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da aposte e ganhe： If Sheffield United are to return to the Premier League come the close of the intense 2024/25 campaign, Chris Wilder’s men will hope they can build on this promotion and remain in the top flight for more than one fleeting season.

da bet vitoria： Both times the Blades have recently won promotion, a relegation has soon had to be swallowed thereafter, minus the unbelievable 2019/20 season which saw Wilder lead his beloved side to a crazy ninth spot in the elite division.

Falling back to the Championship would then greet the South Yorkshire outfit after this one-off achievement, however, with the signing of Oliver Burke before the following campaign going down as a major flop.

Oliver Burke's disastrous Bramall Lane stint

Supporters at Bramall Lane would have been surprised that Wilder was willing to give the Scotsman a chance, considering he was fresh off a one-goal stint at West Bromwich Albion, having cost the Baggies a whopping £15m to obtain back in 2017.

Yet, the 57-year-old must have thought he could unearth a diamond in the rough in Burke when he arrived in the summer of 2020, only to be bitterly disappointed with what then transpired.

Whilst the Scotsman’s stint in South Yorkshire would see him collect one more strike than his nightmare time at the Hawthorns, it’s fair to say nobody associated with United was particularly enthused by his forgettable one-season stay when it came to a halt, with a relegation now on his varied CV courtesy of his brief connection to the club.

Where Are They Now

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The strange deal to bring Burke to the Blades will sting even more now when you consider who West Brom won as part of the bewildering exchange, with the ex-United attacker now staggeringly outscoring every single player at Wilder’s disposal in the here and now.

The "quality" star now outscoring every United player

It hasn’t been all smooth sailing for the attacker now enjoying a resurgence in form since leaving Bramall Lane behind, with the Baggies also offloading the the 30-year-old forward two years into his stay in the West Midlands.

But, Callum Robinson is definitely proof how of a star can age like a fine wine, with his best goalscoring form in some time coming when donning a Cardiff City strip.

Robinson’s G/A record by season since leaving United

Season

Games played

Goals scored

Assists

24/25

26

11

1

23/24

25

3

2

22/23

29

7

7

21/22

44

8

9

20/21

29

6

0

19/20

16

3

2

Sourced by Transfermarkt

Indeed, his career in Wales looked to be fizzling out last campaign with a lacklustre return of five goals and assists, but he now has a stunning 12 goal contributions across 2024/25.

Not even £10m buy Tom Cannon can boast better goalscoring numbers back at the Blades – who has nine strikes himself in league action – as Gustavo Hamer, Jesurun Rak-Sakyi and Tyrese Campbell also all fall behind in comparison with seven and six goals next to their names.

Even when he wasn’t been firing on all cylinders for the Bluebirds, there were enough flashes of his excellence that made the relegation-threatened side persevere – when his former employers handed him over after just two meagre goals for Wilder and Co – with ex-Cardiff manager Erol Bulut labelling the experienced EFL face as “quality” last season even during regular goal droughts.

With the Blades’ issues up top seeing the aforementioned Cannon already pull up with a knee concern, alongside Kieffer Moore being sidelined, having Robinson at their disposal now would be an effective option for Wilder to call upon.

But, that is with a heavy serving of hindsight on side, as the promotion challengers aim to go all out to clinch automatic promotion in the crunch months to come, whilst Robinson will try to continue enjoying his rebirth in the Welsh capital.

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da 888casino： Celtic have enjoyed so much success both on and off the field at Parkhead in recent years thanks to their player-trading model of buying young players, giving them a platform on which to shine, before selling them on at a profit.

da dobrowin： This, as noted by Mark Pirie of the Daily Record, saw the club named the ‘best-run club in Britain’ last year by the Fair Game Index.

However, one player, signed by Ange Postecoglou on the cheap, is still at the club, and remains a key figure in Brendan Rodgers’ side, earning rave reviews.

Ange Postecoglou's biggest successes in the transfer market

When Ange Postecoglou arrived at Celtic in 2021, as David Hytner of the Guardian puts it, the club was a complete ‘mess… in need of a reboot’ and a mass squad overhaul.

The Australian himself admitted “I was a joke” when he arrived, but defied all expectations by winning five out of six domestic trophies, departing for Tottenham having delivered a treble.

As noted by Callum McFadden of Breaking the Lines, the primary factor behind Postecoglou’s success was his excellent recruitment.

A total of 32 players were signed during Postecoglou’s two-year reign in Glasgow, so here’s a selection of the very best.

Selected Celtic signings under Ange

Players

Games

Fee paid

Sold for fee

Kyōgo

165

£4.5m

£10m

Starfelt

87

£4m

£4.3m

Abada

112

£3.5m

£8m

Juranović

53

£2.5m

£7.5m

Giakoumakis

57

£2.5m

£8m

Jota

91

£6.4m

£25m*

Carter-Vickers

148

£6m

Current player

Hatate

131

£1.4m

Current player

Maeda

146

£1.6m

Current player

O’Riley

124

£1.5m

£25m

Johnston

100

£3m

Current player

Oh Hyeon-gyu

47

£2.5m

£4m

*Jota was re-signed for £8.5m in January

All statistics and information courtesy of Transfermarkt

12 players who featured in the table and, of the eight who’ve departed, including Jota, who’s of course returned, Celtic have made a profit of around £65m in the transfer market alone, Matt O’Riley’s move to Brighton the most lucrative.

However, it’s one of these signings, still at the club, who is starring at the moment.

Celtic colossal centre-back

When Cameron Carter-Vickers joined Celtic, initially on loan, in 2021, he was surplus to requirements at Tottenham, having made just five appearances for Spurs, one of which had come earlier that summer, starting a Europa Conference League qualifying defeat to Paços de Ferreira that Nuno Espírito Santo did not take particularly seriously.

Nevertheless, north of the border, he’s been invaluable for Celtic, with Postecoglou describing him as “outstanding”, also calling him both a “leader” as well as the “best defender in the league”, hence why his move was made permanent for £6m the following summer.

Overall, the 27-year-old has made 148 appearances in hoops, winning eight major trophies, taking his tally to 18 caps for the United States during this time too, with Graham Ruthven of Total Soccer Show believing his performances in Scotland should make him USA’s first-choice at next summer’s World Cup on home soil.

So, let’s have a look at some of Carter-Vickers’ stats.

Carter-Vickers vs other centre-backs (last 365 days)

Statistics (per 90)

Carter-Vickers

Percentile

Attempted passes

94.01

99%

Pass completion %

94.2

99%

Progressive passes

4.75

80%

Progressive carries

1.34

90%

Aerials duals win %

2.97

85%

Tackles

1.63

63%

Interceptions

1.04

42%

All statistics courtesy of FBref.com

As the table outlines, when compared to other centre-backs, he ranks highly for both in-possession and out-of-possession statistics, his tackles and interceptions numbers are hampered by the fact Celtic average almost 74% possession in the Premiership this season.

Nevertheless, the American has become irreplaceable in this side, with Rodgers labelling him “top class”, while former U.S. U20s manager Tab Ramos says he has always been impressed by Carter-Vickers “aggressiveness in the air”, underlined by the percentage of aerial duals he wins, ranked third for this metric in this season’s Champions League (minimum 20 duals contested).

His performance against Bayern Munich in Germany last Tuesday led to Alex Barker of the Athletic stating that he was convinced Carter-Vickers to be “the best centre-back outside Europe’s top five leagues”. Fine praise indeed.

According to Transfermarkt, the 27-year-old is now worth more than double what Celtic paid for him, with his value currently at its highest point (£11.5m), reinforcing his status as a bargain signing.

To put that into context, he’s worth more than record-signing Arne Engels (£9m), according to the same source, and worth more than a man who Alistair Johnston believes is “one of the most in-form players in Europe”, Daizen Maeda.

The Japan star is worth £6.5m in the eyes of Transfermarkt, a figure that only goes to prove how great a signing his American teammate has been.

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da heads bet： Leeds United are flying high in the Championship this season, and seem destined for promotion. The Whites are level on points with second-place Sheffield United, who are vying with them for the league title in the second tier. The gap between Yorkshire club Leeds and their Lancashire rivals Burnley currently stands at just two points, however.

da pinup bet： Some of Leeds’ biggest attacking threats have been on fire this season. Daniel James is in sensational form, and has ten goals and nine assists so far this term. Striker Joel Piroe has also been playing superbly, and has 15 goals and six assists.

At the opposite end of the pitch, it has been a slightly tougher season for Leeds goalkeeper Illan Meslier.

Meslier’s 2024/25 season

It has been a rough campaign for Leeds number one Meslier. The Frenchman, who has been capped at under-21 level for his country, has been an ever-present for the Whites in goal this season.

He has played all 35 of their games in the Championship, conceding 22 times and keeping an impressive 20 clean sheets. However, he has made some crucial mistakes, which have cost Leeds points.

Perhaps the worst of the lot came against Sunderland, a side pushing for the playoffs, back in October. In a bizarre moment with Leeds 2-1 up in stoppage time, he failed to catch the flick-on from a Black Cats attacker, simply letting the ball shoot under his body and roll into the back of the net.

Described as a “hindrance” by Lewis Deighton, a fan writer for BBC Sport, the Frenchman has statistically been one of the worst shot-stoppers in the Championship this season.

As per Sofascore, he has prevented -1.33 goals, better than only 13 goalkeepers. For context, Blades’ number one Michael Cooper has prevented 4.92 goals.

Meslier’s form has been an issue for Leeds at times this season, despite their good performances across the board. They once had someone at the club who could have been a big upgrade on him, but left Elland Road on a cheap deal.

Leeds already sold a dream Meslier upgrade

It might be frustrating for Leeds fans to see what Kasper Schmeichel has achieved since leaving the club. He spent one season in Yorkshire in the 2010/11 campaign, before departing the club and going on to achieve great things.

Where Are They Now

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Indeed, the Dane, son of former Manchester United goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel, made 40 appearances across all competitions in a Leeds shirt 15 years ago. Admittedly, his record was not astounding. He conceded 55 goals and kept just ten clean sheets in that time.

In June 2011, the Denmark international, who now plies his trade at Scottish giants Celtic, made the move from Elland Road to the East Midlands to join Leicester City for a reported £1m fee. The rest, as they say, is history.

Schmeichel played 479 times for the Foxes, conceding 586 goals in that time, and managing to keep an impressive 187 clean sheets.

The highlight of his time at the club was surely winning the Premier League in 2015/16, in the most unlikely of circumstances. He also lifted the FA Cup and Community Shield in 2021.

The stats on Squawka suggest that the legendary Danish goalkeeper has been outperforming Meslier in many areas this season.

For example, Schmeichel makes 2.3 saves and concedes 0.6 goals per game, compared to 1.7 saves made and 0.7 goals conceded each game by Meslier.

Schmeichel vs. Meslier key stats 2024/25

Stat (per 90)

Schmeichel

Meslier

Saves

2.3

1.7

Goals conceded

0.6

0.7

Clean sheets

0.7

0.6

Save percentage

79.27%

72.15%

Pass accuracy

94.55%

78.42%

Stats from Squawka

Former Leicester boss Brendan Rodgers described Schmeichel as one of the “top keepers” in the Premier League back in March 2021, and it is not hard to see why. The qualities he possessed then, and still does, could have served Leeds well.

Perhaps they wish they had kept Schmeichel around at the club beyond the 2010/11 season. They could have had a brilliant goalkeeper who would have been a long-term fit in the sticks for the club.

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da esport bet： Liverpool are closing in on the Premier League title and will have some intriguing transfer priorities up their sleeve to build on an impressive campaign at Anfield.

What do Liverpool need to do this summer?

da winzada777： Arne Slot will likely be given considerable financial backing after his debut season at Anfield, but he has plenty of decisions to mull over between now and the summer window.

Addressing the elephant in the room, Mohamed Salah, Virgil Van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold are all out of contract. Speculation is mounting over the trio’s long-term futures on Merseyside and they remain the central priorities from an internal standpoint.

Evaluating the squad, Liverpool may need to seek out another striker amid Darwin Nunez’s frustration at the club. The Uruguay international had interest from Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal in January before he was blocked from entering talks over a mid-season exit.

Sparing no prisoners, Slot didn’t want to offload important stars in the middle of a Premier League title fight, though the summer may paint a different picture as he continues to shape the squad in his own image.

Arne Slot’s signings since becoming Liverpool manager

Federico Chiesa

£12.5 million

Giorgi Mamardashvili

£29 million (joins Liverpool next season)

Taking a minimalist approach on the transfer front so far, the Dutchman has successfully maximised the capability of a squad already rich in talent since his arrival. However, the onus will be on FSG to deliver some high-profile additions in light of the Reds’ consistency under his stewardship.

The AXA Training Centre is bound to see some new faces walk through the door in a few months’ time, and Slot has now told Liverpool one star he is willing to sacrifice with his replacement already said to be lined up.

Arne Slot tells Liverpool to sell Kostas Tsimikas and sign Milos Kerkez

According to TBR, Liverpool boss Slot wants to sell Kostas Tsimikas to bring in Bournemouth’s Milos Kerkez, with the Cherries looking for a fee of £50 million before parting ways with the Hungary international.

AC Milan could also be a key player in negotiations. Not only are they keen on Kerkez, but they have emerged as contenders to sign Tsimikas should he be allowed to vacate the premises this summer.

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Labelled “fantastic” by journalist Ian Doyle, the latter has become a cult hero at Liverpool in his 110 appearances for the club, where he has registered 18 assists. Nevertheless, his existence as a peripheral figure was always likely to pave the way for a departure.

On the other hand, Kerkez has delivered two goals and four assists in 30 outings this season at Bournemouth. Maintaining a consistent level of performance, the 24-year-old has fashioned 24 chances and 21 successful crosses in the Premier League.

Antonee Robinson and Jorrel Hato make up two other names on Liverpool’s left-back shortlist, which is an indication they are set to go all out for a new name to challenge Andy Robertson for the starting slot at Anfield. If the Reds have designs on becoming the main force in English football, no sentiment can be shown in the pursuit of fresh blood.

da brwin： It’s going to be a significant one for David Moyes this afternoon, with Everton hosting West Ham United at Goodison Park.

da dobrowin： West Ham, with whom Moyes lifted the Conference League in 2022/23, haven’t been great this season, sitting level on points (33) in the Premier League with the resurgent Toffees.

Both sides’ problems were illuminated in the reverse fixture: a drab goalless draw played out four months ago in east London.

However, this is a different Everton. Moyes might have his share of injury problems to deal with, but there’s little question his team have the capacity to score a huge victory against the Hammers.

Everton's injury news

Everton might be suffering from a raft of absentees but they have also gone seven matches unbeaten in the Premier League under Moyes.

The 61-year-old manager did issue a pre-match update on several players, with Iliman Ndiaye, Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Dwight McNeil all approaching full fitness. None will be ready in time for this weekend, however.

Michail Antonio won’t return this season after his accident, while summer signings Niklas Fullkrug, Crysencio Summerville also remain sidelined.

Charly Alcaraz may be gunning for a start over Abdoulaye Doucoure, but Moyes actually has an alternative option to replace the veteran, and he should put some thought into picking him.

Why Moyes should drop Abdoulaye Doucoure

Fresh from being awarded the Premier League Manager of the Month award for February, Moyes will need to make a big call, with Doucoure perhaps not the best option in between the base of midfield and the frontline.

The 32-year-old is still a hard-working and combative player, but Tim Iroegbunam’s cameo at Molineux last weekend highlighted the increased output last summer’s recruit brings through central phases.

Signing from Aston Villa for about £10m, Iroegbunam has only started four league matches this season, returning from a long layoff after Moyes’ arrival and since featuring from the bench.

Iroegbunam actually ranks among the top 17% of midfielders across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for assists, the top 9% for successful take-ons and the top 1% for tackles per 90, as per FBref, with that lattermost metric coming into play at Wolves.

Wolve 1-1 Everton: Doucoure & Iroegbunam Stats

Match Stats

Doucoure

Iroegbunam

Minutes played

63′

27′

Touches

21

17

Accurate passes

7/11 (64%)

6/7 (86%)

Key passes

1

0

Dribbles

1/1

0/1

Tackles + interceptions

1

5

Duels won

2/4

4/8

Stats via Sofascore

Doucoure led the press well before being replaced for fresh legs. Iroegbunam, however, staked his claim. Despite playing less than half the Malian’s minutes, he almost saw more of the ball, was crisper in possession and unrelenting in defensive moments.

The Athletic’s Patrick Boyland had described Iroegbunam as the “standout” of Everton’s season in the early knockings before he was cruelly sidelined with an ankle injury for more than three months.

While Alcaraz was also lively off the bench, he may have to wait here, unless Moyes wants to rotate his trusted base layer in Idrissa Gueye and James Garner.

Iroegbunam’s creativity, athleticism and tough-tackling approach could be perfect against a West Ham team with a midfield there for the taking.

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da premier bet： Newcastle United supporters would have been dreaming of their side lifting the EFL Cup come the end of a long, drawn-out final at Wembley, hopeful that Arne Slot’s Liverpool would have an off-day when it mattered most.

da betsul： All of those dreams became a jubilant reality come full-time as, despite Federico Chiesa beating Nick Pope late on, the Magpies would finish the nail-biting match as 2-1 victors, bringing their long domestic trophy drought of 70 years to an unbelievable end.

Alexander Isak would ultimately score the winning goal but a word too for a Mr Dan Burn who would rightly lap up all of the plaudits come the full-time whistle.

It was his thunderous header that got Eddie Howe’s men up and running in the English capital, resulting in the towering centre-back lifting his team’s newly won honours with a beaming smile.

Dan Burn's performance in numbers

It has been a whirlwind few days for the Blyth-born colossus, with Burn receiving a first-ever England call-up by Thomas Tuchel a matter of days before this showdown versus Liverpool.

He didn’t look fazed by the big occasion whatsoever, especially when the 32-year-old powered home this header past Reds goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher just on the stroke of half-time.

Alexander Isak would then gift the Toon a two-goal cushion but Burn was imperious throughout away from his golden opener, with the Magpies number 33 winning seven duels besides from guiding that effort past Kelleher, on top of making 11 clearances to keep Liverpool at bay.

Also chipping in with two key passes, Burn was a calm man mountain across the exhilarating 90 minutes.

That said, one of his teammates put in an even more stunning display which could be regarded as one of his best ever donning Toon black and white.

10/10 Newcastle star was even better than Burn

Whilst Newcastle have splashed the cash on the likes of Isak and Co and they have been instant success stories, not everyone in the current first-team fold under Howe have always had it plain sailing on Tyneside.

Indeed, Joelinton had a wobbly introduction to life in England, with the ex-TSG 1899 Hoffenheim star once viewed as a £40m dud when lining up in the striker spot at St James’ Park.

Now, in a more well-suited central midfield role, the Brazilian has become a modern day great at the club, with Daily Mail journalist Craig Hope even heralding his showing against Liverpool as his “greatest game in black & white.”

That’s quite the claim considering Joelinton is now up to 216 games and counting at Newcastle, but his stellar numbers from this famous day out to London do back up Hope’s comments.

Joelinton’s performance in numbers vs Liverpool

Stat

Joelinton

Minutes played

90

Goals scored

0

Assists

0

Touches

42

Accurate passes

18/25 (72%)

Shots on goal

1

Clearances

2

Tackles

3

Total duels won

9/13

Stats by Sofascore

Joelinton would tirelessly run himself into the ground for his team’s cause, with nine total duels won beating Burn’s impressive collection, whilst the Brazilian ace would also register two clearances and three tackles to ensure Liverpool never mounted a serious comeback.

Shields Gazette journalist Dominic Scurr would even hand out a flawless 10/10 rating to the South American battler post-match, praising the constant crucial contributions he made, with his display labelled simply as “colossal.”

Visibly emotional at the end when taking in his team’s historic Cup win, Joelinton will hope there are plenty more successful years in the bag for him on Tyneside, with the 28-year-old’s name no doubt etched into his club’s hall-of-fame forever now alongside Burn.

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da betano casino： Leeds United are now eyeing a move for an “outstanding” defender who has just been given the green light to leave his current club this summer, according to transfer expert Graeme Bailey.

Whites eyeing defenders amid promotion push

da doce： Of course, the type of summer transfer window Leeds will have is heavily dependent on whether they are able to clinch promotion from the Championship, with the race for the automatic spots hotting up in recent weeks.

After just one win in their last four matches, the Whites are now only two points clear of third-place Burnley, so a return to the Premier League is by no means a guarantee, despite topping the table for quite some time, although they remain in a strong position.

If Daniel Farke’s side do manage to end their two-year hiatus from the top flight, the manager may have to upgrade his defence, and they are ready to pursue Borussia Mönchengladbach’s Nico Elvedi, who is able to play at both centre-back and left-back.

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A move for Elvedi could kill two birds with one stone, given the Swiss defender’s versatility, however, there have also been suggestions Farke could make a move for an out-and-out left-back.

In an interview with Leeds United News, Bailey has revealed Leeds hold an interest in Newcastle United’s Matt Targett, who has been given the green light to exit St. James’ Park this summer, three years after arriving from Aston Villa in a £15m deal.

Bailey said: “Matt Targett remains an interesting option for a number of clubs. He is more than likely to leave Newcastle this summer. Newcastle won’t stand in his way. There are options for him in America, but he is someone who Leeds have looked at.”

Leeds United’s upcoming Championship fixtures

Date

Swansea City (h)

March 29th

Luton Town (a)

April 5th

Middlesbrough (a)

April 8th

Preston North End (h)

April 12th

Oxford United (a)

April 18th

"Outstanding" Targett needs summer move

Newcastle have undergone a huge transformation under Eddie Howe, turning into a side pushing for the Champions League, having previously been involved in relegation dogfights, meaning Targett has started to play a more sporadic role.

Although the left-back was lauded as “outstanding” by Howe not long after signing for the club, he has since fallen down the pecking order, making just four appearances in all competitions this season, so it is clear he needs to move on this summer.

If Leeds seal promotion from the Championship, it is important to bring in players with Premier League experience, if they are to avoid instantly dropping back down, and the 29-year-old certainly fits the bill in that regard, having made 163 top-flight appearances.

As such, while Targett wouldn’t be the flashiest of signings, he could be a solid addition to Farke’s backline this summer, capable of pushing Junior Firpo for a starting spot at left-back.

da jogodeouro： Liverpool have been busy in the transfer market over the past several weeks. Well, the transfer window hasn’t actually opened yet, but that’s a credit to Richard Hughes’ savvy negotiating.

da pinup bet： Arne Slot created something special this season, but the Dutch coach is no fool, and knows the importance of strengthening whilst ahead. Liverpool have been crowned Premier League champions, and are now ringing the changes.

There’s been a concerted focus on strengthening the flanks, over these past weeks: Jeremie Frimpong has completed his medical, while discussions with Bournemouth for left-back Milos Kerkez are ongoing, as per Fabrizio Romano.

Liverpool enquire about new defender

Improving the defence is very much the order of the day for Slot and Co this summer but their efforts may not stop with the full-backs.

Transfer Focus

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

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As per TEAMtalk, Liverpool have made initial enquiries to RB Leipzig as they consider a move for Castello Lukeba, with the left-footed defender earning Slot’s nod of approval.

Though Lukeba, 22, has a €90m (£74m) release clause in his contract, FSG would be hoping to bag him for a cheaper fee. However, while Slot is personally keen on a move, Real Madrid and Manchester United are both known admirers too.

Liverpool have already made it known they would be open to signing a centre-half this summer, having failed in their bid to sign Madrid-bound Dean Huijsen, but in Lukeba, they could score the perfect fallback.

Why Liverpool want Castello Lukeba

A defensive hybrid, Lukeba is a naturally central defender, though bears an athleticism and energy that has seen him weave out onto the left flank, which is an interesting proposition for Slot to chew on.

He’s powerful, yes, but not overbearing in the backline, playing his role consummately. Lukeba missed three months of the campaign with muscular difficulties, but featured prominently across the latter phase of the year.

Liverpool will be frustrated they missed out on Huijsen, who has been regarded as a “world-class” player in the making by analysts, but in Lukeba, the dream alternative has been identified.

Leipzig have fostered Lukeba, pulled him to the fore, but now he should take the next step in his career and join the Liverpool fold. After all, he’s got the balanced skill set to make Slot forget all about Huijsen.

League Stats 24/25 – Dean Huijsen vs Castello Lukeba

Stats (* per game)

Huijsen

Lukeba

Matches (starts)

32 (26)

23 (18)

Goals

3

0

Assists

2

0

Touches*

63.9

65.4

Pass completion

84%

87%

Key passes*

0.5

0.2

Dribbles*

0.1

0.9

Ball recoveries*

3.3

3.2

Tackles + interceptions*

2.7

2.0

Clearances*

6.1

3.0

Duels (won)*

3.6 (56%)

4.0 (65%)

Data via Sofascore

He might not be quite as attack-minded or silky on the ball as Huijsen, but Lukeba is still crisp and collected. Moreover, he’s a veritable machine when it comes to defensive duties, so commanding in the duel.

And that’s not to say Lukeba isn’t good on the ball. As per FBref, he ranks among the top 13% of centre-backs across Europe this season for passes attempted and the top 20% for progressive passes per 90.

With only four of his 23 Bundesliga outings coming from the flank, it’s clear he could play the role envisaged for Huijsen, especially given both are left-footers.

Analyst Ben Mattinson hailed the Frenchman’s “freak profile,” drawing positive awareness to the dynamic and powerful set of skills. He even went on to say that transferring to Anfield would be a “perfect move” for Lukeba, and given that Huijsen is now out of bounds, Slot must throw the kitchen sink at getting it done.

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da casino： Aston Villa are now ready to hijack AFC Bournemouth’s transfer to sign an “outrageous” up and coming defender, according to a recent report.

Aston Villa identify replacement for key star

da lvbet： Since making the move to Villa Park, goalkeeper Emi Martinez’s career has gone from strength to strength, as he’s established himself as one of the best keepers in England and the world, given his heroics for Argentina, where he won the Golden Glove award in the 2022 World Cup.

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Now at the age of 32, Martinez may feel it is the right time for him to leave Villa and move to the next stage of his career. The Argentine is still under contract until 2029, but transfer speculation is continuing to mount, as Manchester United have reportedly made an approach over a possible move this summer. Spanish giants Atletico Madrid have also been in the mix, and the Villans’ need to balance sales with incomings could create the perfect storm for his departure.

So as Martinez weighs up his future, Unai Emery and co. are looking at options to replace the 32-year-old, and OGC Nice goalkeeper Marcin Bulka is someone club chiefs have identified. He is believed to be Villa’s first choice to replace Martinez, but they do face competition for his signature, as Marseille are also interested in signing the shot-stopper.

Aston Villa ready to hijack Bournemouth transfer to sign £20m defender

As the Villans look to strengthen their goalkeeper department, Emery also wants a new defender, and according to The Sun, Aston Villa are ready to join the battle to sign Adrien Truffert from Rennes.

The report states that Emery is in the market for a new left-back despite having Lucas Digne and Ian Maatsen at his disposal, with the former now in his thirties and out of contract in 2026. However, Bournemouth are already chasing a deal for the defender, and it is claimed they are close to agreeing a £20 million deal with Rennes.

Villa will have to match the Cherries’ offer to stand a chance of signing the 23-year-old, but before they can do that, they will have to move a player on to abide with PSR.

Adrien Truffert’s Rennes stats

Apps

191

Goals

9

Assists

23

In fact, the defender has yet to earn a senior international call-up, and his thinking may be that a move to the Premier League could open that door. Bournemouth do appear to be ahead in the race, but Villa may have a way of beating the Cherries to a deal, with Truffert represented by the same agency as current Villa defender Enzi Konsa, perhaps allowing the Villans a smoother path in negotiations.

da poker： Only one game now remains of Ipswich Town’s fleeting Premier League campaign.

da bet7k： At points, the Tractor Boys have shown glimpses of their quality with Liam Delap thumping in the goals, but ultimately, the Tractor Boys have lost a worrying 23 clashes from 37 overall games with relegation now confirmed.

This immediate slip back down to the Championship will result in Delap leaving Portman Road after just one season lining up for Kieran McKenna’s men.

The Suffolk side now have the back-breaking ordeal ahead of them in attempting to replace the 12-goal star with a few names already being linked to fill the ex-Manchester City man’s expected void.

Ipswich's potential Delap replacements

Of course, the Tractor Boys might not feel compelled to go all out and actually buy a new star to replace Delap. Rather, McKenna and Co could rely on George Hirst to come good again, dropping down to the EFL.

After all, despite being second in command to the breakout Ipswich ace all of this season, the Sheffield-born forward has still chipped in with five goals of his own. Last time out in the Championship, too, Hirst would also tally up seven goals and six assists as automatic promotion was achieved.

Moving away from what McKenna already has at his disposal, however, Ipswich are being linked with a move for Swiss Super League menace Willem Geubbels.

Leeds United are also sniffing around for the St. Gallen striker’s services according to reports, and for good reason, considering Geubbels has fired home 17 goals for his current employers across 2024/25 to date.

Amazingly, however, there’s one name that hasn’t even been mentioned yet who could go on to be as potent as Conor Chaplin has proven in the past for Ipswich in the Championship.

Ipswich could now sign Chaplin 2.0

Ipswich’s rapid rise up from League One to the Premier League saw various different stars come into their own jumping up the divisions.

The aforementioned Chaplin is definitely one of those who has never looked back whilst McKenna’s men soared up to the top-flight, with the former EFL journeyman scoring a hefty 13 league strikes across the memorable 2023/24 season to help clinch promotion.

Lawrence Shankland has been through a similar upward journey plying his trade in Scotland, with a new report from EFL Analysis suggesting that the Tractor Boys are ‘looking closely’ at the striker in a bid to soften the blow of Delap’s impending exit.

It would surely be a no-brainer decision on the end of Ipswich to move for Shankland, with the report further clarifying that the recently relegated team could land the “ruthless” Hearts marksman – as he was once lauded by Chris Sutton – on a free transfer off the back of many a goal-laden season up and down the Scottish leagues.

Shankland’s G/A record by Scottish division

League

Games

Goals scored

Assists

Premiership

160

64

24

Championship

120

62

12

League One

45

34

13

League Two

33

11

2

Sourced by Transfermarkt

After all, Chaplin once had to cut his own teeth too in the lower reaches of English football, with a respectable 17 strikes coming his way in League Two before he exploded into life the more he ventured up the pyramid.

Shankland is very similar in this regard when looking at the table above, considering the Glasgow-born ace is now up to a bumper 64 goals in the Scottish Premiership after once experiencing such humble beginnings on the books of Queen’s Park.

There will be a lingering worry that Shankland has never proven himself in the English game, but McKenna might well work his magic again on getting even more out of an exciting striker.

As Chaplin was last season, perhaps Shankland can be the man to deliver the goals in the Championship. Time will tell.

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