Leeds United were reportedly leading the race to sign Aston Villa striker Cameron Archer this summer, but Fabrizio Romano has given a worrying update as it seems the 49ers' pursuit has collapsed.
What's Cameron Archer doing at Villa?
At Villa Park, Archer currently pockets £20k-per-week, which he isn’t really earning considering that he’s nothing more than a fringe player having spent his career carrying out three loans with Solihull Moors, Preston North End and most recently Middlesbrough. But that could all change should he nail down a regular starting place elsewhere.
The Athletic’s David Ornstein previously revealed that the Midlands outfit are open to selling the 21-year-old amid strong interest, and CBS reporter Ben Jacobs name-checked the Whites as a potential suitor when asked who could be looking to secure his services in the Championship.
Speaking to GiveMeSport, he said: “Leeds are one of the clubs, no doubt Middlesbrough are another. So I would expect movement on Archer between now and the end of the window."
According to Football League World, Daniel Farke and the 49ers were at the “head of the chasing pack” alongside Sheffield United for the centre-forward this summer, with his club having set a £20m price tag for their academy prospect.
However, even though it initially appeared that the hierarchy were well-placed to successfully land their target before the end of the window, there has been a gutting update which supporters won't want to hear.
Middlesbrough's former loan striker Cameron Archer.
Are Leeds signing Cameron Archer?
Taking to X, Fabrizio Romano revealed that Aston Villa have struck a deal with the Blades for the transfer of Archer, meaning that Leeds are set to miss out on securing his services despite previously being out in front, with the fact that Paul Heckingbottom's side are in the top-flight likely a big deciding factor as to the striker's next destination. He wrote:
"Sheffield United are set to sign Cameron Archer on £18/19m deal from Aston Villa — medical booked #transfers. Villa will also retain a buy back clause as it’s part of the process — like Ramsey at Burnley."
How many goals has Cameron Archer scored?
At Middlesbrough last season, Archer clocked up a remarkable 17 goal contributions (11 goals and six assists) in 23 appearances in the northeast which shows how prolific he is, but he also made a positive impact even when the ball didn’t always hit the back of the net.
Read The Latest Leeds Transfer News HERE…
The Walsall-born talent, who has the versatility to operate everywhere across the frontline, was averaging 1.8 shots and 1.2 key passes per second-tier game, form which saw him receive three man-of-the-match awards from WhoScored, highlighting the constant threat he can bring to the side in the final third.
Aston Villa’s “real deal”, as dubbed by presenter Jack Collins, additionally shares the same agent, Unique Sports Group, as Karl Darlow, so this existing connection that his representative already has to the club could have given chiefs a slight advantage in their pursuit, but it turns out that it wasn't enough having been pipped at the post meaning that the boss will have to turn his attention towards other options.
Liverpool surely need to sign another midfielder before the transfer window slams shut this week, but whether Jurgen Klopp's side do as such is another question.
Will Liverpool sign anyone before transfer deadline day?
According to The Athletic's Carl Anka, Liverpool have held an interest in Bayer Leverkusen holding midfielder Exequiel Palacios this summer following Fabinho's £40m sale to Saudi Arabian outfit Al-Ittihad.
Despite this, Klopp has received a blow after the Bundesliga club's managing director for sport, Simon Rolfes, has stated that Palacios is going nowhere this year.
The report alludes to embryonic Manchester United interest, and while the 24-year-old is deemed untouchable by Leverkusen, the late stage of the window means Liverpool need to test some outfits' resolve to complete their rebuild.
How good is Exequiel Palacios?
Palacios might be a name few have heard on Merseyside, but Xabi Alonso and the Leverkusen support are waxing lyrical over the Argentine's midfield skills over in Germany, with his manager lauding his "excellent" progress over the past year.
Read the latest Liverpool transfer news HERE…
Having basked in footballing glory at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar with Argentina, the 25-cap international would link up with compatriot Alexis Mac Allister at Anfield in a move that would likely enhance the cohesion at the club.
Liverpool were left hot under the collar after missing out on both Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia to Chelsea earlier in August, despite agreeing lucrative deals for both, and were forced to swoop for 30-year-old Stuttgart midfielder Wataru Endo for £16m to combat the absence of a No 6.
Caicedo, in particular, would have been a superlative addition to a prestigious club targetting a resurgence after falling by the wayside last term, having dazzled for Brighton & Hove Albion last season, earning an average league rating 7.08 – as per Sofascore – after completing 89% of his passes and averaging 2.7 tackles per match, also earning praise as a “machine man” by renowned scout Jacek Kulig.
The Ecuadorian ranks among the top 4% of midfielders across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for pass completion, the top 11% for passes attempted, the top 12% for tackles and the top 17% for interceptions per 90, as per FBref, emphasising his stunning skill set that left the Reds and Chelsea oh-so desperate for his services.
Caicedo happens to be listed as a comparable player via FBref to Palacios, who ranks among the top 7% of positional peers for passes attempted, the top 4% for tackles and the top 3% for interceptions per 90.
As a result, Liverpool could land a tailor-made alternative, if they are able to complete an unlikely swoop.
The £15m-rated hotshot recorded an average league score of 7.03 last season, completing 83% of his passes and averaging 2.3 tackles per outing, highlighting a similar level of robustness to the new Chelsea phenom.
Klopp must now push to sign the Leverkusen ace before the market closes later this week, eradicating the doubt that has seeped into the club's early-season efforts after a tumultuous transfer window.
Ever since the arrival of Unai Emery, Aston Villa have been a side transformed, earning a place in the Europa Conference League as a result of their progress in the Premier League last season.
The Villans continued their progress off the pitch throughout the summer, too, welcoming the likes of Moussa Diaby and Pau Torres. Meanwhile, on the pitch, Emery's side have shown glimpses of bursting into life, with convincing wins over both Everton and Burnley sandwiched between disappointing displays against both Newcastle United and Liverpool.
Despite the defeats, it has been a period of statements of ambition from the Midlands club, who even considered breaking their transfer record for one particular star in the summer transfer window.
Who did Aston Villa sign in the summer transfer window?
In total, Emery and co welcomed five reinforcements in the summer transfer window, spending a reported €93m (£80m) in the process. So far, the pick of the bunch has been Diaby.
The former Bayer Leverkusen winger has already been involved in three goals in five games, scoring twice and assisting once in an impressive start to life at Villa Park. Diaby's arrival put an end to Villa's search for a winger, but before that, they considered breaking their transfer record.
According to Romeo Agresti of Goal, via Sport Witness, Aston Villa were considering bidding around €70m (£60m) for Chiesa this summer, which would have smashed their current transfer record of £52m, which saw Diaby complete his move to the Midlands club earlier this summer.
With the transfer window now shut, however, Chiesa is still a Juventus player, and Villa have not lacked goals from their flanks, perhaps making the outcome suitable for all parties involved, especially the Serie A giants.
Whilst the reported "threat" was there from Villa, worrying Juve amid their own troubles off the field, Monchi and Co did not push on to sign the winger.
Should Aston Villa have signed Chiesa?
There's worse options around Europe than a Chiesa, who is finally back to full fitness and ready to get firing again at Juventus. The Italian has got off to the perfect start in Serie A this season, too, scoring twice in three games, proving that he is more than ready to star for his side once again.
The winger has earned plenty of praise during his time in Italy, too, including from Rio Ferdinand, who previously said, via The Metro: "He’s a huge player and he’s been linked with a few clubs in England. I’m sure they’re thinking ‘why didn’t we get him?’.
"He’s just a fantastic footballer. The intensity with which he plays with, we saw in the Euros he was the main goal threat for the Italians who went on to win the tournament.
"It’s his pace, his drive. He’s the one who is the threat, he’s potent, he wants to run in behind. He’s that modern day striker who can play anywhere across the front line and he’s as comfortable out wide as he is through the middle. He unnerves defenders with that pace, he’s so direct."
Now, Villa will simply be hoping that they don't regret not going all out for Chiesa this summer, given his clear talent.
Ange Postecoglou has been fairly ruthless when it comes to farewells at Tottenham Hotspur since taking charge, with his rebuild resulting in a number of departures around the squad, or players simply being frozen out.
It must be said, though, that as ruthless as Postecoglou has been, it has worked wonders so far in North London, with an unbeaten start representing the turnaround that the former Celtic boss has overseen so quickly.
Now, even with the transfer window shut, the Australian is making moves to improve his side, which could reportedly see yet another player depart, in what would be perhaps the most surprising exit since Harry Kane's transfer to Bayern Munich earlier this summer.
What's the latest Spurs transfer news?
According to Fabrizio Romano, Spurs are on the verge of signing 16-year-old centre-back Luka Vuskovic from Hajduk Split, beating a reported five other clubs to the highly-rated teenager's signature in the process.
The deal represents Spurs' improvement in the transfer market, as they continue to plan for the future. The deal for Vuskovic is not without its cost, according to reports, however, with a first-team player heading in the other direction.
According to Croatian outlet tportal, the deal for Vuskovic has opened the option for Ivan Perisic to go in the opposite direction, and join Hajduk Split in his home country of Croatia.
The move would come as quite the surprise, given that Vuskovic is reportedly set to stay at Split until he turns 18-years-old, before then officially making the move to Spurs.
Should Spurs sell Ivan Perisic?
Whilst Perisic is getting no younger at 34-years-old, he has remained an important member of the Spurs squad, even under Postecoglou. So far this season, he has made an appearance in all five games in all competitions, including one start in the Carabao Cup.
In such a young Spurs squad, too, with the likes of Micky van de Ven and Yves Bissouma still relatively new to the team, Perisic's experience can prove to be priceless for those in North London – swapping that experience out for a 16-year-old centre-back may prove to be a costly decision. If Spurs can get their deal done for Vuskovic without bidding farewell to Perisic, then it would be an ideal transfer.
The former Inter Milan man's versatility is an asset in its own right on top of his experience, meanwhile, having played in midfield, wingback, and in an offensive role throughout his career. That is, once again, priceless.
Perisic has earned plenty of praise during his short time at Spurs, too, including from Alasdair Gold, who said, via Football London, after the defender impressed against Sporting: "Crafted a couple of first half chances for Richarlison and Emerson and further opportunities in the second half that should have been put away.
“An excellent creative outlet down the left for Spurs and used all of his experience for much of the match. One of Spurs’ better players other than one moment of iffy defending when Edwards left him in his wake.”
With that said, the Vuskovic deal is certainly one to keep an eye on, especially if Hajduk Split pursue a deal of their own for current Spurs man Perisic in the coming days.
Wolverhampton Wanderers have had a testing time of late, having four managers take charge of the squad over the past year, as well as combating financial restrictions.
The Old Gold were hit with a host of Financial Fair Play (FFP) issues earlier in the summer, making it increasingly difficult for former manager Julen Lopetegui to make the signings needed to bolster his squad.
As a result, the Spaniard parted ways with the club, making way for new boss Gary O’Neil to take charge, with the Englishman facing an uphill battle to get the depleted squad performing this campaign.
Despite such restrictions, Wolves welcomed six new faces to Molineux, as well as Matheus Cunha and Boubacar Traore officially making their moves permanent.
Sales played a big part in the moves that the Midlands club could make in the market, with one player going for a price far lower than what could have been previously anticipated.
Who did Wolves sell this summer?
With reference to FFP rulings, it was imperative that Wolves generated finances through sales this summer, which they did by offloading some star names.
Former Wolves midfielder Ruben Neves.
Former club captain Ruben Neves departed to Al-Hilal for £47m, as well as two internal Premier League moves making much-needed cash, as Nathan Collins transferred to Brentford for £23m, and Matheus Nunes opted for Manchester City in a huge £53m transaction.
Other players departed for lesser fees and as free agents, with another former club captain bidding farewell in the form of Conor Coady.
What happened to Conor Coady?
After an eight-year association with Wolves, Coady was sold to Leicester City in the summer for a fee of £7.5m.
The Englishman was a firm member of the squad at Molineux before his loan move to Everton last season after falling out of favour with former manager Bruno Lage, who didn’t see the 30-year-old fitting into his formation plans.
With 317 appearances for the Midlands side under his belt, Coady left for the Championship after falling down the pecking order at Goodison too after their respective managerial change.
At one point in his Wolves career, it was difficult to imagine proceedings at Molineux without the Liverpool-born whiz, who was club captain and a strong character and presence to have in the back line.
Described as an “authoritative” figure by journalist Tim Spiers, the centre-back was valued by Football Transfers around the £38m mark back in 2021, telling of his downfall under Lage.
There are constant ‘what ifs’ in football, with the fast switch from hero to zero for Coady at Wolves being a difficult concept to fathom, with the 30-year-old once being a pivotal cog in the squad.
If the defender had retained his spot in the side, there could have been a far bigger window for the price that he could have been sold at, as well as what his on-field experience could have done for O'Neil during his tenure.
In the 2018/19 campaign, the centre-back ranked at the top in terms of passing range, topping the charts with 84 accurate long passes in the Premier League that season, beating the likes of Virgil van Dijk, via Sky Sports.
Things can change in an instant, and for Wolves and Coady things didn’t pan out as expected, as was notable this summer with his exit summoning a far lesser figure than ever anticipated.
Celtic are now keen on signing an "amazing" defender in the January transfer window, but they will have to do battle with a number of Europe's top clubs, a report has revealed.
What's the latest Celtic transfer news?
Under the helm of Ange Postecoglou, Celtic had cast their eyes on more niche countries to scout first-team players, and they are clearly continuing to do so now Brendan Rodgers is back in charge, with Serbian youngster Nemanja Jovic now being targeted.
Jovic would be available to sign on a free transfer, having been without a club since leaving Partizan Belgrade in the summer, but there are a whole host of European clubs vying for his signature, including Rayo Vallecano and FC Basel.
The Hoops may also have to brace for interest in one of their first-team players this winter, with Tottenham Hotspur now being credited with an interest in Daizen Maeda, who could be set to reunite with Postecoglou in north London.
In terms of potential new additions to the squad, it has been relatively quiet since the end of the summer transfer window, but the Scottish Premiership champions have now been named as potential suitors for Boca Juniors' Valentin Barco.
According to a report from 90min, Celtic are one of a whole host of European clubs keen on signing Barco, having conducted a scouting mission to check on him in recent weeks, but a Premier League team is leading the race for his signature.
Brighton & Hove Albion, who have a stellar record when it comes to finding and developing South American talent, are currently in pole position for the 19-year-old, while Manchester City are also chasing him, so it may be very tricky for the Hoops to tempt him into a move.
There is also an indication the youngster could be willing to sign a new contract with Boca Juniors, as the Argentinian club are now "hopeful" he will commit to fresh terms, in order to ward off interest from a number of clubs across Europe.
How good is Valentin Barco?
The Boca Juniors starlet has received very high praise from football talent scout Jacek Kulig, who lauded him as "amazing" just over two years ago, and he has since gone on to claim he is already among the very best players in his position, saying: "Valentín Barco is going straight to the top. One of the most talented left-backs in world football."
Having made 22 appearances for Boca Juniors, the Argentina U20 international has already established himself in the first team, and he has weighed in with one goal and one assist in six Copa Libertadores outings in 2023.
Boca Juniors'ValentinBarcocelebrates with Boca Juniors' Sergio Romero after winning the penalty shootout
The defender has displayed his versatility by moving up to left-wing in eight of his 22 professional appearances, indicating he is a threat on the front foot, as well as being capable defensively, making him a perfect modern-day left back.
All the evidence suggests Barco could be a fantastic signing for Celtic, but it will be very difficult to win the race for his signature, given that a number of other top clubs are also keen.
Liverpool are back on track this season after struggling to perform last year, and Jurgen Klopp will be delighted that his stratagems to revitalise the midfield have gone off without a hitch.
The signings of Dominik Szoboszlai, Alexis Mac Allister, Wataru Endo and Ryan Gravenberch have been made with an eye on energy and enthusiasm renewed, and the early-season success has been remarkable, with the Reds storming into a seven-match winning streak across all competitions after drawing to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on the opening day of the term.
The malaise that crept in last season has perhaps detracted from the illustrious, glittering success of Klopp's reign on Merseyside since taking the helm in 2015, with many lamenting the severity of the collapse last term; as if in a quake, the honours dotted on the shelves trembled and fell.
naby-keita-liverpool-jurgen-klopp-premier-league
But now, things appear to be back on track, with the centre of the Anfield pitch restored. It's quite possible, that had Liverpool's myopic transfer efforts over the past several years not been so, well, short-sighted, appropriate moves might have been made to maintain the equilibrium and continue the silver-laden journey.
And, dating back to the days before the German manager's appointment, one Dele Alli been signed before his journey with Tottenham Hotspur started, Liverpool might have boasted a star man to maintain success, and the prosperity of his once prodigious career might still be intact.
Did Liverpool nearly sign Dele Alli?
In 2015, prominent Liverpool reporter James Pearce – who writes for The Athletic but worked for the Liverpool Echo at the time – revealed that Alli had been on Liverpool's radar prior to his move to Tottenham from League One side MK Dons.
Alli is believed to be a boyhood Red and held Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard as his icon in the past, seeking to emulate the former England star with his own playing style, something that was indeed reflected during his finest days in a Spurs shirt.
Football – England v Estonia – UEFA Euro 2016 Qualifying Group E – Wembley Stadium, London, England – 9/10/15 England's Dele Alli Reuters / Eddie Keogh Livepic EDITORIAL USE ONLY.
According to Pearce, Alli had been 'scouted extensively' by the Anfield side and was one whose talents were held in high regard, and after an emphatic 2014/15 campaign with the Dons, scoring 16 goals and supplying nine assists in League One and starring in an infamous 4-0 victory over MK Dons in the League Cup, he earned a £5m transfer to Tottenham in February 2015, remaining with his erstwhile outfit for the remainder of the term.
Sky Sports confirmed that numerous Premier League sides had been interested in his signature but it was the project in north London that had convinced the then 18-year-old to forge the maiden stage of his career at Tottenham.
Reds manager at the time, Brendan Rodgers, was certain of the precocious talent's skill set and urged the board to make their move, but the powers that be were dissuaded by the £5m price tag and ultimately opted to focus their attention elsewhere.
What a mistake that turned out to be. Despite the 27-year-old's struggles and affecting decline, he is one of the brightest talents to ever burst onto the scene on Premier League soil, and under Klopp's stewardship, he might have sustained his position of rising power.
How good was Dele Alli?
Jose Mourinho once proclaimed that Alli could become "one of the world's best", and certainly, across the first several seasons at Tottenham, the England international proved to be a bona fide prodigy, alighting the English top-flight with his razor-sharp offensive movements and clinical finishing.
Across the first three Premier League seasons, the 37-cap international actually scored 37 goals and supplied 29 assists from 106 outings, with the majority of that time preceding his 22nd birthday.
Tottenham Hotspur's Mauricio Pochettino and Dele Alli talk ahead of their Champions League clash against Manchester City.
Hailed as "very special" by Barcelona legend and current manager Xavi, Alli had the world at his feet and truly looked to be set to stay at the forefront of Premier League prominence for years to come, excelling in an offensive midfield role by combining his intelligent awareness with instinctive, powerful bursting movements into danger areas – both with the ball at his feet and when waiting to be the recipient of a pass from a teammate.
At his zenith, Alli was valued at a staggering £150m by the Lilywhites, which underscored just how incredible a player he was, but it all came crashing down in startling swiftness.
The Athletic cited a decline in both output and technical prowess to have contributed to his regression over the past several years, with the 6 foot 2 star only scoring one Premier League goal since the 2019/20 campaign.
Alli, at his very best, thrived off high-octane teammates pushing the play forward, allowing him to foray into the danger areas and wreak havoc, with superlative creativity enveloping him.
Well, at Liverpool this would have been the best he could have wished for, with Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson overlapping from the wide channels and the likes of Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane providing the kind of first-rate offensive ferocity that Alli could have bounced off.
Alli fell by the wayside and slipped from a starring role at Tottenham before completing a free transfer to Everton in winter 2022, with the first £10m permissible after he completed 20 appearances for the Merseyside outfit, something that has still not happened, having played in only 13 matches to date.
Alli has cited traumatic personal issues and several distinctive circumstances to have contributed to a fall from grace, and the footballing world will be behind the dynamic midfielder if and when he does take to the Premier League pitch again.
The £100k-per-week ace is currently battling an injury with the Toffees, with Sean Dyche revealing in August that he was "miles away" from a return to competitive action as he rehabilitates from a hip injury.
While nothing is certain in football nor in life, the stability and impact that Klopp could have had on his career and growth might have provided Alli with the perfect foundation to build from, and while his prowess as a youngster will always be remembered as among the most prodigious in Premier League history, under Klopp's tutelage, he might still be burgeoning to this day.
Tottenham Hotspur can pay "serious" money to sign two stars from the same club for manager Ange Postecoglou, according to reports.
Who have Tottenham signed in 2023?
On the field, Spurs supporters have enjoyed an absolutely thrilling ride under their new head coach. The north Londoners have showcased a new style of attack-minded football during Postecoglou's early tenure, coming after their regrettable eras under Jose Mourinho, Nuno Espirito Santo and Antonio Conte. Chairman Daniel Levy, in a show of faith, backed his boss with seven major signings over the 2023 summer transfer window (not including permanent deals for Dejan Kulusevski and Pedro Porro).
Goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario, defender Micky van de Ven, England star James Maddison, winger Brennan Johnson, Israeli attacker Manor Solomon joined Spurs as first team signings, while exciting young duo Ashley Phillips and Alejo Veliz came in as more project transfers. The Lilywhites spent just over £200 million, which includes the moves for Kulusevski and Porro, but reports in the last month suggest they could strengthen further in January.
Who could Tottenham sign in January?
Spurs are apparently targeting another central defender after van de Ven, with the likes of Lloyd Kelly (Bournemouth), Edmond Tapsoba (Bayer Leverkusen), Victor Nelsson (Galatasaray) and Juventus star Gleison Bremer all being mentioned recently. A new striker to fully replace Harry Kane is also in the offing for 2024, with both Brentford star Ivan Toney and in-form Stuttgart marksman Serhou Guirassy on the Spurs agenda.
According to a report from Turkish news outlet FotoSpor, as translated and shared by Sport Witness, it appears Tottenham have their eyes on a defensive duo from the same club. Indeed, Galatasaray pair Nelsson and right-back Sacha Boey are apparently of interest to Tottenham. It is believed the Lilywhites could pay "serious amounts" for them as well, and they're set to run the rule over both as Spurs plot sending officials to assess them in action.
Nelsson has been a pivotal figure for the Super Lig side, featuring over more Super Lig minutes than any other outfielder in their squad last season (WhoScored). The Denmark international also made more blocks and won more aerial duels per 90 than any other Galatasaray player in the Turkish top flight over 2022/2023.
Meanwhile, Boey performed an equally impressive fashion. A rumoured transfer target for Arsenal over the summer, the Frenchman ranked as one of Galatasaray's best-performing players per 90 in the Super Lig last season. Over 22/23, Boey averaged Gala's joint-highest rate of tackles and second-most interceptions per 90 – perhaps highlighting why Tottenham are monitoring developments.
Former Arsenal star Bacary Sagna, commenting on the Gunners' links to Boey over the summer, seriously endorsed the 23-year-old as one to watch.
"Galatasaray’s Sacha Boey is a player I really like," said Sagna.
"I think he will fit perfectly into Arsenal. As a right-back too, I have to say I think he’s great. I’m sure many clubs have Sacha Boey in mind. There is a contract to sign.”
Still young with plenty of potential, he could come as a brilliant alternative to the likes of Emerson Royal and Pedro Porro.
Liverpool moved on a number of players in the summer transfer window out of Anfield, the old guard being gradually phased out by Jurgen Klopp for new talents such as Dominik Szoboszlai and Ryan Gravenberch coming into the building.
James Milner, Jordan Henderson, Fabinho and more were all let go of by Klopp in his pursuit of new and fresh players, both Fabinho and Henderson opting for moves to Saudi Arabia. The latter has linked up with former teammate Steven Gerrard at Al-Ettifaq who now manages out in the Middle East.
A third departee from Liverpool would also join the mega-bucks of the Saudi Pro League, Roberto Firmino ending his eight-year connection with the Reds to join Al-Ahli and link up with former Premier League players Ryad Mahrez and Allan Saint-Maximin subsequently.
How much did Liverpool sign Roberto Firmino for?
Signed by Brendan Rodgers during the summer 2015-16 transfer window for £21.3m – Klopp not joining the Reds until that October – Firmino would become a stalwart for Liverpool and a key player in the success the German manager would bring back to Anfield.
In his first season with the club after leaving Hoffenheim behind, scoring 49 goals in total for the Bundesliga side before Liverpool poached the Brazilian, he would net ten goals and become Liverpool's top scorer in the league.
Roberto-Firmino-Liverpool
He would notch up double figures for the next three seasons on the spin for the Reds, his best season in a Liverpool strip coming during the 2017/18 campaign – the Brazilian centre-forward helping himself to 15 goals, forming the foundations of an unstoppable front three.
Firmino – alongside Mo Salah and Sadio Mane – would wreak havoc on top-flight defences for a number of seasons – striking fear into Premier League defences, combining for an unbelievable 338 goals together.
Although, when Liverpool lifted the coveted Premier League at the end of the 2019/20 season, Firmino only netted nine times.
An emotional last match at Anfield for the Brazilian showed how much the Liverpool masses had idolised the forward, scoring at the death versus Aston Villa to snatch a 1-1 draw with the attacker visibly emotional in his celebrations.
Making 362 appearances for Liverpool – all mainly under the tenure of Klopp – the label of Firmino being a Liverpool legend was branded about by pundits and fans alike as he departed on a free transfer.
Even Liverpool goalscoring great Ian Rush would herald Firmino as the 'most skilful number nine that Liverpool have ever had' in the wake of his move to Saudi Arabia, high praise indeed from the Welshman who also wore that same number.
How is Firmino performing in Saudi?
Firmino has slotted straight into the Al-Ahli set-up, named as captain for his new Saudi side before a ball had been kicked.
He has scored three goals from ten games so far for his new Middle East employers, all three of those goals coming against Al-Hazem on his debut – his second of the contest assisted by Ryad Mahrez.
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He has also been unselfish for Al-Ahli so far, assisting a further two goals with one of those assists helping his Saudi side win 1-0 against Al-Okhdood recently – Franck Kessie benefitting as a result with a last-minute winner.
Early days with Al-Ahli suggest that Firmino will not view this move as a holiday, nearing towards his retirement. Rather, it's an opportunity to become a star man again after leaving Liverpool behind.
So far, he has more goals and assists than even Szoboszlai does in a Reds jersey – the ever-impressive Hungarian midfielder scoring just the two times this term, while failing to register an assist.
But, Firmino's time with Klopp's team is up and Liverpool fans will now keep a close eye to see how the Brazilian performs in Saudi Arabia in the hope their former icon excels in his new surroundings.
Manchester City are keeping close tabs on an exciting new attacker, but a fresh report has revealed that they aren't the only club who are hoping to bring him to the Premier League in January.
Where are Man City in the table?
In the English top flight, Pep Guardiola’s side have won six and lost two of their opening eight fixtures, meaning that they find themselves third in the table during the international break behind Tottenham and Arsenal. Here is how those matches have played out:
Burnley (3-0)
Wolves (2-1)
Newcastle (1-0)
Arsenal (1-0)
Sheffield United (2-1)
Fulham (5-1)
West Ham (3-1)
Nottingham Forest (2-0)
The Sky Blues currently have a total of 17 players away representing their respective nations, including the likes of Erling Haaland with Norway, Jeremy Doku with Belgium and Julian Alvarez with Argentina (Manchester City website), and this break in domestic action will allow chiefs to assess their transfer options ahead of January.
The Etihad Stadium outfit want to bolster their ranks in the final third having turned their attention towards Palmeiras right-winger Estevao, who despite not having made a senior appearance for his side, is a regular feature of the academy (Transfermarkt – Estevao statistics).
Brazil’s youth international is just 16 years of age, so it’s unlikely that Guardiola is considering a move to throw him straight into the first team due to his lack of experience at a high level. Nevertheless, the talented prospect is a man in demand across Europe.
Estevao transfer update
According to 90min, which has shared a transfer update on Estevao, Man City, Chelsea, Arsenal and Real Madrid are all "jostling for position" in the race to sign the forward.
As it stands, Carlo Ancelotti's Madrid side are the favourites to secure the services of their target due to their existing relationship with his club, not to mention their incredible history of developing young players, so he could see that as an attractive opportunity.
Therefore, Guardiola – and indeed, Mauricio Pochettino and Mikel Arteta – could find it difficult to sell their projects to the teenager, who has also previously been watched by scouts from Barcelona, Inter and Juventus.
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola.
How good is Estevao?
According to talent scout Jacek Kulig, Estevao is an “incredible” attacker for what he is capable of at such a young age, and considering the bags of potential he’s shown so far, he’s got all the attributes to be a success for the long-term future of Man City.
Sponsored by Nike, the left-footed ace has posted three contributions at U20 level (two goals and one assist) in 14 appearances since the start of his career, so he is starting to find his feet when it comes to hitting the back of the net and creating chances in the final third.
In addition, Estevao has the versatility to operate out wide on both the left and right flanks, which is another attribute that chiefs are likely to admire. Therefore, it could be worth going all out to secure the signature of this star in the making in January.