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Manchester City fell by the wayside last season. An upswing in form toward the end of the campaign saw Pep Guardiola’s side salvage Champions League football.

It was a great shock for the four-in-a-row Premier League champions, and some even clamoured for Guardiola to step down. But the legendary manager has picked his outfit back up, refashioning them into title challengers once again.

Kevin De Bruyne left at the end of his contract, but the likes of Rayan Cherki and Tijjani Reijnders have joined winter recruits such as Omar Marmoush in defining a new age at the Etihad.

Man City’s tactical brand has changed, and no mistake. While an averseness to dribbling was never an accurate description of Pep’s vision, there’s no doubt a fresh emphasis has been placed on his side’s dribbling.

Pep's dribbling renaissance at Man City

Often has Guardiola been criticised for numbing the pulse of his ball carriers, Jack Grealish being a case in point. While it’s true that the sum of the Spaniard’s system is greater than its individual parts, it is a machine of many different dimensions, and fleet-footed brilliance has always been a part of that.

In the past, wingers such as Raheem Sterling and Leroy Sane played instrumental roles in establishing City’s early meteoric success, the bedrock of a dynasty that rivals any across English football history.

Sane, in particular, was an incredible dribbler with searing speed, especially before an ACL injury suffered in 2019, which forced the German to reinvent himself somewhat.

Praised by Guardiola for his athleticism and “incredible quality”, Sane, now at Bayern Munich, is fondly remembered by the Sky Blues, with that particular brand of electric-paced dribbling hard to replicate.

Signing stars like Rayan Ait-Nouri and Cherki this summer underscores Pep’s desire for a faster brand of dribbling in his Citizen side once again.

Sane might be a one-of-a-kind type of attacker, but there are similar variations with skillsets perfect for Guardiola’s teachings. Pep knows his stuff, and he might have found not just a belated superstar replacement, but someone who might actually be even better than the former City winger.

Man City's ball-carrying superstar

There’s only one man in question here: Jeremy Doku. The Belgian winger has been in fine fettle indeed across the opening weeks of the campaign, with talent scout Jacek Kulig noting he has “taken his game to a whole new level”.

Man City signed the dynamic wideman from French club Rennes for about £55m in 2023, but his first two terms in the Premier League have been characterised by an ebb and flow in the final third, scoring three times each year.

However, creativity has always been one of the 23-year-old’s strongest suits, and he’s married that with a new level of completeness and gusto with has borne dividends across these early weeks.

Three assists from six Premier League matches is good going, but Doku’s skill and explosiveness on the ball have been things to behold; now, there’s a new confidence and clarity about his performances.

It probably doesn’t come as much of a surprise that Doku ranks among the top 1% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe’s top five leagues for progressive carries and successful take-ons per 90 (data courtesy of FBref), but he’s also in the top percentile for shot-creating actions, underlining his effectiveness when entering the danger area.

And this season, he leads the way in the Premier League, more accurate when progressing the ball than his attacking rivals.

Jeremy Doku

54.5%

4.3

Mohammed Kudus

48.0%

4.1

Estavao

47.8%

4.0

Noah Okafor

43.5%

3.9

Rico Henry

77.8%

3.7

Might City have one of the finest dribblers in Europe? Undoubtedly. In fact, pundit Adrian Clarke has even gone as far as to claim that Doku is “one of the best dribblers in Premier League history”.

Valued at around £58m by Football Transfers, Manchester City haven’t quite got bang for their buck from a financial standpoint yet, but Doku is only 23, remember, and is showing all the signs of incremental growth which has not yet reached full bloom.

He’s the real deal, and if he maintains this level, he might even eclipse Sane and the like as the best dribbler across the entire Guardiola era at Manchester City.

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Gearing up to do battle in the transfer market once again, Newcastle United have now reportedly joined a Premier League race to sign a Bundesliga talent.

Howe admits Newcastle "different" without Isak

It was another frustrating away draw for Newcastle on Sunday. This time, the Magpies were forced to settle for a point in a 0-0 draw against a stubborn Bournemouth side. It makes it just one win in five games for Eddie Howe’s side, who are still adjusting to life without star man Alexander Isak.

The good news for Newcastle is that there aren’t many sides in the Premier League without problems as of late. Only Liverpool, who sit five points clear at the top of the Premier League, have maintained a 100% record.

With new signing Yoane Wissa likely to be on his way back from injury after the international break too, Howe will be hoping to see his side find their feet sooner rather than later.

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In the meantime, PIF are still focusing on potential incomings away from the action. With 2026 presenting those at St James’ Park with a fresh opportunity to spend big, the Magpies have reportedly joined a Premier League race to sign another Bundesliga talent.

Newcastle join race to sign Brown

As reported by Caught Offside, Newcastle have now joined the race to sign Nathaniel Brown from Eintracht Frankfurt. Joining Arsenal, Manchester City, Aston Villa and Manchester United in the battle to welcome the German left-back, those in Tyneside should be desperate to finally get one over on their rivals in the transfer market.

Signing another young left-back would certainly make sense following the interest that came Tino Livramento’s way in the summer. Losing the Englishman would be a major blow for Howe, but welcoming Brown would instantly provide the Newcastle boss with a replacement.

Described as a “pacy, flying” left-back by analyst Ben Mattinson back in May, Brown is one to watch in the Bundesliga. Newcastle already dipped into the pool of young German talent to welcome Nick Woltemade in the summer and could do so again to welcome a defensive talent.

Arne Slot delivered a bleak update on Giovanni Leoni's condition after Liverpool's summer signing suffered a horror injury on his debut. The former Parma defender was handed his maiden start in the Carabao Cup clash against Southampton on Tuesday but was stretchered off the pitch in the 81st minute after an awkward fall.

• Slot handed Leoni maiden start

  Leoni appeared for Liverpool for the first time since joining them from Parma in a deal worth €35 million (£30m/$41m) during the summer transfer window. Slot decided to rest the regular centre-back pair of Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate, as Leoni started alongside Joe Gomez. Unfortunately, his debut game against Southampton ended in agony as he was forced off the pitch on a stretcher following an awkward landing after a challenge on the touchline.

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  Slot's update on Leoni's condition

  The Liverpool boss provided a bleak update on the defender's condition after the game, telling reporters: "Of course, he is down because for him it didn’t feel good immediately, but this is something now we have to assess. Normally, these things don’t happen in five to 10 minutes and you have to wait for tomorrow to see how he comes in and then maybe do an MRI scan to know more about how serious it is.

  "Normally, the emotions of a player tell you a lot. I saw during the weekend a player in the Dutch Eredivisie who went out completely in tears – Ruben van Bommel, by the way, of PSV – and a day later it proved to be that it was right. Let’s hope for the best."

• Liverpool clinch win despite Ekitike's red card

  Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitike were on target as the Reds clinched a narrow 2-1 win over Championship side Southampton to progress in the Carabao Cup. Ekitike came off the bench in the second half to score the late winner, but he picked up a second yellow card for celebrating the goal by removing his shirt. 

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  Palace test next for Liverpool

  Liverpool will be back in action in the Premier League this Saturday as they take on in-form Crystal Palace, but Ekitike will be suspended for the trip to Selhurst Park, with fellow summer signing Isak in line to start in his place.

MatériaMais Notícias

O meia-atacante Guilherme Soares, de 16 anos, é o novo reforço para as categorias de base do Bahia. Ele chega ao Tricolor após se destacar no Campeonato Paulista Sub-17, neste ano, ao defender a camisa do Botafogo-SP, com contrato definitivo de três anos.

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Natural de Rio das Ostras, Região dos Lagos do Rio de Janeiro, Guilherme iniciou no futebol nas categorias de base do Macaé. Após chamar a atenção pela boa qualidade técnica, agilidade e a finalização precisa, o meia-atacante se transferiu para o Botafogo de Ribeirão Preto. Com números positivos, ele reforça o Bahia e espera crescer dentro das quatro linhas.

– Estou feliz com essa grande oportunidade de estar jogando num dos maiores clubes do Brasil. Vou me dedicar bastante, buscar sempre melhorar em campo e poder realizar um grande trabalho. Espero conquistar o meu espaço, títulos e grandes triunfos para o clube – projetou Guilherme, que fez questão de destacar o ponto principal que o fez optar pelo Esquadrão:

– Entre as propostas apresentadas, a que mais me chamou a atenção foi justamente a do clube. Junto aos meus representantes, da Pantera Sport, escolhemos o Bahia por conta do seu projeto e pelo novo momento vivido através da SAF – complementou o meia-atacante.

Guilherme vem se preparando para a disputa do Campeonato Brasileiro Sub-17, que terá início em julho. O Bahia está no Grupo B ao lado do Atlético-GO, Cruzeiro, Fortaleza, Goiás, Grêmio, Palmeiras, Santos, São Paulo e Athletico-PR, adversário da estreia. A partida será no dia 5, às 15h, no Estádio de Pituaçu, em Salvador.

Filling in as opener, Babar Azam had a good day with the bat but was left to ponder what could have been

Danyal Rasool06-Jan-2025Babar Azam found himself rooted to the crease in disgust. He couldn’t believe the shot he’d played after being set on a surface where there was limited threat from either the pitch or the bowlers. He must have thought he’d never make that mistake again, but two sessions later it happened.So, on a day where Babar scored two half-centuries, the bigger talking point surrounded his shot selection. Well set during Pakistan’s first innings in the opening session, Kwena Maphaka had bowled one well down leg side, and managed to coax Babar into tickling it through to the wicketkeeper. It has been a persistent issue with Babar – the strangle down leg. But then again, so is his manner of dismissal two sessions later when, in the dying throes of the day, he threw his hands at a wide delivery from Marco Jansen, and edged it straight to gully.Related

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Babar admitted the dismissals meant it was disappointment rather than relief that dominated his emotions. “I’m very disappointed with both innings. I started well, but didn’t finish well,” he said. “If you settle, you must go much bigger. That is why I was a bit upset. There were just 15 minutes left.”It was all the more frustrating because South Africa posed no danger of dismissing either him or Shan Masood, who scored an unbeaten hundred. Having sent down nearly a hundred overs across the two innings, their discipline over the last two sessions had been poor; they bowled 10 no-balls in 49 overs of the second innings. There was almost no swing or movement of the seam, and Pakistan’s openers appeared set to finish the day unbeaten, looking to salvage something after the disaster of the first.”The conditions here are different from Centurion,” Babar said. “When you come to South Africa, you don’t expect that [the pitch will be so flat]. With the new ball, it was a bit challenging, but once you settled down and built a partnership, it became easier. But there are some rough patches; you saw a couple of overs from Maharaj to Shan which got some turn and bounce. So the spinner is a bit of a challenge for the batter. But against the fast bowler, if you’re settled, just play your normal game.”There was, however, some relief for Babar. After about two years without a Test fifty, he had scored three on the trot, a run stretching back to the second innings in Centurion. However, all three dismissals were down to poor shot selection rather than bowlers working him out.”I should have capitalised during our partnership, but unfortunately it didn’t happen,” he said. “In the second innings, my partnership with Shan has helped us come back into the game a little. Tomorrow, we have to try and build a partnership, and the longer those partnerships are the more pressure there’ll be on South Africa.”But there is a bigger picture, one that his continued struggle of late has put him in a better position to appreciate. He is the highest run-scorer for Pakistan this series, and now has something every batter values: competitive time at the crease under his belt.”Things change in life all the time,” he said. “I learned a lot during this time [of poor form] when what I wanted to do I wasn’t able to do, and when I couldn’t do the things that people expected of me. I just kept telling myself to stay calm, and believe that my ability and hard work would be vindicated, and to try and enjoy myself. But what was really important was to spend some time on the pitch, and thankfully [that has happened this series].”

The first Test against Australia in Perth will be India’s first competitive match on tour after the BCCI scrapped a three-day intra-squad game at the WACA.Bidding for a third straight Test series victory in Australia, India’s tour was set to start against India A in a warm-up behind closed doors from November 15-17.But ESPNcricinfo understands India’s hierarchy have changed plans and instead opted for the squad to train during those three days, which will include net sessions and centre wicket match simulation scenarios at the WACA.Australia will likely train at the WACA after India’s stint at the ground in what will be important preparation for some players who have had limited matches under their belt.”Going to be some good centre wickets with our boys bowling in Perth, in similar conditions to what you’re going to get at Optus Stadium. [It’s] probably going to be enough,” Steven Smith recently said about preparing for the Test series with centre wicket practice at the WACA.India had initially decided on an intra-squad game as their sole warm-up before the first Test starting on November 22 rather than a practice match against an Australian domestic side.This is a departure from their last two tours of Australia having begun the red-ball leg of their 2020-21 tour with a three-day game against Australia A, while they played a four-day game against a Cricket Australia XI ahead of the 2018-19 series.The intra-squad match at the WACA was set to be played behind closed doors at the request of India’s hierarchy. There had been hope initially that the game would be open to the public much like India’s two matches against a WA XI side before the 2022 T20 World Cup.Near capacity crowds of around 2500 fans at the WACA, which is currently under redevelopment, attended those matches with a AU$5 entry fee going towards the WA Cricket Foundation.India’s squad is set to depart for Australia shortly after the third and final Test against New Zealand in Mumbai finishes on November 5.Led by Ruturaj Gaikwad, India A were supposed to play India’s Test squad after their four-day matches against Australia A in Mackay and the MCG.India A’s 15-player squad had staggered arrivals into Brisbane on October 25 and 26, with the first contingent of players faced with a delay disembarking off their flight due to an unwell passenger.

Earlier, O’Rourke completed his five-for as Sri Lanka folded for 305 in their first innings

Madushka Balasuriya19-Sep-2024Partnerships were the name of the game as New Zealand strung together several of significance to come within 50 runs of Sri Lanka’s first-innings total of 305 at stumps on day two in Galle.There were breezy fifties from Tom Latham and Kane Williamson, and Rachin Ravindra also put forward an aggressive cameo. By the time an extended final session ended 15 minutes early due to bad light, there were more names on that list, as Daryl Mitchell and Tom Blundell had put together an unbeaten stand of 59 off 105. Theirs was the fourth 50-plus stand of the innings on a day that belonged almost in totality to the visitors.All this happened despite a rain-curtailed morning session during which only 15 minutes of play were possible. But that was all it took for New Zealand to pick up the remaining three Sri Lanka wickets.Related

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Sri Lanka’s best moments of the day were just that – moments – as their bowlers struggled to put together any periods of concerted pressure. Despite the surface offering turn, none of the four spinners used by the hosts were able to find consistent lines and lengths – either due to the strong breeze across the stadium or the New Zealand batters’ proactiveness in using their feet as well as a variety of sweeps.The hosts were also unable to build on any of the wickets to fall, with each new batter settling in quickly. Only a burst from Dhananjaya de Silva, when he dismissed Williamson and Ravindra in the space of two overs, offered a glimmer of Sri Lankan dominance, but that hope was snuffed out quickly by Mitchell and Blundell.Kusal Mendis took an excellent catch to send back Kane Williamson•Associated PressThe rest of the spinners’ figures told a story. Prabath Jayasuriya toiled for 31 overs for figures of 99 for 1, easily his worst in Galle thus far, while Ramesh Mendis’ 17 overs went for 69 and brought a solitary scalp. Kamindu Mendis was used only for one over that went for eight.Earlier in the day, it was Latham and Williamson who proved to be Sri Lanka’s tormentors. Latham, in particular, provided the blueprint during his 111-ball 70, both with his footwork and, more potently, prolific use of the sweep and reverse sweep.While Devon Conway never really looked anywhere close to his flowing best, labouring his way to 17 off 59 deliveries, Latham was more than making up for it at the other end. This ensured a solid opening stand of 63, one brought to an end against the run of play – and upon review – with Conway missing one from Ramesh Mendis that straightened after pitching.Instead of bringing Sri Lanka back into proceedings, the wicket only hastened New Zealand’s advancement as Williamson easily matched Latham’s urgency. Within his first 14 deliveries, the former captain had cut, pulled and lofted two boundaries and a six, and while that rate of scoring was never going to be maintained, the Sri Lanka spinners’ wayward lines allied with expert manoeuvring from both Williamson and Latham meant dot balls were rarely strung together.Daryl Mitchell attempts a reverse sweep, a shot New Zealand’s batters used quite often against spin•Associated PressThat Sri Lanka eventually broke the 73-run stand, which took only 120 balls, was down to the batter’s error more than the bowlers’ effectiveness, as Latham’s most potent weapon – the sweep – became his undoing, when he top-edged to backward square leg off Jayasuriya at the stroke of tea.There was no respite for Sri Lanka in the final session either, as Ravindra managed to further up the ante over the course of a 48-ball 39. His expert use of the depth of the crease also meant any error in length was punished square of the wicket on either side.The Williamson-Ravindra stand of 51 took just 84 deliveries, and were it not for a piece of brilliance from wicketkeeper Kusal Mendis – leaping forward past the stumps to hold on to a leading edge of Williamson – it was hard to see where a breakthrough might have come from. Ravindra himself fell shortly after, leaving an arm ball that clattered into his off stump and punching his bat in disgust on the way back to the dressing room. But Sri Lanka’s joy was short-lived as Mitchell and Blundell negotiated safely whatever was thrown at them, including a period of short-ball barrages from Asitha Fernando.During the heavily rain-affected morning session, William O’Rourke starred once more, adding two further wickets to his overnight tally, to end with figures of 5 for 55 as Sri Lanka were bowled out adding just three runs to their overnight total.

Mark Wood’s pivotal five-wicket haul on the final day of England’s 3-0 Test sweep against West Indies comes as a belated reward for his gut-busting work throughout the series, captain Ben Stokes says.Having missed the first Test, Wood’s memorable spell of searing pace in the second at Trent Bridge netted him just two wickets for the match, but an incisive six-over spell after lunch on the third day at Edgbaston swung the match entirely in England’s favour, quite literally. His combination of pace and reverse-swing saw him take West Indies’ last five wickets in the space of 21 balls and gave him figures of 5 for 40 from 14 overs, to add to his 2 for 52 from West Indies’ first innings.It also meant England needed just 82 runs in their second innings to win the match, Stokes’s unbeaten 57 off 28 balls and Ben Duckett’s 25 off 16 taking them past the target in just 7.2 overs for a 10-wicket victory.Related

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“The rewards that he got there I think was sort of later than he actually deserved to get them,” Stokes said of Wood at the post-match presentation. “The effort that he always puts in when he wears his England shirt is just phenomenal. He’s got the heart of a lion and that little 45 minutes to an hour period there when he had the ball is exactly what you want as a captain.”Fast, extremely skilful, and he really blew the game open there for us, but he was just phenomenal. I’m just extremely happy for him. He definitely deserved more than what he got, but it’s great to see him walk off with a five-for.”Player of the Match Wood admitted his haul came as a “bit of relief”.”At lunchtime I was down and frustrated, but I focused on the skills side of things,” Wood said. “The first wicket got me in the game, gave a lot of confidence and I went from there. I think you have to adapt to the conditions. My role in the team is to bowl fast. Hopefully I can do that for the rest of the summer.”But Stokes emphasised Wood’s importance to the team.”Woody knows how much he affects the game from the other end,” Stokes said. “He might not always get the rewards bowling as fast as he does and as skilful as he does. He puts so much pressure onto the two guys out in the middle, and it might be the other bloke who gets the wicket at the other end. That spell this afternoon was just phenomenal. It just looked like he was going to take a wicket every ball and obviously when the ball’s reverse swinging at 93 miles an hour, it’s definitely going to be a lot harder.”Stokes was also delighted with England Player of the Series Gus Atkinson who took 22 wickets at an average of 16.22 for the series, which comprised the first three matches of his fledgling Test career, and with Jamie Smith, who fell five runs shy of a maiden century in England’s first innings at Edgbaston, playing just his third Test after scoring 70 on debut at Lord’s. Smith’s 95 in Birmingham was crucial after England had stumbled to 54 for 5 in their first innings.”Gus and Jamie, what a first series in international cricket for those two,” Stokes said. “Gus’s debut just couldn’t have gone any better, taking 12 in the game, but I think even then he’s just improved every single spell he’s come on.”He’s been exposed to different conditions from Lords, slightly flatter wickets where it’s easier for batting, and then this week, slower wicket, but the ball started to reverse and he showed the skills he had there. It’s great to be able to throw the ball to two guys who have high pace, but with extreme skill.”Jamie Smith, I know he’s played some exceptional knocks, but as a keeper, you want to be unnoticed and I think behind the stumps he’s been absolutely exceptional. He’s grown into that number seven role without any experience whatsoever, and he’s just filtered into this team absolutely perfect. I’m really happy for those two.”Stokes also acknowledged that England’s performances in this series marked a refinement of their Bazball ethos, even if scoring 87 off just 44 balls in the run-chase harked back to its earlier incarnations.”You look at where we were in this game, we were 50 for 5,” Stokes said. “Eighteen months, or two years ago, we might have responded to that situation in sort of a one-dimensional way, but now every person who goes out when we’re under the pressure knows what’s expected of them and what’s expected of them is to go out there and play what best suits them to assess the situation. Always obviously looking to put pressure back onto the opposition, but just being smart with your choices.”I don’t think we should underestimate this win as a side, but also as fans. West Indies put up a pretty decent total. We were 50 for 5 and then to come back and win in three days, I think that’s absolutely exceptional and it’s credit to where the team has progressed from when me and Brendon [McCullum] had taken over. So this is a very, very good win.”One down side for England was the news that Zak Crawley had suffered a fractured finger while fielding earlier in the day. The injury paved the way for Stokes to smash the fastest fifty by an England Test batter opening in his place but the longer term impact was unknown amid suggestions Crawley may have to undergo surgery.

With the 49ers’ takeover complete and Russell Martin appointed, Rangers have now reportedly opened talks to sign a Premier League veteran who could become one of their first arrivals of the summer.

Rangers officially appoint Russell Martin

After much deliberation and countless links with moves for the likes of Davide Ancelotti and former manager Steven Gerrard, Rangers finally came to the decision to hire Russell Martin on Thursday. The former Southampton boss is back in the technical area for the first time since his St Mary’s stint ended with the sack and will be well aware of the extent of the task that he now has on his hands.

By the end of his tenure, the former Norwich City defender will be desperate to be up there with the most successful managers in the club’s history. Whether he is able to stop the trend of Celtic dominance in the Scottish Premiership remains to be seen, however.

Welcoming Martin, new sporting director Kevin Thelwell told Rangers’ media channels: “We went through a quite diligent and thorough process and tried to use the time we had at our disposal to the very best opportunity. Right from the very start, it was clear to me, and the other guys involved in the process, that Russell was the standout candidate. He was outstanding.

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“He has a lot of experience as a manager and head coach, and over the course of that career it’s been clear to see that he’s sharpened that approach in his methods, in terms of technical, tactical, and also from a personal perspective.”

The new sporting director has wasted no time before turning his focus towards the transfer market after appointing Martin, either. The Gers have even reportedly made their first move to sign an experienced Premier League defender this summer.

Rangers open talks to sign Coady

As reported by Daily Record, Rangers have now opened talks to sign Conor Coady from Leicester City, seeking to find out what it would take to make a deal happen this summer. The experienced defender has just one year left on his current deal at the club and will, therefore, have a decision to make sooner rather than later.

Given that Thelwell is reportedly an admirer of Coady too, the former Wolverhampton Wanderers captain may find himself near the top of Rangers’ wishlist in the coming months.

Whilst it’s fair to assume that Coady’s price tag could drop this summer given how little time remains on his current Leicester deal, there may be no escaping his £75,000-a-week salary for Rangers if they decide to make their move.

Whether Rangers deem the defender’s experience invaluable enough to match his current salary will be the question.

To Coady’s credit, even at 32 years old and part of a relegated squad, he still found himself at the centre of Leicester boss Ruud van Nistelrooy, who told reporters last season: “He is a big part in this squad. He’s one of our leaders.

“He’s such a character that when he doesn’t play, he’s still that leader, he’s still helping the team, coaching the team, talking to players, pushing everybody to their highest levels in training sessions. “

As they look to build on a stunning Premier League title win in Arne Slot’s first season in charge, FSG are reportedly on high alert as Liverpool race to sign a talented Champions League star this summer.

Liverpool's summer plans begin to take shape

The Reds may be in celebration mode, and rightly so after an emphatic campaign, but that hasn’t stood in the way of some early summer planning. Even as champions, it’s clear that Slot’s side have another level to reach and the Dutchman, himself, still has his own stamp to mark on the squad at his disposal. And that should be seen as no bad thing at Anfield.

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Without any significant incomings last summer, the former Feyenoord boss managed to achieve what many believed to be the unthinkable this season. Now, if FSG back Slot in the form of arrivals this time around, the possibilities could be endless.

On the transfer front, the rumours are already coming thick and fast too. Names such as Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitike have both been mentioned as reported targets in recent weeks and it’s clear that a forward will be among Liverpool’s priorities in the coming months.

What that will mean is the likely end for Darwin Nunez at Anfield. The struggling striker is reportedly expected to depart following three frustrating years, which have been full of moments or glimpses of quality rather than the star No.9 that Liverpool were looking to sign in 2022.

In a season of strengths, one of Liverpool’s weaknesses has come within their frontline amid inconsistencies from Diogo Jota, Nunez and even Luis Diaz at times – leaving Mohamed Salah to drag the Reds to victory.

The Egyptian has enjoyed a historic season whilst those around him have struggled to stand out and could yet have a new-look attack to work with as a result next season.

FSG attentive to Morgan Rogers' situation

One player who would certainly help light a fresh spark in Liverpool’s attacking play is Morgan Rogers. According to Fabrizio Romano for Give Me Sport, FSG are on high alert in the race to sign Rogers and Liverpool have scouted the Aston Villa star several times. Any deal will not be easy, however, given Villa’s place as a European competitor these days and their reluctance to sell one of their best players.

Whilst Rogers wouldn’t feature directly in Liverpool’s frontline, his influence from midfield would only add another outlet for the Premier League champions, just as it has done for Villa this season.

Praised for his “fantastic season” by scout Jacek Kulig, Rogers has scored 14 goals in all competitions whilst assisting a further 13 throughout the current campaign. To put it simply, the interest of the Premier League champions should come as little surprise.