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It is almost a foregone conclusion that Liverpool will win this year’s Premier League. With the Reds boasting a 12-point lead with nine games to go, all signs are pointing to a record-equalling 20th league title.

While there is plenty of football to be played and nearest challengers Arsenal are still to visit Anfield, Liverpool being crowned champions may not happen for a few weeks yet.

But when could Arne Slot’s side put the title beyond mathematical doubt? And which clubs could face the daunting prospect of handing the Anfield giants a congratulatory guard of honour? Here, we look at the most likely scenarios.

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ByStephan Georgiou May 20, 2024 How many points do Liverpool need to win the Premier League title?

As it stands heading into April, Liverpool have a 12-point advantage at the top with 27 still up for grabs. This means the Reds can accumulate a maximum total of 97 points for the season – which would be far more than enough to claim their first title since 2020.

Meanwhile, their closest challengers, Arsenal, can only achieve a maximum of 85 points if they win all of their remaining games – which includes a trip to Anfield in the second week of May.

Assuming the Gunners go on a run at the business end of the campaign, Liverpool would require 86 points. That means five wins and a draw from their final nine games is all it will take.

Rank

Team

P

W

D

L

GD

PTS

Liverpool

29

21

7

1

+42

Arsenal

29

16

10

3

+29

When can Liverpool win the title?

Liverpool can seal the title within their next six games regardless of Arsenal’s results. If they were to win at least five of their next six games, this currently marks their clash with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge as a potential party date.

Of course, if Arsenal drop points between now and then, Liverpool could already be celebrating a deserved title triumph.

One slip from the Gunners could pave the way for an Anfield coronation with fans against Tottenham Hotspur on 27th April.

If all of Liverpool’s closest challengers were to fully implode, the Reds could become champions in as little as two weeks when they face West Ham on 13th April – though Arsenal would have to lose to Fulham, Everton and Brentford for that to happen.

And with lots of points to be won and lost, there are still a number of possibilities when it comes to being confirmed as champions, including sealing the championship against Arsenal themselves.

Date

Liverpool

Arsenal

1st April

Fulham (H)

2nd April

Everton (H)

5th April

Everton (A)

6th April

Fulham (A)

12th April

Brentford (H)

13th April

West Ham (H)

20th April

Leicester (A)

Ipswich (A)

26th April

Crystal Palace (H)

27th April

Tottenham (H)

3rd May

Bournemouth (H)

4th May

Chelsea (A)

10th May

ARSENAL (H)

LIVERPOOL (A)

18th May

Brighton (A)

Newcastle (H)

25th May

Crystal Palace (H)

Southampton (A)

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ByStephan Georgiou Mar 29, 2025 Who could be giving Liverpool a guard of honour?

Should Liverpool win every match between now and the end of the season, at least three teams will be giving them a guard of honour to mark their title success.

The first of these teams could be Arsenal, who would be Liverpool’s first opponents should both title rivals win all their matches from here on in until the Reds become uncatchable.

Even more likely to commemorate Liverpool’s glory pre-kick-off are Brighton & Hove Albion and Crystal Palace, with the latter visiting Anfield on the final day, when the home side should be presented with the trophy.

Can Arsenal catch Liverpool?

It would take a catastrophic collapse from Liverpool for the Reds to be denied from here – on a par with Kevin Keegan’s Newcastle United side from the mid-1990s.

Mikel Arteta’s team would also likely have to achieve perfection to keep the pressure on the league leaders, and the Gunners have hardly been consistent this term despite their current placing in second.

One omen that could give the Gunners hope is that Liverpool also led the table with nine games to go last year (albeit by just two points), only to dramatically drop out of the title race by claiming just 15 points in the run-in.

Such a return could let Arsenal in if they were to win nine on the spin, but with so much room for error and the Premier League the only thing for the Reds to focus on, it would be a monumental failure if Liverpool were not the new kings of England come the end of May.

Date

Opponent

Result

4th April 2024

Sheff Utd (H)

W 3-1

7th April 2024

Man Utd (A)

D 2-2

14th April 2024

Crystal Palace (H)

L 0-1

21st April 2024

Fulham (A)

W 3-1

24th April 2024

Everton (A)

L 0-2

27th April 2024

West Ham (A)

D 2-2

5th May 2024

Tottenham (H)

W 4-2

13th May 2024

Aston Villa (A)

D 3-3

19th May 2024

Wolves (H)

W 2-0

Will there be a trophy parade?

While a trophy parade has not been confirmed, Liverpool will almost certainly take the opportunity to celebrate their prospective title win with their supporters having been denied the chance to do so in 2020 amid the pandemic.

As far as a date is concerned, there appears to be a couple of obvious options open to the Reds.

With the season ending on 25th May – the day they could officially be handed the trophy – the day after (Monday 26th May, which is also a bank holiday) could be an ideal parade date, particularly with the Reds out of all other competitions.

Manchester City held a parade through the city a day after pipping Liverpool to the title in 2022, while last year, the Citizens celebrated a fourth successive title triumph a week after the season ended, so the following Sunday (1st June) could be an alternative.

Liverpool also held a parade in 2022 seven days after the end of the domestic season and upon their return from their Champions League final defeat to Real Madrid, having been denied a possible quadruple in the final weeks of the campaign.

Tottenham Hotspur have reached out to the representatives of a “very versatile” manager to potentially replace the under-pressure Ange Postecoglou, with Spurs doing their due-diligence on future options if they decide to sack their current head coach.

Tottenham face AZ Alkmaar in Europa League second leg

On the field, Postecoglou’s side are gearing up for their highly-anticipated Europa League Last 16 second leg clash against AZ Alkmaar.

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Spurs go into the game bearing the task of overcoming a one-goal deficit from their first leg in the Netherlands, trailing 1-0 to AZ after Lucas Bergvall’s own goal handed the Eredivisie side a crucial advantage ahead of their trip to north London.

Fulham (away)

March 16th

Chelsea (away)

April 2nd

Southampton (home)

April 5th

Wolves (away)

April 12th

Nottingham Forest (home)

April 21st

The Europa League comes as Tottenham’s only chance to win any major silverware this season and end their 17-year wait for a trophy, but they’ll have to get the better of AZ without star winger Dejan Kulusevski, Radu Dragusin, Richarlison and January signing Kevin Danso, who picked up a hamstring injury against Bournemouth over the weekend.

“Yeah, Kevin got a hamstring injury in the last game so he is out. Ben [Davies] is back in, so that’s the only change from the weekend. Everyone else got through the game no problems,” said Postecoglou on Tottenham team news ahead of AZ.

However, the 59-year-old benefits from having all four of his “leaders” fit and available to play together, which has been rare this season, with Son Heung-min, James Maddison, Cristian Romero and Guglielmo Vicario set to play a key role this evening.

“I think Vic was enormous for us in the first leg and he was big for us on the weekend as well,” said Postecoglou.

“You want your big, experienced players to perform in these games, for sure. We have relied a lot on our younger players who have really progressed really well, but I guess a night like tomorrow night, having the likes of Romero, Maddison, Vicario and Sonny out there, they are our four leaders and I don’t think we’ve had them on the park at all this year or very little anyway. Having all four of them, the whole leadership group out there, will definitely be beneficial.”

A good run in Europe could even be crucial for Postecoglou to keep his job, with reports suggesting that Tottenham are identifying managerial targets like Inter Milan’s Simone Inzaghi.

Tottenham make contact with Andoni Iraola's representatives

Another tactician who’s been linked with the potentially vacant post at the end of this season is Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola.

The Spaniard has impressed onlookers after guiding his team to within touching distance of a Champions League qualification place, and he’s done well to cope with injuries to key players in his Bournemouth squad of late.

The Cherries want to tie him down with a new contract and fend off elite clubs who may be interested, according to GiveMeSport, and Spurs are very much interested in the prospect of appointing Rayo Vallecano’s ex-head coach.

According to the outlet, Tottenham have even made contact with Iraola via his agents, expressing their serious interest in the 42-year-old as an alternative to Postecoglou.

Bournemouth, though, will fight tooth and nail to keep hold of their highly-respected manager, as the south coast side plan talks to tie him down with fresh terms at the Vitality Stadium.

Called a “very versatile” manager who “earns the respect of the dressing room” by football analysts (X), his reputation for adapting to different scenarios and taking initiative could be very tempting for Spurs, as Postecoglou has often been criticised for not having those attributes and sticking to the same formula.

West Ham United have now received a boost in their pursuit of a “magnificent” striker, who could be available for £21m this summer, according to a report.

West Ham's striker pursuit

With Graham Potter currently severely lacking options in the striker department due to Michail Antonio and Niclas Fullkrug’s injury issues, West Ham have now started to look at new forwards to potentially bring in this summer.

AS Roma’s Tammy Abraham has emerged as a target for the Hammers, and there is a feeling a move to the London Stadium would be of great appeal to the Englishman, given the opportunity to work with Potter.

Potter has also instructed the board to sign Lille striker Jonathan David, with the Canadian set to be available on a free transfer this summer, at which point his contract with the French club is set to expire.

There will be no shortage of options for the Irons, with a report revealing they are also determined to sign Fenerbahce star Youssef En-Nesyri, who has been a long-term target.

It is possible West Ham could look to bring in more than one striker this summer, with Strasbourg’s Emanuel Emegha also under consideration, and there has now been a development in their pursuit of the 22-year-old.

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According to a report from The Boot Room, the Hammers remain keen on signing Emegha, given the lack of options in attack, and the striker wants to move to the Premier League this summer.

Strasbourg are now ready to sell the forward, who is attracting a lot of attention from the Premier League, with Newcastle United and Chelsea also named as potential suitors, alongside Everton, and the Merseyside club are believed to be leading the race.

"Magnificent" Emegha enjoying another impressive campaign

The Dutch forward has been lauded as “magnificent” by football talent scout Jacek Kulig this season, and with good reason, given that he is enjoying his most prolific season to date in front of goal.

Since first making his breakthrough with Sparta Rotterdam, the Den Haag-born striker has improved year-on-year, and he has regularly been amongst the goals for Strasbourg in Ligue 1 this season.

2021/22

19

2

2022/23

27

9

2023/24

28

8

2024/25

21

11

The former Sparta Rotterdam man’s goal record can be put down to his ability to constantly get in the right areas, ranking in the 97th percentile for non-penalty xG per 90 over the past year when compared to other forwards.

As such, it is promising news that Emegha, who has a £21m price tag, is now keen on a move to the Premier League, and he could soon move up West Ham’s list of striker targets, given that David is now reportedly closing in on a move to Barcelona.

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers was heavily backed by the board in the summer transfer window last year as they made several big-money signings to bolster his squad.

USA international Auston Trusty was brought in from English side Sheffield United for a reported fee of £6m to compete with Liam Scales for a starting berth at centre-back.

The Hoops also agreed a £9.5m deal, with an initial fee of £8.5m, to sign Ireland international Adam Idah from Norwich City on a permanent basis, after he spent the second half of last season on loan and scored the winner in the SFA Cup final against Rangers.

Idah was not the only signing to threaten Odsonne Edouard’s club-record deal – a £9m move from PSG in 2018 – as Belgian central midfielder Arne Engels arrived from Augsburg for a reported fee of £11m.

The 21-year-old talent has racked up nine goals and 12 assists in all competitions so far this season and has the potential to be one of the club’s next big sales in the future.

Celtic are no strangers to cashing in on their best players as they have made millions over the years by doing exactly that, with Matt O’Riley’s move to Brighton & Hove Albion last summer being the most recent example.

Celtic's biggest sales

The Scottish giants have made a habit out of making big money on their stars and it shows that the club have an excellent recruitment strategy, as they have consistently found quality young prospects and developed them into hugely valuable assets.

O’Riley is a brilliant example of that because Celtic swooped to sign him from English League One side MK Dons for a fee of £1.5m in the January transfer window at the start of 2022, before going on to sell him for a significantly higher fee just two-and-a-half years later.

Matt O’Riley

Brighton

£24.5m

Jota

Al-Ittihad

£24.1m

Kieran Tierney

Arsenal

£24.2m

Moussa Dembele

Lyon

£18.2m

Odsonne Edouard

Crystal Palace

£13.5m

As you can see in the table above, current Celtic forward Jota, who re-joined the club in the recent January window, is among the club’s biggest-ever sales.

Kieran Tierney has agreed to join the club on a free transfer from Arsenal in the summer, which means that two of Celtic’s top three record sales will be back at Parkhead together for the 2025/26 campaign.

One player the Scottish giants may wish they could bring back to Parkhead is central defender Virgil van Dijk, whose move away from the club does not crack the top five biggest sales in the team’s history.

How much Celtic sold Virgil van Dijk for

In the summer of 2015, Premier League side Southampton swooped in to sign the Dutch centre-back for a reported fee of £11.5m, with a further £1.5m in potential add-ons.

The Hoops had signed the Netherlands international from Groningen for a fee of €2m (£1.7m), according to manager Neil Lennon, ahead of the 2013/14 campaign and this means that the club made a huge profit on him by cashing in for just shy of £10m more up front.

Van Dijk racked up a staggering 115 first-team appearances for Celtic in just two years at the club and contributed with an eye-catching 15 goals and seven assists from a centre-back position.

The giant central defender then proved his worth in the Premier League with the Saints over the next two-and-a-half years before being snapped up by Liverpool for a record fee.

According to BBC Sport, Jurgen Klopp’s side made Van Dijk the most expensive defender in the history of the game with a £75m swoop for his services in January of 2018.

2023/24

Yes

2022/23

No

2021/22

Yes

2020/21

No

2019/20

Yes

2018/19

Yes

2017/18

No

As you can see in the table above, the Dutch star has been included in the Premier League PFA Team of the Year in four of his six full seasons at Anfield, after joining them midway through the 2017/18 campaign.

Celtic, however, were once able to cash in on a centre-back for even more than they got for van Dijk, despite what the Dutchman has gone on to achieve, as they hit the jackpot with Kristoffer Ajer.

Celtic struck gold with Kristoffer Ajer

Back in February 2016, the Hoops swooped to sign the Norwegian giant for a reported fee of just £650k after a trial spell at the club from Start in his home country – a fee that would go on to look insignificant in the face of the money they raked in for his services.

The young defender arrived as a youth team player at first, playing five times in the UEFA Youth League in the first half of the 2016/17 campaign, before being sent out on loan to Kilmarnock to gain some valuable experience in senior football in Scotland.

Ajer returned to Celtic for the 2017/18 season, with Rodgers in the dugout in his first spell at the club, and emerged as a regular first-team player for the Hoops, as he went on to play 176 times for the Hoops in total throughout his spell in Glasgow.

The Norway international, who scored seven goals for the Bhoys, won three Scottish Premiership titles, three League Cup trophies, and three SFA Cup trophies, which shows that it was a successful period for him and the club.

In the summer of 2021, Premier League side Brentford swooped in to sign the centre-back for an initial fee of £13.5m, with an undisclosed amount of add-ons that could increase it, which meant that he was sold for £2m more than van Dijk – not including add-ons – was six years earlier.

This shows that Celtic hit the jackpot with Ajer because they turned a £650k signing for their development squad into an incredibly successful player, given the nine trophies he won with the Scottish giants, who was then sold for a mammoth profit.

At the time of writing, the Norwegian titan is valued at €18m (£15m) by Transfermarkt. This suggests that the Hoops did well to cash in on him for an initial £13.5m as his value has only marginally increased over the past three-and-a-half years, whereas van Dijk’s soared to a staggering £75m in a similar timeframe.

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Rodgers will, now, hope that he can help the current crop of Celtic youngsters to develop and improve, to the point where they go on to become the next big-money sales to propel their careers to the next level.

Continuing quite the trend, Chelsea are now reportedly ready to finalise a deal worth over £12m to sign yet another young South American gem, having already previously signed the likes of Aaron Anselmino.

Chelsea transfer news

The more that Todd Boehly’s Chelsea reign goes on, the more it seems as though he’s willing to sacrifice the present day for the sake of potential future dominance. Handing Enzo Maresca one of the youngest squads in the Premier League, the American is yet to see the fruits of his labour, with the Blues once again on course to miss out on a place inside the top four.

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He seems to be sticking to his plan nonetheless, however, and is building a batch of future stars. Last summer, it was Anselmino and a year before that it was Deivid Washington and Angelo – who has already swapped Stamford Bridge for Saudi Arabia. Meanwhile, in 2022, Andrey Santos came through the door. Now, continuing the South American trend, Chelsea are reportedly about to seal a deal to welcome another gem.

According to Fabrizio Romano, Chelsea are now ready to finalise their deal to sign Denner Evangelista from Corinthians in a package worth €15m (£12m), including add-ons, which will see the 17-year-old arrive in 2026.

Still just a teenager, the left-back looks destined to reach the very top courtesy of Chelsea when 2026 arrives. Joining the likes of Washington, Anselmino and Santos, Evangelista and his South American teammates could be ready to take the Premier League by storm when he arrives next year.

Evangelista is one to watch

By signing Evangelista, Chelsea would be handing Maresca a fourth South American talent to work with and another who will enter the peak of his powers in years to come. And whilst it may be difficult to see Boehly’s vision in the fog of top four failure once again, the American owner has seemingly set his sights on building a side capable of ending the Blues’ problems for an entire era.

The young left-back is certainly one to watch too, with scouting consultancy Concept Scouting full of praise for the young Brazilian following news of Chelsea’s likely deal.

Whether Evangelista will be ready to play a first-team role when 2026 arrives remains to be seen. Just like Anselmino, Santos and Washington, he could be forced to wait for his opportunity and instead head out on loan elsewhere, before eventually returning to play an integral part at Stamford Bridge.

Liverpool have been here before. Winter has passed, and the biggest prizes lie tantalisingly ahead.

Having overcome Tottenham Hotspur over two legs, Liverpool have reached the Carabao Cup final, which will be played against Newcastle United next month.

Arne Slot’s side also won the Champions League group phase and bypassed the pesky added knockout round, straight into the last 16.

But it’s the Premier League that Anfield covets most. In its modern version, Liverpool have only lifted the trophy once, in 2020, and the likes of Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah, two of the greatest players of their generation, are desperate to consolidate their quality with a second triumph.

You feel that were either of these veterans, both out of contract this summer, absent this season, Liverpool would be swimming deeper. Up front especially, Liverpool’s frontline needs to be doing more as a collective, with Darwin Nunez and Luis Diaz’s performances raising speculation about their future at the club.

The future of Luis Diaz and Darwin Nunez

Liverpool have one of the most dangerous strike forces in Europe, but that’s not to say that every player is performing at the top of their game.

Mohamed Salah

35 (33)

27

19

Cody Gakpo

36 (25)

16

5

Luis Diaz

34 (25)

12

3

Diogo Jota

22 (12)

8

2

Darwin Nunez

33 (16)

6

4

Federico Chiesa

10 (3)

1

2

Salah has absurdly clinched 27 goals and 19 assists from 35 matches in all competitions, driving Liverpool to titles and, perhaps, himself to Ballon d’Or gold.

On the left, Cody Gakpo is also riding the crest of a prolific wave, but Diaz and Nunez are beginning to frustrate, with their combined goal involvements in 2024/25 – 25 – a steep distance below Salah’s haul of 46 contributions.

It may be that FSG decides to cash in this summer, especially since Fabrizio Romano confirmed that Nunez was close to joining Saudi Pro League side Al Nassr in January before they signed Aston Villa’s Jhon Duran.

Meanwhile, TEAMtalk revealed that while the Reds are keen to tie their Colombian left winger down to a new contract, there was intrigue from the Saudi Pro League in the summer, and Liverpool would entertain bids worth £67m.

Theoretically, Liverpool could bank more than £120m for their South American forwards this summer, something that could be redirected toward, say, transfer target Alexander Isak.

Both Diaz, 28, and the 25-year-old Nunez are talented players and contribute effectively to Slot’s project, but given that their goalscoring records leave plenty to be desired, it wouldn’t be right to say they’re indispensable.

Especially when former Liverpool sensation Luis Suarez managed to outscore the pair of them in 2024.

Liverpool must rue losing Luis Suarez

When Suarez was 24, he left Ajax and joined Liverpool in a deal worth £23m. It was an exciting transfer, though dwarfed by the signing of Andy Carroll, who arrived concurrently in January 2011.

Registering 123 goal contributions from 132 matches for the Merseysiders, it’s fair to say that Suarez is one of the greatest forwards in Liverpool’s modern history, almost singlehandedly winning the club their first Premier League title in 2013/14.

Who could forget that season? There are similarities between Salah’s unrelenting drive under Slot’s wing and Liverpool’s former all-powerful talisman, who plundered 31 goals and 13 assists from 33 top-flight matches that year but still came up short.

Unfortunately, Anfield was in a very different state back then, with Brendan Rodgers’ outfit lacking the same degree of evenly spread and high-class talent.

He’s been hailed as a “legend” of the game by talent scout Jacek Kulig, having forced his way out of Liverpool after that agonising title miss, signing for Barcelona in a deal worth £75m – a package that fell short of only Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale’s transfers to Real Madrid at the time.

Of course, the experienced marksman will have no regrets, not least because he went on to win the Champions League and five La Liga titles (one with Atletico Madrid) before leaving Europe and journeying across the pond. The greatest testament to Suarez’s skill set is that he wasn’t minnowed next to Lionel Messi, scoring 195 goals and providing 113 assists over 283 appearances.

Suarez now plies his trade in the MLS with Inter Miami, alongside former Barcelona teammates Messi, Sergio Busquets, and Jordi Alba, with the US campaigns typically starting in February and running until October.

He may be in the twilight phase of his storied career, but the Uruguayan still managed to chalk up some spectacular numbers, scoring 25 goals and adding 12 assists across 37 matches in all competitions.

That haul of 37 goal contributions is a distance more than both Nunez (24) and Diaz (27) registered for Liverpool across the calendar year 2024.

He’s still got it, and though English football’s fitness demands would represent an insurmountable hurdle for the ageing player, it’s pertinent to note that he’s still got it in front of goal, something that both Diaz, who has been deployed as a makeshift number nine this year, and Nunez have struggled to produce consistently.

Sure, you’d probably be right in supposing that the 38-year-old striker is past his Premier League sell-by date, and would not be a useful option in Slot’s high-energy Liverpool team, but Suarez went on to achieve greatness with Barcelona and could have become a true Anfield legend had he stayed.

The failure to effectively replace him only added insult to injury, with Ricky Lambert and Mario Balotelli tasked with replicating his offensive threat. Redmen supporters (and FSG) must count their lucky stars that Klopp was the man who replaced the beleaguered Rodgers at the helm.

However, it’s difficult to imagine a world where Rodgers would have remained instated in the dugout for many years past his dismissal, even had Suarez been retained. Perhaps we would be looking at a world where Klopp’s project would have been fronted by the iconic centre-forward.

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Glasgow Rangers made the decision to keep faith with head coach Philippe Clement earlier this season and it increasingly looking like a shrewd call.

Back in November 2024, Football Insider reported that pressure was mounting on the Belgian boss, due to ‘poor’ performances, but they were willing to give him time to turn things around.

The Light Blues were set to play in the final of the League Cup the following month and the board seemingly decided to give him the chance to win another piece of silverware.

As shown in the highlights above, it was a spirited performance from the Gers and they came ever-so-close to winning the trophy, just to fall short on penalties.

Since that clash at Hampden Park, Rangers have only lost two of their last 13 matches in all competitions, including one loss to Premier League side Manchester United, and this shows that Clement has managed to get the Light Blues back on track.

The Belgian tactician has been helped by the respective returns of Danilo, from injury, and Ianis Hagi, from a contract dispute, as they have both starred at the top end of the pitch.

Ianis Hagi and Danilo's fantastic form this season

Firstly, Danilo returned from a knee injury, that kept him out for 12 matches, in November and has offered an excellent option in the centre-forward position in recent months.

The former Feyenoord and Ajax marksman has only started six of his 14 appearances in the Scottish Premiership this season, but has offered plenty of quality in those starts.

He has racked up an exceptional return of five goals and three assists in those 14 matches and six starts, along with six ‘big chances’ created for his teammates. This shows that the Brazilian ace has offered a huge threat inside the box and has made himself a reliable option for Clement when fit.

Hagi, meanwhile, returned to the team in October after players and board members stepped in to get him back in the squad, after he had been left out due to a contract issue that would have seen him given a pay rise if he had played more games.

The Romania international has been a star for Rangers in the Premiership ever since his return, with the highlights above showing off his most recent goals against Ross County.

Appearances (starts)

15 (12)

Goals

3

Big chances created

5

Key passes per game

2.1

Assists

5

As you can see in the table above, the 26-year-old playmaker has offered a big threat at the top end of the pitch from an attacking midfield position, with eight direct goal contributions in 12 starts.

These statistics show that both Hagi and Danilo have been influential figures in the final third for Clement and that they have both been crucial parts of the improved performances in recent months.

However, there is a former Rangers player who they could, now, regret cashing in on last year, as he has outscored both of those current Light Blues stars.

How much Rangers sold Sam Lammers for

In the summer of 2024, the Scottish giants decided to part ways with versatile Dutch forward Sam Lammers as FC Twente swooped in to secure his services for a reported fee of £2.5m.

The left-footed attacker was brought in from Atalanta on a permanent deal in the summer of 2023 under former Rangers head coach Michael Beale and he failed to hit the ground running at Ibrox in the first half of the 2023/24 campaign.

Lammers produced two goals and two assists in 31 appearances for the Light Blues, before he was sent out on loan to FC Utrecht for the second half of the season by Clement, who came in to replace Beale in the dugout.

Appearances

18

Goals

10

Key passes per game

1.1

Big chances created

5

Assists

3

As you can see in the table above, the Dutchman enjoyed an incredible time with Utrecht in the Eredivisie, with a return of 13 direct goal contributions in 18 matches.

Where Are They Now

However, that form was not enough to convince Clement to give him another chance at Ibrox, which led to his £2.5m switch to FC Twente last summer.

Why Rangers may regret selling Sam Lammers

The Gers may, now, regret their decision to cash in on the 26-year-old star so early in his career in Scotland, as he has caught the eye once again in the Eredivisie this term.

Lammers, who can play as an attacking midfielder, out wide, or as a striker, has been a regular starter for Twente in the Dutch top-flight so far this season, with 16 starts in 17 appearances in the league.

The former Rangers star has scored six goals in the league so far this term, which is more than Danilo (five) and Hagi (three), as aforementioned, have managed in the Premiership.

He has also scored two goals in six appearances in the Europa League for the Dutch team, which shows that he can also step up on the European stage, whilst neither Danilo nor Hagi were registered for the league phase of the competition for the Gers.

Appearances

17

Goals

6

Big chances missed

3

Big chances created

4

xA

2.70

Assists

1

As you can see in the table above, Lammers has also provided an impressive amount of creativity at the top end of the pitch for FC Twente in the current campaign.

His teammates have let him down with their wasteful finishing in the final third, though, as he has only registered one assist from four ‘big chances’ created and 2.70 xA.

These statistics show that Lammers is thriving in the Netherlands, again, after he caught the eye for Utrecht last term, and is outperforming two of Clement’s top performers as a goalscorer.

This is why Rangers may regret cashing in on him after only six months at Ibrox as they did not give him enough time to find this kind of form for the Light Blues, and it will now forever remain a case of ‘what if?’ for the Scottish giants.

Rangers hit jackpot with "unbelievable" star who's worth more than Cameron

Rangers have struck gold with the impressive midfield star at Ibrox.

2 ByDan Emery Feb 4, 2025

Liverpool exceeded expectations with Arne Slot at the helm last season, winning the Premier League and comfortably at that.

It’s been a fruitful start to the transfer window for the Reds, who don’t want last year’s triumph to stand as a flash in the pan, and are instead packing Slot’s squad with enough quality to last for many years to come.

However, Trent Alexander-Arnold has left for pastures new in the Spanish capital and a few more exits could yet happen.

For example, Luis Diaz has been courted by Barcelona and Al-Nassr in the Saudi Pro League, and with just two years remaining on his current deal, he may be among the sold this summer.

Liverpool don’t want to part with the Colombian maverick, something they informed Barca in no uncertain terms, but the transfer window is a long process indeed, and if he does go, the Reds must be ready to pounce on an alternative.

Newcastle United’s Anthony Gordon, it seems, is reportedly at the top of the shopping list.

Why Liverpool want Anthony Gordon

Liverpool have clearly preempted Diaz’s departure for a while, having bid to sign Khvicha Kvaratskhelia in January before the Georgian left winger completed a £59m move from Napoli to Paris Saint-Germain.

In fact, the efforts to sign Gordon from Newcastle one year ago speak of a longer-running desire to secure a new wideman to serve as Diaz’s eventual heir.

Gordon, 24, has come off the back of a frustrating campaign in spite of his side’s silver-laden success, but he was immense in 2023/24, picking up 28 direct goal involvements, and has a connection to Anfield given he was released from Liverpool’s academy when he was just 11 years old.

But Newcastle reportedly seek at least £80m to part with the Three Lions star, and is this something that Liverpool can justify spending, given the other areas of the field that still need reinforcing?

Should Diaz go, Liverpool will need to replace him. But given that there’s a much cheaper alternative on the market, it might be better for sporting director Richard Hughes to shelve the interest in Gordon.

Liverpool open talks for new winger

As per reports in Spain – via Sport Witness – Liverpool have opened talks with Real Betis as they consider a bid for teenager winger Jesus Rodriguez.

In direct competition with Aston Villa, Liverpool have learned they will need to meet his €50m (£43m) release clause if they are to bring in one of La Liga’s brightest young talents.

Though FSG have made their initial enquiries and indeed have been scouting Rodriguez, it’s worth noting little of substance has since emerged, and this is one which could drag into the later stretches of the transfer window.

Transfer Focus

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

Why Liverpool should sign Jesus Rodriguez

Rodriguez might only be 19, but he’s already proven himself to be one of the most exciting talents in Spain, breaking into Real Betis’ first team last season, featuring prominently across the latter half of the term, actually starting 15 times in the Spanish top flight.

The left-sided forward would be a far more astute purchase than Gordon, but one whose natural qualities and fast start to life on the senior stage could see him leapfrog the Englishman, all the while at a cost of less than half what Liverpool would need to pay Newcastle.

With Cody Gakpo already performing so well on the left flank at Liverpool, does it really make sense to fork out an excessive figure on a player who might not even knock him off his starting perch?

That’s why Rodriguez would be perfect, having been hailed for his “explosive” style of play by talent scout Jacek Kulig.

It’s such snappy performances that could lead Rodriguez to become Liverpool’s own version of Gordon, one whose tactical brain remains malleable in its footballing infancy, and thus could see Slot bend it in whichever direction he pleases.

Matches (starts)

21 (15)

34 (28)

Goals

2

6

Assists

0

5

Shots (on target)*

1.1 (0.4)

1.7 (0.6)

Big chances missed

2

10

Pass completion

76%

81%

Key passes*

0.4

1.5

Dribbles*

1.4

1.1

Ball recoveries*

4.7

3.6

Tackles + interceptions*

1.1

1.1

Duels won*

4.1

4.4

Of course, Rodriguez isn’t as refined and complete in his skill set as Gordon is right now, but the Betis man is also five years the England international’s junior, still in his teenage phase.

What’s curious is that he is crisp on the ball and combative in the duel, two staples of Gordon’s tactical approach, which have seen him bloom into one of the Premier League’s finest.

Moreover, he’s proven on the continental stage his propensity for success: as per FBref, the young Spaniard ranked among the top 2% of attacking midfielders and wingers in the Conference League last year for successful take-ons and the top 16% for tackles per 90, highlighting both his pace and his willingness to get stuck in.

His fleet-footedness certainly suggests there’s a first-class player in there, and with Liverpool looking to sign a striker as well this season, this might prove the perfect signing to add a bit of depth while maintaining the harmony of Slot’s squad.

Slot won’t want to upset the tactical togetherness and coherence Liverpool have right now, nor will he want to take a big chunk out of the coffers before a new centre-forward has been brought in.

Rodriguez could be the perfect man to sign, should Diaz leave this summer.

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ByAngus Sinclair Jun 19, 2025

Chelsea are showcasing themselves as one of the busiest Premier League sides in the transfer market this summer, and many outgoings are also expected at Stamford Bridge.

Renato Veiga, Lesley Ugochukwu, Raheem Sterling, João Félix, David Datro Fofana, Carney Chukwuemeka, Ben Chilwell, Armando Broja and Axel Disasi are all expected to leave Cobham this summer (The Athletic), as BlueCo seek to trim the wage bill and help fund Chelsea’s recruitment drive.

£47m star has already agreed to join Chelsea with club talks "to follow"

Enzo Maresca’s side are busy behind-the-scenes amid their Club World Cup campaign.

ByEmilio Galantini Jun 17, 2025

£150,000-per-week outcast Kepa Arrizabalaga is also on his way to Arsenal (David Ornstein), but he’s not the only keeper who could quit Chelsea in the coming months.

Cole Palmer

7.33

Moises Caicedo

7.02

Enzo Fernández

6.95

Nicolas Jackson

6.88

Noni Madueke

6.82

via WhoScored

Chelsea want to sell both Djordje Petrovic and Robert Sanchez, according to reports, and could revisit a deal for AC Milan number one Mike Maignan after missing out on a pre-Club World Cup deal for the France international.

Club chiefs will be very keen to find new homes for Chilwell, Sterling and Felix in particular, considering the out-of-favour trio are on a combined salary of around £655,000-per-week.

There are some suggestions that key first-team players aren’t entirely safe either.

Chelsea may well decide to sell Trevoh Chalobah (Matt Law), despite his renaissance during the second half of 2024/2025, where he stood out as one of Maresca’s key men after returning from a loan spell at Crystal Palace.

Chelsea prepared to sell Noni Madueke this summer

As well as Chalobah, it is believed that mainstay winger Noni Madueke isn’t deemed untouchable by any means.

The England international, who earned praise from Thomas Tuchel during the Three Lions’ last round of international matches, started 27 Premier League games under Maresca last season, and it would’ve been more if not for injury.

Maresca even called Madueke one of Chelsea’s “best players”, but according to journalist Simon Phillips, the 23-year-old winger could still be sold in the coming months if a suitable offer arrives.

“Chelsea have reportedly made contact with Malick Fofana of Lyon as they weigh up winger options,” said Phillips, via his Substack.

“I get a sense that they are perhaps putting this name out there to help strengthen negotiations to sign Jamie Gittens of Dortmund. I am sure they do have interest in Fofana, absolutely, and you know what? Maybe they even look to end up bringing in two more out-and-out wingers, and they may well need them depending on the future of Noni Madueke as well, who Chelsea will listen to offers for.”

Of all the Chelsea players who absolutely need to be sold, Madueke surely isn’t one of them, regardless of their chase for new wide players.

“Noni has been excellent out there [on the left wing],” said pundit Jason Cundy on talkSPORT.

“The thing I love about Noni is whenever he picks the ball up, he looks that way [forward]. His first instinct with his first touch, ‘How can I get beyond you? How can I get in behind you?’

“What I noticed he did against Liverpool, and he does this very well on the right-hand side, but he will come inside on his right. Most left-footers out there tend not to. Left-footers love it on the right.

“When you’ve got a winger that can go both ways and threaten, as a full-back now you’re asking questions. He does that; Saka’s one of the best, goes out on the right and comes inside. You need to threaten both [ways], Noni has been really good, really impressive.”

Arsenal are ready to spend big this summer and could now gain the upper hand on Chelsea in pursuit of a talented star plying his trade at the Club World Cup, according to a report.

Arsenal ready to make statement signings

The Gunners hope to establish themselves as a frontrunner in the race for the Premier League title and Mikel Arteta is set to be backed this window as high-profile targets are identified at the Emirates Stadium.

In an honest assessment of his former side’s hunt for a striker, Arsenal icon Theo Walcott has pointed out that the club need to pursue someone in Liam Delap’s mould as they search for a new source of goals.

Benjamin Sesko and Viktor Gyokeres are Arsenal’s two main striking targets, and the latter has given his priority to Arteta’s side following an excellent campaign at Sporting.

That development comes in spite of interest from Manchester United, which will undoubtedly provoke optimism among a support desperate to see the final piece of the jigsaw added over the coming months.

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3 ByEmilio Galantini Jun 14, 2025

However, it has to be taken into account that signing a forward isn’t the only requirement to exceed their rivals’ points tally next season; you also need an effective foil to maximise attacking output across the board.

With that in mind, Arsenal now have a winger on their radar that they could steal from under the nose of rivals Chelsea, according to reports.

Arsenal prepare bid to sign Borussia Dortmund star Jamie Gittens

According to reports in Spain, Arsenal are preparing a bid to sign Borussia Dortmund winger Jamie Gittens, and he is viewed internally as someone who would fit their philosophy to develop talent over the long-term.

Berta and company are ready to put forward an offer that could amount to roughly £42.5 million, while Chelsea have also been heavily linked with Gittens and came close to signing him before the Club World Cup registration window closed. There have even been claims the Blues still want him and could make a new bid in days.

Jamie Gittens in 2024/25 – Bundesliga (FBRef)

Shot-creating actions

73

Goals-creating actions

10

Progressive carries per 90

5.53

Touches in opposition penalty area per 90

5.53

Successful take-ons per 90

3.57

Labelled “fantastic” by Nuri Sahin, the England Under-21 international registered 12 goals and five assists as Borussia Dortmund left it late to secure Champions League qualification.

Bukayo Saka’s injury issues throughout the campaign demonstrated that additional depth is needed for the Gunners to juggle domestic and European endeavours. Taking that into consideration, what better way for Arsenal to secure another talented outlet out wide than to beat Chelsea to Gittens’ signature.