Attempting to finally replace Illan Meslier, Leeds United are now reportedly serious about signing a goalkeeper who has been the best shot-stopper in Ligue 1 this season.

Leeds' Meslier problem set to end this summer

Leeds may be a side in celebration right now after winning the Championship and earning promotion back to the Premier League, but that should not take away from their clear Meslier problem. The shot-stopper endured a disastrous year which very nearly derailed the Whites’ automatic promotion hopes, before Daniel Farke had seen enough and replaced his No.1 with back-up option Karl Darlow.

After making that decision, Farke saw his side go from one win in five Championship games to six wins in seven to earn title success in the Championship. And that form without Meslier was no coincidence. His confidence looked lower than ever at times and those around him looked similarly concerned – creating a chaotic backline.

After dropping his goalkeeper, Farke admitted that it was a decision that had to be made at the start of April, telling reporters: “Obviously he was involved in both [Swansea] goals in the last game, and it was a shame because after the penalty save he was on his way to being man of the match.

“So it was clear we had to make a decision. And we had to make it early in the week, because in that position the players need clarity, and Karl [Darlow] needs the time to prepare.

“We had a pretty open, honest conversation. Of course he’s disappointed he won’t start. But he took it very professionally and he was still more disappointed about the Swansea game.”

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Now, with an even more important decision to make, the 49ers have reportedly added a goalkeeper to their summer wishlist at Elland Road and have set their sights on a particularly impressive option.

Leeds now serious about Petrovic

According to TeamTalk, Leeds are now serious about signing Djordje Petrovic from Chelsea this summer following his impressive loan spell at Strasbourg, and his agents have been informed of the interest. It’s whilst on loan in Ligue 1 that Petrovic has earned plenty of admirers with the numbers only adding credit to a fantastic campaign.

With two games left to play, no goalkeeper in his division has managed a better save percentage than his 75 per cent, or more accurate passes than the 913 that he has completed. Simply put, Petrovic would offer those at Elland Road an instant upgrade on Meslier this summer.

Now a prime target for Leeds, Petrovic’s agent is reportedly aware of the interest and his client could have a decision to make in the coming months. Fresh from his loan spell in France, whether Chelsea believe that the 25-year-old is ready to become their No.1 ahead of Robert Sanchez is likely to play a large part. What he is unlikely to do is sit on the bench once again following an excellent campaign.

Leeds United are now leading the race for an “amazing” £15m forward, who would be keen on a move to Elland Road this summer, according to a report.

Leeds step up transfer plans after sealing promotion

There may have been some worrying signs in March, but having won their last four Championship games on the spin, Leeds have now achieved their goal of promotion to the Premier League with two games left to play.

Now there is certainty about which league they will be playing in next season, the Whites can now make solid plans for the summer transfer window, and they may have to strengthen in multiple areas to avoid relegation from the top flight.

Despite achieving promotion, goalkeeper has been a problem position this season, with Illan Meslier making a number of costly mistakes, and Daniel Farke’s side are now considering a move for Wolverhampton Wanderers’ Sam Johnstone as a potential replacement.

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There have also been suggestions Farke could look to strengthen in the engine room, with an offer being prepared for Sporting CP midfielder Hidemasa Morita, while Kalvin Phillips would also be open to a return to Elland Road.

While new signings will undoubtedly be brought in, there may also be a desire to keep hold of some players who have played a key role in promotion this season, and a report from GiveMeSport has now revealed Manor Solomon would now be keen on a permanent move.

With the Whites’ Premier League status now confirmed, Solomon could leave Tottenham Hotspur in favour of a permanent switch to Elland Road, should Leeds be willing to put a £15m offer on the table, with previous reports saying talks have been ongoing.

Everton and Southampton are also in the race for the Israeli, and there is interest from abroad, but Farke’s side are in pole position to secure his signature.

"Amazing" Solomon needs to be signed permanently

The 25-year-old has played a vital role for Leeds in their promotion charge this season, picking up nine goals and 11 assists in 37 Championship games, with six of those coming in his last four appearances.

Not only that, but the Israel international has impressed on a number of key attacking metrics over the past year, when compared to his positional peers playing at a similar level.

Statistic	Average per 90
Assists	0.41 (95th percentile)
Successful take-ons	2.35 (89th percentile)
Progressive carries	4.89 (92nd percentile)

The left-winger’s performances this season indicate he is definitely worth a £15m outlay this summer, and he has experience in the Premier League, being lauded as “amazing” by members of the media back in 2023.

As such, there are clear signs Solomon could be capable of making the step-up next season, and Leeds should undoubtedly look to snap him up this summer.

Newcastle United failed to make it back-to-back victories in the Premier League on Sunday afternoon with a disappointing 1-1 draw away at Brighton and Hove Albion.

Gaining all three points would have seen Eddie Howe’s Magpies really lay down a marker when it comes to their top five aspirations, but this draw means the tussle between themselves, Chelsea and Nottingham Forest will only intensify more ahead of a thrilling May to follow.

On another day, however, the Tyneside outfit could have returned back home empty-handed, with more heroics from Alexander Isak thankfully bailing the visitors out.

Isak's heroics on the South Coast

It’s hardly a surprise now when Isak’s name flashes up as a goalscorer for the Toon, with the unerringly accurate Newcastle number 14 now up to 27 goals in all competitions after firing home a last-gasp penalty on the South Coast.

The spot-kick beating Bart Verbruggen also means Isak is now on a hefty 23 Premier League strikes, with this total being the most lethal tally a Newcastle player has managed in league action since Alan Shearer’s 22-goal haul during the 2003/04 campaign.

Amazingly, Howe’s men had actually had two penalties overturned via VAR before Isak’s was given, meaning it was crucial that the lethal Swede fired home with confidence, and he did just that to send the away masses into momentary delirium.

Away from his effort from the spot wrongfooting the Seagulls goalkeeper, it was somewhat of a quiet day at the office from Isak in open play, seen in the 25-year-old only registering two efforts on goal and 20 accurate passes, away from his last-gasp moment of quality.

But, any negatives from his overall game were quickly brushed under the carpet after the penalty trickled in.

Whereas, one of Isak’s attacking teammates might well find his starting spot is up for grabs after an entirely unmemorable performance against Fabian Hurzeler’s hosts.

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The 5/10 Newcastle star who could now be dropped

It’s clear when reading over the match numbers that there were a whole host of underperformers from Newcastle’s perspective.

Indeed, having posted two assists last weekend, Kieran Trippier was nowhere near his rampaging best down the right flank when squandering possession 15 times, whilst Joe Willock struggled too in an attacking capacity when making just 17 accurate passes, also booked for diving.

But, Jacob Murphy would be the biggest letdown for Howe, considering the usually electric number 23 has eight goals and 11 assists next to his name across 32 Premier League outings this season, but offered virtually nothing when bombing forward against the Seagulls.

This would result in Howe putting Murphy out of his misery on the 56th minute mark, with the Magpies boss clearly fed up by the fact the 30-year-old had registered just one effort on Verbruggen’s goal when still on the pitch, among other lacklustre numbers.

Minutes played

56

Goals scored

0

Assists

0

Touches

30

Accurate passes

17/22 (77%)

Accurate crosses

0/2

Accurate long balls

0/1

Shots

1

Successful dribbles

1/2

Total duels won

1/4

Frustratingly, Murphy would also tally up no accurate crosses, no accurate long balls and just one successful dribble when attempting to create an opening for the visitors, on top of also failing to be aggressive when needed when winning just one duel from four attempted.

Arguably, the 30-year-old’s replacement in Anthony Gordon offered more from his limited minutes on the Brighton turf, with one of the overturned penalties on the day coming about from the ex-Everton man’s burst of pace, alongside the lively attacker winning four of his own duels.

Northern Echo journalist Scott Wilson would hand out a low 5/10 rating to the former Norwich City winger subsequently stating that his afternoon was defined by a number of promising crossing opportunities being ‘wasted.’

It could well be time for Howe to axe Murphy from his starting lineup to freshen up proceedings, therefore, with the Magpies boss hopeful that both Gordon and Harvey Barnes next to Isak can cause Chelsea all sorts of bother in a huge Premier League clash up next.

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Celtic appear set to conclude yet another very successful season in style.

On Wednesday night, despite the fact Brendan Rodgers made wholesale changes, the Hoops won 5-1 at Pittodrie, thanks to goals from Maik Nawrocki, Yang Hyun-jun, Luke McCowan, young striker Johnny Kenny and then Adam Idah.

Idah’s goal was his 20th of the campaign across all competitions and, given that Nicolas Kühn and Daizen Maeda had already reached this milestone, this is the first time since 1969/70 Celtic have had a trio of players register 20+ goals.

The Hoops will be presented with a record-equalling 55th Premiership trophy on Saturday, before seeking to complete a sixth treble in just nine seasons when they meet Aberdeen again in the Scottish Cup Final at Hampden a week later.

However, Rodgers is never satisfied, so he is targeting a new winger, in a deal reminiscent of, arguably, the best player he’s ever had across his two stints as Celtic manager.

Scott Sinclair's Celtic career in numbers

When Scott Sinclair arrived at Celtic from Aston Villa for a reported fee of £3m in the summer of 2016, his career was at a bit of a crossroads, looking to rediscover his best form, joining to link up with Rodgers, who’d previously been his manager at Swansea.

Well, few could’ve forecast how good the Englishman would prove to be, scoring 25 goals during his first season in Glasgow, named Celtic Player of the Year, both the Players’ and Supporters’ awards, PFA Players’ Player of the Year as well as SFWA Footballer of the Year, a clean-sweep of all the individual accolades.

In total, Sinclair scored 62 times in 167 appearances for Celtic, averaging a goal every 185 minutes, and he remains the highest-scoring player at the club under Rodgers across both his tenures as boss.

Scott Sinclair

148

60

Moussa Dembélé

94

51

James Forrest

207

45

Daizen Maeda

85

43

Callum McGregor

246

37

Leigh Griffiths

87

37

Kyōgo Furuhashi

82

31

Adam Idah

70

29

Odsonne Édouard

68

27

As the table outlines, Sinclair is still clear by quite some distance at the top of this ranking although, if Maeda continues to score at this season’s rate next time round, who knows, he could overtake the Englishman by Christmas.

Fast-forward to the present day, with Jota sidelined for up to nine months, Celtic are in the market for a new wide attacker this summer, so they could go into the market to land a replacement

Celtic could sign their new Sinclair

According to a report by Stephen McGowan of the Herald, Celtic are ‘monitoring’ winger Tyrhys Dolan, who is expected to leave EFL Championship club Blackburn Rovers following the expiration of his contract, thereby becoming available for a ‘minimal compensation fee’.

Blackburn manager Valérien Ismaël was desperate to keep the 23-year-old at Ewood Park, labelling him an “important player”, adding that “he’s at a really good age… but [has] a lot of experience already”, however, Rovers were unable to convince Dolan to sign a new contract.

Elliott Jackson of the Lancashire Telegraph believes Dolan is “absolutely terrific”, while writer Kai Watson describes him as “quick” and a “direct… goal threat”, assertions that are supported by the table below.

Minutes

3,175

86th

Goals

7

42nd

Assists

6

18th

Shots

50

61st

Shots on target %

44%

20th

Shot-creating actions

99

41st

Goal-creating actions

17

7th

Attempted take-ons

152

7th

Progressive carries

94

27th

Carries into the final third

72

15th

As the table outlines, Dolan’s primary strength is his dribbling, with only six players registering more attempted take-ons, despite the fact he only featured in 77% of Blackburn’s total minutes.

Just like Sinclair, Dolan has shown plenty of promise at Championship level.

Before joining Celtic, Sinclair’s most productive campaign came during Swansea’s promotion season under Rodgers of 2010/11, scoring 27 times across all competitions, including a hat-trick in the play-off final victory over Reading at Wembley.

The duo share many of the same attributes: explosive pace, high-quality dribbling skills and an eye for goal.

Thus, if Celtic are able to get this deal over the line, especially considering Dolan is set to become a free agent on 1 July, they’d get their hands on a fantastic new wide attacker.

​​​​​​​

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ByDan Emery May 15, 2025

Plans for Tottenham Hotspur’s summer rebuild are already underway.

Having won just one of their last nine, Spurs are languishing 16th in the Premier League, thereby on course for their lowest finish since being relegated in 1977.

However, Ange Postecoglou’s team could, of course, salvage the campaign in a big way, preparing for the Europa League Final against Manchester United later this month, with both silverware and a place in next season’s Champions League on the line.

Of course, Champions League qualification would massively help their summer transfer plans, both financially and in terms of prestige, although, regardless of the outcome in Bilbao, this squad requires serious surgery, but do Tottenham already boast a more valuable attacker than their potential new signing?

Tottenham's search for attacking reinforcements

As previously reported by Danny Rust and Dean Jones of Give Me Sport, Tottenham are ‘planning to make an offer’ to sign Liam Delap from Ipswich Town this summer.

Having scored 12 Premier League goals for the Tractor Boys this season, the 22-year-old is certainly a man in demand, with Wayne Veysey of Football Insider noting that Chelsea, Manchester United and Nottingham Forest are amongst his potential suitors.

This is surely partly due to the fact that, as reported by Jacob Steinberg and Nick Ames of the Guardian, Delap has a £30m release clause, following Ipswich’s relegation, which looks a major bargain for a player Jacek Kulig of Football Talent Scout labels an “absolute beast”.

Thus, Delap appears as though he would be an excellent addition for Spurs, but do they already boast a better attacker?

Tottenham's most valuable attacker

When Brennan Johnson joined Tottenham from Nottingham Forest for a reported fee of £47m in September 2023, a few eyebrows were raised, but he has certainly proved his worth, as the table below outlines.

Tottenham’s highest scorers 2024/25

Players

Goals

Assists

G + A

Brennan Johnson

17

7

24

Dominic Solanke

15

8

23

Son Heung-min

11

12

23

James Maddison

12

11

23

Dejan Kuluševski

10

11

21

Pedro Porro

4

9

13

Pape Matar Sarr

6

3

9

Richarlison

5

2

7

All statistics courtesy of Transfermarkt

As the table shows, no Spurs player has been directly involved in more goals than Johnson, 11 of which have come in the Premier League, also contributing four en route to Bilbao in the Europa League.

Paul Taylor of The Athletic labels Johnson “electric”, while Ali Tweedale of Opta’s the Analyst, outlines how the Wales international quickly went from Tottenham’s ‘lightning rod’ to their most important, most prolific attacker.

Meantime, Liam Tharme of The Athletic documents how ghosting in at the back post to score with a first-time finish has become Johnson’s trademark goal, making him a pivotal figure in Postecoglou’s team.

These performances mean Johnson is now Tottenham’s most valuable attacker, as the table below outlines.

Tottenham’s most valuable attackers + Liam Delap

Players

Estimated valuation

Brennan Johnson

£60m

Dominic Solanke

£44m

Son Heung-min

£26m

Mathys Tel

£48m

Richarlison

£22.5m

Wilson Odobert

£21m

Liam Delap

£31m

All valuations courtesy of FootballTransfers.com

Based on these market values, Delap’s aforementioned £30m release clause actually offers pretty fair market value, but the £47m fee paid to secure Johnson’s services was, in retrospect, actually a bargain, considering his current value of £60m.

So, while Delap may be a great signing for Spurs, whatever they’re planning for the summer, they need to ensure this gets the best out of their already excelling attacker.

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Wasting no time feeling sorry for themselves after missing out on the Premier League title, Arsenal are now reportedly ready to jump ahead of their rivals and match the price-tag to sign one particular gem.

Arsenal's summer transfer plans

Arriving with plenty to do, there’s no doubt that new sporting director Andrea Berta will be looking to make quite the statement at Arsenal this summer. Whilst injury issues have far from helped Mikel Arteta’s side this season, there is no denying that their squad simply hasn’t been strong enough – especially going forward. And that must change next season.

Arsenal attackers in the Premier League this season (via FBref)	Minutes	Goals	Assists
Bukayo Saka	1,454	6	10
Gabriel Martinelli	1,956	7	4
Kai Havertz	1,839	9	3
Leandro Trossard	2,264	8	5

Involved in 52 Premier League goals between the four of them this season, Arsenal’s struggles have far from been helped by a frontline which has been hit with injuries and disappointing form – making Berta’s first task in the job clearer than ever.

On that front the transfer rumours have already been coming thick and fast too, with names such as Hugo Ekitike and Ollie Watkins just two options who have found themselves among the headlines in recent weeks.

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Of course, Watkins is not a new name on Arsenal’s radar either. The Aston Villa striker found himself at the centre of their interest in the January transfer window, only for the Gunners to opt out of a move worth £60m.

Now, months on, it will certainly be interesting to see whether Berta decides to perform an Arsenal U-turn as his first act as sporting director. Watkins undoubtedly has the ability to transform Arteta’s frontline and may yet be the first of a number of new names arriving at The Emirates in the coming months.

Arsenal ready to match Wesley's price-tag

According to Caught Offside, Arsenal are now ready to match Wesley’s €35m (£30m) price-tag in order to jump the queue ahead of the likes of Chelsea and secure the right-back’s signature. Having already reportedly made contact with the Flamengo gem, the Gunners must now make their official move when the transfer window swings open.

Dubbed “immense” by U23 scout Antonio Mango, Wesley is certainly one to watch. At just 21 years old, he’s impressed enough for Flamengo’s senior team to earn the attention of the Premier League.

With a decision to make, the defender must assess his options and pick his next club. The big question will be whether he’d receive much-needed game time at Arsenal amid competition from Ben White and Jurrien Timber. Both players have the experience that Wesley lacks, as the youngster would become Arteta’s fifth full-back signing as Gunners boss.

As the summer transfer window approaches, the Flamengo gem looks likely to steal more and more headlines in the coming months.

With Matheus Cunha possibly heading for the exit door this summer, Wolverhampton Wanderers have reportedly set their sights on signing an Atletico Madrid star who’s actually been compared to Nelson Semedo.

Cunha could leave Wolves with Premier League giants keen

By signing a new contract and staying put in January, some may have believed that Cunha had put any talk of an exit to bed once and for all. However, it quickly emerged that his new deal included a release clause worth around £63m which is reportedly likely to be triggered this summer.

The Brazilian is certainly not short on suitors, either, with Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur both in the race for his signature. Alas, as things stand, it seems as though it’s Manchester United who are leading the race to secure his signature having reportedly already agreed personal terms with the Wolves star.

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ByRoss Kilvington May 2, 2025

Before the arrival of Vitor Pereira, the thought of Cunha’s exit would have sent most Wolves fans into overdrive. However, even in the absence of their star man thanks to suspension a few weeks ago, the Midlands club began to put together a vital winning run and dominantly ended their relegation fears. It was then Cunha’s return to the side which helped stretch that run to six games before Manchester City stopped it there on Friday.

Speaking with great pride about his side’s run even after it came to an end against Man City, Pereira said: “Yes, but in the end, this is football. I am still proud of my team.

“I told them that we can lose a game, but we cannot lose our identity, our courage, our ambition, our commitment, our team spirit. Today, I saw everything in my team, everything except the result. “

Wolves eye move for Atletico Madrid's Samuel Lino

Still needing to replace Cunha despite recent results, those in the Midlands have reportedly set their sights on a new target. According to South American journalist Juan Arrien, relayed by Give Me Sport, Wolves are now eyeing a move to sign Samuel Lino from Atletico Madrid in an attempt to replace Cunha this summer.

A player who has been compared to Nelson Semedo by Football Transfers, Lino mainly operates as a left-winger but can also feature on the opposite flank to offer Pereira key versatility. Having scored four goals and created a further six in all competitions this season, the Brazilian’s output has far from matched Cunha’s, but a move to the Premier League could be exactly what he needs.

Of course, it wasn’t so long ago that Cunha was struggling at Atletico Madrid before starring at Wolves. Once dubbed “incredible” by U23 scout Antonio Mango, Lino can now follow that same path by swapping Madrid for Molineux in the coming months.

If there is one thing that has come to define this season for Tottenham Hotspur, it’s injuries.

It’s undeniable that Ange Postecoglou’s side have massively underperformed over the last nine months, but the number and severity of the team’s injuries cannot be ignored.

For example, Archie Gray, an 18-year-old midfielder, has made 19 appearances at centre-back, nine at right-back and five at left-back this season, as there were simply no other options at certain points.

Unfortunately, this rotten luck with injuries has struck the North Londoners once again, and they will be without Dejan Kulusevski for their game this weekend and the Europa League Final next week.

Kulusevski's injury disaster

Likely in a bid to keep him fresh and to try and help rediscover some of his incredible form from earlier this season, Postecoglou opted to start Kulusevski against Crystal Palace on Sunday afternoon.

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Unfortunately, it was a decision that quickly came back to bite him, as just 19 minutes into the game, the Swedish international hobbled off the pitch, clearly in some discomfort.

After the game, the manager told the press that it was “just a knock” and that “he should be ok,” although this has since been proven very wrong indeed.

Just yesterday evening, the club announced that the former Juventus star had “suffered an injury to his right patella” against the Eagles and has now “undergone surgery”, which will keep him out of action for the rest of the season.

With James Maddison out for the rest of the campaign as well, it wouldn’t be hyperbolic to say that Tottenham are now in an injury crisis when it comes to the number ten position.

Unfortunately, there are simply no perfect solutions at the moment, but Postecoglou could be bold and start one of his most exciting options there on the weekend, ahead of the final.

The Spurs player who should start for Kulusevski

While some fans will want Postecoglou to play the kids this weekend, it’s probably better that he plays something close to the team that’ll take on Manchester United on Wednesday, at least for the first half.

Doing this should avoid any players getting a little rusty, and it will give the manager a chance to see how Mathys Tel fares in the number ten position.

Now, before the pitchforks come out, we know this is an unorthodox suggestion, but as things stand, there aren’t many other options.

Moreover, while the young Frenchman – who could sign permanently in a £45m deal this summer – is primarily a winger and striker, he has shown himself to be quite a creative attacker, especially with Bayern Munich last season.

For example, FBref placed him in the top 1% of attacking midfielders and wingers in the Bundesliga last year for goal-creating actions, the top 2% for goals plus assists and medium pass completion, the top 4% for long pass completion, the top 6% for carries into the penalty area, the top 9% for assists and more, all per 90.

Goal-Creating Actions

1.11

Top 1%

Goals + Assists

1.03

Top 2%

Medium Pass Completion

86.5%

Top 2%

Long Pass Completion

72.0%

Top 4%

Shots on Target

1.54

Top 4%

Shots Total

3.69

Top 4%

Carries into the Penalty Area

2.66

Top 6%

Assists

0.43

Top 9%

On top of that, FBref considered Florian Wirtz to be the eighth most similar player to the Sarcells-born gem last season and Jamal Musiala to be the tenth.

So, if he’s statistically similar to two of Germany’s most technically gifted number tens, then there must be something in his game worth exploring this weekend, which, if successful, could see him start there again next week.

Moreover, if Ange plans to start Dominic Solanke up top, then the “generational talent,” as Spurs themselves described him internally, could almost act as a second striker at points, dovetailing with the Englishman and giving the Red Devils’ backline a real headache.

Ultimately, there simply isn’t an ideal solution to Spurs’ current injury crisis, but in Tel, Ange has a promising youngster who at least has the parts to his game that could see him do a job in attacking midfield.

Therefore, the Australian should start the Bayern Loanee there this weekend as a test case for the final next week.

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ByJack Salveson Holmes May 12, 2025

With Ibrahima Konate attracting interest from Real Madrid and Virgil van Dijk certainly no spring chicken anymore, it was hardly a surprise to see Liverpool throw their hat in the ring for Bournemouth defender Dean Huijsen.

The young centre-back has shown himself to be one of the most exciting defenders in Europe and as such, attracted the interest of many a suitor on the continent.

Possessing a £50m release clause that could be paid in three instalments, this move felt like a no-brainer for the top clubs in Europe, yet Liverpool have now sadly missed out on his signature.

Indeed, it was announced on Saturday that Madrid had agreed a deal to bring the 20-year-old to the Bernabeu this summer.

So, who could the Reds target instead?

Liverpool could sign amazing Huijsen alternative

There appear to be several defenders on Liverpool’s radar at the moment, with Arne Slot not just keen on strengthening in the centre of defence but also at full-back.

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Jeremie Frimpong looks poised to sign as Trent Alexander-Arnold’s replacement, while there are a few contenders to replace Andy Robertson at left-back with the likes of Milos Kerkez and Rayan Ait-Nouri two names touted.

As far as their options at centre-back are concerned, they could get over their Huijsen setback by launching a move for Ajax sensation Jorrel Hato.

That’s according to Fabrizio Romano, via GIVEMESPORT, who claims that Hato is “one of the players appreciated at Liverpool” but “let’s see also what Arsenal decide to do,” with the Gunners interested.

Liverpool may have to pay a similar price to Huijsen with Ajax reportedly valuing the 19-year-old at around £42m.

How Hato compares to Huijsen

In the words of scout Jacek Kulig, the teenager is “one of the most talented CBs of his generation in Europe.” Fine praise indeed, but what makes him so special?

Well, as data analyst Ben Mattinson notes, the Dutchman is an “exceptional athlete” who can “carry through the lines”, much in the same way Huijsen can.

They’re pretty similar profiles, but Hato comes with one additional plus point, he can play at left-back, as well as in the middle.

A left-footed player, it’s no surprise to see he’s in such high demand. Not only could he replace Robertson, but he’s a mighty fine long-term replacement for Van Dijk too.

Pass success %

89%

83.5%

Key passes

0.65

0.54

Progressive passes

4.24

4.96

Progressive carries

1.37

1.55

Successful take-ons

0.25

0.08

Tackles won

1.29

1.01

Ball recoveries

4.53

3.91

Aerial duels won

1.83

2.56

While Huijsen trumps the young Netherlands international for progressive passing and carries, there are some key wins for Hato here.

He’s notably crisper in possession, making more take-ons and completing a higher percentage of his passes. Hato is also a natural shuttler, completing more ball recoveries per 90 minutes.

Let us not forget that this is a player who has captained Ajax too, even at his young age. It’s remarkable really that the Dutch side have placed so much faith in him.

If Liverpool are hunting for their future Van Dijk replacement, considering Hato boasts natural leadership skills, he ticks all the boxes here for Slot and Co.

He'd be their best CM since Fabinho: Liverpool plan bid for £60m "machine"

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One of the most underrated academies in English football could well be that of West Ham United. The Hammers have produced some exceptional players in the Premier League era, some of them going on to have legendary careers, though sadly away from East London.

Perhaps the most famous example is Frank Lampard, who broke through under Harry Redknapp and eventually joined Chelsea, where he became a key player at Stamford Bridge. Rio Ferdinand is another player who came through the Hammers academy, but he moved to Leeds, and then Manchester United, where he was a vital player under Sir Alex Ferguson.

Of course, there are other examples, including Jermaine Defoe, who broke through the first team at Upton Park. There are more recent talents to have come through West Ham’s academy system, who have now left.

Some of West Ham’s biggest academy losses

When you think of West Ham’s academy in the modern-day era, the one player who might spring to mind immediately is Declan Rice. The England international moved to Arsenal in 2023, but certainly left his mark on the London Stadium.

He made 245 appearances for the club, scoring 15 goals and grabbing 13 assists from defensive midfield in that time. He also helped them to win the UEFA Conference League back in 2023, one of his final acts as a West Ham player.

Another player, who people may not know was once a West Ham academy player, is Ayden Heaven. However, he was poached by Arsenal as a youngster, and is now at Old Trafford like Ferdinand once was. So far, the youngster has made two Premier League appearances.

Heaven is not the only former West Ham academy man now plying his trade in Manchester. Striker Divin Mubama joined Manchester City last summer, and he has gone on to play twice this season, scoring once against Salford City in the FA Cup.

However, perhaps the most frustrating loss of an anace,y player in recent years is someone else poached by Man City.

West Ham’s biggest academy loss

Over on the Blue half of Manchester, they are not short of elite talent. However, Divine Mukasa, formerly of West Ham, is arguably one of the most exciting. He was described as a “serious talent” by football analyst Ben Mattinson.

In fact, Mattinson also says he believes Mukasa “would be playing for West Ham’s first team right now if he had stayed”, which further shows just how talented he is. He has certainly reached an exceptionally high level this season.

Muksas’s numbers for City’s under-18s this term are nothing short of incredible. In 25 games in the Under-18s Premier League and the FA Youth Cup, a competition in which City are in the final, he has managed 17 goals and 21 assists.

To break that down further, he has found the back of the net 16 times and created 15 goals for his teammates in the league, making just 20 appearances. In just five FA Youth Cup games, he’s grabbed a phenomenal six assists.

Mukasa has also stood out in the UEFA Youth League for City, and his underlying numbers via Sofascore show how well he has played. In eight games, he averaged 1.7 key passes per game and completed 0.6 dribbles.

Minutes

54.1

433

Assists

0.6

3

Key passes

1.7

8

Dribbles completed

0.6

3

Tackles and interceptions

1

5

In a West Ham shirt for the under-18s, Mukasa’s record was not as good as it was for City. He managed just one goal and one assist in ten games, playing 610 minutes, the equivalent of 6.7 full 90-minute games.

Based on his sparkling form in the Etihad youth ranks, it might not be long before he earns his chance in Pep Guardiola’s first-team ranks, with the Irons left faced with the prospect of witnessing one of their own go on to shine elsewhere – much like with the case of three-time Premier League winner and all-time top Chelsea goalscorer, Lampard.

There is no doubt that fumbling Mukasa was a real error by the Hammers. His talent is clear to see, and he could have had an impact in their side this season, if only they had managed to keep hold of him two years ago.

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