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AC Milan owner Gerry Cardinale has opened up about his bold financial vision for the Rossoneri, revealing how he plans to make the club competitive with Premier League giants. The RedBird Capital founder has set an ambitious goal of transforming Serie A’s global standing as he insisted the Italian top-flight is "the most competitive league".

• Cardinale’s bold Milan vision: competing with England’s elite

  Milan's American owner Cardinale has laid bare his grand ambition to elevate the Rossoneri to the financial level of Premier League clubs. In a candid interview on podcast, the American investor described managing Milan as “the hardest thing I’ve ever done” but confirmed that the project is beginning to yield results.

  Since acquiring the club in 2022 through RedBird Capital & Partners, Cardinale has pushed for a model of reinvestment and sustainability rather than profit-making. “It’s probably the hardest thing I’ve ever done,” he said. “In three years of owning Milan, we’ve been positive in terms of cash flow for the first time in 17 years. And I don’t keep that money for myself, I reinvest it in the team.”

  The owner also pointed to Milan’s strong summer transfer window as proof of his commitment. “We spent more than any other Serie A team in the last summer transfer window. We are building a new stadium, not to pocket money, but to transform Milan’s financial profile and bring it up to the level of Premier League teams.”

  Cardinale’s message was clear that Milan are not content with being Italy’s biggest traditional powerhouse; they want to be a global economic force capable of competing with the cash-rich English league.

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• Financial transformation and the new stadium project

  Cardinale underlined that Milan’s ongoing stadium project is central to his long-term financial plan. The proposed new venue will replace the historic but aging San Siro, which Milan currently share with Inter. The move is expected to drastically increase matchday revenue, corporate partnerships, and global visibility.

  “The new stadium will transform AC Milan's financial profile and bring it to the level of Premier League clubs,” he said. “Because for us, the real competition is there, in the English league.”

  Cardinale’s focus on self-sufficiency echoes his earlier remarks about wanting to innovate like the late Silvio Berlusconi once did. “My PR has gone crazy, but I meant to say that I want to innovate, like he did and like [George] Steinbrenner did with the New York Yankees in their day. But today you can't do it the same way, everything is too expensive, there are billion-dollar funds. We need to find another way.”

  The American executive’s approach marks a major cultural shift for Serie A, where clubs often rely on owner funding or player sales rather than sustainable business models. Milan’s steady financial recovery under RedBird is now being viewed as a model for the future.

• Premier League comparison and European imbalance

  Cardinale also addressed the financial gap between Serie A and the Premier League, which he described as “the biggest challenge in European football today.” “The Premier League has almost four times the TV revenue of other European leagues, which is a problem,” he explained. “However, in Serie A, the last-placed team can beat the first, it's the most competitive league, but it's not paid for that. Distributors only want the best, which is why the idea of the Super League was created.”

  His comments highlight a tension between sporting competitiveness and commercial appeal. Cardinale’s frustration reflects a broader sentiment across European football, that Italy’s domestic product is strong on the pitch but undervalued commercially.

  By positioning Milan as the face of Serie A’s modernisation, Cardinale is not only aiming to close the gap with England but also to reshape the league’s global brand. The planned new stadium, coupled with a focus on digital innovation and fan engagement, could make Milan the Italian club to fully modernise its infrastructure in the 21st century.

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  What’s next for AC Milan?

  The Rossoneri have started the Serie A campaign strongly, having lost just one of the 10 matches they have played so far. Milan’s squad, featuring key players like Christian Pulisic, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, and Luka Modric, who all hold the experience of the Premier League, embodies Cardinale’s goal of blending European heritage with international appeal. Off the pitch, plans for the new stadium continue to progress, with hopes to begin construction by 2026.

  On the field, Milan will travel to Bergamo on Tuesday night to face an unbeaten Atalanta side in a highly anticipated Serie A clash. Milan are eager to return to winning ways after a frustrating 2-2 draw with Pisa that saw Zachary Athekame rescue a late point. With Massimiliano Allegri’s side unbeaten in their last eight matches and Loftus-Cheek back in contention, the Rossoneri will look to reclaim the Serie A top spot and strengthen their title credentials against a disciplined Atalanta outfit.

Tottenham sensation Lucas Bergvall is making plenty of headlines after his exceptional start to the season, and it could even spark a new transfer plan.

Lucas Bergvall attracting praise after Tottenham displays

The 19-year-old is making his £8.5 million price tag look like chump change.

Ever since his move from Djurgardens in February 2024, Bergvall has arguably established himself as one of Spurs’ best bargains of the last decade.

Spurs beat La Liga giants Barcelona to his signing last year, and according to some reports, Hansi Flick’s Catalans are still reeling from missing out on the teenager amid his excellent start to life at N17.

Appearances

55

Goals

2

Assists

7

Bookings

9

Minutes played

2,881

via Transfermarkt

Thomas Frank has given Bergvall the starting nod in four out of his first six top flight games in charge, with the midfielder scoring his first ever Premier League goal for the Lilywhites during their 3-0 London derby win over West Ham recently.

Bergvall was handed the Player of the Match award for his performance at the London Stadium, and grabbed another one just days later in Tottenham’s 1-0 win over Villarreal in the Champions League.

The ball-carrying gem has also completed more successful dribbles than any other Tottenham player in the league on average so far, bar summer signing Mohammed Kudus (WhoScored), with Sweden boss Jon Dahl Tomasson lavishing his compatriot after watching nearly all of Bergvall’s games.

Bergvall is even keeping Archie Gray, another exciting teenage talent, out of Frank’s starting eleven despite the Englishman’s excellent performances when called upon.

Pape Sarr and Bergvall are arguably beginning to establish themselves as future undroppables of Frank’s new-look team, with pundits also hailing the former as an “important” player who “goes under the radar” (Martin Allen).

Therefore, it is little surprise that CEO Vinai Vinkatesham, technical director Johan Lange and the Lilywhites recruitment team will want to replicate their signings of Sarr and Bergvall in future moves.

Tottenham tipped to move Nottingham Forest sensation Elliot Anderson

Speaking to Tottenham News, pundit John Wenham says he’s “heard” that Spurs are looking at midfielders in a similar mould to the duo, and suggests that they could move for Nottingham Forest star Elliot Anderson.

The 22-year-old has seriously impressed since joining Ange Postecoglou’s side from Newcastle, often standing out as a key component of their midfield with his close control, dribbling and composure on the ball.

This was on full display against Real Betis in the Europa League, and Anderson has earned a place in Thomas Tuchel’s England plans as a result of his excellent City Ground form.

With Bentancur closing in on a new Tottenham deal and Frank already well-stocked for midfielders, at least for the time being, this could be one for Spurs to consider next summer.

Yves Bissouma is widely expected to leave Spurs after falling down Frank’s pecking order, either in January or as a free agent later in 2026, with Anderson standing out as a quality, young and homegrown potential replacement.

That being said, reliable journalist Henry Winter has suggested that the ex-Magpie is now worth over £70 million, which is double the price that Forest originally paid to sign him in 2024.

تقدم الفريق الأول لكرة القدم بالنادي الأهلي، بالهدف الأول أمام إيجل نوار البوروندي، ضمن مباريات دوري أبطال إفريقيا.

وتقام مباراة الاهلي وإيجل نوار، على ملعب استاد القاهرة، في إياب دور الـ32 من بطولة دوري أبطال إفريقيا.

طالع|فيديو.. طرد جراديشار من مباراة الأهلي وإيجل نوار في دوري أبطال إفريقيا

وجاء الهدف عن طريق عمر كمال في الدقيقة 58 من تمريرة من بن رمضان قابلها عمر كمال بقدمه في الشباك.

ويلعب الأهلي بعشرة لاعبين منذ الدقيقة 16 من عمر الشوط الاول، بعدما حصل جراديشار على طرد من حكم مباراة إيجل نوار، بعد احتكاك بدون كرة مع لاعب المنافس ما اعتبره الحكم اعتداء على مدافع إيجل نوار.

وكان الأهلي قد حقق الفوز في مباراة الذهاب بهدف دون رد، على إيجل نوار، في المباراة التي جمعت بين الفريقين السبت الماضي. هدف الأهلي الأول أمام إيجل نوار

 

There has been an update on the future of Rangers manager Russell Martin’s Ibrox future ahead of Sunday’s Glasgow derby against Celtic.

Martin reacts to Rangers’ “humiliating” Champions League exit

The Gers were knocked out of the Champions League on Wednesday evening after suffering an embarrassing 6-0 defeat to Club Brugge, losing 9-1 on aggregate over the two legs.

Any chance of a Rangers comeback was ended after going a goal and a man down on the evening after less than 10 minutes, with the hosts running riot for the rest of the game.

Martin, asked if he still had belief that he was the right man to take Rangers forward after the game, said:

“Yeah. I don’t think I’ve learned anything new tonight, just really hurt, really embarrassed by the defeat. It’s probably the toughest night I’ve had as head coach/manager. But it doesn’t it doesn’t change the fact that I think we can get this place going, we can get the team going.

“And as I said, progress and move forward and grow and we have an opportunity to really do that, to feel everything tonight that comes our way and accept it, because we have to with a manner of defeat and then we have a chance to really show some character and some growth and some personality and desire on Sunday.”

Sunday sees the Gers face rivals Celtic for the first time in the 2025/26 Scottish Premiership season, with Martin going on to apologise to the supporters.

The speculation regarding Martin’s Ibrox future will only increase after the Champions League defeat, but there has been an update ahead of the Glasgow derby.

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Russell Martin sack update from Rangers before Celtic

Football Insider journalist Pete O’Rourke shared an update on Martin’s future at Rangers 24 hours before their defeat to Club Brugge.

Focusing on the game against Celtic, O’Rourke stated that ’Rangers are unlikely to react quickly and sack Martin even if he oversees a defeat’ to the Hoops at Ibrox.

Should the Gers lose to Celtic, Martin’s side will already be nine points behind their fiercest rivals after just four fixtures.

O’Rourke added that ‘the Rangers board will not make any knee-jerk decisions and still have full faith’ in the 39-year-old and that ‘the 49ers Enterprises know that it is a long-term project’.

Russell Martin’s Rangers record
Games	10
Wins	3
Draws	4
Losses	3
Goals scored	15
Goals conceded	17

Whether or not Rangers’ stance has changed following the humiliating Champions League exit remains to be seen, but by the looks of things, Martin’s job is safe for now regardless of the result on Sunday.

Everton have made some terrific moves in the summer transfer window to bolster David Moyes’ options across the pitch, with the headline-grabber so far being the arrival of Jack Grealish.

The England international has registered an eye-catching haul of four assists in three Premier League outings for the Toffees so far, per Sofascore, with two assists against Wolves and against Brighton.

Kieran Dewsbury-Hall also arrived from Chelsea on a permanent deal and produced a goal and an assist in the 3-2 win over Wolves in the top-flight at the weekend.

Everton eyeing new right-back

The Toffees are now looking at the other end of the pitch for potential reinforcements to improve the back four in front of Jordan Pickford before the deadline passes.

Transfer Focus

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

According to journalist Alan Myers, Everton have an interest in Norwich City right-back Kellen Fisher ahead of the end of the summer transfer window this evening.

The reporter adds, though, that he is not aware of a formal bid having been placed for the England U21 international, which suggests that there has not been any concrete movement as of yet.

Everton’s interest in the 21-year-old talent does seem to show that the club are eyeing a last-minute move to sort their right-back position out.

What Kellen Fisher could bring to Everton

Moyes could have a natural right-back who could take Jake O’Brien out of that position if the club are able to strike a late deal with Norwich for the defender, who was hailed for his “crunching” tackles by reporter Connor Southwell.

Unlike O’Brien, who is a centre-back by trade, Fisher is an out-and-out right-back who has plenty of experience now playing for the Canaries in the Championship, and for England at U20 and U21 level.

In the 3-2 win over Wolves, the current Everton ‘right-back’ lost seven of his nine ground duels and lost possession of the ball a staggering 26 times, per Sofascore, whilst the Canaries gem only lost possession 7.4 times per game on averag last term.

That performance highlighted the need for the Toffees to have a natural full-back in that position to be mobile enough to win duels as well as good enough technically to progress up the pitch and create chances for the team.

Appearances

38

20

Big chances created

4

1

Assists

4

0

Tackles + interceptions per game

2.7

1.5

Duels won per game

3.9

3.8

Ground duel success rate

53%

53%

Aerial duel success rate

62%

58%

As you can see in the table above, Fisher and O’Brien’s respective statistics at league level last season suggest that the former is far more likely to provide a threat in the final third, by pushing on from right-back to create ‘big chances’ chances for his side.

The Norwich youngster being an athletic, pacey, right-back also means that he is more effective in duels, as illustrated by those statistics, because he is combative and quick across the ground, whilst O’Brien is a natural centre-back who wants to step off instead of potentially having to deal with a foot race.

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Therefore, Fisher has the qualities and the profile to replace O’Brien as the first-choice right-back for Everton if he can adapt to the Premier League, by offering the team more as a strong defender and as a creative threat in the final third.

Chelsea have now opened talks with the representatives of Barcelona star Fermin Lopez, which comes as a shock amid their long-winded pursuit of RB Leipzig’s Xavi Simons.

Enzo Maresca’s side, amid their desperate bid to offload the likes of Nicolas Jackson and Christopher Nkunku to make room in their squad, opened negotiations over signing Simons weeks ago.

Negotiations for the Dutchman have been ongoing ever since, and despite some reports to the contrary, a full agreement with Leipzig still hasn’t been reached.

Just five days remain until the transfer window shuts on September 1, and Maresca was believed to be prioritising deals for both Man United winger Alejandro Garnacho and the 22-year-old before the deadline.

However, reports that Barca’s Lopez has emerged as a concrete target during this final stretch have prompted many questions.

The Spaniard, who has become a star under Hansi Flick, has been approached by Chelsea as the Blues reach out to his camp, according to multiple reliable sources, with Chelsea now eyeing a late move for Lopez who’d come as an alternative to Simons.

The 22-year-old made 46 appearances in all competitions last term – scoring eight goals and bagging 10 assists – including a brace of goal contributions against Bayern Munich in the Champions League.

His quality is pretty much undeniable, as is the notion that he’d provide Maresca with a serious playmaking upgrade who’s also capable of playing on the left-wing.

Chelsea's plan for Xavi Simons after opening talks with Fermin Lopez

Some on-lookers may assume from Chelsea’s contact that they are moving on to Lopez after contacting his entourage, but that apparently isn’t the case.

According to journalist Simon Phillips, Chelsea are attempting to put pressure on Leipzig to sell Simons by approaching Lopez, with the Bundesliga sensation very much still their priority right now.

If Chelsea do turn their attentions fully towards Lopez, the asking price is believed to be around £60 million.

Leeds United kick off their 2025/26 Premier League campaign in ten days as they prepare to welcome Everton to Elland Road for their opening game.

The Whites may have a new-look defence in place when the Toffees come to town, as Lucas Perri, Sebastiaan Bornauw, and Gabriel Gudmundsson will all be hoping to start, whilst Jaka Bijol is suspended.

Daniel Farke has only had one new attacker added to his squad during the summer transfer window so far, though, as Lukas Nmecha joined on a free transfer from Wolfsburg.

The German head coach needs more recruits at the top end of the pitch to improve his attacking options, especially in the number ten position, where Brenden Aaronson plays.

Bristol City (A)

0

0

Burnley (H)

0

0

Sunderland (A)

0

0

Sheffield United (H)

0

0

Coventry (H)

0

0

Coventry (A)

0

0

Burnley (A)

0

0

Sunderland (H)

0

0

Sheffield United (A)

0

0

Bristol City (H)

0

0

As you can see in the table above, the USA international struggled badly against the top teams in the Championship, which does not suggest that he is likely to fare well against Premier League teams.

Leeds reportedly looked at a loan swoop for Aston Villa attacking midfielder Emiliano Buendia earlier in the window, but that particular rumour has gone cold.

Why Leeds may not want to sign Emiliano Buendia

A link to the Argentina international was always going to pop up during the summer transfer window, whether there was genuine interest or not, because of his relationship with Farke.

The Leeds boss signed Buendia for Norwich in the summer of 2018 and coached him for three seasons in Norfolk, winning two Championship titles in the process. During that time, the playmaker scored 24 goals and provided 41 assists in 121 appearances for the Canaries.

This shows why Farke may want to work with the Argentine magician again, as he delivered goals and assists on a regular basis for him in East Anglia.

However, Buendia turns 29 in December and he has yet to prove that he can deliver consistent quality at the top end of the pitch at Premier League level.

24/25

12

0

0

22/23

38

5

2

21/22

35

4

6

19/20

36

1

7

Leeds, if he is not available on loan, may be reluctant to spend big money on an ageing player who has not fully proven himself as an attacking threat at the top level, with no more than five goals in any of his four seasons in the Premier League.

This may be why the West Yorkshire outfit are reportedly looking at alternative options to come in and bolster their options in the number ten position before the summer transfer window slams shut at the start of September.

Leeds target is keen on Elland Road move

According to the Yorkshire Evening Post newsletter, as relayed by Leeds United News, Leicester City attacking midfielder Bilal El Khannouss is very interested in a move to Elland Road this summer.

The report claims that the player’s camp have confirmed that he is interested in signing for the Championship champions before the end of the window, and that a meeting has already been held to discuss a possible move.

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

It adds that the Whites have also made an enquiry to Leicester about a potential deal to sign the Morocco international, who reportedly has a release clause of £22m in his contract.

Tottenham Hotspur, who will be in the Champions League in the 2025/26 campaign, have also been linked with an interest in the 21-year-old talent this month.

This latest update on El Khannouss’ eagerness to sign for Leeds will, therefore, come as a big boost to the Whites, who will be hoping to beat off competition from other teams to land his signature.

Why Leeds should sign Bilal El Khannouss

The West Yorkshire outfit should be pushing to get this deal over the line as quickly as possible, now that they know that the player is keen to make it happen, because he could be Farke’s new version of Buendia.

Unlike the Aston Villa attacker, the Leicester youngster is at the start of his career, at the age of 21, and Leeds would be signing a player who is on his way up in the game.

El Khannouss, who has been hailed as“exceptional” by analyst Ben Mattinson, has plenty of time left ahead of him to develop and improve after his debut season in England, whilst Buendia is closer to the latter stages of his career and still searching for consistency.

The £22m-rated starlet showed flashes of quality in the Premier League with the Foxes, who were relegated, as he created eight ‘big chances’ in 27 starts.

xAG

0.19

Top 46%

Assists

0.12

Bottom 35%

Passes attempted

43.85

Top 15%

Progressive passes

5.28

Top 14%

Passes into the final third

3.67

Top 10%

Key passes

1.73

Top 37%

Through balls

0.45

Top 16%

As you can see in the table above, El Khannouss ranked highly among his positional peers in a host of passing and creative metrics for Leicester.

He was unfortunate to only register three assists from his eight ‘big chances created’ and 0.19 xAG per 90, as his teammates failed to make the most of the high-quality opportunities that were created for them.

These statistics suggest that the Leicester dynamo has the potential to be an incredibly creative force in the number ten position for Leeds, as he was able to shine as a creator in his first year in England as a young player in a team that got relegated.

The Whites will be hoping to put up more of a fight than the Foxes did in the Premier League, which may mean that El Khannouss has even more opportunities to showcase his creativity in what will, hopefully, be a more successful team on the pitch.

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Overall, the Morocco international could be Farke’s next Buendia as an impressive creative threat in the number ten position, and signing him over the former Norwich man may make more sense due to their respective ages and potential for growth in the years to come.

كشفت تقارير صحفية عن دخول البرتغالي برونو لاج في مفاوضات مع نادي كبير رغم أنباء اقترابه من النادي الأهلي.

ويعتبر برونو لاج المرشح الأبرز لتدريب الفريق الأول لكرة القدم بالنادي الأهلي خلفًا للإسباني خوسيه ريبيرو بعد إقالته بسبب سوء النتائج.

ولم يفُز ريبيرو سوى بمباراة واحدة في بطولة الدوري على حساب فاركو برباعية مقابل هدف، بينما تلقى هزيمتين وحقق 4 تعادلات.

ورحل ريبيرو بعد الخسارة أمام بيراميدز في الدوري المصري بثنائية نظيفة، عقب أداء سيئ للغاية والكثير من المعاناة التي ظهرت على لاعبي الأهلي.

وكانت صحيفة “أو جوجو” البرتغالية أفادت أن المفاوضات بين برونو لاج وإدارة الأهلي قد تُحسم خلال الساعات القليلة القادمة.

اقرأ أيضًا | 200 ألف يورو تفصل برونو لاج عن تدريب الأهلي

وذكرت أن إدارة النادي الأهلي عرضت على المدرب 4.8 مليون يورو سنويًا في حين أن المدرب يريد تقاضي 5 ملايين يورو.

ووفقًا لصحيفة “نت فلو” فإن المدرب البرتغالي يعتبر أحد المرشحيين البارزين لتدريب الفريق الأول لكرة القدم بنادي فلومينينسي البرازيلي.

ريناتو جاوتشو كان قد استقال من منصبه كمدرب لفريق فلومينينسي مساء الثلاثاء، بعد الخروج من بطولة كوبا سود أمريكانا أمام لانوس.

يُذكر أن برونو لاج كانت له تجربة في البرازيل حينما قام بتدريب فريق بوتافوجو منذ عام 2023 حتى 2024.

FSG weren’t lying when they said they were going to spend big this summer. Liverpool fans needed to buckle up ahead of the summer transfer window, with the Anfield side having crossed the £200m mark before even reaching July.

The club’s full-back problems have been resolved through acquisitions of Milos Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong, and sporting director Richard Hughes has also overseen the shattering of Liverpool’s transfer record by signing Florian Wirtz for £100m plus £16m in add-ons, which will make the German the most expensive player in British history.

Liverpool aren’t done yet. While Jarell Quansah’s summer sale to Bayer Leverkusen will open up space in central defence, and Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi is the centre of ongoing talks, many fans would point toward the front of the ship as the area most in need of a brush-up.

If and when Napoli sign the unconvincing Darwin Nunez, Hughes will be expected to find a focal frontman to lead the line for the Premier League champions next season and beyond.

What's the latest on Hugo Ekitike

Liverpool need a striker, and the man signed come autumn may turn out to be Eintracht Frankfurt’s Hugo Ekitike.

The French forward, 23, enjoyed a tremendous breakout year in Germany, leading analyst Ben Mattinson to dub him “one of the best strikers out there.”

Liverpool have been getting ready to bid for the forward for a while, but FSG are understandably hesitant given Die Adler’s £85m valuation of their star man.

This is considerably more affordable than Newcastle United’s Alexander Isak, who could set a successful suitor back £200m this summer, but still rather high for a club having already forked out bucketloads on fresh talents.

So then, who to go for? Well, Ekitike’s good, as the graphic above illustrates, but he’s not as complete and refined as another transfer target who would require a far more modest outlay.

Liverpool hold talks for Ekitike alternative

As per Caught Offside, Liverpool are still in the race for Sporting CP sensation Viktor Gyokeres, who will almost certainly leave Portugal this summer after a breakdown in relationships at his outfit.

In fact, the Reds are among the sides to have opened a dialogue with Sporting, seeking information on the marksman as he prepares to leave the club.

Arsenal and Manchester United appear to have the edge in the race, but if Liverpool raise their intrigue, there’s every chance Arne Slot could secure a top-class marksman for 2025/26.

Gyokeres will be available for a fee lower than his €100m (£85m) release clause, with the Liga Portugal champions hoping to bank €80m (£68m) for their number nine’s sale.

What Viktor Gyokeres would bring to Liverpool

While £68m is a rather hefty figure, Gyokeres’ performances over the past couple of years suggest Liverpool would receive bang for their buck.

After joining the Portuguese side from Coventry City in the Championship for around £20m two years ago, the Sweden striker has grown into his skin as one of Europe’s leading goalscorers, posting 97 strikes across 102 matches for the Leões, assisting 28 goals too.

While the Portuguese top division isn’t the highest in overall quality, that’s not to say that Gyokeres hasn’t proved his worth, with the levels of his clinical shooting underscoring his place among Europe’s elite. Indeed, the “lethal” forward has been described as “the best finisher in the world” by football statistician Spencer Mossman.

Ekitike has a high ceiling, all right, but he’s not yet the finished product, and we’ve seen plenty of rising stars not quite reach their potential when making the cosmic leap into the Premier League, where the hard graft only just begins.

Looking at the pairings’ contrasted statistics across the 2024/25 league campaign, Gyokeres for Sporting and Ekitike in Germany for Frankfurt, it may well be that Liverpool should go for the more experienced man.

League Stats 24/25 – Viktor Gyokeres vs Hugo Ekitike
Stats (* per game)	Gyokeres	Ekitike
Matches (starts)	33 (31)	33 (31)
Goals	39	15
Assists	7	8
Shots (on target)*	4.2 (2.4)	3.5 (1.5)
Big chances missed	23	16
Pass completion	73%	76%
Big chances created	11	12
Key passes*	1.9	1.3
Dribbles*	1.8	1.6
Ball recoveries*	2.3	2.6
Tackles + interceptions*	0.5	0.7
Duels (won)*	5.5	4.2
Data via Sofascore

Like Ekitike, the 27-year-old is dynamic in his performances, dribbling at a frequent rate, getting stuck in with duels and providing creative support for his teammates, but he’s also far more prolific and less profligate when placed into a goalscoring radius.

Moreover, he ranked among the top 12% of forwards in the Champions League last term for goal contributions, the top 10% for shot-creating actions and the top 6% for progressive carries per 90, as per FBref, emphasising his ability to do it on the biggest stage.

Of course, a blunter illustration would be his emphatic hat-trick against Manchester City, picking Pep Guardiola’s side apart last November.

Ultimately, Liverpool know they should manage to secure themselves an upgrade on Nunez this summer, the Uruguayan only scoring seven times for Slot all season, but it’s important for FSG to pick the right man.

Gyokeres might not be the youngest on the block, but he’s still got many years of reliable service ahead of him and would surely provide Liverpool with a reliable scoring presence, settled as he would be among some of Europe’s most devastating and dynamic forwards in Wirtz and Salah, and more besides.

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By
Angus Sinclair

Jun 30, 2025