Nottingham Forest narrowly avoided relegation back to the Championship this season, with Nuno Espírito Santo’s side needing a win on the final day against Burnley to officially rubberstamp their Premier League status.
The Reds have endured a turbulent campaign, from points deductions to owner Evangelos Marinakis storming the pitch at full-time following Paul Tierney’s mistake against Liverpool – the 2023/24 season has had it all.
However, it has allowed some players to excel and develop, which, unfortunately for Forest, has led to huge interest, with Murillo and Morgan Gibbs-White both linked with big-money moves away from the City Ground.
The money would undoubtedly help their cause in the battle to avoid another PSR punishment but would see the club lose two of their star players ahead of next season which will certainly be another tricky campaign in the Premier League.
One player has certainly gone under the radar in the East Midlands, with his talents and ability certainly dividing the fanbase on more than one occasion.
Ryan Yates’ stats at Nottingham Forest in 2023/24
Despite splashing upwards of £30m on Ibrahim Sangare to bolster the Reds’ midfield, Ryan Yates has cemented his place in the heart of the Forest squad.
The academy graduate has worked his way up from the youth levels, all the way to the first team, even reaching 200 appearances for the club throughout the 2023/24 season.
The 26-year-old has featured in 35 of the Reds’ 38 league outings, producing some brilliant figures – undoubtedly a huge part of the club’s survival.
Ryan-Yates-Nottingham-Forest
He’s not the easiest to watch on the eye, with his lack of quality evident, but he makes up for it with his game management and relentless nature that sees him be a nuisance to the opposition.
In the Premier League this season, he averages three tackles and two clearances per 90 – both ranking within the top 10% of all midfielders in Europe, as per FBref.
Yates' stats at Forest in 2023/24
Statistics
Tally
Games played
35
Tackles (per 90)
3
Clearances (per 90)
2
Blocks (per 90)
1.9
Aerials won (per 90)
1.8
Stats via FBref
Yates has also averaged 1.9 blocks and 1.8 aerials won – with his dogged nature effective within Nuno’s midfield this season.
He also managed to bag himself his first-ever top-flight goal in the 3-1 win over Sheffield United a few weeks ago, with his excellent displays contributing to his rapid increase in value.
Ryan Yates’ market value in 2024
Six years on from his Forest debut, the 26-year-old could never have predicted the impact he would have on the first team, with his performances certainly deserving of more credit.
Ryan Yates
According to Transfermarkt, he’s valued at £10.2m, with the club making a huge profit on him in the future – especially considering he cost them nothing after progressing through the academy.
His subsequent value is higher than that of striker Chris Wood, who – despite costing the club £15m – is now only valued at £5.9m, even after his 14-goal tally in the Premier League during the 2023/24 campaign.
Chris Wood
Whilst Yates still splits opinions among the supporters, one thing is for certain, every squad must wish they have a player as committed as Yates, with his desire to succeed at the club, with former Forest academy boss Gary Brazil dubbing him as "outstanding".
It may not be the prettiest to watch, but every time he plays for the Reds, you know he will put 100% in and will always do whatever it takes to push Forest in the right direction.
Nottingham Forest must bin Golden Boy nominee who's worth less than Boly
He arrived at the City Ground with huge potential but has failed to deliver since the move.
It was a campaign of changes for Tottenham Hotspur this season, as new boss Ange Postecoglou had to cope with the loss of Harry Kane and integrate several signings such as James Maddison, Guglielmo Vicario and Micky van de Ven at the same time.
The Lilywhites might have missed out on Champions League qualification, but given the wider context, it would be fair to say that the majority of the club's acquisitions successfully meshed into and improved the team overall.
However, it wasn't so easy for winter arrival Timo Werner, who, before succumbing to injury, managed a middling return of just two goals and three assists in 14 games.
Spurs forward Timo Werner
This mediocre output and his injury has not dissuaded the Lilywhites from extending his move for another year, but following recent reports, the club could opt to sign an upgrade.
Tottenham Hotspur transfer news
According to a recent report from the Spanish publication Sport (via Sport Witness), Tottenham have maintained their interest in RB Leipzig attacker Dani Olmo ahead of the summer transfer window.
Dani Olmo for RB Leipzig
The story claims that, alongside the Lilywhites, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Arsenal and Manchester United are also keen to land the Spaniard, although according to Sport, the player is content with life in Leipzig and would require 'something exciting' to tempt him into moving.
Moreover, earlier reports from BILD this year (via Sport Witness) claim that the Bundesliga side won't sell the former Dinamo Zagreb ace for less than his €60m release clause, which converts to around £51m.
Dani Olmo playing for Spain
In all, it could be a complicated and rather pricey deal to complete, but with Postecoglou at the helm, there is no reason that a move to N17 and the Premier League couldn't be the exciting transfer Olmo desires.
How Olmo compares to Werner
So, if Daniel Levy and Co decide to let Werner go and replace him with Olmo, would that be a smart move? In short, yes.
There are a couple of reasons why opting for the Spaniard would be the better choice in this situation. The first is quite simple: his output is significantly better.
In his 25 appearances this year, the "incredible" 26-year-old, as Pep Guardiola described him, scored eight goals and provided five assists. This means he averaged a goal involvement every 1.92 games, which is genuinely quite impressive for a wide player.
Olmo vs Werner
Player
Olmo
Werner (Spurs)
Werner all season
Appearances
25
14
28
Goals
8
2
4
Assists
5
3
4
Goal Involvements per Match
0.52
0.35
0.28
All Stats via Transfermarkt
In comparison, in his 14 games for Spurs this season, the former Chelsea striker scored two goals and provided three assists, meaning he averaged a goal involvement every 2.8 games. When you include his appearances and goals from the first half of the campaign, that average falls to 3.5 games.
The second reason is that the "magic" Spaniard, as talent scout Jacek Kulig describes him, comes out just as far ahead of his potential competition when comparing their underlying numbers.
Olmo vs Werner
Stats per 90
Olmo
Werner
Non-Penalty Expected Goals + Assists
0.55
0.69
Non-Penalty Goals
0.37
0.21
Assists
0.26
0.28
Progressive Passes
4.31
3.95
Progressive Carries
3.92
7.73
Shots
3.01
2.79
Goals per Shot
0.12
0.08
Shots on Target
1.00
0.84
Goals per Shot on Target
0.37
0.25
Passing Accuracy
77.6%
74.6%
Shot-Creating Actions
3.98
3.54
Goal-Creating Actions
0.50
0.67
Successful Take-Ons
1.88
1.43
Ball Recoveries
4.81
2.94
Aerial Duels Won
0.61
0.08
All Stats via FBref for the 23/24 Season
For example, he scores more non-penalty goals, produces more progressive passes, takes more shots and shots on target while maintaining a better conversion rate, has a better passing accuracy, produces more shot-creating actions, completes more take-ons and ball recoveries, and even wins more aerial duels, all per 90.
In his defence, the Stuttgart-born forward produces a higher non-penalty expected goal and assists figure, provides more actual assists, and produces more goal-creating action, but that's it.
Ultimately, while Werner hasn't been dreadful in North London, he hasn't been particularly great either, so it would make sense to send him back to Leipzig and sign their far more effective winger in his place, Olmo.
He wants to join: Spurs could land £40m star who earns 10x less than Son
The incredible marksman could help take Postecoglou’s side to the next level.
Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou got a taste of the NFL action as he swapped shirts with Chicago Bears punter and fellow Aussie Tory Taylor.
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Tottenham hosting NFL clash
Jacksonville Jaguars vs Chicago Bears
Postecoglou swaps shirts with Taylor
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WHAT HAPPENED?
Tottenham Hotspur Stadium played host to the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Chicago Bears as American football returned to the capital on Sunday. Before the match, Spurs manager Postecoglou got a chance to have a brief meet up with compatriot Taylor. Going by the footage, the former Celtic boss was thrilled to take up the opportunity.
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While Spurs fans fumed at the club branding their home ground as the 'home of NFL' on Saturday, hosting events such as these is a big money-spinner for the north London outfit. That, and more, helps fund their billion pound stadium and without occasions like these, they may not be as financially sound.
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DID YOU KNOW?
Both 27-year-old Taylor and 59-year-old Postecoglou have links to Melbourne, Australia, as the former was born there and the latter spent almost the entirety of his playing career – and many years as a manager – at South Melbourne FC.
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WHAT NEXT?
After this match, Postecoglou will be focusing on his Tottenham team returning to winning ways – following their 3-2 loss to Brighton last time out – when they host London rivals West Ham next Saturday.
Joshua Zirkzee made a bold move to try and hush his critics as the Manchester United striker liked an Instagram post which mocked him..
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Zirkzee struggling to find form at Man Utd
Dutch striker mocked for his positioning
Won over the internet by liking Instagram post
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WHAT HAPPENED?
Zirkzee made an immediate impact upon his arrival at Old Trafford in August, scoring the winning goal in a 1-0 victory over Fulham on his debut. However, this initial form soon fizzled out and has remained goalless across the following 10 games for United, which has fuelled criticism from fans and pundits alike.
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United’s £36.5 million summer signing from Bologna has failed to live up to expectations on the pitch but his social media game happens to be on point. A popular social media channel recently released a satirical clip that ridiculed Zirkzee’s positioning on the field. In the video, one of the creators impersonated the Dutchman, humorously portraying him as unable to stick to his No. 9 role.
Zirkzee, rather than responding negatively, embraced the light-hearted jab by liking the post. This simple action won over the fans who appreciated his ability to handle criticism with humour.
DID YOU KNOW?
The criticisms targeting Zirkzee’s movement on the pitch might not fully grasp the role he prefers to play. The former Bayern Munich forward has previously spoken about his inclination to drop deeper into midfield to support his team, describing himself as a "9.5" – not a traditional No. 9 or No. 10, but a hybrid role between the two.
In his own words, Zirkzee explained: "I occasionally drop down to midfield. I don't do that for myself but to help the team. I am what I call a false striker. Not a No 9, not a No 10. I am a 9.5! That's my game. Maybe I'm a little different than others. But being different is good, right?"
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WHAT NEXT FOR ZIRKZEE?
Zirkzee will look to rediscover his scoring touch as United prepare for their next Europa League fixture against Fenerbahce, managed by the legendary Jose Mourinho. The Dutch forward will be eager to make an impact and silence his critics on the pitch after playing just 16 minutes during United’s recent 2-1 win over Brentford.
Newcastle United have made contact over the signing of a "wonderful" 22-year-old rising star, according to reliable journalist David Ornstein.
Newcastle transfer news
It is going to be fascinating to watch the Magpies' transfer business play out this summer, with reinforcements needed after a below-par 2023/24 season, certainly compared to the previous campaign.
Barcelona's Ferran Torres is one player who is being eyed up, having previously starred for Manchester City, and he is seen as an alternative to rumoured target Michael Olise. He once scored a hat-trick at St James' Park, so Newcastle supporters know a thing or two about the threat that he poses.
Another attacking target is rumoured to be former Leicester City striker Kelechi Iheanacho, who left the Foxes at the end of this season, having helped them get back into the Premier League. The Nigerian would be available on a free transfer, and could add much-needed depth in the final third.
In goal, it looks as though Burnley youngster James Trafford is on the verge of completing a summer move to Newcastle, with terms reportedly agreed with the Englishman. Nick Pope spent much of 2023/24 out injured, and a long-term replacement for him appears to be a priority.
Newcastle make contact for "wonderful" 22-year-old
Taking to X on Thursday, Ornstein claimed that Newcastle are tussling with Bayern Munich and Chelsea for Olise this summer, now making direct contact with Crystal Palace:
"Newcastle United + Bayern Munich contact Crystal Palace over possibility of signing Michael Olise. NUFC & Bayern expressed interest on Wednesday before Chelsea today. All sought permission to speak with 22yo France youth winger’s camp."
Olise is wanted by various top clubs this summer for a reason, with the Frenchman such an elegant and gifted player – one who backs it up with an impressive flow of end product. The 22-year-old had an injury-plagued season for Crystal Palace, yet he still managed to score 10 goals and register six assists in the league, despite only starting 14 times.
Former Eagles manager Roy Hodgson has waxed lyrical over his abilities: "I have seen him for 10 days less than I have seen the others. What I make of him is that I think he is an enormous talent – he has got a great possibility to have a wonderful career and a wonderful future. We can only hope we at Crystal Palace can give him that platform."
Predominantly a right-sided attacking player who likes to drift inside onto his deadly left foot, Olise could be considered an upgrade on Miguel Almiron, both in terms of potential and productivity, and Newcastle signing him would be like a massive coup, especially with a club the size of Bayern also wanting him.
Olise vs. Almiron in the Premier League in 2023/24
Olise
Almiron
Appearances
19
33
Starts
14
23
Goals
10
3
Assists
6
1
Shots per game
3.0
1.2
Dribbles per game
2.1
0.7
Key passes per game
1.9
0.7
It remains to be seen where he will choose, but it would be a big surprise if he didn't leave Palace before next season, feeling that now is the right time to go up another gear in his career.
With the regular season behind us, all eyes are on Germany as Euro 2024 gets underway.
This year's tournament will see the homes of Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund and Hertha Berlin play host to games this summer.
England will be hoping to mark Gareth Southgate's tenure as England manager with their first major trophy since 1966, while France will be hoping to right their World Cup final defeat from 2022.
Goalscorers are also set to make their mark, and with the third 24-team finals getting underway, we could see a record number of goals in a European Championship tournament.
But who has scored the most goals since the competition began in 1960? Football FanCast has looked at the top 12 all-time goalscorers in Euros history to find out.
For this list, players are ranked by overall goals at the tournament's finals, followed by number of appearances, penalties scored and minutes played where necessary.
All-time European Championship top scorers
#
Player
Nation
Goals
1
Cristiano Ronaldo
Portugal
14
2
Michel Platini
France
9
3
Alan Shearer
England
7
4
Antoine Griezmann
France
7
5
Ruud van Nistelrooy
Netherlands
6
6
Patrick Kluivert
Netherlands
6
7
Alvaro Morata
Spain
6
8
Romelu Lukaku
Belgium
6
9
Wayne Rooney
England
6
10
Thierry Henry
France
6
11
Zlatan Ibrahimovic
Sweden
6
12
Nuno Gomes
Portugal
6
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Football FanCast has put together a guide for all things Euro 2024, with venues, fixtures, tables, stadiums and more all covered here.
By
Stephan Georgiou
Jun 11, 2024
12
Nuno Gomes (Portugal)
6 goals
Nuno Gomes: European Championship record
Appearances
14
Goals
6
Tournaments played
2000, 2004, 2008
Best performance
Semi-finals (Euro 2000)
The former Benfica – and one-time Blackburn Rovers – striker just sneaks his way onto our list at number 12. Of course, he has scored the same number of goals as some other players who feature later on in this list, but Nuno Gomes has had more than his fair share of Euros matches.
He has scored six goals across 14 appearances in all, the majority of which came in Euro 2000 where he returned an impressive four goals across his five matches as Portugal made the semi-finals.
But following his first Euros tournament, Gomes was only able to provide a further two goals across nine further showings.
11
Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Sweden)
6 goals
Zlatan Ibrahimovic: European Championship record
Appearances
13
Goals
6
Tournaments played
2004, 2008, 2012, 2016
Best performance
Quarter-finals (Euro 2004)
From Nuno Gomes to one of the all-time greats in Zlatan Ibrahimovic. The Sweden international will feature in a lot of goalscoring lists following a stunning domestic career.
And despite not playing for one of the international powerhouses, he makes this list. The legendary striker provided a steady return of two goals each at Euro 2004, 2008 and 2012.
However, he did not find the back of the net in Euro 2016 and was unable to feature at Euro 2020 as a result of a knee injury.
Despite his consistent form in front of goal, Ibrahimovic was unable to guide Sweden past the quarter-final stage, which they last reached at Euro 2004, losing on penalties to the Netherlands.
10
Thierry Henry (France)
6 goals
Thierry Henry: European Championship record
Appearances
11
Goals
6
Tournaments played
2000, 2004, 2008
Best performance
Winner (Euro 2000)
From one legend to another, Thierry Henry comes in on this list as the first player to actually get his hands on a winner's medal.
It was Euro 2000 – Henry's first taste of the tournament – where the former Arsenal striker was able to lift the trophy. And he certainly played his role in helping them to triumph.
Henry returned three goals in that tournament, including France's first goal in their 2-1 semi-final win over Nuno Gomes' Portugal.
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France have had some wonderful players over the years – here are the very best goalscorers for Les Bleus…
By
Stephan Georgiou
Mar 16, 2024
9
Romelu Lukaku (Belgium)
6 goals
Romelu Lukaku: European Championship record
Appearances
10
Goals
6
Tournaments played
2016, 2020
Best performance
Quarter-finals (Euro 2016 & Euro 2020)
Romelu Lukaku remains one of the players on this list who may yet improve their standing by the end of the tournament, the forward's Belgium side set to be heavy favourites in a group involving Slovakia, Romania and Ukraine.
Indeed, the forward, now once again seeking an exit from Chelsea at club level, will be leading the line for the Red Devils this summer having netted 14 goals in their seven qualifying games.
No one scored more than the Belgian in qualifying, which could mean he's the man to stop as his side seek a first international honour. However, to do that, he will have to lead Belgium to the semi-finals for the first time in his career – a stage not reached since 1980, when they were beaten in the final by West Germany.
Lukaku has only played in two Euros tournaments and the 2020 edition proved a fruitful one for the 31-year-old, who netted four times – including against the eventual winners, Italy.
Belgium's group stage draw and their form under Domenico Tedesco could give the ex-Everton forward a great opportunity to be in the running for the Golden Boot.
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Everything you need to know about Belgium, Slovakia, Romania and Ukraine ahead of Euro 2024.
By
Stephan Georgiou
Jun 10, 2024
8
Wayne Rooney (England)
6 goals
Wayne Rooney: European Championship record
Appearances
10
Goals
6
Tournaments played
2004, 2012, 2016
Best performance
Quarter-finals (Euro 2004 & Euro 2012)
The first entry for the Three Lions comes in the form of England's former all-time record goalscorer, Wayne Rooney. Although Rooney provided six goals, the furthest he reached was the quarter-finals.
Four of the former Manchester United star's goals came in his first tournament, Euro 2004. This tournament ended in disaster for the Englishman, however, as he was forced off in the quarter-final against Portugal due to a metatarsal injury – who knows how things would have panned out had he stayed fit?
In his final six Euros appearances, Rooney was only able to provide England with two goals – one in each of the 2012 and 2016 editions.
He just pips Lukaku here, having played 753 minutes compared to the Belgian's 845, though he could well be overtaken by the end of this year's tournament.
However, he'll always have his dazzling performance against Croatia in 2004 to look back on…
7
Alvaro Morata (Spain)
6 goals
Alvaro Morata celebrating a goal for Spain.
Alvaro Morata: European Championship record
Appearances
10
Goals
6
Tournaments played
2016, 2020
Best performance
Semi-finals (Euro 2020)
Another player who will have the opportunity to add to his tally is Spain and Atletico Madrid striker Alvaro Morata. He will arrive in Germany following an impressive 2022 World Cup display for Spain where he scored three goals in four appearances.
And his return in his two Euros tournaments have also been fairly impressive, with three goals netted at Euro 2016 and Euro 2020.
On top of all of this, Morata has shown some impressive form thus far in La Liga under Diego Simeone, which will surely have him as Spain's go-to striker ahead of the summer. He is La Roja's captain, after all.
He places ahead of Lukaku and Rooney, with none of his goals being penalties.
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Everything you need to know about Spain, Croatia, Italy and Albania
ahead of Euro 2024.
By
Charlie Smith
Jun 9, 2024
6
Patrick Kluivert (Netherlands)
6 goals
Patrick Kluivert: European Championship record
Appearances
9
Goals
6
Tournaments played
1996, 2000
Best performance
Semi-finals (Euro 2000)
Patrick Kluivert first featured at Euro 96, where the Dutchman was able to get his name on the scoresheet in his side's group stage game against England.
However, it was the 2000 tournament where Kluivert came into his own and provided the Netherlands with five goals; three of those came in the quarter-finals against Yugoslavia. He finished as the tournament's joint-top scorer alongside Savo Milosevic.
Kluivert went to Euro 2004, but he did not play a single minute and was forced to watch from the bench.
5
Ruud van Nistelrooy (Netherlands)
6 goals
Ruud van Nistelrooy: European Championship record
Appearances
8
Goals
6
Tournaments played
2004, 2008
Best performance
Semi-finals (Euro 2004)
It is back-to-back entries for the Netherlands, with former Manchester United striker Ruud van Nistelrooy coming in fifth spot. Across his club career, Van Nistelrooy was able to net a staggering 331 goals across all competitions.
And he was equally impressive for his country, for whom he returned six goals in the Euros despite playing just 741 minutes of football.
Euro 2004 was the Dutchman's first real taste of the European tournament and he wasted no time in finding the back of the net as he provided four goals in his opening three games.
Although he never got further than the semi-finals, Van Nistelrooy went out in style with a goal against Russia in 2008 (at around 12:00 in this highlight video). Unfortunately, it wasn't enough to see the Oranje progress, despite seeing off France and Italy in the groups.
4
Antoine Griezmann (France)
7 goals
Antoine Griezmann: European Championship record
Appearances
11
Goals
7
Tournaments played
2016, 2020
Best performance
Runner-up (Euro 2016)
Despite lifting the World Cup, Antoine Griezmann has not been able to get his hands on the Henri Delaunay trophy. He will have the opportunity to add that to his list in the summer, though.
In 2016, the Atletico Madrid forward ended the competition as the top scorer having netted a stunning six goals in France's journey to the final – which ended in heartache against Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal at the Stade de France.
Perhaps the standout goals at that tournament for Griezmann came when he bagged a brace in the semi-final against Germany; the only two goals of the game.
Euro 2020 was not quite as impressive, however. Griezmann was only able to score once and will surely be looking to put this right in the summer when he plays in Germany.
Every Player of the Tournament at the European Championship
Since its inception in 1996, UEFA has handed out an award for the best player at the European Championship. But who has been given the accolade?
By
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Jul 16, 2024
3
Alan Shearer (England)
7 goals
Alan Shearer: European Championship record
Appearances
9
Goals
7
Tournaments played
1992, 1996, 2000
Best performance
Semi-finals (Euro 1996)
England's wait for another trophy goes on, but it hasn't been through the want of trying over the years, with the likes of Alan Shearer providing an impressive return at the European Championship.
The Premier League legend retired with a solid return of seven goals in nine appearances, with the 1996 tournament in his home country proving to be his best.
Indeed, the former Newcastle United striker was able to provide England with five goals that summer and ended the tournament as the top scorer. It is difficult to pick a favourite from his entire career, but his finish against the Netherlands during the group stage is surely one of his best for England on one of Wembley's greatest days.
England: Every European Championship campaign
Football FanCast has taken a look back at England’s past Euro campaigns.
Mohamed Salah closing in on Wayne Rooney's Premier League record after yet another mesmerising performance in Liverpool's win over Chelsea.
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Salah close to equalling Rooney's record
Contributed with goal and assist in win over Chelsea
Liverpool edged out the Blues 2-1
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WHAT HAPPENED?
Salah opened the scoring for Liverpool by converting a penalty before providing the assist for Curtis Jones' winning goal in the 51st minute as the Reds edged out Chelsea 2-1 to retain their place at the top of the league table. This was the 34th time in the Premier League that the Egyptian managed to contribute with a goal and an assist and is now two games short of equalling Wayne Rooney's record.
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THE BIGGER PICTURE
The Merseyside club have enjoyed a strong start to the campaign under new manager Arne Slot, winning seven and losing one of their eight Premier League games thus far, leaving them one point clear of reigning champions Manchester City at the summit. For the first time in the 2024-25 campaign, the club faced a 'big six' club and they passed the test with flying colours.
DID YOU KNOW?
Liverpool were awarded two penalties in the match out of which one was overturned by VAR as Jones was found guilty of simulation. Jadon Sancho, on the other hand, was denied a spot-kick after being tackled by Trent-Alexander Arnold inside the box.
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WHAT NEXT FOR LIVERPOOL?
The Premier League giants will be back in action this midweek as they take on RB Leipzig away from home in a Champions League clash.
Glasgow Rangers have already allowed a number of first-team players to move on from Ibrox after their contracts expired at the end of last month.
Jon McLaughlin, John Lundstram, Kemar Roofe, Ryan Jack, and Borna Barisic all moved on from the club and became free agents ahead of the summer transfer window, which officially opened for business last week.
The Gers may also look to move players on by cashing in on them for fees before the window slams shut at the end of August and attacking midfielder Tom Lawrence could be one on the chopping block.
Tom Lawrence
Football Insider recently reported that the Scottish giants will demand a fee of £5m for the Welshman, who they signed from Derby County on a free transfer in 2022.
Philippe Clement could brutally ditch the number ten from the squad this summer by swooping to sign reported transfer target Callum O'Hare as his replacement.
Rangers' interest in Championship magician
Earlier this year, pundit Carlton Palmer mentioned that Rangers and Celtic were both touted as suitors to bring the English whiz up to Scotland ahead of the 2024/25 campaign.
His contract with Coventry City is due to expire at the end of the month and this means that the Old Firm sides could swoop in to land him on a bargain free transfer.
However, TEAMtalk recently revealed that Burnley, Southampton, and Leeds United are also eyeing up moves to land the 26-year-old playmaker this summer.
Callum O'Hare
That report also added that the former Aston Villa academy star has also rejected a new contract with Mark Robins' side, which takes them out of the equation to keep hold of him.
If Rangers can win the race to sign the attacking midfielder on a free transfer from the Sky Blues, Clement could then be safe to ditch Lawrence from the squad.
Why Callum O'Hare would be an upgrade on Tom Lawrence
The Belgian boss could cash in on the Wales international knowing that a player with the potential to be an upgrade on him would be coming in.
Their respective form on the pitch as creative midfielders last season suggests that the 5 foot 9 Englishman could offer more at the top end of the pitch.
O'Hare, who was once lauded as a "magnificent" player by journalist Josh Bunting, racked up ten goals and four assists in 36 appearances in all competitions, whereas Lawrence only managed three goals and three assists in 32 outings for Rangers.
23/24 season
Tom Lawrence (Premiership)
Callum O'Hare (Championship)
Appearances
23
31
Starts
12
18
Goals
2
6
Assists
3
3
Big chances created
4
4
Key passes per game
1.1
1.2
Stats via Sofascore
These statistics show that the Coventry magician, who supplied 16 Championship assists between the 2020/21 and 2021/22 seasons, has the quality to make a bigger impact in the final third.
They are both attacking midfielders but the Leeds and Southampton target is directly involved in more goals and creates more chances (key passes) per game on average at league level.
At the age of 26, he is also four years younger than Lawrence and has more long-term potential as a key player for Clement, as he has more time ahead of him to be at the peak of his powers.
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Therefore, the Gers boss could jettison the ex-Derby star from the squad by bringing in O'Hare as an upgrade on him ahead of next season.
Manchester United pushed hard to sign Frenkie de Jong in 2022 and made a video montage to convince him of a move, but the Barcelona star never saw it.
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De Jong top target during Erik ten Hag's first summer
United made montage of De Jong next to club legends
Barca midfielder was unconvinced by approach and never saw video
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WHAT HAPPENED?
Erik ten Hag's sacking from Manchester United this week has uncovered details of his two-year tenure at the club, including the efforts made to sign De Jong upon his arrival in 2022. De Jong was Ten Hag's top target in midfield and United spent the majority of the summer trying to convince the Barcelona star of a move, even going as far as having a video montage of the Dutch international mocked up next to some of their club legends in an attempt to persuade him to join, but the player never saw it, according to .
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THE BIGGER PICTURE
With United not playing in the Champions League during Ten Hag's first season and Barcelona still owing him deferred wages from his contract, De Jong was reluctant to move to Old Trafford and a switch never materialised. United ended up splashing the cash on Casemiro instead but the Brazilian failed to provide the creative spark in midfield that Ten Hag was hoping to gain from De Jong's signing.
DID YOU KNOW?
Despite De Jong failing to watch United's video and be convinced of a transfer, the Premier League giants have continued to target the Barcelona midfielder since their initial approach and could try their luck again in January, with the Dutchman continuing to hold out over a contract renewal with the Catalans.
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WHAT NEXT FOR MAN UTD AND DE JONG?
Although Man Utd still hold an interest in De Jong, the player was largely a Ten Hag target and the Dutch coach's sacking this week could end speculation over a renewed approach. United are in talks to appoint Ruben Amorim as Ten Hag's successor, although a formal announcement of the Sporting CP coach's future may be delayed for a number of weeks. De Jong, meanwhile, is continuing to focus on his fitness after returning from a long-term injury this month.
Glasgow Rangers have already decided to make changes to their playing squad at Ibrox after they failed to win the Scottish Premiership title last season.
Philippe Clement's options in the middle of the park have already been altered after John Lundstram and Ryan Jack were allowed to depart Rangers on free transfers upon the expiry of their respective contracts at the end of May.
Scottish whiz Connor Barron has also been snapped up and the Ibrox giants have been linked with a swoop to sign midfielder Kenny McLean.
Rangers have also signed Mohammed Diomande from Danish side Nordsjaelland on a permanent deal after his loan spell at the club last term, but the Gers already have a midfielder whose value has soared beyond what the Ivorian's market value currently is.
How much Rangers paid for Nicolas Raskin
Former Light Blues manager Michael Beale struck gold when he swooped to sign central midfielder Nicolas Raskin from Standard Liege at the start of last year.
The Ibrox giants reportedly splashed out a fee of €1.5m and €500k in add-ons to sign the Belgian starlet, which takes the total cost of the deal to around €2m (£1.7m).
He joined the club midway through the 2022/23 campaign and showcased his calmness on the ball and tenacity out of possession in his first few months in Scotland.
22/23 Premiership
Nicolas Raskin
Appearances
12
Goals
0
Assists
1
Pass accuracy
88%
Tackles + interceptions per game
2.3
Duel success rate
52%
Stats via Sofascore
As you can see in the table above, Raskin was generally reliable at passing to his teammates in the middle of the park and won the majority of his defensive battles.
Rangers hit the jackpot with Nicolas Raskin
At the time of writing (04/07/2024), the 23-year-old star is valued by Transfermarkt at a whopping €6.5m (£5.5m) and that is a €4.5m increase on the €2m package that they agreed with Standard Liege 18 months ago.
Rangers midfielder Nicolas Raskin
This means that Raskin's value has skyrocketed up by 225% in less than two years with the Premiership side, and he is currently valued at more than recent permanent signing Diomande – whose value stands at €4m (£3.3m).
Only Todd Cantwell – at €8.5m (£7.2m) – is valued higher than the former Belgium U21 international within the Rangers squad, and this further speaks to how much of an asset the right-footed metronome is for the club.
23/24 Premiership
Nicolas Raskin
Mohammed Diomande
Appearances
18
13
Goals
1
2
Assists
1
0
Tackles + interceptions per game
2.7
2.3
Ball recoveries per game
5.3
4.8
Ground duel success rate
52%
53%
Aerial duel success rate
59%
40%
Stats via Sofascore
As you can see in the table above, Raskin appeared to offer more than Diomande with his work out of possession for the Gers in the Premiership last term.
They won a similar percentage of their ground duels but the Belgian battler was far more effective at winning aerial contests and stopping opposition attacks through tackles, interceptions, and recoveries.
Rangers already have "dream" Lawrence replacement in forgotten star
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Jul 2, 2024
In conclusion, fans can get excited about the likes of Barron and Diomande, as well as the possible signing of McLean, but it is worth remembering that the Light Blues already have a fantastically talented midfielder in Raskin who the club hit the jackpot with last year.