Aston Villa have been linked with an exciting attacker from abroad in recent months, and Unai Emery is apparently desperate to sign him, according to a new update.
Aston Villa transfers
The Villans have gone from strength to strength in 2023, with Emery excelling as manager since taking charge in place of Steven Gerrard.
The Spaniard guided his side to a European finish last season by virtue of coming seventh in the Premier League, and while a few poor results led to a worrying start, they are right in the mix for the European places again after some incredible recent form.
Much of this has been down to the impact of some new signings, with the likes of Pau Torres and Moussa Diaby both making an impression since arriving at Villa Park during the summer transfer window. They were added to a squad already brimming with talent, and Emery's side look like one of the best outfits outside the traditional big six currently, thanks largely to excellent recruitment in recent years.
That's not to say that Villa won't be keeping an eye out for more signings in January and next summer, however, in order to retain a freshness within the squad, not to mention adding more top-quality players. It looks as though one target could be available despite signing a new contract too, according to a recent update.
Spain forward Nico Williams.
Nico Williams to Aston Villa update
According to a fresh transfer update courtesy of Sport Witness, Nico Williams to Aston Villa could still happen, with the 21-year-old target demanding an exit clause in any new contract he signs with Athletic Bilbao so he can leave when he wants. Not only that, but he wants any extension to be a short-term one, suggesting that he sees his future lying elsewhere eventually.
The young Spaniard currently has a €50m (£43.6m) clause in his current contract, but he doesn't want that to rise to a much higher amount, and Bilbao could accept his demands because of the risk of losing him for free in January.
As for Villa, they have already spoken to Williams over a move to the club, with Emery personally extremely keen on signing him, even holding a face-to-face meeting with him in the past. They have attempted to snap him up twice and are now willing to try for a third time, such is Emery's fascination with his talents.
Extreme pace
Crossing can be inconsistent
Strong dribbling
Needs to do more defensively
Can play on either wing
Unpredictable end product
This could be such an eye-catching piece of business if the Villans could strike a deal for the Bilbao ace, with Williams' stats speaking for themselves already. He has 23 goal involvements (12 goals and 11 assists) in 91 appearances for the La Liga side, which is a good return for a player of his age, and he has been lauded as an "incredible" footballer by brother Inaki Williams in the past.
Williams would add more firepower to Villa's attack in wide areas, bringing pace and unpredictability in those areas, and perhaps most importantly, he would be coming in as a player with a high long-term ceiling who could develop into a real star under Emery as the years pass.
Everton, under David Moyes, were often a very hard team to beat – built around being resilient and tough to play against, resulting in the Scotsman often punching above his weight with the Toffees.Moyes' men would finish in a commendable fifth spot two seasons on the trot under his tenure, knocking routinely on the door of European football.This didn't instantly evaporate from Everton's game when Moyes upped and left for Manchester United in the wake of Alex Ferguson's retirement, with a figure in Gareth Barry purchased who would become a feared midfielder to come against if you were playing the Toffees.
As new boss Roberto Martinez secured an impressive fifth-place finish in the Premier League rankings in his debut season in charge back in the 2013/14 campaign, Barry was seemingly the "brain" in the team, having been dubbed the club's "most important piece of business" at the time – as per Martinez's assistant, Graeme Jones.The Merseysiders will hope they can land a player in the Barry mould this upcoming January transfer window, with Kalvin Phillips on the fringes at Manchester City and eyeing up a move away from the Etihad to Goodison Park.
Are Everton interested in signing Kalvin Phillips?
With iNews recently reporting that Everton and Newcastle United are battling for Phillips' signature, Pep Guardiola has also confirmed that Phillips could well be heading out the door soon from the current Premier League champions.The Spaniard commented on the situation in a press conference, stating that "nobody knows" what could happen regarding the former Leeds man when the transfer window swings back open in January.
Gareth Southgate also said it wasn't an "ideal situation" regarding Phillips, with the England manager constantly having to defend selecting the midfielder for the England team despite continually being left out of Guardiola's first-team plans at City.Everton would have to cough up considerable amounts of cash to secure the 27-year-old not only in terms of transfer fee but also in his weekly wage, with the 5 foot 10 midfielder on £150k-per-week at the moment.
How good is Kalvin Phillips?
Referred to as a "monster" by ex Crystal Palace winger Yannick Bolasie after Phillips starred in England's opening Euros 2020 contest – Gareth Southgate's collective overcoming Croatia 1-0 at Wembley – Phillips is now a shadow of the robust, confident central midfielder he once was.Phillips' best days at club level most certainly came at Leeds United, the West Yorkshire-born footballer coming through at his hometown club and cementing himself as a key first-teamer, especially under Marcelo Bielsa.
Manchester City midfielder Kalvin Phillips.
He would go on to amass 234 appearances in total for the Whites, a proud achievement for Phillips who was adored by the Elland Road faithful throughout his time there.It would even lead to Leeds fans affectionately nicknaming him the "Yorkshire Pirlo" for his crucial presence in the middle of the park, composed and cool on the ball but Phillips never shied away from rolling his sleeves up and putting a shift in if required.He draws similarities to Barry – who also made the move from the Etihad to Goodison – in the fact he has transitioned into playing more as a holding player as time has gone on, a position he would perfect under Bielsa who tactically played the local lad in a more defensive role, having been dubbed the "best modern midfielder" by ex-Three Lions boss, Fabio Capello.Moreover, he is an aggressive unit as has been seen for club and country – a recent 31-minute cameo against North Macedonia for England saw him attempt four ground duels, winning two in favour of Southgate's team, as per Sofascore.Everton are blessed with central midfield options – Abdoulaye Doucoure the pick of the bunch with three league goals this season – but Phillips could provide the Toffees with another excellent option centrally.With Idrissa Gueye ageing also, fresh blood in the form of Phillips would keep the Toffees group on their toes and could take them to the next level.As for the player himself, he could follow in the footsteps of that man Barry who won a handful of trophies at City before arriving on Merseyside to cement himself as "one of the best English players ever", in the words of Martinez.Perhaps a similar trajectory lies in store for fellow midfield maestro, Phillips.
Fulham are now willing to pay one club's release clause to sign one of manager Marco Silva's "unbelievable" transfer targets, according to reports.
Fulham rumours heading into January
Over the last month, there have been rumours of some names that could come in and bolster Silva's ranks at Craven Cottage. The gossip mill continues to spin as we head towards the January window, and recent claims suggest that the Whites are keen on signing a striker, centre-back and midfield player.
Most worryingly, only Burnley have scored less goals than Fulham so far this season, with the likes of Carlos Vinicius and Raul Jimenez bagging just one between them over their Premier League appearances.
A new forward could be seen as a major priority for the winter, with both Gent striker Gift Orban and in-form Stuttgart star Serhou Guirassy linked with moves to west London. Meanwhile, defender Tosin Adarabioyo is attracting interest from the likes of Tottenham again, prompting Fulham to reportedly look at Sebastien Cacares as an alternative from Club America.
In central midfield, Southampton star Carlos Alcaraz is a player who allegedly has admirers at Fulham, while Fluminese star Andre is name that refuses to go away.
Fulham willing to pay Andre price
According to journalist Emmanuel Luiz, speaking to The Redmen TV YouTube channel this week, Fulham are "ready" to pay Andre's release clause of £40 million. There may be a caveat, as the Brazilian reporter claims Andre himself is far more interested in joining Liverpool, but it is believed that the "unbelievable" 22-year-old (Nathan Joyes) will play for any club that makes the best offer to Fluminese.
Fluminense midfielder Andre.
"So I’m going to be loud and clear for you guys. We already talked about £40m being the release clause," said Luiz on Andre's future.
“Fulham and Liverpool were in the race, Andre really wanted Liverpool in the middle of the year, it remains really clear, Andre wants Liverpool, but the most important thing right now, Andre wants Liverpool, but Fulham, and I confirmed this, I spoke to some guys at the club and they said that Andre will play for the club that makes the best offer to Fluminense.
“He wants Liverpool, and Liverpool wants to pay like £30m, but what Fulham did, they said to Fluminense, he has a £40m release clause, what we want to do as Fulham is to pay the release clause and have some sort of add-on clause."
Andre praised
The South American starlet has been starring for his club in the Brazilian Serie A over these last 12 months, and if Fulham want to sign a new midfielder, they could do far worse than Andre.
Passing
Dribbling
Through balls
As per journalist Fernando Campos, writing on X, the player is standing out as the "best midfielder" in his country right now.
"Pressure and playing with the confidence of someone who knows they are different. Get out of the way and make the team work. André Trindade is the best midfielder in the country and is a monster of a player."
Chelsea experienced a rocky 2022-23 Premier League campaign to say the least, the decision to appoint ex Brighton manager Graham Potter inspired at the time but ultimately fell flat whilst the caretaker regime of Frank Lampard that followed didn't see results on the pitch get any better either.
The Blues finished in a lowly 12th position after the 38 games was up and it was a disastrous outcome at Stamford Bridge as they avoided every European competition.
Mauricio Pochettino's appointment after these two failed managerial stints was the decision undertaken by the Chelsea hierarchy to hopefully fast-track the faltering giants back to success, back to competing with Manchester City, Arsenal and Liverpool at the top of the division instead of settling for mid-table averageness.
Yet, there is an unwelcome feeling of deja vu present at Chelsea currently with Poch's underperformers currently 11th in the early season standings.
Big-money arrivals to Chelsea in the form of Moises Caicedo, Nicolas Jackson and countless others have done little to improve the performances, with Jackson costing £32m and only scoring twice since joining in the league to the growing discontent of his new expectant fanbase.
In general, the West London outfit have been wasteful up top this campaign with only 13 goals scored as a collective in the league.
Chelsea wasteful in attack
Chelsea's goalscoring numbers showcase how far off the two-time Champions League winners are off teams occupying the top spots in the Premier League, even Aston Villa and Newcastle United in 5th and 6th spots in the division have double Chelsea's unsatisfactory 13 with 26 each.
The top scorer for Chelsea so far this campaign is Raheem Sterling, the experienced winger netting four times in all competitions for the Blues so far.
The London-based outfit could, however, look to their youth set-up to find the solution to their attacking woes. Omari Hutchinson is currently starring in attack for Ipswich Town in the Championship on loan and looks to be an exciting prospect.
At just 20 years of age, he could be a future top talent at Stamford Bridge.
Hutchinson's numbers this season
Praised by Graham Potter when he was in the Stamford Bridge dug-out for being a "dangerous" attacking presence, the exciting winger is proving to be a thorn in the side of many second tier defences away from Chelsea.
With four goal contributions for the Tractor Boys from 16 appearances – outperforming both Mykhaylo Mudryk and Jackson in West London as a result – the two-time Jamaica international is maturing under Kieran McKenna with the Ipswich boss utilising him effectively.
His two goals and two assists stand out more than Mudryk's two goals and zero assists and Jackson's three goals and zero assists in all competitions this term.
Chelsea midfielder Omari Hutchinson.
Not necessarily starting week-in-week out for McKenna's promotion chasers, Hutchinson has seized his brief opportunities off the bench with aplomb – both of his two assists for his new employers coming when the youngster has been substituted on, assisting a matter of minutes after being introduced in Ipswich's match versus Cardiff City to help his side win 3-2 with Freddie Ladapo prodding home Hutchinson's cut-back.
He has one solitary league goal of his own in Ipswich colours too, a match-winner away at Southampton. The youngster bravely slid in on a lackadaisical Southampton defender with a Tractor Boys teammate claiming the ball after, before being found in space to slot home in off the post – his first ever senior goal, a crucial winner at St Mary's.
Chelsea will be delighted that Hutchinson is coming on leaps and bounds in Suffolk, with the future looking very bright for the Jamaican forward if the Blues remain patient and slowly work him into senior side.
Chelsea once again splashed the cash during the summer transfer window, before enjoying mixed results under Mauricio Pochettino. Whilst the Blues have shown signs of potential, it remains to be seen whether or not they can perform on a consistent basis, having beaten Tottenham Hotspur and taken a point against Manchester City and Arsenal, only to lose against Nottingham Forest and Brentford in the Premier League this season.
Throughout the campaign, even after adding a number of players in a major overhaul, one problem has remained at Stamford Bridge – and that's their ability to find a reliable source of goals, although they have netted eight in their last two league games, but the club could return to the market to sign one specific Premier League forward in the future.
Chelsea transfer news
When it comes to transfers, the main focus at Chelsea has clearly been on recruiting for the future, even if Pochettino's side struggle to maintain results in the future. The thinking of Todd Boehly may well be that it is simply worth making sacrifices in order to become one of Europe's best sides once again in a few years. It's a risky tactic, but one that could yet pay off in the best way possible. The American owner is likely to return to the market too, and this could see Chelsea welcome another young talent.
Journalist Pete O'Rouke recently hinted that the Blues have set their sights on a move for Brighton’s Evan Ferguson and Fabrizio Romano has now now claimed that Chelsea are following the forward ahead of a possible move. Romano said in his latest Caught Offside daily briefing:
“We keep seeing Brighton’s Evan Ferguson linked with the likes of Chelsea and Manchester United. I can confirm that big clubs like these are following Ferguson, because he’s a top talent, but it’s just normal scouting and monitoring – it would be surprising if they weren’t keeping an eye on an exciting young player like him!
“There is, however, nothing more concrete to report for the moment. Ferguson only recently signed a new contract with Brighton, so he’s fully focused on them. I’m told he’s really happy at Brighton and sees it as the best place for him to develop now, as we’ve seen with so many other top young players there in recent times.
“I’m sure we’re going to keep seeing links everywhere, but nothing is going to be decided now.”
"Top talent" Ferguson could break Chelsea's striker curse
It's no secret that Chelsea have had their fair share of struggles when it comes to strikers over the years. Outside of Didier Drogba and Diego Costa, it's increasingly difficult to pinpoint a player who consistently led the line in clinical fashion at Stamford Bridge, as the curse of the number nine shirt struck down several managers. Ferguson could be the man to finally end that curse, however.
Brighton and Hove Albion striker Evan Ferguson.
At just 19-years-old, the Brighton man is already impressing in the Premier League and has found the back of the net five times in 11 appearances this season. It feels as though a big move is inevitable for the Irishman, who looks better with every game he plays under Robert de Zerbi at Brighton, and that could be to Stamford Bridge.
The Liverpool fanbase is generally convinced by Jurgen Klopp's summer transfer business, with the heavy surgery on the midfield recharging the engine and enabling a fight for the Premier League title.
It's early days (and a daunting clash against Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium looms), but second-placed Liverpool will hope to maintain a position around the forefront of the pack, with Dominik Szoboszlai, Alexis Mac Allister and co instrumental in this endeavour.
More work is needed, however, and Klopp appears to be interested in returning for a former summer target to continue the rebuild…
Liverpool transfer news – Khephren Thuram
According to Corriere dello Sport, Inter Milan and Juventus are both eager to bring Khephren Thuram to the Serie A in January, but Liverpool's past interest keeps them in contention.
Khephren Thuram
OGC Nice are expected to demand around €40m (£35m) for the dynamic midfielder, and given the finances, this could force the Italian sides to act quickly as his value threatens to skyrocket, given the concerns over the cost already.
It's stated that should Liverpool decide to lodge a formal offer, things could get quite sticky for such outfits in matching the wealth of the English giant.
Khephren Thuram's style of play
Liverpool's interest in Thuram, aged 23, was well-documented before the summer transfer market opened its shutter, but other options were instead targetted and the Frenchman remained in his homeland.
An elegant dribbler and progressive presence in the centre of the park, Thuram has the cheek to weave through the central third and drive the play into opportune phases with regularity, with writer Sam McGuire claiming that he could become a "monster" at Liverpool.
While the modern game has been shaped by intricate passing patterns, focusing on pinballing the ball up the field with juxtaposing precision, Thuram holds a certain defiance to modern conventions and instead focuses on carrying the ball into the danger area himself.
As per FBref, the imposing 6 foot 3 star ranks among the top 2% of midfielders across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for progressive carries, the top 5% for successful take-ons and the top 12% for shot-creating actions per 90.
The stats-led site highlights his comparability to Mac Allister, dynamic and technically proficient, and it's clear why the Reds have had a vested interest in his name this year, also capable of playing in the deep-lying midfield role.
Okay, so it's clear that Liverpool's intrigue is warranted; Thuram is an exciting midfielder with skills fit for Klopp's system – but then, isn't that why Mac Allister was signed from Brighton & Hove Albion for £35m in the summer?
Why Liverpool shouldn't sign Khephren Thuram
The past section has dug into Thuram's strengths, sure, but if reports of the Reds' rekindled interest in the one-cap France international are on the mark, then this would be a detrimental mistake.
Thuram is a talented midfielder and he has many qualities that would be welcomed at Anfield, but he's just not what Liverpool need to continue their revival.
Nice midfielderKhephren Thuram.
Mac Allister and Ryan Gravenberch are both multi-functional – the Argentine has been serving as Liverpool's 'defensive' midfielder this season in the absence of an established No. 6.
If the focus is to be on bolstering the centre of midfield instead of the backline in January, then it's imperative that a specialist anchor is targetted, and Thuram is not that, preferring to assume the roaming role.
wataru-endo-ryan-gravenberch-liverpool-opinion
Gravenberch in particular could be impeded by such a signing, having made such an impressive start to life on Merseyside after joining from Bayern Munich in August.
The Dutchman, aged 21, has posted two goals and assists apiece from just seven starts for Klopp's side, and ranks among the top 2%of midfielders for shot-creating actions, the top 15% for progressive carries, the top 7% for progressive passes and the top 3% for successful take-ons per 90.
He's strikingly similar to Thuram, who would only disrupt the harmony by overloading that area of the midfield; Liverpool need to invest their resources elsewhere.
Tottenham Hotspur are "in the front row" to sign one player in January, and chairman Daniel Levy's reliable contact could help them secure a deal.
Spurs transfer plans for 2024
With the assistance of new sporting director Johan Lange, who began his tenure at Spurs early last month, Levy and co are reportedly keen to back manager Ange Postecoglou with fresh faces next month.
As reported by Sky this week, Tottenham are still very keen on bringing in a new centre-back with Micky van de Ven's injury and Cristian Romero's recent suspension exposing their real lack of options.
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Spurs have identified Jarrad Branthwaite as a top target in that regard, according to reports this week, but the Everton starlet isn't alone. Postecoglou's side are also very keen on Crystal Palace star Marc Guehi and Nice's Jean-Clair Todibo, though all three defenders may be difficult to prise away mid-season (Sky).
Meanwhile, there are some suggestions that Tottenham haven't abandoned plans to bring in a new striker and replace Harry Kane. The north Londoners are reportedly ready to make a 2024 bid for Juventus star Dusan Vlahovic in this regard.
You could argue there are more pressing needs right now, though, like signing a new defender and bringing in more wide options. Indeed, Tottenham are apparently keen to sign a winger, leading to recent Spurs interest in Jota from Al-Ittihad and Juventus sensation Samuel Iling-Junior.
Juventus forwardSamuel Iling-Junior.
The latter player has struggled for consistent opportunities under Massimiliano Allegri in Turin this season, leading to speculation over his future.
Iling-Junior is a widely reported target for Spurs, with Italian newspaper Tuttosport sharing an update on their pursuit.
Spurs "in the front row" for Iling-Junior
According to their information, Tottenham are "in the front row" to sign Iling-Junior in January, as they enter pole position ahead of Brentford, Fulham and Marseille.
While the Bees and Marco Silva's side have already started exploring a deal for the Englishman, Tuttosport explains that Spurs could have a real advantage thanks to Levy's close ties with a reliable contact.
Juventus forwardSamuel Iling-Junior.
Levy's "go-to" agent, Frank Timboli, boasts an excellent relationship with Tottenham's chief, as the pair have worked on numerous transfers over the years. He leads CAA Base, who currently represent Illing-Junior, and it is believed this factor could help Spurs to win the race for his signature.
Called an "exciting" player by reporter Dean Jones, TNT Sports journalist Michele Neri has also likened him somewhat to AC Milan star Rafael Leao.
AC Milan forwardRafael Leao.
“Iling-Junior is a very quick player, who loves to take on opposing full-backs and attack the vertical spaces, in a very direct way,” Neri explained to TNT Sports.
“He is a left winger who can also play as a right winger if needed. He has a great sense for dribbling and a speed from a standing start that other Juventus players do not have.
“In these qualities you can absolutely see shades of Rafael Leao when the AC Milan superstar was a bit younger."
After winning the treble last season, it was always going to be difficult for Manchester City to maintain their incredible standards, with the current campaign so far proving that. As things stand, Pep Guardiola's side sit fourth in the Premier League and four points adrift of leaders Liverpool, having recently endured a run of four league games without a victory. The Blues did at least put things right against Luton Town, but their seemingly new vulnerability is something that they must solve in the transfer window or on the training pitch.
Even after their recent run, it would be far from wise to rule Manchester City out of the title race or even out of winning the ultimate silverware in comfortable style. As the January transfer window opens too, those at The Etihad could solve a specific problem to get them back on track.
Man City transfer news
Despite welcoming four new arrivals in the summer, City have still felt the full force of departures such as Ilkay Gundogan's and Aymeric Laporte's. Jeremy Doku has at least provided another element to City's attack, but Mateo Kovacic, Matheus Nunes and Josko Gvardiol – who has been asked to play out of position at fullback – have struggled at times. Guardiola could get the best out of Gvardiol with one particular signing, however.
Girona defenderMiguel Gutierrez.
According to Sport, Manchester City are eyeing a move to sign Girona left-back Miguel Gutierrez, who would cost them just €35m (£30m) due to the fact that the La Liga side are also owned by City Football Group, making his release clause valid for the Manchester club. Their ownership should hand City a major advantage over Premier League rivals in pursuit of the left-back. According to Fabrizio Romano, Arsenal sent scouts to watch Gutierrez, but could now face a battle for his signature.
"Brilliant" Gutierrez can finally solve Guardiola's biggest problem
Since the exit of Joao Cancelo, Manchester City have struggled to find an out-and-out left-back, with Guardiola opting for a range of central defenders to take up the role. The former Bayern Munich boss has played the likes of Nathan Ake, Manuel Akanji and, more recently, Gvardiol at left-back – all of whom have struggled to replicate Cancelo's offensive work. Gutierrez could finally fulfil that task, however.
Sitting top of La Liga in sensational fashion with Girona, the 22-year-old could help steer City's backline back on course for a historic fourth consecutive Premier League title. Described as similar to Milan star Theo Hernandez by FBref due to their driving runs from deep and creative influence, here's how Gutierrez's stats compare to Cancelo's during his final full season at City, as well as Gvardiol in the current campaign.
Player
Progressive carries per 90
Progressive passes per 90
Expected assists per 90
Passes into the penalty area per 90
Miguel Gutierrez
1.70
3.95
0.18
1.43
Joao Cancelo (2021/22)
3.48
9.94
0.15
2.67
Josko Gvardiol
2.41
4.91
0.06
0.46
The expected assists and passes into the penalty area particularly show Gutierrez's attacking prowess over Gvardiol, who is perhaps more cautious with the ball despite actually carrying it more. Described as "brilliant" by Thom Harris of The Athletic, the Girona man is certainly one to keep an eye on.
With the second half of the season left to salvage a disappointing campaign, Newcastle United could look to splash the cash in the January transfer window to make up for their summer failure. Out of all of Eddie Howe's arrivals, only Tino Livramento is a consistent feature in his Premier League side, to sum up just how poor the Magpies' recruitment was in preparation for the current campaign.
Of course, injuries haven't helped, but the injuries have only been allowed to play their part due to Newcastle's insufficient squad depth. The winter window gives those at St James' Park the chance to finally solve that problem, however, starting with the potential arrival of an in-demand right-back.
Newcastle transfer news
Speaking on potential January arrivals at the start of the month, Howe made a surprise admissions following Nick Pope's long-term injury, saying via The Independent: “I’ve seen a lot of the media headlines and press speculation regarding goalkeepers and other players. We’ve not made any enquiries about January in any position. If that was the case, we’d be recruiting in every position given the injuries we have in the squad. Hopefully that changes by January. This is an opportunity for our goalkeepers to cement their positions.”
Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe.
As January approaches, however, that may have changed. According to The Sun, Newcastle are eyeing a move to sign Red Bull Salzburg right-back Amar Dedic, who has been scouted by the Magpies. If Newcastle do want to land the 21-year-old though, they will reportedly have to fend off interest from Premier League rivals Chelsea and Arsenal, as well as Barcelona, AS Roma and Inter Milan during the winter window.
It also remains to be seen whether Salzburg would sanction a sale next month, given that they reportedly rejected a £21.5m bid from Roma last summer. What could hand Newcastle an advantage in negotiating with Dedic is the fact that Joelinton's agent is the same as the Salzburg gem, which could smooth any negotiations.
"Fantastic" Dedic is the perfect Trippier successor
When the transfer window swings open, it looks as though Dedic will have the world at his feet with a number of Europe's best reportedly interested in landing his signature. Among those, Newcastle could secure themselves an upgrade on Kieran Tripper.
Trippier's mistakes have recently cost the Magpies dearly, in a sign that the 33-year-old could be nearing the beginning of a decline, meaning that turning to a younger, better model would be smart business from Newcastle, especially with Livramento seemingly capable of thriving on either side. Dedic's stats show that he would be exactly that too.
Player (Champions League)
Tackles Per Game
Interceptions Per Game
Dribbles Per Game
WhoScored Rating
Amar Dedic
2
1
2
6.88
Kieran Trippier
1.8
0.8
0.5
6.83
Dedic's performances have come with a lot of deserved praise, including from Football Talent Scout's Jacek Kulig, who posted on X: "Amar Dedić with another fantastic performance in the Austrian Bundesliga. 21 years of age. With the lack of quality right-backs on the market, this guy should be worth A LOT of money. One of Salzburg's biggest jewels"
Liverpool have displayed a certain sense of profligacy across recent weeks but remain at the forefront of the Premier League table as the new year looms, with Jurgen Klopp's side actually in first place after 19 matches.
Of course, there are a host of contenders for the trophy and the business end of the campaign will be a gruelling storm to navigate through, but the Reds have been here before and will be confident that they can keep pace with the likes of Arsenal and champions Manchester City right to the decisive stage.
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It's remarkable that Klopp's side have done so well given last year's travails resulted in the framework of the midfield being removed and replaced with four new additions, with injuries to key players combated expertly across recent weeks.
But with left-back Kostas Tsimikas breaking his collarbone against Arsenal last week, Klopp might be forced to accelerate his transfer plans and move for a defender this January, with a summer target still on the radar.
Liverpool transfer news – Goncalo Inacio
According to Portuguese outlet A Bola, Liverpool's Premier League title rivals Arsenal have 'positioned' themselves to win the race to sign Goncalo Inacio from Sporting CP, meaning that the Reds will need to act fast to secure their man's signature.
The Portugal international is understood to have a €60m (£52m) release clause inserted into his contract, and while this is a heavy price to pay at the campaign's midpoint, his sublime ball-playing and technical ability would fit like a glove for an outfit fighting for the top spot on English shores.
lucas-beraldo-goncalo-inacio-liverpool-opinion
Liverpool have sent scouts to observe the 22-year-old in action since the start of the year, but will indeed need to act fast to stop the Gunners from securing his services.
Goncalo Inacio's style of play
Few defenders across Europe offer the kind of passing prowess that Inacio holds within his skill set, with talent scout Jacek Kulig marvelling at his "complete" array of abilities.
A centre-half, Inacio is left-footed and this is something that has no doubt attracted the attention of Klopp as he plots for the perfect addition to augment his backline, with it a well-known fact in the summer that this profile was the preference for the Merseyside club.
Having joined Sporting as a youngster, Inacio has succeeded in cementing a starring role under Rúben Amorim's stewardship, notably winning the 2020/21 Liga Portugal and two Portuguese League Cup trophies across 145 appearances, having impressively scored 14 goals.
As per Sofascore, he has featured 14 times in the Portuguese top-flight this term and completed 88% of his passes, averaging 5.4 ball recoveries per game and succeeding with 70% of his dribbles and 56% of his ground duels.
Piero Hincapie
17th December
Goncalo Inacio
17th December
Leny Yoro
15th December
Ronald Araujo
12th December
Maxence Lacroix
8th December
The five-cap Portugal international – already with two goals for his country – has so much more to give and may well need to take the leap and join a side such as Liverpool (or Arsenal) to truly unlock the full scope of his potential.
The stats behind Liverpool's interest in Goncalo Inacio
BBC Sport analyst Raj Chohan is among those to be convinced by the player's ability and has revealed his thoughts in the past regarding Inacio's suitability for a move to Anfield.
He said: "Gonçalo Inácio is the perfect counter-weight to Konaté. Inacio-VVD-Konaté: Build-up conductor. Leader/aerial dominator/switches of play. Immense recovery speed & coverage of space."
As per FBref, the star ranks among the top 8% of central defenders across divisions similar to the Liga Portugal for assists, the top 6% for shot-creating actions, the top 1% for passes attempted and progressive passes, the top 3% for progressive carries and the top 7% for successful take-ons per 90.
Passing
Dribbling
Concentration
*Sourced via WhoScored
Effectively, such metrics highlight his brilliance in the modern skills of a defender, which in turn would allow him to succeed at a club such as Liverpool, where swift transition and inventive ball-playing are essential to the success, allowing the likes of Mohamed Salah, Darwin Nunez and co to strike like lightning on the counter.
Inacio could instil dynamism and fluency across Liverpool's backline to continue the seasonal resurgence and ensure that the Reds remain on track for silverware, or at the very least, on course to challenge for honours until the death.
And given that he is a left-sided centre-half, he could also slot in and allow Virgil van Dijk to shift to the right side of the rearguard, with the Liverpool captain's style sure to blend effectively with Inacio's.
Imagine Goncalo Inacio & Virgil van Dijk
Joel Matip's season ended when he ruptured his ACL against Fulham at the start of December, and while Ibrahima Konate is a formidable player, breakout star Jarell Quansah is the only other option in front of Alisson's goal, with Joe Gomez regularly deployed as a full-back this term.
With Konate a monster of a centre-back but prone to injury himself and far more comfortable on the right side, Inacio would be the perfect player to bolster the backline, especially with the aforementioned Matip's contract concluding at the end of the season.
And with Van Dijk back at the top of his game after struggling last year, the prospective arrival could absorb the fruits of one of the very best to do it, nurturing and refining his craft over the coming years.
Van Dijk, aged 32, joined Liverpool from Southampton for £75m in December 2017 and has won the full sweep at the club, having completed 241 appearances and taken the captain's armband in the summer.
Ranking among the top 5% of centre-backs across Europe's top five leagues for assists and attempted passes and the top 2% for aerial wins per 90, the Dutchman makes a very good claim for standing as European football's superlative defender this term.
Indeed, across 17 Premier League displays, he has completed 90% of his passes, averaging 4.7 recoveries and clearances per game and winning 78% of his contested duels.
Such exemplary metrics would allow Inacio's style to flourish, and there is every possibility that the Portuguese defender would be the missing piece of the puzzle for a Liverpool side pushing for illustrious success once again.