This article is part of Football FanCast’s Opinion series, which provides analysis, insight and opinion on any issue within the beautiful game, from Paul Pogba’s haircuts to League Two relegation battles…
The games continue to come thick and fast for Sunderland, but for manager Phil Parkinson the match against Leicester U21s provides him with the ideal chance to run the rule over the fringe players in his squad.
Laurens De Bock and Brandon Taylor could be involved again after being selected in the matchday squad in the last Leasing.com trophy fixture against Grimsby, with the latter starting at centre-back.
Another who looks set to get his chance is Benji Kimpioka, according to Phil Parkinson’s comments, and his inclusion is a great chance for him to stake his claim for long-term first-team involvement.
Watch League 1 Live Streams With StreamFootball.tv Below
Some fans have called for the 19-year-old to be given an opportunity following a return of two goals in six games for the struggling under 23s, and a fixture against a team mainly made up of youngsters should prove suitable.
What’s more, game time has been limited for the winger in the senior side, and so far he has accumulated just nine minutes of playing time this term – none of which came under Jack Ross.
As a result, he should be determined to make the most of his opportunity, and with Lynden Gooch currently sidelined there is a vacant position at right-wing – Luke O’Nien had to play out of position in that role against Southend at the weekend.
Kimpioka seems to have that battling spirit, too, previously stating he will fight to earn a first-team place. He has showed signs of potential, enough for the club to try and pin him down to a long-term deal, and if he begins to show his ability against Grimsby he’ll likely get more chances.
Josh Maja and Denver Hume are recent examples of successful academy graduates, while Parkinson has a track-record of trusting youngsters, as evidenced by his time at Bolton when he introduced Luca Connell, who subsequently thrived and earned a move to Celtic, into the first team.
If Kimpioka can showcase his pace and direct style he will offer Sunderland an alternative option on the wing, and could begin to push for more substitute appearances and further starts in cup competitions – with Gillingham visiting in the FA Cup at the weekend.
This article is part of Football FanCast’s The Chalkboard series, which provides a tactical insight into teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…
West Bromwich Albion enter the third international break of the season in a strong position, occupying that top spot in the Championship with a two-point cushion over the chasing pack of Preston North End and Leeds United.
Last time out, Slaven Bilic’s men secured a resolute 1-0 victory over Hull City to maintain their promotion push this season.
However, after this two-week hiatus, they will be hit with a devastating blow as both Jake Livermore, the goalscorer against his former club, and Romaine Sawyers will serve a one-game suspension when they host Sheffield Wednesday, who too are chasing a berth in the promised land, at the Hawthorns on the 23rd.
It leaves the Croatian with a colossal dilemma considering the lack of depth and options behind the midfield duo – they both had started every single game this campaign.
On the Chalkboard
One option has to be Chris Brunt, who over the last few years, has made a slow transition from being a winger into a central option as he approaches his 35th birthday next month.
The Baggies stalwart played 31 games in the role, per Transfermarkt’s recorded matches, last term.
However, there’s still another spot up for grabs, and it’s that sparse that Bilic might as well pull a name out of the hat.
There is promising starlet Rekeem Harper, who has featured for just six minutes this season, but he hasn’t even been named in a matchday squad since August.
Benfica loanee Filip Krovinovic offers up another potential solution, but he’s mainly been preferred in the number ten role when Matheus Pereira hasn’t featured.
Had this occurred in a few weeks or even in a month, then Gareth Barry would be a more than viable temporary option, but the 38-year-old has only just re-signed for the club following an injury that nearly put pay to his career – he needs game time, quickly.
And then there’s the possibility of bringing Semi Ajayi out of defence as he has played in midfield for his old club Rotherham United, but that may not be the best decision considering Albion have picked up back-to-back clean sheets for the first time this season.
Watch West Bromwich Albion Videos With StreamFootball.tv Below
But with an eventuality like this, Bilic must surely be rueing the decision to allow Sam Field to depart the club on loan this season as he would have been the most apparent backup behind these two this campaign.
He may be currently injured at Charlton Athletic, but that may not have necessarily happened if he stayed in the west Midlands.
The 21-year-old has featured in the Premier League for the club and is undoubtedly one of their most promising academy graduates, having been capped 12 times for the England U20 squad.
Oh, how West Brom could do with him right about now.
One of the areas in which Wolverhampton Wanderers have always had a particularly strong squad since they returned to the Premier League in 2018/19 is in midfield.
The Old Gold are currently littered with a few big names in the centre of the park, including Brazilian duo Joao Gomes and Andre, with the latter being a summer signing in 2024.
They have also had the likes of Matheus Nunes and Joao Moutinho play for the club since promotion, with the enterprising Portuguese pair having represented their national team numerous times.
However, perhaps their best midfielder since they returned to the top flight six years ago was another Portugal international, Ruben Neves.
Ruben Neves’ record at Wolves
The 27-year-old enjoyed six seasons at Molineux before making a move in the summer of 2023. He switched the Midlands for the Middle East, joining Saudi Arabian side Al-Hilal in a deal worth around £47m.
Whilst the sale was far from Ideal for the Midlands club, they certainly made a healthy profit on the deal. The midfielder joined the club from Portuguese giants FC Porto for what was a then-record fee of £15.8m. Not only did they get years of quality service from the midfielder, but also made a healthy profit.
It was certainly a departure that rocked Molineux, given that Neves captained the Old Gold for a number of seasons. He was a pivotal figure for the club, making 253 appearances both domestically and in the Europa League in 2019/20. The 27-year-old could play everywhere in midfield, from a disciplined sitting number six to an enterprising number 10.
One thing that was synonymous with the former Porto midfielder’s time at the club was his ability to score wonder goals from range. In total, he scored nine goals from outside the box in the Premier League, as per FBref.
Outside the box
9
Inside the 18-yard box
12
Inside the 6-yard box
0
Average distance of PL goals
17.5 yards
He is certainly a hard player to replace, and so far, the Old Gold have not found the person to fill such a big void.
However, there is one player in the academy who could be tasked with stepping into Neves’ boots, and that man is Luke Cundle.
Wolves' next Ruben Neves
22-year-old Cundle is a midfield prospect whom Wolves fans can certainly get excited about. He has made seven appearances for the Old Gold’s first team now and has had three Championship loans two with Swansea City and one at Plymouth Argyle.
Wolves youngster Luke Cundle.
Receiving such footballing education in the second tier can be crucial for a player; take Neves as a prime example. Whilst he was highly rated before his move to Molineux, his period in the Championship no doubt helped shape him into the player we see today.
In The Pipeline
Football FanCast's In the Pipeline series aims to uncover the very best youth players in world football.
The similarities do not end there, however, with the 22-year-old also being a versatile player. Like the former Wolves skipper, Cundle can operate in a deeper role as a six, an advanced role as an eight or even further forward as a number 10.
Luke-cundle
He has a good goal involvement record to show for it, too. Across his three loan spells, 77 games in total, the young midfielder has scored ten times and has registered 12 assists, playing in three different roles in the centre of the park. He has also been known to get on the scoresheet for the Wolves academy sides.
The youngster’s future is not necessarily secure, and the Potters launched another attempt to sign him over the 2024 summer window. However, he has impressed Gary O’Neil, and there is every chance he will stay and fight for his place at Molineux.
Cundle was described as a “gifted” player by former Swans boss Russel Martin, who is now managing South Coast outfit Southampton. The 22-year-old could be the dream Neves replacement, and finally fill the boots of a player whose departure left such a void at Molineux.
Wolves must regret selling PL star who's now worth more than Gomes
He’s gone on to tear the Premier League apart in recent times.
Rangers have just under a week remaining to wrap up any late transfer deals they wish to complete, as they eye a deal for a £2m attacker.
Pressure is arguably already on Rangers manager Philippe Clement as the club faces another season without Champions League football, with the Scottish side instead having to settle for the Europa League. The Gers are also expected to challenge Celtic for the league title as well as the cup competitions, but they already find themselves two points behind their rivals.
Contact made: Rangers in talks to sign young defender seen as future star
Rangers could be about to add to their promising crop of players.
ByBrett Worthington Aug 23, 2024 Rangers transfer news
Celtic were comfortably in control last season in terms of the league, so it is no surprise to see that Rangers have been busy in the transfer market this summer, as they eye a big improvement. Not only has Clement been busy bringing new players to the club, ones he hopes can improve the club’s performances and results, but Rangers have also been busy letting players leave.
Mohamed Diomande
Nordsjaelland
Robin Propper
Twente FC
Hamza Igamane
FAR Rabat
Vaclav Cerny
VfL Wolfsburg
Jefte
Fluminense
Connor Barron
Aberdeen
Liam Kelly
Motherwell
Clinton Nsiala
AC Milan U20
It came to light this week that striker Cyriel Dessers was very close to leaving Ibrox, as Rangers and Atlanta United were in discussions over a deal that would have seen the player swap Scotland for the MLS, but in the end, the deal broke down, as Dessers was against the idea.
Apart from the news about Dessers, it has been more about which players Rangers are potentially interested in signing before Friday’s transfer deadline. Fiorentina winger Josip Brekalo is said to be on the Ibrox transfer radar, with the player expected to leave the Serie A side in this transfer window after falling out of favour. The Gers are also said to be eyeing a move to sign young Dundee sensation Sebastian Lochhead, but they are not the only top-flight side chasing his signature.
Meanwhile, it has also been reported by the reliable Fabrizio Romano that the Scottish side have seen a loan bid worth €750k plus Rangers then having the option to buy Kaiky for €7 million, bringing a total package to £6.5 million rejected by Spanish side Almeria.
Clearly, Rangers are still in the market for new players, and they now have their eye on another attacking player.
Rangers eyeing Norwich City’s Abu Kamara
According to Football Scotland, relayed by Ibrox News, Rangers are interested in signing Norwich City winger Abu Kamara. The report states that the 21-year-old could be available for as little as £2 million, but the problem the Scottish side faces is that they would need to sell players first before buying Kamara.
It goes on to add that personal terms for Rangers to sign Kamara would not be an issue, who has now requested to leave the Championship side after not breaking into the first team after his impressive stint at Portsmouth last season.
Kamara has come through the academy at Carrow Road and has impressed with the club’s academy throughout the years. Last season, the young attacker got the opportunity to join Portsmouth on loan, and he took his chance, as he netted eight goals and recorded 10 assists in 46 League One games.
He has since come back to Norwich and played in every game for the club this season, scoring in the EFL Cup, but Kamara is said to want to leave the club in what remains of this transfer window. While at Portsmouth last season, assistant manager Jon Harley heaped huge praise on the winger, labelling him “outstanding” as he played a big role in the club’s promotion campaign.
Chelsea’s summer spending shows no sign of ending as Enzo Maresca secured the capture of Pedro Neto for a fee in the region of £54m.
With two weeks left of the transfer window, it likely won't be the last piece of business the manager conducts. Across the summer, the Blues have made a total of nine summer signings as Maresca aims to build a side capable of securing Champions League football next season.
The rumour mill regarding more signings is still ongoing. Could the Stamford Bridge side leave their biggest signing until last?
Chelsea closing in on move for Atlético Madrid star
João Félix is a name which has been linked repeatedly in recent weeks, and a move could be closer to completion following an update from Fabrizio Romano.
He took to X to deliver the fresh news, saying: "Understand Chelsea and Atlético are getting closer to final agreement for João Félix and Conor Gallagher!
Joao Felix for Barcelona.
"Positive round of talks today, João says yes to contract terms. Rumours on €60m fixed fee for Félix are not true. All parties working to get it done this weekend."
It looks as though Maresca is keen on getting the deal done as quickly as possible as the Portuguese attacking midfielder looks set to return to the club that he spent six months on loan at during the 2022/23 campaign.
However, the Stamford Bridge side might have a final trick up their sleeve, as they have been linked with a fellow Premier League star in what could be a surprising swoop…
Chelsea showing interest in Manchester United exile
According to reports in Germany, Chelsea are prepared to offer two players and a transfer fee in order to sign Jadon Sancho from Manchester United before the transfer window slams shut.
The repot states that it that Chelsea would be offering two academy players, while the fee is not mentioned, but United are also open to a loan move with an option to buy.
Jadon Sancho for Borussia Dortmund
The Old Trafford side set a price tag of £51m on Sancho amid interest from Paris Saint-Germain recently, but it is unlikely the Blues would pay that along with sending two players in the opposite direction.
A move for Sancho has certainly appeared out of the blue. If a deal goes through, he will be Maresca’s tenth summer signing.
Jadon Sancho’s season in numbers
The Englishman made just three appearances for United last season, all coming in the opening three Premier League games before having a falling-out with Erik ten Hag.
The winger was subsequently shipped out on loan to former club Borussia Dortmund, gaining regular game time in the first team.
Stat
Bundesliga
Champions League
Goals
2
1
Assists
2
0
Big chances created
4
2
Key passes per game
1.8
1.3
Successful dribbles per game
2.6
3.7
Via Sofascore
Sancho ended up making 21 appearances in the Bundesliga and Champions League for Dortmund, helping his club reach the final of the latter, where they lost 2-0 to Real Madrid.
He registered six goal contributions during these games – three goals and three assists – clearly demonstrating a return to the form previously displayed at the German side.
Despite making just 14 appearances in the top flight, Sancho still ranked in the top ten among his teammates for big chances created (four), second for key passes (1.8) and first for successful dribbles per game (2.6), clearly showcasing his true talents at a place he was made to feel like a star.
Jadon Sancho
No one knows how impressive a campaign he could have had if the winger had joined for the full season, but his poor spell at United shouldn’t detract from how good a player he is when on form.
If both Felix and Sancho join this summer, Maresca could have two attacking talents who will cause plenty of chaos for opposition defences deployed in the correct roles.
Jadon Sancho could thrive with João Félix
Felix also spent time out on loan from his parent club last season, joining Barcelona from Atlético last summer, and he went on to enjoy a productive spell for the Catalan giants.
Xavi tended to utilise him as a left-winger, where he scored ten goals and grabbed six assists in all competitions for Barcelona, but if he does make the move to Chelsea, Maresca should use him in a more central role, allowing Sancho the freedom of the left-wing.
This would mean the two players could perform in their favoured positions, combining well together in the process.
When compared to his positional peers across Europe’s big five leagues, Felix ranked in the top 5% for non-penalty goals (0.47) and the top 4% for total shots per 90 (3.68), which suggests he shines in front of goal wherever he is deployed.
Meanwhile, Sancho ranked in the top 4% for successful take-ons (3.75) and the top 14% for progressive carries per 90 (5.36), which showcases his dribbling skills, that would see him best used out wide should he join the Blues before the end of the window.
Their respective abilities could see the pair form a dream partnership for the Stamford Bridge side throughout the 2024/25 campaign – one that could fire the Blues back into the Champions League.
Sancho’s former teammate, Maximilian Phillip, lavished praise on the youngster back in 2018, saying: "His acceleration is brutal, he can do a lot of damage with his quick changes of direction," he said.
"Maybe he’s still a bit too playful. He still has a lot to learn and work hard, but for an 18-year-old, that was a special performance."
His spell at United hasn’t exactly covered Sancho in glory, so a fresh start is perhaps required for him to return to the form that saw the Englishman secure a move to the Premier League in the first place.
Is Chelsea the right team for him? Only time will tell.
Arsenal are set for talks with the representatives of Folarin Balogun regarding his future at the club amid interest from a number of top European sides, according to Fabrizio Romano.
The striker spent last year on loan at Stade Reims in Ligue 1, where he scored 21 league goals in 37 games.
What is the latest news with Folarin Balogun?
Balogun is potentially looking to depart the Emirates this summer in search of more regular first-team football after his positive loan move last campaign.
With the club already having Gabriel Jesus, Leandro Trossard, and Gabriel Martinelli in his position, and reports stating that the club is interested in bringing in Chelsea forward Kai Havertz, a move looks more likely than ever.
Sunderland, Black Cats, Arsenal, Lee Johnson, Mikel Arteta, Folarin Balogun, Charlie Wyke,
When asked about his situation, Balogun simply said: "Contractually I have to go back. Because the loan was only for one year so that was always the agreement.
"But I'm not sure what is going to happen in the future. A lot could happen in football, a lot could change, and it just depends on the conversations we have between me and the club in the summer, and we'll see what happens."
According to reports from Italy, a number of Serie A clubs are interested in bringing in the forward who recently declared for the US national team. Inter Milan, AC Milan and Napoli all have interest in the forward, with Napoli eyeing the forward up as a potential Victor Osimhen replacement.
Clubs in France also have reportedly registered an interest in the forward, with Marseille and Monaco being the two most prominent clubs, and his record in Ligue 1 last season may well convince these clubs to push hard for the player as they know he has performed at that level before.
What has Fabrizio Romano said about the situation?
Speaking on The Here we Go Podcast, Romano revealed that a meeting is imminent between both the club and the player's representatives with the aim of deciding on the players asking price.
Romano stated: "Keep an eye on Italian. Both Inter and AC Milan are well-informed on the situation with Balogun, also RB Leipzig, Olympique Marseille, Monaco and Crystal Palace have enquired about Balogun.
"So keep an eye on this player because soon there will be a meeting between Balogun and Arsenal, the player's agents of course and the club, to decide the price tag and clubs will decide how to act."
Which move would be the best for Balogun?
Inter Milan is an intriguing option for the 21-year-old, with the Champions League finalists set to lose Romelu Lukaku at the end of his loan spell – despite their interest in a permanent deal. whilst reports state that Edin Dzeko could leave the club as a free agent.
The US forward could find himself playing a lot of first-team football at a very high level should he join the Nerazzuri. Whilst AC Milan also offers a clear path to the first team, the uncertainty and turmoil within the club make it an environment that Balogun could benefit from avoiding.
Marseille and Monaco both offer the striker a chance to continue in the league where he shone last campaign, with Marseille also able to offer Champions League football, but it remains to be seen whether the Ligue 1 clubs could compete financially with the other sides interested.
RB Leipzig have a fantastic track record of developing players, and Balogun would get the chance to come into the side as the Christopher Nkunku replacement. The forward could potentially have the opportunity to form partnerships with some of the most highly rated talents across Europe at the German club, who also have a strong history with American players.
Whatever club ends up buying Balogun this summer, they will have a fantastic prospect with plenty of room to grow to look forward to.
Liverpool will face competition from Portuguese giants Benfica as Reds manager Jurgen Klopp seeks a deal for Feyenoord captain Orkun Kokcu this summer.
What's the latest on Orkun Kokcu to Liverpool?
That's according to a report from the Netherlands (as relayed by the Liverpool Echo), which claims that the recently-crowned Eredivisie champions' captain is attracting interest from multiple angles after a brilliant campaign.
Due to Premier League interest, Feyenoord are hoping for at least €40m (£34m) for their star midfielder, and while Benfica are pushing hard to land the Turkish ace, the allure of Jurgen Klopp's outfit could swing the odds in his favour.
Earlier this year, former Liverpool gem Dirk Kuyt stated his desire to see the Anfield side make their move for the 22-year-old, which could be realised this summer as the Reds look to replace departees James Milner, Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
Should Liverpool sign Orkun Kokcu?
It's fair to say that it's not been a bad season for Kokcu, who scored 12 goals and served five more from 46 appearances across all competitions en route to divisional glory in the Netherlands, ending Ajax's five-year dominance.
Dubbed a "true leader" by talent scout Jacek Kulig, the Feyenoord captain offers an impressive goalscoring prowess to complement a dynamic slant to his midfield play – two elements that could prove enticing to Klopp considering Harvey Elliott's five-goal haul was the highest of any Liverpool midfielder this term.
Klopp's team tends not to find prolific success from the centre, instead relying on the marauding creativity of full-backs Andy Robertson and Trent Alexander-Arnold while harnessing the blistering frontal potency of the likes of Mohamed Salah and co.
But the season gone past illustrates the need for change after the Reds fell by the wayside and failed to qualify for the Champions League for the first time in seven seasons, and Kokcu could change that.
As per Sofascore, he recorded a stunning average match rating of 7.48 in Eredivisie this term, complementing his direct contributions by completing 85% of his passes, making 2.8 key passes and 1.2 tackles per game, and succeeding with 58% of his attempted dribbles.
Truly an all-encompassing midfielder, burgeoning and yet to channel the full scope of his potential, much like Nice machine Khephren Thuram, who could yet forge a deadly midfield alliance with the 20-cap Turkey international on Merseyside having received reliable and heavy links with a move to Klopp's team.
With holding midfielder Fabinho likely to retain his spot in Klopp's system despite a campaign where he flattered to deceive, the more progression-centric duo could wreak havoc behind Liverpool's frontline, with Kokcu, who ranks among the top 1% of midfielders across Men's Next 8 divisions, as per FBref, for both shot-creating actions and progressive passes per 90, achieving a state of confluence with his "tenacious" – as dubbed by talent scout Jacek Kulig – prospective teammate.
Thuram has been regarded as "dangerous" and "powerful" by club peer Aaron Ramsey, and himself ranks among the top 6% of midfielders across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for progressive carries and the top 9% for successful take-ons per 90.
The state of confluence that Liverpool might craft with a deal for both of these exciting dynamos could be the perfect remedy for the seasonal strife, and it must be enacted by new technical director Jorg Schmadtke to ensure that the desired ascent takes the Reds right back to the top.
Manchester United only scored 58 Premier League goals during 2022/2023, the lowest out of any side in the top six and there is no doubt Erik ten Hag needs to sign a top-quality striker or two during the summer transfer window.
Indeed, out of those 58 goals, only seven of those were scored by out-and-out centre forwards, with Cristiano Ronaldo (one) and Anthony Martial (six) getting on target, further emphasising the point that the Dutchman needs proper firepower if he is to mount a title challenge next term.
With regard to this, the Old Trafford side have set their sights on Juventus striker Dusan Vlahovic according to Gazzetta dello Sport and any potential move may cost Ten Hag around €90m (£78m), however this is much cheaper than the reported £100m it could cost for United to sign Victor Osimhen this summer, a known transfer target.
This suggests that the Serbia striker could be an ideal Osimhen alternative for the Dutchman ahead of 2023/2024 and could allow him to focus on other areas of the team rather than splurge the majority of his budget on just one player.
Could Manchester United sign Dusan Vlahovic?
With the Bianconeri failing to qualify for the Champions League due to a fresh ten-point deduction, the Serie A side could be willing to sell Vlahovic during the transfer window, just 18 months after signing him.
There is no doubt Osimhen has enjoyed the better campaign out of the duo, scoring 30 goals compared to the 14 for Vlahovic.
However since 2019/20, there hasn’t been much of a difference in their total goal record, with the Nigerian international finding the back of the net 76 times compared to 72 for the 23-year-old, proving that he is a more than adequate alternative.
Indeed, even this term, there isn’t much in it with regard to goal-creating actions per 90 (0.33 to 0.29), shot-creating actions per 90 (2.67 to 2.1) and shots per 90 (1.84 to 0.94), with the Serbian coming out on top for the first metric.
Journalist Emmet Gates lavished praise upon him last year, saying:
“Dusan Vlahovic has the ability to be a generational talent, but he's suffering in this iteration of Juventus.
“To paraphrase a famous Zlatan line: He's a Ferrari being driven like a Fiat.”
Dusan-Vlahovic-Juventus
Perhaps a change of scenery would do him the world of good, and a talent like his deserves to be showcasing his ability in the Champions League.
Those statistics show that there isn’t much difference between him and Osimhen in various metrics this term, and as he would cost significantly cheaper, Ten Hag must make the move as soon as possible.
YouTuber Conor McGilligan has expressed doubt over Che Adams amid recent rumours suggesting he could be on his way to Leeds United.
What is the latest Leeds United transfer news?
The Whites could well be playing in the Championship next season and will have to then adjust their transfer plans accordingly.
Adams is one player who has already been relegated, as Southampton are destined to finish at the very bottom of the Premier League table.
As a result, they will probably be losing a few players this summer and it seems as though the striker has emerged as a target for Leeds.
Indeed, as per a report in TEAMtalk from last week, Adams is almost certain to leave. On top of that, the player has been linked in the recent past with Football Insider noting that the Whites are "admirers".
While speaking about it on the One Leeds Fan Channel, McGilligan didn't seem to think it was the best idea though.
He explained (11:23): "Apparently Leeds have a long-term interest and it wasn't just Victor Orta in [for] Che Adams and yeah, there's potential for Leeds to go in there and make that move.
"But I'm not 100 per cent sure that's viable now. I think that ship’s sailed."
Who will Che Adams join this summer?
Interestingly enough, former England international Carlton Palmer has also offered his verdict on the recent rumours with Everton linked as well as Leeds.
He told Football League World: "Both of these clubs could be plying their trade in the Championship next season.
"He has a year left on his contract, [but] I think any new manager would want to keep him in the building for now, given he scored 22 goals for Birmingham in the 2018/19 season.
Southampton striker Che Adams.
"I think you would go to the January transfer window, and make a decision on his future depending on how he is doing, and how the season is going on a whole for the club."
However, Leeds were also linked (via The Sun) with a £10m move for Adams last summer but no deal ever materialised.
Seeing as the £30k-p/w attacker has scored just five league goals since then as his team has been relegated, it's not hard to see why McGilligan feels the ship may have passed regarding this particular deal.
Still only 26, though, Adams could potentially provide a good option for somebody next term in either the Championship or the Premier League depending on how things turn out.
Liverpool's appointment of Jorg Schmadtke as their new sporting director is now thought to be "imminent", according to a fresh update.
What's the sporting director situation at Liverpool?
It has been a tough season for the Reds, with Premier League title aspirations existing back in August, but a fifth-place finish eventually coming their way after a string of poor results. It is a campaign that has seen a number of players struggle, including the likes of Fabinho and Jordan Henderson, but there have also been issues off the field.
The influential Michael Edwards left his role as sporting director last year, having been the mastermind behind the signings of Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane, among many others, and he was replaced in the role by Julian Ward. It was then announced late last year that he would step down at the end of this season, potentially suggesting that all is not running as smoothly as it once did at Anfield.
The search has been on to find Ward's successor and Schmadtke has emerged as a front-runner in recent weeks, having most recently been sporting director at Wolfsburg. Now, a significant update has emerged – one that suggests his appointment is now a matter if when, rather than if.
Is Schmadtke set to become Reds' sporting director?
According to Sky Sports Germany [via Sport Witness], "nothing can go wrong" with regards to Schmadtke heading to Liverpool, with an announcement now believed to be "imminent". The Reds want him in charge as soon as possible, in order to bring stability to the club before the summer transfer window opens.
It is stated that he will work closely with Klopp on potential signings, with his main area of focus being the Bundesliga, given his experience in that league.
Nailing the right replacement for Ward is absolutely essential for Liverpool this summer, with the role of sporting director such an important one in football these days, not least their eye for new signings and the relationship they have with the manager.
While Schmadtke is reportedly a controversial character at times, with a penchant for falling out with people, Klopp has picked him out for a reason and he is to be trusted with such decisions, as something of a new era begins at Anfield, following the departure of the likes of Roberto Firmino, James Milner, Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain at the end of the season.