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Aston Villa are one of a number of clubs keeping tabs on the situation of Branco van den Boomen this summer, according to reports from Turkey via Sport Witness.

Who could Aston Villa sign during the transfer window?

The Villans are marching towards the top-eight finish in the Premier League, and with only two games left in the campaign, it is still possible for Unai Emery's side to jump above Brighton and into the European spots – something that would delight the side's supporters no doubt.

The work that Emery has done in guiding Villa in the right direction already cannot be understated. Joining them back in November 2022, the boss has averaged 1.80 points per match so far and has instantly boosted their results after the tenure of Steven Gerrard.

Ahead of the summer, the club, and by extension owners NSWE, are now preparing for ways in which they can continue to bolster their squad. One name that has now appeared as one of their potential targets is that of Toulouse midfielder Van den Boomen. According to reports from Turkey, via Sport Witness, Villa are keeping tabs on his situation, with the player's current deal set to run out when the current campaign ends.

However, it won't be easy for Emery to seal a deal for the player. The same report adds that Leeds are also rivalling the Villans for his signature, with Marseille, Fenerbache and Galatasaray also mulling over offers. It means that competition for the 27-year-old's signature will be high – but the midfielder himself seemingly prefers a Turkish switch.

Who is Branco van den Boomen?

The Dutchman might not be a name too familiar to those on English shores but Van dan den Boomen has certainly impressed in France with Toulouse.

Football talent scout Jacek Kulig has previously labelled the midfielder as "outrageous" due to his goal contributions last season. He's impressed again this year despite his role in the centre of the field, with five goals and eight assists. It's also led to a WhoScored rating of 7.10 – making him one of the standout players in his position in Ligue 1. It isn't all about offensive output though. Van den Boomen also manages 2.1 tackles per game on average and 0.8 clearances – showing he is adept at both ends of the field.

If Villa did manage to sign the 27-year-old, who appears to be at the top of his game with a career-high €9m Transfermarkt valuation, then, he could be an underrated addition to their lineup.

Liverpool choosing to snub their pursuit of Jude Bellingham could help to accelerate the progress of discussions with other midfield targets at Anfield, according to journalist Ben Jacobs.

What's the latest news involving Jude Bellingham?

As per ESPN, Liverpool pulled out of making a move to try and sign Borussia Dortmund sensation Bellingham in order to focus on rebuilding their squad this summer.

The report states that the Reds would've been committing a large portion of their spending power in the forthcoming transfer window to the deal and wouldn't have been able to strengthen adequately ahead of 2023/24 in other areas.

Transfer guru Fabrizio Romano has since updated the world with the news that Bellingham looks set for a move to La Liga giants Real Madrid on Twitter, stating: "Real Madrid are already preparing the official bid for Jude Bellingham. After personal terms agreed on long-term deal 2 weeks ago, proposal will be sent to BVB and it will include add-ons. Timing also depends on Bundesliga title race; Real will be respectful with Dortmund."

In 2022/23, the 19-year-old has made 42 appearances in all competitions for his current employers, registering 14 goals and seven assists, as per Transfermarkt.

Speaking to Football FanCast, journalist Jacobs has indicated that he expects Liverpool to have a busy transfer period this summer.

Jacobs told FFC: "I sense with the whole, pulling out of the race for Jude Bellingham was not only Liverpool not wanting that to eat up a large proportion of their budget and the saga drag out. It was also a situation whereby they will have known that there were other gettable targets that they could focus their attention on and as a consequence, I expect Liverpool have lined things up and, in the early part of the window, be really quite busy."

Who else have Liverpool targeted in terms of midfielders?

Liverpool have targeted several midfielders ahead of the summer as Jurgen Klopp looks to beef up his engine room with some fresh legs.

As per Football Insider, Chelsea midfielder Mason Mount has been mooted as a possible target and it is said that the Blues will sell him in the transfer window if they cant get him to agree to a contract extension.

Bayern Munich anchorman Ryan Gravenberch is also someone of interest to Liverpool and is believed to be open to a move to Anfield due to frustration over a lack of regular minutes, according to The Mirror.

PSV Eindhoven enforcer Ibrahim Sangare has also attracted attention from the red half of Merseyside, signifying that Liverpool fans are in for an exciting few months ahead as they plot a squad restructure ahead of 2023/24.

When the final whistle blew following Liverpool's enthralling 2-2 draw against title-challenging Arsenal last month, Diogo Jota's goalless run stretched to 32 matches.

The Echo's Ian Doyle stated that the Portuguese was a man 'desperately in need of a goal', with the barren run sandwiching a lengthy tussle with injuries that had hampered his progress and ruled him out of 23 matches this season.

His deserted cutting edge was not for want of trying; over the past year, the £140k-per-week star has taken an average of 2.87 shots per 90, as per FBref, putting him among the top 15% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe's top five leagues for that statistic.

His creativity has also been invaluable to Liverpool when he has been fit, ranking among the top 1% for rate of assists and registering eight across all competitions this term, despite only starting on 13 occasions.

Jota has now plundered five goals from his past five matches, starting just three of those contests, instrumental with braces against Leeds United and Nottingham Forest and defying logic with his 94th-minute strike to defeat Tottenham Hotspur – who had clambered back from a three-goal deficit at Anfield.

Who could Jota replace at Liverpool?

Liverpool have certainly not been at the races this season and have fallen well below expectations with their lack of cohesion and dismal away form, failing to clinch any major honours and unlikely to qualify for the Champions League for the first time in seven years.

Despite this, recent fortunes have been promising and Jurgen Klopp's Reds currently ride a five-match win streak in the top flight; with four matches left to play, ceding territory is simply not an option and pressure must be placed on Newcastle United and Manchester United, who occupy third and fourth place in the table and have both played fewer matches than Liverpool.

With Erik ten Hag's Red Devils fell to defeat against Brighton & Hove Albion in the dying embers of their Thursday night clash, the situation both improved and became all the more concerning for Klopp's men.

United, fourth and four points above the Reds – having still played one game less – can be caught, despite the odds, but the Seagulls' victory is a telling reminder that if Liverpool are to cede ground, they would not only fall from Champions League contention but fall prey to a possible furtherplummet down the rankings.

Because of this, Jota, who has been lauded as a "pressing monster" by Pep Lijinders, must be unleashed with regularity in the place of Luis Diaz, who has recently returned from a long-term injury and has, understandably, fluctuated somewhat with his performances.

Having been a "livewire", as remarked by Pete Hall, for Klopp's team since his arrival from Porto last year in a £37m deal, Diaz has scored 11 goals and supplied eight assists from 43 appearances and been praised for his fleet-footed brilliance by his manager, who called him "exceptional".

However, with no margin for error at this vital stage of the campaign, the 30-cap Jota, who has scored ten goals for his nation, would be the better option to place into the starting fold given his recent return to goal-scoring form.

There is no doubt that Diaz is one of the most talented and exciting wingers in European football, let alone the Premier League – valued at £79m by CIES Football Observatory – but with the slightest slip-up perhaps detrimental for Liverpool at this stage, Jota simply has to start.

Manchester United took one step closer to securing Champions League qualification last night, but could have made it a certainty had they fought off a late resurgence from Tottenham Hotspur.

Having led 2-0 at the break, Ryan Mason's revitalised Lilywhites had halved the deficit just over ten minutes after the restart. The home support were back onside, and it would take until the 79th minute until they would finally claim their equaliser.

Heung-min Son finished off what would be his third goal in four Premier League games, as the game ended 2-2.

This leaves the Red Devils still four points clear of Spurs with two games in hand, with an equally sizable lead on all those below despite the varied situation regarding games played. Last night was a must not lose, but the manner of the draw will frustrate Erik ten Hag.

His team were clearly feeling the effects of their recent 120-minute slog fest with Brighton and Hove Albion, which told in his rotation and substitutions throughout their latest clash.

However, from earning widespread accolades for his showing at Wembley, Aaron Wan-Bissaka returned to the disappointing dud that has instead drawn criticism in the past. Scared to push forward and even shaky at times defensively, the former Crystal Palace ace had a night to forget in north London.

How did Aaron Wan-Bissaka play vs Tottenham Hotspur?

To drop from a 7.4 Sofascore rating in an FA Cup semi-final to the 6.6 showing of last night could be chalked down to fatigue, but it does not excuse the fact that the £90k-per-week dud very nearly let his manager down on numerous occasions.

Having been booked late in the first half, it always felt like Wan-Bissaka was one mistimed tackle away from receiving his marching orders. As such, his Dutch boss saw fit to withdraw him early as to protect him.

Across his 71 minutes on the pitch, the full-back would record just 47 touches and an 83% pass accuracy. Creatively anonymous, the 26-year-old would not find anyone with his three attempted crosses, whilst also being unsuccessful in his two attempted dribbles too, via Sofascore.

Such a lack of influence on the game is further highlighted by the fact that even David De Gea recorded more touches of the ball (48).

However, and perhaps most shockingly, the usually-imperious defender proved that he can also be a "liability" at times – as he has previously been dubbed by journalist Andrew McDonnell.

Indeed, he lost 66% of his six duels; alarming for someone who is often so reliable in one-on-one situations. It was this shakiness that encouraged his boss to get him off before he truly let his team down.

Whilst he would claim tiredness played a factor in such a sluggish performance, their continued battle on numerous fronts means this is far from a valid excuse. Wan-Bissaka was just not his usual self last night.

Arsenal have earned widespread praise this season, and rightly so, for their free-flowing and fresh outlook on challenging for the title.

Mikel Arteta has assembled a squad of likeable youngsters blended perfectly with quality and experience, and is reaping the rewards.

What knits everything together however is his philosophy, which he has borrowed largely from his former colleague Pep Guardiola. The Manchester City man, who is his closest competitor in this race for glory, has revolutionised the tactical landscape with his ideals over the years.

Whether it be inverted wing backs, playing without a striker or insisting the goalkeeper play out from the back, every coach has taken some inspiration from the legendary Spaniard.

However, what Arteta has built leans massively on all three of those attributes and more, even taking Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko from the Cityzens to complete his outfit.

The latter in particular has been a revelation, with his technical quality and immense intelligence at left-back helping to uphold the whole structure. However, with Granit Xhaka nearing the twilight years of his career and his spot on the left side of midfield opening up, the Gunners need look no further than their Ukrainian defender to fill such a void.

This would free up a new vacancy for Lino Sousa to emerge from the academy.

Who is Lino Sousa?

Having deputised in the engine room on numerous occasions, and boasting both the attacking and defensive quality to shine in place of the Swiss general, Zinchenko would be a fine fit.

This season he has averaged 0.9 key passes, 1.6 tackles and one clearance per game (via Sofascore), which is hardly a far cry from Xhaka's 1.4 key passes, 0.9 tackles and 1.1 clearances (via Sofascore).

A central role would free him up, unlocking him and allowing him to flex his creative muscles.

Meanwhile, Arteta could mould Sousa in his image, given he is still just 18 years old. As a malleable teenager, his whole play style could be built to slot straight into the first team when the time is right.

The defender has become a mainstay for the U21s of late, boasting 16 appearances and just one assist.

Despite a poor average rating in the Football League Trophy, his general statistics suggest he could more than make up for the vacancy that would be left by the 26-year-old. He boasted one key pass, one tackle, 1.3 interceptions and two clearances per game, a fine return (via Sofascore).

Such is his pedigree, his manager Kevin Betsy even branded him "outstanding", claiming: "That’s the level of character we want to build for our young strong Gunners and we continue that."

It seems like all the pieces are there to be put together, and considering Arteta is yet to put a foot wrong, this could be another intelligent string he could add to his ever-improving bow.

Newcastle United may feel as if they should’ve been playing against 10 men last night after a challenge on Fabian Schar went unpunished.

The Lowdown: VAR at the centre of attention once again

The Magpies showed impressive mental toughness on Friday night as they came from behind to pick up three points for the first time this season thanks to a stoppage-time Alexander Isak penalty after a freak handball incident.

However, the three points certainly didn’t come without controversy as VAR ruled out what would’ve been Elliot Anderson’s first-ever senior goal for his boyhood club for an apparent offside infringement from Sean Longstaff, which left several people confused.

It seemed as though Forest’s gameplan was to ruffle a few feathers within the Newcastle team as they committed 17 fouls and picked up five yellow cards, and it could’ve been a lot worse had VAR intervened and looked at Andre Ayew’s first-half challenge on Schar.

The Latest: Newcastle may feel aggrieved by the latest VAR decision

While many Newcastle fans will be angered by the decision that cost Anderson his special moment in front of the fans, this foul on Schar should arguably be getting more attention given how dangerous it could’ve been.

Ghana international Ayew slid in from behind with a scissoring motion that caught Schar on the ankle and got nowhere near the ball. However, it didn’t even warrant a yellow card from referee Paul Tierney, and VAR didn’t believe it was dangerous play, either.

The Verdict: Off-field controversy overshadowing victory

It seemed as though it was going to be one of those nights for Newcastle as they crashed efforts off the bar twice in the first half and saw Keylor Navas pull off stunning saves in the second period.

The fact that Tierney didn’t even believe this challenge warranted a stronger punishment perhaps sums up what many fans may think of his own performance at the City Ground last night, as this tackle could’ve ended awfully.

Schar did well to somehow get his ankle out of danger, as the Switzerland international could well have been looking at several weeks on the sidelines on another day.

Nottingham Forest could be without left-back Renan Lodi for this afternoon’s meeting with Everton.

The Lowdown: Regular

Lodi arrived on loan from Atletico Madrid over the summer and has made himself a regular in Steve Cooper’s side in 2023. The 24-year-old, hailed as ‘hard-working’ by Diego Simeone, has started the last 10 Premier League fixtures, helping Forest to four clean sheets.

The Reds have picked up a more than respectable 15 points in that run, however, the Brazilian may miss a matchday squad for the first time since October after he was replaced with an issue against West Ham last time out.

The Latest: Injury update

Nottingham Post reporter Sarah Clapson shared a story on Friday following Cooper’s pre-Everton press conference.

The story said that Lodi faces a late fitness check ahead of this afternoon’s fixture and that the full-back was actually a doubt before West Ham with a groin issue.

The Verdict: Toffolo time?

Lodi is one of three left-backs on the books at the City Ground alongside Harry Toffolo and Omar Richards. As per WhoScored, Lodi has outperformed Toffolo this season, so missing the former for a key fixture wouldn’t be ideal. Richards has been out all season through injury, so if Lodi isn’t passed fit, Cooper may be forced to go with Toffolo.

The 27-year-old last started for Forest in the league back in October, although he was initially first choice at the beginning of the campaign, so could prove to be a solid replacement.

All eyes will be on team news an hour before kick-off, and it’ll be interesting to see if Lodi makes it or if Cooper is forced into another defensive change

Journalist Damian Spellman believes Newcastle United have to improve their midfield department this summer.

The Lowdown: A lack of depth may be concerning

The Magpies appear to be in something of a slump as they’ve drawn five out of their last six games in the Premier League.

Meanwhile, their sole win in that run came against Fulham, largely thanks to Aleksandar Mitrovic double-kicking his penalty before Alexander Isak headed in an added-time winner.

This run of form has also come at a worrying time for Eddie Howe, as his squad is being stretched, with Bruno Guimaraes out for another game, Jonjo Shelvey having left for Nottingham Forest and Joe Willock going off against Bournemouth with a hamstring injury.

It was reported in January that Newcastle’s main priority during the transfer window was to improve the centre of midfield, but despite losing Shelvey, that didn’t end up happening, which has left the Magpies short in the middle of the pitch.

The Latest: Newcastle will look to improve in the summer

Newcastle will have aspirations of playing European football next season and that would require a deeper squad – something Spellman expects them to address this summer as he spoke on the Everything is Black and White podcast.

He said: “There’s no secret that Eddie Howe didn’t want to let Jonjo Shelvey leave, and I suspect when he did okay it, he thought they might get somebody in – and ultimately they didn’t.

“I think it’s glaringly obvious that that is one of the departments in which they need to strengthen and I think it will be somewhere they’ll invest in the summer – and we all know they’ve looked at people for that position or that area of the pitch.”

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The Verdict: PIF to go big next transfer window

While not spending heavily in January will likely put Newcastle in a healthier spot to spend more freely in the summer, if it ends up costing them either the top four or a chance to lift the Carabao Cup, that decision will likely be criticised.

Howe made it very clear during January that Newcastle didn’t want to spend money for the sake of it as they hoped to avoid handcuffing themselves financially for future windows, so it’s a very sensible approach taken by the club’s owners.

However, if Newcastle don’t make the top four, the calibre of players they could attract could drop significantly, so it’s a risky strategy and one that may well come back to bite them if they keep picking up injuries and fail to capitalise on a bizarre season where several of the usual suspects have been left behind in the Champions League race.

Journalist Dean Jones has claimed that Wolves won’t be able to keep hold of Ruben Neves at the end of the season as the player won’t renew his contract.

What’s the word?

Over the weekend, the club took a potentially huge step towards Premier League survival as they blew Liverpool out of the water with a 3-0 win at home.

Of course, it’s just three points, but a win like that will give the fans and players great confidence that things are heading in the right direction under new boss Julen Lopetegui.

However, while Wolves may progress well between now and the end of the summer, a dark cloud hangs over the club due to the fact that key player Neves could leave in the summer when his contract will enter its final year.

Indeed, while speaking about it all on Chasing Green Arrows, Jones damningly claimed that Neves is unlikely to hang around even despite the team’s improvement under Lopetegui.

He said: “It’ll be interesting to see whether they can, now beyond this season, then actually build on this moment because there’ll be so much interest in players like Ruben Neves and it seems unlikely he will stay any longer.”

Time to say goodbye

Apart from new signing Craig Dawson (who has played just one game), no Wolves player has performed better than Neves in the Premier League this season.

That is according to WhoScored, who have the midfielder as the highest-ranked member of Lopetegui’s squad with an average player rating of 7.03 spread across 2o games.

With that in mind, it’s easy to see why his exit could be a real setback for Wolves and with his contract set to expire in June 2024, it really does look as though he could leave.

Newcastle United have been linked in the past with journalist Craig Hope suggesting that he’s on the club’s list and they’re “keeping very, very close tabs on” the 25-year-old.

And so, if Wolves don’t want to lose Neves for free, and they can’t convince him to stay, he may well have to be sold in the summer.

Chelsea could well be set to continue their January spending by making a move for Everton starlet, Amadou Onana, according to the latest reports.

What’s the word?

As per The Times, the Blues are reportedly interested in turning to the 21-year-old in order to bolster their midfield ranks this month, as the west London outfit look for cheaper alternatives to that of Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez.

The Belgian international only arrived at Goodison Park on a £33m deal over the summer, although Graham Potter’s side could potentially look to exploit the uncertainty surrounding the Toffees, with the Merseysiders believed to be strapped for cash.

Any move for the former Lille man will, however, be complicated by the fact that Premier League rivals Arsenal are also said to be in the mix for the youngster’s signature.

Imagine him and Kante

Todd Boehly and co are seemingly keen to reverse the club’s current woes with further additions before the end of the window, with the centre of the park one particular area of concern at present.

That fact has been influenced by the continued absence of N’Golo Kante so far this term, with the diminutive Frenchman having been sorely missed after missing much of the campaign through injury.

The 31-year-old’s importance to the side was laid bare by former boss Thomas Tuchel last year, with the Champions League-winning coach having described him as “the guy who makes the difference” and a “key player” for the club.

As such, the hope will be that the former Leicester City ace will return sooner rather than later, with it looking as if the experienced asset will remain at the club for the long term, with a new contract seemingly in the works.

Having the dynamic presence of Kante alongside the more youthful Onana could well have the makings of a truly mouthwatering partnership as far as Potter is concerned, with the latter man having been lauded as an “incredible talent” by journalist Julien Laurens.

The 6 foot 4 colossus has also notably earned comparisons to Juventus maestro Paul Pogba in the recent past, with the former Manchester United man having featured alongside Kante at international level in recent years, with both playing a key role in the World Cup triumph for Les Bleus in 2018.

Onana would no doubt offer a real imposing and commanding presence at the heart of Potter’s side due to his impressive stature, while he notably ranks in the top 9% among those in his position in Europe for tackles made, as well as in the top 12% for aerial duels won.

That ball-winning knack is also shared by Kante, with the 5 foot 7 ace ranking in the top 15% for tackles made, as well as in the top 15% for interceptions.

That destructive, little and large combination could well prove particularly effective for the Blues moving forward, with it easy to see just why the club are considering a move to pluck Onana from his current surroundings.