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Liverpool should be emboldened that while Saturday evening's shattering defeat against Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League has resulted in an injury to the in-form Cody Gakpo and suspensions to Curtis Jones and Diogo Jota, the rekindled verve and vitality is there for all to see.

What's also pleasing is that the Anfield side boasts a wealth of academy talent that eclipses anything the club has been seen in recent years, with such exciting options offering a different approach for manager Jurgen Klopp, should he need it.

And use it he has; last season, with Liverpool suffering an incredible depletion of form and fluidity, a young Stefan Bajcetic was brought into the senior fold to aid the beleaguered Reds in their efforts, and he shone as the brightest spark in a midfield that was languishing heavily below expectations.

Hailed for his "exceptional" rise to prominence by Klopp last season, the 18-year-old Spaniard is but one example of the rich crop of precocity just waiting for a chance to impress on the major stage.

Trent Alexander-Arnold is the obvious example, having been promoted to Liverpool's vice-captain in the summer and praised as "world-class" by former Barcelona right-back Dani Alves.

The aforementioned Jones has also enjoyed an impressive rise over the past year, while Ben Doak, aged 17, has currently made eight senior showings in age-belying fashion, and has been proclaimed to be a 'Scottish Wayne Rooney' by his agent Jackie McNamara due to his small yet strong stature and innate physicality.

Some remarkable talent, and all names starting to make themselves known on the major stage, but perhaps one of Liverpool's most prodigious youngsters is yet to become known to the masses.

Oakley Cannonier, goalscoring sensation, has recently returned from injury and is looking to continue his ascent to prominence after demonstrating such a sharp cutting edge in the earliest phase of his youth career.

Who is Oakley Cannonier?

Cannonier's progress beneath the surface at Liverpool has seen him be hindered by a long-term injury that has ruled him out of contention for much of the past year.

The aptly-named Cannonier has been firing the strikes home with vicious regularity at youth level, scoring 44 goals and supplying five assists from only 60 appearances for the Reds' respective development sides, heralded as a "goal machine" by prominent Liverpool reporter Neil Jones for his efforts.

The 19-year-old forward exhibited his prolific abilities last term with a flourish, scoring ten times from only 12 outings during a term that was hampered by injury – including seven goals from only four matches in the UEFA Youth League.

Last month, the striker returned to action with a resounding hat-trick in a friendly against Hull City after indeed spending ten months on the sidelines, and will now surely be viewed as one to keep an eye on as he continues to build back the form that left the likes of The Athletic's James Pearce describing him as "outstanding."

An out-and-out centre-forward, Cannonier will indeed be hoping that he could find his name on the senior team sheet this season for the first time, perhaps linking up with academy peer Kaide Gordon, who is looking to pick up where he left off under Klopp's wing after battling his own long-term absence.

How good is Kaide Gordon?

It's perhaps a testament to Gordon's prodigious skill set that he is still only 18-years-old (for a few more days) and has already forged four senior showings under Klopp's stewardship and netted his maiden goal – and that's despite spending the entirety of the 2022/23 campaign on the sidelines with a long-term injury.

Once described as "exceptional" by his manager, Gordon thrived for Liverpool's development squad after signing from Derby County for a reported fee of £3m as a 16-year-old, posting 12 goals and five assists across all competitions.

The one-cap England U21 international is capable of thriving across both offensive flanks and boasts skill, speed and guile in abundance.

Already demonstrating his ability to provide both incisive and creative danger, the Merseyside outfit's second-youngest-ever goalscorer would work seamlessly in tandem with Cannonier, providing the all-encompassing attacking threat as the focal frontman.

Player

Age

Result & Competition

Ben Woodburn

17 years, 1 month, 14 days

2-0 vs Leeds, League Cup

Kaide Gordon

17 years, 3 months, 4 days

4-1 vs Shrewsbury, FA Cup

Michael Owen

17 years, 4 months, 22 days

2-1 vs Wimbledon, Premier League

Jordan Rossiter

17 years, 5 months, 30 days

2-2 vs Middlesbrough, League Cup

Ki-Jana Hoever

17 years, 8 months, 7 days

2-0 vs MK Dons, League Cup

With both Gordon and Cannonier sharing an unfortunate spell on the sidelines with long-term injuries despite remaining pleasingly ensconced in the maiden stage of their professional career, with ample time to grow into their skin, they can both prove to be the first-rate phenoms Klopp and Liverpool crave for in the future.

As mentioned earlier, Liverpool's rise since that fateful day when Klopp graced the Merseyside club as manager for the first time has done more than just improve the first-team squad.

Liverpool, as a footballing institution, has been comprehensively rejuvenated, the stains of a miserable period in the club's history wiped away, and sustained success is now stitched into the fabric of the outfit once again.

As such, youth players are now held in a higher regard. The investment is felt. Gordon and Cannonier are but two of the teenage sensations pushing for a place on the Premier League pitch soon, and given the immense quality brimming from each, there is every possibility that both earn a shot to cement their berth soon enough.

Liverpool were interested in making a fifth midfield addition over the summer, but a reliable journalist has revealed that a deal wasn’t as advanced as has recently been reported.

What's the latest transfer news at Liverpool?

According to reports, FSG and Jurgen Klopp maintain a strong interest in Newcastle United’s Bruno Guimaraes despite him being about to sign a new long-term contract in the northeast, whilst club correspondent Neil Jones has confirmed that West Ham’s Jarrod Bowen is a player that chiefs have admired for quite some time.

The Merseyside outfit have additionally set their sights on Juventus’ Federico Chiesa should Mohamed Salah leave for Saudi Arabia next year, and they have also learned that it will take a huge offer to secure the services of Brentford’s Aaron Hickey should they want to prise him away from the Community Stadium.

At Anfield, another player of interest was Fiorentina’s Sofyan Amrabat who, before the transfer deadline, ended up joining Premier League rivals Manchester United on a season-long loan with an option to buy at the end of it, but an interesting claim emerged that he could have instead been on his way to L4.

The Daily Mail’s Confidential previously reported that the Moroccan defensive midfielder was just hours away from joining the Reds, but the deal supposedly ended up collapsing following talks being put on hold in a period that saw the board have a change of heart.

Did Liverpool almost sign Sofyan Amrabat?

In his Daily Briefing for CaughtOffside, however, Fabrizio Romano confirmed that Liverpool did initiate contact to ask about a swoop for Amrabat, but shut down rumours that it was ever close to completion. He said:

“Speaking of Amrabat, I’ve been asked about some reports of Liverpool coming very close to signing the Moroccan midfielder this summer. From what I know, there was just a call from Liverpool in the summer right after the Moises Caicedo story to ask for conditions of Amrabat deal and then nothing else.

“It was not even a negotiation, just a request and then they moved on [to] different targets. I think there’s no need to compare as in that position they preferred Wataru Endo, so their choice was clear.”

Is Sofyan Amrabat good?

During Man United’s 3-0 Carabao Cup victory over Crystal Palace on Tuesday, Amrabat made his full debut and was the star of the show, recording an outstanding 96.3% pass success rate, highlighting his excellent calmness and composure on the ball.

Sponsored by Nike, the 27-year-old also managed two tackles during the game so he loves to throw himself into challenges and win back possession for his team, with these qualities having previously seen him dubbed a “monster” by journalist Carlo Garganese.

Furthermore, Ten Hag’s £65k-per-week earner, who has secured four senior trophies throughout his career, is a versatile operator having been deployed in eight different positions since bursting onto the scene, including everywhere across the midfield and the defensive backline, so it's hard to deny he could have been a great addition for the Reds.

يعمل النجم البرتغالي كريستيانو رونالدو، على إقناع أحد لاعبي فريق مانشستر يونايتد الإنجليزي، وآخر من ريال مدريد، بالانضمام إلى فريقه النصر السعودي.

رونالدو انتقل إلى النصر السعودي في ديسمبر 2022 بعدما فسخ عقده مع مانشستر يونايتد.

وذكرت صحيفة “ديلي ميل” البريطانية نقلاً عن “ماركا” الإسبانية أن رونالدو يحاول جاهدًا تشجيع فريقه النصر على التعاقد مع لاعبين.

وبحسب التقرير الوارد، أول هؤلاء هو البرازيلي كاسيميرو، والذي زامل رونالدو في صفوف ريال مدريد ومانشستر يونايتد.

وسبق وأشارت تقارير إلى أن كاسيميرو يقترب من الرحيل عن مانشستر يونايتد خلال سوق الانتقالات الصيفي.

اقرأ أيضًا | فيديو | عن طريق ميسي.. نيمار يسخر من كريستيانو رونالدو بعد هزيمة النصر أمام الهلال

ووفقًا للتقرير يبدو أن وجهة كاسيميرو ستكون المملكة العربية السعودية وتحديدًا إلى صفوف النصر رفقة رونالدو.

وتوضح الصحيفة أن رونالدو يأمل أن يتنافس فريقه النصر مع نظيره الهلال الذي توج بالدوري وكأس خادم الحرمين.

ويرى رونالدو أن كاسيميرو سيكون عنصرًا مميزًا في صفوف النصر لمساعدة الفريق على المنافسة في الموسم القادم.

وأشارت الصحيفة إلى أن رونالدو تواصل أيضًا مع ناتشو فيرنانديز قائد ريال مدريد خلال الأسبوع الماضي في محاولة لجعله يفكر في الانتقال إلى النصر.

ورفع ناتشو كأس دوري أبطال أوروبا ليلة السبت رفقة ريال مدريد بعد الانتصار على بوروسيا دورتموند الألماني.

Wolverhampton Wanderers have experienced a difficult summer in the transfer market, with the club unable to spend due to ongoing issues regarding Financial Fair Play (FFP).

The economic crisis at Molineux has widely affected proceedings on the pitch, with departed manager Julen Lopetegui leaving his post just five days prior to the Old Gold’s opening fixture of the 2023/24 calendar.

Things have taken a positive turn through the hiring of former AFC Bournemouth boss Gary O’Neil, but the resounding problem of low squad numbers and little room to manoeuvre in the transfer window still remains.

Despite being unable to spend freely, the Midlands side have been linked to a host of talent this summer, with one name being a player that could significantly bolster the squad should the club be able to sanction a dip into the market.

Who could Wolves sign this summer?

While incomings have been slow, there have been a significant number of players depart Molineux this window, with 14 players bidding farewell to the club through the form of loan moves, expiration of contracts and sales.

Sales have generated much-needed income for the Old Gold, however little attempt has been able to be made to replace those that have left, leaving the squad low on numbers and missing some of the past star quality.

A worrying report in France from Foot Mercato has claimed that another star player is being eyed by others in the market, with Mario Lemina said to be the target for three ‘big Premier League teams’, including Liverpool.

The 29-year-old has become an integral piece of the furniture in Wolverhampton, and a player that could be extremely difficult to replace should the rumours be believed, however a previous target could be the perfect figure to seek should the Gabon international part ways.

At the end of last month, the Old Gold were linked with LaLiga midfielder Guido Rodriguez, with journalist Cesar Luis Merlo claiming that Wolves had made contact with Real Betis in the bid to sign the Argentine.

There has since been no update on the potential transfer of the Betis ace, however should Lemina depart, a swoop for his talent would be the ideal move.

How good is Guido Rodriguez?

Having once been described as being “brutal defensively” by analyst Marcus Bring, Rodriguez was one of Betis’ best performers last season, as suggested by his average match rating of 7.07 in LaLiga, via Sofascore.

The Argentine, like Lemina, is deployed in defensive midfield, making him a strong acquisition for O’Neil to target in place of the trusted former Juventus star.

Based on their respective 2022/23 league campaigns, the players are extremely similar in their approach to play, both being assured presences for their clubs in terms of passing and protecting the back line from threat.

As per FBref, Lemina averaged 2.63 tackles and 1.80 blocks per 90 for Wolves last season, while maintaining a pass completion rate of 86.9%, numbers that were almost mirrored by Rodriguez in Spain.

For Betis, the 29-year-old maintained a pass completion rate of 86.7%, averaging a monstrous 3.60 tackles and 1.82 blocks per 90 in LaLiga, highlighting the similarities between the present and potentially future Wolves players.

O’Neil should consider chasing the talents of the £33k-per-week Argentine should a club come knocking for Lemina, who has attracted sufficient and deserved interest from elsewhere this summer.

Liverpool have set their sights on signing Torino's Perr Schuurs, with a new report revealing exactly what's going on in their pursuit of the Netherlands international.

What's the latest Liverpool transfer news?

Jurgen Klopp's priority is signing at least one new midfielder, with just over a week left to get deals over the line, and ESPN report an offer has recently been made for Fluminense defensive midfielder Andre, but the bid was knocked back immediately.

The likes of Ryan Gravenberch, Manu Kone and Khephren Thuram have been named as potential options by journalist Rudy Galetti, but there are plenty of others, with talks also being held over Cheick Doucoure and Kalvin Phillips.

While signing a new midfielder is of the utmost importance to the Reds, transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has previously made it clear that a new centre-back will also be targeted, with Football Insider now offering a new update on their pursuit of Schuurs.

According to their sources, Liverpool have now set their sights on signing the Torino defender, following a recent scouting mission, and he is seen as a realistically-priced option to sign before this summer's deadline, with the Italian club set to hold out for around £30m.

That would work perfectly for Klopp's side, as they already have a budget set aside for the centre-back, but it is lower than what they are willing to fork out for a central midfielder.

Klopp is eager to bring in cover and competition for Virgil van Dijk, while he also wants to refresh his centre-back options for the first time since Ibrahima Konate arrived at Anfield.

There may be no better player to provide competition for Van Dijk, as the Reds captain is "well aware" of his compatriot's talents and is said to be a "big fan".

Read The Latest Liverpool Transfer News HERE

How good is Perr Schuurs?

Not only has the 23-year-old impressed his potential future teammate, but he has also received praise from journalist Dean Jones, with the reporter telling FootballFancast:

"Schuurs is a big talent. He's got a great ability to read the game, so no surprise at all that he's been on the radar of the likes of Arsenal and Liverpool – he has a profile that fits those sides well."

As well as being able to read the game very well, the Dutchman is a solid tackler, ranking in the 80th percentile for tackles per 90 over the past year, when compared to his positional peers, and he has been a key player for Torino since arriving from Ajax.

The 6 foot 3 defender has adapted to life in the Serie A very well, making 30 league appearances last season, indicating he could now be ready to make another step-up by moving to the Premier League, with Liverpool waiting in the wings.

Klopp is well-stocked at centre-back, with five players who play in that position already at the club, so Schuurs should not be a priority target for Liverpool, but he could be worth pursuing once they get a deal for at least one new midfielder over the line.

علق تاكيس جونياس المدير الفني الأسبق لنادي بيراميدز عن أسباب ابتعاده عن عالم التدريب في الفترة الأخيرة، موضحًا حقيقة تلقيه عرضًا لتدريب الزمالك في وقت سابق.

وقال تاكيس جونياس في تصريحات تلفزيونية عبر قناة اون تايم سبورتس: “هدفي أن أجد نادي لديه نفس هدفي، وهدفي هو المنافسة على لقب، هذا هو سبب عدم تواجدي مع فريق حتى الآن، هذا أمر صعب وعلي أن أنتظر ولا أستطيع أن أقدم تنازلات”.

وأكمل: “إذا نظرت إلى تاريخي في الكرة المصرية، بدأت مع وادي دجلة، وأنهيت مع وادي دجلة، انتظرت عامًا كاملًا لأجد ناد أكبر حتى جاء عرض بيراميدز، لا مانع من الانتظار”.

وأردف: “عندما تعرف قيمتك لا تتنازل عن شيء، زين الدين زيدان فاز بـ 3 دوري أبطال أوروبا، وهو الآن بدون عمل وينتظر عرض جيد، الفكرة في المشروع، وأنا أنتظر مشروع جيد”.

وتابع: “فاوضتني 3 أندية في الوقت الحالي، لكني رفضت، وأيضًا في اليونان، الذي يجعلني أوافق على عرض أن يكون هناك مشروع وقوة لينتقل إلى مرحلة أكبر”.

واستطرد: “أنا ليس لدي وكيل، وبالتالي أقضي من 7 لـ 10 أيام كل شهر في مصر ثم أعود إلى اليونان”.

طالع | عبد الواحد: تاكيس جونياس لا يصلح لتدريب الزمالك ويجب الابتعاد عن الوكلاء

وبسؤاله هل حدث حوار بينك وبين الزمالك قبل تعيين جوميز؟، أوضح: “الزمالك كان يتحدث معي أيام قيادة مرتضى منصور، وتحدث معي أمير مرتضى بعد تجربة بيراميدز”.

وأتم: “حدث تفاوض لكن لم نتفق على شيء، قال أإنه سيعود إلي ولكنه لم يعد”.

The South Africa quick, who has not played since July due to back spasms, is set to turn out for Cobras in a first-class fixture against Dolphins from Monday

Firdose Moonda22-Oct-2017Vernon Philander will make a much-anticipated return to cricket this week, after being named in the Cobras squad for the first-class fixture against Dolphins that starts on Monday.Philander has not played any cricket since July, when he suffered a stomach bug during the third Test against England at The Oval. He was due to turn out in the fourth Test a week later in Manchester but back spasms sidelined him and he has been recovering from the issue since. He was not considered for South Africa’s recently-completed two-Test series against Bangladesh but could put himself into contention for the inaugural four-day, day-night Test against Zimbabwe on Boxing Day.South Africa’s cricketers are not scheduled to play any long-form fixtures in November or the first three weeks of December, a window that was created for the T20 Global League. With that tournament now postponed, the domestic franchise T20 competition is expected to be brought forward and, if fit, Philander will feature for Cobras in that event as well.Another injured quick, Dale Steyn, is also targeting the November matches for a return to action but there is no confirmation on the availability of Morne Morkel, Chris Morris or Wayne Parnell, who are recovering from a side-strain, a back problem and a groin injury respectively. Lungi Ngidi, the young Titans quick, who was not played top-flight since June with a back injury, has been named in the franchise’s four-day squad to play this week.South Africa are currently carrying a long list of walking wounded. Apart from the six bowlers mentioned, David Miller has missed the last two ODIs against Bangladesh with a groin injury and captain Faf du Plessis had to retire hurt in East London after sustaining an acute lower-back strain while batting.The number of niggles would have been a major concern if the T20 Global League had kicked off as planned on November 3. Instead, these players now have additional time to prepare for a heavy international workload from January, when South Africa will host India for three Tests, six ODIs and three T20s, followed by Australia for four Tests.

Morne Morkel is savouring every moment back in international career after his serious back injury but believes his career is ‘nearly finished’

Firdose Moonda21-Jul-2017

Morne Morkel believes his career is ‘nearly finished’•AFP

Morne Morkel could consider playing only one format of international cricket, and it may well be Tests, as he reaches the twilight of his career. At 32, Morkel considers his career “nearly finished” and will meet with CSA at the end of the ongoing tour to England to discuss his future.Unlike some of his senior team-mates such as AB de Villiers and Faf du Plessis, Morkel does not appear to be eyeing the 2019 World Cup as a swansong, despite recent reappearances in the one-day team. Asked how long he could realistically see himself playing international cricket for, Morkel did not provide a time-frame but hinted it may not be too much longer.”I don’t know. After this tour we’ll see. I’ll speak with Cricket South Africa and see where they see me featuring,” he said. “I love playing for this team. But it’s not rocket science that they probably want to start looking, in white-ball cricket, at the 2019 World Cup. Am I going to part of those plans? If I can be around to help the younger guys find their feet, so be it. I’ll do that. For me the main focus is this tour and then we’ll go back and see how we go.”After playing just two of South Africa’s six matches in the Caribbean triangular series in mid-2016, Morkel was sidelined from one-day cricket for 11 months, initially with a back injury and then because other players were being looked at. He returned on this tour and played in the final ODI of the three-match series against England at Lord’s and in all three Champions Trophy games but seems to think the selectors are looking to the future.”My conditioning’s been good over the years and I really look after my body,” he said. “Mentally and physically I feel strong. But the World Cup is two or three years down the line and those are decisions they need to make.”South Africa’s current one-day attack includes Kagiso Rabada, who is the spearhead, allrounders Chris Morris and Wayne Parnell and death-bowling specialist Andile Phehlukwayo. It could also have room for Lungi Ngidi, the young quick who debuted in the T20 series against Sri Lanka in January and was being considered for the Champions Trophy squad before he was injured. Rabada, Phehlukwayo and Ngidi are all under 23 and are set to play key roles in South Africa’s future and even though South Africa have struggled to replace Kyle Abbott in the XI, Morkel may not see himself as the ideal candidate.Morne Morkel claimed the vital wicket of Joe Root in England’s first innings at Trent Bridge•Getty Images

His focus since the back problem, which he feared would end his career, has largely been on Test cricket. After making a successful comeback in the series against New Zealand in March, Morkel opted not to return to the IPL in order to get himself ready for the England series. He has also decided not to go to the CPL so he can prepare for a home summer that includes 10 Tests and South Africa’s own T20 event, the Global League. Morkel has not been named as one of the marquee players attached to a franchise for that tournament but may yet add his name to the draft. He is not ruling out T20 leagues entirely, but said international cricket is his first priority.”If there’s a T20 league I can go and play in and improve my skills and put my name into the hat for other tournaments, then I need to make that opportunity count. But the Proteas and this environment come first. So I need to focus on that.”Morkel has taken on more of a leadership role in the Test side over the last six months, something several squad members have mentioned as noticeable especially in the absence of Dale Steyn. In India in late 2015, when Steyn sat on the sidelines with a groin problem, Morkel bowled reverse swinging spells which, even though they did not help South Africa win, asked questions of the opposition. In New Zealand in March, Morkel was the bowler getting his speeds over 140kph. He has even developed a penchant for pitching it up when needed and has become South Africa’s go-to man to create pressure.The numbers don’t always reveal Morkel’s worth but his experience is invaluable to a Test side that relies heavily on the strength of its attack. Having always wanted to be part of the pack, Morkel admitted he is enjoying contributing while he still can.”In 2003, I was playing league cricket for a club called Endon, a first division club, and we got a day off and I came to Trent Bridge. I sat in the stands here watching the boys play. To play a Test match here, that’s what dreams are made of,” Morkel said. “For me, every time I get the ball, it’s about really enjoying the moment. In the past I put myself under a lot of pressure, but I think those sort of days are gone. I know how quickly a career can change. And I’m not starting my career. My career’s nearly finished. So I am just enjoying the moment.”

أكد الدولي المصري السابق ومحلل شبكة “beIN SPORTS”، محمد أبو تريكة، أن الإرهاق والعامل البدني للاعبي آرسنال، يعد هو السبب الرئيسي لخسارة اليوم أمام أستون فيلا.

وخسر آرسنال أمام نظيره أستون فيلا بنتيجة 2/0، في إطار منافسات الجولة الـ33 من الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز، على ملعب الامارات.

وتجمد رصيد آرسنال عند النقطة 71 في المركز الثاني في سلم ترتيب الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز.

اقرأ ايضاً.. فيديو | آرسنال يخسر أمام أستون فيلا ويُهدي صدارة الدوري الإنجليزي لـ مانشستر سيتي

وقال محمد أبو تريكة خلال الأستوديو التحليلي بشبكة قنوات “بي إن سبورتس”: “أستون فيلا فاجأني أمام آرسنال، فوزه اليوم هو فوز مستحق وهي ضربة قوية لآرسنال، لكن هل سيتمكن آرسنال من استعادة توازنه أم لا؟ الإجابة ستكون في مواجهة بايرن ميونخ”.

وأكد أبو تريكة: “لاعبو آرسنال كان لديهم إرهاق اليوم بسبب مباراة بايرن ميونخ أما لاعبو استون فيلا كان لديهم راحة طويلة واستعدوا لمواجهة آرسنال جيداً”.

وأشار أبو تريكة: “أستون فيلا من الناحية التكتيكية يعتبر من أفضل الفرق الحالية، فريق لديه هوية وأسلوب لعب ويملك لاعبين مميزين وخبرة مثل واتكينز وماجين ومارتنينيز الحارس وتيليمانس”.

وأضاف قائلاً: “أستون فيلا يعتبر من فرق القمة هو ينافس على المركز الرابع والصعود لدوري أبطال أوروبا هو ليس مثل كريستال بالاس أو لوتون تاون”.

واختتم قائلاً: “من الطبيعي أن يفوز أستون فيلا أمام آرسنال لكن ليس من الطبيعي أن يخسر ليفربول ضد كريستال بالاس وأعتبر هذه النتيجة مفاجأة كبيرة لي”.

Chelsea are believed to be interested in bringing former defender Tino Livramento back to the club this summer before loaning him back to Southampton, according to a new transfer update.

How good is Tino Livramento?

The 20-year-old spent 12 years as a Blues player in the youth system, arriving at Stamford Bridge in 2009, before eventually departing in 2021.

Livramento joined Southampton at that point, and he has been a strong signing for the Saints overall, albeit unfortunately missing the vast majority of the 2022/23 season after suffering a cruciate ligament injury, being limited to just 26 minutes of action in all competitions.

In total, the £8,000-a-week right-back has made 34 appearances for Saints to date, scoring once and registering two assists in that time, as well as averaging 1.9 tackles and 1.7 interceptions per game in the Premier League during the 2021/22 season.

While Chelsea deeming Livramento surplus to requirements two years ago, a shock report is now suggesting he could be set for a return to west London with a view to forcing his way into the side further down the line.

Could Livramento sign for Chelsea?

According to The Daily Mail, the Blues are interested in a "surprise" move to bring the youngster back to the club in the current transfer window, but would bizarrely send him straight back to the south coast:

"Chelsea have held talks with Southampton over a potential deal for their former right back Tino Livramento that would entail loaning him back.

"Southampton value the 20-year old at £38million and have been rejecting offers from Newcastle United over the past week. They also wanted to have the England U21 international in their ranks for next season after his last campaign in the Premier League was blighted by injury.

"Chelsea sold Livramento to Southampton for £8m which also included a hefty sell on percentage. The approach comes as a surprise with Reece James and new signing from Lyon Malo Gusto already on their books."

This news certainly comes as a surprise to many of a Chelsea persuasion, especially considering the Blues look fairly well-stocked at right-back for the long-term future, as the report alludes to.

There is no question that Livramento is a talented young footballer with a potentially big future in the game, however, being described as "outstanding" by current England Under-21s manager Lee Carsley and also possessing an "aura" about him, according to Theo Walcott.

The Southampton youngster certainly won't want to be playing in the Championship long term, following the south coast's side relegation from the Premier League, so if they cannot secure promotion at the first time of asking he may well expect top flight football instead.

With Reece James unquestionably Chelsea's strongest right-back option and Malo Gusto also coming in to provide competition for the England international, however, it is difficult to see how Livramento is going to be able to enjoy regular football and continue his development as a player at any point, considering both of those players are relatively young themselves.

There would be a heartwarming element to his return to west London, though, having ultimately not made the grade at senior level, and if Mauricio Pochettino sees him as a shrewd addition to his squad in the future, the new Blues manager should perhaps be trusted in his decision-making.