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Liverpool are expected to spark a rebuild of the squad in the summer transfer window and now a new update has emerged from a reliable source on the club's pursuit of a potential transfer target.

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

According to Belgian football journalist Sascha Tavolieri, Liverpool are the "closest" club to signing Southampton star Romeo Lavia.

Speaking on Redmen TV on Wednesday, Tavolieri revealed:

“Yes [he will leave the club], he is one of the big players who has shown his talents and abilities this season, so he won’t be part of the project of Southampton in the Championship, that I can assure you.

“As it stands Liverpool are the closest club [to signing Lavia], at the moment there’s no real sign from Guardiola that he wants him back. It looks like Manchester are waiting to see what happens with Gündogan before they decide what they want to do with Lavia.”

Would Romeo Lavia be a good signing for Liverpool?

Liverpool have confirmed that Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Naby Keita and James Milner will not have their contracts renewed this summer and will depart when the season is over, paving the way for Jurgen Klopp to start his midfield rebuild.

The Reds have been linked with several midfielders over the last few weeks and months, with a move for top target Jude Bellingham now expected to be out of the question due to the club's inability to meet the huge transfer fee mooted for the England star.

As a result, Klopp could look to the transfer market to find another youthful prospect that he can mould into his next superstar at Anfield with Lavia not only the same age as Bellingham, but the perfect profile of player to fit Klopp's philosophy.

Over 27 Premier League appearances, the 19-year-old Belgian who was dubbed "incredible" by Pep Guardiola, has been unrelenting in his desire to impact things defensively.

Comfortable in possession, the teenager has tallied up an 86% pass completion rate and scored one goal while successfully completing 68% of his dribbles.

Lavia has also made 1.1 interceptions, two tackles, and won five duels won per game, proving that despite Southampton's plight, he has been a consistent and hard-working player who is effective in both winning and retaining possession of the ball.

Manchester City do have a buy-back opportunity worth £40m, however, Liverpool should do everything they can to secure Lavia's services in the centre of the pitch if the Premier League title challengers decide not to bring him back to the Etihad.

Klopp has already unearthed one mighty midfield prodigy in the shape of Stefan Bajcetic this year, a character who has been so incredible that Mo Salah claimed: "Since he started playing for us, he has been our best player."

The thought of another young starlet arriving, therefore, should be music to the ears of supporters, particularly with the club in need of a youthful revolution in the centre of the pitch.

Indeed, the signing of Lavia is a great opportunity to bring in an 'incredible' talent as an alternative for Bellingham who can grow into an important role in the future of Liverpool's midfield.

Tottenham Hotspur and chairman Daniel Levy by extension are readying a mammoth pay rise offer to tempt Brentford goalkeeper David Raya, according to journalist Wayne Veysey.

Who could Spurs sign this summer?

The Lilywhites, coming after they played their final Premier League game of 2022/2023 on Sunday, are now tasked with preparing sufficiently for next season – but there are currently a plethora of issues yet to be resolved.

Tottenham remain without a permanent manager and successor to Antonio Conte, despite the Italian parting company over two months ago, with former top target Arne Slot now staying at Feyenoord.

Spurs are also still without an out-and-out sporting director since Fabio Paratici was forced to resign earlier this year, even if talks have reportedly been held with candidates.

On top of all this, the north Londoners need to start laying the groundwork for transfer targets ahead of a looming summer window, with a new goalkeeper widely tipped to be on their agenda.

Long-term number one and club legend Hugo Lloris could well depart this year, with reports suggesting he has already received seismic offers from the Middle East.

Brentford's Raya is among the keepers who could replace Lloris, with reporter Veysey sharing an update on their links to Football Insider.

According to the journalist, Tottenham and Levy by extension are readying a "ready triple-your-money" offer to tempt with a move to N17.

Indeed, Spurs are apparently willing to table a salary proposal which will treble his current earnings under Thomas Frank, amounting to around £100,000-per-week.

Raya is expected to leave Brentford this summer and Frank faces a real battle to keep hold of his star shot-stopper, who has been shortlisted by Tottenham as a possible successor to Lloris.

Their recruitment staff have apparently followed the Spaniard all season, though Spurs may have to pay Brentford around £40 million for his services on top of their proposed wage increase.

Who is David Raya?

The 27-year-old was an ever-present between the sticks last season, featuring over more league minutes than any Brentford player and ranking among their top five best-performers per 90 (WhoScored).

Called a "top-class" player by Michael Owen on Premier League Productions, via HITC, Raya has also been praised by Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp for his excellent distribution.

Speaking on the former Blackburn star in 2021, after an encounter with Brentford, the Reds manager was effusive in his praise for Raya.

“The goalkeeper could have the shirt with No 10,” said Klopp.“He played a few incredible balls but it was the right thing to do against us today.”

West Bromwich Albion manager Carlos Corberan looks unlikely to be backed significantly by owner Guochuan Lai this summer as he looks to build a squad capable of returning to the Premier League.

The Chinese businessman controversially saw his £5m loan from the club written off a few months ago, with the vast majority of the Baggies' signings coming as free transfers in the 2022/23 campaign.

West Brom could find success down that route once again this summer, with reported target Jay Mingi seemingly set to depart Portsmouth on a free transfer.

Would Jay Mingi be a good signing for West Brom?

It was reported back in December by journalist Alan Nixon that the Baggies were scouting Mingi on a regular basis, with the view of bringing him in on a free transfer in the summer transfer window.

While Pompey have offered the 22-year-old a new contract, that has been on the table since January, and he is yet to sign on the dotted line, which suggests that he could be on his way out of Fratton Park when his current deal expires at the end of next month.

Portsmouth manager John Mousinho said: "There was a conversation with Jay in January which went along the lines of 'I think you’re a terrific player with a load of potential.'

"I think there’s still a lot of work to do to get him there and fulfil that potential. There’s a huge amount to work on and I think he knows that as well, but this is a really good football club for him to do that."

Incidentally, the former West Ham midfielder didn't feature at all under Mousinho due to injury, with his last appearance for the club coming on New Year's Day, so it is perhaps a testament to the talent he possesses that he has been offered a new deal despite his lack of game time.

The Englishman possesses very little senior experience, with just 40 appearances to his name across spells with Maidenhead United, Charlton Athletic and Portsmouth.

However, he is clearly highly rated and could be a great signing for the future by Lai, especially if he continues to back his manager with free-agent signings.

Okay Yokuslu, John Swift and Jed Wallace are ranked as the first, second and fifth-best performers in West Brom's squad this season according to WhoScored, having joined without a transfer fee, emphasising how much success can be had with free agents.

If Lai wants to get the summer off to a positive start as West Brom chairman, he must surely consider making an offer to Mingi ahead of his contract's expiry next month. Such an appealing deal doesn't come around very often.

Manchester United are the subject of a fifth bid from Sheikh Jassim Bin Hamad Al Thani. United fans have long since been opposed to the Glazer family running the club, but the owners have yet to accept any of the bids they've received for the OId Trafford outfit.

What's the latest Manchester United takeover updates?

According to Sky Sports, Sheikh Jassim Bin Hamad Al Thani has improved his offer to to buy Manchester United but has issued an ultimatum. Reported as "a little bit of a caveat" live by Sky Sports News, his bid team will now not "engage with the process after Friday".

It's his second ultimatum during this process after previously declaring that his third and "final offer" in April would not be followed up with another. However, the Raine Group, a New York investment bank, received a fourth offer in the region of £5bn in May.

Sheikh Jassim's offer is for 100% ownership of Manchester United. United have been informed this will be the final bid, but with the Glazers seeking a £6bn offer, it may not matter even if Jassim is said to believe "is a very competitive one".

If accepted, it would clear £1bn of United's debt as well as bring a separate fund to redevelop Old Trafford and the Carrington training facility while also investing in the squad.

How does the takeover saga affect Man United transfers?

Despite the ongoing negotiations between Sheikh Jassim and Manchester United, Erik ten Hag will still be able to invest into his side this summer, but there may still be limitations.

An update from May stated that Jassim is keen on signing Neymar if he is successful in buying the club but with no clear timeline on the sale, signing the Brazil icon remains an improbable purchase. Of course, that's before you consider his injury record.

Harry Kane is another doubtful target for the Red Devils if this uncertainty continues. Fabrizio Romano stated that Spurs chairman Daniel Levy will "make life very difficult for Manchester United to sign Kane", so it's hard to believe they can complete a deal without the backing of a new owner.

One interesting target for ten Hag to improve his midfield options is Brighton's Moises Caicedo. The Ecuadorian is said to be valued at £70m. Journalist Sam Dean says Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester United have all shown interest while Liverpool could still enter the race as well.

United finished third in the Premier League and will be hoping their summer recruitment can continue their progression under ten Hag.

Celtic are in the market for a new manager after Australian boss Ange Postecoglou departed Glasgow this week.

The 57-year-old completed the domestic treble with the Hoops last weekend with a 3-1 win over Inverness in the FA Cup but ended up putting pen to paper on a deal with Spurs on Tuesday.

This means that the club now need to source a replacement for him and Football Scotland recently reported that Manchester City are braced for an official approach from the Bhoys for first-team coach Enzo Maresca, with staff expecting the Scottish giants to make a move for the Italian.

The publication has revealed that majority shareholder Dermot Desmond was impressed after speaking with the tactician in 2021 but ultimately went for Postecoglou. However, the Celtic chief is now interested in another round of talks with the 43-year-old ahead of a possible deal to take over at Parkhead.

Would Enzo Maresca be a success at Celtic?

Maresca could be a big success with the Hoops with Desmond potentially set to unearth his own version of Arsenal head coach Mikel Arteta.

The Gunners boss spent over three years working as Pep Guardiola's assistant at The Etihad and has been able to use what he learned from the legendary tactician to turn the north London giants into an exciting side to watch in the Premier League, whilst achieving success.

Arsenal play fluid progressive football, with pundit Danny Murphy hailing them as a "joy to watch".

Since the Spaniard took over in Islington, they have won the FA Cup and Community Shield, and finished second in the top flight, running winners Manchester City close for the title.

His style of play has been compared to Guardiola's in the way his players interchange positions across the pitch to create space and move the opposition around to create chances and dominate games, suggesting that he learned a lot from the City chief.

Maresca could follow in his footsteps and have a similar impact on Celtic if Desmond affords him the time to build a squad capable of playing the way he wants to play. Indeed, Arteta finished eighth in his first two seasons with Arsenal before it finally clicked.

Whilst the 43-year-old has limited experience and it is impossible to say with certainty that he would be a success, Guardiola believes that the Italian has a bright future ahead of him. He said:

"We are delighted with what Maresca has done. He’ll be an extraordinary manager in the future – like I felt it with Arteta. He's developed many young players that will help us. It will depend on how many stay and how many leave. Who we sign."

Guardiola was right about the now-Arsenal boss and this bodes well for Maresca, who deploys a 3-4-1-2 set-up, and his hopes of becoming a first-team boss.

If the Italian tactician is capable of following in Arteta's footsteps and turning a side into a Pep-esque team who are a 'joy to watch' then Celtic fans should be excited for each game knowing that the Hoops will likely play in the same manner as Postecoglou's teams of old.

Leeds United are on the lookout for a new boss to replace Sam Allardyce and former Aston Villa boss Steven Gerrard would be open to taking over at Elland Road.

What's the latest news involving Leeds United and Steven Gerrard?

As per The Telegraph, Gerrard has emerged as a contender to become the next Leeds United manager as the Whites look to find their new boss to lead them into the Sky Bet Championship next term.

talkSPORT pundit Simon Jordan has backed the 43-year-old for the role, stating on the outlet's YouTube channel: "Gerrard to me, I don't see why he couldn't do the job if the lessons that needed to have been learned have been learned. "If he can sit in front of a chairman and walk him through what it is that he would bring to his football club and what he's learned from the lessons he's had previously and could then deploy them.

Nevertheless, The Daily Mail have revealed that Gerrard, whose organisation was hailed as "incredible" during his time at Rangers, is also in the running for the Leicester City job, potentially offering him a route back into football ahead of 2023/24.

Scott Parker and Manchester City coach Enzo Maresca have also been looked at by the Foxes as they prepare to rival Leeds United in the English second-tier.

Speaking to Football FanCast, journalist Jones thinks that whoever Leeds United appoint will be determined by their ongoing ownership situation.

Jones told FFC: "It'll be really interesting to see what happens with Steven Gerrard, who is very open to taking both the Leeds and the Leicester job and is keen to get back into work as soon as possible. I think at this stage, Leeds still have due diligence to do on the managerial front and who they appoint will be impacted by the ownership situation."

Who else has been linked to the Leeds United job?

Leeds United look to have a lengthy list of candidates at Elland Road as they weigh up who would be the best fit for the club moving forward.

As per The Athletic, former Fulham boss Scott Parker has emerged as a candidate to take over at the club and has been discussed internally at Elland Road.

West Bromwich Albion boss Carlos Corberan is also of interest to Leeds United and has been shortlisted as they do their due diligence within their hiring process, as per Football Insider.

The Daily Star claim that Brendan Rodgers is another name that has been mentioned in connection with the club, though Leeds United are likely to face competition from his former club Celtic to land the 50-year-old, as per Sky Sports.

Aston Villa are reportedly eyeing Serie A ace Hirving Lozano as the Villans prepare to introduce reinforcements to their squad.

Unai Emery isn’t expected to be the only Spaniard with control in the market this summer, with former Sevilla sporting director Monchi sealing a move to Villa Park.

The club have been linked to a host of top talent already, with the latest link being a potentially strong suitor to partner Ollie Watkins.

What’s the latest on Hirving Lozano to Aston Villa?

As reported by various Spanish outlets this week, Aston Villa have emerged as a club interested in Napoli forward Lozano.

One report states that Villa have shown ‘clear interest’ in the Mexico international, who could depart Naples this summer due to a frailed relationship with the board.

It’s claimed the Midlands club are among the ‘most attractive’ options for the 27-year-old, with Villa planning a ‘formal offer’ believed to be in the region of €30m (£26m).

What could Hirving Lozano offer to Aston Villa?

Hailed as a “sensation” by broadcaster Bolarinwa Olajide, the forward could be a revolutionary addition to Emery’s attack.

Likened to Premier League ace Bukayo Saka based on statistics by FBref, the winger is a seasoned attacker, as supported by his career statistics representing PSV, Napoli and Pachuca.

As per Transfermarkt, the Mexican has contributed to 184 goals in 383 recorded appearances, scoring 113 goals and registering 71 assists in consistent streaks that convey a danger in the final third.

When speaking to The Athletic in April, Emery revealed his plans to sign a second striker to play either alongside Watkins or in rotation with the Englishman – which is something he could deliver in signing Lozano.

While the two are most notably strong in front of goal, they have opposing attributes that suggest they could form a complete partnership leading the line at Villa Park.

In the past, Lozano has been likened to Lionel Messi, with his low centre of gravity contributing to him being called “explosive and agile” by PSV director of football Marcel Brands, who formerly scouted the forward – as relayed by football.london.

As per FBref, the £97k-per-week attacker averages better than Watkins in areas that could greatly benefit the ex-Brentford man, registering 4.78 progressive carries per 90 to his average of 1.44.

Having a player that excels in progressive play beside him could be vital to taking the 15-goal striker to the next level, with an added benefit being the Napoli star’s ability to score himself.

Emery has a comprehensive right-winger already in his arsenal in Jacob Ramsey, but to adhere to the Spaniard’s aims of adding depth to his squad that will challenge in Europe next campaign, the move could be significant.

Lozano's contract in Naples expires next summer, so it’s likely that the Serie A champions will wish to cash in on his talents rather than see him leave as a free agent at the close of next season.

The head of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Ibrahim Gusau has claimed that fans will have a say in whether or not current Nigeria head coach Jose Peseiro will stay in charge.

Why will fans have a say in the next Nigeria manager?

The former Porto and Sporting Lisbon manager took over back in May 2022, and it was claimed then that he would have a potentially hard time winning over supporters.

Indeed, BBC Sports writer Oluwashina Okeleji noted: "Peseiro will need to surpass his predecessor's achievement to win over demanding fans in Nigeria."

This was because the country's last foreign boss, Gernot Rohr, departed as the Super Eagles' longest-serving manager after taking charge in 2016 and leading Nigeria to the 2018 World Cup and a third-place finish at the 2019 Nations Cup.

Well, Peseiro has managed to secure qualification for next year's Africa Cup of Nations but they didn't manage to make it to the 2022 World Cup. What's more, with four wins and fives losses since, he has been criticised by local media and fans for what some "poor team selections and colourless performances".

That is according to Okeleji again, who once more is reporting for BBC Sport. This new article then quotes the NFF head who explains why fans will have a say in the coach's future.

Speaking interview on the Gbamm! LovingFootball radio show, Gusau explained: "We have the plan to push the votes to Nigerians to hear their views and thoughts.

"We've tried the foreign coaches and also the local coaches, and it seems they were having some kind of problems.

"Maybe we didn't get it right in the area of getting the right person.

"We are surely going to push it to the public, whether we should continue with Peseiro or he should go."

What happened with Jose Peseiro's Nigeria wages?

The report claims that his contract with the NFF expires on 30 June, so this situation should be resolved pretty soon.

However, it remains unclear just how desperate Peseiro will be to stay in the job. After all, back in November – six months after being appointed – it was reported that he had yet to receive a single pay cheque from his employers. Even so, the 63-year-old didn't make an official complaint to the NFF at the time.

Once more, as per BBC Sport, Gusau claimed his

organisation will only pick the best man for the job and nationality will not be a factor.

He added: "Whether we are going to consider an indigenous coach, we are also going to push that to Nigerians on the phone.

"The public will tell us if they think going for a Nigerian will be best for Nigeria at the moment or we appoint another foreign coach.

"We will get their views, look at it and then we will do what we have to do as a board and come out with a decision."

Todd Boehly is eyeing a Chelsea move for Bayer Leverkusen youngster Florian Wirtz this summer as Mauricio Pochettino looks to continue his overhaul of the squad ahead of 2023/24.

What’s the latest on Florian Wirtz to Chelsea?

According to journalist Simon Phillips reporting on his Substack, the Blues are currently keen on making a move for the talented attacking midfielder as Pochettino looks to rejuvenate the squad.

The 20-year-old currently earns £76k-per-week at the Bundesliga outfit and if he joins Chelsea, he will surely secure a major increase on that figure. The German international has a contract until 2027, indicating that the Blues will need to submit a substantial offer if they have any ambitions of signing Wirtz during the transfer window.

Could Chelsea sign Florian Wirtz this summer?

The Stamford Bridge side are undergoing a huge rebuild this summer, with a mass exodus currently occurring, as seven players have already departed and there will likely be more as the club try to keep in line with the financial fair play rules.

There will need to be some new arrivals to offset the large volume of exits however, and Wirtz could be an excellent option, with the youngster looking to follow in the same trajectory as compatriot Kai Havertz.

Havertz left Chelsea to join Arsenal following a three-year spell at the Blues and he too, like Wirtz, played for Leverkusen before making a move to the Premier League.

The duo also tend to operate in similar positions too, with Havertz perhaps more forward-thinking as he is usually deployed as a centre-forward whereas Wirtz mainly plays just behind the striker, or on the right wing if required.

The “incredible” talent – as dubbed by Fabrizio Romano – has already scored 23 times and registered 30 assists during his spell at Leverkusen, despite only turning 20 in May and Havertz also shone at the club during the embryonic stages of his career.

The 24-year-old was even more prolific, netting 46 goals while securing 31 assists during his spell in Germany and the pair have both proven they are dangerous in the final third.

The youngster has actually outshone Havertz over a few attacking metrics across the previous 365 days, completing more successful take-ons per 90 (3.87 to 0.82), shot-creating actions per 90 (5.66 to 2.48) and progressive passes per 90 (6.71 to 3.27), underlining just how effective he is in the final third, and he could even be an upgrade on the former Chelsea star judging by these statistics.

Statman Dave even went as far as to hail him a “wonderkid” and the future appears bright for the German starlet.

Rangers' attempts to sign Danilo this summer may have just hit a stumbling block, with AD in the Netherlands ,via Rangers News, reporting that he could cost nearly £20m in a transfer deal this transfer window.

Who is Danilo?

The forward currently plays for Feyenoord and has impressed during his first season with the club. Playing on 34 occasions for the side, he bagged ten goals and managed three assists, as they claimed the Eredivise title.

What is even more impressive is when you consider how many games the Brazilian actually started – he was named in the starting eleven just 14 times – his 13 goal contributions means he averages just about a goal or assists every time he's in the XI.

It's not the first time that the 24-year-old has shone either, as a loan to FC Twente in 2020/21 brought him a further 17 goals and five assists in just 31 starts. It shows that if you give the striker regular minutes in a team, he can reward you in attack.

However, having struggled to break into the Ajax team and to have the same impact with them – he spent more time with Jong Ajax than the first-team – he eventually swapped to Feyenoord permanently.

Now, he could be set for another exit. That's because Scottish Premiership side Rangers have been keeping a close eye on the Brazilian ahead of a potential transfer this summer, with talks having already taken place.

Are Rangers signing Danilo?

However, the Gers' hopes of landing the 24-year-old may have been dealt a fresh blow. That's because according to a report from AD in the Netherlands, via Rangers News, Feyenoord would want a fee of around 20 million Euros (or £17.1m) to even consider flogging the attacker this summer.

It would be a huge record fee for a new signing at Ibrox, and the report states that the Eredivisie outfit are not willing to even consider a sale if an offer is below that amount. It also adds that they have funds already in their coffers – so there is not a desperate need for them to sell any of their best players.

Rangers then may have to consider how badly they want Danilo. It is a lot of money to spend on a player – albeit one with a very good goal record – but there is always the chance a move may not work out for any striker.

With such a high fee on his head, the Gers may have to consider other targets. Alternatively, they could test the mettle of Feyenoord by offering an improved bid – perhaps one a bit closer to the asking price but split out into several installments.