Wolves: Lage struck gold on ‘phenomenal’ £9.5m signing who’s now worth £17m

Wolverhampton Wanderers have had a trialling time since the departure of Nuno Espirito Santo, having seen three managers take charge of the squad since his farewell in 2021.

The Portuguese coach restored Premier League football at Molineux, as well as taking the Old Gold on a European journey, reaching the quarter-finals of the 2019/20 Europa League just two seasons after their promotion.

After four years in the Midlands, the 49-year-old left by mutual decision after Wolves hit poor form, replaced by Bruno Lage who was dismissed just 16 months later when the club were in the relegation zone last season.

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Former Real Madrid boss Julen Lopetegui stepped in to save the day before being swiftly replaced by Gary O’Neil this summer, after struggling to accept the financial burdens the club were struck with.

Over the last few years, Wolves have seen a decline in performance and direction, however have remained in a far better position than what could have been, thanks to some of the talent in the ranks.

Despite ending their times at Molineux as a result of bad form, Lage and Nuno combined to hand the Old Gold one of their top performers in recent times, delivering Rayan Ait-Nouri to the Midlands.

How much did Rayan Ait-Nouri cost Wolves?

Signed on a loan deal from French outfit Angers in 2020 by Nuno, the Algerian was snatched up permanently by Lage after impressing during his season-long spell in the Premier League.

Wolves paid a £9.5m fee to secure the youngster on a five-year deal in 2021, with the option for an additional year, a small cost for a talent with so much potential.

Lauded as “phenomenal” aged just 19 by journalist Tim Spiers, the full-back settled in quickly in the English top-flight, recording 21 appearances in his debut campaign before making his move permanent.

Now, the 22-year-old has made 70 Premier League appearances for Wolves, scoring three goals and registering five assists as he continues to show his worth in the Midlands at left-back.

How much is Rayan Ait-Nouri worth now?

Having made five appearances for O’Neil’s side already in the 2023/24 league campaign, the £10k-per-week maestro is excelling on the flank, showing his ability to play in the ever-popular inverted role to exploit his attacking strengths.

Sporting an expected transfer value (xTV) of €6.6m (£5.7m), as per Football Transfers, in the summer of 2020, just prior to his loan move to Wolves, the one-cap Algeria international has seen his value soar since his arrival in England.

Currently, the 22-year-old is valued at around €20m (£17m) by CIES Football Observatory, showing a gradual rise in his market value, telling of his improvement and rise to prominence at Molineux.

At left-back, Ait-Nouri has performed as one of the standout full-backs in Europe as supported by FBref’s statistics.

The defender ranked in the top 3% of fullbacks in Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for his rate of successful take-ons, averaging a mammoth 2.21 per 90, as well as ranking in the top 7% for his 2.95 tackles per 90, via FBref.

Lage certainly struck gold by welcoming the dynamic Algerian on a permanent deal, with the defender having the potential to make the Old Gold millions in the future.

Big clubs set to move for Arsenal target Caicedo

Arsenal could be one of the sides who may make a move for Moises Caicedo in the summer, with Brighton & Hove Albion expecting approaches from big clubs.

Do Arsenal still want Caicedo?

Over the January transfer window, the Gunners’ interest in Caicedo was well reported with the Seagulls believed to have knocked back two offers from Mikel Arteta’s side.

And since the winter window, the midfielder has put pen to paper on a new deal on the south coast which will see his contractual stay through until 2027.

Now with four years remaining on his deal at the Amex Stadium, Arsenal may have a tougher task on their hands if they are to pursue their interest in the Ecuadorian.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Fabrizio Romano has claimed the new deal at Brighton does not include a release clause, with the Seagulls expecting bigger clubs to come knocking in the summer:

“The expectation is for big clubs to be back again in the summer. So things will happen again around Moises Caicedo in the summer; of course, Brighton will be stronger in the negotiation after this new contract. There is no release clause in the contract of Moises Caicedo, but he’s one to watch in the summer, for sure.”

Is Caicedo worth the money?

It is believed the Gunners had offered in the region of £70m for Caicedo in January, which does beg the question of what Brighton will now be asking for him.

Having penned a new deal, the Seagulls now appear to be in a stronger position than they were earlier in the year to demand a higher fee for their midfielder.

Arsenal have also been linked with a potential move for Declan Rice this summer, who only has one-year remaining on his current deal at West Ham United.

The pair have established themselves as two of the best in the Premier League in their position but this new deal may potentially eliminate the notion of going for both in the summer.

Rice has proven the bigger attacking threat – albeit only scoring twice – having provided more shot-creating actions per 90 minutes in comparison to Caicedo (via FBref).

However, the Brighton man has averaged more tackles and passes per 90 minutes compared to the England midfielder this season.

Having also offered more tackles per 90 than current Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey, Caicedo has shown signs of potentially being able to provide the Gunners with a long-term option in midfield.

However, this new deal may potentially put a spanner in the works, with the asking price possibly skyrocketing on the back of the contract extension.

Newcastle Transfer News: Hirving Lozano Linked With Deadline-Busting Move

Newcastle United have enjoyed a fairly strong start to the Premier League season, humiliating Aston Villa on the opening day, 5-1 before suffering a narrow 1-0 defeat against Premier League champions Manchester City.

Eddie Howe's side could get even better yet, too, with the transfer window coming to a close, and reports suggesting that the Magpies could make a last-gasp attempt to welcome another attacking reinforcement.

What's the latest Newcastle United transfer news?

So far this summer, Newcastle have welcomed a total of five fresh faces, with Harvey Barnes, Sandro Tonali, and, most-recently, Lewis Hall being the pick of the bunch.

Whilst Hall is still awaiting his debut after securing his move from Chelsea so recently, Barnes and Tonali have already impressed for their new club, scoring on their respective debuts against Aston Villa.

It comes as little surprise that Newcastle have added plenty of depth this summer, too, given that they've got Champions League football to contend with this season, as well as an attempt to make it back-to-back top four finishes in the Premier League.

Howe will know just how important it is to welcome as much quality as possible if he wants to compete on all fronts, and with that, could reportedly add one more reinforcement.

According to Spazio Napoli, as per Sport Witness, Newcastle could make a "last-minute" attempt to sign Napoli winger Hirving Lozano before the summer transfer window comes to an end.

The Mexican has found himself at somewhat of a crossroads in Italy with his contract coming to an end next summer, and Napoli keen to cash in, perhaps ending in a farewell in the coming days.

It remains to be seen just how much the Serie A champions would demand for Lonzano, but, given that his contract comes to an end next summer, it will not be an inflated price.

Should Newcastle United sign Hirving Lozano?

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After losing Allan Saint-Maximin to Saudi Arabia this summer, Newcastle could certainly do with depth on the flanks, even after welcoming Barnes.

Lozano, like Saint-Maximin, is more of a direct option than others, with his take-on success sitting at 48.7% last season, and significantly better than Barnes' 29.7%. Saint-Maximin, meanwhile, had a take-on success rate of 57.6%.

At his best, Lozano is a player capable of causing havoc in one-on-one situations, and has earned plenty of praise when on top form in the past, including from former Napoli manager Luciano Spalleti.

Spalleti said, via American Post: "He is a splendid boy, above all, of a unique quality. But here everyone has that ability. He is very good, he has delayed his condition a bit in this championship due to the injury he suffered. Now I see him very motivated and smiling. I see him a bit like Osimhen, I see him in the right environment for him."

Read the latest Newcastle transfer news HERE…

With that said, everything points towards a player that Newcastle would do well in welcoming before the end of the transfer window. As things stand, however, their interest is that, and only that, as we wait and see whether they push on with a deal for Lozano.

West Ham Can Find Payet 2.0 In Swoop For £184k-p/w Maestro

It has been a frustrating summer transfer window so far for West Ham United as they are yet to make their first senior addition to David Moyes' squad.

Who have West Ham sold this summer?

The Hammers lost captain Declan Rice to Premier League rivals Arsenal for a staggering £105m fee and have sold left-back Arthur Masuaku to Besiktas.

Argentine attacking midfielder Manuel Lanzini was also released upon the expiry of his contract at the end of the 2022/23 campaign, after 226 appearances for the club over an eight-year spell in London.

Read the latest West Ham transfer news HERE…

They have not replaced any of the outgoing so far but Moyes still has over a month to go until the end of the window and one player who has been linked with a move to the club is Inter playmaker Hakan Calhanoglu.

How good is Hakan Calhanoglu?

The Turkey international has proven himself to be an outstanding performer in the Serie A over the years and he could arrive as Dimitri Payet 2.0 for West Ham if his form translates over to English football.

Calhanoglu is a set-piece master who has the ability to score stunning goals whilst also being able to split open the opposition to create chances for his teammates on a regular basis.

The 29-year-old has found the back of the net 25 times from direct free-kicks throughout his career, which includes one he scored from almost the halfway line for Hamburg against Borussia Dortmund in the Bundesliga nine years ago.

Payet was renowned for his exceptional dead-ball ability during his time in England. His phenomenal free-kick goals against Crystal Palace and top-six side Manchester United stand out as two of his most memorable strikes.

Former West Ham star Dimitri Payet.

The France international offered more than just set-piece goals, though, as he racked up an impressive nine goals and 12 assists across 30 Premier League games during the 2015/16 campaign.

Payet offered a huge threat in the final third with his ability to score and create goals on a regular basis. He produced a whopping 16 'big chances' for his teammates that season, which shows that the mercurial dynamo consistently opened up the opposition with his passing ability.

Calhanoglu, who was hailed as "exceptional" by ex-boss Stefano Pioli, played the majority of his matches in a defensive midfield role last season but his form as a central midfielder during the 2021/22 campaign suggests that he has the potential to be a Payet-esque figure for Moyes.

The £184k-per-week magician scored seven goals and provided 12 assists across 33 Serie A starts, whilst he also created 13 'big chances' for his fellow attackers. Whereas, no Hammers ace was able to assist more than five Premier League goals last term.

He is capable of being a consistently brilliant performer as the talented maestro averaged a sublime Sofascore rating of 7.53 that season. Meanwhile, no West Ham player managed a score higher than 7.19 during the 2022/23 campaign.

Therefore, Calhanoglu could be an outstanding signing for Moyes in midfield and has the potential to be a Payet 2.0 with his phenomenal set-piece quality and ability to make a significant impact at the top end of the pitch week-in-week-out.

Liverpool could have signed £51m Endo upgrade at Anfield

Liverpool focused exclusively on the reshaping of the midfield this summer after falling by the wayside last season, with manager Jurgen Klopp and sporting director Jorg Schamdtke working tirelessly to get the Premier League club back on track this year.

When the German manager took the reins in 2015, Anfield was in a state of disarray, with the club failing to sustain a spot at the upper echelon of the league ladder and yielding just one Carabao Cup title – in 2012 – since Steven Gerrard's unforgettable ranged volley saved Liverpool from defeat against West Ham United in the 2006 FA Cup final, with Rafa Benitez's side then prevailing on penalties.

Klopp transformed the Reds and has led them to success across nearly every possible front – notably winning the Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup – but last season the wheels fell off and Liverpool languished to a fifth-placed finish, missing out on this year's Champions League edition.

To replenish the ranks, James Milner, Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain all left in June upon the expiry of their contracts, while Fabinho and Jordan Henderson were sold to Saudi Arabian sides – Fabio Carvalho also left for RB Leipzig on loan.

Alexis Mac Allister

£35m

Dominik Szoboszlai

£60m

Wataru Endo

£16m

Ryan Gravenberch

£34m

All fees sourced via Sky Sports

Four new faces have been introduced to the centre, and while the 2023/24 campaign is still in its early phase, ten points from a possible 12 in the English top-flight tantalises a season of far greater success.

While the acquisitions have mostly sent the Kop into rapture, there were a few missed tricks on the summer market, with two notable blunders resulting in the unlikely and unanticipated signing of Wataru Endo from German side Stuttgart.

Why did Liverpool sign Wataru Endo?

After signing Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai to commence what was promised to be an exciting summer, a rich profusion of optimism sprouted across the red half of Merseyside.

The subsequent £40m sale of Fabinho to Al-Ittihad did open a hole in the defensive section of the midfield, however, and the next port of call was clear for all to see.

Wataru-Endo-Liverpool

Romeo Lavia was the No. 1 target to replace the Brazilian anchor, with Liverpool the clear favourites after pushing for the player for the majority of July, though following a triad of unsuccessful bids, the fan disgruntlement started to be heard.

In a shocking turn of events, Liverpool lodged a £111m bid for Brighton & Hove Albion's Moises Caicedo, and while this staggering offer was accepted by the Seagulls, the player's preference to join Chelsea – who had been in pursuit all summer – stuffed Liverpool's advances and left Klopp and co hot under the collar.

Lavia and Caicedo would both ultimately join Chelsea, with the Stamford Bridge side prevailing in a high-profile transfer battle and leaving Liverpool to delve down a deeper path to sign the experienced Endo.

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The 30-year-old, who has been described as a "proper warrior and leader" by Bundesliga commentator Kevin Thatchard, was an impressive cog for Stuttgart and crucial to their battles against relegation, making 133 appearances.

As per FBref, the £50k-per-week ace ranks among the top 12% of midfielders across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for clearances, the top 9% for aerial wins and the top 22% for blocks per 90 – highlighting the tenacity and defensive application that Liverpool so craved to thread their midfield together.

The 50-cap Japan captain has made three displays for Liverpool so far and has completed 89% of his passes, and while he looks to be a dependable option for the side, he's not the man to cement a starring role for years to come.

While both Lavia and Caicedo would have been preferable at the time, Liverpool could have prevented an entire summer of tumult had they acted on interest in Manuel Ugarte, who joined Paris Saint-Germain in a €60m (£51m) deal in the early days of July.

How good is Manuel Ugarte?

With a summer rebuild on the horizon, the murmurings in the months preceding the transfer window were that Liverpool were going to ruthlessly target a defensive midfielder to replace Fabinho.

The 29-year-old had been a stalwart for the Reds but had declined during the 2022/23 season, at the epicentre of the club's strife and branded "awful" by pundit Jamie Carragher for his shoddy performances.

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Ugarte, plying his trade for Sporting Lisbon at the time, was attracting attention from Europe's most imperious outfits after impressing in Portugal.

According to Portuguese outlet Record – via Sport Witness – Liverpool were even mooted to be favourites for the Uruguayan titan's signature in May, but they failed to follow up their interest and he ultimately joined the Ligue 1 champions despite the best efforts of Chelsea.

Having been dubbed a "warrior" – just like Endo – by talent scout Jacek Kulig, Ugarte chalked up 85 appearances for the Leões, winning the 21/22 Taca da Liga.

The 22-year-old ranks among the top 9% of midfielders across Europe for pass completion, the top 4% for successful take-ons, the top 1% for tackles and the top 11% for interceptions per 90.

These metrics highlight the player's robustness and ubiquity in the midfield of the park, snuffing out danger and ploughing into opposing attackers with the strength and vigour of a charging bull, also among the best, most crisp passers the game has to offer.

Sporting CP's Manuel Ugarte

Endo simply doesn't have the same level of natural energy or technicality, ranking only among the top 61% of midfielders for pass completion and the top 55% for tackles per 90.

His high rate of clearances illuminates his workrate and dedication to sweeping away trouble, but Ugarte trumps him across the most important facets of the defensive midfield game.

Once praised as a "machine" in midfield by Kulig, Ugarte is thriving in France and has been noted for his "amazing" start to the campaign by one discerning football writer.

Liverpool may yet enjoy a successful campaign, but Klopp must have rued the missed chance to snap up an immense talent in Ugarte this summer, who would have been perfect to hold the Anfield centre together with a steely grip for the coming age.

Man United: Huge club emerges in race for "great" United player

Manchester United have rarely got things in the transfer market in the last decade or so, with the likes of Angel di Maria, Romelu Lukaku, and Alexis Sanchez all failing to make the required impact at Old Trafford. The arrival of Erik ten Hag looked likely to change things, however.

The Dutchman has seen arrivals such as Lisandro Martinez and Raphael Varane enjoy great success, with both signings playing a key part in United's impressive campaign last time out, which saw them win the Carabao Cup, and qualify for the Champions League.

There's not much Ten Hag could do about the players that he inherited, though, with the task of improving struggling stars a difficult one from the off. Now, having fallen out with one of those stars in the form of Jadon Sancho, a surprise club has emerged in the race to sign the frozen out winger.

What's the latest Jadon Sancho transfer news?

Sancho looked destined for greatness at Borussia Dortmund, with 50 goals and 64 assists in just 137 appearances for the Bundesliga giants to earn a move to Manchester United for a reported £73m.

Since that move to Old Trafford, however, the England international has been a shadow of the player who lit up the Bundesliga for Dortmund. Now, a player once destined for greatness, is one who looks likely to forever face the question of what went so disastrously wrong?

After falling out with Ten Hag, and being dropped from the Manchester United squad as a result, Sancho could now get the fresh start he so desperately needs, with a surprise club emerging.

According to Sport in Spain, Barcelona are interested in making a potential loan move for Sancho in January, with United keen to get the winger off their books come the winter transfer window, given that he earns a reported £350k per week at Old Trafford.

The report states that Xavi is "attentive" to the situation, and Barcelona are waiting to see what happens with the Red Devils' outcast in the coming months.

Should Barcelona sign Jadon Sancho?

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At his best, Sancho is a player capable of hitting double figures in goals and assists for the season. It could just be a case of somehow helping him rediscover the confidence to perform at such levels.

It would be a relatively risk-free deal for Barcelona in January, too, given that they would be pursuing a loan deal for the former Dortmund man, rather than anything permanent in January.

If they can help Sancho get back to his top form, then Xavi will have someone at his disposal who has earned the highest praise in the past, including from Harry Kane, who told Sky Sports after the Barcelona target's England debut: "He's great. Big congrats to him for his debut. I thought he came on and made an impact as well. He's been great in training and he has just got to keep working hard and playing games and I'm sure he will have a very bright future."

With that said, Sancho is certainly one to keep an eye on when the January transfer window comes around, particularly if Barcelona push on for his signature.

Wolves: Cost £0 and then sold for £25m, Wolves hit the jackpot with 2022 sale

Wolverhampton Wanderers have sold some huge names over the years with a list of star players adding to the list this summer.

Molineux has seen some change this year, with players, managers and coaching staff coming and going, as the club aims to battle their way out of their financial storm.

The Old Gold had a summer of financial restrictions due to Financial Fair Play (FFP) rulings, leading to the sales of the likes of Ruben Neves, Nathan Collins and most recently, Matheus Nunes.

Those three sales alone generated over £100m for the side, with the deadline day departure of Nunes to Manchester City amounting to a club record £53m departure.

Wolves made a profit on each of the three highlighted deals, with reference to the price they initially purchased the players for, recording some strong business moves to add to their list of cash-generating exits.

While this summer caught the headlines in terms of star departures, last summer under Bruno Lage marked another strong sale of Morgan Gibbs-White, and it's a move that could continue to be profitable for the Midlands club.

How much did Wolves sell Morgan Gibbs-White for?

Sold to Nottingham Forest in a deal worth a staggering £42.5m in total, Wolves received an initial payment of £25m for the services of Morgan Gibbs-White.

The deal that included an additional £17.5m in add-ons based on performance could still earn Wolves going forward, with the club having a sell-on clause remaining in his contract.

If the Englishman was sold by Forest this summer, the Old Gold would have received 15% of the profit, which has now expired, however, a 10% sell-on fee remains active past the point of his first year, via Express and Star.

Were Wolves right to sell Gibbs-White?

Considering the form that Gibbs-White has displayed at Forest, there’s some expectation that his value will rise to promote a significant sell-on fee in the future.

Steve Cooper’s side bid farewell to Brennan Johnson for a price of £47.5m, hinting at just how much the former Wolves academy star could one day exit for.

The success of the Old Gold’s sale of the 23-year-old is based on the fact that he cost the club nothing, with the midfielder rising through the ranks at the academy before impressing in the first team.

At the point of his exit, Gibbs-White had made 88 senior appearances for Wolves, scoring just three goals and registering one assist, making his move to the City Ground all the more profitable.

In hindsight, the Stafford-born star's talents could have been utilised to the benefit of those at Molineux last season, considering just how well he’s performed so far for the Reds.

Lauded as being a "menace in the final third” by U23 scout Antonio Mango, the Englishman contributed to 13 goals in his debut season at Forest, scoring five and assisting eight in 35 Premier League appearances.

Averaging a Sofascore match rating of 7.28 in the 2023/24 campaign so far, his form seems to be continuing, adding to the prospect that he could follow in Johnson’s footsteps by becoming the next big sale.

This outcome would certainly be positive for Wolves, who would once again profit from their academy starlet, who despite having an innate talent, was sold at the perfect time by the club as they hit the jackpot.

Nottingham Forest Willing To Pay £17m For "Excellent" Star

Nottingham Forest are now willing to trigger Stuttgart striker Serhou Guirassy's release clause, which is believed to be in the region of €15m – €20m (£13m – £17m), according to a recent report from Kicker.

Who are Nottingham Forest signing this summer?

Forest are still searching for a new striker ahead of their opening Premier League game against Arsenal this Saturday, and they recently made a bid for Rosario Central's Alejo Veliz, however they have missed out on his signature.

Tottenham Hotspur have now completed a deal for the 19-year-old, so Steve Cooper will have to turn his attention towards other targets, and the Reds have now enquired about Paris Saint-Germain forward Hugo Ekitike, who has also attracted the interest of West Ham United.

According to a report from German news outlet Kicker (via Sport Witness), the Tricky Trees are now interested in signing Guirassy, and they are willing to trigger his release clause, which stands at around €15m – €20m (£13m – £17m).

Given that the 27-year-old has a release clause in his contract, there is not much Stuttgart can do to keep hold of him, and he is keen on a move to the City Ground, which indicates a deal could be on the cards in the very near future.

Forest are set to push for the forward in the coming days, and it turns out he is not the only Stuttgart player they hold an interest in, as they are also keen on left-back Borna Sosa.

The German club are demanding a similar price for the 25-year-old, who could be available for a fee of around €15m (£13m), and the Reds are now poised to make contact with Stuttgart sporting director Fabian Wohlgemuth in the near future.

Who is Serhou Guirassy?

The Stuttgart forward was born in Arles, France, but he is a Guinea international, making seven appearances for the West African nation, and scoring two goals, most recently finding the back of the net against Brazil in a friendly back in June.

That is not the only time the former Rennes man has proven he is capable of performing against one of the world's best sides, having been lauded as "excellent" by journalist Josh Bunting for his display against Bayern Munich last season, bullying Matthijs de Ligt.

In each of his past four league seasons, the 6 foot 2 forward has amassed a minimum of nine league goals, performing very well in his first season in the Bundesliga last term, registering 11 goals in 22 league games, while also finding the back of the net in the relegation play-off.

Having averaged 0.49 non-penalty goals per 90 over the past year, it is clear the France-born striker is a very good finisher, but there may be some concern over the fact that he does not offer much else, failing to register a single assist in that timeframe.

That said, if Forest are to preserve their Premier League status next season, it would be very useful to have an out-and-out goalscorer, and Guirassy certainly fits the bill in that regard, so he could be a solid addition to the squad.

Liverpool: Reds could sign dream £22m Szoboszlai partner

Liverpool have embarked on a major rebuild of their midfield this summer, and now an update from a reliable source has revealed that the Merseyside giants could still yet add even more depth in the centre of the pitch.

Will Liverpool sign another player before the transfer window closes?

According to Italian journalist and transfer insider Fabrizio Romano, Liverpool are continuing to monitor Bayern Munich midfielder Ryan Gravenberch's situation ahead of the transfer window closing on Friday.

Romano revealed on social media:

"Ryan Gravenberch on his future: “I don‘t know what will happen in the next days”, told @cfbayern"

"Manchester United and Liverpool both asked to be informed on the situation until end of the window, in case Bayern will allow him to leave"

Will Liverpool sign another midfielder?

There is no doubt that Liverpool have undergone huge changes to the squad at Anfield this summer, with the club sanctioning exits for some of their most experienced players.

Read the latest Liverpool transfer news HERE…

Jordan Henderson, Fabinho, James Milner, Naby Keita, Roberto Firmino and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain have all moved on, whilst Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai and Wataru Endo have been acquired to freshen up the centre of pitch.

Whilst Jurgen Klopp will be delighted with the results tallied up over the opening games of the Premier League season, there is still a definite opportunity to add quality depth to the midfield over the dying days of the transfer window.

As a result, the signing of Gravenberch – who has a reported £22m price tag – would be a great piece of business for the Reds, as the young talent could be a huge prospect for the future of the team and possesses the profile needed to improve performances.

ryan-gravenberch-bayern-munich-premier-league-liverpool-transfers

The Ajax academy graduate – once dubbed "outstanding" by former Bayern sporting director Hasan Salihamidžić – has gone from strength to strength over his short career so far and has become one of the hottest youth prospects in Europe, despite finding himself lacking in game-time since joining the Bundesliga giants.

As per FBref, Gravenberch has ranked in the top 20% of his positional peers across the top five European leagues for shots on goal, shot-creating actions, progressive passes, successful take-ons and tackles per 90 minutes played, with both former Liverpool target Jude Bellingham and Mac Allister named as his most comparable players over the last 12 months. That is fine company indeed.

The 21-year-old's diverse range of skills would make him the perfect partner for Szoboszlai in the centre of the pitch, as he can not only provide the Liverpool midfielder with opportunities to progress the ball, but can give the Hungarian more freedom to impact the attacking third by providing solid defensive cover.

Szoboszlai has quickly become an extremely popular addition at Anfield with the 22-year-old a stand-out performer over his three league appearances so far – tallying up an 88% pass completion rate, a team high 1.7 key passes per match and won 5.3 duels per game, according to SofaScore.

It's frightening to think, therefore, that those numbers would increase with another strong midfielder such as Gravenberch beside him.

With that being said, it will be interesting to see whether Liverpool will look to add more depth to their midfield and make a move for the Bayern starlet over the remaining days of the window, as he could be an incredibly valuable asset to Klopp over the season ahead and beyond.

West Ham Agree Deal To Sign "World Class" 28 y/o

West Ham United have agreed a deal to sign another new player this summer ahead of the new Premier League season.

What’s the latest West Ham transfer news?

The Hammers and David Moyes have been quiet in the transfer market, with business so far on departures for Declan Rice, Gianluca Scamacca, Nikola Vlasic and Arthur Masuaku.

However, it looks set to be a busy final few weeks of the window when it comes to new signings. Ajax holding midfielder Edson Alvarez is on course to become the first addition of the summer in a deal worth £35m.

After Alvarez, Manchester United defender Harry Maguire is on course to move to the London Stadium, with a £30m agreement being reached on Wednesday. However, the centre-back won’t be the only England international to join the Hammers, with Southampton midfielder James Ward-Prowse the latest who the club have agreed to sign.

Read the latest West Ham transfer news HERE…

Sky Sports reporter Dharmesh Sheth shared an update on Wednesday evening regarding West Ham and Ward-Prowse, claiming ‘everything is done’ when it comes to terms being agreed in a £30m transfer.

“Good news for West Ham United. In the past few minutes, it’s just been confirmed to me, I’ll read it word by word – ‘Everything is done with JWP (James Ward-Prowse)’.

“We have an agreement between West Ham United and Southampton. We have an agreement, we think, on personal terms as well. It’s a £30m deal, it breaks down into a £30m deal but the conditions and the payment structure was more favourable for Southampton after that amount was rejected last month.

So that’s the deal that’s in place now, it’s a case of when and not if now that James Ward-Prowse will become a West Ham United player. Timetable wise, we think he will start his medical tomorrow and go into Friday as well. I’m told it is touch and go whether he will be registered in time to be available against Bournemouth.”

Southampton midfielder James Ward-Prowse.

How good is James Ward-Prowse?

Ward-Prowse has made an impressive 410 appearances for Southampton – 343 of which have come in the Premier League – so the central midfielder should offer plenty of experience to Moyes’ side.

The 28-year-old appears to be in his prime with a career-high Transfermarkt valuation and can play as a central, attacking or right midfielder. Former Saints manager Nathan Jones hailed the player last season, describing him as “world-class”.

"He's been outstanding. When I arrived at the club my first conversation with him was ten minutes after he didn't get picked for the England squad.

"Since that moment, he's been absolutely world-class for me. For me, the way he's been around it and the way he reacted – we're seeing his performances now that are motivated and driven."

As per FBref, Ward-Prowse has impressed over the past 12 months, ranking in the top 10% of midfielders for goals, key passes and crosses. He also places fairly highly for interceptions and clearances, showing his quality both on and off the balls.

It looks as if the Hammers will get their man, and alongside Alvarez, Ward-Prowse could form part of a new-look midfield for the upcoming campaign.

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