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West Ham United's appointment of David Moyes (for the second time) in December 2019 might have initially been viewed as pragmatic, but the Scottish manager has eclipsed the expectations of even the most optimistic of Irons supporters.

Having taken the reins midway through the 2019/20 campaign and navigated away from danger in the Premier League, the London Stadium outfit are now awaiting a third successive season in European competition, having won the Europa Conference League with victory over Italian side Fiorentina in the final.

The bleaker days are firmly behind them, and supporters will be confident that further success can be found this season despite the £105m sale of midfield talisman Declan Rice to Arsenal in July.

Having impressed with their summer transfer spending, the Hammers have enjoyed a fruitful start to the 2023/24 season, drawing against Bournemouth on the opening day before clinching a trio of impressive victories – including wins over Chelsea and high-flying Brighton & Hove Albion – before falling to a maiden seasonal defeat to the hand of Manchester City, but then that is hardly shameful.

With the Europa League just around the corner, United will kick off their next continental campaign against Serbian team Bačka Topola, who travel to the London Stadium.

It's a fine opportunity for Moyes to issue some rotation and keep his talented squad on their feet, and one player who will be hoping to make a marked impact is Said Benrahma, who is perhaps in danger of falling down the pecking order after such impressive summer additions and the superb performances of Jarrod Bowen, who dominates the right channel.

How much did West Ham pay for Said Benrahma?

Making steady progress under Moyes' management, West Ham completed the loan signing of Benrahma in October 2020, making the move permanent for £20m in January 2021.

In that first season in east London, Benrahma only scored once in the Premier League but did provide six assists from just 14 league starts, having been previously lauded by Bees boss Thomas Frank for his "magnificent" performances.

It was a signing that left many rival suitors disgruntled, with Benrahma a hot commodity after plundering 17 goals and ten assists across the 2019/22 Championship term, and as he wedged his way into West Ham's thriving system, it became clear that he was a valuable asset for a team challenging for honours and success bost domestically and in Europe.

Indeed, Aston Villa and French team OGC Nice were both actively pursuing the 28-year-old winger during his days at the Gtech Community Stadium, but the prospect of joining a fast-rising team in West Ham proved the decisive factor.

How many goals has Benrahma scored?

Having worked his way up the pecking order during his first term in Irons colours, Benrahma excelled across the 2021/22 campaign – even described as "unplayable" by pundit Joe Cole – as West Ham finished seventh in the Premier League and reached the semi-finals of the Europa League, losing to eventual champions Eintracht Frankfurt.

The 21-cap Algeria star, despite scoring the opening goal against La Viola in June, did not find a starting berth last term with quite the regularity he would have hoped for, playing just 22 times from the opening whistle across the league season despite bagging 12 goals across all competitions.

Make no mistake, Benrahma is not in danger of falling out of Moyes' plans in their entirety, but he will hope to ride a wave of purple patches to convince his manager that his place belongs on the starting teamsheet.

Lucas Paqueta has played two of the opening five matches on the left side of the attack and has done so with aplomb; candidly, the Brazilian technician looks capable of thriving across any role he is deployed in, but his Algerian teammate offers a different dimension and boasts an array of qualities well-suited for supplementation, which the former Lyon man can provide in abundance from the centre.

As per FBref, the artful gem ranks among the top 11% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for total shots taken, the top 13% for progressive carries and the top 16% for progressive passes received per 90, illustrating his skill in weaving his way up the pitch with the ball glued to his feet and finding promising openings to unleash strikes on goal.

The £55k-per-week ace will need to start impressing his manager enough to cement his name as among the first to be picked, and while his teammate Pablo Fornals has also suffered from a fall into a more peripheral role of late, Benrahma arguably offers talents better served for an aspiring outfit such as West Ham.

Indeed, the dynamic Spaniard was signed from Villarreal for £24m in 2019, and while he made 17 starts in the Premier League last term, scoring three times, nine of those came across the opening nine matches of the campaign, seemingly losing his boss's confidence as the club toiled for much of the year.

Fornals can also play down the left channel but is perhaps most at home in a creative role in the centre. Given the likes of James Ward-Prowse, Mohammed Kudus and Paqueta all warrant prominent positions, it's unlikely that he will reclaim his spot, especially after only starting against Bournemouth so far this season.

The same could well now be said of Benrahma who was dropped for the defeat to City.

He happened to provide an assist against Brighton, but may well now struggle to play a big role this season as the Hammers search for success across multiple fronts.

Europe may give him a chance to shine but if he fails to grasp his opportunities there is a decent chance that Moyes will continue to opt for Paqueta's starting role out on the left in the biggest moments. Kudus could even be preferred in that role too.

Benrahma will likely start in the Europa League this week, but he must use that as a launchpad to serve a starring role and propel West Ham to heights even better than that of last season's silver-laden finale. Though, with such illustrious options now ahead of him in the pecking order, continental action could be his rare chance to shine.

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta is looking to bolster his offensive options in January and one star who has previously been on the radar at the Emirates Stadium is once again being assessed as a potential addition, according to reports.

What's the latest news involving Arsenal?

According to reports in Spain via GOAL, the Gunners are believed to be embroiled in a three-way fight to sign Feyenoord striker Santiago Gimenez, with Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur providing competition for the signature of the Mexico international.

It is claimed that Eredivisie champions Feyenoord are likely to command a hefty transfer fee in the region of €50 million (£43.3 million) for the 22-year-old, who has notched ten goals and two assists in eight appearances across all competitions this term, as per Transfermarkt.

Newcastle United icon Alan Shearer has had his say on Arsenal summer signing Kai Havertz's consistency following the Germany international's first goal for the Gunners from the penalty spot in their 4-0 victory over Bournemouth on Saturday. Stating on Match of the Day via Football London, Shearer said:

"When you look at his numbers, there's definitely a player in there. When you look at his ability, it doesn't match his numbers. They need to improve. You know that you have to pay £60-70million for a squad player these days, so he'll play his part – whether he'll be a regular, I don't think so."

Recently, developments have emerged claiming that Arsenal will look to make a swoop for Brentford striker Ivan Toney in the January transfer window as Gunners boss Arteta looks to acquire another striking option. Arsenal travel to Champions League newcomers Lens on Tuesday evening and will be aiming to take six points from six in Europe's premier competition ahead of their crunch tie against Manchester City in the Premier League on Sunday.

Who could Arsenal sign?

The Mirror report that Arsenal, and by extension sporting director Edu Gaspar, are casting an eye over Wolverhampton Wanderers winger Pedro Neto, who was previously earmarked as a target for the Gunners in the summer of 2022.

Nevertheless, Neto, an Arsenal supporter, may prove to be a difficult player to land in the January transfer window due to his blistering start to proceedings in 2023/24, where he has emerged as a key player under Old Gold boss Gary O'Neil.

Neto, who is 23 years of age, has registered one goal and four assists in seven outings for Wolves in the Premier League this campaign and has carried the torch in attack for his current employers, as per Transfermarkt.

Becoming a nuisance to backlines across the English top flight, Neto has averaged 1.6 shots, 2.6 key passes and 2.3 completed dribbles per fixture so far this term, according to WhoScored.

Once branded a "huge talent" by Premier League all-time top goalscorer Shearer, Neto finally looks to be delivering on his initial promise at Molineux and will have no shortage of suitors if he maintains his impressive vein of form.

Prominent Portuguese football outlet Proxima Jornada have emphasised Neto's impact at Wolves this campaign by posting a detailed collection of statistics on social media platform X produced by the Portugal international, as they stated:

"Pedro Neto is enjoying himself this season. The Wolves man ranks in the top 7 or higher in the Premier League for the following: 4 assists (1st). 17 successful crosses (2nd). 4 big chances created (4th). 6 combined G+A (4th). 16 dribbles completed (5th). 18 chances created (7th)."

Arsenal may well be keen to strengthen their attacking options in January and acquiring Neto would help to bolster competition for places in the final third.

Cristiano Ronaldo has boldly declared that Al-Nassr will prevail against Al Ain and “pass to the semi-finals” of the AFC Champions League.

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• Al-Nassr trail quarter-final clash with Al Ain
• Second leg taking place on home soil
• Portuguese icon confident of progress

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  WHAT HAPPENED?

  The Saudi Pro League side currently trail their quarter-final encounter with opponents from the UAE courtesy of a 1-0 defeat in the first leg of a heavyweight contest. They will get the opportunity to overturn that deficit on Monday when they return to home soil in Riyadh.

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• WHAT RONALDO SAID

  Ronaldo is confident that Al-Nassr will prevail, telling reporters at a pre-match press conference: “We are ready, we are prepared and we believe that we will have a very good night. I have the opportunity now to say to all the fans in the stadium ‘be with us, be positive’ because we players, we are very positive that we are going to change the first game and we are going to pass to the semi-finals – this is what we believe.”

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Ronaldo has also sent a “ready to turn this around” message on social media, with Al-Nassr going through their final preparations ahead of a crucial clash that will keep them on course for major silverware in 2024, or see those dreams dashed.

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• WHAT NEXT FOR RONALDO?

  Evergreen Ronaldo, who is now 39 years of age, continues to lead by example and inspire those around him. He has registered 34 goals across all competitions this season and has grown accustomed over the course of his remarkable career to collecting trophies on an annual basis.

Liverpool are reportedly set to target Borussia Dortmund forward Donyell Malen in the summer as they continue their attacking revolution.

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• Liverpool interested in Dortmund's Malen
• Believe the Dutchman will fit in at the club
• Malen waiting to see who Liverpool boss will be

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  WHAT HAPPENED?

  Liverpool have been undergoing a slow but steady revamp of their attacking lineup since last summer and Bild have reported that the Reds could target Malen this summer. As per the reports, the Merseyside club believe that Malen would fit 'ideally' in the type of high-octane offensive system that they employ at the club.

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• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  According to the report, the Dutchman is interested in moving to England, but before considering a move to Anfield, he wants to know who the next Liverpool manager will be. Malen's current deal with Dortmund expires in 2026, however, die Schwarzgelben's sporting director Sebastian Kehl has stated that the team hopes to keep Malen after this season. Liverpool view the Dutchman as a potential replacement for Mohamed Salah in case he leaves in the summer, with a move to Saudi Arabia on the cards.

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  DID YOU KNOW?

  The report also suggests that Dortmund believe that Malen is one of the few players who can bring in a sizable sum of money and that the German club would entertain talks for a summer deal if Liverpool presented a bid of €60 million.

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• WHAT NEXT FOR MALEN?

  It is still unknown how willing the Dutchman will be to make a move to Liverpool, having played earlier with the youth setup of Arsenal before leaving the club to look for senior-level game time elsewhere. Nonetheless, Malen has now joined the Dutch national team camp and will very likely be involved in their friendly clashes against Scotland and Germany.

Liverpool feel like they are moving, almost inexorably, toward the Premier League title.

Despite a few recent hitches, the title-chasing pack simply don’t have the resources to close down the big gap that Arne Slot’s side has established over the duration of the season.

But what about the future? So much hinges on the outcome of several off-the-field issues that have plagued Anfield throughout the campaign yet somehow failed to knock the title charge out of kilter.

The Times’ Paul Joyce has revealed in the wake of Liverpool’s crushing victory over Manchester City that talks are ongoing with non-committal superstars Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold, though it remains a great concern with all three out of contract in little over four months.

Liverpool appear to be heading to the top-flight title this season and may even hit further goals – into the Carabao Cup final and one of the favourites to lift the Champions League for a seventh time – early days in that one, though.

However, Slot will want to consolidate his reign with sustained success over a number of areas, and that means sorting out the futures of more than just the ‘big three’.

The other players who may leave Liverpool

In Joyce’s article, he touches on the abiding rumours around the futures of Luis Diaz and Darwin Nunez.

Diaz is an important member of the first-team squad but, aged 28 and with two years left on his deal, could find himself sold if a fresh contract cannot be agreed upon.

Nunez, conversely, is a popular figure at Anfield but appears to have regressed this season and will likely be sold to make room for a new and more clinical striker.

With Giorgi Mamardashvili arriving from LaLiga side Valencia in a deal worth £29m, it seems likely that second-choice between the sticks, Caoimhin Kelleher, will be sold, especially since the Irishman has been candid about his desire for regular first-team football.

The unerring correspondent also commented on Harvey Elliott’s situation. The 21-year-old playmaker is immensely talented but will need to have some internal conversations given Slot has scarcely used him this season. Indeed, Elliott hasn’t started in the Premier League this term.

However, that’s not to say Slot isn’t willing to promote Liverpool’s youngsters. With Real Madrid coveting Trent, it looks like Conor Bradley may be playing as Liverpool’s first-choice right-back next year. There’s also Jarell Quansah, who isn’t likely to usurp Van Dijk but could take his baton in a few years.

Let’s have a closer look at the powerful centre-back.

Jarell Quansah is Liverpool's future star

Liverpool’s academy has gone from strength to strength over the past several years. Alexander-Arnold, Curtis Jones and indeed Elliott had graduated throughout Jurgen Klopp’s reign but the depth and potential seems greater today.

There’s a whole host of up-and-coming talent pushing against Slot’s first team now, but it’s indeed Quansah and Bradley who lead the charge.

The significance of Quansah’s breakout campaign last year was accelerated when Joel Matip ruptured his ACL against Fulham in December 2023 in what ultimately proved a career-ending injury.

The English defender was described as “an absolute monster” by talent scout Jacek Kulig as he staked his claim for a prominent role in Liverpool’s side, even pipping the out-of-sorts Ibrahima Konate to a regular starting berth in the closing months of the Premier League season. Quansah started this beside Van Dijk term too, albeit was withdrawn in the campaign’s opener at half-time against Ipswich.

He’s suffered something of a slow season under Slot’s wing since but remains one of Merseyside’s biggest jewels, starting 11 of the final 15 fixtures.

And after a momentous cameo as off-colour Liverpool held Wolverhampton Wanderers at bay to claim three invaluable points last weekend, Slot was full of praise for his much-improved young star, saying “he is back to being the same Jarell” after “a bit of a difficult time” at the beginning of 2024/25.

With a strong athletic base and exciting technical qualities, Quansah has all the parts to become a leading centre-back in the years to come.

In fact, such skills have already seen him compared to Tottenham Hotspur titan Cristian Romero and Real Madrid’s Eder Militao via FBRef’s similar players feature. Romero’s availability leaves something to be desired but his footballing ability is a thing to behold.

See the defenders’ statistics collected over the past year. It’s uncanny how similar Quansah and Romero are across a number of areas: both crisp with their passing yet creative too; both mobile players, covering immense stretches of ground and both active and crunching with their challenges.

Quansah hasn’t played all that much Premier League football this season, but last year, he incredibly won 64% of his total duels, as per Sofascore.

To put that into context: the awe-inspiring Van Dijk has won 69% in 2024/25 and Romero, 26, has emerged on top in 61% this season and 68% the year before.

While Tottenham have struggled in Ange Postecoglou’s second term, largely due to ceaseless injury problems, Romero has been part of that fitness problem, last starting against Ipswich Town in November.

He’s a brilliant and dynamic defender, aggressive and tenacious too. Real Madrid have been linked with him over the past year as they prepare to sign a new long-term member for their central rearguard, but Daniel Levy is down to play hardball.

Well, the tight chairman has retorted with £150m demands for the 2022 World Cup winner. That’s quite the exorbitant figure.

We’re not saying that Quansah – or indeed Romero – is worth such an obscene amount of money, but the rising Liverpool sensation is clearly doing something right, and now that he’s found his feet – he must push on, and maybe raise his stock and standing on the continental scene.

Bye-bye: £140k-p/w dud's Liverpool career looks totally finished under Slot

Liverpool might look to part ways with this talented member at the end of the season.

By
Angus Sinclair

Feb 24, 2025

Tata Martino admits that replacing “the best player of all” will never be easy, with Inter Miami accused of being overly dependent on Lionel Messi.

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• All-time great forced off against Nashville
• Nursing a muscle complaint in right leg
• Set to sit out next fixture in MLS

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The Herons saw their talismanic captain forced out of the second leg of a CONCACAF Champions Cup last-16 encounter with Nashville five minutes into the second half. Messi had already been among the goals prior to his early departure through injury, with another important contribution made in a 3-1 win and progress to the quarter-finals.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Inter Miami are now waiting to discover the full extent of the injury picked up by Messi, with the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner set to sit out an MLS clash with D.C. United in Washington on Saturday. Their only defeat so far this season, against Montreal, came when the Argentine superstar was rested.

• WHAT MARTINO SAID ABOUT MESSI

  Quizzed on whether his side have already become overly reliant on Messi following his stunning arrival in the summer of 2023, Martino said: “We are conscious that when the season started, because of different circumstances, Leo was not going to start in all these games, or play in all these games. But what I want to emphasise is that he has been a very important player for 15 years at Barcelona, a couple years at Paris Saint-Germain, and all the national team games of Argentina. Why would he not be for us? It is not just replacing a player, it’s replacing the best player of all. So what we have to do is readapt our game because of his loss, his exit. It’s one thing to adapt the game for his absence when it’s a game that we're planning on it. It’s different doing it 50 minutes into the game that we're still playing.”

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  WHAT NEXT FOR MESSI?

  Messi is nursing a muscle complaint in his right leg. After sitting out a meeting with D.C. United, the all-time great is due to be on international duty with Argentina when Inter Miami take in a trip to New York to face the Red Bulls on March 23, with it yet to be determined whether he will be available for a home date with New York City FC on March 30.

Everton have been very up and down of late in the Premier League.

Overcoming both AFC Bournemouth and Nottingham Forest in December has now been somewhat dampened by a 2-0 defeat on the road at Chelsea, with David Moyes’ men currently sitting in a middle-of-the-road ninth position as a result.

Thankfully, the days of relegation peril are far behind them, as Everton continue to seek out a spot in European competitions come the end of the season.

The Scotsman will surely be boosted in his bid to take the Toffees back to Europe by the January transfer window reopening, as the Merseyside giants already begin to be linked tentatively with some standout names.

Everton looking to seal Richarlison repeat

The Toffees broke the bank in the summer to bring in some new talents, with £42m of the £112m they spent in total forked out on rising star Tyler Dibling, while £25m was also splashed out on the services of ex-Leicester City midfielder Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall.

More millions could be used to land Jens Petter Hauge in January, with reports suggesting that the Premier League outfit has scouted the Bodo/Glimt winger extensively.

For far less money, having once cost just £7m for Botafogo to acquire, Everton could pick up Brazilian defender Vitinho, with Everton-focused journalist Alan Myers revealing recently that the Toffees are keen on the ex-Burnley right-back, as they seek out more depth on the right channel.

It is noted that Everton aren’t alone in their interest, however, with an offer also yet to be put forward.

But, for a modest amount, Moyes’ men could really solve some major issues that keep popping up in the right-back department by landing the 26-year-old, with the Glaswegian perhaps even winning his very own Richarlison in the process.

Why Vitinho could be Richarlison repeat at Everton

Richarlison and Moyes’ paths would never cross in the end at Goodison Park, despite both figures being clearly beloved presences on Merseyside.

Everton were crying out for a dynamic attacker to fill the void left behind by Romelu Lukaku’s departure in 2017, with Richarlison going on to bag a weighty 26 Premier League goals across his first two seasons at the club, leading to former Toffees boss Carlo Ancelotti heralding him as a “top striker.”

Vitinho would hope he could come in and be as instantly impactful in the troubled right-back spot at the Hill Dickinson Stadium, having been noted for having an “impeccable” attitude at Turf Moor by Vincent Kompany, for always giving his all donning a Clarets shirt.

Four goals and seven assists came the 5-foot-9 defender’s way in Lancashire, three of which came about in the Premier League even as Burnley struggled against the drop. A goal threat, he is also an adaptable presence, featuring five different positions during his time under Kompany. Richarlison, as well as being Brazilian like Vitinho, was also a versatile presence during his days at Goodison.

Indeed, Richarlison would go on to pick up 30 goals for Everton from down the left or right flank, away from just competently completing his centre-forward duties, with Vitinho also gaining joy from the right wing when he was briefly in England, with four goal contributions collected here, from a minimal 15 appearances.

The right-back spot will be where he’s expected to shine at the Hill Dickinson if a move is finalised in January, though, with Moyes far from impressed with Jake O’Brien’s performance here against Chelsea, when he disastrously gave away possession a high 25 times.

The Botafogo number two has even been handed a Brazil cap in recent times by Richarlison’s former boss in Ancelotti, as another South American gem is set to be unearthed on Merseyside, if everything falls into place across the frantic window to come.

Haaland loves him: Everton join race to sign UCL goalscorer who wants PL move

He’s enjoying an impressive season.

By
Tom Cunningham

4 days ago

There was a time on Merseyside, not too long ago, when Liverpool supporters would have taken the prospect of Champions League qualification in a heartbeat, without demanding success of a more profound kind.

Now, however, expectations are much higher, with Jurgen Klopp's managerial appointment in 2015 ending an interminable period of instability and kicking off an ascent to the top of domestic and continental competition.

Last season's fifth-placed finish marked an end to a seven-year stay in Europe's elite club tournament, and resulted in sweeping changes made to a deteriorating midfield that had stood as tall and mighty as an impregnable fortress for the majority of Klopp's rule.

The prestigious Premier League outfit is now battling for a spot on the podium once again, and its manager is certain to be targetting the highest spot.

The 56-year-old boss labelled his side 'Liverpool 2.0' after years of illustrious success appeared to have ended with the drastic decline last year, but now there is optimism anew that silverware can be sniffed out in its hordes again.

All this is an illumination of the strides made under Klopp's tutelage, with the Premier League and Champions League trophies among the expansive scale of honours won during this grand period.

It's a far cry from the previous days of misery, with the season preceding Klopp's arrival, the 2014/15 term, among the most miserable of campaigns for the Reds in a very long time, with the £75m sale of Luis Suarez to Barcelona seeming to shut the door on the halcyon days for good.

His replacement, Mario Balotelli, was something of an enigma, but if his cloak of mystery was enticing at first, the overt failure of his acquisition became too clear only too quickly.

Why did Liverpool sign Mario Balotelli?

Losing Suarez felt like an insurmountable blow; who could replace a world-class striker who had just ripped English football to shreds and spearheaded an unlikely title charge, posting an unbelievable 31 goals and 17 assists from 33 matches.

Liverpool needed a solution, and myopic investments and business over the summer had left the club in an unfavourable position in the closing stages, with Loic Remy's transfer from Queens Park Rangers falling through due to health concerns.

The answer came in the form of Balotelli, who completed a £16m transfer from AC Milan in the late days of the 2014 summer transfer window, with his signature preferred to Samuel Eto'o's, who was on standby.

The Italian marksman had previously enjoyed success in the Premier League with Manchester City, scoring 30 goals from 80 appearances across three seasons and providing the assist for Sergio Aguero's historic title-winning goal against QPR.

Moreover, he had 26 goals from 33 Serie A outings since leaving the Etihad Stadium, and despite off-field controversies, at least offered a consistent goal threat, and a menacing presence in the final third… right?

How did Mario Balotelli perform for Liverpool?

To say that Balotelli's time in Liverpool was underwhelming would be quite the understatement, and it is, without a doubt, one of the worst signings of the modern era given the stark decline of the Reds squad after such a tantalising glimpse of something more the term before.

Having branded his time at Anfield "the worst mistake" of his life, the 36-cap international flattered to deceive and then some, only making 16 appearances in the league, with injury and disciplinary issues restricting his impact.

That sole Premier League strike was hardly enough to earn the Italian a reprieve from his dreadful performances, however, with just four goals – and seven bookings – from 28 matches for the club.

It was hardly the impact that the club's support would have hoped for after such devastating attacking feats from the side's erstwhile Uruguayan striker.

How much did Liverpool sell Balotelli for?

It clearly wasn't working out and Balotelli, who was on £85k-per-week during his stay, hardly provided the level of prowess to bolster the frontline after such a remarkable rate of scoring.

In fact, he was among the lowest of Liverpool's squad across the league campaign, outscored by the likes of Alberto Moreno, Rickie Lambert and Lazar Markovic.

Moreno, in particular, was a left-back who had been signed from Sevilla in a £12m transfer that summer, and offered offensive qualities that impressed the Liverpool faithful but was far too frail in his defensive capabilities.

After that one season at the club, Balotelli was loaned back out to Milan but failed to impress for another year, hampered by his poor 12 months under Brendan Rodgers, scoring just three times, before joining French side OGC Nice on a free transfer in 2016 – swiftly discarded by Klopp in his first summer transfer window with Liverpool.

Of course, the following season saw the dismissal of Rodgers and the arrival of one Jurgen Klopp, a move that will forever be etched into the club's lore.

Signing Balotelli was always going to be a high-risk roll of the dice for Liverpool, but his past exploits did underscore the prolificness that the club thought would mollify the bite of Suarez's departure.

Unfortunately, it really did spiral into something of a nightmare scenario for all involved parties, and his presence at the club really is emblematic of the dark days preceding Klopp's arrival.

The sheer brilliance of the German's reign has eradicated all feeling of dread that seeped through Anfield's very walls. The road to prominence is often paved in a chequered past, but Liverpool have now reached their illustrious destination.

Christian Pulisic has been the “best attacking player at AC Milan”, says Yunus Musah, with the USMNT star ranked above Rafael Leao and Olivier Giroud.

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• Pulisic enjoying career-best season at Milan
• Musah dishes out high praise
• Ranks American above Leao and Giroud

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  United States international Pulisic has enjoyed a memorable debut campaign at San Siro. Questions were asked of the impact that he could make in Italy on the back of a 2023 transfer from Chelsea, but any doubters have been turned into believers.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  The 25-year-old forward, who struggled for consistency at Stamford Bridge, has registered a personal-best return of 12 goals this season. He also has seven assists to his name, with only World Cup winner Giroud able to better him in both of those departments.

• WHAT MUSAH SAID ABOUT PULISIC

  Musah, though, believes that his international team-mate has been the standout performer for the Rossoneri in the final third of the field, saying of his fellow countryman, per : “I’m really really happy with the way I see Christian playing at the moment. He’s scoring a lot of goals, affecting the play a lot in our team. I’d say he’s been our best attacking player this season at Milan, so I’m really happy for him. He’s doing so well. I see he’s enjoying it as well and possibly having one of his best seasons. So yeah, I’m really happy to see a fellow American do such a thing.”

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  DID YOU KNOW?

  There may be more to come from Pulisic as he continues to break down a language barrier in Italy, with Musah – who speaks Italian having lived in the country for several years during his childhood – adding on how his USMNT colleague is thriving on and off the field: “Whenever I could help with the language I did, and he’s learning as well. And as as you can see, he’s happy there, he’s enjoying himself, thriving. So I’m happy for him. He’s working really hard on his Italian and he’s managed to learn quite a bit. He really understands the manager now and [his] team-mates.”

Liverpool are reportedly targeting the signing of an incredible talent, and journalist Dean Jones has provided his thoughts on the move coming to fruition.

Liverpool transfer news…

The Reds have been linked with various players of late, as Jurgen Klopp eyes key additions in various positions, whether it be Goncalo Inacio in defence or Nico Gonzalez in attack, to name just a few examples.

Bayern Munich superstar Jamal Musiala to Liverpool is another eye-catching transfer rumour that has emerged, with the Merseysiders reportedly seeing him as a priority target in 2024. The 20-year-old is already one of Europe's most exciting players, not to mention being an undisputed key man for both Bayern and Germany, and he looks set to have an enormous future ahead of him.

This sums up why Liverpool could be so interested in acquiring the attacker's signature, although his current club are clearly going to be desperate to retain his services for as many years as possible.

Musiala to Liverpool latest

Speaking to Give Me Sport, Jones provided his thoughts on Jamal Musiala to Liverpool being completed in the near future, admitting that he can't see it happening at this point and putting the player in the "same bracket as Jude Bellingham".

"Jamal Musiala is being linked to Liverpool, but the verdict I have from Bayern's end of this suggests that story is heading straight towards a brick wall because there is no intention to sell at all right now.

"Have Liverpool watched him? Of course, they would have. But are they going to sign him? I can't see it happening any time soon."

This could be seen as a real blow for Liverpool in their quest to sign Musiala in the coming months, but in truth, it shouldn't come as a great surprise to anyone of a Reds persuasion. Much like Real Madrid sensation Bellingham, whom he is compared to, the Bayern ace may well be seen as a priceless asset by the Bundesliga champions at the moment, and they surely won't entertain any offers.

It may make little sense for them to sell a generational talent at this point in his career, when they could instead keep hold of him and continue to be able to call upon the services of a special young footballer.

Only an absolutely staggering bid would likely have a chance of prising Musiala away from Bayern at this moment in time, and Liverpool aren't one of the clubs who seemingly have a bottomless pit of transfer funds to spend on new players. For now, it may have to be considered nothing more than a pipe dream for the Reds, but they may hope that the situation changes in the future.