Liverpool’s academy has produced some of the best talents that English football has ever seen, from Steven Gerrard to Michael Owen. Even now, Trent Alexander-Arnold is seen carrying the torch for the youth setup at Anfield. The fullback is one of the best in the world at just 23-years-old.

The right-back is yet to creep into our top 10 for Liverpool senior appearances by academy graduates, with his tally of 161 not enough. We’re sure, though, that by the end of next season, Alexander-Arnold will find his name amongst some of the greatest Anfield legends.

With that said, we found out the top 10 most capped players from Liverpool’s impressive academy using TransferMarkt.

10) Gerry Byrne (187)

Sneaking into the list ahead of Alexander-Arnold is Gerry Byrne, with 187 league appearances. On top of the impressive number of appearances, Byrne won two league titles, one FA Cup and a World Cup with England to top it off.

9) Sammy Lee (283)

Now often seen as Sam Allardyce’s assistant manager – even at Everton – Sammy Lee is, in fact, a Liverpool legend, making 283 appearances for The Reds, in which he managed to win three league titles, two European Cups and four League Cups.

8) Michael Owen (296)

Queue the pantomime boos, because here’s Michael Owen on the list. There was a time when many believed that he could go down as one of the greatest players to play for Liverpool. Those who believed were soon betrayed, however, as Owen jumped ship to Real Madrid, where he failed to live up to the hype, before doing the unthinkable and joining Manchester United towards the end of his playing days. 

7) Tommy Lawrence (301)

Another Anfield great, Tommy Laurence made 301 league appearances for Liverpool, and has his place cemented in the club’s history as one of the best goalkeepers of all time, with countless success achieved during his time at the club.

6) Robbie Fowler (368)

One of the best goalscorers in Premier League history, with 161 goals – 127 of which came for Liverpool. Known as ‘God’ at Anfield, not much more needs to be said about the impact Fowler had whilst playing for the red half of Merseyside. 

5) Chris Lawler (404)

Perhaps an underrated legend amongst some of the very best to play for the club, Chris Lawler made an impressive total of 404 league appearances for Liverpool, and is one of the best full-backs to play for what is a club full of history.

4) Tommy Smith (466)

With 466 appearances, Tommy Smith ranks inside the top four of this list. In truth, though, if this was a list of Liverpool’s greatest defenders, Smith may have ranked even higher. He is a true Anfield great, who more than earned his place amongst the very best.

3) Steven Gerrard (503)

The true definition of captain fantastic, Steven Gerrard racked up 503 appearances for Liverpool, in most of which he was the standout player by some distance. Gerrard is undoubtedly one of the best Premier League midfielders of all time.

2) Jamie Carragher (508) 

Up there with the Premier League’s best defenders, Jamie Carragher enters second in the list of appearances by Melwood graduates. During his time at Anfield, Carragher’s best moment came in Istanbul, as the Reds came from three goals behind, before defeating AC Milan on penalties in the 2005 Champions League final.

1) Ian Callaghan (605)

Liverpol’s all-time appearances maker, and an academy graduate, Ian Callaghan won it all – and we mean everything, even the World Cup in 1966. On top of that incredible achievement, though, Callaghan also won five league titles, two European Cups and two FA Cups. 

Nottingham Forest have already made six signings this summer and they could be about to make two more as a new update emerges on the club’s transfer plans.

What’s the latest?

According to senior writer for The Athletic Daniel Taylor, Nottingham Forest are in talks to sign both Harry Toffolo and Lewis O’Brien this summer.

Taylor tweeted:

“Two more bids from Nottingham Forest for transfer targets: Lewis O’Brien and Harry Toffolo at Huddersfield.

“#NFFC want the pair for £10-12m. #HTAFC value the two players higher – but open to making the deal. Talks ongoing.”

Supporters will be excited

There is no doubt that supporters will be excited that Forest are interested in signing more players to give them the best chance in the Premier League next season.

Both O’Brien and Toffolo had an impressive season in the Championship with Huddersfield Town, and were key players in their play-off challenge that saw the side compete in the final at Wembley but were beaten, ironically, by Nottingham Forest who progressed to promotion back into the top flight.

Toffolo was a strong presence as a left-wing back for the West Yorkshire club, scoring six goals, delivering seven assists and creating five big chances, making one key pass and two clearances on average per game. That was on top of winning the majority of his duels (52%) proving he is both a fantastic defensive asset and attacking threat.

As for his teammate in O’Brien, he was dubbed an “exceptional player” by his former manager Carlos Corberan after his impressive performances in his team last season.

Over 43 Championship appearances, the 23-year-old scored three goals, delivered three assists and created four big chances, making one key pass and 2.2 tackles on average per game, as well as winning the majority of his duels (56%) and being successful in the majority of his dribble attempts (70%).

Cooper will be wanting to bolster his squad as much as he possibly can with players who can make a positive impact in the team as they compete in the Premier League next season, and the Huddersfield Town pair could have a great impact on the team if Forest can complete deals for the players.

AND in other news: “My information..”: Journo drops big Forest transfer update, supporters surely buzzing

Respected journalist Ben Jacobs has made a significant transfer claim involving a possible move to Arsenal for Leicester City midfielder Youri Tielemans. 

The lowdown: Arsenal interested in Tielemans

The 25-year-old has been heavily linked with a move to north London this summer, while also being an apparent target for Manchester United.

Following the capture of Fabio Vieira from FC Porto, a recent report from Sky Sports claimed that the Gunners were cooling their interest in the Belgium international.

However, having entered the final 12 months of his contract in the Midlands and seemingly no closer to renewal, one informed onlooker has now suggested that Arsenal retain their interest in signing Tielemans during the ongoing transfer window…

The latest: Tielemans ‘wants’ Arsenal move

Speaking to GiveMeSport, Jacobs has suggested that there remains a distinct possibility that the 52-cap Belgian could move to the Emirates Stadium over the coming weeks.

The CBS reporter said: “Tielemans wants to move to Arsenal, has already agreed terms, and is available at a bargain price of under 35 million. Arsenal haven’t placed a formal bid yet but remain in contact with Tielemans.”

The verdict: Proven performer

Tielemans has already amassed 120 Premier League outings for Leicester since arriving from Monaco, operating for the most part at an extremely high level whilst also scoring the winner in the FA Cup final success over Chelsea in 2021.

That experience in England stands the Belgian in strong stead when it comes to analysing midfield targets for the north Londoners, taking away the need for an adaptation period which would come with signing a target like Lucas Paqueta, who has never plied his trade in the UK.

Last season, the cultured Foxes midfielder – who was dubbed ‘pure class’ by journalist John Percy during a 7.5-rated Sofascore display containing one goal, two successful dribbles and three interceptions in a 5-2 win over Manchester City in September 2020 – scored six times and provided four assists in 32 Premier League appearances.

Sharing a close stylistic match with such renowned names as Ivan Rakitic, Rodrigo De Paul and another heavily-linked Arsenal target in Sergej Milinkovic-Savic (FBRef), Tielemans certainly appears to boast the top-class calibre required to slot straight into Mikel Arteta’s ranks. At a previously reported £35m asking price, he should duly be considered a priority capture for Edu and the Emirates hierarchy.

Liverpool have been heavily linked with a move for Jude Bellingham this summer and now a new update has emerged on the club’s stance on signing the player.

What’s the latest?

According to the Liverpool ECHO, the Merseyside giants would not be put off by a significant fee in order to sign the Borussia Dortmund star who has a reported £103m price tag.

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As per the report, it is confirmed that Bellingham is a player Liverpool are interested in signing and plans to sign a midfielder now appear to be put on hold until next summer when the club will have the opportunity to sign the youngster.

Imagine him & Thiago

There is no doubt that Liverpool are now in a position to add depth and inject youth into their midfield over the next few transfer windows, and it was reported that the club would be making the centre of the pitch their next key area to strengthen.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Naby Keita and James Milner are all Liverpool midfielders who will be out of contract in June 2023, so there is definitely now an opportunity for FSG to start identifying new recruits to come in and make the impact needed for the Merseyside giants to continue to compete for trophies.

Bellingham is one of the hottest young prospects in world football, the recently turned 19-year-old has been making impressive strides in his development with the German side, and last season proved yet again that he could be a valuable asset to Jurgen Klopp.

The Englishman who was hailed “extraordinary” by Marco Rose scored three goals, delivered eight assists and created 10 big chances, making 1.3 key passes, 1.6 tackles and 1.3 interceptions on average per game, as well as winning the majority of his duels (51%) and successfully completing 57% of his dribble attempts.

Bellingham’s output last season over 32 Bundesliga appearances proves that he really is a complete midfielder that can offer both defensive and attacking attributes that would have a huge positive impact and influence in the Liverpool team of the future.

Klopp could even develop a fantastic partnership at Anfield between Bellingham and midfielder Thiago Alcantara, combining the England star’s raw talent and work ethic with Thiago’s experience and precision in the centre of the pitch could be a nightmare for opponents.

With that being said, if FSG can convince the young midfielder to make the move to Merseyside next summer and offer Dortmund the asking price they desire, it would be a major coup for Liverpool and could set up their midfield for success in years to come.

AND in other news: James Pearce reveals big Liverpool transfer exit update that’ll delight supporters

Journalist Dean Jones has provided an exciting claim regarding Leeds United’s transfer dealings…

What’s the word?

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, the transfer insider suggested that the Yorkshire club could be in line to make a shock swoop for a high profile signing, with that figure potentially a “bigger name” than current forward targets Arnaud Kalimuendo and Charles De Ketelaere.

Jones stated: “I think that there are loads of different names on the radar. I think they might even surprise us and get a bigger name that suddenly doesn’t fit in at another club. I’d say that they’re not going to rush into it.”

The Elland Road outfit have already made significant investment so far this summer, bringing in six new faces in an attempt to spark a drastic improvement upon last season’s narrow escape from relegation.

Surprise for Leeds supporters

That suggestion from a reliable source in Jones could spark a great deal of intrigue among Whites supporters, with speculation set to be rife as to just who that potential ‘surprise’ could be.

A new forward addition has become a priority amid the injury woes of current number nine Patrick Bamford, with the Englishman restricted to just nine Premier League appearances last season, having previously enjoyed a fine campaign in the top flight the year prior.

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Having netted 17 league goals in the 2020/21 campaign, his lengthy spell on the sidelines last term ensured that he followed that up with a tally of just two goals and two assists in the top tier, with Jesse Marsch’s side almost paying the price for their lack of adequate striking cover.

The club’s top scorer last season had been Raphinha – who bagged 11 times in all competitions – although the Brazilian has just recently agreed a deal to join La Liga giants Barcelona. Meanwhile, the man who finished below the 25-year-old – Jack Harrison (10 goals) – has been linked with a move to Newcastle United in the current transfer window.

With a potential dearth of attacking options at Leeds, a new recruit is of paramount importance between now and the start of the new campaign, hence the interest in Kalimuendo and De Ketelaere, although sporting director Victor Orta will be keen to ensure that any new addition is the right one.

A potential big name who has been bandied about of late is Belgian veteran Dries Mertens, with the 35-year-old – who is currently a free agent – undoubtedly the type of prolific forward who would be a real coup for Leeds, having scored 148 goals in 397 games in all competitions for his former club Napoli.

Whether the 105-cap dynamo comes through the door is another matter, although Leeds supporters will no doubt be licking their lips as to who the potential ‘surprise’ figure could be this summer after Jones’ revelation.

AND in other news: Victor Orta plotting Leeds bid for “formidable” £19m sensation, he’s “one of the best”

Tottenham Hotspur correspondent and reliable reporter Dan Kilpatrick of The Evening Standard has shared a significant update on the club’s summer plans after Djed Spence’s confirmed signing.

The Lowdown: Spurs transfer flurry…

It’s fairly safe to say this summer transfer window has been the busiest in recent memory at Spurs with manager Antonio Conte keen to strengthen ahead of his first full Premier League season in charge.

Ivan Perisic, Fraser Forster, Yves Bissouma, Richarlison, Clement Lenglet and Spence have all put pen to paper in north London with reports suggesting they could yet target a creative midfielder and another central defender.

However, while there has been plenty of movement in terms of incomings, the Lilywhites and managing director Fabio Paratici have struggled to finalise major player sales with outcasts like Giovani Lo Celso, Tanguy Ndombele and Harry Winks all still at the club.

The Latest: Kilpatrick shares significant update…

Now, as per Kilpatrick, there has been a fairly significant update on Paratici’s summer plans after their latest signing of Spence from Middlesbrough.

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Taking to Twitter, he states that Spurs’ focus will now shift to player sales as the north London side seek to balance their books.

He explained:

“Paratici is in Italy, discussing the sale of a number of players including Tanganga & Gil, as Spurs turn attentions to clearing the decks after Spence arrival.”

The Verdict: Right move…

Given the seismic amount of investment, it appears time to prioritise sales as a number of surplus-to-requirements players remain on the books.

The likes of Japhet Tanganga and Bryan Gil, depending on whether their departures will be temporary or permanent, are in dire need of regular minutes to realise their full potential and moves away could be best for all parties.

Indeed, with just over a month of the window to go, it may well be time for Paratici to start shifting players out the door.

Leeds United are said to be interested in signing Brentford striker Ivan Toney this summer, although are set to face competition from another Premier League club.

What’s the word?

As per The Sun, manager Jesse Marsch is keen on adding the Englishman to his squad this summer as he bids to bolster his centre-forward options, albeit with uber-rich Newcastle United also set to battle it out for the 26-year-old.

The report suggests that Thomas Frank’s side will be ‘reluctant’ to cash in on their prize asset in the current window, although an offer of around £30m could potentially tempt them into a sale.

This follows speculation that the Elland Road outfit are also eyeing a deal for Paris Saint-Germain starlet Arnaud Kalimuendo, with the club seemingly working to add increased firepower to the current squad.

Bamford replacement

Although the report suggests that Marsch could be looking to partner the former Peterborough man in attack with current number nine, Patrick Bamford, a more likely scenario would see the Bees ace replace his compatriot as the club’s leading man.

That fact has largely been influenced by the recent injury woes suffered by the latter, with Bamford having been absent for the majority of last season, eventually making just nine appearances in the top tier, scoring two goals.

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The year prior had seen the 28-year-old record an impressive haul of 17 league goals – earning international recognition in the process – although his inability to stay fit has seemingly seen Marsch and co turn their attentions elsewhere, with the former Chelsea man unable to be relied upon.

In Toney then, the Yorkshire side appear to have identified a perfect alternative, with the £31.5m-rated gem having been in “prolific” form in recent seasons, as per talkSPORT’s Adrian Durham.

The £31k-per-week marksman netted a staggering 33 goals in the Championship during the 2020/21 campaign, before adding a further 12 goals and five assists in the top-flight last term, having made a smooth transition to life at a higher level.

Not just an impressive goal-getter, the Northampton-born menace has also caught the eye for his hold-up play and defensive qualities, notably ranking in the top 5% for clearances made and the top 12% for aerial duels won in comparison to those in his position across Europe’s top five leagues.

A real handful when leading the line, the 5-foot-10 machine seemingly has all the attributes to be a success for the Whites, with it perhaps time that the club phase out Bamford from his regular starting berth.

AND in other news: Victor Orta plotting Leeds bid for “formidable” £19m sensation, he’s “one of the best”

According to The Mirror, Djed Spence could complete his move to Tottenham Hotspur by this weekend.

The Lowdown: On his way out

The right-back has been strongly linked with a move to the Lilywhites ever since he caught the eye of Fabio Paratici and Antonio Conte with his outstanding performances on loan at Nottingham Forest last season, helping the Reds achieve promotion to the Premier League.

Middlesbrough manager Chris Wilder recently admitted in an interview that the 21-year-old wanted to leave the Riverside Stadium, presumably for Spurs, and rumours over a potential move were further fuelled when it was revealed on Monday that the 21-year-old had been left out of Boro’s pre-season trip to Portugal.

Following a fresh update, it looks like his switch to N17 could now be imminent…

The Latest: Spurs close in on Spence

The Mirror claimed that Tottenham are ‘closing in’ on a transfer for Spence and remain in ‘advanced talks’ for the youngster, with a deal ‘thought likely by the weekend’ for a fee in the region of £15m plus a further £5m in add-ons.

The source claimed that Conte is ‘on course’ to land his fifth signing of the summer, and that there ‘does not seem to be much doubt’ that the club will secure their target.

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The Verdict: Conte’s getting his wish

Dubbed an ‘unbelievable’ player by BBC pundit Ian Wright earlier this year, Spence appears to have been on Conte’s wish list since the beginning of the transfer window, and the Spurs manager will be more than happy knowing that a deal for the 21-year-old is almost over the line after what feels like a never-ending transfer saga.

It’s clear to see why the Italian wants to tie down someone like the England under-21 international, as the youngster possesses tremendous attacking qualities, having registered five assists and netted three times for Forest across all competitions last term, as per Transfermarkt.

This style of play down the flank is so important to the 52-year-old’s wing-back formation, and with the addition of Ivan Perisic on the left, they could both have a significant role to play in Spurs’ fortunes over the upcoming 2022/23 season.

Manchester United have reached a full agreement with Barcelona for midfielder Frenkie de Jong, according to Fabrizio Romano.

The Lowdown: Moves coming thick and fast

The Red Devils made left-back Tyrell Malacia the first signing of the Erik ten Hag era earlier this month, and United chief Richard Arnold appears to be making progress on further likely arrivals.

Ajax defender Lisandro Martinez appears to be on the verge of a move to Old Trafford, with a deal thought to be ‘imminent’, while free agent Christian Eriksen also looks set to pen terms with the Premier League giants.

De Jong, who has been labelled as a ‘genius’ by his manager Xavi Hernandez, could also now be on the way to England for a reunion with Ten Hag following a breakthrough in talks with Barcelona.

The Latest: Agreement reached over De Jong

Romano took to Twitter on Thursday morning to provide a significant update on De Jong’s future.

He revealed that, ‘after further talks’, a ‘full agreement’ has been reached between the two clubs worth a total €85m (£71.9m), with a guaranteed fee around €75m (£63.5m).

However, the transfer expert did add that personal terms are ‘still the issue’ which needs to be resolved for a transfer to go through.

The Verdict: Huge news

De Jong has been the man on United’s radar ever since Ten Hag was announced as manager at the end of April.

Therefore, agreeing on a fee is a big step in the Red Devils’ pursuit to bring the Dutchman to Manchester, and hopefully personal terms can be finalised soon.

The 25-year-old is still owed £17m in deferred salary payments by Barcelona, so that could be an issue which means that the saga could still drag on over the coming days and possibly weeks despite a fee being agreed.

Celtic saw a significant overhaul of their squad take place during the previous summer transfer window as Ange Postecoglou brought in a host of new players to Parkhead.

One figure, in particular, that enjoyed a rather impressive debut season with the Bhoys is Liel Abada.

Signed from Maccabi Petah Tikva on a five-year deal, the winger ended the previous campaign with 15 goals and 11 assists to his name in 54 appearances across all competitions.

In fact, not only did the attacker make more appearances in the league (36) than any other Celtic player, but he also racked up more shots (81) than any of his teammates, showing just how reliable he was for Postecoglou and how dangerous he was on the pitch in terms of his attacking play.

This shows just how impressive he was throughout the season and why the club and the manager made the right call in bringing him to Celtic Park in the first place.

With some time left before the current summer transfer window ends, the next few weeks could see the Hoops boss bring in what could be seen as his next version of the Israeli winger.

Back in January, Celtic reportedly had a transfer bid rejected for Shabab Dubai winger Mehdi Ghayedi.

Having made 166 club appearances throughout his career, the 23-year-old has found the net 40 times and supplied 28 assists for his teammates.

This shows just how similar he is to the current Hoops attacker in terms of being able to score goals and provide assists on a fairly regular basis.

Labelled as a “little magician” by journalist Navid Molaaghaei on Twitter, Ghayedi’s goalscoring talent has also been described as “extraordinary” by ADSportsTV.

Moving forward, if Postecoglou wants to recreate his masterclass from last summer with Abada and bring in a young winger, like Ghayedi, from the Middle East, securing a deal for the Iranian could be the best way to do it.

Bearing in mind how the Parkhead club will be looking to not only regain their SPFL title but also be as successful as they can in Europe, having as much strength and depth in his squad as possible will be a high priority for the 56-year-old, making a move for the 23-year-old a potentially smart move.

AND in other news: Imagine him & Gia: Ange can form “wonderful” Celtic duo by signing “massive” £2m gem