Previous Salah contract was 'a hard piece of work'
Liverpool's former director of research Ian Graham says he was "surprised" at what he discovered when Mohamed Salah last negotiated a new deal at Anfield.Graham helped work on the three-year contract in 2022 that saw then 30-year-old Salah extend his stay with the club until this summer.The 32-year-old is now in the final months of that contract with a new deal as yet unsigned, having scored 25 goals and provided 16 assists in a remarkable 27 Premier League games so far this season."At that time, I thought I would not recommend for players of his age to sign a contract," Graham told a Financial Times Business of Football summit. "But, this was the strength of the data that forces you to take an objective viewpoint. It surprises you."I was surprised at looking at his calibre of player and how they could go into their 30s [still] performing at the same level. When those players drop off, it tends to be a drop in minutes rather than in quality."We decided to give him a contract in the summer of 2022 and that was a hard piece of work."I am delighted I am not responsible for that piece of work today!"
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The Independent
9 minutes ago
- The Independent
Next Brentford Manager Odds & Betting: Who Are The Contenders to Replace Frank?
Long-serving head coach Thomas Frank appears on the verge of departing Brentford for pastures new, with the Dane reportedly in talks with Tottenham Hotspur, and betting sites have reacted by opening a next Brentford manager market. Frank has been at the Gtech since 2018, taking over when Brentford were still in the Championship and earning promotion before turning the Bees into a well-established Premier League side. But his impressive showings mean he has long been touted for a move to a bigger Premier League club, and Spurs have identified him as their top candidate after deciding to part ways with Europa League winner Ange Postecoglou. And Frank's upcoming move leaves Brentford looking for a new manager for the first time in seven years ahead of preparations starting for the 2025/26 season. A 10th-placed finish last term has left Brentford in a good position ahead of next term, but with Frank leaving, alongside the potential departure of Bryan Mbeumo, the new boss will need to act quickly both on the pitch and in the market ahead of the season beginning on 16 August. According to football betting sites, current assistant manager Justin Cochrane is the leading candidate to take over at Gtech, with Ipswich boss Kieran McKenna also admired. And with plenty of movement possible before the new season starts, we've taken a look at the leading contenders for the Brentford job. Next Brentford Manager Odds Manager Odds Betting site Justin Cochrane 4/7 Parimatch Kieran McKenna 6/1 Unibet Danny Rohl 8/1 Unibet Michael Carrick 12/1 BetVictor Edin Terzic 16/1 talkSPORT Bet Marco Rose 16/1 BetVictor Steven Gerrard 16/1 Unibet Sean Dyche 16/1 Parimatch Carlos Corberan 20/1 Unibet Ange Postecoglou 20/1 Parimatch Ralph Hasenhuttl 20/1 Unibet Mauricio Pochettino 25/1 BetVictor Note that according to the terms on most betting sites, 'caretaker and interim managers completing at least 10 consecutive competitive games will be deemed the permanent manager'. Current first team coach Cochrane is the leading candidate to take over from Frank, with the Englishman also a member of Thomas Tuchel's coaching staff within the Three Lions set-up. An appointment to the lead role at Brentford would likely mean Cochrane has to shelve that role with England, but the 43-year-old may well jump at the chance for a first head coach role having previously coached at numerous levels at Manchester United, Tottenham and with the national side. Cochrane is short as 1/3 on some betting apps to take over at the Gtech, though it is not known for sure whether the Bees hierarchy will judge him to have enough top-level experience to take over such a job. Current Ipswich boss Kieran McKenna is an interesting proposition at around 6/1, with the Englishman having seen his side suffer relegation from the Premier League this season. Nevertheless, McKenna has received plaudits for his performance while in charge of the Tractor Boys, and having also won promotion from the Championship the season before, he certainly has the edge in experience over Cochrane. Sheffield Wednesday boss Danny Rohl is the other 'leading' candidate, according to the betting odds, at 8/1. The German's side finished 12th in the Championship last season, and it doesn't seem as though that performance will be enough to tempt the Bees into discussions. Former Premier League and Champions League bosses in the running Ex-Middlesbrough manager Michael Carrick is next on the list at 12/1, with Carrick having parted ways with the club after failing to finish in the play-off spots last season. Carrick initially showed plenty of promise at the Riverside, and though it ended on a sour note he will likely have plenty of suitors – though it is likely that a job of this size will be too much for him at this point in his career. Further down the odds, there's a wealth of experience among some of the less likely candidates, including Champions League finalist Edin Terzic. Former Dortmund boss Terzic guided Dortmund to the 2024 final but lost out to Real Madrid, and has been out of work since being sacked by the club not long after. He is priced at 16/1 to take over, as is fellow ex-Dortmund boss Marco Rose. Rose, who is a free agent after leaving RB Leipzig in March, has over 12 years of experience including time at RB Salzburg, and a first role at a Premier League club could be enough to tempt him away from Germany. And if Brentford want to go with experience then former Everton boss Sean Dyche could be a good choice, with the ex-Burnley boss out of work since his sacking in January. He's offered around 16/1, though his football would be at odds with that of Frank, so hiring him would perhaps be counter-productive for the Bees. And the last manager at 16/1 is Steven Gerrard, who recently left Al-Effitaq in Saudi Arabia after a string of poor results. Though he won the Scottish title with Rangers in 2021, the fact that he left Aston Villa in 2022 with the club just above the relegation zone suggests that Brentford will steer clear of the former Liverpool man. Spurs Favourites in The Mix? There's plenty of intrigue among the less-likely candidates to take over at the Gtech, with two names standing out in particular – Ange Postecoglou and Mauricio Pochettino. The two former Spurs bosses are seen as unlikely to join Brentford considering the circumstances, with Postecoglou perhaps taking time off – and hoping for a step up from the Spurs job – while Poch has only just begun his tenure as manager of the United States national team. They are priced at 20/1 and 25/1 respectively. Valencia manager Carlos Corberan is another outside shout at 20/1, having impressed in Spain after taking over at the end of 2024 with the club near relegation and subsequently overseeing a climb up the table to 12th. And Ralph Hasenhuttl rounds off those offered at 20/1, with the Austrian having been sacked by VFL Wolfsburg after an 11th-placed finish in the Bundesliga. Responsible gambling When having a bet, it's vital to practice responsible gambling. When using gambling sites be aware that sports betting can be addictive. Please take steps to remain in control of your time and budget. The same applies whether you're using new betting sites, slot sites, casino sites, casino apps, betting apps, or any other gambling medium. Even the most knowledgeable punter can lose a bet, so always stick to a budget and never chase your losses. It's particularly important not to get carried away by any free bets or casino offers you might receive, both of which are available in abundance on gambling sites, but must be approached with caution. You can stay in control by making use of the responsible gambling tools offered, such as deposit limits, loss limits, self-exclusion and time-outs. You may also want to visit the following free organisations to discuss any issues with gambling you might be having:
Daily Mail
11 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Liverpool set eye-watering Darwin Nunez price tag as Saudi Pro League side Al Hilal eye move ahead of Club World Cup deadline
Liverpool value Darwin Nunez in excess of £70million as they listen to offers this summer. Al Hilal are one of the clubs keen on the Uruguay international who is ready to leave Anfield after a lack of starting opportunities under Arne Slot. Al Nassr made enquiries to sign the 25-year old in January and were prepared to offer £70m but Liverpool were unwilling to listen at that stage as their focus was on winning the Premier League title. Now, with clubs circling and tension high for the Club World Cup deadline, Liverpool want in excess of what Al Nassr were willing to bid earlier in the year. Nunez is a popular figure at Anfield but only managed seven goals in all competitions last season. Still his energy and pace caused consternation in defences and Slot took to using him predominantly from the bench to help swing tight matches Liverpool's way. However, Liverpool are in the market for improvements and with the expected outlay for Bayer Leverkusen's Florian Wirtz and Bournemouth 's Milos Kerkez, plus a possible striker and centre back to come later in the window, are looking at opportunities to offset their spending. A number of clubs are showing interest in Nunez but Al Hilal are weighing up a bid today after failing, so far, to tempt Napoli's Victor Osimhen. Sporting Lisbon's Manchester United target Viktor Gyokeres is another on their list. Al Nassr, meanwhile, are keen Liverpool's Luis Diaz but the only club to have made contact so far for the Colombian winger are Barcelona. Ajax want Liverpool goalkeeper Vitezslav Jaros on loan. The Czech Republic international, 23, is well known to Ajax coach John Heitinga after working with him last season. Talks are ongoing for Wirtz and Kerkez. Bournemouth are willing to sell Kerkez after agreeing a fee with Rennes for left back Adrien Truffert.
Daily Mirror
31 minutes ago
- Daily Mirror
Kerkez to Liverpool transfer takes huge step with fee agreed and medical booked
Liverpool are chasing Bournemouth left-back Milos Kerkez and the potential £45million transfer has taken a step forward with the news that the Cherries have identified a replacement Bournemouth have agreed a deal to sign Stade Rennes left-back Adrien Truffert. The Cherries have been hot in pursuit of the 23-year-old, who they view as a replacement for Liverpool-bound Milos Kerkez, over the past 10 days. Andoni Iraola's side have now struck an agreement with their French counterparts worth in the region of £14.4million, inclusive of add-ons. Truffert had just one year left to run on his contract in Ligue 1 and had told Rennes that he was keen to pursue a new challenge. He has already verbally agreed a long-term contract with Bournemouth and has now received the green light to undergo medical checks. Nottingham Forest and Marseille had also shown an interest in Truffert. Truffert's move to Bournemouth will only go ahead if Kerkez is sold to Liverpool, as expected. The Cherries are holding out for around £45m for the Hungary international, who enjoyed an outstanding 2024/25 season. The 21-year-old, who is under contract with Bournemouth until June 2028, started all 38 Premier League matches for the club, chipping in with two goals and six assists. He is keen to join Liverpool, who have identified him as a long-term replacement for Andy Robertson, and left the Hungary squad last week citing 'personal reasons'. Negotiations between the two clubs were slightly complicated by Cherries technical director Simon Francis spending time in the United States last week representing Bournemouth in The Soccer Tournament. He has been leading talks with former Liverpool sporting director Richard Hughes, who used to work at Bournemouth. Mirror Football understands that second-choice left-back Kostas Tsimikas is likely to leave the Reds this summer, with interest from the Premier League and abroad. Robertson, meanwhile, has previously suggested he is keen to sign a new contract with Liverpool and has insisted he is ready to fight for his place in the side. HAVE YOUR SAY! Is Milos Kerkez a good signing for Liverpool? Comment below. "We're not daft, it looks as if a deal could potentially be done," Robertson told BBC Scotland. "But, until that is done, I've not even given that a second thought. I back myself, I've got confidence in my own ability and that drives me forward. "I've had eight fantastic years at Liverpool in terms of winning trophies, being a mainstay in the team, which I'm incredibly proud of. I'm not getting any younger, I can't change my age, but I still believe I've got a lot to give and that's what I focus on. "I focus on myself - you can't focus on other people or who you're competing with. I still believe I have a hell of a lot to give for however many years I can keep going. My body feels good at the minute.'
