suggested the right-back could make a move from Anfield to the Santiago Bernabeu and join Real Madrid on a free transfer. Los Blancos can negotiate a deal with him in January and could look to wrap it up before any other side, or Liverpool, beat them to it.

Trent Alexander-Arnold vs Man United

It is certainly a precarious situation for the Reds, who would no doubt love to keep hold of their star man. Not only would he leave the club, but they might not make any money on the departure, given he is set to depart on a free.

Alexander-Arnold is valued at £58.4m as per Transfermarkt, although that could be more if his contract was not set to expire, perhaps even as high as £100m. Liverpool might well have another player who could reach that value, given his performances this campaign.

Liverpool’s next £100m star

The player in question here is Netherlands midfielder Ryan Gravenberch. The 22-year-old has been in superb form under Slot this season and has been playing a relatively new role as a deep-lying midfielder.

This term, the Ajax academy graduate has played nine times for the Reds, completing 90 minutes in every single one of their games so far. He has been excellent from a defensive standpoint, using his long legs to win balls back with ease, before progressing play with line-breaking passes.

That is certainly something reflected in his stats from the 2024/25 Premier League season so far, courtesy of Sofascore. The midfielder has completed an average of 32.3 passes in the opposition’s half per 90 minutes and has won an impressive 4.9 ground duels each game.

Gravenberch vs Rice – PL stats 24/25

Stat (per 90)

Gravenberch

Rice

Touches

84

52

Pass accuracy

89%

91%

Passes completed

60.9

33.3

Passes into opposition half

32.3

22.2

Ball recoveries

6

5

Tackles + interceptions

3.8

1.5

Ground duels won

4.9

1.5

Stats from Sofascore

He could be well on his way to becoming Liverpool’s own Declan Rice. The England international has emerged as one of the best number six and eight hybrids in world football and was sold to Arsenal from West Ham for £105m last summer, having been described as among the “top five” midfielders in the game by compatriot, Conor Gallagher.

The Gunners number 41 plays a similar role to that of the Dutch international now, and is of a similar profile – as FBref have noted, among midfielders operating in the Champions League this season – using his long limbs to retrieve the ball before progressive play or explosively carrying forwards.

Ryan Gravenberch for Liverpool

Although he is worth just £33.4m, now, Gravenberch’s value as per Transfermarkt is continuing to rise thanks to his impressive performances this season, and he could well hit the £105m value of the man he is likened to, Rice, if he keeps it up.

Still only 22 years of age, the Dutchman is already looking like something of a “Rolls Royce” – as per journalist Declan Carr. If he continues these performances for the Reds this season, there is no reason why he cannot become their next player worth £100m or more.

Liverpool could unearth a bigger talent than Gravenberch in "special" teen

The Anfield star may well have another superstar on their hands.

By
Angus Sinclair

Oct 12, 2024

'Everything is going wrong' – Ruben Amorim makes stark admission as Man Utd slump to 15th in Premier League table after dismal Tottenham defeat

Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim made a stark admission as the Red Devils slumped to 15th in the Premier League after their defeat to Tottenham.

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  • United lose 1-0 to Tottenham
  • Travelled to London without 12 first-team stars
  • Amorim makes a stark admission after the loss
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  • WHAT HAPPENED?

    Amorim's side were immensely toothless against Ange Postecoglou's Tottenham as the Red Devils fell to a 1-0 loss after James Maddison's 13th-minute winner. The Red Devils have now dropped to 15th in the Premier League standings, one spot lower than where Erik ten Hag had left them before Amorim took over. The Portuguese coach has now opened up about "everything going wrong" during his tenure with United so far. His side headed to north London without 12 first-team players as their injury crisis continues.

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    WHAT AMORIM SAID

    Speaking to the media, Amorim said: “I was always asking for one week [to prepare for a game] and in that one week we lost players. It is a moment when everything is going wrong. At the beginning of the week, we had a squad with time to train, then day by day we lost players. I don’t want to use that as an excuse. Every coach in the world has problems with that. We have to face the challenge.

    “Of course [I am frustrated], for me and our fans. But we need to stop focusing on the big picture. Now is not the moment to do that. We just need to focus on the next game, do everything to win some games to finish the season.

    “What you see, guys, and what you discuss every week, I also see. I have a lot of problems, my job is so, so hard here. But I stick with my beliefs. You grow and you learn a lot of things. We just need to face it and not run away, that is my feeling. Today will hurt, it is a tough pain to lose so many games, but then you can change things in a week.”

  • THE BIGGER PICTURE

    United's struggles with injuries have left Amorim without proper squad options. The Portuguese coach was forced to have eight youth players on the bench, all of whom were yet to make their Premier League debuts for the Red Devils. Amorim's only substitution in the game came in the form of highly-rated 17-year-old Chido Obi-Martin, who came on as United looked for an equaliser late on. The others were deemed not ready to feature for the senior side.

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    WHAT NEXT FOR MAN UTD?

    The Red Devils' loss to Tottenham was their 12th Premier League defeat of the season so far, which is their worst record after 25 games since 1973-74 – the last time they were relegated from the top-flight. Amorim's side are only 12 points clear of the relegation zone and the Portuguese coach will know that there is very little room for any more slip-ups.

Another Rangers star now injury doubt to face St. Mirren alongside Lawrence

Despite picking up a much-needed 4-0 victory in the Europa League against FCSB, it wasn’t all good news for Rangers, who have been dealt a double injury blow ahead of St. Mirren this weekend.

Rangers injury news

It was so very nearly the perfect night at Ibrox, with Rangers sweeping their Romanian opposition aside in impressive fashion. Tom Lawrence opened the scoring with just 10 minutes on the clock, before Vaclav Cerny’s brace either side of the break all but sealed the points and Hamza Igamane turned a comfortable victory into an evening to savour for the Gers with just 20 minutes remaining.

Philippe Clement’s attention must now turn to getting his side back to winning ways in the Scottish Premiership as his side square off against St. Mirren this weekend. The Gers already sit six points adrift of leaders Celtic and second place Aberdeen and cannot afford to drop any more points after losing late on against Kilmarnock last time out.

That said, a double injury blow may well make their task that much more difficult. As confirmed by Clement and relayed by Rangers Review, both Tom Lawrence and Cyriel Dessers are doubts to face St. Mirren after coming off injured against FCSB.

More touches than Cerny: Rangers star with 95% pass rate stole the show

Rangers secured their second Europa League win on Thursday evening

By
Ross Kilvington

Oct 25, 2024

Clement issued an update on the duo, telling reporters after Dessers suffered an eye injury: “I’m not an eye specialist. I’ve a lot of things to do at this club, but that’s not one of those things. We will see how he is in the next couple of days.”

After what looked like a worse knock for Lawrence, the Rangers boss told reporters: “Tom Lawrence got a bad knock, so we need to see how he is and what we can do with that.”

"Emotional" Dessers must find Rangers form

Amid their inconsistency, Rangers have desperately lacked the talisman that Dessers must become sooner rather than later. The 29-year-old has scored just three goals in eight games so far this season and showcased his frustrations after being forced off through injury against FCSB.

Clement explained the forward’s disappointment following the injury after he walked straight down the tunnel, telling reporters: “He apologised for that. He was so emotional. He was hungry to score, hungry to play good for the team.

Cyriel Dessers

“He got a knock on his eye and lost eyesight. He could not see anything any more or not enough to play so he was emotional in that moment because he didn’t want to come off. But he could not play.

“Afterwards he said, ‘Sorry manager I should have stayed longer and sit down and give time for the rest’ but it was an emotional reaction of a player who is very hungry to play.”

It’s the type of luck that Dessers could do without as he looks to make things finally work at Ibrox. Whether he gets the chance to do just that against St. Mirren remains to be seen, however.

Man City suffer another injury blow as Pep Guardiola rules out Nathan Ake 'for a long time' after limping off in FA Cup clash against Plymouth

Pep Guardiola says Nathan Ake will be out injured "for a long time" after being forced out of Manchester City's FA Cup win over Plymouth Argyle.

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  • Ake limps off against Plymouth
  • Man City's defensive issues grow
  • Guardiola issues update on Dutchman
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  • WHAT HAPPENED?

    Dutch defender Ake started in his side's 3-1 win over Plymouth on Saturday but he did not return for the second half, with Ruben Dias replacing him. After the fifth-round FA Cup victory, manager Guardiola said they will "miss" Ake, while being grateful the club signed defenders Vitor Reis and Abdukodir Khusanov in January – else they would be short in their backline.

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    WHAT PEP GUARDIOLA SAID

    He told reporters: "Now again we have a central defender out for a long time, I think we'll miss Nathan. I'm so grateful to the club to bring [Abdukodir] Khusanov and Vitor [Reis] otherwise we have no chance to qualify for the Champions League next season or fight for the FA Cup. Impossible! We would just have [Ruben] Dias."

  • THE BIGGER PICTURE

    City are currently without centre-backs John Stones and Manuel Akanji due to injury, and talismanic midfielder Rodri has been sidelined for months with an anterior cruciate ligament injury. To lose Ake as well is a big blow in their bid to win the FA Cup and to qualify for next season's Champions League.

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    WHAT NEXT?

    City will hope their new backline will be fit and firing when they travel to Nottingham Forest next Saturday in the Premier League.

Liverpool scouts think Barca gem could be perfect to control games for Slot

Liverpool scouts are reportedly impressed with the qualities of a 21-year-old La Masia graduate who could be ideal for Arne Slot, according to a new update.

Liverpool transfer news

The futures of Trent Alexander-Arnold, Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah continue to dominate the headlines, with concerns surrounding any of the three moving on at the end of this season when their current contracts expire.

In terms of finding potential replacements for the trio, Brentford winger Bryan Mbeumo has been linked with a move to Liverpool as a successor to Salah, with a summer switch looking more likely than in the January transfer window.

Brentford striker Bryan Mbeumo

Similarly, Bournemouth winger Antoine Semenyo has also reportedly been scouted by the Reds, with the 24-year-old enjoying an excellent weekend, scoring in the Cherries’ 2-1 win at home to Manchester City in the league. He netted away to Liverpool last season, and had a goal disallowed at Anfield earlier this term, so the Merseysiders know all about his qualities.

Meanwhile, Real Madrid midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni has been backed to seal a move to Liverpool during the January window, should the reigning Champions League holders be willing to move him on.

Liverpool scouts like 21-year-old Barcelona star

According to a new report from Caught Offside, Liverpool are “closely monitoring” Barcelona midfielder Marc Casado, but are far from alone in expressing an interest in signing him, with Manchester United and Newcastle United also mentioned.

The update goes on to state that “clubs have received positive feedback” on the Spanish ace, with “scouts noting his vision on the ball and ability to control a game from midfield despite his relative youth and inexperience at the very highest level”, which will appeal to Slot, given the level of control he wants from his Reds team.

Casado looks like another fantastic La Masia youth product from Barcelona, making himself a key member of Hansi Flick’s table-topping side this season.

The defensive midfielder has started eight La Liga games in total, completing 91.2% of his passes in the competition, showing the level of control he can bring in the middle of the park. He has also averaged two tackles per game, highlighting his dogged off-the-ball work, while teammate Inigo Martinez has said of him: “Wow, what he brings to the team. I think he is showing the qualities, what he can give and another player coming out of the youth academy.”

Marc Casado’s La Liga stats this season

Total

Appearances

10

Starts

8

Minutes played

683

Goals

0

Assists

3

Pass completion rate

91.2%

Tackles per game

2.0

Barca may be reluctant to sell such a big young talent, but if Michael Edwards and Richard Hughes were able to work their magic and bring Casado to Anfield, he could be an ideal alternative to Martin Zubimendi, giving Liverpool a more defence-minded option than the likes of Ryan Gravenberch and Alexis Mac Allister.

"Very big" Chelsea player wanted by AC Milan looks set to leave in January

A “very big” Chelsea player is wanted by Serie A giants AC Milan in the January transfer window, and it’s apparently “inevitable” that he departs Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea players who appear set to leave in January

Both Ben Chilwell and Carney Chukwuemeka appear certainties for the exit door once we reach the beginning of 2025, and there are a couple of other names attracting attention from outside the doors of Cobham.

Chelsea consider bid for £20m starlet after watching nearly all his games

The west Londoners are very keen.

1

By
Emilio Galantini

Nov 19, 2024

Chelsea are encouraging teams to move for Chilwell, who is out of Enzo Maresca’s plans and excluded from their Premier League matchday squads right now, while it is believed Barcelona are eyeing a move for Chukwuemeka as Hansi Flick looks to bolster his midfield.

“The two names mentioned by our source is [Romeo] Lavia and Chukwuemeka, with Barcelona showing an interest in both players,” wrote journalist Simon Phillips via his Substack recently, when explaining Barca’s interest in the Englishman.

“There has also been agent contact, which we believe will be for Chukwuemeka as he is the player who is available in January.

Chelsea’s next Premier League fixtures

Date

Leicester City (home)

November 23

Aston Villa (home)

December 1

Southampton (away)

December 4

Tottenham (home)

December 8

Brentford (home)

December 15

“As for Lavia, we checked in with other club sources and they have said there is ‘absolutely ZERO chance’ Chelsea would even entertain an enquiry for the 20-year-old right now and he is a huge part of the future of the club and someone who the club and Enzo Maresca see as vital for their plans and project going forward. Quite simply, they would tell Barcelona ‘not for sale at any price’ if an enquiry would come in. This will come as no surprise to anyone, thankfully.

“For Chukwuemeka though, Chelsea would be willing to hold talks over a sale.”

There are reports that Crystal Palace have approached Chelsea over Mykhailo Mudryk’s availability as well. Meanwhile, a fresh report from this morning has shared an update on Cesare Casadei’s future.

Casadei certain to leave Chelsea in January

The Italian has played more often than the likes of Chilwell and Chukwuemeka, with Maresca even praising him earlier this season.

However, Milan Live now write that Casadei’s exit from Chelsea is “inevitable” in January, with Paulo Fonseca’s side setting their sights on bringing in the midfielder to shore up their own options.

Cesare Casadei

“I am very happy with the way he is playing. I had Cesare last year, and he was playing a little bit in different position,” said Maresca on Casadei in October.

“This year, we are using him like a holding midfielder. The reason why is because I think we go in the direction where the middle you need physical players. Cesare is very big, physically strong and helps us when we want to press. On the ball, he is improving a lot. Tonight he played one touch, so we are very happy. For him, it’s the same as the rest; many things he can do better but he is in the right direction.”

Man Utd hold fresh contract talks with Kobbie Mainoo as midfielder's agents make eye-watering wage demand to Red Devils

Manchester United have held fresh talks with Kobbie Mainoo as the Red Devils look to tie down the midfielder's long-term future.

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  • United in contract talks with Mainoo
  • Midfielder's deal expires in 2027
  • England international out injured
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  • WHAT HAPPENED?

    Mainoo is tied to United until the summer of 2027, but had been linked with a move away from the club in the January transfer window, with Chelsea reportedly ready to snap him up.

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    THE BIGGER PICTURE

    reports that United have already begun negotiations with Mainoo's representatives, with the Red Devils determined to keep the England international for a long time. The player's representatives are demanding that United raise his wages to £ 180,000 per week plus bonuses.

  • DID YOU KNOW?

    Mainoo has been out with a muscle injury since early February, having last featured against Leicester in the FA Cup fourth round.

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    WHAT NEXT FOR MAN UTD?

    Mainoo has been ruled out of United's match against Real Sociedad in the Europa League on Thursday.

'He didn't play good!' – Pep Guardiola calls out Phil Foden for 'rushing every action' in shock dressing down after Man City star gets on scoresheet again in win at Crystal Palace

Phil Foden helped fire Manchester City past Crystal Palace but that did not prevent Pep Guardiola from speaking his mind and berating his player for his overall disappointing performance in the 3-0 win. Foden buried the ball in the net in the second half to score his sixth goal in four Premier League matches but his coach was not happy with how he played.

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    Foden on fire

    Foden has well and truly put his troubles from last season behind him and proved to be City's most reliable player this season behind top scorer Erling Haaland. 

    Foden has 10 goals and four assists in all competitions and has come into his own in recent weeks. He hit a brace against Leeds last month, including a last-minute winner, got another double in the 5-4 thriller at Fulham in the next game, while scoring and assisting in last weekend's comfortable win at home to Sunderland. 

    City had taken a barely-deserved lead at Palace thanks to a header from Haaland and Foden's goal effectively wrapped up the points before Haaland struck again, this time from the penalty spot. But Guardiola was still not pleased with the midfielder's performance.

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  • Guardiola brutally honest with Foden despite goal

    Guardiola told : "Today he [Phil Foden] didn't play good, he lost a lot of balls. He was rushing with every action, he needs to play more calm and keep the ball and in the right moment change the gear. Saying that he is doing terrific for the team."

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    'Really difficult game'

    Foden admitted that Palace had tested City and stressed that his side had to show patience to take the lead and hold on for the win. He told : "It's a really difficult game. We know what they are about. They make it tricky, set up well and have quality players on the break. The first half we were just trying to figure them out. Second half we started to hurt them more and in the end we killed the game off.

    "The most important thing is patience. I think we maybe tried to attack too quickly. In the second half we did a lot better. That was the key for getting the result today. We had more control and more passes that is the City way. It is a full team performance. Really happy. I have been in great form in the Premier League recently and I'm delighted to keep that going."

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  • Haaland praised by Guardiola

    Unlike with Foden, Guardiola had plenty of words of praise for Haaland after seeing the Norwegian score his 101st and 102nd Premier League goals for City. "Erling is a forward to score the goals but in the second half he keeps the ball," he said. "He was able to contain situations. He helped us be together. In the second half he was outstanding."

    The win meant City kept the pressure on Premier League leaders Arsenal, who are two points clear at the top, and on third-placed Aston Villa who are just one point behind Guardiola's side in third. Unai Emery's Villa twice came behind to win at West Ham on Sunday and claim their ninth consecutive win in all competitions.

    "It is a really tough place to come," Guardiola added when pressed on the significance of City's latest win. "When you lose the ball they attack incredibly well but we were patient. We were lucky when they hit the post from Wharton but really pleased for the performance and victory to grow our mentality."

£30m goalkeeper could join Tottenham as Ange considers Vicario replacement

Tottenham Hotspur are considering a dip into the January transfer market to sign an emergency goalkeeper, following an injury to number one shot-stopper Guglielmo Vicario.

Guglielmo Vicario fractures ankle in 4-0 Tottenham win over Man City

The Italian has been praised by teammates and critics alike since joining Spurs from Empoli in the summer of 2023, with Vicario called an unsung hero at Tottenham, despite some criticism surrounding his ability to deal with corners.

Tottenham now plotting "important" £29m bid to sign Inter Milan star

The Nerazzurri are seriously considering his sale.

By
Emilio Galantini

Nov 26, 2024

The 28-year-old was also outstanding in Tottenham’s impressive 4-0 win over Man City at the Etihad Stadium last weekend, playing 60 minutes with a fractured ankle in what was a heroic feat of endurance.

“Sometimes football gives you its highs, and sometimes it challenges you in ways you don’t expect,” wrote Vicario on Instagram (via Sky Sports).

Guglielmo Vicario’s stats for Tottenham in all competitions

Total

Appearances

55

Minutes played

4,950

Clean sheets

12

Goals conceded

77

Yellow cards

3

“I played 60 minutes at the Etihad with a broken bone in my ankle, giving absolutely everything I had for the team. Unfortunately, there was no way around this one. I needed surgery. I’m disappointed I won’t be able to help the team for a while.

“A massive thank you to the doctors and the staff. The operation went well, and from tomorrow I’ll be working hard to come back stronger, fitter, and ready to give my all for you again.

“Thank you to the Spurs fans for all the love. See you soon on the pitch.”

Tottenham have confirmed that Vicario has undergone surgery on his right ankle, meaning he faces a lengthy spell on the sidelines. The Italy international hasn’t missed a single Premier League game since making the move to North London last year, but Ange Postecoglou is now forced to rely on Fraser Forster to deputy for Vicario.

It is an undoubted blow for the north Londoners, given just how much they’ve relied on Vicario in-between the sticks since his arrival.

“One of my mates from Celtic actually played with him at Empoli, and he’s raved about him for ages, so as soon as he was coming here he said he’s a very, very good goalkeeper,” said Forster on Vicario right after he joined.

“Top guy. He’s been brilliant in the games, he’s been brilliant around the place, trains well and works hard, so it’s a good start for him.”

Tottenham consider goalkeeper signing as James Trafford emerges as option

According to talkSPORT, Spurs are considering the signing of an emergency new goalkeeper in January, who can fill in for Vicario while the ex-Serie A star recovers from his surgery.

As per their information, an option for the Lilywhites is Burnley goalkeeper James Trafford. The former Man City gem is itching to make a return to the Premier League, after being relegated with Burnley last season, and Trafford is apparently a contender to join Spurs and step into Vicario’s shoes.

The 22-year-old is in his infancy when it comes to the shelf life of a keeper, so this could be a long-term signing, as well as an immediate replacement for Vicario.

However, he won’t come cheap, as reports earlier this year suggested Trafford commands a price tag of around £30 million.

McKenna struck gold on "ridiculous" Ipswich ace who’s like a £100m star

There have not been many better footballing stories over the last few years than Ipswich Town’s miraculous rise up the football pyramid.

Kieran McKenna’s side have gone from playing in League One to the Premier League in just two years, and based on their performances thus far, there’s every chance they will remain in the league next season.

While there are still a number of players who helped the team on this incredible journey in the first team, like Leif Davis and Sam Morsy, the summer additions have made an enormous difference.

In fact, one of them is now being compared to a Premier League star who was valued at £100m just last year.

Ipswich's summer success

So, before we get to the player in question, let’s look at how some of the club’s other summer signings are getting on this season, starting with one that could be seen as cheating, Omari Hutchinson.

Yes, the former Chelsea ace did first join the Tractor Boys last summer, but he put pen to paper on a permanent contract just a few months ago, following a £20m offer from the Suffolk side, and after a slow start this season, he’s starting to show just why they spent so much.

For example, he was utterly sublime in the club’s win over Tottenham Hotspur earlier this month, and while he didn’t score or provide an assist in that match, practically everything ran through him, and as a result, he was handed a 9/10 rating from the East Anglian Daily Times’ Alex Jones.

However, he went a step further in the game against Manchester United last weekend, scoring an outrageous goal from outside the penalty area and earning his team a mighty impressive point in the process.

Another summer arrival who impressed in that game was midfielder Jens Cajuste, who’s on a season-long loan from Napoli with an obligation to buy should the club stay up.

The Swedish international was rock solid against the Red Devils and was arguably just as good against Spurs, and if he can keep up that sort of form, he may well be joining the club on a permanent next summer.

However, another of the summer signings has been even more impressive than both Hutchinson and Cajuste and has even been compared to a £100m England international.

Ipswich's stellar summer signing

So, to cut straight to the point, the player in question is Sammie Szmodics, who completed an £11m move to Ipswich in the summer from Championship outfit Blackburn Rovers.

The Irish international moved off the back of an outrageous campaign with the Lancashire outfit in which he scored 33 goals and provided four assists in 48 games, and while he’s not hit those heights for the Tractor Boys, he’s still looked good.

For example, while it took him a few appearances to get up to speed with his new teammates, the 29-year-old has now scored three goals in 12 appearances but only 610 minutes.

That means the “ridiculous” attacker, as dubbed by journalist Josh Bunting, is averaging a goal every four games, or every 203 minutes, which is not bad for a winger who’s new to the league and playing in a newly promoted side.

Moreover, it wouldn’t be hyperbole to suggest that the Colchester-born winger looks at home in the top flight, as he’s now been compared to one of the best in his position over the last few seasons: Jarrod Bowen.

The comparison stems from FBref, which compares players in similar positions in Europe’s top five leagues, the Champions League and Europa League, then creates a list of the ten most comparable players for each one, and in this instance, has concluded that the Englishman is the fourth most similar attacking midfielder or winger to the Irishman this season.

The best way to see where this comparison has come from is to look at the underlying metrics in which the pair ranks closely, metrics including but not limited to non-penalty expected goals plus assists, shots on target, crosses into the penalty area, interceptions and tackles won, all per 90.

Szmodics & Bowen

Statistics per 90

Szmodics

Bowen

Non-Penalty Expected G+As

0.41

0.38

Progressive Passes Received

5.07

5.81

Shots on Target

1.04

0.94

Crosses into the Penalty Area

0.15

0.17

Interceptions

0.60

0.60

Tackles Won

0.75

0.85

All Stats via FBref for the 24/25 PL Season

For many, seeing one of your summer signings compared to a Premier League star who’s scored a winner in a European final is brilliant in and of itself, but there is the small factor of what said comparison could mean for Szmodics’ future valuation.

We say this as less than a year ago, it was revealed that West Ham valued Bowen at over £100m, which, given everything he’s achieved at the club, isn’t too outrageous.

Now, while nobody would suggest Szmodics is worth even half of that, he must be worth considerably more than Ipswich paid for him in the summer.

Ultimately, whatever happens over the next six months, it’s clear that McKenna and Co struck gold when they signed Szmodics in the summer, and if he can keep up his current form, then we might see him compared to more and more established stars.

Forget Delap: Remarkable Ipswich star must be on Tuchel's England radar

The “remarkable” talent will be vital to Ipswich’s survival this season.

By
Jack Salveson Holmes

Nov 28, 2024

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