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Liverpool have been active in the summer transfer window following a disappointing campaign last season and a midfield rebuild has been the top priority for Jurgen Klopp and new sporting director Jorg Schmadtke.

The Reds have returned to pre-season training with two new additions in Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai joining the Merseyside outfit and there is no doubt that Klopp will be looking forward to working the pair into his tactical philosophy to improve the quality in the centre of the pitch next season.

Despite the squad getting back to work ahead of next season, the club remain active in the market with Romeo Lavia the latest midfielder to be linked with a move to Anfield this summer, however, they could also be in the market to snap up the services of a quality centre-back too.

Liverpool have been linked with numerous names in that role over the last few weeks and months with Joska Gvardiol, Micky van de Ven and Levi Colwill all mooted as potential prospects for the club.

The latest defender to be touted for a move to Anfield is Torino titan Perr Schuurs, a talented centre-back who is not only a fantastic youth prospect but a compatriot and competitor of Virgil van Dijk in the Netherlands national team.

According to Tuttosport (via Sport Witness), Liverpool are expected to make another approach for Schuurs this summer after having an initial €30m (£26m) bid rejected in the past.

Who is Perr Schuurs?

The 23-year-old – hailed "outstanding" by journalist Josh Bunting – made his start in Fortuna Sittard's academy before moving on to Ajax's highly-rated youth set-up back in 2018 and quickly becoming a first-team regular at the Johan Cruyff Arena.

Schuurs played his part in winning three Eredivisie titles and two Dutch cups under Erik ten Hag and last summer made a permanent move to the Serie A via Torino, where he has continued to flourish and attract attention which has led to his inclusion in the Netherlands squad – although he is yet to make an appearance for the senior side.

Liverpool have had incredible success when leaning on Dutch talent with Dirk Kuyt, Georginio Wijnaldum and Van Dijk playing huge roles in the club's dominance over the years, whilst Cody Gakpo has been the latest Netherlands native to burst onto the scene at Anfield joining the club back in January this year.

Now Klopp could repeat his Van Dijk masterclass with the signing of Schuurs – who has a reported price tag of €40m (£34.3m) – this summer as the 6 foot 3 Goliath could be the rightful heir to the Liverpool superstar's important role in the team.

When comparing the Serie A star to his Liverpool positional peer over last season, the Dutch duo have come close in a number of key attributes including pass completion rate (88.1% v 90.5%), interceptions (28 v 31), blocks (29 v 24) and ball recoveries (181 v 168) over 32 league appearances, as per FBref.

Whilst Schuurs also outperformed Van Dijk in tackles won per 90 (1.97 v 0.78), interceptions completed per 90 (1.08 v 0.89), successful take-ons per 90 (0.39 v 0.05) and blocks per 90 (1.08 v 0.71) over the last 12 months, proving that he could be not only a valuable asset for the future but also a worthy successor to the Netherlands captain.

With that being said, if Liverpool can secure a deal for Schuurs it would be a great piece of business for the club and could provide Klopp with his next prodigy to develop into a star player.

Chelsea are officially "in talks" with Brighton over the signing of Moises Caicedo this summer, according to an update from journalist Fabrizio Romano.

Would Moises Caicedo be a good signing for Chelsea?

The Blues could well have a busy time of things in the coming weeks, with new signings required to boost their squad after a dreadful 2022/23 season in the Premier League. Arrivals have already made their way to Stamford Bridge, including attacking star Nicolas Jackson and pre-agreed signing Christopher Nkunku, but there is no doubt that midfield reinforcements are essential before the new campaign gets underway next month.

The player who has arguably been linked with a move to Chelsea more than anyone is Caicedo, who is fresh off the back of a highly impressive season in a Brighton shirt. A bundle of energy and quality in the middle of the park, the 21-year-old completed 88.8% of his passes in the league, as well as averaging 2.7 tackles per match and winning one aerial duel per game, outlining his many attributes as a player.

In many ways, he is precisely what the Blues need this summer, especially with N'Golo Kante and Mateo Kovacic's time at the club coming to an end, and the question now is whether they can get a deal over the line sooner rather than later

Brighton are clearly holding firm, demanding huge money for arguably their most prized asset, but another update has now emerged regarding his future.

What's the latest on Moises Caicedo to Chelsea?

According to Romano for Caught Offside, Chelsea are "in talks" with Brighton over a summer transfer, as they look to seal a significant piece of business, engaging in "club to club" talks. He also said in a YouTube video that the midfielder is their "priority" (via Football 365).

At this point, it would certainly be a surprise if the Ecuador international chose a different club over the Blues in the summer window, with their interest so strong at this point and rivals bringing in other options, from Alexis Mac Allister joining Liverpool to Declan Rice moving to Arsenal.

The one biggest issue is the idea of Brighton being stubborn and only accepting a monumental bid for Caicedo, however, especially having already lost another key man in Mac Allister, meaning they could suddenly be significantly weakened before the beginning of next season.

He is someone who Chelsea should be willing to break the bank for, given his long-term potential and the fact he is already such a proven Premier League player, excelling across 45 appearances in the competition. His ability to cover ground, bite into tackles and keep possession can all benefit Mauricio Pochettino ahead of his first season as manager, and he could dovetail beautifully with Enzo Fernandez in the middle of the park.

Caicedo is also a versatile footballer who can slot into a right-back role, when required – he played there three times for Brighton in 2022/23, including in the memorable 3-0 victory away to title challengers Arsenal – which is an extra weapon in his armoury.

Brighton will surely give in at some point, given the money being discussed, but it has become increasingly clear there the Seagulls will not be going away without a fight.

The summer transfer window officially opened for business earlier this month and Celtic have already completed their first new signing.

Odin Thiago Holm arrived on a five-year deal from Norwegian side Valerenga last week and Brendan Rodgers now has over two months left to make further additions to his squad.

One area of the pitch in which the Hoops are looking to strengthen in is the forward department, as they search for a third option alongside Kyogo Furuhashi and Hyeon-gyu Oh.

Hacken number nine Benie Traore is a reported transfer target for Celtic and would cost a fee in the region of £5m if they were to snap him up before the deadline, as per journalist Alan Nixon's Patreon (25/06/2023).

Would Benie Traore be a good signing for Celtic?

The Ivorian marksman has the potential to be an exceptional addition to Rodgers’ squad and could be an immediate upgrade on Oh, who only joined the club in January of this year.

It is impossible to guarantee that the 20-year-old prospect will be able to translate his form over to Scottish football but his statistics this year suggest that it is a gamble worth taking for Celtic.

Traore has averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.25 across 13 Swedish top-flight outings in 2023, which would have placed him third in the Hoops squad for average league ratings during the 2022/23 campaign.

Oh, on the other hand, averaged a rating of 6.81 after 16 Scottish Premiership appearances and ranked 21st in the team.

The South Korean marksman scored six goals and missed five ‘big chances’ in front of goal in those matches, while the Hacken ace has plundered 12 goals to go along with six missed ‘big chances’ this year.

These statistics indicate that Rodgers could secure a more prolific player in comparison to the ex-Bluewings forward by signing the exciting "jewel" – as he was dubbed by talent scout Jacek Kulig.

Traore could also provide more creativity from the number nine position as the 20-year-old prospect has created 1.4 chances per match this term, while no Celtic striker managed more than Oh’s 0.4 key passes per outing in the 2022/23 season.

This suggests that the 5 foot 8 dynamo could be better at bringing his teammates into the game by presenting them with opportunities to score themselves, instead of only being in the team as a pure finisher.

Therefore, Rodgers would land an immediate upgrade on Oh by striking a deal for Traore in the coming weeks, based on their respective form at the top end of the pitch this year.

Jose Mourinho has quit his position on the UEFA football board following his spat with referee Anthony Taylor after AS Roma's Europa League final loss.

What happened between Jose Mourinho and Anthony Taylor?

The Portuguese manager was incensed with the referee after his side lost on penalties in the final to Sevilla, and he quickly let him know about it.

The situation led to Taylor receiving abuse from numerous Roma fans shortly afterwards – with his family harassed at an airport – and an Italian man was even arrested for his role in the abuse.

For his role in inciting the incident, Mourinho – who was spotted waiting for the referee in a car park after the final – has been punished with a four-match ban which will come into effect at the start of next season.

Clearly unhappy with the decision, the former Chelsea manager has let the UEFA football board know he was immediately stepping down from his role with the group, reports The Athletic.

How did Jose Mourinho quit the board?

After finding out about his four-match ban, Mourinho immediately quit the board, informing UEFA Chief of Football Zvonimir Boban in the form of a letter.

The letter read: "In thanking you for the invitation you extended to me to be a member of the UEFA football board, I regret to inform you that, effective immediately, I will be renouncing my participation in this group.

“I kindly ask that you also communicate my decision to the President Mr. Aleksander Ceferin.”

Roma are expected to launch an appeal to overturn Mourinho's ban but will hold off until they receive UEFA's written reasons for the ban, before moving forward with it.

Has Jose Mourinho been involved in any other controversy in the past?

The incident is far from the first controversial moment of Mourinho's career, though, with the former Chelsea boss prone to some pretty wild moments.

One example of the Portuguese coach making headlines for the wrong reasons was his incredible seven-minute rant following Chelsea's 3-1 loss to Southampton in October 2015.

Enraged by the result, he went crazy in his post-match interview, calling out match officials, even saying the following: "I think it’s time to be a little bit honest and to say clearly that referees are afraid to give decisions for Chelsea."

Another controversial moment in his career was calling former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger a "specialist in failure" followings a war of the words between the two coaches in 2014.

Love him or hate him, there's no denying that Mourinho is one of football's biggest characters, and it's almost certain that this latest episode of controversy won't be the last in his career.

Wolverhampton Wanderers are reportedly interested in acquiring the services of Paraguayan striker Antonio Sanabria this summer transfer window.

Wolves transfer news – Could they sign Antonio Sanabria?

According to Torino Granata (via Sport Witness), the Midlands outfit are amongst several English sides interested in the 27-year-old striker, including top-flight rivals Everton and Crystal Palace.

Torino are reportedly already negotiating a deal with Palace for their misfiring forward Jean-Philippe Mateta, and, therefore, there is the potential that the club can use him as a way to sweeten the deal.

However, the report mentions that the Turin-based side would prefer to sell their asset for cash, with a fee set at an initial €25m (£21m), but they 'will sell' for just €20m (£17m) if they need to.

With Wolves' lack of goals this season, just 31 in 38 games, ownership group Fosun shouldn't delay on sealing this deal.

Could Antonio Sanabria be Julen Lopetegui's own Dusan Vlahovic?

That isn't just a question because they are both strong forwards playing in the same league and the same city, for that matter.

Instead, it's FBref, who have highlighted the striking similarities in both players' games, ranking the Serbian as the third most similar player to Sanabria right now.

The first and perhaps most surface-level similarities between the players are their goal tallies and expected goals. The Torino man has netted 12 times from an xG of just 9.7, and the Juventus forward has found the back of the net 10 times with a similar xG of 9.7.

Their shooting statistics are, again, very similar.

According to FBref, the Paraguayan has 0.89 shots on target per 90 compared to the former Fiorentina man's 0.93. Interestingly, the distance from where they shoot is also remarkably similar, with the 27-year-old shooting from an average distance of 13.5 yards and the 23-year-old from 15.5, per FBref.

An area that both players need to improve is their defensive contribution. Throughout their entire campaigns last season, both players put in just 11 tackles, with neither one winning more than half of them.

That said, with the dire attacking situation at Molineux, Julen Lopetegui shouldn't be worrying too much about a striker's potential defensive contribution.

Outside the comparison to cross-city rival, Sanabria is a great player in his own right, once being described by the legendary Francesco Totti as "a player that can offer brilliance, and in the last 30 metres that can make all the difference" – high praise indeed.

Across his 28 starts in Serie A this season, the San Lorenzo-born forward has averaged a good rating of 6.82, according to WhoScored.

If Wolves are able to get this deal done, they should certainly do so. For as low as £17m, Lopetegui could well and truly have his own bargain Vlahovic at Molineux.

Tottenham Hotspur are "on the verge" of agreeing contract terms with Brentford goalkeeper David Raya, following "positive talks", according to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano.

Which goalkeeper are Tottenham signing?

According to a report from earlier this month, Tottenham have made contact with Everton about a summer move for Jordan Pickford, however they may be put off by his high asking price, with the Toffees set to hold out for around £40m.

With Manchester United now readying a move for the England international, Spurs may be forced to move on to other targets, with the likes of Dean Henderson, Mike Maignan and Robert Sanchez previously being identified as potential options.

The same report outlines Raya as a target for the Lilywhites, and having held talks with Brentford about a summer move for the goalkeeper, Romano has now provided a new update, which indicates that a breakthrough has been made.

Taking to Twitter, the transfer expert claimed that a significant breakthrough has been made in talks with the Spaniard, however one potential obstacle is that Tottenham are unhappy with the fee being demanded by Brentford.

The Italian said: "Tottenham are now on the verge of reaching an agreement with David Raya on personal terms. Long term contract, almost agreed after positive talks.

"Raya, open to Spurs move but club to club talks will be crucial. £40m fee asked by Brentford, considered too high."

Is David Raya signing for Tottenham?

The 27-year-old has reportedly turned down two contract offers from Brentford, but he is settled in London, which could give Tottenham a major advantage in the race for his signature, despite the previous links to Manchester United.

Brentford reporter Jay Harris hailed the Barcelona-born shot-stopper last season, describing him as "incredible", while also claiming that he is "one of the best goalkeepers in the Premier League".

With 154 saves to his name in the Premier League last season, the Brentford goalkeeper was ranked at the top of the charts, making ten more saves than any other player in the top flight, and he is also impressive with the ball at his feet.

Over the past year, the two-time Spain international has averaged 45.32 touches per 90, which places him in the 94th percentile compared to his positional peers, indicating his willingness to get involved in the play.

Even at £40m, Raya could be a fantastic signing for Tottenham, and it is exciting news that contract terms have almost been agreed.

With Tottenham Hotspur now plotting to strengthen following the appointment of Ange Postecoglou, one transfer rumour that has particularly caught the eye is the links to Manchester United winger, Jadon Sancho.

According to a recent report from the Daily Star, the Lilywhites are said to be interested in making a £50m move for the England international this summer, with the 23-year-old having initially made the switch to Old Trafford on a £73m deal back in 2021.

The former Borussia Dortmund ace looks likely to be moved on by the Red Devils this summer amid claims that Erik ten Hag is willing to cash in on the 5 foot 11 trickster, with an asking price of around £60m having been suggested.

The one-time Manchester City youth product is currently facing such uncertainty at the Theatre of Dreams having provided just 18 goals and assists in 79 games across all fronts over the last two seasons, although those at N17 may well be hoping that they can revive the £350k-per-week forward's fortunes if he is to make the move to the capital over the coming weeks and months.

Should Tottenham sign Jadon Sancho?

There is no denying that Sancho is not looking like the player who previously burst onto the scene at Dortmund, having notably racked up 114 goals and assists in just 137 games for the Bundesliga side, prior to making his return to England.

That stellar form had unsurprisingly earned the wide man rave reviews, with his compatriot and former teammate Jude Bellingham having dubbed him "frightening" and "scary" back in 2021 due to the sheer scale of his talent.

That version of the London-born whiz would no doubt be a real bonus for Spurs if they could wrap up a deal, with there a potential for Sancho to form a devastating attacking partnership with his England colleague, Harry Kane, at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

With it looking as if Kane will not be sold by chairman Daniel Levy this summer, the club's record scorer is set to lead the line yet again next term, having only recently ended the 2022/23 campaign with a staggering haul of 30 league goals to his name.

As Sancho's assist record in Germany would illustrate – a total of 64 assists in all competitions – the playmaker could well help to provide quality service to the 29-year-old in attack, while the current United man has also shown a willingness to try and make things happen at the top end of the in recent times, as he ranks in the top 8% among his European peers for touches in the attacking penalty area.

Even amid his current woes, the fleet-footed ace still ranks in the top 20% for shot-creating actions as a further marker of his creative ability in the final third, again suggesting that he could be the man to deliver the goods to Kane on a regular basis.

Of course – as the most recent campaign has shown – the latter man is almost able to make the difference on his own, yet having a fit and firing Sancho alongside him in the attack could be a truly mouthwatering proposition.

Glasgow Rangers target Jose Cifuentes is set to fly in to complete a medical ahead of a move to the Scottish Premiership, according to reports.

Who is LAFC's Jose Cifuentes?

The Los Angeles FC midfielder first arrived in the Major League Soccer back in 2020 and has since gone on to make a total of 113 appearances for Steve Cherundolo’s side, but with his contract set to expire at the end of the year, he’s likely to be available for a cut-price fee this summer.

Speaking to GiveMeSport, Fabrizio Romano credited the Light Blues with a strong interest in the 24-year-old and claimed that initial conversations are “going well” after Michael Beale and Co offered him an “interesting project”.

The Ecuador international also recently sparked excitement among supporters after he was spotted liking social media comments from fans welcoming him to the club despite a deal having not yet even been completed, though it sounds as if a move is pretty imminent.

Are Rangers signing Cifuentes?

According to The Herald, Cifuentes is “poised to quit” Los Angeles FC in the MLS and is “expected to jet in for a medical sooner rather than later” to finalise his switch to Rangers. Beale now “closes in” on securing his next new signing and one that will add “further strength” to the centre of the park, with all of the fresh faces set to join up with the rest of the squad in next month’s pre-season training camp over in Germany.

Could Cifuentes be a strong addition for Beale?

Rangers recently confirmed the signing of Crystal Palace goalkeeper Jack Butland so Beale will now be focusing on what other targets he can bring in next, and having been described as a “physical” central midfielder by Ecuador specialist Benedikt Duda, Cifuentes would be a fantastic addition at Ibrox.

The World Cup participant, who pockets £5k-per-week, is naturally stronger in the attacking aspect of his game, ranking in the 98th percentile for successful take-ons and turning his dribbling skills into results having posted five goal contributions (four assists and one goal) in 18 appearances across all competitions this season.

Cifuentes, however, is also good at getting stuck in defensively having won 15 of his 19 tackles made since the start of the term so loves to dispossess the opposition and win the ball back for his side. For someone who has a positive impact at both ends of the pitch, this seems like a no-brainer of a deal to complete.

The Athletic’s Liverpool reporter James Pearce has provided a crucial update on the fitness of Mohamed Salah with the Reds’ Champions League final just two weeks away.

What’s the latest?

The Egyptian winger was withdrawn in the first half of Liverpool’s FA Cup victory over Chelsea on Saturday through injury, with supporters holding their breaths.

[snack-amp-story url=”https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/read-the-latest-liverpool-news-transfer-rumours-gossip-salah-gnabry-isak-romano” title= “Read the latest Liverpool news!”]

However, Pearce tweeted that Salah confirmed he will be fit for the Champions League final against Real Madrid, stating after the FA Cup final: “Of course, all good.â€

The 29-year-old has scored a whopping 30 goals in 49 appearances for Jurgen Klopp’s side and would be a colossal miss if the forward was unable to make the Champions League final.

Liverpool supporters will be buzzing

Liverpool supporters would have certainly feared the worst when they saw their star player hobble off the Wembley pitch on Saturday with two crucial Premier League matches left as well as Europe’s showpiece fixture against Real Madrid in Paris.

Despite Manchester City now boasting a three-point lead, Klopp’s men are still in the hunt for the Premier League title with games against Southampton and Wolves to come.

However, they may well need a favour from Aston Villa on the final day.

Therefore, focus will certainly be on the Champions League final, with the German manager admitting: “The quadruple is off because of the situation we are in. We have to make changes against Southampton.â€

Granted, Liverpool have a plethora of world-class attackers in Sadio Mane, Luis Diaz and Diogo Jota. However, replacing a player who has netted 30 goals is virtually impossible.

Moreover, Salah has unfinished business against Real Madrid given how the Egyptian was cruelly forced off against the Spanish outfit in the 2018 final through injury, with Liverpool eventually losing the match 3-1.

The 29-year-old’s availability for the Champions League final will certainly have his manager, teammates and supporters buzzing.

AND in other news: Liverpool must now brutally sell £85k-p/w dud who’s lost possession every 4.5 minutes

Everton are eying up a swoop for Mainz centre-back Moussa Niakhate during the summer transfer window as Frank Lampard aims to bolster his defence.

What’s the word?

That’s according to German outlet BILD, who have claimed that the 26-year-old wants to join a Premier League club this summer, with the Toffees and West Ham leading the chase.

With just one year left on his current contract, the centre-back could be available for a partly £8m, small change in today’s world of vastly inflated transfer fees.

Lampard needs Niakhate

There is no doubt that Everton have had a terrible season, and despite a recent resurgence in results which could prove crucial in their relegation fight, it has simply not been good enough for a club of their size and talents.

If Lampard remains in the job ahead of next season, his urgent priority is to sign a defender, and Niakhate fits the bill perfectly.

The £12k-p/w Mainz captain has been has described by manager Bo Svensson as both a “role model” and “clever” following his wonderful campaign which sees Die Nullfünfer currently sit ninth in the Bundesliga table.

Nikhate would be a big upgrade on Yerry Mina and Michael Keane in the Everton backline. He has made more interceptions (72) than the Toffees duo combined (70) and has also atttempted more tackles over the course of the league season (59) compared to Mina (17) and Keane (46).

These figures show how strong he is at the back and illustrate his ability to stabilise the Blues’ defence. His disciplinary record is excellent too, receiving only one caution, whilst Mina and Keane have each had three bookings this term.

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Everton need a player who is mature enough to marshal their defence, and Niakhate looks like he has all the attributes to succeed in England, while also being a discernible upgrade on the defensive options currently at Lampard’s disposal.

AND in other news, Everton can finally axe “poor” £68k-p/w dud by signing 22 y/o with “huge potential”…