logo
Every Chelsea goal scored during the '24 PL season

Every Chelsea goal scored during the '24 PL season

Yahoo15 hours ago

Every Wolves goal scored during the 2024 PL season
Relive every goal scored by Wolves during their 2024-25 Premier League campaign.
16:16
Now Playing
Paused
Ad Playing

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Liverpool's £70m Target Could Be the Final Piece in Arne Slot's Attack
Liverpool's £70m Target Could Be the Final Piece in Arne Slot's Attack

Yahoo

time25 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

Liverpool's £70m Target Could Be the Final Piece in Arne Slot's Attack

Viktor Gyökeres: The Finishing Touch for Liverpool's New Frontline Liverpool's transformation under Michael Edwards and Richard Hughes is moving at speed, and with the Arne Slot era only days past a Premier League title win in his maiden season, the outlines of a formidable new-look squad are already emerging. The return of title-winning euphoria has been swiftly paired with swift, decisive action in the transfer market. With Jeremie Frimpong signed at an exceptional £30 million, Florian Wirtz closing in on a record-breaking £135 million switch, and perhaps Milos Kerkez offering balance and bite from left-back, the club's evolution is clear and compelling. These moves echo a simple truth: Liverpool are preparing not just to defend their Premier League crown, but to forge a new dynasty. Advertisement Amid all the restructuring, one name has surged to the forefront of Liverpool's transfer radar: Viktor Gyökeres. The Sporting CP striker has been linked before, but this time, the smoke is thick—and with Darwin Núñez and Luis Díaz nearing lucrative exits, the fire may be incoming. On June 2nd, the day after the summer window officially opened for Club World Cup exemptions, Gyökeres was installed as the bookies' favourite to join Liverpool and complete a tantalising new-look attack. His goal record in Portugal is stunning, but it's what he could offer this new-look side tactically and psychologically that makes him a vital piece of the puzzle. The Killer Instinct Liverpool Have Missed Despite Darwin Núñez's chaotic but rare brilliance, Liverpool has too often lacked that cold-blooded, relentless finisher to capitalise on their dominance and chance creations. Gyökeres is the antithesis of wastefulness. With 54 goals in all competitions last season, he has demonstrated an ability to thrive both as a lead striker and as a relentless presser in a team that plays on the front foot. For a Slot-led Liverpool that will combine structure with vertical speed, there may be no better fit than the former Coventry striker. Advertisement He's not just a goal poacher, despite that trait standing so high on his list of potential. Gyökeres possesses that blend of size, speed, and technique that makes him a nightmare to defend against, especially in Europe's most elite division. His hold-up play is superb, his movement in the box razor-sharp, and his decision-making under pressure mature. Slot could build attacking patterns around his reliability, unlike the more volatile offerings of Núñez or the injury-prone Diogo Jota. As Salah drifts wide and Wirtz slices through the inside channels, Gyökeres offers a constant, clinical focal point. A Fluid Front Three with Teeth Pairing Mohamed Salah and Florian Wirtz either side of Gyökeres could unlock a front three as terrifying as any in Europe, even PSG. Salah, still at the peak of his powers, remains the club's gold standard for productivity and creation. Wirtz, by contrast, brings youthful ingenuity and intelligence that could mirror the early Liverpool days of Philippe Coutinho—with more purpose and power. Gyökeres would be the glue, the finisher, and the spearhead. This trident would also possess the balance that Slot craves as he looks to build a team in his image. Salah and Wirtz are both capable of dropping deep or going wide to allow the striker to exploit central lanes. Gyökeres' ability to rotate, drag defenders, and press relentlessly fits the pressing philosophy at the core of Liverpool's modern DNA. He does the dirty work but with a technician's flair not too dissimilar from England's world-class skipper, Harry Kane. That adaptability would also help Liverpool in Europe, where tighter games demand more than raw power or counter-attacking chaos. In Gyökeres, Liverpool would have a player able to wrestle with giants and dance around them too. They would have a striker that is not there to be a new false nine, but more fearsome. While Rivals Look Elsewhere, Liverpool Have Clarity The timing of Liverpool's potential move for Gyökeres is telling and could carry weight. Manchester United are distracted by internal uncertainty, Arsenal are dithering between a couple of targets, and Chelsea are bound by the financial and structural consequences of years of erratic spending. Advertisement Edwards and Hughes know that striking while on top is not just an act of dominance—it's one of insurance. Gyökeres won't come cheap, but unlike others in the market, he's ready-made for this Liverpool system. His desire to move, coupled with Sporting's realistic valuation in the region of £65-70 million, makes this both ambitious and viable. If Núñez and Díaz are sold for a combined £150 million, the maths begins to make sense, especially with the likes of Harvey Elliott and Ben Doak likely to fetch a combined £60 million. More than just filling a void, Gyökeres would give Arne Slot a centrepiece to build around, with solid experience negating any fear of prolonged integration. He would inherit the forward baton from a generation that delivered glory and set the tone for one that's only just beginning to understand its ceiling. Salah is still here, Wirtz is coming, and Gyökeres might just be the final hammer blow in a summer of surgical precision. Make no mistake, if these prospective dead come to light, dominance could well follow Final Word Liverpool is building something different and it's a wonderful sight to behold. This is not nostalgia-based recruitment, but the product of cold, effective planning that has been a year in the making. Viktor Gyökeres is no vanity purchase—he's a title defender and a potential Champions League difference-maker. With the rest of Europe dithering, Liverpool's intent could bring them back to the summit again and again. And in Gyökeres, they might just have found the forward to carry them there and keep them on top for years to come.

Wolves want to sign Barcelona star favoured by Hansi Flick
Wolves want to sign Barcelona star favoured by Hansi Flick

Yahoo

time32 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

Wolves want to sign Barcelona star favoured by Hansi Flick

Barcelona will need to sell players this summer in order to be able to afford their targets, and a new name has emerged as a candidate to be moved on during the transfer window. The likes of Marc-Andre Ter Stegen, Ronald Araujo and Pablo Torre have been mentioned as players that could leave during the summer transfer window. Alex Valle has already departed, while a deal for Ansu Fati to join AS Monaco on loan is believed to be at an advanced stage. Wolves set sights on Barcelona defender Gerard Martin And another La Masia graduate that could be on the move this summer is Gerard Martin. The 23-year-old, who is a favourite of Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick after acting as backup to Alejandro Balde last season, is attracting interest from Premier League side Wolves, as reported by Matteo Moretto. Advertisement Wolves are set to lose starting left-back Rayan Ait-Nouri to fellow Premier League side Manchester City, and they have started their search for a replacement. And it appears that Martin is on their list of candidates to be considered for a summer signing. Image via Gerard Martin As things stand, Martin will continue as Barcelona's deputy left-back for next season, having gained Flick's trust. But given that he is not a regular starter, it is likely that the club would consider a sale, depending on the offer presented by Wolves – should they make a move in the coming weeks. It is unclear at this stage what Barcelona would value Martin at, but given his squad status, it should be more than the €6m they received this week from the sale of fellow left-back Valle to Serie A side Como. For now, it remains to be seen whether Wolves make a concrete attempt to sign the young defender during the summer.

Newcastle Hit Back at ‘Saudi Tax' Transfer Demands
Newcastle Hit Back at ‘Saudi Tax' Transfer Demands

Yahoo

time2 hours ago

  • Yahoo

Newcastle Hit Back at ‘Saudi Tax' Transfer Demands

Summer Strategy Built on Realism, Not Riches There's a perception Newcastle United are flush with cash, a perception the club believes is both outdated and damaging. As Luke Edwards revealed in his excellent report for Telegraph Sport, Newcastle are 'growing increasingly frustrated by rival clubs putting a 'Saudi tax' on transfers and refuse to be held to ransom over key targets.' Advertisement It's an accusation that's been hanging in the air since the PIF-led takeover in 2021. The expectation is that Newcastle will, and should, spend extravagantly – but the club is pushing back, constrained by the Premier League's strict profit and sustainability rules (PSR). Edwards was given rare insight into the club's negotiating table, and what's clear is that Newcastle are walking a tightrope. They are attempting to add quality to Eddie Howe's squad without blowing apart the financial structure that's slowly, carefully, been built. Value Takes Priority Over Vanity Newcastle's business so far has been quiet, but deliberate. There's clarity in their strategy. They want to recruit in four key positions – goalkeeper, centre-back, right-sided forward, and striker – but they 'cannot spend upwards of £60 million on players when wages are also a consideration.' That's where the Bryan Mbeumo situation becomes telling. As Edwards explains, Mbeumo was 'a leading target by Newcastle's recruitment team' but wage demands and a hefty transfer fee forced the club to walk away. Signing the Brentford man could have meant making him the top earner at the club. Doing so before star striker Alexander Isak is rewarded with a new contract – talks for which are set to begin in July – would be a recipe for dressing room unrest. Advertisement And so, Newcastle hold firm. No player, however talented, is worth tearing up the wage structure for. 'Mbeumo would have likely been Newcastle's highest earner if he had signed,' Edwards wrote. 'That would have inevitably prompted others at the club to ask for parity.' Photo: IMAGO Talent Targets Still in Sight – But on Newcastle's Terms The ambition hasn't waned, but the method is clear. Newcastle have eyes on several exciting players. Burnley's James Trafford remains a top goalkeeping target, while Bournemouth's Antoine Semenyo and Nottingham Forest's Anthony Elanga are being considered for that right-sided role. However, progress is limited – so far – by inflated price tags. Advertisement Brighton's Joao Pedro fits the mould of what Newcastle are after: young, versatile, and Premier League-proven. Yet his price – reportedly up to £70 million – risks consuming a huge chunk of the budget. It's a fee Newcastle could theoretically pay, but not if they want to fill all four positions. As Edwards reports, 'it has caused pause for thought internally.' Eintracht Frankfurt's Hugo Ekitike has long been admired, but the £80 million fee means any move is unlikely unless things change. Likewise, Crystal Palace's Marc Guehi remains of interest in central defence, but Newcastle will wait for his value to drop, knowing his contract is entering its final year. Contract Talks with Isak Key to Summer Stability Everything this summer revolves around Alexander Isak. Newcastle are planning to make him the club's highest earner – a just reward for his performances and potential. But the negotiations won't be easy, and the club knows that bringing in players on higher wages before that deal is done could be destabilising. Advertisement 'Bringing in new players on significantly more money than that before those talks begin is fraught with danger,' Edwards warns. It's a point of sensitivity at St James' Park – one that highlights Newcastle's desire to build a sustainable elite club rather than simply buy one. The Magpies are still shopping in the upper tiers of the market, but they're doing so with calculation, not chaos. Other potential names include James McAtee, liked by Howe and potentially available at £25 million. West Ham's Mohammed Kudus is another admired target, though his future may hinge on finding the right financial compromise. As ever, there will be quiet moves, too. 'Some of their biggest transfers, like Bruno Guimaraes from Lyon and Sandro Tonali from AC Milan, were only known about 48 hours before they signed,' Edwards notes. Newcastle haven't stopped moving – they've just learned to move smartly.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store