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Transfer insider Dean Jones believes Liverpool will now turn their attention to bolstering the midfield department. 

The lowdown: Through the door

Newly appointed Sporting Director Julian Ward has wasted little time in flexing his negotiation muscles having taken over from Michael Edwards, securing the capture of Darwin Nunez from Benfica for an initial £64million (Sky Sports).

The Uruguayan frontman follows Fulham youngster Fabio Carvalho through the arrivals door at Anfield, albeit much of the work for the 19-year-old starlet was completed in January.

A deal has also been agreed for Calvin Ramsay to join from Aberdeen, with the Reds now waiting on the young Scot to pass a medical and sign on the dotted line of a five-year contract.

The latest: Midfielders incoming…

Speaking to Give Me Sport, Jones has claimed that Liverpool will now attempt to reinforce the midfield options at Jurgen Klopp’s disposal, although it could be for next summer if none of the current options depart.

He said: “I think it’s the next big position that he’ll be looking at. We know they’ve had an eye on players like Tchouameni recently, and they might have gone through with it, but they were definitely keeping an eye on players at that level.

“If Milner would have gone and Oxlade-Chamberlain was leaving, then I would feel like they had reason to strengthen right now. But, as it stands right now, Liverpool have got loads of numbers in that area of the field.”

Paul Joyce of The Times also believes midfield is next on the agenda, but reports that the club are happy to wait until next year.

The verdict: Signing needed

Even if the Reds do get another season out of Oxlade-Chamberlain, Klopp and Ward should be targeting an alternative to Aurelien Tchouameni as the German manager embarks on another hectic campaign that will start with the Community Shield before a Premier League opener against Fulham and be fragmented by the mid-season World Cup in Qatar.

Having missed out on the Frenchman to Real Madrid, it’s likely that FSG are willing to sanction further funds this summer and as such, finding a player who can operate in multiple midfield roles to potentially rotate with the likes of Fabinho and Jordan Henderson is essential.

Last season, Fabinho in particular made a mammoth 48 appearances across all competitions and is almost certain to be an integral part of the Brazil squad in the winter.

As things stand, the only natural cover comes in the shape of youngster Tyler Morton, with both James Milner and Henderson forced to filled in at times, leaving adequate room within the squad for a genuine understudy to be added to the Anfield ranks.

In other news… a reliable journalist has dropped a Sadio Mane transfer twist.

Celtic are ‘in the market’ to bring in a new striker during the summer transfer window, according to reliable journalist Anthony Joseph.

The Lowdown: Crucial summer for Celtic

This feels like a crucial summer in the transfer market at Parkhead, with the Hoops at a point where they could go on to assert long-term superiority in Scotland.

This year’s Premiership title win was memorable but it is now vital that Ange Postecoglou stays put and builds a lasting legacy at the club.

There are some areas of the pitch where Celtic could do with strengthening in the long-term, with attacking reinforcements certainly not going amiss.

The Latest: Joseph makes Celtic transfer claim

Taking to Twitter, Joseph delivered a ‘transfer state of play’ at Celtic, outlining the various positions being targeted and the current scenario regarding each one.

Addressing Celtic’s pursuit of a striker over the summer, he gave a succinct three-word verdict that the Hoops are “in the market” for a new centre-forward.

The Verdict: Makes perfect sense

While Celtic scored their fair share of goals last season, with 92 in the Premiership, they lacked a truly prolific figure leading the line, which occasionally held them back.

Kyogo Furuhashi ended up leading the way with 17 goals, and while that is a decent tally, it does highlight how the Hoops are missing a truly prolific predator at the apex of their attack. For instance, Odsonne Edouard broke the 20-goal barrier in the league alone in the recent past.

If Postecoglou can acquire the services of a top-class striker, it could take Celtic up another level again,  something which may be needed with Champions League football returning to Parkhead in 2022/23.

In other news, Joseph has also confirmed Celtic’s interest in one player. Find out who it is here.

Everton could allow Jarrad Branthwaite to leave the club this summer, according to a report from The Daily Mail (print edition 05/06, p150), via Lancs Live. 

The lowdown: Top-flight taster

After spending time on loan at Blackburn Rovers during 2020/21, the young defender was kept on Merseyside last season after undergoing ankle surgery.

A frequent presence on the bench under Rafael Benitez, the 19-year-old centre-back played 90 minutes and scored a crucial goal in the 1-1 draw against Chelsea in December.

Following a flurry of injury and suspension issues towards the end of the campaign, the Carlisle-born starlet ended the season firmly in Frank Lampard’s plans.

The latest: Branthwaite exit looming

As per The Daily Mail (via Lancs Live), despite a strong end to 2021/22, Everton want to send Branthwaite out on loan again this summer.

The Toffees are believed to be keen for the England under-20 ace obtain more regular first-team action and could be willing to sanction a temporary exit for him in the near future.

Under contract at Goodison Park until 2025 (Transfermarkt), the youngster – who was hailed for a ‘terrific’ display for the Toffees’ under-23s by assistant manager John Ebbrell in pre-season – remains part of the long-term planning at the club.

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The verdict: Smart move

The Everton defence was far from rock-solid throughout 2021/22, conceding 66 times in just 38 Premier League matches (more than relegated Burnley). However, with the potential signing of James Tarkowski to add to Michael Keane, Yerry Mina and Mason Holgate, it could be another watching brief for Branthwaite for the most part if he were to remain at Goodison Park.

Therefore, sending the towering 6 foot 5 colossus out on loan, either to a top-end Championship club or a potential top-flight suitor abroad, would make plenty of sense from a development perspective, whilst also avoiding the prospect of any permanent bids from reported suitors Manchester United.

Having only made 37 senior career outings to date, a season of exposure to top-quality strikers and the rigours of regular first-team football will be a valuable learning curve for Branthwaite which should see the youngster return to Everton as an improved defender, so a loan exit could be highly beneficial.

In other news: Frank McAvennie has reacted to this Everton off-field development

Celtic are reportedly close to confirming an official permanent transfer for Jota from Benfica.

What’s the news?

According to a recent article from the Daily Record, the Hoops “are set to take up their £6m option” to purchase the winger from the Portuguese club after his recent season-long loan spell at Parkhead.

During his time in Glasgow, the 23-year-old made 40 appearances in total for the Bhoys across all competitions. In that time, the winger found the net 13 times and delivered 14 assists, showing that it wasn’t any trouble for him to settle into the team and become a deadly attacking figure.

In 29 league appearances, Jota scored 10 goals and supplied 11 assists, which goes to show how important he was in Celtic’s Premiership title charge as they ended the season with more goals scored (92) than any other top-flight team.

Great news for Celtic

To further highlight how dangerous Jota was in an attacking sense, only Liel Abada finished the season with more shots and shots on target in the league than the Benfica youngster among Ange Postecoglou’s squad.

Also, no other Celtic player came close to providing the number of crosses that the Portuguese gem delivered for his side (229).

Taking this latest behind-the-scenes development into account, it will surely be great news for the Glasgow club and their fans to be able to secure the talented winger on a permanent transfer.

If they can do so, it would then give them the chance to focus on securing other potential transfers that Postecoglou may feel the need to complete.

While the Bhoys will undoubtedly be setting out to retain their Premiership title next year, they will also be looking to go as far as they can in Europe and win the other domestic trophies as well.

To maximise their chances of doing so, Postecoglou will need to ensure that he has the right balance of quality and depth in his squad so they can go out and achieve their targets.

Looking back to last summer’s transfer window, the significant amount of business which took place during that period will surely give a lot of Celtic fans hope that the upcoming window can be just as fruitful for them once again, with Jota’s proposed arrival on a permanent basis kicking things off.

In other news: Celtic can replicate O’Riley masterclass by signing 21 y/o gem who’s “right up there”

Rangers boss Giovanni van Bronkhorst and Ross Wilson have been hit with a setback over Nikola Katic’s future at Ibrox heading into the summer transfer window…

What’s the talk?

According to Football Scotland, his loan club are unlikely to sign him on a permanent deal despite having a £3m option to do so in their loan agreement.

The report claims that the defender will now return to the Premiership club for pre-season in an attempt to impress van Bronckhorst and break back into the Rangers squad.

Supporters will be frustrated

This is a huge blow for Wilson and is one that will surely leave the supporters frustrated as it leaves the club £3m short of what they could have had and with an injury-plagued player remaining on the books.

Since joining the club, Katic has missed 58 competitive matches for the Gers and was ruled out for a whopping 358 days after suffering a cruciate ligament rupture in 2020.

Transfermarkt have no injury updates on his time in the Croatian top-flight in 2021/22 but the centre-back only managed 17 starts and 21 appearances for Split in the league. His statistics in the division do not suggest that his limited game time was down to form as he averaged an excellent SofaScore rating of 7.01 and won 64% of his duels in the 1. HNL.

After spending an extraordinary amount of time out injured, it is not a surprise to see that Katic did not rack up 30+ starts in Croatia. However, that does not take away from the fact that he is not a reliable option for van Bronckhorst to call upon.

His injury record means that he cannot start the season expecting to be a regular in the team as he is yet to prove that he can remain fit throughout the campaign.

This is why Split’s decision is a setback for Wilson as he would have been able to use the £3m fee to bring in a centre-back with a proven track record of fitness to bolster the team. Therefore, this update is a huge blow for the club, as it stands, and is one that will frustrate supporters who will surely want reliable options in the squad.

Of course, if Katic can come back and prove his fitness and enjoy a stellar season for the Light Blues next term then no one will be worrying about £3m. For now, though, his record suggests that he has a long way to go to get back on track with his availability.

AND in other news, Rangers can land dream Kent heir in deal for £1.5m “asset” who can “affect the game”…

This could be quite the summer for Liverpool who will be aiming to achieve something that very few will think is possible; becoming an even better team.

Although a Premier League title triumph is now against the odds for Jurgen Klopp’s side, the Reds could still come away from this season with a treble, something that would be finalised by winning the Champions League final in Paris against Real Madrid.

Liverpool will seek revenge for that horrible night in 2018 when Loris Karius endured a nightmare between the sticks but the two European heavyweights could go toe to toe in the transfer market too.

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That’s because the pair are both interested in signing Kylian Mbappe.

The £144m-rated superstar is set to become a free agent this summer if he doesn’t renew his contract in the French capital, with Madrid believed to be one of the clubs keen to secure his signature.

Reports from France a few days ago claimed Klopp’s men had entered ‘the dance’ to sign the player and if he arrives in Merseyside, it would be an incredible piece of business.

Their title rivals Manchester City have already secured a move for Erling Haaland but this deal would surely one-up the Citizens.

For starters, the 23-year-old has been phenomenal in front of goal this term, finding the back of the net on 36 occasions, seven more times than Haaland. Mbappe also has a whopping 26 assists, 18 more than the Norwegian hitman.

With that in mind, it’s hardly a surprise to hear Jonathan Woodgate suggest he could take on a certain Virgil van Dijk and succeed.

Speaking to the BBC, the former defender once said: “The pace of Kylian Mbappe would frighten any defender, including Virgil van Dijk. He is that quick.”

The PSG attacker is in a world of his own when it comes to offensive threat and beating his marker for ease but there are parallels that can be drawn.

Indeed, the most similar player to Mbappe according to FB Ref is his fellow countryman Karim Benzema, a man with 44 goals in as many games this term.

A deeper look at the numbers tells you there are more parallels between the two than just goalscoring, though.

Both of them average 41% of their shots on target whilst their non-penalty expected goals per 90 sit between 0.53 and 0.56.

Their shot-creating actions are also similar with Mbappe managing 4.94 to Benzema’s 4.28 per 90 minutes. Finally, they take nearly the same number of touches on average too, with the PSG star taking 58 and the Real Madrid goal machine taking 53 every 90 minutes.

With that in mind, he’d clearly be an extraordinary acquisition and one FSG must seal if the Reds want to continue making more history.

AND in other news, “Will be leaving this summer” – Major Liverpool claim will have supporters gutted…

Arsenal target Tammy Abraham has refused to close the door over a transfer move away from Jose Mourinho’s Roma side, despite confessing his love for the Stadio Olimpico outfit.

What’s the word?

That is according to a report from The Mirror, who claim that the former Chelsea man has left the door open for a potential return to Premier League and Arsenal, after what has been a productive year-long spell at Roma.

Following his final game of the Serie A season, Abraham was asked as to whether he will still be playing his football at Roma next season.

He told DAZN via Football Italia: “Like I’ve always said, I fell in love with this club from the first day and I will always help the team as much as possible with my goals and assists.

“I love this club. They’ve given me the opportunity to show myself, my heart is here. We’ll see what the future holds, but my heart is here.”

Laca OUT, Tammy IN

Despite a season of progression, Arsenal boss Arteta seems eager to carry out his gradual restructuring of the first team. As such, the likes of £182k-per-week Alexandre Lacazette, amidst his rapidly expiring contract, looks as though he will depart the club after what has been five years at the Emirates Stadium.

This season has seen the Frenchman labelled as a “liability” by FOX journalist James Dodd in what has been his least prolific in terms of attacking returns, scoring four goals and amassing seven assists, with Arteta seemingly keen to replace him with a scorer in the ilk of Abraham, who has endured an emphatic first season abroad with Roma and has consequently been dubbed “mercurial” by BT Sport.

The 24-year-old England starlet has chipped in with 27 goals and five assists for Mourinho’s side, with nine goals in 12 Europa Conference League appearances integral in their bid for European glory.

£67m Abraham has been an extremely positive influence for I Giallorossi and will look towards the Europa Conference final in what could be a bid goodbye if the likes of Arsenal come calling with a homecoming offer.

In other news: Huge blow: Arsenal suffer major setback before Everton clash, Arteta will be worried 

According to reports out of Spain, some major Manchester City transfer news has come to light involving Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen.

The Lowdown: Guardiola set for summer reshuffle?

The Sky Blues could actually be set for a summer reshuffle as a fair few of Pep Guardiola’s stars become linked with a summer exit.

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Raheem Sterling, Gabriel Jesus, Riyad Mahrez and now Ilkay Gundogan are at the centre of possible moves away with the likes of Frenkie de Jong becoming tipped as potential incomings.

The Premier League champions, after completing an agreement to sign Erling Haaland from Borussia Dortmund for the 2022/2023 season, are certainly not done there going by recent reports.

Now, a very interesting story has come out of the continent.

The Latest: ter Stegen linked…

According to Spanish sources, Barcelona number one ter Stegen ‘could end up’ at City and be the ‘second star signing’ after Haaland – coming as Guardiola feels it’s ‘necessary’ to provide real competition for Ederson.

It is believed that the £100,000-per-week Germany international is ‘tempted’ by a move to Eastlands, but if officials wish to make a move, Barca will reportedly demand a fee in excess of €60 million (£51m).

The Verdict: Make a move?

The presence of Ederson, an ever-reliable, and USA international Zack Steffen just behind him makes this report a surprising one to say the least.

City starlet Gavin Bazanu dazzled on loan at Portsmouth and comes as another shot-stopper turning heads in Manchester, so we believe Guardiola is more than stocked for capable deputies between the sticks.

While ter Stegan is a big name who has been called a ‘monster’, ‘beast’ and ‘phenomenon’ by members of the press (Alex Truica), we believe City certainly have bigger priorities, like sealing the signature of an heir to Fernandinho.

In other news: Fabrizio Romano lifts lid on Man City attempts to sign ‘world class’ £49.5 million-rated star! Find out more here.

An update has emerged regarding Newcastle United and their pursuit of Raphinha heading into the summer transfer window…

What’s the talk?

Fabrizio Romano has revealed that PIF are plotting a swoop for the Leeds United forward and will need to battle it out with an elite European club to land his signature.

Speaking on the Wondergoal Podcast (12:45), Romano said: “A player they (PIF) love is Raphinha from Leeds. We know that Barcelona are leading the race to sign to him, but Newcastle are exploring the possibilities for a long time.

“They know this is going to be more than complicated because Barcelona are already in advanced talks with the player’s side. It depends if Leeds will get relegated or not (as) it will be important to understand if the clause will be activated or not.”

Imagine him & Allan Saint-Maximin

PIF must work hard to win the race for Raphinha, as he would be an exciting addition to Newcastle’s squad for next season.

Premier League defenders will be trembling at the thought of playing against the Toon if Saint-Maximin and the Brazilian are both lining up on the wings for the Magpies, as they both have the technical ability to cause huge problems in the final third.

Whilst Leeds are struggling at the wrong end of the table, the 25-year-old attacker has been a shining light at Elland Road throughout the campaign.

As you can see from these statistics, via SofaScore, Raphinha – who joined the Yorkshire club for £20m – has been in electric form at the top end of the pitch, both in terms of scoring and creating goals.

He only has three assists to his name, in spite of him creating nine ‘big chances’, and his team’s failure to finish off the opportunities that he is creating could tempt him to make the switch to St James’ Park. Raphinha’s statistics prove that he is a quality player at Premier League level, and Leeds are not making the most of his creative talents.

The Athletic’s Patrick Boyland previously dubbed him “magic”, and the Brazil wizard’s 1.9 dribbles per game to go along with his chance creation figures would suggest that such praise is deserved.

Meanwhile, Saint-Maximin has completed a whopping 4.4 dribbles and 1.5 key passes per game in the current top-flight campaign. This shows that he has been a constant threat with the ball at his feet and that Eddie Howe would have a frightening wide duo if he can play him and Raphinha in the same team next season.

AND in other news, Howe can land the next Shearer as Newcastle “prepares” £59m bid for 68-goal “diamond”…

Former Tottenham manager Jose Mourinho is said to be eyeing up a move for Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg this summer, according to transfer insider Dean Jones.

The Lowdown: Strong connections

The Portuguese coach signed the 26-year-old when he was in charge of the north London giants just under two years ago, and a matter of months after Mourinho was confirmed as the new manager at Roma, it was reported that the Dane wanted to join him at the Stadio Olimpico.

The Mirror have recently claimed that Hojbjerg is attracting interest from Spurs’ top-flight rivals Newcastle United, with the £100k-per-week star being ‘high’ on Eddie Howe’s wish list, but it seems that a Serie A reunion between the midfielder and his former boss might be on the cards.

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The Latest: Jones’ comments on Hojbjerg

When speaking during an interview about Hojbjerg’s future at Tottenham, Jones told GiveMeSport:

“One thing I’m hearing on Hojbjerg is that Jose Mourinho quite fancies taking him to Roma.

“Next season Jose intends to ask the board to back his vision as he thinks they can make a real push at the top of Serie A – and Hojbjerg could be a great asset.”

The Verdict: Hojbjerg should stay at Spurs

Despite having a successful spell under Mourinho, who once dubbed the 54-cap Denmark international a “phenomenal” player, Hojbjerg has since settled into life at Tottenham, particularly under Antonio Conte, under whom he has started all but two Premier League games this season.

Roma have already failed to secure a Champions League place for next season with the 59-year-old in the dugout, whereas the Lilywhites still very much have a chance of finishing in the Premier League top four come the end of May.

The 6 foot 1 maestro has proven to be one of Conte’s most consistent performers over the course of the Italian’s N17 tenure, and should he have ambitions of playing any kind of European football at the highest level in the future, the best option for him would be to remain in north London and hopefully enjoy more success with Spurs in years to come.

In other news… sources have shared a huge update on one of Tottenham’s summer transfer targets