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A significant update has dropped regarding Liverpool's potential move for a "special" Premier League player, with some key contract details emerging.

Liverpool transfer news

The Reds could be active in the transfer market this month should Jurgen Klopp feel that new faces are needed in his squad in order to boost their title hopes.

Various individuals have been linked with moves to Anfield, with Sporting CP centre-back Goncalo Inacio a player whose name has cropped up numerous times in recent months. The Portuguese is also capable of shining as a left-back, which could be an added reason for signing him.

Latest Liverpool transfer news: Alisson heir identified; £85m ace on radar

Liverpool have a huge summer ahead of them following the arrival of Arne Slot – here are all the latest transfer rumours from Anfield this summer.

ByAngus Sinclair Jul 11, 2024

The addition of another midfielder also may not be out of the question, and Fulham enforcer Joao Palhinha is a figure who has emerged as a potential option for Liverpool, although the Cottagers will demand a huge fee for his services.

Speaking of Premier League players, Crystal Palace star Michael Olise could also be on his way to Anfield in the near future, but there is stiff competition for his signature.

Key Michael Olise to Liverpool update

According to Football Insider, Olise's contract includes a new release clause, which could see him signed for over £40m.

"Liverpool target Michael Olise has a new release clause in his Crystal Palace contract worth well in excess of £40million, sources have told Football Insider. It is believed interest in the 22-year-old’s services will not subside this summer despite him signing a new deal at Selhurst Park in August.

"All signs now point to a big summer race for Olise’s signature – with his release clause likely to stand at more than £40million.

A well-placed source has told Football Insider that Palace are in for a “hard battle” to keep hold of their star man despite him committing to new terms just last year."

Olise is enjoying a fantastic season for Palace, arguably standing out as one of the most exciting Premier League players outside of the 'big six'. He may only have made nine appearances in the competition in 2023/24 to date, but five goals have come his way in that time, as well as one assist.

Appearances

9

Goals

5

Assists

1

Dribbles per game

2.7

Key passes per game

2.2

The Frenchman is not dissimilar to Mohamed Salah in terms of favouring a right-sided role and cutting onto his deadly left foot, and he could even be a long-term replacement for the Egyptian superstar. Former Palace manager Patrick Vieira is clearly an admirer of Olise, saying of him in 2022:

"He can score goals, create chances and he is a special talent. He will improve and get better as a player. His work ethic every day has been terrific since he has been at the football club."

It won't be easy for Liverpool to sign Olise given the apparent interest from the likes of Manchester City and Chelsea, but the lure of playing under Klopp could be enough to see the Palace winger at Anfield in the summer.

Southampton are showing an interest in signing an "absolutely brilliant" Premier League player in the January transfer window, according to a new report.

Southampton transfer news

The Saints are flying on the pitch at the moment, thumping Sheffield Wednesday 4-0 on Saturday afternoon, and they also continue to be linked with new signings who could aid their Championship promotion push between now and the end of the season, with Bournemouth midfielder Joe Rothwell looking likely to be the first loan arrival of the month.

Ussumane Djalo is one player who has emerged as a potential target for Southampton, with the 19-year-old midfielder currently playing for Porto, and Aston Villa youngster Lamare Bogarde has also been backed to move to St Mary's Stadium. On the flip side, there are certain players who could move from Saints this month, including striker Che Adams, who has recently been linked with a move to Premier League side Wolves.

It looks as though the south coast club are looking to England's top tier for a possible new addition to Russell Martin's side, however, after a new transfer claim emerged.

Southampton want Ben Johnson

According to Football Insider, Southampton are one of many clubs interested in signing Ben Johnson, alongside promotion rivals Leeds, with a move away from West Ham potentially happening for the defender this month.

"Rangers, Leeds United and Sheffield United are among the sides keen on landing West Ham star Ben Johnson this month, sources have told Football Insider. It is believed Southampton are also in the mix for the 23-year-old – who could leave the London Stadium on loan before the 1 February deadline.

"Johnson is entering the final six months of his West Ham contract and is keen to play regular first-team football after struggling for game time with David Moyes’ side."

Johnson is someone with proven experience at Premier League level, making 57 appearances in the competition for West Ham, not to mention chipping in with two goals for good measure, so he could be an excellent signing by Southampton.

The 23-year-old would bring experience and potential quality to the defence, not to mention putting his versatility to good use, with the Hammers ace capable of turning out as a centre-back, right-back, left-back or even a midfielder.

Former England and Tottenham goalkeeper Paul Robinson has hailed him as "absolutely brilliant" in the past, and he will surely be open to bringing an end to his time at the London Stadium.

Southampton eyeing cut-price transfer to sign highly-rated midfielder

Scouts have been sent to watch him in action.

ByHenry Jackson Jan 10, 2024

At 23, there could still be so much more to come from Johnson, who has won 10 caps for England's Under-21s, showing what a highly-rated prospect he has been in the past, and he may really stand out in the Championship, helping Southampton seal a return to the Premier League in the process.

The Englishman, who also shares the same agent as Kyle Walker-Peters, is also a UEFA Europa Conference League winner with West Ham, and this winning mentality could do no harm at the Saints, should they pip others to his signature before the month comes to an end, making this one to keep an eye on.

Tottenham have made a January approach to sign a "strong" £34 million alternative to heavily-linked Chelsea star Conor Gallagher, and his club have replied.

Spurs eyeing late Gallagher move

After signing both Timo Werner and Radu Dragusin earlier this month, attention has now turned to sealing an agreement for Club Brugge winger Antonio Nusa on a buy-to-loan-back deal, as per widespread reports.

All confirmed Premier League done deals: January transfer window 2024

With the January transfer window coming towards its conclusion, FFC has all the info for tracking your club’s winter transfer activity.

ByLuke Randall Feb 1, 2024

However, links surrounding Gallagher and a possible switch to north London have also refused to go away. Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou is believed to be keen on a new midfield running man, and one who can alternate with playmaker James Maddison when required (Miguel Delaney).

Postecoglou is allegedly keen on signing Gallagher in particular, coming after they attempted to sign him last summer. Chelsea could still sell the 23-year-old, despite his new-found stardom under Mauricio Pochettino, to raise funds for their own transfer activity.

“My concern is that he will be sacrificed," said Daily Mirror journalist Darren Lewis to the Last Word on Spurs podcast this week.

"He’s a terrific player. I’m not sold on the idea that it would be impossible for him to come to Spurs and here’s why. I didn’t think Chelsea would sell Mason Mount to a rival, and they sold him to Man Utd for £60m. He was a poster boy for the academy, I just think as far as Gallagher is concerned there is that problem with PSR with Chelsea. I think he would be an excellent fit for Spurs, and working for a manager like Postecoglou who puts his arm around a player, I think Gallagher could really settle down.

“This is a Spurs podcast so we won’t dwell too much on Chelsea, but I think there is a possibility that Gallagher could come, yes.”

However, some reports suggest Chelsea won't part company with Gallagher unless it's for big money. Indeed, even price tags of around £60 million are being floated, despite the midfielder's contract expiring next year.

If Spurs can't get a deal over the line for him before Feburary 1, they may well turn to cheaper alternative. According to a report by Calciomercato this week, one such man could be £34 million Atalanta star Ederson.

Spurs make January approach for Ederson

Indeed, as per the Italian news outlet, Spurs want to sign the Brazilian as an "alternative" to Gallagher. It's also believed that Tottenham have "knocked on the door" to sign Ederson as the Lilywhites make an approach, but his side have no interest in selling him mid-season.

This comes as a bit of bad news for Spurs as the list of Gallagher alternatives is cut one shorter, and the 24-year-old has impressed in Serie A this season.

South American football expert Tim Vickery certainly holds him very high esteem, having said this about Ederson on Sky Sports earlier in the month.

"24-years-old, strong, well-built central midfielder. Strong on the ball, versatile, box-to-box. Strong personality as well. The first time I remember him was his professional debut really. He was thrown in the deep end in a big team called Cruzeiro, who were really on the slide. They were relegated in dreadful form and even in this bad context, he stood out, so a lot of virtues."

West Ham have opened talks to seal another January signing alongside Kalvin Phillips from Man City and FC Nordsjaelland forward Ibrahim Osman.

West Ham agree Phillips signing and close in on Osman

The last 48 hours have been very productive for West Ham, with technical director Tim Steidten winning the race to sign Phillips and securing a loan deal for the England international.

West Ham favourites to sign "real handful" striker for Moyes in January

They’re billed as the most likely destination.

ByEmilio Galantini Jan 23, 2024

West Ham faced competition from the likes of Newcastle, Crystal Palace, Everton and big clubs abroad like Juventus (Sky Sports), but it was the east Londoners who ultimately came out on top with a medical booked for today.

Phillips will arrive to reinforce manager David Moyes' chase for a fourth successive European qualification place at West Ham, and his Premier League pedigree will come as invaluable.

Almost immediately after penning an agreement for Phillips, West Ham moved swiftly to open talks for Nordsjaelland sensation Osman, with Sky Sports reporter Dharmesh Sheth among many other credible media sources who claim that talks are advancing quickly.

The 19-year-old has been a mainstay for his club this season and stands out as one of Ghana's most exciting young talents. Osman honed his craft at the 'Right to Dream' academy in his homeland, and he shares that bit of background with current West Ham star Mohammed Kudus.

As West Ham are suddenly sparked into life as we approach the latter stage of this transfer window, Foot Mercato journalist Santi Aouna has shared news on another player they're now in talks for.

West Ham open talks to sign Bradley Locko

Indeed, according to the reporter, West Ham are also in club-to-club negotiations over a deal for Bradley Locko.

The Brest defender, who operates as a left-back, could be a long-term replacement for Aaron Cresswell who is out of contract at the end of this season.

West Ham are in discussions over a buy-to-loan-back deal with Brest, which could see Locko join the east Londoners and remain at his current club until the summer.

Reims 1-2 Brest

7.90

Brest 1-0 Lyon

7.80

Nice 0-0 Brest

7.70

Nantes 0-2 Brest

7.65

Lille 1-0 Brest

7.57

The 21-year-old has started every single Ligue 1 game for Brest this season, even standing out among their best-performing players per 90 according to WhoScored.

Newcastle United are interested in signing an "incredible" player who Eddie Howe admires this summer, according to a fresh transfer update.

Newcastle transfer news

The Magpies are now looking at players who could come in at the end of the season, with numerous individuals linked with moves to the club recently. Atalanta midfielder Ederson has been backed to seal a switch to St James' Park, bringing a box-to-box presence to the team, as they look to "snatch" him away from his current club.

Exciting young Leeds United starlet Archie Gray is also considered an option for Newcastle, with the teenager wanted by a host of different top clubs.

Everton midfielder Amadou Onana continues to look like a primary target, too, and the most recent update regarding the Magpies' interest in him suggests that they are in pole position to get their man.

Newcastle want Lloyd Kelly

According to a new update from The Daily Mail, Newcastle and PIF are also keen on signing Bournemouth defender Lloyd Kelly in the summer transfer window, snapping him up for free in the process.

"Newcastle United are weighing up a summer deal for Bournemouth defender Lloyd Kelly. The 25-year-old is out of contract at the end of this season and is emerging as one of the most sought-after free agents of the summer. Kelly has put in a string of strong performances for Andoni Iraola's side so far this season, and has been courted by clubs both domestically and abroad.

"Newcastle were hampered by financial restrictions in January but will be free to buy again from July and are also assessing the market to see what bargains are available. Kelly fits that profile and is well known by manager Eddie Howe from his time in charge at Bournemouth."

It certainly looks as though Newcastle are genuinely interested in Kelly. This season, he has added 2.3 clearances per game across 13 Premier League appearances. The fact that Howe knows him so well as a player, and clearly rates him, is an immediate bonus, with the Magpies boss blown away with Kelly during his time at Bournemouth.

“Yeah, I think one of the great things about Lloyd when I first met him – I was blown away by how mature he was. How much mental capacity he had to want to improve and learn and to become the very best player that he can be."

Meanwhile, his ability to thrive as both a centre-back and a left-back could add extra depth defensively. At 25, he is still relatively young and can get better, and former Bournemouth manager Gary O'Neil had this to say about him last year:

"I thought Lloyd was incredible. Didn't have much time in between, and then came back today having not trained much, to play left back against one of the best wingers in the world. I thought he showed everything, the potential he has to be a top defender. I thought it was a very, very impressive performance against a top attacker.”I think he had a 12-week ankle injury followed by a six-week calf injury."

Worth £23m: Newcastle now looking to "snatch" box-to-box maestro

This could be a fantastic signing for Eddie Howe.

ByHenry Jackson Feb 11, 2024

Kelly arriving on a free transfer also acts as a plus point, meaning if the move didn't work out it wouldn't have been a big financial risk, but there is no reason why he couldn't be a real success in a Magpies shirt.

Jim Ratcliffe's preparations for his first season in charge of the sporting operation at Manchester United are picking up pace. Ratcliffe has already landed Omar Berrada from local Premier League rivals Manchester City as his new CEO and, earlier this week, the league officially ratified his acquisition of 25% of the club from the Glazers.

No Rashford, Giggs 2.0 signs: The dream XI Ashworth could build at Man Utd

Plenty of changes are set to occur at Man United.

ByTom Lever Feb 15, 2024

Their next focus is finding a sporting director, and Newcastle's Dan Ashworth, formerly of Brighton, has emerged as the outstanding target. United are yet to approach the Magpies over the 52-year-old, but they're so confident of securing his services that they haven't even bothered sounding out alternative targets.

A large part of the confidence stems from Ashworth's desire to move to Old Trafford, and there's now been a significant update on that front as the Red Devils edge closer to making the appointment.

Ashworth tells Newcastle he's "going"

According to Football Insider, Ashworth has now "agreed terms" with Man Utd and made it clear to the Newcastle hierarchy that he intends to depart. "I'm going," he supposedly said following the approach from Old Trafford.

United must now find a way to prise him away from Eddie Howe's side, which may involve paying significant compensation. It's thought that Ashworth will have to undergo "an extensive period of gardening leave" before he can begin his new role.

United's new era may have to wait for now

That last point there is key, especially in the short-term. While Ratcliffe is actively assembling his new-look hierarchy, it may take a while before it comes together and the new machine can start functioning.

Berrada is serving six months of gardening leave and should be able to get started in July, but if Newcastle make similar demands around Ashworth, he may not be in place in Manchester until the 2024/25 season has already started. That means his first full transfer window, where all eyes will be upon him, may not come before next year.

Rank

Club

22/23

23/24

Swing

1

West Ham

20

36

+16

2

Liverpool

39

54

+15

3

Aston Villa

31

46

+15

4

Wolves

23

32

+9

5

Bournemouth

21

27

+6

6

Spurs

42

47

+5

7

Chelsea

31

34

+3

8

Man City

52

52

0

9

Crystal Palace

26

24

-2

10

Everton

21

19

-2

11

Nottingham Forest

25

21

-4

12

Arsenal

57

52

-5

13

Brighton

41

35

-6

14

Man Utd

49

41

-8

15

Newcastle

44

36

-8

16

Fulham

38

29

-9

17

Brentford

38

25

-13

With the future of manager Erik ten Hag uncertain after United saw one of the biggest regressions of any team across the first 24 matches of the season, there are still plenty of questions around the club, and the new era under Ratcliffe may just be on hold until the new men can start work and the fate of the incumbent figures is determined.

With Harry Kane leaving Tottenham Hotspur in the summer, supporters would have been forgiven for a growing sense of worry that their club was about to enter the throes of negative change, slumping to an eighth-place Premier League finish last season.

This lowly final standing meant that continental football could only be watched from a distance, indeed confirming in Kane's mind that, at age 30, winning silverware needs to take priority, and so he moved to Bayern Munich, albeit facing the daunting and unexpected possibility of a barren year in Germany.

In fairness, though, the England men's captain has been superlative this term having posted 31 goals and eight assists across 31 appearances in all competitions after bagging 30 Premier League goals during 2022/23 for struggling Spurs.

How do you replace such a singular, world-class centre-forward? Well, Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy seemingly arrived at the resolution that you couldn't and thus opted against signing a direct successor.

Heung-min Son and Richarlison have been tasked with sharing the striking burden and the duo have done so emphatically, with Richarlison overcoming his woes to score nine goals from his past ten top-flight fixtures while Son dazzles through his dynamic blend of offensive abilities.

James Maddison arrived in the summer to spark new levels of invention while Brennan Johnson and – in January – Timo Werner have strengthened the frontline.

Still, the search for a striker goes on, with a fresh face likely to be welcomed at the end of the campaign.

Tottenham's search for a centre-forward

Tottenham have been linked with a plethora of potential Kane replacements since Postecoglou's anointment last June, with targets who could yet wind up down N17 consisting of Feyenoord goal machine Santiago Gimenez, Bournemouth's Dominic Solanke and Brentford sensation Ivan Toney.

That list, of course, is not exhaustive and another player who was touted last summer is unknown to most. Indeed, Manchester United's Rasmus Hojlund was actually on Levy's radar, according to The Athletic's Charlie Eccleshare, though was considered to be "out of reach" before he completed his £72m transfer to Old Trafford.

Move over Son & Richarlison: Spurs already have "fearsome" Kane heir

Ange Postecoglou’s rising star could bloom into a deadly force over the coming years.

ByAngus Sinclair Feb 27, 2024

Hojlund – who was also believed to be one of their number 1 targets – is young in his career but he has the trappings of a high-class player down the line, having started to grow into his skin considerably over these past few months.

Rasmus Hojlund's season in numbers

Man United desperately needed a new centre-forward last summer and opted to take something of a punt on Hojlund, who had scored nine goals from 20 starts in his sole Serie A campaign, and despite a slow start, the 21-year-old does appear to be edging toward constancy in his goalscoring efforts.

Indeed, while the Denmark international plundered four goals in the Red Devils' ignominious Champions League group phase, he blanked across his opening 14 Premier League matches, though scorn concerning his profligacy has been ripped up after his recent efforts.

Fixture

Date

Goals

Assists

Aston Villa (H)

26/12/23

1

0

Tottenham Hotspur (H)

14/01/24

1

1

Wolverhampton Wanderers (A)

01/02/24

1

1

West Ham United (H)

04/02/24

1

0

Aston Villa (A)

11/02/24

1

0

Luton Town (A)

18/02/24

2

0

A recent muscular injury has stifled the rising star as he clicks into destructive gear, but Hojlund has now conquered his lack of confidence and looks set for a rich career of prolificness.

His innate predatory instinct is not going to crumble away and Tottenham must watch his goalscoring feats wistfully, given that he would have been the perfect focal point to spearhead Postecoglou's project.

Rasmus Hojlund is the perfect Harry Kane heir

Hojlund's seven-goal haul since the turn of the calendar year marks a return that denotes his credentials as a world-class forward in the future, and given that this tally surpasses Kane's in 2024, Spurs supporters can see the level of ability Hojlund has at his feet.

Kane, in fairness, is hardly flattering to deceive with six strikes from eight matches, but if Hojlund is now able to use his recent purple patch as the launchpad for a fruitful Red Devils career, he might just sit alongside Scandinavian counterpart Erling Haaland as the striking touchstone.

Player

Market Value

Rasmus Hojlund

£86m

Dejan Kulusevski

£86m

Destiny Udogie

£68m

Cristian Romero

£51m

Brennan Johnson

£51m

Pedro Porro

£51m

James Maddison

£42m

Richarlison

£42m

Micky van de Ven

£42m

Pape Matar Sarr

£42m

Regarding Kane, the 6 foot 3 Hojlund is certainly not cut from the same cloth but was described as a "unique rough diamond" by the MEN's Samuel Luckhurst after making the move to Manchester, with qualities that make him the perfect fit for any ambitious Premier League outfit seeking success at the forefront.

Described as a “monster in the making” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, the £80k-per-week sharpshooter also thrives through his weaving movement and adroit dribbling, stretching backlines and almost preternaturally recognising opportunities unseen to the blinkered vision of most.

Of course, with the likes of Son and James Maddison supplementing him, he would find the steady source of creativity that he has not quite been provided with at Old Trafford.

In fairness, Richarlison is proving that he can hit veins of form to match the recent success of Manchester United's talisman, who remains untested for a sustained period in the Premier League, but there's no denying Hojlund's prodigious attacking ability.

The stability, collective strength and need for a new talisman would have made the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium an exciting stomping ground for the Dane to have moved to, but now it does look like he will ply his trade at the Theatre of Dreams over the coming years.

Postecoglou and Levy work well together and there will be confidence that the right player will be signed come summer, but Hojlund has started to show his quality of late and it might go down as a rueful missed opportunity.

Celtic are now thought to be closing in on a new deal for one Parkhead gem, according to an update on Thursday.

Celtic transfer rumours

It has been a busy season at Celtic Park which began with Ange Postecoglou leaving for Tottenham and Brendan Rodgers returning for a second stint in charge.

A plethora of players were brought in and sold, with the most high-profile exit being Jota’s big-money move to Saudi Arabia, a transfer which has helped the club bring in so many new signings.

Celtic signings 2023/24

Fee

Gustaf Lagerbielke (IF Elfsborg)

£3m

Odin Thiago Holm (Valerenga)

£2.5m

Marco Tilio (Melbourne City)

£2m

Hyun-Jun Yang (Gangwon)

£2m

Hyeokkyu Kwon (Busan I-Park)

£1m

Maik Nawrocki (Legia Warsaw)

£4.3m

Tomoki Iwata (Yokohama F. Marinos)

Undisc.

Nicolas Kühn (Rapid Vienna)

£3m

Adam Idah (Norwich City)

Loan

On the pitch, things haven’t exactly been how Rodgers would’ve been hoping for, with rivals Rangers currently topping the Scottish Premiership and already winning the Scottish League Cup. In fact, if the Northern Irishman fails to win the league title, there are rumours he could be sacked after just 12 months back at the club.

New additions to the Celtic squad are also expected at the end of the campaign, with a new goalkeeper, winger and striker top of the agenda ahead of the 2024/25 season.

Liverpool goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher has been heavily linked with a move to replace Joe Hart, whereas a permanent move for loanee Adam Idah from Norwich City has also been mooted.

However, alongside any new signings, the Hoops are also working to keep a number of their potential future stars at the club, with a positive update emerging on one of those in question.

Celtic agree new contract with Hoops gem

Scott Burns of The Daily Record reported this week that Celtic are close to agreeing a new contract with youngster Daniel Kelly. The Hoops tabled an extension to the 18-year-old, who is out of contract at the end of the season, and were confident of a deal being signed.

Football Insider's Pete O'Rourke has since issued a further update on talks, revealing Hoops chiefs have made a breakthrough to actually agree a deal with Kelly already, who will net a "significant" pay rise.

Kelly has made an impact at Parkhead since the turn of the year and is highly rated in Glasgow, with the central midfielder making four senior appearances in all competitions this season. He even scored his first professional goal in the recent 7-1 win over Dundee.

Kelly has also come in for praise from Billy Stark, former Celtic player and current Scotland Under-19 boss, who labelled the Hoops gem a “powerhouse”.

“It was great to see young Daniel get that opportunity and I’m looking forward to him joining up with the Under-19s next week. He scored a good goal against Dundee with his right foot, which is his swinger.

“Daniel is a real powerhouse who is strong and committed, with lots of energy. He has a lot of attributes that are needed for a top midfielder and we hope he continues to develop the way he has.”

Over the past few years, Crystal Palace have arguably been one of the most successful Premier League clubs in the transfer market.

Their recruitment strategy has seemingly kept them in the league for a sustained period, but they will hope their latest acquisition, Oliver Glasner, can take them one step further.

Michael Olise, Eberechi Eze, Marc Guehi, and Joachim Andersen are all examples of absolute bargains, but the Eagles also have had some misses among the hits.

With that in mind, let’s take a look at one player who’s costing the club millions via his wage, even earning more than Guehi.

Marc Guehi’s Salary

The summer of 2021 saw a young, promising centre-half leave Chelsea to join Palace in a deal worth £18m, which looks like an absolute steal today.

Since moving to Selhurst Park, the 23-year-old has developed into one of the most reliable defenders in the division, with his performances earning him the captain’s armband and an international call-up for England.

Unfortunately, the number six is out injured at the moment after being forced off early against Brighton & Hove Albion last month, but he’s still started 22 matches in the league this campaign.

Nonetheless, considering he’s such a vital player for Palace, his wage being at just £50k-per-week seems like an astute piece of business, especially when you consider the impact of one individual who’s earning more.

One of Roy Hodgson's worst signings is burning a wage at Crystal Palace

One of the signings which Roy Hodgson made has been burning a wage since joining Crystal Palace.

ByZak Anderton Mar 3, 2024 Jairo Riedewald’s wage at Palace

In 2017, 20-year-old Jairo Riedewald moved to Palace for a fee of £7.9m, which saw him play under his former boss Frank de Boer in England.

However, it wasn’t exactly the perfect start to life in England for the Netherlands ace, who started just 11 Premier League games over his first three seasons at the club.

That said, the former Ajax prospect did feature far more heavily in the 2020/21 campaign, where he played 33 top-flight matches at the heart of the Eagles midfield.

Fast forward to this season, and he’s started just twice, which is his best run of starts in three years, with his total tally in the Premier League being just three starts in the last three seasons.

But the biggest concern surrounding Riedewald is his wage, which sees him earn £55k per week, which is higher than Guehi, equating to £2.9m per season.

Olise, Henderson, Eze

£100k

Edouard

£90k

Clyne, Andersen

£80k

Lerma, Doucoure

£70k

Riedewald, Richards

£55k

As can be seen in the table above, this puts him not far off the top earners in the Palace squad, and considering his lack of minutes, it’s fair to say that he’s simply rinsing the club.

Having said that, with the number 44’s contract set to expire in June this year, it seems that Riedewald will be on his way out of the club for good, with Glasner expected to let him walk for free.

Nevertheless, it’s clear that the signing of the versatile Dutch player has been nothing short of a disaster, with him failing to impress under any manager since 2017.

Much has been made of Liverpool's impressive academy in recent weeks as Jurgen Klopp has brought several talented youngsters into the first-team set-up.

The likes of Jayden Danns, Bobby Clark, James McConnell, Lewis Koumas, Mateusz Musialowski, and Conor Bradley have all made appearances for the senior side this season, having come through the youth sides.

They will all be hoping to follow in Trent Alexander-Arnold's footsteps over the years to come to establish themselves as regular starters for the Reds.

However, not every young player who makes their debut for the first-team has what it takes to make the step up week-in-week-out, and some of the aforementioned talents will move on and forge a career elsewhere.

A prime example of that was exciting wonderkid Ovie Ejaria, who made his first appearance for Liverpool before U23s teammate Alexander-Arnold, as he came through the academy but failed to make his mark at senior level.

Ovie Ejaria's Liverpool career in numbers

The versatile midfielder worked his way through the youth teams on Merseyside and racked up three appearances for the U18s and 26 for the U23s before his first-team debut.

Klopp handed the then-18-year-old starlet his first outing against Derby County in the League Cup in September 2016, and his Premier League debut came two months later in a 6-1 win over Watford.

During that 2016/17 campaign, Ejaria played eight first-team matches under the German head coach, which included three in the FA Cup, three in the League Cup, and two in the Premier League, but failed to register a single goal or assist.

He did not do enough in those eight games to convince Klopp to integrate him into the team on a regular basis and was sent out on loan to Sunderland the following season, where he produced one goal and zero assists in 11 Championship clashes.

Ejaria then spent the first six months of the 2018/19 campaign on loan with Steven Gerrard at Rangers in Scotland, where the young whiz scored two goals and provided one assist in 28 outings.

The former Liverpool captain hailed him as "excellent" during their time together in Glasgow but it was short-lived as it was only a short-term loan.

That arrangement came to an end in January 2019 and the attacking midfielder, who can also play out wide, then spent 18 months on loan with Reading in the Championship.

The versatile dynamo made 52 appearances in the second tier during that time – scoring four goals and assisting seven – and that convinced the Royals to snap him up on a permanent basis, who had an option to buy him at the end of his loan.

Trent Alexander-Arnold's Liverpool career in numbers

The now-England international, Alexander-Arnold, played with Ejaria for the U18s and the U23s with Liverpool – and the U21s for England – before they both made their first-team breakthroughs during the 2016/17 campaign.

His debut came after the midfielder's, though, as Klopp did not hand him his first appearance until October 2016 – a month after Ejaria's bow – against Tottenham Hotspur in the League Cup.

Like his former academy teammate, the impressive right-back did not immediately become a regular in the side as he ended the season with 12 senior games under his belt, seven of which came in the Premier League.

However, unlike Ejaria, Alexander-Arnold did enough to convince Klopp to make him a part of his squad for the 2017/18 campaign, whilst the midfielder went away to Sunderland on loan.

The English defender made 33 first-team appearances that term, including ten in the Champions League and 19 in the Premier League, but was yet to showcase his true creative talent with just two assists in those games.

His breakthrough as an outstanding performer at first-team level came during the following season as the academy graduate assisted a staggering 16 goals from right-back in 40 outings.

He assisted four goals in 11 matches as Liverpool won the Champions League – with a 2-0 victory over Spurs in the final – and set up 12 in 29 Premier League games.

Since then, Alexander-Arnold has reached 302 appearances for the club in all competitions and contributed with 18 goals and 82 assists as a right-back.

The England star has won the Premier League, the Champions League, the FA Cup, and the League Cup (twice) since coming through the academy, which – along with his statistics – speak to how impressive his career at the club has been so far.

What happened to Ovie Ejaria

Meanwhile, Ejaria's career has gone in the other direction since his first-team debut for Liverpool, which came before Alexander-Arnold's back in 2016.

Reading paid a reported fee of £3.5m to sign him on a permanent basis in the summer of 2020, after his 18-month loan spell in Berkshire, and he enjoyed a strong 2020/21 campaign in the Championship.

Appearances

38

Goals

3

Assists

5

Big chances created

8

Dribbles completed per game

2.7

Duel success rate

50%

As you can see in the table above, the former England U21 international provided drive from midfield with goals, assists, and dribbles, whilst being solid by winning half of his physical duels.

Unfortunately, Ejaria missed 14 competitive games through injury the following season, which restricted him to 26 Championship outings for Reading.

He then featured in just eight league games for the Royals during the 2022/23 campaign as his team were relegated down to League One last year.

In December 2023, having failed to make a single appearance during the 2023/24 season by that point, Reading announced that the midfielder had left the club by mutual consent.

Their statement revealed that their need to reduce expenditure and Ejaria's 'injury and fitness' issues meant that an amicable agreement was made to allow him to leave.

The attacking midfielder did not find a new club during the January transfer window and has not played a competitive match for any club since the 2022/23 campaign.

This means that he is currently clubless at the age of 26, when the former Liverpool wonderkid should be in the prime years of his career, and it remains to be seen what the next step will be for him.

Hopefully, Ejaria will put his injury issues behind him and find a new team before long to get his career back on track.