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Arne Slot's reign as Liverpool boss has started slowly on the transfer front. There's nothing wrong with that. After all, there haven't been too many deals concluded in the Premier League yet.

However, once Euro 2024 ends, you would expect Slot and the recruitment team to advance on various targets to strengthen a squad that fell behind Manchester City and Arsenal towards the business end of last season.

Where do the Reds need to strengthen? Well, with Virgil van Dijk and Mo Salah's contracts set to expire in a year, you sense a new centre-back and indeed another option out wide would do the trick, thus preparing themselves for the worst-case scenario that their two star men depart.

So, who is at the forefront of the Anfield club's mind? Well, talk has been rife in recent weeks surrounding a potential move for Anthony Gordon.

The latest on Anthony Gordon to Liverpool

A boyhood Red, this is a move that would cause quite a stir on Merseyside given Gordon's ties to Everton.

However, he is a Toffee no more and has been lighting it up in the Premier League for Newcastle United.

The threat of a points deduction for failing to comply with profit and sustainability guidelines meant he was reportedly offered to Liverpool at the end of June.

The Reds said no to a move for the time being, despite the winger's apparent lust for a switch to the club.

Liverpool could yet still make a move in the summer months but they may have to pay a £70m fee according to reports.

Either way, it's a deal that has the backing of a certain Emile Heskey.

What Heskey has said about Gordon

Speaking exclusively to Football FanCast this week on behalf of 888sport, former Liverpool striker Emile Heskey was asked whether Gordon would be a good signing for Slot and Co.

The answer was definitive. Heskey said: "Yes it would [be a good signing] for sure. Gordon is a top young player. He is exciting, he gets the crowd off their feet and this is what you want as a winger."

Last term, the Toon star really exploded into life, scoring 12 goals and registering 11 assists in all competitions.

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That said, Heskey thinks the 23-year-old can go even better, particularly if he was to play at Anfield.

The former England forward continued: "He can be capable of scoring 20+ goals a season which is what wingers have to aim for nowadays. He is direct and has shown for Newcastle that he can perform at a top level. I like him a lot and he has the potential to go far as he has all the credentials to be a top winger."

Would the Newcastle star fit in back on Merseyside? Heskey certainly reckons so: "Liverpool like these types of players, so Gordon would fit into the Liverpool mould of player very well," he told FFC. "Playing in front of the Anfield crowd, driving forward with the ball, this move could work really well."

Gordon has proven himself to be one of the most captivating forwards in the league over the last year, and even if he has only earned a few minutes of game time at Euro 2024, this is a player who has the potential to become a key figure at international level in the coming years.

Related Liverpool hit gold on Klopp superstar who's worth more than Anthony Gordon

This talented player could explode under Arne Slot’s management.

Posts ByAngus Sinclair

Pundit Carlton Palmer has assessed the chances of a manager who has "done very, very well" in previous jobs becoming Sunderland's next boss.

Sunderland manager news

The Black Cats won't have a new permanent manager in place until the end of the season, with Mike Dodds set to continue in his caretaker role for the remainder of the Championship campaign.

Current options are being looked at as Michael Beale's long-term replacement, however, and one journalist has even claimed that Dodds getting the permanent job hasn't been completely ruled out, perhaps depending on how he fares in the coming months.

A return to the Stadium of Light for Alex Neil has also been mooted, too, with the former boss thought to be keen on taking the job, while up-and-coming Reims boss Will Still is also seen as an option.

Former Nottingham Forest manager Steve Cooper has also been mentioned as a potential candidate, in what could be a statement appointment by Sunderland, considering he has recently been in the Premier League.

Pundit reacts to Alex Neil returning to Sunderland rumours

Speaking to Football League World after hearing the rumours about Neil possibly returning to Sunderland, Palmer played down the idea of that happening, having doubts about him being the right fit. He did praise the 42-year-old, though, saying:

"Reports are suggesting that Alex Neil, former Sunderland boss, would be interested in exploring the option of returning to Sunderland. Neil led Sunderland out of League One through the play-offs and was doing very, very well at Sunderland before walking out to take the Stoke job and in doing so he criticised the way that the club was run and the transfer situation with the hierarchy. So, that's not going to change, and I think the way that he left the football club was not in a good way and then his comments.

"So, I think it's highly unlikely that Sunderland will revisit the Alex Neil situation, and again, I thought at the time, you know, I do rate Alex Neil as a manager, and he's done very, very well at previous clubs, but it's surprising how many times, when you, do walk out, and I understand his reasoning for doing so because obviously Tony Mowbray had the same problems with Sunderland, also he took over and got them in the Championship play-offs. He also questioned the hierarchy of the situation as regards transfers etc. and the way the club was run."

Palmer makes some good points regarding Neil, and it is a tricky decision to make with him, considering he guided Sunderland back into the Championship in 2021/22, beating Wycombe Wanderers in the League One playoff final.

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That being said, things did end sourly with him at the Stadium of Light, due to taking charge at Stoke City after a short spell with the Black Cats, and supporters may feel that going back a second time could be a big risk.

Related Reporter: "Magnificent" 4-2-3-1 manager is now keen on Sunderland job

Could he be a solid successor to Michael Beale?

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Going with a younger option like Still may well be the way forward, with the 31-year-old only growing as a manager and possibly leaving Reims this summer, but Cooper could also be a great choice if he is happy to drop down a division, assuming Sunderland don't get promoted.

Chelsea have a habit of unearthing talented youngsters and this has been reinforced by the arrival of Mauricio Pochettino.

The Argentine has a keen eye for nurturing young talent and earned a reputation at Tottenham Hotspur for doing just that having developed youngsters Dele Alli and Harry Kane into a deadly partnership at White Hart Lane.

When scouring through Chelsea's team sheets this season, it appears he's continuing to bolster his reputation for throwing youth players into the deep end, naming a total of eight homegrown talents on his bench in the Premier League this term.

While the academy setup at Cobham has provided a platform for current players Reece James, Levi Colwill and Conor Gallagher a path to stardom, it also hosts the next generation of talent, including Bashir Humphrey's, Alfie Gilchrist, Josh Brooking, Mason Burstow and Ronnie Stutter, who have all featured in the first-team squad this season.

However, there is one name missing from that list and he's arguably the most talented player in the Chelsea setup. Step up, Leo Castledine.

Who is Leo Castledine?

In 2020, Leo Castledine departed AFC Wimbledon after seven years to join Chelsea's prestigious Cobham academy, impressing with every step of his development so far and is now within touching distance of breaking onto the senior scene.

According to Chelsea's official website, Castledine is "an attacking midfield player who can play box-to-box, he likes to create and score goals and is very tenacious in the tackle."

A tackling machine, but also a player who has an exquisite passing range and composure beyond his years in the final third, the 18-year-old sensation is on the right path to becoming a complete midfielder and this is demonstrated by the impact he's having in the U21s.

The "huge talent" – as described by journalist Felix Johnston – has plundered two goals and provided four assists in six Premier League 2 appearances this season, continuing from where he left off last term with 17 goal contributions in 38 matches across the underage groups.

Castledine is earning praise from all angles for boasting tenacity and creativity in abundance, including from U21s coach Mark Robinson, who waxed lyrical about his talents in an interview with the Athletic last year, drawing similarities to the profile of Gallagher.

He said: “In terms of energy, he is similar to Mason Mount and Conor Gallagher. I think he has more elements of Conor out of the two of them. He can be very dangerous when he arrives in the box and is really good in the air, and we have to make sure we keep working on that as well. He is going to be a goal-scoring midfielder.”

Regarded by many as one of the finest talents to graduate from the Cobham Academy in recent times, comparisons like the one above provide a glowing indication that Castledine is knocking on the first-team door.

Who would Castledine replace in the Chelsea first-team?

If Pochettino was to unleash the youngster into the first-team picture, he'd likely replace Gallagher, possessing an ability to produce similar robust and combative performances to the 23-year-old.

Gallagher's main strength is sweeping up the danger and putting in energetic displays, the sort that can often leave the masses unaware of just how sublime his defensive work can be.

The Englishman ranks seventh in the entire league, as per Sofascore for tackles won per game (3.1) and interceptions (1.9) while recovering possession 7.3 times, an inclination – if it was ever needed – that the all-action midfielder gets through an obscene amount of defensive work.

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Castledine, although not on the same level currently, would bring the energy and industry that is so readily associated with Gallagher but also the ability to operate in a variety of positions, having been utilised as a box-to-box midfielder, a number 10 and even on the right side of defence.

Not only that, the 18-year-old – who was tipped by Robinson to have all the qualities to become a "goalscoring midfielder" – can perhaps offer the Blues a bigger threat going forward than his compatriot, with the £50k per-week warrior falling short in attack.

With only 0.81 for expected assists (xG), 0.8 key passes per game and three big chances created in the top flight this term, the attacking side of his game has been neglected and has lacked composure in the final third, something that Castledine possesses in abundance.

There is no doubt that in a tough start to the season so far, Gallagher has been one of Chelsea's standout performers, however, if Pochettino did want to improve the quality being served up in attack, he should give the youngsters precocious talents a chance to shine.

Celtic are thought to be interested in a move for Dinamo Zagreb goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic, according to Sky Sports reporter Anthony Joseph.

What’s the latest Celtic transfer news?

The Hoops have been working hard behind the scenes ahead of Brendan Rodgers’ first season back as manager, with two new players already signed at Parkhead.

Norwegian midfielder Odin Thiago Holm has arrived from Valerenga and winger Marco Tilio from Melbourne City, with the pair both agreeing to five-year deals in Glasgow. More new faces could soon be on the way, especially after Celtic lost Jota, who has signed for Saudi Pro League champions Al-Ittihad in a deal worth £25m.

An attacking player who could come in for the Portuguese winger is Gangwon FC forward Yang Hyun-jun, with a fee of just over £2m now agreed between the two clubs. Another South Korean player who could follow Yang to Glasgow is Busan I-Park midfielder Kwon Hyeok-kyu. The Hoops have been tracking the player for some time and even made an offer in the winter window, but it looks as if they could now get their man after making an improved bid.

Celtic also still have their eyes on the European market, and by the looks of things, Livakovic could be the latest player the Hoops make a move for.

Joseph took to Twitter on Friday evening to share a further transfer update from Parkhead, this time on a new goalkeeper. The club are thought to be eyeing Livakovic, who is into the final 12 months of his Dinamo Zagreb deal.

“Celtic are in the market for a goalkeeper this summer. It’s understood one target being monitored closely is Croatia & Dinamo Zagreb No1 Dominik Livakovic, who has a year left on his contract.

“Fiorentina’s interest has cooled recently. Villarreal & Fenerbahce are also keen.”

However, the Hoops may need to be quick if they are to sign the shot-stopper, with Fabrizio Romano since claiming that Fenerbahce are close to a move and have agreed on personal terms.

Who is Dominik Livakovic?

Livakovic, on £15,000-a-week, is 28 years of age and has been with Dinamo Zagreb since 2015. The Croatia international is valued at €12m by Transfermarkt and has made 283 appearances for Zagreb, keeping an impressive 131 clean sheets.

The club captain has won eight major honours during his time with Zagreb and he has also played in two World Cups, helping Croatia to the final against France back in 2018.

He also starred in a penalty shootout in Qatar last year against Brazil, where he was praised by some major figures in the game, including former Bayern Munich chief Oliver Kahn, who called him a “hero”.

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"The man who stopped Brazil will always be a hero to me,

"Livakovic is worthy of praise. Such a goalkeeper must play at a top club. I have no doubt that this will be the case in the new season, but at the same time, he is not within the scope of our interests."

Should Livakovic move to Celtic Park, he would bring plenty of experience at the highest level to Rodgers' side, and at the age of 28, you’d like to think he has plenty of years left in the tank, so could be a long-term replacement for Joe Hart, who turned 36 in April.

Newcastle United have conducted a scouting mission to assess Brighton & Hove Albion striker Evan Ferguson, according to a report from 90min.

Which strikers are Newcastle United targeting this summer?

Newcastle have recently discovered they will need to fork out €120m (£105m) if they wish to sign Benfica striker Goncalo Ramos this summer, with the Portugal international tripling in value since the beginning of the season. In stark contrast to the huge amount it would take to bring Ramos to St. James' Park, Marcus Thuram will be available on a free transfer this summer, with his contract set to expire at the end of the campaign, and it has recently been reported that talks have already been held about a summer switch.

A report from Tutto Atalanta has also detailed the Magpies are one of the clubs in the race for Rasmus Hojlund, with Napoli and AC Milan headlining the interest from Italy, while fellow Premier League side Arsenal are willing to spend £44m to win the race for his signature.

As per 90min, Newcastle are one of the teams to have scouted Ferguson in recent weeks, although there may be competition for his signature this summer, with the likes of Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Liverpool all considering moves. However, despite the level of interest in the forward, there is seemingly a decent chance he remains at Brighton for the foreseeable future, as he is said to be in no hurry to leave, and is in line for a new contract.

Will Evan Ferguson leave Brighton this summer?

Even though the 18-year-old is set for a huge increase on his £3k-per-week wages, it will surely be hard to resist a move this summer, given that some of Europe's top clubs are monitoring his availability.

Hailed as being the "complete package" by football scout Jacek Kulig, the marksman has fired home eight goals in 19 senior games this season, a stellar effort in what has been a real breakthrough season for the teenager, and he is only going to get better.

The Irishman also impressed on international duty recently, scoring his first goal for his country in a 3-2 victory against Latvia, which is great experience to have at such a young age.

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Alexander Isak's return has been a welcome boost for Eddie Howe, with the Sweden international scoring three goals in his last two Premier League games, and Ferguson could be his perfect long-term strike partner.

Manchester United’s business in the January transfer window may not be completely finished, as they could sign a new right-back if Aaron Wan-Bissaka leaves, Fabrizio Romano has claimed.

What’s the word?

Wan-Bissaka looked certain to leave as he failed to make a single start before the World Cup, but has impressed in recent weeks as he covered in the absence of Diogo Dalot.

This improvement meant that United were no longer prioritising a right-back in January, but they could still move for one if the Englishman leaves the club.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Romano claimed that United could still be active in the market, as Wan-Bissaka will only leave if they can find a replacement.

“I would keep an eye on a new right-back, only in one case,” Romano stated.

“The case is that Wan-Bissaka leaves the club, because if Man United receive a good proposal for Wan-Bissaka, and keep an eye on two clubs: Wolves and Crystal Palace.

“Now Wan-Bissaka is performing well, it is not an urgent situation for Manchester United, but in case they receive a good proposal, there is still a chance for him to leave the club in January.

“In that case, it’s on Manchester United to bring in a new backup option for Diogo Dalot.”

A deal can wait

Given that Wan-Bissaka is starting to find some form under Erik ten Hag – he received a season-high league match rating of 7.5/10 against Wolves recently (via Sofascore) – it may be wise to see if he can fulfil the potential which made United spend £50m on him in 2019.

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If he can prove himself as a useful option over the next few months, he will save United from having to find a replacement, and if he does not perform well, they can let him go in the summer.

Selling him now runs the risk of a replacement not settling well mid-season, and letting him go whilst he is in good form could come back to bite them later if he becomes successful elsewhere.

Tottenham Hotspur have had their fair share of transfer flops and successes over the years as they have picked up bargains, like Heung-Min Son, and signed flops, like Roberto Soldado, in previous windows.

Transfers are not always perfect and you cannot predict what will happen over the course of a number of years after signing a player, whether that is their form, how the manager uses them, or a number of other factors involved.

One player who the club did have a nightmare with was central defender Sebastian Bassong, as his value plummeted during his time in north London.

Tottenham signed the centre-back from Newcastle United in the summer of 2009 for a fee in the region of £8m and then-manager Harry Redknapp said that he was a player with a “good future”.

He enjoyed a fantastic debut season with Spurs as he played 38 games in all competitions, including 28 in the Premier League, under Redknapp.

However, he was then an unused substitute in 30 matches in the following campaign and this did not go down well with the ex-Magpies gem.

The central defender was left confused by his lack of action in the team, saying:

“I know football’s rules and I know that it’s up to the manager. If he likes someone else more than me, I totally get it. But the fact is that after last season, and what we achieved together, I couldn’t even imagine that I would be in this situation.

“I haven’t made some huge mistake on the pitch or anything. It’s just happened. For a bit, I felt lost because I haven’t faced this situation before in my career. I feel that I have gone backwards, like I have gone from heaven to hell.”

The enforcer went on to say that his value, in the market, had gone down because he had not been playing, when speaking about Daniel Levy wanting as much of the £8m back as possible.

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That was not helped by him playing just five Premier League matches in the first half of the 2011/12 campaign before heading out on loan to Wolves and playing nine times.

This led to the defender eventually being sold to Norwich City for a reported fee of £3m in 2012. This meant that his value plummeted by around 63% from the initial fee they paid Newcastle to sign him.

Based on that, it’s evident to see why Spurs had such a nightmare with the defender as their handling of his situation led to a £5m loss.

According to transfer insider Dean Jones, Southampton will find it difficult to sign Chelsea winger Callum Hudson-Odoi this summer.

The Lowdown: Hudson-Odoi wants Chelsea exit

The Guardian reported last weekend that the 21-year-old has asked to leave the Premier League giants on loan in a bid to find more game time, and after being omitted from the Blues’ match-day squad for their opening day victory against Everton, an exit looks highly likely.

Fabrizio Romano first credited the Saints with an interest in the forward when he revealed that they have enquired about his availability, but there are doubts regarding the possibility of a deal being pulled off.

The Latest: Jones shares Saints concern

Speaking to GiveMeSport, Jones admitted that he thinks Hudson-Odoi won’t view Southampton as an ideal club for him to join in comparison with other offers he might receive. He said:

“Southampton is the one that has been most widely circulated. I’m not wholly convinced, at this point in time, that Hudson-Odoi sees that as the best place for him.”

The Verdict: Good deal for both parties?

If Ralph Hasenhuttl could convince Hudson-Odoi to put pen to paper at St. Mary’s, he would be a wonderful addition to the squad, even if it is temporary.

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The Chelsea starlet only made 11 starts in the top-flight last season due to injury, but managed to make a positive impact when given the chance, averaging 1.7 key passes and 1.2 shots per game, via WhoScored.

Hudson-Odoi wants minutes under his belt and he could be a guaranteed starter under the Austrian if he hits the ground running, so a move to the south coast could be a lot more appealing than he thinks.

Luis Suarez could be set for a return to the Premier League, with Aston Villa targeting a deal for the striker, who is set to become a free agent after departing Atletico Madrid upon the expiry of his contract over the summer.

What’s the story?

That’s according to The Telegraph, who claimed that Villa manager and ex-Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard wants to reunite with his former team-mate at Villa Park next season.

It would be a sensational capture for the West Midlands outfit, who have already shown serious intent with the additions of Boubacar Kamara and Diego Carlos before the end of May.

Gerrard has already tied down one former Reds team-mate to a permanent contract in Philippe Coutinho, and the Brazilian’s former Liverpool and Barcelona colleague could be the next big name to make the move to Villa Park.

Villa must secure a deal for Suarez

Although he wouldn’t be a long-term option at 35, signing Suarez would be a seriously impressive feat by Aston Villa.

The striker is an incredible goalscorer, having scored 436 times at club level during his stellar career, with 82 of those coming at Liverpool.

Having left Anfield for Camp Nou in 2014, the Uruguayan hasn’t played for an English club since departing Merseyside. He made 282 appearances for Barcelona, where he scored 194 goals and registered 113 assists, before joining Atletico in 2020.

Suarez enjoyed an impressive first season with Diego Simeone’s side, helping them to a first La Liga title in seven years with 21 goals in the Spanish top flight.

However, this season hasn’t been as straightforward for the striker, who had fallen out of favour and was limited to just 20 league starts. Despite a significant decrease in game-time, though, the 132-cap Uruguay international still reached double digits in goals, scoring 13 times.

With Atletico refusing to extend Suarez’s contract, Villa can land the forward on a free transfer, although wages could be tricky to negotiate given that he is on a mammoth £263k-p/w. That is more than twice the pay of every Villa player except Coutinho, who is their highest earner on £150k-p/w.

Signing a striker will be imperative this summer, though, with Ollie Watkins blowing hot and cold this term despite scoring 11 Premier League goals. Meanwhile, Danny Ings has appeared to have struggled to settle in at Villa Park, netting seven goals, a significant decrease on his figures at Southampton.

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Labelled “world-class” by his former Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers and “probably the best player I have played with” by none other than Gerrard, in Suarez Villa would be getting a serial winner with massive experience and a sensational goal-scoring record.

It wouldn’t be a long-term solution, but it would surely leave Villa supporters ecstatic, with Gerrard already a huge admirer of the qualities that the Uruguay striker possesses.

AND in other news: Contact made: NSWE in talks for “unreal” £100m AVFC target, he’s “perfect” for Gerrard

Aston Villa play host to an impressively in-form Southampton side this afternoon and will be hoping to end the visitors’ seven-game unbeaten run.

Steven Gerrard has the opportunity to guide his team closer to a top-half finish by securing a win at Villa Park today, and he will be pleased to have an almost completely fit squad at his disposal.

Carney Chukwuemeka is out with a knock and Marvelous Nakamba remains sidelined with a long-term injury after receiving surgery at the end of last year, but otherwise everyone else is available for selection.

The former Rangers boss will be thrilled to have Bertrand Traore restored to his attacking options ahead of the clash, with the winger confirmed to be back in training following a hamstring injury picked up during the Africa Cup of Nations.

With that in mind, this is how Football Fancast expects Aston Villa to line up against Saints this afternoon…

We expect Gerrard to make just one change from the side which won against Brighton last weekend, with the 41-year-old staying loyal to most of his team in a ‘don’t fix what isn’t broken’ approach.

The only change we expect to see is in the forward line, with Danny Ings being axed from the centre-forward role as one of the less effective attackers in the side so far this season.

The 29-year-old has only found the net four times so far this season in his 19 Premier League appearances, which is a much lesser output than when he was at Southampton last season, scoring 13 goals for his former club last term.

In his place, we expect to see £85k-p/w gem Bailey return to the starting line-up after being sidelined with a thigh injury which had rendered him unavailable for selection for the last 10 games.

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Bailey has been hailed as “quality” by his former manager Peter Bosz, and Gerrard could give him the opportunity to make his mark this afternoon. If that happens, the Jamaican must seize his opportunity to impress in one of the most competitive positions in the Aston Villa squad.

In other news: Gerrard has revealed an injury update on one Villa player prior to this afternoon’s clash