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Telegraph
14 hours ago
- Business
- Telegraph
Data that shows signing Gyokeres or Sesko does not guarantee goals
It is a crucial question for sporting directors and recruitment experts across the Premier League: where should they do their shopping this summer? Should they try to sign players from within the division? Or is there more value to be found in Europe, or perhaps even South America? There are no easy answers but, with many English teams hoping to strengthen their front lines this summer, there are ways of judging which leagues produce the best attacking talent. In an attempt to do just that, Telegraph Sport has analysed the 15 most expensive attacking Premier League signings from Portugal, France, Germany, Italy and Spain over the past 15 years. Focusing on strikers, wingers and attacking midfield players, we have compared their goals-per-game records in their final season abroad (in other words, the season that earned them their move to the Premier League) with their subsequent goals-per-game record in England. The results provide a further illustration of the strength of the Premier League compared to other top divisions in Europe, while also providing a warning – or perhaps encouragement – to any clubs who are gazing towards the Continent as they look to bolster their attacks this summer. Portugal Portugal's Primeira Liga is not considered to be one of Europe's major leagues, but that has not stopped English clubs from spending huge money to buy attack-minded players from Benfica, Porto and Sporting Lisbon. In recent years, the likes of Darwin Núñez (£64 million to Liverpool), Luis Díaz (£37.5 million, also to Liverpool), Evanilson (£40 million to Bournemouth), Fabio Vieira (£34 million to Arsenal) and Bruno Fernandes (£47 million to Manchester United) have all made the move from the Primeira Liga to the Premier League. An indication of the relative strength of the two competitions is that none of those high-profile players have been able to replicate their scoring exploits in the more competitive world of English football. Even the likes of Díaz and Fernandes, who have unquestionably been successful signings, have been unable to maintain the goalscoring rate they showed in their final campaigns in Portugal. When assessing the Premier League's 15 most expensive attacking signings from Portugal since 2010, Telegraph Sport's analysis reveals a 62 per cent decline in goalscoring. These players averaged 0.41 goals per game in their last seasons in Portugal, and have subsequently produced an average of 0.15 goals per game in England. Of those 15 players, only one has scored at a faster rate in the Premier League than in their final campaign in Portugal: Raúl Jiménez, formerly of Wolverhampton Wanderers and now of Fulham. Should this serve as a warning for Premier League clubs looking to sign Viktor Gyokeres from Sporting this summer? Well, the interested teams (Arsenal are among them) certainly should not expect the Sweden international to be as prolific in England as he has been in Portugal. O suspeito do costume 😎 @viktor_gyokeres ⚽ 🔜 Final da Taça da Liga — Sporting CP 🏆🏆 (@SportingCP) January 8, 2025 Gyokeres struck an impressive 39 goals in the Primeira Liga last season. Based on the goalscoring rates of those previous big-money arrivals from Portugal, this would translate to around 15 goals in the Premier League. Germany The most recent big-money arrival from the Bundesliga was Omar Marmoush, who moved from Eintracht Frankfurt to Manchester City for £59 million in January. This summer, Premier League clubs are showing strong interest in the likes of Borussia Dortmund winger Jamie Gittens (who is being targeted by Chelsea) and RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko (a long-term target for Arsenal and Chelsea, among others). Frankfurt forward Hugo Ekitike is another player who could move to England. ⏪ Last time vs. Werder Benjamin Šeško doesn't just hit them. He 𝒉𝒊𝒕𝒔 them 🚀💥 #SVWRBL — RB Leipzig English (@RBLeipzig_EN) May 9, 2025 As with the Portuguese league, however, it is very rare for players to score goals at a faster rate in the Premier League than in the Bundesliga. Of the 15 most expensive attackers to move from Germany to England since 2010, only Roberto Firmino (formerly of Liverpool) was more prolific in the Premier League. The likes of Jadon Sancho (£73 million to Manchester United), Christopher Nkunku (£52 million to Chelsea) and Sébastian Haller (£45 million to West Ham United) all struggled badly in their attempts to adjust from German football to English football. Others such as Erling Haaland, Kevin De Bruyne and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang were more successful. Overall, Telegraph Sport's analysis reveals an average goalscoring decline of 40 per cent for forwards who moved to the Premier League from the Bundesliga. For Sesko and Ekitike, who scored 13 and 15 league goals respectively in 2024-25, this would translate to eight and nine goals in England next season. France Some of the best players in Premier League history have moved to these shores from France's Ligue 1. Chelsea legend Eden Hazard and Manchester City's Bernardo Silva are two of the finest examples over the past 15 years, while Raphinha's move from Rennes to Leeds United in 2020 was another successful transfer. Generally speaking, though, there is a steep decline in goalscoring rates from Ligue 1 to the Premier League. Our analysis reveals an average drop-off of 49 per cent. High-profile examples are Alexandre Lacazette, who has been deadly for years at Lyon but was far more inconsistent for Arsenal, and Michy Batshuayi, who struck 17 goals in his last season at Marseille but subsequently scored only 15 goals in 77 Premier League matches. Could this be a reason for City to be cautious in their pursuit of Lyon's attacking midfielder Rayan Cherki? The 21-year-old scored eight goals and registered 11 assists for his club last season. Rayan Cherki, called up for a reason 🇫🇷😮💨🎩 — Ligue 1 English (@Ligue1_ENG) May 22, 2025 Italy Statistically, the transition from Serie A to the Premier League is more straightforward than from Portugal, Germany or France. Our analysis reveals a 32 per cent decline in goalscoring for forward players who have arrived from Italy. The most successful big-money purchase from Italy is unquestionably Mohamed Salah. The Egyptian scored at a rate of 0.48 goals per game in his last season at Roma, and has since scored 0.62 goals per game in the Premier League. Players such as Felipe Anderson (West Ham United) and Mario Balotelli (Manchester City and Liverpool) also scored at similar rates in Italy and England, while Dejan Kulusevski is more of a goal threat for Tottenham Hotspur than he was for Juventus. Recent Manchester United signings Joshua Zirkzee and Rasmus Hojlund have been less effective since moving from Italy, but the overall picture is more encouraging for Premier League clubs who are looking towards Serie A for talent. There would be good reason to hope that a player such as Victor Osimhen, for example, could translate his remarkable goalscoring exploits for Napoli (and Galatasaray while on loan last season) into English football. Another player who could catch the eye of English clubs is Ademola Lookman, who has developed into a decisive attacker during his time at Atalanta. Spain Much is made of the Premier League's supposed superiority as a competition, but Telegraph Sport's analysis reveals that big-money arrivals from La Liga actually find it easier to score goals in England than in Spain. The most obvious recent example would be Alexander Isak, who has struck 54 goals in 86 league appearances for Newcastle United. In his last season with Real Sociedad, Isak scored only six goals in 32 league games. "Wow, what a strike!" 🎙️🤯 Alexander Isak's fine finish against Liverpool has been nominated for the Guinness Goal of the Season award 🚀 — Newcastle United (@NUFC) May 28, 2025 Other players such as Matheus Cunha, Martin Odegaard, Ferran Torres, Mikel Merino and Rodrigo Moreno all experienced an uplift in their goalscoring form after moving from Spain to England for big-money fees. Overall, our analysis shows a 1.7 per cent improvement in goalscoring rates for big-money strikers, wingers and attacking midfielders who move to England from Spain. The lesson here is obvious: the quality of the Spanish league is significantly higher than the top flights of Portugal, France, Germany and Italy. The evidence suggests that, if Premier League clubs wish to look abroad for their attacking talent this summer, then Spain should be the first place they go.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Hendrick: 'This is Not a Club That's Playing Around' as Wirtz Bid Escalates
Liverpool Eye Double Bundesliga Swoop as Frimpong and Wirtz Deals Accelerate Wirtz Deal Edges Closer to Completion In a bold move that signals Liverpool's intent to build a post-Klopp era of sustained success under Arne Slot, the club has significantly stepped up its pursuit of Bayer Leverkusen star Florian Wirtz. On The Daily Red Podcast, Dave Hendrick confirmed that David Ornstein has reported an 'improved second bid' from Liverpool, totalling €130 million. Advertisement 'This is big time money,' Hendrick declared, adding, 'This is not a club that's playing around.' With Wirtz keen on the switch to Anfield, Hendrick made it clear how serious Liverpool's offer is: 'You're probably looking at somewhere in the region of 85 to 90 million as a guaranteed figure and then the rest would be in add-ons for appearances and winning things.' The importance of those add-ons is clear. Hendrick said, 'If you're winning things, you don't mind paying the add-ons… I hope we pay the 49 million. I really do, because then we'll have won a league title, a Champions League, and he'll have made a ton of appearances for us.' Advertisement The 22-year-old Wirtz is widely regarded as one of Europe's most technically gifted attacking midfielders and his potential addition would reshape Liverpool's forward structure, particularly with uncertainty surrounding Luis Díaz and Darwin Núñez. Frimpong Transfer Nears Completion Meanwhile, the long-anticipated move for Jeremie Frimpong also appears imminent. 'Frimpong is literally just waiting on the formalities by the sound of things,' said Hendrick, strongly implying that personal terms and the final stages of negotiation are now all that remain. Frimpong, a dynamic right-sided wing-back also from Leverkusen, fits the bill for Liverpool's evolving tactical system. While Hendrick didn't elaborate further during this episode, his concise confirmation suggests that Liverpool see Frimpong as a vital addition, possibly to operate in a back-three system with wing-backs – a structure he hinted at when discussing other positional roles. Transfer Strategy Points to Ruthless Efficiency Hendrick noted that Liverpool have learned from their past failed attempts to land elite targets like Jude Bellingham, Moisés Caicedo, and Aurélien Tchouaméni. 'We fell short on those deals,' he admitted, but praised the club's current approach: 'This time it doesn't look like Liverpool are leaving anything to chance.' Advertisement This new phase of business is described as meticulous and aggressive. Hendrick even suggested that 'once the fee is agreed for Florian Wirtz, we will quickly move on to getting Milos Kerkez wrapped up as well.' And it won't stop there. According to journalist Lewis Steele, relayed on the podcast, Liverpool will 'step up a pursuit for a number nine and a central defender once Frimpong, Wirtz and Kirk are done.' Photo: IMAGO Diaz and Núñez Futures in Doubt Wirtz's arrival could impact current attacking options. Díaz, whose contract situation remains unresolved, is attracting Saudi Arabian interest. 'It makes all the sense to sell him at his age with the contract situation,' said Hendrick, who also noted, 'I think Darwin is almost certain to want that move.' Advertisement Wirtz, expected to occupy the left side of the trio behind the striker, could push both players out of contention. 'Unless Díaz was staying as the backup striker, it wouldn't make sense,' Hendrick argued, clearly outlining the club's hierarchy of priorities. Conclusion The Daily Red Podcast, hosted by Dave Hendrick, offered a revealing glimpse into Liverpool's current transfer drive. With Frimpong and Wirtz both nearing the finish line and a new striker and centre-back also on the agenda, the message is clear – Liverpool are no longer tentative in the market. This summer could redefine the squad's trajectory. And as Hendrick concluded with regard to Wirtz: 'If we have to pay an extra three or four million… who cares? We won a league title.'
The Guardian
5 days ago
- Business
- The Guardian
Al-Nassr and Al-Hilal target Liverpool duo Luis Díaz and Darwin Núñez
The Liverpool forward Luis Díaz is attracting interest from Saudi Arabia, with Al-Nassr considering a move for the Colombia international. Díaz has two years remaining on his contract and is yet to enter talks on an extension. There has been no approach to Liverpool by Al-Nassr so far but Saudi interest in the 28-year-old is longstanding and, with Cristiano Ronaldo a possible departure before the Club World Cup, the club are likely to be in the market for another big name. The winger, who was also used effectively in a central role by Arne Slot this past season, is coming off a productive campaign for the Premier League champions of 13 goals and five assists. Darwin Núñez is another potential target for the Saudi Pro League, with Al-Hilal linked, and Liverpool would be more open to selling the Uruguay striker than Díaz in what is likely to be a big spending summer. Liverpool remain in talks with Bayer Leverkusen over a club record deal for Florian Wirtz, are close to confirming the £30m transfer of Wirtz's teammate Jeremie Frimpong, and are interested in the Bournemouth left-back Milos Kerkez, who is valued at £45m. The champions are also expected to move for another striker.
Irish Times
26-05-2025
- Business
- Irish Times
Liverpool hold talks over €150m Florian Wirtz deal in ‘busy' summer plans
The Liverpool chair, Tom Werner, has confirmed the club's busy summer has already begun with the Premier League champions in talks over the record transfer of Florian Wirtz and close to wrapping up a deal for his Bayer Leverkusen team-mate Jeremie Frimpong. Liverpool are favourites to sign Wirtz after he turned down a move to Bayern Munich and Manchester City pulled out of the running. Negotiations have started over a fee with Leverkusen, who want £126m (€150m) for the Germany international. That would comfortably eclipse Liverpool's record transfer, the £85m that brought Darwin Núñez from Benfica in 2022, but the club hope to structure a deal with Leverkusen accepting a lower initial fee plus achievable add-ons. Fenway Sports Group, Liverpool's owners, spent modestly during Arne Slot's successful debut season, signing only Federico Chiesa from Juventus, in a deal that could rise to £12m, and the Valencia goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili for £29m. The club are now in a position to spend heavily and there is hope inside Anfield that Wirtz and Frimpong, who has a £30m release clause, could be secured early in the summer transfer window. Werner, when asked if he expected a busy transfer window for the new champions, said: 'It's already busy.' He also said he expected the squad to be even stronger for the start of their title defence. 'We go again. It never gets old, winning. We owe it to all of our supporters to bring back a team even better next season.' READ MORE Wirtz, who can play across the frontline, is one of the most coveted players in Europe and is understood to be impressed by Liverpool's plans. Frimpong has already passed a Liverpool medical and the arrival of the right-back, a close friend of Wirtz, should be confirmed when the window officially opens. The Bournemouth left-back Milos Kerkez is another target for Liverpool. Slot said it would be ideal to have new signings in place early, with preseason scheduled to begin on July 8th. The Liverpool head coach said on Sunday: 'This club doesn't start [on transfers] after today or from today onwards. There is so much hard work already done behind the scenes this season to find out which targets we have and try to sign them. I have all the confidence that if we have addressed the right player, we try to sign that player but let's see when that is going to happen and if that's going to happen, because I'm very happy with the squad we already have.' Liverpool's transfer budget is expected to be increased by outgoings. Núñez, Chiesa, Caoimhin Kelleher, Kostas Tsimikas and Ben Doak are among those who could leave this summer. Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk and former Liverpool legend Alan Hansen celebrate with the Premier League trophy. Photograph: Peter Byrne/PA Virgil van Dijk, meanwhile, has revealed it was his idea to be presented with the Premier League trophy on Sunday by the former Liverpool captain and defender Alan Hansen. The 69-year-old was seriously ill last summer and received a rapturous reception when parading the trophy in front of the Kop alongside Van Dijk. The Liverpool captain said: 'I was very determined to make sure that he was going to be the one who handed the trophy to me. I am happy it worked out. I am also happy that Mark and Jo [McVeigh] from the Owen McVeigh Foundation, who I've worked with quite a lot over the last years, were able to also join in. 'Alan Hansen is one of the greatest centre-backs this club has ever seen. I'd met him before and had a little chat. He was ill last year. I'm glad he's looking well now. I was really happy for him that he also had his moment in front of the Kop because he totally deserved it.' Meanwhile, Erik ten Hag, the former Manchester United and Ajax coach, has been announced as Xabi Alonso's replacement at Bayer Leverkusen. After Alonso's departure to Real Madrid, with the Basque set to be unveiled on Monday, Leverkusen, who finished second in the Bundesliga this season, have alighted on the Dutchman sacked by United in October. The 55-year-old has signed a contract until 2027 and previously worked in German football as a coach at Bayern Munich. – Guardian
The Hindu
13-05-2025
- Sport
- The Hindu
CAS rejects appeal from Uruguay players who clashed with fans at Copa America game
Sport's highest court rejected an appeal by five Uruguay players against their bans for clashing with fans after a Copa America semifinal in North Carolina last year, dismissing their claim that they acted in self-defence to protect their families. Five Uruguay players, including Liverpool forward Darwin Núñez, Barcelona defender Ronald Araújo and Atlético Madrid defender José María Giménez, were banned for between three and five games by South American football body CONMEBOL after the brawl. The players had clashed with fans in the stands at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte after a 1-0 loss to Colombia last July. Tottenham midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur and Napoli defender Mathías Olivera also were involved and later banned. The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) said on Tuesday its judges dismissed appeals by the players and the Uruguayan football federation. READ: Ronaldo's son, Cristiano Jr, makes debut for Portugal U-15s 'The panel found that in this case, the principle of self-defense does not apply and that the conduct of the players constituted a voluntary, violent and unjustified action,' the court said in a statement. Núñez will now be suspended when Uruguay resumes World Cup qualifying games at Paraguay on June 5 and host Venezuela five days later. Coached by Marcelo Bielsa, the team is on track to qualify for the 2026 tournament and return to the U.S., which will co-host the tournament with Canada and Mexico. Uruguay is third in the standings in the 10-team South American qualifying group with four rounds left, six points ahead of seventh-placed Venezuela. The top six in the final standings in September advance directly to the World Cup and the seventh-place team enters an intercontinental playoff in March next year.
