Liverpool get lively as transfer window gets frantic - and Lionesses head to World Cup final

Stuck on the middle...

Liverpool’s recruitment staff have gone into overdrive after the chaos of last week, as Jurgen Klopp insists on a No6 midfielder. That explains a sudden proliferation of names. Crystal Palace’s Cheick Doucoure thought a move may be possible on Wednesday. The London club have already sold a lot of talent this summer, with more to go. Fiorentina’s Sofyan Amrabat is being considered, but he has already been persuaded by interest from Manchester United - which is admittedly dependent on a sale. Stuttgart’s Wataru Endo is meanwhile right in Jorg Schmadtke’s area of expertise, while representing a cheaper option. Some in the game have raised their eyebrows at this, pointing to how someone so familiar to a sporting director is rather different from Liverpool's old method of unearthing gems. Doucoure remains a possibility, but only for the right price. It could help that Palace look to be locking down Michael Olise and Eberechi Eze. The former has signed a bumper contract, at £100,000 week. The latter may involve a bit more suspense, especially with so many sides seeing him as a forward option.

Maguire insists on his worth - in more than one way

Manchester United’s plans have been disrupted by Harry Maguire’s insistence on getting what his contract is worth, but also a rather admirable intention to prove his worth. It is something that has been on the player’s mind from the start of all this, and that Erik ten Hag even referenced. There is a pride to Maguire, that also meant he wasn’t going to buckle on attempts to force him out to go on a lower wage. It is another frustration to David Moyes, who felt the centre-half was an essential leader in his team, as there are ongoing tensions within West Ham United about the direction of recruitment. It is almost a split between tried and trusted Premier League players, and those for the future. Hence West Ham are currently  in talks with Ajax over Mohammed Kudus and one of many clubs trailing Rennes' Jeremy Doku. An offer has gone in there. 

More eyes on Toney and all eyes on Chelsea

Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur are two clubs again considering Brentford’s Ivan Toney to solve their forward issues, especially as the start of the season makes his suspension feel that bit shorter. The situation has perhaps created the perception that any buying clubs might be able to get him on the cheap, for around £40m. Brentford have gently let it be known around the game that such perceptions would be very misplaced. If Chelsea are actually willing to follow through on interest, too, there is an obvious awareness of how much they have been spending this summer. Virtually everyone in football has been talking about the issue, and whether they can meet Financial Fair Play, but there has been no actual approach or contact with the Premier League about it. How could there be with the window not yet closed? Everyone is waiting to see how it goes, though, but figures within Chelsea would point to how many sales they've had. All of Kai Havertz, Mateo Kovacic, Kalidou Koulibaly, Christian Pulisic, Edouard Mendy and Ethan Ampadu had multiple years on their contracts and went for fees. N'Golo Kante, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Cesar Azpilicueta and Kepa Arrizabalaga meanwhile went from the wage bill. It makes a difference... but enough to meet the requirements? That's what many in football are watching.

A new era at Paris Saint-Germain?

If Chelsea have become the most eyebrow-raising club of this window, Paris Saint-Germain are finally seeking to park such a profile.  The sale of Neymar is being seen as a landmark moment in the history of the club, as they finally move away from the top-heavy star system. The great irony is that this is what Kylian Mbappe has long wanted, just as he enters the final year of his contract before leaving. There will be no turning back on that. That is evidenced by how Mbappe held his nerve in the stand-off this summer, as the belief was PSG would always buckle. It is remarkable to reflect on how it has all gone since that game-changing summer of 2017. Mbappe ended up becoming what Neymar was supposed to be. He is the flagship player everyone wants. By contrast, Neymar did everything to try and stay in Europe, by reaching out to every major club. Everything, that is, except drop his demands. Nobody wanted on anything close to what he wanted.

Does Wiegman stick, or twist on James?

Before the biggest game in the history of English women’s football, Sarina Wiegman faces maybe her biggest decision yet. Does she bring Lauren James back into the team? It is one further spiked by the fact that, despite Ella Toone’s supreme goal against Australia, she has not been at her best. It would seem a logical if hard decision. Then again, one of the reasons  Wiegman is as good as she is is because she has a different thinking. While her main strength in this World Cup has been how she adapts to constantly changing situations and solves them, she doesn’t tend to change a team that works. And, against Australia in the semi-final, that was very much a team that worked. It was England’s most convincing performance so far. They stepped up. It perhaps means it’s most logical for James to step onto the pitch from the bench, as a potential game-changer to match Salma Paralluelo.

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Miguel's Dispatches

As the ball soared into the top corner of Mary Earps’ net from Sam Kerr’s boot, the Stadium Australia crowd produced nose of a volume that hadn’t even been heard in a Women’s World Cup as raucous as this. It was a special moment, to go with a special goal. That was also why  many of the England players couldn’t help admitting after their semi-final win that it gave satisfaction to silence the crowd. That kind of response is one of many reasons they are in Sunday’s final. While there is an immense disappointment in Australia about their team’s elimination, you couldn’t quite say it’s completely spoiled the party. The overwhelming feeling is one of pride and that something else special happened, which will be carried into the celebration that the third-place play-off will be. The fixture tend to attract a lot of criticism but this is one occasion where it might actually fit what is required. The hosts get a send-off. The final meanwhile retains a sense of excitement. It is set to be a high-quality event. It also have high-profile attendees. Billie Jean King is already in town. 

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

"I cannot put it into words. I just keep having to say: we’re in a World Cup final."

Alex Greenwood on a moment of history, that on Wednesday night hadn’t quite become a moment of realisation

Since the British transfer record breached £1m in 1979, only five players have won the title at the club that signed them for that landmark fee. Name the players.

(You can find out the answers here. The answer page will be updated weekly and contains answers from previous newsletters, too)

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