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Glasgow Rangers find themselves in a position that, only a few short months ago, would have been scarcely believable.

Michael Beale lost three of his opening seven Premiership matches in charge during the early part of the season and the 3-1 defeat to Aberdeen was the last straw, as the board sacked him the very next day.

Philippe Clement has not only led the club to its first piece of silverware since 2022, but has also secured a Europa League clash against Benfica in the last 16 along with sitting at the summit of the league table.

He has had to do all this with a squad largely inherited by Beale, featuring a few summer signings which haven’t quite lived up to their early impressions.

The likes of Sam Lammers, Danilo and Cyriel Dessers were meant to usher in a new era at Rangers, yet they have all struggled in various ways.

Unfortunately, these three have not been the first players to be heavily hyped prior to moving to the Gers, and they certainly won’t be the last.

One of the most notable examples in recent years of a player generating massive hype and hysteria upon his arrival was that of Aaron Ramsey, yet he turned out to be a big disappointment.

Aaron Ramsey’s career statistics

The Welshman began his career at Cardiff City before becoming a household name at Arsenal under Arsène Wenger.

The midfielder made nearly 400 appearances for the Gunners during his 11-season stint in North London, winning three FA Cup trophies, while scoring 64 goals for the club.

There was no doubt that at his peak, Ramsey was one of the finest players in the Premier League, yet injury problems meant he missed a grand total of 152 matches, meaning he could have had well over 500 appearances for the club if he had managed to remain fit and healthy during this period.

Season

Games

Goals

2018/19

40

6

2017/18

32

11

2016/17

32

4

2015/16

40

6

2014/15

41

10

2013/14

34

16

2012/13

47

2

2011/12

44

3

2010/11

8

1

2009/10

29

4

2008/09

22

1

It was announced towards the end of the 2018/19 season that Juventus had signed the player on a pre-contract agreement, and he would join ahead of the following season.

His first two seasons in Italy saw Ramsey play 63 times for the Old Lady, registering 12 goal contributions in the process, but he struggled to replicate the displays that saw him shine while at Arsenal.

Rumours began to build on the January 2022 winter transfer window deadline day that Ramsey was closing in on a loan move to Rangers, and when the deal was signed that evening, the Ibrox faithful were clearly buzzing about securing a move for a world-class player.

Club icon Barry Ferguson lauded him just before he signed, saying: “He’s a player I’ve admired for a long time. He’s still got a lot of football in his legs and for me, Rangers have to get this deal done.

“If you look at the midfield area for Rangers, I think that’s their strongest point because you've got Kamara, Steven Davis who is out, Joe Aribo who for me has been Rangers’ best player this season and Scott Arfield.

“So there’s a lot of quality in there, but for me you can’t have too much quality and if Ramsey comes in, he’ll certainly help Rangers push for the title.”

Unfortunately, his short spell at Ibrox was littered with small injuries, and he turned out to be even worse than fellow signing that winter, Amad Diallo.

Amad Diallo's record at Rangers

The Manchester United winger also joined the club in January 2022 as Giovanni van Bronckhorst sought to add something different to his attacking options.

The youngster got off to a wonderful start, scoring after just three minutes on his debut against Ross County, but it was all downhill from there.

The winger started just another five games, featuring only 13 times in total, and scoring three goals, which, on the surface, represents a solid enough loan spell.

Much more was expected of the teenager, however, especially considering how highly regarded he was rated at Man United, but his spell north of the border could definitely have delivered a lot more.

While there was not as much hype regarding the signing of Diallo compared to that of Ramsey, the Ivory Coast international gem proved to be a slightly better signing.

Aaron Ramsey’s statistics at Rangers

The midfielder has played only five times for Juventus during the first half of the 2021/22 campaign, missing 22 matches through a succession of injury issues and while luring him to Ibrox was a major coup, it was also a massive gamble.

He made his first start for the club against Annan Athletic in the Scottish Cup midway through February, yet he would start only another eight times between then and the end of the campaign, as various niggles meant he was often only fit to come off the bench during the latter stages of games.

Ramsey did score twice for the Gers – including the opener at Ibrox against Celtic in the third Old Firm clash of the season – along with grabbing two assists, but his impact could have been much better.

He will be most remembered for his penalty miss during the shootout against Eintracht Frankfurt in the Europa League final, which ended up proving costly as the German side claimed victory.

Following the match, former Rangers' defender Richard Foster criticised Ramsey, going on to say:

"I said on paper he's the best player in Scotland if he performs but he's been so far away from that, he's not even the best player at Rangers. Not by a long shot this season."

What started off as a signing which could have perhaps been a catalyst for the club to go on and win the league title ended up in major disappointment, as Ramsey didn’t even get off the subs bench in the 2-0 Scottish Cup final win over Hearts just three days after the Europa League final.

Ramsey could have been a fantastic addition to the squad had he remained fit during his five months in Glasgow, but he failed to showcase his true talents in Glasgow.

Newcastle United are believed to be interested in signing a "very good" Premier League player who Roy Keane has praised for his ability to dictate games from midfield.

Newcastle transfer news

The Magpies are eyeing further business ahead of the summer transfer window, at which point Eddie Howe will understandably want to bolster his squad options.

One player who has been linked with a move to Newcastle is Arsenal attacking midfielder Emile Smith Rowe, who could look to leave this summer after struggling for minutes at the Emirates this season. He is seen as an alternative to Aston Villa ace Jacob Ramsey, who the Magpies made an approach for in January.

The Magpies are also reportedly the front-runners to sign teenage Sunderland star Chris Rigg, seeing him as a hugely exciting long-term candidate who could develop into a special player over time.

Newcastle now winning the race to sign “wonderful” in-demand gem for Howe

This would be some coup…

ByTom Cunningham Feb 14, 2024

Howe could also look to improve his attack moving forward, not least because Alexander Isak and Callum Wilson struggle to stay fit for long periods, and Lille forward Jonathan David has been backed to seal a move to Newcastle at the end of the season.

Another attacking player who could move to St James' is Albert Gudmundsson, who is currently plying his trade at Genoa, scoring nine goals in Serie A this season.

Newcastle want James Garner

According to a new update from TEAMtalk, Newcastle are keen on signing Everton midfielder James Garner, being joined by a number of other Premier League clubs in showing an interest.

"Garner has emerged on the radar of Spurs and several other Premier League clubs, including Newcastle, after catching the eye at Goodison Park over the last 18 months."

Garner may not necessarily be the elite midfielder that some Newcastle fans crave this summer, but he could still be a shrewd addition, boosting Howe's squad depth and acting as a long-term addition who should only improve.

Appearances

23

Starts

22

Goals

1

Assists

1

Tackles per game

2.8

Clearances per game

1.5

Interceptions per game

1.4

The fact that the Englishman spent so many years at Manchester United as a youth team player says a lot about his potential – he also made seven appearances for the Red Devils' first team – and Roy Keane has lauded him in the past during a spell at Nottingham Forest, saying:

"He’s very good technically and he likes to dictate the play, sit a little bit more than Yates. Tough game for him today, but this game is good for those young players to experience playing top teams like Liverpool. It’s a great way to learn."

After Miley: Newcastle have one of world football's most valuable teens

Newcastle have an abundance of teenage talent in their squad that they could use to try turn their fortunes around.

ByZak Anderton Feb 15, 2024

Garner would add to the homegrown quota at Newcastle, which would be an added bonus, and Howe could feel that he could develop an exciting young player into an even more formidable figure as the years pass, ensuring he reaches his potential.

Crystal Palace fans have been put through the wringer this season, as poor performance after poor performance in the Premier League has seen them dragged into a relegation battle they should be nowhere near.

The Eagles have lost four of their previous five games across all competitions, conceding a whopping 15 goals and scoring just four in return.

FA Cup

Everton

1-0 Loss

Premier League

Arsenal

5-0 Loss

Premier League

Sheffield United

3-2 Win

Premier League

Brighton

4-1 Loss

Premier League

Chelsea

3-1 Loss

Unfortunately for manager Roy Hodgson, one of those heavy defeats came away to bitter rivals Brighton & Hove Albion.

So, unsurprisingly, his place in the dugout is looking increasingly untenable with every passing day, and it seems almost certain that Steve Parish and Co will soon be handing the veteran his P45.

The latest on Crystal Palace's manager search

If the Eagles' hierarchy could've had their way, it's likely that Hodgson would already be out of a job, as it was reported last week that in the aftermath of the club's embarrassing 4-1 defeat away to Brighton, Parish seriously considered sacking the former England boss, only to find that it was proving a challenge to find someone willing to take the reins mid-season.

Some of the names touted for the role include former Nottingham Forest manager Steve Cooper, current Ipswich town boss Kieran McKenna and Middlesbrough manager Michael Carrick.

However, with two of these talented coaches currently in a job and Cooper uneasy about taking the role at this time, alternatives will need to be sourced. One option could be that of Oliver Glasner, a man backed by co-owner John Textor.

Another manager who has been touted for the role is Bo Svensson, a coach held in high esteem notably by Jurgen Klopp.

But why would he be a good hire for the Eagles?

How Svensson compares to Hodgson

Now, Svensson may not be a name familiar to English fans, but he is a former Danish international who enjoyed a respectable playing career that spanned from 1999 to 2014 and that saw him play for FC Copenhagen, Borussia Monchengladbach and 1 FSV Mainz 05.

Following a short spell managing Mainz's U17s and U19s, the Skorping-born defender took charge of Austrian side FC Liefering in 2019, where he won 23 of his 43 games in charge, drawing 11 and losing just nine during his one-and-a-half years in charge.

He then returned to Mainz in January 2021, taking over from Jan-Moritz Lichte, who had left the side second from bottom and with just six points from their opening 14 games – safe to say it was a risk from the then 41-year-old.

However, it paid off, and he managed to guide the side to safety with a genuinely impressive resurgence that saw only three teams collect more points from the final 17 games of the season. At the same time, only Bayern Munich lost fewer games than Mainz in that same period.

This remarkable turnaround led to former Mainz manager and Premier League legend Klopp describing Svensson as an "outstanding" coach in June 2021 and a "great, great talent" to boot.

Granted, the Dane did leave Mainz earlier this season after a poor start to the campaign, but you don't become a poor manager overnight, and even with his disappointing conclusion at the club, he leaves with a better record than Hodson's current one at Palace.

Games

104

38

Wins

39

12

Draws

26

10

Losses

39

16

Points per Match

1.38

1.21

For example, the experienced Englishman has won just 12 of his 38 games in charge of Palace and collected just 1.21 points per match.

In contrast, Svensson managed to win 39 of his 104 games in charge, and even with a lacklustre conclusion to his tenure at the club, he managed to collect 2.38 points per match with Mainz.

"Exceptional" manager praised by Guardiola is enticed by Crystal Palace job

One key thing attracts him to Selhurst.

ByEmilio Galantini Feb 13, 2024

Ultimately, Palace clearly need some new ideas, and with how Svensson saved Mainz from certain relegation in 2021 and his rave reviews from Klopp, he could be the man to bring them to Selhurst Park.

Rangers and Philippe Clement are interested in making a move for a "great finisher" whose father was once a renowned goalscorer in the Premier League, according to a new transfer rumour.

Rangers transfer rumours

The Gers continue to be linked with new signings, even though they won't be able to bring in contracted players until the summer transfer window. Dwight Gayle is a free agent who has been backed to join Rangers, however, with the 34-year-old leaving Stoke City on deadline day and is now able to talk to other clubs.

He is someone with so much experience down the years, making his mark in both the Premier League and the Championship, and he could come in as an effective squad player for Clement, as they look to edge Celtic in the battle for Scottish Premiership glory.

Hearts striker Lawrence Shankland is another individual who was continually linked with a move to Rangers during January, but he ended up staying put. A new update suggests that the Gers could still snap him up this summer, along with making Abdallah Sima's loan move a permanent one, assuming Clement's side get Champions League football.

It looks as though the Scottish giants are targeting another attacking player, however, following a new update.

Rangers eyeing Tyrese Campbell move

According to a fresh claim from Football Insider, Rangers are interested in signing Stoke City forward Tyrese Campbell, "keeping close tabs" on his current situation.

"Rangers are keeping close tabs on Stoke City ace Tyrese Campbell, sources have told Football Insider. It is believed that the Gers have revived their interest in the left-footed Championship forward, who is set to become a free agent in the summer.

"The club were very interested in a move for Campbell four years ago, with Football Insider revealing at the time that they held talks with him to try and lure him away from the bet365 Stadium. Now, Philippe Clement’s side could make a fresh attempt to secure the services of the 24-year-old, who is the son of former Arsenal and Everton striker Kevin Campbell."

Campbell could be a great signing by Rangers, and the fact that they have rated him for some time suggests he really is a strong target, having rejected a move to Ibrox back in 2020.

The 24-year-old, who is the son of former Everton and Arsenal striker Kevin Campbell, has only made 12 Championship appearances this season, so a move away from Stoke could appeal to him at the end of the season, at which point he may well be a free agent. Former Stoke manager Michael O'Neill is someone who has spoken of Campbell in glowing terms in the past, saying of him:

"Tyrese is a great finisher. If you are a good finisher you have to get in the positions and he did that today."

Rangers gem who lost the ball 17x shone alongside Fabio Silva vs Livi

Rangers cut the gap at the top of the table to just three points with a win over Livingston today

ByRoss Kilvington Feb 3, 2024

A tally of 34 goals and 20 assists in 153 appearances for Stoke is a good return that highlights Campbell's end product, as does two in as many caps for England's Under-20s, so he could be a shrewd free signing by Rangers this summer.

The January transfer window has just over a week left to run and Celtic already have their eyes on a target to bring to Parkhead in the summer.

Celtic's search for a new number one

According to Football Insider, the Hoops have made signing a new number one a priority for the summer transfer window as they look for a new long-term option in that position.

Current first-choice Joe Hart is out of contract at the end of the current season and it remains to be seen whether or not he will be offered an extension.

The report claims that the Scottish giants have identified Liverpool shot-stopper Caoimhin Kelleher as one of their top targets to take over from the former England international.

It states that the Ireland international, who is valued at £20m by the Premier League side, is ready to move on from Anfield in search of regular game time, which has opened the door for Celtic to swoop in for him.

Brendan Rodgers could now avenge the blunder that was made with the signing of Nat Phillips from the Reds by landing a fantastic signing from Jurgen Klopp's side.

Nat Phillips' struggles in Scotland

The English centre-back spent the first half of the season on loan at Celtic from Liverpool and failed to nail down a regular place in the starting XI.

He only made six appearances in the Scottish Premiership and started three matches for Rodgers. One of those starts produced a calamitous performance as the 26-year-old flop scored an own goal in a 2-1 defeat to Kilmarnock.

Appearances

Six

Tackles per game

0.2

Interceptions per game

0.3

Ground duel success rate

30%

Phillips also featured in two Champions League games for the Hoops and lost a staggering 67% of his aerial duels and 100% of his battles on the ground, as opposition players found it far too easy to get the better of him.

These statistics show that the Liverpool loanee struggled domestically and in Europe before being allowed to return to England at the start of this month.

The stats that show why Kelleher could avenge Phillips' failure

Celtic could now avenge the blunder they made with the signing of Phillips by securing a deal for Kelleher at the end of the 2023/24 campaign.

The Irish colossus, firstly, is 25 and could be the long-term number one at Parkhead. He is 11 years younger than Hart, who is out of contract this summer, and could be Rodgers' number one for many, many, years to come.

This means that there is long-term value to be had with the Reds youngster if the Hoops snap him up on a permanent deal, whereas Phillips was only short-term loan that did not work out on the pitch.

Kelleher, who was once hailed as "exceptional" by Klopp, could also arrive as an upgrade on Hart in terms of their respective shot-stopping abilities.

The 25-year-old ace has been Liverpool's first-choice in the EFL Cup in recent seasons and recorded a save success rate of 73% or higher in two of the last three campaigns.

Meanwhile, Hart has saved 67% of the shots on his goal in the Premiership this season and saved 65% of the shots against him during the 2022/23 campaign.

Kelleher has also stopped 9.1% of crosses into his box over the last 365 days in European competitions, in comparison to the Celtic stopper's 1.2% of crosses during the same period of time.

Therefore, the Hoops could avenge their Phillips blunder by signing a superb Liverpool talent who could be a key player for the club for many years to come.

Carlos Corberan will hope the occasion of the Black Country Derby doesn't get the better of his West Bromwich Albion players, Wolverhampton Wanderers making the short trip to the Hawthorns to play the Baggies in what could be an enthralling FA Cup contest this Sunday.

The Spanish boss will certainly want some form of a reaction from the away defeat to Norwich City last time out in Championship action, the West Midlands side having more of the possession at 60% but having nothing to show for it at full-time in a dire 2-0 defeat.

Corberan could well look to add some quality to the forward positions after such a passive attacking display at Carrow Road, looking at signing this loan player until the end of the season in a surprise move.

If all goes to plan, this exciting loanee could be an upgrade on Grady Diangana who remains out of action for the Baggies owing to the African Cup of Nations taking place.

West Brom looking at attacking recruits

According to a report from Daily Mail journalist Stephen McGowan, Celtic are attempting to offload Liel Abada this month on loan with a whole host of clubs circling for the 22-year-old as a result.

West Brom, Watford and Southampton are all name-checked in the article as second-tier sides casting their eyes in the direction of Abada, with further interest coming from abroad courtesy of Ligue 1 and the Bundesliga.

Falling out of favour this season at Parkhead under Brendan Rodgers, the Baggies could well offer Abada's career a lifeline this January – the Hoops winger a livewire on his day, as has been showcased during his stay in Glasgow to date.

Diangana could well return back from AFCON sweating about his immediate first-team future if this deal is successful, Abada boasting excellent goalscoring statistics in Scotland compared to the unpredictable Congolese forward's recent output in England.

January transfer window: All the deadline day deals from England and Scotland

Stay on top of all the latest transfer deals across the Premier League, EFL and SPFL as the January window closes.

ByCharlie Smith Feb 1, 2024 How Liel Abada compares to Grady Diangana

Last season under the guidance of Ange Postecoglou at Celtic, Abada routinely tore Scottish Premiership defences to shreds.

Scoring ten times and assisting a further five goals as the Hoops strolled to yet another SPFL title triumph, Abada even missed nine big chances during that campaign which could have made his numbers overall even more impressive.

This terrifying form in front of goal led to Postecoglou labelling Abada a "handful" last season after a bright cameo against St. Mirren, the now popular Tottenham Hotspur boss often utilising the attacker as an impact substitute as well as starting him during his decorated time in Scotland.

Comparatively, Diangana last season in the Championship only mustered up four goals and three assists with his powers at the Hawthorns seemingly fading over time since bursting onto the scene in 2019.

Diangana is some way off the heights he managed when originally joining the Baggies on loan, with Corberan potentially wanting to add a figure similar to the Congolese attacker in Abada this window that can take second-tier defences by storm.

With Jed Wallace putting in a second-rate showing playing at right midfield last game – unsuccessful with all of his dribble attempts at Carrow Road on top of winning just two of his 16 duels – the time could well be right for Corberan to bring in a new option for the right flank in the £17k per week Israeli.

Diangana will still play his part for the promotion-chasing Baggies on his return, but with Abada potentially joining, West Brom could have a fresh and exciting attacker to call upon who could cause Championship defences absolute havoc and help the West Midlanders pick up more wins on the board.

Aston Villa could be ready to plot a move for Marseille defender Duje Caleta-Car.

What’s the word?

That’s according to Football Insider sources who claim that Steven Gerrard is stepping up to sign a new centre back in the summer transfer window. Gerrard watched Caleta-Car last week as Marseille beat Nantes 3-2 in Ligue 1.

With the Croatia international’s contract expiring at the end of next season and his market value set at £14.4m, then Villa may well grab themselves a bargain if they were to land the defender.

They may face a battle though, as fellow Premier League side West Ham have been linked with him in the past few months.

Better than Mings & Konsa?

Villa have conceded 27 goals in 21 matches under Gerrard since his arrival in November 2021 and these figures are simply not good enough if he aims to take the side into Europe.

The centre-back partnership of Tyrone Mings and Ezri Konsa is clearly not working well enough, hence the interest in Caleta-Car.

Dubbed “excellent” by Alex Crook, it’s clear to see why. The 25-year-old has 22 caps for Croatia, featuring in the squad that was runners-up at the 2018 World Cup and also played in Euro 2020.

Caleta-Car has a 92% pass success rate in Ligue 1, higher than both Mings and Konsa. Showing that he can play out successfully from the heart of defence and build attacks.

He also wins 69% of his duels per game in Ligue 1, again higher than both Englishmen and these performance-related factors could be what Gerrard is looking for in a central defender; someone that is strong and can win both ground and aerial battles, as well as being able to play out well.

Villa may find themselves with a bargain on their hands come the summer.

AND in other news, Aston Villa now plotting bid for £18m-rated “phenom”, he’s the “new Yaya Toure”…

Everton will host Leicester at Goodison Park this evening in an important clash that could push Frank Lampard’s side further into safety from the relegation zone if they can take all three points from the game.

In terms of injury news, despite having an almost fully fit squad when Lampard spoke yesterday in his press conference to confirm the return of Yerry Mina and Donny Van de Beek, there has now been a new injury worry in the team that could see a starting player out for the game ahead.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin has been named as a doubt for selection following a rumoured injury problem according to journalist Chris Beesley from the Liverpool Echo. However, there is no clarity yet on whether he will play against Leicester City and will likely come down to the game itself for official confirmation of the striker’s condition.

With that being said, this is how Football FanCast expects Everton to line up against Brendan Rodgers’ side…

We expect to see three changes in the team that beat Manchester United, with a 4-2-3-1 formation deployed.

The first change we expect to see is Yerry Mina’s instant inclusion in the selection following his long-term injury problems that have kept him sidelined since the beginning of February when he picked up a high-grade quadriceps tendon injury during the game against Newcastle United at St James’ Park.

The Toffees boss confirmed that the 6 foot 3 defender hailed a “monster” by Michael Ball, will “feature” in today’s team, and we predict he will replace Michael Keane to play alongside Ben Godfrey, which will be a huge boost in the back-line.

The second change that we think we will see in tonight’s game is the return of van de Beek but placed in a more attacking role, allowing the Man United loanee to have more freedom to be creative and play a part in troubling the Foxes defence, his attacking attributes are something he is well known for from his time at Ajax.

The third and final change we predict is Demarai Gray coming in on the left wing to replace Richarlison, who will take the centre-forward role in Calvert-Lewin’s absence.

If the rumours are true that the striker is injured again, Lampard will not be wanting to take any chances on his fitness and will likely either bench the forward or remove him from the squad completely ahead of the Merseyside Derby this weekend.

Everton can go six points clear of 18th place Burnley if they can secure their second win in a row against Leicester tonight, and Lampard will surely be hoping his team can carry their confidence from their surprise win over Man United into the game, especially with the added quality re-joining the side in the likes of Yerry Mina.

AND in other news: Lampard must unleash “unselfish” £22.5m-rated Everton star, he’ll terrify Leicester

Renowned Glasgow Rangers bloggers Four Lads Had a Dream hailed John Lundstram as an ‘absolute monster’ in their Scottish Cup semi-final clash on Sunday afternoon.

The Lowdown: Crunch clash at Hampden

The Gers faced another huge game after their Europa League heroics on Thursday night, taking on Celtic for a place in next month’s Scottish Cup final.

It ended up being a tense afternoon for Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s side, who went behind after Greg Taylor’s strike but responded thanks to captain Scott Arfield’s equaliser.

Extra-time was required to separate the two sides, with the Gers eventually prevailing to reach the final thanks to Fashion Sakala’s late strike.

The Latest: Lundstram’s influence hailed

Taking to Twitter during the match, Four Lads Had a Dream lauded Lundstram’s influence at Hampden Park:

“Been the better team but nothing to show for it. Playing ourselves into trouble the only times they have threatened. John Lundstram playing like an absolute monster. Wee bit more quality in transition needed. C’mon Rangers.”

The Verdict: Superb effort from midfielder

Lundstram hasn’t always had a big impact since trading Sheffield United for Rangers last summer, but this was undoubtedly one of his stronger days at the office.

He was a dominant presence in the middle of the park, as he hit the post with a stunning long-range effort in the first half, and the frustration that was met with him being substituted summed up his performance, as he came off to a standing ovation.

The Athletic journalist Jordan Campbell added to his praises, claiming that he was ‘superb’ and ‘got through a power of work’.

The hope is that Lundstram can continue this form until the end of the season, as van Bronckhorst’s men look to narrow the gap on Celtic in the Scottish Premiership title race and win the Europa League.

In other news, a transfer expert has dropped some summer Rangers transfer news. Read more here.

Liverpool have “concrete” interest in an “exceptional” England international and are planning an approach for him, according to a new transfer update.

Diaz out and Isak in at Liverpool?

The Reds haven’t had a summer this exciting in many years, with so much incoming and outgoing business happening since the end of last season. Luis Diaz’s time as a Liverpool player is now set to reach its conclusion, with the Colombian winger closing in on a move to Bayern Munich, following three-and-a-half years at Anfield.

Meanwhile, the Premier League champions are continuing their pursuit of Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak, in what could be a remarkable signing, just weeks after Florian Wirtz joined as the most expensive addition in the history of British football.

If Liverpool were able to sign Isak on top of Hugo Ekitike, with Diaz and Darwin Nunez making way, it could prove to be outstanding business, with all due respect to the two South Americans. A new centre-back will also be needed, though, and a key update has dropped regarding their search for one.

Liverpool planning approach for "exceptional" ace

According to a new update from Football Insider, Liverpool have “concrete” interest in Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi, as has seemingly been the case for some time now.

Similarly to Isak, the 24-year-old has “informed” the Eagles that he is “not planning to sign an extension” this summer, with the Reds now “expected to make a fresh approach to Palace in the coming weeks”.

With Jarell Quansah leaving for Bayer Leverkusen earlier this summer, Guehi stands out as the ideal choice to come in and bolster Liverpool’s defensive options. In fact, he would be an upgrade on the young Englishman.

The Palace skipper has grown so much as a player in the past year or two, standing out as arguably England’s best player at Euro 2024, with former Three Lions goalkeeper Joe Hart showering him with praise.

“Huge shoutout to Marc Guehi. I thought he was exceptional. He really stepped in and was really calm on the ball. I thought Guehi allowed John Stones to play his game. The more Marc plays, the better that [centre-back] partnership will get.”

This feels like the right time for Guehi to leave Palace and kick on at one of the biggest clubs in Europe, and while Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate will make it hard for him to be a regular starter, plenty of minutes should still come his way.

Liverpool now in contact to sign £17m forward who Man Utd are in talks for

The Red Devils could be hijacked by those at Anfield.

ByCharlie Smith Jul 27, 2025

The £50,000-a-week defender’s price tag is one drawback, especially as Liverpool have already paid huge money on signings this summer, but if FSG make the funds available, the Reds should view him as a fantastic option.