All posts by rastrear-estafeta.com

After Thomas Frank took the reins early in the summer, no Tottenham Hotspur fan would’ve predicted the incredible start he’s made – filling the gap after Ange Postecoglou’s dismissal.

The Dane has only tasted defeat once in his first five competitive outings, winning the other four – most notably against Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City at the Etihad.

However, this afternoon’s meeting with Brighton & Hove Albion will present another tricky clash for the 51-year-old to navigate if he is to keep up his tremendous start.

Fabian Hurzeler’s side are currently on a two-game winning streak over the Lilywhites – subsequently doing the double over them during the 2024/25 campaign.

If Spurs are to put such a run to an end, the manager will have to make sure one player hits the ground running after a quiet start to his career at North London.

Why Xavi Simons has struggled at Spurs

Xavi Simons was one of Spurs’ big-money additions made during the summer transfer window, joining Frank’s men in a £52m deal from
Bundesliga side RB Leipzig.

The attacking midfielder’s arrival in England generated huge excitement, and understandably so, given the talent and potential he possesses at the age of just 22.

His tally of 19 combined goals and assists last campaign showcases that he’s able to either find a teammate or find the back of the net alone, subsequently adding a new dimension to the Lilywhites’ attack.

However, two games into his spell in England, he’s operated off the left-hand side rather than his natural number ten position – something which has undoubtedly limited his success to date.

Simons may have registered an assist in the Premier League, but the youngster still has so much more to offer, with Frank needing to give him the opportunity to star in a central position.

Should the manager make that call, he will have to drop one player from the heart of his side – leading to a decision which could be somewhat controversial for the fanbase.

The Spurs player who should be dropped to allow Simons to thrive

Since Frank took the reins during the off-season, the Dane has utilised a flat midfield trio, but that could all be about to change in the trip to face the Seagulls this afternoon.

Lucas Bergvall has arguably been the club’s shining light over the last couple of weeks, scoring in the victory against West Ham United last Saturday.

The Swede even claimed the Man of the Match award in the Champions League on Tuesday night, further showcasing how impressive he’s been during the early stages of the campaign.

He’s often featured alongside Pape Sarr at the heart of the side, but if Simons is to operate behind the striker, the 23-year-old may have to be the one to give way.

Like Bergvall, he scored in the clash at the London Stadium last Saturday, but he could well be sacrificed if the Dutchman does shift inside off the left flank.

It would be a controversial decision from Frank, especially after Sarr was labelled “sensational” by one analyst after his recent displays in the Premier League.

His performance against Villarreal in midweek was arguably one of his poorest of 2025/26, potentially leaving the door open for the manager to test out the big-money signing as part of his midfield trio.

Minutes played

69

Touches

34

Pass accuracy

77%

Possession lost

6x

Tackles won

1

Interceptions made

0

Shots taken

1

Duels won

1/3 (33%)

Sarr was replaced with just over 20 minutes left of the European clash, registering just a 77% pass completion rate – highlighting his sloppy nature with the ball at his feet.

He also failed to make any interceptions against the Yellow Submarine, unable to offer the ball-winning presence which he’s so often showcased in North London.

The Senegalese international also tends to operate in a box-to-box role, potentially leaving the side too open should he play alongside – with Frank potentially utilising Joao Palhinha and Bergvall in a pivot slightly behind Simons.

Such a tactical dilemma is not necessarily a bad thing for the new manager, as it highlights the quality and depth he currently has at his disposal in the capital.

However, it’s crucial that the Dane gives out equal opportunities to keep the players happy, something which could see Simons finally get his opportunity in a number ten position against the Seagulls.

It's not Simons or Bergvall: Frank has found his own Dele in £20m Spurs ace

Tottenham Hotspur have hit the jackpot with one player who’s set for incredible things in his career.

ByEthan Lamb Sep 18, 2025

Leeds United have now “rejected” a loan offer for an “excellent” player, according to an update from reliable journalist Beren Cross.

Leeds closing on Paixao and eyeing more signings

It looks as though Igor Paixao is increasingly likely to be the Whites’ latest signing this summer, with a move for the Feyenoord attacker now “fully approved” by the club.

The Brazilian has the ability to be a big hit at Elland Road, providing Leeds with the additional firepower that is badly needed back in the Premier League, having bagged 16 goals and 10 assists in the Eredivisie last season.

Paixao hopefully won’t be the Whites’ only addition between now and the end of the summer transfer window, however, and Chelsea left-back Ben Chilwell has emerged as an ambitious target who would bring a huge amount of experience and quality to Daniel Farke’s team.

Meanwhile, Fulham striker Rodrigo Muniz is also said to be a target for Leeds, with the Brazilian keen on securing a move to Elland Road after an impressive 2024/25 campaign with the Cottagers.

Leeds reject offer for "excellent" attacker

Writing on X on Friday, The Athletic‘s Cross claimed that Leeds and 49ers Enterprises have now “rejected” a loan bid with an option to buy for forward Mateo Joseph from La Liga side Real Betis.

“Leeds United asked Getafe about Christantus Uche a few weeks ago. €25m release clause. Not advanced, but one they have checked on. Betis loan offer, with option, for Mateo Joseph has been rejected. Leeds insist he’s not for sale.”

This is good news from a Leeds perspective, with Joseph a young player with lots of potential – one who Farke has spoken of fondly in the recent past.

“I’m happy with what Mateo’s delivering. As a striker you’re only 100 per cent if you score game after game, but I don’t rate him in output of just goals. His link-up play is excellent and how he holds defenders. For example the third goal [vs Coventry], Joel Piroe, everyone is speaking about Ao Tanaka and the really good assist of Willy [Gnonto]. But I praise Mateo, under pressure keeps the ball against aggressive forward defending to keep possession and bring the midfielders into a good position.”

Granted, Joseph may struggle for regular football in the Premier League, having only started 11 Championship matches last season, so it is understandable why a fresh challenge may appeal to him.

The next Ampadu: Leeds accelerating move to sign £100k-p/w "creative force"

Leeds are still on the hunt for signings this summer

ByJoe Nuttall Jul 18, 2025

He still has so much to offer, though, and should only develop as a footballer over the next five or six years, so Leeds selling him would be a risk.

Celtic are striving forwards under Brendan Rodgers and another action-packed season is in store for the Bhoys, which could now lead to a significant development at Parkhead.

Celtic find themselves pursuing several arrivals

Five signings have come through the door officially this summer for Celtic to strengthen their bid for another Scottish Premiership title. However, recent reports suggest plenty more could be on the way before too long.

Wycombe Wanderers striker Richard Kone is on the Bhoys’ radar and could be a big-money arrival at the £7 million mark, though any thought of him coming in at Parkhead may hinge on the future of Daizen Maeda.

Of course, Brendan Rodgers has already got one answer to his multi-faceted striker quest after confirming that Shin Yamada will join Celtic from Kawasaki Frontale after weeks of speculation hinting the Japanese forward is set for a move to Glasgow.

During the week, Celtic saw off Sporting Lisbon in expert fashion courtesy of goals from Reo Hatate and Luke McCowan. Speaking post-match, the Hoops’ Irish boss praised his side’s excellent tactical execution against a distinguished opponent.

He stated: “Performance wise it was outstanding. We made another step in our fitness and tactical idea with some of the players coming in. Overall it was a very, very good performance against a very good team. Tactically we were excellent with our pressure and pressing and some of our football was outstanding.

Celtic agree to offload £16k-p/w earner as deal agreed with Champions League club

The Bhoys are set to free up some funds…

BySean Markus Clifford Jul 17, 2025

“We maybe lacked a little bit in the final third at times just to finish off some great moves but other than that it was a very, very good workout for us.”

In spite of the Hoops’ display, Rodgers still has work to do in tailoring his side, and he will need to make sure his key players stick around for another tilt at domestic and European success.

Celtic closing in on bumper new Daizen Maeda contract

According to Football Insider, Celtic are pushing ahead with their attempts to tie down Daizen Maeda, and he is said to be willing to commit long-term with one demand – the Hoops match his ambitions.

Rodgers views the Japan international as a central part of his future plans and is willing to build his entire team around him, with talks open over a new deal amid interest from the Premier League in his services.

Daizen Maeda’s importance to Celtic

Appearances

158

Goals

62

Assists

28

Shedding some further insight, O’Rourke stated: “It makes a lot of sense for Celtic to try and keep hold of Maeda. If Celtic want to continue their dominance in Scotland, they’re going to have to keep hold of their best players, and there’s no doubt Maeda is amongst those.

“He’s under contract until 2027, so they’re looking to extend that and give him bumper new terms just to keep the player happy and ward off interest from Premier League clubs.

“There was talk that Brentford and Tottenham were interested in him.The Japan international was their top goalscorer last season, so he isn’t going to be an easy player to replace if they do end up losing him.”

With 33 goals to his name last season, Maeda became Celtic’s most reliable option whether wide left or as a centre-forward and is widely viewed as an indispensable player in Glasgow’s east end.

Only two years remain on his deal, so it would make perfect sense for the Bhoys to tie him up on an extended contract before his future becomes a main topic of conversation.

Tottenham are ready to back new manager Thomas Frank in the summer transfer market, with Daniel Levy poised to follow up his deals for Mathys Tel and Kota Takai by completing a £55 million move for West Ham winger Mohammed Kudus.

Tottenham open talks with Premier League club to sign £30m star with Kudus

The Ghanaian isn’t Spurs’ only target.

ByEmilio Galantini Jul 9, 2025

The Ghanaian, after weeks of talks, is set for his third season in London, but at a rival club, with Kudus expected to undergo a medical imminently ahead of his proposed switch to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Son Heung-min

7.00

James Maddison

6.98

Pedro Porro

6.95

Dominic Solanke

6.84

Dejan Kulusevski

6.83

via WhoScored

On Wednesday, news first emerged from the reliable David Ornstein that Spurs and West Ham have finally reached an agreement over the 24-year-old’s transfer, and it will be the first piece of business between both sides since Scott Parker’s move to Tottenham in 2011.

The versatile £90,000-per-week former Ajax star, who can be deployed on the left-wing, right-wing, in central attacking midfield and even as a centre-forward, is one of the Premier League’s most devastating dribblers.

Only Man City’s Jeremy Doku completed more successful take-ons per 90 on average than Kudus in the top flight last term (WhoScored), and that was in a campaign where many critics thought he didn’t quite perform at his best level compared to his debut season.

Kudus could be rejuvenated by his pending move to Spurs, with the forward now braced for an opportunity to play Champions League football for the first time since his final year at Ajax.

“Congratulations to Tottenham because they signed an excellent player to start this new project with the new coach Thomas Frank,” said Fabrizio Romano on his YouTube channel.

“Agreement done for Mohamed Kudus. I told you over the weekend only Tottenham despite the reports about Chelsea, despite the reports about more clubs, the player only wanted to go to Tottenham.

“Very clear in his intentions despite calls and approaches from several clubs. Kudus wanted to play for Spurs and now the deal is completed. £55 million paid in three years for Mohamed Kudus to leave West Ham and join Tottenham Hotspur.”

Mohammed Kudus put in transfer request to join Tottenham

Interestingly, West Ham insider Claret & Hugh have shared just how desperate Kudus is to link up with Frank across the English capital.

Sharing information and quoting a “top” London Stadium source of theirs, C&H report that Kudus “put in a transfer request” to force through a move to Tottenham – so Frank will be working with a player who’s very enthusiastic about donning the Lilywhites jersey.

Many Spurs supporters will remember Kudus’ bust-up with Micky van de Ven and Pape Sarr during a 4-1 London derby win last season, which resulted in the player’s sending off and an eventual five-match ban.

However, both van de Ven and Sarr will now seemingly have to put any tensions with their new teammate behind them, with Kudus on the verge of completing a move to N17.

Manchester City fans will be hoping their damaged side can get back on the horse in convincing fashion when Premier League football kicks off again in August.

The ten-time top-flight champions fell way below their lofty standards last season when finishing in third spot in the competitive division, whilst an FA Cup final slip-up to Oliver Glasner’s Crystal Palace further added to the lacklustre mood at the Etihad.

City have been spending big this summer to try and right the wrongs of their 2024/25 campaign coming undone, with Tijjani Reijnders, Rayan Cherki and Rayan Ait Nouri all coming through the door in quick succession, but this hat-trick of exciting buys still couldn’t stop the Citizens from crashing out of the Club World Cup unexpectedly to Al-Hilal.

More new purchases could be pushed onto the table, therefore, to help boost Pep Guardiola’s men even more, with a potential defensive addition around the £25m mark on the agenda.

£25m star now on Man City's agenda

Of course, it’s not just incoming signings that City will be wanting to press on with.

The dented Premier League giants will also want to get even more personnel off their books this summer – away from allowing just Kevin De Bruyne to move onto Napoli – with Jack Grealish reportedly being eyed up by many a potential suitor, including both Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur, as City continue with their clearout.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

£40m could soon enter into City’s bank account if the former Aston Villa man finally departs Manchester for good, with £25m of that potentially used to snap up Inter Milan defensive star Denzel Dumfries.

Indeed, as per a new report from Italy, the lightning-quick right-back is being eyed up by City as another first-team altering addition.

It’s claimed that City are ready to trigger that £21m release clause fee, signalling their intentions to make a bid in the not-too-distant future.

How Dumfries can be City's answer to Frimpong

Should Dumfries head to England this summer then he could well be City’s answer to Jeremie Frimpong, with the Citizens once possessing the 5-foot-8 menace during his youth days, before he moved on to Liverpool for a hefty £29.5m after a blistering Bayer Leverkusen stint.

Now, that past regret will be far easier to process if Dumfries soon joins Guardiola’s ever-growing camp to be City’s up-to-date answer to their ex-academy talent.

After all, City have licked their wounds in this department before, with Guardiola and Co. still managing to finish above Chelsea last season, even as their former homegrown product Cole Palmer terrorised Premier League defences at will.

Now, they will be hoping to overshadow another of their top-flight rivals in Arne Slot’s Reds by landing their own version of Frimpong, with both right-backs in question loving a speedy dart forward, as much as they love to battle away at the back for their team’s cause.

Last season in the intense environment of the Serie A, Dumfries would dazzle as a gung-ho option on the right, with a sublime seven of his 11 goals for the campaign coming in Italian top-flight action, which included a fantastic breakaway move being finished off by the direct 29-year-old.

Frimpong bettered Dumfries’ hefty amount, but not by much, with the pacey Amsterdam-born defender chipping in with a bumper nine efforts himself in the Bundesliga.

Total shots

1.52

1.36

Shot-creating actions

2.32

2.67

Attempted passes

38.68

35.80

Progressive passes

2.25

2.00

Progressive carries

2.51

4.11

Touches in attacking penalty area

0.76

0.90

Tackles

1.49

1.13

Blocks

1.46

0.98

Aerial duels won

2.60

0.43

The similarities don’t just end with their shared prowess for gallivanting forward with pace, however, as seen when glancing at the table above, with both defenders willing to get stuck in for the cause, too.

If anything, City might be winning themselves a better signing by landing Dumfries for a lesser £25m, with the Dutchman winning more tackles and aerial duels over the last year than Frimpong, according to FBref, away from just being known as a “monster” in the words of journalist Alan Rzepa.

A fascinating battle might well ensue at the top of the division next season between City and Liverpool, with the Citizens hopeful they can return to the Premier League summit after experiencing a blip of a season by securing more and more new stars, such as Dumfries.

Bigger talent than Reijnders: Pep driving Man City move for £43m sensation

Following the arrival of Tijjani Reijnders, Man City still want to bolster their midfield options, reportedly interested in making a £43m signing.

ByBen Gray Jul 4, 2025

Liverpool find themselves in the hunt for reinforcements and could look to swoop under the nose of rivals Everton to land an attacking target, according to a report.

Liverpool set to trigger more business after Kerkez announcement

After Jeremie Frimpong and Florian Wirtz were confirmed by the Reds, Milos Kerkez is also now set to join in a £40 million move from Bournemouth. The Hungary international joins Arne Slot’s revolution and signs on after weeks of negotiations by all parties to find agreement, as confirmed by Fabrizio Romano.

Moving on, Liverpool have turned their attention to Crystal Palace star Marc Guehi and an agreement over personal terms is said to be close as he enters the final year of his contract at Selhurst Park.

Talking up a potential deal, Keith Wyness believes Guehi moving to the red half of Merseyside would suit all parties as Oliver Glasner will be keen to cash in before losing the England international on a free becomes a distinct possibility.

He stated: “It would be a no-brainer for them (Liverpool) if they can get hold of him, and all the noises coming out of the Marc Guehi camp are that he’s keen to go.

“I think it’s a fantastic deal. I think Palace also recognise that I think he’s got just another year left on his contract. So they’d like to cash in as well. All parties could be very happy.”

While Liverpool’s summer business is bubbling away, they could now bid for a midfielder who has already been firmly on the radar of their closest rivals.

Liverpool could hijack Everton to sign Merlin Rohl

According to reports in Germany via Sport Witness, Liverpool could move for SC Freiburg midfielder Merlin Rohl this summer despite Everton having already made two bids to sign the Germany Under-21 international in January.

Newcastle United and Crystal Palace are also in the frame to sign the Berlin-born star, who registered a solitary assist in 20 appearances over the course of last season.

A Salah repeat: Liverpool close to agreeing move to sign £50m "monster"

Liverpool are moving at breakneck pace in the summer transfer market.

ByAngus Sinclair Jun 24, 2025

Labelled “very dangerous” by Antonio Di Salvo, Rohl managed to create nine chances in action for Freiburg on Bundesliga duty and also completed 12 dribbles despite suffering a ligament tear that limited his scope to make a lasting impact.

Nevertheless, he is now back fit and firing and has even scored at the UEFA Under-21 European Championships in a 3-2 win for Germany against Italy.

Admittedly, Liverpool have strong competition for places currently in the middle of the park, though it would be intriguing to see who could make way if Rohl were to arrive at Anfield, potentially at the expense of arch-rivals Everton.

Arsenal have come an incredibly long way over the last few seasons.

Just four years ago, Mikel Arteta’s side were languishing down in mid-table, and in the campaign after that, were unable to make it into the top four.

Since then, the North Londoners have made it to the quarter-finals and then semi-finals of the Champions League while also finishing as runners-up in the Premier League three campaigns on the bounce.

19/20

9

6

5

8th

20/21

18

7

13

8th

21/22

22

3

12

5th

22/23

26

6

6

2nd

23/24

28

5

5

2nd

24/25

20

14

4

2nd

However, the time has come for the club to make good on their transformation and finally lift some major silverware next season, which could explain recent links to a superstar attacker who has won comparisons to serial winner Kylian Mbappé.

Arsenal transfer news

With the club being so close to achieving something great over the last few years but still coming up short, it’s not been much of a surprise to see them linked to several attackers who could provide them with that extra push in recent weeks; stars such as Morgan Rogers and Nico Williams.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

The former could be available for a fee as high as £100m this summer, but while that’s an astronomical amount of money, it would be hard to say he wouldn’t be worth it, as in 54 appearances for Aston Villa this season, he scored 14 goals and provided 15 assists.

Williams, on the other hand, wasn’t quite as productive, scoring 11 goals and providing seven assists in 45 games for Athletic Bilbao, but then again, he’d also cost a lot less, with a release clause reportedly worth around £50m in his current deal.

Yet, while both players would certainly improve Arteta’s side next season, they might not utterly transform it, unlike Viktor Gyokeres.

Yes, according to reports from Spain, Arsenal have maintained their intense interest in the Sporting CP striker ahead of the transfer reopening next week.

In fact, the report has revealed that, alongside Premier League rivals Manchester United, the Gunners have already submitted an offer for the Swedish star.

However, it would appear as if the Portuguese outfit now want €80m, which comes out to about £68m.

While it would represent a serious financial investment to match that fee, Gyokeres’ incredible ability and record suggest it would be one worth making, especially as he’s won comparisons to Mbappé.

How Gyokeres compares to Mbappé

Before going over some of the other reasons why Arsenal might want to sign Gyokeres this summer, it’s worth examining this comparison to Mbappé and where it’s come from, as the Real Madrid forward is undoubtedly one of the biggest stars in world football.

Well, in this case, it stems from FBref, which looked at players in similar positions in the Champions League this season and then created a list of the ten most comparable players.

By doing this, it concluded that the Frenchman was the number one most similar forward to the Swedish international in the entire competition this season.

Non-Penalty Expected G+As

0.70

0.77

Progressive Carries

4.26

4.24

Goals per Shot

0.18

0.14

Passes into the Penalty Area

1.03

0.96

Shot-Creating Actions

3.85

3.52

Carries into the Penalty Area

1.91

1.92

The best way to see how this is worked out is by taking a look at the underlying metrics in which the pair rank closely, including but not limited to assists, non-penalty expected goals plus assists, progressive carries, goals per shot, passes into the penalty area, shot-creating actions and more, all per 90.

With all that said, while a comparison to one of the best and most exciting players in the world is certainly encouraging, there is another enormous reason why the Gunners should be doing all they can to sign the former Coventry City star: his ridiculous output.

In his first season with Sporting, the Stockholm-born “powerhouse,” as dubbed by respected analyst Ben Mattinson, was able to rack up a sensational haul of 43 goals and 15 assists in 50 appearances, totalling 4169 minutes, which equates to an average of 1.16 goal involvements per game, or one every 71.87 minutes.

Then, as if on a one-man mission to prove he wasn’t just a one-season wonder, the 27-year-old marksman did even better this year, scoring 54 goals and providing 13 assists in 52 appearances, totalling 4248 minutes, which comes out to a frankly absurd average of 1.28 goal involvements per game, or one every 63.40 minutes.

Ultimately, Gyokeres is a lean, mean goalscoring machine and, like Mbappé, is someone who could potentially lead a team to multiple league titles, and therefore, is someone Arsenal should be doing all they can to sign this summer.

Berta makes approach to sign "Timber 2.0" in £42m deal for Arsenal

The incredible talent could develop into a world-beater at Arsenal.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Jun 10, 2025

Queens Park Rangers are now keen on signing a young EFL striker who scored 12 league goals last season, as they close in on appointing Julien Stephan as their new manager, according to a recent report.

Julien Stephan agrees to become QPR manager

The West Londoners have been on the lookout for a new manager since taking the decision to place Marti Cifuentes on gardening leave back in April. The 42-year-old joined the Rs back in October 2023 and took charge of 83 matches, but the decision to place Cifuentes on gardening leave came as it was reported he had spoken to West Brom about their managerial vacancy.

Blackburn fighting QPR and Hull for "amazing" forward with 96 career goals

The Rovers are among the clubs leading the chase to sign a forward, who is now expected to leave his club this summer.

ByDominic Lund May 13, 2025

The Rs have had to be patient in their search for a new boss, but it looks as if now they are closing in on an appointment. Sky Sports’ Rob Dorsett has reported that Stephan has agreed to become the new QPR manager, putting pen to paper shortly.

The Frenchman, just like Cifuentes, has never managed in the Championship or England prior to this move. He has spent his managerial career working in France, mostly at Stade Rennais, where he lasted just under a year and left the position back in November.

The 44-year-old has worked in Rennes on several different occasions from their youth set-up to reserves to first-team, and he will now be hoping he can take what he has done in France to England, as QPR hope to be fighting at the right end of the table.

QPR chase Malik Mothersille

As the Rs close in on Stephan’s appointment, they could also be close to bringing in the first player under his reign. That is because, according to Football League World, QPR are interested in signing Malik Mothersille from Peterborough United.

The 21-year-old, who scored 12 goals in League One during the 2024/25 season, has emerged on the radar of the Hoops as well as newly promoted side Charlton Athletic. The report doesn’t state how much Mothersille could cost or how much Posh would want, but given he has just one year remaining on his contract, it could be a low-cost deal for the Rs.

Mothersille is not only a number nine; the forward can also operate on both the right and left sides of attack, making him a versatile attacker. As well as his 12 goals in League One, the young striker also netted a further four goals in the EFL Trophy, as Peterborough were crowned champions.

Apps

90

Goals

22

Assists

15

His campaign in League One also earned him recognition on the international stage, as he collected his first senior cap for Jamaica last season, in the final of the Unity Cup against Nigeria.

QPR do already have the likes of Alfie Loyd, Charlie Kelman, Michael Frey and Rayan Kolli as forward options, but if they are to be near the top end of the Championship, then Stephan is going to want more prolific scorers, and Mothersille may just be the answer.

Have you ever seen a Premier League season end in quite such fashion? After Liverpool dispatched Tottenham Hotspur at the beginning of the month, they were crowned champions, romping home to the title at a canter. No one was ever going to stop them, not even Ibiza. They partied hard between games, deservedly so, too.

They had to wait what felt like an age to actually get their hands on the trophy, though, but they lifted it aloft last Sunday in front of their own supporters for the first time in nearly 40 years.

The Reds may well have won the Premier League in 2019/20, but that ill-fated Covid-19 season meant that no fans were actually inside the ground to see Jordan Henderson get his mits on English football’s biggest piece of silverware.

So, there was understandably quite the party at Anfield over the weekend as Virgil van Dijk, leader supreme, danced for joy as he threw the red-ribonned trophy into the air.

Such an astonishing season, Arne Slot’s first at the helm, lest we forget, begs a question. Where do these Liverpool players stand among the pantheon of Merseyside greats?

Which Liverpool players have become legends of Anfield

A year ago, Jurgen Klopp waved farewell to Anfield a bonafide Liverpool legend. Yet, is legacy may well now be surpassed by Slot who has managed the unthinkable in his first campaign in England.

For winning the league alone, the Dutchman will now stand among the greatest Liverpool managers of all time.

He’s also helped to successfully cement Mo Salah’s legacy as an icon, a player surely worthy of a statue in Liverpool once his playing days come to an end.

Across a simply staggering campaign, the rampant Egyptian scored 34 goals in 52 games, posting 23 assists as well.

In the league, he netted 29 in 38 and also supplied 18 assists. He was two of Thierry Henry’s assist record but he did tie the record for the highest number of goals and assists in a single Premier League campaign.

1. Mo Salah (2024/25)

38

29

18

2. Andy Cole (1993/94)

40

34

23

3. Alan Shearer (1994/95)

42

34

13

4. Erling Haaland (2022/23)

35

36

8

5. Thierry Henry (2002/03)

37

24

20

6. Mo Salah (2017/18)

36

32

10

7. Luis Suarez (2013/14)

33

31

11

He is a certified legend, as too is captain Van Dijk. The pair of them signed new contracts a few months ago to cement their status as legends. Trent Alexander-Arnold may well have been up there too had he rejected advances from Real Madrid. Sadly, we all know how that story ended.

Is there anyone else up there? Well, Alisson is certainly a modern-day great, now up to 298 appearances for Liverpool and hailed as “the greatest goalkeeper in Premier League history alongside Peter Schmeichel,” by Jamie Carragher.

That trio of players will certainly not be forgotten in a hurry, but whether they’ve matched the legacy of a certain Steven Gerrard remains to be seen.

How Liverpool struck gold on Steven Gerrard

The term ‘generational’ is often thrown about a bit too regularly in modern football but it’s safe to say that Gerrard, as far as English talents go, was generational.

He’s one of the best we’ve ever seen in the Premier League but how did he get there?

Well, it all started in November 1998, when aged 18 years, five months and 30 days, he made his Premier League debut for the Reds in a 2-0 win over Blackburn Rovers.

Managed by Gerard Houllier at the time, it was rather poetic that perhaps the best player he ever managed shared a name.

It was the Frenchman who saw Gerrard’s obvious talent, notably handing him the Liverpool captaincy just five years later in 2003.

The rest, as they say, is history. Gerrard, capped a remarkable 114 times for England, would go on to feature 710 times for Liverpool. That places him third on the club’s all-time record appearance makers behind Carragher (737) and Ian Callaghan (855).

He never lifted the Premier League like Salah and Co, but he did win the Champions League on two occasions and among many other domestic honours, lifted the FA Cup twice. Who could forget that screamer in the final against West Ham? It was a bullet of a strike, something the midfielder became famed for during his illustrious career.

However, it could have been different for the now 44-year-old. Remember when Chelsea came calling? How could we forget?

In 2004, during the European Championships, Gerrard was distracted by transfer speculation. “Arsene Wenger, Jose Mourinho and Sir Alex Ferguson talked me up before the tournament, so I knew they fancied signing me,” he once noted.

It was Mourinho and Chelsea who followed up on that interest, reportedly tabling a British record bid for the iconic England international. Gerrard even allegedly handed in a transfer request.

Unlike Trent, a move to another of Europe’s biggest clubs never happened. The Liverpool academy graduate stayed at Anfield and became a legend, one of the greatest we’ve seen in this country.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

He was heralded left, right and centre, but perhaps most notably by the great Brazilian, Pele.

Speaking just months after the 2006 FA Cup final win over the Hammers, Pele said: “The fans, they look only for forwards, always a forward. Somebody who scores. Sometimes you have a player like Gerrard. For me, for the last five years Gerrard has been the best player in the world. He is a midfielder, he plays very good. People didn’t mention Gerrard, now they mention Ronaldinho, Ronaldo, Messi because they are forwards.”

Fine words indeed from perhaps the greatest of all time. It’s safe to say Liverpool struck gold on Gerrard. They must be forever thankful that he didn’t head to Chelsea all those years ago.

After Wirtz: Liverpool looking to sign £126m star who's shades of Torres

Liverpool are hoping to sign a new centre-forward in the transfer market this summer.

ByAngus Sinclair May 27, 2025

Manchester City now have a genuine chance of signing a £45 million Liverpool target after making an approach about a potential transfer, according to a recent report.

Pep Guardiola threatens to quit Man City over squad size

The Blues brought an end to the 2024/25 season at the Etihad on Tuesday night, beating AFC Bournemouth 3-1. City now have one final away game against Fulham on Sunday to ensure they are in the Champions League next season, but it is a campaign that Pep Guardiola is going to want to forget fairly soon.

Better than KDB: Man City star showed he's already their answer to Wirtz

Following Manchester City’s 3-1 win over Bournemouth, they’re on the cusp of Champions League qualification, with the Sky Blues’ “maverick” the star.

ByBen Gray May 21, 2025

Given the poor start to the season, City spent big in January to try and better their chances of having a strong second half of the campaign. That didn’t fully go to plan, and now heading into the summer, Guardiola has revealed that he will leave City if the club doesn’t trim the squad down, as he doesn’t want to have players watching in the stands.

Guardiola told Sky Sports, via BBC: “I said to the club I don’t want that [a bigger squad]. I don’t want to leave five or six players in the freezer. I don’t want that. I will quit. Make a shorter squad; I will stay.

“It’s impossible for my soul to [tell] my players in the tribune [stands] that they cannot play.”

Man City to fight Liverpool for Kerkez

While Guardiola wants his City team to be shortened down, the Blues hierarchy may have other ideas, as according to iNews, Man City want to sign Milos Kerkez from AFC Bournemouth.

It was considered that Liverpool were the frontrunners to sign the left-back, as they have already held talks with the player about a move to Anfield, but as of yet they haven’t made a transfer offer. City have made enquiries about signing Kerkez, and they are now viewed as ‘genuine rivals for his signature’.

The fact Liverpool have not made an offer has left the door open for City, who are looking at bringing in a new left-back, as Guardiola wants a specialist player to play in that position. Incoming sporting director Hugo Viana is understood to be a fan of Kerkez.

Apps

65

Goals

2

Assists

8

Kerkez, who has been dubbed a “mad man” by teammate Marcus Tavernier, is said to be valued at £45 million by the Cherries, and while he is under contract until the summer of 2028, there is an expectancy they will allow the player to leave as long as their price tag is met.

The 21-year-old has been at Bournemouth since the summer of 2023, and in his two years in the Premier League, he has gained many admirers for his direct, attacking style of play from left-back, a style that would see him flourish in teams such as Man City or Liverpool.