The Rangers Review journalist Joshua Barrie has now revealed some worrying news from inside Ibrox involving Allan McGregor.
The Lowdown: Out of contract
McGregor is out of contract this summer, meaning that he will leave Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s team as a free agent if a new deal is not signed.
The veteran goalkeeper is 40 years of age now, and so there is a big decision to be made over whether he will be able to carry on into next season.
Despite his age, the Ibrox legend was a huge part of the manager’s plans this season, racking up over 4,000 minutes played in all competitions.
The Latest: No talks
Taking to Twitter, Barrie has shared the inside scoop – McGregor has not entered talks with the club with regards to a new deal and is not interested in a coaching role with the Teddy Bears either.
However, both parties are ‘open’ to discussions: “I understand that Allan McGregor has not entered talks with Rangers and isn’t currently interested in a coaching role. Both sides are open to discussions however none have taken place at this moment in time.”
The Verdict: Worrying
It certainly is worrying to hear that talks are not taking place over a new contract for McGregor.
He managed to keep 17 clean sheets and concede fewer than a goal a game last term, including three shutouts in the UEFA Europa League, helping them on their way to the final against Frankfurt (Transfermarkt).
In their European journey, the Scotsman saved a penalty, made no errors leading to goals and averaged 2.9 saves per match (SofaScore), showing that he is still capable of performing at the highest level.
We feel the Light Blues need to tie him down to a short-term extension as soon as possible.
In other news, find out who is now in advanced talks to leave Gers here!
For a side that has now won it all under Jurgen Klopp in the last seven years or so, Liverpool haven’t actually spent ludicrous amounts of money in one transaction very often, instead opting for options outside of the box, and, in the end, more successful and cheaper players.
And that transfer genius has, in many ways, been one of the greatest keys to their success. That, and the unrelenting conductor behind it all, Jurgen Klopp.
A certain former Aston Villa striker, aside, every player listed below has failed to flop when bought for big money. Of course, that’s not to say every player has been a great revelation, with the jury still up on Naby Keita, for example, but those listed have, at the very least, played a big part in the club’s history.
Some said that Liverpool overpaid for the likes of Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane when they first joined the club, only to be proven wrong months later. The fact is, the recruitment team at Liverpool rarely makes mistakes. Each player signed is brought in to fit Klopp’s system to perfection because, simply put, anything beneath perfection is rarely good enough at Anfield these days.
The Reds have already secured one summer signing ahead of next season, with Fulham’s teenage sensation, Fabio Carvahlo, joining for £7.7m. If the 19-year-old follows in the footsteps of previous summer signings in the red half of Merseyside, then Liverpool fans are in for a treat.
As revealed by TransferMarkt, here are the top 10 most expensive Liverpool transfers of all time.
10) Roberto Firmino – £36.9m (Hoffenheim, 2016)
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When Roberto Firmino joined Liverpool under Brendan Rodgers in the summer of 2016, not many knew what to expect. And, in truth, the Brazilian only really started to hit the heights at Anfield when Jurgen Klopp arrived, and introduced the false nine role to the system.
Firmino fit the role like a glove, and hasn’t looked back since. The £36.9m fee looks like a bargain nowadays.
9) Sadio Mane – £37m (Southampton, 2016)
Soccer Football – Champions League – Semi Final – Second Leg – Villarreal v Liverpool – Estadio de la Ceramica, Villarreal, Spain – May 3, 2022 Liverpool’s Sadio Mane celebrates scoring their third goal REUTERS/Pablo Morano
Arguably the first player to reach new heights under Klopp, Sadio Mane rose to stardom in the 16/17 season, and has kept improving year on year, cementing his Liverpool legacy.
Now a legend of the club with countless honours to his name, Mane looks likely to depart Liverpool this summer, according to Fabrizio Romano, after scoring 120 goals in 269 appearances.
8) Mohamed Salah – £37.8m (AS Roma, 2017)
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The final of the famous front three on this list, Mohamed Salah is arguably the best of the lot. When signed for £37.8m from Roma in 2017, many believed that Liverpool had overpaid for the winger. A record-breaking 32-goal Premier League season later, however, and the Reds looked like genius’.
When the Egyptian king does depart, whenever that turns out to be, he will go down as one of the greatest players in the Klopp era.
7) Diogo Jota – £40.23m (Wolves, 2020)
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Another player many believed that Liverpool overpaid for, Diogo Jota’s success at Liverpool occasionally goes under the radar. The Portugal forward has become a serial goalscorer at Anfield. In 2021/2022, the former Wolverhampton Wanderers man managed 21 goals in all competitions.
It speaks volumes that, whilst Salah and Mane were away at AFCON, Liverpool didn’t struggle for goals with Jota at the fore.
6) Fabinho – £40.5m (AS Monaco, 2018)
Fabinho is one of few names on this list that many actually expected to succeed when signed. He was tipped as the missing piece in many ways and has gone on to become a vital player under Klopp – picking up the ‘lighthouse’ nickname.
Signed alongside Alisson Becker in 2018, the summer of his arrival will go down as one of the most important in Liverpool’s modern-day history.
5) Christian Benteke – £41.85m (Aston Villa, 2015)
Christian Benteke getting a place on this list is proof that not everyone is perfect, especially Liverpool’s recruitment team before Klopp. The big Belgian forward never stood a chance in Klopp’s heavy metal system and was quickly sold to Crystal Palace for £27m.
Benteke did, at the very least, leave the club with a stunning overhead kick against Manchester United to boast about. But, the acrobatics aside, he had a year to forget.
4) Luis Diaz – £42.3m (Porto, 2022)
Soccer Football – FA Cup – Final – Chelsea v Liverpool – Wembley Stadium, London, Britain – May 14, 2022 Liverpool’s Luis Diaz celebrates with the trophy after winning the FA Cup final REUTERS/Hannah Mckay
The latest success story (so far), Luis Diaz arrived in Liverpool in January 2022, before going on to transform the Reds’ season. When he arrived, Liverpool were 14 points behind Manchester City, and looked set for an underwhelming season.
The Colombian’s impact took the title race to the final day, however, as Liverpool narrowly missed out by a point to Man City. Diaz also became the first Colombian to start a Champions League final, in which he was on the losing side against Real Madrid.
£42.3m looks an absolute bargain.
3) Naby Keita – £54m (RB Leipzig, 2018)
This is a difficult one. Can we call Naby Keita a success? Based on the trophies he’s won, yes. But, based on his injury record and general impact, it’d have to be a no. In the 2021/2022 season, he looked like the player that Liverpool hoped to have bought in 2018 for the first time.
Yet, is it too little too late?
When fit, Keita is one of Klopp’s best midfielders, as proven in 21/22. And, if he can stay fit for the majority of what could be left of his time at Anfield, then he could go down as a success story.
For now, however, 116 appearances in four seasons just simply isn’t enough.
2) Alisson Becker – £56.25m (AS Roma, 2018)
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When Loris Karius dropped the ball (quite literally), against Real Madrid to cost Liverpool the 2018 Champions League final, it was one mistake too many for Klopp and his ambitions, which needed a new goalkeeper.
So in came Alisson Becker – a goalkeeper that will go down as one of the best that the Premier League has ever seen, come the end of his career. With two Premier League Golden Gloves to his name, and even one goal, it’s fair to say that the £56.25m fee paid in 2018 has been more than justified.
1) Virgil van Dijk – £76.19m (Southampton, 2018)
Topping the list, as some may have predicted, is Virgil van Dijk. And, of course, like the majority in this top 10, many believed that Liverpool overpaid for the Dutchman. As cool as ever, however, Van Dijk quickly proved his doubters wrong.
Now classed as one of the best defenders that the Premier League has seen, Van Dijk may just go down as the greatest signing in Liverpool history. He completely transformed Klopp’s side from nearly-men to serial winners.
It would come as little surprise if Liverpool splash the cash once more this summer, and with great success, too. At the moment, everything the Reds touch seems to turn to gold. And that’s a major credit to Klopp and his coaching staff.
Whether the summer is used towards building for the future or for the season ahead, fully expect Liverpool to push Manchester City all the way in the Premier League title race once more.
Competing with a City side led by Erling Haaland will be difficult, but the Reds will no doubt have their own transfer strategy in mind this summer.
Tottenham Hotspur are interested in signing AS Monaco midfielder Youssouf Fofana, according to a report from Italian outlet TuttoMercatoWeb (via Sport Witness).
The lowdown: Rise to stardom
Signed from RC Strasbourg in 2020, Fofana has made 93 appearances for Monaco and has become a mainstay for the Ligue 1 outfit alongside highly sought after countryman Aurelien Tchouameni.
Recognised at the youth level by France, the 23-year-old Paris-born starlet could be set to follow his teammate in making a summer switch.
As both Antonio Conte and Fabio Paratici look to strengthen the Lilywhites squad over the upcoming transfer window, Fofana is believed to be among the top targets…
The latest: ‘Present and future’
As per TuttoMercatoWeb, translated by SW, Tottenham are attentive to the twice-capped France Under 21 international.
The report claims that Spurs see Fofana – who was described as a ‘high-quality prospect’ by journalist Marcus Bring – as a ‘solution between present and future’ for the midfield department at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
The same report also details interest from north London in Inter Milan defender Alessandro Bastoni and Torino ace Gleison Bremer.
The verdict: Make it happen
Valued at £12.6million (Transfermarkt), the powerful Frenchman would be an affordable option for ENIC, particularly following the influx of a £150million cash boost this week.
During the 2021/22 campaign, Fofana scored once and provided four assists in 46 appearances, playing as a box to box midfielder as well as in a deeper-lying role.
Stylistically, the combative ace shares similarities with the likes of Aston Villa stalwart John McGinn, Borussia Dortmund star Mahmoud Dahoud and highly rated Pape Matar Sarr (Fbref).
Despite being unproven outside of Ligue 1, Conte and co would be wise to pay close attention to the possibility of prising Fofana out of Monaco and to Tottenham.
In other news: Tottenham are eyeing move for ‘huge talent’ this summer, read more here
Bruno Lage has endured a decent first season as manager of Wolves, leading them to their third top-half finish in the Premier League since being promoted in 2018.
The next aim for the Portuguese manager is to lead his side into the European places next term and with a major rebuilding job potentially on the cards this summer, it might well turn into reality.
With Wolves playing the last game of their season away to title challengers Liverpool on Sunday, the supporters will want to end the campaign on a high, although Lage may have pleased the Molineux faithful already with one recent development.
Addressing the possibility of transfer activity in the summer, Lage explained: “Maybe we need two or three players to increase the quality and number of players in our squad.
“We cannot let what happened two years ago when it’s hard to replace a player like Raul (Jimenez).”
Wolves fans will love to hear it
These comments suggest that Lage is aiming to bring in a number of players first before there will be any outgoings at Wolves, something which will surely delight the Old Gold support.
With Ruben Neves’ future remaining uncertain following what looked like an emotional farewell at Molineux last week, and Joao Mourinho’s contract expiring at the end of the season, then it’s clear that Lage will need to act fast to bring in potential replacements.
The club have recently been linked with high-calibre players such as Joao Palhinha and Sebastian Rode, and these targets could enhance the Wolves squad ahead of what could be a massive 2022/23 campaign at Molineux.
Whatever happens, Lage has endeared himself to much of the Wolves support with his solid first season in charge, and if it weren’t for a late collapse due to some poor results, then he might even have a European campaign to anticipate later in the year.
For now, the Molineux faithful can content themselves with the manager’s burning desire not to be left short on quality or quantity within his squad once the 2022/23 season gets underway.
AND in other news, Wolves plotting bid for “special” £25m gem who “rules midfield”, Lage will love him
Pundit Alan Hutton has been reacting to news linking Leeds United forward Joe Gelhardt with a move away if the Whites suffer relegation, Football Insider report.
The Lowdown: Summer exit?
Gelhardt has made 19 Premier League appearances for Leeds this season, the last of which came against Brighton on Sunday.
The 20-year-old produced a moment of magic to set up Pascal Struijk’s equaliser in stoppage time, his sixth goal contribution in the top flight, which took Leeds out of the bottom three before Burnley’s point on Thursday night.
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Jesse Marsch’s side are still in danger of relegation, though, and reports earlier this month claimed that top flight rivals will look to poach Gelhardt if Leeds find themselves in the Championship next season.
The Latest: Hutton’s comments
Hutton, who contributes for Sky Sports, was talking to FI regarding Gelhardt and a possible summer exit.
He ‘can’t believe’ the reports saying the youngster may walk away, adding that Gelhardt could actually benefit if the Whites dropped back down to the second tier by playing regularly, saying that the forward shouldn’t be in a rush to leave.
“Obviously teams will know a lot about him but I think right now, it’s about playing games.
“If you move to a Crystal Palace or a Brentford or a Brighton, wherever, obviously it’s good to stay within the Premier League, I get that, but you have to play games.
“If Leeds were to go down and drop down and he was to be one of the main men moving forward, he’d get that game time up.
“We know he’s got the quality, we know he can play at the level of the Premier League. He’s still very young, he’s got a lot of time in his hands. There’s no rush.
“So it’s about maturing as a player and playing games to take you to the next level.”
The Verdict: Fingers crossed
There will be a number of Elland Road exits over the coming months, should Sunday not go to plan, however, you’d like to think that Gelhardt could stay in Yorkshire no matter what happens.
He’s under contract until 2024 and has become a regular under Marsch, failing to feature in just three of the last 14 Premier League games.
Top earner Rodrigo may well have played his final game at Elland Road, while Newcastle have been linked with a swoop for Patrick Bamford, so Gelhardt could be offered the chance to become first choice.
In other news: Phil Hay now shares what Victor Orta has done with Leeds ‘storm’ who wants out at Elland Road.
Liverpool are set to reappoint former physio Chris Rohrbeck as Jurgen Klopp bolsters his backroom team, according to reliable journalist David Ornstein.
The Lowdown: Reds excelling on all fronts
The Reds are enjoying a stunning season, already clinching both the FA Cup and Carabao Cup, and with Premier League and Champions League success still possible.
Klopp has built an incredible squad over the years – arguably the best in Liverpool’s history – but he also has a formidable backroom team at his disposal.
Rohrbeck was once part of the group, prior to leaving in 2020, but it now looks as though his return to Anfield is imminent.
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The Latest: Rohrbeck to be reappointed by Liverpool
Taking to Twitter on Monday, The Athletic’s Ornstein claimed that the German could come back before the end of the campaign, as Klopp works to bring him in again.
He reported:
“EXCL: Liverpool set to bolster staff for quadruple push as Klopp lines up return of Chris Rohrbeck. German physio very popular among squad + worked closely with Salah / Van Dijk before 2020 exit. Move accelerated after Fabinho injury.”
The Verdict: Seamless addition
This is a shrewd appointment by Liverpool, with Rohrbeck somebody who Klopp already knows very well, allowing him to fit back in seamlessly with the group, who Ornstein’s tweet suggests is hugely respected within the Anfield playing ranks.
He could have an immediate job on his hands, with players tired after a long and stressful season and the likes of first-team stalwarts Virgil van Dijk, Fabinho and Mohamed Salah on the treatment table.
Returning at this point in the campaign could also be perfect timing for Rohrbeck, allowing him to potentially be part of a truly iconic season at Anfield.
In other news, one journalist has dropped a big Liverpool injury claim. Read more here.
Leeds United employee Noel Whelan has labelled Luke Ayling’s red card against Arsenal on the weekend as a ‘massive blow for the club’ before the clash with Chelsea, Football Insider report.
The Lowdown: Ayling’s season over
The Whites had another weekend to forget, falling to a 2-1 defeat at the Emirates which has left them in the relegation zone for the first time since October with just three games remaining.
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The Gunners raced into an early lead after two goals from Eddie Nketiah before Ayling received his marching orders following a terrible two-footed tackle on Gabriel Martinelli.
He’ll serve a three-game suspension as a result of just his second-ever straight red card, leaving Jesse Marsch short of replacements with Stuart Dallas sidelined with a long-term injury.
The Latest: Whelan reacts
Whelan, talking to FI, labelled Ayling’s season-ending red-card in London as a ‘massive blow’ and believes he’ll be a ‘huge miss’ for Marsch, starting against Chelsea.
“I think the frustration was clear to see all over the pitch and it just boiled over with Ayling unfortunately.
“It’s a massive blow for the club. To lose him at right-back – he’s the natural, he’s the best option we have at the club.
“Not only that, but we’re also seriously going to miss the energy, leadership, and experience he brings as well.
“He’s going to be a huge miss for these crucial last three games of the season.”
The Verdict: Shackleton?
Marsch hinted on Tuesday that Jamie Shackleton could make a first start under him against the Blues, which seems to be the most sensible solution.
The 22-year-old was a regular at right-back in Ayling’s absence during September and October and has made a total of 10 appearances at right-back in 2021/22.
He’s also a fairly experienced member of the squad as he has 78 appearances to his name in a Leeds shirt, and with options limited, now could be his time to shine as the Whites look to pick up points in all three of their remaining fixtures to ensure safety.
In other news: ‘Sad to report…’ – Phil Hay reacts to Leeds news as things go from bad to worse at Elland Road.
Leeds United midfielder Archie Gray has signed a two-year scholarship at Elland Road.
The Lowdown: Manchester City interest
Gray burst onto the scene in Yorkshire last season when Marcelo Bielsa named him as a substitute in Premier League games with Arsenal and West Ham at the age of 15.
Now 16, the midfielder was named in the final four Premier League match-day squads of the 2021/22 campaign and again in the opening day win against Wolves last month.
Premier League champions Manchester City are among a host of top-flight clubs who are keen on the midfielder, who has now penned fresh terms with the Whites.
The Latest: Two-year deal
Leeds announced news on their official website on Thursday of ten new scholars.
One of those was Gray, who has penned a two-year deal at Thorp Arch alongside recent summer signings Charlie Crew, Rory Mahady and Max McFadden.
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The Verdict: Good news
It looks as if Gray could be a future star, so keeping him at Yorkshire for the next two years is great news for everyone involved with the club.
He’s already catching the eye of City and others, and you’d expect that interest may only increase should he continue his rapid development.
More Premier League match-day squad inclusions under Jesse Marsch could be on the cards for the player who the Leeds boss labelled as ‘intelligent’, and a professional deal could follow suit.
Glasgow Rangers face a tough test tonight in the Champions League as the club play their first group stage tie at Ibrox in the competition since 2010.
Serie A leaders Napoli are the opponents, and with the Light Blues suffering back-to-back 4-0 defeats to Celtic and Ajax respectively, Giovanni van Bronckorst will be looking for a much-improved performance.
With Victor Osimhen and potentially Hirving Lozano out injured for Napoli, Rangers might count themselves lucky, however, they will need to be at their absolute best to gain anything from the match.
The Dutchman has received his own injury boost with the news that James Tavernier will be fit for the game, but his starting XI could change massively from the contest against Ajax.
Although one name should already be on the team sheet as he has been the Ibrox side’s brightest spark of late…
On the chalkboard
There hasn’t been much cheer recently for the Ibrox faithful, with ground lost in the Premiership title race and a Champions League humiliation, tonight’s tie takes on even more significance.
The one positive has been the improvement of Barisic, who was Rangers’ shining light against the Dutch champions with a rating of 6.8 on SofaScore, making 92% of his pass attempts, delivering six crosses into the opposition box, while even having a “super” goal disallowed for offside that might have given the team a glimmer of hope.
Despite ranking behind John Lundstram (7.2) and Steven Davis (7.0) against Celtic, per SofaScore, Barisic (6.8) was arguably the Ibrox side’s biggest attacking threat, bombing up and down the left wing trying to create opportunities for his teammates.
The Croatian had 92 touches during the whole match and delivered 11 crosses, with the sloppy finishing of Antonio Colak to blame for Rangers not scoring at least one goal.
Barisic is very much a player who thrives on confidence and when Van Bronckhorst signed young Turkish left-back Ridvan Yilmaz, it appeared to ignite a fire in the 29-year-old’s stomach.
With his recent form and ability to be menacing down the left-hand side, the Dutchman should be instructing Barisic to put as many balls into the box as possible tonight.
Hopefully, either Colak or Alfredo Morelos will be able to benefit from his excellent service and a positive result might just kickstart the Light Blues season.
Leeds United remain interested in a deal to bring Harrison Ashby to Elland Road in the January transfer window.
What’s the talk?
That’s according to Dean Jones, with the transfer insider revealing in a recent interview with GIVEMESPORT that, despite missing out on a deadline-day deal for the West Ham United right-back, Victor Orta nevertheless remains keen on the idea of making a move for the 20-year-old this winter.
However, Jones went on to state that whether or not the Whites’ director of football will be successful in his potential swoop for the defender will depend on how David Moyes’ side approach the Scotland U21’s contract situation – with his current deal set to expire at the end of the 2022/23 campaign.
When asked whether Leeds retain an interest in Ashby, the journalist said:
“They do still like him. I think, from here, it’s going to depend on how West Ham decide to deal with him – whether they reassess his contract situation and they can convince him of their own plans. There’s a lot to be sorted out there over the next few months.”
“Tremendous prospect”
While it is true that Jesse Marsch currently has a plethora of options at right-back – with the American manager being able to call upon the likes of Luke Ayling, Rasmus Kristensen and Cody Drameh in the position – considering just how talented a prospect the West Ham full-back very much looks to be, he would nonetheless appear a tremendous signing for Orta to get over the line.
Indeed, the £270k-rated defender highly impressed over his 21 Premier League 2 appearances for West Ham’s U23 side last season, scoring two goals and providing his teammates with five assists, while the Scot also caught the eye over his three fixtures in the EFL Trophy, scoring one goal and registering one assist in the cup competition.
These returns saw the versatile right-back – who can also operate from right midfield and at centre-back – earn a number of call-ups to Moyes’ first-team squad, with the 59-year-old manager handing Ashby both his Premier League and Europa League debuts over the course of the 2022/23 campaign.
Furthermore, it is evident that the 20-year-old is extremely highly thought of in east London, with The Athletic’s Roshane Thomas dubbing the defender as “one to watch” on the U Irons podcast back in 2020, before Sam Delaney added of the youngster:
“He’s big as well. He’s like a big unit. He’s only young, but he’s like a giant. Usually, you’re used to seeing smaller players in those wing-back positions, but he looked big, strong, he was very fearless, decent on the ball.”
However, it is not only at club level that Ashby has caught the eye, with Scotland U21 manager Scot Gemmill revealing back in August of last year that the Hammers starlet was keeping Liverpool defender Calvin Ramsay out of his squad:
“Of course Calvin is capable of playing but it’s about what else we’ve got. Harrison Ashby isn’t eligible to go and play for the U19s and he’s a tremendous prospect who is really highly regarded at West Ham.”
However, with reports suggesting that Ashby could be set to reject the Hammers’ potential offer of a new deal prior to the January transfer window, it would appear as if the east London club could be set to lose the defender on a deal worth around £2.5m this winter – or perhaps even on a free at the end of the current campaign.
Either way, it is not difficult to understand why Orta remains keen on a move for Ashby, as, with the 31-year-old Ayling getting no younger and the future of Drameh still appearing to be somewhat up in the air, the youngster would quite clearly be a tremendous signing for the Spaniard to add to Marsch’s first-team squad in the winter market.