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Juventus striker Dusan Vlahovic "could head" to north London this summer as Arsenal are in a "hypothetical pole position" for his signing.

What's the latest Arsenal transfer news?

Mikel Arteta's side are still firmly in contention for their first Premier League title in nearly 20 years, but with Man City firmly in the ascendency, Arsenal chiefs will also be focusing heavily on how they can strengthen for next campaign.

The Gunners are just one point behind City in the race for this year's domestic crown, though Pep Guardiola's side possess a crucial game in hand which could well be the big difference-maker.

Regardless of whether they end up pipping Guardiola to top spot, or if Arsenal finish the season without any silverware, there is a very considerable argument to be made that this year has been a success.

It was just 12 months ago that Arsenal were beaten to a top four place by Tottenham, but now they're guaranteed Champions League football for 2023/2024.

As such, strengthening in key areas is an absolute must, with midfield signings thought to be a major priority for Arteta and co. The north Londoners are thought to be targeting West Ham star Declan Rice and Brighton's Moises Caicedo as a result, as well as additions further forward.

Jonathan David (Lille) and Lois Openda (Lens) are two attackers Arsenal are looking at for the latter position, with a report from Spain sharing the latest on their links to Vlahovic.

The Juve striker, who could be on the move this summer, is attracting serious interest with the Spanish source claiming Arsenal in a "hypothetical pole position" for him.

Vlahovic "could head to the Emirates Stadium" past July 1, coming after Arsenal tried and failed to sign him in January.

It's added that Arsenal appear to be ahead of both Real Madrid and Bayern Munich in the race, with both those sides also holding an interest.

What could Vlahovic bring to Arsenal?

The 23-year-old has registered 10 goals and two assists in 25 Serie A appearances, a solid but not spectacular return for a star forward, but he has been absolutely heralded for his past form.

During his Fiorentina days, where he amassed quite the reputation, pundit Micah Richards praised Vlahovic as everything you need in a centre-forward – explaining to BBC Radio 5 Live (via The Independent):

“He is lightning. It’s ridiculous. He has got 16 in 18 this season. His left foot is like a wand. I am telling you now, he is everything, he is everything you need.”

Juve are also open to selling him, handing Arsenal an opportunity to finally sign Vlahovic for Arteta.

Todd Boehly is reportedly eyeing up a move for French defender Castello Lukeba this summer as he looks to add yet another defender to the Chelsea squad ahead of next season.

What’s the latest on Castello Lukeba to Chelsea?

According to French news outlet L’Equipe, Chelsea made a £38m bid for the defender last summer which was unsuccessful, but they could reignite their interest in the Lyon starlet during the summer transfer window.

The 20-year-old is also in the process of changing agents and this could give further indication that a potential move could be on the cards relatively soon, with the Stamford Bridge outfit looking as though they could be leading the charge.

Could Castello Lukeba replace Thiago Silva at Chelsea?

The Blues are no strangers to signing defenders from French teams, with Silva, Benoit Badiashile and Malo Gusto all arriving from Ligue 1 over the last few seasons, and it looks as though this theme could continue as they aim to sign Lukeba.

Silva is fast approaching 39 years of age, and although he has a contract until 2024, Chelsea will require an heir to the Brazilian sooner rather than later.

He has won the Champions League during his spell in London and has made over 100 appearances for the side since joining in 2020, becoming a mainstay at the heart of the defence.

Lukeba could be the ideal replacement for the 38-year-old however as he has significantly impressed since making his breakthrough at Lyon in 2021 and his future certainly looks bright.

Indeed, the 6 foot titan was described as a “really sharp young player” and a “big prospect” by journalist Josh Bunting in 2021 just as he was making an impression, and he has really stepped up this season.

The youngster is adept at playing out from the back, holding a 90% pass success rate across 30 Ligue 1 matches this term, while averaging 77.7 touches proves he is comfortable on the ball and is always looking to make things happen from the back.

He has managed to win 51% of his total duels and also made 2.7 clearances and one tackle per game, showcasing his physicality, with that standout form ensuring that he is now said to be worth around £31m, according to CIES Football Observatory.

Silva won't be around forever and Boehly will be prepared to make some moves this summer in order to find a suitable heir to his throne. In Lukeba, Chelsea could strike gold.

Manchester United's owners have been urged by Rio Ferdinand to improve their communication with the fans amid the ongoing takeover talk.

What's the latest in Man United's potential sale?

Last month, it was reported the club were to receive improved bids from the likes of Sheikh Jassim and Sir Jim Ratcliffe who were the main two interested parties.

It was also suggested there had been a bid arrive from a Finnish entrepreneur but it's believed he has since withdrawn from the race.

However, progress has seemingly slowed of late with suggestions that the Glazer family, in fact, could look to remain in power at Old Trafford.

Indeed, a report has claimed the American owners are considering the possibility of staying at the club for another decade to increase the return on their original investment.

ESPN have claimed there is a growing confidence between the Glazer brothers that they could potentially double the current return which they could make currently if they were to remain at the club.

And speaking on the Stretford Paddock YouTube channel, Rio Ferdinand has expressed his concerns and urged the owners to improve their communications with the fans:

(5:00) "I've always said this, if they communicated with the fan base much better, much more clearer, open and transparent. They might have a better reaction from the fans.

"Or at least a bit of back and forth with the fans just to humanise the situation because they're so far removed from the fan base and the fans understanding or knowing where they are with things."

"I would urge them to speak to the fans, man. Or at least put a face to these words."

What could this mean for United's future?

Since Erik ten Hag's arrival at Old Trafford, United have progressed well on the pitch with the Red Devils looking good for a finish inside the top four.

United have already been able to get their hands on the Carabao Cup and the Europa League is still there to play for if they can progress past Sevilla in the second leg.

With this in mind, it does feel as if the club are heading in the right direction with the addition of players like Casemiro playing a big role in that.

However, there will be questions whether United would be able to close the gap on their city rivals with the current ownership at the helm.

Regardless of the opinions on this, an answer does feel like it is needed before the summer transfer window.

If the Glazers are to remain at the helm, then it will be in the interest of all involved that they confirm it over the coming weeks, therefore, plans can be put in place for the summer window.

If this is the case, there may be concerns as to whether United will go after a big-name striker such as Victor Osimhen who is expected to cost over £100m.

And it seems as if Ferdinand does believe the owners could escalate the frustrations of some of the United fans if they were to open up the conversation further.

Crystal Palace could potentially offer Paddy McCarthy the reins until the end of the season given he has the support of some of senior players at Selhurst Park.

Who could replace Vieira at Palace?

The Eagles moved on from their manager, Patrick Vieira, last week on the back of defeat during the week to their rivals Brighton & Hove Albion.

Despite being 12th in the table, Palace do sit dangerously close to the relegation zone with one weekend of unfavourable results holding the potential to see them sink into the bottom three.

Since Vieira's exit, McCarthy has stepped up and took charge of the game against the Premier League leaders, Arsenal, on Sunday which ended in a heavy defeat.

However, speaking to NBC Sports, the reliable David Ornstein has suggested the 39-year-old could still be an option until the end of the season:

(3:30) "I don't think now is possibly the right moment to be making the big appointment that is more likely to come in the summer. And that's why Paddy McCarthy fits the bill as well. He'll take charge today [Sunday]. If he does well, there is support for him among sections of the hierarchy to continue because he's popular with players like Wilfried Zaha."

Would McCarthy be a good option for Palace?

It is interesting to hear Ornstein suggest this inexperienced coach is a popular member at Palace despite potentially leading them into a relegation battle without any managerial experience.

And that is seemingly not only from the players but also from the board with sections of them in favour of him staying on if he shows signs of promise.

But the defeat on the weekend to Arsenal was a heavy one and although it may have been expected, it may not show too kindly on McCarthy's resume.

And the issue for the 39-year-old now is there are no more Premier League games this month with the international break taking place for the next two weeks.

On one hand that offers McCarthy with the opportunity to work with his players and implement any potential changes he would like to see ahead of their next game against Leicester City.

But it also means, he has no games to prove his worth as the Palace board have some time to consider their options ahead of the run-in.

And when he is potentially being weighed up against the experienced Roy Hodgson, the game on the weekend will likely have done him no favours.

It was a better time. Southampton are a mere shadow of the imperious outfit that rose from the din of the middle of the Premier League pack and waged war against the affluence of the supposed big boys of the division.

Ascending to prominence under Mauricio Pochettino, with the baton perfectly handed to Ronald Koeman, Saints clinched Europe in successive seasons, captivating supporters with their play and birthing some of football’s most distinguished contemporary stars.

Indeed, Virgil van Dijk, Sadio Mane, Dejan Lovren and Adam Lallana all departed St. Mary’s Stadium for Liverpool, while Luke Shaw joined Manchester United in 2014 for £27m at just 18 years old.

The crafting and cementation of the club for four campaigns was a remarkable achievement, while reaching the Europa League group phase in 2016/17, albeit falling flat, provided European nights to a fanbase striving for promotion from League One a little over half a decade prior.

It’s a far cry from the current crop, battered but brazen in their fight to stave off relegation, defeating Chelsea at Stamford Bridge and drawing to Man United at Old Trafford in recent weeks, but still confined to the relegation zone for 13 successive match-weeks.

With the recent draw against the ten-man Red Devils illuminating the woes in front of goal, Southampton mustering 17 shots to no avail on the day, the shining talisman of the former unit, Graziano Pelle, would be a coveted item on the south coast right now.

How did Pelle perform at Southampton?

In 2014, Koeman signed 28-year-old striker Pelle from Feyenoord for around £9m, with the Italian powerhouse having flourished in the Dutch Eredivisie the season prior, scoring 23 goals and providing six assists from 28 appearances.

The 20-cap former Italy international would go on to plunder 30 goals and ten assists from 80 displays for Saints, notably boasting tallies of 12 and 11 across his two Premier League campaigns in 2014/15 and 2o15/16, integral in giving the club its maiden taste of Europe.

Lauded for an innate knack at “humiliating” defences by BBC chief football writer Phil McNulty, Pelle recorded averages of 3.2 and 2.7 shots per game over his two terms in English football, as per WhoScored, also winning a remarkable 4.7 and 3.7 average headers, such was his dominance in the airspace of the pitch.

Such prolific exploits would leave the marksman heralded as “magical” by Tifo Football, with Koeman waxing lyrical over the forward when the pair were still affiliated with the outfit, saying: “Graziano we know is a very good striker, scoring goals, strong.

“I said before, it’s my opinion [he’s] one of the best in the Premier League.”

The colossus would also perhaps flourish with current captain James Ward-Prowse’s skill set deployed behind his own; as per Sofascore, five of Pelle’s 11 league strikes in the 15/16 term were headed efforts, and partnering that with his aforementioned aerial dominance, the results could have been cataclysmic for the rest of the division.

Ward-Prowse, now 28-years-old, was only at the maiden phase of his career when alongside Pelle in the Saints squad, and was a far more unrefined commodity, now hailed as a “set-piece master” by broadcaster Maximiliano Bretos, making an average 2.2 key passes and two crosses per league match this year.

Star striker Che Adams has found the back of the net in the top flight just twice from his past 21 outings, with the club too often dependant on the deal-ball wizardry of stalwart Ward-Prowse.

With Pelle at the front of the attack – unflinching, imposing, imperious – Selles could rest easier knowing his beleaguered outfit wielded such a devastating centre-forward.

Liverpool saw a dreamlike start drift into a nightmare against Real Madrid in last night’s Champions League clash at Anfield.

Jurgen Klopp’s men raced into a two-goal need courtesy of a lovely finish from Darwin Nunez before a howler from Madrid keeper Thibaut Courtois allowed Mohamed Salah to poke to ball into the net and it appeared the Liverpool of old had finally arrived.

The La Liga side scored two of their own before half-time, with Alisson having his own Loris Karius moment to give away the equaliser and Madrid raced away to score three more in the second half as it finished 5-2.

It was a hugely uncharacteristic error from a goalkeeper who has been nothing short of exceptional during his spell at Anfield.

Attempting to clear the ball away from his penalty area, he struck the ball right against Vinicius Jr who scored what will likely go down as the luckiest of his career.

In truth, the whole Liverpool defence were woeful. Andy Robertson lost possession 16 times and was dribbled past on two occasions, allowing Rodrygo the chance to complete two successful dribbles against the left-back.

He also failed to contribute in an attacking sense, with his four crosses unsuccessful while making zero key passes during the tie and Klopp needs to be demanding more from his full-back.

Yet, it was Joe Gomez who had the biggest shocker against the reigning European Champions, contributing heavily to the defeat.

How did Joe Gomez play against Real Madrid?

Having starred in his previous two Premier League matches, keeping clean sheets in both matches, his partnership with Virgil van Dijk was expected to fight hard against Madrid’s front three.

A Sofascore rating of 5.8/10 ranked him as the worst outfield player in the Liverpool starting XI and he clearly struggled against the pace and intensity of Karim Benzema, Vinicius Jr, and Rodrygo during his 73-minute spell.

Journalist Mark Ogden wasn’t impressed with the right side of the Reds’ defensive unit, saying: “Real really targeting Liverpool’s right defensive flank. TAA not really helping Joe Gomez much and Gomez struggling to cope with Vini Jr.”

Gomez made just one clearance and one interception in what was described as a “nightmare” game for the centre-back by Canadian journalist Demar Grant.

The Englishman also won just one of his total duels contested, lost possession six times, and committed two fouls, turning in a shocking performance and one that gives Liverpool a very slim chance of progressing into the quarter-finals.

Of course, the away goal rule being scrapped gives them a glimmer of hope, with a 4-0 victory at the Santiago Bernabeu enough to see them head through. And who can remember the last time the club were trailing by three goals to a Spanish side after a first-leg defeat in the Champions League?

Klopp will be seeking to envisage the spirit of that famous night at Anfield back in 2019 vs Barcelona, although, with the way they are playing of late, it will be a minor miracle if they manage to score once let alone four times.

Liverpool have laboured through what has been arguably their worst campaign under Jurgen Klopp. Whether or not this hugely successful era is coming to an end is a matter for debate, but what certainly seems required is for the German to rejuvenate the squad over the summer and try to build another great team.

Last year, it looked like Klopp was prioritising the future, signing talents such as Calvin Ramsey, Darwin Nunez and Fabio Carvalho, who were all aged 23 or younger when coming to Anfield.

Nunez has enjoyed a mixed start to life at Liverpool following his club-record £85m transfer, scoring ten goals but also missing a litany of chances, while 18-year-old Ramsey is clearly one for the years ahead, but it could be Carvalho from whom Liverpool may benefit the most.

How much is Fabio Carvalho worth now?

The youngster joined the Reds at the very end of last season for a fee of £5m. They missed out on him on deadline day the previous January but Klopp persevered and eventually secured a deal for the 20-year-old, and it could prove to be a massive shrewd piece of business by the German.

Carvalho enjoyed a fruitful spell in the Championship last season, featuring 36 times as Fulham won the title and promotion to the Premier League. He averaged a Sofascore rating of 7/10, which included ten goals, eight assists, 13 big chances created and an average of 1.7 key passes made per match, and this obviously caught Klopp’s attention.

Life in the top flight has naturally been more difficult, yet he has still managed to score twice in 11 matches, completed 50% of his dribbles and averaged one shot per game. This shows that, despite the increase in quality, the 20-year-old is still aiming to score and create as many goals as possible.

His form has seen his market value increase by 264% on his transfer fee, with Football Transfers now valuing the youngster at €20.4m (£18m). This has been an excellent rise, especially considering how limited his first-team opportunities have been as of late – he has only featured twice (both in domestic cup competitions) since the World Cup break.

Former professional footballer George Chomakov claimed that Carvalho gave him “Coutinho vibes”, and with the youngster being deployed either in an attacking midfield or left-wing berth, it’s clear that he could follow in the Brazilian’s footsteps for Liverpool.

His versatility could be a big bonus for Klopp over the coming years and if the youngster continues his fine development by making further appearances in the starting XI, his value should increase exponentially. Klopp looks like he has struck gold on yet another talented youngster.

Celtic defender Stephen Welsh is being linked with a last-minute loan move to Sheffield Wednesday, according to Sky Sports reporter Anthony Joseph.

The Lowdown: Celtic open to offers for Welsh

The centre-back’s contract isn’t set to expire until 2025, but having fallen out of favour under Ange Postecoglou, the 23-year-old has been attracting attention after reports suggested that the Premiership champions are open to receiving permanent bids.

However, Welsh now appears to be the subject of late interest from a surprising potential suitor in England’s League One, with a temporary exit potentially on the cards.

The Latest: Sheffield Wednesday eyeing Welsh

Taking to Twitter, Joseph revealed that Sheffield Wednesday are considering making a loan approach for Welsh today to bolster their defensive ranks.

He wrote: “Sheffield Wednesday are interested in signing Celtic centre-back Stephen Welsh on loan until the end of the season.

“Celtic had been willing to listen to offers for Welsh in this window, but recently cut short Moritz Jenz’s loan from Lorient to allow him to join Schalke.”

The Verdict: Let him go

Welsh has been dubbed a ‘leader’ in defence by journalist Josh Bunting in the past, but given his lack of game-time in recent months, Celtic letting him leave to get some valuable minutes under his belt would be the right decision.

The 6 foot 2 titan has only made four league starts this season, highlighting that he’s clearly not part of Postecoglou’s plans moving forward, giving the Hoops all the more reason to sanction a departure.

Yorkshire-based journalist Joe Crann has also claimed that Welsh would be open to completing the move to Sheffield, so this is a deal which sounds like it would be the best outcome for both parties.

Aston Villa have been making waves in the January transfer market under the tutelage of Unai Emery, and could now place the icing on the cake by tying up a deal for Udinese’s Gerard Deulofeu.

What’s the word?

According to a report from the Daily Mail at the end of December, Emery has been urging his technical director Johan Lange to make a move for Deulofeu, who has undergone something of a resurgence since joining his current Serie A outfit in 2020.

And now, speaking to GIVEMESPORT, prominent transfer guru Fabrizio Romano has shed some further light on the potential movement, stating that the Villans are indeed pushing for a move, but have been met with resistance from the Little Zebras.

Romano said: “They really appreciate Deulofeu, another player appreciated by the coach Unai Emery, but at the moment Udinese really want to keep Deulofeu until the end of the season. So not an easy one, but I’m sure that Villa also will be busy with two or three more signings.”

Ashley Young reborn

Emery has won five of his seven matches in the Premier League since arriving at Villa Park in October, and while his side have indeed fallen from both the FA Cup and the Carabao Cup, there has been a swift and discernible difference to both form and results since the 3-0 defeat to newly-promoted Fulham that instigated the dismissal of Steven Gerrard.

On the transfer front, Alex Moreno and Jhon Duran have been acquired to provide a boost to the defensive and offensive departments, but a winger of top-class quality would go a long way towards providing the sheen to ensure the Midlands outfit push for a top-half finish this season, perhaps even reaching as far as the upper third of the table, clinching European football next term.

And with the creative ingenuity of Deulofeu, this could certainly be established; having recently sold Danny Ings to West Ham United for £15m, Villa will likely move for a centre-forward, with the likes of Moussa Dembele touted, and the wily winger’s inclusion would stamp success firmly into proceedings.

Having made 68 appearances for Udinese, the former Everton and Watford “genius” – as once hailed by BBC Sport writer Phil McNulty – has scored 18 goals and 14 assists, including a return of ten direct contributions from 16 starts this season.

And as per FBref, he ranks within the top 5% of his positional peers across Europe’s top five leagues for rate of assists and the top 15% for progressive passes and shot-creating actions, illustrating his superlative technique and efficacy in the final third, which would only enhance Villa’s prospects.

He could emulate Ashley Young, with the 37-year-old veteran currently enjoying his second spell with the Claret & Blue, having previously played for the outfit between 2007 and 2012.

With Young’s career defined by his wand of a delivery and selfless service for his teammates, the £22k-per-week Deulofeu would be wise to copy the blueprint and shower success on the team as they look to continue the ascension back towards prominence.

Indeed, the Spaniard appears just as creative as Young several years ago, with the former England international ranking in the top 10% of full-backs in the 2017/18 Premier League campaign for goal-creating actions, the top 3% for expected assists and the same percentage for crosses into the penalty area.

As such, Villa technical director Johan Lange would do well to ensure Emery clinches his reunion with his former Sevilla ace, offering a layer of creativity and flair that could play a part in clinching European qualification at Villa Park once again, much like it did during Young’s first successful spell in the famous claret shirt.

A big update has emerged on Aston Villa and their pursuit of Alex Moreno during the current January transfer window…

What’s the talk?

According to John Percy of The Telegraph, the Villans are closing in on the signing of Real Betis full-back Alex Moreno to be their first recruit of the month.

The reporter also adds that Unai Emery is not settling for one new addition to his squad at Villa Park as he is also keen on bringing a winger in.

Percy Tweeted: “#avfc to continue talks with Real Betis over £12m deal for left-back Alex Moreno. Getting closer. Unai Emery also targeting a new winger as a priority this month.”

Dream start

Bringing in Moreno from Betis before the end of the month would be a dream start to Emery’s first window in charge of the Villans for a number of reasons.

Firstly, the left-back is Spanish and would be able to strike up an instant connection with the head coach without having to worry about a language barrier, whilst the defender coming in from La Liga also means that the Villa boss already knows him well from his time at Villarreal.

At the age of 29, Moreno is also an established professional who has racked up 145 appearances in the top-flight of Spanish football, along with 148 in the second tier. This means that Villa are not taking a risk on a young, up-and-coming, prospect and are getting someone who, in theory, can hit the ground running and make an instant impact.

The defender could also be a dream fit for the manager’s style of play. Emery is a manager who likes to utilise counter-attacking with pace after defending deep to protect his own goal and Moreno ranks in the 78th percentile or higher in dribbles completed, touches in the opposition’s box and progressive passes received per 90 amongst his positional peers in Europe’s top five leagues over the last 365 days.

These statistics indicate that he is good at bursting past players down the left flank and great at getting into advanced positions to be passed to by teammates, which would suit a counter-attacking style where the full-back is bombing on to join the attack.

Therefore, the signing of Moreno would be a dream addition for Emery’s first new arrival due to the instant impact that he could have heading into the second half of the campaign.