Liverpool boss Andoni Iraola has identified who he wants as his first signing at Anfield after taking over as manager.

The Spaniard has signed a two-year deal to take over from Arne Slot, who was sacked last week following a disappointing campaign in which the Reds finished fifth in the Premier League and without a trophy.

Now all attention turns towards bolstering the squad, with key players Mohamed Salah, Andy Robertson, and Ibrahima Konate all departing at the end of the season, and Iraola is ready to make some additions to get the squad back in competitive shape.

Liverpool Eyeing Alex Scott Deal

According to a report by Sports Boom, Iraola has identified Bournemouth midfielder Alex Scott as the man he wants to be the first signing of his Anfield revolution.

Scott, who has been described as ‘unbelievable’, has enjoyed a sensational campaign with the Cherries, which has seen his reputation skyrocket, and a number of top clubs pay close attention to his contractual situation.

Bournemouth are desperate to keep hold of the 22-year-old, and are planning to offer him a new contract to reflect his status as a key player. However, it’s understood that Scott is open to a new challenge at this stage of his career, and a new deal at the Vitality Stadium is looking more unlikely.

Liverpool are paying close attention to the situation, and are considering making a move to test the resolve of Bournemouth when it comes to their asking price. It has been reported that he is valued as highly as £60m, but Liverpool are looking at a deal closer to £40m, according to Jamie Dickenson.

Alex Scott Perfect for Liverpool Midfield

Last season Liverpool struggled with their midfield setup, and were regularly overrun despite having quality options like Ryan Gravenberch, Curtis Jones, Alexis Mac Allister, and Dominik Szoboszlai.

Jones has been heavily linked with a move away from Anfield this summer as he enters the final year of his contract, and Scott would come in as a direct replacement, bringing energy, quality, and great skill.

Depending on the price of the deal, it would be the perfect first signing for Iraola. Bringing in someone who knows his methods and tactics already will help with adaptation, and Liverpool would have a top young talent ready to make an impact.

Liverpool boss Andoni Iraola has identified who he wants as his first signing at Anfield after taking over as manager.

The Spaniard has signed a two-year deal to take over from Arne Slot, who was sacked last week following a disappointing campaign in which the Reds finished fifth in the Premier League and without a trophy.

Now all attention turns towards bolstering the squad, with key players Mohamed Salah, Andy Robertson, and Ibrahima Konate all departing at the end of the season, and Iraola is ready to make some additions to get the squad back in competitive shape.

Liverpool Eyeing Alex Scott Deal

According to a report by Sports Boom, Iraola has identified Bournemouth midfielder Alex Scott as the man he wants to be the first signing of his Anfield revolution.

Scott, who has been described as ‘unbelievable’, has enjoyed a sensational campaign with the Cherries, which has seen his reputation skyrocket, and a number of top clubs pay close attention to his contractual situation.

Bournemouth are desperate to keep hold of the 22-year-old, and are planning to offer him a new contract to reflect his status as a key player. However, it’s understood that Scott is open to a new challenge at this stage of his career, and a new deal at the Vitality Stadium is looking more unlikely.

Liverpool are paying close attention to the situation, and are considering making a move to test the resolve of Bournemouth when it comes to their asking price. It has been reported that he is valued as highly as £60m, but Liverpool are looking at a deal closer to £40m, according to Jamie Dickenson.

Alex Scott Perfect for Liverpool Midfield

Last season Liverpool struggled with their midfield setup, and were regularly overrun despite having quality options like Ryan Gravenberch, Curtis Jones, Alexis Mac Allister, and Dominik Szoboszlai.

Jones has been heavily linked with a move away from Anfield this summer as he enters the final year of his contract, and Scott would come in as a direct replacement, bringing energy, quality, and great skill.

Depending on the price of the deal, it would be the perfect first signing for Iraola. Bringing in someone who knows his methods and tactics already will help with adaptation, and Liverpool would have a top young talent ready to make an impact.

Whenever debates arise about the greatest center in NBA history, names such as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Wilt Chamberlain, Bill Russell, and Hakeem Olajuwon are almost always mentioned. In many cases, that exclusive group also features LA Lakers icon Shaquille O’Neal.

At the height of his powers in the early 2000s, Shaq was widely viewed as one of the most dominant forces the NBA had ever seen. The Lakers controlled the league during their three-peat from 2000 through 2002, and O’Neal’s overwhelming presence in the paint was a major reason for that success.

With four NBA titles, three Finals MVP awards, a regular-season MVP, 15 All-Star appearances, and 14 All-NBA selections—including eight First Team honours—O’Neal’s resume stacks up against virtually any center in league history. He has never been one to downplay his accomplishments either, frequently reminding fans and fellow players about his four championship rings. Charles Barkley knows that better than most.

Considering both his peak dominance and career achievements, O’Neal has a strong argument for being regarded as the greatest center ever. Yet, when asked about the distinction, he pointed to another basketball legend.

Shaquille O’Neal’s Pick For Greatest NBA Center

Despite often highlighting his own accomplishments and status as the most dominant big man ever, O’Neal has consistently shown respect for the stars who paved the way. In fact, he once identified a Boston Celtics legend as the greatest center the sport has ever seen.

During his Hall of Fame induction speech, Shaq immediately gave that honour to the late Bill Russell.

That praise stands in sharp contrast to the way he talks about Rudy Gobert or Dwight Howard in recent years. Even so, it demonstrates the tremendous admiration Shaq has for one of the most celebrated players in Celtics history.

Russell, who died in July 2022, attended O’Neal’s Hall of Fame induction ceremony in 2016. Shaq took the opportunity to acknowledge the unmatched impact Russell had on basketball and recognise him as one of the game’s foundational superstars.

O’Neal also shared a personal story, revealing that Russell offered him important advice the first time they met—guidance that remained with him throughout his life. As one of the presenters at Shaq’s induction, Russell clearly left a lasting impression. He was also the man who encouraged Shaq to end his feud with Kobe Bryant in 2006 after the difficult break-up of their Lakers partnership.

Bill Russell’s Legendary NBA Career

There is little debate regarding Russell’s status as the greatest winner in NBA history. Serving as the centrepiece of the Celtics dynasty, he guided Boston to an incredible 11 championships across 13 seasons, including an astonishing streak of eight consecutive titles from 1959 through 1966. No player has matched that accomplishment.

The phrase “records are made to be broken” is often repeated in sports. Russell’s collection of 11 championship rings, however, appears likely to remain untouched.

On the individual side, Russell captured five league MVP awards. Although he earned 11 All-NBA selections during his career, only three were First Team honours. Many of those top-team selections instead went to his legendary rival, Wilt Chamberlain.

While Chamberlain accumulated more eye-popping individual numbers, Russell consistently secured the prize that mattered most at the end of the season. That contrast may help explain why he did not include Russell among his 10 greatest players ever.

Unlike Shaq, Russell was never known primarily for scoring. He never averaged 20 points per game in a season and finished his career shooting 44.0 percent from the field.

His true value came on the defensive side of the court. Standing 6-foot-10 and weighing roughly 215 pounds, Russell relied on his athleticism, anticipation, and versatility to overwhelm opponents. He was an elite rim protector who could also switch across multiple positions when necessary.

The NBA did not officially track defensive categories such as blocks and steals until the 1973-74 season, several years after Russell retired. Even without those statistics on record, he still owns the highest defensive win share total in league history at 133.62. Tim Duncan ranks second with 106.34.

Russell and O’Neal never had the opportunity to face each other in competition. Still, basketball fans can only imagine how fascinating it would have been to watch The Diesel battle one of the greatest defenders ever—and, in Shaq’s view, the greatest center in NBA history.