Friedkin Group hold talks over "unbelievable" 54 y/o Everton manager target

The Friedkin Group have reportedly held internal talks over the appointment of an “unbelievable” manager to replace Sean Dyche at Everton if they complete their takeover in the coming days and weeks.

Everton manager latest

Last Saturday’s 1-1 draw away to Leicester City has done little to quieten the rumours surrounding Dyche’s future, following such a poor start to the season in the Premier League. The Blues have accumulated just one point from five matches, with a fourth relegation battle in a row increasingly looking on the cards.

Unsurprisingly, some names have been thrown into the hat when it comes to possible replacements for the Englishman, with a David Moyes reunion mooted in one report. The Scot spent 11 years at Goodison Park between 2002 and 2013 and could be a popular appointment among a chunk of the fanbase, given his history.

David Moyes

He was most recently in charge of West Ham, departing at the end of last season, and his knowledge of the Blues could make him a strong choice to come in and stave off the threat of relegation, taking the club into a new era at their Bramley Moore Dock stadium.

Moyes isn’t the only figure being linked with the potentially soon-to-be-vacant manager’s role at Everton, however, with ex-Borussia Dortmund boss also Edin Terzic backed to come in. He guided the Bundesliga giants into last season’s Champions League final against Real Madrid, losing 2-0 at Wembley.

Friedkin Group keen on "unbelievable" manager

Now, Give Me Sport report that Everton are interested in making Gareth Southgate their next manager, should they become the club’s new owners and decide to sack Dyche. On X, the reliable Paul Joyce has claimed that an agreement is in place to buy Farhad Moshiri’s 94.1% stake in the Blues, and the update on Southgate says Dan Friedkin has spoken internally about hiring Southgate once a deal goes through.

Southgate left his role in charge of the England after Euro 2024, feeling he had taken the team as far as he could, following their 2-1 defeat to Spain in the final. He could be a divisive appointment at Everton, with the 54-year-old gaining plenty of admirers with England but also having a lot of detractors at the same time.

To some, he did a fantastic job in charge of the national team, guiding them to two major finals, but to others, he was a defence-minded manager who didn’t get the best out of the most talented group of English players in years. For that reason, Southgate would be a risk, especially as his only managerial experience at club level came at Middlesbrough between 2006 and 2009, during which time he suffered relegation from the Premier League to the Championship.

That being said, his record for England does speak for itself – only Sir Alf Ramsey had got them into a major final in the country’s history before him, but he did it twice – while Jude Bellingham has said of him: “It was a privilege being lead by someone who is so dedicated and passionate, not only is Gareth easily one of the best coaches in the history of the national team but also an unbelievable human being.”

Everton takeover "very close" and they're eyeing a "fantastic" new manager

He won at Goodison Park last season.

ByHenry Jackson Sep 23, 2024

Southgate has arguably done enough at international level to show that he deserves another crack at the Premier League, so despite the risk element, Friedkin should be trusted to go with his gut if his takeover goes through.

Chelsea flop who was sold for just £12m is now even better than Palmer

Stamford Bridge fell after Roman Abramovich’s illustrious long-time ownership ended. Chelsea have started to piece their squad back together and look like they could grow into quite the force under the leadership of Enzo Maresca.

But will they? What are the variables at play here? Balance and chemistry and time to knit together are essential, but in truth, the Blues have one of the most exciting attacking lines around, with so much talent to pick from.

Noni Madueke’s emphatic start to the season has been pleasing, while the likes of Joao Felix, Pedro Neto and Jadon Sancho bring genuine quality after all arriving during the summer.

Chelsea's Pedro Neto

But Cole Palmer is still the cream of the crop. Of course he is. The England star simply has to remain as the centrepiece of the project over the coming years.

The impact of Cole Palmer at Chelsea

He came, he conquered. Only, he hasn’t, not yet. It does feel that way though: Palmer moved to Chelsea in a deal worth £42.5m in August 2023 and went on to produce one of the most incredible breakout seasons that the Premier League has ever seen.

1.

Cole Palmer

34

33

2.

Erling Haaland

31

32

2.

Ollie Watkins

37

32

4.

Mohamed Salah

32

28

5.

Phil Foden

35

27

5.

Heung-min Son

35

27

The table above tells the tale. Well, it doesn’t really. Palmer’s brilliance is such that he might be one of the most prolific attacking midfielders in the world but he has age-belying game intelligence and a silkiness to his movements and decisions that enhances the whole of Chelsea’s first team.

He’s the real deal. Chelsea skipper Reece James proclaimed him to be “one of the best in the world”, and you can’t exactly argue against it with any conviction.

A true superstar, the 22-year-old has swiftly dispelled any notion of being a ‘one-season wonder’ by notching one goal and four assists over the first four top-flight fixtures of 2024/25.

Five goal contributions from four games is pretty good going, and though Erling Haaland’s set a new bar that we’ll avoid as if it were the glare of the sun, there is another Premier League phenom with a higher tally than Chelsea’s main man.

Indeed, Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah continues to prove his class, and he was once of a Blues persuasion…

Chelsea must rue the day they let Mo Salah leave

Salah would stake a good claim for getting into the all-time Premier League starting line-up, with the right-winger having scored 160 goals and added 72 assists over 267 appearances.

This season, the Egypt international has posted three goals and assists apiece for Liverpool, having also featured four times in the Premier League.

The 32-year-old might have endured a torrid time against Nottingham Forest last time out, but he’s still the gold standard, supercharging Liverpool throughout their illustrious period under Jurgen Klopp and carrying his quality into the Merseysiders’ new era with Arne Slot at the helm.

How different things could have been. Salah signed for Chelsea from FC Basel in 2014 for a ‘paltry’ fee of £11m. He scored twice against the Stamford Bridge side in the Champions League and arrested Jose Mourinho’s intrigue, though it didn’t work out in the end.

The now-revered winger was hit by friendly fire after one League Cup victory over Shrewsbury Town, with Mourinho criticising his performance. It was no surprise when he moved away, initially on loan to Fiorentina before heading to Roma and enjoying a short-term stint before making the move permanent for £12m.

The rest is history and all that. But one thing that will definitely rankle the Blues hierarchy is the money that could have been recouped for a player who’s now of a “world-class” calibre, such is the way Jurgen Klopp described him.

Last summer, the Saudi Pro League had a vested interest in Salah (they still do, and offered Liverpool some £150m for his signature). This was rejected as the Anfield side looked to restore their position in the lofty pantheon of modern great outfits.

What could have been indeed… Palmer is the new kid on the block and will hope to forge a career of the same ilk as Salah’s in the Premier League, and while he’s on the way to doing so, if at the fledgling phase, there’s no doubt an air of ruefulness about the way things panned out with this one.

Chelsea star who was let go for £0 is now worth more than Fofana & Sancho

Chelsea let star go for £0 and now he’s worth more than Wesley Fofana.

2 ByConnor Holden Sep 16, 2024

Newcastle could regret selling £1.8m ace who outscored Gordon in 23/24

Newcastle United have been blessed with a plethora of attacking talents over the years, with numerous players capturing the hearts of the fanbase during their time at the club.

From iconic hometown heroes such as Alan Shearer to current-day talents like Alexander Isak, the supporters have been able to witness some truly incredible forwards.

However, they’ve not had everything they would’ve liked, with years of disappointment under former owner Mike Ashley.

Mike Ashley at Newcastle United.

At one stage, the Magpies were operating with forwards such as Yoshinori Muto and Joselu, players with high expectations but unfortunately failing to deliver the goods during their time on Tyneside.

Despite the lack of attacking output in recent years, boss Eddie Howe has built a very successful forward line in 2024, with Isak partnered by one player who has rapidly developed at St James’ Park.

Anthony Gordon’s stats in 2023/24

After joining the club in a £45m deal from Everton back in January 2023, there was real hope for the addition of winger Anthony Gordon – potentially providing Isak with added ammunition in the final third.

Newcastle winger Anthony Gordon

Whilst he endured a disappointing first six months under Howe, scoring just once in his first 12 appearances for Newcastle, he exploded into life last season – producing the best campaign of his professional career to date.

The 23-year-old featured in 35 Premier League matches, scoring 11 times whilst providing ten assists, but it wasn’t enough to help the club secure a second successive European finish as the Magpies ended the campaign in seventh place.

However, his subsequent form was enough to earn a call-up for the England squad for Euro 2024, but he only featured in one game during the entire tournament – with his direct pace and dribbling ignored by Gareth Southgate.

Whilst Gordon produced some impressive figures during his first full season on Tyneside, he was outperformed by one talent who the club allowed to leave on the cheap back in 2018.

Newcastle may regret selling 21-goal ace

After coming through the club’s academy and enduring various loan spells with multiple EFL clubs, boyhood Newcastle fan Adam Armstrong was sold to Championship side Blackburn Rovers for a fee in the region of just £1.8m.

The striker would go on to score 55 times during his time at Ewood Park, before securing a big-money transfer to Southampton in 2021 – with his best-ever season coming during their promotion-winning campaign last time around.

The 27-year-old registered 21 goals and 13 assists in the Championship, scoring the winning goal against Leeds United in the play-off final at Wembley, securing an immediate return to the top-flight for Russell Martin’s side.

Adam Armstrong

21

13

34

Alexander Isak

21

2

23

Anthony Gordon

11

10

21

Callum Wilson

9

1

10

Jacob Murphy

3

7

10

Harvey Barnes

5

3

8

Miguel Almiron

3

1

4

Armstrong’s eye for goal was evident on various occasions last season, with a variety of different finishes on show, demonstrating the qualities he possesses in the final third.

Whilst it’s easy to say he’s only achieved these figures in the Championship and not the Premier League, his quality in attacking areas would certainly benefit Howe’s side in 2024, with the club potentially living to regret his cheap departure six years ago.

Even if he wasn’t a first-team member in the current squad, the Magpies would’ve been able to receive a significantly higher fee for a player of his talent.

The deal was an example of numerous poor dealings in the market by former owner Ashley, with the club now in a much better position under the Saudi PIF.

However, his excellent goalscoring figures would provide the added depth that Howe’s side have often lacked in recent years – further aiding the attempts to cement themselves as consistent top-four challengers.

Newcastle sold a defender for £90k, now he has more career goals than Isak

The Magpies previously sold a defender for mere peanuts…

ByRoss Kilvington Sep 8, 2024

Timber Talks At "Advanced Stage" Claims Sky Reporter

Talks between Arsenal and Ajax over the transfer of Jurrien Timber are at an "advanced stage" as the player himself "wants the move", claims Sky Sports reporter Mark McAdam.

Arsenal transfer news – What's the latest on Jurrien Timber

The Gunners were agonisingly close to ending their almost two-decade title drought last season, but a lack of squad depth, especially in defensive areas, cost them in the end.

It looks like Mikel Arteta and the board don't want that happening again, so they have greenlit a summer of massive spending for the Premier League runners-up.

So far, the north London club have spent £65m to secure the signature of Kai Havertz from cross-city rivals Chelsea and look to be very close to finalising a £105m deal for West Ham United captain Declan Rice.

The next player on Edu's list looks to be Ajax defender Timber, with the club edging closer to an agreement with the Dutch giants over an estimated fee of £40m.

The player is also said to be extremely keen on the move, and that desire to be a part of the project is an important factor for Arteta, per Sky Sports reporter Mark McAdam.

jurrien-timber-arsenal-transfer-gossip-edu-arteta-gabriel-jesus

He explained the situation on Sky Sports (via Football Daily), saying:

"Talks are continuing between Arsenal and Ajax with regards to the defender Jurrien Timber. They're described as being at an advanced stage at the moment as well, the final valuation and structure still being discussed between the player and, of course, Arsenal.

"He wants the move which is key for Mikel Arteta, and once again Mikel Arteta getting his three key transfer targets very early in the window, so some significant business in that respect."

How Good is Jurrien Timber?

The 22-year-old has excelled for the Dutch giants since he debuted for the senior side in 2020, making 121 appearances, 15 of which were in the UEFA Champions League.

During his three full seasons for the Amsterdam club, he has never achieved a lower average rating for a season than 6.89 and even managed to hit a genuinely impressive rating of 7.40 in the 2021/22 season, per WhoScored.

Netherlands defender Jurrien Timber.

One of the 5 foot 10 dynamo's best traits is his ability to play multiple roles across the backline. During his time with Ajax, he has been utilised as both a right-back and a centre-back, which could make him the dream player for a team like Arsenal.

Over the last year, Arteta has implemented a style that sees Ben White play as a right-back but then come back into the middle of the pitch when the team is in possession, playing as a de facto third centre-back.

Adding Timber would provide some much-needed competition in that role and allow either himself or White to fill in at centre-back if needed, potentially avoiding another William Saliba situation next year.

Soccer Football – Euro 2020 – Netherlands Training – KNVB Campus, Zeist, Netherlands – June 20, 2021 Netherlands’ Jurrien Timber during training REUTERS/Piroschka Van De Wouw

If people needed any more convincing of the Utrecht-born gem's quality, just listen to Virgil Van Dijk, who said:

"I wasn't nearly as far along as he is now [at the same age], I have nothing but praise for him. He is a great player and a true professional. He has so much potential."

Should Edu and Co get this deal over the line, Arsenal could well be in for another year of challenging Manchester City for the Premier League title.

Rangers Receive Big Transfer Update Involving £8k-p/w Striker

Rangers have had an offer for Feyenoord striker Danilo swiftly turned down by the Dutch club, however Michael Beale remains keen, according to a report from The Daily Record.

What's the latest Rangers transfer news?

The Gers are in the latter stages of their negotiations for Brighton & Hove Albion's Abdallah Sima, with talks over a loan deal progressing well, although Alan Hutton believes Beale would much rather sign him on a permanent basis.

The former Rangers man does not expect the manager to bring too many players in on loan, and the manager has identified a number of other targets in attacking areas, who could be brought to Ibrox on a permanent basis.

Cremonese striker Cyriel Dessers is still being monitored by the Light Blues, having seen their previous approaches turned down earlier in the window, and Danilo also remains a potential option.

However, The Daily Record report the Gers have had a low-ball offer for the Feyenoord striker immediately turned down, with the bid falling way short of the Dutch side's asking price.

The Eredivisie champions expect to receive more than £5m for the striker, with the two clubs currently "miles apart", however there are indications that Rangers could return to the negotiating table.

Despite the knock back, the 24-year-old remains high on Beale's list of potential attacking targets, but Dessers remains the priority for the time being.

Which striker are Rangers signing?

Dessers is Rangers' top target at present, and it is clear to see why, given the Nigerian's goal-scoring record over the past few years, most notably scoring ten goals for Feyenoord en-route to the Europa Conference League final in 2022.

However, Danilo has also impressed for the Dutch side, having been hailed as their "best finisher" by former manager Erik ten Hag, and he netted ten league goals last season, the second-highest amount in the squad.

Danilo for Feyenoord

The Sao Paolo-born forward's qualities do not stop there, averaging 0.2 assists per 90 in the past year, placing him in the 87th percentile, when compared to his positional peers.

Having only recently turned 24, the £8k-per-week attacker is four years younger than Dessers, and he is already recording similar attacking numbers, with the latter netting nine goals during his last season in the Eredivisie.

At the moment, Rangers appear to be some way off Feyenoord's asking price, but if they are able to reach an agreement in the future, Danilo could be a solid addition to Beale's squad.

Chelsea Could Sign Silva’s Dream Partner In £50m "Animal"

Chelsea may already be well stocked at the back even after Kalidou Koulibaly's exit, but new head coach Mauricio Pochettino is no doubt eyeing a replacement before the summer transfer window closes.

Juventus centre-back Gleison Bremer has been strongly linked with a switch to Stamford Bridge, though Chelsea and Manchester United appear to now face fresh competition from fellow Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur.

That's according to the Daily Mail, who suggests Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou is hoping to bring in the Brazilian, meaning Chelsea must speed things up if they are indeed interested in the player.

Is Gleison Bremer a good choice for Chelsea?

Bremer only joined Juventus from Torino last year, having caught the eye across three seasons as a regular with their city rivals, especially in 2021-22 when being named Best Defender in Serie A.

As a full Brazil international and with four years still to run on his Juve contract, it is reported that it will take a bid of around £50m to tempt the Turin giants to cash in.

For those unaware of Bremer's style, FBref's player comparison tool provides a good indication. Based on their statistical profiles, Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk is rated as the eighth-most similar defender to the Juve star across Europe's top five leagues.

Bremer would be a long-term partner for Benoit Badiashile at Chelsea, but it is likely to be the more experienced Thiago Silva he links up with in the heart of defence next season should he join.

The international colleagues have similarities and differences, with the most notable being Bremer's ability to score goals, as reflected in the four he scored last season. That ranks him in the top 4% of all defenders across Europe's top five leagues, whereas Silva is in the bottom 16% (no goals).

That is further highlighted in the shots and touches in the box metrics (top 5% and top 8% for Bremer respectively; top 36% and top 34% for Silva), though the former AC Milan defender does come out on top for tackles won per 90 (0.99 v 0.71), as per FBref, and percentage of aerial duels won (71.2% v 62.4%).

While Bremer is 12 years younger than his compatriot, he can certainly hold his own. As former Torino team-mate Mergim Vojvoda explained last year: "[Bremer] is very strong, an animal. He is also fast, he is tall and has made a great leap in quality on a technical level, with the ball at his feet."

That is reflected in the stats, with Bremer completing 89.7% of his passes across all competitions last season – a very similar figure to Silva's 90.7% at Chelsea.

Ultimately, it appears the Brazilian duo can complement each other well in the short term, providing a springboard at the back for what Pochettino will hope is a successful first campaign in West London.

Leeds: 49ers Could Sign ‘Insane Talent’ At Elland Road

Leeds United have had a tough few months with a lot of uncertainty surrounding the future of the club, however, things are starting to get back on track ahead of their Championship campaign.

The 49ers have completed their full takeover at Elland Road, buying out Andrea Radrizzani and are now working on finalising an appointment of a manager who can lead Leeds out of trouble and back into the Premier League as soon as possible.

Not only that, the American owners intend to reinvest in talent to refresh the squad during their next chapter and ambitious pursuit to establish the West Yorkshire club as a top-flight side that can comfortably compete without falling into the same patterns and repeating their mistakes again.

Indeed, without a manager it is difficult to recruit the right players without knowing the philosophy and style of play that will be implemented over the challenging 46-game campaign next season, however, it hasn't stopped them from being linked with potential targets upon the arrival of football advisor Nick Hammond last week.

One player who has been recently linked with a move to Leeds is West Bromwich Albion midfielder Jayson Molumby, a young and energetic player who could emulate Kalvin Phillips at Elland Road.

Would Molumby be a good fit for Leeds?

It is no secret that a number of players in the Leeds squad are reportedly set for an exit this summer after suffering relegation from the Premier League last month.

Both Tyler Adams and Marc Roca have been strongly linked with moves, whilst loanee Weston McKennie has gone back to Juventus after struggling to make a positive impact during his six-month stint with the Whites.

As a result, there is a real opportunity to strengthen and rebuild with vital financial backing from the owners and a sound recruitment strategy that can identify new additions to make a genuine impact next season and lead the club to better days.

Molumby has thrived under the management of former Leeds assistant coach Carlos Corberan whilst largely being deployed in the defensive midfield role, a position Phillips also thrived in when working with Corberan at Elland Road before getting a huge move to Manchester City last summer.

jayson-molumby-west-brom-championship-leeds-transfers

One standout attribute that the Irishman shares with his treble-winning positional peer is a consistently outstanding pass completion rate, with Phillips tallying up a 92.3% accuracy last season despite limited game time, whilst Molumby came in strong with 86% which was, in fact, the best pass accuracy percentage in the entire West Brom squad of those who had more than one appearance last season, according to WhoScored.

Beyond his passing ability, the 23-year-old – hailed an "insane talent" by journalist Rudi Kinsella – has displayed a number of great attributes with four goals scored, four assists and four big chances created, proving he can be a real attacking threat for opponents from his deep-lying position.

He also averaged one shot on goal, 1.4 tackles and won 3.1 duels per game over 43 Championship appearances, demonstrating further that, like Phillips, he is a real workhorse with the ability to make an impact on both defensive and progressive play.

With that being said, it would be a big coup if Leeds could secure the services of Molumby this summer and if he could make the impact that Phillips had on Leeds in the Championship there is no reason why he couldn't become the second coming of their cult hero.

Chelsea Mulling Over Move For £65m-Rated Striker

Chelsea have placed Rasmus Hojlund on their list as a potential striker they could move for this summer, according to a report from Evening Standard.

Are Chelsea signing Rasmus Hojlund?

The 20-year-old currently plays his football in Italy for Atalanta and helped the side to a fifth place finish in Serie A this campaign thanks to his goals and assists. Having been played more times this year than ever before in his career – he featured in 32 league games for the side – he was able to produce his best ever goal haul of nine, and had two assists to boot.

In addition to that, when compared to some of the other strikers across the Men's 'Top Five' big leagues in Europe, he emerged as a leading attacker despite his youth. Hojlund's non-penalty xG rate of 0.47 per 90 for example led to him being ranked in the top 16% in his position over the course of the year – an excellent feat considering his relative inexperience and age.

With eleven progressive passes received per 90 too, he actually ranks in the 99% percentile for that figure. It shows that not only is he adept at hitting the back of the net but is able to make clever runs, get into good positions and receive the ball in dangerous areas.

This has led to interest from Manchester United in the Premier League but it appears they could now have a rival in their race to sign the player. That's because according to a report from Evening Standard, the player is on Chelsea's radar as a striker they could sign should other deals not materialise. Boss Mauricio Pochettino is looking at potential forwards to sign and Hojlund's name has cropped up as an alternative to Nicolas Jackson, who is mentioned in the same report.

Rasmus Hojlund of Atalanta

When does Rasmus Hojlund's contract expire?

With the player's deal only running out at Atalanta in 2027 – having only arrived in Serie A at the beginning of the campaign – they won't be too keen to let him go and could demand £65m for his signature according to this report.

However, his performances have clearly caught the eye of those at Stamford Bridge – and he's also impressed many in the game too – talent scout Jacek Kulig stated that the player is a "complete forward" and an "absolute monster". If the Blues desire a younger striker to lead the line for the club and to help Pochettino get the side back to winning ways, it appears as though that could be Hojlund.

Rangers Agree Deal To Sign £5k-p/w "Beating Heart" For Beale

Glasgow Rangers have agreed a deal to bring Jose Cifuentes to the Scottish Premiership, according to reports.

Is Jose Cifuentes leaving Los Angeles FC?

The Los Angeles FC midfielder has made 115 appearances for Steve Cherundolo’s side since joining back in 2020, but with his contract set to expire at the end of the calendar year, there’s a strong chance that he’s already looking to find his next destination.

Speaking to GiveMeSport, Fabrizio Romano had name-checked the Light Blues as a potential suitor and claimed that conversations regarding a move were “going well”, and the journalist’s remark was soon backed up by a big development.

The Herald recently reported that the 24-year-old was poised to quit the Major League Soccer to fly over to Glasgow and complete a medical to finalise his move to Ibrox, a formality which sounds like it may have since been wrapped up if the following update is to be believed.

Are Rangers signing Cifuentes?

According to Football Insider, Rangers are “set to announce” the arrival of Cifuentes on a pre-contract agreement “soon”. The Ecuador international and the Teddy Bears have made a “breakthrough in talks” and the club are therefore “close” to publicly unveiling him as Michael Beale’s latest signing.

Ecuador midfielder Jose Cifuentes.

Cifuentes is naturally a central midfielder but is much stronger in the offensive aspect of his game, and having been dubbed the “beating heart” of a team by South American expert Tim Vickery, he would be a top-class recruit should he put pen to paper at Rangers.

The World Cup participant, who pockets £5k-per-week, ranks in the 98th percentile for successful take-ons by players in his position and has recorded a total of 49 shot-creating actions so far this season which is the second-highest in his squad, as per FBRef, with this desire to drive forward resulting in him having three assists to his name in 13 MLS appearances.

The Esmeraldas native, who’s sponsored by Nike, would also provide Beale with wonderful versatility having operated in seven different positions since first bursting onto the scene, including four in the midfield and even all across the frontline, so is a great option for the manager to have at his disposal should any unexpected injuries occur.

Rangers have already completed the signings of Norwich City’s Kieran Dowell, Chelsea’s Dujon Sterling and Crystal Palace’s Jack Butland, and it would appear that Cifuentes is set to follow in their footsteps to become the fourth summer arrival walking through the doors at Ibrox.

Liverpool’s £14.5k-p/w Target’s Father Pushing Him To Join

Liverpool target and OGC Nice midfielder Khephren Thuram is being pushed by his father to complete a move to Anfield, according to journalist Jacque Talbot.

Is Khephren Thuram leaving Nice?

The France U21s international still has another two years remaining on his contract at the Allianz Riviera, but having impressed during his 30 Ligue 1 starts last season, has grabbed the attention of FSG and Jurgen Klopp.

Writing in his column for CaughtOffside, correspondent Jonathan Johnson revealed that the 22-year-old is one of several central candidates being “looked at” as the boss aims to replace the departing James Milner, Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.

Back in May, L’Equipe reported that the Reds have already held a positive meeting with the 6 foot 4 giant's representatives, and Football Transfers have since claimed that the two parties are now in “advanced” talks and Jurgen Klopp is a “huge fan” of his target.

Are Liverpool signing Thuram?

According to Talbot in his column for NUFC Blog, Thuram’s father and advisor, Lilian Thuram, is “pushing a move” to Liverpool ahead of the 2023/24 campaign. The Merseyside outfit are believed to be “progressing” towards completing a deal, and whilst there is other interest from Premier League rivals Newcastle United, it sounds as if it’s the former who are currently in pole position.

Nice midfielder Khephren Thuram.

Liverpool are expected to complete the signing of Brighton and Hove Albion’s Alexis Mac Allister before the end of the week, and Thuram, praised for being an "energetic" and "tenacious" player with "excellent technique" by talent scout Jacek Kulig, looks to be an excellent complement to the versatile Argentine.

The Reggio Emilia native, who currently pockets £14.5k-per-week, naturally sits just in front of the backline and is a protector of the defence, which is proven by him averaging 1.5 tackles and 1.1 interceptions per league game last season, via WhoScored.

The Reds target, however, is also capable of contributing to efforts at the opposite end of the pitch having posted ten goal contributions (eight assists and two goals) across all competitions during the previous term, not to mention that he recorded a total of 84 shot-creating actions which was more than any other of his fellow teammates, as per FBRef.

Finally, like Mac Allister, Thuram would add wonderful versatility to the squad with his ability to operate in four various roles, including anywhere across the midfield, so the board should definitely consider tabling an offer to bring him to Anfield.

Game
Register
Service
Bonus