Celtic have been able to dip into the market to bolster their playing squad during the summer transfer window to sign five new players so far.

Who have Celtic signed this summer?

Hoops manager Brendan Rodgers made Norwegian midfielder Odin Thiago Holm the first arrival of his second spell at Parkhead in June.

Australia international Marco Tilio became the second signing to improve the team's options out wide before South Korean duo Hyeok-kyu Kwon and Hyun-jun Yang arrived on the same day.

The most recent addition was Polish central defender Maik Nawrocki on a permanent deal from Legia Warsaw and he made his debut in last weekend's 4-2 win over Ross County on the opening day of the campaign.

There could be more signings on the horizon, though, as the club have been linked with interest in Manchester City central midfielder Tommy Doyle.

How good is Tommy Doyle?

The England U21 international is a creative maestro who could add another attacking threat to Rodgers' stable of options in that area of the pitch.

His potential to be an outstanding creator for the Bhoys in midfield could mean that the Northern Irish tactician is able to make centre-forward Kyogo Furuhashi even better by providing the number nine with another player to supply him with a constant stream of chances.

The Japan international was the club's main source of goals last term with an incredible return of 27 Scottish Premiership goals – 16 more than any of his teammates.

However, the addition of Doyle could result in the 28-year-old marksman improving upon that tally due if Pep Guardiola's prospect is able to kick on and showcase the best of his creative abilities after some first-team experience in England.

The 21-year-old ace assisted seven goals in 38 matches on loan at Sheffield United last season but his form during his last campaign for Manchester City's U21 side suggests that he has the ability to set-up his teammates far more frequently.

Doyle racked up an outstanding ten assists, alongside four goals, in 18 Premier League 2 matches for the young Cityzens team throughout the 2020/21 season.

This means that the £7k-per-week wizard assisted a strike every 1.8 games on average and that would make him a standout for the Hoops if he is able to finally translate that form over to first-team football after a year of development at Bramall Lane.

Matt O'Riley (12) is the only current Celtic player who produced more than eight league assists in the Scottish Premiership last season and the Denmark international provided one every 3.16 outings on average.

Therefore, Doyle, who talent scout Jacek Kulig dubbed "fantastic", has the potential to be the outstanding creative threat for Celtic from midfield and could be able to regularly set up his teammates for opportunities at the top end of the pitch.

This is why Rodgers could make Kyogo even better by signing the English technician as the Hoops boss could improve the quality of chance creation coming from that position, which would provide the Japanese finisher with even more openings in front of goal to improve upon his already-impressive tally for the Scottish giants.

Of course, there is no guarantee that Doyle will be able to produce performances in line with the ones he displayed for City's youth team but the scope is there for him to be a big success, and bringing him in on loan is a worthwhile gamble, on paper, for the club to make.

Leeds United have endured a tumultuous ride since suffering relegation from the Premier League earlier this year, but then that is emblematic of the club's DNA.

Having fallen back into the Championship following three campaigns in the top-flight, the Whites started their summer transfer business at a snail's pace, with emphasis on the 49ers completing their comprehensive takeover from divisive owner Andrea Radrizzani.

And despite a mass exodus at Elland Road, with throngs of first-team stars fleeing the outfit after relegation, newly-appointed manager Daniel Farke has been working tirelessly to craft a squad capable of mounting a promotion bid, with the forthcoming encounter against Sheffield Wednesday the chance to clinch successive victories.

What is the Leeds team news vs Sheffield Wednesday?

Farke will be desperate to secure three points in West Yorkshire today, with Leeds failing to win their first three matches of the Championship term.

Leeds will be without Sam Byram after the nomadic full-back sustained an injury in last week's thrilling 4-3 win over Ipswich, while Stuart Dallas, Patrick Bamford, captain Liam Cooper and Daniel James are all sidelined.

New signings Djed Spence, Glen Kamara and Ilia Gruev will all be hoping to make the match-day squad following their late-summer acquisitions.

One man who will be hoping to retain his place is young Frenchman Georginio Rutter, who finally impressed in his forward role against the Tractor Boys last weekend.

Is Georginio Rutter going to start vs Sheffield Wednesday?

Leeds fell to defeat on penalties against League Two side Salford City in midweek, and while Rutter missed his spot-kick as the Whites fell to agonising defeat, he will be hoping for retribution against Wednesday as he looks to build upon his platform.

The 21-year-old was signed for the English club from Hoffenheim for a club-record £35.5m in January to combat the flagging season and lack of goal threat.

However, Rutter flattered to deceive and failed to score across 13 fixtures in the latter phase of last term, branded as a "non-entity" by LeedsLive journalist Beren Cross for his lacklustre performances.

Praised for his “quality” move and strike against Ipswich by The Athletic's Phil Hay, however, Rutter could now start to shine in Leeds white and play a central role this season, with his dynamic abilities in the offensive third potentially proving the difference against an Owls side that will be thirsting for a maiden point of the campaign after promotion from League One.

If Rutter maintains his form from last week, Xisco Munoz's side will find that to be quite the tall order; the £70k-per-week hotshot recorded a match rating of 7.7 – as per Sofascore – in the previous Championship match, complementing his goal with two key passes, three successful dribbles and by winning eight of his 15 duels – a livewire, very much in the thick of the action.

Although the summer at Elland Road has been one of profound change, Farke would be wise to keep the faith in Rutter and entrust his rising star with a prominent role.

It might just bear fruit as the Whites mount a charge to the upper echelon of the division.

MatériaMais Notícias

Apesar de esportivamente a temporada do CRB ser satisfatória até então, o clima entre diretoria de um lado e comissão técnica/jogadores do outro não é dos melhores.

Pelo menos, foi a impressão passada pelo zagueiro Gum após a vitória por 1 a 0 sobre o Juventude na última terça-feira (22) que acabou não sendo suficiente para o time avançar na Copa do Brasil diante do revés na ida por 2 a 0 em Caxias do Sul.

Segundo relatou o experiente defensor ainda à beira do gramado do estádio Rei Pelé, houveram “algumas coisas” que acabaram desagradando comissão técnica e jogadores ao ponto de poder ser atribuída a queda de rendimento da equipe.

-Primeiramente, muito chateado, porque sabemos que nossa equipe chegou até esse momento bem. Criou uma expectativa (para) nós, diretoria e torcedores regatianos de chegar longe na Copa do Brasil. Infelizmente, contra o Paraná foi um jogo abaixo do que vínhamos apresentando. Algumas coisas aqui dentro aconteceram que chatearam o grupo. O grupo, infelizmente, com essa chateação caiu um pouco de produção dentro do campo, porque somos seres humanos, e a chateação veio de fora de dentro, infelizmente – iniciou Gum, completando:

– Nós superamos, pensamos somente em jogar por nossa família, por nós, jogadores, e os torcedores, porque os torcedores não sabem nada disso. Aí tem coisas que não podemos externar. Temos que assumir a responsabilidade aqui dentro. Nós, jogadores, comissão técnica, fechamos a boca e trabalhamos. Nós somos seres humanos, ficamos chateados porque algo aconteceu que nos chateou. Infelizmente, as pessoas não tratam (os jogadores de futebol) como seres humanos, mas como robôs. Não é assim que funcionam as coisas.

As palavras do zagueiro não caíram nada bem para a cúpula administrativa do CRB, sentimento esse que se tornou notório pelas palavras em tom claro de réplica dadas pelo presidente Marcos Barbosa a rádio ‘Maceió AM 1020’:

-Ele não só deve respeito a mim, mas também, à nação regatiana e tem que dizer o que está acontecendo, tem que ser homem e dizer. Se ele não teve coragem de dizer na frente dos jogadores e na minha frente, então ele realmente pode estar acenando que gosta muito de dinheiro. Tem que ter respeito, e ele é obrigado a fazer um vídeo e explicar à nação Regatiana o que está acontecendo, eu não estou sabendo, por que só ele está sabendo? Jogador nenhum chamou atenção de nada, só ele porque não se classificou; faz parte do jogo, uns ganham e outros perdem.Eu não estou chateado porque não me classifiquei, eu disse isso a eles. Falei para os jogadores que não poderíamos perder o jogo, pois eu não podia ser desmoralizado na minha casa. Então, a partir de hoje, nós temos que ganhar os jogos dentro da nossa casa. Classificação eu queria, todos nós queríamos.

RelacionadasCopa do BrasilCRB vence, mas Juventude fica com a vaga nas oitavas de finalCopa do Brasil22/09/2020Futebol NacionalLibertadores, Copa do Brasil e Brasileirão: veja onde assistir aos jogos da semanaFutebol Nacional21/09/2020Copa do BrasilSeguro, Juventude vence CRB e fica perto das oitavas da Copa do BrasilCopa do Brasil17/09/2020

Following the exit of Harry Kane, Tottenham Hotspur have been left without a natural goal scorer and are running out of time to find a replacement, with the summer transfer window coming to an end in just over a week.

The Lilywhites have, however, received a boost in their pursuit of KAA Gent forward Gift Orban, according to reports.

What's the latest on Gift Orban to Tottenham Hotspur?

It was previously reported that Spurs scouts were left blown away by Orban, and believe that the forward is the key man to replace Kane this summer. Now, the North London club have received another positive boost in the saga.

According to Het Nieuwsblad, via Sport Witness, Gent actually now want to sell their forward to Spurs this summer, and would even prefer to see Orban depart over his teammate Hugo Cuypers.

Given Gent's reported valuation of just €30m (£33m), too, it's a deal that Spurs should be able to fund following the sale of Kane to Bayern Munich for a reported £86m this summer.

As things stand, with the end of the transfer window edging closer and closer, Ange Postecoglou remains without a clinical goalscorer, but Orban is certainly one to keep an eye on.

Should Tottenham Hotspur sign Gift Orban?

To say that replacing club-record goalscorer Kane is no easy task would be an incredible understatement. That said, welcoming 21-year-old Orban would go a long way in filling the gaping hole left behind by Spurs' star man.

Orban is a player that should only get better, given his age, and the potential that he has so far shown in his relatively young career. Last season, the Gent forward scored 20 goals in 22 games in all competitions to make his mark in Belgium. And if people think that was just a fluke, so far this season, he has found the back of the net a total of six times in six games.

No matter which way you look at it, Orban knows where the back of the net is.

It is his form over the last year that has resulted in several pieces of praise, including from journalist Lolade Adewuyi, who said: "Arrived in Ghent to watch two of the most exciting young Nigerian talents play tonight – Gift Orban for KAA Gent and Victor Boniface of Royale Union Saint Gilloise. The Belgian league is a breeding ground for Nigerian players and these boys are hugely popular here."

So far, Postecoglou's Spurs side feel like a fitting next destination for a promising young striker, too, especially with the way they took the game to Erik ten Hag's Manchester United side, defeating the Red Devils 2-0 in comfortable fashion.

Read the latest Tottenham transfer news HERE…

Add a player like Orban to the side that brushed United aside, and all of a sudden, Spurs could be in with a shout to qualify for the Champions League once more.

Of course, it's a long season ahead, but replacing Kane could be imperative to how the Lilywhites' season goes. As the window comes to a close, Spurs could be one of the most interesting sides to watch.

Jason Roy surpassed Alex Hales’ mark for England highest ODI innings in the highest successful chase at the MCG

The Report by Daniel Brettig14-Jan-2018

Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsWith an Aaron Finch century at the top of the order, a staunch middle-order partnership and acceleration at the end, Australia seemed pretty well placed at the halfway mark of the first ODI. That expectation was turned dramatically on its head by a rampant Jason Roy, who soared to England’s highest ever 50-over score, and in the company of a rejuvenated Joe Root helped England fly to the steepest ever ODI chase on the MCG with seven balls to spare.If this was the first match of a series lacking much in the way of context, Roy’s combination of daring and determination – with a dash of good fortune via numerous skiers that landed safely – will allow England to look optimistically towards next year’s World Cup. It was on this ground, of course, where Australia had thrashed England in the opening match of the previous tournament, setting the scene for their ultimate success.This time around, England showed themselves to be at the vanguard of the new ODI breed, while Australia, with eight losses from their past nine games, look some way off the pace. Steven Smith’s side were left with plenty to think about after looking toothless in the face of England’s high tempo game. Jonny Bairstow and Alex Hales had fallen early, but Roy was far from perturbed in dictating terms against an Australian bowling attack that seemed flat after a combination of Ashes and Big Bash League duties. By contrast, Roy had barely fired a shot for Sydney Sixers, but came into his own for England.Well as Finch, Mitchell Marsh and Marcus Stoinis played, they were forced to regather lost ground after the day’s English tone was set by a fast and hostile Mark Wood, who made the Australian top order hop around early on after Eoin Morgan sent the hosts in to bat. Wood notably made life difficult for David Warner, and left open the tantalising question of what a difference he might have made to England’s Ashes tilt. Adil Rashid was expensive, but produced a pair of teasing deliveries that accounted for Smith and Marsh amid some looser offerings. Moeen Ali completed his overs with admirable economy placed in context by what was to follow.Having dumped Glenn Maxwell and Matthew Wade from the team in response to a pattern of middle-order failures last year, Australia’s selectors would have been pleased by the way Finch combined with Marsh before Stoinis and Tim Paine played with verve in the closing overs. However, they were reminded of how England have become one of the 50-over game’s trendsetters in pushing aggressively for runs from a deep batting order, finding a level of freedom that has been maintained even without Ben Stokes.Roy’s determination to punish anything even slightly loose was demonstrated in the very first over of the pursuit, when Mitchell Starc concluded an accurate over with something slightly wider that was hammered through the covers. By the fourth over England had galloped to 47, meaning that even after Bairstow fenced at Starc to do what is now known as a James Vince, edging behind, the momentum stayed with the tourists. Hales’ return was brief, bunting an attempted pull shot at Pat Cummins to midwicket, but a tally of 60 after six overs would have been regarded as a decent powerplay in Twenty20, let alone an ODI.Above all else it meant that Root and Roy could reassess their target without needing to worry too much about finding the boundary every over, even as the latter reached his 50 from just 32 balls. Australia’s fielders and many in a crowd of 37,171 cursed their ill-luck as Roy lofted numerous shots barely over the top of the infield, at times landing these blows with the precision of Frank de Boer’s long ball to Dennis Bergkamp at the FIFA 1998 World Cup.Roy had progressed to within nine runs of a century when Adam Zampa fooled him with an excellent wrong-un that brought a frenzied appeal and a raised finger from the umpire Simon Fry. After consulting with Root, Roy reviewed, and was judged to have been playing a shot, bat behind pad, when the ball struck him fractionally outside the line of the off stump. As if to underline the moment’s importance, Roy then clumped the very next ball down the ground for six, and Zampa was not a factor thereafter.Aaron Finch celebrates his ninth ODI hundred•Getty Images

So comfortably then did Roy carry on, and so neatly did Root complement him with deft placement and plenty of impetus running between the wickets, that it seemed likely for a time that England might get to the total without further loss. Smith rotated his bowlers without success, and the records started to flow, including the biggest ever third-wicket stand in an ODI at the MCG, Roy’s score surpassing Hales’ against Pakistan in 2016 as the best for England, and then topping Mark Waugh’s 173 against West Indies in 2001 as the biggest 50-over innings in Melbourne.Ultimately Roy was to fall within sight of victory, and Morgan also came and went, as did Jos Buttler before Moeen Ali finished it with a boundary. Australia’s ODI debutant AJ Tye was by a distance the most economical bowler, but the overall lack of threat posed by the hosts’ attack contrasted sharply with the way Wood began proceedings.Sharing the new ball with Chris Woakes, Wood immediately made his presence felt with a series of fast, rising deliveries that challenged Finch and Warner in ways that had not been seen during the Ashes. Wood’s short run and piston-pumping action touched speeds up to 149kph, and Warner in particular was made to hop around before a lifter took the shoulder of his bat and looped gently to Root in the slips – how he would have loved to witness such a moment during the Tests.Wood’s speed and trajectory caused further problems for Finch and the captain Smith, who evaded one lbw appeal for a delivery that beat him for pace, on a surface notably more grassy than the one prepared for the Boxing Day Test. However, there was a lack of pressure coming from the other end, as Woakes offered up rather more pedestrian stuff that Finch in particular was able to capitalise upon off both front and back foot.Smith, too, was quickly into stride against everyone other than Wood, but would slip up unexpectedly against the leg-spin variations of Rashid. The ball after leaving a wayward leg side wide, Smith offered an open face to the googly and the resulting thin edge was clasped by a juggling Buttler. When Travis Head chopped onto the stumps from the bowling of the serviceable Liam Plunkett, Australia were wobbling in a manner familiar across their poorly ODI record in 2017.But as if to underline how this area had been recognised by Australia both in terms of selection and attitude, Finch and Marsh refused to panic, working the ball around patiently in recognition of the overs remaining, before signalling a phase of acceleration when Marsh hammered Moeen into the members enclosure beyond long on. Moeen missed a half-chance for a return catch off Finch, who was also at the centre of proceedings when England lost their lone review – Rashid pushing hastily for an lbw referral to a wrong’un comfortably sliding past leg stump.Finch duly went to his third ODI century against England on this ground, and second in as many innings after the opening match of the 2015 World Cup, by swinging Rashid into the crowd with plenty of bottom hand. Both he and Marsh departed soon after, the latter deceived by a well-pitched slider from Rashid, but Stoinis and Paine maintained Australia’s momentum with another intelligent partnership in the closing overs, mixing hustle with heave to take the tally past 300.Their efforts ensured England would need to break all manner of records to achieve victory. Thanks largely to Roy’s renaissance, Morgan’s men had remarkably little trouble in doing so.

Leeds United, having enjoyed a quieter period in the transfer window, now seem set to spring back into life as Daniel Farke seeks to push hard to bolster his squad…

Who could Leeds United sign this summer?

With Joel Piroe their latest big-name addition, the Dutchman rewarded his new club's faith in the market by firing home on his debut to hand them their first win of the Championship season.

It marks the start of what promises to be a very profitable career at Elland Road, with the ultimate goal of a Premier League return now firmly in their sights.

Read the latest Leeds transfer news HERE…

That aim could be handed another huge boost, with Fabrizio Romano suggesting another star they seem set to sign.

He wrote on Twitter:

"Leeds United have submitted official bid for Glen Kamara. Negotiations now at the final stages with Rangers. #LUFC Deal expected to be completed next week, player has already accepted."

Alternative reports have suggested that the Finland international will cost just £5.5m to pry from the Scottish giants, having agreed personal terms earlier in the week.

How good is Glen Kamara?

This acquisition would mark yet another quality addition to Farke's squad, which seems to finally be improving back to the requisite level to challenge at the right end of the table.

This is especially important given the mass exodus endured already this summer, with three permanent exits giving way to a further seven loan departures, many of which were formerly important first-team members.

Kamara would offer a huge upgrade on many of those though, with his performances in the Scottish Premiership over the years having drawn widespread praise.

Steven Gerrard had predicted such a fine career even after first signing the 27-year-old, claiming back in 2019:

"He looked like a Rangers player and he took that performance into the Kilmarnock game and went up a level again. He’s a terrific footballer in possession, always playing with his head up and looking to connect defence and attack.

"But what pleased me most is what I spoke about when we signed him in terms of how he’ll be out of possession. Will he hunt the ball back, be aggressive, work hard for the team and be a monster in the middle of the park? He showed signs of that against Kilmarnock and potentially he can become a top midfielder."

His performances during the 2021/22 season help to supplement this praise, as a relentless midfield warrior but with a surprising offensive impetus that likens him to Casemiro.

After all, he posted six goal contributions that campaign whilst maintaining a 91% pass accuracy, with his one tackle per game still admirable and helping towards his 7.01 average rating, via Sofascore. He remained a key cog in their success, happy to screen a back four but unafraid to push on and add to their attacks.

Elsewhere, the Brazilian joined Manchester United from Real Madrid last summer in a move that baffled many.

It was expected that the 31-year-old would simply offer some solidity at the base of their engine room, but he instead came to create too, with his debut season allowing him to post a 7.21 average rating. This was a figure massively bolstered by his four goals and three assists, alongside his one key pass and mammoth 3.2 tackles per game, via Sofascore.

He is often everywhere, with pundit Robbie Savage noting back in May:

"When you’re listening to legends like Scholesy [Paul Scholes] and Owen [Hargreaves] speak about him, as a midfield player, I didn’t realise he has that much to his game: the passes round the corner, the goals."

He continued: "So I think he’s been terrific and has offered a lot more than what people thought. You listen to ex-managers and ex-players saying they weren’t sure but I think he’s proved, even Casemiro the captain of Brazil, has proven people wrong in the Premier League.”

In Auguat 2021, even Rangers Review editor Joshua Barrie went to lengths to highlight just how important Kamara was for Gerrard at Ibrox, making subtle references to players like the Red Devils star, among many other Premier League greats.

Both of these defensive midfielders boast an offensive impetus that has proven imperative for their respective teams, with Kamara likely hopeful that he can enjoy a similarly stunning debut season at Elland Road by continuing to emulate the play style of the legendary stopper.

Everton are interested in signing a struggling Premier League star before the end of the month, with Sean Dyche looking to combat a poor start to the season.

What's the latest on Callum Hudson-Odoi to Everton?

That's according to TEAMtalk, who claim that the Toffees are in contention to sign Chelsea winger Callum Hudson-Odoi, though they do stress that Nottingham Forest are currently favourites and Fulham also remain interested despite ostensibly pulling out of the race.

Read the latest Everton transfer news HERE…

The Evening Standard previously reported that Dyche's outfit could make their move for the 22-year-old following Fulham's reluctance to meet the Blues' £8m asking price.

Everton have been working fervently to bolster the attacking ranks after a poor season, signing Arnaut Danjuma and Jack Harrison on loan, sealing teenage forward Youssef Chermiti's signature for £15m and closing on a deal for Southampton striker Che Adams.

How good is Callum Hudson-Odoi?

Having been the subject of a failed £70m transfer offer from imperious German Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich in 2019, Hudson-Odoi has plummeted from prominence.

Once renowned as one of Europe's pre-eminent youngsters, the three-cap England international is in dire need of a recalibration, having lost his way at Stamford Bridge and endured a subpar loan spell with Bayer Leverkusen last term, scoring just one goal and assist apiece from 21 matches, very much on the periphery.

At Everton, he would have an excellent opportunity to reinvent himself, potentially catalysing a weary attack, sapped of energy and bereft of confidence.

Indeed, the Toffees have lost their opening two matches of the 2023/24 campaign, yet to see the opposing net bulge, after surviving a startling relegation scare last term, finishing 17th – and the league's second-lowest scorers – after beating Bournemouth in the final fixture.

Hudson-Odoi remains an "amazingly talented" winger, as has been said by talent scout Jacek Kulig, and with his pace and dynamism down – primarily – the left flank, Dominic Calvert-Lewin could rekindle his fire and serve as the thriving focal frontman once again.

The 6 foot 2 Englishman has been ravaged by injuries over the past several seasons, missing 51 matches since the summer of 2021 and consequently scoring only seven goals since.

His issues have been emblematic of the Goodison Park outfit's own struggles, with Neal Maupay, who signed from Brighton & Hove Albion for £15m last summer, scoring just once from 31 matches for the club, failing to efficiently serve in Calvert-Lewin's stead.

Hudson-Odoi has even been touted to become a "world-class player" by former Chelsea manager Frank Lampard, having posted eight goals and 11 assists across his first two full campaigns with the west London giants.

As per FBref, Hudson-Odoi ranks among the top 10% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for pass completion, the top 18% for progressive passes and the top 15% for progressive carries per 90.

While the £180k-per-week ace might feel at his nadir right now, such metrics illustrate his natural talent and prowess as a driving force on the wing, pushing into dangerous areas and providing positivity and precision through his passing moves.

Calvert-Lewin would benefit from such an ability, whenever he returns from his latest injury setback, having suffered a nasty facial injury in the defeat to Villa last weekend.

Over the past several years, Everton's attack has been collectively dismal, and while the towering talisman has not been at the races himself, supplementation has been in short supply and he could benefit from a creative whiz, such as Hudson-Odoi, to add a new dimension to the squad's efforts.

Lest we forget, the one-time Sheffield United prospect plundered 36 goals from 2019/20-2020/21, even being hailed as a "monster" by Kulig for his prolific brilliance up front.

Hudson-Odoi needs a fresh start, and at just 22 years of age, he is still more than capable of using that shiny framework to craft a successful career, and while Everton have not been impressive over the past few years, the convergence of player and club could pay dividends.

Liverpool have started off the 2023/24 Premier League campaign impressively, drawing away to Chelsea in the season-opener before successive victories against Bournemouth and Newcastle United.

The latter – a snatch-and-grab victory courtesy of Darwin Nunez's incisiveness at St. James' Park, despite going a goal and man down in the opening half-hour – typified the mentality and belief Jurgen Klopp hopes to instil in his team, a mentality that dissipated as the Reds foundered last term.

A fifth-placed finish was a result of a dreadful run of form for the Anfield side, with a midfield sapped of vitality and a defence devoid of confidence meaning the club ended their illustrious seven-year streak in the Champions League, reaching three finals and winning one.

After such a dismal term, the winds of change were always going to shriek through Merseyside, with Klopp completely revamping the midfield.

Who did Liverpool sign this summer?

The 2023 summer transfer window was always going to be busy for Liverpool, with long-serving midfielders James Milner, Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain all leaving in June upon the expiry of their contracts.

While such exits were expected, the exodus was exacerbated by Saudi Arabian interest in holding midfielder Fabinho and captain Jordan Henderson, with the pair leaving for a combined £52m.

Creative gems Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai has already been purchased from Brighton & Hove Albion and RB Leipzig respectively, but Klopp's side needed a new No. 6, and they needed one badly.

Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia were both pursued in a high-profile transfer battle with Chelsea, but the affluent London side prevailed on both accounts, leaving the din of the alarm bells echoing around Anfield.

The astute option to sign 30-year-old defensive midfielder Wataru Endo for £16m from Stuttgart was exercised, filling the void, and Liverpool finished up their business by completing a £34m move for dynamic ace Ryan Gravenberch from Bayern Munich, a long-standing midfield target.

Should Liverpool have signed Ryan Gravenberch?

Gravenberch's late acquisition was an imperative move; the failure to effectively buttress the existing ranks with a versatile, multi-functional midfielder would have left Liverpool in short supply in the central department.

Indeed, the ace joined the Bundesliga champions in a €24m (£20m) deal from Ajax last summer, with Die Roten sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic describing him as "one of the biggest talents in Europe" at the time.

European football expert Andy Brassell has also claimed that "the potential there is huge", despite a lacklustre season in Germany that resulted in just three league starts all season.

Bayern manager Thomas Tuchel confirmed that the player simply didn't fit the system at the Allianz Arena, and there is now an excellent opportunity for the ace to rise to prominence on English shores, playing a pivotal role in Liverpool's resurgence after a testing term.

While he doesn't fit the mould of specialist No. 6 – a natural defensive midfielder – Gravenberch does boast an all-encompassing midfield skill set that Klopp, who has dubbed the 6 foot 3 machine as an "exceptional talent", will now hope to mould to his own creation.

To emphasise this, FBref ranks the 11-cap international among the top 4% of midfielders across Europe's top five leagues for shot-creating actions, and within the top 20% for total shots taken, progressive passes, successful take-ons and tackles per 90.

However, his travails with Bayern evidence a lack of trust across multiple managers, with Julien Nagelsmann and Thomas Tuchel both loathe to offer him a regular role in the team, despite the club's struggles last term.

There are numerous reasons to back up the managers' decision to keep him on the fringe; Nagelsmann was allegedly disgruntled with Gravenberch's lack of defensive application, while Tuchel, despite acknowledging his stunning "qualities", swiftly concluded that the ace was not fit for a defensive role at the base of the midfield.

While Liverpool have secured an exciting prospect, once hailed as the Netherlands' "greatest talent" by ex-Ajax ace Wim Kieft, Gravenberch was perhaps not the best fit Klopp's squad needed ahead of a crucial campaign, with former top target Matheus Nunes potentially the custom-made star to revamp the central engine.

How would Nunes have played at Liverpool?

While Liverpool might have failed to sign a high-profile specialist six, there will be optimism that the acquisitions made across the past few months will be enough to reform a side that fell by the wayside last term, exposing frailties and issues across the board.

Klopp will be hoping that the newly-signed quartet can make a marked improvement both in offensive fluidity and – more importantly – the protection of the backline, something that was arguably non-existent last year as 49 league goals were conceded – 23 more than the year prior.

Because of this, Nunes, who has recently completed a £53m transfer from Wolverhampton Wanderers to Premier League champions Manchester City, would have been exactly what the Merseyside outfit needs to close the gap on the Citizens, who won the treble last season and are now vying for an unprecedented fourth successive league title.

Despite the Old Gold's struggles last season, Nunes impressed in his energetic role and was central to the squad's fluidity, completing 82% of his passes, averaging two tackles per game and winning 61% of his attempted dribbles.

As per FBref, he also ranks among the top 15% of midfielders for progressive carries, the top 3% for successful take-ons and the top 12% for progressive passes received per 90, underscoring a box-crashing mentality that would have benefitted Liverpool's high-intensity system immensely.

Described a "special" talent by his former coach Ruben Franco, it's perhaps telling that the £82k-per-week maestro was of a vested interest to Liverpool last summer, having agreed a £44m deal with Sporting CP for the Portuguese gem before withdrawing their bid, allowing Wolves to waltz in and snap up their man.

Klopp rekindled his intrigue in January and was also believed to be plotting an approach this summer, but didn't make any further advancements on a player Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola once hailed as "one of the best players in the world", over one year before sealing his signature.

In the 2023/24 season opener against Manchester United, Nunes showcased his skills superlatively in his penultimate appearance for his Molineux outfit, recording a match rating of 7.4 – as per Sofascore – creating two key passes, making three tackles and five interceptions and winning an incredible 14 of his 24 contested duels at Old Trafford.

It is this tenacity and rounded style that would have been a brilliant asset for Klopp and co, and while Gravenberch could blossom into one of Europe's foremost midfielders over the next few years, the club might rue the failure to sign Nunes in the future.

كشفت تقارير صحفية عن أولى اهتمامات نادي ليفربول في موسم الانتقالات الصيفي لهذا العام، تحت قيادة المدرب الجديد آرني سلوت.

كان سلوت قد تولى مسؤولية تدريب ليفربول، الأسبوع الماضي، خلفًا للألماني يورجن كلوب بعد انتهاء موسم 2023/24.

اقرأ أيضًا.. تين هاج يقلل من شأن آرني سلوت بعد انتقاله إلى ليفربول

ووفقًا لما ذكرته صحيفة “ذا صن” الإنجليزية، نقلًا عن “توتو سبورت” الإيطالية، فإن ليفربول يستهدف التعاقد مع لاعب خط وسط أتالانتا، إيدرسون.

وأوضحت أن خطة ليفربول في البداية كانت تتمثل في ضم لاعب أتالانتا، تيون كوبمينيرز، ولكن الإدارة غيرت اتجاهها إلى زميله.

وأفادت أن كشافة ليفربول توجهت إلى إيطاليا لمتابعة تيون كوبمينيرز عن كثب، قبل ملاحظة أحد زملائه في الفريق وهو إيدرسون الذي نال إعجاب النادي الإنجليزي.

وانضم إيدرسون إلى أتالانتا قادمًا من ساليرنيتانا في يوليو 2022، وقد شارك لاعب خط الوسط الدفاعي في 89 مباراة في جميع المسابقات منذ ذلك الحين وساهم في الفوز بلقب الدوري الأوروبي هذا الموسم.

ويتبقى أمام إيدرسون ثلاث سنوات في عقده مع أتالانتا، وإذا اتخذ ليفربول خطوة لضمه، فقد يؤدي ذلك إلى إنهاء اهتمامهم بضم زميله تيون كوبمينيرز.

Scott Cameron, the 21-year old allrounder, who was part of the squad in the recent tri-series in the UAE has been left out

ESPNcricinfo staff01-Feb-2018Hampshire seamers Brad Wheal and Chris Sole have been included in Scotland’s squad for the World Cup qualifiers in Zimbabwe in March. Scott Cameron, the 21-year old allrounder who was part of the squad in the recent tri-series in the UAE, was left out.Scotland squad for World Cup qualifiers

Kyle Coetzer (capt), Richie Berrington (vice-capt), Matthew Cross, Alasdair Evans, Michael Jones, Michael Leask, Calum MacLeod, George Munsey, Safyaan Sharif, Chris Sole, Tom Sole, Craig Wallace, Mark Watt, Brad Wheal, Stuart Whittingham

Allrounder Con de Lange, meanwhile, was unavailable for selection due to a health issue.Wheal and Sole beef up a pace attack, which also includes Safyaan Sharif, Stuart Whittingham and Alasdair Evans.Batsman Michael Jones and allrounder Tom Sole, who had made their ODI debuts in the UAE, retained their places in the squad, which will be led by Kyle Coetzer, Scotland’s top scorer in ODI cricket.The squad will depart for a pre-tournament camp in Pretoria on 15 February before the official warm-ups begin against Papua New Guinea and Ireland.Scotland are the defending champions, having won the qualifiers in Lincoln in 2014. Coetzer believed that this squad had enough depth to repeat the feat and qualify for the 2019 World Cup.”We hope to be in a position by the end of the tournament to not only qualify for the World Cup but also defend our title from the previous qualifying campaign,” Coetzer said. “We have the depth within our squad to make this a reality and we will be raring to go when the opening game comes around.”Scotland’s coach Grant Bradburn was pleased with the side’s preparation and was also upbeat about their chances in Zimbabwe.”The squad have had an excellent preparation phase over the winter months in Dubai including quality game and planning time leading into Zimbabwe,” he said. “The team are now very familiar with the style of cricket that suits our individuals, which is also a style we believe will win the World Cup qualifiers.”We have selected a nicely balanced side while the players themselves are determined to have no fear of bringing their dynamic skill sets coupled with a bloody-minded determination that reflects the prize at stake.”