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Liverpool may sign Bayer Leverkusen winger Moussa Diaby in the future, according to reliable journalist Christian Falk.

The Lowdown: Previous interest

Italian outlet Calciomercato has previously reported that the Reds have been interested in the 23-year-old, with a Spanish source claiming that he was being lined up as a possible replacement for Mohamed Salah, if the Egyptian had failed to sign a new contract at Anfield.

Whilst the Liverpool rumours involving Diaby were put to bed once the 30-year-old penned new terms with the Reds in July, Newcastle were then heavily linked with a move for the France international.

However, the Magpies’ interest was short-lived, with the £60m asking price seemingly keeping the winger at the Bundesliga outfit for the season.

The Latest: Falk’s claim

Falk wonders why the Reds never ended up signing Diaby, who he believes has all the qualities to succeed under Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp.

Speaking with GiveMeSport, the German journalist claimed: “I think he’s perfect for the Premier League.

“I always wondered why Liverpool didn’t buy him before, he would fit perfectly in this system, and I think we will see him there. But at the moment, it doesn’t look like it will be this summer.”

The Verdict: Great long-term signing

When analysing the winger’s statistics, it is easy to see why Falk believes that Diaby would be a great addition to Klopp’s side.

As per FBRef, compared with positional peers across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year, the 23-year-old ranks in the 94th percentile for assists and the 92nd percentile for non-penalty goals and expected assists.

With his contract at Leverkusen running until the summer of 2025, the Bundesliga club would be in control of any negotiations surrounding a move for Diaby.

Therefore, whilst any such transfer does not appear to be imminent, it could be a serious option for Liverpool to consider in a couple of years’ time, so long as the forward does not sign a new deal in Germany beforehand.

It’s also a promising sign that Falk believes the 23-year-old could end up at Anfield in the not-too-distant future.

Manchester United are considering a move for Alvaro Morata, according to Laurie Whitwell of The Athletic. 

The lowdown

United are seemingly on the hunt for a striker amid a scarcity of options at Old Trafford following Edinson Cavani’s departure.

Cristiano Ronaldo is available for selection but he reportedly wants to leave the club.

There’s also Anthony Martial, but he spent the second half of last season on loan at Sevilla, suggesting there are doubts about his ability.

And Marcus Rashford may not be suitably prolific, based on his tally of just five goals in 31 appearances last season.

Morata, formerly of Chelsea, is back at Atletico Madrid after spending two seasons on loan at Juventus.

The latest

Whitwell writes that there is ‘unedifying scramble’ going on behind the scenes as United look to plug the gaps in their squad.

There have been ‘recruitment meetings at Carrington this week’ to ‘sift through various proposals’.

One of the players under discussion is Morata, with a swoop regarded as a ‘genuine possibility’.

United have ‘held talks’ over a potential move, and it’s believed that Atletico will demand around £29.6million for a permanent deal.

They could be open to a loan, but that would still involve paying the Spaniard’s ‘significant wages’.

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The verdict

Is Morata the answer to United’s prayers?

Well, his career goals record is reasonably strong – 180 in 494 appearances – and he’s contributed 73 assists too.

United actually saw first-hand how dangerous he could be during his spell at Chelsea. It was his header that won the Blues the game when they met at Stamford Bridge, inflicting defeat upon Jose Mourinho’s side.

Indeed, Morata can be a real menace from balls into the box, with 37 headed goals to his name over the course of his career.

And he’s also won praise for his work ethic too, with national team boss Luis Enrique calling his defensive contribution ‘unbeatable’.

Indeed, he ranks in the top 31 percentiles (when compared to positional peers in the big five leagues) for pressures, tackles, interceptions and blocks per 90 minutes.

Perhaps these are the attributes that have caught United’s eye.

Sunderland are reportedly in ‘ongoing talks’ to sign Standard Liege central defender Moussa Sissako.

The Lowdown: Centre-back needed

With the long-term injury to Dan Ballard, coupled up with Danny Batth only just returning to full fitness (safc.com), the Stadium of Light outfit are a little light in the centre-back area at the moment.

Thus, they could do with bringing another one in before the transfer window closes, and it seems as if they have already identified their target.

The Latest: Sissako talks

Taking to Twitter, reliable journalist Loic Tanzi has revealed that the Wearside club are in ‘ongoing talks’ over a potential deal for Sissako, who could not find an agreement with fellow Championship rivals Burnley after an offer was made by the Clarets:

“Moussa Sissako (ex. PSG, today at Standard Liege) had an offer from Burnley, but the defender did not find an agreement with the English club. Ongoing talks with Sunderland and another overseas club.”

The Verdict: Get it done

Given the problems that they have had at centre-half, this is a deal that Alex Neil’s side need to get over the line.

A youth product at PSG, Sissako now plays for Standard Liege in Belgium, and has accumulated 34 appearances for them in total over all competitions.

The six-foot-two colossus has already been capped four times by Mali at the tender age of 21, highlighting his potential.

Nonetheless, given his experience, Sissako should be able to provide adequate cover at centre-back while the likes of Ballard are injured and Batth continues his recovery.

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has personally demanded the signing of Memphis Depay this summer, according to the Spanish media.

The Lowdown: Depay linked with United return

The Dutchman, who has a remarkable 42 international goals, spent two unsuccessful years at Old Trafford between 2015 and 2017, struggling to match the hype that greeted his arrival and scoring just seven goals in 53 appearances.

Depay has since enjoyed far more successful stints at Lyon and Barcelona, rebuilding his reputation in the process, and he has been linked with a return to Old Trafford this summer.

A fresh update suggests that the rumour has genuine legs, with the manager personally involved in pushing the deal.

The Latest: Ten Hag wants Depay

According to Sport [via Sport Witness], Ten Hag has ‘requested’ John Murtough to sign Depay, with the player’s future taking an ‘unexpected turn in the last few hours’.

They report that the player would ‘prioritise’ a move back to Old Trafford and the Red Devils boss sees it as a  ‘market opportunity’.

The Dutchman has an eye-watering €400million (£338m) release clause in a Barca deal that does not expire until the summer of 2023, but is thought to be available for around €10m (£8.5m) due to the Catalan club’s financial situation and bloated wage bill.

He scores goals galore! Pay homage to one of his best with this amazing t-shirt! Click here to buy…

The Verdict: Worth the gamble?

Granted, Depay’s initial spell at United was a big disappointment but the fact that Ten Hag has sounded him out as a primary target suggests he is exactly what the manager is looking for.

At 28, he is now a more mature figure both on and the off the pitch and he has been hailed as a ‘world-class’ footballer by Lyon owner Jean-Michel Aulas in the past.

An impressive tally of 12 goals and six assists for the Netherlands in World Cup qualifying sums up his influence at international level, while he even managed 13 goals and two assists while being phased out of the Barcelona ranks last season.

At or around the rumoured bargain price tag, this could be a gamble worth taking for Murtough and United.

Signing a new striker for Newcastle United was always going to be a priority for Dan Ashworth this summer, especially after Callum Wilson’s injury.

The Toon were heavily linked with a move for Watford’s Joao Pedro before seeing a move collapse but that may have been a blessing in disguise for Eddie Howe, as it paved the way for the signing of Alexander Isak.

Newcastle reportedly saw a £25m bid for the Brazilian rejected, with Pedro later affirming his commitment to Watford on deadline day as he looks to help the Hornets earn promotion back to the top flight.

That decision forced Ashworth to look elsewhere and he worked quickly to bring in Isak from Real Sociedad in a club-record deal worth £63m, with the Swede reportedly rejecting Manchester United in order to seal a move to St James’ Park.

The Sweden international made a memorable start to his Newcastle career, scoring on his debut in Wednesday’s 2-1 defeat against Liverpool, while the new £120k-per-week earner also saw another effort ruled out for a narrow offside.

It was a remarkable first outing for the Swede who showed great composure before thundering the ball home for his opening Toon goal. He then showed fancy footwork in the second half, putting two Liverpool players on the floor before firing the ball into the back of the net.

He celebrated with the swagger of Thierry Henry or Cristiano Ronaldo but unfortunately, the linesman ruled it out.

If offered an early glimpse of what he could bring to the northeast and if he continues like that, memories of a move for the Watford man will swiftly fade.

Indeed, while Pedro has started this season in impressive form, contributing two goals and two assists in six Championship appearances thus far, he would manage just three goals in the Premier League last season, and at just 20, he might have been a risky signing for Howe.

Isak, meanwhile, hit a combined 23 goals in his last two La Liga campaigns so has pedigree in one of Europe’s top leagues. Meanwhile, he also caught the eye for Sweden at the European Championships last summer, with Gary Lineker dubbing him an “exceptional talent.”

Therefore, it seems clear that Isak was the better purchase for Newcastle in this transfer window. If he continues to perform as he did at Anfield earlier this week, then his signing could well go down as another masterclass by Ashworth who already looks as if he’s struck gold at St James’.

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s (KSA) Public Investment Fund (PIF) are reportedly ‘ready to rival’ Everton to sign Leander Dendoncker for Newcastle United.

The Lowdown: Midfielder needed

Following the recent injury suffered by Bruno Guimaraes, as well as Jonjo Shelvey continuing to be out on the sidelines, it is clear that the St. James’ Park outfit need to bring in some cover in the central midfield area before the transfer window closes.

They have recently been linked with the likes of Conor Gallagher and Tiemoue Bakayoko, so this is clearly a priority before tomorrow’s deadline.

The Latest: Dendoncker interest

Taking to Twitter, journalist Pete O’Rourke has revealed that the North East club are ‘ready’ to move for Dendoncker from Wolves, but will have to hijack Everton’s move to do so:

“Newcastle are ready to rival Everton for Wolves midfielder Leander Dendoncker.”

The Verdict: Smart move

Given Dendoncker’s Premier League experience, he would certainly be a smart signing by the Tynesiders.

Hailed as a ‘top player’ by his manager Bruno Lage, the Belgium international is also capable of playing higher up in midfield, as well at centre-back, versatility which should please Eddie Howe given the injuries that he has in certain positions in his squad.

Incidentally, Dendoncker also shares the same agent as the Magpies manager, and so with the right transfer fee involved, this is a deal that could well be pushed through by the time the deadline hits.

Dean Jones has dropped a claim on the future of Aston Villa-linked manager Mauricio Pochettino.

What’s been said?

In a recent interview with GIVEMESPORT, the transfer insider claimed that, after reports suggested that the 50-year-old would be interested in a move to Villa Park in the event that Steven Gerrard is relieved of his duties, the former Tottenham Hotspur and Paris Saint-Germain manager is indeed interested in a move back to a Premier League club.

Regarding Pochettino’s presence at England’s 3-3 draw with Germany on Monday, Jones said: “Pochettino is very keen to be at games at the moment as he wants to be as ready as possible when a job opportunity crops up and so wants to see top players in person. I wouldn’t read too much into him being at the England match beyond the fact he is serious about returning to the Premier League soon.”

Real coup

Considering the fact that Gerrard has survived the two-week international break – typically a time when a club’s owners decide to part with their coaches – it would appear as if the 42-year-old job at Villa Park is safe, for now at least.

Having said that, should NSWE ultimately decide that the former Glasgow Rangers manager is not the man who they want to take Villa forwards, bringing Pochettino to the club would undoubtedly represent a huge coup for a club of Villa’s current standing.

Indeed, having taken over a below-par Southampton side back in 2012, the Argentine had an immediate impact on the Saints’ fortunes, comfortably guiding the club to survival over his 16 fixtures in charge in 2012/13, before leading the South Coast club to a quite extraordinary eighth place finish in his first – and only – full season at St. Mary’s.

As a result of the remarkable results he achieved at Southampton, Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy decided to take the 50-year-old to north London in the summer of 2014, with Pochettino leading Spurs to a fifth-place finish in his first campaign with the club, before recording an extraordinary four back-to-back top-four finishes in the Premier League.

However, it was not only domestically that Tottenham impressed under the Argentine, as the 50-year-old also masterminded the club’s run to the 2018/19 Champions League final – in which they narrowly lost out to Liverpool.

As such, considering his undoubted ability to develop under-performing Premier League clubs into top-half regulars, as well as serious contenders for European trophies, should Villa indeed manage to convince the former PSG coach of a move to Villa Park, it would certainly represent a real coup for a club who were playing Championship football as recently as 2019.

Manchester United are looking at a move for Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, according to Football Insider.

The Lowdown: Martinez profiled

Martinez made the move to Villa Park from Arsenal back in 2020 and has made 83 appearances for the club, keeping 27 clean sheets.

Labelled as ‘unbelievable’ by Villa teammate Matty Cash and called ‘one of the best goalkeepers in the world’ by international compatriot Lionel Messi, Martinez has played every minute of action under Steven Gerrard this season.

The 30-year-old is under contract until 2027 after signing fresh terms earlier this year, but it looks as if United are interested in his services.

The Latest: United links

According to FI, United are keeping close tabs on Martinez ahead of a potential move. They claim that the Argentine is on the Old Trafford radar due to doubts over David de Gea’s long-term future at the club.

The report adds that United’s recruitment team rate Martinez highly, with Villa valuing the ‘keeper in the region of £45m.

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The Verdict: Interesting

Jordan Pickford has also been linked with the Red Devils recently, so it looks as if De Gea could well end his 11-year association with the club next year when his deal expires.

There hasn’t been any real movement on fresh terms for the Spaniard, so it makes sense for United to eye up possible replacements, including Martinez.

It could be a hard deal to complete, though, due to his contract situation and Villa’s demands, but it appears that United will monitor a move over the coming months.

Liverpool chiefs are now ‘confident’ they can sign Borussia Dortmund’s marquee midfielder Jude Bellingham after ‘extensive talks’ behind the scenes.

The Lowdown: Bellingham linked with Liverpool…

The 19-year-old is a very hot commodity in football right now as a ‘stampede’ of clubs reportedly take an interest in snapping him up next year.

However, it is reliably reported that Jurgen Klopp’s side are frontrunners for his signature, with Telegraph journalist Matt Law claiming (via This is Anfield) that both the Reds and Real Madrid are ‘leading the way’.

Chelsea owner Todd Boehly is also believed to be attempting some discussions with Bellingham’s entourage, although a new report has shed light on some of Liverpool’s own talks for the player.

The Latest: Liverpool ‘confident’ of signing Bellingham…

Indeed, Football Insider now claim that Anfield chiefs are ‘confident’ that they have laid the groundwork for a potential deal for the midfielder next year.

In addition, it is believed that ‘extensive talks’ have been held ‘behind the scenes’ with Bellingham’s camp as Liverpool attempt to get ahead of the competition.

The Verdict: Promising update…

The teenage superstar would be a stellar signing for Klopp on Merseyside and a real asset who could help to add much-needed depth to Liverpool’s midfield.

As per WhoScored, the England international ranks as Dortmund’s best-performing player this season by average match rating, while only defender Nico Schlotterbeck can match him for most minutes in the Bundesliga.

He also had the honour of captaining the team at the weekend despite still being a teenager, although his side fell to a 3-2 defeat against Koln.

He is quite evidently one of football’s most standout prodigies at the moment, and it seems only a matter of time before he seals a mega-money move to the Premier League.

Aston Villa managed to continue their unbeaten run last night on the road at Nottingham Forest but will feel somewhat aggrieved that they could not find a winner against a side wallowing in 19th.

Depending on how you view their results, it actually marks just one win in their last seven now, and Steven Gerrard will certainly be feeling the pressure.

In what was a feisty affair, few stood out in a game that never really seemed to find its rhythm.

Despite dominating 61% of the ball, the Villans managed just two shots on target. One of which was Ashley Young’s scorching equaliser. The full-back impressed and would have been the standout player for the visitors if not for Emiliano Buendia.

The Argentine was one of few who continued to pry at the Forest defence, and his workmanlike yet classy performance was clearly noticed by SofaScore, who gave him a 7.5 rating for the game. This was only beaten by the extra 0.1 handed to the goal scorer.

Compared to his team’s average of 6.83, it further outlines him as one of the star players of the game.

Having been handed his first start since August, his desperation to have the ball was outlined in his 66 touches. However, he was not wasteful with it.

He was 100% accurate with his long balls and even gave two key passes, showing how creative he was throughout.

However, it was his defensive display which will have impressed his manager even more.

To combine such talent with an attitude like Buendia’s suggests that he has all the tools to become a really outstanding talent in the Premier League.

He was involved in a mammoth 13 ground duels, of which he managed to win nine. For a winger, the 25-year-old did not shirk his defensive duties to help out Matty Cash, who was returning from injury.

His five tackles further compound his all-around display, which could only have been capped off had he scored or assisted the winner.

Pundit Jack Collins noted back in January of this year about the “stunning performances” he had been putting in. It seems that if he is given a run now, with displays such as this, he certainly could recapture that form.

Although his side were not at their best, Gerrard can at least look to Buendia as the shining light for his side on another disappointing night.