Half of the calendar year may have passed, but football fans are yet to witness the epic clashes that lie ahead in the coming months. At the end of the year, the world will turn its eyes to the World Cup in Qatar, and in just a few weeks, one of the most beloved leagues in the football world—the English Premier League—will begin.
As we count down the days until the start of the season, the teams are in a feverish technical preparation, which of course, includes replenishing the squads during the hot transfer window. Many key transfers already happened for EPL clubs and for the most part it looks like the big ins-and-outs are coming to an end weeks before the beginning of the season.
Heated Transfer Period
The first EPL 2022-2023 match pits Crystal Palace and Arsenal against each other, and the very next day, Fulham take on the Reds from Liverpool. The most eager fans can buy Liverpool tickets and see the team in their pre-season games, with the Anfield side having a total of five games ahead, including against Manchester City in the Community Shield final on July 30.
Liverpool has so far parted ways with eight players from their squad, bringing in four new ones, including Scottish marvel Calvin Ramsey. The Aberdeen right-back signed a five-year deal with the Reds at the end of June. And despite only having one full season of professional football recorded, the defender enjoyed increased interest from a number of clubs.
A product of Aberdeen's academy, with whose team he spent nine seasons, Ramsey quickly rose through the football ranks and was awarded the Scottish Football Writers' Association Young Player of the Year honour. According to unconfirmed information, his transfer to Liverpool brought in a record £4.2 million for the Scottish club.
Road Ahead
After the initialling of the contract, Ramsey shared his enthusiasm at the achievement of becoming part of a team of Liverpool's calibre. The player stated his desire to prove himself to the team already in pre-season training.
However, his task will not be easy at all since the right-back position where Calvin plays is firmly occupied by Alexander-Arnold. The footballer is hopeful, however, in view of other examples of novice players who have found a place among the team's starting eleven.
Aberdeen manager Jim Goodwin spoke highly of the player following his move to Anfield. The Scottish club's manager praised the work of the team's academy in building up a player like Ramsey, as well as the player's qualities which earned him a place in the starting line-up in his last and only full season in the first team.
Scotts in EPL's Top
So Ramsey becomes another Scottish hope heading south to a top team. In recent years, this also happened to Andrew Robertson, who in 2014 moved from Dundee United to Hull City, and, three years later, set foot at Anfield, where he is now. In 2019, the Gunners added Kieran Tierney, who was previously part of Celtic. The amount of £25 million that the Londoners paid for the left-back is still a record for Scottish football.