SALAH REPLACEMENT FOUND? JARROD BOWEN TIPPED TO SNUB REAL MADRID'S RODRYGO FOR LIVERPOOL
Is Mo Salah leaving? Andy Townsend backs Jarrod Bowen to replace the legend at Liverpool over Real Madrid’s unsettled Rodrygo.
Andy Townsend thinks West Ham’s Jarrod Bowen would be a way better pick to replace Mohamed Salah than Rodrygo from Real Madrid, and he’s sure Bowen would jump at the chance. Last year, Liverpool looked at Rodrygo after Luis Díaz left for Bayern Munich. Arsenal and Man City showed interest, too.
For a while, it seemed Rodrygo might land in the Premier League. He wasn’t getting much time on the pitch with Xabi Alonso in charge at Real. But after the summer window closed, Rodrygo made it clear he wanted to stick around in Madrid.
Still, Townsend sees Bowen as the more realistic option. With Salah possibly nearing the end of his Liverpool run, Arne Slot is already shaping a squad that can chase trophies in the coming years.
Talking to BOYLE Sports, Townsend put it simply: “Who can Liverpool bring in to take Salah’s place next season? I think Jarrod Bowen would do very well for Liverpool.
“I don’t really get the Rodrygo rumours. Sure, if you play for Real Madrid, you’ve got serious talent, but I’ve never seen him as a Galactico.
“Bowen would absolutely go to Liverpool and be a real danger for them on the right. They’d have Cody Gakpo, Hugo Ekitike, and Jarrod Bowen.
“They give you pace, energy, goals, and a real end product. That’s a front line with everything you want.
Liverpool has to look at Bowen because, honestly, I can’t see Salah staying past this summer. Whatever’s going on at Anfield, it’s knocked some of the wind out of Mo’s sails.
“Maybe it’s a relationship thing; maybe it’s just age. Whatever it is, he’s not going to keep up those numbers forever.
“It looks like Mo’s running out of steam, and there’s no shame in that. It’s football. It happens.
“His best days are behind him, and they need to move on.”
Salah’s been Liverpool’s main man for eight seasons straight, always the top scorer, but this year he’s slowed down a bit.
He’s only scored four Premier League goals in 16 games, plus two more in seven Champions League matches. That’s a noticeable drop from what he usually delivers.
Since joining from Roma in June 2017, Salah has racked up 252 goals in 428 games for Liverpool, putting himself among the club’s all-time legends.
ASTON VILLA WARNED UNAI EMERY AND MORGAN ROGERS COULD EXIT THIS SUMMER
Unai Emery and Morgan Rogers are reportedly set to leave Aston Villa if the club fails to secure Champions League football.
Aston Villa find themselves at a critical juncture this summer, with warnings circulating that head coach Unai Emery and standout player Morgan Rogers might be on their way out, assuming one key condition isn’t met. The club's initial momentum in the Premier League seems to be slipping as its chances of Champions League qualification dwindle amid a noticeable drop in performance.
Injuries and questionable recruitment decisions have clearly taken a toll on Emery’s squad, which once looked like surprise title challengers but now faces the possibility of finishing outside the top five. After a 3-1 defeat to Manchester United, Villa sits fourth in the league, trailing Liverpool by two points, with Chelsea not far behind in sixth place.
While there’s still a pathway via winning the Europa League, concerns about Villa’s transfer dealings have been raised. Alex Crook, talkSPORT’s transfer correspondent, expressed doubts about their recent market moves during a discussion with former Villa player Agbonlahor. Crook recalled last January’s window, when Villa made high-profile signings like Marcus Rashford and Marcus Asensio in a serious push for Champions League football efforts that ultimately fell short. This season, he felt the acquisitions lacked the same ambition or quality. The loan signing of Douglas Luiz, despite his familiarity with the club, raised questions since he was rejected by Nottingham Forest and Juventus. Similarly, Tammy Abraham’s form in Turkey left Crook unconvinced that his signing would elevate the squad.
There’s also speculation about Emery’s future tied closely to the team’s success. Crook suggested that if Villa miss out on Champions League football, Emery might not be staying around much longer. Agbonlahor was swift to agree, bluntly stating that Emery would likely be gone.
The uncertainty doesn't stop there. Morgan Rogers, despite having recently signed a new contract, could also be at risk of departure if Villa fail to reach Europe’s elite competition. Crook mentioned he is investigating whether Rogers’ contract includes a release clause, given that other clubs would be interested in the young England international. Agbonlahor backed this up, highlighting Rogers’ potential impact at the upcoming World Cup and implying that without Champions League football, Villa could lose both their manager and key talent, risking a slide to becoming a mid-table team, similar to Fulham.
The stakes couldn’t be clearer. Achieving Champions League qualification might not just define this season but shape Villa’s trajectory for the next several years. If they succeed and Emery remains, the club could build on a promising foundation. Fail to do so, and they face tough questions about ambition, retention, and their place in the Premier League hierarchy.
KONSTANTINOS MAVROPANOS EQUALIZER LIFTS WEST HAM OUT OF RELEGATION ZONE AT CITY’S EXPENSE
Manchester City fall nine points behind Arsenal after Konstantinos Mavropanos earns West Ham a vital 1-1 draw.
Manchester City were held to a 1-1 draw by a revitalised West Ham in a match that carried significant implications across the Premier League standings. Early in the game, Bernardo Silva gave City the lead with a deft chip, but Konstantinos Mavropanos responded before halftime with a headed equaliser, securing a crucial point for Nuno Espirito Santo’s side.
That goal did more than just lift West Ham out of the relegation zone; it also played a crucial role in the title race. Arsenal, Mavropanos’ former club, had already beaten Everton 2-0 earlier that day and now leads Manchester City by nine points after City’s second consecutive slip in the league. While Arsenal will take a boost from West Ham’s performance, Nottingham Forest, Nuno’s previous team, find themselves sliding into the relegation zone due to this result.
Despite the setback, Pep Guardiola insists the title chase is far from decided. After the match, he told TNT Sports, “It’s not over because we didn’t lose. We will continue. We have an incredible team spirit.” His midfielder Rodri shared a similar view, acknowledging the gap but emphasising their determination: “Maybe the title race is over, maybe not. We’re not giving up; we’ll keep fighting. It’s tough, but we’ve been through what it takes to win. We showed today a bit of the ups and downs of the season. Sometimes the final pass or strike makes the difference. Football is about goals, and we just couldn’t find the right finishers.”
Rodri also highlighted how City created chances and controlled much of the game, but couldn’t convert that dominance into more goals. That subtle difference often separates winners from the rest.
On the other side, Nuno Espirito Santo praised his team’s defensive effort in his post-match interview with Match of the Day. He described the defence as "heroic", pointing to the sacrifices made across the team. “The midfield worked incredibly hard, and the forwards helped by cutting off passing lanes to slow their play,” he explained. “Overall, especially in the first half, we were compact and limited City’s opportunities.”
This draw leaves both teams with clear messages moving forward: West Ham fights to stay safe, while City must regroup quickly if they want to keep pace with Arsenal’s commanding lead. As the season edges toward its climax, the smallest moments on the pitch could define who lifts the trophy. What do you think? Can City mount a comeback, or is the title race slipping away? Feel free to share your thoughts below.
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