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Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly interested in sealing a move for Manchester City star, Aymeric Laporte, with the Lilywhites keen to bolster their centre-back ranks this summer.

What's the latest on Laporte to Tottenham?

That's according to journalist Sean Walsh, with the transfer insider revealing on Twitter that the Spain international – as well as Manchester United captain Harry Maguire – are among the targets being considered by the north London outfit:

"In regards to a new defender, Harry Maguire is a target, while Aymeric Laporte is also someone that Tottenham greatly admire."

In his attached piece for 90min – alongside colleague Graeme Bailey – Walsh goes on to add that Laporte, in particular, is 'high on Spurs' shortlist' ahead of next season, with the same publication previously stating that Daniel Levy and co have been offered the chance to sign the 29-year-old.

Should Tottenham sign Laporte?

If new boss Ange Postecoglou is looking to find a centre-back solution over the coming weeks and months, the 57-year-old would seemingly be wise to push to sign Laporte, rather than opting to prise the struggling Maguire from Old Trafford.

While the latter man has only recently been described as a "walking disaster" by journalist Samuel Luckhurst after falling down the pecking order at United, the City ace, by contrast was at one stage hailed as the "best left central defender in the world" by manager, Pep Guardiola.

Although the former Athletic Bilbao man has not been a regular fixture for the treble-chasing outfit this season – having notably started just 11 Premier League games – the France-born titan does still compare favourably to his position in Europe's top five leagues.

A talent who is both "fast" and "strong in the air" – according to Guardiola – Laporte has particularly impressed in recent times due to his quality in possession, as he notably ranks in the top 1% among his European peers for both progressive passes and progressive carries.

Evidently a master at playing out from the back, the 6 foot 2 warrior – who has been valued at around £43m by CIES Football Observatory – also ranks in the top 1% for attempted passes and the top 3% for pass completion, highlighting his innate composure on the ball.

That quality is in stark contrast, for instance, to that of Maguire, with the 30-year-old – who also typically operates in a left-sided centre-back role – ranking in just the top 48% for progressive passes and the top 19% for progressive carries, as well as in just the top 48% for pass completion and the top 17% for attempted passes.

With Spurs needing to "upgrade" their centre-back options, it would thus be a real "no-brainer" to bring Laporte into the fold – according to pundit Gabby Agbonlahor – with more solidity needed to bolster a backline that shipped the sixth-most goals in the division in 2022/23.

Manchester City are considering signing Nicolò Barella to replace Ilkay Gundogan this summer.

The German is out of contract at the end of the month yet is contributing as much value to Pep Guardiola's side as he did throughout his time at the Etihad.

The midfielder has 11 goals and seven assists this season, bagging three doubles in his last six games. Gundogan put Manchester United to the sword in the FA Cup final, scoring from outside the 18-yard box twice.

So, how can Manchester City replace such a clutch player?

Is Nicolo Barella joining Manchester City?

According to reports in Italy (via Sport Witness), Pep Guardiola wants Barella at Man City to replace the Barcelona-bound Gundogan and could have a very opportune chance to speak to him this weekend.

Inter and City lock horns in the UEFA Champions League final on Saturday (8PM BST) but following the match, there could be the chance to discuss Man City signing Barella this summer.

Guardiola "dotes" on the Italian maestro and could present a "mind-boggling offer to snatch him from Inzaghi". While the report doesn't mention how much it would cost, Inter Live reported in February that Inter want €90-100m (£80-88.5m) to part ways with Barella.

It's noted by Sportmediaset, as per FC Inter News, that Manchester United, Liverpool and Newcastle United are also following Barella "closely".

How good is Nicolo Barella?

While speaking on commentary for Channel 4 ahead of a Euro 2024 qualifier against Italy in March, Steven Gerrard waxed lyrical about Barella.

He said: “They [Italy] have potential world class players emerging now. Now you have the likes of Barella, Raspadori. These are players who could become world class over the course of their careers.”

Barella, specifically, has continued to demonstrate his class and it's no fluke that he and his Inter teammates have reached the final of the Champions League.

Like Gundogan, Barella is an extremely dangerous midfielder to play against. Not only is he capable of dictating games, playing more passes into the box than 90% of Europe's midfielders, but he is also a threat himself in the 18-yard area. This season, he has nine goals and ten assists, surpassing projections for expected goals and assists.

Replacing Gundogan with Barella would once again highlight Man City's relentless approach in the transfer market. Rarely has there been a club so consistent when replacing key players – Sergio Aguero left and he was soon replaced by Erling Haaland.

Barella could be next for the Premier League champions.

Wolverhampton Wanderers could be closer to easing their goal scoring woes, as the club have been linked with a goal machine ahead of the summer transfer window.

Julen Lopetegui must find the solution to get his team firing, with Wolves being the lowest scorers in the Premier League, netting just 31 goals in 38 games.

Seeking and recruiting an established goalscorer is difficult for some of the world’s more financially lucrative teams and even more so for the Spaniard, who is facing a difficult summer following the revelation of Wolves’ FFP issues.

The Midlands club shouldn’t give up all hope, as news has emerged linking a goal machine to a potential move to Molineux.

What’s the latest on Georges Mikautadze to Wolves?

As reported by French outlet le10sport, FC Metz striker Georges Mikautadze is rumoured to have gained interest from Wolves.

The Georgian forward, who is valued at €20m (£17m) is wanted by Olympique Lyonnais and Burnley as well as in the Midlands, as stated in the report.

At just 22-years-old, the link could be an exciting one to everyone at Molineux as there is potential for Lopetegui to get his hands on an established goalscorer that won't break the bank.

What could Georges Mikautadze bring to Wolves?

The Lyon-born striker has lit up Ligue 2 this season, making an emphatic 31 goal contributions in 36 appearances for Metz, scoring 23 himself and assisting eight, as per Sofascore.

The Georgian international is the league’s top scorer, averaging a goal every 130 minutes of play and acting as a deadly talisman for his side.

Wolves’ highest-scoring players this season are Ruben Neves and Daniel Podence, who have both scored six goals and neither are strikers, showing the quality that the Metz forward could make in terms of just adding goals alone.

Having been lauded as a “Georgian killer” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, the 22-year-old has a lot more to his game than just putting the ball in the net and could benefit Lopetegui’s side through his passing and creativity.

As per Sofascore, the Lyon-born forward averages 1.5 key passes per game, as well as creating seven big chances on top of having strengths in dribbling, as noted by WhoScored.

The same outlet also points to his style of play being his liking towards running at players, being a threat on the counter-attack and enjoys playing long balls, as supported by him completing 81% of his long balls this season – as per Sofascore.

At 5 foot 9, the dynamic forward is nimble and agile, making him a real handful for defenders, which is shown by his huge goal contribution this term alone.

Wolves could get themselves a bargain at a critical time, and one that could benefit the future of Lopetegui’s side and end their dreadful form in front of goal as of late.

Recent reports have claimed that West Ham could look to cash in on Tomas Soucek this summer but it would be a disastrous move by David Moyes and GSB to get rid of the Czech Republic international.

Football Insider claimed earlier this week that Tottenham Hotspur could look to sign the midfielder after a breakdown in the relationship between Soucek and Moyes.

Journalist Pete O’Rourke has since offered his thoughts on the situation, telling GIVEMESPORT:

“I think West Ham would really regret losing someone like Tomas Soucek. He’s been a great player for West Ham under David Moyes.

“He’s a key player in that midfield alongside Declan Rice. He’s effective in both boxes, he can score goals from set-pieces as well.”

Although Soucek struggled to replicate his displays from the 2020/21 season in the last campaign, he still managed to contribute five goals and one assist in 35 Premier League appearances for the Hammers, averaging a solid 6.98 rating from WhoScored for his performances across the season.

The 27-year-old has formed an excellent partnership with Declan Rice in midfield since joining from Slavia Prague in a £15m deal in 2020, following a successful loan spell in the second half of that season.

The England international was full of praise for his teammate in 2020, saying:

“He’s brilliant to play with. He’s a player that we definitely needed with some legs to make the box and obviously get back as well.

“He’s added something to the team which is brilliant. He gives us an out all the time and when he pops up in the box we’ve not really had that over the years. It’s fantastic to play with him and of course, I don’t have to do all the running with Tomas.”

Therefore, in a summer where Rice’s West Ham future lies in the balance, it would surely be unwise for the Hammers to cash in on his midfield partner given the mutual respect between the two.

If Soucek can rediscover his form from the 2020/21 season when he notched 10 goals and featured in every single Premier League game, then Moyes will definitely be glad to have kept the midfielder at the London Stadium.

And, in other news… West Ham could solve striker woes with £8.4m swoop…

Tottenham Hotspur are interested in a deal to bring James Ward-Prowse to north London in the summer transfer window.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a report by Hampshire Live, who claimed that the Southampton midfielder’s future is the subject of much speculation ahead of the opening of the summer market, with both Tottenham and Manchester United mentioned as interested parties.

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Further reports have backed up the claim that Antonio Conte is interested in a move for the midfielder this summer, with Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side expected to demand a figure in the region of £60m in order to part with the England international in the coming months.

Jorginho 2.0

Considering Ward-Prowse’s remarkable form for Southampton this season, in addition to reports suggesting that Conte is hoping to sign a midfielder in the mould of Jorginho this summer, it is not difficult to see why the 52-year-old would be keen on a deal for the 27-year-old playmaker.

Indeed, over his 36 Premier League appearances in 2021/22, the £42.5m-rated talent highly impressed for Saints, scoring 10 goals, registering five assists and creating eight big chances for his team-mates, as well as taking 1.5 shots, making two key passes and enjoying 69.7 touches per game.

The £100k-per-week midfielder also impressed in metrics more typical of his position, completing 43.8 passes, 1.1 interceptions, 1.1 tackles and 1.8 long balls and winning 2.6 duels per match.

These returns saw the 10-cap England international average a quite remarkable SofaScore match rating of 7.27, not only ranking him as Hasenhuttl’s best performer in the league but also as the eighth-best midfielder and the 19th-best player overall in the top flight.

As a result of Ward-Prowse’s incredible performance standards this season, Oriol Romeu heaped considerable praise on his St Mary’s team-mate, with the Spaniard stating: “He is an unbelievable player, the way he works. He always finds a good option, he never gives the ball away, he works the hardest and he runs the longest. Ward-Prowse is probably going to be one of the most important players for this club.”

For comparison, over Jorginho’s 29 Premier League appearances this season, the £40.5m-rated midfielder scored six goals, registered two assists and created six big chances, in addition to taking 0.6 shots, making 0.9 key passes and enjoying 75.8 touches per game.

The Italy international also completed 58 passes, 1.2 interceptions, 2.2 tackles and 2.1 long balls and won 4.5 duels per game, with these metrics seeing the £110k-per-week playmaker average a SofaScore match rating of 7.08.

As such, it is clear to see that Ward-Prowse is very much a player in the same mould as the Chelsea star, leading us to believe that Fabio Paratici must do all he can to land the player who Jamie O’Hara dubbed “perfect” for Spurs this summer, as there would be very few players beyond the 27-year-old who would satisfy Conte’s criteria in the middle of the park.

AND in other news: Bid incoming: Conte can land Spurs’ own Steph Curry in £60m offer for “special” target

West Ham United are believed to keen on Argentine striker Giovanni Simeone, according to reports in Italy.

What’s the word?

As per Wednesday’s edition of newspaper Corriere di Verona (via Sports Witness), the Hammers have been named as one of the clubs who are keeping tabs on the 26-year-old, with a summer move seemingly on the cards for the five-cap international.

The forward spent the most recent campaign on loan at Serie A side outfit Hellas Verona from parent club Cagliari, although is expected to move on in the upcoming window even if his temporary switch is made permanent.

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Verona are believed to be able to complete the signing for a fee of around €10.5m (£8.9m), although will then likely sell him on for profit, with both West Ham and Newcastle United potentially set to pounce.

Better than Antonio

The former Fiorentina man – who is the son of Atletico Madrid boss, Diego – has put himself on the radar of a number of clubs across Europe following his remarkable goalscoring spree in the 2021/22 campaign.

In 35 league outings in the Italian top-flight, the £15.3m-rated marksman netted an impressive 17 goals while also laying on a further five assists, with only three players having scored more goals in the division.

Such form has also seen the £47k-per-week ace compare favourably to those in his position across Europe’s top five leagues, with the “fearless” forward – as he has been described by journalist Martin Mazur – ranking in the top 11% for non-penalty goals, while also showcasing his defensive qualities as he ranks in the top 7% for blocks and the top 16% for pressures made.

Although never truly prolific prior to this latest season, such a sensational season is hard to ignore, with the Madrid-born star potentially the man to fill the striking void at the London Stadium.

The Hammers currently have just Michail Antonio as their only senior, recognised centre-forward – having failed to replace club-record flop Sebastian Haller – with the Jamaica international himself admitting the need for increased competition.

Despite an early flurry at the start of the season, the 30-year-old has rubberstamped the belief that he is not a long-term fit to lead the line, enduring a notable dry spell in 2022 in which he scored just three league goals following the turn of the year.

His total tally of 13 goals in all competitions is his best return in a season for the club, although that remains a relatively underwhelming figure for a number nine, particularly when compared to Simeone’s haul last term.

Also – somewhat surprisingly – Antonio ranks poorly for his defensive work compared to the potential new arrival, ranking in just the top 47% for pressures made and the top 51% for blocks made.

That’s not to suggest that Moyes and co should dispense with him this summer, although a quality replacement is needed if the east Londoners are to really kick on next season, with Simeone seemingly the man for the job.

IN other news, GSB plotting bid for £13.5m-rated “revelation”, he could be West Ham’s next Sinclair 

Celtic are interested in signing young Argentine left-back Francisco Ortega in the summer transfer window, according to a new transfer rumour.

The Lowdown: Summer business expected

Ange Postecoglou may still be basking in the glory of winning the Scottish Premiership title but attention will soon turn to incoming signings if it hasn’t already.

The Australian will know that he has to make Celtic’s squad even more formidable, ahead of what is hopefully a successful title defence and a return to the Champions League in 2022/23.

Left-back could be an area that the Hoops look to strengthen – there have been plenty of links to Iraq international Mohanad Jeahze – and a new update has emerged in that respect.

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The Latest: Celtic eye up Ortega move

According to The Daily Mail‘s Stephen McGowan, sharing his article on Twitter, Celtic are keen on signing Velez Sarsfield defender Orteta this summer:

“Celtic looking at Argentinian U23 left-back Francisco Ortega.”

Expanding in the report, McGowan says the Hoops have compiled impressive scouting reports on the talented young South American, and are also closing in on a permanent deal for Jota.

The Verdict: Great for squad depth

Ortega could be a shrewd signing by Celtic ahead of next season, acting as a strong backup option to Greg Taylor, ahead of Boli Bolingoli’s expected exit.

The 22-year-old is a player who ‘dominates defensively’, according to South American fan site Football FV, as well as being described as a ‘very all-round left-back’, suggesting he would be a strong acquisition.

The fact that Argentinian giants River Plate have reportedly shown an interest in signing Ortega is a sign that he is a big prospect in his homeland, and this could yet prove to be another shrewd snip from Ange in the transfer market.

In other news, Kieran Devlin has dropped a Celtic transfer claim. Read more here.

Joe Gomez could leave Liverpool this summer because of a lack of first-team opportunities, according to former Premier League striker Noel Whelan.

The Lowdown: Gomez overlooked at Liverpool

The Reds are enjoying one of their most memorable seasons of all time, already winning two trophies and with an unprecedented quadruple still mathematically possible.

Gomez has struggled to play much of a part in that success, however, finding himself below Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez and Joel Matip in the centre-back pecking order.

The 24-year-old has been linked with a move away from Anfield this summer in order to become a regular elsewhere.

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The Latest: Summer exit predicted

Speaking to Football Insider, Whelan claimed that Gomez will likely move on to pastures new over the next few months. The one-time BBC radio pundit outlined:

“I think the fact that Steven Gerrard’s dipping into his old club is one thing. He obviously likes the player. I think he’s a very good player, quite frankly. You’ve got Joel Matip and Konate ahead of you. He’s now fourth in the pecking order when it comes to centre-halves.

“There might be a discussion between the player and manager. If there is a possibility, I think Jurgen Klopp’s a fair man. I think he’ll be very honest with Joe Gomez regarding his future, regarding game time next season.

“They’ve got cover for the right back areas as well. That’s been covered at left-back and right-back.

“It’s only that central defence area he’s got an opportunity to play. I think it’s one thing, the fact that Steven Gerrard’s interested. There could be a possible deal on the cards there come the end of the season.”