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Crystal Palace have made contact to enquire about a summer deal to sign Newcastle United forward Allan Saint-Maximin, according to reports.

Is Allan Saint-Maximin leaving Newcastle?

Since joining from Nice back in August 2019, the left-winger has been a regular feature of Eddie Howe’s first-team clocking up 124 appearances to date, but ever since last season, he’s started to drop significantly lower down in the manager’s pecking order.

The Frenchman was limited to just 12 starts in the Premier League, being forced to come off the bench on 13 occasions following the arrival of Anthony Gordon in January and shift of Alexander Isak into the left-wing role, so despite his contract not expiring for another three years, there’s a chance that he could be on the move.

Back in April, TEAMtalk reported that Magpies chiefs don’t believe that the 26-year-old is deserving of being offered fresh terms which was then further backed up by talkSPORT, who claim that the hierarchy are ready to cash in on him to keep on the right side of Financial Fair Play rules, and it seems that his situation has alerted Roy Hodgson at Selhurst Park.

The Eagles have so far only brought in Jefferson Lerma on a free transfer from Bournemouth so are yet to splash the cash on any fresh faces, but that could all be about to change because the boss has earmarked the black and white stripes attacker as a potential transfer target.

Are Crystal Palace signing Allan Saint-Maximin?

According to 90min, Crystal Palace have "checked on" Saint Maximin's situation alongside Everton ahead of the 2023/24 campaign. Overseas, AC Milan and Marseille have also "shown an interest", whilst Saudio Pro League clubs Al Nassr, Al Hilal, Al Ittihad and Al Ahli are additionally considering a summer swoop.

Newcastle's forward is "considering his options" after learning that he won't be tabled a new contract and it's believed that he would bring in a "big sale" should he depart.

How many goals has Allan Saint-Maximin scored?

For Newcastle in the Premier League last season, Saint-Maximin posted six goal contributions (five assists and one goal) in 25 outings, which shows that whilst he wasn’t given a fair amount of game time, he’s more than capable of producing the goods when handed the chance, so the left winger would be an exciting signing should he put pen to paper at Crystal Palace.

The Magpies’ £70k-per-week earner ranked in the 99th percentile for successful take-ons during the previous campaign and was averaging 5.22 shot-creating actions per top-flight game, which was the second-highest total throughout his squad, via FBRef, so he loves to use his quick feet, strength and pace to take on his marker and produce chances.

The Puma-sponsored ace would also provide Hodgson with plenty of versatility having operated in seven different positions around the pitch since the start of his career, including everywhere across the frontline and even three roles in the midfield, so he’d be a great option for the boss to have at his disposal.

Wilfried Zaha has now become a free agent upon the expiration of his contract, and whilst he’s been offered a new four-year deal to remain in SE25, Saint-Maximin could be the perfect successor should he start a new adventure elsewhere having been dubbed “unstoppable” by talent scout Jacek Kulig.

Tottenham Hotspur will make an offer for Bayer Leverkusen defender Edmond Tapsoba and he wants the move, according to reports out of Germany.

Who will Spurs sign?

New Spurs manager Ange Postecoglou and chairman Daniel Levy have been hard at work behind-the-scenes, as they attempt to prepare for next season.

The Lilywhites' start to this summer transfer window has been a solid one with Spurs supporters seeing goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario, playmaker James Maddison and winger Manor Solomon join the club over these last few weeks.

Dejan Kulusevski, after 18 months on loan from Juventus, has also joined former Sporting Lisbon defender Pedro Porro in making his move to north London permanent.

Spurs have now shored up a variety of positions in their squad, both defensively and further forward, but it is believed they're attempting to add two new centre-backs to their roster as well.

Tottenham conceded a woeful 63 league goals last season, more than any other English side above 15th last season, and those numbers highlight a glaring weakness that Postecoglou must resolve.

They're apparently moving to fix this achilles heel, with advanced talks held for Wolfsburg's Micky van de Ven as a deal closes in (Fabrizio Romano).

However, the Netherlands international is just one defender Tottenham have their eyes on, with Galatasary star Victor Nelsson, Fulham's Tosin Adarabioyo, Barcelona's Clement Lenglet and Tapsoba all being targeted too.

The latter defender has been repeatedly linked with a move to N17 recently, alongside van de Ven, with a report from Europe sharing an update on their pursuit.

According to the paper edition of German news outlet Sport Bild, as shared by Sport Witness, Spurs will make an offer for Tapsoba – amounting to around £34 million.

Leverkusen, who are keen to keep their star defender, hope that bid won't come but Tottenham are apparently ready to make that bid.

Tapsoba is said to be eager on making the move to England, and while Leverkusen sporting director Simon Rolfes doesn't want to let the African go, he may well be forced to do so given the amount of money Tottenham could put forward.

How good is Edmond Tapsoba?

The Burkina Faso international isn't just impressive at club level, with members of the media even calling him "fundamental" for his country in recent seasons.

"Edmond Tapsoba is the de facto organiser for Burkina Faso," said journalist Bruno Alemany last year.

"He is the one who imposes the rhythm of his team and the one who puts it to play in the rival field. Personality and displacement top. Fundamental."

Meanwhile, the Bundesliga's official website have even likened Tapsoba to former Bayern Munich star Jerome Boateng for his composure and acute passing.

The site wrote:

"The legendary Bayern Munich defender, who made 364 appearances across 11 seasons for the Bavarian giants, was as cool and calm as it gets both on the ball and in the tackle while he was also famed for his pinpoint long passing that set up many an attack for the record champions. Tapsoba has similar traits and such is his eagerness to start forward thrusts, he has often been referred to as a defensive playmaker."

Leicester City ramped up their preparations for the new Championship campaign this week with the signing of Callum Doyle on loan from Manchester City, but new head coach Enzo Maresca appears to be on the lookout for even more recruits.

Who are Leicester City signing?

The Foxes have so far brought in Doyle, Conor Coady and Harry Winks since being relegated from the Premier League in May, just seven years on from winning the competition.

Coady and Winks arrived from Wolverhampton Wanderers and Tottenham Hotspur respectively for a combined fee of £17.5m, helping to offset the departures of James Maddison, Youri Tielemans and Caglar Soyuncu among others.

The Foxes have been tipped to bring in another centre-back to potentially partner Coady, and TEAMtalk suggests Leicester are one of seven teams keeping tabs on Middlesbrough's Paddy McNair.

Middlesbrough are supposedly open to offers for the Northern Ireland international, who is on wages of around £20,000 a week at the Riverside Stadium, according to Capology.

What position does Paddy McNair play in?

McNair has shown his versatility across the past six seasons in the Championship with Sunderland and for his current side, the past five of those with the latter, having played at centre-back in central midfield and at full-back.

Indeed, as per WhoScored, McNair was used 28 times in the heart of defence last season, twice on the right and seven times in central midfield, making him a very versatile option for Maresca should he arrive.

As Boro boss Michael Carrick pointed out last season when praising McNair's "terrific" displays, it is at centre-back he prefers playing.

The 28-year-old can be trusted to do a job wherever he is fielded, with veteran Neil Warnock hailing him as the best player he has managed, while predicting he would be playing "at the very top" again one day.

It has not quite worked out that way just yet, but McNair is still clearly a man in demand, with promoted Premier League trio Luton Town, Sheffield United and Burnley also said to be interested.

McNair is particularly strong when it comes to his ability to move the ball forward from the back. As per FBref, he ranks in the top 4% of centre-backs for progressive carries (1.69 per 90) across the eight divisions most alike the Championship, and he is among the top 2% for progressive passes received.

Where the former Manchester United player let himself down last season was in terms of clearances per 90 (2.61) and interceptions per 90 (0.80), placing him among the bottom 4% and bottom 7% of centre-backs respectively.

Looking at Coady's figures from last season on loan at Everton, he averaged 3.78 clearances per 90 in the Premier League – only four team-mates could better that – and 0.60 interceptions.

Should they be paired together, it is likely that McNair will be the one tasked with taking the ball forward in a flexible formation – Pep Guardiola protege, Maresca is in charge, after all – while Coady will be more of a pure defender.

Either way, it will be one of the more experienced centre-back partnerships in the Championship should Leicester pull off the deal, and one with plenty of promise.

Daniel Farke's Leeds United kick off their Championship campaign with a clash against Cardiff City at Elland Road in less than two weeks.

Who have Leeds signed so far this summer?

Versatile ace Ethan Ampadu is the only official addition to the German head coach's squad to date after he joined on a permanent deal from Premier League outfit Chelsea.

However, Rangers midfielder Glen Kamara is reportedly closing in on a £5m move to west Yorkshire and Newcastle United goalkeeper Karl Darlow could also arrive as a third signing ahead of the opening match against the Welsh team.

That may not be the end of their business, though, as they have recently been linked with interest in Coventry star Gustavo Hamer, who is a player with the potential to be Farke's next version of current Aston Villa magician Emiliano Buendia.

How many goals did Gustavo Hamer score last season?

The 26-year-old wizard scored 11 goals in 44 Championship appearances for the team that lost in the play-off final to Luton Town at Wembley.

Hamer, who was once lauded as "unbelievable" by former teammate Marko Marosi, proved himself to be capable of making a huge impact at the top end of the pitch from a midfield position with both his ability to score and create goals at that level.

The 5 foot 7 maestro racked up ten assists to go along with his strikes and created 16 'big chances' for his teammates in total, which shows that the talented gem was able to offer a significant goal threat whilst also being able to open up the opposition's defence on a regular basis.

Hamer averaged a superb Sofascore rating of 7.35, which is 0.35 higher than any Leeds player produced in the top-flight last season, and would arrive at Elland Road as a proven Championship performer with time on his side to get even better.

He could, therefore, become Farke's next Buendia as the Argentine wizard, who stands at 5 foot 8, was a prominent figure in both of the manager's promotions to the Premier League during his time at Norwich City.

The 26-year-old sensation scored eight goals and assisted 12 in 35 matches throughout the 2018/19 campaign before he enjoyed a phenomenal 2020/21 season, which saw him plunder a staggering 15 goals and 16 assists from a wide midfield position.

Buendia was also a hard-working attacker who liked to win possession back for his team, with 3.5 tackles and interceptions per match during the second title win.

In the most recent term under Farke's management, the Argentina international created 18 'big chances' for his teammates and earned himself the Championship Player of the Season award for being the most impressive star within the division.

Hamer, who made 3.4 tackles and interceptions per game last season, is a player with similar qualities to Buendia, albeit in a more central position in midfield, as they are both combative – despite being small in stature – workhorses who also provide immense quality in possession as scorers and creators.

Farke and Leeds must now push to win the race for the Dutch phenomenon's signature as he could slot straight into the team as a proven Championship star over the coming weeks and months.

Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino is tasked with securing Champions League football this term, with the club finishing in the bottom half of the Premier League during 2022/23.

It won't be easy, however, given the vast clear-out which has been underway since the transfer window opened, along with his own shrewd business, the Argentinian could get them challenging for a top-four spot.

He urgently needs another striker or two and the Stamford Bridge outfit have been linked with a move for Elye Wahi this summer.

Could Chelsea sign Elye Wahi?

Fabrizio Romano claimed that the Blues were “advancing in talks” to sign the striker from Montpellier last week.

A recent update however has seen the French side reject a bid of £24m for the 20-year-old from Chelsea, but the forward – who has been valued at around €30m (£26m) – is still keen on making a move to London.

It is reported that if a deal is struck between the two clubs, Wahi could first spend a season on loan at Strasbourg before moving to the Premier League side from the 2024/25 campaign.

How good is Elye Wahi?

Following the appointment of Jose Mourinho in 2004, he earmarked Didier Drogba as his main target. The Ivorian was playing for Marseille at the time and the club shelled out £24m to lure him to London, turning out to be one of their finest-ever signings.

Drogba became something of a talisman for the Stamford Bridge side, scoring 164 goals across two spells at the club and immortalising himself by scoring the winning penalty as Chelsea beat Bayern Munich in the 2012 Champions League Final.

Wahi, like Drogba, would join Chelsea from the French top-flight, and he would also have something to prove following impressive performances in Ligue 1.

The youngster ranked first across the Montpellier squad for league goals last season (19) along with topping the pile for shots on target per game (1.2) and penalties won (two). He did showcase his ability to create opportunities for others too as he registered five assists and created seven big chances, indicating that he is more than just a penalty box operator waiting for chances to score.

Reporter Andrés Onrubia Ramos waxed lyrical about the prodigious talent in 2022, saying: “Montpellier: Elye Wahi (2003). If he manages to polish the definition, we are facing a striker who is going to exceed ten goals per season.

“A real beast in space that, in addition, associatively also leaves interesting things. It should definitely explode.”

Drogba was also a menace to defenders like Wahi, using his physical strength to win duels regularly and not only did he score goals, but he enjoyed the physical battle and creating opportunities for teammates, with ex-Crystal Palace man Wilfried Zaha notably saying of his talents:

"He was literally a beast. Defenders just couldn't handle him He'd hold someone off and – at the same time – turn and swerve and volley it in somehow. He was different class."

Wahi won three duels on average per game last term and the older he gets; the striker will also develop further physically, suggesting that the 5 foot 10 gem could be a hit in the Premier League.

It appears as though Pochettino has a long-term plan for the club and as long as he improves the team during 2023/24, Wahi could arrive and become a key focal point in the near future.

Tottenham Hotspur are "set to cut their losses" on Tanguy Ndombele and it looks like he's "heading to Galatasaray", according to journalist Darren Lewis.

Who will leave Spurs?

Barring the obvious one repeatedly linked with a Spurs exit, namely star striker Harry Kane, there are a fair few others who could depart with the Englishman.

The Lilywhites, after sealing three major signings in goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario, midfielder James Maddison and winger Manor Solomon, may have to balance the books as we enter the final phase of this transfer window.

Spurs are also rumoured to be closing in on deals for both Wolfsburg's Micky van de Ven and Blackburn Rovers starlet Ashley Phillips, making the need to offload fringe squad members even greater.

Ivan Perisic, Davinson Sanchez, Ryan Sessegnon, Eric Dier, Ben Davies, Giovani Lo Celso, Sergio Reguilon and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg are just some of the players mentioned (The Telegraph), alongside goalkeeper Hugo Lloris, who has even admitted this window could mark the "end of an era".

“We have reached an important moment, whether it be for the club or me,” said Lloris to Nice-Matin.

“It’s the end of an era. I have a desire for something else. I will carefully study what is possible. However, I haven’t forgotten that I have a year left on my contract at Tottenham, and in football, it’s always hard to predict what will happen."

Read the latest Tottenham transfer news HERE…

Ndombele, who has spent the last one and a half seasons various loan spells at Lyon and Napoli, looked set to be handed a chance by Spurs manager Ange Postecoglou – who praised the 26-year-old for his application in pre-season training.

"Tanguy has been good," said Postecoglou ahead of Tottenham's pre-season tour.

"He's been working hard in training, as they all have because they've got no choice.

"I take things as I see them. He was part of a Serie A-winning side last season, and he's been working well. Within that context, I'm pleased to have him here and part of the group. What that means for the long-term, we'll see."

However, reports in the last week have indicated that chance may have come and gone, with reporter Lewis echoing that in a piece for The Daily Mirror.

He says that Tottenham are "set to cut their losses" on Ndombele this summer and he is "heading to Galatasaray".

The Turkish Super Lig side are aiming for an £11 million deal, and due to Maddison's arrival, Postecoglou will have that consistent creativity in midfield – making the need for Ndombele absent.

What's been said about Tanguy Ndombele?

The Frenchman simply hasn't displayed his raw quality on a regular enough basis over his four-year Tottenham stay, so now could be time to call it a day.

Ndombele has previously been praised for his undoubted talent, with Arsenal star Declan Rice even claiming last summer that the midfielder is one of the toughest opponents he's ever faced.

"I tell you now, he is one of the toughest I have played against," explained Rice.

“He is top. Just a street footballer on the pitch. He takes the ball anywhere, little flicks and tricks. Like he doesn’t care. He does everything so confidently.

“With players like that, you just have to let them play. Give them the freedom to go out and do whatever they want. When we played against Lyon in the Europa League, he was incredible. He’s a top player.”

Arsenal forward Folarin Balogun continues to be the subject of intense interest heading into the final weeks of this transfer window, with news emerging on Monaco's pursuit.

Who will leave Arsenal?

The Gunners and manager Mikel Arteta have sealed a quartet of deals so far this summer, completing the signings of Kai Havertz, defender Jurrien Timber, goalkeeper David Raya and, of course, club-record acquisition Declan Rice.

Arsenal have also been linked with more, including the likes of Dinamo Zagreb defender Josip Sutalo and Barcelona forward Ansu Fati, but it is believed they'll need to balance the books first.

Ainsley Maitland-Niles, Auston Trusty, Pablo Mari, Matt Turner and long-serving midfielder Granit Xhaka have all officially departed north London so far. Meanwhile, exit links continue to surround the likes of Albert Sambi Lokonga and Nicolas Pepe.

The former has been heavily mentioned as a target for league newcomers Burnley, while the latter is thought to be a wanted man in Turkey with Besiktas.

Perhaps the most regularly mentioned name, though, is Balogun – who is being chased by a plethora of sides including AC Milan, Inter Milan, Monaco and West Ham.

The USA international, who enjoyed a fine campaign on loan at Reims over 2022/2023, could well depart before September 1 as he seeks more game time.

Read the latest Arsenal transfer news HERE…

French news outlet RMC Sport, sharing the latest on Balogun's future, has an interesting update on the 22-year-old and where he could end up next.

This report concerns Monaco, who have just signed midfielder Denis Zakaria for around £17.2 million. Indeed, now that they have closed that deal, it is believed they will now "rush" to sign Arsenal's forward.

The Ligue 1 side are displaying real ambition this summer and it is claimed they are set to move for Balogun after completing Zakaria's signing.

Nothing else is said on the matter or how much they're planning to bid, but it appears Monaco's intent is still certainly there.

How good is Folarin Balogun?

Scorer of 21 goals in the French first division last campaign, Balogun's stock has seriously risen since last summer, with many clubs taking note of his exploits.

The race for his services appears to be intensifying and Arsenal stand to benefit if an auction is triggered for the attacker.

After spending north of £200 million, Arteta's side will certainly be hoping that is the case, with the Gunners boss' recent comments on Balogun suggesting he is worth a sizeable fee.

"I’m so happy for him,” Arteta said on Balogun's form last season.

“He’s a boy that has a really clear idea of what he wants to do with his career. He’s really ambitious, really committed and really brave.

“We discussed a lot before he made that move whether it was the right place to go and the other choices he had. He was so convinced. I’m really happy for him because he deserves what he’s getting.

“When you look at the numbers and what he is doing, it’s just incredible. It’s very rare to see that. But he’s got something special, that’s why we decided to give him a long-term contract and have faith in him and give him the long period that he needs now, because the loan he is having now is really different to the one he had before at Middlesbrough."

Wolverhampton Wanderers have had a difficult summer to put it lightly, with the club unable to spend and bidding farewell to former manager Julen Lopetegui just five days before the start of the 2023/24 campaign.

An opening day trip to Old Trafford in the Premier League looked to be a disaster in the making for the Old Gold, however, with newly appointed boss Gary O’Neil at the helm, there was an element of surprise at the calibre of Wolves’ performance.

Losing by extremely fine margins and dominating in the final third, there were plenty of encouraging signs to take from the fixture, but the issue remains that the side struggle to score and are short on numbers.

Will Wolves sign anyone this summer?

Adhering to Financial Fair Play (FFP) rules has consumed the Midlands side during the transfer window, with a host of sales made and no room to manoeuvre replacements for those departed.

The club have been linked to a host of talent, with all rumours ending far from a player landing at Molineux, with the closest chase being that of Alex Scott, who recently signed for Bournemouth as Wolves failed to accumulate the £25m asking price.

Despite such disappointment, O’Neil must make the best out of an unfortunate, but unchangeable financial situation, with plenty of exciting players and prospects already on the books to work with.

One name that could be like a new signing for the former Cherries manager is Fabio Silva, who is now not expected to leave the club this summer despite earlier speculation.

How good is Fabio Silva?

Signed by Wolves in 2020 from Porto, the young talent made his first appearance for the Old Gold on Monday night since May 2022, coming on as a substitute against Manchester United.

The forward has endeavoured on two loan spells since beginning his association with the Midlands club, representing both Anderlecht and most recently PSV to gain valuable experience.

At 21, now could be the time for the youngster to break through in England, with Express and Star journalist Liam Keen relaying that the Old Gold are “not interested in selling or loaning” the centre-forward.

Considering the task in hand for O’Neil to encourage his new squad to put the ball in the net, the emergence of Silva could come at the perfect time with the player hungry to prove himself at his parent club.

A cameo at Old Trafford could be the start of an exciting period for the youngster at Molineux, who has had the time away to mature and understand his own game on a better level, ready to compete in the Premier league.

The Portugal U21 international spent half of last season in Belgium at Anderlecht, and the other half with PSV in the Eredivisie, scoring a total of 16 goals over the 2022/23 season.

Once hailed as a “genius” by U23 scout Antonio Mango, the dynamic forward showed how prolific he can be when in his stride, scoring four goals in five Eredivisie starts for PSV and seven goals in 16 starts in the Jupiler Pro League.

The 21-year-old’s experience in leading the line during last term’s loan spells was translated in his 13-minute cameo against United, where he earned a 7.20 match rating, registering three shots, with two of which being on target, via Sofascore.

If the £42k-per-week talent can find his stride under O’Neil, his welcoming back to Molineux could have the same effect as a new signing for the club.

Tottenham Hotspur seem set to close out their summer window with a bang, as they continue to push for a longstanding target…

Who are Tottenham Hotspur signing?

With the stellar start to the season having been enjoyed by Ange Postecoglou, on top of a number of economic transfer movements, many would struggle to find fault with the opening months of the Australian’s reign.

And now, with deadline day fast approaching, there could still be more to come to keep the good times rolling.

Fresh news has now emerged courtesy of the ever-reliable journalist John Percy, who offers an update on Twitter regarding the future of Nottingham Forest star Brennan Johnson.

He wrote: “Tottenham are set to move for Brennan Johnson this week as Nottingham Forest push for £50m deal.”

An alternative report suggests that Financial Fair Play could play a part in this deal, forcing the Tricky Trees to sell.

How good is Brennan Johnson?

Given how Postecoglou seeks to set his teams up, the blistering speed provided by the 22-year-old Johnson would surely fit in well.

Read the latest Tottenham transfer news HERE…

After all, analysis site FootTheBall offers the following summation of his philosophy, writing: “Ange Postecoglou is a manager that has his own ideology and playing style. His sides are known for being relentless in the press and putting a strong focus on attacking football.

“A lot of emphasis is placed within that framework on moving the ball out from the back, as well as the pace with which the players distribute the ball.”

The dynamism that the right winger offers would be transformative for the Lilywhites, with journalist Ethan Lamb even lauding Johnson as a "speed demon" after he clocked up the fastest speed in the Premier League last season with 36.7km/h.

However, he adds plenty of technical prowess to these starring physical assets, as last season saw him score eight and assist three in the Premier League in his debut campaign.

The addition of the wide man, whilst exciting for the fanbase, would prove bad news for Dejan Kulusevski, who has endured a tough past year in north London despite finding the net last weekend.

His finish secured another three points for Postecoglou, but marked just his first league goal since mid-January.

The Sweden international has failed to live up to the fine form that his first six months at the club promised, where he scored five and assisted eight in the league during his six-month loan spell.

He has plenty to offer but can be criticised for his one-footedness and lack of dynamism. The former Juventus star even admitted the former, claiming: “The things I aim to improve on are things like my right foot and I have to get better with my head, heading wise.”

Meanwhile, Johnson certainly thrives with both feet, with his second goal in their 2-2 draw with Everton back in March a powerful left-footed effort that soared into the top corner.

It's no surprise that he has been lauded by his boss Steve Cooper, who noted back in 2022: “I thought Brennan was a right threat today, and thought it was only a matter of time before he created and scored again.

“I thought he was excellent tonight, he was the real threat in the game and he took the penalty really well, he committed to his technique and decision so he looked clinical.”

To add an additional goal threat, who has far more speed than his potential competition for that right-wing spot to align with Postecoglou’s system, it would mark a special final piece of business to cap off a stellar summer.

Southampton boss Russell Martin looks set to court a highly-rated defender to replace Tino Livramento at St Mary's Stadium before the transfer window closes, according to reports.

What's the latest Southampton news?

Saints have slowly edged themselves into the transfer window and are now looking to put the finishing touches to their squad before the close of play following the additions of Shea Charles, Joe Lumley, Ryan Manning and Flynn Downes on loan from West Ham United, as per Transfermarkt.

Big-name departures have also been a feature for Southampton over the course of the last couple of months due to their relegation to the Sky Bet Championship as James Ward-Prowse, Romeo Lavia and Mohammed Salisu – alongside Livramento – have left the South Coast club in favour of seeking a new challenge elsewhere.

Everton were said to be keen on Southampton striker Che Adams; however, talkSPORT claim on X that the Toffees have been unable to agree fee for the Scotland international, stating: "BREAKING: EFC are in talks with Udinese over a move for Brazilian striker Beto. The goal-shy Toffees have also tabled two bids for SaintsFC’s Che Adams, but have so far been unable to agree a deal. – talkSPORT sources understand."

If Adams were to go, Southampton did have designs on submitting a bid for Swansea City striker Joel Piroe as a potential replacement; nevertheless, transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has since reported that the Dutchman is on his way to Leeds United to undergo a medical ahead of a switch to Elland Road.

As per BBC Sport, Swansea City defender Nathan Wood has been the subject of a rejected offer from an unnamed club and Jacks boss Michael Duff has refused to confirm the source of the proposal, as he stated: "I think there's a bid that got rejected. It's a sign of having good players. If no-one was bidding for any of the players, we'd be useless. We think we've got some good players, Woody's another one of those."

Who else could Southampton sign?

According to Football Insider, Southampton have enquired about signing West Ham United defender Ben Johnson as boss Martin seeks to fill the void left by Livramento at right-back.

Johnson has previously rejected a contract extension at the Hammers and features near the top of Southampton's wanted list for the remainder of the window amid uncertainty over his future at the London Stadium.

The 23-year-old, who was labelled as a "really important" player by West Ham boss David Moyes back in 2021, featured 29 times in all competitions for his current employers last term, registering a solitary assist in the process, as per Transfermarkt.

Compared to his positional peers across Europe's top five divisions, Johnson has fared well regarding the art of successful aerial duels, winning an average of 1.75 per 90 minutes across the last 365 days, putting him in the 91st percentile for this metric, according to FBRef.

Clearly, Johnson is in need of regular first-team football to keep his career trajectory moving in the right direction and a move to the South Coast may help the London-born defender to realise these aspirations.