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Liverpool are expected to make an improved bid of £42.5m for Southampton midfielder Romeo Lavia, according to an update from journalist Fabrizio Romano.

How much does Romeo Lavia earn?

The Belgian, who currently earns £25,000 per week on the south coast, has stood out as one of the Reds' most wanted transfer targets of the summer transfer window so far, having impressed for Saints in a losing cause for much of last season, as they were relegated from the Premier League.

With Fabinho set to be heading to Saudi Arabia, Lavia looks to be the primary option to come in as Liverpool's new No.6 with Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai already heading to Anfield from Brighton and RB Leipzig respectively.

Liverpool have already had a £40m bid rejected, but they won't necessarily have it absolute plain sailing, in terms of other suitors coming along. Lavia has been linked with moves to Chelsea and Arsenal this summer, and a new update suggests that the former aren't giving up on signing him, viewing him as a potential alternative to Moises Caicedo.

Could Liverpool still sign Romeo Lavia?

Taking to Twitter, however, Romano claimed that Liverpool, and by extension owners FSG, are going to table an improved offer for Lavia imminently, as they look to get their man:

"Liverpool and Southampton, in contact to discuss Romeo Lavia deal again today. New bid expected to be around £42.5m plus £2.5m add ons fee – as reported on Wednesday. Southampton insist on £50m package but details of the deal/payment terms and more being discussed."

The idea of Liverpool missing out on Lavia at the eleventh hour doesn't bear thinking about, at a time when new midfield signings are badly needed, having already lost Jordan Henderson, James Milner, Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain this summer.

With Fabinho on course to follow Henderson to Saudi Arabia in the very near future, a previously well-stocked area of the pitch now looks a little threadbare, as things stand. There were major midfield problems throughout last season, both due to a lack of energy, ageing players and injuries, and the Reds cannot afford to be hampered there again in 2023/24, considering it could have the potential to derail their campaign once again if further signings don't come in.

The 19-year-old does seem to want to join the Reds over Chelsea, however, which is a massive positive for the club, with the lure of working under Jurgen Klopp potentially proving to be key. Assuming the move does go through, Liverpool could be getting a special young talent who may master the No.6 role and prove to be the perfect long-term replacement for Fabinho.

Expecting brilliance from him every week would be unfair, considering how young he is and the fact that he is still learning as a player, but he has famously been lauded as "incredible" by Pep Guardiola in the past, having been at Manchester City before moving to Southampton last summer, and journalist Jacob Tanswell has described him as "frankly ridiculous", in terms of the talent he possesses at such a young age, further highlighting how high his ceiling is.

Tottenham Hotspur defender Eric Dier is "desperate to prove himself" to Spurs' new manager Ange Postecoglou but having just a year left on his deal could be a problem, claims journalist Alasdair Gold.

Is Eric Dier leaving Tottenham Hotspur?

The Lilywhites have been doing some good business so far this summer.

Not only have they managed to keep hold of their superstar striker Harry Kane – for now – but they have also added strength and depth to the squad as a whole.

The big-name signing so far has undoubtedly been James Maddison, who joined the north London outfit for a relatively reasonable fee of £40m from relegated Leicester City, but the signings of Manor Solomon and Guglielmo Vicario also represent good business.

The one area the club are yet to improve upon – and one they really need to – is in central defence, where the personnel has remained the same, other than the absence of Clement Lenglet, who has been linked with a return.

According to The Telegraph, one of those defenders – who does not want to leave the club – is former England international Dier.

The 29-year-old is one of the players Daniel Levy would be willing to sell this summer, but despite having just a year remaining on his current deal, he wants to stay and fight for a place under Postecoglou, per Alasdair Gold.

He explained the situation on his YouTube channel, saying:

"It's an interesting situation with Eric Dier, really. He's desperate to prove himself to Postecoglou as a fully fit player and he is excited about playing under Postecoglou. But then, the other side to it, of course, is that he's only got a year left on his contract.

"So it's whether they tie him down to a new contract, which I'm sure would not go down well with some Spurs fans."

Should Tottenham Hotspur sell Eric Dier?

With just a single year left on his deal and his desire to remain in north London, the Lilywhites have a decision to make. Should they stick by the player and see if he earns himself a new deal, or should they do what they can to force him out?

The first thing to say is that last season, as disastrous as the Tottenham team was – especially the backline – he wasn't any worse than his teammates. In fact, he was probably one of the better defenders in the side.

According to WhoScored, he averaged a rating of 6.66 across his 33 Premier League games last season, which on its own is a reasonably decent campaign, while it was the second-highest rating for a central defender in the squad, only behind Christian Romero.

Again, his underlying numbers are nothing spectacular but solid across the board and suggest that he would be a great squad player to keep around.

According to FBref, which compares players across Europe's top five leagues, the Cheltenham-born defender sits in the top 19% for attempted passes, the top 21% for total shots, the top 23% for non-penalty expected goals, the top 24% for aerials duels won, and the top 27% for progressive passes received per 90.

He was also a player that former boss Antonio Conte was a big fan of, with the Italian once saying:

"We are talking about a reliable player, 100 per cent focused in every game. He is not a player who alternates with a big performance then a drop. He is providing great continuity in his role and playing every game.

"I can also tell you he is a really good guy, with great will, desire to work and improve. He knows he has space for improvement and I see every day in his eyes the desire to become stronger, to become a top defender."

Dier probably isn't quite of the level to make it as a starting centre-back for a title-chasing team anymore, but that isn't what Spurs are at the moment, and keeping him around, at least as a squad player, seems like the best option.

Aston Villa target Moussa Diaby remains a 'priority' transfer target at Villa Park as speculation continues to swirl over his future at Bayer Leverkusen, according to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano.

Is Moussa Diaby going to Aston Villa?

According to Football Insider, Diaby is still 'yet to be convinced' over the prospect of moving to Villa Park to work under Unai Emery despite Aston Villa's endeavours to land the France international.

The report states that Aston Villa have submitted a £42 million bid for the £37k-a-week earner and talks continue to progress regarding a prospective transfer.

As per The Daily Mail, Saudi Pro League side Al Nassr are attempting to gazump Aston Villa in the race for Diaby to offer him the opportunity to play alongside stars such as Cristiano Ronaldo and Marcelo Brozovic.

Bayer Leverkusen are seeking to recoup around £50 million for Diaby before considering sanctioning his departure. Rennes winger Jeremy Doku an alternative option that could be courted by Aston Villa as Emery looks to secure a new wide man.

Last term, Diaby produced some admirable form for Bayer Leverkusen and managed to notch 14 goals and 11 assists in 48 appearances across all competitions, as per Transfermarkt.

WhoScored show that Diaby has the capacity to perform several attacking functions to a high degree of respectability, as he recorded an average of 2.4 shots, 1.8 key passes and 1.5 completed dribbles in the Bundesliga over the course of 2022/23.

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, transfer expert Romano has indicated that Diaby still remains a key target for Aston Villa this summer.

Romano said: "The priority remains Moussa Diaby. Their opening proposal was €35m plus add-ons, not €45m, €35m plus add-ons. And the answer from Bayer Leverkusen was no. They want way more than that, but they're also aware of the desire of the player to make his move to the Premier League and join Unai Emery."

Who else could Aston Villa sign this window?

According to Marca journalist David G. Medina speaking about reports from L'Equipe regarding Atletico Madrid striker Joao Felix being a target for Aston Villa, the Villans have received a boost in the bid to land the Portugal international, as he stated on Twitter: "As we have counted in Marca, there is NO interest from PSG in Joao. The one who DOES love the Portuguese is Aston Villa. L'Equipe, the most reliable medium with PSG and with so many other topics, confirms it."

Gazzetta dello Sport detailed earlier this month that Aston Villa saw a bid of €25 million turned down for AC Milan midfielder Charles De Ketalaere, with a gap in valuation being the reason for the rebuffed offer as the Italian giants seek €30 million for the Belgium international.

Conversations have take place between Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest involving Wales international Brennan Johnson, who is another name that Emery is looking to add to the ranks in the West Midlands, according to The Daily Mail.

Nottingham Forest may have to sell Johnson to comply with Financial Fair Play regulations and a fee of £40 million may be enough to entice the 22-year-old to Villa Park.

Crystal Palace have submitted a proposal for Flamengo youngster Matheus Franca this summer, according to an update from journalist Fabrizio Romano.

Who is Matheus Franca?

The 19-year-old is seen as a big talent back in his homeland of Brazil, already picking up plenty of experience despite not yet being out of his teens. He has racked up 54 appearances for Flamengo, scoring nine goals in that time, and he also won six caps for Brazil's under-16s in the past.

Franca's current contract doesn't expire until December 2027, so Flamengo are in a strong bargaining position when it comes to the attacker's future, being able to demand big money for his signature and not having to worry about losing him on the cheap any time soon.

Chelsea have been linked with a move for the Brazilian a number of times recently as they look to make some significant progress in the summer transfer window, but it looks as though Palace are also in the mix to sign him, as they eye up an ambitious piece of transfer business.

Could Crystal Palace sign Franca?

Taking to Twitter, Romano provided an update on Franca's future, confirming Palace's interest in the youngster, but also talking up a potential move to Chelsea:

"Crystal Palace have submitted a formal proposal for Matheus França. Talks are ongoing for the Brazilian talent. Understand Franca’s open to the move despite interest from Chelsea – #CFC spoke to Flamengo but no bid as €25m is still excessive."

Franca could be a hugely exciting signing for Palace this summer, especially if they can beat Chelsea to his services, acting as something of a statement signing. Fabio Matias, Under-20s coach at Flamengo, has spoken glowingly about him in the past, saying:

"He has many important aspects to his game. In addition to technical and tactical ability, he has a very good understanding of the game.

"That makes him stand out because he interprets spaces well. The most talented players have an understanding of space and how to manage that. He also has the ability to be decisive in front of goal and is a great finisher."

Franca could be viewed as the latest attacking starlet at Palace, with the likes of Eberechi Eze and Michael Olise developing so much down the years, and he could even help fill the potential void left by Wilfried Zaha should the Eagles legend move on to pastures new this summer following a memorable couple of spells in south London.

Primarily a central-attacking midfielder, the young South American can also play out wide, and such versatility could appeal to Roy Hodgson as he looks to make key reinforcements and bring in players who can be effective in the present and the future.

Chelsea do appear to be the favourites to sign Franca, however, considering they are a bigger club who have a greater chance of winning trophies moving forward, but it is certainly encouraging to see Palace in the picture as things stand, as they look to beat one of their London rivals to the signature of a top young talent.

West Bromwich Albion boss Carlos Corberan could give young forward Reyes Cleary opportunities to star at the first-team level in 2023/24, according to The Express & Star's Lewis Cox.

Who is Reyes Cleary and will he feature for West Bromwich Albion in 2023/24?

Cleary is a highly promising attacker on the books of West Bromwich Albion that has made waves at various levels due to his clinical finishing ability.

Last term, the 19-year-old was in fine fettle for the Baggies' second string in Premier League 2 action, scoring 16 strikes and laying on a further three assists in just 12 appearances, as per Transfermarkt.

Capable of playing off the left or as a central striker, Cleary also made five senior appearances for West Brom's first team over the course of 2022/23; however, he has failed to notch a single goal for his current employers at senior level.

Former West Brom and Everton striker Kevin Campbell thinks that Cleary still has plenty to prove before being given regular opportunities to star at the Hawthorns, as he stated in a recent interview with West Brom News: “I think it (promotion to first team) might happen at some stage but straight away, no. “I don’t think he’s going to be a star, not yet. He’s a young man and he’s doing well but you’ve got to prove yourself and a loan deal might be right for him.”

Nevertheless, he may be helped in his search for a breakthrough by West Brom's financial situation, which is said to be in a perilous position and left fan organisation Shareholders For Albion, who own 12% of the club, furious at the Baggies' owner Lai Guochuan for failing to answer a single question regarding the health of the club in a letter demanding 'clarity' over several issues at the club earlier this year, as per The Daily Mail.

Albion have already sold defender Dara O'Shea to Burnley for around £7 million this window and more departures could be likely in the coming weeks, according to Birmingham Live.

Potentially, this could pave the way for the likes of Cleary to kick on from the youth ranks to become first-team regulars this term, which is a sentiment that is echoed by reporter Cox, who was speaking on the Express & Star YouTube channel,

What did Lewis Cox say about Reyes Cleary's first-team chances?

Talking about which youngsters could be given a chance at the Baggies in 2023/24, Cox singled out Cleary as someone who may be given an opportunity to stake his claim alongside Jovan Malcolm and Modou Faal, stating: "Youngsters, Jovan Malcolm, Mo Faal, hopefully, Reyes Cleary, that's three there straight off the top of my head in forward roles that have a real window of opportunity potentially to get serious minutes and then it's up to them."

Of course, Cleary's chances of becoming a regular have also increased due to the plight of Daryl Dike, who is expected to still be out for several months after sustaining an Achilles injury back in April.

West Brom don't find themselves in the kindest position right now with regards to matters off or on the field; nevertheless, Corberan will be hoping his young guns can help to breathe some new life into the club and give everyone at the Hawthorns a much-needed boost.

Manchester United have already wrapped up their first piece of summer business ahead of next season, with the Red Devils having agreed a £60m deal to sign Mason Mount from Premier League rivals, Chelsea.

The signing of the England international will seemingly provide some much-needed quality and depth to a midfield department that has looked rather threadbare of late, with Marcel Sabitzer having made his return to Bayern Munich, while Fred has been heavily linked with a move to Fulham.

That fact could suggest that Mount may not be Erik ten Hag's only midfield recruit over the coming weeks, with reports in Spain having only recently claimed that the United boss has sent club officials to try and negotiate a deal for Real Madrid starlet, Aurelien Tchouameni.

The belief is that the former Monaco maestro – who only made the move to the Spanish capital for a reported fee of €100m (£85.3m) last summer – could make way following the signing of Jude Bellingham, thus opening the door for the Red Devils to pounce.

Having already snapped up Raphael Varane and Casemiro from the La Liga giants in each of the previous two summer windows, the Old Trafford outfit could now look to Tchouameni – who is valued at around €80m (£69m) – as their next high profile addition from the Bernabeu.

Would Tchouameni be a good fit for Man United?

Despite failing to truly establish himself as a regular starter under Carlo Ancelotti last season, the 23-year-old did still enjoy a positive debut campaign in Madrid, recording an average matching of 7.13 from his 33 league outings, as per Sofascore – a figure that would've placed him third among Ten Hag's squad last term.

Lauded as a "superb talent" by United legend, Rio Ferdinand, Tchouameni could well be able to replicate that level of performance in the Premier League were he to make the move to the Theatre of Dreams, with that rubberstamped by his apparent likeness to Brighton and Hove Albion sensation, Moises Caicedo.

The latter man has been on the Red Devils' in recent years with the club memorably missing out on his signature back in January 2021, while more recent reports revealed that Ten Hag and co had made contact regarding a possible summer swoop, albeit with a move to Stamford Bridge looking more likely for the 21-year-old.

To then be able to find an alternative to the Ecuadorian machine in the form of Tchouameni could prove to be a dream scenario for the Carabao Cup winners, with the pair seemingly sharing a number of statistical and stylistic similarities, according to FBref.

The two defensive-minded talents have proven themselves to be particularly effective at winning back possession in front of the back four, with the towering Frenchman ranking in the top 1% among his European peers for interceptions made, as well as in the top 22% for tackles, while Caicedo ranks in the top 11% and the top 13% for those same two metrics, respectively.

What also sets the two promising talents apart is their composure in possession and their desire to trying and dictate the tempo of a game from their deep-lying roles, with Caicedo ranking in the top 6% for pass completion and the top 15% for attempted passes, while Tchouameni ranks in the top 1% pass completion and the top 5% for attempted passes.

With Ten Hag seemingly keen on bringing in a younger midfielder this summer, both of those players would perfectly fit the bill, hence why the signing of the Madrid rock could prove a perfect alternative if the Brighton gem opts for a different destination.

Arsenal have submitted an "official proposal" to sign Ajax defender Jurrien Timber, according to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano.

Who is Jurrien Timber?

After progressing through the youth ranks at Ajax, Timber has gone on to establish himself as a key first-team player for the Dutch side, appearing in all 34 league games last season, and he has started to attract the attention of some top clubs.

Manchester United have been credited with an interest in the 22-year-old, but Arsenal appear to be leading the race for his signature, with Florian Plettenberg claiming they are on the "verge" of completing a deal, with Bayern Munich out of the running.

According to Romano, the Ajax star views the project at the Emirates Stadium as "perfect", and he is "really excited" about the move.

Taking to Twitter, the transfer expert has now confirmed that a second "official proposal" has been submitted by the Gunners, and they are aiming to get the deal done "this week", after having an opening bid of £30m rejected.

Talks are "now advancing" between the two clubs, indicating the move is edging closer to completion, and everything is complete on the player's side, with a five-year contract already agreed.

How much will Jurrien Timber cost?

Ajax are believed to be holding out for £50m to sanction the departure of the defender, who is set to double his wages if he does complete a move to the Emirates Stadium this summer.

The Dutchman has been hailed as "exceptional" by football scout Jacek Kulig, while Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk also heaped praise on him last year, saying: “I was never that good at the age of Timber, he’s just 21… I can only praise him. His potential is so high, I’m sure”.

For a defender, the Ajax star is very assured on the front foot, placing in the 99th percentile for progressive carries, and in the 94th percentile for successful take-ons per 90 in the past year, displaying his eagerness to drive the ball into attacking areas.

Reports have suggested Ben White is going to be utilised in a central role next season, meaning a new right-back will be required, and Timber would be more than capable of filling in when necessary, having made 49 appearances in that area of the pitch.

As such, the Netherlands international could be an excellent addition to Mikel Arteta's squad, and the manager will be hoping that Arsenal's second offer is accepted by Ajax.

Leeds United have a great history of academy production, with a steady stream of top talents having emerged in Yorkshire and gone onto big things. James Milner, Fabian Delph and Kalvin Phillips are just a few who spring to mind.

However, following their relegation, they will likely need to rely on their youth more than ever given the financial implications a stint in the Championship can have.

Fortunately for them, they have a few readymade stars who have already shown their quality at this level, suggesting they could well play a huge role in earning an instant return to the Premier League.

One such example is Charlie Cresswell, who enjoyed a fine spell at Millwall last term, in which the Lions narrowly missed out on a playoff spot. His domineering displays at the back suggest a bright future for the combative 20-year-old colossus, but he will need the right guidance to ensure his growth is measured and consistent.

Given Patrick Vieira remains one of the top targets for the managerial vacancy, he would arguably be the ideal man to lead the youngster forward and develop him into one of the country's top defenders.

Who is Charlie Cresswell?

Having been at the Yorkshire outfit since 2013, the 6 foot 3 goliath has made just seven senior appearances for his boyhood club, suggesting a steady rise towards additional first-team opportunities.

However, after the year he has just enjoyed, that spot must now be a certainty.

Under the tutelage of Gary Rowett, the hulking centre-back would maintain a 7.13 average rating in which he would record 1.5 tackles and 3.1 clearances per game in the Championship, via Sofascore.

For comparison, were these figures put into Leeds' squad from last term in the top flight, he would be their top performer by some distance, and boast their joint-third-most clearances.

It is no surprise that Rowett would therefore wax lyrical about his on-loan star, noting:

"He has really calmed down and matured in how he thinks about the game. He’s getting the benefit from it because he has got amazing attributes for a young centre-back – aggression and desire, sometimes you can’t find them as much nowadays. Honing them is easier than finding them in the first place."

The justification for Vieira's expertise in nurturing young talent is best shown through Marc Guehi, whose rise to prominence is largely owed to the vision of the former Arsenal legend.

He was the one who tempted the 22-year-old to Selhurst Park, only to forge him into one of England's best young centre-backs.

Indeed, his 7.03 average Sofascore rating from the 2021/22 season serves to supplement this, as he went from Chelsea's academy to an England international in just one year under his stewardship.

His 92% dribble success rate, 87% pass accuracy and 3.5 clearances per game that year (via Sofascore) are just a small window into what the future might hold for Cresswell, as he will seek to emulate this ball-playing titan.

The defender will be well aware of Guehi's meteoric rise, and likely be hoping that Vieira is the chosen man to take over at his club.

Should he be hired, perhaps the Frenchman could sprinkle some more of his magic onto Leeds' top youngster, allowing him to flourish further in the second division before hopefully taking the top flight by storm as Guehi has.

Newcastle United are interested in signing Manchester United defender Harry Maguire this summer, according to reports.

What’s the latest Newcastle transfer news on Harry Maguire?

Eddie Howe and the Magpies are on the search for senior signings ahead of the 2023/24 season, with the club set for a return to the Champions League after a brilliant Premier League campaign.

Newcastle have already brought in teenage attacker Yankuba Minteh from Danish side Odense Boldklub, however, the promising talent will immediately head out on loan to Dutch side Feyenoord.

Another potential target is Inter Milan midfielder Nicolo Barella, with PIF thought to be in talks over a £50m move. It looks as if defensive reinforcements are also on the agenda at St James’ Park, with an update emerging on Maguire.

According to Football Insider, Newcastle are in the race to sign Maguire, with the England international having a decision to make on his Old Trafford future.

Alongside Newcastle, Aston Villa and Tottenham are also keen on the defender as well as clubs overseas. Maguire is happy at Manchester United currently, however, he could drop further down the pecking order if Erik ten Hag signs a new defender.

How much did Harry Maguire cost Manchester United?

Maguire cost the Red Devils £80m back in 2019 in a world-record deal for a defender and is on £200,000-a-week.

Now 30 years of age, Maguire has made 175 appearances for United, scoring seven goals. He has scored two goals at St James’ Park, one for Leicester and one for United, winning eight of his 12 games against Newcastle and has come in for praise from Magpies star Kieran Trippier while on England duty last year.

“First, Harry’s a fantastic leader in our group, a big player in our group and to reach 50 caps is an amazing achievement. He’s had a good start to the tournament and I can only speak positively of him, the boys love him.

“I think he does his talking on the pitch and every time he has stepped out in that English shirt he has performed. So long may that continue and hopefully that means many more caps for Harry.”

He would bring plenty of experience to Howe’s side, should a move materialise, and with Champions League football on offer at St James’ Park, a move could appeal to the player, making this one to keep an eye on over the summer.

Brendan Rodgers is just a "pipe dream" appointment for Leeds United, according to presenter Conor McGilligan.

Rodgers could potentially be set rejoin Celtic four years after departing the Scottish Champions for Leicester City, but there were reports that Leeds could make a late push.

What is the latest Brendan Rodgers news?

According to a report from BBC Sport, Celtic have advanced talks with Rodgers over a potential return to Celtic Park, and despite the fact no deal has been reached, the Northern Irishman is the club's priority appointment.

The former Liverpool manager enjoyed a stellar time during his last spell at Celtic, winning two Scottish league titles, three Scottish league cups, and two Scottish cups, including an invincible season and two trebles.

A report from Scotland stated that Leeds were attempting to hijack Celtic's deal for the recently sacked Leicester manager, however, a new report states that the recently relegated Whites will instead pursue other managerial targets as it was suggested that Rodgers is not willing to take the step down to Championship football.

What did Conor McGilligan say about the situation?

Speaking on the One Leeds Fan Channel, McGilligan hit back after hearing reports Rodgers is leaning more towards a potential return to Parkhead this summer:

"I think we knew all along, I’ve not been getting carried away with it, the lads behind the scenes on the debrief they have not been getting carried away with the Brendan Rodgers either, it’s a bit of a pipe dream, it always has been a bit of a pipe dream, to be honest with you.

"A manager of Liverpool finishing second in a title race, a manager who has won an FA Cup, a manager who has already battered the Championship, getting him back down to the Championship even on a big financial package was going to be difficult."

Would Leeds United be a smart move for Brendan Rodgers?

Leeds seemingly need an overhaul after a really disappointing campaign which resulted in relegation, with their defence being the worst in the league last season. Rodgers has a fantastic record in the Championship, with his Swansea side winning promotion via the play-offs the last time he competed in the division.

For Rodgers, who has been hailed as a "genius" in the past, the uncertainty around Leeds United with the pending ownership change and players who may want to leave following relegation in addition to the drop-down in divisions may turn the Northern Irishman away from the club, instead opting for a chance to win league titles and domestic cups in Scotland with Celtic to rebuild his reputation quickly.

Should the former Leicester City manager decide to join Leeds, it would be a major coup for the club, and surely make them one of the favorites to come straight back up.