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Leeds United have held talks regarding a summer deal to bring Newcastle United star Karl Darlow to the Championship, according to reports.

Where is Karl Darlow now?

Darlow is a goalkeeper who has played his football in the northeast for nine years after joining from Nottingham Forest back in 2014, but during the second-half of last season, he was sent out on loan to Hull City in a bid to receive some regular game time, where he ended up making 12 starts in the second tier.

The Northampton-born shot-stopper still has another two years to run on his contract with Eddie Howe’s side, but practically being the last choice in the manager’s pecking order with Nick Pope, Martin Dubravka and potentially also Loris Karius ahead of him, there’s a chance that both parties could be looking for a sale during the ongoing window.

Back in June, Football League World reported that the Whites and the 49ers have been long-term admirers of the 32-year-old but made it clear that he wasn’t their number one target between the sticks, though if the following update is to be believed, it sounds as if they have since had a change of heart.

Are Leeds signing Darlow?

According to Sky Sports, Leeds are "battling it out" with Bournemouth to sign Darlow ahead of the 2023/24 campaign. Newcastle are yet to receive an "official bid" for the goalkeeper, but it's reported that "talks have taken place" with both of the interested parties and that a permanent switch is "likely to be agreed" with either the Cherries or the outfit at Elland Road.

Middlesbrough were also "keen" to strike a deal, though they have pulled out of the race because they "can't match the wages on offer" from their competitors.

Where would Darlow fit in at Elland Road?

Leeds will know that they could lose Illan Meslier this summer with the goalkeeper having publicly admitted that he would be open to a move to Chelsea should they pursue him, so the hierarchy may need to enter the market to find a replacement, and having been hailed “sublime” by journalist Josh Bunting in the past, Darlow could be the perfect successor.

The Unique Sports Group client, who pockets £30k-per-week, kept five clean sheets in 12 Championship appearances for Hull, with this impressive form in such a short amount of time, also seeing him receive a man-of-the-match award at the MKM Stadium.

The 6 foot 2 colossus additionally made 34 saves from 48 shots on target against, giving him a success rate of 75%, which was considerably higher than Meslier who recorded just 59.5%, therefore showing how much of an upgrade he’d be on the current first-choice in LS11.

Finally, Darlow has an extremely strong range of passing with a 99.5% completion rate for short attempts and 97.2% for medium-length passes, so even though he’s slightly older than is ideal considering the club should really be aiming to land a younger more long-term recruit, he is a suitable target for the board to pursue this summer.

Newcastle United reportedly see Crystal Palace defender Joachim Andersen as a more "realistic" option than teammate Marc Guehi this summer.

Are Newcastle eyeing centre-back signings?

The Magpies will be well aware that they need to enjoy a fruitful time of things in the transfer market, in order to kick on and seal back-to-back top-four finishes in the Premier League.

The likes of Liverpool, Tottenham and Chelsea are likely to come back stronger in 2023/24 after below-par campaigns, and with the addition of Champions League football at St James' Park, more squad depth is required.

The defence could be an area of the pitch that needs strengthening, despite the performances of Sven Botman and Fabian Schar, especially with the latter now 31 years of age. It could be that Newcastle look to snap up a central defender from the Premier League, with the Magpies also in advanced talks with Southampton over a move for right-back Tino Livramento.

Could Newcastle swoop for Andersen this summer?

According to 90min journalist Graeme Bailey, the £75,000-a-week Dane is considered a cheaper, and therefore more "realistic", summer target than Guehi currently:

"In terms of centre-backs, 90min understands that Newcastle are looking closely at Crystal Palace pair Marc Guehi and Joachim Andersen.

"England international Guehi has shone for Palace since joining from Chelsea, although an asking price of over £50m means a deal this summer for Newcastle looks tough given the number of positions they are looking to improve upon.

"Andersen’s price tag is more likely to be less than £30m and it is believed he is a more realistic target for Newcastle at this stage, although the Magpies are still looking at numerous options."

Andersen, who shares the same agency as Nick Pope, has the potential to be an excellent signing by Newcastle ahead of the new season, having proven himself and shone over a sustained period for Palace, whether it be his aerial presence or his all-round defensive ability.

The 27-year-old won an average of 3.3 aerial duels per game for Denmark at the 2022 World Cup, as well as 2.7 in the league last season, and a whopping 5.8 clearances per match in the latter.

Andersen was described as a "massively important" player for Palace by Patrick Vieira during his time as manager, while Robbie Earle once hailed him as "commanding" during his time at Lyon.

He could be a shrewd addition at the back, possibly partnering Botman moving forward as a long-term option, and he would surely jump at the chance to join a team that really feel like they are going places under Eddie Howe.

Newcastle United have thrown their hat into the ring in the race for youngster Adama Bojang, according to a report from The Guardian.

Who is Adama Bojang?

The 19-year-old may not be familiar to many because of where he currently plies his trade but it appears as though he is catching the eye of those who have been able to see him in action.

Despite his age, he has already been given the opportunity to play for his country for example in The Gambia Under-20 team. He has eight caps for them so far and has hit the back of the net six times – an incredible rate.

As for his club side, he currently plays Steve Biko FC in his home country and therefore a move to Europe is somewhat of a risk considering that he has yet to test himself at a really high level. However, it is testament to his abilities that so many clubs have now watched him and consider him to be worth the money that is being demanded. One such side now considering a move for him is Newcastle.

According to a report from The Guardian, the Toon are one of a growing number of Premier League sides – and German teams – who are keeping tabs on the player and are considering stumping up the asking price to seal his signature.

What is Bojang's transfer value?

It appears as though his club would want around 3 million Euros in order to let him leave (or about £2.6m). It's a large fee for a player who is so young and has little experience in the game but again, it showcases the potential interested parties are clearly seeing. In fact, the report adds that there has already been an offer from an unnamed team in Germany for Bojang.

Despite being only 19-years-old, his talent already appears to be clear to those who have seen him. Football talent scout Jacek Kulig for example called him "the future of Gambian football" based on his showings for his international team's Under-20 side. It shows that he is already displaying his potential – and he could be a really good signing for the future if the Toon are able to snap him up and add him to the likes of Garang Kuol.

Sunderland have gone continental in their search for another new striker as Tony Mowbray looks to further add to a squad capable of challenging for Premier League promotion once again.

What are the latest Sunderland transfer rumours?

The Black Cats suffered a disappointing playoff semi-final loss to Luton Town a little over a month ago, but since then they have moved to bring in Nectarios Triantis, Jobe Bellingham and Luis 'Hemir' Semedo.

Semedo impressed for Benfica B last season but is still a relative rookie, having yet to play any senior football, and that could mean Mowbray spreading his proverbial net further out in search for an unpolished gem.

French outlet Le Parisien reports that Rennes forward Matthis Abline may be just the player, with the Black Cats said to be keeping an eye on his situation.

Who is Rennes forward Matthis Abline?

Abline has already played 38 times in Ligue 1 and also has four Europa League appearances to his name, which includes a goal in Rennes' 1-1 group-stage draw with Larnaca last season.

With that strike, he overtook El-Hadji Diouf as Rennes' youngest scorer in European competition, earning praise from football reporter Tom Maston as "another top talent" to emerge through the club's academy.

That was one of just four senior goals the youngster has netted, suggesting he is hardly the 15-goal-plus attacker many Championship clubs crave, but 22 of his 30 league appearances with Rennes and loan side Auxerre came as a substitute last season.

The 20-year-old is also attracting interest from French sides Strasbourg and Lorient, while Rennes value him at €8m (£7m), so he clearly has something about him.

Indeed, while there is definitely room for improvement in terms of his goal return, FBref ranks Abline in the top 15% for progressive carries per 90 minutes (1.96) in comparison to his positional peers across Europe's top five leagues, and top 14% for both successful take-ons (1.20) and touches in the opposition penalty box (5.81).

To give those numbers some context, at a lower level last season, the highly-regarded Ellis Simms registered 1.92 progressive carries per 90 minutes for Sunderland, 0.48 successful take-ons and 4.64 touches in the opposition box.

Abline also stands out in terms of various defensive metrics such as interceptions (0.34 per 90 minutes) and blocks (0.77) – putting him in the top 16% and 18% respectively among his peers – which shows he is capable of doing both sides of the game.

With Amad Diallo back at Manchester United and Jack Clarke continually linked with a move away, it might well be that France U21 international Abline is considered an ideal option to partner the returning Ross Stewart.

Stewart's 1.12 goals and assists per 90 last season was the third-best return of any Championship players to have played 10 games or more, meaning he is capable of taking care of that side of things.

If Abline can add some goals to his game, the data shows he can be an upgrade on Simms at the Stadium of Light, which will in turn only benefit Stewart when he is fully back up to speed.

Wolverhampton Wanderers will aim to make improvements this summer, despite expected financial constraints following the revelation of the clubs’ Financial Fair Play (FFP) woes.

Julen Lopetegui will wish to bolster his squad this transfer window, which is something he could do in stylish fashion as Wolves’ latest link has emerged as a hot talent.

What’s the latest on Manu Kone to Wolves?

As reported by the Daily Mail yesterday, Wolves are showing interest in Borussia Monchengladbach whizz Manu Kone.

The 22-year-old machine has gathered interest from both Liverpool and Aston Villa for his performances in the Bundesliga, with him being valued at £35m as per the report.

Contracted to Die Borussen until 2025, it’s expected that the club will hold out for a good fee for their star.

What could Manu Kone offer to Wolves?

With Ruben Neves almost certain to depart this summer, Lopetegui must find midfield reinforcements to live up to the absence of the Molineux skipper.

Once hailed as “majestic” by talent scout Antonio Mango, the Frenchman could certainly be the man to fill the vacancy left by Neves’ pending departure.

At just 22 years old, the bustling midfielder was monstrous in the Bundesliga this campaign, as highlighted by his 2.5 tackles per game and 54% total duels won with an enormous average of 7.4 won per game, via Sofascore.

It’s clear to see why the youngster is wanted by Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool for his defensive exploits in the engine room, however the Colombes-born gem has far more to his game than protecting the back line.

Having been likened to Brighton & Hove Albion star Moises Caicedo, Kone could replicate the passing ability of Neves in his assured nature in the centre of the pitch.

Also lauded as having a “swagger” about him by Mango, the 22-year-old maintained a passing accuracy of 87% in the Bundesliga this term as well as registering an average of 5.73 progressive passes per 90 via FBref.

As per FBref again, the Gladbach midfielder ranks highly in comparison to midfielders in Europe, positioned in the top 4% in Europe’s top five leagues in the past year for his rate of successful take ons, averaging 1.97 per 90, incomparable to Neves’ 0.57.

While the Portuguese stalwart offers more in the final third, the Wolves target offers an opposing skill set to the 26-year-old, flexing the ability to open the play from deep playing as a commanding defensive midfielder.

His ball-carrying abilities are second-to-none and present as another area that the young whizz could signify progression in Lopetegui’s set-up without Neves, with him averaging 2.04 progressive carries to the Wolves captain’s 0.83 per 90.

With Liverpool and Villa expected to have significantly bigger budgets than Wolves this summer, only time will tell if Lopetegui can source the pennies to lure the talent to Molineux, there is no denying the impact he could have should the Old Gold win the race for his signature.

The Spaniard could well have his perfect Neves successor if that turns out to be the case.

Glasgow Rangers continued their summer rebuild by announcing their third signing of the summer on Tuesday, welcoming Jack Butland to the club.

The experienced English goalkeeper is set to arrive at Ibrox on a free transfer from Crystal Palace at the start of next month and will join Kieran Dowell and Dujon Sterling, who agreed moves to Scotland before him.

Michael Beale's work in the market is far from done as the Light Blues boss is reportedly keen on a number of other deals to improve his squad ahead of the 2023/24 campaign.

The Daily Record recently claimed that the Gers are pursuing a deal to sign Cremonese centre-forward Cyriel Dessers, Nottingham Forest's Jonathan Panzo and Swansea winger Morgan Whittaker.

Who is Jonathan Panzo?

He is a 22-year-old central defender who spent the 2022/23 campaign on loan at Coventry City in the English Championship.

Beale must seal a swoop for the young left-footed enforcer as the ex-Monaco ace could be the future of the club's defence alongside academy graduate Leon King.

He happens to be the only first-team centre-back under the age of 26 as the likes of Connor Goldson, Ben Davies and John Souttar are in the prime years of their respective careers.

Therefore, the club could benefit from bringing a younger defender through the door as they could already have their future replacements for the current first-choice options in the building by the time they move on.

King and Panzo could complement each other tremendously well as the Rangers ace is a right-sided defender who plays on the other side, which means that they suit each other in terms of what they do in possession.

Both of them would be able to open up onto their stronger foot to play the ball out from the back, rather than playing next to a player who forces them onto their weaker foot, which could lead to lesser-quality passing if they are not as proficient on their other side.

Panzo has also proven himself to be a strong and capable defender at Championship level in England. The 22-year-old averaged a Sofascore rating of 6.99 across 29 appearances and won 58% of his individual duels.

King, meanwhile, averaged a Sofascore rating of 6.89 across 15 outings in the Scottish Premiership and also won an excellent 58% of his physical contests, which shows that both players are able to get the better of their opponents more often than not in matches.

Therefore, Rangers must swoop for the £1.5m Forest ace, who was once praised as being "outstanding" by his former coach Mark Robins as he could be an excellent long-term signing for the club who is able to strike a connection with King in the years to come.

Manchester United are in the market for a new striker this summer following Cristiano Ronaldo's premature departure and now a new update has emerged on a potential transfer target.

What's the latest on Dusan Vlahovic to Man United?

According to Italian news outlet Corriere Torino (via The Faithful MUFC), Man United have been told how much they will need to pay to sign Juventus striker Dusan Vlahovic this summer.

As per the report, the Red Devils will need to cough up €90m (£77.5m) to secure the signature of the star and will also need to compete with Bayern Munich to get a deal done.

Would Vlahovic be a good alternative for Harry Kane?

The highest priority for the Manchester giants will be to sign a prolific centre-forward and the pressure to secure one will have only been heightened after the uninspiring attacking performance against Manchester City in the FA Cup final yesterday.

Man United have been linked to many world-class strikers over the last few months with Victor Osimhen and Harry Kane just two named as potential options for the Red Devils, with the latter bringing the massive advantage of having a wealth of experience in the Premier League.

However, with Tottenham Hotspur demanding an eye-watering £100m and some reports even suggesting that the League Cup winners would have to cough up a total bill in excess of £300m to complete the move, it would be an outrageous commitment to sign a striker who will be 30 years old when next season commences.

As a result, the signing of Vlahovic could be the perfect alternative for Kane this summer as he is much younger and would even be a cheaper option without compromising the quality and consistency needed in the forward line.

Over his career so far, the 23-year-old – who was notably dubbed "world-class" and a "beast" by journalist Siavoush Fallahi – has scored 95 goals and registered 16 assists in 220 appearances, with a goal contribution every 126 minutes so far, proving that he provides a reliable output in front of goal that could be a huge asset to Man United.

Whilst Vlahovic only managed to score 14 goals in all competitions this season, there is no doubt that the Serbian striker demonstrates clear potential and it has been suggested that he is not being given the tools to reach his full potential with Juventus.

Forbes Sport journalist Emmet Gates claimed last year: "Dusan Vlahovic has the ability to be a generational talent, but he's suffering in this iteration of Juventus.

"To paraphrase a famous Zlatan line: He's a Ferrari being driven like a Fiat."

With that being said, Erik ten Hag could not only offer Vlahovic the opportunity to play Champions League football next season but he could deliver a potentially career-defining move that would help the Serb unleash his full potential at Old Trafford.

Liverpool have held discussions regarding a summer deal to sign Newcastle United midfielder Bruno Guimaraes, according to reports.

Is Bruno Guimaraes leaving Newcastle?

The Premier League giants have confirmed that James Milner, Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain have all left the club, as well as loanee Arthur Melo, so Jurgen Klopp is in the market for central reinforcements and the 25-year-old has seemingly been highlighted as an ideal target.

The Brazilian international still has another three years remaining on his contract, but being Eddie Howe’s top-performing defensive player last season, has caught the eye of the boss at Anfield, alongside overseas.

The Times report that Barcelona are interested in a deal for the northeast outfit’s star, and whilst 90min have since claimed that the Magpies are confident that he will sign a new deal over the summer, that hasn’t stopped FSG from attempting to take a bite of the cherry.

Are Liverpool signing Guimaraes?

According to Goal Brasil (via Sport Witness), Liverpool have “opened talks” to land Guimaraes as well as Barcelona, with both admirers “willing to try” to buy him. The Merseyside outfit have “made contact” to discover what it would take to get a deal over the line, and whilst the player’s representatives have personally “told” Newcastle about the interest, they understand that his “preference” is to remain at St. James’ Park.

Would Guimaraes be a good signing for Liverpool?

Liverpool have played against Newcastle and indeed Guimaraes on several occasions so will know what he’s capable of, and having been dubbed a defensive midfield “orchestrator” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, he could be a fantastic signing for FSG.

The World Cup participant, who pockets £120k-per-week, recorded a total of 78 tackles throughout the 2022/23 campaign which was more than any other of his teammates, as per FBRef, but he’s also capable of chipping in at the opposite end of the pitch.

The Rio de Janeiro native clocked up nine goal contributions (five assists and four goals) in the top-flight last term and made 110 shot-creating actions which was the second-highest number in the northeast, so is constantly looking to produce moments of quality.

Finally, Guimaraes has the versatility to operate slightly further up the pitch in central midfield and even at centre-back alongside his natural position sitting just in front of the backline, so he could be a great option for Klopp to have at his disposal should the opportunity ever present itself, however, a move could be tricky to complete.

Italian newspaper Il Giorno has now shared a significant update on Tottenham Hotspur’s chase for Atalanta defender Joakim Maehle this summer.

The Lowdown: Conte eyes new full-backs…

Spurs manager Antonio Conte has famously earmarked the signing of new right-wing-back with attempts being made to sign Adama Traore as a makeshift option in January.

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When the Spaniard opted to join Barcelona, Tottenham’s boss was left without a desired upgrade in that position, meaning he has had to turn to Emerson Royal since the in-form Matt Doherty was ruled out for the remainder of 2021/2022.

As Conte’s first full Premier League campaign looms, transfer chief Fabio Paratici will be looking to make amends and finally back the Italian with a world class RWB addition.

The Latest: Spurs could bid for Maehle…

Italian newspaper Il Giorno, sharing news, claim Conte now personally wants Denmark international Maehle in north London with the club, and by extension chairman Daniel Levy, having followed him since 2019.

The Lilywhites are apparently willing to table a €18 million (£15m) bid for the 24-year-old and will potentially hold talks when they meet with Atalanta ‘in the coming weeks’.

While the summit is set to discuss loanee goalkeeper Pierluigi Gollini’s future at Hotspur Way, the report claims Maehle could well become a topic.

The Verdict: Advance…

Denmark goalkeeper and Leicester City number one Kasper Schmeichel has raved over his international teammate, branding the Serie A ace a ‘machine’ who never stops running on the treadmill.

Of course, durability and endurance are traits which could be attractive to the famously demanding Conte, and Maehle’s potential as a fairly young option could also motivate Spurs to make the offer – particularly if Atalanta agree to the £15m terms.

In other news: Reliable source: Tottenham agreement now ‘very likely’ as Conte closes in on ‘top signing’…find out more here.

Tottenham Hotspur are understood to be keeping a close eye on transfer developments between Tomas Soucek and West Ham at the end of the season, according to Claret & Hugh.

The Lowdown: Breakdown in talks

The 27-year-old has reportedly held talks with David Moyes surrounding his future at the London Stadium, but they are said to have broken down as a result of the midfielder not being happy with the terms offered to him.

Discussions are set to be reopened once the current campaign has ended, with Soucek hoping for a more attractive deal to be placed on the table, considering that he has played 48 matches across all competitions for the Irons this term.

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However, if the Czech Republic captain’s relationship with West Ham turns hostile, it would appear that there is plenty of interest in his services elsewhere in the capital in the form of Tottenham.

The Latest: Conte’s a huge fan

In a new article published by West Ham news outlet Claret & Hugh, it is claimed that Spurs manager Antonio Conte is a ‘big admirer’ of Soucek and will be ‘ready to move’ should talks break down again in the coming months.

The report added that a source close to both clubs explained that the Italian ‘has the money’ to attempt a deal for the midfielder and would be ‘hopeful’ that Spurs can land him if a settlement fails to be reached.

The Verdict: Fellaini-esque signing

The £40.5m-rated talisman, who has previously been described as Fellaini-esque after receiving praise from the Belgian himself, currently averages 1.3 shots per league game and is winning 3.8 of his aerial duels per 90 minutes, via WhoScored, showing just how effective he can be at both ends of the pitch.

Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel hailed Soucek as an “incredible” player earlier this season, so it’s no wonder that Conte is such a huge fan of the 27-year-old.

Despite it being more likely that the £47k-per-week colossus will stay with the Hammers as they are in desperate need of strengthening their midfield options, the possibility of playing football at the highest level in the Champions League in N17 could be too good of an opportunity for him to turn down.

In other news… one Spurs star has admitted that there has been a ‘radical change’ at the club since the arrival of Conte