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Liverpool have previously been linked with a move for Josko Gvardiol and a new claim has now emerged from a reliable source on the club’s pursuit of the player ahead of the summer transfer window.

What’s the latest on Liverpool’s interest in Gvardiol?

According to journalist David Lynch, the Reds will be “all over” the RB Leipzig centre-back in an attempt to bolster their squad heading into the 2023/24 campaign.

Speaking on the Born And Red YouTube channel, Lynch claimed: “I’ve absolutely no doubt that Liverpool will be all over Gvardiol in the summer.

“The Red Bull link, I know they watch them regularly and will absolutely love him.

“He says he’s really keen on coming to Liverpool but it’s just the price tag that could be an issue. You would have to do something in terms of moving a centre-half on for decent-ish money I think to even look at that.”

Klopp could finally bin Joe Gomez

There is little doubt that things need to change at Anfield and that became crystal clear once again in the humiliating 5-2 defeat to Real Madrid on Tuesday night in the Champions League.

The Reds took their heaviest home defeat ever in Europe when Carlo Ancelotti’s side ran riot under the floodlights on the red side of Merseyside in another humbling realisation for Jurgen Klopp that his once successful squad has turned stale.

This poor performance came just a day after FSG confirmed that they were not interested in selling and will continue to work in the best interests of the club, so reinvestment should be their number one priority in the development and pursuit of further success.

As suggested by Lynch, the club would likely need to bolster funds by moving on another centre-back this summer and one player who should surely be in the firing line for an Anfield exit is Joe Gomez after his “nightmare” display against Madrid – as dubbed by writer Demar Grant.

The 25-year-old dud was absolutely savaged when it came to player ratings with the hard-to-impress L’Equipe giving the Liverpool defender just a two out of ten rating in the aftermath of his blunder-filled performance.

The popular French publication wrote that Klopp would ‘undoubtedly regret’ playing Gomez over Joel Matip, citing that ‘the English defender, who was very feverish in defence, was involved in all the goals conceded’.

Gvardiol, on the other hand, has been a standout performer for his side in the Bundesliga and has been attracting plenty of attention for his solid defensive performances in the Leipzig back-line and, in comparison to Gomez, has been a reliable presence.

The Croatian defender – hailed “fearless” by Rio Ferdinand – has outperformed Gomez in a number of attributes already this season including pass completion rate (88.6% v 85.6%), interceptions (22 v 21), blocks (20 v 15), take-on success rate (90.9% v 80%), aerial duels won (59.5% v 53.3%) and shot-creating actions (20 v 16).

These statistics indicate that the ex-Dinamo Zagreb star would be an upgrade in terms of what he offers defensive and in possession – by being more efficient and effective with his defensive and attacking actions.

With that being said, if Liverpool can meet the reported exit clause of €110m (£97m) it would be a great investment into repairing the defensive issues in the squad and Klopp must ditch Gomez in order to sign the Leipzig enforcer.

Newcastle United’s owners have not been discouraged by their recent loss in the Carabao Cup final in terms of their long-term strategy for the club.

What is Newcastle’s transfer plans?

The Magpies have spent fairly significantly since the arrival of their new owners back in 2021, however, that is in comparison to what they saw with their previous owner.

However, they have seemingly spent their money carefully with not being willing to overpay for their transfer targets just because of the huge financial backing behind the club.

And this was seen last summer when the club had an interest in Bayer Leverkusen’s Moussa Diaby but were not willing to match the German side’s high valuation.

Speaking on the House of Champions YouTube channel, journalist Fabrizio Romano has spoken about the message coming out of the club on the back of their defeat on Sunday:

(6:00) “All the answers I get on the Newcastle side after the final were on the same page. And this was just the beginning. This was the beginning of the dream. So we will be back, we will go to win. They’re convinced that they will do that in the next years. So they are still really positive, convinced that their project is just really at the beginning.

“So it will take time to be on the top, top level. But they’re really happy with what they’re doing. So for sure, there will be in the market in the summer for sure they will do something important.”

Who will Newcastle sign in the summer?

The summer is going to provide Newcastle with a big opportunity to define their future given just how well they have performed already this season.

Newcastle have defied the expectations of many and already find themselves in a battle to land a spot in next season’s Champions League.

However, it has to be remembered the likes of Chelsea and Liverpool are enduring their own struggles on the back of finishing in the top four themselves last season.

And this is obviously not Newcastle’s issue and they have impressively capitalised on their struggles.

But it will surely be considered by the Newcastle board that the two Premier League powerhouses will look to come back much stronger for next season.

So with this in mind, the summer window will provide Newcastle with the opportunity to potentially solidify themselves as a team who will be knocking on the door for the Champions League next season again.

But what will be interesting to see is how their plans could be altered if they do actually land a spot inside the top four this season.

That will mean the club will play more games and see their midweek filled up by cup games which have they have not had to contend with unlike teams like Tottenham Hotspur this season.

There is still a lot to play for this season on Tyneside and it does feel like what they are able to achieve could have a big impact on what they do in the summer window.

Newcastle United are reportedly ‘monitoring’ Brighton and Hove Albion striker Evan Ferguson ahead of a potential move this summer.

The Lowdown: Ferguson profiled

Ferguson has broken onto the scene as an 18-year-old this season, scoring four goals and making a further three assists in 11 games in total over all competitions for Brighton (Transfermarkt).

A traditional number nine, Ferguson has caught the eye of plenty of suitors, notably his former manager Graham Potter, who lauded him as ‘very powerful’ for his age, while ex-Premier League striker Ian Wright thinks that he has ‘got everything’ already.

The Latest: Newcastle ‘monitoring’ Ferguson

As per The Daily Mirror, Newcastle are ‘monitoring’ Ferguson’s progress at Brighton ahead of a potential move this summer.

The forward has been compared to a ‘young Alan Shearer’, so it is not a surprise to see the Magpies eyeing up his signature.

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The Verdict: No-brainer

If a deal can be done for Ferguson, then it is a no-brainer for the St. James’ Park outfit to sign him this summer.

He is already performing in the top flight at the age of just 18, and has also earned two senior caps for the Republic of Ireland this season.

Ferguson would offer Eddie Howe a more physically imposing alternative to the likes of Alexander Isak and Callum Wilson, and would join young talents Garang Kuol and Harrison Ashby in making the move to Tyneside, as the Toon build an exciting crop of players for the future.

Arsenal have reportedly joined the race to sign Brighton and Hove Albion midfielder Alexis Mac Allister this summer.

The Lowdown: More business with Brighton

Arsenal have done plenty of business with Brighton over the last couple of seasons, signing both Ben White and Leandro Trossard, as well as having a £70m bid rejected for Moises Caicedo in the January transfer window.

It looks like they could try and do business again with them this summer, with Mac Allister emerging as a new target.

The Latest: Arsenal join Mac Allister race

As per Football Insider, the Gunners, as well as Manchester United and Manchester City, have joined Liverpool in registering an interest in signing Mac Allister this summer.

The Seagulls have set a £70m price tag on his shoulders, and he is thought to be ‘ready to go’ to a bigger club.

They have the option to extend his deal by another year, with his current contract set to expire in 2025.

The Verdict: No-brainer

If a player of Mac Allister’s quality becomes available, it is surely a no-brainer for Mikel Arteta’s side to try and sign him.

Hailed as a ‘stunning’ player by his manager Roberto De Zerbi, he is enjoying an outstanding season for both club and country.

His eight goals and one assist in all competitions has helped Brighton challenge for the European spots in the Premier League, and reach the quarter-finals of the FA Cup.

Mac Allister also played six times for Argentina on their way to winning the FIFA World Cup in Qatar, recording one goal and supplying one assist.

Nonetheless, with the North Londoners looking to compete in the UEFA Champions League as well as the Premier League next term, the 24-year-old would be a top signing.

Sunderland travel to Norfolk on Sunday to face off against Norwich City at Carrow Road in the Championship off the back of three straight defeats.

The Black Cats have lost their last three games in the division – to Rotherham, Stoke, and Coventry – and conceded a staggering nine goals in those matches.

Tony Mowbray’s side now face a Norwich team with three wins and eight goals scored in their last three outings in the league, which illustrates the size of the task facing them this weekend.

The Canaries lined up with a three-man midfield of Jacob Sorensen, Kenny McLean, and Gabriel Sara in their last match against Millwall and they combined for two goals and one assist.

Sunderland, meanwhile, deployed Dan Neil as their only recognised central midfielder, with attacking midfielders Alex Pritchard and Patrick Roberts filling out the midfield, in the 5-1 loss to Stoke.

Will Pierre Ekwah start vs Norwich?

The dominance that the Canaries could have in the middle of the park should lead to Mowbray altering his team by unleashing Pierre Ekwah to combat the potential threat of their opponents.

Since joining from West Ham United in January, the Frenchman has only made four appearances as a substitute in the Championship but the nature of the game on Sunday could be perfect for him to come in to solidify the midfield.

The rarely-seen gem, who was described as “all-action” by journalist Jonty Colman, could provide physicality and some defensive steel in the middle of the park in an attempt to stop the likes of Sara and Sorensen from dictating and deciding the match.

Mowbray once hailed the ace’s physique, saying:

“His left foot is really smooth, and yet I have been trying to encourage him to bring his physicality because he is a big lad – he’s not a small, skinny, frail, kid. He’s got huge physical attributes that he should bring to the party.”

The 21-year-old has not had an opportunity to showcase his quality in the first-team at Sunderland so far, with just the four cameos, but did catch the eye in the EFL Trophy for West Ham’s U21s earlier this season.

In three appearances in the competition, Ekwah averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.00 and made two tackles and interceptions per match whilst winning 54% of his duels.

This shows that the potential is there for the youngster to be an imposing force in midfield, whilst his two key passes per game in the EFL Trophy means that he could also provide a threat on the ball that forces the Norwich players to drop off to deal with his quality in possession.

Therefore, Ekwah must be unleashed from the start at Carrow Road to bolster Sunderland’s midfield and prevent another Stoke disaster from taking place.

Former top-flight footballer Steve Nicol has claimed that there is no way back for Romelu Lukaku at Chelsea once his loan spell at Inter Milan ends this summer.

Is Romelu Lukaku leaving Chelsea?

The striker has had an injury-hit season following his return to Inter, managing just five goals in 18 appearances.

Inter CEO Beppe Marotta has now confirmed that Inter do not plan to keep the player once his loan from Chelsea expires, meaning the striker will be stuck in limbo.

He forced his way back to Inter just a year after re-joining Chelsea for a then-club record £97.5m switch, and has seemingly burned his bridges in west London.

Speaking on ESPN FC, Nicol has claimed that there is no chance of a fresh start at Stamford Bridge for the 29-year-old.

Asked if he could yet revive his Chelsea career, Nicol said: "Absolutely not. No chance. He won't be there. He will not be at Chelsea at the start of next season. They will have to bite the bullet.

"Lukaku has shown in his time with other Premier League teams, mid-table teams, that he can be successful. And I think that's where he will probably end up. Because the Premier League teams can afford to pay him more than other sides in Europe, so I see him ending up somewhere in the Premier League in the mid-table."

Who could Chelsea sell Lukaku to?

Given his hefty wages at Inter at over £185k per week, Lukaku would likely need to take a pay cut, even if joining a team lower down the Premier League table.

If Everton survive relegation, then his previous success there could perhaps interest them in a move, but given their relatively low levels of spending in the most recent windows, Lukaku may be out of their price range.

The future of Harry Kane could also play a part in Lukaku's future. If the Englishman leaves Tottenham Hotspur, Lukaku could be an option to replace the striker at Spurs, and having worked with Antonio Conte before at Inter, there may be interest in a reunion should the Italian manager stay at the club.

Chelsea do need a centre-forward, with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang proving to be an unsuccessful addition up front, but given the disaster of his previous return to the club, it seems highly unlikely that Lukaku would be welcomed back too eagerly.

Lukaku has found himself at a crossroads in his career, as Inter – the side he found the most success at two years ago – are unwilling to take him back, while his potential other suitors seem limited. At 29, he may be beyond his best years, and his injury problems may be off-putting for clubs competing in European competition, so perhaps Nicol's claim won't be too far detached from reality.

There is now a ‘good possibility’ former Barcelona boss Luis Enrique will join up with Tottenham, according to journalist Tony Damascelli.

The Lowdown: Spurs shortlist drawn up…

Following Antonio Conte’s rant after Southampton last weekend, a speech which sparked a real footballing firestorm, much has been made over who could replace the Italian long term.

Sky Sports claimed last week that Spurs and sporting director Fabio Paratici have already written a shortlist of candidates, considering he was also entering the final few months of his deal at the time.

Mauricio Pochettino, Roberto De Zerbi, Enrique, Thomas Tuchel, Marco Silva and Thomas Frank have been billed as the main contenders but other names like Oliver Glasner have also been mentioned.

Even Burnley boss Vincent Kompany has been recommended by pundits like Tony Cascarino as a possible left-field option and it will be interesting to see who will be in charge at the beginning of 2023/2024.

The Latest: ‘Good possibility’ over Enrique…

Enrique, who is a free agent since departing Spain after the World Cup, is seen as a credible option by many considering his brilliant CV.

The 52-year-old has worked with some of football’s most iconic superstars like Sergio Busquets and Lionel Messi with reporter Damascelli sharing what he knows to Radio Radio (via Calciomercato Web):

He explained:

“If you look at Tottenham’s history, it’s as if you were coming to Lazio who have won only one Scudetto recently. That’s why they hired him, if you let the bottom in the standings reach you at 3-3, things aren’t right. There are two things: either dismissal or resignation. I know that Luis Enrique has already been contacted, there is a good possibility that he will go to England.”

The Verdict: Great candidate…

While we believe Pochettino stands out as the main choice, especially when factoring in his affinity for Spurs and Premier League experience, Enrique is the standout alternative.

Having won league titles and a Champions League winner’s medal at Barcelona, the Spaniard has also been called an appointment which may be popular with sections of the Spurs fanbase.

Despite leaving Spain with little success at international level, Enrique did attract praise for some of his line ups and tactical choices – even being called a ‘genius’ by some sections of the media.

Reports suggest Enrique is the standout choice for Paratici personally, and if Tottenham can’t get Pochettino, he is a more-than worthwhile back up option.

Chelsea have accepted the fact that they will make a huge loss on Romelu Lukaku should they sell the striker this summer, according to reports in the last 48 hours.

The Lowdown: Exit highly likely

The Belgian made his return to the Premier League and indeed Stamford Bridge back in 2021 but is currently out on a season-long loan at Inter Milan after falling out of favour.

In January, Spanish reports relayed an update from the 29-year-old admitting that doesn’t want to return to work under Graham Potter, which has alerted several clubs to his potential availability.

Saudi Arabian clubs, Everton and Aston Villa have all been credited with an interest in the forward, but most recently, a new transfer plan has emerged.

Calciomercato claim that the Blues could look to include their player in a deal to re-sign Tammy Abraham, but no matter where he ends up, the club will be down from a financial point of view.

The Latest: Chelsea accept fate

According to Football Insider, Chelsea have ‘resigned themselves’ to the fact that they will be making an ‘enormous loss’ on Lukaku should his sale be sanctioned later in the summer.

Inter’s attacker arrived in SW6 for a £97.5m fee but ‘sources with knowledge of his situation’ believe that Todd Boehly will have to accept a cut-price sum of less than £30m.

The Blues are already paying for part of his salary whilst on loan and it’s stated that the owner needs to ‘trim the squad’ and ‘balance the books’ ahead of the 2023/24 term.

The Verdict: Let him leave

Lukaku has made zero appearances under Potter being at Inter since he was appointed, and that won’t change any time soon, so Chelsea would be making the right decision to cash in, albeit for a significantly lower fee than they would have liked.

The 104-cap international scored just eight goals in the top flight throughout the whole of the 2021/22 season before returning to Italy, therefore lacking the kind of prolific form required to succeed.

The Antwerp native has also been previously slammed for his performances in the capital by journalist Josh Bunting who labelled him a ‘disgrace’, stating that he has a ‘rotten’ attitude and should ‘never play for the club again’.

Chelsea have reached an agreement to sign RB Leipzig striker Christopher Nkunku in the summer so Lukaku’s replacement is already lined up, it’s now just a case of finding a potential suitor that would be able to put the best offer on the table.

Leeds United's on-loan midfielder Weston McKennie is reportedly looking to "convince" the Whites to sign him permanently during the summer transfer window.

How is Weston McKennie playing?

The American joined Leeds back in January, having struggled to be a consistently key player for Juventus and deciding to look for a move away midway through the season. Since then, he has come in and performed impressively for the Whites for the most part, making eight appearances in the Premier League and winning an average of 1.5 aerial duels per game.

The fact that McKennie is only on loan at Elland Road does leave his future up in the air, however, although a clause is believed to be in place for the Whites to sign him permanently at the end of the season, should they decide to trigger that option. He is currently contracted to Juve until the summer of 2025 but it doesn't look as though the Serie A side will desperately look to keep him at the club beyond this summer.

Now, a new update has emerged regarding McKennie's future – one that suggests that he is hellbent on remaining a Leeds player moving forward.

Will Leeds sign McKennie this summer?

According to Corriere dello Sport [via Sport Witness], the USA international "tries to convince" the Whites to snap him up permanently this summer. He is hopeful that his performance for his country in their 7-1 win over Grenada over the weekend "will not have gone unnoticed" by his current temporary club, ahead of a key decision over the coming months.

Frankly, we feel the idea of McKennie joining Leeds on a permanent deal in the summer window is a no-brainer for the club, considering his pedigree as a footballer. While he may not have been an earth-shattering addition to the team yet, he has still enjoyed an 81.2% pass completion rate in the league and averages 1.9 clearances and 1.1 tackles per game in the competition, as well as being called "excellent" by BBC journalist Adam Pope.

At 24, McKennie should still have his best years ahead of him and his on-pitch relationship with compatriot Tyler Adams could blossom as time passes, proving to be an influential area of Leeds' team. There is the threat of relegation from the Premier League that could potentially be an issue, however, with the midfielder highly unlikely to want to move if the Whites are playing Championship football next season.

Eintracht Frankfurt boss Oliver Glasner is now interested in the idea of joining Tottenham Hotspur, according to reports.

Who do Spurs want to appoint as manager?

Chairman Daniel Levy and the Premier League top four hopefuls reportedly have an array of managerial targets on their radar as they eye a replacement for the departed Antonio Conte.

Conte left the club by mutual consent earlier this week but apparently gave his blessing for Cristian Stellini to remain at Spurs, where the latter man will take charge for the rest of the season alongside assistant Ryan Mason.

As the interim duo chase Champions League qualification, Levy is reportedly set to work on Conte's permanent replacement in the background. Indeed, the likes of Mauricio Pochettino, Luis Enrique, Julian Nagelsmann and even Zinedine Zidane are thought to be attracting interest from the north Londoners.

The aforementioned quartet arguably stand out as some of Tottenham's most presitigous and readily-available candidates, though left-field options like Glasner, who have also been linked, cannot be ruled out.

What's the latest on Glasner?

Now, as reported by journalist Dean Jones to GiveMeSport, it appears Spurs and Levy may have been handed a boost if they wish to appoint Glasner over their other options.

It is believed that the Lilywhites hold a particular interest in the 48-year-old and their fondness appears to be reciprocated, as Glasner would now be intereated in taking the job at Tottenham.

Jones wrote for GMS:

"Glasner is of particular interest as he has the ability to exit his current contract at Eintracht Frankfurt and is interested in the prospect of a switch."So Levy is not so much working through a shortlist of options here, but a rather long one. It may be that performance director Gretar Steinsson helps guide him through the process but, ultimately, this will come down to the chairman."

The 3-4-2-1 tactician, who deploys a similar system to that of Conte, could actually be a pretty shrewd hire by Levy given his plaudits and job at Frankfurt.

Glasner lead his side to Europa League glory last season, beating Scottish giants Rangers in the final, so would come to Spurs with real trophy-winning pedigree. The Austrian has also been heralded by Bundesliga bosses like Marco Rose for his 'aggressive' and 'intense' brand of football – something which could well excite Spurs supporters after the more pragmatic Conte era.

His employment at Tottenham doesn't appear to be ruled out just yet, so we urge supporters to keep an eye out for any Glasner updates.