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Manchester United are the current front-runners to sign Napoli centre-back Kim Min-jae this summer, according to journalist Fabrizio Romano.

Have United been linked with Kim Min-jae?

The Red Devils look highly likely to bring in reinforcements at the heart of their defence over the next few months, as they look to close the gap on rivals Manchester City next season.

While Lisandro Martinez and Raphael Varane forged an excellent partnership throughout 2022/23, their absence through injury has exposed the lack of depth there, with Luke Shaw even being drafted into an auxiliary role because of a seeming lack of trust in Harry Maguire.

One player who has been continually linked with a move to Old Trafford is Kim, who looks like a primary transfer target and is seen as a future key man. The £33,000-a-week central defender is fresh off the back of a magnificent season for Napoli, proving to be a rock at the back as they won their first Serie A title since 1990.

Are Reds favourites to sign Kim Min-jae?

Speaking to Give Me Sport, Romano claimed that United currently lead the way in the battle to snap up Kim in the summer transfer window:

"United know that they are ahead of the other clubs for Kim, because they started this process in October and November. So Man United remain interested in Kim.

"It's very clear that the release clause is only available in July not in June, so at the moment the clubs can’t do anything to sign the player."

This is a really promising update regarding Kim's future, with the Napoli man arguably one of the best players in his position in Europe currently, certainly given the form he is in.

Fellow South Korean Park Ji-sung has described his compatriot as "outstanding", also saying that he is doing "extraordinary things" at the moment, and he is someone who could help elevate United to another level next season. Spalletti also called the defender "one of a kind" and a "monster" for his efforts over in Italy.

With Varane now 30 and arguably not quite the player he used to be, Kim could be considered the natural long-term partner for Martinez, with the better excelling alongside one another for many years to come. At 26, he is at a brilliant age for a centre-back – the same age that Virgil van Dijk was when he joined Liverpool, for example – with enough experience to come in as a vital player from the off, but also having time on his side.

Papua New Guinea had to overcome a top-order wobble to gun down a target of 274 and won their fifth match in the World Cricket League Championship

ESPNcricinfo staff21-Oct-2016
ScorecardFile photo: Lega Siaka scored a vital 70 as wickets fell around him to set up PNG’s successful chase•IDI/GettyHalf-centuries from Lega Siaka, Sese Bau and Dogodo Bau were vital for Papua New Guinea to recover from early setbacks and beat Namibia by five wickets. That left Craig Williams on the losing side despite making an unbeaten century that helped set 273 on the board in their World Cricket League match in Port Moresby.Both he and his team would have been confident of their chances, especially after they had reduced PNG to 30 for 2 in the fifth over. A period of stabilisation followed with Siaka at the helm, but his 61-run partnership with captain Assad Vala was broken in the 12th over and the chase came down to the strength of their middle order.That’s where Sese, who was playing only his sixth List A game, and Dogodo, on debut, came in and shut out Namibia. Sese made 76 off 98 balls, despite scoring only three fours and one six. Dogodo was a bit more fond of finding the boundary – his unbeaten 80 off 74 included eight fours, the last two off successive balls ushered victory for PNG in the 48th over.In contrast, Namibia’s innings was set up by their top order. Opener Wian van Vuuren made 60 off 98 balls while their No. 4 Williams smashed 109 off 89 balls, with seven fours and five sixes. It was his seventh hundred in List A cricket, on the steam of which Namibia plundered 87 off their last 45 balls.In a high-scoring match, PNG’s Mahuru Dai gave away just 24 runs in his 10 overs, in addition to a wicket. Chad Soper, who opened the bowling, finished with 1 for 36.PNG are third on the points table with five wins from seven games. Namibia are in seventh spot above only UAE, with one win from seven games. The two teams play each other on Sunday at the same venue.

West Ham lead to the race to sign Leicester City winger Harvey Barnes this summer, but face competition for his signature from other Premier League clubs, as per Matt Law of The Telegraph.

The fire sale has begun at the Kingpower Stadium after their disastrous season ended in relegation to the Championship, and a host of Premier League clubs have lined up to attempt to sign some of the club’s best assets this summer.

West Ham transfer news – Harvey Barnes

It is set to be a busy summer at the London Stadium after West Ham owner David Sullivan confirmed that Declan Rice would be leaving West Ham during this transfer window.

According to Sam Dean and Law, the Hammers have priced Declan Rice at £92m.

Bayern Munich and Manchester United are reportedly interested in signing Rice, but Arsenal are currently leading the race to sign the Europa Conference League-winning captain.

West Ham aim to spend the windfall from Rice’s transfer to acquire English winger Harvey Barnes, according to the aforementioned report.

The Irons will face Premier League competition in the fight to sign Barnes, with Aston Villa, Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United all expected to make a run at the 25-year-old.

It is believed that the Foxes currently value Barnes at £40m, but West Ham are likely to start the bidding at around £30m.

Should West Ham sign Harvey Barnes?

Since joining the Midlands outfit from Barnsley in 2018, Barnes has been an important piece in the side – as per Transfermarkt, he has notched 45 goals and 32 appearances in 187 appearances, primarily from a left-wing position.

The tricky winger, who has one cap for England, was a key member of the Leicester side that won the FA Cup in 2021, defeating Manchester City 1-0 in the final at Wembley Stadium.

Michael Cox of The Athletic once stated that Barnes’ game 'is almost solely based around the simplest concept in football: the give and go', arguing the Burnley native’s style is simple and direct, but effective.

Barnes, who Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp once hailed as an "unbelievable player," loves playing one-two passes with his inside forward, and this play style could work wonders in a David Moyes system where the striker often has his back to goal holding up play.

The speed of the player is also one of his greatest strengths.

His top speed of 35.44km/h ranked sixth of all Premier League midfielders last year, and this electric pace would surely be a significant upgrade on the left wing for West Ham over Said Benrahma.

It was hard to avoid a sense of deja-vu as Alastair Cook accepted that England’s batting had let them down in Mohali

George Dobell in Mohali29-Nov-2016It was hard to avoid a sense of deja-vu as Alastair Cook accepted that England’s batting had let them down in Mohali.He was quite right, of course. By failing to take advantage of winning the toss here, England surrendered their best opportunity to control the game. On a surface that Cook described as “400 par” – and it was at least that – England instead succumbed to 283 all out and surrendered the pitch at its best to an India side who were determined to utilise it.Whereas four England batsmen had scored centuries (three in the first innings, one in the second) on what Cook described as a similar surface in Rajkot, here Jonny Bairstow was the only man to make 50 in the first innings.”You need a big score on a wicket like that,” Cook said, “and we weren’t good enough to make one. Jonny Bairstow made a good 80, but we need hundreds. The pitch wasn’t too different to Rajkot, maybe slightly harder to score on, but it was 400 par and we were below it. We just weren’t good enough.”While Cook’s candour is welcome, England have now lost four of their most recent six Tests with batting failures a recurring theme. If the collapses in Dhaka (where they lost 10 wickets for 63 runs) and Visakhapatnam (where they lost 10 for 63) were especially eye-catching, the batting at The Oval (England were 110 for 5 on the first day having won the toss) and here (where they were 87 for 4 before lunch on the first day) was equally culpable.And while they seem to have found the answer to their problem at the top of the order in Haseeb Hameed, Moeen Ali was not convincing at No. 4 (or No. 3 in the second innings) and Hameed is now unavailable for the rest of the series. Moeen and Jos Buttler both picked out the fielder after trying to hit over the top in the second innings – victims of good bowling, for sure, but also a lack of patience – underlining the suspicion that England were still trying to find a way to blend their naturally positive approach with the discipline required for Test cricket.Their struggles against spin are familiar, too. While the pitches in this series have deteriorated and turned a little, there has been none of the extravagant assistance that some anticipated. Instead, on perfectly reasonable surfaces, England have struggled to deal with an accurate, disciplined spin attack who have exposed some flawed techniques and uncertain temperaments.Cook was criticised for his “they’re no supermen” comments after the Visag Test (some even suggested he was “taunting” India), but he came very close to repeating those remarks here.”There were not magic balls,” he said of England’s second innings struggle. “Maybe Jonny Bairstow was the only one that was a good piece of bowling, but apart from that there wasn’t a huge amount misbehaving from the pitch. It was good accurate bowling, as you expect from India in these conditions, but not unplayable. You can talk all you want but the top order have to go and deliver.”While the phrase “the only one that was a good piece of bowling” in unfortunate – and almost certainly a reflection of a lack of eloquence more than a lack of grace – there is a valid point in there somewhere. Cook, for example, missed a 46 mph delivery that turned about one degree. Moeen and Buttler fell to sucker punches. It was soft cricket that was thrown into its proper perspective by a 19-year-old with a badly broken finger. His teammates were, quite rightly, proud of his performance: one or two of them might have felt it contrasted with their own.Ultimately, professional players have to take responsibility for the way they play. They have to make their choices and live by the results. But these are the times that coaches also earn their keep and there have been times of late when it has been unclear what England’s approach is meant to be: are they blocking their way to safety – as they attempted in Visag – or trying to counter-attack to success, as they showed, in fits and starts, here. Both options are reasonable, but a lack of confidence in their defence has been a feature of several of these batting failures. England have usually preferred aggressive players to defensive ones – consider the selections of Ben Duckett, for example – and here picked an excellent limited-overs players (Buttler) who had played just one first-class game in the previous year. There is not a lot of evidence to suggest this aggressive approach is working.Perhaps the brief holiday they will have now is well-timed. Several of the squad will travel to Dubai for a few days, with no formal training planned. “It will mentally give us a break from cricket,” Cook said. “We can come back more refreshed.”Cook also admitted England may have erred in their selection for Mohali. The presence of a third spinner – and a second off-spinner, in particular – was superfluous, with Cook suggesting the option of a fourth seamer would have been more beneficial.”All of us probably misread the pitch,” Cook said. “we thought it was dry and would spin more. If we had known what we do now, we would have gone four seamers two spinners. The seamers were always in the game with reverse and the way we bash length, we can control the scoring rate very well.”That does not necessarily mean that England will play four seamers in Mumbai. As well as injury concerns over seamers Stuart Broad and Chris Woakes, England hope to have Zafar Ansari, the left-arm spinner, available for selection again and expect that surface may provide more assistance to spinners. The last time England played a Test there, in 2012, Monty Panesar and Graeme Swann shared 19 wickets between them.

Essex have added Neil Wagner to their ranks for 2017 as they look to compete on their return to Division One

ESPNcricinfo staff08-Dec-2016Essex have added Neil Wagner to their ranks for 2017 as they look to compete on their return to Division One. Wagner will fill the main overseas role for the first half of the season, playing Championship and 50-over cricket, before the arrival of Mohammad Amir.Wagner, the New Zealand left-armer, had a successful spell at Lancashire last season, helping them to briefly top the table as he picked up 32 wickets at 29.28. He will add experience to Essex’s attack after the retirements of Graham Napier and David Masters earlier this year.”I really enjoyed my time in England with Lancashire last season, but I am excited about linking up with Essex and building on the team’s success in 2016,” Wagner said. “I want to bring my experience to the team and help us win games. I hope to help the squad get off to a good start in both competitions.”Wagner, who only plays Tests for New Zealand, is expected to be available for all of the Royal London Cup group stage and up to eight Championship matches, depending on when Amir joins up with Essex after the Champions Trophy.Chris Silverwood, the head coach, had been looking to bolster his pace-bowling stocks after losing Napier and Masters, who took 103 wickets between them as Essex claimed the Division Two title. Jamie Porter, 23, has an impressive record but 2017 will be his first taste of Division One cricket, while Essex will hope Matthew Quinn and Matt Dixon continue to develop.”Neil will bring vast experience at the highest level to the club, as well as a skill set that will be valuable in the opening months of the season,” Silverwood said. “He performed excellently for Lancashire last year and is also useful with the bat lower down the order. Hopefully he can help us hit the ground running in 2017.”

Newcastle United are interested in signing Khephren Thuram from OGC Nice this summer despite considerable speculation over Liverpool's interest in the France international.

What's the latest on Khephren Thuram to Newcastle?

That's according to Football Insider, who have produced a report outlining Magpies manager Eddie Howe's desire to beat the club's Premier League rivals to the signing of the 22-year-old, who has burst into prominence this season.

Previous claims indicate that Jurgen Klopp's outfit are edging towards a deal for Thuram, with his Ligue 1 side demanding around £50m for his services.

But Newcastle could now swoop to complete their midfield after qualifying for the Champions League this season, something Liverpool have failed to do.

How good is Khephren Thuram?

Despite still only being 22, Thuram has just completed his third campaign with Nice as a starring member of the senior squad, playing 48 times over a mammoth season, scoring twice and supplying eight assists across all competitions.

Hailed for his "significant upper-body strength", his "excellent technique" and impressive "ball control" by talent scout Jacek Kulig, Thuram is swiftly asserting himself as an enticing option, and standing at an imposing 6 foot 4, he could blossom into one of the most fearsome forces in Europe.

A dynamic midfielder, the £14k-per-week gem boasts the whole gamut of attributes required for success as a box-to-box star on the biggest stage – also lauded for his "tenacious" approach by Kulig.

According to FBref, Thuram ranks among the top 25% of midfielders across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for rate of assists, the top 6% for progressive carries, the top 9% for successful take-ons and the top 26% for interceptions per 90, illuminating the all-encompassing nature of his trade.

For such a thriving force, only set to get better and edge towards a stature as an "elite" footballing figure – as stated by Zach Lowy – Thuram would enrich a Newcastle team heralded for its cohesive togetherness and slick, almost innate collective understanding with his multi-faceted game, and given that he favours a role on the left side of the central midfield, it could spell danger for Joe Willock.

Signing for the Toon from Arsenal for £25m in August 2021 after impressing on a fruitful initial loan, Willock has played an important part in the stunning resurgence over the past 18 months, escaping the sable shadow of relegation danger and now awaiting a Champions League competition that Howe and co will be cautiously optimistic of reaching the latter stages.

Willock ranks among the top 9% of midfielders for rate of assists, the top 4% for progressive carries and the top 18% for successful take-ons per 90, which is certainly impressive, but given Thuram's meteoric rise and dynamism, he could well surpass the feats of the 23-year-old Englishman.

Frankly, the Nice phenom is a "monster" – as called by Sam McGuire – and deployed into a superlative crop at St. James' Park, he might just make the increments to his game to cement a starting berth and wreak havoc on opposition across Europe.

Newcastle United have identified Wolfsburg's Felix Nmecha as a transfer target, according to Sky Sports reporter Florian Plettenberg.

The latest Newcastle United transfer news – Felix Nmecha identified

Having qualified for Champions League football for the first time in 20 years, Eddie Howe's men have a crucial transfer window ahead of them as they look to bolster the side ready for their return to the promised land.

The Magpies have already been linked with AC Milan's Sandro Tonali, and they're also currently the favourites to land want-away Leicester City superstar, James Maddison.

With Champions League football on the horizon, they won't stop there, though, and the club are keen to continue adding depth to their attack, with Wolfsburg's Nmecha the latest name reported to be on their radar.

"Newcastle has entered the race for Felix Nmecha – confirmed," revealed the German journalist, adding that it was an "open race" to sign him. with Bundesliga outfit Borussia Dortmund also mentioned with interest.

The Telegraph, meanwhile, believe Nmecha is available for around £15m.

How does Felix Nmecha compare to Zinedine Zidane?

The former Manchester City prospect has shone since joining the Wolves, with eight goal contributions in 30 Bundesliga games this season and has caught the attention of Newcastle who join Borussia Dortmund in their pursuit of the talented 22-year-old.

As he has made his name in Germany, Nmecha has been favourably compared to the legendary Frenchman, Zinedine Zidane.

While he hasn't come close to matching the former Real Madrid hero's incredible feats in the game, he plays a very similar style of football to Zidane.

Known for his strength on and off the ball, the 22-year-old gem resembles the former Ballon d'Or winner in that sense, with the former Real Madrid and Juventus superstar known for out-muscling opponents and steamrolling through the centre of midfield.

The 22-year-old gem, who was described as an "advanced playmaker" by talent scout Jacek Kulig, has fantastic close control that is also similar to the Frenchman's, as well as his calm composure on the ball and his nonchalant ball delivery.

While he's known for his offensive output, Nmecha also likes to get stuck in as well, averaging 1.4 tackles a game in Germany last season, another striking resemblance to Zidane who never shied away from a tackle in the heart of midfield.

Zidane was also known for driving forward with the ball at his feet, and at just 22 years old, the Wolfsburg man has already shown glimpses of that ability, completing 22 progressive carries into the final third of his opponents' areas last season.

According to The Guardian's Rob Smyth, the former Real Madrid man's ball retention skills are probably the best we've ever seen, and while Nmecha certainly isn't as polished or as accomplished as Zidane in that sense, he has shown an ability to carry the ball, and drive through the channels while holding onto possession at an astounding rate. In fact, the German was dispossessed just 13 times last season, a number that will likely only improve as the years go by.

If Newcastle are to make an impact in the Champions League next season and really push forward, signing a player like Nmecha, who has clearly shown shades of what made Zidane such a special talent, would go a long way towards helping Howe's side realise that goal.

The former Afghanistan captain said he hoped his decision would set a good precedent for the senior players in the side, to pass the mantle on to the younger cricketers

Peter Della Penna in Dubai21-Jan-20172:56

I am very proud of my career for Afghanistan – Mangal

Former Afghanistan captain Nawroz Mangal spoke of his pride at signing off on his international career with a victory in the final of the inaugural Desert T20 Challenge in Dubai on Friday. Mangal, who captained his country during their astounding rise from Division Five of the World Cricket League in 2008 through to their present place in Division One of Associate cricket, scored 17 not out off eight balls in the final against Ireland before being carried off the field to the cheers of 15,000 fans at the Dubai International Stadium.”It’s a very proud stage for me to [retire] on the winning tournament, and also in the final on the winning side,” Nawroz said through translator and team manager Hamkar Shiraha at the post-final press conference. “I got lots of respect, lots of support while playing for Afghanistan so all my wishes have been completed. Now I don’t have any other wish.”I’m really proud of my country and myself that I played for Afghanistan for quite a long time. It’s a very big, proud moment for me that I’m retiring in a tournament where we are finishing on the winning side.”Nawroz had announced at the start of the month that he was retiring but the Afghanistan board and selectors committed to giving him a “farewell series” at this tournament. He sat out the first two games as Afghanistan secured qualification for the semi-finals before coming into the XI and making 32 against Namibia in their final Group A match.He then made another 34 against Oman on Friday morning to help Afghanistan into the final that same night against Ireland. In the final, Afghanistan recorded their first ever ten-wicket win in T20Is, even more impressive as it came against their old sparring partner at the top of the Associate world.Captain Asghar Stanikzai had said after the semi-final win over Oman that Mangal showed his skills had not eroded; instead injuries that had plagued the 32-year-old had contributed to the retirement decision. Nawroz said after the final that the time was right to step aside and allow a new generation to emerge.”I’m retiring from international cricket so I set a good example for other senior players as well,” he said. “It’s an open door for the new youngsters who are coming and replacing me. They deserve a chance to play for Afghanistan.”The team gave Nawroz Mangal a red-carpet welcome on the field before the final•Peter Della PennaMangal is held in such high stature by his team-mates and the administration that he was given the honor of bringing out the team sheets to the toss and flipped the coin for William Porterfield’s call. Upon seeing Mangal approaching for the toss, Porterfield greeted him warmly, showing the respect that exists for the Afghanistan batsman from the opposition, too. It was Mangal who captained Afghanistan against Porterfield’s Ireland in the previous two finals between these sides at the same venue in the 2010 and 2012 World T20 Qualifiers, with each side claiming one win apiece.Just before play, Mangal was given a guard of honour by his team-mates as he walked across a red carpet rolled out for him from the change room to the boundary rope. When the match ended, fast bowler Dawlat Zadran hoisted him up onto his shoulders and carried him for a lap around the entire boundary as Mangal at times wiped his eyes and patted at his heart.”It was an exciting moment when they put me up on the shoulders and [carried] me around the ground,” Mangal said. “I got lots of support and appreciation from the spectators. So it was fabulous for me, a fabulous moment.”At the end of his final victory lap, a host of dignitaries and former team-mates were there to greet him. Foremost among them were fast bowlers Hamid Hassan and Shapoor Zadran, who have been with Mangal for most of Afghanistan’s ride up the world rankings. Both Hamid and Shapoor gave him a big hug and he received special greetings from ACB chairman Atif Mashal and chief executive Shafiqullah Stanikzai before they all backed away to let Mangal walk off alone to the chorus of the cheering crowd.”Definitely it was an exciting moment for me when I saw my team-mates because I had been a captain for them for seven years as well since Division [Five in 2008],” Mangal said. “So I will definitely miss some moments with the team like the dressing room, winning moments, bus travel and lunches. These things definitely I will miss it.”Afghanistan coach Lalchand Rajput is fairly new to the squad, having taken over the job only last year, but recognised the place Mangal holds in Afghanistan’s cricket history. He credited the Afghanistan Cricket Board for giving Mangal a dignified farewell.”They have given him a very good send-off because he is the first cricketer who has captained Afghanistan for a long time, more than seven to eight years,” Rajput said. “I think the ACB has sent a good precedent that a senior player should be given a good send-off.”

JP Duminy has said his attitude while batting is to try and be as positive as possible and to try and score, not just survive

Firdose Moonda at the Wanderers13-Jan-2017JP Duminy has admitted he wants to improve his average as he enters the autumn of his career, with an eye on keeping the No. 4 spot in the batting line-up. In 13 innings since being promoted to the position in August, as a result of AB de Villiers’ injury-enforced absence, Duminy has scored 559 runs at an average of 43, with two hundreds, and is looking forward to a more consistent run.”My approach from the beginning of the season is to look at what will be my average at the end of my career. There’s been a lot of inconsistency in the first 30 Tests but in saying that, I batted in various positions. Here is an opportunity to try and solidify a place at No. 4,” Duminy said. “I am not trying to focus on the past. I am trying to ask myself, what will I end up from six months ago until the end.”That Duminy prefers batting up the order is known from his domestic days, but he could not find a place in South Africa’s top four when he broke through. He had to settle for the lower middle order, where he often found himself ushering the tail and unable to capitalise. As a result, he was regarded as an unfulfilled talent.”It came down to opportunity. South Africa had a pretty settled top order and for me it was always about opportunities to bat at No. 4,” he said. “There is added responsibility but there is more time to bat and that means you have opportunities to score big runs.”Before this season, Duminy only had that chance once – when he was recalled in Wellington in 2012, when Jacques Kallis was injured. He scored a century then but could not keep the place. Now, he has been given the chance because de Villiers is not available and there is no certainty about whether Duminy will move down when de Villiers returns.With that in mind, Duminy knew that this summer would be his best opportunity to cement his place so that even when de Villiers is fit, Duminy has made a strong enough case for himself. “The pressure is mainly from myself based on the fact that I have high expectations of myself,” he said. “It’s been one of those series where I have felt really good and haven’t backed it up with consistent scores. This is the third Test and I was pretty hungry and determined to put in a big performance.”Duminy’s more driven approach has led to a more aggressive batting style, which was evident in the fluency of his knock on the first day. While Hashim Amla battled to get going, Duminy found the boundary with ease. “My attitude has been to try and be as positive as possible in my body language and my approach and mindset to the game, to try and score as best as I can and not to only try and survive, especially on a wicket like this, where a lot of ball will beat the bat. My mindset is to try and capitalise when there are runs on offer.”

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp could raid Wolfsburg to sign their talented young defender Micky van de Ven this summer, according to journalist Dean Jones.

What's the latest transfer news involving Micky van de Ven?

According to German publication WAZ via Sport Witness, Liverpool will need to pay a fee in the region of €30 million (£25.8 million) to land Van de Ven this summer.

Jose Fortes Rodriguez, formerly of AZ Alkmaar, spoke to the outlet regarding the future of Van de Ven, stating:

“Micky has played a fantastic season. There are many clubs that are interested. “It would be stupid to say now that he will definitely stay in Wolfsburg. Anything can happen this summer. A player like Micky, who has developed so well – the calls from the clubs come automatically.

"I am asked: What is the situation? Do we have a chance? As I said, anything can happen this summer. It could be that he leaves. But if the right club doesn’t come along, why shouldn’t Micky stay in Wolfsburg?”

As per VI via The Mirror, the 22-year-old has fanned the flames concerning Liverpool's interest, saying in an interview: "Of course I heard of Liverpool links and I know they’ve been following me in the past. That’s it. Of course. Liverpool is a great club. There’s a chance for me to leave this summer. If a nice club with good plan arrives… I’d be open."

Journalist Florian Plettenberg has recently delivered an update on Van de Ven to his Twitter following and indicated that he would rather move to the Premier League than Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich, who are also keen to sign him.

Speaking to Football FanCast, journalist Jones has said that Van de Ven may be a more viable target for Liverpool than Wolverhampton Wanderers defender Max Kilman, who is another left-sided centre-back that was linked with a move to Anfield earlier this year.

Jones told FFC: "He's certainly good at passing the ball out; he's got a smartness about him. He's got an adaptability, too, along the back line that I believe they like. Out of those two. I have to say right now, the more likely option is Van de Ven."

Would Micky van de Ven be a good signing for Liverpool?

Van de Ven is definitely the right sort of profile that Liverpool should be looking for in a defender and could potentially be a long-term project that could stay at Anfield for many years to come.

In 2022/23, the 22-year-old racked up 36 appearances for Wolfsburg in all competitions, registering one goal and two assists, as per Transfermarkt.

WhoScored also note that Van de Ven – who's been called a "monster" by some in the media – is a comfortable presence on the ball and maintained a pass success rate of 88.3% in the Bundesliga during the campaign.

As per FBRef, the Dutchman managed to obtain a tackle success rate of 71.8% over the course of the term, demonstrating his ability to fearlessly win challenges and turn over possession.

Liverpool look set to undergo a major rebuild at Anfield this summer and Van de Ven would add a multitude of distinguishable qualities as Klopp looks to reshape his squad.