Scott McTominay U-turn could spell bad news for Celtic

Celtic have been linked with Manchester United star Scott McTominay this summer; however, the Red Devils could now elect to keep the Scotland international for another season, according to journalist Dean Jones.

What's the state of play involving Scott McTominay's future?

McTominay looks to be at a crossroads in his Manchester United career and was used primarily as a squad player last term, making 39 appearances in all competitions, scoring three times and laying on a solitary assist, as per Transfermarkt.

The Independent have revealed that McTominay could be put up for sale by Manchester United as part of a four-player cull that may also involve Harry Maguire, Jadon Sancho and Fred.

With his future unclear, suitors have started to circle to try and offer the 26-year-old an escape route from Old Trafford. According to CBS Sports via The Daily Mail, Serie A giants Roma and Premier League high-flyers Brighton & Hove Albion are keen to bring in McTominay this window.

West Ham United and Newcastle United are believed to be 'monitoring' McTominay's situation and could offer the Scot a new challenge in the English top flight.

Celtic are another side that have been touted as a potential destination for McTominay, who could slip further down the pecking order at Old Trafford following the arrival of Mason Mount, as per Football Scotland.

Former Celtic player and now pundit Mark Wilson has endorsed the notion of a move, stating: "I really like him and for Scotland he has been a star. He has that composure and he has played at a certain level where I think he would fit into the side. It's one, transfer fee and two, the wage – that is what it all comes down to."

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, journalist Jones has indicated that Manchester United may look to keep McTominay around for at least another season at Old Trafford.

Jones stated: “I can see a situation whereby United perform a U-turn on Scott McTominay and end up keeping him for the season and just offload Fred instead, seeing how slowly their recruitment is going.

“At the moment, it's very difficult to see that they could move on Fred and McTominay in the same window. I've got reservations about this happening for a few reasons.”

Who else could Celtic look to recruit in the transfer window?

Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers will have plenty of money to play with this summer and has a budget reported to be worth around £30 million to play with in order to recruit top talent ahead of 2023/24 getting underway, as per The Scottish Sun.

Ukrainian outlet Sport Novyny via 67 Hail Hail report that former Leicester City winger Tete is a target for the Hoops and they are believed to be strong contenders to sign the 23-year-old amid concerns for his safety at Shakhtar Donetsk due to the ongoing conflict in the region.

Former Leicester loanee Tete.

Sky Sports reporter Anthony Joseph hinted that former Celtic star Mohamed Elyounoussi is on the radar of the Glasgow giants to strengthen their left flank, stating in an interview with GIVEMESPORT: "He'll be on Celtic's radar. I'm sure he'd love a return to Celtic as well. They could do worse than signing Elyounoussi again."

90min claim that Rodgers has taken a shine to Manchester United forgotten man Donny van de Beek and could offer him the chance to revive his stalling career at Parkhead.

Liverpool Drop Out The Race For "Indispensable" £152k-p/w Star

Liverpool have dropped out of the race for Bayern Munich midfielder Ryan Gravenberch, and they will instead prioritise the signing of Southampton's Romeo Lavia, according to Sky Sports reporter Florian Plettenberg.

What's the latest Liverpool transfer news?

Liverpool have already bolstered their midfield with Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai this summer, with the latter joining in a £60m deal earlier this week, putting pen to paper on a five-year contract with the Reds.

However, Jurgen Klopp is still eager to get more done in the transfer market, and with Steven Gerrard lining up Jordan Henderson as his first signing for Al-Ettifaq, the manager may need to bring in multiple new options in midfield.

There have been several players linked with a switch to Anfield, including Nice's Khephren Thuram, as reported by Fabrizio Romano, while the likes of Franck Kessie and Tyler Adams have also been named as potential options.

Gravenberch has been touted for a move to Liverpool on a number of occasions, with the Reds said to be plotting a swoop for the Bayern Munich man way back in March, however it now appears as though he will not be joining this summer.

That is according to Plettenberg, who took to Twitter to claim the Reds are "definitely" out of the race for the midfielder, despite the fact that talks between the club and the player's management took place.

"News Gravenberch: Liverpool is definitely OUT of the race! But talks between the club and the player's management took place," the journalist said.

Instead, Lavia is now considered one of the priority targets for Klopp, although the Sky Sports reporter is keen to stress that Bayern would be willing to sell the Dutchman this summer, if they received the right offer.

FSG have also dropped out of the race for Khephren Thuram, with reporter David Lynch revealing the OGC Nice midfielder will no longer be pursued due to the addition of Szoboszlai, so it seems all focus really is on a more traditional 'number six' like Lavia.

What position does Ryan Gravenberch play?

The 21-year-old has most often played at central midfield throughout his career so far, however he is also capable of playing in a deeper role, ranking in the 73rd percentile for tackles and 71st for interceptions per 90 over the course of the past year.

During his time with Ajax, the youngster was hailed as "indispensable" by football scout Jacek Kulig, making a minimum of 30 Eredivisie appearances in his final two seasons with the club, however he has not quite managed to kick on at Bayern Munich.

In his first season with the German champions last year, the former Ajax man only received 559 minutes worth of game time across the Bundesliga season, having been unable to hold down a consistent place in the starting XI.

That said, the £152k-per-week midfielder is still very young at 21-years-old, and he has plenty of time to develop further, so it is a little disappointing that Liverpool have dropped out of the race for his signature.

However, Lavia could prove to be a very good alternative option for the Reds, particularly in a defensive sense, having averaged more blocks and interceptions per 90 than Gravenberch over the course of the past year.

Now the Southampton star is one of Liverpool's priority targets, Klopp will be hoping progress can be made towards securing his signature in the coming days.

Newcastle Eye £60M Deal For Bundesliga "Icon"

Newcastle United have been strongly linked with a move for Dominik Szoboszlai this summer and now a new update has emerged from a reliable source on the club's pursuit of the player.

What's the latest on Newcastle's interest in Szoboszlai?

According to Sky Sports' North East correspondent Keith Downie, Newcastle are now focusing their attention on the RB Leipzig attacker after Tottenham Hotspur progress their deal to sign James Maddison.

Downie took to Twitter on Tuesday evening to reveal: "Newcastle target James Maddison is in advanced talks with Spurs, report my colleagues @skysportspaulg & @skysports_sheth. "Cautious optimism” a deal will get done — small gap in valuation with Leicester. NUFC likely to look to RB Leipzig’s Dominik Szoboszlai as option."

Italian journalist and transfer insider Fabrizio Romano has also revealed the player's release clause and when it will expire:

"This is how Dominik Szoboszlai’s exit clause works. Only valid until June 30 — worth €70m (£60m)."

Would Szoboszlai be a good signing for Newcastle?

There is no doubt that Eddie Howe will be thrilled with the progress his squad at St James' Park has made during his first full season in charge, however, now the manager faces new and difficult challenges as the club prepares for Champions League football next season.

This will be the first time Howe has ever managed a side in Europe, and it's the first time that Newcastle have qualified in over two decades, so there will be a lot of work to be done in pre-season, as well as a strong transfer window to recruit new additions who can add quality and experience.

As a result, the signing of Szoboszlai – hailed a "future icon" by scout Jacek Kulig – would be a great opportunity for Newcastle to add some depth to their attacking threat as the versatile talent is prolific in a number of positions.

Dominik Szoboszlai

The 22-year-old has taken on many roles over his short career so far with a wealth of experience in countless positions including central midfield, attacking midfield, as well as taking up a more advanced role on the left and right wings of the forward line, making him a hugely valuable asset and potentially a much better alternative to Maddison.

Indeed, when comparing the Hungarian ace to his Leicester City positional peer, Szoboszlai outperformed Maddison in a number of key attributes including shots on target rate (48.3% v 32.5%), pass completion (79.9% v 73.4%), shot-creating actions per 90 (5.52 v 5.01) and goal-creating actions per 90 (0.63 v 0.47), proving that he is a more consistent performer in front of goal and a more creative option for Howe to deploy next season.

Another strength that Szoboszlai possesses over Maddison is a wealth of Champions League experience; with 25 appearances in the elite European competition – scoring eight goals and registering three assists.

With that being said, it would be a no-brainer for Newcastle to snap up the services of Szoboszlai this summer as he could be a real threat to opponents from a number of positions and would provide the club with a fresh perspective in the final third next season.

Leeds United’s £20k-p/w Star Offered New Deal At Elland Road

Leeds United have offered Adam Forshaw the chance to extend his stay at Elland Road, according to reports.

Is Adam Forshaw out of contract?

The Whites’ central midfielder has been a long-time servant in LS11 having first arrived from Middlesbrough back in 2018, but with the 31-year-old not getting any younger and suffering several long-term injuries, he’s started to fall out of favour.

The Elland Road veteran was handed just five starts in the Premier League last season across the reigns of Jesse Marsch, Javi Gracia and Sam Allardyce, so he’s significantly low down in the pecking order.

The Liverpool-born talent’s contract is currenlty going to expire tomorrow and he was all set to depart upon it’s conclusion having been named on the released list alongside Joel Robles, Will Brook & Stuart McKinstry, but it seems that club chiefs have had a late change of heart regarding his future in Yorkshire.

Have Leeds offered Forshaw fresh terms?

According to TEAMtalk, Leeds have “offered a new contract” to Forshaw in what they describe as a "U-turn". The Whites have “invited” the midfielder to link up with the squad for pre-season training and the two parties are “in talks” about the possibility of staying on the books ahead of the new season in the Championship.

The 49ers’ fresh offer has been tabled on “reduced terms” and it’s stated that he is now “weighing up his options” because he has “several other clubs” monitoring him.

Leeds United midfielder Adam Forshaw.

Should the 49ers keep or sell Forshaw?

Leeds will know that Forshaw doesn’t contribute in the final third having posted zero goals or assists across all competitions last season, and whilst he won’t be a regular starter moving forward, he’s still a valuable asset to keep in the building should unforeseen circumstances occur.

The Wasserman client loves to get stuck in having won nine out of his 12 tackles during the previous campaign, not to mention he also recorded an 84.2% pass success rate which was higher than any other of his first-team peers.

Hailed a maestro that causes “all sorts of problems” with his pass selection by journalist Josh Bunting, the £20k-per-week earner provides the manager in charge with wonderful versatility with his ability to operate in all five positions in the centre of the park which is a great quality to possess.

Finally, Forshaw knows what it takes to compete and be successful at the required level having been part of the squad that achieved promotion back in 2019/20, so his experience will be vital to retain to help try and get out of the second tier at the first time of asking.

Fulham: Silva Eyeing Best Signing Since Palhinha In £30m Maestro

Fulham’s midfield was arguably the strongest point of their team last season on their way to a top-half finish following their promotion from the Championship, and it could get even better.

Fulham have made James Ward-Prowse one of their top targets for the summer window, per The Independent.

The England midfielder looks set to leave Southampton following their relegation from the Premier League in 2022/23, and the Saints captain is interested in continuing his Premier League career at Craven Cottage.

Fulham transfer news – James Ward-Prowse

According to Nick Mashiter, the relegated Saints are likely to ask for around £30m for their free-kick specialist midfielder.

Ward-Prowse reportedly believes Marco Silva’s style of football is a good fit for his game as he look to return to England’s top division.

Silva will look to pair him with Joao Palhinha in the Fulham midfield, although the Portuguese midfielder is a transfer target for West Ham given the interest of top 6 teams in securing the services of their captain Declan Rice this summer.

Ward Prowse and Palhinha is the midfield combo to have Fulham firing for Europe

Southampton midfielder James Ward-Prowse.

If Fulham did secure the services of the Southampton legend, he would bring with him a wealth of Premier League experience.

The 28-year-old has made 409 top-flight appearances for the Saints, providing 55 goals and 53 assists for the south coast side.

His club form has earned him 11 England caps and the player has scored twice for his country in those appearances.

Fulham’s star midfielder Palhinha was key for the Whites in his debut season in England.

The 27-year-old was signed from Sporting Lisbon last summer for a fee believed to be around £20m. The 6ft2 workhorse averaged a 7.00 match rating in his 35 games for Fulham in 22/23, per Sofascore.

Manchester United legend-turned-pundit Gary Neville was full of praise for Fulham’s midfield man during the season, and was stunned at the value Fulham had achieved through the signing. Speaking on The Overlap, he stated:

“I think Palhinha to be honest with you, he’s absolutely fantastic him.”

Pairing a player so highly rated with the Premier League experience of Southampton’s captain could be the duo that helps Marco Silva and his Fulham side make a strong push for the European qualification spots next season.

A former teammate of Ward-Prowse at Southampton in Charlie Austin believes the England international is a "phenomenal" player.

Speaking to talkSPORT, Austin said "His set-pieces and that are brilliant. He's probably going to beat David Beckham's record but, the nuts and bolts of his game, running hard, winning the ball back, and leading his team are phenomenal.

"He's come throught the academy at Southampton and has been there for so many years. I just think that it hasn't been the right opportunity.

"I think now is the time for him to move.”

Fulham made some stellar signings last summer, including midfielder Andreas Pereira and centre-back Issa Diop. Both players featured regularly for the Whites, with the Brazilian playmaker notching four goals and six assists in his 33 Premier League games and the French centre-back scoring once in his 25 league games.

Despite their success, Palhinha was the signing of the summer.

If the club do get the England maestro from Southampton, he will surely be their best piece of business since signing their workhouse midfielder from Sporting.

This situation is likely to develop quickly, and could all hinge on who West Ham grabs as their Declan Rice replacement, but a Ward-Prowse and Palhinha combination in Fulham’s midfield would be a major coup heading into the new season

Chelsea eye "sensational" 22y/o goalkeeper

Alongside a new midfielder and striker, the goalkeeper is another position that simply must be upgraded by Chelsea.

The incoming Mauricio Pochettino is attempting to fix the mess of the new ownership, who have spent around £585.5m but have failed to source a consistent and reliable shot-stopper.

Giorgi Mamardashvili is a name that has been linked to solving this damaging conundrum.

What’s the latest Giorgi Mamardashvili to Chelsea?

According to the Evening Standard, the Blues are keenly tracking the Valencia man.

The 22-year-old has emerged as one of the favourites to join the West Londoners after it was revealed that the club has ended its interest in Inter Milan’s Andre Onana.

It is understood that Chelsea have also distanced themselves from AC Milan’s Mike Maignan as they were put off by his mammoth £80m asking price.

Therefore, Mamardashvili has now become the focus and is viewed as a cheaper and more attainable alternative, with a reported £26m price tag.

Is Giorgi Mamardashvili a good signing for Chelsea?

The Georgian joined Valencia on a permanent deal in December 2021 and has made 63 appearances for the club, conceding just 71 goals whilst keeping 18 clean sheets.

During his debut campaign for Los Che, the 6 foot 5 titan went 560 minutes in a row without letting in a goal.

As recognition for his swift and smooth acclimatisation to Spanish football, the eight-cap international was named in Marca’s La Liga Discovery of the Season term.

Last term, he played every game for Valencia in the league and was arguably the team's most important asset, as the club narrowly avoided relegation.

A player of this reputation, form, and potential dramatically differs from Edouard Mendy, who is set to leave.

When the Senegalese arrived in West London in 2020 he was an incredible breath of fresh air, as he conceded just 29 goals in 44 games as he won the Champions League.

However, since this ceremonial moment, it has just been downhill for the 31-year-old, who has made more errors that have led to goals (2), than he has clean sheets (1) in the Premier League this term, as per Sofascore.

Edouard Mendy Chelsea

Despite Kepa Arrizabalaga’s highly questionable consistency, Mendy still couldn’t break back into the first team after injury and began just one of the club’s last ten top-flight encounters.

Therefore, it is a position that desperately needs to be addressed as Mendy has been labelled as a “liability” by the Athletic's Liam Twomey to underline his untenable predicament.

Comparatively described as “sensational” by a journalist, the signing of Mamardashvili would therefore be a fantastic replacement for Mendy.

Celtic Planning To Recruit 37-Year-Old For Backroom Team

Celtic haven't just been eyeing a new manager but fresh backroom additions team too, with The Scottish Sun reporting that the club are eyeing a deal for Scott Brown as a new assistant manager should John Kennedy leave.

Who is the next Celtic manager?

The Scottish Premiership side are currently without a boss, having seen Ange Postecoglou exit the club and decide to try his luck in the Premier League with Tottenham. He spent two seasons with the side and won all that there is to win in Scotland and has now decided to head to England.

It leaves a role to be filled at Celtic now though, with the club already compiling a list of potential candidates. The main name on that list has been Brendan Rodgers, who is currently without a club after leaving Leicester.

Despite leading the Foxes to an FA Cup triumph, his struggles in the top flight this season led to him departing. Whilst his old side did eventually suffer relegation, he is still a successful manager in the game, especially when you look at his previous stint with Celtic. Last time around with the club, he won the league on two occasions, the Scottish Cup twice and the Scottish League Cup three times too.

It looks like Rodgers is now being lined up for a return to the side and has been offered a big deal to do so – but he isn't the only change that Celtic are targeting for their backroom team.

A report from The Scottish Sun states that Scott Brown is also in the frame for a return to Parkhead, despite currently managing at Fleetwood in League One. That's because they feel that current number two John Kennedy could leave, and Brown would be fitting as an assistant manager for them – the iconic figure still speaks to Rodgers, so should the manager be appointed, he could link-up well with the former Liverpool boss.

Scott Brown in action for Celtic during the 2016/2017 campaign.

Is Brendan Rodgers joining Celtic?

Celtic have made contact already with Rodgers over a potential deal but nothing has been agreed as of yet and the managerial post does remain vacant.

However, if the former Leicester man is appointed as the next Celtic manager, then it could be a very good move by the club. He's been praised by several big names in the game already, with Michail Antonio for example hailing the former Leicester man as an "unbelievable" manager.

Rodgers has previously done an excellent job in Scotland with the exact same club, so knows how to instil a winning mentality and how to build a winning team. If Celtic want to stay on top in the SPL, then they could do a lot worse than giving Rodgers the reins again with Brown as his number two.

Tottenham Hotspur Open Talks Over "Outstanding" £60m Star

Tottenham Hotspur have opened talks with Leicester City over a summer move for James Maddison, according to a recent report from 90min.

Is James Maddison leaving Leicester?

Back in May, Simon Jordan told talkSPORT that Maddison would be "one of the first to leave" Leicester this summer, and following their relegation from the Premier League, the midfielder looks like he will be on the move.

According to journalist Rudy Galetti, Aston Villa are "in the race" for the Englishman, while Newcastle United are "still in talks" having started work on a move back in January. He also claimed Tottenham "may decide to take some concrete steps soon".

Galetti confirms the 26-year-old wants to leave, and The Athletic reports his current club could receive around £40m given his contract is set to expire next summer, though his price may be driven up if a bidding war breaks out.

Tottenham have now taken one step closer towards lodging an official bid, as they have opened talks with Leicester about a summer move for the former Coventry City man, who they have been interested in on a long-term basis.

Incoming manager Ange Postecoglou has already given the move the green light, but 90min reports the Foxes could hold out for as much as £60m, given the level of interest from numerous top clubs.

Spurs are hoping to beat Newcastle to the England international's signature, and his entourage has also spoken to the likes of Liverpool, Manchester United and Arsenal over the last six months.

Is Maddison signing for Tottenham?

One potential stumbling block for Tottenham is the fact they do not have any European football on offer next season, while Newcastle will be in the Champions League, so a move to St James' Park could be a very attractive proposition.

However, the aforementioned 90min report details that Newcastle are unwilling to spend much more than £50m, so if Spurs outbid the Magpies, they could be well-placed to win the race for the Leicester star.

james-maddison-tottenham-hotspur-transfer-news-premier-league

If the Lilywhites are able to complete a move, the midfielder could be a very good acquisition, having been hailed as "outstanding" by journalist Henry Winter back in 2021, while he also impressed considerably last season.

With an average WhoScored match rating of 7.24 in the Premier League, Maddison was ranked as the Foxes' best-performing player by a huge margin, amassing a total of ten goals and nine assists – more goal contributions than any other player.

Leeds Want "Crazy" Manager To Replace Allardyce

Leeds United are in the hunt for a new manager and West Bromwich Albion boss Carlos Corberan will be a 'serious contender' for the vacancy at Elland Road, according to journalist Dean Jones.

What's the latest manager news involving Leeds United?

According to The Athletic, Corberan is among the candidates for the manager position at Leeds United as they look to find the right man to lead them in the Sky Bet Championship next term.

The Daily Mail report that Leeds United have made 'early soundings' about the possibility of hiring the 40-year-old, who has a £2 million release clause written into is contract at West Brom.

Corberan has previously spent time at Leeds United in an assistant manager capacity and Whites' chiefs were keen to speak to him back in March following their decision to sack Jesse Marsch; however, West Brom stepped in to offer him an improved contract to fend off interest in his services.

As per Football Insider, West Brom are said to be 'braced for an approach' from Leeds United regarding Corberan, who is tied to his current employers until 2027 contractually.

BBC journalist Adam Pope has endorsed the possibility of Leeds United hiring Corberan on the Don’t Go To Bed Just Yet podcast, stating: “Financially, they’re in trouble [West Brom], we know that. So he needs another challenge. I think it makes a lot of sense Carlos Corberan coming in, whereas a couple of years ago people might think, ‘is he ready for that?’. He’s more than proved that I think.”

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, journalist Jones has indicated that he expects Corberan to be in and around the favourites to take over at Elland Road.

Jones said: “​​Corberan is the one I've heard the most about for this job. I don't know if he's the favourite for the job, but of the names talked about, they definitely like him.

“They've considered him before and kept a close eye on his management style and how he deals with players. I think he'll be a serious contender.”

Would Carlos Corberan be a good appointment for Leeds United?

Given his previous relations with Leeds United and preference to play on the front foot, Corberan is someone who would be an exciting appointment in Yorkshire that would give the Whites some hope that they could challenge for the Sky Bet Championship next term.

Corberan, who was hailed as a "crazy" and is "absolutely obsessed" in a passage from the Athletic, has the ability to mix it up tactically, flickering between slow build-up play, fast transitions and a more direct approach reliant on crosses into the box to strategically outwit the opposition dependent on their style of play, as per Breaking The Lines.

carlos-corberan-west-brom-leeds-united

In his time at West Brom, the Spaniard has accumulated 52 points in the English second-tier, presiding over 16 wins, four draws and ten losses in 30 matches in charge, giving him an average points-per-game ratio of 1.73, as per Transfermarkt.

At Huddersfield Town, Corberan also led the Terriers to the Sky Bet Championship play-off final back in 2021/22, narrowly losing out to Nottingham Forest at Wembley Stadium.

Leeds United will need someone who knows what it takes to regularly claim results in what is a notoriously difficult division to get out of and Corberan is someone with a knack of doing that while playing an attractive brand of football.

Liverpool Agree £60m Fee For "Sumptuous" 24 y/o Dynamo

Liverpool are homing in on their priority target this summer and are now believed to have agreed on a fee with Brighton & Hove Albion for Alexis Mac Allister…

What's the latest on Alexis Mac Allister to Liverpool?

That's according to Football Insider, who state that the Reds have now agreed to meet the 24-year-old's release clause and will pay roughly £60m to clinch his services.

Signing a deal worth £150k-per-week, Mac Allister will enter Anfield with license to cement a central role in manager Jurgen Klopp's plans, with James Milner, Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain all departing this summer.

Manchester United are among the clubs expressing an interest in the World Cup winner, but it is Liverpool who are now poised to tie up a deal in the forthcoming weeks.

How would Alexis Mac Allister perform at Liverpool?

Anfield's imperious centre has been a rock steadily abraded over the past few years, with the once unrelenting, all-conquering Liverpool midfield now an inharmonious cluster of debris.

Cohesion was somewhat restored over the latter phase of the 22/23 campaign, Klopp's men constructing a seven-match winning streak in the Premier League before a twofold of draws in the final weeks.

Even this brilliant purple patch was not enough to salvage top four, and Liverpool now await football in the Europa League for the first time in seven years; with a fortified nucleus, the Reds could yet return to the top, and the importance of Mac Allister's signing cannot be understated.

The Argentine has been on Brighton's books since departing homeland outfit Argentinos Juniors in 2019, but this season he has truly burst into prominence and has posted a return of 12 goals and three assists from 40 outings for the Seagulls, also starring for Argentina in Qatar and scoring a goal and assist apiece, with the "sumptuous" assist – as described by Gary Lineker – served on a platter for Angel Di Maria in the final against France.

Brighton midfielder Alexis Mac Allister on World Cup duty with Argentina.

A tenacious and "intelligent" midfielder, as praised by compatriot Sergio Aguero, the £50k-per-week gem's energy and exuberance suits Liverpool's system to a tee.

His high-octane approach fuses with a crisp, deceptively effective ball-playing aptitude – he has completed 87% of his passes in the Premier League this term and averaged 1.3 key passes per game – and, as such, could bring the very best out of Liverpool left-back Andy Robertson, who has been somewhat out-of-sorts of late.

The Scottish left-back was branded "horrific" by writer Dave Hendrick for a dismal spell against Tottenham Hotspur in the closing weeks of the term, while the Tactical Times also tweeted to remark that Klopp's new "back 3 doesn't suit him" as he is "the definition of a full-back."

In their late-season resurgence, the Reds have implemented a new structure in possession, Trent Alexander-Arnold's inversion into the centre contributing to the central creativity; Robertson, who thrives as a bouncing marauder on the left-flank, has been left at sea and is struggling to acclimatise.

However, with Mac Allister entering the fray, he will have a midfield partner on the left side to match his pace and ease the burden of mixing increased defensive responsibility with creative flair.

It's the start of a new chapter on Merseyside after a forgettable campaign, and Roberton, who has been exemplary for his club since signing from Hull City for a scanty £10m in 2017, a centrepiece in the illustrious success, could flourish at full throttle once more with the rekindling of the Merseyside giant's dissipated verve.

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