As the new Premier League season begins to peak over the horizon, so Liverpool and their English top-flight rivals will start to shape their squads for 2024/25.

Those players who have been involved in the European Championship or Copa America won’t be back in training for a while now, but many first-team players have already returned to their respective clubs for pre-season.

Within a fortnight, many will be expected to have departed for overseas tours when, ideally, most clubs will have done the majority of their transfer business.

Liverpool enquire about Rayan Ait-Nouri

Indeed, Liverpool begin a tour of America on July 27 with a game against Real Betis in Pittsburgh.

By then it should be known whether they’ve managed to land Wolverhampton Wanderers’ 23-year-old Algerian left-back, Rayan Ait-Nouri.

According to CaughtOffside sources with knowledge of the situation, Ait-Nouri also remains an option for the Reds Premier League opponents, Manchester City and Chelsea.

The player is apparently open to leaving the Midlands-based outfit if he receives an acceptable offer in terms of length of contract and remuneration.

From Wolves’ point of view, they have set a price tag of around €45m for Ait-Nouri and don’t intend to allow the Algerian to leave for anything less.

The situation as it stands currently, according to CaughtOffside sources, is that representatives from those Premier League clubs mentioned have already met with Wolves to gather information about the player and understand all of the conditions required to be met in order for a deal to progress to completion.

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As of this moment none have made a move, though should Liverpool do so for example, Andrew Robertson is likely to be one player that might be looking over his shoulder from next season onwards.

If Ait-Nouri signs, he’ll surely expect to be first choice, and that’s bound to put Robertson’s nose out of joint.

Ditto if the player ends up at either the Etihad Stadium or Stamford Bridge.

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It appears to be all change once again at Barcelona this summer.

The Catalan giants have struggled under Xavi Hernandez this season, and though the former legendary midfielder had only recently agreed to stay on at the club after previously indicating he would leave, it now seems as if he will be sacked by president, Joan Laporta, after the final game of the season.

Regardless of whether that happens or he is given a stay of execution, one player that will not be in the first team next season is out-of-favour striker, Ansu Fati.

Barcelona’s Ansu Fati could be on his way to the Midlands

Once seemingly touted as the natural replacement for Lionel Messi, Fati’s star began to wane as injuries took their toll and his form and confidence began to suffer.

A loan spell at Brighton last season should’ve been the springboard for the player – who is still only 21 years of age – to relaunch his career.

However, more injury concerns and a less than satisfactory performance in front of goal (four goals in 27 appearances per WhoScored) was always going to ensure that Roberto De Zerbi, before he decided to leave himself, wasn’t going to take up a purchase option on the front man.

With Barcelona clearly looking elsewhere for their striking options, Fati has little choice other than to move on again.

According to Fichajes, both Sevilla and Valencia are interested in taking the player back to La Liga, which they note is his preference, but his agent, Jorge Mendes, may have other ideas.

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The outlet say that Wolverhampton Wanderers, where Mendes is believed to wield considerable influence, could well be Ansu Fati’s next playing destination.

It could be said to be a huge surprise when the youngster pitched up at the Amex Stadium at the start of last season, but surely a move to the unfashionable Midlands-based side would trump even that move.

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This summer could prove to be an interesting one for both Wolverhampton Wanderers and Newcastle United but for different reasons.

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The Midlands-based outfit had the type of season in 2023/24 that was probably expected given that made a number of sales of key players 12 months ago in order to stay on the right side of Financial Fair Play.

That’s something which could hurt Newcastle this summer if they decide to go all in on a new signing or two, and may require Eddie Howe to allow at least one high profile star to leave the North East giants.

Newcastle chasing Wolves’ Pedro Neto

If the Magpies don’t want to be taking one step forward and two back each season, they’ll need to win something in 2024/25, though in order to do so, Howe really needs to be strengthening where possible rather than acceding to the sale of one of his top players.

That could be the reality, however, as could not being able to acquire targets if they’re priced at the higher end by clubs potentially willing to sell.

Wolves are in the position where they don’t have to sell any players after their mini fire sale this time last year, but they have still put a price on Pedro Neto’s head indicating that they would cash in if interested parties came up with the money.

According to The Telegraph (subscription required), the club would accept a record £60m bid, with Newcastle and Man City reportedly in the running.

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Though any sale is likely to weaken Wolves, the club are not in a healthy enough position to be able to turn down that kind of money if it’s forthcoming.

Wolves manager, Gary O’Neil, has shown his conscientiousness in the transfer market before now, so one can expect that any monies received will be reinvested diligently.

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Liverpool will not appoint Wolves’ Gary O’Neil as their next manager as the Merseyside club continues its search for Jurgen Klopp’s successor.

The German coach will leave Anfield at the end of the season after a successful nine-year spell with the Premier League club and will be hoping to end his time on Merseyside by delivering another league title.

Liverpool are in a very tough battle with Man City and Arsenal for the Premier League and although everyone at the club is focused on a strong end to the current campaign, there will be eyes on the next as well.

The Reds are still in need of a new manager for the 2024/25 season and despite reports, The Athletic’s Liverpool correspondent, James Pearce, has stated that Wolves manager Gary O’Neil is not being considered for the role.

According to various reports, Liverpool are said to have interviewed O’Neil for the manager’s role but it looks like nothing will come of this and the Englishman will remain at Molineux for the new season.

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Liverpool’s search for a new manager goes on

O’Neil has done a great job at Wolves but a step up to Liverpool at this stage of his career seems a bit too soon. The 40-year-old started his career at the Reds when he was appointed assistant manager to Barry Lewtas for Liverpool’s under-23 squad back in 2020.

The former West Ham star has done great as a coach ever since but Liverpool are likely to want a manager with more experience.

At present, it is hard to predict what path the Merseyside club are going to go down as some of their initial candidates have been ruled out. Fans of the club will be very eager to see who will guide them next season but whoever it is, they have a very tough act to follow once Klopp leaves at the end of the season.

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In a season riddled with injury setbacks for Wolverhampton Wanderers, the news of Pedro Neto’s potential return provides a glimmer of hope for fans.

Despite suffering his second serious hamstring injury this campaign on March 9, there’s renewed optimism surrounding the 24-year-old winger’s comeback, according to head coach Gary O’Neil.

Neto’s absence has undoubtedly been felt on the pitch, with his dynamic play and attacking prowess sorely missed by the Wolves faithful. However, O’Neil’s recent update on Neto’s progress offers a ray of hope for supporters eagerly anticipating his return to action.

Speaking about Neto’s recovery during his pre-match press conference, O’Neil expressed his optimism, stating, “I am optimistic that we’ll see him before the end.” This statement injects a sense of anticipation into the Wolves camp, as they prepare for the final stretch of the season.

While Neto’s potential return brings positivity, the season-ending injury to young striker Leon Chiwome serves as a reminder of the poor injury luck Wolves have had to deal with this campaign.

Chiwome, who had been vying for a breakthrough in the first team, now faces a lengthy spell on the sidelines, robbing him of the opportunity to showcase his talents on the grand stage.

Gary O’Neil reveals Rayan Ait-Nouri, Hwang Hee Chan and Matheus Cunha are available for Wolves vs Nottingham Forest

Meanwhile O’Neil confirmed that Rayan Ait-Nouri are poised to return to Wolves’ matchday squad for their upcoming Premier League encounter against Nottingham Forest.

Despite being sidelined due to a calf injury during the previous clash against West Ham, the 22-year-old versatile left-back has made a swift recovery, showcasing his resilience and determination. With O’Neil hinting at Ait-Nouri’s inclusion in the team, Wolves’ defensive lineup gains a significant boost, as they prepare to face Forest.

As the Algerian prepares to reclaim his spot on the pitch, fans eagerly anticipate his return to action, hoping he can replicate his recent stellar performances and contribute to Wolves’ quest for victory.

The Wolves boss also added in his pre-match press conference: “[Hwang] Hee Chan’s in the matchday squad. Fantastic news for us. [Matheus] Cunha’s still fine, he’s in the matchday squad.”

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Liverpool are currently in the market for a new manager as the Reds look for Jurgen Klopp’s successor and Troy Deeney has thrown Wolves’ Gary O’Neil into the hat. 

The English coach took over at Molineux just days before the Premier League campaign got underway and many people predicted that Wolves would struggle this season before a ball was even kicked.

Fast forward to now, and O’Neil’s team are currently tenth in the table, leaving talkSPORT pundit Troy Deeney to put his name forward for the Liverpool job.

The former striker has given valid reasons too as the 40-year-old started his coaching career with the Merseyside club back in 2020 when he was appointed assistant manager to Barry Lewtas for Liverpool’s under-23 squad.

“I’m going to throw a name at you – I think [Liverpool] need a coach next year more than a manager, so I’m going to say Gary O’Neil,” Deeney told talkSPORT.

“If the rumours are are to be believed, three or four of the big players could move on and they could be left with a real young squad.

“I think it could be a team that needs a younger coach who’s used to working with younger players with not too much expectation to go and win the league.

“If someone like De Zerbi came in, we’d expect Liverpool to still be in the top four.”

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Who is in the running for the Liverpool job?

Up until last week, Bayer Leverkusen’s Xabi Alonso was in favourite to take over from Klopp next season but the Spanish coach has confirmed he is staying with the Bundesliga club for another season.

Following that news, Fabrizio Romano has stated that Ruben Amorim is now the Reds’ preferred option for the manager’s role at Anfield, while Brighton’s Roberto De Zerbi has been on the Merseyside club’s list for some time.

At present, it feels like one of these two coaches will land the job at Anfield but there is still some way to go before we find out who will be Jurgen Klopp’s successor.

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Wolves manager Gary O’Neil has shut down reports linking him with a job at Man United with the English coach stating that he loves it at Molineux.

It was reported this week by ESPN that the Manchester club want to speak to the Wolverhampton Wanderers head coach about a role in a potential new coaching setup at Old Trafford.

New Man United part-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe is currently filling key positions with high-quality people at the Premier League giants and the manager’s job could be up for grabs at the end of the season.

However, the ESPN report suggests that O’Neil could be offered a position as an assistant manager or an alternative coaching role, with talkSPORT stating that the Wolves boss will turn down any job in a lesser position than what he currently holds at Molineux.

Speaking to the press on Friday ahead of Wolves’ trip to Aston Villa on Saturday, the 40-year-old has said there is “no truth” in any reports linking him to Man United.

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Wolves’ Gary O’Neil shuts down Man United links

“Coaching role at Man United? No truth. I don’t know where it came from,” O’Neil said about the Man United links on Friday via Fabrizio Romano.

“It’s an honour to be linked with Man Utd even though there is no truth in it… it’s one of the biggest clubs in world football it’s an honour. But I love it here at Wolves. I am a head coach and I am always going to be a head coach.”

The 40-year-old has done great work with the Midlands club during the current campaign and that has carried over from the job he did at Bournemouth last season. O’Neil is proving himself to be a quality Premier League coach and may one day move on to a “big six” club but for now, the Englishman is happy at Wolves.

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Wolves are planning to offer manager Gary O’Neil a contract extension amid interest in the English coach from Man United and West Ham.

It was reported this week by ESPN that the Manchester club want to speak to the Wolverhampton Wanderers head coach about a role in a potential new coaching setup at Old Trafford.

New Man United part-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe is currently filling key positions with high-quality people at the Premier League giants and the manager’s job could be up for grabs at the end of the season.

However, the ESPN report suggests that O’Neil could be offered a position as an assistant manager or an alternative coaching role, with talkSPORT stating that the Wolves boss will turn down any job in a lesser position than what he currently holds at Molineux.

West Ham have also taken note of the work O’Neil has done at Wolves and Bournemouth across the last two seasons and the 40-year-old could be a potential replacement for David Moyes.

The Englishman is more likely to accept this offer as it is a head coach role and he spent two years of his playing career with the Hammers.

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Why do Man United want Gary O’Neil from Wolves?

O’Neil has done exceptional work over the last two seasons with both Bournemouth and Wolves. The 40-year-old kept the Cherries in the Premier League and currently has his team sitting ninth in the table.

His work at the Midlands club is even more impressive considering that he only took over at Molineux days before the season started.

It is not a surprise that Premier League clubs have taken note of his work but they are unlikely to get the Wolves boss anytime soon as the Molineux outfit are plotting to offer the Englishman an extension, reports talkSPORT.

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Manchester United are considering appointing Wolves manager Gary O’Neil about taking a coaching role at Old Trafford.

New co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe is looking to reshape the structure of the club by appointing a coach rather than a manager.

According to a report from ESPN, the Red Devils want to appoint O’Neil but they are unsure whether he would replace Erik ten Hag or work alongside him.

Nonetheless, the report notes that “no decisions have been made” on Ten Hag’s future as of yet.

Man United have not made a decision on ten Hag

Ten Hag may have had some breathing room after United’s exciting FA Cup victory against Liverpool before the international break, but the club’s leadership has not yet decided whether or not to keep him on for the upcoming season.

As Ratcliffe and company consider whether Ten Hag is the right man to lead the team into the future, they have been linked with Gareth Southgate, Thomas Frank and Roberto De Zerbi in the last few days.

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Although O’Neil has been informed that the Red Devils are considering him, it is unknown what kind of job they are willing to offer.

O’Neil may be a part of the Red Devils’ plans to reorganise their coaching staff this summer.

Wolves have a three-year deal with him, so if Man United step up their interest, they would probably have to pay compensation.

Man United continue their off the pitch appointments

Ratcliffe would be making another bold move off the pitch if O’Neil decides to sign with Man United.

He has already managed to lure Omar Berrada, a highly regarded man, away from Manchester City, and this summer he will assume the role of CEO.

The Red Devils are also eyeing Newcastle United’s Dan Ashworth to become their new sporting director.

A number of further changes are expected at Old Trafford in the summer under the new leadership of Ratcliffe.

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Liverpool will need to replace Jurgen Klopp as manager this summer, and Neil Jones has provided his latest insight into the Reds’ pursuit of Xabi Alonso and possible alternatives who could come into the picture.

Speaking exclusively to CaughtOffside for his Daily Briefing column, Jones explained that he’s not too worried about the speculation about Alonso possibly leaning towards Bayern Munich over the upcoming vacancy at Anfield.

Jones also discussed alternatives such as Roberto De Zerbi who could come into the equation, whilst also mentioning future options such as Wolves boss Gary O’Neil, who could be one to keep an eye on if he continues to impress.

O’Neil has a good relationship with new Liverpool director Richard Hughes, which is something to factor in, while the same is also true of Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe, though one imagines that neither of these are likely to be leading candidates at the moment.

Liverpool manager latest: Jones on Alonso, O’Neil, and more…

“The situation regarding Xabi Alonso remains unchanged for now as far as I’m aware; there has been no indication of what he wants to do in the summer as his focus remains very much on Bayer Leverkusen and what could be an incredible end to the season,” Jones said.

“German reports suggest that Bayern Munich is his favoured destination, but Alonso and his camp have been very quiet and until there is any clarity from their side, I think it’s a case of wait and see.

“What is clear, as said previously, is that he is going to have at least three options to choose from this summer. Not a bad place for any young manager to be in!

“If Alonso is not available, one thing is for certain now that Michael Edwards is in place as Fenway Sports Group’s CEO of football; Liverpool will do extensive research before appointing their next manager.

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“Edwards has always championed a data-driven approach to recruitment, and that will certainly be the case with finding Jurgen Klopp’s successor. Liverpool’s research team, led by Will Spearman, have already been hard at work, and there will already have been a whittling-down of contenders.

“In terms of names, it should not surprise you to learn that Ruben Amorim is well thought of within Liverpool, and Roberto De Zerbi is another strong contender. De Zerbi would have been in contention to take over at Bournemouth in 2022 when Richard Hughes was technical director, but for a change in ownership at the Cherries, and Hughes is a known fanatic of Italian football and Italian methodology.

“Edwards and Hughes also have strong relationships with both Eddie Howe and Gary O’Neil, but I don’t expect either of those two to come into contention for the role this summer. If O’Neil were to continue impressing at Wolves, however, then I wouldn’t rule out the idea of him coming onto Liverpool’s radar in the future.”

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