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Liverpool should focus on bringing in two more midfielders whose main attributes are their dynamism and athleticism according to Redmen TV presenter Ste Hoare.

The club recently confirmed the signing of Alexis Mac Allister from Brighton & Hove Albion, and will now push to bolster the midfield further ahead of the next campaign.

Liverpool transfer news – midfielders

Liverpool is set for a major midfield overhaul after a disappointing season which resulted in Europa League football for the first time in eight seasons.

The club has already completed the signing of Mac Allister on a five-year deal for an undisclosed fee, but reports state the fee is around £35m as the Reds activated a clause in the Argentines contract.

According to Fabrizio Romano, Liverpool is set for talks with the agents of Nice midfielder Khephren Thuram and Borussia Monchengladbach midfielder Manu Kone following the completion of the Mac Allister transfer.

There have also been reports on the Red's interest in Southampton's Romeo Lavia, Bayern Munich's Ryan Gravenberch and Celta Vigo's Gabri Veiga.

It is clear based on the reports and rumors that the Merseyside-based outfit is targeting young midfielders who can come into the current squad and play their part whilst also having the potential to grow into a regular starter.

What does Hoare think of Liverpool's midfield situation?

When asked on the midfield situation, Hoare told Football FanCast: "In terms of who is next, I think they probably need two more midfielders.

"The one thing Mac Allister doesn’t offer that we are probably still in need of is more dynamism and athleticism. He’s a very good player, and he puts in a lot of work, but I think Liverpool probably lacks a bit of physicality still in the midfield, and we saw that at times last season."

Who should Liverpool sign for midfield?

As the Redmen TV presenter stated, Liverpool needs to bring in midfielders that offer more "dynamism" and "athleticism" than the current options at the club, and both Thuram and Kone fit those descriptions.

The 22-year-old from Nice made 35 appearances in Ligue 1, scoring two and assisting four en route to averaging a rating of 6.91 according to WhoScored.

The 6 foot 4 midfielder is a fantastic creative force, averaging 0.18 xAG as well as 3.25 progressive carries and 1.63 successful take-ons per 90, which ranks him alongside some of the best midfielders in Europe, according to FBref.

Kone is a more defensively dynamic option, with the man who was dubbed a "one-man army" making 30 appearances for his club last season and averaging a rating of 6.81 according to WhoScored. The French youth international averages 2.55 tackles per 90 as well as 1.10 interceptions per 90 showcasing his defensive prowess, as per FBref.

If Liverpool are able to bring in both French youngsters, their midfield will arguably be as dynamic and athletic as ever.

Sheikh Jassim Hamad Bin Al Thani's Nine Two Foundation could walk away from the Manchester United ownership race if they feel that they will not eventually win the battle, journalist Ben Jacobs has claimed.

What's the latest on Man United's ownership situation?

There is still no clear picture on who will eventually win the battle to acquire ownership of Man United, with Sir Jim Ratcliffe's consortium's bid potentially allowing the Glazer family to retain some shares, whilst Sheikh Jassim's bid would see his group complete a full purchase.

It has now been mooted that the Nine Two Foundation, Jassim's group, could eventually pull out of the race, rather than waiting to be rejected, if it does not appear that their bid will be successful.

Speaking to GiveMeSport, Jacobs revealed that the drawn out process could lead to them ending their pursuit of Man United.

"I don't think the Nine Two Foundation will necessarily want a scenario whereby they're rejected," he stated.

"I think it's more likely that they'll do everything in their power to win. If they feel like the process is just not geared towards them winning because the Glazers want to stay, and with time running out because they don't want this to overshadow the whole of the summer window, at that point I can see the Nine Two Foundation feeling like it's more in their interests to just walk away.

"That would be normal because they're looking at making a world record sale and are pushing to get in as soon as possible because they know how important the early part of the window is.

"If it gets to a point where they no longer feel like they can buy the club because the Glazers are looking in a different direction or the process is just not geared towards getting anything done that benefits them, and quickly, at that point I don't think the Nine Two Foundation would just wait to watch somebody else come in and be rejected. I think they would pull out of the process first."

What next for Man United?

Erik ten Hag's side will be aiming to build upon their season of progress, which has seen them win the Carabao Cup, secure a top-three finish and reach the FA Cup final, but they will need reinforcements in the transfer window.

The ownership situation will need to be resolved quickly in order to facilitate this, as they aim to complete a number of big signings, and the outcome of the takeover could determine who they target in the window.

Ten Hag's top priority is Harry Kane, whilst there have also been strong links with Mason Mount, and it has been mooted that if Jassim's group wins the battle, the Qatari owners could target Neymar.

A quick resolution from the Glazers is necessary, regardless of the decision, as the process continues to drag on with no end in sight.

Tottenham Hotspur have made a formal job offer to Leicester City’s former manager Brendan Rodgers, according to reports.

What's the latest manager news at Spurs?

Back in March, Antonio Conte was sent packing by the hierarchy following his public outburst during a post-match press conference and was replaced by his assistant Cristian Stellini until the end of the season, but even his reign was ended prematurely after the 6-1 Premier League defeat to Newcastle United, so Ryan Mason is now in charge as interim boss before being succeeded by a new long-term appointment over the summer.

BBC Sport played down suggestions that Bayern Munich’s former coach Julian Nagelsmann is one of the candidates being considered and Daniel Levy’s latest blow has come in the form of Feyenoord’s Arne Slot who has ruled himself out of the running and reaffirmed his commitment to seeing out the project in the Eredivisie.

The Lilywhites have since been linked with several names, including Celtic’s Ange Postecoglou and Sporting CP’s Ruben Amorim, but a surprising contender is Rodgers who has been out of work since April having been sacked by Leicester City, and it would appear that he’s already a preferred choice among the board having reportedly been gifted the opportunity to take to the dugout in the capital.

Is Brendan Rodgers joining Spurs?

According to Football Transfers, Tottenham have "formally offered" Rodgers the chance to become the new permanent manager in N17. The Spurs hierarchy are "trying to keep a low profile" by not announcing that they have taken this big step to "avoid any further embarrassment", should the 50-year-old turn them down.

The Northern Irishman is "not a favourite" of Levy, but the rest of the chiefs are "otherwise all for" bringing him on board. Should their new target reject the proposal, it's stated that Graham Potter and Luis Enrique are the two other names on the "shortlist" of options.

Tottenham could be better off appointing someone who already has Premier League experience and Rodgers has plenty of that having taken charge of 312 matches in total, and having also been hailed a “class” character off the pitch by journalist Josh Bunting, he may well prove to be an ideal candidate for Spurs to take a chance on ahead of the 2023/24 term.

The Carnlough-born coach, whose preferred formation is a 4-2-3-1, has a solid track record of facing Spurs having won eight and drawn one of 17 meetings, so if he is able to get a visiting team performing like that, imagine what kind of magic he could work with the calibre of players like Harry Kane and Son Heung-Min at his disposal.

Rodgers, who knows what it takes to compete and be successful at the highest level having secured nine trophies throughout his managerial career, is also a free agent on the market, so no compensation would need to be paid to acquire his services, therefore making this even more of a strong case to end the club's lengthy search for a new manager.

Tottenham Hotspur have reportedly reached an agreement with Galatasaray defender Victor Nelsson, according to reports.

Who is Victor Nelsson?

Nelsson is a Danish international who first arrived at the Nef Stadium from FC Copenhagen back in August 2021 and he’s since gone on to make 78 appearances to date, 31 of those being starts this season from 33 games in the Super Lig.

The Lilywhites have Clement Lenglet out of contract at the end of the campaign upon the expiration of his season-long loan from Barcelona, so should he not make his move permanent, Ryan Mason’s successor could be on the hunt to find a new centre-back, and the 24-year-old appears to have been identified as an ideal target in N17.

Are Tottenham signing Nelsson?

According to T24 (via Sport Witness), Tottenham “came to Galatasaray with a €25m (£21m) offer”, with the Turkish side now “working” on sanctioning his sale. The club's president Erden Timur “made a trip” to London to hold “transfer talks” with several clubs, one of those being Spurs, and despite not wanting to let him go, they have “softened their stance” as a result of him showing his “desire to leave”.

The report adds that Spurs chiefs have had a meeting with the Denmark international, where it has been claimed they have “reached an agreement”, presumably on personal terms.

Prior to joining Galatasaray, Nelsson was dubbed a “monster” by football talent scout Jacek Kulig, and considering the extremely high standard of his performances that he's continued into this season, Tottenham could be recruiting a fantastic centre-back should this deal get 100% finalised.

The World Cup participant currently averages 3.4 clearances and 3.1 aerial wins per league game, via WhoScored, so is a real rock at the heart of the backline, but he’s also capable of contributing to his team’s efforts at the opposite end of the pitch.

Nelsson, who has the versatility to operate slightly higher up in defensive and central midfield alongside his natural position in the backline, has scored one goal and also provided an assist across all competitions this term, so can be useful when it comes to set pieces and long balls in the final third.

Whether Tottenham’s new permanent manager will have his eye on the same targets as Daniel Levy is highlighting now when appointed yet remains to be seen, but regardless, Nelsson may make for an impressive signing no matter which candidate finds themselves in the dugout in the capital ahead of the 2023/24 term.

An update has emerged on Glasgow Rangers and their plans to bolster their attacking options in the upcoming summer transfer window…

What's the latest on Anastasios Douvikas to Rangers?

According to TEAMtalk, Gers boss Michael Beale could launch a swoop to sign Greek international centre-forward Anastasios Douvikas from FC Utrecht ahead of next season.

The report claims that the Light Blues are eyeing up the Eredivisie striker and that they could be competing with Scottish rivals Celtic to land his signature, with the Hoops having also been touted with an interest in the ace.

Earlier this month, Utrecht technical director Jordy Zuidam claimed that the Dutch club are looking for a fee in the region of €12m (£10m) before they will cash in on their top players, with the marksman being named as one of their biggest assets.

How has Anastasios Douvikas performed this season?

The 23-year-old centre-forward has been in prolific form in the Eredivisie in 2022/23 and the no.9 could come in as a big upgrade on current Gers striker Kemar Roofe.

Beale, in March, confirmed that the Jamaican attacker will miss the rest of the campaign through injury and this means that the dud will end the season with just three appearances in the Scottish Premiership.

He has only played 24 games in the division since the start of last term and this shows that the ex-Leeds poacher is rarely available for selection, with injuries plaguing the dynamo.

Roofe racked up 11 goals – scoring every 2.18 outings – and one assist in that time and that is a decent return in front of goal but Douvikas could come in and offer far more reliability in his availability whilst also being able to provide a greater threat in the final third.

The Greek international, who is also seven years younger than the Gers man, has played 65 Eredivisie games since the start of last season and has plundered 18 goals and four assists in 31 matches in the current campaign – a strike every 1.72 clashes.

This shows that the 23-year-old is more durable, based on his vastly superior appearance record, and has the potential to score goals more frequently than the Light Blues liability.

Douvikas, who was hailed as "sharp" by journalist Josh Bunting, has created seven 'big chances' for his teammates in 22/23 and Roofe has provided his fellow Rangers players with four in the last three years combined, which suggests that the Utrecht star would offer far more creativity from the number nine position by providing others with opportunities to score on a regular basis.

Therefore, Beale could land a big upgrade on the ex-Anderlecht striker by beating Celtic to the signing of the Eredivisie titan in the summer transfer window.

Graham Smyth has stated his belief that Leeds United should make a move for Sam Johnstone this summer.

What’s been said?

In a series of recent posts on Twitter, the Yorkshire Evening Post chief football writer suggested that the goalkeeper – who is set to leave West Bromwich Albion upon the expiry of his current contract in June – would be an excellent signing for Victor Orta to get over the line this summer, as the England international would seriously push Illan Meslier for his starting spot in Jesse Marsch’s side.

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In his tweets, Smyth said: “What a free transfer Johnstone will be for someone this summer… I’d certainly take him [as] backup, but to genuinely push Meslier for the number one spot.”

Orta must move

Considering how impressive Johnstone was for West Brom during Albion’s last spell in the top flight back in 2020/21, it is easy to see why Smyth believes the 29-year-old would be a good target for Orta to pursue this summer.

Indeed, over his 37 Premier League appearances that season, the £10.8m-rated stopper was one of the Baggies’ standout performers, keeping six clean sheets and making an average of an extraordinary 4.5 saves per game – the most in the league.

These returns saw the £32.5k-per-week goalkeeper who Gary Lineker dubbed “unbelievable” and Kieran Doody labelled “unreal” earn an extremely impressive SofaScore match rating of 7.03, ranking him as the Albion’s second-best player in the league – an incredibly impressive feat considering West Brom’s ultimate relegation from the division.

For comparison, over Meslier’s 38 Premier League fixtures this season, the £18m-rated talent kept five clean sheets, conceded 79 goals and made an average of 3.8 saves per game, with these metrics seeing the France U21 international average a SofaScore match rating of 6.87.

As such, it would certainly appear as if Johnstone would make a fantastic addition to Marsch’s current options between the sticks, especially when considering he is available on a free – leading us to believe that Orta simply must make a move for the England shot-stopper this summer.

AND in other news: “Already spoken..”: YEP journo drops big summer update that Leeds supporters will love

As per Italian source Calciomercato, there has been a big West Ham United transfer update as the club eye a move for Everton striker and Juventus loanee Moise Kean.

The Lowdown: Hammers emerge…

The Hammers and manager David Moyes have emerged as contenders to sign the Italy international in recent days, according to reports.

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Tuttosport (via Sport Witness) recently lifted the lid on West Ham’s interest ahead of the summer window with the Premier League side allegedly making an enquiry over Kean.

This comes as the Irons hierarchy scour the market for a striker who can finally supply Moyes with some much-needed depth up front and an alternative to forward Michail Antonio.

The Latest: Club chief flies to London…

According to Calciomercato, there has been another Kean update, with Juve sporting director Federico Cherubini flying to London for talks with West Ham over the player.

The Serie A giants are certain to sign Paris-Saint Germain’s ex-striker permanently from Everton with the move ‘not in doubt’, but they’re planning to sell him off again when the window opens.

It is believed they will demand ‘at least’ €35 million (£30m) for Kean with Cherubini now holding discussions with West Ham during a ‘London mission’.

The results of these talks aren’t disclosed but it is believed Moyes and co now ‘evaluate’ a move for the 22-year-old.

The Verdict: Make the move?

Kean, branded a ‘sensational talent’ for his head-turning rise in Italy by members of the media (Maxi Angelo), and ‘incredible’ by CBS commentator Matteo Bonetti (Twitter), has only shown flashes of what he’s capable of since first leaving Juve for Goodison Park.

His best spell since departing the club during his first stint came on loan at PSG under Thomas Tuchel, who branded the attacker ‘really tough’ and even likened him to Edinson Cavani (The Athletic).

Over his Ligue 1 spell, Kean notched a brilliant 13 goals in 22 starts under Tuchel – displaying obvious ability when at the very peak of his powers.

The trick for West Ham and Moyes would be getting that out of him again, something which hasn’t yet been managed since Kean departed the Parc des Princes.

If the Irons are sure they can unlock Kean’s potential, £30 million could be a small price to pay, but that is a big if.

In other news: West Ham now believe they can sign ‘beast’ for Moyes as agents plan imminent club talks…find out more here.

Yosuke Ideguchi could end up being Celtic’s long-term answer to Parkhead legend Scott Brown in midfield, according to former Hoops striker Frank McAvennie.

The Lowdown: Ideguchi’s injury problems

The 25-year-old made the move to Glasgow during the January transfer window but struggled to play a key role in the Hoops’ Premiership title win.

Ideguchi’s progress has been halted by injury problems, meaning that he failed to make a single start in the league and has been limited to just 134 minutes of action across six appearances for the club in all competitions thus far.

The hope is that the Japan international becomes a key player moving forward, and there is one man who believes that will certainly be the case.

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The Latest: Ideguchi backed to be Brown’s successor

Speaking to Football Insider, McAvennie has backed Ideguchi to end up being the ideal replacement for Brown at Celtic in terms of his style of play in the middle of the park. The 62-year-old claimed:

“I have been saying this for a while, Celtic are missing Scott Brown. He was the catalyst in that midfield for so long. He dictated everything that went through there.

“I just wonder if Ideguchi could be that guy. He has barely played really, we don’t know what kind of player he is. Maybe he is that kind of perfect player we need. Next season will be a big one for him because the jury is still out.

“Rogic and Bitton are going so there will be a chance for him and we know he wouldn’t have come if the manager didn’t rate him. He has been so unlucky with that injury so hopefully we see a bit more of him in pre-season.”

The Verdict: One to watch

Ideguchi has become something of a forgotten man at Parkhead because of others excelling during Celtic’s title triumph, but he could yet become a formidable player in his own right.

Ange Postecoglou has described the midfielder as the ‘hardest worker’ at the club, and that is something for which the legendary long-time captain Brown was famed during his time with the Hoops.

With Tom Rogic leaving this summer, a gap will open up in Celtic’s midfield, and a strong pre-season and return to full fitness could yet see Ideguchi fill that void.

Having averaged 2.3 tackles, 1.2 interceptions and 2.7 successful duels per game in his final season in the J-League last year (Sofascore), the evidence is there to suggest that the 25-year-old could be the industrious Brown-like presence in the Hoops’ engine room over the coming months and years.

In other news, Celtic are reportedly eyeing up a move for one player this summer. Find out who it is here.

Tottenham Hotspur are closing in on a deal to bring Sam Johnstone to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium this summer.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a report by The Mirror, who claim that Tottenham are now set to land the West Bromwich Albion goalkeeper on a free transfer at the end of the current campaign, as Manchester United have now decided not to pursue a deal to bring the 29-year-old back to Old Trafford this summer.

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The report goes on to state that the England international’s availability on a free makes him an attractive proposition to both Daniel Levy and Fabio Paratici, with Spurs looking to bring in a quality addition between the sticks in order to provide Hugo Lloris with both backup to and competition for his starting spot in Antonio Conte’s side.

A Paratici masterclass

Considering the fact that, upon West Brom’s relegation from the Premier League last season, the Black Country side placed a £20m asking price on the goalkeeper’s head amid interest from the likes of Leeds United, Manchester United, West Ham United and Watford, should Paratici go on to land the 29-year-old on a free this summer, it would represent something of a big coup for Spurs.

While it is true that Johnstone has not enjoyed the best campaign of his career over his 36 appearances in the Championship this season, the three-time capped international undoubtedly proved his ability at the highest level of the English game last time out.

Indeed, over his 37 Premier League fixtures in 2020/21, the £7.2m-rated shot-stopper was one of Albion’s standout performers, keeping six clean sheets and making an average of 4.5 saves per game – by far and away the most of any ‘keeper in the league – with these returns seeing the £32.5k-per-week talent earn a highly impressive SofaScore match rating of 7.03 – ranking him as the Baggies’ second-best player in the top flight.

As such, it is clear for all to see just how talented a goalkeeper the player Gary Lineker dubbed “unbelievable” is, leading us at Football FanCast to believe that, should Paratici indeed secure the 29-year-old as Spurs’ first signing this summer, it would be yet another transfer masterclass by the Italian sporting director.

AND in other news: “Expect to see”: Eccleshare drops £145m Spurs summer claim, supporters will be buzzing

Sunderland will look to make the League One play-off final tomorrow night as they travel to Sheffield Wednesday for the second leg of their semi-final, with the Black Cats boasting a 1-0 lead on aggregate.

The Wearside outfit’s top scorer Ross Stewart got the decisive goal in the first leg on Friday night, capitalising on a mistake from Wednesday defender Sam Hutchinson.

Stewart’s effort was his 25th of an excellent first full campaign in the North-East since his move from Ross County last January.

However, in order to make it to Wembley, the 25-year-old will need extra support up front, with Alex Neil’s side’s lead a slender one considering that the Owls boast the best home form in the third tier.

Therefore, the imminent return of second top-scorer Nathan Broadhead will be incredibly welcome.

On the chalkboard

Broadhead missed Friday’s first leg through injury but his manager confirmed that he could be fit in time for tomorrow’s trip to South Yorkshire, stating: “He [Broadhead] will have a chance for Monday. Unfortunately, tonight was too soon.

“We will assess him over the next few days and make a call.

“Tonight he wasn’t ready. It’s tough as he is a good player but we have other good players.”

Labelled as “fantastic” by former Sunderland manager Lee Johnson, the £2.9k-per-week Everton loanee has scored 13 goals in 25 appearances in what’s been an impressive campaign for the 24-year-old, although injuries have prevented the Welshman from making a serious impact at the Stadium of Light.

However, no current striker in the Sunderland squad comes close to the numbers of either Stewart or Broadhead, with the next best tally from a striker coming from Leon Dakaju with four.

Therefore, it is imperative that the Welsh striker is fit enough for tomorrow, at least to make the bench, with the Black Cats looking to finally put an end to their miserable four-year stay in the third tier.

This is arguably the best chance the Wearside outfit has had to escape League One since their back-to-back relegations in 2017 and 2018, having made the 2019 final but being second-best to an impressive Charlton Athletic.

With Broadhead, Sunderland will have a much stronger chance of making the play-off final on 21 May, where they will face either MK Dons or Wycombe Wanderers at Wembley.

AND in other news: Neil can blow SAFC supporters away with £3.4k-p/w gem who was made “in a laboratory”