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Arsenal could be set to mimic the success of a rival that led to their Premier League title success…

What's the latest on Romeo Lavia to Arsenal?

Back in 2017, as Jurgen Klopp sought to truly transform his team into challengers, he unloaded £75m to tempt Virgil van Dijk to join him from Southampton.

Many scoffed at that fee, as they likely will do at the £50m the Saints are now demanding for their young midfielder Romeo Lavia. It seems they will never learn.

Should the 19-year-old have a similarly transformative effect on Mikel Arteta's team that the Dutchman did at Anfield, it would certainly be a deal worth making.

After all, it has been reported by Football Transfers that, due to Thomas Partey's eagerness to exit the Emirates, Edu has now sped up his move to sign the teenage general who could replace the Ghanaian and potentially be the catalyst that earns them untold silverware.

Could Romeo Lavia mimic Virgil van Dijk's career path?

Having just enjoyed his first year in senior football, Lavia is far from the proven stalwart that Van Dijk was when he moved to Merseyside. However, age is no barrier when a player boasts this much quality.

In a Saints side that struggled all campaign, he stood out as one of few shining lights coming out of St Mary's Stadium. His 6.80 average rating made him the club's second-best performing midfielder behind only captain James Ward-Prowse, and this was a figure underpinned by his 86% pass accuracy, 68% dribble success rate, 2.1 tackles and 1.1 interceptions per game, via Sofascore.

His tackling numbers were only matched by the man he could be set to replace within Arteta's squad, to emphasise his defensive prowess. Journalist Ed Aarons clearly noticed this, branding the star "outstanding" back in January.

Should he be brought under the tutelage of this Spanish tactician, who has made steady progress with each passing year, then it would likely not take long until he can have the same effect that Van Dijk had after he too moved from Southampton to one of the big fish in the Premier League.

The Dutchman has played 222 times since joining the Reds, winning a Premier League, Champions League, FA and EFL Cup amongst other honours. This even merited a double swoop of the PFA Players' Player of the Year and UEFA's Best Player awards too in 2019.

Such prestigious recognition led Michael Owen to brand him "the best centre-half of all time" just last year.

Lavia will be keen to follow in these footsteps should he move to the Emirates, who are in a similar position to Liverpool when they made their big acquisition; if anything they are even more advanced. This pushed them over the edge to make them true challengers to Manchester City, which is exactly what Arteta is striving for now.

Although he would go under the radar amidst more lucrative deals for Declan Rice and Kai Havertz, he could still prove as important as a supplementary defensive midfielder that has once again been given a platform to shine in Southampton.

Chelsea are among the favourites to sign Sporting CP defender Goncalo Inacio this summer, but they may have to do battle with Premier League rivals Liverpool, according to reports from Spain.

What's the latest Chelsea transfer news?

Chelsea are in the market for a new centre-back this summer, and they have recently been linked with a move for Real Madrid Castilla's Rafa Marin, who could be available for a cut-price fee, given that his contract is set to expire next summer.

The Blues are also in the race for Juventus defender Gleison Bremer, though they will have to do battle for his signature with Manchester United, while Manchester City's Aymeric Laporte also remains an option.

Inacio has been attracting the attention of multiple Premier League clubs, with the likes of Arsenal, Manchester United and Liverpool recently being named as potential suitors, however the Blues are now very well-placed to compete for his signature.

That is according to reports from Spain (via Caught Offside), with it being detailed that Chelsea are one of the main favourites to acquire the services of the 21-year-old, alongside Liverpool.

However, there is also a great deal of interest in the youngster from abroad, with the likes of Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid also being named as interested parties.

Sporting CP are said to be holding out for €50m (£39m), which should be more than affordable for a club with the resources of Chelsea.

Who is Goncalo Inacio?

Despite his age, the Portugal international has been an important player for Sporting for a number of years now, already making a total of 122 appearances for the first team, including 33 in the Portuguese top flight last season.

Hailed as "fantastic" by football scout Jacek Kulig, the starlet has most commonly been utilised at centre-back, but he has shown a keen eye for goal, registering a total of 11 goals and eight assists for Sporting CP.

The Sporting CP star is also very competent defensively, as indicated by the fact he ranks in the 81st percentile for interceptions per 90 over the past year, when compared to his positional peers playing at a similar level.

Although he is only 21 years old, Inacio already has a great deal of first-team experience, and his performances demonstrate he is ready to take the next step in his career, so Chelsea should undoubtedly test the waters with a bid in the coming weeks.

Over the course of his Manchester United managerial career, Sir Alex Ferguson managed to sign some wonderful talents. Players such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney and Nemanja Vidic stand out due to their contributions across a significant period of time, winning countless honours.

However, it could be argued that one of his finest signings only won three major honours at the club, yet he had a devastating impact in front of goal – Ruud van Nistelrooy.

Across five seasons, the Dutchman scored 150 goals in just 219 games, displaying his ruthlessness in front of goal, and it’s fair to say his £19m move from PSV Eindhoven was a massive success.

And Erik ten Hag could repeat United’s Van Nistelrooy masterclass, especially since they have shown interest in a young Dutch talent who is currently playing for PSV – Xavi Simons.

Could Manchester United sign Xavi Simons?

According to Voetbal Primeur (via Sport Witness), the Old Trafford side are among those in the hunt for the youngster, alongside teams such as Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur and Borussia Dortmund. Paris Saint-Germain do have a buy-back clause of just €6m (£5.1m), however, which they could activate in July.

No fee was mentioned regarding a move to any other clubs, yet with Football Transfers valuing him at €34.5m (£30m) it may be that the Eredivisie side would be looking to demand a fee in that region at least, as the prodigy enjoyed a stellar campaign.

Despite his tender years, Simons – under the tutelage of Van Nistelrooy himself – was arguably the standout for PSV last term, managing to register 34 goal contributions (22 goals and 12 assists) across 48 matches, adding some silverware as they won the Dutch Cup.

Ten Hag could get a lot of uses out of the former PSG starlet, as he is able to operate in a variety of positions, including on either wing or in an attacking-midfield role, which is his primary position.

His creative talents would be a dream for United, as he created 11 big chances and made 1.7 key passes per game last season, with only Bruno Fernandes showcasing better figures for United across both metrics in the Premier League during 2022/23, clearly suggesting Simons could fit into their side rather well.

Football talent scout Jacek Kulig has dubbed the 20-year-old as “magic” previously, and with United having previous success of signing players from PSV, including the aforementioned Van Nistelrooy and Park Ji-sung over the years, they should be ready to raid the Dutch side once again this summer for a player who could turn into a world-class talent.

Manchester City are reportedly in pole position to sign RB Leipzig and Croatia defender Josko Gvardiol, leading Premier League rivals Liverpool in the race to sign the 21-year-old.

Manchester City transfer news – Josko Gvardiol

The highly-rated defender is high of the watchlist of a number of big European clubs, but transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has tipped Manchester City as the most likely to secure the signing.

Speaking to GiveMeSport, Romano hinted that the champions of England and Europe are best placed to sign the central defender who starred at the World Cup for Croatia.

"Leipzig are not even accepting €80 million as a price tag for Gvardiol, so I think it will be around €100 million [£85m] instead and I see Man City being in a better position to sign him, but only if they are willing to spend that money, otherwise the player could stay in Leipzig for one more season," he said.

Josko Gvardiol could be City's next Vincent Kompany

City have a wealth of quality at the back, and signing Gvardiol would improve their elite defence even more.

Pep Guardiola tweaked City’s system this season, opting for an unusual 3-2-4-1 formation instead of their traditional 4-3-3 formation in which full-backs were constantly overlapping.

In the defensive three were three ball-playing centre-backs.

Nathan Ake, Manuel Akanji and Ruben Dias were typically the trio, while John Stones was turned into a transitional midfielder in a hybrid holding role.

Although Dias would be considered the premier defender in this side, City have yet to match the quality of club legend and former captain, Vincent Kompany.

Gvardiol could be that very replacement, and at just 21 years-old, he could become a pivotal part of the Manchester City team for years to come.

The Croatian "monster" – as hailed by Romano back in December – is the glue of the RB Leipzig defence.

The Bundesliga outfit have won 32 of the 59 games the centre-back has played.

Similar to the no-nonsense Kompany, Gvardiol loves a tackle, registering 219 of them in the 2022/23 Bundesliga season and winning 60 aerial duels.

Rio Ferdinand and Patrice Evra both put the Leipzig defender in their World Cup 2022 team of the tournament, with Ferdinand proclaiming that the City target was his favourite centre back at the tournament.

“He’s young, he’s 21 years old, so to come and perform the way he did, so mature, so calm.

“He is really good on the ball, in the early stages coming out with the ball a lot. Against Messi and Argentina he got turned quite a few times, but this is Messi, so I would put that to one side. In general, I thought he was [a] stand-out for me. I think he has got a chance to go on and become one of the best defenders in the world, if he can continue improving like this.”

Kompany was of the world’s best defenders in his time at City, and Gvardiol could become the second coming of the Belgian international for the blue half of Manchester.

He, at 22, made a similar switch from the Bundesliga, signing for the Manchester giants from Hamburger SV back in 2008.

Good teams don’t wait until the team becomes stale to begin rebuilding, they continually look to improve whether results are good or bad.

Guardiola, fresh from the treble, could send out a major statement signing one of Europe’s hottest young prospects to add to his already stout defence.

Manchester United look set to finally complete a deal for Kim Min-jae, with a report from Il Mattino, via Sport Witness, stating that the club will pay his release clause and that the player has agreed terms.

Is Kim Min-Jae joining Manchester United?

The defender has been in fine form for Napoli this campaign, featuring in 35 Serie A games for the side and bagging two goals with two assists along the way. Despite it only being his first season in Italy, he has already become an important member of the first-team and has helped his side to a league title victory along the way.

Despite having to adapt to a new country, Kim has shown no signs of letting it deter him. In fact, he has ranked as one of the best in his position amongst those in the Men's 'Top Five' big leagues. His ability with the ball at his feet is clear to see, with the centre-back ranking within the top ten percent for his pass completion rate (90.2%) and his 4.81 progressive passes per 90 puts him in the 88th percentile too. It means that he is excellent at playing out from the back, a trait required to play in Erik ten Hag's defence.

He could suit the Man United team well then and it appears as though a deal is pretty much done to send him to the Premier League. According to a report from Naples-based outlet Il Mattino, via Sport Witness, a move is "sure" to go through on July 1, as the Red Devils have agreed to pay his 60 million Euro (or £51m) release clause. With the player having also accepted personal terms according to this report, it seems as though the only thing left to do is to finalise the deal when the clause officially becomes active in July.

"From July 1st he will be at Manchester United who will pay the 60 million clause," their report reads.

When does Kim Min-jae's contract expire?

The defender's current deal expires in 2025 too, so for the player to leave already having spent only one season with Napoli would be a blow for the club. When you consider how highly he is regarded too, it means the Italians won't be happy to see him leave the side.

Former player Park Ji-Sung for example has been impressed with Kim, stating that he is an "extraordinary" talent because of his showings in the Serie A.

Kim then looks like he could soon be unveiled as a United player – and if he is, then it would certainly be a welcome addition to their backline.

Rangers have signalled their interest in signing Los Angeles FC winger Kwadwo Opoku, though their Old Firm rivals are also in the race, according to a recent report.

What's the latest Rangers transfer news?

With Ryan Kent leaving Ibrox this summer, Michael Beale will need to bring in a replacement, and the manager has started to run the rule over a number of potential targets.

Having missed out on him in January, the Gers have recently reignited their interest in signing Swansea City's Morgan Whittaker, while Sunderland's Jack Clarke is also an option, with Beale trying to get the majority of his transfer business done early.

The Light Blues have also considered some more unknown players from abroad, including Aris Thessaloniki star Luis Palma, as well as Brian Gutierrez, who currently plays for MLS side Chicago Fire.

Another MLS player that Beale has set his sights on is Opoku, according to Fussball Transfers (via Sport Witness), with it being reported that Los Angeles FC may allow him to leave for anywhere between €3.7m and €4.8m (£3.2m-£4.1m)

Both Rangers and Celtic have signalled their interest in the Ghanaian, placing him on their summer target list, but there is set to be a great deal of competition for his signature, with the likes of Stuttgart, Nice and Bordeaux also named as potential suitors.

At the moment, Los Angeles FC are under no pressure to sell the 21-year-old, as he is contracted until the end of this calendar year, with the option of an extra year.

Who is Kwadwo Opoku?

The Accra-born attacker has started to make a name for himself in MLS, after signing for Los Angeles FC back in October 2020, weighing in with seven goals and two assists in the 2022 regular season.

During the current campaign, the starlet has picked up where he left off, making 13 appearances in the league, and he has averaged 1.5 dribbles per game – the fourth-highest figure in the squad – while 0.8 key passes ranks him fifth.

Football scout Jacek Kulig has previously given an overview of the 5 foot 7 speedster's key traits, claiming that he possesses "pace", "acceleration" and "flair" – all of which are important qualities for an attacking player.

Opoku is still young and relatively unproven, so signing him would undoubtedly be a risk, but he has all the key attributes to become a top-quality player.

Chelsea will push for Brighton & Hove Albion midfielder Moises Caicedo after dropping out of the race to sign Manuel Ugarte, according to journalist Dean Jones.

What's the latest transfer news involving Moises Caicedo?

As per The Telegraph, Brighton are set to demand around £70 million before sanctioning the sale of Caicedo in the summer transfer window, with multiple Premier League clubs said to be in the race for his signature.

The report states that Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester United have a concrete interest in the Ecuador international; however, Liverpool could also join the chasing pack to try and sign the £60k-a-week ace.

Football London claim that Chelsea are 'confident' that they can strike a deal with Brighton to sign Caicedo, though there is an acknowledgement that the Seagulls are in a 'strong position' to negotiate with the west London outfit.

Southampton midfielder Romeo Lavia and Borussia Monchengladbach man Manu Kone have also been shortlisted at Stamford Bridge as potential midfield targets.

Chelsea look set for a change of the guard in midfield heading into next term, with the likes of Mateo Kovacic, Mason Mount, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Conor Gallagher and N'Golo Kante all being linked with a fresh start elsewhere.

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, journalist Jones has detailed that Chelsea have always been on the tail of Caicedo, even throughout their failed pursuit of Ugarte, who looks set to join Paris Saint-Germain.

Jones said: “I don’t think it’s even a case of getting back of the Caicedo trail, they’ve already been on it. The whole time the Ugarte thing has been going on, Caicedo is still the one I’ve been hearing more about. I’ve always expected that Chelsea would go for Caicedo.”

Would Moises Caicedo be a good signing for Chelsea?

Caicedo, who has been described by De Zerbi as a "top player" who can "play anywhere", enjoyed a fantastic 2022/23 campaign for Brighton and has all the qualities of an all-action midfielder that would add some bite to the Chelsea engine room.

All in, the 21-year-old made 43 appearances in all competitions with his current employers, registering a goal and a solitary assist, as per Transfermarkt.

The Ecuador international also racked up 2.7 tackles per match and a pass success rate of 88.8% in the Premier League, showing that he is strong in the tackle and comfortable in possession, as per WhoScored.

FBRef show that Caicedo has excelled when compared to his positional peers across Europe's top five divisions regarding interceptions, having made 1.61 per 90 minutes across the last 365 days, putting him in the 11th percentile for this metric.

Chelsea look like a side that will aim to prioritise signing players who can make an impact for years to come and Caicedo would fit the bill as an exciting addition to inspire the Stamford Bridge faithful.

Liverpool could make a swoop for Dutch winger Cody Gakpo after he has recently been talking about his future.

What’s the word?

According to the Daily Mail, the 22-year-old is ready to assess his future this summer as he looks increasingly likely to leave PSV Eindhoven for pastures new.

Gakpo told Dutch outlet De Telegraaf that “anything can happen this summer”, putting Liverpool on standby alongside other suitors.

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Arsenal and Manchester United have also been linked with the winger, and the Reds could face a battle for his signature.

Imagine him and Salah

Liverpool have had a remarkable season, and it could get even better. They are in the Champions League final and could snatch the Premier League title away from Manchester City on the last day of the season.

Jurgen Klopp is seemingly keen on adding to his squad and planning for the future despite that success. His diligent transfer business over the last couple of years, such as bringing in Diogo Jota and Luis Diaz, has rejuvenated the title-winning team from 2019/20.

Gakpo, who could be available for just £42m this summer, would be an excellent addition to the squad. Journalist Valentijn Driessen described the winger as “constantly threatening” after he scored the winner in the KNVB Cup final against Ajax last month.

With 21 goals and 15 assists in all competitions this season, it’s hard to think that he wouldn’t add something to the Liverpool side. Although Diaz also plays in Gakpo’s preferred left-wing position, the Dutchman can operate on the right or even as a centre-forward if necessary.

This versatility will only please Klopp further and added competition isn’t a bad thing, especially when the German wants the team to challenge for every competition they enter.

Liverpool fans will surely be excited to think of a wide comprising of serial goalscorer Mohamed Salah and Gakpo, and it may just become a reality this summer.

AND in other news, Klopp eyeing £150m “wonderkid” who “suits Liverpool’s style”, it may be bye-bye Salah

Jurgen Klopp will make a late decision over Roberto Firmino’s involvement in Liverpool’s crucial Premier League clash with Tottenham this weekend.

The Lowdown: Massive game at Anfield

The Reds are looking to return to the top of the table on Saturday evening, for the time being at least, as they welcome Spurs to Anfield for one of the biggest games of the season.

Antonio Conte’s side are battling for a top-four finish with rivals Arsenal, so the eventual outcome on Merseyside could be enormous for both sides.

Firmino has been Liverpool’s only injury absentee of late but a key update has now emerged regarding his fitness ahead of the match.

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The Latest: Late call on Firmino

Taking to Twitter, journalist James Pearce relayed Klopp’s words on the Brazilian, saying he will decide whether or not to include him in the squad on the day:

“Klopp on Firmino: “He’s back in training so now we have to make a decision. It might make more sense for him to just train through the weekend and then he’ll be a big stop closer for Tuesday.”

The Verdict: No need to risk him

There was a time when an injury to Firmino felt disastrous, with Klopp so reliant on him staying fit for long spells, along with Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane.

Liverpool have incredible attacking depth after signing Diogo Jota and Luis Diaz, however, so there is no need to rush back a potentially undercooked player.

Divock Origi is an option from the substitutes’ bench, too, given his penchant for scoring important goals, so it would make more sense to allow Firmino to continue his recovery over the weekend, potentially featuring at Aston Villa on Tuesday night.

In other news, a pundit has torn into one ‘shocking’ Liverpool player. Find out who it is here.

West Ham United’s pursuit of Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins may have been given a slight boost, according to journalist Paul Brown.

The Lowdown: Hammers eye move…

The Hammers and manager David Moyes are reportedly watching Villa’s forward ahead of the 2022 summer transfer window with a new striker firmly on West Ham’s agenda.

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It is believed that the club want to add an out-and-out centre forward to Moyes’ ranks alongside the potential additions of a central defender and new midfielder (The Times).

Michail Antonio is currently the Irons’ only natural senior option in the striker role, and with an interesting 2022/2023 season around the corner, West Ham simply must add an alternative at long last.

The Latest: Brown makes Watkins claim…

Speaking to GiveMeSport, journalist Brown of The Daily Star has claimed that Watkins could have his head turned by West Ham – especially if they manage to secure a Champions League spot either through the top four or winning the Europa League.

He explained: “Would Ollie Watkins leave Villa? It depends. If West Ham were to do something special and really get in the top four or get into the Champions League, that might turn his head. But he’s kind of Villa’s crown jewel, so it would be hard for them to let him go.”

The Verdict: Promising?

You would imagine, like many of West Ham’s targets, a place in Europe’s most coveted competition would be a major pull for them.

Much could ride on their potential place in the Champions League next season but, if Moyes’ men were to seal a place, there is little doubt Watkins would upgrade the forward line.

A serious homegrown talent, the England international is pivotal for Villa, scoring more goals than anyone in Steven Gerrard’s squad – while only Philippe Coutinho has averaged more shots at goal per 90 in the Premier League (WhoScored).

Former West Ham striker Frank McAvennie is certainly a fan, branding Watkins a ‘massive player’ and ‘brilliant’.

Indeed, he could be the ideal striker signing for Moyes this summer, but much will depend on Villa’s selling stance.

In other news: ‘He will…’ – West Ham source shares major Rice update from the last 48 hours, find out more here.