رد نادي برشلونة الإسباني على اتهامات فلورنتينو بيريز، رئيس ريال مدريد، قبل المباراة المرتقبة أمام تشيلسي الإنجليزي في بطولة دوري أبطال أوروبا.
ويستقبل تشيلسي خصمه برشلونة على ملعب “ستامفورد بريدج” ضمن مباريات الجولة الخامسة لمرحلة الدوري ببطولة دوري أبطال أوروبا.
وكان رئيس ريال مدريد، فلورنتينو بيريز، قد وجه اتهامات قوية لنادي برشلونة في تصريحاته يوم الأحد بشأن قضية نيجريرا، المتعلقة بالتحكيم.
وقال نائب رئيس برشلونة، رافا يوستي، عند سؤاله على الأمر من قِبل العديد من وسائل الإعلام أثناء مغادرته فندق الفريق في لندن: “علينا الردّ على أرض الملعب اليوم، اليوم هو يوم التركيز على المباراة”.
وتابع يوستي في تصريحاته التي نشرتها صحيفة “موندو ديبورتيفو” الإسبانية: “نواجه تشيلسي، الثاني في ترتيب الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز، فريقًا يُقدّم أداءً رائعًا، لكن علينا أن نُثبت أننا برشلونة”.
وصرح بيريز قبل أيام متحدثًا عن مستوى التحكيم الإسباني: “مستوى التحكيم الإسباني غير مقبول، من العار ألا يختار الفيفا أيًا من الحكام الإسبانيين الخمسة والثلاثين لإدارة المباريات”.
وأضاف: “وبالطبع من غير المقبول أيضًا أن يدفع برشلونة لأي سبب كان أكثر من 8 ملايين يورو لنائب رئيس رابطة الحكام لمدة 17 عامًا على الأقل، شغل مناصب مهمة وهذه الفترة تتزامن بالمناسبة مع أفضل نتائج برشلونة في بلدنا” (لمطالعة تصريحاته كاملة من هنا).
While the defending champion Los Angeles Dodgers are enjoying their spoils this offseason, other MLB teams are facing scrutiny from their fan bases for not doing the same.
One year after signing Shohei Ohtani to a record-breaking 10-year contract worth $700—and a few months after winning the 2024 World Series—the Dodgers added star pitchers Blake Snell and Roki Sasaki as well as Korean phenom Kim Hye-seong this offseason.
The Chicago Cubs, meanwhile, haven't done much in comparison. They traded for Houston Astros outfielder Kyle Tucker but have mostly sat on the sidelines and watched as other teams sign the top players on the open market.
Cubs chairman Tom Ricketts addressed the notion that he hasn't spent enough money this offseason during a radio interview Saturday morning, citing the free-spending Dodgers in the process.
"The business model in baseball, it’s worked pretty well for a long time, but there’s a few things right now that are just a little out of kilter,” Ricketts said on 670 The Score's . "Obviously, the Dodgers have a lot more resources, naturally, from smart business moves they made years ago. I don’t begrudge them any of that. Some teams just have outside resources that are funding their player moves and acquisitions, and that’s really hard to compete with. I understand when fans say, 'How come you don’t spend like that?' Because they think somehow we have all these dollars that the Dodgers have or the Mets have or the Yankees have and we just keep it. Which isn't true at all. What happens is we try to break even every year, and that's about it."
One scrutinized move the Cubs made this offseason was sending outfielder Cody Bellinger to the Yankees for right-handed pitcher Cody Poteet—a trade that appeared to be more of a move to get off Bellinger's contract than anything else.
"If we trade Cody Bellinger for a starting pitcher, that's a trade,” Ricketts said. "If we trade Cody Bellinger to get the resources to sign a pitcher, that's a salary dump. It doesn't make any sense."
Ricketts further defended himself from the critics by bringing up his investment in Wrigley Field, which was renovated for about $740 million from 2014 to '19.
“No one has that kind of financial commitment to their team," Ricketts said. "So when I have a fan come up and say, 'Hey, you’re cheap' or 'Open your wallet' or something like that, I just think they’re misinformed. I think it’s the wrong way to look at our ownership."
Per Spotrac, the Cubs are in line to have the 12th-biggest payroll in baseball at $163.7 million in 2025. They are far from the only MLB club shying away from free agency this offseason, as the Washington Nationals, Tampa Bay Rays, Minnesota Twins, Miami Marlins, Cleveland Guardians and Colorado Rockies have all spent less than $10 million on the open market.
The Dodgers, meanwhile, have spent $771 million. And until something changes and other teams join the free-agent mix, the Dodgers will continue to dominate the offseason.
Report’s authors predict ‘tensions’ in wake of windfall, particularly in light of ‘yawning gap’ between haves and have nots
Andrew Miller16-Jul-2025
The authors of Leonard Curtis Cricket Finance Report, including Professor Rob Wilson (centre) and Michael Vaughan (second from right)•Leonard Curtis
County cricket will face “tensions” as it seeks to manage the £520 million windfall that it is due from this year’s sale of stakes in the Hundred. However, it is well placed to avoid the pitfalls that Premiership rugby faced following its own injection of private equity capital in 2018, according to a new in-depth report into the financial health of the domestic game in England and Wales.The Leonard Curtis Cricket Finance Report, an 89-page study compiled by a team of sports business journalists, former and current cricket professionals, advisers and sports finance academics, was launched at the Kia Oval on Tuesday.Within it, the report described a “yawning gap” between the seven counties that host a Hundred franchise and the 11 that do not, with three clubs – Surrey, Warwickshire and Lancashire, all of whom hosted Ashes Tests in 2023 – responsible for 44% of the £306.1 million generated by domestic cricket that year. By contrast, the three poorest clubs – Leicestershire, Derbyshire and Northamptonshire – contributed just 5.56% between them.Professor Rob Wilson, the report’s co-author, acknowledged that, without the anticipated Hundred money, “three or four” counties might by now be facing bankruptcy. However, he was also broadly optimistic that the windfall could provide the “medium-term relief” necessary to shore up the county game’s long-term viability.Related
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“English cricket really is on the cusp of a transformational injection of capital,” Wilson said. “That represents an extraordinary opportunity for the game. But it has to be managed with real prudence, long-term thinking and probably a degree of creativity.”Michael Vaughan, the former England captain who wrote the report’s foreword, added that the Hundred money will allow the 18 first-class counties to “look to the future rather than simply survive from one summer to the next” and called on the smaller counties to invest in player pathways and facilities to generate homegrown talent, rather than seek to compete directly with the bigger clubs.”There needs to be a strategic plan of how to create a sustainable county cricket club,” Vaughan added. “I would like to see counties being transparent with each other and sharing knowledge about what works for them. Sometimes petty rivalries prevent that from happening and divisions between the Test host counties and the others develop.”The contrast with rugby’s experience of private investment is potentially instructive for English cricket. In 2024, Leonard Curtis compiled a similar report on that sport’s finances, six years on from CVC Capital Partners’ groundbreaking £200 million deal for a 27% stake in Premiership Rugby.The rugby report found that not a single club made a profit in the 2022-23 season, with seven of the ten clubs considered to be balance-sheet insolvent. “Old-school thinking”, it added, had contributed to three teams – Wasps, Worcester Warriors and London Irish – going out of business in the preceding seasons.”The ECB has a lot more control over the distribution of that Hundred money than we saw with the CVC deal in rugby union,” Wilson explained. “That money went to the clubs, then straight into player wages, and there was no real improvement in infrastructure.”In cricket, I think it will be much more akin to what we see in American sport, which is ownerships working together for the benefit of the competition, rather than owners against each other for the benefit of the club. Over time, that will mean the franchise values increase, and that then provides a lot more financial resources for the counties that sit beneath them.”However, the authors did acknowledge that the wide range of stakeholders in the Hundred could create separate pressures on county cricket. In addition to multiple investors from India and America, including owners of IPL and MLC teams, almost a third of the Hundred windfall was generated from outside the county system, with a US tech consortium bidding £144 million for a 49% stake in MCC-owned London Spirit.”It certainly creates increased tension, because of the range of different opportunities that the various bodies will be looking to capitalise on,” Wilson added.”With the BCCI investing fairly heavily through the IPL franchise system, that gives them the opportunity to get into the grassroots, and dominate the game at a franchise level, which could then have a tangible impact on the county game.”I’m encouraged that the ECB are regulating how that money will be distributed, so that it goes into the right areas to protect the fabric of the game. But there will be some significant tensions in making sure we can deliver an optimized franchise competition, alongside an 18-county first-class system.”
سجل تريسولدي لاعب الفريق الأول لكرة القدم بنادي كلوب بروج، الهدف الأول في مرمى برشلونة، فيما تمكن الدولي الإسباني فيران توريس من إحراز التعادل لصالح الفريق الكتالوني، سريعًا، في أول 10 دقائق من المباراة التي تجمعهما الآن.
ويحل برشلونة ضيفًا ثقيلًا على كلوب بروج اليوم الأربعاء، وذلك ضمن منافسات الجولة الرابعة من مرحلة الدوري في بطولة دوري أبطال أوروبا.
ويسعى برشلونة إلى تحقيق الانتصار على كلوب بروج، بعد التراجع الذي شهده الفريق الكتالوني على مدار الأسابيع الماضية.
اقرا أيضًا.. فيديو | اشتعال نيران في حافلة جماهير برشلونة.. وسب جماعي لـ ريال مدريد
وجاء هدف تريسولدي في الدقيقة السادسة من انفراد تام بحارس المرمى البولندي فوتشيك تشيزني بعد عمل جماعي أكثر من رائع.
فيما سجل فيران توريس الهدف الأول لبرشلونة “التعادل” سريعًا في الدقيقة 8 من انفراد أيضًا بمرمى حارس الفريق البلجيكي.
Wolves have endured a bruising start to the 2024/25 Premier League campaign.
Six matches in, they sit bottom of the table after losing five and drawing once, that solitary point coming in heartbreaking fashion against Spurs when Joao Palhinha struck a 94th-minute equaliser.
A goal difference of -9 reflects the struggles Vítor Periera’s side have faced both in attack and defence.
The Carabao Cup has offered a rare glimmer of light, with Wolves progressing past Everton to set up a fourth-round clash against Chelsea.
But in the league, their attack remains toothless: their expected goals tally ranks fifth-worst in the division, better only than Newcastle, West Ham, Aston Villa, and Burnley.
Burnley
4.5
Aston Villa
5.0
West Ham
5.0
Newcastle United
5.2
Wolves
5.6
Wolves must find a spark quickly, and they are already feeling the absence of their departed talisman, Matheus Cunha.
Cunha’s £62.5m exit was compounded by the sale of Rayan Aït-Nouri to Manchester City for £31m.
Though Wolves managed to retain Jørgen Strand Larsen – who contributed 22% of their goals last season and has since committed his future until 2030 despite heavy interest from Newcastle – Pereira’s squad is still adjusting.
Several arrivals, including Tolu Arokodare, Ladislav Krejci, and John Arias, add depth, but none will be expected to bear the same creative burden that Cunha once carried.
That responsibility may fall on the shoulders of a new arrival.
The loss of Cunha – the man who made it all tick
Cunha was central to Wolves’ survival push last season.
Arriving from Atlético Madrid in 2023, he went on to score 31 goals in 76 appearances across all competitions.
His 2023/24 league campaign was particularly vital: 15 goals and six assists in 33 appearances ensured Wolves had a fighting chance after a bleak first half of the season.
The Brazilian forward was not just about end product; his underlying numbers highlight how complete his game had become.
He averaged 0.48 non-penalty goals per 90 minutes, ranking him among the very best attacking midfielders in Europe, and his 3.87 shots per 90 placed him in the 99th percentile.
That volume alone kept defenders occupied, but Cunha also created for others, producing 4.68 shot-creating actions and 5.30 progressive passes per 90.
He combined that with 2.05 successful take-ons per game, showing he could beat a man as well as pick a pass.
Wolverhampton Wanderers'MatheusCunhain action with AFC Bournemouth's Marcus Tavernier and Lewis Cook
For a side that already struggles to generate quality chances, losing his mix of direct shooting threat, creativity, and dribbling power is a hammer blow.
Wolves have not only lost their goalscorer but also the man who made their attack tick.
His sometimes volatile personality – including controversial outbursts on social media directed at fans – was tolerated precisely because of the quality he brought on the pitch.
Wolves' perfect Cunha replacement
Into that void steps Fer Lopez.
Signed from Celta Vigo in the summer for £19m, the 21-year-old Spaniard is being backed to take on the creative mantle.
Still developing, Lopez has already shown at youth level why he is regarded so highly, earning his Spain U21 debut in September.
Wolves see him as a player who, like Cunha once did, can gradually grow into a leader in the final third.
Lopez’s statistical profile underlines his potential. In La Liga last season, he averaged 2.68 shots per 90, enough to place him in the 77th percentile for his position throughout Europe’s top five leagues.
More importantly for Wolves, he created 4.19 shot-creating actions per 90, showing he can be a reliable source of chances for teammates.
His passing metrics are particularly impressive: a completion rate of 83.4% puts him in the 94th percentile, while his 6.52 progressive passes per 90 are elite, ranking in the 93rd percentile.
Add to that 2.33 successful take-ons per 90, and you have a “tremendous ball-carrier” – in the words of one analyst – who is capable of driving through lines and committing defenders.
Matches Played
17
Goals
2
Shot-Creating Actions
30
Progressive Carries
27
Progressive Passes
43
Those metrics echo some of Cunha’s strengths.
Where Cunha was known for his shooting volume and chance creation, Lopez’s passing reliability and ability to progress play stand out.
His 6.52 progressive passes per 90, ranking in the 93rd percentile, indicate a willingness to move the ball quickly through midfield into dangerous zones – something Wolves badly need as their chance creation dries up.
Importantly, Lopez offers versatility. He can operate as an advanced midfielder, threading passes into the front line or drop slightly deeper to dictate play in possession.
His intelligence in tight spaces could become crucial against compact defensive blocks, a recurring obstacle for Wolves last season.
The task of replacing a proven Premier League attacker like Cunha is daunting, especially for a 21-year-old still adapting to English football.
If Wolves are to climb away from the relegation zone, giving Lopez responsibility sooner rather than later may be their best route forward.
With Strand Larsen carrying the goalscoring burden and Lopez supplying the creative spark, Wolves might yet find a way to recalibrate their faltering attack.
Barcelona Femeni captain Alexia Putellas created Women's Champions League history on Wednesday as her goal against Roma saw her leapfrog former striker Jenni Hermoso and three-time Ballon d'Or holder Aitana Bonmati. Putellas will now be eyeing further history with the dominant Catalan outfit just a month after he she received a mouth-watering offer from Paris Saint-Germain Feminines.
Putellas the Spaniard with most Women's Champions League goals
Putellas made history once again, as the two-time Ballon d'Or winner became not only Barcelona Femení’s all-time top scorer in the Women's Champions League but also the Spanish player with the most goals in the competition’s history. The captain scored a penalty in the 71st minute against Roma, with the Catalan heavyweights winning the game 4-0 on Wednesday.
Putellas has now scored 27 goals in the competition, eclipsing the 26 goals netted by former striker Jenni Hermoso and current midfield partner Aitana Bonmati. However, she remains a long way away from Ada Hegerberg, the competition's highest goal scorer of all-time with 67 goals to her name.
AdvertisementAFPPutellas delighted with her new record
Speaking to reporters after the game, Putellas said: "I'm very happy to be on this journey with Barca and to have competed in Europe for so many years. Being the top Spanish scorer is a recognition, but it's also the result of the team's hard work and all the team-mates who have supported me on this journey."
Messi and Cesar Rodriguez the only Barca icons with more goals
Putellas has scored 211 goals in 459 games for Barcelona, which makes her the third-highest goal scorer in history for both men and women. Cesar Rodriguez, who spent 13 seasons at the club between 1942 and 1955, scored 232 goals in 351 appearances. He is the second-highest goal scorer in club history, only behind Lionel Messi, who has scored a staggering 672 goals in 778 games.
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Getty ImagesWill Putellas renew her contract?
Putellas is in the final year of her contract with Barca, with an option to extend for another year. Last month, in the final few days of the transfer window, she received an offer from PSG Feminines. The French side were ready to trigger the €1.1 million release clause in Putellas' contract. However, she opted against leaving after holding talks with the club's hierarchy.
Her future is up in the air. In a recent interview, she didn't provide clarity on where her long-term future lies. "My relationship with the club has always been one of trust and naturalness," she said. "Everyone knows what it means to me to play here: it's not a typical 'work for pay' relationship. It goes much further than that. I've spent almost half my life at Barca, I've played 95% of my career here. This will continue as long as, on the one hand, I continue to feel that motivation, energy and daily demand to perform at my best and meet my goals, and, on the other hand, the club feels the same way."
Nico Schlotterbeck has been hailed as Borussia Dortmund's version of Thomas Muller, with Bayern Munich legend Lothar Matthaus tipping the German centre-back for a talismanic role in their bid to challenge for the Bundesliga title. Schlotterbeck’s return from injury has already stabilised the defence, and Dortmund’s bright start to the season suggests they are building a strong platform around their emerging leader.
Schlotterbeck – Dortmund’s key defensive leader
Dortmund’s recent performances have highlighted the importance of having strong, consistent figures at the back, and Schlotterbeck has emerged as a vital component. The German centre-back has recovered from a serious meniscus injury sustained in April, returning to full 90-minute action in their last two Bundesliga games. As Matthaus writes in his latest column in “Schlotterbeck is to BVB what Thomas Muller was to Bayern. He's a player with a strong mentality that Dortmund needs in the future and wants to extend his contract. The German national team defender brings the necessary attitude and quality and is simply a role model for the team. I'm not surprised that he's coming back and performing immediately.”
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Matthaus’ endorsement for German star
The praise from the Bayern great underscores the strategic importance of retaining Schlotterbeck. By likening him to Muller, Matthaus emphasises Schlotterbeck’s ability to influence games beyond pure defensive metrics. Matthaus further contextualises Dortmund’s challenge against Bayern in Bundesliga, noting: “Ultimately, of course, it's largely up to Bayern themselves to decide who will win the German championship. If Munich continues to play like this, things will be very difficult for Dortmund, even though they're performing just as well as the German record champions in their own way.”
Dortmund’s defensive stability key to bright start under Kovac
Niko Kovac's team have kept clean sheets in both Bundesliga games since Schlotterbeck returned to the starting XI, reflecting both his individual quality and the structure he brings to the backline. His high tackling success rate and ability to win possession under pressure make him a defensive anchor. The 25-year-old has previously played a key role in the club’s Champions League campaigns, including reaching the final alongside Mats Hummels. Dortmund remain unbeaten in 13 competitive matches this season, and Schlotterbeck’s presence is central to their ambition to compete with Bayern for the Bundesliga title and maintain European credibility.
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Role for Germany and upcoming Dortmund challenges
Schlotterbeck’s form at Dortmund has placed him in contention for a starting role with the German national team, especially with aging or regressing defenders like Jonathan Tah and Antonio Rudiger. Julian Nagelsmann confirmed that Schlotterbeck will feature in the upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Luxembourg and Northern Ireland. Retaining Schlotterbeck ensures continuity and leadership for both club and country, reinforcing Dortmund’s defensive backbone ahead of major international competitions.
Dortmund are set to host Athletic Club following a dramatic 4-4 draw against Juventus in the Champions League, showcasing both attacking prowess and defensive vulnerabilities. Maintaining Schlotterbeck in the squad will be key to weathering challenging fixtures in Europe and domestically. Dortmund also face more group-stage matches, including encounters with Copenhagen, Manchester City, Villarreal, Bodo/Glimt, Tottenham, and Inter Milan. With Bayern leading the Bundesliga by two points, Dortmund’s ability to keep their defensive core intact, led by Schlotterbeck, could prove crucial in challenging for the title while pursuing deep European runs.
When Trent Alexander-Arnold left Liverpool behind prior to the Club World Cup, fans at Anfield were left furious.
In all honesty, it was no secret that Trent was going to head to Real Madrid, but the way in which he departed has rubbed some the wrong way.
The Liverpool-born full-back had been part of the Reds setup for nearly his entire life and it came to a point where he refused a new deal at the club.
The fact they weren’t initially getting a fee for one of their prized assets was remarkable, really, but he did eventually fetch £10m when Madrid decided they wanted him in the squad for the Club World Cup.
Liverpool have since replaced him but have they truly replaced his best qualities?
How Liverpool can replace Trent
With Trent gone, Richard Hughes and Co moved swiftly to secure the services of Jeremie Frimpong who like Florian Wirtz, traded Bayer Leverkusen and Germany for the Premier League.
Frimpong is incredibly attack-minded, just like Alexander-Arnold, but he’s more about pace and aggression, soaring down the right wing, rather than inverting and spraying passes.
Jeremy Frimpong and Arne Slot
Both are progressive but in their own different ways. So, how can Slot rediscover that progression from central areas?
Well, Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton wouldn’t go a miss.
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Reports in recent weeks have linked Liverpool with a move for the England international and he’s still being touted with a switch.
talkSPORT report this week that Manchester United are considering a bid for the midfielder amid doubts surrounding their pursuit of Brighton’s Carlos Baleba.
The report further notes that Liverpool are long-term admirers of the former Blackburn Rovers star.
While it’s unlikely Wharton moves this summer, particularly amid a £100m asking price, this is certainly one to watch for Richard Hughes and Co heading into 2026.
How Wharton could replace Trent’s best qualities
While Liverpool won’t lose any attacking intent having swapped Alexander Arnold for Frimpong, they will lose a big dose of creativity.
We’re all familiar with how Frimpong loves to get down the flank but what that means is that he’s not going to be someone who plays passes through the lines.
According to data supplied by FBRef, in the 2024/25 Bundesliga, Frimpong made just 2.14 progressive passes and 1.17 key passes per 90 minutes, metrics that ranked him in the very worst 11% of full-backs in the division for the former and the top 34% for the latter.
Liverpool’s former number 66, however, was very strong in this department. In the 2024/25 Premier League, the scouser made 8.83 progressive passes per 90 minutes, ranking him in the best 1% of positionally similar players. He also supplied 1.98 key passes every 90 minutes, ranking him in the top 5%. It’s safe to say he’s an elite creator.
Liverpool'sTrentAlexander-Arnoldapplauds fans after the match
So, where do Liverpool rediscover those attributes with a player in the centre?
Wharton would certainly help. Described as a “generational talent” in the words of former Sky Sports employee Matthew Stanger, he is one of the calmest and composed players in possession in England.
Last season, he made 1.78 key passes per 90 in the league, more than Frimpong and also registered 7.31 progressive passes across the same time frame. That ranked him among the division’s finest 7% of midfielders for that metric.
Not just creative from central zones like Alexander-Arnold was, he could be a defensive upgrade too.
Wharton vs Trent: Key defensive data
2024/25 stats (per 90)
Wharton
TAA
Tackles won
0.96
1.90
Interceptions
1.37
1.18
Aerials won
0.48
0.11
Errors
0.00
0.15
Yellow cards
0.14
0.19
Stats via FBRef.
A look at the numbers indicates that while the former Red got through his fair share of tackles, overall, Wharton is a lot more complete from a defensive point of view, winning more aerial duels and making a higher volume of interceptions.
So, while the Palace superstar may not play in the same position as Alexander-Arnold, he could be everything that was hoped of Trent if he had eventually become a midfielder.
New Coutinho: Liverpool considering late move to sign £86m Isak alternative
Liverpool set sights on Real Madrid Galáctico with an £86m price tag.
Liverpool enjoyed a barnstorming summer transfer window, with an estimated £415m outlay marking the most ambitious and expensive spending spree in European football history.
Rarely had Liverpool shown even a measure of the willingness to fork out such sums across a condensed period, but the careful construction of a superpower under Jurgen Klopp’s wing hit new heights last year in Arne Slot’s system, winning the Premier League and earning a windfall from finishing first in the Champions League group phase.
Twice the Reds have broken the British transfer record this year, first signing Florian Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen before winning the interminable battle with Newcastle United for their free-scoring forward Alexander Isak.
But it didn’t all go the Anfield side’s way, having missed out on top defensive target Marc Guehi on transfer deadline day, with the Three Lions star’s announcement earlier in the day thought to be a formality.
Liverpool's miss out on Guehi
Guehi remains at Crystal Palace. The 25-year-old centre-half, who has entered the final year of his contract, had come within a whisker to making a career-changing move to Slot’s Liverpool, but lost out after his club failed to sign a fitting replacement and Oliver Glasner reportedly threatened to walk if his sale was green-lit.
However, Guehi’s arrival was never going to be the be-all and end-all for the Merseysiders, who had already welcomed Giovanni Leoni to their ranks from Parma in Italy for a £26m fee plus add-ons.
The Italy international is only 18, but he has already showcased prodigious potential and is considered to be one of the most talented young defenders in the world.
Liverpool also resisted interest in Joe Gomez last month, and thus have a range of options at the rearguard, with skipper Virgil van Dijk still performing at the top of his game despite turning 34 in July.
In short, there’s not much to worry about, even if Guehi is one of the best on English shores.
Palace might of reneged on their initial agreement with Liverpool due to internal strife, but the league champions have options aplenty to get them through the campaign, with Van Dijk not the only one who might consider himself an upgrade on the England international.
Liverpool already have a Guehi upgrade
Guehi has the makings of a top-class defender, but perhaps he’s not quite there yet. The one-time Chelsea prospect has captained Palace to FA Cup and Community Shield titles in 2025, but it’s perhaps fair to say that he hasn’t yet lived up to the heights of Liverpool’s Ibrahima Konate.
Crystal Palace'sMarcGuehilooks dejected.
Konate, 26, hasn’t enjoyed the best of starts to the season, caught out in both of Liverpool’s opening Premier League fixtures, but the Frenchman is typically immense beside Van Dijk, hailed by analyst Josh Williams as a “monster at covering ground and dealing with one vs one situations.”
Across his four seasons at Liverpool, Konate has grown stronger and stronger, both on the field and from a fitness slant, with his title-winning performances last season bearing a likeness to Guehi’s own efforts across the year. It’s clear, then, why Liverpool want to land a player who is comparable to their athletic defender.
Goals scored
0.09
0.04
Assists
0.06
0.07
Touches
62.70
76.82
Pass completion
83.5%
90.2%
Progressive passes
3.94
4.04
Progressive carries
0.65
0.88
Goal-creating actions
0.15
0.25
Tackles
1.79
1.41
Interceptions
0.82
0.60
Clearances
4.80
4.68
Blocks
1.62
1.02
Aerial duels won
2.00
2.60
Like Guehi, Konate is staring at the end of his contract, and despite lengthy efforts to reach a breakthrough, Liverpool have as yet failed to convince the £70k-per-week defender to extend.
However, reports from recent months have suggested that there has been something of a narrative shift, with reporter DaveOCKOP revealing that talks are ongoing underneath the ominous backdrop of Real Madrid’s persisting interest.
And class, as they say, is permanent, with Konate putting in a phenomenal shift against Liverpool’s title rivals, completing all 44 of his passes and standing strong against the waves of Gunner offensives.
Liverpool may feel that they have an exciting prospect in Leoni – and indeed, they are probably right in viewing him as a potential superstar – but Konate has been chiselled into one of the best in the business, and his track record suggests Guehi wouldn’t have so easily displaced him if a deal was done on deadline day.
All this is to say that while supporters might be understandably frustrated by the failed effort to sign Guehi, there is little, if any, cause for panic.
Konate is at the top of his game right now, and if Liverpool do find a breakthrough in negotiations to extend his stay on Merseyside, the tough-tackling giant might just find himself reaching new levels, especially when the time comes for Van Dijk to bow out.
Sofascore’s data even reveals that Konate won a whopping 71% of his aerial duels in the top flight last term, whereas Guehi, much shorter at just 6 feet tall, came out on top just 54% of the time for the Eagles.
After all, it’s hardly a coincidence that Konate won his first Premier League title the same year he sorted his fitness levels out, starting 30 times in the Premier League.
25/26 – 3 (3)
–
1
24/25 – 31 (30)
3
11
23/24 – 22 (17)
–
5
22/23 – 18 (17)
–
7
21/22 – 11 (11)
–
4
Liverpool will still need to sign a centre-back at some stage in the not-too-distant future, and Guehi may well remain at the top of the shopping list as he approaches free agency.
Not Ngumoha: Liverpool's exciting 17-year-old could become the next Isak
Liverpool have refined every level of their squad this summer, from youth to senior standard.
Over the last few years, Liverpool’s midfield has undergone a serious rebuild with the final pieces of the puzzle looking to be completed this summer.
Despite Dominik Szoboszlai’s arrival two years ago, Florian Wirtz – a £116m signing – has been added to Anfield’s core and he’s ready to take the Premier League by storm.
However, despite the likes of Wirtz, Alexis Mac Allister and Ryan Gravenberch all arriving, Richard Hughes and Co are not content.
Indeed, they reportedly feel as though they still need a natural defensive midfielder. Graverberch filled in admirably last term, notably winning the Premier League’s Young Player of the Year award, but he’s forward-thinking by nature and not the long-term holding midfielder that Arne Slot desires.
So, where could they look?
Liverpool's hunt for another midfielder
In recent years, Liverpool have done a lot of work on signing a new holding midfielder but haven’t quite got anything over the line.
Last summer, it was Martin Zubimendi, now of Arsenal, who they tried to lure to Anfield. They were confident too, only for the Spanish maestro to remain at Real Sociedad for another year.
Before that, there was Romeo Lavia and Moises Caicedo. Liverpool wanted to spend big money on Caicedo but he ultimately chose Chelsea.
The Ecuadorian was a key player for Brighton and made himself a household name while on the south coast.
Transfer Focus
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Carlos Baleba – Caicedo’s replacement as the Amex – is now earning himself a similar reputation in Brighton’s midfield.
He’s attracted big interest from Manchester United this summer with David Ornstein reporting that the Red Devils want to do a deal. However, it could be a difficult one to finalise this summer.
Now, according to Caught Offside, a number of other Premier League teams have also registered their interest in the 21-year-old.
Indeed, it’s revealed that Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester City, Newcastle United and Spurs are also all monitoring the Cameroonian’s situation.
However, Brighton reportedly have no interest in selling the midfielder and according to prior reports, it could take an almighty bid of £104m to prise him away.
Why Baleba could finally replace Fabinho
Liverpool are not missing many pieces of the puzzle heading into the 2024/25 campaign. They’ve added Wirtz – one of the best attacking midfielders around – and signed Hugo Ekitike, a player who some suggest could be “the next Mbappe.”
However, if you are looking for areas to critique, then it would be the defence. Amid links to Marc Guehi, the Reds want to sign a central defender before the window shuts with Joe Gomez injured, Ibrahima Konate linked with an exit and Jarell Quansah having already left Anfield.
Well, the other area of perceived weakness might be in holding midfield. Gravenberch was exceptional in that role last season, officially crowned as the Premier League’s best young player, but you sense that was only a short-term fix. The Dutchman’s future surely lies as a more advanced number 8.
As a result, the big-money addition of Baleba could finally see Liverpool replace Fabinho.
Since the Brazilian left following a hugely successful stint on Merseyside, the Reds have struggled to really replace him.
Indeed, Fabinho was a rock during the Jurgen Klopp era. After the midfielder left, the German told the club’s website that “Fab was for so long the insurance we had in midfield.”
The German continued: “He always gave us the freedom to play all the fancy stuff. He was involved in that from time to time as well but loved to be the hoover for the team, loved to do all the dirty work for the team.”
Baleba is very much cut from a similar cloth, but perhaps possesses more power and energy. Described by data analyst Ben Mattinson as “one of the best midfielders in the Premier League”, the young Brighton gem has quickly become a force to be reckoned with.
In the words of Seagulls writer Ryan Adsett, the youngster is a “powerhouse” and that comes across in the stats.
Baleba (24/25) vs Fabinho (19/20)
Stat (per 90 mins)
Baleba
Fabinho
Pass success %
87%
87%
Passes into final 3rd
3.68
5.58
Progressive passes
3.99
5.58
Tackles won
1.55
1.52
Interceptions
1.55
1.47
Blocks
1.59
1.08
Errors leading to a goal
0.03
0.04
Successful take-ons
1.11
0.39
Progressive carries
1.45
0.82
Data via FBRef.
Comparing Baleba in the 2024/25 campaign to Fabinho in his prime and there are some similarities, coupled with some big differences.
The duo both completed their passes with the same degree of accuracy and made a similar number of tackles and interceptions.
However, if we are to refer to that ‘powerhouse’ nature, we can see that as far as progressing the ball and getting up the pitch are concerned, Fabinho is bettered by the Brighton superstar.
He’s got a huge amount of energy in the locker and if Liverpool are to sign a player with Fabinho’s defensive work-rate but Gravenberch’s progressive ability, Baleba looks pretty ideal.
Brighton midfielder Carlos Baleba
Liverpool have bigger priorities this summer, of course they do, but if the opportunity to sign the midfielder arises in the coming years, the Reds must be all over it.
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