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An update has emerged on Newcastle United and their plans to improve the quality of their wide options in the summer transfer window…

What's the latest on Reiss Nelson to Newcastle United?

According to Football Transfers, the Magpies are eyeing a swoop to sign out-of-contract forward Reiss Nelson ahead of the 2023/24 campaign.

The report claims that the club have made contact with the player's representatives to gauge any potential interest from the winger in a move to St. James' Park.

His contract with Arsenal expired on Monday and the Premier League giants are said to have made an offer to stay at The Emirates, although Eddie Howe is now looking to tempt him into making the switch to Tyneside on a free transfer.

Would Reiss Nelson be a good signing for Newcastle?

The 23-year-old could be an excellent bargain addition for the club this summer as he has the potential to be the dream heir to Allan Saint-Maximin on the left wing.

It was recently reported that Serie A side Atalanta have enquired about a potential deal to sign the French wizard from the Magpies, which could open the door for Howe to ditch the former Nice forward before replacing him with Nelson.

The 26-year-old attacker averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.02 across 25 Premier League appearances last season and contributed with one goal to go along with five assists, which works out as an involvement every 4.17 matches on average.

Nelson averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.07 across 11 league outings for Arsenal, which would have placed him fifth on Newcastle's roster, while making an impact in the final third with three goals and two assists, a contribution every 2.2 games on average.

These statistics suggest that the English dynamo has the potential to provide more quality than Saint-Maximin at the top end of the pitch, while also being three years younger and having more time ahead of himself to improve under Howe's coaching.

Along with his goal contributions, Nelson, who was reportedly on £38k-per-week with the Gunners, could also be a reliable option in the build-up phase.

His Premier League pass success rate of 91% last term would place him top of the Newcastle team, while the current Toon winger only completed 75% of his attempted passes – ranking 21st in the squad in that respect.

Therefore, Howe could land the dream heir to Saint-Maximin on Tyneside by signing the "explosive" – as he was dubbed by talent scout Jacek Kulig – Gunners ace on a free transfer, as his statistics indicate that he has the potential to be an upgrade on the French maestro.

Everton have initiated contact to enquire about a summer deal to sign Leeds United forward Wilfried Gnonto, according to reports.

Is Wilfried Gnonto leaving Leeds?

The Whites’ left-sided winger only arrived in the Premier League from FC Zurich last summer and showed plenty of promising signs during his 28 appearances in his debut season, but after suffering relegation to the Championship, there’s a chance he could be on the move elsewhere.

The Italy international’s agent, Claudio Vigorelli, has publicly admitted that whilst his client is focusing on his displays for his country at this moment in time, he’s aware that he will have options to leave and is set to "talk" with the hierarchy at the earliest opportunity regarding his future at Elland Road.

Yorkshire Evening Post reporter Graham Smyth recently revealed that the club are yet to receive any bids for the 19-year-old and “hope to keep” him beyond the ongoing transfer window, but it sounds like Sean Dyche might have other ideas to try to entice him to Goodison Park.

Are Everton signing Gnonto?

According to Gazzetta Dello Sport (via Sport Witness), Everton have made contact to ask what it would take to complete a summer deal for Gnonto.

Leeds are believed to be demanding a fee of €15-20m (£12-17m) to sanction his sale. The Merseyside outfit have already made “concrete moves” for the teenager, but they aren’t alone in their pursuit, with Bundesliga club Freiburg also chasing him.

Would Gnonto be a good signing for Everton?

Everton have to remember that Gnonto is still only 19 years of age and has just one season of top-flight experience under his belt, but he’s definitely got bags of potential to offer so he could be a wonderful signing for the long-term future of the club.

The Puma-sponsored dynamo clocked up six goal contributions (four assists and two goals) in 24 Premier League outings last season and recorded 50 shot-creating actions, which was the fourth-highest total throughout his squad in LS11, as per FBRef.

Leeds’ “diamond”, as lauded by journalist Antonio Mango, is also a versatile operator having been deployed in seven different positions since the start of his career, including everywhere across the frontline and even three roles in the midfield, so he would be an excellent option for the boss to have at his disposal should any unexpected injuries occur, as he’d be able to cover in several other places for his teammates.

Liverpool have made an enquiry to Celta Viga over a potential move for midfielder Gabri Veiga, according to Fabrizio Romano.

What’s the latest Liverpool transfer news?

The Reds and Jurgen Klopp have made a start on their summer transfer business by agreeing a deal with Brighton & Hove Albion for Alexis Mac Allister.

The Argentine midfielder was announced as a new Liverpool player earlier this month in a transfer that looks set to be worth an initial £35m.

However, with the likes of James Miler, Naby Keita, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain all leaving the club as free agents and Arthur Melo ending his loan spell, more midfield additions appear to be on the agenda at Anfield.

Borussia Monchengladbach’s Manu Kone, Nice’s Khephren Thuram and Inter Milan’s Nicolo Barella have all been named as potential targets, with another name being Veiga.

Reports suggested last month that Liverpool were in pole position to sign the player who Klopp viewed as a ‘star in the making’, with Veiga having a €40m (£35m) release clause.

Romano took to Twitter in the last 48 hours to share an update on Veiga, claiming that Chelsea have made an enquiry over a move for the Spaniard. The transfer expert said that Liverpool also made an approach of their own earlier in the week and are following his situation.

“Chelsea have inquired on Spanish talent Gabri Veiga's release clause; conditions, payment terms or chance to negotiate with Celta Vigo. No bid or concrete steps as of now.

“Liverpool did exactly the same earlier this week, he's one of the players LFC are following.”

Romano has since added that no bid has been made so far, with the focus on a more physical midfielder at this stage.

Who is Gabri Veiga?

Veiga is just 21 years of age and is primarily a central midfielder who can also play in defensive or attacking midfield roles, making 40 of his 55 senior appearances for Celta Vigo last season, scoring 11 times and registering four assists.

The player, who has progressed through Celta Vigo’s academy, has seen his Transfermarkt valuation increase from €3m to €30m over the last 12 months.

Hailed as a "very electric player" by Romano and "dangerous" by journalist Euan McTear, Veiga was one of Celta Vigo’s top performers last season, as per WhoScored, outperforming the likes of Liverpool midfielders Fabinho, Curtis Jones, Jordan Henderson and Harvey Elliott.

Therefore, you could argue that the Spanish talent could be a shrewd signing bot in the short and long run, but with Premier League rivals Chelsea circling, FSG may need to act fast if they wish to bring him to Anfield after making a first approach.

West Ham United are set to add another striker to their ranks this summer, with a report from Romagiallorossa via Sport Witness stating that Armando Broja is set to seal a move to the club.

Are West Ham signing Armando Broja?

Since returning to Chelsea for the 2022/23 and being involved in their first-team squad, the forward has struggled to establish himself and to get regular minutes in the Premier League for the Blues. With his side struggling, he was turned to on just 12 occasions in total and bagged only one goal – the worst return yet of his senior career. However, only two of those 12 appearances were starts and he managed just 3.3 lots of 90 minutes in total.

With Southampton, when given the opportunity to play more frequently, the 21-year-old showcased what he could do. That loan spell produced six goals in 21 league starts and proved that he could take on and handle the top flight. Prior to that, his spell with Vitesse also amounted to ten goals and two assists in 21 top flight starts.

The Albanian could now be set for a reprieve following a difficult campaign with the Blues. That's because according to a report from Romagiallorossa via Sport Witness, West Ham are believed to be keen to bring in Broja as a replacement for outgoing Gianluca Scamacca, and a deal is not only likely but is close to being done too.

It adds that they want to tie up a deal for the 21-year-old as a replacement for the Italian, who will head to Roma on an "expensive" loan deal.

What is Armando Broja's value?

No potential fee for the player is mentioned, but CIES Football Observatory suggests that his worth could be around the 20 million Euros mark (or £17m). It means that a deal may not entirely break the bank for West Ham when you consider the current market and yet they would be getting a Premier League proven player.

It would also be a good fee, if that was the case, for a player that has been described as "sensational" by Francis Benali. Benali was a fan of the youngster during his time at former club Southampton and was quick to heap the praise on Broja. If West Ham can get a deal done for the player then, and give him the gametime he craves, then he could reach those same heights that he did with the Saints.

There is a possibility of Arsenal "revisiting talks" to sign Brighton star Moises Caicedo this summer, according to journalist Dean Jones.

Who could Arsenal sign this summer?

The Gunners are currently seeking to reinforce their central midfield area, and it seems like a major priority for manager Mikel Arteta. West Ham star Declan Rice, who has been subject to a rejected opening bid from Arsenal, is firmly in their thinking.

Meanwhile, as his Man City contract runs down, treble-winning captain and Germany international veteran Ilkay Gundogan is also a player attracting interest from sporting director Edu.

Caicedo, who starred for Brighton over the 2022/2023 Premier League season, was being heavily courted by Arsenal in January with the player even releasing a statement of his intention to leave the Amex.

The 21-year-old instead went on to pen a new deal at Brighton, putting them in a strong position this summer transfer window as big clubs, including Chelsea, register a real interest.

Arsenal have also been tipped to re-launch a move for Caicedo, with reporter Jones saying they could do exactly that in a column for GiveMeSport.

The journalist, when discussing their transfer targets, claimed Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi, Edmond Tapsoba of Bayer Leverkusen RB Leipzig's Mohamed Simakan are early targets for the centre-back area too – with Torino's Perr Schurrs also one to watch.

Expanding further, Jones claims there is a real "possiblity" of Arsenal "revisiting talks" to sign Caicedo as well, even despite their push to sign Rice from West Ham.

Who is Moises Caicedo?

Averaging more tackles and interceptions per 90 than any other Brighton player last season, it's safe to say the South American ace has marked himself out as a real defensive midfield gem.

He is also revered in his homeland, with Ecuadorian critics seeing him as their nation's "crown jewel" and great hope for a new era of football nationally.

Enrico Castro-Montes, a football historian of Ecuador, went into great detail on Caicedo's potential in an interview with Het Niuewsblad (via Sport Witness).

Castro-Montes even said he has been described as a cross between N'Golo Kante and Paul Pogba

"Caicedo covers the whole field. He is much more eye-catching," said the historian.

“There will be a lot of pressure on Caicedo’s shoulders. His nickname in Ecuador is ‘La Joya’, the jewel. In his own country, he is really seen as the crown jewel of a new generation.

“Caicedo really has everything to become the best Ecuadorian footballer of all time. I think that off the ball, he is indeed somewhat reminiscent of Kante, but on the ball, he resembles Paul Pogba with his flair and his technique.

“That’s also how they describe him in Ecuador: a cross between Kanté and Pogba.”

As Manchester United look to strengthen this summer, the major priorities for manager Erik ten Hag appear to be the signing of a new number nine and central midfielder, with the Dutchman seemingly hoping to improve the spine of his team ahead of next season.

With regard to midfield additions, Manchester Evening News reported earlier this season that the Red Devils were considering a fresh approach for Borussia Dortmund starlet, Jude Bellingham, with the England international having previously snubbed United's advances back in 2020.

Any potential move for the 19-year-old now appears almost impossible following the news that Real Madrid have reached an agreement with the Bundesliga side regarding a €100m (£86m) deal for the teenager, with the former Birmingham City man looking all but set to be plying his trade in the Spanish capital next season.

To have missed out on a player who is "going to be the best midfielder in the world" – according to Three Lions colleague, Phil Foden – is undoubtedly a blow for the Old Trafford outfit, with Ten Hag needing to find another midfield solution over the coming weeks and months.

The 53-year-old could already be lining up a perfect alternative to the Dortmund ace, however, in the form of Leon Goretzka, with the Bayern Munich machine believed to be a target for the Carabao Cup winners, according to reports in his native Germany.

Should Man United sign Goretzka?

The signing of the £301k-per-week maestro could allow Ten Hag to find his own version of Bellingham, with the two Bundesliga stars said to share a number of statistical and stylistic similarities, as per FBref.

That likeness between the 6 foot 2 German and his English counterpart – who is also a towering figure at 6 foot 1 – is not just due to their physical stature, with the pair able to make a stellar impact at both ends of the pitch.

That is showcased by the duo's defensive strength, with Goretzka ranking in the top 3% among those in his position in Europe's top five leagues for blocks made, while Bellingham ranks in the top 7% in that regard.

Equally, the two men also have the desire to bomb forward and get involved in the final third, with Goretzka averaging 2.2 touches in the attacking penalty area per 90 across the last 365 days, while Bellingham is only slightly ahead as he averages 3.6 touches per 90 for the same metric.

With the latter man a player who can "do absolutely everything" – according to United legend Gary Neville – the Bayern ace is also something of an all-action star in his own right, with former boss Julian Nagelsmann describing him as "one of the best box-to-box players in Europe".

Much like Bellingham – who has 24 goals and 25 assists to his name in 132 games for his current side – the former Schalke man also possesses an "incredible goal threat", according to Nagelsmann, having registered 34 goals and 35 assists in 179 games for the Bavarian giants.

While the Bochum native is less of a long-term option having turned 28 earlier this year – in contrast to the teenage Bellingham – his similar attributes to that of the Madrid-bound superstar should make him a perfect fit for Ten Hag at the Theatre of Dreams.

Everton chiefs are keeping tabs on Sunderland forward Jack Clarke ahead of a potential move to the Premier League, according to reports in the last 48 hours.

Who is Jack Clarke?

Clarke is naturally a left-sided winger who completed his permanent move to the Stadium of Light last summer from Premier League rivals Tottenham Hotspur, following a successful loan spell the season before. As per Transfermarkt, across both periods up north, he's made a total of 70 appearances to date, scoring 12 times.

In the Championship, the 22-year-old started all 46 games last season and firmly established himself as Tony Mowbray’s second overall best-performing player with a WhoScored match rating of 7.11, and this impressive form has been catching the eye outside of the northeast.

Football League World previously credited Glasgow Rangers, Brentford, Crystal Palace, Wolverhampton Wanderers and the Toffees all with an interest in the forward who is, as stated by the outlet, expected to be sold during the upcoming window, and Sean Dyche’s admiration has now once again been brought to the surface.

Are Everton signing Clarke?

According to iNews, Everton scouts are “paying attention” to Clarke’s situation and there is a definite “interest” in signing him ahead of the 2023/24 campaign. Sunderland are, of course, reluctant to lose their prized asset, but it’s stated that offers of around £15m could “prompt a conversation”.

The Black Cats attacker’s agent Ian Harte, however, has claimed that his client is “happy” where he is and currently has “no intention” of pushing for an exit. The one thing worth noting though is that “every player has a price” and neither the talented prospect, nor his representatives, have “any control” over whether the club decide to accept any offers that arrive at their door.

Should Moshiri splash the cash on Clarke?

Everton should be focusing on signing an out-and-out centre-forward this summer but any kind of positive attacking reinforcement can’t be turned down, and having been dubbed “unplayable” by journalist Josh Bunting, Farhad Moshiri should definitely empty his pockets to bring Clarke to Goodison Park.

The York-born talent racked up 20 goal contributions (11 assists and nine goals) in 45 Championship appearances last season, form which saw him collect six man-of-the-match awards, and even his displays were outstanding when he wasn’t on the scoresheet.

As per FBRef, the SMI Sports Management client recorded a total of 147 shot-creating actions which was more than any other of his fellow teammates, and whipped 96 crosses into the box which was the second-highest number, so he’s always looking to pose a threat in the final third and is a player that would make a significant difference for Dyche on Merseyside.

Aston Villa are one of the few teams in the Premier League with something huge to play for on the final day as the opportunity to play European football next season hangs in the balance.

The Villans will host Brighton and Hove Albion at Villa Park this afternoon as the chase for the Europa Conference League spot in seventh remains tight between themselves, Tottenham Hotspur and Brentford.

To beat Brentford and Spurs to the final spot in European football it will be as simple as taking all three points from their final fixture and will have the advantage of being in front of their home support over their north London competitors who will travel to Elland Road, whilst the Bees will take on the Premier League champions Manchester City in their final fixture later today.

In terms of injuries, Philippe Coutinho and Jed Steer remain unavailable for selection, but the biggest blow for Emery has been Alex Moreno's hamstring injury that has needed surgery to repair, with the Villa boss confirming in his pre-match press conference this week that the talented left-back will now be out for the foreseeable future:

"We will be without Alex Moreno. He had surgery last week on his hamstring. We are going to follow it; he’s going to be out for two to three months, perhaps back early August, OK, so it’s two or three months."

As a result, it could be the perfect opportunity to unleash Ashley Young in the starting eleven this afternoon, as the Villa ace could be the perfect player to not only replace Moreno but also provide the passion needed to secure European football for the club.

Will Ashley Young start vs Brighton?

The 37-year-old defender has been a consistent and reliable player over the current Premier League campaign and has stepped up in the moments when he has been needed the most, with his display against Liverpool last weekend a testament to the important role he plays in the squad.

Over his 37-minute performance at Anfield, Young helped Villa stay in the game to ultimately earn a deserved point – making three clearances and winning 100% of his aerial duels, whilst also completing three interceptions and two tackles during his short stint on the pitch.

The £50k-per-week gem – hailed "outstanding" by former boss Steven Gerrard – has been solid defensively throughout his 29 league outings with eight of the club's 12 clean sheets being tallied up when Young has featured in the team.

Not only that, the former England international has been the second-highest rated defender in the squad for tackles completed (1.7) – as per WhoScored – with only Matty Cash completing more per appearance and positional competitor Lucas Digne tallying much fewer (1.1), which is a testament to Young's dominance in the back four.

With that being said, whilst Young is more commonly found in the right-back position it would be a no-brainer to start him on the left side where he has comfortably made five appearances and has scored one goal from this season so far, as he could be the key to making Villa's dreams of European football a reality at last.

Ryan Kent and Alfredo Morelos may be inclined to stay at Rangers if they win the Europa League, Pete O’Rourke has told GiveMeSport. 

The lowdown

Rangers take on Eintracht Frankfurt in the UEL showpiece in Seville on Wednesday night.

The Gers missed the chance to qualify for the Champions League by winning the Scottish Premiership – that will go to arch-rivals Celtic – but there is a also group-stage spot up for grabs for Wednesday’s victor.

Kent and Morelos are both approaching the final year of their contracts at Ibrox.

Morelos publicly admitted earlier in the season that he hoped that he would ‘soon’ be allowed to leave, while transfer insider Dean Jones claims that Kent has his eyes on a Premier League move.

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The latest

O’Rourke says Rangers may be able to match the ambition of Kent and Morelos if they qualify for Europe’s premier club competition.

The two players could then be tempted to commit to the club ‘for the foreseeable future’.

He told GMS: “If you’re playing Champions League football, it’s going to help your chances of keeping hold of your best players, the likes of Morelos and Kent, who obviously would like to be playing at the highest level.

“So, if Rangers can go on and win it and they get in the Champions League, it’s only going to help their chances of keeping their best players at the club for the foreseeable future.”

The verdict

There’s no doubting that this pair are two of Rangers’ star players. According to Transfermarkt, they’re the two most valuable assets owned by the club at a combined £24.3million.

Morelos also tops the club’s earning charts on £33,000 per week, while Kent is in the upper echelons too on £18,000 (via Salary Sport). Taken together, the duo collect more than £2.65million per year.

And you’d have to say that reward is deserved given that Morelos is the club’s joint-top scorer with 16 goals, while Kent is second for assists (via BBC Sport). Between them, they have racked up 37 goal involvements this term.

They may have the chance to move to a stronger league than the SPFL, but will there realistically be another suitor who can offer them starting opportunities in the Champions League? That’s the key point.

In other news, Heart & Hand fumed over this UEL final update.

Leeds United assistant manager Franz Schiemer could depart Elland Road and join the Austria national team, with a decision expected on Friday afternoon.

The Lowdown: Schiemer a key backroom member

Jesse Marsch has enjoyed an impressive coaching career to date, excelling at RB Salzburg, in particular, before taking the Leeds job earlier this year.

While the American was clearly the main influence at former clubs, Schiemer was a trusty deputy, implementing his own methods and playing his part in the team’s success.

The 36-year-old has now continued working alongside Marsch at Leeds, joining the Whites in March, but it appears as though his departure from the Premier League could now be close.

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The Latest: Austrian job beckoning?

According to Die Presse [via Sport Witness], Schiemer has held talks over becoming Austria’s new assistant manager, with as many as 20 candidates spoken to.

Austrian FA sporting director Peter Schottel is believed to have travelled to England to speak to the Leeds man personally, with the report stating a decision will be made before the weekend:

“The course for the Austrian national team will be set this afternoon at the Courtyard by Marriott Vienna Prater. The OFB holds its executive committee meeting there. The question to be clarified is: Who should head the national team as team boss in the future?”

Ralf Rangnick has since been confirmed as the manager, so we will surely find out in the coming hours who his coaching staff are, once this meeting concludes.

That means, if Schiemer is indeed their man, he could be signed on the dotted line before Leeds take on Manchester City on Saturday evening, a distraction the squad definitely don’t need.

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The Verdict: Potential big loss for Marsch

Schiemer has been a hugely effective member of Marsch’s backroom team for several years now, as mentioned, so this could be a big blow to the Leeds boss.

A manager is often only as good as those around him, as even the world’s best coaches such as Jurgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola attest to, so it is vital that Marsch’s assistant is sufficiently replaced if he leaves – Klopp even claimed this week his decision to stay at Liverpool was only possible because his right-hand man, Pepijn Lijnders, agreed to stay also.

If this move does happen in the coming days, it would be a huge shame not to have seen Schiemer have longer to make an impact, having been hailed as ‘very, very important’ by Marsch himself.

In other news, Fabrizio Romano has dropped a Leeds transfer claim. Read more here.