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Moises Caicedo was given excuse after terrible cameo debut in Chelsea loss to West Ham

The 21-year-old will not want to see his Blues debut back anytime soon.

After a shocking 37 minutes for his new team in a 3-1 loss to West Ham at the London Stadium, Chelsea midfielder Moises Caicedo has been given a lifeline.

In the final seconds of the second half, the midfielder gave away a penalty that allowed the Irons to win the game thanks to Lucas Paqueta, making it the worst possible start to his time with the Blues.

Chelsea, Brighton, and Liverpool had been negotiating for the Ecuadorian international for several months, but Mauricio Pochettino’s team ultimately prevailed after it appeared that Jurgen Klopp’s team might have snuck in with a last-minute £110 million offer.

However, he finally left the Seagulls for Chelsea last Monday for a British record fee of £115 million, and fans questioned whether a week of training with the team would be enough to earn him a starting spot against David Moyes’ team.

It appeared as though Sunday could be the start of the 21-year-old’s dream career when he was joined by former Southampton star Romeo Lavia as new midfield prospects for the team. But it wasn’t to be.

West Ham took the lead twice after Carney Chukwuemeka’s first-half goal, thanks to goals from Nayef Aguerd and Michail Antonio, but Caicedo’s substitution of vice captain Ben Chilwell appeared to further disrupt the Blues’ formation and cohesiveness.

The second half was painful to watch as Chelsea moved the ball around carelessly and erratically, leading to Caicedo’s defensive error in the end.

In addition to the penalty, he also committed eight separate turnovers of the ball and two fouls, all while teammates’ fans mocked him online.

Jamie Redknapp, a Sky Sports analyst, attributes those errors to a lack of recent playing time prior to joining the Blues and thinks his future in a Blue shirt will be much brighter.

Redknapp said, “We have the luxury of hindsight [on Pochettino’s substitutions], but perhaps using someone to release into midfield and maybe bringing Conor Gallagher and bringing [Moises] Caicedo in. However, when you speak to the stats guys here, he has not played for 60 days, and you can see that rustiness because he gives the penalty away.

“Only the manager can see how he has trained; he is new to the club and may have felt he wasn’t ready for 45 minutes yet, but he will improve because it can only get better after giving up a penalty on your debut.

“However, there were some aspects that they simply could not master in the second half despite having played very well in the first. “.

August 21, 2023
Liverpool could face $89m repeat of Aurélien Tchouaméni transfer problem but already has initial fix

Liverpool opted not to move for anyone else last summer when Aurélien Tchouaméni was unavailable, but Jürgen Klopp made no such mistake this time around.

Having secured a deal for Wataru Endo in time for the Japanese captain’s debut in this weekend’s 3-1 win over Bournemouth, attention will now turn to what else Liverpool can do before Friday’s transfer deadline .

Jürgen Klopp and Jörg Schmadtke could have hectic days ahead, with glaring gaps in the Liverpool squad still to be filled. But what is the next priority for the Reds?

On the one hand, Endo presents itself as a seemingly short-term solution. It’s too early to judge, but the 30-year-old will need time to adjust to the Premier League’s pace in Saturday’s minimum test.

It could therefore be tempting to bring in another midfielder when there is also a need to consider another centre-back, as that is the other obvious pressing issue.

There is something else that goes into any decision on multiple signings in midfield. Crystal Palace value Cheick Doucouré at a staggering $89m (£70m/€82m) according to the Evening Standard, amid interest from the Reds, no doubt buoyed by Liverpool’s desperation – tempered at some way from the addition of Endo – for a defensive midfielder.

Cheick Doucouré

But spending $89m on Doucoure now, Liverpool would say this was the player they wanted for Klopp in that role for years to come. You don’t spend that much on a backup option (unless you’re Chelsea). Adding a second short-term fix (even one cheaper than Doucouré) would also clog up roster spots.

Having lost Aurélien Tchouaméni and now Moisés Caicedo, Liverpool need a world-class option to fill that role, especially as the more attacking system relies heavily on that player, but whether or not Doucouré has the potential to become one. of the best in the world in that position.

He may be very good and could have been Crystal Palace’s player of the year, but $89m is a sum set aside for a potential turning point at Anfield – and Doucouré may not represent that.

Liverpool, who signed Endo, have avoided putting themselves in the same position they did last season when it comes to midfielders. There will be no panic loan for Arthur Melo 2.0 in the next few days.

But there is still a mystery about what comes next. If the next Caicedo or Tchouaméni isn’t available for purchase, there’s a reason not to do anything until it changes.

In the meantime, Endo can hopefully catch up and Thiago Alcântara and Stefan Bajčetić can be fit more often than not. Signing Doucoure would improve Liverpool’s chances in the short term but perhaps limit the cap in the long term. That’s essentially the conclusion Liverpool came to last season when they decided not to give up anyone in lieu of a Tchouameni alternative.

The difference this year is that there should be enough cover and new energy has already been added in the form of Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai who immediately improve Jordan Henderson and Fabinho.

More news…….

Liverpool are in a position to finally sign a player worth £34.2m after a £26m bid was rejected – report

Liverpool conceded another sloppy goal at Anfield against the Cherries and need to strengthen their defense if they are to put up a serious title challenge this season.

Dutch centre-back Perr Schuurs has long been on Klopp’s wishlist and the latest reports are intriguing.

Last month, the Merseysiders made two offers to lure the defender out of Turin. The latest bid was over €30m (over £26m) but was rejected (Tutto Sport).

Liverpool are well placed to finally sign the 23-year-old, according to an exclusive story shared by Football Insider yesterday.

The Anfield club wanted Mickey van de Ven but he opted for a move to Spurs, on the other hand Goncalo Inacio ended up signing a new contract with Sporting CP, the league’s top club. Now the focus is once again on Perr Schuurs, who is held in high regard by LFC and Dutch captain Virgil van Dijk.

The news source mentioned that a transfer fee of £30million could be required to sign the former Ajax player before the transfer deadline is over 10 days away.

However, reports in Italy (CM) suggest that an offer of £34.2m (€40m) will be needed to sign him from the Turin club.

Last week Schuurs played a full 90 minutes as Torino beat Feralpisalo 2-1 in the Coppa Italia first round.

He is expected to be in the starting XI when Il Toro take on Cagliari tomorrow to kick off the Serie A season. In your opinion, should Liverpool raise their offer again to sign Perr Schuurs?

August 21, 2023
Liverpool just missed perfect transfer opportunity for Jürgen Klopp as $25m USMNT star move confirmed

Liverpool signed Wataru Endo this week but made the decision to ignore USMNT star Tyler Adams, who has just been officially announced as Bournemouth’s new player.

Liverpool made a relatively curious move into the transfer market earlier this week. With Jürgen Klopp desperate for defensive midfielders at Anfield after persuading both Jordan Henderson and Fabinho to move to Saudi Arabia this summer, the Reds have invested in the services of one Wataru Endo.

The Japan captain is a relatively unknown quantity on England’s shores, with the vast majority of Liverpool fans needing to Google his name to find out the details surrounding his profile. Endo was officially announced as Klopp’s latest signing on Friday afternoon, joining from Stuttgart for $21m.

In fact, he made his Anfield debut at the weekend having been introduced to Premier League life as a second-half substitute against Bournemouth. Endo is certainly the type of player that Liverpool are missing at the moment, as the Reds’ squad is brimming with attacking power.

During his very first conversation with Endo in the Liverpool dressing room, Klopp told him: “Once you are available, we really need you.” we really need you Your heart and your footballing legs and your brain, we need it.” . We have a very good team. Willing to work, but very offensive.”

A selfless midfielder who is more than willing to work and gain ground, Endo will be a welcome addition, but he is already 30 years old. Given his age, many fans believe another defence-focused transfer is needed to bolster Klopp’s engine room, including Cheick Doucoure.

It remains to be seen whether Liverpool will pursue a younger role model in the coming days, but interestingly no decision was made for Tyler Adams last week. The USMNT star has now joined Bournemouth from Leeds United (according to BBC Sport), with the Cherries triggering his relatively modest $25m (£20m/€23m) release clause. The American midfielder was relegated from the Premier League last season and was therefore available at such a reasonable price.

Adams isn’t much like Endo in many ways. He is six years younger, but just as diligent, energetic and tireless. Adams is a true field runner in the middle of the field, playing almost shades of Jordan Henderson and James Milner at their athletic best in a redshirt.

He’s a natural when it comes to covering too much ground for his teammates, and first emerged as a prospect within the notorious Red Bull network, which always bodes well for a move to Liverpool. He arrived on the New York scene as a teenager before moving to Europe in 2019, signing for RB Leipzig in Germany.

Up until the age of 23, Adams only represented teams under the Red Bull umbrella, with those suits designed to uphold the famed energy drink brand’s core values. RB Leipzig and Red Bull Salzburg tend to show intensity, life and power on the pitch, with very welcome counter-attacks and pressure, similar to Liverpool under Klopp.

This explains why the Reds have often ripped off the best players within the Red Bull network. Naby Keïta, Takumi Minamino, Ibrahima Konaté and Sadio Mané are just a few examples of players who have performed in Leipzig or Salzburg before moving on to Liverpool, with Dominik Szoboszlai the latest to follow the same path at Merseyside.

Adams was available at a reduced price this summer, but instead of taking him to Anfield alongside Endo, Klopp appears to have missed the opportunity to move. With the window closing in less than two weeks, it remains uncertain whether Liverpool will pursue another transfer market addition.

If one thing is certain, it is that Klopp is taking a big risk if Endo is his latest reinforcement.

August 21, 2023
Mauricio Pochettino confirms the striker ‘agreement’ amid a new injury setback in Chelsea news

The latest Chelsea news, transfer gossip and stories with updates on Hakim Ziyech, Romelu Lukaku and The Blues vs West Ham match

Aubameyang dig

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has moved to Chelsea as he congratulates Hakim Ziyech on his move to Galatasaray. The 30-year-old winger had an uncertain future in West London for a while before finally securing a move to the Turkish top flight.

Like the Morocco international, Aubameyang struggled to break into the first team at Stamford Bridge and spent much of the season on the bench before finding a new club in the summer. In his Instagram story, the Marseille ace wrote: \”All the best my brother. Free Hakim *crying laughter emoji* *clapping fist emoji* *heart hands emoji*. \”

Ziyech then reposted Aubameyang’s post to his Instagram story. Unsurprisingly, Chelsea fans have not been happy with the Gabonese international’s coup at the club and have been expressing their feelings online.

Lukaku ‘agreement’

Asked if he could reinstate Romelu Lukaku in the Chelsea squad, Mauricio Pochettino replied: “It’s not just one team, it takes two teams to find the best solution. You can’t just put it on the club, it affects both sides.

“The situation is where it is because of both sides. Both sides have reached an agreement. Before signing, we were informed about each player’s situation,” added Pochettino. “After signing, we had the squad we had. It’s so clear that nothing has changed and if there’s anything to report, we’ll report it.

“We don’t have to do anything, I have to be focused on my team and try to do well. We can’t waste energy on a situation that was obvious before we arrived at Chelsea.”

West Ham defeat

Chelsea suffered their first defeat of the 2023-24 Premier League season on Sunday at the hands of London rivals West Ham United. The Blues failed to capitalize on their dominance in the first half with Enzo Fernandez missing from the penalty spot. Michail Antonio and Lucas Paqueta scored after the break to give the Hammers all three points.

Carney Chukwuemeka, on the other hand, went off injured after an excellent performance with a goal, another blow for Pochettino.

More news…….

Chelsea hijack £51.3m Man City’s bid for excellence Michael Olise replacement, compared to Eden Hazard

Chelsea are looking for a right-winger who can also play as an attacking midfielder but has less than two weeks to sign a contract

Chelsea still appear to be looking for a right winger who could also play as an attacking midfielder after Michael Olise turned down a move to Stamford Bridge. The 21-year-old playmaker has already been heavily linked with a move to west London and, at the height of interest from the Blues, decided to sign a new long-term contract at Crystal Palace.

football.london understand that Chelsea were once confident of securing Olise’s signature. After talks with those close to the France Under-21 international, the two sides verbally agreed on personal terms before paying his release clause.

Joe Shields is understood to have played a leading role in the negotiations, having recently played a key role in bringing Romeo Lavia to the Cobham training ground. However, despite the Blues’ best efforts, Palace capitalized on interest in Olise and tied him up in extra time at Selhurst Park.

Chelsea now have less than two weeks to sign an alternative and Mauricio Pochettino has a few names in his shortlist. football.london understands the club remain interested in Mohammed Kudus and Rayan Cherki, with Brennan Johnson a late goal.

However, according to French outlet L’Équipe, Chelsea are interested in Rennes’ Jeremy Doku. According to the report, Manchester City are currently leading the race for the 21-year-old winger, who has been identified by Pep Guardiola as a replacement for Riyad Mahrez. L’Équipe add that Rennes are reportedly ready to sell Doku this summer for around €60m (£51.4m). The Belgium international, whose contract at Roazhon Park expires in 2025, made 29 appearances for the French side in Ligue 1 last season, contributing directly to eight goals.

Doku started the new season in excellent form, scoring a goal against Metz on the opening weekend. His impressive performances and low center of gravity have earned him comparisons to Eden Hazard.

In a Facebook Live video with La Tribune for RTBF, former Premier League star Phillipe Albert explained why he would be a great addition to the English top flight. He said: “He has incredible qualities which were discovered at Anderlecht, but he has been injured a lot in the last two or three seasons.”

“He’s a young talent who left for over €20m (£17m), so Rennes would accept an offer of €60m (£51m). I think the walk is not too far away, he has the qualities to win.” Premier League or any World Cup.

“If he is 100% physically, he will assert himself and repel opponents. It’s a bit like Eden Hazard at the start of his career with his double, triple accelerations which can hurt a lot.” “In England some teams are still a little naive at this level so it would hurt. He can play both sides, but I always believe that a player has to play on the right foot, so I would put him on the right foot. The role. The job of a winger is also to take care of the striker. So if you have the right player, there is no better player at this level.”

August 21, 2023
The transformation of the Liverpool midfielder: reasons to be happy, parts 1, 2 and 3

Liverpool’s recent victory at Anfield against Bournemouth might not have been as haunting as it was at this time last year, but there were signs of a new horizon.

A promising end to the season in terms of form and results, an initially optimistic start to our summer transfer business, then disruptive Arabian Nights followed by no return attempts to lure Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia to Anfield.

Add an incomplete stand at Anfield and things are a bit turbulent.

Glad everything is going well on the pitch as the new season has started…

An overly generous and sloppy opening, profuse gifts offered as a goal in our own half seemed elusive. When the ball first landed in the Liverpool net on Saturday, the incident itself – and the linesman’s flag – should have acted like fragrant salts.

But they didn’t.

Even with a deficit, Jurgen Klopp’s players seemed to be tripping over their own feet, as if the score in the corresponding game last season had entitled them to sleepwalk in the first home game.

As juxtapositions go, this was the opposite of what happened at Stamford Bridge six days earlier, where Liverpool were dominant and calm until Mo Salah’s VAR foul turned an expected 2-0 lead into a inconclusive 1-1 draw.

Three goals and a red card later, and it looked a little more than scripted we might have imagined for the start of 2023/24, after 2022/23 ended with a run of seven wins and four draws in one unbeaten streak last 11 Premier League games.

Perspective and all while some of us are opting for the layer of emotional protection that comes with an “expect the worst and hope for the best” approach to our hopes this time around despite the transfer setbacks, I think there are reasons to be cheerful. A two-part renovation

Two-part rebuild

The midfield, which had long been the elephant in the Anfield dressing room – including during winning seasons in the Champions League and Premier League – has finally had its much-needed restart.

Partly planned, partly unexpected. Five out, three in as things stand, with the third of those newcomers arriving just over 24 hours before kickoff on Saturday.

It provided an uplifting but uncomfortable rejuvenation.

The numbers game is no doubt a concern, but it was tempered by the emergence of Stefan Bajcetic last season and the ground made up by Curtis Jones in the run up to that. Of the others we were able to keep, Thiago remains but will certainly stick to his average, missing at least a third of the season, while the decision on Harvey Elliott, which seemed to raise more questions than answers, is still largely undecided. his late appearance on Saturday.

The departures of James Milner, Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain came as no surprise this summer, but the losses of Fabinho and Jordan Henderson were clearly not part of the script.

The latter two were certainly keen on their lucrative move east, but it was highly unusual for Liverpool to let them go without a replacement being found and secured.

The next great midfield duo?

Rightly or wrongly, Fabinho and Henderson provided Liverpool’s midfield base for a long time, with a revolving door system dictating who should play alongside them.

Demographics are changing dramatically. The departure of Henderson and Fabinho could very well do us.

The next great midfield duo?

You can’t help but be thrilled by the additions of Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai who, together, offer us third eye vision and a force of nature that can mesmerizingly serve us for many years to come.

Mac Allister is perfect for Liverpool in theory. Cultured, intelligent and calm in possession, he worked out the angles in his head long before interacting with the ball. Potentially, after nearly a decade and a half of waiting, we may have finally found an heir for Xabi Alonso.

He had difficulties with the red card shown to him on Saturday, but even if it had been a yellow card it would still have been two yellow cards in the first two games.

Even if his sending off against Bournemouth were to be reversed, we will probably have to get used to his periodic suspensions over the next few months.

In Szoboszlai we find a player who seems to have everything you could want from a midfielder.

Power, pace, offensive spirit, no problem handling the dark arts when necessary, nose for goal, will to win, passion and dedication. An iron fist in a player’s velvet glove, it’s a joy to behold.

The missing piece?

Our latest signing, Wataru Endo, entered the fray shortly after Mac Allister’s departure on Saturday, and played his part in taking us to as serene a third endgame as we could have wished for with 10 men.

Strangely, Endo was canceled by a glass-half-empty caller on the Radio Merseyside phone as I was walking home, apparently for no better reason than the fact that it was about £95m cheaper than Caicedo would have stopped us.

Whether or not Klopp makes another midfield addition before the end of the transfer window, signing Endo could prove to be a smart move.

The departures of Henderson, Fabinho and Milner have seen much of the team’s experience disappear and the Japanese captain is able to make up some of the shortfall.

We’ll probably need a lot of that at Tyneside next Sunday in a game where we can’t afford to have Cody Gakpo in midfield.

Coming off a crucial win over Bournemouth, a fixture between trips to Chelsea and Newcastle next Sunday gives us an opportunity to make a statement if we can.

That goes for both Liverpool’s position and whether Eddie Howe and his players are raising doubts about how they feel about themselves and their chances this season.

August 21, 2023
Liverpool would need to sign three more players to complete Jurgen Klopp’s $261m transfer rebuild

Florida-based Liverpool fan Morgan O’Sullivan gives us his thoughts on the Reds’ latest talking points, including transfers and Wataru Endo.

Liverpool return to the Premier League against Bournemouth today. Jurgen Klopp’s side will return to Anfield for the first time since the 1-1 draw with Aston Villa in May.

After picking up the same draw at Chelsea six days ago in the opening weekend, Liverpool will be looking to go the extra mile this time and make sure they don’t come into a tough game at Newcastle. United without a win already, according to The Table.

Before the game, we asked Florida-based Liverpool fan Morgan O’Sullivan a few questions about the Reds, including transfers, new signing Wataru Endo and more.

Wataru Endo is officially a Liverpool player. Thoughts?

Endo brings a lot of experience to the table, but the vast majority of fans will never have heard of him. All of the various scouting reports sound positive, but we’ll have to see it in action before we can pass judgement. If he is joined by another new signing, two fans will be satisfied. Otherwise, they will be frustrated by the club’s lack of investment. Sometimes unexpected acquisitions bring the greatest success. Could our new Endo replace the former Hendo and take us to glory? Time will tell.

What was your opinion on the Moisés Caicedo and Roméo Lavia sagas?

The challenges in the middle of the pitch were obvious to everyone last season. We spent the year confident that Jude Bellingham would come and there was money to spend.

We signed two players for a total of $121m (£95m/€111m) and it all looked promising. Despite Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai, we felt like we needed another player in the middle. All summer we heard rumors about Khéphren Thuram, Manu Koné and Ryan Gravenberch, and in July rumors about Roméo Lavia surfaced.

I feel like the club have been contradictory in their approach to Lavia. They went on to make three offers and then jumped on Caicedo. If the club really wanted to sign Lavia, they should have been able to agree after the second offer. However, the perception among supporters was that there was little money left for the club and we were trying to save every penny we could. If we really wanted that we should have jumped in and paid the money.

From Caicedo, I have a certain sympathy for the club. Liverpool apparently took part in a blind auction, encouraged by the player’s brokers. Eventually we were used by agents to raise the fee when the player ultimately had no intention of joining the club. People will say Liverpool haven’t done their homework. However, if they had interacted with the agent, as we have been led to believe, and were encouraged, they cannot be blamed. I really think Caicedo would have been an ideal midfield signing and would have had a similar impact on Liverpool as he had N\’Golo Kante on Chelsea when he joined them.

What else do you need to do in the summer to be happy with Liverpool’s business?

In an ideal world I would still like the club to get a midfielder and a defender. The return of Thiago Alcântara and Stefan Bajčetić will have a positive impact on midfield, but after Endo I would like to have one more in the centre. If we had rejected an offer of $140m (£110m/€128m) for Caicedo and spent just $21m (£16m/€19m) on Endo, we would have paid $119m (£93m/€ 109 million) Left. Could we do Thuram, Gravenberch and a defender for that? Add that to spending already made and the total summer spend is $261m (£205m/€240m). The biggest mistake I would make at the club would be not to sign players before returning to pre-season. It was clear we needed more than Mac Allister and Szoboszlai before Henderson and Fabinho left, and pre-season plays an important role in getting players settled.

How did you experience the game against Chelsea? A hope for the three points against Bournemouth? There were moments where we were fantastic against Chelsea. But there were times when we looked so naked in the middle of the field. Like last year, I felt we could have finished the game early. I’m still scratching my head over some refereeing decisions. A point away at Chelsea can always be appreciated. And who knows, this could be the point that earns us the title. We have a difficult start and therefore a good start is essential. Three points and a positive performance are decisive today.

Anything else to mention?

To attempt the title, Anfield must once again become a fortress. Nineteen home games have the potential to yield 57 points. Aim for at least 50.

August 21, 2023
‘I hope soon’ – Stefan Bajcetic’s message after returning from five-month injury

Stefan Bajcetic is optimistic he will be back in action as soon as possible after sitting on the bench in the win over Bournemouth.

The Spaniard’s 2022/23 season has been cut short as he suffered a groin ‘stress reaction’ in March and is yet to fully return to the squad.

Bajcetic broke through before the setback, making 19 appearances in all competitions and becoming a fixture in Liverpool’s midfield.

After watching the Reds’ 3-1 win over Bournemouth from the bench, the teenager shared a positive message on Instagram while anticipating his imminent return to the pitch.

The midfielder wrote:“Felt so good to see you at home again! Hopefully soon on the pitch.”

Saturday marked the first time Bajcetic has been called up to a matchday squad in five months and was a big step towards his return hopefully in the coming weeks.

He did not travel with the team on their pre-season tour to Singapore as he continued his rehabilitation alongside compatriot Thiago.

Thiago himself has been out since April after undergoing hip surgery and hasn’t fully returned to the squad either.

The duo remained at the AXA training center while the team traveled to Southeast Asia for friendlies with Leicester and Bayern Munich.

Bajcetic was one of the standout players of the 2022/23 season before his injury and hopes to pick up where he left off when he makes a full comeback.

The Reds travel to Newcastle next weekend and the 18-year-old will no doubt be hoping to gain a few minutes to reintegrate among his team-mates.

More news……

Dream next Liverpool transfers as “everything can happen” with Cheick Doucouré’s addition and the $27 million Klopp deal.

Wataru Endo has officially been acquired by Liverpool, but more deals are needed. Two areas still need to be addressed, as Jürgen Klopp has acknowledged.

In his press conference, Jürgen Klopp used a reasonable voice. Wataru Endo could actually play a significant role in the upcoming season, so the Liverpool manager didn’t want to downplay his acquisition, but he also didn’t want to rule out additional transfer activity.

While Klopp admitted he had already been surprised more than once this summer, he effectively dismissed the idea of additional outgoings and was very receptive to incoming business. In the final two weeks before the deadline, he said, “everything can happen,” with Liverpool continuing to “look.”.

That ought to be fairly obvious in many ways. After all, FSG had just recently proposed paying Moisés Caicedo $140 million (£110 million/€127 million). Although it was obviously a failure, there seemed to be an implied recognition of a critical area of need. It’s hard to imagine why that wasn’t the original plan if it could be adequately met for the better part of $120m less.

Liverpool hasn’t, however, ever just thrown money around for the sake of it. Endo is deserving of a great deal of respect, and Klopp seems genuinely willing to continue the season with the Japan captain at the position of starting number six. Any opportunity must be the right one.

But regardless of whether they fall short of the ideal standard, Liverpool must ultimately work to close the best deals possible during the remaining time in the window. There is obviously money available to spend, but more business is necessary to give Klopp a legitimate chance to compete.

Even though midfielders have been the only players transferred so far, that is still a position that needs improvement. In a perfect world, Liverpool would bring in an additional six players as partners as well as a rotational option for Endo.

Even though Liverpool undoubtedly took inspiration from the “inversions” at Manchester City and Arsenal, the strategy is actually quite different. Trent Alexander-Arnold is not Oleksandr Zinchenko or John Stones, so despite the fact that he might appear to form a double pivot with the number six on paper, in practice he is tucking into a role that is much more akin to the number eight or even number 10 in order to make use of his generational creative skills.

Playing two genuine defensive midfielders would be a viable option, especially if Liverpool’s defense continues to be a weakness in their game. Alexander-Arnold would have real freedom to play a role that was very loosely defined, drifting around in the spaces next to Dominik Szoboszlai or Alexis Mac Allister, with Endo playing alongside someone like Cheick Doucouré.

The Evening Standard identified Doucouré as Liverpool’s top target in the midfield, and he does appear to be the best option among the rest. He could be developed under Klopp as the long-term Fabinho replacement while sharing the load with Endo for at least the next couple of years. He is already at a high Premier League standard and has plenty of room to improve.

That would essentially organize the midfield for Liverpool. An additional number eight would be ideal if I were really greedy, but that seems unlikely at this point, especially since the search for a new center-back should take priority.

Having spent the majority of his career playing in the defense, Endo has once more possibly lessened the urgency of the search. However, Liverpool needs to find a left-sided specialist who can take Andy Robertson’s place in some games immediately and who also has the potential to replace Virgil van Dijk in the future.

That is a very difficult request. However, Arthur Theate, a name that has only recently gained notoriety (via L’Équipe), checks a lot of the right boxes. At 23, he is another who Liverpool could develop while immediately adding depth.

Football Transfers estimates Theate’s value at $27 million (£21 million/€25 million) using its proprietary “expected transfer value” tool. Liverpool might anticipate Rennes to demand more given the state of the market. But any deal in that area would be a wise business move.

It’s important to remember that adding Theate and Doucouré to the roster would push Liverpool over the limit in terms of foreign players, which is an issue that cannot be entirely avoided. However, there is always the option of not registering someone, for instance Adrián, if the ideal homegrown solution does not emerge.

Anything can happen, as Klopp points out. But those two transactions would cap off a wholly satisfying transfer window for Liverpool, positioning the team for the present and the future.

August 21, 2023
Carney Chukwuemeka’s latest injury gives Chelsea a serious fright following West Ham’s victory.

Chelsea injury news: Carney Chukwuemeka injured his knee in the Blues’ Premier League loss to West Ham United on Sunday

Carney Chukwuemeka suffered a scare in Chelsea’s 3-1 Premier League defeat at West Ham United on Sunday. The midfielder was substituted at the end of the first half after colliding with Emerson Palmieri.

The Blues youngster retained his place in Mauricio Pochettino’s midfield following his impressive opening weekend performance against Liverpool, alongside Enzo Fernandes and Conor Gallagher in midfield.

Chukwuemeka thanked his manager for his confidence with a fine finish and equalized in the first half, but that moment was short-lived. Former Aston Villa player Chukwuemeka appears to have suffered a knee injury after trying to win the ball in a 50/50 duel against Emerson. He managed to continue playing before being forced to seek treatment from the club’s physiotherapists. Mykhailo Mudryk eventually replaced the 19-year-old despite not needing a stretcher.

After the match, Pochettino gave a very brief update on the injury, saying: “Now we have to check it tomorrow. Look what happened to his knee. It was really bad luck.”

But there was another cause for concern when video by journalist Rahman Osman surfaced showing Chukwuemeka limping out of the London stadium on crutches. Luckily, there were no protective boots, but the midfielder walked carefully.

Carney Chukwuemeka can barely walk as he leaves the London stadium. Pochettino says we have to wait and see. #CFC pic.twitter.com/OJDQMnksCp

— Rahman osman (@iamrahmanosman) August 20, 2023

Chelsea are hoping to welcome the star back for Friday’s home game against Luton Town. The Blues host the Hatters at Stamford Bridge, with both sides aiming for their first win of the new season.

More news……..

Just now, Chelsea held negotiations to bring in a “special” £50 million attacker.

Recently, Chelsea and Arsenal discussed a potential summer transfer for Folarin Balogun.

According to a report from The Daily Mail, that is the case.

They assert that talks between Chelsea and Arsenal regarding the acquisition of attacker Folarin Balogun took place on Friday.

In the race to sign the 22-year-old striker, who the Gunners value at £50 million, the Blues are reportedly up against Fulham and Monaco.

The article also states that Fulham will not offer more than £35 million for the American international.

Balogun may have met with Chelsea yesterday, but rumors of a potential transfer out of the Emirates Stadium have been circulating all transfer window.

Balogun has publicly stated his desire to leave Arsenal before the summer transfer window closes in a few weeks, according to a recent report from Sky Sports. They added that other prospective buyers for him include Monaco and Inter Milan.

He appears to be blocked at Arsenal from breaking into the Gunners lineup, so he is desperate for a long-term move elsewhere to play regularly.

Balogun is such a promising young talent, and Gunners manager Mikel Arteta called him “something special” (Arsenal’s official website).

Last year, he spent the entire season on loan at French top-flight club Reims, where he scored 22 goals in 39 appearances across all competitions.

However, we’re not sure Chelsea should spend £50 million on another promising young player.

Two young and ambitious No. 9s who want to lead the line are currently on the Blues’ roster: Nicolas Jackson and Armando Broja. We would prefer a well-known striker with a long history of scoring frequently if Mauricio Pochettino insisted on using another striker.

Read also …….

Opinion: After being ignored for years, Chelsea have a midfield to be reckoned with

Once Chelsea confirm the signing of Romeo Lavia, they will have assembled one of the best midfielders in world football in two transfer windows.

This area of the pitch has been neglected by the club for years. Chelsea haven’t had a proper defensive midfielder since Nemanja Matic and he left our club in 2017.

Since then we’ve had some decent midfielders (some very good), but overall our midfield was nowhere near good enough, unbalanced and lacking the right profiles to compete in the Premier League.

If you want to win consistently and be a consistent force in world football, you have to make sure you have the perfect team engine, which is the midfield. And this starts from the base, with a defensive midfielder.

Chelsea now with Enzo Fernandez, Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia on standby, they have absolutely everything in midfield now and it’s a fantastic moment and a fantastic feeling for us Blues fans.

Enzo single-handedly led our midfield and team last season when we had a horrible year in football, but now he finally has the help he needs and deserves.

Caicedo and Lavia will provide the defensive stability and awareness we’ve needed for so long, as well as the athleticism and physicality. Both players know how to defend, close the distance, intercept and tackle: all things that we have lacked a lot. Then Enzo will be free for them to do what he does best and that is to create and shoot.

Enzo actually has a really good shot with him and knows how to find the net, but last season he was so blocked we never saw him. He also has great vision and an eye for passing, and he’s now being given the freedom to do all of that.

It’s literally a dream come true for Chelsea fans and it still feels like that, a big dream! But it’s not a dream, Chelsea now have a VERY good and capable midfield with the perfect complementary profiles for each other. What a future they have, and they’re all young, so it’s a future we should see thrive and improve and have for many years to come!

August 21, 2023
Liverpool injury news and return dates ahead of Newcastle – Luis Diaz, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Curtis Jones

Latest Liverpool injury news as Jürgen Klopp’s side prepare to face Newcastle United in the Premier League

Liverpool will be looking for their next Premier League points away to Newcastle this weekend, where Jurgen Klopp’s men are expecting another tough away test.

The season began with a 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge before scoring their first win of the season against Bournemouth on Saturday. Luis Diaz, Mohamed Salah and Diogo Jota were among the goals to make it 3-1, but in the 90th minute both the Colombian and Trent Alexander-Arnold limped off, while Alexis Mac Allister was sent off.

Next in line are the top four Newcastle hopefuls. While Klopp remains unbeaten at Tyneside since his first away trip in 2015, a 5-1 win at home to Aston Villa on the opening day means the home side should be in high spirits. The Liverpool manager set up the game last week and started the mind games with a small mention of how the Premier League’s new sideline rules will affect the Magpies, prompting a backlash. Eddie Howe.

Just weeks into the new season, the Reds are struggling with a string of injuries, unsurprisingly affecting the midfield more than any other area to date. Hoping there will be some returns for the Newcastle game, here’s the latest injury news from Liverpool:

Luis Diaz

Klopp may have a plethora of good attacking options to choose from, but losing his standout player of the new season so far in such an important clash would be of great concern.

Diaz left the pitch in the 86th minute after a spectacular equalizer half an hour ago and was replaced by Darwin Nunez. He received treatment just before his retirement amid potential problems with the knee injury that sidelined him for six months last season. After the period, Klopp said: “First class, very good form but the second half was difficult for him. Being part of this new midfield was really difficult for him, you could see that.”

Espected return date: This week

Trent Alexander Arnold

Similar to Diaz, “the Scouser on the team” also left Saturday’s event early. Before being traded to Joe Gomez, he suffered a blow and was later seen exiting the dugout with an ice pack around his ankle.

Asked by the press what happened, Klopp replied: “I hope so (that he is fine). He told me he had a kick which was quite painful, but as far as spinning or falling, it was a kick.” So we changed back then, but I hope he’s okay.”

Espected return date: This week

curtis jones

The 22-year-old missed the second game of the season with an ankle injury sustained in training. This was first claimed by Athletic on Saturday.

Their report suggested the injury was only minor and that Jones would return to training in hopes of being included in the group traveling to the north-east on Sunday.

After making an impression towards the end of last season after recovering from injury, the midfielder picked up where he left off eight days ago with an energetic last minute performance against Chelsea.

Expected Return Date: This week

Thiago Alcantara

Thiago Alcantara’s return was downplayed by his coach on Friday. Klopp sat down in front of the press and explicitly stated that he “wouldn’t be there yet” for the Bournemouth match, but was “very close” to returning. His time will have to be managed due to the fact that he was unable to take part in any pre-season matches, although he was part of the delegation that traveled to the July training camp in Germany and has since returned to training ahead of the start of championship championship.
season.

Thiago’s illness was a hip problem which required surgery before the end of the 2022/23 season.

Expected return date: end of August/beginning of September

Stefan Bajcetic

Like his Spanish compatriot, Stefan Bajcetic was already out before the end of last season with a captor injury. He too had said of the Liverpool manager that he “hadn’t arrived yet” for the Bournemouth game, so it was a welcome sight to see the 18-year-old’s name among the substitutes on Saturday.

He was an unused substitute for 90 minutes, although he later posted this encouraging message on social media:

Had circumstances been different and Mac Allister had not been sent off, the Anfield crowd might have gotten at least a few minutes from the young midfielder, so a return from the bench against Newcastle is looming. Estimated return date: this week.

Conor Bradley

The young full-back has already shown his potential during the pre-season in Germany and has played 90 minutes in two games.

He was later dropped from the group traveling to Singapore after suffering an unspecified minor injury and has not been part of a match squad since the start of the season but has been involved in training since the return of his teammates in England.

Once fit, the Northern Irishman is set to enter Klopp’s plans as a back-up to Trent Alexander-Arnold after proving himself in Ligue 1 at Bolton Wanderers last year.

Estimated return date: unknown

August 21, 2023
Deal close – Liverpool have an agreement to sign a £26m Barcelona target

If the media reports are good, then Liverpool are closing in on signing Sofyan Amrabat from Fiorentina.

In the Netherlands, AD have reported that the Reds are close to landing the Morocco international. Moreover, in Italy, Corriere dello Sport have revealed that the midfielder has agreed to move to Anfield.

Now, reports from Spain also suggest that the player will eventually leave Fiorentina to move to Liverpool.

According to Catalan source Nacional, Barcelona are looking for the Atlas Lions star to replace Sergio Busquets but he is set to join the Merseysiders.

It is reported that Liverpool already have an agreement with Amrabat and are set to finalize his signing. Manchester United had been interested in signing the African midfielder for weeks, but closed the deal with the Old Trafford team.

All that remains is for Jurgen Klopp’s side to reach an agreement with Fiorentina and reports in Italy have said they are preparing a decisive offer (La Repubblica via Viola News) to sign the £26m play break.

The aforementioned fee should be considered a bargain for Amrabat, who was a top player at last year’s FIFA World Cup.

Yesterday Fiorentina beat Genoa 4-1 away to kick off the new Serie A season and the Moroccan defensive midfielder had to warm up on the bench throughout the match.

Thus, it is also an indication that it is approaching an exit from Florence. Find the latest updates on the transfer saga here.

More news…….

Liverpool have just missed out on the perfect transfer opportunity for Jurgen Klopp as the USMNT star’s $25m move has been confirmed

to ignore USMNT star Tyler Adams, who has just been officially announced as Bournemouth’s new player.

Liverpool made a relatively strange move in the transfer market earlier this week. With Jurgen Klopp desperate for defensive midfielders at Anfield after allowing Jordan Henderson and Fabinho to move to Saudi Arabia in the summer, the Reds have invested in the services of a certain Wataru Endo.

The Japanese captain is a relatively unknown quantity on English shores and the vast majority of Liverpool fans will have to Google his name for his profile details. Endo was officially announced as Klopp’s latest signing on Friday afternoon. He comes from Stuttgart for 21 million US dollars (16 million pounds / 19 million euros). Indeed, he made his Anfield debut this weekend, being introduced to the Premier League as a second-half substitute against Bournemouth. Endo is definitely the type of player Liverpool lack at the moment, with the Reds side brimming with attacking firepower.

In his very first conversation with Endo in the Liverpool dressing room, Klopp told him: “Once you’re available, we really need you. We really need you. Your heart, your legs and your football brain, we have need”. . We have a very good team. Willing to work, but very offensive.”

A selfless midfielder who is more than willing to work and gain ground, Endo will be a welcome addition, but he is already 30 years old. Given his age, many fans believe another defence-focused transfer is needed to bolster Klopp’s engine room, including Cheick Doucoure.

It remains to be seen whether Liverpool will pursue a younger role model in the coming days, but interestingly no decision was made for Tyler Adams last week. The USMNT star has now joined Bournemouth from Leeds United (according to BBC Sport), with the Cherries triggering his relatively modest $25m (£20m/€23m) release clause. The American midfielder was relegated from the Premier League last season which is why he was available at such a great price.

Adams isn’t too different from Endo in many ways. He is six years younger but just as hardworking, energetic and tireless. A true midfield runner, Adams is almost a carbon copy of Jordan Henderson and James Milner at their sporting best in the red jersey.

Adept at covering inordinate amounts of ground for his teammates, he first emerged as a potential candidate within the infamous Red Bull network, which always bodes well for a move to Liverpool. He emerged as a teenager in New York before moving to Europe in 2019, signing for RB Leipzig in Germany.

Until the age of 23, Adams had only represented teams under the Red Bull umbrella, tasked with upholding the core values of the famous energy drink brand. RB Leipzig and Red Bull Salzburg tend to display intensity, liveliness and panache on the pitch, with counter-attacking and pressing popular, much like Liverpool under Klopp.

This explains why the Reds often poach top players from the Red Bull network. Naby Keïta, Takumi Minamino, Ibrahima Konaté and Sadio Mané are just a few examples of players who played for Leipzig or Salzburg before moving on to Liverpool. More recently, Dominik Szoboszlai has followed the same path to Merseyside. Adams was available at a reduced price this summer, but instead of taking him to Anfield alongside Endo, Klopp appears to have missed the opportunity to move. With the window closing in less than two weeks, it remains uncertain whether Liverpool will pursue another transfer market addition.

If one thing is certain, it is that Klopp is taking a big risk if Endo is his latest reinforcement.

August 20, 2023