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In their current guise, Arsenal look like a team destined to battle it out with the best in the world for years to come, but it hasn't been that way for very long.

In the latter years of Arsène Wenger's tenure, the Gunners struggled to maintain their place in the top four and looked a million miles off challenging for the Premier League or Champions League.

The north Londoners had a muddled squad and often made blunder after blunder in the transfer market, and while it was often the club or fans who felt burned by these moves, sometimes the players themselves were less than happy with the situation.

Lucas Perez's time at Arsenal

Yes, Lucas Perez, a player who left such a small mark on Arsenal's history that fans might be forgiven for forgetting that he even pulled on the famous red and white shirt in relatively recent memory.

The Gunners signed the Spanish striker in August 2016 for a fee of around £17m, and he was enthusiastically welcomed by Wenger, who said, "He's not only a goalscorer, he's a guy who combines well with partners, who can give a final ball and makes good runs. He's got a good eye for goal and had an outstanding season last year."

While the fee wasn't massive, the fact he had scored 19 goals and provided 11 assists in 39 games the season prior left fans excited, although he would not hit such heights in north London.

The A Coruña-born forward would last just a season at the Emirates, in which he scored seven goals and provided five assists in 21 matches.

While that's an impressive return of 0.57 goal involvements per match, he was consistently picked behind Olivier Giroud and Alexis Sanchez, and injuries to his ankle and hamstring only made it harder for him to stake a claim in the first team.

Things came to a head in the summer of 2017 when the club broke their transfer record to sign Alexandre Lacazette and gave him the number nine shirt, which was the number Perez was wearing at the time.

This perceived slight was clearly the last straw, and in a remarkable turn of events in July 2017, the Spaniard was quoted by his local newspaper La Voz De Galicia (later verified by ESPN), saying: "They [Arsenal] are not being fair with me. The act of taking away my [shirt] number without telling me anything to give to a teammate, that was the last straw for me.

"I feel like I was tricked. In February I was not allowed to leave for China but it was promised that I would be playing more and then I had even fewer opportunities. But the shirt number was an ugly gesture."

Unsurprisingly, his outburst quickly led to the Gunners sanctioning his departure, and he returned to Deportiva La Coruna on loan for the 2017/18 season, where he would score nine goals and provide eight assists in 37 games before he was finally sold on to West Ham United in August 2018.

In all, his one season at Arsenal was an abject failure for all involved and stands as one of the rare occasions in the club's recent history in which the transferred player themselves is the most vocal about how poorly a move has turned out.

How Lucas Perez fared after Arsenal

While the 5 foot 11 poacher enjoyed a fruitful season back in Spain in the 2017/18 season, his return to London a year later did not go quite as swimmingly.

In his one and only season in Claret and Blue, the then-29-year-old would play just 712 minutes of first-team football across 19 appearances – six starts – score six goals and fail to provide a single assist.

I

t was all a bit too similar to how his time had gone in the north of the capital, as despite a reasonably impressive return of a goal every 119 minutes, the Spaniard just couldn't nail down a place in the starting lineup.

Unsurprisingly, he was sold the following summer and joined Deportivo Alaves back in Spain, where he would spend two seasons, scoring 15 goals and providing nine assists in 70 games, with his most memorable moment being the goal he scored away at the Bernabeu which helped the team beat Real Madrid 2-1.

Following his two years in the Basque Country, the former Gunner opted to join Elche for the first half of the 2021/22 season, where he scored two goals and provided one assist in 19 appearances, before he then joined Andalusian outfit Cadiz in January 2022 for a calendar year, where he managed a slightly better return of eight goal and two assists in 33 games.

However, he had one more move left in him in December 2022.

Where Lucas Perez is now

It was announced in December 2022 that Perez would return to his boyhood club, Deportivo La Coruna, despite the team playing in Spain's third division.

However, what was even more remarkable about his decision to head back home was that it cost him a significant amount of money. With Depor down on their luck in the third tier, paying Cadiz the full amount for his services was out of the question, so Perez paid half his fee with his own money, about £435k.

Moreover, he has also taken a six-fold pay cut to play for the club, but that doesn't seem to be a problem, as following his first game for the side – in which he netted a brace – he said, "It was special I'm going back home, to the Riazor. What I liked the most was the atmosphere, it was incredible."

The hometown hero hasn't just been taking it easy either, as in his 46 games since rejoining the team, he has scored 18 goals and provided 21 assists, meaning he is averaging a goal involvement every 1.17 games, which has helped the team reach second place in the table this season.

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By
Jack Salveson Holmes

Mar 1, 2024

Ultimately, it might not have worked out for Perez in England, but he's been able to fasten an impressive career elsewhere, and his return to Depor is a genuine feel-good story in modern football.

An interesting update has come to light on the future of West Ham United star Lucas Paqueta, amid claims he is attracting serious interest from elite clubs ahead of the summer window.

West Ham facing battle to keep Paqueta

The Brazil international has been David Moyes' superstar player alongside winger Jarrod Bowen this season.

ExWHUemployee shares big David Moyes contract update out of West Ham

The Scotsman claimed last week that the offer of a new contract was on the table.

By
Emilio Galantini

Mar 1, 2024

Paqueta has started 20 league matches under Moyes this season, scoring two goals and netting five assists, with his dynamism and creative quality in abundance for all to see.

The former Lyon star was actually attracting huge interest from Man City last summer, who were pushing to sign him but eventually pulled out due to an investigation into Paqueta's alleged gambling breaches (Fabrizio Romano).

However, once that investigation clears, it is believed Paqueta could be subject to bids from City, Aston Villa, Arsenal and even Tottenham.

If West Ham and Moyes elect to continue their work together past this season, increasing interest in the South American will come as a real worry for the Irons head coach who surely won't want to lose him.

They already had to part company with fan favourite and former club captain Declan Rice last year, who made a £105 million move to London rivals Arsenal.

West Ham make Paqueta promise behind-the-scenes

According to journalist Dean Jones, sharing some background on their attempts to keep Paqueta at the London Stadium, West Ham are making promises to Paqueta behind-the-scenes as they try to thwart potential buyers.

“I don’t think that Aston Villa would be a bad move for Paqueta, to be honest. But, if he is going to leave West Ham, it's going to take something special in terms of what they are promising him for the future," said Jones to GiveMeSport.

“Considering his performances across the season, you could probably say that he is West Ham’s most important player in terms of making that team tick. Villa obviously have their work cut out in terms of signing him because I have heard that Manchester City are still interested in him and might have something to say about where he goes next.

“I can't believe for one second that Villa would be able to sign Paqueta without some competition from Manchester City. It's a tough deal to do – and probably expensive – but I think it is also a reflection of just where Villa are right now and where they're heading.”

It will be interesting to find out exactly what West Ham are "promising" Paqueta, but if they do have to sell, reports suggest West Ham could well bank £85 million if any club decides to trigger that buy-out clause in his contract.

Legendary former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson was part of a bidding team that set a world record amount for a National Hunt horse.

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• Fergie part of horse-bidding team
• Record sum for National Hunt horse
• Man Utd boss loves his racing

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Fergie's group won the auction for Regent's Stroll, an unbeaten horse, with a winning bid of £660,000 ($853,000). It is a world record sum for a National Hunt horse, surpassing the £633,000 record when the retired manager was part of a group that bought a horse called Caldwell Potter earlier this year.

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  THE GOSSIP

  Regent's Stroll has never run a race with jumps, but has dominated two 'bumper' events, which are flat races run under jump race rules for horses that haven't previously run on the flat, in order to gain experience in racing. But it has been enough for him to be considered the next big star of the sport.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Ferguson was infamously embroiled in a dispute over a race horse with prominent ex-Manchester United shareholder John Magnier more than 20 years ago. It related to ownership of the horse, Rock of Gibraltar, and the money made at stud after retirement. Ferguson recounted he believed he owned half the horse, whereas it was contested by the other side that he was entitled to half the prize money from racing. The matter was eventually settled out of court, but there is a lingering feeling that the bad blood at the time was the opportunity Malcolm Glazer needed to get the ball rolling with his eventual 2005 takeover.

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• WHAT NEXT?

  Ferguson's decades-long passion for horse racing has been partially fuelled by the environment whereby he isn't hounded by people talking about football. But the Scot will be taking as close an interest as anyone in Manchester United this season after significant upheval at the club in recent months is ushering in a fresh era led by Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his new hierarchy.

After mutually terminating his contract with Strasbourg Thursday, Patrick Vieira reportedly emerged as a the frontrunner for the USMNT.

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• USMNT have head coach vacancy
• Report states focus on three candidates
• Patrick Vieira speculated to be first choice

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  WHAT HAPPENED?

  TUDN reports that the USMNT is "in negotiations" with Patrick Vieira for their head coach position. The ex-Arsenal superstar and former World Champion left his post as Strasbourg boss Thursday, meaning he is now a free agent and available to negotiate with any party.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  The report revealed that LAFC's Steve Cherundolo and Columbus Crew's Wilfried Nancy are also on the ballot for the USMNT. The two respective MLS managers are deemed as "main candidates" for the role per the report.

  Cherundolo revealed comments earlier in the week regarding links to the role, not exactly hiding that he's interested in it.

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  DID YOU KNOW?

  Among others, candidates to surface so far have included Jurgen Klopp, Luis De La Fuente and Rafa Benitez.

  Klopp politely rejected U.S. Soccer's initial approach.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR THE USMNT?

  The U.S. will look to appoint a manager before September arrives, with two international friendlies on the cards. A match against New Zealand, and a contest against Jesse March's Canada await them.

  Vieira, meanwhile, will have to wait and see where talks go.

Frozen out of the Sheffield Wednesday first team picture earlier this season under the previous regime of Xisco Munoz, it wouldn't have been out of the ordinary to see Marvin Johnson walk out of the door in South Yorkshire before Danny Rohl's emergence onto the scene at Hillsborough.

The German boss has managed to get the best out of a once unloved Johnson again, alongside completely turning around the fortunes of the Owls as a whole who now view an escape from the relegation mire in the second tier as achievable.

Before falling out with his ex-boss Munoz at the start of the season, the 33-year-old wing-back was instrumental in his team winning promotion back up to the Championship – the silky number 18 registering 11 assists in total last season, including picking up one in the entertaining playoffs that ensued.

Firing on all cylinders again even as his career nears its natural end-point soon, the decision to bring in the 5 foot 10 Owls man on a free transfer back in 2021 continues to look like a stroke of genius.

Marvin Johnson's time at Sheffield Wednesday

Johnson has gone on to make 22 Championship appearances this season for Rohl's relegation-threatened Owls, a remarkable amount of games tallied up considering his first taster of second-tier action didn't come about until the start of November.

Since then, however, he's been a crucial component to a revitalised Wednesday team that, prior to Friday night's defeat to Leeds, had won five of their last six games in the division, despite still being rooted near the foot of the overall standings.

Casting an eye back to Johnson's debut for the Owls three years ago however, it's very much a new-look squad assembled under Rohl in the present that are attempting a once unthinkable escape from the bottom three.

Johnson would prove to be a hit with his new South Yorkshire fanbase from the get-go, instantly endearing himself into the hearts of the Hillsborough masses with an impactful first season.

The now 33-year-old would pick up three goals and nine assists from 44 appearances in total, with both of those totals ending up being eclipsed the following campaign by the ex-Middlesbrough man.

Johnson was crucial to Wednesday achieving promotion glory at Wembley under Darren Moore just last year, with the lively and energetic number 18 notching up three key passes on the big stage facing off against Barnsley.

With how much of a top-notch addition Johnson has proven to be for the South Yorkshire titans, it shouldn't be a real surprise to see that his transfer value has shot up since joining.

Acquired for nothing just three years ago, the creative machine's transfer worth now stands at the same value as Barry Bannan's does in the Wednesday ranks, according to Transfermarkt.

Marvin Johnson's transfer value in 2024

As of late December last year, Johnson comes in at an approximate worth of €250k (£214k) which ties him with Scottish wizard Bannan when compared to other stars in the Owls mix.

Both now represent seasoned heads in the more youthful side Rohl has put together – with Bannan coming in at 34 years of age too – but the experienced duo are still very much effective regardless of time weighing down on them.

Theoretically, if Wednesday had ended up selling on Johnson when everything had gone sour, selling him on for his estimated value now would have been viewed as making a healthy profit on a player the Owls are still grinning about today managing to sign on a free transfer deal.

Although Johnson finds himself way off being amongst the top five assets currently at Hillsborough – according to Football Transfers – the loyal Owls servant will aim to still prove he's worth relying on by Rohl between now and the end of the season to stave off relegation.

He is already proving that, forming a fantastic partnership with Djeidi Gassama down Wednesday's left-hand side recently that caused havoc against Plymouth Argyle.

Away from that synergy with his teammates pleasing his manager, Johnson on his own has proven he still warrants being in and around the Wednesday first-team with a couple of crucial strikes and assists in big moments of games.

Marvin Johnson's continued importance for Wednesday

Johnson's last two assists for Wednesday have proven to be game-defining contributions, teeing up Ike Ugbo for the winner against Bristol City in mid-February alongside playing the role of hero again versus Birmingham City earlier that month for the same goalscorer to fire home to clinch the 2-0 victory.

A strike right at the end of 2023 by Johnson also allowed the Owls to pick up a narrow 1-0 victory away at Preston North End, the 5 foot 10 Wednesday man cooly converting after a fast-paced breakaway move at Deepdale opened up the hosts.

Described as being a "sparkling" footballer by former Owls footballer and pundit Carlton Palmer at the peak of his powers back in his German manager's plans, Rohl will be overjoyed that he has such a dependable figure in his squad in Johnson who won't shirk away from giving his all in the ongoing relegation battle still playing out.

Johnson will aim to bow out from his extensive career sticking by the South Yorkshire side until the very end, with the Wednesday masses still very much in love with the 33-year-old even if the start of the campaign was rocky for the former Boro man.

Rangers could be set to lose one of their long-term stalwarts this summer after it emerged he is 'close to signing' for another club already.

Possible Rangers exits this summer

It promises to be a summer of change at Ibrox this summer, with plenty of names being linked with moves away.

Though it has been less than a vintage season, Philippe Clement's side are now in with great a chance of lifting the Scottish Premiership title should they be able to make up the one-point gap on Celtic by winning their game in hand.

However, beyond that, Rangers could be set to lose all of Ryan Jack, John Lundstram and Kemar Roofe on free transfers, with the trio out of contract at the end of the current campaign.

They have also seen shot-stopper Jack Butland linked with a move away, and there are more that could follow. However, one move could already be in the closing stages.

Barisic close to Rangers exit after offer received

Now, it has emerged that Borna Barisic may not be at Rangers beyond this summer barring a drastic change in circumstances.

The 31-year-old defender has found himself in and out of the side under Clement this season, with just 13 Scottish Premiership starts to his name so far this campaign and clearly not fancied by the current Rangers boss.

It flies in the face of previous managers, with Steven Gerrard having been particularly keen on the Croatian defender during his stint at Ibrox.

"Borna was outstanding last night. He is the Croatian left-back and he is used to these high-pressure games. He is very highly respected by the staff and in the dressing room."

However, the defender now seems set for an ignominious end to his career in Glasgow, with the veteran out of contract this summer and not set to pen a new deal, paving the way for him to leave for free.

Previous reports claimed that the full-back was in talks over a move away, and that seems to have ramped up in recent days.

In fact, he is now 'close to signing' for Turkish outfit Trabzonspor, according to a report relayed by Sport Witness. The Croatian has 'given the green light' after receiving an offer and is their no.1 priority for the left-back spot, something that no longer seems to be the case at Rangers.

Rangers planning to accept permanent offer for "talented" £20,000-a-week man

The Scottish Premiership giants are already planning summer business.

By
Ben Browning

Mar 19, 2024

With a deal thought to be 'close', the move could well be formalised before the end of the campaign, though of course, he will not don his new side's colours until the Scottish Premiership season is concluded, with Barisic set to be a free agent from July 1st.

For their part, Rangers are thought to be working on a deal for a new left-back themselves, though they missed out on one of their targets last week. For now, however, everyone's focus is likely to be solely on bringing the Scottish Premiership back to the blue half of Glasgow in the coming months.

Juventus have sent another message that Weston McKennie is not part of the team's plans after his shirt was reportedly removed from the club store.

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• McKennie linked with Juventus exit
• American not part of manager Motta's plans
• His Juve shirt no longer available to buy

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The 25-year-old's Juventus future has long been up in the air after he reportedly turned down a new contract offer earlier this year. The United States international is in a different position now, though, as manager Thiago Motta is allegedly keen to offload the midfielder – along with winger Federico Chiesa, among others. Now, La Gazzetta dello Sport claim McKennie's shirt is no longer up for sale at the club.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  McKennie has been linked with a move to Fiorentina and Aston Villa this year but the fact that Motta wants him and the likes of Chiesa, Wojciech Szczesny, and more, out of the club is telling. Despite that, being in the last year of his contract may make an exit more straightforward for the former Leeds United loanee.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  The report adds when fans buy a shirt online, they have the option of getting it personalised with the name and number of their favourite player. On the club's website, however, there is no longer the option to choose McKennie, Szczesny, Daniele Rugani, Chiesa, Arkadiusz Milik or Mattia De Sciglio.

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  WHAT NEXT?

  If McKennie and the aforementioned players want to find a club before the new season, they don't have long to do it. For instance, Juventus begin their Serie A campaign on August 19 at home to Como after they round off their pre-season against Atletico Madrid on Sunday.

Manchester City have added another teenage gem to the club following a new update from transfer expert Fabrizio Romano.

Man City transfer news

The Citizens are gearing up for another busy end to the season, with Pep Guardiola’s side still looking to win the Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League for a second successive season.

Guardiola has played down the chances of another treble, though, recently saying:

"This is a fairy tale, it's more complicated than that. We have a 99.99% possibility that we are not going to win the treble because never, never, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever has anyone done it. If it was easy, another team – Manchester United in that time – would do it again. It's not easy. Everything is so difficult in this business, what we did in the past doesn't guarantee anything."

It looks set to be a dramatic few months on the pitch, and away from the pitch, Etihad officials have been hard at work adding to their academy ranks.

£250,000-a-week star has played his last game for Man City

It could be another busy summer at the Etihad.

By
Charlie Smith

Mar 26, 2024

USA teenager Cavan Sullivan is set to move to Manchester from Philadelphia Union, whereas City have also completed a deal for winger Timeo Whisker from Cardiff City alongside attacking midfielder Finlay Gorman from Leeds United. (Fabrizio Romano)

Senior signings could also be made in the summer, such as Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite, Bayern Munich duo Jamal Musiala and Joshua Kimmich and West Ham star Lucas Paqueta.

However, when it comes to potential stars of the future, City have secured another teenage gem, this time at full-back.

Man City sign young full-back

According to Romano, who took to X on Wednesday morning, Man City have signed Jayden Lienou from Everton. The left-back, who is 15 years of age, is a "new" City player, with those in Manchester beating "two" top English clubs to a deal.

Lienou is already a Wales U16 international but can actually represent Cameroon or England, should he progress and hit the heights at senior level. He will seemingly go straight into City’s academy, and who knows, in years to come, we could see the likes of Lienou, Sullivan, Whisker and Gorman break into the first-team setup, following in the footsteps of Phil Foden, Rico Lewis and Oscar Bobb.

Who will be following in the Chelsea attacker's footsteps by making a name for themselves over the coming months?

One year ago, Cole Palmer was preparing for his first season at Chelsea, having just completed a £40 million ($51m) move from Manchester City. He'd previously shown flashes of promise during his time at the Etihad Stadium without cementing himself as a starter, and few expected him to pull up many trees at Stamford Bridge.

Flash-forward to the present and Palmer has scored in a European Championship final, won the Premier League Young Player of the Season award and firmly established himself as one of the best attacking midfielders on the planet. His story just goes to show that even in a world when every action on and off the field is hyper-analysed, football still has the ability to throw up surprise packages. But who's next?

The very nature of 'breakout stars' means the next big thing can be difficult to predict. However, there is a crop of Premier League players who are threatening to take inspiration from Palmer by coming out of nowhere to rise to the highest echelons of the game this season…

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  Amad Diallo (Manchester United)

  Amad's true breakthrough season has been a long-time coming, but all the signs point to him being a properly important player for Manchester United over the coming months. In the Community Shield, Amad was responsible for United's most threatening attacks, impressing with his ability to carry the ball through traffic.

  Of course, he's had his moments in a red shirt, the best of which was that last-minute FA Cup winner against Liverpool last season. However, injuries and a lack of trust from Erik ten Hag has hampered his prospects.

  That could be about to change heading into the new campaign, though, with Ten Hag recently saying that "this has to be the year" that Amad breaks into the first team. Right wing has long been a bit of a problem area for the Red Devils, but the Ivorian's form in pre-season suggests he's finally ready to ascend to his rightful place among the Premier League elite.

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  Toby Collyer (Manchester United)

  Amad is not the only United player looking to make their breakthrough, either. Collyer will have watched on enviously as former youth team-mate Kobbie Mainoo exploded onto the scene last season and now the Worthing-born midfielder will be hoping to follow suit.

  Pre-season was an exciting time for Collyer. He featured regularly and was even handed the captain's armband against Rosenberg. A cameo in the Community Shield was well deserved, with Ten Hag clearly taken by the 20-year-old.

  "I always want to make pathways for young players, but they have to earn it," Ten Hag said after a pre-season win over Rangers. “Collyer has now earned an opportunity… We will see how we can progress. Last year with Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo, we saw that can happen. The pathway is open and Toby is there too."

  United are hardly blessed with options in the middle of the park and with Ten Hag open to handing young players their chance, the hard-working and tidy in possession Collyer could be primed for a massive campaign.

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  Tim Iroegbunam (Everton)

  Iroegbunam's £9m ($11.5m) move from Aston Villa to Everton in June certainly made headlines, though not entirely for the right reasons. Part of a smattering of transfer activity involving the two clubs, as well as Chelsea, there were suggestions that the England youth international was being used as a pawn as the sides attempted to find a loophole in the Premier League Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR).

  These accusations have been defiantly rejected by the Toffees, who insist they've been after Iroegbunam for some time. And, it may just prove to be an inspired signing. He might not be the finished article just yet, but under Sean Dyche's guidance he should be able to help fill the void left by Amadou Onana's summer departure to Villa.

  Iroegbunam can play as a No.6 or No.8, drives forward with aplomb and does the basics both in and out of possession effectively. Don't be surprised if he makes the Toffees forget about Onana as the season progresses.

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  Morgan Rogers (Aston Villa)

  Rogers' arrival at Villa Park from Middlesbrough in February 2024 wasn't greeted with much enthusiasm. He may have only cost £8m ($10m), but his Championship goal record was hardly standout, so there were big questions over whether he'd cut the mustard in the top flight.

  Yet, by the end of last season, he was a fully-fledged starter for Unai Emery's side, finishing the campaign with a run of four goal involvements in his final six matches. After making a strong introduction, Rogers is now expected to take the next step.

  His stock has been rising throughout pre-season and his ability to slot in anywhere across the front line means he'll surely be handed plenty of minutes over the coming months. If he can make the most of the opportunities – which will include Champions League action, don't forget – he might be added to the long list of attacking players pushing for an England call-up.

Michael Edwards and Richard Hughes are set to offer a "world-class" Liverpool star a new contract in the near future, according to a promising update regarding his future.

Liverpool players with expiring contracts

The Reds will be focusing on making new signings in the summer transfer window, in order to back Jurgen Klopp's replacement in the market, but it is also essential that they keep hold of some of their most important current heroes.

At the end of this season, Joel Matip and Thiago are among those whose current deals will expire, and it would be a surprise if either signed an extension. Both are now in their 30s, and they are also injury-prone figures, particularly the latter. Retaining their services on big wages would, therefore, make little sense.

In the summer of 2025 however, three huge players in Trent Alexander-Arnold, Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah will all be out of contract, and as things stand, none of them have committed their futures to the club.

Losing any of them at this point would be a massive blow for Liverpool, even if Van Dijk and Salah are now 32 and 31 years of age respectively, and the hope is that they all realise that staying put at Anfield is ultimately most beneficial to their respective careers.

"World-class" Liverpool ace expected to sign new deal

According to Football Insider, Liverpool pair Edwards and Hughes want to hand Alexander-Arnold a new deal, in what could be a "bumper" big-money contract. The 25-year-old currently earns £9.3m per year, and this extension would no doubt then put him over that £10m mark.

Football Insider's Pete O'Rourke suggested that the Englishman has no intention of leaving the Reds, despite apparent interest from Real Madrid:

"There have been a few reports linking Alexander-Arnold with a potential move to Real Madrid, who have also been linked with Reece James. Right-back is an area of the team that Real are looking at. I don’t see Alexander-Arnold having any real desire to leave Liverpool right now, he’s vice-captain, probably a future captain in the making in a few years.

"Once Virgil van Dijk hangs up his boots or moves on I think Alexander-Arnold is the ready-made replacement as captain. He’s a boyhood Liverpool fan, loves the club, so I think there will be talks ongoing right now and over the summer."

It would be a huge shock if Alexander-Arnold left Liverpool, considering they are his boyhood team and the fact that he is lined up to be their next captain, as O'Rourke alludes to. Moving anywhere else would arguably feel like a step down, even though Madrid are clearly an enormous club, and the hope is that he remains with the Reds for the rest of his career.

Liverpool were rinsed by flop who cost £10m per game in 22/23

This dud may well be the bottom of the barrel throughout the long list of Klopp signings at Liverpool.

By
Angus Sinclair

Apr 6, 2024

Assuming he avoids serious injury, Alexander-Arnold could be around for another decade or so, and there are so many more moments of magic to come from him.