da jogodeouro： Manchester City’s Champions League campaign is over.

da dobrowin： On Wednesday night, Pep Guardiola’s side were hammered by Real Madrid at the Bernabéu, with Kylian Mbappé’s hat-trick seeing the holders easily progress; Nico González’s first goal for the club in stoppage time scant consolation.

It’s pretty indisputable that this Champions League campaign was an abject failure for the Citizens, this their earliest elimination since 2013, with their only victories in the competition coming over Slovan Bratislava, Sparta Prague and Club Brugge.

So, once again, Man City’s transfer strategy is coming under intense scrutiny; did the reigning Premier League champions let their answer to Mbappé go?

Kylian Mbappé's Real Madrid career so far

When the world was watching on Wednesday, Mbappé really came to the fore, scoring all three as Real Madrid swatted Man City aside, the 17th Champions League hat-trick by a los Blancos player, which is a new competition record.

The Frenchman now has 27 goals to his name this season, on target every 113 minutes on average, which certainly isn’t bad, but it hasn’t been all plain sailing since he made the move to the Spanish capital.

Earlier in the season, Jonathan Wilson of the Guardian argued Mbappé’s arrival had disrupted the ‘balance of the forward line’, adding that the Frenchman ‘cut a frustrated figure’ during October’s 4-0 Clásico defeat at the hands of Barcelona, in which he was caught offside eight times, a record-breaking amount.

In November, Didier Deschamps decided to leave les Bleus’ captain out of his squad for Nations League fixtures against Israel and Italy, citing ‘non-sporting problems’, which Mbappé later revealing he’d been struggling with a “mentality issue” throughout the season.

Nevertheless, speaking on the La Liga weekly podcast, former Man United and Wimbledon striker Terry Gibson believes the concerns surrounding Mbappé’s early season form were overblown, and that expectations were merely set ridiculously high when he signed.

Now, having scored 18 goals since the start of December, he is being widely praised, with Adwaidh Rajan of BBC Sport noting he’s gone from ‘adapting’ to ‘thriving’, teammate Jude Bellingham, speaking to TNT Sports after Wednesday’s win, described him as “brilliant” and “dangerous”, while Mbappé himself says he wants to “define an era” and “make history at Real Madrid”.

Man City had no answer to Mbappé on the night, but did they recently sell their own version, a decision they’re being made to regret?

Man City sold their answer to Mbappé

Mbappé wasn’t the only big-name striker who arrived in the Spanish capital last summer because, across the city, Atlético Madrid bought Julián Álvarez from Manchester City for a reported fee of £81.8m.

Chalkboard

Expand Collapse

At the time, this was viewed as an excellent deal for Man City, with Richard Jolly of the Independent noting they got great value for Erling Håland’s ‘second-choice’, while Steve Price of Forbes added that the Argentine became the Sky Blues’ record-sale.

However, this isn’t so much the case anymore, with Dermot Corrigan and Thom Harris of the Athletic documenting that Álvarez has ‘hit the ground running’ at Atleti, adding that nobody is questioning his transfer fee anymore.

His recent Panenka penalty in a Madrid derby, that finished 1-1 at the Bernabéu, takes Álvarez’s tally to 17 goals for the season, leaving los Colchoneros third in La Liga, just a point behind both Barça and Real Madrid, hence why Graham Ruthven of Total Soccer Show described this as Europe’s best title race.

Interestingly, FBref deem Alvarez to be a similar player to Mbappe among La Liga forwards, so let’s analyse how their first seasons in Madrid compare.

Kylian Mbappé vs Julián Álvarez 2024/25 comparison

Statistics

Mbappé

Álvarez

Appearances

37

37

Minutes

3,043

2,385

Goals (per 90)

0.77

0.64

Assists (per 90)

0.09

0.15

Goals – xG

0

+3.7

Shots per 90

4.64

2.75

Shots on target %

50.6%

46.6%

Shot-creating actions

111

83

Goal-creating actions

14

12

Touches per 90

37.48

38.15

Take-on success %

44.7%

54.4%

All statistics courtesy of FBref.com

As outlined by the table, Mbappé ranks higher than Álvarez for most metrics, but only just, with the Argentine coming out on top when it comes to assists per 90, take-on success % and touches, admitidly the latter is only marginal.

In this season’s Champions League, only one player, namely Barça’s Raphinha, boasts a higher goals – xG figure than Álvarez’s +3.8, underlining how clinical he has been; for reference, Mbappé’s figure of -1.7 leaves him 862nd, out of 870, in this statistic.

Alex Kirkland of ESPN claims Álvarez could become Atlético’s ‘next great striker’, following in the footsteps of Diego Costa, Radamel Falcao, Diego Forlán​​​​​​​ and current teammate Antoine Griezmann.

Meantime, Charlotte Coates of BBC Sport believes Guardiola made a ‘mistake’ letting Álvarez leave, with the manager himself admitting “it could be a problem”, having previously described the Argentine as “incredible”.

So, would Man City have beaten Real Madrid if they’d had Álvarez in their ranks? Perhaps not, but it is still looking more and more like a mistake to allow him to depart.

Related Forget Dias: Pep must axe 5/10 Man City star after "hall of shame" display

Manchester City exited the Champions League with a 3-1 defeat against Real Madrid last night.

Posts 2

da bet7： Arsenal are an entirely different club from the one Mikel Arteta took charge of over five years ago.

da leao： The Spaniard has turned what was a flailing midtable team into one that is now challenging for the Premier League title for the third consecutive year without many of their star players.

Much of the club’s evolution has to be put down to the manager’s tactics and leadership, but arguably even more important than that has been his recruitment.

The former captain has overseen the signing of several key players over the years, including one in the summer of 2021 who has seen his valuation soar.

Arsenal's 2021 summer signings

If you are talking about a signing made by Arsenal in the summer 2021 window, the first name that will come to mind for most is Martin Odegaard.

The Norwegian international spent the latter half of the prior campaign on loan with the club, and while he wasn’t sensational in that period, Arteta saw enough, and he was signed for around £30m with £4m of add-ons.

Since then, the former Real Madrid wonderkid has established himself as one of the most important players in the squad, was named captain at just 23 years old, and, while he’s not at his best at the moment, has amassed a pretty good tally of 38 goals and 31 assists in 179 games.

Another of the big signings that summer was Aaron Ramsdale, who moved from the recently relegated Sheffield United for around £30m, including add-ons.

The Englishman’s time in North London is an interesting topic, as while he won over fans and pundits during his first two campaigns and was a key member of the team who almost won the title in 22/23, he was suddenly replaced by David Raya the following year.

At the time, Arteta told the press that he did not have a set number one, but it was quickly apparent that he much preferred the Spaniard between the sticks, so after making just 11 appearances across all competitions last season, he was sold to Southampton in the summer for a fee of £18m that could reach £25m.

However, there was another addition to the first team in 2021, who cost more than Ramsdale and Odegaard, who remains an important player in the squad, and a recent increase in his valuation reflects that.

Market Movers

Expand Collapse The Arsenal signing worth millions more today

So, while the likes of Albert Sambi Lokonga, Nuno Tavares and Takehiro Tomiyasu were all signed in the summer of 2021, the most expensive addition of the window, for Arsenal, that is, was Ben White.

The defender joined the Gunners from Brighton & Hove Albion for a fee of around £50m, and while there were more than a few dissenting voices from the media at the time, especially after his lacklustre debut, it would be hard to describe the transfer as anything other than a success.

In his first campaign with the club, the Poole-born “warrior,” as dubbed by talent scout Jacek Kulig, made 37 appearances for the team.

However, they primarily came at centre-back, which changed upon the arrival of William Saliba ahead of the 22/23 campaign.

Yet, instead of being phased out of the team, the 27-year-old dynamo simply moved out to right-back, where he has been ever since and, when fit, has a brilliant partnership with Bukayo Saka.

Interestingly, the former Brighton ace now has more competition than he did before with Jurrien Timber. Still, as brilliant as the Dutchman has been, we can see a world in which the Englishman comes back as the first choice off the right when he’s fully recovered from his knee surgery, in part thanks to his ability to provide width by overlapping brilliantly with Odegaard and Saka.

In all, the 6 foot 1 ace has made 146 appearances for the Gunners, in which he’s scored six goals and provided 11 assists, and this importance to the squad has seen his valuation soar, with Football Transfers now valuing him at up to €81.7m, which converts to around £68m, or £18m more than he cost Arteta and Co almost four years ago.

White’s Arsenal career

Appearances

146

Goals

6

Assists

11

Goal Involvements per Match

0.11

All Stats via Transfermarkt

Ultimately, it might not have been the most obvious transfer to make at the time, but in the years since, White has become an instrumental part of this Arsenal team and is more than deserving of his new price tag.

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da fazobetai： Potential new Arsenal sporting director Andrea Berta has been tipped to sign one striker for Mikel Arteta due to his unique connection with the player.

Arsenal in talks to replace Edu Gaspar with Andrea Berta

da betcris： Long-serving former transfer chief Edu Gaspar resigned from his Arsenal role in November, with PSG director Luis Campos among the high-profile director names considered by Arsenal since then.

Related Arteta makes exit decision as talks held with £180k-per-week Arsenal star

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However, it has now come to light that Arsenal could be closing in on another name to succeed Edu – former Atlético Madrid director Berta.

Arsenal’s next five Premier League games

Date

Man Utd (away)

March 9th

Chelsea (home)

March 16th

Fulham (home)

April 1st

Everton (away)

April 5th

Brentford (home)

April 12th

The Italian is apparently in very advanced talks to join Arteta’s side, according to some reports, with journalist Pete O’Rourke even telling Football Insider this week that his appointment is “all but done” despite Arsenal holding negotiations with Yossi Benayoun.

With Berta’s possible switch to the Gunners boardroom gaining more and more traction, transfer rumours are understandably going to follow, and many supporters will be eager to hear what the 53-year-old’s plans could be this summer if he is indeed hired.

Berta tipped to sign Matheus Cunha for Arsenal

The former Arsenal striker Jeremie Aliadiere has claimed that Wolves forward Matheus Cunha could be a very credible target for Berta given their Atletico ties.

The £90,000-per-week striker, dubbed “sensational” by Micah Richards, has been a star for Wolves this season, and he’s also got a very enticing £62.5 million release clause written into his new contract.

“Berta knows Cunha from their time at Atlético Madrid, and it could be a deal that goes through,” said Aliadiere. “He’s having a great season in a team that’s struggling to fight relegation. That shows you how good he is and how quickly he’s adapted to the Premier League. He could be a good signing too.”

Aliadiere added that the pending appointment of Berta is a “very” exciting one.

“I think by the sound of it and what I was reading this morning, Andrea Berta seems to be the man in pole position at the moment. It seems like only small details remain, so it looks like he could be the new one.

“He has great experience and has been at Atlético Madrid for 12 years. If you look at the signings he has made and what the club has achieved, it is very exciting. Very, very exciting

‘If we look at the job Edu has done from when he came in and where Arsenal were, the signings he has made, I think he has done very well. You don’t work at Atletico alongside Diego Simeone if you’re not very good at your job, so I am very excited. But of course, we hope to sign some big players now.

“It is very exciting, and hopefully Berta’s good connections with the players he has signed in the past can help Arsenal. I think he would need to have a great relationship with Arteta.”

da aposte e ganhe： Arsenal are now planning to hold talks over a move for a “superstar” striker, who is now looking increasingly likely to leave his club for a fee of £50m this summer, according to a report.

Arteta's striker woes at Arsenal

da imperador bet： Manchester City’s drop-off this season should have presented the Gunners with a perfect opportunity to win the Premier League title, but with Liverpool now sitting 13 points clear, it looks like they will be finishing in second place once again.

The lack of an out-and-out striker has been a problem all season, with Kai Havertz receiving criticism from the media prior to his season-ending injury, being branded “terrible” by talkSPORT’s Jason Cundy for his performance against Newcastle United.

With Gabriel Jesus also on the sidelines, Mikel Arteta has no fit senior strikers at present, meaning Mikel Merino has been forced to lead the line in recent times, coinciding with some poor results.

Related Arsenal leading Man Utd in £62m transfer race for "dominant" 20-goal star

He would solve their biggest problem…

Posts 1

Arsenal have failed to score in their last two games, underlining the need to sign a striker when summer comes around, and they are now starting to take action, according to a report from Caught Offside.

The report states the Gunners are now planning to hold talks over a move for Juventus’ Dusan Vlahovic, who will be allowed to leave for €60m (£50m) in the summer, amid a contract stand-off.

The north Londoners are attempting to beat Manchester United to the signing of Vlahovic, with their interest said to be more concrete than their Premier League rivals’.

There are other options in mind, however, with RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko set to be considered, while Arteta is also thought to be a big fan of Alexander Isak, although it may be difficult to prise the Swedish forward away from Newcastle United.

"Superstar" Vlahovic may not be the best option

The Belgrade-born striker has been lauded as a “real superstar” by members of the Italian media in the past, and he has a very respectable goal record in the Serie A, during spells with Juventus and Fiorentina.

Season

Appearances

Goals

2019-20

30

6

2020-21

37

21

2021-22

36

24

2022-23

27

10

2023-24

33

16

2024-25

20

9

That said, there are doubts over whether the 25-year-old should be Arsenal’s top target, given that Victor Osimhen is set to be available for just £12m extra, and the Lagos-born marksman has an even more impressive goal record in Italy.

Isak would be the dream signing for the Gunners, given that the Newcastle United star is proven in the Premier League, scoring 19 goals this season, but the £120m price tag could be prohibitive.

The one thing that is certain is Arsenal must pursue a deal for a striker this summer, considering their title hopes have dissipated since making the decision not to bring in a new forward during the January transfer window.

da betano casino： Tottenham Hotspur’s campaign dangles by a thread, with Sunday’s defeat at Craven Cottage the latest in a lasting litany.

da mrbet： Hopes of success through the Premier League are negligible, for Spurs are sat in 14th with nine games to go, some ten points behind tenth-place Bournemouth.

However, Ange Postecoglou will cling to the Europa League and rightly so. Tottenham beat AZ Alkmaar last week to move into the quarter-finals, where a two-legged tie with Eintracht Frankfurt awaits.

Winning the competition would not only end an interminable trophy drought but carve a pathway through to next season’s Champions League proper.

Plenty of variables and the wrong move could spell the end for Ange. However, the Australian has reshaped Tottenham into an outfit with attacking inspiration once more. Injuries have weighed the club down in 2024/25, but there have been several threads which speak of an exciting future.

Lucas Bergvall is chief among them.

Lucas Bergvall's Tottenham future

When Tottenham won the race for teenage prodigy Bergvall in January 2024, they left Barcelona munching dust as they claimed the prized signature for an £8.5m figure.

Some bargain, that. The Swedish midfielder, still only 19, stayed in his homeland with Djurgården until the end of the 2023/24 campaign, but after arriving in London last summer, his talent and intelligence have swiftly seen him graduate in Postecoglou’s system to a high station, featuring 38 times, scoring one goal, adding four assists.

The fact he hasn’t graced the youth scene even once stands as a barometer for his ability and recognition within Ange’s project. Of course, injuries to other teammates have accelerated his development and then some, but Bergvall has largely stood out, earning praise from Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola for being “unstoppable” on the ball.

The data backs that one up, for sure. As per FBref, Bergvall ranks among the top 1% of centre-midfielders across Europe over the past year for successful take-ons per 90, perfectly highlighting his expertise in that area.

It goes to show that Tottenham have the framework for something special, there is enough substance about this squad to create a trophy-winning future.

However, injuries and, yes, Ange’s failings may well have set the club back this year. So much hinges on getting a grip on that European trophy.

Bergvall’s great, but he is only a teenager. Looking back, Postecoglou might regret cashing in on a midfielder who plays in a similar vein to the Sweden international and might just have been an invaluable option in the middle of the park this season.

Ange must regret selling "master" for cheap

Tottenham Hotspurs’ advancement to the last eight in the Europa League owed in large part to Bergvall’s brilliance in the centre, notably winning all seven duels and completing each of his three attempted dribbles, as per Sofascore.

He’s only going to get better, but there is certainly a sense that he might have benefitted from Postecoglou keeping Giovani Lo Celso in the squad this year.

Tottenham signed Lo Celso from Real Betis in 2019, initially on loan, before the Spanish side re-signed him for a cheap £8.5m fee last summer when he had one year remaining on his contract.

The technically gifted midfielder largely struggled to impress in Tottenham, scoring ten goals across 108 matches, but he did enjoy moments under Postecoglou’s wing last season, with his performances this year proving he may well have still been of use.

Lo Celso is riding the crest of a wave this season, and if we contrast his metrics in La Liga with his performances throughout the 2023/24 campaign in the Premier League, it’s clear he’s got enough about him across the different functions of the midfield game to have made a positive impression once again this term.

Giovani Lo Celso – League Stats (23/24 & 24/25)

Match Stats*

23/24 (Prem)

24/25 (La Liga)

Matches (starts)

22 (4)

16 (11)

Goals

2

7

Assists

2

1

Touches*

28

57.7

Pass completion

92%

83%

Key passes*

0.8

1.7

Dribbles*

0.4

0.9

Ball recoveries*

2.1

3.3

Tackles + interceptions*

1.2

2.1

Ground duels (won)*

2.5 (67%)

5.4 (60%)

Data via Sofascore (* = per game)

As you can see, Lo Celso’s role at Betis has given rise to his playmaking qualities, but his defensive sharpness remains of particular note, combining with a “magic” touch on the ball – as has been noted by football reporter Oliver Young-Myles – to produce a refined and rounded midfielder.

As per FBref, the 28-year-old actually ranks among the top 1% of midfielders across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for progressive passes and tackles, the top 2% for passes attempted and the top 6% for shot-creating actions per 90. It’s no wonder he’s been described as “the master of the last pass” by journalist Milena Gimon in the past.

He doesn’t dribble forward with regularity, but Lo Celso has completed 73% of his ball-carrying attempts in La Liga this term, highlighting his aptitude on that front too, another emulation of Bergvall’s abilities.

With a far superior goal threat, wonderful ball-playing game and defensive security, there’s little question Lo Celso is outperforming most of Tottenham’s midfield this term, Bergvall among them. This is not to the Swede’s discredit, but rather an illumination of the wrongdoings down N17. He should have been kept on the books.

All told, Lo Celso was underwhelming for the majority of his time in north London, but his prolific performances this year suggest that £8.5m fee wasn’t a fair reflection of market value when he left.

Not only that, the Argentinian star could have added the perfect extra dimension to Postecoglou’s struggling side this term, easing the burden on the shoulders of youngsters like Bergvall.

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da betway： Arsenal are preparing for a summer that could see considerable changes at the Emirates Stadium, with outgoings likely a prerequisite before new arrivals make their way to North London.

Arsenal set for busy summer following injury frustration

da spicy bet： The Gunners have been dealt an unfortunate hand with injuries, but Mikel Arteta will still feel a sense of regret when analysing how their Premier League title challenge has fizzled out in mid-March.

Bukayo Saka’s lengthy absence alongside Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus being ruled out indefinitely directly correlate to their inconsistent run of results, and they neglected to strengthen in the winter window. Either way, this season hasn’t gone as envisaged for a club that had genuine hope of becoming top dog at the start of the campaign.

Trophies have evaded Arteta over the last few years despite constructing a squad that has earned recognition for their ability to keep pace with the rest. Far too often, the final hurdle has become a bridge too far, which will only heighten anticipation surrounding summer reinforcements in the capital.

Andrea Berta will arrive as Sporting Director, and forcing Arsenal’s move for Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi through has become a key priority for Edu’s replacement. Morten Hjulmand has emerged as an alternative should talks stall for the Spain international.

Arsenal’s inconsistent run of results

Arsenal 0-1 West Ham

Premier League

Nottingham Forest 0-0 Arsenal

Premier League

PSV Eindhoven 1-7 Arsenal

Champions League

Manchester United 1-1 Arsenal

Premier League

Arsenal 2-2 PSV Eindhoven

Champions League

On the more ambitious side of the scale, the Gunners’ interest in Newcastle United midfielder Bruno Guimaraes would represent a transformational shift in their engine room should any deal come to fruition.

Nevertheless, exits will be needed to make that a realistic possibility, and Arteta may now have seen enough regarding one of his side’s most high-profile operators in the middle of the park.

Arsenal could now sanction Thomas Partey exit amid transfer talks

According to TBR, Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey has held talks with Barcelona and Atletico Madrid. He is in line for a summer exit on a free transfer once his £200,000-per-week contract expires at the Emirates.

The Gunners appreciate the Ghana international’s ability to fill several gaps in the squad but are deemed ‘unlikely’ to offer an extension on the same terms he currently inherits at the club. At this point, no discussions have been held over a fresh deal for the 31-year-old.

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Ever the mainstay, Partey has scored three times and laid on three assists in 41 appearances this campaign. Predominantly featuring in the engine room, he has also filled in at right-back amid Ben White and Takehiro Tomiyasu’s absence.

Dubbed “outstanding” by Roy Keane in 2020, the man in question has been deemed as Arsenal’s fourth most consistent performer on Premier League duty by WhoScored, sitting above the likes of Martin Odegaard, William Saliba and David Raya.

Despite his status as one of Arteta’s long-serving assets, a clean break between both parties could now be on the table come the summer. Squad cycles end, so it wouldn’t be a surprise if he is sacrificed to fuel the fire for another title challenge next term.

da brdice： Liverpool are ready to accept an offer for a £150,000-a-week player who could leave Anfield this summer with Trent Alexander-Arnold.

Alexander-Arnold set to sign for Real Madrid

da bet vitoria： It looks set to be an active few months for the Reds in the transfer market, despite Arne Slot’s side being on course to win the Premier League.

Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher wants to see up to six players brought in ahead of the 2025/26 season, with a replacement for Alexander-Arnold on the to-do list.

Related Sky Sports: Arne Slot holds talks to sign £40m+ "monster" for Liverpool

He’s a top priority for the Dutchman.

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“I’m excited to see where Arne Slot will take Liverpool because it looks like they’re going to win the league, but there are still so many areas to improve. He needs a centre-back as back-up to the two that we have, he’ll need a right-back with Trent Alexander-Arnold likely to leave.

“I think he needs a centre midfielder to replace Endo, someone younger and that he trusts, a centre-forward to play and a left-winger. There are at least five or six players he needs to get in – three to go straight in the team and three to be strong back-ups.”

The English full-back has been heavily linked with a move to the Bernabeu, with reports claiming a transfer is 99% done after terms were agreed.

Expert Fabrizio Romano has said that all parties are confident a deal will be done after Alexander-Arnold’s Anfield deal expires in the summer.

Jeremie Frimpong has been earmarked as a replacement for Alexander-Arnold and reports have claimed that Slot has held talks with Frimpong’s reps over a move to Liverpool.

However, Alexander-Arnold may not be the only player to depart the club. Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah are also out of contract at the end of the campaign, whereas Federico Chiesa has also been linked with a Liverpool exit.

Liverpool ready to loan out Chiesa as Lazio make contact

As per reports in Italy, relayed by Sport Witness, Liverpool are ready to send Chiesa out on loan for the 2025/26 season and are willing to include an option to buy of €15m.

This comes after Lazio made initial contact over a transfer, though Chiesa’s salary of £150,000-a-week appears to be too expensive for the Serie A side. Indeed, his wages are even high at Anfield, taking home more than regular starters Luis Diaz and Ibrahima Konate combined.

It does look as if the Reds are ready to move the Italian on over the coming months, with the 27-year-old not exactly starring at Anfield after joining last summer.

Chiesa’s stats at Liverpool

Games

11

Goals

2

Assists

2

Yellow cards

1

Minutes played

387

He’s struggled with injuries and has scored just twice, with Chiesa’s latest goal coming in the EFL Cup final defeat to Newcastle United at Wembley. Under contract until 2028, Liverpool appear to be willing to send the attacker out on a temporary basis, making this one to watch.

da pinup bet： Liverpool were rocked by the news that Trent Alexander-Arnold will leave his boyhood club and join Real Madrid when his contract expires this summer.

da luck： Rocked, but not toppled. The 26-year-old’s decision is exactly that: his decision. Liverpool will endure, and clinching the Premier League title (Arne Slot’s side are firm favourites to do so) will soften the blow and then some.

But Alexander-Arnold will need replacing, for he is one of the most gifted footballers on the planet. While nothing is yet set in stone, reputable sources near and far have extinguished any feeble hopes that the vice-captain will extend his contract at Anfield.

It’s too early for anything more than conjecture, but pointers suggest Jeremie Frimpong is right at the top of the list for sporting director Richard Hughes.

Why Frimpong could replace Trent

Bayer Leverkusen’s right-flanker has been an instrumental part of his squad’s success over the past several seasons, so destructive as he bounds up the wing with the speed and strength of a cheetah.

According to Sky Sports, Liverpool have already held internal discussions to sign the Dutchman, who is valued at €50m (about £42m) and, aged 24, could serve as a major player at Anfield for a long while.

While Frimpong operates as more of an attacking wing-back for Xabi Alonso, he has played ample football in a more traditional right-back berth (125 career appearances) and would certainly add a dimension to Slot’s Liverpool team.

He differs greatly to Alexander-Arnold, but could bring a new sense of attacking quality to the right flank, ranking among the top 2% of full-backs across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for progressive carries and the top 1% for touches in the attacking penalty area per 90, as per FBref.

Well, maybe new isn’t the right word. Indeed, Liverpool already have a player who boasts many of Frimpong’s talents while also offering, perhaps, a more complete skill set.

You know who…

Liverpool already have their own Frimpong

The anguish relating to Alexander-Arnold’s expected move away from Anfield is tempered somewhat by Conor Bradley’s meteoric rise over the past 15 months or so.

Bradley, 21, burst onto the scene in Jurgen Klopp’s outfit last season after previously excelling out on loan with Bolton Wanderers.

Alexander-Arnold actually singled out the “absolutely phenomenal” Bradley after his electric start to life in the big league, scoring a wonderful goal against Chelsea in the Premier League while chipping in with a handful of assists across the new year months.

His performances left Liverpool in awe, immediately placating fans as Trent’s possible (but still inconceivable at the time) departure simmered on the back burner.

Rewarded for his efforts with a Carabao Cup winners’ medal, the right-back will hope to play for Liverpool for many years. According to reports from Belfast, he may well be on the way to achieving this, for talks have begun for a new contract on Merseyside.

Slot seemed to have answered in the affirmative when quizzed on whether Bradley has it in him to step up to the plate in Alexander-Arnold’s absence, and you’d have to say that a signing such as Frimpong surely couldn’t expect to just walk into the line-up.

It was a somewhat coy response, but one which carried a subtle undertow relating to his thoughts on Liverpool’s second-choice right-back. Indeed, Bradley is probably cut from a more conventional cloth than his English teammate, whose creative skills are tantamount to “having Kevin De Bruyne playing at right-back,” as said by pundit Jamie Carragher.

It’s an irreplaceable skill set, but Liverpool do have someone who can fit into the position and make it his own. Bradley is that man. Frimpong’s differing style to Trent may well actually help his case, but there’s already a man in the area who can match much of the Bundesliga star’s quality.

Sadly, injuries have reduced Bradley to more of a bit-part role this season, but you need only peak at the data collected across his stunning breakout campaign to see that he’s the real deal.

Conor Bradley – Premier League Stats (23/24)

Stat

Per 90

Percentile

Goals

0.12

Top 14%

Assists

0.36

Top 3%

Shot-creating actions

3.23

Top 10%

Touches

79.00

Top 15%

Passes attempted

63.35

Top 21%

Progressive passes

3.47

Top 51%

Progressive carries

4.18

Top 2%

Successful take-ons

1.55

Top 4%

Ball recoveries

5.98

Top 12%

Tackles won

2.99

Top 1%

Stats via FBref

As you see, quite the assortment of skills from the Northern Ireland international. Hailed as a “special character” by The Athletic’s Andy Jones, known for his “fearlessness” (Bradley, not Jones), he’s shown himself to have the mark of a future superstar.

Bradley’s pace and impressive athleticism suggest he’s got a big future ahead. Not afraid to fly in with crunching challenges, he’s also endowed with an offensive spirit that has been evidenced through his ten goal involvements across only 50 senior showings for Liverpool.

He’s something rather special, this one. Though Liverpool would be wise to bolster the right-back position if Alexander-Arnold does leave, you could argue that Liverpool already have a player who shows similarities to Frimpong while actually bearing the template to leap above the Netherlands star.

Reporter David Lynch even suggested last season that the 21-year-old would get into Liverpool’s strongest starting XI. A bold, maybe even brazen, claim, but one which does shed light on the ability of this wonderful player.

Alexander-Arnold may well leave this summer, but there’s a sense of security about Liverpool right now, with academy-fashioned talents such as Bradley populating the club and easing the financial strain that Hughes and Michael Edwards must adhere to within FSG’s self-sustainable business model.

If Leverkusen look to play hardball over Frimpong, Liverpool need not worry. They already have a right-back with enough quality to nail down a starting berth for many years to come.

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da betano casino： In 2022, Liverpool broke their transfer record to reel in Darwin Nunez, a talented and robust centre-forward who had made quite the name for himself at Benfica.

da fezbet： Having scored 34 goals across 41 matches in 2021/22, he clearly had the trappings of an elite-level striker. Jurgen Klopp was convinced after he scored against the Reds in the Champions League knockout stage after firing three goals in against Bayern Munich and Barcelona earlier in the term.

We’re now three years on from all that, three years on from Klopp’s decision to agree to a deal worth £85m for the Uruguayan ace. It hasn’t worked out, with Fabrizio Romano confirming that Nunez is set to be sold this summer after a winter move to Al-Nassr fell through.

It’s important that FSG get it right this summer, pick out the perfect successor. The name on fans’ lips is Alexander Isak, but that might not be a deal worth pursuing.

Why Liverpool shouldn't sign Alexander Isak

Arne Slot has worked wonders this season, leapfrogging Arsenal, four-in-a-row champions Manchester City, and the like to move, inexorably, toward the Premier League title.

Since signing Ryan Gravenberch in August 2023, Federico Chiesa has been the only first-team signing made, bearing testament to the team that Klopp assembled over so many years and his successor’s ability to whip them into an even finer shape.

The summer ahead is expected to be a big one, though, and The Athletic are among those to have confirmed Liverpool’s interest in Isak, who has been hailed as “the best striker in the Premier League” by Jamie Carragher.

Obviously, he’d be nice to have in the ranks, but Newcastle are very much aware of their talisman’s talents and have slapped a £150m transfer fee on his name.

Liverpool shouldn’t go near a deal if the Magpies won’t budge on that valuation this summer. There are other options available and this would exhaust resources at a critical juncture.

This might feel a bit pragmatic, but Liverpool’s structure is firmly rooted in realism, and it’s paid dividends over the years.

See, for example, the decision in April 2023 to end interest in Borussia Dortmund’s Jude Bellingham and instead sign a range of talented midfielders to pack the Anfield midfield back together.

Those midfielders are on course to win the Premier League after lifting the Carabao Cup last year.

Liverpool do need a new number nine though. Luckily, Isak’s not the only elite marksman on the market.

Liverpool chasing top striker

As per Sky Sports, Liverpool have compiled a shortlist of strikers – including Isak – to replace Nunez this summer, and fans may be interested to note that Victor Osimhen is on the club’s radar.

Athletic, powerful, and deadly in front of goal, the Napoli forward, who is on loan at Galatasaray, is expected to leave Naples for good at the end of the season after relationships broke down and prompted him to move temporarily to Turkey.

Last year, Napoli set demands of a fee north of £100m for the Nigeria striker, but hopes have been tempered as he approaches the final year of his deal, with separate reports suggesting the 26-year-old could be available for £63m.

Why Liverpool should sign Victor Osimhen

Firstly, Liverpool should consider signing Osimhen because he’s one of the most prolific strikers in Europe and has the perfect profile to thrive in the Premier League.

His career with Napoli might have ended unceremoniously but Osimhen was the driving force behind the club’s incredible Scudetto success of 2022/23, scoring 31 goals from 39 matches in all competitions.

Last season was one of frustration for the Nigerian, whose injury issues exacerbated the Serie A champion’s dramatic decline.

However, he’s back among the goals with Galatasaray, indeed proving to be one of Europe’s most potent centre-forwards.

Standing at 6 foot 1, Osimhen has the frame and the strength to lead Liverpool’s line in the Premier League, bring goals, and a powerful focal presence to enhance the performances of those around him.

As per FBref, he ranks among the top 10% of strikers in Europe over the past year for goals scored, the top 8% for shot-creating actions, the top 1% for touches in the attacking penalty area and shots taken and the top 7% for aerial duels won per 90.

It’s a fine representation of his quality, so active and present in the striker’s spot. Comparing him against Nunez, whose erratic and enigmatic style has left him isolated in the Premier League, and you can see why Liverpool are ramping up their interest.

Victor Osimhen vs Darwin Nunez (24/25)

Stats (* per game)

Osimhen

Nunez

Matches (starts)

22 (20)

24 (8)

Goals

20

5

Assists

4

2

Shots (on target)*

4.5 (1.8)

1.3 (0.2)

Big chances missed

17

6

Key passes*

1.1

0.4

Dribbles*

0 5

0.3

Duels won*

5.3

2.3

Stats via Sofascore

It goes without saying that Osimhen is more clinical than Nunez, but his goalscoring quality is built upon the dynamic and rangy skill set that has led BBC journalist Alex Brotherton to hail him as “unstoppable.”

His creative spark – having created ten big chances in the Turkish Super Lig, is something that could hold sway when Slot and Liverpool’s chiefs devise a transfer strategy.

Of course, Osimhen hasn’t been restricted to domestic success this term either, with his overall tally of 28 goals from 32 matches this season owing to a prolific burst in the Europa League, notably dismantling Tottenham Hotspur in the group stage.

This, if you refer back to the ‘goals scored’ graphic above, places him ahead of Isak, truly underscoring how prolific a goalscorer Liverpool could get their mitts on.

If Nunez is to be sold, this man would mark a significant upgrade, one who could make all the difference in keeping the frontline firing next year as Liverpool chase down more success under Slot’s wing.

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da blaze casino： Manchester City’s success over the last few years has been largely down to Pep Guardiola and his recruitment in bringing in players who have thrived under his guidance.

da dobrowin： The Spaniard has won four successive Premier League titles at the Etihad, but is set to miss out this season with the main fight now to secure Champions League qualification.

Regardless of whether the side secure a top-five place between now and the end of May, an overhaul of the first-team squad is desperately needed to push the club closer to the summit of the division.

Incomings are most certainly needed in the summer, continuing in the vein of Omar Marmoush, Nico Gonzalez and Abdukodir Khusanov, who all arrived at the Etihad in January.

However, if they are to afford such additions, Guardiola may have to offload multiple players, including one who’s unfortunately failed to live up to the hype he arrived with.

Why Matheus Nunes must be sold by City this summer

Matheus Nunes joined City from Wolves back in the summer of 2023 for a reported £53m, looking to inject added quality into an already impressive midfield department.

However, nearly two years on from his move to the Etihad, the 26-year-old has struggled to maintain a regular starting role in his natural position, subsequently shifting to right-back.

Whilst he’s notched 33 appearances across all competitions in 2024/25, if the side are to reach the next level after the summer, reinforcements are needed in such a department.

His fate in Manchester also looks to be decided, with Guardiola recently quoted saying that he doesn’t think he can feature in the middle of the park due to not being “clever enough” in such a role.

Such comments could lead to a departure in the summer should an acceptable offer present itself, possibly joining another player out of the door in the process.

The player who could leave City alongside Nunes this summer

Nunes has ultimately been unable to have the impact he would’ve imagined upon moving to City, with a fresh start arguably needed for both parties in the coming months.

Some deals have been worthwhile, with the likes of Kevin De Bruyne and Bernardo Silva cementing their places in the heart of the side during Guardiola’s reign.

John Stones was another player who cost a pretty penny, joining the Citizens for a reported £50m back in 2016 from fellow Premier League outfit Everton.

The 30-year-old has been key to their success under the Spaniard, notching 277 appearances in his near nine-year stint in the first team at the Etihad.

He’s also won 13 major honours during such a timeframe, including six Premier League triumphs, with four in a row coming before the ongoing campaign.

However, over the past couple of seasons, the England international has been plagued by various different injuries which have prevented him from making a huge contribution at the Etihad.

John Stones’ stats by season at Manchester City

Season

Games

Goals

Assists

2016/17

41

2

0

2017/18

29

3

0

2018/19

39

0

1

2019/20

24

0

1

2020/21

35

5

0

2021/22

27

2

0

2022/23

34

3

3

2023/24

28

1

2

2024/25

20

3

2

Total:

277

19

9

Stats via FotMob

He’s only made 11 league appearances during the current campaign, once again sidelined with a thigh issue which could rule him out for the remainder of the season.

Stones currently earns a reported £250k-per-week, a mammoth figure given his recent lack of minutes, with his total earnings during his nine years at the club totalling £78m.

When coupled with his transfer fee, the 30-year-old has cost the hierarchy around £128m – a staggering amount of money, with the club needing to brutally sell him given his proneness to injury.

He’s been a phenomenal servant to the Citizens, but, unfortunately, he’s been unable to extract his best performance levels in recent years, with fresh blood needed.

It may seem to be a harsh decision, but the world of top-level football is a cutthroat industry, with major calls needed if Guardiola is to lead the side back to Premier League glory next season.

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