All posts by rastrear-estafeta.com

Aston Villa recorded their sixth win of the season in midweek, defeating Wycombe Wanderers 2-1 in the EFL Cup.

The match gave Unai Emery the ideal chance to give some youngsters an opportunity to showcase their ability in the starting XI. This led to the likes of Sils Swinkel and Kadan Young, who both enjoyed productive senior debuts.

The Spaniard also handed Jhon Duran his first start of the season against Wycombe, and he didn’t disappoint, getting on the scoresheet once again.

Jhon Duran’s game in numbers vs Wycombe

Having made appearances from the bench in every Premier League match of the season, scoring four times in the process, it perhaps wasn’t a surprise to see him unleashed from the first whistle in midweek.

The Colombian enjoyed another positive display, registering six total shots during the match, along with winning a penalty, missing a big chance and winning 100% of his aerial duels.

The youngster lost possession 13 times, however, and it is clear he still has plenty to learn, that’s for sure.

Goals

1

Assists

0

Total shots

6

Lost possession

13

Total duels (won)

10 (5)

Touches

47

Via Sofascore

Despite a solid performance, Emery could drop him back to the bench in order to unleash one of the best players in his squad – Ollie Watkins.

Why Ollie Watkins should be unleashed

The Spaniard is lucky enough that he can call upon strikers such as Watkins and Duran. For now, the Colombian will have to resort to gaining the majority of his game time from the bench.

This isn’t due to his ability, but rather to how good Watkins has been over the previous 12 months.

Last term, the Englishman shone under Emery, scoring 27 goals while also showcasing his selfless side, registering 13 assists in the process, emerging as one of the best centre-forwards in the Premier League.

In six games this term, Watkins – who has been dubbed a “nightmare to play against” by former England colleague Conor Coady – has scored three times while chipping in with a further two assists, continuing where he left off in May.

The striker has registered a 23% goal conversion percentage this season, along with creating a big chance and averaging 0.8 key passes per game.

This has all come after a summer in which he was part of the England squad that reached the final of Euro 2024, scoring the winner against the Netherlands in the semi-final clash. This means he has taken a few weeks longer than usual to return to his high standards.

Goals in the last two league matches have certainly gone a long way to demonstrating that he is back to his best and unleashing him in the starting XI will give Emery the best chance to lead his team to another three points.

Duran is a wonderful option to call upon from the bench, but until Watkins suffers a dip in form, the Colombian isn’t going to have many chances to lead the line from the start.

Whoever starts against Ipswich, all Emery requires is another win.

Aston Villa lodged bid for £54m-rated star, but Zaniolo signed instead

Emery had his eyes on one of Europe’s most talented wingers last summer…

ByRoss Kilvington Sep 28, 2024

Liverpool have had a near-perfect start to life under Arne Slot. Though there was plenty to like from the 5-1 victory over West Ham United in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday evening, Wolverhampton Wanderers will present a different test.

Meeting the Old Gold at Molineux this evening, Liverpool could rise into first place in the Premier League with a win, though that hinges on Manchester City dropping points at St. James’ Park this afternoon.

Slot’s attack is firing on all cylinders. Liverpool have the sharpness up top to do great things this year, but Wolves are resilient and cohesive and will look to capitalise on a slow start through players like Matheus Cunha and Jørgen Strand Larsen.

Mohamed Salah

7 (6)

4

4

Luis Diaz

6 (5)

5

1

Diogo Jota

6 (5)

3

1

Cody Gakpo

7 (2)

2

1

Darwin Nunez

6 (2)

1

1

Federico Chiesa

3 (1)

0

1

Wolves are bottom of the pile, however, with one draw and four losses from five matches and the joint-worst defensive record in the division. Liverpool will be confident that they can get the job done.

Liverpool team news

Slot has confirmed that Alisson Becker “is ready to play” after the distinguished shot-stopped missed the past three matches in all competitions with a hamstring issue.

Harvey Elliott continues his rehabilitation from a fractured foot suffered on international duty with England U21s earlier this month, but Liverpool have a pretty clean bill of health.

Wolves have potentially lost centre-back Yerson Mosquera for the campaign after he tore his anterior cruciate ligament, whereas fellow defender Toti Gomes missed last week’s defeat against Aston Villa and faces a race to return to the line-up.

Darwin Nunez has scored and assisted across his past two games – the Uruguayan’s first starts of the season – but should be dropped for this one, here’s why.

Why Slot should drop Darwin Nunez

It’s been something of a rocky road for Nunez since moving to Liverpool in a deal rising to a club-record £85m fee in 2022. The 25-year-old striker is explosive and dynamic but also frustratingly wasteful in front of goal, scoring 21 Premier League goals in total but also missing 47 big chances.

Slot has tempered his wild side, to be sure, having narrowed the forward’s stylistic approach in scope. Fewer dribbles, less chaos, more work on positioning and spatial awareness, getting into promising positions and striking true.

Jurgen Klopp once called Nunez “unstoppable” when at his best, and though he hasn’t actually reached that level with the consistency desired, there have been promising signs across the past few matches. That said, while he placed an assist against West Ham, there was plenty to be desired from his performance.

Minutes played

90′

Goals

0

Assists

1

Touches

27

Shots (on target)

0 (0)

Accurate passes

13/15 (87%)

Key passes

1

Dribbles (completed)

0 (0)

Tackles

4

Total duels (won)

12 (5)

This actually means that he took fewer touches than his goalkeeper, Caoimhin Kelleher (who took 32) despite playing the full 90 minutes. He might have made some good movements off the ball, worked hard in defence, but didn’t do enough with the opportunities presented to him.

90min felt that he hadn’t done quite enough, handing him only a 5/10 match rating and writing that he ‘struggled to get into the game’. It might be better to use him as a second-half option against Wolves, continuing the rotation that is enabled by such a vibrant and deep frontline.

Nunez also happens to be a brilliant option to unleash in the later phase of a match, which could be key against a Wolves side that has suffered from falling to late-stage strikes.

80 – 90+

5

70 – 79

3

60 – 69

1

45 – 59

2

30 – 45+

2

20 – 29

1

10 – 19

2

0 – 9

1

As you can see, Wolves have suffered from shipping goals late, burning out. Liverpool, conversely, have let in a goal only once beyond the 70th minute across all competitions this season, so a fast start from the visitors will make a telling comment on which way the pendulum will swing.

Should Nunez be dropped, it’s imperative that Luis Diaz is unleashed in his stead, shifting onto the left flank, of course.

Luis Diaz could be the difference-maker

Diaz has been a revelation for the Reds this season. Refer to the first table from earlier, and you will see that he’s already scored five goals this season, with just five appearances in the Premier League too.

This is a remarkable start from a player who, talented, yes, wasn’t exactly the most prolific of players last season, bagging 13 goals and five assists from 53 games across all competitions for Liverpool.

He’s also highly technical, ranking among the top 5% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for pass completion and the top 10% for shot-creating actions per 90, as per FBref.

The Colombia star – whose international efforts of late, four goals and two assists in 2024, have added to the rise – is becoming a potent force for Liverpool, and though there’s a long road to travel before he proves that his level has transcended that of a ‘purple patch’.

Described as a “livewire” by journalist Peter Hall in the past, Diaz’s clinical shooting and effective playmaking and dribbling hints toward a new version of this maverick Redman. Against the Cherries, his two-goal display earned him a 9/10 match score from the Liverpool Echo’s Ian Doyle.

He was rested for the midweek fixture, whereas Nunez played the full contest, so it’s obvious that Slot wants to hand him a starting berth for the sixth successive time in the English top flight, but with Diogo Jota playing an hour against Bournemouth last weekend and the same again against the Irons, he will be rested and ready to take on Molineux.

That plays into the fact that Nunez will have a chance to shine later today, and who knows, given Wolves’ proneness to late concessions, he may still send the travelling Merseysiders into rapture.

Worth as much as Alisson: Liverpool star's value has risen 261% since exit

He’s been the cause of defeat for the Reds since leaving…

1 ByAngus Sinclair Sep 27, 2024

West Bromwich Albion could well have a new potent goalscoring hero in the form of Josh Maja, who has started this Championship season like a man possessed.

Only fit to make 12 appearances for Carlos Corberan's Baggies in the league last season, with just a paltry goal to show for his efforts, the former Sunderland youngster has now managed to register four goals from four league games to help his side sit pretty in second spot.

As much as West Brom are now showing the benefits of exercising patience with Maja, they didn't quite have the same levels of perseverance with this former attacker when he was starting out as a raw youngster, who has since gone on to become a goalscoring menace away from the Hawthorns.

Chris Wood's time at West Brom

Chris Wood, who is now a household name to Premier League fans with Nottingham Forest among the many other top-flight clubs he's lined up for, might now be forgotten about as ever being a ex-West Brom player, having only gone on to make 27 appearances for the West Midlands side.

The 74-time New Zealand international wasn't exactly a hit for the Baggies either, only managing to find the back of the net three times during his short stay with the club.

But, with a promising six assists also managed across these games, West Brom would cash in on their unpolished gem in 2012 when Leicester City bid £1.25m for the centre-forward's services.

Wood had shone on loan at the King Power Stadium before making that move to the Foxes permanent, and would become known as a serious threat in front of goal for many other clubs past Leicester, with the 32-year-old still excelling at Forest today even as his career begins to naturally wind down.

Wood's career since West Brom

It hasn't been all smooth sailing for Wood since departing the Baggies as a young striker still keen to make a name for himself, however, with failed moves to the likes of Newcastle United sticking out from his career resume, as the Magpies won his coveted services for £25m in 2022.

He would only go on to score a weak five goals from 39 appearances at St James' Park, as the pressure of his bumper price tag proved too weighty, before going on to rebuild his somewhat tainted career at the City Ground.

Season

Games played

Goals scored

Assists

24/25

3

2

0

23/24

35

15

1

22/23

7

1

0

Wood has found his goalscoring powers again since relocating to Forest, with an impressive 15 goals registered last campaign helping his relegation-threatened side stave off the drop, whilst two goals have already come his way during the infancy of the new season.

It's not as if Newcastle gambled and splurged that £25m back in 2022 for the sake of it either, with a combined 97 strikes finding the back of the net from the towering 6 foot 3 goal machine when he lined up for both Burnley and Leeds United, before his flop move to Tyneside came to fruition.

West Brom must really regret, with hindsight now on their side, not giving the Auckland-born striker more opportunities in the Baggies' first team, with Wood only given one chance in the Premier League to impress during the 2010/11 campaign when he was still on the roster at the club.

In the here and now, the 32-year-old would also really suit the system Corberan likes his team to play under, as the likes of Tom Fellows and Mikey Johnston would have a field day twisting and turning their markers down the flanks, before attempting to find the imposing figure of Wood ready to pounce.

The on-fire Forest number 11 will just aim to continue seeing out his playing days in style, as the Championship promotion hopefuls curse their bad luck over discarding Wood too soon.

Signed for £15m: West Brom flop has seen his stock crash to below £1m

West Bromwich Albion fans have tried their best to forget about this flop.

ByKelan Sarson Sep 10, 2024

Like with any managerial change, the arrival of Ange Postecoglou at Tottenham Hotspur has offered the potential of a fresh start for those at N17, with there a chance for all members of the first-team squad to stake their claim for a regular role under the new regime.

According to reports in France, one man whom the new boss could look to bring in from out in the cold is £63m man, Tanguy Ndombele, with the mercurial Frenchman having spent the last 18 months on loan at Lyon and Napoli, respectively.

As per L'Equipe, (via Sports Witness) the belief is that Postecoglou instructed the Lilywhites to reject a €20m (£17m) offer from the Serie A champions for the midfielder, with the 57-year-old potentially set to find a space for the 5 foot 11 ace in his side next term having been a 'long-time admirer' of the playmaker.

With Ndombele now back in pre-season, the 26-year-old has the chance to showcase why he deserves to be handed a show of faith from the ex-Celtic boss, albeit with it yet to be seen if the seven-cap international warrants another chance to impress in north London, following his minimal impact over the last four years.

As pundit Darren Bent previously stated, "it's just not worked out" for the £200k-per-week asset in a Spurs shirt to date, hence why it could be a bold call for Postecoglou to give him yet another opportunity ahead of next season.

Perhaps instead of looking to Ndombele as a midfield solution in his 4-3-3 formation next term, the one-time Australian head coach could instead look to the transfer market in order to find a better alternative, with Hoops star Reo Hatate a player whom the experienced tactician is certainly familiar with.

As per a previous report from the Daily Mail, the Japanese international is believed to be being monitored by Spurs ahead of a possible summer move, with the 25-year-old having sparkled under Postecoglou at Parkhead over the last 18 months or so.

There may be a case to make that rather than taking a gamble on Ndombele, the Greek-Aussie could recruit a player who has already blossomed under his tutelage…

Who is Reo Hatate?

Described as the "Japanese Luka Modric" by one Athletic employee, Hatate has been a standout figure for the Old Firm outfit since signing on a £1.4m deal back in January 2022, having scored 13 goals and laid on 14 assists in 66 games in all competitions – a better record than Ndombele has enjoyed at Spurs (nine goals and ten assists in 91 games).

Lauded as a "beast" in the centre of the park by journalist Sacha Pisani, the 5 foot 8 maestro has caught the eye due to his all-action and tireless displays for the Scottish champions, with pundit Alan Hutton praising the £12k-per-week man as a player who is "everywhere" on the pitch.

The same can seemingly not be said of Ndombele, however, with the fleet-footed enigma having been described as a "disgrace" in the past by Sky Sports' Jamie Carragher due to his lack of effort off the ball.

In Serie A last term, the Frenchman notably averaged just 0.7 tackles and interceptions per game from his 30 league outings, while also laying on just one goal contribution, while Hatate, by contrast, was far more impressive at both ends of the pitch, having averaged 1.8 tackles and interceptions per game from his 32 Scottish Premiership appearances, while contributing 14 goals and assists.

While it may not be easy for the latter man to replicate that form in the Premier League, it may be worth the risk for a player whom Postecoglou knows all about, rather than potentially making an ill-judged decision to rely on a player who has largely been unreliable in north London to date, in the form of Ndombele.

Nottingham Forest have tabled an offer in an attempt to bring Spezia Calcio star Bartlomiej Dragowski to the Premier League, according to reports.

Who is Bartlomiej Dragowski?

Dragowski is naturally a goalkeeper who currently plies his trade at the Stadio Alberto Picco having moved there from Fiorentina last summer, and despite not being Leonardo Semplici’s official number one, he quickly established himself as first-choice between the sticks last season having made 34 appearances from 38 Serie A matches.

The Poland international still has another two years to run on his contract over in Italy, but having impressed during his debut season, he’s caught the eye of Steve Cooper, and it’s not the first time this summer that he’s been linked with a move to The City Ground.

Back in June, The Daily Mail reported that the Reds, Bournemouth and Southampton were all interested in striking a deal for the 25-year-old, but it was stated at the time that the former had instead made it their priority to try and complete a permanent swoop for Dean Henderson.

However, Football Insider have since revealed that whilst Manchester United’s shot-stopper wants to make the switch, the move is in jeopardy because they are still holding on to him which means that the boss could be forced to turn his attention towards alternatives, a process that he already appears to be underway with.

Are Nottingham Forest signing Dragowski?

According to Italian outlet TuttoMercatoWeb (via Sport Witness), Dragowski is currently "evaluating" offers that he has received, one being from Nottingham Forest and the other from Fenerbahce.

The Midlands outfit's interest is believed to have created "sirens", and whilst it's unknown as to whether the two parties are in talks, it's stated that "developments are expected soon", likely meaning that he is set to make an immient decision on his future, whether this be accepting one of the proposals in front of him or if he'd rather stay where he is.

Is Dragowski better than Henderson?

As previously stated, Nottingham Forest would be better off identifying other goalkeeping targets seen as a deal for Henderson is proving difficult, and it could well have worked out for the best for Cooper because Dragowski would actually be an upgrade on the Man United star despite being less of a high-profile name.

Sponsored by Mizuno, Spezia’s £21.5k-per-week earner last season kept a total of seven clean sheets which is one more than the six recorded by Henderson and he also made 112 saves from 164 shots on target against, giving him a success rate of 69.5% compared to the Red Devils ace’s 65.9%, making him a stronger option than the loanee.

Standing at 6 foot 2, Dragowski, who has been dubbed a “superman” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, has an extremely strong range of passing having completed 99.5% of his short attempts and 98.1% of his medium passes last term, so has an eye for playing out from the back, and it would be massive coup should the boss be able to secure his services if he accepts the proposal in the coming weeks.

Tottenham Hotspur seem to be closing in on a new defensive target…

What's the latest on Edmond Tapsoba to Tottenham Hotspur?

That's according to Italian journalist Rudy Galetti, who added to the words of his compatriot Fabrizio Romano from mid-June.

The latter first noted: "I keep saying that Tapsoba is a priority target because they [Spurs] love Tapsoba. Tottenham's scouts have been there many times this year to follow Tapsoba. So, he is a player they really love, and they feel he is perfect for Premier League football.

“He is a leader. So, there are many factors in a deal and Tottenham think he is a fantastic option."

However, the latest comes from Galetti, who told GIVEMESPORT: "On the table, there are around €25m (£21m) and the German club is concretely evaluating this proposal. Last winter, Arsenal asked them for him but then now they decide to go for Timber, who is close as well.

“So, the Burkina Faso player [Tapsoba], we can say that is one step away from joining Tottenham. In the next few days, they will push and close the deal positively."

Who could Tapsoba emulate at Spurs?

Given how Mauricio Pochettino kickstarted his reign in north London, which has been comfortably the most successful of any in recent history, perhaps Ange Postecoglou could seek to take a leaf out of his book as he continues his summer spending.

The Argentine added some key defensive assets to his side within the first three transfer windows, but the likes of Kieran Tripper, Eric Dier and Toby Alderweireld offered far more than mere solidity.

All boasted fine ball-playing skill sets that made them integral to the style of play he sought to implement, which worked to great effect.

Now, with their new boss looking to kickstart a revolution of his own, Tapsoba could seek to mimic the latter of that aforementioned trio as the skilful centre-back to underpin his all-action and possession-dominant philosophy.

After all, when compared to others in his role across Europe, the Bayer Leverkusen star ranks in the top 10% for passes attempted, the top 5% for progressive passes, the top 8% for progressive carries and the top 6% for successful take-ons, via FBref.

The 24-year-old is the quintessential ball-playing centre-back, yet boasts the physicality to take to English football with ease too.

This was exactly the case for Alderweireld too, who arguably enjoyed the pinnacle of his Spurs career during the 2015/16 campaign.

Maintaining a 7.28 average rating, which made him the third-highest-rated defender in the whole division for that season, he would record six goal contributions, a 70% dribble success rate, 1.7 interceptions and a mammoth 7.2 clearances per game, via Sofascore.

His presence as a rock at the back for Pochettino aided his title charge massively, which ultimately ended in failure.

Postecoglou will be keen to replicate some of the hallmarks from that tenure but add his own cutting-edge to push them over the line. Tapsoba's arrival would mark a key step towards achieving that goal.

West Bromwich Albion's focus heading into the summer transfer window was to offload players before even thinking about recruiting as they looked to balance the books.

However, after getting a lot of deadweight out of The Hawthorns in the early stages of the summer, and bringing in £7m through the sale of Dara O'Shea to Burnley, the Championship outfit can perhaps now start to bring in some of Carlos Corberan's targets.

Who is West Brom target Josh Key?

According to Football Insider reporter Pete O'Rourke, West Brom are in talks to sign versatile star Josh Key from League One side Exeter City.

Key is out of contract with Exeter and is therefore available on a free transfer, making him an ideal option for Albion as they look to strengthen in multiple positions.

Given his performances in the third tier, plus his contract situation, Key is understandably attracting plenty of interest. It is claimed that Championship pair Plymouth Argyle and Swansea City are also in for the 23-year-old, with the latter already making a compensation payment offer to Exeter.

Where would Josh Key fit in at West Brom?

Whoever wins the race for Key will be signing an extremely versatile player. The youngster started his career at right wing-back and featured there seven times last season, as per WhoScored, but he is also comfortable playing at centre-back (10 appearances), where a position has opened up at West Brom.

Key's versatility does not stop there, though, as he was also used in more advanced positions under Gary Caldwell last season, featuring on both the right and left wings, as well as in central attacking midfield and even as a striker.

"He is an amazing football player who can play in a number of positions and it is about how we utilise him in different games," Caldwell said in December.

Caldwell also praised Key's ability to get past an opponent, which is reflected in the fact that no City player attempted more dribbles (1.6) per game last season.

Key ultimately started out as a defender, and it may well be that it is at the back he finds himself should he join Albion, with Corberan feeling the need to overcome the exit of O'Shea. The Torquay native is just as strong in that side of the game, highlighted by his 1.6 tackles per game – only Alex Hartridge (1.8), who played exclusively at centre-back last season, could better than among Exeter regulars.

Should he arrive, it is clear that Key would not exactly be a like-for-like replacement for O'Shea. However, the former Tiverton Town loanee more than holds his own in certain areas when compared to the now-Burnley man.

For example, O'Shea averaged 1.1 tackles per game last season, while Key averaged 0.5 dribbles to the Irishman's 0.2. The latter did come out on top in terms of interceptions (1.8 v 0.7), but that can partly be explained by Key playing out wide and further up the field last season.

The pair are also different in stature, with Key – on a reported weekly wage of £1.1k per week during his time at Exeter – measuring in at 5 foot 10 and O'Shea at 6 foot 1.

Whether it is as a centre-back, right-back, on the wing or attacking midfield, it might just be that Joshua holds the key to unlocking a promotion-winning team under Corberan.

Glasgow Rangers have more plans to bolster their attacking options ahead of the 2023/24 Scottish Premiership campaign, according to recent reports.

What's the latest Rangers news on a new striker?

According to the Daily Mail, the Light Blues have joined two other clubs in the race to land Scotland international Lyndon Dykes in the summer transfer window.

The report claims that the 27-year-old's impressive performance for his country against Norway last Saturday has reignited interest from English side Millwall, whilst Michael Beale's team and Premier League outfit Burnley are also said to be following him.

Dykes pounced onto a loose ball in the penalty area to stab in an equaliser for Scotland in the 87th minute before he produced a deft touch to set up Norwich City midfielder Kenny McLean to make it 2-1 with less than two minutes of normal time remaining.

This comes after the Gers officially confirmed the signing of Dutch striker Sam Lammers from Atalanta earlier this month for an undisclosed fee, which could mean that the Scottish giants are in the market to add another number nine to their roster.

In that announcement, Beale confirmed that more arrivals are on the way for the Gers: “The coming weeks will see more trading both in and out of the squad as we prepare for the season ahead."

In February, Football Insider claimed that Dykes would be interested in a move to Ibrox but that the Championship side would demand a fee that could prove to be prohibitive, although it remains to be seen exactly how much they would demand.

How did Lyndon Dykes perform last season?

The former Livingston ace, who was hailed as a "focal point" by ex-Rangers defender Alan Hutton and "outstanding" by Mark Warburton, endured a difficult campaign for Queens Park Rangers after Beale departed to join the Light Blues.

The 6 foot 2 ace found the back of the net six times in 21 league appearances under the 42-year-old tactician and ended the season with just eight goals in 39 outings, which suggests that the former Chelsea coach's exit had a devastating impact on his form in front of goal.

Back in August of last year, Beale made his feelings on Dykes clear after a 3-1 win over Hull City in the Championship. The former R's manager said: "I've got no complaints with him, he is giving me everything he can give me. I thought he was absolutely fantastic, he harried the defenders, he bullied them, won flick-ons, held the ball up, he did everything but score."

These comments and the Australian-born marksman's form at the start of the season suggest that the Rangers boss would be signing a player who he already loves and knows how to get the best out of.

The QPR ace is also a proven performer in Scottish football as he plundered 11 goals and eight assists in 28 Premiership matches for Livingston before England came calling in 2020, which could make him an ideal option for the Gers when you combine that with his pre-existing relationship with Beale.

A new dawn is on the horizon for Liverpool. The squad that clinched European glory and a Premier League has been largely separated.Jurgen Klopp must find the antidote to reverse the club’s fortunes and catapult them back into the top four.One of the biggest summers in the Reds’ recent history lies ahead as they must place faith in a new cohort of players.One name that has been mentioned as part of this rebuild is Arda Guler.

What’s the latest on Arda Guler to Liverpool?

According to Aksam (via Sport Witness), Liverpool and Barcelona are interested in signing Fenerbahce Guler this summer.It is understood that both Liverpool and the Blaugrana have 'stepped in' and have 'accelerated their attempts' to secure the signing.However, it could be a complicated deal as Fenerbahce are hoping to keep the youngster for at least one more year.That said, should the youngster leave then it may cost any suitor around £20m.

Who can Arda Guler emulate at Liverpool?

Guler joined the Fenerbache youth ranks in 2019 and signed a professional contract with the club in 2021, making his senior debut as a substitute against Finnish club HJK in the play-offs of the Europa League.Then in August 2021, the "serious talent" – as per Duncan Castles – made his Süper Lig debut, providing the assist for the winning goal to emphatically announce himself into national stardom.Then in March 2022, the playmaker created history as he became the youngest goalscorer in Turkish top-flight history, having only turned 17 three weeks earlier.The youngster was then awarded the club’s number ten shirt and in the first match of the next campaign, he scored twice in 21 minutes.He has continued to excel and has finished the term with 12 goal involvements in 34 appearances in all competitions.During his incredible journey, Erol Tokgolzer, Guler’s former coach, said: “I don't think Arda will stay in Turkey too long. Bids of €20-30m for Arda will become ordinary.”The teen has also been hailed by Andrea Pirlo, who said: “He has the potential to play anywhere in the world. He has quality, he can read the game well, and he has great technique. If he keeps developing his game, there is no limit to his potential.”Only standing 5 foot 9, Guler doesn’t possess a dominant, physical frame – his smaller, more nimble, and insanely intricate style mirrors that of a prime Philippe Coutinho.In 201 outings for Liverpool, the Brazilian – who also operates in a playmaking role – registered 54 goals and 45 assists, and Mauricio Pochettino once said he has “special magic in his feet.”

The rebirth of this silky, innovative, diminutive presence on the Anfield pitch could come in the form of Guler, and it makes for an exciting prospect to see what he could achieve under Klopp’s supervision.

Tottenham Hotspur are set to approach Brentford to discuss a potential transfer fee for goalkeeper David Raya, according to Sky Sports.

What’s the latest Spurs transfer news involving Raya?

Spurs and new manager Ange Postecoglou look set for a relatively busy summer transfer window, with up to five new additions on the cards.

Reports have claimed that Postecoglou, chairman Daniel Levy, chief scout Leonardo Gabbanini and coach Ryan Mason have already held a transfer meeting. A new goalkeeper to come in and replace Hugo Lloris is on the agenda over the coming months, with Raya heavily linked with a move to north London.

Personal terms between the Spaniard and Spurs are allegedly already agreed, with a fee now needing to be agreed between the two clubs.

According to Sky Sports, Tottenham are expected to approach the Bees over a fee for Raya. The report states that Thomas Frank has previously said the goalkeeper is worth £40m, however, Spurs are reluctant to pay that amount.

How did Raya perform against Tottenham?

Raya is 27 years of age and has just 12 months remaining on his Brentford deal, with a new contract unlikely to be agreed, so now appears to be the best time for Spurs to make their move.

The shot-stopper appears to be at the top of his game with a career-high €25m Transfermarkt valuation and recently shone against Spurs. Raya outperformed every Tottenham player aside from Harry Kane in the 3-1 win for the Bees last month, as per SofaScore, recording six saves. BBC pundit Garth Crooks praised his performance, describing one of his saves as “world-class”.

“The first save from the head of Richarlison was world-class, but the recovery to save the second attempt from the same player was quite remarkable.

“Raya’s performance at Spurs was very much in keeping with the rest of his team. The two saves by Raya didn’t just give Brentford the confidence to continue in the same vein they had played throughout the match, it galvanised them.

“Brentford were better than Spurs in every department and Raya was central to their 3-1 victory.”

Frank has also called Raya “very aggressive” in his goalkeeping, and if a fee can be lowered below a £40m asking price, a move could prove to be a shrewd one by Spurs and Postecoglou ahead of the new season.