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Crystal Palace have entered the race to sign Wolves midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White, according to The Daily Mail. 

The lowdown

The Eagles have made two additions to their squad so far this summer but have yet to make a dent in their transfer budget, as goalkeeper Sam Johnstone and winger Malcolm Ebiowei have arrived from Football League outfits West Bromwich Albion and Derby County on free transfers.

Vieira may be looking to strengthen his midfield after 2021/22 loanee Conor Gallagher returned to parent club Chelsea.

Gibbs-White belongs to Wolves but spent last season on loan at Sheffield United in the Championship. He is valued at £9.9m by Transfermarkt and is under contract at Molineux for another two years.

The latest

The Daily Mail journalists Simon Jones and Ben Miller have reported that Palace have identified Gibbs-White as a potential midfield reinforcement following Gallagher’s return to Stamford Bridge.

The Eagles are not the only Premier League club interested in the Wolves youngster, though, with Southampton and newly-promoted Nottingham Forest also keen.

The report stated that it is as yet unclear if Gibbs-White is part of Bruno Lage’s plans for the upcoming season, which suggests that the Molineux outfit could be open to letting him leave.

The verdict

Gallagher’s departure from Palace has certainly left a hole in the team, as he started 33 Premier League games last season and contributed eight goals and five assists.

Could Gibbs-White be the man to follow in his footsteps?

He certainly put up very strong numbers in the Championship, combining 12 goals with 10 assists. That return was good enough to earn Sheffield United’s Player of the Year and Young Player of the Year awards, while European football expert Alex Barker hailed his performances last season as ‘unreal’.

He might actually be more suited to the number 10 role in a 4-2-3-1 than in a 4-3-3, having operated as an attacking midfielder, second striker and centre forward at Bramall Lane.

The question is whether he can thrive at the very highest level, having rarely been trusted to start in the Premier League, so it would be something of a gamble for Vieira and Palace.

Transfer insider Fabrizio Romano has revealed that William Saliba is set to stay at Arsenal and be part of the first-team squad next season.

The Lowdown: On the periphery

The Frenchman first arrived in the Premier League when he joined the Gunners from Saint-Etienne in 2019, but is yet to make a senior appearance at the Emirates, having been sent out on loan three times since putting pen to paper in north London.

This has caused plenty of speculation in recent times, linking the 21-year-old with a move away from the capital, but it sounds like Arteta might have other ideas when it comes to planning the next stage of his career.

The Latest: Romano drops Saliba update

Taking to Twitter, Romano confirmed that Arsenal want to retain Saliba and are even keen on offering him fresh terms. He wrote:

“William Saliba situation. Rumours on loan move are wide of mark, Arsenal board and Mikel Arteta both count on Saliba as part of the team for next season.

“Been told situation could only change in case of crazy bid. Arsenal trust him – keen on discussing a new contract.”

The Verdict: Marseille success

Having initially spent £27m on signing Saliba in the first place, it would have been a shame for Arsenal to let him permanently go without giving him a chance to prove himself, so it’s nice to see that Arteta views him as part of his long-term plan.

The defender was a revelation at Marseille last season, averaging an incredible 93.1% pass success rate in Ligue 1, with his performances earning him a call up to Deschamps’ international squad.

With Gabriel and Ben White very much a comfortable pairing at the back, it’ll be interesting to see what the Gunners boss does with Saliba, dubbed ‘fast and powerful’ by Mattéo Guendouzi, but he will now at least have the opportunity to make an impression during pre-season.

Tottenham Hotspur supporters may have been handed a pretty significant update amid the Lilywhites’ mooted move to sign Barcelona defender Clement Lenglet.

The Lowdown: Paratici scattergun?

As Spurs continue to prepare for the 2022/2023 Premier League season, a central defensive upgrade is reliably believed to be on the agenda after sporting director Fabio Paratici sealed moves for Ivan Perisic, Fraser Forster and Yves Bissouma.

The club are also in negotiations to sign Everton star Richarlison, and as Paratici spins many plates, his scattergun approach is in full force when it comes to their attempts to sign a new defender.

Indeed, Torino star Gleison Bremer and Bayer Leverkusen sensation Piero Hincapie have both been at the centre of possible moves from Spurs as well as Lenglet recently.

The Latest: Journalist shares big Lenglet update…

Now, as per Toni Juanmarti of major Latin sports outlet Relevo, a significant update has surfaced as Paratici attempts to sign the latter man.

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He explained (via Twitter):

“Lenglet to Tottenham, now yes, he advances. Very important week. We will see…”

This follows other reports from Spain earlier in the week that an offer had been made and Lenglet was ‘close’ to agreeing to it.

The Verdict: Right man?

Lenglet’s £170,000-per-week salary (although some reports claim it’s much lower) could prove a sticking point in talks and we believe the likes of Bremer – who has stood out as one of Serie A’s best rising players in recent seasons – and Hincapie – dubbed South America’s best young defender – are far more impressive targets.

If the club are to match Conte’s ambition, signing Lenglet, who has struggled for game time at Barcelona, should ideally be viewed as a last resort for Paratici and co.

Indeed, even someone like Joško Gvardiol, who has been linked from RB Leipzig, arguably comes as a more exciting target also.

Sunderland AFC face the tough task of replacing Black Cats main-stay Aiden McGeady, after releasing the veteran winger last month.

Despite struggling with a knee injury in the season just gone, McGeady still managed to make 14 appearances for Alex Neil’s side, chipping in with a healthy seven returns in the form of three goals and four assists.

Whilst he did not directly contribute to the Black Cats’ play-off success on the pitch, his experience in and around the dressing room would surely have helped the side to pull off such a feat.

McGeady has been there through thick and thin with Sunderland, joining them in the Championship and staying with them as they sunk to the third tier of English football.

Sunderland could surely make use of an experienced and clinical midfielder in what could be a tough survival campaign in the Championship this season.

And they can find that experience in the soon-to-be free-agent Robbie Brady, who joined Bournemouth ahead of the second half of last season, with rumours around a potential move to Sunderland growing, as per TEAMtalk.

The 57-cap Ireland international only made six Championship appearances due to injury though, with Scott Parker stating this last year via the Bournemouth Echo:

“Robbie has been probably one of the most frustrated out of everyone really. It’s been very stop-start. It’s been niggly for Rob, so he’s pleased to be back.

“We need to try and keep him back now, keep him ticking along, because he’s got big quality, big experience as well and he could help us for the run-in.”

Brady, who has scored “cracking free-kick”, offers a greater level of versatility, being able to occupy both advanced and defensive positions along the flanks, and if he can stay fit, could bolster Neil’s side having been a first-team Premier League player just two seasons ago.

Available on a free, Brady is worth a gamble from the perspective of the Sunderland boss and could offer a similar presence to club veteran McGeady.

AND in other news: Huge Sunderland behind-scenes development emerges, supporters will be buzzing

According to 90min, sharing news in the last 24 hours, there has been some movement at Tottenham Hotspur involving Burnley forward Dwight McNeil.

The Lowdown: Spurs set sights…

Spurs head coach Antonio Conte is not stopping after locking up a deal for Premier League star Yves Bissouma, according to reports.

Fabrizio Romano backs that the Lilywhites have their eyes on even more signings before the start of 2022/2023 as links continue to emerge for players across Europe.

The likes of Christian Eriksen and Djed Spence have reportedly been targeted by the north Londoners, but according to 90min, it appears there is another new target on Fabio Paratici’s mind.

The Latest: Paratici makes contact…

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Tottenham and their sporting director have allegedly entered the mix for McNeil after Burnley’s relegation to the Championship.

It is believed they have already made contact and ‘asked’ the Lancashire side about a potential deal, but their star man is in-demand, with Newcastle, Everton, Brentford, West Ham and Fulham also lurking.

The Verdict: Move further?

Called a ‘sensational player’ by journalist Andy Jones of The Athletic, it’s safe to say McNeil has lived up to this tag over 2021/2022.

According to WhoScored, the 22-year-old was a Turf Moor untouchable last season with only goalkeeper Nick Pope playing more league minutes than Burnley’s starlet.

He also averaged more key passes and successful take-ons per 90 than any regular in the side and finished last season as Burnley’s second-best performer by average match rating (WhoScored).

The fact McNeil is homegrown may be another incentive to move given Tottenham’s troubling quota issues, and depending on his valuation, this move could be a shrewd one.

In other news: Tottenham enter ‘extraordinary’ defender talks as Sky Sports news emerges! Find out more here.

Nottingham Forest have been dealt a blow in their quest to sign Djed Spence permanently this summer, with Tottenham now confident of acquiring his signature.

The Lowdown: Summer of woe for Forest

Steve Cooper’s side secured promotion to the Premier League last month but their summer hasn’t got off to the most positive of starts in the transfer market.

Rumoured target Connor Goldson has signed a new deal at Rangers, while goalkeeping hero Brice Samba has reportedly rejected a new contract at the City Ground.

Now, a third major blow looks like it could be coming Forest’s way.

The Latest: Forest to lose Spence race

According to 90min, Spurs believe they will pip Forest to the signing of Spence this summer, with Antonio Conte looking to secure a deal for the right-back.

The north Londoners are willing to spend £20million on the Englishman, with personal terms on a long-term deal close to being agreed.

Spence enjoyed an outstanding season on loan from Middlesbrough, scoring two goals and registering four assists for Cooper’s side.

The Verdict: Hard to compete with Spurs

This is an undoubted concern for Forest, with Spence such an influential presence at right-back last season, bringing so much attacking energy and quality to the team.

Sadly, the lure of joining Spurs could be too much for him to turn down, however, considering they have qualified for next season’s Champions League.

There is still an element of hope that Spence ends up opting for Forest, where he would be a guaranteed regular, but they certainly can’t be considered the favourites to get their man now.

In other news, Forest have been dealt a blow regarding one player’s future. Find out who it is here.

Aston Villa must revive their interest in Montpellier winger Stephy Mavididi after the Englishman’s impressive campaign in Ligue 1.

What’s the word?

Italian news outlet Tutto Mercato Web claimed back in January that both Aston Villa and West Ham were taking an interest in the former Arsenal man. A move didn’t happen but a return to England is seemingly back on the cards.

The Birmingham Mail now claim that the likes of Everton, Brighton and Southampton are taking an interest in the 24-year-old attacker, so competition will be steep for Steven Gerrard if he wants to get a deal done, with reports suggesting that he would cost around £15m.

The new Saka?

Mavididi has found his feet at Montpellier and looks to be fulfilling the promise he showed at Arsenal as a youngster, which earned him a move to Juventus in 2018.

While it didn’t work out for the youngster in Turin, he has established himself as a key player at the Stade de la Mosson since making the move to France in 2020.

Last season saw the Englishman contribute eight goals and three assists in 30 Ligue 1 appearances, averaging a solid 6.71 rating from WhoScored for his performances.

Although he is four years older than Bukayo Saka, the similarities are clear to see between the two, as Mavididi progressed through the Arsenal academy and likes to cut inside from wide areas, as Saka does so well for Arsenal.

WhoScored suggests that finishing is a strength for both Mavididi and Saka, while they also both like to dribble, do layoffs and play short passes, as is perhaps ingrained in the Arsenal academy philosophy.

Both players have also earned the praise of Premier League legend Thierry Henry, as he lauded the Montpellier man last season, saying:

“What I’ve always liked about Stephy Mavididi is that he’s a hard-working player who closes (opponents) down. He’s always in the right place. What was missing was finishing — whether to give the ball or to score — but now he’s brought that to his game.”

Saka is also well-regarded for his work rate at Arsenal, so if Villa were to sign Mavididi this summer then perhaps Steven Gerrard could soon have his own version of the Gunners’ wonderkid at Villa Park.

And, in other news… Forget Suarez: Gerrard should unleash Villa’s “unsung hero” next season

Manchester United are close to reaching an agreement with Barcelona for Frenkie de Jong.

The Lowdown: Making moves…

An Old Trafford rebuild under Erik ten Hag is well and truly underway, with the club announcing exits for midfielders Paul Pogba, Jesse Lingard and Juan Mata.

The Red Devils are also working on a number of deals, with Ajax defender Jurrien Timber and Benfica striker Darwin Nunez key targets.

Reports have hinted that an agreement could be close between United and Benfica for Nunez following a first offer, and it looks as if the club could be about to break through in talks for De Jong as well.

The Latest: Morning update

Sports Witness relayed Spanish outlet Sport’s Saturday morning update regarding Manchester United and De Jong.

They claim that there is a ‘serious chance’ the midfielder swaps the Nou Camp for Old Trafford, with the two clubs ‘very close’ to reaching an agreement.

An €80m (£68.6m) figure was mooted in the report, which would provide Barcelona with a much-needed financial boost.

Ten Hag is personally involved in trying to ‘convince’ the player to join, and he now looks set to get his way.

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The Verdict: Fingers crossed

Described as a ‘genius’ by Xavi Hernandez, De Jong’s presence in Manchester is needed following three midfield departures.

The 25-year-old can play in a holding or box-to-box role and has appeared under Ten Hag on 59 occasions already, so could form part of a three-man midfield with Bruno Fernandes and a more defensive-minded midfielder, perhaps Fred.

Ten Hag clearly got the best out of De Jong seeing as their time together resulted in a mega-money move to Barcelona back in 2019, and it looks as if a reunion could well and truly be on the cards.

In other news: £90m bid: Man Utd now launch move for ‘big name’ star as Ten Hag looks to get one over on Conte. 

Newcastle United are reportedly preparing a bid to sign Manchester United goalkeeper Dean Henderson during the summer transfer window…

What’s the talk?

According to the Northern Echo, the Magpies are confident of securing a deal to sign the England international in the coming weeks.

The report claims that the club are set to make an offer of £15m and believe that it will be enough to wrap up a transfer upon the opening of the window next week.

Henderson is said to have decided that he needs to leave Old Trafford to further his career and Newcastle are looking to pounce on the opportunity to sign him.

It is also stated that the Toon are not looking to cash in on current stopper Martin Dubravka as he is set to provide competition for the jersey next season.

Eddie Howe would love him

The Magpies’ head coach would love him at St. James’ Park as he is a young shot-stopper with the potential to improve in the years to come.

Henderson is eight years younger than Dubravka and this means that he can be the long-term replacement for the Slovakian on Tyneside. He is still very young in goalkeeping terms and has the scope to be Newcastle’s first choice for a large number of years.

The 25-year-old is also a proven Premier League performer who will not need a period of adaptation to adjust to playing in England. He has played in two top-flight campaigns for Sheffield United and Manchester United combined and kept an impressive 17 clean sheets in that time – averaging an excellent SofaScore rating of 6.94.

Toon legend Alan Shearer previously lauded the shot-stopper as he named him in his 2020/21 Team of the Season. He said: “It was tough to leave out Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson, but Sheffield United’s season has been one of the best stories of the campaign and Henderson has been key to their success.

“The Manchester United loanee has kept 10 clean sheets and his bravery and confidence beyond his 23 years. He is a star in the making.”

The Premier League’s all-time top scorer believes that the Englishman has huge potential and that is why this is an exciting target for Newcastle to have. Howe will love to work with him to help the gem fulfil his potential and, hopefully, become the club’s number one for the foreseeable future.

AND in other news, Newcastle now plotting bid to sign maestro with 128 PL apps, just imagine him & Bruno…

According to transfer insider Dean Jones, West Ham United look set to ‘make an offer’ for Jesse Lingard during the upcoming transfer window.

The Lowdown: West Ham set to face competition for Lingard

The 29-year-old is a Manchester United academy product and has been at the club since the age of seven, having since gone on to make 232 senior appearances for the Old Trafford outfit.

The 32-cap England international joined the Irons on loan in January 2021 and hugely impressed during his time at the London Stadium.

With his current contract in Manchester set to expire at the end of June, it looks as though David Moyes has reignited his interest in the midfielder after it was revealed earlier this week that West Ham have made initial enquiries about the possibility of re-signing Lingard in the summer.

The Hammers are set to face competition for his signature, though, as Serie A trio Roma, AC Milan and Juventus are all believed to be keen on offering the Warrington native a route out of the Premier League, with the player reportedly demanding a £150k-per-week contract wherever his next destination is.

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The Latest: Jones makes Lingard ‘offer’ claim

Jones understands that West Ham are preparing to present an offer for Lingard and thinks that they will still have a go at making a proposal despite the 29-year-old’s hopes of landing a big-money move.

He told GiveMeSport: “They are going to make an offer to Jesse Lingard. They haven’t got around to it just yet, but there is going to be something happening on that front. We’ll just have to wait and see what that Lingard proposal is, first of all.”

The Verdict: Europa temptation?

Lingard was in scintillating form during his half-season at the London Stadium last year, so it comes as no surprise to see that the West Ham hierarchy are now trying to bring him to the club on a permanent basis.

The £18m-rated maestro scored nine goals and provided five assists in just 16 appearances under Moyes (as per Transfermarkt) and played a crucial part in helping the Irons to secure a club-record Premier League points tally and a crack at the Europa League, in which they went all the way to the semi-finals.

West Ham will now be looking forward to yet another season of European football next term after claiming a seventh-place finish in the league table, albeit in the Europa Conference League instead.

Nonetheless, the opportunity of playing regularly on the European stage may be a huge deciding factor when it comes to Lingard choosing where the next chapter of his career will take him.

In other news… a reliable journalist has dropped this ‘big’ West Ham transfer twist