Leeds United skipper Liam Cooper has sent a touching tribute to the late Trevor Cherry on Twitter after the legend sadly passed away earlier this week, and many supporters at Elland Road have been echoing their skipper’s words.
The former England and Whites captain made over 400 appearances for the west Yorkshire outfit and was part of the 1974 Championship-winning side.
Cooper himself is well on his way to cementing his name down in similar vein having played 190 times since joining the club back in 2014 from Chesterfield.
And at 28 years of age with the Premier League surely on the horizon, he could quite easily do exactly that, especially after leading the tributes on Twitter this week.
Last season, Cooper was named in the PFA and EFL Team of the Season, so he’s not just rated amongst those in west Yorkshire.
Stuck in isolation? Our mega footy quiz will cure any boredom…
Given his role in steering the side towards ending that 16-year wait for top-flight football there’s a great chance he’s put up for such awards once again.
Here’s what fans have been saying about him…
AND in other news,ÂPhil Hay issues latest update on Championship season…
This article is part of Football FanCast’s Opinion series, which provides analysis, insight and opinion on any issue within the beautiful game, from Paul Pogba’s haircuts to League Two relegation battles…
Michael Keane has had a poor start to this season. Up until the recent 1-1 draw with Tottenham Hotspur, Keane had played every minute of Premier League action so far.
In this time, the Englishman has been part of a disappointing defence that has conceded 16 goals in 10 games and been in and out of the relegation zone as a result. However, Marco Silva dropped Keane for the Spurs game and that is a worrying sign for the defender.
In the last few weeks, Mason Holgate has had a rare chance to impress, and the 23-year-old has not disappointed. Prior to his start against Brighton & Hove Albion, Holgate had just 17 minutes of league action to his name. Now, the former Barnsley man has registered a goal, assist and a clean sheet over the past three games.
Plus Keane’s poor displays for England have also cost him a spot in the Southgate’s starting XI. His performance against Czech Republic, where he was at fault for the goal, saw Tyrone Mings slot into his position for the next game.
Now, with his poor performances continuing and the fact Silva has already dropped him, his standing at both club and country level will be placed under scrutiny.
Jordan Pickford’s diminishing form and consistently volatile performances has stimulated a narrative concerning his standing as England’s number one and whether he deserves that responsibility.
With his form equally questionable and Holgate impressing of late, Keane now joins Pickford in the realm of uncertainty over his international future.
Pickford’s errors and awful record so far of 17 goals conceded could perhaps give the likes of Tom Heaton and Nick Pope the number one shirt heading into the Euro’s.
The same may well apply for Keane.
Unless he demonstrates a notable upturn in form, Holgate and Yerry Mina could establish themselves as Everton’s go-to pairing and force Southgate to leave him out of the squad with Euro 2020 looming on the horizon.
This article is part of Football FanCast’s The Chalkboard series, which provides a tactical insight into teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…
Mesut Ozil started Arsenal’s clash with Leicester City on Saturday, something that might now be seen as a rarity.
On the chalkboard
The former Germany international has been in and out of the Gunners team throughout this season and his display against the Foxes was just his third in the top-flight.
However, it remains to be seen if manager Unai Emery will keep his faith in the midfielder, such was his performances at the King Power Stadium.
Per WhoScored, he had 55 touches of the ball in total and racked up a pass completion rate of 95% – the second-highest of any Arsenal player.
He also registered one key pass and completed two dribbles, along with winning three tackles and taking four corners. Of those, zero were successful.
Throughout the game, Ozil kept huffing and puffing but, really, at the end of the day, not enough of that effort came off.
Left alone
In the 3-4-1-2 formation that Emery employed, Ozil was essentially stranded between the strikers and the midfielders.
An exceptional playmaker on his day, the German couldn’t really get into the game and struggled to have any sort of impact in the final third.
He did not have a single shot on goal, while James Maddison and Youri Tielemans, the two central midfielders for Leicester, had eight combined.
They were deployed in a 4-1-4-1 formation and given licence to roam, well aware that Wilfred Ndidi, in defensive midfield, can mop up if they get too elaborate and lose the ball.
Ozil did not have that luxury – Lucas Torreira and Matteo Guendouzi made just one tackle – and he was constantly trying to thread the ball through to Alexandre Lacazette and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
Essentially, he was stranded with no one to protect him, and it remains to be seen if he will be allowed another chance to play in the role.
Tottenham Hotspur have not quite enjoyed the dream start to the season but Ange Postecoglou is coaching his side well and there is more than enough there to expect promise across the year.
Last season, Tottenham created 90 big chances in the Premier League and only Liverpool (102) Manchester City, and Newcastle United (both 97) created more.
This year, we can read into the opening matches of the term and determine that Spurs still play slick and stylish football and have myriad tools to carve opponents open. Their 48 shots taken are surpassed only by Nottingham Forest (53) at this early stage.
The Lilywhites' 68.3% average possession also underscores the tactical ethos under Postecoglou's wing, with bold ball-playing efforts at the front and centre of the squad's style. Despite all this, Tottenham have collected only four points from nine available.
1.
Tottenham
68.3%
2.
Southampton
68%
3.
Manchester City
64.7%
4.
Brighton
57.3%
5.
Liverpool
57%
It's clear that the bar needs to be raised in regard to clinical shooting, and while big bucks were spent on landing a shiny new striker during the summer months, there's one existing centre-forward who's not hitting the mark.
Why Spurs signed Richarlison
The man in question is Richarlison. Tottenham signed the dynamic Brazilian forward from Everton for £60m in July 2022, confident that they had purchased one of the most menacing forwards competing in English football.
Tottenham forward Richarlison
His debut campaign was a miserable thing. Tottenham ebbed and flowed but ultimately languished to an eighth-place Premier League finish following the acrimonious departure of Antonio Conte, and the star attacking signing hardly helped matters, scoring one goal across 27 Premier League matches – and that goal came during a sickening late defeat at Anfield.
Last year, he improved, enjoying a brilliant purple patch throughout the winter months that saw him post nine goals from just eight matches in the Premier League, though he then blanked for seven fixtures before scoring in a loss against Liverpool in April, his last appearance that season as he picked up an injury.
Throughout the summer, despite the upturn in fortunes, there was plenty of rumour surrounding the 27-year-old, with GIVEMESPORT even revealing that the north London side were keen on offloading their struggling forward, with Saudi Pro League outfits sniffing around, exploring a deal.
Why Spurs should've sold Richarlison
Once hailed as "relentless" by journalist Joe Strange, Richarlison improved last year but it would be hard to claim that he's lived up to the price tag. Of course, the fee paid for his services lay out of his hands but there is still the point of the Brazilian's overall level under Postecoglou, and whether he's likely to earn a regular starting berth this year.
Dominic Solanke leapt over Tanguy Ndombele to become Tottenham's club-record signing this summer, joining from Bournemouth for a reported £65m, and though he's missed the past few weeks after picking up an injury following his debut, the 27-year-old is the new out-and-out striker.
Tottenham striker Dominic Solanke
In his absence, Heung-min Son has reprised his finest displays of the 2023/24 campaign by lingering up top, and while he was subdued at St. James' Park, a two-goal performance against Everton proved his high-class finishing once again.
Richarlison missed out against Newcastle due to injury but he's already stirred the pot of detractors this term after missing an excellent chance off the bench on the opening day. It was an opportunity that, if taken, would have handed Postecoglou the dream start.
You could even make the case for selling Richarlison and bringing another striker in, as well as Solanke. Jonathan David was linked with a move away from Lille (for the fourth year running, it seems), with Tottenham among the suitors.
LOSC Lille striker Jonathan David
Football Insider reported in July that Spurs were closing in on the Canadian, who has now entered the final year of his contract and whom Lille's president said could leave the club with negotiations at a standstill.
He'd been transfer-listed for a cut-price £20m fee, and so it's difficult to see why he wasn't purchased by one party or another, especially as he's scored three goals and assisted two more across seven outings so far this season.
2024/25
7
3
2
0.86
2023/24
47
26
9
0.74
2022/23
40
26
4
0.75
2021/22
48
19
0
0.40
2020/21
48
13
5
0.37
David is a sharp goalscorer and an able creator; his playmaking skills are improving year on year. But moreover, he's crisp and intelligent, with link-up play that would see him dovetail into Postecoglou's system, ranking among the top 4% of forwards across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for pass completion (81.4%), as per FBref.
This would have been an excellent way to deepen the dynamism within Spurs' attacking outfit, with the Londoners boasting plenty of pace and electricity down the flanks but not so much at no. 9.
Brennan Johnson for Tottenham
The Athletic's Charlie Eccleshare commented that Tottenham had "missed his physical presence" toward the backend of last season, and perhaps they did. However, Solanke is the perfect focal frontman, remarkably winning eight of his ten contested duels against Leicester on the opening day of the term, as per Sofascore.
From a financial standpoint, Richarlison's reduced role does not align with his pay packet either. According to Capology, he earns £90k per week, which is below several of the most prominent figures down N17 but does stretch well beyond the earnings of players such as Yves Bissouma (£55k per week) and Micky van de Ven (£50k per week).
Micky van de Ven for Tottenham
Bissouma has not enjoyed plain sailing at Tottenham either but he is the toughest-tackling and most effective holding midfielder at the club. When at his best, he purrs, keeping the engine room together.
And Van de Ven… well, what is there to say? Signed from Wolfsburg for £43m last summer, the athletic centre-back is breathtaking, offering a unique take on the defensive game that could yet see him establish himself as one of Europe's foremost stars in the backline.
Had Saudi Arabian clubs received more of an indication that Richarlison could have been on the move, Spurs might just have succeeded in offloading the South American, and given that he earns quite the pretty penny and a suitable replacement in David was available, this could prove to be a missed opportunity for chairman Daniel Levy to have progressed the club further.
Poch sold Spurs flop for £4.5m in 2019, now he's outscoring Richarlison
Liverpool supporters will be eagerly awaiting their side's next Premier League fixture after the international break is finished. A relatively straightforward clash on paper against Nottingham Forest presents another great opportunity to continue Arne Slot's fantastic start as manager.
The Reds look like an exciting team already, with no teething issues present in the wake of Jurgen Klopp's sad exit, with three wins from three picked up in the league which included a ruthless 3-0 away victory at Manchester United last time out.
Luis Diaz stood out in that demolition job at Old Trafford, with Slot licking his lips at the excellent array of attackers he has at his disposal in his new job.
Diaz's value at Liverpool
The Colombian winger tore a hapless Man United defence to shreds in that 3-0 win, capitalising on the many errors made by the home side to give his side a comfortable two-goal lead in the first half.
Diaz standing out at the Theatre of Dreams and rifling home two efforts means the South American star has now tallied up three goals and one assist from his team's flawless start in the top-flight, as Slot looks to have got even more out of the former FC Porto attacker.
Liverpool's decision to fork out an initial £37.5m to land the 27-year-old's services back in 2022 continues to look like a wonderful move, with Football Transfers estimating that Diaz's worth in 2024 is slightly more than that at £39.4m.
Whilst the 5 foot 10 winger has really hit the ground running under the early Slot regime, Darwin Nunez hasn't quite exploded into life under the former Feyenoord boss yet, but more will be expected from the fiery centre-forward as the season progresses.
Darwin Nunez scores for Liverpool
Nunez's value at Liverpool
Compared to the electric Diaz, the Uruguayan number nine has only been sparingly used from off the bench during the infancy of this new season so far, with Diogo Jota getting the nod to start as Liverpool's main man up top currently.
Nunez did show flickers of his quality in the 3-0 win over Ten Hag's out-of-sorts United when substituted on, with two duels won as an option unafraid to roll his sleeves up and get dirty, whilst also firing one effort at Andre Onana's constantly targeted goal.
Liverpool forward Darwin Nunez
The former Benfica striker will hope he can break into his new manager's first-team plans soon, having registered 11 league strikes under Jurgen Klopp last season.
Costing the Reds an eye-watering £64m up-front in the same year Diaz joined, excluding any future add-ons, the pressure will be on Nunez's shoulders to succeed, with his current value standing at £47.8m according to Football Transfers.
Liverpool head coach Arne Slot
His 33 goals for Liverpool to date means he won't be seen as a high-profile flop anytime soon, however.
That's certainly when you compare him to a figure like Christian Benteke.
Benteke's time with Liverpool
After announcing himself to the Premier League with 49 goals from 101 games for Villa, Benteke flopped under the weight of expectation after moving to Liverpool, with a lacklustre ten goals registered from 42 clashes.
Remarkably, If Benteke joined Slot's camp in 2024, he would cost even more than the aforementioned Diaz and Nunez. How do we know that? Well, the guys at Totally Money have helped.
Having originally cost Liverpool £41m in 2015, if that same move occurred in the present day, the hulking Belgian would now cost a hefty £68m as per the Transfer Index.
That would make the deal even more of a colossal failure, with the centre-forward struggling to ever really get going in his new Anfield location after arriving with the reputation of being a deadly striker for Villa.
Aston Villa
101
49
Liverpool
42
10
Crystal Palace
177
37
Only being sold for £27m too, it's safe to say this piece of business was an all-round failure as Liverpool accepted a loss just to get him off their roster in 2016.
christian-benteke-liverpool
He wouldn't really mend his reputation in England with Crystal Palace, but is now a goal machine with DC United in the MLS, having bagged 34 goals for his new employers from just 67 contests so far.
However, to Liverpool fans, he's remembered as a dud from an era that saw many a misfire happen in the transfer market.
Away from any conversations discussing the Premier League side's poor recent past, the mood at Anfield currently is one of major optimism, as Slot aims to go toe-to-toe with Manchester City this season in the hunt for a top-flight title.
He's out on loan: The Liverpool "prodigy" who can one day replace Salah
Glasgow Rangers delivered their finest performance of the season so far on Saturday afternoon, scoring six goals in the Premiership for the first time since the 2021/22 campaign.
The 6-0 win over Ross County at Hampden could well be the catalyst that gives a much-needed jolt to Rangers following a fairly underwhelming start to the season thus far.
Phillipe Clement
Philippe Clement knows the real test will come this weekend as the Gers travel to Parkhead for the first Old Firm match of the season. Judging by recent form, the Belgian could be set for a tough test across the city.
Several players delivered superb performances in the win over County over the weekend, with a few potentially saving their Ibrox careers in the process, most notably Rabbi Matondo.
Rabbi Matondo’s game in numbers against Ross County
The Welsh winger looked like he was certain of an exit from the Light Blues, with Blackburn Rovers showing plenty of interest in the player recently.
This sale would have raised some funds for Clement to use on future signings before the end of the transfer window on Friday evening, but has Matondo perhaps salvaged his Ibrox career due to his display against the Highland side?
Matondo was unleashed by the Belgian in the starting XI, tasked with using his pace to good effect against a defence which had lost to fourth-tier side Spartans just a week prior.
The decision was a wise one. Not only did Matondo score twice during the 6-0 win, but he also grabbed another two assists, while succeeding with three of his six dribble attempts and making three key passes.
It was arguably his finest performance for Rangers since joining in the summer of 2022. While he may lack consistency, when Matondo is fit and firing, he is a devastating player in the final third.
Goals
2
Assists
2
Key passes
3
Big chances created
2
Dribble attempts (successful)
6 (3)
Touches
45
Duels (won)
12 (5)
Does this display suggest he will remain at the Gers after the window slams shut? Who knows, but Matondo didn’t do himself any harm with his productive attacking performance.
Could Clement potentially make a move for a winger on the opposite flank before Friday, however? The club have been linked with a Championship starlet.
Rangers winger Rabbi Matondo.
Rangers showing interest in Norwich City sensation
A few days ago, we covered the news that the Light Blues were keen on making a move for Norwich City winger Abu Kamara, who was on Clement’s shortlist of wingers.
It was claimed that Ibrox scouts were running the rule over the youngster following an impressive loan spell at Portsmouth last term. He could be available for as little as £2m, although will this be a stumbling block for the club?
This may mean a few players will have to be sold between now and Friday in order to seal a deal for Kamara, but it could well be worth it.
Abu Kamara’s season in numbers
The winger made three appearances for Norwich during the 2022/23 season, but in order to aid his development, a loan spell was agreed with Portsmouth for the 2023/24 campaign.
Moving to the south coast, dropping a division in the process, was the perfect chance for Kamara to showcase his talents, proving that he would be able to cut it at Norwich.
In 52 matches for Pompey, Kamara registered an impressive 21 goal contributions – ten goals and 11 assists – in all competitions as the club secured promotion back to the Championship.
His former teammate at Portsmouth, Colby Bishop, hailed the winger as being “unplayable” as the season drew to a close, with the 21-year-old becoming one of their finer performers throughout the campaign.
If Clement manages to secure a deal for the young talent, imagine a partnership of him and Matondo on opposite flanks, causing chaos for defences all over the country.
Could it also mean the end for Scott Wright? He will surely fade out of the picture if Kamara is signed before Friday.
Scott Wright’s Rangers statistics
The former Aberdeen winger has hardly made an impression during his spell in Glasgow, despite joining the Gers midway through the 2020/21 season.
Having played a total of 120 matches during his spell at the Light Blues, Wright has managed to score just 12 goals and grab a further seven assists. This works out as a goal involvement once every 6.3 matches, certainly not the standard required for success at Ibrox.
Scott Wright
Towards the end of July, there were a few rumours linking Wright with a move from Rangers to the Championship, as the likes of Sheffield Wednesday, Derby County and Preston North End were all showing interest in the Scot.
So far, nothing has materialised, but it makes sense to offload him this summer, especially considering his contract expires at the end of the season.
Kamara would be a far greater threat on the right wing compared to Wright and this could see Clement have a wonderful duo of Matondo and the Norwich gem on either flank.
Both are pacey wide men who offer not only a threat in front of goal but are also able to generate plenty of chances for their teammates.
The Welshman may have played his way into Clement’s starting XI for the foreseeable future, especially with Oscar Cortes not due to return to the pitch for another week or two.
Having already signed Vaclav Cerny on a loan deal, Clement has a solid option on the right flank, but bringing Kamara to the club on a permanent deal would certainly be a wise move, as his value could soar following a decent season in Scotland.
Vaclav Cerny
The 6-0 win over County has inspired some confidence in several members of the squad, just in time to face Celtic.
Matondo is one player who could make the difference against the Parkhead side, similar to his last-gasp equaliser in the clash back in April.
Will there be another new signing or two before then, however? Only time will tell.
Forget Dessers: 9/10 star who won 5 duels may have saved his Rangers career
Philippe Clément’s men secured a 6-0 win this afternoon
Chelsea could be set to see some further players make the move from west London to Saudi Arabia this summer with Kalidou Koulibaly a potential departure.
How old is Kalidou Koulibaly?
It was a season which Chelsea will be hoping to forget in a hurry after the 2022/23 campaign was only able to offer them a 12th placed finish in the Premier League.
Although many will want to forget the season's failings, it will be important for Todd Boehly to learn from their errors which led to such a disastrous campaign.
And it seems as if the American's hectic transfer strategy could be set to continue into this summer with a number of exits potentially set to be finalised.
Indeed, it has been suggested N'Golo Kante's time at Stamford Bridge is coming to an end with a lucrative offer from Saudi Arabia set to see the Frenchman move to the Middle East.
And he may not be the only Chelsea star to make the move this summer with the likes of the 31-year-old Koulibaly also believed to be lined up for a move by Al-Hilal.
Indeed, speaking on his YouTube channel, Fabrizio Romano has claimed the Senegal international could be set to bring in around £25m for the Blues this summer:
"From what I told, Chelsea would get around €25m/€30m [£21m/£26m]. This is still under discussion will continue [this] week, but the fee will be around €30m [£26m] for Chelsea for Kalidou Koulibaly.
"This is the expectation between Chelsea and Al-Hilal. It's fair to say that also Inter Milan asked for Koulibaly on loan but Chelsea have been very clear only permanent transfer and this is why now Al-Hilal are the favourites."
How much does Koulibaly earn?
The 31-year-old has only played one season in the English top flight since arriving at Stamford Bridge last summer from Napoli.
It was believed the experienced centre-back signed for the Blues in a deal worth in the region of £33m.
Having signed for the Blues, it is reported the Senegal international was handed a stunning £295k-per-week deal to play in west London.
Despite earning such an enormous weekly wage, the experienced defender only made 20 starts for the Blues in the Premier League over the 2022/23 campaign.
And with this in mind, there is a huge sum of money being spent every week on a player who is not exactly contributing a huge deal to the starting XI.
Considering how heavily Chelsea have spent under the stewardship of Boehly and co, a potential deal to bring in around £25m for a player who is not exactly a crucial part of the starting XI could pose a seriously attractive proposition.
The Blues spent in the region of £600m last season under Boehly, and potential deals like this could possibly help the Londoners to balance their books.
Glasgow Rangers will need to bolster their attacking options during the summer transfer window in order to achieve success next season.
Alfredo Morelos has left the club having failed to agree to an extension, while Kemar Roofe is perennially injured and played only six games last term, leaving Antonio Colak as their only fully fit striker at the current moment in time.
Michael Beale has admitted that improving the quality of players he has at his disposal in the final third is key, saying: "Certainly, in the final third, I think that's an area where, although we win a lot of games and score a lot of goals, we are also a team that miss a lot of chances.
"That's a key part of my thinking."
With this in mind, the Ibrox faithful will be hoping to see a couple of forwards arriving in Glasgow over the course of the summer, especially as they scored 21 fewer goals than Celtic last term, a key factor in them winning another Premiership title.
Could Rangers sign Josh Maja this summer?
The Bordeaux striker has been linked with Rangers over the previous few months, and due to the Ligue 2 side failing to achieve promotion, the Gers could now seal him on a free transfer.
Foot Mercato claimed that Maja would have signed a new deal had Bordeaux sealed a path back to the French top flight, but according to France Bleu, he is ‘expected to leave’ – and could end up being an upgrade on Fashion Sakala for Rangers.
The Zambian enjoyed something of a renaissance under Beale when he took over in November, eventually finishing the season with 20 goal contributions. However, he isn’t the most clinical, and former Rangers winger Neil McCann claimed Sakala “can sometimes lack composure” after a win against Hearts in February, whereas Maja could add a ruthlessness in front of goal that the club have been struggling with.
Across 40 games in all competitions last term, the Nigeria international scored 17 goals and grabbed six assists, while he also created more big chances (eight to seven) and netted more league goals (16 to 12) than Sakala.
There is no doubting Sakala’s enthusiasm, however, he is often deployed out wide, while Beale needs a reliable finisher ahead of an important season, and former Ibrox hitman Jermain Defoe has even lauded praise on Maja, as they both spent time at Sunderland, saying: “Josh is a quick thinker and if you’re that fast upstairs, you don’t need anything else.
Rangers players Fashion Sakala and Ridvan Yilmaz
“When he trained with the first team he showed such great awareness – he knew when to pass it, had a great touch – and although he’s not got electric pace, he’s two steps ahead of everyone which means he’s got an immediate advantage.
“The gift Josh has is rare and if he builds on it, the sky’s the limit.”
It’s a gamble that Beale must take, and considering he might not cost the club a penny in terms of a transfer fee, Maja may just go on to surprise a few people should he make the move to Scotland.
Liverpool need to sign multiple midfielders this summer after a mass departure and have reportedly earmarked Leicester City's Youri Tielemans, who is soon to be out of contract.
What's the latest on Youri Tielemans to Liverpool?
That's according to 90min's Graeme Bailey on the Talking Transfers podcast, who said that the Belgium international is a player that Reds manager Jurgen Klopp 'loves'.
A few months ago, Football Insider claimed that Liverpool were 'plotting a move' for the 26-year-old, while more recently The Athletic's James Pearce stated that his signing is indeed a possibility.
Tielemans recently posted a heartfelt farewell post to the Foxes confirming his departure at the end of his contract, and with Liverpool's new technical director Jorg Schmadtke seeking reinforcement after James Milner, Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain have all concluded their contracts at Anfield, his signature could be a prudent one to procure.
Should Liverpool sign Youri Tielemans?
Tielemans and Leicester have not enjoyed an auspicious season by any stretch of the imagination, having been relegated from the Premier League after a miserable slump of a season.
However, Liverpool have found success in swooping for players confined to the drop before: Andy Robertson was clinched from Hull City and Gini Wijnaldum brought from Newcastle United, both players having fallen foul to the clamp of the bottom three and playing central roles in the most illustrious period in the Merseyside team's modern history.
The £35k-per-week Fox is also one of the most intelligent and dynamic midfielders in the game, once heralded by former Leicester manager Brendan Rodgers as "one of Europe's top midfielders".
Also hailed as "the complete midfield player" by Martin Keown, the one-time Anderlecht youth has still maintained an average Sofascore rating of 7.04 despite his club's woes, completing 82% of his passes, averaging one key pass and 2.1 tackles per game.
And as for the entirety of his career at the King Power Stadium, he has been instrumental in winning the FA Cup and Community Shield, actually scoring a resounding strike against Chelsea in the finale of the former to clinch the trophy, once praised as a "phenomenon" by former pro Par Zetterberg.
He could be the dream Thiago Alcantara heir on Merseyside, with the 32-year-old pass master signing from Bayern Munich for £20m in 2020 and being hailed as "staggering" for his ball-playing prowess by Michael Owen, indeed ranking among the top 3% of midfielders across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for passes attempted and the top 4% for progressive passes per 90, as per FBref.
Like Thiago, Tielemans is, perhaps, not the most mobile of aces, instead flourishing through his occupation of the half-spaces and indeed utilising his footballing intellect to pick apt passes and exhibit his superlative technicality.
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While Liverpool supporters are yearning for a more robust and energetic midfield, and that is not to say Tielemans cannot contribute effectively in this regard, his composure and guile could meld exquisitely alongside the likes of the unrelenting Alexis Mac Allister, who is on the verge of entering the conclusive stage with the Reds from Brighton & Hove Albion.
This is why his role as Thiago's heir could bear fruit for Klopp and co, who would only benefit from a diverse and variegated midfield – aces different in style but all boasting a similar level of quality.
And while Liverpool's Spanish maestro is "a special player" – as proclaimed by Robertson – he has spent what feels like the lion's share of his time at Anfield cuffed to the injury department, indeed missing a shocking 60 matches due to unavailability over three seasons. Hardly evoking confidence.
Tielemans would be a "divine" addition – as he was once lauded by Jaquob Crooke – providing a new dimension to Klopp's squad and without the diminution of the transfer purse, something that could prove invaluable with Liverpool requiring major midfield surgery.
It's a no-brainer, really; Tielemans has proved throughout his Leicester career that he can dazzle with consistency and produce match-winning and trophy-gleaning moments. Just what Liverpool need.
Leeds United will likely need a new goalscorer in the summer transfer window if they want to secure an instant return to the Premier League.
Sunday's 4-1 defeat against Tottenham Hotspur saw them relegated without much fight and a summer exodus from Elland Road now seems likely.
One man who could depart the Yorkshire outfit is 32-year-old forward Rodrigo, who enjoyed a fine individual season despite Leeds' return to the second tier, hitting 13 goals and one assist in the Premier League.
Aston Villa have been linked with the Spaniard who seems a prime candidate to depart, as the statistics from this season suggest that he is far too good a player to be playing in the Championship.
One man who could replace Rodrigo at Elland Road is Honduran forward Luis Palma, who has been linked with a move to Leeds in recent weeks.
Could Leeds sign Luis Palma?
According to Diez, both Burnley and Leeds are interested in signing the 23-year-old after a fine season with Aris Saloniki in the Greek Super League.
The young striker has notched an impressive 13 goals and eight assists in 36 appearances this term, which is more goal contributions than anyone in Leeds' squad, while he also has experience playing in the Europa Conference League.
Aris manager Apostolos Terzis was full of praise for Palma after his goals helped the Greek side secure a spot in Europe again for next season, something which may make it harder for Leeds to prise him away in the upcoming transfer window.
He said: "Luis has done that all season. He has been a huge player for us. We know there has been a lot of interest in him and it's not surprising.”
Leeds United'sRodrigoreacts
Capable of playing anywhere across the attack, the Honduras international could easily fill the void that will likely be left by Rodrigo, provided he can bring his goalscoring form with him to Elland Road this summer.
With Patrick Bamford's fitness still questionable and club-record signing Georginio Rutter enduring a torrid few months at the club which saw him muster just one start, a new senior striker could well be a priority for whichever manager succeeds Sam Allardyce this summer.
Bamford has shown his class in the Championship in the past but looked a shadow of his former self this term, managing just four goals in the top flight despite registering an expected goals tally of 9.77.
Although youngsters such as Joe Gelhardt and Sonny Perkins will both be hoping to make the step up into the first team, a more experienced goalscorer may be required if Leeds want to bounce back at the first time of asking, and Palma could be the ideal man for Andrea Radrizzani to sign, should he remain at the club this summer.