BBC pundit and former Tottenham defender Alan Hutton believes one of manager Ange Postecoglou's "reliable" players could actually join a top European side soon.
Hojbjerg and Dier expected to leave Spurs
Despite being mainstays under former Spurs boss Antonio Conte, both Eric Dier and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg are now facing very uncertain futures.
Dier's contract is set to expire in 2024 and there are no signs that the Englishman will be offered a renewal any time soon. The centre-back has only just come back into Postecoglou's starting eleven, playing their last two matches after Micky van de Ven's serious hamstring injury and Cristian Romero's suspension.
Dier's lack of pace isn't suited to Postecoglou's high defensive line, and when Tottenham's favoured centre-back pairing return, it is likely he will be relegated to the bench again.
Hojbjerg, meanwhile, has been repeatedly linked with a move to Europe following his lack of starting opportunities under Postecoglou this season. The Denmark star has recently come back into the fold amid Spurs' current injury crisis, but is still reportedly keen to leave Tottenham for pastures new in January.
Dier is a particularly curious case, as reports in the last week have suggested that European giants Bayern Munich, the new home of Spurs legend Harry Kane, are eyeing a "shock" move for the 29-year-old.
Hutton thinks Dier could join Bayern
Other claims state that the former Sporting Lisbon star would be interested in making that move (Football Insider), with Hutton thinking Dier to Bayern is a real possibility.
The former Scotland international cites Dier's ability as an astute, ball-playing centre-back for the transfer to be realistic – with Hutton suggesting his playing style would suit manager Thomas Tuchel down to the ground.
Thomas Tuchel
“If I’m totally honest, I think Tottenham will want to bring someone else in,” said Hutton on Dier to Football Insider.
“With van de Ven and Romero there, who have you got there that’s going to come in? There’s a lot of players that have been there for a number of years now and it’s not quite worked out. Dier’s been there for nine years now and you would think his Tottenham career is now over considering the last few weeks.
“Would he fancy it? Probably. You’re going to a team there where you’re probably going to win more often than not. He’d have a lot of the ball, he’s good with his feet and he can play out from the back so it’s probably something that he’ll think about.
“Ultimately I think it’s time for him to move on to something different. Obviously, Ange Postecoglou will want to bring in his own signings.”
Depsite his current form, Dier has been a faithful servant for Spurs since signing from Sporting all those years ago, with Conte calling him a "reliable" player.
"What I can tell you is that Eric has improved a lot since I arrived. We are talking about a reliable player, 100 per cent focused in every game. He is not a player who alternates with a big performance then a drop."
Compared to other transfer windows of recent years at Goodison Park, Everton reined in their overspending this summer with Sean Dyche utilising loans and free transfers effectively whilst splashing the cash only on a select few talents into the building.
Jack Harrison and Ashley Young would both join the Toffees without unnecessarily burning money – Harrison leaving Leeds for Merseyside on a season-long loan deal, whilst Young would join on a free transfer deal after a year out in Italy with Inter Milan.
The Blues would, however, have room to make statement signings in attack. Both Beto and Youssef Chermiti would join the Toffees for a combined £37.75m, young and exciting strikers ready to take the Premier League by storm.
Yet, it hasn't really worked out for either of them yet in the infancy of their careers on Merseyside with only one goal scoring between the two of them – Beto netting versus Doncaster Rovers in the first round of the Carabao Cup, with fellow summer signing Arnaut Danjuma scoring too to secure a nervy 2-1 win.
The 25-year-old will hope he can start tonight in another round of the Carabao Cup, with the Portuguese forward missing from Everton's starting XI completely over the last six weeks.
Everton team news vs Burnley
As much as Dyche is regimented in the team he fields – Jordan Pickford yet to miss a game under the former Burnley head coach this season in both league and Cup – the Blues boss could ring the changes for this clash at Goodison Park after a recent upturn in Everton's results – winning 1-0 away at West Ham last time out a back-to-the-walls display from his rejuvenated Toffees.
Lewis Dobbin could be knocking on the door for a potential start in this mid-week contest tonight, the young Toffees academy graduate keen to break into the senior side sooner rather than later.
Beto is equally chomping at the bit for a starting spot versus the Clarets, could Dyche rest the likes of injury-prone Dominic Calvert-Lewin for the former Udinese sharpshooter to get a run-out.
Beto's numbers this season
Scoring 22 goals in total over two seasons with The White and Blacks, Beto has found the transition to Premier League life at the moment challenging with fleeting opportunities given to him to impress.
Only on the pitch for 286 minutes in the Premier League so far in a Toffees strip per FBRef, the towering 6 foot 5 attacker hasn't been afforded a start under Dyche in the last six matches.
Tonight's Carabao Cup tie versus a leaky Burnley team on Everton's own patch could be a confidence booster for Beto if he was to start and score only his second goal for the Blues to date, Vincent Kompany's Clarets shipping a woeful 25 goals from ten top-flight matches.
The Toffees will have to play to Beto's obvious strengths if he does start, the lofty attacker is an imposing presence – winning nine of his 13 aerial duels versus Brentford in September via Sofascore – but he is also a deceptively quick and agile striker too, which was showcased in his goal versus Doncaster – latching onto a ball over the top with pace, before poking it past the hapless goalkeeper in the opposing net.
There's still time for Everton's £50k per week – per Capology – man Beto to adapt to English football and come into his own in his new surroundings, but there's no doubting that a second goal wearing the Toffees strip versus Burnley tonight would do him the world of good and boost his confidence after becoming a bystander at Goodison Park recently.
Northants are bottom, without a win in four games, but Alex Wakely’s unbeaten half-century has given them a decent chance of improved fortunes
ECB Reporters Network10-Jun-2018 ScorecardAlex Wakely’s first half-century of the season in the Specsavers County Championship put bottom-of-the-table Northamptonshire on top against Leicestershire at Wantage Road, as they took a lead of 152.
by the close of the second day with seven second-innings wickets remaining.Winless after four games, unable to deliver what many predicted would be a promotion-chasing campaign, Northants are reasonably well placed to set up a victory platform on the third day.With batting not easy on a pitch that yielded 20 wickets in four-and-a-half sessions, Wakely settled well and struck seven fours and a six in reaching the first fifty of the game in 81 balls.He skipped down the wicket to swing Callum Parkinson’s left-arm spin into the Wilson Stand for six before slapping four more through midwicket and twice cutting the same bowler for boundaries.Wakely shared stands of 51 with Ricardo Vasconcelos for the third wicket and an unbroken alliance of 44 with Adam Rossington that took Northants to the close in a strong position.Until the evening session, the game had been a nip-and-tuck affair with Leicestershire nudging into a 13-run first-innings lead after making 217.They resumed 64 for 3 and lost four wickets in the morning session to slip to 146 for 7. Nightwatchman Gavin Griffiths went to the 11th ball of the morning, chipping Rory Kleinveldt to midwicket without adding to his overnight 1. Colin Ackermann and Neil Dexter then settled into a stand of 45 for the fifth wicket before Ben Cotton struck at midday with a ball that moved away from Ackermann’s drive to take out middle and off stumps.Lewis Hill only made 7 before being caught at short-leg pushing forward to Rob Keogh’s offspin and when Dexter feathered an edge behind off Ben Sanderson, Leicestershire were behind in the game.But a response was provided by Zak Chappell who followed up his first-innings 6 for 44 with 40 with the bat to raise a batting point for the visitors and bring Leicestershire on terms.A limping Rob Newton saw Northants make a solid start to their second-innings. Newton picked up what looked like an injury to his right knee taking a single. He needed a runner but battled through to 30 before being bowled by Mohammad Abbas after Ben Duckett had dragged Ben Raine into his leg stump for 17.When Vasconcelos fell for 37, hooking at Raine and getting a top-edge into his helmet that looped to short-square leg, Leicestershire hoped for a strong end to the day but Wakely and Rossington ensured Northants took the initiative into the third day.
The defending champions have to win each of their remaining six matches to stay in contention for the IPL playoff race
Sidharth Monga03-May-20184:19
Tait: Pollard is a big asset on a small ground
Form guide (most recent match first)
Kings XI Punjab: lost to Sunrisers Hyderabad by 13 runs, beat Delhi Daredevils by four runs, beat Kolkata Knight Riders by nine wickets Mumbai Indians: lost to Royal Challengers Bangalore by 14 runs, beat Chennai Super Kings by eight wickets, lost to Sunrisers Hyderabad by 31 runs
Big PicturePeople of Indore – with the Marathi influence on the city – like to believe they live in “Little Mumbai”. It is way closer to Mumbai than it is to any city in Punjab. Yet Mumbai Indians come to Indore as the away team looking to survive in the tournament, playing form team, Kings XI Punjab.With five wins in seven matches, Kings XI are not too far from the playoffs, but they are coming off a week-long break. Mumbai, meanwhile, will want to get off the treadmill of defeat; they need to win every match from now.It is well reported that the last few balls of an innings, or game, have cost Mumbai. Three times they have lost in the last over of the match, in another they bowled a bad last ball for 13 runs, which proved to be a bridge too far when they chased. There is no room for any allowances now.This will be a contest between a side looking to make use of every small resource available to it and a side so rich with resources it can afford to have a surplus player in its XI in the hope that when he comes good, he wins them a match off his own bat. Kings XI have been a revelation, Mumbai are looking to rediscover themselves.In the newsWith a one-week break behind them, Kings XI should have a fit and hungry Chris Gayle at the top of the order.Kieron Pollard is precariously placed in Mumbai’s XI. A match after he was finally dropped, the West Indian made an unsuccessful return to the side, scoring a run-a-ball 13. There is uncertainty around Evin Lewis as well considering his wrist injury.Previous meetingRemarkably these sides are meeting for the first time this season.Rohit Sharma clobbers one off the middle of the bat•BCCI
Likely XIsKings XI Punjab: 1 Chris Gayle, 2 KL Rahul (wk), 3 Mayank Agarwal, 4 Karun Nair, 5 Aaron Finch, 6 Manoj Tiwary, 7 R Ashwin (capt.), 8 Andrew Tye, 9 Barinder Sran, 10 Ankit Rajpoot, 11 Mujeeb Ur RahmanMumbai Indians: 1 Suryakumar Yadav, 2 Evin Lewis, 3 Ishan Kishan (wk), 4 Rohit Sharma (capt.), 5 JP Duminy, 6 Hardik Pandya, 7 Krunal Pandya, 8 Ben Cutting, 9 Mitchell McClenaghan, 10 Mayank Markande, 11 Jasprit BumrahStrategy puntIf Mumbai open with Rohit Sharma, they could force Mujeeb ur Rahman – legspin v Rohit is always a bowler-friendly match-up – to bowl sooner than Kings XI would want him to bowl.Stats that matter Over 10 seasons, these two sides have an even record of 10 wins and losses against each other. The head-to-head between them over the last three seasons has been 1-1. Pollard has faced only 70 balls in six innings this season; Aaron Finch has faced only 16 over five innings. In 25 balls faced from Mitchell McClenaghan, KL Rahul has scored a healthy 42 runs, but has also been dismissed twice. Chris Gayle has struck at 169.4 per 100 balls of spin this IPL without being dismissed; he still has a solid strike-rate of 154.8 against pace but has got out twice to the quicks.Fantasy pickKrunal Pandya is a floater. He could bat high up in the order, and he will be bowling his left-arm spin against a line-up full of right-hand batsmen, except Chris Gayle.Quotes”We have six games left, and we have to win them all. That is what we have to do. I still believe when you look at our squad, we have key players who can win us six games in a row. We have done it in the past, and I believe we can do it again.”
Liverpool superstar Mohamed Salah has been spotted holding a "secret London summit" with former Anfield team-mate Jordan Henderson. The Egyptian superstar, who will soon be heading off on Africa Cup of Nations duty, is seeing questions asked of his future on Merseyside following an explosive outburst. He is being linked with Saudi Pro League teams, with Henderson having previously spent time in that division.
What Salah said in explosive Liverpool rant
There have been suggestions that Salah may have taken in his last appearance for Liverpool, having reached 420 on that front. The two-time Premier League champion and four-time Golden Boot winner has registered 250 goals for the Reds.
He has been named among the substitutes by Arne Slot across three successive matches, with no game time seen in a dramatic 3-3 draw with Leeds. That snub led to Salah speaking out, as he accused Liverpool of throwing him under the bus and admitted to seeing a working relationship with his Dutch coach break down. He said: "I said many times before that I had a good relationship with the manager, and all of a sudden we don’t have any relationship. I don’t know why but it seems to me, how I see it, that someone doesn’t want me in the club. It seems like the club has thrown me under the bus. That is how I am feeling. I think it is very clear that someone wanted me to get all of the blame. It is not acceptable to me, to be fair. I don’t get it. It’s like I’m being thrown more under the bus. I don’t think I’m the problem."
AdvertisementLondon calling: Salah dropped for Champions League clash
That outburst led to Salah being dropped for Liverpool’s 1-0 Champions League over Inter at San Siro, as he was left behind in England. The 33-year-old forward has taken a trip to London for a "secret rendezvous" with Henderson – as caught on camera by .
England international Henderson is now on the books at Brentford. He spent five months with Saudi outfit Al-Ettifaq, working under Reds legend Steven Gerrard, before returning to Europe at Ajax and eventually heading back to Britain.
Topics of conversation: Salah meets with ex-Reds captain Henderson
Salah is now seeing a switch to the Middle East speculated on, with teams in that region holding long-standing interest in his services. The Saudi Pro League is considered to have been one topic of conversation when Salah met up with ex-Liverpool captain Henderson.
A source told : "They both came in wearing covid-style masks and had hats covering their faces. They tried to stay under the radar. Our mouths dropped when we saw it was Mo and Jordan. The immediate thought was, ‘Salah’s off to Saudi’."
Another onlooker said, having seen Salah and Henderson spend 90 minutes chatting away: "Mo looked happy as he listened and took it all in. He kept asking Jordan questions, and lent in eagerly to hear what was being said. I couldn’t believe what I was witnessing. It was obvious Jordan was explaining things to Mo, who listened so intently and was clearly mulling over what he was being told."
Getty/GOALTransfer talk: Interest from several teams in Saudi Pro League
Chief executive of the Saudi Pro League, Omar Mugharbel, told the World Football Summit in Riyadh on Wednesday when asked about a potential deal for one of the most recognisable players on the planet: "Mohamed Salah is welcome in the Saudi League, but it is the clubs that are responsible for negotiating with players. For sure Salah is one of them."
According to , Al-Hilal, Al-Qadsiah and Neom have all expressed interest in Salah, who saw Liverpool reject a £150 million ($201m) transfer bid from Al-Ittihad in 2023. He signed a two-year contract extension with Liverpool in April that is due to run until the summer of 2027.
It is claimed that Liverpool remain confident that any issues between Salah and Slot can be resolved, allowing a modern day Reds legend to remain in his current surroundings. Saudi teams are, however, of the opinion that the Premier League giants are trying to "protect their star player’s transfer value and are keeping a keen eye on developments" ahead of the January window.
Marcus Rashford may have fired another shot at Manchester United, with the England international claiming that the "environment" that he now forms part of at Barcelona "pushes us to be the best". That could be considered a nod towards those at Old Trafford not providing players with a platform on which they feel comfortable and capable of unlocking full potential.
Fresh start: Rashford tumbled out of favour at Man Utd
Rashford stepped out of the Red Devils’ fabled academy system to become a first-team star while still in his teens. He took in 426 appearances for the Premier League heavyweights, scoring 138 goals.
A personal-best return of 30 efforts in 2022-23 earned Rashford a lucrative new contract, but said deal is unlikely to be honoured. With form fading from that point, the 28-year-old forward was loaned out to Aston Villa last season. He now finds himself on the books of Barcelona.
Rashford has rekindled a professional spark alongside Lamine Yamal and Robert Lewandowski at Camp Nou, with six goals and eight assists being recorded through 21 appearances. He is back in favour with Three Lions boss Thomas Tuchel ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
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Getty/GOAL
Winning environment: Rashford happy and settled in Catalunya
A man that relies on confidence in order to deliver on expectations believes that he is now in ideal surroundings when it comes to recapturing consistency and playing with a smile on his face. Some of that love for the game was lost when falling out of favour in Manchester under Ruben Amorim.
Rashford has told of embracing a new culture in Catalunya that sees everybody pulling in the same direction: "I've always been, like many people in the world, an admirer of Spanish football.
"To play for the biggest club in Spain is a huge honour. I'm looking forward to playing more games here, just doing my best and try to help the team to win. It's a club that demands this. The environment is always pushing us to be the best players we can be so it's perfect to be in a place like this as a player."
On his bid to silence any doubters, Rashford added – with questions having been asked of his commitment to the cause at Old Trafford: "I don't see anything here as like a pressure. It's just, I'm here to play football. It's been amazing. I feel welcome, I feel at home. I've just been enjoying every step of the way."
Language barrier: Rashford taking Spanish lessons
There has been a language barrier for Rashford to break down, but he is taking lessons in a bid to become bilingual – which will help to make communication with club colleagues easier. He said of being embraced by the Barca family: "All my teammates welcomed me well and I also felt very good in the city. It’s the first time I’ve lived away from Manchester, but I’m already starting to feel at home. I want to learn more Spanish and I’m trying."
Blaugrana boss Hansi Flick has said of helping Rashford to settle in new surroundings, with it important that he feels happy off the field in order for performances to be delivered on it: "I followed him his whole career, I was impressed with his quality, what he’s doing in the box in front of the opponent’s goal. He has shown it in Barcelona. Also for him this change to live in another culture, with fantastic people, nice weather, it’s amazing. We can see now he’s also smiling a lot. If he can enjoy the atmosphere we have it’s also very good."
Getty Images Sport
Permanent transfer: How much it will cost Barcelona to sign Rashford
Rashford joined Barca on an initial season-long loan. The reigning La Liga champions have the option of making that move permanent in 2026, with a €35 million (£31m/$41m) transfer fee being agreed.
The 68-cap England international has no intention of returning to the infamous ‘bomb squad’ at Old Trafford and will be doing all he can to convince Barcelona of his worth. There have been plenty of reports to suggest that a purchase clause will be triggered at some stage.
Pakistan’s Hasan Ali and Afghanistan’s Asghar Afghan and Rashid Khan have all been fined 15% of their match fees for breaching Level 1 of the ICC Code of Conduct in separate incidents during their Super Four clash in the Asia Cup in Abu Dhabi on Friday. One demerit point was subsequently added to their disciplinary records. It took Afghan’s demerit-points count to two, having already received one in February 2017, within a period of two years.Hasan and Asghar were found to have violated Article 2.1.1 of the ICC Code of Conduct, which relates to “conduct that is contrary to the spirit of the game”, while Rashid breached Article 2.1.7, which relates to “using language, actions or gestures which disparage or which could provoke an aggressive reaction from a batsman upon his/her dismissal during an international match.”Hasan was penalised for threatening to throw the ball towards Hashmatullah Shahidi, after the batsman had driven it back to the bowler, in the 33rd over of Afghanistan’s innings.Afghan was pulled up for brushing shoulders with Hasan, the bowler, while completing a single four overs later.The incident involving Rashid came in the 47th over of Pakistan’s tense 258 chase, when the legspinner gave Asif Ali a send-off, holding his index finger up and staring into the eyes of the batsman.After the game, all the three players admitted to the offences and accepted the sanctions proposed by match referee Andy Pycroft.
Liverpool don’t want to sell Luis Diaz this summer, but they might have to. Keeping a player on the books whose heart is set elsewhere is an ill-fated move, and the Colombian wants to leave Anfield.
You can see his case. Aged 28, Diaz is one of the finest wingers in the game, but he earns a comparatively modest salary at Liverpool and has entered the second-to-last year of his contract.
Diaz wants a pay rise, but Liverpool aren’t inclined to give him one, instead willing to see out his contract.
1
Mohamed Salah
£400,000
£20,800,000
2
Virgil Van Dijk
£350,000
£18,200,000
3
Florian Wirtz
£195,000
£10,140,000
4
Andrew Robertson
£160,000
£8,320,000
=5
Alexis Mac Allister
£150,000
£7,800,000
=5
Alisson
£150,000
£7,800,000
=5
Ryan Gravenberch
£150,000
£7,800,000
=5
Federico Chiesa
£150,000
£7,800,000
16*
Luis Diaz
£55,000
£2,860,000
He was a crucial part of last season’s success. Diaz scored 17 goals and supplied eight assists across all competitions for Liverpool, his best return for the club.
His electric pace, tenacious fight and versatility proved perfect for Arne Slot as the Dutch coach led the Reds to the Premier League title.
Luis Diaz
But Bayern Munich are persistent in their bid to sign the Colombian winger, having already seen a £58.5m bid knocked back this summer.
However, Sky Germany confirm that the Bundesliga champions continue to push, and with Liverpool set to sign a new striker, perhaps his sale for a mammoth fee wouldn’t be such a bad thing in the long run.
The latest on Hugo Ekitike to Liverpool
Eintracht Frankfurt’s Hugo Ekitike has been one of the more coveted names on the market this summer. Manchester United and Newcastle United have both shown an interest, but it’s the Reds who will likely prevail, the Frenchman submitting a transfer request on Thursday to seal a deal with the Anfield side.
Valued at €100m (£85m) Ekitike will cost a pretty penny, all right, but he’s worth it, already regarded “one of the best strikers out there” by analyst Ben Mattinson.
While Newcastle United’s Alexander Isak has been sporting director Richard Hughes’ first choice, the Magpies have rejected Liverpool’s advances, so the Reds have stolen their top target instead.
He’s not as good as Isak, but the 23-year-old does have sky-high potential, the genuine chance to make headway over a number of years at Liverpool and reach that pedestal.
While Diaz spent a fair share of time as a makeshift striker in 2024/25, he is at his core a left-sided forward. With Darwin Nunez supposedly off as well, Liverpool might need to sign a winger to go alongside Ekitike.
Liverpool line up Luis Diaz heir
According to talkSPORT’s Alex Crook, Liverpool have retained an interest in signing Newcastle’s Anthony Gordon, having come close to signing him one year ago.
The England international, 24, is valued at £75m and any concrete move is dependent on Diaz’s future. However, the long-standing interest and Gordon’s Merseyside affiliation could see him push for a return to Anfield, having left Liverpool’s academy as an 11-year-old.
While Real Madrid’s Rodrygo is also on Liverpool’s radar, with preliminary talks having taken place, Gordon might be the man to go for.
Why Liverpool want Anthony Gordon
In Cody Gakpo, Liverpool have a prolific and proven left winger. However, Diaz’s departure would call for a direct replacement, and while Rodrygo would be a stunning signing, Arsenal also have a vested interest, and Real Madrid are seeking upwards of £87m.
Real Madrid's Rodrygo
Gordon would be a more than acceptable fallback. A high-speed runner with a dogged approach to his football, the Newcastle star has bloomed into one of the Premier League’s finest over the past couple of years, with teammate Bruno Guimaraes describing him as “special”.
Technically sharp and physically robust, he certainly fits the mould that Diaz would leave behind, and this dynamic skill set could be the perfect thing for a young striker in Ekitike, who will need support as he steps into the cauldron of fire that is the English top flight.
Ekitike will, of course, have the likes of Mohamed Salah and Florian Wirtz to lead the supply line, but in Gordon, Liverpool could retain the sense of energy and completeness that Diaz brings to the table.
And anyway, the Toon talent has already demonstrated in the Premier League that he’s capable of throwing down with the likes of Diaz, and indeed Rodrygo, whose skill has led Luka Modric to describe him as a “world-class superstar” in La Liga.
Anthony Gordon
Let’s dig a little deeper. Now, we’re going to skew the data a tad. Gordon’s 2024/25 campaign left plenty to be desired, but he was a force to be reckoned with the season prior.
Looking at that 2023/24 term, comparing it to Rodrygo and Diaz’s league efforts last term, we can see that he’s got the potential to make quite the impression at Liverpool.
Matches (starts)
35 (34)
30 (22)
36 (28)
Goals
11
6
13
Assists
10
5
5
Shots (on target)*
2.3 (0.9)
1.8 (0.7)
2.0 (0.8)
Big chances missed
9
1
11
Pass completion
82%
91%
86%
Big chances created
16
5
8
Key passes*
1.6
1.6
1.6
Dribbles*
1.5
1.6
1.5
Ball recoveries*
3.6
2.4
2.9
Tackles + interceptions*
1.8
1.1
1.3
Duels won*
5.3
3.8
3.8
Quite the effort. Gordon’s performances, notching 21 goal contributions across Newcastle’s injury-hit year, led to the honour of the club’s Player of the Year. It was his first full season on Tyneside, and an illustration of his capacity for high-level performances.
And while his high duel rate, creativity and potency in the final third would elevate Ekitike as he makes his maiden way in England, the centre-forward could certainly return the favour, with a style of play that is truly layered and vast.
Indeed, as per FBref, Ekitike ranked among the top 10% of forwards across Europe’s top five leagues last season for assists, the top 6% for shot-creating actions, and the top 4% for both progressive carries and successful take-ons per 90.
Frankfurt striker Hugo Ekitike
Whichever way you look at it, it’s hard to imagine Liverpool’s transfer window being anything other than a success. Slot proved his worth last season, and now he’s being rewarded with the parts to create a lasting squad of champions.
Better than Isak & Ekitike: Liverpool make £142m "monster" a dream target
Liverpool have two primary candidates to bolster their forward line; Alexander Isak & Hugo Ekitike.
Birmingham City very much had a reputation last season in League One as being lavish spenders in the transfer market.
The Blues broke transfer records to land Jay Stansfield for a mighty £15m, and that excessive spending hasn’t ceased moving up a division, with Chris Davies and Co forking out a fee around the £10m mark just this month to land ex-Celtic favourite Kyogo Furuhashi.
This wild approach in the transfer market does seem to have caught up with them, however, as another statement move to snap up Premier League regular Hwang Hee-Chan hangs in the balance.
The latest on Birmingham's move for Hwang
Birmingham have significant backing behind the scenes courtesy of American investment from Tom Brady and Tom Wagner, but that well looks to have dried up now unless some sales are signed off on.
Hee-chan Hwang.
Indeed, it is being reported by Birmingham Live that a deal for Wolverhampton Wanderers striker Hwang to move from Molineux to St. Andrew’s is too steep to get over the line, owing to the South Korean attacker’s £14m price tag and his high wage costs.
He is arguably worth that extortionate amount, considering he has 22 Premier League goals next to his name, but unless some players leave, namely someone like Bailey Peacock-Farrell who is looking for an escape route out of the Blues – it appears unlikely that Hwang will join Kyogo in the Midlands.
Not all hope will be lost on the end of Birmingham, though, when it comes to attempting to add some magnificent coups to Davies’ camp, with a Champions League winner perhaps on the way.
Birmingham's Hwang alternative
Whilst Birmingham do have a reputation for rashly splashing the cash, this summer has seen the Blues also operate shrewdly.
Indeed, they have added two free agents to the camp, most notably in the form of Bright Osayi-Samuel and Blues academy graduate, Demarai Gray.
The next standout move when diving back into this fruitful market could well be Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
Journalist Graeme Bailey recently revealed that a plethora of Championship clubs are now contemplating a move for the ex-Liverpool man, which includes Davies’ men, off the back of his Besiktas contract expiring.
Whilst Hwang is still actively participating in the Premier League, Oxlade-Chamberlain’s previous experience of the tough league is still eye-catching enough on its own to make the signing even more of a coup than splashing out £14m on the Old Gold forward, having amassed a whopping 235 top-flight appearances while on the books of both Arsenal and Liverpool.
Amazingly, although Birmingham would be able to obtain the seasoned 31-year-old for free, the Reds once had to fork out a whopping £35m to land the versatile midfielder’s services, with the 35-time England international then more than repaying that extortionate fee by being a trusty utility body at Anfield over many a season.
CM
76
7
10
RM
18
3
1
LM
14
2
1
LW
9
2
0
AM
7
2
2
RW
4
1
1
CF
1
0
0
Oxlade-Chamberlain’s much-loved flexibility when donning Liverpool red even saw him line up in Hwang’s centre-forward position on one occasion, leading to Jurgen Klopp labelling the Portsmouth-born star as “wonderful” to work with, despite recurring injury troubles.
Staggeringly, even as he played a bit-part role at points at Anfield, the 31-year-old only falls short of Hwang’s Premier League goal total by two, away from his well-known adaptability making him a figure Davies would surely love to have around the group in their moment of need.
One a free transfer too, it really does feel like an obvious decision on Birmingham’s end to snap up the one-time Premier League champion, instead of waiting around for everything to click into place concerning other far more expensive targets.
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Birmingham City could soon snap up a perfect teammate for Kyogo Furuhashi by signing this playmaker.
On a day when 16 wickets fell, Leicestershire went in at stumps on 149 for 6 with Eckersley unbeaten with 45
ECB Reporters Network22-Jul-2018 ScorecardLeicestershire’s Ned Eckersley took five catches and top-scored on an attritional but fascinating opening day of Specsavers County Championship cricket against title-chasing Kent in Canterbury.On a day when 16 wickets fell, Leicestershire went in at stumps on 149 for 6 with Eckersley unbeaten with 45 as the Foxes, after skittling Kent for 104, earned a precious 45-run lead to take into day two.Responding to Kent’s quickfire 37.5-over first innings, Leicestershire lost their first wicket to the third ball of their reply when Harry Dearden edged behind off the bowling of Harry Podmore.With 17 on the board Colin Ackermann, seemingly transfixed by a Darren Stevens away-swinger, dutifully followed the line to steer a catch to Zak Crawley at third slip.The experienced duo of Mark Cosgrove and Paul Horton joined forces to add 30 until Horton nibbled at one from Ivan Thomas to be caught behind. Then Cosgrove departed soon after, lbw to a Grant Stewart inducker that may well have missed the left-hander’s leg stump.Leicestershire’s fifth-wicket partners Neil Dexter (41) and Ned Eckersley added 70 either side of tea to bring some normality to the game and take their side into the lead before, Kent served to spin for the first time in the match.However, Joe Denly’s opening over leaked 10 runs and he was immediately replaced by Thomas, who broke the stand and bagged his second scalp of the afternoon with his second ball of a new spell by plucking out Dexter’s off stump with a leg-cutter.Denly was entrusted with the day’s final over and he made an immediate impact by having Raine caught at slip to lift Kentish spirits late in the day.Kent, batting first after an uncontested toss, might have lost opener Sean Dickson in the sixth over but Leicestershire keeper Eckersley downed a tough diving chance off Ben Raine.Nine balls later Eckersley atoned for his blunder by catching a more tricky chance off the same bowler when Daniel Bell-Drummond feathered a late away-swinger for the keeper to dive in front of slip and pouch the chance.Raine’s next delivery, another full away-swinger, squared up Heino Kuhn into a crab-like defensive prod and plucked out off stump and send the South African packing for a golden duck.Denly duly survived the hat-trick but, with only five against his name, the right-hander nibbled an airy drive through to the keeper against Zak Chappell to make it 44 for 3.Raine gave way after a spell of 7-1-20-2 to be replaced at the Nackington Road End by Gavin Griffiths, who soon gave Eckersley his third catch of the opening session. Angling one in from wide of the crease, Griffiths forced Dickson to spar outside off and nick behind.Kent skipper Sam Billings looked solid in reaching double figures but he then failed to smother a Chappell lifter and played the ball onto the base of his off stump.Stevens was given a life on 5 when Eckersley downed another chance diving leg-side off Chappell, but he instantly made amends by pouching a fourth catch when Crawley feathered the very next delivery to send Kent into lunch on 73 for six.The home demise continued after the resumption as the hosts lost their last for wickets for 31 runs and in the space of 8.5 overs. Podmore and Stewart went leg before to consecutive Dexter deliveries, leaving Muhammad Abbas and Raine to polish the job off. Raine finished with three for 39, Chappell three for 14, while Dexter took two for 11.