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Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe has reportedly made his move for Juventus midfielder Adrien Rabiot, whose contract with the Serie A outfit is up for expiry this month.

What's the latest on Adrien Rabiot to Newcastle?

That's following recent news from prominent Italian outlet Corriere dello Sport (via Sport Witness), who claim that the Magpies have indeed commenced an approach for the France international ahead of his contractual conclusion with the Old Lady.

The 28-year-old is a robust and imposing midfielder and would be a shrewd addition to the Newcastle ranks ahead of Champions League competition next year.

Manchester United have maintained an interest in Rabiot after failing in their pursuit one year ago, but the Tyneside club are headed towards a deal for the ace and will now look to ramp up the gas and bring him to St. James' Park.

How would Adrien Rabiot perform at Newcastle?

Quirkily described as a "wardrobe" for his imposing physicality by Gianluigi Buffon, the 6 foot 2 machine would enter a robust Newcastle midfield and bring his distinctive set of skills to enrich the dynamism on Tyneside, playing to the favour of the likes of midfield conductor Bruno Guimaraes.

The Brazilian signed for the Toon for £40m from Lyon in January 2022 and has arguably been the centrepiece of the club's blistering success over the past 18 months after making 57 appearances and registering 16 direct contributions.

The £120k-per-week Magpie has been heralded as "magnificent" by his manager, and has succeeded resoundingly as the orchestrator of Howe's system, recording an average rating of 7.17 – as per Sofascore – completing 85% of his passes, making 1.3 key passes, 2.4 tackles and 1.1 interceptions per match and succeeding with 63% of his dribbles and 57% of his duels.

The all-engulfing nature of his work as the nucleus would provide Rabiot with the perfect partner to exhibit the full scale of his skill set, with the industrious colossus having scored 11 times this term and ranking among the top 4% of midfielders across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for non-penalty goals, and the top 16% for progressive carries, clearances and aerials won per 90, as per FBref.

Praised as the "complete midfielder" himself by France manager Didier Deschamps, Rabiot is noted as a 'similar player' as per FBref, to Newcastle's box-crashing ace Joelinton, which further illustrates the suitability for Howe's system, and given the increase in competition next year, the Toon manager will want to make signings who can adapt to the system and maintain the cohesive equipoise.

Rabiot would be a fantastic addition to a burgeoning outfit, and while he may be on £148k-per-week with the Old Lady, the fact that Newcastle can bypass paying a transfer fee by snapping him up in less than two weeks suggests that it could be an auspicious move indeed, enhancing the centre and leaving ample room to make further swoops and continue the ascent to the very top.

Celtic lost Australian boss Ange Postecoglou earlier this month and majority shareholder Dermot Desmond must now find his replacement ahead of the 2023/24 campaign.

The 57-year-old gaffer completed a move from Parkhead to the Premier League but the Hoops are now quickly identifying candidates to take his place.

It was recently reported that former Chelsea head coach Graham Potter was approached by the club about potentially taking the job but the Englishman is now allegedly out of the race to take on the role.

He is said to be eyeing up another Premier League move after departing Stamford Bridge, following on from his spell in the English top-flight with Brighton, and this has prevented Celtic from being able to tempt him into joining them.

The Daily Record has claimed that Bodo/Glimt boss Kjetil Knutsen, whose style has been described as "kamikaze" by the club's captain, Ulrick Saltnes, is one of the managers on the club's radar this month.

Would Kjetil Knutsen be a good appointment for Celtic?

Desmond could strike gold by appointing the Norwegian tactician as the 54-year-old could be an excellent coach for the club and a better one than Potter would have been.

The Bodo/Glimt tinkerer has enjoyed a terrific spell in his home country and has a proven track record of leading a team to glory domestically, whilst also showing signs of being able to produce results in Europe.

Knutsen has won two titles in the last three seasons in the top-tier of Norwegian football and his team are currently ten points clear at the top of the table with ten wins out of 11 games in 2023, which means that he is on course for a third title in four years if his side can maintain that form.

He also led his men to the quarter-finals of the Europa Conference League and won seven out of 11 matches in the competition in the 2021/22 campaign.

Potter, on the other hand, has never won a title outside of the third division of Swedish football and has only finished higher than fifth once in any division since 2013. This means that he would have arrived at Celtic with no experience of winning titles at the top level, something that is surely a requirement for a team who have just won the treble.

The 48-year-old did win five of his seven Champions League matches in charge of Chelsea but has only managed 21 games in European competitions, in comparison to Knutsen's 37.

Taking all of this into consideration, the Bodo/Glimt boss could be an excellent and better alternative to Potter as the attack-minded manager, who plays a 4-3-3 system, boasts a proven track record of winning titles and dominating a league, which is what Celtic will be hoping to carry on doing after back-to-back Scottish Premiership titles under Postecoglou.

Chelsea are expected to have another busy transfer window, as Mauricio Pochettino prepares for his first summer in charge of the Blues.

After spending a figure over £500m in the two transfer windows last season, things failed to click at Stamford Bridge, leaving the Argentinian with a clean-up operation ahead of the next campaign.

The latest drop of transfer news suggests that Chelsea could consider a move for two Premier League aces, with one in particular that could benefit Pochettino’s midfield.

What’s the latest on Moises Caicedo to Chelsea?

As reported by 90min on Thursday, Brighton & Hove Albion midfielder Moises Caicedo is a wanted man in west London.

The report suggests that Chelsea could consider a ‘double swoop’ for the services of Declan Rice and Caicedo.

A separate report from The Telegraph states that the Seagulls will demand a price that could exceed the £70m mark for the Ecuadorian this summer.

What could Moises Caicedo bring to Chelsea?

Lauded as a “monster” by sports scientist Dr Rajpal Brar, the 21-year-old is a player wanted by a host of clubs after an impeccable season on the south coast.

The Brighton ace won an average of 58% of his total duels this season, averaging a monstrous 5.9 per game and asserting himself as one of the league’s best defensive midfielders, via Sofascore.

His presence could be crucial to Chelsea’s midfield, which requires some structure from Pochettino to fully utilise the talents of British record signing Enzo Fernandez, who joined the club in January for £106.8m.

While the talent of Fernandez is undoubted, the Blues are yet to see his full potential, which could be unlocked by having a partner such as Caicedo, who is an engine in midfield.

As per FBref, the two are extremely similar in their capabilities, however, Enzo prevails as a slightly better ball-player than the 21-year-old, averaging a huge 9.25 progressive passes per 90 to Caicedo's 6.28.

A pattern is followed in the Brighton gem’s favour in terms of defensive attributes, averaging more interceptions & tackles per 90 than the Argentinian and a significantly better outlet of aerial protection, with 1.06 aerials won to Enzo’s 0.47 per 90.

Chelsea picked up the ex-Benfica ace for good reason, with the midfielder forming a deadly partnership in Portugal with former teammate Florentino Luiz, lauded as the Eagles’ “anchor”.

Pochettino could therefore get the best out of the 22-year-old by signing Caicedo, who could act as a dominant defensive partner for the World Cup winner in a similar system to how he played at the Amex beside the likes of Alexis Mac Allister and Billy Gilmour.

But with Arsenal chasing the Ecuadorian in a saga ongoing from January, Chelsea will have to act fast in their efforts to capture the youngster’s signature.

Liverpool are looking for new additions this summer who can improve upon their performances seen this season and now a new update has emerged on one of the club's top targets.

What's the latest on Liverpool's interest in Kouadio Kone?

According to Football Transfers, Liverpool are in talks to sign Borussia Mönchengladbach midfielder Kouadio "Manu" Kone this summer.

As per the report, discussions have been held with Kone and his representatives in the club's pursuit to identify players who can be part of Jurgen Klopp's midfield rebuild at Anfield.

It is claimed that the Bundesliga club are commanding a transfer fee of up to €40m (£34m) to part ways with their talented player and will need to compete with Newcastle United for his signature.

Would Kone be a good signing for Liverpool?

The German coach has made no secret of his desire and intentions to improve the squad this summer after an incredibly disappointing campaign both in the Premier League and Champions League this season, which has ultimately led to the club falling into the Europa League next season.

One of the key areas of concern is the midfield with not only a number of players either out of contract or reaching the latter stages of their careers at this point but the output in the centre of the pitch has lacked energy and dominance over the last 12 months.

As a result, the signing of Kone is a great place to start for the Merseysiders with the Bundesliga sensation potentially the perfect alternative to former transfer target Moises Caicedo for a fraction of the Brighton star's £90m asking price.

The 22-year-old Frenchman – hailed as "monstrous" and a "warrior" by Jacek Kulig – is an extremely talented midfielder with Caicedo coincidentally named as one of his most comparable positional peers – as per FBref – and it's not hard to see why.

When comparing the midfield pair's outputs this season they share many similarities in key attributes including pass completion rate (86.2% v 88.5%), tackles and interceptions completed (106 v 106), take-on success (48.3% v 51.9%), ball recoveries (221 v 248) and goal-creating actions per 90 (0.17 v 0.14).

Not only that, the former Toulouse talent ranks ninth for tackles and tenth for progressive passes, passes into the final third and shots on target in the entire Bundesliga this season, which is a testament to his strong box-to-box abilities allowing him to be a huge presence in both attacking play and defensive transition.

These comparable traits will be of huge interest to the Liverpool hierarchy after interest in the Seagulls midfielder, as the potential to bring in a young midfielder who possesses a very similar profile without the need to spend heavily will certainly capture the attention of the well-renowned tight-spending club owners this summer.

With that being said, it would be a no-brainer to snap up the services of Kone if Liverpool remain keen to bring in a player who can offer the qualities needed to improve ball retention and the performances in midfield next season.

Indeed, at such a young age he can be moulded to become a superstar under Klopp's guidance like many before him.

Aston Villa have missed out on signing Real Madrid ace Marco Asensio, however the Villans are reportedly in the mix to capture another star from the Spanish capital.

Unai Emery has given the club a significant pull ahead of the summer transfer window, both on the pitch in sealing European football and off it with his individual accolades in his lucrative managerial career.

Villa shouldn’t feel discouraged by Asensio’s decision to join Paris Saint-Germain, with another option suggesting a new candidate to join Villa Park.

What’s the latest on Joao Felix to Aston Villa?

As reported by Spanish publication Mundo Deportivo, Aston Villa have emerged as one of the options for Portuguese ace Joao Felix to relocate this summer.

The report states that Emery would be “delighted” to sign the 23-year-old, speaking in a press conference earlier this season regarding Felix’s move to Chelsea.

At the time, the Spaniard suggested the youngster was “better” than Villa, however with the club securing European football next campaign, the tides could change this summer.

What could Joao Felix bring to Aston Villa?

Lauded by Jose Mourinho as being an “incredible talent”, the forward has an impressive array of experience in European football behind him, despite being just 23.

The youngster has contributed to a total of 107 goals in his budding career, scoring 72 and assisting 35 playing at Benfica, Atletico Madrid and Chelsea – as per Transfermarkt.

After having disagreements with Diego Simeone, Felix has been searching for a new home, with Chelsea declining the option to sign the player permanently after a loan deal that came at a tough time for the Blues.

Despite playing in a disjointed Stamford Bridge squad, the forward showed his worth, scoring four goals in 11 starts in his debut season in the Premier League.

The attributes that the forward could offer Villa are endless, especially as Philippe Coutinho looks likely to depart this summer, with the Atletico gem being the perfect upgrade to the underachieving Brazilian.

When comparing the two, the Portuguese starlet gives a glimpse of what Coutinho could have been at Villa, and what he could give the club should he opt to join Emery’s project.

The £195k-per-week ace averages a mammoth 0.35 goals per 90, as well as being a live wire in the final third, as shown through his average of 4.04 shots on goal per 90 – as per FBref.

The former Liverpool magician falls short in both areas, averaging 0.11 goals per 90 and 2.40 shots per 90, showing that Felix would be a firm upgrade in the advanced areas.

A similar pattern is highlighted in the duo’s progressive play, with Coutinho averaging 2.06 progressive carries to the former Chelsea forwards’ 3.11 per 90, communicating his desire to get forward which is integral in Emery’s set-up.

Hailed as being “special” by the Villa coach himself, Felix could thrive in the Spaniard’s project at Villa, becoming one of the club’s star players and having an area to enjoy his football under a manager that can accommodate his playing style.

Chelsea are reportedly interested in signing Napoli centre-back Kim Min-jae this summer – and the South Korean could replace £60m flop Marc Cucurella at Stamford Bridge.

Would Kim Min-Jae be a good signing for Chelsea?

According to 90min, Napoli could be forced to sell the powerful centre-back this summer, with Chelsea among those interested in bringing him to the Premier League.

Manchester United, Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur are all also thought to be in the running, while Chelsea are said to have sent scouts to watch the 26-year-old play this month – and could bring him to Stamford Bridge for as little as €45m (£39m) due to a release clause in his contract, which is only eligible in the first two weeks of the upcoming transfer window.

Since joining from Fenerbahce last summer, the six foot three defender has gone on to make 34 appearances in Serie A for Luciano Spalletti's side, contributing two goals and two assists with a superb 7.10 rating from WhoScored for his performances.

Reece James is currently ranked as the top performer at Stamford Bridge with a 7.07 average rating, which emphasises just how impressive Kim has been in his first season in Italy.

He also averaged a 7.20 rating in the Champions League as Napoli reached the quarter-finals, so clearly has what it takes to play at the very top level.

Former Manchester United man Park Ji-sung was full of praise for his compatriot earlier in the campaign, saying:

"Extraordinary, what a talent. He took the right step by going to play in Turkey and showed himself ready to take a step forward. He didn't come directly to Italy but step by step, so he grew up and there is no doubt that he is doing extraordinary things, as a technical leader and personality in Naples".

Teammate Khvicha Kvaratskhelia also dubbed him as an "iron barrel" and described him as one of the best in the world, so he could certainly be a quality addition to Chelsea's squad this summer if he can live up to that praise.

Could Kim Min-Jae replace Cucurella at Chelsea?

One concern for Todd Boehly is the number of defensive options already at Stamford Bridge but if he were able to complete a deal for the former Beijing Guoan star, perhaps it could see Cucurella moved on.

The Spanish defender joined from Brighton last summer but has endured a difficult first season in west London, with WhoScored ranking him as the 15th-best performer in Chelsea's squad.

Often utilised as a left-sided centre-back, Cucurella hasn't looked comfortable at all in recent months and his lack of defensive awareness was cruelly exposed in the Champions League defeat against Real Madrid.

Given the competition for places at Chelsea and Boehly's demands for a better 2023/24 season, the 24-year-old is surely a prime candidate to be moved on this summer, especially if it can fund a move for Kim.

The South Korean has averaged far more interceptions, clearances and blocks per game than Cucurella so far this term, so would be a far more natural centre-back for Mauricio Pochettino to have at Stamford Bridge, making him a fine target Boehly should definitely try to sign.

Crystal Palace star Wilfried Zaha is "very likely" to leave the club in the summer transfer window and Steve Parish wants to focus on securing Michael Olise, according to an update from journalist Pete O'Rourke.

When is Zaha out of contract?

The 30-year-old has arguably been the Eagles' greatest player of the Premier League era, so often proving to be their attacking talisman down the years. His pace, trickery and unpredictability have all made him such an exciting player to watch, and he has now racked up 458 appearances for Palace, scoring 90 goals and registering 76 assists along the way.

Zaha's future has been a big talking point throughout this season, however, with the £130,000-a-week winger's current Palace deal expiring at the end of the current campaign. That means he will be allowed to leave on a free transfer, unless an extension is agreed in the next month or so.

It feels increasingly likely that the Ivorian could be angling for a fresh challenge, seeing this moment as his last chance to get a big move at the peak of his powers. A fresh update further suggests that that could be the case.

Will Zaha leave Palace in the summer?

According to Football Insider's O'Rourke, he has been told that it is "very likely" Zaha will depart Selhurst Park in the summer window. While talks have taken place over a new Palace deal, little progress appears to have been made and the player is 'keen to pursue a new challenge'.

Marseille, Arsenal and Chelsea are all credited with interest in the report, and the news means that the Eagles are putting their focus on extending Olise's stay at the club, in order to soften the blow.

In truth, it does feel as though Zaha feels he has come as far as he can at Palace, with his talent arguably deserving of a move elsewhere before he drifts past his prime. He has shown such loyalty to the Eagles, returning there after a failed spell at Manchester United, so it would be hard to begrudge him a move to a club like Marseille, who are expected to be in the Champions League next term.

Ideally, he will sign an extension and spend the rest of his career in south London, of course, but he has lofty ambitions and will surely want to test himself in a European competition, which is something Palace can't offer him currently. There is always a chance that Zaha could have a change of heart, but at this point, it feels unlikely.

Tottenham Hotspur, and by extension transfer chief Fabio Paratici, allegedly have a Weston McKennie plan as news emerges out of Italy.

The Lowdown: Conte set for summer reshuffle…

The Times, sharing a big update on manager Antonio Conte’s plans past the 2021/2022 Premier League season, recently claimed that a plethora of activity could take place at Hotspur Way.

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Spurs’ head coach could offload as many as eight players, a list which includes the likes of Sergio Reguilón, Emerson Royal, Steven Bergwijn, Giovani Lo Celso and Tanguy Ndombele.

Coming in the other way, it is believed that Conte wants to make six major signings in three defenders, a forward and a midfielder.

According to Calciomercato, some news has come to light on the Lilywhites’ attempts to bolster the latter position.

The Latest: Paratici readying McKennie talks…

The Italian source says Tottenham, and by extension Paratici, are ‘ready to negotiate’ with Juventus over signing their midfield man McKennie this summer.

It is believed that Spurs are eyeing a loan-to-buy deal for the USA international in a similar move which would ‘repeat’ the trick to bring Dejan Kulusevski to N17.

The Verdict: Advance?

Football Insider, making a claim before the New Year, stated that McKennie is ‘very keen’ to play in London – something which could gift Spurs and Paratici a possible advantage over Serie A competitors Roma.

They also stated Juve’s valuation of the 23-year-old is set at around £35 million, and while it is unclear whether that would be the price to pay for Tottenham at the end of a possible loan-to-buy, we believe the ex-Schalke star could be a brilliant addition either way.

Unable to display his ability during the latter stages of this season due to a foot injury, McKennie has in fact been revered for his performances at international level.

USA football reporter Chris Smith of 90min lavished the ‘pressing machine’ and ‘supremely underrated’ ace, drawing attention to an impressive scout report last year.

At just 23, the sky is seemingly the limit for McKennie and it is little wonder Spurs are keen on opening talks.

In other news: Paratici also eyeing ‘world class’ player move tipped to ‘excite’ Spurs supporters! Find out more here.

Newcastle United have reportedly now ‘made their first move’ to sign Jesse Lingard in the summer.

The Lowdown: Out of contract

Lingard is out of contract in the summer, with no plans of renewal from both him or Manchester United after a January full of speculation which saw him linked with the likes of Newcastle and West Ham.

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Currently rated at £18m by Transfermarkt, whoever now manages to win the race and snap him up as a free agent would be saving themselves a lot of money.

The Latest: Newcastle move

Taking to Twitter, Magpies journalist Scott Wilson has revealed that the St. James’ Park faithful have now ‘made their first move’ with regards to signing up Lingard this summer:

“NUFC have made their first move to set up a summer deal for Jesse Lingard – but are anticipating intense competition for the soon-to-be free agent…” The Verdict: No-brainer

If they could bring Lingard to the North East on a free, it is surely a no-brainer for the Tynesiders.

The 29-year-old may not have had much game time at Old Trafford this season, but he certainly showed his credentials while on loan with David Moyes at West Ham United last term.

Winning plaudits everywhere, Lingard scored a very impressive nine goals and made a further five assists from midfield in 16 games in the Premier League (Transfermarkt), despite only joining in the January transfer window.

Not all of the Toon’s signings have to be expensive ones this summer, and signing up Lingard as a free agent would certainly seem like a smart move to help build up Eddie Howe’s squad for the next campaign.

In other news, find out what ‘incredible’ NUFC update has now emerged here!

According to a report from The Mirror, incoming Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has identified Feyenoord defender Tyrell Malacia as a summer transfer target. 

The lowdown: Rising star

A product of the Rotterdam club’s academy system, the 22-year-old left-back made his senior professional debut in 2017 and has since amassed 132 first-team appearances in his homeland.

Already a fully-fledged Netherlands international, Malacia has made great strides in a short career to date, and last November he switched to a new agency with a potential view to a summer transfer.

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That move could well be to Old Trafford, if the latest reports are to be believed…

The latest: Ten Hag targeting Malacia for Man Utd

As per The Mirror, Ten Hag is believed to be eyeing the three-cap Netherlands international as his first signing in Manchester.

The report claimed that the incoming Red Devils boss has ‘targeted’ Malacia, having failed to lure the marauding full-back to Ajax last summer.

It is also stated that a £20m offer could be enough to persuade Feyenoord to part ways with their prodigy, who has been described as ‘excellent’ by journalist and Dutch football specialist Michael Bell.

The verdict: Rebuild begins

Much has been made of the task facing Ten Hag in Manchester, and it appears that the Dutchman is wasting little time in getting to work in the transfer market.

Although United’s current first-choice left-back Luke Shaw enjoyed a stellar 2020/21 campaign, he has struggled for fitness this term and has been left vying with Alex Telles for his place in the team.

Therefore, with one goal and four assists in 30 Eredivisie appearances this season alongside an impressive 7.08 Sofascore rating whilst making 2.7 tackles, 1.2 clearances and 1.6 successful dribbles per game, it’s no surprise that Ten Hag is reportedly eyeing up a move for Malacia as an early piece of transfer business at Old Trafford.

In other news: United are also interested in one Serie A star…find out more here.