All posts by z3u9t.icu

It has been a tough watch for Chelsea fans this season, as their expensively assembled side struggle to remain in the top half of the Premier League and look set to miss out on Champions League football for the second year running.

Mauricio Pochettino has not been able to steady the ship since his arrival in the summer, and in the process, his place in the dugout is starting to look more and more precarious.

What is sure to infuriate fans further is the news that the club are considering selling Conor Gallagher this month to help balance the books, despite the young Englishman arguably being the team's "best player" in 2023/24 – as described by pundit Jamie Carragher.

Chelsea make offer to hijack Man Utd transfer for “talented” £50m+ player

The Blues could get one over on their rivals…

ByTom Cunningham Jan 3, 2024

However, there could yet be a light at the end of this tunnel, as one of the players touted for a move to Stanford Bridge could be the perfect replacement for Gallagher: Inter Milan's Nicolò Barella.

Chelsea transfer news – Nicolò Barella

According to reports from Spain (via TEAMtalk), Chelsea are among several Premier League sides interested in signing the Inter star this year in a deal that would surely soften the blow of losing Gallagher.

The other sides interested in the Italian midfielder are title-chasing Liverpool and top-four competitors Newcastle United.

The 26-year-old was named Serie A's best midfielder last season, and with his deal at the San Siro set to expire in 2026, this month could be the perfect time to strike with an appealing offer.

However, Todd Boehly and Co will have to once more dip into their cavernous pockets if they want to get this deal done, as the report has revealed that Inter values their star player in the £70m-£80m price range – although, with Chelsea's recent spending habits, that's practically pocket money.

Nicolò Barella could be the perfect Conor Gallagher replacement

For as good as Gallagher has been this season, and he has been remarkable given the context, Barella would be a massive upgrade on the 23-year-old in almost every way and, with both playing in similar positions for their respective sides, Pochettino could swap one in for the other.

The Italian has played all 19 league games in central midfield this season, while the Englishman has played 12 of his 19 games in the same position.

The first area in which the former Cagliari ace has his contemporary beat this season is pure output, as in his 19 league games thus far, he has scored two goals and provided four assists. At the same time, Gallagher has failed to score a single goal in his 19 league outings, but he has registered four assists.

When comparing the pairs' underlying numbers, things do not look much better for the Chelsea man.

The Italian "genius", as described by journalist Mike Piellucci, is miles ahead of the boyhood Chelsea fan when it comes to progressive passes and carries and has him comfortably beaten when it comes to being a goal threat himself.

The only area where the all-action Chelsea man comes out on top is in passing accuracy and ball recoveries. Still, with Moises Caicedo in the side and Romeo Lavia returning, it's unlikely that Barella would be too burdened with defensive responsibilities were he given a role in Pochettino's XI.

Stats per 90

Barella

Gallagher

Non-Penalty Expected Goals + Assists

0.28

0.22

Progressive Carries

2.33

1.98

Progressive Passes

10.15

5.82

Goals per Shot on Target

0.40

0.00

Passing Accuracy

84.9%

89.2%

Shot-Creating Actions

4.20

3.21

Goal-Creating Actions

0.71

0.39

Ball Recoveries

5.87

7.34

All Stats via FBref for the 2023/24 Domestic Season

Ultimately, while selling Gallagher might initially upset fans, if the club could then spend the proceeds to sign a player football talent scout Jacek Kulig once described as "one of the best box-to-box midfielders in the world", it would probably be worth it in the long run.

Rangers are believed to have made contact with an "excellent" player over a move to Ibrox in the January transfer window, according to a fresh update.

Rangers' left-back search

It looks as though the Gers will look to sign a new left-back this month, with a number of different players linked with coming in and filling the potential void left by Ridvan Yilmaz, should he leave the club.

Hellas Verona defender Josh Doig is one individual who has emerged as an option for Philippe Clement, as he possibly looks to return to the Scottish Premiership, while Liverpool youngster Owen Beck is also seen as an option to come in and provide more quality down the left flank.

Over the weekend, Bristol City's Cameron Pring is another name who has been thrown into the hat, providing competition for the players mentioned above, while Benfica's David Jurasek has also been backed to possibly trade the Portuguese giants for Rangers.

Much may depend on what happens regarding Yilmaz, of course – various links have suggested that he could depart this month – but a significant update has now emerged regarding one of the left-back targets.

Rangers make contact over David Jurasek

According to A Bola [via Ibrox News], Rangers have now been in contact with Benfica over left-back Jurasek and a move to the club this month.

The 23-year-old looks set to be available, assuming Manchester United youngster Alvaro Fernandez heads to Benfica, and he "must now go on loan", according to the report. Ligue 1 pair Marseille and Lens have both also been seen as possible suitors for Jurasek, with the former also thought to be interested in rivalling Rangers for the signing of Doig.

Appearances

6

Starts

2

Tackles per game

1.5

Clearances per game

1.5

Key passes per game

1.2

Pass completion rate

80.4%

The Benfica man appears to stand out as a good option for the Gers in January, with football talent scout Jacek Kulig heaping praise on his overall game, saying:

"Attacking full-back, fast, powerful & athletic, inexhaustible energy, vertical player who’s always looking to push forward at every opportunity. Superb crossing skills, tenacious & committed in duels, high work rate, determination & winning mentality 22 years of age. Excellent left-back we will see in a top league rather sooner than later."

Jurasek is still only 23 years of age, so Rangers would be snapping up someone who could improve a lot in the coming years, and the fact that he is a five-time capped Czech Republic international shows that he has been deemed good enough to get a chance on the biggest stage.

Rangers now weighing up offer to sign "really good athlete"

He could be a replacement for Ridvan Yilmaz.

ByHenry Jackson Jan 14, 2024

This season, the left-back has made three appearances in the Champions League, not to mention registering one assist for his country in Euro 2024 qualifying, so he could bring so much quality to Clement's team in the Scottish Premiership title battle.

It was deadline day for the January transfer window on Thursday night but Manchester United stuck to finishing their business on the pitch at the Molineux.

Erik ten Hag's side had to show character to bounce back from multiple setbacks in a thrilling 4-3 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Premier League.

They established a 3-1 lead against the hosts, which was 2-1 after a contentious penalty was given for minimal contact on Pedro Neto from Casemiro, and Wolves battled back to make it 3-3 by the 95th minute.

Up stepped Kobbie Mainoo, though, to secure all three points for United with a stunning winner in the 97th minute to break the hearts of the home faithful.

Whilst the 18-year-old wonderkid was the headliner with his late goal, the real hero on the night was impressive centre-forward Rasmus Hojlund.

Kobbie Mainoo's coming of age against Wolves

The English youngster scored his first Premier League goal in style with a terrific surge into the box that ended with a phenomenal curled finish into the far bottom corner of Jose Sa's net.

Mainoo also battled hard in the middle of the pitch to win possession back for his side on a number of occasions, with three tackles and two interceptions.

However, the teenage whiz did lose seven of his 13 duels and may feel that he could have been more dominant in physical battles against the Wolves players.

He also failed to create a single chance for his teammates out of his 27 completed passes (84% success rate) throughout the 90+ minutes on the pitch.

Meanwhile, Hojlund produced a fantastic all-round centre-forward display that established United's early dominance in the match in the Midlands.

Hojlund's heroic performance against Wolves

The Denmark international had a rough start to life at Old Trafford with zero goals in his first 14 Premier League appearances for the club after his move from Atalanta.

He has now found the back of the net three times in three league matches with a goal against Wolves last night, bundling the ball past Sa from Luke Shaw's cross.

The 20-year-old sensation showed terrific determination and athleticism to get across the defender to ensure that he got the final, and telling, touch on the ball into the six-yard box.

That was not his only contribution to the match, though, as the striker also expertly held the ball up to tee Marcus Rashford up on the edge of the box to make it 1-0 after just five minutes.

Sofascore rating

7.8

Goals

One

Key passes

Two

Assists

One

Pass accuracy

100%

Touches

25

Ground duel success rate

50%

As you can see from the table above, Hojlund was flawless with the ball at his feet for the Red Devils. He completed all of his 15 attempted passes and produced two key passes, one assist, and one goal – from two shots on target – in his 25 touches of the ball.

There were also a number of occasions where the United striker made a terrific run off the back of a defender to get in behind but was inexplicably ignored, or not seen, by his teammates, which could have led to further goal involvements from him.

Overall, it was a terrific performance from Hojlund and one that should be thoroughly praised by supporters as he was the real hero for ten Hag with his almost perfect centre-forward display, which was unfortunately overshadowed by a moment of brilliance from Mainoo.

Glasgow Rangers find themselves in territory which looked unimaginable following the sacking of Michael Beale at the start of October.

The Ibrox side were trailing Celtic by a considerable margin in the Premiership and lacked any real identity, with the supporters seemingly writing off another season.

Philippe Clement arrived to save the day, however, and just five months on, the Gers are through to the last 16 of the Europa League, have claimed the League Cup trophy and, most importantly, are within touching distance of Celtic.

The Belgian has done a spectacular job considering he has had to utilise some of Beale’s summer signings, with the likes of Cyriel Dessers and Sam Lammers featuring prominently.

Lammers has since departed on loan to FC Utrecht for the remainder of the campaign, yet Dessers is still in Glasgow, despite having failed to live up to his lavish transfer fee.

Cyriel Dessers’ Rangers statistics

Having lost attacking talents such as Ryan Kent and Alfredo Morelos, Beale’s first priority during the summer transfer window was to replace them as soon as possible.

Dessers soon arrived from Serie A side Cremonese for a fee in the region of £4.5m, which was a significant sum to be paying for a striker who had scored just six league goals in Italy the season prior.

The Nigerian forward has found the back of the net on just 12 occasions since making the summer move and his performances have not been great, as he often goes missing during big games.

A key example was the recent Old Firm clash against Celtic at Parkhead. The 29-year-old started the tie, yet he missed a big chance when it looked easier to score, while completing just 12 passes and taking 25 touches during the match.

The former Feyenoord hitman looks far too one dimensional and his lack of tactical nous means he does not drop deep often enough to link up with the midfield, going large patches of games without taking a touch of the ball.

Rangers required a player who could do more than just be an out-and-out goalscorer following the departure of Morelos, but Dessers simply isn’t the answer.

There was another attacker who departed Ibrox in 2023 that could have been a much better option than Dessers and surely would have thrived under Clement – Fashion Sakala.

What happened to Fashion Sakala

Following their first league title win in a decade, Steven Gerrard looked to significantly bolster his team in order to cement their dominance.

Sakala joined during the summer of 2021 for free, with the Gers securing his services on a pre-contract agreement and it looked like a wise investment.

The Zambian forward took a while to settle in at Rangers following his move from Belgium, eventually scoring 12 goals, and registering seven assists in 50 matches during his debut season.

He ended up winning the Scottish Cup while featuring heavily during the club’s run to the final of the Europa League in 2022, although they lost to Eintracht Frankfurt.

Giovanni van Bronckhorst didn’t give him many opportunities throughout the early stages of the 2022/23 season and it wasn’t until Beale arrived that Sakala started to perform well.

Indeed, having scored just once prior to the enforced hiatus due to the World Cup, Sakala netted 11 times during the second half of the season and proved that he could make a difference to the team going forward.

Former Ibrox defender Alan Hutton previously dubbed the forward as a “firework” and his unpredictable nature often caught defences out on a regular basis.

During the summer transfer window last year, however, Beale decided to cash in on the 26-year-old, reportedly securing a transfer fee of around £4m for the player, which, on the surface, represented solid business.

With Dessers not quite living up to his big-money fee and Sakala settling in quite nicely in Saudi Arabia for Al-Fayha, there is no doubt that the former Rangers forward is currently outperforming the Nigerian this season.

Fashion Sakala is outperforming Cyriel Dessers

While Sakala may have scored ten goals to Dessers’ 12, the Zambian has netted his in just 27 matches, while it has taken the 29-year-old 35 games to score his.

In their respective leagues, Sakala has missed fewer big chances (nine to 13), than Dessers, while he has taken more shots per game (3.2 vs 2.7), succeeded with more successful dribbles per game (2.7 vs 0.4) and won more total duels per game (5.5 vs 2.4), clearly showcasing his superior statistics across a range of performance metrics this term.

It isn’t just domestically that Sakala is shining either, proving to be a hit in the AFC Champions League, scoring three goals from just six matches, chipping in with two assists too.

Clement can oust Dessers by unleashing Rangers' £11m-rated gem

Rangers face a clash against Ayr United at Ibrox in the Scottish Cup tomorrow

ByRoss Kilvington Feb 9, 2024

Sakala is certainly enjoying his spell in Asia since moving from Rangers last summer, and it looks as though he has finally joined a team where he can get consistent first-team football and this has only improved his performances.

Securing £4m for a player who didn’t look like he was going to be in Beale’s future plans was a shrewd move, especially since he joined for free. It soon transpired that perhaps keeping him at Ibrox may have been the most logical thing to do.

8

7

2

3

13

9

0.4

2.7

2.4

5.5

Dessers has failed to shine during his short stint at Rangers so far and unless he improves his performances drastically, he may be looking for a new club in the summer.

Sakala, on the other hand, seems to be enjoying life in Saudi Arabia, and he is swiftly emerging as a key player for his new team, finally showcasing his true potential.

Hopefully, Clement spends his future funds on players who are going to hit the ground running at Ibrox and thus avoid wasting money on players such as Dessers.

Sakala may not have been a world-beater, but he always gave 100% and that is exactly what the Ibrox faithful expect from the players during every game.

Manchester United are on the lookout for new signings as they prepare for life under Sir Jim Ratcliffe and potentially a new sporting director to boot, and one youngster with "world-class material" is believed to be a priority target this summer.

Man Utd transfer news

The Red Devils have been linked with plenty of players in recent weeks, too, even though the January transfer window has only recently slammed shut, because the approval of Ratcliffe's takeover has led to interest in Newcastle and former Brighton transfer guru Dan Ashworth. He is seen as an ideal sporting director, and Jason Wilcox could come in as technical director.

Inter Milan right-back Denzel Dumfries has emerged as a target for United, with manager Erik ten Hag thought to be a big admirer of his Dutch compatriot and fans desperate to see who their new regime identifies for the boss – or indeed if they get a new boss altogether.

Atalanta centre-back Giorgio Scalvini is also a player who has been backed to move to Old Trafford in the near future, with the 20-year-old seen as an exciting young option with a high ceiling. Contact has reportedly been made by United. There is also Matthijs de Ligt on the topic of defenders, with the Dutchman finding himself out of favour at Bayern Munich this season, meaning a summer move away could appeal to him.

Man Utd prioritise Leny Yoro

According to a new update from AS [via Sport Witness], Manchester United want to sign Lille defender Leny Yoro this summer, with the young starlet among their "priorities" in the next transfer window.

The Red Devils "recently expressed interest" in snapping him up, and while Paris Saint-Germain are also in the mix to sign him, their rivalry with Lille could ultimately work in United's favour, should they prefer to sell to them.

Yoro really could be a fantastic signing by the club if they can strike a deal this summer, considering he would be arriving as both an immediate key figure and also a player who could be a force for at least the next decade.

This season, the 18-year-old has started 19 matches in Ligue 1, during which time he has shone, enjoying a 91.8% pass completion rate and averaging 3.1 clearances per game. Meanwhile, football talent scout Jacek Kulig says he is "world-class material", in terms of the level he can reach as he further matures as a player.

Man Utd now in “front row” to sign “dangerous” player Ten Hag loves

The Red Devils are aware of the contractual issues that have arisen.

ByDavid Comerford Feb 16, 2024

Too often in the past, United have been guilty of poor recruitment when it comes to the age of signings, with too many big names coming in when they are either too old or on the verge of being past their peak. There are almost too many examples to mention, but the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Christian Eriksen, Casemiro, Edinson Cavani and Zlatan Ibrahimovic all stand out.

The hope is that Ratcliffe wants a very different approach to transfers, however, as his – and potentially Ashworth's – influence at United hopefully keeps growing, with focus on bringing in the top young talent who can help take the club back to the top of English football.

Yoro would be a perfect place to start, coming in as an upgrade and far younger alternative to Raphael Varane and Harry Maguire, potentially becoming a genuine defensive force for many years.

Tottenham have been dealt a blow after it emerged that one of their key depth pieces is set for time on the sidelines with a serious injury.

Spurs thriving despite injuries

Despite the departure of Harry Kane over the summer in a mega-money move to Bayern Munich, Tottenham are loving life under new boss Ange Postecoglou. The Australian has bought exciting football back to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, the very thing that Antonio Conte and Jose Mourinho tried to stamp out of the Tottenham DNA.

More importantly though, he has bought results too. As things stand, Spurs sit fourth in the Premier League, seven points off top spot and occupying one of the illustrious Champions League qualification spots for next season. In a campaign where many thought the departure of Kane would send them backwards, they have shot forwards remarkably despite their injury woes that have seen the likes of Rodrigo Bentancur, Mickey Van de Ven and James Maddison all miss large parts of the campaign.

Spurs flop was once dubbed the next Eto'o but ended up worse than Janssen

This one-time prodigy ended up being a colossal disappointment for Tottenham.

ByAngus Sinclair Feb 16, 2024 Ange reveals fresh concern over "fractured foot"

Quizzed on his team news ahead of Tottenham's clash with Wolverhampton Wanderers, Ange revealed that he had quite a lengthly absentee list to deal with, and goalkeeper Fraser Forster is the latest to be added to the squad members sidelined in north London, expected to miss around 7 games.

Forster is yet to make a Premier League appearance so far this campaign, with his sole showing coming in the Carabao Cup Third Round where his side fell to a penalty shoot-out defeat to London rivals Fulham, but he remains the Tottenham number two.

Now, he may not be seen again for some time after picking up a foot injury in training that is set to keep him off the substitutes bench for several weeks. Quizzed on it, Postecoglou revealed (via Fabrizio Romano): "He picked up a knock in training – a fracture in his foot – he's longer-term, a couple of months. Yeah, disappointing."

His £75,000-per-week contract runs out at the end of the campaign and Postecoglou's side are yet to show any sign of wishing to extend his time in north London, meaning that the former Celtic man may well have played his final game for the Lilywhites.

Tottenham injuries

Injury type

Expected return

Pedro Porro

Groin

March

Destiny Udogie

Knee

March

Manor Solomon

Knee

Unknown

Fraser Forster

Foot

April

Ryan Sessegnon

Thigh

Unknown

It means that should first choice goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario be forced to miss a game through any issue, whether it be injury or suspension, Postecoglou will have a major headache on his hands. As it stands, his options are Alfie Whiteman or Brandon Austin, but neither will inspire confidence among the Lilywhite faithful.

Whiteman spent the 2022/23 campaign on loan with Swedish top flight side Degerfors and has only played for the Spurs senior side on one occasion, while Brandon Austin has been at the club since 2016 but is yet to make his debut for his boyhood side.

With Vicario having been incredibly impressive since his summer arrival, and Hugo Lloris having departed the club in January for pastures new, Tottenham fans will be holding their breath any time the Italian shot-stopper goes down in the final stint of the campaign.

Leeds United star Archie Gray is the latest player to emerge as a key first-team performer after graduating from the club's academy set-up.

The 17-year-old whiz has started 31 of the club's Championship matches under German head coach Daniel Farke, who arrived in Yorkshire last summer.

A central midfielder naturally, the teenage gem has been the first-choice option at right-back for the former Norwich City tactician after an injury to Djed Spence, who was on loan from Tottenham Hotspur, opened the door for him to come in.

He was given an opportunity to impress by the boss at the start of the season and grasped it with both hands, but not every young talent had that chance during their time at Elland Road.

Tom Cairney started his youth career with the Whites but was released before he could make his senior debut for Leeds, and the talented gem's value went on to skyrocket.

Why Leeds ditched Tom Cairney

The attacking midfielder joined the club's academy as a seven-year-old and played through the age groups until they decided to let him leave in 2017.

He was 16 at the time and stood at just 5 foot 1. His height reportedly played a role in Leeds' decision to release him on a free transfer after nine years at Elland Road.

They seemingly decided that Cairney would not develop, physically and possibly technically, to a level that would see him emerge as a first-team operator in Yorkshire, as he left with zero senior appearances for them.

The Scotland international revealed – later in his career – that he was "crushed" by that exit from the club, given how much time the young whiz spent developing there.

Hull City picked the English-born maestro up for nothing after his release and his market valuation on Transfermarkt came in at €750k (£643k) by August 2010.

Why Tom Cairney's market value soared

The Fulham star currently stands at 6 foot and his growth spurt after moving on from Leeds may have played a part in the impressive career he has forged for himself.

After five goals and 11 assists in 80 appearances during his time with Hull at first-team level, Cairney made the switch to Blackburn Rovers, initially on loan in the summer of 2013 before the deal was made permanent in January 2014.

Fulham, who were in the Championship at the time, then swooped to sign him on a permanent basis in the summer of 2015 after the midfielder had produced nine goals and 16 assists in 85 matches for Rovers.

The impressive magician helped the Cottagers to secure promotion to the Premier League within three seasons, as he plundered 26 goals and 22 assists in 120 games in the second tier.

His 26th league goal during that period was the promotion-winning strike in the 2018 play-off final against Aston Villa, as you can see in the video above.

Fulham's captain stepped up when it mattered most to calmly slot the ball into the bottom corner to send the Cottagers up to the Premier League.

The magical midfielder's best season for goals and assists in his senior career, however, came earlier during the 2016/17 campaign for the London-based outfit.

Appearances

45

Goals

12

Assists

Ten

Big chances created

Nine

Key passes per game

2.6

Cairney's fantastic form for Fulham, and play-off final strike, helped his market value on Transfermarkt to skyrocket to a whopping €18m (£15.4m) by August 2018.

This means that his value soared by a staggering 2,300% from the €750k he was once valued at during his breakthrough at first-team level with Hull, after leaving Leeds for nothing.

Therefore, the Whites had a howler when they released Cairney as they did not give him enough time to grow into his body and find his feet, which Hull were prepared to do, and missed out on an excellent performer whose value soared over the subsequent years with no compensation.

Where Cairney is now

He has gone on to play over 300 matches for Fulham, who are currently in the Premier League, and has played more than 100 games in the top-flight.

The 33-year-old has registered four assists in 25 outings in the division this season – at least two more than any Leeds midfielder has managed in the Championship.

Appearances

25

Starts

13

Goals

One

Big chances created

Five

Pass accuracy

90%

Duel success rate

61%

As you can see in the table above, the now-experienced star has been a solid operator for Fulham in the Premier League during the 2023/24 campaign.

The Scottish whiz has been strong in his duels – winning the majority of his physical contests – and offered quality at the top end of the pitch – with goals, assists, and big chances created – whilst being a reliable passer of the ball.

These statistics are particularly impressive for a 33-year-old – possibly heading into the last few years of his playing career – who has not started matches on a consistent basis for Marco Silva's side.

He has been a reliable and excellent performer when called upon by his club, which speaks to both his quality and professionalism to do that at his age in the Premier League.

This and his soaring market value earlier in his career highlights why Leeds had a howler when they decided to release him from their academy at the age of 16.

The left-footed maestro has been pulling the strings in midfield for Fulham for years and starred for Blackburn and Hull previously, in the Premier League and the Championship.

He has gone on to forge a successful career for himself in the top two tiers, which is where Leeds have been operating for the most part over the last 15 years – outside of a spell in League One.

It may be an important lesson for the Whites to learn with young players who are coming through now and possibly being deemed as too small or not physical enough to make it, as they could naturally develop in that sense and then shine as a footballer – as Cairney did.

Over the last couple of seasons, Everton have had to work on a strict budget given their FFP troubles in recent months, with most signings either on free transfers or low transfer fees.

The FFP issues have given boss Sean Dyche the opportunity to work closely with his squad, putting trust in some of the younger members of the Toffees' first-team squad.

Players such as James Garner and Jarrad Branthwaite have been the main beneficiaries within the Everton squad this season, with the duo cementing their starting positions – making 26 and 24 appearances respectively.

The club have had to sell some of their key assets in recent years to balance the books, with the likes of Richarlison and Anthony Gordon just two examples of players the club have had to sell to try and comply with the Premier League's FFP rules.

Everton have also previously sold a young talent to another Premier League rival, with the club potentially regretting the deal with the player currently excelling in England's top-flight.

Ross Barkley's time at Everton in numbers

Ross Barkley came through the academy at Goodison Park, before making his first-team debut for the club back in 2011 – quickly impressing for the Toffees.

He made 34 appearances during his first full season in the Premier League, scoring six times at the age of just 19 – a staggering achievement for a player of such a tender age.

GK – Tim Howard

RB – Phil Neville

CB – Phil Jagielka

CB – Sylvain Distin

LB – Leighton Baines

CM – Jonny Heitinga

CM – Leon Osman

CAM – Tim Cahill

RM – Jack Rodwell

LM – Ross Barkley

ST – Jermaine Beckford

Barkley consistently featured for the Toffees over the next couple of seasons, with the midfielder going on to make at least 29 appearances in each of the next three campaigns.

His good form at Goodison Park saw him feature for every single age group from U16s to U21s, before the midfielder made his England senior debut in August 2013 during the 4-0 win against Moldova.

He rapidly became a regular within the England setup, with his form internationally and at club level catching the eye of some of Everton's Premier League rivals.

Ross Barkley's stats since leaving Everton

The midfielder secured a £15m move to Chelsea during the January transfer window in 2018 after being sold by Marco Silva, with Barkley signing a five-and-a-half-year deal at Stamford Bridge.

He enjoyed a good full first season in London, with the former Everton man making 48 appearances for the Blues during 2018/19. However, his first full season was the peak of his Chelsea career.

A combination of injury and other players' form in midfield, Barkley found himself with limited game time making 31 appearances with most coming from the substitutes' bench.

He subsequently found himself on loan at Aston Villa during the 2020/21 season, with the highlight of Barkley's season coming in the 7-2 victory over Liverpool – with the former Evertonian on the scoresheet.

However, he couldn't force himself back into the Chelsea first-team, eventually being released to join OGC Nice in Ligue 1. He signed a one-year deal in France, once again failing to find his feet before joining Luton Town last summer.

He's been pivotal in Luton's efforts to survive relegation from the Premier League this season, with his top-flight experience the key.

Barkley's featured 21 times so far this campaign, with the midfielder "not far off player of the season" as stated by Sky Sports pundit Paul Merson and in with an outside chance of making Gareth Southgate's squad for the Euros this summer. It's funny how things can change in such a short period of time.

In 2024, we're now seeing the quality Barkley first showed when he first broke onto the scene at Goodison.

Manchester United could make a move for an "extraordinary" £148,000-a-week player this summer, snapping him up on a free transfer.

Man Utd transfer news

Sir Jim Ratcliffe looks set to a busy man since becoming part owner of the Red Devils earlier in the year, with so much business to attend to both on and off the pitch.

For starters, he has to decide if Erik ten Hag is the right manager to continue with beyond the summer, and if not, find a perfect successor to him, with Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou reportedly an option. Meanwhile, United are pushing hard to make Dan Ashworth their new sporting director, with the Englishman currently on gardening leave at Newcastle United.

Then there are transfers, of which there have been plenty of United-related rumours of late, as they look to narrow the gap between themselves and those at the top of the Premier League bottom table, such as Manchester City, Liverpool and Arsenal.

Juventus defender Gleison Bremer is a wanted man among English clubs and the Red Devils are believed to be one of those right in the mix to snap him up, while Leicester City midfielder Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall has also emerged as a possible target.

Another Juve player, Weston McKennie has also been linked with a summer switch to United, even though he failed to shine in the Premier League on loan at Leeds United last season.

Man Utd chasing "extraordinary" ace

According to Caught Offside, Manchester United could look to sign Juventus midfielder Adrien Rabiot on a free transfer this summer, at which point his current deal will have expired.

The report states that the £148,000-a-week Frenchman is "being considered as a low-cost option as he nears the end of his contract", and an alternative to highly-rated Benfica youngster Joao Neves.

Rabiot has been a long-time target for United, being backed to move to Old Trafford numerous times in the past, so it is easy to envisage him joining the Ratcliffe revolution this summer.

Admittedly, he does turn 29 years of age next month, meaning he isn't necessarily a long-term solution in the middle of the park, but he would still represent a younger and more vibrant option than the likes of Casemiro and Christian Eriksen. Former France international David Trezeguet has heaped praise on him in the past, too, saying of him:

"We are talking about a problem for Juventus because in Italy he may have been targeted for criticism, but in France it’s completely different. He is world class, an extraordinary player. Now he will evaluate his options and will go back to being the important player he always was."

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This season, Rabiot has scored four goals and registered three assists in Serie A, chipping in with end product from the midfield, but he has also averaged 1.8 tackles per game, showing that he is effective in his off-the-ball duties. He is now seemingly a player at his peak, and considering he would be available on a free, United should see him as a good option.

Competing at the forefront of the Premier League is a bit of a balancing act, with teams – like Liverpool – juggling workloads and rotating players to keep things fresh, with one eye on the prize and, sometimes, the other fixed overseas.

This is the case for the 2023/24 Premier League title challengers, with Arsenal and Manchester City fighting in the Champions League and the Merseysiders pushing to win the Europa League.

Liverpool have completed a stunning resurgence to return to this silver-chasing position and have already bagged the Carabao Cup in Jurgen Klopp's swansong season, but Wednesday night's respective victories for the Reds' title rivals highlight the gravity of securing three points on each and every occasion.

This evening, Liverpool will welcome bottom-placed club Sheffield United to Anfield in a top-flight clash that must be a comprehensive win, a win that will take hosts back to the summit, two points ahead of Arsenal.

Klopp's men have been hit with a catalogue of injuries over the past few months but that storm is now showing signs of abating, key players are returning and the Merseyside outfit have indeed weathered a testing period.

Liverpool team news

Curtis Jones' nine-match injury layoff is set to end tonight, with the controlling midfielder set to be involved in the matchday squad, albeit unlikely to start.

Moreover, Andy Robertson and Ibrahima Konate could be in line for starts after overcoming respective minor issues, though Konate in particular could be rested ahead of Sunday's pivotal showdown against Manchester United at Old Trafford.

Joel Matip and Thiago Alcantara's long-term injuries mean both veterans – out of contract in June – may not feature again this season, though Trent Alexander-Arnold, Diogo Jota and Stefan Bajcetic are slated for a return to training next week, with goalkeeper Alisson not far behind.

Klopp also revealed in his pre-match press conference that holding midfielder Wataru Endo "got a knock" during Sunday's victory over Brighton & Hove Albion and will need to be assessed.

Why Szoboszlai must be dropped vs Sheffield United

With no disrespect to Sheffield United, Liverpool will expect to secure all three points at Anfield this evening and for this reason, it might be wise to take a prudent route and rest Endo ahead of the looming trip to Manchester.

Alexis Mac Allister has proved his quality in a more defensive midfield role, completing 88% of his passes and averaging 2.8 tackles and 5.7 successful duels per game in the top flight this term, and despite this Klopp might be convinced to rest Dominik Szoboszlai.

Szoboszlai is an energetic and influential midfielder with a ferocious right foot and a keen eye for a pass, so important for the club since joining in a £60m transfer from RB Leipzig last summer, but he's suffered with injuries recently and he too might be worth moving to the bench.

Matches played

24

Starts

22

Goals

3

Assists

2

Pass completion

87%

Shots per game

2.0

Key passes per game

1.7

Tackles per game

1.3

Duels won per game

3.6

Recoveries per game

6.0

Dribbles completed per game

0.9

Liverpool certainly have options. Harvey Elliott, 21 today, has been ever-so impressive recently and ranks among the top 1% of midfielders across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for assists, the top 3% for shot-creating actions, the top 4% for progressive carries and the top 2% for successful take-ons per 90, as per FBref, with Szoboszlai listed as his second-most-comparable player.

Ryan Gravenberch returned from injury before the international break and could be in line for his first Premier League start since the depleted Reds beat Luton Town in February. Alternatively, Bobby Clark and James McConnell have been immense since bursting from the academy this year.

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Away from the midfield, Liverpool might also be convinced to ditch Conor Bradley, with the remarkable right-back talent rested too ahead of this weekend's meeting.

Conor Bradley should be ditched today

Luckily, Liverpool have a wealth of options at full-back, even with Alexander-Arnold still sidelined. Naturally, Joe Gomez would return to his favoured position on the right side of defence, having been brilliant this season as Klopp's new Mr. Versatile.

Robertson is in line for a start but even if the hosts opt to leave him on the bench against Sheffield United, Kostas Tsimikas is a reliable player and has bagged three assists from just 12 games in the Premier League this season.

Bradley, aged 20, is a staggering prospect and has taken to life in Liverpool's first-team with astounding ease; having won Bolton Wanderers' Player of the Season award in League One last year, he only broke into Liverpool's starting 11 with regularity in January, battling injuries throughout the prior months.

But crowned January's PFA Premier League Fans' Player of the Month, Bradley has been spectacular in Alexander-Arnold's absence and looks set for a rich career at the height of the European game.

To highlight just how dynamic and effective he is, the Northern Ireland international ranks among the top 10% of full-backs across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for goals, the top 1% for assists, the top 4% for shot-creating actions, the top 10% for progressive carries, the top 8% for successful take-ons, the top 1% for tackles and the top 15 for blocks per 90.

It's quite the skill set, with talent scout Jacek Kulig even proclaiming him to have had an "11/10" breakthrough campaign, hailing him as "one of the biggest revelations" in Europe.

He's started Liverpool's past five Premier League matches and ran himself to the ground against Brighton, tasked with dealing with a deluge of breakaway Seagulls in the first half and winning a whopping 11 ground duels, also making four key passes and succeeding with four dribbles, as per Sofascore.

It's this elite athleticism and dynamism that will be key for the Reds against Manchester United – Bradley picked up an assist against the Red Devils in last month's incredible 4-3 FA Cup defeat – and Bradley must be rested ahead of a match that could define Liverpool's pursuit of the Premier League title.

Sheffield United have tools that could hurt Liverpool. They will attempt to soak up the pressure and lay waste to their imperious opposition, but Klopp has the tools and the tactical wherewithal to clinch a controlled victory.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast's Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.