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Aston Villa have an advantage in their race to sign Moussa Diaby this summer from Bayer Leverkusen as other clubs vying for his signature have cooled their interest in the France international, according to journalist Ben Jacobs.

Is Moussa Diaby coming to the Premier League?

Renowned transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has issued an update surrounding Aston Villa's interest in Bayer Leverkusen winger Diaby, stating: "Aston Villa plan to bid again for Moussa Diaby in the next days. Negotiations are still ongoing with Bayer Leverkusen. Opening €35m plus add-ons bid turned down by Leverkusen but talks on. Diaby, open to Premier League football as Villa got the green light from player side."

CBS Sports journalist James Benge has detailed that Diaby also has interest from Saudi Arabian side Al Nassr and Serie A champions Napoli, as he said: "Al Nassr ready to pay €50m for Bayer Leverkusen winger Moussa Diaby, who is also wanted by Aston Villa and has been linked to Napoli."

90min report that despite Aston Villa's failed initial bid of £30m plus add-ons to try and entice Diaby to the West Midlands, the £37k-a-week ace is believed to be open to the move and the opportunity to work under Unai Emery.

Arsenal and Newcastle United have been 'monitoring' his situation for a long period of time while Aston Villa are also working on alternative targets including Nottingham Forest forward Brennan Johnson.

Wales international Johnson is valued at over £50 million by Nottingham Forest; nevertheless, there is optimism at Villa Park that they can land him for a lower price, according to Telegraph Sport.

Sky Germany reporter Florian Plettenberg has revealed that Bayer Leverkusen are looking to accumulate a financial reward of €60 million (£51.3 million) before sanctioning an exit for Diaby.

Speaking to Football FanCast, journalist Jacobs believes that Arsenal and Newcastle United have slowed down their attraction towards Diaby, which could give Aston Villa a boost in their pursuit of the Paris-born winger.

Jacobs stated: "Moussa Diaby is quite an interesting one. I think that the interest in him dates all the way back to last summer and Arsenal then certainly considered, but the player ended up staying at Bayer Leverkusen. Now I don't think that Arsenal are as active on this front and the same can be said for Newcastle as well, those are the two clubs that were always linked with Diaby."

Would Moussa Diaby be a good signing for Aston Villa?

Aston Villa being able to bring a player of Diaby's directness and quality to Villa Park would have to be considered a real coup by Emery as he ramps up his transfer business in the West Midlands.

Last term, the 24-year-old was in inspired form for Bayer Leverkusen, registering 14 goals and 11 assists from 48 appearances across all competitions, as per Transfermarkt.

In the Bundesliga, Diaby also recorded the fourth top speed in the entire division behind Karim Adeyemi, Sheraldo Becker and Alphonso Davies, reaching 36.52 kilometres per hour and he possesses an elite level of pace that can hurt defences in counter-attacking scenarios.

Diaby is also a master of putting opportunities on a plate for his teammates and successfully performed 143 shot-creating actions in 2022/23, as per FBRef.

Undoubtedly, the France international has the potential to be a statement signing at Villa Park and could take the Premier League high-flyers to a new level in 2023/24.

Newcastle United forward Anthony Gordon was named the U21 European Championship Player of the Tournament after England secured the trophy in remarkable fashion on Saturday.

The former Everton prospect featured in all six of his country's matches on their way to success in the final against Spain, thanks to a goal from Curtis Jones, and has been recognised for his outstanding performances at the tournament.

He arrived on Tyneside from the Toffees in January and struggled to find his feet after his £45m move, with one goal and zero assists in 16 Premier League appearances during the second half of last season.

However, the winger was converted into a striker by England U21 manager Lee Carsley and could be like a new signing in that role for Eddie Howe over the coming years.

Who have Newcastle signed this summer?

They have enjoyed a relatively quiet summer transfer window so far as Sandro Tonali from AC Milan has been the only major addition, alongside youngster Yankuba Minteh – who is now on loan at Feyenoord.

The Italian joined on a permanent deal from the Serie A giants for a fee in the region of £55m to bolster Eddie Howe’s midfield options ahead of the 2023/24 campaign.

Eddie Howe can, however, find the solution to Callum Wilson’s long-term heir without dipping into the market to sign another striker to take his place in the future.

At the age of 32, the England international is heading closer to the final years of his career and is eight years older than Alexander Isak, meaning the club are potentially starting to think about what life will look like after his departure.

Instead of Dan Ashworth splashing the cash on a shiny new centre-forward to eventually replace the ex-Bournemouth marksman, Howe could convert Gordon into a number nine in the same way that Carsley did.

What position does Anthony Gordon play?

The 22-year-old has plenty of years left ahead of him to develop and develop he is doing having been phenomenal at the European Championships.

The talented youngster caught the eye with his performances and contributed with two goals to go along with one assist in five starts.

Wilson and Alexander Isak both scored regularly throughout the 2022/23 Premier League campaign but the latter's ability to play on the left flank could open the door for Gordon to play centrally in the future.

Indeed, the Sweden international scored ten goals and provided one assist in 17 league starts last term, a contribution every 1.55 starts on average – in comparison to Gordon's goal or assist every 1.67 starts at the U21 Euros.

Whilst the 23-year-old Swede boasts a better ratio in front of goal than the £21m-rated Gordon, the wide man's dismal form in that position suggests that Newcastle would be better off playing him centrally and the ex-Real Sociedad star out wide in attack.

In doing so, Howe could unearth the long-term heir to Wilson's position in the team as Gordon would be able to use his pace to stretch defences down the middle of the pitch while providing a threat as a goal scorer and creator alongside Isak.

There is no guarantee that the youngster will be able to replicate Wilson's 18-goal and five-assist haul that the former Bournemouth ace managed in 31 Premier League matches last term, but the "frightening" talent – as he was once dubbed by ex-Leeds goalkeeper Paddy Kenny, has the potential to be an excellent centre-forward, given his Player of the Tournament accolade at the Euros.

West Ham United could do with landing a new player to soften the imminent exit of Declan Rice, having so far been linked with numerous names without actually getting any deals over the line.

Leicester City's Harvey Banes has been repeatedly touted as a target for David Moyes' side, and they may now be in a position to move for the England international.

How much does Harvey Barnes cost?

Leicester's relegation from the Premier League has already seen them lose the likes of James Maddison and Youri Tielemans, with a couple of others – Barnes among them – expected to follow.

The Foxes are certainly not short of interested suitors in the 25-year-old, who is said to be wanted by Newcastle United, Aston Villa, Tottenham Hotspur and indeed West Ham.

According to the Daily Mail, West Ham have made an enquiry regarding the one-cap Three Lion, and it has been made clear Leicester are prepared to cash in if his valuation is met.

In what can be considered a big boost for West Ham and the other circling clubs, they are said to be willing to accept £35m for Barnes, having already brought in £40m through the sale of Maddison to Spurs.

Where would Harvey Barnes fit in at West Ham?

Barnes started 32 games for Leicester in the Premier League last season, each of those coming down the left-hand side. The former Barnsley loanee is a player who likes to cut in and find the net from his wide starting position.

That could spell bad news for Said Benrahma in particular, as the Algeria international made the vast majority of his starts out on the left for West Ham last term.

Benrahma did not have the same impact as Barnes in the 2022/23 Premier League, scoring and assisting a combined nine goals to the 14 managed by his possible future team-mate.

Far from being West Ham's weakest attacker last season, Benrahma would be the most natural player for Barnes to replace on the left, with Bowen providing attacking support down the other flank and a new striker leading the line should Moyes get his wish.

Barnes' 13 goals last season places him in the top 1% of all midfielders across Europe's top five leagues for goals scored, as per The Analyst, whereas Benrahma is in the bottom 32% when compared to forwards in the same metric.

Barnes also ranks far higher for shots on target percentage (47.2 v 33.3), as per FBref, and goal-creating actions per 90 minutes (0.47 v 0.22), highlighting just how much more of a menace he is in the final third.

That is not to say Benrahma does not have his own strengths, with his three assists last season two more than Barnes managed, while he is ranked in the top 9% across Europe's elite leagues among his positional peers for chances created.

Barnes is in the bottom 20% of midfielders when it comes to chances created, but it is someone who can put those chances away that Moyes could ideally do with, given his side were outscored by 13 other Premier League teams last campaign.

It is evident that the Englishman is far too good for the Championship, with his ability clear to see for a number of years now. "Barnes is probably one of the biggest talents [at Leicester]," Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp said in February 2021.

"I'm not sure if he is respected or appreciated as much as he should be. He is an unbelievable player to be honest, a proper Leicester product."

A Leicester product he may be, but it could well be West Ham fans who get to enjoy seeing him regularly from this summer should Moyes get his wish. That will of much delight to the fans, although perhaps not so much to Benrahma.

Manchester United are one step away from signing Inter Milan goalkeeper Andre Onana, according to reports.

Is David de Gea leaving Man United?

The Red Devils could have a busy summer in the transfer window, with numerous incomings and outgoings seemingly on the table. Up to 13 players have been put up for sale ahead of Erik ten Hag’s second season in charge, including Dean Henderson, who could complete a £15m permanent move to Nottingham Forest.

David de Gea’s future is also up in the air, with the Spaniard’s Old Trafford contract actually set to expire in a matter of days. Recent reports have suggested that De Gea actually signed a new United contract that would drastically cut his current £375,000-a-week salary, however, the Red Devils have since backed out of that deal and have made a new proposal with even lower wages.

As a result, the club appear to be on the hunt for a new first-choice ‘keeper, and it looks as if Onana is on course to move to Manchester with those at Old Trafford previously in pole position to secure his services.

What’s the latest Man United transfer news involving Onana?

According to reports from Italy over the last 48 hours, Man United are one step away from signing Onana this summer, with Inter Milan identifying Yann Sommer, Keylor Navas and Hugo Lloris as potential replacements.

The Red Devils are expected to pay an initial €50m (£43m) fee for Onana, although a transfer will reportedly include bonuses as well.

Onana knows Ten Hag well from their time at Ajax, where the 27-year-old made 145 appearances under the Dutchman. Therefore, the United manager will know exactly what to expect from Onana, including his ability on the ball.

Mark Goldbridge described the shot-stopper as “box office to watch when he's got the ball under pressure”, whereas Pep Guardiola also hailed Onana’s ability on the ball following the Champions League final.

“When you have a goalkeeper like Onana who can read perfectly where everyone is to pass to, with Calhanoglu and Barella, then the strikers hold it up and move the ball around. It is very, very difficult. It would be a tiny bit easier without this goalkeeper, but still very tough.”

With a move seemingly close, it looks as if Onana could come in and become first-choice under Ten Hag, and it will be interesting to see if De Gea’s future finally gets resolved before the end of the month.

Arsenal are set to make a third bid for West Ham United midfielder Declan Rice, who is pushing for a move to the Emirates Stadium, according to a report

What's the latest on Declan Rice to Arsenal?

The Gunners have already had multiple bids for Rice rejected, the most recent of which amounting to £75m plus £15m in add-ons, a club record offer, with Manchester City also now joining the race for his signature.

In the same report, it is detailed that Man City have held talks with the Hammers, although they are yet to lodge a formal offer, as they want assurances that he wants to make the move to the Etihad Stadium before entering negotiations.

Fabrizio Romano has recently confirmed "the race remains open", with City making direct contact with the West Ham captain, however all the indications are that he still has his heart set on a move to north London.

According to a report from Football Transfers, the England international is pushing for a move to Arsenal, having already agreed personal terms, and he is likely to make the switch, despite increased movement from Man City in recent weeks.

A third bid is expected in the coming days, which is sure to be closer to West Ham's asking price of £100m, and the Gunners are still in the driving seat for his signature.

How much will Declan Rice cost?

There have been some reports that West Ham could demand as much as £120m for the Englishman this summer, which would make him Arsenal's record signing by a considerable distance, but there are strong indications that he would be worth it.

Hailed as a "terrific player" by manager David Moyes, the West Ham star averaged 1.7 interceptions per game in the Premier League last season, the joint-third highest amount in the top flight, while he also poses a threat on the front foot.

Moyes has praised the central midfielder for his "power and speed", adding that he has the potential to become a "very good goalscoring midfielder player", and Jack Wilshere previously lauded him as the "best finisher" at West Ham.

Rice still has some work to do before becoming a world-class player, considering he only managed to score four league goals last season, however he has been showing very promising signs, and it is a real boost he is set to choose Arsenal over Man City.

Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou could start life in London with a bang by completing the signing of Bristol City teenager Alex Scott.

What's the latest on Alex Scott to Aston Villa?

According to journalist Dean Jones – speaking to GIVEMESPORT – Tottenham have invested time and attention to the development of Scott this year and could now look to make their move to tie up a deal with the transfer window in full swing.

He said: "One of the stories to look out for this summer involves Alex Scott. He has been coveted by loads of Premier League teams previously, including Tottenham and Leeds, but at the moment, no one seems willing to offer the £25m Bristol City want for him.

“He’s a really good player, so I think it's only a matter of time before something happens.”

Tottenham have been credited with an interest in the 19-year-old since March following Bristol City's defeat to eventual champions Manchester City in the FA Cup, earning praise for his "fearless" performance by The Times' Henry Winter.

Bournemouth, West Ham United and Wolverhampton Wanderers are also vying for his signature, but Postecoglou will be determined to sign a prodigious talent who could catalyse the club's desired resurgence.

Should Tottenham sign Alex Scott?

Hailed as the "Guernsey Grealish" for his striking resemblance to the City phenom, Jack Grealish, Scott has exhibited his prowess in dribbling and ball-carrying, with his display against the Sky Blues setting him apart from the swathes of hopefuls, earning a Sofascore match rating of 7.0 after succeeding with four of his five attempted dribbles and winning 11 of his 15 attempted duels,

Given that Manchester City's £100m man also remarked that Scott is a "top talent", he seems to have the approval of a man distinguished and admired as one of the Premier League's most naturally talented players around, capable of petrifying opposition with his gliding gait.

This season, he recorded an average league rating of 6.83, making 40 starting appearances, scoring one goal and supplying four assists, completing 79% of his passes and making 1.8 tackles per game.

As per FBref, given that he ranks among the top 11% of midfielders across Men's Next 8 divisions for progressive carries and the top 17% for successful take-ons per 90, he could well emulate Grealish as he continues his burgeoning rise.

Grealish, comparatively, ranks among the top 3% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for progressive carries per 90, which only further illustrates the superlative company Scott finds his name likened to.

While Tottenham have failed in their endeavours this season and concluded the campaign with an eighth-placed finish, thus confirming an absence from European competition to strike a detrimental blow to hopes of brighter fortunes.

Scott's acquisition could be a turning point, unleashing a new wave of prosperity on a proud football club desperate for silverware once more.

M'Bala Nzola could be a suitable replacement for Jamie Vardy as Leicester City look to fill the role the legendary striker once occupied.

What's the latest Leicester City news?

Following their relegation from the Premier League, there's set to be a mass exodus at King Power Stadium as numerous key figures at Leicester are reportedly leaving the club this summer.

The likes of James Maddison and Harvey Barnes have been linked with several high-profile clubs, while Youri Tielemans has already agreed terms with Aston Villa once his contract at the Foxes expires.

One name that looks set to stay, though is Vardy, with the striker's contract running until next summer.

After scoring 170 goals in 11 seasons, Vardy struggled last season and at 36 years old, his best days are likely behind him, leaving new manager Enzo Maresca with a massive hole in the team that he needs to fill, and it seems Nzola is a name they've identified as capable of replacing their long-serving icon, as per Italian outlet Spezia 1906.

It's thought that the 26-year-old frontman has a release clause of just €10m (£8.5m).

Would M'Bala Nzola be a good replacement for Jamie Vardy?

The 26-year-old titan would be a suitable candidate to replace Vardy, and while he hasn't quite shown a prolific ability in front of goal to the level that the Englishman displayed during his prime, there are certain areas of Nzola's game that match up well with some of the Leicester legend's best seasons.

With 13 goals this season, and 11 two seasons ago, Nzola has shown he has the ability to score on a regular basis and will provide goals for the Foxes front line which they've sorely lacked this year. This season was Vardy's worst in front of goal at Leicester, with just three goals, so signing the 6 foot 1 forward would immediately improve on the Englishman's current output.

Nzola has also shown his effectiveness carrying the ball, recording an average of one successful dribble a game this year, which is a similar number to the 1.1 dribbles a game that Vardy averaged during the Foxes' Premier League winning campaign and is higher than the forward's averages in every year since.

He's also shown his ability in the air, winning an average of 1.4 aerial battles per game this season, which is a similar number to the 1.3 aerial battles won a game averaged over the last four years by the 36-year-old.

Once labelled as "very strong" by former Spezia general director Guido Angelozzi, Nzola would reportedly only cost around £8.5m, so signing him would come relatively cheap in comparison to the money the Foxes are set to make through player sales, but it's also an astute business deal considering the shrinking budget compared to last season.

The Midlands outfit are always going to have a hard time replacing a club legend with the record that Vardy has, but Nzola would be a great start and could flourish at the club.

Gio van Bronckhorst ended the 2021/22 campaign on a high as Rangers won the Scottish Cup at Hampden Park on Saturday.

The Gers missed out on the Premiership title by four points to their arch-rivals and lost in the final of the Europa League but were able to sign off the season with a trophy, the Dutchman’s first in charge of the Glasgow giants.

Although they will be disappointed to miss out on the league and European titles, it was an impressive debut year at the helm on the whole for the retired full-back.

He led the team to a Europa League final and won the Scottish Cup and will now be looking ahead to next season with an eye on winning the Premiership back off the Hoops.

Some of his success can be put down to Ross Wilson’s work in the market last summer as the sporting director bolstered the squad with fresh additions. He brought in John Lundstram and Fashion Sakala on free transfers, and both played big roles throughout the campaign.

The latter was brought in as a versatile forward option and ended the season with 12 goals and seven assists in all competitions.

However, things could have been different in that area of the pitch, as The Chronicle reported just over a year ago that Rangers had made enquiries over a potential deal to sign Jacob Murphy from Newcastle United.

The winger, who joined the Magpies in a £12m deal from Norwich in 2017, was a target for the Glasgow giants before they landed Sakala, but he ended up staying on Tyneside instead of making the switch to Scotland.

Now that the season is finished, it is clear that Rangers avoided a disaster in missing out on a deal for the English attacker. The 27-year-old has endured a rough year with Newcastle, where he has struggled for form and game-time under both Steve Bruce and Eddie Howe.

Murphy has also been embroiled in controversy in the past. Arsenal legend Martin Keown previously accused the forward of diving in a Premier League match, saying: “It’s so wrong. The referee needs to punish that. It’s simulation. It’s annoying. He is trying to gain an advantage. He is trying to cheat the referee.”

Do Rangers want players who attempt to ‘cheat the referee’, as Keown put it?

Certainly not when their statistics are also off-putting. Murphy managed just 13 starts in the top-flight for the Toon and averaged an underwhelming SofaScore rating of 6.68. He found the the net once, whilst missing four ‘big chances’, and only created 0.6 chances per game as he managed a mere two assists.

As a result of his poor form, his value has plummeted to £3.6m on Transfermarkt. This is a whopping £8.4m drop from the £12m that they paid for him initially and proves that he has been unable to live up to the hype in black and white.

His statistics do not suggest that he would have been a better signing for Rangers than Sakala, and that is why the club avoided a big blunder with Murphy last summer.

AND in other news, Ross Wilson plotting Rangers swoop for 16 y/o “teen talent”, GvB will be buzzing…

Sheffield Wednesday youngster Ryan Galvin can emerge as a key player for the Owls next season, according to reliable journalist Dom Howson.

The Lowdown: Playoff disappointment for Owls

Darren Moore’s side will be playing League One football again next season, following their playoff semi-final elimination at the hands of Sunderland.

It was disappointing not to seal immediate promotion back to the Championship and it could be that wholesale changes are made during the summer transfer window.

Galvin was loaned out to Gloucester City between last summer and January and he has made two first-team appearances for Wednesday, both of which came in the FA Cup in 2020/21.

The Latest: Galvin backed to shine

Speaking in a Q&A for The Yorkshire Examiner on Friday, Howson tipped Galvin to make the grade at Hillsborough, shining in a 3-5-2 system:

“I am a big fan of Ryan Galvin. I think he is a very talented player and Wednesday don’t have an abundance of left-sided players on their books.”Should Moore stick with the 3-5-2 system, Galvin is tailor-made for the wing back role. He needs to come back in pre-season and prove to Moore he deserves to be part of his long-term plans. It feels like it is now or never for Galvin in his Wednesday career.”

The Verdict: One for the future

It is important that Wednesday eventually move on from the likes of Barry Bannan, Sam Hutchinson and Liam Palmer, all of whom have been wonderful servants but are now in their 30s, with long-term planning key.

Galvin is someone who should be viewed as both one for the future and also a player who could make an impact from next season, having been hailed as ‘stunning’ by the fans in the past.

The youngster could come in as an understudy to Marvin Johnson at left wing-back, proving to be a handy squad player and becoming a regular over time.

In other news, a Sheffield Wednesday transfer claim has emerged. Read more here.

Everton are reportedly now eyeing up a move to sign Tom Lawrence on a free transfer in the summer.

The Lowdown: Lampard favourite

The 28-year-old is a player that Frank Lampard knows very well from his time in charge at Derby County.

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The winger did not miss a game in the Championship under the current Toffees manager when he was available, scoring seven goals and providing a further five assists in 39 matches across all competitions in the 2018/19 season (Transfermarkt).

Lawrence heaped praise on Lampard during the 43-year-old’s time at Pride Park, and it is clear that the two have a very good relationship.

The Latest: Everton interest in Lawrence

As per The Daily Mail, Everton are among a number of clubs who are interested in signing Lawrence for free this summer, given that he will be out of contract.

Leeds United, Fulham, Burnley, Norwich City, Watford and Anderlecht are also thought to be keen, amid question marks over whether he would want to play in League One given Derby’s relegation this year.

The Verdict: Smart signing

Given that he would be signing on a free transfer, and that Lampard knows him well, Lawrence would certainly be a smart signing by the Merseyside club.

Dubbed ‘magnificent’ by his current boss and former Everton player Wayne Rooney earlier this season after two goals in an impressive performance against promotion hopefuls Sheffield United, the Wales international managed 11 strikes and five assists in the Championship for the relegated Rams (Transfermarkt).

As their captain, Lawrence also possesses leadership qualities that would be useful in a dressing room which has also been under threat of relegation, and at 28 years of age, this summer presents the perfect time for Everton to snap him up.

In other news, Everton are now battling with Liverpool to sign this predator