News Thread

It seemed like a perfect match when Bayern Munich signed Ryan Gravenberch for €18.5 million from Ajax Amsterdam last summer. But whether it was under Julian Nagelsmann or now under Thomas Tuchel, Gravenberch struggled for playing time at Bayern and could now be on his way to the Premier League, where Liverpool are interested. Whether a deal will get across the line before the window closes depends on several factors. 

Liverpool fans will need no reminding that in Jürgen Klopp the club undoubtedly have one of the best managers in the world. Whether it be thanks to the Champions League win in 2019 or the first league title of the Premier League era one year later, the German manager has earned his place among the Anfield club’s many, historic head coaches. However, the task he’s currently trying to complete may be his most impressive to date.

When it comes to underperforming giants in the European game, few clubs can match the torment that Manchester United fans have had to endure over the past 10 years. Despite routinely spending as much as the richest clubs in the world, the Old Trafford side have failed to win a single Premier League title or reach a Champions League final since Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013. In that time, Man Utd have tallied up a net spend of €1.3 billion on transfer fees which is more than any other club in Europe.

Liverpool continued their impressive start to the new Premier League season on Sunday, with a hard-fought 3-1 victory over an impressive West Ham side that had every intention of causing an upset at Anfield. However, despite going into the break at half-time level on goals, Jürgen Klopp’s side rallied in the second half and ended up picking up a well-deserved three points for their troubles.

The old expression “the league table never lies” is often best ignored at the start of the season, when most clubs are trying to come to terms with a high turnover of players from the summer transfer window or adapt to a new manager and his changing tactics. In truth, it isn’t until the end of the calendar year that we really see which clubs are on the rise and which ones are in desperate trouble of sliding down the league table.

To no great surprise, English football continues to dominate the sport when it comes to the most valuable players in the world. In no uncertain terms, the wealth and success of the Premier League is perfectly showcased by the fact that 49 of the top 100 most valuable players in the world according to Transfermarkt play in the English top-flight. And if that wasn’t impressive enough, the English contingent of the rankings come in at a combined market value of €1.09 billion - which is considerably higher than any other nation.

Despite playing a pivotal role in Napoli winning their first Serie A title 33 years, it seems more and more likely that the Italian giants will look to sell star striker Victor Osimhen in the January transfer window. Although the Nigerian striker has enjoyed a good start to the new season, with six goals and one assist in his first 10 games, the player’s relationship with the club’s hierarchy has seemingly deteriorated to the point that both parties now seem intent on going their separate ways as quickly as possible. 

Liverpool have perhaps surprised even their own fans through the manner in which Jürgen Klopp’s team have started the new Premier League season so well. After 11 games, the Anfield club have lost just one game and collected no less than 24 points. Not only does that put the club four points ahead of where they were last season, but it also means they’re just three points off top spot in the English top-flight. 

Many would assume that Xabi Alonso’s managerial career began when he arrived at Bayer Leverkusen or even when he was learning his trade as Real Sociedad’s second team manager. But for the Spanish tactician, his first introduction to football management came at home when he was still a child of eight or nine. While the future Champions League winner was playing with his toys, his father was in the other room, desperately trying to devise the correct tactics to take San Sebastián to the play-offs of Spain’s Segunda División B. 

Jurgen Klopp has amassed an array of high-calibre attacking talent at Liverpool but Ben Doak could represent the future at Anfield. Mohamed Salah has maintained his excellent goalscoring form with 12 goals in all competitions this season after an eye-watering move to Saudi Arabia failed to materialise, while Darwin Nunez’s attacking output has improved considerably.