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Wolverhampton Wanderers are reportedly closing in on their first defensive summer signing, as speculation regarding Nico Elvedi ramps up.

The Borussia Monchengladbach centre-back could be the one to bolster Julen Lopetegui’s backline after making sufficient sales this window.

What’s the latest on Nico Elvedi to Wolves?

As reported by Football Insider this week, the Old Gold are in advanced talks to sign the defender for a fee in the region of £7.7m.

Since then, Swiss news outlet Blick (as relayed by Sport Witness) has reported that the 26-year-old is ‘convinced of a change’, with Lopetegui being a ‘decisive’ factor behind the switch.

The report added that Elvedi’s partner had been in Wolverhampton, as the move seems to move closer to being complete.

How good is Nico Elvedi?

With 230 Bundesliga appearances under his belt, the versatile defender could be a vital asset for Lopetegui to add to his squad ahead of the 2023/24 campaign.

A player with experience and the versatility to play anywhere along the back line, the 47-time cap Swiss international could quickly become a favourite at Molineux.

While the former Real Madrid boss has a host of defensive talent to his disposal, there are flaws to the amount of depth in central defence, particularly following the sale of Nathan Collins.

Another area that poses a potential weak spot for Wolves is the longevity of those already equipped as Molineux’s centre-backs, with Max Kilman’s future still unconfirmed and Craig Dawson being 33 years of age.

The former West Ham titan made the switch from east London to the Midlands back in January, and quickly became part of the furniture under Lopetegui, making 17 appearances in the Premier League.

While the Rochdale-born veteran has unteachable experience in playing in England, it may be a suitable time for the Old Gold to evaluate potential successors to take his throne.

Once lauded as having “incredible composure” by former Borussia sporting director Max Eberl, Elvedi could be the perfect mix between experience and youth to phase out Dawson’s run in partnering Kilman, should he remain at Molineux.

An assured figure on the ball, the Swiss ranked in the top 5% of centre-backs in Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for his pass completion, averaging a mammoth 91.5% completion rate per 90, as per FBref.

Despite being a reliable presence in defence, Dawson fell far short of possessing a pass completion rate as dazzling as his potential successor, averaging 82.9% per 90 in the Premier League last term.

The Swiss colossus could prove to be a more polished and updated edition of the former West Brom ace, with FBref comparisons showing that Elvedi could prove to be an upgrade.

At 26, the Gladbach defender averaged 1.47 tackles and 1.11 interceptions per 90 in the Bundesliga last term, compared to the Englishman’s 0.80 tackles and 0.76 interceptions per 90 in the Premier League.

A similar narrative is evident in comparisons between their decisive presence in defence, with Elvedi averaging 4.75 clearances and 2.26 aerial wins to Dawson’s 4.22 clearances and 2.02 aerial wins per 90 last season.

In signing Elvedi, Lopetegui could equip his side sufficiently enough to phase the era of Dawson out, and to rejuvenate his back line to pair the Switzerland star and Kilman in a highlight of his side’s progression.

Manchester United have repeatedly sent scouts to watch French centre-back Jean-Clair Todibo, according to Fabrizio Romano.

Will Manchester United sign Todibo?

Despite having kept the most clean sheets in the Premier League last season, Erik ten Hag is yet to be fully satisfied with his defensive unit.

David de Gea is departing Old Trafford after 12 years as the club's number one, while Phil Jones has already left, and there are rumours suggesting Eric Bailly, Alex Telles and Harry Maguire may also be heading for the exit door.

Such an upheaval will dramatically alter United's transfer plans this summer and Ten Hag will now need to strengthen his backline.

Andre Onana will replace De Gea, while the Red Devils are already well-stocked at left-back, meaning the only position left to fill gaps is in the heart of the defence.

According to transfer expert Romano, one man Ten Hag may turn to is Todibo, the 23-year-old Nice defender identified as a target with great future potential and possibly costing approximately £39m.

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, Romano said: "They sent their scouts multiple times, I'm told, to watch Jean-Clair Todibo, who did very well in Ligue 1 last season. This is a player that they are following, but still nothing concrete in terms of negotiations."

After initially arriving at Nice on loan from Barcelona in February 2021, the defender made his move permanent just five months later and has gone from strength to strength in the south of France.

His impressive performances have seemingly caught the eye of Ten Hag and the fact that the Dutchman has sent scouts to watch him on multiple occasions suggest United like what they have seen from the 23-year-old.

United were previously linked with Kim Min-jae as a centre-back target but he is with Bayern Munich now, while Todibo's compatriot Axel Disasi of Monaco has also been linked to last season's Carabao Cup winners.

If United were to be taken over by Jim Ratcliffe, who is the current owner of Nice, then a deal may be more easily negotiated.

Who is Man United target Todibo?

After arriving at Barcelona for just £850,000 from Toulouse in 2019, expectations were naturally high for Todibo, who has been called a 'very interesting' player.

This expectation only grew when Germany icon Lothar Matthaus described Todibo as the "best centre back I’ve seen in a long time" during his loan spell at Schalke and praised him for his calm demeanor at such a tender age.

However, he only managed five games for La Blaugrana and, following another loan at Benfica, finally arrived at Nice. He has since made 103 appearances for the Eaglets, averaging a 6.94 rating on Sofascore in Ligue 1 last term.

One of his key strengths is his passing capabilities, something he showcased compared to other centre-backs in the French top tier last season.

Todibo boasted a very respectable passing accuracy of 88.5%, with a 95% and 94.7% short and medium accuracy respectively. He ranked in the top 6% of players for progressive passing distance in each match on average, highlighting his ability and comfort with the ball at his feet.

He is also a smart and competent defender who is very capable in one-v-ones. Todibo ranks in the top 11% of Ligue 1 centre-backs last season per 90 for tackles won, tackles in the defensive third and dribblers tackled.

Overall, Todibo looks like he has the potential to be a world-beater and Ten Hag may be the man to elevate his game to new levels.

It has been a summer of turbulence for Celtic so far as they have lost key members of their team on and off the pitch since the start of last month.

Manager Ange Postecoglou departed to join Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur and midfielder Aaron Mooy officially retired, while Jota has completed a permanent transfer to Al-Ittihad.

Brendan Rodgers, who replaced the Australian tactician at the helm, has also been able to snap up two new signings; Odin Thiago Holm and Marco Tilio.

The Hoops boss has also been linked with a swoop for Young Boys midfielder Fabian Rieder, who could come in as his dream heir to Matt O'Riley's place in the squad.

Premier League teams have been touted with interest in the Denmark international this year and Celtic are said to be expecting offers to come in for him ahead of the 2023/24 campaign.

How did Fabian Rieder perform last season?

Rieder enjoyed a terrific campaign for his side in the Super League and his performances suggest that the potential is there for him to be an excellent replacement for O'Riley, should the ex-Fulham man depart Parkhead over the months to come.

The Switzerland international, who is valued at €10.5m (£9m) by FootballTransfers, averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.17 across 33 league outings as he showcased his ability in and out of possession.

On the ball, the 21-year-old created 1.8 chances and completed 0.8 dribbles per game to go along with his seven goals from the middle of the park, as per Sofascore. Had he registered those numbers in a Celtic shirt, he would have ranked second and joint-first respectively among central midfielders within the Hoops' squad last term.

O'Riley, meanwhile, produced just 0.6 dribbles but a mighty 2.1 key passes per match for Celtic in the Scottish Premiership, which does not suggest that there is a huge difference between them in that regard.

Defensively, Rieder made 3.1 tackles and interceptions per game while also coming out on top in 48% of his individual duels for Young Boys. No Celtic midfielder managed more than O'Riley's 2.2 tackles and interceptions combined per clash, suggesting that the Swiss ace could provide Rodgers with more bite in the middle of the park.

These statistics outline that the talented magician, whose "exemplary determination" was hailed by talent scout Jacek Kulig, has proven himself to be a midfield player with the ability to make a significant impact at both ends of the pitch.

Rieder has the potential to be an exceptional heir to O'Riley due to his defensive and offensive quality, to create chances while also being able to win possession back on a regular basis, which is why this signing could alleviate any concerns about the Danish gem's possible departure.

Arsenal’s negotiations with Ajax over their much sought-after defender Jurrien Timber “have been very positive,” and the player himself “wants to make the move to Arsenal”, claims Sky Sports reporter Dharmesh Sheth.

Arsenal transfer news – What’s the latest on Jurrien Timber

After falling just short of a first Premier League title in 19 years last season, the Gunners look set to add several quality players to their squad over the summer.

One of those quality players looks to be Timber. The North London outfit are reportedly now the front-runners to land the signature of the 22-year-old defender, despite their opening offer of £30m being rejected, per the Daily Mail.

That rejection doesn’t seem to have made any difference to the club’s ambition, as transfer expert Fabrizio Romano reported on June 26th that Arsenal had made their “second official proposal to Ajax in order to get (the) Jurrien Timber deal done this week.”

In even better news for Gooners, the Italian reported that the player and club had “personal terms agreed last week on (a) five year contract.”

It isn’t the first time the Dutchman had been heavily touted for a move to the Premier League, as only last summer it was Manchester United, newly under former Ajax boss Erik ten Hag, that looked set to land the Utrecht-born defender.

Dutch journalist Marcel Van Der Krann told Sky Sports News that the move fell apart after Louis Van Gaal warned the 5 foot 10 dynamo that a move to United would harm his chances of playing for the national team in the 2022 World Cup.

What did Dharmesh Sheth say about Arsenal and Jurrien Timber?

Sheth highlighted the positive nature of the talks so far and the player’s overwhelming desire to come to London and be a part of Arsenal’s project moving forward.

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, he said: “You’ll remember last summer Manchester United tried to sign Jurrien Timber but couldn’t get that one over the line. It looks like this one could end in a positive resolution with regard to Arsenal because they are pushing for him.

“Talks have been ongoing, talks have been very positive, as far as I’m aware. And all the indications are that Jurrien Timber quite significantly wants to make the move to Arsenal as well.”

Would Jurrien Timber improve Arsenal?

The first thing to stress about Timber is his positional versatility. During his time with Amsterdam’s biggest club, he has played in both the centre-half position and as a right-back, something that has surely piqued the interest of Mikel Arteta.

The Gunners employed a system last season that saw the right-back – often Ben White – come back into the central areas of the pitch and play as a third centre-half when the team was in possession. This would be a role that Timber would thrive in.

How does he stack up to Ben White, the player most likely to be his competition at the Emirates?

When it comes to the player’s goal threat, there isn’t much of a competition. According to FBref, the Dutchman puts up a seriously impressive expected goals number of 4.9 across 34 games, whereas the former Leeds and Brighton man can only muster 1.3.

However, it’s a totally different story regarding excepted assists, where the Ajax academy graduate amasses just 0.8 while White hits a respectable 3.2.

Defensively speaking, it’s fairly evenly matched, with The Englishman winning 0.91 tackles per 90 to Timber’s 1.01, also per FBref.

With the deal looking like it could be finalised any day now, the Gunners should be able to rely on more quality reinforcements next season.

Glasgow Rangers are reportedly interested in bringing midfielder Tom Davies to Ibrox.

What’s the latest Rangers transfer news involving Davies?

Michael Beale is preparing for his first full season as Rangers manager and has already brought in a number of players to freshen up his squad.

Scott Arfield, Ryan Kent, Alfredo Morelos, Allan McGregor and Filip Helander have all called time on their Ibrox career and have left the club, however, four players have arrived. Goalkeeper, Jack Butland, full-back Dujon Sterling and midfielder Kieran Dowell have joined on free transfers, whereas attacker Sam Lammers has been brought in from Atalanta.

Los Angeles FC midfielder Jose Cifuentes could be the next to pen terms with Rangers, and another midfield target has emerged on the club’s radar in Davies.

It was confirmed by Everton on Thursday that Davies, who previously became the youngest captain in the Toffees’ history at 20 years and 60 days, will leave Goodison Park this summer on a free transfer after turning down a new contract. Everton’s director of football, Kevin Thelwell, said:

“We offered Tom a new contract, but he feels he has reached the stage in his career where he needs regular first-team football and, as a result, he wants to look at alternative options away from Everton.”

talkSPORT relayed the news and provided a Rangers transfer update, saying that those at Ibrox are interested in the Englishman’s services on a free deal.

Who is Tom Davies?

Davies is primarily a central midfielder but has history of playing in defensive and attacking midfield roles, with his Transfermarkt valuation standing at €9m.

The 24-year-old, sponsored by Adidas, made a total of 179 senior Everton appearances, scoring seven times and providing eight assists. He turned out on 19 occasions in the Premier League last season and missed 31 games through injury during the 2021/22 campaign with a knee problem.

Despite his injury history, Davies, who was receiving £25,000-a-week on Merseyside, appears to be wanted by Beale earlier in the year, with the Rangers boss recently comparing him to John Lundstram, saying:

"Tom Davies, he used to kick my Liverpool Under 23s team all around the place. There’s a bit of John Lundstram about him. But again, two really good players."

He was linked with a move to Scotland back in January, and by the looks of it, a transfer will be on to keep an eye on once again over the coming weeks, with no transfer fee needed this time around.

Manchester United are interested in signing teenage forward Adama Bojang, according to Fabrizio Romano.

What’s the latest transfer news on Man United and Bojang?

The Red Devils and Erik ten Hag have made a new forward one of their transfer priorities this summer, with Wout Wegorst’s loan spell coming to an end.

Anthony Martial’s future is also up in the air, which could leave Ten Hag with no senior striker on the books ahead of the 2023/24 season.

A number of marquee names have been linked with a move to Old Trafford, including Harry Kane. Reports have suggested that Man United could be tempted back into a move for the Tottenham star if they lower their £100m asking price to £80m.

Meanwhile, there has been speculation that Man United are in the lead to sign Benfica striker Goncalo Ramos, and alongside a proven high-profile attacking addition, it looks as if a lesser-known final third name is also on the agenda.

Romano took to Twitter in the last 48 hours to share an update he’s heard on Bojang. He revealed that those at Old Trafford are “now showing interest” in signing the “huge talent”, however, German sides Eintracht Frankfurt and RB Leipzig are also keen alongside French outfit Strasbourg.

“Manchester United are among clubs now showing interest in Gambia 2004 born talent Adama Bojang.

“Understand Eintracht Frankfurt and RB Leipzig are pushing to close deal for Bojang, considered a huge talent. Strasbourg are also monitoring the situation.”

Who is Adama Bojang?

Bojang is just 19 years of age and is an out-and-out centre-forward who plies his trade for Steve Bicko FC in The Gambia.

Standing at 6ft 3, he has been nicknamed “The Gambian Hurricane” and an absolute physical specimen in the media, blessed with both speed and strength. Bojang has also been praised for his good anticipation skills and composure when presented with chances in the box, drawing slight comparisons to Manchester City’s Erling Haaland.

He appears to be catching the eye all across Europe, so a move to Manchester could be a shrewd one by Old Trafford officials, and by the looks of things, it could be another to monitor over the coming months.

Celtic officially confirmed the arrival of Brendan Rodgers as their replacement for Ange Postecoglou in the dugout at Parkhead on a three-year deal earlier this week.

The Northern Irish tactician, who left Leicester City earlier this year, is now tasked with replicating the immense success he enjoyed during his first spell in Scotland.

Rodgers won seven trophies in less than three years at Paradise and The Scottish Sun have reported that the 50-year-old boss will be handed a whopping £30m to work with in the summer transfer window in order to rake in more major honours.

One such investment could be on a player named Zan Vipotnik.

Who is Zan Vipotnik?

Football Scotland claimed last month that the Hoops are one of a number of clubs interested in signing Zan Vipotnik, a 21-year-old striker currently playing for Maribor in Slovenia.

Rodgers must now push to make the young centre-forward his first signing of the summer and use the significant budget that Dermot Desmond and the rest of the board are set to back him with, as the attacker could be an excellent alternative or partner to Kyogo Furuhashi.

Maribor reportedly value the Slovenia international at £3.5m. It is not hard to see why they want a multi-million-pound fee for their player when you consider his impressive form in the 22/23 campaign.

Vipotnik, who talent scout Jacek Kulig described as a "poacher", plundered an eye-catching 20 goals and one assist in 30 Prva Liga outings and produced three goals in four domestic cup matches.

This means that the prolific hotshot registered one goal every 1.48 games in Slovenian football, which shows that he knows how to be consistent in the penalty area.

The four-cap marksman, who also struck ten times in 14 clashes for Triglav Kranj earlier in his career, could come in at Celtic and be another incredible forward option for Rodgers alongside Kyogo, who was the only Hoops attacker with more than 11 Scottish Premiership goals last term.

His 27-strike campaign in the division was enough to secure him the PFA Scotland Player of the Year award and there is, therefore, little doubt that the Japanese finisher will be a huge player for the new manager next season.

However, bringing in a player of Vipotnik's potential quality – if he is able to translate his form over to Scottish football – could provide Kyogo with serious competition for his place and give Rodgers the option to go with both of them as a pairing up front, which could frighten opposition defenders with their incredible respective records in front of goal.

Liverpool should focus on bringing in two more midfielders whose main attributes are their dynamism and athleticism according to Redmen TV presenter Ste Hoare.

The club recently confirmed the signing of Alexis Mac Allister from Brighton & Hove Albion, and will now push to bolster the midfield further ahead of the next campaign.

Liverpool transfer news – midfielders

Liverpool is set for a major midfield overhaul after a disappointing season which resulted in Europa League football for the first time in eight seasons.

The club has already completed the signing of Mac Allister on a five-year deal for an undisclosed fee, but reports state the fee is around £35m as the Reds activated a clause in the Argentines contract.

According to Fabrizio Romano, Liverpool is set for talks with the agents of Nice midfielder Khephren Thuram and Borussia Monchengladbach midfielder Manu Kone following the completion of the Mac Allister transfer.

There have also been reports on the Red's interest in Southampton's Romeo Lavia, Bayern Munich's Ryan Gravenberch and Celta Vigo's Gabri Veiga.

It is clear based on the reports and rumors that the Merseyside-based outfit is targeting young midfielders who can come into the current squad and play their part whilst also having the potential to grow into a regular starter.

What does Hoare think of Liverpool's midfield situation?

When asked on the midfield situation, Hoare told Football FanCast: "In terms of who is next, I think they probably need two more midfielders.

"The one thing Mac Allister doesn’t offer that we are probably still in need of is more dynamism and athleticism. He’s a very good player, and he puts in a lot of work, but I think Liverpool probably lacks a bit of physicality still in the midfield, and we saw that at times last season."

Who should Liverpool sign for midfield?

As the Redmen TV presenter stated, Liverpool needs to bring in midfielders that offer more "dynamism" and "athleticism" than the current options at the club, and both Thuram and Kone fit those descriptions.

The 22-year-old from Nice made 35 appearances in Ligue 1, scoring two and assisting four en route to averaging a rating of 6.91 according to WhoScored.

The 6 foot 4 midfielder is a fantastic creative force, averaging 0.18 xAG as well as 3.25 progressive carries and 1.63 successful take-ons per 90, which ranks him alongside some of the best midfielders in Europe, according to FBref.

Kone is a more defensively dynamic option, with the man who was dubbed a "one-man army" making 30 appearances for his club last season and averaging a rating of 6.81 according to WhoScored. The French youth international averages 2.55 tackles per 90 as well as 1.10 interceptions per 90 showcasing his defensive prowess, as per FBref.

If Liverpool are able to bring in both French youngsters, their midfield will arguably be as dynamic and athletic as ever.

Arsenal midfielder Jorginho "is leaving" north London this summer as Lazio manager Maurizio Sarri dreams of signing him, according to reports out of Italy.

Who could leave Arsenal this summer?

As well as managing who could come into the club, with West Ham star Declan Rice and Galatasary's Sacha Boey being heavily linked recently, Mikel Arteta's side must also shift the deadwood.

Having missed out on their first Premier League title in nearly 20 years to Man City, it's back to the drawing board for club chief Edu, who has already confirmed that transfer planning is well and truly underway.

"Our planning has already been done," said Edu back in April (ESPN via 90min)."It has already reached the owners. Now, we're taking things step by step. We're focused on how we will finish the season, but we've put in the planning and I'm very excited."

Of the players who could leave to make room for new signings, there are a fair few, with the standout names being defender Kieran Tierney, Emile Smith Rowe, Nuno Tavares, Sambi Lokonga, Folarin Balogun and, of course long-serving star Granit Xhaka (Goal).

However, a report from Italy suggests another name has been added to that long list, as Jorginho is being tipped to leave just six months after putting pen to paper on a move from Chelsea.

According to La Lazio Siamo Noi, the Italy international "is leaving Arsenal" this summer window, and Lazio are thought to be very interested in signing him.

The midfielder, who was brought in last winter as midfield cover, is seriously wanted by his former manager at Chelsea and Napoli.

Sarri apparently "dreams" of signing Jorginho and it is believed there is a real chance the pair could work together at, what would be, their third club.

Who is Jorginho?

The 31-year-old has proven to be a phenomenal player in recent seasons, even winning the UEFA Player of the Year award in 2021 as he helped Chelsea to Champions League glory.

Called "world class" by former Liverpool defender Jose Enrique, Arteta has also praised Jorginho's efforts since making the move to north London.

Speaking after a win over Aston Villa in mid-February, the Gunners boss called him "tremendous" whilst hailing some real magic he produced.

"I certainly didn't expect that from him (Jorginho). I thought he was tremendous today," said Arteta.

We needed a magic moment and Jorginho produced it, the boys really wanted it, after what happened a couple of days ago.

"If you want to be at the top you have to win games in different ways."

Tottenham Hotspur chairman Daniel Levy still has the former Barcelona boss, Luis Enrique, on his managerial shortlist as the search continues.

Who will Spurs hire as manager?

What was a huge underwhelming 2022/23 campaign for the north London side has finally come to a conclusion, however, the work has not stopped for Levy.

Indeed, the Lilywhites have now been without a permanent manager since Antonio Conte's exit back in the latter stages of March this year.

Since the Italian's exit, Cristian Stellini stepped in as the interim boss and following his exit, Ryan Mason took the reins until the end of the campaign.

But now it is time for the chairman to bring in a new permanent boss who can lead the Tottenham project with the club seemingly crying out for a reboot.

One name which has climbed to the top of the Lilywhites' shortlist is Celtic's Ange Postecoglou with the Australian impressing during his first two seasons at Parkhead.

However, speaking on his Here We Go podcast, Fabrizio Romano has claimed Levy still has his eyes on Enrique who is dreaming of a job in the Premier League:

"Postecoglou is in the list. And from what I understand, Luis Enrique remains in the frame. He's a name that was in the list at Tottenham when Fabio Paratici was there. Then Fabio Paratici resigned, but he remains a name appreciated internally at Tottenham. Luis Enrique dreams of Premier League."

Who should Levy hire for Spurs?

It is believed the Australian is currently on a rolling one-year deal with Celtic which would mean Spurs could potentially prise him away from Paradise for free at the end of the campaign.

The Bhoys have a big cup final coming up this weekend which will provide the 57-year-old with the opportunity to land the treble in what has been a mightily impressive 2022/23 campaign/

However, there will be concerns over his lack of experience at the top level.

This is something which would not be a concern with Enrique given the Spaniard has lifted numerous trophies during his time at Barcelona.

But whether Enrique would bring the desired style of football to north London is another matter with the Spaniard's time in charge of the national side coming crashing to an end at the World Cup.

In comparison, Postecoglou has instilled an exciting brand of football at Celtic and has done so with a number of signings he has made with the likes of Kyogo Furuhashi, Reo Hatate and Jota.

Now, this raises another question, the Spurs vacancy would provide him with the opportunity to operate in the transfer window on a much bigger scale.

His time at Celtic has been largely a success as a result of his recruitment from the Japanese J-League, could he translate that success into a much bigger operation that is a Premier League budget?

Enrique may provide Levy with an opportunity at quicker success, however, that has not worked over recent years with the likes of Jose Mourinho and Conte.