Liverpool are on the verge of an unexpected windfall, a scenario no one could have foreseen at the start of the season. But can they seal the deal?

Looking back to the summer, the outlook for Liverpool was far from promising. Jurgen Klopp had departed, Arne Slot stepped in as the new manager, and the club made no major signings.

Under a new coach tasked with succeeding the most successful Liverpool manager in modern times, a dip in performance seemed inevitable. Doing so with a squad that appeared to need reinforcements felt like a daunting challenge.

Yet, Slot has transformed Liverpool into one of the world’s elite teams in no time. The Reds have been sensational all season, dominating both the Premier League and the UEFA Champions League.

On Tuesday, they reinforced their position in Europe by defeating Lille 2-1 at Anfield, ending the French side’s impressive 21-game unbeaten streak.

This result keeps Liverpool at the top of their group with one match remaining. They would have already secured the top spot if not for Barcelona’s stunning late comeback against Benfica.

Liverpool on brink of windfall

Liverpool are on track to secure the maximum prize money from their UEFA Champions League campaign. To achieve this, the Reds must top their group and win every match in the league phase.

Their fate lies in their hands as they prepare to face PSV Eindhoven in the Netherlands for the final group-stage game. With seven wins from seven matches, just a single point would guarantee them top spot ahead of Barcelona.

However, Liverpool will undoubtedly push for victory. This determination is why Slot fielded a strong XI against Lille on Tuesday night, and it’s expected he’ll deploy another competitive lineup for the last match.

A win would see Liverpool pocket £45 million in prize money before the knockout stages even begin—a stunning achievement that seemed inconceivable at the tournament’s outset.

What was expected to be a challenging campaign requiring patience has turned into a historic opportunity. Liverpool are on the cusp of becoming the first team to top the league phase, win every game, and claim the full prize pot in the process.

West Ham United is reportedly interested in signing 24-year-old Swiss forward Noah Okafor from Serie A club AC Milan during the winter transfer window.

According to a report in Monday’s Gazzetta dello Sport, shared by Sport Witness, Okafor has caught the attention of West Ham United, with AC Milan also facing competition from Bournemouth. Both Premier League clubs are reportedly leading the race to secure the versatile attacker, who is available for transfer this month.

Since joining AC Milan from Red Bull Salzburg in July 2023, Okafor has had an inconsistent start to his career in Serie A. A product of FC Basel’s youth system, Okafor gained prominence at Red Bull Salzburg, where he enjoyed a successful period.

However, his playing time has been limited at AC Milan, having made just 16 appearances across all competitions, totaling 550 minutes, with one goal and two assists to his name.

Despite his struggles for regular minutes, Okafor’s reputation remains strong, and several top European clubs have shown interest.

RB Leipzig came close to signing him earlier this month, but the deal fell through due to complications during medical checks. A potential move to the Premier League seems likely, with West Ham among the clubs keen on his services.

West Ham has been tracking Okafor for over two years, making their continued interest understandable due to his versatility.

Although he has faced limited opportunities at AC Milan, Okafor demonstrated his ability and contributions during his time at Red Bull Salzburg.

With West Ham currently facing an injury crisis, Okafor could be a valuable addition. While primarily a winger, the Swiss international is also capable of playing as a centre-forward, adding to his appeal.

However, West Ham will face competition from Bournemouth in their pursuit of the 24-year-old.

Both West Ham and Bournemouth are positioned as frontrunners to sign Okafor this month, with intermediaries also reportedly offering him to Tottenham.

It wouldn’t be surprising to see the Swiss attacker moving to London in the near future.

Manchester City are considering a potential loan move for Douglas Luiz as the Premier League champions assess their midfield options this month.

Pep Guardiola has faced a shortage of quality cover in the No. 6 role following Rodri’s season-ending anterior cruciate ligament injury in September, compounded by Mateo Kovacic’s ongoing fitness issues.

While City are admirers of Atalanta and Brazil midfielder Ederson, prying the 25-year-old away from the Serie A title contenders during the current transfer window appears unlikely. As a result, the club is exploring alternative options.

Luiz, 26, has struggled for game time at Juventus since joining from Aston Villa for £42 million last summer and is reportedly available this month. Juventus are said to prefer either a permanent sale or a loan with an obligation to buy, while City would favor a straightforward loan without additional conditions if they proceed with the deal.

Though Luiz is not City’s top target, he is a familiar name, having previously been on their books from 2017 to 2019. With Premier League experience under his belt, he could fit the club’s need for an immediate impact player.

City have also shown interest in Juventus left-back Andrea Cambiaso but are unlikely to pursue a deal for him during this window.

Luiz, who has been linked with Arsenal in the past, joined City from Vasco da Gama in 2017 but spent two seasons on loan at Girona in Spain due to work permit issues in the UK. He later spent five seasons at Aston Villa, scoring 22 goals in 204 appearances for the club.

City’s £120m January splurge

Manchester City’s emphatic 6-0 victory over Ipswich Town on Sunday propelled Pep Guardiola’s side back into the Premier League’s top four. The manager is keen to secure the right midfield addition this month, alongside the club’s other ongoing transfer activities.

Egyptian forward Omar Marmoush is set to arrive in Manchester within the next 24 hours for a medical, as City aim to finalize his £59 million transfer from Eintracht Frankfurt. Additionally, the club is working on deals for centre-backs Abdukodir Khusanov and Vitor Reis, from Lens and Palmeiras respectively, valued at £33.6 million and £29.4 million.

Meanwhile, City captain Kyle Walker is hopeful that his potential move to AC Milan will gain traction this week, although the Italian club had yet to submit a formal offer by Monday morning.

“Everyone knows that Walker is a great player, he did great things at City,” Milan’s senior advisor Zlatan Ibrahimovic told DAZN when asked about Walker before Saturday’s defeat by Juventus.

“When there is someone like him on the market there is a lot of interest. It doesn’t go against our vision, because he is strong, he is a leader, he has dominance in the dressing room. Now we are checking if it is possible.

“We talk to [coach Sergio] Conceicao every day, to have a dialogue with him and understand what he likes and what he doesn’t like. We know what is needed and now we work. The team is strong. What do we need? In the transfer market, the more I say it, the more it costs, better not to say it.

“The team, as I said, is already strong. We showed in the Super Cup that it is a team that can win, now we need continuity.”