After failing to secure promotion from the Championship last season, Norwich City are poised to bring in a player with experience of getting out of England's second tier.

Norwich make first move of the summer

After losing out in the playoff semi-finals last season, Norwich wasted no time parting company with David Wagner and installing a new coach in the form of former Nordsjælland manager Johannes Hoff Thorup. With a new man in the dugout, the Canaries are now looking to refresh the playing squad.

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The first man through the door at Carrow Road was José Córdoba, who joined the East Anglian outfit from Levski Sofia. The Panamanian defender arrived for a rumored €3.65million (£3million) fee, making him Thorup's first signing as the Canaries' boss.

With their first deal of the summer complete, Norwich have started to look at other targets including Palmeiras youngster Vanderlan. Whilst this move has not progressed beyond an initial interest, it appears that the Canaries are now about to close in on a deal to sign a highly-rated young player set to leave his club this summer.

Canaries close in on deal for Doyle

As first reported by Football Insider's Wayne Veysey, Norwich are closing in on a deal to sign Callum Doyle after the defender was given the green light to leave Man City this summer. The outlet claims that the 20-year-old is valued by his parent club at around the £15 million mark.

This development is backed up by a report from BBC Sport which states that the deal in question is a one-year loan that will see Doyle spend the duration of next season at the East Anglian outfit, although it is not clear if there is an option or requirement to sign him for £15m next summer.

Despite spending his youth career with Man City, the defender is yet to make a senior appearance for the club, instead being shipped out on loan to various Championship clubs.

The last campaign saw Doyle play for Leicester City, featuring 23 times in all competitions as the Foxes returned to the Premier League at the first time of asking. Over the course of last season, Doyle stood out as a modern central defender who was comfortable on the ball and even able to fill in as a left back when required.

Shots total

0.97

84th percentile

Passes attempted

79.18

97th percentile

Progressive passes

7.84

99th percentile

Tackles

3.06

90th percentile

Blocks

1.57

81st percentile

Shot-creating actions

2.46

81st percentile

From the table above it is clear that Doyle is a defender who is just as comfortable starting attacks as he is stopping them. The 20-year-old's quality was noted by former England youth coach Ian Foster who described the player as "excellent".

Even if he is a Norwich City player for just one season, there is no doubt that Doyle will be a vital part of the Canaries' side next season as they look to go one better and achieve promotion to the Premier League.

Bangladesh’s management is yet to decide on who will open with Tamim Iqbal against West Indies as one half of Bangladesh’s opening batting continues to be a riddle. The toss-up this time is between Shadman Islam, who has been out for more than a year due to a wrist injury after playing six Tests, and Saif Hassan, the 22-year old who had played Bangladesh’s last Test against Zimbabwe in February 2020.But neither has nailed down the position with any conviction, nor has any of the other opener in the last five years. Tamim has had six different opening partners in the last six years, out of the eleven opening pairs during this period. It is in stark contrast with the rest of the batting order where most of the batsmen have been consistent fixtures.Bangladesh coach Russell Domingo said he will discuss the position with the selectors before they take a final decision, but he was certain about the middle-order, with the good news that Shakib Al Hasan is getting close to full fitness after a recent groin niggle.”The batting order needs some discussions,” Domingo said on Monday. “I have got an idea of who is going to bat at No 3, 4, 5 and 6. Obviously we need to have final discussions with the selectors later today, about the opening spot to go with Tamim. We have a few options. Saif played the last Test and before him, Shadman was the man in that position before he broke his finger.”Shakib is an important player for us with his batting and bowling. He is a world-class allrounder who is very difficult to replace in any format. Preparations for him hasn’t been easy after picking up a groin niggle in the last ODI. He has gone through his rehab. He is still not 100 per cent but he has a day or so, but we are pretty confident that he will be ready for the first Test. He has worked really hard on his rehab. He is not feeling too much discomfort, so we are confident that he will be ready to play.”Domingo, however, was slightly more clear about the sort of bowling attack he is about to choose, judging from the pitches that he has seen at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium. “We have some exciting new fast bowlers coming through… but looking at the wickets in Chattogram, the pace bowlers don’t seem to be too much of a threat. It is an unfortunate thing. It just seems to be the nature of the wicket. We have to make sure we play to our strengths.”We are very committed to get some fast bowlers through the system. We have showed that in our one-day side where we are trying to develop our fast bowling stock. When we go away from home, they will be crucially important for us.”But we also can’t be stupid to pick out-and-out pace attacks when you are playing on wickets that don’t offer them anything. It is also very difficult for bowlers to make debuts on these type of pitches. We will make a final decision on the make-up of the team, once we have seen the pitch one day before the Test,” he said.Among the pace bowlers, Domingo said that Mustafizur Rahman developing the inswinger to the right-hander gives him a headstart for Test match selection.”I think I have said months ago that Mustafizur will struggle in Tests until he swings the ball back into the right-hander. He has worked really hard with our bowling coach to make sure he gets the shape more consistently. I am sure you can see from his white-ball performances that he has been able to do that. It is still not a 100 per cent consistent but there has been a big improvement in the way he is shaping the ball.”He is an experienced and quality performer. He is a left-armer, which is a variety. He can also create some rough outside the right-hander’s off-stump for our offspinners to come into the game. He is definitely an option going into this Test. I definitely see him as part of our Test team going forward, after the improvement we have seen in the last eight or nine months,” said Domingo.He, however, pointed out that taking the West Indies side lightly would be dangerous for Bangladesh. “I definitely think this will be a closely-contested event. West Indies have some quality cricketers in their side. If we take them lightly, it will be at our own peril. They have some wonderful cricketers in the side.”(Kraigg) Brathwaite has been a consistent performer for them. Shannon Gabriel and Kemar Roach are world-class bowlers. We are by no means complacent. We know that they are a formidable side under any conditions. We will have to be on our A-game to compete and come out on the right side of the result against them,” said Domingo.

MatériaMais Notícias

O Flamengo terá um reforço importante para o jogo da volta da semifinal da Libertadores nesta quarta-feira, às 21h30, contra o Barcelona de Guayaquil, no Estádio Monumental. Isso porque Arrascaetase recuperou de uma lesão, viajou com o grupo e está à disposição do técnico Renato Gaúcho.Na competição continental, vale destacar, os números do meio-campista se sobressaem, o que mostra como ele pode ser decisivo para que o Fla carimbe a vaga na decisão.

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ATAQUE

Segundo o site “FootStats”, Arrascaeta é o jogador do time com mais passes para finalização nesta edição da Libertadores, com 17. Em comparação com os demais jogadores da competição, ele fica atrás apenas de Nacho Fernández, do Atlético-MG, que já soma 19.

Além disso, ele já contribuiu na competição com quatro gols feitos e cinco assistências. Dessa forma, fica claro que o meia teve participação direta em nove dos 30 gols marcados pelo Flamengo na Libertadores. Assim, pode se afirmar que Arrascaeta participou de quase um terço dos gols do time na competição continental.

DEFESA

A contribuição do uruguaio, contudo, não se limita apenas ao sistema ofensivo. Ainda conforme dados do “FootStats”, Arrascaeta é o segundo jogador do Flamengo com mais interceptações na Liberadores, com quatro. Ele fica atrás apenas de Gustavo Henrique, que tem cinco.

O uruguaio também se destaca nos desarmes. Até aqui, ao lado de Isla, Arrascaeta tem a quarta melhor marca do time, com 12. O que também chama a atenção é que, mesmo sendo ativo no sistema defensivo, o meio-campista comete poucas faltas. Nas dez partidas que disputou na Libertadores, foram apenas seis infrações cometidas, o que mostra uma média de menos de uma falta por jogo.

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PERÍODO FORA

Vale lembrar que o camisa 14 se lesionou na partida contra o Palmeiras, no Allianz Parque, válida pela 20ª rodada do Brasileirão. Arrascaeta sentiu dores na região posterior da coxa esquerda e precisou ser substituído ainda no primeiro tempo. No dia seguinte, um exame constatou estiramento na região posterior da coxa esquerda do meio-campista.

Dessa forma, o uruguaio perdeu os últimos quatro jogos do Rubro-Negro para tratar da lesão e se recuperar a tempo do duelo contra o Barcelona. Na última quinta-feira, o meia já treinava com bola no CT, mas não viajou com o grupo para Belo Horizonte, onde o Flamengo enfrentou o América-MG, justamente porque estava sendo preparado para a semifinal da Libertadores.

انتهت قبل قليل مباريات الجولة السادسة من دور المجموعات ببطولة الكونفدرالية الإفريقية 2025.

ويمثل الكرة المصرية في النسخة الحالية من بطولة الكونفدرالية ناديا الزمالك -حامل لقب الكأس الأخيرة- والمصري.

واستطاع فريق نادي الزمالك أن يحسم تأهله لدور الـ8، من الجولة الماضية حاجزًا مقعد صدارة المجموعة الرابعة مع نهاية الجولة الخامسة.

أمير عزمي: سعداء بعودة ثنائى الزمالك المصاب.. ونمتلك مهاجمين مميزين

كما واصل انتصاراته بفوز على إنيمبا النيجيري في مباراة اليوم ليصل رصيده من النقاط إلى 14 نقطة.

الزمالك لم يتلق أي خسارة في دور المجموعات، إذ فاز في 4 مباريات وتعادل في اثنتين.

وفي الجولة الأخيرة أيضًا استطاع المصري أن يقتنص بطاقة صعوده بفوز على بلاك بولز الموزمبيقي بثلاثية مقابل هدف.

وشهدت المجموعة الأولى الإطاحة بفريق الصفاقسي التونسي الذي يتذيل الترتيب بدون نقاط، فيما حسم فريق شباب قسنطينة الجزائري صعوده بعد أن جمع 6 نقاط.

CS Constantine to the quarterfinals! 🌟

The Algerian side secure their first-ever qualification from the #TotalEnergiesCAFCC group stage. 👏🇩🇿 pic.twitter.com/AetmXtBKK0 — TotalEnergies CAFCL & CAFCC 🏆 (@CAFCLCC) January 12, 2025

وتأكد تأهل ناديي نهضة بركان المغربي وستيلينوش الجنوب إفريقي من المجموعة الثانية، بعد أن حصد الأول 16 نقطة والثاني 9 نقاط، فيما يأتي استاد مالي ثالثًا بأربع نقاط فقط.

كما انتهت مباراتهما في الجولة الأخيرة والتي أقيمت بشكل تحصيل حاصل بعد حسم تأهلهما، بفوز نهضة بركان بخماسية نظيفة

وفي المجموعة الثالثة، حسم فريق اتحاد العاصمة تأهله لدور الثمانية بوصوله لـ14 نقطة متصدرًا المجموعة.

واقتنص الوصافة فريق أسيك أبيدجان الإيفواري بفارق الأهداف عن جراف السنغالي بعد أن جمع كل منهما 8 نقاط.

USM Alger to the quarterfinals! 🌟

For the third straight year, the Algerian side has made it to the #TotalEnergiesCAFCC quarters. 👏🇩🇿 pic.twitter.com/vicPP2NDMd

— TotalEnergies CAFCL & CAFCC 🏆 (@CAFCLCC) January 12, 2025 الفرق المتأهلة إلى ربع نهائي الكونفدرالية

المجموعة الأولى

– سيمبا التنزاني- المركز الأول- برصيد 13 نقطة.

– شباب قسنطينة الجزائري- المركز الثاني- برصيد 12 نقطة.

المجموعة الثانية

– نهضة بركان المغربي- المركز الأول- برصيد 13 نقطة.

– ستيلينبوش الجنوب إفريقي- المركز الثاني- برصيد 9 نقطة.

المجموعة الثالثة

– اتحاد العاصمة الجزائري- المركز الأول- برصيد 14 نقطة.

– أسيك ميموزا الإيفوراي- المركز الثاني- برصيد 8 نقاط.

المجموعة الرابعة

– الزمالك – المركز الأول- برصيد 14 نقطة.

-المصري- المركز الثاني- برصيد 9 نقطة.

Aaronson's strong all-around performance inspired a Leeds win which puts them into an automatic promotion place

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• Aaronson shines in Leeds win
• The are now in a automatic promotion spot
• The American continues strong redemption story

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• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Brenden Aaronson had a strong all-around performance to help Leeds United secure a 2-0 win over Queens Park Rangers in the English Championship. The three points earned Sunday pushes Daniel Farke's side up to second on the table, one of the two automatic promotion spots to the Premier League.

  Jayden Bogle and Joël Piroe were the goal scorers for Leeds and while Aaronson didn't have a goal or assists, he was impactful on both sides of the pitch for He had three key passes, one successful dribble, one successful cross and completed 80 percent of his passes.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Leeds have been one of the biggest surprises in the Championship this season and it has been in part due to Brenden Aaronson's resurgence this season.

  Aaronson was largely seen as a poor signing since his arrival in 2022. After a poor initial season while Leeds were in the Premier League, followed by a tough loan spell at Union Berlin the following campaign, not much was expected from Aaronson this season. He has changed that view this campaign.

  The 24-year-old has four goals and an assist in 15 league games and has been credited by Farke for helping to inspire the team's turnaround this season.

  "He's excellent so far this season," the manager said. "It's always good when a player has extra motivation or perhaps a bit of a bad conscience to improve. He was not happy with the last season he played in a Leeds shirt. It was difficult for him for several reasons, and he wanted to prove his worth."

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Aaronson's four goals this season exceeds his total output for the past two seasons and is tied for the second-most in his career – with plenty of games remaining.

  His career high is five, notched in his first season with RB Salzburg.

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• WHAT NEXT FOR AARONSON?

  Aaronson will await to see if he has been called up to the U.S. national team ahead of its Nations League's fixtures over the next two weeks.

  Leeds return to action when they travel to Swansea on Nov. 24.

Cole Palmer, who scored for England in the Euro 2024 final, has told an Aston Villa star to join him at Chelsea, according to a report.

Aston Villa’s transfer window so far

Unai Emery, NSWE and Monchi have been busy during the off-season, bolstering Aston Villa’s squad with several new signings ahead of the 2024/25 season, which will include Champions League football.

Recently, Cameron Archer returned to the club on a permanent deal from Sheffield United and Jaden Philogene looks set to follow suit from Hull City. They’ve joined Ian Maatsen, Lewis Dobbin, Samuel Iling-Junior, Enzo Barrenechea and Ross Barkley who have also completed moves to the Midlands, with Everton midfielder Amadou Onana expected to be next.

There have been some outgoings, though, with Villa receiving fees for Douglas Luiz, Tim Iroegbunam, Morgan Sanson and Viljami Sinisalo, and it looks as if another star is wanted at Stamford Bridge.

Cole Palmer wants Ollie Watkins at Chelsea

According to Football Insider, Palmer has been trying to persuade Ollie Watkins to quit Aston Villa and sign for Chelsea. As we know, both players represented England this summer, with Palmer setting up Watkins’ dramatic late winner against the Netherlands in the semi-final.

He now wants to play alongside Watkins at club level, something which could reportedly be key when it comes to any potential move and trying to turn Watkins’ head away from Villa Park. Chelsea also want Watkins and could even offer midfielder Conor Gallagher as part of a transfer.

Watkins told Palmer, who cost Chelsea £40m last year from Manchester City, that he would set him up to score for England in the semi-final, saying:

"Unbelievable, I've been waiting for that moment for weeks. It's taken a lot of hard work for me to get to where I am today. Grateful I got the opportunity and I grabbed it with both hands. I'm delighted.

"I swear on my life and my kid's life, I said to Cole Palmer we're coming on today and you're going to set me up. That's why I was so happy with Cole, I knew as soon as he got the ball he was going to play me. You've got to be greedy, touch and finish. When I saw it go in the bottom corner, it's the best feeling ever."

Monchi now working on Aston Villa deal for "incredible" Diaby replacement

He could star alongside Jaden Philogene…

1

By
Tom Cunningham

Jul 17, 2024

Villa will be hoping that Palmer’s attempt to lure Watkins to Chelsea are unsuccessful after the striker scored 24 goals in all competition for Villa last season, but it could still be a deal to keep an eye on ahead of the new campaign, with Chelsea seemingly after a new marquee striker to rival Nicolas Jackson under Enzo Maresca.

Leeds United have made four signings to bolster their squad during the summer transfer window, which closes at the end of this month, so far.

Alex Cairns, Jayden Bogle, Joe Rodon, and Joe Rothwell have all been brought in to improve Daniel Farke's options across the pitch for this season.

Meanwhile, Charlie Cresswell, Glen Kamara, Crysencio Summerville, and Archie Gray have all been sold by the Whites ahead of the 2024/25 campaign.

There is still plenty of work for Leeds to do in the transfer market before the end of August and they reportedly have their sights set on a Premier League defender.

Leeds eyeing up Spanish talent

According to The Athletic, the Whites are in the race to land Wolverhampton Wanderers left-back Hugo Bueno on a season-long loan deal.

The report claims that they could face competition from Dutch giants Feyenoord and Scottish Premiership champions Celtic, who are also keen on a loan for the Spaniard.

It states, however, that Wolves currently see the full-back as being an important part of their plans and they are not prepared to send him out on loan yet.

The outlet also reveals that the West Yorkshire outfit are a difficult team for Premier League sides to do loans with, as they do not offer guarantees on game time – as other clubs in the EFL do.

If the situation changes and Leeds are able to get a deal over the line for the Spain U21 international before the end of the window then they could land an exciting partner for Wilfried Gnonto down the left flank.

Exciting left flank for Leeds

Firstly, Bueno could come in to provide Junior Firpo with competition for his place in the team, whilst also being an alternative option for Farke to call upon when required.

When the Wolves loanee is needed, if they sign him, he could use his progressive play in possession to provide Gnonto, who could move to the left in the absence of Crysencio Summerville, with plenty of opportunities to make things happen in the final third.

In the 2023/24 Premier League season, the £10k-per-week star ranked within the top 24% of full-backs in the division for progressive carries per 90 (2.67) and the top 22% for successful take-ons per 90 (0.97).

This shows that he can get the ball up the pitch on a regular basis by taking on opposition defenders and carrying it forward, which could then allow Gnonto to make runs off the ball rather than being the one tasked with progressing the ball.

Hugo Bueno

Wolves U18

Wolves U21

Wolves first-team

Appearances

15

49

48

Goals

1

4

1

Assists

3

10

1

Stats via Transfermarkt

As you can see in the table above, Bueno also has the potential to provide a creative outlet down the left side if Farke can help him to unlock his academy form at first-team level.

The 21-year-old ace, who Wolves sporting director Matt Hobbs hailed as "exciting", could supply Gnonto with chances to score, which would allow the winger to thrive.

In the Championship last term, the Italian whiz scored eight goals from 5.36 xG, which speaks to his impressive finishing quality, and he could form an exciting relationship with Bueno, due to his creative and progressive qualities at left-back.

Matches to be held across six venues; teams to report at centres on March 4

ESPNcricinfo staff26-Feb-2021

The women’s domestic season in India is set to finally take off•Getty Images

Three days after news about a women’s bilateral series between India and South Africa starting March 7 came out, the BCCI has finalised a plan for the resumption of the women’s domestic season with the 50-over one-day tournament beginning March 11. Though no official statement to that effect has come from the board, a letter from Jay Shah, the board secretary, has gone out with the details – including the full schedule of matches – to the affiliated units of the BCCI.The tournament will be held across six venues: Surat, Rajkot, Jaipur, Indore, Chennai and Bengaluru. Teams will have to assemble at their respective venues by March 4 and will need to return three negative Covid-19 tests – on March 4, 6 and 8 – before entering the respective bio-bubbles.Each of the five elite groups have six teams each, while the plate group has seven – unlike in the men’s format, where there are eight teams in the plate category because Services are not a part of the women’s circuit. The five elite-group toppers qualify directly for the knockouts, while the three next-best-placed teams in the elite groups in terms of points earned will join them, with the last of these qualifiers playing a pre-quarter-final against the topper of the plate group to get into the final eight.The quarter-finals will be held on March 29, and semi-finals on April 1. The final will be played on April 4. The venues for the knockouts will be announced later.Bengal were the winners when the domestic 50-over competition last ran to its conclusion, during the 2018-19 season. The subsequent season had to be called off midway because of the Covid-19 pandemic.ESPNcricinfo Ltd

Former England international Theo Walcott believes that Newcastle striker Alexander Isak would complete the current Real Madrid team.

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Walcott in awe of IsakBelieves he's the missing piece of Madrid's jigsawSwede among Premier League's best forwardsFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Former England international Theo Walcott has hailed Alexander Isak as the complete forward and has suggested that the current Real Madrid team would immensely benefit from having the Newcastle United ace in their ranks. Isak has scored four goals in nine Premier League appearances this season and is frequently linked with a move to a bigger club.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Isak has been a wonderful addition to the Magpies squad, scoring 40 goals in 78 outings for the English outfit since joining from Real Sociedad in 2022. He scored 21 goals in the Premier League last season and found himself on Chelsea's radar in the summer.

The Swede's contract with Newcastle expires in 2028 and the club are adamant about renewing him, but they haven't gotten in talks with Isak yet. This has sparked rumours of a possible 2025 exit from St. James' Park, with Arsenal lurking in the shadows.

Walcott, though, acknowledged that he would love to see the former Real Sociedad man return to LaLiga and play for the current holders Real Madrid.

WHAT THEO WALCOTT SAID

"Isak is the sort of player Arsenal genuinely need, but you would say everyone needs a player like him in their team right now, even Liverpool, and it is not just Premier League teams who will be trying to get hold of him either," Walcott told BBC Sport.

"Look at Real Madrid’s line-up at this moment in time. They go for these Galacticos and buy these incredible talents, but they sometimes put them in positions where they can’t quite do it. I would say that if you put Isak in that Real team then he moulds them together in a different way, where you might think they now look like a very well-balanced team.

"That’s the level he's at, and I can absolutely understand why all the very top teams would want him."

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Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR ALEXANDER ISAK?

After missing out on the international games in October, Isak has returned to the Sweden squad for this month's Nations League encounters against Slovakia and Azerbaijan. If the 25-year-old features in both games, he'll reach 50 caps for the national team.

West Ham are now eyeing a move for an "exceptional" £16m midfielder in the summer transfer window, according to an on-air claim by talksPORT reporter Alex Crook.

West Ham transfer news

The Hammers are still keen on bringing in further fresh faces between now and the start of the new Premier League season, and talks with Borussia Dortmund striker Niclas Fullkrug are reportedly at an advanced stage. The 31-year-old's stock has risen in recent times and Julen Lopetegui could see him as an ideal addition to lead the line.

Corinthians attacking ace Yuri Alberto has also been linked with a move to east London, being looked at as a possible alternative to the Dortmund hero. The 23-year-old has won one cap for Brazil to date and will hope to add to that tally, and could represent a younger option than Fullkrug. They even agreed terms with him last summer, showing that he has been a long-term target for West Ham.

Sergi Roberto has also emerged as an audacious target for the Hammers, with the Spaniard a free agent after bringing an end to his long and successful spell at Barcelona. At 32, he isn't getting any younger, but he has a wealth of experience and knows how to win trophies, scooping seven La Liga titles and tasting Champions League glory twice at the Camp Nou.

Leeds United star Crysencio Summerville looks to be edging closer to sealing a switch to West Ham all the time, and he could be joined by Richard Rios, who is considered a great option in the middle of the park. He has impressed for Palmeiras in Brazil, but could be tempted by a move to the Premier League.

West Ham eyeing "exceptional" midfielder

Speaking on talkSPORT on Friday [via The Boot Room], Crook claimed he's heard that West Ham could be interested in signing Liverpool midfielder Wataru Endo this summer, with his future at Anfield up in the air:

“I have had a message and one name that has been mentioned to me is Endo, from Liverpool. So I’ll have to check out what’s happening with that one."

It looks as though Endo, signed for £16m, could be an expendable figure under new Liverpool manager Arne Slot, even though a £14m bid from Marseille has been rejected, and he could be a solid addition for West Ham, rather than a spectacular one.

Jurgen Klopp was a big fan of the 31-year-old during their one season together on Merseyside, with the German saying of him: "He’s a machine. He is footballing-wise exceptional. His defensive brain is outstanding. He gives us a lot of freedom for a lot of things. Yeah, top development. Very helpful, very helpful."

Sky Sports: West Ham make £21m+ bid to sign new forward with Summerville

The update comes courtesy of a reliable journalist.

ByHenry Jackson Aug 2, 2024

Granted, Endo is ageing and hasn't arguably set the world alight at Liverpool, but he is still a tenacious midfield presence with lots of character, averaging 1.7 tackles per game in the Premier League last season, as well as committing the same number of fouls per match.