West Ham: Moyes Eyeing Move For "Fantastic" £50m Titan At London Stadium

West Ham United finally completed the sale of Declan Rice to Arsenal for a club record fee of £105m and manager David Moyes looks set to reinvest this sum into strengthening the team ahead of next season.

Manchester United defender Harry Maguire has caught the eye of the Scot and with a transfer kitty that would make most managers envious, he certainly has the funds to make some big signings this summer.

How much will Harry Maguire cost?

According to The Telegraph, the Hammers look set to test the resolve of the Red Devils by making a bid for the Englishman and with Erik ten Hag stripping him of the captaincy recently, it might be time for him to finally depart Old Trafford and seek pastures new.

United have set their valuation of the defender at £50m and this would represent a big loss from the £80m that they splashed out on him back in 2019, yet it appears as though Ten Hag is keen on moving him on this summer.

With the Irons having money to burn, they may still see £50m as an unrealistic fee, and with just two years left on his current United deal, they may have to bring his asking price down slightly in order to sanction a sale this year.

Why was Harry Maguire stripped of the captaincy at Manchester United?

Throughout the entirety of the 2022/23 campaign, Maguire started a grand total of 16 matches, which included just eight in the Premier League as Ten Hag preferred a defensive duo of Lisandro Martinez and Raphael Varane.

Being stripped of the captaincy will now surely accelerate his exit from the club and Moyes could offer him regular game time, while forging a solid partnership alongside Nayef Aguerd at the heart of his defence.

The Moroccan international endured a stop-start season, primarily due to suffering a serious ankle injury in pre-season, yet he still ranked second for accurate passes per game (33.3) across the whole West Ham squad in the league, as well as third for overall rating as per Sofascore.

He also provided an unlikely goal threat, ranking in the top 6% compared to positional peers across Europe’s big five leagues for non-penalty goals per 90 (0.11).

Maguire could slot in alongside him and offer a more physical presence which would combine well with Aguerd’s solid passing ability.

The Englishman ranked in the top 12% across the big five European leagues for aerials won per 90 (3.01) and the top 11% for blocks per 90 (1.66) which suggests he is a titan at the back, especially with WhoScored stating that his major strength is aerial duels.

Former teammate David De Gea once hailed Maguire as “fantastic” just earlier this year and despite looking out of his depth at the club on certain occasions, he could still offer plenty to West Ham, who conceded 55 goals last term, certainly not the worst total, but it was four more than the previous season, suggesting they need some improvement at the back to move back into the top half.

The next few weeks could be very interesting indeed and Moyes will be confident of luring Maguire to the club.

Rangers Expected To Bid For 10-Goal Star In Coming Weeks

Rangers are expected to come back with another bid for Feyenoord striker Danilo, with Football Scotland reporting that interest remains high in the striker.

How many goals has Danilo scored for Feyenoord?

The 24-year-old wasn't a first-team regular for Feyenoord in 2022/23, but still managed to hit the back of the net on a regular basis for the Netherlands-based club. He only started 14 games for the Dutch outfit over the course of the Eredivisie season but still managed to bag himself ten goals and three assists along the way. So while he had to make do with most of his action coming from the bench, the Brazilian made a major impact on route to a league title.

In fact, his goal contribution rate (goals + assists) stood at 0.88 per 90 as the season came to a close, which is nearly one or the other every single league game he featured in. A campaign earlier, when he featured for Jong Ajax, he managed seven goals and four assists in just nine games and averaged well over a goal contribution a game there, so is clearly extremely prolific when given a chance.

Feyenoord striker Danilo.

Are Rangers signing Danilo this summer?

Danilo then has caught the eye with his clinical nature in front of goal – and there has been plenty of interest from Scotland in recent weeks. Rangers have made the Brazilian a target and have already made a bid to try and sign him this summer – that offer was snubbed by Feyenoord, but it seemingly hasn't deterred the Gers from their interest in the striker.

Now, according to a report from Football Scotland, the Scottish Premiership side still want to sign him and have a "serious" interest in adding him to their squad this summer. They've yet to table another bid, but it appears as though Feyenoord are expecting the Gers to make a new one in the future.

It adds that the Netherlands-based outfit feel another bid will be "improved" on that initial offer – that perhaps goes without saying – but more importantly it could tempt them into doing business. When you consider that Danilo himself also appears to be keen on a switch to Rangers, as the idea of leading the line for SPL club appeals to him, then the Dutch giants may be resigned to selling him on this window.

It's unclear just how much Danilo may cost Rangers, should they make another bid to try and sign him. It seems their original bid was around £3.5m, so it is certainly going to have to be bigger than that amount to prompt Feyenoord into a sale. It means that the club may have to spend a significant amount in order to land the Brazilian this summer then, perhaps even up around the £5m mark.

When you consider how many goals he has scored in so little gametime though – and the fact he is still only 24-years-old – it could be a worthwhile investment. The Gers could even double their outlay in a few seasons if he continues his current trajectory.

Fulham Interested In £20m-Rated Premier League Midfielder

Fulham are said to hold an "interest" in Manchester United midfielder Fred this summer, according to Fabrizio Romano.

Is Fred leaving Manchester United?

Having struggled to earn the trust of several Man United managers, Fred's time at Old Trafford is running out.

The 30-year-old has failed to consistently hold down a staring berth since his arrival from Shakhtar Donetsk in 2018 and has ultimately underwhelmed given the size of his £52m transfer fee.

Fred has made 213 appearances over his five years in Manchester, averaging just under 43 a season, but is yet to make the impact necessary to flourish in a Man United midfield. With his contract expiring next summer, the Red Devils will not want to lose him for free.

As a result, Erik ten Hag will aim to recoup as much of that £52m as he possibly can – money that can then be spent on improving the rest of his squad ahead of a busy campaign.

According to Fabrizio Romano, Fulham are one of the clubs that hold an interest in acquiring the services of the midfielder in the transfer window.

Speaking on his YouTube channel about Fred's possible United exit, Romano said:

"United are considering the possibility to sell Fred in this transfer window. It's true that there is interest from Fulham, but also other clubs are really keen on Fred.

"So, keep an eye on the Brazilian midfielder because he could be one more on the exit door for Manchester United."

Fulham have enjoyed recent success with their Brazilian recruitment as Andreas Pereira and Willian both made vital contributions for the Cottagers after arriving last summer, with the former joining from United.

Fred will perhaps be eyeing up the opportunity to follow in their footsteps, joining a solid midfield that was the heartbeat of Fulham's success last season. Both Joao Palhinha and Harrison Reed performed brilliantly in Marco Silva's crunching midfield and the Portuguese coach will be eager to add even more bite to the centre of the park.

Fulham finished 10th last season – only nine points off a European place – and will be desperate to avoid the dreaded second season syndrome, with reinforcements in the transfer market likely to help solidify their status as a Premier League club.

What is Fred worth?

According to recent reports, United have slapped a £20m price tag on Fred despite the fact that his contract is up in a year and he will be 31-years-old next March.

Whether a team will be willing to pay such a sum for a midfielder approaching the wrong end of his career is questionable, but given United's willingness to sell it is possible that some negotiating could bring that fee down.

A £20m transfer would make Fred Fulham's fourth-most expensive signing of all-time, behind Aleksandar Mitrovic, Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa and Jean Michael Seri.

Considering Palhinha, who is now valued so highly amid the summer transfer window, only set the Cottagers back £20m himself, Silva may feel there is better value to be extracted from looking at foreign leagues rather than England's top-flight.

Fred only averaged just over 35 minutes per Premier League appearance last season, despite the fact he was used 35 times by Ten Hag, and perhaps hasn't shown the quality necessary to thrive at Craven Cottage.

West Ham To "Test The Water" For £50k p/w Star

West Ham United will 'test the water' to see if they can land Fulham midfielder Joao Palhinha this window as David Moyes looks to replace Declan Rice, according to journalist Dean Jones.

What's the latest transfer news involving Joao Palhinha?

According to The Daily Mail, Fulham have slapped an incredible £90 million price tag on Palhinha this summer as they look to ward off interest from suitors in the £50k-a-week ace.

West Ham United are believed to be one side that are keen on the Portugal international; however, Fulham are said to have benchmarked their demands against the Hammers' £100 million asking price for club captain Rice.

Football Insider have claimed that Liverpool, Manchester United, Chelsea and Bayern Munich have all monitored Palhinha following his impressive debut campaign in English football, though they are looking towards alternative targets.

The Sun via TEAMtalk indicate that Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou is an admirer of Palhinha and has urged Spurs' chiefs to make a move to acquire the former Sporting Lisbon man.

Palhinha was an influential figure for Fulham during last term and was the most frequent tackler in the Premier League, winning 147 challenges in total.

Speaking to Football FanCast, journalist Jones thinks that West Ham United will try to test Fulham's resolve to see whether a swoop to try and land Palhinha is attainable.

Jones told FFC: "They'll go and test the water for Palhinha as well, I fully expect them to go and do that, but Fulham, if they do that, will give West Ham a taste of their own medicine. West Ham have just held out for £105 million for Declan Rice and Fulham are not going to cave in on Palhinha's valuation and that's why there's little leaks that they'll look to for £90 million and it was just to know to West Ham that you've lost your best player, we're not about to lose ours."

Would Joao Palhinha be a good addition for West Ham United this summer?

In light of West Ham captain Rice closing in on a move to Arsenal, the Irons will need a suitable replacement and bringing in Palhinha would be an exciting addition at the London Stadium.

Last term, the 27-year-old made 40 appearances in all competitions for Fulham, registering four goals in the process, as per Transfermarkt.

Joao Palhinha

WhoScored show how monstrous Palhinha was in the tackle during 2022/23, winning an average of 4.2 challenges per match in the Premier League.

Intriguingly, the Portugal international also excelled aerially in comparison to his positional peers across Europe's top five divisions, coming out on top in around 2.06 duels per 90 minutes across the last 365 days, putting him in the eighth percentile for this metric, as per FBRef.

Consistent displays on the field for Fulham throughout the season earned Palhinha a SofaScore average match rating of 7/10 in the English top flight, signifying that he could be the man to fill Rice's large boots at the club in the engine room if the Hammers were to land Palhinha this summer.

Rangers Set To Lose Out On Transfer For 20-Year-Old Winger

Rangers may not be bringing in Benie Traore this transfer window, with journalist Jonny McFarlane, via Ibrox News, reporting that a deal for the player could be expensive and that he isn't high up on their priority list as a result.

Who is Benie Traore?

The 20-year-old winger currently plies his trade in Sweden for Hacken and has made quite the impression already for the side despite his age. In the 2022/23 season, he bagged a total of 12 goals with two assists along the way.

That record is made even more superb when you consider that the youngster played in only 13 league outings for his side – meaning he averaged 1.10 goals or assists per 90 minutes played.

Whilst he is yet to be called up to his senior national team, his performances have led to him getting his debut for their Under-23 side. He represents the Ivory Coast when it comes to international football and they finally allowed him to star for them in March of this year – showing that his hard work on the field for Hacken is now paying off. It wouldn't be a surprise to soon see him line up for their first-team.

Are Rangers signing Benie Traore?

It's these showings that have since led to interest in his services from Rangers. However, a fresh report from journalist Jonny McFarlane, via Ibrox News, will not be news that Gers fans want to hear.

He states that the Scottish Premiership side do not have a deal for Traore as high up on their priority list as he could be "very expensive" if they were to push forward with a bid for the player – Alan Nixon reports there has already been one effort turned down, though it's not clear which side of Glasgow it came from.

McFarlane finished by saying that fans shouldn't "expect to see Benie Traore at Ibrox any time soon". Celtic could now be in the clear to sign him, with the Hoops also believed to be keeping tabs on the forward.

He said: "Yes there is interest [from Celtic as well] but Rangers see that as one that’ll be very far down the list. He will also be very expensive, based on what I’ve been told by people at the club."

It would be a shame for Rangers to not bring in a player such as Traore, who has already shone to those who have watched him. Football talent scout Jacek Kulig called him Hacken's "jewel" and added that he is another "highly-talented" player that the club have created.

It suggests that there is plenty of talent in his boots – but he may not get the opportunity to show it or to continue to try and fulfil his potential in Scotland with the Gers.

Everton Set To Keep "Outstanding" £15m Youngster

Everton are unlikely to sell their young defender Jarrad Branthwaite in the summer, claims journalist Paul Brown.

Another year of fighting relegation and the departure of several high-profile players mean selling the £15m-rated man "wouldn't make a lot of sense."

Everton transfer news – What's the latest on Jarrad Branthwaite?

Everton will offer Jarrad Branthwaite a new deal.

A productive loan spell with Dutch giants PSV Eindhoven has led to increased interest in Everton's promising centre-half, but following the departure of Yerry Mina and the decision not to renew Conor Coady's loan deal, a sale by the club looks unlikely.

That hasn't stopped clubs from trying to prise the player away from Goodison Park, however, as PSV first offered £15m for the player in the January transfer window, an offer that the club swiftly turned down.

West Ham United are also keen on the player, with Football Insider reporting that the east London club have 'launched an enquiry' for the player as they look to bolster their squad for their upcoming Europa League campaign.

The Daily Mail have also reported that Jose Mourhinho's Roma are interested in the 6 foot 5 star as they could be set to lose Roger Ibanez in the summer.

What has Paul Brown said about Jarrad Branthwaite and Everton?

Brown explained that a mix of the player's quality and Everton's precarious financial situation make a sale of Branthwaite unlikely.

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, he said: "It wouldn't make a lot of sense really for Everton to let him go in the situation that they're in. I think it would be difficult to let too many players in the squad go that they might need to use next season because it's going to be a difficult window for them with very little money to replace.

"I don't think Branthwaite is someone who is likely to leave the club personally."

How good was Jarrad Branthwaite for PSV Eindhoven last season?

Soccer Football – Europa League – Play-Off First Leg – Sevilla v PSV Eindhoven – Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan, Seville, Spain – February 16, 2023 PSV Eindhoven’s Jarrad Branthwaite in action with Sevilla’s Erik Lamela REUTERS/Marcelo Del Pozo

Perhaps the clearest sign that his spell in the Netherlands was a big success is the fact that the Dutch runners-up were keen to make the move permanent only halfway through the loan.

According to WhoScored, the England youth international achieved an average rating of 6.8 across his 27 matches last season, scoring two goals and assisting one more.

His performances seemed to impress journalist Marco Timmer, who said:

"Physically, he's really impressive. He's two-footed, quick, is good in the air and defends well."

He expects big things for the player, adding:

"You could see his potential."

Former Everton U23 coach David Unsworth certainly seemed to think so when he hailed the Carlise-born gem as "outstanding" following a particularly impressive performance for the junior side.

His underlying stats were equally impressive. According to FBref, he averaged a pass completion rate of 86.9% last season, with 3.62 of those being progressive passes.

On the defensive side of things, he made 1.04 tackles, 1.64 interceptions, and 4.34 clearances, all per 90.

If Everton are to avoid being drawn into a third successive relegation battle next year, it could be thanks to the promising Branthwaite.

Burnley Can Upgrade On Tella With ‘Unique’ £8m-Rated Star

Burnley continue to be linked with a striker ahead of their first season back in the Premier League, with some faces more familiar than others.

El Bilal Toure is a name that is exciting Burnley fans after starring for Almeria last season, while Coventry City's Viktor Gyokeres – who has lit up the Championship – needs no introducing.

There is potentially another option on Vincent Kompany's radar, as the Daily Mail reports that Metz striker Georges Mikautadze is being considered.

Who is Georges Mikautadze?

Mikautadze may not be a "name" as such, but he is one of the rising stars of European football after scoring 23 goals in Ligue 2 last season to finish as top scorer.

The 22-year-old joins Olivier Giroud in finishing top of the scoring charts in the French second tier, the latter doing so in 2009-10 with Tours when aged two years older than Mikautadze.

Giroud would immediately go on to join Montpellier, where he continued his good form to fire the club to an unlikely title success, before enjoying triumphant spells with Arsenal, Chelsea and current club Milan.

Burnley forward Nathan Tella.

It may well be that Mikautadze is on his own path to the very top, and those who have watched the Georgia international close up certainly seem to think so.

Football author Mohamed Mohamed has described Mikautadze as having a "unique skill set" and the "potential to become the next Ligue 2 starlet who performs well in a big five league."

Burnley may well prove to be a good stepping stone for the Lyon-born attacker, especially as Clarets boss Kompany has previously made his interest in the player known.

While the manager said last summer that Mikautadze was "probably out of our range", that is not likely to be the case this window following promotion to the Premier League.

With a goal return of 0.68 per 90 minutes last season, as per FBref, Mikautadze undoubtedly has the pedigree to make an impact for Burnley. To put that figure in some context, Nathan Tella – Burnley's top scorer last season – scored at a rate of 0.61 goals per 90 minutes.

Mikautadze is not letting the hype get to him, either, as he showed on Saturday when scoring a crucial goal for Georgia in their 2-1 Euro 2020 qualifying win in Cyprus.

With Tella back at parent club Southampton, and Ashley Barnes leaving to join Norwich City, Mikautadze can be an ideal upgrade on both. Indeed, Mikautadze also outperformed Tella last season in terms of assists (0.24 v 0.18) and shots on target per 90 minutes (3.06 v 2.60).

Potentially available for £8m this summer, according to Football Observatory, moving for Mikautadze seems a no-brainer for the Clarets if they are looking for a rising star ready to make his mark in a major league.

Key Manchester City Man Set To Leave In 2 Years

Pep Guardiola is reportedly expected to leave Manchester City in two years when his current contract expires.

When will Pep Guardiola leave Man City?

On Saturday night, the Cityzens' remarkable season came to an end as they won the Champions League against Inter Milan.

In the end, a single second-half goal from Rodri was enough to seal the trophy – albeit with a little help from Romelu Lukaku – meaning City end the campaign as treble winners.

Indeed, after lifting the Premier League and the FA Cup, their first UCL title win means they've matched the achievements of 1990s treble-winning rivals Manchester United.

Guardiola will no doubt be on a high from it all and having achieved so much in England now, some may be wondering if he is already planning the next step of his career.

Well, according to a report in The Guardian, he won't be leaving in the immediate future but has "all but decided" to depart in summer 2025 and end his tenure after nine years.

How long is Guardiola's current contract?

The former Barcelona boss only signed a new deal in November, which added another year onto his terms and contains the option for a further 12 months.

As per the aforementioned article in The Guardian, the decision to renew last year was "in the balance" for some time and many of his "inner circle" weren't sure it would happen.

The report also notes that – having now worked and won league titles in Spain, Germany and England – Guardiola's plan was to coach a club in Italy. However, it is claimed that Guardiola has changed his thinking and could be open to taking charge of an international team.

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola.

The Spaniard certainly couldn't hide his emotions after the full-time whistle in Istanbul on the weekend, telling Sky Sports: "This trophy is so difficult to win."

He continued: "This competition is a coin [toss]. But we were there. I think it was written in the stars this season that it belonged to us and we did it."

However, he's already alluded about sticking around for next season, adding: "I don't want us to disappear after one Champions League.

"We have to work harder. There are teams that win the Champions League that disappear – we have to avoid that. Knowing me, that won't happen. It's a big relief for the club, for the institution to win this trophy. Finally, people won't ask me if I'm going to win the Champions League or not."

Incidentally, Mikel Arteta has been touted as a possible replacement having obviously worked as an assistant coach at Man City before joining Arsenal. What's more, his current deal ends in 2025 too and so he could be available when Pep leaves

Spurs Could Sign New Dele Alli In £30m Warrior

When Tottenham Hotspur reached the Champions League final in 2019, it was supposed to be a watershed moment for the ambitious London outfit.

Mauricio Pochettino had crafted one of the most eye-catching and fluid teams in the Premier League and, despite the loss on that fateful day by the hand of Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool, the rich pool of talent tantalised green pastures over yonder.

Instead, the dismissal of Antonio Conte this year was the fourth permanent manager discarded in as many years, and the failure to qualify for European football this term has underscored the issues that the club is currently beset with.

Ange Postecoglou has now been appointed and supporters will eagerly anticipate how the Australian will bolster the squad this summer.

One of his first moves could be to seal a swoop for Barcelona midfielder Franck Kessie, who has been linked with a departure from Camp Nou after just one season and has been reported by Spanish publication AS to be of interest to the Lilywhites.

As per the report, a fee of €35m (£30m) could be required to prise him away, and given his imposing physicality and tendency to progress play with his barging presence, he could suit English football and Postecoglou's system to a tee.

Should Tottenham sign Franck Kessie?

Dubbed a "warrior" by talent scout Jacek Kulig, the 60-cap Ivory Coast international won Serie A last term and LaLiga this season, making 43 appearances for Xavi's outfit but only starting seven times in the league, consequently discontented with life in Catalonia and ostensibly seeking an exit, with Spurs all too willing to enrich their ranks.

If he is managed aptly, Kessie could be moulded as Tottenham's next version of Dele Alli, with the England international suffering misfortune and a plummet from prominence over the past several seasons but unequivocally one of the most prodigious talents to ever grace Premier League soil.

Alli plundered 67 goals and 61 assists from 269 appearances for Spurs before losing his spark and being shipped out to Everton at the midpoint of the 21/22 campaign, having now completed an unsuccessful season-long loan move with Turkish Super Lig side Besiktas.

At his resounding best, Alli was lauded as a talent with the "world at his feet" by Frank Lampard and "very special" by Xavi – two former stars who know a thing or two about how to succeed as a first-rate midfielder.

Soccer Football – Premier League – Tottenham Hotspur v AFC Bournemouth – Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London, Britain – November 30, 2019 Tottenham Hotspur's Dele Alli celebrates scoring their first goal REUTERS/David Klein EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or "live" services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. Please contact y

The one-time MK Dons youngster was best suited to an attacking role deployed behind the all-encompassing talisman Harry Kane, almost a shadow striker at times, and wreaked havoc with his unflinching approach and devastating offensive potency.

Praised as an "amazing player" by former Spurs 'keeper Paul Robinson, Kessie can emulate this; he ranks among the top 12% of midfielders across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for both touches in the attacking box and progressive passes received per 90, as per FBref, driving forward just like the 37-cap England ace.

And while the former AC Milan gem has been a peripheral figure with La Blaugrana this year, 19 goals across his final two seasons in Serie A, complemented by clinching the Scudetto last term, illustrates a goal-scoring prowess and a "devastating" danger, as remarked by Antonio Cassano, to match Alli's – who posted 37 strikes across his first three top-flight campaigns.

Kessie's possible transfer to Tottenham could well be an unmitigated success, with Kane's superlative skill as one of football's most creative striking focal points – ranking among the top 10% of strikers for shot-creating actions and the top 4% for progressive passes per 90 – providing Kessie with the perfect platform to unleash the full might of his attacking arsenal.

Forging a battle for top four and a confident domestic cup run is imperative next year and with Kessie's signing, the return to the former free-flowing football that left the Spurs support in raucous rapture could return to cast aside the cobwebs of the 22/23 term and drape the curtain irrevocably on the recent woes.

Liverpool Must Unleash Two "Very Exciting" Wonderkids

While Liverpool have already got their transfer business underway after sealing the signing of Alexis Mac Allister, there is also seemingly work to be done with regard to outgoings, with promising youngster Fabio Carvalho among those looking set for a departure.

As per journalist Fabrizio Romano, the Merseysiders have already rejected a bid from RB Leipzig for the 20-year-old, with the club only said to be willing to allow the former Fulham starlet to move out on loan this summer.

That uncertainty surrounding the playmaker's future comes following a frustrating debut campaign for the Portuguese gem at Anfield, with the 5 foot 7 ace having been restricted to just 13 Premier League appearances – only four of which came from the start.

Despite being hailed as a "big talent" by Jurgen Klopp earlier in the season, Carvalho has seemingly been unable to totally earn the faith of his manager, with the German previously stating that while the forward has done "nothing wrong", the team have simply been in need of "different skills".

As such, it is, therefore, no surprise that the Portugal U21 international could be on his way sooner rather than later, with Klopp already having a a wealth of young talent at his disposal who can quickly replace the £5m man in the first-team set up.

Among those who are particularly catching the eye is the Reds' teenage duo of Kaide Gordon and Ben Doak…

Who are Ben Doak and Kaide Gordon?

The two youngsters have both been recruited by the Merseysiders in recent years, with Gordon having been snapped up from Derby County back in 2021, while Doak joined from Old Firm giants, Celtic in 2022.

Liverpool's Ben Doak

While it is still early days in their development, the pair have already sparked notable interest, with RedMen TV's Ste Hoare – in an interview with Football FanCast – stating that the attacking duo could fight it out to seal a regular place in the senior ranks, ahead of Carvalho.

The respected insider stated:

"I would be more excited about Ben Doak and Kaide Gordon being one of those to be the sixth option as a forward. So [Mohamed] Salah, [Darwin] Nunez, [Cody] Gakpo, [Luis] Diaz, [Diogo] Jota. And then I do think – obviously [Roberto] Firmino's left – so they're looking for, I guess, a sixth person in that rotation.

"There's a school of thought that it could be Harvey Elliott, but I still see him more playing in midfield. So I think I think there's definitely a slot for one of those young players to step up.

"We saw glimpses of Ben Doak last season and we saw Kaide Gordon the season before, before he had a hip injury. I think one of those two will slot in. I think, basically, it might even be a battle between those two actually to get to that sixth place.

"And it'd be interesting to see who comes out on top because they're both very exciting young players that are different in their skill sets. But I think one of those we might end up seeing as the sixth forward option especially, again, if Carvalho leaves the club like It looks like he might."

As Hoare alluded to, 17-year-old Doak – who typically operates on the right flank – enjoyed a real breakthrough campaign this season after notably bagging 11 goals and eight assists in all competitions at youth level as well as making five first-team outings, having been described as a "huge talent" by journalist Barry Anderson.

Liverpool's Kaide Gordon

Gordon, meanwhile, has been hampered by injury over the last year or so, although the 18-year-old – who is also a right winger by trade – has already made four appearances for the first-team, scoring against Shrewsbury Town back in January 2022.

With the two wonderkids only on the cusp of the senior ranks at present, the departure of Carvalho could allow at least one of them the chance to establish themselves as a part of Klopp's forward line next term.

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