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Alessandro Bastoni celebrates

LIVERPOOL ARE ON THE BRINK OF LANDING ONE OF EUROPE’S MOST ELITE DEFENDERS – AND IT’S A GAME-CHANGER!

In a transfer bombshell that has Anfield buzzing and the Premier League on high alert, Liverpool have reportedly secured personal terms with Alessandro Bastoni, the 26-year-old Serie A sensation from Inter Milan. Sources close to the deal confirm that a €70 million offer could be all it takes to seal the signing of this left-footed defensive maestro – and with Arne Slot’s Reds already monitoring him closely, the deal feels closer than ever.

Bastoni isn’t just any centre-back. He’s the cornerstone of Inter’s rock-solid backline, a player who’s been pivotal in their Champions League runs and Serie A dominance. At 26, he’s in his absolute prime: elite in the air, a master of the diagonal pass that slices through defenses, and a ball-progressing wizard who steps into midfield like it’s second nature. Think Virgil van Dijk’s leadership meets Trent Alexander-Arnold’s vision – but with the tactical IQ to thrive in Slot’s fluid 2-3-5 systemProven Pedigree: Italy international, Champions League regular, and the man who makes Inter’s defense tick. Oaktree Capital, Inter’s owners, see him as “almost untouchable” – but €70m? That’s the magic number, according to Italian insiders at Calciomercato.

Why Bastoni is Liverpool’s SECRET WEAPON:

Tactical Fit: His composure on the ball and ability to build from the back align perfectly with Liverpool’s high-pressing, possession-dominant style. Recent wins over Newcastle and Qarabag showcased exactly the kind of build-up play Bastoni excels at.

Defensive Depth: With Van Dijk approaching 35 and Konaté’s future under scrutiny, Bastoni provides the perfect succession plan – prime-age reliability at a time when elite defenders are rarer than a clean sheet at the Etihad.

Anfield packed for a big night

PREMIER LEAGUE RIVALS IN TURMOIL

Arsenal, who are desperate for depth behind Saliba and Gabriel, and Barcelona, rebuilding their entire backline, are both circling. But Liverpool’s patient, data-driven approach under Slot and sporting director Richard Hughes has them in pole position. Imagine Bastoni slotting in alongside Konaté – a wall that could shut down Haaland, Salah’s rivals, and anyone else who dares cross the halfway line.

Premier League bosses are shaken. Manchester United’s defensive woes would look even worse. Chelsea’s spending sprees suddenly feel wasteful. And City? Pep’s Guardiola knows a Bastoni-level upgrade could tip the scales back in Liverpool’s favor.

THE DEAL BREAKDOWNFee: €70m – a steal for a player who’s been valued at north of €80m in recent windows.Personal Terms: Already agreed, per reports. The Italian is “ecstatic” at the chance to join the Premier League’s most exciting project.Timeline: Summer 2026 move, giving Slot time to integrate him seamlessly.

This isn’t just a signing – it’s a statement. Liverpool aren’t rebuilding; they’re reloading. With Bastoni in red, Anfield’s “You’ll Never Walk Alone” could soon echo with “Bastoni’s gonna get ya!”

What do you think, Reds? Is this the missing piece for another title tilt? Drop your thoughts below!

The league phase of the 2025/26 Champions League has come to a close with the final matchday providing plenty of post-match talking points – no more than Benfica goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin scoring in the 98th minute of their 4-2 win over Real Madrid.Eight teams have automatically secured passage into the Round of 16 and another eight teams will secure a place in the knockout rounds following a series of playoff encounters.With anticipation building over the final 24 clubs battling it out to win the trophy, the Opta supercomputer has predicted who is most likely to win the tournament after 10,000 simulations.Paris Saint-Germain are the holders, with Luis Enrique’s men stunning 5-0 win over Inter Milan back in June giving them the trophy for the first time, and they’ll be battling to do so again this time around. However, they aren’t predicted to win the trophy – and GIVEMESPORT tells you who the favourites are, as well as the outside chancers.Supercomputer Predicts 2025-26 Champions League Winners Odds: 24-21bodo glimtThere are some huge teams who haven’t even made the cut for the top 20 most likely teams to win the tournament by virtue of crashing out at the earliest competition: Dutch giants Ajax are naturally a massive club, as are Bundesliga outfit Eintracht Frankfurt and Kevin De Bruyne-led Napoli, who are managed by Antonio Conte.Qarabag, despite their 6-0 loss to Liverpool on the final matchday of the league phase, have been the competition’s surprise package this term – and they bagged themselves a spot in the playoffs. Winning the lot is off the cards, though, according to Opta’s supercomputer.AS Monaco – who last reached the final in 2004, where they lost 3-0 to FC Porto – are the first side to be given a chance, albeit very slim, of holding the big-eared trophy aloft come the end of May in Budapest, Hungary.barca champions leagueRelatedHow Much Money Every Champions League Team Has Made in 2025/26 CompetitionBy Daniel HepburnManaged by Sebastien Pocognoli, Monaco have been issued a 0.01% chance of going the entire way in the competition and that is just short of Bodo/Glimt’s chances. The Norwegian side shocked the world by beating Pep Guardiola’s side 3-1 in January but are unlikely to find joy of a similar note moving forward. Rounding off this category are Olympiacos, who have been issued a 0.10% chance of reigning triumphant.Supercomputer Predicts 2025-26 Champions League Winners Odds: 24-21RankTeamChance of Winning (%)24.Qarabag0.00%23.AS Monaco0.01%22.Bodo/Glimt0.03%21.Olympiacos0.10%Supercomputer Predicts 2025-26 Champions League Winners Odds: 20-16dortmundTurkish outfit Galatasaray – spearheaded by one of the best strikers in world football, Victor Osimhen – are just ahead of Olympiacos with a 0.11% chance of going all the way. The Nigerian striker’s potency fired them to a 20th-place finish in the league phase and will now face a playoff encounter to secure passage into the knockout rounds.Club Brugge are arguably the biggest surprise in this category. The Belgian outfit endured tough away trips to Atalanta, Bayern Munich and Sporting, as well as home clashes against Monaco, Barcelona, Arsenal and Marseille – but they won three matches and bagged a playoff spot. In going all the way (0.13%), they’d become the first club in Belgium to win the tournament after losing the 1978 final vs Liverpool.Atalanta are next in 18th, being ranked at having just a 0.36% chance of winning the Champions League, with the furthest they have gone being the quarter-finals in 2019/20.Bayer Leverkusen picked up 12 points from their eight matches in the league phase but don’t have much hope of reaching the latter stages of the competition, hence their 0.32% chance of winning the lot.Benfica secured a playoff spot by the skin of their teeth but Jose Mourinho, as evidenced by previous spells, is a serial winner on the European stage. Anything is possible with the Portuguese at the helm and his men have been given a 0494% chance of accruing their first European title since 1962 – when they beat Real Madrid the year after defeating another Spanish giant in Barcelona.Supercomputer Predicts 2025-26 Champions League Winners Odds: 20-16RankTeamChance of Winning (%)20.Galatasaray0.11%19.Club Brugge0.13%18.Atalanta0.36%17.Bayer Leverkusen0.41%16.Benfica0.49%Supercomputer Predicts 2025-26 Champions League Winners Odds: 15-11Tottenham players line up for squad photoBundesliga outfit Borussia Dortmund (0.51%) are 15tg favourites, having last reached the final in 2024 when they lost 2-0 to Real Madrid.Atletico Madrid have yet to win the Champions League and that is very likely to continue. They have a 0.78% chance of winning the accolade.Italian side and two-time winners Juventus have improved of late and their 0.89% chance of becoming the champions of Europe is probably fair.Premier League outfit Tottenham Hotspur hadn’t won a major honour in 17 years before their Europa League win last season, but continental success last time out and a flurry of summer signings has given them a 1.98% chance of winning the lot.Sporting CP, despite losing Ruben Amorim and Viktor Gyokeres in recent years, are flying the Portugal flag high in Europe this term – and they managed to finish inside the top eight of the league phase after five wins from their eight matches. Going all the way could prove a challenge, but they’ve still been offered a 2.04% chance of doing so.Supercomputer Predicts 2025-26 Champions League Winners Odds: 15-11RankTeamChance of Winning (%)15.Borussia Dortmund0.63%14.Atletico Madrid0.78%13.Juventus0.89%12.Tottenham Hotspur1.98%11.Sporting CP2.04%Supercomputer Predicts 2025-26 Champions League Winners Odds: 10-6NewcastleReal Madrid have just a 2.34% chance of winning the lot this campaign – which may initially come as a surprise by virtue of their success on the continental stage.GIVEMESPORT Key Statistic: Real Madrid have won the most European Cup/UEFA Champions League titles – a record 15, eight more than second-placed AC Milan (8).Xabi Alonso’s departure, with the manager being replaced by Alvaro Arbeola, has rocked the boat, and they’ve struggled to emulate their form of previous seasons.Newcastle United (3.19%) are given a bigger chance than some massive European clubs, including Real Madrid, despite the Magpies finishing outside the automatic progression spots. They’re followed by last season’s beaten finalists, Inter Milan, who could replicate their success from previous seasons.GMS Report: Subscribe and never miss what mattersExclusive content from Ben Jacobs and other top journalists straight to your inbox!Email AddressSubscribeBy subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.Last season’s winners Paris Saint-Germain (who recorded a record-breaking 5-0 win over Inter) are all the way down in seventh, having been given a 4.48% chance of winning the title – though the talent at the disposal of Luis Enrique means that anything is possible and the French club going back-to-back is very possible.Last season’s semi-finalists, Barcelona, just miss out on a spot in the top five. They’ve been given a 7.01% chance of winning the trophy after missing out narrowly last season. As one of the best teams in world football, Lamine Yamal and company have every chance of breaking the trend and winning the lot, of course.Supercomputer Predicts 2025-26 Champions League Winners Odds: 10-6RankTeamChance of Winning (%)10.Real Madrid2.34%9.Newcastle United3.50%8.Inter Milan3.93%7.Paris Saint-Germain4.48%6.Barcelona5.84%Supercomputer Predicts 2025-26 Champions League Winners Odds: 5-1arsenalFollowing their Europa Conference League success last term and their Club World Cup triumph in the summer, Chelsea are fifth and Liam Rosenior’s men have a 7.16% of winning the tournament.Arne Slot’s Liverpool, were knocked out by PSG last season in the round of 16, have struggled in the Premier League this season, but their strong showing in Europe so far means they have a 9.39% chance of reigning victorious.Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City side are in third as they chase the trophy two years on from their triumph in Istanbul. They are followed by Bayern Munich – a team who finished second in the league phase thanks to Harry Kane’s firepower up top and Lennant Karl’s teenage brilliance behind him.Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola looks onThat leaves Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal side at the top of the tree, with the Opta supercomputer seeing them win the trophy in many of its simulations as the Gunners aim to end their half-decade wait without silverware. The Gunners became the 13th team in Champions League history to end the group stage/league phase with a flawless record and Opta believes they have a 29.18% of winning their first-ever title in Europe.Supercomputer Predicts 2025-26 Champions League Winners Odds: 5-1RankTeamChance of Winning5.Chelsea7.16%4.Liverpool9.39%3.Manchester City11.65%2.Bayern Munich14.67%1.Arsenal29.18%All data per Opta’s supecomputer – correct as of 17/02/2026FootballUEFA Champions LeagueUEFA Champions LeagueLiverpoolLiverpoolFollowLikeShareThreadWe want to hear from you! Share your opinions in the thread below and remember to keep it respectful.Be the first to postThis thread is open for discussion.Be the first to post your thoughts.TermsPrivacyFeedbackRecommendedmax dowmanSep 10, 202525 English Football Clubs With Best Academies Ranked in New Study – Arsenal 2ndthomas tuchel englandSep 10, 2025England: Morgan Rogers Must Start Ahead of Jude Bellingham at World Cup 2026Oliver GlasnerSep 10, 2025Crystal Palace Squad: World Cup 2026 Selection Power RankingsShortsvlcsnap-2026-01-28-10h25m29s2453By GMS StaffJan 28, 20260:34Micah Richards just dropped his Premier League top 10vlcsnap-2026-01-28-15h18m51s2583By GMS StaffJan 28, 20260:41Antonio Conte opens up about Diego Costa: “I don’t waste my time”vlcsnap-2026-01-28-09h56m48s2913By GMS StaffJan 28, 20260:45Jeremy Doku reacts to Arsenal lossvlcsnap-2026-01-28-10h26m05s4343By GMS StaffJan 28, 20260:50Only REAL fans ace this Michael Carrick teammates quizvlcsnap-2026-01-28-10h22m23s9133By GMS StaffJan 28, 20260:55Ref makes history showing first ever WHITE cardMore from our brandschampions-league-wins-kane-vinicius-lewandowskiFootballFanCast logoThe top 10 clubs with the most wins in Champions League matchesJude-Bellingham-Champions-League-tableFootballFanCast logoChampions League: 2024/25 league phase standingschampions-league-high-scoring-games-barcelona-raphinhaFootballFanCast logoThe 11 highest-scoring Champions League matches of all timeGiveMeSport logoJoin Our TeamOur AudienceAbout UsPress & EventsMedia CoverageContact UsFollow UsValnet LogoAdvertisingCareersTermsPrivacyPoliciesGiveMeSport is part of the Valnet Publishing GroupCopyright © 2026 Valnet Inc.

The remaining clubs in the FA Cup now know who they’ll face next following the completion of the fifth-round draw.The competition dominated the weekend as fourth-round fixtures were played nationwide. Chelsea and Wrexham booked their places on Friday night, before West Ham United, Manchester City, Newcastle United and Liverpool all progressed on Saturday.

The biggest shock came at Turf Moor, where League One outfit Mansfield Town stunned Premier League side Burnley with a dramatic 2-1 comeback victory. Josh Laurent gave Burnley an early lead in the 21st minute, but second-half strikes from Rhys Oates and Louis Reed turned the game on its head.Sunday saw further progression for Leeds United, Wolves, Sunderland, Fulham and Arsenal. Meanwhile, National League underdogs

Macclesfield FC — fresh from eliminating holders Crystal Palace in the previous round — faced Premier League opposition Brentford on Monday evening. Club owner Rob Smethurst admitted their Palace triumph felt like a “World Cup final,” calling this tie an added bonus.The fifth-round draw was conducted before kick-off at the Leasing.com Stadium, revealing a series of mouth-watering ties. Should Macclesfield overcome Brentford, they will earn a trip to the London Stadium to face West Ham United.

Last season’s runners-up Manchester City have been handed a tough away clash at St James’ Park against Newcastle United, while league leaders Arsenal will travel to take on giant killers Mansfield Town.Elsewhere, an all-Premier League showdown sees Wolves host Liverpool.

Full FA Cup Fifth-Round Draw:

• Fulham vs SouthamptonPort Vale or Bristol City vs Sunderland

• Newcastle United vs Manchester City

• Leeds United vs Norwich City

• Mansfield Town vs Arsenal

• Wolverhampton Wanderers vs Liverpool

• Wrexham vs Chelsea

• West Ham United vs Macclesfield FC or Brentford

The fifth-round fixtures will be played across the weekend of March 7–8.

The remaining clubs in the FA Cup now know who they’ll face next following the completion of the fifth-round draw.

The competition dominated the weekend as fourth-round fixtures were played nationwide. Chelsea and Wrexham booked their places on Friday night, before West Ham United, Manchester City, Newcastle United and Liverpool all progressed on Saturday.

The biggest shock came at Turf Moor, where League One outfit Mansfield Town stunned Premier League side Burnley with a dramatic 2-1 comeback victory. Josh Laurent gave Burnley an early lead in the 21st minute, but second-half strikes from Rhys Oates and Louis Reed turned the game on its head.

Sunday saw further progression for Leeds United, Wolves, Sunderland, Fulham and Arsenal. Meanwhile, National League underdogs Macclesfield FC — fresh from eliminating holders Crystal Palace in the previous round — faced Premier League opposition Brentford on Monday evening. Club owner Rob Smethurst admitted their Palace triumph felt like a “World Cup final,” calling this tie an added bonus.

The fifth-round draw was conducted before kick-off at the Leasing.com Stadium, revealing a series of mouth-watering ties. Should Macclesfield overcome Brentford, they will earn a trip to the London Stadium to face West Ham United. Last season’s runners-up Manchester City have been handed a tough away clash at St James’ Park against Newcastle United, while league leaders Arsenal will travel to take on giant killers Mansfield Town.

Elsewhere, an all-Premier League showdown sees Wolves host Liverpool.

Full FA Cup Fifth-Round Draw:

Fulham vs Southampton
Port Vale or Bristol City vs Sunderland
Newcastle United vs Manchester City
Leeds United vs Norwich City
Mansfield Town vs Arsenal
Wolverhampton Wanderers vs Liverpool
Wrexham vs Chelsea
West Ham United vs Macclesfield FC or Brentford
The fifth-round fixtures will be played across the weekend of March 7–8.

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Liverpool are still optimistic about holding on to Ibrahima Konate, despite growing interest from Real Madrid, according to Fichajes.

The French defender has been a key figure at Anfield, but with his contract nearing its final stages, uncertainty surrounds his future. Although Real Madrid were previously reported by The Athletic to have cooled their pursuit, the Spanish giants are now said to have revived their interest ahead of the summer window. Even so, Liverpool remain hopeful of persuading Konate to stay.

Why Liverpool must keep Konate

Since arriving from RB Leipzig in 2021, Konate has consistently delivered strong performances and remains a vital part of Liverpool’s defence. At just 26, he is still approaching his prime and could become a long-term successor to Virgil van Dijk as the team’s defensive leader.

With Van Dijk unlikely to maintain a relentless schedule of full matches indefinitely, retaining Konate would be crucial for continuity and stability. Letting him leave for nothing would also represent a major financial loss, especially with his market value estimated at around €50m.

Given his quality, it’s no surprise that Real Madrid — and potentially other elite clubs — are monitoring his situation closely. After the disappointment of losing Trent Alexander-Arnold to Madrid on a free transfer last summer, Liverpool will be eager to avoid a repeat and are expected to push hard to secure Konate’s future.

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Liverpool’s bosses have reportedly settled on their “ideal” long-term replacement for Mohamed Salah, although signing him could be far from straightforward.Salah is under contract at Anfield until June 2027, but with the iconic forward set to turn 35 that same month, FSG are already considering who could eventually take over his role and influence on Merseyside.

One name that has been repeatedly linked in recent months is Michael Olise. Journalist Lewis Steele has previously highlighted the Bayern Munich attacker as a player to keep an eye on in Liverpool’s transfer plans this year.

According to TEAMtalk’s Graeme Bailey, Liverpool’s decision-makers are said to be “unanimous” in believing that Olise is the closest possible fit to becoming Salah’s successor. They have reportedly been impressed by the 24-year-old’s mix of creativity, productivity in front of goal, and tactical awareness.

Although players such as Yan Diomande, Nico Williams, Desire Doue and Bradley Barcola have also been mentioned as options, Olise is viewed as Liverpool’s top priority for the right-wing role. However, persuading Bayern to let him go could be extremely difficult.

Sources close to the Frenchman claim he is not in a hurry to return to the Premier League, while Bayern are also believed to be planning fresh contract talks, despite Olise already being tied to the club until 2029.

Liverpool’s interest is easy to understand when looking at his numbers this season, with Olise recording 13 goals and 25 assists in 34 appearances. His underlying stats also reportedly show how dangerous he has been compared to other Bundesliga players in the same position.

Because of his impact, Bayern are said to be unwilling to entertain offers unless they reach around £120m. It remains unclear whether Liverpool would be willing or able to meet that kind of fee in the summer.

Champions League qualification could strengthen Liverpool’s position, both financially and in terms of convincing Olise that a move to Anfield would be worthwhile.

Right now, a deal for the 24-year-old looks difficult, but FSG may feel it’s worth aiming high when planning for life after Salah. The situation could become more urgent this summer if Liverpool receive a huge offer for the Egyptian as he enters the final year of his deal — though the hope is that fans will still get as much time as possible from the legendary winger before that day arrives.

Former Italian Prime Minister Enrico Letta has demanded that Alessandro Bastoni be suspended from the national team following the Inter Milan defender’s controversial actions against Juventus. In a thrilling Serie A clash, Inter secured a 3-2 victory at the San Siro, extending their lead at the top of the table to eight points. Andrea Cambiaso’s own goal initially put Inter ahead, but he redeemed himself with an equalizer in the 26th minute. Pio Esposito restored Inter’s lead in the second half, only for Manuel Locatelli to level for Juventus once again.

The decisive moment came in the 90th minute when Piotr Zielinski netted the winner for Cristian Chivu’s side. However, the match was heavily shaped by a 42nd-minute red card shown to Pierre Kalulu. Kalulu was dismissed after Bastoni – recently linked with a move to Liverpool – theatrically fell to the ground and gestured toward the referee, claiming Kalulu had pulled his shirt. Referee Federico La Penna was deceived by the clear dive and sent off Kalulu for a second yellow, leaving Juventus with ten men for the entire second half. Bastoni’s simulation and his subsequent celebration have sparked widespread outrage in Italy.

The controversy reached political heights when Letta, who served as prime minister from 2013 to 2014, called for strict sanctions against Bastoni, stating on social media:

“Bastoni shouldn’t be called up to the national team.”

Dropping Bastoni would be a major decision, as he is a key player for Italy, who are yet to qualify for the 2026 World Cup. They will face Northern Ireland in the playoffs, with a potential final qualification match against either Wales or Bosnia.

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Darwin Nunez has been dropped from Al-Hilal’s Saudi Pro League squad following the arrival of Karim Benzema, marking a major setback for the former Liverpool striker. According to Chris Burton at GOAL, the 26-year-old Uruguayan has been left out of the domestic league roster because of foreign player limits after the club signed the Ballon d’Or-winning French forward.

The report adds: “Former Liverpool striker Darwin Nunez has been axed from Al-Hilal’s squad after Karim Benzema joined.” Al-Hilal can only register eight foreign players born before 2003 in their 25-man Saudi Pro League team. With Benzema occupying one of those slots after moving from Al-Ittihad, Nunez no longer has room for league matches.

Although Nunez remains eligible for the AFC Champions League, he is expected to spend much of the domestic season on the sidelines unless the situation changes.

Head coach Simone Inzaghi explained the choice: “It was a difficult decision, but part of a coach’s job. Nunez and Pablo are quality players, but we are constrained by the foreign player rules… I calmly informed those affected.”

Since leaving Liverpool last summer for £46 million, after contributing to a Premier League title, Nunez has shown mixed results in Saudi Arabia. Six goals and four assists in 16 league games are respectable, but his expected goals tally of 11.48 and 14 missed big chances highlight the inefficiency fans remember from his time at Anfield.

Roddy Collins once described him as “mad as a brush but he caused chaos,” a characterization that still fits. Chaos is tolerated only when it produces consistent results.

Recently, reports suggested Fenerbahce is considering a move for Nunez, illustrating how quickly his situation has become uncertain. For a player who left Liverpool as a league champion with 40 goals in 143 appearances, this is a dramatic shift.

Statistically, it’s been an average season, but not an impressive one. Now, with Benzema favored and squad spots limited, Nunez will mostly be watching from the sidelines—a worrying scenario for a forward who thrives on confidence and rhythm.

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Dominik Szoboszlai’s agent has spoken publicly about the midfielder’s future following fresh speculation linking him with Real Madrid.

Earlier this week, Spanish outlet Defensa Central reported that officials at the Bernabéu were monitoring the Liverpool FC star after comments from Hungary manager Marco Rossi suggested that the 25-year-old dreams of playing for Los Blancos.

Those remarks surfaced while Szoboszlai has been in outstanding form for Liverpool, earning glowing praise from Mohamed Salah, who recently described him as “one of the best players in the world” at present.

Agent responds to speculation

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In a seismic shift that’s set to redefine the Premier League landscape, Liverpool have sensationally agreed personal terms with Aston Villa’s superstar Morgan Rogers, snatching the 23-year-old England international right out from under the noses of their rivals. The £100m-rated playmaker, long hailed as Tottenham Hotspur’s “dream target” for the summer, is now poised to don the famous red shirt at Anfield, leaving Spurs’ ambitions in tatters and igniting a new era for the Reds.

Sources close to the negotiations confirm that Liverpool have moved swiftly, holding advanced talks with Rogers’ representatives and securing a verbal agreement on a long-term contract. The deal, which could shatter Liverpool’s transfer record, is expected to be finalized once a fee is agreed with Villa—potentially soaring to £100m given Rogers’ stellar form and his contract running until 2031. This bombshell comes amid Caught Offside’s earlier report of initial discussions, where the door was left wide open for a summer blockbuster.

Rogers has been nothing short of electric this season, propelling Aston Villa to third in the Premier League with eight goals and five assists in 26 appearances. His dazzling displays have not only cemented his spot in England’s World Cup squad but also drawn admirers from across Europe. Fabrizio Romano previously spotlighted Tottenham’s obsession with Rogers, labeling him their ideal summer splash to bolster Ange Postecoglou’s attack. However, with Spurs potentially missing out on Champions League football, their dream has evaporated in smoke as Liverpool pounce.

Chelsea, too, had Rogers high on their shortlist, as revealed by TEAMtalk’s Fraser Fletcher earlier this month. The Blues were prepared to shell out north of £80m, but Liverpool’s aggressive approach—fueled by their own Champions League aspirations—has left them in the dust. Manchester United and Manchester City were also circling, but Anfield’s allure proved irresistible for the versatile forward, who can operate across the frontline with flair and finesse.

The timing couldn’t be more intriguing for Liverpool, especially with swirling rumors around attacking midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai. Hungary boss Marco Rossi recently fueled speculation by admitting Szoboszlai views a move to Real Madrid as a “dream” opportunity, with the Spanish giants reportedly keen. Liverpool have prioritized extending Szoboszlai’s deal (expiring in 2028), but without fresh terms, a big-money bid could force their hand this summer.

Enter Rogers as the perfect heir apparent. His creativity, goal threat, and international pedigree make him an ideal fit to replace or complement Szoboszlai in Arne Slot’s system. “This is a statement signing,” a club insider told us. “Rogers brings that X-factor we’ve been missing—pace, power, and proven Premier League quality. With him alongside Mohamed Salah and Cody Gakpo, our attack becomes unstoppable.”

Aston Villa, riding high in the top four, will demand every penny of that £100m valuation, especially if they secure back-to-back Champions League spots. But Liverpool’s financial muscle, bolstered by recent sales and commercial deals, positions them to close the gap. Expect formal bids in the coming weeks, with Rogers eager to make the leap to a title-chasing giant.

For Tottenham fans, this is a gut punch— their “dream” target slipping away to a direct rival. Chelsea’s rebuild takes another hit, while the Manchester clubs watch from the sidelines. At Anfield, though, the mood is electric. The Reds are reloading, and with Rogers on board, the hunt for silverware just got a whole lot more serious.