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Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney have been warned against spending "big" in January and told that splashing on players can "easily damage" Wrexham.

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Wrexham brought in a dozen players this campaignStill want to buy a striker in the winter marketDon Goodman advises Rob & Ryan to be prudentFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

The 2025 winter transfer window, less than two weeks away, is set to bring significant activity to the Racecourse Ground. Under manager Phil Parkinson, Wrexham brought in nine players during the summer transfer window, supplemented by three free-agent signings in recent months. Despite these acquisitions, the club is still in the market for a striker, with numerous players already linked to a January move.

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This ambition to bolster their squad reflects the club's upward trajectory. However, the importance of prudent decision-making has been stressed by football experts, with specific warnings against excessive spending that could destabilize the team.

WHAT HAS BEEN SAID

Sky Sports pundit Don Goodman has issued a pointed reminder to Reynolds and McElhenney about the potential pitfalls of overzealous January spending. Speaking to Coin Poker, Goodman reflected on his own experience at Wolves, highlighting how an influx of new players once disrupted their dressing room dynamics.

“Ryan Reynolds and Rob Mclehenney need to remember it’s all about balance. If they were to go big in the January window and go all-out for promotion, they could very easily damage the equilibrium and spirit in the dressing room," he warned.

"I experienced a similar scenario at Wolves, when we brought in around half a dozen players and it upset our spirit within the dressing room. Although I’m sure they’ve got the money to buy players and spend big, they have to get the balance right. If they’re going to bring players in, they need to make sure the policy is quality over quantity."

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Goodman commended Wrexham’s strategy so far, noting that most of the squad who earned promotion from League Two last season remain integral to the team. This continuity has been a hallmark of the club's progress under Reynolds and McElhenney's stewardship.

“If you look at the team which drew with Cambridge at the weekend, most of them were at the club last season in League Two," he added. "They did a little bit of business in the summer but stuck with the majority of players who did so well last season, I don’t think they’ll go mad in January as they didn’t in the summer. They need to focus on bringing in players who will go straight into the starting lineup.”

Glasgow Rangers are just 24 hours away from their first Premiership match of the 2024/25 season as the Old Firm side look to begin the campaign with a bang.

Philippe Clement has managed to fill the void left by Connor Goldson, luring Dutch centre-back Robin Propper to Ibrox just in time for the tie against Hearts – the 30-year-old joining from Eredivisie side FC Twente, where he had been captain.

The 6 foot 3 defender becomes the ninth signing of the summer transfer window, but there will surely be a few more in the coming weeks…

Rangers interested in former Chelsea midfielder

According to Football Scotland, the Light Blues are showing interest in Dutchman Marco van Ginkel, who has emerged as a target for Clement recently.

The 31-year-old is available on a free transfer having departed Vitesse at the end of the 2023/24 campaign. He would certainly add some experience to Clement’s midfield.

Player

Club signed from

Connor Barron

Aberdeen

Jefte

Fluminense

Mohamed Diomande

FC Nordsjaelland

Oscar Cortes

RC Lens (loan)

Vaclav Cerny

Wolfsburg (loan)

Liam Kelly

Motherwell

Clinton Nsiala

AC Milan

Robin Propper

Twente

Hamza Igamane

AS FAR

The Belgian coach is also keen on bringing Manchester United midfielder Hannibal Mejbri to Ibrox, but could the Dutch midfielder be a better option?

Why Marco Van Ginkel would be an upgrade on Hannibal

The Man United youngster may have youth on his side, but the 2023/24 campaign was hardly productive. Indeed, he made just 17 appearances, scoring once, for both the Old Trafford side and during a loan spell with Sevilla.

A promising talent? Yes. But Clement now needs a few players who have plenty of experience in the game. Van Ginkel certainly fits the bill.

The midfielder made the headlines when he joined Chelsea back in the summer of 2013, becoming José Mourinho’s first signing during his second spell at Stamford Bridge,

The maverick Portuguese boss held the youngster in high regard, going as far as seeing Van Ginkel as the long term successor to Frank Lampard in the Chelsea midfield, having lauded him as "one of the best prospects" at the time of his arrival in west London.

Game time was promised, but it didn’t work out for him at the Blues, making just four appearances before finally leaving the club permanently in 2021 following a series of loan moves.

He returned to his first club, Vitesse, two years ago and enjoyed a wonderful spell for the Dutch side, playing 45 matches while scoring nine times and registering four assists.

The 31-year-old ranked first among his teammates for goals and assists (nine) in the Eredivisie last term, along with ranking sixth for shots per game (1.9) and first for big chances missed (six), meaning he could have had a few more goals if he was more clinical in the final third.

When compared to fellow midfielders in the men’s next 14 competitions, Van Ginkel ranked in the top 2% for total shots (2.61), non-penalty goals (0.27) and touches in the opposition penalty area (3.71) per 90 over the previous 365 days.

These statistics clearly showcase his attacking abilities from the heart of the midfield, which could give Clement a dangerous option in that area of the pitch.

On a free transfer, it is certainly a move which makes a lot of sense. The Dutchman still has a few more years left in him and a move to Scotland could see the player thrive.

Rangers register interest in £5m star who's a dream Roofe replacement

The Light Blues are reportedly interested in a deal to sign the centre-forward.

1 ByDan Emery Aug 1, 2024

Newcastle United have undergone a sweeping transformation this summer – though that is away from Eddie Howe's first-team squad.

The Tyneside outfit might have seen significant structural movements, but little has happened on the transfer front. Lewis Hall's loan move has been completed on a permanent basis and Lloyd Kelly has been landed on a free transfer following his departure from Bournemouth, but the backline requires more work and a wide forward is also pursued.

St. James' Park has gone from strength to strength over the past several years, following the PIF-backed club takeover, and now there is a chance to overcome last season's hiccup, stemming from the injury-plagued nature of the Magpies' year, and mount a campaign back toward the Champions League.

Fans are understandably yearning for some added impetus in attack – and the pointers suggest that they will get their wish – but with Sven Botman's knee injury keeping him sidelined until the end of 2024, Howe is desperate to secure another centre-back to restore his side's imperiousness in defence.

Newcastle lining up another defender

The left-sided Kelly brings security and dynamism to the backline but more is needed on the central right. As such, there might just be something in reports that Newcastle are pushing to sign OGC Nice's Jean-Clair Todibo.

The French defender is Juventus' priority target this summer and rejected West Ham United despite the east London side agreeing a £27m deal to sign him.

Now, according to transfer specialist Graeme Bailey, the Toon are preparing to launch a move of their own after holding discussions with Todibo's representatives.

Newcastle’s new sporting director Paul Mitchell is seeking to hijack Juventus' hijack in what would be an extraordinary turn of events. There's a distance to travel but this one is cautiously encouraging.

Jean-Clair Todibo's 23/24 season in numbers

Todibo, standing at 6 foot 3, is a colossal defender with a steely protective ability and a remarkable level of technicality that speaks of his suitability in Newcastle's fluid, progressive system.

As per FBref, he ranked among the top 18% of centre-backs in Ligue 1 last season for assists (0.07 per 90) and the top 10% for shot-creating actions (1.47 per 90), highlighting that inborn creativity that would open up a new dimension from deep.

Talent scout Jacek Kulig has praised his "high-quality" presence in the rearguard and this is reflected in the all-encompassing nature of his game, with the 24-year-old also keeping 14 clean sheets from 30 Ligue 1 matches last season, completing 90% of his passes and averaging 1.9 tackles and winning 4.5 duels (at a success rate of 59%).

But the most eye-catching element of the former La Masia starlet's skillset is his athletic prowess, with the mobility and energy levels necessary to rule over the defensive third with an iron grasp – averaging 7.1 ball recoveries per game in the French top flight.

Todibo's influence is such that he wouldn't just improve his prospective defensive partners on Tyneside. With such a robust approach to his play, he might actually be the dream defender for Bruno Guimaraes.

Why Newcastle must sign Jean-Clair Todibo

Guimaraes has been linked with a move away from Newcastle this summer, though June's sales of Elliott Anderson and teenage winger Yankuba Minteh have eased the burden relating to the Premier League's profit and sustainability rules considerably.

Manchester City, Arsenal and Manchester United have all registered a vested interest of late but a clause in Guimaraes' contract relating to a £100m release clause has now expired, meaning that Howe and Co can demand any fee they see fit for the club's midfield linchpin.

Signed from Lyon for £40m in January 2022 – at the start of the Magpies' new wave of hope – the Brazil international has been lauded for his "world-class" skills by teammate Dan Burn and chalks up some staggering metrics each season.

The table above highlights Guimaraes' almighty stats across his two-and-a-half seasons in the Premier League. It's a lot to unpack, but illustrates the absurd level of roundedness that supercharges Newcastle's engine room.

He did struggle at points last season but this was largely down to the incessant injury problems that plagued his team – especially in defence. By placing Todibo behind him – a defender who unbelievably made more ball recoveries than him on average in his league last season – Newcastle could return to the fore.

After all, while the £160k-per-week midfielder's combative nature holds together the middle of the park with steely resolve, it's his ball-playing mastery that would benefit the most from such a sturdy defender behind.

Indeed, Guimaraes ranked among the top 10% of positional peers across Europe's top five leagues last season for assists and shot-creating actions and the top 13% for progressive passes per 90, emphasising that fact.

Todibo would provide security and stability, yes, but also his own progressive style to thread through to Newcastle's main man, in turn enhancing the collective fluency of the side.

Juventus might feel that they are the favourites to sign Todibo, but Newcastle are seemingly set on disrupting the party in Turin. If they pull it off, it really will be quite the signing.

The end for Almiron: Newcastle offered deal to sign £50m "magician"

The Magpies are looking to improve their forward line this summer.

By
Ethan Lamb

Jul 20, 2024

The powers that be at Aston Villa would have allowed themselves a moment to rejoice over Ollie Watkins' incredible swivel-and-strike to send England into the final of the 2024 European Championship, but the focus will swiftly have shifted back to the summer transfer market.

Especially considering that efforts are underway to bring Jaden Philogene back to the club, matching Ipswich Town's £18m offer to sign the winger from Hull City, as per the pre-signing agreement that saw him leave Villa Park one year ago.

However, that's not the only deal in the pipeline for Unai Emery's outfit – the Spanish manager, admittedly, will have celebrated Watkins' winner with certain reservations, given the Three Lions' forthcoming opposition – with a bid having been rejected for a former Premier League midfielder.

The Villans could now return with an improved offer.

Aston Villa transfer news

According to Lazio News, Aston Villa have seen a €25m (£21m) bid rejected by Serie A side Lazio for centre-midfielder Matteo Guendouzi.

Newcastle United have also been turned down, though it is thought that Lazio could entertain a refreshed offer from such outfits if it reaches the €30m (£25m) ballpark.

Why Matteo Guendouzi would be perfect for Aston Villa

The 25-year-old Guendouzi, first and foremost, is well acquainted with Aston Villa's current manager. Emery signed the Frenchman from French side Lorient for around £8m back in July 2018, when he was a teenager.

He completed 66 fixtures under the 52-year-old and was described as a "warrior" and an "important player" for the Gunners by club legend Robert Pires.

The 6 foot 1 midfielder spent the latter half of his four-year period at the Emirates Stadium out on loan, moving to Marseille on a permanent deal in 2022 after failing to win Mikel Arteta over.

One year back in his homeland provided comparative success but he was loaned to Lazio after one year and has since settled into the Italian way of things as a permanent addition.

As per Sofascore, Guendouzi featured 33 times in Serie A last season, scoring twice and adding three assists, notably creating five big chances and averaging 3.6 ball recoveries per game, also completing 85% of his passes.

At his best, the £52k-per-week talent is found driving forwards, seeking to stretch lines and influence play from an attacking standpoint. His problem has been the wandering nature of his career thus far, failing to assimilate himself into a long-term project.

Villa could offer him that, and since he's adept at pushing into promising positions to supplement the frontline, he might be the perfect man to take Watkins to an even higher level – and vice versa.

How Watkins could get the best out of Guendouzi

Watkins has shaped into quite the player. 27 goals and 13 assists across all competitions for Aston Villa last season, with The Athletic's Jacob Tanswell hailing him as "the Premier League's second-best striker" – no prizes for guessing who's first.

Electric, versatile and riding the richest vein of confidence he likely has ever felt throughout his 27 years, Villa's main man would be a supreme partner for any player, but Guendouzi could find himself thriving behind the dynamic marksman.

Talent scout Jacek Kulig once pronounced Guendouzi to be a "monster in the making" after a fantastic performance in the North London Derby. There is a sense that brought back to the Premier League, under Emery's wing once more, he could showcase the style that had led to such commendations.

Especially when considering the conditions that he would walk into at Villa Park. Villa are, of course, about to step into the Champions League after making significant strides under Emery's leadership, and Guendouzi would undoubtedly be excited to play a part in such a project – especially as le Aquile are set to compete in the Europa League.

Furthermore, Watkins could be the ideal partner to eke out the very best of the eight-cap Les Bleus player's progressive and aggressive approach.

Guendouzi, indeed, might not have enjoyed the finest of campaigns in Italy last year but it was by no means poor, merely inconsistent. His ball-playing prowess is evident though, and could be used to provide Watkins with a steady outlet as he darts into the danger area.

As per FBref, Guendouzi ranked among the top 15% of central midfielders in Serie A last season for passes into the penalty area and the top 17% for crosses into the penalty area per 90.

England (and Villa) fans need no reminder of Watkins' quality on the end of such deliveries, having expertly latched onto Cole Palmer's surgical through ball to bypass Bart Verbruggen's goal. Cue the Rapture.

Guendouzi has showcased his quality on numerous occasions throughout his career so far but he's struggled to find a home that truly allows him to shine.

At least, he's struggled since Emery was sacked at Arsenal in November 2019. A reunion could pay dividends for a club seeking to cement its place among the big boys at the height of the continental stage.

With Newcastle also sniffing around, Monchi and Co better launch an improved offer quickly, lest he fall into rival clutches.

Imagine him & Watkins: Villa want to sign a player who once cost £111m

Aston Villa are looking at attacking reinforcements this summer.

By
Joe Nuttall

Jul 10, 2024

Shan Masood, Haris Sohail and Mohammad Abbas have all been dropped for Pakistan’s two-match Test series against South Africa in a dramatically overhauled squad.The home series, which kicks off in Karachi on January 26, also sees several newcomers in the 20-man squad, with Haris Rauf, Imran Butt, Kamran Ghulam and Salman Ali Agha among a slew of players brought into the fold.Babar Azam has recovered sufficiently to take over the Test captaincy from Mohammad Rizwan, who deputised for the batsman in New Zealand, where Pakistan lost both Test matches. He is set to take charge of the red-ball side for the first time, and has been handed a squad which could feature several first-timers, with new chief selector Mohammad Wasim ringing the changes in the first squad he has been tasked with naming.Once the No.1-ranked ODI bowler in the world, Hasan Ali is back in the Test side after a supremely successful Quaid-e-Azam Trophy season, which ended with him being named player of the tournament. The 26-year-old Central Punjab bowler took more wickets than any other quick all season, with 43 at 20.06 per scalp.After a number of years out of the game with a back injury which still needs careful tending to, Ali has appeared to regain the yard of pace he lost through 2019 and 2020, which resulted in him losing his central contract and dropping out of Pakistan contention completely. Moreover, Pakistan have struggled with runs lower down the order, and Ali’s ability with the bat – he scored a hundred in the final of the QeA Trophy – looks set to count in his favour.Some of the omissions are enforced, however. Shadab Khan continues to nurse the groin strain that kept him out of the Test series against New Zealand, while a hamstring niggle has put paid to any chances of Naseem Shah’s involvement.27-year-old offspinner Sajid Khan gets a call-up to the senior side for the first time after finishing the QeA season as the most prolific wicket-taker, with 67 for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Yasir Shah, Nauman Ali and allrounder Mohammad Nawaz are the other spinners in the squad, while 36-year old Sindh fast bowler Tabish Khan has a shot at a possible late-career bloom should his domestic form be rewarded with a Test cap.With Masood struggling badly for runs since scoring 156 in Manchester in the first Test against England last summer – he managed only 33 runs in his following eight innings, including four ducks – one of Abdullah Shafique or Imran Butt looks set for a Test match debut this series. Imam-ul-Haq’s ongoing thumb injury means there’s a vacancy at the top alongside Abid Ali, and with both Shafique and Butt part of the squad that travelled to New Zealand, they both have a clear opportunity to press their claim for that slot.The tour of South Africa comes at a time when head coach Misbah-ul-Haq and bowling coach Waqar Younis find their positions under further scrutiny than at any time since their appointments 18 months ago. Earlier this week, the PCB cricket committee met to analyse the team’s performances, terming them disappointing, and resolved to meet again following the series against South Africa.Significantly, this is the same committee that put an end to Mickey Arthur and Grant Flower’s tenure as head coach and batting coach respectively in 2019, and retains the power to recommend changes once more if they feel they are merited. The decision to meet after the series is viewed as the clearest indication that the fates of several members of the team management could hinge on its outcome.The 20-man squad will be whittled down to 16 in the coming days. The South African side is set to arrive in Pakistan on a chartered flight tomorrow (January 16) and will be tested for Covid-19 upon arrival and form a bio-secure bubble for the duration of the tour. They will quarantine until January 20, when they will be tested again before a decision is taken on when the side begins training.The first Test begins on January 26 in Karachi, with the second on February 4 in Rawalpindi. The sides are then set to play three T20Is in Lahore to round off the tour.Pakistan Test squad Abid Ali, Abdullah Shafique, Imran Butt, Azhar Ali, Babar Azam (c), Fawad Alam, Kamran Ghulam, Salman Ali Agha, Saud Shakeel, Faheem Ashraf, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Nauman Ali, Sajid Khan, Yasir Shah, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Tabish Khan

A last-wicket stand of 61 between Dan Worrall and Danny Briggs made the Hurricanes nervous

Andrew McGlashan13-Dec-2020Hobart Hurricanes 5 for 174 (Short 72) beat Adelaide Strikers 9 for 163 (Worrall 62*, Faulkner 3-21) by 11 runsThe Hobart Hurricanes made it two-from-two on home soil as D’Arcy Short’s BBL kicked into life as he turned a run-a-ball struggle into a potentially matchwinning hand before the Adelaide Strikers’ top order crumbled in a poor batting display.D’Arcy Short shapes for a big shot•Getty Images

Although the Hurricanes had not lost early wickets – Short and Will Jacks putting on a first-wicket stand of 63 – the run rate had not got away from the Strikers until Short, who had been given a life on 23, produced an onslaught against the normally frugal Rashid Khan. The Hurricanes could not quite take full advantage of that dramatic shift in gears as the Strikers fought back in the Power Surge, but in the end 174 proved enough although not by as much as initially appeared likely.The Strikers lost both openers inside the four-over Powerplay – Johan Botha being excellent in the field restrictions – and the middle order collapsed in a way that will not have impressed coach Jason Gillespie as a way to set down a marker for the season. However, Dan Worrall, who had dropped the chance offered by Short and then been ordered out of the attack for two chest-high full tosses, swung his way to a maiden T20 fifty off 28 balls and the game wasn’t closed out until the final over.First runs in styleBoth the Hurricanes openers made ducks in their opening match and it was Jacks, the Surrey allrounder, who was first to start his account for the summer when he lofted fellow Englishman Danny Briggs way back over long-on. It was Jacks who made the early running – as Short struggled to get his innings above a run-a-ball – taking Briggs for a second six in the seventh over. The opening stand was worth 63 when he skied the ball high into the leg side where Ryan Gibson steadied himself. At the 10-over mark the Hurricanes were 1 for 69 and in need of kicking on.Short takes down KhanMoments before the opening stand was broken, Short was given a life on 23 when Dan Worrall dropped a top-edge pull at fine leg. It would prove costly. Having laboured somewhat to 38 off 40 balls at the start of the 14th over, bowled by Khan, Short started to find the middle of the bat. He launched three sixes in four balls – the other delivery going for four – in an over that cost 25, the most expensive of Khan’s BBL career. Short’s fifty came up off 42 deliveries when a full toss was dispatched over deep midwicket and the third of his sixes was measured at 96 metres. At the end of the over the Hurricanes called the Power Surge with all the momentum behind them.Surge splutterHowever, they did not have it all their own way with the field restrictions enforced. It looked like it would work perfectly when Short took Wes Agar for four and six within his first three deliveries – all off a sudden a century was on the cards – but then he picked out short-third man off a slower delivery. The next over from Peter Siddle cost just five runs and included the wicket of the dangerous Colin Ingram – a brilliant boundary-rope parried catch by Khan – to mean that two new batsmen had to get set for the final push. Khan returned to trap Peter Handscomb lbw and the innings was threatening to fall away, but Worrall’s last over went wrong as he sent down two no-ball full tosses and was ordered out of the attack with a ball remaining. Tim David, who was the Player of the Match in the opening game, provided a handy 21 off 13 balls.Botha’s guile, Meredith’s paceBotha has come out of retirement to help the Hurricanes’ early season: a few more performances like this and they may ask him to stay on. He bowled three consecutive overs, two of them in the Powerplay which cost just eight runs and included the wicket of the dangerous Jake Weatherald, then after briefly being attacked in the sixth over he hit back by removing Harry Nielsen. One of the eye-catching features of the early matches has been Meredith’s pace – upwards of 150kph – and here he was too quick for Jono Wells, pinning him lbw. He also showed his football skills by kicking the ball into the stumps after following through to run out Gibson and a rapid short ball capped Khan’s disappointing day with a first-ball duck.Last-wicket flourishThere was briefly a game within-a-game as the Strikers came close to stealing the Bash Boost with 10th-over sixes from Matt Renshaw and Worrall, but whether it would have been deserved being six down is an interesting debate. The real entertainment from the Strikers’ batting came from the last-wicket pair as Worrall, with the highest score of his professional career, and Danny Briggs added a rollicking 61 – the second highest tenth-wicket stand in T20s. It may even have made the Hurricanes a little nervous but 18 from the last over proved a step too far.

On Monday Ricky Ponting had said that if there was one team the Mumbai Indians will not want to face in the final it would be the Delhi Capitals. On Tuesday, defending champions Mumbai dominated the Capitals thoroughly to not only register their fourth win against the team coached by Ponting, but also win their fifth IPL title.Ponting, who was part of two of Mumbai’s title victories – as player in 2013 and coach in 2015 – acknowledged Mumbai were the “best” team this IPL.”You have got to give credit where credit is due: MI have clearly been the best team all the way through this IPL,” Ponting said at the post-match presentation. “They’ve beaten us four times in the tournament now. They turned up and played a great game today in the final when it really matters. As a coach it is can be frustrating sitting in the dugout when you haven’t got control over things, but I’m extremely proud of the way we player cricket this tournament. Just to finish off, MI thoroughly deserve their win.”Several teams have mentioned the biggest challenge this IPL has been to perform while living out of a biosecure bubble. Ponting, too, felt that did play a role in the Capitals’ inconsistency. He said the Capitals “probably had too much preparation” ahead of the IPL after they arrived in the UAE in late August, a month prior to the tournament.”We had about three-and-a-half weeks of training before our first game. We knew that that was always going to be a challenge to try and keep the boys up through what’s been a 10 or 11 weeks of a hard slog.”The Capitals made their first IPL final in 13 seasons, but Ponting was honest to admit that they had work to do.”The IPL is a hard tournament, certainly a hard tournament to win. And at different times you’ve probably seen with our level of cricket – although we played some brilliant stuff, then the level dropped down a little bit and we fought back really well at the end. It has been a really challenging tour.”Captain Shreyas Iyer, who top-scored for the Capitals in the final with an unbeaten 65, wanted them to improve in two specific areas in 2021 IPL.”We have been lacking at the starts especially in majority of the games we lost pretty early wickets,” Iyer said. “That is what we need to work on. We need to strategise our bowling plans as well because we have leaked a lot of runs in the powerplay, especially in the second half of the season was not really the best.”

Lamine Yamal has withdrawn from the Spain squad after picking up an injury against Denmark in the UEFA Nations League.

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Yamal withdraws from Spain squadWinger limped out of stadium after Denmark winFears over major injury subsideFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Yamal was spotted limping out of the stadium after Spain saw off a stubborn Denmark 1-0 and there were fears the teenage sensation had suffered a serious injury. Following an MRI scan this morning and a request from Barcelona for Yamal to not feature against Serbia, Spain announced the winger will return to the Catalan giants. The scan revealed Yamal had not suffered any major injury but rather he was suffering from overload.

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Since breaking onto the scene last year, Yamal has become an integral part of both the Barcelona and Spain sides. The winger was described by his national team boss, Luis de la Fuente, as having been "touched by the magic wand of God" and played a starring role in La Roja's European Championship success. However, Yamal is still only 17 years old and his managers will be keen to ensure he is not overworked at such a young age.

DID YOU KNOW?

Despite his age, Yamal has already played a significant number of minutes for his club and country. He became the youngest player in Barcelona's history to make 50 appearances for the first team and has already won 16 caps for Spain. It is little wonder Barcelona have been keen to limit his minutes on international duty.

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Yamal will return to Barcelona relieved that he has not suffered a significant setback. It remains to be seen if the club will risk him in their clash against Sevilla next Saturday ahead of a major Champions League game against Bayern Munich.

Liverpool manager Arne Slot faces the unenviable task of following on from Jurgen Klopp at Anfield this summer and will be hoping for a successful first campaign next term.

The Dutch boss is due to come in from Feyenoord ahead of the 2024/25 campaign and his main focus from the off may be the upcoming summer transfer window.

It will provide him with a chance to make changes to the squad, albeit with direction from the team above him at the club, to put his own stamp on the group.

Klopp had been at Liverpool for almost nine years and the side has been shaped to fit his style of play and how he wanted it to look, which means that it may take some time to adjust to a new coach with different ideas.

This means that Slot may need patience, both from supporters and the board, over the coming months as new signings settle in and current players adapt to a different way of playing.

Despite it still being May, Liverpool are already reportedly looking at new signings to bolster their squad, with one player from the Eredivisie said to be in their sights.

Liverpool's interest in Eredivisie wizard

According to Football Insider, Slot and the Reds are lining up a swoop to sign PSV sensation Johan Bakayoko to improve their wide options this summer.

The report claims that the Premier League giants are interested in a deal to sign the Belgium international, who they have been tracking for a ‘while’.

This suggests that their interest in the young forward predates Slot’s move to Anfield and that this could be more of a club-led approach than one identified by the Dutch coach, who managed against PSV and Bakayoko this season.

The outlet adds that talks are set to be held over Mohamed Salah’s immediate future on Merseyside in the coming weeks, and that the Eredivisie wizard is seen as a possible long-term replacement for the Egypt international.

However, it remains to be seen whether or not the current Liverpool star will move on this summer, or if he will stay for at least another season and potentially act as a mentor to Bakayoko – should the club seal a deal for him.

Sky German’s Patrick Berger reported in March that PSV are holding out for a fee of up to €60m (£51m) for the winger, but it is unclear at this time exactly how much the Reds are willing to pay for his services.

If Slot and the recruitment team can get a move over the line for the 21-year-old star, though, then they could land a player who would thrive alongside Diogo Jota at Anfield.

Johan Bakayoko's impressive creative prowess

The Belgian maestro has been in fantastic form for the Dutch side over the last year or so and has showcased his ability to make a big impact at the top end of the pitch, particularly as a creative force.

Over the past 365 days, Bakayoko ranks within the top 9% of attacking midfielders and wingers in the Men’s Next 14 Competitions (outside of the major five leagues) for assists per 90 (0.32), and the top 11% for Expected Assisted Goals per 90 (0.29).

He also ranks within the top 12% of his positional peers for shot-creating actions per 90 (5.20) and the top 8% for non-penalty xG and xAG combined per 90 (0.60).

These statistics show that the Reds target has been one of the most creative players in his position in those competitions over the space of a year, which shows how consistently brilliant he has been at creating for his teammates.

As you can see in the table above, Bakayoko significantly outperformed current Liverpool winger Luis Diaz in the final third, albeit in a different league.

The 21-year-old star, who is a left-footed gem who operates on the right flank, scored more goals from less xG and created far more for his teammates, despite playing four fewer games than the Colombia international.

Overall, these statistics show that the Belgium international, who was once lauded as “dominant” by manager Ruud van Nistelrooy, would thrive alongside a clinical centre-forward, which is what he could find in Jota at Anfield.

Why Johan Bakayoko could thrive with Diogo Jota

The Portuguese attacker could be a dream player for the winger to play alongside as the former Wolverhampton Wanderers star has proven himself to be a lethal finisher.

Bakayoko only registered nine assists from 10.61 xA and 12 ‘big chances’ created in the Eredivisie during the 2023/24 campaign, which suggests that his teammates let him down with their wastefulness in front of goal as they did not make the most of his creativity.

That may not be the case if he gets the chance to play alongside Jota on a consistent basis next season as the right-footed forward, who can play out wide or through the middle, is a clinical attacker.

As you can see in the table above, the 27-year-old star was the most ruthless finisher in the Liverpool squad in the Premier League this season, as he outperformed his xG by considerably more than any other player.

He also scored three goals from 2.08 xG in the Europa League and found the back of the net seven times from 6.5 xG in the top-flight during the 2022/23 campaign.

These statistics show that Jota has been consistently impressive in front of goal and rarely wastes a high-quality chance to score for the Reds.

Bakayoko could, therefore, be a dream partner for him at the top end of the pitch as the 21-year-old star has the potential to be a huge creative presence for Slot at Anfield, based on his form for PSV.

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The Belgian magician could consistently create high-quality opportunities, as he has done for the Dutch side, for Jota to make the most of next season, and in future seasons, which is why they could be an exciting duo for the club.

David Moyes has slammed his former club West Ham and Julen Lopetegui after the Hammers' disappointing loss to Chelsea on Saturday.

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West Ham lose 3-0 against ChelseaWest Ham lose three in five gamesMoyes fires shots at LopeteguiFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱Getty Images SportWHAT HAPPENED?

While Chelsea haven't been very consistent over the course of the start of the season, Enzo Maresca's men were on top form when they faced Lopetegui's West Ham at London Stadium. A brace from Nicolas Jackson and a third from Cole Palmer meant that the Hammers fell to their third defeat in five Premier League games.

AdvertisementTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Despite having been backed in the summer transfer window by the club with signings of Max Kilman from Wolves for £40 million ($53.2m), Crysencio Summerville from Leeds for £25 million ($33.3m) and Niclas Fullkrug from Borussia Dortmund for £27 million ($35.9m), results have not come along for Lopetegui, who has now been slammed by his West Ham predecessor, Moyes.

Getty ImagesWHAT MOYES SAID

Speaking on beIN Sports, Moyes said: "I thought it was a poor performance and they'll be disappointed, because we had a pretty good record against Chelsea at the London Stadium over the years.

"We've had difficulties at Stamford Bridge but at home we've been pretty good against them."

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WHAT NEXT FOR WEST HAM?

The Hammers will be in action next up against Liverpool in the third round of the Carabao Cup on Wednesday, September 25 as they will look to toss Arne Slot's men out of the tournament.