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Liverpool have held a vested interest in RB Leipzig centre-back Josko Gvardiol for many months now, with recent reports indicating that avenue is still very much alive…

What's the latest on Josko Gvardiol to Liverpool?

According to Ryan Taylor of the Express, the Croatian defender could find himself at the centre of a lucrative transfer saga this summer, with manager Jurgen Klopp mindful that more than just the midfield requires tinkering.

Gvardiol holds a release clause of €110m (£95m) and is contracted with his German Bundesliga outfit until 2027, which no doubt makes negotiations more strenuous, but Liverpool have spent big on a centre-back before, signing Virgil van Dijk for £75m, and that has paid off handsomely.

With further interest from the likes of Manchester City, Manchester United and Real Madrid, a move is deemed 'unlikely', but Klopp must swoop soon and secure one of football's most promising talents.

Should Liverpool sign Josko Gvardiol?

Gvardiol's signature at Anfield would certainly not come cheap, but after a wayward campaign that has left Liverpool with just an infinitesimal chance of securing top four as the league season approaches its culminating match-week, reinforcements are necessary.

Liverpool have improved. A seven-match winning run was ended by free-flowing Aston Villa on Saturday, who left Anfield with a point and perhaps even begrudgingly after a stellar showing, but even this luminous purple patch has failed to bridge the gap between the top four and Klopp's Reds.

Dubbed a "Rolls-Royce" by journalist Zach Lowy, the 22-year-old ranks among the top 10% of centre-backs across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for rate of goals, the top 17% for shot-creating actions, the top 1% for passes attempted, the top 16% for progressive passes, the top 18% for progressive carries and the top 4% for successful take-ons, with statistics courtesy of FBref.

The World Cup star, hailed a "warrior" by one journalist, should his prospective acquisition be deemed financially viable, would bring an innate ball-playing aptitude and tenacity in the tackle, regarded as the 'perfect modern defender' for his dynamism and robustness; Gvardiol really does have the template to slot into any team in world football.

He would be the dream heir to Joel Matip's throne, with Liverpool perhaps replicating the success in delving into the Bundesliga, signing the Cameroonian colossus from Schalke on a free transfer in 2016.

Matip, while seemingly at the end of his most potent phase on Merseyside, has played instrumental roles in gleaning the whole gamut of silverware under Klopp's wing, playing 186 times.

As per FBref, Matip ranks among the top 3% of positional peers for rate of goals, the top 6% for shot-creating actions, the top 9% for progressive passes and the top 1% for progressive carries per 90, indeed bearing a striking resemblance to his Croatian counterpart.

In the "fearless" Gvardiol, however, as he was dubbed by Rio Ferdinand, Klopp would have a worthy defensive successor and a key component to slot into the fold and blossom into one of the great modern centre-backs, leaving glinted success in his wake.

It’s been a difficult season in the Premier League for Wolverhampton Wanderers, who sit 14th in the table and seven points above the drop zone.Before Julen Lopetegui took charge, Wolves were near the relegation zone however, taking 10 points from a possible 18 in April the Midlands side will almost certainly remain in the top division next season.This campaign has been one of change for the encouraging squad, who have adapted to new players, changing managers and the ups and downs of the Premier League.It has however been a successful year for the academy, who at U-23 level have managed to remain in the Premier League 2 first division following their promotion in 2021/22.Wolves’ academy boast some real potential for the future, whether it be in the PL2 or away from the club and through loan experiences.One player has had a season to remember in his budding career, gaining promotion to the Championship with League One champions Plymouth Argyle.

Who is Nigel Lonwijk?

Although yet to feature for Wolves’ senior team, Dutch centre-back Nigel Lonwijk has shown glimmers of a potential future star throughout the season in the English third division.The 20-year-old was captured by the Midlanders in 2020, leaving his home club of PSV for a new challenge in England to develop as a player. The defender followed in the footsteps of his older brother Justin Lonwijk, who too left PSV’s academy in the search of career progression in Europe, the 23-year-old is a midfielder for Ukrainian outfit Dynamo Kyiv.Despite not playing any senior minutes for Wolves, the defender was trusted to feature 22 times in the Eredivise for Fortuna Sittard, where he spent a season on loan last year. The centre-back has racked up 41 appearances for Argyle this campaign, where he gained promotion to the Championship with the club and impressed his fans and colleagues.The 6 foot 4 defender has had a lot asked of him during the testing laborious schedule of League One, playing as a centre-back and as a fullback in Argyle’s favoured back three system. Speaking to the Plymouth Herald on his need for versatility when called upon, the Dutchman explained that the loan has seen him “growing through the whole season”.

Despite not being a consistent starter for the Devonshire club, the 20-year-old has been praised for his “calm” nature in defence by Argyle manager Steven Schumacher.Speaking earlier in the season to PlymouthLive, his manager applauded him for his introduction to the side and league: “He hasn’t really put a foot wrong. He’s so calm for someone so young. He’s 19-years-old and nothing fazes him.”It’s praise indeed for his first senior season in English football when taking into consideration the demands of the demanding schedule of the Football League. Wolves snapped up the talent before his loan move, extending his contract in Wolverhampton to the summer of 2025, with the option of an additional year.At just 20-years-old with over 60 senior appearances under his belt both in England and the Netherlands, he will certainly be one to watch in the future.

كشفت تقارير صحفية حقيقة اقتراب لاعب فريق ليفربول، تياجو ألكانتارا، من مغادرة النادي في موسم الانتقالات الشتوي الحالي.

ومن المعروف أن العقد الحالي للاعب البرازيلي مع ليفربول سينتهي في يونيو المقبل، أي نهاية الموسم الحالي.

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ولم يشارك اللاعب الإسباني في أي مباراة رفقة ليفربول هذا الموسم، إثر الإصابة التي تعرض لها في وقت سابق من العام الماضي.

وتسبب ذلك الأمر في انتشار التكهنات حول مستقبل تياجو وإمكانية رحيله عن ليفربول هذا الشهر من أجل تحقيق استفادة مالية.

وظهرت تقارير صحفية مؤخرًا تفيد بأن تياجو ألكانتارا قد يرحل عن ليفربول وينضم إلى الدوري البرازيلي، وتحديدًا نادي فلامينجو.

ولكن الصحفي الشهير فابريزيو رومانو نفى الأمر، حيث أكد أنه لا يوجد أي شئ على الإطلاق يخص انتقال تياجو ألكانتارا إلى فلامينجو.

وأفاد أنه لا توجد أي محادثات بين الطرفين، أو رحلة إلى إنجلترا من أجل التفاوض.

وأكد أن نادي فلامينجو في حالة تركيز على صفقته المرتقبة المتمثلة في اللاعب ماتياس فينيا، المتواجد في صفوف ساسولو.

أوضح أحمد نبيل كوكا لاعب النادي الأهلي أنه وقع على عقدين مع القلعة الحمراء في الفترة الماضية على بياض، كما كشف عن تشاجره مع والده بسبب عدم اللاعب بشكل أساسي.

وقال كوكا خلال تصريحات عبر برنامج “ملعب أون تايم” المذاع على قناة أون تايم سبورت: “أنا وقعت على عقدين للنادي الأهلي على بياض، لم أنظر لأي شيء سوى أنني أوقع للأهلي”.

وأضاف: “رئيس النادي الأهلي محمود الخطيب قدوة لنا جميعًا، أتذكر عندما صعدت للفريق الأول، ذهبت إليه لأصافحه، وجدته يقوم لي ويُصافحي، هذا ما نتعلمه من الأساطير الكبيرة”.

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وتابع: “لا يوجد لاعب في الأهلي موجود ليس على قدر مسؤولية النادي، مثلما رأينا مصطفى شوبير في نهائي إفريقيا أمام الوداد وربنا أكرمه، وأنا ربنا أكرمني في كأس العالم للأندية”.

وواصل: “أي لاعب في الأهلي هو قدر قيمته، وأنا ومصطفى شوبير مازلنا لم نفعل شيء وأمامنا الكثير لنقدمه”.

وأوضح: “والدي تشاجر معي عندما علم بغضبي من الجلوس على دكة الأهلي، وطالبني بالسكوت والاستمرار في النادي”.

وتطرق للحديث عن المنافسة في الأهلي، قال: “أنا أسير بشكل جيد، الإصابة مجرد 3 أسابيع، وأشكر الجميع على الدعم سواء من جماهير الأهلي أو الزمالك، كانوا يدعموني”.

وأردف: “عندما قيل لي ستصعد وتلعب وأنا أتدرب وأفعل ما يُطلب مني، أتعلم من كل اللاعبين، وأحاول أن أستمر على ما أنا عليه، كلنا نتدرب لأنه عندما تلعب لابد أن تكون على قدر المسؤولية”.

وواصل: “أريد أن أحترف ولكن عن طريق النادي الأهلي، أنا حققت بطولات عديدة ولكني أريد أن أحقق المزيد من البطولات مع الفريق”.

وتابع: “100% سأجدد على بياض من جديد للنادي الأهلي، وأثق أن النادي سيقدرني”.

وأتم: “أتمنى التوفيق لـ منتخب مصر، وربنا يكرمهم ويبعد عنهم الإصابات وكل لاعب يُقدم أفضل بطولة له، وأساندهم من كل قلبي”.

Fulham have recieved a potential boost with the news that Borussia Monchengladbach defender Joe Scally could be available for €12m (£10.5m) this summer.

How is Scally playing this season?

The American is having an impressive season in the Bundesliga, proving to be an important figure for Monchengladbach and helping them sit comfortably in 10th place currently. Scally has started 21 of his side's league matches, also appearing as a substitute twice, making the right-back spot his own in the process.

With Fulham looking to make reinforcements during the summer transfer window, the defender is someone who has been linked with a move to Craven Cottage. Marco Silva will want to build from what has been an excellent 2022/23 season to date and ensure that it isn't a one-off, turning them into a genuinely established Premier League outfit.

It could be that a fresh challenge appeals to Scally come the end of the current campaign, with a move to England seen as possibly too good to turn down, and a new report has emerged regarding the 20-year-old's future.

Could Scally be off to Fulham?

According to Bild [via Sport Witness], the Monchengladbach man has become a "shaky candidate" when it comes to the players the Bundesliga side could struggle to keep hold of at the end of the season. It is claimed that several Premier League clubs have "put out feelers" regarding the right-back's availability, who is valued at £10.5m. If that amount if met by a club, Scally's club would find it difficult "say no to".

While Fulham aren't specifically mentioned as one of the English clubs in question, it can certainly be assumed that they are one of them, given the recent rumours surrounding a move to west London.

Scally could be an exciting long-term signing by the Cottagers if they get a deal over the line this summer, with the four-cap USA international a long-term acquisition with a high ceiling. He is already a regular for a Bundesliga side, more than holding his own in a top European league, and he could come in and provide competition for Kenny Tete at right-back, who has started 20 league matches this season.

He has been hailed as a "great defender" by compatriot Ricardo Pepi, which further highlights his quality, and an average of two clearances and one tackle per game in the Bundesliga in 2022/23 also show what a competent defender he is.

Sky Sports reporter Kaveh Solhekol has claimed that if no bid matches their requirements, the Glazer family could end up staying at Manchester United.

What's going on with Manchester United's takeover?

Further bids are expected from a number of interested parties for Manchester United, with the two frontrunners thought to be consortiums led by Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Sheikh Jassim Hamad Bin Al Thani.

World record-level bids are expected to arrive as both parties attempt to purchase the club from the Glazers in full, but if these bids are not high enough, a potential sale may fall through.

Speaking on Sky Sports News (via Football Daily), Solhekol claimed that the Glazers have an asking price for the club, but would happily keep control and reject a sale if the offers they receive are not sufficient enough, despite heavy fan pressure for them to sell up.

He said: "The people I've been speaking to have told me the Glazers will only sell if the price is right. If the price is not right, they will stay at United.

"I went back and said, can you imagine what the fan reaction is going to be if they now turn around and say, after all this, we're not selling?

"They said, that doesn't matter at all. They don't care about that. They've put up with fan protests for 17, 18 years. They are willing to put up with more fan protests.

"So I think that is a situation, as far as the Glazers are concerned, they will sell to the highest bidder – but the highest bidder has to pay what they're looking for. Otherwise, they will stay."

Would Manchester United benefit from a takeover?

There is almost no doubt that United would benefit from a sale. The Glazers have been criticised for years for the lack of attention they have paid to the club's facilities and investment into the club's infrastructure, as well as the levels of debt they have racked up in Man United's name.

Both main bidders have outlined their desire to take United back to the top of European football, with the Red Devils, who have not won a Premier League title in 10 years, have been promised major investment by Sheikh Jassim's consortium.

The Qatari investors have outlined their intentions to invest heavily in the first team, club infrastructure and academy, which could set United up for a sustained period of success.

Ratcliffe, as a Manchester local, would likely take much more of a vested interest in the club's success than the Glazers have done, and with increased investment into the club, United fans may start dreaming of another dynasty in English football.

If the Glazers were to stay despite these bids arriving, you would imagine fan pressure would increase heavily on them to sell the club, especially in light of the promises made by other potential owners.

Leeds United are thought to be already considering a move for Nottingham Forest manager Steve Cooper.

The Lowdown: Gracia in

The Whites brought in Javi Gracia on a flexible contract last month, with the Spaniard tasked with keeping the club in the Premier League.

He made a winning start at Elland Road against Southampton last weekend, a result that took Leeds out of the relegation zone.

Andrea Radrizzani and the 49ers Enterprises appear to be keeping an eye on the managerial market with Gracia not fixed to a long-term deal though, with Cooper a new name who appears to be of interest.

The Latest: Cooper update

MOT Leeds News relayed an update from The Daily Mail on Friday regarding Cooper.

They said that a number of Premier League clubs, including Leeds, are considering a move for the Welshman after his impressive work at the City Ground.

The Verdict: Unlikely?

Forest are currently in a better position than Leeds, so you could argue that a move to Elland Road for Cooper at this moment in time is unlikely, especially with Chelsea and Tottenham also named with a potential interest.

The 3-4-2-1 style manager has wins over Marcelo Bielsa and Jesse Marsch on his CV and has done a brilliant job for Forest, taking them from a relegation battle in the Championship to the Premier League.

Also, should Gracia keep Leeds up, you could say that he deserves the job on a full-time basis, but it seems as if Cooper’s name could be a name to keep an eye on following this update.

Newcastle United have reportedly sent scouts to watch Mainz midfielder Anton Stach ahead of a potential summer move.

The Lowdown: Stach profiled

Stach has been one of the standout players at Mainz so far this season, ranking highly among his team-mates for average aerial duels won, shots, key passes, dribbles, crosses and through balls per game in the Bundesliga (WhoScored).

He has been instrumental in Mainz knocking on the door for European qualification for next term, and is sure to attract plenty of interest in the summer.

The Latest: Newcastle scout Stach

Co-writing for 90min, transfer expert Graeme Bailey has shared that Newcastle are among a number of clubs to have scouted Stach in 2023 ahead of a possible move this summer.

Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham United have all watched him in action too, so the Magpies would have to act fast to secure his signature.

Bailey notes that they have not won a game without Bruno Guimaraes this campaign, so are in need of cover for the Brazilian, and Stach can also play as an eight or ten as well as in defensive midfield.

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The Verdict: Get it done

Stach would provide quality cover for Bruno when he is not available, and could even force himself into the starting line-up at St. James’ Park.

The six-foot-four colossus has been one of the most consistent midfielders in Europe’s top five leagues over the past year, ranking in the 97th percentile for assists and in the top 10% for a number of other key metrics.

At 24 years of age, Stach still has a high ceiling, and could be a mainstay in the Toon midfield for years to come.

Like most clubs, Tottenham Hotspur have endured their fair share of blunders with regard to letting young players move on over the years, with the likes of Sporting Lisbon starlet Marcus Edwards and footballing icon David Beckham just two of the names to have initially been on the books in north London before blossoming elsewhere.

One further howler that current chairman Daniel Levy has overseen in recent times is the exit of fleet-footed winger Noni Madueke on a free transfer back in 2018, with the 20-year-old having only recently been snapped up by Premier League rivals Chelsea following a fruitful spell in the Netherlands.

The Barnet-born speedster had initially joined the Lilywhites in his early teens following a brief spell at Crystal Palace, notably going on to make his debut for Spurs’ U18 side at the age of just 15 as a marker of his exciting potential.

That rapid development left the youngster hungry to secure a place at first-team level, having duly decided to make the bold move to join Eredivisie giants PSV Eindhoven in order to realise that ambition.

Reflecting on that decision in a recent interview with The Mirror, the 6 foot winger revealed that he had been craving a shot in the senior ranks, hence his decision to depart Spurs at the age of just 16.

He said: “At 16 year old I felt I was ready for a first team. I backed myself 100 percent. I am very impatient! The quicker you get young talents into first team football the quicker they get ahead of the talent of other nations.”

The frustration for Levy and co will be as to why there was no clear pathway for the promising forward in N17, with Tottenham having been left to rue their inability to keep hold of the “sensational” gem, as he was dubbed by journalist Danny Rust.

As for Madueke, the eye-catching dynamo reaped the rewards of his bravery to move abroad, having made his first start for PSV just a week prior to his 18th birthday, before going on to truly cement himself in the team over the subsequent few seasons.

The England U21 international ultimately racked up 34 goal involvements in 80 games in all competitions for the Eindhoven outfit, while also helping the club to secure the KNVB Cup and the Dutch Super Cup last year.

That impressive form unsurprisingly sparked interest in his services, with the Blues moving swiftly to strike a deal last month for a fee of around £29m, with such a sizeable figure likely to sting as far as Spurs are concerned after letting him depart for nothing five years ago.

While it is still early days with regard to his time at Stamford Bridge, Madueke notably caught the eye on his Chelsea debut in their draw against Fulham last weekend, recording two key passes and completing 100% of his dribbles in that 45-minute cameo.

That brief showing would appear to suggest that he can go on to thrive under Graham Potter moving forward, which would be of real frustration to Tottenham supporters and to Levy.

Scottish champions Celtic are back in action at home to Livingston this evening, with Ange Postecoglou’s side having run out 2-0 winners over Dundee United in their most recent league clash last weekend.

That rather comfortable outing saw second-half goals from Jota and Aaron Mooy prove the difference for the Old Firm outfit, with the Glasgow side having re-established their nine-point advantage at the summit with what was their 21st top-flight win of the season.

The rampant league leaders will also go into tonight’s encounter having already beaten David Martindale’s men on two occasions so far this term, notably claiming a 2-1 victory when the two sides met at Parkhead back in December.

With the Hoops looking to inflict even more misery on Livi this time around at Paradise, how will they line up?

Here’s what Football FanCast are predicting:

Postecoglou revealed in his pre-match press conference that the only injury absentees are likely to be that of Anthony Ralston and Benjamin Siegrist, while on-loan Danish midfielder Oliver Abildgaard has subsequently sealed a move to Italian outfit, Hellas Verona.

With that in mind, we predict that there will be four changes from the side that claimed victory at Tannadice on Sunday, with January arrival Yuki Kobayashi potentially set to be the only alteration in the backline, allowing the Japan international the chance to partner Cameron Carter-Vickers in the centre of defence for the first time.

A further two changes could lie in midfield, with the midweek clash potentially allowing the chance for Postecoglou to hand reliable skipper Callum McGregor a well-earned rest, with Tomoki Iwata in line to take his place for what would be his first start for the Bhoys.

With the aforementioned Mooy likely to remain in the side following his goal and assist against the Tangerines, it could well see Matt O’Riley come in to take the final midfield berth, with the £12k-per-week “magician” – as lauded by talent scout Jacek Kulig – having struggled for a regular role of late.

That should well see “outstanding” asset Reo Hatate – as described by former Celtic Park hero Chris Sutton – drop to the bench, with the 25-year-old another to potentially benefit from a brief break from the action amid what is a hectic fixture schedule.

As for the forward line, the only tweak could see Liel Abada make way for Daizen Maeda on the right flank, with top scorer Kyogo Furuhashi and Portuguese gem Jota set to retain their places in the side.