Arsenal have sent out scouts to watch Bayer Leverkusen winger Moussa Diaby in action, according to reports.
The Lowdown: Attracting interest
The Frenchman still has three years remaining on his contract with the Bundesliga outfit, but he’s been the standout performer in what can only be described as a disappointing start to the season for Gerardo Seoane’s side.
Several Premier League clubs have picked up on the 23-year-old’s impressive displays, with the Gunners having expressed an interest in signing him over the summer.
No deal ever came to fruition before the deadline, but it appears that Edu has again stepped up his pursuit of the talent and is keen to bring him to the Emirates.
The Latest: Arsenal scout Diaby
According to 90min, Arsenal ‘representatives’ were ‘in attendance’ to watch Diaby during Bayer’s Champions League victory over Atletico Madrid in midweek.
It’s stated that the Gunners hold a ‘long-standing interest’ in the forward, and were ‘impressed’ by his performance under the European lights.
Officials from Manchester City, Tottenham Hotspur, Chelsea and Newcastle United were also there to overlook him.
The Verdict: Get it done…
It’s common knowledge that Mikel Arteta has made it his priority to sign a new winger in January, and Diaby is the profile of player that would flourish under his guidance.
The Paris-born ace, dubbed ‘electric’ by football talent scout Jacek Kulig, netted an outstanding 17 goals and provided 14 assists across all competitions last season (Transfermarkt), showing how prolific he can be in the final third.
Glasgow Rangers have endured a difficult start to the 2022/23 campaign domestically and in Europe under manager Giovanni van Bronckhorst.
The Gers are currently second in the Premiership and have already been beaten 3-0 by their arch-rivals in the first Old Firm clash of the season.
They did enjoy a sublime start to their European campaign by qualifying for the group stages of the Champions League, beating PSV 3-2 on aggregate in the play-off.
However, they have lost 4-0 to both Napoli and Ajax in their first two group matches and they now face a double-header against Liverpool, who made the final of the competition last term.
Van Bronckhorst was backed in the summer transfer window as Ross Wilson brought in a host of new signings to bolster the starting XI.
Among their fresh arrivals, Rangers signed two centre-backs to improve their options at the heart of the backline. They allowed Leon Balogun to depart on a free transfer and snapped up Ben Davies from Liverpool and John Souttar from Hearts on permanent deals.
After signing the latter, a Scotland international, it was reported that the club were in a “strong position” to sign Danilho Doekhi on a Bosman.
Instead of ending up at Ibrox, the defender secured a free transfer to Bundesliga outfit Union Berlin after his contract at Vitesse came to an end.
Rangers may now regret failing to snap the 24-year-old up as he is an impressive and young central defender who could have been an excellent addition to the squad.
Thomas Letsch, his former coach, previously heaped praise on him, saying:
“He already played fantastic last year and this season he has performed at the highest level in every game. Danilho makes almost no mistakes and is an absolute team player, a very calm player. flat developed. He coaches other players very well. He is calmer than other players and perhaps that makes him less noticeable, but he is the reserve captain for a reason.”
The Union Berlin man has averaged a SofaScore rating of 7.25 in the Bundesliga this season, making 5.5 tackles and interceptions per game and winning 57% of his duels. He also received a rating of 7.4 in his first Europa League appearance, making 6.0 tackles and interceptions combined and winning 80% of his battles.
This comes after he managed a rating of 7.03 in the Eredivisie for Vitesse last term across 29 appearances, which shows that he is capable of delivering consistently impressive displays.
Meanwhile, Davies has struggled with injuries and has only played once in the Premiership this term, recording a SofaScore rating of 6.90.
If the trend of this season continues and the Welshman is unable to get himself off and running, whilst Doekhi catches the eye in Germany, then Rangers may regret their actions over the summer.
West Ham United summer signing Flynn Downes has been praised by sections of the media after his brilliant display against FCSB on Thursday evening.
The Lowdown: Hammers fight back…
The Hammers made hard work of their 3-1 opening group game victory over FCSB in the UEFA Europa Conference League last night with David Moyes’ side having to fight back from a goal down.
Steaua took a shock first half lead, prompting a hat-trick of West Ham changes at half time with Michail Antonio, Lucas Paqueta and Jarrod Bowen all coming on for Manuel Lanzini, Said Benrahma and striker Gianluca Scamacca.
Moyes’ switch up paid dividends with the likes of Antonio and Bowen changing the complexion of the game.
Indeed, Bowen’s penalty, Emerson Palmieri’s strike and man of the match Antonio’s last minute effort clinched all three points for the Premier League side.
The Latest: Downes praised…
One player who put in a consistent, impressive showing for the entirety of West Ham’s 90 minutes was young summer acquisition Downes.
Members of the media were certainly quick to praise the midfielder, stating;
“Downes should start against Newcastle. Goodnight.” – Joshua Mbu, journalist for The Sun (via Twitter).
“Michail Antonio completely changed the game. The attack still doesn’t work without him. No place for Scamacca if Antonio is fit. Flynn Downes has looked like a good alternative to Soucek too.” – Tom Rennie, broadcaster for talkSPORT (via Twitter).
The Verdict: Huge potential…
Downes, despite his young age, looked assured and reliable next to superstar Declan Rice.
As backed by SofaScore, the Englishman finished West Ham’s win as one of their best-rated players with a 7.3/10 performance – completing 92% of his passes, making three tackles and winning an impressive 6/8 of his overall duels.
Going by his impressive outing, Irons supporters could be about to watch a player with real potential throughout 2022/2023.
كشف وليد صلاح الدين مدير الكرة بـ الأهلي، عن تفاصيل اختيار ييس توروب لـ قيادة الجهاز الفني لفريق الكرة، موضحًا آخر التطورات الخاصة بتجديد عقود اللاعبين في الفترة المقبلة.
وكان الأهلي قد تعادل أمام الجيش الملكي بنتيجة 1-1، في المواجهة التي جمعت بينهما ضمن لقاءات بطولة دوري أبطال إفريقيا.
وقال وليد صلاح الدين في تصريحات تلفزيونية عبر قناة “النهار”: “عند اختيار المدير الفني، أول مدرب تعاملنا معه عبر اجتماع على زوم كان توروب، وأعجبنا به جدًا لأنه كان واقعيًا جدًا وسألنا في كل شيء، وكافة المعايير انطبقت عليه”.
وواصل: “شاهدنا عددًا من السير الذاتية لعدد كبير من المدربين الكبار، وكلّنا شعرنا بالارتياح واستقرّ رأينا على اختيار توروب، ووجدنا أنه مؤهّل من جميع الجوانب”.
طالع | الأهلي يوافق على انتقال لاعبه للدوري الألماني
وأضاف: “كانت مهمّتي أن أنقل له ثقافتنا في كل شيء؛ قيم ومبادئ النادي الأهلي، وأن نوضح له أننا نمتلك جماهير بالملايين”.
وتابع: “توروب صاحب فلسفة هجومية، ولديه شخصية قوية جدًا، وبنسبة مليون في المائة كانت بطولة كأس السوبر علامة فارقة للغاية”.
وزاد: “كانت لديّ إستراتيجية منذ اليوم الأول لتولّي المهمة في الأهلي، وهي حماية (أوضة اللبس) والحفاظ على استقرار الفريق”.
وعن تجديد عقود اللاعبين، أوضح: “حتى هذه اللحظة لا توجد أي عروض رسمية لأي لاعب من أي جهة، وملفات التجديد كنّا قد أجّلناها للتركيز في مباراة السوبر وشبيبة القبائل والجيش الملكي، والآن، ومع فترة التوقف، سنفتح جميع الملفات، وكل ما تم تداوله خلال الفترة الماضية غير صحيح”.
وتابع: “لا يوجد أي تعثّر في مفاوضات مروان عطية أو ديانج، لأننا لم نجلس معهما من الأساس حتى الآن، وهناك ستة لاعبين تنتهي عقودهم (ديانج، حسين الشحات، كوكا، عبد القادر، إضافة إلى أحمد عابدين وبيكهام اللذين تنتهي إعارتهما هذا الموسم، وتوروب هو من يحدد مصير كل لاعب، وسنتفاوض مع الجميع”.
وأتم: “سنقدّم عرضًا رسميًا لكل لاعب، ونوضح له أن هذا هو ما يستطيع النادي الأهلي تقديمه، إن وافق، سنجدّد له، وإن كان لديه عرض أقوى أو رأى أن العرض غير مناسب، فسنتجه للبدائل المتاحة”.
حقق منتخب انجلترا للناشئين تحت 17 عاما، فوزًا عريضًا على هايتي في كأس العالم للناشئين 2025، بنتيجة 8-1.
والتقى منتخب انجلترا مع نظيره هايتي ضمن منافسات الجولة الثانية من منافسات دور المجموعات ببطولة كأس العالم تحت 17 عامًا المقامة في قطر.
ويقع منتخبا إنجلترا وهايتي في المجموعة الخامسة والتي تضم منتخبي مصر وفنزويلا.
طالع.. فيديو | ماركوس مايتان يسجل هدف فنزويلا الأول أمام مصر
وافتتح لوكا بارنيت أهداف إنجلترا في الدقيقة الأولى قبل أن يحرز ريجان هيسكي الهدف الثاني في الدقيقة 14 من ركلة جزاء، وقلص فرانكو سيليستين الفارق في الدقيقة 17.
وسجل ريجي والش الهدف الثالث في الدقيقة 21 من عمر المباراة بينما الهدف الرابع في الدقيقة 55 عن طريق أليخاندرو رودريجيزـ قبل أن يعزز شيزارام إزينواتا بالهدف الخامس في الدقيقة 58.
وسجل لوكا بارنيت الهدف السادس في الدقيقة 64 وأحرز إزينواتا الهدف السابع في الدقيقة 69 قبل أن يسجل نفس اللاعب الهدف الثامن في الدقيقة 80.
ورفع منتخب إنجلترا رصيده إلى 3 نقاط في المركز الثاني بينما تجمد رصيد هايتي عند 0 نقاط في المركز الأخير.
Losing Cole Palmer to injury had the potential to completely derail Chelsea so early into the new Premier League season.
Enzo Maresca’s Blues did lose 3-1 to Brighton and Hove Albion in what was their first game without their star man at the start of September, but since then, the West Londoners have picked up five straight wins in all competitions to flex the quality oozing throughout their squad, even with Palmer missing.
Thankfully for the Italian, many a new star has been unearthed in his absence, with Chelsea youngster Tyrique George – in particular – making his presence known last time out as the Blues humbled Ajax 5-1 on their own patch in the Champions League.
Why George is pushing for a Chelsea start
Rumours had begun to surface recently that one of Chelsea’s own in George was looking for a move away, with Joao Pedro and Liam Delap both ahead of him in the Stamford Bridge pecking order in the striker department.
But, with Pedro suspended and Delap still out injured for the mid-week clash with the Amsterdam giants, the 19-year-old seriously impressed as a second-half substitute in the main striker position, as a first-ever goal on Europe’s grandest stage fell into his lap.
Just a matter of minutes after being introduced into the contest, George would power home this fine effort past a hapless Remko Pasveer, with the night very much belonging to Chelsea’s rising stars, as both Marc Guiu and Jamie Gittens also got in on the act with goals and assists.
This emphatic display mid-week could well mean Maresca is wracked with some selection headaches heading back into Premier League action later today versus Sunderland, with George no doubt pushing for a start ahead of the aforementioned Guiu, even if Pedro is now back, too, from sitting out the clash against Ajax.
George isn’t the only starlet who will be demanding first-team minutes against the Black Cats, however, as this fellow Stamford Bridge prodigy has an even more compelling case to remain in the Italian’s starting XI for the test of Regis Le Bris’ visitors.
Maresca must start teen who's "similar to Cole Palmer"
If Chelsea can keep up this sterling run of form moving forward, Maresca and Co. could well be viewed as outside challengers for the Premier League title, especially when Palmer is also reintroduced into the first team fray.
Until then, however, the Blues do arguably possess another Palmer-like talent in Brazilian superstar Estevao, with Maresca himself even declaring that the 18-year-old is “similar to Cole Palmer” in terms of potentially becoming a future number ten option in time, away from being an out-and-out winger, which is extremely high praise, indeed.
Estevao’s Chelsea numbers so far
Stat
Estevao
Games played
11
Minutes played
443
Goals scored
2
Assists
1
Sourced by Transfermarkt
Such outlandish praise is unlikely to backfire, too, with the South American teenager very much used to such latherings of praise by now, having been branded as “world-class” when still on the books of Palmeiras by talent scout Jacek Kulig.
He has slotted in nicely at Chelsea, too, much like Palmer managed when leaving Manchester City behind, with two goals and one assist already coming his way in England, despite being afforded just 443 minutes of action.
One of those efforts did come about during the rampant display against Ajax, with the breakout number 41 backing up his last-gasp goal against Liverpool by confidently dispatching this spot-kick with ease.
Pedro Neto does have a strong argument to hand to return to the XI against Sunderland on Estevao’s right-hand side, however, with a goal and assist tallied up last time out, enough to push Ange Postecoglou off his precarious Nottingham Forest tight-rope.
Subsequently, this showdown with the Wearside titans could be the perfect opportunity for Maresca to experiment with Estevao as a number ten option, to try to begin his journey to become the next iteration of Palmer, with both Andrey Santos and the aforementioned Guiu failing to do much from this role at the City Ground.
Maresca will, of course, feel more secure with Palmer back in his lineup when he’s finally rid of his injury troubles.
Yet, the future looks extremely bright at Stamford Bridge, away from Palmer, with Estevao leading the way as the brightest light of Chelsea’s next generation.
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A total of 72 player slots will be available for the auction
Firdose Moonda24-Jun-2025
Rashid Khan and his team lift the SA20 trophy•SA20
The fourth season of the SA20 is set for a major shake-up with almost two-thirds of the player pool available for the auction, which will be held on September 9. Franchises will be permitted no more than six retentions or pre-signed players, the least in the tournament’s short history.That means 72 player slots are available for auction, which represents 63% of the 108 places across the six franchises.Squad composition is unchanged from the previous editions with a maximum of seven overseas players, and a minimum of 11 South Africans. The salary cap has been increased to R41 million (US$2.31 million) from R39.1 million (US$2.2 million) and teams can sign one wildcard player whose fee is not included in the salary cap. The amount of money available means that the SA20 is the league with the second-highest salary cap in the world, after the IPL. All six SA20 franchises are owned by IPL teams.Franchises will be allowed to use a Right to Match (RTM) card which will allow them to match the winning bid for a player who represented them in season 3. The number of RTMs will be determined by the number of the South African players franchises have retained.The rookie draft has been cancelled and teams will be required to sign a minimum of two under-23 players.With no home Tests in the 2025-26 summer (due to the national men’s team playing abroad until mid-December and stadium refurbishment for the 2027 ODI World Cup) the SA20 has been moved forward from its usual January start date. It is due to kick off on Boxing Day and reach its conclusion by January 26. The SA20 will revert back to a January to mid-February window for 2027 and 2028, when it will also have a slightly longer playing window. The number of franchises (6) and matches (34) remains unchanged.
Arsenal now have the squad depth to fight on multiple fronts and deliver that elusive first Premier League title in 22 years.
Last year’s pursuit of silverware was completely derailed by injuries, because Mikel Arteta did not have enough high-class players in reserve to cover for key absentees.
The Gunners’ substitutes bench for the second leg of their Champions League semi-final at Parc des Princes against Paris Saint-Germain epitomises this.
Riccardo Calafiori, Benjamin White and Leandro Trossard were introduced, while the other players at Arteta’s disposal were Kieran Tierney, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Raheem Sterling, Ethan Nwaneri and Jorginho as well as goalkeepers Neto and Tommy Setford, alongside now departed youngsters Nathan Butler-Oyedeji and Jack Henry-Francis.
In short, not a lot of game-changers there. Fast-forward to this season, Arteta is regularly forced to leave senior players out of his matchday squad altogether.
Nevertheless, having said all of that about depth, guaranteed, world-class starters are also pivotal. Declan Rice is shining like a beacon again but he’s not the only player to become Mr Reliable at the Emirates Stadium.
Declan Rice's new role at Arsenal
Arsenal fans sing “we got him half price” about Rice, and they’re only half joking. Who can forget those free-kicks against Real Madrid? They were special, alright.
In the history of football, only 11 players have transferred for more than £100m, many of whom go down as bona fide flops; looking at you João Félix and Philippe Coutinho.
Others, such as Neymar at PSG, Antoine Griezmann at Barcelona and Jack Grealish at Manchester City, perhaps did not live up to the hype, while it’ll be interesting to see how Liverpool’s record men, Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz, perform at Anfield in the long run.
Rice, on the other hand, has certainly proved to be value for money at Arsenal.
The England international has made 113 appearances for the Gunners to date, missing only three Premier League matches, scoring his 17th goal for the club against former club West Ham United last time out.
Initially signed as a holding midfielder, the club’s record signing has been granted more freedom to attack the final third the longer his Arsenal career has played out.
Whether it’s set-pieces or corners, Rice is now a true box-to-box phenomenon, something he touched on during the ongoing international break.
Alongside Gabriel, William Saliba, Bukayo Saka and Martin Ødegaard, when available, Rice’s name is written in proverbial permanent marker on Arteta’s team sheet, but is another underrated Arsenal star elevating himself into a similar category?
Arsenal star is becoming one of the best in the world
Having conceded just three goals in ten matches across all competitions so far this season, Arsenal may well be the best defensive team in the world right now.
Gabriel and Saliba rightly earn a lot of the plaudits, but the form of Jurriën Timber should not be overlooked.
After arriving from Ajax for £38m, the Dutch defender ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament during his Premier League debut against Nottingham Forest on the opening day, not seen again until the final day of the 2023/24 campaign against Everton.
Last season, the right-back roles were very much reversed, with Benjamin White sidelined for an elongated period, meaning Timber, pretty much, started every game, accumulating 3,680 minutes across all competitions, a remarkable amount for a player returning from an ACL issue.
Now that White is back, the Englishman can’t get back into the team as a result of Timber’s outstanding form, starting each of the last six Premier League matches.
Speaking on the Arsenal Vision Podcast, Tim Stillman asserted that Timber is “now one of Arsenal’s best players every week”, and the statistics below support this claim.
Timber 2025/26 PL statistics
Stats
Timber
Arsenal rank
Tackles
25
1st
Tackles won
14
1st
Interceptions
6
3rd
Clearances per 90
2
3rd
Ball recoveries
18
5th
Attacking 3rd touches
134
2nd
Carries into final 3rd
11
3rd
Passes into final 3rd
24
3rd
Key passes
8
2nd
Big chances created
2
2nd
Shot-creating actions
19
2nd
Average rating
7.36
1st
Stats via FBref and SofaScore
The table underlines that Timber is vital to Arteta’s team all across the pitch.
As well as ranking highly for tackles, interceptions and ball recoveries, the Dutchman is also in the top three when it comes to touches in and carries and passes into the final third, as well as key passes and chance creation.
The only player consistently above Timber for these metrics is Rice, notably known to be the ultimate all-rounder, but the Dutchman should also be viewed in a similar way. Like the former West Ham man, he’s a warrior and somebody who always delivers in the clutch moments. They’re both hugely consistent individuals.
The £38m paid to secure the full-back’s signature is looking more and more like a bargain when considering that, according to Football Transfers, he is now valued at around £58m, a figure that is likely to only increase, given that he is just 24 years old.
Thus, if Arsenal do go on to achieve what they hope to this season, Timber will certainly be key to that success.
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The left-handed middle-order batter represented UAE in 38 ODIs and 47 T20Is
ESPNcricinfo staff28-Jun-2024
Muhammad Usman’s UAE career spanned from 2016 to 2022•Emirates Cricket Board
UAE batter Muhammad Usman has announced his retirement from international cricket. The Lahore-born middle-order batter represented UAE in 85 international games – 38 ODIs and 47 T20Is – across six years.Usman made his T20I debut in February 2016 against Netherlands followed by his ODI debut against Scotland a few months later. Overall, he scored 1008 runs at 31.50 in 38 ODIs including one century and four half-centuries while in 47 T20Is he finished with 891 runs, with three fifties. He was also part of the Asia Cup squad in 2016 where he top scored for UAE with 176 runs in seven games.Usman was born in Lahore and played five first-class and 58 List-A matches. His 1517 List-A runs came at an average of 34.47 and included nine fifties and a century. He last played an ODI and T20I in February 2022 against Oman and Nepal respectively.The 38-year-old expressed his gratitude and hoped to continue being part of cricket post-retirement.”It has been an incredible journey with the UAE cricket team and the cricket board,” Usman was quoted via a press release. “I would like to thank everyone who played a role in my journey including my team-mates, coaches and other support staff. I feel blessed and proud that I got the opportunity of representing UAE for 85 international matches.”I am looking forward to the next chapter in my life as I want to remain associated with the sport. I want to wish the UAE team and the players the very best in what is a very exciting time for the game in the country.”
Many thought Liverpool would fall by the wayside when Jurgen Klopp left at the end of the 2023/24 season, but this football club has an uncanny ability to remain with its head above the water.
Indeed, Arne Slot defied expectation when arriving and leading the Reds straight to the Premier League title, and has now been rewarded by FSG, who are spending freely in the transfer market.
Although Florian Wirtz will add a fresh and world-class dimension to Slot’s squad, there’s still the sense that more quality and prolificness could be added.
Liverpool’s Frontline in 24/25 (all comps)
Player
Apps
Goals
Assists
Mohamed Salah
52
34
23
Luis Diaz
50
17
8
Cody Gakpo
49
18
7
Diogo Jota
37
9
4
Darwin Nunez
47
7
7
Federico Chiesa
14
2
2
Data via Transfermarkt
Although with Milos Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong signed to bolster the wide defensive positions, the intensity toward securing new stars is set to simmer down.
But Liverpool remain very much primed to pounce if the right opportunity emerges.
Liverpool's wider transfer plans
Sporting director Richard Hughes cut a contentious figure after his first summer transfer window at Liverpool, having only added Federico Chiesa to the newly arrived Slot’s squad.
Richard Hughes and Arne Slot
But he’s since proven his meticulous, calculated nature, having dotted all the i’s and crossed the t’s ahead of the window and since pounced on top targets, reeling them in.
Any further activity will depend on outgoings, reports The Telegraph’s Chris Bascombe. This makes sense, for the Reds have forked out more than £200m already this summer.
Darwin Nunez’s expected transfer to Serie A champions Napoli should see a new number nine acquired, while rumours of a new winger hinge on Luis Diaz’s future, with Barcelona and Saudi Arabian suitors interested.
He’s not Sadio Mane, but the Colombian has been immense in a Liverpool shirt, posting 41 goals and 23 assists across 141 appearances in total.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
Liverpool line up new winger
According to TEAMtalk, Liverpool are interested in signing Belgian winger Malick Fofana and have been boosted in their bid now that Lyon have been relegated from Ligue 1.
However, Newcastle United have also been named as suitors, and have actually established contacts with the 20-year-old’s entourage.
Earlier this year, the player’s former representatives told Africa Foot that playing in the Premier League, namely at Liverpool, would be his “dream”, and it’s something that Hughes and Co can now bring to fruition.
Chelsea are also keen, though appear to be prioritising a deal for Borussia Dortmund’s Jamie Gittens.
This could leave Liverpool with a free shot to sign one of Europe’s most exciting prospects, who is valued at £43m, with Lyon’s fate also suggesting his price tag could be whittled down.
Why Liverpool should sign Fofana
Hailed for his “electric” skills by content creator Dev Bajwa, Fofana is bound to move clubs this summer, but where to remains to be seen.
Lyon's Malick Fofana
He’s young and raw, but he’s also naturally “explosive”, as has been said by analyst Ben Mattinson, with his sharp bursts of pace something that could pay dividends for Slot’s Liverpool team, especially when the time comes to replace Diaz.
Fofana is Belgian but he is of Guinean descent, and for this reason he has expressed Mane (and Mohamed Salah) as being one of his footballing idols. For this reason, the left winger could prove to be Slot’s own version of Mane, whose career on Merseyside served to guide Anfield back to the forefront of domestic and continental football.
Sadio Mane Liverpool graphic
Part of Klopp’s iconic front three at Liverpool, Mane won the whole gamut after signing from Southampton for £34m in 2016, with the German manager declaring him a “world-class” forward and an absolute “machine”, his work rate and tenacity leaving an indelible mark on the game.
Fofana hasn’t reached that point in his career yet, but has the potential to do exactly that, already performing with a hunger for goal and fleet-footed style that is somewhat reminiscent of the Senegalese star.
Malick Fofana for Lyon.
As per FBref, Fofana ranked among the top 10% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe’s top five leagues last year for non-penalty goals scored and the top 2% for progressive carries per 90, emphasising that very point.
So then, you can see how Mane has inspired Fofana’s early-career development, especially as elements of his defensive work rate can be found in the one-cap Belgium international’s skill set too, for he averaged 1.1 tackles + interceptions in Ligue 1 last year, as per Sofascore, also finishing the term having won 54% of his ground battles.
Slot is not Klopp, but then Fofana is not Mane either, and the Dutch tactician could fashion his own version of the former Liverpool superstar, who certainly has stylistic similarities to the Al Nassr forward, now 33.
Even if Liverpool don’t part ways with Diaz, 28, this summer, it might be worth snapping Fofana up as Lyon plummet into the second tier of French football. After all, there are no guarantees that a new out-and-out frontman will be signed, and Diaz operated so admirably in a false nine role across the 2024/25 campaign.
Given that the Colombian could potentially reprise said role, it might be worth adding some competition for Cody Gakpo to jockey with on the left flank.
In any case, given the player’s desire to move to Merseyside and indeed his Mane-esque qualities rising to the fore, it would be a smart move indeed to ward away Premier League competition and snap him up quickly.
He'd be Wirtz 2.0: Liverpool stand a "chance" of signing the "next Mbappe"
Liverpool believe they have a good chance to sign a star who would be a Florian Wirtz repeat.