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Newcastle United have been handed a major boost in their pursuit of Leicester City playmaker James Maddison following the club's relegation from the Premier League.

What's the latest on James Maddison to Newcastle?

According to the Mirror, the 26-year-old England international will lead the mass exodus at the King Power Stadium after City's miserable campaign ended with a slump into the second tier, with a fee of £40m touted.

The Magpies actually failed with a £50m bid for Maddison one year ago, with Leicester holding out for £60m, but it is Newcastle technical director Dan Ashworth who will be able to exert his authority in pursuing a deal, with the Foxes already revealing record £92.5m losses this year.

With London rivals Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur also vying for a deal, Newcastle must seal the deal swiftly; Maddison will be highly coveted now his club have plummeted from the top flight.

How would James Maddison perform at Newcastle?

The two-cap England international has been a prolific midfield force since signing from Norwich City for £24m in 2018, having chalked up 203 appearances for Leicester, plundering 55 goals and 41 assists – notably winning the FA Cup and Community Shield.

His boss Dean Smith described him as a "football nut" and he is an astute and intelligent playmaker, and his passion for his play is evidenced by his prolific return this season, flourishing despite his club's woes and scoring ten goals and serving nine assists from 30 matches.

He would arrive on Tyneside at a time when his addition could transform the club's offensive impetus from the centre.

Indeed, Newcastle have been sensational under Eddie Howe's stewardship this season and have qualified for the top four with the conviction of a tried and tested squad of winners, and the feeling is that a first-rate addition or two could transcend fortunes to something greater, potentially taking a place alongside the likes of Manchester City and Real Madrid at the forefront of Europe.

He could well emulate the success of Bruno Fernandes at Manchester United, who has been the creative catalyst for the Red Devils since his initial £47m signing from Sporting Lison, making 184 appearances, scoring 63 goals, assisting 54 more and winning the Carabao Cup – against Newcastle – this season.

The "monster" – as dubbed by journalist Josh Bunting – that is Maddison certainly bears a semblance to his Portuguese counterpart, with FBref, ranking the aces as similar players.

Fernandes ranks among the top 3% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for shot-creating actions and the top 4% for rate of progressive passes per 90.

The £110k-per-week Maddison, comparatively, ranks among the top 20% of positional peers for rate of non-penalty goals, the top 13% for rate of assists, the top 12% for shot-creating actions and the top 14% for progressive passes per 90, which is not too shabby for a star embroiled in a relegation battle all term.

Hailed as "world-class" by his England manager Gareth Southgate, Maddison would provide the spark and ingenuity to lift Newcastle to new heights, which is an ominous thought for the rest of the Premier League after such an exemplary 22/23 campaign.

Arsenal have not made a proposal for Galatasaray right-back Sacha Boey, despite contrary recent reports, according to transfer guru Fabrizio Romano.

Will Arsenal sign Boey?

Boey could well be on his way to the Premier League this summer, amid interest from both Crystal Palace and Arsenal, with the former reportedly expected to make a bid, having allocated €15m (£13m) for the potential transfer.

Arsenal have also been linked with a move for the right-back, with reports indicating they are "seriously interested" in bringing him to the Emirates Stadium, and a more recent update has detailed they have even lodged an official bid.

The Gunners are said to have made an offer of €20m (£17m) for the Galatasaray ace, but the Turkish club are demanding €25m (£21.5m) if they are to part with one of their prized assets this summer.

However, Romano has since taken to Twitter to dismiss these reports, alleging that Mikel Arteta is yet to come to the table with a bid for the 22-year-old. The transfer guru said:

"Arsenal have not made any proposal for Sacha Boey at this stage, despite reports. Been told there was no meeting with his new agents, just one of many players appreciated but not a negotiation as things stand.

"Galatasaray want more than €20m for their right back."

Who is Sacha Boey?

Given that Arsenal have Champions League football on offer next season, they should be well-placed to sign the Frenchman, if they are willing to meet Galatasaray's demands, and he could be an excellent addition to Arteta's squad.

With Ben White expected to play in a central role next year, the Gunners will need to add some more depth at right-back, and Boey has performed very well for Galatasaray in the Turkish Super Lig so far this season.

Having averaged a WhoScored match rating of 7.28, the full-back is ranked as the Turkish side's second-best performer in the squad, showcasing his defensive ability by averaging 2.7 tackles per game, the joint-highest figure in the squad.

Given that he has four assists to his name, the Montreuil-born defender can also be a threat on the front foot, and he is strong in the air, averaging 2.2 aerials won per game. Lauded as a "true warrior" by members of the media, Boey has displayed he is ready to make the step up to the Premier League, and it could be wise for Arsenal to pursue a deal this summer.

An update has emerged on Celtic and their plans to find a replacement for recently-departed manager Ange Postecoglou this summer…

What's the latest on Rik de Mil to Celtic?

According to Football Scotland, the Hoops have added Rik de Mil to their list of targets as they attempt to draw up a shortlist of coaches to take over at Parkhead.

The report claims that the club have been keeping tabs on the Club Brugge assistant manager and are joined by a number of European and Belgian teams in doing so.

It states that the 41-year-old is one of a number of candidates being considered by the Scottish giants with Brendan Rodgers, Enzo Maresca and Graham Potter named as other possible contenders for the job.

Would Rik de Mil be a success at Celtic?

Majority shareholder Dermot Desmond could uncover a dream replacement for Postecoglou by swooping for De Mil as could be a big success in Scotland.

The Club Brugge assistant, who Football Scotland claim is a "serious prospect with a top coaching career ahead of him", was given an opportunity to shine as the first-team manager for the first time earlier this year after Scott Parker was relieved of his duties and made an instant impact.

He won four of his six regular season games in the Pro League after the English head coach won two of his ten matches in the Belgian top-flight, but that was not enough to stop the club from appointing ex-Hoops boss Ronny Deila.

De Mil, who typically deploys a 4-2-3-1 formation, described his Brugge side as a "team putting forward pressure, trying to pin back its opponent high upfield."

He added: "There's still room for improvement when it comes to transition. Play it out a bit better at some moments, would have resulted in more goals. Those are some working points, absolutely, but I did see a dominant team in possession, finding space more easily."

These comments suggest that the Belgian tactician wants his team to dominate games and press high up the pitch to push the opposition's defence back and prevent them from building attacks of their own, which is akin to the way that Postecoglou set up his Celtic side with his high-pressing attacking style.

De Mil's limited experience as a senior manager means that it would be a gamble for Desmond to appoint him but the same could have been said about the club's last boss as the Australian had never managed in Europe but the 57-year-old ended up winning five trophies in two seasons at Parkhead.

Therefore, this could be a risk worth taking for Celtic as the talented Belgian has shown promise in his short managerial career to date and has a style of play that the supporters could connect with given the similarities to Postecoglou's philosophy of dominating with a high press.

Aston Villa are reportedly interested in securing a second Premier League free-agent this summer, after striking an agreement to sign Youri Tielemans.

Unai Emery is set to have a busy transfer window, especially if joined by Sevilla sporting director Monchi, as the Spaniard is speculated to be Birmingham-bound to join forces with the Villa boss on the business from at Villa Park.

The club have been linked with a host of star talent already, however the latest name is a figure the Villans should look to avoid.

What’s the latest on Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain to Aston Villa?

As reported by Football Insider this week, Liverpool midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain could join Aston Villa this summer as a free agent.

The 29-year-old failed to strike a new deal with the Merseyside club, and will leave due to the expiration of his contract.

The report claims that Villa are in ‘advanced talks’ to capture the Englishman’s signature, who currently earns around £125k-per-week at Anfield.

Would Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain be a good signing for Aston Villa?

Across 235 Premier League appearances, the Portsmouth-born player has contributed to just 20 goals and 24 assists, having represented both Arsenal and Liverpool.

The winger-turned-central midfielder has been a part of two hugely influential clubs in England, yet has failed to impose himself in the final third despite the quality around him.

While his disappointing numbers have been attributable to his injury woes, his periods of absence make him a player that should be steered clear of as Emery bids to take his squad to the next level.

Once branded as “awful” by Independent journalist Miguel Delaney, the player has faced numerous spells of criticism, including that of Premier League legend Thierry Henry claiming that despite watching the player for a "very long time" he remained unsure what the attacker was actually "good at", via The Guardian.

When analysing his injury data via Transfermarkt, the Englishman has missed over 1000 days due to injury, equating to over three full years, since 2012.

It’s unfair to scrutinise a player’s inability to remain fit, however, the 29-year-old dud has simply failed to perform when given the chance, as highlighted by the attack-minded ace being yet to score over five goals in a Premier League season since his debut in 2012.

If the Spaniard is aiming to equip his squad with quality to compete in Europe and push up the league table, the club should avoid signing an underperforming player with higher-than-average wage demands.

It’s difficult to consider where the out-of-contract player would fit into Emery’s systems, with him not performing in the calibre to compete with the likes of John McGinn who has been a revelation in the manager’s regime.

Having secured Tielemans to play in the Englishman’s favoured position, the Villans should swerve the idea of signing the midfielder where they could instead recruit to significantly improve the squad.

West Bromwich Albion's preparations for the new season have been rocked by reports that key player Jayson Molumby could be on his way to Leeds United.

With strong suggestions that manager Carlos Corberan is also wanted by Leeds, the Baggies potentially face a double blow ahead of the Championship campaign getting underway.

What is the latest with West Brom's transfer business?

Speculation surrounding Corberan's future at The Hawthorns will not go away until Leeds name Sam Allardyce's successor, which could happen by the end of the week.

However, Albion may now have to brace themselves for a Leeds bid for Molumby, who played in 43 of their 46 league matches last season.

According to journalist Alan Nixon, Leeds are keen on the Republic of Ireland international and believe he is available at a good price.

Should Leeds step forward with a bid that matches Albion's valuation, the Baggies could bring in a ready-made replacement who may yet be an upgrade on Molumby.

Should West Brom sign Marvelous Nakamba?

Marvelous Nakamba played a starring role in Luton Town's promotion to the Premier League last season, with the Hatters barely conceding a goal from open play when the Zimbabwean was on the pitch.

The 29-year-old joined on loan from Aston Villa in January and made 20 appearances in total, but he is now back at his parent club and may again be loaned out to the second tier.

Sunday Mirror reporter Darren Witcoop suggests Albion are waiting to pounce for Nakamba should Luton not get to his signature first.

That would be a major coup for the Baggies on the basis of last season, with Nakamba ranking in the top 2% of his positional peers for tackles won (4.05) per 90 minutes over the past 12 months, as per FBref. To give that some perspective, Molumby has a figure of 1.83 tackles per 90 minutes.

While Molumby does have more of an attacking threat to his game, scoring four goals compared to zero for Nakamba, the latter – valued at £4m by Football Observatory – comes out on top for dribblers tackled (1.71 v 0.87), blocks (1.27 v 1.24) and interceptions (1.01 v 0.68).

When factoring in their all-round games, WhoScored gives Molumby a rating of 6.56 and Nakamba 6.93, with that based on their performances in the Championship alone.

As pointed out by football reporter Josh Bunting, "quality" Nakamba is a "tough tackler" who is "good at starting counter attacks", while also having the ability to carry the ball forward.

Should Corberan – or whoever else is in charge – get the opportunity to sign Nakamba on loan or otherwise, Molumby could be made to look a player of the past very soon indeed.

Newcastle United have added another European talent to their wanted list this summer, with reliable journalist Gianluca Di Marzio reporting that the club are keeping tabs on Theo Hernandez.

How many games has Theo Hernandez played this season?

The defender currently plays for AC Milan in Italy, where he has become their first-choice left-back. He played 32 times in Serie A for the club over the course of the 2022/23 season and even managed to bag four goals and three assists from the flank, showing his ability to not only contribute defensively but to get forward and attack too.

It wasn't enough to help his side claim the league title though and Milan instead slumped to fourth in the standings.

Hernandez though has proven his ability at the highest level, having helped his current team to win the division a season ago with ten goal contributions along the way. He is also a former Champions League winner, having claimed that trophy back when he featured for Real Madrid.

He played a further eleven games in that competition with Milan this season but could only help the Italian side to get to the semi-final before they were dumped out by city rivals Inter.

Are Newcastle interested in Hernandez?

Now, according to a report from reliable journalist Gianluca Di Marzio, the player may have suitors from elsewhere. Newcastle have apparently got their eye on the defender and are monitoring him this summer, though the club are yet to lodge an official bid for his services. Right now then, the extent of the Toon's link to Hernandez is just interest, as they keep an eye on potential targets for Eddie Howe.

It's unclear how much a potential deal for Hernandez might cost, with the Premier League side having yet to make an official offer and no asking price officially placed on the player either. CIES Football Observatory though suggest that he could cost any interested party around 60 million Euros (or £51m) – it's more than what Milan paid for the player and would mean the Toon may have to stump up a large amount of money to bring him in.

It could be worth it though. Hernandez has been called "brilliant" by football journalist Josh Bunting in the past for his ability to manage a game. It shows that he knows how to win matches for his side – and considering his experience on the big stages too, that could be invaluable for Newcastle next season if they were to sign him.

An update has emerged on Manchester United and their plans to bolster their options in the middle of the park during the summer transfer window…

What's the latest on Taylor Booth to Manchester United?

According to the Daily Mail, the Red Devils are weighing up a bid to sign FC Utrecht central midfielder Taylor Booth ahead of the 2023/24 campaign.

The report claims that Erik ten Hag is a fan of the American international and has been impressed by his performances in the Netherlands.

An approach is now being considered as the Premier League giants eye up alternative targets to Mason Mount, with their pursuit of the Chelsea ace currently at a standstill after an offer of £55m was submitted.

It states that Celta Vigo, Stuttgart, and Lyon are also interested in snapping the 22-year-old talent, who has been valued at €12m (£10m) by the Dutch side.

What is Taylor Booth's style of play?

The Utrecht star is a creative midfield player who could help United to unlock opposition defences in the years to come, while being the dream long-term heir to Christian Eriksen's position.

A technically excellent number eight with the ability to make things happen in possession, the Denmark international enjoyed a strong debut campaign at Old Trafford.

Eriksen averaged a Sofascore rating of 6.95 across 28 Premier League appearances and conjured six 'big chances' for his teammates to go along with one goal. Only Jadon Sancho (1.7) and Bruno Fernandes (3.2) created more chances per game than the 31-year-old maestro (1.3) last term.

Booth, who was hailed as "wonderfully direct" by The Athletic journalist Jeff Rueter, is a player with the quality to make an almost identical impact in the final third.

The USMNT dynamo delivered 1.3 key passes per match across 24 Eredivisie outings and produced six 'big chances' for his colleagues, alongside an average Sofascore rating of 6.85.

Both players have averaged between 0.19 and 0.20 xAG (Expected Assisted Goals) per 90 over the last 365 days, which indicates that they both create opportunities of similar quality from a midfield position.

Defensively, Eriksen did not rank in the top five United players for tackles or interceptions per match and Booth's 1.7 combined defensive interventions per clash for Utrecht does not crack that list either.

These statistics suggest that United would be bringing in a player with comparative qualities to the former Tottenham Hotspur magician as Booth is a number eight who has the potential to be one of the club's most creative outlets.

At the age of 22, he could be the long-term heir to Eriksen, 31, at Old Trafford and come in as a signing with the scope to improve over time, rather than one with the aim of him hitting the ground running with high expectations.

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.

It is a new era for the Crystal Palace midfield.

James McArthur, who spent nine seasons and made 252 appearances at the club, has announced his departure.

Luka Milivojevic, who had been at Selhurst Park for six years and captained the side since 2018, has also left the club upon the expiration of his contract.

Eagles owner Steve Parish now must act to fill their influential voids as the club hopes for another non-relegation-threatened season.

One player linked to be part of this fresh start is Donny van de Beek.

What’s the latest on Donny van de Beek to Crystal Palace?

According to 90min, the 26-year-old’s representatives have been in discussions with several European clubs regarding a permanent summer departure.

The report also says that the player’s camp is 'exploring a new challenge.'

Within the Premier League, Palace, Wolves, and Nottingham Forest are said to be 'monitoring' the situation.

The article that van de Beek’s other options include both Milan giants, Rome, Nice, and Celtic, as well as a possible return to Ajax.

Should Crystal Palace sign Donny van de Beek?

It is a real shame how the Dutchman’s move to Manchester United has materialised.

He joined the Red Devils in 2020, having enjoyed impressive few years at Ajax.

Upon his arrival, then-manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said:

"Donny has all of the technical attributes needed to perform in this team and has the personality required to succeed at Manchester United.

"His ability to see space, time his movements, and read the game will really complement the qualities that we have in midfield and his arrival really strengthens the depth of talent we have in that position."

However, the former Ajax maestro has just 23 starts in all competitions, as his minutes have been limited by injury and the ruthlessly brilliant consistency of Bruno Fernandes.

The 19-cap international’s chance of immediate game-time has been further limited by the signing of Mason Mount from Chelsea.

Prior to his underwhelming stint in England, the midfielder was a simply brilliant player for Ajax.

He was particularly impressive in his side’s journey to the Champions League semi-finals in the 2018/19 season, notching five goal contributions in 12 outings.

Frank Lampard has previously described him as a “top player” whose talents include his “intelligence” and “work ethic.”

There is still time for the playmaker to flourish if awarded regular minutes to rescue his stuttering career.

Currently, at the base of the Palace midfield sits Cheick Doucoure, whose defensive acumen could allow a player like van de Beek freedom to showcase his creative repertoire.

Last season, the Mali powerhouse averaged the most tackles (2.3) and interceptions (1.6) in the Palace squad to underline his importance. He is a formidable protector of the backline and is a key figure that permits the artistic influence of Eberechi Eze to roam around the pitch.

The Eagles lost three of the four league games the 23-year-old failed to feature in, and he ranks within the top 19% in Europe’s top five leagues among his positional peers for blocks, interceptions, and clearances per 90.

We are yet to see what the £120k-per-week maestro can truly do in the Premier League when given continuous starts in a functional setup, so this could be an exciting move for all parties and therefore, Parish must look to get this deal over the line for Roy Hodgson heading into the new campaign.

West Ham United may be on the brink of losing their captain and star player Declan Rice to Arsenal, but David Moyes' side could get themselves a bargain as part of the £105m transfer.

According to a report carried by football.london, the Irons are now showing an interest in the Gunners' Folarin Balogun, with the aim of agreeing on a cut-price deal for one of Europe's hottest forwards.

Who is Arsenal forward Folarin Balogun?

Balogun's Arsenal career did not appear to be going very far, having been restricted to just two Premier League appearances prior to being loaned out to Ligue 1 side Reims last season.

If Balogun was a relatively unknown quantity 12 months ago, he is certainly well known now after scoring 21 goals in 37 league appearances for Reims – only Jonathan David (24), Alexandre Lacazette (27) and Kylian Mbappe (29) scored more in the French top flight last season.

However, with the United States international eager to play regular football next season, and Gabriel Jesus preventing him from doing that at the Emirates Stadium, it appears Arsenal are not against the idea of cashing in this summer.

It is claimed that West Ham could negotiate a cheaper fee with London rivals Arsenal, but the Gunners' current valuation is still as high as £50m.

Where would Folarin Balogun fit in at West Ham?

West Ham have been slow off the mark in terms of their transfer business, but it has been claimed that fellow Ligue 1 star Habib Diallo could also arrive from Strasbourg in the coming weeks.

Having been forced to rely on flop striker Gianluca Scamacca last season, a strike partnership of Balogun and Diallo – the latter of whom scored 20 league goals last time out – would be an almighty upgrade for the Europa Conference League winners.

Indeed, whilst the Irons impressed on the continent, culminating in their victory over Fiorentina in the final, they struggled domestically throughout the season and were outscored by relegated pair Leeds United and Leicester City.

Balogun and Diallo both played predominantly through the middle in Ligue 1 last season, but that is not to say they cannot be used in tandem by Moyes. In fact, there is an argument to be made that the pair could easily feed off each other.

For example, Diallo ranked in the top 9% of all players across Europe's top five leagues last season for aerial duels won per 90, as per The Analyst, whereas Balogun was in the bottom 17%.

Diallo ranks low in terms of chances created per 90, however, with the France international in the bottom 17%, but Balogun is a lot stronger in that sense as he is in the top 55%.

Moyes favoured a 4-2-3-1 formation last season, often with Michail Antonio having to fill in for Scamacca up top, so that would have to change unless the Scotsman opts to field Diallo or Balogun in attacking midfield.

Even without landing Diallo, West Ham would be getting themselves an "unbelievable" talent – as Reims head coach Will Still once put it – should they pull off a coup by bringing in Balogun to potentially lead their line for years to come.