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When Liverpool gleaned the FA Cup last season, beating Chelsea on penalties for the second time in a matter of months after winning the Carabao Cup final in near identical circumstances, manager Jurgen Klopp eulogised his players as “mentality monsters”, but less than one year on and the club have sunk like a stone.

Just one week ago, the Reds incredibly mauled rivals Manchester United to a historic 7-0 defeat in the Premier League, adding to previous goal-heavy seasonal triumphs against Bournemouth (9-0) and Rangers in the Champions League (7-1).

The Cherries exacted their revenge on Saturday, deservedly defeating meek Liverpool on the south coast, illuminating the issues of fluidity and consistency that plague the Merseyside outfit’s term and threaten to raise the drawbridge on Champions League football next season.

The midfield has been particularly chastised for its loss of intensity and vigour, and with this in mind, summer signings are imperative to cement the longevity of Klopp’s Anfield dynasty.

Jude Bellingham is the salient target, but with reports from 90min that the Reds’ technical director Julian Ward has sent scouts to observe Lille midfielder Carlos Baleba, Liverpool might just have the perfect youthful option to bolster the engine and secure a silver-laden future for the prestigious club.

Who is Carlos Baleba?

The 19-year-old baller has swiftly emerged onto the Ligue 1 scene with Lille, making 12 appearances in the division already and earning high praise from team-mates, with clinical talisman Jonathan David remarking at how “powerful” the teenager is.

The Cameroonian prospect has indeed made a promising start to life in European football, averaging 0.6 shots and 0.9 tackles per game, also completing 84% of his passes and winning 61% of his duels, as per Sofascore.

His aptitude for assured passing and dribbling skills bodes well for the progressive efficacy of Klopp’s midfield, which has certainly failed to offer the robustness the German manager’s system demands this year.

Hailed by team-mate Remy Cabella as a “monster” and “incredible”, the mounting praise surrounding this blossoming dynamo seems to be telling for the scope of his abilities, with a move to Merseyside perhaps an auspicious route for his career, given the rise of the likes of teenage aces Harvey Elliott and Stefan Bajcetic.

With his boss hailing him as “exceptional” for entering a withered midfield and injecting vibrant life at just 18 years old, Spaniard Bajcetic is quickly emerging as one of the Premier League’s premium talents, having now made 19 appearances for the club and scoring one goal, being labelled an “incredible prospect” by journalist Tom Barnes.

With Baleba’s physicality and ‘monstrous’ presence in the centre, Bajcetic could find the perfect partner to grow alongside over the coming years, averaging one tackle and 1.4 dribbles per match, according to WhoScored, evidently combative in a way that belies his teenage years and inexperience.

Dubbed a “future star” by journalist Graeme Bailey, Baleba is on his way to becoming one of the most coveted young midfielders on the globe, already valued at around £30m by his outfit, and with Bajcetic demonstrating that Klopp’s Liverpool is a fantastic club to nurture talents and grow as a force in the centre, Anfield might just be the perfect home to kickstart his exciting career. 

Sheffield United are monitoring Barnsley defender Jordan Williams ahead of a potential move this summer, according to reports in the last 48 hours.

The Lowdown: Catching the eye

The Tykes right-back has now entered the final 18 months of his deal at Oakwell, and being Michael Duff’s second-best-performing defensive player, is catching the eye of potential suitors.

The Yorkshire outfit are currently fourth in League One, but should they not achieve promotion to the Championship, a move to a team in a higher division would certainly be of appeal.

The Latest: Sheff Utd eyeing Williams

According to Football League World, Sheffield United, Norwich City and Middlesbrough are all ‘monitoring’ Williams as they look to make the jump up to the Premier League.

The Blades and their competitors are ‘taking a closer look’ at the 23-year-old as they weigh up whether to make an official approach.

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The Verdict: Get it done…

Williams has been hailed a ‘brilliant’ player by journalist Josh Bunting and United should act fast to get this deal over the line ahead of their fellow admirers.

The Huddersfield-born talent is currently averaging 2.3 clearances and 1.5 aerial wins per league game (WhoScored), but is also a threat at the opposite end of the pitch.

The Tykes star has six assists and five goals to his name in 33 appearances in all competitions this season, showing how much he loves to get down the flank.

Williams also has the versatility to operate in five various positions, including on both wings and at centre-back, so this will be yet another attractive attribute to Heckingbottom.

Liverpool are once again being linked to esteemed Paris Saint-Germain forward Kylian Mbappe, amid uncertainty surrounding the world-class forward’s long-term future in the French capital…

What’s the latest on Liverpool’s pursuit of Kylian Mbappe?

According to Football Insider, Reds owners FSG have ‘active interest’ in the forward and are ‘continuing to monitor’ his situation at PSG, following revelations from Mbappe himself last year that he discussed a prospective move with the powers that be at Anfield before committing his future to his outfit.

Mbappe said: “We talked a little bit, but not too much. I talked to Liverpool because it’s the favourite club of my mum, my mum loves Liverpool. I don’t know why, you will have to ask her.

“It’s a good club and we met them five years ago. When I was in Monaco I met them. It’s a big club. Of course, it was between Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain in the end.”

While a deal would likely be extortionate, such is his estimated valuation of £158m, Mbappe is one of the world’s leading strikers, and Jurgen Klopp must throw the kitchen sink at a deal.

Indeed, he could be one of the Premier League’s most devastating outlets in history if he were indeed to switch allegiances.

What would Mbappe’s signing mean for Liverpool?

Mbappe is a talent of the very first-rate, matched by few on the world scene, if any.

He burst onto the global stage with AS Monaco before his 18th birthday and played a major part in monumentally beating PSG to the Ligue 1 throne in 2016/17, before switching to the established powerhouse in France that summer.

Praised as an “alien” by Poland international Piotr Zielinski, the 24-year-old World Cup winner has plundered an incredible 198 goals and 94 assists from 245 appearances for PSG, also clinching 36 strikes from 66 showings for France.

If Liverpool were successful in their ambitious pursuit, the void left by Sadio Mane’s departure could finally be filled, with the dynamic forward departing for Bayern Munich in a £35m move last summer after an illustrious career with the Reds.

Having scored 120 goals and provided 48 assists from 269 outings for Liverpool, the Senegalese gem was integral in one of the club’s most prosperous spells in many years, notably winning the Champions League and Premier League among other major honours.

And with Mbappe ranking among the top 1% of forwards in Europe’s top five leagues for rate of goals and the top 2% for rate of assists, as per FBref, he certainly appears to be a player that would not only emulate Mane’s success but take the outfit to a level scarcely seen in the Premier League, also listed as a comparable player to the Munich monster by the statistical site.

Athletes of his ilk come around only once in a blue moon, and given the hundred-hued vibrancy of his skill set, he could indeed be a “work of art” – as dubbed by Fox Sport’s Rodolfo Landeros – under Klopp’s tutelage, forging a prosperous and shining future for one of football’s most prestigious outfits.

Is a deal attainable? On the surface, it might appear not.

But given Liverpool’s stature, the long-term interest in the sensation and Mbappe’s contractual uncertainty with PSG, a move could materialise if the cogs fall sweetly into place.

And if they do, Liverpool’s trepidation over the forthcoming years of football would dissipate like a cloud of smoke, and prosperity would rain down on Merseyside in abundance once again.

Aston Villa dropped to 11th in the Premier League over the weekend as they were beaten 4-2 by Brendan Rodgers’ Leicester on their own turf on Saturday.

Unai Emery’s side are sitting comfortably in midtable and one of the team’s best performers throughout the campaign so far has been veteran full-back Ashley Young.

The 37-year-old has averaged a Sofascore rating of 6.98 in the Premier League so far this season and this places him second in the Villa squad – only behind Douglas Luiz.

Young has played 17 times in the top flight, starting 13 of those matches, and has contributed with three tackles and interceptions and 0.6 key passes per match for the team.

However, the gem turns 38 in July and Emery may start to think about what life may look like after the former England international retires or parts ways with the club.

Matty Cash, 25, is the other senior option at right-back but the Poland international would not have any competition for his place if Young moved on without a replacement coming into the squad.

Emery could find the dream heir to the ex-Manchester United winger’s place in the side by unearthing the talent of 20-year-old academy full-back Kaine Kesler-Hayden.

The young dynamo has already experienced League Two, League One, and Championship football out on loan in recent seasons and the Villa coach could look to slowly bed him into the side as Young heads towards the end of his playing days.

Reporter Jonny Leighfield previously hailed the talented youngster during the gem’s time on loan at Swindon Town during the 2021/22 campaign, saying: “As soon as the loan deal from Villa was done Garner told us that this kid’s got serious quality, a player who’s destined to play for Villa’s first team.”

The journalist added: “He’s just a cut above.”

“He’s got a brilliant turn of pace and a player who like to do his damage up the other end of the pitch. He’s got everything about him to play either Championship or Premier League football regularly.”

During the first half of the current campaign, Kesler-Hadyen made 1.2 tackles and interceptions and 0.7 key passes per match in the second tier for Huddersfield. This came after he made 1.9 defensive contributions and created 0.8 chances per match in League One during the 2021/22 season.

The 20-year-old may not be producing the kind of numbers that Young has been delivering for Villa in the Premier League, from a defensive perspective, this season but the gem has 17 years of development to catch up with the veteran.

Kesler-Hayden could be the future of Villa’s right-back position, given the glimpses of quality he has shown in the Football League so far, and Emery could find Young’s long-term heir by providing the youngster with chances to impress in the coming seasons.

Chelsea are reportedly one of the clubs who are keen on a move for Brentford goalkeeper David Raya, with the Spaniard facing something of an uncertain future at his current side.

What’s the word?

According to journalist Jacob Steinberg, via Twitter, the Blues are said to be “interested” in signing the 27-year-old during the summer, with the experienced asset currently having just 18 months remaining on his existing deal with the Bees.

In the attached piece for the Guardian, the report suggests that both Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United are also keeping tabs on the former Blackburn Rovers man at present.

The report notes that Graham Potter’s side could well be looking to bolster their goalkeeping department with Edouard Mendy having yet to extend his contract and with Kepa Arrizabalaga’s place in the side still said to be ‘uncertain’ in the long-term.

If the west Londoners are to prise the Barcelona-born sensation from his current surroundings, they could well be able to strike a deal for a rather measly fee of just £15m-£20m, as per the Telegraph.

‘Next level’ signing

A new recruit in the sticks has become something of a necessity of late due to Kepa’s current woes, with the former Athletic Bilbao man having been somewhat culpable in the Premier League defeat to Manchester City after failing to cut out Jack Grealish’s pullback, before then going walkabout for Fulham’s second goal in the 2-1 defeat at Craven Cottage last week.

Those struggles have seen pundit Ian Wright describe the £150k-per-week dud as “nervy” and a player who simply makes “too many mistakes”, hence the need to find a suitable, long-term replacement in the coming months.

Turning to the aforementioned Raya could well prove a dream scenario for the Stamford Bridge outfit, with the 6 foot ace having been described as “next level” with the ball at his feet by journalist Dan Bardell.

That strength in possession is evidenced by the fact that the two-cap machine ranks in the top 6% for touches made among those in his position in Europe, having also been praised by Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp last season for his distribution, with the German stating:

“Their goalie should have number 10 on his shirt with the balls that he played.”

That quality on the ball does not appear to come at a cost with regard to his brilliance at keeping the ball out of the back of the net, with the one-time Southport loanee having made 81 saves in 19 games in the top-flight this season – the most in the division.

Kepa, by contrast, has made only 38 saves in the top tier so far this term from his 11 outings, while also ranking in just the top 47% for touches made to illustrate that he is arguably not as comfortable in possession.

While the Brentford man may not be a potential glamour name for Potter and co to pursue, his ability to both prevent goals and help to offer an added threat creatively should well ensure that he can help take Chelsea to that ‘next level’.

Brentford are in desperate need of another star striker.

Their current forward, 26-year-old Ivan Toney, was injured at the start of January but has returned to fitness, although is still at the centre of a controversy. The attacker Toney has been charged by the FA over 262 breaches of betting regulations.

This is likely to result in a significant playing ban if he is found guilty and with him being Brentford’s only out-and-out striker, it means the Bees are lacking depth in this position and thus, will urgently need to bolster the team with a new striker.  We have scouted two strikers who could be a good fit for the club playing alongside Bryan Mbeumo or Ivan Toney.

How essential is Toney to Brentford?

Toney has consistently shown his star quality since signing for Brentford in 2020, playing a substantial role in ending Brentford’s Championship playoff heartbreak. Toney has scored 12 goals in 16 games and contributed to over half of Brentford’s goals this season, putting him third in the race for the Golden Boot.

He has great linkup play with strike partner Bryan Mbeumo and goalkeeper David Raya who sends countless long balls to the former Peterborough man.  As vice-captain for the team, Toney also has a key leadership role within the squad. Brentford face a serious challenge in maintaining their excellent form without their main source of goals.  The Bees don’t have another prolific goalscorer and need to find a new striker fast.

Toney in Trouble

Toney has been charged by the FA over breaching betting regulations and was required to provide a response to the charges on 4th January 2023.  Thomas Frank backed him, however, promising his total support and paid tribute to Toney’s mental strength after he missed out on World Cup selection with England.

Frank was quoted in the Express: “I can only praise Ivan for his mentality and his character.  He is in many ways unique. His ability to have that laser focus going into the game, fulfilling his role in the team, is remarkable.”

Kieran Trippier was found guilty of four betting charges that breached FA regulations and was banned for ten weeks a number of years ago. Frank responded to questions about the betting charges, saying:

“I have been assisting the Football Association with their inquiries and will not be making any comment until such an investigation has reached its conclusion”.

In other events, Toney was pulled over by the Police in April 2022 because his £160,000, green, G-class SUV Mercedes had dangerous, overly-tinted windows and a personalised number plate, reading IVAN 17, that breaches DVLA rules.

The case was brought to Bromley Magistrates Court in December; where Toney was convicted of using a vehicle in a condition likely to cause danger of injury and driving a vehicle when the registration mark failed to conform with regulations. He was ordered to pay fines totalling £540, plus a £54 victim surcharge and £100 in costs.

The Premier League footballer was also given three penalty points on his licence.  Giving evidence to the court, PC George Anckorn said: “The driver’s attitude was poor. He was rude and obstructive to police. He did not care.”

With a recent injury and at risk of a playing ban, it is very uncertain whether Toney will be able to play for much of the rest of the season.  The January transfer window is strategically crucial for Brentford who will need to sign another star striker in order to have a hope of maintaining their position in the Premier League.

Who should the Bees sign?

Junior Adamu

Adamu is a 21-year-old playing for RB Salzburg in the Austrian Bundesliga. He has 14 goal contributions so far this season. Adamu offers something different to Toney because he is not an out-and-out target man but looks to come onto balls played through the defence then attacks using his pace and excellent dribbling ability.  He is an exciting prospect who is not phased by one on one clashes with defenders.  Both Adamu and Toney are good in aerial duels but unlike Toney, Adamu doesn’t like to hold up the ball.

Valued at only€8m by Transfermarkt, Adamu would be a good signing for Frank’s side even if Toney continued to play.  He would be a good backup for Toney and add depth to the squad as well as being another good source of goals. West Ham and Leeds United had already taken an interest in the Salzburg man last summer. With Champions League experience too, Adamu is used to playing big matches that come thick and fast in the Premier League.

H ticks all the boxes for what Brentford need in a new striker and he will grow under the guidance of Frank. The price tag may well actually be around the €15m mark but this signing would still represent excellent value for Brentford.

Mathys Tel

Tel is the next big thing, but you just don’t know him yet. He is a 17-year-old French striker currently being nurtured at Bayern Munich. He’s scored three goals in the Bundesliga this season for Bayern Munich and grabbed another in the DFB-Pokal.

Tel is Bayern’s youngest-ever goalscorer and is already a complete forward; which is why, at such a young age, he’s breaking into one of the most star-studded squads in Europe. He is good technically, extremely athletic and has bags of self-confidence. He can play across the front line but prefers the left side. Like Adamu, Tel is also very speedy with his game being compared to that of Thierry Henry as a result.

His potential appears to be limitless and he will probably stay at Bayern Munich to become a world-beater. However, Brentford have been good at producing amazing strikers so he might be tempted to join the club, perhaps on a loan deal.

Being a major prospect, Tel would be a statement signing for The Bees, one that would be very exciting to see. The London club have previously pulled off signings that you wouldn’t expect, such as Christian Eriksen, showing that the outfit can attract players of a high calibre. Tel is an unlikely signing but you can never count Brentford out.

Conclusion

Both Adamu and Tel are great options for Brentford, but Tel is unlikely to want to leave Bayern Munich and Brentford will likely be conservative if they do buy a striker.

Therefore Adamu looks to be the most likely candidate to move to West London. Brentford have also been linked with Sunderland striker Ross Stewart, currently averaging a goal every 90 minutes in the Championship.  He is good in aerial duels and is very dangerous in the box but Stewart is arguably not ready for the demands of pacy, end-to-end Premier League games week after week.

The Black Cats’ star would reportedly cost £7m but first and foremost, we will have to wait and see if Toney is allowed to play and whether Brentford are in the market for a new striker.

Arsenal face perhaps their truest test of the Premier League season so far as they welcome a rampant Newcastle United to the Emirates Stadium this evening.

The Gunners moved seven points clear at the top of the table over the weekend by picking up their fifth straight victory in the midst of a ten-game unbeaten run with a 4-2 win at Brighton and Hove Albion.

However, even though the Magpies are nine points behind the north London giants, they are in third place and are on an even longer run without defeat, having not lost in 12 outings now.

Last time out, they drew 0-0 to Leeds United as Eddie Howe’s side kept up their resolute form. Indeed, no team has conceded fewer goals than Newcastle this campaign.

That will give Mikel Arteta a headache heading into kickoff, particularly without the services of main striker Gabriel Jesus, who remains out with a long-term knee injury.

Both Gabriel Martinelli and Eddie Nketiah – the Brazilian’s two most plausible alternatives – bagged in the win over the Seagulls but as aforementioned, the Magpies pose a much sterner defensive battle of grit and determination.

It’s entirely predictable that the Spaniard will name an unchanged side, even just days after their last outing, but he could take a bold risk in a bid to find a way past that solid backline, one that has only conceded 11 times from 17 games, including a run of five clean sheets across all competitions.

The Gunners do have creativity in the form of Martin Odegaard (2.2) through the middle and Bukayo Saka (2.1) out wide as both are leading the side for key passes per game, via WhoScored.

But that won’t be enough.

Arteta could be rewarded for a huge gamble in unleashing Fabio Vieira alongside the Norwegian playmaker.

The summer signing, who cost £34m from FC Porto, has found game time hard to come by in the Premier League, with seven of his eight appearances coming from the bench. That said, he’s still managed two goal contributions from only 244 minutes and has excelled in the Europa League.

In Europe, he’s delivered another two goal contributions, is second in the team for key passes (1.8) per game and is also third overall for average WhoScored rating.

The Gunners faithful have seen glimpses of the player who assisted 16 goals and found the net seven times for the Portuguese giants last season – such form that has seen Vieira hailed as “very creative” by Arteta – but not enough, so today’s tricky tie could be the perfect time to unleash such a “special talent,” as also described by his manager.

The creative juices of Odegaard and Vieira behind the likes of Saka, Martinelli and Nketiah could bear fruit in tonight’s crucial top-of-the-table clash.

Both of the Gunners’ two attacking midfield dynamos started together in the recent Dubai Super Cup win over AC Milan during the international break, so it’s a system that isn’t completely unknown to the squad.

While it poses a big risk to their own defensive game as either Granit Xhaka or Thomas Partey would need to make way, it could be the only way to find an edge past Newcastle’s steely defence.

Three points would surely set the Gunners on their way to surefire Champions League football next season.

AND in other news, Arteta eyes Arsenal move for “incredible” £33m gem, he’s a great Tielemans alternative…

Liverpool have suffered a concerning start to their Premier League season not only on the pitch but off it too, with several changes ahead for the Merseysiders.

Not only have the Reds fallen into sixth in the table, but it has been revealed that FSG are plotting to sell the club as soon as they can find the right buyer, while sporting director Julian Ward has resigned from his role at Anfield after just six months.

As a result, Jurgen Klopp could be about to experience a huge transition period during his remaining managerial tenure on Merseyside, and although the upheaval will be concerning, there is an opportunity for a fresh start to take place.

Liverpool’s successful squad which was built by the German alongside his reliable recruitment team have started to take on new paths at other clubs or are coming to the latter stages of their careers, with many key players now into their 30s.

Virgil van Dijk, Jordan Henderson, Thiago Alcantara, James Milner and Joel Matip are all 30 or over, and with several contracts expiring in the summer, it’s the perfect time for Klopp to start thinking about the next generation of success.

Indeed, there will be opportunities to strengthen the squad in the upcoming transfer windows, with Enzo Fernandez and Jude Bellingham two players Liverpool are pushing to sign, although they could already have some of their stars in the future in the youth setup.

One player who penned his first professional contract for Liverpool on Thursday was Michael Laffey, a young midfielder who could be part of the future in the middle of the park.

The Merseyside-born midfielder has risen through the ranks of the youth setup to become a key player in the U18s, with Liverpool’s official website claiming that the youngster earned his new contract due to his ‘good passing range’ and ‘impressive awareness’.

Laffey earned high praise from a Liverpool legend upon securing his future at the club, with Jamie Carragher hailing the player as a “great prospect” on Twitter.

The talented 17-year-old has been polishing his trade in Marc Bridge-Wilkinson’s side since earning his U18 debut last season, tallying 12 appearances and registering three assists so far.

It has been claimed by Sky Sports reporter Dharmesh Sheth that Liverpool could part ways with Naby Keita in the New Year, which would be the perfect opportunity for Laffey to capture the attention of Klopp by taking his opportunities to impress when they eventually arise.

The future is looking very bright for Laffey, and if he can continue to flourish in the U18s, it will surely be no time at all before he is given the chance to prove himself in the first team.

Tottenham Hotspur are set to be busy after the World Cup as they plot additions ahead of the January transfer window.

Despite being well-stocked in the engine room, it appears as if another central midfielder is on Antonio Conte’s wishlist and one name has emerged in recent days.

Spurs chief Fabio Paratici is set to send scouts to Qatar to watch a number of players but it’s Mohammed Kudus who could catch the eye for Ghana, who will face Rodrigo Bentancur’s Uruguay and Heung-min Son’s South Korea in Group H.

According to Corriere dello Sport (via Sport Witness), the Ajax maestro has ended up in the crosshairs of the Lilywhites, thanks to his star-studded domestic performances this campaign, though Italian giants AC Milan are also keen on his signature.

The versatile Ghanian midfielder has already racked up 12 goal contributions across 21 appearances, including goals in the Champions League against Liverpool and Serie A leaders Napoli.

His role in Amsterdam has often been as a secondary striker or attacking midfielder but for his country, he’s likely to occupy a deeper role as Otto Addo has called up numerous forwards, such as Jordan Ayew of Crystal Palace, Club Brugge’s Kamal Sowah and the Basque-born Inaki Williams.

Kudus has immense qualities as a box-to-box machine, as evident by the level in which he’s performed over the last year – as per FBref, the 22-year-0ld is in the top 3% of his positional peers in the ‘next eight’ divisions for passes attempted, pass completion, progressive passes, successful dribbles and total shots per 90.

Meanwhile, WhoScored list his dribbling, tackling and passing as his strongest attributes, which bears some similarities to that of Mousa Dembele, formerly of Tottenham.

The Belgian monster formed a formidable partnership with Victor Wanyama for several seasons under Mauricio Pochettino, with the powerful pair often there to do the ‘dirty work’ behind Christian Eriksen.

And whilst there is no longer an obvious no.10 or even room for one in Conte’s current system, Kudus could partner with Rodrigo Bentancur to recreate this tough duo.

The Uruguayan leads the squad for tackles per game (2.6) and is joint-second for interceptions per game (1.3) too, so he’s taken up the Wanyama-type of role and as Kudus can get forward in the final third, he could go one better than Dembele by providing goals and assists, meaning the Italian head coach could unearth another monster midfield duo if Paratici were to sign the latter in January.

Kudus, once lauded as a “superstar” by Opta analyst Owuraku Ampofo and compared to Netherlands gem Frenkie de Jong by teammate Daley Blind, could be the missing piece of the puzzle at Hotspur Way.

As such, the Italian supremo must look to sign him after the World Cup and if he performs well, then he could well command way more than the €70m (£60m) that was originally touted in the summer.

AND in other news, Spurs could find perfect Romero partner in £43.5m “monster”, he’s set to stun in Qatar…

Liverpool head into the World Cup break amid a run of rare form in the 2022/23 campaign, having won their last four matches in all competitions.

The season could all change following the prestigious competition and who knows, there could well be some new signings on the horizon too.

What’s the word?

One of the players linked with Liverpool of late is a winger taking the European game by storm. That happens to be Napoli’s Khvicha Kvaratskhelia with recent reports suggesting that the Reds and Chelsea are among the clubs interested.

The Georgian moved to Serie A just last summer for a fee of only £8.6m and now it’s thought he could cost a whopping £86m next year.

Offering his reaction to a potential deal, journalist Pete O’Rourke told Football FanCast that a move would enthuse the club’s manager, while suggesting he could be the man to finally replace Sadio Mane, who left a few months ago.

He said: “On paper you’ve got the likes of Kvaratskhelia, Darwin Nunez and Mo Salah in your side so it’s something that would really excite Jurgen Klopp and the Liverpool fans of what those three could potentially do together.”

O’Rourke continued: “He’d help fill the void that Sadio Mane’s departure to Bayern Munich has left in that Liverpool attacking line up this season. He’s been sorely missed on numerous occasions so I think Kvaratskhelia would be somebody who could come in and really add to that Liverpool line up if they could pull off a deal for the Georgian.”

Mane-esque

It was always going to be a tough ask to replace Mane with the Senegalese sensation scoring 120 times in Liverpool colours.

The 30-year-old was the man for the big occasion and the ultimate clutch player, scoring vital goals for Klopp during his stint in England.

Darwin Nunez has now started to impress, finding the net on seven occasions in his last ten outings, but there is still a feeling that they miss a rampant force on the left-hand side.

Diogo Jota and Luis Diaz might well prove to be the long-term solution but for now, they are sidelined through injury.

Irrespective of what the future holds for the Liverpool duo, Kvaratskhelia would be a remarkable signing. Such is his quality in the final third, he has beaten the goalkeeper eight times in 2022/23, while also registering ten assists.

What makes that record even more impressive is that five of those goal involvements came in the Champions League, including one against Liverpool. The 21-year-old showcased his quality first-hand against the Reds, with the Georgia international truly dominating a certain Trent Alexander-Arnold at Anfield this month.

During that game, he performed a rather remarkable seven dribbles, of which three he was able to complete in their entirety.

It was that level of performance that evoked memories of Mane, with the Senegal international demonstrating during his time at Anfield that he could beat players for fun.

Also possessing pace and that magic, ruthless touch in front of goal, it makes for a dynamite combination of skills that can devastate defences.

If Liverpool can get a deal across the line, it would be impressive business. Over to you Julian Ward and FSG.