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Liverpool are definitely keen on signing Jude Bellingham but a move is likely to have to wait until the summer of 2023, according to journalist David Maddock.

The Lowdown: Bellingham a huge talent

The 19-year-old is one of Europe’s most exciting young players currently, catching the eye hugely with his mature performances for Borussia Dortmund in the Bundesliga and Champions League.

Bellingham has also become more of a fixture in the England setup, winning 15 caps for The Three Lions and pushing to start at this winter’s World Cup.

Liverpool have long been linked with a move for the midfielder – who idolises Steven Gerrard – and another update has now emerged.

The Latest: Liverpol still keen on move

According to The Mirror‘s Maddock, the Reds are still eyeing up Bellingham as a future signing but it is unlikely he will move to Anfield this summer.

That’s because Dortmund don’t want to lose both him and Erling Haaland in the same year, so a 2023 transfer could materialise instead.

Jurgen Klopp is a long-term admirer of the player and is happy to wait to get his man, rather than settle for a stand-in option this time around.

Darwin’s a Red! Get your special edition Darwin Nunez tee here. The Verdict: Perfect next midfield signing

Bellingham looks like a player of incredible potential – Jordan Henderson has called him a ‘fantastic’ footballer – and Liverpool signing him would feel enormous, given his potential.

Midfield is one area that Jurgen Klopp should be looking at adding to in the near future, with plenty of options there but certain figures ageing and others still maturing.

Granted, Bellingham is extremely young, too, but he already plays with such poise and his mix of technical quality and physical prowess make him a special prospect. If Liverpool have to wait a year it will be worth it, although Maddock says something drastic could cause a move this summer, so don’t rule it out completely quite yet.

In other news, Liverpool are eyeing a shock move for one Champions League-winning player. Read more here.

Journalist John Percy has provided a key update on the proposed takeover for Derby County Football Club, describing it as ‘mindboggling’.

The Lowdown: Takeover saga ongoing

The Rams suffered relegation from the Championship to League One last season, battling bravely under Wayne Rooney but struggling from day one with a points deduction.

Derby’s financial woes have been a huge issue for a sustained period now, with the club desperately looking for new owners, in order to steady the ship.

It remains an ongoing issue, however, with prospective owner Chris Kirchner missing the deadline to prove he had enough funds to complete the deal.

The Latest: Percy provides new update

Taking to Twitter late on Friday night, Percy gave a baffling update, with no contact being made between other key suitors and Quantuma:

“As of tonight: Andy Appleby group have contacted Quantuma “multiple times” this week with no response. Mike Ashley group, through Lee Charnley, are also saying the same. Mindboggling.”

The Verdict: What a mess

This latest update sums up what is a mess of a situation, as the future of a great, historic football club continues to lie in the balance.

For Quantuma not to respond to contact from possible buyers is shocking and goes to show that their level of incompetence is proving to be a huge, if not the absolute biggest, issue.

With the League One fixtures for next season being released in less than a fortnight, the situation simply has to improve before it becomes fatal.

In other news, one Derby player has been told he has to leave the club. Find out who it is here.

Journalist Pete O’Rourke has made a claim involving Newcastle United and their potential pursuit of Everton striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin this summer. 

The lowdown: Hot property

The 25-year-old endured a difficult 2021/22 campaign, missing 16 matches with a fractured toe and also being ruled out of numerous games due to a persistent thigh issue.

Everton struggled for goals in the 6 foot 2 target man’s absence and ultimately found themselves embroiled in a relegation battle, only avoiding the drop in the final week of the Premier League season.

A recent report from The Telegraph has claimed that Newcastle could be plotting a move to land the England international, a claim which has now been backed up by one interested onlooker…

The latest: Newcastle admire Calvert-Lewin

Speaking to Give Me Sport, O’Rourke claimed that the Magpies are indeed among the clubs who are keen on the 11-cap Three Lions star.

He explained: “Calvert-Lewin does have admirers within the Premier League, with the likes of Newcastle and Arsenal. It’s going to be a tough summer for Everton to keep hold of him, but I’m sure they will be looking at top dollar.”

The verdict: Howe would like him

Calvert-Lewin is under contract until 2025 and holds a market value of £37.8m (Transfermarkt), so despite the inevitable lofty asking price, signing him this summer would be the clearest indication yet of where new ownership group PIF want to take Newcastle and just how quickly.

During 2020/21, the Everton marksman scored 16 times and registered three assists in 33 Premier League outings, duly earning high praise from journalist Grant Wahl, who described the 25-year-old’s form as ‘unstoppable’ after the opening weeks of the campaign.

If the January signing of Chris Wood was evidence of Eddie Howe wanting a focal point in Newcastle’s attack, Calvert-Lewin’s outstanding average of 7.2 duels won per league game in 2021/22 would further endear the Magpies manager to the possibility of bringing him to St James’ Park.

In other news: Newcastle now eyeing move for ‘great talent’ from Serie A, read more here

Everton have been linked to a move for Conor Gallagher this summer due to Frank Lampard’s connection with the player and now a new update has emerged that could make the move impossible for the Toffees.

What’s the latest?

According to football.london, Thomas Tuchel has confirmed that Conor Gallagher will stay with Chelsea next season to fight for his place in the starting line-up.

The Chelsea boss has reportedly told the player that he won’t be a bit-part player at Stamford Bridge, and will instead be given the opportunity to prove his worth in the Premier League with the London club.

It comes as a twist after it was initially reported that Frank Lampard had made contact with the youngster regarding a move to Goodison Park.

Speaking about the situation, Chelsea journalist Bobby Vincent revealed: Understand Conor Gallagher had a meeting with Thomas Tuchel recently and the #CFC head coach assured the midfielder he wouldn’t be a bit-part player next season at Stamford Bridge…”

Bad news for Everton

There is no doubt that the Toffees boss will be frustrated and disappointed that he won’t be able to secure a deal for his former player, as Gallagher could be a great addition at Goodison Park with the former Chelsea boss more than aware of the young talent’s capabilities.

Lampard clearly has a soft spot for the Chelsea starlet as he offers similar characteristics and abilities in his game that the former Premier League midfielder excelled in, so he surely would have loved to work with him again and develop Gallagher’s talent further on Merseyside.

The 22-year-old was even likened to the Everton manager by his manager Patrick Vieira during his loan spell at Crystal Palace last season claiming:

“I would say he has maybe the quality finishing of a Frank Lampard.”

With eight goals and three assists to his name in the Premier League this term, it’s clear to see why that comparison has been made, as well as why this particular update spells bad news for Everton’s transfer business this summer.

With that being said, the powers at Goodison Park must quickly move on to identify another player that can make a huge impact in the team in the attacking third of the squad.

Richarlison has also been speaking out about a potential move away, so there is an urgency for the club to make sure they don’t get caught short with attacking threats next season.

Everton will not want to have another season in the Premier League where they are struggling to compete and remain in the top flight so finding the right players that can help the club make drastic changes to their results and position in the league is a massive priority.

AND in other news: Lampard set for 1st major Everton disaster in deal for “sloppy” £20m “Mr Conservative”

Steven Gerrard appears to have made a head start for next season already by securing some excellent players ahead of what promises to be a busy summer transfer window for Aston Villa.

With the signings of Philippe Coutinho, Boubacar Kamara, and Diego Carlos, the 42-year-old has assembled a pretty solid spine for his new-look team as he aims to get Villa into the European places next year.

There will surely be some outgoings too, with the manager keen to free up some of the wage budget and make room for other new arrivals.

One player who surely needs to leave the club is Morgan Sanson, who hasn’t quite made an impression on Gerrard.

Sanson has flopped at Villa

Since arriving at Villa Park in January 2021 for an initial £14m, the Frenchman hasn’t set the world alight and could be set for a quick exit out of the Premier League.

The midfielder has had a “frustrating” time in England, in the words of former Villa boss Dean Smith, and he only made ten appearances in the most recent top-flight campaign.

If Gerrard can recoup the majority of the fee that Villa spent on the 27-year-old, then he should be looking to sign Liverpool midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain as a replacement.

James Pearce has stated that the Reds could be open to offers of around £10m for the 28-year-old, and this could be a bargain for Villa.

Oxlade-Chamberlain has been dubbed “unreal” in the past by journalist Joel Rabinowitz, and although he only played 29 matches in all competitions during 2021/22, he still contributed more than Sanson at Villa.

The Englishman netted twice and registered one assist in the league, compared to the French flop, who didn’t contribute to a single goal for Villa in the most recent campaign.

Oxlade-Chamberlain offers a greater attacking threat, generating 21 shot-creating actions (2.41 per 90) compared to Sanson’s three (0.76 per 90)

Defensively, the 28-year-old was also by far the better player this season, winning more tackles (14 to eight) and recording more pressures (172 to 135) than Sanson.

These statistics clearly show that Gerrard could get a major upgrade on the Frenchman with a move for Oxlade-Chamberlain, and at £10m, it could well be a gamble worth taking.

AND in other news, Gerrard can land AVFC’s next Southgate with move for “outstanding” £120k-p/w warrior

Leeds United correspondent Graham Smyth has stated that the club are hoping to finalise a second summer signing ‘in the next few weeks’.

The Lowdown: Aaronson arrives

The Whites wasted no time in landing long-term target Brenden Aaronson after they secured their Premier League status on the final day.

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Aaronson was officially unveiled as a Leeds player on Thursday evening, penning a five-year deal at Elland Road.

A transfer is reportedly worth £25m for the attacking midfielder, who contributed to 12 goals in 25 games under Jesse Marsch at FC Salzburg.

The Latest: Orta in a hurry

Smyth shared a story for The Yorkshire Evening Post late on Wednesday evening regarding Leeds’ transfer plans.

He stated that Victor Orta is ‘working on a number of potential signings’ and the club are hoping to ‘tick off’ another signing ‘in the next few weeks’.

The Verdict: Who could it be?

A player who has been linked with a move to Yorkshire for a long time now is Aberdeen right-back Calvin Ramsay, so he could well be the club’s second arrival.

The Whites are still working on a move for the 18-year-old after they were granted permission to talk to the defender at the end of April.

A right-back appears needed ahead of Marsch’s first full season in charge, especially with Luke Ayling and Stuart Dallas both undergoing surgery recently and are out for the foreseeable future.

Barcelona’s Sergino Dest is another right-back of interest to Leeds chiefs, so a defensive arrival could well be next on the agenda.

In other news: ‘Wow…’ – Sky Sports man now reacts to big update on Kalvin Phillips’ Leeds United future. 

Manchester United will travel to South London this afternoon in their final game of the season against Crystal Palace, and a disappointing injury update has been revealed by Ralf Rangnick.

What’s the latest?

According to The Athletic, it has been revealed that Cristiano Ronaldo will miss out on the clash against Palace this afternoon due to a hip flexor issue.

As per the report, the injury is an ongoing issue for the player who had his season interrupted by hip flexor problems in both January and March.

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Ralf will be gutted

Although Man United are not in the ideal position of challenging for Champions League football on the final day, they still have the challenge to compete with West Ham United for the second Europa League spot in sixth on the final day of the season, so Rangnick will surely be gutted to lose the side’s top goal-scorer this afternoon.

Ronaldo hasn’t had the best season by his own standards, and if he stays at Old Trafford next season it will be his first season out of the Champions League in 20 years, with the player involved in the prestigious European competition every single season since 2002/2003.

Despite a disappointing season in Manchester, the five-time Champions League winner is the top scorer for the club this season by some stretch scoring 24 times, with Bruno Fernandes behind him scoring 14 less than his Portugal teammate.

Ronaldo has completely dominated the forward line for the Red Devils, and as a result, his output and talent will be sorely missed by the supporters and the team on the final day in their push for Europa League football.

Not only will his presence be missed on the pitch but new manager Erik ten Hag is reportedly set to be in attendance at Selhurst Park this afternoon, so it has been an opportunity squandered for the Dutch coach to get a real in-game idea of the shape and improvements needed to support the striker better ahead of next season.

Ultimately, no matter the outcome of today’s game against Patrick Vieira’s side it will be a season the club and the supporters want to forget after failing to compete for any trophies and qualify for a spot inside the top four and will look forward to the summer transfer window for Ten Hag to start his revolution at Manchester United.

AND in other news: Man United are now the “frontrunners” to sign £35m “great leader”, ten Hag needs him

Tottenham Hotspur are interested in a deal to bring John McGinn to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium this summer.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a report by The Telegraph, who claim that Antonio Conte has now added the Aston Villa central midfielder to his list of summer transfer targets, with the same publication reporting earlier this year that Steven Gerrard would demand a figure of around £40m in order to part with the 27-year-old.

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The report goes on to state that, despite Fabio Paratici having already brought the impressive Rodrigo Bentancur to north London in the January transfer window, with both Harry Winks and Tanguy Ndombele looking set to leave the club this summer, Conte has targeted the Scotland international as a replacement for either the England or France international.

Conte can axe Winks with McGinn

Considering just how impressive McGinn has been for Aston Villa in recent seasons, it is easy to see why Conte would be interested in a deal to bring the midfielder to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium this summer.

Indeed, over his 33 Premier League appearances this term, the £27m-rated talent has been in exceptional form for Gerrard’s side, scoring three goals, registering three assists and creating seven big chances for his teammates, as well as taking an average of 1.2 shots, making 1.5 key passes and completing 1.3 dribbles per game.

The £70k-per-week midfielder has also impressed in metrics more typical of his position, making an average of 28.4 passes, 3.4 long balls, 1.0 interceptions, 3.1 tackles, 0.8 clearances and winning 7.4 duels – at a success rate of 59% – per fixture.

These returns have seen the player who Sam Morsy dubbed “unreal” average a quite remarkable SofaScore match rating of 7.30, not only ranking him as Villa’s best performer in the top flight but also as the joint 14th-best player in the league as a whole.

As such, considering just how little Winks has featured under Conte, it would indeed appear a wise move for Paratici to move the £91k-per-week midfielder who John Wenham dubbed “terrible” on this summer, before reinvesting the funds received from his sale into a move for the much more promising McGinn.

AND in other news: Conte could land the new Broja as Spurs eye “serious” 20-goal gem who’s “like a beast”

Former Premier League goalkeeper Paul Robinson has reacted to reported interest from Everton in Burnley defender James Tarkowski. 

The lowdown: Multiple admirers

A recent report from i News claimed that the Toffees had joined top-flight rivals West Ham and Newcastle United in their desire to sign the Clarets centre-back.

The 29-year-old is set to become a free agent this summer (Transfermarkt), fuelling prominent interest from multiple suitors.

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After a ‘source’ at Goodison Park told Football Insider that Frank Lampard would be keen on bringing in Tarkowski, one of the defender’s former team-mates has taken a closer look at the potential Everton swoop…

The latest: Tarkowski a ‘top player’

Speaking to Football Insider, Robinson – who also works as a pundit for BBC Radio 5 Live – explained whether or not the Burnley centre-back would improve Lampard’s ranks.

The 42-year-old said: “Tarky is a top player. Everton will be in the race to sign him.

“I played with him at Burnley and he is a great professional. He has the right mentality on and off the field. He is a very good player.

“Is he a top-level centre-half? Probably not. But he will certainly push on from Burnley into a side in the top half of the league. He is strong, good in the air and a lot better with his feet than people give him credit for.

“Looking at Everton’s current options he would be an improvement on what they’ve got. His leadership qualities would also help them in the dressing room.”

The verdict: Reinforcements needed at Everton

Having conceded 56 goals in the Premier League this season – more than 12 other teams – there can be little doubting that improved defensive options are required for the Everton squad. This is particularly true considering Yerry Mina’s constant battle with injury, after the Colombian powerhouse was forced off once again against Leicester over the weekend.

Despite the struggles at relegation-threatened Burnley, Tarkowski has earned an impressive 7.17 Sofascore rating this term, averaging 6.9 successful duels, 5.3 clearances and 1.8 tackles per game. That would rank him first for clearances and joint-fifth for tackles among the current Everton squad.

Heralded by his former boss Sean Dyche as an ‘outstanding’ operator, it’s no injustice to suggest that the twice-capped England international is something of a throwback to the era of the no-nonsense defender, and he would be a superb addition to Lampard’s options based on the aforementioned statistics.

In other news, find out what ‘serious upgrade’ Everton are now eyeing

Liverpool have bought out their sell-on clause from Kaide Gordon’s transfer from Derby County, according to journalist Fabrizio Romano.

The Lowdown: Gordon impressing at Liverpool

The 17-year-old made the move from Pride Park to the Reds in February 2021, with the striker considered one of the most exciting prospects in the country.

Gordon’s first-team playing time at Liverpool has been understandably limited but he has still managed four appearances – including one in the Premier League –  scoring once in that time.

A fresh update has now emerged regarding the youngster’s move to Anfield.

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The Latest: Liverpool buy out Gordon sell-on clause

Taking to Twitter on Monday, Romano confirmed that Liverpool have paid £500,000 to get rid of the 20% sell-on clause which originally existed in the deal. The journalist revealed:

“Excl. Liverpool have bought out the sell on clause from Kaide Gordon’s transfer from Derby County. #LFC Been told Liverpool & Derby County have agreed £500,000 for the removal of the 20% sell on clause which appeared in the original deal.”

The Verdict: Massive future ahead for Gordon

This is yet more shrewd work from Liverpool in the transfer market, ensuring that they don’t have to pay Derby a substantial amount should they eventually sell Gordon in the future.

However, the hope is that the teenager becomes a superstar at Anfield and that the Reds will never actively want to sell him, with Virgil van Dijk hailing him as a ‘great talent’.

The 17-year-old has looked the part whenever he has been given a chance, possessing a great left foot and an eye for goal, while a tally of seven goals and three assists in 10 appearances for Liverpool’s under-18s further outlines his potential.

In other news, one Liverpool player is likely to leave permanently this summer. Find out who it is here.