There's no pressing need to sell at Liverpool this summer, but with Arne Slot now formally anointed as Anfield's head coach, several cogs are going to be shifted and certain players may well be deemed expendable.
Darwin Nunez, ever adored, much-maligned, has now completed two seasons for the Reds following his transfer from Benfica – for a fee that could rise to a club record £85m – but only has 20 goals from 65 Premier League matches, missing not so much a catalogue of big chances as a sprawling volume.
Premier League 23/24: Big Chances Missed
Rank
Player
Apps
Goals
BCM
1.
Erling Haaland
31
27
34
2.
Darwin Nunez
36
11
27
3.
Nicolas Jackson
35
16
24
4.
Ollie Watkins
37
19
22
5.
Alexander Isak
30
21
21
Stats via Premier League
Reports earlier in June suggested that Liverpool would listen to offers for the Uruguayan, but he's not the only one, with Luis Diaz still on Barcelona's radar, as per The Athletic.
Diaz was one of Liverpool's standout performers last season but is 27 years old and has ebbed from form in phases and if Liverpool's €75m (£63m) valuation is met, it's likely he would be allowed to leave.
Liverpool player Luis Diaz
A high-level replacement, of course, would need to be welcomed to the fold.
Liverpool transfer news
According to HITC, Liverpool have joined Arsenal in the race for Athletic Bilbao winger Nico Williams, who has his sights set on a transfer to Barcelona but may find that dream hit a wall given La Blaugrana's financial struggles.
With that in mind, Liverpool might need to lower their price tag for Diaz somewhat to complete this rotation of moves, though Paris Saint-Germain, who have just lost Kylian Mbappe, are also interested in the Colombian.
Williams has a €58m (£49m) release clause in his contract and given his impressive displays at Euro 2024 so far, Liverpool might want to push for his signing as quickly as possible.
Nico Williams' Euro 2024 performances
Williams is only 21 but he's made a big impression in La Liga and produced a masterful display of dribbling and playmaking against Italy on Thursday evening, awarded the UEFA Player of the Match award after the 1-0 victory.
Nico Williams: Euro 2024 Stats vs Italy
Stats
#
Minutes played
78'
Touches
60
Accurate passes
27/29
Shots taken
2
Hit woodwork
1x
Key passes
4
Dribble attempts
4/10
Duels won
6/21
Stats via Sofascore
The pacy winger had also started against Croatia in his nation's opening victory, and while he didn't have the same resounding effect that time, his winding runs and ability to stretch the opposing defence highlighted the distinctive qualities that make him such an impressive outlet, succeeding with two of four dribbles and making one key pass.
The fixed fee in his £172k-per-week contract does strip a layer of complexity away from any negotiations but it will also leave rival suitors like Arsenal and Barcelona in similarly attractive positions, but with such excellent displays on the international stage and a fleet-footed, dynamic approach, he could be the perfect player to kickstart Slot's tenure.
In Luis de la Fuente's squad on merit, Williams enjoyed a highly effective playmaking campaign in Basque Country, scoring five goals and supplying 11 assists from 29 La Liga starts as well as notching eight goal contributions from five matches as Bilbao won the Copa del Rey.
He's an excellent winger with a range of skills that would make him a real asset for Liverpool. If Diaz is to be sold this summer, there is no available positional peer better placed to succeed in his stead.
Why Liverpool are interested in Nico Williams
Wingers. What are they? Are those creative, man-beating speedsters ebbing away from the modern game? The archetypal winger of old replaced by the ball-retaining, machine-like cogs in the intricate systems of the modern game.
Nico Williams and Inaki Williams
Perhaps not. Football has evolved over the past few decades but winger remain ever important, especially so for the Reds boss. Slot, now at work at Kirkby as he looks to build from the bricks of Jurgen Klopp's illustrious legacy, plays a system reliant on the pace and dynamism of wide forwards.
Williams, in this regard, would be the perfect addition to a team in transition. The Spaniard offers many of the qualities that Diaz boasts but is younger, unceasing in his snap-speed movements.
23/24 Stat Comparison: Luis Diaz vs Nico Williams
Stats (per 90)
Luis Diaz
Nico Williams
Goals
0.32
0.20
Expected goals (xG)
0.39
0.24
Assists
0.15
0.44
Shots taken
3.05
2.23
Shot-creating actions
5.40
4.81
Progressive carries
4.49
5.69
Successful take-ons
2.20
3.42
Ball recoveries
4.35
5.22
All stats via FBref
When collating the respective metrics between Diaz and Williams throughout the 2023/24 campaign, a few interesting points can be drawn.
Firstly, Diaz is a more prolific goalscorer but this is only because he strikes on goal with greater regularity. In actual fact, the Colombia international underperforms his expected goal tally by 0.07, whereas Williams underperformed by just 0.04, having taken far less shots across the year.
This might feel marginal but it illustrates how Williams, still so young, can improve over the coming years and eventually eclipse Diaz in striking ability and accuracy.
Secondly, the Spanish star is far more effective in his dribbling, boasting a superior output and proving to be altogether more energetic and athletic. His electric pace blends with consistent surging movements that have been an integral part in his assist-making success (Williams ranks among the top 2% of attacking midfielders and wingers for assists per 90; Diaz, in comparison, among only the bottom 43%).
Spain'sNicoWilliamscelebrates scoring their sixth goal
Lest we forget, the 5 foot 11 whiz is six years younger than Liverpool's left-sided forward. He'd bring so much energy and exuberance to the team. Hailed as a "mind-blowing" talent by U23 scout Antonio Mango, Slot needs to get this one done with haste.
Liverpool could sign a Musiala & Bellingham hybrid in £60m star
This player could become the main man under Arne Slot
A vitória sobre o Santos por 4 a 0 no último sábado, na Vila Belmiro, em partida válida pela 18ª rodada do Brasileirão, marcou a estreia de Andreas Pereira pelo Flamengo. O meio-campista, inclusive, marcou fechou a conta e marcou o último gol da goleada rubro-negra. Pelas redes sociais, ele destacou que esperou a semana inteira pela estreia, elogiou a nova camisa número três e afirmou que quer “muito mais”.
>ATUAÇÕES: Gabi comanda vitória do Flamengo e recebe a maior nota
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– “Mengão mode”. Estava esperando por esse momento a semana toda!Que momento incrível que foi estrear no Brasileirão com a camisa do Flamengo! E que camisa bonita essa aí, né não Nação?!E eu quero muito mais – publicou o novo reforço do Flamengo para a temporada.
> Veja a tabela do Campeonato Brasileiro
Vale destacar que Andreas ficou apenas nove minutos em campo, mas foi tudo o que precisou para balançar as redes. Depois de um passe errado da defesa, do Santos, o meio-campista ficou cara a cara com João Paulo e bateu entre as pernas do goleiro para fazer seu primeiro gol com a camisa do time carioca.
O novo reforço do Flamengo, inclusive, é torcedor de infância do Santos. No entanto, em entrevista ao canal Premiere, Andreasfrisou que isso está no passado e que, hoje, está focado em defender o Rubro-Negro, que, de acordo com ele, é o maior clube da América.
– São coisas do passado. Acho que essas coisas a gente tem que, agora, deixar para lá. Estou aqui para defender o Flamengo, o maior clube do Brasil e da América – disse.
Travis Head made 151 as for the second match running South Australia fought for a draw
Andrew McGlashan02-Nov-2020
Liam Scott defends on the back foot•Getty Images
South Australia batted out the final day – and 160 overs in total – to secure their second backs-to-the-wall draw in consecutive matches. Travis Head made 151 but the hero was 19-year-old Liam Scott, in just his fourth first-class match, as he made 61 from 162 deliveries to see the Redbacks through most of the last session.Two vital moments came early in the final hour when Scott was brilliantly caught by Seb Gotch, when on 54, but Zak Evans had overstepped and next ball he struck a boundary to wipe out the 364-run deficit and knock off a few extra vital overs from South Australia’s task.He fell with the job not quite complete – a sixth wicket for the outstanding Scott Boland who hurled his body through 33 overs – unable to keep out a superb yorker, but Daniel Worrall and Wes Agar stood firm for eight overs.Scott, who mixed excellent defence with calculated attack in an innings that included four sixes, had come to the crease midway through the day when it appeared Victoria had made the game-changing incisions either side of lunch. Head had just gone past 150 for the second match running when he turned Jon Holland off the face of the bat to short leg, leaving South Australia 5 for 264 and the lower order exposed.Head and Henry Hunt had extended their third-wicket stand to 226 in 86 overs when Victoria finally broke through with the second new ball, Boland finding Hunt’s outside edge and then doing the same against Callum Ferguson who bagged a pair.Boland, in a herculean effort during the fourth innings, struck again in the first over after tea when he produced a beauty from round the wicket to bowl Harry Nielsen to break a stand of 66 in 23 overs with Scott and reenergise Victoria.Their victory push gathered steam when Will Sutherland claimed a much-deserved wicket as Chadd Sayers played onto his stumps with South Australia still 26 behind, but as they moved into the lead the clock turned against Victoria and Boland’s sixth wicket came too late.
No próximo domingo (12), às 11h (de Brasília), Grêmio e Ceará duelam pela 20ª Rodada do Campeonato Brasileiro em compromisso que contêm um ingrediente adicional as posições do time na competição.
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>Aplicativo de resultados do LANCE! está disponível na versão iOS
Isso porque o embate na capital gaúcha promoverá o reencontro do técnico Tiago Nunes, hoje comandando o Vozão, com a equipe gremista, clube que o demitiu ainda nesta temporada em trajetória que teve duração de 17 jogos e menos de três meses.
Com duas vitórias nas últimas três rodadas, o tricolor busca somar a maior quantidade de pontos possível, principalmente jogando em casa, para se aproximar da chance de deixar o Z4. Hoje, a distância do atual 19º colocado com 16 unidades para o 16°, Bahia, é de cinco pontos.
No caso do alvinegro, o time tem 24 pontos e, em 10° lugar, acumula quatro rodadas sem conseguir uma vitória, elemento que pesou para a demissão recente de Guto Ferreira. Fato esse que, justamente, culminou na chegada de Tiago Nunes.
FICHA TÉCNICA GRÊMIO x CEARÁ
Local: Arena do Grêmio, em Porto Alegre (RS) Data e hora: 12/09/2021 – 11h (de Brasília) Árbitro: Flavio Rodrigues de Souza (FIFA) Assistentes: Marcelo Carvalho Van Gasse (FIFA) e Gustavo Rodrigues de Oliveira (SP) VAR: Rodrigo Guarizo Ferreira do Amaral (SP) Onde assistir: Premiere
GRÊMIO (Técnico: Luis Felipe Scolari)
Gabriel Chapecó; Vanderson, Pedro Geromel, Kannemann e Rafinha; Thiago Santos, Villasanti e Campaz; Alisson, Borja e Ferreira.
CEARÁ (Técnico: Tiago Nunes)
Richard; Fabinho, Messias, Luiz Otávio e Bruno Pacheco; Fernando Sobral, William Oliveira, Rick, Vina e Lima; Cléber.
The summer transfer window is in full swing, and following the announcement of 18-year-old goalkeeper Lucas Nygaard on Thursday, Arsenal look set for a busy few months.
The Premier League runners-up have already been linked to a plethora of players this window, be that Benjamin Sesko of RB Leipzig, Viktor Gyokeres of Sporting CP, or, more recently, Paris Saint-Germain's Dutch wonderkid Xavi Simons.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta
The latter would undoubtedly be a quality addition to the squad, but Mikel Arteta already has an incredibly talented young star at his disposal who is worth even more.
Bukayo Saka's Arsenal career
The youngster in question is none other than Arsenal's starboy Bukayo Saka, who, despite being in the spotlight for years at this point, is still just 22.
The Hale End superstar burst onto the scene for the Gunners under former manager Unai Emery in the 2018/19 season but truly began to make a name for himself under Arteta the following campaign.
In that first season under the Spaniard, the "outstanding" talent, as dubbed by club captain Martin Odegaard, scored four goals and provided 12 assists in 38 appearances, 17 of which came at left-back.
Over the following few years, the Ealing-born dynamo slowly moved to the right wing, where he has now established himself as arguably the first name on the team sheet for the North Londoners.
In all, he has made a frankly ridiculous 226 appearances for the Gunners, in which he has scored 58 goals and provided 53 assists.
Saka's Arsenal career
Season
Appearances
Goals
Assists
Goal Involvements per Match
2018/19
4
0
0
0.00
2019/20
38
4
12
0.42
2020/21
46
7
9
0.34
2021/22
43
12
7
0.44
2022/23
48
15
11
0.54
2023/24
47
20
14
0.72
All Stats via Transfermarkt
This means he's averaged a goal involvement every 1.98 games in his senior career, and that includes the time he spent at left-back.
Alongside his undeniable importance to Arsenal, the "legend in the making," as football talent scout Jacek Kulig described him, has become integral to Gareth Southgate's England side. He's won 36 senior caps, scored 11 goals, provided seven assists, and been named Player of the Year in successive years.
So, with all these accomplishments at just 22 years old, it shouldn't be surprising that his valuation is so significant and significantly higher than Simons'.
Bukayo Saka's valuation in 2024
Simons has been on fire over the last couple of seasons. In 2022/23, he racked up 34 goals and assists for PSV Eindhoven, and last season, he scored ten goals and provided 15 assists for RB Leipzig in the Bundesliga.
That means that, despite being just 21, the flying Dutchman has averaged a goal involvement every 1.30 games over the last two years, and now he's playing at the Euros with the Netherlands.
This meteoric rise has caught the attention of clubs across the continent, including Arsenal, and based on recent reports, the youngster could be available for around £51m, which, while a hefty sum of money, is nowhere near the value of Saka.
According to Football Transfers, the England star is worth at least €106m, which converts to around £90m, and based on the price of transfers in recent seasons, that's probably a rather conservative estimate.
Ultimately, the PSG gem is undoubtedly on track to reach superstar status in the game, but due to the sheer body of work behind Saka, it's hard to deny he'd be worth every penny of his massive valuation.
Arsenal lead race for "magic" £50m Martinelli rival
The sensational talent could help the Brazilian return to his best or replace him altogether.
فجّر الإعلامي أحمد شوبير، مفاجأة بشأن أزمة صفقة انتقال المهاجم الفلسطيني وسام أبو علي من الأهلي إلى كولومبوس كرو، مؤكدًا أن النادي الأمريكي لم يلتزم حتى الآن بسداد القسط الأول من قيمة الصفقة.
وقال شوبير في تصريحات عبر برنامجه الإذاعي صباح اليوم الإثنين: “ما زال النادي الأمريكي (كولومبوس كرو) يراوغ، لم يُرسل القسط الأول من صفقة وسام أبو علي حتى الآن”.
طالع أيضًا | “لا أعرف”.. مدرب كولومبوس كرو يثير الغموض حول مصير وسام أبو علي
وتابع: “اللاعب ذهب إلى الولايات المتحدة الأمريكية، ويُعاني من مشكلة في أوتار الركبة، ويُقال إنها لسبب نفسي، وما زالت الأموال لم تصل”.
وشدد: “النادي الأهلي لن يُرسل البطاقة الدولية الخاصة بـ وسام أبو علي، ما لم تصل الدفعة الأولى من مستحقات القلعة الحمراء لدى كولومبوس كرو، والتي لا تقل عن 4 ملايين دولار”.
وكان نادي كولومبوس كرو الأمريكي قد أعلن إتمام التعاقد مع الفلسطيني وسام أبو علي، بعد إعلان الأهلي رحيل اللاعب بشكل رسمي بسبب رغبته بعد ضغط كبير على الإدارة للموافقة.
New Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Plan will feature independent commission and confidential forum
ESPNcricinfo staff25-Nov-2020
External view of the ECB offices at Lord’s•ESPNcricinfo Ltd
The England & Wales Cricket Board has stepped up its measures to drive out discrimination and increase diversity across the sport, with the announcement of a new independent Commission for Equality in Cricket, a forum for addressing racial issues in confidence, and a new Equality Code of Conduct for all organisations that fall within its jurisdiction.The measures, approved by the ECB board on Monday, will form part of a new Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Plan which will be rolled out over the coming months, and follow on from the work already undertaken in line with the ECB’s Inspiring Generations strategic plan – the primary aim of which, according to Ian Watmore, the chairman, is “to make cricket a game for everyone”.”While continuing with this work and increasing its impact, we are equally clear that all discriminatory behaviour is unacceptable,” Watmore added. “We are committed to drive it out of the game through better governance, education, training, role modelling and behavioural change, but also through disciplinary action when necessary.”Although the ECB has worked hard in recent months to address the issue of racism in cricket, the resurgence of the Black Lives Matter movement in 2020 has highlighted many areas in which the sport had long been lagging. Speaking in July at the launch of the board’s broader Inclusion and Diversity Strategy, Tom Harrison, the CEO, acknowledged that English cricket had been forced to confront some “uncomfortable truths”.The ECB’s announcement comes on the day that its two highest-profile active black cricketers, Jofra Archer and Chris Jordan, were unveiled as ambassadors for the ACE Programme, a charity set up by Surrey and chaired by Ebony Rainford-Brent which aims to address a 75 percent decline in cricket participation by members of the Black community.ALSO READ: What has English cricket been like for black players?Speaking in June, the former Test opener Michael Carberry claimed that “black people are not important to the ECB”, after the extent of that decline had been highlighted.More recently the sport has had to face up to claims of institutional racism at Yorkshire from their former player, Azeem Rafiq, while the former Test umpire, John Holder, recently hit out at the board for its failure to appoint any non-white umpires to the first-class list since 1992.”This year we have listened to many people from across the game and beyond, to understand where we must be better in making our sport inclusive and diverse, and tackling discrimination,” Harrison said.”The measures we have announced today, and the broader Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Plan we will launch, build on and accelerate the work we have already done in recent years. We will continue to learn how, as a game, we become more representative of the communities we strive to serve.”According to the ECB, the new commission will be led by an independent chair with independent members. It will consider the evidence of the sport’s historic failings, and provide recommendations for further action, based on information from people who have experienced discrimination in cricket, including that collected through the new Forum for Race in Cricket, the objective of which will be to provide a safe space for people to share their stories.”Continuing to listen to the experiences of people, whether positive or negative, and engaging with independent expertise will help to inform, strengthen and challenge our thinking and plans as we move forward,” Watmore added. “Taken together, these steps will ensure that the ECB achieves lasting change.”
Celtic could be closing in on their first summer signing, with one report now saying they’ve had a bid accepted for a long-term target.
Celtic want new goalkeeper
The Hoops and Brendan Rodgers are yet to make a summer signing following a Scottish Premiership and Scottish Cup double last season, but a new goalkeeper to replace Joe Hart appears to be at the top of the list.
Alongside a shot-stopper, a winger and striker are also wanted at Parkhead, but when it comes to ‘keepers, there hasn’t been a shortage of targets.
Celtic hold talks to sign prolific teenage forward
He scored 16 goals in 17 starts last season.
ByCharlie Smith Jun 25, 2024
Liverpool’s Caoimhin Kelleher, Trabzonspor star Ugurcan Cakir, Sunderland’s Anthony Patterson, Werder Bremen colossus Michael Zetterer, Southampton’s Alex McCarthy, Koen Casteels of Wolfsburg and Dominik Livakovic are just some of the goalkeepers that have been linked with the Hoops.
Rumours have intensified over a move for Fenerbahce’s Livakovic who has been starting at Euro 2024 for Croatia, with a €9million (£7.6m) bid submitted to bring him to Scotland.
Celtic have Livakovic bid accepted
According to Turkish outlet Fotomac, Celtic’s offer for Livakovic has been accepted, with the player wanting to leave Fenerbahce this summer.
The €9m figure was mentioned again, and it is stated that an ‘official announcement will be made shortly’. Fenerbahce will reportedly replace Livakovic with Mattia Perin from Juventus, with Livakovic on course to become one of Celtic’s most expensive signings of all time, should a deal go through.
Celtic's 5 most expensive signings of all time
Signed from
Fee
Jota
Benfica
€16.2m
Odsonne Edouard
PSG
€10.3m
Chris Sutton
Chelsea
€9.5m
John Hartson
Coventry
€9m
Eyal Brkovic
West Ham
€8.8m
It looks as if Celtic could be about to seal a marque goalkeeper signing, and Croatian football expert Richard Wilson has explained to The Herald what he could bring to Scotland, highlighting his reflex saves as his main strength.
“His main strength would be his reflex saves, and he has that knack of getting to shots that 90 percent of goalkeepers can’t get to. It’s such a small difference between a good goalkeeper and a great goalkeeper at that level, and his reflexes have been shown to be among the true elite.”
Dominik Livakovic
Wilson then said a move to Celtic could be a “statement signing” for the Hoops.
“For Celtic to land a goalkeeper of his stature would be a statement signing, absolutely. Fenerbahce paid the best part of 7m Euros for him last summer, and they will make a profit on that, but if you compare Livakovic’s stature to Joe Hart’s, well, Joe Hart hasn’t been in World Cup semi-finals for instance.
“He’s one of the few goalkeepers that Celtic could get with a trophy cabinet of that size. It makes sense to me though because Celtic have been in for him before, so it is a renewal of interest.”
It could be just a matter of time until Celtic get their man, making this one to watch over the coming weeks.
علق القبرصي بابا فاسيليو المدير الفني لفريق الاتحاد السكندري، على الهزيمة أمام الزمالك بهدفين دون رد، بالمباراة التي أقيمت بينهما ببطولة الدوري المصري الممتاز.
الاتحاد السكندري حل ضيفاً على الزمالك، في استاد القاهرة الدولي، ضمن مباريات الجولة السابعة لمسابقة الدوري الممتاز.
وقال بابا فاسيليو في تصريحات خلال المؤتمر الصحفي عقب المباراة: “قدمنا شوط أول جيدًا، كانت لدينا فرص كثيرة، كاد أن نسجل هدفًا خلال أول 45 دقيقة، والزمالك لم يستطع تهديد مرمانا”.
طالع أيضاً.. حمادة عبد اللطيف: الزمالك يمتلك “ترمومتر” على أعلى مستوى.. ومدرسة الفن عادت
وتابع: “طرد عبد الغني أثر علينا، ومن الصعب أن نلعب أمام الزمالك بـ10 لاعبين فقط، وقرار الحكم كان سلبيًا جدًا”.
وأوضح: “كنا أخطر من الزمالك في الشوط الأول، ولكن لم نستطع أن نُسجل أهدافًا وهذا شيء سلبي”.
وأشار: “لدينا أجواء رائعة في الاتحاد، ورئيس النادي يقدم لنا كل شيء والجميع يدعمنا، ولعبنا بشكل مميز أمام الأهلي والزمالك ولا بد أن ندعم الفريق في يناير”.
واختتم: “شاركنا أمام الزمالك بعدد من اللاعبين المميزين وكان من الممكن أن نفوز بالمباراة”.