Manchester City and Manchester United are both reported to be keen on Crystal Palace talent Adam Wharton ahead of the summer transfer window.
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Man City & Utd linked with WhartonBoth clubs undergoing squad rebuildPalace tipped to demand big moneyFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
According to , the pair of Manchester clubs are each showing interest in Wharton, who is back on track after a lengthy absence earlier this season with a hernia problem. That could put the local rivals on collision course when it comes to the Palace player come summer.
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Both sides are in the early stages of a rebuild that is going to require careful recruitment over several transfer windows. City are tasked with trying to create a second great team for Pep Guardiola as his first reaches the end of a natural cycle, demonstrated by a spectacular drop-off this season, while United must equip Ruben Amorim with a squad that better suits his specific tactical system. Midfield is a key part of that, with United set to shed Christian Eriksen and potentially Casemiro at the end of the season. There also remain doubts about Kobbie Mainoo's future for different reasons. Meanwhile, at City, Kevin De Bruyne and Ilkay Gundogan are 33 and 34 respectively, with Bernardo Silva and Mateo Kovacic also over 30 and no guarantees over how quickly Rodri will be back up to speed once he has recovered from an ACL injury last September. Wharton, 21, has emerged as England's next great midfield hope, able to play a deep-lying role and drive his team forward.
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Wharton has only made 29 top flight appearances in his career to date, such has been his rapid rise to prominence. It was only a little over a year ago that he was playing in the Championship with Blackburn Rovers, before a mid-season move to Palace and a shock call-up to England's Euro 2024 squad. Even with relatively little experience behind him, the Blackburn-born talent is reportedly being priced at £70 million ($90.4m). Should he move for that amount this summer, it would see Palace more than treble their investment in just 18 months.
Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT?
Budgets and player departures are going to be key factors in what clubs across the board can do in the transfer market this summer, with United in particular needing to create room before they can add new signings. With Wharton contracted until 2029, Palace are also under no pressure to sell on anyone's terms but their own.
“The BCCI is committed to international cricket… all bilateral international commitments across all formats will be honoured”
ESPNcricinfo staff14-Jun-2022The blockbuster IPL media rights deal will be followed by a bigger window for the IPL from the next ICC FTP calendar, likely starting with the 2024 edition of the tournament, Jay Shah, the BCCI secretary, has said.Confirming the chatter about the IPL being an 84- or even a 94-match competition in the near future, Shah said in an interview to PTI, “That is an aspect we have worked upon. Let me inform you that from the next ICC FTP calendar, IPL will have an official two-and-a-half month window so that all the top international cricketers can participate. We have had discussions with various boards as well as the ICC.”The current ICC FTP, running from 2018 to 2023, ends with the men’s 50-over World Cup, to be played in India in October-November 2023. It was earlier meant to be played in the first half of the year but had to be deferred to accommodate the many bilateral series and tournaments pushed back because of the Covid-19 pandemic.As reported by ESPNcricinfo during IPL 2022, various options are on the table for the BCCI when it comes to expanding the length – and therefore value – of the IPL, including organising it in two phases every year.”We are having discussions with various stake-holders,” Shah said. “There are also multiple proposals for all the IPL franchises of playing friendlies overseas. That idea is being seriously contemplated but for that we also need to speak to other boards as we would need to know the schedule of international players.”
“In future, you will have a scenario, where the Indian Test team will be playing a series in one country and the white-ball team will be engaged in a series in a different country”Jay Shah
The biggest concern, if the IPL were to take more days every year, is how the international calendar, which is already packed, will be affected. Shah stressed that the BCCI remained “committed” to international cricket.”Indian cricket will remain strong as long as world cricket remains strong – let me assure you of this,” he said. “The BCCI is committed to international cricket. And it’s not just about India versus Australia or India versus England marquee series, we are committed to playing even the smaller nations.”All bilateral international commitments across all formats will be honoured. We are playing Ireland in two T20 Internationals this month only. We want a strong robust international circuit and want to help the smaller cricketing nations by playing against them.”That could, potentially, mean a tremendous workload for India’s premier cricketers, especially the ones that play all formats. The BCCI is trying to figure out a way around the problem, according to Shah, but it could well mean more than one Indian team being engaged in bilateral exchanges at the same time in different parts of the world.”I have had discussions with NCA [National Cricket Academy] head VVS Laxman and we will always have 50 players in our roster,” Shah said. “In future, you will have a scenario, where the Indian Test team will be playing a series in one country and the white-ball team will be engaged in a series in a different country.”We are going in that direction where we will have two national teams ready at the same time.”
Chelsea are now willing to make a huge bid to win the race for a “world-class” striker who’s also wanted by Arsenal, according to a report.
Chelsea want a striker despite Jackson success
The Blues have set their sights on a new striker in the January transfer window, with Paris Saint-Germain’s Randal Kolo Muani becoming the latest target, having made contact with the Ligue 1 champions to discuss a deal. Inter Milan’s Lautaro Martinez is also on the shortlist, with Enzo Maresca willing to send Mykhailo Mudryk plus cash in the opposite direction, indicating how highly the Argentine is thought of at Stamford Bridge.
Ipswich Town’s Liam Delap is another attractive option for Chelsea, after a fantastic start to life at Portman Road in the first half of the Premier League season, scoring six goals in 17 games.
Chelsea’s upcoming Premier League fixtures
Date
Ipswich Town (a)
December 30th
Crystal Palace (a)
January 4th
AFC Bournemouth (h)
January 14th
Wolverhampton Wanderers (h)
January 20th
Manchester City (a)
January 25th
Although Delap is off to a flyer in an Ipswich shirt, Maresca may be keen to bring in a more proven striker this January, as he looks to get his side’s potential title push back on track, and there is now an option of that calibre in the frame. According to reports from Spain, Chelsea are now fighting Arsenal for the signing of Juventus striker Dusan Vlahovic, following on from his impressive performances for the Italian side so far this season.
Juventus’ desire to balance the books means they could sanction the striker’s departure, and the player himself could be willing to listen to offers from elsewhere, amid interest from some of Europe’s top clubs.
The report states the Blues would be “willing” to invest a significant amount into the signing of the Serbian, indicating they could make a huge bid to get a deal done.
The next Jackson: Chelsea make contact over "ice-cold" £202k-p/w star
The Chelsea target is similar to Jackson
1 ByJoe Nuttall Dec 28, 2024 Vlahovic can take Chelsea to another level
Vlahovic has been one of the best strikers in the Serie A for a number of years now, most impressively scoring 21 goals in 37 games for Fiorentina during the 2020-21 campaign. Such is the Serbia international’s ability, he has been lauded as one of the best strikers in the world by journalist Siavoush Fallahi.
Nicolas Jackson has upped his game significantly this season, scoring nine Premier League goals, but there are still concerns over his finishing, which could hold Chelsea’s rebuild back.
If Maresca’s side are to kick on and compete for the Premier League title, it is likely they will need a top-level striker, and Vlahovic could fit the bill in that regard, so it is exciting news that Chelsea are willing to spend big to win the race for his signature.
Sergio Aguero is set to come out of his retirement to play in a one-off game for boyhood club Independiente.
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Aguero set to come out of retirementWill feature for Independiente against RacingRetired from professional football in 2021Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
City legend Aguero decided to hang up his boots in December 2021 while at Barcelona after being diagnosed with a heart condition. But he is ready to come out of retirement to play in a competitive match for Argentine side Independiente against their arch-rivals Racing on Monday, reports .
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In February, there was speculation over the 36-year-old making a return to professional football, but the ex-striker was quick to shoot down those rumours. Speaking to reporters, he said: "It's totally a lie, I'm not going to train with Independiente. Sometimes things are invented. I reiterate that the cardiologist said that I am well and that it is important that I am in good health. But to return to training at the First Division level, I would need to undergo a lot of tests."
DID YOU KNOW?
The former Argentina international briefly returned for a legends match last year, but his time on the pitch was limited as he dislocated his shoulder. Aguero also appeared in a seven-a-side soccer tournament in the US in June 2024.
(C)GettyImagesWHAT NEXT?
Aguero's return to professional football will just be for this one-off game, as he is now looking forward to his new venture of club ownership. He is also monitoring the progress of his 16-year-old son Benjamin, who plies trade in Independiente's youth team.
They play 34 Tests, 59 ODIs and 51 T20Is in the next four years; only West Indies have more games slotted in this period
Mohammad Isam18-Jul-2022Bangladesh have a bit of a bonanza lined up. The 2023-2027 ICC Future Tours Programme has 34 Tests marked for them, behind only England (42), Australia (41) and India (38). They have the most ODIs listed against their name – 59, with only Sri Lanka (58) above the 50 mark. Overall, too, they are behind only West Indies’ 146 international fixtures in the cycle with 144 of their own.The FTP for the next cycle, accessed by ESPNcricinfo, is subject to change, but it is a fair guideline into what the next few years of international cricket will be like.Related
Australia men's FTP takeaways: BBL window, the Afghanistan question, home Tests in March
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Nurul Hasan, Bangladesh's new T20I captain, might only be a stop-gap arrangement
Stokes' ODI retirement should prompt change, but won't
PCB concerned over impact of T20 leagues on international cricket
Bangladesh, who have already played 28 of their 30 Tests in the ongoing FTP [two in India later in the year are left], and are ranked ninth in the ICC Test chart, have some exciting games lined up for 2023-2025, the next World Test Championship cycle. They will play Tests in India, Pakistan and the West Indies, and host New Zealand, South Africa and Sri Lanka. This is well ahead of the other Test nations outside the top eight: Zimbabwe, Afghanistan and Ireland.Not just that. The BCB also has a near-consistent window for the BPL in their domestic calendar. Over the next five season, the tournament will be played in January, only occasionally starting slightly sooner, in late December.Zimbabwe, who have played 13 Tests in the last five years, are likely to play only 20 Tests in the next cycle, the same as Afghanistan, but Ireland have only 12 Tests lined up. But overall, they will all play over 100 international matches in this period, if their boards can keep the schedule intact over the next four years.Zimbabwe Zimbabwe should feel encouraged, as they have been allocated 20 Tests in a total of 109 international matches in the next four years. Like in the last four-year period, they play most of their cricket against Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Ireland, with South Africa and New Zealand playing a combined three Tests against them.They have fixtures against Pakistan and Sri Lank but only for white-ball matches, while Zimbabwe have proposed a T20I tri-series in July 2025, though the opponents’ names aren’t public.Afghanistan Afghanistan have solitary Tests scheduled against India, Australia, New Zealand and Sri Lanka in the next four years. Most of their 20 Tests will, however, be against Zimbabwe and Ireland, while Bangladesh have committed to four Tests against them.Australia, India, New Zealand, Pakistan and Sri Lanka have two series each against Afghanistan, with a mix of ODIs and T20Is, while West Indies have a solitary ODI series against them.Ireland Ireland have reason to feel shortchanged, with the fewest Tests lined up, 12, and play most of them against Afghanistan, Zimbabwe and Bangladesh. New Zealand and Sri Lanka have offered them solitary one-off Test series, while England and Australia are expected to play white-ball series against them in 2023 and 2024 respectively.
Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim is hopeful that Amad Diallo may well feature for the club again before the end of the season.
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Amad had been ruled out for the seasonIvorian had been excelling under AmorimUnited hoping to claw back respectabilityFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
Before he suffered an ankle injury in training that had thought to have ruled him out for the season, Amad had been one of very few bright sparks in the United team this season. The winger, capable of playing across the front-line or at wing-back, had chipped in with six goals and six assists in 22 Premier League games and quickly became a key player under Amorim. Despite those initial fears, the Portuguese coach has suggested he may well return for the latter stages of the Premier League and, more importantly, Europa League campaigns.
AdvertisementGetty/GOALWHAT AMORIM SAID
Speaking ahead of the Manchester derby, Amorim said of Amad: "He’s doing quite well. We hope to have him before the season is finished. We'll see, but he's anxious to play, so we are waiting for him."
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Amad's return would represent a huge boost to the squad and Amorim's attacking options. In a number matches under the new coach, United have often had to rely on the attacking brilliance of Bruno Fernandes to bail them out of trouble and it is hard to imagine Amorim would not want to balance the attacking burden across his forwards. With Champions League qualification via the Premier League all but written off, United will have to put all their eggs in the Europa League basket and will be desperate to have their tricky winger back in time for the later rounds.
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Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR MAN UTD?
With Amad still recovering, United will have to conjure up any result against Manchester City without their star from the reverse fixture. They face their city rivals on Sunday afternoon, buoyed by their Amad-inspired success at the Etihad. This comes before a huge game in Lyon in the Europa League quarter-finals on Thursday.
Chelsea have emerged as the frontrunners to potentially strike a head-turning transfer deal, following some intriguing news out of the Premier League this week concerning an England star.
Chelsea planning to sign new defender for Maresca in January
Credible media outlets and respected journalists are claiming that Chelsea are seriously considering the addition of a new centre-back in January, amid Wesley Fofana’s long-term injury and Benoit Badiashile’s absence.
Chelsea entering pole position to sign £38m midfielder after making contact
The Blues have been courting him for over a year.
ByEmilio Galantini Jan 7, 2025
A report from The Sun this week even stated that Chelsea have already had a low-ball offer rejected by Crystal Palace for Marc Guehi, but this is yet to gain traction among the national press.
What appears certain, though, is Chelsea’s serious interest in a January deal for Guehi, with renowned transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano and respected colleagues sharing news that the 24-year-old Selhurst Park star is a serious transfer target for this month.
Bournemouth (home)
January 14
Wolverhampton Wanderers (home)
January 20
Man City (away)
January 25
West Ham (away)
February 3
Brighton (away)
February 14
Romano says that the Blues are also now in contact with Palace over a deal for Guehi, but it won’t be easy, despite the Englishman having just 18 months left on his current deal.
Other rumoured central defensive targets for Chelsea include Tomas Araujo [Benfica], Antonio Silva [Benfica], Ousmane Diomande [Sporting], Illia Zabarnyi [Bournemouth] and Dean Huijsen [Bournemouth] – as per reliable Stamford Bridge reporter Simon Phillips – so the club bringing in a big-name new defender certainly looks like one to watch before deadline day on February 3.
In terms of other positions, Chelsea did consider signing River Plate’s midfield sensation Franco Mastantuono this month, and they remain hard at work to sign the Argentine, but it is a move more likely for the summer as things stand – mainly due to the costs involved in a winter deal.
That being said, Enzo Maresca’s side now sense another golden opportunity to bring in one of world football’s most exciting young midfield starlets.
Chelsea emerge as favourites to sign Man United star Kobbie Mainoo
Indeed, according to The Daily Mail’s Chris Wheetley, Man United star Kobbie Mainoo is at the centre of a contract stalemate at Old Trafford.
Kobbie Mainoo
PSR issues are making it hard to tie the teenager with a new and improved deal to reflect his status as a key Red Devils mainstay and England international, with the 19-year-old rising star unbelievably earning a meager £20,000-per-week right now.
This has put BlueCo on red alert over a potential opening to tempt Mainoo down south, and it is believed that Chelsea are now favourites to sign Mainoo from Man United, if he decides to leave over the next two transfer windows.
Wheetley describes this as a “sensational deal” if Chelsea manage to pull it off, and it is hard to disagree with the reporter who broke the news on Tuesday. Since this report broke, GOAL suggested that both Mainoo and Alejandro Garnacho are valued at around £70 million.
Carlo Ancelotti's side were hammered in the first leg of their Champions League tie, and face a massive deficit ahead of next week
Vinicius Jr and Kylian Mbappe went missing for Real Madrid to mark a miserable evening in England, as Los Blancos were battered, 3-0, in the first leg of their Champions League quarter final with Arsenal.
A testy first half gave way to an open second, the Gunners bagging three times to leave Madrid facing a massive deficit heading into next week's second leg.
Arsenal had the majority of the possession in the early goings, and looked dangerous through Bukayo Saka. The Englishman teased David Alaba – a surprise starter at left-back – but the Gunners lacked final product. Madrid, for their part, looked occasionally dangerous on the break, Mbappe forcing a duo of smart stops out of David Raya. Thibaut Courtois, too, played his part, parrying away a Declan Rice header on the stroke of half time.
The Gunners opened the scoring just shy of the hour mark, Rice smashing in a free-kick from 30 yards out. It should have been two soon after, but a double save from Courtois denied him. The big Belgian couldn't do it a second time, though, and was left sprawling as Rice whipped in a wonderful second free-kick of the night. Arsenal made it three with 15 minutes remaining, Mikel Merino providing a tidy finish from the top of the box.
Madrid, meanwhile, had little to offer. Vinicius looked a shadow of his usual self going forward, and Los Blancos failed to create on the counter. Surely, there will be a Madrid response next week. But they have left it all to do for themselves.
GOAL rates Real Madrid's players from the Emirates…
Getty Images SportGoalkeeper & Defence
Thibaut Courtois (6/10):
Made an immense save just before half time to deny Rice. Could do nothing about the goals.
Federico Valverde (6/10):
Dealt with the busy Gabriel Martinelli effectively, and ensured that Arsenal didn't have much down his side.
Raul Asencio (5/10):
Won his tackles but was rather ineffective on the ball.
Antonio Rudiger (5/10):
Looked a bit unsteady early on, and never really settled in, either.
David Alaba (5/10):
Tormented by Saka after being handed a surprise start. Looked relieved when he went off.
AdvertisementGetty Images SportMidfield
Eduardo Camavinga (4/10):
Snapped into tackles and was up for the fight in the first half. Not in the game whatsoever in the second. Capped it off by being sent off.
Luka Modric (6/10):
Kept the ball well, and completed his passes, but was overpowered by Rice and co. when his side didn't have it.
Jude Bellingham (5/10):
A tale of two halves. Full of industry in centre-midfield in the first, and offered cover to deal with Saka. Pretty much anonymous in the second.
Getty Images SportAttack
Rodrygo (5/10):
Certainly did his bit defensively, but lacked a bit of attacking quality.
Kylian Mbappe (5/10):
Dangerous on the break in the first half, missed a couple of half chances he might usually bury.
Vinicius Jr (4/10):
Absolutely anonymous. Didn't complete a dribble and lacked sharpness. Not a good time for his worst game of the season.
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AFPSubs & Manager
Lucas Vazquez (6/10):
Extra legs for a tired Valverde
Fran Garcia (N/A):
No time to make an impact.
Brahim Diaz (N/A):
No time to make an impact.
Carlo Ancelotti (4/10):
Went with mostly his strongest side, including a surprise call to start Alaba at left-back. But Madrid were entirely overwhelmed, and lacking in their usual intensity. He will now need to conjure up another miracle.
Jonassen rises to No. 6 among bowlers while Ecclestone consolidates her position at the top
ESPNcricinfo staff26-Jul-2022Australia captain Meg Lanning has reclaimed her position at the top of the ICC Women’s T20I rankings for batters by overtaking her team-mate Beth Mooney, who dropped down to No. 2. Left-arm spinner Jess Jonassen rose three spots to No. 6 in the bowlers’ list whereas Ashleigh Gardner climbed three spots to No. 7 in the allrounders’ category.ESPNcricinfo LtdAllrounder Tahlia McGrath strode up 15 spots to reach No. 13 among batters after her knock of 70 in the tri-series against Ireland. Rain allowed only two of Australia’s four games to be completed in the tri-series, and Lanning breezed to 39* and 74 against the hosts.Full Rankings Tables
Click here for full team rankings
Click here for the full player rankings
After beating South Africa 3-0 in the T20Is, England’s Katherine Brunt went up four spots to No. 3, on the back of being the joint-highest wicket-taker of the series with Sophie Ecclestone, who also took five wickets, and consolidated her position at the top.Three of South Africa’s batters made progress. Laura Wolvaardt jumped five places to take the 14th spot, Tazmin Brits went up 14 places to 24th, and Anneke Bosch, the series’ leading run-scorer, progressed 26 places to reach 21st spot. Among bowlers, Ayabonga Khaka rose to the top 10 with her four wickets in the series and Nonkululeko Mlaba’s three wickets took her to 24th.Wolvaardt made 89 runs in three innings, including a 49-ball 55 in the first game. Brits scored 59 in her only appearance, and Bosch scored 61 in the second T20I.
Liverpool are staring down the barrel of a gun in relation to outgoings in 2025, with the overhanging black clouds of contractual uncertainty starting to become very real indeed.
Trent Alexander-Arnold is probably the most prominent name and likely member to depart this year, for his deal will expire at the end of the campaign and Real Madrid have a vested interest in his prized signature. They are doing everything to bring him to the Spanish capital.
It’s almost unbelievable that Arne Slot has taken to Anfield’s head chair so seamlessly, with such confidence, after Jurgen Klopp’s shocking decision to step down at the end of the 2023/24 term.
But then, Slot’s sharp tactical mind and cool interpersonal skills lend themselves to success at a top-performing club like Liverpool, who are sitting pretty at the top of the league and European tables.
Whichever angle you view it from, it’s been quite the ride already. However, FSG know that moves need to be made in both directions this year, with more than just the big non-committal three potentially heading for pastures new.
Liverpool facing 2025 exodus
As well as Alexander-Arnold, Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah continue to discuss contract extensions with Liverpool. The latter two are viewed with more optimism, but we’re well into January and there still hasn’t been a breakthrough.
Caught Offside have confirmed that talks have been held between Slot and Darwin Nunez to inform the Uruguay striker that his form needs to improve or he will find his place at risk, with a £60m price tag already having been slapped on his name.
Federico Chiesa only signed in the summer but may already be in danger of the chop, with injuries limiting him to just four appearances so far. Paris Saint-Germain are pushing to sign Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Napoli view Liverpool’s versatile forward as the perfect replacement.
There there’s Harvey Elliott. The midfielder has endured a tough season under Slot’s wing and is on the radar of Brighton & Hove Albion and Borussia Dortmund due to a lack of playing time, as per Sky Sports.
Frustratingly, the early knockings of the season kept Elliott on the sidelines after he fractured his foot on international duty with England U21s, with Slot calling it a “big disappointment” given that he would have earned ample opportunities over the coming months.
Well, the 21-year-old’s been fit for over a month now but is still limited to the bittiest of bit-part roles, seemingly giving rise to rumours that he’s heading for the door this year.
Liverpool boss Arne Slot and Harvey Elliott
If Liverpool were to entertain this notion, it would be a grave mistake. In fact, Slot may be in danger of creating his own Cole Palmer disaster with this talented playmaker.
Slot's own Cole Palmer disaster
We all know the story. In August 2023 Manchester City sold their homegrown talent, Palmer, to Chelsea in a deal worth £42.5m after he had played 41 times for the senior side and clinched eight goal contributions.
Manchester City's Cole Palmer celebrates scoring their first goal
Such a steep figure for one so young and untested on the major stage raised more than a few eyebrows, but Chelsea are revelling in the hindsight consensus, with Sky Sports’ Jamie Carragher hailing the 22-year-old as “the best player in the Premier League” back in October.
With Mohamed Salah stealing the headlines this season, it might feel like Palmer has plateaued, a victim of that ‘one-season-wonder’ syndrome that gets pinned to any up-and-coming sensation on English shores, but Palmer is still performing at the top of his game, a real superstar in the making.
Matches (starts)
33 (29)
20 (20)
Goals
22
13
Assists
11
6
Shots (on target)*
3.2 (1.4)
3.5 (1.5)
Pass completion
83%
81%
Key passes*
2.1
2.9
Dribbles (completed)*
1.5 (53%)
1.3 (52%)
Ball recoveries*
3.1
3.2
Tackles + interceptions*
1.3
1.1
Total duels (won)*
3.0 (44%)
4.1 (56%)
There’s no question that he made the right move in 2023, becoming Chelsea’s main man instantaneously after struggling to break into Pep Guardiola’s elite-level unit. How the Spanish manager must rue his decision now.
It might have been the right move for Palmer, and there’s every chance that Elliott would nurture his qualities with teams like Brighton and Dortmund, but he can also make a marked difference in Liverpool’s growing project over the next several years.
As per FBref, the English ace ranks among the top 1% of positional peers across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for assists and shot-creating actions and the top 6% for progressive passes and progressive carries, demonstrating age-defying skills in regard to his playmaking ability.
However, there’s no question that Elliott needs more action, or else he will push for a transfer away himself. Though he was sidelined for the opening months of the season, the £40k-per-week talent has only managed to feature off the bench in the Premier League since, with his six appearances totalling just 36 minutes of action plus stoppage time.
Elliott is still so young; it’s easy to forget that this is a player who has yet to even brush the outer fringes of his ‘prime years.’ Liverpool may come to regret not playing him all the same. He wasn’t called from the bench as Liverpool lost to Tottenham Hotspur on Wednesday evening, a match that yearned for a creative spark.
Last season, Elliott struggled for minutes until the business end. Ah, but then he showcased his skills and style, chalking up a goal and four assists across the final six Premier League matches of Klopp’s dynasty.
Harvey Elliott and Curtis Jones celebrate
Just over one year ago, the one-time Fulham youngster admitted that he didn’t want to be known as a ‘super-sub,’ firm in the belief that his qualities called for a greater role. So then, we can hardly expect him to be content with his current situation, can we?
Former Liverpool U18s head coach Neil Critchley once hailed Elliott for producing “some real bits of magic on the ball” and he’s translated this deep-rooted talent onto the major stage.
Maybe Elliott has watched Palmer’s rise and rise at Stamford Bridge and wondered if he should follow suit. He must not. Liverpool’s tactical team simply have to recognise the disastrous situation they would allow to develop.
The diminutive left-footer has spoken of the adaptation to Slot’s football, and while he has acknowledged that it has been “very intense,” he spoke of the style with a broad beam, eager to make headway in England’s top-placed team.
FSG have a big decision to make this month. They must make the right decision. Elliott cannot be allowed to venture off when he’s displayed such promise throughout his fledgeling career thus far, notching 25 goal contributions across 125 senior appearances for the Reds, starting just 54 of those matches.
Harvey Elliott and Jurgen Klopp
Let’s step back a moment and recall a comment made by Klopp when he was approaching the final moments of his distinguished Merseyside tenure. Klopp admitted that his great regret at Liverpool was failing to play Elliott more often.
Might Slot come to harbour similar regrets, should this wonderful force of a midfielder ply his art elsewhere next season? Liverpool might just find themselves rueing their own mistake in the mould of Cole Palmer.
Scored 4 v Klopp: Liverpool plot to sign "electric" £25m Salah replacement
Liverpool are considering a stunning winter signing who could be the difference-maker for Slot’s project.