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Glasgow Rangers must turn their attention away from the SFA Cup as they return to Scottish Premiership action against Ross County this evening.

The Light Blues play host to the 11th-placed side on home soil tonight as they look to move ahead of their rivals Celtic and to the top of the table.

A win by three goals or more would secure their place in first on goal difference, and both teams would have played the same number of matches.

Ahead of this clash with the Staggies, Philippe Clement confirmed that Ryan Jack is the only player who will not be available for selection from the team that won at the weekend, as they manage his fitness.

Rangers beat Ayr 2-0 at Ibrox last time out as they secured their place in the quarter-finals of the SFA Cup and the Belgian manager could now make some alterations to the starting XI from that clash.

Todd Cantwell must be unleashed from the start by the Scottish giants to form a partnership with Portuguese striker Fabio Silva in the final third.

Why Todd Cantwell should start tonight

The English attacking midfielder should be brought back into the starting XI in place of recent signing Mohammed Diomande, who is still settling into life in Glasgow.

Cantwell is a proven performer for Rangers who has been at the club for over a year and has the experience and quality to make an instant impact on the pitch tonight.

Whereas, Diomande still needs time to adjust, and a bench role for him in the Premiership, barring injury and suspension issues, could be the best way for Clement to manage his situation.

The 22-year-old whiz started the win over Ayr but failed to contribute with a goal or an assist in the attacking midfield position, which came after a 15-minute cameo off the bench against Aberdeen in the club's last league outing.

He spent the first half of the season with Nordsjaelland and produced zero goals and three assists in 13 appearances for the Danish side in the Superliga.

At the age of 22, Diomande does not need to have an immediate impact on the pitch and could be viewed as a longer-term project, rather than a player to displace Cantwell in the short-term, who can learn from his teammates and gain minutes as a substitute over the coming weeks and months.

His statistics for the Danish club suggest that the Ivorian gem is not ready to be a consistent contributor in the final third, whereas, the former Norwich star has been exactly that for the Gers since his move to Ibrox last year.

Todd Cantwell's Premiership brilliance

Michael Beale swooped to sign the Canaries academy graduate on a permanent deal in January 2023, and it did not take long for him to make his mark in Scotland.

Cantwell ended the second half of the 2022/23 campaign with a return of six goals, four assists, and five 'big chances' created in 16 Premiership appearances for the Light Blues.

This means that he produced a goal or an assist more than once every other match on average for the Scottish giants from a midfield position, which speaks to his huge influence in the middle of the park from an attacking perspective.

He had a slow start to the current campaign with zero goals or assists in four top-flight games under Beale but has found his feet again under Clement.

In 12 starts since the English tactician was relieved of his duties at the start of October, Cantwell has found the back of the net five times and provided three assists.

Four of those goals have come in his last five league appearances for the Light Blues, with the latest being the winner against Aberdeen last time out in the Premiership.

As you can see in the table above, Cantwell was on top form against the Dons last week with an impressive showing in the middle of the park, bundling in the winning goal off a rebound from Tom Lawrence's long-range effort.

The £22k-per-week wizard, who was described as "thriving" under Clement by journalist Joshua Barrie, is a big goal threat who can also create chances for his teammates, which makes him a dream number ten for any team.

It also makes him the perfect player to select behind a centre-forward who wants service to his feet, which is why Cantwell should start with Silva ahead of him.

Fabio Silva's goalscoring potential

The Portuguese striker was signed on loan from Premier League side Wolverhampton Wanderers at the start of the January transfer window and has enjoyed a solid start to life in Scotland.

Silva has scored two goals in his last two starts for the Light Blues and produced one goal in two starts in the Premiership in total over the past six weeks.

The Wolves loanee started against Ayr in the SFA Cup over the weekend and showcased his goalscoring instincts with a sharp swivel and powerful finish to make it 2-0, as shown in the clip below.

You can also see that Cantwell was pivotal to the goal with a superb turn and cross in the box to create chaos in the six-yard box, which resulted in the ball falling for the striker to score.

This shows that the pair can combine for goals within the penalty area and Clement will hope that there will be many more examples to look at by the end of the season.

Hopefully, they can link up again, whether that results in Cantwell scoring or Silva, against Ross County tonight to secure an emphatic win that sends Rangers to the top of the table.

The 21-year-old centre-forward has until the end of the season, before his return to Wolves, to impress the Light Blues faithful, and he is already on his way to doing just that with his recent goals.

It is now down to Silva, who scored 11 goals in 32 matches for Anderlecht last season, to keep up his current form and punish opposition defences alongside Cantwell over the coming weeks and months, including tonight.

Chelsea have been told to increase their offer for Atletico Madrid striker Samu Omorodion after seeing a £42 million bid rejected.

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• Atleti holding out for £70m
• Scored nine goals in 2023/24
• Striker likened to Diego Costa

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The Blues' opening bid for Omorodion was quickly rejected by Atleti, who are awaiting a bid of at least £70m (€83m/$90m) for the 20-year-old, according to The Sun. That's a £28m disparity between their valuation of Omorodion and Chelsea's, so it's clear the two have some negotiating to do.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Chelsea's recruitment team has identified Omorodion as a talented young player with plenty of potential. And new head coach Enzo Maresca is also a fan of the Spain under-21 international, who spent the 2023/24 season on loan at Alaves.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Maresca is keen to bring in a new striker in the summer in order to apply pressure on Nicolas Jackson, who scored 17 goals in all competitions in his inaugural Premier League season. The Blues have spoken to Newcastle and Aston Villa about Alexander Isak and Jhon Duran respectively, but the club won't be pushing ahead with a move for Isak.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR CHELSEA?

  Chelsea have already been busy in the transfer window, bringing in Omari Kellyman, Tosin Adarabioyo, Marc Guiu and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, as the Blues continue to build their squad to suit Maresca's desires. Omorodion might not be the only La Liga ace they sign, either.

Inter Miami are faring admirably without Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez, with Jordi Alba hoping the superstar duo stay away “as long as possible”

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• Herons remain in a winning habit
• South American stars on Copa duty
• Could miss at least two more games

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The Herons knew heading into the 2024 MLS season that they would be losing a couple of iconic figures to the Copa America. Messi is leading Argentina’s defence of that continental crown, while Suarez still forms part of Uruguay’s squad at 37 years of age.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Fears were initially raised as to how Inter Miami would fare in their absence, but Tata Martino has masterminded three consecutive 2-1 victories over the Philadelphia Union, Columbus Crew and Nashville SC. Others are stepping up to cover for Messi and Suarez – with Alba netting a stunning goal against Nashville.

• WHAT ALBA SAID

  The former Barcelona defender has told of everyone in Miami wanting Messi and Suarez to do well with their respective nations before returning to Florida: “We miss them a lot, for their international teams they’re doing really well and we hope they stay there for as long as possible, but for now, we’re doing well ourselves here, and we have to continue going with this form.”

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  WHAT NEXT?

  Inter Miami will be back in action on Wednesday away in Charlotte, with there at least two more fixtures that talismanic captain Messi will sit out if Argentina are to make their way to another Copa final. With 21 games taken in this season, the Herons sit two points clear at the top of the MLS Eastern Conference.

Derby County would have breathed a major sigh of relief that Eiran Cashin stayed put this January at Pride Park, despite fervent interest from a number of higher up suitors trying to tempt the highly regarded Rams talent away.

Putting pen on paper to a new deal until 2027 to further show his commitment to the League One club, Cashin's main focus – alongside his fellow Derby teammates – will be now on clinching promotion come the end of the season back up to the second tier.

If Paul Warne's side aren't successful in achieving this goal, regardless of new contracts or not, they will again face an uphill battle to keep a firm grip on the 22-year-old defender.

Derby will lose Max Bird at the end of the season for sure to Bristol City, with a move confirmed to happen in the summer this January, but there's one midfielder already at the Robins that evokes regret from a Rams perspective with Warne's men offloading the player in question for what now feels like a cut-price fee.

The fee Derby County sold Jason Knight for

Coming through the youth ranks in Derbyshire around the same time as both Cashin and Bird were beginning to gain plaudits, Jason Knight could well have demanded a bigger fee to win his services in retrospect.

Making 166 appearances for his boyhood club before the Robins came calling, Knight's final season in Derby colours saw the now 22-year-old bag two goals and pick up three assists in League One.

Taken aback by the allure of playing in the division above, Knight would move to Ashton Gate for what now looks like a bargain price of £2m after the season had concluded.

Knight hasn't looked back since, coming on leaps and bounds at Bristol City with his importance to the Robins cause only being elevated under Liam Manning this season.

As a direct consequence, the versatile midfielder's transfer value has increased only to further pile on the misery from a Derby point of view.

Jason Knight's increased transfer value

As it stands, Knight's transfer value has increased by 200% since leaving Derby behind last year – the 22-year-old now boasting a boosted worth of €7.5m (£6.3m), according to Football Transfers.

This is down to Knight becoming a key first-teamer under Manning at Ashton Gate this campaign to date, netting six goals in all competitions for his new employers from 39 appearances.

Playing in a whole host of different positions – which has even included the ex-Derby man playing as a centre-forward from time to time – Knight has predominantly excelled in an attacking midfield spot where he's picked up three goals and three goals from 21 games.

Showcasing his class for Bristol over Derby's arch-rivals Nottingham Forest recently with a dinked goal, Knight will have his mind set on continuing to excel to try and help his side mount a serious charge for the playoff positions in the Championship.

It seems Wayne Rooney was justified when he waxed lyrical about Knight being "first class" when he was Rams manager, the former Derby youth product making the step-up to the second tier look effortless this campaign.

Bird will reconnect with Knight at Ashton Gate next season hoping he can copy what the 22-year-old has managed to accomplish, with Warne's side praying that Bristol City don't make Derby look foolish again for letting go of another top young talent for too little.

After just 19 games in charge, Millwall have sacked Joe Edwards and have already made an offer to his replacement, pursuing a shock return. The London club are currently just one point adrift of the relegation zone in the Championship.

Joe Edwards sacked

It looks as though Millwall's recent 2-0 defeat against bottom side Sheffield Wednesday was the nail in the coffin for Edwards' tenure, which lasted just 19 games. Four wins in that time just about sums things up and, now, confirmed by a club statement on Wednesday afternoon, he has been relieved of his duties at The Den. With a matter of months remaining to turn things around, Millwall must get their next decision right or face the prospect of relegation down to League One.

Having finished as high as eighth last season, missing out on a play-off place by just one point, it's been some fall from grace for the Lions throughout the current campaign. Going from play-off hopefuls to relegated in the space of a year would be some disaster for all involved, but if their form continues, it could very much be their reality.

At a time when experience is key, however, those at The Den have reportedly turned to a manager who knows exactly what success means at the club. According to Peter Smith of Sky Sports, Millwall have offered Neil Harris an 18-month deal to become Edwards' replacement and leave current club Cambridge United.

Harris, of course, took charge of Millwall on a permanent basis from 2015 to 2019 in an incredibly successful spell and could be the man to take them to safety this season.

Harris' previous Millwall spell

Harris won't need to spend much time getting the fans onside at The Den, having spent a number of years at the club, earning League One promotion back in 2017 before helping to turn the club into play-off contenders in the Championship. Now, with his first-ever club edging closer and closer to the dropzone, he could quickly reinforce his hero status in London even further if he manages to keep the Lions in the Championship without too much fuss this season.

If he does decide to take the job, Harris' 4-2-3-1 formation may prove to be far more fluid than Edwards' back three system, which Millwall ultimately failed to adjust to during his tenure. The former manager's first game back in charge could come as soon as this Saturday in what could be one of the toughest fixtures in his second stint in charge up against promotion-hopefuls Southampton.

Ben Tozer has revealed that one of the Wrexham players was effectively Ryan Reynolds's "shadow" whenever he dropped in to visit.

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• Reynolds and McElhenney are frequent visitors
• Some players overawed by Hollywood duo
• Tozer spills the beans in chat with Ben Foster

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Tozer, who played a pivotal role in Wrexham's National League-winning campaign in the 2022/2023 season, opened up about the effect Reynolds and McElhenney's Hollywood status has had on the team. The 34-year-old defender humorously confessed that some of his teammates were so starstruck by the actors that their behaviour became somewhat embarrassing.

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  WHAT TOZER SAID

  In a recent appearance on Ben Foster's podcast , Tozer revealed: "They came over for the Maidstone game and we're training on the pitch at The Racecourse. So they come in and it was one of them where people just gravitate toward them and stuff, and I thought I'm not.

  "But you want it to be natural, don't you? I mean, well, I want it to be natural because that's the way it is. You don't want to go and force yourself on someone, you know, it's going to happen naturally."

  "Fair enough, they're the owners, I'm going to get a chance to meet them face-to-face but I'm not going to follow them around the pitch, like some people," he said, adding with a chuckle, "It was a little bit embarrassing, some people, I won't name names."

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Tozer hinted that his ex-teammate Ollie Palmer was particularly captivated by Reynolds and jokingly referred to Palmer as Reynolds' "shadow." "The man who man marks him (Reynolds) everywhere, Ollie (Palmer). Some people say when Ryan comes over, he's a shadow," Tozer said.

  Foster also seconded his thoughts and added: "Yeah, he literally is though, isn't he? Just sniffing him, smiling at him, and just looking at him, adoring him."

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  WHAT NEXT?

  Tozer left the Racecourse Ground at the end of the 2023-24 campaign and is now plying his trade with Forest Green Rovers. However, the player had nothing but praise for Reynolds and McElhenney. Foster, who also had a brief stint at Wrexham, asked Tozer if the Hollywood stars were as genuine as they seemed. Tozer's response was reassuring for fans: "They are (nice) yeah. They're good people and they care."

Team USA's soccer teams won't take part in the 2024 Paris Olympics opening ceremony, with LeBron James and Coco Gauff the official flag bearers.

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• Opening ceremony for Paris Games taking place on Friday
• U.S. Soccer teams already in action
• LeBron James and Coco Gauff will be flag bearers

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Excitement is building in France as the 2024 Paris Olympics will officially open on Friday with a glitzy ceremony in the capital. The ceremony actually takes place outside a stadium, for the first time ever, as athletes will feature in a river parade featuring over 100 boats cruising down the Seine. The parade will pass famous landmarks such as Notre Dame and the Louvre before finishing near the Eiffel Tower where the Olympic cauldron will be lit and the Games officially opened.

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  THE EXPLANATION

  There will be no sign of Team USA's soccer sides at the ceremony as they will have already started their Olympic campaigns. The USMNT kick off againsthosts France in Marseille on Wednesday, while the USWNT play a day later against Zambia in Nice.

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  NBA star James has been chosen to be Team USA's male flagbearer for the opening ceremony for the Paris Games as he takes part in his fourth Olympics. He's already spoken of his pride at the decision: “It’s an incredible honor to represent the United States on this global stage, especially in a moment that can bring the whole world together. For a kid from Akron, this responsibility means everything to not only myself, but to my family, all the kids in my home town, my teammates, fellow Olympians and so many people across the country with big aspirations. Sports have the power to bring us all together, and I’m proud to be a part of this important moment.”

  James will be joined by tennis star Coco Gauff who will be the women's flag bearer and the first tennis star to be handed the honour by Team USA.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR TEAM USA

  The USMNT face a tough opener against red-hot favourites France who will be coached by Thierry Henry. After that, it's games against New Zealand and Guinea for a spot in the knockout rounds. For the USWNT, much will be expected from Emma Hayes's side, particularly after disappointment at World Cup 2023. The team also face Germany and Australia and will be hoping for gold in Hayes's debut tournament.

Arsenal dismantled woeful Sheffield United at Bramall Lane on Monday night to remind West Ham United just how good Declan Rice really is.

Of course, Hammers fans need little reminder of a player who engineered such illustrious success under David Moyes, winning the club's Player of the Season award for the past two years and clinching the Europa Conference League last June before making the cross-London switch for a staggering £105m.

All-encompassing and every-ounce-brilliant Rice is the prized jewel to have emerged from Moyes' tenure, but his departure felt inevitable and it was paramount that money recouped from his sale was redirected toward signings capable of making an impact, ensuring that West Ham keep a foothold on their position as a regular competitor for continental competition.

That, by and large, has happened, and while replacing the England international directly would be somewhat futile the likes of Edson Alvarez and James Ward-Prowse have impressed in the centre of the park and Konstantinos Mavropanos has added mettle to the backline, while Mohammed Kudus has been exceptional in pumping fresh life to a frontline still in need of something more.

West Ham wasted £27m + on a flop who earned more than Declan Rice did

David Moyes missed the mark with this dismal signing.

By
Angus Sinclair

Mar 5, 2024

Of course, while West Ham are likely to target a top-class centre-forward during the off-season, Jarrod Bowen hasn't been doing a half-bad job as the team's principal goalscorer, and for all the fresh faces, the 27-year-old remains the standout of the Hammers squad.

Jarrod Bowen's season in numbers

Described as "unplayable" by Thomas Frank after recently dismantling his Brentford side with a hat-trick in the Premier League, Bowen has been a brilliant talisman for a West Ham side lacking a focal frontman this season.

Veteran Michail Antonio and Danny Ings have both been poor, the former struggling with injuries and Ings yet to find the back of the net in 2023/24.

Bowen, naturally a right-sided winger, has operated in flux and played as the striker and in his favoured position, scoring 17 goals and adding six assists across 33 fixtures for his troubles.

A menace in the Premier League, Bowen has posted 14 goals from 26 matches, complementing his prolific return with 3.5 ball recoveries and 4.3 successful duels per game, as per Sofascore.

His defensive application has formed the foundation of his success under Moyes' wing, ranking among the top 13% of positional peers across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for tackles, the top 1% for interceptions and the top 8% for blocks per 90, as per FBref.

So, clearly one of the most important and influential members not just in West Ham's squad but also competing in the English top-flight, and while United secured his services from Championship side Hull City for just £22m on deadline day in January 2020 (one month into Moyes' reign), CIES Football Observatory's valuation model marks his current worth at £51m – that's quite the rise.

It would be quite something if there was a West Ham star actually worth more than the 27-year-old right now…

The highest-rated West Ham player

Nope, it's not Lucas Paqueta, who comes in at an admirable £43m, though the Brazilian playmaker was at the centre of an £80m offer from Manchester City, which West Ham actually looked likely to accept before the Premier League champions rescinded their offer following an FA investigation into possible betting breaches, still ongoing.

The man of the moment is Ghana international Kudus, who was signed from Ajax for £38m back in August after Moyes' outfit beat off a vested interest from both Brighton & Hove Albion and Chelsea to secure his signature.

Kudus had attracted attention after some exemplary performances for the Dutch Eredivisie giants, scoring a rattling goal against Liverpool in the Champions League and leading journalist Gary Al-Smith to laud him as a "generational talent."

Last season, the fleet-footed winger had scored 18 goals and supplied seven assists for Ajax despite only starting 29 matches in all competitions, and his electricity and directness appeared to be factory-built qualities for a successful career in the Premier League.

And while CIES Football Observatory has listed some West Ham stars at some pretty staggering heights, Kudus is currently believed to be worth £68m in what already marks a 79% increase from the initial fee paid for his arrival.

Why Mohammed Kudus is so highly rated

West Ham have received criticism for a pragmatic style of play under Moyes' leadership and this certainly might appear to damage the fluency of offensive outlets, but Kudus has demonstrated his ability and then some so far, having racked up nine goals and four assists and leading The Athletic's Roshane Thomas to dub him "one of the best signings in the summer transfer window."

Ranking among the top 7% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for goals scored, the top 7% for successful take-ons and the top 3% for tackles won per 90, he's got a rounded and dynamic skill set that will inevitably see those at the forefront of European competition circle for his signature sooner rather than later.

He's also one of the most active and enterprising wingers in the Premier League; Bowen might be the goalscorer, but Kudus' influence and commitment across the pitch is something to behold, averaging 3.1 dribbles, 6.3 ball recoveries and 7.8 successful duels per fixture – those are some colossal numbers.

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?

Rice might have departed for pastures new last summer but Moyes and West Ham's transfer team have secured a sensational signing in Kudus, signing a coveted star proven on the continental and international stage for a reasonable fee.

Whether he remains at the club for years to come is another question entirely, but if he were to depart he would cost a pretty penny in what underlines this greatly-improving strategy down at the London Stadium.

Rangers' first signing of the summer transfer window is already on the cards, with a verbal agreement believed to have been in place for a while now.

Rangers linked with summer signings

Philippe Clement's reign is still in its relative infancy, and while January afforded him the chance to make new signings, the summer will allow him more time to pick out targets who are truly the right fit for his system and long-term vision, as opposed to the rather rushed nature of the winter window.

For starters, it could be that Rangers seal permanent deals for a number of current loanees, with attacking duo Abdallah Sima and Fabio Silva both potentially staying on beyond the end of the campaign. They have made positive impacts this season, but whether both stay on remains to be seen, and could depend on the club's financial position and whether they are playing Champions League football next season.

Meanwhile, Hearts striker Lawrence Shankland was a target back in January but remained at his current club for the time being, and it is easy to see him once again emerging as a target. His tally of 20 goals in the Scottish Premiership this season is more than anyone else, and at 28, he could hit the ground running immediately and be a top signing for at least three or four years.

Attack isn't the only area Rangers are reportedly looking at, however, with Rapid Vienna pair Leopold Querfeld and Matthias Seidl seen as targets, with the former a towering centre-back and the latter a goalscoring midfielder.

Rangers have Barisic replacement sorted already

According to a new update from Football Scotland, Rangers have a deal to sign Jefte from Fluminense in the pipeline, having been strongly linked with him during the January transfer window only for the deal to collapse.

The report says that a switch to Ibrox is "on the cards", while an update back in January claimed that there is a verbal agreement to make it happen in the summer after the failed winter move.

Jefte could be seen as the ideal replacement for Borna Barisic in the summer window, with the 31-year-old looking highly likely to seal a move to Turkish side Trabzonspor, having reportedly accepted a "big-money offer" from them.

At 20, the Fluminense ace is a far younger, more long-term option than the Croatian, and while he is still maturing as a player, the hope is that he can come straight in and be an influential figure from the off.

Granted, he is yet to make a senior appearance for his current club, but he featured 28 times for APOEL Nicosia during a loan spell there last year, scoring three goals and getting four assists, showing the quality he can provide in attacking areas.

The Rangers Journal have heaped praise on him in the past, giving fans a little insight into his skill-set: "He’s also not afraid of having a pop at goal and has a thunderous strike in his arsenal. He looks like he could be a creative threat while also offering some goalscoring prowess himself."

"Honestly…" – BBC commentator warns Rangers fans of striker heartbreak

The Scottish giants may see their feel-good balloon burst this summer.

By
Ben Browning

Mar 21, 2024

Liverpool have reportedly turned down a £15m bid from Southampton for 21-year-old winger Fabio Carvalho.

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• Liverpool reject Southampton's bid for Carvalho
• Spent the last season on loan at two different clubs
• Winger has scored against Arsenal and Man Utd in the pre-season

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Carvalho, who joined the Reds from Fulham in 2022, spent the last season on two different loan spells at RB Leipzig and Hull City. He moved to the Bundesliga on a season-long loan deal during the summer of 2023 but it was cut short after just six months as he returned to Liverpool in January only to move out on another loan deal to Hull City.

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  THE EXPLANATION

  The youngster, however, is now back at Liverpool and has travelled with the squad for their pre-season tour in the United States. The Athletic now reports that newly promoted Southampton had approached the Merseyside giants with a bid worth £15m (€17m) for the 21-year-old but they rejected the offer. New manager Arne Slot has been left impressed by the consistent performances of the Portuguese attacker who has scored in back-to-back matches against Arsenal and Manchester United.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  The English giants are not considering sending out Carvalho on yet another loan move and would be willing to sell him permanently only if they receive an offer much higher than what the Saints are offering at the moment.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR LIVERPOOL?

  After a successful pre-season tour in the US, Slot's men will now face Sevilla in their final friendly match on August 11 at Anfield before kicking off the new season six days later against Ipswich Town.