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Joel Matip is rapidly changing perceptions at Liverpool following a fine run of form.

The Cameroon international was once written off as a donkey, a player who could hardly balance on his on two feet, a defensive liability Jurgen Klopp ought to get rid of.

An injury to Joe Gomez, however, appears to have changed perceptions on Merseyside. The once ritually lambasted defender has stepped into the 21-year-old’s position and shone in his absence.

His latest showing against Manchester United provided yet another example of how much he has improved this season, and it’s about time that he was placed in a bracket alongside Andrew Robertson as one of the biggest Liverpool bargains in recent memory.

Granted, Matip’s task was made easier by Marcus Rashford’s lack of mobility and his afternoon would have looked altogether different had the England international been fully fit.

However, Matip was defensively solid in a multitude of different situations: he was dominant in aerial battles, winning four during the match, and he supplemented his ability to read the game with a willingness to step forward into United’s half by completing two dribbles.

All of Liverpool’s defenders are forced to accept the reality that they will live in Virgil Van Dijk’s shadow for as long as he remains at the club.

But, despite being signed for a fraction of the price, Andrew Robertson is not far behind Van Dijk and, considering Matip was signed on a free transfer, it’s fair to say he was a bargain on par with the Scotland international.

That’s an opinion which would not have been entertained at the beginning of the season, but a string of solid performances culminating at Old Trafford suggest that he should be held in the same bracket as Robertson in terms of value for money signings.

Liverpool are plotting a summer move for Real Sociedad midfielder Mikel Merino this summer who could be available for £45m.

What’s the story?

According to reports in Spain, the Reds could revive their pursuit of the Spanish star after previously registering interest in the winter market.

Klopp wants to sign a ‘top class’ central midfielder this summer and there is a lot of speculation about who that might be. Whilst many stand out names have been mentioned, considering a player like Merino may be worth it.

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The player is valued at a mouthwatering £45m by Transfermarkt.

He’s better than Henderson

Not only would he be available at a cheaper price than others, he has Premier League experience as well. He spent a season on loan at Newcastle United before being bought by the Magpies for £6.3m.

At the time his capture was described as “obscenely good” by journalist Simon Harrison, but he was sold in the same transfer window. He was also described as “more mobile and more dynamic.” than Liverpool legend Xabi Alonso by his then manager Rafael Benítez.

Perhaps he’s one that got away for the Toon, but it could play to Liverpool’s advantage nicely. His time on Tyneside wasn’t exceptional but he was only 21-years old and has since improved.

Although in a recent interview he admits that he “still gets goosebumps” thinking about the crowd at St James’ Park, therefore just imagine what he would feel in front of the Anfield faithful.

The Spaniard has made 27 league appearances for Real Sociedad this season and has seven goal contributions to his name.

What’s more impressive are his stats on the ball, he is in the top 7% in Europe’s top five leagues compared to players in his position for passes under pressure and touches in the opposing penalty area.

To get a feel for how well he would do in a Liverpool shirt we compared him to captain and star midfielder for the Reds Jordan Henderson.

Merino has a higher expected goals and assists per 90 minutes this season at 0.27 compared to the Reds skipper’s 0.21.

He also beats Henderson in some defensive areas, including having tackled a higher percentage of dribblers at 38% compared to 28%.

And at just 25-years-old he has his best years ahead of him. Klopp could go for a more complete midfielder who is perhaps already world-class, but it would cost more and leave him with less money to spend elsewhere.

He has a proven record of turning good players into the best players and he could do the same with Merino.

IN other news: Sources: Liverpool now set to sign “generational” ace, he’s more exciting than Carvalho…

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp must ruthlessly axe £16m-rated Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain from his squad and look for a replacement in the summer.

Whilst the 28-year-old midfielder has been a sound squad player during his time at the Reds, the club should try to get rid of him and save on his £125k-per-week wages.

Recent reports have suggested that Klopp is looking to bring in a ‘top-class’ midfielder in the summer and this may remove the need for Oxlade-Chamberlain altogether.

He has appeared 17 times this season for Liverpool but that’s likely due to injuries to players who would usually start ahead of him such as Thiago who has missed 23 games this campaign due to various problems.

End of the road

The English midfielder averages 1.95 passes that lead to a shot attempt per 90 minutes which isn’t awful, but when you’re playing for a team who’s fighting for the title you need to produce higher numbers.

When you compare his performances to the midfielders he is competing for a spot with, he comes out worst.

His pass completion percentage for this season is 78.9% which falls behind Henderson, Fabinho, Keita and Jones. As do his numbers for progressive carries which stands at 65, joint worst with Jones.

Earlier in his career he didn’t play as a midfielder, so he can be versatile. Indeed he was dubbed the “next James Milner” by reporter Raj Chohan and recently Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher suggested that the club should move him into the right-back position to cover for the injured Trent Alexander-Arnold.

If he’s to reignite his career on Merseyside he may just have to settle for that, or he could find more game time elsewhere.

Although he doesn’t look like someone who’s going to give up soon as recent reports said that he was offered the chance to leave Liverpool in January but that he decided to stay.

If that’s the case then it’s hard to see why, he’s still got some of his best years left so surely you would want to spend that at a club where you are playing week in and week out.

It appears Oxlade-Chamberlain feels he is good enough to be playing regularly for the Reds, his reaction was one of frustration when he was recently substituted during Liverpool’s FA quarter-final win against Nottingham Forest.

Even if he doesn’t move this summer, his contract expires in 2023, and as things stand he hasn’t done enough to merit a new one. Having cost FSG the best part of £60m when you combine his transfer fee and salary, it’s time for him to be axed from the squad.

IN other news: Liverpool eye record-breaking bid for £77m “special talent”, just imagine him & Jota…

West Ham United are in the midst of a crucial period of their season in terms of trying to win the Europa League and finish as high up the Premier League table as possible.

However, with the upcoming summer transfer window in mind, it seems as though the Hammers could be involved in a race to secure the signing of a player that will be very familiar to a number of fans at the London Stadium.

What’s the news?

According to a recent report from the Daily Mirror, West Ham are one of the teams mentioned with a potential summer transfer move for Manchester United midfielder Jesse Lingard.

The report also claims that fellow Premier League side Newcastle United, as well as Serie A trio AC Milan, Juventus and AS Roma, are interested in signing the Englishman.

Forget Lanzini

As many West Ham fans will remember, Lingard, who is currently valued at £18m according to Transfermarkt, spent the second half of last season on loan with the Hammers.

During his time at the east London club, the 29-year-old scored nine goals and provided five assists in just 16 appearances.

Things this season back at the Manchester club have been rather disheartening for the England international, as he’s only started three of the 19 games he’s played in across all competitions.

Labelled as a “hungry” player in the past by Roy Keane, this is exactly what he’ll be in terms of getting regular playing time next term, which would be easier at West Ham rather than with the Red Devils.

With the former Hammers loan star set to see his contract at Old Trafford expire in the summer, this could be a bargain transfer for David Moyes’ side and give them an experienced player that knows how to play in this team at a high level.

If the east London club were to secure Lingard’s signature once again, this time on a permanent basis, it could be bad news for Manuel Lanzini, who has been linked with a move to River Plate.

Having racked up just six goal contributions in 24 league appearances this season and earning himself a rather uninspiring overall performance rating of 6.66 from WhoScored, it could sway Moyes into getting rid of the Argentine and bringing Lingard back into the frame as his replacement.

In other news: Huge blow: West Ham dealt fresh injury setback ahead of Lyon, Moyes will be sweating

A Glasgow Rangers insider has now revealed some fresh transfer news on Alex Lowry.

The Lowdown: Reported talks

It has been reported that head of recruitment at Newcastle United, Steve Nickson, has met with Lowry’s agent in a hotel to discuss a potential move to St. James’ Park in the summer.

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He has reportedly rejected a new three-and-a-half-year deal at Ibrox, which is set to expire in 2023.

The Latest: No contact

Taking to Twitter, Gers insider The 4th Official, who regularly breaks club news and updates, has now revealed a fresh twist on the situation, claiming that there has been ‘no contact’ from the Magpies with the club over Lowry, despite the reported meeting with his agent:

”Currently, Rangers have had no contact from Newcastle United, let alone a bid for the player.”

Expanding in his latest podcast, the insider has also revealed details of private ‘conversations’ that they have had with people inside the club, claiming that Lowry is ‘happy’ and ‘definitely not’ trying to force through a move away:

“I have had conversations with people inside Rangers & they tell me that Alex Lowry is happy here and definitely not trying to force a move.”

The Verdict: Hope

The latest update from The 4th Official certainly gives hope that Lowry will end up staying, and potentially sign a new long-term contract.

He is highly thought of at the Light Blues, having made four senior appearances already this season despite being just 18 years of age, drawing praise as ‘remarkable’ from former boss Graeme Murty.

It will be difficult to hold off the pressure if a Premier League giant like the Toon come calling, but Lowry is one for the future, and so the supporters should be able to see the best of him under Giovanni van Bronckhorst.

In other news, find out who GvB’s first summer signing could now be here!

Taking to social media, 90min reporter Graeme Bailey has shared a West Ham United transfer update as their offer for Leeds United star Raphinha gets rejected.

The Lowdown: West Ham table marquee bid…

Over the past two days, big reports emerged of West Ham’s offer to sign the Brazil international in what was a surprise late January window move.

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Insider Claret & Hugh had broken news that big bids were lodged by the Hammers, all of which were turned down, though mystery surrounded who exactly they were made for.

90min now believe one of them was a sky high £50m for Raphinha – but it has been swiftly rejected as Leeds aim to keep hold of their South American star.

In an update, however, reporter Bailey has made an intriguing claim.

The Latest: Raphinha ‘would be keen’ to join West Ham…

According to the reporter, Leeds’ attacker actually ‘would be keen’ on a move to West Ham as the club’s £50m approach is knocked back.

However, he has also ‘loved his time’ at Elland Road and would only green-light a move with their ‘blessing’.

The Verdict: Come back in the summer?

Given this news, it isn’t impossible to think that West Ham could come back in for Raphinha in the summer when there is more time to orchestrate an agreement.

There is little doubting, from our perspective, that the 25-year-old is certainly worth breaking West Ham’s transfer record to sign.

Racking up a career-total of 59 goals, Brazilian international teammates Emerson Royal and Gabriel Magalhaes both believe he is a ‘phenomenon’ – as they stated on Instagram (via Subhankar Mondal).

However, after their £50m bid was rejected, a West Ham move for Raphinha could be a very difficult to pull off and it will be interesting to see just how far they could go to back manager David Moyes.

In other news: Sky Sports: West Ham eye 11th hour move for 82-goal striker as ‘another name’ emerges, find out more here.

Everton boss Frank Lampard has been dealt a fresh injury setback ahead of an all-important Sunday trip to Liverpool. 

The lowdown

Everton travel to Anfield for the 16.30 kick-off looking to cause an upset against the title-chasing Reds.

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Any points could be crucial in their battle for survival, with the Blues just a point ahead of 18th-place Burnley at the start of the day (albeit with a game in hand).

Donny van de Beek, who’s on loan from Manchester United until the end of the season, had started five Premier League matches in a row before hitting injury trouble.

He missed four straight games with a thigh problem but was on the back bench against Leicester City in midweek.

That should have put him in starting contention against the Reds, but it appears he’s suffered a fresh setback in a blow for Lampard.

The latest

Ben Dinnery, an injury analyst and a contributor for Sky Sports, tweeted that ‘the Toffees’ injury problems continue’.

He reported that, according to Everton boss Lampard, both Van de Beek and fellow midfielder Andre Gomes would miss the game with groin injuries.

The verdict

Everton have been hit particularly hit by injuries this season.

As of 5 April, Everton led the way in the Premier League for most absences and for injuries suffered per 1,000 minutes played.

It’s been a significant factor in their struggles this season. With better luck, they might not have been in such deep trouble.

In addition to Van de Beek and Gomes, Lampard will be without Nathan Patterson (ankle), Dominic Calvert-Lewin (quad), Tom Davies (thigh) and Andros Townsend (knee).

That makes a daunting task at Anfield all the more difficult.

In other news, Everton risk losing one of their biggest stars.

Giovani Lo Celso’s stock could rise after an impressive loan spell away from Tottenham Hotspur, and the north Londoners shouldn’t hesitate in cashing in on their club-record flop.

After signing in a record-equalling £55m deal from Real Betis in the summer of 2019, the Argentinian midfielder has struggled to make his mark in England.

His 84 appearances in a Lilywhites shirt drew only eight goals and six assists, as per Transfermarkt, meaning he averaged a direct contribution just once every 328 minutes.

Considering he not only cost an extortionate amount from chairman Daniel Levy’s pocket but was also widely touted as a long-term replacement for Christian Eriksen in a creative role, those returns are nothing short of embarrassing and disastrous.

The Dane was rocking up an average of one goal or assist every 151.6 minutes – effectively providing double the amount of the former Paris Saint-Germain man in half the time.

Lo Celso is even among Spurs’ highest earners, raking in a whopping £100k-per-week and when factoring in what the club have spent on his salary and his transfer fee, then it becomes rather alarming.

In total, the 25-year-old, who is now valued at just £25m by CIES Football Observatory, has cost Levy and co an eye-watering £68m in over 130 weeks, and counting.

Luckily for Spurs, though, the 5 foot 10 flop has found his feet back in LaLiga for Unai Emery’s Yellow Submarines.

Across nine appearances, Lo Celso has only dropped below an average 7.0 match rating on two occasions, whilst Villarreal have only tasted defeat once since his arrival, as per SofaScore.

Only top goalscorer Gerard Moreno and skipper Dani Parejo have managed to have a better impact on the side this campaign, according to WhoScored, who reveal that the Spurs loanee leads the squad for dribbles (2.6 per game) and isn’t far behind for tackles (1.9 per game) and key passes (1.3 per game).

He’s clearly leaving his mark over in Spain but it was his form for Betis that caught the eye of Spurs, enough for them to pay a club record to sign him, so they should take these performances with a pinch of salt.

But it does allow them to potentially earn a pretty penny in offloading him come to the summer transfer window. They may struggle to get the bulk of that £68m back but they have a better chance now of earning something respectable.

It’s time for Spurs to part ways with this Mauricio Pochettino dud.

AND in other news, Spurs can finally replace Eriksen with “magical” £36m-rated gem, he won’t cost a penny…

Aston Villa reporter Ashley Preece poked fun at Tottenham’s move for midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur on deadline day.

The Lowdown: Villa keen

Villa were after a new midfielder throughout January and appeared to turn their attention to the Uruguay international after having a bid rejected for Brighton’s Yves Bissouma.

Steven Gerrard and co firmed up their interest in Bentancur and were hopeful of securing a move for the Uruguayan. However, after launching a £20.8m bid, it was Spurs who secured the 24-year-old’s services, announcing a move in the final hours of the transfer window.

The Latest: Preece reacts

Preece took to Twitter on Monday and replied to Spurs’ announcement on Bentancur.

He poked fun at the deal following the strong Villa Park links, saying: “Never heard of him!?” and adding a stuck-out tongue and winking emoji.

The Verdict: Not a disaster

Even though Villa were clearly big admirers of Bentancur, it may not be the end of the world that they missed out on his signature.

Villa wanted to bolster their holding midfield ranks with Marvelous Nakamba injured, but Bentancur is primarily a central midfielder. He has played as a defensive midfielder on just 48 occasions during his career compared to 156 as a central midfielder, so he wouldn’t have been a like-for-like alternative to the Zimabwean.

Therefore, waiting until the summer to pursue Bissouma could be a wiser move, when hopefully Brighton’s £45m+ asking price will drop ahead of the 2022/23 campaign, as the Mali international will be into the final 12 months of his contract at the Amex Stadium.

In other news: ‘Hats off to the board’ – Sky Sports pundit purrs at ‘amazing’ out-of-the-blue Villa transfer news

A key update has emerged on Rangers striker Kemar Roofe and his availability for Gio van Bronckhorst at the Ibrox giants in the coming weeks…

What’s the latest?

Jamaica boss Paul Hall has revealed that the player told him that he did not want to be selected to represent his country next month.

He told the Daily Record: “Kemar would have been one of the first names on my list. However, Kemar had indicated that he needs to fully recover from his last injury. Hence his absence from the squad.”

Buzzing

Rangers fans will surely be buzzing by this news as it comes as a major boost for van Bronckhorst ahead of games against Livingston, Ross County and Celtic.

He would have missed key games for the club if he had been called up by his country, which is why supporters will be delighted with his decision to remain in Glasgow instead of heading out on international duty.

Roofe made a comeback from injury against Stirling Albion on Friday and could be closing in on a return to full fitness as Rangers prepare to clash with Celtic next month. This shows that he has not rejected Jamaica because he is not able to play at all and has, instead, turned them down to continue playing for Rangers whilst also managing his knock at the same time.

Supporters will be delighted with this as it shows a determination from the player to do his best for the Gers, as he has put his club above his country in this instance. They will be particularly pleased with his decision as he is a proven Premiership performer who has been superb since arriving in Glasgow.

So far this season, Roofe has scored six goals in six starts for the club in the league. Last term, he managed 14 goals and three assists in 18 Premiership starts, which means that he has directly contributed to 23 goals in just 24 starts for Rangers domestically.

This highlights how big of a player he can be for van Bronckhorst and why having him available for crucial matches next month is a major boost for the Dutch head coach. Fans will want to see him in the squad, whether that is from the start or off the bench, as he has the potential to make an impact on the pitch and win games for the Scottish giants.

AND in other news, Rangers could finally axe “really poor” lightweight by landing £2.8m-rated playmaker…