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Dynamo Kyiv's new signing Vladislav Blenuce says he doesn't support Russia as he admitted to his mistake amid war 'propaganda' accusations.

• Blenuce at the center of pro-Russian scandal
• Scandal came to light just a week after his signing
• Forward has issued an apology

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Just one week after signing a long-term contract with Kyiv, Moldovan-Romanian forward Blenuce has found himself embroiled in a major scandal. Dynamo supporters discovered pro-Russian content on his social media accounts, including TikTok reposts of Russian propagandist Vladimir Solovyov, as well as clips with soundtracks from a Russian TV series that has been banned in Ukraine. The discovery triggered immediate outrage among the club's fiercely patriotic fanbase, with many demanding that the club terminate the player's contract immediately.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  The controversy surrounding Blenuce's social media content is particularly explosive due to the ongoing war in Ukraine. The situation was further complicated by the discovery of similar pro-Russian content on the social media of the player's wife, including speeches by Vladimir Putin and nostalgic Soviet-era imagery.

  Blenuce was brought in as a key part of the club's squad rebuild following the departure of star forward Vladyslav Vanat to Girona. The Ukrainian club's decision to offer a long-term deal until 2030 showed their trust in him, a trust that has been seriously tested by the backlash. The club was forced to issue an official statement to address the controversy, confirming that Blenuce had acknowledged his mistakes and reaffirmed a pro-Ukrainian stance.

• WHAT BLENUCE SAID

  Blenuce addressed the controversy directly via the club media, expressing regret for his actions and clarifying his position on the war. He insisted that the reposts were a mistake and that he was unaware of the individuals' roles in Russian propaganda.

  "I want to prove to Dynamo fans that I support their opinion on the war," he said. "Russia is an aggressor and encroaches on someone else's property. This is very sad, because Ukraine, defending its land and its citizens, is losing many people in this unjust war. This is definitely a difficult situation for me, because it can be interpreted incorrectly."

  He added: "I want to state that I do not support Russia. And I certainly never said anything bad about Ukraine. It was my mistake to repost these posts. I did not know these people and did not attach importance to their role in Russian propaganda. For me they were no-names. When they explained to me who they were, I realized my mistake and realized that I had gotten into a bad situation. I am an absolutely pro-European and pro-Ukrainian person, I am on this side.

  "I will demonstrate my sincere support. If anyone has any questions for me, I am open to communication, ready to meet with every fan and explain everything. I will repeat that I do not support Russia. I am on the side of the Ukrainian people."

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  WHAT NEXT FOR BLENUCE?

  Despite his apologies and affirmations of support for Ukraine, Blenuce's future with the club remains uncertain. The anger among Dynamo's fanbase are deep-seated, and words alone may not be enough to win them over. The Romanian forward will need to prove his commitment to the club and the country both on the field with his performance and off it with his actions. He is expected to make his debut in the team's upcoming UPL match against Obolon.

Jamie Carragher has hailed Harry Kane as the “best striker England have ever had”, with the Bayern Munich superstar putting on another finishing masterclass in the Champions League. The former Tottenham Hotspur frontman has been told that he would have smashed Alan Shearer’s all-time Premier League goals record had he chosen to remain in his homeland.

• Clinical Kane downs Chelsea

  England captain Kane was at his clinical best when bagging a brace for Bayern in their European showdown with Chelsea. He converted from the penalty spot before putting the seal on a convincing 3-1 win at the Allianz Arena.

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  Trophy curse lifted in Germany

  Kane headed to Germany in 2023 after deciding that his trophy curse could not be lifted at Spurs. He has become a Bundesliga and Supercup winner in Munich, with remarkable individual standards being maintained.

• Passed up Premier League goal record

  The prolific 32-year-old is Tottenham and England’s all-time leading scorer, with Carragher of the opinion that another entry in the history books would have come his way had he opted to stay in north London.

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  The GOAT! Carragher's opinion of Kane

  Ex-Liverpool and England defender Carragher told : “He is one of the greatest goal scorers the game has ever seen. I believe he’s England’s best ever objective scorer. He’s carried it out in the Premier League with a team that aren’t one in every of the top groups. He’s gone overseas now with Bayern Munich. All eyes are on him and there is large stress.

  “You think of strikers England have had in the past and there have been some great ones, but he’s scored more goals for England than Alan Shearer. If he’d have stayed in the Premier League, he’d have got that record too. His numbers are off the scale. He can come deep, he can get on the ball and he can play people in. He’s the best striker England have ever had.”

Chelsea appear to be closing in on a deal for RB Leipzig playmaker Xavi Simons as widespread reports indicate that talks are seriously progressing, but key issues surrounding the Dutchman are now being brought to the surface.

£40m star drops Chelsea transfer hint on Instagram amid Xavi Simons talks

The west Londoners are set to be even more busy.

By
Emilio Galantini

Aug 5, 2025

Despite having already spent an estimated £277 million on incomings this summer, Chelsea have done extremely well to balance the books through outgoings, which will be imperative amid their pact with UEFA to produce a ‘positive transfer balance’.

If Carney Chukwuemeka seals his long-awaited return to Borussia Dortmund on a permanent deal, which could yield around £22 million, Chelsea’s money raised through outgoings will near the £250 million mark.

Given Raheem Sterling, Ben Chilwell, Axel Disasi, Christopher Nkunku, Alfie Gilchrist and Nicolas Jackson, among others, could also depart in the coming weeks, Chelsea are in a pretty healthy position to add Simons to their squad.

In what is a very exciting prospect for Enzo Maresca, a move for the 22-year-old is a separate topic to that of Man United winger Alejandro Garnacho, and Sky Sports reported earlier this week that Chelsea are in talks to sign both players.

Their move for Simons is believed to be the furthest along, though, with negotiations described as advanced by Fabrizio Romano and the player “clear” in his desire to leave Leipzig for Stamford Bridge.

As Chelsea attempt to make room for Simons, who’s racked up 21 goals and 23 assists in all competitions for Leipzig since the start of 2023/2024, Maresca has been sent an intriguing warning over the ex-PSG sensation.

Chelsea sent Xavi Simons warning as talks advance

Speaking on talkSPORT’s Trans Euro Express podcast, Bundesliga expert Kevin Hatchard has shared rumours he’s heard of potential attitude problems.

“He scores goals, he makes goals, he’s always trying to affect the game. He’s a real puzzle, Xavi, because I like watching him play. I like what he brings to a game. He’s got really silky skills,” said Hatchard.

“The debate in Germany has been: Is he a team player? Does he have attitude problems? All of that.

“Now, that might be paper talk. That might be just media noise, and it just isn’t true, because there are some coaches that speak up for him. But there are also coaches that have alluded to, he could be more of a team player, his attitude could be different, etc.”

The pundit also questioned how Simons would cope behind Cole Palmer in Maresca’s pecking order, as both men play in the same position.

“What I’m fascinated by is if he does go to Chelsea, how does he deal with not being the main man? Because he won’t be, because Cole Palmer’s the main man.

“He plays in Cole Palmer’s position. So he’s not going to be the main man. They might play him off the left, because he naturally gravitates to the left anyway.

“But I’m just fascinated to see how he deals with it, because it’s not a work-rate thing. The work rate’s there, because you don’t play for Leipzig if you don’t work without the ball. It’s not that.”

Leipzig’s demand for Simons is rumoured to be around £60 million, so the cost of a transfer mistake for BlueCo could be huge here if they get it wrong.

The last thing Maresca needs is another ‘Joao Felix-type’ scenario on his hands, so it will be very intriguing to see how Simons may fare in London.

Manchester United could now beat Manchester City to the signature of a “world-class” player, who could be essential to their top six push, according to a reporter.

Man Utd in line for successful season if Amorim fixes one issue

Despite suffering a 1-0 defeat against title-hopefuls Arsenal in their Premier League opening match, there were plenty of positives to take for Man United, with a number of their attackers looking threatening, including new arrivals Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha.

However, it was an error at the opposite end of the pitch that ultimately ended up costing the Red Devils, with goalkeeper Altay Bayindir failing to deal with Declan Rice’s corner, which led to Riccardo Calafiori’s goal.

With Andre Onana injured, Bayindir was given the nod between the sticks against the Gunners, however, after failing to deliver, Ruben Amorim may now be even more determined to bring in a new goalkeeper before the September 1st deadline.

Taking to X, Jan Aage Fjortoft has now revealed that Man United could still win the race for Paris Saint-Germain goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, who is also being targeted by rivals Manchester City.

INEOS love him: £40m+ midfielder now Man Utd's dream target after Baleba

A “phenomenal” central midfielder has emerged as a key target for the Red Devils.

By
Dominic Lund

Aug 21, 2025

However, in order to make a deal for Donnarumma a possibility, the Red Devils will have to take swift action first and ship out at least one of their goalkeepers, which could prove to be challenging. The reporter describes the PSG shot-stopper as “world-class”, while also insisting Amorim needs to sign a new goalkeeper if his side are to stand any chance of finishing in the top six this season.

However, United may have to move swiftly, given that Man City recently opened club-to-club talks over a deal for the £212k-a-week goalkeeper.

Donnarumma could be major upgrade on Onana

It would be a real coup if Man United were able to sign the 2024-25 Champions League-winning goalkeeper, and there is every indication that he would be a major upgrade on Onana, having outperformed the Cameroonian on several key metrics over the past year.

Despite being willing to sanction a departure this summer, PSG boss Luis Enrique also holds the Italian in very high regard, saying: “Donnarumma is one of the best goalkeepers in the world, no doubt, and even better as a person.”

As such, it is exciting news that Man United could still beat their rivals to the 26-year-old’s signature, and a deal may not break the bank, with a potential transfer fee of £22m recently being touted.

Vinicius Junior has revealed that teachings from former Real Madrid team-mate Luka Modric led to him scoring "one of his best goals ever" against Levante. The Brazilian winger opened the scoring for Los Blancos with a brilliant trivela shot before Franco Mastantuono doubled the lead in the first half. Kylian Mbappe then scored a brace to seal a thumping 4-1 win for the Spanish giants.

• Vinicus Junior scores outrageous goal

  Vinicius Junior mesmerised supporters with a stunning goal as he broke the deadlock against Levante in the 28th minute of the match. The Brazil international picked up the ball on the far side of the box before bending a superb shot into the net with the outside of his right foot. 

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  'Luka Modric taught me'

  After the match, Vinicius Jr credited Modric for inspiring the goal, as he told Real Madrid TV: "Luka Modric taught me [that kind of shot]. I miss him. But I'm very happy with the game, and with the win. Let's hope I can score more goals like that. It's one of the best goals I've scored with the outside of my foot."

• Vinicius in contract standoff with Real

  The Brazilian winger, who still has two years left in his existing deal at Santiago Bernabeu, is yet to agree to sign a new contract as he is reportedly demanding wages similar to Kylian Mbappe. Madrid are standing firm on their current stance and will not change their contract offer.

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  Madrid derby next for Los Blancos

  Vinicius and Real are now preparing for a derby clash against Atletico Madrid on Saturday. They are set to face Kairat in the Champions League three days later. Modric, meanwhile, is due back in action with new club AC Milan against Napoli in Serie A on Sunday.

With just two weeks remaining until the transfer window slams shut, Newcastle United have reportedly turned their focus towards a Champions League winner to replace Alexander Isak.

Latest on the Alexander Isak saga

It wasn’t so long ago that Isak was the talk of the toon for all good reasons. The Swede was wheeling away in celebration, ironically pointing back at the Liverpool backline after he sent Newcastle on their way to victory in the Carabao Cup final. Now, a great striker has gone on strike and been at the heart of the saga of the summer.

With the Premier League campaign now underway and Isak nowhere to be seen in the Newcastle squad, just where this saga goes next is difficult to say. Whilst he is doing everything to leave the Magpies – even going as far as moving out of his house in Tyneside – Newcastle won’t budge until their £150m price tag is matched, and they have a replacement.

Having his say on the matter in the build-up to the Aston Villa game, manager Eddie Howe told reporters: “We do [have to forget about Isak] – he’s not here with us.

“We have to focus on who is here and get the best out of them. The players are aware he’s not here, the focus will be on each player playing to the best of their ability. I want him to play. I want him to train. I’ve had those conversations [with Isak] but the details of those will remain private.”

Fabrizio Romano: Newcastle breakthrough to sign "amazing" ace is close

The Magpies could finally get their man.

By
Tom Cunningham

Aug 15, 2025

Meanwhile, the search for a replacement goes on. After missing out on Benjamin Sesko to Manchester United, Newcastle have reportedly looked at the likes of Samu Aghehowa and are closing in on a deal to sign Yoane Wissa, but one more name is also threatening to steal the headlines.

Newcastle "interested" in Gonçalo Ramos

As reported by Sky Sports’ Keith Downie, Newcastle are now “interested” in signing Goncalo Ramos from Paris Saint-Germain this summer, in what would be a “big transfer”, although the deal will not be an easy one to pull off.

The Portuguese forward did himself no harm in the shop window earlier this week when he emerged from the bench to equalise late on for PSG against Tottenham Hotspur in the Super Cup final.

The Champions League winner may not be first choice at PSG, but he would be the star man at St James’ Park. After scoring 19 goals in all competitions last season in a squad role, Ramos is more than capable of becoming the main man elsewhere.

Even in a bit-part role too, Luis Enrique was full of praise for his forward last season. The PSG boss told reporters in May: “He’s a wonderful player, capable of very high performances.

“If he plays a minute, he plays it very well. If he’s not on the pitch, he still helps the team. And today, he came into the starting eleven and scored three goals. So he’s a player who always performs at his best, and I would call him a guarantee.”

La Liga president Javier Tebas believes that Lamine Yamal only missed out on the 2025 Ballon d'Or because of his age. The Barcelona superstar was pipped to the post by Paris Saint-Germain ace Ousmane Dembele, but Tebas believes it is only a matter of time before the teenager picks up the prize as the world's best footballer.

• Yamal beaten by Dembele

  Dembele was crowned the Ballon d'Or winner on Monday evening as a reward for leading Paris Saint-Germain to treble glory in the 2024-25 campaign. Yamal finished second in the voting, at the age of just 18, and Tebas believes that the Barcelona superstar was only overlooked because of his youth.

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  Yamal's superb season

  The teenager scored 18 goals and registered 25 assists in 55 games in all competitions last season, as Barca won La Liga and the Copa del Rey, and he was crowned the winner of the Kopa Trophy; the prize given to the best player under the age of 21. Yamal is the first player ever to win the award twice. 

• Tebas predicts the future

  Tebas told reporters: "If he had been older than 23, he would have won it, too, I'm sure, but since he was younger, they gave him the other one [Kopa trophy]."

  He added: "If he continues at the level he's at, which seems likely, I think there's no doubt he'll win the Ballon d'Or."

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  Yamal nearing return from injury

  Yamal has been battling back from a groin injury, and could be given some minutes when Barcelona play Real Oviedo on Thursday. Hansi Flick's side are currently five points behind leaders Real Madrid in the La Liga table, but do have a game in hand on their arch-rivals.

The mood around Chelsea is undeniably electric at the moment.

Enzo Maresca’s side more than made up for their opening-day stumble at home with an emphatic win away to West Ham United on Friday, and look ready for what should be a massive season in the Premier League and beyond.

The club have more than backed the manager over the last few months, and with the window open for another week, looks set to make at least a couple more additions to his squad.

In fact, if reports are to be believed, Chelsea may be closing in on an international ace who’d be their own version of Eberechi Eze.

Chelsea target their own Eberechi Eze

They haven’t been the biggest spenders in the league this summer, but Chelsea have undoubtedly made the most out of the window so far.

Transfer Focus

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

In attack, the Conference League champions have added the likes of Jamie Gittens, Liam Delap and Joao Pedro, while the defence has been reinforced by the tremendously exciting Jorrel Hato.

Yet, even with all the business the West Londoners have done over the last few months, they now look set to complete another signing, someone who could be their own Eze.

At least that is according to a recent report from transfers expert Fabrizio Romano, who has reaffirmed Chelsea’s interest in Alejandro Garnacho.

More than that, the Italian journalist has revealed that the deal is now “expected” to happen before the window slams shut.

Romano does not mention how much the Manchester United ace might cost, but according to stories from earlier this month, the Blues could try to secure his services for around £25m.

Even if the final fee ends up being higher, Garnacho is worth signing for Chelsea, especially as he could be their own Eze.

Why Garnacho could be Chelsea's Eze

So the first thing to clear up is that no, we are not claiming Garnacho is currently on the same level as Eze.

That would be patently untrue and quite unfair to the United ace, as he’s still just 21 years old.

However, there are several similarities between the two, including their transfers.

For example, if the Argentine international does end up joining Maresca’s blue revolution this summer, then he’d be following the Englishman in joining not just a ‘big six’ side, but one based in London that will be looking to challenge for the Premier League this season.

Away from the deal, another key characteristic the Madrid-born ace shares with the former Crystal Palace star is his ability to play in attacking midfield or out on the left wing.

More than that, he’s also as much of a goal threat as he is a creator.

For example, the “superstar” in the making, as dubbed by journalist Liam Canning, was able to score 11 goals and provide ten assists in 58 appearances, totalling 3568 minutes.

That means he was able to average a goal involvement every 2.76 games, or 169.90 minutes, which is made all the more impressive considering he was playing in a historically terrible United side.

Finally, just as Eze has the ability to pull off the magnificent, so can Garnacho, with his Puskas winning goal against Everton a couple of years ago, the perfect example of this.

Ultimately, it may take some time for the United ace to reach the levels of the new Arsenal star, but the similarities between them are undeniable.

Therefore, Chelsea should do what they can to secure his services as soon as possible.

He's their next Palmer: Chelsea ace has held talks over leaving the Bridge

Chelsea really are having a summer clearout as this rising star looks set to be the next to leave.

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By
Kelan Sarson

Aug 25, 2025

Juventus’ goalless draw against AC Milan has reignited scrutiny of the Bianconeri’s faltering attack. Once famed for its ruthless efficiency, Juve have struggled to find a reliable frontman, a reality club legend Alessandro Del Piero did not shy away from addressing. The former Juventus striker tore into Igor Tudor’s side, insisting they have "no suitable" striker.

• Juventus' goalless frustration at the Allianz Stadium

  Juventus and Milan played out a tense 0-0 draw at the Allianz Stadium. Despite flashes of energy from Adrien Rabiot and Santiago Gimenez, Juventus once again failed to convert pressure into goals. Igor Tudor’s men remained compact defensively, with Michele Di Gregorio producing vital saves to deny Milan. But as minutes passed, Juve’s attack ran out of ideas, exposing a recurring problem – lack of sharpness in the final third. The draw extended their unbeaten run but underlined a deeper issue: a team defensively stable yet offensively stagnant. Reflecting on the game, former Italy international Del Piero also pointed out the lack of firepower in Juve's squad, insisting that the Serie A team has no one to lead them from the front. 

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  Del Piero’s shares his verdict on Juve's lack of firepower

  Speaking to Sky Sports, Juventus icon Del Piero didn’t mince words giving a scotching review of the game.

  “Who is best suited to play in attack for Juventus? There isn’t a suitable player right now,” Del Piero said bluntly. “Juve has shown they’re strong in other areas, certainly not up front. Those who have started have almost always performed poorly. Vlahovic has done well as a substitute.”

  The criticism went beyond personnel. Del Piero pointed to a deeper identity crisis. “If we analyse the five draws, you can say anything. Three of them came in dramatic fashion, as did the win against Inter. It’s complicated, the blanket is short. If you rotate a lot, you keep everyone on edge and give everyone confidence. But on the other hand, you lose your identity,” he said.

• Tudor has no clear ideas up front

  The former Juve forward further questioned Tudor’s tactical setup, suggesting that Juventus lack coherence in attack.

  “The team recognises itself in a starting eleven, which is missing today, especially up front. Elsewhere, in defense and midfield for example, the ideas are clear. Up front, Tudor still doesn’t have clear ideas,” Del Piero said.

  Del Piero further asserted that the current Juventus system limits the natural strengths of dynamic players like Kenan Yildiz and Francisco Conceicao. He called for the team to adopt a much higher tempo and sharper transitions, explaining that if the team plays with very high intensity and is more vertical, players like Yildiz and Conceicao can be "terrible" for opposing defences when given space.

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  Tudor's lesson from Milan draw

  The stalemate with Milan was more than dropped points, it was a reflection of an attack in transition and a club searching for direction. In their six games this season, Milan have scored just nine goals. 

Many people thought that Liverpool’s transition from life under Jurgen Klopp to their new era under Arne Slot would be a tough obstacle to navigate. However, that was not the case, given that the Reds stormed the Premier League in the Dutchman’s first season at the helm at Anfield.

In the end, it was a landslide victory for the Merseysiders, who finished on 84 points, ten points clear of second-place Arsenal. They also scored more goals than any other side, finding the back of the net 86 times throughout the course of the season.

In what was a memorable first campaign for Slot, there were some real standout players for the Reds.

Liverpool’s standout players in 24/25

Of course, the key to Liverpool winning the title last season was Mohamed Salah. The 33-year-old won the Golden Boot by some distance, scoring 29 times and assisting a further 18 in the 38 top-flight games.

In terms of attacking output, the now-departed Luis Diaz scored 13 times and assisted seven in the top flight, and Cody Gakpo bagged ten goals and set up five more.

Behind Salah, they were Liverpool’s most dangerous attackers.

Naturally, the Reds were strong at the back last season, with Alisson and Virgil van Dijk two key components to Slot’s title-winning success. However, Ibrahima Konate was “the best defender in the Premier League” according to former Chelsea and Arsenal centre-back William Gallas.

The 25-year-old, who signed for Liverpool from RB Leipzig in 2021, played 31 games in the top flight, forming a near-unbreachable partnership with Van Dijk. Konate even chipped in with one goal and two assists.

It was not just the likes of Salah, Gakpo and Konate who were the star men for Liverpool last season. One man in midfield really stood out, putting in consistently excellent performances week in, week out.

How Gravenberch's value has soared under Slot

Despite a transfer window in 2025 where Liverpool spent hundreds of millions of pounds, much of the squad that won the title last season was built by Klopp. Slot certainly landed on a formula that was able to secure the league with a squad that was, ultimately, not his.

One of those key players last term was Ajax academy graduate Ryan Gravenberch. The 23-year-old formed a hard-working midfield alongside the likes of Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai, sitting as a lone number six in front of the back four.

His importance to Slot’s side is clear to see when you look at the number of games he played last term. Gravenberch featured in 49 matches across competitions, with 37 of those games coming in the Premier League.

Described as a “special” midfielder by football scout Antonio Mango, the former Ajax star excels at carrying the ball through the lines. That is a self-professed skill of his, with the Dutchman explaining that when he can “break through the lines and open up in the play, I really enjoy that”, as the clip below shows.

His underlying numbers from last term show just how well-rounded the 23-year-old is as a number six.

For example, he averaged 14.4 forward passes and won 5.5 duels on average per 90 minutes, showing two different sides of him as a midfielder.

With all this in mind, it might not be a surprise to learn that Gravenberch’s value has shot up since Slot guided Liverpool to the title, as per Transfermarkt. When Klopp departed Anfield at the end of 2024, he was worth just £30m, having started just 21 games under the German the year prior.

Now, his value has risen by 116% under his countryman. The ex-Bayern Munich midfielder is valued at £65m, over double his value just over a year ago. That is a real testament to how well he has performed.

Slot winning the league with a Klopp-built squad at the first time of asking was certainly impressive, and Gravenberch is certainly a success story. His huge increase in value certainly shows that.

Signed for £5m, sold for 450% more: Liverpool hit gold with the original Wirtz

Liverpool’s original version of Wirtz was sold for a healthy profit.

By
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