Liverpool
Ex-Premier League Ace’s Son Could Make Liverpool Debut Soon After Shining vs Everton U21s
Liverpool are a club steeped in immense history and placing trust and importance in their youth academy has been central to that. Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher emerged from their academy ranks to become club legends, Trent Alexander-Arnold won everything there is to win with the senior side β but who will be the next generational talent to be churned out?
The stand-out candidate is 17-year-old Rio Ngumoha, whose composure when slotting home the match-winner in Liverpool’s 3-2 win over Newcastle United earlier this season caught the attention of many. He’s not alone, however, and Keyrol Figueroa β son of ex-Wigan Athletic and Hull City defender Maynor β could also be in line for a promotion to the first team.
Maynor Figueroa
Born in 2006, Keyrol is a promising centre-forward blessed with a wicked turn of pace, and he is currently making waves in the Reds’ celebrated academy system.
In line for a shot under Arne Slot, the teenage hotshot joined Liverpool’s academy at U14 level and made his U18s debut as a U16 player in the 2021/22 season. Capable of scoring plenty of goals, he featured for the U18s as a first-year scholar in the following campaign and Dutch tactician Slot will, no doubt, be keeping a close eye on his development.
Keyrol Figueroa: The Promising Son of a Premier League Cult Hero, Maynor
If you remember correctly: the young striker’s father, Maynor, is the scorer of one of the Premier League’s greatest goals. The seasoned Honduras international only hit the back of the net 14 times in his career β but that free-kick against Stoke City will long live in the memory of England top flight aficionados from all corners of the world.
Just inside his own half, Figueroa pitched the ball up after Scott Sinclair had been subject to a Robert Huth foul. Noticing Thomas Sorensen off his line, the left-back lobbed the towering Dane from 60 yards out. Relive it below:
Incredibly, Keyrol’s dad β now 42 years of age β is still playing football. He recently joined a Sunday League team, Wythenshawe FC, and is linking up with the likes of Danny Drinkwater, Emile Heskey and Nedum Onuoha as they slice through the ninth tier of English football with utter ease, as expected.
But the spotlight is now on his teenage son, who once scored 90 goals in a calendar year at youth level. Not only can the youngster occupy the centre-forward role, but he can also operate on the right-hand side of the forward line.
On the international stage, the versatile attacker starred for USA’s U17s in the CONCACAF U17 Championship in Mexico, netting an eye-catching tally of seven goals in the same number of appearances. His country from across the pond were surprisingly beaten 3-1 in the final by the host nation.
keyrol figueroa
He netted seven goals from seven appearances during the tournament as the USA were eventually beaten 3-1 in the final by Mexico. For club and country, he’s certainly one for the future β but him being fast-tracked from academy to senior football could be on the cards given how he’s started the current campaign.
At the time of writing, Keyrol β who was born in Tegucigalpa, the capital city of Honduras β has plundered five goals in seven Premier League 2 matches. Should he get the chance to shine for the senior side in the coming months, the budding marksman will be hoping to replicate the potency of his idols.
“When I was younger, I was just about old enough to watch [Didier] Drogba, [Sergio] Aguero. I watched Luis Suarez as well. I think [Fernando] Torres when he was at Atletico Madrid was someone I tried to embody.”
Figueroa’s Hat-Trick Against Everton and First Team Prospects
arne slot
This is not the first time that Keyrol has been linked with the prospect of being promoted to Slot’s first team proceedings. In early-to-mid September, reports suggested that he had joined up with the likes of Mohamed Salah, Florian Wirtz and Virgil van Dijk in what was Alexander Isak’s first training session following his Β£125 million-worth move.
Isak will be just one of the many stars that Keyrol will be battling with if he is to impress Slot β widely regarded as one of the best managers in world football β and his entourage. Hugo Ekitike is also an important figure for the Merseyside decision-makers and the Frenchman’s recent run of form could halt the young talent’s progression.
Three of his five goals this term came in Liverpool U21s recent a resounding 4-1 victory over arch-rivals Everton and he was bounding with joy in the wake of the match. “This is really important for me, especially because of how it’s been going for me recently,” he said, per Liverpool’s website, before rattling through some of the challenges he has faced in the infancy of his career.
“Sometimes I’ve been playing, sometimes I’ve been not, injuries. I just had to keep my head high, I didn’t want to sulk or anything. This was my career at the end of the day, so I had to decide whether I step up to the plate or not.”
“Especially against Everton and in the Merseyside derby, it’s a proud moment for me,” he said about bagging a hat-trick of strikes. “But I wouldn’t have been able to do it without the boys, honestly. I had to work hard on my own but this was all of them. I had Kaide [Gordon] and Trent [Kone-Doherty] and all the balls they gave me, so I’ll say thank you to them. This [the match ball] was for all of us.”
It’s never a guarantee that players will have β and, more importantly, grab with both hands β the chance to be promoted from academy to first team football. For Keyrol, it may be a case of biding his time until the opportunity arises. Whether it’s this season or next, he’ll certainly be a name that will linger for a while.
The new Diaz: FSG enter race to sign “world-class” Β£79m star for Liverpool
You could feel the elation rippling from the pitch. It was palpable. It was a reminder of what this squad are capable of doing to the best teams in the world.Β LiverpoolΒ had beaten Real Madrid in the Champions League for the second year running.
Following the professional win over Aston Villa to stop the rot of a four-match skid in theΒ Premier League, head coachΒ Arne SlotΒ must have felt his side had turned a corner, but last weekend’s sobering loss at Manchester City showed the Reds have merely gone in circles.
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Liverpool were outfought across every inch of the Etihad Stadium, and Slot will be chagrined after being outplayed by Pep Guardiola on the tactical chessboard. Granted, he’s not the first coach to lose such a battle against the Spaniard.
But the Reds are struggling to do the basics, and are such a far cry from the level of last season, when they dispatched so many opponents and won the league title with relative ease.
Tactical imbalances have been clear all season, and it’s obvious that Liverpool are missingΒ Luis Diaz, who is doing so well with Bayern Munich this season.
If the problems continue for Slot, FSG may be forced to sign a new version of the Colombian.
Liverpool looking to replace Diaz
Florian Wirtz’s struggles since leaving Bayer Leverkusen and joining Liverpool for Β£116m this summer have been well documented.
The German playmaker, 22, is one of the most talented footballers out there, but he’s yet to find the physicality and fluency to succeed in the Premier League, and he might want to take a leaf from Diaz’s book in that regard.
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Aside from Diaz’s potency in the final third, he is relentless in his work rate and rapid besides, adding width and dynamism down the flank. Liverpool need some of that, and appear to have found a candidate.
Indeed,Β according to Spanish sources, sporting director Richard Hughes has registered Liverpool’s interest in Real Madrid starΒ Rodrygo, who has fallen well down the pecking order under Xabi Alonso.
Arsenal and Chelsea are also keen on the Brazil international, while Manchester City’s intrigue was confirmed by Fabrizio Romano this summer.
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Florentino Perez wants β¬90m (Β£79m) for the versatile forward, but given his reduced role at Real Madrid over the past year or so, FSG would likely push to whittle down that hefty price tag.
What Rodrygo would offer Liverpool
Rodrygo finished the 2024/25 campaign at a low ebb. A few terms ago, the 24-year-old was regarded as one of the best wingers in the world, but a limited role at Real has precluded that tag from staying put.
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This season, Alonso has handed Rodrygo only three starts across La Liga and the Champions League. He hasn’t yet scored, racking up two assists on the continent. This all points toward a divorce from the Santiago Bernabeu, for this is one of the most exciting and talented wide forwards in Europe, and he should have a role at a side that reflects that.
Liverpool could offer him this. Slot wanted to provide Rio Ngumoha with a pathway to the first team during the summer, and that is ostensibly why Diaz was not directly replaced.
This has proved a mistake, with the 17-year-old as yet untrusted to start games and feature prominently.
Rodrygo has the maturity and the world experience to not just challenge Wirtz and Cody Gakpo for a starting berth but stake his claim for a starring role deep into the Anfield pitch.
Sometimes, statistics must be viewed through a wider context. Take Rodrygo’s woes in the Spanish top flight last year, only scoring six goals and supplying six assists across 30 matches.
Poor, right? Well, Rodrygo was only afforded 12 starts by Carlo Ancelotti, and Sofascore data suggests he missed just one big chance, underscoring his clinical nature.
οΏΌReal Madrid’s Rodrygo
Furthermore, the South American maverick posted six goals and assists apiece from left wing last year, despite only being handed a berth on that side 12 times across all competitions. At Liverpool, it is the left which beckons, and there he could refashion that world-renowned status that has been seen on the biggest stages before.
And even after this testing period, Rodrygo’s underlying quality does not lie, evidenced through many tactical similarities with Diaz across the past 12 months.
Rodrygo vs Luis Diaz (past 12 months)
Stats (per 90)
Rodrygo
Diaz
Goals
0.31
0.47
Assists
0.23
0.20
Shots taken
2.78
2.92
Shot-creating actions
4.71
4.21
Pass completion %
85.4
83.0
Touches (att pen)
6.49
6.27
Progressive passes
4.40
4.21
Progressive carries
5.91
3.73
Successful take-ons
2.47
1.98
Ball recoveries
3.75
4.40
Tackles + interceptions
2.09
1.36
Data via FBref
It’s curious to note that the tactical differences between the two are not that great. And this in spite of Rodrygo having fallen to the Los Blancos fringes well before the managerial shift this summer.
With Alonso at the helm, it’s patent that Rodrygo will not enjoy the regular minutes that his talent deserves. After all, Luka Modric once described him as being among the club’s “world-class superstars”.
Diaz has found remarkable prolificness since switching Liverpool for Bavaria in August, and while such levels were rarely sustained at Liverpool, with the Premier League notoriously difficult, there’s no denying Liverpool miss Diaz and his athletic profile.
Rodrygo could be the perfect tonic to turn the ship around. After all, Alonso doesn’t seem to want him, and Liverpool require just the profile.
Whether the Reds manage to pull off an audacious winter swoop is anyone’s guess, but Premier League rivals are also on the hunt, and Hughes needs to pull something off if this season is to be viewed as a success.
Liverpool
Liverpool are showing interest in RB Leipzigβs Yan Diomande, according to reports. He is considered to be one of the greatest talents in Europe
English Premier League club Liverpool are reportedly among several top European clubs monitoring the progress of RB Leipzig’s highly-rated Ivorian winger Yan Diomande.
Key Details
Player Profile: Yan Diomande is an 18-year-old Ivorian professional footballer who primarily plays as a left winger. He joined RB Leipzig in July 2025 from Spanish side CD LeganΓ©s for a reported β¬20 million fee.
Performance: Despite only moving to the Bundesliga this summer, Diomande has made an immediate impact, registering three goals and three assists in his first 10 league appearances, prompting interest from elite clubs. He is highly regarded for his explosive pace, technical skill, and composure.
Widespread Interest: Alongside Liverpool, clubs like Manchester City, Barcelona, Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain, and Chelsea are also tracking the young talent.
Leipzig’s Stance: RB Leipzig have no intention of selling Diomande quickly and secured him on a long-term contract until 2030 with no release clause. The German club reportedly values the winger at around β¬100 million, seeing his potential as on par with top talents like Kylian MbappΓ©.
Transfer Rumors: Reports suggest that top clubs might make an approach next summer (2026), but any potential transfer would likely involve a substantial fee given Leipzig’s high valuation.
Currently, this is only transfer speculation and no official offer has been made by Liverpool.
Liverpool
Bastoni is world class but liverpool leave VVD alone at LCB for 80% of the game lmao Spending 100m to do that to him would be hilarious
Liverpool could be signing ‘one of best defenders in the world’ as Β£88m offer ‘prepared’
According to reports, Liverpool are preparing an Β£88million bid for a centre back recently dubbed “one of the best defenders in the world”
Liverpool’s spending this season could be set to rise above Β£500m(Image: Getty Images)
Liverpool are reportedly preparing a blockbuster move for Inter Milan centre back Alessandro Bastoni as they look to bolster their defensive ranks. The Reds have been left short at the back following Giovanni Leoni’s long-term injury and theirΒ failed pursuitΒ of Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi, promptingΒ renewed interest in BastoniΒ to fill the gap.
According toΒ Mundo Deportivo,Β LiverpoolΒ are readying an Β£88million bid for the 26-year-old, who has been hailed by Italy legend Giorgio Chiellini as “one of the best defenders” in world football.
“I know Alessandro well, he is one of the strongest central defenders around and for me, he is among the best in the world,” Chiellini said in 2023. “He is a player that Italy will be able to count on for many years, he just needs to continue working and maintaining the desire to improve.”
READ MORE:Β Liverpool step onto fascinating transfer merry-go-round as wildcard options emergesREAD MORE:Β Real Madrid ‘might be interested’ in Liverpool transfer for Dominik Szoboszlai
An attempt to sign Bastoni could come as early as January, though Liverpool are said to be open to waiting until the summer if necessary – a move that could prove crucial given Ibrahima Konate’s uncertain future, with his current deal expiring at the end of the season.
If the deal surpasses the Β£80m mark, Alessandro Bastoni would become the most expensive defender in football history. Harry Maguire currently holds that distinction after joining Manchester United from Leicester for Β£80m back in 2019.
Josko Gvardiol ranks second after his Β£77m move from RB Leipzig to Manchester City in 2023, while Virgil van Dijk’s Β£75m switch from Southampton to Liverpool in 2018 sits third on the list.
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Alessandro Bastoni could be on his way to Liverpool(Image: getty)
Whether he’s worth that sort of money is up for debate, but Bastoni’s quality is beyond question. A composed, left-footed defender, he combines physical strength with excellent ball-playing ability and precision passing.
Highly regarded in Serie A, Bastoni has been named in the league’s Team of the Year in three of the past five seasons. He played a key role in Inter’s title-winning campaigns in 2020/21 and 2023/24 and was instrumental in their runs to theΒ Champions LeagueΒ final in both 2023 and 2025.
Liverpool are in urgent need of greater defensive stability after a shaky start to the new season. Arne Slot’s side have already conceded 17 goals in their first 11 league matches – a stark contrast to the six they had shipped at the same stage last year.
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Liverpool have looked shaky at the back this season and could use some defensive reinforcements
The Reds’ defensive frailties have been compounded by a turbulent summer in the transfer market, which saw Trent Alexander-Arnold leave and two new full-backs, Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez, come in.
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