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Liverpool have ‘sent scouts’ to watch Benfica defender Antonio Silva ahead of a potential move to the Premier League, according to journalist Ben Jacobs.

The Lowdown: £87m release clause

The Reds have been heavily linked with a move for RB Leipzig’s Josko Gvardiol but Jurgen Klopp has reportedly made the 19-year-old one of his top transfer targets this summer.

The Portuguese has a €100m (£87m) release clause included in his current contract which the Anfield outfit wouldn’t be willing to pay, but they remain hopeful that a deal can be struck thanks to their strong relationship with the club having purchased Darwin Nunez.

Journalist Jacque Talbot has claimed that this situation could be ‘one to watch’ as the season draws to a close, and it appears that the hierarchy are already taking the necessary next steps…

The Latest: Liverpool scout Silva

According to Jacobs (via CaughtOffside), Liverpool and four other potential suitors are completing background checks on Silva ahead of the upcoming window. He said:

“Silva is contracted until 2027 with a €100m release clause. Real Madrid, Liverpool, Dortmund, Napoli and Manchester United are among the clubs who have recently sent scouts to see Silva play.

“But there’s nothing to get too excited about just yet. It’s normal to watch top young players at this stage of the season and it will take time before it’s clear if any club moves.

“It will be interesting to see how Benfica handle summer suitors if they do arrive. They really don’t want to lose Silva yet, and although Rui Costa said the same about Enzo Fernandez, the fact they got €121m from that deal leaves them with no need to sell.”

The Verdict: Potential advantage?

Silva shares the same agent as Fabinho, Diogo Jota and Nunez which could give Liverpool the potential edge over their competitors when trying to get a deal over the line.

The 6 foot 1 ace currently averages 3.2 clearances and two tackles per league game, via WhoScored, whilst ranking in the 99th percentile for pass completion, highlighting his calmness and composure when playing out from the back.

The Adidas-sponsored centre-back has only made 33 senior career appearances given his young age but already has two international caps to his name having been chosen to represent Portugal at the World Cup in 2022.

Finally, Silva has been hailed a ‘superstar’ by Reds legend Jamie Carragher and he would be a hugely exciting signing for the future of the club in years to come.

Leeds United have struggled this season, with Jesse Marsch having struggled to make his philosophy bear fruit in time for them to avoid another battle for survival.

As such, his former team sit marooned hopelessly around the relegation zone with new manager Javi Gracia having been left to pick up the pieces.

The Spaniard has inherited a squad devoid of confidence and sorely lacking any cutting edge in the final third, with the Whites having scored just once in their last four matches in all competitions.

This downturn in goalscoring form has coincided with a recent drop-off in Wilfried Gnonto’s performances.

Having joined in the summer, the young Italian quickly captured the imagination for his dynamism and quick feet which often left full-backs floundering. Despite scoring just once in his last seven league games, his acquisition cannot be viewed as anything other than a roaring success thus far.

Survival could depend on his potential resurgence, however.

How much is Wilfried Gnonto worth?

The 19-year-old was signed for just £4m on deadline day, despite FC Zurich having reportedly demanded £17m earlier in the window. This alone outlines just how much of a coup this deal was, but given how his value has only risen serves to further exacerbate this.

FootballTransfers note that the apex of his expected Transfer Value sits at €20.4m (£18m), suggesting that in just six months that value has risen by an astronomical 350%.

This is in no small part to his 1.2 key passes and 1.1 successful dribbles per game, via Sofascore, which outlines him as a constant creative threat for the opposition.

It even led former Hibernian striker Tam McManus to praise him, with his display in their win over AFC Bournemouth impressing in particular.

The Scotsman claimed:

“He came on and he just looks like a little pocket rocket. He looks like he has a real low centre of gravity and he looks absolutely tremendous.”

He continued by praising the club’s youth recruitment as a whole:

“Leeds have so many talented young players now, they’re great to watch. This Gnonto just seems like the latest one and I can’t wait to see what he does next.”

Whilst Marsch’s tenure will likely not be remembered with overwhelming fondness, his work in signing Gnonto will remain one of the shining lights of his one-year reign at Elland Road.

Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe is reportedly keeping tabs on Ajax midfielder, Edson Alvarez, ahead of the summer transfer window.

What’s the word?

According to CBS reporter Ben Jacobs – in his CaughtOffside daily briefing – the Mexico international is a player whom the Magpies have “loosely on their radar”, albeit with Premier League rivals Arsenal also said to be in the mix for the 25-year-old’s signature.

This follows a report from The Athletic last month that named the 61-cap ace as one of Howe’s possible midfield targets for January, with the Tynesiders seemingly intent on securing a new ‘number six’.

It does appear that the former Club America star – who has just over two years left on his current deal in Amsterdam – has been something of a long-term target for the St James’ Park outfit, having reportedly made an enquiry about his availability over the summer.

Newcastle’s own Enzo Fernandez

It is hard to deny that the northeast side are in need of another addition in the centre of the park in the near future, with the recent departure of Jonjo Shelvey to Nottingham Forest having left the club rather short on options in that department.

The signing of Alvarez would more than just plug a hole, however, with the “tenacious” gem – as lauded by talent scout Jacek Kulig – having illustrated his quality in the Eredivisie of late, averaging an impressive 2.4 tackles and 1.1 interceptions per game from his 18 league outings this season.

That standout form – which has also seen the 6 foot 2 brute create four big chances thus far – has ensured that the highly-coveted midfielder boasts an average match rating of 7.24, as per Sofascore, this term, with that figure only bettered by Kieran Trippier and Fabian Schar among Howe’s current squad.

A player who also provides the benefit of his Champions League and international experience, the “ball-playing” menace, as described by Kulig, would also prove an appealing prospect due to his versatility, as he can comfortably slot in at centre-back if required.

It may also prove noteworthy to those on Tyneside that the towering asset is said to share a number of stylistic and statistical similarities with Chelsea’s new £107m man, Enzo Fernandez, according to FBref, with that an indication of the potential diamond that Newcastle could have on their hands.

That likeness is indicated by the fact that the Stamford Bridge starlet ranks in the top 19% among his peers in the ‘Men’s next eight competitions’ for tackles made, while Alvarez ranks in the top 16% in that regard as evidence of his ball-winning prowess.

The duo are also capable of impacting play in an attacking sense from their deep-lying roles, with the Ajax man ranking in the top 14% for progressive passes made, while the Argentina international ranks in the top 1% for that same metric.

The latter man is currently creating a real buzz as a result of his high-profile switch to west London, having only recently announced himself on the global stage after claiming the Best Young Player award at the World Cup in Qatar.

To be able to have their own version of the former Benfica man in the form of Alvarez could well represent a real coup for Howe and co, although the hope will be that they won’t have to splash the cash to the same extent as the free-spending Blues.

One area that Manchester United may well still be looking to strengthen this month is at right-back, with speculation still mounting regarding the future of Aaron Wan-Bissaka.

While the 25-year-old has forced his way back into Erik ten Hag’s thinking in recent weeks due to Diogo Dalot’s injury woes – having started the last four Premier League games – there had been prior reports that the Englishman would be allowed to leave in the current transfer window amid mounting interest from a number of top-flight clubs.

With it still yet to be seen if the £50m signing will be trusted in the long-term, it would seemingly be no surprise if the United manager does look to secure a more suitable fit in the coming weeks or during the summer, in order to provide competition to the aforementioned Dalot.

According to a recent report from The Sun, one player who could well be an option for the Old Trafford outfit on the right-hand side of defence is Ajax starlet Devyne Rensch, with the 19-year-old having previously played under Ten Hag for the Amsterdam club.

The teenager has enjoyed a promising campaign for the Eredivisie giants so far, notably scoring twice and laying on one assist in his 14 league appearances – all of which have come from the start – while also averaging 1.8 tackles and 1.1 interceptions per game to illustrate his defensive prowess.

Interestingly as far as the Red Devils are concerned, the 5 foot 10 Netherlands international – who has been described as “incredible” by journalist Sizwe Jacques Mbebe – shares a number of statistical and stylistic similarities with his compatriot and current United defender Tyrell Malacia, as per FBref.

Although the latter typically lines up on the left flank, the two assets seem well-suited to Ten Hag’s progressive approach as they are both comfortable in possession, with Malacia enjoying an average pass completion rate of 86.8%, while Rensch is only slightly higher in that regard at 87%.

The duo are also particularly combative, as the Ajax starlet averages 2.23 tackles per game. The former Feyenoord man averages 2.7 per game for that same metric, having already showcased his dogged defensive prowess during his short time at the Theatre of Dreams so far.

Malacia was most notably impressive in United’s recent triumph over Manchester City, having been described as “immense” by journalist Nathan Quao for his display after recording three tackles and two interceptions in his 89 minutes on the pitch.

While the 23-year-old’s time in England hasn’t all been plain sailing up to now – having been hooked at half-time in the reverse fixture at the Etihad Stadium – such a performance has illustrated just what an astute signing his £14.7m capture has been for Ten Hag and co.

As such, to be able to bring in a younger version of Malacia in the form of Rensch could well be yet another piece of impressive business for a manager who appears to be getting little wrong both on the pitch and in the transfer market at present.

Everton’s season has been nothing short of disastrous, with the Toffees once again poised to struggle at the foot of the table.

Despite this, and their current position of joint-bottom, the hierarchy are yet to put their hands in their pockets to try and pay their way out of this mess. It is clearly a squad lacking the quality to stay up, and yet with nearly a third of a window done, there has been little indication of any concrete rumours.

As the division’s second-lowest scorers, up front is the role that certainly needs filling.

Despite that, one of Frank Lampard’s reported targets Danny Ings seems set to now move to relegation rival West Ham United, further adding insult to injury.

They need someone through the door immediately, if at the very least to offer Dominic Calvert-Lewin some much-needed competition for his striker spot.

An alternative that they now seem to be scrambling for is Lyon forward Moussa Dembele, who saw rumours emerge about his future in the early hours of Wednesday morning.

The Frenchman has just six months left on his £69k-per-week deal, and as such has caught the eye as a potential cut-price option for the financially restricted Blues.

It must be said that, should they complete this deal, it would represent an immense coup for a club currently in disarray despite his poor form this season.

With just two goals to his name this season, it may seem like the 26-year-old is hardly the answer to their long-standing issues in front of goal.

However, he has proven on numerous occasions throughout his career that he can be a clinical asset when called upon, as last season he bagged 21 times in Ligue 1 whilst delivering four assists.

This marks an improvement Calvert-Lewin’s best goal tally in the Premier League of 16, which he would hope to recapture should his fitness prevail once more.

Because of this impressive scoring run, Dembele actually ranks in the top 5% for non-penalty goals when compared to other strikers in Europe’s top five leagues.

What stands as a further testament to his ability is the wide array of talent he is likened to on FBref’s ‘similar players’ model. The list boasts Erling Haaland, Robert Lewandowski, Victor Osimhen and Olivier Giroud.

With quality to rival many of these, the former Celtic man certainly would provide a fine alternative to the English striker currently starting at Goodison Park. 

Brendan Rodgers once lauded all the qualities that would surely make him a success in England, as he claimed: “Moussa was everything with his power and pace.” The now-Leicester City boss continued: “His opponent at centre-back was strong but Moussa is so powerful with ability, touch and work rate.”

He would push Calvert-Lewin to his limits, likely usurping him if his quality shines through, but hopefully inspiring a fire in the English forward’s belly to rediscover himself.

That said, the deal would spur at least one of them to get the goals that will secure safety.

Arsenal have made contact to sign Eintracht Frankfurt defender Evan Ndicka, according to journalist Christian Falk.

The Lowdown: Deal expiration looming

The Premier League giants are cruising at the top of the table following a blistering opening to the campaign, though that hasn’t stopped the Gunners from wanting to strengthen further.

Ndicka’s contract is set to expire at the end of the season, meaning that he could be available on a cut-price deal this window, something which Edu appears keen to capitalise on.

The Latest: Arsenal in Ndicka talks

In his column for CaughtOffside, Falk revealed that Arsenal, Tottenham and AC Milan are all in negotiations with Ndicka’s representative in the race for his signature. He wrote:

“Evan Ndicka has an offer from Frankfurt – a three-year extension specifically.

“I think there’s a good chance that he’ll sign this contract but there are many clubs interested at the moment, one of them is Arsenal. It’s not so concrete that Frankfurt are really afraid of losing him.

“They also know what his qualities are at the moment, so perhaps it’s too much of a big step for him at this point. They hope that they will sign him up on another contract.

“Arsenal, Tottenham and AC Milan – I think they’re all talking to the agent but it’s not massively concrete at the moment as Frankfurt are confident about their chances of extending his contract.”

The Verdict: Potential bargain

Ndicka is one of the hottest centre-back’s in the Bundesliga and should Arsenal be able to secure his services on the cheap, it would be an absolute bargain.

The 6 foot 3 colossus currently averages a remarkable 5.3 clearances and 2.5 aerial wins per league 90 minutes, highlighting the rock he can be at the heart of a backline (WhoScored).

Dubbed a ‘towering’ defender by Jacque Talbot, Ndicka would make an excellent signing for Mikel Arteta at the Emirates Stadium.

There is no understating the perilous situation West Ham United are currently engulfed in; frankly, something needs to change before the unthinkable prospect of relegation from the Premier League becomes reality.

What’s the talk?

West Ham boss David Moyes is under considerable pressure, with the club languishing near the pit of the division in 17th place and on a detrimental five-match losing skid.

According to PUNCH Sports Extra, the Hammers are set to turn the page back to their previous interest in Nigerian defender Ola Aina, who has been starring in Italy with Torino since departing from Chelsea on a permanent deal in 2019.

The prospective move follows action from the summer, when Sky Sports reporter Jasper Taylor stated at 15:41 on deadline day that GSB had a late bid rejected for the marauder.

“Unreal”

Aina follows the long line of promising talents to rise through the ranks at Chelsea’s Cobham academy, but fail to earn a place in the senior team, spending two seasons out on loan before signing for Torino after a season still on Chelsea’s books.

While it’s true that Aina enjoyed an unsuccessful loan spell with Fulham during the 2020/21 campaign – playing regularly but failing to save the London outfit from relegation – there is a greater depth of quality in this West Ham team.

The exploits of Moyes’ tenure tell the story: Europa League and Europa Conference league qualification across his two full seasons with the Irons, with the Europa League campaign falling at the penultimate hurdle against eventual champions Eintracht Frankfurt, and the Conference League ongoing – with the east London outfit assuredly topping their group phase.

On just £31k-per-week, Aina could inject fresh life and vitality into the ranks, bombing up and down the right flank and looking to initiate forward manoeuvres with greater consistency than those already in the side.

Having made 103 appearances for Torino since his debut, the 26-year-old has become a mainstay in his team, situated in the right-back position for a competitive outfit in the Italian Serie A.

As per FBref, the 29-cap star ranks within the top 7% of full-backs in Europe’s top leagues for dribbles completed at 1.42 per 90 minutes, a higher tally than even that of Jarrod Bowen (0.77) in the last year.

He also sits in the top 16% for rate of goals – illustrating an approach that will always put onus on transitions into the final third, searching for goals and assists.

Lauded as “unreal” by reporter Michael Oti Adjei for an exquisite assist at the African Cup of Nations, Aina could provide the creative, forward-thinking spark from the base of the withered outfit, replacing the likes of Vladimir Coufal, who has failed to replicate his feats of past seasons this term.

Moyes is a man that needs swift action in order to remedy a flagging season, and with the hammer very dull indeed, Aina could bring a cutting edge to return the club to the place the proud fanbase demands.

Perhaps the only people who look forward to a World Cup with greater anticipation than the fans themselves are the agents of players involved in the competition. A good World Cup can turn a player with potential into a definitive star, and football managers are even more keen to find value than wagerers looking for bargains in crypto World Cup betting. In 2002, this is even more interesting, as this competition happens in the middle of the European football season. Managers who have had a poor start to the season may look towards the transfer window which immediately follows the tournament with a view to securing the players who may save their job.

Which players are likely to catch some attention at Cloudbet?

 World Cup transfers are a very specific kind of thing. If Harry Kane – outright favourite for the Golden Boot with Cloudbet – were to move after the World Cup, then he wouldn’t really be a World Cup transfer. You’re more likely to see these players in the markets for Qatar’s top scorer or the player with most assists – they’re players who fly under the radar and who smart bettors know about because they do their research ahead of putting money down. And some of the names we look at below will be part of those Cloudbet markets.

Smart bettors may well be the ones in the best position to discuss these transfers when they come through. As they stack up live cashouts and enjoy Cloudbet’s high limits on bets and parlays, they’ll be watching every match closely and be able to give you tips on who stands out as the best value transfer once the football is over in Qatar. And they’ll be best placed to use those rewards to bet on the players when they arrive at their new clubs in the weeks following the competition. But who could those players be?

Akram Afif (Qatar)

Albeit Qatar haven’t been playing regularly against the top football nations in the world, Afif’s scoring record of 26 goals in 88 games, at the young age of 25, indicates that he’s got the potential to be a player of interest once this tournament is done and dusted. He’s played in Europe before, across Belgium and Spain, and a positive showing in this World Cup could win the Al-Sadd forward another move.

Christopher Nkunku (France)

Most of the French national team already plies its trade with the best clubs in the world, and Nkunku isn’t far off, playing at RB Leipzig. He’s expected to break with his current club after the tournament, though, and how well he does in Qatar could affect his destination. Chelsea fans believe he will arrive there in January – but the player himself is understood to prefer Real Madrid. He can make that happen with enough good performances.

Jonathan David (Canada)

Just reaching the World Cup is considered to have been a huge achievement for Canada, but for some of its players a run to the knockout stages could be a passport to a bigger future. David, aged just 22, is already featuring in Ligue 1 for Lille. Playing against Croatia and Belgium, he has the chance to show he could do a job at a higher level, with English Premier League sides understood to be interested.

Photo by Unsplash

For a transition season, Tottenham Hotspur have done alright in the Premier League this year.

New boss Ange Postecoglou might be going through a bit of a sticky patch at present and facing the possibility of five losses on the bounce, but his team's incredible ten-game unbeaten streak at the start of the season serves as an example of what he might be able to achieve with the proper backing.

That said, while new players will need to be signed, the club has an array of highly talented stars to hand, and one of them is currently worth as much as two of Arsenal's starters combined.

Dejan Kulusevski's Spurs career

The player in question is Swedish star Dejan Kulusevksi, who has made quite a name for himself in N17.

The Lilywhites first brought the winger to North London on an 18-month loan with an option to buy on deadline day in January 2022 before making the deal permanent in June last year for a reported fee of around £25m.

The dynamic attacker got off to a flying start in his first six months at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. In just 20 appearances, he scored five goals and provided eight assists, helping the club qualify for the final Champions League spot ahead of the Gunners.

In his first full campaign, the "special player", as described by Sky Sports reporter Jamie Weir, couldn't quite keep up the rate of return he showed in his first six months, but still ended the season with a respectable haul of two goals and eight assists in 37 games.

This year, the 24-year-old's performances have been somewhat inconsistent, but he has still managed to bag six goals and three assists in 36 appearances for Postecoglou's new-look Lilywhites.

Kulusevski's Spurs record

Season

21/22

22/23

23/24

Appearances

20

37

36

Goals

5

2

6

Assists

8

8

3

Goal Involvements per Match

0.65

0.27

0.25

All Stats via Transfermarkt

Overall, the 37-capped Swede has proven to be a good signing for the white side of North London, and his recent valuation reflects that fact.

Dejan Kulusevski's transfer valuation in 2024

According to the CIES Football Observatory, Kulusevski is now worth €80m, which is around £69m, and makes the winger the joint most valuable player at Spurs, alongside left-back Destiny Udogie.

Tottenham Hotspur's most valuable forwards

Place

Player

Value

1

Dejan Kulusevski

€80m (£69m)

2

Brennan Johnson

€60m (£52m)

3

Richarlison

€40m (£34m)

4

Timo Werner

€30m (£26m)

4

Heung-min Son

€30m (£26m)

5

Bryan Gil

€10m (£9m)

5

Manor Solomon

€10m (£9m)

All Valuations via CIES Football Observatory

For further context, this valuation means that the Lilywhites ace is now twice as valuable as Arsenal's starters Ben White and Leandro Trossard, or worth as much as the pair combined.

This is despite the Belgian's red-hot form and 18 goal involvements in 2023/24 to date. It's perhaps more impressive considering White's growing reputation this season, which will surely delight the Spurs faithful among you.

White, who has notably decided to exclude himself from the England set-up, has arguably been "the best right-back" in the division this term according to some, so for Kulusevski to be worth more than him isn't bad work indeed.

Ultimately, while fans and pundits will be well aware of the Swede's immense talent from just watching him play football, the fact that he is now worth so much – and more than a pair of rival stars – just affirms that Daniel Levy and Co made the right choice when they made his deal permanent.

Related Spurs must finally axe Pochettino signing who earns more than Son

The transfer might be the worst in the club’s history.

Posts ByJack Salveson Holmes May 7, 2024

Nottingham Forest slumped to another defeat in the Premier League with a 1-0 loss away to Wolves on Saturday afternoon, which leaves them bottom of the table.

Brennan Johnson missed a golden chance to equalise from the penalty spot after Ruben Neves converted his spot-kick early in the second half.

Still without a win in the top flight since beating West Ham United 1-0 in mid-August, Steve Cooper must be thinking about re-jigging his line-up once again to try and find the perfect formula.

As such, The Transfer Tavern have used statistical experts SofaScore to analyse who the three worst outfield performers for the visitors (to have played at least 45 minutes) were on the day, and suggest whether they should be dropped or not for the next game:

Emmanuel Dennis

Given a 6.5 score, Dennis was rated as Forest’s third-worst performing player. Three other players earned a similar rating, but they only came on as late substitutes, whereas the Nigerian started and had 70 minutes to prove himself.

The striker lost four of his duels, recorded no shots on goal and had just 24 touches of the ball in total, losing possession nine times.

He even got booked for his troubles, but after a goal against Aston Villa on Monday night, Cooper should consider giving him another chance to impress from the start against Brighton this Tuesday.

Harry Toffolo

With a mere 5.9 rating, Toffolo ranked as Forest’s joint-worst performer.

Playing at left-back in a defensive four, he failed to make a successful dribble up the pitch and also recorded no interceptions, key passes or accurate crosses. He gave the ball away on no fewer than 17 separate occasions from his 40 touches, the joint-most of his team-mates.

Toffolo was also guilty of giving the penalty away which proved crucial, so Cooper should consider taking him out of the firing line for the next match.

Brennan Johnson

Having missed the penalty, it is not a surprise to see Johnson also given a measly 5.9 rating.

Aside from his miss from 12 yards, the Welshman also lost five of his duels, recorded no key passes and cheaply gave possession away 11 times. having only managed 24 touches of the ball.

With the 21-year-old having started every game in the Premier League so far this season, perhaps it is time for Cooper to change things up and leave him on the bench in the place of Taiwo Awoniyi or Sam Surridge at the Amex Stadium in midweek.