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West Ham United have now been told a key condition of them potentially signing Brighton forward Evan Ferguson in January, with multiple reports linking Julen Lopetegui’s side to the Republic of Ireland starlet.

West Ham thrashed 5-2 by Arsenal as Julen Lopetegui faces sack

Lopetegui is a man under ever-increasing pressure, especially after their 5-2 drubbing at the hands of Arsenal, with the away side 4-0 up after half an hour after cutting through West Ham like a knife through butter.

£60m striker wants January exit as West Ham communicate intent to sign him

The Hammers have apparently “confirmed their intention”.

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By
Emilio Galantini

Nov 30, 2024

It was a Premier League record-equalling opening 45 minutes of goals, and while West Ham did threaten an exceptional comeback by notching two back, Gunners star Bukayo Saka put the result beyond all doubt with his penalty deep into first period stoppage time.

Lopetegui was left “frustrated” by their lacklustre defending and some of the decisions that went against them, but did praise his players for showing the “character” to compete in stages.

“Overall, I am frustrated with the first-half. We deserved two goals, but they didn’t deserve five,” said Lopetegui on West Ham’s 5-2 defeat to Arsenal.

“We were unlucky in the decisions, in my opinion. The first goal, I think it was a block. We were unlucky. We have to do better for sure. We didn’t make good decisions in a defensive way – that’s why it was a strange match.

“The team showed character to compete. We were unlucky with the decisions today. We asked before the match, the referee with the block, as a coach we have to know the limit.

“This week we have to do better in our individual actions, in a defensive way.”

Lopetegui’s men next face Ruud van Nistelrooy’s Leicester City tonight at the King Power Stadium, and it is surely a must-win game for the Spaniard. FC Porto boss Sergio Conceicao is now being seriously linked with the West Ham job, and while Hammers chiefs are hesitant to axe Lopetegui so early, there is alarm within the London Stadium over their dismal form right now (The Guardian).

West Ham told Brighton condition of potential Evan Ferguson deal in January

Amidst their on-field struggles, West Ham are planning to sign a striker in January, following Niclas Fullkrug’s struggles with injury since his £27 million arrival from Borussia Dortmund.

Brighton striker Ferguson is on West Ham’s radar heading into January, with reports suggesting the 20-year-old could depart on loan in the winter after falling behind Danny Welbeck and Joao Pedro in the Amex pecking order.

GiveMeSport have shared an update on their pursuit of the Irishman, sharing one condition of a potential temporary deal for interested sides, including West Ham.

They write that Brighton are likely to only green-light a straight loan for Ferguson, and they’re not inclined to negotiate a buy option clause, meaning his maximum stay in east London would be for six months.

The Seagulls clearly see a bright future for Ferguson, going by this update, and it is believed they’ve not fully signed off on his January exit just yet – despite his lack of consistent game time under Fabian Hurzeler.

Other reports have claimed that the price tag to sign him permanently would be around £60 million, and it is very debatable whether West Ham could afford that next summer anyway.

For both the USMNT and Canada, the Nations League third-place match has nearly as much at stake as the tournament finale

LOS ANGELES – In an unexpected way, Mauricio Pochettino and the U.S. men's national team actually got exactly what they were looking for: a competitive game with real stakes. Canada, CONCACAF Nations League, Sunday – only the kickoff will be in the afternoon local time, not the prime-time slot.

This won't be a tournament final – rather, the third-place game. There will be no trophy to lift. The USMNT's 1-0 loss to Panama in the semifinals Thursday ensured that. It also ensured that, for the first time in this competition's four-year history, someone other than the U.S. will be the champion – either Mexico or Panama.

Tough pill to swallow.

Yet … this isn't a normal third-place game. These are typically after-thought affairs, a chance for rotation after a deflating defeat. Not this time. This game is suddenly pressure-packed, with nearly as much on the line as the tournament finale – or perhaps more. Both the U.S. and Canada have so much to prove, so much to show after their semifinal defeats.

The U.S. will need to show something different. They were flat and uninspired against Panama, despite all that was at stake. They can't afford that again. Pochettino will likely make changes, but there is a question of who and how many. He'll need Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie his stars to help his team play their way out of this self-inflicted mess.

"I think that game didn't describe and doesn't describe how we are as a team, as individuals, as players, as coaches, as a U.S. men's national team," Pochettino said. "For different reasons, that can happen, but we need to improve.

GOAL takes a look at five key storylines as the USMNT take on Canada at 6 pm ET at SoFi Stadium.

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  Gio Reyna, Diego Luna and creating

  In the second half of Thursday's loss, it became glaringly obvious: the USMNT needed a creative spark. Panama were making the game narrow and spaces were getting tighter. The USMNT was going to need to find a way to play through a wall, to thread a needle to get their goal.

  To their credit, they did twice. Patrick Agyemang had two opportune looks on goal, but couldn't put either home. The chances were there, but without someone to jump on them – someone such as Gio Reyna or Diego Luna. Both have their drawbacks: Reyna's lack of form and Luna's lack of experience.

  At that point in the game, though, the risk would have been worth the reward. The U.S. needed someone on the field who was willing to try things, with Pochettino saying players "need to trust that they can make a mistake and that the mistake is to not try again. For me, that is the most important. People that take risks is what we want, what we love – and we cannot play football without risk."

  Winning the possession battle, which the USMNT overwhelmingly did, means little without scoring.

  "It's like we played without goals, but the objective is to score," Pochettino said. "We prepare and we attack the opponent and that's about finding the possibility to go after it and scoring. We really enjoyed keeping possession and playing and playing and playing, but we didn't score."

  Pochettino admitted that he was prepared to turn to both Reyna and Luna in extra time – but a Panama goal in the 94th minute ensured that the USMNT never got there.

  He should have made the switch earlier. With Panama struggling to threaten, the U.S. had four central midfielders on the field in various spots and none were consistently creating. The double pivot of Tanner Tessmann and Tyler Adams wasn't necessary. The introduction of Jack McGlynn made some sense, but he didn't solve the problem.

  Pochettino said that you can expect to see Luna and Reyna on Sunday, and rightfully so. Both have a point to prove and both will offer something that the U.S. was sorely lacking. It's too late to change that outcome, but Pochettino will hope that one of those two can make an impact against Canada.

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  The need for goals

  While the ability to create goalscoring chances is crucial, actually finishing those chances is even more important. The USMNT lacked that on Thursday, too.

  There were a number of opportunities against Panama, and if any one of them had gone the USMNT's way, it would be a different discussion. It was a perfect combination of wastefulness and bad luck.

  "I don't want to say that you don't care, but I think you take it in a more relaxed way," Pochettino said of the approach. "I think that game, we all felt that the opportunity would appear and that we would score and win the game and we celebrate and go to the final on Sunday. I think that was the feeling on the pitch, for you, for players, for us.

  "That is the wrong feeling because you need to score, you need to be aggressive. You need to score two, three, four and then, OK, maybe relax in the few minutes. But, until then, that was a problem."

  Josh Sargent had two of those chances, one off the post and one ruled out due to an offside call long before he hit the back of the net. Patrick Agyemang had a one-on-one saved before then flipping a Christian Pulisic pass up and over the bar. Four looks at goal, any of which could have booked the USMNT a spot in Sunday's finale against Mexico.

  Now they're against Canada, who have a clinical striker of their own in Jonathan David. Sargent has been fantastic for Norwich, but that clinical finishing has been absent from his USMNT game for years. He hasn't scored since 2019 in a U.S. shirt. It would be a damn good time to get one. As for Agyemang, this was his third cap and you give him credit for making an impact off the bench.

  One of the strikers needs to step up – and that explicity means scoring. Goals are a striker's currency, and the USMNT can't afford to have their forwards remain broke through Sunday.

  They could also use a jolt from Pulisic, who completed just 23 of his 35 passes, had just one shot off blocked away and failed to create a chance against Panama.

  "Just lacking a bit of aggressiveness and creativity in the final third," Pulisic said after the match. "We're still building our identity. This is a tough loss. We've won this tournament a couple of times now and it didn't go our way this year, but we just have to keep going from here."

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  A decision in net

  Let Tony Meola explain it.

  "That ball can't end up in the back of the net," the former US goalkeeper said on CBS after Thursday's match. "I look at the angle Matt Turner took and… yes, the pace of the shot, not going to take anything away from the goalscorer, but in this moment, at this time, Turner is a bit tucked in there [at goal] and… his feet are planted and he doesn't have that explosion. I'm not blaming Turner, but those are moments where you have to find a way."

  Meola offered a theory as to why Turner couldn't quite find a way – his lack of playing time at the club level. It's no secret that Turner hasn't played much this season. After months of this conversation, it's time to ask: should Turner continue to start?

  Pochettino, ultimately, is the one to make that call. He has Patrick Schulte and Zack Steffen in the team, and both will feel they've done enough to earn this chance. Turner, though, has history on his side. It would be harsh to rule him out based on one tough goal. Turner will have much to prove if he is given the nod again.

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  Containing Canada

  This may be a third-place match, but that doesn't mean it will be easy. Canada is a team that is at an entirely different level than Panama, which means Sunday's game will look very different.

  While Panama were content to sit back and pick their spot, Canada will certainly believe they can play with the USMNT. They have reason to. They beat the U.S. 2-1 last September after finishing fourth at a Copa America in which the USMNT got grouped. The 2-0 loss to Mexico Thursday was frustrating, yes, but Canada had their chances and left SoFi Stadium feeling hard done by VAR.

  Of the two teams, Canada are arguably more dynamic. Alphonso Davies is incredible. Jonathan David is the best striker in CONCACAF. Cyle Larin is a proven weapon, while newer faces like Ismael Kone and Moise Bombito are coming into their own. You can't fall asleep against Canada. They will punish an opponent much more viciously than Panama can.

  "The U.S., from what I've heard from the camp, is internally disappointed with the performance," said Canada boss Jesse Marsch. "The media here in the U.S. has been very aggressive about how disappointed they were in this team and now have turned a little bit and put it towards the players.

  "We would be foolish if, based on those two factors, we don't expect a hard, real game and a big response from the USMNT. That being said, our guys are excited. we're excited about the challenge."

  For the USMNT, that challenge is going to be difficult. Canada will also be feeling pressure to prove themselves on the road to 2026. This is a measuring stick for both, and whoever loses will have a lot of thinking to do.

Liverpool are flying. Of course, they were held to a draw against Newcastle United on Wednesday evening, dropping points in the Premier League after seven victories on the trot in all competitions, but the incredible start to the season remains intact.

It’s foolish to think that Arne Slot’s Reds will win every game they play, though it’s frustrating that Fabian Schar was able to restore parity late on.

Defensively, Liverpool have been solid this season, making improvements on last year’s efforts. The Anfield side top the Premier League and Champions League tables so far, but in order to achieve illustrious heights across many years under Slot’s wing, some areas do need some work.

The areas where Liverpool need to improve

Liverpool flattered to deceive in defence at St. James’ Park, lacking the robust and steely quality that Ibrahima Konate brings to the table, fusing his athletic skillset with Virgil van Dijk’s cultured style.

Of course, Van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold are both out of contract at the end of the season, and though FSG are hoping to tie down both stalwarts to fresh deals, it’s gravely concerning all the same.

Losing two core parts of an imperious backline would be to Slot’s detriment, for both stars transcend their so-called defensive roles and operate at world-renowned levels.

Liverpool could also add an extra element to the thriving midfield. Ryan Gravenberch has been in fine fettle this season but looked tired against Newcastle and needs some competition at number six. Martin Zubimendi, who is still believed to be of interest to Liverpool, could be the missing component there.

Elsewhere, though, there are one or two mainstays who could actually find themselves dislodged from their starting position. While he’s been an integral part over the years, Andy Robertson may be one of them.

Why Liverpool should replace Andy Robertson

Liverpool signed Robertson from Hull City in 2017, completing a £10m transfer that was met with derision from many pockets of the Premier League.

This young and relatively unknown Scotsman was surely not the kind of player that Jurgen Klopp’s project needed to propel themselves to new heights. Liverpool, it seemed, were content with mediocrity, settling back into the familiarity of passableness.

How the detractors were silenced. Robertson is one of the greatest left-backs in Premier League history, conqueror of the biggest prizes and only trumped in creativity by his prodigious partner Alexander-Arnold.

The thing is though, Robertson’s creeping toward his 31st year and has served tirelessly within Liverpool’s highly-charged system for many years, completing 316 appearances.

Described as a “Duracell Bunny” by Liverpool writer Leanne Prescott, Robertson has operated at full throttle for many years and indeed is starting to look like a lesser version of the superstar who was hailed as “the best left-back in the world” by Klopp about three years ago.

There’s still a lot to like about the veteran, who ranks among the top 1% of full-backs across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for passes attempted, the top 2% for progressive passes and the top 3% for shot-creating actions per 90, as per FBref.

But then he’s found himself jockeying with Kostas Tsimikas for that first-choice spot this season, Slot seemingly unsatisfied with the £160k-per-week Robertson in phases.

Though he’s regarded as one of Alexander-Arnold’s “closest friends” – as revealed below – the Tartan Army skipper cannot keep his place in the side over the coming years if it is going to hamper Slot’s system from hitting its apex.

Liverpool need to be ruthless, and though tying Alexander-Arnold down to a lucrative new contract is crucial, so too is the good of the collective team.

Former scout Mick Brown, recently speaking to Football Insider, believes that the Reds are getting ready to focus on strengthening the left-back position in 2025, with Bournemouth’s Milos Kerkez and Antonee Robinson – who has been recently hailed as “one of the best left-backs in the world” by journalist Dougie Critchley for his exploits at Fulham – at the very top of the shopping list.

Compared to Robertson, it’s perhaps fair to say that both carry greater athletic and rounded qualities at present and that Liverpool might be wise to make the bold move.

This isn’t to say that Liverpool’s long-time servant needs to be sold, but a reduced role might be on the cards over the coming campaigns and this would only prove to elevate Slot’s exciting system higher.

Ultimately, Liverpool still have a reliable left-back in their mix, with elite ball-playing skills and a wealth of experience besides. The Redmen need to evolve over the coming years though, and Robertson might need to be axed at some point soon.

Ignored by Klopp: £32m Liverpool flop is now outscoring Salah in 2024

Klopp sold a star at the beginning of his Liverpool era, and now that very flop is outscoring Mohamed Salah in 2024.

By
Angus Sinclair

Dec 6, 2024

Atletico Madrid are eager to bring in Cristian Romero from Tottenham before the Club World Cup and the defender is tempted by a move.

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• Atletico Madrid and Real both want Romero
• Defender interested in move to Spain
• But negotiating a deal with Spurs won't be easy

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  La Liga giants Real Madrid have already been linked with a move for Romero this summer but will face strong competition from Atletico, according to Eduardo Burgos of . Los Colchoneros are "speeding up a move" for the defender and have made him the club's "top priority" before the Club World Cup. Romero is said be tempted by the idea of moving to Madrid but Atletico are expected to find negotiations with Tottenham tricky.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Romero has a contract with Tottenham until 2027 and it's been reported previously that Spurs would demand a fee of £60 million ($77m) for the Argentina international. Yet a move to Atletico may well appeal for the 26-year-old as it would see him work under compatriot Simeone as well as fellow Argentine team-mates such as Julian Alvarez, Rodrigo De Paul, Giuliano Simeone and Nahuel Molina.

• WHAT HAS BEEN SAID

  Transfer guru Fabrizio Romano says a move is possible but convincing Spurs to part ways with Romero will be tough. He told GiveMeSport: "It's a possibility but not something guaranteed as it depends on Daniel Levy, and we know how strong Spurs are in negotiations. So it's something possible, definitely; but it has to be an important financial package or Levy won't accept anything."

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  WHAT NEXT FOR ROMERO

  Romero has already spoken of his frustrations at Tottenham this season and how Spurs end the campaign may well prove to be a key factor in his plans for the future. Ange Postecoglou's side currently sit down in 14th place in the Premier League table and take on Chelsea next in the Premier League on Thursday.

Manchester United beat arch-rivals Manchester City in their first Premier League clash of the season after a fantastic late win. It was perhaps not the most expansive performance from the Red Devils, but again they were solid defensively and got a crucial three points after a poor run of form in recent weeks.

The Citizens actually took the lead through Josko Gvardiol. He crunched home a header, meeting Kevin De Bruyne’s deflected cross to give City the lead. Bruno Fernandes equalised late in the second half from the penalty spot after missing an earlier chance.

It was Amad Diallo who was the star of the show for the Red Devils. The young attacker, who played as a number 10 after featuring as a wing-back in the Premier League before Sunday’s clash, was fantastic, winning United’s penalty and then scoring the winner.

He took Lisandro Martinez’s searching ball around Ederson with a superb first touch and finish from an acute angle, subsequently sending the away support into raptures.

There were impressive performances littered throughout the Red Devils’ side, with the likes of Amad and Harry Maguire the standout players. However, there were a few players in Ruben Amorim’s side who struggled despite the three points.

Man United’s worst players against Man City

It is perhaps hard to pinpoint the worst of United’s players against the Citizens, given the home side were so lacklustre going forward. That in itself was so strange given they were at the Etihad Stadium, once a fortress, now a place where opposition sides go and play without fear.

However, Noussair Mazraoui was someone who struggled at times, coming up against Jeremy Doku. The Belgian had some joy against United’s number three in the first period, although the defender managed to grow into the game.

Manchester Evening News Journalist Samuel Luckhurst gave the Moroccan defender a 6/10 for his efforts against the men in Blue. He explained Mazraoui was ‘sloppy with the ball’ and ‘never had the measure’ of Doku.

Mazraoui was one of the changes Amroim made with ten minutes or so left, as was Matthijs de Ligt. Like his former Ajax teammate, the Dutchman did not necessarily perform badly against City but did not put in a fantastic performance, either.

In fact, De Ligt’s stats from the game are not as good as one might hope. The 25-year-old defender completed 89% of his passes and lost possession eight times. He also failed to win two of his duels, winning four aerial battles and one on the ground.

Whilst Mazraoui and De Ligt were not bad by any means, they certainly didn’t wow with their showings. However, Diogo Dalot was one player who really struggled.

Diogo Dalot’s performance in numbers vs Man City

If there is one man who might be glad of Amad’s fantastic performance, it could be Dalot. The Portugal international struggled to make much of an influence from left wing-back, be it in or out of possession.

His stats certainly suggested that it was a tough night at the office for the Red Devils number 20. Dalot failed to win any of the seven total duels he attempted, and lost the ball ten times. Frustratingly for a wing-back, the 25-year-old attempted just two crosses and was unable to complete either.

Luckhurst too noticed that the Portuguese defender struggled with his performance at the Etihad Stadium. He gave Dalot a 4/10 for his performance, explaining he lacked ‘conviction in attack’ throughout.

The journalist also pointed out that the defender was ‘nowhere near’ Gvardiol for the City goal, and that was certainly the case. He was outjumped by the Croatia defender, a disappointing error.

The United full-back must be relieved that Amad won the penalty and scored, given his 4/10 showing and the fact he could be considered at fault for the goal.

Forget Amad: 8/10 Man United star was "monstrous" against Man City

Manchester United secured a famous late win at the Etihad on Sunday.

By
Joe Nuttall

Dec 15, 2024

With the New Year on the horizon, those of a Manchester United persuasion will no doubt be looking to forget 2024 in a hurry, with it having been a simply miserable 12 months at Old Trafford on the whole.

The notable high point came at Wembley back in May, yet that shock FA Cup final triumph has been quickly forgotten amid the club’s woes both prior and since, with manager Erik ten Hag shown the door just a matter of months after lifting the trophy.

New boss Ruben Amorim has arrived with bold new ideas and an engaging personality, although as recent results have shown, it has largely been more of the same for a side that still languishes in 13th in the Premier League table.

Just a month or so into the Portuguese’s tenure, the Red Devils reached their latest nadir following Sunday’s grim 3-0 defeat at home to Bournemouth, with that result laying bare just where the three-time European champions are at present.

Seven goals conceded across their last two games in all competitions may point to worrying issues defensively, although it is the attacking unit which remains a “major problem” – as noted by journalist Liam Canning.

Man Utd's attacking woes

It says a lot that the Old Trafford side meekly capitulating on home soil no longer sends shockwaves across the game. In truth, defeats like the one to the Cherries have simply become the norm over the last 18 months or so.

This season alone, the Red Devils have now lost 3-0 on three occasions at the Theatre of Dreams, having also wilted up against Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur to mark the beginning of the end for Ten Hag.

Again, the defence will cop much of the blame for those dismal results, but the lack of goals has become a real concern of late. Indeed, United have scored just 21 league goals thus far, leaving them level with the likes of Leicester City, while even behind relegation strugglers, Wolverhampton Wanderers (27).

Those woes were even evident at the weekend, with the hosts registering 23 shots in total and finishing with an xG of 2.28. Bournemouth, meanwhile, had just ten shots and finished with an xG of only 1.63, as per Sofascore.

As Amorim lamented after the defeat to Spurs in the Carabao Cup, his side simply just aren’t “clinical” enough, with the lack of a reliable number nine still a significant issue.

Indeed, while young Rasmus Hojlund has scored seven goals in 20 appearances in 2024/24 thus far, only two of those have come in his 12 league outings.

As for summer signing Joshua Zirkzee, the Dutchman has had an even worse time of it, netting only four times in 25 appearances since his arrival from Bologna.

The return of the latter man, in particular, simply isn’t good enough, with a swift upgrade needing to be found to resolve what has long been a problem position at Old Trafford.

Man Utd's search for a striker

Back at Sporting CP, Amorim’s success was built on the strength of his leading goalscorer, with Viktor Gyokeres scoring 66 goals in just 68 games during their time together in Lisbon.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

As a result of that fruitful partnership, there will be clamour for a reunion to occur between the pair in Manchester, although according to recent reports, United could well look elsewhere to make a dream first signing of the Amorim era.

Indeed, there have been claims that the Red Devils are among the clubs keen to sign Nigerian sensation, Victor Osimhen, with the 26-year-old currently on loan at Galatasaray from parent club, Napoli.

Reportedly valued at around £62m, the former Chelsea target could make a belated move to the Premier League after a Stamford Bridge switch broke down over the summer, with the striker’s capture likely to be just what United are craving to end their goalscoring woes.

Why Osimhen would be a dream signing for Man Utd

The former Lille man may now be operating outside of Europe’s top five leagues in Turkey, yet it is hard to overlook his goalscoring prowess, having already bagged 12 goals in just 15 games during his time in Istanbul.

That haul ensures he has scored more times than Zirkzee and Hojlund combined in 2024/25 thus far, with the young pair netting just 11 goals between them across all competitions.

This red-hot form follows a prolific spell back in Naples for Osimhen, with the in-demand hotshot having netted 76 times in just 133 games for the Serie A side. In total across his career, the £62m man has scored 126 goals from 238 senior appearances.

To put that into context, Hojlund has scored just 50 senior goals in his career thus far, while Zirkzee’s record is even worse, having scored just 40 times (not including his stint with Bayern Munich’s second team).

The difference in quality between Zirkzee and Osimhen is stark indeed, as evidenced by their respective statistics in Italy’s top-flight last term, with Osimhen simply far more clinical, even if Zirkzee offers a greater creative influence. Amorim needs to ensure this deal gets done as a matter of urgency.

There will no doubt be fears over whether the Napoli man can make the transition to life in the Premier League, although any concerns should be eased by his likeness to a certain Zlatan Ibrahimovic, with that comparison having been made by his former Charleroi manager Felice Mazzu:

While Ibrahimovic’s time at Old Trafford was fleeting, the veteran certainly made his mark under Jose Mourinho, having ended the 2016/17 campaign with 28 goals to his name in 46 appearances.

As that short but sweet stint proved, players of that ilk can score goals anywhere without the need for a period of adjustment, with United – and Amorim – in need of a repeat scenario with the capture of Osimhen.

For too long, since the days of ‘Ibra’ and Robin van Persie before him, have the Red Devils been seeking a genuine world-beater to lead the line. Now is the time to go out and get one.

Man Utd can axe Ten Hag's "most poignant signing" with move for £5m star

Ruben Amorim could be about to target a new star for Manchester United in January.

By
Ethan Lamb

Dec 25, 2024

A former Liverpool director says Jurgen Klopp almost passed on signing Mohamed Salah and had to be convinced to secure his signature.

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• Salah an all-time great at Liverpool
• But Klopp almost passed on signing him
• German had to be convinced to secure deal

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Ian Graham, a former Liverpool director of research, has claimed that Klopp actually wanted to sign Julian Brandt from Bayer Leverkusen in 2017 instead of Salah from Roma. While Graham's colleagues agreed that the German international was a "very good young player", he was not at the same level as the Egyptian winger. Graham added that the Reds needed a wide player at the time, Salah fit the bill and Klopp allegedly said he was "open" to being convinced. And the rest is history.

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  'SHOW ME THAT SALAH IS BETTER…'

  Graham said on the documentary, :"Jurgen's preferred option for that summer was Julian Brandt, who was a great player. Jurgen would obviously know him very well coming from the Bundesliga and knowing the German market very well. We agreed that Brandt was a very good young player but not a standout in the same way that Mo was. From our data analysis point of view, Mo was the best young wide forward in Europe full stop. Roma were under pressure to sell because their finances were not in a good place so we knew he was available for a good price. He played a forward and wide role that we needed to fill at the time whereas Brandt was more of an attacking midfielder. It's to Jurgen's credit that he engaged in that debate in an honest way with his eyes open to say, 'OK, I'm open to be convinced, show me that Mo is better'."

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Salah has proven to be one of the best signings in Premier League history, with the 32-year-old scoring 243 goals and notching 110 assists in just 393 games for Liverpool. And he cost just £34 million ($44.5m) at the time. How different it might have been for the Merseyside outfit if they hadn't signed the ex-Chelsea man.

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  WHAT NEXT?

  Salah will look to add to his goals and assists tally when they travel to Fulham on Sunday in the Premier League. Incidentally, is available on BBC iPlayer now and on BBC One on Wednesday, April 9, at 11.40pm.

After one of their worst defensive campaigns in recent history last season, conceding 63 goals in 38 games, there looks to be a slight improvement at Chelsea under new manager, Enzo Maresca.

Last season, the Blues were conceding 14.6 shots per game on average (7th highest in the division). So far this campaign, Chelsea are only conceding 11.1 shots per game (5th fewest).

Despite conceding fewer shots per game, the Blues have still conceded 23 goals in their opening 19 games, showing there is still much room for improvement by tweaking the personnel within their system.

Premier League team wants to sign Chelsea defender

According to reports from reporter Graeme Bailey, West Ham United hold an interest in signing Axel Disasi from Chelsea. The report also stated the Blues would be open to letting the centre-back leave, due to the arrival of Tosin Adarabioyo in the summer on a free transfer

Chelsea signed Disasi from Monaco for a fee of £38.8m in 2023, and the Frenchman has since gone on to make 59 appearances for the Blues, scoring five goals and providing two assists.

The 26-year-old defender did his best work under Mauricio Pochettino last season, playing with a slightly deeper defensive line, being able to defend more often in his own box, winning aerial duels and putting in blocks.

However, since the arrival of Maresca, the responsibility and role of the central defenders has changed, which has had a negative effect on Disasi’s form, notably giving the ball away in awful fashion for Ipswich’s second strike last weekend. It was a moment that one Chelsea podcaster and content creator labelled as an “embarrassing” one.

LaLiga giants want him: Chelsea heading for Havertz repeat with £52m star

Chelsea may be about to offload one of their big-money investments in January.

By
Ethan Lamb

Dec 24, 2024

How Disasi compares to Wesley Fofana

Wesley Fofana started the season extremely strong for Chelsea, making 12 appearances, contributing to three clean sheets, and totalling 1,017 minutes played.

The 24-year-old is the perfect profile for the task Maresca is setting, with defenders pressing in a man-to-man fashion, looking to be aggressive and then having to recover larger distances at speed.

Since the Frenchman suffered from a hamstring injury, Maresca has struggled to find the right balance in his backline, trying Benoit Badiashile as a right central defender (despite being left-footed), using Malo Gusto as the right-back, becoming a right central defender on the ball, and then also using Disasi in this role.

The key difference between Disasi and Fofana when analysing their usage in this role for Maresca’s side is their ability to win their duels further away from their own box, often tracking players into midfield areas.

The former Leicester defender is able to do this, using his physical attributes, making plenty of ball recoveries, winning aerial duels by attacking them with purpose, and stepping in front of his man to make interceptions.

Disasi, on the other hand, is often slightly more flat-footed and doesn’t have the same agility and pace of Fofana to stay with his man. The 26-year-old also doesn’t have the same ability to carry the ball forward when opposition teams drop off, another reason Maresca loves the latter due to his ability to drive the team away out of deep zones.

Now is clearly the right time for Chelsea to move Disasi on, looking to replace him with a more suitable profile to the way Maresca wants his team to play, whether that’s in the transfer market, or promoting and giving more minutes to academy graduate, Josh Acheampong.

Transfer Focus

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Cesc Fabregas is reportedly a possible target for RB Leipzig amid an encouraging first season in charge of Como.

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• Leipzig looking for new manager
• Fabregas linked with vacant role
• Giving a good fist of it at Como

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  According to Sky Germany reporter Philipp Hinze, Arsenal legend Fabregas is a 'concrete' option for Leipzig after firing Marco Rose last month. But the German team are also said to be considering Sheffield Wednesday's Danny Rohl and Crystal Palace's Oliver Glasner.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Fabregas is in his first season in management, and so far Como are 13th in Serie A and sit nine points above the relegation zone. The former Barcelona star seems set to guide them to safety and that appears to have caught Leipzig's attention. That would be a big step up for the 37-year-old with his managerial career.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  The report also adds that former Benfica manager Roger Schmidt is also on their managerial shortlist, but Brentford's Thomas Frank will be 'hard to get'.

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  WHAT NEXT?

  It remains to be seen if ex-Chelsea ace Fabregas will stay at Como or potentially head to Germany – if they go for him at all, that is.

Manchester United forward Amad Diallo has been told to follow the example of Cristiano Ronaldo to fulfil his potential.

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• Amad told to follow Ronaldo example
• Will fix what is "holding him back"
• Has enjoyed a promising campaign

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Former Arsenal and Ivory Coast full-back Emmanuel Eboue believes Amad's physique is "holding him back" and that he must bulk up like United legend Ronaldo did as a young player. Eboue insists injuries are a big hurdle for his compatriot to clear and that his body needs to be stronger if he is to become a top player at Old Trafford.

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  WHAT EBOUE SAID

  Eboue told MyBettingSites.co.uk: "I love Amad, he’s like a younger brother to me. He’s a very good player, but his problem is that he picks up too many injuries. As a young footballer you need to be available every week, but with Amad it’s often one or two good months, then he’s out again. He’s still very young, but if he wants to become a top player, he needs to be incredibly strong. When I watched Cristiano Ronaldo, it was rare to see him injured. He looked after himself and worked unbelievably hard – and he’s still doing that now, even at 40."

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Amad was one of United's most important players in the first half of the season, scoring nine goals and registering eight assists in 36 appearances in all competitions. He injured his ankle in February, however, and may not play again this term.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR AMAD?

  Amad has returned to the grass but his major focus will be on returning to full fitness in time to start next season fast. His Manchester United team-mates take on Lyon in the Europa League quarter-finals on Thursday evening, needing to convert a 2-2 aggregate scoreline into a victory at Old Trafford.