Lee Wallace made his QPR debut against Leeds on Saturday and he marked it with a brilliant standout moment that has earned him praise from fans.
With the scores still level in the first half, Patrick Bamford was played through on goal and rounded Liam Kelly, only for Wallace to intervene by poking the ball away from the striker with a very well-executed sliding tackle.
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The former Rangers man was deployed in a slightly more unfamiliar left-sided centre-back role, but looked solid throughout despite lacking fitness due to not getting much game time so far this season.
With Liam Manning playing well this season, Wallace may have to wait again until he gets another chance to play, though the fact Mark Warburton is yet to find a solution to the team’s defensive problems (28 goals conceded in 15 games) means he could persist with the five-at-the-back formation.
QPR fans have taken time to react to the tackle, and have lavished praise on Wallace for stopping what looked like a certain goal.
Arne Slot will be delighted with Liverpool's start to the Premier League, but he will already be versed in the perils of England's top flight and the seemingly insurmountable task in deposing supreme rulers Manchester City.
The Merseysiders put Manchester United away with dispatch before the September international break but now gear up for a gruelling chapter of action, playing five fixtures in a two-week period.
14/09/2024
Nott'm Forest (H)
Premier League
17/09/2024
AC Milan (A)
Champions League
21/09/2024
Bournemouth (H)
Premier League
25/09/2024
West Ham (H)
Carabao Cup
28/09/2024
Wolves (A)
Premier League
Slot has made minimal changes to his starting lineup thus far, but there are plenty eager to make their mark. However, the form of Mohamed Salah and co present a headache for Slot, though a welcome one, such is Liverpool's depth and rounded quality.
Salah's been the main man; Luis Diaz has been in potent form and Trent Alexander-Arnold… well, he's just Trent, isn't he? But let's not forget about Dominik Szoboszlai, who has put his poor form before the summer firmly in the past.
Dominik Szoboszlai's form under Arne Slot
Szoboszlai impressed for Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool last season after signing from RB Leipzig in a £60m deal, but he ebbed and flowed and finished the campaign on a lower patch of form.
Klopp had shoehorned him into a more industrious midfield role than he perhaps envisaged, whereas Slot is playing the Hungary captain in a looser, more mobile role at number ten, unshackling his creative energy.
Once hailed as a "generational talent" by journalist Marcel Moeller, Szoboszlai is still only 23 and starting to go from strength to strength, having made an emphatic start to the present term.
Matches (starts)
33 (25)
3 (3)
Goals
3
0
Assists
2
1
Shots (on target)*
1.8 (0.5)
1.7 (0.0)
Touches*
57.5
63.7
Pass completion
87%
93%
Key passes*
1.7
2.7
Dribbles*
0.7
0.3
Ball recoveries*
5.2
6.3
Tackles + interceptions*
1.5
1.3
Total duels won*
2.5 (42%)
2.0 (46%)
There's a long season ahead for the talented player, but Slot has found the formula to bring him out of his shell and he looks like a core part of the usual starting lineup. However, he must have sufficient support.
Harvey Elliott is, of course, waiting in the wings, but the 21-year-old is probably at his best in the half spaces between the centre and the right flank, where he can unleash his ball-playing quality into the danger area or shift forward and strike on goal himself.
Harvey Elliott and Curtis Jones celebrate
Liverpool had a rising star who might have been the perfect understudy, but then Fabio Carvalho was sold in August after Richard Hughes received an offer he just couldn't refuse.
Liverpool may rue selling Fabio Carvalho
Carvalho made an excellent start to life on Merseyside but fizzled out during a testing 2022/23 campaign for the Anfield side, with Klopp limiting him to a sorry smattering of appearances after the autumnal months.
Liverpool rejected a £15m bid from Premier League rivals Southampton in July but were convinced to cash in when Brentford came calling toward the final stretch of the transfer window, with the Bees offering a package rising to £27.5m for the fleet-footed attacking midfielder.
He'd enjoyed a fine pre-season with Slot's side but it's important to remember that Diaz and Cody Gakpo were both absent following international duties and the 22-year-old's chances would have been more intermittent had they returned sooner.
But still. Carvalho is a quality player and he showcased as such during his loan spell with Hull City last year, joining in January and plundering nine goals from just 20 displays, also averaging 2.1 key passes per game, as per Sofascore.
Despite only really featuring across the second half of the campaign – Caravalho endured a miserable stint with RB Leipzig across the first half of the season – he actually proved to outscore Szoboszlai, who bagged seven goals over 45 matches for the Merseysiders.
Former Hull City loanee Fabio Carvalho
His kind of playmaking quality and goalscoring prowess would certainly prove to offer some competition for Szoboszlai, and Liverpool might come to regret not having this additional dimension at their chest this year.
After all, he proved his worth against high-calibre opposition during the off-season. During Liverpool's pre-season victory over Arsenal, the Portuguese talent wasn't on the ball at every moment but he made things happen when he was, taking only 21 touches, completing a dribble, winning four duels and proving to be an all-round menace.
After joining from Fulham in a deal worth £5m plus add-ons in 2022, FSG will be delighted at having turned a sizeable profit, and his big-moment aura was felt after scoring a last-gasp winner against Newcastle United at the start of the 2022/23 season.
But Caravalho now plies his trade elsewhere, Of course, you never know what the future holds, but Carvalho – who Hull boss Liam Rosenior described as the "perfect number ten" – could have been a real difference-maker this season.
Will it come back to bite Liverpool? Some might feel that an injury to a player like Szoboszlai could cause a panic. Football's unceasing schedule is like a gaping maw, and already players are feeling its force.
Take, for example, Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard, who was injured during international duty with Norway this week. With Declan Rice already suspended for the North London Derby on Sunday, this is a concerning situation for Mikel Arteta.
Of course, Liverpool (and indeed Arsenal) have healthy and ranged squads but all players must pull their weight in this division if Manchester City are truly going to be toppled – all the while seeking to fire on all cylinders and compete in the Champions League and domestic cup competitions.
Carvalho could have been a crucial piece for Slot – but I guess we'll just see how it all pans out.
Liverpool struck gold selling Anfield sensation for stunning 1570% profit
It's still early in the season, but it would be fair to say that Tottenham Hotspur have not got their Premier League campaign off to the greatest of starts.
Ange Postecoglou's side kicked things off with a 1-1 draw away to Leicester City, then beat Everton 4-0 before losing 2-1 away at Newcastle United.
Now, there is still plenty of time for the North Londoners to have an excellent year, but they will need their stars like James Maddison to be firing on all cylinders and their squad players like Richarlison fit and ready to contribute when called upon.
Tottenham midfielder James Maddison
However, as talented as those two are, they have actually been shown up by a former Spurs player who left the club last year to little fanfare.
Maddison and Richarlison's recent form
So, let's start with Richarlison, who has been in North London for a season longer, and while he's a talented forward, it would be hard to describe his move as a success at this point in time.
Richarlison in anguish for Tottenham
In his first campaign with the Lilywhites, the former Everton ace could only muster up a paltry return of three goals and four assists in 35 appearances. He did improve last season, netting 12 goals and providing four assists in 31 games, but when looking at both campaigns together, he maintained an underwhelming average – for a centre-forward – of a goal involvement every 2.86 games.
Unfortunately for the Brazilian, this unremarkable rate of return saw the club splash £65m on Dominic Solanke this summer, thus relegating him to a squad role for the foreseeable future.
Now, while the Nova Venécia-born marksman is set to see his minutes limited this season, Maddison certainly isn't, so long as he can stay fit, that is.
The Englishman joined the North Londoners for £40m last summer, and while he had a slightly mediocre end to the year, which was no doubt in part due to his injury issues, he still scored four goals and provided nine assists in 30 matches for Postecoglou, equating to a goal involvement every 2.30 games.
James Maddison for Tottenham.
However, even though the former Foxes star was able to show his true quality at points last season, he and Richarlison have been shown up for different reasons by a former Spurs ace who left the club last summer.
Lucas Moura's recent form
Yes, the mystery man is Lucas Moura, who, after spending five and a half seasons with the Lilywhites, moved back home to his first club, São Paulo, on a free transfer last August.
The 32-year-old's final few seasons in North London saw his role in the team reduced to being an option off the bench, as while he played 3173 minutes of football in his first full season with the club, his final campaign saw that number come down to just 394 minutes across 19 appearances.
However, while the Brazilian ace didn't quite live up to the potential he had at the club, he will always be remembered by the fans for his magical hat-trick against Ajax in May 2019, which booked the club a place in their first-ever Champions League final – the less said about the next game, the better.
Since returning to São Paulo, the 5 foot 8 "superhero", as dubbed by former manager Mauricio Pochettino, has become an integral part of the club, outperformed Maddison last season, and while his output matches Richarlison's, he has him beat in another area.
For example, in his 33 appearances last season, the right-footed ace scored nine goals and provided seven assists, comfortably beating out the Englishman's haul of 13 goal involvements and matching his compatriot's tally of 16.
Appearances
33
Goals
9
Assists
7
Goal Involvements per Match
0.48
However, he has the former Toffees star beat because while the 27-year-old was dropped by the Brazilian national team back in May, he has just been named in the squad once again.
Ultimately, Moura's exit from Spurs last summer has worked out for him, and while he's outperformed Maddison on the pitch and claimed a spot in the Selecao's squad where Richarlison hasn't, the North Londoners probably aren't interested in bringing him back anytime soon.
Spurs flop was sold by Conte in 2022, now he's outscoring Solanke
The attacking talent has just secured a lucrative transfer.
Newcastle United have enjoyed a stellar start to the 2024/25 campaign thus far, despite Eddie Howe failing to really strengthen the first-team squad during the summer transfer window.
Seven points from nine in the Premier League while reaching the next round of the EFL Cup is certainly considered a more than decent start, but will the lack of investment in the team during the summer come back to haunt the manager as the season progresses?
Newcastle manager Eddie Howe
Several players have stepped up and performed superbly during the opening few weeks of the season, most notably Anthony Gordon.
Anthony Gordon’s statistics this season
The Englishman enjoyed a wonderful 2023/24 campaign, registering 23 goal contributions – 12 goals and 11 assists – in all competitions for the Magpies as they narrowly missed out on European football.
These performances meant he was called up by Gareth Southgate for a space in the England squad ahead of the 2024 European Championship, although he featured just once during the competition, coming off the bench in the group stage game against Slovenia.
This experience will stand him in good stead, however, as he looks to become a permanent fixture in future England squads.
Gordon has played in all three league matches for the Toon this term, scoring once in the draw against Bournemouth a couple of weeks ago.
The winger has been in electric form in the top flight. Aside from his goal against the Cherries, the 23-year-old has also created one big chance, averaged 2.7 key passes per game and succeeded with 0.7 dribbles per match, showcasing his attacking qualities.
Shots on target
3
Big chances missed
1
Accurate passes
27/30
Key passes
2
Successful dribbles
0
Big chances created
1
Among his teammates, Gordon also ranks fourth for shots on target per game (0.3), along with ranking second for scoring frequency (a goal every 248 minutes) and first for expected assists (0.79) in the Premier League.
If the Magpies wish to return to the top six, or even the top four, Howe will be hoping one of his prized assets can maintain this current form once the international break is over.
Despite the left-winger shining for the club, could the manager have signed a player who has already outshone Gordon during the early weeks of the season? Chelsea winger Noni Madueke was a prime transfer target during the summer.
Newcastle missed out on Noni Madueke
The club were linked with numerous targets during the transfer window but failed to sign any of them.
With Howe aiming to bring another winger into his squad, particularly on the right flank, Madueke was an option that was being considered. They would have been forced to fork out a fee in the region of £40m in order to lure him north, however, and the move didn’t materialise.
In hindsight, this looks like a major missed opportunity for Howe, as there is no doubt the Magpies could have afforded the fee.
The English gem has started the season off in sublime fashion and has even outperformed Gordon in several metrics, proving why the club should have made a more concrete effort to sign him.
Noni Madueke’s season in numbers for Chelsea
Despite starting just three matches so far for the Stamford Bridge side, Madueke has scored four goals, which included a stunning hat-trick against Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Premier League.
These displays should ensure he is thought of as a main option by Enzo Maresca heading into the next few weeks of the season, yet it proves exactly what Newcastle missed out on during the summer.
Across his two league matches, Madueke has averaged 4.5 shots per game, missed two big chances, created a big chance, averaged one key pass per game and succeeded with one dribble per match.
Said to be “one of the best young players in Europe” and a "mentality monster" by technical coach, Saul Isaksson-Hurst, he's certainly living up to that hype in 2023/24.
Madueke-Chelsea-Wolves-Stats
Despite the interest from other clubs in the transfer window, it now looks as though Chelsea did the right thing by keeping the former PSV winger, as his goals could be vital this term, both domestically and in Europe.
How Noni Madueke compares to Anthony Gordon
If Madueke joined Newcastle, he wouldn’t be fighting it out with Gordon for a place in the starting XI as they operate on opposite flanks, but the England youth international is enjoying a better campaign in the top flight than the Toon star.
Not only does Madueke have more goals than Gordon, but he has also averaged more successful dribbles, key passes and shots per game.
Furthermore, according to FBref, the Chelsea sensation also has a better shots on target percentage per 90 than Gordon (66.7% vs 50%) in the top flight, along with averaging more goal-creating actions (1.03 vs 0), achieving a higher percentage of successful take-ons (50% vs 25%) and performing more progressive carries (5.26 vs 3.33) per 90.
These statistics clearly prove the Chelsea gem has enjoyed a better start to the 2024/25 Premier League campaign, demonstrating how effective Madueke is in the final third.
If Howe had managed to bring the Englishman to St James' Park in the summer, he could have formed a devastating wing duo which could have terrorised opposition defenders all over the country.
Gordon is still one of Howe’s key players, but he doesn’t have anyone as effective at performing on the right wing.
Failing to sign Madueke could turn into a mistake by the club, especially if he continues to impress for the Blues as the weeks progress.
Newcastle should take plenty of confidence from this excellent start they have enjoyed, but imagine how better it might have been if they had someone like Madueke performing at his very best for the Magpies.
Newcastle could regret selling £1.8m ace who outscored Gordon in 23/24
He’s gone on to have a successful career away from St James’ Park.
Arsenal forward Folarin Balogun has issued Mikel Arteta "an ultimatum" regarding his future at the club, claims journalist Paul Brown.
Arsenal transfer news – what's going on with Folarin Balogun?
After an unbelievable season with Ligue 1 side Stade Reims last year, Arsenal have a decision to make regarding the future of the exciting American prospect.
The New York-born player has made it clear to the wider footballing world that after getting a taste for regular first-team football in France, he doesn't want to go back to being a backup option, nor does he want to spend another year on loan – he either wants the number nine spot in North London, or he wants to leave, permanently.
folarin-balogun-premier-league-west-ham-transfers
While there was an assumption that this was how he felt after his comments about feeling "appreciated" upon switching his national allegiance to the US, it was made crystal clear after he spoke to reporters following a USMNT game.
"What I can say is that I definitely won't go out on loan again."
With Arteta favouring Gabriel Jesus as the team's main number nine, a sale of the player is now probably the most likely outcome, and with the price tag reported to be only £35m by football.london, there are plenty of suitors.
According to FootballTransfers, West Ham United have made the signing of the American star a 'priority' this summer as they look to solve their goal-scoring problems.
Outside the Premier League, Leipzig are said to be keen on the player, as are Champions League runners-up Inter Milan and cross-city rivals AC Milan.
Adding to all the drama, Balogun recently Tweeted “It is time!” alongside an egg timer emoji before then deleting the post from social media.
What has journalist Paul Brown said about Folarin Balogun's situation?
Brown made it clear that a decision must be made regarding Balogun this summer and that decision has almost been forced upon the club by the player himself as he is desperate to be the main man somewhere.
Speaking to Football FanCast, he said: "He did kind of issue them with a bit of an ultimatum by saying that he does not want to go out on loan again next season. So, it was kind of a play me or sell me really statement from Balogun, as he has thrown the gauntlet down to Arteta, and it'll be interesting to see what he does."
How good was Folarin Balogun last season?
All of this attention and speculation has come about as a result of a fantastic season for the American last year.
In just 37 Ligue 1 appearances for Reims, Balogun scored a seriously impressive 21 goals and assisted another three, giving him a goal contribution on average every one-and-a-half games.
According to WhoScored, he averaged a rating of 6.90 across those 37 matches, making it perhaps unsurprising that Arteta referred to him as "special" earlier this year.
The underlying numbers back up the Spaniard's assessment as well.
According to FBref, who compare players in a similar position across Europe's top five leagues, he sits in the top 7% for non-penalty expected goals, 9% for total shots, and 19% for touches in the opposition's penalty area.
It certainly looks like the US national team have a world-class talent on their hands, and whichever team takes him off of Arsenal's hands could have a bright future spearheaded by the American.
Manchester United look set to make an improved £50m transfer offer for Chelsea midfielder Mason Mount this week, according to reports.
What’s the latest Man United transfer news involving Mount?
It looks set to be a busy summer off the pitch at Old Trafford, with the Glazers still in charge despite an ongoing takeover saga.
The Red Devils have seemingly made Mount one of their top transfer targets this summer and have already agreed on personal terms with the England international.
Mount is entering the final 12 months of his Stamford Bridge contract, however, a fee between the two clubs appears to be proving tricky. Man United had an initial £40m bid turned down by their Premier League rivals recently, but it looks as if they are set to return quickly with an improved offer for the player who Chelsea value at £70m.
According to The Daily Mail in the last 48 hours, Man United are expected to make a £50m offer for Mount this week.
Those at Old Trafford are determined to sign the midfielder for Erik ten Hag and are the front runners, should they reach an agreement with the Blues.
Chelsea's Mason Mount
How much money does Mason Mount earn at Chelsea?
Mount, hailed as "unbelievable" by Joe Cole, has progressed through the academy at Stamford Bridge, and as a result, his salary has increased over time. The 24-year-old was on £100-a-week back in 2015 and has been on £76,000-a-week since 2019 after breaking through into the first team.
It looks as if United are desperate to sign Mount, and if they succeed, he would offer a versatile option to Ten Hag’s side. He is capable of playing as an attacking midfielder, central midfielder or out on the left, with the majority of his appearances turning out in an advanced role.
He has contributed to 70 goals in 195 games for Chelsea and has 36 senior caps for England, so could come in and potentially play alongside Bruno Fernandes and Casemiro in a three-man midfield, possibly even replacing the former in an attacking role, should the Portugal international be rested at points throughout the campaign.
It’ll be interesting to see if United get their man, and by the looks of it, there will be further developments over the coming days.
West Ham United are set to make their first offer for Fulham's Joao Palhinha, according to reports…
West Ham transfer news – What's the latest on Joao Palhinha?
As per transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, the Hammers are set to make their initial approach to Fulham for the services of their midfielder Palhinha.
"West Ham are preparing their first approach for João Palhinha. Not an easy deal with Fulham but he's top of the list for West Ham to replace Declan Rice," the Italian journalist tweeted.
The recent confirmation from Irons chairman David Sullivan that club captain and midfield powerhouse Declan Rice would be leaving the club made the signing of new midfielders crucial this summer.
However, the east London outfit aren't the only side interested in the Fulham man.
According to Football Insider, Aston Villa are keen to bring the player to the Midlands and are 'willing to pay' the reported £60m asking price to get the deal done.
Joao Palhinha
Would Joao Palhinha be a good signing for West Ham?
The short answer to this question is simple, yes.
However, whilst he would certainly replace the defensive output of Rice and then some, he won't replace the attacking threat the Englishman produced.
For example, according to FBref, Rice has created 2.75 shot-creating actions per 90 this season, whereas Palhinha has only created 0.87. The same trend can be seen with take-ons, where the West Ham man attempts 1.73 take-ons per 90 and the Fulham star just 1.13.
The Hammers need to be realistic and look to sign a couple of players that, as a collective, can help the team move on from the departure of Rice.
With all that said, the former Sporting CP man has been fantastic in his debut campaign this year and would certainly go a long way in helping stabilise a new-look Claret and Blue midfield.
His biggest attribute this year has undoubtedly been his tackling numbers, tackling a whopping 147 players, the highest number across Europe's top five leagues by 19, per FBref.
Even more impressive is that these aren't just wild lunges at the opponent, as according to FBref, he is in the top 1% of players for tackles won in the top five leagues, per 90.
His constant involvement in the defensive side of the game hasn't gone unnoticed by his teammates either, with his midfield partner Harrison Reed referring to him as a "tackling machine."
Former players and pundits have been singing their praises for the player as well this season, with former Fulham man Steve Sidwell saying: "He has been absolutely sensational this season."
Fulham midfielder Joao Palhinha.
One of the top-flight's greatest centre-halves, Rio Ferdinand, has also been enthralled by the player, saying: "You need someone like that in front of you as a defender."
He isn't just a bruising machine at the centre of midfield, either. He has the ability to score the occasional wonder goal as well, with journalist Josh Bunting describing him as an "artist" for a particularly stunning finish during his time in Portugal.
It is also worth adding that despite the hefty fee that will inevitably be required to get this deal done, Palhinha's relatively modest wage of £50k-per-week in west London shouldn't be too much of an issue for the Hammers to improve upon.
West Ham would be making a very smart decision if they go and get Fulham's Portuguese star as David Moyes' perfect Rice replacement, but they better get a move on, as he won't be at the Cottage for long.
David de Gea is has been left off Manchester United's retained list but the club have stated that "discussions remain open" over a new contract.
When does David De Gea's contract expire?
The Spanish goalkeeper currently earns £375k-per-week but that deal expires at the end of the month on June 30.
With that being the case, negotiations have been going on for some time but it appears he will have to take a notable pay cut to remain at Old Trafford.
Indeed, Man United have already seen an extension offer worth £200k-per-week reportedly turned by De Gea who presumably wasn't happy with the terms.
However, with no agreement reached yet, at this moment in time it seems that he could well be leaving in just a matter of weeks now.
After all, the club released their official retained list this week and the goalkeeper was not included. Despite that, though, he wasn't among those – such as Phil Jones and Axel Tuanzebe – to be confirmed as a departure either.
Instead, the statement explained: "In terms of the goalkeeping department, discussions remain open with David De Gea over a potential new contract."
Will De Gea leave Man United?
Some of the club's departures have been known for some time. For instance, after 12 years at Old Trafford, Phil Jones penned an emotional goodbye message on Instagram at the start of June.
De Gea's situation, however, has been unclear for months and even after plenty of discussions behind the scenes, no final decision appears to have been made just yet.
The player wouldn’t have helped his hopes for a big new contract with some iffy displays last term – notably conceding a howler away at West Ham. Even so, he's still be a regular under Erik ten Hag, playing 38 league games and keeping 17 clean sheets.
Man United's David De Gea
And so, it's not hard to understand why the Red Devils don't want to offer him the same sort of wages he currently earns.
Indeed, if De Gea wants to earn that sort of cash, it looks as though he'll have to leave England this summer. According to 90min, interest from Saudi Arabia's Pro League could allow him to manage that.
Still, Fabrizio Romano told GIVEMESPORT just last month that the idea for Man United and the player is to "continue together" and negotiations are "very, very advanced.
He explained: "They wanted to reduce his salary but, at the same time, to have a different structure with the contract – maybe a longer contract with a different structure of the salary – so this is the discussion, but it's now very, very advanced.
"De Gea wants to stay and Manchester United want to keep De Gea, so the idea is to continue together. I think Erik ten Hag has been very, very clear on that. It's about the final clauses and then it will be completed soon."
With that being the case, even if they've missed this deadline, it does sound as though it could all be sorted just in time before his contract officially expires.
Glasgow Rangers require some much-needed attacking reinforcements during the summer transfer window as they aim to fill the void left by Ryan Kent and Alfredo Morelos.
It won't be easy to replace them, however, Michael Beale is eyeing up a few players in the market who could arrive at Ibrox and make an impression. One such player was winger Luis Palma, who the club were interested in recently, yet reports this week have claimed that the deal is now off as Rangers aren’t willing to pay the £4.5m for the 23-year-old, and it appears as though Beale will now have to move on swiftly.
The 42-year-old may have already found an ideal alternative, with American. Brian Gutierrez being eyed up for a potential move according to the Daily Mail.
The Gers face competition for the teen however as Manchester United are also keeping tabs on him, yet securing a work permit may prove to be a stickler for any potential move this summer.
Could Brian Gutierrez improve Rangers?
The left-winger has enjoyed a wonderful start to his professional career at MLS side Chicago Fire, already racking up 75 senior appearances, registering 13 goal contributions across those games.
His creative talents have certainly been on show during the 2023 MLS campaign as the youngster has created four big chances, made one key pass per game and has succeeded with 1.5 dribbles per match – a success rate of 64% – showcasing all the attributes of a successful winger.
He even made more dribbles than Palma did during the entirety of the 2022/2023 season, while creating the same amount of big chances and failing slightly behind on key passes per game, with Palma managing 1.4, suggesting that the 19-year-old would be a fine alternative.
Honduras forward Luis Palma.
His coach at Chicago Fire, Frank Klopas, has lauded his player as someone who simply “has everything” before stating that he is “good with the ball, his work rate, key passes, ability to beat players, technical ability." And making a move for the winger should be a priority now that Palma is reportedly off the cards.
Gutierrez has plenty of experience for someone so young, and he could further develop his skills in Scotland, as he will be given plenty of game time under Beale if he did join the Light Blues.
With a void to fill on the left flank, the youngster has shown that he means business in the senior ranks and could be a gamble worth taking.
Blackburn Rovers are interested in signing Queens Park Rangers striker Lyndon Dykes, according to recent reports.
What's the latest Blackburn Rovers transfer news?
With the likes of Ben Brereton Diaz, Bradley Dack and Daniel Ayala all leaving Ewood Park in the coming weeks, it's set to be a busy summer for Rovers as they look to replace them.
After missing out on the playoffs by goal difference, Jon Dahl Tomasson's side has moved quickly, signing Plymouth Argyle striker Niall Ennis last month.
A lack of depth up front has been a cause for concern for the Lancashire outfit all year, with the departing Brereton Diaz (16) the only player to score in double figures for the side this season.
Rovers aren't finished there, though, and according to the Daily Mail, they are among a number of teams interested in QPR striker, Dykes.
The Lancashire Telegraph reports that the club will need to sell players to generate any finances for a transfer, though, with full-back Tayo Edun being linked with a move away from Ewood, with both Charlton Athletic and Cardiff City interested.
Will Lyndon Dykes join Blackburn Rovers?
With eight league goals this season in a struggling QPR side, the 27-year-old would add some firepower to a Rovers team that's been severely lacking it this year.
No Rovers player outside of Brereton Diaz scored more league goals than the Scottish international during the Championship's latest campaign and adding him will help alleviate any pressure on Sam Gallagher's goal-scoring output.
The 27-year-old talisman, once hailed "dangerous" by former Rangers boss Steven Gerrard shortly before his team faced Dykes and Livingston in 2020, excels as a big target man, winning 4.8 aerial duels a game according to WhoScored, almost two more than Rovers' current number nine, Sam Gallagher who wins three per game.
While Tomasson has prioritised a possession-based style of football, playing out from the back, his side has also shown a tendency to pick out a long ball whenever they identify space behind the opposition back line, firing 66 long passes a game, and having a forward like Dykes on the receiving end would see the £8k-a-week man almost certainly reap the rewards.
Rovers certainly aren't the only team interested in the Scottish international, though, with fellow championship outfit Stoke City and newly-promoted Burnley both also targeting Dykes, so the club have got their work cut out for them if they're going to lure the QPR man to Ewood Park.