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Liverpool are “ready” to push to complete the signing of a player with a “good football brain” this summer, according to an update from journalist Graeme Bailey.

Liverpool buoyant after new Salah deal

The Reds have been a little flat in recent weeks, having been knocked out of the Champions League by Paris Saint-Germain before losing the EFL Cup final to Newcastle United. Last weekend’s 3-2 defeat away to Fulham in the Premier League didn’t help matters, either.

It felt as though Liverpool have needed a shot in the arm, and Mohamed Salah has provided it, signing a two-year extension on Friday to keep him at Anfield until the summer of 2027.

It is a huge moment for the Reds, who have been sweating about the Egyptian King departing at the end of the season ahead of his previous deal expiring.

Now, they have him for at least a couple more years as he looks to cement his status as one of the club’s greatest-ever players.

Liverpool supporters will now be hoping that Trent Alexander-Arnold and Virgil van Dijk follow Salah by extending their stays at Anfield, but in truth, it would be a surprise if both remained at the club as things stand, with the vice-captain continuing to be heavily linked with a move to Real Madrid.

Liverpool pushing to sign 18 y/o talent

Writing for Rousing The Kop and X, Bailey claimed that Liverpool are “ready” to sign Sheffield United youngster Ryan One this summer:

“Liverpool are ready to make a push to land Ryan One this summer. The Reds believe the Sheffield United forward has huge potential and are keen to bring him to Anfield.”

One may not yet be a household name to Liverpool fans, but he is a player who could have a big future in the game should he reach his potential.

The 18-year-old has already made 14 appearances for the Blades, scoring once in that time, and has only been handed three starts this term by Chris Wilder.

Former Blades boss Paul Heckingbottom has heaped praise on him in the past, saying: “He has a good football brain and has shown moments where he handles the ball well. Physically, we can see what he can potentially be, but he’s nowhere near where that is yet.

“He has come in and found the level and the intensity a big step, but I have seen in the games that I have already watched him in that he is quickly coming to terms with that.”

One clearly wouldn’t be an immediate key squad player for Liverpool, with a loan move from the off arguably making sense, but if Michael Edwards and Richard Hughes believe he can be a future star at Anfield, they have to be trusted.

A chance move away from his hometown in South Africa unlocked a door he never knew existed

Shashank Kishore10-Sep-2025When Martin Coetzee was let go by his provincial team in South Africa in 2019, he felt like it was curtains on his cricket career.He had hovered on the fringes of the first-class set-up for years without really breaking in. As he contemplated what next – “the thought of moving to another provincial team, or quit cricket altogether and explore another path, like coaching” – the Covid-19 pandemic struck.He was 29, and time was ticking.Then came the move to Hong Kong, far from a cricketing decision. His wife, Lindy, a teacher, had just landed a job at a private school, and the couple decided to take the plunge into the unknown.Related

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Just prior to leaving South Africa, though, Coetzee was told casually by his wife’s school principal, “Don’t forget to pack your cricket bags.” The principal happened to be a former New Zealand first-class cricketer, Ben Hart.”It seemed an odd comment at the time,” Coetzee laughs at the memory. The 36-year-old top-order batter is now in Dubai, part of Hong Kong’s squad at the Asia Cup. “I thought at best this may be a way to play recreationally, get to know a few people at the cricket club, it will help with keeping myself in shape. Nothing more.”When they landed, Hong Kong wasn’t the buzzing global hub he had imagined it to be. Covid restrictions had made the city unrecognisable. “Restaurants were shuttered, masks were compulsory, and residents had to line up for regular blood tests,” Coetzee says.But amid all that, Coetzee found comfort in the fact that he could get outdoors for a few hours. And that outdoor place happened to be the Hong Kong Cricket Club.”I turned up there with no expectations honestly, it was just to get outdoors, rather than being locked in,” he says.

“I thought at best this may be a way to play recreationally, get to know a few people at the cricket club, it will help with keeping myself in shape. Nothing more”

Over time, Coetzee discovered the city’s cricket culture was far more organised and ambitious than he had imagined. He saw talented players fiercely compete, and was explained the pathways into club cricket and possibly international cricket if he stayed the course.”That got me dreaming,” he says. “Suddenly, a three-year qualification criteria didn’t seem to matter, I thought let me start playing and put myself up there. Yes, the wait was long, at times frustrating, but in that period, I played a lot of club cricket, made a lot of friends and enjoyed competing. It got me hooked.”It’s only then I thought of all the things I take for granted back home. In South Africa, you tend to take some things for granted – outdoor nets, fields, space,” he explains. “In Hong Kong, the biggest challenge is facilities. Say, just leading up to our prep tour here, all we had were indoor nets. No grass. It makes you appreciate what you had growing up. But it also makes you work harder.”By the time Coetzee’s qualification period ended, he went on to become one of Hong Kong’s key batters and a regular fixture in the national squad. When not playing, he is a professional coach at the club he represents.”It still surprises me how much Hong Kong has given me,” he says. “You won’t believe it, but there’s a rivalry that is always packed,” he says. “Kowloon Cricket Club and Hong Kong Cricket Club – mate, it’s fiercely competitive as well. The talent is immense.Hong Kong are playing their fifth Asia Cup•Asian Cricket Council”My own team-mates – Nizakat Khan, Anshuman Rath, Kalhan Challu – these guys are all so dedicated. It makes you feel good to be playing with a group that’s as enthusiastic and keen to show what they’re capable of. From day one, Hong Kong cricket felt like a family.The “family” has recently had to channel the disappointment of not qualifying for the 2026 T20 World Cup – their chances at the Asian qualifiers were scuppered by the weather.”Yeah, that still hurts,” Coetzee says. “We were having dinner last night, watching the tennis [US Open final] and one of the UAE lads just mentioned it as a joke and it actually still stung a little bit.”We are very disappointed with that, but with the new coach [Kaushal Silva] and the whole new group and vibe we have got going, we try not to think about that too much, and we are excited about everything that’s ahead. The next week or so is a good example. There’s always the next one to qualify for.”The game has also taken him places – Nepal, Oman, and the UAE – he never imagined visiting when he was lying on a South African rugby field with a broken leg, convinced his sporting life was over. That injury when he was 17 had driven him back to cricket, but the end of his Lions contract had almost pushed him out for good. Yet here he is, living a second chance, wearing new colours, and having a new perspective at 36.”We love the city so much,” Coetzee says. “We’re based just outside the hustle and bustle, in Green Pulse Bay. We can see ourselves living here for quite a while. The cricket crowd is growing, the local kids have so much talent, and the passion is unbelievable.”I never thought I’d find this in Hong Kong. But now I know exactly why Ben told me to pack that cricket bag.”

By the end of this mesmerising spell, both England’s top order and the match were broken open

Andrew McGlashan18-Jun-2023It’s shortly after lunch on the third day of the first Ashes Test. England have taken a seven-run first-innings lead. Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley build on it calmly, comfortably knocking the ball into gaps against Australia’s defensive fields. It is the first time this opening pair face the opening four overs and do not hit a boundary. Then the rain comes.

****

The mop-up has been swift. The players are back in the middle, but there is a massively dark cloud approaching Edgbaston. Pat Cummins sends down the final ball of his incomplete over.

****

Nathan Lyon had bowled his first over before the rain delay, just the sixth of the innings. But on resumption he’s withdrawn. The ball is handed to Scott Boland. Slow pitch or not, this is a time for pace not spin.Related

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The field remains reasonably defensive. Duckett angles one out to point. Crawley is then beaten. It feels as though there’s more zip under the leaden skies, whether it’s real or perceived. Scientists have never really been able to explain why clouds in England make such a difference.Crawley defends one, then is taken high on the back pad. There’s an appeal. Australia ponder a review but decline.Next ball Crawley shoulders arms and is taken on the pads. The shout is bigger this time. Another chat about a review. This takes a bit longer. Again they don’t take it.Final ball, Crawley leaves it alone.

****

Cummins is round the wicket to Duckett, who is beaten by one that nips past the edge. There has been very little movement all match. But things are starting to happen. Meanwhile, it looks like the end of the world is approaching from over the South Stand and Hollies, who remain in strong voice especially to their new friend Travis Head.Duckett defends. This is hard work. Any second now the players could go off. If ever there isn’t a time for Bazball, it’s probably now. Cummins strengthens the cordon, so it’s two slips and Cameron Green at gully. Duckett defends to mid-on.The groundstaff are almost running on as the wind whips up. Duckett looks in their direction. The umpires stay put. Darth Vader was earlier escorted out of the ground, the skies suggest he has made a return.Cameron Green and his team-mates are pumped up after his low catch at gully to send back Ben Duckett•AFP/Getty ImagesIt’s a length delivery outside off, Duckett can’t help playing at it. He doesn’t do leaving. It takes a thick edge and flies low to Green’s left. Surely not again. But Green gets down to it, fingers under the ball and keeps full control. It’s a screamer.Duckett waits and walks down to Crawley. The umpires converge. They go upstairs. Remember, no soft signal these days. This one is much easier than Richard Kettleborough’s call last week at The Oval. One replay makes it clear Green has held this. Duckett starts to walk off. Australia celebrate for a second time. “Out” comes up on the big screen.Ollie Pope skips out to the middle. Cummins’ first ball to him is full and fast, but just slips past the pads although not far from leg stump. There is tension everywhere. Pope defends the final ball of the over.

****

It’s back-of-a-length from Boland, angling in at off stump then straightening. The sort of thing that has helped him average 16 in Test cricket. Crawley plays and gets a thin edge to Alex Carey. The Australians roar in celebration. Crawley stands his ground. But the edge is clear. Marias Erasmus raises his finger to confirm it. It’s dark and Crawley does not look impressed.It’s a slow walk off, Joe Root has almost made it to the middle in the same amount of time. Root always gets to the crease quickly, but if there’s ever a time to slow things down, it’s now.

It doesn’t matter what the run rate has been over the last 13 Tests, a dank afternoon in England with the ball moving around is tough for any batter.

Australia are swarming. They were happy to accept England’s aggressive approach in the first innings, even defer to it. But there’s no deep point anymore. It doesn’t matter what the run rate has been over the last 13 Tests, a dank afternoon in England with the ball moving around is tough for any batter. There’s three slips and a gully. Boland is zipping it like the MCG.His first ball to Root nips back sharply at Root, does too much for the lbw. The next one is much closer, slamming into the front pad as Root does all he can to counter the movement. There is a huge appeal. The Australians confer. Marnus Labuschagne is very excited (when isn’t he?). He may or may not have been told to not get involved. In the end, there’s no review. Erasmus then has a word with Cummins and Labuschagne.Root defends with that trademark open face to backward point. Next ball he’s shuffling out of the crease. The last delivery takes the pad into the leg side for a scampered extra. It took Australia 37 overs to bowl a maiden in the first innings. Now they have two in a row. The rain can only be minutes away.

****

Cummins again. Root defends into the covers.It was a high-intensity short session of play from Australia between two rain breaks•Getty ImagesThe next one is fuller and outside off, it brings Root forward for a drive. It skims past the bat and there’s a big appeal, although more from behind the stumps than from Cummins. However, this time the captain is talked into a review. Root is one of big wickets. Replays show daylight between bat and ball.The sky is going to dump on the ground any moment.Root leaves alone outside off. The Australians want every ball they can get. For the first time in the match it really feels like they have control.They are off. The rain starts to fall, then starts to pelt down. The groundstaff race to get the covers on. One of them is left underneath trying to attach a drainage hose. The players scurry into the dressing rooms.

****

It’s been 22 balls. England scored two runs. Australia took two wickets. The rain thunders down. The players don’t get back on. The game is on a knife-edge. The significance of those 20 minutes will be known in the next two days.

Batter produces the innings of his Test career in a thrilling final-session counterattack

Andrew McGlashan09-Dec-2021Travis Head knew well before the opening day in Brisbane that he had earned the nod for Australia’s final batting position, but No. 5 remained the most debatable spot in the XI. That was until today when Head produced the innings of his Test career to halt an England fightback in a thrilling final-session counterattack.England’s attack was on its knees late in the day, two of the bowlers were limping and the ball was old. But this was a brutal momentum-seizing innings of which Adam Gilchrist would have been proud. When Head on-drove Chris Woakes in the first over with the second new ball he brought up his third Test hundred from 85 balls with all the runs coming the final session. It was the third-fastest Ashes century after Gilchrist’s 57-ball onslaught at the WACA in 2006-07 and Gilbert Jessop’s 76 balls in 1902.”It’s still a pinch-myself sort of thing, still can’t quite work out what transpired over the last couple of hours,” Head said. “It’s an amazing feeling to get a Test hundred. Think I said to Starcy [Mitchell Starc] as it happened, I couldn’t believe what was going on. I rode my luck in parts but was able to put Australia in a great position and very privileged to be able to do that.”Related

• Chastening day casts doubts on Jack Leach's further participation in the series

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There was a lot in favour of Usman Khawaja’s credentials for this place in the line-up, but Australia’s selectors have always felt there is plenty of growth to come from Head. Before this display his record was far-from shabby with two hundreds, including a Boxing Day century against New Zealand, but there hadn’t quite been the defining innings.His first incarnation as a Test cricketer was briefly interrupted when he was left out of the final match against England in 2019 when Mitchell Marsh was preferred to balance the side. He was back for the following summer against New Zealand and Pakistan, but last season against India was dropped after two Tests. He was in the squad again for the postponed tour of South Africa thanks to prolific returns for South Australia.A disappointing season for Sussex was a speed bump, but he was consistent in the Sheffield Shield this summer including a century in the game before the squad assembled in Queensland. There was a sense, however, that he needed to make the most of this opportunity.While England ended the day looking broken, that was not the case when Head walked to crease. Steven Smith had fallen in a superb spell from Mark Wood. Head hadn’t faced a ball when they walked off for tea, and a few moments after the break he watched David Warner drive to mid-off and Cameron Green shoulder arms at his first ball. At 195 for 5 England had a chance of keeping the lead to manageable proportions, but in the space of two hours they were left in the sort of bedraggled state of many of their predecessors.Head flashed and missed at his second ball after tea, a 146kph/91mph flyer from Wood, and his first boundary was a squared-up thick edge that evaded the fifth slip of England’s packed cordon. Three balls later he wasn’t far from guiding one off the face to the catchers. But Joe Root couldn’t keep using Wood, Woakes and Ollie Robinson all the time and turned back to a clearly struggling Ben Stokes in the 62nd over. Two half-trackers and a ball on the pads and Head was away.Travis Head played a free-flowing innings•Getty ImagesStill, when the last recognised batter – Alex Carey – fell, he was only on 29. In the next over he took a painful blow on the arm from Wood which for a moment looked like causing significant discomfort but he shook it off swiftly. A full toss from Wood was driven through cover to bring up a fifty off 51 balls – his next half-century took just 34 deliveries.”I got opportunities to score and I was able to take them today and put pressure back on bowlers,” he said. “I took some chances along the way especially into the new ball but with my technique and mentally I feel really composed. To be able to be in that moment is a great feeling. I found the first 20 runs really, really tough. The game opened up and I was able to take opportunity… I put myself in that position which was pleasing.”Like the batters before him he plundered Jack Leach, aided by four overthrows as England became increasingly ragged and forlorn. In many ways it was the type of innings that first made his name when he emerged into Australia’s limited-overs set-up in 2016. Sometimes in the early stages of his Test career his eagerness to play shots has proved his downfall; it may now have been the making of him.He looked keen to reach the milestone before the new ball, but no matter. After leaving the first delivery from Woakes he met the next with a straight bat and sent it rocketing down the ground. The helmet came off, the arms held aloft, team-mates and the crowd were on their feet. There was a scary moment to follow when he was felled by a beamer from Wood, but the glove had taken enough of the sting from the delivery that it ended up being a glancing blow to the chin. He was back on his feet having floored England.

MatériaMais Notícias

O Avaí recebe o CRB nesta terça-feira (13), pela quinta rodada da Série B do Campeonato Brasileiro. A bola rola a partir das 19h (de Brasília), na Ressacada, em Florianópolis (SC), com transmissão do SporTV e do Premiere.

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✅ FICHA TÉCNICA
AVAÍ X CRB
SÉRIE B – 5ª RODADA

🗓️ Data e horário: terça-feira, 14 de maio de 2024, às 19h (de Brasília)
📍 Local: Ressacada, em Santa Catarina (SC)
📺 Onde assistir: SporTV e Premiere
🟨 Árbitro: Yuri Elino Ferreira da Cruz
🚩 Assistentes: Thiago Henrique Neto Correa Farinha e Schumacher Marques Gomes
🖥️ VAR: Vitor Carmona Metestaine

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⚽ PROVÁVEIS ESCALAÇÕES

AVAÍ (Técnico: Gilmar Dal Pozzo)
César Augusto; Marcos Vinícius, Tiago, Gustavo Vilar e Mário Sérgio; Judson, Willian Maranhão, Pedro Castro e Giovanni; Pottker e Garcez.

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CRB (Técnico: Daniel Paulista)
Matheus Albino; Hereda, Saimon, Fábio Alemão e Willian Formiga; Falcão, Rômulo e Gegê; Labandeira, Anselmo Ramon (João Neto) e Léo Pereira.

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AvaíCRBFutebol NacionalOnde assistirSérie B

Newcastle United have Bayer Leverkusen to overcome this week in the Champions League, but there’s a far more tantalising fixture sticking out across the busy December period.

The Premier League’s first Tyne-Wear showdown since 2016 arrives on the calendar next weekend, with Sunderland’s electric start out of the blocks in the top-flight this season no doubt ramping up the nerves on the end of the Magpies.

Eddie Howe will also be fearful of a loss when you consider Newcastle have lost their last four meetings in this tense rivalry, with Leverkusen in midweek the perfect opportunity to collect a confidence-boosting victory, before facing off against Regis Le Bris’ tricky Black Cats.

In particular, Howe will hope he sees a lot more from the likes of Yoane Wissa and Anthony Elanga at the BayArena, with both high-profile summer recruits failing to settle so far on Tyneside.

The numbers behind Wissa & Elanga at Newcastle

£250m in total was forked out on summer signings at St James’ Park, with £110m of that excessive spending landing both Wissa and Elanga.

There was a method behind Newcastle’s madness here, with the former Brentford man and the Swedish winger amassing a stunning 41 goal contributions between them last season in the Premier League.

Unfortunately for the £55m striker, though, he has only lined up for a paltry 16 minutes in Toon black and white so far, with his first appearance for the club coming last time out against Burnley, 96 days on from him signing on the dotted line.

He is far from a lost cause, however, with a hope he can add to his 45 Premier League goals shortly with sustained time in the first team, as he potentially prepares to start versus Leverkusen. If he doesn’t get up and running soon, with his hefty £140k-per-week salary also added to the equation, he will definitely be dismissed as a rash waste of money.

Elanga doesn’t have a troubling injury record to fall back on when it comes to his critics, with just two assists and no goals next to his name from 22 appearances on Tyneside, making his £55m price tag already feel extremely extortionate.

Still, there will also be a hope in the air that the £100k-per-week forward is simply a work in progress, having previously shone with Nottingham Forest, away from negative labels coming his way that he is a “massive overpay” in the words of Raj Chohan.

Staggeringly, despite £110m being dropped on the underwhelming duo in question, they’re not deemed as big a waste of money as this other high earner, who Howe must now swiftly axe ahead of key games to come in December.

Howe must now drop £120k-per-week Newcastle man

At least with Wissa and Elanga, Howe and Co would have known they were paying a premium price for talents who were consistent top performers in the Premier League.

In the case of Jacob Ramsey, though, £43m was forked out on a star who had a rollercoaster stay at Aston Villa, having only collected a mediocre eight goal contributions across his final two top-flight seasons in the West Midlands, leading to him falling out of Unai Emery’s first team plans.

Ramsey’s flashes of brilliance at his hometown club did see journalist Charles Watts once herald him as a “special” talent for the future, but eyebrows would have been rightly raised when the £43m move was finalised, with his £120k-per-week wage also making him an immediate higher earner than St James Park stalwarts such as Dan Burn, who pockets £70k-per-week, on the contrary.

In the here and now, too, it feels like an awfully long time ago since the 24-year-old was generating lots of hype at Villa Park, with a rare first-team start against Burnley last time out seeing Ramsey look rather timid.

Minutes played

90

Goals scored

0

Assists

0

Touches

73

Shots

1

Accurate passes

56/60 (93%)

Accurate crosses

0/1

Key passes

1

Successful dribbles

1/2

Penalties given away

1

Indeed, it doesn’t make for pretty reading on Ramsey’s end, with the 24-year-old’s general game going down as largely uneventful, until he gave away an unnecessary penalty via a handball, with only one shot, one key pass, and one accurate dribble registered.

With no goals or assists next to his name from 11 clashes, it isn’t the wildest shout to suggest he’s a bigger waste of money than both Wissa and Elanga, with Wissa needing more time to acclimatise, while Elanga at least has two assists to cling onto and showed what a dangerous talent he can be last season..

Moreover, with both Joe Willock and Lewis Miley also at Howe’s disposal in midfield in the reserve ranks, there doesn’t seem to be a long-standing space for the ex-Villa man in his starting XI, as the forgettable number 41 likely just turns into an expensive background figure that can’t be redeemed.

The new Anderson: Newcastle could see £13m bid accepted to sign "special" star

Newcastle United could win themselves a cut-price Elliot Anderson alternative with this £13m star.

ByKelan Sarson Dec 7, 2025

Pretoria Capitals have a revamped squad and support staff for the upcoming SA20 season

ESPNcricinfo staff12-Dec-2025

Keshav Maharaj has been appointed Pretoria Capitals (PC) captain for the upcoming season of the SA20 league, replacing Rilee Rossouw. He was captain of Durban Super Giants until last season,”Maharaj brings a wealth of international pedigree across formats, along with a proven track record of guiding teams with composure, clarity and intent,” Capitals said in a statement on Friday. “Having captained South Africa in white-ball cricket and served as a senior figure within the national setup for several years, Maharaj’s leadership experience, tactical understanding and consistency make him an invaluable addition in this role. His presence strengthens the balance and direction of the Pretoria Capitals squad as the team heads into the new season.”Capitals have a revamped set-up this season, with Sourav Ganguly, the former India captain, taking over as head coach. Ganguly replaced Jonathan Trott and will be assisted by former South Africa captain Shaun Pollock.Related

How the SA20 squads stack up after the auction

The franchise went into the auction in September with the biggest purse – 32.5 million Rand (US$1.85 million approx.) – and also the most slots to fill: 16. They splurged on Dewald Brevis, breaking the SA20 pay record by bidding 16.5 million Rand (US$945,000 approx.) on the batter.Maharaj was one of their big buys at the auction, where they also acquired Lungi Ngidi, Lizaad Williams, Craig Overton, Saqib Mahmood and Codi Yusuf, among others. Andre Russell, who recently retired as a player from the IPL before signing on as Kolkata Knight Riders’ (KKR) power coach, was acquired as a wild card, while Will Jacks and Sherfane Rutherford were their pre-auction signings.Capitals have had an up and down time in the SA20 so far: they finished the first season at the top of the table in the group stage, before losing to Sunrisers Eastern Cape in the final. In the two seasons since then – in 2023-24 and 2024-25 – they have had more middling results, finishing fifth both times and failing to qualify for the playoffs.The 2025-26 season of the SA20 begins on December 26 with a contest between MI Cape Town and Durban’s Super Giants. Capitals begin their season the following day with a fixture against Joburg Super Kings. The final will be played on January 25, 2026.

Liverpool turned a corner at the weekend, professionally defeating West Ham United at the London Stadium to arrest the shocking slump that has sent Arne Slot’s project into a spin.

However, it’s important for those of a Red persuasion not to get too excited. West Ham are hardly in good form, teetering on the edge of the Premier League relegation zone.

But there were some positives to be taken after that industrious win. Particularly, Liverpool looked sharp in attack, with Alexander Isak netting his first league goal for the Reds and Cody Gakpo notching a goal and an assist. Florian Wirtz sparkled in his creative role.

There has been talk of FSG and sporting director Richard Hughes dipping into the transfer market for a new forward in January, but if anything, the win over the Hammers and Liverpool’s abject form highlight a different area that needs attention.

Liverpool's winter transfer plans

It’s clear that Liverpool need a centre-back. Top sources have also linked the Premier League champions to prolific Bournemouth forward Antoine Semenyo, who has a £65m release clause valid from January.

However, the centre of the park appears to have been overlooked. Certainly, Alexis Mac Allister and Ryan Gravenberch have not formed a convincing partnership this season, and a tough-tackling and dynamic option could be worthwhile for a Liverpool side looking to bounce back.

As per Caught Offside, Liverpool are expected to table a €60m (£53m at current exchange rates) bid for Real Madrid midfielder Eduardo Camavinga, with the French midfielder no longer considered untouchable at the Santiago Bernabeu.

It’s understood that Los Blancos have held informal discussions about the 23-year-old’s future after an injury-affected few years, but Camavinga is one of the best in the business, and Liverpool could hit the jackpot by signing him for a comparatively affordable fee.

Why Liverpool want Eduardo Camavinga

Camavinga has been at Real Madrid for most of his professional career, having left France and Rennes and joined the Spanish giants in a €40m (£34m) package back in 2021.

He’s won the full gamut, and, on an individual level, been hailed by talent scout Jacek Kulig as “a real war machine in midfield”. One of the sternest criticisms Slot’s side have faced pertains to their lack of physicality and bite in midfield this season, outduelled in most of their defeats – and there have been a whole host of losses.

Camavinga would fix that, settling into the six berth. As per FBref, he ranks among the top 12% of positional peers across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for pass completion, the top 12% for successful take-ons, and the top 1% for tackles won per 90, emphasising his ball-playing quality and the gritty defensive acumen that would stabilise Slot’s sinking system.

Looking at those metrics – and more – in a different format, see how Camavinga could add more defensive solidity to the engine room when assessing his data against that of Mac Allister, whose form has plummeted this season.

Goals

0.11

0.18

Assists

0.11

0.20

Touches

76.18

63.79

Pass completion (%)

90.8

83.3

Shot-creating actions

2.44

3.80

Progressive passes

4.76

5.76

Progressive carries

1.93

1.46

Successful take-ons

1.13

0.67

Recoveries

5.72

4.65

Tackles won

2.72

1.46

Interceptions

1.25

0.91

Aerials won

1.30

0.56

But those metrics are taking across a year-long stretch, and the Argentine was among the creme-de-la-creme last year as Slot’s Reds romped their way to the title.

Semenyo might be a stellar addition to a Liverpool side who opted against a direct Luis Diaz replacement this summer, but Gakpo has held down the fort measurably well, and Rio Ngumoha, 17, was entrusted with a regular first-team role after an impressive emergence season.

Real Madrid are in a state of upheaval right now, and signing a player of Camavinga’s ilk for a decent figure won’t come around too often. Wataru Endo is scarcely used by Slot and Gravenberch and Mac Allister need proper competition.

Should Liverpool instil some French flair into their midfield in the form of Camainga, they would be sure to level up, adding the joie de vivre that has been lacking this term, and a tough-tackling presence that would ease the defence’s burden and free up the forwards to reach new heights.

Gakpo upgrade: Liverpool open surprise talks to sign "magic" £70m PL star

Liverpool are planning to strengthen their flanks after a tough start to the season.

1 ByAngus Sinclair Dec 1, 2025

كشف الإعلامي أحمد شوبير، عن اقتراب أحد لاعبي الأهلي السابقين من الانضمام إلى صفوف نادي بيراميدز خلال الفترة المقبلة.

وكان نادي بيراميدز قد فاز بـ لقب أفضل نادي بـ قارة إفريقيا لعام 2025، بعدما قدم عامًا استثنائيًا بـ تحقيق دوري أبطال إفريقيا والسوبر الإفريقي وكأس القارات الثلاثة.

وقال أحمد شوبير في تصريحات إذاعية عبر “أون سبورت إف إم”: “لدي معلومات أن بيراميدز أصبح قريبًا من ضم حمدي فتحي، وأنا كنت سألت (يا جماعة موضوع حمدي فتحي إيه؟)، وسألت في النادي الأهلي”.

طالع | عمرو بسيوني يوضح حقيقة الصفقة التبادلية مع الزمالك.. وموقف بيراميدز من وسام أبو علي وحمدان

وأردف: “أسهم حمدي فتحي بعد كأس العالم للأندية انخفضت قليلاً مع النادي الأهلي، والناس في بيراميدز يرغبون في ضم حمدي فتحي منذ فترة طويلة، وقالوا إنه في الحسبان وفي الاعتبارات”.

وتابع: “قد يكون حمدي فتحي بالفعل قريبًا من الانضمام إلى نادي بيراميدز، وطبقًا لبعض المصادر داخل بيراميدز قالوا نحن متفقون على كل التفاصيل المالية والراتب وكل شيء”.

وواصل: “يتبقى مرحلة التفاوض النهائي مع نادي الوكرة لأن عقده ممتد حتى صيف 2027، ولن يكون صعبًا لأن الناس في النادي القطري، سيرون أنه يتبقى له موسم، فمن الممكن بيعه والاستفادة منه”.

The Toronto Blue Jays felt to signing Shohei Ohtani as a free agent last offseason. Now, they appear ready to jump right back in the star-hunting pool with Juan Soto, the marquee free agent of this year's class.

Soto has officially met with the Blue Jays, whose presentation to Soto was described as "impressive" by Jon Heyman of the New York Post:

Similar phrasing was used to describe the Boston Red Sox's first pitch to Soto. It was also reported Soto asked the Sox about three things: Winning commitment, talent evaluation systems, and facilities.

ESPN's Jeff Passan recently was adamant the Blue Jays are going to acquire a big name this offseason. While he was hesitant to indicate the Jays have a strong chance to get Soto, he said, "it certainly could [be Toronto that lands Soto]. Do not discount them. This is not something they're just doing to just get their fan base excited. Because you know if they don't get Soto, it's just going to be like another dagger after last winter."

Soto made the American League first team for his play in 2024. He was an integral offseason addition that got the New York Yankees over the hump to appear in their first World Series in 15 years.

There will likely be plenty more teams that make presentations to Soto before he accepts offer terms and weighs his final decision.