Latest news with #It'sCalledSoccer
Daily Mirror
21-07-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Jamie Carragher's Liverpool transfer prediction coming true amid Reds' big-spending summer
Liverpool are on the verge of clinching the signing of Frankfurt striker Hugo Ekitike after agreeing a £79m deal for the Frenchman - and his arrival would be a full circle moment after Jamie Carragher tipped him for a move to Anfield Jamie Carragher 's prediction that Liverpool could sign Hugo Ekitike instead of Alexander Isak appears to be coming true as the Reds close in on a move for the Frankfurt striker. Liverpool have shown they mean business in this transfer window after splashing out nearly £200m on signings so far - including £116.5m for Bayer Leverkusen playmaker Florian Wirtz - and are preparing to sanction another huge fee on Ekitike. Slot has made it a priority to bring in a top quality centre-forward who can add competition for places in attack and the club have been quick to wrap up a deal for the Frenchman amid interest from Newcastle. Liverpool are now on the verge of clinching Ekitike's signature after they agreed a package with Frankfurt worth around £69m with a further £10m in possible add-ons. The player is now set for a medical at Anfield ahead of becoming their latest big-name signing. The Premier League champions had previously considered Newcastle striker Alexander Isak as a target before being put off his eye-watering asking price of up to £150m. Liverpool legend Carragher previously suggested that Ekitike might actually be a better option for the club than Isak anyway as he was left impressed by his display when he scored against Tottenham in the Europa League back in April. "There's the lad at Eintracht Frankfurt who scored against Tottenham in the week, and I'm not going to try and pronounce his name!" the pundit said on the It's Called Soccer podcast. "Ekitike, that smacks to me as the type of player Liverpool would sign. I think he's 22, and he's at a club who you'd think would probably be a selling club. He's done really well there. "He went to PSG as a very young boy after sort of lighting up the French league as a young kid, and it didn't quite work out for him. But he's still really young. "He's got great numbers this season, and it almost looks to me as the type of player Liverpool would sign rather than maybe going for an Isak." In addition to Wirtz, Liverpool have signed full-backs Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez from Bayer Leverkusen and Bournemouth respectively, while goalkeeper Freddie Woodman was signed on a free transfer. Adding Ekitike to their collection of new recruits would be a serious statement of intent after he turned heads across Europe last season by netting 22 goals in all competitions.
Daily Mirror
09-06-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Gary Neville issues Liverpool transfer verdict including Florian Wirtz surprise
Liverpool have already secured the signings of Jeremie Frimpong and Armin Pecsi this summer, with the duo joining the club's under-21 setup, but are set to add more to their squad Gary Neville has praised Liverpool's recent work in the transfer window, but admitted he's surprised by their persistent pursuit of Florian Wirtz. The Premier League champions have already signed Jeremie Frimpong from Bayer Leverkusen and young goalkeeper Armin Pecsi, who is expected to join the Reds' under-21 squad. Liverpool's summer spree doesn't stop there; they're on the verge of welcoming Wirtz and Bournemouth's Milos Kerkez, with the German attacker poised to set a record as both Liverpool's most expensive ever signing and potentially the priciest player in the history of British football. The Reds have reportedly made an offer totalling £113million for the Leverkusen ace, who, despite his current club's £125m valuation, seems eager to join the Merseyside club. Neville discussed Liverpool's summer signings on the It's Called Soccer podcast, applauding the club for potentially nailing down three significant deals surprisingly early, and he spoke glowingly of the possible acquisition of Wirtz. " Liverpool won the league four or five weeks ago, so they can start having their recruitment meetings very early," said the ex-Manchester United captain. "I know all clubs do but to involve your manager while you're going for a Premier League title is quite tough so once they've won the title they can be so focused. Wirtz would be a sensational signing. I think when you're talking about winning the league what is it that improves you? "The only thing that will improve you when you win the league is signing world-class players or players who have the potential to be world-class, so signing Wirtz is fantastic." He conceded that while he anticipates shrewd dealings from Liverpool in the transfer market, the sum they're willing to spend on Wirtz did catch him off guard. "[Jeremie] Frimpong and there's talks of [Milos] Kerkez, deals with their right and left backs situations so to get those three done if they were to get [them] done quite quickly would be smart business but I wouldn't have expected anything else from Liverpool," he continued. "Maybe slightly surprised they've gone so heavy in on Wirtz in terms of the fee, they don't normally go that big but [Arne] Slot deserves it by the way. "He waited 12 months for a player to sign, [they] signed [Federico] Chiesa for very little money. So I think they have two years of money tanked up and banked up plus they have all the income guaranteed from next season with the Champions League so I think supporting the manager is the right and only thing to do."
Daily Mirror
05-06-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Manchester United warned to refuse transfer that would be 'a step too far'
Manchester United will listen to offers for every single member of Ruben Amorim's squad throughout the summer transfer window, including academy graduate Kobbie Mainoo Manchester United legend Gary Neville has urged the club not to sell Kobbie Mainoo, warning them that it would be 'a step too far'. Mainoo, 20, broke into United's first-team under former boss Erik ten Hag and enjoyed a meteoric rise during the 2023-24 season. The midfielder scored as Ten Hag's side beat Manchester City to win the FA Cup and he became a starter for England later that summer, helping the Three Lions reach the final of Euro 2024. But his progress has stalled this term. Fitness problems and a change of formation under new manager Ruben Amorim have limited Mainoo's opportunities. The United academy graduate was benched for the Europa League final and Amorim only gave him a brief cameo in stoppage time. His lack of minutes plus the Red Devils' decision to put every player up for sale this summer has left Mainoo's future shrouded in uncertainty. Neville, like many supporters, would be gutted to see the Stockport-born starlet leave. "Mainoo, no. That's a step too far," Neville declared on the It's Called Soccer podcast. "If we can't give Kobbie Mainoo a job in that two in midfield… I look at Mainoo and the way he plays football and I think a top club would want him. "Why can't we make him a top player? If he's one of ours and he's shown talent. I don't know what's gone on there in the last few months. He's obviously had some injuries which has caused him a problem so he needs to stay fit, but I'd like to think he could be one of that two in midfield that Ruben Amorim plays. "It's probably not Casemiro as his partner and it's probably not [Manuel] Ugarte as his partner, it's probably someone else in there who is better than those two, if I'm being honest. But we should be building around Kobbie Mainoo in central midfield and not because he's come through the ranks. Would you sell Kobbie Mainoo if you were Manchester United? Have your say in the comments section. "I'm alright for getting rid of players coming through the ranks, but not getting rid of players who come through the ranks and have shown what they can do. Marcus Rashford has been at the club a long time, [Alejandro] Garnacho has had two or three years and there's a bit of a situation going on as well. But Mainoo is a no for me. He doesn't leave." Amorim has already assured Neville that he doesn't want to lose Mainoo, who was tipped to join Premier League rivals Chelsea in January. It came amid reports that the 20-year-old's representatives were demanding wages in the region of £150,000 per week. "I really love my players," Amorim said. "I want to keep them, especially the talented ones. It is a hard moment and I am really happy with Kobbie. He is improving." Join our new MAN UTD WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Manchester United content from Mirror Football. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
Yahoo
04-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Gary Neville Doubts Liverpool Again Despite Proven Title Credentials
Gary Neville Changes Tune After Liverpool Title Win Predictions that Aged Poorly It's never easy to admit you got it wrong, but Gary Neville may need to get used to it when it comes to Liverpool. The former Manchester United captain is no stranger to bold predictions, but his comments last season suggesting Liverpool wouldn't make the top four now look almost comically wide of the mark. Advertisement Liverpool didn't just prove Neville wrong. They obliterated his forecast with a league-winning campaign under new boss Arne Slot. In what was meant to be a transitional season, the Reds played with purpose, pace and precision, ending up Premier League champions once more. Neville's original remarks now hang in the air like a poorly judged back pass. His assertion that the Reds would finish fifth was swiftly buried by a squad that didn't just compete, they conquered. Softer Tone Emerges On the It's Called Soccer podcast, hosted on the US Overlap channel, Neville took a noticeably softer stance when previewing the upcoming campaign. 'I've got to go Arsenal again [to win the Premier League], I've got to double down, haven't I?' he said, referring to his previous forecasts. Advertisement 'I've gone there the last two seasons and they finished second in the last three seasons, actually. I didn't back them the first season, I backed City, but I backed them the last two and I'm going to stick with them.' What that statement glosses over is Liverpool's title triumph in the most recent campaign, something that might deserve a little more recognition from a pundit once so quick to dismiss their chances. Praise for Transfer Strategy Credit where it's due, Neville didn't stop at merely acknowledging Liverpool's existence this time. He offered genuine praise for the club's summer business, highlighting some of the strategic moves in the market. Photo by IMAGO 'Signing Wirtz is fantastic. Frimpong and then there's talk of Kerkez as well, deals with their right and left-back situations,' he said. Advertisement He went further: 'To get those three done, if they were to get those three done quite quickly, would be smart business. But I wouldn't have expected anything else from Liverpool.' It's a world away from the previous tone—one that all but wrote off the Anfield side's ambitions before a ball had been kicked last season. Momentum Carries into New Campaign Now, with another season fast approaching and Liverpool arguably stronger, Neville may be regretting ever ruling them out. His current focus on Arsenal, despite Liverpool finishing above them, seems more like stubborn loyalty than objective analysis. Advertisement Still, the message is clear: write Liverpool off at your peril. Under Arne Slot, the team has not only maintained the intensity built under Jürgen Klopp, but added tactical flexibility and squad depth. The additions of Wirtz and Frimpong hint at a side planning not just to defend their title, but to dominate. If Liverpool do go back-to-back, expect Neville's predictions to come with a little more caution next time.
Daily Mirror
04-06-2025
- Business
- Daily Mirror
Gary Neville sticks neck out with bold 2025/26 Premier League title prediction
Gary Neville has gone early with his prediction for the 2025/26 Premier League title winner, but the ex-Manchester United defender refuses to alter his thinking Gary Neville has stuck his neck out and backed Arsenal to win the Premier League title for the THIRD straight season. The Gunners have finished second for three straight campaigns, but they have a high-profile backer in the form of Neville, who is sticking by Mikel Arteta's side for the 2025/26 season. Arsenal finished 10 points behind winners Liverpool this season, with their lack of a goalscorer costing them dear after Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus suffered injuries. They also ended up as nearly men in the Champions League, where they were beaten by eventual winners Paris Saint-Germain in the semi-finals. With new sporting director Andrea Berta in place, Arsenal are planning a big summer transfer window, with midfielder Martin Zubimendi arriving for £51million, while Viktor Gyokeres and Benjamin Sesko are the options being explored up front. Neville clearly believes the transfer window can take Arsenal to the next level because he thinks they can win their first Premier League title since 2003/04 next season. Asked on It's Called Soccer podcast who will lift the 2025/26 Premier League trophy, he said: "I've got to go Arsenal again. I've got to double down, haven't I? "I've gone there the last two seasons and they finished second in the last three seasons, actually. I didn't back them the first season, I backed City, but I backed them the last two and I'm going to stick with them." Not many predicted Liverpool's 20th league title in the season just gone, with Arne Slot triumphing against the odds in his debut campaign. In fact, data provider Opta gave Liverpool just a 5.1 per cent chance before the season kicked off, with Manchester City backed at 82.2 per cent, ahead of Arsenal at 12.2 per cent. Speaking on Sky Sports before the 2024/25 season kicked off, Neville said: 'I went with Arsenal to win the Premier League last year and I'm sticking with them this season. They are on an upward trajectory and they are getting better every single year. HAVE YOUR SAY! Can Arsenal finally win the Premier League title next season, or is Gary Neville deluded? Comment below. 'Obviously, they are up against one of the great sides this league has ever produced in Manchester City under Pep Guardiola so it is always going to be tough. However, I feel like Arsenal have stability with the manager Mikel Arteta and they have stability in a team that is still improving. 'You cannot write of Manchester City, but I am going for Arsenal again. They were so close last year and I think they will be able to make that extra step this time.' In his end of season awards for Sky Sports, Neville ended up only giving one Arsenal player a shout-out, with none making his Premier League team of the season. Left-back Myles Lewis-Skelly was named young player of the year by the ex-Manchester United defender after a breakthrough campaign for club and country.
