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Wolverhampton Wanderers are on the verge of re-signing Matt Doherty in what would be an 'unbelievable' return for the Irishman to Molineux and his addition may push Nelson Semedo out of the club, according to journalist Dean Jones.

Is Matt Doherty set for a return to Wolverhampton Wanderers?

According to TEAMtalk, Doherty is in talks over a dramatic return to Wolves following his release from Atletico Madrid, where he earned £68,000 per week in his short spell, at the end of last season.

The Republic of Ireland international has also had interest in his services from Saudi Arabia and Crystal Palace; however, the Old Gold are now 'closing in' on capturing the right-back and hope that they can officially announce his signature in the near future.

Cited by The Daily Mail, Doherty is represented by Jorge Mendes' Gestifute agency who are believed to have strong links to Wolves, which in turn will increase the chances of any deal happening.

Wolves are conducting their transfer business under strict financial limits and are of the notion that being able to acquire an experienced player with Premier League experience without having to pay a fee represents a savvy piece of recruitment.

Further lending credence to the speculation surrounding Doherty's future, The Athletic have chimed in and indicated that Wolves are in advanced talks to sign the 31-year-old, though no deal has yet been agreed between both parties despite holding 'positive discussions' in the last few days.

In his first stint at Molineux, Doherty became an icon at Wolves and made 302 appearances in all competitions, registering 28 goals and 41 assists, as per Transfermarkt.

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, journalist Jones has said that Doherty's proposed move to Wolves is 'in motion' while believes his arrival could have an effect on Portuguese right-back Semedo's future at Molineux, as the 29-year-old has been linked with a move to Roma, as per Marca via Roma Press.

Jones stated: "This one is in motion and I’m told it is happening. It’s a great opportunity to sign a good player without a big outlay and obviously that suits Wolves. But at the same time, it is quite an unbelievable story really because I never saw a time when he would return. From his point of view, Doherty is such a driven player, someone who seemed so determined to prove he can make it to the very top of the game, that going back to Wolves has always seemed a bit out of the question.

"If you look for a knock-on effect for a potential arrival of Doherty, then it is probably to see what happens with Semedo. He was the only player looking to start at right-back and Roma have already shown interest in him."

Will Wolverhampton Wanderers be able to effectively strengthen this summer?

Wolves manager Julen Lopetegui spoke out earlier this year about monetary problems at the club due to Financial Fair Play regulations and urged the Old Gold to 'solve' the mess they were in or risk finding it 'very difficult' to compete in the Premier League.

Nevertheless, following their sale of Nathan Collins to Brentford for £23 million this window, Sky Sports journalist Rob Dorsett via Football Daily revealed that Wolves are no longer under financial pressure to sell players this summer, in a major boost for the West Midlands outfit.

Bristol City starlet Alex Scott has emerged as a target for Wolves this summer as they plot an improvement on last campaign; however, any deal would cost in the region of £25 million, according to The Athletic's Steve Madeley.

According to The Daily Mail, Juventus midfielder Arthur Melo has been identified as another potential arrival at Molineux and they are considering offering him a shot at redemption in the Premier League following a torrid spell at Liverpool, signifying that movement regarding incomings at Wolves may begin shortly.

Tottenham Hotspur boss Ange Postecoglou has forgiven Spurs star Son Heung-min for Asian Cup final moment.

What moment is Ange Postecoglou referencing?

The Australian manager is referring back to the Asian Cup final in 2015, when as manager of the Australian National Team, he faced off against the Son-led South Korea.

The game was a classic, and in the 92nd minute, with Australia leading 1-0 and on the brink of securing the trophy, the then Bayer Leverkusen player was played in and fired South Korea level.

The game went into extra time, and a lone goal from Australian James Troisi won the match for Postecoglou and his side, whilst Son is still yet to win the tournament, but he will have the chance to do so this season with the tournament taking place from January-Feburary 2024.

Eight years on from that memorable final, The Australian manager is set to coach the South Korean goalscorer and has jokingly revealed that he had forgiven him for that late equaliser in a fan Q&A on the Tottenham Hotspur official YouTube channel.

The new manager was asked a question by the Spurs official South Korean supporters club about his personal relationship with the late great Ferenc Puskas, and before answering the question he said:

"First thing is I also have a relationship with Sonny, because he scored against me for Korea in the Asian Cup final. We were one minute away from winning it and Sonny scored the equaliser. Then we got him in extra time, so I've already said to him, he's forgiven for that."

Where will Son Heung-min play under Postecoglou?

Postecoglou is expected to bring the biggest overhaul to Tottenham tactically since the arrival of Jose Mourinho back in 2019.

Spurs have mainly deployed a back three in recent seasons, however, the Australian could be set to play his preferred set-up of 4-3-3 that he showcased at Celtic.

Not only does this change directly impact the defenders, but the forwards at Spurs could also benefit from this change in setup, with the addition of a third midfielder opening up a wider range of possibilities in the attacking phase of play.

At the moment, it looks like Son will play in his preferred role, the left-hand side of a front three, with Harry Kane and Dejan Kulusevski the most likely to join him in completing that front three.

Postecoglou has shown at Celtic that he has the ability to unlock the potential in wingers, with Al Ittihad's newest signing Jota being the finest example of this. Last season the Portuguese winger enjoyed the finest season of his young career, scoring 11 and assisting 11 in 33 appearances, earning himself a WhoScored average rating of 7.48 which was the highest in the entire Bhoys squad.

Son had a disappointing campaign last time out by his usual high standards, scoring only 10 goals in 36 games which was his second-lowest goal return in his Spurs career. In previous years under Antonio Conte and Jose Mourinho when employed as an inside forward, the South Korean produced his two best seasons, with 23 goals and 17 goals respectively.

Should Son manage to return to his previous high standards, Postecoglou could help further unlock the quality of the 30-year-old in the clubs quest to return to the top four.

West Ham United have been handed a fresh boost over transfer target Harvey Barnes, with journalist Sami Mokbel, via TBR, revealing that the player might prefer a switch to the Hammers over a team like Tottenham.

How many goals has Harvey Barnes scored?

The 25-year-old has spent the entirety of his career with Leicester, having only ever left the Foxes on loan spells. After turns with MK Dons, West Brom and Barnsley, he was then given the opportunity to try his luck in the Foxes first-team back in the 2017/18 season – and he hasn't looked back since.

He's become a key player for the Midlands club and helped them to claim three consecutive top half finishes in the Premier League prior to their relegation in 2022/23.

Along the way, he has gradually grown in terms of his input and goal contributions to the team too. Since becoming a regular starter in the top flight for Leicester, he has gone on to hit double-digit goal contribution tallies in the last four campaigns for the club. Last season, he managed 13 goals and one assist in 32 starts – which actually made him their top league goalscorer over James Maddison.

With the Foxes now facing at least a year in the Championship, Barnes could finally be off to pastures new. West Ham have shown an interest in signing the player, but so too have other Premier League sides like Aston Villa, Arsenal and Tottenham.

Now, according to a report from journalist Sami Mokbel, Barnes may snub a switch to a team like Tottenham due to a lack of potential playing time. Instead, he suggested that the winger may prefer a move to West Ham, where he can get much more frequent action.

What has been said about Harvey Barnes?

He said: "You mention Harvey Barnes there and there is an interest in Harvey Barnes. But equally, Harvey Barnes has a number of options, and while he would be attracted to Tottenham he may look at that and think ‘wait a minute how often am I going to play here?'

"I think he would look at a club like West Ham or Aston Villa maybe where he knows he would play regularly where at Tottenham there may not be that guarantee."

Barnes would certainly be a player who could upgrade the current West Ham frontline. Despite Leicester floundering in the Premier League last season, he still emerged as one of their better players, with football journalist Josh Bunting calling one of his goals "stunning" during their battle against relegation.

It shows that the England man was able to step up when needed for the Foxes and shows he can thrive in the big pressure moments – and the Hammers could definitely use a player like that as they tackle Europe again.

Leeds United are keen to strike a summer deal to sign Liverpool defender Nat Phillips, according to reliable journalist Phil Hay.

Is Nat Phillips leaving Liverpool?

The Reds centre-back got promoted to Jurgen Klopp’s first-team when he graduated from the club’s academy back in 2019, but even though he’s been in the senior fold for four years, he’s always been significantly low down in the pecking order.

During his time at Anfield, the 26-year-old has been sent out on two loans to receive more regular game time, the first at Stuttgart and the most recent being Bournemouth, but since returning, his minutes haven’t improved.

The Bolton-born talent was handed just one start in the top-flight last season, so despite still having two years remaining on his contract, Football Insider have reported that the Merseyside outfit are happy to listen to offers for him during the ongoing window and there's a chance he could way on his way to the Championship.

Are Leeds signing Phillips?

According to Hay in his column for The Athletic, Leeds are “interested” in signing Phillips ahead of the 2023/24 term. Liverpool are looking to receive approximately £10m in order to sanction the defender’s sale and the admiration from the Whites is “believed to be irrespective” of any incoming head coach or sporting director appointments.

Daniel Farke, who is claimed to be the leading contender for the managerial vacancy, was “keen to recruit” the 6 foot 2 titan during his spell at Norwich City, and even though he missed out at the time, he could be finally set to secure his long-term target should he arrive at Elland Road.

Could Phillips be a good addition in Yorkshire?

Leeds will know that Phillips wasn’t given a proper chance to prove what he’s capable of last season, but when handed the small opportunity to play, the centre-back displayed bags of potential, so he would be a promising recruit for the 49ers.

He averaged two aerial wins per top-flight game during the previous term with his height and physcality having formerly seen him hailed “colossal” by journalist Josh Bunting, not to mention that he’s calm and composed in possession, recording an 86.6% pass success rate which was higher than any of the regular starters in Yorkshire.

Finally, Phillips has the versatility to operate out wide at right-back alongside his usual role, which will be an attractive attribute considering the injuries that have so often plagued Leeds' defensive ranks in recent years, so he would be a great option for the new coach to have available.

Tottenham Hotspur could reportedly be set to rekindle their interest in Galatasaray star, Nicolo Zaniolo, having been heavily linked with a move for the promising playmaker in the recent past.

What's the latest on Zaniolo to Tottenham?

According to journalist Nevzat Dindar – via Turkish outlet Milliyet – the Lilywhites are seemingly the frontrunners in the race to sign the 23-year-old this summer, having suggested a fee in the region of €35m (£30m) for the signing of the Italy international.

Speaking about the midfielder's future, Dindar revealed: “Zaniolo is evolving into a world star. English club are asking €30-35m for Zaniolo. Galatasaray are not taking Juventus’ offers seriously at this point. Tottenham are the closest club to sign Zaniolo.”

This follows reports from back in January which claimed that the north Londoners were in talks to prise the 6 foot 3 ace from Serie A giants, AS Roma, with speculation having also been rife last summer that former Spurs boss Antonio Conte was keen to bring his compatriot to N17.

Would Zaniolo be a good signing for Tottenham?

Previously described as a "frightening talent" by CBS reporter, Ben Jacobs, Zaniolo has thrived since making the move to Istanbul during the winter window, having scored five goals and laid on one assist in just 11 games for the Super Lig side in all competitions in the second half of last season.

Prior to that, the versatile asset – who can feature in an advanced midfield role or on the flanks – had chipped in with 42 goal contributions in 128 outings during his time at the Stadio Olimpico, despite having been cruelly plagued by injury in recent years.

While there had been claims that Conte was looking to bring the 13-cap gem in as a possible wing-back option last year, Zaniolo would likely take on a different role in Ange Postecoglou's preferred 4-3-3 formation, with there a potential for him to line up in one of those two attacking midfield berths.

If Postecoglou is able to get the one-time Inter Milan asset in the door, he could well partner the Italian in the centre of the park with another exciting talent in the form of James Maddison, with Tottenham said to now be leading the race for the Leicester City man's signature ahead of Newcastle United.

That left-foot, right-foot combination could well work a treat at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium next season, with Zaniolo able to offer a real goal threat in that central role – as his form in Istanbul of late would indicate – while Maddison can be the man to supply the goods as a creative force, having ranked tenth in the Premier League in 2022/23 for chances created (69).

Having a figure such as the Englishman in the side does appear something of a necessity as Spurs have seemingly "still not replaced [Christian] Eriksen" according to BBC Radio London's Phil Parry, while Zaniolo's desire to get forward can also put him ahead of the club's current options, with Rodrigo Bentacur leading the way among his midfield colleagues with just six goals across all fronts last season.

Therefore, the addition of both Maddison and the Galatasaray whiz could be a dream partnership in the making for Postecoglou and co.

Newcastle United have been strongly linked with a move for Sandro Tonali this summer and now a new update has emerged on the club's pursuit of the player.

What's the latest on Newcastle's interest in Sandro Tonali?

According to The Athletic, Newcastle are closing in on a move for the Italian midfielder.

The report suggests that a fee in the region of €70m (£60m) has been agreed after face-to-face meetings took place on Wednesday.

He has emerged as a key target in the early stages of this window with Craig Hope later revealing that Dan Ashworth boarded a plane today in order to fly out to Milan to conclude a deal.

Would Tonali be a good fit for Newcastle?

It is no secret that Bruno Guimaraes' attacking talent has been sacrificed to an extent this season due to the departure of Jonjo Shelvey in January, meaning the Brazilian star has needed to adopt a much more defensive role in the midfield set-up.

Indeed, the Newcastle talisman has done a fine job in the lone deep-lying role just ahead of the back-line, notably contributing to ten goals last term. As such, it would be advantageous to Howe next season if he could unlock Guimaraes and allow him to return to his more free-flowing role where he thrived expeditiously in his first six months at St James'.

As a result, Tonali could be a huge asset in the competitive midfield when they take on multiple competitions next season in their pursuit of success and trophies, as he could be the ideal profile player to partner Guimaraes in the centre of the pitch.

Over 34 Serie A appearances, the 23-year-old talent – hailed "world-class" by the Athletic's Martino Puccio – registered seven assists, created 12 big chances and tallied up an 81% pass completion rate, as well as averaging 1.9 tackles, 1.8 key passes and 3.5 duels won per game, operating as a prolific ball-winner with strong play-making and progressive capabilities too.

Not only that, the Italian ranks in the top 14% of his positional peers across the top five European leagues for chance creation – according to Opta Analyst Radar – again demonstrating that Tonali could work well alongside Guimaraes to deliver strong attacking opportunities for Newcastle's front-men.

The news of the Magpies' bid for the Champions League semi-finalist led football analyst and writer Connor Holden to speculate about a potential midfield partnership between the two, suggesting the Toon were looking for an "elite partner" for Guimaraes.

With that being said, a move for Tonali is definitely a big coup as he could be an ideal like-minded companion for their Brazilian dynamo in the heart of the team.

Leeds United are in advanced talks with Norwich City sporting director Stuart Webber, according to reports.

What’s the latest off-field Leeds news?

The Whites are set for a busy summer after the 49ers Enterprises agreed a full takeover from Andrea Radrizzani last week.

A new manager and full-time sporting director are needed, although Leeds confirmed that they have brought in former Celtic and Newcastle man Nick Hammond to oversee the club’s short-term business as an interim football advisor.

Leeds are hoping to bring in a new permanent director of football by October who can then focus on the January transfer window, and it looks as if Webber could be that man after it was confirmed that he would leave Norwich following a smooth transition period.

According to Football Insider, Webber and Leeds are in advanced talks over a move to Elland Road, with the 39-year-old not expected to join until after the summer.

The report adds that discussions over a move are advanced and the expectations are growing that an agreement can be reached.

Who is Stuart Webber?

Webber, a lifelong Leeds fan, has been with Norwich as sporting director since 2017 and has been a part of two Championship title-winning sides at Carrow Road.

Prior to his stint with the Canaries, the Welshman has had various roles with Wrexham, Liverpool, QPR, Wolves and Huddersfield and has worked with reported Leeds manager target Daniel Farke. Former Norwich manager Farke appears to be a fan of the sporting director, praising him back in 2021:

“You can’t ask for a better job than what Stuart Webber has done. It’s always like when the wind is in your face and it’s difficult times, then he is there like a shield for the club and he helps in each and every moment. Then when there is success, he always hides and doesn’t need to be there, he always hides from the spotlight.”

Meanwhile, Delia Smith also praised Webber’s work after bringing in Farke, calling the director “amazing”.

"He's just amazing. We trusted him from the word go. The minute he came in with his list of managers that he was going to interview and what he was going to do, it was just glaringly obvious that we were in another league.”

Therefore, should Farke arrive in Yorkshire as the new manager, he and Webber could look to make it three promotions together from the second tier, making this one to watch.

Everton are keen on a deal to bring Coventry City striker Viktor Gyokeres to the Premier League, according to reports.

Is Viktor Gyokeres leaving Coventry?

The Swedish international was a standout star at the Building Society Arena last season after establishing himself as Mark Robins’ top-performing offensive player, and with his contract expiring in 12 months time, he could be set for a big-money exit in the weeks ahead.

Sky Sports have reported that the Bluebirds will be looking for offers in excess of £17m in order to sanction the 25-year-old’s sale during the upcoming window, and his impressive form after being named the second-highest goalscorer in his division is bound to attract plenty of interest.

The Merseyside outfit and Sean Dyche are likely to enter the market for a new centre-forward due to the consistent injuries to Dominic Calvert-Lewin and the uncertainty hanging over Neal Maupay, who’s been linked with a move to Salernitana, and they could well have identified an ideal target in the Midlands.

Are Everton signing Gyokeres?

According to Portuguese outlet A Bola (via Sport Witness), Everton are “interested” in a summer swoop for Gyokeres. Sporting CP are also eyeing a deal for the Coventry striker, hence the report from Portugal, but with them only being willing to pay a fee less than their target’s price tag, teams in the English top-flight are likely to hold an advantage.

The Toffees have been “keen” on the attacker since last year and are “determined” to add to their ranks in the final third, but it remains to be seen whether they too would be able to afford Gyokeres.

Should Everton sign Gyokeres?

Sunderland manager Tony Mowbray has been full of praise for Gyokeres, describing him as “powerful” and even comparing his qualities to those of Manchester City’s Erling Haaland, so should the centre-forward put pen to paper, he could be a fantastic recruit for Everton.

The 6 foot 2 titan posted a remarkable 31 goal contributions (21 goals and ten assists) in 46 Championship appearances throughout the previous campaign, with his displays seeing him pick up an outstanding ten man-of-the-match awards.

Coventry’s talisman, who is a versatile operator with his ability to play in six different positions, was also a threat even when the ball didn’t hit the back of the net having recorded a total of 191 shot-creating actions, which was higher than any of his fellow teammates, as per FBRef, so it would be a massive coup for Dyche if he was to make the move to Goodison Park.

Aston Villa are eyeing a move for Arsenal left-back Kieran Tierney ahead of the summer transfer window, with Unai Emery looking to strengthen his squad for the challenges of European football next season.

What’s the latest on Kieran Tierney to Aston Villa?

According to The Times, both Villa and Newcastle United are set to battle it out for the Arsenal defender once the transfer window opens.

Emery signed Tierney from Celtic when he was in charge of the Gunners back in 2019 and is clearly a fan of the Scot.

Football Insider state that the North London side value him at around £30m and with Emery likely to move a few players on this summer, he would be more than affordable.

Could Kieran Tierney sign for Aston Villa?

It is certainly within the realm of possibilities, though with Champions League football returning to Newcastle for the first time in over 20 years, Emery may have trouble convincing him.

The two know each other well from their spell at Arsenal, however, and this could be a key part of any potential move, while the Spaniard would be getting his very own Oleksandr Zinchenko, as the pair are statistically similar according to FBref.

The Ukraine star has made a big impression since swapping Manchester City for Arsenal last summer, ranking third in the squad for accurate passes per game (55.8) and fifth for both tackles (1.5) and interceptions (0.8) per game, showcasing his importance to the side.

Zinchenko is the tenth-most comparable player across the previous 365 days to his fellow teammate.

They have both registered similar statistics with regard to goal-creating actions (both four), tackles won (18 to 11), touches in the attacking penalty area (33 to 15), crosses (37 to 24) and shots per 90 (1.19 to 0.79), indicating that both offer a key attacking threat going forward from a defensive position, something that Emery would love to have in his side.

Tierney was dubbed a ”warrior” by former Arsenal defender Ashley Cole, whilst ex-Rangers striker Kris Boyd lauded the Scot as “unbelievable” and having won five Premiership titles and a host of domestic cups during his spell at Celtic, he would arrive at Villa Park with a winning mentality that could prove crucial.

With Villa taking part in a European competition next term, Emery is clearly keen on taking his team to the next level, so signing Tierney, who has won trophies in Scotland and England, could be a stroke of genius, especially if he only costs £30m.

Liverpool have reportedly made a convincing stride in the pursuit of Sporting CP centre-back Goncalo Inacio, and are now believed to be the frontrunners in the transfer race for the touted star.

What's the latest on Goncalo Inacio to Liverpool?

According to Portuguese newspaper A Bola (via Sport Witness), Liverpool may have taken the lead in the race for the 21-year-old defender from Sporting, who are said to be willing to negotiate if his release clause of €45m (£39m) is met.

While Jurgen Klopp's Reds are not explicitly fronting the charge for the Portuguese's name, the fact that they are the solitary outfit named among the 'English and Italian suitors' suggests that they could be the primary outfit contesting for his signature.

In a separate recent report, Manchester United are also in pursuit and will seek to expand their Portuguese pool by signing the gem – only emphasising the necessity for concluding a deal in the early phases of the transfer window.

How good is Goncalo Inacio?

Inacio is but one maiden step into the scope of his professional career, but has already captured the attention of some of Europe's foremost sides for his exploits in his homeland with the Leões.

Having risen through Sporting's youth ranks, Inacio has made 121 appearances and demonstrated his capabilities outside the defensive aspects of his game by scoring ten goals and providing eight assists.

The two-cap Portugal starlet is close to completing his third season of continual progress at the top level, and has flourished in Liga Portugal this term, playing 32 matches, earning an average rating of 7.00 – as per Sofascore – and completing 90% of his passes, earning praise as a "complete" defensive ace by talent scout Jacek Kulig.

Indeed, as per FBref, the 6 foot 1 colossus ranks among the top 1% of centre-backs across top eight divisions below the European 'big five' for assists, the top 2% for shot-creating actions, the top 1% for progressive passes, the top 3% for progressive carries and the top 4% for successful take-ons per 90, underscoring his aptitude as a modern defender tailor-made for a first-rate outfit such as Liverpool.

With such brilliant ball-playing credentials, he could be the optimum alternative to coveted target Josko Gvardiol, with the RB Leipzig star arguably the hottest defensive commodity in world football at present, having been regarded as the perfect modern defender.

Hailed as a "Rolls-Royce" by journalist Zach Lowy, the Croatian prodigy ranks among the top 10% of positional peers across Europe's top five leagues for goals, the top 1% for attempted passes, the top 16% for progressive passes, the top 18% for progressive carries and the top 5% for successful take-ons per 90. Clearly, Inacio and his Leipzig confrère are cut from the same cloth, albeit the former has largely been playing at a different level.

The crux of the problem vis-à-vis Liverpool's pursuit of Gvardiol lays in the exorbitant fee touted, with Leipzig supposedly demanding his release clause of €110m (£95m) is met in its entirety in order to prise him away, and with him contracted until 2027, Marco Rose's outfit certainly appear to hold the bargaining chips.

Inacio, whose £39m tag seems paltry in comparison, might just be the better avenue to delve down, as he is cheaper and boasts every bit of the skill set required to succeed under Klopp's wing.