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Liverpool must bring in numerous players to get fans excited for next season following a so far disappointing campaign, according to Matt Addison.

The Lowdown: Another setback

The Reds’ miserable campaign suffered another blow after they were pulled apart by Wolverhampton Wanderers in a 3-0 defeat at Molineux.

Jurgen Klopp’s side are floundering in tenth place in the Premier League and 11 points behind the top four and Champions League qualification, with defeat at relegation threatened Wolves another unacceptable result and performance.

Liverpool had the chance to potentially turn the tide on their season in the January transfer window but the sole arrival of forward Cody Gakpo for £37m has so far failed to solve their issues, with yet him to score or assist in six games in Merseyside.

The Latest: Addison’s comments

Speaking on the Blood Red live stream following the Wolves defeat, Addison claimed that the Reds must go big in the summer not just to add quality but to get the fans excited for a fresh campaign come the summer, saying:

(10:07) “They’re going to have to spend big whatever happens in the summer, even if they don’t have Champions League football, even if Jude Bellingham decides he wants to go somewhere else.

“There’s no choice really they’ve got to go out, they’ve got to make 3, 4, 5 signings, they’ve got to have a clear out, players are coming to the end of their contracts, there are going to be changes within this Liverpool squad.”

The Verdict: Overhaul needed?

Liverpool are on the verge of a crisis given their miserable form, ownership concerns with Fenway Sports Group looking for new investors to the club (via Liverpool Echo) and currently facing the prospect of losing six first-team players when their contracts set to expire at the end of the season (Transfermarkt).

Problems regarding FSG’s potential sale of the club mean that they’ll be reluctant to spend given their intention to limit their financial impact in the club, which then leaves the departure of first-teamers for free difficult to contend with amid limited funds available to replace them alongside other incomings likely wanted by Klopp.

The Anfield outfit have been heavily linked with a swoop for Borussia Dortmund sensation Jude Bellingham with the Liverpool Echo reporting that Enzo Fernandez’s British record move to Chelsea worth £107m will almost certainly see Dortmund want more for the teenager, throwing up another question of quality or quantity in the window considering potentially more limited spending.

Manchester United may have only recently secured the loan signing of Burnley’s Wout Weghorst, although attention is already turning to who could be the long-term, centre-forward addition this summer.

According to the Daily Mail, the Red Devils are seemingly keen on making a move for Tottenham Hotspur talisman Harry Kane at the end of the season, with the 29-year-old said to be valued at around £85m with just 18 months left to run on his current deal.

Although there have since been claims that the England skipper may be open to extending that contract with the Lilywhites, the Old Trafford outfit will be hoping that the lure of potentially competing for silverware under Erik ten Hag could tempt the prolific striker into sealing an exit from north London.

Such a move could well represent a real coup for those at the Theatre of Dreams, with journalist Ryan Taylor – speaking to GIVEMESPORT – suggesting that the £200k-per-week sensation could be “perfect” for the three-time European champions.

Asked whether Kane is Ten Hag’s top target this summer to fill the centre-forward void, the transfer insider stated:

“I think so, but it does depend on one key factor and that’s whether he feels Kane fits the system. Personally, I think he would be perfect for United with the way they’re playing at the moment, in terms of dropping deep and players like Rashford going in behind.”

The 80-cap maestro has only recently laid bare his quality after drawing level with the late-great Jimmy Greaves as Tottenham’s all-time leading scorer on 266 goals, with that latest effort away to Fulham ensuring that the one-club man boasts 199 Premier League career goals to date.

Such ruthlessness and reliability in front of goal has unsurprisingly seen the Walthamstow-born menace earn comparisons to a legendary figure in United’s history in the form of Ruud van Nistelrooy, with Wayne Rooney having previously stated:

“Harry is a classic No.9, the closest I’ve seen to Ruud. If I were building a team, he’s the one I’d start with. Harry Kane: there’s my No.9, then I’d build the rest around him.”

The now-retired Dutchman was, of course, a truly devastating presence in attack under Sir Alex Ferguson, having netted 150 goals in just 219 games in all competitions in the red jersey, including 95 goals in only 150 top-flight games.

The one-time PSV Eindhoven man – who belatedly arrived in England in the summer of 2001 – was famed for his single-minded approach to goalscoring, having been lauded as an “absolute machine” by former teammate, Roy Keane.

Kane also appears to have that knack for finding the back of the net with scary regularity, having been described as the “most reliable of finishers” by another iconic Red Devils figure of the recent past, Gary Neville.

As such, should the Spurs man sign on the dotted line come the summer and make the move to Manchester, he could potentially emulate Van Nistelrooy’s breathtaking spell at the club.

Arsenal are interested in a deal to bring Dusan Vlahovic to the Premier League in the summer transfer window.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a report by Italian media outlet Calciomercato.it, who claim that, after being heavily linked with the centre-forward prior to his move to Juventus back in January of 2022, Mikel Arteta is once again interested in the Serbia international, with the Spaniard believed to be keen to bring the 22-year-old to The Emirates at the end of the current campaign.

However, the report goes on to suggest that Arsenal are not alone in their pursuit of the striker, with Manchester United, Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain also believed to be keeping a close eye on the situation of the forward – who the Bianconeri are thought to value at a figure in the region of €115m (£102m) to €120m (£106m).

Edu must move

Considering just how impressive Vlahovic has been in Italy in recent campaigns, the argument that the 22-year-old would be an unreal signing for the Islington outfit is an easy one to make.

Indeed, over his 36 Serie A appearances last season, the £80m-rated hitman was in breathtaking form, scoring an astonishing 24 goals, registering three assists and creating five big chances for his teammates, in addition to taking an average of 3.3 shots – 1.5 of which hit the target – making 0.8 key passes and completing 0.9 dribbles per game.

These returns saw the former Fiorentina attacker average a rather remarkable Sofascore match rating of 7.23, not only ranking him as Juve’s third-best performer in the league but also as the 17th-best player in the top flight of Italian football as a whole.

It has been a similar story over his ten league outings in the current campaign, with the £222k-per-week talent having already bagged six goals and provided one assist, as well as taking an average of 3.1 shots – 1.2 of which have been on target – making 1.1 key passes and completing 0.5 dribbles per match.

These metrics have seen the Serb who journalist Raj Chohan dubbed “unreal” and Carlo Garganese labelled a “monster” average a simply sensational Sofascore match rating of 7.15, not only ranking him as his club’s joint seventh-best performer in the division but also as the 31st-best player in Serie A as a whole.

As such, with Vlahovic undeniably being a centre-forward who knows how to hit the back of the net on an incredibly regular basis, should Arteta wish to maintain Arsenal’s position towards the top of the Premier League table in the seasons ahead, it would indeed appear wise for Edu to do everything he can to beat the likes of United, Chelsea and PSG to Vlahovic next summer.

Indeed, the devastating forward could just be an unreal addition to their ranks as the Londoners go in search of their first title triumph since 2004.

Manchester United are among the ‘main contenders’ to sign Atletico Madrid star and Arsenal target Joao Felix in January, reliable journalist David Ornstein has claimed.

The Lowdown: Felix linked with United move

The Portuguese superstar has fallen out of favour under Diego Simeone this season, being limited to only six starts in La Liga, despite his obvious talent.

Felix has been linked with a move to United in order to earn more minutes elsewhere, with Erik ten Hag potentially seeing him as an ideal January addition, given the ability to play up front or in various positions across the attack.

With the transfer window now open, it looks as though the Red Devils could be tussling with a Premier League rival for the 23-year-old’s services.

The Latest: Ornstein drops fresh update

Taking to Twitter on Monday, Ornstein claimed that United and Arsenal are the front-runners to snap up Felix:

“Atletico Madrid ready to loan Joao Felix – Man Utd & Arsenal main contenders at present. Both expressing firm interest in 23yo forward but at nowhere near €21m package Atleti currently want (€15m fee + €6m wages for 6 months).”

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The Verdict: Snap him up

While Felix isn’t necessarily the out-and-out striker that United are crying out for in January, the chance to sign him until the end of the season is still too good to ignore.

The youngster is a past winner of the European Golden Boy award, such is his quality, and he has been described as a ‘special’ player by Alvaro Morata and adored by Bruno Fernandes for both his ability and attitude.

Felix would add a sprinkling of magic to United’s attack, enhancing their top-four chances, and he is still perfectly capable of taking up a central role in between Marcus Rashford and Antony, even though he often plays as a No.10.

Arsenal have been one of the favourites to sign Ukrainian sensation Mykhaylo Mudryk for some time now, and a deal might finally be edging closer.

What’s the word?

It would almost be a surprise if Mudryk, 21-years-old and flying for Shakhtar Donetsk, both domestically and continentally, did not end up putting pen to paper with the north London outfit, with his teammates actually previously joking over the likelihood of the prospective deal. 

And now, prominent Athletic reporter David Ornstein has shed further light on the deal, providing the clearest indication yet that a move may well be on the cards.

He said, via Twitter: “Arsenal priority for January window is Mykhaylo Mudryk. No agreements but conversations happening & 21yo Shakhtar Donetsk winger keen. Sources say deal can be done for lower than €100m public valuation.”

With Arsenal now able to whittle down the £86m fee, perhaps chopping it even further with additional add-ons and performance-related bonuses, the signs point toward deal completion.

Imagine him & Zinchenko

Mudryk has been nothing short of exemplary during his meteoric rise to ascension, with the winger netting ten goals and eight assists across 18 fixtures for Shakhtar this term.

This tally includes five goal contributions in the Champions League, with the “baller” – as dubbed by writer Sacha Pisani – scoring twice against Scottish champions Celtic, and his pedigree on the European stage has already been established ahead of a monumental move to the Gunners. 

Predominantly a left-flanker, Mudryk succeeds where others fail, offering passing prowess beyond expectation and boasting pace and skill in abundance.

The eight-cap phenom would slot into a bustling offensive department at the Emirates Stadium, with the likes of Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli, and Gabriel Jesus bolstered by the creative demon that is Martin Odegaard in the middle, conducting the flow, pulling the strings. 

Importantly, Mudryk could form a cohesive bond down the left with compatriot Oleksandr Zinchenko, who signed for Arteta’s team from English champions Manchester City for £32m this summer.

Zinchenko boasts a ball-playing talent that sets him apart from the majority of Europe’s full-backs, indeed ranking him within the top 4% of such footballers across Europe’s top five leagues for pass completion, and the top 2% for progressive passes.

The leap in quality would be drastic, but with Shakhtar’s chief Darijo Srna remarking him as “a serious talent” – behind only Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Jr. this season – after bursting onto the scene and captivating with his blend of trickery and deadly precision.

Zinchenko’s aid in this respect would be critical, helping the starlet integrate into life in England and forming a torrent of devastating fluidity down the left, like a gushing river, and the Ukrainian bond would form one element of a team seemingly rising to the very, very top. 

As per FBref, Mudryk ranks within the top 5% for dribbles completed and the top 6% for touches in the attracting penalty box when compared to positional peers across Europe’s big five leagues this past year, and his knack for goals only furthers the claim this budding star could eclipse the standards and emerge at the very top of the pool. 

Talent scout Jacek Kulig lauded Mudryk for being “on fire” earlier this term, but it is now coming to recognition that the gem is actually just proving his worth as one of the brightest sparks in the game, and at Arsenal, with Zinchenko behind him, he can flourish.

Tottenham Hotspur could land an exciting talent in mooted transfer target Andreas Skov Olsen, according to journalist Pete O’Rourke.

In recent weeks, the north London outfit have been linked with a move for the 22-year-old dynamo, with Belgian outlet Nieuwsblad revealing that Spurs had sent scouts to watch him at the ongoing World Cup in Qatar.

He, and his national side Denmark, struggled to make much of an impression, leading to Danish tabloid B.T. to slam his performance in their final group stage defeat to Australia. They questioned his ability on the world’s biggest stage after failing to inspire much in the final third.

However, despite this disappointing display, O’Rourke believes that Spurs could still do little wrong in swooping for the Club Brugge sensation.

“He’s a very talented player, Skov Olsen,” he told Football FanCast.

“He’s playing in Belgium with Club Brugge at the minute and helped them win the title last year, and now also helped them qualify for the knockout stages of the Champions League, which is an incredible feat for the Belgian club.

“Very highly regarded in Denmark. We obviously didn’t see the best of him at this World Cup where he got a few chances but obviously, Denmark weren’t able to qualify.”

Whilst his exploits for De Rød-Hvide won’t have left Lilywhites scouts too impressed, there is no denying at just 22, Skov Olsen is a talent for the future.

Such publications are quick to forget his involvement at Euro 2020, where Denmark reached the semi-finals of the competition. His ability and quality even led Danish legend Brian Laudrup to laud him as a “crowd-pleaser” and a “real creative force.”

That’s exactly what Spurs have been missing in the final third in recent seasons.

The £18m-rated attacker has been in electric form domestically this campaign, having registered eight goals and four assists across 21 appearances, including contributions against Bayer Leverkusen and FC Porto in the Champions League, as per Transfermarkt.

Skov Olsen is clearly capable of impacting a game at the front end of the pitch, so it would be foolish to write off his ability based on one mid-season international tournament, in which bigger stars such as Christian Eriksen and Joakim Maele underwhelmed.

O’Rourke is right in his appraisal of the 22-year-old gem and as such, sporting director Fabio Paratici must continue to monitor him heading into the January transfer window.

Leicester City are eyeing a move for in-form Rennes forward Martin Terrier, with journalist Graeme Bailey sharing news on the in-demand Ligue 1 star.

The Lowdown: Leicester flying again…

Despite the Foxes’ recent 1-0 defeat to Premier League champions Manchester City, it’s safe to say that an air of optimism has returned to the King Power Stadium in recent weeks.

Brendan Rodgers’ side have lost just two of their last six top-flight matches whilst picking up crucial victories against fellow strugglers Nottingham Forest, Leeds United and Wolves. The Foxes have also kept four clean sheets in their last six whilst also conceding just three times in total, not to mention scoring an impressive 11 goals at the other end.

Their resolute display against Man City at the weekend was only undone by a superb free kick from Belgium superstar Kevin De Bruyne, and going by their latest showings, Leicester could fancy their chances of avoiding the drop.

The Latest: Leicester eye Terrier swoop…

As per 90min and reporter Graeme Bailey, who says there are ‘few better players in Europe’ than Terrier right now, Leicester are among a host of clubs to have scouted the forward recently.

Foxes officials have apparently ran the rule over Rennes’ star man, with the Midlands club taking an interest alongside many of their top-flight rivals.

The Verdict: One to watch…

The 25-year-old is in electric form right now and could certainly be one to watch heading into the winter, and it’s not beyond the realms of possibility that France head coach Didier Deschamps could consider the player for his 2022 World Cup squad.

As per WhoScored, Terrier stands out as Rennes’ top scorer and best player by average match rating, while he also tops their charts for most attempts at goal per 90 (three).

Dubbed ‘sublime’ by members of the press, the winger’s recent meteoric rise looks to have grabbed the attention of Leicester, and numerous others.

West Bromwich Albion might have found the man who can fill their current managerial vacancy…

What’s the latest?

According to The Athletic, Ron Gourlay has compiled a lengthy list of potential candidates for the job.

Headlining it is Swansea City manager Russell Martin, who has impressed already in the Championship.

With the managerial search reaching a third day now since Steve Bruce was sacked, they will want to act quickly.

The report also detailed names such as Carlos Corberan, clearly outlining how the Baggies are looking for a more progressive coach than their last.

He can rebuild their mentality

With West Brom currently sitting in the relegation zone, they are hardly an attractive proposition for managers in a job.

Especially the likes of Martin, who has motivated his Swans side to four straight victories as they take up a playoff spot this season.

His sides play a very specific way, and he is clearly a manager who is determined to stick to his principles no matter what.

Perhaps if Gourlay can tempt the 36-year-old to join, he would be the perfect fit to take his possession-based style and apply it to a side that are averaging 57.5% possession a game.

They are lacking a ruthlessness that is holding them back and applying principles that would ensure a solidity that has clearly worked for his Welsh outfit might help propel the Baggies up the table.

If he were to join, he would have the tough task of turning around a side that are winless in their last eight league games.

However, he has a track record of building a mentality that could benefit the Midlands outfit.

As aforementioned, he is a staunch believer in his tactical ideas. This was showcased in a viral video that showed the manager telling his players: “If it doesn’t work and I get sacked, at least I get sacked doing something I believe in. I don’t get sacked regretting that I have bowed on my principles.”

Speaking about that video, he said something with regard to mentality that would please fans of the club he might join.

He claimed: “It wasn’t a big deal to me – it was just common sense. It helped us build a bit of siege mentality. It was like: ‘Look, no one believes we can do this and no one wants us to be successful doing this.’”

Martin might be the perfect young and progressive manager they need, to turn the Baggies into a side that teams will soon fear.

Leeds United midfielder Adam Forshaw will miss the Whites’ Premier League clash against Aston Villa this weekend, journalist Phil Hay has confirmed.

The Lowdown: Leeds host Aston Villa

Jesse Marsch’s side are back in league action after the international break, welcoming Steven Gerrard’s Villa to Elland Road for a Sunday afternoon showdown.

Leeds sit 11th in the table after six matches, winning, drawing and losing twice apiece so far, and this should be viewed as a very winnable fixture against a team who aren’t at their best, sitting four places behind the Yorkshire club.

Injuries continue to hamper the Whites, though, with Archie Gray and Stuart Dallas among those currently sidelined.

The Latest: Forshaw ruled out

Forshaw is another Leeds man who will miss Sunday’s clash, and taking to Twitter, Hay relayed an update from Marsch as to why the midfielder would be absent this weekend.

The reporter tweeted:

“Marsch starting on injuries: Forshaw has a twisted ankle and will miss the weekend. Archie Gray has a fractured toe, out for another couple of weeks. Dallas still working his way back. Everyone else is available.”

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The Verdict: Constant injury setbacks

Forshaw’s career has been hampered severely by injuries in recent times, with the 31-year-old missing almost two years of action with a serious hip problem between 2019 and 2021.

Other issues have also affected him badly, including a fractured kneecap towards the end of last season, and this current update is just the latest in a series of setbacks for the 30-year-old.

The hope is that Forshaw – who has been restricted to three substitute appearances in the current league campaign – will be back soon, considering that this particular injury doesn’t sound serious, but it is hard to rely on him staying fit for a prolonged period given his unfortunate history in that regard.

West Ham United recorded yet another victory in the Europa Conference League last night, continuing their 100% record with a fine 3-2 win in Denmark.

Although their opponent Silkeborg staged a late comeback after leading first, the Hammers held on well to ensure they were not embarrassed.

There were a number of standout performers for David Moyes, with summer signing Gianluca Scamacca netting alongside Craig Dawson who returned to the side following an injury.

However, the one man who went under the radar for his classy workmanlike performance beside Declan Rice was Manuel Lanzini, who boasted an impressive 7.0 SofaScore rating.

Not only was he a fantastic presence in the engine room, with 80 touches, but he also dispatched coolly from the spot to open the scoring.

He adapted well to his slightly deeper role and acted as the metronome from which the Irons built their entire game. He averaged a pass accuracy of 94% and was 100% successful with his dribbling too.

Not only was he consistent, but he also produced a high quality of creation as he also gave two key passes during the game.

It was an all-around perfect performance from the midfielder, who allowed Rice to uphold more of the defensive work whilst he controlled the game.

His ability to do that as well as score sees him further support the claim that he is one of West Ham’s “mercurial gems,” as described by journalist Daniel Storey.

On a day when it was expected for Lucas Paqueta to star, starting just his second game since signing in the summer, it was the tried and tested Argentine who stole the show and reminded fans just why he has been around for so long.

The Brazilian offered just a 6.6 rating by SofaScore and struggled at times to get into the match. The exact opposite of the time Lanzini had.

Having signed permanently in 2016 for just £9m, he has more than paid that off with his contribution to the club. However, with mature performances like this, he proves that age will not be the deciding factor in his inevitable decline.