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Tom Latham is expected to captain the side should Williamson be forced to sit out

Andrew McGlashan02-Jan-2020Glenn Phillips has been summoned as last-minute batting cover after illness hit the New Zealand camp ahead of the final Test in Sydney, forcing Kane Williamson and Henry Nicholls to sit out training for the second day running.Mitchell Santner, whose position in the side was under scrutiny after two poor outings, has also come down with the bug, leaving the possibility that New Zealand’s resources will be stretched very thin as they aim to avoid a whitewash. Jeet Raval, who was dropped after the Perth Test, is currently the one spare batsman in the squad and the decision has been taken to fly in the uncapped Phillips on the eve of the game.Phillips averages 42.54 from 23 first-class matches – with four hundreds – and struck a century for New Zealand A against England late last year.”We’ve obviously got a few balls up in the air at the moment and we want to be on the safe side and have options,” New Zealand coach Gary Stead said. “Glenn has been in terrific form this season and has good versatility with where he can bat and the roles he can play.”He’s been around the T20 team for the past couple of years so should feel comfortable in the environment. We’re still hopeful Henry and Kane will pull through and we will give them every chance to prove their fitness. If one or both are ruled out then we will consider our options and most importantly how they balance the side for this final Test.”ALSO READ: Preview – New Zealand seek pick-me-up in hazy SydneyShould Williamson be unavailable – and it would take a very severe illness to sideline him – Tom Latham would be the likely replacement as captain, although last year, when Williamson was ruled out of the Christchurch Test against Bangladesh that was subsequently cancelled following the terror attack , Tim Southee was in line to lead the side.Latham took on the official duties at a reception with the Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Wednesday and also did the pre-match press conference.Kane Williamson walks off after his dismissal•Getty Images and Cricket Australia

“[Kane] is obviously a great leader amongst this group and he’s passionate about this group, so I’m sure if there’s any chance of him playing, even if it is a small chance, he’ll certainly be playing,” Latham said. “It’s gone around the team a little bit which obviously isn’t ideal but fingers crossed, they’re resting up today and hopefully they’ll wake up and be good to go.”If we lost those guys it would be disappointing but we’ve got a squad of 15 who are passionate about this team, and whatever side we do play has the backing of the whole group that it’s the right team for the job.England’s preparations for the first Test against South Africa last week were severely impacted by illness which swept through the majority of the squad in the first few weeks of the tour and continued to strike players while the Test was in progress.ALSO READ: Somerville’s SCG journey – tears in the car park to Test cricketIt leaves New Zealand’s planning up in the air although if everyone is available for selection there is the potential for two changes to the bowling attack with Matt Henry replacing the injured Trent Boult and Will Somerville coming in for Santner. While the surface is expected to turn, it is thought unlikely they will field two spinners, particularly after the workloads Southee and Neil Wagner have had during the first two Tests.The series has been a chastening experience for New Zealand after they arrived with the hope of competing with Australia having risen to No. 2 in the Test rankings. They failed to cross 200 in the first three innings before Tom Blundell’s defiant century in Melbourne, in his first Test as an opener, provided belated resistance.”We haven’t played our best brand of cricket and I know the guys are excited about getting out there over the next five days and trying to put a good performance on the board,” Latham said. “Yes, the series is lost but it’s the Test Championship and points are up for grabs. We’ll be doing our best to put a good performance out there.”Tim Paine was expecting Williamson to be standing with him for the toss and was focused on Australia not letting up in their intensity after a dominant Test season which has seen them win all four matches, including two against Pakistan, so far by huge margins. In the Ashes series last year, Australia produced a poor performance at The Oval after they had retained the urn with a match to spare but Paine was confident his team had learned from the experience.”I wouldn’t say we took our foot off the pedal [at The Oval], but we’ve certainly learned how to handle that experience of having the emotional high of the win then switching back on really quickly,” he said. “We spoke this morning about making sure that we turn up tomorrow with the same energy and focus that we turned up at the Gabba. All I’ve asked tomorrow is we turn up expecting New Zealand to come out hard and expecting it to be another fight for five days. We feel if we can match them in that area that eventually we’ll be able to wear them down.”GMT 0800 The story was updated to include the news of Phillips’ call-up.

A significant development has emerged regarding Liverpool's pursuit of a "complete footballer", with the Reds reportedly ready to table a "huge offer" for his services.

Liverpool transfer news

Jurgen Klopp must be delighted with how last summer's transfer business at Anfield has panned out, with his decision to completely change the midfield paying off handsomely. His side lead the Premier League table by five points and are still in every cup competition, as this season threatens to be a memorable one.

New signings this month are something that the Liverpool manager may still be considering, however, especially as injury problems are beginning to mount, and the Merseysiders have been linked with plenty of players of late.

Teenage "golden boy" Bilal El Khannouss is an interesting name who has emerged as a target for the Reds, with the 19-year-old currently plying his trade at Genk, while Wolves left-back Rayan Ait-Nouri is an option at left-back, with a long-term replacement needed for Andy Robertson eventually.

Liverpool ready "huge offer" for Teun Koopmeiners

According to a fresh update from Tutto Atalanta [via Sport Witness], Liverpool are readying a "huge offer" for Atalanta midfielder Teun Koopmeiners. Another report from Calciomercato has claimed that Newcastle United, Napoli and Juventus are all interested, too.

He is described as a "prime target" for the Reds, and while a specific figure isn't mentioned in the report, a fee of around €45m (£38.5m) is relayed from previous updates. A January move for the Dutchman may be tricky, however, due to him being happy at his current club,

Koopmeiners could be an intriguing option for Liverpool, having grown into a formidable midfielder over the years, becoming a key man for Atalanta and making a total of 104 appearances. In that time, he has also scored 21 goals and registered 12 assists, highlighting his end product, and former Ajax ace Ruud Krol has lauded him in the past, saying:

“Koop is a great player. He has an international caliber and is the starter in the Dutch national team. I certainly see him doing well at a big club. Juve or Milan? He would certainly be invaluable to both of them. Koopmeiners can play in all positions in the middle of the pitch: both as a playmaker and as a midfielder. He is a complete footballer who would be useful for all coaches, including Allegri."

At 25, Koopmeiners is in the sweet spot of his career where he is experienced but still young enough to improve further – he is the same age as current Liverpool hero Alexis Mac Allister – and a tally of 20 caps for the Netherlands alongside the likes of Virgil van Dijk and Ryan Gravenberch outlines his international pedigree, too.

Liverpool looking at move for "delicious" £50m star who'd unlock Diaz

Jurgen Klopp is laying the groundwork for a massive summer transfer at Anfield.

By
Angus Sinclair

Jan 22, 2024

It looks as though a summer move may be more likely, and while the Reds do now look well-stocked in midfield, Thiago could leave at the end of the season when his contract expires, and Koopmeiners could be an ideal replacement, capable of playing in various positions.

AC Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri heaped praise on midfield maestro Luka Modric after his decisive goal secured the win over Bologna. Allegri believes Modric’s exceptional game intelligence keeps him a step ahead of both opponents and teammates, making him an "extraordinary" player.

• Modric's game winning goal

  In a match where Milan kept a perfect defensive record by not allowing Bologna a single shot on target, Modric’s solitary goal made all the difference. Starting a counterattack from deep inside Milan’s half in the 60th minute, Modric surged into Bologna’s penalty area to meet Alexis Saelemaekers's perfectly-timed pass with a calm finish to the goalkeeper’s right.

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  What Allegri said about Modric and Milan's performance yesterday

  Allegri was pleased with Modric's performance and heaped praise on him afterwards, telling reporters: "Luka is an extraordinary player, it's a pleasure to watch him play, and above all, he's a truly humble guy, just like the champion he is. He's wonderful, he knows where the ball is going one minute before, and then he's extraordinary."

  Allegri was also pleased with the team effort from the players, saying: "It was important to win at home without conceding a goal. In difficult moments, the team remained united: in those moments, it's important not to disintegrate and let them pass."

• The controversial penatly decision and Allegri's red card

  In a controversial moment late in the game, on-field referee Matteo Marcenaro initially awarded a penalty after Bologna midfielder Remo Freuler was judged to have fouled Christian Nkunku in the box. However, the decision was overturned due to insufficient contact following a VAR review. The decision sparked the ire of Allegri, who was sent off for dissent.

  Allegri downplayed the incident later, adding: "Nothing special, there was the penalty incident and at that moment I had something to say to the fourth official and luckily the jacket saved me."

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  Milan and Allegri's challenges up ahead

  Despite starting the campaign with a loss to Cremonese at home, Allegri will be happy to have two wins in two games. He will hope that Modric will be able to reproduce his form from Bologna when Milan will travel next to Stadio Friuli to take on Udinese.

The South Africa batsman has been sidelined from the rest of the MSL with injury

ESPNcricinfo staff26-Nov-2019Nelson Mandela Bay Giants’ Farhaan Behardien has been sidelined from the rest of the Mzansi Super League with injury. Thirty-nine-year-old Port Elizabeth-born Netherlands allrounder Ryan ten Doeschate has been signed as Behardien’s replacement.Behardien brings a wealth of short-format experience, having played more then 350 T20s, including stints in the IPL, Big Bash League, Pakistan Super League, Bangladesh Premier League and more recently the T10 league in the UAE.Giants have set the early pace this season, claiming four wins in five games to top the points table.”I spent so much time watching cricket in the 1980s in Port Elizabeth,” Ten doeschate said of his South African homecoming. “It’s now an utter privilege that I get to play with a team that is doing so well in this tournament. I think it’s going to be absolutely fantastic and I am really looking forward to it.”Giants’ coach and former South Africa pacer Eric Simons welcomed the value ten Doeschate would add to the side.”When we lost Farhaan we obviously lost a specific talent and we thus needed to find someone who could bring that to the game,” Simons said. “We needed someone who can access the boundaries and perform much like the way we’ve seen with Heino Kuhn. “Ryan brings with him significant experience, calmness and he’s a leader.”Giants will next face Paarl Rocks in a top-of-the-table clash at St George’s Park on November 27.

Tshwane Spartans were lifted by an AB de Villiers special but could not defend 189

The Report by Firdose Moonda03-Dec-2019The Nelson Mandela Bay Giants completed the highest successful chase of this year’s Mzansi Super League against the Tshwane Spartans at St George’s Park to join the Paarl Rocks on 23 points at the top of the table. Ben Dunk’s unbeaten 99 off 54 balls anchored the Giants’ effort and his fifth-wicket stand of 86 off 44 with Marco Marais took the team over the line. The Spartans had their chances to close out the game but dropped Dunk four times and had an ordinary night in the field which left them unable to defend a good total.Slam Dunk as Ngidi lets it slipDunk was on 8 when he offered his first chance, hitting Tom Curran to deep midwicket where Wiaan Mulder dropped a straightforward chance. Lungi Ngidi made up for that with two wickets in his opening over, which also showed off a skill he has honed in this season’s tournament – the slower ball. According to broadcaster SABC, eight of the nine wickets Ngidi has taken have been with deliveries slower than 125kph, including both in this match. He had Jon-Jon Smuts caught at deep midwicket and Heino Kuhn dragging one on to legstump to leave the Giants on 28 for 3.Dunk and Ryan ten Doeschate led the recovery with a fourth-wicket stand of 78 but they gave the Spartans a big opportunity to end their partnership on 51. Dunk, on 37, hit the ball to Ngidi at deep square leg but the big fast bowler let it slip through his fingers. Ngidi got over his blunder quickly and took a good catch low down to get rid of ten Doeschate off Morne Morkel. But just when Ngidi might have considered the night his, Tony de Zorzi dropped Dunk, now on 52, off his bowling at deep midwicket. The dance continued when Ngidi had a chance again in the next over. Dunk hit Morkel to deep backward square, Ngidi made his ground to get to the ball but could not lay hands on it. The Giants needed 62 off the last five overs and Dunk scored 40 of them.Say hello to SalamkheilWhen the Spartans bought Afghan left-arm wristspinner Waqar Salamkheil in the draft, coach Mark Boucher admitted he didn’t know much about the teenager – and hoped no one else would either. South African viewers got their first sighting of Salamkheil in the 10th over of the Giants’ chase, and saw the youngster take a hop, a skip, another skip and then deliver the ball. His unusual action does more than amuse, it also disguises his many variations which includes the googly but that didn’t yield much reward. His two overs cost 23 runs on a poor night for the Spartans’ spinners.New openers set tempoTheunis de Bruyn and Dean Elgar have the highest opening stand of the tournament, 104 against the Paarl Rocks, but after stands of 3, 10 and 12 in the Spartans’ last three matches, change was needed. Both internationals were benched for this fixture, where de Zorzi made his tournament debut and Mulder was promoted to open the batting. The move paid off. The pair scored 57 runs in the Powerplay before de Zorzi was was stumped off an Imran Tahir google. Mulder went on to score 52 off 31 balls including the first six of the innings, over long-on.Another AB special There were only two other sixes in the Spartans innings, and they came from none other than AB de Villiers. He scored his third half-century of the MSL and now lies third on the run-charts. His moments of glory came in the 18th over, when he hit Junior Dala to cow corner for his first six, followed up with back-to-back fours, and then hit Dala back over his head for a second six. Dala saw de Villiers dropped at long leg off his fifth ball but then had the last laugh when de Villiers was caught at deep midwicket. The over cost 23 runs but removed de Villiers and kept the Spartans under 200.

Tottenham Hotspur enjoyed an invaluable pause in the relentless action last weekend in what has been described as an 'open week' for Ange Postecoglou's players, who have taken their foot off the gas to recalibrate amid the push for top four.

The break has also provided the perfect opportunity for new signings Radu Dragusin and Timo Werner to integrate with the squad ahead of a crucial few months.

Spurs could instantly unlock Werner with move for £30m goal "machine"

This player would surely complete Ange Postecoglou’s ever-improving squad.

By
Angus Sinclair

Jan 15, 2024

While Postecoglou acted fast to maximise the January transfer window and combat the lack of depth in his talented team, there remains room for a new centre-midfielder, and this is the club's target heading into the last stretch of the market.

Spurs eyeing Conor Gallagher alternative

Conor Gallagher remains the No. 1 target for transfer in midfield this month but it's unlikely that Chelsea will allow the £50m-rated machine to depart at the term's midpoint and Postecoglou is wise to search for alternatives.

As such, transfer insider Dean Jones believes that Blackburn Rovers teenager Adam Wharton could be the player to join the ranks down N17, with the Championship side likely to be swayed by a bid of £10m; Spurs are now considering making such an offer.

However, with Crystal Palace, Everton and Newcastle United also interested, Tottenham will need to move swiftly.

How Mousa Dembele compares to Adam Wharton

Pape Matar Sarr and Yves Bissouma are both on international duty at the African Cup of Nations this month and with Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg linked with a move away, there does appear to be room for a talent of Wharton's ability.

The 19-year-old has been a mainstay for Rovers this season after earning dotted opportunities last season, starting 22 league matches this term, clinching two goals and three assists, completing 85% of his passes and succeeding with 68% of his dribbles and averaging 2.3 tackles and 5.5 ball recoveries per game, as per Sofascore.

Developing nicely, Wharton already ranks among the top 20% of midfielders across divisions similar to the Championship for progressive passes and the top 16% for interceptions per 90, as per FBref, highlighting a blooming roundedness that will only work in his favour as Tottenham assess his suitability.

Wharton has even been predicted to be a "Champions League level" calibre prospect by his manager, Jon Dahl Tomasson, and a place in Spurs' system could help him realise this goal.

Given his dynamic, multi-purpose style in the centre of the park, Lilywhites chairman Daniel Levy could get his mitts on the next version of Mousa Dembele by sealing a transfer this month.

Once described as the "best in the world" by fellow Belgian Kevin De Bruyne, Dembele was immense for Tottenham across his 249 appearances, only scoring ten times but producing some masterful performances in the engine room, adept in his industrious defensive duties, slick and seamless in his progressive, penetrative surges into the danger area.

The 2015/16 Premier League season perhaps typified his quality at Tottenham, with the (now) 36-year-old posting three goals and an assist across 29 fixtures, completing 90% of his passes, averaging 1.0 key passes, 1.9 interceptions and 3.6 tackles per game.

Remarkably, he also completed 2.9 dribbles at a success rate of 92% and won 8.6 ground duels per game at 63%.

Honestly, these metrics, evenly spread like butter on an artisan sandwich, are not easily replicated and there are probably only a select few players of the same build to produce similar results in the English top-flight over recent years.

Wharton, while young, has the trappings of such a style and he could be the perfect addition to Postecoglou's project, with the Australian manager boasting the sage acumen to bring the very best out of him.

Hailed for his "complete" skill set by talent scout Jacek Kulig, Wharton is a really exciting player with so much still to come, and there is a growing sense that he will be thriving in the Premier League sooner rather than later.

Tottenham just need to ensure that his 'complete' style, not too dissimilar to Dembele's all-round package, is honed and guided under Postecoglou's wing.

Harry Kane admitted that Bayern Munich have a "long mountain to climb" to win the Champions League but he believes they can go all the way. The England captain, fresh off a blistering Bundesliga weekend where he netted twice in a 5-0 demolition of Hamburg, insisted that simply making up the numbers in Europe’s elite competition isn’t good enough for the German giants.

• Bayern in red hot form

  The Bavarians couldn’t have asked for a better warm-up. Vincent Kompany’s side battered Hamburg with ruthless precision, a result that kept their momentum roaring and Kane’s personal tally ticking up to eight goals already this season. But Kane knows fine domestic form means nothing once the Champions League anthem starts. For Bayern, it’s not about participation, it’s about adding a seventh European crown to their collection.

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  Chelsea next on the hit list

  Waiting in the wings are Chelsea, the reigning FIFA Club World Cup holders under Enzo Maresca. The London club arrive in Munich with swagger after their own bright start, and Kane is fully aware of the threat posed by a squad packed with talent, including several of his England team-mates.

• Kane ready to give his all

  Kane cut a no-nonsense figure when speaking to making Bayern’s ambitions crystal clear: "I think the expectation – and, of course, the hope – is always to win the Champions League. We have a good enough team, a good enough squad to be able to do that but, as we know, it’s difficult playing against the best teams in Europe throughout the whole season."

  The forward reflected on Bayern’s recent near misses, including last season’s painful quarter-final exit at the hands of Inter Milan. Missed chances proved costly then, and Kane underlined that turning dominance into goals at the key moments is the only way forward.

  "We came close in my first season with Thomas [Tuchel] and now even last season was a disappointing way to go out against Inter Milan," he said. "Over the two legs we felt we done enough but in the moments, we didn’t take [chances], so it’s just about building on that and get one step further than we did last year and hopefully go all the way. It’s down to us. It’s a long mountain climb ahead so it’s just about trying to focus on this next league stage and trying to do the best in that."

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  Pressure on Bayern with key men out

  If Bayern are to scale the summit, Kane’s shoulders will bear even more weight in the coming weeks. Jamal Musiala and Alphonso Davies are both sidelined, stripping Kompany of two of his most explosive outlets. That puts extra responsibility on Kane to not only score but also inspire those around him, particularly in matches where the fine margins will decide who stays in and who drops out.

Sri Lanka put up a better show than the first two matches but were again comfortably beaten

The Report by Alex Malcolm01-Nov-2019Sri Lanka were better, the crowd was bigger, but the result was the same. Australia’s experienced campaigners led by David Warner, Aaron Finch and Pat Cummins, were once again clinical in their home comforts to whitewash Sri Lanka 3-0.They held Sri Lanka to a sub-par total of 6 for 142 before mowing it down with seven wickets and 14 balls to spare. The difference was Australia’s power-hitting, placement and brilliant running in the post powerplay phase on the big expanses of the MCG.David Warner capped a prolific series•Getty Images

Sri Lanka failed to score a boundary for 39 balls after the powerplay in their innings. Finch and Warner scored fewer runs in the powerplay than their counterparts but scored 42 runs in the first four overs with five men out to put the chase to bed.Warner was nowhere near as fluent as his previous two outings but made his third consecutive 50-plus score to secure the player of the match and series awards. In total he made 217 runs in the three games without being dismissed. Finch looked set to cut loose after reaching 37 off 25 before holing out in the deep.Both men had some luck. Finch survived an lbw review in the second over off Lahiru Kumara where he was saved by a not out call from umpire Shawn Craig. Ball tracking had it clipping the bails and the umpire’s call remained. He was also dropped by Oshada Fernando at cover on 16.Warner was dropped by Lasith Malinga on 12 at mid-off and was fortunate to survive on 42 when he tried to pull a length ball off Kumara that skidded into his stomach and dropped down onto the stumps but the bails somehow stayed on.That luck was off-set a little when Ben McDermott was given lbw to Malinga. After a long discussion with Warner he opted not to review Paul Wilson’s decision only for ball tracking showed it was missing leg.But Ashton Turner iced the game with calculated hitting and phenomenal running to finish 22 not out off 15 balls.Sri Lanka provided a far better showing with the bat than they had in the first two games of the series on the back of a fine half-century from Kusal Perera followed by some strong late hitting from Bhanuka Rajapaksa and Malinga to put Australia’s bowlers under more late pressure than the previous match.However, once again Sri Lanka’s powerplay batting was exposed. They tried their fourth different top four combination for the tour but the outcome looked staggeringly similar to the previous three with just four boundaries in the powerplay, two via top edges. They scored 2 for 41 from their six overs, to go with 2 for 36 in Brisbane, 3 for 29 in Adelaide and 2 for 40 against the Prime Minister’s XI in Canberra.Perera and Avishka Fernando were forced to rebuild after the losses of Niroshan Dickwella, for a first-ball duck, and Kusal Mendis but they went 39 balls without a boundary, allowing Cummins, Adam Zampa and Ashton Agar to bowl without any pressure. Agar completed his four overs for just 24 runs without conceding a boundary.Perera broke the boundary drought against Mitchell Starc and then got a huge slice of luck, spooning a catch to Kane Richardson at backward point only to see the sitter spilt. He then attacked Zampa to break the shackles with a skilful lofted reverse sweep. He reached his 11th T20I fifty and Sri Lanka’s first of the tour off just 38 balls before falling to Cummins for 57 but the momentum was carried forward by Rajapaksa.After surprisingly being left out in Brisbane he tested Starc’s experience as a death bowler. Starc twice missed his length and line, straying into Rajapaksa’s pads to be flipped behind square for 10 runs in two balls.Malinga promoted himself and smashed a short delivery over long-on first ball to help push the total past 140 but it was well short of what was needed.

The New York Red Bulls confirm 16-year-old Colombian prospect Eder Smic Valencia has died in a car accident just days before a trial with the club.

• Teenage starlet killed in car crash
• Was due for trial with New York Red Bulls
• Also part of Colombia's youth ranks

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Smic Valencia tragically died in a car crash in Colombia while on holiday, as reports. The accident occurred just days before he was due for a trial with the New York Red Bulls II. The teenager had previously played as a guest for the club's Under-16 side and had been tipped to join Colombia’s Under-17 national team for the 2026 South American Championship.

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• ACADEMY CLUB ANNOUNCES TRAGIC NEWS

  Smic Valencia's club Academia Alemana Popayán announced the news and paid tribute to the 16-year-old in a statement: "It is with deep sorrow that we report the passing of our player Éder Smic Valencia Ambuila (2009) in a car accident while on vacation in Guachené. We, along with his family, will honor his memory at the AAFP. He will forever be in our hearts."

• NEW YORK RED BULLS ISSUE STATEMENT

  The New York Red Bulls posted on X: "Our thoughts are with all of Éder’s family, friends and teammates. Rest in peace."

• FATHER PAYS TRIBUTE

  Smi Valencia's father, Eder, has spoken of the family's sadness at his son's passing. He told : "He had achieved nearly 80% of his goals. He was a top scorer for every team he played for, was on the Colombian national team, and was about to travel to North America. It’s very sad that my son lost his life in a car accident at 16."

Liverpool overcame a massive hurdle in dispatching Arsenal in the FA Cup last weekend, absorbing relentless waves of pressure before snatching victory with a late flurry to advance to the fourth round.

Jurgen Klopp must be delighted with his side, having put the disappointment of an abject 2022/23 campaign behind them with title-chasing success across all four fronts so far, emboldened by the influential summer changes to the midfield.

It hasn't been perfect, but then football rarely is and perched in first place in the Premier League after 20 matches is a tremendous accomplishment, now requiring focus to keep hold of such a position into the campaign's business end.

It's unlikely that Liverpool will do anything drastic on the transfer front this month, but that's not to say that preparations cannot be put in place for the summer.

Liverpool transfer news – Crysencio Summerville

According to a report from Anfield Watch last week, Liverpool are weighing up a transfer for creative Leeds United forward Crysencio Summerville at the end of the campaign.

The Dutch ace has been at the centre of Daniel Farke's side's promotion push in the Championship this season and his dynamic performances have not been missed by the Liverpool transfer team – who love a shrewd signing.

Summerville had a £20.5m buyout clause in his contract but this is no longer viable, with insider Dean Jones telling GIVEMESPORT earlier in the season that it may well take a bid of £25m or more to sell.

The 22-year-old's revived displays this season have indeed led to a glut of interest from numerous outfits, with Newcastle United also listed as suitors in a separate report.

Crysencio Summerville's style of play

Described as "unstoppable" by Statman Dave after one effective display this season, Summerville has posted 12 goals and six assists across 23 matches in the second tier throughout 2023/24, fluctuating between wide flanks but principally found on the left.

Utterly mesmerising at times, Summerville, aged 22, has been the all-encompassing forward thus far and really looks like he has what it takes to succeed at a team such as Liverpool, fighting for honours at the forefront of European football.

Signed from Dutch Eredivisie side Feyenoord for a paltry £1.5m as an 18-year-old in 2020, Summerville spent his first two years at Elland Road honing his craft with the youth ranks, and he started to earn his stripes within the senior set-up last term, scoring four goals and supplying two assists from 12 Premier League starts.

But with Leeds collapsing and headed for relegation, the burden perhaps came with too much weight and he failed to produce performances to match his skill set, leaving some, including JustJoe Football Show's Joe Wainman – questioning whether he should be shipped on before the anticipated summer rebuild.

The presenter said: "I may be wrong and this may come back to bite me, but whenever I’ve seen Summerville, he has not pulled up any trees. Okay, we might not have seen enough of him, you could argue."

Wrong he was, with Summerville now growing into his skin and tantalising a rich career at the top of the game; of course, he will need to prove himself in the top flight but is using Leeds' relegation as the perfect opportunity to sharpen his tools.

As per FBref, he ranks among the top 1% of attacking midfielders and wingers across divisions similar to the Championship over the past year for goals scored, the top 16% for assists, the top 2% for shot-creating actions, the top 4% for progressive carries and the top 10% for successful take-ons per 90.

Emphasising his quality as a protean attacking threat, Summerville indeed has so many angles from which to inflict damage on opposition defences and he could be the perfect addition to Liverpool, augmenting a formidable frontline while not upsetting the equilibrium, developing rising to the fore and perhaps even bringing the best out of Cody Gakpo.

How Summerville & Gakpo fit into the same team

Liverpool signed Gakpo from PSV Eindhoven for an initial £35m one year ago after the Netherlands international caught the eye at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, scoring in all three of his nation's group games and helping them to the quarter-finals, where they lost to eventual champions Argentina on penalties.

And while he's been good, contributing effectively and proving invaluable with his versatility, this has hindered him somewhat and there is a sense that the natural centre-forward needs a run of games in his favoured role up front to truly grow into his skin.

With his countryman brought in to bolster the ranks, the £120k-per-week star could finally start producing the kind of rounded displays that are well within his grasp.

Ranking within the top 20% of positional peers across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for shot-creating actions, pass completion, progressive passes, progressive carries, successful take-ons, tackles, interceptions and blocks per 90, it's clear that Liverpool wields a multi-edged weapon, and perhaps a partnership with a player such as Summerville would elevate his deadliness in decisive phases.

Indeed, with Summerville's immense creativity and penetrative presence down the left channel, he could provide Gakpo with the supplementation he needs to flourish, having demonstrated his clinical ability with eight goals across all competitions for the Reds this season.

Liverpool's star left winger Luis Diaz is an incredibly talented player but only boasts a single assist all campaign so far and averages 1.2 key passes per game in the English top-flight – which is certainly not a poor figure but emphasises that his best talents lie in his directness and fleet-footed ability to stretch defences.

With Summerville signed, Liverpool could complete their attack and flaunt a myriad of tools to wreak devastation from every angle.