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Arsenal are preparing to make a fresh attempt to sign Southampton's Romeo Lavia, with the midfielder recently giving the move the green light following positive talks, according to a report from Football Insider.

Is Romeo Lavia leaving Southampton this summer?

There are a number of top Premier League clubs set to battle it out for Lavia this summer, following Southampton's relegation from the top flight, with the Saints resigned to losing him, although they do hope to receive a sizeable fee.

Amid interest from Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool, the midfielder could end up costing any potential suitor around £50m, but there is hesitancy among the interested parties about whether he is worth that much.

The Gunners have already held talks with the Belgian's representatives, but the indication is that they will not be willing to pay Southampton's asking price, given their expenditure in the transfer window up to this point.

Football Insider also report the Saints are looking to hold out for a fee of £50m, with Manchester City entitled to 20% due to the sell-on clause included in the 19-year-old's contract, and Arsenal could now be ready to pursue a deal.

Following positive conversations, the youngster has now given the move the green light, and there is an indication he would be eager to play under Mikel Arteta, as the report claims he is a big fan of the manager.

With Thomas Partey now closing in on a move to Saudi Arabia, the Gunners are well aware they will need a replacement for the central midfielder, and they are now expected to push Liverpool all the way in the race for Lavia's signature.

Chelsea also retain an interest in the Southampton star, so there could be a real transfer battle on the cards in the coming weeks.

How good is Romeo Lavia?

Football writer Lewis Steele has previously expressed his shock that Pep Guardiola was willing to sell the young midfielder, saying: "Romeo Lavia is a sensational midfielder. Who at Manchester City sanctioned selling him for just £15m?"

However, the Man City boss has since made it clear that the Belgium international's departure was not due to a lack of ability, stating: “I'm impressed with what Romeo Lavia is doing at Southampton. We’ve an incredible opinion of him. We thought to keep him — but we couldn't give him enough minutes like he has at Southampton”.

It was undoubtedly the right call for the former Man City man to move on last summer, as he has really started to develop during his time with Southampton, having made 29 appearances in the Premier League last season.

The Brussels-born maestro only scored one league goal, but he was very impressive in other areas, averaging the highest pass-success rate of any Saints player to start more than one game.

Lavia is also very adept defensively, averaging 2.1 tackles per game in the league, the same amount as Partey, while he also averaged more interceptions than the Ghanaian, indicating he could be a solid long-term replacement.

The transfer window officially opened for business last month and Tottenham Hotspur have been busy in their attempts to improve the playing squad ahead of the 2023/24 campaign.

They started the summer by bringing in Ange Postecoglou from Scottish giants Celtic as their new head coach and have made four first-team signings to date.

Dejan Kulusevski and Pedro Porro have completed permanent moves to the club after their respective loan spells, and they have been joined by attacking midfielder James Maddison along with goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario.

Spurs could still be in the market for further additions, however, and another new forward could be on the agenda after Lucas Moura departed on a free transfer.

Postecoglou could land the dream replacement for the Brazilian attacker by securing a deal to sign reported £50m transfer target, Jadon Sancho.

How many Premier League goals does Jadon Sancho have?

The England international has struck nine times in 55 Premier League appearances for Manchester United since his move from Borussia Dortmund in the summer of 2021.

His tally of 12 goals and six assists across 79 outings in all competitions for the Red Devils means that he has averaged a goal contribution every 4.39 matches on average during his time at Old Trafford so far.

Whereas, Moura produced 39 goals and 27 assists in 221 competitive clashes for Spurs, which was one involvement every 3.35 games on average.

Like United's Sancho, the former Paris Saint-Germain ace is capable of being deployed on either flank or through the middle of the pitch, which made him a versatile option for Tottenham over the years.

Postecoglou could utilise the ex-Manchester City prospect on the left or right wing in north London and this makes him a valuable player to have in the squad, particularly after Moura's departure, as he is not restricted to a specific role or position.

Sancho also has the potential to offer far more in the final third than he has shown at United so far as the 23-year-old wizard's performances for Dortmund suggest that there is an exceptional talent there to be unearthed.

Scout Jacek Kulig lauded the exciting forward as a "phenomenon" during his time in Germany and it is easy to see why when you delve into his statistics.

The English magician racked up 38 goals to go along with 51 assists in 104 Bundesliga appearances for Dortmund, which works out as a direct involvement every 1.17 outings on average.

Sancho recorded 12 or more league assists in each of his last three seasons in black and yellow and could come in as a much-needed creative spark for Postecoglou if the Australian head coach can get him back to his best.

Ivan Perisic was Tottenham's top assister with eight in the Premier League last term and he was one of only three players with more than five assists, which suggests that the club did not have an outstanding creator to provide the likes of Harry Kane and Heung-min Son with regular service.

The United winger, who has not been able to hit top form at Old Trafford, has the untapped potential to be that player for Spurs. Therefore, Sancho could be an exceptional signing for Postecoglou and the dream replacement for Moura this summer.

Sheikh Jassim’s bid to take over at Manchester United from the Glazers will be settled imminently, according to reports in Qatar.

What’s the latest Man United takeover news?

Jassim and Sir Jim Ratcliffe have been the front runners to take control at Old Trafford this year after the Glazers first put the club up for sale in November 2022.

The Qatar group led by Jassim has made five separate bids for the Red Devils, with the latest coming last month and was his final offer. His proposal is for 100% of the club and would clear Man United's debt, while also setting up a separate fund for the club and local community.

However, it has gone relatively quiet since that bid went in, although there was speculation that Jassim was in pole position to secure a takeover. It looks as if there could now be a big development around the corner at Old Trafford, with Qatari outlet Raya providing an update on Tuesday.

It is ‘expected that the Manchester United purchase contract will be signed by the Glazer family that owns the club within the next few hours’, with Jassim set to win the race ahead of competition from Ratcliffe.

The Qatari group ‘have now begun to express their confidence in the victory, and they believe that it is only a matter of time before the official announcement is made’.

Who could Sheikh Jassim sign for Man United?

Should Jassim’s takeover go through as which now is to be expected, it could help Erik ten Hag and United in the current transfer window. Jassim previously wanted 'things done quickly' so he could help Ten Hag in the transfer market, and it looks as if he has big plans at Old Trafford.

The Red Devils have brought in Mason Mount from Chelsea in a deal worth a total of £60m, and it looks as if a new goalkeeper is next on the agenda.

Ten Hag’s former goalkeeper at Ajax, Andre Onana, now at Inter Milan, is seemingly the top target to replace David de Gea, with personal terms already agreed. A new verbal proposal of €45m looks set to be made to Inter Milan, although the Serie A side are holding out for €60m.

Should Onana arrive after Mount, a new striker could be looked at, and Jassim seemingly wants to make a sensational statement signing to bring Paris Saint-Germain’s Kylian Mbappe to Old Trafford. Reports have suggested that Jassim feels that the France superstar ‘belongs at Old Trafford’, with the forward into the final 12 months of his PSG contract.

Jassim could look to make an immediate impact, should a takeover go through, however, Mike Keegan has claimed that there could be an approval wait of up to 12 weeks, which may throw a spanner in the works for the Qatari group and result in the Galzers officially remaining in control at the start of the 2023/24 season, but the good news is that it looks like they are about to be named winners of the takeover race.

Leeds United built their last promotion success on hard work as much as they did talent, although that's not to suggest the latter was in short supply.

Players like Pablo Hernandez, Kalvin Phillips and a firing Patrick Bamford underpinned a top-quality squad that dominated the Championship during their 2020 success in which Marcelo Bielsa was the mastermind behind it all.

However, one player who was ever-present during that historic season was Mateusz Klich, who offered an all-action bridge between defence and attack.

It was his energy in the engine room that proved vital to the philosophy of the Argentine, with the legendary coach even branding him as a player "who can play in all the best teams in the world".

With the Polish maestro having since departed, there has been a void left ever since. However, reports from earlier in June suggest that this could be set to change, as the 49ers eye an ambitious swoop to pry Gustavo Hamer from Coventry City.

How good is Gustavo Hamer?

The Dutch-Brazilian midfielder starred last term for the promotion-chasing Sky Blues, who were denied their Premier League promotion by a penalty shootout.

Operating largely as a box-to-box, or even defensive asset in their midfield, few could have predicted that the 26-year-old would prove so instrumental at both ends of the pitch, particularly with his goalscoring.

After all, his nine goals and ten assists in the league greatly influenced his 7.35 average rating, alongside a 73% pass accuracy, 1.8 key passes and 2.6 tackles per game, via Sofascore. This even omits his two goals in the playoffs too, emphasising his nature as a big-game player.

It is, therefore, no surprise to see a former teammate of his, Marko Marosi, effusive in his praise back in 2020. He likely foresaw the quality that was just waiting to be unleashed, stating: "Gustavo is unbelievable. He is a funny guy as well and a great character."

There was nothing that the midfield maestro could not do, and as such his rating saw him ranked as the third-best player in the whole of the Championship, and would even have been the joint-highest rated star when compared to Leeds' promotion squad.

To compare Hamer with Klich during Leeds' promotion campaign though, the similarities are there for all to see.

He too was neither solely an attacking force nor defensive stalwart, but instead a jack of all trades who had mastered some facets of the game.

His 7.07 average rating during the 2019/20 season was largely buoyed through similar figures to his potential successor, as he posted 11 goal contributions, an 81% pass accuracy, 1.8 key passes and 1.9 tackles per game all from midfield, via Sofascore.

Whilst valued at just €4.2m (£3.6m) by Football Transfers, it is expected that Hamer, the natural replacement for 33-year-old fan favourite, will likely cost more. However, with the well-documented financial troubles over the years in Coventry, the Yorkshire outfit could pounce to snatch one of the Championship's top performers.

Tottenham Hotspur supporters will have been emboldened by the recent acquisition of James Maddison from Leicester City, and could now return for Harvey Barnes.

What's the latest on Harvey Barnes to Tottenham?

According to The Telegraph, Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou is interested in raiding the King Power Stadium once again for the 25-year-old, with Premier League rivals Aston Villa and Newcastle United also vying for his signature.

The report does continue to state that sources suggest a transfer is not forthcoming for any of the aforementioned outfits at present, though this could change as the transfer window rages on.

Leicester were relegated from the top-flight this year and now face a rebuild, and while the Lilywhites have already tied up a £40m deal for Maddison, securing his teammate's services for a reported £30m could bode well ahead of the new campaign.

Should Tottenham sign Harvey Barnes?

For the past decade, Tottenham have been lauded for their attacking intent and guile despite failing to end the interminable wait for silverware.

Former manager Jose Mourinho hailed Heung-min Son as "on fire" and talisman Harry Kane for giving the club a "big dynamic" several years ago, but the recent term has illustrated the necessity for newfound talent after an eighth-placed finish in the league yielded no European football next year.

The former, Son, has been a stalwart for the London side since signing from Bayer Leverkusen for a reported £22m in 2015, scoring 145 goals and supplying 80 assists from 372 outings, but the 30-year-old has been criticised for "performing so far short of his usual standards" this season by journalist Charlie Gordon.

Barnes could not only be viewed as an option to alleviate the burden on the South Korean's shoulders but also be a potential successor under Postecoglou's wing, much like Maddison could be the heir to Christian Eriksen's throne at the club.

Following the confirmation of Maddison's arrival, The Telegraph's Matt Law said: "James Maddison will give Tottenham something they’ve missed since the Christian Eriksen days. Really good signing."

Eriksen forged 305 displays for Spurs before departing for Inter Milan for £17m in 2020, scoring 69 goals and registering 90 assists as he captured the awe of hordes of onlookers for his footballing intellect and aptitude as a midfield orchestrator, with former Liverpool forward Craig Bellamy praising him as "world-class" during his time at White Hart Lane.

Maddison can emulate his impact from the centre, having scored ten goals and provided nine assists from 28 starting appearances in the Premier League despite the Foxes' relegation.

Dubbed a "magician" by Statman Dave, the £110k-per-week menace ranks among the top 10% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for assists, the top 13% for shot-creating actions, the top 15% for progressive passes and the top 17% for tackles per 90, as per FBref.

The three-cap England international has also been described as a "world-class" midfielder by his international manager Gareth Southgate, and possesses all the tools necessary to forge a prosperous career at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, rekindling his "dynamic" partnership with Barnes, who was described as such by journalist Adam Goodwin.

The crux of Leicester's seasonal demise did not lie in the offence – the outfit's 51-goal return bettered all within the bottom half of the final standings – and Barnes thrived as he plundered 13 strikes from 34 matches, putting him among the top 6% of positional peers for goals per 90.

Clearly boasting an innate understanding on the pitch, the duo could rejuvenate Spurs' attack and take the emphasis off Kane's shoulders – who may yet depart the club this summer.

Leeds United are yet to make their first move in the 2023 summer transfer window with the 49ers club takeover yet to be concluded, but that has not stopped rumours of Jayson Molumby's possible transfer to Elland Road.

The West Bromwich Albion star has been in fine fettle and one of the centrepieces behind the Championship outfit's resurgence after a dismal start to the most recent campaign, and Leeds have taken note.

That's according to The Sun's Alan Nixon, who has recently claimed via his Patreon account that Leeds have earmarked the dynamic midfielder as a top target this summer.

Rated at £4m by Football Transfers, Molumby would be an excellent fit for the West Yorkshire outfit, at least, that's according to transfer insider Dean Jones – speaking to GIVEMESPORT – who said: "You need players that the Leeds fans can trust and identify with. And this is someone who would certainly show all the determination and drive that you would really expect from Leeds and want in his position.”

How good is Jayson Molumby?

If Leeds could pull off what would be a signing to catalyse the central midfield's robustness and effectiveness, it could represent the dream replacement for Weston McKennie, who endured a lacklustre six-month loan spell with the Whites after signing from Juventus in January.

This is not to explicitly say that Molumby is a 'better' player than McKennie, who, of course, boasts a wealth of experience across multiple top-flight European leagues and has starred for USA at the 2022 World Cup, but it simply didn't work out for the industrious midfielder at Elland Road, and he floundered to an average rating of 6.67 – as per Sofascore – across his 19 matches in the division. This was just the 13th-best rating in the squad last term.

Hailed as "an insane talent" by journalist Rudy Kinsella, Molumby is tried and tested in the second tier and would surely view a transfer to Leeds as a step up in his career and the chance to cement a starting berth in an outfit hoping to rectify the past wrongs with a swift return to the Premier League.

The omens are certainly promising, with the Waterford-born ace playing 43 times in the Championship this season as West Brom eradicated the concerns over relegation and forged a path to promotion contention, missing out on the play-offs by just three points.

The 23-year-old recorded an average rating of 6.83 after posting four goals and assists apiece, also completing 86% of his passes and averaging 1.4 tackles per game.

Praised as an "animal" by manager Carlos Corberan, the Republic of Ireland international seemingly boasts the tenacity and guile to succeed in the Championship, and he would certainly be a massive upgrade on McKennie, who was indifferent during his time at Elland Road.

Journalist Josh Bunting has praised Rangers and their signing of forward Sam Lammers from Atalanta, calling it an “interesting” move by the club.

What’s the latest Rangers transfer news?

Michael Beale and the Teddy Bears have undergone a major summer overhaul thus far, with many former first-teamers departing Ibrox in late May.

Indeed, ex-mainstays like Alfredo Morelos, Ryan Kent, Allan McGregor, Scott Arfield, Filip Helander and Steven Davis all departed at the end of their contracts, leaving Rangers with the almighty task of replacing them.

They’ve done an exceptional job of it thus far, completing deals for Kieran Dowell, Dujon Sterling, Jack Butland and now Lammers for a fee of around £3 million.

The Dutchman has put pen to paper on a four-year deal at Rangers, with Beale now signing a replacement for Morelos and potentially astute addition.

Reporter Josh Bunting, writing on Twitter after the Gers confirmed his capture, is completely aware of Lammers’ ability and believes the club have pulled off a major coup.

The journalist detailed exactly what supporters can expect from Lammers, namely his technical ability, sweet left foot and in-game intelligence.

How many goals has Sam Lammers scored?

The 26-year-old, who stands a towering 6 foot 3, could have the physicality suited for Scottish football and some of his past numbers suggest he could do well under Beale.

Lammers spent the 2022/2023 campaign on loan at Sampdoria, where he bagged just one goal and an assist, but his previous spell at SC Heerenveen in 2019 indicates there is a real goalscorer waiting to be unearthed.

During the 18/19 season, Lammers bagged an impressive 16 goals and five assists on loan at Heerenveen in the Dutch top flight, which may have prompted Atalanta to later snap him up from PSV Eindhoven.

While his career arguably didn’t work out there, Lammers has been handed another chance to succeed at Rangers and showcase his true ability.

Heerenveen boss Kees van Wonderen has also praised the attacker.

“What you get from him as a player is first and foremost a superb work ethic. He’s a left-footed striker and is good technically,” said van Wonderen.

“He’s a player who has an eye on the tactical aspects of the game, he appreciates how the game is played, where the spaces are and how to deal with circumstances on the pitch.”

Liverpool are considering a summer swoop to bring Torino defender Perr Schuurs to the Premier League, according to reports.

Who is Perr Schuurs?

Schuurs is a centre-back who currently plays his football for Ivan Juric’s side having joined from Ajax last summer, and he’s been a regular feature during his debut season, clocking up a total of 33 appearances to date.

The Dutchman still has another three years to run on his contract, but being the Serie A outfit’s top-performing defensive player, has caught the eye of Jurgen Klopp, and it’s not the first time he’s been talked about at Anfield.

The Reds reportedly wanted to sign the 23-year-old back in 2020 but never fully pursued a move, though with the boss believed to be entering the market for a new centre-back during the upcoming window, it appears that he’s ready to return and take a second bite of the cherry for his former target.

Are Liverpool signing Schuurs?

According to CaughtOffside, Liverpool have “added” Schuurs to their “list” of transfer options ahead of the 2023/24 campaign. The Merseyside outfit are “considering” an approach for the 6 foot 3 colossus who is also attracting interest from Juventus, and it’s stated that Torino would be “ready to start negotiations” for a fee between €20-25m (£17-21m) in order to sanction his sale.

Should FSG submit an offer for Schuurs?

Football Insider have reported that Liverpool are open to offers for Joel Matip and Nat Phillips this summer so backline reinforcements will be needed should one or both of the duo depart, and having been dubbed a “mountain” by journalist Josh Bunting, Schuurs could be a perfect acquisition.

The Nike-sponsored titan averaged 3.2 clearances and two aerial wins per league game last season, via WhoScored, not to mention that he made 51 tackles which was the second-highest number in his squad, highlighting how much of a rock he can be (FBRef).

The Nieuwstadt native, who has the versatility to operate slightly higher up in defensive midfield, can also get involved at the opposite end of the pitch having posted three goal contributions (two assists and one goal) in 33 outings for Torino.

Finally, Schuurs already knows what it takes to compete for silverware and be successful at the highest level having secured six trophies throughout his career, so he would be able to match and even add to the winning mentality of the current squad already at Anfield.

Celtic secured the domestic treble on Saturday with a 3-1 win over Inverness at Hampden in the Scottish FA Cup final but their joy has been short-lived as manager Ange Postecoglou is now on the verge of leaving the club.

The Athletic's David Ornstein has reported that the Australian coach is set to finalise a move to Tottenham Hotspur in the coming days.

This means that the Scottish giants are set to be in the market for a new boss to replace the 57-year-old, who is seemingly set to depart after winning five trophies in two seasons at the helm.

Who could replace Ange Postecoglou?

Celtic's head of recruitment Mark Lawwell could pull off a potential masterclass by using his contacts to replace Postecoglou with Manchester City assistant coach Enzo Maresca.

Last month, Football Insider reported that the Hoops were keeping tabs on the Spaniard with a view to him being on their shortlist of possible targets for the job, should it become available.

It appears as though the role is now about to be vacant, if the current boss' move to Spurs goes ahead as reported, and Maresca, who journalist Dean Jones claimed would be an "interesting" option, could come in and take it.

Lawwell worked at The Etihad prior to arriving at Parkhead last year and he could use his connections with the Premier League giants to strike a deal for the 43-year-old coach, who is said to be 'well-regarded'.

He does not have a wealth of experience as a manager but did showcase his potential whilst in charge of Manchester City's U23 side.

The tactician won 17 of his 24 matches at the helm of the academy side and won 2.33 points per game on average, which shows that he does know what it takes to make a winning side, albeit that has only been proven at youth level.

Maresca has worked as an assistant at Sevilla with Vincenzo Montella, West Ham with Manuel Pellegrini, and has been Pep Guardiola's assistant for 60 matches – winning the Premier League and the FA Cup so far.

It would be a gamble for Celtic to sign the Spanish coach due to not having a proven track record as a manager but appointing him at this point in his career could be a masterclass as they could bring him in before he becomes hot property.

Mikel Arteta had never managed a senior match prior to leaving Guardiola as his assistant to join Arsenal as their boss and has since led them to an FA Cup trophy and, this season, a second-place finish in the Premier League.

Therefore, Celtic could take a lead out of the Gunners' book to make Maresca their head coach before he moves elsewhere and forges a reputation that could put him beyond the club's reach in the future.

This is why this swoop could be a stroke of genius by Lawwell and one that could be an exciting step for the Hoops after Postecoglou's reported departure.

Blackburn Rovers are interested in signing Queens Park Rangers striker Lyndon Dykes, according to recent reports.

What's the latest Blackburn Rovers transfer news?

With the likes of Ben Brereton Diaz, Bradley Dack and Daniel Ayala all leaving Ewood Park in the coming weeks, it's set to be a busy summer for Rovers as they look to replace them.

After missing out on the playoffs by goal difference, Jon Dahl Tomasson's side has moved quickly, signing Plymouth Argyle striker Niall Ennis last month.

A lack of depth up front has been a cause for concern for the Lancashire outfit all year, with the departing Brereton Diaz (16) the only player to score in double figures for the side this season.

Rovers aren't finished there, though, and according to the Daily Mail, they are among a number of teams interested in QPR striker, Dykes.

The Lancashire Telegraph reports that the club will need to sell players to generate any finances for a transfer, though, with full-back Tayo Edun being linked with a move away from Ewood, with both Charlton Athletic and Cardiff City interested.

Will Lyndon Dykes join Blackburn Rovers?

With eight league goals this season in a struggling QPR side, the 27-year-old would add some firepower to a Rovers team that's been severely lacking it this year.

No Rovers player outside of Brereton Diaz scored more league goals than the Scottish international during the Championship's latest campaign and adding him will help alleviate any pressure on Sam Gallagher's goal-scoring output.

The 27-year-old talisman, once hailed "dangerous" by former Rangers boss Steven Gerrard shortly before his team faced Dykes and Livingston in 2020, excels as a big target man, winning 4.8 aerial duels a game according to WhoScored, almost two more than Rovers' current number nine, Sam Gallagher who wins three per game.

While Tomasson has prioritised a possession-based style of football, playing out from the back, his side has also shown a tendency to pick out a long ball whenever they identify space behind the opposition back line, firing 66 long passes a game, and having a forward like Dykes on the receiving end would see the £8k-a-week man almost certainly reap the rewards.

Rovers certainly aren't the only team interested in the Scottish international, though, with fellow championship outfit Stoke City and newly-promoted Burnley both also targeting Dykes, so the club have got their work cut out for them if they're going to lure the QPR man to Ewood Park.