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Nottingham Forest are considering a summer swoop to bring Fiorentina star Sofyan Amrabat to the Premier League, according to reports.

Where is Sofyan Amrabat?

Amrabat is a defensive midfielder who currently plays his football at the Artemio Franchi Stadium having moved there from Hellas Verona back in 2020, but with his contract set to expire at the end of next season, he could be on the move in the coming weeks should Vincenzo Italiano not want to lose him on a free in 12 months.

The Morocco international was one of his nation’s standout performers at the World Cup in Qatar, where he played more minutes than any of his teammates, via Transfermarkt, and it’s no doubt his displays at the major tournament that have caught the eye of Steve Cooper.

The Serie A outfit’s talisman himself has even handed the manager a transfer boost by publicly admitting that it would one day be “nice to play” in the top-flight, and should he want to make his dream a reality, he’s got two suitors waiting to snap him up.

Are Nottingham Forest signing Amrabat?

According to TuttoMercatoWeb (via Sport Witness), Nottingham Forest have made Amrabat a "target" for the summer alongside Premier League rivals West Ham United.

Fiorentina have placed a €30m (£25m) price tag on their midfielder's head, with the Reds and the Irons being named as the two "interested" parties. The City Ground outfit "like" the 26-year-old, and with Evangelos Marinakis' track record of splashing the cash, this could be one to watch in the weeks ahead.

Nottingham Forest will know that Amrabat is stronger in the natural defensive midfield aspect of his game having recorded just one assist last season, but having been lauded a “physical presence” in the centre by journalist Josh Bunting, Marinakis should definitely consider testing the waters this summer.

The 6 foot star averaged 1.3 tackles per league game during the previous term and had a 89.8% pass success rate, which was higher than any of the regular starters in the Midlands, so not only does he love to get stuck in but he’s also extremely calm and composed in possession.

Amrabat, who is a versatile operator with his ability to operate in eight various positions across the pitch, additionally shares the same agent, CAA Stellar, as six of the current players under Cooper, so this existing connection that his representatives have to the club could give them a small advantage when trying to get a deal over the line.

Leeds United have had an eventful time of things over the last few weeks and will now be glad they can focus on rebuilding for next season where they will compete in the Sky Bet Championship.

From Premier League relegation, 49Ers Enterprises finally completing their takeover of the club and Sam Allardyce departing from the Whites leaving them needing a new manager, there is plenty of situations to be resolved at Elland Road ahead of the new term.

Several of Leeds United's players have also been linked with a move away from the club, which could mean their starting lineup in 2023/24 forms a very different complexion to the side that eventually dropped into the English second-tier in the campaign just gone.

One man who has been mooted to have interest in his services is Jack Harrison, who has attracted interest from the likes of West Ham United and Aston Villa, as per talkSPORT.

What's the latest on Jack Harrison and Leeds United?

The talkSPORT report states that Harrison is believed to have a relegation release clause in his Leeds United contract, which could enable him to leave for a cut-price fee in the transfer window.

Leeds United are also in the hunt for a new manager and Phil Hay, who is a journalist for The Athletic, has detailed on Twitter that former Leicester City boss Brendan Rodgers and ex-Norwich City coach Daniel Farke are in contention for the role, stating: "Trying to wrap up manager process this week. Rodgers they really want but not easy to persuade. Farke impressed initial discussions. DOF/players? Won't develop until after they sort head coach."

Speaking to Football FanCast, journalist Dean Jones thinks that appointing someone in the ilk of Rodgers could have helped to persuade Harrison to stay at Elland Road despite being in the Sky Bet Championship. Jones stated: "If you're looking at a manager like Rodgers, then the profile of that manager definitely makes you think twice as a player before you walk out because you're thinking more, if they've come here, then they obviously think that we're getting back to the Premier League quickly pretty sharp or they wouldn't risk their reputation on it."

Harrison enjoyed a commendable 2022/23 campaign for Leeds United despite their relegation, netting six goals and laying on ten assists in 40 appearances in all competitions, as per Transfermarkt.

The £90k-a-week ace also managed to average around 1.5 key passes per fixture during the season in the Premier League, showing his intuition and ability to be a key part of chance creation when given a platform to do so, according to WhoScored.

As per FBRef, Harrison's inventiveness is further evidenced in the fact that he successfully performed 114 shot-creating actions in the English top-flight over the course of the term just gone, which is something Rodgers could definitely look to tap into should he be appointed as Leeds United boss.

Rodgers is a known admirer of Harrison and even tried to sign him for Leicester City back in January this year while in charge of the Foxes; however, their £20 million bid for his services was rebuffed by Leeds United, as per Leicester Mercury.

One of the 50-year-old coach's main qualities is his ability to man manage and he was lauded as an "unbelievable manager" by West Ham United striker Michail Antonio, who spoke on The Footballer's Football Podcast earlier this year regarding the Irishman.

A common theme of Rodgers' stints at clubs is his ability to significantly improve what he inherits, especially with wide players and the likes of Raheem Sterling at Liverpool, James Forrest and Scott Sinclair at Celtic are living proof of that, as they all raised their game significantly under his guidance and produced impressive goal contribution tallies.

Whether Rodgers could have achieved the same feat with Harrison remains to be seen as he is also embroiled in talks with Scottish champions Celtic over a potential return to Parkhead which looks to be on the cards; nevertheless, you would imagine that he would be keen to maximize Harrison's abilities should he instead arrive at Elland Road.

Manchester United defender Harry Maguire could be set for a summer exit from Old Trafford over the coming months after a difficult 2022/23 campaign.

How much does Harry Maguire earn?

The Red Devils enjoyed a successful first campaign under Erik ten Hag – on the whole – having landed themselves a spot inside the Premier League's top three and lifted the Carabao Cup.

However, one man who will want to forget this season in a hurry is Maguire as he saw his spot in the starting XI disappear under the Dutch manager.

Indeed, Maguire made just eight starts in the Premier League this season which is a huge contrast to the 28 starts he made in the 2021/22 league campaign.

This summer will mark the fourth anniversary of Maguire's move to Old Trafford from Leicester City as his contract runs down to its final two years.

Earning a whopping £190k-per-week, the England international's spot in the United side is clearly not in the starting XI anymore and reports in Italy (via GOAL) as if Ten Hag is looking to strengthen his defence even further this summer.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Fabrizio Romano has suggested both the player and the club are of the belief that this summer should be a parting of ways:

"But the feeling now on both people close to the player and people close to the club is that the best solution is to let Harry Maguire leave in the summer.

"He wants to play. He needs to play it's really important also for the Euros, and so Manchester United will have a meeting with Harry Maguire next week at the end of the season with Erik ten Hag involved."

Who wants to sign Maguire?

One clubs has emerged as a reported potential suitor for the 30-year-old centre-back ahead of the summer transfer window opening.

And that club is believed to be Tottenham Hotspur who have recently appointed their new permanent manager in Ange Postecoglou.

Indeed, according to reports, Harry Kane has actually asked the club to bring in his England teammate in the past as they look to bolster their defence.

Spurs ended the 2022/23 campaign with one of the worst defensive records in the entire Premier League having conceded a staggering 63 goals.

On the back of an underwhelming campaign for the 30-year-old, it would be interesting to see how much of the £80m price tag United would be able to salvage if he is to be sold this summer.

However, there is another interesting potential angle with United believed to have Harry Kane at the top of their summer wishlist.

Given Spurs are believed to be keen on Maguire, it will be intriguing to see if United would be willing to do business with the north London club if they are not willing to sell them Kane.

Alternatively, there may be scope to include Maguire in a potential proposal for the England captain.

The club’s most exhaustive and extensive rebuild is on the horizon this summer, as Chelsea begins their quest to regain their status as one of Europe’s most elite sides.

The incoming Mauricio Pochettino has got a mammoth task to trim, refine and assess a horrendously bloated squad.

However, despite owning an absurd number of players, the Blues are still painfully lacking quality in some areas of the pitch and are targeting a new midfielder.

One player, who has been linked and would be a phenomenal addition to Stamford Bridge is Moises Caicedo.

What’s the latest on Moises Caicedo to Chelsea?

According to The Guardian, the 2021 Champions League winners are seeking to secure the Brighton titan to save their hugely underperforming midfield.

It is understood that the Seagulls could demand at least £80m to consider the departure of one of their prize assets.

Meanwhile, the west Londoners have already sold Jorginho, whilst Mason Mount, Mateo Kovacic and Ruben Loftus-Cheek are looking set to depart.

This has created space and solid funding to sign one of Europe’s most accomplished and promising youngsters.

Who can Moises Caicedo emulate at Chelsea?

Since the turn of the century, the centre of the park at Chelsea has been blessed with endless quality and dominance.

Michael Essien was a man who embodied this and during a nine-year spell in the capital, he forged an unbelievable reputation as a formidable midfield enforcer, renowned for his strength, athleticism, and indefatigable energy.

The Ghanian arrived in West London in 2004 for £24.4m to make the pivot Chelsea’s most expensive signing at the time. He would go on to make 256 appearances and was named the club’s Player of the Year in 2007.

A box-to-box adonis, aptly nicknamed “The Bison”, he ruthlessly combined a no-nonsense physicality with effortless technique, vision, and leadership.

Essien’s international teammate Derek Boateng has sung his praises, describing the former African footballer of the year as someone who “never lost form in his career.”

From a modern perspective, Caicedo mirrors many of the traits associated with the former professional, particularly his tough tackling and ability to protect the defence.

The 21-year-old ranks in the top 12% in Europe’s top five leagues among his positional peers for tackles and interceptions per 90, to emphasize his pivotal contribution to the backline.

For his age, the 30-cap international is a standout performer and has won possession in the midfield third the most times (142) of any U21 player this season.

South American football expert Tim Vickey has labelled the Ecuadorian sensation as a "terrific athlete who makes football look easy” and also hailed him as the “genuine article.”

If Caicedo continues on this frightening trajectory and his pathway to greatness, Essien’s achievements are not out of his grasp and his tenacity could make him a fan-favourite at Stamford Bridge.

While Tottenham Hotspur are still yet to decide who will be their next permanent manager, a further issue for the Lilywhites is the uncertainty surrounding the future of talisman, Harry Kane, with the England skipper having been linked with a move away from the club of late.

The 29-year-old isn't the only Spurs man whose future at the club is somewhat up in the air, however, with it also unclear as to whether on-loan winger, Dejan Kulusevski will remain at N17 beyond the end of the season.

The Sweden international was signed on an 18-month loan deal from Juventus back in January 2022, with Sky Sports revealing at the time that the move included a £29.2m obligation to buy that would be triggered if certain 'sporting criteria' were met.

With the north Londoners having since missed out on the Champions League – as well as European qualification altogether – it would appear that it is no longer a certainty that Kulusevski will be signed on a permanent deal, with reports in Italy suggesting that the 23-year-old could be set for a return to Turin.

The player himself revealed on Sunday that he was unsure as to whether he would be staying put at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, with there a potential for Spurs to have make do without the one-time Parma man next term.

Who could replace Kulusevski at Tottenham?

While the loss of the Stockholm native would appear a notable blow – having previously been a "real asset" to the club, according to pundit Paul Robinson – Tottenham could well ease that setback by snapping up a new recruit this summer.

According to the Daily Mail, one potential target that is on the club's radar is Leicester City sensation, Harvey Barnes, with the 25-year-old seemingly now looking even more likely to depart following the Foxes' relegation to the Championship.

The dynamic winger – who could command a fee of around £40m – could well allow the Lilywhites to forget all about Kulusevski, with the Englishman having dazzled this season despite Leicester's collective woes.

While the on-loan Spurs man contributed just two goals and seven assists in the top flight this term from the flanks, Barnes, by contrast, proved a far more clinical presence at the King Power Stadium, scoring 13 goals in 34 league outings.

That has ensured that the one-time West Bromwich Albion loanee ranks in the top 6% in Europe's top five leagues among those in his position for non-penalty goals, while Kulusevski ranks in just the bottom 8% in that regard.

Although Barnes has typically operated on the opposite side to that of the Swede, the Burnley-born speedster has previously slotted into a right-wing role at times in his career to date, ensuring he could well be a solution in that starting berth for Spurs.

The 5 foot 9 ace – who has been described as "unbelievable" by Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp in the past – also provides the benefit of his defensive ability as he ranks in the top 13% for aerial duels won, while Kulusevski ranks in just the bottom 8% for that same metric.

As such, Spurs could well consider allowing Kulusevski to return to the Old Lady if they can prise the Englishman from the Midlands side this summer…

With the Premier League season now at a close, Manchester United will now be turning their attention toward Saturday's FA Cup final showdown with Manchester City, with Erik ten Hag and his men having the chance to cap what has already been a fine debut season in charge for the Dutchman.

With Champions League qualification having been clinched – as well as Carabao Cup glory – the aim for the Red Devils will be to end their season on an even greater high by stopping their treble-chasing rivals in their tracks.

Ahead of this weekend's mouthwatering showpiece meeting, one United man who looks unlikely to play a central role in proceedings is club captain, Harry Maguire, with the Englishman having largely been on the periphery this term after making just eight top-flight starts – the last of which came against Fulham on Sunday.

That outing against the Cottagers could well prove to be the 30-year-old's 'final start' for the club – as per GOAL's Richard Martin – with speculation mounting that the £80m addition could be among those to be shown the door by Ten Hag this summer.

While the season-ending injury to Lisandro Martinez had looked to have offered the former Leicester City man the chance of a more prominent role in recent weeks, the £190k-per-week dud has been usurped in the defensive pecking order by Victor Lindelof, with the impressive Swede likely to line up alongside Raphael Varane once again this weekend.

With even Luke Shaw – who started in a centre-back berth in the Manchester derby back in January – having been given the nod over Maguire at times this season, it is difficult to see where the 6 foot 4 brute goes from here…

Will Maguire play for Man United again?

The fact that the one-time Hull City man is set to be restricted to a potential late cameo appearance – if that – against Pep Guardiola's men is a stark indication of his decline, with the 55-cap asset having fallen by the wayside since making an early strong impression upon his arrival back in 2019.

The towering defender initially shone on debut in the 4-0 thrashing against Chelsea at the start of the 2019/20 campaign, with The Guardian's Andy Hunter writing at the time:

'A serene start to life as the world’s most expensive defender. Won every header, distributed cleanly and instigated the crucial second goal.'

Fast forward just under four years and Maguire now looks like a shadow of that once-dominant gem, having been described as a "walking disaster" by Manchester Evening News journalist Samuel Luckhurst amid a turbulent campaign for United last season.

As for the 2022/23 campaign, the ailing talent has been resigned to a role as third or fourth-choice centre-back at times, while failing to make his mark when he has featured, notably looking "lost" after starting in the FA Cup clash with Cottagers back in March, according to former MEN writer Hesham Bilal-Hefiz.

The experienced dud was also notably culpable in the dismal Europa League defeat away to Sevilla last month after gifting possession to the La Liga outfit in the build-up to the game's opening goal, having earlier scored an unfortunate own goal in the first-leg stalemate in Manchester.

Those woes have ensured that a departure now looks a mere certainty for Maguire, with Ten Hag himself having only recently stated that the skipper has a "decision" to make over his future, amid the "high competition" for places.

As such, it could well be that the weekend win over Marco Silva's side proves to be the last time the England regular is seen in a United jersey – aside from potentially holding the FA Cup trophy aloft on Saturday…

Manchester United have reportedly made new direct contact over a summer move for Juventus midfielder Adrien Rabiot.

What’s the latest Man United transfer news?

The Red Devils appear to be making transfer plans despite the ongoing takeover saga at Old Trafford. Erik ten Hag seemingly wants to bolster his squad with midfield and attacking additions, with Rabiot a long-term target.

A move last summer was on the cards with a deal even agreed between the two clubs. However, as we know, a transfer failed to materialise, but it looks as if United, and specifically Ten Hag, are still keen on sealing a deal, with Rabiot set to become a free agent over the coming months when his contract expires.

Italian outlet CalcioMercato provided an update regarding Rabiot in the last 48 hours, saying that sides from the Premier League are making concrete moves for the Frenchman. One of those is from Old Trafford, with officials making new direct contact. Newcastle are also name-checked with an interest alongside German giants Bayern Munich.

Who is Adrien Rabiot?

Rabiot is 28 years of age and is primarily a central midfielder who can also play in a holding role or out on the left. The France international, sponsored by Adidas, has won 24 major honours during his career and has made exactly 450 senior appearances for club and country, contributing to more than 70 goals.

He has been on the books with Juventus since 2019 and has been a regular this season, turning out on 45 occasions in all competitions.

David Trezeguet appears to be a fan of the midfielder, labelling Rabiot as “world-class” back in December during the World Cup and describing his contract situation as a problem for Juventus.

"[With Rabiot] we are talking about a problem for Juventus because in Italy, he may have been targeted for criticism, but in France, it's completely different.

"He is world-class, an extraordinary player. Now, he will evaluate his options and will go back to being the important player he always was.”

Therefore, Juventus’ possible pending loss could be United’s gain, and with Rabiot’s experience and versatility, a free transfer for the €30m-rated midfielder could be an extremely shrewd move, similar to the one the club made for Christian Eriksen last season.

It looks as if the club are pushing to make a move possible, and who knows, should United finish in the top four, it could increase their chances of securing the player's services.

Sunderland's impressive season came to a disappointing end on Tuesday night as they fell 2-0 against Luton Town in the playoff semi-final second leg.

Having won 2-1 at the Stadium of Light last week, Tony Mowbray's side looked to be in a strong position against the Hatters and would have been hoping to make it to Wembley, where they would have been one match away from securing back-to-back promotions.

What happened in Luton vs Sunderland?

Unfortunately for the Black Cats, that dream wouldn't become a reality as the aggregate score was levelled at 2-2 within ten minutes as Gabriel Osho smashed home from a corner.

Mowbray's side were trailing on aggregate before half-time as centre-back Tom Lockyer headed in Alfie Doughty's wicked delivery, with injuries in defence leaving Sunderland exposed in the air against a physically dominant Luton side.

It was always going to be tough for Sunderland given that the likes of Dennis Cirkin, Danny Batth and Ross Stewart were all absent from the matchday squad.

This forced Mowbray to play both Lynden Gooch and Patrick Roberts as full-backs at Kenilworth Road, despite them being short tricky wingers, and this certainly backfired against Rob Edwards' giant Luton side.

How did Roberts play against Luton?

As per Sofascore, the former Manchester City man would earn a shocking 6.2/10 rating for his performance, which was comfortably the worst of any player to start the game from both sides.

It is perhaps harsh to judge the 26-year-old given he was playing in an unfamiliar position, but it wasn't just his defending which let the Black Cats down on Tuesday night.

Mowbray will have selected Roberts on the right in the hope that he could attack and link up with Amad Diallo, so it was perhaps no surprise that the slight winger struggled against Doughty down the left, as he was dribbled past three times and won just eight of 26 duels during the 90 minutes.

However, his performance going forward was a real letdown and arguably a major factor in Sunderland's failure to find the goal which could have taken the game to extra time or taken the north-east club to Wembley.

The English winger lost the ball on a remarkable 23 occasions against Luton, as just one of his five crosses and none of his three long balls found a teammate.

Roberts is certainly known for his dribbling ability but tried to do it far too often at Kenilworth Road, succeeding with just four of his 12 attempts on the night, although he did nearly score a wonder goal after beating a number of Luton defenders on a mazy run.

With Sunderland struggling to create chances late on, the right-winger engineered the space for three shots but put every single one off target, when a pass would have perhaps been the better option.

His greediness was disappointing on a night when Sunderland needed to be at their best as a team to get through, and his underwhelming performance was no doubt one major factor in the 2-0 defeat.

Aston Villa are reportedly preparing a move to sign Real Madrid attacker Marco Asensio this summer.

What’s the latest transfer news coming out of Aston Villa involving Asensio?

It looks like it could be an extremely busy summer at Villa Park ahead of Unai Emery’s first full season in charge, with the manager currently leading a late push to qualify for European football in the Premier League.

Plans for the summer are already being put in place, though, with Barcelona director Mateu Alemany reportedly reaching a ‘full agreement’ to move to the Midlands this summer.

He looks set to work closely with Emery when it comes to transfer targets, and it appears as if they have identified Asensio as one of their first possible signings together, with the manager on board over a swoop for the Madrid man.

Reliable Spanish outlet Marca shared an update on Asensio, who is out of contract at the Bernabeu at the end of the season. They said that Alemany and Emery are going to launch an Aston Villa move for the player through his representative, Jorge Mendes.

Asensio would like to renew his Real Madrid contract, however, Villa may well submit an offer for the left-footed winger that could be worth around €8m-a-year (£6.9m), working out at £132,000-a-week and double his Madrid salary.

What would Asensio bring to Villa?

Asensio, described as "sensational" for the impact he's made from the bench back in October, was valued at a whopping €90m by Transfermarkt back in 2018 and is now valued at €25m, so you can see why Alemany and Emery could launch an eye-catching contract offer with no transfer fee required.

The 27-year-old can play on either wing or in an attacking midfield role, so would offer plenty of versatility in the final third. A three-time Champions League winner, the Spaniard has made 281 appearances for Madrid, contributing to 92 goals.

He has plenty of experience in the Champions League, a competition Villa would love to be playing in further down the line under Emery, while Asensio also has 35 caps to his name at international level for Spain.

Therefore, for free, he could prove to be a smart signing by Villa this summer as they look to go to the next level, and it looks as if Alemany and Emery are working on a move.

Leeds United are expected to make a "big appointment" to replace Victor Orta this summer, according to an update from journalist Ben Jacobs.

Has Orta left Leeds?

It has been another tumultuous season at Elland Road, with the Whites still heavily threatened by relegation from the Premier League. Saturday's 2-1 defeat at Manchester City was at least a spirited effort, but it was still a loss in Sam Allardyce's first game in charge.

The Englishman replaced Javi Gracia after his recent sacking – he had initially taken over from Jesse Marsch – and Victor Orta also departed his role as director of football at Leeds. The Italian was a big figure at the club during his time there, so it is vital that his replacement is nailed in the near future, regardless of where the Whites are playing their football next season.

Who will replace Orta this summer?

Speaking to Give Me Sport, Jacobs touched up on the importance of the appointment, in what could be such a key summer at Elland Road:

"49ers Enterprises are well aware of the importance of the next four games. They were also extremely involved in Orta’s departure and the hiring of Sam Allardyce, as they were in the appointment of Gracia.

"But the one thing that each departure and appointment has in common is that it clears the slate a little bit. Gracia was only temporary, and now he's gone. Allardyce has come in, but he's only temporary. Orta has gone, which means there's a big appointment and window of opportunity to bring in someone new with a different approach and a new strategy."

As mentioned, the importance of Leeds bringing in a top-quality director of football cannot be overstated enough, with Orta such an influential figure, even if he could prove to be a divisive figure at times. He was still the brains behind the signings of players such as Raphinha, Jack Harrison and Mateusz Klich, outlining the job he did, and he was hugely passionate at the same time.

Whether Allardyce stays put beyond the summer remains to be seen, but whatever happens with him, having someone as good as, or hopefully even better than, Orta is vital for the Whites, ensuring they continue to be a well-run club.

It will clearly be easier to appoint an elite director of football if Leeds' Premier League status is preserved, which should act as an extra incentive for Allardyce and his players to get the job done in the coming weeks.