Glasgow Rangers made their first signing of the Russell Martin era last month when they confirmed the arrival of right-back Max Aarons on loan.

The former England U21 international will spend the 2025/26 campaign on loan at Ibrox, but Rangers do not have an option to make it permanent next summer, should they wish to.

Aarons will not be the last player to walk through the doors at Ibrox before the end of the summer transfer window, though, as Rangers are also in talks to sign Conor Coady to bolster their centre-back options.

The Scottish Premiership giants are also in the market to sign a new central midfielder, amid interest in Brazilian enforcer Metinho from Troyes.

Midfielder rejects clubs to sign for Rangers

There has not been any advance on their interest in Metinho as of yet, but the Gers are reportedly set to sign a new central midfielder from England.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

According to Sky Sports journalist Mark McAdam, 30-year-old Bournemouth midfielder Joe Rothwell has turned down offers from teams in LaLiga to sign for Rangers.

The reporter adds that the Scottish giants have agreed a deal with the Premier League side to sign the right-footed maestro on a permanent deal, for an undisclosed fee.

McAdams states that Rothwell’s contract with the Cherries is due to expire at the end of next season, and the Gers have taken advantage of that to swoop in to snap him up this summer.

Rangers have beat stiff competition from European sides, in Spain’s top-flight, to plan the midfielder, who could arrive as Martin’s own version of Glen Kamara, who played 193 times for the Ibrox giants.

Why Joe Rothwell could be Glen Kamara 2.0 for Rangers

The Gers sold Kamara to Leeds in the summer of 2023, and now they could finally find a new metronomic, classy, midfield operator by signing this Bournemouth ace.

Funnily enough, Rothwell was signed by the English side to replace the Finland international when he left Elland Road to join Rennes last year.

As you can see by their respective performances for Leeds at Championship level, Leeds landed a like-for-like replacement, as both players excel at progressing play and creating chances for their teammates with their immense passing quality.

The £15k-per-week star was described as a “pure baller” by manager Daniel Farke, and his statistics in the English second tier in the 2024/25 campaign back up that comment.

24/25 Championship	Joe Rothwell per 90	Percentile rank vs midfielders
Passes completed	63.74	Top 6%
Long passes completed	6.44	Top 2%
xA	0.22	Top 4%
Key passes	2.44	Top 1%
Progressive passes	6.64	Top 8%
Passes into the final third	7.40	Top 2%
Stats via FBref

As you can see in the table above, Rothwell ranked very highly among his positional peers as a passer and as a creator in the Championship, which further backs up how similar he is to Kamara.

The English midfielder ended the season with 5.42 xA and four assists to his name in 24 league starts, which shows that he can create high-quality chances for his teammates at an impressive rate.

Kamara provided a calming presence in midfield with his ability to pass the ball, but the Finnish sensation also offered quality in the final third with a return of 11 assists in all competitions for the Gers.

Therefore, Rangers may have landed Martin his own version of the former Light Blues midfield maestro by winning the race ahead of European sides to sign Rothwell this summer.

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By
Dan Emery

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ينتظر متابعو كرة القدم الأوروبية لقاء مثير في نهائي مبكر لدوري أبطال أوروبا هذا الموسم بمواجهة تجمع بين برشلونة وباريس سان جيرمان في الأول من أكتوبر المقبل.

وفي وقت سابق، انتقد هانز فليك مدرب برشلونة الاتحاد الإسباني لكرة القدم بسبب المشاكل البدنية التي يعاني منها لاعبه لامين يامال والتي ستمنعه من المشاركة ضد فالنسيا غداً في الدوري الإسباني.

ولا يعد هانز فليك هو المدرب الوحيد الذي أعرب عن قلقه بشأن الإصابات خلال فترة التوقف الدولي، حيث تحدث لويس إنريكي مدرب باريس سان جيرمان قبل مباراة لانس عن الجدل الدائر بين الاتحاد الفرنسي وباريس سان جيرمان بشأن إصابة عثمان ديمبلي وديزري دوي مع منتخب فرنسا.

وقال لويس إنريكي في تصريحات نشرتها صحيفة “سبورت” الإسبانية: “لا شئ أقوله سواء كان إيجابياً أو سلبياً، سيحسن صحة اللاعبين المصابين”.

وأضاف: “بالنسبة لي كمدرب ولجهازي الفني والمديرين الرياضيين، أهم شئ هو صحة اللاعبين نحن نركز على ذلك”.

أقرأ أيضاً.. فليك يحسم موقف لامين يامال من المشاركة أمام فالنسيا ويوجه رسالة خفية لـ دي لا فوينتي

وواصل إنريكي الذي سيفتقد لخدمات دوي وديمبلي في المباريات القادمة وقبل لقاء برشلونة في دوري أبطال أوروبا: “أشعر بالقلق على كل لاعب يصاب، في كل لحظة من الموسم”.

وختم: “هذا أمر طبيعي في كرة القدم، نركز على صحة اللاعبين وتحسينها وهذا هو أهم شئ للنادي، نركز دائماً على أهم شئ وأكرره هو صحة اللاعبين، ليس لدي ما أضيفه”.

وسئل إنريكي عن عودته بعد خضوعه لجراحة في عظمة الترقوة بسبب سقوطه في حادث دراجة: “تدربت كالمعتاد طوال الأسبوع ونعم غداً سأكون مستعداً لمباراة لانس، حادثتي لن تغير شيئاً، أنا مستعد وأستطيع فعل أي شئ، أواصل العمل كالمعتاد ولدي قيد جسدي واحد فقط، أحاول التفكير في الجوانب الإيجابية التي تتسبب فيها هذه الحوادث وأرى ذلك الآن وأشعر بالراحة”.

Chelsea are expected to remain busy on transfers this summer after clinching the Club World Cup in New Jersey, with the Blues receiving an estimated £87.5 million worth of prize money as a result of their success in the tournament.

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The west Londoners could still make more signings.

ByEmilio Galantini Jul 17, 2025

Their statement 3-0 win over European champions PSG at the MetLife Stadium last Sunday, rounding off six wins from seven CWC matches across the pond, effectively paid for both Liam Delap and Jamie Gittens – who cost Chelsea a total of £85 million to sign earlier this window.

This, combined with the exits of Kepa Arrizabalaga, Basir Humphreys, Noni Madueke, Marcus Bettinelli and Djordje Petrovic, who left for an estimated £96 million, means Chelsea are actually making a profit so far this summer.

Cole Palmer

7.33

Moises Caicedo

7.02

Enzo Fernández

6.95

Nicolas Jackson

6.88

Noni Madueke

6.82

via WhoScored

That isn’t even including the undisclosed fee they received for Mathis Amougou, who joined sister club Strasbourg in a permanent deal just months after arriving from Ligue 1 side St Etienne.

Chelsea do have more money to spend whilst comfortably keeping in line with PSR, even if they’re under pressure to sell more players by UEFA, or risk not being able to register new signings for their Champions League squad next season (Kaveh Solhekol).

According to reliable journalist Simon Phillips, BlueCo are pondering unofficial swap deals as a solution to this – given it would allow them to both reinforce Enzo Maresca’s ranks and balance out the squad.

Nicolas Jackson is one of the men who could be used as a makeweight, given the uncertainty surrounding his future and interest from Premier League sides, including Aston Villa.

Writing via his Substack, Phillips reports that Villa’s interest in Jackson could open the door for Chelsea to ask about their star winger Morgan Rogers.

Morgan Rogers "very open" to joining Chelsea

It’s already been suggested by other sources that they hold a serious interest in the England international, and Phillips suggests that Rogers is “very open” to joining Chelsea, who’d absolutely “love” to sign him.

“Chelsea would love to sign Morgan Rogers from Aston Villa, but they quoted north of £90m for him, so Chelsea haven’t taken it any further yet,” said the journalist.

“If Villa come knocking for Jackson as expected, then Chelsea will mention Rogers. It would have to be a deal that would suit both. Rogers is very open to moving to Chelsea but isn’t actively pursuing a move from Villa, who would also be open to selling Rogers but for the right price.

“They really like Jackson though, so it may well be something that could develop down the line if the deal fits all parties.”

The 22-year-old made a real name for himself at Villa Park last term, bagging 14 goals and 15 assists across 54 appearances in all competitions, including four goals and three assists in the Champions League.

He also fits Chelsea’s usual transfer profile as a young star with bags of potential and plenty of resale value, but Villa will be very wary of green-lighting his exit, considering just how imperative Rogers was for Unai Emery throughout 2024/2025.

Leeds United and 49ers Enterprises are “in negotiations” to seal a “complicated” transfer, according to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano.

Leeds’ transfer plans after Nmecha and Bijol deals

The Whites have made a start on their summer business ahead of their Premier League return, with Daniel Farke bringing in forward Lukas Nmecha on a free transfer from Wolfsburg as the first addition of the summer.

Nmecha has since been joined by centre-back Jaka Bijol, who looks like he could go straight into Farke’s side after Leeds spent £15m and gave the Slovenia international a five-year deal at Elland Road.

The 49ers and co also want to bring in a goalkeeper, central midfielder and marquee striker, bolstering the spine of Leeds’ side in the process, and they are willing to spend big on each position.

A top goalkeeping target is yet to be indetifned, whereas in attack, Fulham’s Rodrigo Muniz appears to be the priority. In midfield, Strasbourg captain Habib Diarra is viewed as an ambitious target, and there have been claims that Leeds have made two offers for the Senegal international.

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Diarra appears to be keen on a move to England, however, whether that will be with Leeds remains to be seen, and Romano has shared what he knows about a potential transfer.

Leeds "in negotiations" to seal “complicated" Diarra deal – Romano

Speaking to Give Me Sport, Romano said that Leeds are “in negotiations” to seal a deal for Diarra, however, any move won’t be easy because of the valuation.

Leeds’ second bid was thought to be worth around £24m, and if that isn’t enough, the Whites may soon be into the territory of their most expensive signings of all time in Georginio Rutter and Brenden Aaronson.

1

Georginio Rutter

€34m

Hoffenheim

2023

2

Brenden Aaronson

€32.84m

RB Salzburg

2022

3

Rodrigo

€30m

Valencia

2020

4

Dan James

€29.1m

Man Utd

2018

5

Rio Ferdinand

€26m

West Ham

2000

Still just 21 years of age, Diarra has already played more than 100 games for Strasbourg, something which Liam Rosenior hailed.

“For Habib it’s been amazing. At his age? To play 100 games for this club? A club that he’s been at since he was 14 years old? A club that he loves? For him to be captain at his age says a lot about his character and mentality.

“I think he’s going to have an amazing career. He’s been magnificent in my time working with him and it was nice to see him with his family celebrating a really special moment.”

Yuzvendra Chahal will join Northamptonshire for their final Royal London One-Day Cup match, against Kent, and will also play the five remaining County Championship fixtures for the team.The club said that legspinner Chahal, 34, will link up with the squad ahead of Wednesday’s trip to Canterbury for the game against Kent and then be available for the rest of the red-ball campaign.Chahal had spent time at Kent in the 2023 season, and took nine wickets in two games.Northamptonshire head coach John Sadler feels Chahal will add extra variety and depth to the club’s bowling attack. “Yuzvendra is another high-profile overseas player who brings with him a wealth of experience and some incredible skills,” he said. “His record speaks for itself and his wicket-taking ability will add strength to our attack.”In April 2024, Chahal became the first bowler in the history of the IPL to reach the mark of 200 wickets. He was one of four frontline spinners in India’s 2024 T20 World Cup-winning squad, but did not get a game. Though the selectors continue to keep the senior legspinner on their list of back-ups, especially for the shortest format, this will give him an opportunity to stay match-fit and sharpen his red-ball game.Northamptonshire are currently placed one off the bottom in the nine-team One-Day Cup Group A table, having won just one of the seven matches so far.

Things have really kicked into gear for Arsenal over the last couple of weeks.

After watching their rivals bring in star player after star player, the Gunners have finally bolstered Mike Arteta’s squad with the likes of Martin Zubimendi, Kepa Arrizabalaga and Christian Norgaard.

Moreover, the Premier League runners-up appear incredibly close to securing the services of goalscoring extraordinaire Viktor Gyokeres.

Andrea Berta and Co aren’t done there either, as reports are now linking the club to a midfield machine who’d be incredible at the Emirates, even if his arrival could be bad news for Martin Odegaard.

Arsenal target midfield maestro

The main thing Arsenal need to add to the team this summer is attacking flair, goals and dynamism, so it’s hardly been a surprise that some of the most exciting links in recent weeks have been to players who possess all of those traits, such as Morgan Rogers.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

Expand Collapse

The Aston Villa star could be available for around £70m this window, and while that is undoubtedly a lot of money, it’s easy to see why teams, such as the North Londoners, might be willing to pay it.

After all, the 22-year-old was able to amass an imposing tally of 29 goal involvements in 54 appearances.

However, with that being his first full season in the Premier League, there are still a few questions over how he might fare in the long run, questions which are not present for another of the Gunners’ targets: Eberechi Eze.

According to a recent report from Caught Offside, Arsenal remain intensely interested in signing the Crystal Palace star.

Moreover, the report has revealed that the North Londoners are now closing in on an agreement to sign the Englishman, which would see them pay an initial £45m of his £67.5m release clause, with the rest coming in playing-related add-ons.

In all, it looks like it could be a fantastic deal for Arsenal and Arteta, but one that might spell trouble for Odegaard.

Why Eze could be bad news for Odegaard

The first reason Eze could be bad news for Odegaard next season is a simple one, but arguably the most important: his output.

In his 43 appearances for Palace last season, totalling 3303 minutes, the 27-year-old “duel monster,” as dubbed by reporter Simon Collings, scored 14 goals and provided 11 assists, and did so almost exclusively from attacking midfield.

This means the former QPR gem was able to average a goal involvement every 1.72 games, or every 132.12 minutes for a team that, at their best, is a mid-table side.

Eze vs Odegaard

Players

Eze

Odegaard

Appearances

43

45

Minutes

3303′

3447′

Goals

14

6

Assists

11

12

Goal Involvements per Match

0.58

0.40

Minutes per Goal Involvement

132.12′

191.5

All Stats via Transfermarkt

In contrast, the Gunners’ captain was only able to score six goals and provide 12 assists in 45 appearances, totalling 3447 minutes.

In other words, the Norwegian international averaged a goal involvement every 2.5 games, or every 191.5 minutes, in a team that finished second and made it to the semi-finals of the Champions League.

However, it goes deeper than the statistics, as one of the most concerning elements to the former Real Madrid gem’s campaign last season was how he disappeared in some of the biggest games.

For example, The Athletic’s Aaron Catterson-Reid claimed he put in a “completely anonymous display in the second half” of the game away to Paris Saint-Germain, while content creator Connor Humm argued that he may as well have “sat in the stands he was that non-existent” in the first leg.

In stark contrast, the Greenwich-born monster scored in the quarter-final and semi-final of the FA Cup, before scoring the only goal in the final, and leading his side to historic glory.

Ultimately, Arsenal should do what they can to sign Eze this summer, as he’d undoubtedly bring goals and excitement to the team, even if that’s at the expense of Odegaard.

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Chelsea are the champions of the world. Before the final against Paris Saint-Germain, rivals all across England and beyond laughed at the thought of Enzo Maresca beating this unbeatable super-team.

But beat them Chelsea did, in fact dismantling the Parisians 3-0 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. PSG, having won the Champions League, Ligue 1 and the Coupe de France, were firm favourites, but they were brushed aside by an incisive and energetic Blues side.

Not a bad maiden campaign, all told, for Maresca, whose side will now rest ahead of a new term which promises so much.

Who was it, then, who inspired the Londoners to victory? Who else?

Cole Palmer, once again on the biggest stage, stood up when his team needed a talisman.

Cole Palmer's show-stopping performance vs PSG

Crowned the Player of the Tournament after notching three goals and two assists across six matches – all of which came in the knockout stage – Palmer has proved that class is permanent with some stunning showings.

His first-half brace against Luis Enrique’s side was dispatched in typically cool fashion, with all that was could running through the Three Lions superstar.

Palmer, 23, is unquestionably Chelsea’s main man, also assisting Chelsea’s conclusive strike.

We’ve seen many times Palmer’s ability to channel some level of performance possible only through the boots of a select few geniuses across the globe, but there’s another who has the potential to become something special for the Stamford Bridge side, and he showed as much against PSG.

In fact, he’s demonstrating the properties which suggest he could be Maresca’s own version of one Didier Drogba.

Maresca has found Chelsea's new Drogba

Chelsea signed a certain Joao Pedro from Brighton & Hove Albion in a £60m deal a few weeks ago, and it’s been quite the whirlwind start to this new chapter of his career.

Aged 23, Pedro is one of the most talented developing forwards in Europe, and Chelsea must feel they have hit the jackpot already, with his confident efforts in the United States certainly emitting a Drogba-esque sense.

He collected and converted Palmer’s pass with a deft dink to put the scoreline beyond PSG’s reach, a goal that Drogba in his pomp would have been proud of. It was audacious, just as the Ivorian was throughout much of his time in west London.

As a result of his efforts in the final, The London Standard awarded him with an 8/10 match rating, praising his tenacity and intelligent running to outfox the opposing backline.

Minutes played

36′

60′

67′

Goals

0

2

1

Assists

0

0

0

Touches

23

25

35

Shots (on target)

2 (1)

3 (2)

1 (1)

Accurate passes

11/13 (85%)

7/12 (58%)

12/18 (67%)

Key passes

2

0

1

Dribbles

2/2

0/1

1/5

Tackles + interceptions

0

1

2

Duels won

3/6

3/9

3/12

Clinical, energetic and willing to get stuck in, Pedro has already showcased his blend of artful quality, his sharp technicality, and indeed a focus on the defensive side of the game that is reminiscent of Drogba in his Chelsea prime.

Luiz Felipe Scolari once called the Ivorian striker “one of the best in the world” during his time at Chelsea, owing to his big-game ability, work rate and robust passing game.

Pedro’s got a long way to go before he establishes a reputation of similar proportions as a Blue, but he’s off to a flyer, embodying many of those aforementioned virtues across the past week or so.

Chelsea have earned themselves a well-deserved rest ahead of the 2025/26 campaign. Maresca, indeed, has bagged two pieces of silverware and a spot in next year’s Champions League proper.

We’ve had a taste of Pedro’s quality in the final third, and though big-money strikers haven’t always made it work in Blue, this combative and complete Brazilian might just prove to be a reincarnation of Drogba.

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No meaningful changes to county schedule despite PCA concerns

Matt Roller22-Aug-2024

Rory Burns lifts the County Championship trophy after Surrey sealed back-to-back titles in 2023•Surrey CCC/Getty Images

There will be no meaningful reduction in the volume of men’s county cricket played in 2025, despite more than 80 percent of players reporting fears for their physical health due to the busy schedule.A Professional Cricketers’ Association (PCA) survey at the start of this season found that the majority of players believe the schedule is not fit for purpose, but the only changes for next season will be cosmetic. Each county will still play a minimum of 14 matches in the County Championship, eight in the Metro Bank Cup and 14 in the Vitality T20 Blast.The PCA are still pushing for incremental changes which would see T20 fixtures more spread out across a week to reduce the number of tight turnarounds, and for uniform three-day gaps between Championship matches. “There’s definitely room for improvement in 2025 compared to 2024,” Daryl Mitchell, the PCA’s interim chief executive, told ESPNcricinfo.”The schedule can definitely be managed better,” Mitchell said. “Certainly the Blast was very much looked at through a commercial lens, trying to squeeze as many games as possible into Thursday, Friday and Sunday. Utilising the majority of the week is probably the way forward, trying to spread them out to give that time for recovery, travel and preparation.”The main point of discussion for the 2025 schedule has been around the T20 Blast, and when the knockout stages should be held. In 2023, they took place straight after the group stages in July, allowing counties to keep hold of their overseas player; this year, they will take place in September, giving clubs six weeks to sell tickets for home quarter-finals.Related

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This year’s Blast schedule was described as “ridiculous” by Kent’s T20 captain Sam Billings, who said that staging the final two months after the group stages “just does not make sense”. But ESPNcricinfo understands that T20 Finals Day is highly likely to remain in September next year, most likely overlapping with England’s white-ball series against South Africa.”Everyone’s in agreement that the schedule isn’t perfect, is it?” Mitchell said. “The ECB and the counties – particularly the directors of cricket that I’ve spoken to – are on board with what we’ve said. I don’t think players in general would actually want a significant reduction in cricket, maybe just a few days here and there… we’re looking for small, incremental change.”The ECB announced England’s international fixtures for the 2025 summer on Thursday, with incoming men’s tours from Zimbabwe, India, West Indies and South Africa, and women’s tours from West Indies and India. The Hundred will be played in August, starting immediately after the fifth Test against India and running until the end of the month.

Sussex spinner takes nine in the match but hosts get over the line to close gap at top of Division Two

ECB Reporters Network25-Aug-2024Yorkshire dotted the i’s and crossed the t’s on a four-wicket Vitality County Championship victory over Division Two pacesetters Sussex at Scarborough during the fourth morning to boost their hopes of promotion.Resuming on 28 for 2 from 10 overs in pursuit of 103, the home side clinched a 21-point haul in exactly an hour’s play despite losing four wickets to offspinner Jack Carson.Opener Adam Lyth top-scored with 40 as Yorkshire claimed their third successive Championship victory dating back to June, consigning the league leaders to only a second defeat in 10 matches this season. The excellent Carson claimed his four consolatory wickets to finish with a career-best 9 for 120 in the match.Yorkshire started this fixture in third, 27 points behind Sussex, but are now only nine adrift with four rounds remaining.The White Rose county have won three Championship matches in a row for the first time since the early stages of 2021 when they beat Kent and Sussex away and Northamptonshire at Headingley.Upon clinching victory, Yorkshire moved to second in the in-play Division Two table – but dropped back to third after Middlesex beat Northamptonshire at Merchant Taylors’ School.Yorkshire and Middlesex face each other at Headingley from Thursday. Sussex, meanwhile, host Derbyshire at Hove next as they look to bounce back from a first defeat since May.Lyth set the tone in the day’s third over when he took back-to-back boundaries off Jaydev Unadkat’s left-arm seam – one flicked to fine-leg and the other cut through backward point.He then pulled Carson over midwicket and cut Ollie Robinson over backward point for sixes in the following two overs, taking the score to 59 for 2. The writing was on the wall for Sussex.They actually started the day minus three on the over rate, with counties deducted a point for each over they are behind the rate.So it was no surprise to see Carson employed early by captain John Simpson in a bid to speed things up. Realistically, improving that was their main target for the day, and they achieved it.Although Lyth led the way, he was importantly helped out by nightwatcher Dan Moriarty, who contributed 17 to a third-wicket partnership of 51. They came together at 18 for 2 late on day three and extinguished Sussex’s slim hopes of a turnaround.Moriarty, Yorkshire’s regular No. 11, was lbw to Carson – 69 for 3 – before the same bowler had Lyth caught behind down leg at the second attempt by Simpson with a further seven runs added to the total.Carson also trapped James Wharton lbw to bring Jonny Bairstow to the crease with only eight to win, and he holed out to deep midwicket for a two-ball duck. Yorkshire captain Jonny Tattersall hit the winning runs.

Liverpool haven’t pulled their punches in the transfer market this summer, and Arne Slot and sporting director Richard Hughes are still planning to throw a few more haymakers before the window slams shut.

Having won the Premier League with ease last summer, some might have felt the Reds should have kept their title-winning squad together, but with Trent Alexander-Arnold now playing for Real Madrid and Luis Diaz on the cusp of signing for Bayern Munich, a £65.5m deal agreed, change is afoot.

And the Merseysiders have, of course, been busy with incomings. Milos Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong make a new wide duo; Florian Wirtz and Hugo Ekitike will redefine Liverpool’s frontline.

Giorgi Mamardashvili’s red gloves are on, one year after a £29m package was agreed with Valencia for their fast-rising shot-stopper.

However, despite Wirtz, 22, signing from Bayer Leverkusen for a British-record £116m fee, Liverpool are primed to smash the record which they set only one month ago, with Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak in FSG’s sights.

Why Liverpool want to sign Alexander Isak

The potential for Isak to complete the attacking set remains. It would be quite a thing, and has left many of Liverpool’s rivals incredulous. But the finances are there and if Darwin Nunez is sold, this dream could become a reality.

Napoli pulled out of their bid for the Uruguayan due to financial differences between the two clubs, but he still has suitors over in the Saudi Pro League and is open to getting on the flight to the Gulf nation.

Isak, it goes without saying, would stand as a significant upgrade. After all, due to his 27-goal campaign with the Magpies, Sky Sports’ Jamie Carragher declared him to be “the best striker in the Premier League right now.”

While Isak is ostensibly Diaz’s replacement, the Colombian is typically a high-speed wide player, only used by Slot last year as a makeshift striker due to the likes of Nunez flattering to deceive.

With this in mind, Liverpool might need another left-sided forward too.

Liverpool in for new winger

According to Spanish reports, Liverpool are preparing a mammoth bid for Real Madrid’s Rodrygo, who is anticipated to leave the Santiago Bernabeu after falling down in Xabi Alonso’s estimation, only starting one Club World Cup match.

Rodrygo, 24, would cost around €120m (£104m) to sign, but Los Blancos are indeed open to selling. Liverpool are putting a formal proposal together but Arsenal are also keen on the Brazilian.

Liverpool have also had Newcastle’s Anthony Gordon on their shortlist, but it’s highly unlikely Eddie Howe would grant his departure along with Isak, having priced the Three Lions star at £100m.

Why Liverpool should sign Rodrygo

Rodrygo is quite the player, and he ticks a lot of boxes for Slot’s Liverpool side. The Reds head coach demands fluidity and dynamism from his forwards, and he wants them to work hard too.

Rodrygo, hailed for his work-rate and selflessness by pundit Thierry Henry last season, would fit right in, especially as he yearns for more football on the left flank, as opposed to the right-hand side he has so often been deployed on under Carlo Ancelotti’s wing.

The right-footed has a wide span of skills to inflict damage on defenders, but his sharp goalscoring ability is an admirable thing, having been described by journalist Sam Tighe for having a “terrifyingly good” eye for the back of the net.

Playing him on the side which he favours, naturally, would elevate his performances. Slot will know this.

Right winger

29

7

4

Left winger

12

6

6

Centre-forward

8

0

0

Slot will also know that Rodrygo could be deadly alongside Isak at number nine, with his dangerous goalscoring ability only one string to his bow, ranked as he was last season among the top 2% of positional peers across Europe’s top five leagues last season for pass completion, the top 14% for progressive carries and the top 21% for shot-creating actions per 90, as per FBref.

Even coming off a ‘bad’ year, Rodrygo shone as one of the game’s finest forwards, certainly proving himself to be the “world-class superstar” that former teammate Luka Modric has said he is.

His big-game mentality attests to that, and in this way, he could help settle Isak by being his next Gordon, who shall remain at St. James’ Park.

Newcastle signed Gordon from Everton for £45m in January 2023, and he’s made the steady progress toward renown as one of the Premier League’s most talented wide forwards, with Bruno Guimaraes hailing his “unbelievable” ability to bring all the aspects of his game together.

Though Cody Gakpo is a fine player for Liverpool, Gordon plays the out-and-out role of a winger, and that’s something that Rodrygo can do too, even though he’s an excellent goalscorer.

In this way, Rodrygo could prove to be Isak’s dream partner, maximising Slot’s chances of winning the biggest prizes next year.

Gordon has even said that the Sweden striker is “the best in Europe”, when asked about what it is like to combine with him.

The English talent has become quite the player over the past several years, and he would be a credit to Slot’s side.

Across his two full campaigns at Newcastle, the 24-year-old has scored 22 goals and supplied 17 assists across all competitions. Quite an interesting balance of output.

Well, Rodrygo can match that, and actually eclipse both modes of direct involvement. Liverpool could do far worse than sign the Real Madrid mainstay this summer, who would effectively replace Diaz while bearing the specific qualities to create a wonderful partnership with Isak.

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ByTom Cunningham Jul 26, 2025