All posts by z3u9t.icu

Glasgow Rangers have not had the best of luck with regard to injuries during the current campaign as it appears Philippe Clement is having to deal with a fresh blow following every match.

During the tie against Hearts in October, Nico Raskin was substituted after suffering an injury. He was expected to be out for just a few weeks, yet his recovery hasn't been going quite to plan and he won't play until 2024 at the earliest.

Scott Wright and Tom Lawrence have also suffered injuries which will rule them out for an unspecified period of time, while Danilo is the latest player to suffer a season defining injury…

Danilo's injury blow is bad news for Rangers

The Brazilian had enjoyed a decent start to life under the Belgian tactician, scoring three times and grabbing four assists as he was staking his claim to be the main option in the number nine role.

Despite missing a few games after suffering a fractured cheekbone during a match against St Johnstone back in September, the former Feyenoord hitman had returned to full fitness, albeit wearing a mask to protect his face.

With Cyriel Dessers – who has netted just five league goals – struggling for any kind of form and Kemar Roofe going through his own fitness issues, there was a chance for Danilo to establish himself in the starting XI.

The 24-year-old started against Hearts last week and while he didn’t find the back of the net, the 1-0 win could prove crucial in the chase for the Premiership title.

Bad news was to follow after the match, however, with the 49-year-old providing an update on an injury suffered by the Brazilian.

He said: "Danilo has a problem with his knee because of a bad tackle in the game, an unlucky situation, part of football. Because of contact, he had a problem with his knee.

"The chances are he requires surgery so yes, it could be long term.”

It was confirmed that he needs surgery on the injury and will be out for around four months and this could force Clement into the transfer market for a potential replacement.

It remains to be seen how much of a budget he will have to work with next month, but the former Club Brugge coach simply cannot rely on Dessers and Roofe as his only centre-forward options for the remainder of the season.

Rangers transfer news – Lawrence Shankland

The links to the Scottish striker have stretched all the way back to January of this year, with Barry Ferguson claiming that the Light Blues would be keeping an eye on him after a solid start to his spell in Edinburgh.

In June, Michael Beale appeared to be taking a closer look at the player, yet no move ever materialised, and he ended up signing Dessers, Danilo, and Sam Lammers instead.

With the January transfer window fast approaching, Ferguson was once again suggesting Shankland would be an ideal fit for Rangers during the recent league clash between the two sides, even comparing him to a former Premier League legend, saying:

“Let’s start with Lawrence Shankland who catches my eye every time I see him play for Hearts.

“This guy has improved his game to such an extent over the last couple of years that I’m surprised he’s not been snapped up already but, watching him on Wednesday, I saw a ready made Rangers centre forward.

“I’m not exaggerating when I say his overall game reminds me of a young Teddy Sheringham. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying he’s at Sheringham’s level. But he does have similar attributes in terms of game intelligence and that natural ability to drop into dangerous areas and link up with his team mates.”

His statistics since joining the Gorgie outfit have demonstrated his ruthlessness in front of goal, and he could well be worth a punt next month.

Lawrence Shankland’s statistics at Hearts

The 28-year-old joined the Jambos last summer for a modest fee of around £500k and this soon proved to be one of the bargains of the season.

The former Dundee United marksman ended the 2022/23 campaign with a total of 28 goals across all competitions for Hearts, with 24 of these coming in the Premiership.

This tally saw him finish third in the top scorers list, while he contributed 38.1% of his team's goals during the whole term and it was hardly a wonder that Rangers were looking to add him to their squad.

Despite a barren spell a few months ago, Shankland has already found the back of the net on 12 occasions this season along with registering three assists and while it is a far cry from his sensational form last year, he is still scoring regularly.

The Scot currently ranks first among the Hearts squad for goals and assists in the top flight during 2023/24 (seven), while also ranking first for scoring frequency (a goal every 206 minutes), shots on target per game (1.2) and third for successful dribbles per game (1.1), underlining his importance to the team.

He may not be the marquee name that the Ibrox faithful expect to sign, but he has proven his worth in the Premiership and there is no doubt that, with better service, he could score a lot more goals leading the line at Rangers.

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0

1.5

1.2

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0.8

1.1

It remains to be seen what sort of price the Tynecastle outfit will place on their most prized asset, but he won’t come cheap, that’s for sure.

The onus is now for Clement to ship out some deadwood during the upcoming January transfer window in order to not only reduce the wage bill but also to raise funds for any potential new signings.

"Excellent" Rangers player facing months on sidelines with injury

The Light Blues have received some nightmare news.

ByChloe Chadwick Dec 14, 2023

The likes of Dessers and Lammers have failed to live up to their inflated transfer fees, and it is clear they don’t have a long-term future at Ibrox under the Belgian manager.

Moving them on for a decent fee could allow the club to go after a move for Shankland and this could certainly be a wise investment, especially considering Danilo will miss the most important part of the season.

Rangers have been handed a financial boost after a significant update from the Scottish Premiership.

Rangers transfer news

The Gers have had a fairly tumultuous year on the pitch, with Michael Beale's spell as manager a disappointing one, leading to his sacking earlier in the season. Philippe Clement has come in in his place, and the early signs have been positive, with Rangers seemingly firing in all competitions since the Belgian's timely arrival.

For the team to continue heading in the right direction, however, new signings could be required during the January transfer window, adding more quality and freshness to the squad, with Clement reportedly set to make as many as three new additions.

A host of players have been linked with a move to Ibrox, with Rangers keen on signing Everton defender Ben Godfrey, seeing him as a top target to come in and improve the defence. Meanwhile, Aberdeen ace Bojan Miovski has also been tipped to join the Gers.

While there is plenty of focus on the team, a key claim has now emerged regarding the club as a whole – one that will no doubt please supporters.

Rangers handed financial boost

According to a fresh update from Football Insider, the SPFL enjoyed record-breaking revenue in 2022/23, with the eye-watering figures revealed:

"Rangers are set for a financial injection from the SPFL after they posted record-breaking revenue in 2022/23, Football Insider can reveal. The Scottish Professional Football League posted their updated accounts via Companies House for the fiscal year up to 31 May with a turnover of £42.6million.

"It was a record-breaking turnover figure for the Scottish Professional Football League and marked a £3million increase from the year prior."

The money will be distributed out to all clubs in the top four tiers of Scottish football, and while the exact amount heading to Ibrox remains undisclosed, the report claims it will be a record setting sum. It means that a few extra funds should be available for Clement to spend on new signings in January.

1. Tore Andre Flo

£15.7m

2. Michael Ball

£8.5m

3. Mikel Arteta

£6.9m

4. Arthur Numan

£6.7m

5. Giovanni van Bronckhorst

£6.5m

6. Barry Ferguson

£6.35m

7. Bert Konterman

£6.35m

8. Ryan Kent

£6.31m

9. Michael Mols

£5.6m

10. Gaby Amato

£5.6m

What this also does is help persuade potential signings to come to the club, showing that the league is moving in a positive direction and should continue to be able to compete in European competitions, something players are typically drawn to.

Someone like Godfrey for example could jump at the opportunity to earn more regular playing time at Ibrox, and while there's still no chance of the Gers paying him the £76,000 per week he earns at Everton, every little helps.

Leeds United continued their excellent form in the Championship with an incredible win away at runaway second-tier leaders Leicester City on Friday night, Georginio Rutter the difference maker as his poacher-like instincts ensured the Whites left the King Power Stadium with all three points.

Inflicting the Foxes to only their second defeat of the season to date, Daniel Farke’s men will now hope that Ipswich Town start to falter in order to make up some ground on the Tractor Boys in that coveted second automatic promotion spot.

The likes of Joel Piroe, Crysencio Summerville and Ethan Ampadu continue to impress the Elland Road masses, but it’s young Archie Gray – great nephew of Leeds icon Eddie Gray – that is standing out in the first team ranks at only 17 years of age.

The teen prodigy could well be Leeds’ next Stuart Dallas in the making, versatile in being able to play both centrally and at full-back and hopefully as reliable and as key as the 32-year-old has been to all major successes experienced by the Whites in recent years when called upon.

Dallas’ numbers for Leeds

Dallas was an integral part of the Marcelo Bielsa machine when the eccentric Argentine head coach galvanised Leeds to break out of their Championship mediocrity back to the promised land of the top flight, the Northern Irishman was excellent for the most part under Bielsa’s esteemed tenure.

Swapping between playing as a full-back, a winger or as a central midfielder, Leeds’ number 15 very rarely made a glaring error with his full-throttle performances winning him plaudits.

He would score five goals and assist a further three in the memorable 2019/20 promotion campaign up to the Premier League, netting on the final day versus Charlton in a 4-0 win with the champagne flowing at full-time.

Gray will hope he can follow in the footsteps of Dallas, the wide-eyed youngster already making an impact for the Whites’ first team this campaign despite still learning the ropes at senior level.

Gray’s numbers this season

Labelled as having “something very special” for such a young footballer by Leeds United journalist Phil Hay after starring in pre-season, Gray has shone in the cut and thrust of the Championship this campaign to reinforce this glowing praise.

Performing at a level way above anyone’s wildest predictions at 17, Gray has been a constant in Farke’s first-team plans – transitioning to full-back recently after starting the season centrally, with shades of Dallas’ game apparent in the teenager’s displays.

Games Played

14 (12 starts)

Key Passes

0.6 per game

Pass Accuracy

80%

Interceptions

0.7 per game

Tackles Won

2.2 per game

Ball Recoveries

5.1 per game

Successful Dribbles

0.7 per game

Stats via Sofascore.

Playing the full 90 minutes versus Leicester at right-back, Leeds’ number 22 excelled on the big occasion. Gray would win four of his five ground duels at the King Power per Sofascore, whilst remaining fearless on the ball throughout with 19 of his 23 passes on the night accurate.

He was equally as daring versus QPR at the start of October, successful with both dribbles attempted as his side went on to narrowly overcome the visitors from West London 1-0. That all-round nature that Dallas possesses is clearly also brewing inside the teenager.

Clocking up 16 first-team appearances this campaign, mostly as a midfielder, Gray is steadily becoming part of the furniture with Leeds with fans and coaches alike hoping that he goes on to have a sustained and successful career at Elland Road.

Flexible in where he’s selected by Farke, the 17-year-old is demonstrating a remarkable maturity far beyond his years – unfazed by the bright lights and media attention, his football doing the talking. The German head coach will hope he can continue to rely on his teenage starlet to perform, the world Gray’s oyster at this moment in time.

Aston Villa are back in action this afternoon, as Unai Emery’s side look to put matters right after their defeat to Liverpool before the international break.

The Villans will welcome Crystal Palace to Villa Park in what is poised to be a thriller, with both teams showing a host of quality in their fixtures already this season.

The Midlands side have registered two wins and two losses, building some form after their embarrassing opening day thrashing at St James’ Park, as Newcastle United slayed Emery’s side 5-1.

After an encouraging summer in the transfer window, there has been an added influx of quality to the squad, with some new arrivals already showing their worth.

What is the latest Aston Villa team news?

Last time out at Anfield, Villa were shocked in the opening minutes, as Dominik Szoboszlai scored his first Liverpool goal after just three minutes.

Things went from bad to worse, and then worse again for Emery’s side, who lost Diego Carlos to injury in the 19th minute, to then concede their second moments later through a Matty Cash own goal.

There was worry over Carlos’ withdrawal following his lengthy time on the sidelines last season due to an achilles rupture, with the manager confirming that he will miss today’s game against Palace.

Placing the defence aside, after the attacking absence at Anfield, Emery could consider making changes to bring additional threat to the front line, with the Midlands side registering just 0.66 expected goals against Liverpool, via Sofascore.

Should Youri Tielemans start against Crystal Palace?

One player that could provide some added danger to the final third is Youri Tielemans, who was signed this summer on a free transfer from Leicester City.

The Belgian is a seasoned Premier League player with 155 appearances in the league already under his belt, however is yet to start for Villa this season.

During a press-conference while on duty with Belgium, the midfielder described the lack of game time as “not pleasant”, as relayed by Football 365, with him playing just 93 minutes over the four appearances he’s made so far.

Following the performance at Anfield, Emery may be inclined to shuffle his side to impose a better threat on Palace, with Tielemans being the ideal figure to generate chances.

Against the Reds, Villa failed to record a single big chance, which the Belgian could resolve with him creating ten big chances last season for Leicester, despite their relegation form.

Lauded as a “baller” by CBS journalist Aaron West for his pre-season form, the £150k-per-week gem could offer a lot to the squad at Villa Park, even more so with the motive of having a point to prove in order to receive more game time.

There’s a positive for Villa going forward, with Hodgson confirming that prized centre-back Marc Guehi will be out of contention due to injury, giving Emery more of an incentive to go full force on what will be a depleted back line for the visitors.

After going public about his disappointment in relation to his game time, the Belgian may be handed a chance to show his worth, which would be a strong point for Villa, with him recording an average of 1.15 key passes and 6.95 progressive passes last term for Leicester, via FBref.

The main priority for Villa will be to get back to winning ways, however giving their summer arrival a chance to flex his ability may be a positive route to claiming three points.

West Ham United saw their incredible unbeaten European record fall as they were defeated 2-1 by Greek side Olympiacos in the Europa League on Thursday evening.

The loss was their first in 18 continental matches, but David Moyes’ men are still in great shape to qualify from their group and make the knockout stages.

Despite going two goals down, a Lucas Paqueta goal with just over 20 minutes left in the tie gave the Hammers a glimmer of hope, yet they could not rescue a point.

There was not a standout performer for the club and now attention turns to a home tie against Everton in the Premier League on Sunday.

West Ham United fail to secure three points against Olympiacos

Overall, it was not a terrible performance by West Ham as they were simply outplayed on the night, yet several players did underperform.

James Ward-Prowse failed to score or assist while making just one key pass during the tie, while fellow summer signing Mohammed Kudus was deployed on the right wing, yet he failed to inspire a positive result, taking just 40 touches and succeeding with only one dribble attempt during his 72 minutes on the pitch.

The defence was also underwhelming during the tie. Konstantinos Mavropanos and Angelo Ogbonna lost possession 12 times combined, while they won only three out of their combined nine total duels, hardly a performance that was going to see West Ham secure yet another three points in Europe.

Ogbonna was making just his fourth start of the season and during the current campaign, he has played only five times, spending the rest of the time on the bench and this could be his final season in London.

Angelo Ogbonna could be entering into the final months of his West Ham career

The Italian defender has a contract that will expire at the end of the 2023/24 season and with the volume of centre-backs Moyes has to choose from, it could be difficult for him to land an extension.

Since joining the club from Juventus in the summer of 2015, he has made nearly 250 appearances yet it is clear that his influence has somewhat waned over the previous few seasons.

Indeed, the 35-year-old made just 16 and 11 Premier League appearances during the last two campaigns and last term, he ranked only eighth across the squad for accurate passes per game (20.8), while ranking 14th for tackles (0.7) and sixth for interceptions (1.1) per game.

He has featured in just two league games so far this season, and none since August, indicating that Moyes prefers to keep him for continental ties, and he could well be entering his final furlongs as a West Ham player.

It appears as though Moyes is looking to sign another centre-back in the January transfer window in order to give his side a boost ahead of the second half of the season.

West Ham United’s January plans

The 60-year-old tactician will be aiming to enjoy a productive winter window with regard to sorting his team out for the foreseeable future, especially with so many players out of contract at the end of the campaign.

The likes of Vladimir Coufal, Tomas Soucek, Ogbonna, and Pablo Fornals are all entering the final months of their deals with the Irons and in order to save a massive rebuild during the summer, Moyes could do some of his business in January.

There has been an update with regard to his plans according to Football Insider, who claim that the London-based side can secure a deal for defender Sebastian Caceres in January for a fee believed to be between £6m-£10m.

With Manchester United, Newcastle United, and Tottenham Hotspur also keeping tabs on the player, West Ham face stiff competition and Moyes will need to make a strong pitch in order to secure his signature.

Sebastian Caceres could be an ideal Ogbonna heir for West Ham

The Uruguayan centre-back currently plays for Club America and has made 109 appearances for the Mexican side since joining back in 2020.

His contract expires in just over 12 months’ time, hence the low fee that Moyes could sign him for and this could represent an excellent piece of business.

The 24-year-old brute has demonstrated his abilities during recent World Cup qualifiers for Uruguay as they defeated Brazil and the defender and was lauded as “solid” for his performance and this has seemingly put some big teams on alert.

Indeed, across the recent four World Cup qualifiers against Chile, Ecuador, Colombia and Brazil, the centre-back was not dribbled past at all, kept one clean sheet, and won 63% of his total duels as he had a positive impact on the side which culminated in their historic win over the Brazilians.

Caceres still has plenty of developing to do, but a move to the Premier League could certainly bring him out of his comfort zone and enable him to improve his performances.

During the LIGA MX Clausura, Caceres ranked in sixth place across the squad for tackles per game (1.5), while ranking fourth for interceptions per game (one) and first for clearances per game (3.8), showcasing his raw potential and proving that he could still improve across a few metrics.

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The recent international displays have allowed the defender to perform at the highest level and being part of a team that defeated Brazil is always going to generate some attention.

Moyes does still have plenty of defenders to call upon, yet with Ogbonna looking increasingly likely to leave next summer, there could be a space for another centre-back to arrive.

Signing Caceres in January would give him a few added months in which he could settle in ahead of the 2024/25 season and with the likes of United and Spurs also chasing him, Moyes will need to act swiftly in order to secure his signature.

At the age of 24, he could be the dream heir to Ogbonna, who is currently poised to depart next summer, and be a long-term option for the Scottish boss to call upon over the years to come.

For the last couple of seasons down at Goodison Park, Everton have lacked a potent goalscorer in attack – the days of Romelu Lukaku scoring twenty plus for the Toffees a distant memory, with Dwight McNeil coming in as the top scorer for Sean Dyche's men last campaign with a passable seven goals.

The Toffees have not been helped by Dominic Calvert-Lewin's woeful injury record of recent times, the once promising starlet – who bagged an encouraging 16 goals for the Merseysiders during the 2020-21 season in the Premier League – is often sidelined with a long-term injury knock now rather than leading the line for Dyche's men.

The Englishman has been a regular fixture for the Toffees in the starting eleven this campaign – after unfortunately suffering a broken cheekbone in August – scoring two goals from six league outings.

All those connected with Everton will hope Calvert-Lewin can put these injury troubles to one side of his mind and transform back into a deadly striker again over a full campaign, with a creative midfielder from Turkey being linked with a switch to Goodison Park that could aid and assist the 26-year-old forward to reach that level again in Kerem Akturkoglu.

Are Everton interested in Kerem Akturkoglu?

TEAMTalk are reporting that a whole host of Premier League clubs are circling for Akturkoglu, the Galatasaray winger wanted by Aston Villa, West Ham United, Brighton and Hove Albion and many others on top of Everton's interest in the player.

Valued at £13m, as per CIES Football Observatory, it could prove to be a shrewd purchase by the Merseysiders to bring the Turkish midfielder to Goodison Park – Galatasaray's number seven having been "impressive", according to Manchester United journalist Samuel Luckhurst, when his side travelled to Old Trafford, the 25-year-old a nuisance all evening for the Red Devils defenders.

Adding new reinforcements that could enhance Everton's creativity would be perfect for Calvert-Lewin, who would surely benefit from the tricky Turkish winger leaving Istanbul behind for Merseyside.

How good is Kerem Akturkoglu?

Away from his one-off starring role in the Champions League group stage, in which he got on the scoresheet to level the tie at 2-2, the 23-cap international has been a consistent performer for his side in the Süper Lig over the last few seasons.

He's notched up 136 appearances for the Istanbul-based giants, registering an impressive 34 goals and 37 assists.

This season alone, Akturkoglu has had a part to play in eight of his side's 18 goals in the league as Galatasaray attempt to overcome fierce rivals Fenerbahce at the top of the division – scoring three goals and assisting five along the way.

Comparatively, the likes of Dwight McNeil, Jack Harrison and Arnaut Danjuma for the Toffees only have a combined two assists between them – the Everton ranks crying out for more creativity to help Calvert-Lewin recapture his previous goalscoring heights.

He could even help Everton score more just from his own efforts alone, hitting the target from ten of his 21 shots on goal for his current Turkish employers this season per FBRef – sharing the goal load out as a result.

Akturkoglu's interest from Premier League teams would only have intensified after his performance versus Man United, Erik Ten Hag's Red Devils surprisingly beaten by Galatasaray 3-2 on a bruising night for the Dutch head coach's ego in the Old Trafford dugout.

Although he would lose possession 17 times in total in this contest – as per Sofascore – the 5 foot 8 dynamo was always available to receive the ball to push his team forward and was an effective thorn in the side that the hosts struggled to contain.

If Everton could beat other suitors to seal the Turkish winger's signature when January comes around, they could have a real star on their hands who could boost Calvert-Lewin's performances subsequently.

West Ham United forward Jarrod Bowen has been linked with a move away from the London Stadium, and journalist Ben Jacobs has now provided an update on his future.

Is Jarrod Bowen leaving West Ham?

Bowen has been touted for a move elsewhere for quite some time, with reports from earlier this year suggesting that West Ham were braced for a potential summer exit, having been on the radar of fellow Premier League side Liverpool.

The forward's contract is set to expire in the summer of 2025, and the Hammers' board has been keen to tie him down to a new contract, but he could be viewed as a replacement for Mohamed Salah, as the Egyptian's Liverpool contract is set to end in the same year.

Earlier in the summer, it was reported the Englishman was close to agreeing terms to remain at the London Stadium, with only the minor details needing to be ironed out, but talks have presumably stalled, as there has been no progress on that front.

As such, there is lingering doubt over the 26-year-old's future with the Irons, and Jacobs has now suggested he may be forced to seek a move to boost his chances of playing for England.

In an interview with GiveMeSport, the journalist said: "Bowen is obviously content enough that he stands a chance, just by being at West Ham, to fight and get into the mix for Euro 2024. Otherwise, he would have probably pushed a little bit harder to go last summer, so I don't think England's a factor in this.

"From what I'm told, Bowen has been told by Southgate that staying at West Ham won't impact anything as far as Euro 2024 is concerned. But, of course, Maddison was told that when he was at Leicester.

"Even though he made the England squad for the last World Cup, although he was injured and that might have been a key factor, his opportunities were still more limited at Leicester compared to now going forward at Spurs. That might be at the back of Bowen's mind as well."

How many times has Jarrod Bowen played for England?

The right-winger is still on the fringe of the Three Lions squad, having only made four appearances for his country, all of which came in the UEFA Nations League back in 2022, and he was not included in Gareth Southgate's most recent squad.

Southgate has faced criticism for being biased towards players at "big clubs", with James Ward-Prowse also being snubbed earlier this month, so despite the manager's reassurances, Bowen may feel he needs to move elsewhere if his international career is to blossom.

With the England international's contract set to expire in the summer of 2025, David Moyes has a big decision to make in the upcoming window, and potentially next summer, as there is a risk of losing him for free if he does not pen a new deal.

With any luck, West Ham's positive start to the season will convince Bowen to sign a new deal, and Moyes will be hoping the "incredible" winger keeps up his current form, having scored three Premier League goals already this season.

Glasgow Rangers could soon get the chance to bring a Champions League striker to Ibrox, with the forward in question open to the idea of a potential Gers move.

Rangers forwards Dessers and Igamane linked with Ibrox exits

Russell Martin is the man tasked by the 49ers Enterprises with bringing Scottish Premiership glory back to Ibrox, and the Gers are also looking to qualify for the Champions League, starting with next months qualifier against Greek side Panathinaikos.

However, Martin could be without some star attackers for the two-legged European clash at the end of July, with Cyriel Dessers and Hamza Igamane both mooted to leave Glasgow this summer.

Rangers identify £6.5m forward who plays like Immobile to replace Igamane

Rangers’ recruitment team have identified a new striker to replace Hamza Igamane.

ByBrett Worthington Jun 27, 2025

Dessers could end up moving to Greece with AEK Athens after agreeing a £30,000-a-week contract, however, the two clubs are yet to shake hands on a fee with the Gers rejecting a £4.5m offer.

Meanwhile, Igamane has agreed personal terms with Ligue 1 side Lille over a Rangers exit, and like Dessers, there is still work to be done over reaching an agreement on a fee.

Should both depart, then reinforcements will be required in the final third ahead of the 2025/26 season, and by the looks of things, one man is keen on the idea of joining Lyall Cameron and Max Aarons through the Ibrox door.

Luuk de Jong “open” to Rangers move

According to reports from the Netherlands, relayed by The Daily Record, experienced striker Luuk de Jong would be “open” to a move to Rangers this summer.

The 34-year-old is on course to become a free agent when his PSV Eindhoven contract expires at the end of the month, and there is hesitation over new terms, with Ricardo Pepi set to be first-choice striker next season.

After three years with PSV, De Jong captained the Dutch side throughout the 24/25 season, including in the Champions League.

A Netherlands international, De Jong’s future is up in the air and Rangers are ‘touted as an interested party’, something he could be open to as he reaches the twilight years of his career.

PSV Eindhoven

338

186

FC Twente

121

59

Sevilla

94

19

Borussia Monchengladbach

45

8

Barcelona

29

7

The Doetinchem District Council

19

3

Newcastle United

12

0

Netherlands

39

8

As can be seen, De Jong, who stands at 6 foot 2, has scored goals in the Netherlands, Spain and Germany during his career, so he could be a shrewd addition who would provide plenty of experience for Martin.

Former Barcelona manager Ronald Koeman even labelled De Jong as “more dangerous than Neymar” for his threat in the air, and during his career, the striker has scored 113 headed goals.

“When there’s a cross coming in, Luuk is more dangerous than Neymar. He’s a different kind of forward to what we have, and I think all teams should have one like him.”

Liverpool are believed to be ahead of Premier League rivals Manchester City in the race to sign a world-renowned player who is "perfect" for them.

Liverpool want January signings

The Reds put all of their focus on rebuilding their midfield during the summer transfer window, and it has paid dividends greatly, with the likes of Dominic Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister catching the eye.

It could now be that Jurgen Klopp looks to bolster his defence and attack next, with figures such as Andy Robertson, Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah not getting any younger. Sporting CP centre-back Goncalo Inacio continues to be linked with a move to Liverpool, for example, while Leroy Sane has been seen as a Reds transfer target in recent weeks, too.

Liverpool interested in signing new "special" teenager for Jurgen Klopp

The Reds have set their sights on a move for an exciting youngster in January.

ByChloe Chadwick Nov 23, 2023

Now, another transfer update has dropped over Liverpool's potential future business, with the January window edging closer all the time.

Liverpool receive Leroy Sane boost

Speaking to Caught Offside, journalist Christian Falk claimed that Liverpool now appear to have the edge over Man City for the signing of Sane, with the German, labelled as "perfect" for the Reds, not keen on returning to the Etihad in a boost for those at Anfield.

"The big question around Leroy has always been about his mentality. This was a big discussion with Pep Guardiola. Speaking of which, there were rumours around Manchester City also being interested in the player – I heard this was an option, but I also heard that Sane doesn’t want to go back there.

"Jurgen Klopp is a coach who can get his players to buy into the work rate you need at Liverpool. This would be an intelligent move for Liverpool to get Sane, as he has everything; if you can add a working mentality to this (which Jurgen Klopp can perhaps give him), he would be perfect for Liverpool.

"Leroy Sane made a huge development at Bayern Munich regarding his work rate in recent years, tracking back in addition to his offensive output. Now you see why he’s so good now, as he’s also doing this job."

There is no question that Sane is an elite-level footballer whose natural ability has stood out so much down the years, shining for both City and Bayern Munich with his brilliance out wide. The 27-year-old Liverpool target has also scored 13 goals in 59 caps for Germany, showing that he can be a force at international level, and his ability to play on either flank makes him a nightmare to play against for defenders.

Mohamed Salah

12

Diogo Jota

8

Darwin Nunez

7

Cody Gakpo

4

Luis Diaz

4

That being said, Sane turns 28 next year and may not remain at the peak of his powers for too much longer, and given the amount of money that the Reds may have to spend on him, they could be wise to bring in a younger alternative. The Germany ace also hasn't been without controversy down the years, following an incident with former Liverpool hero Sadio Mane when both were at Bayern together, but it could still be a move to keep an eye on.

Liverpool have reportedly been boosted in their efforts to sign a hugely exciting Premier League player, with a new update now emerging in the saga.

Latest Liverpool transfer news…

The Reds saw their squad significantly change during the summer transfer window, with the midfield the sole era that Jurgen Klopp focused on revamping completely. Out went Fabinho, Jordan Henderson, James Milner, Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, while Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai, Wataru Endo and Ryan Gravenberch all arrived at Anfield, adding youth and dynamism in the middle of the park that has already stood out this season.

The time will eventually come when other areas of the pitch need addressing, however, with Virgil van Dijk now 32 years of age and Mohamed Salah only a year younger, for example. The latter has already been strongly linked with a move to Saudi Arabia, with Al-Ittihad seeing a £150m approach turned down for Salah, and a 2024 exit isn't out of the question. Should that happen, Liverpool may look to sign a replacement, and one player who has emerged as a potential target is Wolves ace Pedro Neto.

The 23-year-old is being backed to join various Premier League clubs, and while he is contracted with Wanderers until the summer of 2027, that doesn't appear to be putting off potential suitors.

Do Liverpool want to sign Pedro Neto?

According to TEAMtalk, Liverpool could be handed a boost in their quest to snap up Wolves star Neto, with the Midlands club now "ready to cash in on him while his stock is high". The report goes on to add that the Reds are "firmly in the mix" to sign the 23-year-old, but "they are not alone as interest also stems from Tottenham, Newcastle United and Aston Villa", as well as Arsenal.

Superb dribbler

Injury-prone

Expert crosser

Lacking in aerial duels

Can play on either flank

Finishing can be erratic

This is a clear boost for Liverpool, who may well be having one eye on life without Salah at some point in the near future, even if his time at Anfield doesn't come to an end next summer. The 31-year-old is almost an irreplaceable figure, considering he has been one of the best players in the world over the past five years or so, but in Neto, the Reds could have a fantastic option.

The Wolves man, who shares the same agency as Darwin Nunez and Diogo Jota, has made a fantastic start to this season, chipping in with four assists in just seven Premier League appearances, one of which came in his side's 3-1 defeat at home to Liverpool, when he gave Joe Gomez a torrid time. At 23, he is still a young player who should only get better, and while injuries have dogged him in the past, the hope is that he has overcome the worst of them.

Newcastle United legend Alan Shearer has lauded Neto as a "huge talent" in the past, and he is one of the most impressive wide players in the league at the moment. His directness, pace and end product are all attributes that are similar to Salah's, and that could well appeal to Klopp, making this one to watch.