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Liverpool have been strongly linked with a move for Romeo Lavia this summer and now a new update from a reliable source could be present a huge opportunity for the club to advance on their target.

What's the latest on Liverpool's interest in Romeo Lavia?

According to The Athletic's football correspondent David Ornstein, the Southampton midfielder is one of the players under consideration as Liverpool are expecting a bid for Fabinho from Al Ittihad.

As per a report written for the publication, Ornstein reveals that the Reds are preparing for a £40m bid for their long-standing defensive midfielder and Lavia is named as a potential replacement.

A further analysis from Andy Jones in the same article reveals that whilst the Merseyside club retain an interest in Lavia, they are not keen on his £50m valuation set by the recently relegated club.

What position does Lavia play?

Reports of approaches for both Jordan Henderson and Fabinho from the Saudi Pro League in the last few days will leave Jurgen Klopp with huge decisions to make during his preparations for next season.

Whilst the German coach is all too familiar with FSG's 'sell to buy' transfer policy that ultimately creates hurdles for him to acquire the services of further new additions this summer, he will need to consider if he has enough experience in the centre of the pitch to sanction moves away for two of his most experienced assets.

However, an opportunity to add a younger talent into the midfield rebuild will be hard to ignore for the club and Lavia could be a great prospect for the next generation of success at Anfield, should Liverpool sanction the sale of Fabinho.

When comparing Lavia's output to his Liverpool positional peer, the Saints star outperformed Fabinho in a number of key defensive attributes per 90 minutes played including tackles won (2.43 v 2.13), interceptions (1.34 v 1.25), blocks (1.90 v 1.23) and successful take-ons (1.13 v 0.25), proving that he was a more prolific and confident ball-winner over the last 12 months.

The 19-year-old sensation – who was once hailed a "real diamond" by football talent scout Jacek Kulig – was one of the most talked about talents in the Premier League over last season and despite Southampton's relegation to the Championship, has been lauded for his strong presence in the heart of his team.

Paul Scholes is one of many former professionals who have been in awe of Lavia's development and skill set, with the Manchester United legend analysing the youngster's strengths:

"He has got a pass in his locker and he is big and strong and likes to defend. He does not want to get forward too much and sits in front of the back four and sets the play in motion from there."

Indeed, there is a huge risk that comes with offloading a number of experienced players all at once, especially when they have a sound understanding of the manager's system and the club culture, which ultimately helps with bedding in newcomers who will learn from those leaders and mainstays that represent the team.

Fabinho has been a key component to Liverpool's success over the last half a decade and with three years remaining on his contract, continues to play a vital and trusted role in the team, something that will be hard to replace next season if he does exit for Saudi Arabia.

With that being said, the developments at Anfield over the coming days and weeks will definitely be one to watch, and it will be interesting to see whether Klopp is ready to dive straight into a complete transition of his midfield presence or retains his more experienced players for the campaign ahead.

The departure of Mason Mount to Manchester United is a topic that has rocked the Chelsea fanbase and has left many to question the judgement of the new ownership.

On one side, the Englishman is a two-time Chelsea Player of the Year, who also provided the Champions League-winning assist for Kai Havertz in 2021.

However, those against Mount have questioned his quality and commitment to the club, with suggestions that he had rejected contract proposals, which left no option but his unwanted sale.

It is an endless debate, steeped in speculation and controversy, but the 24-year-old has gone and Mauricio Pochettino must pinpoint a suitable replacement to fill the void he has left in the squad.

Such is the nature of the chaotic and headline-addicted regime of Todd Boehly, an array of names have been linked, and one of the latest to add to the list is Paolo Dybala.

Is Paolo Dybala joining Chelsea?

According to Matteo De Santis, the Roma star is attracting the attention of Pochettino, who could be available for £10m, a deal which is valid until 30 July.

Back in March, the 29-year-old spoke on his release clause and the interest being shown in him: “Surely, we’ll talk about this later on. My future is here, I want to bring Roma as high as possible and I think we can do it. I don’t know what will happen in the future.”

However, the tweet details that Roma is not currently not worried, but it is certainly something to keep an eye on.

How many goals has Paolo Dybala scored?

The Argentine is a jewel of Italian football. He has played in southern Italy since 2012 and has recorded 168 goal involvements in 296 appearances in Serie A appearances.

This ridiculous record included netting 115 times for Juventus and ranks as the ninth-highest scorer in the club’s history.

The 38-cap international moved to the Giallorossi last year and has continued his dazzling reputation as the magisterial nucleus of the side, recapturing the mesmerising form that endeared him to the hearts of all Old Lady supporters.

For Jose Mourinho’s side last term, he was the top-scorer (12) and best assister (6), also registering the best average rating (7.2) within the squad, as per WhoScored.

In contrast, Mount endured his most troubled campaign at Stamford Bridge, scoring just three times and missing 11 league games through injury.

Described as a “magician” by reporter Alex Seixiero, the former Palermo star has displayed that he can be a more prominent creative spark than Man United's new man.

Indeed, this is best demonstrated by the fact that Dybala outperforms Mount for shot-creating actions per 90 (5.39 vs 3.58), shots per 90 (3.22 vs 2.02), successful take-ons per 90 (1.53 vs 0.86), and progressive carries per 90 (2.7 vs 2.41) throughout the last year of football.

The signing of a player with the experience, technical impudence, and glittering repertoire of Dybala would be a huge boost to a side in desperate need, and it would also help the recovery from the damaging departure of ‘one of their own.’

The ultimate dream as an academy player must be reaching the first team with your closest friends, your teammates for years – those who have had the exact same journey.Mason Mount and Trevoh Chalobah lived that dream at Chelsea.It was not one with a fairytale ending, however, with Mount reportedly set to complete a move to Old Trafford, ending 18 years at the London club, where he became the player that managed to attract interest from Manchester United in the first place.With the news of his pending exit, Chalobah shared his emotional goodbye on social media.

What’s the latest on Mason Mount?

Amid a disappointing Premier League season last time out, finishing in the bottom half at Chelsea, Mount reportedly rejected the Blues’ contract offers and looked set to leave on a free next summer. And that’s when United swooped in.

Despite negotiations going back and forth, the Red Devils finally reached an agreement with the London club on a deal worth £60m, according to Fabrizio Romano.

Fans won’t like to admit it, but Chelsea will likely miss Mount next season. As per Opta, since the 2019/20 campaign, he has arguably been their best player, leading the way in appearances, chances created, goals and assists. The fact is, he was a crucial part of the squad at Stamford Bridge.

It’s a shame for the academy, too, having seen Mount make it all the way to the first team, before becoming a central figure for the Blues. With the potential to replicate the likes of Frank Lampard as a club icon, however, the England international moves on to the Red Devils.

For context of how unlikely an exit once seemed, if you told us that Mount would be heading to Manchester United a year ago, we’d have assumed a late-season fixture was taking place, rather than a transfer…

What did Trevoh Chalobah say to Mason Mount?

An emotional Chalobah seemed to issue a heartfelt goodbye to Mount – who he came through the academy with – saying on Twitter: “My boy.” – he also added a crying emoji and a broken heart.

Reaching the first-team, like Mount, the defender has since enjoyed many moments to remember, and will only be looking to add to his memories under new manager Mauricio Pochettino next season.

A fresh start under a new boss could see 23-year-old Chalobah establish a starting place for the Blues once more, amid the usual competition for places.

Pre-season will certainly be an important one, as Chelsea look to turn things around, even without Mount, to make a return to the Champions League places in the coming campaign.

James Ward-Prowse and Amadou Onana would make "a really interesting combination" in West Ham United's midfield next season as potential replacements for the departing Declan Rice, believes journalist Paul Brown.

West Ham United transfer news – what's the latest on James Ward-Prowse and Amadou Onana?

West Ham are set to cash in on club captain Rice, with chairman David Sullivan confirming earlier this month that the player would be allowed to leave the London Stadium in the summer.

Arsenal look set to sign the midfielder having agreed a fee, it's just the structure of the deal that has been causing issues.

That kind of money will be necessary to help the Hammers rebuild their midfield for next season as one of their potential targets, Southampton captain Ward-Prowse, is reportedly valued at €60m (£52m) by his club, per transfer expert Ekrem Konur.

Another target, Everton's Onana, is reportedly worth £55m, according to Belgian newspaper Le Soir.

However, the publication has also reported that the 6 foot 4 monster has made his desire to leave clear, telling the club he 'absolutely wants to leave', which could help bring the price down somewhat.

What did journalist Paul Brown say about Amadou Onana and James Ward-Prowse to West Ham United?

Brown explained that the club would be looking for a replacement for the departing Rice and that the possible combination of Ward-Prowse and Onana was particularly interesting to him.

Speaking to Football FanCast, he said: "I don't think he's high on their list as a midfield replacement for Declan Rice, but they are looking for two midfielders, and if they were to get Ward-Prowse and someone like Onana, that would be really interesting as a little combination."

Who is the better player out of James Ward-Prowse and Amadou Onana?

While both players have demonstrated their ability to play in the Premier League this season and would undoubtedly add something to West Ham's midfield, which one edges it in terms of quality?

According to WhoScored, the Englishman had a better overall season last year, averaging an impressive 6.95 across his 38 games, whereas the Belgian fell just short, averaging 6.71 across 33 games.

However, the 21-year-old shines far brighter than the competition in the defensive side of the game.

According to FBref, the Dakar-born machine makes 2.61 tackles per 90, winning 1.56 of them, compared to Ward-Prowse's 0.99 tackles won per 90, making it clear that in the defensive side of the game anyway, Onana is streets ahead.

That said, there are some, such as football scout Jacek Kulig that see the player as so much more than just a great defensive player, calling him a "one man army" for his impressive "work rate & determination" and "above-average technical skills."

Add to all that the seven-year age difference between the two players, and Onana certainly starts to look like a player with an awful lot of upside going forward.

However, with the sale of Rice looking certain, a summer window that sees a double swoop for both players would be a great way to start a midfield rebuild.

Aston Villa were linked to La Liga star Gabri Veiga towards the closing stage of the 2022/23 season, as Unai Emery aims to bolster his squad with the assistance of former Sevilla colleague Monchi this summer.

The Villans enjoyed a strong first season under the Spaniard, who will hope to take his side to the next level this transfer window as the club prepare to feature in Europe next campaign.

What’s the latest on Gabri Veiga to Aston Villa?

Back in April it was claimed by The Daily Mail that Villa were one of the teams that Veiga had attracted interest from.

However, as we've found out in the early exchanges of the transfer window, the Spaniard has plenty of other suitors lurking.

Indeed, the previous report stated that the likes of Manchester City, Arsenal, Spurs and Liverpool from the Premier League were interested in his services.

The midfielder has a release clause of €40m (£34m), as relayed by The Guardian.

What could Gabri Veiga offer to Aston Villa?

Lauded as “highly talented” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, Veiga could be a significant upgrade to Emery’s setup at Villa Park.

Deployed as a box-to-box midfielder, the 21-year-old lit up La Liga this term, scoring 11 goals and registering four assists in 36 appearances in what has marked his first full senior campaign in football, via FBref.

The youngster is a wanted man this summer, and would undoubtedly be a strong addition to Emery’s side in a midfield that prides itself in being free-flowing and attack-minded.

While the Spaniard has a number of attractive options to deploy in his midfield, the 21-year-old could be an upgrade, particularly to a star that has failed to live up to expectations since his arrival in 2022.

Philippe Coutinho was once one of the Premier League’s most dangerous stars when adorning the red of Liverpool, however, things haven’t ticked for the Brazilian in the Midlands, contributing just nine G/A in 39 league appearances.

The rise in form of those around him have forced the 31-year-old further away from the starting XI – something that the potential arrival of Veiga would not ease.

The most prominent area in Veiga’s game is his ability in front of goal, seeing him excel in comparison to fellow midfielders in Europe, ranking in the top 1% in terms of average number of non-penalty goals, recording 0.43 per 90, via FBref.

Coutinho ranks far behind the Spaniard in this area, registering just 0.11 non-penalty goals per 90, to show the difference between the two in front of goal in the past year.

Veiga also averages better in terms of progressive play when getting the ball upfield, recording 2.67 progressive carries to the Brazilian’s 2.06, as well as the 21-year-old creating more chances, registering six big chances in La Liga with Coutinho failing to register one. It's perhaps no surprise with ball-carrying skills such as those that he's been dubbed a "Baby Kaka" by one Copa90 writer.

Taking £125k per week from the Villans, it’s imperative that Villa offload the 31-year-old, which they could finally achieve by securing the signing of one of the continent’s hottest prospects in Veiga.

West Ham United are interested in making a move for Geoffrey Kondogbia, with the Hammers pushing hard for a move, according to reports…

West Ham transfer news – are they signing Geoffrey Kondogbia?

West Ham are pushing hard to sign the Atletico Madrid midfielder, as per journalist Aaron Dominguez, who also reported offers from both Olympique Lyonnais and Besiktas.

The news that the Hammers are targeting such a move comes as little surprise, given that Declan Rice is set to leave the club this summer with both Arsenal and Manchester City pursuing a deal for the England international.

As things stand, Kondogbia's contract is set to come to an end next summer, meaning that, if Atletico do want to cash in, it will need to be during the current transfer window, or in January.

The Central African Republic international's current valuation, according to Transfermarkt, sits at €14m (£12m), though it remains to be seen exactly how much the 30-year-old would command this summer.

What role would Kondogbia play at West Ham?

With Rice seemingly on the move, Kondogbia would come straight into David Moyes' side, almost mirroring the genius of Brighton & Hove Albion replacing Yves Bissouma with Moises Caicedo last summer.

The Atletico Madrid man holds similar traits to Caicedo, too, with the added benefit of a much lower valuation. FBref have ranked the Seagulls sensation as the sixth most statistically comparable player to Kondogbia.

As per the same site, it is Kondogbia who stands strong defensively when compared to the Brighton midfielder, making more tackles and interceptions per 90 in 2022/23.

An interesting difference, however, is how Caicedo, in Roberto De Zerbi's system, wins more tackles in the final third. Moyes, in contrast, would be getting himself a more defensive-minded player in his transfer target, which may suit his system at the London Stadium better.

Kondogbia has certainly attracted plenty of praise throughout his career, too, with his Central African Republic teammate Wilfried Zahibo telling BBC Sport back in 2021:

"I think he can be in the discussion even now for sure.

"Obviously we have some guys like Mahrez who are in a special dimension but we should definitely talk about Geoffrey too. For me, he's one of the best midfielders in Africa and maybe the world."

"We have had a good relationship for some time, and he is a great guy to be around. He helps everybody and is the leader of the team, on and off the pitch."

At 30 years old, the former Valencia midfielder would bring with him veteran experience at the London Stadium, having also featured for the likes of Inter Milan, Sevilla, and Monaco.

A safe option in the middle of the park, whose defensive ability bettered that of the highly-rated Caicedo in some areas last season, the £114k-per-week "monster" – as once lauded by A-League creative producer James Todd – also loses the ball less than his potential midfield counterpart.

The more that you look at West Ham's potential deal with Atletico, the more it looks as though they could be performing a piece of transfer genius, comparable to Brighton's upgrade on Bissouma through Caicedo last summer.

As the transfer window goes on, and Rice's exit edges closer and closer, it will certainly be a deal to keep an eye on as the Irons could well hand Moyes his very own version of the Seagulls machine.

Manchester City are set to do some internal business quickly this summer, with the side preparing to offer Stefan Ortega fresh terms at the club according to The Sun.

Is Stefan Ortega staying at Manchester City?

The goalkeeper has not been the first choice inbetween the sticks this season for the Premier League side but he has been able to get onto the field quite frequently at the Etihad Stadium. He managed only three appearances in the top flight – but only conceded one – but was handed plenty more minutes in the cup competitions. In the EFL Cup, he appeared a further three times but in the FA Cup he really shone, appearing six times and conceding only once on the way to victory.

Even more impressive is that based on the albeit small 450 minutes played, Ortega ranks extremely highly amongst shot-stoppers in the Men's 'Top Five' big leagues. His goals against per 90 of just 0.45 puts him in the top one percent in that figure and even more impressive is that his save percentage of 90.5% per 90 also puts him within that top percentage. It means that, when the former Arminia man has been turned to by Pep Guardiola, he has been a reliable pair of hands inbetween the sticks. He's conceded very little and it's not just down to the players in front of him preventing chances.

He's proven to be a reliable backup option for the club then and the 30-year-old is now set to be rewarded with a fresh deal at City. That's because a report from The Sun states that, with the player having made a big impression on those at the Etihad Stadium, there is a new contract being lined up for the goalkeeper. It would not only extend his stay at the Premier League side but would help see off interest from other clubs this summer, with Bayern Munich having placed him on their target list. Now, City hope to convince him to stay on and will up his pay to around £85,000-a-week in a bid to do so.

When does Ortega's contract expire?

The player's current deal only runs out in 2025 but it shows just how highly he is valued now that the club want to offer him a fresh deal already.

His manager Pep Guardiola has already praised his abilities and performances in the 2022/23 campaign, stating that he has proven to be a "great signing" for the club because he is an "exceptional goalkeeper."

Now, the manager is hoping to keep him on at the club for even longer and could continue to give him further minutes as City look to win almost everything again in the next campaign.

West Ham United have reportedly made ‘enquiries’ about the possibility of signing Everton forward Moise Kean this summer, according to an Italian source.

The Lowdown: Kean’s return to Italy

The Toffees first signed the 22-year-old from Juventus on a five-year deal back in 2019, but after frustration at a lack of game time at Goodison Park, the striker made the switch back to the Italian giants just two years later with the option to make it a permanent deal for £24m.

Kean might not have had a successful spell in the Premier League previously, but that doesn’t mean he couldn’t thrive in a different environment – look at the likes of former Chelsea flops Kevin De Bruyne and Mohamed Salah – and it sounds as if there is a potential suitor for him in the form of the Irons.

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The Latest: West Ham make ‘enquiries’

In a new article published by Italian outlet Tuttosport (via Sport Witness), it’s claimed that West Ham have made contact about the attacker ahead of the upcoming transfer window, and ‘certainly like’ his profile.

The source further states that Juventus are ‘trying to figure out’ whether Kean can be sold on for a ‘sufficient’ price after deciding that he is ‘not a firm part’ of their plans moving forward.

It’s reported that Massimiliano Allegri’s side are in need of a ‘particularly generous’ club to generate a big fee to make the deal worthwhile, and the Hammers could be just the team.

The Verdict: Competition for Antonio

The 12-cap international could be the perfect fit for David Moyes at the London Stadium, having scored 16 goals and registered three assists in the Serie A over the course of his career, as per Transfermarkt.

Kean, who was once hailed a “quality” player by Italy manager Roberto Mancini, could be an ideal candidate to provide some serious competition for Michail Antonio up front, with the club heavily reliant on their number nine without actually having an alternative option in the building.

West Ham are guaranteed a place in the Europa Conference League at the very least next year no matter what happens on the final day of the season against Brighton, but if they did manage to leapfrog Manchester United in the Premier League table, this could be a huge pulling factor for the talisman when deciding where his next destination will be.

In other news… a Sky Sports pundit has reacted to a major West Ham contract update.

According to Corriere dello Sport (via SaintsExtra), Southampton and Fulham are both interested in signing Lazio goalkeeper Thomas Strakosha upon the expiry of his contract this summer.

The Lowdown: Saints’ keeper situation

According to a fresh report by The Athletic, Saints will inform Fraser Forster that his deal with the south coast outfit will not be extended, meaning he will leave the club at the end of the season.

The Athletic claim that they are looking to bring in a younger replacement, with Forster being 34 years old.

This would be in addition to the England international’s rival to the No. 1 shirt, Alex McCarthy, who penned a new three-year deal in 2021.

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The Latest: Saints interested in Strakosha

Taking to Twitter, SaintsExtra shared Corriere dello Sport’s news that Southampton are interested in signing Lazio’s Strakosha and the player wants to move to England.

“Southampton & Fulham are both expressing an interest in 27-year-old Lazio goalkeeper Thomas Strakosha – the Albanian is due to become a free agent in July, & has his sights set on the Premier League.”

The Verdict: Good signing

Former Lazio youth coach Alberto Bollini has been speaking very highly of Strakosha, claiming that he rates the 6 foot 4 colossus as a “10/10”, because “he has extraordinary athleticism”.

Southampton’s recruitment clearly agrees with these statements, as they were linked with signing the 27-year-old last summer, too. However, at that point in time, the Albanian was valued around £25m.

Therefore, if the Saints are able to sign a player they were eyeing around that price on a free this summer, this will turn out to be a great piece of business by the club.

In other news: Southampton: Kegs Chauke contract update

Manchester United have been handed a significant boost in their pursuit of Barcelona midfielder, Frenkie de Jong in the summer transfer window

What’s the word?

That is according to reports in Spain that claim there is a very high chance that De Jong will be transferred to Manchester United before the end of the season.

Taking to Twitter, a reporter said: “Before the end of the league and with a 95% probability, Frenkie de Jong will be transferred to Manchester United. It is a pure economic issue. Barça needs to sell a player who has not been top at the club.”

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The Dutchman’s release clause rates him at a whopping £340m but the club will hope to be able to secure a deal for just £58m, a mere snip in comparison.

A 95% chance

With such a high probability stated by a well known and respected source, it looks as though Manchester United have as good as got their midfield transfer target, something that will no doubt serve as great news for everyone associated with the club.

It would be a sensational move for United, with incoming manager ten Hag surely one of the biggest reasons that the Red Devils have been able to pull off such a coup.

It has to be said though, the fact that Barcelona are willing to sell their 25-year-old star comes as a shock, considering the praise that Xavi heaped on the young Dutchman as recent as April 23rd.

The Barca manager shut down rumours which were then clarified by super-journalist Fabrizio Romano:

“Barca manager Xavi shuts down rumours on Frenkie de Jong leaving & Man Utd links,” Romano stated. Xavi then said: “Frenkie’s a very important player for me and for the club. He has to mark an era.

“I’m happy with him. If it were up to me he’ll continue for many years at Barca.”

For comparison, Paul Pogba averages 47.42 passes per game at a completion rate of 83.5%, though 6.61 of these are passes into the final third.

Although a shock, the United faithful will certainly take the latest news as a major positive, having almost bagged one of the best passers of the ball in the world right now, with his average of 90.3% pass completion percentage elite in the 30 La Liga appearances that the 25-year-old has made for Barca this season. He averages 56.70 passes per game with 5.59 of these passes into the final third.

Still, the £164k-per-week player, who has been dubbed a “genius” by Xavi, possesses an ability to pick out a pass that is entirely beneficial for United, who will most certainly look to implement a mass-possession style of football under incoming manager Ten Hag.

What a reunion this could be for de Jong and the Dutch boss who will surely be elated at the potential acquisition. What a boost it represents for Man United too, in what looks to be the first official deal of the new era.

In other news: Better than Pogba: MUFC can land dream Rice alternative in “exceptional” £50m monster