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Leeds United could finally be set to secure that all-important forward, and in doing so emulate a legendary ace of the past.

Who are Leeds United signing this summer?

With links touting Swansea City's Joel Piroe with a switch having gone somewhat quiet in recent weeks, the Dutchman still represents a fine option for Daniel Farke to attain, more than capable of spearheading a competent side out of the Championship.

Given that is what the German manager will intend to do at the first time of asking, immediately the marksman should be high on his list.

What makes such a move even more tempting is his reported £12m price tag, which not only would alleviate pressure from the new man's shoulders but also retain plenty of funds to reinvest elsewhere in the squad.

He presents a cut-price option for a top-quality star, and his arrival would add to their first senior signing of the summer, Ethan Ampadu.

Who is Joel Piroe?

What will excite fans more than just his goalscoring, or ability to lead the line with poise and power all on his own, is the similarities he shares with Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink.

The Dutch striker enjoyed two fine years in Yorkshire, where his quality in front of goal proved imperative to their push for European football.

He would feature just 79 times for the club though, yet still managed to score 35 and assist a further 12 before moving to Atletico Madrid. It could be argued that the Whites offered the 51-year-old the platform for which his fine career began, showcasing his talents as he fired them to a fourth-placed finish in the Premier League.

Whilst that kind of target seems a million miles away from where Leeds find themselves now, at the very least Piroe could offer a catalyst that pushes them on towards promotion. After all, he too enjoys the same pace and raw physicality that made Hasselbaink so effective.

Despite being only 23 years old, the 6 foot 1 Swans star has enjoyed consecutive outstanding years in the Championship, starring despite the struggles of his side.

His debut season in England saw him notch 24 goals in all competitions alongside a further six assists, before most recently finding the net on 19 occasions in the league alone.

Such consistency in front of goal has unsurprisingly garnered praise, as his former boss Russel Martin noted: "If you wanted it to fall to anyone, it is him, he is so clinical with both feet, and he is a great technician.

"But the most important thing he has is the right mentality when he gets around the goal. He shows composure, he is calm, and he just focuses on his technique, something that all top strikers possess."

This calmness, matched with his hulking frame and explosive pace, make him not just a physical match for Hasselbaink, but clearly also with regard to goalscoring too.

Should Piroe be the man who fires Leeds back into the top flight, and then takes to that step up with ease, he could even surpass the short but stellar legacy left by the two-time Premier League Golden Boot winner, as far more than just his heir.

Aston Villa are now on a mission to add depth and quality.

In a stunning second half of the season, which ended with seven consecutive home victories and a total of 49 points from 25 games including victories against Manchester United and Tottenham, Brighton (twice), and Chelsea, meant they ended a long-awaited 13 absence from European football.

The Midlands outfit miraculously climbed from the brink of relegation to a Europa Conference League qualification spot.

They now face the exciting task of preparing for the demands of playing in multiple competitions, and look to add to the impressive signings of Youri Tielemans and Pau Torres.

Strengthening wide attacking areas has been described as ‘the most pressing’ concern, and with the attempted capture of Moussa Diaby proving to be tricky, the club may turn their attention to Jeremy Doku.

What’s the latest on Jeremy Doku to Aston Villa?

According to Ghana Soccer Net (via Sport Witness), Villa have seen an initial bid of €25m (£22m) for the Doku rejected, but a deal could be completed quickly if they raise their offer.

The Rennes whiz has been described as one of Unai Emery’s 'key targets', but Villa’s proposal was not enough to persuade the French club to proceed with talks.

The report details that Rennes is seeking a fee in the region of €40m (£35m) and if an agreement is reached with a second offer then the deal could be completed by the end of the week.

What can Jeremy Doku bring to Aston Villa?

Doku has been at Rennes since 2020, but last season, in what was his most productive year, he has been catapulted into the spotlight.

Across 35 appearances across all competitions, the Belgian, who was once hailed as “amazing” by Jacek Kulig, recorded 11 goal involvements. However, his most eye-catching attribute has been his dribbling, in which he even trumps Diaby.

The 21-year-old outperforms his elder for progressive carries per 90 (6.95 vs 4.04) and successful take-ons per 90 (6.59 vs 1.77). Even more impressively, these figures mean that Doku ranks within the best 1% in Europe’s top five leagues among his positional peers for the aforementioned metrics.

The winger has merged this scintillating directness with some sensational creativity. Although Doku only managed two assists in Ligue 1 last term, he sits within the top 1% for xAG (expected assisted goals), which demonstrates that if he was partnered with more clinical forwards he could achieve some frightening numbers.

Paris Saint-Germain’s Kylian Mbappe was perhaps ahead of the curve in how he rates Doku as back in 2021, he said:

“Recently, I was speaking with my father about a player who impressed me because of his speed qualities, that is Doku, at Rennes.

"In five years as a professional, I have never seen someone from a standing start demonstrate so much power."

With this spectacular profile, Doku can be viewed as an equal to Diaby, and an easier target to acquire.

Villa has recently just submitted a second bid for the Bayer Leverkusen gem of around €50m (£43m), which the Germans are yet to formally respond to.

Although Diaby has a more well-known and esteemed reputation, the ridiculous numbers behind Doku’s rapidly mounting potential would make a dream alternative for Unai Emery.

Nottingham Forest are now considering a move for Wolverhampton Wanderers goalkeeper Jose Sa, and they have already held initial talks over a potential deal, according to a recent report from The Telegraph.

What's the latest Nottingham Forest transfer news?

Steve Cooper is still keen to bolster his squad with a new goalkeeper, recently launching a bid for Braga shot-stopper Matheus, however the £6m bid was immediately knocked back, with the Portuguese side set to hold out for more money.

Dean Henderson has been a target for quite some time, with Cooper keen to bring the Manchester United goalkeeper in on a permanent deal, and the Red Devils could now be willing to sell the Englishman, as they close in on a deal for Inter Milan's Andre Onana.

According to a report from The Telegraph, Forest are locked in talks with Man United over a move for Henderson, who is their number one target, with the 26-year-old now poised to move to the City Ground on a long-term deal.

However, Cooper does not want to stop there, with the manager keen on signing two new goalkeepers, and the report also mentions that initial talks have been held with Wolves over a deal for Sa.

The Old Gold are willing to let the Portuguese shot-stopper leave this summer, with the Tricky Trees now stepping up their pursuit of a goalkeeper, as injuries to Wayne Hennessey and Ethan Horvath mean that the inexperienced George Shelvey is their only option between the sticks heading into pre-season.

Hennessey is expected to miss the start of the season due to a knee injury sustained on international duty with Wales, and Henderson may also miss some games at the beginning of the campaign, meaning it is crucial to sign another new goalkeeper.

Are Nottingham Forest signing Jose Sa?

With Wolves willing to sanction the 30-year-old's departure, the door is open for Forest to do a deal, and he could be a very good back-up option for the Reds, considering he has a great deal of experience in the Premier League.

The Wolves 'keeper has made 73 appearances in the top flight, including 36 last season, and he was hailed by former teammate Ruben Neves, who lauded him as "fantastic" after Wolves ran out 1-0 winners against Forest at Molineux last October.

On that day, the £25k-per-week earner put in a very solid performance, keeping a clean sheet and preventing 1.31 goals, saving a penalty from Brennan Johnson late in the second half.

The 6 foot 4 colossus also ranks in the 89th percentile for his crosses stopped percentage per 90 over the past year, while Henderson places in just the 72nd, with Sa also recording a better save percentage over the same timeframe.

As such, although Henderson is Forest's priority target, there are indications that Sa could push for a starting spot next season, should the England international go through a bad patch of form, and it is exciting news that Forest have held talks over a move.

According to reports, six Paris Saint-Germain players have contacted the president of the club to complain about comments made by Kylian Mbappe in a recent interview.

What did Kylian Mbappe say about PSG?

All doesn't appear to be going so well in Paris right now. After all, their key asset – the 24-year-old World Cup winner – seems to be angling for a move away.

Indeed, as per French news outlet L’Equipe (via The Athletic), the club have handed a three-page letter to Mbappe, giving him an ultimatum.

They have given him a deadline of 31st July to make a decision about his future, accusing him of unsettling the club, after he

publicly announced that he intends to leave as a free agent next year.

Essentially, they want him to either commit to the club and sign a new contract, or accept that he has to be sold this summer.

Amid all this, a new interview with France Football – conducted during France's June international camp – was published this week.

In the interview, he said (via Goal): "Do people trivialise my performance? Yes, but at the same time, I don't blame them. In France, they saw me grow up, they see me all the time, at PSG every weekend or in the national team. And I've been scoring a lot for years. So, for people, it becomes normal.

"I never complained that my performances were trivialised. I am young and I had the chance to be an observer, not so long ago, before being an actor. And myself, I trivialised what [Lionel] Messi was doing, what Cristiano Ronaldo was doing, what the great players were doing. We are in a consumer society, where 'it's good, but do it again'. And the fact that I'm right next door, in Paris…

"I think playing at PSG doesn't help much because it's a divisive team, a divisive club. So, of course it attracts gossip, but it doesn't bother me because I know what I'm doing and how I do it."

Why are Mbappe's PSG teammates upset?

It certainly isn't a great look from Mbappe to refer to Paris Saint-Germain as a "divisive team", and this evidently appears to have annoyed his teammates.

Indeed, as per a report from Sky Sports News, as many as six PSG players have contacted club president Nasser Al-Khelaifi to voice their opinions.

Reporter Kaveh Solhekol explained on Twitter: "Six PSG players have contacted president Nasser Al-Khelaifi this morning to complain about comments made about the club by Kylian Mbappe in an interview with France Football magazine."

Incredibly, he also added: "Two of the six are players who have joined this summer."

It certainly doesn't bode well for the Ligue 1 outfit if their new signings are already unhappy about the behaviour of the club's star player.

And with all this drama in mind, perhaps it will be best for all involved if Mbappe was indeed to depart in the near future.

However, some reports suggest a deal to move to La Liga next summer for free may already have been agreed upon, with PSG even supposedly feeling this is the case.

The saga is finally nearing its closure, much to the bemusement of West Ham supporters.

After endless months of speculation that has seen Declan Rice linked with every top club in the country, it emerged as a straight shootout for his signature between Arsenal and Manchester City.

However, it was confirmed that the Premier League Champions weren’t prepared to enter into any kind of bidding war, which ceded momentum to the high-flying Gunners, who agreed to a £105m move for the Englishman.

This has presented the West Ham hierarchy and David Moyes with a monumental budget to reinvest in the inexplicable gap that the club captain is set to leave.

With this sort of money and the attraction of yet another year of European football, the Irons could tempt a huge pool of irresistibly talented players.

One man who has been tipped to replace and has enjoyed a magnificent season is Joao Palhinha.

What’s the latest on Joao Palhinha to West Ham?

According to TheSecretScout, the Irons have made the Fulham midfielder their “top priority” this summer as talks between the club and the player’s representative have already taken place.

However, a stumbling block remains due to the size of the fee being asked.

It was previously revealed by Football Insider that the Cottagers will only consider his sale for around £60m.

For other clubs, this figure is a startling and unmanageable price tag, but with the East London outfit financed and buoyed with the money acquired from Rice, a deal is definitely possible.

How good is Joao Palhinha?

In his debut season in England, the 27-year-old has forged a tremendous reputation as one of the division’s most influential and commanding forces – a crucial component of a Fulham side that has massively overachieved.

This is reinforced by the fact that the Portuguese made the most tackles (147) in the Premier League, which was comfortably more than second-placed Moises Caicedo (100).

This remarkable statistic means that the former Sporting Lisbon star also ranks impressively across the continent, as he sits in the top 1% in Europe’s top five leagues among his positional peers for tackles per 90. But, his status as an authoritative pivot is also cemented by his position within the best 12% for clearances per 90 and aerials won per 90.

With this tough-tackling, physically imperious profile, Palhinha could fill the boots of former Hammer Scott Parker.

Across four seasons for the East Londoners, between 2007 and 2011, the former Bournemouth manager made 129 appearances and won Hammer of the Year on two occasions.

During the 2009/10 season, when Parker secured the award on the second occasion, he mirrored the assets that Palhinha has expertly displayed.

Indeed, the 5 foot 9 man recorded similar stats to the Fulham star in the Premier League for tackles per game (3.3 vs 4.2), interceptions per game (2.4 vs 1.3), and clearances (1.4 vs 1.7).

Described as “fantastic” by Gary Neville, Palhinha has already shown he is a commendably reliable player in English football and would be an excellent way to ease the woes surrounding Rice’s exit.

Newcastle United remain interested in signing Barcelona attacker Ferran Torres in the summer transfer window, according to a new report.

Is Torres set to leave Barcelona this summer?

The Spaniard has been at the Camp Nou since the middle of the 2021/22 season, having been deemed surplus to requirements by Manchester City.

Torres has similarly had to settle for playing a supporting role for Barca, however, doing his bit for them en route to winning the La Liga title last season, but rarely being considered a key man. The £62,000-a-week attacker may have featured in 33 of his side's 38 league matches, but only 14 of those appearances were from the start, with others preferred in attack, from Raphinha to Robert Lewandowski.

The 21-year-old's future has been a big talking point in recent weeks, and with a potential exit coming his way, Newcastle are one of the clubs who have been linked with a move for him. Now, a new claim has emerged – one that suggests their interest isn't going away.

Could Newcastle swoop in and sign Torres?

According to Mundo Deportivo [via Sport Witness], Torres is on the list of Barca's "transferable players" and the Magpies have seemingly made contact over a move, "calling for" him to come in this summer.

The Catalan giants will likely have to sell players to ease their current financial struggles and the former City man is someone who is seen as expendable. Raphinha is also loosely mentioned as a possible target for Newcastle, but it appears as though Torres is the more viable option of the two.

The Spanish youngster clearly hasn't hit the heights some expected of him at both City and Barca, but that's not to say he wouldn't be an impressive signing by the Magpies this summer.

Torres already has 39 goals to his name at senior club level, as well as 15 in 35 caps for Spain, and he should only become more of a force as he matures with age. His current manager Xavi has even gone as far as to call him "world-class" in the past, showing how much he rates him, even though he hasn't properly made the grade at Barca to date.

He is someone who could dovetail beautifully with Alexander Isak at Newcastle, being capable of playing in a wide or central attacking role, and the hope is that his past Premier League experience with City, where e scored a hat-trick at St James' Park, would allow him to hit the ground running.

Wolverhampton Wanderers have been linked with a Ligue 1 ace that could end Julen Lopetegui’s side's woes in front of goal.

The Spaniard is presented with the task of improving his squad on a tight budget this summer, following the reveal of the club's Financial Fair Play (FFP) worries.

With the latest player linked to Molineux, Wolves could strike a deal that would be kind to their finances and pose a significant improvement to their squad.

What’s the latest on Moussa Dembele to Wolves?

As reported by Express and Star yesterday, Wolves are interested in signing Olympique Lyonnais striker Moussa Dembele.

The report claims that the Midlands club are ‘monitoring’ the 26-year-old, who is set to become a free agent this summer.

It’s mentioned that the Old Gold will face ‘considerable competition’ for the Frenchman’s signature, with unnamed clubs across Europe also interested.

What could Moussa Dembele offer to Wolves?

In 129 Ligue 1 appearances for Lyon, Dembele has registered an impressive 67 goal contributions in scoring 56 times and contributing to 11 assists in five seasons for the club.

Lauded as “clinical” by scout Antonio Mango, the Frenchman could be an integral signing for Wolves, who ended the campaign as the Premier League’s lowest-scoring side with just 31 goals in 38 games.

The Pontoise-born talisman was snatched by the Ligue 1 side after a formidable spell in Scotland in which he led the line at Celtic, quickly cementing himself as a fan favourite.

In three seasons with the Glasgow giants, Dembele found the net 51 times in 94 appearances, showing his clinical nature in the final third and innate ability to lead the line.

Wolves aren’t short of creators with the likes of Pedro Neto and Matheus Nunes in the squad, so in having a striker as competent as the Lyon ace, Lopetegui could get the best out of his attack to turn fortunes around at Molineux after a dreary season.

In a campaign that lacked sufficient game time for the 26-year-old, the forward lost his place to former Arsenal striker Alexandre Lacazette, who scored 27 goals this term which subsequently forced Dembele out of favour.

The former Celtic man’s misfortune could be Wolves’ treasure, with him displaying signs that he could rejuvenate Lopetegui’s side in the final third, as highlighted by his statistics in the season prior in Ligue 1.

As per FBref, the 2021/22 campaign proved to be a strong one for the 26-year-old, who ranked in the top 4% of forwards in the league in terms of non-penalty goals, recording an average of 0.65 per 90.

Another impressive area that the forward excelled in was his activity in the box, averaging 6.08 touches in the penalty box per 90, significantly more than Wolves’ current strike option Raul Jimenez who registered 4.68 per 90 in the Premier League this term.

Wolves could land themselves an established talisman on a free transfer here, which may well prove to be a deal that could turn the club around.

Liverpool could soon add another midfielder to their ranks, with AS in Spain, via Paisley Gates, reporting that the Reds are prepared to trigger the release clause of Gabri Veiga this summer.

Are Liverpool going to sign Gabri Veiga?

The 21-year-old midfielder currently features for Celta Vigo and had only played a smattering of times for the Spanish side before the 2022/23 season. In fact, since being handed his La Liga debut in 2020/21, he had only managed 13 appearances in two campaigns for the club before the beginning of 2022/23.

However, having been trusted on a more frequent basis by his club this term, he has paid them back handsomely. Featuring 36 times this year, he has managed eleven goals and four assists along the way.

Even more impressive is how he ranks when compared to some of the more experienced midfielders in the Men's 'Top Five' big leagues in Europe. Despite some of the names he is going up against, his stats are incredible for a player still in the infancy of his career. His 0.43 non-penalty goals per 90 rate for example puts him in the top one percent in that area and his 2.67 progressive carries per 90 also has him in the 88th percentile in that area too.

Veiga then looks like the real deal – and that is why there now appears to be plenty of clubs willing to sign him. According to a report from Spanish newspaper AS, via Paisley Gates, Liverpool are not only interested, but FSG and Jorg Schmadtke are actually ready and willing to pay his release clause. The player has also been assured by Celta's president that they will sanction an exit if the fee is met.

What is Gabri Veiga's release clause?

That fee stands at 40 million Euros (or £34.2m), which is more than affordable for the Reds. However, they will face Premier League competition from the likes of Newcastle and Chelsea, who are also named as willing to stump up the cash in the report.

Veiga is seen as a really impressive player already by those in the game, with football talent scout Jacek Kulig calling him a "quality box-to-box midfielder" and adding that he has been a "revelation" over the course of the 2022/23 season.

It bodes well for Liverpool, who need reinforcements in the centre of the field. If Schmadtke and Co manage to snap him up then, it could see them land a really exciting prospect who could instantly improve their team.

Liverpool have been strongly linked with a move for Kouadio 'Manu' Kone this summer and now a new update has emerged on the club's pursuit of the player as the summer transfer window finally opens.

What's the latest on Liverpool's interest in Kouadio 'Manu' Kone?

According to Foot Mercato journalist Ignazio Genuardi, Liverpool have made an approach in a bid to sign the Borussia Mönchengladbach midfielder this summer.

Genuardi took to Twitter on Tuesday to reveal:

"Approached by Liverpool, the former Toulousain M. Koné also arouses the interest of Chelsea and Newcastle. Under contract until June 2025 with Gladbach (+ an additional year as an option), Bleuet is very popular with the Magpies, who are looking for 2 reinforcements in the midfield."

Who would Kone replace in the Liverpool team?

It is no secret that Jurgen Klopp and new sporting director Jorg Schmadtke are on the hunt for another midfield addition alongside Alexis Mac Allister this summer, and prioritising the defensive midfield position is a must.

After bolstering the attacking presence in the centre of the pitch with Mac Allister, the signing of Kone could be the perfect opportunity to strengthen another important midfield role – screening the defence.

Brazilian mainstay Fabinho has offered many years of high-quality service on the red side of Merseyside and has played an influential role in the numerous major trophies that have been collected under Klopp's reign.

However, this season, the defensive midfielder has struggled to maintain his high standards on the pitch and has ultimately become more of a hindrance than a help in the centre of the pitch, meaning any further reinforcements in his position would be bad news for him.

Former Liverpool defender turned Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher, launched a scathing attack on the midfield earlier in the season and named Fabinho as one of the main culprits:

"We’ve spoken at times about Liverpool conceding goals because of the high line. But the big problem at Liverpool right now is the midfield. Certainly, Fabinho has been miles off the pace this season."

The £180k-per-week ace has had a rapid decline in his output compared to last season in the top-flight (2021/22) with fewer interceptions won (37 v 39), a much worse take-on success rate (46.7% v 77.3%), fewer ball recoveries (193 v 184) and a lower aerial duel success rate (64.2% v 58.8%).

When comparing Kone's output with the Liverpool midfielder this season, it is clear that the Bundesliga sensation – hailed "monstrous" by Jacek Kulig – has outperformed him in many key defensive attributes including blocks (26 v 18), tackles and interceptions completed (106 v 102), take-on success (48.3% v 46.7%), dribblers tackled rate (51.1% v 38.7%) and ball recoveries (221 v 180), as per FBref.

With that being said, the signing of Kone – who has a reported price tag of €40m (£34m) – would be a major coup for Klopp this summer, providing the German coach with a young player who can not only succeed Fabinho but also improve upon his defensive presence in the centre of the pitch.

Leeds United have reportedly "opened talks" with Carlos Carvalhal over becoming their new manager this summer, according to a fresh rumour regarding the search for a new boss.

Which managers are Leeds linked with?

It has been a period to forget at Elland Road over the past 12 months or so, with the club getting through three different managers en route to being relegated from the Premier League.

Amid the new takeover from 49ers Enterprises, Leeds are now working hard on finding a new boss, with so many different names linked with the job in the weeks since their relegation was confirmed.

The likes of Brendan Rodgers, Graham Potter, Steven Gerrard, Carlos Corberan and Scott Parker have all been mooted as potential successors to Sam Allardyce, but no clear favourite has emerged in the race yet.

Now, a new name has been thrown into the hat – someone with plenty of experience in English football in the past.

Are Whites in talks with Carvalhal?

According to iG Esporte [via Sport Witness], Leeds have "already opened talks" in "recent days" with Carvalhal, suggesting that he is considered a strong option to come in and lead the promotion charge at Elland Road.

The 57-year-old is "free in the market" currently, having left his post as Celta Vigo manager earlier this year, although Brazilian side Atletico-MG are also believed to be eyeing him up.

Carvalhal could be an interesting appointment by Leeds if they get a move over the line, having previously managed Sheffield Wednesday and Swansea City in the past. He got the former into the Championship playoff final in 2016, and the semi-finals the following year, although he only lasted approximately six months with the latter.

The Portuguese is now a hugely experienced manager, having taken charge of teams all over the world, from Sporting CP to Besiktas, and he also won the Portuguese Cup with Braga in 2021.

There are question marks over whether Carvalhal is the strongest contender to come in, though, considering the likes of Rodgers and Potter are arguably more highly thought of currently, having been established Premier League managers for a while now, despite admittedly both losing their jobs earlier in the campaign.

Meanwhile, someone like Daniel Farke has won promotion from the Championship twice in the past, during his time at Norwich City, which is something Carvalhal has never managed, so he could be a safer pair of hands.