All posts by z3u9t.icu

It may have taken a few rocky years and some sizable investments, but Arsenal are once again one of the best teams in Europe.

Mikel Arteta's side are top of the Premier League and have a real chance of winning the Champions League this year – should they finally get on over Bayern Munich, that is.

The Gunners have a team full of superstars, although it's one of the summer signings who could claim to be the most important, Declan Rice.

Declan Rice's valuation in 2024

Rice completed his long-awaited move to north London from West Ham United last July after what must've felt like a lifetime of back-and-forth negotiations for all involved.

There was a lot of pressure on the Englishman's shoulders to be the player to take the Gunners from last year's nearly men to this year's champions, and so far, it'd be fair to say he's hit those expectations if not exceeded them.

Appearances

39

Goals

6

Assists

7

Goal Involvements per Match

0.33

He's made 39 appearances for the side so far this season – and started 100% of league games – in which he has scored six goals and provided seven assists, becoming a key contributor in both defence and attack.

His brilliant form in red and white led to him captaining England for the first time on Tuesday night, and unsurprisingly, his valuation has steadily grown since his transfer.

According to Football Transfers' Expected Value Model, the 6 foot 1 titan was worth just €71m – £61m – in August 2023 but is now worth around €92m, which is about £79m, and while that's lower than the fee the Gunners paid for him in the summer, most fans were well aware that there was always going to be a premium upon his head should he leave the London Stadium.

However, his valuation is still significantly lower than the price that a former club great was sold for in the past, when converted to today's money.

Cesc Fàbregas' valuation in 2024

The player in question is former Spain international Cesc Fàbregas. While calling him a great of the club could be controversial given his move to Chelsea, there is no denying that when he wore the famous red and white of Arsenal, he was magnificent.

The Arenys de Mar-born phenom joined the Gunners from Barcelona as a child and became the youngest first-team player in the club's history when he made his debut in a League Cup clash in October 2003 at just 16 years and 177 days.

Over the next eight years, the "astonishing talent," as talent scout Jacek Kulig described him, made 303 appearances under Arsène Wenger, in which he scored 57 goals and provided 95 assists, meaning he averaged a goal involvement every 1.99 games, which, given his age, was remarkable.

Appearances

303

Goals

57

Assists

95

Goal Involvements per Match

0.50

However, while he was dearly loved by the club and its fans, the call to return to Barcelona was too strong.

In the summer of 2011, he finally rejoined the Catalan side for a fee that, thanks to the clever people at Totally Money, can be converted into today's money.

So, how much does it come to? Well, the £30m Arsenal received for the Spaniard in August 2011 would be a whopping £81m today, or around £2m more than Rice's current valuation.

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ByJack Salveson Holmes Mar 27, 2024

Ultimately, while the club would surely have preferred to keep Fabregas at the club forever, the fee they received for him certainly looks generous by today's standards.

Wolves are believed to be considering a bargain move for a Premier League gem who can play in seven different positions, according to a fresh transfer rumour.

Rayan Ait-Nouri transfer latest

While Gary O'Neil will no doubt be eyeing up important incoming business in the summer, there is also a chance that he could struggle to keep hold of certain key players. One such figure is Rayan Ait-Nouri, who has arguably matured into one of Wolves' most influential players, providing so much quality down the left flank. The 22-year-old has two goals and one assist to his name in the Premier League this season, with O'Neil waxing lyrical over his form.

Ait-Nouri has been linked with a move away from Molineux this summer, however, with Liverpool seen as strong candidates to sign him, seeing the Wanderers hero as a long-term replacement for Andy Robertson at left-back.

Should he move on, it will be essential that a top replacement is found, and it looks as though a Premier League player could be seen as a possible option.

Wolves eyeing Premier League free agent

According to HITC, Wolves are keen on signing versatile West Ham ace Ben Johnson in the summer transfer window, being joined by numerous other clubs in the battle to snap him up.

Aston Villa, Everton and Tottenham are all mentioned as potential suitors to acquire the defender's signature, ahead of what looks set to be a move away from the Hammers when his contract expires at the end of the season.

The level of interest in Johnson speaks volumes about what an asset he is seen as, even though he hasn't necessarily been able to consistently hold down a place in West Ham's team this season.

The Englishman could be a brilliant squad option for Wolves, not least because his incredible versatility allows him to shine in seven different positions, including left-back, which is why he could fill the void left by Ait-Nouri, should he decide to leave the club.

Stuart Pearce knows a thing or two about what makes an excellent full-back, and back in 2021, he heaped praise on Johnson, saying: "The most important thing about Ben is whenever you pass him or meet him first thing in the morning, he's got a smile on his face. He takes in all the knowledge you can pass on to him. He's a wonderful professional to deal with and work with."

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ByJack Salveson Holmes Apr 15, 2024

Admittedly, Johnson may not be on Ait-Nouri's level as a player, or an out-and-out left-back for that matter, but signing him on a free transfer feels like a no-brainer for Wolves, acting as a cheap-but-clever piece of business which reinforces several positions.

West Bromwich Albion look to be wobbling their way to a playoff spot being secured, the Championship promotion hopefuls picking up just one win in their last six league matches after crashing to a 2-1 defeat at Leicester City at the weekend.

Carlos Corberan's men won't be too alarmed, however, believing they will have enough to get over the line to then compete in the lottery of the playoffs.

Looking more long-term, the Baggies know they will also need to tie a number of their main stars to extended deals this summer with the likes of Cedric Kipre and Alex Mowatt nearing towards the end of their current deals worryingly.

West Brom might well view this rumoured transfer target as a long-term replacement for Mowatt if the former Leeds United man does leave this summer or sometime in the future, with the 20-year-old in question tipped to become even more of a star as he grows.

West Brom transfer news

The West Midlands outfit are reportedly keen on adding Huddersfield Town midfielder Brahima Diarra to their roster in the summer, but West Brom are not a lone suitor going after the Terriers starlet's services.

The likes of Leicester and Hull City in the Championship are also rumoured to be going after Diarra with a view to getting a bargain deal owing to his contract running out soon, alongside RB Salzburg being interested from Austria.

It's been a breakout campaign for the 20-year-old, seen in this clip against the Foxes earlier in the season where Diarra shone, who could be due a move to a higher-up club subsequently.

Corberan will hope his prior connections to Diarra, having overseen his development in West Yorkshire during his spell as Terriers manager, can seal a deal in West Brom's favour who will need more bodies in midfield if Mowatt does walk away from the club soon.

Brahima Diarra as Mowatt's replacement

Diarra hasn't quite been a regular first-teamer at the John Smith's Stadium this season but has shown in flashes when starting why clubs such as West Brom are eyeing up a move.

From 23 appearances this campaign, the Mali U23 international has tallied up two assists with his last coming against Hull City in February in league action.

He's got some way to go to be as impactful as Mowatt has been for the Baggies this season, with the 29-year-old picking up five assists in the Championship and helping himself to a solitary strike.

Known for scoring pearlers throughout his lengthy stay in West Midlands to date – firing in five strikes from 80 games including this screamer away at Cardiff City in 2022 – losing a player of Mowatt's quality in the summer for nothing would be a bit of a disaster for Corberan's men.

The deal for Diarra could be long-term thinking to try and solve that situation therefore, but the 20-year-old won't be able to fill the gap left behind by the experienced midfielder immediately.

In an ideal world, Corberan and Co will end up sealing a deal for Diarra – who was described as a "fantastic" talent by former Baggies player Carlton Palmer recently – to then utilise him as Mowatt's understudy, before allowing the youngster to thrive at first-team level further down the line.

West Brom could well have to thrust Diarra into the senior fold sooner than anticipated if a deal goes through and Mowatt does exit the Hawthorns, hoping the midfielder can go on to be another raw gem that excels in the first-team alongside a previously untested Tom Fellows.

Leeds United are braced for interest in one of their stars this summer after it emerged that one European giant is keeping a close eye on his performances in the Championship.

Leeds stuttering in Championship race

Recent results have seen Daniel Farke's side chances of promotion to the Premier League this season take a massive hit.

Leeds have managed just one win in their last five outings, having previously been unbeaten in 2024. It means that with just three games left of the season, they sit third in England's second tier, two points behind league leaders Ipswich Town and a point behind Leicester City, though the Foxes have a game in hand on both of their rivals.

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ByDan Emery Apr 17, 2024

Perhaps more concerning for the three league leaders is the form of Southampton, who now sit just three points behind Leeds with a game in hand, albeit with a worse goal difference.

Despite the dip in form, it is still likely to be a record-breaking season for one team, but possibly for all the wrong reasons. This comes in the form of the current record for most points failing to secure automatic promotion, which currently stands at 90 (Sunderland, 1998). With the fourth-placed side in the Championship just six points off that tally with four games left to play, it could be broken this campaign despite recent wobbles at the top.

The Championship run in

Match

Leeds United

Southampton

Ipswich Town

Leicester City

43

N/A

Cardiff (A)

N/A

West Brom (H)

44

Middlesbrough (A)

Leicester (A)

Hull City (A)

Southampton (H)

45

QPR (A)

Stoke (H)

Coventry (A)

Preston (A)

46

Southampton (H)

Leeds (A)

Huddersfield (H)

Blackburn Rovers (H)

Should Leeds be the team that misses out, there could be some squad changes come the summer.

Archie Gray in Bayern's sights

Now, it has emerged that German giants Bayern Munich are one of the sides tracking young sensation Archie Gray. The teenager has been a key part of Leeds' side this season, racking up 41 Championship appearances, and has drawn admiring glances from Premier League sides.

Farke has also made no secret of his love for the midfielder this season. Back in October, he was quizzed about the teenage talent and was quick to endorse his ability.

"First of all, we are not here just to make sure we develop Archie in a perfect position. Although we love Archie and want to develop him and I have a reputation perhaps to bring some young players through and bring them on to another level, our main target is that we as Leeds United want to be successful."

The midfielder could soon receive another new contract at Elland Road, one that will likely see a significant hike on his £5,000 per week wages.

But that could change, with Sky Sports Germany journalist Florian Plettenberg revealing that Bayern are 'monitoring' Gray, a 'ky player' for the Whites, ahead of a possible move and know 'about his quality'. However, it is added that at present it is 'not a hot topic' and that there is 'no contact between Bayern and the player's management', news which will be a relief to the Leeds faithful at this moment in time.

Despite this good news, that could all change in the months to come should Leeds not secure promotion, and bigger fish begin to circle.

One of the biggest clubs in Europe are reportedly worried that incoming Liverpool manager Arne Slot could hijack a move for a player he knows well this summer.

Liverpool manager & transfer news

The Reds' Premier League title challenge may have fallen apart in recent weeks, with both performances and results nowhere near good enough, but there is so much going at the club that excitement is still in the air. Granted, the exit of Jurgen Klopp will be an extremely sad moment next month, but it looks as though Slot is in place to be his successor, with the start of a fresh era always bringing a great sense of anticipation.

The 45-year-old has worked wonders at Feyenoord, not only winning the Eredivisie title last season but also clinching Dutch Cup glory this time around, and he could bring with him a possession-brand brand of football not dissimilar to Pep Guardiola's style of play.

It is clear that Slot will want to bring in the right players to suit his system during the summer transfer window, being aided by the likes of Michael Edwards and Richard Hughes, and one player who has emerged as an option is Leeds United winger Crysencio Summerville. He has been a big part of the Whites' impressive season in the Championship and the incoming new Liverpool boss reportedly wants him at Anfield.

Newcastle United midfielder Bruno Guimaraes is another rumoured target for the Reds, with the Brazilian far from certain to stay at St James' Park this summer. The likes of Manchester City, Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain are also eyeing him up.

Slot could hijack signing for Liverpool

According to an update from Sport Mediaset [via Sport Witness], Liverpool are still keen on signing Atalanta midfielder Teun Koopmeiners this summer, with the report stating that Juventus must "beware" of a hijack from Slot and the Reds.

The Serie A giants are seen as strong contenders to complete the signing of the Dutchman, but Slot could get there first, having worked with his compatriot at AZ Alkmaar during the 2019/20 season.

At this point, it does feel as though Koopmeiners is a genuine target for Liverpool, considering how often he has been linked with a move to the club in recent months. The Slot factor could now only add to the speculation, given their past together, and he looks like a brilliant option.

The 26-year-old Netherlands international is one of Atalanta's most influential players, helping them knock the Reds out of the Europa League earlier this month, and he has 11 goals to his name in Serie A this season. Liverpool's highest-scoring midfielder in the Premier League this term is Alexis Mac Allister with four, going to show how much attacking threat Koopmeiners could add in the middle of the park.

Slot can move on from Salah by sealing "dangerous" Liverpool signing

The German forward has been linked with a move to Anfield ahead of the summer.

ByDan Emery Apr 28, 2024

Admittedly, the Reds have only recently made significant changes to their midfield, but Wataru Endo is 31 years of age, Ryan Gravenberch has been hit-and-miss and Dominik Szoboszlai is still maturing, so bringing in Koopmeiners makes perfect sense.

Tottenham have been offered the chance to sign a forward who has been described as "one of the best players in the world".

Tottenham looking to shake up attack

Tottenham lost Harry Kane to Bayern Munich during the 2023 summer transfer window. This was, of course, expected to see Spurs' attacking threat diminish a great deal during the current campaign. So far, the Lilywhites have averaged just over 1.97 goals per game in the Premier League, netting 71 in 36 league outings ahead of their meeting with Manchester City on Tuesday.

This is by no means a terrible record and credit should be given to Ange Postecoglou for the work he has done without Harry Kane. But he is no doubt somewhat concerned that Tottenham are, currently, the lowest scorers in the Premier League top seven – two behind Chelsea who have netted 73 despite rather inconsistent form across the campaign.

In turn, it is not surprising to see the north Londoners being linked with several attackers ahead of the 2024 summer transfer window opening up. Reports earlier this week claimed Tottenham have already begun discussions over multiple summer exit moves as chairman Daniel Levy is seeking ways to bolster summer funds and trim the squad down, with a deal for Brentford striker Ivan Toney "on the cards".

There has also been speculation that Richarlison could be moved on in the summer in place of Genoa attacker, Albert Gudmundsson, while intermediaries have reportedly reached out to Tottenham and offered them Barcelona forward, Vitor Roque.

We also covered reports from Spain at the beginning of the week which claimed Tottenham, who were interested in Raphinha before he moved to Barcelona back in 2022, have emerged as a "realistic" option for the winger.

Tottenham offered chance to sign Raphinha

Now, there has been a fresh update on Tottenham's links to the Brazilian. This comes via TBR, who report that Spurs, Arsenal, Liverpool, Aston Villa and Newcastle have all been spoken to as they are all understood to have indicated an interest in signing Raphinha in recent months.

Barcelona paid £50 million to Leeds United for the winger in the summer of 2022 and TBR add that the Spanish giants expect to make a little profit on him, with Tottenham offered the chance to sign the Brazilian in what is a boost for Postecoglou and co.

Barcelona boss Xavi recently singled the former Leeds man out for praise in the wake of their Champions League quarter-final first-leg win over Paris Saint-Germain:

“The real Raphinha is the one we saw in Paris. He’s intense, finds the space, creating chances,” he said in quotes relayed by Fabrizio Romano on X. “He’s one of the best players in the world when it’s the moment to attack the space."

Despite the praise, TBR state that while Raphinha himself is happy at Barcelona, he accepts that his future may lie away from the club if Xavi makes it clear he is not going to be first choice in the long term.

The Brazilian, who is currently valued at around £45m by Transfermarkt, has scored five and assisted nine in 26 La Liga outings this term. In comparison, Dejan Kulusevski – Spurs' current primary right-wing option and the man Raphinha may replace in the XI – has six goals and three assists in 24 Premier League appearances across 2023/24.

Chelsea decided to part ways with head coach Mauricio Pochettino at the end of the 2023/24 campaign after he led the club to a sixth-placed finish in the Premier League.

The Argentine boss, who previously managed Tottenham Hotspur and Southampton in England, was relieved of his duties and the Blues are now reportedly closing in on his successor.

Fabrizio Romano claims that the London giants are in contact with Leicester City, who have just been promoted as Championship champions, to agree compensation for manager Enzo Maresca.

The Italian reporter states that the former Manchester City coach has 'no doubts' about taking on the role and that a contract is now being finalised for the promotion-winning manager.

Jacob Steinberg, of The Guardian, has since added that the Italian tactician is poised to put pen to paper on a five-year contract at Stamford Bridge, with a move seemingly imminent.

Whilst Maresca has not yet been officially unveiled as the new first-team head coach at Chelsea, the club are already reportedly in talks to seal what could be his first signing as the manager.

Chelsea in advanced talks to sign teenage dynamo

According to FootballTransfers, the Blues are in advanced talks to secure a deal for 17-year-old right-back Pedro Lima as a future prospect for the Premier League giants.

The report claims that they are looking to wrap up a move for the Sport Recife full-back and have submitted an offer worth €8m (£6.8m) to land his services.

It states that Sport Recife president Yuri Romao has travelled over to England to hold talks with Chelsea to reach an agreement with the English side.

The outlet adds that Premier League champions Manchester City, and 'leading' clubs in Spain and Italy, are also providing competition for the young defender's signature.

However, Chelsea are the team in advanced negotiations with Sport Recife to sign Lima, which suggests that they are currently leading the race for the 17-year-old ace.

FootballTransfers does reveal, though, that the youngster does not yet qualify for a work permit and could be sent on loan to French affiliate side Strasbourg next season, in order to accumulate enough points to then link up with his new team at Stamford Bridge for the 2025/26 campaign.

This means that Lima, who could come through the door as the first official signing of the Maresca era if a deal is done in the coming days, could be Malo Gusto 2.0 for the Blues.

Malo Gusto's route to being a Chelsea star

In January 2023, Todd Boehly swooped to sign the teenage right-back from Lyon for a reported fee of £26.3m but sent him back on loan to the Ligue 1 side for the remainder of the campaign.

The then-19-year-old starlet put pen to paper on a seven and a half year contract with the Premier League club and continued his development in France over the subsequent five months.

Gusto ultimately ended the 2022/23 campaign with 21 appearances and 19 starts in Ligue 1 for Lyon, which helped to prepare him to come in and fight for a spot in the Chelsea side.

His experience in his home country helped to set him up to attack this season at Stamford Bridge, as the now-21-year-old racked up 27 top-flight matches for the Blues.

The France international enjoyed a terrific first season in the Premier League with his fantastic ability to create chances for his teammates from a right-back position.

Expected Assisted Goals (0.22)

Top 6%

Assists (0.31)

Top 4%

Shot-creating actions (2.67)

Top 18%

Progressive passes (4.42)

Top 24%

Progressive carries (4.01)

Top 3%

As you can see in the table above, Gusto ranked highly amongst his positional peers in the division in a host of key creative statistics, including assists and xAG.

He ended the campaign with an eye-catching return of eight 'big chances' created and six assists in 19 Premier League starts for the Blues, which shows that the young gem can bomb forward on the overlap to provide a threat in the final third.

Gusto has established himself as a key player in the first-team, and impressive performer as shown by the aforementioned statistics, after spending time on loan in France initially to gain more experience.

Lima can now follow in his footsteps and be Gusto 2.0 for Chelsea by becoming Maresca's first signing for the club before going out on loan to Strasbourg for the 2024/25 campaign.

Why Pedro Lima could be Malo Gusto 2.0

Firstly, a loan move to Ligue 1 would see him go through the same experience that the French dynamo went through before his emergence in the first-team in London.

Lima could go to Strasbourg and, hopefully, play regular first-team football in a major European league to gain valuable experience as a right-back at the top level.

The 17-year-old has already played 24 senior matches for Sport Recife, chipping in with two goals and two assists in that time, but would come in with zero experience in Europe, which is why an initial loan could be a fantastic move for him.

Due to his limited game time at first-team level so far, there is not much in the way of evidence to confidently claim that he has the quality to be a star for Chelsea.

However, his form for Brazil's U17s at the World Cup last summer suggests that the potential is there for him to provide a Gusto-esque attacking threat.

Appearances

5

Assists

1

Big chances created

1

Key passes per game

2.4

Dribbles completed per game

1.2

As you can see in the table above, Lima created more than two chances per game on average across his five appearances at the tournament.

The Chelsea target also made a staggering 4.8 tackles and interceptions combined per game, whilst no Blues player made more than 4.0 per match in the Premier League this season, and this suggests that he also has the ability to win possession back frequently for his team.

There is no guarantee that his form at the tournament will translate to European football, and the Premier League specifically, in the future but it does provide an insight into the type of full-back Chelsea could be signing.

Chelsea may have to sell £25m star who's perfect for Enzo Maresca

The Chelsea star is reportedly up for sale this summer.

ByTom Lever May 28, 2024

Therefore, Lima could end up being Gusto 2.0 for the Blues by eventually emerging as an attacking right-back for the club after spending time on loan in France initially.

Rangers are interested in signing a "highly-rated" Premier League player in the summer transfer window, according to a fresh update from journalist Graham Falk.

Rangers transfer news

The Gers' season ended in heartbreaking fashion, following their last-gasp defeat to Celtic in the Scottish Cup final, and Philippe Clement will now be desperate to bring in new faces this summer, in order to avenge that loss, as well as falling short in the Scottish Premiership title race.

Kalvin Phillips looks highly likely to leave Manchester City ahead of the 2024/25 season, having fallen completely out of favour under Pep Guardiola, and he has been linked with an exciting move to Rangers. Celtic are also providing competition for the midfielder's services, so there could be an auction for his signature, following a tough spell on loan at West Ham last season.

FK Radnicki goalkeeper Stojan Lekovic has also emerged as a transfer target for the Scottish giants, with the towering 6 foot 6 stopper making 61 appearances for his current club, and representing a long-term option at 22 years of age.

Godoy Cruz left-back Thomas Galdames could join Rangers as a replacement for Borna Barisic, too, having reportedly played his final game for his team, and he spoke about his future last week ahead of Copa America duty with Chile, saying: "The transfer market begins now, but I have to concentrate on the national team. If I do get a transfer, it needs to be something that will be good for my career. That's what I have been working for since the day I became a footballer."

Rangers want "highly-rated" Premier League player

According to Falk on X, "Rangers are interested in highly-rated Arsenal defender Reuell Walters" this summer, with the 19-year-old expected to depart the Emirates before next season gets underway after rejecting a new deal.

In his report for The Scotsman, the journalist adds that the youngster "already posted his goodbyes via social media and was given well wishes by the likes of Declan Rice and William Saliba", suggesting that he was held in high regard at the north London giants.

Walters could be an exciting addition for Rangers, even though he is still such a young player who is lacking experience at the top level. He will have learned so much from training alongside some world-class players at Arsenal, with Oleksandr Zinchenko heaping praise on him.

"I like so much centre-back Reuell. I think the qualities he has, he is aggressive. I swear to God, one time he pushed Gabriel Jesus in a shoulder-to-shoulder. It is not easy to push Gabriel because he is very strong, and he was confident on the ball afterwards, he kept the ball well and passed. Wow. He impresses me I think the most."

Rangers learn price for "creative" target Clement personally wants to sign

A deal won’t come cheap…

ByTom Cunningham Jun 1, 2024

Walters has been capped by England at Under-20, Under-19 and Under-18 level, making a combined nine appearances for his country, and the fact that he can shine at centre-back, right-back and in midfield would make him a versatile option for Clement for years to come.

Leeds United are currently putting their plans together to go through the upcoming summer transfer window after they failed to earn promotion from the Championship.

The Whites lost 1-0 to Southampton in the play-off final at Wembley last month and will now prepare for a second season in the second tier next term.

Daniel Farke was tasked with leading the club back to the Premier League at the first time of asking but fell short at the final hurdle in the capital, after finishing third in the league.

The German head coach will now need to prepare for a turnover in his squad over the coming months, as Crysencio Summerville has been linked with Liverpool and teen starlet Archie Gray is reportedly of interest to Bayern Munich and Mikel Arteta's Arsenal.

New signings will be needed to replace any stars who may leave and to freshen the team up ahead of another promotion push next season, and the Whites are reportedly eyeing up a talent from the Premier League to bolster their side.

Leeds United's interest in Premier League forward

According to TEAMtalk, Leeds are one of the teams lining up a possible swoop to sign Fulham attacker Bobby Decordova-Reid ahead of next season.

The report claims that the 31-year-old winger has decided to call time on his spell at Craven Cottage this summer and is due to become a free agent when his contract expires at the end of this month.

Fulham had offered the talented whiz a new two-year deal to remain with the Premier League outfit but the former Bristol City star has decided to go in search of a new challenge.

Leeds and Everton are two of the teams keeping tabs on Decordova-Reid's situation due to their respective financial situations and their need to sign a winger, as the Cottagers ace is set to be available on a free transfer.

The Jamaica international could be snapped up as a bargain replacement for current Whites forward Wilfried Gnonto, who could be on his way out of Elland Road this summer.

Calcio Mercato journalist Francesco Guerrieri recently claimed that the Italy U21 international would like to return to his home country ahead of next season.

The reporter stated that any offers from teams in the Serie A would come as a priority for the winger, who is seemingly seeking an exit from Yorkshire.

Wilfried Gnonto's season in numbers

The 20-year-old forward enjoyed a solid season in the Championship as he showcased his quality as a scorer of goals from a position on the right flank.

Gnonto ranked within the top 6% of attacking midfielders and wingers in the division for non-penalty goals per 90 (0.44), as he racked up eight strikes in 36 appearances.

This shows that he was among the best in his position at scoring goals from open play, rather than relying on penalties, with one strike almost every other 90 minutes.

The right-footed ace, who only started 19 league games, scored those eight goals from an xG of 5.36, which speaks to the ruthlessness of his finishing as the young gem outperformed based on the quality of chances that were created for him.

Appearances

36

Assists

2

Big chances created

5

Key passes per game

0.6

Pass accuracy

83%

However, as you can see in the table above, his creativity was not quite on the same level as he only registered two assists in 36 Championship games.

He ranked within the bottom 43% of his positional peers for assists per 90 (0.11) and these statistics suggest that his goal threat was his biggest weapon in a Leeds shirt.

This means that any replacement coming in for the winger this summer, should he depart for the Serie A or elsewhere, would need to be a player who can be relied upon to chip in with goals and be efficient in front of goal.

It would also be a dream scenario if Farke could lure a star who could also provide more in the way of creativity, so that Leeds would have a winger who can provide quality as both a scorer and a creator of goals on the right flank.

This is why Decordova-Reid, who has proven himself in the Premier League and the Championship, could be a dream replacement for Gnonto.

Why Leeds should sign Bobby Decordova-Reid

Firstly, Leeds should sign the 31-year-old star because he is a Premier League quality attacker who could be a good option for them if they get promoted.

This means that he could help them to get out of the Championship next season whilst also having the ability to make the step up if required the following term.

Decordova-Reid plundered six goals from an xG of 4.55 across 33 appearances and 17 starts in the Premier League for Fulham this season, which shows that he is a quality finisher by top-flight standards as he exceeded his xG.

The experienced forward ranked within the top 19% of his positional peers in the division for non-penalty goals per 90 (0.38), and this suggests that he is similar to Gnonto as they are both wingers who consistently chip in with non-penalty goals and outperform their xG.

His form in his last season in the Championship, which came in the 2021/22 campaign, also suggests that he could even be an upgrade on the Italian forward.

Appearances

41

36

Goals

8

8

Big chances missed

7

3

Assists

7

2

Big chances created

10

5

Key passes per game

1.2

0.6

As you can see in the table above, they both offer a similar goal threat in the second tier but the Fulham man has the potential to provide significantly more as a creator for his teammates.

This is why the 5 foot 7 attacker, who was once dubbed a "real handful" by journalist Josh Bunting, could be a dream replacement for Gnontot his summer.

Not only could he replace the goalscoring prowess that the former Zurich man provides but he can also improve Farke's squad from a creative perspective, based on his terrific form for Fulham at this level.

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Therefore, Decordova-Reid could be a bargain signing for Leeds on a free transfer this summer and this appears, on paper, to be one that the club should be pushing to get done.

Liverpool have started the summer's transfer-related discourse in typical fashion, keeping a lid on the chatter surrounding fresh faces and indeed the ongoing contract situations of Virgil van Dijk, Mohamed Salah and Trent Alexander-Arnold.

It's easy to forget that the summer transfer window has not actually opened for business yet, with the rumour mill pressing and probing as clubs start to hone in on areas and players to improve squads.

But FSG have re-signed Michael Edwards in an improved, CEO of Football capacity, and the data-driven genius will be working closely with Arne Slot – Jurgen Klopp's successor – to identify the best course of action for the Anfield first team.

Wide speculation, confirmed by The Athletic, has revealed that Liverpool are on the lookout for a centre-back and a wide forward, but while last summer's midfield-focused rebuild succeeded in reviving the team, moves may well be made to complete the centre with a well-placed signing.

Liverpool lining up new midfielder

As per Gazzetta dello Sport, Liverpool have received a big boost in their long-time pursuit of Atalanta midfielder Teun Koopemeiners, who is more likely to leave the Europa League champions than his teammate Ederson this summer.

Both stars are on the Reds' radar but Koopmeiners, who is valued at around £50m, is eager to depart and is also attracting interest from Serie A giants Juventus.

Koopmeiners was cruelly injured in the Netherlands' warm-up against Iceland in a friendly on Monday and will miss the 2024 EUROs, though he is still set on finding a new club after making his recovery.

Why Koopmeiners is Perfect for Slot

Liverpool have a range of talented midfielders that played important parts in a successful final campaign under Jurgen Klopp – and that's without mention the exciting boon of youth players, making such a marked impact throughout 2023/24.

But Koopmeiners would offer something distinctive and different, with a knack for influencing matches through his technical skill, melding this with an intelligent and composed approach.

The 25-year-old would also add goals from the Reds centre, having scored a whopping 15 strikes across all competitions last term. Not just a marksman from the middle though, the 6 foot 1 phenom has been described as "very versatile" by his manager, Gian Piero Gasperini.

Heralding Koopmeiners' skill set, his former coach Pascal Jansen said: "His stamina is amazing. His pressing and chasing abilities when out of possession, I would almost say they are inhuman."

Make no mistake, Liverpool will not imitate Klopp under Slot's leadership but one of the reasons that the former Feyenoord manager was anointed was because of his high-energy, suffocating style of play, carrying more than a hint of the German tactician at its core while bringing a possession-centric, suffocating element that has drawn comparisons to Pep Guardiola.

After all, Slot himself described the sagacious Manchester City manager as a "control freak just like me". Think of a more measured and calculated version of Klopp's Liverpool, that may well be how Slot's first team shapes out to perform when the campaign kicks off.

Koopmeiners would be a wonderful addition in that regard, offering something of a blend between that of Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai to add a layer to the system.

As per FBref, he ranks among the top 18% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for passes attempted, the top 12% for progressive passes and the top 5% for clearances per 90, emphasising his ball-playing acumen and inwoven tenacity.

Furthermore, given that he's actually played under Slot before at AZ Alkmaar, completing 58 appearances and scoring 21 goals under his countryman, he's a player Liverpool's head coach knows well and would likely be able to champion his brand of football.

His seamless ability to connect the midfield and the attack could also prove invaluable for Liverpool, perhaps even reviving Darwin Nunez and seeing the Uruguayan find the perfect sidekick in his pursuit of centre-forward success.

Why Koopmeiners could lift Darwin Nunez

Nunez scored 18 goals and added 13 assists in all competitions for Liverpool last season but he just can't seem to shake the criticisms that mar his efforts on Merseyside.

Matches played

29

36

Matches started

19

22

Goals

9

11

Assists

3

8

Big chances missed

20

27

Pass completion

67%

72%

Big chances created

11

11

Key passes per game

1.0

0.9

Dribbles per game

0.6 (49%)

0.4 (43%)

Duels won per game

2.8 (38%)

2.4 (38%)

The table above shows the stats behind the man regarding Nunez's first two seasons in the Premier League, and while he's become more effective in playmaking, there hasn't really been any significant improvement, especially in the regression in his already-concerning finishing.

But Nunez's struggle is a matter of temperament, not talent, and within Slot's system, will feature him as more of an arrowhead to best serve Slot's 4-2-3-1 formation, perhaps finding a ready source of supply through Koopmeiners, who created nine big chances in Serie A, averaged 1.8 key passes per game and, crucially, kept things crisp with an 82% pass success rate.

Koopmeiners will be devastated that injury on the cusp of the international stage has precluded him from performing at the 2024 EUROs, but he will be just as concerned that a lengthy layoff would leave suitors like Liverpool forced to turn elsewhere.

As long as it's nothing too serious, Koopmeiners will be a name on Liverpool transfer round-up pages with regularity over the coming months.

Within a sea of talented possibles, Koopmeiners is a player of first-class quality and he must be signed, ensuring that the Reds enter a new era with a solid chance of fighting for the highest honours.

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