Latest news with #goalscorer
Yahoo
10 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Liverpool ENTER talks to sign 40 goal striker
Liverpool have reportedly entered transfer talks with a player who has scored more than 40 goals last season. After securing the signature of Jeremie Frimpong, Armin Pecsi, Florian Wirtz and Milos Kerkez, Richad Hughes' focus will fall on the Reds' attack. Shop the LFC Store The new LFC x Air Max range 🔥 Nike x Air Max LFC x Nike Air Max Advertisement Buy Now LFC Retro Shirts LFC Retro Shirts Buy Now Home Jersey LFC Kits Buy Now LFC Nike Training LFC Nike Training Buy Now Liverpool want to sign a goal-scoring no.9 in order to replace the soon to be departing Darwin Nunez. For that purpose the Reds have set their eyes on Alexander Isak or Julian Alvarez. However, Victor Osimhen and Hugo Ekitike remain as alternative options, should the Reds fail to land their primary targets, which seems plausible considering neither Newcastle United nor Atletico Madrid will be very eager to sell. Any of the names above would be a significant improvement on Liverpool's current options. Arne Slot needs a proper no.9 and Osimhen, Alvarez, Isak and Ekitike would all score buckets of goals for the Reds. Advertisement On top of those arrivals, it seems like Liverpool are also plotting for the future and looking to sign a special attacker who scored over 40 goals last season. According to DaveOCKOP Liverpool have entered talks to sign Salford City's Will Wright. The report claims that Manchester City and Arsenal are also interested in the 17-year-old teenage forward. And that Liverpool have already made several bids to sign Wright. The youngster made his debut for Salford at just 16-years-old, and even made an appearance against Manchester City in the FA Cup, becoming one of the youngest players to make an appearance for the club in the competition. Advertisement In addition to that he also debuted for the club in League Two and in the EFL Trophy. Standing at 1.90 metres, Wright is regarded as one of the best young forwards in England at the moment. He scored over 40 goals in Salford's academy and reserves team last season.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Is Benjamin Sesko the answer for Arsenal this summer?
Arsenal's address of an obvious weakness looks set to take place this summer. The lack of an out-and-out goalscorer in the side was evident last season, with Mikel Arteta and his recruitment team now looking to solve the side's shortcomings. At the start of the summer, Arsenal appeared to have a considerable list of targets. With the transfer window set to re-open tomorrow, it appears the shortlist is down to two: Benjamin Sesko and Viktor Gyokeres. Advertisement Despite the sheer volume of Gyokeres's numbers, Sesko appears to be the frontrunner. Arsenal first expressed interest in the 22-year-old last summer and have returned a year later, following RB Leipzig's failure to secure European football. The Slovenian is a huge prospect. But is Sesko the 'win-now striker' Arsenal are searching for after three consecutive runners-up finishes in the Premier League? And how does he compare to Gyokeres, both statistically and stylistically? Gyokeres vs Sesko: The numbers In terms of output, there is only one winner. Gyokeres has scored 97 goals in 102 games across the last two seasons for Sporting Lisbon, an absurd total to end consecutive campaigns as the Primeira Liga's leading scorer. Advertisement Though 30.7% of his league goals arrived from the penalty spot, Gyokeres still scored 29 non-penalty goals from a non-penalty xG of 21.49, over-performing from open play. His 28.1% conversion rate was comfortably the highest in the Primeira Liga and better than almost all of the Premier League's top scorers from 2024/25, barring Nottingham Forest's Chris Wood (29.4%). For context, Premier League Golden Boot winner Mohamed Salah converted 22.3% of his efforts on goal last season. The caveat, of course, is Gyokeres's goals have come in Portugal, ranked as only Europe's seventh-strongest domestic division, behind the Eredivisie. What percentage of that output can be transferred to the Premier League is the biggest question mark around Gyokeres. At 27, the Swede has never played in a top-five European league. Sesko scored 13 league goals for Leipzig last season and has 27 over his two Bundesliga campaigns. In both seasons, he's outperformed his xG, even if a conversion rate of 19.1% – equal to Ollie Watkins last season – does not stand out quite as Gyokeres's does. It's worth noting, however, that across his two Bundesliga seasons, he's scored 27 times from only 17.7 xG. Why Sesko appears a better stylistic fit for Arsenal Gyokeres's goals make a compelling case for his signing, but there's an argument that Sesko, while raw, is a better stylistic fit. A towering presence with pace, athleticism, height and running power, it's a recipe that could solve several issues for the Gunners. Advertisement Arsenal ranked third in the Premier League for crosses per game last season, with only Bournemouth and Fulham averaging more. Mikel Merino deputised admirably as an auxiliary forward in Kai Havertz's absence, but the lack of a natural penalty-box presence was apparent. Though cross volume was high, in terms of efforts on goal per 90, Arsenal were fifth and only sixth for shots on target. Sesko's 6ft 5in frame and tremendous leap would give the Gunners a focal point that has been lacking. In addition to scoring three headed goals, Sesko ranked in the top 15% of forwards in the Bundesliga for aerial duels won (70) and percentage of aerial duels won last season. Gyokeres won just 36 aerial duels for Sporting in the Primeira Liga, while none of his 54 goals in all competitions came via his head. Given the Premier League's greater athleticism and Arsenal's expertise from set-pieces, that is perhaps an area of concern for Arsenal. Advertisement Sesko, however, is more than a stationary target man awaiting deliveries. His dribble success rate is better than Gyokeres' in league action last season, while an average of 1.46 successful take-ons per game was a Bundesliga-leading total among recognised number nines. In addition, he's quick. Sesko clocked a top speed of 35.69 km/h in 2024/25, with only Gabriel Martinelli recording a faster sprint speed in the current Arsenal squad. Is Sesko the right transfer for Arsenal? It's important to note that comparing Arsenal's favoured forward targets does not necessarily have to conclude with one winner and one loser. Both are among the best options on the current market and both have attributes that could suit the North Londoners. Either would represent a clear upgrade in an attack that was patched together for long periods of last season. Advertisement Sesko appears to have an edge in stylistic fit and a plethora of raw ingredients that could thrive at the Emirates. At five years younger, the Slovenian could be the long-term answer. He might not be readymade to win a Premier League Golden Boot but there's plenty to like. Coupled with an additional wide player that can ease the creative burden on Bukayo Saka, the addition of Sesko could be crucial in turning Arsenal from contenders to champions. Given investment elsewhere at direct rivals this summer, Arsenal need to get their business right. Read – Club World Cup: The must-watch fixtures as new FIFA tournament kicks off See more – Club World Cup: Six new signings to look out for Follow The Football Faithful on Social Media: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube | TikTok
Yahoo
30-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Liverpool GIFTED surprise second chance to sign 117-goal striker
Liverpool have a chance to grab one of Europe's top goalscorers. It's a chance that looked to have disappeared. Liverpool are after a striker this summer - even with all the other signings. It always felt as though a no.9 to replace Darwin Nunez and Diogo Jota was the priority, though Florian Wirtz and the full-back roles have taken precedence. Advertisement Or at least, they've moved faster. Part of the reason for that is the options available up top. Alexander Isak is off the market after Newcastle United qualified for the UEFA Champions League and he was unquestionably the dream arrival. Hugo Ekitiké, a fine alternative, will likely cost €100m. Benjamin Sesko the same. So how do Liverpool actually find value for money? Both of the latter are enormous gambles, withe the Reds needing to bet on potential rather than immediate quality. They don't like doing that and we imagine it will put them off. There is, though, a different option and Liverpool could actually take a different kind of risk. Advertisement A free one. Jonathan David is available Jonathan David's contract at Lille expires at the end of next month and he's yet to find a new club. That's largely because a proposed move to Napoli is now off. David was heavily linked with a move to the Italian champions. That was back when Antonio Conte was expected to depart the club, however - that's no longer the case. Alfredo Pedulla reports that Napoli are now looking for different strikers as David doesn't fit the profile Conte wants. It changes everything for the Canadian, who's suddenly left looking for a different club.
New York Times
21-05-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
What's next for Jonathan David?
Buying a high-quality striker usually costs a lot of money, so when one becomes available as a free agent, naturally there is plenty of interest. This summer, Jonathan David will be available for no transfer fee after announcing last week he will leave French top-flight side Lille at the end of his contract. Advertisement 'I wanted to tell you myself that, after so many years at the club, it's time for me to say goodbye,' David said in his announcement video. 'I've spent five wonderful seasons here. I know it hasn't always been easy, but I hope that with my goals and celebrations, I've managed to bring you some joy, especially with the French championship title and the Champions Trophy.' The 25-year-old will not officially be able to sign for his new club until July 1 — unless somebody playing in the upcoming Club World Cup strikes a deal with Lille that allows him to join them during the early transfer window — but the race for his services has been underway for a while already. At a time when the No 9 market is not bursting with viable elite options, due to either availability or cost, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to understand why there has been so much interest in David. The 61-time Canada international scored 25 goals and provided 12 assists in 49 club appearances in all competitions this season, continuing his excellent goalscoring form over recent campaigns — it is the third consecutive season he has finished with at least 25 club goals. David started out playing amateur football in Canada, after his family moved there from Haiti when he was a boy, before he came to Europe with Belgium's Gent, making his senior debut for them aged 18 in August 2018. Two seasons later, he sealed a €30million (£25.3m/$33.8m at current exchange rates) switch to Lille, who he helped win the French title in his first year in Ligue 1. Now, after 109 goals in 232 appearances, he is ready for a new challenge. His biggest strength is his consistency in front of goal. As the shot map below illustrates, since the start of the 2022-23 season, a large portion of his goals have been scored from in and around the six-yard box. David's high expected goal (xG) per shot figure (0.17) over such a large sample size tells us he is repeatedly able to get into positions which generate good-quality chances. Lille are not such a force in Ligue 1 that they annually rival Paris Saint-Germain's dominant status as serial title winners but have mostly been involved in the fight for Champions League qualification during David's time with them. Comparing his non-penalty expected goals figure to the amount he's actually scored reflects that, as the number of chances falling his way can vary. During 2024-25, he struggled for consistent opportunities. But looking across several seasons, he consistently finished with a total above expectation and did not often go through dry spells where he wasn't finding the net. There is more to David than just goals, too. He is an effective and willing presser, showcased most during that first season in France, when he partnered Turkish veteran Burak Yilmaz in Christophe Galtier's 4-4-2 system. His role changed when Paulo Fonseca took over in summer 2022, with the Portuguese turning him into an all-action No 9 tasked with providing more penalty-box presence and carrying greater goalscoring responsibility. What hasn't changed is David's impressive ability to drop deeper and link with his midfielders to help move Lille up the pitch. That is emphasised by the number of touches he has per shot (14.4) compared to a lot of his striking peers. While there will be no transfer fee required to secure his services, the subsequent impact on signing bonuses and agents' payments (they normally go up) means these free-agent deals are not cheap. The potential cost of the overall package is thought to be the sticking point for several of the clubs who have monitored the talented forward in recent years. Advertisement 'Knowing Johnny, he is going to want to play (wherever he goes),' Canada coach Jesse Marsch told reporters on Monday afternoon during the Concacaf Gold Cup's media day. 'He's going to want to go to the best club he can be at. The most important thing for him is, it's not good if he goes somewhere and then he has to play on the bench a lot and not get minutes to keep himself sharp and fit and ready to go, especially with the World Cup being a year away.' So, where could David end up? Given that the man himself has kept his desire to one day play for Barcelona no secret, we may as well start with the newly-crowned La Liga champions. Robert Lewandowski continues to be a constant source of goals, but he turns 37 early next season, while Ferran Torres has been a different proposition for opponents when selected. As The Athletic has explored, the Catalan side would offer a pretty seamless stylistic transition as they play in a similar way to how Lille have this season. Frankly, anybody playing up front in between Lamine Yamal and Raphinha should not be struggling for goalscoring opportunities. Barca are far from the only European club to have tracked David as his contract in France entered the final months. Juventus, Inter, Atletico Madrid and Bayern Munich are all known admirers on the continent, and in England, new champions Liverpool and Aston Villa are known to rate him. David's agents have been spotted in Italy, and of the clubs in Serie A, this season's would-be champions Napoli have shown the most interest, with reports suggesting they have already made an offer. Napoli could use additional striker depth as they prepare to return to European football next season after missing out this time. If Antonio Conte stays on as coach and they play 3-5-2 again, which Conte has alternated with 4-3-3, an extra layer of support for Romelu Lukaku and Giacomo Raspadori would be required. That might suit David's desire for a role which allows him freedom to roam — operating as a second striker, for example. Advertisement Napoli's title rivals and next weekend's Champions League finalists Inter have been heavily linked with him in recent weeks too. With Marcus Thuram and Lautaro Martinez, they also operate with two strikers and David would provide quality competition in a system that again would be suited to his wishes. Milan have long been linked with David due to their past dealings with Lille, signing Mike Maignan and Rafael Leao from them previously. Fellow striker Alvaro Morata was bought last summer, but then got loaned out in the winter window. Santiago Gimenez, who arrived at mid-season, is the current first choice up front, with Tammy Abraham and Luka Jovic in reserve. Juventus do not have an option to sign January loanee Randal Kolo Muani permanently from Paris Saint-Germain, and though sporting director Cristiano Giuntoli would have liked a reunion with Victor Osimhen following his season out on loan at Galatasaray – the pair worked together at Napoli – the former has said publicly that it's not happening. Tottenham Hotspur invested significantly in Dominic Solanke last summer to lead their forward line. Their £65million ($86.9m at the current rate) club-record signing has scored 15 goals in 43 appearances so far in his debut season and is also integral to the way head coach Ange Postecoglou's side press their opponents. Richarlison has been Solanke's backup but has now gone through two injury-plagued seasons, so there is a question mark surrounding his future. Interest from Spurs in David makes sense, but he would have to usurp Solanke to be considered their first-choice striker — for Postecoglou or any new manager who might be in the dugout come August. Across north London, it is well-documented that Arsenal are gearing up to add a striker in the summer due to the problems they have encountered in front of goal and with injuries this season. David is a player their manager Mikel Arteta is aware of but he is not thought to be high on their list, with the likes of Sporting CP's Victor Gyokeres and Benjamin Sesko of RB Leipzig more likely additions. Chelsea have also monitored his situation and are in the market for a striker to compete with Nicolas Jackson. As with London rivals Arsenal, David is on their shortlist but not at the top of it. A new No 9 is viewed as a priority, and they want someone with a skill set similar to Jackson's — good hold-up and link play and the ability to stretch defences — but ideally with more goals to their game. Chelsea did speak to David's camp last summer. Graham Potter's first summer as West Ham United coach will give him the chance to shape the squad he inherited in January more in his image and they have also been linked with David. The Canadian's comments about wanting to play Champions League football immediately make the east London club a trickier sell, as they won't be able to offer him any form of European action in his debut season. However, David's representatives held talks with West Ham's hierarchy earlier this year and their interest has been long-standing, dating back to January 2021. Advertisement There will be plenty for David to consider over the coming months as a string of clubs look to persuade him that they are the best destination for him. Whoever wins that race, and can meet his financial demands, will be getting themselves a proven goalscorer who can do plenty more besides sticking the ball in the net.
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Ross County 1-1 Motherwell: Key stats
Ross County have failed to win in their last nine games in the Premiership, their last longer winless streak was from 9 December 2023 to 17 February 2024, a run of 10 games. Ross County have scored in their last four games in the Premiership, their longest run of games with a goal in the competition since a run of eight games from 14 December 2024 to 25 January 2025. Ronan Hale attempted six shots in this game, the joint-highest total for a Ross County player in the Premiership this season. Hale has scored 12 goals in the Premiership this season (one in this game), more than any other Ross County player.
