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It is very possible that Everton will look to sign a new midfielder in the summer transfer window, according to a key update from journalist Alan Myers.

Are Everton looking for new signings?

The Blues endured another disappointing season in the Premier League last time around, having gone into the campaign with an element of hope that a positive year could be enjoyed.

Instead, Everton had to wait until the final day to secure their safety, with their 1-0 victory over Bournemouth keeping them in the top flight and preventing what would have been a damaging relegation to the Championship.

It is now imperative that a repeat of the last two seasons doesn't happen, however, with Sean Dyche and his players needing to find a new level in 2023/24, ahead of a move to their new ground in the near future.

For that to happen, it is clear that new signings need to come in, bringing a freshness to proceedings, and most importantly, adding more quality and depth to Dyche's squad. It looks likely that Atalanta will beat them to the signing of primary attacking target El Bilal Toure, which is a blow, but other areas of the pitch also need to be focused on.

There have already been players brought in, though. Ashley Young was the first to join, signing on a free transfer after leaving Aston Villa, and he has since been followed by Arnaut Danjuma, who has made the move to Merseyside on loan from Villarreal.

Another new face, this time in the middle of the park, could also be on the cards.

Will Everton sign a new midfielder?

When asked by a fan on Twitter whether Everton would bring in a new midfielder this summer, Sky Sports reporter Myers responded with a simple but promising two-word response regarding the situation:

"Very possibly."

While no specific player is mentioned in the report, it is encouraging to hear that a midfielder could arrive at Goodison soon, hopefully in time for the start of the Premier League season, with Everton entertaining Fulham in their opening game on August 12th.

Chelsea and England midfielder Conor Gallagher has been linked with a move to Merseyside and he could be an ideal option, although he isn't without suitors, with West Ham thought to be in the running to snap him up, having tabled a £40m offer for his services.

The 23-year-old is renowned for his energy levels and would provide a fresh impetus in the middle of the park, not to mention an eye for goal, having scored eight league goals on loan at Crystal Palace in 2021/22.

Whoever ends up coming in – you could argue he needs to be the right age and profile for Dyche, arriving as a key man from the off and providing strong competition for the likes of Amadou Onana, Idrissa Gueye and Alex Iwobi.

These next few weeks really could decide how Everton will cope and potentially even finish in the league in 2023/24, and if key additions don't come in across several different positions – centre-back, midfielder and centre-forward all stand out – there is the definite risk of yet another painful relegation battle, but it looks as if a new midfielder could be one to watch.

Tottenham Hotspur could be set to bolster their squad further, constructing a side not only ready to challenge once again, but perhaps even tempt their key man to stay.

Is Douglas Luiz leaving Aston Villa?

The bulk of the summer window has been dominated by Harry Kane's future, which remains uncertain as Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain continue to circle.

Meanwhile, new manager Ange Postecoglou has been frank in his assessment, suggesting that whilst it remains ongoing, things around the club feel almost uneasy.

This potential exit of their star striker has been born largely from their failure to compete for the elite honours, but also due to last year's disaster of a campaign.

Whilst he alone thrived, his teammates largely disappointed him. As such, the wholesale changes already being implemented will likely encourage his potential stay.

Especially if they add Douglas Luiz to the squad, who has been linked with an Aston Villa exit, as the two north London clubs show interest, via The Sun.

Despite signing a new contract back in October, FootballTransfers still only value the Brazilian general at €39.8m (£34m), suggesting a coup could be in order.

How many goals does Harry Kane have?

Despite the misery endured during their most recent season, in which three managers came and went from the dugout, Kane offered a sole shining light amidst the darkness.

Somehow, the 30-year-old marksman notched 30 goals in the Premier League, assisting a further three. His fine performances perhaps went under the radar due to the imperious debut term that Erling Haaland enjoyed for Manchester City.

Whilst he was questioned for a period, in the end, the 23-year-old broke numerous records, including the Premier League's for goals scored in both a 38 and 42-game season. His 52 strikes across all competitions helped his side claim a famous treble, cementing them as one of the greatest sides in footballing history.

Despite starring for a side overawed with quality, in the league, the Norway international did only score six more goals than Kane, who featured in one of Spurs' worst campaigns in recent history. There is hardly a huge gulf between the two, despite all the hype surrounding the youngster.

Should Postecoglou bolster their squad even minutely, it could have a huge effect on the potential tally the splendid striker could accumulate next term.

After all, Luiz would offer an additional attacking impetus from deep, with which he could both feed the forward or even finish off the chances created by him.

Starring for a Villa side reignited by Unai Emery's appointment, the 25-year-old machine featured 37 times in the league last year, maintaining a 7.10 average rating. This was a figure largely buoyed by his 86% pass accuracy, 12 goal contributions, 1.2 key passes and two tackles per game, via Sofascore.

Not to mention that his tireless work ethic would thrive under the new management, helping press from the front and forge numerous chances for his side – it was no wonder he was branded an "enforcer" by journalist Ashley Preece.

With Haaland supported by the likes of Phil Foden, Ilkay Gundogan and Bernardo Silva in the midfield, Kane could soon be set to benefit from a similar treatment, as the former Citizens midfielder would join James Maddison as creators for the lethal star.

Soon, as he seeks to finally shatter that all-time Premier League scoring record, having scored 213 already in the league and 307 across his career, there is precedent to believe that a revitalised Spurs squad with the offensive impetus provided by the Villa star would help Kane surpass the record-breaking 'Striking Viking'.

Tottenham Hotspur are now "betting heavily" on FC Porto striker Mehdi Taremi as a replacement for Harry Kane, having already tabled an offer of €24m (£21m), however the Portuguese side are holding out for €30m (£26m), according to reports.

What's the latest on Harry Kane's future?

Bayern Munich have seen another offer rejected for Kane, so time may be running out for the German champions to sign the striker, as he wants to have his future sorted before Tottenham's Premier League opener against Brentford on Sunday.

Ange Postecoglou has recently told the media that he also wants a decision to be made sooner rather than later, in order to have clarity about where he needs to strengthen his squad ahead of the new season, but the striker's future remains up in the air.

The Lilywhites can now sit patiently and see if Bayern were being genuine about their third offer being the final one, though they will of course need to line up potential replacements in case the Bavarians come back and meet the price tag all of a sudden.

Read The Latest Tottenham Transfer News HERE

As such, the Lilywhites haveallegedly now made an offer of €24m (£21m) for Taremi, just shy of Porto's asking price of €30m (£26m), according to reports from Portugal (via Sport Witness).

The striker has "always" desired to play in England, but Porto will not make his departure easy, and he is protected by the €60m (£52m) release clause included in his contract, although his deal is due to expire next year.

Jorge Mendes is intermediating the talks between Tottenham and Porto, delivering the first bid, and it seems as though the north Londoners only need to increase their offer by £5m to secure the Iranian's signature.

Who is Mehdi Taremi?

The 31-year-old forward started out in his homeland of Iran, but it is with Porto where he has started to make a real name for himself, weighing in with an outstanding 31 goals and ten assists for the Portuguese side in all competitions last season.

Seven of those goal contributions came in the Champions League, indicating the Iran international, who has 33 goals for his country, is very much capable of competing at the highest level, and he has received high praise from members of the media.

Back in March, journalist Zach Lowy claimed the 6 foot 1 striker could be "the best Asian player in football right now", as a result of Heung-Min Son's poor form last season, and he could be a very good signing at around £26m, despite his age.

That said, Taremi is unlikely to be a long-term replacement for Kane, and there may be some concerns over the fact that he is still yet to play in one of Europe's "top five" leagues at this stage of his career.

If Spurs do lose their captain this summer, it is important they re-invest the money they receive on another top striker, and it is unclear whether the FC Porto striker is truly in that bracket.

Crystal Palace are set to enter the running to sign Chelsea defender Trevoh Chalobah this summer, and reports have revealed whether his club are willing to sell.

Is Trevoh Chalobah leaving Chelsea?

The Blues centre-back is an academy graduate at Stamford Bridge having worked his way up through the various youth ranks to get promoted to the first team back in 2021, but he’s never really been able to nail down a regular place in the senior squad in the capital.

In the Premier League last season, the 24-year-old was handed just 18 starts from 38 matches and earlier in his career was sent out on three development loans to Ipswich Town, Huddersfield and FC Lorient, so he knows that the only time he’ll receive consistent minutes is if he’s on the road rather than remaining where he is and being out of favour.

The England youth international still has another five years remaining on his contract with Mauricio Pochettino’s side, but TEAMtalk have reported that the 6 foot 3 colossus has been told that he can leave having been deemed surplus to requirements by his manager.

The Argentine recently signed AS Monaco’s Axel Disasi to replace the injured Wesley Fofana, not to mention that the in-demand Levi Colwill is expected to be used more often moving forward having signed a new long-term contract, so Chalobah won’t be able to get a look in next season should he stay put.

Are Crystal Palace signing Trevoh Chalobah?

According to Football Insider, Crystal Palace are “poised to join the race” for Chalobah this summer. Premier League rivals West Ham United and Everton are also “ready to pounce and secure a deal”, alongside a “number of top sides” from across Europe.

The Chelsea product’s exit is set to soon be “accelerated” as they are “keen to sell” him, despite having captained his side during their pre-season tour of the USA.

How much does Trevoh Chalobah earn?

At Chelsea, Chalobah currently pockets £50k-per-week which he isn’t really earning considering that he’s a fringe player, but that could all change should he make the move to Crystal Palace where he would only excel further under the guidance of Roy Hodgson.

The Freetown native last season averaged 2.2 clearances and 1.2 aerial wins per top-flight game when given the opportunity to play, via WhoScored, alongside recording an 88.5% pass success rate, which was higher than any of the regular starters achieved in SE25, showing his calmness and composure on the ball.

The Blues' “soldier”, as previously dubbed by his former manager Graham Potter, is also capable of contributing to efforts in the final third having scored 13 goals and provided nine assists since the start of his career, highlighting the positive impact he can make at both ends of the pitch.

Furthermore, Chalobah shares the same agent, CAA Base Ltd, as Eberechi Eze, so this existing connection that his representative already has to the club could give them a small advantage should they attempt to get a deal over the line in the final weeks of the transfer window.

Fabrizio Romano has provided an update on Manchester United's pursuit of central defender Jean-Clair Todibo.

The Frenchman is a name being considered as manager Erik ten Hag hopes to strengthen his defence before the deadline on September 1st.

What is the last news regarding Todibo?

Todibo is one of the names on United's defensive shortlist this summer.

However, any move could be in jeopardy now, following the news that Harry Maguire's proposed £30m move to West Ham United has collapsed due to the Conference League champions growing frustrated with the delay caused by Maguire's inability to reach an agreement on severance pay. Due to the Red Devil's qualification for the Champions League, the England international has received a salary increase and wanted to be compensated for the wage cut he would've been talking by joining the Hammers. The player was requesting £7m but a compromise was never met and the move collapsed.

Man United had drawn up a shortlist in preparation for Maguire's departure according to Romano, with the list featuring Todibo, Bayern Munich's Benjamin Pavard, and Bayer Leverkusen's Edmond Tapsoba, with the Italian revealing that internal talks had been held at Old Trafford regarding both Frenchman on the shortlist, however, it remains to be seen whether the interest will be pushed further due to the news that Maguire is set to stay.

Nice are hopeful of keeping the former Barcelona defender at the club this summer, with the current boss referring to the 23-year-old as a "leader" within the squad. However, the French side will not stand in the way should United make a move for the defender this summer.

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, Romano revealed that whilst Todibo is highly thought of at Old Trafford, he is not the priority, with Bayern's Pavard being the main target for manager Erik ten Hag. He also stated that United had scouts in attendance at Nice's last game, and have made contact with the players camp.

He said: “Benjamin Pavard, at the moment, is the priority. And for Jean-Clair Todibo, they sent their scouts to follow the player again last game he had with Nice, the opening game in Ligue 1. The player has always been appreciated [by Manchester United] and they’ve already had some contact with his camp.”

What is next this window for Manchester United?

The club are still hoping to strengthen in midfield as well as defence before the window shuts.

Manager Ten Hag confirmed some surprising news in his press conference, stating that the club are in talks with Northern Irishman Jonny Evans to extend his short-term deal. When asked about the situation, the Dutch boss said "Harry Maguire's situation doesn't affect it, we will see what happens. We are in talks and when we have news we will bring that, as always. For this month, Jonny is under contract." Should the former Leicester City man sign the deal, any potential defensive additions could be pushed back until the summer of 2024.

The club also are targeting midfielder Sofyan Amrabat from Fiorentina. Throughout the summer the Red Devils have been the favourites to secure the signature of the player who really caught the eye captaining Morocco to a fourth-place finish in the World Cup last December, however, they are yet to submit an official offer for the 26-year-old. Now, according to reports, rivals Liverpool are ready to swoop in for the La Viola midfielder after missing out on Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia. The good news for United is they remain the player's first choice destination according to Alfredo Pedulla, however, should Liverpool maintain their interest, the player may grow tired of waiting for an offer from Old Trafford.

Glasgow Rangers survived a scare against Greenock Morton on the weekend, going a goal down, however, they bounced back to secure a 2-1 victory and seal their place in the quarter-finals of the League Cup.

Michael Beale started a few fringe players, yet none really excelled and this could heighten the need to dip back into the transfer market in the coming days to bolster the depth of his first-team squad.

With the end of the window fast approaching, Beale doesn’t have much time to work with, however, could a previous target still be on his wish list?

Are Rangers still interested in Luis Palma?

The 4th Official provided a recent transfer update regarding the state of play on a few transfers and Palma was mentioned:

“Rangers still retain an interest in Luis Palma.

Read the latest Rangers transfer news HERE…

“Also, Rangers' interest in left-footed centre-half Jake Cooper from Millwall is real.

“Glen Kamara's move away from Ibrox is likely to be finalised next week.”

The Gers had been linked with the winger since before the end of last season in a saga which threatened to drag throughout the entire summer.

A fee of £4.5m was touted a few months ago and whether that is still the case remains to be seen. There is no doubt Beale requires another winger at Ibrox, having seen Ryan Kent and then Fashion Sakala depart.

How good is Luis Palma?

Last season for Greek side Aris Thessaloniki, Palma registered 21 goal contributions – 13 goals and eight assists – across all competitions as the flying winger showcased his talents on the continent.

Indeed, he would have ranked joint-second in the Rangers squad for his attacking output from 2022/23, certainly suggesting that Beale should make a concrete offer before the window shuts.

His performances were even lauded by Aris manager Apostolos Terzis, who said:

"Luis has done that all season. He has been a huge player for us. We know there has been a lot of interest in him and it's not surprising.

Hopefully, playing in Europe next season will persuade him to stay with us.”

Beale has lured forwards Cyriel Dessers, Sam Lammers, Abdallah Sima, and Danilo to the Light Blues during the summer, however, it is the Brazilian who has the potential to be a massive player for the club given his abilities.

Last term, the 24-year-old scored 14 goals for Feyenoord, winning the Eredivisie title with the Dutch side and during his five games for Rangers so far, he has netted twice, yet by signing Palma, this total will surely only increase.

Along with his four assists in the Greek top flight, Palma also created four big chances, averaged 1.4 key passes per game and succeeded with one dribble attempt per game, indicating that he creates plenty of chances for others and Danilo could take full advantage.

The Honduran can also operate on either wing or as an attacking midfielder, therefore the Gers boss would be able to utilise his potential throughout a variety of different systems while still linking up well with the Brazilian.

The six-cap maestro won't come cheap, yet he could become the final piece in Beale’s attacking jigsaw as he chases glory.

An update has emerged on Leeds United and their plans to add to their midfield options before the end of the summer transfer window.

What's the latest Leeds transfer news?

According to TEAMtalk, the Whites are eyeing up a swoop to sign Nottingham Forest central midfielder Jonjo Shelvey before next month's deadline passes.

The report claims that the Yorkshire-based outfit have asked about a possible deal for the former England international and are weighing up an approach for his services.

Read the latest Leeds transfer news HERE…

It states that Steve Cooper is open to parting ways with the former Liverpool maestro despite the fact that he only joined the club on a permanent move from Newcastle United in January of this year.

Leeds are said to be exploring a move for the midfield maestro and it remains to be seen whether they would be willing to bring him in on a loan or permanent basis.

How good is Jonjo Shelvey?

The 31-year-old ace is a proven Premier League performer who could use his experience to be a vital asset to Daniel Farke's side on and off the pitch.

Shelvey has made 278 top-flight appearances throughout his career and has been capped six times by England, which shows that he knows what it takes to deliver at the top level, and he could be the perfect mentor for Archie Gray.

The ex-Swansea star, who was once described as a "Rolls-Royce" by Toon teammate Isaac Hayden, only played 11 league games last term, but his form during the 2021/22 campaign shows that he does have the ability to be an excellent option in midfield.

He averaged a Sofascore rating of 6.93 across 24 Premier League matches for Newcastle.

The £75k-per-week machine also averaged 2.2 tackles and interceptions and completed 4.9 long passes per outing for the Magpies that season.

Rodrigo (6.95) and Tyler Adams (6.98) were the only Leeds players with at least five appearances to average a higher Sofascore rating than 6.93 for the club last season, which illustrates how good Shelvey could be for Farke.

Gray, who only turned 17 in March, has started all three Championship matches this term and struggled in midfield, with an average Sofascore rating of 6.50 – the 17th best within the squad – and a duel success rate of 32% so far.

The teenage talent has completed 81% of his attempted passes and failed to attempt a single long pass, whilst he has also made two tackles and interceptions per game, as per Sofascore.

Shelvey, who completed 81% of his passes during the 2021/22 Premier League campaign, could, therefore, come in as a big upgrade on the 17-year-old gem as his performances at a higher level were more impressive than what the academy product is currently producing.

However, that does not have to be a slight on Gray, as he should not be expected to be the finished article at such a young age.

Instead, Shelvey could be the perfect short-term addition for Farke to be a key player on the pitch this season whilst mentoring the teenage gem and helping him to grow and develop over the course of the campaign.

Hopefully, this would then allow Gray to learn from the experienced wizard in order to continue his development without having the expectation of needing to immediately be a star on the pitch this term.

Tottenham Hotspur appear to be keen to add their defensive ranks on transfer deadline day, amid reports that Ange Postecoglou's side are eyeing a surprise late move for a current Premier League centre-back…

Who will Tottenham sign on Deadline Day?

According to transfer guru Fabrizio Romano, the Lilywhites are believed to be mulling over a potential swoop for Bournemouth's Lloyd Kelly, with the suggestion being that the north London outfit would even be willing to include long-serving asset Eric Dier as part of a deal for the 24-year-old.

Read the latest Tottenham transfer news HERE…

Writing on Twitter, the respected journalist stated: "EXCL: Tottenham considering possible move for Lloyd Kelly from Bournemouth in last 24h. No formal bid/concrete yet as depends on outgoings, Spurs need players to leave. Bournemouth would need to replace Kelly, not easy; also Eric Dier could be offered as part of deal."

How good is Lloyd Kelly?

While Postecoglou and co have already bolstered the backline with the signing of Micky van de Ven earlier in the summer, there had been previous claims that the club were interested in signing at least one more central defender before the close of the window, amid prior links to the likes of Clement Lenglet and Edmond Tapsoba.

Having shipped a dismal tally of 63 league goals last term, it is easy to see why those at N17 are so eager to find increased depth for the defensive unit, with the ex-Celtic boss currently set to be particularly reliant on both Van de Ven and Cristian Romero for the remainder of the campaign.

With that in mind, it does appear to make sense to push to bring in a new recruit before tonight's deadline, although whether Kelly is a suitable target is another matter altogether, with Spurs supporters likely to be concerned at the fact that the Englishman has been likened to Davinson Sanchez as part of Football Transfers' 'Similar Players' list.

That comparison will spark a sense of trepidation among the Tottenham faithful as Sanchez has endured a miserable time of it of late in the capital, with the Colombian international memorably being booed by the home crowd following a short, erratic cameo against the Cherries last season.

Branded "one of the worst players" to have played for the club, in the eyes of talkSPORT's Jamie O'Hara, the 27-year-old appears to be a player that Postecoglou is desperate to get rid of over the coming hours, having only recently missed the crucial spot-kick in the penalty shootout defeat to Fulham in the Carabao Cup, with the Evening Standard's Dan Kilpatrick writing that the player 'struggled with and without the ball in a desperate first-half display'.

To think then that a possible clone of Sanchez could be about to be snapped up in the form of Kelly – who has been valued at just €5m (£4m) by CIES Football Observatory – is a real worry, with the pair also alike due to their statistical record in recent times.

That likeness can be seen by the fact that the duo are hardly adept at winning back possession for their respective sides, with Kelly ranking in just the bottom 29% among those in his position in Europe's top five leagues for interceptions made per 90, while his Spurs counterpart ranks in the bottom 36% in that regard.

Equally, the Bournemouth brute – who has at least been lauded for his "aggressive" style in the past by former boss Scott Parker – has hardly set the world alight so far this term after making just a solitary league start for the south coast side, with it hard to see the wisdom in Tottenham making the effort to bring him to north London.

Manchester United sprung to life last season under new coach Erik ten Hag, claiming their first silverware in six years by winning the League Cup against Newcastle United before going on to qualify for the Champions League.

His second term hasn’t quite started how he would have anticipated, losing two of his opening four Premier League matches, while none of his big money arrivals have settled in as yet.

The Red Devils splurged £169m during the transfer window on four permanent additions, Mason Mount, Andre Onana, Rasmus Hojlund and Altay Bayinder, yet none have really made an impact thus far.

The Old Trafford side have a notorious history – especially since Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013 – of spending big on individuals who have failed to live up to the enormous expectations in Manchester.

The likes of Fred, Jadon Sancho, Harry Maguire and Donny van de Beek arrived at the club with plenty of talent and the chance to take the next step in their careers, yet the quartet flattered to deceive during their time at United and have cost the club millions in wages and transfer fees in the process.

One of the biggest transfer blunders in recent times, however, was that of Ángel Di María, who signed for the club during Louis van Gaal’s reign.

How much did Ángel Di María cost Manchester United?

Following David Moyes’ underwhelming time in charge of the club during the 2013/14 season, the board moved to bring in the Dutchman as his replacement and with a stellar pedigree which included a Champions League crown with Ajax along with numerous league titles across the continent, it looked like an inspired appointment.

With a few days to go until deadline day, United splashed out a then British record transfer fee of £59.7m to sign Di Maria from Real Madrid, and he went on to describe just how much he wanted to work under the former Bayern Munich coach, saying: “I have thoroughly enjoyed my time in Spain and there were a lot of clubs interested in me, but United is the only club that I would have left Real Madrid for.

"Louis van Gaal is a fantastic coach with a proven track record of success and I am impressed by the vision and determination everyone has to get this club back to the top – where it belongs.

“I now just cannot wait to get started."

For such a lavish fee, it looked as though United finally had a player who could take them back to the top of the Premier League, but the move soon turned into a disastrous endeavour.

What happened to Ángel Di María at Manchester United?

The winger had spent the previous four seasons at Madrid, scoring 36 goals and registering a staggering 86 assists over 190 matches, and it was clear that his attacking qualities would make him a dangerous threat from out wide in Van Gaal’s United side.

Unfortunately, it didn’t quite work out for the Argentinian in Manchester. He started only 20 Premier League matches across the whole of the 2014/15 campaign and in total, played just 32 games for the club as they once again failed to mount a challenge for the title or win any of the domestic cups.

A more damming statistic was that he scored just four goals across these games and this works out as roughly £15m per goal for the club in relation to his near £60m transfer fee, a massive sum of money to be wasting.

Di Maria did provide 11 assists in the league, but it couldn’t save the Red Devils from finishing in a lowly fourth spot in the table, 17 points behind champions Chelsea.

His signing, among other big name arrivals, was claimed to be “catastrophic” by Tom McDermott back in 2020 and considering how ineffective he was, while the winger stated that he had a problem with Van Gaal, saying: "These are things that happen and people took it badly. I only had problems with the coach [Louis van Gaal] here."

It’s evident his time in England was a disaster, yet the moment he left, he displayed to the continent just how good a player he was.

Where is Ángel Di María now?

United made a loss on the player, selling him for just £44.3m in 2015 to Paris Saint-Germain to end his nightmare 12-month spell in the Premier League, and he enjoyed more success in the French capital.

Not only did he register 212 goal contributions – 93 goals and 119 assists – for PSG over seven seasons, but the winger also added to his trophy haul, winning five Ligue 1 titles along with a host of domestic cups.

He joined Juventus for a single season before eventually rejoining Benfica for a second spell at the club having first arrived in Portugal back in 2007, and he is slowly approaching the end of his career.

How many times did Ángel Di María play for Argentina?

The 35-year-old has played an impressive 133 times for his country since making his debut in 2008, and although he missed the 2014 World Cup final due to injury, he more than made up for it eight years later in Qatar.

Having scored the winning goal in the 2021 Copa America final, Di Maria also netted against France in the final of the 2022 World Cup, banishing his demons from 2014 and securing Argentina’s first world title for 36 years.

His spell at United will go down in the history books as one of the worst signings the club has made over the previous 20 years, yet perhaps it was a case of right player, wrong time.

If he arrived a few years later under Jose Mourinho, would the former Madrid star have endured a more productive time in England?

Of course, this is all conjecture and the matter of fact is, Di Maria cost the club a remarkable £15m per goal during his single season for the Old Trafford side and considering how important he had been for the Spanish giants over the previous four seasons, he was a major disappointment.

Even nine years later, United seemingly still haven’t learned their lesson when it comes to big money transfers.

Liverpool are not quite flying just yet, but they are showing the promise of a side destined for great things, with Jurgen Klopp's summer transfers setting the Premier League outfit in good stead for a successful season.

This week's Europa League victory over Austrian side LASK confirmed several things: Liverpool's 'comeback kings' – as was written by Neil Jones – are back once again, the cohesion and unity has returned to the Anfield side, and there are certainly still strides to be taken before they reach their zenith.

Having failed to qualify for the Champions League last year, the Reds are indeed desperate to improve upon the recent travails, and while a spot in the Premier League top-four come season's end is paramount, the ambitious Klopp will have his eyes on glinted prizes to reaffirm this club's stature as one of Europe's elite.

One of the most transformative cogs behind the new electricity in the squad has been Dominik Szoboszlai, with the Hungary captain positively fantastic since completing a £60m transfer to Merseyside from German side RB Leipzig in July.

The creative and versatile midfielder's energy and superlative technical ability has paid dividends in the early stages of the season, and it's no wonder that he won the club's Player of the Month for August after such amazing, authoritative displays.

To think that Liverpool could have signed someone even better over the past few years is, simply, one to arch the eyebrows.

But, it's true, with Klopp and co missing out on the opportunity to sign Martin Odegaard in 2021, with the Norwegian maestro ultimately unable to secure his 'dream' move, prior to joining Arsenal instead.

Why didn't Liverpool sign Martin Odegaard?

"Liverpool have always been my dream club, but I will not let this affect my decision when I choose a new club."

The words of Odegaard, back in 2014; he was chatting to Sport BILD. "It's all about finding the team that is best for me and for my development," he continued. "That is not necessarily Liverpool. I haven't really thought about my future yet."

Odegaard was dubbed a wonderkid from early on, and after his scintillating early showings in his native Norway, joined Real Madrid for a reported €3m (£2.3m), choosing the pre-eminent continental kings as his desired destination to kickstart his career.

According to the Liverpool Echo, the 24-year-old was considered for transfer in 2021, with Klopp's side registering an interest only to see the player opt for the Emirates Stadium instead, ending a disappointing spell with Los Blancos.

His time in the Spanish capital didn't quite work out, and after several loan spells – including one with current club Arsenal prior to his permanent transfer – he now resides on English soil, though all affiliated with the Reds will rue the fact they didn't secure his services.

How much did Arsenal sign Martin Odegaard for?

Gunners boss Mikel Arteta claimed that Odegaard had the potential to become "one of the best" midfielders in the world after joining on a loan deal in January 2021.

The one-time Real Sociedad loanee only scored once, also supplying two assists, during that second-half-of-season performance in London, but exuded quality enough for the club to decide to secure his signature for £30m, thus eradicating any murmurings that Liverpool might swoop in the future.

How much is Martin Odegaard worth?

According to CIES Football Observatory's valuation model, Odegaard is now worth at least £86m, standing as one of the most expensive midfielders on the planet.

This stands as a 187% increase on the price paid for the midfielder just two years ago, and partnering that with the impact he has had on the pitch, it's a pretty sensational piece of business.

And it's one that Liverpool will continue to regret not acting upon, even though they have now concluded a deal for a first-rate star such as Szoboszlai.

Szoboszlai, who CIES value at around £68m, posted ten goals and 13 assists across all competitions for Leipzig last season and is comfortably one of the most technically adept players in the Premier League, competent across a melange of roles and certain to continue to play a starring role in Liverpool's revival over the coming years.

But Odegaard is simply superlative, one of the very best in the world and, for half the price, it would likely have proved to be an unmatchable deal had it gone through for Klopp.

How good is Martin Odegaard?

Praised as a "wizard" by footballer Babayele Sodade, Odegaard is a superlative and all-encompassing creative midfielder with enough talent to rival Manchester City's Kevin De Bruyne as the foremost of his position not only in English football but across Europe.

Last season, the 53-cap sensation plundered 15 goals and eight assists in the Premier League, simply superb in his pivotal contributions to catalyse the club's resurgence.

As per FBref, he ranks among the top 1% of midfielders across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for goals, shot-creating actions and total shots taken, the top 14% for assists, the top 9% for progressive passes and the top 11% for progressive carries per 90.

It's a frankly absurd level of performance, and it's little wonder that Arsenal have recently completed negotiations for a new contract with their skipper, who is now believed to be the top earner.

Arsenal stumbled on the final lap of a marathon title challenge last year, but with captain and commander Odegaard galvanising his squad into action with his elegance and incisiveness, having already scored three goals across all competitions this season, there's every possibility that he will be the centrepiece as his side dethrone Manchester City this term.

Given that centre-back Ibrahima Konate was the only player to be purchased by Liverpool in the summer of 2021 – having met his £36m release clause – there was surely room in there somewhere for a player of Odegaard's precocious talent.

Alas, no move was made, and while Odegaard is now living the dream as one of the foremost midfielders in the Premier League, he dwells in Arsenal territory. Imagine what could have been.