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Leeds United could finally be set to begin their summer spending on the first team, with defensive additions an unsurprising priority…

Who are Leeds United signing?

With Daniel Farke now installed as manager, there should be little standing in the way of the Whites' impending revolution.

The hope will be that their new German boss can make the necessary changes to turn them into a force capable of dominating the Championship at the first time of asking, having just been relegated from the top flight.

Putting aside the addition of Lewis Pirie as one for the future, a report from German outlet Bild now suggest that the Yorkshire outfit are set to battle for the signature of Bayern Munich goalkeeper Alexander Nubel as their first big acquisition of this new regime.

With the 26-year-old having seen little game time for the Bavarian giants, it seems he is now set to take his career into his own hands and stake his claim as a number one elsewhere. Football Transfers value the German at just €13m (£11m).

Who is Alexander Nubel?

As a product of the SC Paderborn academy, eventually making his mark at Schalke 04, Bayern were willing recipients of the shot-stopper who joined them on a free transfer in 2020.

However, since moving he has seen his career stagnate somewhat, having been moved into a supplementary role behind the legendary Manuel Neuer, and since forced out on loan. He has played just four times for the club, and most recently spent a two-year loan at AS Monaco.

It is this stint in France that has put him in the shop window though, given his strong performances that have unsurprisingly garnered interest.

Most recently, Nubel would maintain a 6.93 average rating in Ligue 1, which was a figure buoyed by the staggering 3.7 saves he would make per game, keeping nine clean sheets in the process, via Sofascore. Despite a lack of play time before this loan, he has shown little signs of rust.

European football expert Kevin Hatchard sought to detail exactly what made the keeper such a unique asset back in 2019, which is sure to have only improved with this experience. He told talkSPORT: "He is the captain of Schalke and a goalkeeper in his early 20s. He is a very good goalkeeper with a [Manuel] Neuer vibe about him. He’s good with his feet, commanding, and he’s got a bit of arrogance about him which I don’t think is a terrible thing."

To pair this erratic but ultimately solid star with Leeds' sole defensive shining light in Wober, Farke could immediately form the foundations of a new-look backline that could put aside their defensive frailties of recent years.

Last campaign in the Premier League saw the Whites ship 78 goals, the most in the division.

However, having joined the club in January, the Austria international proved himself to be more than capable of holding his own at this level.

He maintained a 6.84 average Sofascore rating in the league, with his defensive statistics feeding into such an admirable figure for a side that fell to the drop. He would record 1.7 interceptions, 1.6 tackles and four clearances per game, with his rating actually making him the third-best performer within the squad, of those who featured more than five times, via Sofascore.

His solidity would complement well with the unpredictable nature of Nubel, whilst it is this instinctive play style that likely caught the eye of Bayern, and has allowed him to impress in Monaco.

He could answer Farke's prayers towards finally shoring up Leeds' notoriously leaky defence.

Tottenham Hotspur are in talks with a number of centre-backs including Wolfsburg's Micky Van De Ven ahead of a potential move to north London this summer.

Do Tottenham Hotspur need a centre-back?

Spurs are in desperate need of some central defensive reinforcements this summer.

The Lilywhites endured a difficult campaign last season in terms of their defensive hold having conceded a whopping 63 goals throughout the Premier League term.

Tottenham also haven't enjoyed much success in the transfer market when it comes to buying centre-backs, with both Joe Rodon and Clement Lenglet leaving plenty to be desired, whilst Cristian Romero has been impressive, but is also prone to a moment of madness and over-aggressiveness which can cost the team.

For the past two campaigns, Spurs have employed a back three, with Welsh full-back Ben Davies often becoming a makeshift left-sided central defender. However, the arrival of new boss Ange Postecoglu could signal the return to a back four, which the club haven't played since Jose Mourinho was in charge.

A number of the team's centre-backs may not be suited to playing in a back four, which makes the Lilywhites' exploration of the central defensive market much more understandable, with Van De Ven emerging in recent weeks as the club's primary target for the position.

Sky Sports editor Lyall Thomas, speaking on the Last Word On Spurs podcast, revealed that the club are looking at upwards of five centre-half options this summer and that the Dutch national from the Bundesliga is an option, but it is not as close as certain reports have suggested:

"I don't think it's close at the moment, no. What I know is that they are definitely interested in the player [Van de Ven] but they are interested in about four or five and what they are doing at the moment is they are talking to the right people around all five of these players, which is what they should do and what is normal for this time in the window.

"There's nothing agreed with Wolfsburg, there's nothing agreed with the player yet either. And they are also talking about players like Edmond Tapsoba and Tosin Adarabioyo at Fulham and Clement Lenglet still at Barcelona and there is one more as well, at least one more on the list, which might be Marc Guehi, but I've not had that confirmed yet, but we know there is a long term interest in Marc Guehi."

Which of those options are the best for Tottenham Hotspur to sign?

Lenglet spent last campaign on loan at the North London side, making 27 appearances for the club and recording a Whoscored rating of just 6.55, which was the second-lowest rating for any central defender at Spurs last season, with only Sanchez producing worse. The French international is also 28 years old, so the club may be better off going for a younger option instead of someone who is currently supposed to be in their prime years.

Adarabioyo featured as part of a Fulham side that shocked many people last season and finished in the top half for the first time in over a decade. The 25-year-old made 29 appearances in all competitions for the side and recorded a Whoscored rating of 6.72.

The former Manchester City youth product formed a solid partnership with American defender Tim Ream at the heart of Fulham's back-four defence and could be a solid option for Postecoglu this summer. The defender could be available for a cut-price deal due to his contract expiring at the end of next season.

Van de Ven enjoyed a real breakout campaign for Wolfsburg last season, making 36 appearances and registering a Whoscored rating of 6.66. The Dutch youth international featured mainly on the left of a back three however has shown his versatility in the past when covering at left-back. The defender is coming off the back of a solid outing in the U21 Euros and gained notoriety last season for his incredible block against Union Berlin. Other top English sides are believed to be interested in the 22-year-old.

Tapsoba enjoyed a solid campaign under Spanish legend Xabi Alonso at Bayer Leverkusen, making 46 appearances in all competitions and recording an average Whoscored rating of 6.76. The Burkina Faso international shone on the European stage however, with a 7.28 rating across his eight Europa League appearances showing that he can handle the big occasions. The only minor worry may be that the mainly played in a back three last campaign, however, he has plenty of experience under previous coaches on the left of a back four.

Marc Guehi seems like the perfect option for Spurs, with the 22-year-old making 39 appearances last season, recording an average rating of 6.69. The current Crystal Palace captain is one of the most consistent defenders in the division and has garnered a lot of interest from top clubs including Newcastle United and Liverpool. The Englishman made his mark last season and earned his first England call-up, and has since gone on to appear three more times for the Three Lions.

Manchester United have wasted no time trying to bolster other areas of the squad after finally agreeing on a £60m fee to sign Mason Mount.

What's the latest Man United transfer news?

Unsurprisingly, the Red Devils are looking to splash the cash this summer and they have now lodged a bid in an attempt to sign Rasmus Hojlund from Serie A side Atalanta.

That's according to Corriere Dello Sport, who suggest an offer of €35m (£30m) has unfortunately been rejected.

Instead, it looks as though United will need to cough up a sum of €45m plus €12m in bonuses (£39m + £10m) to secure the player.

It's unclear whether Erik ten Hag's men will come back with a second bid.

Who could benefit from Hojlund's arrival at Man United?

Often compared to his fellow Norwegian forward in Erling Haaland, Hojlund would be a spectacular addition to the United frontline.

Still only 20 years of age, the youngster posted 16 goals in 42 games at club level last term, nine of which came in Serie A.

Such a tally in league football may not send pulses racing at Old Trafford but Man United could do with investing in future talent.

They have been there and done it before with ageing forwards with the likes of Edinson Cavani, Radamel Falcao, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and even Cristiano Ronaldo bringing the club little success.

Instead, it is time to plan for the future and by combining Hojlund – dubbed a "monster in the making" by scout Jacek Kulig – with the incoming Mount, the club's trophy-laden years could soon return.

In Mount, they are signing a phenomenal offensive talent. The England international may have only contributed to nine goals last season, but in 2021/22 he was on fire, posting 13 goals and 16 assists across 53 outings.

Such a record, should it be replicated in the north west, would no doubt benefit the budding Hojlund.

Last season, Atalanta's top assister was former Premier League man Ademola Lookman on eight.

The lively winger provided 1.3 key passes per game and created ten big chances across the league season. That is an impressive tally but actually, it suggests that had Hojlund been surrounded by a better chance provider, he would no doubt have scored more goals.

That is where a certain Mount comes in, with the Chelsea attacking midfielder providing 1.8 key passes per match last season and 2.4 key passes in 2020/21 with 13 big chances created.

This is a man who often brings a great deal of creativity to the side he plays for and with a rampant striker such as Hojlund ahead of him, it would surely benefit both to no end.

Last campaign, United scored the fewest goals (58) in the top six. On that note, they were perhaps fortunate to secure a top-fourth berth. However, it only goes to show why they need the likes of Hojlund and Mount in their squad.

Such a partnership could well elevate Ten Hag's men to performance levels unseen since the Dutchman's arrival in the Premier League.

Southampton should make a move for Swansea City midfielder Matt Grimes in the summer transfer window, according to journalist Ryan Taylor.

How influential is Grimes for Swansea?

The £21,000-a-week Englishman has become a key player for the Swans since joining from Exeter City back in 2015, maturing into arguably one of the first names on the team sheet.

Last season, Grimes started 44 of Swansea's 46 Championship matches, outlining his importance, and he also chipped in with seven assists to highlight the creative side to his game.

Saints have been linked with a move for the 27-year-old before the new season gets underway, with Russell Martin seeing him as a strong addition, having already managed him for two years in Wales.

Could Grimes head to Southampton this summer?

Speaking to Give Me Sport, Taylor said that Grimes would be a strong summer signing by Southampton, backing him to thrive in the Premier League eventually:

"Yeah, I think it would be a signing that could help him implement his ideas quickly. Needs a bit of leadership as well. I think Grimes is the kind of signing that is suited to a Championship play-off push.

"He probably could play in the Premier League with relative ease as well. I don't think he'd be a standout, but I think he's someone that can transmit the manager's message onto the pitch. He's a leader, and Southampton do need leaders to get back up."

Grimes could be really strong signing by Saints this summer, strengthening their promotion bid from the off and helping fill the likely void left by James Ward-Prowse, should he move on.

The Swansea man has a nice blend of being hugely experienced at a good level now – he has made 246 appearances in the Championship, more than holding his own in one of Europe's most competitive leagues – but also being young enough to be a key player for the next four or five years.

The fact that Swans teammate Flynn Downes has described Grimes as "unbelievable" says a lot about his ability as a player, and the fact that he and Martin already know each other so well surely makes it a match made in heaven.

A move to St Mary's Stadium would likely appeal, considering Saints are likely to have a better chance of promotion than Swansea, so it wouldn't be a surprise to see a move come to fruition.

West Ham United could be set to raid the Championship for their first big signing of the summer, with Record, via Sport Witness, reporting that the Hammers will go head-to-head with Sporting to sign Viktor Gyokeres.

How good is Viktor Gyokeres?

The 25-year-old has really come into his own since securing a permanent switch to Coventry in the second tier, and helped the Sky Blues to get to the play-off final in the 2022/23 campaign with his incredible end product. Featuring in all 46 games – 44 of which were starts – the forward managed to score 21 times and set up ten more to take his overall goal contribution rate to 31 in 46. It was far and away the best total of his career to date.

Prior to that, his first full campaign with the club brought 17 more goals in 41 starts. Given regular minutes in the Championship then, the striker has thrived and continually hits double-digit tallies.

In fact, his rates have been so impressive that he measures up nicely to others in his position amongst the Men's 'Next 8' competitions in Europe too (the leagues below the big five). Whilst his non-penalty goal rate of 0.40 is well above average (63rd percentile), it is his work in producing chances that really stands out. With a rate of 0.22 assists per 90, it puts him in the top nine percent versus other forwards. It shows he is a clinical finisher but is also excellent at picking out his teammates.

Now, his showings in the Championship may have landed him a move elsewhere this summer. That's because according to a report from Record, via Sport Witness, the player is wanted by both Sporting and West Ham this summer, and the latter of the two sides is ready to step up their pursuit of Gyokeres.

It states that they could not only outmuscle the Portuguese side financially and have really kicked things up a gear, taking steps to get the ball rolling because they know they can outbid Sporting with the cash from Declan Rice's sale.

What is Gyokeres' fee?

The striker won't be cheap and would certainly command more than what Coventry paid for him if they get their way. The Sky Blues are believed to want around 20 million Euros to get a deal done (or £17m) and that is obviously much more favourable for the Premier League side than Sporting.

It could be worth it for the striker too, with Tony Pulis once even likening the player to Erling Haaland. He stated that Gyokeres is "a yard faster and stronger" than those he came up against in the second tier and added that he is "really talented". If West Ham can get a deal done then, they could have themselves a real powerhouse upfront for the next campaign.

Everton may have finally found Anthony Gordon's successor, with the Toffees interested in Manchester United winger Anthony Elanga.

Everton latest transfer news – Anthony Elanga price tag revealed

After narrowly avoiding relegation from the Premier League for the second straight season, the blue side of Mersey are looking to significantly strengthen the side ahead of what will be Sean Dyche's first full season at the club.

Recently relegated Leeds United are reportedly set to be raided by Everton, with FootballTransfers revealing that talks are underway over signing both Jack Harrison and Wilfried Gnonto from the Whites.

The two aren't the only wingers that Dyche's side is interested in, though, with United's Elanga also on their radar.

Having failed to sign the 21-year-old on loan in January, it seems Everton are once again pursuing him, reports the Liverpool ECHO, who claim that he will be available for as little at £10m.

How does Anthony Elanga compare to Anthony Gordon?

With a talent of Elanga's calibre on the horizon, the Toffees could have finally found a worthy replacement for Gordon following his departure to Newcastle United in January.

In the Sweden international, Dyche may have found an attacker who could replicate the level of output that Gordon brought to the team, with the mooted transfer target receiving some illustrious praise in the past.

Indeed, the United academy graduate has been favourably compared to Cristiano Ronaldo by former West Ham United defender Anton Ferdinand – speaking on talkSPORT's Kick-Off show, he said:

"He looks like one of the only young players who actually tapped into Ronaldo.

"His movement was Ronaldo-esque, when Ronaldo was younger."

Elanga plays a very similar style to the Newcastle dynamo, with the two taking on an opposition defender and successfully dribbling past them at a similar rate.

Elanga successfully dribbled past opposition defenders with 33.3% of his attempts, while Gordon put up the exact same number following his move to the Magpies in January.

Both wingers love to carry the ball forward, with the United gem doing so 12 times in limited appearances this year, while Gordon did so 48 times for both the Toffees and Newcastle throughout the campaign.

The two also put up very similar numbers in terms of creativity, with Elanga successfully completing 76% of his passes for United during his 16 league appearances, while Gordon completed 75.1% himself for Everton before he departed for St James' Park.

Offensively, the Toffees really struggled last season, with only Wolverhampton Wanderers scoring less than their 34 goals in the Premier League, and Gordon's departure in January only made things worse, so adding a "Ronaldo-esque" talent like Elanga to finally fill the hole he left would do wonders to Dyche's chances of avoiding another relegation battle next season.

Tottenham Hotspur are edging closer to an agreement for Brentford goalkeeper David Raya and are working on the “last steps”, according to journalist Rudy Galetti.

Who could join Spurs this summer?

The Spaniard is one of a number of players being targeted by Spurs as new manager Ange Postecoglou seeks to strengthen his ranks and sign a replacement for Hugo Lloris.

Having served as Spurs number one for the last decade, the Frenchman could bid a farewell to supporters this summer, with Lloris candidly admitting as much to Nice-Matin recently.

“We are coming to an important moment, whether for the club or for me. It’s the end of an era,” said Lloris.

“I have desires for other things, I will ask myself quietly to study what will be possible. But I don’t forget that I still have a year of contract with Tottenham and that in football it is always difficult to predict what will happen.”

As the 36-year-old confirms he is looking for new opportunities, and could well make a move to the Middle East, it is imperative for Spurs and chairman Daniel Levy to sign a capable replacement.

There have been a fair few names mentioned by the press in this regard, with AC Milan’s Mike Maignan, Everton’s Jordan Pickford and Croatia number one Dominik Livakovic all linked in recent weeks.

Raya, who is believed to a top target for Spurs, has perhaps been the most regularly mentioned – with reports even suggesting that personal terms are already agreed.

Galetti shared news recently that an agreement between Brentford and Tottenham is close, but the Italian journalist has just dropped another update on the situation.

Taking to Twitter, he claims Spurs are edging nearer and nearer to a deal, with the “last steps” being taken – though there is still work to be done.

What’s been said about David Raya?

As well as drawing admiration from Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp, who claimed he could wear the number 10 shirt, Raya has also been praised by esteemed members of the press.

The Athletic’s Jay Harris, for instance, even claimed he is “one of the best” in Premier League football.

“David Raya has shown he is one of the best goalkeepers in the PL,” said Harris.

“He might have a year left on his deal, but I can’t see Brentford accepting anything less than a club-record sale.”

Standing out as one of Thomas Frank’s best-performers last season, signing him for around £21m plus add-ons would be quite the bargain, even with just over 12 months left on his current deal.

Glasgow Rangers are showing interest in winger Kwadwo Opoku ahead of the summer transfer window as Michael Beale looks set to continue with his Ibrox rebuild.

What’s the latest on Kwadwo Opoku to Rangers?

According to German outlet Fussball Transfers, Rangers have ‘signalled interest’ in winger Opoku, who plays for MLS side Los Angeles FC.

The Light Blues aren’t alone however, with Old Firm rivals Celtic also keen, alongside Bundesliga side VfB Stuttgart, while several teams from Ligue 1 and the Premier League also keeping tabs on the player, as Beale faces stiff competition.

He could cost the Gers around €4.8m (£4.1m) if any move was to be sealed, which is surely within the 42-year-old's budget this summer.

Could Kwadwo Opoku move to Rangers?

With Ryan Kent and Alfredo Morelos departing Rangers, it’s clear Beale needs reinforcements both in the wide positions and through the middle heading into next season.

One key issue the manager has is in the right-wing area, which could well be fixed by signing Opoku.

Todd Cantwell has shone when being deployed there during his first few months at the Gers, registering 11 goal contributions from 20 games, however, with Malik Tillman returning to Bayern Munich following his loan spell, the Englishman could be pushed to a more central role in 2023/2024.

The LAFC winger has enjoyed success in America, registering 11 goal contributions during the 2022 season as he led his team to the MLS Cup, and he has continued this rich vein of form into the current campaign.

Two goals and two assists in 13 league matches underline his attacking potential from a wide position, and he averages two shots per game, makes 0.8 key passes per game and has created two big chances, solid numbers from the 21-year-old.

According to WhoScored, Opoku’s strengths include passing and long shots, while he typically likes to cut inside and dribble past opponents as often as possible, suggesting that he tends to make things happen as opposed to being static and waiting for the right chance to drop.

This proactive nature could be crucial for Rangers next term, especially with goals paramount for success, both domestically and in Europe, as Celtic scored 21 more times in the league than the Ibrox side last season, a key factor to where the title eventually ended up.

For just over £4m, the “magnificent” Ghanaian – as so dubbed by journalist Owuraku Ampofo – could be a wise investment and given he has plenty of experience in scoring and creating chances for others, it’s a move that makes perfect sense in the long run.

Leicester City have identified Enzo Maresca as a potential Dean Smith replacement, if they move on from the manager, according to recent reports.

Who will manage Leicester City next season?

Following their relegation from the Premier League, this summer is set to be one of great change for the Foxes, with several key players heading out the door in the coming weeks, but it remains to be seen whether the club's first team manager Smith will be joining them.

Having been appointed in April to replace Brendan Rogers after the Irishman was sacked, the 52-year-old went unbeaten in five of his eight league games at the club, but it wasn't enough to keep Leicester in the top flight.

With their fate sealed on the final day of the season, Smith's future at the club was thrown in doubt, and now The Telegraph's John Percy has reported that while the club haven't made any final decisions on his status at the club, they have identified Pep Guardiola's assistant as a possible replacement.

Smith met with Leicester chairman Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha and the club's director of football Jon Rudkin recently, and talks are said to have gone positively as they outlined plans for the side's upcoming Championship campaign and pursuit for promotion, but things are still up in the air with Maresca now in the frame.

Who is Enzo Maresca?

Having worked closely with Guardiola as his assistant manager this season, Maresca has been learning from one of the very best in the game and could follow a similar path as that of Mikel Arteta, who once also worked under the tutelage of the Manchester City manager, before embarking on a successful managerial career himself at Arsenal.

The 43-year-old has a little bit of experience as a first-team coach, though, having spent a brief amount of time in charge at Parma, but it's safe to say, things didn't quite go to plan for the Italian, and he was let go after just 14 games which saw him pick up just four wins, despite having names like Gianluigi Buffon and Franco Vazquez in the side.

Leicester are taking their time figuring out who will be in charge of the side's first season back in the Championship, but Maresca is in no rush to join, with his duties at Man City and their quest for the treble still his number one priority.

Any decision on his future will likely be made after the Champions League final next weekend, but with Smith still fighting to keep his job and a wealth of experience managing in the Championship on his side, it remains to be seen where the club will go from here.

Liverpool will want to wrap up a deal to bring in Brighton & Hove Albion midfielder Alexis Mac Allister in swift fashion to avoid rival interest in his services, according to journalist Ben Jacobs.

What's the latest transfer news involving Alexis Mac Allister?

As per BBC Sport, Brighton manager Roberto De Zerbi has signalled that both Mac Allister and his teammate Moises Caicedo are expected to leave the Amex Stadium this summer.

Speaking in his post-match press conference following the Seagulls' 2-1 defeat to Aston Villa last Sunday, the 43-year-old said: "I think that can be the last game of Alexis and Moises, I'm really sorry. They are two great people and two great players. He then added: "The policy of Brighton is like this. "I think it's right they can leave, can change teams and play in a level higher. We are ready. We have to find others big players to play without Alexis and Moises."

Transfer guru Fabrizio Romano has detailed on his YouTube channel that Liverpool are in an advanced stage of negotiations to acquire the Argentina international, stating: "Liverpool want to be fast. The agreement on personal terms is 90% done, so Alexis Mac Allister is really, really close to Liverpool."

The Mirror reported earlier this month that Manchester and Arsenal were also keen on Mac Allister while Chelsea had also expressed an interest in the past, according to The Guardian; however, the Reds look to be the closest to landing the 24-year-old heading into the summer transfer window.

Capology understand that Mac Allister earns £50,000 per week at Brighton on a contract that runs until June 2027.

What has Ben Jacobs said about Alexis Mac Allister?

Speaking to Football FanCast, journalist Jacobs thinks that the incoming Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino could make a 'late move' to try and sign Mac Allister; nevertheless, he expects Liverpool to move swiftly to land the playmaker in the summer.

Jacobs told FFC: "As I said before, the only twist until it's signed could be a late move from Chelsea, but first of all, Pochettino actually has to come in and start before things like that could move. We wait and see on that one, but McAllister has always said that he wants to go early. He's always said that he wants his future resolved as soon as possible when the season ends. Liverpool themselves want to do their business early. They always do that; they always try and window plan and make progress to the point where they don't drag things out if at all possible and much like when they signed Cody Gakpo and it was announced early, it wouldn't remotely surprise me if Liverpool do exactly the same for Alexis Mac Allister and try to get him in as fast as they possibly can."

Would Alexis Mac Allister be a good fit for Liverpool?

Mac Allister has been in fantastic form this campaign for Brighton and has played a major part in helping to propel the Seagulls to their sixth-place Premier League finish.

In total across 2022/23, Mac Allister managed to register 12 goals and three assists from 40 appearances in all competitions, as per Transfermarkt.

WhoScored also note that the Argentina international gained an average match rating of 7.05/10 for his exploits on the field for the Seagulls this term, making him their second-most consistent performer behind Solly March.

Providing chances has proved to be his forte in Brighton colours during an impressive season, with Mac Allister successfully performing 106 shot-creating actions in the English top-flight, according to FBRef.

Jurgen Klopp will be in the market to bolster his squad this summer and Mac Allister would be an ideal candidate to provide some fresh ideas in the middle of the park come 2023/24 if the German boss can sanction a deal to bring him to Anfield.