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Wolverhampton Wanderers are reportedly interested in signing a Serie A midfielder this summer, in the bid to strengthen ahead of the 2023/24 campaign.

Julen Lopetegui has revived Wolves’ season since arriving in the Midlands in November, taking the reins from Bruno Lage who saw his team’s form deplete in the final weeks of his tenure.

The Spaniard has restored faith in the squad and confirmed Premier League survival and promise going forward from the lows of the start of the term.

This summer’s transfer window is crucial for the club, who are expected to see a drastic change with players arriving at and departing Molineux.

The talk of Ruben Neves’ future has dominated talk of summer movements so far, however Wolves have been linked with a host of potential incomings too, including a midfielder that could strengthen Lopetegui’s plans.

What’s the latest on Lassana Coulibaly to Wolves?

As reported by La Cronache via Salerno Notizie earlier this week, Salernitana midfielder Lassana Coulibaly has gained interest from Wolves ahead of the summer transfer window.

The report claims that both Nottingham Forest and Wolves have “asked for information” on the Mali international’s availability.

It’s believed that the asking price from his club will be around the €8m mark (£7m).

What could Lassana Coulibaly bring to Wolves?

Despite having a tough season in Serie A, the Bamako-born midfielder has maintained a high level of performance in the engine room, making him a point of interest ahead of the window.

Described as a "machine" who enjoys "getting after people" by former boss Steven Gerrard during his spell at Rangers, Coulibaly has impressed in areas that could be integral to strengthening Lopetegui’s side.

The 27-year-old has averaged 2.4 tackles per game this season, as well as winning 52% of his ground duels in the middle of the park – as per Sofascore. The first stat is superb and would place him second in Wolves' squad if he were already at Molineux.

Operating in a critical area of play requires ability both going forward and breaking up play, and the Malian’s ability to do so is expressed through his 84% passing accuracy, averaging 26.8 per game.

His stability is what Lopetegui will be looking for in a player this window, considering the potential departure of Neves and the effect this may have on the midfield as a unit.

The introduction of the midfielder could positively influence new-arrival Joao Gomes, however, who has been impressive since signing in January. Indeed, he is the only player to register more tackles per game this term (2.7) than Couliably in the Wolves ranks.

Like the latter, the Brazilian is strong in his duels and influential on the ball and could prove to be a strong partner if he signs on the dotted line.

Coincidentally, the two players have been likened to one another as per FBref, highlighting their similar ability in their position and the calibre of the player Wolves could secure this summer for a relatively low market price.

Lopetegui is expected to have a busy summer in recruitment, only time will tell if the Spaniard can get this exciting deal over the line.

Tottenham Hotspur have held talks with Feyenoord midfielder Orkun Kokcu, who could join alongside Arne Slot this summer, according to reports from the Netherlands.

What's the latest Tottenham transfer news?

Tottenham have identified several central midfield targets for the summer, and they are reportedly keen on bringing in Southampton captain James Ward-Prowse, who is expected to leave after the Saints' relegation from the Premier League.

Celta Vigo's Gabri Veiga is another possibility for Spurs, and he could be an affordable, given that he has a £35m buy-out clause in his contract, but they will face stiff competition for his signature from the likes of Liverpool, Real Madrid and Manchester City.

An enquiry has been made about Barcelona's Franck Kessie, while Rennes' Lovro Majer has been picked out as a priority signing, as the Lilywhites have been interested in a creative midfielder for quite some time.

Although Tottenham's recruitment team have continued to identify potential signings without a manager in place, much of the club's summer business is likely to hinge upon who is installed as the new head coach.

Slot has been heavily linked in recent days, and reports from the Netherlands (via Sport Witness) now claim that Kokcu could follow his manager to north London, having been intensively scouted for a number of seasons.

Spurs have held personal talks with the midfielder about a summer move, although they are yet to make direct contact with Feyenoord to discuss the intricacies of a potential deal.

As the Dutch champions have no interest in selling the 22-year-old, they have set an asking price of €40m (£35m), however that fee could fluctuate, and the Lilywhites could start negotiations soon.

Who is Orkan Kokcu?

After graduating from the Feyenoord youth academy, the Turkish maestro has risen through the ranks to become club captain at the tender age of 22, leading his side to the Eredivisie title this season.

The Haarlem-born midfielder has weighed in with three assists and eight goals in 30 league appearances this term, with the latter figure ranking him fourth in the squad, indicating he could be a real threat for Tottenham on the front foot.

With Rodrigo Bentancur out until November at the earliest, Spurs will be in need of a midfielder capable of producing in front of goal, and Kokcu could be a very good addition for that reason.

Not only that, but the Feyenoord star has been hailed as a "leader", indicating he could become an important figure for the Lilywhites both on and off the pitch.

Leeds United are reportedly worried that Tyler Adams will opt to join Manchester United in the summer transfer window, should the Whites be relegated from the Premier League.

Has Adams been a key figure for Leeds?

It has been a season to forget at Elland Road and Leeds now face the likely threat of relegation to the Championship this weekend, unless they perform a memorable escape act.

Too many players have underperformed through the campaign, as has the team as a unit, but Adams has arguably been one of the few success stories. The £55,000-a-week American joined the Whites from RB Leipzig and has been a key figure, making 24 starts in the league and averaging 3.4 tackles per match.

Adams has been a huge loss through injury in recent weeks, not helping Leeds' struggles in the slightest, and he will play no part in the must-win game at home to Tottenham on Sunday afternoon. It could even be that he has played his last game for the club, if a fresh report is to believed, even though the Whites clearly want to keep hold of him.

Could Adams depart Elland Road?

According to Football Insider, Leeds "fear they have no chance of keeping hold of Adams if they are relegated", amid interest from United. The report states that "Adams is wanted by multiple clubs in the Premier League and in top European leagues, and Leeds are unlikely to keep hold of him if they go down".

The Red Devils are "among the teams keeping tabs on Adams, whose dynamism and energy in midfield has impressed their recruitment team."

In truth, it would be hard to expect Adams to stay put at Leeds if they are in the Championship next season, with loyalty one thing but top players also wanting to be performing at the highest level.

For that reason, the 24-year-old should be expected to move on if relegation does come the Whites' way, although seeing him join United would be touch to stomach, given the rivalry between the pair. The hope is that he realises that himself, and instead opts to move elsewhere and not negatively impact his relationship with Leeds supporters.

Adams would be a massive loss, as he has already been recently – journalist Henry Winter hailed him as "superb" for the USA during the 2022 World Cup – and if he does exit Elland Road, it is vital that the club use the funds wisely this summer, with a hefty fee likely to come their way.

Glasgow Rangers head coach Michael Beale failed to secure a single trophy in his first campaign, albeit not a full one, in charge of the Scottish giants.

The English boss is now working hard to build a team that is capable of competing for major honours next term and has already secured deals to sign Kieran Dowell and Dujon Sterling on free transfers from Norwich and Chelsea respectively.

Along with incomings, there could be plenty of players on their way out of Ibrox this summer and following the likes of Alfredo Morelos and Ryan Kent, whose contracts expired at the end of last month.

Back in May, The Scottish Sun reported that the Light Blues are open to bids for the Croatian number nine and claimed that the centre-forward would be interested in a move to the Bundesliga in Germany if an offer comes his way.

Who could replace Antonio Colak at Rangers?

Beale could brutally ditch Colak and move him on from Ibrox in the coming weeks or months by sealing a deal to snap up reported target Sam Lammers, as the Dutchman could replace the ex-PAOK star.

According to the printed edition of The Scottish Daily Mail (via Ibrox News) on Monday of last week, the Gers have been keeping tabs on the attacker, who sees his contract with Empoli expire at the end of the month.

The £17k-per-week titan could, therefore, be available on a free transfer, unless he pens a new deal with the Italian side, and has the potential to be an excellent replacement for the current Gers marksman.

Lammers, who talent scout Jacek Kulig once hailed as "perfectly two-footed", has only scored four goals in 50 appearances in the Serie A and his record in Italy does not suggest that he would be a prolific scorer for Rangers.

However, the former Dutch youth international did plunder 19 goals and five assists in 35 matches for Heerenveen in all competitions and was directly involved in 40 goals in 63 outings for PSV at U21 level prior to his move to the Italian top-flight.

During the 2018/19 campaign, Lammers averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.24 across 30 starts and contributed with 16 goals and 12 'big chances' created for his teammates on loan at Heerenveen.

These statistics suggest that there is an excellent striker, who can regularly find the back of the net and open up spaces for his teammates to score, for Beale to unearth, and he could replace Colak, who managed three goals and one assist in 11 Scottish Premiership matches after the World Cup break.

The Gers head coach could brutally ditch the 29-year-old Gers forward by signing Lammers as it would allow the club to jettison the Croatian finisher without worrying about the space his exit would create in the squad.

Newcastle United target Dominik Szoboszlai is “aware” of the “concrete interest” from St. James’ Park, according to Sky Sports reporter Florian Plettenberg.

Who is Dominik Szoboszlai?

The RB Leipzig midfielder first joined Marco Rose’s side back in 2021 from RB Salzburg, who are owned by the same company, and he has since become a regular feature of the first-team, clocking up 91 appearances to date.

The Hungary international was the Bundesliga outfit’s overall second best-performing player with a WhoScored match rating of 7.32 last season, with this impressive form having seen him attracting plenty of interest from the Premier League.

Sky Sports reported in May that the Magpies had sent scouts to watch the 22-year-old twice within the space of a fortnight, and the player himself sparked rumours of a move when responding “next question” after being asked whether he would still be at his club beyond the summer which has now been backed up even further.

Are Newcastle signing Szoboszlai?

Taking to Twitter, Plettenberg now reveals that Szoboszlai does know about the admiration from Newcastle and stated that PIF and Eddie Howe have highlighted him as a primary target for the upcoming window. He wrote:

“News #Szoboszlai: Player is very open to leave RB in summer as he’s aware of the concrete interest from @NUFC as revealed. He’s a top transfer target of #NUFC. Release clause of around €70m (£60m). RB bosses not happy with his latest statements. It’s a question of the price now.”

Could Szoboszlai be a good signing for Howe?

Newcastle are clearly serious about landing Szoboszlai having already deployed chiefs to assess him on multiple occasions, and having been hailed a “pure quality” player by talent scout Jacek Kulig, it would be a massive coup should the board be able to bring him to the northeast.

RB Leipzig’s attacking midfielder posted 14 goal contributions (eight assists and six goals) in 31 Bundesliga appearances last season, form which saw him receive four man-of-the-match awards, but he also excelled even when the ball didn’t hit the back of the net.

The EM Sports Consulting client recorded 150 shot-creating actions which was higher than any of his fellow teammates, and 117 crosses which was the second-biggest total throughout his squad, as per FBRef.

Finally, Szoboszlai is a versatile operator having played in seven different positions across the grass since first bursting onto the professional scene which will no doubt be yet another attractive attribute to the boss, making him the perfect central candidate to put pen to paper at St. James’ Park.

Michael Beale heads into the summer transfer window knowing he has to get it spot on if he wants Glasgow Rangers to return to the summit of Scottish football once again.

Two major trophies in 12 years is far from good enough for the Ibrox faithful, but with a change in the dugout at their Old Firm rivals, the Gers could take advantage of the uncertainty from across the city.

Beale has made a solid start in terms of transfers since arriving at the club, making five signings in all. However, it is the deal to bring Todd Cantwell to the Light Blues, a snip at just £1.5m, that could prove to be one of the finest he will make.

The Englishman registered 11 goal contributions across just 20 matches from January until the end of the season, already showcasing the talent which nearly secured him a £20m transfer to Aston Villa back in 2021.

It’s been a wonderful start, no doubt about it and next season will surely see the 5 foot 9 gem further improve, while he could also be Beale’s very own version of Alexis Mac Allister.

Will Todd Cantwell be Rangers' most important player next season?

Mac Allister has enjoyed a whirlwind 12 months. His impressive performances for Brighton & Hove Albion led to him securing a place in the Argentina squad for the 2022 World Cup, going on to score during the tournament as the Albiceleste secured their third world title.

The 24-year-old finally got his big move, as Liverpool recently announced him as their first signing of the summer, and for a fee of just £35m, it could well be a bargain.

Analyst Ben Griffis demonstrated on Twitter that Cantwell is statistically similar to Mac Allister, and if he kicks on next term, he could truly become an excellent player for Rangers.

Indeed, last season, Mac Allister and Cantwell registered similar stats with regard to goal contributions (12 to 10), shot-creating actions per 90 (3.66 to 3.31), tackles won (30 to 33) and interceptions (26 to 22), showing that not only do they pose a solid attacking threat, but they can also chip in defensively by winning a lot of tackles and making plenty of interceptions.

According to WhoScored, Cantwell and Mac Allister both like to tackle, showing their tenacious sides, while the duo both have passing noted as a key strength, being able to circulate the ball well throughout the pitch.

Following the 3-0 win against Celtic last month, Beale stated: “Todd is highly motivated to be here. I couldn’t be happier with him.”

And if he continues to demonstrate the abilities which have seen him compared to the new Liverpool sensation, his performances will surely only improve.

Tottenham Hotspur boss Ange Postecoglou is personally "driving" a Spurs move for Leicester City playmaker James Maddison, according to reports.

Who could Spurs sign this summer?

As the transfer window officially opens for business today, the time for a major Spurs rebuild is now upon us, with many players being tipped to potentially leave or come through the door.

Postecoglou's arrival marks the return of attacking football and a 4-3-3 formation, meaning chairman Daniel Levy must now scour for players who suit his system.

Of the players who could depart N17, there are many, with over 11 players being linked to leaving. Indeed, Hugo Lloris, Ivan Perisic, Davinson Sanchez, Ryan Sessegnon, Lenglet, Eric Dier and Ben Davies have all been tipped to potentially exit, while Spurs are also apparently planning to offload Giovani Lo Celso, Sergio Reguilon and Harry Winks (The Telegraph).

Meanwhile, it is believed Postecoglou has green-lit plans to sign a new centre-back, with reports suggesting Spurs are also hunting for a new goalkeeper to succeed Lloris. Maddison, who looks set to leave Leicester following their relegation from the top flight, is a firm transfer target as well.

The Lilywhites, according to reports, are contending with Eddie Howe's Newcastle for the England international with reliable journalist Nizaar Kinsella of The Evening Standard sharing an update.

According to his information, while the Magpies are confident of beating Spurs to Maddison, Postecoglou is personally "driving" a move to bring him to Hotspur Way.

The Foxes will apparently demand around £45m and he is set to be sold after Leicester's drop to the Championship, with Spurs targeting a creative playmaker this summer.

Postecoglou has given his green-light to moving for Maddison, but with Newcastle now "frontrunners", Spurs could face a tougher task of signing him.

Who is James Maddison?

The Three Lions ace was, by some distance, Leicester's best player last season.

According to WhoScored, he stood out as their best-performing player by average match rating, all whilst totalling an impressive 19 goal contributions in the league alone (10 goals, nine assists).

Maddison also averaged more attempts at goal and key passes made per 90 than any other Leicester player, highlighting why Postecoglou is so keen to bring him to north London.

Journalist Josh Bunting, taking to Twitter last year, heaped praise on the 26-year-old – claiming he can be "unplayable" when at his very best.

Whoever wins the race for Maddison will surely have a real player on their hands.

An update has emerged on Arsenal and their interest in a swoop to sign Southampton ace Romeo Lavia ahead of the 2023/24 campaign.

What's the latest on Romeo Lavia to Arsenal?

According to Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano, the Gunners are progressing in their pursuit of a deal to sign the central midfielder this summer.

The reporter tweeted: "Understand Arsenal are advancing in talks to sign Roméo Lavia. Negotiations ongoing with Southampton and player’s camp, still no official bid. Southampton hope for their record fee for U21 player. Man Utd interested but priority is Mount; Chelsea, keeping close eye."

He then added that Premier League champions Manchester City have a buy-back clause that would enable them to snap the Belgian talent up for £40m before the summer of 2024, although it remains to be seen if they are willing to activate it.

Southampton's current club-record U21 sale came in 2014 when they sold Luke Shaw, who was 18 at the time, to Manchester United for a fee of £27m, that could rise to £31m, which means that £40m would meet their requirements for a deal.

This comes alongside a report from Sky Sports that has claimed the club are set to make a £90m bid to snap up West Ham United captain Declan Rice, with Romano confirming that the club's interest in the pair is not related. Indeed, it seems Mikel Arteta and the club are progressing on more deals in the background of the heavily reported Rice saga.

How did Romeo Lavia perform last season?

Southampton signed Lavia from Manchester City in a £14m package ahead of the 2022/23 campaign and the teenager enjoyed a strong first season in senior football in spite of his team's relegation to the Championship.

The Belgium international, who was hailed as a “monster” by journalist Benjy Nurick, had just two first-team appearances to his name prior to moving to the south coast and still only has 32 total games in senior football after 26 Premier League starts for the Saints.

However, he made 3.6 tackles plus interceptions per game and completed 86% of his attempted passes in the division, and his qualities in and out of possession are what made him so highly rated during his time at The Etihad.

Lavia particularly excelled at putting his body on the line for Southampton last term as the 19-year-old enforcer currently ranks in the top 4% of players in his position in the Men's Big Five Leagues and European competitions for blocks made per 90 (1.90).

Talent scout Jacek Kulig previously claimed that the teenage maestro had the ability to break into City's senior squad. He wrote:

"It is very clear why Pep Guardiola wants Romeo Lavia to be part of the Manchester City first team. He is an intelligent and aggressive presser of the ball in defense, a comfortable dribbler, adept passer of the ball, and physically strong. These traits are enormously important in the Pep Guardiola system, and Romeo Lavia possesses all the talent to break into Manchester City’s first team one day."

This suggests that the potential is there for him to make it at the top level and his experience at St. Mary's could be an important step on his way to success as the exciting youngster now has a good amount of Premier League matches under his belt.

Leeds United are yet to engage in any transfer activity this summer, likely stuttered due to the length of the 49ers' takeover. However, they could now be set to bring in the first of what promises to be a comprehensive transfer window…

What's the latest on Sam Field to Leeds United?

That's according to Football Insider, who suggest that the Whites are plotting a move for Queens Park Rangers midfielder Sam Field.

With the Yorkshire outfit set to battle with newly-promoted Burnley for his signature, with the hope being that their stature alone can prove more of an allure than Vincent Kompany's project at Turf Moor.

With just one year left on his £7k-per-week deal, the 25-year-old would represent a fine option for either of these clubs. To tempt him to Elland Road would reaffirm the status of these English giants, and hand them a huge boost in their pursuit of a Premier League return.

Does Sam Field improve Leeds United?

Field featured heavily last term for the Rs, having moved from his boyhood West Bromwich Albion in 2021. Despite their looming relegation threat, the tough-tackling ace managed to maintain a 6.98 average rating in the Championship, chipping in with two goals and three assists, via Sofascore.

However, it is defensively where he truly shines, with his figures suggesting that should Tyler Adams choose to depart Yorkshire, this star would represent a fine alternative to step into his role.

Last year the USA international blended one key pass per game with 3.7 tackles and 1.5 interceptions per game (via Sofascore), with his exploits earning praise from journalist Tim Thornton: "There are similarities in the way he plays with Phillips in the way that he breaks play up and screens the defence. But he’s also very different in a lot of ways. So, he’s done brilliantly.”

However, when compared to Field's campaign, it is clear that the two are more similar than one would initially think. After all, he also recorded 2.5 tackles per game, alongside a further 2.4 clearances and 1.8 interceptions, as per Sofascore. Given both were embroiled in their respective relegation battles, they proved themselves more than capable of starring in a dogfight.

When compared to Leeds' squad for that season, this relentless midfield general would have posted the joint-best rating of those who played more than five games, and the joint-fourth-best tackler too.

Such imperious form was always foreseen by those who viewed him in his infancy, with one of his former coaches, Gary Megson, noting: "If he can just grow into himself in terms of confidence and get that little bit of belief in himself it wouldn't surprise me if he goes on to have a real top-class career.

"He's big, he can run and he's got a great left foot. He's one of the best two-footed players I've seen and he's got a great amount going for him."

Perhaps a move to Elland Road could help realise that potential, stepping up to fill the hole that could be left by Jesse Marsch's star signing.

The summer transfer window officially opened for business earlier this month and Aston Villa have made one signing ahead of the 2023/24 campaign so far.

Youri Tielemans is set to join on a free transfer from Leicester City and Unai Emery could be looking to make further additions to his side to make the most of the lure of European football.

A seventh-placed Premier League finish last season ensured that the club will be playing Europa Conference League football next term and they must use that to their advantage to tempt top-quality players into making the switch to Villa Park.

Juventus attacker Federico Chiesa is a reported €60m (£51m) transfer target for the Villans this summer and Emery could land a big upgrade on Emi Buendia by securing the Italy international's services in the coming weeks.

What is Federico Chiesa's style of play?

Since arriving at the club from Norwich for £38m in 2021, Buendia has struggled to provide consistent quality in the final third. The Argentine scored four goals and provided six assists in 35 Premier League matches in his first campaign with Villa before his return of five goals and two assists in 38 outings in 22/23.

He has produced 0.07 assists per 90 over the last 365 days in the Men's Big Five Leagues which places him among the bottom 13% of his positional peers in those competitions.

Chiesa, on the other hand, has recorded 0.42 assists per 90 for Juventus in the Men's Big Five Leagues and European competitions over the last 365 days, ranking the Italian dynamo in the top 4% of players in his position.

This suggests that the 25-year-old could offer more creativity from an attacking midfield or wide position than Buendia, as he has provided his teammates with assists far more frequently than the Villa magician.

The Old Lady wizard's form in the Serie A prior to his ACL injury also indicates that the potential is there for him to be a greater goal threat than the former Canaries star.

Chiesa, who former teammate Gianluigi Buffon once lauded as "impossible to stop", averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.19 and chipped in with nine goals and nine assists in 33 league outings in 20/21, showing that the £153k-per-week hotshot has the quality to make telling contributions in the final third with regularity.

No Villans midfielder managed more than six goals or seven league assists last term while Buendia has not averaged a Sofascore rating higher than 6.95 in the Premier League since joining the club.

Douglas Luiz (7.10) was also the only player in the squad with a Sofascore rating higher than 6.99, meaning that Chiesa could come in as one of the top performers on the roster if he can recapture his previous form.

This, therefore, suggests that Emery would be improving his attacking options in the middle of the park by convincing the Italian marksman to sign for his team.