Chelsea Could Land Fofana’s Long-Term Partner in £4m Gem

Chelsea have been the most active of any team across the continent over the past few transfer windows, coinciding with the arrival of chairman Todd Boehly, and could be about to further add to their squad with the signing of teenage defender Ishe Samuels-Smith from fellow Premier League side Everton.

Who are Chelsea trying to sign?

Nicolas Jackson and Christopher Nkunku have already arrived at Stamford Bridge this summer – as has a new head coach in Mauricio Pochettino – but many more have departed.

Kalidou Koulibaly, Mason Mount, Mateo Kovacic, Edouard Mendy, Kai Havertz and Ruben Loftus-Cheek have all left as part of a major squad overhaul on the back of last season's terrible 12th-place finish.

The Blues are now expected to focus on replenishing their squad before the window closes on 1 September, with Brighton and Hove Albion midfielder Moises Caicedo reportedly top of their list.

Many others have been linked, including Southampton's Tino Livramento and Juventus forward Dusan Vlahovic, while the Daily Mail claims that 17-year-old defender, Samuels-Smith is closing in on a £4m move to west London.

Who is Everton defender Ishe Samuels-Smith?

Samuels-Smith was listed as one of the top 20 biggest talents to look out for in The Guardian's 2022 Next Generation list last year, but his career has so far been restricted to just appearances at youth team level.

That is not all that surprising given he only recently turned 17, but already teams are seemingly circling to land a youngster described as having a "bright future" by The Athletic's Patrick Boyland.

The England U17 international is comfortable playing at left-back and centre-back, and it is the latter where he could come in handy at Stamford Bridge in the long term.

Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino.

Chelsea are not short of centre-back options, even accounting for Koulibaly's departure, with Wesley Fofana, Thiago Silva and Benoit Badiashile currently the men to overtake for a starting spot.

Silva's illustrious career is coming to an end, though, and Pochettino could no doubt do with a left-footed centre-back who can perfectly complement right-footed Fofana, who will be hoping his Chelsea career can take off in his second season at the club.

As pointed out by The Guardian's Andy Hunter, Samuels-Smith 'is comfortable stepping into space with the ball and has an excellent passing range', making him perfectly suited to a Pochettino-managed side.

Not helped by a long-term injury lay-off, Fofana is coming off the back of a disrupted first season in west London following a move from Leicester City worth up to £75m. At that price, Chelsea will be eager to get a lot more out of the France international.

Fofana did still show some promise last season – his 1.3 interceptions per game in the Premier League being the second-most of any Chelsea player, according to WhoScored, while his 89.8 pass-success percentage was bettered only by Silva (91.3%) among Chelsea centre-backs.

Also ranked in the top 2% of all centre-backs across Europe's top five leagues over the past 12 months for progressive carries (2.20 per 90 minutes), as per FBref, it is clear that Fofana has plenty to give the Blues.

With the reported imminent arrival of Samuels-Smith, who was named on the substitutes' bench by both Frank Lampard and Sean Dyche last season, Chelsea may just have found Fofana's ideal long-term partner.

Arsenal Officials In Brazil To Sign Exciting £8.5m Starlet

Arsenal are seriously interested in a move for Gremio star Bitello, according to reports in Brazil.

Who have Arsenal signed in 2023?

The Gunners have been perhaps the standout operators in the entire European transfer market so far this summer, securing some huge deals for some of the most exciting talents on the planet.

Yes, Granit Xhaka, the heartbeat of last season’s incredible team, has left, while Thomas Partey could soon follow, but the additions of Declan Rice, Kai Havertz and Jurrien Timber means it’s all optimism around the Gunners faithful right now.

jurrien-timber-ajax

And it is likely to get even better, as Sky Sports report Edu and Mikel Arteta aren’t slowing down, and are expected to pursue another midfield addition as well as a new right-sided attacker to provide cover for Bukayo Saka.

“The right sided attacking position, that is something that I think Arsenal will be trying to look at,” Dharmesh Sheth told Sky Sports, via Football Daily.

“And maybe just on the central midfield area as well… If Thomas Partey was to leave, if that was to develop, then maybe Arsenal will look into recruiting in there as well.”

And it sounds like they may already be a step ahead of the press in the latter department, with Brazilian outlets believing they are moving ahead to sign midfielder Bitello from Gremio.

As per Sport Witness, a local radio outlet in Porto Alegre recently revealed the Gunners had been scouting the 23 year-old, and now Correio do Povo take that one step further.

Their information is that Arsenal are “actually moving seriously” for Bitello, and even have club officials in Brazil right now to “analyse and send an offer”. Gremio value their starlet at around €10m (£8.5m), a fee which Arsenal are expected to meet with ease.

Who is Bitello?

Arsenal fans can be forgiven for not knowing much about their latest target, but he could just be their next rising star in the same vein as Gabriel Martinelli, who was largely unknown when he arrived on English shores as well.

Bitello is a classic box to box central midfielder, but he does have the versatility to play as a number ten, a number six, or even on the flank if required. He’s played 34 times so far in the current Brazilian season, which is ongoing, scoring seven times and providing four assists.

When compared with other central players in the ‘Next Eight’ leagues – the next best competitions after the traditional big five – he ranks extremely highly, sitting in the 90th percentile or higher for non-penalty goals, expected assists, progressive carries, touches in the attacking penalty area and progressive passes received.

Clearly then, the youngster is an attack minded number eight who likes to drift into dangerous positions and provide end product, and could perhaps thrive when afforded that freedom alongside someone more adept defensively – like a certain West Ham captain for example.

With Arteta already proving his mettle in nourishing young talents and bringing them into the first-team fold, Bitello could be the next success story at the Emirates Stadium.

Palace Could Sign A Big "Step Up On Lokonga" in £22m gem

Crystal Palace’s midfield is the subject of a major overhaul. Club servants James McArthur and Luka Milivojevic have announced their departures from Selhurst Park, while Cheick Doucoure is being eyed by Liverpool, who are on the verge of losing Jordan Henderson and Fabinho to Saudi Arabia.

Upon the expiration of his contract at Bournemouth, Jefferson Lerma was signed by the Eagles to kickstart the rebuild, but they’re still in need of more depth.

One name who is constantly linked with a move to the English capital is Matheus Franca, who has been tipped to perform better for Palace than Albert Sambi Lokonga did last season.

What’s the latest on Matheus Franca to Crystal Palace?

Speaking to Football FanCast, reporter Dean Jones was asked if Franca could be considered an upgrade on Lokonga.

He said: “I’d say he’s a step up on Lokonga. I think Lokonga's found it difficult to assert himself in the Premier League so far. We don't know, maybe Franca will too, but I think that having someone with a freshness into the league will certainly help as well, and I'd actually be quite confident with him being a success.”

This follows a report published by Fabrizio Romano in his CaughtOffside column, which suggested that Palace are stepping up their pursuit of the 19-year-old by preparing to launch an opening bid.

The piece also details that Palace are ahead of Chelsea in the pecking order for Franca as the Blues are no longer monitoring the situation.

It is understood that Palace view the Brazilian as a possible replacement for Wilfried Zaha, and could cost in excess of £22m.

Would Matheus Franca be an upgrade on Sambi Lokonga?

After only making two Premier League starts in the first half of last season for Arsenal, Lokonga sealed a loan move to Palace in January in search of more regular game time.

It appeared the ideal move as the 23-year-old would get the opportunity to learn under the guidance of Gunners Invincible, Patrick Vieira. However, the move materialised as a big disappointment, as Palace failed to win any of the six Premier League games that Lokonga started.

Albert Sambi Lokonga

Eventually, the Eagles’ form deteriorated to such a degree that Vieira was dismissed and replaced by Roy Hodgson. However, the veteran coach was uninspired by the Belgian as he was an unused substitute in eight of the final ten games.

Whilst operating from midfield in the Premier League, the former Anderlecht man has failed to impose any dominance, as shown by his disappointing rank within the lowest 29% in Europe’s top five leagues among his positional peers for progressive carries, successful take-ons, tackles and blocks per 90.

The end of this underwhelming loan spell has opened the door for a more dynamic and effervescent option in Franca.

Football Talent Scout Jacek Kulig has hailed the youngster as “one of the most exciting teenagers in Brazil” and – as Jones phrased it earlier – his ‘freshness’ could be hugely beneficial to the Palace side.

This could come from influence in attacking proceedings, as since making his senior debut for Flamengo, he has notched 19 goals in 59 outings.

Fabio Matias, his former coach, is also among those to sing his praises, adding: “He has many important aspects to his game. In addition to technical and tactical ability, he has a very good understanding of the game. That makes him stand out because he interprets spaces well.”

These are traits that Lokonga struggled to display, as he averaged just 0.1 key passes and 0.1 dribbles per game for Palace – lower figures than the likes of Joel Ward, Marc Guehi and Nathaniel Clyne.

All things considered, Franca could yet possess the profile and potential to be a huge success in south London for Steve Parish.

Tottenham: Spurs Open Agent Talks For "Amazing" Player

Tottenham Hotspur have informed the representatives of Eintracht Frankfurt striker Randal Kolo Muani of their interest in signing him this summer.

Will Harry Kane leave Tottenham?

Spurs' star striker Harry Kane, two summers after his failed move to Man City, is front and centre of another transfer saga as his contract slowly winds down.

Kane's current Spurs deal expires in 2024, and with no extension in the offing just yet, chairman Daniel Levy has a big decision to make in regards to potentially selling him this summer.

Bayern Munich are the side credited with, perhaps, the most serious interest in signing him, with manager Ange Postecoglou previously expressing his discontent at the rumours surrounding Kane.

“Fair to say I am not relaxed about it," said Postecoglou to the media recently.

“It’s not something you go: ‘Ah, well, you know if it does or doesn’t happen!’ I mean it’s a very important part of this football club, not just the team, but the football club.

“So, you’ve got to deal with it, and I think, for everyone concerned, we don’t want to be doing it for too long. I don’t think that is good for anyone. I don’t think it is good for Harry, I don’t think it is good for the club, because as laser focused as we want to be, you end up sort of repeating yourself along the way.

“But the flip side of that is I don’t want to put a deadline on it, because that adds even more pressure. You want these things to happen for the right reasons. The reality of it is he’s still a contracted player at our football club, so that’s the way I see him."

Amid the uncertainty surrounding Kane's future, Bild journalist and Bayern insider Christian Falk has shared an update as Tottenham reportedly eye Kolo Muani as a possible replacement for him.

Randal Kolo Muani

There have been reports of the player being "keen" to join Spurs if they can get a deal done, but the proposed move may not be an easy one.

Falk says Spurs have contacted his agents and informed them of their desire to sign their client, but his asking price is a real sticking point.

"Tottenham have registered an interest with the representatives of Muani, but the eventual transfer fee could be too high." said Falk to CaughtOffside.

Expanding on the fee needed for Frankfurt's star, it is believed he could cost around €100 million (£86m) to prise away from the Bundesliga side.

How good is Randal Kolo Muani?

Bagging 15 goals and 11 assists in 32 league appearances last campaign, Kolo Muani dazzled for Eintracht over the 2022/2023 season (WhoScored).

The versatile 24-year-old, who can play across the forward line, also stood out as their best-performing player per 90 in the German top flight (WhoScored).

Kolo Muani has also been showered with praise by those who have coached him previously, namely for his elite dribbling ability and clinical finishing in front of goal.

"He's amazing," former Eintracht and Bayern boss Felix Magath told French newspaper L'Équipe (via Bundesliga).

"He's not only a strong dribbler, but he's very clinical in the final third. I love his mentality; he's always thinking about the team. That's obvious when you look at how many assists he's got this season."

Leeds Could Sign £5m ‘Monster’ To Replace Tyler Adams

There is likely to be a great deal of trepidation in the air for Leeds United supporters, who will be desperate to keep hold of midfielder Tyler Adams despite falling into the Championship this year.

Leeds endured a torrid campaign that saw two managerial dismissals before Sam Allardyce was handed the reins in the closing weeks of the season in a final scramble for salvation.

It didn't work, and Daniel Farke – formerly of Norwich City and, more recently, Borussia Mönchengladbach – now prepares to lead the club back into the Premier League instantaneously.

He has already completed deals for goalkeeper Karl Darlow and defender/holding midfielder Ethan Ampadu, and now could look to improve the Whites' centre further by signing Rangers midfielder Glen Kamara.

Are Leeds trying to sign Glen Kamara?

According to a report from the Yorkshire Evening Post earlier this month, Leeds have looked at completing a deal for Kamara this summer, with the 27-year-old midfielder believed to hold a £5m release clause in his contract.

Read the latest Leeds transfer news HERE…

Leeds could do with another centre-midfielder following the departures of Brenden Aaronson and Marc Roca on loan this summer, and if Adams were to leave too, it would only intensify the need for another fresh face.

How good is Glen Kamara?

Having played 193 fixtures for the Gers since arriving from Dundee for a paltry £50k, scoring nine goals and supplying 11 assists, Kamara has been an integral part of the club's recent resurgence and has gleaned the Premiership and Scottish Cup.

The 52-cap Finland international was once called a "terrific footballer in possession" by former boss Steven Gerrard, and this can certainly play to his favour as Farke will likely target such a midfielder given his possession-based style – according to WhoScored, Kamara boasts a career average pass success rate of 89.3%.

While not a like-for-like replacement, the former Arsenal youngster could be the perfect remedy for Leeds if Adams does indeed secure a reported move away from west Yorkshire over the coming weeks.

Ampadu, arriving from Chelsea for £7m, played the defensive midfield role on loan at Spezia last term, while Kamara is efficient himself, if not boasting the same output as Adams.

Rangers midfielder Glen Kamara.

The USMNT star has been praised as a "tackling machine" by pundit Kevin Campbell and ranks among the top 1% of midfielders across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for tackles and the top 3% for blocks per 90, as per FBref.

Adams does not, however, boast the same level of ball-playing composure, and only completed 82% of his passes in the Premier League last season, whereas Kamara completed 89% in the Scottish first division.

And while Kamara did not enjoy the most successful of seasons last term, recording an average Sofascore rating of 6.7, his 7.01 score the previous campaign illustrates how effective he can be at his zenith.

Across the 21/22 term, he scored three goals and assists apiece, averaged 1.3 key passes per game, completed 91% of his passes and made one tackle per outing, praised as a "monster" by Gerrard.

That 'monster' tag indicates that he boasts the physicality and industriousness to thrive in Farke's system, and if Adams does indeed go, he would be an apt replacement given Ampadu has already been signed.

Arsenal: Arteta Could Now Sign "Combative" £13m Xhaka Replacement

Arsenal were expected to tone down their summer business following the acquisition of Declan Rice, yet it seems Mikel Arteta cannot resist an opportunity in this market…

Who else is Arsenal signing?

Especially given there has been little reporting regarding their interest in Eintracht Frankfurt's Djibril Sow, and yet they are now seeking to hijack Lazio's move for the midfielder.

That is at least what is being suggested by Italian outlet CalcioMercato.it, who claim that the north London side are trying to aggressively enter the negotiations despite the Rome outfit having agreed a €15m (£13m) fee for his services.

Read the latest Arsenal transfer news HERE…

Whilst it is not noted whether they will bid, this is a figure likely easy for the free-spending Gunners to match. Especially given he would mark a perfect replacement for Granit Xhaka, who left earlier in the window for a £21.4m sum that would exceed what they would have to conjure in this situation.

Is Djibril Sow good?

Having thrived in the Bundesliga since leaving his homeland in 2019, the 38-cap Swiss international is a vastly experienced 26-year-old who would add steel and firepower to Arteta's engine room.

These are exactly the kind of qualities that they will have lost with the departure of their old Swiss general, who left following a fine personal campaign that spearheaded their title charge.

The 30-year-old would record 14 goal contributions in the league, upholding the 7.05 average rating that made him Arsenal's eighth-best performer.

What made Xhaka even more useful was the fact he would also average 1.3 key passes and 0.9 tackles per game, suggesting there was little in the midfield he did not do, via Sofascore.

Arteta even sought to outline his importance to the team following the conclusion of the term:

"He’s been exceptional, a key part of the success of the team and I’m so happy that everybody is appreciating what he’s done."

Whilst it would take a monumental task to replace these figures, Sow boasts the skillset to do so with ease, considering he not only matches his physical profile but also has that touch of class that could soon make him an attacking threat too.

granit-xhaka

Last season in the German top flight, the former Young Boys titan, who stands at a physically imposing stature of 6-foot, recorded a 6.86 average rating, bolstered by his four goals, 86% pass accuracy, 0.5 key passes and 1.3 tackles per game, via Sofascore.

Whilst his creativity might have been lacking, his ability to arrive late and finish off chances remains a key asset. During the 2021/22 season too, he racked up nine goal contributions in all competitions, as if to emphasise his well-rounded offensive assets that would only improve when surrounded by such quality.

Journalist Sam Smith even took to Twitter to detail his surprise with Sow's talents:

"First time properly watching Djibril Sow in this first half & been impressed. Progressive on the ball and combative."

That desperation to push the ball forward could see him thrive at the Emirates too, especially beside Rice. After all, the England international recorded six goal contributions of his own most recently in the league, alongside one key pass and 2.1 tackles per game, via Sofascore.

The two could interchange roles with ease, both boasting the necessary skillset to screen a backline and push forward to score.

Perhaps a new-look midfield partnership could be the catalyst that finally returns the Premier League title to north London, with Sow's antics in emulating Xhaka a big factor in such success.

Liverpool: New Update On Andre Interest

Liverpool are still interested in signing Andre, and Fluminense's Copa Libertadores match this evening could dictate proceedings, according to an update from reliable journalist Neil Jones.

Do Liverpool want to sign Andre?

The Reds are slowly running out of time to make further midfield reinforcements in the current transfer window, having started the summer so impressively with the signings of Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai.

Since then, Liverpool's business has stalled significantly, with three bids rejected for Southampton youngster Romeo Lavia, not to mention seeing the likes of Fabinho and Jordan Henderson depart Anfield after legendary spells there.

Read the latest Liverpool transfer news HERE…

Andre is another player who has been linked with a move to the Reds this summer, with the 22-year-old a key player for Fluminense and someone who could be a strong option to replace Fabinho in the No.6 role, along with Lavia.

The fact that the Brazilian season is in full swing does make a move tricky, however, with Fluminense reluctant to let such an important player leave midway through the campaign. Now, a new update has emerged regarding the situation – one that may give Liverpool fans some hope.

andre-liverpool-transfer-news-opinion-premier-league

What's the latest news on Andre to Liverpool?

Speaking on Empire of the Kop's Substack, Jones provided an update on the Reds' interest in Andre, revealing the Copa Libertadores clash against Argentinos Juniors on Tuesday evening (11pm UK time) could play a role:

"Andre is certainly a player that Liverpool are looking at, and if Fluminense were to go out of the Copa Libertadores this week then that could be a situation that moves.

"He’s a different kind of player to Lavia, but one that has attributes that Liverpool like – namely, a bit of bite and a strong mentality. I could see that becoming an option in the coming weeks, or maybe a deal being set up for January."

This is certainly a positive update, in terms of Liverpool still seeing Andre as a possible summer option, at a time when they simply must do some more business in the middle of the park.

Granted, midfield was a big problem last season, with so many individuals either past their best of injury-prone, but having disposed of plenty of dead wood, they are now in a position where they look horribly short of options.

Liverpool are going into Sunday's Premier League opener away to Chelsea with no recognised defensive midfielder in the squad, and it looks as though either Mac Allister or Curtis Jones will take up that role, which is far from ideal, considering what a tough fixture it could be.

The hope is that Andre and Lavia both arrive in the next week or so, solving the defensive midfield issue in an instant, but the way the Reds have gone about things this summer does leave a lot to be desired, and it would be no shock to see the situation not properly addressed by the time deadline day arrives.

The Fluminense man could be an exciting signing, having already been capped once at senior level by Brazil, not to mention already appearing 145 times for his current club, despite still only being 22 years of age.

Exciting West Ham transfer deal "could potentially get done"

West Ham United could be set to land themselves an England international and there is a 'willingness' from all sides to complete a deal this window, according to Sky Sports reporter Dharmesh Sheth.

Is Harry Maguire moving to West Ham United?

According to Sky Sports News, West Ham have an 'agreement in principle' to sign Maguire from Manchester United in a transfer that could be worth around £30 million.

Personal terms are expected to come and go without a hitch and Nice defender Jean-Clair Todibo has reportedly been identified as a potential replacement for Maguire at Old Trafford.

Maguire will be given a severance pay of around £6 million to complete his move to West Ham and his base wage will decrease from £190,000 per week to £120,000 per week at the London Stadium, according to The Sun.

The 30-year-old had spoken at length with former West Ham captain Declan Rice before deciding to set his heart on a move to the Irons after being stripped of the Manchester United captaincy earlier this summer.

Last term, Maguire made 31 appearances in all competitions for Manchester United, getting his hands on the Carabao Cup trophy in the process, as per Transfermarkt.

Providing a relatively solid showing at the heart of Erik Ten Hag's backline over the course of 2022/23, Maguire excelled with regards to clearances, making 2.6 per match in the Premier League, according to WhoScored.

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, Sky Sports reporter Sheth has detailed that all parties are working hard to get Maguire's proposed move to West Ham over the line.

Sheth said: “It’s not an easy deal to do. But I think there was a willingness from all parties that this one could potentially get done. Ten Hag respects Maguire. He handled the loss of the captaincy well. And ten Hag is that kind of manager whereby if a player is under contract, and he goes to ten Hag and says, ‘I’m staying, and I want to fight for my place’, ten Hag actually likes that. He wants that kind of attitude in his squad.”

What next for West Ham United?

As per BBC Sport, West Ham have finally completed their first signing of the summer transfer window by bringing in Mexico international Edson Alvarez from Ajax for a fee in the region of £35 million.

Alvarez spoke of his delight after joining the Hammers, stating: "It's a hugely sentimental moment for me in my career – it is a dream for me and my family. The Premier League is a special league, the best league in the world and I think my style will suit it. I now have a responsibility to West Ham and the West Ham family and I will give absolutely everything for the shirt."

Edson Alvarez

Manchester City youngster Cole Palmer is a loan target for West Ham as David Moyes looks to get his hands on another option to strengthen his depth on the flanks, as per the same outlet.

The Hammers are also closing in on a deal to sign Southampton captain James Ward-Prowse and work is being done to try and conclude negotiations as soon as possible, as per The Athletic.

West Ham United In Direct Contact To Sign £29m "Revelation"

West Ham United are expected to submit an imminent bid for Paris Saint Germain’s Hugo Ekitike, and a new report has revealed the price it will take to bring him to the Premier League.

Are West Ham signing Hugo Ekitike?

Standing at 6 foot 2, Ekitike only completed the permanent move to the Parc des Princes last month following a successful loan spell from Stade Reims, as per Transfermarkt, where he’s made a total of 33 appearances to date, but there’s a strong possibility that he could be on the move before the end of the ongoing summer transfer window.

Despite still having another four years to run on his contract, Luis Enrique’s side are reportedly ready to cash in on the 21-year-old striker in order to fund new signings of their own, and should he depart, he’s got a potential suitor waiting for him in the form of David Moyes in E20.

RMC Sport previously revealed that the Irons had expressed an initial interest in the Frenchman, whilst Sport Zone have since claimed that the London Stadium outfit have stepped up their pursuit of the centre-forward following the departure of Gianluca Scamacca who has left the club to join Atalanta in the Serie A.

Paris Saint-Germain striker Hugo Ekitike.

According to L’Equipe (via Sport Witness), West Ham are in “direct contact” regarding a summer swoop for Ekitike and are set to “quickly make an offer” of a loan with an option to buy for a fee in the region of €35m (£29m).

Should PSG’s star make the permanent move to the top-flight, it’s stated that the requirements needed to trigger that option would be “very easily attainable”, and with Moyes appearing “confident” that his target has the necessary qualities to succeed, this could be one to keep a close eye on in the final weeks of the market.

How many goals has Hugo Ekitike scored?

Since the start of his career, Ekitike has posted 35 goal contributions (24 goals and 11 assists) in 87 appearances which has seen him dubbed a “revelation” by football talent scout Jacek Kulig, so should he put pen to paper, it could be a massive coup for West Ham.

The Reims native also recorded 34 shots over the course of the previous campaign which was the fourth-highest number throughout the whole of his squad, via FBRef, which is pretty good going when you consider that he had to compete with the likes of Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe and Neymar.

Read The Latest West Ham Transfer News HERE…

PSG’s attacker additionally has experience competing in the Champions League and will know what it takes to be successful at the top level having been crowned Ligue 1 winners for 2022/23, so could bring a welcome winning mentality to the capital.

Furthermore, Ekitike has the versatility to operate out wide on the left wing as well as in his usual role through the middle so he could be a great option for the boss to have in the building should any unexpected injuries occur, making this a no-brainer of a deal to complete and one to keep an eye on before the deadline.

Fabrizio Romano Names Liverpool Ace In His top 5 Transfers

Journalist Fabrizio Romano has named his top five signings of the summer, including Liverpool ace Dominik Szoboszlai in his rankings.

What's the latest Liverpool transfer news?

It's been a busy summer for the Reds who have seen some key players depart as manager Jurgen Klopp looks to rebuild his midfield.

Indeed, Fabinho recently completed a transfer to Saudi Pro League club Al-Ittihad, becoming the second Liverpool player to move to the Middle East after Jordan Henderson’s switch to Al-Ettifaq.

As well as that, other midfielders James Milner, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Naby Keita all also left Anfield, departing after their contracts expired at the start of the summer.

To help fill the void, the Reds went out and signed World Cup-winning Brighton ace Alexis Mac Allister, for an initial fee of around £35m – although that could rise to £55m.

Read the latest Liverpool transfer news HERE…

On top of that, they tried to bring in Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia but both players snubbed Klopp and co in favour of a move to Chelsea.

Instead, they have ended up with Japanese midfielder Wataru Endo who was previously at VfB Stuttgart. However, it is the deal for Szoboszlai that appears to have caught Romano's eye the most.

Indeed, when speaking to 888 Sport (via Sport Bible), the Italian journalist named the player in his top five signings so far in the summer transfer window.

In fifth place, Romano placed AC Milan's move Tijani Rejinders, who arrived from PSV for around €20m (around £17m). And then Szoboszlai was ranked in at fourth.

The Austrian midfielder signed a five-year contract until 2028, after the Reds agreed upon a £60m fee with RB Leipzig earlier in the transfer window.

boubacar-kamara-dominik-szoboszlai-transfer-liverpool-premier-league

In third place, Romano named Declan Rice, who joined Arsenal for a British-record transfer fee of £105m from West Ham United – although Romano interestingly told fans to be patient with that particular deal.

Second on the list was the move of former Manchester City star Ilkay Gundogan to Barcelona. He left England following the expiration of his contract but big things are expected of him in Spain with Romano labelling him "one of the most underrated players in the world in the last 10 years".

While first up on the list – ironically enough a big Liverpool target – was Jude Bellingham. The talented youngster of course moved to Real Madrid for just £88m. With so much competition for his signature, Romano called the deal a "masterpiece" from Los Blancos.

Does Dominik Szoboszlai speak English?

Despite having only arrived at Liverpool recently, It appears, Szoboszlai is settling in pretty fast. After all, he has played every minute in the Premier League for the Reds so far – and, across those appearances, has the fourth-best averaged WhoScored match rating (7.00) in the squad.

Perhaps what has helped him settle in is his ability to speak pretty good English. He showed this when he made a bold claim after talking recently to the media.

Indeed, when asked who he thinks will win the league this season, he told Liverpool Echo: "Us."

He added: "I am thinking it. I always think that way. Even if this is hard and there are very good teams in the Premier League, but we are also very good, we have a very good coach and players. We are going to do our best and at the end I want to be first.

"We will see. We have a lot of games. [Manchester City] mainly have a lot of games and we have to play against them as well. I think everybody in the Premier League who has a chance to win, they are going to want to win anyway. We are thinking the same. Like, I am thinking the same but probably the other guys are going to think the same if you ask them.

"I am this type, I like to win, I like to do everything for the team. If they ask me if I want to win the Premier League, of course I want to win it. If I want to win the Europa League and the FA Cup, the same. Everything we can do this year. I want to win everything because nobody is going to ask you how it feels to be second."

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