All posts by rastrear-estafeta.com

West Ham United claimed their first-ever point away to Brentford in the Premier League on Saturday afternoon, but the pressure is mounting on Julen Lopetegui’s back.

The fact that fans are ruefully casting gazes back to David Moyes serves as a good yardstick to determine the Spaniard’s start, for Moyes was near-universally driven to the exit after West Ham fizzled out like a disappointing firework.

The Scotsman’s illustrious success was swallowed and superseded by the gloomy pragmaticism that rankled fans. Look at Mohammed Kudus; look at Jarrod Bowen – and Lucas Paqueta, too. These are players fit for purpose in a slick and stylish system, and Moyes did not bring that to the table. The timing was right for him to leave at the expiry of his contract in May.

But Lopetegui’s start has been limp and lacklustre. His firework isn’t in danger of fizzling out given that it hasn’t yet flickered and ignited.

#8

28/09/2024

Brentford (A)

Premier League

1-1 draw

#7

25/09/2024

Liverpool (A)

Carabao Cup

5-1 loss

#6

21/09/2024

Chelsea (H)

Premier League

3-0 loss

#5

14/09/2024

Fulham (A)

Premier League

1-1 draw

#4

31/08/2024

Man City (H)

Premier League

3-1 loss

#3

28/08/2024

Bournemouth (H)

Carabao Cup

1-0 win

#2

24/08/2024

Crystal Palace (A)

Premier League

2-0 win

#1

17/08/2024

Aston Villa (H)

Premier League

2-1 loss

Tomas Soucek bailed the Hammers out at Brentford, netting after an (admittedly) wonderful team move after the interval to cancel out Bryan Mbeumo’s early goal. West Ham’s new-found spark quickly tapered off, however, and a draw was claimed to lift the club from four points to five, now with six games played.

Who was culpable for another stodgy showing? Guido Rodriguez certainly didn’t produce the right kind of performance.

Guido Rodriguez's performance vs Brentford

The pace of the Premier League is a beast that claims many a hopeful arrival, and Rodriguez, who is aged 30, needs to bring himself up to speed with haste.

He’s a talented passer and a tenacious defensive option in the centre of midfield, but Rodriguez lacks mobility and roving athleticism, having failed to complete a dribble across each of his past four league matches, as per Sofascore.

He’s started all six of West Ham’s Premier League fixtures at the heart of the field but has left plenty to be desired. Edson Alvarez’s poor start to the season has compounded this, with the Mexican also starting just two times in midfield thus far.

Rodriguez showcased some sharp defending against the Bees, winning seven of his ten contested duels and making four tackles and seven interceptions, but he also looked sluggish and was not quick enough in sweeping forward balls on the transition.

The Evening Standard certainly weren’t impressed with the Argentine’s efforts, awarding him only a 5/10 match rating and writing: ‘Has not proven a shrewd signing as yet. Another difficult afternoon for the Argentine.’

16th

Bournemouth

5

9

17th

Southampton

5

9

18th

Leicester City

6

8

19th

Wolverhampton Wanderers

6

8

20th

West Ham United

6

5

Five big chances created across six games are dismal and point toward a tactical plan that has not settled in at all so far. Rodriguez is not a playmaker but his lack of authority and enterprise in the middle of the pitch has contributed to the issues, and it might now be time for change.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast's Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

Rodriguez's potential replacement at West Ham

Andy Irving has already earned something of a cult status at the London Stadium despite having only played 31 minutes of football this season – spread across three cameos.

The 24-year-old earned the Man of the Match award as West Ham defeated Dagenham & Redbridge in July, a pre-season fixture. It was a performance that showcased his composure and cultured approach, with a ball-playing game that could make a real difference for the Irons throughout the campaign.

He’d previously claimed an assist against Hungarian side Ferencvaros, and after Lopetegui’s poor start to life in London, could now find himself lined up for an unlikely starting berth, potentially even ahead of new arrival Carlos Soler.

A nomadic footballer – walking the path less trodden, to say the least – Irving found a home in Austria with SK Austria Klagenfurt after leaving Turkey in 2022, and chalked up 64 appearances for the Bundesliga outfit, scoring 16 goals and adding 14 assists.

He was excellent last season, posting nine goals across 23 league starts, averaging 1.2 key passes, 1.8 tackles, 4.4 ball recoveries and 4.8 successful duels per game, emphasising a robustness and rounded skillset that could bear dividends for a West Ham side that appears to move at a glacial pace at times.

West Ham signed him for a small fee of just £1.6m last summer, and he returned on loan to Austria for the duration of the 2023/24 campaign – a decision which proved auspicious as he enjoyed arguably his finest career term to date.

The clip just above highlights his ball-playing ability, chipping the ball through for Nayef Aguerd to finish during pre-season, and underscores the dimension that would be added from midfield, for his nine-goal return last year shows that he can find the back of the net himself too.

It’s admittedly a shallow data pool but Irving has completed all 31 passes he has attempted in competitive fixtures for West Ham, further highlighting the technical skill that could partner his avidity, desperate to make his mark and prove the doubters wrong.

Rodriguez is more experienced and industrious from a deep-sitting standpoint, sure, but his role in Lopetegui’s system is proving counterproductive at the moment, and given that the forthcoming Premier League fixture at home to Ipswich Town is a must-win, change might be worthwhile.

West Ham see "quality" £23m forward as "key" possible signing for Lopetegui

The Hammers think he’s a great option.

ByEmilio Galantini Sep 28, 2024

It has been a great start to the season in front of goal for Aston Villa. Unai Emery’s side have scored ten goals in the Premier League this term, the joint third-highest amongst English top-flight clubs. According to Understat, they are slightly underachieving when it comes to expected goals, with a tally of 11.68xG, the third-best in the league.

For this goalscoring form, the Villans have their deadly striker duo of Ollie Watkins and Jhon Duran to thank. Between them, they have seven of Villa’s league goals and assists, with England’s Watkins scoring three goals and the Columbian Duran netting four, as per Sofascore.

With Villa having quality depth up front, it is unsurprising that they moved on a former centre-forward over 18 months ago, a decision which has proven to be the correct choice given the steep decline in his value.

How much Villa sold Danny Ings for

The player in question here is former England international Danny Ings. He joined the club initially from Southampton in 2021, for a fee of around £25m, where he impressed and managed to get himself back in the England side.

However, it did not really work out for him at Villa Park, and he struggled to find the back of the net as much as he did in a Saints shirt. The 32-year-old played two seasons for the Villans, scoring just 14 goals and grabbing eight assists in 52 games.

Season

Competition

Games

Goals

Assists

2021/22

Premier League

30

7

6

2021/22

FA Cup

1

0

0

2022/23

Premier League

18

6

0

2022/23

EFL Cup

2

1

1

2022/23

FA Cup

1

0

1

The former Burnley centre-forward struggled to nail down a starting spot at Villa Park and played just 3026 minutes for the club in total, which is equivalent to just 33.6 full 90-minute games. He was very much a bit-part player during his time at the club.

With that in mind, Villa did well to move him on to West Ham for a fee of £15m in February 2023. It was a move which coincided with the signing of Duran from Chicago Fire. It was a smart piece of business from the Villans, given the value of the striker has since plummeted.

Danny Ings' current market value

Now struggling to get into the West Ham team, Ings’ value has dropped considerably since he joined the club just over 18 months ago. As per Transfermarkt, the striker is now valued at just £6.6m, and it is no surprise when looking at his record for the Hammers.

Market Movers

Football FanCast's Market Movers series explores the changing landscape of the modern transfer market. How much is your club's star player or biggest flop worth today?

He has played 55 times for the East London outfit, just two more occasions than the number of times he played in the claret and blue of Villa. However, he has managed to score just five goals so far, and has registered only two assists.

One of those strikes did come this season, a last-gasp equalising goal in the 95th minute to rescue a point against Fulham at Craven Cottage, after the Hammers’ London rivals went 1-0 up in the 24th minute.

Despite his lack of game time in the claret and blue of West Ham, the former England international, who has three caps for the Three Lions, has tasted European success at the club.

Ings was part of the Hammers squad that won the 2022/23 Europa Conference League, beating Fiorentina 2-1 in the final. Frustratingly for the striker, he did not get on the pitch that day.

Overall, it was a superb piece of business from Villa to cash in on Ings before his value dropped any further. Had they waited longer, they might have missed out on signing Duran, and might have only been able to sell him for a minimal fee.

Imagine him & Duran: Aston Villa could soon unleash incredible academy star

He could start alongside Duran for Aston Villa.

ByJoe Nuttall Sep 24, 2024

After a quiet summer transfer window, Liverpool have already turned their attention towards 2025 and potentially signing one particular winger who their scouts have reportedly just watched in the Champions League.

Liverpool transfer news

Now that Arne Slot has a better understanding of his new side – an understanding that will only grow with time – it should be far easier to identify transfer targets throughout his tenure.

Liverpool thought they had the new Gerrard, but he left under Klopp for £0

He was once seen as a very promising talent during his time at Anfield.

ByEthan Lamb Sep 19, 2024

As Slot was finding his feet at Anfield in the summer, Michael Edwards and Richard Hughes seemed to be focusing on only landing opportunities they felt they couldn’t turn down rather than running the risk of signing a square peg for a round hole. This, of course, saw both Federico Chiesa and Giorgi Mamardashvili arrive with the latter instantly sent back on loan to Valencia as Alisson’s future heir.

Chiesa, meanwhile, made his Liverpool debut in the rather fitting San Siro as he made a swift return to Italy off the bench in the Reds’ 3-1 victory. Now, his Anfield debut is likely to be on the horizon with Liverpool playing host to Bournemouth this weekend. But as he continues to settle in, recent rumours suggest that those in Merseyside have their eye on further competition down the right-hand side.

According to Caught Offside, Liverpool took their first steps in their chase to sign Viktor Tsygankov from Girona by sending officials to watch the winger in Girona’s last-gasp defeat against Paris Sant-Germain in the Champions League.

Whether the Reds’ scouts were impressed by what they saw remains to be seen, but Slot is reportedly a fan of Tsygankov who is open to a Premier League switch amid interest from both Liverpool and Aston Villa. Now 26 years old and in his prime, it may well be now or never for the winger to complete such a move.

"Dangerous" Tsygankov is similar to Chiesa

It’s worth remembering that, as things stand, Mohamed Salah is set to leave Liverpool as a free agent at the end of the season to hand the Reds the impossible task of replacing one of the best wingers that the Premier League has ever seen.

Whilst Chiesa’s arrival will help ease that potential blow, Liverpool’s tactic may simply be to reinforce the right-hand side and spread the responsibility of replacing the Egyptian’s goals around their side. Tsygankov, is a “dangerous creator”, as described by analyst Ben Mattinson, who thrives in one-on-one situations in two similar traits to Chiesa.

With eight goals and seven assists to his name as Girona shocked Spanish football to qualify for the Champions League last season, meanwhile, it’s clear that Tsygankov is not a player who would win Premier League Golden Boots, but perhaps one who would unlock the likes of Darwin Nunez and Cody Gakpo, whilst failing to disrupt Liverpool’s wage bill at £23k-a-week.

Already thinking about their 2025 recruitment strategy, Wolverhampton Wanderers are reportedly eyeing a move to sign a future star in a deal that would see them beat the likes of Arsenal to the youngster’s signature.

Wolves transfer news

Those in the in the Midlands endured a mixed summer. Whilst they lost both Max Kilman and Pedro Neto, the late additions of Andre and Carlos Forbs should prove to be money well spent, though only time will tell whether that is in fact the case.

Wolves could unearth their next Jimenez with teen sensation

Gary O’Neil may have the club’s next version of Jimenez brewing in the academy…

ByRoss Kilvington Sep 14, 2024

Andre is a particularly interesting arrival. The Brazilian previously attracted the interest of Liverpool before a move ultimately never developed. Getting his Premier League chance courtesy of Wolves nonetheless, Andre could now make the Reds regret their hesitant pursuit by becoming a key part of Gary O’Neil’s midfield.

Still just 23 years old and fresh from a standout spell at Fluminense, Andre could prove to be one of the most underrated signings of the summer transfer window in the Premier League. But Wolves aren’t done there when it comes to midfield additions, it seems.

According to Graeme Bailey for The Boot Room, Wolves are now keen on signing Souleymane Sidibe from Stoke City in a deal that would see them beat the likes of Arsenal, Manchester City and Midlands rivals Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest to his signature.

Just 17 years old, the central midfielder is already playing a part for Stoke’s first team in the Championship, grabbing an assist from the bench in his first league appearance of the season as the Potters defeated Plymouth Argyle 1-0.

Now, the teenager could get the chance to make a similar move to the one that Archie Gray completed in the summer, as he swapped Leeds United for Tottenham Hotspur. Potentially following in his footsteps, Sidibe has quite the decision to make in 2025.

"Terrific" Sidibe is one for the future

For a club like Wolves, welcoming young talent before developing them into top prospects should be the way forward and there would be no better way to represent that plan than by signing Sidibe. The teenager looks destined for the Premier League and the idea of such a talent working alongside Andre and Joao Gomes is a mouth-watering one, to say the least.

The current campaign isn’t Sidibe’s first in senior football of course, having earned the praise of former manager Alex Neil last season. Neil told BBC Stoke Radio after handing the midfielder his first senior start in a Carabao Cup win over West Bromwich Albion last season: “I thought his performance justified why he’s been with the first team all pre-season and why I played him in the game.

“I had no concerns over him. He’s a terrific talent but he’s also really mature, for being so young. He did exactly as I expected him to do – he did wonderfully well and he’s played in a Stoke team that won the game, and played the majority of the match.

“I think when you’re 16 years old, most players of that age could only dream of doing something like that.”

Chelsea are "monitoring" Manchester City defender Aymeric Laporte, with the Premier League champions set to hold out for £30m to part ways with the defender, according to transfer expert Rudy Galetti.

Are Chelsea signing a defender?

The Blues have a battle on their hands trying to keep Levi Colwill at Stamford Bridge, amid interest from Liverpool, and the defender is set to hold talks over his future with manager Mauricio Pochettino in the coming days.

If Colwill is unwilling to commit his future to the club, Pochettino may have an even greater need to bring in a new centre-back, and there have been reports that Real Madrid's Rafa Marin is one of the players being monitored for a potential summer move.

Chelsea are eager to sign Juventus' Gleison Bremer, having recently registered their interest in the Brazilian, who is set to cost around €60m (£51m), with Premier League rivals Manchester United also being named as potential suitors.

Meanwhile, Laporte has been linked with a move away from Man City for quite some time now, as he failed to hold down a regular place in the starting XI last season, making a total of just 12 appearances in the Premier League.

Tottenham Hotspur, Arsenal, and Aston Villa have all been named as potential suitors for the Spaniard, so he is likely to have no shortage of offers to remain in England – while Chelsea are also in the race, according to Galetti.

The transfer expert has taken to Twitter to confirm the Blues are "monitoring" the 29-year-old, who has also emerged as a target for Serie A side Juventus.

Although his contract does not expire until 2025, the £120k-per-week defender could be allowed to leave this summer, with Man City asking for £30m to sanction his departure.

How good is Aymeric Laporte?

Despite not being able to break into Pep Guardiola's side often last season, the Spain international is still a top-quality player, as displayed by his passing ability, ranking in the 99th percentile for passes attempted per 90 over the past year (as per FBref).

Having averaged a pass completion rate of 92.7%, the France-born centre-back ranks in the 97th percentile, and he is also fantastic at driving the ball forward, as indicated by the fact he ranks in the 99th percentile for progressive carries.

Not only is he comfortable in possession of the ball, but the former Athletic Bilbao man has also previously been hailed as "the best left-central defender in the world" by Guardiola, partly due to his "mentality and character".

Although he has since lost his place in the Man City starting XI, the 6 foot 3 ace has proven himself in the Premier League over a number of years, making 120 appearances in the top flight, and averaging a 7.12 Sofascore match rating in the 2021/22 campaign.

Hailed as a "beast" by journalist Muhammad Butt, Laporte could be the perfect replacement for Colwill due to his fantastic ability with his left foot, though Pochettino will still be hoping to keep hold of the "astonishing" young centre-back.

Newcastle United are battling Liverpool for the signing of Nice midfielder Khephren Thuram this summer, according to journalist Rudy Galetti.

Who is Khephren Thuram?

The Frenchman is arguably one of Europe's most exciting young midfielders at the moment, already becoming a force for Nice and winning one cap for France at senior level.

It appears Thuram has caught the eye greatly, as he has emerged as a strong candidate to join Liverpool during the current transfer window.

However, Newcastle are also believed to be in the mix to sign the 22-year-old as the Magpies look to bolster their squad and provide stern competition for the likes of Bruno Guimaraes, Joelinton and Sean Longstaff moving forward.

A new update has now emerged regarding Thuram's future as the battle to snap him up continues to intensify.

What's the latest on Thuram to Newcastle?

Writing on Twitter on Saturday, Galetti said that Newcastle are looking to pounce for the signing of Thuram this summer, while Liverpool are trying to get a deal over the line as quickly as possible:

"Liverpool are speeding things up for Khephren Thuram. LFC want to close the gap with OGC Nice soon to anticipate the competition of Newcastle, which are starting to move concretely for the player: evolving situation."

Thuram could be a special addition to whoever signs him in the next few weeks, considering his long-term potential and the fact that he is already a formidable presence at just 22, with the ace being hailed as "very dangerous" by teammate Aaron Ramsey.

A combative midfielder who can play in a deep-lying or No 8 role – he has even played on the left-hand side of midfield – the £14,000-a-week Frenchman appeared in 35 of Nice's 38 Ligue 1 games last season, suggesting he will have few problems lasting long into next season despite his age, with Newcastle playing in four different competitions for the first time in a while in the upcoming term.

Given the nature of this update and the constant reports linking him with a move to Anfield, it does look as though Liverpool are arguably the favourites to sign Thuram, but the Magpies can offer him Champions League football – unlike the Reds – which could be a big advantage for them.

It is so encouraging to see Newcastle being linked with players of such calibre, regardless of where Thuram eventually ends up, highlighting the vast progress made in a short space of time under Eddie Howe at St James' Park.

Arsenal hold a "concrete interest" in signing Southampton midfielder Romeo Lavia this summer, according to Daily Express journalist Ryan Taylor.

What's the latest Arsenal transfer news?

The main ongoing saga involving Arsenal is their pursuit of Declan Rice, with West Ham United recently encouraging them to lodge a third bid to ensure they win the race for his signature, amid interest from treble-winners Manchester City.

Rice is not the Gunners' only midfield target, however, with a move for Brighton's Moises Caicedo still on the cards, with Mikel Arteta looking to bring in multiple options in the engine room, in light of Granit Xhaka's departure.

Arteta has also set his sights on Lavia, with the north London club currently leading the race for his signature, and there has now been an update regarding their pursuit of the Southampton midfielder.

In an interview with GiveMeSport, Taylor confirmed the £25k-per-week ace is interested in a switch to the Emirates Stadium, which could be a boost for Arsenal, however his price tag still remains a potential stumbling block.

The Daily Express journalist said: "I know they've been discussing personal terms with his agent and Lavia, who would be 100% open to joining Arsenal and it does look like there's concrete interest, but at this moment in time, the price tag will have to drop.

"I think the issue Southampton have is that their valuation has been clouded by the fact Chelsea offered £50 million last August and City have that £40 million buyback that becomes active in 2024.”

Who is Romeo Lavia signing for?

There are a number of Premier League clubs interested in signing the 19-year-old, with Chelsea still in the hunt, having recently stepped up their interest, while both Manchester United and Liverpool have also been named as potential suitors.

However, Arsenal have reached a verbal agreement with the youngster, which indicates they are in the driving seat, and he could be a very good addition to the squad, given his defensive qualities, ranking in the 96th percentile for blocks per 90 in the past year.

With an average of 2.1 tackles per game in the Premier League last season, the Belgian ranked second in the Southampton squad, displaying that he could be a viable low-cost alternative to Caicedo, who is expected to cost £80m.

Hailed as "elite", Lavia is at the right age to go on and be a long-term success at the Emirates Stadium, and Arsenal should now try and agree a suitable fee with Southampton.

Mason Mount continues to be linked with a move away from Chelsea, but it appears the Blues are being proactive in their search for a possible replacement.

Manchester United are expected to table an improved £50m bid for Mount this week, giving Chelsea a huge decision to make – cash in now or let the England international leave for free in 12 months' time.

Losing Mount will undoubtedly be a blow for new head coach Mauricio Pochettino, even if the midfielder has his fair share of critics, but there are plenty of options out there to fill the void.

According to football transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, one of those being targeted is Celta Vigo's in-demand midfielder Gabri Veiga.

Who is Chelsea target Gabri Veiga?

Romano suggests that Chelsea have asked to be informed of Veiga's release clause conditions, before weighing up whether to make a move for a player who is also on the radar of Real Madrid and Premier League rivals Liverpool.

Celta president Carlos Mourino revealed in April that the LaLiga side will not negotiate a fee for Veiga. Instead, it is down to any interested suitors to pay his €40m (£34m) release clause.

On the basis of his performances over the past year, that can be considered a reasonable fee. Veiga ranks in the top 1% of his positional peers across Europe's top five leagues in terms of non-penalty goals per 90 minutes (0.43), as per FBref, having scored 11 times in 36 LaLiga games last season.

That figure compares to 0.13 non-penalty goals per 90 for Mount, placing him among the lowest 21% among his positional peers. It is not just in that area Veiga shines, either, as he also assists more regularly than Mount (0.16 per 90 minutes last season compared to 0.11).

There are similarities in Veiga and Mount's playing styles, as highlighted by their progressive carries per 90 figures of 2.67 and 2.62 respectively, which records how often they carry the ball forward more than ten yards.

But Veiga, who was described as a "special" player by Spanish football expert Guillem Balague last season, gets far more of his shots on target than Mount (46.8% v 27.3%), averages more take-ons per 90 (2.94 v 1.69) and is also better in the air (0.75 aerial duels won per 90, compared to Mount's 0.49).

With Enzo Fernandez keeping things ticking along in the engine room, it makes sense for Chelsea to sacrifice another ball-playing midfielder for someone who can get past an opponent and find the net.

When factoring in the fees on the line and that Veiga is three years younger than Mount, the Blues could pull off a rare masterstroke.

Arsenal are eyeing Athletic Bilbao starlet Nico Williams and have held a long term interest in his signing, according to 90min and journalist Graeme Bailey.

Who could join Arsenal this summer?

Mikel Arteta and co must now prepare for what will be a crunch, all important transfer window. The Gunners missed out on their first Premier League title in nearly 20 years to treble-winners Man City last season, meaning this summer is a chance to both improve and strengthen in key areas.

Sporting director Edu has long been preparing, recently admitting as much to ESPN (via 90min), with plans already put in place as far back as April.

"Our planning has already been done," said the Brazilian.

"It has already reached the owners. Now, we're taking things step by step. We're focused on how we will finish the season, but we've put in the planning and I'm very excited."

Midfield signings are thought to be a real priority for Arteta, leading to serious interest and talks to sign West Ham star Declan Rice. Other targets for the position are Brighton star Moises Caicedo and Man City captain Ilkay Gundogan, who is yet to put pen to paper on a new deal.

In terms of forwards, Arsenal are thought to be keen on strengthening that area, with Chelsea star Kai Havertz becoming a serious target lately.

According to Bailey and 90min, though, the north Londoners are also eyeing a move for Bilbao forward Williams, and are thought to hold a long-standing interest.

The 20-year-old, who has already been capped at international level for Spain, is also attracting attention from Aston Villa with Unai Emery's side apparently opening talks.

It's clear Williams is a man in demand, as it's understood both Man City and Newcastle have enquired over the player in recent months too.

Who is Nico Williams?

Coming as a player of real potential, members of the media have heaped praise on Bilbao's starlet for his form last season, with journalist Zach Lowy listing him among his "breakout stars" of La Liga.

He is also "considered one of the top young attacking prospects in Europe", according to 90min again, with Williams' brother, Inaki, heaping praise on the winger back in September.

"[Nico] is a great player, he is in incredible shape and I think he can give a lot to Spain. He has shown it by giving Morata a good pass and I am very happy for him.”

At the backend of a forgettable campaign, the emergence of Liverpool midfielder Curtis Jones will have been a pleasing consolation for manager Jurgen Klopp, with the Scouse-born ace playing an important part in a seven-match winning run to bridge the gap to the top four.

It was too little too late, and the Reds failed to qualify for the Champions League for the first time in seven years with a fifth-placed finish, ending an illustrious run in the competition that has led the Anfield side to three finals, winning one.

Hailed as the "complete #8" by one analyst & scout, the 22-year-old has almost certainly earned a place in Klopp's plans next term after his purple patch, especially considering James Milner, Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain have all left the club following the expiry of their contracts.

And now, the Guardian report that Chelsea are the latest team to have joined the race for the 21-year-old, but that Liverpool and Barcelona are both wanting to claim the player's signature for themselves, all looking to meet his €40m (£34m) buyout clause.

How good is Gabri Veiga?

The £35m signing of Alexis Mac Allister is the first of an ostensible torrent of incomings, with two or three top-class acquisitions still expected to be made, and one, the precocious Spanish talent Veiga, could spell danger for Jones' role on Merseyside.

Despite the recently-concluded campaign being Veiga's first with regular top-flight football, he has plundered 11 goals and supplied a further four assists from just 28 LaLiga starts, earning acclaim for his "dangerous" skill set – as said by journalist Euan McTear.

It's quite frightening to envisage the fleet-footed midfielder's future, given how brilliantly he has taken to life at the top level, already ranking among the top 1% of midfielders across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for rate of non-penalty goals, the top 20% for rate of assists, the top 12% for progressive carries and successful take-ons, and the top 11% for touches in the attacking penalty area per 90, as per FBref.

The praise is mounting: talent scout Jacek Kulig has marvelled at the "amazing" talent while journalist and content creator Rimedi dubbed him "baby Kaka" for his elegance on the ball and deft dribbling skills.

Jones boasts some impressive metrics of his own after starting the last 11 league matches of the year, scoring three goals and registering one assist, ranking among the top 6% of positional peers for rate of non-penalty goals, the top 20% for shot-creating actions and the top 14% for progressive carries per 90, also crisp as they come with the ball, ranking among the top 3% for pass completion.

Klopp will be wary of hampering Jones' progress but with such a fantastic starlet available for an affordable fee, it's simply too good an opportunity to cede, especially given the tumult of Liverpool's present situation. Indeed, this move could be a blow to one of Anfield's hottest young talents.