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Arne Slot eased the pressure when he led his Liverpool side to victory over West Ham United at the weekend, but in a matter of days, the Reds will have hosted Sunderland and travelled to Elland Road to face Leeds United, and that will make a more accurate barometer of this squad’s level.

The pressure has cranked up in recent weeks, and who of a red persuasion could contest the scrutiny? The Premier League champions had lost nine of 12 matches in all competitions before arresting the slump, and after the November international break, Anfield has been left reeling after successive drubbings dished out by Nottingham Forest and PSV Eindhoven.

It’s clear that Liverpool have lost their way, but that doesn’t mean they can’t get back on track. A summer of record-breaking spending has packaged the Reds team with so much quality, but it’s true that Liverpool are an imbalanced outfit.

Sporting director Richard Hughes may need to dig back into the transfer market, which will be upon us in less than a month.

Liverpool's January transfer plans

It’s incredible that after spending more than £400m this summer, Liverpool still need to address a number of areas across Slot’s squad. Namely, Liverpool need a centre-back, and Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo has emerged as a leading contender to strengthen the frontline this January.

But with Marc Guehi out of contract at the end of the season and Manchester City also holding talks for Semenyo’s services, FSG may be tempted to look elsewhere.

And according to Caught Offside, Juventus’ rising star Kenan Yildiz has been shortlisted as a Semenyo alternative, having enjoyed a rip-roaring start to the campaign in Italy.

The 20-year-old certainly wouldn’t come cheap. Viewed as one of Serie A’s brightest young stars, Juventus do not want to sell the attacking midfielder, but a concerted approach from FSG could help shift some weight.

With Chelsea also interested, the Old Lady are looking to bank a €100m cheque (translating to £88m) for their prized player.

Why Liverpool want Kenan Yildiz

Yildiz might be young, but he is “already one of the best left wingers in the world”, according to one Serie A scout, and has a far higher ceiling than the 25-year-old Semenyo besides.

Semenyo is the talk of the town in the Premier League, but he’s gone five matches without a goal involvement after such a prolific start to the campaign.

Yildiz, by contrast, is spreading out his output, notching both strikes in Juve’s recent 2-1 league win over Cagliari.

He is a ferocious runner and he is sharp with his playmaking. As per data-driven site FBref, Yildiz ranks among the top 7% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for shot-creating actions and the top 12% for successful take-ons per 90.

In this he has what it takes to match Semenyo’s athleticism and dynamism. In this he can become one of the Premier League’s finest.

Moreover, Yildiz has only missed one big chance in the Italian top flight, scoring four times.

Matches (starts)

12 (11)

12 (12)

Goals

4

6

Assists

3

3

Touches*

52.4

49.6

Shots (on target)*

2.4 (1.1)

2.2 (1.2)

Accurate passes*

27.1 (85%)

19.9 (77%)

Chances created*

2.3

1.3

Dribbles*

1.5

1.8

Recoveries*

3.7

5.2

Tackles + interceptions*

0.9

1.8

Duels won*

4.2

6.3

From a statistical standpoint, Semenyo has probably enjoyed the better season so far, but data only tells so much of a story in football, and Yildiz is clearly making startling progress at such a young age, close now to establishing himself as one of the best in the business.

He is “100% a superstar”, in the eyes of analyst Ben Mattinson, so dynamic and electric down the left flank. His duelling success doesn’t yet match Semenyo, who is one of the Premier League’s most combative wide forwards, and in just a few years, he could be far outstripping the Ghana international.

Whether Liverpool opt to fork out close to £100m for an up-and-coming talent remains to be seen, but Yildiz has already proven that he belongs on the world stage.

Semenyo would be a terrific signing, but the Turkish winger has that special something that suggests he could become one of the very best in the business.

Better move than Semenyo: Liverpool set to table bid to sign £53m "machine"

Liverpool and FSG are considering a host of positions ahead of the January transfer window.

ByAngus Sinclair Dec 1, 2025

أشاد الإنجليزي واين روني، نجم مانشستر يونايتد السابق بمدافع الفريق الأول لكرة القدم بنادي تشيلسي بعد المباراة الجيدة التي قدمها أمام لامين يامال، نجم برشلونة.

واستضاف ملعب “ستامفورد بريدج” مباراة الفريقين، إذ حل برشلونة الإسباني ضيفًا على تشيلسي، ضمن مباريات الجولة الخامسة من مرحلة الدوري في دوري أبطال أوروبا.

وخسر برشلونة بثلاثية نظيفة أمام تشيلسي في لقاء ظهر فيه رجال فليك بأداء باهت للغاية على عكس المتوقع، كما نال قائد الفريق رونالد أراوخو، بطاقة حمراء في آواخر الشوط الأول مما أثر تأثيرًا كبيرًا على أداء البلوجرانا.

وتوقف رصيد برشلونة عند 7 نقاط في جدول ترتيب دوري أبطال أوروبا بالمركز الـ 15، فيما رفع تشيلسي رصيده لـ10 نقاط محتلًا المركز الخامس.

اقرأ أيضًا | ماركا: أخطاء متكررة يدفع ثمنها برشلونة في دوري أبطال أوروبا

وقال روني حول أداء مارك كوكوريلا الذي فاز برجل المباراة: “كان مذهلًا للغاية، ربما كان أفضل أداء رأيته من ظهير أيسر منذ فترة طويلة”.

وأضاف في تصريحات نقلتها صحيفة “ماركا”: “لقد أعطاك كوكوريلا أفضل درس تدريبي يمكنك الحصول عليه للتعامل مع لامين يامال في كل لحظات المباراة”.

وأتم روني حول كوكوريلا: “لقد أظهر لكم بالضبط كيفية السيطرة على لاعب بموهبة فذة وكبيرة مثل لامين يامال”.

Hoping to get one over on their rivals, Manchester United have now reportedly joined Arsenal in the race to sign Quinten Timber, whose contract is set to expire next summer.

Ruben Amorim’s midfield has been a topic of discussion ever since his arrival. The Portuguese manager revived Casemiro from a player destined to leave to an invaluable part of his side, but that has also come at a cost for Kobbie Mainoo. In an attempt to find balance, the academy graduate has struggled to get into the side.

As things stand, it looks like Casemiro and captain Bruno Fernandes will occupy the two deeper midfield roles in Amorim’s system when everyone is available for United. But there does lie one problem.

Casemiro is 33 years old and can’t go on forever, no matter how much his form has been revived. And with Manuel Ugarte still unable to find his feet at Old Trafford, Man United could do with a long-term solution.

Now worth more than Anderson: Man Utd star is the "nearest thing" to Zidane

Manchester United have hit the jackpot on a star who’s worth more than Elliot Anderson.

ByEthan Lamb Nov 14, 2025

Rumours centred around Carlos Baleba in the summer as the Red Devils attempted to do exactly that, before the midfielder stayed put at Brighton & Hove Albion, and it’s clearly something that INEOS are looking to address.

It seems as though the Brighton man remains a target, but he’s now not the only one on United’s shortlist. Atlético Madrid’s Conor Gallagher, another name on the shortlist, is now reportedly open to an Old Trafford switch, whilst INEOS could yet land an alternative bargain deal to end their problems once and for all.

Man Utd join Quinten Timber race

According to Caught Offside, Man United have now joined the race to sign Timber and could yet jump ahead of Arsenal in pursuit of his signature.

The Gunners already have Quinten’s twin brother, Jurrien, in their ranks but may be forced to watch on as the two siblings do battle rather than unite in the Premier League next year.

There’s little chance that those at Old Trafford will be priced out of a move for the 25-year-old, too, as was the case with Baleba in the summer. The Dutch midfielder is set to become a free agent at the end of his current Feyenoord deal in June — handing Arsenal and Man United the chance to land a bargain deal.

Dubbed “underrated” by U23 scout Antonio Mango last year, Timber is also attracting interest from Borussia Dortmund, who are leading the race for his signature. Both Man United and Arsenal must first fend off competition from the Bundesliga giants before doing battle themselves next summer.

Man Utd hold discussions to sign "unique" teen sensation ahead of Real Madrid

Longtime Seattle Mariners announcer Dave Sims has been named as the new radio voice of the New York Yankees. The two-time Emmy Award winner, who has called Mariners games for the past 18 years, is returning to New York to replace John Sterling, who retired after a legendary career.

Sims has plenty of familiarity in New York, as he was the radio host for the New York Knicks in the mid-'80s.

"By now you've probably heard the news. I'm coming home to New York," Sims said. "I thoroughly enjoyed my 18 years in Seattle. I loved becoming part of Mariner nation in the Pacific Northwest. So many great memories, so many good people. From the bottom of my heart, I thank you for having this interloper coming in and being part of your culture. I really enjoyed it and I wish everybody in Seattle and the Pacific Northwest all the best as we move forward. Go Mariners and Go Yankees."

The 71-year-old Sims will begin calling games for the Yankees in 2025, as the franchise will look to return to the World Series and capture its first title since 2009.

Having missed the 2023 WTC final, the Australia fast bowler is expected to keep Boland out of the XI in the upcoming title bout against SA

Andrew McGlashan07-Jun-2025

Josh Hazlewood feels he is bowling as well as at any time in his career as he sets his sights on returning to Australia’s line-up for the World Test Championship final against South Africa.Hazlewood has not featured in the Test side since picking up a calf injury against India in Brisbane, which followed a side strain earlier in the series, and is hoping to fill one of the few gaps on his CV at Lord’s having missed out on the 2023 WTC final against India when he was recovering from injury.Hazlewood was a late arrival in the UK (along with Josh Inglis) having completed an outstanding IPL campaign for champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) where he claimed 22 wickets. On Saturday he sent down around five overs at moderate intensity during Australia’s optional training session in Beckenham as he eased back into bowling after the journey from India and was set for a more thorough workout on Sunday at Lord’s where he will operate at close to full pace.Barring any setbacks Hazlewood is expected to keep Scott Boland out of the XI for the final. In his last 13 Tests, Hazlewood has taken 57 wickets at 19.68 since returning to the side during the 2023 Ashes following a period where injuries had limited him to four outings in two years.”I was obviously quite close last time [in 2023],” Hazlewood said. “I just had more of an interrupted IPL leading into that, and then had a few little issues going on, so wasn’t quite up to scratch, but I feel in much better place this time around.”And I think in any format, my numbers over the last two years have been pretty good, so have got a lot to fall back on in terms of skill wise. I still feel like I’m bowling probably the best over my career and it’s just a matter of the body holding up, which it has been in the last few months.”Related

Road to the WTC final: Australia line up title defence after 13 wins in 19 Tests

Labuschagne faces vital outing in search for form

Green has 'all bases covered' amid Australia's WTC final selection debates

How the Australians have prepared for the WTC final

Boland: 'I just want to make their decision as hard as possible'

Although Hazlewood was able to play 10 consecutive Tests from mid-2023 to late 2024, considerable time has gone in behind the scenes trying to find whether there is a common theme to his various injuries in recent years with a particular focus on the strains of back-to-back days of bowling in condensed Test series.”I think the intensity is probably a big one for me to tick that box,” he said. “We’re definitely adapting training to sort of get those back-to-back days in, get a big day, followed by another bowling session the day after and things like that, just to try and try and get our head around it and put ourselves in the best possible position we can be.”Hazlewood was confident that he would have enough preparation time leading into the final, saying that the later-than-expected finish to the IPL had not impacted how many full bowling sessions he would be able to have with the red ball.”I ticked over some good overs just before the final in Ahmedabad, in different weather than this,” he said on a cool, overcast day where beanies were never far away. “It was quite a tough session. And then every time you play a game in the IPL, you’re probably going to get almost seven or eight overs in if you really want to…in and around with warm-ups. I had a number of times where I bowled back-to-back days, again at high intensity, with the game being one of those.”Josh Hazlewood was central to Royal Challengers Bengaluru winning their first IPL title•PTI

One key adjustment Hazlewood will be looking to make in England is ensuring he targets a fuller length that is often needed and brings the stumps into play more.”In the IPL games, I was probably hitting around that seven-to nine-meters in the powerplay, and not really threatening the stumps as much as you want to in Test cricket, in particular here in England,” he said. “So, it’ll just be about pushing that length and touch fuller and still getting that zip through the keeper.”Perhaps unsurprisingly, Hazlewood is a huge advocate for the role of the allrounder in Australia’s line-up which since 2020-21 has been spread across Cameron Green, Mitchell Marsh and recently Beau Webster. Green won’t be available to bowl until the Ashes later this and head coach Andrew McDonald previously left the door ajar for not needing Webster’s overs in the final, but Hazlewood was of no doubt the benefit the additional resource brings.”I think it’s huge,” he said. “I remember back to when we didn’t have one…and it was brutal. It was tough work. I feel like you’re just continually bowling, like you’re almost following the next guy at the other end and then you’re switching ends and then Gazza [Nathan Lyon] is from one end and we all rotate.”So to have that bowler, [and] even to be honest, Travis [Head] and Marnus [Labuschagne], it only has to be a couple overs here and there just to give you that extra break to then be fresher, whether it be the second new ball or the next day or later on in the series. It just sort of snowballs if you don’t have that allrounder and you’re just continually bowling.”

Vinicius Junior's savage on-field jibe at Lamine Yamal has been revealed. Yamal put in a disappointing El Clasico showing as Barcelona fell to a 2-1 loss at Real Madrid on Sunday afternoon, a result that leaves the defending La Liga champions five points off Los Blancos. And to add salt to the wounds, Vinicius' comments to the teenager have now been made public.

AFPYamal disappoints in El Clasico

Yamal struggled to impact El Clasico as Barcelona fell to a 2-1 loss at the Bernabeu. Kylian Mbappe's 22nd-minute opener was cancelled out by Fermin Lopez in the 38th minute. However, Los Blancos went back ahead shortly before the break through Jude Bellingham.

Mbappe saw a second-half penalty saved by Wojciech Szczesny, with the Pole stepping in for the injured Joan Garcia between the sticks, but it needn't have mattered as Real Madrid went five points clear at the top of the table.

Yamal managed two shots and created two goalscoring chances but was largely kept in check by the Real Madrid backline. And it's now been revealed that Vinicius Junior launched a disrespectful jibe at the 18-year-old as Barcelona struggled at the Bernabeu.

AdvertisementVinicius mocks Yamal to his face

During the match, Vinicius and the rest of the Real squad appeared riled at Yamal for some of the teenager's pre-match comments. The Barcelona star said: "Yes, of course, they steal, they complain…" when talking about Real Madrid on Twitch. Vinicius didn't pass up the chance to launch his own jibe at the Barcelona winger. "Nothing but back passes, huh? Just passing it back to the defenders," the Real Madrid star reportedly said to the teenager when they were in close proximity.

The pair also had to be separated at full-time as tempers flared between both sides. Pedri received his marching orders shortly before Cesar Soto Grado called time on El Clasico, with the Barcelona midfielder pulled up for a late foul on Aurelien Tchouameni after being carded for a foul on Vinicius in the first half.

Vinicius was at the heart of the post-match confrontation as the Brazilian targeted Barcelona trio Alejandro Balde, Yamal and Raphinha. However, the forward wasn't the only Real Madrid star to have been caught dishing out comments to Yamal in a fiery El Clasico encounter at the Bernabeu, with Thibaut Courtois and Dani Carvajal also involved.

Further bookings were dished out to Vinicius, Eder Militao and Rodrygo for their roles in the melee. Backup Real Madrid goalkeeper Andrii Lunin, meanwhile, also saw red in a feisty end to the clash.

Getty Images Sport'You speak too much'

Carvajal was caught exchanging words with Spain teammate Yamal in the centre-circle at full time and the experienced defender reportedly said: "You speak too much. Speak now." Yamal tried to confront Carvajal, but was ushered away by Barcelona team-mates.

Frenkie de Jong, meanwhile, said of the post-match scenes at the Bernabeu: "I didn't see what happened. I was on the bench and saw a lot of people. When the referee blew his whistle, Real Madrid players went after Lamine. It's a bit exaggerated. You'd have to ask them.

"In the first half, we weren't sharp with the ball. Madrid hurt with their players up front. In the second half, we lacked the ability to create danger and clear chances. If Carvajal wanted to speak with Lamine, call him or text him. You're team-mates, you know each other. Why do you have to make a scene on the pitch?"

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Xabi Alonso speaks out about Vinicius strop

Vinicius was withdrawn in the 72nd minute and was furious when he saw his number go up as Xabi Alonso looked to bring Rodrygo on. Rather than sit on the bench, Vinicius instead headed straight down the tunnel and ignored the Real Madrid boss on his way off the pitch.

Alonso has admitted he'll have a "conversation" with Vinicius following his sub strop, stating after the game: "Vini’s character? There are different personalities in any dressing room. Right now we will enjoy the win, then we’ll have a conversation, for sure."

Real Madrid are expected to maintain their lead at the top of the La Liga table when they welcome winless Valencia to the Bernabeu next weekend.

كشف الإعلامي أحمد شوبير عن تفاصيل الجلسة التفاوضية التي جرت مساء أمس في أحد الفنادق بين جون إدوارد، المدير الرياضي لنادي الزمالك، من أجل تجديد عقد محمد السيد لاعب فريق الكرة بالقلعة البيضاء.

وقال شوبير في تصريحاته: “أمس حدثت جلسة مفاوضات بين جون ادوارد وعبد الرحمن إسماعيل وكيل اللاعب محمد السيد، والأخير أكد أنه مرحّب جدًا بالاستمرار مع الزمالك، لكن أوضح أن راتبه كان 150 ألف جنيه في السنة الأولى، و250 في الثانية، و350 في الثالثة، ومع ذلك لم يكن يتقاضى مستحقاته بانتظام”.

وأضاف: “اللاعب قال إنه يعمل على تطوير نفسه ويدفع 10 آلاف جنيه شهريًا لإحدى شركات التحليل، ولديه مدرب أحمال خاص وجيم يتدرب فيه، وكلها مصروفات تحتاج دعمًا ماليًا، خاصة مع تأخر المستحقات في النادي”.

طالع | تشكيل الزمالك المتوقع أمام البنك الأهلي.. مفاضلة بين الدباغ والجزيري

واستطرد: “جون إدوارد عرض رفع قيمة العقد لتتراوح بين 3 و5 ملايين جنيه، مع تطبيق نسبة المشاركة المعروفة بـ25%، ومعنى هذا أن اللاعب إذا لم يشارك في 75% من المباريات، يتم خصم جزء من راتبه”.

وواصل: “قيمة العقد سيتم توزيعها على أقساط شهرية، لكن محمد السيد طلب الحصول على 3 ملايين جنيه كـ منحة للتعاقد لتأمين مستقبله، قائلًا إنه لا يمتلك سيارة أو شقة ويريد تحسين وضعه المعيشي، وهنا غضب جون إدوارد وغادر الجلسة دون توقيع العقد، رغم أن مثل هذه المفاوضات تحتاج وقتًا وأخذًا وعطاء”.

وأتم: “محمد السيد موهوب، لكنه تعرّض للظلم سواء في منتخب الشباب أو مع الزمالك، والجماهير هاجمته بشدة بعد مباراة كانت محسومة سلفًا بنتيجة 6-0، رغم أن ضياعه لركلة جزاء لم يكن يستحق كل هذا الهجوم، وأعتقد أن الأزمة ستُحسم قريبًا بإذن الله، خاصة أن النية لدى الطرفين إيجابية لإتمام التعاقد”.

The IPL has also decided that the wide guideline will move with the batter

Nagraj Gollapudi20-Mar-2025Wides outside off stump and over the head of the batter will be adjudicated using Hawk-Eye technology in IPL 2025. The decision was approved by the IPL on Thursday and communicated to all ten captains during a meeting in Mumbai ahead of the 2025 season which starts from March 22.Over-the-head widesESPNcricinfo has learned that the same technology which was used to measure over-the-waist no-balls in IPL 2024 will be applied in the case of the over-the-head wides. The ball-tracking technology, which is part of Hawk-Eye, will measure the height of the ball as it passes the batter at the popping crease which will then be matched against the toe-to-head height of the batter when in an upright position – recorded in advance. If the height of the ball is higher than the recorded head height, then it will be declared a wide.The head heights of each player would be stored in the database and there will be no subjective call involved in the decision making with an automated system carrying out the measurement.Wide guideline to move with batterThe subjective element involved in deciding wides will also be removed from this season as the IPL has decided that the wide guideline – usually in blue – will move with the batter. For example, if a right-hand batter moves one feet to his right outside off stump, the wide guideline will accordingly shift the same distance and will be used to adjudicate a wide.The Hawk-Eye technology will carry out the measurement automatically – both how much the batter has moved and how much the guideline moves. The TV umpire can see the movement on his screen and can adjudicate whether it is a wide or not based on whether ball pitched within or outside the revised wide guideline. The measurements will not be shown on TV screen and will only be visible to the TV umpire. The return crease, marked white, will not move. Also, the new system will not be applicable to adjudicate leg-side wides.The IPL has been at the forefront of adopting technology in decision-making for the past few years. In 2023, having trialled the system in the WPL, which was also the first instance in T20 cricket, teams were allowed to refer wides and no-balls as part of the two DRS reviews in IPL. Last year the IPL became the first league to use ball-tracking technology to judge over-the-waist no-balls.The Smart Replay System, which was introduced in IPL 2024, will be used this season as well to increase the accuracy and speed of decision-making.

Wayne Rooney has opened up about some of the strangest and most unpleasant away day experiences he and his Manchester United team-mates faced. From freezing cold dressing rooms at Anfield to leaking toilets at Sunderland, the former England captain shared bizarre behind-the-scenes stories on his BBC podcast.

Rooney opens up on crunching away days

Rooney was reflecting on his time as a player and the challenges of preparing for away games in the Premier League. He recalled how conditions in certain dressing rooms were deliberately uncomfortable, making it tough for United to settle before kick-off. Sunderland, Tottenham, Chelsea, and Liverpool were all named as examples of awkward or unpleasant experiences.

AdvertisementAFPRooney reveals why Anfield was a problem

The former striker admitted during a new episode of from the BBC that Anfield was the worst, describing how the freezing conditions made players question if it was a deliberate ploy to gain any edge possible. "You get some tight dressing rooms. Tottenham and Chelsea were always hot. You'd literally get dressed as quick as you can and then stand outside the dressing room. Anfield was always freezing. I don't know whether they manipulate the temperature in there."

Leaking toilets at Sunderland's Stadium of Light

Rooney also shared a grim memory from the Stadium of Light, recalling how the dressing room roof collapsed due to overflowing toilets above.

"I was actually suspended [for the match]. But above the dressing rooms were the toilets and [the roof] came through when all of the players were in their clothes," he recalled. "I think there was a load of whatever goes into the toilet, all over the players and the clothes.”

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AFPRooney's return to Goodison Park

Rooney added that the toughest away trip of all was returning to his boyhood club Everton after joining United. "Yeah, [it] was horrible. Obviously it's a ground I've been going to since I was a kid, a baby," he said of his first return in an FA Cup tie in 2005. "My dad, that was the game he wouldn't go to. Because obviously he knew I'd be getting a lot of stick and he'd go to all the Everton games and he wouldn't go to that one, at Goodison."

Now that the dust is settled, we can look back at Newcastle United’s summer transfer window with optimism. It didn’t all go Eddie Howe’s way, but the manager has the tools to tackle the campaign ahead and build on last year’s success.

This has been the story of the English tactician’s tenure at St. James’ Park, having been handed the keys to new riches under PIF ownership, but, more importantly, often making the right pick, signing the right players.

And so while Newcastle were rocked this summer by their talisman Alexander Isak’s decision to force his way out and sign for Premier League champions Liverpool in a record-breaking deal, they have compensated with some exciting additions to strengthen the frontline.

In Yoane Wissa, the Magpies have signed a striker who knows the English game well and arrives having scored 19 goals for Brentford last season.

And in Nick Woltemade, who takes Isak’s place as United’s club-record signing after joining from Stuttgart for £69m, Howe could fashion his latest superstar.

After all, he’s done it time and time again across nearly four years at the helm.

Howe's transfer success with Newcastle

Newcastle might have one of the richest owners in football, but they have spent thriftily in comparison to some of their rivals, moreover, impeded by restrictions imposed by PSR.

Bruno Guimaraes, for example, has perhaps been the defining player of the Howe era at Newcastle, joining from Lyon in France in January 2022 for a £40m fee. Now 27, the skipper bleeds black and white, as was clear after his passionate performance against Liverpool last month.

Howe has grown him, organically, into a superstar, with recent interest from the Saudi Pro League revealing him to have been priced at a jaw-dropping £121m, only marginally off Isak’s record £125m move to Merseyside.

The list goes on. Anthony Gordon and Tino Livramento have both risen in market value since landing on Tyneside, and the likes of Dan Burn and Kieran Trippier have been among the shrewdest signings made in recent Premier League history.

However, sometimes it takes a bit of time before one of Howe’s buys clicks into gear, and that is very much the truth when considering Sandro Tonali, who over the past year has bloomed into one of the Premier League’s finest maestros.

Newcastle struck gold on Sandro Tonali

When Newcastle completed the signing of AC Milan’s Tonali in July 2023, they felt they had won the race for one of Europe’s most talented players, a player who Gordon would describe as “one of the best midfielders in the world”.

However, while Howe has created something of a hothouse for tactical growth, not everyone will hit the ground running from the start.

And Tonali was evidence of that, having perhaps struggled to adapt in the first few months before being hit with a damaging betting breaches charge from the Italian Football Federation, banned for ten months.

Podcast host Andrew Musgrove has even gone as far as to describe the Italy international as being one of Newcastle’s “standout” players, with the decision to field him deeper last season giving rise to Guimaraes’ athleticism and multi-facetedness in the middle of the park.

This was one of the main reasons behind United finding form before Christmas last season, constructing a winning run that led to Champions League qualification and triumph in the Carabao Cup, beating Liverpool in the final.

Matches (starts)

8 (5)

36 (28)

Goals

1

4

Assists

0

2

Touches*

39.8

53.4

Pass completion

88%

86%

Key passes*

1.0

0.8

Dribbles*

0.4

0.6

Ball recoveries*

2.5

4.9

Tackles + interceptions*

1.2

2.3

Total duels (won)*

2.1 (47%)

3.7 (54%)

The 25-year-old’s deeper berth on the field and immense ground-covering role have seen him go from strength to strength, indeed earning recognition as one of the best in the business.

Though his market value hasn’t risen exponentially across his time on Tyneside, Tonali still boasts an expected price tag of £58m, as per Football Transfers, which places him among the best in Howe’s brood.

Tonali hasn’t quite reached the same financial ballpark as players such as Guimaraes and Isak, but there are many of a Toon persuasion who would argue that he is on that same level.

He’s undoubtedly one of the creams of this team, and while Newcastle have landed talents such as Wissa – who joined from Brentford for the same fee as Tonali: £55m – it’s perhaps true that the DR Congo international is limited in terms of scope, and 28 years old besides.

In fact, Tonali has drawn comparisons with his legendary compatriot Andrea Pirlo, with Howe amusingly commenting that it’s “not just the hair”, which further underscores the kind of player that he is, very much one of the best that Newcastle are likely to see any time soon.

There’s also little question that Tonali’s financial development was hindered by his betting ban, and that if he can reclaim the kind of form that led Newcastle to glory last season, he may well leave behind one of the biggest legacies of this Howe era, chock-full of knockout signings.

Wissa also has a chance to provide goals for the Toon outfit over the next few years, but he perhaps doesn’t have the same scope as someone like Tonali, who now has the chance to lead his team to more glory and create an iron-firm midfield capable of unlocking the capacities of players such as Wissa.

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