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Aston Villa have been in contact with the representatives of Borussia Monchengladbach forward Marcus Thuram.

The Lowdown: Impressive form

Thuram has been in fine form in Germany this season, contributing to 17 goals in 21 games. The France international has been playing as a centre-forward but is also able to turn out on the wing if required.

The 25-year-old is out of contract at the end of the current campaign, though, and it looks as if NSWE and Unai Emery are keen on a potential cut-price transfer.

The Latest: Contact made

Sports Witness relayed an update from FC Inter News regarding Thuram, where Villa were mentioned.

It is believed that Villa are one of four Premier League clubs who have contacted Thuram’s agent ahead of a potential free transfer, with Serie A side Inter Milan also interested in a deal.

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The Verdict: Would be a coup

Thuram is valued at a whopping €32m by Transfermarkt, so securing his services for nothing could be a brilliant piece of business by Villa Park chiefs.

The club managed to win the race for Boubacar Kamara’s services in a similar transfer last year, and you can see how Thuram, described as ‘world class’ by Wolfsburg sporting director Marcel Schafer, would fit in under Emery.

Villa have just Ollie Watkins and Jhon Duran as centre-forward options, so Thuram, who appears to be in the form of his life, could help take them to the next level in the final third, however, it could prove a tricky deal to complete with the likes of Chelsea and Manchester United keen.

Wolverhampton Wanderers spent wildly last summer under then-manager Bruno Lage, securing deals for Goncalo Guedes (£27.5m), Matheus Nunes (£42.2m), and Nathan Collins (£20.5m) as the Old Gold splashed the cash in order to replicate or even better their impressive tenth-place finish in 2021/22.

Fast forward eight matches into the current Premier League season, and the Molineux side had recorded just one victory, with Lage unsurprisingly losing his job with the club in the relegation zone and none of his big-money signings managing to click as swiftly as he’d have hoped.

It was a player that the 46-year-old missed out on during the summer transfer window which proved to be his biggest howler in charge of the club, especially with the form that one Goncalo Ramos has shown in the subsequent six-month period for both club and country.

How has Goncalo Ramos done since Wolves missed out on him?

The Portuguese forward has been in devastating form this season, making the missed opportunity even more heartbreaking for the Old Gold, as there is no doubt that he could have significantly improved their goalscoring woes.

Wolves were linked with a move for him before the start of the season, with Benfica looking for £30m in order to sanction their star striker’s departure.

Ramos enjoyed a breakthrough campaign in 2021/22, scoring eight goals for the Lisbon club, but it was at the start of this season that he really began to explode and showcase his talents to the continent.

In four Champions League qualifying matches, he netted four times to propel his team into the group stage, adding another goal for good measure in that phase of the competition.

This has been supplemented with 13 domestic goals so far this season, and the 21-year-old duly earned a place in the Portugal squad for the World Cup in Qatar.

He started twice for his country as they were knocked out at the quarter-final stage by Morocco, but his performance in the last 16 against Switzerland gave the world a glimpse of his full capabilites.

The youngster received a sublime Sofascore rating of 9.8/10, the best on the pitch by some margin, as he a wonderful hat-trick on the night that he made light of Cristiano Ronaldo’s shock omission. He also grabbed an assist, took six shots in total, made two key passes and created a further big chance in what was a World Cup performance which will go down in history.

He showcased his prowess in the air by winning three of his five aerial duels, and this natural goalscoring ability – combined with an already impressive physical presence – would have vastly improved Wolves’ squad under Lage.

Talent scout Jacek Kulig lavished praise on the striker in 2021 as he claimed 11 goals in just nine matches for Benfica B, tweeting that those were “outrageous numbers”, and it certainly looks like Ramos hasn’t slowed down one bit after graduating to senior football.

Everton have had a more positive outlook on their Premier League season since the arrival of Sean Dyche at Goodison Park and now the club have a great chance of surviving relegation if they can continue their form under the new manager.

The Toffees are now 16th in the league table following their victory over Leeds United at the weekend, however, they still remain in contention for the drop as they are currently just one point clear of the relegation zone with 15 fixtures remaining.

There is absolutely no doubt that the club must reinvest and give the manager the opportunity to make changes to the squad going forward to ensure they do not slip into yet another relegation scrap, providing that the former Burnley boss is able to retain Everton’s Premier League status at the end of the season.

There are a number of players who are not up to scratch in the side, whether that be due to being consistently unavailable through injury issues or being unable to put together reliable performances on the pitch, and Vitaliy Mykolenko is one of them.

The £58k-per-week dud has been dribbled past a whopping ten times in the last three games – four against Arsenal, three against Liverpool and then three times again against Leeds on Saturday.

Not only that, over 23 league appearances this season, the Ukrainian left-back has lost 53% of his duels combined, failed to complete 55% of his dribble attempts, and averaged just 26.1 accurate passes per game, which suggests that the dud has become somewhat of a liability in the Toffees back line.

As a result, Dyche could save millions on a replacement for the defender by unleashing Everton’s Niels Nkounkou next season, with the full-back currently showing glimpses of his talent on loan with Saint-Etienne in Ligue 2.

How is Nkounkou performing on loan?

The 22-year-old ace joined the French side in January after being recalled from his loan spell at Cardiff City in the Championship in the first half of the season and has thrived at both clubs over the campaign so far.

Over 18 Championship appearances, Nkounkou – hailed as a “magnificent” find by Stephen Warnock – registered one assist, successfully completed 51% of his dribble attempts and created two big chances, as well as averaging 2.2 tackles, 1.4 clearances, 52.4 touches and won 4.9 duels per game.

Since moving to Saint-Etienne, the young left-back has continued to thrive over his six league appearances so far with one goal scored, three assists and two big chances created, whilst averaging 1.2 key passes, 2.3 tackles, and five duels won per game.

These statistics show that the dynamo has been a huge presence on the left flank and is capable of quickly adapting to new surroundings and teammates.

The talented Frenchman joined the Merseysiders in 2020 on a free transfer from Ligue 1 giants Olympique de Marseille and was already getting recognition for his ability – earning appearances in the France U19s team.

Nkounkou has made seven senior appearances in the Everton first team, with one assist registered, but was unable to break into the team as a regular due to competing with Lucas Digne for the left-back spot in the team.

However, Dyche could now give the player a golden opportunity to become a consistent feature at Goodison Park when he returns in the summer and could ultimately allow the coach to ditch Mykolenko next term if the youngster can apply his current output in the Premier League.

With that being said, the future is looking bright for Nkounkou and the Everton manager will surely be watching the player closely as he works towards building a better future and improved performances at the club, given the current first-choice left-back’s disappointing performances of late.

Journalist Dean Jones has claimed that Mauricio Pochettino will return to north London to become Tottenham Hotspur manager again this summer.

What’s the latest on Mauricio Pochettino to Spurs?

Up to this point in the season, it’s been a bit of a mixed bag for the Premier League outfit under current boss Antonio Conte. While the club are still in the Champions League, and pushing for the top four, the quality of football hasn’t always been at its best.

Indeed, an article in The Guardian noted at the start of the year that the Italian was hired to change the culture of the club but they remain “as Spursy as ever” with an “air of discontent” still around the team.

It could be argued that since former boss Pochettino left, the club have struggled to truly be at their best again. This is why some fans will be delighted to learn the latest news.

Indeed, while talking on the latest edition of Chasing Green Arrows on YouTube, Jones claimed that Pochettino will rejoin Spurs this summer.

He began (17:22): “He’ll be at Tottenham. I think it’ll be at Tottenham. Yeah, I think so.

“They’ve got a decision to make. It sounds to me that it’s more likely than not that we might see him as Tottenham manager in the summer.

“I can’t guarantee that Conte is going but Poch is lingering there.”

Could Pochettino end up at Spurs if Conte goes?

Interestingly enough, the former Tottenham boss has also been linked in the media of late as a possible replacement for Chelsea manager Graham Potter if he is sacked in the near future. On top of that, with David Moyes under threat at West Ham United, the Argentine is said to be keen on joining the Hammers too.

With that in mind, if Spurs want to rehire the former PSG man, they may have to act soon instead of waiting until the summer as he may be off the market by that stage.

Still, perhaps Pochettino would be loyal and hold out for a call from his past club before opting to join anyone else. After all, he enjoyed some great years with Spurs and averaged 1.84 points per game while working in north London.

In comparison, Conte has done pretty well too with 1.81 points per game. Though this has been across a shorter span of time with the Italian overseeing 70 games so far compared to Pochettino’s 293.

Taking it all into account, this certainly looks like one rumour to keep an eye on as it develops over the coming months.

Fabrizio Romano has claimedFabrizio Romano has claimed that discussions over image rights are what’s stalling Alejandro Garnacho from signing a new Manchester United deal.

The Lowdown: A new deal is deserved

Garnacho has certainly burst onto the scene this season with the young winger being handed 27 appearances across all competitions by Erik ten Hag and he’s rewarded the Dutch boss for his faith by registering nine goal involvements.

The young winger is certainly not anywhere near being a first-team starter on a regular basis with the likes of Bruno Fernandes, Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho likely ahead of him given their experience at this level.

However, it’s very exciting that Garnacho is able to perform when called upon – as shown by his midweek goal in the FA Cup – because he’s still not out of his teens and is clearly good enough for the Red Devils.

The Latest: Garnacho edging closer to a new contract

Romano has revealed that both parties are now ever close to agreeing on a new contract for Garnacho, although the player’s image rights and who will own them is seemingly the only stumbling block in these discussions.

He said: (3:15) “One of the decisions for Man United is now to accelerate on the new deal for Alejandro Garnacho.

“Man United and Garnacho’s representatives are really in advanced talks to extend the contract, the part missing is about the image rights but everything is almost ready.

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“It’s a five-year deal and it’s an important salary for Alejandro Garnacho who is a fantastic talent born in July 2004 and he’s already performing at an incredible level.”

The Verdict: New contract works for everyone involved

Given that Garnacho is still seemingly on a low wage because he’d never started a first-team game prior to this season, a bump to reportedly around £50,000 per week will be good for the player and not disrupt Man United’s wage bill too much.

As it stands, Garnacho has a contract that runs until the summer of 2024, so getting one thrashed out as soon as possible is one less thing for Man United and Ten Hag to worry about because allowing a talent such as Garnacho to run down his deal would be a nightmare.

Also, for Garnacho to be getting a decent amount of first-team minutes at such a tender age and with a club that’s clearly on the up is pretty much everything he needed to be convinced why he should stay at Old Trafford.

Arsenal journalist for football.london Kaya Kaynak says that the Gunners will target another forward this summer, but Raphinha and Ansu Fati are unlikely.

The Lowdown: Barcelona interest

It was reported that Arsenal’s summer interest in Raphinha did not go away in the January transfer window, after they missed out on the signing of Mykhaylo Mudryk to Chelsea.

They have also reportedly made an enquiry over his FC Barcelona team-mate Ansu Fati, ahead of a potential swoop this summer.

The Latest: Unlikely

Speaking to GiveMeSport, Kaynak has suggested that although the Gunners could look to sign another attacker in the summer, Raphinha is seemingly happy to stay at Barca, while Fati’s injury record could be a concern, making both deals unlikely:

“They want players who can play across the front line, out-wide and up front. That’s why they signed Trossard.

“I wouldn’t be surprised to see them go back in for another player. Raphinha seems off limits at the minute. He’s obviously living his dream move at Barcelona, I think he’s very keen to give that a proper go.

“Ansu Fati’s injury record would properly be a concern as well when it comes to that interest, and I personally haven’t heard anything concrete enough. That’s not me saying the rumours aren’t true, it’s just what I’ve heard personally.”

The Verdict: Avoid

Both players although talented in their own right, are ones that Mikel Arteta’s team should be avoiding to sign this summer.

Raphinha snubbed them last summer, and his heart is clearly not set on a move to the Emirates Stadium, and as mentioned by Kaynak, Fati has a poor injury record.

The North Londoners already signed Leandro Trossard in January as cover on the flanks, while Reiss Nelson is reportedly in talks over a new contract.

Nonetheless, with the likes of Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli and Emile Smith Rowe in the squad as well, they are already well-covered in those areas of the pitch, and so should be prioritising strengthening other positions.

Wolves’ signing of Craig Dawson looks to have been something of a masterstroke in the short term, but the Englishman will soon turn 33, and he cannot be expected to be a long-term option in the heart of Julen Lopetegui’s defence.

Fortunately for the Spanish manager, academy talent Ollie Tipton looks to have all the attributes required to follow in the footsteps of Dawson at Molineux in the future.

How has Dawson played at Wolves?

Dawson made the move to Wolves from West Ham in the January transfer window, signing for the bargain fee of just £3.3m having established himself as a fan favourite during his time at the London Stadium.

He has gone on to make six appearances for the Old Gold in the Premier League, scoring in the 3-0 triumph over Liverpool and earning a strong 6.89 rating from WhoScored for his performances.

This ranks him as the second-best performer at Molineux behind Ruben Neves, so it is clear the impact he has had in Wolves’ battle against relegation, with Lopetegui’s side now looking far too good to go down.

However, Dawson cannot be relied upon to be a regular starter forever and while Max Kilman and summer signing Nathan Collins could step up as his replacement, Lopetegui could turn towards the academy for his next leader at the back.

Who is Wolves starlet Ollie Tipton?

The Molineux boss could find the ideal heir in Tipton, who has established himself as a regular in the Wolves U21 side, despite being just 19 years old.

The centre-back, who can also play in midfield, certainly seems to possess Dawson’s goalscoring knack from defence, as he boasts ten goals in just 47 appearances for the U18s.

The youngster became the captain of the U18s when he was just 17 and earned a huge amount of praise from Scott Sellars after signing his first professional deal in 2020.

The club’s former technical director said: “He’s very focused and has a very professional attitude for a young boy, who shows every day a real consistency in his work ethic and trying to improve.

“He’s been a captain a lot from a young age, and shows very good leadership skills, but he’s got an extremely focused mentality and is a young man who is really keen to progress and learn.”

This season has seen Tipton make 18 appearances in the Premier League 2, contributing two goals and one assist, so he definitely seems ready for his first taste of senior football in the 2022/23 campaign, whether that be at Wolves or out on loan.

If he can bring his leadership skills into the first team, as well as his clear skill for scoring goals, there seems no reason why he couldn’t be the long-term heir to Dawson in Lopetegui’s side.

Newcastle United have reportedly made contact over the potential signing of young Fleetwood Town goalkeeper Stephen McMullan this summer.

The Lowdown: McMullan profiled

McMullan is a rising star in Irish football, having been capped by both Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland at youth level.

He is yet to make a first-team appearance for Fleetwood Town, but has played twice in the FA Youth Cup, keeping two clean sheets, and made ten appearances for Northern Irish side Warrenpoint Town FC (Transfermarkt).

The Latest: Newcastle interest

As per The Sun, Newcastle are keen to poach McMullan from Fleetwood, and Toon chiefs have already ‘made contact’ over a potential move.

They hope to offer the 18-year-old a path into the first team, but he could draw a bidding war with other clubs this summer.

Fleetwood’s academy head Jack Higgins rates McMullan highly, calling him a ‘great character’ who is ‘very self-motivated and determined’.

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The Verdict: Get it done

The Magpies already have four goalkeepers in their senior squad, but three of them are in their 30s, while Loris Karius will turn 30 in June.

Thus, a younger option between the sticks will be needed for their long-term project, and McMullan fits the bill.

Hailed as a ‘really exciting’ player by Higgins, he certainly has a bright future ahead of him, and has already shown his qualities as a goalkeeper, with journalist Josh Bunting noting his ‘absolutely sensational’ shot-stopping while playing in the Irish league.

Nonetheless, there is expected to be plenty of interest in him this summer, so the Tynesiders need to wrap a deal up fast.

Fabrizio Romano has admitted that Liverpool transfer target Mason Mount will be on the market this summer.

The Lowdown: Mount set to be available in the summer

It has been a chaotic time of things lately for Chelsea and Mount as the two parties have so far been way too far apart in terms of negotiating a new contract, which has seen the England international linked with a move to Liverpool.

The Reds have been dealt a major transfer blow in the last few hours with David Ornstein reporting that Liverpool are losing hope in their pursuit of teenage sensation Jude Bellingham with the likes of Manchester City and Real Madrid now pushing ahead of them in the queue.

However, Jurgen Klopp appears to have already identified a Bellingham alternative in the form of Mount – who would be a lot cheaper given his contractual situation – and not it looks as though he could be free to choose a new club come the summer.

The Latest: Liverpool are still tracking Mount

Romano has claimed on his YouTube channel that given Mount won’t sign a new deal at Chelsea as things stand, so he’ll be a midfielder that’s available to be signed at the end of the season.

He said: (1:40) “As we know if a new deal will not be agreed before the summer for Chelsea, it will be the case to put Mason Mount on the market and try to make some money otherwise they could lose him on a free in summer 2024.

“This is why the situation is absolutely one to watch, of course, the Roof group and Neil Fewings have good relationships with many top clubs around the world.

“Keep an eye on, again, Liverpool because Liverpool appreciate Mason Mount and they’re really interested in the situation. At the moment, there is still no direct conversation with Chelsea as nothing has been decided on Chelsea’s side but it is one to watch.”

The Verdict: Klopp could land bargain deal

While missing out on Bellingham would be a major blow for Liverpool and Jurgen Klopp, if they could turn their attentions swiftly to Mount – someone who’s Premier League proven – could well soften the blow.

Mount is a very versatile midfielder playing in a number of different positions under numerous different coaches during his time at Stamford Bridge, which would certainly appeal to Klopp as he could build a fluid midfield around the England international.

The England star boy has come in for a lot of praise over the last 12 months – despite Chelsea’s slide down the table – with pundit Rio Ferdinand labelling Mount as a ‘mad player’ which would see him certainly fit in well under the energetic Klopp.

Liverpool will undoubtedly heap the summer transfer focus on rejuvenating the midfield, but the defensive third also needs reinforcing and Benfica's Antonio Silva could fit the bill.

What's the latest on Antonio Silva to Liverpool?

Silva has been a burgeoning star in Portugal this season and already looks capable of transferring his defensive skill set to a division such as the Premier League, with Liverpool holding an interest since December.

And now, according to transfer insider Dean Jones, speaking to GIVEMESPORT, the Reds are joined by rivals Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur in pursuing a summer deal for the precocious defender who could cost €100m (£88m).

Whether Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has the funds to strike a deal remains to be seen, but with the forthcoming transfer window a striking opportunity to stabilise the ship after a lacklustre campaign, the centre-back could be the perfect option.

Who could Silva replace at Liverpool?

If Silva's youth and inexperience could be held as a deterrent against parting with such an exorbitant sum to clinch his signature, it is a flimsy argument when considering the control and composure exhibited domestically and in the Champions League belies his age.

Having forged his path exclusively for Benfica's second team last season, scarcely into adulthood, the 19-year-old has made 34 appearances for the senior set-up this term and is now an unflappable and unwavering presence at the heart of the back-line, hailed as a "crazy" talent by talent scout Jacek Kulig.

The Eagles are flying; Silva is the centrepiece of the defensive structure and organisation, imperious in his ball-playing aptitude and aggressive in his sweeping approach.

Benfica top the Portuguese Primeira Liga by ten points as the campaign approaches the business end, while Inter Milan awaits Roger Schmidt's outfit in the Champions League quarter-finals, with Silva recording Sofascore ratings of 7.26 and 7.10 in the respective competitions.

Jamie Carragher remarked that the touted defender is "going to be a superstar", and with a vested interest in his services from multiple suitors, Liverpool would be wise to act swiftly and best rivals in a transfer battle, especially given that Klopp's side are a shadow of their former selves and currently languish seven points outside top-four, out of all cup competitions.

As per FBref, Silva ranks among the top 6% of centre-backs across Men's 'Next 8' divisions – the leagues underneath the established big five – for rate of goals, the top 1% for pass completion and the top 10% for progressive passes.

With 31-year-old Reds defender Joel Matip facing criticism over his performances this term, Klopp might be inclined to act swiftly.

Indeed, Matip has been labelled "awful" by CBS reporter Nico Cantor for his performances, recording a shoddy Sofascore rating of 6.67 in the Premier League this year.

But with the Cameroonian colossus still ranking among the top 2% of defenders across Europe's major leagues for rate of goals and the top 6% for progressive passes, Silva certainly appears to be a tailor-made replacement for the stalwart, who has been integral to Liverpool's silver-laden success but is perhaps nearing the end of his career on Merseyside.

Silva would cost a king's ransom, granted, but Liverpool need to act with conviction to cement future success and remind the rest of Europe that Anfield demands success across every front.