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Liverpool are interested in taking advantage of Southampton's Premier League relegation and signing Romeo Lavia this summer, with the prodigious midfielder enjoying a stellar season despite his club's turmoil.

What's the latest on Romeo Lavia to Liverpool?

Speaking to The Redmen TV, Belgian journalist Sacha Tavolieri stated that the 19-year-old midfielder is currently 'closest' to a move to Liverpool this season following the confirmation of Southampton's relegation from the top-flight after an 11-year stay.

The reporter claimed that his compatriot's departure from St. Mary's Stadium is all but confirmed, with the Reds alongside rivals Chelsea and Manchester United in pursuing Lavia's signature.

As per Fabrizio Romano, Manchester City inserted a £40m buyback clause into the starlet's contract when he arrived at the south coast for £14m last summer, and with that option triggering next summer, it makes sense for Klopp to swoop now.

Why should Liverpool sign Romeo Lavia?

With Lavia scarcely having unpacked his bags in Southampton last year, free-spending Chelsea attempted an audacious £50m swoop on deadline day, swiftly and justifiably rejected by Sport Republic.

Described as "exquisite" for his feats by The Athletic's Jacob Tanswell, Lavia has made 33 appearances this term and scored one goal and assist apiece, emerging as a diamond among the rubble as his side tepidly plummet into the second tier.

As per Sofascore, the ace has recorded an average divisional rating of 6.83 this term – captain James Ward-Prowse is the only midfielder with a higher rating – and has completed 83% of his passes, forged 2.0 tackles and 1.1 interceptions per match, also succeeding with 60% of his dribbles and 57% of his ground duels.

He is blossoming into one of the finest midfielders in Europe at a rate that belies his tender age and inexperience.

He is the equilibrium to Southampton's centre, and while his departure feels inevitable, he will be sorely missed in Hampshire, with FBref also illustrating his prowess by ranking him among the top 9% of positional peers across Europe's top five leagues for rate of blocks per 90.

The "monster", as heralded by journalist Benjy Nurick, would be an incredible signing for a Liverpool midfield yearning for a composed presence to reinstate the robustness, and should Klopp prevail in his pursuit, the masterstroke that was the £75m acquisition of Virgil van Dijk might just be repeated.

While the Dutch defender had caught the eye with his imperious displays for Saints, the lofty fee left an eyebrow or two arched as Liverpool completed the deal, but his impact at Anfield has been sensational, and his presence has been instrumental in the inception of the illustrious success under Klopp's wing.

But having now gleaned the Premier League and Champions League among a wealth of major honours, the 6 foot 5 mountain's stunning effect is illustrated with brilliant colour.

Like Van Dijk, Lavia would have the opportunity to be moulded to Klopp's own clay with a transfer to Merseyside, and with years of ostensible success ahead of him, joining the fold at Liverpool could well ensure that future is laden with glinting silver.

Manchester United boss Erik Ten Hag would consider letting go of Jadon Sancho this summer if a suitable offer was to arise for his services, according to journalist Ryan Taylor.

What's the latest news involving Jadon Sancho?

As per Lord Ping via METRO, former Manchester United icon Dwight Yorke has tipped Sancho alongside Anthony Martial to seek a new challenge following a frustrating time of things at Old Trafford.

Yorke made his feelings clear, stating: "When you go on loan and come back, you don’t come back the same, not at that age. Sancho has found it very difficult to live up to the standards he was set, the British media built him up to be a way better player than he is. Sancho is lacking pace and belief in his ability, he needs to be a bit more direct. There was a big investment and Manchester United needed big performances from both of those players, but if you can’t perform then you need to try your luck somewhere else."

BILD via The Daily Express report that Sancho's former club Borussia Dortmund's sporting director Sebastian Kehl has been in contact with the winger and his agency over a potential return to Signal Iduna Park.

Last month, The Guardian claimed that Sancho was on a list of 15 Manchester United players that could be part of a summer clearout, with boss Ten Hag looking to shape his squad ahead of 2023/24.

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, journalist Taylor has speculated that the Dutchman may be open to letting Sancho depart in the off-season.

Taylor said: "I know they have Rashford who can play out wide, Garnacho and Antony as well. You do question whether anyone would make an offer for Sancho. Personally, I think it would be one that would maybe be considered if it were to arrive because Sancho just hasn't lived up to expectations and it's clear ten Hag is struggling to get the best from him.

"I still think he's a great player and he needs a little bit more time to have a full pre-season under his belt but at the moment he's not showing signs of what we know he's capable of. If you look at the England setup, he seems to be so far away from that now when you know he was a mainstay for about an 18-month period."

How has Jadon Sancho faired this season?

Despite his disappointing performances on the field, he took it upon himself to dish out some words to teammate Bruno Fernandes as he told him to "stop moaning" as Manchester United beat Aston Villa 1-0.

Sancho, who has previously been hailed as a "baller", has endured an inconsistent campaign in 2022/23 and has registered six goals and two assists from 38 appearances in all competitions for Manchester United, as per Transfermarkt.

WhoScored notes that the £350k-a-week earner has made an average of 1.5 key passes per match in the Premier League this term, showing that he can enact game-changing moments when given the platform to do so at Old Trafford.

FBRef notes that the former Borussia Dortmund star has taken on a role as a chance provider this campaign, as he has successfully carried out 103 shot-creating actions.

Undoubtedly, Sancho has the talent to become a key player at Manchester United, though he will want to try and up his numbers in 2023/24 to paint a more accurate picture of his true abilities.

Liverpool's appointment of Jorg Schmadtke as their new sporting director is now thought to be "imminent", according to a fresh update.

What's the sporting director situation at Liverpool?

It has been a tough season for the Reds, with Premier League title aspirations existing back in August, but a fifth-place finish eventually coming their way after a string of poor results. It is a campaign that has seen a number of players struggle, including the likes of Fabinho and Jordan Henderson, but there have also been issues off the field.

The influential Michael Edwards left his role as sporting director last year, having been the mastermind behind the signings of Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane, among many others, and he was replaced in the role by Julian Ward. It was then announced late last year that he would step down at the end of this season, potentially suggesting that all is not running as smoothly as it once did at Anfield.

The search has been on to find Ward's successor and Schmadtke has emerged as a front-runner in recent weeks, having most recently been sporting director at Wolfsburg. Now, a significant update has emerged – one that suggests his appointment is now a matter if when, rather than if.

Is Schmadtke set to become Reds' sporting director?

According to Sky Sports Germany [via Sport Witness], "nothing can go wrong" with regards to Schmadtke heading to Liverpool, with an announcement now believed to be "imminent". The Reds want him in charge as soon as possible, in order to bring stability to the club before the summer transfer window opens.

It is stated that he will work closely with Klopp on potential signings, with his main area of focus being the Bundesliga, given his experience in that league.

Nailing the right replacement for Ward is absolutely essential for Liverpool this summer, with the role of sporting director such an important one in football these days, not least their eye for new signings and the relationship they have with the manager.

While Schmadtke is reportedly a controversial character at times, with a penchant for falling out with people, Klopp has picked him out for a reason and he is to be trusted with such decisions, as something of a new era begins at Anfield, following the departure of the likes of Roberto Firmino, James Milner, Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain at the end of the season.

Real Madrid have put Tottenham Hotspur’s Harry Kane atop their list of potential Karim Benzema replacements.

With just a year left on his current deal, Harry Kane has attracted the attention of Europe’s biggest clubs, but it is perhaps Europe’s biggest that will end up taking him away from north London.

What’s the latest on Harry Kane?

According to Spanish Football expert Guillem Balague, Real Madrid have made Kane their new priority to replace the departing Karim Benzema.

The news comes on the back of the recent announcement that the club’s all-time leading goalscorer has left the club for a lucrative deal in the Saudi Pro League.

Before the Frenchman departed from the Spanish capital, the most likely destination for England’s record goalscorer looked like it would be Erik ten Hag’s Manchester United.

However, the new vacancy in Real’s attack has turned everything on its head.

The prospect of playing under Carlo Ancelotti and for a team that has made winning the Champions League a habit might prove too much to turn down for Kane.

What are the stumbling blocks?

The most significant barrier to this deal being completed is undoubtedly the hefty price tag that Daniel Levy has placed on his star man reported to be a minimum of £100m.

This is in spite of the fact that the 6ft striker only has a year left on his deal, and according to Balague, this figure is something ‘Real would be reluctant to pay.’

Then there is the much-publicised desire from the player himself to break Alan Shearer’s Premier League goal record of 260 goals, only 47 more than Kane’s current tally.

Would Harry Kane improve Real Madrid?

The Walthamstow-born forward has been an integral part of every Spurs side he has played in and quickly established himself as one of the first names on an England team sheet.

He certainly has the approval of Pep Guardiola, who only this year described him as ‘one of the best strikers I have ever seen in my life.’

With praise like that, it shouldn’t be surprising to find out that according to WhoScored, Kane has averaged a rating of 7.51 throughout his 38 games in the Premier League this season.

Those 38 games have seen him rack up 33 goal involvements in a dysfunctional Spurs side.

In contrast, Benzema, the man he would be replacing in the Spanish capital, could only reach 22 goal involvements in LaLiga this term.

The underlying numbers are there as well. According to FBref, the Spurs man ranks in the top 10% for shot-creating actions, the top 4% for progressive passes and the top 14% for non-penalty goals per 90.

If Florentino Perez and Daniel Levy can figure out a way to make this deal work, Harry Kane could well end his career with a whole host of trophies in Madrid.

Glasgow Rangers manager Michael Beale is already hard at work in an attempt to improve his playing squad ahead of the 2023/24 campaign.

Sporting director Ross Wilson departed to join Premier League side Nottingham Forest but this has not stopped the English head coach from going full steam ahead this summer.

Kieran Dowell and Dujon Sterling have both been announced as new signings and the pair will join on free transfers from Norwich and Chelsea respectively at the start of next month.

Following the departure of Alfredo Morelos at the end of May, as his contract with the Ibrox giants expired, Rangers are now in the market for a centre-forward and have been linked with a £3.5m swoop for Troyes ace Ike Ugbo.

What is Ike Ugbo's style of play?

Ugbo is a powerful no.9 who is able to compete with opposition defenders and cause constant problems for them, whilst also being able to offer a threat in front of goal.

Journalist Alexandre Gangué-Ruzic claimed that the marksman's hold-up play is "underrated" and that his ability in transition can "unlock space" if utilised correctly, which speaks to the dynamo's strength on the ball and intelligence to find his teammates in counter-attacking situations.

The 24-year-old Canadian striker, who worked with Beale at Chelsea, could form an exciting partnership in the final third with new Gers attacking midfielder Kieran Dowell and the Light Blues boss must seal a swoop for his former player.

Ugbo has struggled since his move to Ligue 1 – with just seven goals in 40 appearances for Troyes – but has the potential to be a prolific scorer based on his time in Belgium and in Chelsea's academy.

The Ligue 2-bound marksman plundered 25 goals in 49 matches for the Blues at U18 and U21 level combined and was able to translate that form to senior football with 16 strikes in 32 outings for Cercle Brugge in the Pro League in 20/21.

These statistics indicate that Beale could unearth a prolific scorer in Ugbo, in spite of his struggles in France, and pairing him with Dowell in attack could allow the ace to thrive.

In the Championship, the Englishman delivered 23 key passes and created six 'big chances' for his teammates in 14 starts for the Canaries.

The 25-year-old made 24 key passes and created five 'big chances' in 12 starts for Norwich in the second tier of English football in the 2020/21 campaign, which shows that the magician is capable of opening up opposition defences on a regular basis.

Ugbo could use his hold-up play to find Dowell, and the likes of Todd Cantwell and Fashion Sakala, in good positions in the final third and then make his way into the box to get on the end of their deliveries into the box.

The ex-Yellows star has proven his ability to create excellent chances week-in-week-out and his creativity could provide the Canadian international with the services he needs to get back to his Pro League and academy form.

Manchester United enjoyed a successful 2022/23 campaign and achieved their goal of securing Champions League football under Erik Ten Hag, which will make them an appealing destination for prospective transfer targets this summer.

The Dutchman also led his side to Carabao Cup glory against Newcastle United alongside an FA Cup final, where the Red Devils were edged out by Manchester City.

Now, the focus for Manchester United will be trying to bring in high-profile stars and Chelsea midfielder Mason Mount is said to have agreed terms over a move to Old Trafford.

One other target who has been linked with a move to the Premier League giants is Atalanta forward Rasmus Hojlund, who could form a deadly duo with Manchester United starlet Alejandro Garnacho in attack next season.

What's the latest news on Rasmus Hojlund and what could he bring to Old Trafford?

According to talkSPORT, Manchester United are planning to accelerate their pursuit of Hojlund this summer as Ten Hag looks to sign two forward players in the off-season.

The report states that he may cost around £40 million and he has earned comparisons to Manchester City star Erling Haaland due to his goalscoring exploits and ability in the air.

Speaking to Football FanCast, journalist Dean Jones has stated his belief that Hojlund and Garnacho could gel to great effect at Manchester United, saying: "If United sign him, they've got the chance to fully reveal his capabilities under Ten Hag and unleash a frontline that is fit for a bright future. If you've got Garnacho on one wing and you've got Hojlund coming into the middle, you're starting to make a dream partnership here for the future."

Atalanta manager heaped praise on Hojlund earlier this year and compared him to Haaland, as per The Sun, claiming: "The characteristics are very similar, especially in accelerations. He is a very fast player, he does the 100 metres in less than 11 seconds. For his height, he has a low centre of gravity and an incredible stride frequency. I'm convinced he will have a great career. Technically, he always shows different and better things."

It is easy to see why Hojlund, who has been hailed as "better than Vlahovic", has heralded such acclaim in recent times, given that he registered 16 goals and seven assists combined in 2022/23 with Atalanta and former club Sturm Graz, as per Transfermarkt.

WhoScored notes that he has also handled his step up to Serie A football rather well and averaged around 1.7 shots per match this term, demonstrating his ability to be a constant goal threat, something that he could continue to develop under the stewardship of Ten Hag at Manchester United.

FBRef shows that he ranks in the first percentile compared to his positional peers across Europe's top five divisions in the art of progressive passes received, recording an impressive figure of 11 per 90 minutes.

Now, imagine the £9k per week star, was to join Manchester United and play alongside rising star Garnacho, who recorded ten goal contributions in total encompassing all competitions in 2022/23; five goals and five assists, as per Transfermarkt.

Unsurprisingly, Garnacho has earned praise from some high places, including Manchester United icon Paul Scholes, who complemented his capabilities as an attacking force back in January, as cited by The Manchester Evening News, stating: “But this lad [Garnacho] is direct, he doesn’t care, there’s no fear in a young player. He wants to score goals and he wants to make goals and he’s more than capable of doing it.”

Both players are seen as promising talents for the future and Manchester United boss Ten Hag could unearth a dynamic pairing in attack for future years by signing Hojlund this summer.

Viktor Gyokeres is fast becoming embroiled in one of the transfer sagas of the summer.

The Coventry City striker scored 21 goals in 49 league appearances last season as the Sky Blues marginally missed out on promotion to the Premier League.

Having been linked with a number of top-flight teams since last month's play-off final loss to Luton Town, Gyokeres has supposedly told Coventry that he wants to move on this summer.

However, Burnley appear unlikely to win the race for his signature, with the Clarets' interest said to be elsewhere at this moment in time as they seek a new striker.

But that is not necessarily a bad thing for Vincent Kompany's men. After all, there is a player potentially on the market who Kompany will know well, and can be signed with far less stress than it will take to get the Gyokeres agreement over the line.

Who is Genk attacker Mike Tresor Ndayishimiye?

Relatively unknown outside of Belgium, Ndayishimiye's stock rose last season when being crowned the best player in the Belgian Jupiler Pro League.

The 24-year-old enjoyed a superb campaign for Genk, in which he assisted a staggering 24 goals and scored eight of his own in 39 league appearances. With figures like that – in Belgium or not – the versatile attacking midfielder is as creative as they come.

It's also hardly a surprise, therefore, that he has attracted the interest of those in England, with the player himself recently revealing his delight that Kompany "appreciates" his qualities.

Used predominantly on the left of midfield, Ndayishimiye averaged 0.66 assists per 90 minutes last season, as per FBref. To give that some context, no player to have featured more than five times in the Championship managed a figure higher than 0.50 last season.

For those quick to dismiss the Belgian top flight, Global Football Rankings rates Genk near enough on a par with Burnley in terms of accumulative player quality.

As a wide player, Ndayishimiye has been known to 'torment' defenders, as Breaking the Lines reporter Tom Quartly put it, and that was also the case at former club Willem II.

Indeed, including his final season in Eredivisie and two seasons in Belgium, the Antwerp-born attacker has averaged 0.41 0.54 and 0.66 assists per 90 minutes across the past three years.

Sustaining those numbers in the Premier League will be tough, but Burnley certainly have players – even without Gyokeres – who can feed off the type of service Ndayishimiye can provide from out wide.

Top scorer Nathan Tella, for example, scored 17 goals last season from an expected goals (xG) value of 10.3. It remains to be seen if Tella will stay on at Turf Moor, but whoever leads the line for the Clarets will reap the rewards.

Having already turned to his native Belgium to bring in Josh Cullen, Vitinho, Manuel Benson, Anass Zaroury and Ameen Al-Dakhil, do not be surprised to see Kompany take a punt on a player potentially available for a bargain £4m this summer.

West Ham striker Gianluca Scamacca has already accepted a proposal to return to Italy, just a year after his £30m move to London.

How many goals has Scamacca scored?

Scamacca was an incredibly exciting prospect before making his move to West Ham last year. The Italian striker scored 16 goals in Serie A last year for Sassuolo, earning himself an expensive move to the Premier League.

The 24-year-old has struggled however since his move, failing to replicate his success with just three goals in 16 Premier League appearances last season. The forward performed to a higher level in West Ham's Conference League triumph, scoring three in seven.

Scamacca began life at the London Stadium in a promising way, scoring four in his first 13 games. This early season form prompted captain Declan Rice to laud the striker with praise.

“I can tell you now he’s going to be unbelievable,” Rice told talkSPORT. “He‘s going to be really, really special." West Ham's captain passionately exclaimed "he’s just on another level".

The Italian has made 11 national team appearances so far, with zero goals there to his name, showing the forward could struggle to perform under major pressure.

Due to his poor season, Scamacca now appears set on a return to Serie A, as reported by Gazzetta dello Sport, via Sport Witness. The report adds that AS Roma are the club most interested in the forward, due to Tammy Abraham being injured for the foreseeable future.

Scamacca is also reportedly extremely keen on the move with it being stated that he ‘has already accepted the proposal to return’ to his home country.

It is believed the Hammers aren't interested in a loan move and would prefer a clean break, but if no sale transpires a loan could indeed happen. It is believed a positve season on-loan could benefit West Ham too.

Will West Ham replace Scamacca?

West Ham would likely need to replace Scamacca if they lose him. His departure would leave them short up front with just an ageing Michail Antonio and injury prone Danny Ings in the ranks.

According to The Daily Mail, West Ham have identified Coventry City's Viktor Gyokeres as their primary striking target.

The Swedish striker is valued at £25m, and it is thought there are at least four Premier League sides in the hunt. The 25-year-old scored 21 Championship goals last season while also contributing ten assists as he fired Coventry to the play-off final.

Gyokeres is an incredibly exciting talent and could be a huge upgrade for West Ham on the current options available to David Moyes.

Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino has numerous issues to deal with as his first day on the job approaches this weekend, the future of striker Romelu Lukaku being one of them.

While that decision may well be above his paygrade, with Todd Boehly very much taking a hands-on approach since becoming chairman last year, Pochettino will no doubt have a say in whether Lukaku has a part to play following his return from a loan spell with Inter Milan.

What is the latest with Romelu Lukaku's Chelsea future?

The Telegraph reports that further talks between Lukaku and Chelsea are planned for this week, and that it is in everyone's interest to find a solution sooner rather than later.

It is suggested that it is unlikely Lukaku will play any part in Chelsea's tour of the United States next month, but finding a club willing to sign him permanently – the Belgian is said to have ruled out the option of joining a Saudi club – is proving difficult.

However, a solution may soon be found as Juventus have supposedly shown an interest in signing Lukaku to replace Dusan Vlahovic, who could in turn head in the opposite direction to Stamford Bridge.

The Belgian's second stint in the capital has been nothing short of a nightmare, with an angry public interview in 2021 seeing him subsequently loaned out ever since.

Could Chelsea swap Romelu Lukaku for Dusan Vlahovic?

The intricacies of any deal are unclear at this stage, such as one club handing over a fee in part exchange, but the transfer could well make sense for both clubs.

Given his value of £52m by Football Observatory, it is likely to be Chelsea reaching for their chequebook rather than Juve.

On the face of it, there is very little between the two players when it comes to how they performed in Serie A last season. Vlahovic scored ten goals in 27 games for Juve, while Lukaku netted the same number across 25 outings for Inter.

Vlahovic's goals came from fewer shots, scoring at a rate of 0.16 goals per shot, as per FBref, compared to 0.12 for Lukaku. Those similarities continue in terms of passes completed (71.6% and 68.6% respectively) and also aerial duels won (36 v 39).

What Vlahovic provides that Lukaku does not, however, is some added balance in the final third. For example, the Serbia international won 0.28 tackles per 90 minutes last season, which is an increase on Lukaku's 0.05. That is the same case in terms of blocks: 0.47 compared to 0.16.

Once described as a "monster" by Italian football expert Carlo Garganese, there is no denying that Vlahovic's goalscoring figures have steadily declined, from 0.82 per game at Fiorentina in the first half of the 2021-22 season, to 0.59 after joining Juve later that campaign and finally to 0.47 last term.

But in a team stacked full of attacking gems, such as Mykhailo Mudryk and new signing Christopher Nkunku to name just a couple of players, it may well be that a move to Stamford Bridge unlocks the potential Vlahovic has only been able to show glimmers of in Turin.

Newcastle United are interested in signing Feyenoord centre-back David Hancko this summer as manager Eddie Howe looks to bolster his squad after an immense season in the Premier League.

What's the latest on David Hancko to Newcastle?

That's according to French publication Foot Mercato, who claim that the Magpies have 'inquired' over the Slovakian's availability following Feyenoord's triumphant Eredivisie campaign, winning the league for the first time since 2017.

It's said that Newcastle technical director Dan Ashworth has taken information on the matter and will assess the club's options before deciding whether to lodge a formal offer.

The Dutch champions signed the 25-year-old for just one year ago, but the player's expected transfer value currently sits at just £7m.

Who is David Hancko?

It is no coincidence that Hancko's arrival at De club aan de Maas coincided with their return to silver-laden prominence, and after making 50 appearances across all competitions, scoring four goals and supplying five assists, the 27-cap international has certainly been the centrepiece of a "successful" season – as he has been described by analyst Kabat Marek.

Ranking among the top 1% of centre-backs across Men's Next 8 divisions – below the top European five – for assists, shot-creating actions and progressive passes, the top 2% for progressive carries and the top 3% for tackles per 90, as per FBref, Hancko could well be Newcastle's immediate answer to Jurrien Timber, who looks poised to join Arsenal.

According to Sky Sports' Florian Plettenberg, the Gunners are "on the verge" of completing a deal for Ajax's star centre-back, who has been hailed as "special" by talent scout Antonio Mango and could emerge as one of English football's new standout stars.

Timber is listed as a comparable player to Hancko on FBref and it's easy to discern why. The Dutchman ranks among the top 1% of positional peers for pass completion, progressive passes and progressive carries, the top 6% for successful take-ons, the top 3% for shot-creating actions and the top 16% for assists per 90.

Signing the £15k-per-week Hancko is surely a brilliant move for Howe to make as he looks to consolidate the Magpies' position as a new European force, matching Arsenal in their new defensive addition and ensuring that territory is not ceded – indeed, next year the onus will be on leapfrogging the north London giants and edging closer towards a title challenge.

Hancko is a top "talent" – as he has been called by Foot Mercato journalist Santi Aouna – and given that the dynamic defender can also play on the left side of the defence, he would surely be a brilliant signing to aid Newcastle in their continuing ascension.