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Leny Yoro has sent a bullish message on Instagram as he gears up to make his Manchester United debut after his ill-timed foot injury.

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• Yoro fractured foot in summer
• Yet to play for United
• Hopeful of fresh start

• Getty Images & Instagram
  

  WHAT HAPPENED?

  Yoro broke his foot in the summer, mere weeks after arriving at United from Lille in a £52 million ($67m) deal – an injury that required surgery. As a result, he has yet to play a single competitive game for the club, but is nearing his debut after returning to training.

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• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Yoro has subsequently posted on Instagram, hyping his return, as he prepares to get to work under Ruben Amorim. The Portuguese is set to join the club ahead of the club's clash with Ipswich Town after the international break.

• WHAT LENY YORO SAID

  Yoro posted a montage of images and wrote on Instagram: "New start."

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• WHAT NEXT?

  United face PAOK in the Europa League on Thursday before playing Leicester City in the Premier League this weekend. Then, Amorim will take charge.

West Ham United are set to spend after concerns relating to the London Stadium's financial capacity were expunged by an optimistic press conference, headed by Julen Lopetegui and Tim Steidten.

The priority is surely to secure a shiny new striker, but West Ham's needs stretch far deeper. If recent reports are to be believed, the London club are looking to make a statement by signing a well-known winger on the Premier League scene.

West Ham transfer news

According to Turkish outlet Sporx, Galatasaray are eager to cut ties with Wilfried Zaha just one year on from signing the wily winger after his contract with Crystal Palace expired.

Said to be wanted by West Ham, the 31-year-old's £300k-per-week wages are considered unsustainable within the Turkish Super Lig champions' ranks and he could now be presented with a route back into England's top flight, available for a nominal £8m fee.

Why West Ham are interested in Wilfried Zaha

Zaha posted 90 goals and 62 assists over 458 fixtures for Crystal Palace and was even heralded for his "world-class" ability by former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp, able to manipulate the ball and leave defenders floored with his gliding gait and smoky, snaking motions up the flank.

Zaha ranked among the top 2% of attacking midfielders and wingers across the 2022/23 Premier League season for fouls drawn, the top 14% for successful take-ons, the top 9% for carries into the penalty area and the top 16% for shots taken per 90, as per FBref.

While Gala are seeking to cash in, Zaha didn't exactly flop in Turkey, scoring ten goals and adding five assists across all competitions and notably scoring during his team's resounding victory over Manchester United at Old Trafford in the Champions League.

He's a maverick, capable of drawing fouls for the likes of Jarrod Bowen and James Ward-Prowse to feast upon, providing an unceasing attacking output and a desire to drive right into the danger area that would give West Ham an incisive dimension to mirror that of Muhammed Kudus, whose efforts were greatly appreciated last season.

Bowen, in particular, could benefit greatly from the former Eagle's presence, having proven himself to be a formidable goalscorer last season, if he hadn't already, to complement a rounded skill set that showcases, consistently, his hard-working and sharp qualities.

Kudus, who ranks among the top 2% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for successful take-ons per 90, has already showcased the gains that West Ham can relish from such a profile, and given Zaha's experience, speed and clinical ability, why not provide him with a platform to partner one of the Premier League's standout wide forwards in Bowen?

West Ham are going to need more firepower next season, and Zaha could be the electrifying and dynamic addition to add some real zest to Lopetegui's project, having scored 23 goals across his final two campaigns in English football. If a realistic package can be agreed on, this is certainly one to keep an eye on.

West Ham could sign "monster" £90k-p/w Walker-Peters alternative

This talented right-back would be a dream behind Jarrod Bowen…

By
Angus Sinclair

Jun 29, 2024

The 2024/25 Scottish Premiership season kicks off in less than a month and Celtic are still yet to make their first signing of the summer transfer window.

Brendan Rodgers' side have already played two pre-season friendlies, drawing 1-1 with Ayr and beating Queen's Park 6-4, but are yet to dip into the market to bolster the squad.

The Hoops are in need of a new number one and have been linked with moves for both Newcastle United's Martin Dubravka and Croatia star Dominik Livakovic.

Joe Hart retired at the end of the 2023/24 campaign, after three years at Parkhead, and Rodgers must now find his first-choice goalkeeper for next season.

The Scottish Premiership champions are also reportedly closing in on a deal to sign Paulo Bernardo on a permanent deal, whilst they are plotting a second bid to sign Adam Idah from Norwich City.

Celtic could also make additions to their midfield ranks as they have been linked with an interest in a central midfielder from the English Championship this week…

Celtic's interest in Championship maestro

According to HITC, Rodgers is keen on a swoop to sign Australia international Riley McGree from Middlesbrough ahead of the 2024/25 campaign.

The report claims that the Hoops failed to sign the £9.4k-per-week midfield maestro during Ange Postecoglou's time in Glasgow but the Championship star has remained on their radar.

They are now looking at the 25-year-old whiz as a possible target to join the club this time around, as they look to bolster their midfield options before the end of the window.

It states that his current contract has one year left to run and this means that it could be the last chance for Boro to cash in on him before a free transfer exit next year.

They would either need to pin him down to a contract extension or sell him before the end of the window to ensure that they do not lose him for nothing.

This suggests that the door could be open for Celtic to make a move for the left-footed gem in the coming weeks. However, the report does not reveal how much Middlesbrough would demand for McGree or how much the Hoops would be prepared to pay for him.

If the Scottish giants could secure a deal to sign the midfield wizard, though, then Rodgers could find his next version of Tom Rogic in the middle of the park in Glasgow.

Tom Rogic's midfield spark for Celtic

McGree would not be the first left-footed midfielder from Australia to turn up at Parkhead in an attempt to make his mark on the pitch in the Premiership.

Rogic enjoyed a fantastic spell with the Hoops during his time in Scotland a midfield maestro who had the quality to chip in as a scorer and a creator of goals.

The talented ace joined the club from Central Coast at the start of 2013 and eventually moved on in the summer of 2022, 18 months short of a decade in Glasgow.

In that time, the Australia international racked up 46 goals and 49 assists in 272 appearances in all competitions for the Bhoys, including 31 goals and 35 assists in 165 outings in the Premiership.

These statistics show that the central midfielder had the quality to move forward into attacking positions to contribute as both a scorer and a creator for the Hoops.

As you can see in the table above, Rogic enjoyed a strong final season at Paradise before his exit in the summer of 2022, with 12 direct goal contributions in just 20 league starts.

The Celtic whiz also provided a threat in transition with his ability on the ball as he completed 1.6 dribbles per game with a success rate of 57%, which shows that the experienced ace could glide past opposition players to make things happen in the final third.

Rodgers, who worked with Rogic throughout his first spell at Parkhead between 2016 and 2019, could now find his new version of left-footed ace by securing a deal to sign McGree before the end of the summer transfer window.

Why Celtic should sign Riley McGree

The Premiership champions should press ahead with a swoop to land the Australia international because he could add another attacking threat to the side.

McGree, who was hailed as "terrific" by manager Michael Carrick, was restricted to just 14 starts and 22 appearances in the Championship through injury last term, which limited his impact on the pitch.

The 25-year-old star only produced four goals and one assist from midfield in that time but did rank within the top 9% of midfielders in the division for progressive passes per 90 (5.72) and the top 35% for progressive carries per 90 (3.22).

This shows that McGree can provide quality in possession without being the player to carry out the final action, as a scorer or a creator, by being the one to progress the play through a pass or carry to get his teammates into dangerous positions at the top end of the pitch.

When he was able to get on the pitch on a regular basis in the 2022/23 campaign, though, the Rogic-esque ace showcased his ability in the final third.

As you can see in the table above, McGree played in 43 of Middlesbrough's 46 Championship games and caught the eye with 14 goals and 'big chances' created combined.

He created more than one chance per game on average and proved himself to be a midfielder who can push forward to be a difference-maker in matches.

Celtic set to pull off "miracle" as £4m+ sale of forward expected

The Hoops are reportedly set to cash in on the rarely-seen attacker this summer.

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By
Dan Emery

Jul 9, 2024

This is why the Boro star could come in as Rogic 2.0 – alongside their shared nationality and favoured foot – for Celtic as a midfield maestro who can link up play between the midfield and the attack, with his progressive passing and carrying, whilst also being a threat as a scorer and a creator.

Manchester City will be reportedly supported by Aston Villa in a "watershed moment" ahead of a Premier League vote on sponsorship rule changes.

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• PL to vote on Associated Party Transactions (APT)
• City gathering support to thwart the changes
• Villa are latest team to join forces

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  According to Villa have taken a definitive stance alongside Manchester City and want the vote against the proposed changes to the Associated Party Transactions (APT), which may significantly influence the financial framework of English football's top flight, to be postponed. City have sent formal communications to the 19 other member clubs, advocating for a postponement of the decision until further clarity is provided and some seem to have responded positively.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  City have been actively seeking backing from other clubs to block the rule changes. Villa, Newcastle United, Everton, Wolverhampton Wanderers, and Nottingham Forest have previously opposed stricter APT regulations. However, City need seven votes against the proposal to halt its approval.

  Villa’s alignment with City is not unexpected, as both clubs have shared similar positions in recent financial rule disputes. Villa’s owner, Nassef Sawiris, has previously criticised PSR as being “anti-competitive,” hinting at broader concerns about the Premier League’s financial governance. In June, Sawiris publicly considered filing a formal complaint against the current PSR structure.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  The Premier League’s proposed changes aim to streamline the process of approving substantial sponsorship deals linked to club ownership while maintaining the core principles of the APT regulations. Proponents of the amendments argue they will create a fairer competitive environment while reducing potential abuses of the system. However, the opposition, spearheaded by City, views the proposals as undermining the tribunal’s findings and potentially damaging to clubs with large shareholder investments.

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  WHAT NEXT?

  The proposed amendments would reportedly introduce a “retrospective exemption for shareholder loans,” a move City claims could unlawfully impact Profitability and Sustainability Rules (PSR). In a recent verdict, although an independent tribunal sided with City on key points, it has yet to provide full clarification on the broader status of the APT regulations. Hence, the outcome of Friday’s shareholders' meeting, if voted in favour by 14 clubs, could reshape the financial landscape of English football.

Just hours after Manchester United confirmed their second deal of the summer transfer window, an update has been forthcoming on a potential third as life under Sir Jim Ratcliffe kicks into overdrive.

United complete Leny Yoro deal

With Joshua Zirkzee's arrival already confirmed, Manchester United stepped up their transfer business once more on Thursday with the arrival of Leny Yoro from French side Lille.

Erik ten Hag's side saw off competition from Premier League rivals Liverpool and European champions Real Madrid to complete a deal, which is believed to have set them back around £53m and has seen Yoro sign a lucrative £113,000 a week deal at Old Trafford valid until 2029.

Speaking to the club media on his arrival, Yoro explained: “Signing for a club with the stature and ambition of Manchester United so early in my career is an incredible honour.

“I know about the history of young players at Manchester United and feel it can be the perfect place to reach my potential and achieve my ambitions, together with my new team-mates. I cannot wait to get started.”

Man Utd want to sign £84m "superstar" who's more exciting than Yoro

Manchester United are closing in on their second signing of the summer.

By
Matt Dawson

Jul 17, 2024

Yoro's arrival offsets the departure of Raphael Varane, who left the club on a free transfer at the end of the season, and while Manchester United are still open to signing another defender this transfer window, attention has currently turned to midfield with Casemiro having struggled towards the end of the 2023/24 campaign.

Midfielder agrees personal terms

Now, it has emerged that their hunt for reinforcements in the centre of the pitch could be concluded soon too, with transfer expert Fabrizio Romano providing an altogether positive update on their chase of PSG's Manuel Ugarte.

The midfielder only arrived at the Parc des Princes 12 months ago, with PSG beating off competition from Chelsea to land the Uruguayan midfielder and handing him a contract worth £100,000 a week, which runs until 2028.

Though he had a tough season with PSG under Luis Enrique, he was dubbed a "really promising defensive midfielder" by journalist Zach Lowry on X back in May, but appears to have fallen out of favour in the French capital.

As a result, they are open to his departure, and United are ready to pounce. Romano explained on X that the Red Devils have "agreed personal terms" with the midfielder, though a fee is still yet to be negotiated with the French champions.

For his part, Ugarte is said to be "keen on moving to United even without Champions League football", and that talks between the two clubs are continuing. Could he be the long term heir to Casemiro in the Old Trafford engine room?

The Bretons had never previously played in continental competition, but they've already almost guaranteed a spot in this season's knockout stage

Brest were beaten 3-2 by Monaco on Friday night. It was their third defeat in a row in Ligue 1 and left them placed in 12th, just three points above the drop zone. Coach Eric Roy admitted afterwards that there was every chance his side could be dragged into a relegation battle: "I think we'll have to look behind us rather than in front of ourselves in the coming weeks."

However, if the league table makes for worrying reading for Brest, the Champions League standings are a very different story altogether. As it stands, just three teams sit above them, and only the leaders, Liverpool (12) have amassed more points than the Bretons (10). Even more incredibly, Brest's next opponents, Barcelona, the best team in Spain right now, actually trail Roy's team going into Tuesday's game at the Montjuic.

So, what is going on?! How is a tiny club from the north-west of France outperforming some of Europe's elite? And could the Champions League debutants actually progress directly to the last 16 while battling relegation back home?…

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  An unlikely hero

  Roy didn't look like the potential protagonist of one of the most remarkable underdog success stories in football history. The former Nice boss had been a good player in his day (he represented both Lyon and Marseille at his peak, and also spent a season at Sunderland), but when he took over at Brest in January 2023, he'd been out of the coaching game for more than a decade.

  Roy had spent the majority of the preceding 12 years working as a sporting director (first at Lens, then at Watford), but was probably best known to younger audiences as a TV pundit on French football coverage.

  It certainly looked like he'd been away from the dugout for a while during his first couple of months in charge, with Brest winning just one of their first eight league games under Roy – a rotten run of form that saw them fall into the relegation zone.

  However, the ex-midfielder belatedly sparked a remarkable recovery. Brest lost just three games from March onwards and went from 18th in the table to the relatively heady heights of 14th by the end of the 2022-23 season.

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  'No longer being underestimated'

  Despite the strong finish to the preceding campaign, little was expected of Brest going into the following season, as most pundits predicted another battle to beat the drop. After all, Brest's budget was just €40 million (£33m/$42m) – the fourth-smallest in France's top flight.

  However, by the time they arrived at Parc des Princes in January of this year and drew 2-2 with perennial champions Paris Saint-Germain, it was clear that something special was happening. Brest were third in the table and there was already giddy talk of qualifying for the Champions League.

  Roy was keen to point out that his side had already lost their surprise factor, meaning it was only going to get more difficult to sustain their remarkable results. "The hardest part of the season for us is starting now," he warned. "We're no longer being underestimated."

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  'Are you kidding or what?!'

  Brest president Denis Le Saint – who runs a food distribution company with his brother that was founded by their parents – was even more dismissive of the idea that a top-four finish was a realistic target. It was unthinkable as far as he was concerned.

  Brest had been declared bankrupt after being demoted from Ligue 1 in 1991 and ended up languishing in France's amateur divisions for a decade before slowly dragging their way back up the professional ranks. When Le Saint took over in 2016, though, the Bretons were still in Ligue 2 and success, as far as he was concerned, was stability.

  Ever since securing a return to Ligue 1 in 2019, the sole objective has been retaining their top-flight status while constructing a new stadium. So, when he was asked towards the tail end of last season if the Champions League was the new target, he scoffed, "Are you kidding or what?! We have to be serious, our past alone reminds us of that. Just keep going. Then, finishing in the top 10 will be the goal."

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  'Football is often like love'

  However, despite suffering back-to-back defeats in the middle of April, to Lyon and Monaco, Brest ensured a top-four finish with a 1-1 draw at home to Reims in their penultimate Ligue 1 fixture.

  Roy was inevitably asked afterwards which European heavyweight he'd like to play in the Champions League and admitted, "I haven't really thought about the potential opponents, but it feels surreal just talking about it!"

  He also pointed out that they'd only done enough to ensure a place in the qualifying rounds. Automatic qualification would only be achieved if they managed to overtake Lille on the last day of the season – and that looked unlikely, especially when Benjamin Andre put Paulo Fonseca's then-side 2-1 up in the closing stags of their final game, against Nice.

  However, Jordan Lotomba's 93rd-minute equaliser saw Brest finish third thanks to a comfortable 3-0 win in Toulouse. A team that had never even played in European competition before had just qualified for the Champions League proper.

  "If a scriptwriter writes something like that, people call him crazy and tell him it can't possibly exist," Roy enthused. "But football is often like love: it has its reasons that reason ignores, and that's what we've experienced throughout this season, which has defied all the odds. We've done it! It's quite incredible!"

Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal side made it two wins from two in pre-season during the early hours of Sunday morning, beating fellow Premier League side Manchester United 2-1 in California.

The win comes after the Gunners also beat English opposition Bournemouth earlier in the week, with a penalty shootout securing the win.

Goals from Gabriel Jesus and Gabriel Martinelli secured a second win of pre-season for the North London outfit, despite going a goal down just 10 minutes into the meeting after Rasmus Hojlund’s strike.

It was a great opportunity for various first-team and academy talents to stake their claim for a regular place in the squad ahead of the 2024/25 campaign, where Arteta will be aiming to end the club’s 20-year wait for an English top-division title.

One star hugely impressed despite a brief cameo on the pitch, with Arteta now facing a dilemma over his transfer plans as a result of his performance in the US.

Gabriel Martinelli’s stats against Manchester United

Brazilian winger Martinelli endured a tricky end to last season, often being utilised as an impact player, scoring just six goals in the entirety of the 2023/24 campaign.

Leandro Trossard was Arteta’s preferred option on the left-hand side, but after his cameo off the bench last night, he will undoubtedly have given the Gunners’ boss something to think about in the coming weeks.

The Brazilian was brought on in the 71st minute as a replacement for Reiss Nelson, and managed to score the winner with an excellent drive inside before firing the ball past Andre Onana at his near post.

However, despite his goal, he produced some excellent stats, managed of which would’ve caught the eye of boss Arteta.

He managed to complete all three of his attempted dribbles, achieving a 100% success rate, whilst also managing to register the same tally of passes during his cameo off the bench.

The 23-year-old looked sharp, playing with a point to prove, winning four of the six duels that he contested whilst also managing to complete a tackle – as he was awarded a 7/10 match rating by journalist Kaya Kaynak.

His performance would’ve been exactly what Arteta was wanting from the forward after his below-par couple of months for the Gunners, with Martinelli potentially catapulting himself back to being a starter and changing the manager’s mind about one addition.

Why Arteta can forget Williams after Martinelli’s display

In recent months, Arsenal have been strongly linked with a move for Athletic Bilbao’s talented winger Nico Williams.

Their interest undoubtedly increased as a result of his impressive Euro 2024 campaign, which saw the Spaniard register two goals and one assist, as he helped his nation win the competition for a fourth time.

It’s previously been reported that the 22-year-old has a £49m release clause in his current contract, with the likes of Barcelona and Chelsea both also wanting to sign the star this summer.

However, with Martinelli being a similar age to the Bilbao forward, he needs consistent minutes in the Premier League to continue on his upward trajectory at the Emirates.

Williams’ potential arrival in North London would only hamper the Brazilian’s progress at the club, with Martinelli showcasing against United that he still has what it takes to be a crucial player under Arteta this season.

Whilst last season was a disappointing one for the attacker, the new campaign presents a new opportunity for Martinelli to impress and reach the levels all Arsenal fans know he’s capable of.

Pep Guardiola had a clear motive for signing a new contract extension at Manchester City amid the club's poor run of form.

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• Guardiola signs two-year extension
• Man City winless in six matches
• 'Powerful' reason behind new deal

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Guardiola was on a four-match losing run – the worst statistical streak of his managerial career – when his contract extension was announced. Rather than jumping from a potentially sinking ship, the 53-year-old committed to not one but two more years at the Etihad.

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• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  City's winless run is now up to six matches following the harrowing defeat to Tottenham and startling collapse against Feyenoord. But Guardiola will be as motivated as ever to turn things around, with City's form playing a part in his decision to extend. According to the , the Catalan always intended to leave City in a strong position for his successor, but the club's current run has highlighted the need for a squad rebuild that will take at least two more years to finish.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Like Sir Alex Ferguson choosing to stay on at Manchester United for one more season after watching City win the title in 2012, Guardiola knows now is not the time to leave. And the squad overhaul will now commence in January rather than in the summer. Guardiola is keen to bring in a central midfielder to replace the injured Rodri, with Real Sociedad's Martin Zubimendi and Atalanta's Ederson among the targets.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR MAN CITY?

  City will try to put things right when they take on league leaders Liverpool on Sunday afternoon. A City win will reduce the gap at the top of the table to five points, but a loss would leave them trailing the Reds by 11 instead.

Amid a busy transfer window, Nottingham Forest are reportedly set to continue their summer business by signing a potential future star ahead of Premier League rivals Newcastle United.

Nottingham Forest transfer news

Since easing any PSR concerns through the sales of Oriel Mangala and Moussa Niakhate at the start of the summer, Forest have been busy on the incoming front. Those at the City Ground have welcomed the likes of Nikola Milenkovic, Elliot Anderson and, most recently, Portuguese winger Jota Silva in an attacking addition for Nuno Espirito Santo's side.

Welcoming the winger, Chief Football Officer Ross Wilson told the club's official website: “We can see how excited Jota is to continue his career journey beyond Portugal where he has enjoyed such a strong period in the Primeira Liga with Vitoria Guimaraes, which resulted in him earning his debut for the Portuguese National Team back in March.”

Nottingham Forest now make enquiry to sign 26 y/o winger ahead of Newcastle

Forest could get one over on their Premier League rivals…

By
Tom Cunningham

Aug 3, 2024

Even as the Premier League campaign approaches, however, Forest may not be done there with arrivals. According to Football Insider, Nottingham Forest have won the race to sign Ally Graham from Dundee United ahead of Newcastle United and numerous Premier League sides this summer, with an agreement reached. The 15-year-old goalkeeper is one for the future and represents the planning in place in the Midlands.

Those at the City Ground have, of course, already welcomed one goalkeeper this summer in the form of Carlos Miguel. The Brazilian arrives vying to become Espirito Santo's number one, whilst Graham will look to impress in Forest's youth setup before possibly making his mark in years to come.

Rarely a quiet side in the transfer market these days, the fact that Forest have seemingly beaten Newcastle to the youngster shows just how far they've come in recent years as they look to once again maintain their Premier League place.

Graham is one for the future

A shot-stopper who has already featured for Dundee's U18s despite being just 15 years old, Graham is a player with more than enough potential to earn a move to the Premier League. Investing in their future, Forest will now hope to have a solution to any goalkeeping problems for years to come, especially if Graham impresses in the academy setup.

Miguel, 25 years old, may be perfectly placed to hand the Dundee man the responsibility just as he is hitting his prime if all goes to plan. But for now, Graham's arrival will remain out of the spotlight compared to the likes of Milenkovic and Anderson this summer.

Forest get their Premier League campaign underway in just a couple of weeks when they will open their season against Bournemouth in a first fixture that should give us plenty of clues as to what those in the Midlands can expect from Espirito Santo's first full season in charge. Whether teenage sensation Graham is confirmed by then remains to be seen, however.

Trent Alexander-Arnold has been tipped to challenge for the Ballon d’Or if he leaves Liverpool and joins “mate” Jude Bellingham at Real Madrid.

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• Product of Anfield academy system
• Has won everything with the Reds
• Could move to Spain as a free agent

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  There is plenty of speculation to suggest that such a move could be on the cards, with one England international running down his current contract. As things stand, Alexander-Arnold is set to become a free agent in 2025 – meaning that he can talk to teams outside of the Premier League from January.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Alexander-Arnold is a Merseyside native and product of Liverpool’s fabled academy system, with close to 330 appearances taken in for his boyhood club. He will forever boast strong emotional ties to the Reds, but professional ones may be severed when approaching an important crossroads in his career.

• WHAT HESKEY SAID

  Quizzed on whether a fresh start in Spain is looking more likely, with Three Lions colleague Bellingham already at Santiago Bernabeu, ex-Liverpool striker Emile Heskey – speaking in association with – told GOAL: “Possibly, yeah. We have seen it before – we obviously saw it with [Steve] McManaman, running down his contract and then going there.

  “The big thing when you have the two coming out of Spain [Real Madrid and Barcelona], when they are attached to players, players’ minds will always wander and drift – regardless of which club you are at, in any other league. He’s got his mate there as well. He will probably be looking at that as something he could definitely see himself doing.”

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  DID YOU KNOW?

  Alexander-Arnold has won the Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup, League Cup, UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup with Liverpool – with another domestic crown in his sights this season. Pressed further on whether a new challenge holds greater appeal after achieving just about everything at Anfield, Heskey added: “One hundred per cent. When you’re a player, my situation was different but similar – you get to a point, I was at Leicester and we’d got to three cup finals in four years and you say to yourself ‘what’s next, where’s the next step?’ For me it was going to Liverpool and trying to challenge for the title.

  “He’s at the other end of it saying: ‘I’ve done this, I’ve done that, I’m 26 years old and what’s next? Do I stick it out here, on course to win another league title, but what’s next?’ That’s what he is probably looking at. He could be a megastar in Spain and win more. I’d be surprised if he’s not thinking about Ballon d’Or as well.”