The under-fire Gunners star was deployed in a surprising new position for his national team, but should he change roles at club level too?
The international break is not the most-popular concept among most Premier League fans. Many see it as an irritating interruption to the absorbing club season, but it can often provide some intriguing stories of its own.
Germany boss Julian Nagelsmann provided one of the most eye-catching narratives of the most recent pause by shockingly deploying Kai Havertz at left-back for Die Mannschaft's games against Turkey and Austria.
Havertz has played in a string of positions during his career so far – midfield, second striker, out wide and centre-forward. Still, nobody expected his versatility to extend as far as being able to play in a defensive role. Quizzed on his decision before the Turkey game, Nagelsmann responded in forthright fashion: "I have a great idea, he's an exceptionally good footballer. This is a very good option."
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Nagelsmann's surprise pays off?
Despite the ex-Bayern Munich boss' confidence, it was hard not to raise an eyebrow when Havertz trudged over to the left wing at the Olympiastadion in Berlin to take his place alongside Jonathan Tah, Antonio Rudiger and Benjamin Henrichs in the back four.
However, inside five minutes, the Arsenal man had scored, sweeping home Leroy Sane's cross after the ball broke from a set-play. It was a nice moment, especially considering how badly Havertz has struggled in front of goal since joining the Gunners, but it told us little about how he might fare as a left-back long-term.
As the game progressed, though, there were a few promising signs in this regard. Havertz scampered forward each time Germany were in possession, generally staying wide as opposed to coming inside, as is all the rage in the Premier League currently.
Despite this attacking intent, he was not culpable for either of Turkey's first-half goals, matching up well against his opposite number. The blame for each of those must instead be apportioned to right-back Henrichs, whose positioning was lax for both strikes.
Turkey's third, however, scored after Niclas Fullkrug had levelled the scores up in the 49th minute, did involve Havertz. He was penalised for handball in the box, rather unfortunately, when his arm was deemed to have been in an 'unnatural position' when it blocked Abdulkerim Barakci's volleyed cross. Yusuf Sari would then dispatch the resulting penalty.
That moment aside, Havertz enjoyed a pretty solid first outing in his new role. He got up and down the wing, though his defensive positioning was a little suspect at times, and made a team-high five clearances, as well as registering two interceptions. He got on the ball far more frequently than he has been for his club recently too, registering more touches (63) than he's managed in all-but one of his Arsenal appearances so far.
Nagelsmann was certainly impressed, saying at full-time: "Kai said he wanted to do it, wanted to try it. I don't see this as a risk for him, but as a very, very big opportunity to play a key role at the Euros. For a first time in an unfamiliar position, he did extremely well and probably was our best player."
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Don't back down, double down
Not everyone was as enthused by the experiment, with Lothar Matthaus one of Nagelsmann's most vocal critics. The Germany legend wrote in his column: "It can’t be a permanent solution if we suddenly let one of the best German offensive players of recent years play full-back. This is also a slap in the face to those who have played there recently, even if there were problems on the left side of the defence."
Nagelsmann was not deterred by this criticism, again fielding Havertz at left-back for his team's trip to Vienna. Germany repeated their ultra-attacking approach and were torn apart by Ralf Rangnick's side in transition. By the time Marcel Sabitzer made it 1-0 just before the half-hour mark, they could have already been two goals down.
Things got even worse early in the second half when Leroy Sane was sent off for a brainless shove on Phillipp Mwene. That dismissal ended round two of the Havertz experiment early as he shifted to a right-sided attacking role before being subbed off 13 minutes from time – shortly after Christoph Baumgartner scored Austria's second.
When he was at left-back, Havertz again looked comfortable enough defensively and carved open a few opportunities for his team-mates, finding an unmarked Sane with an inch-perfect crossfield pass late in the first half. But after the game, his new position was scarcely addressed. As one might expect, the significance of Germany succumbing to back-to-back defeats attracted far more interest.
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Indicative of a wider malaise
This latest pair of worrying results continue the trend of Germany's long-term demise as a footballing superpower, with both the men's and women's senior sides exiting their most recent World Cups in the group stage.
It's not just on-field results that are the issue either. There is also a startling lack of connection between the national team and the supporters, with many fans choosing to boycott Qatar 2022. Havertz himself addressed this recently, saying: "We had no support. There were also other reasons for this, we understand that. But there was also no support in terms of football. We were on our own."
The reasons for this severing of emotional ties are complex. One key issue is the perceived overcommericalisation of the national team, but the chaos in the dugout and on the pitch has certainly not helped things either. Hansi Flick was supposed to bring some order on the men's side, but failed, becoming the first Germany manager to ever be sacked in September following a terrible run of results.
Nagelsmann had offered some hope in the previous international break, leading the team to positive results against the United States and Mexico, but the Turkey and Austria defeats have swiftly extinguished hopes of a swift revival. It's clear that the new coach is still not sure what he wants the team to be. Opting to play Havertz in a brand new role speaks to this, even if left-back has been a real problem area over the past few years.
He tried to explain his gung-ho approach after the Austria game, saying: "We're not defensive monsters. We won’t be defensive monsters next summer either. That's not us. Our players play at clubs where they have to focus less on defence and more on attack."
It's a bold way to play, especially with a tournament around the corner, and the stress of potentially having to thrive in an unfamiliar position is unlikely to help Havertz get back to his best at club level any time soon.
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Havertz looks absolutely lost
Despite its challenges, the international break likely came as welcome respite for the £65-million ($81.5m) man. The stats since Havertz joined Arsenal from Chelsea this summer make for grim reading.
He's managed just one goal and one assist in 19 appearances so far, with his poor 2022-23 form for the Blues bleeding over into the current season. It's not just the lack of attacking output that's been concerning either. Even Havertz's most staunch supporters would struggle to defend his start in north London.
There's a growing list of grimace-inducing moments that will have worried manager Mikel Arteta: his air kick against Manchester United, him somehow avoiding a red card at Newcastle and that pitiful first-minute header in the Sevilla game. More generally, there's a feeling that he looks a little lost each time he takes to the field, with his body language being criticised.
He's underperformed his Premier League xG by a team-high 1.2 this season and isn't carving out many chances much either; 14 Arsenal players are averaging more shot-creating actions in the Premier League this season.
With the Egyptian expected to move to Saudi Arabia next summer, rumours are rife that the Reds are already searching for a worthy successor
Liverpool's decision to reject all offers from Al-Ittihad for Mohamed Salah just before the close of the transfer window has been fully vindicated, with their Egyptian king one of the main reasons why they're back in the top four of the Premier League right now and dreaming of a surprise title challenge.
However, while the Reds' refusal to let the winger leave was utterly unsurprising, given his ongoing importance to Jurgen Klopp's team, the feeling was that they were merely postponing the inevitable. It's still difficult to see Salah moving during the January transfer window, no matter how much money is on the table, but next summer could be a very different story altogether.
After all, he will turn 32 next June and have just one year left on his contract, so it would make perfect sense for Liverpool to belatedly cash in on their talismanic attacker. Of course, finding a replacement will not be easy, even if there are some excellent options.
However, right now, one name is generating more transfer rumours than most – Leroy Sane. And while it's easy to understand why Liverpool might view the Bayern Munich man as their ideal Salah successor, a certain degree of scepticism among the supporters is also understandable.
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A familiar foe
Liverpool know all about how dangerous Sane can be. During his time at Manchester City, he scored four times against the Reds, whom he consigned to their only defeat during the 2018-19 Premier League campaign – which, of course, played a pivotal role in the outcome of one of the greatest and most closely fought title races in history.
However, the fans will also remember that by the time of that epic encounter at the Etihad, Sane was no longer a certain starter. He may have scored a career-high 16 goals that season, but speculation was already mounting that Sane wanted out.
Guardiola certainly did little to hide the fact that he was no longer entirely happy with the 2017-18 PFA Young Player of the Year. The issue was Sane's work-rate. Guardiola felt the youngster wasn't fulfilling his defensive duties when City were out of possession and admitted that he was frustrated by Sane's famously laid-back attitude as he believed it was holding the forward back.
"I am so demanding of him and sometimes I like to be critical of him," the Catalan coach confessed to reporters in April 2019. "We know his potential and we want to help him to be more consistent in his game."
Guardiola failed in that regard, though, with Sane belatedly completing a transfer to Bayern in 2020 after the deal had been held up by a serious knee injury sustained in a Community Shield clash with Liverpool the year before.
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Further struggles in Munich
The change of scenery did little to remove the doubts surrounding Sane. If anything, they increased because many in Munich felt that the attacker simply wasn't right for Bayern; that he lacked the doggedness, determination and winning mentality demanded at the Allianz Arena.
Sane continued to score goals, hitting double figures in all competitions in each of his first three seasons at the club, but sparkled only sporadically.
When he first arrived, he spoke enthusiastically about playing under Hansi Flick, whom he first came across while playing for Germany's Under-21s. However, it later emerged that Flick had actually been pushing for the Bavarians to sign Timo Werner instead. This, then, was a deal very much of Hasan Salihamidzic's doing, as even Sane had admitted himself, explaining that the sporting director had been "behind the transfer from the first moment".
In that context, it's perhaps unsurprising that Sane struggled. Flick regularly questioned his work ethic and rarely gave him a full 90 minutes.
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Positional problems
The arrival of Julian Nagelsmann looked like the turning point in Sane's spell at the Allianz Arena, with the new, young coach giving him an inside-left role, which he relished, as he was part-winger, part-No.10. Indeed, during the first half of the 2021-22 season, Sane looked perfectly primed to become a bona fide superstar, netting 10 times before the winter break, with half of those goals coming during an electrifying Champions League group-stage campaign.
However, as he admitted himself, Bayern's season then screeched to a standstill and they were sensationally dumped out of Europe by Villarreal. Many pundits blamed Nagelsmann's decision to change formation, from a 4-2-3-1 to a 3-4-3 that saw Sane moved back to the right, where his output dipped dramatically. He would score just four goals after Christmas and looked a shadow of his former self.
His frustration was obvious, too, and the fans became enraged by his air of resignation. Talk of a move away from Munich only intensified as Nagelsmann's reign unravelled earlier this year. The word was that Bayern were open to offers for their €60 million (£52m/$63m) signing.
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Right coach at the right time?
It wasn't initially clear if Thomas Tuchel taking over from Nagelsmann, who was sensationally sacked in March, was a positive or negative development for Sane. The former Borussia Dortmund, Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain coach has a reputation for asking a lot of his forwards from a defensive perspective, but at the same time, he managed to get something approaching the very best out of enigmatic characters like Neymar and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
Tuchel also primarily deployed Sane on the right during the first weeks of his tenure and there was no marked improvement in the winger's performances. However, behind the scenes, the pair were bonding.
Despite the ongoing transfer talk, Tuchel was adamant that Sane had a key role to play in his side. He was convinced that he was the right coach to extract the absolute maximum out of one of the game's great unfulfilled talents.
Putting Sane back on the left certainly helped, but it was clear that there was more to it than that. There was, as Tuchel put it, "good chemistry" between the pair, so when he challenged Sane to dominate the Bundesliga, the winger obliged.
He's already well on his way towards obliterating his previous best goals tally for a single season (eight), having struck six times in seven outings in 2023-24, and Tuchel enthused after the 3-0 win over Freiburg just before the international break, "If he continues to play with that kind of freedom, hunger and positive body language, he can make the difference.”
As for Sane, he's in no doubt that Tuchel is not only "the right person for Bayern" – but also him as a player. "I talk to him a lot," he recently admitted. "He gives me a very good feeling and I feel a lot of trust."
Liverpool are in the market for reinforcements this summer as Jurgen Klopp looks to freshen up a side that looks set for major changes heading into next term.
Roberto Firmino, Naby Keita, James Milner and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain have already left the club upon the expiration of their contracts, signifying that both midfield and striking positions will need to be replenished in the summer window.
According to Fabrizio Romano, Brighton & Hove Albion midfielder Alexis Mac Allister is set to sign for the Reds, as he updated his Twitter following, stating: "Liverpool have just signed Alexis Mac Allister for… £35m. Reds have now triggered the clause to sign the midfielder after medical tests completed with Brighton’s permission. Documents are being signed. Here we go confirmed."
Another man that Liverpool have been linked with to bolster their midfield is Southampton man Romeo Lavia and they are said to have contacted the South Coast club over the prospect of being able to acquire the 19-year-old, as per Football Insider.
What's the latest transfer news involving Romeo Lavia?
The Football Insider report also states that Lavia's former club, Manchester City, have a buyback clause worth £40 million to purchase the Belgium international; however, this doesn't become active until the summer of 2024.
Speaking to Football FanCast, Redmen TV pundit Ste Hoare has endorsed Liverpool signing Lavia to boost their midfield options and thinks that the talent would be a good fit at Anfield.
Hoare told FFC: "Manchester City have this buyback clause, don't they, in 2024, so you want to get him, you might have to do it now because they might be the only chance you can do. I don't think he's going to stay in the Championship. I think he's too good. My guess is he'll be on the move. Of all the players who went down, I think he'd be the one I would most like Liverpool to sign, he fits into what we do."
Liverpool definitely have the opportunity to get one over their Premier League rivals by signing Lavia, who gained plenty of first-team experience in 2022/23 with Southampton, making 35 appearances in all competitions, registering one goal and one assist apiece, as per Transfermarkt.
Southampton midfielder Romeo Lavia.
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola paid tribute to the midfielder in April in an interview and detailed why he was let go at the Etihad Stadium to join Southampton, stating: “I am really impressed with what Romeo has done and is doing. We had, and we have, an incredible opinion about him. We thought to keep him, but maybe he would not (get) enough minutes like he has in Southampton."
As per WhoScored, Lavia showed plenty of promise at St Mary's during this campaign and managed to record a pass success rate of 86.4%, illustrating his reliability in possession.
FBRef also take into account that the £25k-a-week earner excels in comparison to his positional peers across Europe's top five divisions regarding successful blocks, having made 1.90 per 90 minutes in the last 365 days, putting him in the fourth percentile for this metric.
According to the same outlet, Lavia, who has been hailed as a "monster", has also made 93 tackles and interceptions combined in 2022/23, demonstrating his capacity to get stuck in and turn over phases of play for his side.
Former Manchester United midfielder Paul Scholes talked up Lavia's abilities as a deep-lying midfielder last year, as per BT Sport via The Daily Mail, saying: ‘He has got a pass in his locker and he is big and strong and likes to defend. He does not want to get forward too much and sits in-front of the back four and sets the play in motion from there.’
Liverpool need young talent to help phase out some of their ageing midfielders and Lavia could be someone that could become a key player in the coming seasons at Anfield.
Leeds United could appoint out-of-work manager Steven Gerrard as they look to bounce back from Premier League relegation next term, according to journalist Ben Jacobs.
What's the latest news involving Leeds United and Steven Gerrard?
Leeds United confirmed on Friday morning that they have mutually parted ways with Sam Allardyce following the conclusion of the 2022/23 season.
The Sun previously claimed that some players at the club wanted Allardyce to stay at the Yorkshire outfit; however, former Liverpool icon Gerrard has been linked with taking the manager position and is seen as a 'possibility' if 49ers Enterprises complete a takeover of the Whites.
The report states that Brendan Rodgers could also be considered to lead Leeds United into the Sky Bet Championship, though it is unclear whether he would be willing to drop down a level to get back on the employment ladder.
According to The Daily Mail, West Bromwich Albion boss Carlos Corberan and Rayo Vallecano coach Andoni Iraola are also two names that could enter the running.
Leeds United also want to hire a sporting director to replace Victor Orta in what is set to be a period of major change as they build for 2023/24 in England's second tier.
Speaking to Football FanCast, journalist Jacobs does think that Gerrard could be a contender to replace Allardyce at Elland Road.
Jacobs told FFC: "I think that Corberan is a candidate but there are complications around that. I think that Steven Gerrard has been looked at as well."
What changes could occur at Leeds United this summer?
Interestingly, Conor McGilligan has previously called Steven Gerrard a "mirror of Marsch" and suggested he would be more suited to managing a team in the Championship.
Plenty of alterations are set to be made at Leeds United in the next few months as they gear up for life in the Sky Bet Championship once again, with several players set to depart to make way for new arrivals.
Jack Harrison reportedly has a relegation release clause in his contract and could be set to return to the Premier League in the off-season, with West Ham United and Aston Villa believed to be interested in his signature, as per talkSPORT.
Leeds United forward Wilfried Gnonto.
Calciomercato has also linked youngster Wilfried Gnonto with a high-profile move away from Elland Road and Manchester City alongside Arsenal have an attraction towards his services.
The Athletic also confirm that Brenden Aaronson has a release clause in his deal that has become active due to relegation and the Whites may be braced to lose another one of their prize assets during the transfer window.
Mauricio Pochettino will be working tirelessly this summer to turn Chelsea’s fortunes around following their woeful Premier League campaign this term, finishing in the bottom half of the table.
The Blues have conceded 46 goals in 37 games thus far, and it is clear that the defence needs some improvement, despite the talents of Wesley Fofana and Benoit Badiashile in their ranks.
Pochettino will surely stick with the duo next term; however, it could be a different story for Kalidou Koulibaly, who has failed to impress upon his £33m switch from Napoli last summer.
He has started just 20 league games for the club and kept only five clean sheets as part of the defence, as well as ranking 6th for tackles made per game and third for cautions.
He was even dubbed a “liability” by journalist Bruno Brown earlier this year, so could Pochettino ditch the Senegalese defender after only one season in London? Only time will tell.
With the Stamford Bridge outfit seemingly keen on making a move for Barcelona centre-back Jules Kounde, he could well find himself down the pecking order.
Could Chelsea sign Jules Kounde?
According to Diario Sport, Kounde is ready to leave the Spanish giants as he hasn’t been utilised in his preferred position by Xavi, and with this in mind, Chelsea could potentially make a move during the summer.
A fee of €75m (£65m) could be enough to tempt Barcelona to sell the Frenchman and Pochettino would certainly strengthen his defence by luring the player to England.
Across 27 La Liga matches, the 24-year-old received a Sofascore rating of 7.11/10 and he has showcased his passing ability by making 54.9 passes per game (89% success rate) while averaging 77.9 touches each match, indicating that he is extremely comfortable on the ball and likes to build attacks from the back.
The defender also ranks highly compared to other centre-backs across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year when it comes to attempted passes (top 7%), progressive carries (top 2%) and progressive passes (top 2%) – further backing up his ability to work the ball out from the defence effectively, and Pochettino could use this to his advantage next season.
Former French World Cup winner Frank Leboeuf dubbed the Barcelona star as a “warrior” previously and heading into 2023/24, the Argentinian coach will be looking to build a team which is full of players hungry for glory and Kounde could be the perfect signing for the Blues.
Manchester United are reportedly among the clubs who are interested in signing Leicester City playmaker, James Maddison, with the Englishman looking set for a summer exit from the King Power Stadium.
What's the latest on James Maddison's future?
According to The Telegraph, the Red Devils – as well as both Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur – are said to be keen on signing the 26-year-old, with the report suggesting that it is now looking 'inevitable' that the former Norwich City man will move on at the end of the season.
The piece adds that the two-cap ace 'is set to be sold' even if the struggling Foxes are able to stave off relegation, with any potential suitor needing to cough up between £45m and £60m if they are to secure his services, with just over a year left to run on the player's current deal.
The Coventry-born gem does appear to have been a long-term target for those at Old Trafford, with Manchester Evening News reporting back in February 2020 that Maddison was the club's 'prime playmaker target' for that forthcoming summer, with the player himself said to have been keen to make the switch.
How would Maddison fit in at Man United?
While the highly-coveted talent is part of a Leicester side that has been desperately underwhelming this season – with a return to the second tier potentially on the cards for the Midlands side – the midfield maestro has still been something of a shining light, with nine goals and seven assists in 25 Premier League games so far this term.
That follows what was a standout 2021/22 campaign for the clinical "magician" – as hailed by Statman Dave – as he contributed 30 goals and assists in 53 games across all fronts, including 20 goal involvements in the top flight alone.
Although Maddison has done much of his damage off the flanks of late, the versatile asset could also slot into Erik ten Hag's side in a creative, midfield berth, ensuring he could represent a potential upgrade on experienced ace, Christian Eriksen.
Leicester City's James Maddison
There's no denying that the latter man has been an astute capture since his free transfer arrival last summer – having racked up two goals and nine assists in 38 appearances to date – although there may be concerns over the 31-year-old's ability to be a long-term solution in midfield, particularly amid his recent, difficult return from injury.
The Denmark international was notably replaced on the hour mark in the FA Cup semi-final clash with Brighton and Hove Albion after being restricted to just 26 touches on the day, while having also 'shook his head in frustration at his own performance' against Aston Villa on Sunday, according to MEN's Samuel Luckhurst.
As such, turning to Maddison could potentially represent something of a long-term, midfield upgrade, with the England international's dynamic quality showcased by the fact that he ranks in the top 12% among his European peers for progressive carries and the top 17% for successful take-ons, while Eriksen, by contrast, ranks in just the top 35% and the bottom 19% for those same two metrics, respectively.
Equally, Maddison's innate creativity is showcased by the fact that he ranks in the top 4% for progressive passes received – further rubberstamping his forward-thinking and probing approach – while the current United man ranks in just the top 33% in that regard.
The Leicester sensation also potentially offers more in a defensive sense having averaged 1.6 tackles per game in the league this season, while Eriksen has averaged just 0.6 for that same metric, further proving what a potential upgrade Maddison could be for Ten Hag.
Journalist Fabrizio Romano has revealed Chelsea haven't quite finalised the appointment of Mauricio Pochettino as they still have to agree on details such as the length of his contract.
What's the latest Chelsea and Mauricio Pochettino news?
It's widely understood and has been reported that the Argentine is now the clear favourite to take over from Frank Lampard at the end of the season.
Indeed, despite past links to the likes of Luis Enrique and Julian Nagelsmann since Graham Potter was sacked, it sounds as though the Blues have finally landed their man.
However, while talking on the latest episode of the Here We Go podcast, Romano did explain that it's not quite been formalised just yet.
Even so, it doesn't sound as though there is any reason for Chelsea fans to panic, with most of the key details relating to the project agreed upon.
The journalist explained: “The agreement is really close. Now it's also about the contract. So why the deal is not in place or completely not announced yet [is] because they are working on the final crucial points of the contract.
"So now it's about the details of the contract. Because the main points of the project, they already discussed that and everything is almost ready between Mauricio Pochettino and Chelsea.
"Now it's about the contract – length of the contract, clauses, these kinds of things. So the discussion is ongoing. We wait, but all sources are very confident on this appointment."
What's been said about Pochettino joining Chelsea?
This news of a deal with the 51-year-old not quite being wrapped up just yet might concern some supporters who must be desperate to have some sense of clarity over the manager's position at their club – especially amid the turgid form since Lampard took over as interim.
But with the Englishman hired to guide the Blues for the rest of the season, there's no rush for either Pochettino or Chelsea with regard to the finer details of his contract.
And so, by the sounds of it, once a few more specifics have been ironed out, the club will be able to officially announce the Argentine – though that could take a little while yet.
Pundit Gary Neville certainly seems to think it's a good move. He told The Overlap (via The Chelsea Chronicle) “I think he is a really talented coach. I think Chelsea next year could really surprise us. Pochettino will bring the club together because he will; he’s likeable, and the players will respect him enormously,”
“I think he’ll do a very, very good job next season. He’ll cover a lot of the stuff that’s going on behind the scenes is my prediction. If they get him, I think you’ll have a very good season next year.
“Those players are perfect for Pochettino; they are talented and young, but they just need direction.”
Liverpool are one of a number of top clubs eyeing up a potential move for Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Florian Wirtz, according to Fabrizio Romano.
The Lowdown: Wirtz a huge talent
The 19-year-old has emerged as arguably one of the most exciting young players in the Bundesliga in recent years, already becoming an important figure at Leverkusen.
Wirtz has made 91 appearances for his current club, despite his tenders years, with an impressive tally of 21 goals and 28 assists coming his way in the process, outlining his end product.
This season, the German has scored twice in the Europa League and assisted four times in the league, as his reputation continues to be enhanced all the time.
Wirtz’s performance appear to have caught the eye of some of Europe’s top clubs, which is where Liverpool come into play, as Jurgen Klopp eyes up significant midfield reinforcements this summer.
The Latest: Liverpool in the mix
Taking to Twitter on Thursday, Romano claimed that the Reds are monitoring Wirtz’s current situation, even though Leverkusen are extremely hesitant to sell him at this point in his career:
“Florian Wirtz, attracting lot of interest as one of the best talents in the world – but Bayer Leverkusen remain convinced he will stay at least until 2024
“Barcelona, Real Madrid and Liverpool keep following the situation — the race is 100% open.”
The Verdict: Could be a special signing
The thought of Wirtz in a Liverpool shirt is a mouthwatering one, considering his reputation as arguably one of the standout midfielders of his generation, perhaps alongside fellow Reds target Jude Bellingham.
Leverkusen boss Xabi Alonso has even compared the teenager to Lionel Messi, in terms of his use of the ball, which is about the highest compliment possible in football.
Predominantly an attacking midfield who can move wide at times, Wirtz already has four caps to his name for Germany and is someone who could added much-needed guile and youth in the middle of the park at Anfield.
Too often, Liverpool’s midfield can look one-dimensional, with no current central player scoring more than once in the Premier League this season, so he would add a spark in that area.
Whether or not he can be prized away from Leverkusen remains to be seen, though – his current deal doesn’t expire until the summer of 2027 – but if the funds are there and a big offer can be tabled, the Reds would be acquiring the services of an exceptional talent.
Mark Goldbridge doesn’t want the Elliott Investment Group to be buying Manchester United.
The Lowdown: Competition is starting to emerge
It looked as though the two likely frontrunners to buy Man United were Sir Jim Ratcliffe and the Qatari group led by Sheikh Jassim, but an American hedge fund group has recently surfaced and been put through to the second phase.
Elliott Investment Management is now directly competing with the other two groups and any other interested parties that aren’t yet in the media domain to buy the Red Devils.
However, it has been reported that they are willing to do the takeover in a different way to the other two groups, as they’re willing to offer equity investment or help to rebuild and develop Old Trafford.
The Latest: Elliott Investment is not what Man United need
While speaking on The United Stand YouTube channel, Goldbridge has labelled this latest interest from the Elliott Group as a ‘nightmare situation’ for Man United fans.
He said: “It’s almost a case of the good, the bad and the ugly, here – and I’m not talking about the Glazers. I’m talking about the situation that we’re in. The Elliott Group really do concern me.
“[Journalist] Simon Stone has mentioned that they don’t want to buy Manchester United; what they’re looking for is equity investment or help to rebuild the stadium. Both of these situations are investments. We’ll talk about what that investment is, but for me, it’s a nightmare situation for Manchester United.”
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The Verdict: Could be deja vu all over again
The fact that the Elliott Group is looking to buy the club via equity investment should set alarm bells ringing for Man United fans, as that is essentially what the Glazers have been doing for the past 17 years.
Therefore, they should be pushing against this and making their voices heard about how this and any other potential hedge fund groups should not be allowed to run the Red Devils, and that it must be a straight takeover bid.
That’s exactly what the Qatari bid would offer the Glazers and Man United, as Sheikh Jassim only wants 100% control of the club and is thought to be willing to walk away from any potential deal if it can’t be done on their terms.
Best wicketkeeper-batsmen in Tests (at least 2500 runs; only in games in which they’ve kept wicket)
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Strike rate
100s/ 50s
Andy Flower 55 4404 53.70 44.78 12/ 23 Adam Gilchrist 96 5556 47.89 81.97 17/ 26 Kumar Sangakkara 47 3093 41.24 52.01 7/ 11 Alec Stewart 82 4540 34.92 49.69 6/ 23 Alan Knott 95 4389 32.75 44.43 5/ 30In one-dayers he took it a notch higher, scoring at almost a run a ball at a healthy average of 36. Among wicketkeeper-batsmen with at least 2500 runs, only two have a higher average.
Best wicketkeeper-batsmen in ODIs (at least 2500 runs; only in games in which they’ve kept wicket)
Batsman
ODIs
Runs
Average
Strike rate
100s/ 50s
Mahendra Singh Dhoni 96 2838 43.66 94.72 3/ 17 Kumar Sangakkara 164 5124 37.95 75.96 4/ 39 Adam Gilchrist 272 9088 35.77 96.89 15/ 51 Andy Flower 186 5845 34.58 73.71 4/ 46 Alec Stewart 138 4017 33.47 70.06 4/ 26Pakistan’s Shahid Afridi has been slightly more explosive in ODIs, but he has only managed an average of 23.48. Gilchrist, on the other hand, married quick scoring with a fair degree of consistency as well.
Best strike rates in ODIs (at least 4000 runs)
Batsman
ODIs
Runs
Strike rate
Shahid Afridi 251 5284 110.38 Adam Gilchrist 277 36.03 96.90 Virender Sehwag 178 5231 96.88 Andrew Symonds 180 4671 93.43 Sanath Jayasuriya 403 12,207 90.40 Viv Richards 187 6721 90.20 That he relished the big stage is obvious from his performances in the three World Cup finals he played in, in 1999, 2003 and 2007. He scored half-centuries in the first two, but the last was easily the most memorable, as Gilchrist slammed 149 off a mere 104 balls in a knock of stunning audacity. Gilchrist is one of only three batsmen to aggregate more than 150 runs in World Cup finals, and his average (86.67) and strike rate (138.29) indicate just how much he enjoys the big occasion.The stand-out feature of Gilchrist’s batting has always been his ability to score quickly, and find the boundaries with ease. His 57-ball century against England in Perth in 2006 remains the second-fastest Test hundred, and of the 43 fifty-plus scores he made in Tests, 20 came at a strike rate of more than 90, while only seven were at a rate of less than 70.Gilchrist remains the only batsman to hit 100 sixes in Tests – he achieved the feat when he clouted Muttiah Muralitharan for his 99th and 100th hits over the boundary in Hobart last year. (Click here for more on Gilchrist’s six-hitting ability, and here for a list of highest six-hitters in Tests.)His skills in front of the stumps was only one aspect of Gilchrist’s contribution to the team: he was immense behind the stumps as well. His 414 dismissals in Tests and 454 in ODIs are both records. Of the nine instances when wicketkeepers have pouched six dismissals in a single ODI innings, Gilchrist accounts for five of those. Glenn McGrath and Brett Lee have benefited the most from Gilchrist’s presence behind the stumps: c Gilchrist b McGrath has happened 90 times in Tests, which is second only to the 95 instances when batsmen were caught by Rodney Marsh off Dennis Lillee.The other outstanding aspect about his career was his ability to be ready for battle every time he was needed by Australia. Since his Test debut in 1999, Gilchrist played every single Test for Australia. His 96 games in a row is the fourth-highest in the all-time list, and easily the highest by a wicketkeeper.