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Liverpool are the best-placed club to complete the signing of Southampton midfielder Romeo Lavia, according to Dean Jones.

The 19-year-old enjoyed a stellar campaign for the Saints last season and is wanted by a number of the Premier League’s biggest clubs.

How much will Romeo Lavia cost?

Southampton stand to make a very big profit on the Belgian midfielder they signed one year ago.

Brought in from champions Manchester City for a fee that could potentially rise to £14m, Lavia was joined at the club last summer by Samuel Edozie and Gavin Bazunu, who also made the switch from Manchester.

The midfielder made 31 appearances for the south coast side last season and scored one goal. He received lots of credit and praise from pundits and managers alike last season, with Premier League legends Paul Scholes and Rio Ferdinand quick to lavish praise on the 19-year-old before the Saints clash against Manchester United earlier in the season.

Scholes said: “He has chosen to move on and I think he is a player with so much potential and he could potentially go back, but he has settled in so well. 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.”

Ferdinand also shared that sentiment, stating: “The way he has started and immediately performed here kind of justifies the conviction that Southampton have had in going and getting him. He is a young player who can do both sides of the game, equally good defensively but also once he is one the ball he has tremendous feet and can pass it.”

Reports this summer have suggested that following the side’s relegation, Lavia is looking to leave the now Championship club, with clubs such as Arsenal, Liverpool and Chelsea all having interest. However, no club has agreed to pay the £50m asking price that Southampton are demanding for their young star.

Transfer insider Jones says that he believes that the Merseyside outfit are best placed to sign the midfielder, with the potential departure of Thiago Alcantara a factor.

What has Dean Jones said about the potential move?

Speaking to FootballFanCast, journalist Jones said: “Yeah, I think at this stage, it’s fair to say that Liverpool would be best placed to sign Lavia. I think it’s interesting how this story is now being paired with the fact that Thiago could leave Liverpool.

You know, some suggestions are that Liverpool needs some money. And in order to go do that Lavia deal but I’m not sure that that is strictly true.”

Where would Lavia play for Liverpool?

Lavia, who has been hailed as a “baller” who is “big and strong” would seemingly be the final piece in the Liverpool midfield rebuild this summer.

The Reds have brought in two midfielders already, with Alexis Mac Allister arriving from Brighton and Hove Albion for a fee in the region of £35m and Dominik Szoboszlai from German outfit RB Leipzig for a fee in the region of £60m.

Should Liverpool employ a similar system to the one manager Jurgen Klopp utlised in the final games of last season, only a left-sided defensive midfielder to partner Trent Alexander-Arnold would be needed, and that is where Lavia would come in.

The 19-year-old would most likely be tasked with being the defensive anchor for Liverpool to allow their more attack-minded and creative players the license to get forward and showcase their talents, and that aspect of his game is something he excels at.

Twitter user @SawkurGod posted a graph showcasing the U24 best duel winners in the Premier League last season, and Lavia sat among some esteemed company at the very top alongside Declan Rice and Moises Caicedo, both players who could command fees in excess of £100m this summer according to reports.

With reports recently that club captain Jordan Henderson might also be departing this summer, with clubs in Saudi Arabia interested, a move for Lavia seems like an incredibly smart and shrewd piece of business for the Reds as they look to bounce back from a disappointing campaign last season

It’s very rare that someone is blessed with the ability to become one of the all-time greats in a particular sport, so much so that their talent usually peaks there. But, when that same sportsperson is blessed with the ability to outplay legends of another sport, that’s when things simply become unfair.Rafael Nadal is one of the greatest tennis players ever, having won 22 grand slams – the second most in the history of the sport. Given how many titles he’s picked up in tennis, his rivals may have been hoping for Nadal to crash and burn when taking to the football pitch back in 2008.Up against Iker Casillas – one of the greatest goalkeepers of all time – the Spaniard not only impressed, but he managed to find the back of the net six times. With apologies to those hoping for a downfall, it appears Nadal potentially could have had a career playing the beautiful game.

When did Rafael Nadal and Iker Casillas face off?

When raising money, charities often turn to the biggest stars, so when Red Cross wanted to host an event in Spain, they turned to two of the country’s biggest in Nadal and Casillas.

In one of the events, both stars picked teams, full of fellow icons from a range of sports, to take part in an indoor football game. Nadal opted for Carlos Moya, Samuel Eto’o, Raul Gonzalez, and Carlos Sainz Sr. Meanwhile, Casillas chose Fernando Alonso, Sergio Garcia, David Ferrer, Feliciano Lopez, and Juan Carlos Ferrero.

When it comes to a star-studded match, it doesn’t get much better than the 2008 charity event.

The two Spaniards didn’t stop at football, either, also taking part in a tennis match, and a go-kart race to reportedly raise more than $100k (£77.4k).

Nadal scores double hat-trick

Pulling off an achievement that some strikers never managed to do by scoring against Casillas, Nadal went on to find the back of the net a total of six times on the day – as you can see in this footage – with a range of incredibly impressive strikes.

The tennis legend scored his first goal with a simple finish following a nutmeg on one opposing defender, and a roulette past another, before slotting home. Securing his brace, Nadal then found the right-hand corner with an unstoppable strike from just in front of the halfway line, before completing his first hat-trick with a simple finish from close range.

Not done there, the Spaniard volleyed home at the back post for goal number four, and then bundled his fifth into the back of the net. Capping off a brilliant display, Nadal scored his sixth and final goal with a smart finish.

Despite scoring six goals, however, Sainz’s late goal meant that the tennis star’s side somehow suffered defeat.

It may well be one of the best performances we’ve seen on a five-aside pitch, and one of the most unexpected. Known for his tennis, the last thing we expected to see was Nadal securing two match balls against one of Real Madrid’s finest ever players. But if greatness in sport was to be summed up, it would be by using that very footage.

Everton may be making a 'mistake' by bringing in free agent Ashley Young following his exit from Aston Villa at the end of last term, according to journalist Paul Brown.

Is Ashley Young set to join Everton?

Barring any last-minute hitch, it looks as if Young will be Sean Dyche's first signing of the summer transfer window at Goodison Park as the former Burnley boss looks to add to his thin Everton squad.

As per Sky Sports, Young is set for a medical today at Everton and could join his prospective new teammates this week in a pre-season training camp in Switzerland, where they will face Stade Nyonnais in a friendly match on Friday.

Young, who earned £50,000 per week at Aston Villa, is expected to join on a 12-month deal with the option of an extra year, providing some competition across both full-back positions and significant Premier League experience.

Luton Town also spoke to Young about the possibility of a deal at Kenilworth Road and the 38-year-old also encountered interest from Saudi Arabia in his services before choosing to join Everton, as per BBC Sport.

Carrying a wealth of top-level nous, Young has won top-flight titles in England and Italy with Manchester United and Inter Milan during his career.

Nevertheless, journalist Brown thinks that Everton signing Young could be a 'mistake' at Goodison Park as Dyche edges closer to making his first signing of the window.

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, Brown stated: "I could see why Sean Dyche might be interested in bringing Ashley Young to Everton. His experience and what he's done in the game would be important maybe in the dressing room.

"But, I think it might be a mistake for Everton to bring in a player of that age. When a club has little money to spend, it's hard to justify bringing in someone who's not going to have any sell-on value and isn't going to be around really for the long-term."

Would signing Ashley Young be a mistake for Everton?

Realistically, the fact that Everton are close to adding a 38-year-old free agent this summer is a direct consequence of their financial situation.

The Toffees will need to be reliant on free agents and loan signings to make up the numbers and are operating a sell-to-buy policy, as per Football Insider.

As per The Daily Mail, Everton are in special measures with the Premier League due to recording losses exceeding £370 million over the last three years.

Despite this, Young himself could prove to be a valuable asset given his versatility and he impressed for Aston Villa in 2022/23, contributing with 32 appearances across all competitions and scoring once, as shown on Transfermarkt.

WhoScored show that Young was a solid presence in the Villans' backline, completing 2.1 clearances and winning 1.7 tackles per match in the English top-flight.

Of course, Young isn't exactly a glamorous signing, taking into account his age and lack of sell-on value; however, his wisdom around the dressing room and relatively steady level of performance could prove to be invaluable at Goodison Park in 2023/24.

Everton need to operate on a shoestring budget due to their financial restraints and finding bargains in the market will be a route the club will have to go down as they prepare for the new season.

Another new era at Chelsea is now firmly up and running following the official unveiling of Mauricio Pochettino at the weekend and the arrival of another new player.

With Nicolas Jackson joining Christopher Nkunku in making a move to Stamford Bridge, the Blues could be about to land another talented attacking player in Flamengo teenager Matheus Franca.

Will Chelsea sign Matheus Franca?

According to the Daily Mail, Chelsea are looking to sign Franca this summer as part of a £25m deal with Brazilian heavyweights Flamengo.

The 19-year-old is no stranger to being linked with big-name clubs, having previously been touted as a target for La Liga's big two Barcelona and Real Madrid.

Newcastle United, West Ham United and Crystal Palace are also said to have shown an interest in Franca, but Chelsea could get there ahead of their Premier League rivals.

Who is Chelsea target Matheus Franca?

Franca is a versatile attacker who can play across the forward line and in central attacking midfield, which is where most of his appearances have come this season, as per WhoScored.

Chelsea are not exactly short of attacking midfielders, though that is likely to change as Mason Mount is on the verge of joining Manchester United, while Christian Pulisic is unlikely to stay at Stamford Bridge.

Mykhailo Mudryk looked set to capitalise on those exits, having struggled for any sort of rhythm since arriving in an £88.5m deal in January, but Franca's mooted arrival could spell further bad news for the Ukraine international.

Like Franca, Mudryk also operated in a number of positions last season, including central attacking midfield. Chelsea will want to get their money's worth from Mudryk, but Pochettino will not be afraid to bench the 22-year-old in favour of Franca should the Brazilian be better suited to his system.

There are similarities between the two players, as you would expect given they take up similar positions, but it could be argued that Franca is showing even more potential than Mudryk did prior to his Chelsea switch.

Taking Mudryk's figures from his final season with Shakhtar Donetsk, which ultimately paved the way for his move to Stamford Bridge, he scored 0.22 goals per 90 minutes, which compares to 0.64 for Franca at Flamengo in the 2022 season.

Franca also had a better pass-completion percentage across those respective seasons (75.1 v 70.5), as per FBref, and also played more passes that led to a shot attempt (2.56 v 2.50), which highlights his ability to link play high up the pitch.

Interestingly, the Brazil U20 international also ranked higher for tackles (2.05 v 1) and ball recoveries (3.59 v 3), showing he is also able to get stuck in if required.

More than that, though, it is his ability to find space at such a young age that has most caught the eye. "He has a very good understanding of the game, Flamengo U20s coach Fabio Matias told GloboEsporte, via Goal. "He also has the ability to be decisive in front of goal and is a great finisher."

That sounds like the player Chelsea were signing in Mudryk. While that could still be the case, it may well be that Pochettino turns to a different talented attacking midfielder in his first season at Stamford Bridge.

Liverpool are planning a midfield rebuild this summer with Alexis Mac Allister the first new addition confirmed ahead of next season and now a new update from a reliable source has emerged on another potential target.

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

According to Italian journalist and transfer insider Fabrizio Romano, Liverpool are "in the race" to sign Southampton star Romeo Lavia this summer.

Romano revealed on Twitter:

"Understand Liverpool asked conditions of Roméo Lavia deal, they’re in the race. Arsenal, working on this deal for 15 days — no official bid from both clubs yet. #LFC

"Man Utd and Chelsea, monitoring the situation but not in active talks yet."

Will Liverpool sign Romeo Lavia this summer?

It is clear that Jurgen Klopp and his new sporting director Jorg Schmadtke are looking at young talent they can develop into the next generation of success in the centre of the pitch.

Kouadio 'Manu' Kone and Khephren Thuram are two strongly linked targets who are both just 22 years old, whilst Lavia is just 19, so it seems the German coach is keen to nurture talent for the future instead of bringing in more experienced prospects.

Liverpool boast an ageing midfield with Jordan Henderson and Thiago Alcantara both well into their 30s at this point and reaching the latter stages of their careers, whilst Fabinho has seemingly been in decline over the last 12 months and will be turning 30 in October this year.

As a result, the signing of the young Southampton machine would represent a shrewd coup for the Merseyside giants this summer and could offer Klopp not only the perfect heir to Fabinho's role but a young player who could be the club's next Javier Mascherano.

The former Liverpool star was a driving force in the defensive midfield role during his stint at Anfield renowned for his tough tackling and ball-winning capabilities alongside strengths in pass accuracy and blocks, which eventually earned him a move to Barcelona back in 2010.

Now Lavia could be the second coming of the talented Argentinian as he is already displaying many similarities in his style of play in the deep-lying role – prolific in winning tackles, a confident ball-winner and also boasts similar positional experience with the capability of also playing centre-back just like his retired positional peer.

As per FBref, the Belgian gem – who was once hailed as "superb" by Evening Standard journalist Simon Collings – ranks in the top 30% of his positional peers across the top five European leagues for blocks, interceptions, tackles, successful take-ons and pass completion per 90, whilst Opta Data Analyst report that he ranked in the top 12% for possession won per 90.

Not only that, Lavia – who has a reported £45m price tag – won the second most tackles in the entire Southampton squad last season and had the best pass accuracy in the squad of players who had made more than one starting appearance, according to WhoScored.

With that being said, if Klopp could continue to nurture Lavia's skills and talents in the Liverpool squad next season there is no reason why he couldn't be a huge hit in midfield and reach his full potential to rival Mascherano's impact at the club.

Manchester United could look to bring in two forwards this summer instead of bringing in one 'superstar striker', according to transfer insider Dean Jones.

What's the latest transfer news involving Manchester United's search for a striker?

According to The Daily Mail, Manchester United suffered a blow in their pursuit of Atalanta striker Rasmus Hojlund, with the Serie A outfit reportedly asking for £86 million to sanction a departure for their rising star.

The report states that Chelsea are also keen to strike a deal to take the Denmark international, who shares the same agent as Red Devils' boss Erik ten Hag, to Stamford Bridge this window.

Tottenham Hotspur talisman Harry Kane was extensively linked with a move to Manchester United this summer; however, they have now pulled out of the race to sign the 29-year-old, as per The Guardian.

Ten Hag will no longer pursue Kane this off-season due to the money potentially being involved to bring him to Old Trafford being 'unrealistic' and will instead turn his attention towards alternative targets.

talkSPORT understand that the Dutchman wants to bring in two new strikers ahead of next term to increase competition for places in his forward line.

Speaking to Football FanCast, insider Jones believes that Manchester United would rather sign two forwards this summer than making one 'superstar' purchase in that area of the field, with Atalanta star Hojlund potentially being one of them.

Jones told FFC: "It'll be interesting to see what he's capable of [Hojlund]. I think that actually, it's plausible that two players in that Hojlund price bracket end up coming in, but that they avoid signing that superstar striker and then they wait and see in a years time."

What other strikers could end up at Manchester United?

Manchester United have been linked with plenty of other forward players as Ten Hag looks to add some potency to his talented squad this summer.

According to The Athletic, Aston Villa ace Ollie Watkins is on their transfer shortlist due to his fine form and he has been watched by Old Trafford chiefs on several occasions.

Portuguese outlet O Jogo (via Man Utd News) also detail that Benfica striker Goncalo Ramos is on the radar at Manchester United, who are believed to be 'in the lead' to sign the Portugal international.

The Red Devils have also held discussions with Eintracht Frankfurt frontman Randal Kolo Muani, signifying that plenty of excitement will be in the air this window at Old Trafford with potential incomings on the horizon.

Leeds United have reportedly drawn up a shortlist to finally fill their managerial void, and could opt for one man in an attempt to secure immediate promotion…

What's the latest on Scott Parker to Leeds United?

The names are touted by The Guardian, who outline the three main options that the 49ers seem to have settled on.

With Carlos Corberan still in a job, the opportunity to freely appoint either Scott Parker or Daniel Farke seems far easier and much more likely. After all, the financial burden that relegation poses can prove catastrophic.

Should it be a shootout between these two latter managers, it could be argued that the Englishman has the edge in terms of pedigree, style and prior promotion success. Therefore, despite his reported preference for the Leicester City job, he must be prioritised.

Is Scott Parker better than Daniel Farke?

Although both have overseen two promotions from the Championship into the Premier League, it could be argued that the former AFC Bournemouth boss' exploits would be preferred for the west Yorkshire outfit, given he completed such a feat with two different clubs.

His ability to enter a dressing room and instantly win them over is different from Farke, who clearly cultivated an atmosphere over many years at Norwich City.

Not only this but when comparing their respective figures at this level, Parker's points-per-match average of 1.84 actually slightly outperforms the 1.82 of his competition.

To further emphasise the 42-year-old's success at this level, his teams have scored 138 times during his 92 games within the Championship, losing only 19.

His work at Craven Cottage in particular even drew praise from pundit Gary Neville, who spoke on his podcast about what allowed this young coach to thrive:

"When I was finishing off my pro license, one of the coaching educators I was working with was Roy Hodgson, and he specifically mentioned that Scott Parker was an outstanding student in the pro license cohort at the time, and that always stuck on my mind.

"He’s someone who doesn’t get coaches wrong. You can see now, no panic, the reality is that what he’s doing at this moment in time is special because it goes against everything".

Although susceptible in the top flight, having been sacked from both his two jobs where he earned promotion, Farke is conversely the not-so-proud owner of a torrid record: he was the first manager to lose 15 consecutive matches in the English top flight.

Despite their similarities, it is the solidity that Parker offers that further cements him as the outstanding option. His 4-3-3 shape allows them to defend staunchly but then build up meticulously in attack, as opposed to the unpredictable all-action of Farke.

Given its success in the past, the 49ers could do much worse than the former West Ham United midfield maestro to take up the spot in their dugout.

Newcastle United could use the summer transfer window to add some new players to their impressive squad ahead of their Champions League campaign next season and now a new update has emerged on a potential target.

What's the latest on Newcastle's interest in Kouadio 'Manu' Kone?

According to Foot Mercato journalist Ignazio Genuardi, Newcastle are one of the clubs interested in signing Borussia Mönchengladbach midfielder Kouadio 'Manu' Kone.

He revealed that although Liverpool have made an approach, he is arousing the interest of Newcastle and is "very popular" with the Magpies who are looking for two new players in midfield.

Would Kone be a good fit for Newcastle?

It is clear that Newcastle could be in the market for another midfielder this summer with a number of potential targets being linked to the club ahead of the transfer window opening yesterday.

One of the most high-profile links in recent weeks has been a potential move for Moises Caicedo this summer, however, securing a deal for the Brighton and Hove Albion star is looking increasingly unlikely due to the £80m price tag attached to him.

As a result, Eddie Howe could instead look to Kone as a much cheaper alternative – with a reported price tag of €40m (£34m) – without compromising on the quality needed in the defensive midfield role next season.

As per FBref, Caicedo has been named as one of the most comparable players to the Gladbach ace – hailed the "complete package" by Jacek Kulig – over the last 12 months, and it's not hard to see why with the pair sharing several similarities in their output this season.

When comparing the positional peers over their respective league appearances, the midfielders shared many related attributes including goal contributions (2 v 2), pass completion rate (86.2% v 88.5%), goal-creating actions (5 v 5), successful take-ons (48.3% v 51.9%), blocks (44 v 43) and ball recoveries (221 v 248), although Kone did play seven fewer games in the league.

The Newcastle midfield is already bursting with talent as Bruno Guimaraes and Joelinton have been standout performers in the top flight, notably contributing to 22 goals between them this term, however, adding another young talent who can improve the presence in the centre of the pitch will be advantageous for Howe as he leads his squad in an elite European tournament.

With that being said, if the powerbrokers at St James' Park could seal a deal for Kone it would be a great opportunity to not only bring in a player with a similar profile to Caicedo for much less but add a fresh perspective into midfield ahead of next season.

West Ham United have made contact with Bayer Leverkusen over signing their mainstay defender Jonathan Tah, according to Sky Sports.

Who could West Ham sign this summer?

The Hammers managed to avoid Premier League relegation fairly comfortably at the end of last campaign, despite undergoing a real scare midway through the season, with reports even suggesting David Moyes was hanging on by a thread.

However, West Ham's 2022/2023 finish was a solid one, and now the Irons board is tasked with backing Moyes in the transfer market as major clubs circle for star player Declan Rice.

The England international's future will be a major talking point after their Europa Conference League final this evening, and if West Ham opt to sell, Rice's price tag could gift them with a financial windfall to source his replacement.

Moyes is set to stay at West Ham, according to reports, and he apparently has his eyes on a number of potential successors for Rice – including Southampton's James Ward-Prowse, Chelsea's Conor Gallagher and Manchester United's Scott McTominay.

West Ham could also strengthen in defence with Leverkusen defender Tah, who has caps for the German national team, being repeatedly linked with a move to east London.

Sky Sports, sharing news on their live blog (June 5, 17:40), claimed they've made an approach to sign him in the form of an inquiry.

"According to Sky information, several inquiries about Tah have already come in from the island , including from West Ham United," claim the broadcast giant. "Bayer Leverkusen and coach Xabi Alonso definitely want to keep the 27-year-old, but since Tah has a release clause of 18 million euros (£15m), which is relatively low for the level of performance, the competition is very interested."

Who is Jonathan Tah?

The centre-back has been a pivotal figure under Xavi Alonso and was recently voted into the Europa League's Team of the Season.

Tah has also been a mainstay at Bundesliga level – making 33 league appearances last campaign whilst featuring over Leverkusen's fifth-highest number of league minutes (WhoScored).

The 6 foot 4 powerhouse boasts solid defensive stats from 22/23, averaging more clearances per 90 than any other Leverkusen player.

Tah also ranks third in Alonso's squad for interceptions per match, and according to WhoScored, he stands out as a very good ball-playing central defender.

Indeed, he has managed a higher pass accuracy (89.1%) than any of his Leverkusen teammates, perhaps emphasizing why West Ham are keen on his signing this summer.

Tottenham Hotspur are set to make a formal approach for Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou after their Scottish Cup final this weekend, according to reliable journalist Miguel Delaney.

Who could be the next Spurs manager?

Spurs and chairman Daniel Levy still have it all to do in terms of appointing Antonio Conte's successor, with the search becoming all too familiar to their disastrous hunt for Jose Mourinho's replacement in 2021.

It took a quite ridiculous 72 days for Tottenham to eventually appoint Nuno Espirito Santo back then – a move which ultimately resulted in the Portuguese's sacking after just a few months.

Conte then stepped into Nuno's shoes, and now that marriage has unceremoniously ended, it's back to the drawing board for Levy and co as they attempt not to repeat the same mistakes all over again.

There are a few names still in the frame, with the likes of Brighton boss Roberto De Zerbi, Fulham manager Marco Silva and even free agent Graham Potter contending.

Marcelo Gallardo could also emerge as a late option with Levy personally holding Luis Enrique talks as well.

It's imperative that Tottenham get this next appointment right as protests surround the club board and dissatisfaction gathers real pace among supporters.

According to a recent report by The Independent, and reliable reporter Delaney, there has been an update on Spurs' links to Ange Postecoglou – who has emerged as a leading candidate in recent days.

As per his information, the Australian is attracting real interest from Spurs, who are expected to make a "formal approach" for him after Celtic's looming Scottish Cup final against Inverness this weekend.

Delaney also adds a potential timeline for Tottenham's managerial appointment as the north Londoners hope to complete a hire within 10-14 days.

This should come as music to the ears of supporters who have long waited for Conte's replacement to be finalised, though it remains to be seen if Spurs do in fact follow through.

Who is Ange Postecoglou?

Having won a pretty impressive 10 pieces of silverware across spells in Japan, Australia and now Scotland – Postecoglou could make it 11 with victory over Inverness.

The 57-year-old arguably falls into Tottenham's category of manager – an out-and-out attacking tactician who has been revered for his "beautiful football" north of the border.

Snooker legend John Higgins certainly holds him in very high esteem – having made a glowing statement to STV (via The Celtic Way) regarding the Celtic boss:

“Ange Postecoglou has been amazing for the club he has come in and everybody just loves him," said Higgins."So for as long as he stays at Celtic I think we can look forward to more games like the weekend for, hopefully, years to come."That’s maybe why I am feeling so good just now. It would be a dream to be able to go and parade another world championship at Celtic Park and meet big Ange, that would be an amazing feeling."