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Newcastle United are leading the race to sign Leicester City midfielder James Maddison this summer, according to reports.

What's the latest on Maddison to Newcastle?

The Premier League playmaker has now entered the final 18 months of his contract at the King Power Stadium and having rejected several new offers to extend his stay, is likely to be on the move during the upcoming window. The England international is currently the Foxes' top-performing offensive player with an average WhoScored match rating of 7.24 and the high level of his performances have been attracting the attention of Eddie Howe for a long period of time.

The Magpies submitted two offers for the 26-year-old last summer worth up to £50m but they were both rejected as a result of them being considerably below the Foxes' £60m valuation. In January, journalist Rudy Galetti revealed that the two parties were previously in talks regarding a potential deal but a move failed to materialise before the deadline meaning that he had to stay put for the remainder of the season. Now though, it sounds like the northeast outfit are about to take yet another bite of the cherry…

According to Football Insider, Newcastle are the "firm favourites" to sign Maddison ahead of the 2023/24 term. The St. James' Park outfit are currently in "pole position" to land their long-term target with sources stating that they view him as a "superstar". PIF are already "laying the groundwork" for an approach, with £60-70m likely to be enough to prise him away from the Midlands.

Leicester now "expect" to lose their standout performer and the likes of Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester City and Liverpool are also "keeping tabs", but it's the black and whites who are leading the race.

Would Maddison be a good signing for Newcastle?

Maddison has been dubbed a midfield "magician" by Statman Dave and looking at his creativity and remarkable return in the final third, he could be the absolute perfect fit to slot into the centre of Howe's squad at Newcastle.

The Coventry-born talent has racked up 15 goal contributions (nine goals and six assists) in 23 appearances across all competitions this season where he's averaging 2.8 shots and 2.3 key passes per league game, via WhoScored, not to mention that he's also the current second highest free-kick scorer in the top-flight, highlighting how strong he is at set pieces alongside in open play.

Finally, Maddison shares the same agent as both Kieran Trippier and Matty Longstaff so this could potentially give the Magpies even more of an advantage in the race for his signature in the months ahead.

Arsenal striker Folarin Balogun is heading for the exit door this summer, as he has no intention of signing a new contract with the club, according to a recent report from L'Equipe.

What's the latest Arsenal transfer news?

Mikel Arteta already has the likes of Gabriel Jesus and Eddie Nketiah to choose from in attack, with Balogun currently on loan at Reims, however Football Insider report the manager wants to bring in a new striker in the summer transfer window.

Arteta is aiming to bring in a player who is completely different to the options he already has, urging the club to bring in someone who is powerful and physically-gifted, to give his side more balance going forward.

With those parameters in mind, the manager has set his sights on Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Dusan Vlahovic, with the latter set to be made the Gunners' priority target, although it would take a huge fee to convince Juventus to sell the Serbian.

If a new attacker is brought in, there will be stiff competition for the starting spot up front, particularly because Arsenal almost exclusively utilise a formation with a lone striker, and they may need to let some players go this summer.

According to a report from L'Equipe (via Sport Witness), Balogun's departure is becoming inevitable this summer, as he has no intention of extending his current contract without guaranteed game time.

As such, the Gunners are hoping to sell the forward for at least €30m (£27m) in the upcoming window, with Marseille becoming the latest club to join the race for his signature, amid links to Everton, Brentford and Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Should Arsenal sell Folarin Balogun?

The 21-year-old has been enjoying a fantastic loan spell with Reims, having scored 18 goals in Ligue 1, a figure that places him right near the top of the goal-scoring charts.

Arteta has clearly been impressed with the £32k-per-week starlet's performances, describing him as "incredible" back in February, which indicates the Spaniard would be keen to keep him at the Emirates Stadium.

However, it is probably not feasible to keep the New York City-born marksman, as there will be so much competition in his position next season, particularly if either Vlahovic or Calvert-Lewin is signed.

It would also be unwise to drop Gabriel Jesus, given the number of goals and assists he has provided in the Premier League this season, therefore Arsenal should cash-in on Balogun, and invest the money into other areas of the squad.

West Ham are eyeing a sensational summer swoop for Bayer Leverkusen defender Jonathan Tah.

What’s the latest on Jonathan Tah to West Ham?

According to BILD, although the 27-year-old is contracted until 2025, he can draw an exit clause this summer and wants to try a new experience in the Premier League where the Irons are interested.

The outlet has described the Hammers as a “very concrete prospect” and a move to England has become a more likely possibility as Tah is looked after by consultant Pina Zahavi, who has been labelled as an “absolute expert on English transfers.”

Nottingham Forest allegedly had an offer of around €26m (£23m) rejected last winter.

The German is coy about his future and is focused on the remainder of the season. He said: “We're in the semi-finals of the Europa League, and we still have five Bundesliga games, that's my focus. You will see everything else.”

Why should West Ham sign Tah?

The 16-cap international has made 40 appearances in all competitions for the German outfit and has been an ever-present force in a Leverkusen side that has produced a remarkable renaissance under Xabi Alonso.

Speaking in glowing terms of their incredible turnaround under the former Liverpool midfielder, Raphael Honigstein said:

“Bayer Leverkusen’s 13-game unbeaten transformation from relegation contenders to top-four material and last flag bearers of German football in European competition might be the most miraculous development of all.”

Tah has been lauded as a “leader” by his manager and has shown himself to be a technically astute and aggressive defender. This is reflected by the fact that the former Hamburg man ranks in the top 19% in Europe’s top five leagues among his positional peers for clearances and the top 9% for pass completion, as per FBref.

From a West Ham perspective, the £27m-rated ace has emerged as an attainable and logical option to revitalise David Moyes’ defence.

He could be an incredible replacement for 34-year-old veteran Angelo Ogbonna, who has predominantly been reduced to simply a bench warmer in the twilight years of his football career.

The two centre-backs possess a similar profile as they both stand at 6 foot 3 and over, but Tah dramatically excels in pace, mobility, and longevity, notably being dubbed a "real battleship" by Christoph Kramer.

A ball-playing and dynamic option, the £48k-per-week man could be the perfect upgrade for the Italian, whilst also providing more meaningful competition for Kurt Zouma and Nayef Aguerd.

For an Irons’ side that is expected to face another rebuild this summer, the signing of Tah would be undoubtedly an impressive piece of business.

Arsenal’s chances of clinching a historic Premier League title appear to be dead and buried after an embarrassing outing against the defending champions Manchester City on Wednesday evening.

Mikel Arteta’s side were completely dominated by his former outfit, with a quarter of goals coming from Kevin De Bruyne, John Stones and Erling Haaland.

Rob Holding, who has largely been public enemy number one in recent weeks, managed to grab a mere consolation goal but it was a feeble attempt at proving themselves worthy of being title contenders.

However, the trophy will not be won or lost from this performance alone as the Citizens still have to win their games in hand and not slip up over the remainder of the month, though that does seem rather unlikely given the ruthless form they find themselves in.

What's happened to Thomas Partey?

The Spaniard must now ring the changes to his regular starting XI, with the confidence knocked out of many usual starters, including Thomas Partey, who has looked a shadow of himself in recent outings, especially at the Etihad Stadium.

Not only was the Ghana midfielder booked for lashing out at Jack Grealish following a coming together in the 75th minute but he was a mere passenger throughout the game, struggling to cope with the quality of the mercurial Belgian and others.

Regularly ‘ghosted and outmuscled’ in the engine room, one moment of weakness could have seen Haaland notch more than his one goal, whilst as per Sofascore, Partey committed three fouls, lost possession six times and was dribbled past on one occasion.

Such a performance saw Gunners legend Lee Dixon suggest that the 29-year-old “had lost the plot,” which is a worrying sign heading into some crucial matches against the likes of Chelsea and two Europe-chasing sides in Newcastle United and Brighton & Hove Albion.

Who should replace Partey in Arsenal's starting XI?

Arteta has a proven trophy-winner and leader within his ranks in Jorginho, who was signed as a surprise addition during the January transfer window. Yet, restricted to only four starts from nine appearances in the top-flight, the north Londoners haven’t really benefited from his influence on the pitch.

He would allow the £45m livewire to come out of the firing line and would perhaps inject some fresh impetus into an underperforming area heading into some imperative outings.

With Champions League and Europa League medals to his name, the Brazil-born Italy international knows what it takes to get a team over the line.

And having been compared to players like Xabi Alonso and Sergio Busquets, his ability to dictate play from deep and still be resolute defensively could create some stability in front of the Gunners’ leaking backline and at the same time, push Granit Xhaka and Martin Odegaard further forward.

As such, in a bid to revive Arsenal’s title hopes, Arteta must look to ruthlessly ditch Partey for Jorginho in his starting XI going forward.

Glasgow Rangers gem Malik Tillman has enjoyed a terrific season on loan from German giants Bayern Munich and established himself as a key player under Giovanni van Bronckhorst and, now, Michael Beale.

The USA international has racked up 12 goals and five assists in 43 appearances in all competitions for the Light Blues from an attacking midfield position but it remains to be seen whether he will be at Ibrox next season.

Rangers have an option to sign him permanently for a fee of £5m and the club may wait until the summer to decide whether to activate that or not, depending on the transfer budget in relation to what Beale wants to do.

The head coach may want to make additions in several areas of the pitch and, therefore, the budget may need to be stretched rather than a big chunk of it going to one player.

If this is the case, the boss could save the club millions and invest in other positions by working with current Gers forward Ianis Hagi to get him back to his best.

How has Ianis Hagi performed this season?

The Romanian international returned to action in January of this year after missing 371 days with a knee injury and has struggled to find his feet in the team over the last few months.

Hagi has made seven appearances for Beale since the turn of the year and has failed to produce a single goal or assist in 108 minutes of action.

However, his lack of production on the pitch this season is not a fair reflection of his talent or the potential he has to be a key player for the head coach in the coming months and years.

At 24, the mercurial Romanian playmaker still has plenty of development left to go through and is still recovering from a horrific long-term injury, which could take a full pre-season in the summer for him to return to full fitness.

Hagi's form in the 2020/21 campaign under Steven Gerrard's management was sensational and suggests that he has the quality to replace Tillman at Ibrox if the American returns to Bayern.

The exciting £3m dynamo racked up eight goals and 15 assists in 45 appearances in all competitions for the Light Blues, which works out as a direct goal contribution every 1.96 matches.

Reporter Joshua Barrie hailed the magician's season as "impressive" and lauded his ability to "split" open teams in the final third.

Tillman, meanwhile, has scored or assisted a goal every 2.53 outings for the club this term whilst playing in similar positions, either out wide or behind the main striker.

These statistics suggest that Beale could replace the American international with an upgrade in the attacking midfield positions by working with Hagi to get him back to the best of his ability, as the gem has already proven that he has the quality to score and assist goals on a regular basis in Scotland.

Everton's turbulent season threatens a whole new sense of instability as relegation looms, with the proud Premier League outfit failing to muster a vein of form capable of lifting them away from the danger zone, and with just four matches to play, the Blues languish in 19th place.

Sean Dyche was hired in the managerial role in January in an attempt to instil stoicism and grit – defensive resilience to climb up the table and towards safety.

And while he got off to a flying start, defeating the then-table-toppers Arsenal 1-0 at a roaring Goodison Park, a singular victory against Brentford is all that can complement their early success.

Four fixtures remain, and 34-year-old captain Seamus Coleman has recently picked up a knee injury that will likely rule him out of contention as the term enters his culminating phase.

With this in mind, Dyche would be wise to assess his options and prepare the likes of Mathew Mallon for increasing opportunity, both this season and across future years.

Who is Mathew Mallon?

There were reports from the Liverpool Echo's Adam Jones that a deal had been struck between the Toffees and Blackburn Rovers for the permanent signing of Mallon, who has since quashed the incorrect murmurings by penning a first professional deal with the Goodison Park side last July.

Having made 43 displays across Everton's U18 and U21 outfits, Mallon has scored two goals and supplied three assists, hailed as "impressive" by journalist Sam Carroll.

This season, the dynamo has made six appearances for the Toffees youth side across all competitions, notably registering an assist during a remarkable 4-3 away victory over Crystal Palace.

Describing his pace, strength, defending and crossing as his 'main assets' Mallon is a dynamic defender is an eye for making things happen, which could fall auspiciously into his hands with a gaffer such as Dyche at the helm.

Dyche demands composure and tenacity from all in his team, but with an onus on superlative defensive structure and organisation, a versatile full-back such as Mallon could emulate the past success of the likes of England international Kieran Trippier.

Burnley signed Trippier in January 2012, with Dyche taking the reins later that year, with the current Newcastle United phenom forging 120 games under his wing, scoring two goals and serving a commendable 25 assists – with the gem lauded for his "elite output" by Statman Dave more recently.

Mallon has a long way to go before riding the crest of a wave and announcing himself to the major stage, but with a knack for embracing the dynamism of the full-back role and a coach such as Dyche guiding him, he is in good stead to reach great heights and perhaps even emulate the distinguished Trippier.

Everton entered the Amex Stadium on Monday night with more than their fair share of trepidation.

It seeped from the travelling Blue bus; it pervaded from the anxious, but cacophonous away support; it clung to the determined Everton players as they took to the pitch, who knew the magnitude of the task ahead of them – defeat against one of the Premier League's most fluid and high-octane outfits in Brighton & Hove Albion was simply not an option.

Manager Sean Dyche knew this, of course, but trepidation is not an emotion that nestles into the former Burnley boss's mind.

Five previous trips to Brighton had been triumphant for the Clarets, with Dyche at the helm, who extended his unbeaten record at the ground to six matches with an utterly enthralling and emphatic 5-1 thumping.

The Toffees produced one of the 22/23 season's finest displays of counter-attacking football, seamlessly transitioning from the defensive thirds upon winning the ball, fiercely rebuffing the Seagulls' swoops.

Everton ascended from the relegation zone with their victory, now with a two-point cushion over 18th-placed Leicester City, and while the work is not done with three games to go, it was a galvanising win of the most resounding fashion.

There were so many pleasing performances, Dwight McNeil the salient choice after scoring two goals, making one assist and being bestowed a 9.9 Sofascore rating, while Abdoulaye Doucoure scored a brace that showcased his turnaround in form.

However, the return to form for Dominic Calvert-Lewin cannot be understated either, and indeed underpins the route to success for Dyche's men, illuminating a pathway to prominence once again.

How is Dominic Calvert-Lewin playing?

It has been, to put it lightly, a testing couple of seasons for Calvert-Lewin, who has been decimated by injuries and consequently unable to demonstrate anything close to his full potential for the Toffees.

The 26-year-old has missed 32 matches of competitive action since the start of last term, a stricken period coinciding with Everton's stark decline that has left both this season and last engulfed in the shadow of the relegation zone.

But against Brighton, Calvert-Lewin reaffirmed his stature as one of the most industrious and efficient talismanic forces in the English top-flight, with one scout & analyst saying that he "makes the difference again. Unbelievable footballer."

Playing the pass for Abdoulaye Doucoure's early opening strike on the south coast, the £100k-per-week gem recorded a match rating of 7.3, as per Sofascore, complementing his assist with success in nine of his 13 aerial battles, winning two of his four dribbles and exhibiting his defensive desire by making four clearances.

Calvert-Lewin is a gulf away from the free-flowing, prolific form he will covet. Still, undoubtedly, acutely aware of his previous exploits in scoring 21 goals in the 20/21 campaign and rising to the fore under Carlo Ancelotti's wing, invaluable in helping the Blues record a tenth-placed finish on 59 points – just three points behind Tottenham Hotspur in a European-qualifying spot.

Though he embodies the grit and tenacity Dyche demands of his players, ranking among the top 5% of forwards across Europe's big five leagues for aerials won and the top 16% for clearances per 90, as per FBref.

He scored a penalty in Everton's preceding fixture, a 2-2 relegation battle against Leicester City, and is indeed beginning to reacclimatise to life in the thick of Premier League action.

It comes at the perfect time, and he could yet play a defining role in the conclusion of Everton's turbulent campaign. He is looking a man reborn, indeed.

Napoli manager Luciano Spalletti is concerned about losing centre-back Kim Min-jae to Chelsea this summer, so much so he has called a crisis meeting with club president Aurelio De Laurentiis.

Who Is Kim Min-jae?

The South Korean has enjoyed a magnificent season for Napoli, playing a massive role in them winning a first Serie A title since 1990. He has been a rock at the heart of his team's defence, averaging 3.6 clearances per game in the competition, as well as exactly the same tally in the Champions League.

Kim has also shone on the ball, enjoying a 90.8% pass completion rate in the league, excelling in Napoli's system and showing what a great ball-playing centre-back he is.

Unsurprisingly, there has been a huge amount of interest in the 26-year-old recently, considering he is arguably one of the world's best players in his position. Chelsea have been linked with signing him in this summer, as have Manchester City and Manchester United, so a move to the Premier League could be on the cards.

The Blues' interest doesn't seem to be going away and there appears to be concern from Napoli regarding his future.

Are Chelsea signing Kim min-Jae?

According to Gazzetta dello Sport, Kim's release clause could be triggered this summer, leaving Napoli in the perilous position where they can't really say no, potentially acting as a boost to Chelsea and others. Spalletti is worried that he could lose one of his most important players for a release clause set too low at the time they signed the player from Fenerbahce.

The boss is so concerned that he has called a meeting with De Laurentiis to ask if the South Korea international will depart or renew his contract, in what looks like a sticky situation for a man trying to challenge the dominance Juventus have held over Italian football in recent years.

Chelsea signing Kim could be one of their most inspired pieces of transfer business in some time, should they be able to entice him to Stamford Bridge this summer. The Blues haven't looked convincing at centre-back all season long, and with both Thiago Silva and Kalidou Koulibaly ageing, they need a new leader to come in.

Kim could be exactly that, having been hailed as "extraordinary" by compatriot and former United midfielder Park Ji-Sung, and the best years of his career could still be to come. Chelsea's lack of European football is certainly a problem, though, and is something that their Premier League rivals can promise, so they are arguably outsiders to snap him up at this point.

Celtic have already clinched the Scottish Premiership title for the 2022/23 campaign but this will not stop Ange Postecoglou from bolstering his squad this summer.

The Hoops have found success domestically and could now push on to compete in the latter stages of one of the three European competitions, after being knocked out in the group phase of the Champions League this season.

Earlier this month, the Daily Record reported that the Hoops are eyeing up a possible swoop for Albirex Niigata attacking midfielder Ryotaro Ito and he could come in with a view to improving their chances in Europe.

It was claimed that the club are keeping tabs on the 25-year-old, as Postecoglou is hoping to strengthen his midfield and attack in the upcoming transfer window, and the forward could come in to partner Kyogo Furuhashi in the final third.

How has Ryotaro Ito performed this season?

The playmaker, who is yet to be capped at senior level by Japan, has enjoyed a terrific start to life in the J1 League after catching the eye in the second division last term.

Ito has averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.54 across 14 appearances. He has scored seven goals and created 3.3 opportunities per game for his teammates so far, which illustrates the huge impact he has made in 2023 after he plundered nine goals and 11 assists in 42 outings in the J2 League in 2022.

He is a number ten with the ability to deliver goals and create chances on a regular basis and according to one Japanese author, boasts characteristics that make him a "mix of Jota and Reo [Hatate]."

Journalist Bence Bocsak further hailed the Celtic target as "intelligent" and stated that he has been "pulling the strings" for his side in the top-flight this year, which is backed up by his impressive chance creation numbers.

Ito's 3.3 key passes per match are 1.2 more per game than any Celtic player has managed in the Premiership this term, with Matt O'Riley's 2.1 leading the way for the Hoops. This suggests that the Niigata maestro could come in and be the standout creative force in midfield for Postecoglou.

Kyogo has scored 25 goals from 15.28 xG in the Scottish top-flight this season, proving that the Japan international is a lethal finisher who can magnify the quality of chances he is provided with due to his impressive finishing.

The 28-year-old is a proven and reliable scorer who could thrive from the creativity that Ito can provide from a number ten position if his compatriot can adapt to life in Scotland.

Therefore, Postecoglou could form an exciting and lethal duo at the top end of the pitch by landing the Niigata wizard, who also carries a goal threat with seven goals in 14 matches this year, to partner Kyogo domestically and in Europe in 2023/24.

Leeds United defender Robin Koch is being targeted in a surprise cut-price swoop by Tottenham Hotspur, according to reports.

Is Robin Koch leaving Leeds?

The Whites centre-back arrived at Elland Road from SC Freiburg back in 2020 and has since gone on to make a total of 77 appearances to date where he was a regular feature in the first-team last season, making 36 starts from 38 games in the Premier League.

The Germany international, however, will be out of contract at the end of next season meaning that the upcoming window could be the club's final opportunity to cash in, should they not want to lose the 26-year-old for free, but regardless, Leeds officials could be forced to sanction his sale having now been relegated to the Championship.

Are Tottenham signing Koch?

According to Football Insider, Tottenham are setting their sights on Koch this summer, with the Leeds defender having been "shortlisted" as a serious centre-back option for Daniel Levy's new permanent manager.

Spurs know that the 6 foot 3 colossus will be available for a cut-price having dropped down to the second tier and his admirers are hopeful that £15m will be enough to reach an agreement. The Yorkshire outfit's star "fits the bill" in N17 and is "keen to stay" in the Premier League, so this could be one to watch in the weeks and months ahead.

Should Leeds keep or sell Koch?

Leeds don’t have the most attacking type of centre-back in Koch having recorded zero goals or assists since putting pen to paper, but he is strong in the natural defensive aspect of his game and has even been dubbed a “leader” by journalist Josh Bunting so the board may want to do everything they can to retain his services beyond the summer.

The Whites titan, who earns £40k-per-week, was averaging 4.1 clearances, 3.1 aerial wins and 1.5 tackles per top-flight game last term, via WhoScored, so was a relatively solid performer in the heart of the backline despite the collective struggles in front of Illan Meslier and Joel Robles.

The Kaiserslautern native also brings wonderful versatility to the side with his ability to operate in six various positions over the grass, including everywhere across the backline and even three positions in the midfield, so this is yet another extremely useful attribute for the next manager to have at his disposal should any unexpected injuries occur in other roles.