Their own Mbappe: Liverpool make £150m star their dream target after Wirtz

Liverpool’s transfer activity over the last couple of weeks has been nothing short of sensational, with the hierarchy certainly looking to back Arne Slot in the transfer market.

Jeremie Frimpong has already completed his switch from Bayer Leverkusen, with former teammate Florian Wirtz continuously linked with a summer move to Anfield.

The German international has already been subject to a bid from the Reds in recent days, which could see the club break the English transfer record if they complete a deal for his signature.

In recent days, he’s posted on social media, hitting back at claims that he will demand the number 10 shirt if he moves to Merseyside, but didn’t deny that he is close to making the move to England.

Such a move for the 22-year-old would undoubtedly improve the options at the manager’s disposal, creating excitement among the fanbase, but could be joined by another big-money talent at Anfield in 2025/26.

The latest on Liverpool’s hunt for new additions this summer

Left-back Milos Kerkez has been firmly on Liverpool’s radar over the last couple of months, as Slot looks to add depth to the full-back department in their quest to retain the Premier League title.

The latest reports suggest that the Bournemouth star has already agreed personal terms with the Reds, as the clubs are expected to meet once again to get the deal over the line this summer.

AFC Bournemouth's MilosKerkez

However, despite the interest at the back, Slot desperately wants attacking reinforcements, with Alexander Isak once again emerging on their shortlist, according to TBR.

The report claims that Slot’s side are still in the market for a new striker, even if Wirtz joins in the coming weeks, with the Newcastle United talisman their number one target this window.

It also states that the Swede, who scored 23 league goals this season, is their dream option within the final third, but could cost a pretty penny, with the Magpies demanding a fee in the region of £150m.

Why Liverpool’s £150m target could be Slot’s own Mbappe

Over the last couple of years, Kylian Mbappé has been one of Europe’s leading stars, producing massive numbers within the final third for PSG and Real Madrid.

The French international joined the Spanish giants last summer, scoring 43 times in his 56 appearances, but it wasn’t enough to secure a Champions League triumph, with his former employers getting their hands on the trophy.

His numbers this campaign have been nothing short of remarkable, but he was unable to get the better of the Reds in the clash at Anfield, missing a penalty with Conor Bradley producing a last-ditch tackle to prevent him getting on the scoresheet.

Given his tally of goals, the Reds must wish they had a player who could produce such a tally alongside Mohamed Salah in attacking areas, undoubtedly making them a bigger force to be reckoned with next season.

However, a move for Isak could allow them to have just that, with FBref ranking the Magpies’ talisman as a similar player to Mbappé, based on the figures he’s produced in the Premier League this season.

Newcastle United's AlexanderIsakcelebrates scoring their first goal

When comparing their respective stats, the Swede has massively outperformed him in key areas, with his talents undoubtedly handing Slot the main focal point he’s desperately craved this summer.

Whilst he’s registered fewer combined goals and assists in 2024/25, Isak has achieved a better goal per shot-on-target rate than the Frenchman, highlighting the threat he poses in front of goal – something which would take the Reds to the next level.

How Alexander Isak compares to Kylian Mbappé in 2024/25

Statistics (per 90)

Isak

Mbappé

Games played

34

34

Goals & assists

29

34

Goal per shot on target rate

0.5

0.3

Shot on target accuracy

50%

49%

Take-on success

46%

44%

Aerials won

0.9

0.1

Times caught offside

0.6

1.4

Stats via FBref

He’s also managed to complete more of the take-ons he’s attempted, and won more aerial battles, handing the side an all-round option within the final third – something which the club have lacked in central areas of late.

Whilst it’s unclear if the Magpies would be willing to part ways with the star after their Champions League qualification, his talents are there for all to see, with his performances against the Reds in recent times nothing short of remarkable – as seen in the Carabao Cup final.

It would be another expensive addition given the move for Wirtz, but it’s phenomenal to see the hierarchy massively backing the manager in the market after his success in his first campaign.

If he does move to the club and matches the levels produced by Mbappé in Europe over recent years, it would be a stellar addition, and one that could lead Slot’s side to consistent European glory alongside their domestic ambitions.

He's Coutinho 2.0: Liverpool hold talks to sign "Ballon d'Or level talent"

Florian Wirtz isn’t the only midfielder Liverpool have their eye on.

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Angus Sinclair

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Ipswich Town looking to sign £20m+ striker with 27 goals in Championship

With Liam Delap on his way to Chelsea, Ipswich Town are now reportedly looking to sign a former Championship forward worth over £20m, and he’s already scored at Portman Road.

Ipswich looking to replace Delap

It’s a big summer for the Tractor Boys. After suffering relegation at the first time of asking in the Premier League, those at Portman Road must reassess and go again in the Championship. On that front, Kieran McKenna will of course have his sights set on earning a place back in the top flight, avoiding any further drop-off in the process next season.

If "sensational" Ipswich star leaves, it would be as disastrous as Delap

Ipswich Town could also lose this sensational star away from just Liam Delap leaving Portman Road.

By
Kelan Sarson

May 23, 2025

In pursuit of that, however, the Ipswich boss will have to cope without star man Delap. The talented striker is reportedly set to join Chelsea this summer after the Blues triggered his relegation release clause ahead of the summer transfer window. Landing a bargain deal worth just £30m, it seems only a matter of time before Delap is presented as Enzo Maresca’s latest signing.

Just how Ipswich replace Delap is the question that they must now consider this summer. Already, names such as Divin Mubama have threatened to steal the headlines, but whether the Tractor Boys go two for two when it comes to signing talented Manchester City gems remains to be seen.

The young forward has struggled to gain first-team opportunities at the Etihad, but is valued at around £10m nonetheless. Given how successful their deal to sign Delap was last summer, Ipswich may see Mubama as an ideal opportunity to splash out again on Premier League talent.

Mubama isn’t the only option on Ipswich’s radar, however, with those at Portman Road also reportedly setting their sights on an MLS star.

Ipswich now looking to sign Latte Lath

According to EFL Analysis, Ipswich are now looking to sign Emmanuel Latte Lath from Atlanta United this summer. The 26-year-old left Middlesbrough to join the MLS side for a reported £22.5m during the January transfer window, but could already be on his way back to the Championship courtesy of the Tractor Boys.

Having been interested in signing Latte Lath during the last summer window, themselves, Ipswich’s interest reportedly remains following their Premier League relegation. Given how proven the forward is in England’s second tier too, that interest certainly makes sense.

Emmanuel Latte Lath in the Championship

Record (via Transfermarkt)

Appearances

59

Goals

27

Assists

4

It was during his time in the Championship that the Atlanta striker proved his goalscoring prowess in front of McKenna and Ipswich when he found the back of the net in a 1-1 draw at Portman Road in the 2023/24 campaign.

It was also a spell in which Latte Lath found himself at the centre of Michael Carrick’s praise. The Middlesbrough manager told reporters back in October: “We’ve got really good players in the squad and there’s times when players are going to be in or maybe don’t start the game.

“But I thought Manu coming off the bench, fresh and sharp like he is, would be a big benefit for us tonight. I was delighted with him, his reaction to not playing was also fantastic as you’d expect and hope for. Everyone shared that love.”

Celtic want to sign £11m Kyogo replacement who could be Larsson 2.0

After a very memorable trophy presentation day, Celtic’s summer plans are in full swing.

Saturday’s clash was essentially a dead-rubber for the Parkhead side, with the title having already been secured weeks ago, but those in attendance will never forget James Forrest’s 94th minute equaliser, a sweet strike that means the one club man has now scored in 16 successive seasons for Celtic; it was celebrated like the winner in a Champions League final.

Brendan Rodgers’ side will conclude the campaign with Saturday’s Scottish Cup Final, firm favourites to beat Aberdeen at Hampden, having already smashed the Dons on three occasions this season, 6-0 in November, 5-1 in February and then 5-1 again last mid-week up at Pittodrie.

Now, are the four-in-a-row Scottish Premiership champions about to get even stronger, as they seek to sign one of Europe’s most highly-rated young strikers?

According to a report from the Daily Record, Celtic are still very much interested in signing long-term target Mathias Kvistgaarden, after the 23-year-old confirmed he is set to leave Brøndby this summer.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

Speaking to the media in his homeland, the player noted: “I think I’m ready. I’ve made my mark at Brondby and in the Superliga, so I’m ready to take the next step.”

Back in January, Football Insider claimed that the Celts had an official bid rejected for Kvistgaarden, who is reportedly valued at £13.5m, with a report in Denmark noting that Bundesliga side Eintracht Frankfurt have also ‘intensified’ their interest.

Could Kvistgaarden be Celtic's new Larsson?

Kvistgaarden took his tally to 23 goals for the season against Midtjylland on Monday night, making him the second-highest goalscorer in the Danish Superligaen this season, with just one round of fixtures to go.

So, could we see him in a Celtic jersey come next season?

Well, Kyōgo Furuhashi departed Celtic in January, joining Stade Rennais for a reported fee of £10m in January and no direct replacement was signed.

Celtic'sKyogoFuruhashi celebrates with the trophy after winning the League Cup

Adam Idah, who joined permanently from Norwich last summer, did step up, scoring 20 goals in all competitions, while player of the season Daizen Maeda was often deployed down the middle too, netting 33 times in total and picking up all the individual awards.

Nevertheless, a Kyōgo replacement is needed given that, according to Graeme Macpherson of the Scotsman, the Japanese star is Celtic’s best striker since Henrik Larsson, so let’s assess that assertion.

Selected Celtic strikers (1997-present)

Players

Games

Goals

Old Firm goals

Mins per goal

Kyōgo

165

85

8

126

Édouard

179

87

7

140

Dembélé

94

51

7

121

Griffiths

261

123

3

118

Hooper

138

82

5

136

McDonald

121

59

4

159

Hartson

198

105

6

143

Sutton

196

84

6

198

Larsson

292

224

15

113

All statistics courtesy of Transfermarkt

The table underlines Kyōgo’s impressive statistics, even when compared to some of the greatest Celtic strikers of the modern era, most notably the king of kings himself, Larsson.

But how do the Japanese forward’s statistics compare to those of Kvistgaarden?

Kvistgaarden at Brøndby vs Kyōgo at Celtic

Statistics

Kvistgaarden

Kyōgo

Appearances

102

101

Minutes

6,323

10,741

Goals

43

85

Mins per goal

164

126

Assists

17

19

Shots on target %

48.8%

45.5%

Shots per 90

3.14

3.34

Shots on target per 90

1.53

1.52

Big chances missed

32

69

Note: Kvistgaarden’s statistics are 2022/23-present.

Statistics courtesy of Transfermarkt, FBref.com and SofaScore

As the table outlines, Kvistgaarden’s numbers do compare favourably, having taken his game to another level this season, underlined by his very impressive figure of a goal every 107 minutes.

Chris Beaumont of Total Football Analysis describes him as a ‘quick and agile striker’, with Scout António Mango asserting that he is “absolutely sensational”.

Meantime, Farzam Abolhosseini of Tipsbladet labels him “magical”, while Jacek Kulig of Football Talent Scout believes that the 23-year-old is “only getting better”.

Thus, it is clear that the young Dane would be an astonishingly excellent signing for Celtic, if they’re able to get the deal over the line of course, boasting the potential to be the Hoops’ best centre-forward since a certain fellow-Scandinavian striker.

Celtic can replace Jota by signing "one of the standout players in La Liga"

With Jota sidelined for the next nine months due to an anterior cruciate ligament injury, could Brendan Rodgers sign La Liga’s standout winger?

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Ben Gray

May 16, 2025

Tottenham now preparing offer for "bargain" Chelsea and Man Utd target

Tottenham Hotspur are preparing to enter discussions as they plan an offer to sign an astute Man United and Chelsea target, and he’s viewed as a potential snip if they can get a deal done this summer.

Tottenham eyeing new forward amid Ange Postecoglou uncertainty

Amid the uncertain future of manager Ange Postecoglou, chairman Daniel Levy and the Spurs recruitment team must also get to work on planning for the upcoming transfer window.

Tottenham favourites to appoint "exciting" manager over Bundesliga club

Contact has reportedly been made already.

1

By
Emilio Galantini

May 7, 2025

This year, a special edition window will be open from June 1 to June 10 – which gives some clubs the opportunity to sign players before the Club World Cup begins. It could also be an opportunity for Levy to strengthen early doors, but it is unclear whether the Lilywhites plan to make use of this early window.

What’s crystal clear, though, is Tottenham’s need to strengthen certain areas of the squad.

Tottenham’s final Premier League fixtures

Date

Crystal Palace (home)

May 10th

Aston Villa (away)

May 18th

Brighton (home)

May 25th

Their 2024/2025 campaign has been overshadowed by a plethora of injuries to key players, leaving Postecoglou with precious few options at times, and it has undoubtedly contributed to their lowly 16th-placed position in the Premier League table.

Spurs are reportedly in the market for a new striker to bolster their forward line, among other transfer priorities, with Richarlison’s long-term future also in question after a season blighted by injury for the Brazilian.

This week, reports claim Tottenham are targeting Borussia Mönchengladbach striker Tim Kleindienst, following the German’s exceptional Bundesliga campaign, and they’re ready to pay up to £30 million for his signature (CaughtOffside).

However, he is by no means the only centre-forward being looked at, with Ipswich Town starlet Liam Delap coming as another name on their radar.

Tottenham preparing to enter talks for Ipswich striker Liam Delap

According to GiveMeSport, Tottenham are planning an offer for Delap and preparing to enter talks for the Englishman’s signature – but face competition from West Ham, Chelsea, Everton and United in pursuit of him.

The 22-year-old has been a bright spark in an otherwise torrid campaign for Kieran McKenna’s relegated side, bagging 12 goals in all competitions, and reports claim Delap’s contract includes a £30 million release clause tied with Ipswich dropping back down to the Championship.

Ipswich Town'sLiamDelapreacts

Delap is viewed as a “bargain” behind-the-scenes, according to GMS, but a major obstacle could still form in the ex-Man City starlet’s wage demands. Indeed, it is believed Delap wants around £150,000-per-week from any new suitor, which would actually make him one of Spurs’ highest earners.

This could be tricky to navigate for Levy, who has managed to keep control of Tottenham’s wage bill, and may be reluctant to green-light moves for players with extortionate requirements when it comes to personal terms.

That being said, Delap is a homegrown player of serious quality and sky-high potential, so it could be worth the concession in this instance.

“He is a quality player,” said former Spurs keeper Paul Robinson.

“He led the line on his own against Chelsea. At times, Chelsea were playing a back five with four players in front, and they defended resolutely, but he was always an outlet.

“He is a pest. He is a nuisance. He is always there on the shoulders of the centre-backs. He is making runs in the channels. He is always available. When it looks like he isn’t going to win the ball, he puts his body in between the player and the ball, somehow managing to win a free-kick or something for his team.

“He is a top, top player.”

Big Nkunku upgrade: Chelsea in talks to sign "electric" striker worth £70m

Chelsea’s Champions League push continues.

On Sunday, the Blues claimed a vital 3-1 victory over the newly-crowned Premier League champions Liverpool at Stamford Bridge; Enzo Fernández broke the deadlock inside three minutes, a freak own goal doubled their advantage, before Cole Palmer ended his goal draught by converting a stoppage time penalty.

Having now won three Premier League games on the spin, Enzo Maresca’s side remain fifth, three points clear of both Nottingham Forest and Aston Villa, desperately hoping to cling onto the final Champions League position.

Regardless of whether they remain in the top five places or not, Chelsea are set to spend big this summer, because that’s simply become their modus operandi under Todd Boehly’s ownership, so could they get their hands on a new centre-forward?

Chelsea seeking to sign a new striker

Some notable names have been linked with a move to the Bridge this summer with the likes of Ipswich Town forward Liam Delap and Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins reportedly on their radar.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

Now, according to a report by journalist Graeme Bailey, Chelsea are “keeping close tabs” on RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko, with Arsenal and Liverpool both described as ‘huge admirers’.

Sesko’s team are ‘in active talks’ with those three clubs as the German side aim to rake in a reported £70m for his signature.

It looked as though the Slovenian would be on the move last summer but signed a new contract in Leipzig, just as Chelsea and Arsenal were ‘ready to trigger’ his then £55m release clause, according to Ed Aarons of the Guardian.

Now though, Sesko appears to be ready to move on from the Bundesliga, so where would he fit in at Stamford Bridge?

Why Sesko would be an upgrade on Nkunku

As reported by Sky Sports Deutschland this weekend, Christopher Nkunku ‘has decided to leave Chelsea’ at the end of the season, with Fabrizio Romano adding that the Frenchman is ‘keen’ to depart the club.

Nkunku was not even a substitute for Sunday’s win over Liverpool, nor last Thursday’s victory over Djurgården in Stockholm, with manager Maresca later confirming he will be sidelined for a fortnight due to a “small problem”.

The 27-year-old, who himself arrived from RB Leipzig for £52m two summers ago, has never managed to establish himself as a key figure in West London, as the table below outlines.

Nkunku​​​​​​​’s Chelsea career in numbers

Statistics

Nkunku

Appearances

56

Minutes

2,555

Starts

24

PL appearances

38

PL starts

11

Matches missed injured

36

Matches an unused sub

7

Apps 15 minutes or less

15

Goals

17

PL goals

6

UECL goals

7

Assists

5

All statistics courtesy of Transfermarkt

As the table emphasises, the French forward has never been a regular in Chelsea’s starting lineups, especially in the league.

He has scored 14 goals this season, but seven of these have come in the Conference League, while he was also on target against Morecambe in the FA Cup, having bagged a hat-trick against Barrow in the EFL Cup.

So, with bearing in mind he also played/plays for Leipzig, would Sesko avoid a similar fate?

Well, all available evidence suggests that, whoever gets their hands on the striker this summer, will have secured the services of an exceptional striker.

Analyst Ben Mattinson believes he possesses “electric pace”, impressed by his “two-footed ball-striking” ability, while Jacek Kulig of Football Talent Scout exclaims that he is “a superb centre-forward in the making”.

So, let’s take a look at the powerful forward’s Bundesliga statistics this season.

Sesko’s Bundesliga statistics 2024/25

Statistics

Sesko

Bundesliga rank

Top 5 league rank

Goals

13

8th

35th

Assists

5

28th

117th

Shots

65

11th

162nd

Shots on target

29

11th

46th

Goals – xG

+3

11th

43rd

All statistics courtesy of FBref.com

While his statistics may not leap off the page, Sesko’s screamer against Bayern Munich on Saturday took his tally to 21 for the season across all competitions, four of which came in the Champions League, to go with the 18 he managed last time round.

He also scored five times in this year’s UEFA Nations League, a tally only bettered by Viktor Gyökeres​​​​​​​, Erling Haaland, Cristiano Ronaldo and Razvan Marin; pretty eclectic company to keep.

RB Leipzig's BenjaminSeskobefore taking a penalty

Alex Barker of Breaking the Lines believes the Slovenian striker to be a ‘generational’ talent, while Raphael Honigstein and Mark Carey of the Athletic forecast that he’ll continue to develop and get better, hence why Soham Mukherjee of Goal labels him ‘one of the hottest names in the European transfer market’.

Thus, Sesko would surely be an excellent signing for Chelsea, representing a clear upgrade on the wantaway Nkunku.

Best signing since Palmer: Chelsea could land a £60m Gyokeres alternative

Chelsea should sign a “clinical” Premier League striker instead of Viktor Gyökeres

By
Ben Gray

May 4, 2025

He'd be perfect under Iraola: Spurs line up move for "unplayable" £40m star

Despite coming off a sensational result in the Europa League, Tottenham Hotspur returned to their lacklustre form at home to Nottingham Forest on Monday night.

It was their 18th defeat in the Premier League and leaves them just a point above West Ham United in 17th place, so it’s not much of a surprise to see stories about Ange Postecoglou’s future returning.

One of the names most heavily touted to replace him at the end of the season is Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola, who has managed to lead the Cherries up to eighth place, partly thanks to their brilliant attack.

On top of being linked with a new manager, the North Londoners have also been linked with a plethora of exciting players, including one who’d be perfect under Iraola, were he to get the job.

Tottenham want to sign Premier League attacker

With how terribly this season has gone for Spurs, it’s unsurprising that they have been linked with so many players in recent weeks, such as Matheus Cunha.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

The North Londoners are reportedly willing to pay up to £75m to land the Brazilian star ahead of the other interested parties, and while that’s an enormous sum of money, it might be worth it, as he’s managed to amass a tally of 16 goals and four assists in 31 games this year, despite playing for a bottom half side.

A slightly cheaper target the club have supposedly been looking at has been Tyler Dibling.

TylerDiblingcelebrates scoring their first goal with Yukinari Sugawara

The Southampton gem could be available for around £35m in the summer, and while he likely wouldn’t make an instant impact on the first team, he would be yet another tremendously exciting youngster on the club’s books.

However, if instant impact is what the fans are after, then the links to Marcus Rashford should excite them.

According to a recent report from Football Transfers, Spurs have now rekindled their interest in Premier League star Marcus Rashford, who has found some form of late on loan with Aston Villa.

The report claims that the 62-capped Englishman ‘is expected to leave Manchester United during the upcoming summer transfer window’ and that should the Villans decide against paying £40m to sign him, the North Londoners will step in.

It could be a complicated transfer to get over the line, but given his immense quality, it’s worth fighting for, especially as he could be incredible under Iraola.

Why Rashford would be a great signing for Spurs

So, the first thing to say is that, regardless of who is in the hot seat next season, Rashford would be a good addition to Spurs’ squad, and the last few months have shown that.

For example, since moving to Villa, the Manchester-born monster has been electric, scoring four goals and providing six assists in 17 appearances, totalling just 940 minutes.

That means the often “unplayable” 27-year-old, as dubbed by analyst Raj Chohan, is currently averaging a goal involvement every 1.7 games or every 94 minutes, which is the sort of output the Lilywhites could really do with.

Rashford’s Villa form

Appearances

17

Starts

10

Minutes

940′

Goals

4

Assists

6

Goal Involvements per Match

0.58

Minutes per Goal Involvement

94′

All Stats via Transfermarkt

However, there is every chance that, under Iraola, he could be even better.

Now, this is obviously all theoretical at this point, but we know from this season that, when he has a summer to prepare his players, the Spaniard can extract some seriously impressive attacking numbers out of his frontline players.

For example, Justin Kluivert has produced 21 goal involvements compared to 11 last year, Antoine Semenyo has produced 16 compared to 11 and even Dango Ouattara has managed 13 compared to just three last year.

So, if he’s been able to improve those players that much within the space of just a season, imagine what he’d be able to do with a player as talented as Rashford.

Bournemouth attackers since 23/24

24/25

Kluivert

Semenyo

Ouattara

Appearances

34

37

35

Minutes

2297′

3182′

2121′

Goals

13

10

9

Assists

8

6

4

Goal Involvements per Match

0.61

0.43

0.37

Minutes per Goal Involvement

109.38′

198.87′

163.15

23/24

Kluivert

Semenyo

Ouattara

Appearances

36

36

32

Minutes

2093′

2307′

1383′

Goals

9

8

1

Assists

2

3

2

Goal Involvements per Match

0.30

0.30

0.09

Minutes per Goal Involvement

190.27′

209.72

461′

All Stats via Transfermarkt

Ultimately, while this might be a complicated transfer to get over the line, Spurs should do all they can to get it done, especially if they hire Iraola.

Their new Lucas Moura: Ange has struck gold on "generational" Spurs talent

The promising youngster could be great for Spurs.

By
Jack Salveson Holmes

Apr 23, 2025

Tottenham in contact with ex-Bayern Munich boss to replace Ange Postecoglou

Tottenham Hotspur are in contact with a former Bayern Munich boss to potentially replace under-pressure head coach Ange Postecoglou, according to reports, with the clock seemingly ticking on his stay in N17.

Tottenham likely to part ways with Ange Postecoglou

The prospect of Postecoglou’s departure from north London is gaining more and more traction.

Jamie O'Hara thrilled by "brilliant" new manager Tottenham could appoint

He’s got credentials.

2

By
Emilio Galantini

Apr 24, 2025

This week, The Telegraph reported that Tottenham could relieve Postecoglou of his duties, regardless of whether the Lilywhites end their 17-year wait for a major trophy by winning the Europa League.

Tottenham’s next five Premier League fixtures

Date

Liverpool (away)

April 27th

West Ham (away)

May 3rd

Crystal Palace (home)

May 10th

Aston Villa (away)

May 18th

Brighton (home)

May 25th

Even an historic night in Bilbao may not be enough to save the Australian, with Spurs on course for their worst ever Premier League season to date. They’re just one loss away from equalling their record for most defeats in a single domestic season, and it is highly likely Postecoglou is bestowed with that dismal record as champions elect, Liverpool, await them next at Anfield.

The 59-year-old has faced an uphill battle all season long, having lost a plethora of key players to injury for extended periods on a consistent basis, but 16th in the table is arguably still nowhere near good enough – even when factoring in their serious bad luck.

Attention is already turning to who could succeed Postecoglou, and there is no shortage of candidates linked to the potentially vacant role.

Mauricio Pochettino would privately love a return to Tottenham, according to reports, while the likes of Andoni Iraola (Bournemouth), Marco Silva (Fulham), Oliver Glasner (Crystal Palace), Thomas Frank (Brentford) and Scott Parker (Burnley) have all been linked recently.

Now, a new name in the form of ex-Croatia captain and former Bayern Munich head coach Niko Kovač has emerged as a managerial target.

Tottenham make contact with Borussia Dortmund boss Niko Kovač

The 53-year-old was appointed by Borussia Dortmund on an 18-month deal to replace the sacked Nuri Şahin, and he’s since done a solid job, as Kovac attempts to spearhead European qualification after a previously disappointing campaign for the Bundesliga heavyweights.

The tactician, who’s previously won a German title with Bayern and two German cups – one with the Bavarians and one at Eintracht Frankfurt – has now turned heads at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

According to newspaper Bild, via Sport Witness, Tottenham have made contact with Kovac, via an intermediary but not directly with the club, as chairman Daniel Levy casts his net to Europe in search of a new head coach.

Spurs are said to view him as a good fit due to his intense and aggressive style of play, but as things stand, he doesn’t have an interest in leaving Dortmund. If this stance changes, Kovac’s reputation as a true leader appears to be exactly what Tottenham are crying out for.

“He [Kovac] has experience, he was a very good player and was the captain of the Croatia national team,” said Bayern legend Lothar Matthäus.

“He has charisma, he has passion, he knows about football. He was a leader as a player and is showing this as a coach too.”

Wrexham's League One promotion push: Tables, key fixtures & latest results

Wrexham are one of the most exciting clubs outside the Premier League as the League One side has plenty of ambition to surge up the English football pyramid.

Hollywood stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney became the owners of the club back in February 2021, and the club have been on the ascendancy ever since.

The 2022/23 season saw them win the National League to finally escape the division, 15 years after slipping out of the Football League.

Last term, Wrexham made it back-to-back promotions as they finished second in League Two to secure their place in the third tier of the pyramid for the first time since 2004/05.

The onus is now on them to achieve promotion to the second tier – though this is unlikely to be the final aim, especially with the money that Reynolds and McElhenney have injected into the club.

With just a few months left of the campaign, Wrexham will need to be at their very best to secure either a first or second-place finish, thus making the move into the Championship.

Birmingham City have now been confirmed as champions, and Wycombe Wanderers are their main rivals for the final automatic promotion spot.

Will promotion be achieved this year, or will they require another year in League One? Here, we analyse the latest results and fixtures along with delving into whether they can achieve promotion this season.

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How League One works

There are 24 clubs in League One, with all teams playing each other twice for a total of 46 league matches across the campaign.

This is the same number of games as in League Two and the Championship, should they get that far – but there are some notable differences between the bottom two divisions of the EFL.

In League One, there are only two automatic promotion spots, compared to the three on offer in the division below.

Teams who finish between 3rd and 6th will qualify for the play-offs. There are also four relegation spots compared to two in League Two.

Last season, sixth-placed Barnsley earned 76 points to qualify for the play-offs, while Portsmouth and Derby County – who were promoted automatically to the Championship – both accrued over 90 points during the 2023/24 season.

At the other end of the table, Burton Albion survived with 46 points, just two more than relegated Cheltenham Town.

Can Wrexham get promoted from League One?

Wrexham will be making history if they secure promotion to the Championship, as three successive promotions has never happened at this level of English football.

Due to their financial backing, Wrexham were tipped as one of the favourites to secure a third promotion in a row before the season started.

The club started rather well in the third tier, taking 10 points from their first four matches, which included a win over promotion rivals Wycombe.

Now in the thick of the run-in, just a point separates Wrexham from the Chairboys, with automatic promotion in the Welsh side’s hands with four games remaining.

Elsewhere, Wrexham suffered penalty shootout heartbreak in the EFL Trophy, with a late Peterborough United comeback denying the Red Dragons a place in Wembley’s final.

The season is now at the business end, and every point counts. It appears that Wrexham or Wycombe will take the final automatic promotion place, though Charlton Athletic – who have to play both clubs before the end of the campaign – could yet have a say.

Wrexham'sStevenFletcher

There is no doubt that Wrexham have acquitted themselves well in the third tier. The question now is whether they can make one more step on their journey to the Premier League.

Wrexham fixtures, results and standings

Current League One standings

Rank

Team

P

GD

PTS

1

Birmingham City

40

+44

95

2

Wrexham

42

+27

82

3

Wycombe Wanderers

42

+30

81

4

Stockport County

41

+24

74

5

Charlton Athletic

41

+19

73

6

Reading

41

+8

68

7

Bolton Wanderers

41

+4

66

8

Huddersfield Town

41

+13

64

9

Leyton Orient

41

+16

63

10

Blackpool

41

+10

60

Via BBC Sport (last updated 12th April, 3pm)

As it stands, the table suggests the fight for promotion could go down to the wire – with the final round of matches taking place on Saturday 3rd May.

Birmingham City secured promotion and were confirmed as champions following Wrexham’s goalless draw at Wigan, but the Red Dragons are still in control of their destiny heading into the last four games.

Despite dropping points, Wrexham remain a point ahead of Wycombe, who grabbed a late winner to defeat Stevenage and heap the pressure on Phil Parkinson’s side.

Their final four opponents are mostly mid-table outfits, with their clash on the penultimate weekend against Charlton the trickiest on paper, particularly with the in-form Addicks harbouring promotion hopes of their own.

Wrexham’s remaining fixtures

Date

Competition

Opposition

H/A

Kick-off (GMT)

Fri 18th Apr

League One

Bristol Rovers

H

3pm

Mon 21st Apr

League One

Blackpool

A

3pm

Sat 26th Apr

League One

Charlton

H

5.30pm

Sat 3rd May

League One

Lincoln

A

3pm

Via BBC Sport

Overall, Wrexham have been in solid form, losing just one of their last 10 matches and keeping eight clean sheets in that run. But with Wycombe breathing down their necks, they may need to win all four of their remaining fixtures to secure promotion to the Championship.

However, they may be encouraged by the Chairboys’ fixture list, with all of their remaining opponents inside the top nine ahead of kick-off on Saturday.

Wrexham’s last five results in all competitions

Date

Competition

Opposition

Result

Sat 12th Apr

League One

Wigan

D 0-0

Sat 5th Apr

League One

Burton Albion

W 3-0

Tue 1st Apr

League One

Cambridge

D 2-2

Sat 29th Mar

League One

Exeter

W 2-0

Sat 22nd Mar

League One

Stockport

W 1-0

Via BBC Sport

With just four games to go, it is all about getting over the line for Wrexham. With a point advantage, four wins will be enough to secure Championship football for next season, though one slip-up could let Wycombe in, particularly as the Chairboys have a better goal difference as it stands.

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After Isak: Liverpool's "next Michael Owen" is destined to be the club's #9

Just when you think Liverpool have turned a corner, Arne Slot’s Reds ended up falling apart on their Premier League travels to Manchester City.

In the build-up to this showdown between two top-flight heavyweights, Liverpool had managed to collect two wins from their last two games in all competitions to ease concerns of a crisis occurring at Anfield.

However, football is a fickle old game, with the alarm bells ringing once more now, as City strolled to a 3-0 victory on their own patch.

Unfortunately, that demoralising defeat means Liverpool are already eight points behind Arsenal at the summit, as the likes of Mohamed Salah and Hugo Ekitike continue to underwhelm in attack.

The former Eintracht Frankfurt marksman was branded an “anonymous” figure by Statman Dave after failing to fire a single effort on the City goal.

Still, it’s not as if Alexander Isak is banging down the door to replace the misfiring attacker…

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Isak remain rooted to the substitutes bench throughout the 3-0 defeat, with the Swede hoping he can get his Liverpool career up and running after the international break.

So far, the £125m summer recruit has been sparingly used, owing to a lack of pre-season being handed to him at former employers Newcastle United, with the expensive striker yet to break his Premier League duck for Slot and Co.

It’s way too early in his Anfield career to dismiss him as an extortionate flop, though, with Isak undoubtedly a Premier League goal machine when playing at his razor-sharp best, as seen when watching his 54-goal tally for the Toon.

But, he will need to start living up to his previous billing of being the “best striker in the Premier League”, a tag handed to him by ex-Liverpool great Jamie Carragher, particularly if Ekitike continues to also fail to recapture his own goal-scoring groove.

Slot does have other options up his sleeve in this frustrating lone striker spot if needs be, with an emerging 17-year-old talent at Anfield potentially in line to be the number 9 of the future.

Liverpool are brewing a mini Alexander Isak

The number 9 jersey at Liverpool is a shirt steeped in significant history, with Ian Rush becoming synonymous with that number when scoring an all-time best on Merseyside of 346 goals.

Moreover, in more recent times, Fernando Torres took on the weighty shirt and thrived, bagging 81 strikes from 142 games.

Fernando Torres celebrates for Liverpool

Unfortunately, Isak is going down the route of being remembered more as a Darwin Nunez-style figure now donning the number nine, who mustered up a weak 40 goals in total in England.

Who will be the next legendary 9? Well, a teenager by the name of Will Wright – a young individual being heralded as the “next Michael Owen” in some circles – will be praying it could be him.

Liverpool #9s – selected players

Player

Games

Goals

Ian Rush

654

346

Robbie Fowler

369

183

Ian St. John

424

118

Fernando Torres

142

81

Darwin Nunez

143

40

Sourced by Transfermarkt

Indeed, the young striker sensation has already been branded as a “great finisher” by Reds journalist Bence Boscak when plying his trade for League Two outfit Salford City while Total Football Analysis have suggested that he has ‘many of the characteristics to be a top-level centre-forward’.

In the academy ranks last season at the Ammies, Wright fired home a stunning 40 goals, which certainly shows off a striker capable of one day reaching Isak’s Newcastle heights in the senior set-up. It’s for that reason that the aforementioned Bocask believes he is a “brilliant signing.”

He even featured in pre-season under Slot when Athletic Club travelled to Anfield, with one big chance spurned when thrust into the thick of the action.

Arsenal reportedly had their eyes on the clinical youngster before Wright decided to move to Merseyside over North London, with the hope that he could live up to his early promise and become Liverpool’s next free-flowing number nine.

Injuries have curtailed his U21 minutes as of late, with the 17-year-old now out of action until December with a knee problem.

But, when he’s back, don’t write off a sudden rise into the first team scene that’s similar to Rio Ngumoha’s explosion, with the misfiring duo of Ekitike and Isak, also kept on their toes by some fresh blood.

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John Schneider Admits Blue Jays Mistake on Isiah Kiner-Falefa World Series Play

The Blue Jays were inches away from capturing the franchise's first World Series title in 32 years during Game 7 of the World Series—and manager John Schneider still thinks about one play in particular: the play at the plate involving Isiah Kiner-Falefa in the bottom of the ninth inning.

Keeping in mind the instruction of Blue Jays third base coach Carlos Febles, Kiner-Falefa, who had entered the game as a pinch runner and was the lead runner with the bases loaded and one out, took an unusually short lead—8.6 feet off of the bag according to MLB player tracking data—off of third base to protect against the possibility of a line drive double play. But Kiner-Falefa overcorrected, as he was forced out at home plate by mere inches on a ground ball to second, which, despite a stumble upon gloving the ball, was fielded cleanly and delivered to catcher Will Smith in time by infielder Miguel Rojas. Kiner-Falefa may have scored had he had even a slightly bigger lead off of third.

Reflecting on the play while speaking to reporters at the winter meetings, Schneider defended Kiner-Falefa while admitting Toronto could have handled the situation a bit differently.

“For one, I feel so bad for Izzy [Kiner-Falefa] for getting all the blame,” Schneider said. “Izzy's an unbelievable baseball player… Could we have done a better job of getting him off [the bag] a little bit? Yeah. Another step or two. There's been video of Carlos telling him where to go…”

But Schneider also peeled back the curtain into the Blue Jays' thinking, saying they had noticed a tendency with Dodgers catcher Will Smith—one the Dodgers had later said they also talked about if the situation arose—which played into Toronto's strategy to emphasize a shorter lead for Kiner-Falefa.

“What's not talked about enough is the fact that Will Smith likes to back pick to third with left-handed hitters up,” Schneider continued. “It's something we talked about at length before the series. Something that Carlos reminded Izzy of…

“…People have said, 'What are the odds that Varsho is going to line out to third?' Fairly low, right? That's just where he doesn't hit the ball. So could we have done a better job of getting Izzy another step or two down? Yeah for sure.”

Schneider doesn't believe Kiner-Falefa, who slid feet-first, could have done anything different (sliding headfirst, not sliding, etc.) to change the outcome of the play. But he's not alone in his thinking that Toronto could have given Kiner-Falefa a bit of a wider lead.

Former Blue Jays coach Don Mattingly believes Kiner-Falefa play could have been handled differently

During an appearance on , former Blue Jays bench coach Don Mattingly singled out the Kiner-Falefa play as one he'd like to handle differently if given the opportunity.

“The one play, the IKF play—and I think it's played properly because you got the bases loaded, you got one out, the infield's totally drawn in. So you're not in a contact situation there,” Mattingly said. “You've got to at least freeze on a line drive… So I'll say the one thing that we kind of missed—and I'd say it myself, Schneids [Schneider], is that Varsho does not line out to third base. He does not hit line drives on that side of the field really.

“And so you can get a little bit more. But if it was a right-handed hitter, IKF's probably right where he should be…”

Mattingly noted that it was “not IKF's fault, but probbaly all of our faults.”

One thing is for sure. The Blue Jays will be thinking about that play—and the World Series loss— for a long time.

“No I don't think I ever will [get past the loss] to be honest with you,” Schneider said. “I think I'll think about it until the day I leave this earth, unless you get another opportunity to squash that one.”

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