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Newcastle United's pursuit of Kieran Tierney has suffered a blow with the news from The Sun that Celtic now also want to try and snap up the defender this summer.

What's the latest Newcastle United transfer news?

The Toon have clearly set out to try and improve their backline this window, with the club seemingly having a number of defensive options on their transfer wishlist. The Premier League side have already got their eye on Joachim Andersen at fellow English side Crystal Palace. He isn't their only option at the back but with a deal potentially cheap – it might cost them less than £30m – he's believed to be on their radar, as well as his teammate Marc Guehi.

In addition, the Magpies have also moved to try and strengthen their full-back positions too. On one side of the field, they seem to be edging closer towards a deal to snap up Tino Livramento from Southampton. Talks are now at an "advanced" stage and it means that the signs are promising over a deal being completed.

Are Newcastle United signing Kieran Tierney?

On the other side of the field, the name that has been interesting them is Kieran Tierney. Things though may now not be as straightforward when it comes to bringing the player in. That's because according to a report from The Sun, Newcastle now face competition from Celtic for his signature.

The Scottish side may not be able to afford a transfer fee for the defender – and his wages of £120,000-a-week are also steep – but could try and snap him up on loan and it seems as if the player himself isn't averse to moving back to Scotland. For now, the Toon seem to still be the favourites to add the Arsenal man but it is no longer a simple one-horse race for the left-back.

Tierney still looks like he is capable of performing at the highest level too, he's just struggled to prove it as much for Arsenal with his lack of minutes this season. With just six starts to his name in the Premier League, it's obviously a lot harder for the defender to assert himself and show his abilities.

However, football journalist Josh Bunting called the Scotland international "magnificent" earlier this campaign and added during a game that he had pulled off some "stunning" defending. The player then still has the quality – and Newcastle will be hoping to add it to their own squad, rather than seeing him head to Celtic instead.

Leeds United could be set to make their first signing of the summer, even before securing a new manager…

What's the latest on Viktor Johansson to Leeds United?

With the 49ers seeking to solve the many issues that Andrea Radrizzani left them with when he offloaded the club, atop their list is likely filling their head coach vacancy.

However, they cannot pass up the opportunity of a transfer coup should it appear, which according to Football League World, it has done.

They note that the Whites are keeping tabs on Rotherham United goalkeeper Viktor Johansson as a potential replacement for Illan Meslier, with a focus on domestic transfers expected to be the priority this summer.

Fans will likely be glad to see the back of their French shot-stopper, given how his exploits at the back end of last term cost them dearly.

After all, it was reported back in April that he already had one eye on an exit even before their relegation.

Who is Viktor Johansson?

To swap out this culpable French dud for such a capable gem would mark an instant upgrade, and hopefully kickstart a much-needed defensive revolution at Elland Road.

Last campaign the Whites shipped 78 goals as they finished 19th in the Premier League, and the 23-year-old goalkeeper saw much of the blame placed upon his shoulders. The stopper was therefore understandably dropped for their final four games of the season.

His 6.65 average rating in the league that year was supportive of Sam Allardyce's decision, as he would concede on average two goals per game, and kept just five clean sheets throughout the whole term, via Sofascore.

Journalist David Kent even outlined how the £30k-per-week dud had let his side down, writing on Twitter in April: "Meslier a massive liability at this stage for Leeds."

Meanwhile, Johansson has been an ever-present stalwart for The Millers, cementing the number-one spot with a string of fine performances.

Across his 43 Championship matches in the recently-concluded campaign, he was averaging 3.7 saves per game at a success rate of 74%. This fed into the 13 clean sheets he had earned, and the 7.11 average rating bestowed upon the 24-year-old, via Sofascore.

Despite his side finishing 19th, he commanded a staunch backline that held firm on many occasions despite all their struggles.

The 6 foot 1 titan had offered a glimpse into his goalkeeping strengths back in 2020 and has only served to prove his claims correct in the following years.

He initially claimed: "I’d say I’m an explosive goalkeeper, quick off my line, good at shot stopping and good with my kicking."

Replacing unreliability with solidity will be a huge step forward for the Yorkshire outfit, as the 49ers seek to hand whoever their new manager is the perfect platform for instant success.

West Ham United are looking to bolster their attack this summer as they prepare for life in the Europa League…

What is the latest on Harvey Barnes to West Ham United?

According to transfer insider Dean Jones, the east London outfit are in the early stages of figuring out a deal for Leicester City winger Harvey Barnes, and it's thought that they are in a good position to submit a proposal.

Jones told GiveMeSport:

"I think it's like early, early moves to figure out what the deal for Barnes would look like. It's a good moment, obviously, for West Ham to make a proposal.

"They are kind of champions of Europe, in their eyes, so they could at least got a trophy to show him and a plan for the future to show him."

It was reported earlier this week that Tottenham Hotspur made a £50m proposal for both James Maddison and Barnes, but Leicester rejected the offer, clearly valuing the pair higher. £40m is expected to be enough for the latter on his own.

Is Harvey Barnes the right man for West Ham?

West Ham are in an interesting situation regarding wingers at the club.

Jarrod Bowen had a disappointing season compared to his feats the previous campaign, yet still stepped up in the big moments for the Hammers, scoring the goal that won the club its first-ever European trophy.

Said Benrahma enjoyed another strong season since his move from Brentford three seasons ago.

The Algerian winger produced 12 goals and five assists across 52 games for the club this season, recording an average rating of 6.70 according to WhoScored. His 2.22 successful take-ons per 90 was the highest he's managed in an Irons shirt and the highest any West Ham player managed to achieve this season, according to FBref.

Beyond the Englishman and Algerian international, however, the London club lack real depth, with Maxwel Cornet's injury problems limited him to just 14 league appearances, whilst Pablo Fornals was deployed out of position on the wing at points due to the lack of depth.

Barnes would come in and solve that problem.

The 25-year-old dynamo, who Sky Sports journalist Adam Bate lauded as a "huge talent", has been incredibly consistent at Leicester from an output perspective, recording at least 13 combined goals and assists in each of his last four campaigns with the Foxes.

The no.7 also excels at progressing the ball with his dribbling, with his 3.32 progressive carries per 90 this season better than both Benrahma and Bowen

The Foxes winger has a very similar statistical profile to the one that West Ham's no.20 produced throughout the 2021/22 Premier League season, which was his best season at the club.

Barnes and Bowen together could form an unstoppable duo, with their goal threat off of both wings being incredibly difficult to contain, especially when factoring in the creativity within the Irons squad from the likes of Lucas Paqueta, Fornals and Benrahma.

Due to both players' similar styles, concerns and questions could be raised about how to pair will work together, and how West Ham could set about bringing out the best in both players.

One way the club could look to address that is in the market, by bringing in a striker who excels at link-up play rather than out-and-out goal scoring, which would allow the English winger duo to focus on running in behind the opposition defence and scoring goals, in a similar vein to what Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane excelled at for a number of years at Liverpool thanks to the work of Roberto Firmino.

The Leicester winger has drawn a lot of praise throughout his career, with Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp previously describing the winger as "one of the biggest talents" as well as an "unbelievable player".

Barnes is going to be a hot commodity this summer, and the Hammers will face some stiff competition to bring in the winger, but should they be able to get a deal over the line they will secure a fantastic final-third threat with his best years still ahead, and a potentially game-changing partnership between Bowen and Barnes that could fire the Irons to their goals.

Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly interested in sealing a move for Stuttgart defender, Hiroki Ito, as Ange Postecoglou looks to bolster his defensive ranks this summer.

What is the latest on Ito to Tottenham?

A report from 90min last week suggested that the new Spurs boss had approved the club's search to find a new centre-back addition, with the likes of Harry Maguire and Aymeric Laporte having been mooted as potential targets.

According to Japanese outlet, Sponichi, however, the ex-Celtic man could be opting to make a more left-field move with the signing of the aforementioned Ito, with the 24-year-old having spent the last two seasons with the Bundesliga outfit.

The report suggests that the north Londoners are 'interested' in signing the 6 foot 2 ace ahead of next season, with the former Jubilo Iwata man – who made the move to Germany on an initial loan deal in 2021 – having just two years remaining on his current contract.

Who is Hiroki Ito?

The nine-cap Japan international has caught the eye due to his standout form for Stuttgart over the last two years, having praised as having an "unbelievable" left foot by the club's former sporting director, Sven Mislintat.

With the versatile rock having the ability to feature at both left-back and in the centre of the defence, the £9m-rated ace could potentially prove a dream upgrade on long-serving Tottenham man, Ben Davies, amid reports that Postecoglou and co are willing to listen to offers for the Welshman this summer.

As pundit Gabby Agbonlahor suggested, the 30-year-old seemingly "just isn't good enough anymore", hence the need to bring in a figure like Ito to take his place ahead of next season.

The difference in quality between the pair was particularly evident in the most recent campaign, with Ito illustrating his ball-winning brilliance after averaging 1.3 tackles and 1.3 interceptions per game from his 30 league appearances, while Davies averaged just 0.9 and 0.6 per game for those same two metrics, respectively.

While both Davies and Ito created four big chances in the league in 2022/23 as a sign of their attacking intent, it does appear to be the latter man who offers a greater creative outlet, as he ranks in the top 5% among his European peers for progressive passes – with the current Spurs man ranking in just the top 20% in that regard.

Equally, with the former Swansea City ace having been described by Agbonlahor as being "so poor on the ball" during a recent encounter, Postecoglou could ditch the £80k-per-week liability by bringing Ito into the fold.

With the former Yokohama F Marinos boss having utilised his knowledge of the Japanese game to acquire the likes of Kyogo Furuhashi, Reo Hatate and Daizen Maeda during his time at Parkhead, the 57-year-old could well repeat that masterstroke with the addition of the Stuttgart sensation.

Chelsea are on the hunt for a new goalkeeper this summer, as Todd Boehly reportedly hopes to land a new first choice shot-stopper in the upcoming transfer window.

The Blues spent a monumental figure exceeding £500m last season in a bid to improve their squad, all to little avail as Stamford Bridge saw the club’s lowest finish since the 1993/94 campaign.

If reports are to be believed, Chelsea could spend big once more with a number of players already linked with a potential move ahead of the window.

What’s the latest on Mike Maignan to Chelsea?

As understood by 90min, AC Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan was mentioned in discussions with Chelsea officials.

The report claims that Blues representatives mentioned their interest in the goalkeeper while discussing the potential deal between the two clubs for Ruben Loftus-Cheek.

Their approach was reportedly dismissed by Milan, though taking into consideration the clubs’ hopes to sign a new 'keeper, the Rossoneri favourite could be a name destined for Stamford Bridge.

What could Mike Maignan bring to Chelsea?

Hailed as being a “giant” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, the Frenchman has established himself as one of Europe’s strongest goalkeepers for his performances at San Siro.

The 27-year-old, who ascended up the ranks at Paris Saint Germain, could be a revelation at Chelsea, who have jousted between the talents of Edouard Mendy and Kepa Arrizabalaga this past season.

Branded as a “liability” by former Blues defender Mario Melchiot, Kepa has had an eventful time since signing from Athletic Bilbao in 2018 for a fee of £71.6m, with him now rated at just £26m by the CIES Football Observatory.

While the Spaniard has displayed his talents on numerous occasions, he’s had his fair share of mishaps on and off the pitch, and was benched by Mendy following the Senegalese ace’s arrival in the capital.

Now, the end of the road for the 28-year-old could be in sight if reports regarding Maignan are to be believed.

As per Sofascore, the Milan goalkeeper has conceded an average of 1 goal per game in Serie A this season, marginally fewer than Kepa, who averages 1.1 per game in the Premier League.

Criticised by Jamie Redknapp for not making ‘nearly enough saves’, the Spaniard has been placed into the spotlight in the past for his weaknesses in saving shots from distance.

As displayed in a graphic presented by Sky Sports below, the former Bilbao ace is familiar with conceding from outside the box, with the pattern reinforced this season with him conceding six from such areas, via Sofascore.

Maignan could eliminate the weakness that the current Chelsea 'keeper possesses, as evidenced by him conceding just two from distance this campaign, as well as recording three saves caught to Kepa’s none, despite playing fewer games as per Sofascore.

Chelsea’s inconsistencies between the sticks must be resolved this summer, with not many clubs switching between their goalkeepers throughout the season due to poor performance.

In signing the £59k-per-week beast, Mauricio Pochettino could unearth a reliable and commanding number one in the bid to significantly improve things at the Bridge.

Tottenham Hotspur may 'have the edge' in the hunt to sign Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi because they will be able to offer him first-team football ahead of Euro 2024 next summer, according to journalist Dean Jones.

What's the latest transfer news involving Marc Guehi?

According to FootballTransfers, Tottenham are interested in bringing in Guehi this summer to bolster their defence, though they may have to pay a pretty penny to land the England international.

Speaking to the outlet, journalist Steve Kay said: "Spurs are interested in signing Marc Guehi in the summer. Palace want £65m. Spurs apparently won't pay that – they're looking at paying around £45m."

The Daily Mail also confirm that Spurs are keen on the 22-year-old; however, they also detail that Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool are monitoring his situation.

Crystal Palace won't make a decision on the future of the £50k-a-week ace among other players in their squad until a new manager is appointed at Selhurst Park.

ESPN claim that Tottenham and West Ham United have been offered the chance to sign Harry Maguire, which could also be an avenue Spurs go down as they look to bolster their backline.

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, journalist Jones thinks that Guehi will be a serious option this summer at Tottenham alongside Maguire as Ange Postecoglou looks to get to work on potential additions.

Jones said: “The Harry Maguire interest is of course going to make headlines because of who he is and where his reputation is right now, but he is not the only option out there by any means. One of the other Premier League ones we should expect them to thoroughly look into is that of Marc Guehi.

"He is also admired by Arsenal, but Spurs might have the edge on them in terms of being able to offer regular first-team football, which is going to be vital in a season that leads into the European Championship as he will aim to be part of that England squad.”

Who would be a better signing for Spurs out of Harry Maguire and Marc Guehi?

Factoring in age, profile and long-term thinking, Guehi would appear to be a better fit for Tottenham as they look to improve on their disastrous 2022/23 showing.

This term, Guehi, who has been lauded as an "absolute tank" by England U21 teammate Joe Bursik, made 40 appearances in all competitions for Crystal Palace and scored a solitary goal in the process, as per Transfermarkt.

WhoScored show that Guehi completes 3.6 clearances on average per match in the Premier League this season, demonstrating his acute awareness to dangerous situations.

Furthermore, FBRef take into account that Guehi has also won 61.9% of challenges entered into across the campaign, indicating that he is a domineering presence in the backline.

Moving forward, bringing in Guehi would excite the Tottenham faithful and help Postecoglou to get off to a flying start in north London.

Tottenham Hotspur manager contender Luis Enrique is someone we need to 'keep an eye on' in the Lilywhites' hunt for a new manager, according to journalist Fabrizio Romano.

What's the latest manager news involving Tottenham Hotspur?

As per The Telegraph, Tottenham have three managers under consideration for their managerial vacancy in the form of Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou, Fulham's Marco Silva and Enrique, who is currently a free agent following his departure from the Spanish national team last year.

The Sun report that Celtic gaffer Postecoglou is the frontrunner to land the Spurs job and may even be announced as early as next week, with his current employers already said to be scoping out potential replacements.

Nevertheless, transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has delivered a new update surrounding potential candidates on Twitter, stating: "Tottenham have scheduled new round of talks with Ange Postecoglou at the beginning if next week — he remains leading candidate. Nothing done/agreed yet as Spurs also discussed Luis Enrique again internally this week."

According to RaiNewsSport transcribed via The Sun, Napoli president Aurelio de Laurentiis thinks that Enrique may favour a Premier League switch over taking the reins at the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium, another destination the 53-year-old has been linked with.

De Laurentiis stated: "He is a great coach, he did really well at Barcelona but I think he prefers the Premier League. We must remember that we are dealing with leagues that are more appealing than ours, like the English one. There are better offers there. I would tell him that he’d find better food here!"

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, journalist Romano has unearthed some additional information surrounding Enrique's prospects of becoming Tottenham manager, saying: "I think we have to keep an eye on the situation of Luis Enrique because Enrique is in conversation with Napoli. But the Napoli president confirmed that he has a feeling that, for Enrique, the priority is the Premier League. So he is maybe waiting for Tottenham's decision before he keeps going in the conversations with Napoli. Luis Enrique's name is one we have to follow."

What issues will Tottenham Hotspur's new manager have to sort out in N17?

Tottenham have a lot of pressing issues that will need to be cleared up by any new incoming manager, with the most important one being the future of star striker Harry Kane.

As per The Sun, Kane has just one year left to run on his deal at The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium amid interest from Manchester United and Bayern Munich among others.

The 29-year-old struck 32 goals and laid on five assists in 49 appearances in all competitions across 2022/23, as per Transfermarkt. In the Sun report, it is said that Kane may be willing to run down his contract and leave the Lilywhites on a free transfer in 2024, something which simply can't be allowed to happen for Spurs from a business point of view.

Despite this, Manchester United could turn their attentions to Atalanta forward Rasmus Hojlund due to 'concerns' over being able to land Kane in the summer, potentially giving Tottenham a roadmap to keep their prolific marksman in north London, according to Football Insider.

An update has emerged on Newcastle United and their interest in Sekou Mara in the summer transfer window… 

What’s the talk?

According to the print edition of L’Equipe, via The Mirror, the Magpies are preparing to make contact with Bordeaux as Dan Ashworth looks to snap the young winger up ahead of the 2022/23 campaign.

The report claims that the French outfit are set to demand a fee in the region of €15m (£13m) for the talent, although it remains to be seen how much the Toon are willing to pay.

Newcastle have added Sven Botman, Nick Pope, and Matt Targett to their squad this summer and are now attempting to improve their options further up the pitch.

Allan Saint-Maximin 2.0

The Magpies could find their next French wizard out wide by securing a deal to bring Mara to the Premier League in the coming weeks.

He is a promising, young, winger who has shown great signs of promise at the top level. The 19-year-old scored six goals in 26 Ligue 1 outings last term, despite only starting eight times.

This came after he managed one goal and two assists in two starts in the French top-flight in 2020/21, which shows that he has the quality to make an impact in a major European league.

Journalist Zach Lowy heaped praise on the gem earlier this summer, Tweeting: “I put Sekou Mara in my team for a reason — he’s a brilliant young talent who almost certainly won’t be playing in Ligue 2 or the Championnat National. Would think that quite a few Premier League clubs should be taking a look at him.”

The teenager also caught the eye in the recent U23 Toulon tournament for France. He scored five goals and registered one assist in five outings for his country.

Saint-Maximin, who the club signed from Ligue 1 outfit Nice, has proven himself to be a useful player in the Premier League for the Magpies. He produced five goals and five assists in the division last season to help the club avoid relegation and Mara could now follow in his footsteps.

The Bordeaux man is another French winger potentially coming over from Ligue 1 and his statistics suggest that he has the potential to make a big impact in the final third if he can adapt to England and continue to develop.

Therefore, he could be the club’s next Saint-Maximin and that is why he is worth the club taking a £13m punt on him this summer.

AND in other news, “Electrifying” £60m wizard is “open” to Newcastle transfer, just imagine him & Wilson…

Leeds United are interested in a deal to bring Nicolas Tagliafico to Elland Road this summer.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a report by Leeds Live, who claimed that, with Junior Firpo looking set to miss the start of the upcoming Premier League campaign due to injury, Victor Orta could now make a late move for the Ajax left-back.

The report added that, with the 29-year-old believed to be eager to secure a move away from the Johan Cruijff ArenA ahead of the 2022/23 campaign, and Ajax apparently willing to part with the Argentina international, the Whites’ director of football could seal something of a bargain for the defender.

However, it is also claimed that Leeds will have to fight off a number of top-tier European clubs in order to bring the left-back to Elland Road, with Tagliafico being linked with the likes of Chelsea, Brighton & Hove Albion and Barcelona in the summer window.

Furthermore, Ligue 1 outfit Lyon are reported to have already reached an agreement in principle with Ajax regarding a €4m (£3.4m) deal for the 40-cap international, although the 29-year-old is thought to be waiting for a more lucrative offer.

“Top signing”

While it is true that Tagliafico had fallen down Erik ten Hag’s left-back pecking order in Amsterdam last season – starting just nine league games in 2021/22 – the defender has more than proven in previous years that, when given the opportunity, he can pose a major threat from full-back.

Indeed, over his 24 Eredivisie appearances in 2019/20, the £9.9m-rated talent highly impressed, scoring three goals, registering four assists and creating seven big chances for his team-mates, in addition to taking 1.6 shots, making one key pass and completing 0.4 dribbles per game.

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The full-back also impressed in a defensive capacity in that campaign, helping Ajax to keep eight clean sheets, along with making 2.5 tackles, 1.7 interceptions and 2.1 clearances and winning 6.8 duels (at a success rate of 57%) per match.

These returns saw the 29-year-old average an eye-catching SofaScore match rating of 7.20, ranking him as the 25th-best player in the Eredivisie that season.

The £44k-per-week Argentine was also in breathtaking form over his six Champions League outings in 2019/20, scoring one goal, providing one assist and creating one big chance for his team-mates. He also made 4.5 tackles, three interceptions and 2.7 clearances and won 9.2 duels (at a success rate of 59%) per match.

These metrics saw the player who Golazo dubbed a “top signing” and previously labelled “fierce” average a quite incredible SofaScore match rating of 7.50, ranking him as the joint 23rd-best performer in Europe’s most prestigious club competition that year.

As such, it is clear to see that, should Tagliafico be able to rediscover this level of form following a potential move to Elland Road for a fee as meagre as £3.4m, the defender would undoubtedly prove to be one of the bargains of the summer.

Therefore, we believe that, after being given the green light by both the player and Ajax, Orta must seal a deal for the 29-year-old this summer.

AND in other news: Orta now plotting Leeds bid for “superb” £15m “playmaker”, he’s the “king of assists”

Everton have been heavily linked with a move for Armando Broja this summer, and now a new update has emerged on the player’s current situation from a reliable source.

What’s the latest?

According to football correspondent for The Athletic David Ornstein, Everton transfer target Broja will join Chelsea in their preseason tour of the USA this week, despite the Toffees continuing to pursue the youngster.

Ornstein tweeted:

“Armando Broja will fly to USA this week & join Chelsea on USA tour. 20yo striker didn’t travel with group on Sat amid uncertainty over future. But despite likes of West Ham + Everton pursuing, no major developments so far.”

Dream DCL heir

Frank Lampard is in desperate need of reinforcements in the team following a difficult campaign in the Premier last season, and with Richarlison already leaving the Merseyside club this summer and Dominic Calvert-Lewin linked with a move to Newcastle, Broja is exactly what the Toffees boss needs.

Although Broja will be joining his teammates on tour this summer, it shouldn’t deter Everton in their pursuit to sign the player as he could be an incredible influence in the forward line, something he proved whilst on a season-long loan at Southampton last season.

The 20-year-old striker was the second highest scoring player for the Saints last season scoring nine goals and delivering one assist in all competitions, but it’s not just his goal contributions that make him a formidable force in the forward line.

In 32 Premier League appearances, Broja created two big chances, taking 1.4 shots and winning five duels on average per game, in fact, the youngster ranked third last season in the entire top five leagues across Europe for the most aerial duels committed in his own half.

Lampard is no stranger to the £58m Albanian gem, as he gave the young talent his debut at Chelsea when he was managing the team in 2020 and lavished praise on Broja last season claiming he has an “eye for goal” in a press conference:

“He’s a very nice, very good lad and a very talented young boy.

“He’s fast, strong, has an eye for a goal. A very good player.”

With that being, Lampard can use his relationship with Broja to convince the player to make the move to Merseyside this summer and with the right development could even become Calvert-Lewin’s heir at Goodison Park.

AND in other news: Romano: “Official bid” has come in for £32m Everton target, supporters will be gutted