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Liverpool Echo journalist Paul Gorst thinks it will be ‘after the September international break’ that Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez start Premier League games for Liverpool. 

The lowdown

Van Dijk and Gomez both made their first appearance following long-term injuries in Liverpool’s pre-season defeat to Hertha Berlin on Thursday. They were given a run-out for the final 20 minutes of the game.

Van Dijk hadn’t played since suffering a cruciate ligament injury away to Everton back in October, while it was Gomez’s first outing since the November international break when he sustained a patella tendon rupture.

Joel Matip has started the Reds’ last two friendlies alongside new £36million signing Ibrahima Konate.

Liverpool open the season away to newly-promoted Norwich City on 14 August and face Burnley and Chelsea before the season’s first international window.

The latest

Gorst believes the pair will make two more appearances in pre-season. Jurgen Klopp’s side have pencilled in two 60-minute games against Serie A side Bologna on Thursday before facing Athletic Bilbao and Osasuna at Anfield on consecutive days.

Though they are in the ‘final stages of the rehab process’, Gorst would be surprised if Van Dijk and Gomez were ‘trusted to start’ any of the first few league matches.

The verdict

The partnership of Konate and Matip, if it’s needed for those early games, hardly represents a massive downgrade downgrade. Matip is world-class when fit, while Konate is a rising star signed for the type of fee you would expect to pay for a regular starter.

In an ideal world, though, the youngster would have been integrated into the starting XI more slowly as he adapts to a new league. He’s being thrown straight in at the deep end, particularly if he starts against a sure-fire title contender in the form of Chelsea.

But ultimately, Liverpool can’t afford to take any risks with their returnees, so we wouldn’t be surprised if Gorst’s assessment is spot on.

In other news, this man was praised by fans for his impressive display against Hertha. 

Barry Fry insists that Everton fans would absolutely love the appointment of Duncan Ferguson as their new manager.

The Toffees lost Carlo Ancelotti earlier this summer, as he departed to return to Real Madrid, where he won the Champions League in a previous stint.

Everton have subsequently been linked with a clutch of new managers, most notably the former Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez.

It remains to be seen if the Toffees will actually formalise that interest, given that there has been a vocal backlash towards that interest from supporters.

Fry thinks that a deal to make Ferguson their new boss, following his stint as an assistant to Ancelotti, would be an excellent appointment.

Ferguson has previously been given the reigns following the sacking of Marco Silva and the former star striker famously guided the club to a pulse-pounding 3-1 win over Chelsea at Goodison Park.

Speaking exclusively to Football FanCast, he said: “The Everton fans would be happy with that as well. They’d get behind him, I think the club would get behind him, they’ve got a Director of Football who might help him in the transfer market, but he’d be very much his own man and it’d be an interesting appointment.

“How many years do you be assistant manager, taking in all the coaches, and the responsibility and things like that without getting the heads up to go and be your own boss? I don’t know, be interesting to watch that pan out though to be fair.”

Newcastle United boss Steve Bruce could sign his club’s new Papiss Cisse in Arsenal striker Eddie Nketiah.

What’s the story?

Reports in recent weeks have already suggested that the Magpies won’t have too much money to spend in the transfer window, and The Shields Gazette’s Liam Kennedy has delivered an update on who the Premier League club might look to target this summer.

In a Q&A, he said: “I think United will choose to keep what they have and box clever in the market, looking for loan deals, free transfers and squeezing as much value as they can out of their reduced summer budget. Players like Kristoffer Ajer are on the list. While deals for the likes of Josh King, Hamza Choudhury, Rob Dickie, Ross Barkley and Eddie Nketiah may also be explored.”

Newcastle’s new Cisse

In a truly electric spell at St James’ Park, Cisse arrived on Tyneside to partner Demba Ba, and the two proved crucial in the Magpies finishing in fifth place in the 2011/2012 Premier League season.

The Senegalese hot-shot bagged 13 goals in his first 14 top-flight games for the club, and of course, will be remembered for that iconic swerving strike at Stamford Bridge against Chelsea.

But that goal wasn’t really typical of what Cisse actually did best for Newcastle.

The centre-forward was a predator inside the box, and his instinctive finishes and superb movement, particularly coming onto the near post, made him a superb foil for Ba and someone who could ease the goal-scoring burden on his strike partner – as per Understat, all 14 of Cisse’s last goals for the Magpies in the league came inside the box, while five came within the width of the six-yard area.

And in Nketiah, they could get someone incredibly similar.

Former Leeds striker Noel Whelan has waxed lyrical about Nketiah, claiming that his style of play is very much reminiscent of Jermain Defoe. He said: “He reminds me of another Jermaine Defoe and look at how well he did at West Ham. He’s very much that similar sort of player. He plays off the shoulder, very dangerous in the box. He’s a player you can’t take your eyes off because his movement’s so good.”

His boss at Arsenal, Mikel Arteta, has also raved about the kind of impact he has made at the Emirates, saying after a 3-0 defeat to Manchester City: “I want him to keep doing what he’s doing. The way he played last night against those players, in those difficult conditions, for me is extraordinary at his age.

“He has an immense personality to play, confidence, he’s powerful and is developing in every area I think. I have a lot of faith in him.”

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The £17m-rated Nketiah would offer Bruce that real poacher who does his best work inside the box, and either give the Newcastle boss a rotation option with Callum Wilson or perhaps even someone for the former Bournemouth man to play alongside.

Meanwhile, Steve Bruce is eyeing a move for this 6 ft 4 powerhouse…

Queens Park Rangers look set to confirm a deal that will see Andre Dozzell move to the Kiyan Prince Foundation Stadium this summer.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a report by Football League World, who claim that Mark Warburton’s side have agreed a deal to sign the Ipswich Town midfielder, with the move set to be announced in the coming days.

West London Sport reported earlier this week that the two sides were in negotiations regarding the transfer of the 22-year-old, although that, despite speculation, Macauley Bonne would not be involved in any potential deal.

However, this does not appear to have hindered talks, with Dozzell looking likely to become a QPR player in the very near future.

Fans will be buzzing

Considering just how much potential Dozzell appears to possess, if Warburton’s side do go on to secure a deal for the £810k-rated man in the coming days, it will undoubtedly have fans of the club buzzing.

Indeed, over his 43 League One appearances for Paul Cook’s side last season, Dozzell provided one assist and created a whopping 10 big chances for his teammates, as well as making an average of 1.5 interceptions, 1.7 tackles and 1.3 key passes per game.

These metrics saw the £3.5k-per-week former England U20 international earn a highly impressive seasonal SofaScore match rating of 6.98, ranking him as Ipswich’s joint seventh-best performer in the third tier of English football.

As such, with QPR looking to build on their impressive form in the second half of last season in their upcoming campaign, the addition of the man whom Paul Lambert dubbed an “incredible” talent would certainly appear to help the club in achieving this feat, not only next season but for a great many years after.

Indeed, with Dozzell having already turned in a number of excellent displays during his time at Ipswich, his level of performance is something that is only likely to improve with greater experience and game time at a higher level, meaning that QPR could well have something of a gem on their hands in the very near future.

In other news: Huge transfer update emerges on “immense” £5.4k-p/w gem that’ll leave QPR fans gutted

Christian Falk has dropped an update on the transfer situation of Liverpool reported summer target, Kingsley Coman.

What’s been said?

According to the SportBild journalist, Bayern Munich have informed Jurgen Klopp’s side that it will require a fee of €90m (£77m) in order to get a deal over the line for the 25-year-old this summer, before adding that the winger himself does not believe that a switch to Anfield is likely to happen any time soon.

In a post on Twitter, Falk said: “Message from Munich to Liverpool and United: Bayern want a transfer fee of minimum €90m for Kingsley Coman. Also, the player thinks this is unrealistic for this summer.”

Fans will be gutted

Considering just how impressive Coman has been for Bayern Munich in recent seasons, both the fact that the Bundesliga side are demanding such a large fee for the French international and the claim that Coman does not appear confident of a move to Liverpool this summer is sure to have left the Anfield faithful gutted.

Indeed, the £58.5m-rated winger was in particularly fine form over his 29 league appearances for Hansi Flick’s side last season, scoring five goals, registering 10 assists and creating a whopping 11 big chances for his teammates, as well as making an average of 1.6 key passes and taking 1.8 shots at goal per game.

These metrics saw the 25-year-old earn a seasonal SofaScore match rating of 7.11, ranking him as Bayern’s ninth-best performer in the top flight of German football.

The £141k-per-week man also impressed over his two appearances for France at Euro 2020, earning a SofaScore match rating of 6.8 in the 2-2 draw with Portugal and a 7.0 match rating in his side’s dramatic round of 16 exit against Switzerland.

As such, with Klopp hoping to build a team in the summer transfer window that is capable of going on to once again mount a title challenge next season, the addition of Coman would undoubtedly have been a huge step in the right direction for the German coach.

However, if Falk is to be believed, Klopp may well have to turn his attention elsewhere in the summer market, as a deal for the man Thomas Muller dubbed an “extraordinary” player appears to be unlikely at present.

In other news: Liverpool make an official offer for 26-year-old, Jurgen Klopp would love to have him

Newcastle United have reportedly stepped up their transfer bid to sign Kristoffer Ajer in the summer window.

The Lowdown: Newcastle have low budget

The St. James’ Park faithful are reportedly only going to have a mere £8-10m transfer budget to work with once the market opens.

Thus, they will need to be looking at bargain deals, and according to the Daily Record, Steve Bruce reckons that they can sign Ajer from Celtic for around £8m.

The Latest: Newcastle stepping up Ajer bid

As per the Daily Record, the North East club are stepping up their bid to sign Ajer, as Bruce looks to pip Norwich City to his signature early on in the window.

Both Fabian Schar and Federico Fernandez are moving into the final year of their current contracts on Tyneside, and so a new central defender is needed.

Bruce has sent scouts up to Parkhead to watch Ajer play on a number of different occasions, and reckons that the Magpies can sign him for £8m, but the Hoops are looking for around double that.

However, they know that they may need to cash in on him with his deal running down in Glasgow, as Ajer and his representatives are currently assessing all options, including a potential move to the Premier League.

The Verdict: Newcastle must sign Ajer

The Toon must look to sign Ajer at all costs, especially if they can snap him up for a mere £8m, which would fit in nicely with their reported budget and promises to be an absolute bargain.

Described as an ‘outstanding’ player back in March by former NUFC ace Lee Clark, who managed him during a loan spell at Kilmarnock, the Norway international is surely ready to make the step up to the top flight, now aged 23.

Standing at a mammoth six-foot-six-inches tall, Ajer would have no problems at all in adapting to both the aerial and physical demands of the division, and at only now entering his prime, he certainly has a lot of potential still left to be fulfilled.

In other news, find out what ‘fascinating’ takeover insight a sports lawyer has dropped on arbitration here!

Leeds United have been rocked by the news that Helder Costa will miss the remainder of the Premier League season through injury.

The Lowdown: Costa filling in admirably for Raphinha

The Whites may have lost 2-0 away to Brighton last weekend, but they have still been in a good run of form, taking five points off Manchester City, Liverpool and Manchester United in recent weeks.

Costa has played his part in those positive results, filling in for the injured Raphinha against Liverpool and United, and performing well out wide, but Marcelo Bielsa is now really stuck for senior options in that position.

The Latest: Costa ruled out for the season

Unfortunately, the Angolan now joins his teammate on the treatment table, with Sky Sports reporting that he won’t play again this season.

Costa missed the Brighton defeat with a back injury and Bielsa has confirmed that the problem will keep him out for Leeds’ final four matches of the season:

“He won’t be able to compete again this season.”

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The Verdict: Major winger shortage for Leeds

While Bielsa doesn’t have many injury absentees across other areas of the pitch, Costa being out leaves him threadbare in wide attacking areas, assuming Raphinha misses out again.

With both Costa and the Brazilian missing for Saturday’s visit of Tottenham, Leeds may again have to use Stuart Dallas on the right wing – a far-from-ideal scenario that also occurred at the Amex Stadium – with Jack Harrison on the opposite flank.

Granted, the Northern Irishman’s versatility makes him a solid option there, but he lacks Costa’s natural width, speed and unpredictable nature in that position, and Leeds lose an attacking spark without an out-and-out winger on the right-hand side.

Without the pace to get in behind defences, Bielsa loses a big part of the way his sides operate, able to transition from back to front on a moment’s notice.

It arguably means Luke Ayling needs to provide even more attacking thrust than usual, in order to help fill the void left, still looking to register his first goal or assist this season, so it really is a crucial blow to the side’s attacking style.

In other news, Leeds are thought to be eyeing up a move for an attacking player this summer. Find out who it is here.

Former Aston Villa midfielder Lee Hendrie has told Football FanCast in an exclusive interview that he would not bring Crystal Palace’s Christian Benteke back to Villa Park if he had the opportunity to.

Benteke spent three years at Villa, scoring just under 50 goals for the Midlands club, and was linked with a return to his old side last year.

The Belgian striker’s £120,000-a-week contract is up in the summer, meaning Villa could pick him up on a free transfer if they are interested in him.

Hendrie, however, is not too keen, suggesting such a move would be a backward step for the Villans.

When asked by FFC if he would take Benteke back, the ex-Villa player said:

“I just feel that I look at his record over the past few years and it hasn’t given me any wow factor.

“I think it’d be a backward step if I’m being personally honest. I just feel that if he’s a younger player and he’s still got that little bit of bite and that energy, I just feel possibly, but I’d be one that would certainly be avoiding that, for sure.”

Benteke has really come to life in this last part of the season, scoring in his last four games in a row.

However, his overall goalscoring record at Palace has been far from convincing, so concerns about the 30-year-old’s ability to consistently find the back of the net at this level are understandable.

Sunderland manager Lee Johnson will be buzzing after the club’s sporting director Kristjaan Speakman confirmed that Elliott Embleton will be part of the first-team squad next season.

What’s the talk?

Embleton spent the second-half of the 2020/21 season on loan to Blackpool in League One and earned promotion to the Championship last weekend by winning the play-offs. Sunderland failed in their play-off campaign and then watched a player on their books help Blackpool seal promotion to the second tier.

His contract at Sunderland was due to expire this summer before the club triggered an extension to keep him at the Stadium of Light until 2022. Speakman has now claimed that he will impact Sunderland’s team in League One next season, rather than seal a permanent transfer to Blackpool. He told SAFC Unfiltered, via Blackpool Gazette:

“The easiest thing with Elliot would have been to loan him to League Two, and we held out and we held out because we were desperate to get him with the right club and the right coaching staff.

“Neil and the guys at Blackpool have done excellent with him, given him that platform and he’s gone and performed.“He’s demonstrated the ability to play at the level we need him to play at, so when he comes back here he can hopefully impact our team.”Sunderland midfielder Max Power praised the “brilliant” Embelton earlier in the campaign. He told SAFC unfiltered:“He’s technically one of the best players I’ve seen. A good mark of knowing someone’s technically good is he can take corners with both feet.“I think Elliot’s at that age now where he knows that he needs to stay fit. I know it must be tough for him because I thought last season, he was brilliant in pre-season and then he done his hamstring away at Sheffield United in the [League] Cup.” Johnson will be delighted

Johnson will be delighted that Sunderland have decided to keep Embleton at the club and integrate him back into the first-team picture for next season. Speakman could have opted to cash in on the 22-year-old after his impressive spell with Blackpool, especially given that they achieved promotion to a higher division than Sunderland, but Johnson now looks set to benefit from Embleton’s talents next term.

Embleton produced two goals and four assists in 17 starts for Blackpool. He averaged a WhoScored rating of 6.75 across 21 appearances and set up Blackpool’s equalising goal in the play-off final against Lincoln as he helped his side win 2-1 at Wembley. This shows that he has the quality to make a real impact at League One level and that he is built to perform in the biggest games, having done it in the play-off final.

The £4.3k-per-week midfielder could prove to be an upgrade on Aiden O’Brien. Johnson deployed O’Brien as an attacking midfielder and a winger during the game, as the Irishman played 33 times for Sunderland in League One, averaging a WhoScored rating of 6.61 and providing one assist for his teammates.

Embleton averaged a higher WhoScored rating and was able to create more for his teammates in the league for Blackpool, suggesting that he could improve Sunderland’s squad upon returning to the club this summer.

AND in other news, fans should be delighted as £4k-p/w beast has been backed to sign a new deal

According to reports, Leeds are eyeing a summer move for Real Madrid starlet Miguel Gutierrez.

What’s the story?

Marcelo Bielsa’s side are enjoying a fine return to the Premier League after several years away, with their weekend victory over Manchester City seeing them enter the top ten of the table.

Now, TEAMtalk claim that the Whites already have one eye on the summer transfer window, and have earmarked 19-year-old left-back Gutierrez as a player of interest.

The report adds that Gutierrez has been offered to director of football, Victor Orta, and that Leeds would be open to signing the teenager on loan with a view to a permanent deal.

Orta’s golden chance

The 19-year-old is highly-rated at both club and international level, with a profile done by Madrid’s official club website saying: “Miguel has a great ability to play the ball out from the back and is a real bonus when attempting to unlock things if games become stagnant. He’s technically very good and reads the game well to cover for his teammates.”

Spain’s U17s manager, David Gordo, has meanwhile raved about his prodigy, declaring: “If they give him minutes and he plays games, he will be a top left-back. He has the characteristics of the perfect left-back for Real Madrid. He has quality, ability to get forward, a nice strike, he is ambitious and he has a winning mentality… he has a very bright future.”

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Given that Madrid themselves have offered Orta the chance to sign him, everything is all perfectly set up for Gutierrez to make his way to Elland Road for next season.

A loan deal gives Leeds that extra security knowing that they don’t have to splash out a big sum of money straight up, and can instead see whether he’s cut out for Premier League football.

Meanwhile, Leeds must unleash this starlet if Raphinha is injured…