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Newcastle United are closing in on a deal for Harvey Barnes after reaching an agreement for Allan Saint-Maximin to leave, and now a new update has emerged on the club's next potential transfer target.

Are Newcastle signing Jesper Lindstrom?

According to German news outlet Frankfurter Rundschau (via Sport Witness), Newcastle are one of the clubs interested in signing Eintracht Frankfurt's Jesper Lindstrom this summer.

As per the report, the Magpies are claimed to be particularly keen on the player, but are competing with Juventus and Arsenal to secure the services of Lindstrom.

It is noted that the Bundesliga club will command a fee of up to €35m (£30m) to part ways with their versatile winger and Newcastle are expected to step up their interest after the sale of Saint-Maximin is completed.

Who is Jesper Lindstrom?

The 23-year-old has been plying his trade with Eintracht Frankfurt and has already been a huge success on the European stage following a Europa League win in 2022, as well as tallying up nine caps and one goal for the Denmark national team.

Lindstrom offers wide versatility in his positioning but is predominantly deployed as an attacking midfielder, where he has had a huge impact at Frankfurt, however, has also made appearances on the left wing, central midfield and in a second striker role too.

Over 77 appearances for his German club, the Danish dynamo – once hailed as "outstanding" by teammate Kevin Trapp – has scored 14 goals and registered 13 assists, with a goal contribution every 185 minutes so far.

As a result, the signing of Lindstrom could be a great opportunity for Eddie Howe to add a player with a wealth of experience and success in European tournaments, as well as bolster the attacking options available next season.

Beyond his goal-scoring abilities, Lindstrom is a huge creative presence; ranking in the top 20% of his positional peers in the Bundesliga last season for progressive carries, tackles won in the defensive third and successful take-ons that have led to goals, displaying strong ball-winning attributes.

Should Newcastle make a concrete move for Lindstrom this summer he could be the perfect partner for Barnes, who is thought to be the direct successor for Saint-Maximin. Indeed, his ball-carrying capabilities and chance creation in the final third could be extremely useful to the Leicester City winger.

Whilst Barnes is a prolific finisher in front of goal, scoring 13 times last campaign, his weakness lies in his ball retention and ball-winning efforts, with the Foxes goal-scorer ranking in the bottom 25% of his positional peers for pass completion, successful take-ons, tackles and interceptions, as per FBref.

Utilising Lindstrom's clear strengths in all that Barnes lacks in his game would provide the Magpies with a full-proof attacking threat and will allow their new potential new signing to focus on what he does best – scoring goals.

With that being said, it would be interesting to see if Newcastle do make a concrete move for Lindstrom this summer, as he would definitely bring something different to the current attacking personnel that Howe has at St James' Park.

West Ham United finally completed the sale of Declan Rice to Arsenal for a club record fee of £105m and manager David Moyes looks set to reinvest this sum into strengthening the team ahead of next season.

Manchester United defender Harry Maguire has caught the eye of the Scot and with a transfer kitty that would make most managers envious, he certainly has the funds to make some big signings this summer.

How much will Harry Maguire cost?

According to The Telegraph, the Hammers look set to test the resolve of the Red Devils by making a bid for the Englishman and with Erik ten Hag stripping him of the captaincy recently, it might be time for him to finally depart Old Trafford and seek pastures new.

United have set their valuation of the defender at £50m and this would represent a big loss from the £80m that they splashed out on him back in 2019, yet it appears as though Ten Hag is keen on moving him on this summer.

With the Irons having money to burn, they may still see £50m as an unrealistic fee, and with just two years left on his current United deal, they may have to bring his asking price down slightly in order to sanction a sale this year.

Why was Harry Maguire stripped of the captaincy at Manchester United?

Throughout the entirety of the 2022/23 campaign, Maguire started a grand total of 16 matches, which included just eight in the Premier League as Ten Hag preferred a defensive duo of Lisandro Martinez and Raphael Varane.

Being stripped of the captaincy will now surely accelerate his exit from the club and Moyes could offer him regular game time, while forging a solid partnership alongside Nayef Aguerd at the heart of his defence.

The Moroccan international endured a stop-start season, primarily due to suffering a serious ankle injury in pre-season, yet he still ranked second for accurate passes per game (33.3) across the whole West Ham squad in the league, as well as third for overall rating as per Sofascore.

He also provided an unlikely goal threat, ranking in the top 6% compared to positional peers across Europe’s big five leagues for non-penalty goals per 90 (0.11).

Maguire could slot in alongside him and offer a more physical presence which would combine well with Aguerd’s solid passing ability.

The Englishman ranked in the top 12% across the big five European leagues for aerials won per 90 (3.01) and the top 11% for blocks per 90 (1.66) which suggests he is a titan at the back, especially with WhoScored stating that his major strength is aerial duels.

Former teammate David De Gea once hailed Maguire as “fantastic” just earlier this year and despite looking out of his depth at the club on certain occasions, he could still offer plenty to West Ham, who conceded 55 goals last term, certainly not the worst total, but it was four more than the previous season, suggesting they need some improvement at the back to move back into the top half.

The next few weeks could be very interesting indeed and Moyes will be confident of luring Maguire to the club.

Liverpool have "spoken to" Chelsea defender Levi Colwill's camp about a summer move, however the Blues have reiterated he is not for sale, and they are set to offer him a long-term contract, according to journalist Felix Johnston.

Is Levi Colwill leaving Chelsea this summer?

There have been reports that Chelsea have already offered Colwill a long-term contract, however he is yet to put pen to paper, and remains open to a move to Brighton & Hove Albion, where he impressed on loan during the 2022-23 campaign.

The Blues have already rejected a bid of £30m for the defender, such is their intention to keep him, and they are set to hand him assurances over his first-team involvement next season, with Mauricio Pochettino planning to make him his first-choice left-sided centre-back.

Despite Chelsea's reluctance to part ways with the 20-year-old, there is growing interest in his services, with Manchester City recently being named as potential suitors in a report from The Evening Standard, which also name-checks Liverpool.

The Reds have been tracking the former Brighton loanee for quite some time, and there are now reports they have made their first move to secure his signature.

Chelsea journalist Felix Johnston recently took to Twitter to provide an update on Liverpool's pursuit of the youngster, saying: "Understand despite being told Colwill is not for sale, Liverpool have spoken to Levi Colwill’s camp again, stating even at a record price they would be interested.

"He’s one reason they haven’t signed a CB. Liverpool also enquired to Chelsea directly. Chelsea reiterated he is not for sale & will offer him a long term contract, but will have to be within new wage structure. Colwill will talk with Poch after U21 Euros. Southgate told Levi he wants to start him at Euro 2024, but he has to be a regular starter this season."

What position does Levi Colwill play?

The Englishman has predominantly featured at centre-back throughout his career so far, however he is also capable of playing at left-back on occasion, having made seven appearances in that area of the pitch, so could be perfect on the left of a back three if Jurgen Klopp adjusts his system to push Trent Alexander-Arnold higher up.

Last season was the young centre-back's breakthrough year in the Premier League, making 17 appearances for Brighton, and he impressed considerably, particularly in the air, averaging 2.6 aerials won per game, the highest amount in the Seagulls squad.

In May, the England U21s international was hailed as "astonishing" for his performance against Arsenal, with his passing ability being branded "incredible", and he ranks in the 99th percentile for passes attempted per 90 over the past year, when compared to his positional peers.

At the moment, Chelsea seemingly have no plans to sell the £15k-per-week defender, however he is open to leaving, and he would surely consider a move to Liverpool, if Klopp gave him assurances over playing time.

Colwill could be an excellent addition for Liverpool, having already proven himself in the Premier League at just 20-years-old, and Klopp will be hoping Chelsea begin to soften their stance as the transfer window goes on.

Newcastle United are reportedly interested in Sporting CP star Goncalo Inacio, as the Magpies eye a busy summer ahead of the 2023/24 campaign.

Eddie Howe is expected to continue to deliver in the transfer window, after the North East side confirmed the marquee signing of AC Milan midfielder Sandro Tonali for a fee of £55m this week.

Having gained access to the Champions League for the first time since 2002/03, Newcastle have a bolstered pull going into the window, with added financial reassurance from Saudi Arabia’s lucrative Public Investment Fund.

Howe could add to the joy of securing Tonali by setting his sights on Inacio, who is a player in demand this summer.

What’s the latest on Goncalo Inacio to Newcastle United?

As reported by Football Insider on Monday, Newcastle are ‘plotting’ a move for Sporting CP centre-back Goncalo Inacio.

The report claims that the Magpies are ‘exploring’ the idea of signing the defender, who “fits the profile” of the individual the club are wanting to hire.

Spanish publication AS listed Arsenal and Liverpool as other candidates eyeing the 21-year-old, who is valued by his club at €45m (£39m).

What could Goncalo Inacio offer to Newcastle United?

Despite discovering the perfect balance in central defence between Sven Botman and Fabian Schar, the Magpies could bolster their back line this summer to add depth and competition in the position.

Another area that sparks rumours that Newcastle could recruit a defender this summer is the uncertainty surrounding the future of Jamaal Lascelles, who has just one year remaining on his contract.

The club captain made just 11 appearances in all competitions last season, registering just two starts in the Premier League all year.

As reported by Football Insider this week, the Englishman will have a ‘decision to make’ this summer on whether he opts to depart or risk facing another campaign deprived of game time.

Should the 29-year-old decide to leave, Howe could find his perfect replacement in Inacio, who had impressed as a standout centre-back in Europe last term.

Lauded as “complete” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, the 21-year-old flexed his ability in being an assured presence in Sporting’s defence, contributing to seven clean sheets in 26 Liga Portugal starts.

As per Sofascore, the Portuguese ace won 59% of his total duels in the league, as well as averaging 1.4 interceptions and 1.2 tackles per game to cement himself as one of the most important figures in Ruben Amorim’s side.

One of the most impressive areas of the defender's game is his ability on the ball, with Kulig describing him as being ‘one of the most interesting’ centre-backs in Europe.

As per FBref, the central defender could add an alternate strength to Newcastle’s side, highlighted through his monstrous average of 9.04 progressive passes per 90, showing his ability to get the ball forward from the back.

To put into comparison the new outlet that Inacio could hand to Howe at St James’ Park, Schar averaged an average of 3.90 progressive passes per 90, with Botman following with an average of 2.50, via FBref.

Newcastle could add a new layer of solidity by signing Incacio, who could not only allow Lascelles to leave without repercussion on numbers in the squad, but also prove to be an upgrade to those already on show in the North East.

Arsenal are firm favourites in the race to sign Southampton star Romeo Lavia after he verbally agreed to join them, according to reports.

Who will join Arsenal this summer?

Sporting director Edu confirmed long ago that transfer activity has been ongoing behind-the-scenes, even before the domestic window opened, with the Brazilian making an admission to ESPN in April (via 90min).

"Our planning has already been done," said Edu.

"It has already reached the owners. Now, we're taking things step by step. We're focused on how we will finish the season, but we've put in the planning and I'm very excited."

Following these plans, many rumours have circulated, with West Ham United star Declan Rice looking like one of the sole focuses of this summer.

The 24-year-old has been the subject of multiple rejected bids already and one of them was a club record, though some reports suggest a third amounting to around £86 million has gone in.

Arsenal are also in talks to sign Ajax defender Jurrien Timber after sealing a deal for Kai Havertz from Chelsea, with the north Londoners aiming to be busy – they could spend around £200 million.

Lavia, who was called a "shining star" in Southampton's relegated team last season, is also being targeted by Edu at Arsenal.

According to Football Insider, there has been a very promising update on their hunt to sign the Belgium international.

Indeed, Arsenal are now in pole position for his signing, above the likes of Chelsea, Liverpool, Man United and others.

This comes as Lavia verbally agrees to join the club following "new talks" with the player's camp.

Arsenal will apparently need a fee in and around £50 million to sign the 19-year-old, though they are in a strong position, with Mikel Arteta also being a "huge fan" of his.

How good is Romeo Lavia?

Lavia, who has been likened to former Man City captain Fernandinho, averaged a higher pass accuracy than any Southampton player in the top flight last season (WhoScored).

Called "sensational" by members of the media like The Mail's Lewis Steele, other journalists such as Sam Tighe have recently expressed views on what an incredible signing he would be for Arsenal.

"I watched every game Roméo Lavia played last season and he was absolutely incredible," said Tighe on Twitter.

"A shining star despite playing in terrible circumstances most of the time. Arsenal reportedly advancing on a deal…one to be very excited about."

Tottenham Hotspur seem to be closing in on what could be Ange Postecoglou's first blunder of his tenure…

What's the latest on Clement Lenglet to Tottenham?

That's according to Spanish outlet Sport, who suggest that the Lilywhites have now agreed personal terms with Clement Lenglet over his proposed return on a permanent basis.

The Barcelona man spent last term on loan in north London, and despite having not set the world alight, has come available for just €10m (£9m). Whilst this might mark a coup, negotiating a change to his £200k-per-week wages should have proved more of a stumbling block than it apparently has done.

It now falls to the two clubs to try and iron out an acceptable fee that would see the 28-year-old finally end his miserable spell with the Catalan giants.

Should Tottenham sign Clement Lenglet permanently?

Having temporarily moved to England with a big reputation, this left-sided defender joined in what many believed to be an intelligent swoop for the club.

However, it quickly became clear why Xavi was so willing to allow the France international to depart the Camp Nou, with his displays in the English capital nothing short of abysmal.

Despite making 26 appearances in the league, he could only muster a 6.65 average Sofascore rating, only the 20th best in a Spurs side that missed out on European football. Gazing back through his recent campaigns in La Liga though, this should not have come as a surprise.

The term before his arrival he could only post a 6.67 average rating in the league, suggesting his steady decline has been there for all to see.

Journalist Jonathan Johnson sought to outline it too, when he took to Twitter to write in 2021: "Lenglet. A complete & utter liability of a defender."

Despite this, in what was a torrid season for Spurs, it was Davinson Sanchez who remained in the firing line for the bulk of the year. The Colombian was even booed off the pitch during one substitution, in which he cut a visibly upset figure.

This was whilst recording a higher average rating than Lenglet in the league of 6.87, even impressing the year before with his 7.08 average rating.

Although he may have been a big-money acquisition back in 2017, the investment into his potential was one worth making at the time, even if he is yet to fulfil it. With 205 games for the club under his belt, the 27-year-old has at least returned some value from his switch.

To sign Lenglet would be a huge blunder for Postecoglou, as he would only repeat the same mistakes that have led to their decline in stature.

The Australian must expel the failures of the past in order to command a brighter future for his new club, the likes of which these kinds of signings should not be a part.

Arsenal, amidst all their high-profile transfer endeavours, could be set to secure one star under the radar…

What's the latest on Romeo Lavia to Arsenal?

That's according to football.london, who sought to detail the various players linked with a switch to the Emirates.

Whilst it is a piece dominated by the likes of Declan Rice and Kai Havertz, Romeo Lavia is one such name that could very easily be missed. However, the information they provide is crucial, suggesting that they are close to an agreement over personal terms with the Belgium international.

Although rumours surrounding Manchester City's interest in Declan Rice might have Gunners fans feeling deflated, this should offer a small uplift in that a similarly solid midfield option seems poised to join.

It was noted earlier this week that Southampton would command a fee of £50m to sanction the exit of their young star, but Edu has already proven himself a shrewd negotiator who is willing to wait on a cheaper deal to appear.

Is Romeo Lavia better than Thomas Partey?

In acquiring this teenage sensation, it could spell terrible news for Thomas Partey, who already continues to be linked with an exit.

Whilst the midfield titan enjoyed one of his standout years in north London, it seems Mikel Arteta is keen on expelling his older players in order to usher in a brighter future. Fortunately for him, the Ghana international boasts plenty of suitors, with Juventus the latest to be linked with a move for him.

What makes this arguably the perfect swap is that Lavia boasts huge similarities with the 30-year-old, and yet is 11 years his junior.

In a Saints side that finished rock-bottom of the Premier League table, the 19-year-old general remained a solid asset in their engine room, never letting the side down. As such, he maintained a 6.80 average rating, buoyed by his 86% pass accuracy, 2.1 tackles and 1.1 interceptions per game, via Sofascore.

Journalist Jacob Tanswell was particularly enamoured with some of the work of the Citizens academy graduate, writing on Twitter: "Romeo Lavia having the courage and awareness to perform a no-touch turn (which was the only right decision) is frankly ridiculous."

Despite his youth, he was happy to sit at the base of the midfield, screening the back four and allowing the foundation for his team to play. Partey operated in a similar role, and thus also recorded 2.1 tackles and 0.8 interceptions per game in the league, as per Sofascore.

With their midfield stalwart seemingly heading for an exit, and a move for his replacement nearing, it seems all signs are pointing towards Arteta continuing his youth-focused revolution, with his Ghanaian general potentially all set to become the latest victim of such an approach.

Carlos Corberan's past history with Leeds United makes him a good candidate to be their next manager, journalist Ryan Taylor has claimed.

Has Corberan been linked with Leeds job?

The Whites have been looking for a new boss since Sam Allardyce's recent exit from Elland Road, following the end of a dreadful season that saw their three-year stay back in the Premier League come to an end.

Numerous individuals have been linked with taking charge of Leeds and one person whose name has continually emerged is Corberan. The 40-year-old enjoyed three years as the Whites' Under-23s manager between 2017 and 2020, before moving on to prove himself in senior management.

He has excelled at West Brom since taking over early in the 2022/23 season, inheriting a team who were second-bottom of the Championship and almost getting into the playoffs last month, just missing out in the end.

The 6ft2in Corberan could jump at the opportunity to return to Elland Road this summer, this time taking on the main job, although it remains to be seen if he is happy at West Brom for the time being.

Why is Corberan a strong choice for Whites?

Speaking to Give Me Sport, Taylor said that Corberan's knowledge of Leeds could work in his favour, as they look to nail the managerial appointment:

"I do like some of those names mentioned. I like Corberan, obviously he's got that Leeds connection as well because he's worked with the clubs under-23s before.

"But again, it needs to be a project at Leeds. It's a cliché at the moment to say this, but you need to look at Burnley as a kind of benchmark in the model they've used to bounce back and come back even stronger than before."

There is certainly plenty of logic surrounding the signing of Corberan this summer, with the Spaniard an exciting young manager who is already proving his worth with the Baggies.

The progress he has made in such a short space of time at the Hawthorns is remarkable, taking them from second bottom to just narrowly missing out on a play-off place. And, if West Brom do keep hold of him, they will surely go into next season as one of the favourites to head into the Premier League.

Granted, Corberan remains inexperienced, and the magnitude of the Leeds job cannot be underestimated, but the fact that he knows the club so well already is a big positive, and he would also represent a long-term appointment with fresh ideas, rather than someone of Allardyce's ilk.

Chelsea could bolster their midfield this summer by signing recently relegated James Maddison.

What’s the latest on James Maddison

With Leicester City resigned to life in England’s second tier, James Maddison looks set to find a new home in the Premier League, with both Arsenal and Chelsea keen on the player, per Simon Phillips’ substack.

Phillips does qualify that whilst the English “monster” – as once described by journalist Josh Bunting – is not the west London club’s primary target, but ‘the interest is real.’

Todd Boehly might need to act quick if he wants to get this deal done, as per Aaron Catterson-Reid of football.london, Arsenal, Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur are also interested.

The Gunners have been long-term admirers of the Foxes midfielder, reportedly trying to sign him in the summer of 2021, but a price tag of £60m proved too much for Edu Gaspar and the board.

The new price widely reported for the Coventry-born midfielder is around £40m.

Whilst significantly cheaper than just two years ago, that is still a hefty fee for a player that has just been relegated and has just a year left on his current deal.

Would James Maddison be a good signing for Chelsea?

There is very little doubt over the quality of the ex-Norwich City man by this point in his career.

Despite playing for a highly dysfunctional Leicester side this year, he has still managed to perform at a consistently impressive level.

According to WhoScored, the 5 foot 9 maestro has averaged an excellent rating of 7.24 this season.

The underlying numbers also bolster his case.

According to FBref, compared to other midfielders in Europe’s top five divisions, Maddison sits in the top 1% of non-penalty goals, assists, expected non-penalty goals and assists, shot-creating actions per 90 and a plethora of other statistics.

So from a purely numbers perspective, £40m looks to be an absolute steal for a player of his quality, and his former manager Brendan Rodgers would likely agree.

Speaking after Maddison’s England call-up last November, Rogers waxed lyrical about the playmaker: “He’s a fantastic player, one of the best in the Premier League.”

England boss Gareth Southgate has also sung his praises in the past, labelling the Leicester man as “world-class” back in 2019.

With the ringing endorsements he has received from the managers he’s played for and numbers as impressive as they are, it won’t be a surprise to see Maddison leave the King Power in the summer, and Chelsea would be wise to ensure that it’s at Stamford Bridge, given the evidence above.

Celtic have their final Premiership game of the season this afternoon as the newly-crowned league champions welcome Motherwell to Parkhead.

Wednesday’s 1-1 draw against Dundee United was enough to confirm Ange Postecoglou’s side as the top dogs in Scotland and reclaim the league title.

Looking ahead to today’s showdown against Motherwell, it gives the home supporters one more chance to see their heroes in action before the season ends and celebrate the Premiership triumph.

On the chalkboard

Before the full celebrations can begin, the Hoops and Postecoglou will want to finish the season with another victory.

In terms of the starting XI, one man who didn’t start in midweek but should be in the team on this occasion is Jota.

After replacing James Forrest just after the hour mark at Tannadice, the Portuguese wizard – who was praised by Postecoglou for his “unbelievable” performances earlier in the season – had 25 touches of the ball.

With those touches, the winger completed 10 passes, had two shots at goal and won four of his five duels. This shows just how much of an attacking nuisance he can be for the Bhoys.

Since arriving at the Parkhead club on loan from Benfica, the 23-year-old has scored 12 goals and provided 14 assists in 39 games across all competitions.

To further highlight how deadly he has been for the Hoops, David Turnbull is the only player currently in the Celtic squad with a higher average for shots and crosses per game in the league this season than the Portuguese winger.

In terms of who the forward could replace, the fact that Liel Abada went off with an injury in midweek could pave the way for the 23-year-old to come back in if the Israel winger isn’t fit enough to play.

Also, in addition to being able to terrify Motherwell with his attacking prowess, another reason for Postecoglou to start Jota this afternoon is to give him what could potentially be his final game for the Hoops before he returns to his parent club in Lisbon.

However, this chance to end the season playing in front of the celebrating home fans could also sway the loan star into wanting to stay at the club and sign for Celtic on a permanent basis should Benfica allow it, which would be something extra for the fans to savour at Parkhead.

In other news: Postecoglou must axe wasteful £14.5k-p/w Celtic ace, he’s holding the team back