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West Bromwich Albion could have the green light to launch a move to sign Leicester City midfielder Hamza Choudhury this summer.

What’s the news?

Speaking to the Birmingham Mail, Leicester journalist Jordan Blackwell had this to say on the current situation regarding the midfielder and his immediate future at the King Power Stadium.

“Leicester would definitely be open to him leaving. As [Brendan] Rodgers put it quite bluntly not too long ago, they would prefer a sale, as there is no benefit to them to loan him out. Rodgers was of the opinion that he’s not going to make significant enough progress at a loan club that he would come back a much better player.

“If there is not enough interest in a club stumping up a fee for Choudhury, and a loan is the only option, Leicester would be open to that if the club were willing to pay a hefty chunk of his wages. He only has one year left on his contract at Leicester and so if he was to leave permanently, it would not take a huge fee to get him.”

Earlier this month, it was reported that the Baggies were looking to secure a deal for the Foxes midfielder this summer.

Now that it has been claimed by Blackwell that Leicester would be willing to allow the 24-year-old to leave in some capacity this summer, this could give the Hawthorns outfit the green light to launch a move for him.

Bruce would be thrilled

Taking into account how Steve Bruce was reportedly very keen to sign the player when he was still in charge of Newcastle United, the possibility of getting him this time around would surely be great news for the Baggies boss.

Since that prior interest, the midfielder has improved heavily, with more top-flight outings proving key in that. Indeed, should the Englishman find himself donning a West Brom shirt in the coming weeks, the his 53 Premier League appearances could make him a valuable asset for the Baggies in the dressing room and out on the pitch.

This is an Albion side who simply have to achieve promotion next term and sealing moves for proven players at a higher level, it will certainly help them achieve more compared to the dreadful 2021/22 season they had.

Praised for his “sensational” performances in the past for Leicester by his current manager, Choudhury could give Bruce’s side an extra boost in a vital area of the pitch.

The Leicester man’s ability to break up play and then lay off a pass isn’t too eye-catching but Bruce’s side must get the simple things right next term; Choudhury can help them do that.

In other news: Bruce can form “clinical” duo as West Brom eye swoop for “impressive” £5.4m-rated wiz

Liverpool defender Joe Gomez could leave Anfield this summer in order to be a key player elsewhere, according to Sky Sports pundit Paul Robinson.

The Lowdown: Gomez fourth-choice for Reds

The centre-back endured a frustrating 2021/22 season on a personal level, finding himself fourth-choice behind Virgil van Dijk, Joel Matip and Ibrahima Konate.

It meant that Gomez started just four times in the Premier League overall, with only six appearances in all competitions coming in his preferred central role.

This has subsequently led to the 25-year-old being linked with a summer move away from Liverpool, with Aston Villa among those eyeing him up, while The Mirror reported last week that he is becoming frustrated with the sparsity of game-time he has received in recent months.

The Latest: Pundit talks up summer exit

Speaking to Football Insider, Robinson claimed that Gomez could move on from Anfield this summer.

The former England goalkeeper said of the defender’s future:

“It all depends on how Gomez feels at the club. He will be very aware of the opportunities or lack of opportunities he has going into next season. You only have one career.

“Joe Gomez will be frustrated by the amount of game time he had last season. It is up to him and the type of person he is to see if he can continue that. He might seek a move elsewhere.

“We have already seen huge upheaval at Liverpool this year with Sadio Mane going. If Gomez was to go, I think they would have to replace him.

“It will all come down to the player. Jurgen Klopp will certainly not be looking to move him on. He’s a great player to have in your squad. He isn’t going to play every week though.”

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The Verdict: Need to keep him

While it would be wholly understandable if Gomez chooses to leave the Reds before next season – he may want to start regularly before the World Cup later this year – it would still be preferable for the club to keep hold of him for another while yet.

He remains a relatively young player and it looks as though serious injury problems haven’t affected him too much, meaning that he can still be a long-term figure at Anfield. Indeed, Jurgen Klopp has called him ‘sensational’ in the past, so the manager clearly realises the 25-year-old’s worth as a player.

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Granted, Gomez will find it hard to forge a regular starting role any time soon, given the brilliance of the other three centre-backs, but Van Dijk and Matip turn 31 this year and injuries could always present an opportunity to fringe players.

Also, you only have to go back to 2020/21 to see how a spate of injuries in defence can dramatically alter the course of Liverpool’s fortunes…

Celtic welcomed a significant number of new players to Parkhead during last summer’s transfer window.

One player who joined the Hoops during this period was Kyogo Furuhashi, who made his move for Japanese club Vissel Kobe in a deal worth £5m.

It didn’t take long for the attacker to settle into Scottish football, as he ended up scoring 20 goals in 33 appearances across all competitions.

Now that Furuhashi’s debut season at Celtic has come to an end, the current transfer window could give the club the chance to bring in some extra attacking reinforcements to help them progress even further.

Having already secured deals for Jota, Cameron Carter-Vickers, Alexandro Bernabei and Benjamin Siegrist, this shows that – just like last summer – the Bhoys are not shy when it comes to diving into the transfer market and splashing the cash.

One other player with whom the club have been linked who would not only cost a considerable amount of money to sign, but also give Ange Postecoglou the chance to form a deadly attacking duo alongside his Japanese star, is Antoine Semenyo.

In 31 Championship games last season, the Bristol City striker found the net eight times and delivered 12 assists for his team, showing just how dangerous he can be in front of goal, just like Furuhashi.

To further highlight his attacking talent, no other player at Ashton Gate racked up a higher average of dribbles per game than the London-born Ghanaian (1.2), who also had a higher rate of shots on target per 90 minutes (1.14) in the league than any of his team-mates.

In fact, Bristol City manager Nigel Pearson labelled the attacker as being a “nightmare to play against” for opposition defenders.

Taking all this into account, a partnership of Semenyo and Furuhashi at Parkhead could give lots of Premiership defenders nightmares next season, should the Hoops get the former through the door this summer.

With a reported price tag of £15m, should Celtic want to make a big signing this summer, the English Championship star could be the right option for them.

AND in other news: Ange can finally axe “pathetic” Celtic dud with move for “electrifying” £3.5m starlet

Liverpool have been linked with a move for Ousmane Dembele recently, and the Frenchman could be Jurgen Klopp’s own version of Neymar at Anfield.

The Reds have been linked with a move for the former Barcelona winger in recent days and could bring him in on a free transfer, as his contract with the La Liga side has now officially expired.

While injuries have plagued his time in Spain, Dembele’s previous form with Rennes and Borussia Dortmund emphasises his incredible talent; and if he could find his feet at Liverpool, he could prove to be a superb acquisition.

The 25-year-old enjoyed arguably his best season in a Barcelona shirt in 2021/22, as he contributed one goal and 13 assists in just 21 La Liga appearances and posted the best WhoScored rating of his time at Camp Nou. However, the club’s shocking financial issues meant that a new deal for the France international was always going to prove difficult to arrange.

Considering that the £27m-rated winger could be signed for free, it is surely a no-brainer for those at Liverpool to try and get him in, especially following the departure of Sadio Mane to Bayern Munich earlier in the transfer window.

When Dembele first established himself at Rennes, he was described as a “phenomenon” by team-mate Gelson Fernandes. At just 25, there seems little reason why he couldn’t rediscover those performances under Klopp’s tutelage at Anfield.

If he were to make the move to Merseyside, he could be a similar player to Brazilian sensation Neymar, with FBRef suggesting that the PSG star is the most akin to Dembele in terms of their respective styles of play.

It is easy to see why the Frenchman has earned this comparison, as last season he scored in the 99th percentile among positional peers in Europe’s top five leagues for dribbles completed, progressive carries and assists in his performances for Barcelona.

WhoScored also suggests that Dembele and Neymar’s strengths include dribbling and key passes, while both like to cut inside and offer a serious counter-attacking threat.

Therefore, the similarities between the two are clear to see. It is also easy to envisage what Dembele could offer Klopp at Anfield next season, so Liverpool should definitely consider signing the free agent this summer.

In other news… Klopp could seal Liverpool’s very own Modric with swoop for “top class” £77m maestro

An update has emerged on Rangers and a player Gio van Bronckhorst is pursuing in the summer transfer window… 

What’s the talk?

According to the Sunday Mirror. via the Glasgow Times, the Light Blues are one of a number of teams keen on a deal for Oscar Gloukh ahead of the 2022/23 campaign.

The report claims that Borussia Dortmund, Roma and Tottenham are also eyeing the Maccabi Tel Aviv talent, with the Gers facing stiff competition for his signature.

It has been reported that his club want a fee in the region of £10m for the gem, although it remains to be seen whether any of the interested parties are willing to match that. 

Scott Arfield upgrade

By securing a deal to sign Gloukh, Rangers could land an upgrade on veteran attacking midfielder Scott Arfield this summer.

The Canada international struggled in front of goal last season and failed to show that he is good enough to play regular minutes in the forward line.

In the Premiership, the 33-year-old scored four goals and did not provide a single assist in 29 outings. Along the way, the dud missed a whopping nine ‘big chances’ as his finishing left plenty to be desired.

Meanwhile, he was unable to register a goal or assist in 12 Europa League outings – missing three ‘big chances’ and not creating a single one for his teammates.

Gloukh, on the other hand, has shown great signs of promise in the attacking third. He has scored three goals in eight league matches for Tel Aviv and four goals in 19 outings for Israel at U18 and U19 level.

Gers podcaster Andy Barnett recently told the Heart & Hand podcast: “They (Rangers) were meant to be looking at Oscar Gloukh, who I’ve seen play in person and is an absolutely superbly talented youngster, a wonderkid.

“He came on for Maccabi Tel-Aviv in the final third of the season and was just the best player in the league in the final third. He scored against Maccabi Haifa and Hapoel Tel-Aviv which are the two biggest games and there was meant to be clubs from La Liga as well as Rangers looking at him last night.”

The gem was also named in talent scout Jacek Kulig’s U19’s European Championships Team of the Tournament this summer, which further illustrates that he is a player with immense potential.

This suggests that the teenager, who has already shown signs of being a goalscorer from midfield, has the scope to become an upgrade on Arfield in the long term. He can develop whilst gaining experience at Rangers and, hopefully, make a bigger impact in the final third than the ex-Burnley man.

AND in other news, Rangers “confident” of sealing deal for £6m maestro, he could be GvB’s own De Bruyne…

Leeds United are poised to make a move to bring Josh Tymon to Elland Road in the summer transfer window.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a report by the Daily Mail (14/07; page 83), who claim that, after Junior Firpo was ruled out for up to eight weeks as a result of a knock picked up during the Whites’ 4-0 pre-season victory over Blackpool last Thursday, Victor Orta is now set to launch a bid for the Stoke City left-back.

Previous reports had revealed that the Spanish director of football has already made contact with the Championship side regarding his interest in a move for the 23-year-old – who is believed to be available for a figure in the region of £6m this summer.

Marsch needs him

Considering just how short Jesse Marsch was of depth at left-back prior to Firpo’s injury setback – with Stuart Dallas looking to be ruled out until the turn of the year with a femoral fracture and Leif Davis being largely unproven at Premier League level – it is clear to see that the 48-year-old American could very much use the addition of a new player in the position ahead of the 2022/23 campaign.

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And, considering just how exciting a prospect Tymon appears to be, should the former England U20 international indeed be available for a fee of just £6m this summer, a move for the 23-year-old would appear something of a no-brainer for Orta and the Whites’ transfer team.

Indeed, over his 44 Championship appearances in 2021/22, the £1.62m-rated talent was in excellent form for Michael O’Neill’s side, scoring one goal, providing four assists and creating 14 big chances for his teammates, in addition to making an average of 1.2 key passes, taking 0.7 shots and completing 1.1 dribbles per fixture.

The £7.1k-per-week full-back who Steve Bruce dubbed “outstanding” also impressed in a defensive capacity, making an average of 1.3 tackles, 0.8 interceptions, 1.3 clearances, 25.7 passes, 1.3 long balls and winning 3.7 duels per game.

As such, with both Firpo and Dallas facing lengthy spells on the sidelines, launching a bid for Tymon would very much appear a smart move for Orta to make, as it is evident just how badly Marsch needs reinforcements on the left-hand side of his backline ahead of the upcoming Premier League campaign.

AND in other news: Victor Orta plotting Leeds bid for “formidable” £19m sensation, he’s “one of the best”

Former Ibrox defender Alan Hutton has given his reaction to the now confirmed exit of Glasgow Rangers ace Calvin Bassey. 

The latest: Move imminent

Following days of heightened speciation surrounding the 22-year-old, reputable Sky Sports reporter Anthony Joseph confirmed that Bassey is leaving leave Giovanni van Bronckhorsts’s squad on a permanent basis.

The Nigeria international has joined Dutch Eredivisie outfit Ajax in a deal that could rise to £22.6million, offering the Gers’ a healthy profit on the £230,000 training compensation fee paid to Leicester City when signing the versatile defender from back in 2020 (Glasgow Live).

However, despite the impressive financial windfall for the Glasgow giants, one invested onlooker has suggested that the transfer will still be detrimental to the UEFA Europa League runners-up..

The latest: ‘Huge…’

Speaking to Football Insider, Hutton, who represented Rangers on 111 occasions and now works for the club’s TV channel, claimed that the six-cap ace’s departure will be a damaging blow to Van Bronckhorst’s plans.

He said: “It’s a huge loss, there’s no getting away from that fact. I think he was just coming into his own last season and we were starting to see the best of him. At only 22 years of age he was only going to get better.

“That being said you know the bigger teams are going to be swooping around him. So to bring in a guy for £230k to then sell him on for add-ons of up to £20m I think it’s great business for the club.

“It’s a shame to see him leave because I think he could’ve been an absolute standout player moving forward but we all knew this was going to happen.”

The verdict: Back the boss

Ultimately, losing Bassey after what was a stellar 2021/22 campaign from the powerful youngster is always going to be a negative, but it’s how Van Bronckhorst can replace the quality and perhaps more importantly, durability that the Italy-born Nigerian star brought to the Teddy Bears ranks.

Last term, the powerful youngster made a mammoth 50 appearances across all competitions, revelling in newfound importance whilst winning 5.2 duels and making 1.2 clearances per game, helping the Light Blues keep 13 Scottish Premiership clean sheets (Sofascore).

Having wasted no time in completing the signing of Ben Davies from Liverpool, the Gers have gone some way to finding an adequate successor when it comes to filling the significant central defensive void left behind by the man described as ‘absolutely sensational’ by talkSPORT pundit Jason Cundy.

Linked elsewhere to Besiktas left-back Ridvan Yilmaz, it appears that the Ibrox hierarchy are also looking to use the funds obtained from the Bassey sale to seek a natural full-back to compete and perhaps usurp Borna Barisic.

Wolves will reportedly look to sign a new striker following the recent loan departure of Fabio Silva.

What’s the news?

This is according to The Athletic’s Wolves reporter Steve Madeley, who was asked by a Twitter user named Ciaran whether or not the club would look to sign a replacement for the 20-year-old, who recently joined Anderlecht on loan, in the coming weeks.

In response, Madeley had this to say on the matter: “Only that I’m sure there will be one, Ciaran, so no worries about that. But who or when is less certain.”

Wolves fans will be buzzing

So far in this summer’s transfer window, the Old Gold have brought in just one new face in the shape of Nathan Collins from Burnley and seen numerous players leaving the club, either on loan or permanently.

Bearing in mind how Wolves only managed 38 goals throughout their previous Premier League campaign and took fewer shots at goal (403) than the likes of Burnley (406), Everton (431) and Brentford (441), signing a new striker would surely be a smart move for the club.

Also, with 60 players in the top flight having more shots on target in the league last season than Raul Jimenez (15), bringing in a new centre-forward who can not only replace Silva but rival the Mexican for his place in the team could be very beneficial for Bruno Lage’s side.

As for Silva, having only scored four goals in 62 senior appearances for the Midlands club, finding a player who can have more of an attacking impact on the team than the 20-year-old shouldn’t be too hard.

Now that Madeley has revealed his certainty over the arrival of a new attacking player coming to Molineux this summer as a replacement for Silva, this should definitely have lots of Wolves fans buzzing.

If the Old Gold can find a suitable striker to come in and add an extra bite to Wolves’ attack, this would surely help the team improve on what ended up being a rather uninspiring 2021/22 campaign.

Looking beyond that, if Silva can have a successful season in Belgium and come back with more of a goalscoring presence, this would also be a massive boost for the club.

AND in other news: Bruno Lage in pole position for “top” £34m target, it would be a massive coup for Wolves

Crystal Palace and West Ham have both been linked with a move for Napoli forward Hirving Lozano.

The Lowdown: Lozano profiled

Lozano, a Mexico international, is primarily a right-winger but can also play as a centre-forward or on the left. The 26-year-old has been on the books at Napoli since 2019 and has previously played for Pachuca and PSV Eindhoven.

Described as ‘unique’ by Luciano Spalleti and ‘entertaining’ by BBC writer Statman Dave, Lozano has scored 124 goals during his career for both club and country, and it looks as if Steve Parish and Dougie Freedman are keen on a move for the player known as ‘Chucky’.

The Latest: Eagles interest

Sports Witness relayed an update from Area Napoli regarding Lozano’s future on Monday.

They claimed that Palace have joined West Ham in the race for the forward, who is open to a move to the Premier League. The report adds that Lozano has recently changed agents, with his new representatives already having a positive relationship with Palace officials.

The Verdict: Needed?

Patrick Vieira has already bolstered his options out wide this summer with a swoop for teenager Malcolm Ebiowei. He looks set to be involved in and around the first team squad after Vieira blocked a loan exit, however, Lozano could also be required at Selhurst Park.

Ebiowei is the club’s only recognised right-winger, whereas Wilfried Zaha is the only left-winger on the books. Michael Olise and Jeffrey Schlupp are also options but are down as midfielders, so it could be wise for the club to bring in someone like Lozano, who has an impressive goal record and can play anywhere across the front three.

Leeds United are unlikely to sign PSV left-back Philipp Max following a hands-off warning from manager Ruud van Nistelrooy, LeedsLive reports.

The Lowdown: £7m bid

The Whites appear to be on the hunt for a new left-back before the transfer window slams shut, with Junior Firpo out through injury and Leif Davis recently sold to Ipswich Town.

It looks as if centre-back Pascal Struijk will be the man used by Jesse Marsch for the time being after he got the nod in the problem position for the club’s final pre-season friendly.

One player who has been linked is Max, with reports suggesting that Leeds made a £7m offer for the 28-year-old, described as ‘dangerous in the forward areas’ by former Augsburg coach Martin Schmidt.

The Latest: Van Nistelrooy’s comments

LeedsLive relayed comments from Van Nistelrooy on Max in a story shared on Tuesday.

He isn’t thinking about letting the left-back go over the coming weeks, with the report labelling a move to Elland Road as ‘unlikely’.

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The Verdict: Tymon instead?

Leeds could do with getting a move on in their pursuits of both a left-back and a striker, with Charles De Ketelaere now an AC Milan player, and if Max isn’t the man to come in at the back, it could be wise to look at Stoke City’s Josh Tymon.

Reports last month suggested that the Whites were weighing up a move for the 23-year-old, who was a regular in the Championship last season.

The Englishman may not be too expensive, can play further forward when required and loves a nutmeg, so he could be the ideal attacking full-back to rival Firpo going forward.