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Liverpool will host Aston Villa at the start of September in the two teams' last Premier League fixture before the international break. It's always an interesting fixture and there's perhaps more at stake than ever this season.

After all, Liverpool will hope to rebound after last season and build some early momentum. A repeat of last season can't happen if they're to recapture a top-four place.

But Villa will have eyes on those spots themselves. They're back in European football after a stunning second half of the season under Unai Emery. A win over Liverpool would be a huge statement to start the season and get the team looking up the table going into the international break.

To beat Liverpool, they'll need goals, though. Ollie Watkins could be their best chance of finding them – so we at Football FanCast thought we'd look into his record against the Reds. Here's everything you need to know.

What is Ollie Watkins' goals record against Liverpool?

Watkins has come up against Liverpool six times in his career and his record against them looks pretty great. He's scored five times in that span – the most he's managed against anyone in his career.

Though, it's worth mentioning that three of those goals came in his first appearance against Liverpool. That was a crazy game, finishing 7-2 to Villa as they took advantage of some bizarre defending from the Reds. Watkins took advantage as much as anyone.

His record since is two goals in five games, which isn't quite as impressive. Still, he did manage one against them at home last season – Watkins hasn't forgotten how to find the Liverpool net.

What is Ollie Watkins' assists record against Liverpool?

Watkins only has the one assist against Liverpool, again coming in that 7-2 win. And virtually everyone got an assist in that one.

But then, it's not his game. There aren't too many teams against which he's managed more than a solitary assist, and only two – Luton and Colchester – where Watkins has three.

Don't expect him to supply the goals at Anfield, then – Villa will hope he's on the end of chances, rather than creating them.

What is Ollie Watkins' head-to-head record against Liverpool?

It's not a pretty one. In six games, Watkins has only won once against Liverpool – the 7-2 in his first appearance vs them. There's only one draw in his history, too, and that was in the most recent outing in May of this year.

But we're not sure how much you can really read into this. For one, Villa look like a much better side right now than they have in any of Watkins' previous seasons with the club. We fully expect them to give the Reds a proper match this time around, as they did back in May.

All of Watkins' games against the Reds have come in the Premier League, too. He didn't feature in the 4-1 FA Cup defeat against the Reds back in 2021.

What is Ollie Watkins' record at Anfield?

Watkins does only have three games in his career at Anfield, so there's not too much to go on here. All have come in the Premier League and usually end in defeat – two losses, one draw is his record.

As for goals, Watkins does have one. He scored at Anfield in a 2-1 defeat back in 2021 but has been unable to find the net there since that first appearance.

Who has Ollie Watkins scored against the most?

Two teams have conceded five to Watkins – the most he's managed against a single club. Liverpool are one, of course, with the other being Swansea City. His record against the Reds is slightly better, though, as he managed that total in one fewer game.

There are then three different clubs against whom Watkins has four total goals. Arsenal, Bristol City and Derby County are the unlucky trio – you can usually count on the striker to find the net against them.

How many goals does Ollie Watkins have in September?

Watkins has found the net 11 times in the month of September since the start of his career. However, it doesn't make good reading for those expecting him to net at Anfield.

None of those goals have come in the Premier League, while nine of them weren't even with Aston Villa. Watkins has nine Championship strikes in September and then two for his current club both in the EFL Cup.

He'll be hoping to break his duck against Liverpool.

What is Ollie Watkins' Aston Villa goal record?

Watkins has played 118 times across all competitions for Villa since arriving in 2020. His record in that span is pretty good, too, with 43 goals and 14 assists so far.

It means Watkins is closing in on his record haul for a club. That stands at 49 for Brentford, where he also managed his most assists – 17. There's every chance that he will overtake both figures by the end of this season.

What is Ollie Watkins' Premier League goal record?

Watkins is now 111 games into his Premier League career, with all of them coming at Aston Villa. In that time, the striker has managed 40 goals – a solid haul for three seasons of work.

Last season was his best yet, too. Watkins scored 15 times in 37 games, beating his first Premier League campaign by one goal in the same number of appearances. His middle season saw him get 11 goals,

There have been 14 assists so far, we should add. In total, Watkins has provided 53 goal contributions in 109 games – so just under one every other game.

What is Aston Villa's record against Liverpool?

Villa vs Liverpool is a fixture that dates all the way back to 1895, so there's a lot of history here. In total, the two teams have met on 201 occasions.

As you might expect, given their dominance over the last few decades, Liverpool's record is far superior in this one. They've won 101 of the 201 meetings, with Villa managing just 59. That leaves 41 draws for those keeping track.

But what about just in the Premier League era? There have been 56 meetings since the rebrand with Liverpool again winning over half. In fact, their record is even better when just counting the last 32 years – 32 wins to Villa's 13.

What is Aston Villa's record at Anfield?

As you may have guessed from the last section, it's not particularly good. This will actually be the 100th time Villa play at Anfield but they'll be hoping for what would be just their 18th win.

So in 99 Anfield fixtures, it's 17 wins, 20 draws and 62 defeats to the Reds. Not exactly a game that's brought a lot of luck their way, then, and a win this time around would be something of a surprise.

What are Aston Villa's recent results against Liverpool?

Not good. In fact, Villa have lost five of their last six against Liverpool, dating back to their last win in the fixture – the 7-2. The only time they avoided defeat came in the most recent game, too, back in May.

That was a 1-1 draw at Anfield and to be fair to Villa, it's by far the most relevant result here. Not only was it away, but it was also their only meeting with Unai Emery as boss. They shot up the league once the Spaniard took over, becoming so much better that comparing results before him seems unfair to this side.

And the previous results were particularly bad, too.

Since Jurgen Klopp took over at Liverpool, Villa have played 12 games against his team. They've won two of them – the 7-2 and the 5-0 win in the EFL Cup against the Reds' Under 21 side. In other words, this is a fixture they almost always struggle in.

But hey, at least the wins tend to be emphatic.

When is Liverpool vs Aston Villa?

Liverpool host Aston Villa on Sunday, September 3rd at 14:00 UK time. It'll be a huge match for both teams as we get an early idea of what they're about this season.

Liverpool want to bounce back after an incredibly disappointing campaign last time out. Their struggles saw them out of the title race incredibly early on, while they barely managed a top-four challenge in the end. A new midfield could be exactly what they needed, though – it's certainly their gameplan this season.

Villa were only one place behind Liverpool in the Premier League table, of course. A sensational run under Unai Emery saw them climb all the way up from the bottom into the Europa League spot – and they'll have plans to do even better this time around. The right transfers – and some momentum carried on from last season – could see Villa threaten to go one better.

A win in this fixture, then, would be a sign for either that they mean business from the off this time around.

Journalist Georgios Sideridis says that Glasgow Rangers ‘will make a move’ to sign Dimitrios Kourbelis this summer, should Ryan Jack end up leaving Ibrox.

The Lowdown: Contract expiring

Jack’s current deal at Rangers is set to expire this summer, meaning that he can leave as a free agent at the end of the season.

Should he depart, Michael Beale will need to bring in a new midfielder, or risk leaving himself short in that area of the pitch come next term.

The Latest: Kourbelis interest

Taking to Twitter, Sideridis says that the Gers ‘will make a move’ for Panathinaikos midfielder and captain Kourbelis in the summer, should Jack not renew his contract:

“Rangers are considering Panathinaikos’ captain Dimitrios Kourbelis as the alternative of Ryan Jack.

“If the Scottish midfielder will not renew his contract with Rangers, they will make a move for Kourbelis whose contract expires on June with Panathinaikos.”

The Verdict: Ideal replacement

Kourbelis would be an ideal replacement for Jack, given that he is a couple of years younger at 29, and has plenty of experience not just in Greek football, but in Europe as well.

Once hailed as ‘superb’ defensively by journalist Josh Bunting, Kourbelis is winning four of his duels per game on average in the Greek top flight, and is also averaging 1.3 tackles and 1.1 clearances per match (SofaScore).

His leadership skills as captain has seen Panathanaikos rise to the top of the league, and the Light Blues would be hoping that he could have a similar affect on them as they look to beat bitter rivals Celtic to the Scottish Premiership title.

West Ham United are reportedly ready to continue their pursuit of Southampton captain James Ward-Prowse, as David Moyes remains on the lookout for reinforcements.

The Hammers must welcome new signings this window, particularly following the loss of Declan Rice and the £105m profit made by the gargantuan sale.

What’s the latest on James Ward-Prowse to West Ham?

As reported by The Athletic on Sunday, the Irons could secure the signing of Ward-Prowse for a reduced figure of £35m this summer.

The initial asking price from the Saints is said to be at £40m, making West Ham’s opening offer of £20m one that disgruntled the freshly relegated side.

Read the latest West Ham transfer news HERE…

Considering that the Englishman could fill the gap left by Rice, as well as bring an abundance of experience to the side, Moyes must act fast should he wish to finally get the deal over the line now that his price tag is clear.

How good is James Ward-Prowse?

Notorious for his expertise in set play on the south coast, the 28-year-old could be the ideal capture at the London Stadium this summer in the middle of the park.

Despite being part of a struggling Southampton side, the Portsmouth-born gem recorded 13 goal contributions last season, netting nine and assisting four, appearing in all of his side’s league fixtures, via FBref.

Lauded as a “master” for his dead-ball play by members of the media, the midfield maestro has far more in his locker than being a specialist in that area.

After a season threatened with relegation masked by the success of winning the UEFA Conference League, the Hammers must seek some creativity in order to lift themselves back up the table and Ward-Prowse could be that man.

One area they must address is the midfield, with captain and The Athletic’s pick for player of the season, Rice, embarking on a new venture in north London.

While primarily, his vacancy must be filled with some urgency, the potential capture of Ward-Prowse could elevate the overall performance in the engine room, in a player that could challenge the current midfielders on show.

Despite being an integral member of Moyes’ squad, Tomas Soucek could find himself ousted by the Saints captain, who performed at a higher level to the Czech Republic international last term.

As per FBref, the Englishman averaged 5.05 progressive passes and 4.73 final third passes per 90 in the 2022/23 Premier League, showcasing the strengths he has over Soucek who averaged just 2.81 progressive passes and 2.14 final third passes per 90.

Despite the West Ham ace averaging a higher record of tackles per 90 with 2.46 to Ward-Prowse’s 1.74, the Southampton general has the fundamentals to unleash a challenge in the middle of the park, and to provide a threat going forward, which the Czech lacks.

Recording an average of 1.98 key passes per 90, the “unbelievable” talent, as heralded by former teammate Oriol Romeu, could add the creativity integral to unlocking the Hammers’ attack, with Soucek averaging just 0.48 per 90, via FBref.

Moyes could replenish his midfield with a further attacking option, in a player with 343 Premier League appearances and a host of attributes that could bolster the side.

Tottenham Hotspur have scheduled talks tonight to re-sign defender Clement Lenglet, and Barcelona see it as a "magnificent opportunity" to finally sell.

Who are Spurs signing next?

Goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario, young centre-back Ashley Phillips, defender Micky van de Ven, playmaker James Maddison, winger Manor Solomon and striker Alejo Veliz have all officially put pen to paper on moves to Spurs this summer.

They follow on from permanent deals for right-back Pedro Porro and Sweden international Dejan Kulusevski, with Rosario Central striker Alejo Veliz being the latest confirmed arrival at N17.

Lilywhites head coach Ange Postecoglou, speaking to the press recently, also confirmed that there should be more activity to come – as Spurs hunt for another defender and look to offload fringe squad members.

“It's not done yet," said Postecoglou.

"We need bolstering in that central defensive area. We need defenders who can work in an aggressive formation, defend well & behind them. We'll be looking to bring in a couple in that area in the coming days."

On potential exits, the Spurs boss has said that certain players will be looking for new opportunities – drawing attention to Tottenham's "bloated" squad.

It's fair to say our squad is too big at the moment," explained Postecoglou.

"There are guys who will want to explore opportunities elsewhere. I'm not involved in that. I think we'll see some movement out in the coming weeks.”

Lenglet, who spent last campaign on loan at Spurs from Barca, has been repeatedly linked in the past week and some reports even suggest he is prioritising a second stint in north London.

The 28-year-old coming back to N17 is, potentially, a very realistic possibility as a report by Spanish newspaper Sport (via Sport Witness) share an update on the matter.

Both Tottenham and Barca chiefs, during tonight's friendly match at the Estadi Olímpic Lluis Companys in Catalonia, have scheduled a summit and fresh round of talks over Lenglet's transfer.

The La Liga champions, for their part, see this as a "magnificent opportunity" to finally finalise the defender's sale and rid themselves of his hefty wages.

There is a price named as well, as Sport claim the potential move could amount to a small €5 million (£4.3m), a fee which may rise to €15m (£12.9m) if add-ons are met.

After tonight's meeting, further developments are expected.

What's been said about Clement Lenglet?

Spurs pundit John Wenham, speaking to Football Insider last season, heaped praise on the former Sevilla star after a solid north London derby outing against Arsenal.

Wenham said Lenglet appeared in the mould of a "very reliable" player who could be called upon to do a solid job as part of Tottenham's defence.

“I just wanted to give credit because I think his performance went a little bit under the radar. I have been impressed with him so far," said Wenham on Lenglet.

“The fact he has instantly come in for Ben Davies and we don’t look any weaker, that is a huge credit to him really.

“He’s a new signing to the Premier League, I know he has a lot of experience from Barcelona and with France but he already seems very reliable, like we could drop him in for any fixture.“

Everton manager Sean Dyche will have been pleased to have preserved the club's Premier League status after joining at last season's midpoint, with a final-day victory over Bournemouth enough to save the Toffees and relegate Leicester City.

Victories over Arsenal and Brighton & Hove Albion will remain fondly in memory, but Everton will now need to use the escape from danger last term as a launchpad for brighter prospects, and Dyche has certainly gone to work over the summer to reform the frontline, which scored the second-lowest amount of goals last season.

Beto

£25.8m

Youssef Chermiti

£15m

Jack Harrison

Loan

Arnaut Danjuma

Loan

Ashley Young

Free

All statistics sourced via Sky Sports

Ashley Young is the only summer acquisition who is not likely to feature around the offensive third with regularity, and even he, now aged 38, played the lion's share of his career as a winger before converting to a full-back when in his thirties.

Dyche is clearly seeking to mould Everton to his own creation now, attempting to emulate his own fantastic feats with Burnley, who he kept in the Premier League against the odds for so many years.

While the Blues now boast a reformed attack, there was plenty of upheaval over the past few months, with Yerry Mina, Conor Coady and Mason Holgate departing from the defensive line and a wealth of further outgoings.

One player who left Goodison Park for the very first time is homegrown midfielder Tom Davies, who completed a free transfer to newly-promoted Premier League side Sheffield United upon the expiry of his contract in June.

Why did Tom Davies leave Everton?

Explaining his leave from a club of which he had risen through the youth ranks, Davies said: "I think it’s hard for a footballer to reach their potential when they’re constantly being changed around and there’s people coming and going.

“You’re trying to make connections with different teammates, different managers, different formations. So for me, yeah I think that [stability] is a big thing that I need.

“Just knowing that I fit into a team and they want me to be here for the player who I am, I think that then gives you that confidence and that stability to then go and express yourself on the pitch.”

The Englishman had forged 179 appearances for the Toffees, scoring seven goals and supplying eight assists, before making his switch, and while he had shown promise earlier in career, injuries and a loss of form and trust amid the numerous managerial switches at the club of late made for an inevitable departure.

Indeed, branded an “extremely poor footballer" by one Everton podcaster, Davies has never really managed to cement his spot, and given that he had been on £39k-per-week upon his contractual conclusion, Dyche seemingly strove to discard a player earning a pretty penny for a role in the shadows. Such a sum of money means that when you consider he only featured 20 times last term, means he cost them an alarming £96k-per-match.

What is somewhat concerning, however, is the fact that Everton have allowed Davies' departure to be followed by that of Alex Iwobi, who was sold to Premier League rivals Fulham in a transfer believed to be in the region of £22m on transfer deadline day last month.

Having failed to welcome a single addition to the central midfield, have Everton sold themselves short for a pivotal year of football?

How good was Tom Davies for Everton?

A product of Everton's Finch Farm youth academy, Davies looked to be an exciting talent after making his debut aged 17 against Southampton in the Premier League.

There was a period, in the latter half of the 2020/21 season, that Davies looked to be coming into his own and wedging his way into plans as a first-team regular at Goodison Park, having been praised for his "outstanding" form by former Everton goalkeeper Nigel Martyn.

Martyn also said: “There are piano players and piano carriers as it was once explained to me – and your team needs quite a few piano carriers."

Indeed, the 25-year-old looked to be an industrious, hard-working midfield force in the making, having completed 81% of his passes, averaged 1.2 tackles and 1.4 interceptions per game, won 75% of his dribbles and 57% of his ground duels, as per Sofascore.

Demonstrating signs of a refined and multi-faceted player, Davies received a tactical analysis from Sky Sports explaining how he had married his dynamism and intelligence to resounding effect.

It all came crashing down.

Missing 31 matches due to a knee injury throughout the 2021/22 campaign, Davies would only play eight times, and while he regained fitness last year, he suffered a similarly inauspicious fate, starting just four Premier League matches all season.

He possibly deserved to be handed "his coat" – as is the view of journalist Jonathan Thompson – for his failure to impress over the past several years, with too many facets of his game leaving him flattering to deceive.

Ball interception

Concentration

Tackling

Passing

Strengths & Weaknesses provided via WhoScored

Last season, across his 19 appearances in the English top-flight, the 5 foot 11 ace recorded a lowly average rating of 6.52, completing 75% of his passes, making just 0.1 key pass per game, and forging 0.8 tackles, 0.2 interceptions and 0.4 clearances per game – discernibly less robust than he had been at the peak of his powers, and even that should have been used as a framework to kickstart his career.

It's perhaps telling that Football Transfers value the player at just £5m, emblematic of his failure to kick on under droves of managers on Merseyside.

While Davies looked a promising prospect during the early days of his career on Merseyside, he failed to kick on for numerous reasons and has indeed spent the past few seasons on the fringe.

Everton are perhaps lucky that Davies was homegrown, and not another exorbitant purchase to have fallen flat; having now made his move to the Blades, perhaps he has the opportunity for a new lease of life, but based on the evidence of the past few years, ridding themselves of a lacklustre presence was a good move for club owner Farhad Moshiri, Dyche and co.

A report from The Evening Standard has shared some interesting news on Chelsea defender Ian Maatsen… and it involves West Ham United.

Will West Ham make a deadline day signing?

David Moyes has enjoyed a fairly productive summer transfer window overall, having sealed four major deals following the £105 million departure of ex-star Declan Rice to Arsenal.

Indeed, Mexico international midfielder Edson Alvarez, English star James Ward-Prowse, defender Konstantinos Mavropanos and Ghana international Mohammed Kudus have all put pen to paper on moves to West Ham.

It's Kudus, though, which arguably stands out as their most exciting capture – as highlighted by the excitement of head coach Moyes.

“I’m delighted we’ve been able to bring Mohammed to West Ham United,” said the manager.

“He’s a terrific young talent, who has already shone at the very highest level for Ajax in the Champions League and made well over 150 senior appearances at the age of 23 – so it was no surprise to see so many top clubs chasing his signature this summer.

“The fact we’ve been able to attract a player of his undoubted quality to London Stadium shows the pull West Ham have now – the Board and Tim deserve huge credit for getting this one over the line.”

Moyes' side currently sit second in the table, just behind last season's treble-winners Man City, and could actually go top with a win over Luton Town tonight.

West Ham have also been tipped with some possible late moves on deadline day to strengthen their squad further, including the likes of Hugo Ekitike and Filip Kostic.

Time is running out for the Hammers to make any further signings and it will be interesting to see if they pull a rabbit out of the hat so late on.

While the clock ticks on this eventful deadline day, with the cut-off coming at around 11pm, one player thought to have been keen on a move to the London Stadium is young Chelsea ace Maatsen.

The 21-year-old, who played a starring role during Burnley's promotion push, could actually make a return to Turf Moor for the 2023/2024 campaign, though he is "reluctant" to do so.

That is according to The Standard, who also have an interesting line concerning West Ham and their links to the Maatsen.

Indeed, according to the outlet, he has actually been much more open to joining Moyes' side over his former club Burnley. However, a late Irons swoop for Maatsen is looking unlikely all the same, as they have cooled their approach.

What's been said about Ian Maatsen?

Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino has actually used the Dutchman this term and even praised his ability during a recent press conference.

"I am so happy with him," said Pochettino.

"He is a player that can play in different positions. He has quality, he understands the game, and he is such a clever player.

"So far, he is in my plan, yes. I am so pleased with him, as I’ve said, because of his attitude, commitment and his understanding of the game."

It will now be interesting to see what the future holds for Maatsen, as Burnley have agreed a deal in principle for the player, but it is believed he is holding up the deal.

As Premier League games begin to come thick and fast, the last thing that clubs will want is an injury to a first-team player, particularly this early on. Yet, that's exactly what Jurgen Klopp will likely have to contend with against Newcastle United.

The Liverpool boss revealed in his press conference that Ibrahima Konate is an injury doubt for the Reds' upcoming trip to St James' Park. The German wasted no time in directing the blame for the defender's injury, either, sharing his frustration.

Without the centre-back, Klopp will likely be forced to call on Joe Gomez or Joel Matip for the first time this season.

What happened in Liverpool's win over Bournemouth?

Taking a shock lead through Antoine Semenyo's third minute strike, Bournemouth would have been in dream land at Anfield, before goals from Luis Diaz and Mohamed Salah turned the game on its head.

The controversial moment didn't come through the goals, however. Instead, it came through referee Thomas Bramall, who issued a red card to Alexis Mac Allister for his challenge on Ryan Christie. Racing for the ball, Mac Allister was beaten by Christie, and, therefore, followed through to catch the Bournemouth man just above his ankle.

The Argentine couldn't hide his shock at his dismissal, and has since been given vindication for his disbelief, seeing the red card overturned following Liverpool's appeal.

Even after the successful appeal, though, Klopp believes that his side have been made to pay the price for the red card.

What did Jurgen Klopp say?

Speaking in his press conference in the build-up to Liverpool's clash with Newcastle this weekend, Klopp revealed Konate's muscle injury, appearing to place blame on last week's referee. He said: "Trent (Alexander-Arnold), yes, [trained] from Monday on… Curtis (Jones) from Monday on. Ibou (Konate) is a doubt…. playing 40 minutes with ten men didn't help."

It's no surprise that the Reds boss is a frustrated figure, considering that the red card proved to be a mistake, and could have cost his side all three points, let alone the availability of Konate this weekend.

Fortunately, Diogo Jota's second-half strike ensured that the hosts secured all three points at Anfield, but it is still a mistake that all involved would rather forget.

Now that Mac Allister is available, however, Liverpool will hope to finally unleash their summer signing from the shackles of defensive midfield, handing recent arrival Wataru Endo his full debut in the process.

Newcastle won't be an easy challenge, though, that's for sure. Eddie Howe's side got off to a perfect start on the opening day, ruthlessly easing past Aston Villa, winning 5-1, before suffering a narrow 1-0 defeat at the hands of Manchester City.

Read the latest Liverpool transfer news HERE…

Now, with Liverpool up next, the Magpies will have a point to prove, and have a chance to show that last season's top four finish was no fluke.

The Reds, meanwhile, will be looking to make a statement of their own. Earning seven points from a possible nine, having already ticked off trips to Stamford Bridge and St James' Park, would represent an impressive start for those in Merseyside.

Chelsea may be spending an eye-watering amount of money this summer, but yet another signing could be on the horizon, according to a fresh update.

Will Chelsea sign more players?

The Blues had an incredibly disappointing 2022/23 season, finishing 12th in the Premier League and getting through three different managers, so it was clear that huge improvements were required moving forward.

For that to happen, numerous new signings were needed and owner Todd Boehly has splashed the cash at a remarkable rate this summer, bringing in the likes of Moises Caicedo and Nicolas Jackson, among others, with Southampton youngster Romeo Lavia is about to sign instead of moving to Liverpool.

Read the latest Chelsea transfer news HERE…

It is clear that the Chelsea owner means business, and with two weeks of the summer transfer window still remaining, there is every chance that more reinforcements come in at Stamford Bridge.

While Robert Sanchez has joined from Brighton, solving the goalkeeping issue between the sticks in the process, it looks as though another player in that position could also arrive.

Will Chelsea sign Djordje Petrovic?

According to Football Insider, New England Revolution and Serbia 'keeper Petrovic has now emerged as another potential signing for Chelsea this summer, as their huge spending continues:

"Chelsea have now turned their attention to signing MLS goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic as they target a remarkable 14th new signing (including Lavia and Michael Olise), sources have told Football Insider.

"The Serbia international, 23, has been closely watched by the Blues recruitment team while playing for New England Revolution in the United States.

"Chelsea are in the market for a new number two who can deputise for new first choice Robert Sanchez, with Kepa Arrizabalaga leaving for Real Madrid."

Petrovic may be something of an unknown to many Chelsea fans, rather than more of a household name like Sanchez, but he could be a really solid signing by the Blues this summer.

At just 23 years of age, the two-time capped Serbia international is still a young player, particularly for a goalkeeper, but he has already racked up 43 appearances in the MLS, keeping 14 clean sheets in that time.

Petrovic would have to accept that he is coming in as a backup option to Sanchez, considering the former Brighton man is now an experienced Premier League performer, but he could a strong second-choice option who should only improve, potentially being handed minutes in the domestic cup competitions.

Granted, some fans may be concerned about not proving himself in European football yet, but the MLS has gone up a level in recent years, and the fact that he is part of his international setup further suggests that he could be a really astute signing.

He would be the 14th signing of a stunning summer at Chelsea, although given the amount of money that has been spent, the pressure is now really on for Mauricio Pochettino to deliver a top four finish in the Premier League at the very worst.

Tottenham Hotspur target Harry Maguire could fit the mould of Ange Postecoglou's high-octane system and succeed at playing out from deep, but there are some doubts, according to journalist Paul Brown.

Which clubs are keen on Harry Maguire?

One report in Spain via Football365 claim that Tottenham could be about to 'accelerate' their pursuit of Maguire this summer as his time at Old Trafford ticks towards a close.

Spurs boss Postecoglou is believed to want to 'focus all of his efforts on Maguire' and the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium has emerged as a 'possible destination' for the £190k-a-week ace.

According to Sky Sports, West Ham United have emerged as another potential suitor for Maguire and have held early discussions with the England international over a move to the London Stadium.

Nevertheless, a gap in valuation is said to exist between the Hammers and Manchester United, who would ask for a considerable bid even to consider letting Maguire depart in this window.

Last term, Maguire, who was hailed at "classy" recently, made 31 appearances in all competitions for the Red Devils and was mainly used as a rotational squad option, as per Transfermarkt.

In conversation with Lord Ping cited by METRO, former Tottenham and Manchester United striker Teddy Sheringham encouraged Maguire to move to Spurs this summer, stating: "Harry Maguire would be an excellent option for Tottenham. Whenever you watch Maguire play for England, he rarely lets anyone down. He is a solid, proven professional that is well suited for the Premier League."

Of course, the former Leicester City defender was recently stripped of the Manchester United captaincy and Bruno Fernandes has been appointed as his successor.

Speaking to Football FanCast, journalist Brown thinks that Maguire to Tottenham is a transfer he could see 'working out' under Postecoglou, though he also stated that his pace could be a "potential issue".

Brown told FFC: "I think the manager and he way he wants to play, you know, with a kind of high tempo, let's go at people kind of style. I think Maguire's ability in possession would be quite important for that, finding that first pass out of defence. I think he fits in possibly quite well there. The only thing I would say is that I don't think the Spurs backline is massively blessed with pace at the moment and neither is Maguire, so that could be a potential issue. In principle, it's one that I could see working out."

What next for Tottenham Hotspur?

Spurs boss Postecoglou will be keen to add to his additions of James Maddison, Gugliemo Vicario and Manor Solomon in the next few weeks as he readies his side for action in 2023/24, as per Transfermarkt.

Football London journalist Alisdair Gold has taken to Twitter X to reveal that Tottenham could be set to bid for Fulham central defender Tosin Adarabioyo, stating on the social media platform: "Also understand there is a growing expectation Spurs will make a bid for Fulham's Tosin Adarabioyo as one CB arrival. The 25-year-old is believed to be keen on the move and Spurs have shown a lot of interest in him. Again, they can't hang around though."

In light of speculation surrounding the future of Harry Kane in north London, Flamengo striker Pedro has emerged as an alternative in case the England international is sold to Bayern Munich, according to The Independent.

Juventus striker Dusan Vlahovic has also been earmarked to replace Kane and has been made available due to financial problems at his current employers, as per Football Insider.

Manchester United midfielder Donny Van De Beek is involved in "discussions" regarding a move away from Old Trafford this summer, according to Ben Jacobs.

The Dutchman is ready to end his three-year tenure at United this window.

What is the latest news about Van De Beek?

The Dutchman looks set to call time on his three-year spell in Manchester this window.

The former Ajax man joined the club in the summer of 2020 for a fee reported to potentially rise to £39m, and has made 60 appearances across his Old Trafford career, scoring two goals and providing two assists.

Many expected that following the arrival of the midfielders former Ajax boss Erik ten Hag to the 'Theatre of Dreams' that the Dutch international would finally be able to truly find his feet at United and showcase to everyone why he commanded such a large transfer fee, but that has never happened.

The midfielder has never managed to establish himself under three separate managers, whilst also failing to jump ahead of Portuguese midfielder Bruno Fernandes in the United pecking order, whilst injury problems derailed any real chances for Van de Beek to build up form, with the player having missed 52 games for the Red Devils, including 38 last campaign after a devastating knee injury ended his campaign in January.

According to reports, Real Sociedad are in talks with Manchester United regarding the midfielder, with it resulting in a formal approach being made for the player by the side. However, they face competition from Van de Beek's former side Ajax, who are interested in bringing the player back to Amsterdam three years after his departure.

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, journalist Jacobs revealed that a move away from the Premier League is the most likely outcome for the midfielder this summer, and that the sale process should be much smoother compared to the one currently happening with teammate Harry Maguire.

He said: "It looks like he'll end up leaving the Premier League rather than staying in it, even though we have heard rumours from January onwards about another Premier League club coming in for van de Beek. It hasn't worked out how he would have liked at Manchester United, and it looks like Real Sociedad are the one to watch there. I believe that talks are ongoing to determine whether there's a viable package there, but that one looks like a much simpler and speedier outgoing compared to Harry Maguire, which has a few more moving parts."

What is next for Manchester United's midfield?

There could still be a lot of change in the Red Devils midfield before the window.

One midfielder who could follow Van de Beek out of Old Trafford this summer is Brazilian midfielder Fred. According to a report from 90min, Galatasaray have seen an offer rejected that fell below the asking price of £20m set by Man United, and have since switched their focus onto other targets according to Fabrizio Romano. Fulham could reignite the interest they showed earlier on in the summer, and the midfielder who is in the final 12 months of his contract with the Red Devils is also a potential target for Saudi Arabian sides.

The club are looking to bring in a midfield in the form of Fiorentina's Sofyan Amrabat.United have reportedly been long time admirers of Amrabat, having tried to bring in the midfielder back in the January window following his impressive performances during the World Cup that saw him get named in the World Cup Team of the Tournament, however a move never materialised and the player stayed with La Viola until the end of the season, where he missed out on both the Coppa Italia and Conference League trophies after losing both finals. According to Fabrizio Romano, the midfielder was the subject of a big money offer from Saudi Arabia side Al Ahli, however he turned it down with his priority being sealing a switch to Old Trafford to work under former boss Erik ten Hag