Jesse Marsch’s Leeds United head into tonight’s Premier League meeting with Chelsea knowing that, should they wish to give themselves the best possible chance of avoiding the drop this season, they simply must pick up some kind of result at Elland Road against Thomas Tuchel’s third-placed Blues.
However, with right-back Luke Ayling being shown a straight red card in the 2-1 defeat at Arsenal last time out, in addition to the form of several of the Whites’ regular first-teamers having fallen off a cliff in recent weeks, the 48-year-old manager has a number of big calls to make concerning his starting XI.
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One such call will undoubtedly be in central midfield, a position in which, following Adam Forshaw’s season-ending injury, the American manager has struggled to find a suitable counterpart to the unflappable England international, Kalvin Phillips.
At The Emirates, Marsch started Mateusz Klich alongside the 26-year-old, however, with the 31-year-old turning in yet another abject display against the Gunners, it would appear an extremely wise move for the 48-year-old to drop the Poland international for what could well be a season-defining fixture this evening.
Indeed, over his 45 minutes on the pitch last time out, the £3.6m-rated midfielder was something of a passenger in the middle of the park, enjoying just 33 touches of the ball, completing 79% of his passes, ceding possession for his side on eight separate occasions, being beaten by an opponent twice and losing five of his six duels – a failure rate of 83%.
These returns saw the £34k-per-week player who The Short Fuse dubbed “embarrassing” and one prominent Leeds supporter dubbed “awful” average an extremely disappointing SofaScore match rating of just 6.0 – the joint third-worst score of any player to feature in the match – with Marsch hooking the 38-time capped international at the break.
As such, with Lewis Bate having highly impressed upon replacing Klich last time out, and while it is true that the likes of Raphinha and Jack Harrison also failed to make any sort of mark against Arsenal, it is the Pole who Marsch simply must axe from his starting XI against Chelsea, as the midfielder could cost the Whites big-time against the Blues.
AND in other news: Marsch must finally unleash “standout” 19 y/o Leeds talent v Chelsea, he “isn’t afraid”
Former Scotland manager Alex McLeish has been left hugely impressed with Carl Starfelt’s improvement in form for Celtic this season, hailing his work behind the scenes with Ange Postecoglou.
The Lowdown: Starfelt superb for Hoops
The Hoops are on the verge of sealing Scottish Premiership glory, with numerous players starring for Postecoglou’s side throughout the campaign.
Starfelt has undoubtedly been one of them, starting 31 league matches and averaging a 90.8% pass completion rate and winning 4.4 aerial duels per game.
The Swede’s current deal expires in the summer of 2025, and considering he is still only 26, he could prove to be a long-term player for Celtic after an initial shaky start.
Speaking to Football Insider, McLeish heaped praise on Starfelt’s brilliance and the work he has done with Postecoglou in training, having improved his all-round form hugely:
“The manager has seen the guy every day. I imagine they have been doing some individual stuff, some video stuff.
“The manager will have known what Starfelt is capable of before he joined Celtic. There was a few Celtic players at the start of the season who weren’t at the level.
“Carter-Vickers is one. Starfelt, after a very shaky start, he has blossomed. It’s a credit to the manager and the coaches but it also shows the player has the bottle to play for these teams.”
The Verdict: Key man for years to come
Starfelt deserves all the accolades he receives this season, having been such an influential part of a defence that has conceded just 21 goals in 36 league outings in 2021/22.
He and Cameron Carter-Vickers has formed a wonderful understanding alongside one another and the hope is that they continue to provide the backbone of the team for many years.
Starfelt hasn’t done his job yet, though, and it is vital that he carries on performing at his current level in the final two league games of the season, becoming a Scottish champion in his first year at Parkhead.
In other news, Celtic have been tipped to sign a player in one position this summer. Read more here.
Josh Holland has dropped an exciting claim regarding reported Aston Villa target Ibrahim Sangare.
What’s the word?
Speaking recently to Football FanCast, the transfer insider insisted that the PSV Eindhoven midfielder could well be making a move to the Premier League in the near future, while he dished out praise for the £14.4m-rated man following his stunning displays for the Dutch outfit in recent times – including in the recent European Conference League meetings against Leicester City.
Asked about the 24-year-old, Holland said: “He reminds me of Wilfried Ndidi, in a sense of his structure and how he’s tall but he’s not a big, strong player. He’s quite niche in how he moves across the pitch.
“I think he’s destined for a move to the Premier League, whether that be to Leicester or to Villa. I think both clubs need a defensive midfielder, so it’s going to be an interesting battle for them to bring him in”.
Previous reports have linked the Ivorian with a move to Villa Park, although the Midlands side are likely to face stiff competition from the Foxes for his signature, according to recent suggestions.
Gerrard will love him
It has proven a fairly tricky start to life back in English football for Villa boss Steven Gerrard – with nine wins and ten defeats since his appointment back in November – with the former England international seemingly hoping to strengthen this summer in order to kick on again next season.
Having already snapped up Philippe Coutinho and Lucas Digne back in January, the 41-year-old is now turning his attention towards the club’s next notable capture, with Sangare potentially the man on their radar.
Recent reports have suggested that Gerrard went on a scouting mission last month to watch the 17-cap international in action at the King Power Stadium, having also kept a close eye on his current teammate, Noni Madueke.
Recruiting a new defensive midfielder appears high on the priority list this summer, with the club lacking a genuine holding player at present, relying on the more attack-minded Douglas Luiz to fill in in the absence of the stricken Marvelous Nakamba.
There have been links to Leeds United’s £60m man Kalvin Phillips to solve that problem role, although the club can secure a quality and much cheaper alternative in Sangare – who is rumoured to cost in the region of £3om.
While he may be half the price of the Englishman, he is certainly not half the player, having enjoyed a fine campaign for the title-chasing Eredivisie outfit.
The former Toulouse man – who has been dubbed “extraordinary” by former coach Aad de Mos – has registered a hugely impressive 3.3 tackles and 2.4 interceptions per game this season in his 26 league outings, while also winning 72% of his aerial duels.
Not just a midfield destroyer, however, he is also a smooth operator in the ball, having also completed 74% of his total dribbles and achieved an 86% pass accuracy rate thus far.
The Villans are seemingly crying out for an all-around presence in midfield, with Sangare the perfect fit for what Gerrard is after.
In other news, Gerrard must ruthlessly axe “unplayable” £38k-p/w AVFC dud, he’s stealing a living
It is expected that they will make the loan move for Matt Targett a permanent one from Aston Villa, while they have also been recently linked to the likes of Evan Ndicka, Victor Osimhen and Hugo Ekitike, suggesting that they will be looking to strengthen in quite a few areas of the pitch.
The Latest: Five signings
Speaking to GiveMeSport, Downie has said that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) consortium’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) will now look to sign a central defender, a playmaking forward, a striker and a goalkeeper as well as Targett, and could bring in even more players if others were to leave:
“I think they’ll bring in a centre-back, a forward, like a playmaker, and a striker. They’re also looking at the goalkeeping department, and then it all depends on players going.
“If they lost a centre midfielder or they don’t manage to sign Matt Targett, then they’ll look to bring in more on top of that.”
The Verdict: Exciting
It certainly is exciting for the Toon Army to see so many quality players linked to the Magpies, and in so many different positions on the pitch, as PIF look to take them to the next level.
Money should not be too much of a problem for the mega-rich owners, and so providing that they can ship out a few and comply with Financial Fair Play (FFP) rules, they should be able to bring in plenty of fresh faces.
Nonetheless, Eddie Howe will need time to get them all to gel, but the future is certainly looking bright.
In other news, find out who could now be first to leave NUFC this summer here!
Manchester United and Liverpool have both been linked with signing Bournemouth winger Antoine Semenyo, but it is Ruben Amorim’s side who are in pole position ahead of the January transfer window.
Semenyo is one of the most impressive wide players in the Premier League currently, scoring six goals and registering three assists in the competition leading into the international break.
The 25-year-old is wanted by a host of top clubs, with United among those thought to be right in the mix to snap him up, potentially even in the January transfer window.
Semenyo has a £65m release clause in his current Bournemouth contract for a certain time period, with David Ornstein reporting the Cherries will effectively be powerless to stop a departure in early January.
Liverpool look to be the most interested out of United’s Premier League adversaries, as they look for an injection of attacking quality midway through the season, with the Reds believing Semenyo can be their next Sadio Mane.
Man Utd leading Liverpool in Semenyo race with player keen on move
According to a report from Spain, Manchester United are the front-runners to acquire Semenyo’s signature from Bournemouth in January, with INEOS seeing him as a top target for the Red Devils.
The report claims it’s “hard to believe Manchester United won’t secure the signing” due to their willingness to pay the release fee and Semenyo being interested in a move to Old Trafford.
They are ahead of Liverpool in the race, which will no doubt delight the supporters, with Amorim possibly eyeing a long-term replacement for Marcus Rashford, should he leave Old Trafford for good at the end of this season.
Semenyo feels like an ideal signing for United in the mould of Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha, in terms of players who have proven themselves in the Premier League and are ready to make the step-up to a bigger club.
The Ghanaian provides strong end product on a consistent basis, and has scored twice in three Premier League appearances against the Red Devils, while Pep Guardiola recently hailed his ability, calling him an “extraordinary” player.
Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola was asked earlier this week about the situation, saying he isn’t worried about losing his star player in January.
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Despite this, it is easy to envisage Semenyo’s head being turned by a move to United, especially if they continue their recent improved form under Amorim, and he would be a fabulous addition to the attack.
Man Utd have their own version of Semenyo & he's Amorim's "best player"
The season is deepening, moving toward patterns more tangible than those the early weeks comment on a team. For Newcastle United, this is the case.
Newcastle started the 2025/26 campaign poorly, but Eddie Howe’s side were rocked by upheaval across the summer transfer window and lost their talisman, Alexander Isak, after a long attritional battle with Liverpool.
Isak, 26, scored many goals for the Tynesiders. Too many to name. One of which, though, came against Liverpool in the Carabao Cup final, and so for all the negativity and understandable criticism that came with that unwanted transfer saga, Isak’s legacy lives on.
But he’s a Newcastle player no more, and Howe knew it was crucial that a fitting replacement was brought in.
Well, while Yoane Wissa still waits to make his bow after his transfer from Brentford, having injured his knee on international duty, Nick Woltemade has enjoyed a fast start to life in England, impressing once again in the Champions League on Wednesday evening.
Newcastle spent well on Woltemade
There are some out there who seem to think Newcastle overspent when welcoming Woltemade from Stuttgart in a club-record £69m deal.
Here’s the thing. Newcastle’s summer struggles for a striker were well-documented, to say the least. The Magpies have landed themselves one of the most exciting young strikers in the business, and if that makes them ‘fools’, as some have suggested, then so be it.
And against Union Saint-Gilloise in the Champions League, the German, 23 years old, added to his goal tally, getting the last touch after Sandro Tonali’s strike took a deflection.
Six games into his Newcastle career, the intelligent, rangy striker has three goals, and he has also shown off a deft technical game that will only improve as he and Howe’s system get more comfortable with each other.
He has what it takes to make Isak but a distant memory at St. James’ Park and across Newcastle. Woltemade is the real deal, but he’s also young and unpolished.
Newcastle, actually, have another player who could be their next version of the Swedish sensation, and he showed he’s getting back to his best with a rip-roaring performance in Belgium.
Howe's new version of Isak
Class is permanent. This Howe knows. And so while Anthony Gordon toiled his way through the 2024/25 campaign and started off the current campaign on the wrong footing, he, and all involved at Newcastle, knew that time and hard work would see the England international rise back to his former, Player of the Year-winning form.
Anthony Gordon looks dejected for Liverpool
Gordon is 24 and considered one of the most talented wingers in the Premier League, with his rapid pace and persistence in driving play forward and making things happen in the final third, setting him apart from his positional rivals. He has described himself as a “nightmare for anyone” pitted against him.
But last season’s return of only six goals in the Premier League simply wasn’t good enough for a wide forward of his calibre.
Well, we’re still in the early phase of the new campaign, and Gordon hasn’t clicked into gear on the domestic front, but his performances in the Champions League suggest he is rising back to his best, awarded a 9/10 match rating by the Shields Gazette after converting two penalties and proving a livewire throughout.
Minutes played
90′
90′
Goals
1
2
Assists
0
0
Touches
28
62
Shots (on target)
1 (1)
3 (2)
Accurate passes
14/16 (88%)
24/31 (77%)
Key passes
0
0
Dribbles
1/3
5/8
Tackles
0
1
Ground duels
3/6
9/17
Journalist Henry Winter said his performance was “quick and clinical”, and if Gordon can capture and sustain that essence over the coming months, he could rise and provide a leading presence for Newcastle, much akin to Isak over the past few years.
Woltemade is talented and will score goals across the season. Wissa will too. However, Gordon, when firing on all cylinders, offers something more dynamic and complete, inspiring his teammates while applying prolific pressure himself. Across the 2023/24 season, in all competitions, he notched 28 goal involvements.
His contribution to Harvey Barnes’ conclusive fourth goal underscores that very point. Gordon has the full package, all right, and there is every confidence he will carry this form back into the Premier League and help Howe’s side make headway, 15th in the Premier League after six matches.
But to say Gordon has been abject across the opening weeks simply wouldn’t be true. He has endured some heavy moments, no doubt about that, but has also recorded six successful duels per game, also completing 71% of his dribbles.
With a bit more refinement in the crucial moments, Gordon might finally hit the heights envisaged and become the talisman Newcastle need now that Isak has left. After all, he has been chased by Liverpool too, with the Reds considering paying £100m for the Three Lions star’s services.
There is still work to be done. Gordon hasn’t enjoyed a good start to the Premier League season, sent off against Liverpool, but also missing three big chances in front of goal and lacking the clarity and composure he is capable of producing and sustaining.
But class is permanent. This Howe knows. And Gordon, too.
The 24-year-old has shown in the Champions League that he is ready to step up to the plate now that Isak has gone and assume the responsibility as Newcastle’s talisman.
Woltemade might be a number nine with the talent to match Isak, but Gordon, when on his A-game, is Newcastle’s main man.
Better than Gordon: Newcastle star is now one of the best in the world
Newcastle romped to a big win in the Champions League this week, with Anthony Gordon starring.
Following Giovanni Leoni’s season-ending injury blow, Liverpool have been handed a key boost in pursuit of Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi.
Leoni injury hands Liverpool centre-back problem
For all of Liverpool’s excellent spending in the summer, they are now just one injury away from having two senior centre-backs at their disposal. The Reds went all in on Marc Guehi at the end of the transfer window, only for Crystal Palace to pull the plug on his move at the last moment. Now, Leoni’s ACL injury has left Arne Slot short of defensive options.
For now, it’s a problem that Liverpool must solve internally. Whether that sees Wataro Endo become an emergency centre-back or the likes of defender Rhys Williams receive the most unexpected recall is a question that, in truth, Slot will not want to face before January arrives.
Meanwhile, when the January transfer window does swing open, it will be all eyes on Guehi. Slot has not tried to hide how close Liverpool were to signing the Crystal Palace defender and another attempt could yet be on the cards.
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The Dutchman told reporters: “It would be ridiculous if I were to deny we were close to signing him. That is so out in the open. These things happen in football. We would have liked to have signed him, of course. If we feel we can strengthen the team, we never hesitate to do so.“
The injury to Leoni has potentially added more urgency to Liverpool’s position and Sky Sports have just shared an update on the Reds’ pursuit of Geuhi.
Sky Sports share "big news" about Guehi
Live on air, Sky Sports journalist Tom White shared “big news” that Crystal Palace have accepted that Guehi’s time at the club is coming to an end – be it in January or at the end of his contract next summer.
White revealed: “We’ve got some news just into us. This is big news regarding Marc Guehi, because we are told that Crystal Palace realistically accept that Marc Guehi’s time at the club is coming to an end.”
The ball is now arguably in Liverpool’s court. The Reds could look to solve their centre-back problem by attempting a cut-price deal to sign Guehi just six months before his contract comes to an end this January. Or, they could wait to land the ultimate bargain at the end of his deal next summer.
Leeds United fans will soon be welcoming back a whole horde of familiar faces to Elland Road when Premier League football gets officially underway.
The likes of Crysencio Summerville, Georginio Rutter and Archie Gray will all likely line up for their new sides in West Yorkshire, with Daniel Farke no doubt one to catch up with his past Whites servants before any niceties then go out the window on the pitch, considering their impressive spells donning Leeds white in the first place.
The German could even be about to win his next version of Gray this summer if all goes to plan, with Leeds reportedly having to spend big to land this new, versatile target.
Leeds interested in £30m star
It had been a relatively quiet window as far as incomings were concerned at Elland Road until Sunday when, out of the blue, Leeds managed to seal the signing of Felix Nmecha.
The striker arrived from Wolfsburg on a free transfer following the conclusion of his contract with the German club. So, who’s next on the radar?
Well, according to Portuguese outlet A Bola (via Sport Witness) Leeds are now keen on adding standout Southampton gem Matheus Fernandes to their ranks.
Previously, Fernandes has been valued at around the £30m mark, but Sport Witness goes on to elaborate that a heftier asking price could now be in the offing if Leeds, Nottingham Forest or Crystal Palace want to win their desired man.
It remains to be seen whether the newly promoted side would entertain a fee that’s higher than the already outlined £30m, but the daring capture of Fernandes could prove to be worthwhile down the line, particularly if the 20-year-old blossoms into Farke’s next iteration of Gray on his potential move to West Yorkshire.
How Fernandes could be Leeds' next Gray
Much like Gray was thrust into the spotlight under Farke during the 2023/24 season at Elland Road, Fernandes has been in and around the daunting environments of senior football for some time now without ever appearing to be fazed.
Indeed, the Portugal U21 international was gifted his senior Sporting debut under the tenure of Ruben Amorim when he was only the tender age of 18, with just ten senior appearances coming his way in the Portuguese capital before Southampton came calling.
Gray only experienced one season himself in the senior ranks at Leeds before his adventure in the big time also occurred, but whilst the 19-year-old did impress in flashes for Tottenham Hotspur last season when infrequently utilised, Fernandes was a constant bright spark for the Saints, even as they unfortunately succumbed to relegation.
In total, the 5 foot 10 starlet collected three goals and six assists at St. Mary’s in all competitions, with his Premier League journey rightfully not grinding to a halt if one of the aforementioned three top-flight suitors soon picks him up.
CM
68
7
9
AM
33
3
7
DM
6
0
0
RW
4
1
1
LM
3
0
1
LW
2
0
0
CF
1
0
0
RM
1
0
0
For Leeds’ sake, if the similarities between the pair weren’t already obvious, his flexible nature to perform all across the pitch when glancing at the table above will make him even more of a desirable target in their attempts to land their next Gray.
Indeed, the new Spurs number 14 routinely slotted into the full-back positions under Farke’s wing in the Championship to prove his worth to the Elland Road cause.
The “complete” Fernandes – as he has been labelled by football analyst Ben Mattinson – is willing to line up as an option down the flank too, away from feeling more comfortable slotting into a lineup as a number ten or into a more traditional central role.
The in-demand 20-year-old will also surely view Leeds as a worthwhile next destination, having seen what the club did for Gray, on top of the fact that the list of other promising young midfielders who have shone in West Yorkshire includes Kalvin Phillips.
Previously hailed as a “big talent” too by scout Jacek Kulig, it will be intriguing to see if Leeds are prepared to fork out a sum around the £30m mark to land such a hyped up star.
Mateus Fernandes for Southampton.
Their boldness could pay off if Fernandes goes on to be a similar success story to Gray’s, with the Saints’ number 18 just hopeful he can steer his potential new side to safety if he does join, over another relegation stain blotting his CV.
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Arsenal have many items on the agenda this summer as new sporting director Andrea Berta looks to back Mikel Arteta with new signings, and one of their key aims is to bring in multiple attacking players.
Arsenal targeting new winger and striker this summer
The transfer window is officially open for business, at least until June 10, with a short break then following before it reopens on June 16 right the way through till September 1.
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They’ve now pulled out of the deal.
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This current mini-window was introduced to allow sides competing in the Club World Cup to register new players before the tournament kicks off, but it applies to all Premier League sides, including Arsenal.
Arsenal are expected to complete a move for Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi with a medical scheduled for the Spain international (BBC), so there is every chance that they could officially sign him before June 10, considering how advanced that deal is.
19/20 – winter
£0
20/21 – summer
£81.5m
20/21 – winter
£900k
21/22 – summer
£156.8m
21/22 – winter
£1.8m
22/23 – summer
£121.5m
22/23 – winter
£59m
23/24 – summer
£208m
23/24 – winter
£0
24/25 – summer
£101.5m
24/25 – winter
£0
After Zubimendi, much has been made of the Gunners’ pursuit of a top striker, with Sporting CP’s Viktor Gyokeres and RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko both top of Arsenal’s list of striker targets.
Supporters are especially keen for Berta to acquire a prolific goalscorer – which has long been viewed as the missing piece of Arteta’s jigsaw – following a campaign where they struggled to score many compared to their previous standards.
However, a number nine isn’t the sole focus going forward.
Bukayo Saka’s injury lay-off midway through 2024/2025 brought attention to Arsenal’s need for an alternative on the right-hand side, while there are some questions about the long-term future of Leandro Trossard, who’s about to enter the final 12 months of his contract.
Interestingly, Berta could turn to one of Arteta’s former stars at Man City – £242,000-per-week Bayern Munich winger Leroy Sane.
Arsenal are reliably believed to hold a genuine interest in Sane with his Bayern contract just weeks away from expiring as things stand. The German also recently employed super-agent Pini Zahavi to assist in new contract talks, or find him a new club if needs be.
Arsenal open talks with Leroy Sane's camp over joining
Now, as per Bayern Munich insider Christian Falk, it is believed Arsenal have “started talks” with Zahavi over signing Sane.
Bayern Munich's LeroySanescores their third goa
The 29-year-old, who bagged 13 goals and six assists in total for Vincent Kompany last season, playing more of a key role towards the back end of 2024/2025, is tempted by the prospect of a move to London.
His family reside in the English capital, so a permanent switch there is appealing to him, with Falk adding that Tottenham are likely to battle with Arsenal for Sane’s services as well.
Sane’s top-level experience, and the fact he could be obtained for no transfer fee, make him a very enticing potential signing for Arsenal.
However, Sane wants a £192,000-per-week base salary, on top of £2.5 million in bonuses and a signing-on fee (Sky and Sport Bild). These were his most recently rumoured demands to stay in Bavaria, so he’ll likely request similar numbers to join Arsenal.
There has been a development in Liverpool’s pursuit of a new playmaker, with a report revealing he is now keen on a move to the Premier League this summer.
Attacking midfielders Liverpool could sign
Manchester United’s loss against Tottenham Hotspur on Wednesday night means the 2024-25 campaign is set to be their worst of the modern era, which makes Gary Neville’s previous comments about Arne Slot’s midfield even more laughable.
Early in the campaign, Neville suggested the Reds would swap their Premier League title-winning midfield for United’s, much to the bemusement of Jamie Carragher.
It would be interesting to find out if Neville still thinks the Red Devils’ midfield is on a similar level, but one thing that is clear is that Slot is looking to add another, more attacking player to his already solid options in the engine room.
Florian Wirtz has emerged as one of the more ambitious targets, but with a total package of over £250m potentially needed to sign the German, Slot’s side could opt to bring in a much cheaper alternative.
According to a report from The Boot Room, a deal for Lyon’s Rayan Cherki would amount to just over £20m, and Liverpool have now received a boost in their pursuit of the attacking midfielder, as he is now believed to be keen on a move to the Premier League.
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Cherki has his heart set on a move to England, following talks with the Reds and a whole host of other Premier League clubs, and the low asking price could make him an attractive option.
Lyon's Rayan Cherki competes against Manchester United's Harry Maguire.
Cherki showing serious signs of development
The Frenchman has been a first-team regular for Lyon over the course of a number of years, but the 2024-25 campaign was by far his best in terms of attacking contributions, which suggests he could now be ready for a move to a top club.
Season
Ligue 1 appearances
Goals
Assists
2021-22
16
0
1
2022-23
34
4
6
2023-24
33
1
6
2024-25
30
8
11
The starlet ranks in the 99th percentile for assists per 90 over the past year, when compared to other attacking midfielders, while he has also received plaudits from ESPN’s Julien Laurens in the past.
It is clear to see why Wirtz is Liverpool’s “absolute dream target”, having amassed 31 goal contributions in all competitions last season, but Manchester City dropping out of the race for the 22-year-old due to his price suggests he may be unattainable, and Cherki could be a fantastic signing.