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Manchester United are reportedly keen to make a move for Real Madrid defender, Antonio Rudiger, having previously been interested in the German centre-back prior to his move to the Bernabeu.

What are the latest Man United transfer rumours?

With rumours abound that Erik ten Hag is keen to move on club captain Harry Maguire this summer, reports in Spain are claiming that the Dutchman could have his eye on a possible replacement in the form of Rudiger.

The piece suggests that the Red Devils are plotting to make a bid of around €60m (£51m) to try and prise the 30-year-old from the La Liga side, albeit with Los Blancos said to be adamant that the 6 foot 3 ace won't be sold, after just a solitary season in the Spanish capital.

As per Manchester Evening News, the Old Trafford outfit were seemingly keen to sign the then-Chelsea man on a free transfer last year, albeit with the player ultimately opting to link up with Carlo Ancelotti's side instead, following the expiry of his contract at Stamford Bridge.

Should Man United sign Rudiger?

The Premier League giants have been no strangers to raiding Madrid for their experienced assets in recent years, having snapped up Casemiro on a £70m deal last summer, while also sealing a move for Raphael Varane for a reported fee of £41m in 2021.

Much like Rudiger, the latter man had seemingly been a long-term target for United prior to his eventual move to the Theatre of Dreams, with the World Cup winner making the switch after having won four Champions Leagues during his stint in Spain.

Lauded as a "world-class" asset by MEN journalist Samuel Luckhurst amid his arrival in England, Varane has endured his fair share of injury woes over the past two seasons, although the 30-year-old was a key figure under Ten Hag last term as the club ended their six-year trophy drought.

Described as "cool and calm and collected" by talkSPORT pundit Adrian Mariappa, the one-time Lens ace has made a real "influence" on the Red Devils due to his prior winning experience – according to his manager – with the hope being that Rudiger can follow suit if he is to make the same move this summer.

A former Champions League and Europa League winner with Chelsea during his time in west London, the "immense" defender – as hailed by ex-United man Rio Ferdinand – may be in the latter stages of his career, although like Varane, he certainly still has plenty to offer to Ten Hag.

The 60-cap gem's quality was notably evident in Madrid's first-leg, semi-final meeting with Manchester City back in May, having been praised by Ferdinand for managing to keep the menacing presence of Erling Haaland at bay.

Not that the former Roma man is merely a hot-headed, reckless asset, however, with the Berlin native able to mirror Varane's 'calm' approach as shown by the fact that he ranks in the top 5% among his European peers for pass completion, showcasing just how comfortable he is at playing out from the back.

Also like Varane – who has been hailed as a "leader" by Luckhurst – Rudiger is an "aggressive leader", according to former boss Thomas Tuchel, ensuring he can provide Ten Hag with another strong character in the dressing room.

With Maguire potentially on his way out, the signing of the £241k-per-week German would be a particularly astute piece of business this summer.

After securing survival on the final day of the last Premier League season, Everton will be looking to endure a slightly more stable campaign in Sean Dyche's first full year in charge at Goodison Park. And goals may be the answer to that.

The Toffees scored just 35 goals, only more than Wolverhampton Wanderers, as main man Dominic Calvert-Lewin struggled with injuries once again, missing a total of 14 games. When he was available, too, the Englishman managed to find the back of the net on just two occasions.

With that said, another forward arriving could benefit Calvert-Lewin and Everton as a whole, and, according to TuttoMercatoWeb, they have put in an offer for Leeds United forward Rodrigo this summer.

The 32-year-old didn't do enough to save Leeds last season, but he did, at least, manage to get his name on the score sheet 13 times in the Premier League, which would have made him Everton's top goalscorer last season in what could have saved them the stress of final day safety.

Transfer insider Dean Jones certainly believes that the Toffees would benefit by signing Rodrigo this summer, who could form a partnership with Calvert-Lewin. Jones told Football FanCast:

"I actually quite like the idea of a Rodrigo and Calvert-Lewin partnership. I think they could quite positively help each other.

"I know he couldn’t keep Leeds in the Premier League last season, but, ultimately, he’s a very good player. When he first came into the Premier League initially, I thought he’d do really well. And if you use him properly and not as an out-and-out nine, I think that Rodrigo could really give Everton a lot."

What role would Rodrigo play at Everton?

Rodrigo's main role at Leeds should have been supplying the goals for Patrick Bamford. But injury issues and a lack of form meant that the Englishman endured a season to forget. This is something that the Spaniard will be hoping to avoid a repeat of with Calvert-Lewin should he complete a move to Goodison Park this summer.

That may not be the case, however. At Everton, Rodrigo could be the man to finally get Calvert-Lewin back on form, who has previously thrived with a strike partner. When playing together with Richarlison in the 20/21 season, the forward scored 16 Premier League goals – his highest-ever total.

Since the Brazilian's departure to Tottenham Hotspur last summer, however, the academy graduate has found the back of the net just twice, albeit with injuries contributing to this.

Rodrigo can replicate that Richarlison impact, however, helping to revive Calvert-Lewin.

When compared to the 20/21 version of the forward, the Leeds United man made more progressive passes per 90, and, like the current Spurs man, made over two shot-creating actions per game, according to FBref. So, the evidence is there that Dyche can form a solid offensive partnership next season.

The £100k-per-week Rodrigo has certainly earned a lot of praise, too, with Sky Sports' Aaron McLean saying during Leeds' victory over Norwich in 2022: "Rodrigo was a livewire in that first half.”

We've seen in the past that strike partnerships can become the key to success for a Dyche side, with a Chris Wood and Ashley Barnes duo helping Burnley to unexpected heights.

Rodrigo and Calvert-Lewin can become the next great duo under Dyche, should the former make the move this summer.

Aston Villa are reportedly interested in Fredrik Aursnes as Unai Emery bids to bolster his midfield this summer.

The Spaniard has been joined by Monchi, who has a strong track record in recruiting efficiently as Villa aim to drive their squad to compete in Europe after confirming their place in next season’s UEFA Europa Conference League.

As revealed by Emery via The Athletic back in April, the four-time Europa League winner is aiming to introduce reinforcements all over the pitch.

In signing Aursnes, the Midlands club could hire a real talent in midfield in a player that could boost the options in the middle of the park.

The news speculating Villa’s link to the Benfica ace came courtesy of Portuguese outlet Record (via Sport Witness) earlier this week.

The report claimed that the Villans have made contact over potentially signing the 27-year-old, who has a release clause of €50m (£42m), adding that the Eagles would only let the player leave for such a fee.

What could Fredrik Aursnes offer to Aston Villa?

Lauded as a “class act” by Norwegian football expert David Weatherston, Emery could add to the talents that already adorn his midfield by signing the middle-of-the-park maestro.

Likened to £106.8m jewel Enzo Fernandez based on his statistics recorded over the past year, Aursnes is an accomplished figure to have in any side, as highlighted by his numbers.

In 28 appearances in Liga Portugal, the Norwegian averaged a Sofascore match rating of 7.01, scoring two goals and registering four assists from central midfield.

Averaging one key pass per game, the 27-year-old is a player equipped with an innate attacking ability, suggesting he could provide worthy competition for one of Emery’s stars in that area.

Despite missing a chunk of the season to injury, Boubacar Kamara has shown glimpses of his class in the middle of the park in acting as a sweeper sitting in front of the back line as well as providing a competent outlet in his skills in progressive play.

The 23-year-old could find himself having competition should Villa opt to sign Aursnes, who flexes a greater efficiency in a box-to-box role as suggested by statistics.

When comparing the two on their respective 2022/23 campaigns based on their numbers provided by FBref, it’s clear to see why the Portuguese champions value their player so highly.

The Hareid-born gem ranked in the top 1% for progressive passes per 90 (8.44), as well as topping the charts in terms of pass completion rate with an average of 85.1% in comparison to other attacking midfielders in the league.

Villa’s ace fell short in the same area averaging 4.25 progressive passes per 90 in the Premier League, while his pass accuracy of 84.8% was fractionally smaller.

Adding competition to any side is integral to promoting individual performance in the bid to bolster overall team performance, critical to challenging the Premier League and European competition efficiently.

Leeds United's relegation from the Premier League was a frustrating one given the talent within their squad, as it was believed that they had the requisite quality across the pitch to avoid the drop.

However, in the end, it was not standout poor performances that resulted in their Championship return, but instead questionable decisions from the hierarchy that had led to this catastrophic moment.

The sacking of Marcelo Bielsa should have ushered in a fresh new era at Elland Road, and yet in an effort to mimic what had clearly begun to go stale, the appointment of Jesse Marsch marked the beginning of the end.

He may have guided them to safety, but the season following he had to go. Javi Gracia and Sam Allardyce could not undo the havoc he had wreaked on this squad, that boasted the goalscoring talents of Rodrigo and the midfield magnificence of Tyler Adams.

Whilst the former has been destined to depart for some time, should the 49ers tempt the USA international to give them one more year, he could be the catalyst that secures them instant promotion.

Especially if they are to pair him with Harry Winks, who reports have suggested the Whites are interested in. That said, they would have to hijack any proposed deal on the table that Leicester have, with the Foxes looking set to procure his signature.

Would Harry Winks improve Leeds United?

As a safe and steady presence in the engine room, his calming demeanour could complement the all-action style of Adams.

After all, both have enjoyed solid campaigns in England at some point in their careers, with the 24-year-old American's having only come last term. His 6.98 average rating was upheld through one key pass and 3.7 tackles per game (via Sofascore), outlining his presence all over the pitch.

When given the opportunity, this touch-tackling maestro can be just as influential in attack as he can in screening the back four.

It is these qualities that suggest someone like Winks would be the perfect partner for him, with his loan spell in Italy serving to prove this. Whilst hardly outstanding in any area of the game, it is this versatility that could allow Adams to operate wherever he sees fit, knowing that his partner will cover for him.

In the Serie A, the 27-year-old Englishman maintained an 85% pass accuracy in the engine room, alongside 1.2 interceptions, 1.4 tackles, one clearance and 0.8 key passes per game, via Sofascore.

His pass accuracy would actually make him the most accurate passer within the Leeds squad from last season. Such devotion to doing the dirty work saw him deserving of the title of a "top professional", bestowed upon him by pundit Paul Robinson.

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The £8m-rated general's arrival could prove instrumental in actually tempting the former RB Leipzig star to stick around in Yorkshire, as it would be a show of faith to the importance he would hold for the new season.

After all, having been branded a "monster" in the past by former pro Alexi Lalas, with Winks beside him he could surely recapture this form in the Championship with ease.

Liverpool are battling a top flight rival to sign Fiorentina midfielder Sofyan Amrabat, with the Reds now ready to stump up the money to sign the World Cup breakout star, according to a report from Firenzeviola.it via Sport Witness.

Is Sofyan Amrabat really that good?

The midfielder has been with Fiorentina for three seasons now, having initially caught the eye with Hellas Verona in the same division. He has gone on to appear in 83 Serie A games for the La Viola since that transfer deal.

In 2022/23, he managed 29 league outings as well as starring in their Europa Conference League campaign, showcasing how good he can be on the big stage. That's because, when compared to others in his position amongst the Men's 'Top Five' big leagues, he ranks very impressively. For example, his progressive passes rate of 7.93 per 90 puts him in the top eight percent in that category and his 88.8% pass completion rate has him in the 95th percentile in that figure too.

It shows that he rarely makes mistakes with the ball despite seeking to make dangerous and incisive passes – the numbers even put him on a par with Liverpool's own pass-master, Thiago Alcantara, who ranks slightly better for progression but slightly worse for accuracy.

Now, according to a report from Firenzeviola.it via Sport Witness, the player has suitors from other leagues. Both Liverpool and Newcastle have an interest in the midfielder it seems and both clubs are "ready to pay" the asking price that Fiorentina want to ensure Amrabat ends up in the Premier League.

They appear to be the only two clubs currently willing to pay the required amount to convince the Serie A side to flog the 26-year-old.

What is Amrabat's transfer value?

With Fiorentina having paid around 19.5 million Euros to bring him to Italy, they'll want to fetch even more than that in the next deal for Amrabat. No potential fee is mentioned here in regards to a transfer deal – so it is actually unclear how much Liverpool are prepared to pay for the midfielder – but Transfermarkt suggests that his value is around the 30 million Euro mark (or £26m). Whilst more than the Serie A side paid, it is still a relatively cheap deal for the player.

When you consider what has been said about him in the game too, it makes that amount as a potential fee seem low. Football journalist Josh Bunting for example called the player "outstanding" during Fiorentina's Europa Conference League game against West Ham, also adding that he "ran the game" for the Italian side, while his displays on the biggest stage of all, the World Cup, drew mass media acclaim.

When a club releases a new home kit, fans line up, ready to purchase what they hope will go down as a historic shirt, which sees endless trophies.Sometimes, a shirt can become famous for the wrong reasons, however, and that’s exactly the case for Arsenal’s recently released 2023/24 home kit.The club have been forced to suspend the sale of the home shirt due to an error in the design.

Why did Arsenal suspend the sale of their new home shirt?

There’s nothing quite like honouring legends in football. The only issue is when you get it wrong, and things become a tad awkward.

Adidas and Arsenal attempted to insert a piece of history into the white trim of their new home shirt by outlining all the 38 games that the famous 2003/04 side remained unbeaten in to become invincible.

Somewhere along the way, however, communication must’ve taken a wrong turn, as Arsenal’s new home shirt only features 32 games of that historic run under Arsene Wenger. Unbeaten for over half of the season doesn’t quite have the same ring to it, does it?

Costing a hefty £110, it’s fair to say that the club and designers have made a costly error, as fans begin to contemplate whether to return their shirt or keep it in hope of it becoming a rare collectors item in years to come.

Releasing a statement about the error, Adidas told The Evening Standard:

“The 23-24 Arsenal Home Authentic Jerseys are temporarily unavailable while a design error is being corrected.

“We are working closely with the club and our partners to ensure restocked jerseys are available as soon as possible, and are offering full refunds to fans who have already bought one.

“This design error falls short of the standards we set ourselves as a brand, and we apologise to the club and its fans.

“The replica ‘fan’ version of the Home Jersey is unaffected and widely available now.”

The shirt is set to be re-released later this year.

How did Arsenal fans react to the mistake?

As expected, Arsenal fans were not happy with the mistake, with some taking to Twitter to air their grievances:

An update has emerged on Glasgow Rangers and their efforts to improve the quality of their attacking options in the summer transfer window…

What's the latest on Josh Maja to Rangers?

According to Football Scotland, the Light Blues could make a move for Bordeaux centre-forward Josh Maja if they decide to revisit their interest in the Nigerian international.

The report claims that the player is not at the top of the club's shortlist of strikers that they want to bring to Ibrox this summer but has been mentioned in the past as a target.

It states that the 24-year-old is now available on a free transfer ahead of the 2023/24 campaign as he is not set to extend his contract with the Ligue 2 side, which expires at the end of this month.

Should Rangers sign Josh Maja?

Michael Beale must swoop to snap up the former Sunderland gem, whose natural talent was hailed as "rare" by ex-Rangers forward Jermain Defoe, as his form in the 2022/23 season suggests that he would be way better than Dutch forward Sam Lammers.

The Gers are reportedly finalising a £3m deal to sign the Atalanta star this summer but his record in front of goal in recent years leaves a big question mark hanging over his head.

Lammers scored two goals in 33 Serie A appearances last season and has only scored seven league goals since the start of 2019/20 – across the Eredivisie, Bundesliga, and the Italian top-flight combined.

Maja, on the other hand, is coming off the back of an exceptional year in the second division of French football with Bordeaux.

The English-born marksman plundered 16 goals in 34 starts and proved himself to be a reliable goalscorer at that level throughout the campaign.

He had a conversion rate of 21% and these statistics suggest that the £10k-per-week whiz could be a superior option to Lammers, who converted a dismal 4% of his efforts in the Serie A during the 2022/23 season as the Atalanta dud scored twice from 4.79 expected goals (xG) whilst on loan at Empoli and then with relegated Sampdoria.

The profligate Dutchman also only created two 'big chances' for his teammates in the Italian top-flight and Maja could offer more in that respect as the Bordeaux talent produced eight 'big chances' for his fellow forwards in Ligue 2 and registered six assists.

Although it is difficult to gauge the difference in quality between the two divisions, these statistics indicate that the Nigerian international would be way better for Beale than Lammers due to his very recent track record of excelling as a goalscorer and a creator, whilst the wasteful 26-year-old has struggled badly in recent years.

As such, Rangers must prioritise a swoop for Maja in the coming weeks.

Mauricio Pochettino has landed the unenviable task of attempting to pinpoint Chelsea’s new striker and finding the right method to maximise their talents.

During this abysmal campaign, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Kai Havertz, and Joao Felix have all been deployed as the focal point – and although the latter displayed minor flashes of brilliance, watching this trio all separately play as a central striker was an unfulfilling and frustrating experience.

One name that has been floated around as the solution to this damaging problem is Lautaro Martinez, who has demonstrated is more than capable of filling this humongous void.

What’s the latest on Lautaro Martinez to Chelsea?

According to The Times, Chelsea will be rivalled by Real Madrid for the 25-year-old’s signature.

The reigning European champions are in the market for a frontman after Karim Benzema’s sudden departure to Saudi Arabia.

A previous report by the Football Insider has revealed that it will take a £70m offer to tempt the Nerazzurri to sanction his sale.

Who can Lautaro Martinez emulate at Chelsea?

The Argentine has arguably been unplayable this season – he has netted 28 times in all competitions and was the second-highest scorer in Serie A.

The 48-cap international was the protagonist of Inter’s recent trophy lift against Fiorentina, who they beat 2-1 in the Coppa Italia. Unsurprisingly, Martinez was on the scoresheet twice and has registered the highest average match rating (7.18) in the squad over the campaign, as per Sofascore.

The Milanese giants will be hoping he can replicate this spell-binding potency in the Champions League final this evening when they take on treble-chasing Manchester City in Istanbul.

If the Blues secured this audacious swoop, Martinez could repeat the tricks of the irrepressible Nicolas Anelka at Stamford Bridge. The Frenchman spent four years in the English capital, scoring 59 goals and registering 36 assists in 184 games, while also winning one Premier League and two FA Cups in that time.

In his first full season at Chelsea, the former Arsenal prodigy found the net 19 times, was crowned as the division's joint-top scorer, and stepped up when Drogba’s season was ravaged by injury as he only scored on five occasions.

This is similar to the current situation at the San Siro, as Martinez has netted more than fellow forwards Edin Dzeko and Romelu Lukaku, combined.

However, what Anelka and Martinez share is the ability to be the driving force of the attack, but is also able to combine and conjure up a formidable striking partnership.

For Anelka, this was shown in 2009/10, when he and Drogba recorded 61 goal involvements in the top flight as Chelsea secured the Premier League title.

Similarly, in the 2020/21 season, the World Cup winner and the aforementioned Lukaku notched the same number of goal contributions in their imperious Serie A triumph.

Described as “spectacular” by Lionel Messi, the £186k-per-week man’s versatility, his mastery of being the main source of goals or sharing the responsibility, and his experience in playing as a single or double striking force, make him an extremely attractive prospect for the west London outfit.

Arsenal are "firmly in the driving seat" to sign Brighton star Moises Caicedo after "multiple conversations" with his agents, according to reports.

Who could Arsenal sign this summer?

The north Londoners, according to various reports, have earmarked the signing of a central midfielder, or even two, during the upcoming summer transfer window.

This has lead to links with Man City captain Ilkay Gundogan, Wolves star Ruben Neves and Chelsea's Mason Mount among others – but it is in the defensive midfield where Arsenal are determined.

Indeed, a plethora of targets have been mentioned, including Southampton midfielder Romeo Lavia, yet perhaps the top two names are West Ham United's Declan Rice and Caicedo.

The former has attracted serious interest, with a bid apparently in the pipeline and verbal agreement already being reached, according to recent claims.

It appears the Gunners are favourites for Rice as things stand, but that apparently won't stop them making a move for Caicedo either.

According to Football Transfers, Arsenal do indeed want two midfielders this summer, so their "exciting progress" on a Rice deal won't affect Caicedo's potential arrival.

On the Ecadorian, it is believed Mikel Arteta's side are "firmly in the driving seat" to sign him this summer, coming after "multiple conversations" with the player's representatives and the ability to offer Champions League football.

In a further promising piece of news from the outlet, Brighton apparently believe Arsenal will pay the £75 million fee required for Caicedo's signature. The Premier League top four side agreed personal terms with him back in January, and they apparently still stand heading into the summer.

Who is Moises Caicedo?

Having starred on the south coast under Roberto De Zerbi last season, Caicedo is currently a hot commodity.

Only Pascal Gross and Lewis Dunk were selected more in the league for Brighton, with Caicedo also averaging more tackles and interceptions per 90 than any of his teammates over 22/23 (WhoScored).

South American football expert Tim Vickery is in no doubt over his quality, either, who said this on the 21-year-old before Brighton managed to sign him (BBC via Sussex Express):

“Caicedo is a terrific player. Independiente del Valle are a small club that continue to exist based on developing players in order to sell them.They do it unbelievably well, bringing in top-class Spanish youth coaches to develop their players. Caicedo made stepping into the first team at his club and with his national team look like a breeze in 2020.“He’s a box-to-box midfielder, a terrific athlete who is cool in possession. He’s not a wizard, not a glamorous player but he’s got so much to offer.”

Chelsea have been poor this campaign and will be desperate for the close of play to arrive so they can focus on what is set to be a busy summer ahead at Stamford Bridge.

The Blues will take on Newcastle United on Sunday at home in the Premier League before taking a break to regroup before 2023/24. Mauricio Pochettino is expected to take the reins in SW6 in the off-season following a lengthy manager search by the Blues' hierarchy.

Sizing up potential transfer incomings and outgoings will be a key task for the Argentine upon arrival and Chelsea have been linked with some high-profile players as they eye another spending spree under Todd Boehly.

The Guardian report that Pochettino has earmarked Napoli striker Victor Osimhen as a target for his rebuild in west London as he looks to add an elite forward to the Chelsea attack to lead from the front next term.

What's the latest transfer news involving Victor Osimhen and why is he so effective?

As cited by The Guardian, Osimhen is indeed 'on the radar' at Stamford Bridge; however, it is believed that it would take a 'huge fee' to entice the Nigeria international away from the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium.

Speaking to Football FanCast, journalist Ben Jacobs has echoed the sentiment that Chelsea pulling off a deal to sign Osimhen will be 'difficult' to do.

Jacobs told FFC: "I think that alongside Vlahovic, for Chelsea, Victor Osimhen remains a target and player that they hugely admire, but everybody chasing Victor Osimhen is well aware of how difficult that deal is to pull off. People forget sometimes what Napoli paid, which was €80 million all in, including bonuses and the valuation put on players that were also part of the deal to Lille, but the all in number is €80 million when everything is included. As a consequence, with the form that Osimhen is on and the level of interest when Napoli are asking for a fee well in excess of £100 million, that isn't because they're being greedy, it's because they are aware that Osimhen has significantly improved in value since they signed him. Because the fee that they paid to Lille was so hefty, it's obvious that, if possible, they would like something close to double what they paid and that's where this approximate number of €150 million comes from."

It is no surprise that interest in Osimhen is strong from Chelsea, as the 24-year-old has registered 28 goals and five assists in 37 appearances this term across all competitions, as per Transfermarkt.

Former Chelsea legend Gianfranco Zola has likened the £91k-a-week earner to Didier Drogba in a recent interview with Sky Sports via METRO, saying: "I see a lot of similarities but it’s unfair to compare players from different eras. They both play with a lot of physicality and they are both very good with scoring, taking their opportunities. He’s a very complete player. He’s got a good reference going forward, he can link up play and he’s devastating in the air. He’s a pest to defenders."

Bringing in Osimhen would be a real coup for Chelsea and there is an argument to say that he would be the best signing of Blues' co-owner Boehly's era so far. According to WhoScored, the frontman has averaged 4.2 shots per match in Serie A this campaign, demonstrating his ability to constantly trouble opposition backlines.

FBRef also show that the Nigerian has been among the elite forwards in Europe's top five divisions and has fared well in regard to his positional peers in the art of non-penalty goals in the last 365 days, averaging 0.85 per 90 minutes, putting Osimhen in the second percentile for this metric.

As per Tuttonapoli via GOAL, ex-Roma forward Ciccio Graziani has praised Osimhen's qualities as a striker, stating: “He's the top scorer in Serie A, he scores goals in every game. Maybe it won't be beautiful to see but he's effective. The highest performance in the entire league and it's the one that affects the most, so for me, he's my player in Serie A at the moment."

In a time of need for Chelsea, bringing Osimhen to Stamford Bridge would be the perfect tonic for the Blues to get back to challenging for major silverware in 2023/24.