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Liverpool have emerged as the "front-runners" to secure the signature of Southampton's midfield dynamo Romeo Lavia, claims journalist Alex Crook.

Liverpool transfer news – What's the latest on Romeo Lavia?

It's been a positive start to the summer transfer window for Jurgen Klopp's Reds so far, with the signing of Brighton & Hove Albion's World Cup-winning midfielder Alexis Mac Allister last month for a fee of only £35m, potentially rising to £55m with certain clauses.

However, the six-time European champions haven't rested on their laurels and have since added the imperious Dominik Szoboszlai to their midfield in a deal worth an estimated £60m for the player's former club RB Leipzig.

In what is starting to look like an entire midfield rebuild in a single window, the club have turned their attention to the defensive midfield position after Fabinho had a year to forget by his standards.

The player deemed good enough to replace the Brazilian is Belgian international Lavia, who has attracted the interest of a swath of Premier League sides, with the Independent reporting last month that Arsenal were the favourites to land the player.

It would appear that the situation has dramatically changed over the last couple of weeks and that it is, in fact, Liverpool that have now shot to the front of the queue for the youngster's signature, per journalist Alex Crook.

He explained the situation on TalkSPORT's YouTube channel:

"Romeo Lavia is very much a name in the frame for Anfield, I know there is some interest from Chelsea as well, where their recruitment guru Joe Shields played a big part in him going from Manchester City to Southampton, he's keen to get the deal done taking Lavia to Stamford Bridge, but at this stage it looks like Liverpool are the front-runners. It won't be cheap though, Southampton are looking for a fee of as much as £50m for Lavia who I think will go on and become a real top quality Premier League midfielder."

Could Romeo Lavia replace Fabinho?

It may seem like a lot to ask of the 19-year-old, as the Brazilian was a key member of the Reds side that almost won the lot in the 2021/22 season, falling agonisingly close to being quadruple winners.

But after the horror campaign that the 29-year-old just had, it might be time to consider replacing him, and with the complete contrast in form that Southampton's gem had last year, he could well be the right man for the job.

In the passing department, it is advantage to the ex-Real Madrid man who attempts 61.7 passes at a completion rate of 88.3, a lot more than Lavia, who attempts just 40.4 with a completion rate of 86.2%, all per 90.

However, it is the Brussels-born "monster" that wins out when it comes to the defensive side of the game, perhaps the most important category if he is to be played just ahead of the back four.

The 5 foot 11 midfielder makhas madees 2.43 tackles per 90, winning 1.42 of them compared to Fabinho's 2.19 tackles, with 1.28 being successful. It is the same story with blocks and interceptions, with the Sao Paulo-born midfielder winning out in just clearances with 1.35 to his potential replacement's 0.93, also per 90.

While there are certainly some areas for Lavia to work on for him to surpass Fabinho, the fact that he is only 19 years old and already this good suggests that the potential upside with him could be massive, something that should worry the Brazilian should he have another Premier League campaign like his last.

Liverpool aren't just after midfielders this summer it seems, with the Reds preparing an offer to bring in Federico Chiesa, according to Gazzetta dello Sport, via Rousing the Kop.

How many goals has Federico Chiesa scored?

The winger has had a somewhat torrid year for Juventus in the 2022/23 campaign, with knee injury troubles meaning he was limited to very little playing time. He started on just six occasions in Serie A for example, although he did manage to play in 21 games in total – meaning that he largely had to make do with coming off the bench.

Even though that meant his minutes were limited, he was still able to score two goals and assist five times – it meant that he actually bettered his totals from the 2021/22 season, despite playing for slightly less time.

When able to get onto the field frequently though, the Italian has already showcased in the past what he can do. The last season in which he managed over ten lots of 90 minutes for example brought him eight Serie A goals and the same amount of assists. That meant he had a rate of 16 goal contributions in 28 starts for the Old Lady.

Are Liverpool signing Chiesa?

Now, according to a report from Gazzetta dello Sport, via Rousing the Kop, the player could be given an escape from the Turin side. That is because Liverpool do appear to have an interest in him and, not only that, they are already preparing an offer for the player to try and tempt Juventus into letting him leave.

That bid will reportedly be worth around £34m and they will be hopeful it can be enough to convince the Italian side into a sale – although it's believed that they are more likely to want just above £50m for the player.

Chiesa clearly still has a lot to offer a football club when he is fit, as football journalist Josh Bunting recently praised his "wonderful" talents after witnessing a "special" goal from the Juve starlet on international duty.

It shows that the forward can still fulfil his potential despite his injury hell over the last 18 months, and given the chance to thrive elsewhere, we could see the best out of him – perhaps Liverpool could be that team.

Liverpool have been credited with an interest for Southampton star Romeo Lavia for several months now, with the Belgium international on the club's shortlist of options this summer.

Jurgen Klopp has received all the plaudits for the exceptional job he has done on Merseyside since arriving in 2015, but the Reds collapsed this season after chasing a historic quadruple last year, and major surgery is now paramount.

World Cup winner Alexis Mac Allister has already been signed for a bargain £35m following the departures of midfield trio James Milner, Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, but further firepower is expected, with Fabrizio Romano confirming that the outfit are in the market for two more midfielders.

And according to The Athletic's James Pearce, the 19-year-old Lavia could soon don the Liverpool shirt, and is considered a part of the core cluster of centre-midfield targets for the club.

Football Insider have also recently claimed that contact has been made with the player's representatives, with Chelsea and Manchester United also both intrigued – a fee of around £40m would likely be enough to prompt the relegated Saints to seriously consider allowing their prodigy to leave.

How good is Romeo Lavia?

While the former Manchester City youngster suffered the ignominy of Premier League relegation last term, the teenage gem can hold his head high after belying his tender age and top-flight inexperience with assured and composed performances from the anchoring role in the south coast club's midfield.

Reporter Benjy Nurick had high praise after one performance earlier this year, saying: "Romeo Lavia was an absolute monster tonight. Quite possibly the best midfielder on the pitch."

The one-cap prodigy has recorded an average league rating of 6.8 – as per Sofascore – and exhibited his skills by completing 86% of his passes, making 2.1 tackles per game and succeeding with an extraordinary 68% of his dribbles, which bodes well as Klopp seeks out progressive players to enhance his midfield.

He could be the "perfect" – as stated by reporter Nick Emms – component to ensure that Trent Alexander-Arnold's late-season purple patch is cemented after a year which highlighted his defensive frailties and left the full-back at the epicentre of Liverpool's woes.

As per The Athletic, the crux of Liverpool's strife this year has been down to the midfield's inability to protect the defence, sapped of vitality and devoid of confidence, and Lavia could fix this and subsequently unlock the full might of Alexander-Arnold's creative arsenal.

As per FBref, Lavia ranks among the top 4% of midfielders across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for rate of blocks per 90, which only further strengthens the claim that, despite still being a budding prospect, he is en route to becoming one of the most dogged in the midfield business.

With Alexander-Arnold now flourishing in his new, inverted role – providing seven assists in the last ten league games of last season, the youthful exuberance of Lavia could ensure that Anfield steps into the new season firing across all cylinders, holding the centre of Klopp's squad together with an iron-clad grip and acting as the midfield 'monster' to allow his creative-centric teammates like the right-back to thrive.

Arsenal are now "willing to go over £100 million" for long-term transfer target Declan Rice, claims journalist Graeme Bailey.

The West Ham United captain has been linked to the north London club for months, but Bailey now understands they are willing to break their transfer record to secure the deal.

Arsenal transfer news – Declan Rice

The first rumblings of a potential deal to bring Rice to the Emirates emerged in the closing days of the January transfer window, and since then, the murmurings have turned into a constant stream of updates and rumours.

It now looks as if that might be coming to an end as the Gunners are preparing to offer the east London club a deal in excess of £100m if certain add-ons are met to secure the services of their player, per the Guardian.

Mikel Arteta's side weren't the only ones interested in the "destroyer", as labelled by ex-Tottenham Hotspur keeper Paul Robinson, with Chelsea and Bayern Munich linked with the player.

However, the Premier League runners-up look to be in a strong position to land the midfielder with Chelsea offering "no indication" that they will prioritise Rice.

What has Graeme Baily said about Arsenal's pursuit of Declan Rice

Bailey gave a promising update to Arsenal fans that the club was now willing to reach the asking price requested by West Ham.

Speaking on the Talking Transfers Podcast, Bailey said: "Arsenal has been his first choice for quite a while, and he doesn't want to leave London. It's a straight choice between Arsenal and Chelsea, really, and Arsenal are willing to go over £100 million for him now. That's our understanding.

"West Ham have always demanded that, and they're getting the breakthrough. I think it's a spectacular deal for West Ham."

Bailey gave his opinion on the deal, adding: "I like him, but I don't think he's a £100 million footballer, but if he's the player you want, Arsenal, you pay. If he can take you to that next level, you pay it, and I think they're getting very close to doing so."

How much is Declan Rice earning at West Ham, and what will he likely make at Arsenal

According to Spotrac, the Kingston-upon-Thames-born midfielder is currently on the relatively modest sum of £60,000-a-week in east London.

He had reportedly turned down an eight-year contract worth around £200,000-a-week two years ago to keep his options open for a move.

He would've lost around £14.5m worth of wages in the two years since.

However, the decision not to sign has paid off, as any move to the Gunners will likely result in him becoming one of their highest-paid players.

The current best-paid player at the north London club is Bukayo Saka, who is on an estimated £300,000-a-week.

With such a big-money move potentially on the cards for Rice, surely the big wages would come with a possible move to the Emirates.

Celtic are set to be on the search for a new head coach ahead of the 2023/24 campaign as Ange Postecoglou closes in on an exit from Parkhead.

The Athletic's David Ornstein has reported that the 57-year-old will finalise a deal to join Tottenham Hotspur in the coming days.

Who could replace Ange Postecoglou?

Former Hoops midfielder Kris Commons has urged the club to consider a move for out-of-work boss Graham Potter, who left Chelsea earlier this year.

The Scotsman wrote: "Forward-thinking, tactically astute, innovative, an advocate of possession football; he was everything you would want in a modern manager. He eventually got the Chelsea job, only for the whole thing to go sour after barely six months. But I don't think Potter is actually damaged by that."

He added: "If Celtic can land an ex-Liverpool boss like Rodgers, then they certainly would have a chance of getting someone like Potter. It would be daft not to at least ask him the question, if and when Postecoglou does depart."

Would Graham Potter be a success at Celtic?

The English coach, who typically deploys a 3-4-2-1 system, could be a huge success at Parkhead, swiftly allowing supporters to instantly forget about Postecoglou as the 48-year-old has displayed a pattern of being able to improve teams over time.

He was given less than a full season at Chelsea to follow through on his project and that makes it difficult to judge him on his time at Stamford Bridge but his work with Brighton and Ostersunds in the past suggests that he could be an excellent appointment for the Hoops.

Potter won the title in the third tier of Swedish football in his first season and then finished tenth and fifth in the second division before being promoted in second place in his fourth campaign with the club. He then led them to eighth and fifth in the top flight before joining Swansea.

His one season with the Swans, which ended in a tenth-placed finish in the Championship, earned him a move to Brighton and the coach took them from 15th and 16th in the Premier League to ninth in 21/22. This proved that his work in Sweden was not a fluke and that the tactician has the ability to develop clubs in multiple leagues and countries.

Potter, who plays an "aggressive" press according to Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola, was able to gradually improve both of the teams who invested in him over the course of a number of years and this suggests that he could do the same with Celtic if they give him time to work.

Therefore, the Hoops supporters could instantly forget about their Aussie coach if the club can swoop for the "genius" that is Potter by he was dubbed by broadcaster Joe Thomlinson.

Indeed, the 48-year-old could be an excellent, progressive, appointment.

An update has emerged on Celtic and their search for a new head coach as another name has been thrown into contention for the role…

What's the latest on Pascal Jansen to Celtic?

According to The Scottish Sun, the Hoops are now eyeing up AZ Alkmaar manager Pascal Jansen as they plot a move to replace Ange Posteoclgou.

The report claims that the Dutch tactician is one of the names on the club's shortlist as majority shareholder Dermot Desmond goes about making an appointment.

However, it also states that Eredivisie giants Ajax and PSV, who are both also on the lookout for new bosses, are interested in snapping up the London-born chief.

Would Pascal Jansen be a success at Celtic?

Desmond could find a manager with the potential to become an upgrade on Postecoglou, who was confirmed as Tottenham Hotspur's new head coach earlier this week, by hiring the 4-3-3 chief this summer.

Jansen is yet to prove himself as a serial winner who can continue Celtic's domestic dominance across all competitions, as he has managed Alkmaar for three seasons and is yet to win a title, but his record in Europe is impressive.

The 50-year-old has won 18 of his 29 matches in European competitions in his career so far, including 12 of his 20 in the Europa Conference League proper.

He has averaged 1.97 points per game in Europe and led Alkmaar to the semi-finals of the Conference League this season, which shows that he knows how to get results and progress to the latter stages at that level.

However, Postecoglou did not enjoy as much success on the continent during his time in Glasgow. The Australian coach lost nine of his 14 matches in European competitions, outside of qualifying games, and did not average more than 1.5 points per game in them.

Therefore, Jansen, who journalist Graeme Bailey described as a "fascinating and engaging character", could be a big upgrade on the 57-year-old when it comes to his ability to manage in Europe, based on the aforementioned statistics.

Postecoglou won the domestic treble in 22/23 but did not get past the group stages of the Champions League and failed to progress through that round of the competition in the Europa League in his first campaign.

Jansen could come in and change Celtic's fortunes on the big stage by taking them to the latter stages, and potentially challenging for silverware, and putting up more of a fight against some of the best sides on the continent.

As per Italian source Calciomercato, there has been a big West Ham United transfer update as the club eye a move for Everton striker and Juventus loanee Moise Kean.

The Lowdown: Hammers emerge…

The Hammers and manager David Moyes have emerged as contenders to sign the Italy international in recent days, according to reports.

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Tuttosport (via Sport Witness) recently lifted the lid on West Ham’s interest ahead of the summer window with the Premier League side allegedly making an enquiry over Kean.

This comes as the Irons hierarchy scour the market for a striker who can finally supply Moyes with some much-needed depth up front and an alternative to forward Michail Antonio.

The Latest: Club chief flies to London…

According to Calciomercato, there has been another Kean update, with Juve sporting director Federico Cherubini flying to London for talks with West Ham over the player.

The Serie A giants are certain to sign Paris-Saint Germain’s ex-striker permanently from Everton with the move ‘not in doubt’, but they’re planning to sell him off again when the window opens.

It is believed they will demand ‘at least’ €35 million (£30m) for Kean with Cherubini now holding discussions with West Ham during a ‘London mission’.

The results of these talks aren’t disclosed but it is believed Moyes and co now ‘evaluate’ a move for the 22-year-old.

The Verdict: Make the move?

Kean, branded a ‘sensational talent’ for his head-turning rise in Italy by members of the media (Maxi Angelo), and ‘incredible’ by CBS commentator Matteo Bonetti (Twitter), has only shown flashes of what he’s capable of since first leaving Juve for Goodison Park.

His best spell since departing the club during his first stint came on loan at PSG under Thomas Tuchel, who branded the attacker ‘really tough’ and even likened him to Edinson Cavani (The Athletic).

Over his Ligue 1 spell, Kean notched a brilliant 13 goals in 22 starts under Tuchel – displaying obvious ability when at the very peak of his powers.

The trick for West Ham and Moyes would be getting that out of him again, something which hasn’t yet been managed since Kean departed the Parc des Princes.

If the Irons are sure they can unlock Kean’s potential, £30 million could be a small price to pay, but that is a big if.

In other news: West Ham now believe they can sign ‘beast’ for Moyes as agents plan imminent club talks…find out more here.

Everton will host Brentford at Goodison Park this afternoon in one of their final opportunities to save themselves from Premier League relegation this season and now Frank Lampard has been handed a fitness lifeline as two players are set to return to action.

What’s the latest?

The Toffees boss took to his pre-match press conference on Friday afternoon to give a positive update on the availability and recovery of both Ben Godfrey and Donny van de Beek.

Lampard told the press (via Liverpool Echo):

“Ben Godfrey is very close, whether he’ll be fit for this squad or not but he’s possibly going to be in the squad. Donny van de Beek is getting closer, we’d like to think he might be involved on Sunday, if not on Thursday.”

Lampard will be excited

Everton have just three games left of the season to save themselves from their first-ever Premier League relegation so Lampard will surely be delighted to have two players returning from injury issues and available for selection over the important upcoming games.

The return of Manchester United loanee Van de Beek will be warmly welcomed as Fabian Delph has sustained a small injury that has left him sidelined for the foreseeable future, so having the Dutch midfielder available for selection over the final games of the season will take the pressure off the Everton boss.

Similarly, Lampard will be relieved to have Ben Godfrey back in the squad and available for selection as Yerry Mina is out with a small calf injury too, with the manager confirming the defender will be out for today’s game and the clash with Crystal Palace next week.

Therefore, having an experienced player available to slot back into the backline will be a big boost for the Merseyside club.

Everton will be given an insight of what they need to achieve against Thomas Frank’s side this afternoon as relegation rivals Burnley will play Tottenham Hotspur earlier in the day and Lampard will hope that whatever the outcome of the game in north London it will motivate his team to take all three points.

AND in other news: Everton plotting bid for £9.9m-rated “monster”, he’s miles better than Holgate…

A report out of Italy has now shared some big transfer news involving Hellas Verona star Antonin Barak and Tottenham Hotspur coach Antonio Conte.

The Lowdown: Spurs enter mix…

The in-form Serie A playmaker has exploded for Hellas over 2021/2022, attracting interest from Premier League sides, including Spurs.

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Fabio Paratici reportedly has his eye on Barak with reports suggesting a summer swoop could be on the cards.

The Czech Republic international is now attracting Conte’s personal interest as Italian Italian source Mondo Udinese.it make a major claim.

The Latest: Conte could convince…

According to their information, Tottenham’s manager could now ‘make an attempt’ to ‘convince’ Barak to join the Lilywhites.

This comes as he prepares for his first full campaign in charge over 2022/2023 and interest in the 6 foot 3 powerhouse from Conte is seen as an ‘excellent opportunity’ for Hellas to make a profit off his sale.

The Verdict: Underrated target…

Barak stands out as seriously key player for the Italian side, racking up 11 goals and four assists in the top flight alone.

He’s also their third best player going by average match rating over 2021/2022 and it’s clear to see why Conte is attracted by the possibility of signing him for Spurs.

Reports suggest Barak could leave his club for as little as €20 million (£17m), an arguable bargain fee given he is still in his prime and has struck double figures in his league.

For a price in and around that, Conte shouldn’t hesitate in trying to sway the player into a Spurs move, with reporters even branding Barak ‘phenomenal’ at international level (Sacha Nabet).

In other news: Fabrizio Romano: Conte could now lose ‘monster’ Spurs player who’s ‘expected to leave’! Find out more here.

Tottenham Hotspur are interested in a deal to bring James Ward-Prowse to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium this summer.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a report by the Daily Star, who claim that Spurs, alongside the likes of Arsenal, Manchester City, Manchester United and Newcastle United, are tracking the Southampton central midfielder closely, ahead of a potential swoop for the 27-year-old at the end of the season.

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However, the report goes on to state that any interested party would have to pay Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side a figure in the region of £60m in order to prise him away from St. Mary’s this summer – and even then, Saints may still not be willing to sell the England international.

He’d be a “machine” under Conte

Considering just how impressive Ward-Prowse has been for Southampton over the last few years, in addition to the fact that Conte is known to be looking to add some creativity to his central midfield options in north London ahead of 2022/23, it is easy to see why the 52-year-old would be keen on a deal for the Saints star this summer.

Indeed, over his 33 Premier League appearances this season, the £33.5m-rated talent has been in electric form for Hasenhuttl’s side, scoring nine goals, registering five assists and creating eight big chances for his teammates, as well as taking an average of 1.5 shots and making 2.1 key passes per game.

The £100k-per-week midfielder has also impressed in metrics more typical of his position, making an average of 1.1 interceptions, 1.2 tackles, 43.2 passes, 1.8 long balls, 2.2 crosses and winning 2.8 duels per fixture.

These returns have seen the 27-year-old dubbed a “machine” by his Southampton teammates average a breathtaking SofaScore match rating of 7.31, not only ranking him as Saints’ best performer in the league but also as the joint 14th-best player in the division as a whole.

Furthermore, the signing of Ward-Prowse would also immediately make Tottenham a much more dangerous proposition from free-kicks, with the 10-time capped international having scored 14 Premier League goals from dead balls, ranking him second – behind only David Beckham – in the top flight’s free-kick scoring charts.

This ability saw Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola – one of the managers thought to be keen on a move for the midfielder this summer – dub Ward-Prowse as the best set-piece taker in world football, with the Spaniard stating:

“He is the best taker I have ever seen, right now in the world. He is so good, maybe this quality of a football player. He’s a team player, great quality without the ball. Set pieces and corners is exceptional.”

As such, being a player who is deadly in the final third, creative and tough in the heart of midfield and possesses a lethal free-kick, it is clear to see why the Southampton sensation is a player Conte would love to add to his Spurs squad this summer.

However, with a great deal of interest in the 27-year-old, Fabio Paratici will certainly have his work cut out if he is to secure the £60m+ singing of the South Coast star, but it would undoubtedly be well worth the trouble for the Tottenham sporting director.

AND in other news: “Eyeing move…”: Journo drops big Spurs transfer claim, he’s a “young Paul Gascoigne”