Mohamed Salah’s had a haircut! Liverpool talisman responds to hairline abuse with fresh trim on Africa Cup of Nations duty with Egypt
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WHAT NEXT FOR SALAH?
The attacker will soon be heading to Ivory Coast to compete in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations with Egypt. His team will start the competition with a match against Mozambique, followed by clashes with Ghana and Cape Verde to round off the group stage.
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Liverpool eyeing £40m Maddison clone in one of Europe’s “best wide playmakers”
Jurgen Klopp’s side are monitoring this exciting PL talent.
There’s not a great deal to complain about at Liverpool right now – bar the usual injuries and Mohamed Salah and Wataru Endo’s absences on international duty this month – with Jurgen Klopp’s side firing across all cylinders.
Top of the Premier League after 20 fixtures, there is a growing belief that the Anfield side could claim their second league title under Klopp’s leadership, also into the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup and the knockout stage of the Europa League.
January 2019 was the last time the Reds opted not to strengthen the ranks at the season’s midpoint, and while Luis Diaz and Cody Gakpo’s additions over the past two years suggest that business could be done this month, last summer’s sweeping changes mean that it is unlikely anything drastic will happen.
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Joel Matip is out for the season but Jarell Quansah’s rise to the fore has come at the perfect time, with Endo’s recent displays anchoring the midfield suggesting that heavy spending is not needed in that department.
This is not to say that Liverpool aren’t monitoring and plotting ahead of the campaign’s conclusion, however, with a Premier League phenom reportedly being lined up.
Liverpool transfer news – Michael Olise
According to Football Insider, Michael Olise’s new release clause with Crystal Palace is well in excess of £40m, with Liverpool – alongside Chelsea and Manchester City – interested in securing his signature.
Chelsea activated Olise’s £35m release clause in August but a completed deal never materialised and the Eagles convinced their star attacker to sign fresh terms, raising the buyout in his contract.
Liverpool have been sending scouts to observe the France U21 international in action for the past few months and will be at the front of the race to sign him in the summer.
Michael Olise’s style of play
Palace signed Olise from Championship club Reading for only £8m in 2021, and after an impressive debut campaign that saw him clinch 12 direct goal contributions from just 16 starts across all competitions, the whiz posted 11 assists from 31 starts during the 2022/23 league campaign.
As per FBref, the 22-year-old ranks among the top 16% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for assists, the top 10% for shot-creating actions, the top 15% for tackles, the top 13% for blocks and the top 6% for interceptions per 90.
Inventive, artful and industrious, Olise embodies the application and dynamism that Klopp demands in a player, and it would be wise to ensure that moves are made to stand a good chance of closing a deal in several months.
Michael Olise: Key Characteristics Strengths Weaknesses Crossing Aerial duels Creativity Tackling Taking set-pieces Dribbling Direct free-kicks Ball retention Defensive contribution *Sourced via WhoScored A man of many talents, Olise would be a credit to Liverpool’s team and could even serve as the principal creative outlet, allowing the dynamite forwards to wreak havoc with their shooting.
Of course, playmaking isn’t the only string to Olise’s bow, as has been evidenced through his clinical exploits this term…
Michael Olise’s season in numbers
Returning from a hamstring injury that ruled him out of the opening three months of the 2023/24 campaign, Olise has plundered five goals and an assist from just seven Premier League matches so far.
Heralded as a “pure joy to watch” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, the 5 foot 10 gem has been an electric presence, maintaining his flair and creativity despite his newfound cutting edge.
Indeed, as per Sofascore, Olise has completed 81% of his passes and averaged 2.2 key passes, 2.7 dribbles and 7.4 duels per game.
Certainly not one-dimensional, it’s no wonder that some of English football’s mightiest forces are eager to secure his services, and should Klopp succeed in this transfer endeavour, he might even make a transformative move to replicate Tottenham Hotspur’s signing of James Maddison.
Why Michael Olise would be Klopp’s own Maddison
Maddison was crowned the Premier League’s Player of the Month in August after a brilliant start to life in London, signing from relegated Leicester City for £40m last June.
While the Foxes fell into the second tier, the 26-year-old was hardly culpable after scoring ten goals and providing nine assists from only 28 starts.
But such feats attracted Spurs’ attention and his signing was considered a bargain for one so talented, with the Times’ Henry Winter remarking that it was “buys of the summer”, especially given that Newcastle United had fiercely pursued a transfer since the PIF takeover back in 2021.
The Magpies failed with a £50m summer bid in the past before seeing fresh discussions come to nought after Tottenham edged ahead in the race.
The England international has been sidelined with an ankle injury for the past few months but is soon to return to match action and continue to stake his claim as one of the finest creators in the Premier League, averaging 2.9 key passes per outing.
The £170k-per-week star ranks among the top 3% of positional peers for assists, the top 1% for shot-creating actions and the top 5% for progressive passes per 90, showcasing his elite ball-playing ability.
While Maddison plays centrally and Olise tends to be deployed out on the right wing, Liverpool could triumph in signing a creative player from a lower-positioned side in the league ladder and nurture them toward a starring role at the forefront of the European game.
After all, Kulig has said in the past that the Selhurst Park maverick is “one of the best wide playmakers in Europe”.
The fact that Chelsea failed to sign Olise at the start of the season draws another parallel between this transfer saga and Maddison’s; Liverpool will need to ensure that they capitalise and sign an elite talent.
Ange Postecoglou’s side advanced to the fourth round of the FA Cup courtesy of the Spaniard’s screamer.
Tottenham Hotspur avoided a potential banana skin to commence their FA Cup campaign with victory over Burnley, indebted to Pedro Porro’s wonder strike late into the second half.
Vincent Kompany’s Clarets were both resilient and spirited and had squandered a couple of good opportunities – notably with Zeki Amdouni firing over in the first half – but Ange Postecoglou’s decision to name a strong team paid off.
Porro was praised for his “unstoppable thunderbolt” by commentator Conor McNamara and rightly so; Spurs faced the growing possibility of a replay – or worse – as the closing stage drew near, but the Spaniard ensured his side advanced.
Pedro Porro’s game vs Burnley in numbers
Porro is in with a shout for Tottenham’s standout player of the season so far, having now posted one goal and six assists across all competitions.
With the hosts in need of some inspiration, the 24-year-old popped up with a pivotal moment after winning the ball and sending a fierce strike hurtling into the top corner, Arijanet Muric dumbfounded and inanimate.
Pedro Porro: Stats vs Burnley Stat # Minutes played 90′ Goals 1 Touches 119 Accurate passes 59/71 (83%) Key passes 3 Dribble attempts 2/3 (66%) Ground duels won 8/13 (62%) Tackles 4 Clearances 1 Interceptions 3 *Sourced via Sofascore Handing him a 9/10 match rating, the Evening Standard’s Dan Kilpatrick summed up the impressive display, writing: ‘Won the match with a brilliant screamer. Was Spurs’ most creative player before then, pinging a number of eye-catching diagonals towards Johnson.’
With Tottenham now through to the fourth round, Porro has demonstrated his worth once again as a key component to this exciting project, and while he was immense, the attempt of Rodrigo Bentancur in the centre of the park was perhaps more galvanising for the Spurs squad.
Rodrigo Bentancur’s performance vs Burnley
2023 was not friendly to Bentancur but the Uruguayan will now be hoping that his recent return from injury has ended the incessant issues that have left him sidelined.
Starting against Bournemouth in the Premier League on New Year’s Eve, the £75k-per-week midfielder was handed a role from the outset once again but this time produced a commanding showing to remind supporters of his quality.
As per Sofascore, Bentancur indeed flourished from his deep-lying role, winning six of his ten ground duels, taking 83 touches, completing 86% of his passes (only losing possession 11 times) and creating two key passes.
He also succeeded with four of his five attempted dribbles on the evening to showcase a progressive quality that can serve as a penetrative tool to break and stretch opposing lines.
Kilpatrick handed Bentancur an 8/10 match score, and given the scant match action he has had over the past year, this is most promising: ‘The captain for the night was quietly impressive at the base of midfield. His return to fitness ahead of schedule has been a major boost for Spurs.’
While Spurs weren’t at their best, there is plenty to take from the win and Postecoglou will now look forward to the return of Premier League football, continuing their restored form.
Spurs could sign a “relentless” £50m star who’s like a “Poch-era Dele Alli”
Ange Postecoglou would turn this Premier League star into an absolute monster.
With 2023 drawing to a close, Tottenham Hotspur have been among the more tumultuous of Premier League clubs, though Ange Postecoglou is working feverishly to ensure that his side return to prominence on the continent.
Antonio Conte was sacked in March after a slide in form and a loss of identity. It was Tottenham’s fourth managerial dismissal in as many years, and it was yet another roadblock that stifled the London club’s chances of competing at the forefront of Premier League and European football.
But navigating away from the appointments of managers of glittering pedigree and welcoming Postecoglou to the head of the table – who had done a stellar job with Celtic in Scotland but was not considered the same calibre as the Conte’s and Jose Mourinho’s of the game – has proved to be an astute piece of business for the Lilywhites.
Despite acquiescing to Harry Kane’s demands to be sold and granting his departure to Bayern Munich in August, Tottenham have proved that they can return to the Champions League, but they need more signings.
A brilliant start to the campaign was halted in November when injuries and suspensions highlighted just how thin the Spurs squad still is.
The January market is fast approaching, however, and Postecoglou and his transfer team will be sure to make good use of the opportunity to augment the ranks.
Tottenham transfer news – Conor Gallagher
According to a recent report from TEAMtalk, Tottenham have received a boost in their pursuit of Chelsea midfielder Conor Gallagher following news that the Blues have deemed the player sellable as they seek to recuperate funds and move in line with regulations to permit lucrative spending in 2024.
The report relays murmurings that Chelsea would be willing to part with the England international for £50m, though it is probable that discussions with interested parties will start at the £40m mark.
Manchester United and West Ham United are also listed as suitors, but Spurs lodged an (unsuccessful) £40m bid for Gallagher’s services on summer deadline day and could entice the 23-year-old to make a bold cross-London switch.
Conor Gallagher’s style of play
It’s surprising that Gallagher is among the stars to have been made expendable at Chelsea, regardless of the monetary benefits that could be gleaned from the sale of a homegrown player.
As per FBref, Gallagher ranks among the top 16% of midfielders across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for progressive carries and successful take-ons, the top 17% for tackles, the top 3% for blocks and the top 9% for touches in the attacking box per 90.
Conor Gallagher: Similar Players Player Club Rodrigo Bentancur Tottenham Hotspur Guido Rodriguez Real Betis Joao Palhinha Fulham Boubacar Kamara Aston Villa Konrad Laimer Bayern Munich *Sourced via Football Transfers Evidencing his penetrative presence in the midfield and willingness to push forward and make things happen for his team, Gallagher has been important for a Chelsea side that has struggled to click into gear for successive seasons now.
Across all competitions, the £50k-per-week ace has completed 65 fixtures for the Blues, scoring three goals and supplying five assists, with his energy and industriousness establishing him as one of Mauricio Pochettino’s most important stars this term.
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As per Sofascore, the 11-cap international has started 16 of the Stamford Bridge side’s league games this year, supplying four assists, completing 92% of his passes, averaging 1.4 key passes, 2.8 tackles and 6.6 ball recoveries per game, completing 73% of his dribbles and winning 55% of his duels.
A highly effective multi-functional midfielder, Gallagher would be a brilliant capture for a Tottenham team that needs to bolster the engine room this winter, with Yves Bissouma and Pape Matar Sarr both off to the African Cup of Nations next month.
He also boasts some striking similarities to Dele Alli, and within a free-flowing Spurs system, he could be moulded into a player of the same merit with some tactical tweaking.
Claims that Gallagher emulates such a style are corroborated by the words of The Athletic’s Mike Stavrou, who took to Twitter to state: “Conor Gallagher was absolutely relentless with his pressing and energy tonight. Some player Chelsea have got.”
How Conor Gallagher compares to “Poch-era” Dele Alli
Postecoglou wants fluency and offensive verve weaved into his set-up at the Tottenham Hotspur stadium and would make good use of Gallagher’s abilities, with the Chelsea man called a “manager’s dream” by former Eagles boss Patrick Vieira.
Vieira was Gallagher’s boss during the 2021/22 season when he was loaned out to Crystal Palace to gain some important Premier League experience – it’s safe to say that he surpassed expectations.
During his time at Selhurst Park, the Englishman scored eight goals, completed 81% of his passes and averaged 2.1 tackles per game, with a budding prolificness offering shades of Alli, with journalist Jack Pitt-Brooke drawing the comparison.
Vieira said: “He surprised me with his finishing, he surprised me with his energy, he surprised me with the way he gets into the box at the right time to score goals.”
Alli signed for Tottenham from League One side MK Dons as a teenager in 2015, for around £5m, and went on to establish himself as one of the division’s greatest-ever youngsters, scoring 37 goals and supplying 29 assists across his first three campaigns, with Mourinho claiming that he could become “one of the world’s best”.
An intelligent and positionally astounding player, Alli would waltz into the danger area with remarkable constancy, thriving in a high-octane system – this is something that Gallagher could emulate with the current Tottenham squad.
Gallagher has demonstrated his calibre as a goalscoring presence from the middle in the past and such a streak could be reignited with a move to Tottenham, where he could prove to be the second coming of Alli, providing Postecoglou’s side with a cutting-edge from deep to take the stress from Heung-min Son’s shoulders.
Spurs have now discussed signing “underrated” Premier League star
There’s been internal discussions.
Tottenham Hotspur have discussed signing an “underrated” Premier League star as their transfer plans for 2024 continue to take shape.
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