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Liverpool are interested in completing a swoop for Juventus winger Federico Chiesa this summer after the Italian's recovery from a long-term injury…

What's the latest on Federico Chiesa to Liverpool?

That's according to Italian outfit Gazzetta dello Sport (via Paisley Gates), who claim that Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool – with competition from Bayern Munich – will attempt to complete the transfer of the 25-year-old Old Lady star for €45m (£39m).

Chiesa has been plagued with injury over the past few seasons and it remains to be seen whether the Reds hierarchy deem it to be an auspicious move.

However, the £155k-per-week gem is one of the most creative wingers in Europe and could create a new dimension to Klopp's system, with just two years left on his current deal too

Should Liverpool sign Federico Chiesa?

Liverpool's recent transfer activity has been harangued by supporters inside and outside the club alike, with the loan signing of Arthur the only central midfield acquisition last summer despite the glaring need for central reinforcements.

The offensive calibre has been rekindled, if not quite at the imperious best of Liverpool's prime period under Klopp's reign, and Darwin Nunez (£85m), Cody Gakpo (£35m), and Luis Diaz (£37m) have all been signed over the past 18 months, yielding more than a few tantalising flashes of a world-class strikeforce.

Despite the emphasis now fixing on the bolstering of the midfield this summer, Chiesa's name continues to churn around the whirring rumour mill, with reports from January tethering the Italy international to links to Anfield.

And what creativity he would bring to Merseyside, hailed as a "wizard" by broadcaster Roger Bennett for his feats on the pitch and registering ten direct goal contributions from just 11 starts across all competitions following his comeback from a detrimental injury layoff that has left him on the sidelines for, incredibly, 62 matches across the past two terms.

It's a gamble, no doubt, but one that might pay off as Klopp crafts a world-class sheen to a team that has fallen from prominence this season, languishing in fifth place in the Premier League as the campaign pulls its drapes closed.

The rich pool of attacking talent at Anfield would allow Chiesa to effectively manage his game time, while still maintaining a "potent" aura – as stated by Rio Ferdinand – ranking among the top 4% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for rate of assists, the top 15% for progressive carries and the top 16% for successful take-ons per 90, as per FBref.

He could make a resurgence to the very forefront on the alternate flank to Diaz, who has endured a similarly injury-stricken time of late, having sustained an injury against Arsenal in October and missing 31 matches as a result.

Diaz, described as a "livewire" by journalist Peter Hall, is one of Europe's most fleet-footed and enterprising wide vehicles around, himself ranking well despite his hampered year, sitting among the top 12% of positional peers for pass completion and the top 12% for successful take-ons per 90.

With such first-rate driving forces down the flanks, Liverpool could reach their zenith once again; Mohamed Salah, imperious goalscorer and devastating offensive phenomenon, has plundered 30 goals and 16 assists this season despite his outfit's woes, but finds fruit cutting inside and wreaking havoc in the danger areas – ranking among the top 1% of peers for touches in the attacking box per 90, and a wide player more suited to a more traditional wing role could pay dividends.

Injecting the fresh dimension that Chiesa would indeed bring could only enhance Liverpool's prospects of success, with the 40-cap international's dynamism perhaps proving the difference between a rekindling of the fire and a resplendent Anfield renaissance next term.

Glasgow Rangers must reignite their interest in forward Lyndon Dykes following a recent contract development.

What’s the latest on Lyndon Dykes to Rangers?

Back in January, journalist Darren Witcoop stated that Rangers were “watching developments” regarding Dykes, as he appeared to be on the move from QPR during the transfer window.

Nothing materialised however, yet new developments regarding the Scotland international have surfaced, as Football League World have now claimed the Championship side could sell the player after he failed to agree terms over a new deal.

This should spark Michael Beale’s interest in the player again, and as Dykes only has one year left on his current contract, the Ibrox side could perhaps land him for a knockdown fee this summer.

Could Rangers sign Lyndon Dykes?

Although the Light Blues have made a solid start to their transfer business already, signing Kieran Dowell and Dujon Sterling, the departures of Alfredo Morelos and Ryan Kent has certainly given Beale a licence to bring in a host of attacking replacements, and Dykes should be one.

The Light Blues are well clued-up on the 27-year-old from his stint with Livingston during 2019/2020 as he netted nine league goals, while even scoring and grabbing an assist against eventual champions Celtic, showcasing his talents.

This form led QPR to make a move for the striker, and he has impressed during his spell in England so far, scoring 29 goals and registering 11 assists, a solid return for a player who cost just £2m three years ago.

Although perhaps not as clinical as Morelos, Dykes offers differing qualities, with his aerial ability being a key strength and he could be an effective target man under Beale.

Indeed, Beale worked with the Australian-born star during the early stages of the 2022/23 campaign, and he scored five goals during that period, suggesting the 42-year-old will know all about what qualities he can offer the current Rangers side ahead of next season.

Former Rangers boss Steven Gerrard lauded Dykes before the Gers took on Livingston in 2020, saying:

“They’ve got a forward in-form in Lyndon Dykes who’s having a real good season, who is capable of playing in the air or on the floor, he’s quite dangerous.”

It would be a dream reunion for Beale should he try and sign the £8k-per-week gem this summer and if they can land him for a reduced fee, it could allow the manager to prioritise other targets while adding some genuine quality to the team, who could offer more than just goals.

Sky Sports journalist Manuele Baiocchini has now made a promising Tottenham Hotspur transfer claim involving central defensive target Sven Botman.

The Lowdown: Bastoni alternative?

Inter Milan star Alessandro Bastoni was a top target for Spurs manager Antonio Conte but both the Italian and club chief Fabio Paratici were dealt a major blow on Wednesday afternoon.

The player’s agent confirmed that he seems set to stay at the San Siro with it now seeming like the Lilywhites must turn to alternatives if they wish to back Conte ahead of his first full Premier League season.

One of these possible targets is thought to be Lille star Botman who has been attracting serious interest from Newcastle United, Manchester United and AC Milan.

The Latest: Baiocchini shares promising update…

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Sky Italy reporter Baiocchini, sharing news on Twitter, has made a promising claim involving Spurs – going on to state that the north Londoners have emerged as ‘stronger and stronger’ contenders for Botman.

This comes as Milan fall behind in the race to sign Ligue 1’s sensation but Tottenham will still face competition from Newcastle and The Red Devils.

The Verdict: Battle on?

Still just 22-years-old, Botman has been a colossal defensive presence for Lille in the French top flight – making more clearances per 90 than anyone in their squad (WhoScored).

He also finished 2021/2022 as their third-best performer by average match rating, just behind star men Renato Sanches and Benjamin Andre (WhoScored).

The in-form Dutchman could also leave his current club for the very reasonable price of €40 million (£34m), potentially marking Botman out as a real standout alternative to Bastoni.

In other news: ‘Better and better’ – Insider says Tottenham could make announcement ‘in the coming days’…find out more here.

Leeds United winger Raphinha has turned down a summer move to Liverpool.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a report by Spanish publication SPORT (via Sport Witness), who claim that, despite receiving a “succulent” offer from Jurgen Klopp’s side, the 25-year-old has rejected a move to Anfield in a fresh twist, as the Brazil international has his heart set on securing a switch to Barcelona this summer.

The report goes on to state that Victor Orta was more than willing to do business with the Premier League and Champions League runners up, something that SPORT suggest is down to the Reds possessing greater financial muscle than the Catalan outfit, as well as the fact that Liverpool were willing to offer the Whites Takumi Minamino in a player plus cash deal.

However, it is said that Raphinha – who has already agreed personal terms with Barca – is only interested in a move to the LaLiga club, and is waiting for Xavi to strike a deal with Leeds in order for his proposed switch to the Camp Nou to go through – with it being claimed the Premier League side are demanding a figure of €65m (£55m) to part with the winger.

Orta will be gutted

While there is an argument to be made that Raphinha joining Barcelona would be preferable to the winger securing a move to Liverpool this summer – as this would dramatically reduce the Whites’ chances of lining up against the forward in the coming seasons – the fact that the 25-year-old has now turned down the chance to join the Reds is more than likely to have left Victor Orta gutted.

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Indeed, not only does it appear much more feasible that Klopp’s side would be able to stump up the £40.5m-rated talent’s asking price in an upfront payment, but the prospect of also landing Minamino – a player who the Whites have been reported to hold an interest in signing this summer – as part of the Brazilian’s deal would undoubtedly have been viewed as a huge bonus by the Spanish sporting director and Jesse Marsch alike.

Meanwhile, Barcelona’s well-documented financial difficulties have cast serious doubts as to whether or not the LaLiga side will be able to afford a move for the winger at all this summer – with the Catalan club already being unable to register new signings Franck Kessie and Andreas Christensen due to their dire accounts.

As such, Raphinha’s apparent adamance on a move to Barcelona above any other club could well, in time, prove to become a source of great frustration for Orta and Leeds, as it is obvious that receiving £55m from the forward’s sale towards the start of the transfer market as opposed to the nearer the end – if at all – would be much more beneficial for the Whites’ own planning and shopping in the summer window.

AND in other news: Surprise: Orta must boldly axe “special” £60k-p/w Leeds ace, Marsch doesn’t need him

Journalist Jacque Talbot has revealed that Newcastle United now ‘want’ to sign Renan Lodi this summer.

The Lowdown: Targett alternative?

It is not guaranteed that the St. James’ Park faithful will sign Matt Targett on a permanent deal from Aston Villa this window, despite 97.5% of surveyed supporters wanting him to stay.

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Thus, they may have to look at other targets in the left-back area in case the Englishman stays put at Villa Park, albeit in what would be a pretty surprising twist.

The Latest: Lodi wanted

Taking to Twitter, Talbot has revealed that they now ‘want’ to sign Lodi, with the Atletico Madrid left-back ‘keen’ on a move to the North East:

“Told Renan Lodi is yet to hear from Atletico and Newcastle regarding the move but club want him and the player is keen.”

The Verdict: Options…

Of course, the Tyneside outfit could still go back in for Targett, but it is good to see them exploring other options, especially in the form of Lodi.

Described as a ‘very dangerous’ player by Atletico manager Diego Simeone, the Brazilian has proven himself at the highest level, playing in the UEFA Champions League this season, while also helping Atletico win the La Liga title last campaign ahead of the likes of Real Madrid and FC Barcelona.

Nonetheless, the Magpies were already able to lure another one of their full-backs in Kieran Trippier to the club in January, and so they should back themselves to get a deal done for Lodi as well.

In other news, find out which ‘exemplary’ soldier NUFC are now ready to sign here!

A huge Rangers update has emerged regarding Ibrox machine Connor Goldson heading into the summer transfer window…

What’s the talk?

Gio van Bronckhorst has revealed that the defender looks set to leave the club upon the expiry of his contract at the end of the month.

The Dutch head coach has not completely ruled out a new contract for the Englishman but is being realistic about the chances of the 29-year-old still being at Ibrox next season.

Van Bronckhorst told the Glasgow Times before the Scottish Cup final: “Regarding Connor, the club has been in talks with him to extend his contract. So far, he hasn’t extended it. The chance he will still be a Rangers player after tomorrow will be small.

“I would love to have Connor in the team next year. But as you see quite a lot, when players are getting out of contract, there are two possibilities – to keep playing or to move on and maybe have another challenge.

“I still have in my mind that he will be part of Rangers next year. That’s my feeling more than the reality. We will have to watch in the coming weeks. But I think Connor has been amazing for this team in all of his years as a Rangers player. Will it be his last game on Saturday? I don’t know right now.”

Supporters will be gutted

Gers supporters will surely be left feeling gutted by these comments from the manager, as they suggest that Goldson will be on his way out of the club this summer.

Van Bronckhorst states that the likelihood of the defender staying at Rangers is ‘small’, and this will be upsetting for fans as the centre-back has been a vital player at Ibrox in recent years.

In the Premiership this term, Goldson averaged an excellent SofaScore rating of 7.18 as he started 36 of the Light Blues’ 38 matches. He produced consistently brilliant performances at the heart of the defence as he made himself a reliable option for the head coach.

Last season, he started al 38 top-flight games and averaged a phenomenal score of 7.39 for the Gers as he helped the team to keep a whopping 26 clean sheets on their way to the title. He won an impressive 71% of his duels and made 2.2 tackles and interceptions per game as he played a pivotal role in their success.

Goldson also showcased his quality on the continental stage as he caught the eye in the Europa League, with an average Sofascore rating of 7.00 across 14 starts as Rangers fell short in the final against Eintracht Frankfurt.

These statistics illustrate how impressive he has been for the Glasgow giants and shows why the supporters will surely be gutted by his potential exit ahead of next season.

AND in other news, Ross Wilson plotting Rangers swoop for 16 y/o “teen talent”, GvB will be buzzing…

Transfer insider Dean Jones says that Newcastle United will now ‘listen to offers’ for Allan Saint-Maximin in the summer.

The Lowdown: Time up?

Saint-Maximin has been linked with a big-money move away from St. James’ Park this summer, with Aston Villa thought to be one of the clubs interested in his signature.

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With just five goals and four assists so far this season (Transfermarkt), perhaps we have not seen the best of him, and so he could be sold in order to help fund a mega spending spree which could comply with Financial Fair Play regulations.

The Latest: Jones update

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, Jones has shared that the North East club will now ‘listen to offers’ for Saint-Maximin, claiming that he ‘didn’t help himself’ by asking for a new deal earlier this season:

“Saint-Maximin didn’t help himself by asking for a new contract at a time where he probably didn’t need one or maybe deserve one. From what I understand, Newcastle will listen to offers for Saint-Maximin in the summer.”

The Verdict: At the right price

The Tyneside outfit should only be looking to sell Saint-Maximin for the right price.

Dubbed a ‘top-class’ player by Kevin Phillips, his influence on the team is still unquestionable, as he currently ranks as their second-best performer in the Premier League overall, and top in terms of assists, shots and dribbles per game (WhoScored).

However, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s (KSA) Public Investment Fund (PIF) may want to aim even higher in the market now that they have secured their Premier League safety, and so Saint-Maximin could be sold to help balance the books for FFP.

In other news, find out which ‘absolute beast’ NUFC are now eyeing this summer here!

Aston Villa and West Ham are reportedly readying big offers to sign Lille forward Jonathan David.

The Lowdown: David profiled

David, primarily a centre-forward who can also play as a second striker or as an attacking midfielder, has been with Lille since 2020. [Transfermarkt]

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Valued at £45m, the Canada international has scored 30 goals in 94 appearances for the Ligue 1 side and has an impressive record for his country, netting 20 times in 30 games.

Labelled as ‘fearless’ by Canada manager John Herdman, the two-footed forward is under contract in France until 2025, but it looks as if a summer exit could be on the cards.

The Latest: Villa ready to write ‘big cheque’

Sports Witness relayed a story from a French outlet regarding David on Thursday. They claim that both Villa and West Ham stand out in a long list of potential buyers, adding that they are ‘likely’ to write a ‘big cheque’ for his services.

Arsenal, Liverpool, Borussia Dortmund, Inter Milan and PSG are also name-checked in the report, with a €50m (£42.5m) fee mooted.

The Verdict: Watkins replacement?

It looks as if both Villa and West Ham are willing to spend big on a forward ahead of the 2022/23 season, with the Hammers actually keen on Ollie Watkins.

Reports in recent days have stated that David Moyes’ side are eyeing up a move for the forward this summer, with Villa looking to make a substantial profit on the 26-year-old.

So, should West Ham come in with a bid for Watkins, NSWE could then put those funds towards a move for David, who now has Champions League experience and has netted at least 13 league goals in each of the past three seasons, turning out in a variety of attacking roles.

In other news: NSWE now close to agreeing deal for another midfielder alongside Coutinho.  

Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe strengthened his team with a host of new signings throughout the January window.

The Magpies head coach was given the funds by PIF to make major additions to his squad in the form of Kieran Trippier, Chris Wood, Matt Targett, Bruno Guimaraes and Dan Burn.

These players, along with the existing playing roster, have propelled the Toon clear of relegation. They are 11 points above the bottom three in the Premier League with three games left to play and look set for another year in the top flight.

The focus may now turn to the summer transfer window and the players they want to bring in to take the team to the next level.

Earlier this season, it was reported that Newcastle are interested in landing Borussia Dortmund gem Axel Witsel at the end of the campaign with a contract offer of €7m (£6m) per season.

They have recently been handed a golden opportunity to go through with that, as the Belgian midfielder has confirmed that he will be a free agent this summer, stating earlier this month: “I’ll be gone next season. I am very happy that I have played here (Dortmund) for four years at the highest level. But I am sad to leave the club. I have many friends and great teammates here.”

Howe must now pounce on this chance to swoop for the enforcer, for whom Dortmund paid €20m (£17.1m), as he would be a superb addition to the Newcastle squad with his quality and experience at the top level.

Dortmund icon Marco Reus previously heaped praise on the Belgian battler, saying: “Axel has a lot of international experience as a number six and a number eight. He radiates calmness and self-confidence – in critical situations, too. Axel showed what he can do at the World Cup. He will make us better.”

These comments show how highly Witsel’s captain rates him, which is understandable when you look at his career. The 33-year-old has played a staggering 120 matches for Belgium at senior level and featured in more than 100 games for each of Dortmund, Zenit and Standard Liege.

Throughout his career, he has averaged an impressive WhoScored rating of 6.98 across 353 outings, making 2.9 tackles and interceptions per game. This shows that the holding midfielder has played to a high standard consistently over the course of many years, which is why he would be a fine player for Howe to call upon.

Imagine him and Bruno Guimaraes lining up in the Magpies’ midfield. Whilst Witsel can use his defensive quality and experience to shield the back four and keep things ticking over, the Brazilian can go forward to inject life into the attack.

The January signing has four goals and one assist in eight Premier League starts, and his attacking flair mixed with the Belgian’s nous can make for an exciting midfield partnership, which is why Newcastle must snap up the 33-year-old on a free transfer.

AND in other news, PIF prepared to make NUFC bid for “well-schooled” £17m tank, Howe would love him…

Journalist Alasdair Gold has been full of praise for Tottenham Hotspur centre-back Cristian Romero following his ‘superb’ performance against Leicester City.

The Lowdown: Eye-catching performance

Antonio Conte named the 24-year-old in his starting line-up for the Premier League clash against the Foxes on Sunday afternoon as the Lilywhites secured a 3-1 victory at home, with goals coming from captain Harry Kane and a brace from Son Heung-Min.

The Argentina defender caught the eye of the football.london correspondent when making a challenge which ultimately led to Son scoring Spurs’ second goal of the match on the hour mark.

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The Latest: Gold praises Romero challenge

Gold took to Twitter immediately after the goal to share his thoughts on Romero’s fateful intervention, which prompted some Leicester complaints over what they felt was a foul on Caglar Soyuncu.

Providing updates on the match for football.london, the journalist wrote: “Son fires home to double Spurs’ lead, with Kulusevski setting him up. It all came from a huge, crunching tackle from Romero in the centre of the pitch. Full commitment from the Argentine, who has been superb today once again.”

The Verdict: Romero was excellent for Spurs

Aside from that moment, the £29k-per-week Romero was a standout performer against Brendan Rodgers’ side, proving to be an absolute rock at the heart of the defence. As per SofaScore, the Argentine made five clearances, three tackles and three interceptions, along with winning both of his aerial duels and five of his ground duels.

His challenge turned out to be a pivotal moment in the game because it helped to give Spurs a two-goal safety cushion, at a time when Conte’s side were lacking a bit of inspiration while the match was very much in the balance.

This crucial win for Tottenham sees them remain firmly in the hunt for a Champions League place at the end of the season, with just four games of the current campaign left to play.

In other news… a Spurs source has shared some big in-house player news