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Journalist Fabrizio Romano has revealed that Erik ten Hag remains a huge fan of Frenkie de Jong but a transfer to Manchester United isn't looking likely.

What's the latest on Frenkie de Jong and Man United?

It was probably the biggest saga of last summer's transfer window as the Red Devils tried all they could to land the Dutch midfielder.

In the end, though, De Jong seemed desperate to stay in Barcelona and having just won La Liga, he likely won't regret his decision.

This week, though, those rumours have been dug up again as the 26-year-old has been talking about the past interest.

Indeed, he told Dutch broadcaster NOS (via 90min): "Manchester United already spoke with Barcelona [last summer] despite the fact that I wanted to stay here."

He added: "The club was in a difficult situation. They were able to sell me for a big fee, and they wanted to do this, but I did not want to leave so I stayed."

With De Jong in the news again, Romano provided an update on his current situation at Barcelona going into this summer, with Ten Hag still his biggest fan.

The journalist said on his YouTube channel (4:39): "So this summer he still wants to stay at Barcelona. Frenkie's idea is to stay at Barcelona.

"Let's see how the financial situation will be at Barca. But the idea is to continue together.

“On Man United's side, Erik ten Hag remains a fan, a big fan. Probably the biggest fan of Frenkie de Jong but he also knows that at the moment the player wants to stay at Barca.

"And the only way to change this story is for Barca to force the situation but Xavi wants Frenkie de Jong to stay in the club."

What happened between De Jong and Man United?

Seeing as De Jong has worked with Ten Hag before at Ajax, it's no wonder the manager is a big fan of the midfielder and it feels like it could be a good fit.

However, even though work was genuinely in progress last summer as Barca seemed prepared to sell their man, the 26-year-old didn't want to leave Spain.

And after enjoying a fine season under Xavi – with a 7.14 WhoScored average La Liga match rating (fourth best in the team) – it's not hard to see why the player and manager want to maintain that relationship.

However, as Romano mentions, if Barca are in need of some cash, they may look to force a sale just as they did last summer – after all, he does earn a reported £626k-p/w.

And with Ten Hag no doubt waiting and ready to land his ideal transfer, perhaps it would be unwise to rule this out completely just yet.

Newcastle United have exceeded expectations this season by qualifying for the Champions League with a top-four finish and reaching the Carabao Cup final, falling to Manchester United in a close encounter.

Returning to the pinnacle of continental competition after a two-decade absence, Newcastle are in a sterling position to craft a lasting dynasty following the affluent PIF takeover of the club in October 2021, ending years of obscurity under the ownership of the loathed Mike Ashley.

While a plethora of names are in circulation with the opening of the transfer window just over two weeks away, supporters can rest easy and eagerly await the first announcement of the summer, with manager Eddie Howe stating that four 'elite' additions will be targeted to bolster the fold.

One of the shrewder signings could come in the form of Red Devils midfielder Scott McTominay, with Football Insider claiming that the 26-year-old has told friends that he wishes to leave the Theatre of Dreams this summer after falling out of favour under the tutelage of Erik ten Hag.

Newcastle are joined by West Ham United in their pursuit of the tenacious midfielder, who still has two years on his current contract with the option for a further year.

Should Newcastle sign Scott McTominay?

Eyebrows might be raised by a smattering of Magpies supporters, but McTominay could represent an astute piece of business for a Newcastle side preparing for an increase in competition after qualifying for the Champions League.

While the 38-cap international has only started ten Premier League matches all season, including just four since September, he has made 207 total appearances for his solitary club and played a role in clinching the Carabao Cup trophy earlier this season.

He could also bring an offensive threat to Howe's squad, ranking among the top 23% of midfielders across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for rate of non-penalty goals and the top 5% for expected goals (xG) – the metric used to define the statistical measurement of the probability that a shot will find the back of the net.

While the 6 foot 4 brute has been underperforming in front of goal, it is an indication that his position is in the final third, emerging from the half-spaces to occupy promising pockets of space, and this is something that could play into the Magpies' favour as they seek fresh dimensions to enhance their prospects next term.

The £60k-per-week gem's defensive acumen isn't too shabby either, ranking among the top 1% of positional peers for clearances and the top 18% for rate of tackles per 90, praised as a "physical monster" by former boss Ole Gunnar Solskjær.

Signing the "superb" conductor – as he has been praised by writer Hesham Bilal-Hafiz – could draw rumours of Newcastle interest in Juventus midfielder Adrien Rabiot to a close, with FBref drawing similarities between the respective skill sets of the midfielders.

Despite Rabiot's contract in Turin concluding this summer, his £150k-per-week wages could prove to be a stumbling block in any negotiations, with Gazzetta dello Sport reporting at the start of the campaign that the 6 foot 2 Frenchman demanded £162k-per-week wages from Man United when the Red Devils were in negotiation for his signature last summer.

And with the towering aces both exhibiting a similar skill set – Rabiot ranks among the top 3% of midfielders for rate of non-penalty goals, the top 17% for rate of clearances and the top 16% for aerials won per 90 – Howe may well be inclined to delve down the shrewder avenue and tie up a deal for a Prem-proven star in McTominay.

Leeds United are set for talks with Sam Allardyce, but it is unlikely he will be offered the manager's job for next season, according to a report from The Daily Mail.

Who will Leeds appoint as manager?

Leeds have already been linked with several managers after their relegation from the Premier League, including former Chelsea boss Graham Potter, with The Daily Mail mooting him as an "intriguing name", due to his history of working with young players.

The Whites are also said to admire West Bromwich Albion manager Carlos Corberan, and they could make a move for the Spaniard this summer, although his contract with the baggies does include a release clause which would need to be paid.

YouTuber Connor McGilligan has urged the Leeds hierarchy to move on from Allardyce, who has recently indicated he could be willing to stay on as manager, however, he is set for talks with the board today.

According to a report from The Daily Mail, the 68-year-old will meet with chiefs to discuss his future, and it is not completely out of the question that he is persuaded to throw his hat into the ring.

That said, a move is deemed unlikely at this stage, despite the fact the former England boss is said to have impressed Angus Kinnear and other members of the board during his brief spell in charge at Elland Road. As the proposed takeover by the San Francisco 49ers is up in the air, Leeds are unlikely to make any appointment until that situation is resolved.

Should Leeds appoint Sam Allardyce?

The Englishman, who normally plays a 4-3-3 system, has received high praise from well-respected managers, including Pep Guardiola, who lauded him as a "genius" for his ability to turn around the form of struggling teams, but he did not manage to get the results to keep Leeds up.

Although he only took charge of four matches, the veteran manager picked up just one point, and he also failed to keep West Bromwich Albion up in his previous job, recording an average of just 0.73 points per match.

"Big Sam" has had his fair share of success in the past, leading Bolton Wanderers and West Ham United to promotion from the second tier, which indicates he could be a good appointment for Leeds. However, both of those promotions were quite some time ago, and the Whites may be better off looking to appoint a younger manager, with a better recent track record.

Everton will need to add some quality new additions to avoid another Premier League relegation battle next season and now a new update has emerged on a potential transfer target.

What's the latest on Everton's interest in Harry Maguire?

According to Football Transfers, Everton are one of the clubs interested in securing the signing of Manchester United defender Harry Maguire.

As per the report, Tottenham Hotspur and Aston Villa joining the Toffees in their interest in signing Maguire and will need to pay £35m to snap up his services this summer.

It is claimed that Maguire is desperate for first-team football ahead of Euro 2024 next summer, so is assessing his options with both Premier League and European clubs at present.

Would Harry Maguire be a good signing for Everton?

There is no doubt that the Blues are crying out for some quality in their squad after suffering their second consecutive relegation scrap at the bottom of the table this season.

The Toffees finished 17th with just two points sparing them on the final day from a drop into the Championship for the first time in Premier League history and now Sean Dyche will head into his first summer transfer window at Goodison Park with a number of key areas to address.

Indeed, the signing of prolific forwards will be Everton's highest priority this summer, however, finding a worthy partner to join James Tarkowski to form a dream centre-back partnership would be hugely advantageous in their pursuit of competing more comfortably moving forward.

As a result, the signing of Man United skipper Maguire could be exactly what Dyche needs to bring in a player who has a wealth of Premier League experience and the profile to fit perfectly into the former Burnley boss' footballing philosophy.

Despite finding himself largely out of favour this season at Old Trafford, the England ace still ranks in the top 20% of his positional peers across the top five European leagues for aerial duels won, blocks, touches and progressive carries, outlining his ability as a bullish but modern centre-half.

Not only that, Maguire has tallied up an 87% pass completion rate and successfully completed 67% of his dribbles over 16 top-flight appearances this season, as well as averaging 2.6 clearances, 42.4 touches, and winning 2.4 duels, all while only averaging 49 minutes per game.

The 30-year-old misfit may be having a tough time competing for a starting spot under Erik ten Hag but has still drawn high praise from his Dutch coach after his performance in the Europa League a few months ago:

"He's more dominant and dictating, he's taking more initiative on the training pitch and I think also in the Real Betis game, he showed leadership, especially in those aspects of initiative and dictating of the game."

With that being said, it would be a no-brainer for Everton to strike up a deal to sign Maguire this summer, as the centre-back could bring some great assets and match the quality of Tarkowski in the back-line.

Tottenham Hotspur are believed to be plotting a move for Chelsea midfielder, Conor Gallagher, with the Englishman currently facing an uncertain future in west London.

What's the latest on Gallagher to Tottenham?

According to journalist Lee Wilmot, the Lilywhites are said to be keen on signing the 23-year-old this summer as Ange Postecoglou looks to strengthen his midfield options, with a departure from the Blues seemingly in the offing for the former Crystal Palace loanee.

Writing on Twitter, the respected insider revealed: "Understand Tottenham are interested in signing Conor Gallagher from Chelsea this summer. The 23-year-old is expected to leave Stamford Bridge, with Spurs a potential destination."

In his attached piece for football.london, Wilmot goes on to add that the six-cap maestro – who is reportedly valued at around £50m – has been linked with a move to Newcastle United of late, albeit with the Magpies now said to be looking at 'other options', potentially opening the door for the north Londoners to pounce.

Would Gallagher be a good signing for Tottenham?

Having shone during his loan stint at Selhurst Park in the previous campaign – where he bagged eight goals and three assists in 34 Premier League games – it is fair to say that Gallagher was not able to hit those heights again as part of a struggling Chelsea side last term, having contributed just three goals and one assist in 35 league outings.

That being said, however, the £50k-per-week menace remains a "hungry" and "high energy" talent – as described by pundit Ally McCoist – that could well breathe new life into Tottenham's midfield, with the current starting pair of Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and Oliver Skipp having been criticised by talkSPORT's Perry Groves earlier this year, as they seemingly "don't do anything".

The addition of the Blues ace may also prove to be something of a masterstroke for Postecoglou due to his apparent likeness to compatriot and new Real Madrid man, Jude Bellingham, having compared favourably to his international colleague, according to FBref.

That similarity between the two midfielders is notably showcased by their all-action style, with Gallagher having been described as a "box-to-box" player by writer Zach Lowy – while Bellingham – who only recently sealed an £88.5m switch to the Bernabeu – has been described as a player that can "do everything" by Sky Sports pundit, Gary Neville.

That ability to make an impact at both ends of the pitch is shown by the fact that the two youngsters can put in the hard yards defensively, with the latter man ranking in the top 7% for blocks made among his European peers, while Gallagher ranks in the top 4% in that regard.

Equally, the pair also have a real desire to get involved in the action in the final third despite typically operating in a central midfield berth, shown by the fact that the Chelsea man ranks in the top 3% for touches in the attacking penalty area, while Bellingham ranks in the top 2% for that same metric.

To share such statistical and stylistic similarities to the 19-year-old superstar is a sign of Gallagher's exciting potential, with the ex-Borussia Dortmund ace undoubtedly a player that any manager would wish to have in their side despite his relative youth, having been tipped to become the "best midfielder in the world" by Manchester City's, Phil Foden.

While the current Tottenham target may not be at that same level as his fellow Englishman, it would be a dream for Postecoglou to have his own version of Bellingham on the books at N17.

As Newcastle United's transfer window gets underway, one player who would fit in nicely at the club is Barcelona forward Ferran Torres, journalist Dean Jones has told Football FanCast.

The Spaniard's future at the La Liga champions is currently up in the air, with it recently being reported he could be on his way out this summer, and last week, the Daily Mail reported that the Magpies were interested in bringing him back to England.

What's the latest Newcastle transfer news?

After securing Champions League football for the first time in 20 years this season, the Magpies are keen to build on their success and Eddie Howe's side has been linked to a number of different players.

The Athletic recently reported that Newcastle are close to signing 18-year-old winger Yankuba Minteh from Danish side Odense Boldklub, with a loan move away from St. James' Park for the season likely for the Gambian teenager, but one winger that would fit in nicely with the team right now is Barcelona's Torres.

Having spent a couple of seasons in England with Manchester City, the 23-year-old has already proven his ability to play in the Premier League and Jones believes he would fit well at Newcastle and be the type of A-list signing they need.

What has Dean Jones said about Newcastle and Ferran Torres?

As Torres' future at Barcelona is unclear, Jones spoke highly of the forward and revealed that his personality would ensure he'd fit in well at the club ahead of any potential move.

Speaking to Football FanCast, the journalist said: "Ferran Torres is a very good technical footballer and in terms of personality, also fits well.

"He ticks the box of being a gettable A-lister."

What would Ferran Torres bring to Newcastle?

The Spaniard could be an effective signing for the Magpies for his proven European track record, as the club prepares for their first Champions League campaign in over two decades.

Torres could offer the side valuable experience in the European competition, and he's shown he has what it takes to perform in the Champions League, scoring three goals and creating one assistant in five appearances for Barcelona in the tournament this season, with four of the five seeing him coming off the bench. Adding someone who has a proven track record in Europe will benefit Newcastle as they make their return to the competition.

With Football Insider reporting that Allan Saint-Maximin could potentially be leaving the Magpies this summer, Torres would be a worthy replacement for the 26-year-old.

Liverpool are in the process of a midfield rebuild at Anfield this summer and now a new update has emerged on the club's pursuit of a potential transfer target.

What's the latest on Liverpool's interest in Romeo Lavia?

According to The Independent's chief football writer Miguel Delaney, Liverpool are in a four-way battle to sign Southampton star Romeo Lavia.

As per his most recent article, Delaney claims Arsenal, Manchester United and Chelsea join the Reds in the race to sign the midfielder this summer and it is expected that Saints will command a fee of £45m to part ways with their youthful asset.

Who would Romeo Lavia replace in the Liverpool team?

Jurgen Klopp and new sporting director Jorg Schmadtke have got off to a great start this summer with the signing of World Cup winner Alexis Mac Allister earlier this month.

When assessing the talent that Liverpool have been linked to this summer, including Khephren Thuram and Kouadio 'Manu' Kone, they appear to be targeting more youthful prospects who can develop into superstars at Anfield like those before them, instead of opting for more experienced and short-term solutions to bolster depth.

As a result, the signing of Lavia would be a fantastic opportunity for the Reds to inject another rising star into their successful squad, and he could be the dream understudy for Fabinho next season.

Over 29 Premier League appearances last season, the 19-year-old talent – hailed "perfect" by reporter Nick Emms – has tallied up an 86% pass completion rate and successfully completed 68% of his dribbles, as well as averaging 1.1 interceptions, 2.1 tackles and 4.9 duels won per game.

Not only that, Lavia ranks in the top 12% of his positional peers across the top five European leagues in 2022/23 for possession won, compared to Fabinho who ranked in the top 41%, demonstrating that the youngster is already showing stronger ball-winning capabilities than his Brazilian peer on Merseyside.

Liverpool have had huge success when acquiring the services of Southampton's talent with Adam Lallana, Virgil van Dijk and Sadio Mane just three of the players who have switched their allegiance to the six-time Champions League winners and thrived in the process.

With that being said, if the club could secure the services of Lavia, who Benjy Nurick views as a "monster", it would be a major coup and provide Klopp with a quality player to deploy instead of Fabinho, who could ultimately replace the Liverpool ace all-together in the defensive midfield role.

Burnley look set to bring in a first new face since earning promotion to the Premier League, as head coach Vincent Kompany attempts to assemble a squad capable of staying in the top flight.

Are Burnley signing Dara O'Shea?

BBC Sport reports that the Clarets are set to sign Dara O'Shea from West Bromwich Albion after the centre-back impressed in the Championship last season.

Albion need to bring in some money this summer due to their Premier League parachute payments coming to an end, and the sale of O'Shea is therefore considered a necessity to balance the books.

The report states that a deal in the region of £7m is due to be concluded with the player undergoing a medical at Turf Moor.

Where would Dara O'Shea fit in at Burnley?

Burnley have already made the loan signing of Jordan Beyer permanent this summer, signing the centre-back from Borussia Monchengladbach for a reported fee of £13m, but defensive partner Taylor Harwood-Bellis is back at parent club Manchester City.

It is perhaps no coincidence that O'Shea has very similar attributes to Harwood-Bellis, the man he is effectively being signed to replace. Indeed, FBref's player comparison tool ranks Harwood-Bellis ninth on the list of centre-backs most similar to O'Shea in terms of statistical profile, suggesting he would be perfect for Kompany and co.

Both players offer the occasional goal threat (0.05 goals per 90 minutes for O'Shea, 0.03 for Harwood-Bellis); they complete a similar number of passes (82.9% and 85% respectively); while they win a near identical amount of tackles (0.62 v 0.68) and likewise for percentage of aerial duels won (61.3 v 62.2).

Kompany regularly praised Harwood-Bellis last season, though he did suggest it would take time for the 21-year-old to find real consistency with his performances.

"The difference between a young player and an experienced player is usually the amount of consistency you can get in your performances," Kompany said. "That's how you become a centre-half that teams can trust."

Three years older than Harwood-Bellis, and with 19 senior caps for his country already under his belt, O'Shea is further along in his development than the talented City product.

One concern for Kompany would be O'Shea's injury history, having missed 25 games in the 2021-22 season and the final nine games of last season, prior to returning for Ireland's Euro 2024 qualifiers.

However, as then-West Brom boss Valerian Ismael put it when O'Shea recovered swifter-than-expected from the first of those lay-offs: "He has the mentality; he's a warrior."

Ranked by FBref in the top 5% of his positional peers for aerial duels won (4.24 per 90 minutes) and top 10% for passes attempted (65.24 per 90), the £15k-per-week earner looks like the ideal option for Kompany to partner Beyer – or indeed Hjalmar Ekdal – in the Premier League next season.

Moises Caicedo will "not be the last signing for Chelsea in terms of midfielders" this summer, according to transfers expert Fabrizio Romano.

Chelsea transfer news – What's the latest on midfield targets?

With the departures of N'Golo Kante and Matteo Kovacic already confirmed and the deal to sell Ruben Loftus-Cheelk to Italian giants AC Milan for £18.5m agreed as well, it is perhaps no surprise that the Blues would be on the lookout for more than just one new body in the centre of the park.

Add to that the completed deal to sell German international Kai Havertz to cross-city rivals Arsenal, and the Pensioners start to look very thin in an area of the squad that looked overcrowded just a month ago.

That said, Romano stressed that Brighton & Hove Albion's Ecuadorian machine is still the club's primary target this summer, and despite his information that the West London club will be looking for more players, he couldn't specify who exactly they were interested in.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, he said: "The discussions are going to take place for Caicedo, we wait for the next steps and, let me say, that from what I heard, this could be not the last singing for Chelsea in terms of midfielders.

"They could also consider one more midfielder in the next weeks, so lets wait and see, this will depend also on the pre-season, but Chelsea are going to be busy with midfielders."

However, one of the names that have been linked to the team is Southampton's exciting prospect Romeo Lavia, per FootballTransfers, a player Chelsea might have to rival Arsenal for should the interest be genuine.

Would Romeo Lavia be a good signing for Chelsea?

If the two-time European Champions can secure the signature of Caicedo, then 19-year-old Lavia could be the perfect understudy or even midfield partner for the Ecuadorian.

According to WhoScored, the Belgian teenager achieved a solid average rating of 6.56 across his 29 Premier League games last season, which looks quite promising in the context of his incredibly dysfunctional Southampton side.

He is also a bit of a defensive powerhouse, averaging 1.9 blocks per 90, putting him in the top 4% of players across Europe's top five leagues for that metric, per FBref.

Before he made the move to the south coast, he was a part of Manchester City's youth set-up, and his ability clearly left an impression on former boss Pep Guardiola, as the Spaniard heaped praise upon the player, saying:

"I am really impressed with what Romeo has done and is doing. We had, and we have, an incredible opinion about him. We thought to keep him, but maybe he would not (get) enough minutes like he has in Southampton."

In seasons past, the idea of a young player going to Chelsea to develop might've seemed farcical, but under new boss Mauricio Pochettino – a manager famed for his ability to develop youngsters – Stamford Bridge could just be one of the best places a burgeoning talent could go.

If Chelsea can beat their rivals to the signature of Lavia, it could turn out to be a signing that pays dividends further down the line.

It looks as if Mason Mount may not be the only midfield addition at Manchester United this summer, with the Red Devils reportedly eyeing a move for Southampton sensation, Romeo Lavia.

What's the latest on Lavia to Man United?

According to 90min, the Old Trafford outfit are still seemingly keen on strengthening in the centre of the park despite the recent £60m capture of Mount, with young Lavia said to be among the options being considered by Erik ten Hag.

While the report suggests that the signing of a new striker and goalkeeper remains the 'priority' for the former Ajax boss ahead of next season, a move for a player like the Belgian teenager – who has been valued at around £50m – could also be considered.

This comes amid a similar piece from Manchester Evening News which also revealed that Ten Hag is contemplating whether to make a second midfield signing, with the 19-year-old maestro believed to be being 'monitored' at present.

Who is Romeo Lavia?

The former Manchester City youth star – who made the move to St Mary's on a £14m deal last summer – was arguably one of the breakout stars of the 2022/23 campaign despite his side's eventual relegation, having been tipped to be a "top player" in the future by international colleague, Kevin De Bruyne.

Also regarded as a potential "leader" for his country and for a top Premier League club in the years to come – in the words of talent scout Jacek Kulig – Lavia has already made a strong impression during his embryonic senior career, having also earned notable praise from United legend Paul Scholes last season:

"He has got a pass in his locker and he is big and strong and likes to defend. He does not want to get forward too much and sits in-front of the back four and sets the play in motion from there."

As has previously been suggested, Ten Hag is believed to view the youngster as a potential successor to experienced Brazilian, Casemiro, in that defensive midfield role at the Theatre of Dreams, with further midfield depth also needed amid the uncertainty surrounding the futures of both Fred and Scott McTominay.

To be able to bring in such a highly-regarded wonderkid could have the adverse effect of harming one of United's own teenage gems, however, in the form of Kobbie Mainoo, with the 18-year-old Englishman potentially set to see his chances of game time hampered as a result of Lavia's possible arrival.

The "exceptional" talent – as described by MEN journalist Steven Railston – enjoyed a handful of outings in Ten Hag's senior set-up last term, with the expectation being that he will earn a permanent promotion to the first-team ranks moving forward.

A midfielder by trade – who operated in a deeper role in front of the back four during the club's glorious FA Youth Cup run in the 2021/22 season – Mainoo may then find that pathway blocked by the addition of Lavia, with it likely that the United boss would be more prone to handing minutes to a £50m, marquee signing, rather than a promising academy talent.

Of course, there may be hope for the Stockport native to ply his trade in a more advanced midfield berth, although the increased competition that would be provided by the Southampton star's arrival could prove to be bad news for his development.