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Aston Villa are close to reaching an agreement to sign Bayer Leverkusen winger Moussa Diaby this summer, according to reports. The Leverkusen man would join Pau Torres and Youri Tielemans on Unai Emery's list of arrivals at Villa Park so far this summer.

What's the latest on Moussa Diaby to Aston Villa?

The Midlands side are nearing a deal with Leverkusen for the winger, according to RMC Sport, via Sport Witness, for a fee worth €50m (£43.38m), with the reports from France saying the two parties are "close to an agreement" and NSWE want it done "quickly".

If they secure the services of the 24-year-old, Villa's squad will suddenly show the quality of one competing in Europe next season. It would also mean that they fought off the reported interest of Cristiano Ronaldo's Al-Nassr, who are undoubtedly in a position to propose a tempting financial offer to Diaby.

The Saudi Arabian club reportedly initially offered €43m, before seeing that bid turned down by Leverkusen. Another bid is reportedly on its way, however. Nonetheless, as of right now, it looks more likely that the winger will find himself wearing the colours of the Villans this summer, in what would be some signing for Emery.

It would have to be a substantial offer for Diaby to leave the Bundesliga this summer, too, given that his current contract doesn't expire until the summer of 2025.

Is Moussa Diaby a good signing?

Diaby would be somewhat of a game-changer for Aston Villa, who could do with a significant upgrade on their current wide options. As of right now, Leon Bailey represents an inconsistent option for Emery to turn to, with just nine goal involvements last season, scoring five and assisting a further four in all competitions.

In comparison, Diaby had a hand in an impressive 25 goals last season, scoring 14, and assisting 11 in another season to remember in Germany's top flight.

At a reported fee of €50m (£43.38m), signing a winger who is capable of playing a part in such a total of goals could represent the bargain of the summer for Aston Villa.

The winger has attracted plenty of praise from people who know him, with the club president of his first team, Esperance Paris 19e, calling him a "supernatural", saying via The Athletic: “I’m not comparing him to Messi: I’m just saying that Lionel Messi didn’t learn his dribbling anywhere. It’s the same for Moussa.

"He was born with it. If dribbling was just work, there would be hundreds and hundreds of Lionel Messis. It’s just that Moussa has a supernatural, divine gift. A gift that some have and others don’t.”

Statistically speaking, too, Diaby would be a major upgrade for Villa. As per FBref, the Leverkusen man made more progressive passes, more progressive carries, and enjoying a better take-on success.

The fact is, if Villa are to push on as a side capable of finishing inside the Premier League's European places, then sealing the deal to sign Diaby this summer may just be the key.

The winger has more than showed his capabilities in the Bundesliga, and now he could get the chance to prove himself in England's top flight. It's certainly a potential move to keep an eye on.

Liverpool are now considering a move for Crystal Palace midfielder Cheick Doucoure as a replacement for Fabinho, according to a recent report from The Liverpool Echo.

What's the latest Liverpool transfer news?

The Reds have already let a number of central midfielders leave the club this summer, with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, James Milner and Naby Keita all exiting, and there could still be a few more departures.

Jordan Henderson has now been linked with a move to Saudi Arabia, with journalist Ben Jacobs recently claiming that a fee still needs to be agreed between Liverpool and Steven Gerrard's new club, saying: "Now it's about Liverpool and Al-Ettifaq agreeing a fee, which is only thought to be somewhere in the region of £10million. I don't think that Liverpool will stand in his way."

Henderson has travelled to Germany for Liverpool's pre-season tour, but Fabrizio Romano has reported the Englishman has accepted the proposal from Al-Ettifaq, with Jurgen Klopp giving the green light for him to leave the club.

It has also been reported that Fabinho is now close to leaving, with the Brazilian on his way to Saudi Arabian side Al-Ittihad for a fee of around £40m, having not travelled to Germany.

The Liverpool Echo have now reported that a list of replacements for Fabinho have now been drawn up, with Southampton's Romeo Lavia considered one of the main targets, while Bayern Munich's Ryan Gravenberch is also an option.

Fulham's Joao Palhinha is also a possibility, with the Reds willing to widen the age profile of their potential signings, however the Portugal international is 28-years-old, and they would ideally prefer a younger player.

As such, 23-year-old Crystal Palace midfielder Doucoure is now among the players being considered, fresh off the back of a solid first season in the Premier League, having been named the Eagles' player of the year.

The former Lens man only arrived at Selhurst Park last summer, in a deal worth £21m, but he could already be on the move to Anfield.

How good is Cheick Doucoure?

There is evidence that the Mali international could be a quality replacement for Fabinho, given his stellar defensive attributes, ranking in the 97th percentile for interceptions per 90 over the past year, when compared to his positional peers.

The £60k-per-week Palace star has also averaged more tackles, blocks and clearances than the Brazilian during that timeframe, however his pass-completion rate is not quite up to par, having only averaged 83.2%.

Lauded as "incredible" by journalist Zach Lowy, the maestro had a fantastic first season in the Premier League, averaging 2.3 tackles per game, the highest amount of any player in the squad.

Fabinho turns 30 in October, and his form dipped considerably last season, with talkSPORT's Scott Minto claiming it was like his "twin brother" was playing, so it is probably a wise decision to let him leave.

Doucoure now has Premier League experience under his belt, having made 34 appearances last season, and at 23-years-old he could start for Liverpool in central midfield for years to come.

Crystal Palace can take 'advantage' of the likes of Arsenal not being keen to take their interest in Perr Schuurs to the 'next level' by signing him at Selhurst Park, according to journalist Dean Jones.

Which clubs have showed interest in Perr Schuurs?

According to DAZN Italia via Italian Football TV, Crystal Palace have submitted a bid worth €35 million for Schuurs and are ready to offer him a four-year contract at Selhurst Park.

Football Insider report that Liverpool have identified the £29k-a-week as a 'top target' at Anfield and Schuurs is seen as a budget-friendly option for the Reds as Jurgen Klopp eyes defensive reinforcements.

Sporting Clube De Portugal central defender Goncalo Inacio and Micky van de Ven have also been linked with Liverpool, which could make the prospect of them agreeing a deal with Schuurs more complicated.

Arsenal have scouted Netherlands international Schuurs in the past and could look to land him in a surprise swoop this window, as stated on GIVEMESPORT, which read: "Torino’s Perr Schuurs is a left-field name to look out for if other plans do not work out, as they scouted him from a while back. He’s already been linked with a few clubs ahead of the window"

Last term, the 23-year-old made 36 appearances in all competitions for Torino, registering one goal and two assists in the process, as per Transfermarkt.

Speaking to Football FanCast, journalist Jones thinks that Crystal Palace could steal a march on some of their rivals to entice Schuurs to Selhurst Park.

Jones stated: "For some teams, certainly in the sense of Arsenal, I've just got a feeling that they haven't quite been willing to go the extra step to take their interest to the next level and if that's the case for Liverpool too, then Crystal Palace can take advantage of their situation. He is very highly-rated and also there's an opportunity here for Torino to make quite a big profit."

Who else is on Crystal Palace's radar this summer?

Crystal Palace boss Roy Hodgson will be keen to strengthen his squad to equip them with the tools to enjoy an exciting 2023/24 campaign and help to build on the positive momentum generated in the second half of last term at Selhurst Park.

According to The Sun, Arsenal forward Folarin Balogun has emerged as a target to strengthen the Eagles' forward line; however, he will cost in the region of £35 million to prize away from the Emirates Stadium.

Italian journalist Daniel Speranza has claimed that AC Milan midfielder Charles De Ketelaere is another name who has been mentioned in connection with a move to Crystal Palace, detailing on Twitter: "After West Ham and Crystal Palace, Everton have also conducted a poll for Charles De Ketelaere in the last few hours," he tweeted. "The Milan is firm on its requests: about 30 million are needed. Reflections in progress by the English clubs."

Manchester United forgotten man Donny van de Beek has been linked with a host of clubs this summer as he looks to revive his career and Crystal Palace have been mentioned as a potential destination for the Netherlands international, as per 90min.

Glasgow Rangers head coach Michael Beale has decided to dip into the transfer market this summer to bolster his playing squad ahead of the 2023/24 campaign.

The Light Blues boss has wasted no time in securing the signatures of six new signings, including Kieran Dowell, Dujon Sterling, Jack Butland, Cyriel Dessers, Sam Lammers, and Abdallah Sima.

However, ins are not the only order of business for the Scottish giants in the off-season as they need to shift on some of their fringe players in order to create space for further additions.

Football Insider recently reported that Saudi Arabian side Al Ettifaq, who are now managed by former Gers boss Steven Gerrard, are interested in signing Scott Wright.

They claimed that a concrete move has been made in an attempt to land the winger, who could join the likes of Ruben Neves, Karim Benzema, Jota, and N'Golo Kante in Saudi Arabia next season.

How many goals has Scott Wright scored for Rangers?

The 25-year-old has only scored eight goals in 84 competitive appearances for the Light Blues and failed to find the back of the net on any occasion across 34 outings last term.

He has not provided much in the way of attacking quality out wide for Rangers, which is why Beale must now brutally ditch him in order to sign Chicago Fire starlet Brian Gutierrez – a reported transfer target for the club.

Wright racked up zero goals and two assists in 34 matches last season across all competitions, which works out as a goal contribution every 17 clashes on average.

This shows that the former Aberdeen man is rarely capable of making a difference in the final third, as 13 of his teammates were directly involved in more Scottish Premiership goals than him.

Gutierrez, meanwhile, has caught the eye with his creativity for the Fire in 2023. The 20-year-old, who is five years younger than Wright, has registered seven assists in 23 matches this year, which is one every 3.29 games on average.

Ryan Kent, who has since joined Fenerbahce in Turkey, was the only Rangers winger with more than seven league assists (eight) last season, which suggests that the potential is there for the USA U20 international to be a creative spark for Beale out wide.

The MLS prospect also produced two goals and six assists in 34 clashes throughout 2023, which shows that Gutierrez has plenty of experience under his belt – despite only turning 20 last month.

The exciting youngster, who was hailed as "incredible" and a player who has "got everything" by manager Frank Klopas, could arrive at Ibrox as a player with the potential to be a future star for Beale, potentially even forcing Wright out in the process.

Wright made 18 substitute appearances in the Premiership last season and that role could suit the 5 foot 10 ace initially as it would allow him to slowly adjust to life in Scotland.

He could then gain experience before pushing on and using his creative ability to make himself a go-to player for the manager further down the line.

Fabrizio Romano expects both Tyler Adams and Brenden Aaronson to leave Leeds United this summer as the club prepares for life in the Championship.

Are Adams and Aaronson leaving?

Following a return to the Championship, a delayed takeover and a month-long wait for a new manager, there is not much to smile about at Elland Road at the moment.

The club's three-year Premier League journey ended in bitter disappointment last campaign, and with a chaotic beginning to their Championship return, Leeds fans will be hoping they don't have to wait another 16 years to make it back into England's top-flight.

To pile on the misery for Leeds supporters, two of the clubs biggest players are now expected to leave, with Adams and Aaronson both heading for the exit door in Yorkshire.

That is according to journalist Romano, who is expecting both United States internationals to move onto bigger and better things in the summer transfer market.

Speaking on his Here We Go podcast, he said: "I would say for Tyler Adams and Aaronson I expect both of them to be on the move this summer.

"For Tyler Adams there is a lot of interest in the Premier League. It's true that two, three clubs in the Premier League are tracking this possibility, so I think it's going to be busy around Adams in the next weeks, and same for Aaronson.

"So, there is really a lot of interest and I see both of them leaving Leeds this summer."

Having only arrived last summer for approximately £25m from RB Salzburg, Aaronson didn't quite make the impression he would have liked in the Premier League. The 22-year-old only managed one goal in 36 Premier League appearances and that came against Chelsea in just the third week of the season.

Romano has suggested that Aaronson is on his way to Union Berlin in the Bundesliga on loan, with Leeds being forced to allow the move due to a relegation clause in the attacking-midfielder's contract.

Meanwhile, Adams has reportedly told Leeds of his desire to leave Elland Road, with the holding midfielder's impressive performances last season making him an attractive prospect to a lot of clubs. Aston Villa are one of the clubs leading the way for his signature.

The 24-year-old made 24 Premier League appearances for the Whites last term, but missed 12 games at the end of the season due to a hamstring injury. His defensive solidity was sorely missed, with Leeds conceding four or more goals in five separate games during his absence.

Who else could leave Leeds?

There are understandably a plethora of names linked with an exit from Elland Road, with an exodus of talent normally expected post-relegation.

Roma are reportedly interested in taking two Leeds players to Italy, with Diego Llorente and Rasmus Kristensen both angling for a Serie A moves.

Explosive forward Wilfried Gnonto is also expected to depart, with Everton and Aston Villa holding an interest in the Italian speedster. He would reportedly be available for around the £21m mark.

Another exciting forward in the form of Crysencio Summerville has told Leeds that he wishes to leave the club, with Everton again said to be eyeing up the young Dutch winger.

One transfer that has been confirmed is Tyler Roberts' move to Birmingham City, with the Blues set to pay much less than the reported £750,000 fee that had been rumoured according to BirminghamLive.

Manchester City are readying a late move for Napoli centre-back Kim Min-jae, whose £50m release clause becomes active in July, according to a report from Football Insider.

Are Man City signing a centre-back?

With Ilkay Gundogan on his way to La Liga champions Barcelona, one of Pep Guardiola's main priorities is likely to be a replacement for his captain, and West Ham United's Declan Rice has recently emerged as a key target.

However, Man City have also been linked with moves for a number of centre-backs, including RB Leipzig's Josko Gvardiol, with a recent report indicating the Croatian has fully agreed personal terms.

If the Sky Blues miss out on Gvardiol, The Athletic reports they could turn their attentions to Villarreal's Pau Torres, who has been on their list of targets for quite some time, though West Ham United and Aston Villa have also registered their interest.

Another potential option for City is Kim, with Football Insider reporting they are readying a late move for the Napoli defender, who has a £50m release clause included in his contract, which is set to become active this July.

However, there is likely to be huge competition for the South Korean's signature, with Bayern Munich currently said to be in pole position, while he is also a target for rivals Manchester United.

Despite his side securing a historic treble last season, Pep Guardiola is keen to improve his squad even further this summer, and a top centre-back is of particular interest, meaning Aymeric Laporte's time at the club is likely to come to an end.

Who will Kim Min-jae sign for?

At the moment, it appears likely the 26-year-old will be on his way to Bayern Munich, with Sky Sports reporter Florian Plettenberg detailing the German club want to finalise a deal in the next few days.

However, if Man City were to make a late swoop for the centre-back, it would certainly give him a lot to think about, given that a move to the Etihad Stadium is likely to provide him with a great chance of competing for the top prizes.

If City do manage to win the race for Kim, they could have a top player on their hands, considering he has been lauded as "extraordinary" by teammate Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, who also branded him "one of the best in the world".

The South Korea international could be an ideal fit for a Guardiola side, given his very impressive distribution, ranking in the 90th percentile for his pass completion rate per 90, and in the 97th percentile for passes attempted over the past year.

That said, a move for Gvardiol appears to be much more plausible at present, with journalist Rudy Galetti claiming City are "on the verge" of agreeing a long-term contract with the defender.

During the transfer window, a picture really can paint a thousand words. At least, in the minds of supporters…When a current player is pictured with another star elsewhere, minds begin racing, future strike partnerships begin to formed, and endless trophies are imagined. All of us enter dreamland.The brutal reality is far from dream-like, though, as a picture is usually just that. A picture between two friends.Arsenal fans have been the latest fans to get sucked into the hype of a photo, with young striker Folarin Balogun pictured with Paris Saint-Germain mega star Kylian Mbappe, leaving a number of fans dreaming over a potential link-up.Balogun enjoyed an excellent season last time out whilst on loan at Stade Reims, scoring 22 goals in 29 appearances. And, now, he returns to Arsenal hoping to finally get his chance in the first team.Given the Gunners’ place in the Champions League next season, too, they will need all the help and squad depth that they can get. Having Gabriel Jesus, Eddie Nketiah and the former Reims loanee as options would represent three strikers more than capable of hitting double figures in goals.Arsenal fans have been busy getting excited at the thought of another striker at the Emirates, however.

What is the latest on Kylian Mbappe?

Whenever the transfer window opens, an Mbappe transfer saga seemingly begins. This summer, the Frenchman has been linked with a move away from PSG once again after he revealed that he does not plan on extending his current contract and will, therefore, become a free agent next summer.

This means that if the Ligue 1 champions want to make some money from their star man, they will need to make a transfer happen either this summer or in January.

According to ESPN, Real Madrid, though cautious over a move, are hopeful that a deal could finally be done this summer. And The New York Times suggest PSG may be forced into selling their star this summer as to not lose him for free – so he’s essentially transfer listed and on the market, though would demand a fee of over £157m.

Meanwhile, Arsenal have been urged to drop their summer plans and go all out for Mbappe by Forbes’ Graham Ruthven. The forward could have ended up in North London as a youngster, as revealed by Arsene Wenger, who wanted him at Arsenal many years ago.

Whilst it would be a full circle moment for the Gunners to finally land Mbappe, however, it is Madrid in pole position.

Arsenal fans react to Balogun with Mbappe

The image was initially posted on the USMNT star’s official Instagram before it was quickly circulated on social media.

Taking to Twitter to react to Balogun’s picture with Mbappe, Arsenal fans reacted with hopeful glee, which you can see below:

Fulham’s midfield was arguably the strongest point of their team last season on their way to a top-half finish following their promotion from the Championship, and it could get even better.

Fulham have made James Ward-Prowse one of their top targets for the summer window, per The Independent.

The England midfielder looks set to leave Southampton following their relegation from the Premier League in 2022/23, and the Saints captain is interested in continuing his Premier League career at Craven Cottage.

Fulham transfer news – James Ward-Prowse

According to Nick Mashiter, the relegated Saints are likely to ask for around £30m for their free-kick specialist midfielder.

Ward-Prowse reportedly believes Marco Silva’s style of football is a good fit for his game as he look to return to England’s top division.

Silva will look to pair him with Joao Palhinha in the Fulham midfield, although the Portuguese midfielder is a transfer target for West Ham given the interest of top 6 teams in securing the services of their captain Declan Rice this summer.

Ward Prowse and Palhinha is the midfield combo to have Fulham firing for Europe

If Fulham did secure the services of the Southampton legend, he would bring with him a wealth of Premier League experience.

The 28-year-old has made 409 top-flight appearances for the Saints, providing 55 goals and 53 assists for the south coast side.

His club form has earned him 11 England caps and the player has scored twice for his country in those appearances.

Fulham’s star midfielder Palhinha was key for the Whites in his debut season in England.

The 27-year-old was signed from Sporting Lisbon last summer for a fee believed to be around £20m. The 6ft2 workhorse averaged a 7.00 match rating in his 35 games for Fulham in 22/23, per Sofascore.

Manchester United legend-turned-pundit Gary Neville was full of praise for Fulham’s midfield man during the season, and was stunned at the value Fulham had achieved through the signing. Speaking on The Overlap, he stated:

“I think Palhinha to be honest with you, he’s absolutely fantastic him.”

Pairing a player so highly rated with the Premier League experience of Southampton’s captain could be the duo that helps Marco Silva and his Fulham side make a strong push for the European qualification spots next season.

A former teammate of Ward-Prowse at Southampton in Charlie Austin believes the England international is a "phenomenal" player.

Speaking to talkSPORT, Austin said "His set-pieces and that are brilliant. He's probably going to beat David Beckham's record but, the nuts and bolts of his game, running hard, winning the ball back, and leading his team are phenomenal.

"He's come throught the academy at Southampton and has been there for so many years. I just think that it hasn't been the right opportunity.

"I think now is the time for him to move.”

Fulham made some stellar signings last summer, including midfielder Andreas Pereira and centre-back Issa Diop. Both players featured regularly for the Whites, with the Brazilian playmaker notching four goals and six assists in his 33 Premier League games and the French centre-back scoring once in his 25 league games.

Despite their success, Palhinha was the signing of the summer.

If the club do get the England maestro from Southampton, he will surely be their best piece of business since signing their workhouse midfielder from Sporting.

This situation is likely to develop quickly, and could all hinge on who West Ham grabs as their Declan Rice replacement, but a Ward-Prowse and Palhinha combination in Fulham’s midfield would be a major coup heading into the new season

Wolverhampton Wanderers will look to resolve the future of midfielder Matheus Nunes in the near future at Molineux, according to journalist Fabrizio Romano.

What's the latest transfer news involving Matheus Nunes?

As per The Liverpool Echo, Liverpool have held an interest in Nunes for a period of time; however, their attraction towards the Portugal international has 'cooled' in recent weeks.

The report claims that Liverpool may move on to other targets, with the likes of Nice midfielder Khephren Thuram and Borussia Monchengladbach enforcer Manu Kone being linked with a switch to Anfield.

According to Football Insider, Manchester United are also keen on Nunes and have placed him on a shortlist of potential midfield additions as Erik Ten Hag demands midfield reinforcements.

Barcelona and Newcastle United are two other potential destinations for Nunes this summer, though it is unclear exactly what the future may hold for the £85k-a-week ace in the transfer window, as per Relovo.

Nunes joined Wolves from Sporting Lisbon last year for a fee in the region of £42.2 million and became a key player in their eventually Premier League survival bid.

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, journalist Romano has stated that we won't need to wait too long to find out where Nunes may find himself come the end of the transfer window.

Romano said: “For Matheus Nunes, there's a lot of interest but still nothing advanced or concrete. So, we have to wait on that one. I think this is something for later in the window, towards the end of June or July.”

How did Matheus Nunes fare for Wolverhampton Wanderers during 2022/23?

Nunes enjoyed a decent debut campaign in the English top-flight with Wolves and helped them to maintain their place in the division despite being in a relegation dogfight for large portions of the season.

In 2022/23, the Portuguese midfielder amassed 42 appearances in all competitions for the Old Gold, registering two goals and two assists in the process, as per Transfermarkt.

WhoScored shows that Nunes is also an effective ball carrier from the centre of the pitch and managed to complete an average of 1.3 dribbles per match in the Premier League.

FBRef also reflect the notion of Nunes being able to drive his side forward from midfield, detailing that he successfully performed 59 shot-creating actions across the season.

Of course, Wolves will be keen to keep hold of Nunes if possible; nevertheless, it looks like it will be a waiting game at Molineux to see if he is still there come the close of play in the market.

Everton will need to add some quality new additions to avoid another Premier League relegation battle next season and now a new update has emerged on a potential transfer target.

What's the latest on Everton's interest in Harry Maguire?

According to Football Transfers, Everton are one of the clubs interested in securing the signing of Manchester United defender Harry Maguire.

As per the report, Tottenham Hotspur and Aston Villa joining the Toffees in their interest in signing Maguire and will need to pay £35m to snap up his services this summer.

It is claimed that Maguire is desperate for first-team football ahead of Euro 2024 next summer, so is assessing his options with both Premier League and European clubs at present.

Would Harry Maguire be a good signing for Everton?

There is no doubt that the Blues are crying out for some quality in their squad after suffering their second consecutive relegation scrap at the bottom of the table this season.

The Toffees finished 17th with just two points sparing them on the final day from a drop into the Championship for the first time in Premier League history and now Sean Dyche will head into his first summer transfer window at Goodison Park with a number of key areas to address.

Indeed, the signing of prolific forwards will be Everton's highest priority this summer, however, finding a worthy partner to join James Tarkowski to form a dream centre-back partnership would be hugely advantageous in their pursuit of competing more comfortably moving forward.

As a result, the signing of Man United skipper Maguire could be exactly what Dyche needs to bring in a player who has a wealth of Premier League experience and the profile to fit perfectly into the former Burnley boss' footballing philosophy.

Despite finding himself largely out of favour this season at Old Trafford, the England ace still ranks in the top 20% of his positional peers across the top five European leagues for aerial duels won, blocks, touches and progressive carries, outlining his ability as a bullish but modern centre-half.

Not only that, Maguire has tallied up an 87% pass completion rate and successfully completed 67% of his dribbles over 16 top-flight appearances this season, as well as averaging 2.6 clearances, 42.4 touches, and winning 2.4 duels, all while only averaging 49 minutes per game.

The 30-year-old misfit may be having a tough time competing for a starting spot under Erik ten Hag but has still drawn high praise from his Dutch coach after his performance in the Europa League a few months ago:

"He's more dominant and dictating, he's taking more initiative on the training pitch and I think also in the Real Betis game, he showed leadership, especially in those aspects of initiative and dictating of the game."

With that being said, it would be a no-brainer for Everton to strike up a deal to sign Maguire this summer, as the centre-back could bring some great assets and match the quality of Tarkowski in the back-line.