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Liverpool are thought to be leading the race to sign highly-rated Celta Vigo midfielder Gabri Veiga this summer, according to a fresh update.

Did Veiga shine last season?

The Spaniard enjoyed an eye-catching season for his current side in 2022/23 and was the club's third-best performer over the course of the previous campaign. Veiga proved to be a reliable source of goals from midfield, scoring 11 times and also chipping in with four assists across 36 appearances in La Liga.

Liverpool have been linked with a move for the 21-year-old a number of times in recent months, seeing him as one of their primary midfield targets. The Reds have already brought in Alexis Mac Allister from Brighton, but a couple more signings are required in that area and the Celta Vigo gem could be one who comes in.

Now, a new update regarding Veiga's future certainly suggests that the Reds, and by extension new sporting director Jorg Schmadtke, are serious about snapping up the youngster.

Are Liverpool favourites to sign Veiga?

According to The Transfer Room, Liverpool are in fact now the front-runners to sign Veiga before the new Premier League season begins:

"Sources close to The Transfer Room have claimed that Liverpool are well ahead of any club in the race for Veiga. Chelsea, who were pushing hard, have now taken a step back and are assessing other targets. The main 'problem' with the deal for Liverpool is the €40million release clause.

"Despite Chelsea dropping their interest in the Spanish midfielder, two other Premier League sides, Newcastle United & Manchester United are also following his future closely. Even though Liverpool are now leading the race, many twists and turns could still take place as his future will not be decided until he returns back from the U21 Euros which is taking place currently."

This is a very positive update regarding Liverpool's pursuit of Veiga, suggesting that he could well be the next man through the door at Anfield, joining Mac Allister in transforming an ageing Reds midfield.

His performances last season showed exactly what he is capable of – football talent scout Jacek Kulig lauded his "great season" – and he already has 49 appearances to his name in La Liga, showing that he can compete at the highest level.

At 21, Veiga, labelled as a "very electric player" by Fabrizio Romano, would be considered both an immediate key squad player and a future star – he may have to accept not being a guaranteed starter from the off, especially given Curtis Jones' end-of-season form – and if he came in along with either Khephren Thuram or Romeo Lavia, it could continue a highly productive summer.

Glasgow Rangers look set to be in for their busiest summer transfer window in quite some time as Michael Beale aims to overhaul a playing squad which has become stagnant across the previous 12 months.

Out go the likes of Allan McGregor, Scott Arfield, Ryan Kent, Alfredo Morelos and Filip Helander as the wage budget has been trimmed, while Beale has quickly signed four players – and there will be more as the weeks go on.

Another squad player who could leave this summer is Scott Wright, as Preston North End had two bids rejected recently and it surely won't be long before he departs Ibrox after a woeful season.

The £5.6k-per-week dud played 34 times during 2022/23 and registered a paltry two assists – a dreadful return from the winger, and it’s clear he isn’t of the required quality needed going forward.

Could Beale turn to a January transfer target that is back on his radar in order to replace Wright if he does in fact move on from Rangers this summer? As Morgan Whittaker remains firmly in the 42-year-old's plans, according to The Daily Record, perhaps the Gers boss has a plan in place.

Could Rangers sign Morgan Whittaker this summer?

In all honesty, a move should have occurred back in January, as the Gers had three bids rejected by Swansea City for the pacey winger, with their final offer of £2m not enough to prise him away from Wales.

During the first half of last season, he spent time on loan at Plymouth Argyle in the English third tier and was arguably their standout performer, registering nine goals and seven assists across just 25 league games, demonstrating his abilities from the right wing.

His form on the south coast was so devastating that he ranked second out of the whole squad for overall rating (7.1/10), despite playing just half a season, while also ranking third for goals and assists, as well as key passes per game and big chances created, underlining his importance to Plymouth.

His output dropped once he returned to Swansea, however, scoring just once in 15 Championship games, although he did only start two matches.

Beale is clearly a big fan of the 22-year-old winger, having previously lauded him as “excellent” – and the chase for him still appears to be very much alive.

The next few weeks could prove crucial with regard to a potential move, as the manager is aiming to get the vast majority of his business done early in order to focus on the Champions League qualifiers at the start of August.

Tottenham Hotspur hold a 'genuine' interest in Manchester United winger Jadon Sancho this window, according to journalist Ben Jacobs.

What's the latest transfer news involving Jadon Sancho?

As per The Daily Star, Tottenham are keen on Sancho this summer and are lining up a high-profile swoop to try and entice the £350k-a-week ace to Hotspur Way.

The report states that Spurs are 'definitely interested' in the 23-year-old and Ange Postecoglou is also said to want Leicester City midfielder James Maddison as the Australian boss eyes a squad rebuild.

Sancho has endured an inconsistent time of things at Manchester United since completing a £73 million move to the Red Devils from Borussia Dortmund back in 2021, as per BBC Sport.

talkSPORT pundit Ally McCoist has been sympathetic to Sancho's predicament and backed him to find his feet again, stating: “He hasn’t shown enough at all. You’ve got to find a way to overcome it. There’s a million excuses out there if you want to go and look for them. The fact is you’re not going to get game time if you’re not showing the manager in training that you can do a job. I feel sorry for him, he’s got to get away and get his career back on track and honestly, I don’t think it would be a bad thing if he went back to where he came from.”

FootballTransfers claim that Manchester United would be open to selling the winger this window and Aston Villa are also monitoring his situation.

Speaking to Football FanCast, journalist Jacobs has stated that Spurs do hold a genuine attraction towards Sancho as they target him this summer.

Jacobs told FFC: "At this point, they've not approached Manchester United directly. They've not put an offer down on the table, but it is fair to say that the interest in Sancho is genuine. He's an option for Spurs for sure, but there's still work to be done if they're to progress the deal in any way."

Would Jadon Sancho thrive at Tottenham Hotspur?

Sancho, who was called an "unusual player" by The Athletic, is someone who possesses extreme talent; however, it is fair to say that he has struggled to deliver on his early career promise shown since his move to Manchester United and a new challenge may suit the London-born attacker ahead of next term.

In 2022/23, the former Borussia Dortmund man amassed 41 appearances in all competitions, registering seven goals and three assists, as per Transfermarkt.

FBRef take into account that Sancho has been an efficient chance provider for the Red Devils this term, successfully completing 113 shot-creating actions in total.

WhoScored further lend credence to his creative qualities and detail that Sancho made an average of 1.7 key passes per match in the Premier League.

All things considered, Tottenham may be the perfect environment for Sancho to find his feet and produce consistent performances looking ahead.

Arsenal are “very confident” of signing Kai Havertz alongside a move for Declan Rice and personal terms are "advanced" for both players, according to Sky Sports journalist Florian Plettenberg.

How many goals has Kai Havertz scored?

Havertz joined Chelsea from Bayer Leverkusen back in 2020 with the weight of the world on his shoulders, and it’s fair to say he hasn’t lived up to expectations in the Premier League.

The 24 year-old has scored just 19 top flight goals in 91 showings, also providing ten assists, though he has continued to thrive for Germany during that time, finding the back of the net 13 times for his national side in 35 games.

His underlying numbers suggest he is a still a player with bags of potential though, as he ranks highly for a number of metrics amongst other forwards in the big five leagues, namely passing, dribbling and tackling, so one has to think if he can find some end product as he matures there is still a top player in there.

And Mikel Arteta clearly thinks so, as reports now suggest the Gunners are “in advanced stages” with the manager personally stepping in to "push" the move.

That’s according to Sky Germany’s Plettenberg, who says: "News Havertz: Been told Arsenal is very confident to sign both Rice & Havertz! Despite of the fact that Chelsea has rejected the first offer. Arteta is pushing for Havertz!

“Arsenal are in advanced stages with both players. No Bayern offer for Havertz yet. Arsenal is planning the next steps. Bayern‘s next transfer meeting scheduled next week.”

Would Havertz be a good signing?

Havertz certainly has his admirers, with Thomas Tuchel’s interest at Bayern no surprise given what the former Blues boss had to say back in March of last year: “What he gives us is huge volume. He covers a lot of metres, he covers a lot of metres in high intensity, so he finds the intensity no matter what the system the opponent defends against us, he finds intensive runs, he finds distances.”

BT Sport pundit Owen Hargreaves believes Havertz is a “brilliant” player with elite “courage and composure”, while Graham Potter has hailed his “fantastic” talent.

Clearly then, Arsenal would be getting a player who is extremely highly thought of in the game, and his ability to operate in six different positions across midfield and attack means his arrival would add depth in a multitude of areas for the Gunners.

Arsenal are reportedly eyeing a Premier League defender as the transfer window approaches, however, Mikel Arteta must avoid past mistakes in dodging the potential signing.

The Spaniard will be keen to make amendments to his side this summer after narrowly missing out on the league title, with depth needed in all areas to tussle with defending champions Manchester City once again.

A host of talent has been linked with a move to the Emirates already, however, the latest link should be one for the club to swipe past.

What’s the latest on Timothy Castagne to Arsenal?

As reported by Belgian outlet Het Belang van Limburg (as relayed by Sport Witness), Leicester City defender Timothy Castagne is a wanted man at Arsenal.

The news was supported by journalist Sacha Tavolieri, who claimed the right-back is seen by the Gunners as a second choice to Real Valladolid gem Ivan Fresneda.

Tavolieri added that Arsenal have ‘started the talks’ with the Foxes over the Belgian with things having the potential to ‘develop quickly’.

Is Timothy Castagne the best option for Arsenal?

Having once been described as being an “absolute liability” by members of the media, the 27-year-old made 37 appearances this season in a campaign that saw Leicester relegated to the Championship.

The right-back has some qualities that established him as a Premier League player, however, Arsenal must avoid past mistakes in the transfer window in order to fully progress after a title-challenging term.

The Gunners secured the signing of Cedric Soares from Southampton in 2020, but the Portuguese defender has failed to make an impact in north London.

While the market can be misleading when stating ‘you get what you pay for’, Arsenal could indeed seek better options than an individual that played a key role in the defence of a side that was relegated.

In 2022 when speaking on talkSPORT, former Premier League forward Darren Bent claimed that Cedric was “not good enough” for the Gunners, something that was correct, with the 31-year-old going on loan to Fulham in January 2023 where he made just six appearances.

Depth is what Arsenal need, however, it's the quality in the numbers that is critical to the north Londoners to close the gap on Pep Guardiola’s treble winners, as seen by the gulf in class following William Saliba’s injury in March and Rob Holding’s inadequate cameo.

Signing a relegated individual shouldn’t be the route that Edu follows in order to add to the squad this summer, with statistics showing that Castagne ranks far lower than the Gunners’ current options.

Ben White, who is considered Arsenal’s first-choice right-back, was dribbled past on average 0.7 times per game this season, with the Leicester defender being overcome 1.2 times per game, via Sofascore.

Although he would expectedly act as a backup to the Englishman, Arteta wouldn’t be making a significant upgrade on Cedric in signing Castagne.

When comparing the seasons of the Portuguese in 2021/22 to the Belgian this year via FBref, the numbers suggest that Cedric is actually better suited to the Spaniard’s style of play, averaging 5.09 progressive passes per 90 to the £67k-per-week defender’s 2.93.

Having progressive playing full-backs is integral to Arsenal’s playing style, and with the reported target not hitting near the heights of the Emirates’ out-of-favour player, the deal makes little sense in the club’s pursuit of another title challenge.

And as such, Arteta must avoid repeating a Cedric-esque mistake this off-season.

Tottenham Hotspur manager Antonio Conte has swung his axe as the Lilywhites close in on a summer exit, according to reports.

The Lowdown: Spurs summer reshuffle…

Spurs transfer chief Fabio Paratici met with Conte in Italy last week to discuss recruitment strategy ahead of what will be a very interesting window for the north Londoners.

The Lilywhites head coach secured a Premier League top four finish and Champions League football for the 2022/2023 campaign, prompting the club to green-light a major £150million equity increase.

Conte will benefit from the bulk of these added funds as Spurs look set to back their manager and ensure he has most of what he needs for his first full season in charge.

While new signings have been heavily tipped, so have exits from Hotspur Way, with Football Insider now sharing the latest development involving midfielder Giovani Lo Celso.

The Latest: Tottenham hold Lo Celso talks…

According to their information, a Tottenham ‘agreement is close to being reached’ over Lo Celso’s permanent departure to Villarreal with ‘extensive talks’ held.

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This comes as Conte swings his axe and deems the Argentine ‘surplus to requirements’.

As per this update, Spurs are keen to offload, so much so they’re willing to take a near-£10million loss.

The Verdict: Major update…

Dropping the asking price from £30million to around £20million, according to this report, certainly stands out as a major call.

Perhaps this is an indicator of Tottenham and chairman Daniel Levy’s eagerness to back Conte and seriousness in going the extra mile to display a matched ambition.

Selling Lo Celso for that amount is generous to say the least, especially considering he thrived on loan under Unai Emery and was a key player on their run to the Champions League semi-finals.

In other news: Alasdair Gold says ‘exciting’ Conte target is now eyeing a move to Tottenham! Find out more here.

Wolves are plotting a bid for 18-year-old goalkeeper Gabriel Slonina as Bruno Lage looks to build for the future.

What’s the word?

Journalist Alan Nixon (via Birmingham Live) has stated that Wolves are reportedly closing in on the signing of Slonina in a deal that could be around £10m.

The club were first linked with the 6 foot 4 ‘keeper last month but fresh news claims that Wolves are close to securing a deal for the teenager.

Nixon believes they have “seen off major rivals Southampton” in the chase and this is news that will please Lage.

Slonina can be the future

Lage has steered Wolves to yet another top-flight finish in the Premier League, their third in four seasons and despite missing out on European football, there are high hopes the club can have a positive summer ahead.

With the ever-increasing likelihood that Ruben Neves will be leaving, and the out of contract Joao Moutinho unsure of his future, Lage faces a rebuild of sorts.

John Ruddy’s contract expires in the summer and Lage will be looking to add to his goalkeeping options, although Slonina may be one for the future.

He has been dubbed “impressive” by fellow Chicago Fire stopper Bobby Shuttleworth and the 18-year-old has a bright future ahead of him.

He became the youngest ever starting goalkeeper in MLS history when making his debut for the side in September last year at the tender age of 17.

In November, Slonina had made 3.36 saves from inside the box per 90 minutes, which was more than any other keeper at the time. This shows he was making a big impact and displaying his massive talent.

Although a USA youth international, he has been called up to the senior Poland squad and a move to Europe would be beneficial in terms of his international prospects.

A fee of £10m isn’t much in today’s transfer market and it’s one that Wolves could comfortably afford. This will be a deal that Lage will be desperate to get over the line.

AND in other news, Great news: Huge Wolves transfer development emerges; supporters will be ecstatic

BBC Radio Five Live pundit Alan Hutton has urged Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp to not risk the fitness of Mohamed Salah ahead of the Reds’ Champions League final.

The Lowdown: Salah’s injury setback

The 29-year-old was forced off the pitch during last weekend’s FA Cup final against Chelsea with what appeared to be a groin injury, and suffering this setback also meant that he was ruled out of action for Tuesday night’s 2-1 Premier League victory over Southampton.

The German boss confirmed earlier this week that the Egyptian might have an outside chance of making the bench for the season finale against Wolves on Sunday, but with just under a week between that game and the Champions League final, Hutton is not so sure.

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The Latest: Hutton’s message to Klopp

Speaking during an interview with Football Insider, the former Premier League full-back reiterated that there isn’t any need for Klopp to risk his star man, saying the ‘big thing’ is being ready for the clash against the Spanish giants.

“It looked like a groin issue, I’m led to believe. The thing is that the Champions League final is not until May 28th.

“Obviously, it’s Liverpool’s last game at home on Sunday. If he’s ready and he feels good, he could maybe play 10, 15 minutes in that one.

“I don’t think you have to risk him. That’s the big thing. For these games, they’ve got players who can come in and do a job, to a high level may I add.

“Keep Salah, because fully fit, he plays. It’s quite as simple as that. Keep him fit and get him ready for the Madrid game.

“These are big games they’re going to be playing in. They have won two trophies. As a winner, you’re desperate to go on and pick up even more trophies.

“They’ve got a decent squad, I think Jurgen Klopp rotates at the right times. For the bigger games, he reverts back to what he knows and thinks will do the job on the day.

“They only have a few games left so I think they will be more than capable. I don’t think that should be a massive issue.”

The Verdict: Liverpool’s star player

The 82-cap international first arrived at Anfield in a £34m move from Roma back in 2017, and he has since gone on to become perhaps the key cog in the Merseyside machine.

During his five years in the top-flight, Salah has so far made 252 appearances for the Reds, registering an outstanding 218 goal contributions, as per Transfermarkt, showing just how prolific he can be in the final third.

Despite being such an influential player on the pitch for Liverpool, if the striker isn’t declared fully fit in time to face Madrid, then the Reds do at least have options to rotate in after the January capture of Luis Diaz and return to fitness of Roberto Firmino, so risking Salah vs Wolves would indeed feel a bit foolish.

In other news… a Sky Sports pundit has backed the Reds to complete a surprising swap deal this summer.

Leeds United have made contact with Chelsea over a possible cut-price deal for Jake Clarke-Salter, according to The Sun.

The Lowdown: Clarke-Salter profiled

The centre-back has been on the books at Stamford Bridge as a senior player since 2018, and although he has made just two senior appearances for the Blues, he has gained plenty of senior experience with loan spells at five separate clubs.

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The 24-year-old spent the 2021/22 campaign with Coventry City, where he made 29 Championship appearances. Described as ‘outstanding’ by Sky Blues boss Mark Robins, Clarke-Salter is out of contract at Chelsea this summer, although there is an option to extend his deal by a further 12 months.

The Latest: Leeds enquiry for Clarke-Salter

The Sun shared a story regarding Clarke-Salter’s future on Monday, revealing that both Leeds and Sheffield United have made an enquiry for his services.

Dutch side PSV Eindhoven are also name-checked within the report, while Coventry will look to sign him on a permanent basis should he become a free agent.

The Verdict: Koch replacement?

It remains to be seen what division Leeds will be playing in next season, but either way it looks as if Jesse Marsch is planning a defensive overhaul ahead of his first full season in charge.

Reports last month revealed that the Whites will listen to offers for Robin Koch over the summer. The German, who was described as ‘horrible’ to watch by Beren Cross in the opening day defeat to Manchester United back in August, could depart for between £10m and £11m.

Should Leeds drop back down to the Championship, then Clarke-Salter could be a shrewd signing due to his experience in the second tier. However, if the Whites stay up, it could be a risky addition given that he has only made one Premier League appearance during his career, and that was way back in 2016.

In other news: ‘Sad to report…’ – Phil Hay reacts to Leeds news as things go from bad to worse at Elland Road.

Journalist Joe Thomas was left amazed after Tom Davies made a ‘surprise’ return to the Everton matchday squad against Chelsea on Sunday.

The lowdown

The 23-year-old hasn’t featured for the Toffees since the goalless draw with Tottenham Hotspur almost six months ago. He sustained a knee injury in that game and then damaged his thigh the following month during his rehabilitation (via The Athletic).

Everton announced that it was a ‘high-grade’ injury which required surgery, and Davies himself said that he wouldn’t return until next season.

The Toffees left him out of their revised Premier League squad in January, only restoring him when Jean-Philippe Gbamin sealed a loan move to CSKA Moscow.

However, Davies was back on the nine-match Everton bench on Sunday, watching on from the sidelines as his team boosted their top-flight survival hopes with a 1-0 win over Chelsea.

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The latest

Thomas, Everton correspondent for the Liverpool Echo, was left amazed by the presence of Davies in the matchday squad at the weekend, given the 23-year-old’s woes in recent months.

The journalist tweeted: “Incredible effort from Tom Davies to get back into Everton matchday squad ahead of expectations. A surprise spot on the bench for him today – his injury was deemed so severe he was not even registered in Premier League squad in January, only returning after Gbamin left on loan.”

The verdict

Davies’ return is a significant and unexpected boost for Frank Lampard and Everton.

He is an important squad player at Goodison Park, having featured in five of the Toffees’ seven Premier League matches prior to his injury in November.

To make his return all the more welcome, Everton were short of bodies in central midfield after Donny van de Beek (on loan from Manchester United) picked up a groin injury and Andre Gomes was also sidelined.

While most teams have played 34, or even 35, league matches, Everton still have five remaining, so there is still plenty of time for Davies to make a positive impact in the Toffees’ battle against relegation.

In other news, Dominic King hailed this man’s performance against Chelsea on Sunday