Jürgen Klopp makes $44m transfer on announcement of second contract with Liverpool
Media Digest: Liverpool have taken ‘first steps’ towards a $44m midfield expansion, as a second young talent in Jürgen Klopp has signed a new contract.
A second young Liverpool defender has signed a new contract. After Jarell Quansah put pen to paper, right-back Isaac Mabaya, who has been injured for much of this season, also extended his contract.
Mabaya was part of the senior preseason last summer, but was unable to play due to his enforced absence. Still, the 18-year-old scores high. Mabaya can also play in midfield, is an England youth international and has featured regularly in the UEFA Youth League for the Reds in the past.
In addition to Quansah and Mabaya, fellow defensive talent Luke Chambers also signed a new contract earlier this month. All three players are hoping to impress in the senior preseason this time around.
Midfielder James Balagizi has recently returned from injury after returning early from a loan spell at Crawley Town for what would prove to be a four-month problem.
Balagizi had impressed early on, even scoring as Crawley knocked Premier League side Fulham out of the Carabao Cup in the first half of the season
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‘Steps taken’ towards the 44 million dollar midfielder
Liverpool have made a summer transfer for Dutch midfielder Teun Koopmeiners with a valuation of $44m, according to Corriere dello Sport, although Juventus are also pictured.
The report claims that Liverpool have indeed taken “first steps” to facilitate a transfer, but it’s unclear what exactly that means. The 25-year-old Dutch international has scored seven goals this term and provided three assists in 28 Serie A appearances for Atalanta, and previously impressed at AZ Alkmaar.
Liverpool are definitely in need of improvement in the center of the pitch and a goalscorer with plenty of physical presence could be just what is needed to put Jürgen Klopp’s side back to work.
Also…
How many points Newcastle United need to seal a Champions League place?
What do Newcastle United need to do to see off the challenge of Liverpool, Manchester United and more to claim a return to the Champions League?
Newcastle United WILL end their decade-long absence from European football next season after a combination of results fell their way on Saturday afternoon.
There were mixed emotions over the Magpies 2-2 draw at relegation threatened Leeds United as two Callum Wilson penalties were only rewarded with a solitary point at Elland Road. However, there was some positive news for Eddie Howe and his players as Tottenham Hotspur’s 2-1 defeat at Aston Villa ensured United will end the season in a top six position.
That will mean the Magpies will return to the Europa League for the first time since they lost a quarter-final tie against Portuguese giants Benfica in April 2013. However, the race for a Champions League place is still very much alive as all eyes turn towards fifth placed Liverpool’s trip to a Leicester City side scrambling for their lives at the other end of the table.
So with just two weeks remaining in the season, NewcastleWorld looks at what lies ahead for Eddie Howe and his players and assesses what number of points they require to secure qualification for all three European competitions.
Remaining fixtures for Newcastle, Manchester United, Liverpool and more
3rd: Newcastle United (35 games played, 66 points)
Brighton and Hove Albion (H), Leicester City (H), Chelsea (A) Maximum possible points total: 75
4th: Manchester United (35 games played, 66 points)
AFC Bournemouth (A), Chelsea (H), Fulham (H) Maximum possible points total: 75
5th: Liverpool (35 games played, 62 points)
Leicester City (A), Aston Villa (H), Southampton (A) Maximum possible points total: 71
6th: Brighton and Hove Albion (34 games played, 58 points)
Newcastle United (A), Southampton (H), Manchester City (H), Aston Villa (A) Maximum possible points total: 70
7th: Tottenham Hotspur (36 games played, 57 points)
Brentford (H), Leeds United (A) Maximum possible points total: 63
What does that mean for Newcastle United’s Champions League hopes?
The equation for the Magpies is a very simple one. If they can win two of their remaining three Premier League fixtures they will be playing Champions League football for the first time since 2003.
However, if Liverpool were to lose at Leicester on Monday night, Newcastle United would require three points from their remaining three games to finish in the top four. If the Reds draw at the King Power Stadium, Newcastle would need four points from their remaining three games to finish in the top four and to maintain their goal difference over Jurgen Klopp’s men.
Gaining four points from those games would allow Brighton into the picture – but only if the Seagulls beat Newcastle at St James Park on Thursday and take maximum points from home games with Southampton and Manchester City and their final day visit to Aston Villa. The Seagulls would also need a significant swing in goal difference to go their way.
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“I think he’s the same as Darwin Nunez” – Ian Wright claims Manchester United have a player who is similar to the Liverpool striker
Arsenal legend Ian Wright has drawn parallels between Manchester United’s Antony and Liverpool striker Darwin Nunez. Wright made the comparison in the wake of United’s 2-0 victory against Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday, May 13.
Antony, who joined the Red Devils from Ajax last summer, was pivotal in the win as he added another Premier League assist to his tally. The Brazilian winger provided a cut-back to striker Anthony Martial, who coolly slotted the ball home in the 32nd minute. Alejandro Garnacho consolidated United’s lead in second-half stoppage time to seal the three points.
Post-match, Wright firmly asserted his belief that the 23-year-old Antony will continue to hone his craft in the coming seasons. He claimed that like Liverpool’s Darwin Nunez, Antony has taken some time to settle into English football after a big money move. Nunez arrived at Merseyside last summer after a move worth up to €100 million from Benfica.
The Arsenal legend said on Match of the Day (via Express):
“I’ve got a lot of time for him, I think he’s the same as Darwin Nunez. Sometimes with the price tag, people expect so much. We know they have got ability, they have got quality in their first year and when you look at what he is capable of, you have to give this guy some time.”
Wright further dissected Antony’s performance, highlighting the unique aspects of his game:
“What he does do, he gets into space. He finds space. This is what is different from a lot of people, pace and skill. He is just skinning them. Once you get into this situation [with Sancho free in the box] now you want the calmness and composure. In the end a great run comes to nothing but as time goes by, he won’t waste that. It comes down to decisions. But as time goes by, those decisions will come easy to him.”
Only time will tell if Antony can live up to his €100 million million price tag. However, if his performance against Wolves is any indication, the Brazilian is more than ready to take on the challenge.
Liverpool’s chase for top-four could see Manchester United miss out on the Champions League
The Reds’ resurgence has caught the attention of former Tottenham midfielder Jermaine Jenas, who believes that Liverpool snatching a top-four finish from Manchester United would be “unreal”.
Jurgen Klopp’s squad has had its fair share of tribulations throughout the campaign. However, a late-season renaissance, coupled with United’s wavering form, has thrust them into contention for an unexpected top-four finish.
Ahead of their Monday night fixture against Leicester City, Liverpool sit just four points behind Manchester United, who occupy the fourth position. Speaking on BT Sport, Jenas couldn’t help but express his surprise at the dramatic shift in fortunes (via Eurosport):
“It would be unreal. When you think about Liverpool’s season and how far gone it was at one point, to think that they could snatch it from their arch-rivals, whether it’s the last game of the season or whatever, you wouldn’t want to be a Man Utd fan – put it that way.”
However, Jenas also offered a note of caution for Liverpool. Manchester United’s remaining matches, he suggested, might just be their saving grace. With two home games against Chelsea and Fulham, and only a single away trip to Bournemouth, the Red Devils seem to have the odds stacked in their favor.