There has been a general acceptance across the opening weeks of the 2025/26 season that Liverpool have not quite clicked into gear yet.
Arne Slot’s side have struggled to control games and win comfortably, instead drawing upon their deep-rooted winning mentality to come up trumps in the late stages of fixtures.
But against Crystal Palace in the Premier League last weekend, the Reds were on the receiving end of a last-minute winner, ending their flawless start. And in the Champions League on Tuesday night, in Istanbul, Liverpool were soundly beaten by Galatasaray.
Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah have been pillars of strength for so many years for the Anfield side, but these veteran talismans need some support. They need some younger Liverpool superstars to step up and accept some responsibility.
Liverpool's leaders need more support
Much has been made of Liverpool’s defensive fragility this season, but the blame cannot be attributed to the captain. Van Dijk has been as redoubtable as ever at the rear, but he’s been failed by unpolished full-backs and an error-stricken partner in Ibrahima Konate, who was woeful once again against Galatasaray.
Salah is 33 years old, and he practically hauled Liverpool’s frontline to the Premier League title last season, scoring 34 goals and supplying 23 more across all competitions.
Yes, he’s not been at his sharpest or liveliest this season, but he hasn’t exactly been helped out by a fully functioning frontline and a robust and active build-up system behind him.
The Egyptian King was benched for the midweek European clash, but this shift mattered little as Liverpool toiled away and lacked any sense of fluency.
There was one man whose poor performance perhaps went under the radar, but whose performance was the most detrimental of the lot.
Ryan Gravenberch has been a revelation under Slot’s wing, but he suffered a truly wretched showing against Galatasaray.
Gravenberch's worst game under Slot
Gravenberch has been incredible since Slot replaced Klopp in the Liverpool dugout. The disparity in performance between the Dutchman’s first two terms in the Premier League bears testament to that.
Matches (starts)
26 (12)
37 (37)
Goals
1
0
Assists
0
4
Touches*
28.8
66.5
Pass completion
83%
89%
Key passes*
0.6
0.7
Dribbles*
0.9
1.0
Ball recoveries*
2.8
5.2
Tackles + interceptions*
1.5
3.5
Total duels (won)*
2.8 (47%)
5.0 (57%)
Already the 23-year-old has scored two goals and assisted one more in the Premier League this term, making gains in advancements and beginning to add an invaluable dimension to his game.
It goes without saying that Gravenberch, the 24/25 Hublot Young Premier League Player of the Year, is crucial to the Slot machine operating at full capacity.
And so it’s no surprise that his poor showing in Turkey directly impeded Liverpool in their build-up play and their control – or lack thereof – in the centre of the park.
Indeed, courtesy of data from Sofascore, Gravenberch lost 85% of his duels on the evening (five out of six), and failed to make even a tackle or interception in spite of the hosts’ relentless press.
He was hooked shortly after the hour mark. While Slot will have had one eye on the strip to Stamford Bridge to face Chelsea in the Premier League on Sunday, it also begs the question as to whether the coach had seen enough and felt a tactical change was needed too.
Journalist Beth Lindop remarked only a few weeks ago that “he’s on par with Salah and Van Dijk as Liverpool’s most important players.”
This remains true, but perhaps shines a brighter light on his importance. If Gravenberch has an off-day, Liverpool are currently lacking the answers to overcome that ever-larger hurdle.
Not Isak: Liverpool star is their own version of Arsenal icon Thierry Henry
Liverpool have enjoyed incredible success with this talent in their mix.
Fabrizio Romano has shared some transfer news concerning Chelsea this week, as Enzo Maresca’s side take a particularly keen interest in one highly-rated player from an elite European side.
Chelsea make January transfer plans amid weaknesses in key areas
The Blues ended last summer’s window as one of the Premier League’s highest spending teams, but somehow managed to register a profit by selling a plethora of unwanted players.
Liverpool
£415,000,000
£187,000,000
£228,000,000
Chelsea
£285,000,000
£288,000,000
-£3,000,000
Arsenal
£255,000,000
£9,000,000
£246,000,000
Newcastle
£250,000,000
£152,000,000
£98,000,000
Man Utd
£216,000,000
£68,000,000
£148,000,000
Nottm Forest
£205,000,000
£107,000,000
£98,000,000
Tottenham
£181,000,000
£36,000,000
£145,000,000
Sunderland
£162,000,000
£44,000,000
£118,000,000
Man City
£152,000,000
£53,000,000
£99,000,000
West Ham
£124,000,000
£55,000,000
£69,000,000
via BBC
Chelsea brought in a host of attacking stars in that time, sealing deals for the likes of Joao Pedro, Jamie Gittens, Liam Delap and Facundo Buonanotte.
However, despite making attempts to sign a new goalkeeper and star centre-back, Maresca’s side came up short in that regard.
Chelsea held talks to sign AC Milan keeper Mike Maignan, who wanted to join the west Londoners, but couldn’t agree on a price. Meanwhile, defender Dean Huijsen was also subject to an offer from Chelsea, according to reliable media sources, only for Real Madrid to eventually win the race for Bournemouth’s once-coveted starlet.
With Tosin Adarabioyo, Wesley Fofana, Levi Colwill and Trevoh Chalobah unavailable for their vital Premier League clash against Liverpool this weekend, BlueCo’s failure to sign a centre-half in particular is now coming back to haunt them.
Jorrel Hato can play at the heart of defence when required, but is primarily viewed as a left-back to cover Marc Cucurella.
That being said, due to their major shortage of options, Maresca will have little choice but to play the Dutchman alongside Benoit Badiashile against Arne Slot’s side on Saturday.
Chelsea want to address the centre-back problem in January, and it is believed that they’ve reached out for talks with Marc Guehi’s camp this week as they attempt to gauge the feasibility of a cut-price winter deal (Simon Phillips).
Guehi would be the perfect option with his contract expiring at the end of the season, potentially meaning he’s available for a very attainable fee next window, but it remains to be seen whether Oliver Glasner would sanction his exit midway through the campaign with Palace flying high right now.
Chelsea are also ready to go back in for Maignan and sign the Frenchman on a pre-contract in January (Graeme Bailey), so it appears Maresca’s side are very aware of their defensive frailties as they make transfer plans for early 2026.
That isn’t to say they haven’t still got their eyes on further attacking upgrades, though, with Juventus star Kenan Yildiz believed to be attracting real attention from Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea "very" interested in signing Kenan Yildiz
The Turkey international was Juve’s star player last season, bagging 12 goals and nine assists in all competitions, and the Old Lady are well aware of growing interest from England.
Juventus'KenanYildiz
Yildiz has continued that fine form in a second striker role under Igor Tudor this term, with two goals and four assists in seven games already.
Romano, speaking on his YouTube channel in Italian, says that Chelsea are “very” interested in signing Yildiz, but Juve are planning to negotiate fresh terms and keep him out of Premier League’s clutches.
The 20-year-old fits Chelsea’s recruitment strategy down to the ground as one of Serie A’s rising stars, and they will undoubtedly continue to keep tabs on his exploits.
That being said, Maresca’s far more pressing issue is the gaping holes in his defence, so that should absolutely take priority over a move for Yildiz right now.
Birmingham City’s opening Championship match of the season at home to Ipswich Town is growing ever closer.
It would be quite the statement to make on the end of the Blues if they were to get the better of the recently relegated Tractor Boys on the first, action-packed night of the division, with a win being the best possible way to storm out of the traps and to ease any potential nerves.
The aim for the reigning League One champions will be to achieve the unbelievable feat of back-to-back promotions up to the Premier League, with the first month of the season, and beyond, making it clear to everyone if Davies’ men are made of stern enough stuff to secure this wild goal.
If they were to triumphantly leap into the Premier League, this would be the first time the West Midlands side had played in the top division since the 2010/11 season, with forgotten heroes from Birmingham’s past, such as Nicola Zigic, leading the line all that time ago.
Zigic's heroics at Birmingham
Birmingham supporters have likely put Zigic’s exploits to the back of their mind for some time now, with the likes of Jay Stansfield and Alfie May being cheered on instead.
However, looking back on the 6-foot-8 Serbian’s career at St. Andrew’s will be tinged with lots of pleasant nostalgia, with his most memorable contribution in Birmingham blue coming when he headed home the opener against Arsenal in 2011 at Wembley, as Alex McLeish’s men surprisingly lifted the League Cup.
Across a varied career that saw him play in Spain for Valencia, alongside lining up for several different sides in his native Serbia, Zigic is likely most fondly remembered by Birmingham fans, with the towering giant ending his 158-game association with the club by netting 36 goals and picking up 18 assists.
Seven of those efforts would be picked up during his final full season in England as Birmingham bravely staved off relegation in the Championship, as his ability to be in the right place, at the right time to score a vital goal for the Blues won him cult hero status.
One brand new striker target on Birmingham’s rumoured shopping list will hope he’s remembered in a similarly glowing way down the line, as the experienced goal machine in question looks to secure a deal to join Davies’ ranks before the early September deadline.
The "extraordinary" star who could be Zigic 2.0
Adding in another striker to Davies’ camp might well feel like a wasted move, considering the Blues boss already has Kyogo Furuhashi and the aforementioned Stansfield ready for selection.
Yet, if Birmingham were to win the services of Werder Bremen star Marvin Ducksch – who the Championship side are ‘quietly confident’ about winning as per recent reports by GIVEMESPORT – the 31-year-old should be able to offer the second-tier newcomers something unique in attack, much like Zigic gifted the Blues all those years ago.
Marvin Duckschin action for Werder Bremen.
For starters, Ducksch would be entering into his new surroundings at St. Andrew’s as a seasoned attacking option that won’t be fearful of the testing Championship, with Zigic also possessing that same level of calmness when walking through the door in 2010 as a 29-year-old menace from Valencia.
Moreover, the 31-year-old would also be moving to England with lots of pedigree attached to his name. Zigic was very much in the same boat when he made the daring move from Spain to St. Andrew’s, having bagged 59 goals in total for Valencia, Racing Santander, and Red Star Belgrade.
Bundesliga
130
34
28
2. Bundesliga
138
71
34
3. Liga
54
19
14
His goal-heavy 6-foot-2 counterpart has even more strikes to shout about when plying his trade all across his native Germany, with a stunning combined haul of 124 strikes tallied up by Ducksch as he made his way up the German pyramid, all the way to the top in the Bundesliga.
This sublime goalscoring form for Bremen and many other sides has resulted in the robust attacker even being labelled as “extraordinary” by teammate Mitchell Weiser for what he can offer up top.
Zigic was often referred to in a similarly positive tone at St. Andrew’s – with one of his ex-Blues bosses Lee Clark dubbing him “extremely talented” – as Davies and Co. in the here and now hope their ongoing pursuit of Ducksch results in them winning an up-to-date iteration of the much-loved colossus.
Double deal: Birmingham and Brady want £43k-p/w duo; advanced talks for one
Liverpool have reportedly had a “phone call” with the representatives of a big-money attacking player, as they look to sign a replacement for Darwin Nunez.
Slot's beautiful Jota tribute before Preston
The Reds started their pre-season with a 3-1 win away to Preston North End on Sunday afternoon, on what was an emotional occasion after the tragic passing of Diogo Jota earlier this month.
Prior to the game, Arne Slot provided some beautiful words on the Portuguese, showing exactly why he was such a perfect successor to Jurgen Klopp.
“Nothing seems to be important if we think of what has happened. But we are a football club and we need to train and we need to play again, if we want it or not. What I’ve said to the players, I can say it here as well. It’s very difficult to find the right words because we constantly debate what is appropriate. What is appropriate in our actions? What is appropriate [for] what we have to say? Can we train again? Can we laugh again? Can we be angry if there’s a wrong decision?
Liverpool forward Diogo Jota
“And I’ve said to them, maybe the best thing for us to do is handle this situation like Jota was. And what I meant with that is that Jota was always himself, it didn’t matter if he was talking to me, to his teammates, to the staff, he was always himself. So let us try to be ourselves as well. So, if we want to laugh we laugh; if we want to cry we’re going to cry. If they want to train they can train, if they don’t want to train they can not train. But be yourself, don’t think you have to be different than your emotions tell you.”
Now, it is a case of Slot and his Liverpool players trying to achieve lots of success with Jota in their thoughts, and further signings may help in that respect. A new update has now emerged regarding a potential addition in the final third.
Liverpool have "phone call" with £78m Nunez replacement
According to journalist Sebastien Vidal on X, Liverpool have been in contact with a “phone call” to RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko’s agents about a £78m move to Anfield, coming in to replace the likely-to-leave Nunez, who scored against Preston.
Sesko feels like an ideal option to come in and lead the line for the Reds, considering it looks increasingly unlikely that they will be able to sign Alexander Isak from Newcastle United.
The 22-year-old is already such a prolific and dominant striker, scoring 39 goals in 87 appearances for Leipzig, as well as 16 in 41 caps for Slovenia.
Slot's next Wirtz: Liverpool in contact to sign "the new Haaland" for £78m
Liverpool are planning to sign a new striker in the summer transfer market.
ByAngus Sinclair Jul 14, 2025
If Liverpool could sign Sesko on top of Florian Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez this summer, it would be outstanding business, with a new backup centre-back potentially the next priority after Jarell Quansah’s move to Bayer Leverkusen.
Leeds United have now made an approach to sign an “incredible” goalkeeper, who has been identified as a leading target alongside Lyon’s Lucas Perri, according to a report.
Leeds looking for upgrade on Illan Meslier
It has become apparent that Leeds will look to find a replacement for the error-prone Illan Meslier this summer, and journalist Luke Entwistle believes Lyon shot-stopper Perri could be a suitable option.
Entwistle said: “He’s an interesting shout for Leeds in particular. They obviously need a goalkeeper, and I’m sure they’ll be wary of having someone who can’t use their feet, and I’m not saying that he’s in that category, but he did have a few hairy moments.
“I do think he would nonetheless be an upgrade on Meslier in that regard and also in terms of his shot-stopping.”
The Brazilian goalkeeper was identified as the Whites’ number one target to replace Meslier last week, and there have been suggestions that he could be available for a fee of around £20m, given Lyon’s significant financial issues.
Leeds want to sign "amazing" attacker who was once Europa League top scorer
The Whites have identified a new transfer target to bolster their midfield options.
ByBrett Worthington Jul 14, 2025
However, the 27-year-old is not the only option on the shortlist, with a report from TEAMtalk revealing that Leeds have also identified Angers SCO goalkeeper Yahia Fofana as a leading target alongside Perri.
Fofana may be available for a lower fee than the Lyon goalkeeper, with previous reports suggesting he could cost just £8m, and the Whites have now approached Angers to discuss a potential deal.
Angers'YahiaFofanareacts
Perri remains Daniel Farke’s first-choice target, but the Ivorian goalkeeper moving to Elland Road is deemed more likely than Nick Pope, with the 33-year-old determined to stay at Newcastle United ahead of a Champions League campaign.
There is also interest in Meslier from France and Italy, with Leeds now actively trying to get the Frenchman off the books this summer, although none of the interested parties are currently in advanced talks.
"Incredible" Fofana could be solid Perri alternative
Having previously been lauded as “incredible” by U23 football scout Antonio Mango, the 24-year-old went on to have a very impressive 2024-25 campaign at Angers, with fellow scout Ben Mattinson singling him out for high praise.
With an average SofaScore rating of 7.28 in Ligue 1, the Paris-born goalkeeper was by far the best-performing Angers player last term, and his potential availability for just £8m means he would be a low-cost addition to Farke’s squad.
As such, if Perri is unattainable, Fofana could be a fantastic alternative, with the goalkeeper clearly ready to test himself in the Premier League.
Birmingham City aren’t a big fish in a small pond anymore in League One, but the Blues are still acting with plenty of swagger and confidence when it comes to summer moves in the Championship.
Birmingham have already secured the services of seven fresh faces to significantly bolster their squad for the difficult challenge of the Championship, with purchases such as Demarai Gray sticking out as the West Midlands-born winger finally returns home after a Premier League-heavy career elsewhere.
Whilst that move has obviously pulled at the heartstrings of Blues supporters, it does go without saying that the most ambitious pick-up of them all this summer has been securing Kyogo Furuhashi’s signature for a bumper £10m.
Come the end of the breakneck window, Birmingham might even be able to boast an entirely new starting lineup of players just off exciting incomings alone.
With that in mind, if Birmingham do keep up this whirlwind pace, here is what their dream squad could look like come the end of an action-packed summer.
The goalkeepers New number one in the Championship
Despite resoundingly cruising to the League One title last season with only 31 goals conceded, the step-up could see Birmingham change up their number one option in between the sticks.
Indeed, brand-new loanee James Beadle could be the fresh face that usurps last season’s trusty goalkeeper Ryan Allsop on his arrival, with Beadle just fresh off collecting nine clean sheets for Sheffield Wednesday in the challenging division.
The 20-year-old looks to be a star on the rise, having also just played his part in the England U21s lifting the U21 Euros title, with Allsop unfortunately becoming yesterday’s news, consequently.
The Birmingham-born stopper will ensure he’s a reliable back-up pair of gloves even if Beadle does take over first-team duties, with a mammoth 151 career Championship games under his belt seen as a major bonus to keep him around.
Full list of goalkeepers: James Beadle, Ryan Allsop, Bailey Peacock-Farrell
The defenders Fan favourite back for a second spell
Again, Birmingham fans will be content with the majority of defenders already positioned at the club, especially when it comes to the dominant centre-back areas.
Still, if you can enhance the personnel at your disposal for cheap, the Blues aren’t going to pass up the opportunity, with Bright Osayi-Samuel now a new option Davies can call into action in the right-back spot.
This could go down as being an inspired signing on a free transfer, with Osayi-Samuel boasting 109 Championship appearances for both Queens Park Rangers and Blackpool, before going on to enhance his craft more on the books of Fenerbahce. He could also slot into any upcoming XI as a right winger, left winger, or even as a centre-forward if needed.
He will likely battle it out with ex-Manchester United defender Ethan Laird for that right-back spot – with Laird an attacking mainstay on the right flank last season – with Taylor Gardner-Hickman also acting as another adaptable presence that can do a job in defence on the right.
Birmingham City's Ethan Laird in action with Newcastle United'sMattTargett
In the heart of defence as Christoph Klarer will aim to be a regular fixture of Davies’ lineups again, even as the quality of opposition gets trickier.
He will battle it out with Krystian Bielik and potentially Ben Davies if he returns to the club after a loan spell.
Games played
35
Goals scored
1
Assists
1
Touches*
88.6
Accurate passes*
67.9 (88%)
Ball recoveries*
3.3
Clearances*
6.2
Total duels won*
6.3
Clean sheets
20
Phil Neumann is also another option at Davies’ disposal, up a division, with the success story of Klarer coming in from Germany as an unknown entity ready to leave a lasting impression, perhaps rubbing off on the ex-Hannover defender from the get-go.
In the left-back position, it does feel as if this is a spot nailed down by Alex Cochrane, having made a colossal 53 appearances across the 2024/25 campaign. Lee Buchanan will aim to offer competition, but this is Cochrane’s spot to solidify even more, moving up a division.
Full list of right-backs: Ethan Laird, Bright Osayi-Samuel, Taylor Gardner-Hickman
Full list of centre-backs: Christoph Klarer, Phil Neumann, Krystian Bielik, Ben Davies
Full list of left-backs: Alex Cochrane, Lee Buchanan
The midfielders Tomoki Iwata joined by a new partner
Whilst Birmingham’s attacking firepower often stole the headlines last season, the Blues’ central midfield department was also a steady unit all season long.
The main central midfield pairing picked by Davies was Tomoki Iwata and Paik Seung-Ho, with the duo tallying up a sturdy 95 appearances in all competitions come the final ball being kicked.
Both stars consistently put in classy displays for their promotion-chasing team, with a wonderfully hit effort against Bolton Wanderers last October just one of the six league strikes Iwata would fire home for Davies’ men, whilst Seung-Ho would stylishly spray the ball about for fun from deep with eight big chances created across his 41 League One outings.
They could face competition from reported target Lewis O’Brien, on top of the already confirmed midfield addition of Tommy Doyle.
The Nottingham Forest outcast has been linked with a switch to St. Andrew’s, with his expertise in the taxing division perhaps coming in handy, having played 162 career games at this level.
Doyle would be able to offer something different away from O’Brien’s more attritional approach, with the ex-Manchester City youngster 12 goals and assists down in the taxing league, as seven of those come about during Sheffield United’s promotion-winning heroics during the 2022/23 season.
Marc Leonard will also hope some first-team chances come his way, even as the midfield department gets a slight makeover, off the back of the ex-Northampton Town man chipping in with a reasonable five assists last season.
Full list of midfielders: Tomoki Iwata, Lewis O’Brien, Paik Seung-Ho, Tommy Doyle, Marc Leonard
The forwards "Phenomenal" striker joins alongside Kyogo
Lastly, the positions that always attract the most attention are the forward areas, with Birmingham already boasting a fine selection of attackers, away from any further summer activity.
Down the right, Davies will have Willum Thur Willumsson to call upon up a division after the Icelandic forward tallied up an impressive six goals and six assists in League One, whilst Scott Wright is also available on this flank, having collected just a solitary goal in league action himself as a background figure.
Therefore, whilst the Scotsman will no doubt be a fine utility figure for Davies to have around, he might well want a bit of extra competition on the right channel still, which is where long-term target Sontje Hansen might ruffle a few feathers if he finally makes the switch to St. Andrew’s.
The outrageous solo strike seen above already shows off what Hansen’s main strengths are, with the blistering pace of the Dutchman, mixed with his respectable haul of 20 goals and assists in the Dutch top-flight for NEC Nijmegen, solidifying the notion that he could be a lively menace capable of lighting up English football very soon.
Through the middle behind the lone striker is where Jay Stansfield could reside next season – with his league goal tally of 19 last season ready to be surpassed in the Championship – owing to the amount of top-notch strikers being added to the ranks, with Kanya Fujimoto another viable option in the number ten slot, having just joined Davies’ camp from Gil Vicente in Portugal.
There’s another new face who will be looking to leave his mark, but this time down the left wing in the form of Gray.
The homegrown ace will be chomping at the bit to add his Championship career haul of eight goals and three assists when making his much-talked-about return, knowing that lots of healthy competition will also come his way with both Keshi Anderson and Emil Hansson being positioned on this flank.
The final position in attack that needs plenty of discussion dedicated to it is the lone striker spot, with £10m man Furuhashi desperate to be Birmingham’s leading man.
After all, his clinical Celtic track record does speak for itself, with Furuhashi ending his trophy-laden spell in Glasgow by powering home a mighty 85 goals.
Not even EFL veteran Alfie May can compete with that, unfortunately, as the experienced striker is under threat from sliding down the pecking order for this forthcoming season, with his career tally overall coming in at 133 strikes, which isn’t that much heftier than his Japanese counterpart’s sole goal total in Scotland.
Yet, if Birmingham really want to send out a statement, they might well consider a final hour move for Premier League regular Danny Ings, with rumours suggesting a free transfer move was on the cards.
For nothing, the Blues would be able to win a “phenomenal” goal machine – as he was once glowingly labelled by football pundit Noel Whelan – as seen in his 72 strikes right at the pinnacle of the English game.
Full list of right wingers: Willum Thor Willumsson, Scott Wright, Sontje Hansen
Full list of attacking midfielders: Jay Stansfield, Kanya Fujimoto
Full list of left wingers: Demarai Gray, Keshi Anderson, Emil Hansson
Full list of strikers: Kyogo Furuhashi, Danny Ings, Alfie May
Once worth £30m: Birmingham could sign a bigger talent than Kyogo for £0
Birmingham City will want to press on with even more summer signings as this free agent is now potentially eyed up.
Elland Road will no doubt be packed to the rafters when Everton travel across West Yorkshire for Leeds United’s hotly anticipated Premier League opener.
Plenty of new faces are likely to line up for Daniel Farke’s men to get the top-flight season underway, with Jaka Bijol aiming to impress in pre-season to seal a starting spot, alongside fellow fresh signing Lukas Nmecha.
Plenty more purchases are surely in the works ahead of Leeds bravely venturing up a league.
Leeds make £12m star a top priority target
It’s safe to say the Whites haven’t had it all their own way in the transfer window so far with key midfield target Habib Diarra heading to Sunderland instead with a club-record £30m wrapped up.
So, with that fresh blow still fresh in their mind, they could return to Ligue 1 to seal a different signing.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
Indeed, as per a new report from French outlet L’Equipe, Leeds are very interested in securing the cut-price services of Lyon goalkeeper Lucas Perri this summer.
Lyon will be raided for all of their top assets off the back of the French giants being relegated to Ligue 2 following financial problems and the Whites have now made the Brazilian stopper a top priority target in a bid to improve their goalkeeper options up a division.
Leeds might well have an upper hand in the race to land the Brazilian if they are adamant he’s their desired man in between the sticks, with Saudi outfit Neom also keen on the 27-year-old ‘keeper amid rumours of a £12m bid potentially being put on the table.
Farke and Co. would happily fork out such an amount, with Bijol only costing £3m more to obtain from Udinese, as the newly promoted side continues to shop in Europe to land some gems.
How Perri could be Bijol 2.0
After all, this isn’t a transfer strategy that has just come from out of the blue for Leeds, with Raphinha once purchased for a mere £17m when leaving Rennes behind in 2020.
Obviously, the rest ended up being history for the Brazilian from that point on, with Bijol hopeful he can arrive on English shores and explode into life in a similar way to Raphinha by becoming a confident and assured performer in the deep-end of the Premier League.
His numbers when excelling in the Serie A indicate that he will be a hit at Elland Road, as seen in the Slovenian brute winning an imperious 4.8 duels on average last season in the Italian top-flight, on top of collecting eight clean sheets.
Therefore, landing the 26-year-old’s services for £15m might go down as a future steal if he is a rip-roaring success story in West Yorkshire, with the extra addition of Perri to the building potentially shoring up Farke and Co even more ahead of a daunting season.
Games played
33
Goals conceded
44
Clean sheets
10
Saves*
3.5
Goals conceded*
1.3
Goals prevented
+6.05
Much like Bijol, Perri was a consistent top performer in a top-five league all through last season, even as off-field turbulence threatened to derail the on-field situation, with a glowing number of +6.05 goals being prevented across his 33 league encounters.
To rubberstamp how much of an upgrade he would be, Illan Meslier’s tally in that department fell victim to -2.73 goals being prevented.
Even lauded as “the best goalkeeper in the world” by his manager Paolo Fonseca earlier this campaign, it feels like a no-brainer on Leeds’ end to try and capitalise on Lyon’s financial woes and land Perri as an upgrade on the shaky Meslier.
Of course, both of these deals could unfortunately go the other way, with the defensive duo finding their new terrain to be too extreme.
But, when assessing how well they’ve done in some tough European leagues to date, snapping up both Bijol and Perri might actually be heralded as a pair of genius deals down the line.
Leeds preparing bid to sign "powerful" captain for £12m this summer
The Whites have a midfielder in their sights this summer…
Liverpool’s attacking unit has been truly frightening this season, undoubtedly playing a massive role in their ability to claim the Premier League title in 2024/25.
Mohamed Salah was undoubtedly the shining light in such a department, netting 29 goals and registering 18 assists in his 38 outings for Arne Slot’s men.
Cody Gakpo and Luis Diaz shared the responsibility on the left-hand side, with the aforementioned duo netting 23 goals between them in the league.
However, the one complaint was with the centre-forward position, with the Reds needing an elite-level talisman to further increase their chances of retaining their crown next time around.
With Darwin Núñez and Diogo Jota both touted with moves away from Anfield, the hierarchy may have funds to play with, allowing Slot to get his hands on the star striker he greatly desires.
The latest on Liverpool’s hunt for a new striker this summer
Alexander Isak has been the dream option over the last couple of months for Liverpool, but his £150m asking price has scuppered any chances of landing the Swede’s signature this window.
Viktor Gyokeres is another name who’s been mentioned with a move to Merseyside, but like Isak, a deal looks unlikely after claiming he’s keen on a move to Arsenal.
Sporting CP's ViktorGyokerescelebrates after the match
Such situations have led the Reds to other targets, with RB Leipzig star Benjamin Sesko the latest talent in their sights, according to journalist James Wathland.
He claims that the hierarchy have already made contact with the Slovenian’s representatives over a move to Anfield, with Arsenal also in the race for his signature.
It’s also been reported that the player himself would be keen on a move to join Slot’s side, potentially moving to the Premier League off the back of a 21-goal campaign in Germany.
Why Sesko would be a better signing than Ekitike for Liverpool
In recent days, Eintracht Frankfurt star Hugo Ekitiké has been a man in demand, with numerous Premier League clubs registering interest in a move for the forward this summer.
Eintracht Frankfurt's HugoEkitikecelebrates
Liverpool are just one side in the race, with Manchester United and Chelsea just two of the sides battling it out for his signature during the off-season.
His tally of 22 goals across all competitions in 2024/25 makes the interest no surprise, with the Frenchman potentially able to be the number nine the Reds have been hunting for.
However, if they are to agree a move with the 22-year-old, they would have to fork out a fee in the region of £84m, potentially being a deal worth walking away from.
Should they decide to move onto other targets once more, Sesko should be their number one target to fill the void, with the striker being labelled the “new Erling Haaland” by talent scout Jacek Kulig.
RB Leipzig's BenjaminSeskocelebrates their second goal scored by Lukas Klostermann
He possesses a very similar frame to the Norwegian, whilst also having a lethal strike, which has seen him score numerous long-range efforts during his time in Germany.
The 21-year-old is also a huge threat in the air, similar to that of the Manchester City star, with Sesko potentially being the final piece in Slot’s Liverpool puzzle.
Games played
33
Goals scored
13
Shots on target per game
1.2
Goals scored per 90
0.5
Dribbles completed
55%
Aerials won
57%
Duels won
5.1
When comparing his stats to those of Ekitike this campaign, he may have scored fewer goals, but has managed a better goal per shot on target rate – handing the club the clinical option they’ve been hunting for.
He’s also dominated aerially, winning more of the aerial duels he’s entered throughout 2024/25, with his skillset allowing for a focal point for the likes of Salah, Diaz and Gakpo to play off.
Whilst both players would likely improve the options currently at the manager’s disposal, it’s pivotal that the Reds pursue a move for Sesko over Ekitike, with his stats backing up why he’d be a more effective option.
Should he manage to follow in Haaland’s footsteps in England, it would be a bargain regardless of the price tag, handing the club the added threat in their pursuit of back-to-back league titles.
Perfect for Isak: Liverpool told £75m bid for PL star will be accepted
Liverpool may need to sign a new left-sided forward this summer.
Newcastle United swerved past PSR ramifications last summer and are now ready to make some proper investments in Eddie Howe’s team.
Though the mood was dour on Tyneside across the opening months of the 2024/25 campaign, with form at a low ebb after key targets were missed across the closing weeks of the transfer window, the Magpies ended up flying high.
Newcastle United manager EddieHowebefore the match
Liverpool were thrashed at Wembley, the 2-1 scoreline flattering the losers in the Carabao Cup final, and a Herculean effort to seal fifth in the Premier League unlocked the gates back into the Champions League.
St. James’ Park presents an attractive project, for sure, but Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo threw a spanner in the works when rejecting the Magpies’ interest due to a desire to move to Manchester United.
Brentford's BryanMbeumoreacts
Newcastle, as always, will adapt, and indeed have found the perfect alternative.
Newcastle open talks for Mbeumo alternative
Mbeumo might be out of reach, but at least Newcastle have got the funds to launch on a top right-sided forward, with Brentford demanding around £60m for their talisman.
And if The Athletic are worth their salt (they are), the Toon have been having discussions behind the scenes about signing Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo as they look to complete Howe’s frontline.
Semenyo, 25, was a revelation on the south coast last season, providing a prolific and dynamic threat.
Having proven himself across two seasons in England’s top flight, the Cherries would be looking for a £70m fee if they are to cash in, and Tottenham Hotspur are also keen.
What Antoine Semenyo would bring to Newcastle
Bournemouth signed Semenyo from the Championship’s Bristol City for £10.5m in January 2023, and he’s since gone from strength to strength under Andoni Iraola’s leadership.
Antoine Semenyo in Premier League action for Bournemouth.
The aforementioned Athletic report states that while Howe is determined to add some firepower to Newcastle’s right wing, balance and multi-positionality are factors which will play into the manager’s reckoning. Semenyo, luckily, embodies such tactical principles and could be a fantastic fit.
Having been shuffled about the frontline last season, the two-footed talent has demonstrated an aptitude across different areas, always retaining a strong degree of potency.
Left winger
20
5
4
Right winger
19
6
1
Centre-forward
1
1
0
Moreover, he’s been hailed as a “workhorse” and a “duel monster” by analyst Ben Mattinson, owing to an underlying tenacity that speaks of his combativeness, his desire to win.
It is for these reasons that he might prove to be an ideal Mbeumo alternative. As per FBref, Semenyo ranked among the top 5% of Premier League attacking midfielders and wingers last year for shots taken per 90, and his unrelenting search for goals led the data-powered site to list Mbeumo as one of his most comparable players.
Semenyo’s incremental progress over the past two years makes a telling comment on his chances of succeeding in Howe’s Newcastle system.
He has the underlying qualities to mirror those of Semenyo, who finished the campaign having scored 20 goals from 38 Premier League appearances, but also having averaged 1.8 key passes, 1.4 dribbles and 4.7 duels per game, as per Sofascore.
If Semenyo can tune that ball-striking hunger, streamline it, he might become a sensational part of a Newcastle side that just continues to exceed expectations.
Newcastle's most expensive sales of all time
A look at Newcastle’s 20 most expensive departures.
Liverpool have held back in recent transfer markets, opting against springing into the scramble for new players and instead relying on their existing stars.
It’s paid off, and handsomely at that. Aside from Federico Chiesa, who joined from Juventus for £12.5m last summer but only started once in the Premier League and is being touted for a move back to Italy, no first-teamers have arrived since August 2023, when Jurgen Klopp applied the finishing strokes to his midfield remodel.
Well, that was the case, at least, until FSG activated Jeremie Frimpong’s £29.5m release clause last month, and welcomed the right-sider from Bayer Leverkusen.
Frimpong, electric-paced and positionally flexible, replaces Trent Alexander-Arnold. Elsewhere, Milos Kerkez is in talks to leave Bournemouth and shore up the left flank, while Florian Wirtz is on the verge of following Frimpong from the BayArena to Anfield.
Negotiations have maybe been a tad protracted, but this is a potential British-record signing, and still, his announcement is but a formality at this stage (famous last words).
Fans got a chance to see their potential new superstar in action last night. Germany might have lost in their Nations League semi-final tie to Portugal, but the 22-year-old proved his talent.
Florian Wirtz's performance vs Portugal
Beady-eyed detractors watched on in hopes of Wirtz struggling to make an impression on the international stage, but he scored the opener and was firmly involved in much of the contest.
Florian Wirtz scores for Germany
Clever shimmies, well-worked one-twos and indeed a desire to get at the heart of the affair, on both sides of the field, all highlighted the calibre of player Liverpool could welcome into their fold, even if he trudged home as one of the defeated.
It wasn’t a display that left nothing to be desired, however. Pitted against opposite counterparts Bruno Fernandes and Bernardo Silva, the Werkself icon was always going to be up against it.
Minutes played
90′
Goals
1
Assists
0
Shots (on target)
2 (2)
Accurate passes
32/42 (76%)
Key passes
0
Dribbles
3/5
Tackles
3
Duels won
9/16
Still, he scored, showcased his technical range and indeed a defensive persistence that will serve him well under Slot’s wing. The Liverpool head coach, remember, withdrew Jarell Quansah at half-time on his debut last season following concerns over his side’s success in the duel (or, more correctly, lack thereof).
Wirtz could almost complete the puzzle, ensure Slot has the means to win more gold next year. However, Liverpool also need a striker, and may well be planning a hijack for a new nine.
Liverpool plan hijack for new Striker
RB Leipzig failed to qualify for Europe this year, and thus are resigned to selling Benjamin Sesko and Xavi Simons, their two most profitable players.
And according to transfer insider Ben Jacobs, Liverpool could be ready to compete with Arsenal for centre-forward Sesko, potentially seeking to hijack Mikel Arteta’s move.
“The biggest question mark will be over the number nine and if they can genuinely go for Alexander Isak,” Jacobs said.
“Will they drop the £100m that Frankfurt are asking for Hugo Ekitike, they could even enter the race for Benjamin Sesko even though it feels like Arsenal are more advanced on that one at the moment.”
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
The Gunners are “more advanced” in their pursuit, but the striker market is rather slim and Sesko, 22, has a €80m (about £67m) release clause.
That’s more affordable than the likes of Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitike.
Liverpool would strike gold with Benjamin Sesko
Liverpool are undergoing a series of changes this summer, and Darwin Nunez is expected to be a part of the exodus, making way for a new striker.
Sesko’s a raw talent, his potential yet untapped, but he’s undoubtedly a star in the making, having scored 39 goals and laid on eight assists across 87 appearances for Leipzig.
The Slovenia international has even been declared “the new Erling Haaland” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, with his incredible power, rangy frame and pace (he’s “one of the fastest players on the planet”) aligning with the Manchester City superstar, who has scored 121 goals from 142 appearances in Pep Guardiola’s team, notably winning the treble. There’s the exemplar, right there.
It would be a fool’s notion to expect a similar pathway for Sesko, but then there’s no denying he’s got all the pieces to become a top talent in the Premier League, especially so if he’s been sourced by a creative phenom in Wirtz.
Wirtz, indeed, will depart Leverkusen having won the 2023/24 Bundesliga as an invincible, winning the Player of the Season. In total, he’s notched 122 goal contributions from 197 total matches for the Werkself.
Florian Wirtz
Taking a closer look at the German playmaker’s extraordinary skill set, we see his passing and line-breaking qualities could serve chance upon chance on a silver platter for Sesko.
As per FBref, Wirtz ranked among the top 7% of attacking midfielders and wingers this season for goal contributions, shot-creating actions and progressive passes, the top 2% for passes attempted and the top 4% for successful take-ons per 90.
When not threading surgical passes through to Sesko, Wirtz would be charging forward himself, left skip, right, left, right. His slaloming style, expertly weaving past hopeless opponents, would take the heat off the central striker, allow him to get into space.
Then, the pass is played, and Liverpool are ahead once again.
Slot's own Huijsen: Liverpool submit concrete bid to sign "complete" star
Liverpool could be set to make a move to land a star who could become their own Dean Huijsen.