Em processo de recuperação após realizar uma cirurgia no rim, Gerson retornou ao centro de treinamentos do Flamengo, mas deve perder o início da fase de grupos da Copa Libertadores.
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O meia, que reassumiu a camisa 8 após a saída de Thiago Maia, foi submetido a uma pieloplastia para corrigir uma estenose no ureter. Segundo Bruno Benigno, urologista do Hospital Oswaldo Cruz, o tempo de recuperação é de, no mínimo, 45 dias.
– O prazo de recuperação depende da atividade física do atleta. Para atividades intensas, com risco de impacto, o tempo de recuperação varia de 45 dias a dois meses, dois meses e meio – revelou o profissional.
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Portanto, Gerson não estará à disposição da comissão técnica da equipe carioca para as primeiras partidas do torneio continental, que começa no dia 3 de abril.
Capitão do Flamengo de Tite, o meio-campista acumula seis gols e 12 assistências em 66 partidas desde que retornou à Gávea.
CONFIRA DETALHES DA CIRURGIA DE GERSON
Como funciona uma a cirurgia de pieloplastia?
– Pieloplastia é um procedimento cirúrgico que significa a reconstrução do sistema que drena a urina, filtrada pelo rim e tem que ser direcionada para o ureter, o tubo que liga o rim à bexiga. A pieloplastia trata o estreitamento deste canal. É uma reconstrução de um canal que está em formato de ampulheta.
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Ela pode ser feita de três formas, de forma aberta, tradicional, por cortes. Por cortes pela laparoscopia, através de furos, ou com laparoscopia robótica, um método mais moderno e preciso”.
Possíveis dificuldades no retorno às atividades
– 10 a 20% dos pacientes em casos congênitos apresentam casos leves, e o diagnóstico não é feito na infância, e o paciente descobre na fase adulta a estenose de JUP.
Ele pode ter cólica renal, náusea, infecção urinária, vômito, formação de pedras no rim. Assim o paciente é direcionado para tratamento cirúrgico, que é a pieloplastia. Não existe medicação ou tratamento alternativo que faça a correção desta condição sem a necessidade de intervenção cirúrgica.
Former Tottenham manager Glenn Hoddle has tipped a ‘world-class’ member of Thomas Frank’s squad to snub new contract talks amid interest from world football’s elite sides.
Tottenham enjoy mini Thomas Frank revival after two consecutive wins
Frank’s Tottenham tenure was heading towards crisis territory just days ago, but consecutive victories over Brentford and Slavia Prague have injected fresh optimism into a campaign that threatened to derail completely.
Saturday’s 2-0 triumph against Brentford represented far more than three precious points — it also went a long way to vindicating Frank’s approach after mounting pressure following a dismal five-match winless streak.
The victory, sealed through first-half strikes from Richarlison and Xavi Simons, ended Tottenham’s agonizing wait for a home Premier League win since their opening-day demolition of Burnley.
Frank described the performance as “very complete,” highlighting his side’s dynamism, unpredictability and defensive discipline that restricted Brentford to just four attempts throughout the match.
Owen Hargreaves says "exceptional" Tottenham star outshone Simons against Prague
It was a great night for Spurs in Europe.
By
Emilio Galantini
5 days ago
Simons, who has attracted criticism since his £52 million arrival from RB Leipzig, put in a Player of the Match display.
The Netherlands international orchestrated both goals, curving his run brilliantly to deliver Richarlison’s tap-in before producing a sensational solo effort, driving from halfway into Brentford’s penalty area to slide past Caoimhin Kelleher.
Tuesday’s 3-0 Champions League victory over Slavia Prague continued the momentum, extending Tottenham’s remarkable home European record to 23 consecutive matches without defeat.
An own goal from David Zima, and penalties from Mohammed Kudus and Simons, elevated Spurs into the top eight of the Champions League standings with 11 points from six games.
Kudus was Tottenham’s ‘best player by far’ on the night as he continues to justify his £55 million transfer from West Ham in the summer, but Micky van de Ven once again proved himself indispensable too.
According to recent reports, Spurs are ready to offer van de Ven a ‘double your money’ contract in an attempt to ward off the likes of Real Madrid and Chelsea, who’ve shown interest in the Dutchman.
Van de Ven is an indispensable member of the Lilywhites backline and scored what was perhaps their goal of the season against FC Copenhagen recently, mimicking Son Heung-min’s famous Puskas winner with a mazy run from deep inside his own half.
Interest in the 24-year-old is inevitable, with Hoddle now commenting on the defender’s long-term future.
Glenn Hoddle tips van de Ven to snub Tottenham contract offer
Amid claims that Spurs are eager to tie down their superstar centre-back, Hoddle has now told Capital Football that he expects van de Ven to snub Tottenham’s advances over a new deal.
Hoddle adds that he is the club’s ‘only’ world-class player, and could ply his trade at basically any team in the world.
The former Wolfsburg star was also a vital member of Ange Postecoglou’s team and key to the Australian’s high line. Whenever van de Ven was absent through injury, you noticed, and he’d be an equally hard player to replace for Frank.
Goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario is the only Spurs star to play more Premier League minutes this season than van de Ven, highlighting just how pivotal he is for Tottenham’s new boss.
Replacing him would be a near-impossible task, but luckily for the club, he’s already contracted until 2029.
Major League Baseball umpire Ron Kulpa had a night to forget Tuesday in Minnesota as he missed a wild amount of calls while working home plate in the Twins' 9-1 victory over the visiting Baltimore Orioles.
Kulpa, whose struggles have been well documented before, had the announcers shaking their heads all night as he missed 18 calls. Here's a sampling of the announcers' reactions to those misses.
“Ohhhh that was called a strike but that was ball four.”
“That’s the fastball he took for ball one to begin the at bat.”
“Oh, he got that call. Fooled Ron Kulpa there.”
“He got a gift on a curveball.”
Here's video proof of his mistakes.
Twins manager Rocco Baldelli could be heard yelling at Kulpa during the seventh inning.
Tottenham Hotspur’s Europa League triumph in the 2024/25 campaign allowed numerous players to write themselves into the club’s history books forever.
The Lilywhites ended their 17-year wait for a piece of silverware, and did so in tremendous fashion after defeating fellow Premier League side Manchester United in Bilbao.
Ange Postecoglou handed the fanbase memories to last a lifetime with the triumph, but it wasn’t enough to maintain his position as manager in North London.
Thomas Frank was elected as the man to take the reins during the summer, with the Dane handed the responsibility of taking the club to the next level after the European success.
However, his appointment has prevented numerous players from kicking on in their careers, with the first-team members often struggling to replicate the form they demonstrated under the Aussie.
The biggest losers from Thomas Frank's appointment at Spurs
Yves Bissouma was often one of Postecoglou’s first names on the teamsheet during the 2024/25 campaign, as seen by his tally of 44 appearances across all competitions.
The Malian international featured in 11 of the 15 club’s European outings last campaign, but it’s safe to say his spell under Frank has been far from successful to date.
He was left out of the club’s UEFA Super Cup final after being late numerous times, resulting in missing out on the club’s Premier League squad for the current 2025/26 campaign.
However, he’s not alone in that regard, with Brennan Johnson one of the Lilywhites’ most important players in the previous campaign, as seen by his phenomenal goalscoring record.
The Welshman scored 18 times across all competitions – even netting the winner in the Europa League final – subsequently ending the year as the club’s top goalscorer.
Like Bissouma, he’s struggled for consistency this time around, with the 24-year-old only starting five league games out of a possible 11 since Frank took charge in the summer.
Mohammed Kudus’ arrival has no doubt pushed him down the pecking order, with the manager seemingly preferring the Ghanaian international over him at present.
Spurs star is no longer "one of the best in the world"
Spurs’ £120m spending spree during the summer window has made competition for places even tougher in 2025/26, with the first-team now having incredible depth in certain areas of the squad.
Given the number of competitions the Lilywhites are currently featuring in this season, it’s crucial Frank has the ability to rotate and rest certain players when needed.
Competitions such as the Premier League and Champions League will likely take priority, which has seen numerous players have to settle for minutes off the bench as a result.
Djed Spence has taken his career in North London to the next level over the last couple of years, with the full-back taking advantage of the injury crisis last campaign.
The Englishman made himself a regular starter under Ange last campaign, which has resulted in the 25-year-old now becoming an international regular under Thomas Tuchel.
His starts at right-back has provided competition for Pedro Porro in such an area of the pitch, with the Spaniard often missing out from the starting eleven as a result in recent months.
The 26-year-old has become known for his ability in possession rather than out of it, with Spence the complete opposite and making him an excellent fit for Frank’s system.
In 2024/25, Porro registered nine assists across all competitions, the most in a single season since his move to England – resulting in one journalist labelling him the “best in the world”.
However, in the ongoing campaign, the full-back has only registered one assist to date – showcasing his struggles – with his underlying stats also a cause for concern.
He’s completed just 72% of the passes he’s attempted to date, with such a tally ranking him in the bottom 8% of all players in England’s top-flight this season.
Pedro Porro – stats in the PL (25/26)
Statistics (per 90)
Tally
Games played
11
Goals & assists
1
Passes completed
72%
Crosses completed
17%
Duels won
3.9
Times dribbled past
1.3
Fouls committed
1.3
Dribble success
42%
Stats via FotMob
Porro’s crossing success has also taken a massive hit in recent months, as the Spaniard has only completed a total of 17% of his efforts as of the middle of November.
Out of possession, he’s struggled just as much, as seen by his tally of just 3.9 duels won per 90, with such a figure placing him in the bottom 25% of all defenders in the league.
His lack of defensive talent is also evident in his tally of being dribbled past 1.3 times per 90, which is higher than 82% of other full-backs in the division at present.
Such numbers will certainly be a cause for concern to the manager, especially given the quality of players such as Spence already on the books in North London.
Despite his form under Ange, Porro could now find himself on borrowed time in the near future, with the hierarchy potentially tempted to cash in on him and invest in other areas of the squad.
He can end Bentancur's stay: Spurs gem is showing "shades of Mousa Dembele"
Tottenham Hotspur have a star who could end Rodrigo Bentancur’s career in North London.
Chelsea have already reached out for discussions with the representatives of Juventus sensation Kenan Yildiz, with Enzo Maresca hatching a new tactical plan involving Cole Palmer.
The west Londoners have lost three out of their last five Premier League games and narrowly escaped with a thrilling 4-3 win away to bottom side Wolves in the Carabao Cup earlier this week.
Despite spending nearly £300 million in the summer transfer window, there is clearly still work to be done from Chelsea’s perspective, and reports suggest that Juventus are even taking an interest in Maresca ahead of next summer.
The Old Lady appointed Luciano Spalletti on an interim basis until the end of the season, but if that doesn’t work out and Maresca fails to turn the tide at Stamford Bridge, a move to Juve could be on the cards in 2026.
In the meantime, Chelsea’s manager is surely tasked with finishing in the top four at the very least, and preferably adding more silverware to the club’s trophy cabinet after their Conference League and Club World Cup triumphs earlier this year.
According to some reports, Maresca is still quite unhappy with the options he has at Chelsea right now, so January could be a key month despite heavy summer backing in the market.
The most obvious area Chelsea are short in is centre-back, with ex-midfielder John Obi-Mikel claiming that the Blues will get nowhere near a Premier League title boasting that backline.
Ahead of the winter window’s opening, reports suggest that Chelsea are prioritising a new centre-back, with Levi Colwill expected to be out until spring 2026 after rupturing his ACL in pre-season.
However, they could also land a new forward, and have been linked with Yildiz as a serious option.
Chelsea make "very exciting" Yildiz offer amid Cole Palmer plan
Fabrizio Romano says that Chelsea “really like” the Turkey international who’s dazzled as Juve’s star attacker since the beginning of last season.
Yildiz racked up 12 goals and nine assists in all competitions across 2024/2025, finishing the campaign as their best-performing regular with over 10 starts, going by average match rating per 90 minutes (WhoScored).
The 20-year-old also made more key passes per 90 and completed more take-ons in the final third than any of his teammates, with Yildiz starting 25/26 in equally imperious fashion.
Juventus 2-0 Parma Calcio
8.88
Juventus 4-3 Inter Milan
8.51
Juventus 3-1 Udinese
7.55
Atalanta 1-1 Juventus
7.10
Genoa 0-1 Juventus
7.04
via WhoScored
He has seven goal contributions in 12 appearances already this term, attracting serious interest from Stamford Bridge.
According to TEAMtalk, Chelsea have “discreetly” reached out to Yildiz’s camp with a “very exciting” offer to join them, and Italian insiders are adamant that Maresca’s side are in pole position to land him.
This comes as Maresca hatches a plan to partner the young Turk with Palmer up front, as Chelsea see him as the “ideal” player to link up with their England superstar.
However, there are major obstacles to overcome in this would-be transfer — mainly Juve’s minimum demand of around £79 million — with Real Madrid also in the race.
Los Blancos are described as a “major threat” to Chelsea in pursuit of Yildiz, and the player is apparently very enticed by Xabi Alonso’s side as a possible destination.
There is also the matter of Juve apparently stepping up new contract talks to keep him out of rival clutches, so Chelsea could have to launch the kitchen sink if this move has any chance of happening.
Chelsea have been offered another Juventus star too
يرى داني ميرفي، النجم السابق لفريق ليفربول، أن المصري محمد صلاح لعب دورًا في تفوق مانشستر سيتي على حامل لقب الدوري الإنجليزي، في مباراتهما مساء أمس.
واستضاف ملعب “الاتحاد” مباراة فريقي مانشستر سيتي وليفربول، في قمة منافسات الجولة الحادية عشر من الدوري الإنجليزي، حيث خسر حامل اللقب بثلاثة أهداف دون رد.
وكتب داني ميرفي، عبر شبكة “بي بي سي” العالمية: “كان جيريمي دوكو رائعًا للغاية مع مانشستر سيتي في فوزهم يوم الأحد، لكن تكتيكات ليفربول كانت السبب في قدرته على الانطلاق بقوة على يمينهم”.
وأضاف: “بدون عودة محمد صلاح للمراقبة الدفاعية، كانت كتيبة آرني سلوت دائمًا عرضة للخطر في تلك الجهة من الملعب، وشعرت بالأسف تجاه كونور برادلي، الذي كان يحاول إيقاف دوكو، لكن كان عليه أيضًا القلق بشأن نيكو أوريلي”.
وواصل: “حتى لو وجد ليفربول توازنًا أفضل وكان لديه جناح يمنح برادلي دعمًا دفاعيًا أكبر أو يضغط على مساحات مانشستر سيتي، فمع أسلوب لعب دوكو، كان من شبه المستحيل إيقافه”.
وأردف: “كان دوكو ممتع للمشاهدة، بغض النظر عن الفريق الذي تشجعه أو الفريق الذي ترغب في فوزه، كان عليك الإعجاب بمهارته وسرعته وقوته وشجاعته، وكان هدفه مذهلًا، لكن طريقة لعب ليفربول ساعدته على التألق”.
واستكمل: “كان دوكو لاعبًا حيويًا ونجم تلك المباراة، كان هذا أفضل أداء رأيته له بقميص مانشستر سيتي، لكن عدم تكليف محمد صلاح بالدفاع سهّل عليه الأمر كثيرًا، لقد أصبحت هذه المنطقة من الملعب خصبة للغاية بالنسبة لمانشستر سيتي، وكانت أحد الأسباب التي جعلتهم يفوزون بسهولة في النهاية”.
واسترسل: “سيقول الكثيرون إن ليفربول حقق نجاحًا لسنوات دون أن يتراجع محمد صلاح من أجل الواجب الدفاعي، وفي حين أنه دافع بشكل أكبر تحت قيادة كلوب، إلا إنه قد تحدث الموسم الماضي عن عدم منحه الكثير من المسؤولية الدفاعية من جانب سلوت، وعن دى استمتاعه بذلك، ولنتذكر أن ليفربول فاز بلقب الدوري وهو يلعب بتلك الطريقة”.
وأوضح: “ولكن هناك فرق بين عدم القيام بذلك أبدًا والقيام به أحيانًا، بالنظر إلى الموسم الماضي عندما فاز ليفربول على ملعب الاتحاد، كان أداء صلاح الدفاعي من بين أفضل ما رأيته منه، هذه المرة (أمس) أعتقد أن الأمر يعود إليه ربما، لأنه رأى كيف أن برادلي كان يمر بوقت عصيب، كان عليه التفكير آنذاك في مساعدته، حتى لو كان ذلك لمدة 15 أو 30 دقيقة فقط، من أجل مساعدة ليفربول للعودة إلى أجواء المباراة”.
وشدد: “أنا لا أقول إن محمد صلاح يجب أن يصبح لاعبًا مختلفًا تمامًا الآن، فأنت لا تريده أن يركض للخلف كلما تفقد الكرة، لأنك أحيانًا تريده مستعدًا للانتقال حيث يكون أوريلي خارج موقعه، وكاد صلاح أن يسجل عدة مرات بتلك الطريقة يوم الأحد، بفضل سرعته، لكن يجب أن يكون هناك توازن”.
واختتم: “ففي مباراة مثل هذه، حيث يتسبب دوكو في إرهاق ظهيره الأيمن، لمدة 20 دقيقة، حينها يمكنك المساعدة حتى لو قيل لك إنه ليس عليك فعل ذلك، لا أفهم لماذا لم يفعل محمد صلاح ذلك إطلاقًا”.
Manchester United will hope to strategise for the long-term under INEOS and could now be set to up their pursuit of a talented teenager who may arrive at Old Trafford.
Manchester United's long-held relationship with developing talent
Whether it be integrating graduates from Carrington or buying young talent before developing them into first-team stars, the Red Devils have a long history of promoting prodigious assets and it is something that has characterized the backbone of the club.
Since 1937, Manchester United’s proud record of having an academy player present in every matchday squad has never faded, though it has been at risk one too many times under Ruben Amorim.
Either way, the Red Devils have made a concerted effort to recruit youngsters of late, with Sekou Kone and Diego Leon examples of investments for the future.
JJ Gabriel and Chido Obi Martin are also highly promising Red Devils’ talents, while Ayden Heaven’s emergence since joining from Arsenal has saw the defender make several first-team appearances.
Ultimately, the aim is to build a pipeline of future senior stars under INEOS, easing pressure on the club to buy players and, in turn, reducing the impact that PSR regulations will have on their ability to spend.
"Can't cope" – Paul Scholes slams incapable Man Utd trio ahead of Liverpool game
The Red Devils legend has given a scathing assessment.
ByTom Cunningham Oct 19, 2025
Years under the Glazers resulted in mounting debt, but there is now a feeling that sustainability is achievable with the correct measures put in place in Manchester, albeit this process will take time and patience.
Expectation to claim results at Old Trafford will always be paramount. However, seeing a plan in place will afford the club more patience as they aim to get back among the Premier League elite.
With that in mind, Manchester United have a new talent on their mind who has plenty of promise and could come in to strengthen the ranks at youth level.
Man Utd eyeing move for Coventry City youngster George Shephard
According to The Daily Mail, Manchester United are eyeing a move for Coventry City youngster George Shephard, who is already loved by Frank Lampard as he was on the bench for the Championship outfit in their victory over Blackburn Rovers on Saturday.
This follows an impressive string of performances for their Under-21 side, offering recognition for displays as he remains someone who could be fast-tracked into the senior set-up on a more regular basis.
Predominantly used on the right flank or as an attacking midfielder, Shephard is yet to sign professional forms at Coventry and his situation has alerted a number of clubs, including Manchester United.
Now, it remains to be seen whether the prospect of developing at Carrington would appeal to him as he looks to make a mark in senior football. Most young players would jump at the chance, so it will be intriguing to see if he makes the jump.
Tottenham Hotspur have come on leaps and bounds over the last couple of years, as seen by some of the achievements on the field under various managers.
Ange Postecoglou may have been handed his marching orders over the summer window, but he managed to achieve something which various managers have failed to do in North London.
The Aussie claimed the Europa League title with a victory over fellow Premier League side Manchester United in Bilbao, subsequently ending the 17-year trophy drought.
However, it wasn’t enough to keep his job, with the 60-year-old replaced by Thomas Frank, with the Dane tasked with the responsibility of taking the Lilywhites to the next level.
Their ability to win the Europa League has allowed the club to feature in the Champions League, whilst also recruiting some top-level talent in the process.
How Spurs struck gold in Daniel Levy's final window
During the recent summer window, Frank made a beeline to improve his forward line, subsequently making a move to land Mohammed Kudus from rivals West Ham United.
The Ghanaian cost a reported £55m during the off-season, but he’s already shown glimpses of being a shrewd addition for the Lilywhites in 2025/26 and beyond.
He’s registered five assists in his first ten outings in North London, as per Transfermarkt, with the forward also getting off the mark during the recent 2-1 win over Leeds United, lashing home from just outside the box.
Kudus wasn’t the only big-money addition during the off-season, with the hierarchy also forking out £52m for the signature of attacking midfielder Xavi Simons from RB Leipzig.
A new number ten was on the agenda all summer long, subsequently landing the Dutchman after missing out on the likes of Eberechi Eze and Morgan Gibbs-White prior to his arrival.
The 22-year-old has so far made seven outings across all competitions, but unlike Kudus, he’s failed to find the net and has also only registered one assist in the process.
Despite the aforementioned additions, one other player in the first-team is rapidly becoming a better signing than the pair after establishing himself in Frank’s plans.
The Spurs star who’s becoming a better signing than Kudus & Simons
Over the last couple of years, Spurs haven’t been afraid to splash the cash to help them achieve their goals on the pitch, with the hierarchy spending well over £400m in the last three years.
Numerous areas of the pitch have been subject to investment, as seen by the additions within the final third, but the defensive unit has also been bolstered in recent years.
The partnership of Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero at the heart of the backline has already contributed to Frank’s side keeping five clean sheets in 2025/26 to date.
However, the middle of the park is arguably one of the most important, with Lucas Bergvall already making huge strides after the Dane took the reins during the off-season.
The Swede was an unknown quantity to many a little over 12 months ago, when the hierarchy forked out a fee in the region of £8.5m for his services from Djurgarden.
Yet, swiftly said to possess “a first touch like Modric” by the Athletic’s JJ Bull, at the age of just 18 when he moved to England, the midfielder made an immediate impact during his debut campaign – racking up 45 appearances across all competitions.
Whilst he’s primarily a deep-lying option, he managed to net his first goal for the club in the Carabao Cup semi-final over Liverpool – but it was unable to catapult the side to the final.
The 2025/26 campaign has seen the youngster go from strength to strength, already featuring in ten outings under Frank and leading to Squawka describing him as “incredible”.
Bergvall has already added to his goalscoring tally, netting his first English top-flight effort in the recent 3-0 triumph over West Ham at the London Stadium.
Lucas Bergvall – PL stats (2025/26)
Statistics (per 90)
Tally
Games played
6
Goals & assists
2
Pass accuracy
84%
Dribble success
70%
Tackles won
2.2
Duels won
5.2
Recoveries made
3.9
Shots taken
1.5
Stats via FotMob
His underlying stats this season are just as impressive, making 2.2 tackles per 90 and winning 5.2 duels per 90 – subsequently showcasing his excellent ability to regain possession for the side, before transferring the ball into attacking areas for the likes of Kudus and Simons.
The Swede has also achieved an 84% pass completion rate, whilst also completing 70% of the dribbles he’s attempted – arguably being the perfect box-to-box option at the heart of the team.
At just 19, it’s scary to think about how impressive Bergvall can become in the years ahead, especially if he continues on the trajectory he’s put himself on in recent months.
There’s no disputing that Kudus and Simons will be excellent additions in the near future, but the move for Bergvall was a bargain and one that could go down as one of the best in their history if he reaches his full potential.
It's not Kudus: Spurs talent could now steal the #10 shirt from Maddison
Tottenham Hotspur have a star who looks set for a huge future at the club in the years ahead.
Despite spending more than £400m in the summer transfer window, Liverpool are now reportedly preparing an aggressive approach to sign another impressive player ahead of Barcelona.
Wirtz knows what he's "capable of" after slow start
For all of Liverpool’s spending, it’s been the old guard maintaining their 100% record at times. Whilst Hugo Ekitike has found his feet right away, Florian Wirtz hasn’t registered a goal involvement since the Community Shield, Milos Kerkez has had weaknesses exposed and Alexander Isak is still getting back to full sharpness.
Out of all those players, Wirtz has arguably received the most criticism. The German become the Premier League’s most expensive player for a brief moment before Isak made his move, but has so far failed to match the physicality of English football.
Glimpses of quality began to emerge against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League, but it wasn’t enough to keep his place as Arne Slot dropped his new signing for Alexis Mac Allister in the Merseyside derby. Wirtz, however, is far from worried – telling Sky Germany that he knows what he’s “capable of”.
In the meantime, Liverpool sit five points clear at the top of the Premier League with the only 100% record. If there’s any environment that will gift Wirtz the patience that he needs, it is Anfield and Arne Slot’s side who have remained perfect without his heavy influence.
Even after that slow start, Liverpool are not deterred. In fact, reports are now suggesting that they’re ready to spend big once again on a player who could even combine with Wirtz.
Liverpool planning aggressive Alvarez approach
According to reports in Spain, Liverpool are now planning an aggressive approach to sign Julian Alvarez and are the best placed side to lure the Atletico Madrid star back to the Premier League ahead of Barcelona.
If Liverpool’s frontline looks dangerous now, then it will look an even greater threat with a player of Alvarez’s quality added. The Argentina international is already a Premier League winner from during his time at Manchester City and has since become Atletico’s leading star.
Appearances
57
Goals
29
Assists
8
With 37 goal involvements in his debut campaign for Atletico, Alvarez proved to be worth every penny of his £81m transfer fee and could soon find himself on the move once again.
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Diego Simeone will, of course, be desperate to keep hold of his star man. The iconic manager was full of praise for the Liverpool target last season, telling reporters: “Julián is having a great season, we went looking for that player, we need that player, especially at times during the match against Sevilla and today [when] he took on the offensive role. We need those characteristics.”
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.
Manchester United's AlejandroGarnachoduring training
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.
Garnacho in 24/25
Appearances
58
Minutes
3568′
Goals
11
Assists
10
Goal Involvements per Match
0.36
Minutes per Goal Involvements
169.90′
All Stats via Transfermarkt
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.
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