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Liverpool and FSG splashed the cash in 2025, forking out more than £400m in the club’s biggest summer spending spree of all time. Alexander Isak rounded off the Reds’ dramatic window, costing a British record fee from Newcastle United.

But who else is on Liverpool’s most expensive signings list? Here’s the top 20 with a detailed look at the top 10.

Rank

Player

Fee

Signed from

Year

1

Alexander Isak

£125m

Newcastle

2025

2

Florian Wirtz

£116m

Bayer Leverkusen

2025

3

Virgil van Dijk

£75m

Southampton

2018

4

Hugo Ekitike

£69m

Frankfurt

2025

5

Alisson

£67m

Roma

2018

6

Darwin Nunez

£64m

Benfica

2022

7

Dominik Szoboszlai

£60m

RB Leipzig

2023

8

Naby Keita

£48m

RB Leipzig

2018

9

Fabinho

£44m

Monaco

2018

10

Diogo Jota

£41m

Wolves

2020

=11

Cody Gakpo

£40m

PSV

2023

=11

Milos Kerkez

£40m

Bournemouth

2025

13

Luis Diaz

£38m

FC Porto

2022

=14

Andy Carroll

£35m

Newcastle

2011

=14

Alexis Mac Allister

£35m

Brighton

2023

=14

Ibrahima Konate

£35m

RB Leipzig

2021

=14

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain

£35m

Arsenal

2017

=18

Mohamed Salah

£34m

Roma

2017

=18

Sadio Mane

£34m

Southampton

2016

=18

Ryan Gravenberch

£34m

Bayern Munich

2023

Here's a detailed look at Liverpool's 10 most expensive signings: 10 Diogo Jota £41m from Wolves

Liverpool made sure to capitalise on the additional time before the beginning of the 2020/21 season, which had been delayed due to the pandemic, by signing Diogo Jota on a five-year contract from Wolves.

Jota would go on to become a fan favourite at Anfield but tragically passed away in 2025 at the age of 28 after a road traffic accident. He will always be known as Liverpool’s number 20.

9 Fabinho £44m from Monaco

Fabinho credited the exceptional infrastructure in place at Liverpool upon his arrival at the club in May 2018, but it was he who ended up being the much-needed spine for his side.

Having made over 150 appearances at his previous side Monaco, the Brazilian midfielder was sought-after due to his ability to play anywhere in the middle of the park.

With Emre Can on his way out as a free agent to sign for Juventus, Fabinho was deemed as the perfect replacement for Klopp’s side.

Liverpool career

2018-2023

Appearances

219

Goals

11

Assists

9

Liverpool honours

Champions League (2019), Premier League (2020), FA Cup (2022), League Cup (2022), Super Cup (2019)

8 Naby Keita £48m from RB Leipzig

Naby Keita surpassed Andy Carroll’s 2011 £35m record when Liverpool agreed to trigger the midfielder’s release clause with RB Leipzig in August 2017, securing his move to the club for the following season.

It was mostly a tale of two stories for Keita at Liverpool. The first began with promise, potential and hope; the second ended with injury, inconsistency and, eventually, his inevitable release.

Liverpool career

2018-2023

Appearances

129

Goals

11

Assists

7

Liverpool honours

Champions League (2019), Premier League (2020), FA Cup (2022), League Cup (2022), Super Cup (2019), Club World Cup (2019)

7 Dominik Szoboszlai £60m from RB Leipzig

When it was announced that James Milner, Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain would all be leaving the club, Klopp knew he would need to splash the cash on a brand-new midfield in the summer of 2023.

Soon after completing the signing of Alexis Mac Allister from Brighton for £35m, Liverpool told RB Leipzig they would be triggering the £60m release clause for Dominik Szoboszlai.

The Hungary captain had won the DFB-Pokal with Leipzig and secured a strong third-place finish in the Bundesliga, but it was his impressive performances on the international stage as Hungary’s captain that caught Liverpool’s eye.

6 Darwin Nunez £64m from Benfica

Darwin Nunez signed for an initial £64m from Benfica in 2022 and started so well with the Reds, when his goal secured Liverpool the Community Shield against Manchester City.

However, things never really clicked into gear for the Uruguayan at Anfield, and he was sold to Saudi Pro League club Al Hilal in 2025.

5 Alisson £67m from Roma

Alisson became the world’s most expensive goalkeeper in the summer of 2018 when he signed for Liverpool from Roma on a six-year contract.

The deal surpassed Man City’s £35m signing of Ederson in 2017 and turned out to be a pivotal turning point during Klopp’s tenure at the club, having previously lost out on major trophies due to goalkeeping errors.

Although officials at the Merseyside club didn’t reveal the actual fee, his former club, Roma, said the deal was worth up to £67m.

Records are meant to be broken, however, and this one didn’t last long, as Chelsea signed Kepa Arrizabalaga from Athletic Bilbao for £71m just weeks later.

4 Hugo Ekitike £69m from Frankfurt

Hugo Ekitike was one of two star strikers to sign for Liverpool in 2025, with the Reds paying Frankfurt an initial £69m for the forward as they repalced Nunez.

Like Nunez, the Frenchman made an instant impression by scoring on his debut in the Community Shield, whereas Ekitike also netted the first goal of the 2025/26 Premier League season.

3 Virgil van Dijk £75m from Southampton

Liverpool’s most expensive defensive signing of all time has arguably been their most important addition in the last decade. Now captain of the Reds, Van Dijk has won multiple Premier League titles and the Champions League at Anfield, establishing himself as a Liverpool legend.

The announcement that Van Dijk would join Liverpool at the turn of the new year in 2018 was a world-record deal for a defender at the time – a fee only since surpassed by Harry Maguire’s transfer to Man United (£80m) in 2019 and Josko Gvardiol’s to Man City (£77m) in 2023 – and has proven to be worth every penny.

2 Florian Wirtz £116m from Bayer Leverkusen

Florian Wirtz was Liverpool’s record signing for just a matter of months in the summer of 2025 after he sealed a huge £116m move from Bayer Leverkusen.

The Germany international seemed to snub joining Bayern Munich in favour of heading to Merseyside with the Reds and signed a five-year deal at Anfield.

1 Alexander Isak £125m from Newcastle

Alexander Isak is Liverpool’s and Britain’s record transfer, with the Reds finally sealing a deal on deadline day in 2025.

The Sweden international went on strike for weeks at Newcastle before finally getting his wish with a move to Anfield. Isak signed a six-year contract and set the Reds back a whopping £125m.

أعرب الإعلامي أحمد شوبير، عن استيائه من الجدل الدائر عبر مواقع التواصل الاجتماعي، بعد تداول صور للاعب الزمالك حسام عبد المجيد وهو يصافح مدرب الأهلي عقب مباراة القمة الأخيرة.

وتعرض الزمالك للهزيمة أمام الأهلي بنتيجة 2-1، في قمة الجولة التاسعة من الدوري المصري الممتاز، في اللقاء الذي أقيم على ملعب استاد القاهرة الدولي.

وعقب المباراة، توجه حسام عبد المجيد، مدافع الزمالك، إلى مدربه السابق عادل مصطفى، وصافحه مهنئًا إياه بفوز الأهلي، وهو الموقف الذي أثار حالة من الجدل وغضب بعض جماهير القلعة البيضاء.

وقال شوبير في تصريحات عبر برنامجه الإذاعي صباح اليوم الأربعاء: “في الحقيقة أمر غريب جدًا أن الناس غاضبون، أو أن البعض غاضب، لأن حسام عبد المجيد صافح عادل مصطفى المدرب العام للنادي الأهلي ومحمد بن رمضان بعد الهزيمة”.

وأضاف متعجبًا: “نعم، والله العظيم صفحات كثيرة كانت تقول إنه كان يجب أن يكون غاضبًا وألا يصافحهم وألا يقدم لهم التهنئة! وقالوا إن اللاعب اتفق معهم حتى ينتقل إلى الأهلي، وزيزو.. ما هذا؟”.

طالع أيضًا | أيمن يونس: أعتذر لما قلته عن لاعب الزمالك.. وبيزيرا تعرض للترهيب أمام الأهلي

وواصل: “محمد عواد كان يجلس بجوار أفشة في المدرجات، واللاعبان كانا يمزحان مع بعضهما قبل المباراة وهذا أمر عادي جدًا، يا إخواني، حرام عليكم ما تفعلونه في الرياضة في مصر، يا إخواني، اتقوا الله، والله العظيم إن ما تفعلونه هذا لا يليق”.

وأردف: “والناس الذين يكتبون وينشرون هذه الأخبار والصور، لا يليق ما تفعل، وكفى بالبرامج التي تشعل الفتنة: هذا ضد ذاك وذاك ضد هذا… ما هذا؟ هذا لا علاقة له بالرياضة ولا بالإعلام الرياضي إطلاقًا”.

وأشار: “قل رأيك، اضحك، امزح، لكن ماذا يحدث؟ تتحدثون عن لاعب صافح مدرباً أو زميلاً! أنا كنت أُجري عمليات الإحماء وأنا لاعب، وأذهب إلى جمهور الزمالك قبل جمهور الأهلي في المباريات”.

واختتم: “منهم لله، من صنعوا بيننا الوقيعة في السنوات الأخيرة، فأوصلونا إلى هذه المرحلة، يا جماعة، نحتاج إلى مزيد من العقل والهدوء، المبادرات السابقة كانت جميلة… يا رب تكتمل على خير”.

Thomas Frank is set to be without star playmaker James Maddison for the foreseeable future, with Tottenham confirming on Thursday morning that the Englishman is set to undergo surgery on a ruptured ACL.

It was solely meant to be a night of farewell glory for club legend Son Heung-min last Sunday, but Tottenham’s fireworks fizzled into despair when Maddison collapsed in agony just minutes after stepping onto the pitch in Seoul.

Son Heung-min

7.00

James Maddison

6.98

Pedro Porro

6.95

Dominic Solanke

6.84

Dejan Kulusevski

6.83

via WhoScored

Maddison’s right knee – the same one that kept him out of the Europa League final – let him down once again. One moment he was chasing the ball, the next he was on the ground, clutching his face in disbelief. A stretcher carried him off as crutches awaited outside – with Frank describing the injury as a “bad” one.

The worst was yet to come, though, as Spurs have now announced that Maddison is set for surgery on an ACL problem which could force him to miss the vast majority of the season.

The 28-year-old is staring down the barrel of a six-to-nine-month recovery period, as is usually the case with ACL ruptures.

It’s heartbreak, pure and simple. Tottenham, already shaken by Son’s exit, now face a long season without the talent, vision and creativity of their star number 10. If they needed a new attacking midfielder before, they certainly need one now.

Chairman Daniel Levy and technical director Johan Lange have undoubtedly shot the signing of a playmaker to the very top of their transfer priority list, coming after they missed out on a deal for Nottingham Forest star Morgan Gibbs-White earlier this summer.

Spurs booked a medical for Gibbs-White this time last month ahead of a proposed £60 million move before Forest owner, Evangelos Marinakis, unceremoniously stopped the transfer, threatened Frank’s side with legal action and persuaded the 25-year-old to pen a new deal.

A swoop for Gibbs-White is completely off the table, but Tottenham’s need for another creative presence is more vital than ever before.

Dejan Kulusevski is also still sidelined with a knee injury, and having also lost Son, Spurs must get to work on Maddison’s replacement with just weeks to go before the transfer deadline.

Tottenham offered AC Milan forward Rafael Leao after James Maddison injury

According to TBR Football and journalist Graeme Bailey, intermediaries recently floated AC Milan forward Rafael Leao in their direction, which happened in the aftermath of Son’s exit and Maddison’s injury blow.

However, while Tottenham have been offered Leao by these representatives, it is believed a move for the Portugal international, who’s been called “unstoppable” by Tammy Abraham, and valued at around £74 million by the Rossoneri, is unlikely as things stand.

“My understanding is that intermediaries on the back of Son’s transfer and Maddison’s injury have put Leao to Spurs, in theory,” said Bailey.

“Opportunistic, yes, but that is how some of the biggest deals in the world have come about.

“I am told that [Massimilano] Allegri has informed Milan’s hierarchy that he can turn Leao into one of the very best forwards in the world. They are not planning on losing him, and I don’t believe Leao has the wish to leave at this point; he is excited by Allegri.”

The opportunity to play Premier League football is always a temptation, but given Leao’s current stance, Allegri’s unwillingness to part company and the 26-year-old’s asking price, Levy will likely need to look elsewhere.

Tottenham have made recent contact over Jack Grealish, but face competition from Everton (Fabrizio Romano), while Harvey Elliott has also been named as a potential Spurs target amid discussions over a move to RB Leipzig (Florian Plettenberg).

Their options are growing thin, but Crystal Palace star Eberechi Eze could be available for the taking as Arsenal continue to stall a potential deal.

Chelsea have recently been handed a boost in their pursuit of an attacker, with it being revealed he would love to move to Stamford Bridge despite interest from Arsenal.

Blues looking to sign new attacking midfielder

Enzo Maresca has already made major improvements to his squad this summer, with new striker Joao Pedro playing a major role in the Club World Cup triumph, scoring the third goal in his side’s 3-0 rout of Paris Saint-Germain in the final.

However, the Blues are by no means done, with a new attacking midfielder also of interest, and there are three main options on the shortlist.

Target

Current club

Asking price

Morgan Rogers

Aston Villa

£90m

Eberechi Eze

Crystal Palace

£68m

Xavi Simons

RB Leipzig

£67m

The west Londoners have recently held talks over a deal for Simons, but there could be fierce competition for his signature, with Tottenham Hotspur also keen, while fellow London rivals Arsenal are thought to have made an approach of their own.

That said, despite the major interest from elsewhere, Maresca’s side should be well-positioned to win the race for the RB Leipzig star, as per a new update from journalist Simon Phillips.

Phillips said: “Arsenal are interested in Simons as said, but our sources have heard they are focusing on Eze still but if they cannot get that over the line then Simons is the backup for them.

Chelsea ready swap offer to sign "unstoppable" £90m England international

The Blues are willing to use one of their players as a makeweight in negotiations for an attacker.

ByDominic Lund Jul 20, 2025

“Sources feel Chelsea could have come in and snapped Simons up by the time that happens anyway. So this one is certainly brewing up and all connected.

“Further to this, our sources have heard that Simons ‘would love to join Chelsea’ this window, so there would be no problem on the player side. Chelsea, expected to make more enquiries on Simons this week now.”

"Game-changer" Simons could be statement signing for Chelsea

Scout and writer Jacek Kulig lauded the Leipzig attacking midfielder as a “game-changer” last season, and it is clear to see why, with the Dutchman impressing for both club and country.

The Netherlands international picked up a goal and an assist in a very impressive performance against European champions Spain in March, while also regularly finding the back of the net and setting up his teammates in the Bundesliga.

Competition

Appearances

Goals

Assists

Bundesliga

25

10

7

DFB Pokal

3

1

1

It is little wonder the 22-year-old is very keen on sealing a move to Stamford Bridge this summer, with Maresca’s side recently being crowned Club World Cup champions, and Champions League football on offer next season.

Having already proven they have what it takes to compete against the world’s best teams, the signing of Simons could elevate the Blues and help them compete for even more major honours in the 2024-25 campaign.

Newcastle United have yet to make a signing so far this summer and it’s fair to say a large section of the fanbase are getting edgy.

Eddie Howe must bolster several areas of his squad ahead of next season, especially with Champions League football returning to St James’ Park once again.

There hasn’t been a shortage of names linked. From Joao Pedro to Harvey Elliott, Howe is keen on strengthening his attacking options.

It is the defence which perhaps needs the most work, however. Could a deal for Marc Guehi be completed before the end of the window?

Newcastle's pursuit of Marc Guehi

The Magpies have been tracking Guehi for quite some time now, and it remains to be seen whether Howe will be able to make a concrete move to sign him.

Last season, the English centre-back ranked highly across a range of metrics when compared to his peers. Indeed, he ranked in the top 21% for ball recoveries (4.3) per 90 and in the top 20% for blocks (1.62) and in the top 22% for dribblers tackled (0.91) per 90.

He also won an impressive 63% of his ground duels per game in the Premier League last term, suggesting that the defender would make for an excellent signing.

Accurate passes

43.1

Tackles

1.8

Interceptions

0.8

Total duels won

4.9

Possession lost

9.7

Ball recoveries

4.3

Yet, with Liverpool now in talks to land the Englishman, reportedly even closing in on a move, the Toon will have to turn to alternative options.

Newcastle's dream Guehi alternative

According to reports in Italy (via Sport Witness), Newcastle are locked in talks to sign Atalanta defender Giorgio Scalvini this summer.

The report states that Atalanta don’t want to sell the 21-year-old, but if an offer of around €40-50m (£34m – £43m) arrives, they might have to reconsider.

It won’t be cheap bringing the player to Newcastle, but he could be a dream Guehi alternative, that’s for sure.

The youngster only played six league games last term, but he still won 57% of his total duels per game, as well as averaging 1.3 tackles per game and succeeding with 85% of his passes.

Hailed as a “top talent” by none other than Fabrizio Romano back in 2022, Scalvini could come of age should he make a move to St James’ Park this summer.

While he didn’t play often last term, when compared to his peers during Atalanta’s victorious Europa League campaign in 2023/24, he sparkled across several metrics.

Not only did he rank in the top 2% for tackles per 90 (3.94), but he also ranked in the top 21% for progressive carries (1.31) and in the top 7% for ball recoveries (7.69) per 90.

Pitting those numbers against Guehi last term, Guehi only made 1.79 tackles, 0.65 progressive carries and 4.30 ball recoveries per 90 minutes.

Against Bayer Leverkusen in the Europa League final that season, the Italian notably managed to keep the likes of Florian Wirtz and Victor Boniface quiet, winning three of his four duels and losing possession just once.

Should he make the move to Newcastle and replicate that performance on a consistent basis, Scalvini could perhaps be an even better signing than Guehi. That’s for sure.

The next Gordon: Newcastle have made contact to sign "special" £40m star

Newcastle are seeking to bolster their ranks ahead of their return to Champions League football

2 ByRobbie Walls Jun 29, 2025

Florian Wirtz is in the process of signing for Liverpool this summer in what will likely prove a British-record deal, with Bayer Leverkusen demanding £120m to part with their prized possession.

It’s droning on a bit, the transfer saga, but then engineering a record deal for a world-class superstar was never going to be a walk in the park, and it bears testament to sporting director Richard Hughes and his team that Liverpool have batted off rival interest from Manchester City and Bayern Munich to take the lead in what is now a one-horse race.

With Trent Alexander-Arnold now officially a Real Madrid player, it was always going to be important that Liverpool replace him not just positionally but creatively as well, and Wirtz is “unbelievably intelligent” in his passing, says Leverkusen’s former executive CEO assistant, Devin Ozek.

When (if) the Wirtz deal is wrapped up, Liverpool will want to turn their focus to the front of the ship, with a new centre-forward needed after difficult campaigns for Slot’s natural number nines.

However, the sale of one of Anfield’s biggest stars has led Liverpool to rekindle their interest in Anthony Gordon.

Why Liverpool are interested in Anthony Gordon

Gordon signed for Newcastle United in a £45m deal back in January 2023, and despite a slow start across the latter phase of that campaign, Gordon notched 28 goal contributions during the 2023/24 season and was crowned the club’s Player of the Season.

Newcastle would want £80m to let the England international leave St. James’ Park this summer, but that hasn’t stopped Liverpool from registering their interest in Gordon, who dreams of returning to Merseyside and joining his boyhood club.

Now, why is this? Well, interest is growing in Liverpool’s Luis Diaz, with FSG already rejecting an offer from Barcelona and stating the Colombian is not for sale, report The Athletic.

However, the Premier League side’s stance is likely far more equivocal, with the right offer sure to open the door for the 28-year-old’s sale. Al-Nassr are also intrigued, and maybe their riches would be more fitting for a summer departure.

Should Diaz depart, it would be because a suitor, likely from the Saudi Pro League, has agreed to meet FSG’s €85m (£72m) valuation.

If that happens, Liverpool will move for a new wideman, but it might not actually be Gordon who gets reeled in.

Liverpool lead race for Gordon alternative

The problem with Gordon is he’s worth £80m, and given there’s a similar player who could be signed for half that sum and placed to challenge Cody Gakpo for the number one spot, it seems silly to go down the more expensive route.

Transfer Focus

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

That player is Lyon’s Malick Fofana, who, according to TEAMtalk, has been heavily scouted by Liverpool in recent months as Slot weighs up a move.

Fofana’s £40m release clause makes him an attractive option. Arsenal and Aston Villa are also interested, alongside Liverpool, with the trio all said to be leading the race.

The player’s agent, Bobo Fofana, however, has previously claimed that Anfield would be his “choice of heart.”

What Malick Fofana would bring to Liverpool

Fofana may only be 20 and with 62 Lyon appearances to his name, but he’s already made quite the name for himself in France, joining from Belgian team Gent for a fee rising to €22m (£19m) in January 2024, when he was only 18.

Across 41 matches in all competitions this season, the wideman scored 11 goals and provided six assists for his teammates, and with his principal position being on the left flank, he’d be ideal to replace Diaz.

That is, unless Gordon signs for the club. Liverpool’s interest in the English star is long-standing, but it might be that moving for the Scouser wouldn’t be in the club’s best interests, not when Fofana’s progress suggests he could do the same job.

Given that he’s four years Gordon’s junior, he might even eclipse him in the years to come.

Matches (starts)

34 (28)

29 (16)

Goals

6

5

Assists

5

4

Shots (on target)*

1.7 (0.6)

1.1 (0.4)

Pass completion

81%

84%

Key passes*

1.5

0.9

Big chances created

6

6

Dribbles*

1.1

0.8

Tackles + interceptions*

1.1

1.1

Ground duels (won)*

4.4

2.8 (54%)

As you can see, both wingers enjoyed similar seasons in their respective leagues, but is Gordon performing at a level which proves he should cost double that of his French counterpart?

As per FBref, Fofana ranked among the top 10% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe’s top five leagues this season for non-penalty goals scored, the top 2% for progressive carries and the top 16% for touches in the attacking box per 90.

His athleticism and pace have actually led the data-driven site to record Gordon as one of Fofana’s most comparable players, further evidence that he should be signed instead.

So then, the template for something remarkable might just be there. A natural goalscorer, Fofana has also been praised for his “explosive” running by analyst Ben Mattinson. Moreover, the defensive quality you can see ranks well against Gordon is something that would serve him well in the Premier League.

Given the richness of Liverpool’s attacking options, bringing in Fofana as a long-term project might not be the worst idea in the world, with his crisp passing aligning with the way Diaz plays and his fleet-footedness a further string to his bow.

With Wirtz, Mohamed Salah and the rest of them helping unlock Fofana’s high potential, this could be a shrewd move the Reds look back at fondly indeed in the years to come.

Liverpool exploring move for £30m "iron barrel" who's just like Van Dijk

Liverpool are interested in signing a new centre-back this summer.

ByAngus Sinclair Jun 6, 2025

Southampton finally have a new manager in place and could now be set to firm up their transfer activity this summer amid their pursuit of a promising forward, per a report.

Southampton prepare for life under Will Still

Following months of speculation, Will Still has been installed as Saints’ new boss for the forthcoming season and will be tasked with leading the Championship side back to the top shelf of the English pyramid.

Making no secret of his desire to succeed, the former Lens boss has promised a big summer is on the way at St Mary’s to get his side back to where they belong, which in his opinion is the Premier League stage.

He stated: “There is huge potential here and we have a great opportunity to do something special. The project that has been laid out to me is very impressive and, all together, I believe we can build a clear identity and a very positive future for the team.

“I’m eager to get to work this summer and start building a close-knit group that can make everyone proud and ultimately get us back to where we belong; in the Premier League.”

Signing on for three years, Still has beaten the likes of Steven Gerrard, Danny Rohl and Tom Cleverley to the Southampton job, so it is fair to say there is a level of expectation on his shoulders to deliver promotion.

Related West Ham now leading race to sign new 26 y/o star as Irons ready £20m bid

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Posts ByTom Cunningham May 5, 2025

Laying down the law as his side prepare to spend this summer, Saints have now set their eyes on an exciting striker from the continent who could be on the move for a bargain fee.

Southampton want to acquire £4m+ forward William Boving

According to Football Insider, Southampton are in the mix to sign Sturm Graz forward William Boving after playing a major role in helping the Austrian Bundesliga holders defend their crowd this term.

Labelled “talented” by Peter Christiansen, the 21-year-old has registered 11 goals and 10 assists in 42 appearances across all competitions this term. He is expected to feature for Denmark in their Under-21 EURO 2025 bid this summer.

William Boving’s excellent campaign at Sturm Graz – Austrian Bundesliga (Fotmob)

Shots

50

Shots on target

17

Completed dribbles

26

Chances created

40

Successful crosses

20

Touches in opposition box

82

Said to be available for around £4.2 million, he is also attracting interest from clubs in Germany, Spain and Italy ahead of the window. With his potential to develop not going unnoticed, Southampton have sent scouts to watch the star on a number of occasions this campaign as they seek firepower through the middle.

Furthermore, his versatility can also see Boving operate on the left flank or as a foil for the main striker, which may come in handy if Mateus Fernandes or Tyler Dibling leave the South Coast outfit by the time the window closes.

Liverpool are now “seriously pursuing” a £34m defender, and advanced talks have already taken place, according to Sky Sports reporter Florian Plettenberg.

Liverpool searching for Trent replacement

Trent Alexander-Arnold’s time at Anfield isn’t ending the way he would’ve liked, having confirmed his decision to leave his boyhood club at the end of the season, with the right-back entering the field to a chorus of boos after being brought on as a substitute against Arsenal on Sunday.

Jamie Carragher has since criticised the reaction to Trent entering the field, encouraging supporters to sing other players’ names, rather than booing one of their own.

Conor Bradley, on the other hand, received a good reception on Sunday, but having made an error in the build-up to the Gunners’ first goal, Arne Slot could have some reservations about the Northern Irishman becoming the first-choice right-back immediately.

As such, Slot may choose to enter the transfer market to find a replacement for Trent, and Plettenberg has now taken to X to provide an update on Liverpool’s pursuit of Bayer Leverkusen defender Jeremie Frimpong.

The Sky Sports reporter states the Reds are now “seriously pursuing” Frimpong, with the right-back “planning to move this summer”, and he should be available for a relatively affordable fee, given that he has a release clause of around €35m – €40m (£29m – £34m) in his contract.

The 24-year-old is also described as “one of the top options” to replace Alexander-Arnold at the end of the season, underlining the Merseysiders’ level of interest, with advanced talks taking place.

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Posts 1 BySean Markus Clifford May 12, 2025 "Monster" Frimpong could be ideal Trent replacement

Trent has received criticism for his defending during his time at Anfield, but the England international has more than made up for it with his quality going forward, picking up three goals and seven assists in the Premier League this season.

Much like his potential predecessor, the Leverkusen star also excels on the front foot, ranking in the 93rd percentile for non-penalty goals per 90 over the past year, and the 89th percentile for assists, when compared to other full-backs.

Amid previous links to Manchester United, the Dutchman was also described as a “monster” in the attacking third by the United Stand’s Beth Tucker, which is underlined by his contributions going forward over the past three Bundesliga seasons.

Season

Bundesliga appearances

Goals

Assists

2022-23

34

8

7

2023-24

31

9

9

2024-25

33

5

6

A fee of just £29m – £34m could be a bargain for Frimpong, who could be the ideal replacement for Trent, given his attacking quality, although it would also be good to see academy graduate Bradley receive more game time next season.

It all comes down to this: Tottenham Hotspur’s season rests on their tie against Eintracht Frankfurt.

Ange Postecoglou’s side have endured a torrid Premier League campaign, and with them out of the FA Cup, the manager’s record of winning silverware in his second season relies on them winning the Europa League.

It would be fair to say then that tonight’s game is the most important game in the Australian’s tenure at the club, so he has to get his selection and tactics spot on, as the German outfit are no pushovers.

Therefore, while it might sound harsh and maybe even a little counterintuitive, he must take Son Heung-min out of the starting lineup.

Why Son has to be dropped

So, before people start throwing things, we recognise that on ability alone, Son is one of the better players in the Spurs squad, but unfortunately, that alone is not enough in a game like this.

Frankfurt are going to come flying out of the blocks tonight, and while it’s not his fault, the South Korean superstar is not the rapid and incredibly dynamic winger he once was.

It’s a simple fact of life that, at 32 years old, he isn’t able to play games with the same level of intensity that he once did, with research from The Athletic pointing out that wide players peak at 26 and become significantly less effective at beating their full-back once they hit 30.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

Moreover, the former Bayer Leverkusen star hasn’t even been producing much either, as he’s scored just one goal in his last ten league appearances and failed to add to his tally in the Round of 16 tie against AZ Alkmaar.

Finally, according to FBref, he’s in the bottom 44% of attacking midfielders and wingers for successful take-ons in the Premier League this season, which is not what you want from your left-winger ahead of a must-win European knockout tie.

The good news is that there is someone who could step in for Son, someone with recent experience of playing in Germany.

The Spurs star who should start ahead of Son

While some might call for Mikey Moore to start on the left tonight, we reckon the player to come in for Son should be Mathys Tel.

Now, we know the Frenchman hasn’t exactly lit the world alight since moving to North London in the winter window, but he has shown glimpses of quality here and there, such as his consolation goal away to Aston Villa in the FA Cup.

However, that’s not really relevant, as the main reason he should be in from the word go tonight is that, based on his performances last season, he’s capable of bringing an abundance of energy and dynamism to the left-hand side, and in turn likely force Frankfurt to at least be more cautious of quick breaks and counter-attacks.

For example, FBref placed him in the top 9% of attacking midfielders and wingers in the Bundesliga for successful take-ons last season, with an average of 3.17 per 90.

Moreover, when the “mind-blowing” prospect, as dubbed by talent scout Jacek Kulig, was given game time, he was simply sensational, scoring ten goals and providing six assists in just 1406 minutes across 41 appearances.

Appearances

41

Starts

10

Minutes

1406′

Goals

10

Assists

6

Goal Involvements per Match

0.39

Minutes per Goal Involvement

87.87′

That means the explosive attacker averaged a goal involvement every 2.56 games, or more impressively, every 87.87 minutes.

Finally, it would also be a brilliant idea to play Tel for the first 65 minutes or so, have him run the defence ragged, and then bring Son on, who might be able to find more space and punish them with his still impressive finishing.

Ultimately, Spurs need to win this tie to save their season, and the best way of doing that is by playing with intensity and dynamism, which is something the Frenchman has in spades.

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No team has ever successfully chased more than Sri Lanka’s 166 in a women’s T20I final

Sampath Bandarupalli28-Jul-20243 – Sri Lanka are only the third team to win the women’s T20 Asia Cup, after India and Bangladesh. India were victorious in 2012, 2016 and 2022, while Bangladesh won in 2018. India also won all four editions of the women’s ODI Asia Cup – 2004, 2005-06, 2006 and 2008.166 – Target that Sri Lanka chased on Sunday, the highest any team has successfully chased in a women’s T20I final. The previous highest was 149 by West Indies against Australia in the 2016 women’s T20 World Cup final.Related

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1 – The chase of 166 by Sri Lanka is their highest in women’s T20Is, bettering their chase of 156 against South Africa earlier this year. It is also the third-highest successful target chase by any team against India.1 – Sri Lanka also recorded the highest successful target chase in the women’s T20 Asia Cup, bettering the 142-run chase by Bangladesh in 2018 against India in Kuala Lumpur.ESPNcricinfo Ltd304 – Runs scored by Chamari Athapaththu in this Asia Cup – the second-most by any woman in a T20I series or tournament. The highest is 310 runs by Hayley Matthews during a three-match series against Australia last season.47 – Runs conceded by Radha Yadav in this match – the most by a bowler in a women’s T20 Asia Cup game. The previous highest was 45 by Aisya Eleesa against Sri Lanka earlier in this edition. The 47 runs by Radha are also the third-most conceded by an India bowler in a women’s T20I.26 – Fifty-plus scores for Smriti Mandhana in T20I cricket, the second-most by a woman, behind Suzie Bates (29). She surpassed Beth Mooney with her fifty on Sunday.5 – Number of fifty-plus scores for Mandhana in T20I knockout matches, the joint-most by any woman alongside Beth Mooney. Mandhana has three half-centuries in the T20I finals, one behind Mooney’s four.332 – Runs scored by Sri Lanka and India on Sunday in Dambulla. It is the highest aggregate for a women’s T20 Asia Cup game, bettering the 324 runs scored by India and UAE last Sunday.