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Manchester City are now one step away from completing a deal for a “phenomenal” star, as his club have recently dropped their asking price.

Man City targeting new signings after Tottenham defeat

After such a promising start to the campaign, winning 4-0 away at Wolverhampton Wanderers, Man City were brought right back down to earth on Saturday afternoon, with Tottenham Hotspur once again getting the better of them at the Etihad Stadium.

James Trafford was culpable for the second goal, with Joao Palhinha capitalising after the new City goalkeeper made a stray pass in his own area, although Pep Guardiola defended his decision to select the 22-year-old.

Pep said: “He made a good first game and I decided to continue. When I take decisions in the first part of the season – for all the players you play one or two [games] – everyone thinks: ‘OK, this is the starting lineup.’ It was just today I decided that.”

However, behind-the-scenes, there may be some doubts emerging about Trafford, given that the former Burnley man remains relatively inexperienced, and a report has revealed the Blues are closing in on a more proven goalkeeper.

According to The Mirror, Man City are now one step away from signing Paris Saint-Germain goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, with Guardiola’s side ready to get a deal done, as long as they can sell Ederson to Galatasaray.

Crucially, PSG have now slashed their asking price significantly, with the Italian now being allowed to leave for as little as £26m, given that he has just one year remaining on his contract with the French club.

Man City set to fight PSG for skyrocketing winger amid Donnarumma talks

The Citizens are ready to swat aside the Champions League holders…

1

By
Sean Markus Clifford

Aug 26, 2025

City are expecting Galatasaray to submit a new offer for Ederson, and if a suitable fee can be agreed, they will move swiftly to finalise a deal for Donnarumma, who is keen on a move to the Etihad Stadium.

"Phenomenal" Donnarumma could be instant Trafford upgrade

While Trafford impressed in the Championship last season, keeping a whopping 29 clean sheets, the PSG goalkeeper could be an instant upgrade on the Englishman, given that he is vastly more experienced at the top level.

The 26-year-old, who has been lauded as “phenomenal” by Walid Acherchour of RMC Sport, was a lynchpin of the PSG side that won the Champions League last season, with journalist Carlo Garganese highlighting him as the star against Arsenal across both semi-final legs.

That said, the Italy international isn’t the most adept with the ball at his feet, with Trafford vastly outperforming him in touches per 90 over the past year, and a number of other key metrics.

Donnarumma may not be a Guardiola-style goalkeeper, but he is proven at the highest level, and a £26m transfer fee would be a bargain.

West Ham have been told they should consider Frank Lampard as Graham Potter's replacement despite his poor relations with the club and its fans. The Hammers find themselves in crisis following a dismal start to the Premier League season. They have lost four of their opening five games, with last weekend's 2-1 defeat to Crystal Palace piling more pressure on the under-fire manager.

• Potter on the ropes at West Ham

  With tricky trips looming against Everton and Arsenal before the next international break, whispers of managerial change are growing louder at the London Stadium. Reports suggest the club’s hierarchy have already considered options like Nuno Espirito Santo and Slaven Bilic as potential successors.

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  Players rally behind current manager

  Despite the rough start, Potter is not without support. reported that several senior players have publicly and privately backed the English coach, urging the board to allow him more time to turn the season around. While fan dissatisfaction is audible, the squad appears united behind their manager’s vision.

• Lampard to fill in?

  Lampard’s name has emerged as a candidate to replace Potter. Potter's stint at Chelsea in 2023 ended in controversy after a 2-0 loss to Aston Villa, with him being replaced by Lampard in an interim capacity. The former midfielder struggled in his second spell at Stamford Bridge, losing six games and leaving a mixed impression on fans. Despite this, Pat Nevin argues that Lampard deserves a serious shot at the job, looking beyond the Stamford Bridge fiasco and his chequered past with West Ham fans, who have chanted that he is 'fat' ever since he left east London for west back in 2001.

  In an interview with , he said: "There are lots of West Ham fans that wouldn't accept Frank Lampard because they have booed him forever. Calling him fat Frank forever. All the years I saw it, I always felt terrible because Frank, I don't think he ever said a bad word against West Ham. It was just that he left.

  "Plenty of players leave clubs. He'd done quite well when he left. It wasn’t a bad decision for Frank in his career. He wouldn't have been lifting Champions League trophies and all sorts of trophies. He'd have done well because he'd have helped West Ham be a better team, but he was going to something extra special when he went to that Chelsea team which was growing in their world power. So yeah, I can understand why they were miffed and annoyed because he was one of them, but he did grow to love and become Chelsea. There's no doubt about that with Frank."

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• Nevin: Lampard still a top manager

  Nevin believes the initial fan criticism would fade if Lampard hit the ground running.

  "I still don't think that should stop West Ham supporters taking him on because he's a good manager. He's a very good manager. Derby done well," he insisted.

  "I thought in retrospect that he was harshly treated at Chelsea – I thought he did a good job. He kept Everton up which was not easy at the time. And you ask people at Everton, they loved him. They absolutely loved him. Even the fans, even though they were struggling, he got every player, all the people behind him, even the staff.

  "He’s done OK at Coventry I think – it's been alright. And he's shown that he's in there for the battle. He's had the Chelsea job, he's had the Everton job, he's had the Chelsea job twice. But it's not beneath him to go and get the hands dirty at Coventry. So that's a guy who wants to work, he cares about it, he loves it. I just don’t know how Frank would feel about the West Ham job. There'd be a wee bit of stick at the start, but I'll make you a promise, if he won the first three or four games, the stick would go."

Celtic went into deadline day on Monday needing to sign two centre-forwards to bolster Brendan Rodgers’ squad for the rest of the 2025/26 campaign.

The club allowed Adam Idah to complete a permanent move to Swansea City for £6m before they had brought in any signings of their own, and ended the day without any new number nines.

Celtic have since officially signed free agent striker Kelechi Iheanacho on a one-year contract, who was released by Sevilla on Monday night.

Why signing Kelechi Iheanacho is a big risk

The Nigeria international has experience in the Premier League with Manchester City and Leicester City, and has worked with Rodgers before, which is why he could make sense on paper as a short-term addition.

However, it is also an incredibly risky signing for the club to make when you consider his recent struggles on the pitch in England and in Spain.

Kelechi scored one goal in 24 league games across LaLiga and the Championship for Sevilla and Middlesbrough combined in the 2024/25 campaign, after a haul of six goals in 26 matches for Leicester in the previous season, per Sofascore.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

This means that Celtic have brought in a player who has not been at his best for quite some time and has not scored goals on a regular basis for several years.

Celtic may already have Idah's replacement at Parkhead

Whilst Kelechi has arrived as a calculated risk on a free transfer, Rodgers could also look within his own squad to find a replacement for Idah, and it is not Johnny Kenny.

Whilst the Ireland international has shown promise, with two goals in ten Scottish Premiership matches for the Hoops, he has yet to show that he can score goals week-in-week-out.

Celtic swooped to sign Callum Osmand on a permanent deal from Premier League side Fulham earlier this summer, and his form at youth level suggests that he has the potential to explode at Parkhead if given an opportunity by Rodgers.

24/25

22

11

4

23/24

29

21

6

22/23

21

11

2

21/22

1

0

0

Total

73

43

12

As you can see in the table above, the Welsh youth international delivered an eye-catching return of 55 goal contributions in 73 games for Fulham at U18 and U21 level.

Osmand also netted a goal on his debut for Celtic B last month when he scored against Clyde in the Challenge Cup, which means that he has also made a fast start to life in Glasgow.

His statistics at youth level, for Fulham and now Celtic, show that he is a lethal frontman who is used to finding the back of the net on a regular basis, whilst also providing creativity in the number nine role.

He has not been given a chance to showcase his quality at first-team level, yet, and Rodgers should change that in the coming weeks now that the club have failed to bring in any high-quality replacements for Idah during the summer transfer window.

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ByDan Emery Aug 31, 2025

The 19-year-old star has done all that he can do at youth level – score goals at an immense rate – and it is now down to the manager to throw him in at the deep end, because his academy form suggests that he has the potential to be the prolific scorer that Kelechi and Kenny’s recent goal returns suggest they will not be.

Prabath Jayasuriya now has ten five-wicket hauls in Test cricket. For context, that’s more than all but the three greatest Sri Lanka bowlers – Muttiah Muralitharan (67), Rangana Herath (34) and Chaminda Vaas (12).That Jayasuriya has got to double-figures in a mere 18 Tests is a reflection of how consistent he has been. But there is also the suggestion that his Test record looks especially snazzy because he’s played so many Tests in Galle (spin-bowling heaven, essentially). There is some truth to this – eight of his Tests have been in Galle, and eight of his five-fors came there. So this five-for, in Gqeberha, has meant a lot.Jayasuriya plays in a team in which on the spiciest greentops they can genuinely consider leaving out a spinner entirely and, in fact, they had almost made that choice for this second Test. But the way this game has played out, Sri Lanka would not still be in the match – however marginally – were it not for Jayasuriya’s 5 for 129 in the second innings.Related

• Maharaj calls for 'old-fashioned cricket' for SA to get job done

• Dhananjaya-Kusal stand gives Sri Lanka outside chance

“An overseas five-for is something that I had targeted for a long time,” Jayasuriya said after the fourth day. “Getting wickets away from home was something I had worried about at times, because people questioned my ability to do that. When we play outside home, and in SENA [South Africa, England, New Zealand and Australia] countries, my role is quite different. I always try to do what I can do for the team. I’m very happy I was able to get this five-wicket haul in a place like South Africa.”Much of his success on day four, when he took three wickets including that of the series’ best batter Temba Bavuma, came from bowling over the wicket into the rough outside the right-handers’ leg stump.”It’s still a good pitch to bat on, and will be tomorrow as well,” he said. “The decision was between bowling into areas that were still good for batting, or to bowl into areas where there was some help in the surface. At that time, between the captain, coach and head coach, we decided to try that strategy [of bowling into the rough], and it was successful.”Prabath Jayasuriya celebrates one of his five wickets in the second dig•Associated Press

Jayasuriya had returns of 1 for 84 on a very grassy surface that did not have a lot of turn on offer in the first innings. But he revealed that he was unhappy with his bowling in that innings, and made tweaks to be in better shape for the second.”In the first innings, I wasn’t able to pitch the ball exactly where I wanted,” Jayasuriya said. “Afterwards, I went to the spin-bowling coach Piyal Wijetunge, and to our analyst-coach Jehan Mubarak, and looked at the videos before I came to bowl in the second innings.”There was a technical error, and I was able to come the next day, train for a bit, and though I wasn’t able to fix it 100%, I was able to get it about 90% right.”Jayasuriya likely has a further role to play in this Test – with the bat, he is the next man in. If Sri Lanka are to clinch an unlikely victory from this position (they are 143 runs shy, with five wickets in hand), they will almost certainly need runs from him as well.”Kusal Mendis and Dhananjaya de Silva have experience and the potential to do this [win the game],” Jayasuriya said. “The first hour tomorrow is vital. That hour will decide where this match goes. If we win that hour, we’ll definitely win the game. We only need 143, and between these batters and the tailenders, we have to plan and figure out how to get there.”

Arsenal sporting director Andrea Berta is known for spinning many plates simultaneously when it comes to his transfer plans, and the Italian now has his eyes on more than one attacking midfielder.

Pennant: Arsenal target would be a "great signing" alongside Gyokeres

Arsenal appear to be lining up their next marquee signing after Viktor Gyokeres’ arrival

ByRobbie Walls Jul 30, 2025

After finally sealing a deal for Viktor Gyokeres in a deal worth up to £64 million from Sporting CP, reports have suggested that Arsenal’s next transfer priority is a number 10 to complement club captain Martin Odegaard.

Mikel Arteta’s side are believed to be working on outgoings right now too, with that being a key focus, especially after a summer of expenditure totalling well north of £200 million thus far, but a new creator is still on the agenda.

19/20 – winter

£0

20/21 – summer

£81.5m

20/21 – winter

£900k

21/22 – summer

£156.8m

21/22 – winter

£1.8m

22/23 – summer

£121.5m

22/23 – winter

£59m

23/24 – summer

£208m

23/24 – winter

£0

24/25 – summer

£101.5m

24/25 – winter

£0

25/26 – summer

£208m

Arsenal’s links to Crystal Palace star Eberechi Eze, as has been the case for a month now, are refusing to go away.

There are some suggestions that Eze has already agreed personal terms to join Arsenal (Sport Zone), and while this is yet to be confirmed by reliable media sources, the likes of Fabrizio Romano state that the Gunners are in constant contact with the 27-year-old’s camp.

However, there is no guarantee that Arsenal will agree a deal for Eze, with north London rivals Tottenham also contending for the England international as Palace continue to demand his release clause be paid in full.

Arsenal eye Leicester City star Bilal El Khannouss

According to TBR Football and journalist Graeme Bailey, Berta is now targeting Leicester City playmaker Bilal El Khannouss – who would come as a potential alternative to Eze.

Arsenal are believed to be real fans of El Khannouss, alongside a host of clubs in Europe – RB Leipzig, Eintracht Frankfurt, Monaco, Atalanta and Valencia – alongside Premier League rivals Spurs, Newcastle, Palace, Leeds and West Ham.

The Moroccan is a man in demand, it would seem, with talkSPORT also reporting that El Khannouss’ contract includes a £22.5 million release clause – so he’s up for grabs at a quarter of Eze’s price.

“El Khannouss is a fascinating player,” said Bailey. “Very similar to Rayan Cherki in terms of talent. Many clubs rate him as one of the finest technicians of his generation.”

The 21-year-old, who only signed for Leicester from Genk in 2024, averaged more key passes per 90 in the top flight than any other Foxes player last term (WhoScored), with a fee of just under £23m seeming like a steal.

New Barcelona signing Marcus Rashford once called a Real Madrid icon the best he’s ever played against ahead of Nou Camp legend Lionel Messi.

Marcus Rashford signs for Barcelona from Man Utd

The forward has officially competed a season-long loan move to the Nou Camp from Manchester United, with Barca also having the option to buy Rashford in 2026 for an initial £26m next summer.

Rashford becomes the first Englishman to sign for Barcelona since Gary Lineker, who did so back in 1986. Taking the number 14 shirt number with the Catalan giants, Rashford has been quick to praise current Barcelona star Lamine Yamal, calling the Ballon d’or contender “one of the leading players in the world”.

“He is a very special talent, and for me, I feel definitely last season, he is one of the leading players in the world, if not the best. Everyone wants to play with the best, and there is a lot of talent in this squad. I am happy and eager to play with them on the pitch. Maybe I can help them, and for sure, they can help me. It is going to be exciting.”

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Rashford will also come up against England teammates Trent Alexander-Arnold and Jude Bellingham in the El Clasico in 2025/26, with Barca looking to retain their La Liga title under Hansi Flick.

Games

426

Goals

138

Assists

77

Red cards

2

Trophies

6

Rashford calls Cristiano Ronaldo best he’s played against

Back in 2017 when talking to ESPN, relayed by Football 365, Rashford was asked for the best player he has played with or against.

Still just two years into his professional career, the attacker said Cristiano Ronaldo was the best he had came up against during his time at the Bernabeu. However, he also name-checked former Red Devils teammate Wayne Rooney, Barcelona legend Lionel Messi and Brazilian star Neymar.

Former Real Madrid, Barcelona and Brazil striker Ronaldo also got a mention from Rashford, highlighting his World Cup displays.

“Brazilian Ronaldo has had the biggest World Cup performances, I’d say. And his were among the most enjoyable to watch. There were a lot of top players who performed in the World Cup and went to another level.”

“All I am thinking about is about playing for Bengal. I have forgotten everything that happened in the past”

Sreshth Shah12-Aug-2024

Wriddhiman Saha has said that he wants to bury his past issues with the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB), as he looks ahead to a fruitful reunion with the team that he represented from 2007 to 2022.Speaking to the media at the Eden Gardens, Saha was clear that he did not want to discuss the past at all, and instead had his focus on serving Bengal cricket for the remainder of his career. Saha, 39, said, he was keen to take the field as a Bengal cricketer but was also open to a coaching stint in the future.”I don’t think of the past or the future, but only stay in the present. And on that note, currently, all I am thinking about is about playing for Bengal. I have forgotten everything that happened in the past,” he said. “But I am open to help Bengal in any capacity possible. Since I am a cricketer, I would be better off helping Bengal in coaching instead of any administrative role.”Saha had parted ways with the Bengal team before the 2022-23 domestic season following a clash of words with CAB joint-secretary Debabrata Das, who in a statement had made references about Saha “giving all sorts of excuses” to “skip” Ranji Trophy games for Bengal.Related

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At the time, Saha had sought an apology, and even though the CAB selected him for subsequent games, he didn’t back down from getting the NOC (No-Objection Certificate) that would take him as a player-mentor to Tripura.The incident happened around the same time that Saha, then 37, was also informed by the Rahul Dravid-led India team management that he would not be considered for upcoming Test squads following India’s return from the away tour of South Africa in January 2022.”I am not looking at retiring at the moment,” Saha, wearing a cap with the slogan “Never Give Up”, said when asked about his prospects of working in the media or participating in various T20 leagues. “When I will retire, I will leave all forms and all formats of cricket, but right now, I am focused on red-ball cricket, white-ball cricket, the IPL, and I’m available for everything. I will be managing my workload with one eye on my age, but I still have the drive to play cricket and see Bengal do well.”While CAB president Snehasish Ganguly was tight-lipped about whether Saha would be handed the Bengal captaincy now that Manoj Tiwary has retired from cricket after the 2023-24 season, he did say that someone of Saha’s experience was necessary for Bengal to fill the gap left by Tiwary. Ganguly also said CAB were delighted in not only getting Saha, a “son of the soil”, but also former vice-captain Sudip Chatterjee, who had left for Tripura around the same time as Saha.However, Saha’s availability for Bengal now leaves the team with two high-quality wicket-keepers in their ranks with Abishek Porel also in the mix and potentially only one place in the XI for either player. On finding the balance between grooming a young wicketkeeper like Porel and using his experience to help Bengal, Saha said he would support Porel’s growth wholeheartedly and ensure he doesn’t fall by the wayside just to accommodate the senior pro.”Even before I left Bengal, I was grooming Abishek from the sidelines, and that will continue,” Saha said. “I have been seeing his growth from his young days, and have been having conversations with him. I am sure the management will also aim to give Abishek all the opportunities possible.”Wriddhiman Saha had signed with Tripura for the 2022-23 Indian domestic season, before making a return to Bengal•PTI

Bengal have been knocking on the doors of a Ranji Trophy title for the last four years, reaching the final twice but losing on both occasions to Saurashtra in 2019-20 and 2022-23. However, one concern among the fans of Bengal cricket has been the lack of Bengali cricketers in the team. Saha, though, felt players should mainly be selected only on merit.”When you get selected for India, there is no quota of having these number of boys from North Zone or South Zone or East Zone or West Zone,” he said. “If you play well, you will get an opportunity, and that’s what has been happening in Bengal. Even if some of our players have originated from outside Bengal and may not be Bengalis, it does not make them any less part of the Bengal team. Shahbaz [Ahmed], Akash [Deep] and [Abhimanyu] Easwaran, I have seen them training here from their young days. They haven’t just come here overnight. They are as much a part of the Bengal side [as others].”I can understand that some people may feel that the Bengal team should have more Bengalis, but I don’t feel that’s enough reason as talent and hard work should be the primary criteria. If you see that way, then you’ll also say Manoj Tiwary is not a Bengali. But that’s obviously not true. So I do not feel that’s such an issue in Bengal cricket, especially when you’re doing so well, like we have seen the team in the last four to five years.”Last season, Bengal failed to qualify out of their Group in the Ranji Trophy, finishing third behind Mumbai and Andhra in Group B. In the List A Vijay Hazare Trophy, Bengal were eliminated in the quarter-finals. In the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 tournament, they were knocked out in the preliminary quarter-final.

Rocky Flintoff, the son of former England allrounder Andrew Flintoff, has been called up to England men’s Under-19 squad for their three-match youth ODI series against Sri Lanka later this month.Despite being just 16, Flintoff has impressed for Lancashire 2nd XI this season. He made his debut two days after his 16th birthday and scored a maiden century in April against Warwickshire 2nd XI at Edgbaston. His father, Andrew, is currently out in the Caribbean as part of the England coaching staff for the T20 World Cup.The U19 squad has plenty of other family connections throughout. They will be captained by Essex allrounder Luc Benkenstein, son of former South Africa batter and current Lancashire head coach Dale Benkenstein.Offspinner Farhan Ahmed, younger brother of England international Rehan Ahmed, is also included, having signed his first professional contract at Nottinghamshire this week. Durham wicketkeeper Haydon Mustard, whose father Phil earned 12 white-ball caps with England, has also been selected alongside Somerset’s Thomas Rew, another keeper batter and the younger brother of the highly touted James Rew.The 16-man squad includes nine players who played in the U19 World Cup earlier this year in South Africa. England failed to make the knockout stages, eventually placing sixth overall.Related

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Ben McKinney, who captained the team at the World Cup, and Hamza Shaikh were not considered for selection as they are likely to appear for a County Select XI in a three-day match against West Indies. That fixture, which will be played at Beckenham from July 3, will be West Indies’ sole warm-up match ahead of their three-match Test series against England, which begins at Lord’s on July 10.The squad for the two-match Youth Test series with Sri Lanka is due to be announced later this month.England Men Under-19s coach, Mike Yardy, said: “We have selected an exciting squad for the series, with a blend of some players who are currently playing in the Vitality Blast and some younger players for whom it will be their first time in an Under-19s squad.”As always, it’s a great opportunity for the players to perform in an England Under-19 shirt and to experience international cricket.”England Men U19s squad: Luc Benkenstein (Essex – captain), Farhan Ahmed (Nottinghamshire), Tazeem Ali (Warwickshire), Charlie Allison (Essex), Noah Cornwell (Middlesex), Rocky Flintoff (Lancashire), Keshana Fonseka (Lancashire), Eddie Jack (Hampshire), Dom Kelly (Hampshire), Freddie McCann (Nottinghamshire), Harry Moore (Derbyshire), Haydon Mustard (Durham), Thomas Rew (Somerset), Noah Thain (Essex), Raphael Weatherall (Northamptonshire), Theo Wylie (Warwickshire).

Fulham are the club pushing the hardest to sign an “outstanding” midfielder, with Marco Silva set to be backed in the summer transfer window, according to a report.

Cottagers set to back Silva amid uncertain future

Having been at Craven Cottage for just under four years, Silva is now among the longest-serving managers in the Premier League, but there is widespread interest in the Portuguese coach, with Juventus becoming the latest club to express an interest.

With Tottenham Hotspur and clubs from the Saudi Pro League also keen on the 47-year-old, it could be difficult for the board to retain his services, but they have now displayed a willingness to back the manager in the summer transfer window.

That is according to a report from TEAMtalk, which states Silva has been promised money to improve his squad, while also revealing the Cottagers have now set their sights on a new midfielder.

Fulham are said to be the club pushing the hardest to sign Mainz attacking midfielder Nadiem Amiri, who is set to leave the German club this summer, having attracted widespread interest from the Premier League.

New target: Fulham now ready to pounce for 23-goal striker available for £0

The Cottagers have joined the race for a forward, who is set to be available on a free transfer this summer.

ByDominic Lund Jun 3, 2025

Amiri has already turned down a move to Leeds United, while Crystal Palace have identified him as a potential target, but the west Londoners appear to be more determined to get a move over the line.

A deal would not break the bank either, with the 28-year-old expected to be allowed to leave for a fee of around £15m, and he could be brought in to replace Tom Cairney, amid interest from Wrexham, while fellow midfielder Harrison Reed is also set to depart.

"Outstanding" Amiri enjoyed impressive 2024-25 campaign

The Mainz star has been particularly impressive going forward as of late, picking up seven goals and five assists in 30 Bundesliga outings, and his displays at club level have led to a return to the German national side.

Upon selecting the central midfielder, manager Julian Nagelsmann said: “Nadiem is having an outstanding season. He’s a very good example of how you can take a step back to push your career forward.”

The German maestro had been uninvolved with his national side since 2020, but fought hard to regain his place, saying: “After I received a call from Julian Nagelsmann on Tuesday, I was in tears. It was my dream for so long to be able to play for the national team again. I worked hard, trying to improve every day”

Not only does Amiri have international experience, but he also has 10 Champions League appearances to his name, which could stand him in good stead to be a success at Craven Cottage, and a fee of £15m seems like a bargain for a player of his quality.

Liverpool’s victory over Leicester City on Sunday put Arne Slot within touching distance of the Premier League title.

The trophy’s plaque will be engraved with Liverpool’s name for the second time in its modern format, and no mistake. To fall now would be inconceivable.

Leicester put up a good fight but failed to prevent their relegation to the Championship, and there was one man who stepped up to force the three points in the Reds’ favour.

Trent Alexander-Arnold’s future is up in the air, and the scriptwriters will be delighted with their decision to make it him who scored the winning goal at the weekend.

Alexander-Arnold's big moment

Just 15 minutes from time, Leicester had succeeded in frustrating Liverpool and keeping it goalless at the King Power Stadium.

But then Slot brought Alexander-Arnold on, making his first appearance since being forced off with an ankle injury against PSG in early March.

A scramble in the box led to the Scouser in Liverpool’s team collecting from the left and curling a powerful strike past the Foxes defences. Chaos ensued.

But, the celebration felt charged with something deeper, a pure outpouring of emotion that maybe welled from Alexander-Arnold’s knowledge that such moments will be few and far between in a Liverpool jersey.

Real Madrid are confident that they will claim the Liverpool man’s signature when his contract expires this summer. And Trent’s celebration in hanging his shirt on the corner post felt, in a way, like he was hanging it up.

There’s no doubt all of a Liverpool persuasion want their vice-captain to stay, but it looks like Madrid’s inimitable pedigree at the top of the European game is going to hold sway here.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

However, Trent’s not the only high-profile Liverpool star set to depart this summer. There’s another whose fate appears sealed – if it wasn’t before – following Sunday’s events.

Big-money Liverpool star now looks finished

After three seasons, Darwin Nunez still hasn’t reached even the outer rim of the area he should be in at Liverpool, and Fabrizio Romano has been banging the same drum in recent months that he will indeed be sold this summer.

It’s a rueful scenario. Nunez is a likeable and hard-working player, joining Liverpool from Benfica in a club-record £85m deal in 2022 to much fanfare.

But, now aged 25, his development has been minimal, and it’s time for a change, with the Reds overreliant on Mohamed Salah’s incredible output to get them over the line this summer.

At the root of it, Nunez simply doesn’t play enough under Slot’s wing. He’s only started once in the Premier League since Boxing Day, with a seven-goal return across all competitions hardly aligning with the lofty figure paid for his services. Against Leicester, the £140k-per-week striker didn’t even make it off the bench.

But from his struggle, the fruits of something new could blossom.

Without Nunez’s sale, the signing of a big-money replacement at number nine is precluded. The £150m-rated Alexander Isak might be out of reach, but the market is rich with attacking potential and Michael Edwards and Richard Hughes know their way around an astute deal.

Liverpool, in other words, are in good hands, but must cash in on their record buy, cutting their losses as it were, if Slot is to really put his own stamp on his team and defend his title with confidence next season.

Is it a bit presumptuous to name Liverpool champions? Arsenal are still in the race, after all. But it would take the mother of all collapses for Anfield to fall now, consigning themselves to one of sports’ great mess-ups.

Liverpool will rejoice in having struck gold, one year after Jurgen Klopp decided to call it a day, but the struggles of Manchester City and Arsenal’s injury-rotten luck cannot be relied on next year, and neither can Nunez.

Across his first two Premier League campaigns, in Klopp’s system, the Uruguay international was all energy and impetus. He was a thorn in Liverpool’s opponents’ sides. But the clinical edge wasn’t there. It was decidedly lacking, in fact.

With Slot at the helm, he’s regressed further still, not so much profligate as profitless in even finding opportunities to strike on goal for the Premier League’s runaway leaders.

Though his defensive metrics are actually as good as they’ve ever been, this hardly compensates for Nunez’s lack of potency or indeed his declining output in ball-striking and creative pursuits.

Nunez has been an insoluble problem for two of the game’s finest contemporary managers, now, and there’s only one route out as he thrashes against the enclosing walls on Merseyside.

Nunez’s three-year stint at Liverpool hasn’t worked out. And yet, he won the Carabao Cup last season, registering 32 goal contributions in all competitions. He’s going to leave with a Premier League winner’s medal draped around his neck.

That two-goal cameo against Brentford in January, both goals struck in stoppage time.

A momentous result, one which allowed Slot’s side to capitalise on Arsenal’s shock defeat to West Ham United a day before and create significant space at the top of the table.

It was, in many ways, a watershed moment in the title battle, the first time rival resignation surfaced, Liverpool moving six points clear with a game in hand.

Perhaps, when we revisit this halycon era in the years to come, we will remember Nunez fondly, an erratic and mercurial talent who played his part through an important period.

But he has to be sold, having scarcely featured in the startling line-up under Slot’s wing this year. He has to be sold, paving the way for someone else to have a shot at centre-forward. Have a shot and score.

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By
Angus Sinclair

Apr 19, 2025