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Liverpool have been left frustrated for the majority of the summer transfer window, with their struggle to land a defensive midfielder no secret, before they finally settled on Wataru Endo.

The departures of Jordan Henderson and Fabinho almost seemed to cancel out the boost that the arrival of Alexis Mac Allster and Dominik Szoboszlai gave Jurgen Klopp.

Now, another one of the German's stars has attracted interest from Saudi Arabia, which could reportedly see the Reds realise one of Juventus' fears this summer.

What's the latest Liverpool transfer news?

As the summer transfer window edges closer and closer to slamming shut, Liverpool could yet have themselves a busy few days, with Klopp looking to build a squad capable of competing on all fronts once again.

The arrival of Endo at least put an end to the Reds' crisis in defensive midfield, but after losing both Fabinho and Henderson earlier in the window, it could be argued that the Premier League giants still need one more reinforcement in the middle of the park.

Meanwhile, those at Anfield have been left on high alert following Al-Ittihad's reported interest in Mohamed Salah, whose exit would deal a significant blow to Liverpool's top four chances so late in the window.

As things stand, the Egyptian looks unlikely to leave the club this summer, with Klopp saying in his recent press conference, via ESPN: "There's nothing to talk about from our point of view, Mo Salah is a Liverpool player. If there would be something (a bid) the answer would be no."

Nonetheless, in the case of Salah's exit, according to Calciomercato, via Sport Witness, Federico Chiesa is on Liverpool's list of potential replacements, who Juventus reportedly value at €60m (£51m).

The Serie A giants reportedly want to keep the winger, and now they fear that a good offer from the Reds – as a result of the Salah rumours – will result in his exit.

Should Liverpool sign Federico Chiesa?

If Liverpool do lose Salah this summer, it would undoubtedly leave a gaping hole in their squad which not many players in Europe would be able to fill. Chiesa is among those who could, at the very least, attempt to fill the golden boots of the Egyptian… if he can stay fit.

As things stand, of course, it's very much a situation of break glass in case of emergency, but at his best, the Italian has the potential to play a starring role for most, if not all, of Europe's elite.

Statistically speaking, Chiesa even has some similarities to Salah, too. As per FBref, Salah made just 0.49 more progressive passes per 90 compared to Chiesa last season, who also made more progressive carries than the Egyptian.

Of course, Salah was involved in more goals, but the Juventus star would give Liverpool a different kind of approach from the wing, it seems.

Read the latest Liverpool transfer news HERE…

At his best, Chiesa has earned plenty of praise, too, including from Rio Ferdinand, who said, via The Metro: "He’s just a fantastic footballer. The intensity with which he plays with, we saw in the Euros he was the main goal threat for the Italians who went on to win the tournament.

"It’s his pace, his drive. He’s the one who is the threat, he’s potent, he wants to run in behind. He’s that modern day striker who can play anywhere across the front line and he’s as comfortable out wide as he is through the middle. He unnerves defenders with that pace, he’s so direct."

Hibernian continued their Jekyll-and-Hyde start to the 2023/24 campaign with a woeful 5-0 defeat to Aston Villa in their Europa Conference League qualifier in midweek.

The gulf in finances was certainly on show at Easter Road as Lee Johnson’s men simply couldn’t keep pace with Villa, who could boast Moussa Diaby and Pau Torres among their starting XI – players who cost £51.9m and £31.5m respectively.

Having lost their opening two Premiership matches, Johnson could soon become a man under pressure. A win over Raith Rovers last weekend sent the club through to the quarter-finals of the League Cup and the tie against Livingston today is surely a must-win.

What is the Hibs team news vs Livingston?

Ahead of the tie at Easter Road this afternoon, Johnson will be without the services of Dylan Levitt, Jojo Wollacott, Harry McKirdy and Chris Cadden, with the manager speaking ahead of the match.

He said: “This is our bread and butter now in the league. We have to win these games, dominate them as much as we can. I have got respect for Livingston and the job that they do, but it’s about our focus and what we do.

“We have to move on from Wednesday quickly and we want to kick off our league season. Livingston is our next opportunity to do it.”

He also gave an update on a few players, saying: “Harry is gently back on the bike today and getting his heart rate back up to 50%, which is really good news. He’s getting his heart rate back up steadily. Jake Doyle-Hayes came on in the last game and Josh Campbell is available as well.”

There may be a few changes ahead of the tie today, but Campbell must be dropped to the bench following his disappointing performance against Villa.

Will Josh Campbell start vs Livingston?

The 23-year-old hasn’t exactly enjoyed the best of starts to the season. He was substituted after just 29 minutes against St Mirren in their opening league tie of the campaign, taking just 13 touches, completing six passes while losing possession four times – and Johnson claimed his performance was below par.

“I love Josh to bits,” said Johnson. “He’s a fantastic player and has goals in him. But he has to bring his game more often. His game is a powerful game, he hits numbers in terms of getting in the box and can win second balls. For whatever reason, he wasn’t on it today. Allan looked like it was too much for him, two games in four days.”

He was even dubbed “careless in possession” by former Scottish FA coach Rico following their first-leg tie against FC Luzern in the Conference League, and he continued his struggles against Villa.

The midfielder played the majority of the game, but he couldn’t quite get into the match, taking only 21 touches and completing just nine passes during his 69 minutes on the pitch.

The Scot also won just two duels from four and lost possession eight times while being deployed in the centre of the midfield.

With three points a requirement against Livingston today, Johnson must drop him to the bench and give another midfielder a chance to impress – and it could be a decision that benefits the side.

Arsenal have got their season underway with a strong start, as Mikel Arteta hopes to improve on the Gunners’ title challenging form of last campaign in 2023/24.

The Spaniard has led his side to two Premier League wins out of three so far, with the north Londoners dropping their first two points of the season last weekend at home to Fulham, in what was a dramatic affair at the Emirates.

It was far from the desired result for the Gunners, conceding in the opening minutes of the game for the third time this year at home, a feat that must be broken on Sunday as Arsenal host Manchester United in what promises to be a thriller.

What is the latest Arsenal team news against Manchester United?

After picking up a controversial red card against Crystal Palace on match week two, Takehiro Tomiyasu will now be back in contention to start after serving a one-match suspension.

On the injury front, Eddie Nketiah has emerged as a potential doubt after sustaining a knee injury against Fulham, however the Englishman may still be available to feature against United.

Gabriel Jesus made his return to action after missing the start of the season due to a knee problem in what is a huge boost for Arteta, who will have his first-choice striker available for the clash.

In terms of transfers, Kieran Tierney has departed on loan, while Rob Holding also bid farewell before the close of the transfer window, sparking rumours as to who could start at the back.

Will Gabriel Magalhaes start against Manchester United?

One area of confusion at the start of the campaign has been the absence of Gabriel Magalhaes from the starting line up, on the back of the 2022/23 season that saw the Brazilian feature in every Premier League fixture.

The 25-year-old has started on the bench for the opening games, in a shift of tactical options at the back that hasn’t worked perhaps as effectively as expected for Arteta.

Against Fulham, there was little cohesion in the shape at the back, with Thomas Partey starting at right-back, Ben White and William Saliba at centre-back and Jakub Kiwior on the left side.

One of the areas that made Arsenal tick last term was the combination of White and Oleksandr Zinchenko at full-back, with Saliba and Gabriel at the heart of defence, a dynamic that has been absent so far.

Against United, it’s not the time for the Spaniard to test the waters with unfamiliar set-ups, adding to the Brazilian’s claim to return to the starting eleven.

Lauded as a “monster” by journalist Jason Soutar, the 25-year-old earned a 7.1 Sofascore match rating last time the two sides faced competitively, winning 100% of his ground duels and contributing to dimming the noise of Marcus Rashford.

If deployed in his usual position on Sunday, the former Lille machine could repeat history at a time of need, with United’s lively Englishman hungry to open his scoring tally for the 2023/24 campaign.

In restoring the £27m man against the Red Devils, Arteta could also restore the cohesion and familiarity in defence for the Gunners, in a fixture that is a must-win for both teams considering their fierce rivalry.

Journalist Pete O'Rourke's "well-placed source" has shared an interesting update West Ham United manager David Moyes' transfer plans, concerning Jesse Lingard.

Who just signed for West Ham?

The Irons, helped by new technical director Tim Steidten, secured the signings of Edson Alvarez, James Ward-Prowse, Konstantinos Mavropanos and Mohammed Kudus over this summer.

West Ham's brand new quartet come in to replace the departed Declan Rice, who joined Arsenal in a deal worth £105 million, and striker Gianluca Scamacca after his return to Italy with Atalanta.

Moyes' side have started the new Premier League season with aplomb; remaining unbeaten over their opening four matches with three wins and a draw.

Striker Michail Antonio, despite two arguably lacklustre seasons prior to this one so far, has lead the West Ham line brilliantly as Jamaica's international ace seemingly replicates his 2020/2021 form.

However, a potential injury to the 33-year-old is a real possibility given their hectic fixture schedule; including a plethora of Europa League matches from now into the festive period.

Antonio's history of fitness issues are a serious cause for concern at West Ham, and bearing this in mind, there have been reports that the east Londoners could take to the free agent market in search of more attacking options.

Moyes ultimately failed in his attempts to bring in a new striker to replace Scamacca on deadline day, despite their last gasp push for Paris-Saint Germain forward Hugo Ekitike.

One option who could provide forward depth is Lingard, who despite not being an out-and-out centre-forward, has proven in past seasons that he can contribute with both goals and assists at West Ham.

The 30-year-old free agent was training at Rush Green in a bid to maintain his fitness level, and reports claim he has actually impressed on-lookers at the club.

Now, journalist O'Rourke has shared an interesting update on Lingard's potential return to West Ham on a Bosman.

The reporter writes for Football Insider that Moyes and co are now facing a battle with two other clubs from Turkey for the ex-Man United ace, so if they're to sign him, West Ham need a formal offer to table fairly soon.

That is from his "well-placed source"' sharing that Galatasaray and Fenerbahce are likely landing spots if West Ham don't make a move.

What happened to Jesse Lingard?

The ex-Nottingham Forest ace hasn't been able to showcase his rip-roaring 20/21 form at West Ham, where he bagged nine goals and five assists in 16 matches.

Lingard has instead endured being on the periphery at both Man United and Forest since then, perhaps explaining why he is still available for hire.

However, we if the player can replicate his brilliant displays whilst on loan at West Ham two years ago, they could be landing a "sensational" free agent.

“He (Lingard) looked like someone going nowhere but he’s been sensational at West Ham," said Nigel Winterburn to The Sun in the summer of 2021.

"I think there’s a conversation to be had at Man Utd as to whether he’d fit back into their plans,” Winterburn told The Sun. “If not, he’s had this success at West Ham, so I don’t know why he’d want to sign elsewhere. He knows the club, so I think West Ham would be favourites to sign him.”

Fulham have started the season exactly how you'd expect a side to start after losing their talisman late in the window, before facing a battle to keep hold of arguably their best midfielder – eventually winning that battle.

Without Aleksandar Mitrovic, the Cottagers have won just once in four Premier League games this season, which came against Everton on the opening day. They did put in an encouraging display against Arsenal, however, battling to eventually take a point away from The Emirates.

With losses against Manchester City and Brentford, though, Marco Silva and the board may already turn their attention towards the January transfer window. Given those results, one particular target has emerged that Fulham are interested in when it comes to potential reinforcements.

What's the latest Fulham transfer news?

Fulham may have lost Mitrovic in the summer, but that's not to say that Silva didn't receive any boosts when it came to incomings in the summer transfer window. In total, the Cottagers welcomed seven fresh faces, ranging from experienced heads like Raul Jimenez and Alex Iwobi to rising stars like Calvin Bassey. Reports suggest that their spending could only be on hold, too, with an eye on the January transfer window.

According to O Jogo, via Sport Witness, Fulham are interested in signing Benfica midfielder Florentino Luis, who reportedly has a €120m (£104m) release clause. The Premier League side will have to act swiftly if they do want to sign the Benfica man, however, with Nottingham Forest, Barcelona, and Bayern Munich also reportedly interested in the midfielder.

It remains to be seen whether Fulham will be in a position to land Luis come January, or even next summer, it must be said. The fact that Joao Palhinha and Harrison Reed just put pen to paper on new deals at the club could mean that Silva's need for a midfielder significantly goes down Fulham's list of priorities.

Should Fulham sign Florentino Luis?

At 24, Luis looks set to have the world at his feet, given the interest in his future from around Europe. And that interest comes as no surprise, as statistics show.

According to FBref, the defensive midfielder is in the top 97 percentile for passes attempted, whilst being in the top 93 percentile for completion rate, with 88.8%. Meanwhile, Luis is also in the top 96 percentile for tackles per 90, making 3.47, and the top 99 percentile for interceptions, with 2.62 per 90.

With numbers that impressive, the praise that Luis has received comes as little shock, with former Benfica coach Joao Tralhao saying, via HITC: "He has the talent and quality to play in elite teams. Remember when Real Madrid had the Galacticos? They needed someone to balance the team, and [Claude] Makelele was so important.

"More recently, Casemiro did that job, allowing [Cristiano] Ronaldo, [Luka] Modric and [Karim] Benzema to attack. Florentino has those capabilities. He’s having an amazing season under Roger Schmidt. He can play anywhere, Real Madrid, Barcelona, Liverpool, anywhere. He would have no problem adapting.”

With that said, it will certainly be interesting to see if Fulham push on and pursue the signature of Luis when the transfer window comes around.

Southampton were relegated from the Premier League down to the Championship after an 11-year stint at the top level at the end of the 2022/23 campaign.

The Saints enjoyed many years in the top-flight and enjoyed some adventures on the European stage, which included a 2-1 win against Inter at St. Mary's in 2016.

They were able to use their position within the division, and when they were in Europe, to splash the cash on new signings to bolster their squad.

Who are Southampton's most expensive signings?

Tino Livramento

£22.6m*

Danny Ings

£21.7m

Kamaldeen Sulemana

£21.6m

Jannik Vestergaard

£21.6m

Sadio Mane

£19.8m

*Includes the sell-on fee that Chelsea received from his move to Newcastle United this summer.

As you can see in the table above, Southampton have been willing to shell out millions on players over the years but they have not always been able to unearth a success like Sadio Mane or Danny Ings.

One signing the club had a nightmare with was their deal to sign central midfielder Mario Lemima from Italian giants Juventus in the summer of 2017.

How much did Southampton pay for Lemina?

The Saints reportedly splashed out an initial £15.4m to sign the Gabon international from the Serie A side, in a move that could have cost up to £18.1m including add-ons.

Vice-chairman, at the time, Les Reed hailed the midfield maestro as an "outstanding" player and stated that the signing was a "statement" of intent from the club as he had featured in the Champions League final for his former team earlier that year.

The fee that the club paid was just shy of the then-club-record £16m they spent to sign Sofiane Boufal from Lille the previous year, which illustrates how expensive Lemina was at the time.

He arrived at St. Mary's off the back of a season as a rotation option for Juventus.

The 6-foot technician averaged a Sofascore rating of 6.92 across 19 Serie A appearances and only started eight matches.

Lemina produced 1.9 tackles and interceptions per game and came out on top in 50% of his individual duels to go along with one goal and one assist, as per Sofascore.

His best form for Juventus, however, came during the 2015/16 campaign.

The Gabon international averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.26 across ten league outings and contributed with an eye-catching 3.9 tackles and interceptions per match, which only Claudio Marchisio (4.9) was able to better within the squad.

He also showcased his impressive ability in possession with 2.2 dribbles per game and a sublime success rate of 96%. This shows that opposition players found it almost impossible to dispossess the central midfielder when he had the ball at his feet and was moving up the pitch.

These performances were seemingly convincing enough to make Southampton spend a significant amount of money on his services ahead of the 2017/18 Premier League campaign, with Reed and then-manager Mauricio Pellegrino bringing him to England.

How many appearances did Lemina make for Southampton?

The 30-year-old flop made 52 appearances for the Saints in all competitions over the course of his four-year stay on the south coast.

Lemina did, however, enjoy a fantastic debut season with the club as he became an instant success with his consistently impressive displays in the middle of the park.

The Gabon international averaged a Sofascore rating of 6.98 across 25 top-flight outings and caught the eye with his defensive and ball-carrying attributes.

He made 3.6 tackles and interceptions per game and showcased his strength with a duel success rate of 61%, as per Sofascore, which showed that opposition players rarely got the better of him in physical contests.

Out of every player with at least five Premier League appearances, only Oriol Romeu (2.7) made more tackles per match than Lemina (2.2) as the ex-Old Lady ace displayed his ability to win possession back for his side on a regular basis.

The former Marseille star once again showed off his dribbling skills with 2.2 successful dribbles and an excellent success rate of 89% across the top-flight campaign.

However, Lemina's form dipped throughout the following season as the central midfielder averaged a Sofascore rating of 6.89 over 21 appearances and only won 53% of his battles, to go along with 1.1 dribbles at a success rate of 64%.

His performance regressing over the course of the 2018/19 campaign led to loan moves to Galatasaray and Fulham over the 2019/20 and 2020/21 seasons respectively.

How much did Southampton sell Lemina for?

Southampton eventually sold the former Juventus maestro to Ligue 1 side Nice for a reported fee of €5.5m (£4.8m) in the summer of 2021.

This means that his value dropped by a staggering £10.6m throughout his four-year spell at St. Mary's, from the initial £15.4m that the club paid to sign him from Italy.

He was never able to follow up on his impressive first season on the south coast and ultimately turned out to be a poor signing as they did not get much value back on or off the pitch.

Therefore, Reed had a mare with the signing of the ex-Marseille gem in the summer of 2017 and he may look back on that as one of his worst pieces of business during his time at the club.

Where is Lemina now?

The central midfielder, who was once hailed as "combative" by journalist Josh Bunting, is currently playing for Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Premier League after his move to the Molineux from Nice in January of this year.

He has averaged a Sofascore rating of 6.85 across six top-flight matches so far this season and has completed 0.8 dribbles with a success rate of 50%. The former Juventus dynamo has also lost 51% of his individual duels for Gary O'Neil's side so far this term.

These statistics suggest that Lemina has not been able to get back to the levels that he showed during the 2017/18 campaign for Southampton and that the club's decision to sell him in 2021 has not come back to bite them.

However, they may well still regret their move to sign him from Turin in 2017 as his market value dropped considerably by the time they were able to cash in on his services.

West Ham United look to be closing in on a deal involving an exciting teenager at the London Stadium, according to transfer guru Fabrizio Romano.

What's the latest news involving West Ham United?

The Hammers have enjoyed a successful start to the Premier League campaign under David Moyes and are fresh from a comfortable 2-0 victory over Sheffield United at the London Stadium, courtesy of goals from Jarrod Bowen and Tomas Soucek. Speaking to BBC Sport in the aftermath of his 900th game as a manager, Moyes complimented his side's ability to navigate a tough test against Paul Heckingbottom's stubborn Blades, stating:

"The one thing I will say is there's never an easy game – in that 900 I can't think of an easy game. Every game is hard, winning a game in the Premier League is difficult and today was difficult but it was three really good points. To get a couple of goals in front was really pleasing, it gave us a bit of breathing space as we had missed a few chances before that. We didn't play as well in the second half but getting a clean sheet is a real positive because we'd not had one this season."

According to Claret & Hugh, Hammers defender Ben Johnson could be given another opportunity to prove his worth in east London on Thursday evening, where West Ham will travel to Freiburg in their second Europa League matchday, in light of Aaron Cresswell's injury struggles.

Meanwhile, Football Insider report that free agent Jesse Lingard, who was on trial at West Ham, wasn't offered a contract by his former employers owing to concerns over his fitness. Lingard is now on trial at Saudi Pro League side Al-Ettifaq and will try to win a deal in the Gulf region with the Damman-based outfit, who are managed by former Liverpool icon Steven Gerrard.

Who could earn a new deal at West Ham United?

Taking to social media platform X, transfer guru Romano has confirmed that West Ham are on the verge of tying down one of their "highly rated" youngsters to a new "long term" deal at the London Stadium, despite vast interest in their services from elsewhere. Romano stated:

"Understand highly rated talent Dan Rigge is about to sign a new long term deal with West Ham. 2006 born midfielder had interest from 4 Premier League clubs and 2 in La Liga but was focused on West Ham future."

Rigge, who is just 17 years of age, has started the campaign in fine fettle for West Ham's Under-18 side, putting up three goals and one assist in his opening four appearances in the Under-18 Premier League, as per Transfermarkt.

Predominantly utilised as either a winger or in an attacking midfield role, Rigge has already played his part in Under-18 Premier League South Division and FA Youth Cup triumphs since arriving in east London on scholarship terms from Manchester City back in 2022. Looking to the future, West Ham will hope that he can go on to replicate the likes of Declan Rice by making a senior breakthrough and going on to be a key player in years to come.

Sheffield Wednesday's search for a new manager following the dismissal of Xisco Munoz is still ongoing, with several names linked with the position. The Owls are understandably taking time to consider their options, perhaps well aware of the need to get their next appointment right, given that they sit bottom of the Championship on just three points.

If they get things wrong once again, then those at Hillsborough will likely remain on course for a return to League One, just one season after they earned promotion at Wembley. Hoping to avoid taking two steps back after such impressive progress last season, Sheffield Wednesday and owner Dejphon Chansiri have reportedly opened talks with one of two lead candidates for the job.

Latest Sheffield Wednesday manager news

So far, we've seen a range of names mentioned in the running for the Sheffield Wednesday job, with Neil Warnock, Steve Evans, Nathan Jones, Steve Evans, Oscar Garcia, and Sabri Lamouchi all linked with the job at Hillsborough. Chansiri is yet to make an official appointment, however, leaving the race well and truly open for anyone to win.

With that said, Joe Crann of The Star has provided a Sheffield Wednesday manager update, reporting that the Owls have opened talks with former Bayern Munich and Germany coach Danny Rohl, who is one of two leading candidates. Rohl would certainly be an interesting option, compared to the more experienced names mentioned for the role, that's for sure, but only time will tell whether he lands the job or if Chansiri looks elsewhere once more.

Crann stated that the former Bayern coach came close to taking up the role last summer when he was still the assistant manager of Germany, before Munoz took the job. Clearly on Sheffield Wednesday's radar for a while, Rohl could now finally get his chance.

Who is Danny Rohl?

If Rohl was to take up the role at Sheffield Wednesday, it would be his first managerial role, having been an assistant all throughout his career. That said, he has been at some impressive clubs. He has been the assistant manager at Southampton, under Ralph Hasenhuttl, and at Bayern Munich, Germany, and RB Leipzig, learning from the likes of Hansi Flick and Niko Kovak. So, despite his inexperience in the main job, it is clear that, from a tactical standpoint, Rohl would arrive with some modern ideas.

Whoever comes in next must get the Owls firing once more. So far this season, they have scored just five goals in the Championship, failing to win a single game, and sitting seven points adrift of safety just 10 games into the campaign. If it is to be Rohl's first-ever managerial role, then he has picked a hefty task.

From Sheffield Wednesday's point of view, it could easily be viewed as a risky move to appoint Rohl when in such a dangerous position. They may go onto regret not going for other, more experienced candidates, if they name the former Bayern Munich assistant in the coming days, but it looks like one to watch.

Leeds United have enjoyed a strong return to life in the second tier after they were relegated from the Premier League at the end of last season.

Daniel Farke's side are currently fifth and competing for a play-off spot after 11 matches as they attempt to make an instant return to the top-flight.

The signing of Joel Piroe has been a crucial piece of business for the Whites, on current evidence, as the Dutch marksman has hit the ground running with five goals since his move to Elland Road.

However, a former Leeds player has outscored the former Swansea star, and the rest of the Leeds squad, in the Championship this season – Jack Clarke.

When did Leeds sell Jack Clarke?

Tottenham Hotspur swooped to sign the then-18-year-old from the club for a reported fee of £10m ahead of the 2019/20 campaign, after his breakthrough year under Marcelo Bielsa.

The Argentine head coach and former sporting director Victor Orta opted to cash in on the talented teenager, who failed to make the grade at Spurs over the subsequent years.

Clarke only made four first-team appearances for the Premier League club in all competitions and was unable to contribute with a single goal or assist.

Where is Jack Clarke now?

The English youngster currently plays for Sunderland in the Championship, since his permanent move to the Stadium of Light in 2022, and is thriving at this level.

Clarke has racked up an outstanding seven goals in 11 league matches for the Black Cats so far this season, which means that he is the joint-top scorer in the division as it stands.

Appearances

50

Goals

11

Assists

14

Clarke's 2022/23 season in all competitions (via Transfermarkt)

The 22-year-old whiz was described as "unplayable" by journalist Josh Bunting earlier this year and that is backed up by his superb attacking contributions.

He has created 2.1 chances per match and no Leeds player has managed more than 2.5 per game, whilst none of Farke's stars have produced more than two key passes per clash and scored more than two goals.

How has Piroe performed this season?

Piroe, who was signed from Swansea for more than £10m this summer, has scored five goals and registered 0.5 key passes per outing across 11 Championship starts for the Whites.

The 24-year-old finisher, who has been playing in a number ten role behind Georginio Rutter, is the club's top-scorer and has proven himself to be a reliable option at the top end of the pitch for Farke since his move to Yorkshire earlier this year.

However, Clarke has been in phenomenal form at this level for Sunderland, who are one place above Leeds in the table, with his impressive ability to both score goals and create chances at an exceptional rate.

The young English wizard has been one of the outstanding talents within the division, as evidenced by his place at the top of the scoring charts so far, and it may leave some Leeds supporters wondering what could have been.

It is a shame that the Elland Road faithful did not get to enjoy the 5 foot 11 gem's development at the club. Instead, they have had to watch on from afar as Bielsa's 2019 sale has become an 'unplayable' Championship star.

Wolverhampton Wanderers look like they finally have a coach who could embark on a long-term project in the Midlands which may enable them to return to the highs of a top-half Premier League spot.

Gary O’Neil took over from Julen Lopetegui in the summer and following a decent start which has the Old Gold in 12th place in the table, the future does look bright.

With players such as Matheus Cunha, Santiago Bueno and Enso Gonzalez arriving at Molineux this summer, it’s evident that O’Neil is planning for the future and by continuing their solid form, the club can put a turbulent previous 12 months behind them.

The Englishman may need to move on a few players who were signed under previous regimes in order to fund more signings, however, and Nelson Semedo could be one, although his value has dropped considerably since joining.

How much is Nelson Semedo worth?

The right-back was signed for Wolves in 2020 by former coach Nuno Espirito Santo for a staggering sum of £36.8m and having made 124 appearances for Barcelona, it looked as though Semedo would be worth the money.

Despite making over 100 appearances for the Molineux side, he has not lived up to the hype generated upon his arrival.

He was described as a “liability” and “frustrating” by journalist Nathan Judah during the 2022/23 season, while his performances since joining Wolves have seen his value decline rapidly, and it is unlikely to ever reach the value the club paid for him just over three years ago.

According to Football Transfers, Semedo is now worth just €15.9m (£14m) and while this has risen in recent months, due to his age, he certainly won't make the Old Gold a profit should he be sold anytime soon.

Why is Nelson Semedo’s market value so low?

When compared to his positional peers across Europe's top five leagues, Semedo has struggled to impress over the previous 12 months, especially in an attacking sense. According to FBref, the 29-year-old fails to rank in the top 50% for progressive carries (1.63), progressive passes (3.64) and touches in the opposition box (0.85) per 90, indicating poor form when going forward.

He has shown slightly more from a defensive viewpoint, ranking in the top 11% for clearances per 90 (2.98), but even then, he fails to land inside the top 25% for tackles (2.32), interceptions (1.10) and aerials won (0.94) per 90, clearly suggesting that he could be on the decline as a player.

The former Barcelona defender has shown signs of improvement this term, ranking third across the Wolves squad for successful dribbles per game (1.6) while also ranking first for tackles per game (2.9) and second for interceptions per game (1.4) as he finally appears to be demonstrating the form which made him a highly sought defender a few years ago.

This has been too little too late, however, as he has failed to live up to the vast expectations and exaggerated transfer fee and should O’Neil move him on in the near future, he will bring in just a fraction of the £36.8m he was signed for a few years ago.