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Everton are reportedly now eyeing up a move for Oleksandr Zinchenko as a potential alternative to Harry Winks.

The Lowdown: Contact made

The Goodison Park outfit have reportedly made contact over the potential signing of Winks, who is expected to cost them around £20m to arrive from Tottenham Hotspur.

However, if that deal falls through, then they will have to look at other targets to strengthen the central midfield position given the inconsistency of players like Andre Gomes, who could well leave this summer.

The Latest: Zinchenko eyed

Taking to Twitter, The Liverpool Echo journalist Christopher Beesley has revealed that Zinchenko, who has also been linked with a move to the Merseyside club, ‘remains a transfer option’ for Frank Lampard as a potential alternative to Winks:

“Oleksandr Zinchenko remains a transfer option for Everton with the Manchester City player offering Frank Lampard a potential alternative to Harry Winks.”

The Verdict: Zinchenko is better

If the Toffees were to sign one, they should be signing Zinchenko over Winks.

A player who thrives in many different positions across the pitch, including in midfield, his teammate Kyle Walker has even gone as far as to claim that he is ‘more gifted’ than Manchester City superstar Kevin De Bruyne.

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Having seen him feature at left-back for City in the Premier League, Blues supporters would have caught a glimpse of what he can do in midfield when he impressed for Ukraine in their FIFA World Cup play-off semi-final win against Scotland, as The Daily Mail’s Craig Hope dubbed him ‘superhuman‘.

Zinchenko would also bring an added winning mentality as a multiple title-winner with City.

Leeds United ‘have an interest’ in signing Belgian youngster Romeo Lavia in the summer transfer window, according to reliable journalist Mike McGrath.

The Lowdown: Lavia an emerging talent

The 18-year-old is currently on Manchester City’s books, having joined the reigning Premier League champions from Anderlecht back in 2020.

Lavia has won ten caps for Belgium’s Under-18s side, as well as one for the Under-21s, catching the eye with his performances in midfield with 60 appearances across the various levels at City.

With the Belgian unlikely to make a quick breakthrough at a club packed with world class superstars though – his current deal expires in 2024 – it could be that he moves on to pastures new this summer, in order to continue his development.

The Latest: Leeds keen on move

Taking to Twitter on Thursday, McGrath confirmed that Leeds are interested in acquiring Lavia’s signature:

“LUFC have an interest in Belgium U21 midfielder Romeo Lavia, who was part of the MCFC 1st team squad last season, as they look to strengthen that area of squad for Jesse Marsch next season”

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The Verdict: One for the future

While Lavia wouldn’t arrive as an immediate key player at Leeds – he is yet to make a single Premier League appearance – he would come in as an exciting one for the future – Sam Lee of The Athletic even says there are some within the Etihad who believe he could be a first-team regular there.

Jesse Marsch could initially deploy the ‘highly rated’ (Lee) talent in the Under-23s, allowing him regular football, before eventually blooding him as a regular part of his squad.

Planning for the long-term future is vital at Elland Road, ensuring the club continues to build for many years to come and doesn’t end up fighting relegation again, and players of Lavia’s quality are key to that happening.

In other news, Victor Orta has stepped up his chase for one Leeds signing. Find out who it is here.

Glasgow Rangers are reportedly now set to lose chief scout Andy Scoulding this summer.

The Lowdown: 2017 appointment

Scoulding was appointed as chief scout at Ibrox back in 2017, where he was tasked with helping the rebuild of the club after going into administration in 2012.

In his first season, he brought in the likes of Alfredo Morelos and Ryan Jack, who have since gone on to become regulars for the Gers, while he also helped sign the likes of Connor Goldson, Borna Barisic and Glen Kamara, among many others in Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s squad today.

The Latest: Tottenham deal

Writing in his latest piece for The Daily Telegraph, reliable journalist Mike McGrath has revealed that Tottenham Hotspur are now close to appointing Scoulding, who will work under Fabio Paratici.

He is thought of highly at the Light Blues, but he now looks set to join Spurs this summer.

The Verdict: Big blow

Of course, it will be a big blow for the Teddy Bears to lose Scoulding, given the work that he has done over the last few years.

If they are to wrestle the Scottish Premiership title back off of bitter rivals Celtic, their recruitment will need to be spot on, and they could do with Scoulding’s knack of spotting hidden gems.

Nonetheless, the board will now need to bring in a replacement quickly, given that the window is now officially open for business.

In other news, find out what big ‘problem’ RFC now have here!

Hearts are keen on making midfielder Ben Woodburn’s loan move from Liverpool a permanent one this summer.

The Lowdown: Productive loan spell

The Welshman joined the Scottish Premiership side on a temporary basis last summer and enjoyed a fruitful campaign away from Anfield.

Woodburn scored three goals and registered one assist in 24 league appearances, also winning one Match of the Match award from WhoScored.

It appears as though Woodburn is surplus to requirements at Liverpool, and with his contract expiring this month, he could well leave the club for good.

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The Latest: Hearts want permanent deal

According to The Scotsman, Hearts manager Robbie Neilsen wants to sign the 22-year-old permanently this summer.

It is also claimed that Woodburn is ‘open’ to the idea of joining the Scottish outfit for good, having enjoyed his time there to date.

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The Verdict: Right time to leave

Woodburn is a talented young player who once threatened to be a future superstar, having become Liverpool’s youngest goalscorer of all time back in 2016.

He has been hailed as a ‘perfect’ talent by Jurgen Klopp, but despite this, now feels like the logical time for him to move on and join a new permanent club.

Woodburn is clearly no part of Liverpool’s future plans, given the number of loan spells he has had, but there is no shame in not making the grade for such a great team.

In other news, Fabrizio Romano has made a key Liverpool claim. Read more here.

Newcastle United have continued talks with Manchester United over signing Dean Henderson, as per 90min journalist Graeme Bailey.

The Lowdown: Goalkeeper pursuit

According to a report by the Daily Mail from 21 March, the Magpies had drawn up a list of potential goalkeeper targets ahead of the summer transfer window, with Eddie Howe keen to increase competition for first-choice Martin Dubravka.

Old Trafford shot-stopper Henderson was linked with a move to St James’ Park in January, with the 25-year-old having failed to dislodge David de Gea as the Red Devils’ first-choice. However, negotiations were swiftly concluded when the Manchester club raised the possibility of Dubravka going in the opposite direction.

The Latest: Henderson talks continue

Taking to Twitter, Bailey has shared the latest news on the Magpies’ pursuit of Henderson, claiming: “Newcastle continue talks with Man Utd over Dean Henderson.”

In the corresponding 90min article, he reported that the Tyneside club are long-term admirers of the former Sheffield United loanee, with the goalkeeper having made it clear that he wants to play regular first-team football.

It is understood that negotiations have yet to determine whether an agreement will involve a permanent transfer or a loan move.

The Verdict: Good move for Henderson

With Henderson having failed to play a single minute of Premier League football across the entire 2021/22 campaign, the 25-year-old will need to move elsewhere if he is to establish himself as a potential England number one.

Newcastle could be the perfect destination to achieve that mission, given the club’s huge ambition and upwards trajectory.

From Howe’s perspective, the Magpies will be getting an up-and-coming young prospect, who former Blades teammate Sander Berge labelled “exceptional”.

However, with Henderson’s contract set to run until 2025, Newcastle may be quoted a substantial fee by Erik ten Hag’s side; and with the player’s current £120,000 weekly wage topping Dubravka’s reported £38,000 per week, this won’t be a cheap deal for PIF to get over the line.

In other news: Magpies make offer for this Serie A gem

Sky Sports reporter Dharmesh Sheth has provided an update on Manchester United’s attempts to sign Frenkie de Jong.

The Lowdown: Romano’s reveal

United have been linked with a move for the Barcelona star ever since Erik ten Hag took over at Old Trafford at the end of April.

Fabrizio Romano provided a key update regarding De Jong and the Red Devils on Wednesday morning. The transfer expert revealed that United have ‘opened direct talks’ with Barca, who want €85m for the midfielder’s services.

De Jong reportedly wants to play Champions League football, something United can’t currently offer, however, they are still looking to ‘push’ for a move.

The Latest: Sheth’s update

Sheth took to Twitter hours on from Romano’s claim on De Jong to share what he knows regarding a possible transfer.

The Sky Sports reporter stated that United have indeed ‘held initial talks’ over a transfer, but he’s been ‘told’ there are ‘significant obstacles’, name-checking a fee and will of the player as two.

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The Verdict: Barca’s financial situation key?

As Sheth claims, agreeing on a fee and persuading De Jong to move to Old Trafford could prove tricky. However, something that could work in United’s favour is Barcelona’s ‘financial issues’.

The Catalan giants ‘need to solve’ their problems off the pitch, according to Romano, so selling De Jong for a big fee would certainly help their situation.

It appears as if a move could be extremely complicated, and with United looking at a ‘number of midfielders’ and making it their priority area to bolster, it’ll be interesting to see how long they pursue De Jong before moving on to alternative targets.

In other news: MUFC eye £28.8m-rated maestro after ‘Louvre’-worthy moment – Paul Hirst. 

Takumi Minamino could remain at Liverpool this summer if he is happy playing a squad role, according to former England international Paul Robinson.

The Lowdown: Impressive season for Taki

The Japanese gem has found it difficult to force his way into Jurgen Klopp’s plans this season but he has still managed to have a significant impact.

Minamino has managed to score ten goals in all competitions, including seven in the domestic cups, certainly playing his part in Liverpool’s trophy haul.

The 27-year-old’s Reds future is up in the air ahead of the summer transfer window, however, and it remains to be seen if he will stay put or not.

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The Latest: Forward backed to stay

Speaking to Football Insider, Sky Sports pundit Robinson claimed the decision will ultimately lie with the player, saying he could remain at Anfield:

“It really depends on Minamino’s ambition. If he is happy playing a bit-part role then he will stay. Klopp won’t want him to leave.

“That squad is challenging on every front possible. There is not better place to be if you want to be part of the squad.  If he wants to play football week in, week out then you suspect he will leave.

“Klopp is starting to rejuvenate that squad but I still think there is a squad role for Minamino next season.

“Listen, if he is happy to sit on the bench every week and play now and then it is a manager’s dream. His future will be determined by personal ambition.”

The Verdict: Keep hold of him

Truly great sides may be littered with world-class players but they also need excellent fringe heroes – individuals who chip in from time to time and provide the depth required to challenge across all competitions.

Minamino has been exactly that this season, as highlighted by his goalscoring record, and he has been hailed as an ‘incredible’ technical player by Jurgen Klopp.

For that reason, it would be preferable for Liverpool to keep hold of him, although if he wants to leave it would be hard to begrudge him a move elsewhere.

In other news, Liverpool have been issued a warning over one player’s future. Read more here.

Manchester United are eyeing up a move for Lazio’s Serbian midfielder, Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, if their proposed deal for Barcelona’s Frenkie de Jong falls through.

What’s the word?

That is according to a report via FootballTransfers.com, who claim that United will turn their attention to the 27-year-old who has been a target for the Old Trafford outfit for “many years”.

With Matic and Pogba set to leave at the end of the season, United will most certainly be in the market for at least one replacement midfielder.

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As per the report, Lazio president Claudio Lotito claimed that he had turned down a €140 million for the Serbian star, though it is said that this was a guise in a bid to raise his value for his almost inevitable departure this summer.

As such, a fee of around €70m (£59.2m) should be enough to seal the deal, with the report stating that it could even be less than that mark.

A McTominay upgrade

With Pogba and Matic set to depart, United’s midfield quality will decrease even further, which is why it is imperative that quality replacements are signed this summer, with United’s lack of defensive stability a direct issue caused by a poor midfield.

The fact that United have averaged 4.4 possession turnovers in the final third serves as evidence for what has been an extremely passive side under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Ralf Rangnick this season.

Milinkovic-Savic, known as “il Sergente” (Sergeant), can single-handedly bolster United’s midfield with his average of 4.07 pressures in the attacking third per 90 an already dramatic improvement on a lethargic midfield. For comparison, McTominay, who is one of the most hardworking players in a United shirt, averages around 2.07 pressures in the attacking third per game and does not offer much going forward in comparison to Milinkovic-Savic (apart from the odd screamer).

The Serbian’s average of 3.08 shot-creating actions per game explain his emphatic return of 22 goal contributions in 36 Serie A games, which are exactly halved at 11 goals and 11 assists.

McTominay of course falters in comparison, with just one goal and one assist from 29 games – which is to be expected, due to his more defensive position on the pitch.

Though, McTominay does not have the same impact in possession either, with the Serb’s average of 81.89 touches and 56.25 carries enough to elaborate on why he is known as “Il Sergente.”

In other news: Romano: Man United have “full agreement” for key summer arrival, ten Hag will love it – opinion