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Newcastle United are closing in on a deal for Harvey Barnes after reaching an agreement for Allan Saint-Maximin to leave, and now a new update has emerged on the club's next potential transfer target.

Are Newcastle signing Jesper Lindstrom?

According to German news outlet Frankfurter Rundschau (via Sport Witness), Newcastle are one of the clubs interested in signing Eintracht Frankfurt's Jesper Lindstrom this summer.

As per the report, the Magpies are claimed to be particularly keen on the player, but are competing with Juventus and Arsenal to secure the services of Lindstrom.

It is noted that the Bundesliga club will command a fee of up to €35m (£30m) to part ways with their versatile winger and Newcastle are expected to step up their interest after the sale of Saint-Maximin is completed.

Who is Jesper Lindstrom?

The 23-year-old has been plying his trade with Eintracht Frankfurt and has already been a huge success on the European stage following a Europa League win in 2022, as well as tallying up nine caps and one goal for the Denmark national team.

Lindstrom offers wide versatility in his positioning but is predominantly deployed as an attacking midfielder, where he has had a huge impact at Frankfurt, however, has also made appearances on the left wing, central midfield and in a second striker role too.

Over 77 appearances for his German club, the Danish dynamo – once hailed as "outstanding" by teammate Kevin Trapp – has scored 14 goals and registered 13 assists, with a goal contribution every 185 minutes so far.

As a result, the signing of Lindstrom could be a great opportunity for Eddie Howe to add a player with a wealth of experience and success in European tournaments, as well as bolster the attacking options available next season.

Beyond his goal-scoring abilities, Lindstrom is a huge creative presence; ranking in the top 20% of his positional peers in the Bundesliga last season for progressive carries, tackles won in the defensive third and successful take-ons that have led to goals, displaying strong ball-winning attributes.

Should Newcastle make a concrete move for Lindstrom this summer he could be the perfect partner for Barnes, who is thought to be the direct successor for Saint-Maximin. Indeed, his ball-carrying capabilities and chance creation in the final third could be extremely useful to the Leicester City winger.

Whilst Barnes is a prolific finisher in front of goal, scoring 13 times last campaign, his weakness lies in his ball retention and ball-winning efforts, with the Foxes goal-scorer ranking in the bottom 25% of his positional peers for pass completion, successful take-ons, tackles and interceptions, as per FBref.

Utilising Lindstrom's clear strengths in all that Barnes lacks in his game would provide the Magpies with a full-proof attacking threat and will allow their new potential new signing to focus on what he does best – scoring goals.

With that being said, it would be interesting to see if Newcastle do make a concrete move for Lindstrom this summer, as he would definitely bring something different to the current attacking personnel that Howe has at St James' Park.

Chelsea have been fairly ruthless with their transfer business so far this summer, having brought in a couple of top talents in Nicolas Jackson and Christopher Nkunku while at the same time offloading plenty of deadwood.

However, the Blues are seemingly stalling over whether to bring in another forward – and if so, what type of player exactly should they be going for?

Who are Chelsea's current strikers?

Nkunku and Jackson will battle it out to be Mauricio Pochettino's go-to man up top next season, though there is also a chance that both could be shoehorned into the side.

Assuming Romelu Lukaku, Hakim Ziyech and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang are each moved on, as is widely expected, the Argentine head coach would be left with Noni Madueke, Armando Broja, Raheem Sterling and Mykhailo Mudryk to choose from in the attacking areas.

Signing another forward would not be the worst decision, then, though Chelsea do not necessarily need to spend big on another player who will only be happy if playing every single match. After all, that will just cause disharmony in the squad, as was the case last season.

As rumours linking Premier League heavyweights Chelsea with Juventus ace Dusan Vlahovic refuse to go away, ESPN reports that the Blues are also now monitoring highly rated Montpellier centre-forward Elye Wahi.

Is Elye Wahi a good player?

Wahi is far from an unknown player given that he has played 84 times for Montpellier in Ligue 1, including 33 appearances last season as La Paillade finished 12th.

The 20-year-old whiz scored 19 goals and assisted a further five in those 33 outings.

Those 24 direct goal involvements put Wahi on a par with Paris Saint-Germain superstar Neymar, while only six others in the French top flight Kylian Mbappe (34) and Lionel Messi (32) among them – were involved in more.

As per The Analyst, the Montpellier goal machine ranks in the top 11% of all forwards across Europe's top five leagues for goals scored last season – and all this while still aged just 20.

For context, Vlahovic – who it is looking increasingly likely is a major target for Chelsea – ranks only in the top 26% in that same metric.

The Serbia international scored (10) and assisted (two) 12 goals in 27 Serie A appearances for Juventus last time out.

ESPN reports that Wahi could be available for £26m this summer, which is under half the amount Juventus want for Vlahovic, according to Foot Mercato.

Vlahovic would of course be a huge asset for Chelsea, but his numbers have steadily declined since he joined Juve from Fiorentina in January 2022.

The 23-year-old recorded 0.92 goals or assists every 90 minutes in the first half of the 2021/22 season with Fiorentina, as per FBref, but that dropped to 0.67 in the second half of the same season whilst with Juve, and to 0.56 in his only full campaign at the Allianz Stadium.

Wahi's numbers are only getting better with time, meanwhile, with the French youngster – described as "powerful, athletic and fast" by ex-Caen academy director Francis de Taddeo – surely the better fit as part of Pochettino's Chelsea revolution.

Manchester United are reportedly ready to battle it out for the signing of a highly-coveted teenage starlet…

What are the latest Man United transfer rumours?

According to The Guardian's Ed Aarons, the Red Devils – as well as the likes of Manchester City and Arsenal – are believed to have made contact regarding a possible summer move for Red Bull Salzburg's Oscar Gloukh.

Writing on Twitter regarding that Premier League interest in the 19-year-old playmaker, Aarons stated: "Understand there is interest from around Europe in Israeli attacking midfielder Oscar Gloukh, who will face England in the semifinals of European Under 21s tomorrow. Arsenal, Man City, Man United and Spurs have all enquired about 19-year-old, who plays for Red Bull Salzburg."

In a further Tweet, the respected journalist also went on to add that the La Liga duo of Barcelona and Villarreal are also interested in the Israeli international, with the former Maccabi Tel Aviv ace having only made the move to Austria for a fee of around €7m (£6m) during the January transfer window.

Who is Oscar Gloukh?

Lauded as "another jewel in Salzburg's collection of talents" by talent scout Jacek Kulig, the 5 foot 7 ace is unsurprisingly catching the eye of clubs across the continent, having enjoyed a dazzling start to life at first team level.

Having previously netted nine goals and registered eight assists in only 33 games during his time in Tel Aviv, the six-cap menace has since contributed two goals and two assists in 17 outings for Salzburg, having made a strong adaptation to life in his new surroundings.

A player with a "huge future ahead" – according to Kulig – Gloukh may not be expected to make an immediate impact at Old Trafford if he is to join Erik ten Hag's side this summer due to his relative youth, although the diminutive whiz could help to offer further competition and cover to United in an advanced midfield role.

It would no doubt be an exciting prospect to have the teen talent rivalling recent addition, Mason Mount for a role in the starting lineup in the years to come, with such a battle potentially set to help get the best out of both players.

There may also be a world in which Ten Hag would be able to squeeze both men into his side due to Mount's ability to feature on the flanks, with the pair potentially able to ease the reliance on Bruno Fernandes as the chief creative force in the centre of the park – the Portuguese ace having created the most 'big chances' in the top flight last term (32).

While Mount only created three big chances in the league in 2022/23, the Englishman was typically the man to deliver the goods for his teammates during his time at Stamford Bridge, registering 37 assists in 195 games for the Blues in total.

Although not at the same scale, Gloukh's impressive start to life at senior level has also showcased his creative brilliance, with the £5m-rated asset having racked up five big chances from just eight Bundesliga starts last term.

To then potentially have Mount, Gloukh – and also Fernandes – working in tandem in the years to come could prove to be a real dream scenario for Ten Hag, with it easy to see why the Dutchman is keeping tabs on this emerging, teenage superstar.

Liverpool are now ready to battle Newcastle United for the signature of Marc Guehi, but Crystal Palace are set to hold out for bids in excess of £60m if they are to sanction an exit for the defender, according to a report from Football Insider.

Is Marc Guehi leaving Crystal Palace?

With Guehi currently contracted until the summer of 2026, Palace are under no pressure to sell him this summer, but there is growing interest in his signature, with a number of top Premier League clubs now said to be eyeing moves.

Tottenham Hotspur have previously been linked with a move for the Englishman, with north London rivals Arsenal also being named as potential suitors, as Mikel Arteta is keen to bolster his backline.

Newcastle and Liverpool have been competing for several of the same targets this summer, with the Reds ultimately beating the Magpies to the signing of Dominik Szoboszlai, while they are also competing for Sporting CP youngster Goncalo Inacio.

There may now be another battle for the signature of Guehi, according to a report from Football Insider, which details that Liverpool are now ready to fight it out with their Premier League rivals.

However, they have been made aware that the 6-foot defender will not come cheap, as Palace are set to ask for bids in excess of £60m, if they are to sanction an exit for one of their prized assets.

Spurs and Arsenal are also still in the frame, but there is a belief that Palace's asking price could make the difficult very difficult to orchestrate, even for the Premier League's elite clubs.

After dazzling for the second season on the spin at Selhurst Park, the Eagles are unwilling to let their academy graduate leave for less than they think he is worth.

Is Marc Guehi signing for Liverpool?

If Palace are unwilling to lower their asking price, it seems unlikely that FSG sanction a move for the 22-year-old, given that the owners are not exactly known for overspending on players.

Liverpool's net owner funding in the last five years comes in at second-lowest in the division, at negative £37m.

However, if the Eagles lower their asking price later in the transfer window, the up-and-coming centre-back could be a fantastic addition to Klopp's squad.

Hailed as an "exceptional talent" by members of the media, the former Swansea City now has four caps for England, having impressed at club level, averaging a 6.94 Sofascore match rating last season, a higher figure than Joe Gomez and Ibrahima Konate.

Former manager Patrick Vieira has also heaped praise on the England international. saying: “He’s an ambitious player who wants the best for himself and wants to represent his country. He’s been working well, really hard.

“When you look at his performances for us in the year-and-a-half I’ve been here, it’s been really consistent and good.He just has to keep working like that and he will get a time to play in a World Cup and get a chance to represent his country."

Guehi is not yet the finished article, but he has proven himself at Premier League level, and has the potential to become a top player.

Pundit Frank McAvennie has been reacting to a Celtic transfer claim regarding Leicester City defender Daniel Amartey.

Are Celtic signing Daniel Amartey?

The Hoops and Brendan Rodgers look set for a busy few months in the transfer market and have already made a start on their summer business, with a move for midfielder Odin Thiago Holm confirmed by the club.

Melbourne City attacker Marco Tilio looks like he could be the next through the door, and another player of interest appears to be Amartey, previously described as "outstanding" and “aggressive” by Rodgers.

Reports earlier this month suggested that the Hoops are prepared to contact Amartey’s agent ahead of a potential move to the Scottish Premiership.

The Foxes defender will officially become a free agent at the beginning of July, and McAvennie has been giving his thoughts on a possible free transfer.

Talking to Football Insider, McAvennie believes Amartey is the type of player Rodgers will want to bring to Parkhead and feels the Ghana international could be a “revelation” in Scotland, who go on to be sold for £20m if he impresses.

“That is the kind of player that Brendan is going to want. The Premier League is a fierce league, it is the best league in the world and it is a lot harder to make it down there than people think it is.

“They can get him for nothing and if he does well they will sell him for £20m, that has been the blueprint of Celtic for years. He needs game time and he will get it at Celtic.”

Who else could Celtic sign this summer?

Rodgers reportedly has a £30m transfer budget ahead of the 2023/24 season, and there has been no shortage of transfer rumours in recent days.

Former Celtic star Kieran Tierney, now with Arsenal, would consider a return to Parkhead this summer on a season-long loan, and the club could still bring in more players from Asia.

It is believed that a significant bid has been placed for winger Yang Hyun-jun from Gangwon FC, whereas Gwangju FC duo Eom Ji-sung and Jeong Ho-yeon have also been scouted ahead of possible Parkhead moves.

Amartey, who has made more appearances under Rodgers than any other manager during his career, would bring plenty of experience and versatility to Parkhead, should a deal go through, as he is capable of playing in defence or midfield, winning the Premier League and FA Cup while with the Foxes, and a move looks like it could be one to monitor.

Manchester City are ready to pay to complete the signing of Achraf Hakimi, with Pep Guardiola said to be a big fan of the Paris Saint-Germain star, according to a report from Football Insider.

What's the latest Man City transfer news?

Man City are planning to spend big on West Ham United midfielder Declan Rice, having submitted a £90m offer for the England international, although that proposal was swiftly rejected by the Hammers.

Central midfield is not the only position that needs strengthening, however, with Kyle Walker's future in doubt. A new right-back may be required, with the likes of Nahuel Molina and Hakimi being linked with moves to the Etihad Stadium.

It is detailed that Guardiola wants to build a side capable of competing on all fronts next season, with the PSG defender being identified as a player who could help them do that, and there has now been an update on City's pursuit.

According to a report from Football Insider, the Sky Blues are now "ready to pay" to complete the signing of the 24-year-old, as they hold a strong interest in his services.

Guardiola is said to be a big fan of the Moroccan, who features highly on Man City's shortlist of potential defender signings, but he would command a big fee. The Citizens' interest in the right-back comes amid doubts over the futures of Walker and Joao Cancelo, with the latter of the two set to leave this summer.

How much does Achraf Hakimi earn?

The PSG full-back is currently tied down to a £240k-per-week deal with the French champions, which is not due to expire until 2026, meaning his current employers will be in a very strong negotiating position this summer.

However, Man City are seemingly willing to spend big on the Morocco international, and there is every indication he could be worth it, given the threat he poses on the front foot.

In the past year, the former Inter Milan star has averaged 0.17 non-penalty goals per 90, placing him in the 93rd percentile compared to his positional peers, with a pass-completion rate of 89% placing him in the 98th percentile.

Any player operating in a Guardiola system needs to be an assured passer of the ball, and the right-back fits the bill in that regard, while he has also been hailed as "sensational" by journalist David Amoyal.

Hakimi could be a perfect long-term replacement for Walker, and Man City should now look to test the waters with an opening offer – showing that Guardiola is not messing around in the market with midfielder Mateo Kovacic set to become the first signing of the summer.

An update has emerged on Chelsea and their ongoing plans to reshape their playing squad after they finished in the bottom half of the Premier League in the season just gone.

What's the latest Chelsea transfer news?

Mauricio Pochettino is in the market to bolster his options in the middle of the park and Sandro Tonali has emerged as a potential option instead of Brighton & Hove Albion's Moises Caicedo.

The Athletic's David Ornstein has reported that the Blues have had an offer of £60m turned down for the Ecuador international and that they are now considering a number of alternatives, including the AC Milan commander.

This is alongside their pursuit of a deal for Villarreal forward Nicolas Jackson, who is seemingly closing in on a move to Stamford Bridge from the Spanish side after agreeing terms with the Blues. The reporter tweeted:

"Chelsea have agreed terms with Nicolas Jackson + intend to strike deal with Villarreal. €35m clause if needed. 21yo striker has committed. + #BHAFC rejected £60m #CFC Caicedo bid 2wks ago – Lavia, Kone, Tonali, Barella among alternatives."

Ornstein's article, which is attached to his Tweet, does not reveal how much it would take to snatch Tonali away from the Champions League semi-finalists but the Italian international is on the club's list of targets this summer.

Who is Sandro Tonali?

The 23-year-old Milan ace is a defensive midfielder who has the quality to make an impact at both ends of the pitch with his defensive awareness and creativity.

Whilst it remains to be seen how much the Italian giants would demand for his services, Football Transfers estimates his market value to be in the region of €68m (£58m), which is significantly more than the €39.7m (£34m) he was valued at in June 2022.

This shows that the young maestro, who scout Jacek Kulig hailed as "Il Comandante", has been building his value over the last 12 months and that Chelsea would be bringing in a player who is on the up, rather than a depreciating asset with no sell-on potential.

Tonali enjoyed a terrific 2022/23 campaign in the Serie A with Milan. The Italian commander, who was once lauded as “extraordinary” by former Brescia manager Eugenio Corini, averaged a SofaScore rating of 7.21 across 34 appearances in the division and made 2.6 tackles and interceptions and 1.8 key passes per match.

Only Thiago Silva and N'Golo Kante (both with a score of 7.26) averaged a higher rating in the Premier League and only Kante (1.9) created more chances per game than the £76k-per-week dynamo.

There has been an update regarding Tottenham Hotspur's pursuit of Leicester City playmaker, James Maddison…

What's the latest on Maddison to Tottenham?

According to Italian journalist, Rudy Galetti, the Lilywhites are said to have made contact with the player's representatives regarding a deal to bring the 26-year-old to north London, albeit with the Englishman – who could be worth around €60m (£51m) – also the subject of strong interest from Newcastle United.

Writing on Twitter, the respected insider revealed: "Head-to-head between #Tottenham and #Newcastle for #Maddison. #NUFC have a slight advantage – they consider about €60m a fair price – but the race is fully open. Both clubs are in talks with the agent of James, who wants the move after the relegation of #Leicester."

This follows a previous report from 90min that suggested new boss Ange Postecoglou has given his approval with regard to the signing of the former Norwich City man, with the midfielder set to be up for grabs following Leicester's recent relegation.

How could Maddison fit in at Tottenham?

While the Coventry-born ace has been utilised on the right flank in recent times at the King Power Stadium, it is perhaps likely that he will take up one of the attacking, number eight berths in Postecoglou's preferred, 4-3-3 system, helping to provide a creative hub in the centre of the park.

It is perhaps clear to see that the north Londoners have been missing that link between the midfield and attack over the past few years, with BBC Radio London's Phil Parry stating that "there remains a big hole between the defensive part of midfield and the front three" as the club "have still not replaced Eriksen."

As Parry went on to note, "both Son Heung-min and Dejan Kulusevski are runners and they do not have someone to pick the ball up in pockets, be intelligent and feed them accuracy", hence why the addition of Maddison could prove to be a "massive signing" – according to pundit Paddy Kenny.

While uncertainty remains over Kulusevski's future at the club – amid reports that Postecoglou is unconvinced by the on-loan Juventus gem – Son could be the man to benefit from Maddison's arrival, as the South Korean star looks to kick on from what was an injury-impacted 2022/23 campaign.

Having played through the pain barrier for much of the season, the 30-year-old 'only' contributed ten goals in 36 Premier League games, with that tally only likely to increase if given quality service by the Leicester gem.

The latter man – who also scored ten top-flight goals – showcased his creative flair after racking up nine assists and creating 69 chances in total, ensuring he ranked tenth in the division for that latter metric.

With Maddison also ranking in the top 15% among those in his position in Europe's top five leagues for progressive passes, he is clearly someone that looks to play forward at every available opportunity, thus ensuring that the likes of Son can regularly gain possession in threatening areas.

Such a partnership could then prove crucial in ensuring that Spurs are not once again solely reliant on the goalscoring exploits of Harry Kane – who bagged 30 league goals last season – in their quest to break down opponents.

Celtic are reportedly close to securing their replacement for Ange Postecoglou as Brendan Rodgers inches closer to a return to Parkhead this month.

Majority shareholder Dermot Desmond has held talks with the former Leicester City manager and a deal to bring him back to the Scottish giants is said to be 'all-but done'.

Rodgers enjoyed a terrific first spell with the club as he won a sensational seven domestic trophies in less than three full seasons at the helm.

However, his second stint in Glasgow could look a little bit different as it was recently reported that Hoops legend Scott Brown could be in the frame to form part of the Northern Irishman's backroom staff, after the Scotsman completed his first season in senior management with Fleetwood Town in England.

Would Scott Brown be a good appointment for Celtic?

Bringing the 37-year-old tactician in as part of Rodgers' staff could be a masterclass of a move by Desmond this summer for several reasons.

Firstly, the retired midfielder has a pre-existing relationship with the Celtic supporters and would be able to instantly reconnect with the fans in the stadium. He spent 14 years at the club as a player and should know exactly what the paying punters expect and demand from the side week-in-week-out.

The tenacious enforcer made a staggering 614 appearances for the Hoops during his playing career and won 23 domestic trophies in that time, including ten Scottish Premiership titles. This means that he knows the standards that are required to consistently dominate football in Scotland and can, therefore, make sure that the current squad is keeping up with that.

His performance in charge of Fleetwood in League One in the 22/23 campaign also suggests that he has the coaching ability to be an excellent addition to Rodgers' staff.

They had finished 15th and 20th in League One in the previous two seasons and the ex-Celtic man led them to a 13th-placed finish in the division. He also won four of his six FA Cup matches in charge of the club to take them to the fifth round for the first time in their entire history.

Former teammate Gary Caldwell hailed the Bhoys legend's work with Fleetwood as "fantastic" and the statistics back that up as Brown progressed the side in both the league and cup competitions.

Therefore, the 37-year-old boss could be an exceptional addition to Rodgers' staff if he is willing to make the move back to Parkhead due to his relationship with the supporters, his coaching pedigree, and his knowledge of what is needed to win consistently in Scotland.

Arsenal have entered talks with Ilkay Gundogan about a summer move, but there will be a great deal of competition for his signature, according to a recent report from Marca.

Is Ilkay Gundogan leaving Man City?

With Gundogan's contract set to expire at the end of the month, the midfielder has been linked with a move elsewhere, and there are reports that a move to Barcelona could be close, having verbally told the La Liga side he wants to join this summer.

However, the German is likely to have a number of other offers on the table, with clubs from Saudi Arabia said to be preparing huge offers, while French champions Paris Saint-Germain are also keen, according to a report from L'Equipe.

There is also a chance the 32-year-old remains at the Etihad Stadium, with Manchester City now keen to tie him down to a new long-term contract, having initially been unwilling to offer anything other than a one-year deal.

According to a report from Marca (via Sport Witness), Arsenal have now entered talks over a move for the £140k-per-week midfielder, however, there will be fierce competition for his signature.

PSG may push to sign the Germany international if they appoint Julian Nagelsmann as their new manager, while Barcelona will try to sign him as well.

Mikel Arteta knows him well from their time working together at Man City, and he believes the central midfielder could have the quality to help his side compete for the Premier League title.

Will Gundogan join Arsenal?

Now that City have changed their stance on offering the former Borussia Dortmund man a long-term deal, it would be surprising if he is willing to move to another Premier League club, particularly if Pep Guardiola's side win the Champions League final later tonight.

However, if the Gunners are able to win the race for his signature, the maestro could be a fantastic signing, given that he played a vital role for City in their Premier League triumph last season, registering eight goals and five assists in 35 appearances.

Hailed as "incredible" by members of the media, the Man City star also has a habit of delivering in big games – scoring four in his last three league games to help wrap up the title for his side before netting a brace in the FA Cup final.

Although he is now 32 years old, Gundogan is showing no signs of slowing down, and Arsenal should undoubtedly table a contract offer this summer.