All posts by n8rngtd.top

Sunderland are reportedly eyeing a move to bring a former Leeds United star back to the Championship in January.

Sunderland transfer news

As the Championship season approaches its midway point, Sunderland find themselves in a strong position and within striking distance of the automatic promotion spots.

However, if manager Regis Le Bris hopes to guide his team back to the Premier League, reinforcements might be necessary during the January transfer window.

Newcastle have sent scouts to watch "stunning" in-demand Sunderland star

The Magpies have been watching a defender.

By
Dominic Lund

Dec 22, 2024

Aston Villa prospect Louie Barry, who has been turning heads during his loan spell at Stockport County, is among those to be linked with a move to the Stadium of the Light.

The 21-year-old has developed significantly during his time with Stockport, helping them secure promotion last season with nine goals and four assists in 20 games, while this term, he’s already proving himself as one of League One’s top players.

According to a recent report from The Sunday Mirror, per Sunderland News, Villa are ready to recall Barry from his loan spell at Stockport in the New Year, before immediately sending him out on loan to the Championship, where he can continue to develop.

Sunderland are said to be keen, but will face competition for Barry’s signature from Leeds United, Burnley and Middlesbrough, say The Sunday Mirror.

Sunderland want Glen Kamara

Another player reportedly on Sunderland’s radar is former Leeds United midfielder Glen Kamara. The Finland international, dubbed a “monster” in the media, left Elland Road to join French side Stade Rennais in the summer, where he’s been a regular starter for Jorge Sampaoli’s side, who are currently 12th in Ligue 1.

Kamara has also been praised by the French media for his displays in the middle of the park, with Maxifoot describing him as “one of the best moves” of the summer transfer window.

“Great performance. His very intelligent positioning allowed him to recover many balls while breaking the lines. He deflected the cross leading to the third,” the publication wrote of Kamara after making his competitive debut for Stade Rennais earlier this year.

Despite his strong start to life in France, however, Jeunes Footeux reports that Kamara could be set to leave Roazhon Park in January amid interest from Sunderland.

The publication claims that the Black Cats have “come forward to inquire” about the 29-year-old’s availability, with Le Bris keen on signing a new defensive midfielder due to the uncertainty surrounding Salis Abdul Samed.

Samed is on loan at the Stadium of Light from RC Lens, but hasn’t featured all season due to injury. Jeunes Footeux notes, however, that “nothing is concrete” between Sunderland and Kamara and that the Black Cats would only be interested in a loan move.

Given his experience of playing in the Championship, as well as his international calibre, Kamara could prove to be a smart signing for Sunderland if they can make it happen, especially given their current lack of options in central midfield, and it looks as if it’ll be one to watch.

While Liga MX hasn't publicly confirmed, the second division club executive believes promotion and relegation will be back next year

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• Liga MX suspended promotion and relegation in 2020 during the pandemic
• Atlante, Leones Negros, Venados, and Atlético de Morelia have expressed their dissatisfaction with this rule
• Since the Clausura 2018, teams could pay a fine to avoid relegation

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  José Luis Higuera, president of Atlético Morelia, says he expects promotion and relegation to return to Liga MX by mid-2026. Speaking in an interview with Caliente TV, Higuera claimed the decision had already been agreed upon and signed during previous league meetings—though no official confirmation has been issued by Liga MX or the Mexican Football Federation.

  "Everything will be reinstated in 2026, as agreed upon and signed in the assemblies. Technically, promotion and relegation are suspended, not eliminated, and they will return in mid-2026. And it's not just me saying this – our High Commissioner has publicly confirmed it," Higuera stated.

  "I would say that what harms our football the most, even more than the temporary absence of promotion and relegation, is the relocation of franchises. You don’t see that in any major football league around the world. Of course, you also can’t truly understand Liga MX without promotion or relegation, but I believe the top-flight owners themselves have realized that this situation doesn't even benefit their business," he added.

Advertisement

• @Atlante
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  In 2020, due to the global crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, Mexican football executives decided to temporarily suspend the promotion and relegation system in Liga MX. This decision was made to support franchise owners in the first division and strengthen Liga Expansión, with the idea that, years later, the system would return with a stronger second division. However, it seemed that this reform would remain permanent.

  This decision mainly affected the teams in the second division. Teams like Atlante, Leones Negros de la UDG, Venados de Mérida, and Atlético Morelia are among those that have expressed their dissatisfaction in recent years with the suspension of promotion and relegation. But, according to Liga MX, these teams do not meet the necessary requirements to be First Division clubs. It's a stance that has been heavily criticized by executives from the mentioned teams, who have even taken the case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

• Getty Images Sport
  

  WHAT MIKEL ARRIOLA SAID

  At the end of 2023, Mikel Arriola, president of Liga MX and interim commissioner of FMF, last spoke about the promotion and relegation issue. He assured that the rules would not change in the near future, indicating that the suspension would continue for a couple of more years. "The rules will not change. We are working very hard to create a predictable environment for investors, both for the First Division and Expansion. We need to wait and see what happens", he stated.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• Getty Images
  

  DID YOU KNOW?

  Jaguares de Chiapas was the last team to be relegated from Liga MX, after their relegation in the Clausura 2017. However, starting in the Clausura 2018, a new rule was implemented in the league that allowed teams at risk of relegation to keep their place in the First Division under certain conditions. This rule stated that the team finishing in last place in the Coefficient Table could avoid relegation as long as they made a financial contribution, and if the Ascenso team that had earned their place in the First Division did not meet the requirements to occupy that spot. This measure was part of a series of reforms aimed at strengthening Liga MX and ensuring the financial stability of the teams.

Vinicius Jr labelled Cristiano Ronaldo as his "idol" after the Al-Nassr superstar hit another incredible landmark with his brace against Al-Hilal.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• Al-Nassr beat Al-Hilal 3-1
• Ronaldo scored twice on the night
• Vinicius expressed his admiration for the Portuguese

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Ronaldo once again took centre stage in the Saudi Pro League as Al-Nassr edged past fierce rivals Al-Hilal in a pulsating derby clash on Friday evening. The Portuguese icon delivered two goals – one just after the interval and another late on – to guide his team to a 3-1 triumph in Riyadh. The victory narrowed the gap between Al-Nassr and second-placed Al-Hilal to just three points, igniting fresh hope in the title race.

Advertisement

• Getty Image/ Goal AR
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Following his decisive display, Ronaldo took to Instagram to share his joy with his global fanbase. The five-time Ballon d’Or winner posted a series of celebratory images from the match and captioned them boldly: “RIYADH IS YELLOW AND BLUE!”

• WHAT VINICIUS SAID

  Among the thousands of fans and fellow players who engaged with the post was Real Madrid’s Brazilian star Vinicius Jr, who added a touching comment that reflected his admiration for Ronaldo. “Our very own idol!!!” wrote Vinicius, publicly acknowledging the role Ronaldo continues to play as a role model for young players around the world.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Vinicius has never hidden his appreciation for Ronaldo, and his latest comment reaffirmed the deep respect he holds for the football legend. And the Portuguese is deserving of all the praise as he hit another incredible milestone of scoring 20+ league goals in a season for the 15th time in his career, following his brace against Al-Hilal.

  Whereas his incredible form in the 2024–25 campaign has taken him to 30 goals in all competitions for Al-Nassr. With the striker still hungry for more, he remains on track toward achieving his self-set goal of reaching 1,000 career goals – a target that would likely require at least two more years of consistent output at the highest level.

After 5-1 thumping of London rivals Crystal Palace was clouded by Bukayo Saka’s injury, Mikel Arteta has revealed a second Arsenal blow ahead of their next game against Ipswich Town.

Arsenal injury news

Perhaps silencing a few doubters, Arsenal were in a free-scoring mood from the off against Palace with the revived Gabriel Jesus stealing the show for the second time in a week against Palace. Scoring twice, the Brazilian has suddenly burst into life at the perfect time for the Gunners and was joined by Kai Havertz, Declan Rice and Gabriel Martinelli on the scoresheet.

Arteta must drop 5/10 Arsenal dud who won just 33% duels vs Palace

Arsenal may have won 5-1 but it wasn’t all positive for the Gunners against Crystal Palace.

By
Matt Dawson

Dec 22, 2024

Arsenal’s day was far from perfect, however, with Saka limping off with what appeared to be a hamstring injury before he was then pictured leaving Selhurst Park on crutches in worrying scenes for Arteta in the middle of such a hectic schedule.

Speaking about the injury, Arteta told reporters as relayed by Fabrizio Romano: “We are pretty worried about Saka’s injury. He grabbed his hamstring and couldn’t continue. He will have to be assessed but we are pretty worried, yes.”

He’s not the only one that the Spaniard is concerned about, however. As confirmed by Arteta, Raheem Sterling has handed Arsenal another injury scare and could now miss the Ipswich game, meaning that they’ll also be without their potential replacement for Saka.

Arteta told reporters via Connor Humm: “We lost Raheem [Sterling] yesterday, we don’t know how long for as well.”

Already struggling in open play at times this season, Arsenal will have quite the battle on their hands if they’re forced to go ahead without Saka and without an ideal replacement in Sterling. That said, the latter’s injury almost sums up his struggle to make an impact since arriving on loan from Chelsea in the summer.

"Great" Sterling has struggled at Arsenal

Whilst a loan deal to sign the £163,000-a-week winger was relatively risk-free, some in North London may have believed that Sterling would have made his mark by now. The Gunners are crying out for a world-class left-winger, but it’s become clearer than ever that Sterling is no longer the player capable of providing that despite stealing the headlines for so many years in the Premier League.

With his best days arguably behind him, Sterling has started just two Premier League games with his only Arsenal goal coming in a 5-1 mauling of Bolton Wanderers. With Saka injured, an opportunity would have arguably been there for the former Manchester City star to prove any doubters wrong, only for Sterling to suffer an ill-timed blow of his own.

Among those who may have been expecting slightly more is Arteta. The Spaniard praised Sterling back in September, telling reporters as relayed by Arsenal Insider: “He looks great. First of all, because he’s got a big smile on his face, a lot of energy, he’s at it and wants to prove a point.

“When someone’s got that in his belly, you sense it straight away. Obviously I don’t need to discover anything about his quality and what he can bring to the team.”

Enzo Maresca's future at Chelsea has come under scrutiny after their disappointing draw against Ipswich Town.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• Chelsea's stance on Maresca revealed
• Blues held Ipswich to a 2-2 draw
• Maresca's side dropped to sixth position in Premier League

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Chelsea came back from a two-goal deficit to hold relegation-bound Ipswich Town to a 2-2 draw at Stamford Bridge last weekend. The Blues, along with manager Maresca, were booed off at half-time when they were trailing by two goals. With four points dropped in their last two Premier League matches, the West London have complicated their path back to the Champions League after two seasons, as they fell to the sixth position, one point behind fifth-placed Manchester City.

Advertisement

• Getty/GOAL
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  There have been speculation over Maresca's future at the English club since the club's form took a massive dip in December; however, the Chelsea management are reportedly satisfied with the Italian's commitment and are unlikely to sack him, even if they fail to secure a Champions League slot.

• WHAT HAS BEEN SAID

  A source inside Chelsea has told : "Everyone at the club is totally on board and committed to getting us back in the Champions League. Enzo, the board and the sporting directors are wedded to that ideal. If it doesn’t happen this season there will be questions asked naturally. But as it stands Enzo is still seen as the man to take Chelsea forwards."

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• AFP
  

  WHAT NEXT FOR CHELSEA?

  The Blues will be next seen in action on Thursday as they take on Legia Warsaw in the second leg of their Europa Conference League quarter-final fixture at home. The Blues lead 3-0 from the first leg in Poland.

Liverpool fell to a defeat in the first leg of the Carabao Cup against Tottenham Hotspur last night, ending their 24-match unbeaten run in all competitions.

Lucas Bergvall’s goal within the final ten minutes of the encounter secured the win for Ange Postecoglou’s side, but in controversial circumstances, after the Swede should’ve been dismissed for a second yellow card just minutes earlier.

Arne Slot will want to make amends in the second leg at Anfield next month, as the Reds hope to reach their first final of the Dutchman’s reign following his appointment in the summer.

It was an evening to forget, with the Merseysiders failing to score for the first time since the 1-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest back in September, with the visitors unable to make the most of the hosts’ defensive injury issues.

Many of the players were handed a recall to the side, having an opportunity to stake their claim for a regular first-team spot, but were simply unable to do so in the meeting in North London.

Liverpool’s disappointing performers against Spurs

After his disappointing display against Manchester United at the weekend, Curtis Jones was handed yet another opportunity to impress in an attacking midfield role.

The academy graduate featured alongside Alexis Mac Allister and Ryan Gravenberch and completed 96% of his passes, with many being sideways and backwards – failing to complete a single key pass in the process.

He also lost possession six times and committed two fouls in the process, failing to take advantage of the renewed faith shown in him by Slot.

Conor Bradley was elected to start at right-back after Trent Alexander-Arnold’s disasterclass against the Red Devils on Sunday evening.

However, the Northern Ireland international failed to capitalise on his selection, losing possession 18 times – the most of any Reds player on the night – whilst also losing over 50% of the duels he entered.

Despite the lack of impact from the aforementioned talents, one other starter had an evening to forget in North London, putting his place in the side in serious jeopardy as a result of his poor display.

The Liverpool player who had fewer touches than Alisson

Forward Diogo Jota was the man to start in the number nine role for Liverpool last night, starting the game over the likes of Darwin Núñez and Luis Diaz.

It was the first time he had started a meeting since the clash against Chelsea on Merseyside way back in October after sustaining an injury in the first half an hour against Enzo Maresca’s side.

However, the Portugal international looked off the pace as a result of his layoff, only lasting an hour before being withdrawn and replaced by club-record man Nunez.

His substitution was warranted given his lack of impact on the pitch, managing just 30 touches – a tally fewer than goalkeeper Alisson who registered 59 – whilst also completing just 12 passes during his performance under Slot.

The 28-year-old also lost 57% of duels against the makeshift backline, also losing possession 11 times and looking wasteful with the ball – undoubtedly leading to his departure on the hour mark.

As a result, he was handed a measly 5/10 match rating by Liverpool Echo journalist Ian Doyle – with the writer claiming that he was “barely involved” during the clash with the Lilywhites.

Slot must be left with no choice but to drop the former Wolves star ahead of the return to Premier League action against Forest at the City Ground next Tuesday.

Given the Reds’ recent form under Nuno Espírito Santo, Slot can’t afford to take any chances on players who aren’t at the level required, with revenge needed after their defeat against the East Midlands outfit at Anfield earlier this season.

Bye-bye Nunez: Liverpool target £160k-p/w "monster" who could rival Haaland

Liverpool appear to have identified a new centre forward for Arne Slot.

1

By
Ethan Lamb

Jan 8, 2025

Chelsea have drawn up a three-man striker shortlist for the summer transfer market, according to The Athletic's David Ornstein.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• Chelsea interested in signing new No.9
• Liam Delap, Benjamin Sesko, Hugo Ekitike targeted
• Blues still targeting Champions League qualification

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Per Ornstein, Chelsea are interested in signing a new striker this summer as they seek "impact" in the market. Their top striker this season is Cole Palmer, with 14 goals, and no other player has hit double figures. As a result, the club are targeting a marquee No.9 in the window, within their recruitment process of targeting youth.

Advertisement

• Getty Images Sport
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Per Ornstein, the club are interested in Ipswich Town's Liam Delap, Eintracht Frankfurt's Hugo Ekitike, and RB Leipzig's Benjamin Sesko. Delap has scored 12 league goals this season for a struggling Tractor Boys side; Ekitike has netted 14 league goals in the Bundesliga and Sesko has scored 11.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Chelsea are also interested in signing a new winger, and Ornstein has claimed Athletic Bilbao star Nico Williams is at the top of that list, with Borussia Dortmund youngster Jamie Bynoe-Gittens and Manchester United's Alejandro Garnacho also targeted. Maresca is clearly keen to reshape his entire front line.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• (C)Getty Images
  

  WHAT NEXT?

  Chelsea face Fulham in a London derby at Craven Cottage on Sunday. They then face Everton next week before the first leg of their Europa Conference League semi-final against Djurgarden.

Manchester United are in desperate need of action within the first-team squad, whether that be with incomings or outgoings before the end of the month.

Ruben Amorim has been on the hunt for a new striker in recent weeks but is yet to agree a deal for a new talisman to follow in the footsteps of Viktor Gyokeres after his time under the 39-year-old at Sporting CP.

Randal Kolo Muani has been the player most linked with a move to Old Trafford since the opening of the window, but no deal has yet to be agreed for the French international.

Outgoings are also to be expected as the new boss looks to make his own mark on the playing squad, potentially offloading some of Erik ten Hag’s signings who have failed to impress.

The same can’t be said for one pair, who have undoubtedly been the shining lights of Amorim’s tenure at Old Trafford during his first few months at the helm.

The star men for United since Amorim arrived

Amad Diallo was a player brought back into the fold following Amorim’s appointment after being left out in the cold by former boss Ten Hag – often only utilised as an impact player.

However, the Ivorian has become a regular starter in recent weeks, taking full advantage of his increased game time, subsequently starring at the top end of the pitch for the Red Devils.

The 22-year-old has registered three goals and five assists in his last 12 outings, with his most crucial striker undoubtedly coming in the Manchester derby, scoring the winning goal against Pep Guardiola’s side.

As for Bruno Fernandes, he was a key member of the Dutchman’s side during his own tenure in the North West, but has taken his performances to the next level after the arrival of his compatriot.

United’s captain has made the same number of appearances as Amad, registering one fewer goal contribution – notching seven, including the strike in the last outing against Arsenal in their FA Cup triumph.

However, one other player looks set for the exit door after failing to replicate the aforementioned stats in taking their game to the next level under the new management.

The player who Man Utd need to sell in January

Marcus Rashford is one player who is almost certain to leave his boyhood club in the next few weeks, after seemingly not being a part of Amorim’s plans at Old Trafford.

The Englishman hasn’t featured since the victory over Viktoria Plzen back at the start of December, a real surprise given his run of three goals in just two league matches after the arrival of Amorim.

He’s since been touted with moves to Borussia Dortmund, West Ham United and Napoli, but still looks most likely to swap Manchester for Milan – with AC Milan currently the favourites for his signature.

However, Rashford shouldn’t be the only one to depart the Theatre of Dreams this month, with the hierarchy desperately needing to get Brazilian midfielder Casemiro off the wage bill.

The 32-year-old cost the club £70m back in the summer of 2022, but has been a disaster of a signing, only making six appearances since the new boss took charge.

His performance against Newcastle United in the Carabao Cup was his last, looking way too slow for the demands of a top-level talent, often being out ran and bypassed in the middle of the park.

Casemiro certainly isn’t worthy of a first-team role at Old Trafford, nor is he deserving of his bonkers pay packet, which sees him pocket a remarkable £350k-per-week.

Such a figure sees him earn more than Fernandes, with the current Red Devils skipper earning £300k-per-week, alongside wantaway teammate, Rashford.

Given the club’s current cost-cutting operation, Casemiro – who The Athletic have reported that United would like to shift from the wage bill – should be the first player facing the chop, especially considering he earns the most out of any player in the current squad.

If the club are to land any new stars this month, it’s crucial that current players are offloaded to free up funds, with the Brazilian desperately needing to be moved on to prevent any further losses.

He's better than Kolo Muani: Man Utd plot £30m move for "the new Gyokeres"

Manchester United appear to be making a move for a striker just like Viktor Gyokeres.

By
Ethan Lamb

Jan 14, 2025

Charlton Athletic manager Nathan Jones has thrown down the gauntlet as his side prepare to face the Wrexham “circus” at SToK Racecourse.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• Wrexham & Charlton are vying for automatic promotion
• Jones braced for Racecourse "circus"
• Gearing up for a crucial clash against Red Dragons

• Getty Images
  

  WHAT HAPPENED?

  Wrexham, co-owned by Hollywood actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, are on the brink of achieving something truly remarkable: three straight promotions that would see them land in the Championship next season. After their gritty 2-1 win away at Blackpool on Monday, the Red Dragons now sit in second place in the League One table, holding a narrow two-point advantage over Wycombe Wanderers, who dropped to third following a heavy 4-0 home defeat to Charlton.

Advertisement

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Charlton themselves remain in the hunt for automatic promotion, albeit from a more distant position. The Addicks are currently in fourth, trailing Wrexham by four points. Their emphatic dismantling of Wycombe this past weekend has given them a flicker of hope, but they will need to win both remaining fixtures – starting with Saturday’s clash in North Wales – and hope other results go their way.

• WHAT JONES SAID

  Jones didn’t mince his words when talking about the upcoming fixture. While trying to maintain a professional tone, he couldn’t resist taking a swipe at the media frenzy surrounding Wrexham under Reynolds and McElhenney.

  "All we do is take a game as it comes," the Charlton boss said in an interview with ITV4's English Football League Highlights show. "We are not looking at the play-offs, we are not looking at Burton at home on the final game. We'll finish, we'll debrief, we'll breathe a little bit and then we'll move forward with Wrexham. It's a bumper game, we have to go to the circus and see what we can get."

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• Getty Images Sport
  

  WHAT NEXT?

  Jones’s reference to a “circus” appears to be a not-so-subtle dig at the celebrity culture that now surrounds Wrexham. Yet, for all the noise, the Red Dragons have let their football do the talking, climbing up the League One table and proving they belong in the promotion conversation.

  The visit from Charlton on Saturday, however, won’t be easy. With Jones rallying his side and stoking the flames ahead of the match, the visitors will be eager to cause an upset and reignite their own slim hopes of going up automatically.

Results panned out in Liverpool’s favour last weekend, with the Reds earning a dramatic late victory at Brentford before Arsenal blew a two-goal lead at home against Aston Villa.

It feels significant. Liverpool are now six points clear at the top of the Premier League having played a game less than their rivals. It felt for all the world that Arne Slot’s side were stumbling toward their third successive top-flight draw until Darwin Nunez fired two last-gasp strikes past the hitherto imperious Mark Flekken.

Liverpool will need to strike a more consistent chord over the coming months – had Nunez failed to convert, Liverpool would have drawn five of eight recent Premier League games – but there’s no disputing that their grip at the top of the table is tight and the lay of the land up ahead is what many would call ‘winnable’.

The Merseysiders are in with a shout across every possible road this term and have a talented and balanced squad. However, there’s been a furore among fan circles for fresh quality, especially at the back.

Why Liverpool may not strengthen in January

FSG aren’t exactly known for being rash in the transfer market, and it’s hard to imagine that sporting director Richard Hughes will be prioritising hopeful signings when a darker nimbus looms over Merseyside.

All quiet on the contractual front. The Athletic’s David Ornstein revealed over a month ago that Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah have been offered new deals, but we’re still lacking a resolution with both players several weeks past being free to negotiate with suitors from overseas.

Trent Alexander-Arnold is also approaching the end of an illustrious Liverpool career, with the boyhood Red being targetted by none other than Real Madrid.

That’s not to say that these complex quandaries are detracting from the prudent planning that has largely been a statement of the FSG era. Liverpool have a host of issues to fix, but Hughes seems set on completing Liverpool’s midfield.

Liverpool chasing new midfielder

According to Football Insider, Liverpool are plotting ahead of the summer transfer window and have set their sights on Wolverhampton Wanderers’ Joao Gomes.

Gomes, who is valued at £50m, has been one of the central pillars of the Old Gold system this year but has still found himself embroiled in a relegation battle, something Liverpool will take advantage of should the axe be swung come May.

17th-placed Wolves will be sure to drive a hard bargain, but Liverpool could do with a different type of anchor to act as Ryan Gravenberch’s foil, and Gomes could be the perfect man for the job.

Why Liverpool want Joao Gomes

Gravenberch is a brilliant player, but the Dutchman has started every single one of Liverpool’s Premier League and European fixtures this season and could do with some competition. Wataru Endo is a solid second-half option but lacks in the ball-playing department.

Liverpool haven’t quite had the rub of the green with injuries this season but they haven’t suffered as greatly as some of the catastrophic crises under Jurgen Klopp, allowing them to stay ahead of Arsenal.

Transfer Focus

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

However, losing a player like Gravenberch would surely be to the detriment of Slot’s title charge, and while Wolves aren’t likely to do business this month, FSG must recognise that the injury front won’t always be so kind and measures need to be put in place ahead of the 2025/26 season.

Gomes could be the “warrior” that Liverpool need, as he has been described by talent scout Jacek Kulig, bringing a perfect robustness to the centre of the park.

Warrior-type qualities are important for a number six, or indeed a multi-functioning powerhouse of a midfielder, and it’s something that former Reds star Fabinho was known for, hailed as such by Liverpool writer Ben Webb.

Given Gomes’ Brazilian heritage, he could shape into Anfield’s next version of Klopp’s anchor force, who joined from Monaco for a £44m fee in 2018 and went on to complete 219 appearances for the Reds, lifting almost every major trophy available.

While Fabinho is a deeper-sitting, less mobile version than his ageing countryman, who now plies his trade in Saudi Arabia with Al-Ittihad, Gomes could still work a treat as a successor of sorts, his energy and athletic style better catered to Slot’s system.

Moreover, Gomes would be arriving at Merseyside at a similar point in his career, Fabinho being 24 when he arrived, the same as Gomes will be should he transfer this summer.

Without question, Liverpool will need to bolster in the middle to ease the workload on Gravenberch’s shoulders. Moving to sign Gomes might be the way to go, continuing the Brazilian connection that has worked so well over the past several years and ensuring that Slot’s wonderful tactics are bolstered by a framework that will promote his vision and allow it to sustain itself.

Liverpool now want "astonishing" forward to replace Salah; Slot loves him

The Reds are eyeing an attacker who plays for one of Europe’s top clubs.

By
Dominic Lund

Jan 18, 2025