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Wolverhampton Wanderers are open to cashing in on Ruben Neves this summer should their £50m price tag be met, according to reports in the last 48 hours.

Is Ruben Neves leaving Wolves?

The Premier League veteran has made 253 appearances at Molineux since arriving back in 2017 and has even become club captain, but with his contract set to expire at the end of next season, Julen Lopetegui will be provided with his final big opportunity to cash in during the upcoming window.

The Old Gold midfielder has been his side’s second best-performing overall, defensive and offensive player this season with a WhoScored match rating of 6.95 so he won’t be short of potential suitors, and having publicly admitted that he wants to join a more high-profile team to achieve his dream of competing in the Champions League, an exit could be on the cards.

The Portuguese international has primarily been attracting interest from Liverpool, Manchester United and Barcelona in recent months, and if the following update is to be believed, it would appear that the former have ramped up their pursuit in the hope of reaching an agreement.

Are Liverpool signing Neves?

According to Football Insider, Liverpool have “asked to be kept informed” of Neves’ situation at Wolves who are “likely to cash in” if their £50m price tag is met. The Midlands skipper has already “made up his mind to quit” and said “farewell” to supporters during the club’s final home lap of honour. The Anfield outfit “continue to have a strong interest” in the 26-year-old and are expected to “keep tabs” on any developments that occur ahead of the 2023/24 term.

Should Wolves keep or sell Neves?

Whilst Wolves will be tempted to sell Neves should a big-money offer arrive, Lopetegui will know how much of an integral member of the squad he is having been dubbed a “beast” by former USA international Jimmy Conrad, so the boss needs to do everything he can to retain the services of his captain beyond the summer.

The World Cup participant is extremely strong in the natural defensive midfield aspect of his game, ranking in the 99th percentile for clearances and recording 79 tackles since the start of the term which is higher than any other of his fellow teammates, as per FBRef.

The Wanderers talisman, who is capable of playing at centre-back and slightly higher up in central midfield outside of his usual role, can also be a threat in the final third with seven top-flight goal contributions this season, so for someone who can positively impact the game at both ends of the pitch, it’s a no-brainer for the club to try and keep hold of their most prized asset.

Chelsea attacker Kai Havertz is being targeted by Real Madrid independently of their other business, Fabrizio Romano has revealed.

What's the latest on Kai Havertz?

It was recently revealed that Real Madrid are lining up a shock move for the 23-year-old, as they aim to add a versatile attacking option to their squad.

The forward is set to be targeted irrespective of the future of Karim Benzema or their reported interest in Harry Kane, and it has now been announced that Benzema will depart the club after days of uncertainty.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Romano claimed that Havertz is a target regardless of the decision over Benzema and their other attackers.

"The priority of Real Madrid now, I told you about Kai Havertz, but this is not dependent on Benzema in or out, in any case, Real Madrid want to go for others, and will try to understand the conditions of the deal," he stated.

"For Havertz, it's different, Havertz is a different kind of player, and Real Madrid are interested in him in any case."

Should Havertz go to Real Madrid?

The German international has been mostly disappointing at Chelsea, as despite scoring the winner in the Champions League final, his performances in front of goal have been underwhelming.

The attacker is yet to score more than ten league goals in a season since arriving at Stamford Bridge for around £75m in 2020, and Chelsea particularly struggled in front of goal this season, scoring just 38 times in 38 games.

This may raise questions about why the European Champions are interested in a move for the £150k-per-week forward, and whether Havertz will benefit from moving to the Spanish giants.

Real Madrid have announced that Eden Hazard, Marco Asensio, Mariano and Benzema will all leave this summer, and a versatile attacker as depth is now desired.

Havertz is seen as an option, given that he has played significant minutes on both wings, in midfield and as a false number nine in his career so far, and he could provide cover for wingers Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo, and any striker that may come in to replace Benzema.

With Chelsea also targeting a forward, with Victor Osimhen linked, a move away may be the best option for Havertz, as he aims to revive his career as his value continues to fall.

This may be the best time for Chelsea to sell the attacker, given that he has two years left on his deal, and his performances have not warranted either a starting spot or a contract extension.

Chelsea are 'discussing' a move for Sporting Lisbon midfielder Manuel Ugarte as Mauricio Pochettino gets down to work at Stamford Bridge, according to transfer insider Fabrizio Romano.

What's the latest transfer news involving Manuel Ugarte?

As per Football Insider, Chelsea are said to be in the 'driving seat' to bring in Ugarte this summer and personal terms have been 'verbally agreed' ahead of a potential move.

The report states that the 22-year-old has a release clause of £52 million that Chelsea will pay and Ugarte is believed to be excited by the prospect of plying his trade in the Premier League.

Record via The Daily Express claim that Paris Saint-Germain also have a firm interest in the Uruguay international and it is thought that Chelsea have held discussions over including young striker David Datro Fofana in any prospective deal, who would head to the Jose Alvalade Stadium on a loan basis.

According to The Guardian, Pochettino is looking to find a midfield partner for Enzo Fernandez and the Blues will also face competition from Liverpool to land the Sporting Lisbon man.

Southampton's Romeo Lavia, Monaco midfielder Youssouf Fofana and Brighton pair Alexis Mac Allister and Moisés Caicedo all appear on a shortlist of midfield targets in west London.

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, transfer insider Romano has stated that Chelsea are embroiled in talks to try and acquire Ugarte at present surrounding the terms of a deal.

Romano said: “It’s a negotiation, but it’s a negotiation going on between Chelsea and Sporting. While we are speaking, they are discussing the terms of the deal.”

Would Manuel Ugarte be a good signing for Chelsea?

Ugarte has been a mainstay for Sporting Lisbon this term and has impressed with his consistent displays, which in turn has attracted interest from around Europe in his services.

In 2022/23, the 22-year-old made 47 appearances in all competitions for his current employers, registering one assist in the process, as per Transfermarkt.

WhoScored notes that Ugarte has been strong in the tackle in the Primeira Liga, successfully winning 3.9 challenges per match over the course of this season.

FBRef also shows that Ugarte has excelled in comparison to his positional peers across Europe's eight divisions beyond the top five leagues in the art of pass completion, having managed to maintain an average of 91.6% per 90 minutes over the last 365 days, putting him in the first percentile for this metric.

Chelsea need competence in the engine room looking ahead to next campaign and Ugarte would be a sensible signing to help Pochettino hit the ground running at Stamford Bridge.

West Ham reportedly see James Ward-Prowse, Conor Gallagher and Scott McTominay as potential Declan Rice replacements this summer.

Is Rice leaving West Ham?

The 24-year-old has grown into a formidable player for the Hammers, maturing into the captain at the club and also being a nailed-on starter for England.

It looks as though Rice will be leaving the London Stadium before the start of next season, however, with a move to one of the Premier League's biggest clubs on the cards. Arsenal arguably look like the favourites to acquire his signature, although the likes of Manchester United and Bayern Munich are also linked with snapping him up, among others.

It is essential that West Ham bring in a tailor-made replacement for the influential £60,000-a-week star, and a positive update has emerged, in that respect.

Who are West Ham linked with?

According to Football Transfers, Ward-Prowse, Gallagher and McTominay are all in the mix to come in and fill the Rice-shaped void, should he leave in the summer:

"West Ham are looking at a number of key targets for next season including several midfielders who could potentially replace Declan Rice.

"FootballTransfers can reveal that the midfielders in question are Southampton's James Ward-Prowse, Chelsea's Conor Gallagher and Manchester United's Scott McTominay.

"David Moyes is looking at the trio with interest ahead of the window opening, but with Ward-Prowse we understand that West Ham are very keen indeed and a bid could likely go in for the Saints star over the summer."

All three of these players look like strong options, and while they may not quite be on Rice's level, they could sign one and still have money left over for other key signings, or potentially bring in two of them.

Ward-Prowse, dubbed "unstoppable" and "one of the best ever" over a dead ball by Ian Wright, will definitely leave Southampton this summer and could be available for a cut-price amount after their relegation to the Championship. His technical expertise and tackling ability could be a good addition, following nine league goals in 2022/23.

Meanwhile, Gallagher would represent a younger option than Ward-Prowse – 23 compared to 28 – coming in as a long-term option who could excel with regular starts, having struggled to achieve that at Chelsea. He scored eight goals and registered three assists on loan at Crystal Palace in 2021/22, highlighting how much he can shine when given the chance.

McTominay is arguably the least talented of the three, but he could also be an effective signing, possessing Rice's box-to-box energy and potentially thriving as an undisputed key man, rather than a squad player at United. He averaged 1.9 clearances per game in the league this season and would provide defensive cover in the middle of the park.

Manchester City were given the chance to snap up two PSG players in a swap-deal from the French club for Bernardo Silva, according to a report from Footmercato, via Sports Mole.

Is Bernardo Silva leaving Man City?

The Portugal international has been a key part of the Premier League side this season, helping them to not only claim a league title but the FA Cup and Champions League too. In 34 league outings, the 28-year-old has managed to bag four goals and five assists along the way to boot. Whilst not his best totals, it's notable that Silva started only 24 of those games, and was often utilised in a deeper midfield role.

However, the playmaker has still proven himself to be one of the best options amongst attacking midfielders and wingers in the 'Top Five' big leagues in Europe. That's because when compared to those in that position, he managed a pass completion which ranks him in the top two percent in that area and also had 5.37 progressive passes per 90, putting him in the 84th percentile for that figure too. It shows that the attacker remains excellent when it comes to his vision and ability to get the ball forward and find teammates.

Silva then has still been able to produce good football at the highest level and it has led to interest from PSG in his services this summer. With the Parisiens desperate to seal a deal for the player, a report from Footmercato, via Sports Mole, has revealed that the French outfit were prepared to offer two players in an "incredible exchange" for the Man City man.

Those two names were Marco Verratti and Gianluigi Donnarumma. With PSG so desperate to get a deal done, it appears as though both names were on the table when it comes to doing business. City though have seemingly snubbed this offer and remain keen to keep Silva.

How much does Bernardo Silva cost?

Silva could cost any interested party around 60 million Euros (or £51m), with CIES Football Observatory suggesting that his value lies somewhere around that figure at present.

That's because Silva has continued to impress, with his manager Pep Guardiola hailing his star man and admitting he is "special", one of the "best players" he has ever trained and that he can "play everywhere."

The former Monaco star has once more shone in a City side that won almost everything there is to offer in England this season – and that is why City have seemingly been prepared to turn down two players from PSG to keep him at the Etihad.

There is no hiding away from the disappointment of Leeds United's 2022/23 campaign as the club dropped out of the Premier League.

The Whites have been relegated to the Championship after finishing in the bottom three of the top-flight and there is now plenty of change on the horizon, both on and off the pitch.

49ers Enterprises agreed to a £170m deal to buy Andrea Radrizzani's 56% stake in the club to make them the outright owners of the west Yorkshire outfit, and they are now tasked with putting together a team capable of earning promotion at the first time of asking.

They have appointed Nick Hammond as an interim advisor to help their business in the current summer transfer window after previous director of football Victor Orta was relieved of his duties at the start of May.

However, the 49ers are said to be looking for a longer-term replacement for the Spanish chief and they could find that in the form of Norwich City's Stuart Webber, who is a reported target for the Whites but may not be able to join until after the summer due to his contract in Norfolk.

What has Stuart Webber achieved at Norwich?

The Welsh sporting director would be a big upgrade on Orta as the former Huddersfield Town director of football has achieved great success with the Canaries over the years.

Webber has cited the development of the Championship side's academy system as one of his proudest achievements and they have reaped the benefits of that.

Jamal Lewis joined Newcastle United for a fee that could rise to £20m and Ben Godfrey signed for Everton in a £25m deal after they both broke into the first-team from the youth set-up, whilst the likes of James Maddison, Max Aarons, and Todd Cantwell all made similar breakthroughs in Norfolk.

He has also been able to transform the club off the pitch with the construction of a £20m training ground that is now seen as one of the best in the country, which shows that the 39-year-old is interested in making progress that will outlast the eleven players that start each week, whereas there is little mention of Orta's work outside of his questionable transfer and managerial business.

In terms of their respective work in the market, there is an argument to be made that Webber offers more on that front.

The Norwich mastermind, who was once hailed as "amazing" by joint-majority owner Delia Smith, arrived in 2017 and oversaw two title-winning seasons in his first three Championship campaigns with the side.

Whereas, it took Orta three seasons to put together a team capable of earning promotion once. He joined in the summer of 2017 and Marcelo Bielsa eventually led the club to glory in 2019/20, which indicates that the Canaries director could have a better chance of getting Leeds straight back to the Premier League, with the right decisions being made on and off the pitch.

Webber could be criticised for his relegations from the Premier League with Norwich but the Welshman was only able to spend a league-low £1.1m in 2019, whereas the Whites reportedly spent £96.4m under Orta after their promotion to the top-flight in 2020.

This shows that the Canaries chief is used to working with and achieving success – given his two titles in the second tier – on a limited budget, which could make him a big upgrade on the Spaniard, who was sacked in spite of having plenty of money to spend.

Arsenal are reportedly interested in Inter Milan midfielder Nicolo Barella, as the Gunners aim to bolster their midfield this summer.

The narrative of the Gunners’ transfer window so far has been the destination of Declan Rice, who West Ham have rejected two bids from the north Londoners for.

Mikel Arteta’s quest for reinforcements in central midfield doesn’t end with the Englishman, with Barella rumoured to also be on the radar.

Italian outlet FC Inter News reported earlier this week that Inter are expecting ‘two very important offers’ from Manchester United and Arsenal in the ‘coming days’.

The 26-year-old is contracted to I Nerazzurri until 2026, after signing an extension in 2021, with a separate report from Calcio Mercato Web claiming that a price of €50m (£44m) could see them part ways with the midfielder.

What could Nicolo Barella offer to Arsenal?

While the ongoing saga between the Gunners and Rice is twisting and turning, the prospect remains an exciting one should the 24-year-old opt to move to the north of the capital. Although on paper Barella may well seem like an alternative, the thought of the two actually potentially playing together is a mouthwatering one.

Indeed, with Granit Xhaka almost certainly departing and rumours of Thomas Partey’s potential exit, Arteta will look to recruit in central midfield this summer, leaving plenty to the imagination of just how the Gunners could line up next season.

There’s no denying that Rice and Barella are two outstanding individuals, so just imagine what they could achieve playing as a duo in the engine room at the Emirates.

Hailed as a “little warrior” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, the midfielder played an integral role in Inter’s phenomenal season that saw them reach the Champions League final and secure a third-place finish in Serie A.

Equipped to do the jobs of a deep midfielder, the Italian produced in the final third as well, scoring six and assisting six in 35 league appearances, as per FBref, popping up as a complete box-to-box midfielder.

The two talents are deployed in similar positions to similar effect, however, their slight differences suggest that they could fuse to create a monstrous pivot in Arteta’s midfield.

As highlighted by their numbers, both players enjoy being on the ball in transitioning play in midfield, as shown by Rice averaging 58.7 attempted passes to Barella’s 50.14 per 90, as well as recording an average of 6.60 progressive passes to the Italian’s 6.62 per 90.

Rice excels slightly more in his defensive duties, as relayed through an average of 2.17 tackles per 90 to the 26-year-old’s 1.80, recording an average of a win rate of 58% of his total duels to the Serie A ace’s 55%.

Barella’s presence in the final third could be the icing on the cake for the duo, adding an attacking outlet to the pivot to balance Rice’s slight defensive expertise, best shown by the positions he takes up in order to be on the receiving end of a progressive pass.

The Inter maestro averaged 4.97 progressive passes received per 90 over the past year, with the Englishman only recording an average of 1.03 per 90, highlighting the impact he could provide to the potential pair.

With the transfer window changing every day, only time will tell if Arteta can land his targets, however, there is little to doubt that they could unleash a searing partnership in Arsenal’s midfield.

Mauricio Pochettino officially begins work as Chelsea head coach on Saturday, but the Argentinian will no doubt already be busy giving his input with regards to transfer activity.

The Blues have already released and sold numerous players, centre-back Kalidou Koulibaly among them after joining Saudi Arabian side Al Hilal in a £17m deal.

Many more are set to follow, with transfer expert Fabrizio Romano suggesting long-serving defender Cesar Azpilicueta could join Inter Milan before the start of the new Premier League season.

That will leave Chelsea potentially on the lookout for cover at both centre-back and right-back, though one of their targets can tick both boxes should the smart transfer be pulled off.

Who is Chelsea target Axel Disasi?

Disasi only turned 25 in March, meaning his best years are still ahead of him, yet he already boasts 99 appearances in Ligue 1 with Reims and more recently Monaco, with whom he has spent the past three seasons.

The four-cap France international played in all 38 of Monaco's league games last season, starting all but one of those, while also starting a further eight games in the Europa League.

Most comfortable playing in the heart of defence, Disasi is also capable of shifting out to the right, where he occasionally provided cover last season.

However, while Chelsea are interested in snapping up Disasi, RMC Sport reporter Fabrice Hawkins claims Arsenal and Manchester United are also in for the €40m (£34m) defender, with the latter supposedly leading the way for his signature.

Would Axel Disasi be a good option for Chelsea?

Disasi has shown he can fill in at right-back, which is a massive bonus should Azpilicueta indeed depart, but Pochettino will no doubt consider him a replacement for Koulibaly – albeit at exactly double the price.

The Frenchman has an eye for goal, as reflected by his five goals in all competitions last season, on top of four assists. As per The Analyst, that ranks Disasi in the top 16% of all defenders for goals scored across Europe's top five leagues last season.

Similarly, he is in the top 16% for touches in the opposition box and top 21% for shots. To put those figures in some perspective, Koulibaly was in the top 35% for touches in the opposition box and 39% for shots. Azpilicueta, incidentally, was in the top 13% and 42% respectively.

A defender's first job is to defend, of course, but having the ability to cause danger when going forward is always welcome. Besides, Disasi is also more than capable of keeping the opposition out, averaging 1.86 interceptions per 90 minutes last season, as per FBref, compared to 1.41 for Koulibaly.

Disasi also put his 6 foot 3 frame to good use, winning 2.56 aerial duels per 90 minutes, whereas Koulibaly – not exactly small at 6 foot 1 – won 1.83.

Just as importantly for any defender these days, Disasi (83.3%) was also similar to Koulibaly (87%) in terms of pass completion rate, meaning he can help play the ball out from the back.

As pointed out by talent scout Jacek Kulig, Disasi also has pace, athleticism, tenacity and timing, making him out as a "hidden gem" prior to his move to Monaco, one who "was born to play in England".

It may well be that he has the chance to show exactly that this coming season. Chelsea will just hope it is them, rather than Arsenal or Man United, who get there first.

West Ham United could move on from their pursuit of Fulham midfielder Joao Palhinha after the Cottagers have placed a huge price tag on the 27-year-old, according to Paul Brown.

Do West Ham want Joao Palhinha?

Now that Declan Rice has almost finalised a £105m deal to Arsenal, the Hammers, who must have been preparing for this moment for some time, will need to find a replacement.

The Hammers captain will be sorely missed at the London Stadium having made a staggering 245 appearances for the club at just 24, and West Ham will have to make sure they have a proper succession plan in place.

One man who has been seen as someone who could fill the void is Fulham's Palhinha, who was mightily impressive in his debut Premier League season last term.

The major stumbling block for a potential deal is Fulham's unwillingness to part ways with their Portuguese star, and the Cottagers have reportedly slapped a staggering £90m price tag on their midfielder.

According to journalist Paul Brown, David Moyes may turn his attention elsewhere after seeing the eye-watering fee it would take to bring Palhinha to the club.

Speaking to Football FanCast, Brown said: "Fulham are very, very determined not to let Palhinha leave. They've quoted a massive fee to try and ward people off. It may be that West Ham move on really from that situation.

"I don't think it's hugely likely they'll be able to get him now. I think Fulham will dig their heels in and won't be willing to accept the kind of fee that West Ham think is reasonable."

This will come as a blow to West Ham who need reinforcements if they are to improve upon their 14th-placed Premier League finish – just six points away from the relegation zone – while also trying to compete in the Europa League.

If Palhinha was perhaps a few years younger, then such a deal may be more worthwhile, but his advancing age means that there would be little to no possible sell-on value for the Irons, and they would perhaps need to replace him again in several years time.

Why do West Ham want Joao Palhinha?

When looking at his numbers, it is incredibly obvious why West Ham are so interested in Palhinha.

The defensive midfielder was quietly one of the top performers in the division last season, sitting in the top 1% of Premier League midfielders for tackles (4.26), tackles won (2.40), dribblers tackled (2.06) and tackles in the midfield (1.88) and the attacking (0.7) third per 90 last season.

Put simply, he's an absolute defensive machine.

Described by teammate Aleksandar Mitrovic as an "amazing, amazing player", he has adapted to life in the Premier League seamlessly and, quite honestly, merits his Fulham valuation.

Liverpool could be able to cap off their midfield rebuild with a superstar signing, as Radio Marca, via TeamTalk, report that Aurelien Tchouameni may well be available to sign this summer.

What is the latest Liverpool transfer news?

With Liverpool having already tied up deals for two midfielders this summer, it appears they aren't done spending just yet. They've splashed the cash to bring in both Alexis Mac Allister from Brighton and Dominik Szoboszlai from RB Leipzig but are still being linked to a number of players, as they aim to try and break back into the Champions League spots next season.

One of the more recent – and huge – reports emerging around the Reds is that of a bid for Kylian Mbappe. Reports from Spain have suggested that the Anfield outfit have tabled a mega £171m offer for the PSG star and want to try and bring him to the Premier League to help their attack. There are no further details over the move, and it's certainly one for the pinch of salt category of transfer rumours.

Perhaps more realistically however, the Reds have also been eyeing a potential move for Federico Valverde at Real Madrid. There is no offer on the table yet for the midfielder, but the Merseysiders are believed to be keen to snap up the Uruguay international.

Are Liverpool signing Aurelien Tchouameni?

However, it is Valvdere's teammate who could now be available on a deal for Liverpool this summer. According to a report from Radio Marca, via TeamTalk, Tchouameni could be signed by any interested parties this transfer window as long as they hit Real's asking price.

That's because they want to try and fund a move for Mbappe of their own – and that could mean selling on some of their current stars. With the Reds believed to have an interest in the Frenchman, this news that a deal is possible for the youngster is of course a huge boost. However, any potential bid would have to be at least 80 million Euros (or £68m) to convince Madrid into doing business for the midfielder.

The 23-year-old has only been in Spain for one season so far but has already made quite an impression. He was thrown straight into their first-team squad and racked up 33 appearances in La Liga during his first campaign, with four assists along the way. His pass completion rate of 92.8% also ranked him as the second-best player in the league in that area – despite the fact he was brand new to the country.

He's already received some extraordinary praise from those involved in the game despite his age. Former England international Rio Ferdinand stated that Tchouameni was an "incredible" player after his displays for France in the World Cup and even added that he is a "superb talent" to boot.

He's already worked hard to achieve plenty at club and country level and is impressing along the way it seems – and if Liverpool could indeed bring him to the Premier League, then it would be a real coup for the club.