Liverpool are believed to be showing genuine interest in signing a “world class” midfielder on huge wages in the summer transfer window, according to a new update.
Liverpool plotting midfield and defensive additions
According to recent reports, the Reds are the front-runners to complete the signing of RB Leipzig attacker Xavi Simons at the end of the season. Rivals Manchester United are providing competition, but the Premier League leaders are at the front of the queue currently.
Monaco midfielder Lamine Camara has also emerged as a reported target for Liverpool in the summer window, having impressed greatly for the Ligue 1 side. Still only 21 years of age, he already feels like a key player, picking up six assists in 17 league starts this season.
Lamine Camara for AS Monaco.
An audacious move for Everton centre-back Jarrad Branthwaite has also been mooted, although it would be a huge shock if the Blues allowed their star defender to join their biggest rivals.
There has been a positive update regarding Virgil van Dijk’s future at Liverpool, too, with talks over a contract extension reportedly going well. Discussions are thought to have ramped up in recent weeks, as the Reds look to tie down the world’s best central defender.
Liverpool want to sign "world class" Arsenal target
According to a fresh claim from Caught Offside, Liverpool are showing “concrete interest” in Bayern Munich star Joshua Kimmich, coming after his agents held talks with Arsenal in recent weeks.
A host of clubs are keen on signing the 30-year-old, who is out of contract this summer, but the Gunners and Reds could be the two to go head to head after a similar battle for Martin Zubimendi appears to have gone Arsenal’s way.
Kimmich currently earns a whopping £310,000-a-week, but the Reds “are expected to offer him a wage package less than that” in the hopes the allure of Premier League title chases and famous Anfield Champions League nights can convince him.
Should Trent Alexander-Arnold depart this summer, Kimmich could be a great option to replace him, as the report alludes to, saying he could “fill in” at right-back, with his versatility allowing him to shine both there and in midfield.
The Germany international has enjoyed an incredible career, winning eight Bundesliga titles and one Champions League crown, among many other trophies. Meanwhile, Julian Nagelsmann once called him “world class” during their time working together.
At 30, Kimmich wouldn’t represent a long-term option, which would make him a gamble of a signing on such big wages, but the fact that he would come in on a free transfer takes out some of the risk element.
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Hopefully, Alexander-Arnold stays and the Bayern ace isn’t a replacement for him, but if that does end up being the case, the hope is that Kimmich is a more available version of Thiago when he joined in 2020, bringing elite quality during the latter part of his career.
Whilst Leeds United have been known to flex their muscles whenever a transfer window opens in terms of classy incomings, the Championship giants should also be commended for how often they gift homegrown talents a chance in the senior mix.
This season has seen Daniel Farke throw the likes of Mateo Joseph into first-team action without much hesitation with the Thorp Arch product now up to six goals from a bumper 70 first-team chances while 17-year-old Sam Chambers earned a debut against Plymouth last November.
Every player that breaks into the first team picture from the esteemed academy will be aiming to replicate Archie Gray’s rise, with the versatile 19-year-old now on the books of Tottenham Hotspur after a major £30m switch last summer.
It’s up to Farke to unearth his next diamond in the same mould as Gray as a number of top starlets in the here and now begin to bang down the door for some senior opportunities.
Leeds' best academy prospects in 2025
Obviously, it is unlikely that every single talent that leaps up into the senior side from the academy structure will be a rip-roaring success.
But, the conveyer belt has worked wonders recently and it could do so again, particularly if Rhys Chadwick ends up making a name for himself down the line.
Amazingly, Chadwick has amassed six goals and four assists this season in the U21 structure, with the 18-year-old’s ability to play in a whole range of different positions making him a likely candidate to be the club’s next Gray-like figure.
Moreover, there is Luca Thomas who will have caught Farke’s eye, with the exciting winger helping himself to four goals and two assists out on loan this campaign at nearby York City and FC Halifax Town.
Leeds United manager DanielFarkeapplauds fans
But, away from those who currently harbour aspirations of being a superstar under Farke’s guidance, there are other youth players who ended up falling by the wayside.
One talented young prospect was even ahead of the aforementioned Gray.
The Leeds academy star who was ahead of Gray
For all the Grays of this world, there are a whole host of other homegrown players that never make the cut.
Indeed, that is the case with now 21-year-old Morten Spencer, who joined the Whites ranks back in 2019 with plenty of hype attached to his name.
Spencer allegedly attracted interest from the likes of Manchester City before making the move to Thorp Arch a reality, after a promising stint in the Sunderland academy piqued the interest of the West Yorkshire outfit.
Hailed as a “very talented” young player by his own mother Heidi Spencer when still on the books of the Black Cats, it’s clear that Leeds must have thought they’d hit the jackpot with the ex-Norway U18 international when he first arrived at Elland Road.
Games played
58
37
Goals scored
7
4
Assists
8
5
U18s debut
January 2021
August 2021
FA Youth Cup debut
March 2021
December 2021
U21s debut
August 2022
October 2021
First team appearances
0
52
He initially went on to succeed playing for both the U18s and U21s, with his debut in the U18 bracket coming way before Gray was handed his first chance. Indeed, the Spurs youngster would first line up for the U18s in August of 2021, a couple of months on from Spencer’s introduction into the side.
But, as much as Spencer would fire home seven strikes and pick up eight assists for both the U18s and U21s, he never earned himself any first-team minutes, culminating in his release in June of last year.
That same summer, Gray was eventually rewarded with a huge Premier League move, with Farke hopeful that the next crop of youngsters coming through won’t fall victim to Spencer’s regrettable fate.
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Ben Stokes defended his decision to declare England’s first innings at 393 for 8 after their two-wicket defeat to Australia in the first Ashes Test at Edgbaston.Joe Root was unbeaten on 118 and, along with Ollie Robinson, had just taken 20 runs off a single Nathan Lyon over when Stokes called his batters in on the first evening, leaving England 20 minutes to bowl against Australia’s openers.Robinson and Stuart Broad bowled two overs each, which Usman Khawaja and David Warner survived to finish the opening day on 14 for 0, with Khawaja going on to make 141 in the first innings.Stokes’ decision came under scrutiny in the media, with former England captains lining up to say they would not have declared in the same circumstances. And in the context of England’s narrow defeat late on the final evening, his declaration was questioned again.Speaking on the BBC’s Test Match Special, former England captain Michael Vaughan said he would “guarantee” that Stokes would not make the same declaration in the second Test if the circumstances arose.Related
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“Those 30 or 40 runs…” Vaughan said. “If you’d have asked Ben Stokes this morning, ‘Would you have liked Joe to have got another 30 on that day one, you’ve now got them in the bank?’ Of course [he would].”I will guarantee at Lord’s, if they bat first and they’re 393 for 8 with 20 minutes to go, I will guarantee that they’ll carry on batting… not with Joe Root 118 not out.”But at his press conference, Stokes said: “If we were in the same position? Yeah. I would like to be 398 for 6 [sic] with 20 minutes left. That would be great.”I could also turn it around and say, ‘if we didn’t declare, would we have got the excitement that we did at the end of day five?’ I’m not a hundred percent sure, but I’m not going to be looking back on this game as ‘what ifs’… the reality is, we just didn’t manage to get over the line.”Australia’s captain Pat Cummins, who hit the winning runs and took four second-innings wickets in leading Australia to victory, said he would “probably not” have declared in the same circumstances.”I wasn’t overly surprised,” Cummins said, “But the wicket felt pretty good, so I thought every run was pretty much needed in that first innings.”Stokes explained that he had sensed “an opportunity to pounce” on Khawaja and Warner, and that he would not alter his bold captaincy style simply because of the opposition and the nature of Ashes series.”I thought that was a time to pounce,” Stokes said at the presentation. “I am not going to change the way I have gone about my cricket because it is the Ashes.”Who knows? We could have got an extra 40 runs or lost two wickets in two balls. I am not a captain who gets by on what ifs.”We saw it as an opportunity to pounce on Australia and really start day two on top.”
Aston Villa are now in active talks over a summer move for a midfielder who has “star quality”, and he could be available for a fee of just £13m, according to a report.
Villa eyeing additions in all areas this summer
Villa have set their sights on a number of players ahead of the summer, with Unai Emery keen to strengthen multiple areas of his squad, and a report has revealed they could be set to reignite their interest in Real Sociedad right-back Jon Aramburu.
After Jhon Duran’s January departure to Al-Nassr, the Villans may also be required to bring in a new striker this summer, and they are said to hold a concrete interest in Juventus’ Dusan Vlahovic, although they are yet to make a formal approach.
Emery bolstered his midfield options by bringing in Marco Asensio during the January transfer window, and former CEO Keith Wyness recently admitted he expects his old club to pursue a permanent deal for the Spaniard at the end of the season.
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There has now been a new update on Aston Villa’s pursuit of Asensio from GiveMeSport, with journalist Ben Jacobs revealing they are now in active talks with Paris Saint-Germain over the possibility of a summer move.
The current loan agreement does not include an option for Villa to make the midfielder’s stay permanent, but Emery is keen to get a deal done, having been the driving force behind the initial loan move.
The 29-year-old is said to be open to a move to Villa Park, given that he is not part of PSG’s long-term plans, and the French club are prepared to sanction his departure for a low fee, with €15m (£13m) deemed to be an acceptable amount.
Asensio has the "star quality" to be a top signing
The PSG loanee has made quite the impact since arriving at Villa Park, having already scored five goals in all competitions, and he received high praise from Sky Sports’ Dan Bardell after bagging a brace against Cardiff in the FA Cup.
Not only has the former Real Madrid man displayed a keen eye for goal, but he also ranks very highly on a number of other key metrics over the past year, when compared to his positional peers.
Statistic
Average per 90
Assists
0.42 (99th percentile)
Shot-creating actions
5.0 (98th percentile)
Progressive passes
5.65 (99th percentile)
Pass completion %
84.4% (99th percentile)
Progressive carries
2.80 (92nd percentile)
Passes attempted
48.10 (99th percentile)
As such, Villa cannot afford to pass up the opportunity to sign such a talented player for the low fee of just £13m this summer, and it is exciting news that they have already entered talks over a permanent deal.
For all the sensationally talented players Tottenham Hotspur have had over the years, like Harry Kane and Gareth Bale, they’ve had more than their fair share of duds.
Be that the expensive kind like Tanguy Ndombele and Richarlison or the cheaper but still disappointing variety like Clinton N’Jie and Vincent Janssen.
However, there have also been those who fit somewhere in the middle, including one player who saw his stock plummet in North London: Serge Aurier.
The Ivorian international became something of a scapegoat at Spurs by his own doing, and now it looks like Ange Postecoglou has his own version of the defender in this current squad.
Serge Aurier's Spurs career
In the summer of 2017, Spurs completed the sale of Kyle Walker to Manchester City for around £50m, the record for a defender at the time, and needed a new right-back to replace him.
Kyle Walker playing for Tottenham
Instead of looking for that player in the Premier League, the club turned to Paris Saint-Germain and paid around £23m for their exciting but trouble-making full-back, Aurier.
The Ivorian defender had just come off a relatively impressive campaign in which he had provided five assists in 32 games, but as he had been handed a two-month suspended sentence the year before, it was no surprise to see the Parisians so willing to move him on.
Serge Aurier and John Fleck battle for the ball.
Unfortunately, the Ouragahio-born ace made a poor first impression in the Premier League, as in his first league start for the North Londoners, he managed to get himself sent off against West Ham United, which almost cost his side the game.
Even though it would be two years before the right-back was sent off for a second time, he had almost immediately reinforced the opinion people had of him and by September of his first campaign, he had Jamie Redknapp describing him as “all over the place” and Teddy Sheringham calling him “erratic.”
Such critiques reemerged in full force when his foul led to Manchester City’s game-winning free-kick in the 2021 League Cup final, with Jamie Carragher describing him as “one of the biggest liabilities in Premier League football.”
Aurier finally saw his contract terminated by mutual consent that summer, leaving with a tally of eight goals and 17 assists in 110 appearances, but did so as a scapegoat, and now it looks as if Postecoglou has his own version of the Ivorian in his team.
There are probably a few players who could fit this description in the current Spurs squad, from Radu Dragusin to Yves Bissouma.
However, when it comes down to it, we reckon that Pedro Porro is the closest player to Aurier in Postecoglou’s squad.
Now, there are a few apparent similarities between the pair, such as them both being right-backs, and offensive ones at that – the Spaniard has racked up 26 goal involvements since joining in 2023.
Porro’s Spurs career
Appearances
94
Starts
85
Minutes
7788′
Goals
9
Assists
17
Goal Involvements per Game
0.27
Minutes per Goal Involvement
299.53′
Yellow Cards
8
Points per Game
1.47
All Stats via Transfermarkt
Yet, the most significant similarity is that, like the Ivorian, the former Sporting CP star, who joined the club under Antonio Conte’s tenure, has become something of a scapegoat.
That may sound harsh, but it’s hard to disagree with, as for all his attacking talent, this season has seen the 25-year-old become more and more of a defensive problem for the team.
For example, there have been numerous cases of him being turned inside out by opposition wingers, like Lenadro Trossard in mid-January or Jeremy Doku last month.
Moreover, it’s not just individual moments he’s struggled either, as journalist Mitch Fretton described his performance against Ipswich Town last year as a “horror show”, and then at the weekend against Bournemouth, the Daily Express’ Tom Parsons gave him a 3/10 match rating.
Lastly, according to FBref, he sits in just the top 46% of full-backs in the Premier League for tackles, the top 48% for clearances and the bottom 12% for pass completion percentage.
Ultimately, while Porro can be effective in attack, he’s proven time and time again that he is a serious problem when it comes to the defensive side of his game, and if he is continuously played at right-back, he could be the club’s next Aurier.
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Jan Vertonghen is still remembered fondly at Spurs.
Wrexham will have to splash out and break their own transfer record if they are to win the race for a top target this summer.
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Wrexham want to strengthen squad for Championship
Linked with move for Charlie Savage
Will have to break club record to land midfielder
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WHAT HAPPENED?
Wrexham are one of four clubs eager to sign Charlie Savage, son of former Manchester United midfielder Robbie, in the summer transfer window. Tom Brady's Birmingham City are also in the mix along with Blackburn Rovers and Portsmouth, according to Wales Online. Savage is expected to cost over £2 million ($2.7m), more than Wrexham's current club record signing Sam Smith.
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Wrexham will hope they can tempt Savage to Wales and may be helped by the fact his famous father was born and raised in the area. Phil Parkinson's side are aiming to strengthen their squad after winning promotion to the Championship, with Ryan Reynolds having already admitted Wrexham are willing to be "as aggressive as we can be" in the transfer market this summer.
DID YOU KNOW?
Savage bagged seven goals and 13 assists in 52 appearances last season for Reading.
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WHAT NEXT FOR WREXHAM?
Wrexham have been tipped to break their transfer record "more than once" this summer as they prepare for life in the Championship. The team will be back in action in pre-season when they head Down Under for a tour of Australia and New Zealand.
نعى النجم الفرنسي كيليان مبابي الدولي البرتغالي الراحل ديوجو جوتا والذي توفى في حادث مأساوي صباح اليوم.
وكان جوتا نجم منتخب البرتغال الراحل قد توفى صباح اليوم رفقة شقيقه أندريه سيلفا بعد حادث سير مأساوي وقع في مقاطعة زامورا شمال غرب إسبانيا.
أقرأ أيضًا.. ماك أليستر وسوبوسلاي ينعيان جوتا: لا نصدق.. والكلمات لن تعبر عن حزننا
ووقع الحادث في مقاطعة زامورا شمال غرب إسبانيا بعد انحراف السيارة عن مسارها ما أدى لاصطدامها واشتعال النيران فيها.
ونشر مبابي نجم ريال مدريد رسالة قصيرة عبر حسابه الرسمي على “إنستجرام”، وقال: “أحر التعازي والمواساة والتعاطف مع عائلتهم وأحبابهم، ارقد بسلام ديوجو وأندريه”.
جوتا صاحب الـ28 عامًا قد انضم إلى ليفربول من وولفرهامبتون في عام 2020 مقابل 44.7 مليون يورو وخاض 182 مباراة سجل 65 هدفًا وصنع 26 هدفًا.
وتوج جوتا ببطولة دوري الأمم الأوروبية رفقة البرتغال بعد الفوز على إسبانيا بركلات الترجيح، على ملعب “ميونيخ أرينا”.
When it comes to the modern icons of Tottenham Hotspur, they don’t come much grander than Harry Kane.
The England captain might not have won any trophies during his time in North London, but he made an enormous impact on the club.
For example, in 435 first-team appearances, the club legend amassed a staggering tally of 280 goals and 61 assists, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 1.27 games.
It’s impossible to imagine Spurs’ modern history without Kane, yet before his breakthrough, there was another promising striker in the academy who was ahead of him, a striker who Mauricio Pochettino eventually sold for a pittance.
Kane's early Spurs career
As everyone knows, Kane’s football journey started in North London, but on the red side, with Spurs’ bitter rivals Arsenal.
However, the Gunners released the future superstar when he was just 12 years old, with then-academy manager Roy Massey later revealing that the club didn’t believe the youngster had what was needed to make it in the game.
After a few years without a professional club, the teenager joined the Lilywhites and, after spending some time in the youth system, went on several loan moves all over the country.
In between his loan moves, the Walthamstow-born ace still made 13 appearances for the U21s between the 12/13 and 13/14 seasons, scoring nine goals and providing nine assists.
Finally, after going out on numerous loan spells, playing in the academy and making the odd first-team appearance here and there, the Englishman was given his first proper chance to establish himself as the club’s starting number nine in the 14/15 season, under new boss Pochettino.
This was an opportunity he grabbed with both hands.
In 51 appearances, he scored 31 goals and provided five assists, and the rest, as they say, is history.
Kane’s 14/15
Appearances
51
Minutes
3682′
Goals
31
Assists
5
Goal Involvements per Match
0.70
Minutes per Goal Involvement
102.27
All Stats via Transfermarkt
However, a few years before Kane finally made his mark on the team, there was another up-and-coming striker ahead of him in the pecking order, a striker who thrived in the academy and looked promising, but eventually moved on for next to nothing.
The Spurs striker who was ahead of Kane
So, if we were to travel back to the distant year of 2009, we might be talking about a certain Spurs youngster turning heads in the club’s academy by the name of Jonathan Obika.
It was at the end of the 2008/09 season that the fans awarded the teenager the club’s Breakthrough Award, as even though he was just 18 at the time, he made his debut for the club in November 2008, in a UEFA Cup game against NEC Nijmegen.
The next six years or so would see the youngster spend time on loan with various clubs, including Yeovil Town, Peterborough, Millwall, Swindon Town, Brighton & Hove Albion, Charlton Athletic and Crystal Palace.
Obika’s Senior Career
Club
Games
Goals
Assists
Swindon
108
28
9
St. Mirren
77
20
6
Yeovil Town
74
18
8
Oxford United
57
8
7
Motherwell
24
4
1
Charlton
22
3
3
Morecambe FC
21
2
0
Millwall
12
2
0
Crystal Palace
8
0
0
Brighton
8
1
0
Tottenham
4
0
1
Peterborough
2
1
0
All Stats via Transfermarkt
However, there were also spells in which he returned to play for the Lilywhites U21s, and he looked excellent doing so.
For example, in just 17 appearances in the 12/13 season – when Kane was struggling on loan with Norwich and Leicester City – the Enfield-born poacher racked up a tally of 18 goals and four assists, which comes out to an average of 1.29 goal involvements per game.
Unfortunately, Pochettino did not see a future for the striker, who at one point looked destined to reach the top when he took charge in 2014, and just two years on from his barnstorming performances for the U21s, Obika was sold to Swindon for just £208k.
He might not have reached the heights that people thought he would’ve when he was making his way through Tottenham’s academy, but in the 11 years since his sale, the 34-year-old has carved out an impressive career for himself.
Following his time with Swindon, he played for Oxford United, St Mirren, Morecambe and Motherwell before retiring in July of last year, with a career that might not match up to the likes of Kane but is still something most could only dream of.
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NFL legend Tom Brady is enjoying time with his family in Europe and met up with Liverpool star Virgil van Dijk as part of the trip.
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Brady and family take in Europe tripVisit Bayern Munich's stadium in GermanyCatch up with Virgil van Dijk in the NetherlandsFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
Brady has been brushing up his knowledge of European football with a trip across the Atlantic this summer. Birmingham's minority owner has taken his family to the Netherlands and Germany and enjoyed some famous landmarks along the way. Brady posed with his kids at Bayern Munich's Allianz Arena, took a trip to Amsterdam and also had time left to share with Van Dijk.
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Brady shared photos of his travels on Instagram with the message: "A quick stop in DE then kicking off summer break in NL. Making memories that will last forever while experiencing these different cultures and LEARNING while we’re at it! Keep an eye out for my graffiti across Europe the res together way."
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Brady took a serious interest in football in 2021 when he became an investor in Birmingham city. The former American football star has since gone on to enjoy a rivalry with Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney's Wrexham, with both clubs promoted to the Championship at the end of last season.
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Getty Images/GOALWHAT NEXT FOR BRADY
Brady saw his team enjoy a record-breaking campaign last season on their way to the League One title. He will hope his team can thrive in the Championship in the 2025-26 campaign, with the Blues now just one step below the promised land of the Premier League.