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Newcastle United are reportedly one of a number of Premier League clubs interested in signing Monaco midfielder Youssouf Fofana this summer.

Who is Youssouf Fofana?

The 24-year-old has grown into an important figure at Monaco recently, shining in a defensive midfield role and protecting the back-line in impressive fashion.

Last season, Fofana started 35 of his side's 38 Ligue 1 matches, highlighting what an integral player he is, also making six appearances for France at the 2022 World Cup, two of which were starts.

The £7,300-a-week Frenchman is out of contract at Monaco next summer, meaning they could be forced to sell him this time around, rather than potentially lose him on a free transfer in 2024.

He is unlikely to be without suitors, and it looks as though Newcastle are right in the mix to sign him, as they look to make significant reinforcements ahead of next season.

Are Newcastle signing Fofana? According to L'Equipe, Newcastle and Arsenal have entered the race to sign Fofana this summer, with West Ham also credited with interest in him. The Hammers see him as an ideal replacement for Declan Rice, who looks almost certain to leave for pastures new, but they could find it difficult to have the pulling power to pip the others to his signature.

The report does stress that no significant progress has been made regarding a summer exit, however, with Monaco seemingly in no rush to sell despite his contract situation.

Fofana could be a really astute addition to Newcastle's squad this summer, at a time when Eddie Howe is likely to want an out-and-out defensive midfielder to allow Sandro Tonali and Bruno Guimaraes to dictate matches, especially with Champions League football also to contend with in 2023/24.

He averaged 2.3 tackles per game in both Ligue 1 and the Europa League last term – more than both Tonali and Bruno across all competitions – highlighting the defensive expertise he can provide, and he is at an age where his best years should still be ahead of him.

The Magpies are now at the stage where they need to be rotating regularly, in order to thrive across several different competitions. And he could even become an immediate key starter, considering he is more naturally defensive than those mentioned.

Football talent scout Jacek Kulig has hailed the Frenchman as "wonderful" – which could mean Newcastle's midfield ends up looking even more balanced moving forward.

Leeds United have been relegated from the Premier League and are still without a permanent manager with the transfer window in full swing, but that has not stopped the club from pushing for Coventry City's Viktor Gyokeres.

What's the latest on Viktor Gyokeres to Leeds?

According to the Coventry Telegraph (June 19, page 38), via MOT Leeds News, an exit is on the cards for the Sky Blues star talisman, and while suitors from all across Europe push for his signature, the likes of Championship promotion contenders Leeds and Middlesbrough are hoping to tempt the ace with a move.

Speaking to the publication, former manager Gary McSheffrey believes it will take 'big money' for a move to a divisional rival to come into fruition, with fees as high as £17m touted for the Swede's services.

He said: “If it’s one of the bigger Championship clubs like a Leeds or a Middlesbrough, unless it’s mega-money for Coventry, then I am not sure it would be the right move for him, although it might be financially good for him.

“I know there’s firm interest and there will be a couple of clubs who have come down that will want him, the likes of Leeds United, who can still afford to pay him good money.”

How good is Viktor Gyokeres?

Given that the 25-year-old only has just one year left on his current deal and no sight of a resolution, it is increasingly likely that he will be sold this summer as the defeated play-off finalists look to rebuild and push for promotion once again.

And with Leeds hoping for an immediate return to the top flight after devastating relegation this year, Gyokeres could be tempted to complete the transfer and spearhead a club back toward prominence.

Over the past two campaigns, the 13-cap international has posted 21 and 17 goal returns in the second tier, illustrating exactly the kind of potency that the Whites require to succeed in their seasonal endeavours.

He would be an almighty upgrade on Leeds' current centre-forward, Patrick Bamford, who captured the attention of the throngs of supporters with his performances in the Championship when the club secured promotion – scoring 16 times – before playing an exemplary term upon the outfit's return to the Premier League – finishing with 17 strikes in the top-flight.

However, injuries and a fall from form over the past two years have left the former Chelsea youngster in ill regard, being branded as a "liability" by journalist Hunter Walker, and replacing him with the younger, more exuberant Gyokeres would only enhance the squad's prospects.

Said to be "unplayable" on his day by teammate Maxime Biamou, Gyokeres has averaged three shots and 1.8 key passes per match this season, as per Sofascore, whereas Bamford's 1.8 shots and 0.4 key passes illuminate the lack of robustness that stung Leeds in their travails.

Considering this, the 49ers would be wise to secure Gyokeres' signature this summer and wipe the slate clean; relegation materialised and left the club in ignominy, but there is now a stunning opportunity to rectify the past wrongs and the Coventry dynamo is the man to lead the charge.

West Ham United boss David Moyes has made signing a new central midfielder a priority this summer ahead of Declan Rice's expected departure.

Rice, a target for the likes of Arsenal, Manchester United and Bayern Munich, will generate a huge transfer fee that can be pumped back into the squad.

The lure of more continental football next season, with West Ham back in the Europa League after winning the Europa Conference League last week, will help massively when it comes to persuading new recruits to join.

Fulham's Joao Palhinha appears to be high on Moyes' list of targets, but his reported £50m valuation will wipe out a large amount of the Hammers' transfer kitty, so it may make sense to look elsewhere for a cheaper alternative who has shown plenty of promise.

A regular for Ajax over the past four years and capped 61 times by Mexico, Edson Alvarez could be just the man for West Ham.

Is Edson Alvarez a good option for West Ham?

Alvarez looked all set to join Borussia Dortmund for a fee of £30m this summer – the German club themselves looking to replace a talented English midfielder of their own in Jude Bellingham – but 90min suggests West Ham are hoping to hijack a bid after opening talks with the player's agent.

The Mexican has made just short of 150 appearances for Ajax since joining from Club America in July 2019, 31 of those coming last season in what was ultimately a disappointing campaign for the Dutch heavyweights.

With 2,589 minutes played in Eredivisie, as per WhoScored, Alvarez was Ajax's third-most used player behind Dusan Tadic (2,971) and Jurrien Timber (3,033), and he chipped in with six direct goal involvements (three goals, three assists).

However, the 25-year-old is not necessarily in the team to find the net, but more for his defensive attributes – as highlighted by the ten yellow cards he received last season, which was level with FC Twente's Robin Propper for the most in Eredivisie.

As highlighted by FBref, Alvarez could not match Palhinha (4.26) for tackles per 90 minutes last season – who could? However, he managed a respectable 2.47 a game, which for comparison is more than Rice (2.17) and Tomas Soucek (2.45) at West Ham.

It is in another metric that Alvarez particularly thrived, and helps explain just why he is so highly regarded by some elite clubs. With an average of 83.91 passes attempted per 90 minutes over the past year, he ranks in the top 1% of his central midfield peers across Europe's top eight leagues.

Palhinha was hugely impressive in his debut campaign with Fulham but could not match that figure, recording a rather low (36.89). Those stats help to show where both players are at their strongest, meaning it is effectively up to West Ham to decide what they are in more need of.

If Moyes is after a player who is comfortable passing the ball around and can advance it up the field, then Alvarez appears a better fit. The Ajax midfielder averaged 97.9 touches per 90 minutes last season, compared to 49.7 for Palhinha, and was successful with 46.2% of his tackles (35.9% for Palhinha).

Previously described as a "monster" by The Athletic writer Felipe Cardenas for his displays in midfield for Mexico, Alvarez also won an average of 3.38 aerial duels for Ajax last season, which is superior to that of Palhinha (2.06).

Alvarez is not exactly a like-for-like replacement for Rice but, at potentially £20m cheaper than Palhinha, he appears to have all the right qualities to thrive in the Premier League for West Ham.

Aston Villa have been linked to a plethora of Champions League quality players in recent weeks, with the board "trying to reach for the stars", transfer insider Dean Jones has told Football FanCast.

Who do Villa want to sign this summer?

There has been a consistent increase in the quality of players Villa have been able to attract over recent years.

It started with the purchase of the exciting and sought-after Ollie Watkins from Brentford, and then they were able to grab Leon Bailey from under the noses of several European clubs.

Last season saw probably the biggest name to arrive at Villa Park for a very long time, Philippe Coutinho. Granted, it hasn't worked out, but it was still a signal of intent.

The level of player has increased yet again, as just this year has seen the club linked to both Joao Felix and Marco Asensio – despite the latter now looking set for a move to Paris Saint-Germain.

With Football Insider claiming that the club have given Unai Emery a massive 'war chest' of up to £150m this summer, maybe we should expect more stars to be linked with a move to the Midlands.

Afterall, they have already managed to secure the big signing of Youri Tielemans this summer.

What has Dean Jones said about the change in transfer policy for Aston Villa?

Jones thinks that the recent rumours and links to Villa indicate where the club is heading regarding player acquisition and that "anything is possible" under their current owners.

Speaking to Football FanCast, the journalist said: "I think that one thing it does give us is a good indicator of is where the club's heading. They're now basically shopping for luxury products, they're looking at players that before would have been a pipe dream.

"Under the new vision, with the money that they've got, they're trying to show that anything is possible and they're trying to reach for the stars."

Who have been Aston Villa's most expensive signings in the past?

With all of these high-profile players being touted for a move to the Villains, they will likely break their transfer record in the not-too-distant future.

The Birmingham club's record signing at the moment is current player Emiliano Buendia, who joined the club for £35m in the summer of 2021 and may go down with mixed reviews to date.

The club's second most expensive is none other than Watkins, for a cool £31m. It's probably not too controversial to say that the ex-Exeter City man has been one of the best strikers in the Premier League this year.

Bailey comes in third on the list at £29m and it's a bit harder to call his time in England's second city a success. He has had his fair share of injury problems, though, and Emery could be the man to unlock his undeniable potential.

Liverpool target and Chelsea midfielder Mason Mount is expected to soon "decide" whether to make the move to Anfield, according to Sky Sports reporter Florian Plettenberg.

Is Mason Mount leaving Chelsea?

The Blues academy graduate has made 195 senior appearances for Mauricio Pochettino's side over the course of his career, but with his contract set to expire at the end of next season, the upcoming window is his final chance to secure a big-money move elsewhere having rejected several new offers to extend his stay at Stamford Bridge.

Sky Sports have credited the Reds with an interest in the 24-year-old but report that Premier League rivals Manchester United are the current frontrunners having displayed a strong desire to secure his services, with The Athletic’s David Ornstein further revealing that the player himself is leaning towards a switch to Old Trafford.

Writing in his column for CaughtOffside, CBS reporter Ben Jacobs claimed that the England international is “advancing” in negotiations to join Erik Ten Hag’s side which is true considering that he’s since agreed personal terms, but whilst a deal looks all but done, he still has Jurgen Klopp lurking in the background as a valid option.

Are Liverpool signing Mount?

Taking to Twitter, Plettenberg revealed that Mount is set to choose between Liverpool and Man United as his next destination with an exit from his boyhood club pretty much inevitable this summer. He wrote:

"News #Mount: Been told #MUFC is pushing a lot! Ten Hag and the bosses share the same opinion about him: They definitely want him! Within the club all are convinced of him. Understand he will decide between Man Utd or Liverpool. Price valuation at this stage: €45-50m [£38m-43m] with bonuses included."

Should FSG cash out on Mount?

Liverpool are clearly long-term admirers of Mount and the fact that he’ll be out of contract this time next year means that a cut-price deal is available with the price range mentioned above, so FSG should certainly consider tabling a bid in an attempt to wrap up this bargain of a deal.

Chelsea’s “mad” attacking midfielder, as lauded by BT Sport pundit Rio Ferdinand, missed 12 top-flight games last season through injury but still managed to clock up nine goal contributions (six assists and three goals) across all competitions, showing how much of an instant impact he can make when available to play.

The Champions League winner, who knows what it takes to compete and be successful at the highest level having secured three senior trophies in SW6, is also a versatile operator having been fielded in seven various positions across the pitch since first emerging onto the scene, including in the midfield and the frontline, so he is a well-rounded player that would slot perfectly into the centre for Klopp.

Arsenal have reportedly submitted a bid for Galatasaray right-back Sacha Boey as Mikel Arteta looks to bolster his squad ahead of next season.

What’s the latest on Sacha Boey to Arsenal?

According to Turkish outlet Turkiye Gazetesi, Arsenal have submitted a bid in the region of €20m (£17m) for the defender, however, Galatasaray are demanding €25m (£21.5m) for one of their prized assets this summer.

According to the report, the Turkish side want to negotiate and get a deal done which matches their demands, with Arsenal ‘expected to accelerate’ in order to complete the move.

Brighton and Hove Albion are also keen on the 22-year-old, yet the lure of Champions League football next season at the Emirates will surely prove to be the main factor for Boey.

Could Sacha Boey be an upgrade on Takehiro Tomiyasu?

Ahead of Arsenal’s first foray in Europe’s premier club competition since 2016/17, Arteta will be keen to improve various areas of his squad, with the right-back area clearly one that needs to be bolstered.

Ben White was often shifted from his usual centre-back position to deputise on the right last season, whilst Takehiro Tomiyasu made 32 appearances, yet only 13 of those were starts – might Boey be an upgrade on the Japanese defender ahead of next term?

The Frenchman has underlined his importance to his team as they claimed their first league title since 2019 this season. He ranked 6th for overall rating across the whole squad (7.11), fourth for big chances created (seven), third for successful dribbles per game (1.1) and second for tackles per game (2.7), clearly playing a key role in Galatasaray’s title triumph.

Tomiyasu in comparison, ranked 18th in the Arsenal squad for overall rating (6.68), 15th for big chances created (one), 20th for successful dribbles per game (0.0) and sixth for tackles per game (1.3), clearly indicating that the 22-year-old would make for a much better option on the right side of Arteta’s defence next season.

Journalist Zach Lowy once described Boey as an “intriguing prospect” in 2021 before he made the move to Turkey, and it's fair to suggest that he has indeed developed into a well-rounded right-back, who can both defend and attack effectively, judging by his returns in the Galatasaray squad this term.

It’s evident that Arteta needs some major strength across his defence in order to sustain another Premier League title challenge in 2023/24 and luring Boey to the club for an aforementioned fee of £21.5m could prove to be a wise investment over the coming years.

Ahead of their Premier League clash against title-chasing Liverpool on Sunday, Wolves manager Bruno Lage sat in front of the media for his last pre-game press conference this season to issue a fitness update on his squad.

What’s the latest?

Asked to give an update on injuries within the camp, Lage said (as per wolves.co.uk): “Just Saiss at the moment. He doesn’t recover from his injury, so Saiss, Semedo has a big injury, Max also out. Daniel is coming. Nothing new, just those things.”

Saiss ruled out

With Saiss still not fit to face Liverpool in Wolves’ final game of the season, it will come as a concern for Lage and the Molineux faithful.

The Moroccan’s contract is set to expire in the summer, so this setback could mean that he will not turn out in an Old Gold shirt again.

As Lage looks to implement a rebuild at Molineux, amidst a host of expiring contracts, there is a cloud of uncertainty hovering over the club, with Saiss’ future also still up in the air.

As a left-footed centre-back operating in Lage’s back-three, the 32-year-old has shown his worth again this season, having made 31 appearances and starting 81% of his team’s matches in the Premier League.

Since the defender’s absence, Lage has opted to use Jonny as a right centre-back, whilst right-footed Willy Boly has come in place of Saiss, with Toti Gomes also getting a run out in the last game against Norwich. During that time, the Old Gold have conceded six goals in what has been a dreadful end to a season which saw them within touching distance of European football.

Saiss is a big miss in the Wolves squad, posting the fourth-highest WhoScored performance rating this term among players to start more than 10 league games, so it will come as a big blow that he is still not in any condition to feature against a Liverpool side who still have hope of lifting the Premier League trophy at Anfield on Sunday evening.

With the Moroccan’s future at Molineux uncertain, it remains to be see whether we will ever again see him plying his trade in a Wolves shirt. For now, Lage may just be worried over the damage that the free-scoring Reds could cause against a defence deprived of one of its most assured operators.

In other news: Wolves can save millions by unearthing 22-year-old “diamond”, Lage will be ecstatic 

Tottenham Hotspur bolstered their late bid for a top-four finish with an emphatic victory over arch-rivals Arsenal in the north London derby on Thursday evening.

Antonio Conte’s side moved to within one point of the ten-man Gunners in the Premier League standings and with two games left to play in the 2021/22 season, it is still somewhat out of their control.

Harry Kane ran rampant, as he often does in this fixture, with a brace which started with a spot-kick in the 22nd minute, prior to heading Spurs into a 2-0 lead before half-time.

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In between the two goals, Arsenal centre-back Rob Holding received his marching orders for a foul on Heung-min Son, who eventually added a third and arguably, he stole the show at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

He absolutely terrorised the 26-year-old, leading to him seeing two yellow cards in the space of seven minutes, and it would have surely given Mikel Arteta overnight.

The South Korean sensation was lauded as a “dream” by Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville during commentary duty [Thursday 12th May, 21:06pm] and it’s easy to see why.

In the 72 minutes he was on the pitch, Son managed to contribute four key passes, despite only registering 17 accurate passes overall and 31 touches, meaning he recorded a decisive creative action once every four passes, as per SofaScore.

Elsewhere, the £72m-rated dynamo proved to be strong in his battles, winning five of his six duels (83%), whilst drawing a whopping five fouls and only losing possession four times, only further proving to be an utter nuisance against that Gunners backline.

‘Involved in all three goals and the sending off as he continued his superb form and moving to within a goal of Mohamed Salah in the race for the Golden Boot. The Premier League player of the run-in?,’ wrote the Evening Standard’s Dan Kilpatrick in his post-match ratings column.

Had he stayed on the pitch, Son would perhaps have bagged himself a couple more goals, but with Burnley at the weekend, he’ll be fresher than most to give another Premier League side trouble.

It was Sonny’s night in N17 on Thursday, he stole the show for Spurs to keep them firmly in the race for the top four.

AND in other news, Conte could land his new Kante as Spurs eye £17m signing who’s “absolutely everywhere”…

Aston Villa are lining up a bid for Burnley midfielder Josh Brownhill as Steven Gerrard continues his rebuilding job at the Midlands club ahead of next season.

What’s the word?

That’s according to 90min, who reported that Villa are interested in signing the Clarets ace to bolster their squad.

However, they could face competition from Premier League rivals West Ham, who are seemingly the frontrunners for the midfielder due to a long-standing interest.

It could cost up to £15m to sign the 26-year-old, which could be a bargain for Villa when considering Brownhill’s performances this season.

Brownhill could be a replacement for Sanson

With Football Insider revealing last month that Villa had set their price for Morgan Sanson amid interest from Marseille, Brownhill could be a more than suitable replacement for the Frenchman, who will likely depart the Midlands this summer.

Burnley team-mate Jack Cork dubbed the 26-year-old “brilliant” following their recent victory against Watford, and there seems little doubt that Brownhill would improve and stabilise the Villa midfield.

His tackling average of 2.1 per game would put him third in the Villa squad, while attacking-wise he would be joint third for assists with three so far this season, proving he is competent at both ends of the pitch.

Given the inflated fees being thrown about for players on the continent, Gerrard could grab a bargain with Brownhill, and as a player with prior Premier League experience, he could quickly become a vital cog in the Villa midfield rather than needing time to settle into the division.

With Johan Lange set to back the manager with the necessary funds in order to bring success to Villa Park, there is no excuse for a poor start to next season. Therefore, the club must do all they can to try and lure the Burnley ace to the Midlands, and if it means cutting Sanson loose once and for all, so be it.

AND in other news, Villa eyeing £16k-p/w ace who “gives absolutely everything”, he’s better than Mings

BBC pundit Noel Whelan has backed West Ham to make a ‘bargain’ move for Hull City ace Keane Lewis-Potter this summer.

The Lowdown: Hammers facing competition

Just last month, it was reported by Football Insider’s transfer sources that the Irons are set to battle it out with fellow Premier League rivals Brentford in the race to secure the 21-year-old’s signature, with David Moyes being spotted attending the Tigers’ game against Millwall over the Easter weekend to cast an eye over his potential transfer target.

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The winger still has one year remaining on his current contract with the Championship outfit, but former Leeds striker Whelan believes that the Scottish manager is the perfect candidate to help the young prospect make the step up to the top flight, where he has the chance to “do a Jarrod Bowen”.

The Latest: Moyes the mentor

When speaking to Football Insider about the possibility of Lewis-Potter signing for the Hammers, Whelan said: “Moyes is not afraid to go to the Championship and bring players from there, knowing that they can do the job in the Premier League and they’re good enough to do a Jarrod Bowen.

“That’s one thing you can’t question about David Moyes. Transfers, characters, people coming into the club, improving players individually and collectively as a team.

“He’s been building that environment and getting the right characters for the team. Getting the right players that fit into the squad they already have.

“He’s the man to get bargains and dip into the Championship to try to take the gems. Why not? It’s worked before, why would it not work now?

“Another young player, giving him an opportunity to play at a big club in London and showcase his skills like a Jarrod Bowen. Hopefully, he can do the same thing.”

The Verdict: Bags of potential

The England U21 international came through the ranks at Hull and has scored a total of 29 goals and registered 12 assists during his 121 appearances for the club in all competitions, as per Transfermarkt.

The £900k-rated starlet is very versatile and has the ability to play down both flanks, something which Moyes will no doubt be attracted to, and should an offer come in for Lewis-Potter from West Ham, the opportunity of playing at the highest level of English football, not to mention the chance of them claiming a European place next season, would surely be a move he couldn’t refuse.

Once hailed as being a “special talent” by his former boss Grant McCann, it wouldn’t come as any surprise to see the forward following in the footsteps of his ex-teammate Bowen to make the move to the London Stadium in the coming months.

In other news… West Ham have been tipped to register interest in a Premier League star this upcoming window.