Latest news with #No9
Yahoo
18-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
After Rodrygo, Liverpool want deal for ANOTHER Brazil international
Liverpool's current transfer priority appears to be sorting out a new No9. Hugo Ekitike is now very much in play as Richard Hughes plots an upgrade for Darwin Nunez. The Reds have also managed to get huge deals over the line for Florian Wirtz, Milos Kerkez, Jeremie Frimpong and Giorgi Mamardashvili this summer. Shop the LFC Store LFC x Nike Air Max LFC Retro Shirts Buy Now LFC Nike Training Buy Now It means central midfield looks a little neglected in terms of incomings during this off-season. Previous links have included Mikel Jauregizar, Samuel Ricci and Nico Gonzalez but the Reds STILL haven't moved for a new midfielder. Diogo Jota: Thank you Last season the burden was quite heavy on Ryan Gravenberch, Dominik Szoboszlai, Curtis Jones and Alexis Mac Allister. Wataru Endo was a bit-part player and Tyler Morton not fancied at all. Andre impressive in maiden Premier League season It wouldn't be a surprise to see the Merseysiders move for a new midfielder in transfer windows upcoming - and reports have emerged linking the Reds with a familiar target. Brazil international Andre, 24, joined Wolves last summer from Fluminense in his homeland. He had a very good first season in the Premier League - starting 31 times and punching in some pretty impressive statistics. Andre appears among the best performers for players in his position in the tackles won, interceptions and recoveries categories on FOTMOB. Liverpool want Wolves midfielder Andre And in a report concerning Juventus' interest in Andre, it's been disclosed that he is on the radar of both Liverpool AND Manchester United. 'For the role of defensive midfielder, la Signora has also made contact regarding André from Wolverhampton,' the report in Corriere dello Sport reads. 'The young midfielder, valued at 35 million euros, is also being pursued by United and Liverpool.'
Yahoo
15-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
USMNT star Ricardo Pepi awarded storied No. 9 shirt at PSV for 2025-26 season
FBL-EUR-C1-EINDHOVEN-SHAKHTAR WHAT HAPPENED? PSV Eindhoven announced that American striker Ricardo Pepi will wear the club's storied No. 9 shirt for the upcoming season. The 22-year-old striker, who joined PSV in 2023 for €9 million from FC Augsburg, assumes the number previously worn by club captain Luuk de Jong, signaling a significant vote of confidence from manager Peter Bosz in the young American's future. Advertisement The number was also previously worn by Brazilian icons Romario and Ronaldo, as well as Dutch legend Patrick Kluivert during their time at the club. WHAT PSV POSTED THE BIGGER PICTURE Pepi's elevation to PSV's iconic No. 9 comes after an impressive 2024-25 campaign in which he scored 17 goals in 28 appearances across all competitions before a knee injury ended his season prematurely in January. The American has steadily developed since arriving in the Netherlands, transforming from a promising talent into a consistent goalscorer. WHAT'S NEXT? Pepi faces the challenge of returning to full fitness following his knee injury as he prepares for preseason training with PSV.
Yahoo
15-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Ornstein: Liverpool draw up striker shortlist amid transfer uncertaint
Liverpool's No 9 Puzzle: Pre-Season, Transfers and the Hunt for Firepower Tributes in Preston, Business in Motion Liverpool's pre-season curtain-raiser at Preston North End on Sunday was always going to carry a sombre tone. The death of Diogo Jota has shaken the club to its core, and the tributes that dominated the occasion were as heartfelt as they were heavy. Football, for all its tribalism, has a way of pausing in moments like this. Advertisement But while grief weighs on hearts, the football calendar waits for no one. Arne Slot handed minutes to new arrivals Milos Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong, two signings that hint at a well-prepared recruitment plan already in motion. Still, there is a glaring need to add further firepower before the serious business begins in August. As reported by David Ornstein in The Athletic. Photo IMAGO Gap in the Centre Forward Role Liverpool's recent strategy has centred around strength in depth across their front three. With options stacked on the wings, Diaz and Gakpo on the left, Salah and Frimpong on the right, the centre is the concern. There is no clear first-choice No 9. Photo: IMAGO Advertisement Federico Chiesa has been floated as a possibility, but his profile leans more towards a wide forward. Meanwhile, Napoli and Al Hilal are monitoring Darwin Nunez, whose Liverpool career has been anything but straightforward. The club appear ready to move on if the price is right. Nunez, despite flashes of promise, managed only seven goals in 47 appearances last season. 'He only started eight Premier League matches,' David Ornstein notes, 'with Slot preferring to play Luis Diaz as a false nine as he felt the Colombian was better suited to his system.' Photo: IMAGO Targets Under Review Richard Hughes, Liverpool's sporting director, is now focused on securing a genuine centre-forward. Several names have been considered. Alexander Isak, Viktor Gyokeres, Victor Osimhen, and Joao Pedro all fit the bill. Hugo Ekitike is another name that has surfaced, while Chelsea's Nicolas Jackson, admired by Hughes from his Bournemouth days, would have been a strong option if not tied to Stamford Bridge. Photo: IMAGO Advertisement Isak and Ekitike remain under consideration, though each would come with significant complications, be they financial or contractual. Chelsea, meanwhile, seem well stocked after recruiting both Joao Pedro and Liam Delap. Decision Time on Nunez There is still admiration for Nunez within sections of the fanbase. His energy, commitment and occasional match-winning moments cannot be denied. But football is ultimately judged in cold numbers. A meagre return of seven goals does not justify leading the line for a team chasing major honours. 'If Liverpool can get £60million for Nunez they should cash in,' Ornstein states. That fee could fund a more clinical and composed presence in the box. Florian Wirtz has been considered as a possible solution in the 4-2-3-1 system, although he thrives when playing slightly deeper. The need for a specialist striker remains. Advertisement Our View – Anfield Index Analysis Supporters expecting a title defence won't be content going into the season without a proven centre-forward. The experiment with Diaz as a false nine has its merits in theory, but over the course of a 38-game season, it lacks the consistency and goal return needed to win major trophies. Most fans still like Nunez. He plays with emotion, he presses, he cares. But he's had chances, and the numbers don't lie. Seven goals in 47 appearances just won't cut it for a team with Liverpool's ambition. If Saudi Arabia or Napoli come knocking with serious money, the club should not hesitate. That £60million could go a long way toward securing a complete forward who can thrive in Slot's structured attack. The idea of landing someone like Isak is mouth-watering, even if it's unlikely. But Liverpool need to be bold. Go after a player who will transform this side from a contender into a champion again. The time for patience is over. It's time to fix the No 9 position properly.
Times
23-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Times
Liam Delap: I love the battle — I'm a bit old school but I won't change
L iam Delap has little time for superstition. Many players have come unstuck wearing the No9 for Chelsea and you can take your pick in recent years, from Fernando Torres and Gonzalo Higuaín to Álvaro Morata and Radamel Falcao. Perhaps that's why the number has been untouched since Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang left the club two years ago. But that's irrelevant for Delap. He wants to be Chelsea's leading striker and so he wanted the No9 shirt too. Therefore he took it. Curses are for the birds. 'To me it doesn't really mean a lot,' he says. 'I'm not that type of person. It's something that people speculate about. But it doesn't mean anything to me.' Delap prefers the use of grit to the whims of fate. That's why he is now holding court at the Four Seasons hotel, 60 floors up and with a panoramic view of Philadelphia, after his £30million transfer to Chelsea. His strong season with Ipswich Town, scoring 12 Premier League goals, meant Newcastle United, Manchester United and Everton were among the suitors queueing up for his services. 'It was a nice position to be in,' he says. 'You never know if it is going to be the right decision but you've just got to go with your gut and hopefully it works out.'
Irish Times
23-06-2025
- Sport
- Irish Times
Liam Delap relishes old school physicality for Chelsea in quest to solve striker shortage
Liam Delap is a bit of a throwback. Chelsea's new No 9 runs the channels and relishes a physical contest. 'I love those battles,' the striker says on a muggy afternoon in Philadelphia. 'I always have since I was a kid. I really love the aggressive side of it and the competitive nature of the sport. It's got to be controlled at times but it's my game ultimately.' The strange thing is that English football has placed a heavy emphasis on producing nimble, technical players in recent years. England have a lot of No 10s but a shortage of No 9s. Who is coming through to take over from Harry Kane when the Bayern Munich striker finally calls time on his international career? Ollie Watkins and Ivan Toney are 29 and Dominic Solanke is 27. A lot could be riding on Delap, who happily acknowledges there is something of the old school to his game, seizing the initiative after his £30 million (€35 million) move to Chelsea. Let's not get carried just yet, of course. Although Enzo Maresca, Chelsea's head coach, has backed Delap to become England's next No 9, it is important to maintain a sense of perspective. Delap is uncapped and not the finished article. The 22-year-old has had only a season of Premier League football and was unable to save Ipswich from relegation despite scoring 12 goals in 37 league appearances. Delap has to shed some rough edges and work out how to add a touch of subtlety to his physicality. He picked up 13 bookings in all competitions last season and was cautioned when Chelsea lost to Flamengo in the Club World Cup last Friday. READ MORE 'It's obviously my first season playing in the Prem and playing with VAR,' the former Manchester City striker says. 'It's something I'm going to have to get used to. But it's not something I'm worried about now. I can control my emotions when I need to.' Chelsea fans will like Delap's raw power. The obvious comparison is with Diego Costa, a bulldozing presence during his time at Stamford Bridge. 'I've always had that edge and I'm not going to change my mindset,' Delap says. 'You've just got to make sure you're on the right side of the edge.' Nicolas Jackson, Delap's immediate competitor for a starting spot, crossed the line when he was sent off for an awful tackle against Flamengo. Delap is keen to defend his team-mate – 'Everyone plays close to the edge a little bit,' he says. 'You have to be aggressive, on the front foot' – but is surely aware that he has a chance to impress Maresca while Jackson is suspended. Delap should start when Chelsea look to qualify for the last 16 by picking up at least a point when they face Esperance in Philadelphia on Tuesday night. There have been encouraging steps. Delap earned an assist when he came on for his debut during Chelsea's win over Los Angeles last week and he almost scored against Flamengo. He is happy to have linked up with Cole Palmer, a close pal from his time at City's academy. Chelsea will hope that Palmer can keep the supply line to Delap in good order. Liam Delap scored 12 goals in 37 Premier League appearances for Ipswich Town last season. Photograph:Delap has shown his intent by ignoring claims that the No 9 shirt at Chelsea is cursed. 'I'm not that type of person,' he says. 'It's something that people speculate about but it doesn't mean anything to me.' Mateja Kezman, Romelu Lukaku, Fernando Torres and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang are examples of No 9s who struggled at Chelsea. Delap is willing to forge his own path. There are no questions about his father Rory, the former Stoke and Republic of Ireland midfielder. Delap takes everything in his stride. He talks about liking to keep things as simple as possible, whether preparing for a game against a tough defender or making decisions about his career. His buccaneering performances for Ipswich were enough to spark a battle for his signature. Manchester United, Newcastle United, Everton and Nottingham Forest were among the clubs who wanted Delap. 'You've just got to go with your gut and hopefully it works out,' he says. United's hopes were effectively ended by their defeat by Tottenham Hotspur in the Europa League final. Chelsea's pitch was inevitably more attractive after they qualified for the Champions League. Delap's preference was to join a club who can offer him European football, although he says other factors also came into play. It helps that Chelsea have plenty of ex-City connections. Joe Shields, Chelsea's co-director of recruitment and talent, has worked for City. Then there was the lure of playing for Maresca, who was one of Delap's youth coaches. 'I've got a good relationship with the manager,' Delap says. 'I know how he plays. I've played in this system before. I know a lot of the players here and the project of the club, how they see the future. That's what excited me.' Delap is confident he can adapt to the challenge of playing against low blocks and level-headed about having to pick the Club World Cup over representing England at the European Under-21 Championship. 'Obviously I had my sights set on the Euros,' he says. 'But I signed here and they wanted me to be here. I want to be here as well. I need to get to know everyone. It will set me up really well. It's a high-level tournament.' Thomas Tuchel, England's head coach, told Delap to prove himself at the highest level after omitting him from the senior squad last month. A strong debut campaign with Chelsea would boost his chances of going to next summer's World Cup. Defenders tasked with marking Delap had better be ready for a scrap. – Guardian
