WITH our EFL Championship commencing once more this week, a number of significant stories have caught my eye over the past seven days…

HAMMERS WANT WARD-PROWSE

The elongated transfer saga involving James Ward-Prowse is rumbling on whereby Southampton turned down a reported opening bid of £25 million for their 28 year old captain from West Ham United.

Saints director of football Jason Wilcox said: “We rejected the offer. We don’t need to sell but if the right bid comes along for James then we will consider it.” 

I believe Southampton are holding out for £40-50 million. Ward-Prowse scored 11 times in all competitions last season.

BLUES MOURN TREVOR FRANCIS

Birmingham City have paid tribute to the memory of former star striker Trevor Francis who has died at the age of 69.

A minute’s applause was held before the kick-off at Saturday’s away pre-season friendly versus Peterborough United. Players on both sides wore black armbands as a mark of respect. 

Meanwhile shirts, scarves and flowers are being placed in a designated area outside the St. Andrew’s home of Birmingham City. Supporters also shared heartfelt thoughts in a book of remembrance located within the Library of Birmingham in Centenary Square.

Furthermore, the influential ‘Blues Collective’ fans’ group wrote on Twitter: “The Greatest player ever seen not just at Blues but in football in general. REST IN PEACE TREVOR. Rename the Main Stand, The Trevor Francis Stand.”

Club chairman Tom Wagner said: “Trevor Francis was obviously a really special person, a world class footballer and a legend here at Birmingham City. Our job now is to ensure his legacy lives on so he is very much with us every step of the way.”

EFL TO END TIMEWASTING

Championship games will be subject to stricter timekeeping during the upcoming 2023/24 season to ensure spectators witness a full 90 minutes of action. 

Match officials will be instructed to meticulously consider delays for goal celebrations, red/yellow cards and substitutions as well as injuries. In addition, a multi-ball system will be used to swiftly resume matters after the ball leaves the pitch. 

An EFL statement read: “As the game collectively looks to enhance the amount of time the ball is in play in the forthcoming campaign, the exact time lost when certain game events occur will now be added. In previous seasons the policy was to add on a nominal period of time for certain game events.”

GOLF DAY FOR BOWEN

On Thursday, sporting stars across the world of rugby and football attended a Golf Day to support ex-Welsh international Jason Bowen who is diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease.

Now aged 50, Bowen had an 18 year professional career spanning Swansea City, Birmingham City, Reading, Cardiff City and Newport County winning two caps for Wales. 

Bowen said: “I first knew something was wrong when I started having a lot of twitching in muscles going down my left side and my hand became a little bit weaker. I now struggle to do small things while getting dressed like doing up laces, buttons and belts.

"My wife has been superb from the beginning. She is constantly on the internet looking up various aspects of Motor Neurone Disease and pushing me all the way.

“I am fully aware my situation might become more difficult further down the line. But I will definitely meet those challenges head-on and give them the very best shot I can.”

QPR LICKING THEIR WOUNDS

The worst pre-season friendly result for any Championship team saw Queens Park Rangers succumb 5-0 away to League One outfit Oxford United over the weekend.

R’s boss Gareth Ainsworth didn’t hold back afterwards. He said: “It simply wasn’t a good enough performance for me or for the supporters. We lost our way in being totally outfought and outrun by Oxford United to be convincingly beaten. That is completely unacceptable so I apologise to the fans.

“Everyone knows QPR are up against it although I am glad we have had a kick up the backside like this. We need to make sure it is reversed when we start our Championship fixtures versus Watford on Saturday. I will make sure the boys are firing on all cylinders at Vicarage Road.”

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Last season was not the first troublesome campaign endured during Jurgen Klopp’s seven-and-a-half year reign at Anfield. Similarly, in 2020/21 the Reds generally looked off the pace and on occasion a shadow of their usual selves. 

Between January and March, one of the most feared creations in world football lost six home games on the bounce and for a side that had previously lost on Merseyside way back in 2017 that obviously prompted much consternation and all manner of headlines. 

Ultimately they finished trophyless, exiting every competition relatively early. It was an undeniable drop-off that was widely attributed to Liverpool’s recent title triumph, their first in the Premier League era.

It was a hangover, so they said, and perhaps in hindsight this excuse has legs given how emphatically they responded the season after, losing only twice across ten largely successful months that saw them win both domestic cups.

So what of last season then? What can a failure to secure a top four spot and a plethora of underwhelming performances be attributed to when this time out there were no mitigating circumstances?

And, just as intriguingly, can we again expect a strong reaction, one that will propel Liverpool back into the title mix, after being out of the reckoning last year throughout?

Do the Merseysiders even deserve to be so prominent in the Premier League top four odds?

In order to quantify this, it is of course necessary to revisit last season’s struggles, and to better make sense of it all, separate the team into three components.

These components can be found in every team yet, for whatever reason, with Liverpool they can sometimes feel more pronounced.

They are a back-four, midfield three, and a front three that in recent years have regularly deconstructed – at times destroyed – the great and the good via relentless pressing, lethal intent, and prolific finishing.

Starting with the latter we find the current health of Liverpool’s forward line to be in fairly decent shape, for all that much was made of Darwin Nunez’s warm and cold introduction to English fare, while clearly the Reds missed the remorseless endeavours of Sadio Mane. 

Even factoring in these significant gremlins, Mo Salah and two others at a time scored 57 of Liverpool’s 75 league goals last term, a percentage and outright figure that compare very favourably to prior campaigns. 

No, the Reds’ front three were largely blameless for Klopp’s men missing out on Champions League football.

Indeed, with Nunez expected to be on surer ground in 2023/24, and Luis Diaz back to full fitness, and Cody Gakpo better acclimatised to new surroundings, it is reasonable to expect an even greater threat to opposition rearguards going forward.

Can we be so lenient on their defensive colleagues, a back-line that for the most part of Klopp’s tenure have bolstered league and European successes, at times appearing to be impenetrable?

Regrettably not, not after being breached almost twice as often last season to twelve months prior. 

Conceding 1.2 goals-per-90 from August to May amounted to the most porous campaign since the German arrived in 2015, and with Virgil Van Dijk out-of-sorts and Trent Alexander-Arnold considered a weak link out of possession, an ailing defence unquestionably contributed to the team’s overall poor return.

Yet it could be argued that once Van Dijk’s form returned, and once Alexander-Arnold was impactfully reimagined as a hybrid right-back/number 6, these issues resolved themselves before the season’s conclusion.

Three clean sheets in their last five outings suggests that, as too does an unbeaten run from early April onwards.

This late improvement incidentally very likely explains why Klopp hasn’t ventured into the transfer market in search of a new centre-back. The system needed tweaking while for a sustained spell individual form was a concern. Personnel was never an issue.

In midfield however it was, as evidenced by entirely forgettable offerings from Fabinho, Thiago and Jordan Henderson.

Elsewhere, Curtis Jones failed to build on his youthful promise, Naby Keita was once again anonymous and mainly injured, and age finally began to wither James Milner, and when it’s acknowledged how fundamental a powerful engine room is to Klopp’s blueprint, it made Liverpool’s average season inevitable.

Too often they were easily by-passed in central areas. They were out-ran and out-hustled. It was an unnerving, unusual sight. 

The purchases therefore of Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai, for a combined sum of £100m – not to mention the off-loading of Henderson, Milner, Keita and Oxlade-Chamberlain – is the biggest indication of them all that Liverpool might be an altogether stronger proposition in the months to come. 

Brilliant for Brighton in recent years, Mac Allister averaged 6.6 recoveries and 2.15 progressive carries last season, chipping in also with a double tally of goals.

The stylish and always creative Szoboszlai meanwhile has taken his next step to superstardom, having hugely impressed in the Bundesliga.

Together this pair can reinstall a dynamism that was woefully missing behind a strike-force that had to conjure it up for themselves in 2022/23 and their recruitment above all else points to Liverpool being a good shout again in the Premier League betting. 

Or, to put it in more simper terms, things may very well return to normal.

OUR fantastic EFL Championship kicks off again next week inspiring hopes and dreams of promotion to the top flight’s multi-million pound riches.

A host of new managers want to find that necessary winning formula. Here are my tips for the teams to watch out for during this forthcoming season:

LEEDS UNITED

Opening weekend fixture: home versus Cardiff City.

Freshly relegated Leeds United are my favourites to win the title having named former Norwich City boss Daniel Farke as new manager in July.

The 46 year old German previously masterminded two promotions to the Premier League for Norwich amidst his tenure there between 2017 and 2021.

Leeds are also boosted with confirmation of their takeover by San Francisco-based 49ers Enterprises. However, finances will be kept on an even keel.

Farke said: “I can’t spend huge amounts of money on new signings. The owners are ambitious and certainly see great potential here. Nevertheless we aim to run this club in a good way so we must be patient in building up our squad.”

Key signing: Ethan Ampadu from Chelsea for £7 million.

My prediction: Champions

MIDDLESBROUGH

Opening weekend fixture: home versus Millwall.

Boro finished fourth in the Championship table last season before losing 1-0 on aggregate to Coventry City over two legs in the Play-Off Semi-Finals.

An impressive upsurge in form followed on from Michael Carrick’s head coach arrival on 24th October when they were hovering just one point and one place above the bottom three. Chuba Akpom amassed 28 goals to cement the division’s leading goalscorer accolade. 

• What Happened In The Championship Last Week?

Now anticipating the upcoming campaign, Carrick said: “There is plenty of work to do. We are fully aware of the necessity to bolster our squad. Although we’ve got a very useful group here already containing some real talent.”

Key signing: Seny Dieng from Queens Park Rangers for £2 million

My prediction: Runners-Up

LEICESTER CITY

Opening weekend fixture: home versus Coventry City.

Another relegated side under new leadership whereby Manchester City assistant coach Enzo Maresca has been appointed new manager.

It is a major rebuilding job for him after the summer departures of established stars like James Maddison, Harvey Barnes and Youri Tielemans.

Maresca said: “I have many players that can still arrive at or leave the club. But I need a solid squad as soon as possible so I can work with them for the whole season.”

Key signing: Harry Winks from Tottenham Hotspur for £10 million.

My prediction: Third

SOUTHAMPTON

Opening weekend fixture: away versus Sheffield Wednesday.

The third relegated team aspiring to bounce back straight away. Southampton were rock bottom of the Premier League in May thereby ending 11 years of top flight football.

Saints then recruited Swansea City boss Russell Martin to become new manager a few weeks later.

He will do extremely well to hold on to star midfielder James Ward-Prowse who is being heavily linked with a big money move to West Ham United.

Key signing: Shea Charles from Manchester City for an undisclosed fee.

My prediction: Fourth

WATFORD

Opening weekend fixture: home versus Queens Park Rangers.

Watford will be hoping to improve on disappointing 2022/23 fortunes where they attained 11th place in the Championship.

The former Barnsley and West Bromwich Albion boss Valerien Ismael assumed new head coach duties in May.

Ismael said: “We now offer a reboot opportunity for everyone involved without any pre-judgement from me because it is a transition period. Ultimately, we will change the mindset here. I require players who are hungry to succeed bringing intensity all over the pitch in their physical approach.”

Key signing: Ton Ince from Reading for an undisclosed fee.

My prediction: Fifth

NORWICH CITY

Opening weekend fixture: home versus Hull City.

Norwich City underachieved in 13th spot last time out winning only eight home games. David Wagner assumed head coach duties in January but couldn’t mount a promotion assault. 

Looking forward to 2023/24, Wagner said: “I am really happy with the squad I possess now. In fact, I don’t anticipate making any more signings in the current transfer window unless one of my players leaves. I have lads in place who like to do the hard yards.”

Key signing: Christian Fassnacht from Young Boys for an undisclosed fee.

My prediction: Sixth

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The best opportunities are yet to come... or not? We all know how crucial is timing in the transfer market, especially when contracts are set to expire in few months.

We also know very well how sometimes top clubs start planning for big signings one year in advance, but also how clubs react trying to keep their players. Keep an eye on these five situations as their contracts expire in June 2024.

Ousmane Dembele

His contract is always in the news. Yes, because one year ago Ousmane signed new deal at Barcelona after very long and difficult negotiations... but it was just for two years. And so the saga is on again now.

There's always interest in Ousmane, he's always been in the radar of people at Paris Saint-Germain but no official bids as of now. Into his current short-term deal there's an exit clause for €50m valid in July.

PSG keep observing his situation, but Barcelona are advancing in talks to extend his contract and they will really try to keep Ousmane at the club. Xavi loves him, he loves Xavi. And this relationship could be crucial to continue together.

Benjamin Pavard

Bayern expect Pavard to leave this summer. There's no agreement with Pavard to sign new deal at this stage and he's open to try new experience, especially if it's Premier League football.

He's in the list at Manchester City to replace Kyle Walker in case he joins Bayern, but there are more clubs interested. Pavard could be on the move this summer, he's one to watch.

Sofyan Amrabat

The star of the World Cup in Qatar is always on the list of top clubs, expected to leave Fiorentina. It's never easy to negotiate with the Italian club as they insist on €35m minimum fee for Sofyan, but there's no chance to extend his contract.

This is why things could happen this summer for Amrabat. It's true that there's interest from Saudi clubs but also from Spain (his favourite destination) and England, where he's in the list of Manchester United in case Fred leaves the club.

Alejandro Balde

Some English club, very important ones, tried to offer big salary to Balde in order to join them as free agent in June 2024.

In addition to this, Manchester City wanted to bid for Balde this summer but... no chance. Balde will stay at Barcelona, he has agreed to sign new long term deal and it will be completed soon.

The contract will be valid until June 2028. Untouchable for Barça, Xavi... and he loves the club.

Piotr Zielinski

Napoli have been approached by Al Ahli and Lazio for Piotr, one of the best midfielders in Serie A. But they're still in talks to extend his contract, trying some final attempts to make it happen.

Open situation, one to follow for sure because Premier League clubs are quiet now but can become receptive in case Piotr leaves on a free next summer. Napoli have been very clear with the player: new deal to be signed now, otherwise they'll be ready to sell him immediately.