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Newcastle United are considering a move for Inter Milan's Dutch defender Denzel Dumfries, who has been linked with a move away from Serie A this season.

What's the latest on Denzel Dumfries to Newcastle?

According to Gazzetta dello Sport (via Sport Witness), the 27-year-old full-back is poised for a departure from Milano this summer, with I Nerazzurri needing to balance the books.

Touted at €55m (£48m) in January, Dumfries is now available for just €30m (£26m), which leaves the Magpies in good stead to swoop and bolster their defensive ranks after a fantastic campaign has all but secured European football next year.

Indeed, the club are now believed to have already had initial conversations about acquiring his signature, going to the extent of lodging an enquiry.

Premier League rivals Manchester United have also been linked with a move for the Netherlands international this season, and with his valuing depreciating Magpies manager Eddie Howe must act quickly to add a dangerous new dimension to the fold.

Should Newcastle sign Dumfries?

Kieran Trippier has probably been the best right-back, or perhaps even full-back, in the Premier League since arriving at St. James's Park from Atletico Madrid in January 2022 for £12m, forging 48 appearances, scoring three goals and supplying nine assists, instrumental in the meteoric rise to Champions League contention.

But at 32-years-old, the 41-cap England international is not getting any younger and the Toon are discernibly lacking in depth down the defensive right flank – Emil Krafth and Javier Manquillo are the only other options in the right-back position and neither appear to have a future on Tyneside.

And with the Magpies occupying third place in the top-flight with just four games to play, six points above Liverpool in fifth, strengthening the position is imperative if European endeavours are to be fruitful next term.

Dumfries is a remarkable threat from the defensive flank, hailed for his "breathless" displays at the 2022 World Cup by pundit Micah Richards.

In Qatar, the £55k-per-week ace scored one goal and two assists – as per Sofascore – as the Netherlands reached the quarter-finals, felled on penalties by eventual champions Argentina, and has scored two goals and provided six assists at club level for Inter this term.

As per FBref, the dynamo ranks among the top 3% of full-backs across Europe's big five leagues for total shots, the top 20% for shot-creating actions, the top 1% for touches in the attacking box and the top 6% for aerials won per 90, illustrating a persistent menace that will only increase Newcastle's chances of success across multiple fronts.

He would be a "deadly" asset to Howe's system, in the words of reporter Marco Messina, and would bring a different form of offensive potency to the fold, with Trippier's strengths placed in a more creative territory, ranking among the top 1% of full-backs for shot-creating actions and the top 6% for progressive passes, than that of a direct threat.

Whether Newcastle succeed in a prospective bid remains to be seen, but such a blistering option would only enrich the talent at St. James's Park and take the club a step closer to success.

Arsenal remain in the hunt for their first Premier League title since 2004, as the Gunners hope for Manchester City to fumble in their final run-in.

Mikel Arteta’s side have been front-runners for the majority of the season, however when injury struck the defence, form came to a halt in April, costing them points at a vital time and taking the league out of their hands.

Defensive blows to both William Saliba and Takehiro Tomiyasu proved too costly to the north Londoners, ultimately highlighting their lack of depth in comparison to league leaders City.

Now that Arteta knows what it takes to go all the way, Arsenal are reportedly looking towards the summer transfer window already, with a number of players speculated to be on their radar.

One of those linked with a move to the Emirates is £45m Southampton midfielder Romeo Lavia.

As reported by Fabrizio Romano earlier this year, the Gunners are one of a host of teams interested in the former Manchester City academy player, who has been magnificent for the struggling Saints.

The headlines regarding Arsenal are dominated by talk of Declan Rice potentially relocating across London, however, with Granit Xhaka rumoured to be leaving this summer, chances for a midfield rebuild are there.

How can Romeo Lavia improve Arsenal?

Described by Southampton correspondent Benjy Nurick as an "absolute monster", the midfielder displays the talent of a true holding player, acting as a metronome in the middle of the park.

At just 19 years old the Belgian is competing among Europe's elite this season, despite being in a Championship-bound squad.

The Brussels-born teen ranks in the top 9% for blocks made per 90 minutes this season in Europe’s top five leagues for midfielders, averages a pass completion rate of 86.1% – as per FBref – and sits inside the top 7% for fouls drawn as a marker of his industrious and bustling nature.

The signing of the young midfielder with heaps of potential resonates with the capture of Cesc Fabregas in 2003, who joined Arsenal’s academy to become the World Cup-winning footballing legend he is today.

The Spaniard arrived in north London and quickly became a world-beater in midfield, orchestrating attacks with his innate ability to read the game. Similar attributes are shown by Lavia, who has been described by Paul Scholes as being a player who "sets the play in motion."

The Manchester United legend went on to say the Belgian has "so much potential" and is as good going forward as he is sitting back in midfield.

That was certainly the case for that man Fabregas, who scored 19 goals and registered 17 assists in the 2009/10 campaign. That was at the peak of his powers with the Spaniard eventually moving back into a deeper role, but even then, he won 2.3 tackles per game, similar to Lavia's two per game.

It's unlikely the teenager will ever register those attacking numbers but he could certainly act as a metronomic presence in the way Fabregas did in the later stages of his Premier League career.

That said, with this being Lavia's first full season playing senior first-team football, the sky is the limit for the teen sensation, who if nurtured correctly at a club like Arsenal, could prove to be one for the ages at the Emirates.

Jadon Sancho has had another tough season for Manchester United, and the £73m signing from Borussia Dortmund looks bereft of confidence.

Erik ten Hag’s side secured what could be a vital victory against Wolves as they look to seal a return to the Champions League, but Sancho failed to shine whilst other wingers Antony and Alejandro Garnacho recorded goal and assist contributions.

The 23-year-old has scored just five league goals this season, and is still yet to establish himself as a regular starter for United.

His performance against Wolves saw him lose the ball 12 times, fail to complete any dribbles and fail to create any chances as per SofaScore, and fans are beginning to get frustrated with the England international.

Some United fans have admitted it may be time for Sancho to move on, whilst others have questioned why the winger deserves a place in the side over Garnacho.

Sancho looks a shadow of his former self, and perhaps a change of environment would see him return to his Dortmund form. Fans were quick to notice his lack of impact, particularly compared to Garnacho. The best of the reaction can be seen below.

Fans have seemingly lost patience with the winger…

Some questioned why Sancho is ahead of Garnacho in the pecking order…

Middlesbrough face Coventry City at the Riverside Stadium this evening, where the winners will earn a trip to Wembley to face Luton Town in the Championship playoff final.

A 0-0 draw in the away leg last week has left Michael Carrick's side as favourites to progress but their poor end to the season will need to be addressed against Mark Robins' side if they are going to secure victory on Wednesday night.

Last week's stalemate means that Boro have won just two of their last nine games in the second tier, a run which included a 1-1 draw with the Sky Blues on the final day of the normal season.

Although Carrick's side would dominate possession in the away leg and had the best chance of the game when Chuba Akpom's effort was deflected onto the crossbar, they struggled to create many clear-cut opportunities, so changes could be on the cards ahead of this evening.

How should Middlesbrough line up against Coventry tonight?

There could be three changes from the side that started in the first leg last week.

Zak Steffen has been the main man between the sticks for the vast majority of the season and he looks unlikely to lose his spot after a rare clean sheet last time out.

In a similar vein, Carrick would perhaps be foolish to alter a defence that limited Coventry's attack, and perhaps most importantly Viktor Gyokeres, to very little in the 0-0 draw.

Therefore, Tommy Smith and Ryan Giles keep their place at right-back and left-back respectively, with Darragh Lenihan and Paddy McNair continuing their partnership in the heart of the defence.

There is one change from Carrick in the centre of midfield, as Matt Crooks could provide more physicality and more of a goal threat than Alex Mowatt, so he starts alongside Hayden Hackney in the middle of the park.

Equally, last week's game saw Marcus Forss make his return from injury and after hitting ten goals and five assists in the Championship this season, he comes in for Isaiah Jones on the right-hand side, with Riley McGree on the opposite flank.

The final change sees Chuba Akpom pushed into the central striker role in place of the "fantastic" Cameron Archer – as previously dubbed by Ryan Lowe – in order to accommodate the return of fellow Aston Villa loanee Aaron Ramsey, who could make his return from injury at the Riverside tonight.

Predicted Middlesbrough XI (4-2-3-1): Steffen, Smith, McNair, Lenihan, Giles, Crooks, Hackney, Forss, Ramsey, McGree, Akpom

Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe is in the running to land the PFA Manager of the Year for his work in the Premier League in the current campaign.

The English manager is one point away, which he could secure against Leicester this evening, from securing Champions League football for next season, after arriving at the club when they were sitting 19th in the table last term.

He has done a remarkable job at St. James' Park and has proven himself to be a terrific coach as the 45-year-old has been able to develop some of the players he inherited – including midfielder Joe Willock.

The former Arsenal ace made the joint-most number of appearances (26) in a position as a number ten during his time at The Emirates but has grown into being an excellent central midfielder for the Toon Army.

Willock has started 31 matches in the Premier League this season and averaged a Sofascore rating of 6.88. He has contributed with three goals and six assists to go along with 2.2 tackles and interceptions per match.

The 23-year-old has become a mainstay in the team as a number eight and has proven his worth by making an impact at both ends of the pitch.

Howe could now repeat the masterclass he played with Willock – turning him into a reliable central midfielder – by swooping to sign Jesper Lindstrom this summer.

Who is Jesper Lindstrom?

The 23-year-old is a reported transfer target for the Magpies who currently plays for Eintracht Frankfurt, and he could cost the club up to €40m (£35m).

Lindstrom, who writer Josh Holland dubbed a "star", has predominantly been deployed as an attacking midfielder this season but has played as a number eight and in a holding role previously in his career and this suggests that the ace could follow in Willock's footsteps in England.

The Danish international has the attacking qualities to provide quality in the final third from a midfield position and has shown an appetite to defend that could allow him to transition into a deeper role.

In the Bundesliga this season, the Frankfurt maestro – who journalist Jacque Talbot hailed as "unique" – has scored seven goals and provided four assists, having scored five and assisted five last term. This shows that the youngster has the ability to be a game-changer with his contributions at the top end of the pitch.

Lindstrom also made 1.8 tackles and interceptions per game in the German top-flight in 2021/22 and ranks in the top 15% of players in his position in the Men's Big Five Leagues over the last 365 days for blocks made per 90, which shows that the 6-foot gem is willing to put hard work in defensively for his side.

Therefore, the Denmark international could be Howe's next coaching project as the English boss could use the Willock blueprint to turn him into a box-to-box midfielder who can make vital contributions – goals and assists at one end, whilst also being able to cut out opposition attacks, with tackles, interceptions, and blocks.

Aston Villa are thought to be one of many clubs taking an interest in UD Almeria's Largie Ramazani and have scouted the attacker.

What’s the latest Aston Villa transfer news on Ramazani?

Villa look set to be in for a busy few months ahead of Unai Emery’s first full season in charge, with the club possibly preparing for Europa Conference League football next year.

NSWE are willing to back Emery in a big spending spree in the Midlands, and one of the areas that could be bolstered prior to the 2023/24 season is in attack. Athletic Bilbao forward Nico Williams is just one of many players to be linked with a move to Villa Park in recent months, and it looks as if the club are also looking at a move for Ramazani.

Sport Witness relayed an update from Estadio Deportivo regarding Villa and Ramazani. They claimed that clubs in, England, Belgium, France, Greece, Netherlands and Spain have already made an approach to Almeria and the player’s camp about his situation, one of which could have been Villa.

The report adds that Villa have made a first move by sending scouts to watch Ramazani in action, with the player having a €40m (£34m) release clause in his contract.

Who is Largie Ramazani?

Ramazani is 22 years of age and has been with Almeria since 2020 after leaving Manchester United. The Belgian made one senior appearance for the Red Devils but has gone on to make 93 appearances for his current employers, contributing to 20 goals.

Valued at €9m by Transfermarkt, Ramazani is primarily a left-winger but can also turn out on the right or through the middle as a centre-forward.

Football talent scout Jacek Kulig hailed the forward last year, describing Ramazani as “The Mini-Vinicius”. He labelled the forward as “explosive” and said he has “electric pace and acceleration – superb dribbling skills and close control”.

However, as per WhoScored, Ramazani has been Almeria’s 20th-best performer this season with a fairly low 6.31/10 average match rating. Therefore, you could argue that Emery would need to work his magic to get the best out of the player, but with a number of clubs keen on his services and time to improve before hitting his prime, he could be an attacker worth investing in.

Leeds United could potentially be set to offer midfielder Adam Forshaw a new deal at the club this summer, according to a fresh claim regarding his future.

What is Forshaw's contract situation?

The 31-year-old has been a popular player down the years, providing plenty of bite and heart in the middle of the park since joining from Middlesbrough in 2018. He has also overcome a serious, career-threatening hip issue – one that saw him miss around two years of action – and still remained a strong performer.

Forshaw was again dogged by fitness problems in 2022/23, only managing five starts in the Premier League, so he was unable to help them too much as they were relegated to the Championship. With his current Leeds deal expiring at the end of the month, the consensus has been that the £20,000-a-week Englishman would move on and enjoy a new challenge in the autumn of his career.

A significant update has now emerged, however, with the Whites looking set to extend the Englishman's stay at Elland Road moving forward.

Could new deal be coming Forshaw's way?

According to Football Insider, Leeds are now "considering" giving Forshaw a new contract at the club, with the club having the option of triggering a 12-month extension clause. The report goes on to add that the player's "impressive performances towards the end of the 2022-23 campaign mean club chiefs are coming around to the idea of handing him a renewal."

Had the Whites stayed up on the final day of the Premier League season, he would have definitely been sold, but given their newfound Championship status, he could now stay on.

Forshaw has gone through such a hard time in his career that it would actually be heartwarming to see him given an extension, having been such a stalwart for Leeds, not to mention being described as a "player of a very good level by former manager Marcelo Bielsa.

This wouldn't just be giving him a new contract for the sake of it – football is a ruthless business, after all – and the midfielder merits remaining at Elland Road for another year, with journalist Phil Hay claiming he was "the only player pulling any sort of strings" in last weekend's grim 4-1 defeat at home to Tottenham.

Forshaw has lots of Championship experience, appearing 123 times in the competition, so he could be a key figure next season, assuming he avoids injuries.

West Bromwich Albion are prepared to receive an approach from Leeds United to enquire about the services of Carlos Corberan, according to reports in the last 48 hours.

Is Carlos Corberan leaving West Brom?

The Spaniard was first appointed at The Hawthorns back in October 2022 and his debut season in the Midlands was a huge success having finished just three points outside of the Championship play-offs, and this impressive form in the dugout didn’t go unnoticed in the Premier League.

Sky Sports reported in February that the Whites were interested in a swoop for the 40-year-old to replace Jesse Marsch, but despite there being plenty of speculation that he would depart, he quickly shut down exit rumours by signing a new contract that keeps him at the club until 2027.

Following Sam Allardyce’s departure now though having failed to prevent his side from relegation, the Elland Road outfit are on the hunt for a new long-term boss, and if the following update is to be believed, there’s a chance they could come calling again for Corberan.

Are Leeds appointing Corberan?

According to Football Insider reporter Pete O'Rourke, West Brom are “braced for an approach” from Leeds who have already begun their search for Allardyce’s successor ahead of the 2023/24 campaign.

Corberan is a manager that will be “on the radar” of the Yorkshire club due to not only their previous interest earlier in the year, but also the fact that he used to work there under Marcelo Bielsa so will have existing connections to the hierarchy.

Andrea Radrizzani and the 49ers have specified that they want to recruit a “head coach” rather than a permanent boss, and it’s stated that this could be a “hint” that they are going to take a second bite of the cherry for the Baggies man, with the Hawthorns club dealing with financial difficulties.

West Brom were in serious danger of relegation themselves when Corberan was appointed, but having completely transformed the side to the point that they almost made the top six, retaining his services beyond the summer is an absolute no-brainer of a decision.

The Cheste native, whose preferred formation is a 4-2-3-1, has won 17, drawn five and lost 11 of his 33 games in charge so far whilst averaging 1.70 points per match, via Transfermarkt, which even though is a real mixed bag of results, is consistent enough to be challenging in the second tier.

Corberan, who was previously hailed “very talented” by Bielsa himself, also took Huddersfield Town to the Championship play-off final during his time at the John Smith’s Stadium so knows what it takes to compete and be successful at this level, and there’s no reason why he can’t be up there challenging again in 12 months time with a full term and new players under his belt.

Glasgow Rangers are targeting a move for Lawrence Shankland this summer following the departure of talisman Alfredo Morelos, according to TEAMtalk.

Who is Lawrence Shankland?

It comes as no surprise to see a club of Rangers' stature interested in Shankland after the season he's just had.

The Scotland forward netted 28 goals in all competitions, including 21in 32 Scottish Premiership appearances, as Hearts stuttered at times.

Having endured spells at a number of clubs throughout his career – nine in total so far – some may have questioned whether Shankland would ever get his big move.

At 27, however, the 6 foot 1 forward has burst into life again to more than justify the summer interest.

Why are Rangers interested in Lawrence Shankland?

Having already welcomed three new signings, it's clear that Rangers are far from waiting around this summer after a frustrating season saw them lose out on the Scottish Premiership to Old Firm rivals Celtic for the second time running.

With Jack Butland, Dujon Stirling, and Kieran Dowell already through the door, Gers boss Michael Beale has reportedly turned his attention towards the Hearts talisman. And this comes as little shock.

After six impressive years at Ibrox, Morelos saw his contract come to an end this summer, leaving a gaping hole in the goal-scoring department, in the process.

The Colombian marksman found the back of the net 11 times last season in a campaign to forget, by his standards.

Morelos' most successful season in Scotland came during the 2017/18 campaign, in which he netted a staggering 31 goals in the Scottish Premiership.

All good things must come to an end, however, and it looks as though Rangers' attention has turned straight to Shankland.

Hearts 'technical director' Steven Naismith would certainly be sad to see the forward go, should he decide to leave. He was full of praise for Shankland last season, saying via Football Scotland after his side's 6-1 win over Ross County, in which Shankland scored a hat-trick:

“He has progressed as a player over the years. He is a much more well-rounded player, as you saw (against County). He has the intelligence to drop in or go in behind if he needs and he has the one (effort) which hits the bar – you ain’t teaching that."

Rangers are reportedly yet to make an offer for the forward, but with plenty of the summer transfer window left to go, that offer may be on its way.

Newcastle United still want to try and add Kieran Tierney to their squad this summer, and it looks like they could launch a bid for the defender soon according to Football Insider.

Are Newcastle signing Kieran Tierney?

The defender still managed to play on 27 occasions for Arsenal in the Premier League this season, despite not feeling as much of a first-team regular as he did previously. That's likely because most of those showings came from off the bench – the former Celtic man managed just six starts for the Gunners over the course of the campaign, showing he has fallen down the pecking order thanks to the arrival of Oleksandr Zinchenko.

Despite that, the youngster remains a superb option at left-back, which is showcased when you compare him to other players in his position amongst the Men's 'Top Five' big leagues in Europe. His highest ranking stat is his shots per 90 rate, which is 1.20 and puts him within the top 13% for that. It shows he is not afraid to drive forward and get into positions to test the opposition goalkeeper. Even better is that he ranks highly for converting those opportunities too, with Tierney also managing to sit in the 73rd percentile for goals per 90.

That could be why Newcastle have been so keen to snap him up – they didn't get much attacking contribution from Dan Burn this season – and it looks like they could make a bid for his services soon.

That's because according to a report from Football Insider, the Toon are still in pole position to add him to their ranks, and he remains one of their biggest priorities as they look to strengthen at left-back. It states that he is their most wanted to fill that position and they are planning to launch a "formal bid" at the end of the month, with the player keen on a move.

What is Tierney's transfer value?

CIES Football Observatory suggest that his value could now be around 15 million Euros (or £12.8m) and it means that if a fee is around that amount, it could be a steal for Newcastle considering Arsenal initially forked out £25m for his signature.

He's been praised for his efforts since making the move to the Gunners, with football journalist Josh Bunting stating that the player is "brilliant" in a previous game for the side. His stats suggest he remains a solid player at left-back too and that means Newcastle would be getting both an experienced and talented defender if they do manage to sign him this transfer window.