West Ham United manager David Moyes is now ‘ready’ to offload another member of his Premier League squad this summer, according to reports.
The Lowdown: West Ham exodus begins?
As per the Evening Standard, the 59-year-old seems to be orchestrating a significant summer overhaul as he steps up transfer talks, with the club already confirming four departures.
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Ryan Fredericks, Andriy Yarmolenko, David Martin and the retiring Mark Noble will all leave the London Stadium upon the expiry of their contracts, with speculation also continuing to surround Tomas Soucek’s future.
According to recent claims, West Ham could listen to offers for the Czech Republic midfielder, with club insider Claret & Hugh now claiming that Moyes is ‘ready’ to offload another player.
The Latest: Moyes ready to axe Vlasic…
According to their information, the Scotsman ‘appears to be ready to cut his losses’ on 2021 summer signing Nikola Vlasic and will ‘try to recover whatever he can’ from selling the Croatian.
The club, and by extension GSB, have allegedly ‘sanctioned his potential sale’ as they give the green-light for the 24-year-old to leave.
The Verdict: Right call?
Despite a phenomenal season with former club CSKA Moscow before joining the east Londoners, Vlasic’s lack of opportunities under Moyes during his debut campaign with West Ham is perhaps an indicator that he just doesn’t quite cut it at Rush Green.
Over the 2020/21 season, he averaged a brilliant rate of four shots at goal per 90 in the Russian Premier League whilst racking up 11 goals and five assists (WhoScored), standing out as a consistent threat.
However, starting just six top-flight matches for West Ham over 2021/22, he hasn’t been given much of a chance to replicate his CSKA form for the Irons, and it may be best for both player and club to agree an amicable departure.
In other news: Offer ready: West Ham leap ahead of European giants in race for £21m forward! Find out more here.
Aston Villa will be looking to spoil Manchester City’s party this afternoon with the Premier League title still to be won on the final day of the season.
Either City or Liverpool will be crowned champions of England today, with former Reds captain Steven Gerrard undoubtedly keen to give his boyhood club a helping hand as he takes his Villa team to the Etihad.
But how will Gerrard opt to set up his team this afternoon, having played as recently as Thursday when the Villans drew 1-1 with Burnley? Here is how Football FanCast expect the West Midlands outfit to start at the Etihad:
Aston Villa XI vs Man. City: Martinez, Digne, Mings, Chambers, Cash, Ramsey, Luiz, McGinn, Buendia, Ings, Watkins
There are no changes in goal or in defence with Calum Chambers once again filling in for Ezri Konsa who has been ruled out for up to 16 weeks with a knee injury.
Moreover, there had been concerns regarding Martinez’s fitness prior to the clash with the Clarets, however, the Argentine recovered in time and appears set to make his 37th league appearance of the season, missing just one league game this term.
The same applies in midfield with the regular trio of Jacob Ramsey, Douglas Luiz and John McGinn all linking up.
However, could this be the last time the three all start together in the Premier League with plenty of talk regarding new midfielders coming in at Villa Park this summer?
The only change comes in attack with Carney Chukwuemeka dropping out for Danny Ings.
Labelled as “elegant” by former Villa player and Sky Sports pundit Paul Merson, the £2.2m-rated 18-year-old undoubtedly has an exciting future ahead of him.
However, having been given the opportunity to impress from the start against Burnley, it seems incredibly likely that Gerrard will send him back to the bench against such a quality-ridden side like Manchester City. After all, his performance in midweek was hardly convincing.
On the other hand, Chukwuemeka’s teammate Ings has plenty of experience playing against quality sides like City with the 29-year-old in decent form for Villa.
It’s been an uneventful first season in claret and blue for the £100k-per-week Englishman claimed to be “outstanding” by former manager Jurgen Klopp, but he will certainly be looking to end on a high having scored twice in his last four starts.
Taking points off City will certainly be a monstrous task for Gerrard’s side, however, it would be the ultimate gesture to his former club if the West Midlands outfit can end the season with a result.
AND in other news: Huge blow: Villa dealt double injury setback ahead of MCFC, Gerrard will be worried…
Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou is ‘hard at work’ eyeing up new signings for the Hoops in the summer transfer window, according to Frank McAvennie.
The Lowdown: Memorable season for Celtic
It has been a memorable season for Celtic, with Postecoglou’s men sealing Scottish Premiership title glory in midweek after an initially stuttering campaign turned into a dominant one.
The Hoops have wrestled back their crown from Rangers and been deserving champions, also winning the Scottish League Cup for good measure.
With Champions League football sealed next season, the money will be available for Postecoglou to add to his squad in the summer.
Speaking to Football Insider, McAvennie claimed Ange will already be working hard to bring in reinforcements, believing a deal for Mohanad Jeahze is all but done:
“Ange is already hard at work on getting new players in. It looks like this defender (Jeahze) is going to come in, from reading around it looks like that is almost done.
“Let’s get some of these deals done as soon as possible. There is no point in waiting around. We are back in the Champions League and that is just a magnificent achievement, we need more bodies.
“If we get this guy in then we have Ralston, Taylor, Juranovic and Jeazhe who can play left-back. That’s the kind of depth we need if we are to be a bit better in Europe next season.
“Hopefully we can get this one over the line and a few more after that.”
The Verdict: Big summer ahead
This feels like a particularly pivotal summer for Celtic, in terms of Postecoglou building a truly formidable squad that can battle on all fronts.
The manager already has a strong group of players at his disposal, as proven by their title triumph, but a sprinkling of magic is still required in certain areas to battle against Europe’s elite next term while maintaining domestic dominance.
Tying down Cameron Carter-Vickers and Jota to permanent moves would be an ideal place to start, while even more firepower in attack may be required, with no one player scoring more than ten league goals this season.
In other news, a pundit has predicted an imminent Celtic signing. Read more here.
Manchester United failed to make any new signings in the January transfer window, and it could be something the board live to regret after it was revealed that a fierce rival signed one of Ralf Rangnick’s targets, who has been flourishing since he arrived in the Premier League.
Liverpool signed Luis Diaz from Porto for an initial fee of £37m on a five-and-a-half year deal on Deadline Day, and Fabrizio Romano has now revealed that the German interim coach was refused the opportunity to sign the winger.
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Romano tweeted: “Ralf Rangnick reveals he wanted a new striker at Man Utd in January: “But the answer from the board was: ‘No’. There were Luís Díaz, who is now at Liverpool; Julián Álvarez, who will be at Man City in the summer; and Vlahovic, who at the time was still with Fiorentina.”
Following the dismissal of Rangnick’s player wish-list back in January, the Man United board are surely rueing their decision not to sign the Columbian forward who has made a huge instant impact just a few miles down the road.
In the short time since joining Liverpool less than five months ago, the 21-goal star who is now believed to be worth £60m has established himself as a starter pushing Diogo Jota out of the starting line-up, tallying up five goals and three assists which is a better goal contribution than Marcus Rashford and Anthony Elanga in less than half a season.
Diaz has also created two big chances, making 1.5 key passes on average per game, as well as being successful in the majority of his dribbles (66%) and completing an average pass accuracy of 88%, proving that he is not afraid to impose himself on his opponents, links up play well and has become an absolute nightmare for anyone he comes up against in the Premier League.
A player just like the left winger is exactly what Manchester United have been crying out for all season, with Rashford failing to hit the ground running throughout the season, and with speculation mounting about the winger’s future, Diaz would have been the ideal replacement should the Mancunian forward leave this summer.
The United board and Erik ten Hag cannot afford to miss the chance to snap up a player of this calibre again and must identify players this summer that can make a similar level of impact that Diaz has made at Liverpool this season if they stand any chance of competing for trophies next season.
AND in other news: Forget McTominay: MUFC must brutally axe “pathetic” dud who won 0 duels v Brighton
Former Premier League striker Kevin Campbell has lauded the team spirit that Ange Postecoglou has created at Celtic this season.
The Lowdown: Ange’s superb first season at Celtic
The 56-year-old took charge at Parkhead last summer and has been an immediate hit for the Hoops, impressing with his all-round management at the club.
Celtic already have a Scottish League Cup to their name and the Premiership title is now within touching distance with three matches remaining.
It has been a wonderful season after the disappointment of last term, and it is now a case of getting the job done to round off a tremendous campaign for the manager and the club.
Celtic’s team spirit has shone through since August, with Kyogo Furuhashi speaking out about the support that he received while he was injured.
Campbell waxed lyrical over that intangible quality to Football Insider as he gushed:
“They clearly have a great dressing room mentality. The team spirit is there. When a player is injured he often feels left out.
“It sounds like the players at Celtic have the right attitude under Postecoglou. The manager has done an excellent job there. Kyogo embodies that. He is a brilliant player and character by the sounds of it.
“The dressing room culture is right at Celtic and that is so important if you want to achieve success.”
The Verdict: Good times for Celtic
It certainly feels as though something potentially special is building at Parkhead, with Postecoglou transforming matters after Neil Lennon’s ill-fated second reign as manager.
The hope is that this is only the beginning, with a likely return to the Champions League next season hugely exciting, not to mention the possibility of new signings that it could attract.
Celtic’s team spirit has increasingly stood out as the season has gone on, as illustrated by the Furuhashi example above, and it is clear that this is a group of players all pulling the same direction. As Campbell has hinted, success can only be achieved if you have that harmony within your group.
In other news, one pundit has dropped a worrying Celtic transfer claim. Read more here.
Journalist Matt Law of The Telegraph has now shared a big Tottenham Hotspur managerial update in the last 48 hours, and it involves Brighton boss Graham Potter.
The Lowdown: Spurs eye Pochettino reunion?
Since rumours started to emerge of Paris-Saint Germain’s interest in bringing Spurs head coach Antonio Conte to the French capital, a potential return to N17 for Mauricio Pochettino has been touted by the press.
A sort-of managerial swap deal between Conte and the Argentine is allegedly on the cards despite club hierarchy having reservations over bringing Pochettino back to Hotspur Way.
However, the 50-year-old isn’t the only coach on Spurs’ mind if they do in fact their current boss, with Law now sharing an interesting update.
The Latest: Law makes big Potter claim…
According to The Telegraph’s reliable source, Seagulls boss Potter is now emerging as a favourite to replace Conte if the latter man were to leave.
Lilywhites chiefs view Potter as an alternative to Pochettino and it is believed that the Premier League manager could be prompted to ‘consider an approach’ from Tottenham.
This is due to the potential exits of star Brighton duo Marc Cucurella and Yves Bissouma with sporting director Dan Ashworth also already gone.
The Verdict: Standout?
While Pochettino is arguably the most obvious target given his proven top level experience, knowledge of Spurs and affection for the club – we believe Potter stands out as the best alternative if Conte does leave.
Lauded as a ‘world class’ manager by former Liverpool star Adam Lallana, the 46-year-old has worked wonders yet again this season at the Amex with Brighton comfortably safe from relegation yet again.
He’s also received lofty praise for his open, exciting brand of attacking football down south with Man City boss Pep Guardiola having waxed lyrical over the ‘gentleman’ Potter and his brilliant tactical set up (The Argus).
Alasdair Gold, commenting on Spurs’ links to the Englishman after Jose Mourinho’s dismissal, revealed that members of the Lilywhites squad actually hold Potter in high esteem – with Brighton’s style of play leaving a ‘lasting impression’ (Twitter).
We believe supporters certainly shouldn’t discount him as an option.
In other news: ‘Expected to leave’ – Fabrizio Romano says Conte could lose ‘monster’ Spurs player, find out more here.
Aston Villa could spring a surprise move for former Real Madrid player James Rodriguez in the summer according to sources.
What’s the word?
One Spanish news outlet has claimed that Premier League side Villa are one of three clubs interested in Rodriguez, alongside West Ham and Atletico Madrid.
According to the report, the Colombian isn’t interested in staying at his current club Al-Rayyan and wants to make a move back to Europe.
The player’s current market value is £13.5m, and whoever is successful in securing the 30-year-old’s signature will surely manage to grab a bargain.
Gerrard may have already found a cheaper alternative to Coutinho
Gerrard pulled off a masterstroke during the January transfer window in persuading Coutinho to join Villa on loan until the summer.
The 29-year-old has suitably impressed so far, with four goals and three assists helping him to post the squad’s second-highest WhoScored rating for the season. In an ideal world, Villa would love to keep him at the club permanently, but this might not be possible due to the money that Barcelona want for him.
The Midlands side could sign the Brazilian for £33m in the summer, but this is more than they want to pay. By contrast, the price to lure Rodriguez to Villa Park would reportedly be “extremely low”, so he could be a more viable option than Coutinho.
The Colombian’s form in Qatar has been excellent. In just 15 appearances for Al-Rayyan, he has scored five times and provided seven assists, putting his enigmatic Everton spell behind him.
Following Rodriguez’s World Cup heroics in 2014, David Beckham lavished him as “magical”, and when the 30-year-old is in the mood, there aren’t many finer players to watch in football.
Gerrard may have some work to do to get this prospective move over the line, but if a permanent Coutinho deal doesn’t work out, there appears to be a ready-made and more affordable replacement waiting in the wings.
AND in other news, Gerrard can land his own Pogba as Villa plot bid for “impressive” £107k-p/w machine
The mood around Arsenal at the moment is a brilliant one.
Mikel Arteta’s side closed the gap on Liverpool atop the Premier League to just two points with their win over Newcastle United last weekend.
Then during the week, they picked up another three points in the Champions League thanks to a steady 2-0 win against Olympiacos.
This weekend brings a fresh challenge as Nuno Espírito Santo’s West Ham United make their way to the Emirates for a game that Arteta can win by boldly dropping Gabriel Martinelli.
Arteta's record against Nuno
This afternoon’s game against West Ham will be the eighth time Arteta has faced off against Nuno since becoming a head coach, and as things stand, the Spaniard has a good record against him.
Chalkboard
Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.
Of the seven games they’ve already managed, the Gunners’ boss has won four, lost two and drawn one.
Interestingly, all seven games have been in the league, with three against Wolverhampton Wanderers, one against Tottenham Hotspur, and three against Nottingham Forest.
24/25
Forest
0-0
24/25
Forest
3-0 (Arsenal)
23/24
Forest
2-1 (Arsenal)
21/22
Spurs
3-1 (Arsenal)
20/21
Wolves
2-1 (Wolves)
20/21
Wolves
2-1 (Wolves)
19/20
Wolves
2-0 (Arsenal)
The most recent match between the two managers was a 0-0 draw at the City Ground back in February – a result emblematic of the North Londoners’ title challenge fizzling out.
Unsurprisingly, given the record, the Spaniard’s side has a healthy goal difference against the former Sao Tome-born boss, scoring 12 goals across the seven games and only conceding six.
However, while Arteta has generally gotten the better of Nuno, it would be fair to say that their most notable meeting was a 2-1 Wolves win in February 2021, as both Bernd Leno and David Luiz managed to get themselves sent off.
The Brazilian was handed his marching orders for a foul in the penalty area, and the German for handling the ball outside of it.
Arteta will be hoping for an altogether more straightforward win this afternoon, and one way he can do that is by dropping Martinelli for another attacking star.
The Arsenal star Arteta should start in place of Martinelli
Now, it might seem harsh to drop Martinelli after he scored against Olympiacos during the week, but there are a few reasons why Arteta should do it anyway and start Eberechi Eze in his place.
The first is that, under Nuno, there is a very good chance that West Ham will come to the Emirates and sit back for most of the game, looking to hit the Gunners on the counterattack.
So, to deal with what will likely be a low block, Arteta needs to get as many technicians on the pitch as possible, meaning Eze’s intricate dribbling and ability to play a pinpoint pass will be far more useful than Martinelli’s speed.
This then leads to the second argument, which is that, should the North Londoners find themselves a goal or two up by some point in the second half, the East Londoners will be forced to come out of their shape and stretch the game.
At this point, the speed and directness of the Brazilian will be far more helpful to the manager, and therefore, he could come on for the Englishman.
Now the club have a proper squad and a strong bench, it makes sense for the Spaniard to pick his starting line-ups based on how games are likely to play out, to maximise the team’s effectiveness and ensure players have the chance to play in situations most favourable to their skill set.
Finally, the reason the former Crystal Palace “magician,” as dubbed by Micah Richards, couldn’t just start in the middle of the park is that, over the last two games, Martin Odegaard has shown a level fans haven’t seen for well over a year.
He helped change the game at St James’ Park and was the Man of the Match on Wednesday, so dropping him now would be illogical and potentially damaging.
Ultimately, Martinelli deserves to play more, but given the sort of game it’s likely to be this afternoon and the need to keep Odegaard in midfield, Arteta should start Eze on the left.
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Newcastle United have stepped away from the action zone as the October international break takes the stage. But Newcastle are anything but idle, having appointed a new technical director in Ross Wilson from Nottingham Forest.
Wilson, 41, leaves the City Ground having overseen a rise from relegation candidates in the Premier League to European contenders, having finished seventh last year after heavy spending.
In the dugout, Eddie Howe is a meticulous man. He knows every nook and every cranny of his opponents’ half, having profiled each player and grasped their strengths and their weaknesses. Wilson has a personality apt to connect with the tactician’s own bearing.
Newcastle have earned their flowers for their fast rise in the years since PIF completed their club takeover, qualifying for the Champions League in two of the last three seasons and winning the Carabao Cup last year.
But Paul Mitchell left his post less than one year after Dan Ashworth departed, and there’s no denying the Magpies recruitment drive has been knocked somewhat out of kilter. That is now anticipated to change.
Ross Wilson's recruitment record
Before Nottingham Forest, it was Rangers. While in Scotland, it was Wilson who sat behind the desk when Steven Gerrard led the club to the Premiership title, still the Gers’ sole title success since 2011.
And after moving to the Premier League, his reputation has only grown, with Wilson considered a real coup for the Tynesiders and further evidence of the fall from stability at Forest.
According to the i Paper, it is understood that Newcastle will seek to reward Sandro Tonali, Sven Botman and Tino Livramento with new deals once the transfer specialist is instated.
One of Wilson’s biggest strengths is his ability to identify and sign first-team candidates who both align with the manager’s tactical vision and the club’s wider culture.
Though this summer was one of much upheaval at Newcastle, there’s no denying Howe has eased the loss of Alexander Isak to Liverpool with a range of impactful additions, Nick Woltemade and Malick Thiaw in particular shining across the early months of the season.
Still, the direction has been at times uncertain, business taking an almost fragmented quality. Wilson, in tandem with Howe, could change that, with some exciting potential options already being discussed.
Who Ross Wilson could sign at Newcastle
Wilson signed his fair share of first-team players at Nottingham Forest, having joined from Rangers in 2023. At the time, the Midlands side were embroiled in a relegation battle in the Premier League and had not yet parted with Steve Cooper and brought in Nuno Espirito Santo.
Forest now have their own issues, with Edu and Nuno’s conflict leading to a divorce which has left the club’s meteoric rise in tatters. Wilson played his part, though, and may now fancy a step-up to St. James’ Park.
Newcastle, for sure, have work to do if they wish to settle permanently alongside the Premier League elite. With Wilson and Howe working together, this could bear dividends, especially when considering Howe’s recent comments regarding Elliot Anderson, who was sold to the City Ground for about £35m in 2024 as the Toon scrambled to ease their PSR suffering.
Last week, the manager called Anderson, 22, a “precious” talent who he would “love” to welcome back to his boyhood club, and now Newcastle have landed Wilson, that potential lane of communication has very much stretched open.
It would be a costly one to engineer, to be sure, but now, it certainly seems a whole lot more likely.
And there’s more. Nick Pope is still performing at 33 years old, but he’s out of contract at the end of the season and a replacement might be required, even with Aaron Ramsdale having joined on loan in August.
James Trafford came within a whisker of signing for the Magpies this summer, and now that he’s on the fringes at Manchester City, he might recieve a call from Wilson down the line.
Manchester City'sJamesTraffordlooks dejected after the match
That should just about do it. Howe leads a complete and robust Newcastle side, but even though £55m was forked out for Forest’s Anthony Elanga this summer, there might be a desire to add another winger to the ranks.
And who better than Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo, who was very much on the club’s radar this summer? The Cherries fought off interest from many of the Premier League’s biggest hitters, with the Ghanaian forward signing a new contract at the club.
The vultures still circle, though, and Newcastle are among that kettle of suitors looking to strike a deal, having prepared a bid in the final weeks of the window. Liverpool are also keen, showing interest as recently as this week, and they have been met with demands of a £75m payment from the south coast club.
Semenyo would cost a pretty penny, alright, but there’s little question that he’d be a fantastic addition, having scored six goals and supplied three more across seven top-flight appearances this season.
We know already that Howe wanted to bring the prolific forward to the club, and now Wilson will help promote Howe’s vision.
GK
James Trafford
RB
Tino Livramento
CB
Malick Thiaw
CB
Sven Botman
LB
Lewis Hall
DM
Sandro Tonali
CM
Bruno Guimaraes
CM
Elliot Anderson
RW
Antoine Semenyo
LW
Anthony Gordon
ST
Nick Woltemade
It’s exciting to note that even with Isak having been sold this summer, Newcastle have a dynamic crop of players capable of hitting even loftier heights than were struck last season. But with the likes of Trafford and Anderson and Semenyo added to the fold, Newcastle would go from strength to strength.
One Premier League analyst has even claimed Semenyo is “one of the best players in the world”. These are the heights Newcastle must be striving for, and Wilson can make it happen.
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Milos Kerkez is edging toward a move from Bournemouth to Liverpool, with sporting director Richard Hughes discussing the final details with his successor in the Cherries transfer seat.
This in itself is a fantastic deal for Anfield, whose veteran left-back Andy Robertson is an “absolute legend” but one “hanging on in every game” for Arne Slot’s side this season, says pundit Jamie Carragher.
With Trent Alexander-Arnold signing for Real Madrid at the end of his Liverpool contract, it was also important for FSG to welcome a successor, and Bayer Leverkusen’s Jeremie Frimpong has been picked as the man for the job, signed for £29.5m.
Further change is afoot higher up the field, but Liverpool have already shown a willingness to secure a new centre-back this summer, pushing to sign Dean Huijsen before he rejected a wealth of Premier League interest for Real Madrid.
Why Liverpool need a defender
Virgil van Dijk is now a two-time Premier League winner, dominant and immense as the captain guided his team through the campaign with elite consistency.
Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk
It’s brilliant that Van Dijk signed a new deal on Merseyside, extending his stay for two more years, but he turns 34 next month and Liverpool need to find a long-term heir.
That could have been Huijsen, who was hailed as “the perfect left centre-back” by analyst Ben Mattinson after his campaign on the south coast. Complete in an age-belying fashion, the Spain international, only 20, would have secured Liverpool’s backline for years to come, had he joined.
And though FSG are big on acting upon unique market opportunities, they must surely recognise the need for a fallback. Ibrahima Konate arrived in 2021, and no first-team centre-back has since followed him.
Konate, moreover, is being courted by Los Blancos, who want to snap him up as a free agent next summer. Liverpool are currently locked in talks over a new deal with their French defender.
Ibrahima Konate warming up for Liverpool
Given Jarell Quansah’s future is also uncertain, a Huijsen alternative to ease the burden on Van Dijk and co would be great, and the Premier League champions have identified the man for the job.
Liverpool begin move for new CB
As per Caught Offside, Liverpool have entered the race for Bayern Munich centre-back Kim Min-jae, with sources close to the South Korean claiming he will be allowed to leave the Allianz Arena this summer.
With the various parties all seeking a swift resolution, Bayern have reduced their asking price from €50m (£44m) to about €35m (£30m), which would work well for the Reds given their need for reinforcements across a myriad of positions.
With Chelsea and Newcastle United also exploring a move, Liverpool would be wise to take their interest up a notch, ready to pounce.
What Kim Min-Jae would bring to Liverpool
Kim has struggled to truly hit his stride for Bayern, but certainly showcased his quality as an elite-level central defender when in the Serie A with Napoli, heralded as an “iron barrel” of a player by his former teammate Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.
According to Luciano Spalletti, former Napoli boss, Kim has the minerals to become “the best centre-back in the world”, keeping 14 clean sheets from 35 matches as the Blues won the Scudetto in 2022/23, a colossus in protecting his side’s goal.
A player capable of getting stuck in and performing with a more elegant touch, Kim’s is the prototypical modern profile, his strength suggesting he would thrive in the rigorous Premier League.
Bayern signed the 28-year-old from Napoli in July 2023 after meeting his £43m release clause, and though he’s since recovered the Bundesliga from Leverkusen after missing out in his debut term, it hasn’t been the smoothest sailing for the left-sided defender, who made four direct errors leading to a goal this term, as per Sofascore.
Still, such lapses haven’t prevented the £194k-per-week titan from producing otherwise impressive performances, completing 93% of his passes, averaging 5.7 ball recoveries per game and winning 65% of his aerial battles.
His aerial dominance, crisp and progressive passing and left-sided berth suggest Kim could be the perfect foil for Van Dijk, especially when data-led site FBref suggest the two players bear a tactical likeness.
Goals
0.09
0.08
Assists
0.02
0.00
Touches
87.13
103.14
Pass completion
91.7%
92.9%
Progressive passes
5.05
6.45
Shot-creating actions
1.19
1.02
Progressive carries
0.50
0.62
Ball recoveries
3.11
5.51
Tackles + interceptions
2.31
3.06
Clearances
4.55
3.60
Aerials won
2.85
3.06
Securing a new centre-half who can ease Van Dijk’s defensive burden wouldn’t be a bad thing, especially with Liverpool determined to go one better than this term and compete for silverware across four different major fronts.
There’s clearly a likeness to the players, who both employ confident passing games but maintain creative flair too. Moreover, they are persistent commanders of aerial traffic, directing whipped-in danger away from the box.
If Liverpool wish to maximise the time they have left with their legendary skipper, overloading him with minutes might not actually be the best track to take. Instead, Van Dijk could thrive in an environment that allows him to step away from the action without sending Slot’s system into a spin.
Liverpool's VirgilvanDijkapplauds fans before the match
Kim’s similarities to the Dutchman would allow him to do exactly that, regarded in the past as ‘the South Korean Van Dijk.’
Given Quansah was used so sparingly this season, and indeed Konate’s future is uncertain (as is his fitness, routinely missing chunks of the campaign), this would be the perfect, affordable deal for an experienced and dynamic defender who could fill in for the captain or play alongside him.
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