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Newcastle United targets Axel Disasi and Harvey Barnes are two 'important' pieces of business that Eddie Howe would like to tie up, according to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano.

Are Axel Disasi and Harvey Barnes moving to Newcastle United?

According to Football Insider, Newcastle United have reached a verbal agreement with Disasi over personal terms as they continue talks with AS Monaco over a potential deal for the France international.

The report states that £40 million may be a figure that would be enough to seal the prospective transfer; however, negotiations are still believed to be in the early stages.

Last term, the 25-year-old made 49 appearances in all competitions for his current employers and carried an unusually potent goal threat for a defender, registering six goals and four assists, as per Transfermarkt.

In other news, Newcastle United are set to wrap up the signature of Leicester City winger Barnes on a deal worth in the region of £38 million, according to The Guardian.

Interest in Barnes was high, with West Ham United, Aston Villa and Tottenham Hotspur all being keen on the England international this window; however, the Magpies look to have done a number on their divisional rivals to ensure they get his signature over the line. Allan Saint-Maximin is set to be sold to Saudi Pro League side Al-Ahli to raise funds to complete the Barnes deal.

Barnes featured 40 times for Leicester City in 2022/23 and enjoyed a commendable campaign on a personal level despite the Foxes' relegation, scoring 13 times and laying on three assists across all competitions.

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, transfer expert Romano indicated that bringing Disasi and Barnes to the North East would represent two 'important' pieces of business for Newcastle United boss Howe.

Romano stated: "They are waiting to understand how much Monaco really want for Axel Disasi.This is the crucial step of this story because, on the player's side, he is open to making the move to Newcastle or Manchester United.

"He wants to try this Premier League opportunity in a very clear way, so let's see how the conversation will go with Monaco.

"But Disasi and Barnes, of course in a different position, are two important targets for Newcastle."

Who else could join Newcastle United this summer?

Corriere dello Sport via Sport Witness claim that Juventus winger Federico Chiesa would be keen on a move to Newcastle United this summer.

The Magpies have shown 'interest' in the Italy international. However, if Barnes joins the club, it would remain to be seen whether Howe would enter the market to purchase another wide player.

As per The Sun, Crystal Palace defender Joachim Andersen has emerged as a target for Newcastle United; however, it would cost in the region of £50 million to sign the 27-year-old, who is also on the radar of Ange Postecoglou's Tottenham Hotspur.

Football Insider report that Newcastle United are set to submit a £25 million bid for Southampton right-back Tino Livramento as they try to 'get a deal done' for the former Chelsea starlet.

Chelsea are believed to have a buyback clause worth £38 million that is active this window, potentially creating a problem for the Magpies if the Blues decide to rival their pursuit of the Croydon-born defender.

Callum Hudson-Odoi is reportedly disappointed with the treatment he has received at Chelsea, according to journalist Paul Brown.

The winger is set to call time on his Chelsea career this summer five seasons after breaking into the first team under former boss Maurizio Sarri.

Is Callum Hudson-Odoi leaving Chelsea?

It looks increasingly likely that the former England youth international will depart Stamford Bridge this summer.

A number of teams are interested in bringing in the player who was once the subject of a £70m offer from German giants Bayern Munich. The player has been training with the Blue's under-21 side since returning to pre-season, with manager Mauricio Pochettino making it clear that the 22-year-old is not a part of his plans for next season.

One side that is reportedly interested is Italian side Lazio, who are managed by the winger's former coach Sarri, with the Italian said to be "pushing" the Rome sides interest in the attacker. However, the club have not held any discussions with the player yet as they weigh up the parameters regarding a potential loan move, which is said would include an obligation to buy rather than an option to buy. A reason behind why the Italian's may be pursuing a loan deal in the forwards £120k per week wages, which have priced both Nottingham Forest and Crystal Palace out of a move.

The favourites for the winger's signature however are Premier League outfit Fulham. The Cottagers have already agreed personal terms with Hudson-Odoi and are preparing a second bid in the region of £4m according to Fabrizio Romano after their initial bid was rejected earlier this month. The Italian journalist has stated that despite Chelsea wanting a fee in the region of £8m, Fulham are confident that the deal will be completed in the next days.

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, journalist Brown stated that Hudson-Odoi will be disappointed that he wasn't able to reach his potential at Stamford Bridge due to a number of factors: "I think he'll certainly be disappointed with the way that it's gone for him at Chelsea. When he broke through, people really expected big things from him. But, from his point of view, he has never 100% believed that the club have the kind of faith in him that he wanted them to show.

They've signed a lot of players over the years in positions that he can play in. Various managers have tried to slot him into slightly different roles. Obviously, he came quite close to leaving for Bayern Munich at one point, only for Chelsea to slam the door shut on that. I think he is not terribly pleased with the way that Chelsea have treated him over the years."

Will Chelsea replace Hudson-Odoi this window?

Chelsea are still looking to strengthen their frontline this window.

The Blues have already made two additions to their attack this summer, with Frenchman Christopher Nkunku joining from RB Leipzig for a reported fee of £52m. The club also completed the signing of Senegalese forward Nicolas Jackson from Villarreal on an eight-year deal for a fee of over £30m. Both have already made their first appearances for the club in pre-season and have impressed. Despite this, the club are still looking at potential forward additions.

One player linked with a move is Crystal Palace winger Michael Olise. According to Football Insider, the Frenchman has a release clause of £35m that Chelsea could activate to bring their former youth product back to the club, however they will face stiff competition from Manchester City, with Citizens boss Pep Guardiola seeing the youngster as the ideal Riyad Mahrez replacement. Another player the Blues are interested in is Mohamed Kudus, with David Ornstein reporting that the London club have held discussions with both Ajax as well as the players representatives regarding a potential move, with reports stating that an agreement is close to being reached on personal terms

Tottenham Hotspur star Rodrigo Bentancur could be back in action sooner than fans think, as he seemingly revealed his return date when speaking to a young supporter at the training centre.

When will Rodrigo Bentancur return from injury?

In a season with so many things going wrong seemingly one after another for the Lilywhites last year, the severe injury to midfield maestro Bentancur in mid-February was one of the most disastrous.

The former Juventus star was forced off in the side's 4-1 loss to Leicester City after suffering a serious injury to his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) that required surgery to fix and meant he was sidelined for the rest of the campaign.

It felt even more cruel for the 26-year-old as he had only just come back from 44 days off the pitch due to adductor problems, meaning he had less than a month between his two injuries.

Read the latest Tottenham Hotspur transfer news HERE…

It looked like he would be set to miss a massive chunk of the coming season as well when The Athletic reported he wouldn't be returning until November, at least three months from now, which would not be the ideal way for Ange Postecoglou to get his reign underway.

However, things could be looking up for both the Ururguyan and fans alike, as it appears he might've just revealed his return date whilst speaking to a supporter outside the training centre.

When answering the fan's question about his fitness, he said:

"I need two more months, life is okay."

How good is Rodrigo Bentancur?

With the former Boca Juniors man missing for over half of the Premier League season last year, fans of other clubs might've forgotten just how good Bentacur is – he's very, very good.

Despite playing just 18 games for the North Londoners last season, he still managed to score five goals, provide two assists, maintain a passing accuracy of 85.2% and average a seriously impressive match rating of 7.22 – the second-highest in the entire squad behind only Harry Kane – per WhoScored.

His performances have clearly made quite an impact on his teammates in N17 as well, with fellow former Juventus man Dejan Kulusevski waxing lyrical about the midfielder, saying:

"When we were 3-3, I said in my head that the next time I get the ball, I am going to shoot and I am going to score. But then it was a different situation, and I saw Rodri alone, and I just pray to God that he will score, and he did.

"He is a fantastic player, one of the most underrated players in the world. I am very happy for him."

His goalscoring sets him apart as a midfielder, with FBref, which compares players in similar positions, placing him in the top 3% of midfielders for non-penalty goals per 90.

With his return potentially just two months away, his inclusion in the team could be exactly what new boss Postecoglou will need to help him bring European football back to N17 come the end of next season.

With an injury-free season, there's no reason Bentancur couldn't be one of the very best midfielders in the league next year.

West Ham United have agreed a deal to sign Manchester United defender Harry Maguire, Fabrizio Romano reports.

What’s the latest West Ham transfer news?

The Hammers and David Moyes have been quiet in the transfer market when it comes to incomings, however, there have been a number of departures ahead of the new Premier League season.

In total, the club have brought in around £135m in player sales, with Declan Rice, Gianluca Scamacca, Nikola Vlasic and Arthur Masuaku all leaving for Arsenal, Atalanta, Torino and Besiktas respectively.

Attacking midfielder Manuel Lanzini has also left after his contract expired, so it could be an extremely busy month when it comes to arrivals ahead of the September 1 deadline.

Read the latest West Ham transfer news HERE…

The first new player who is set to join up with Moyes’ squad is Ajax holding midfielder Edson Alvarez in a deal worth £35m, and the club could soon splash the cash on another new signing in Maguire.

An opening £20m offer was turned down by Man United towards the end of July, but it appears as if a deal close to £40m may soon be agreed.

Football Insider shared an update regarding Maguire’s future on Tuesday afternoon, claiming that the Hammers are close to agreeing a fee for the 30-year-old.

Romano has now shared a new development, claiming that a £30m agreement in principle has been reached between the two clubs for Maguire.

"West Ham have reached an agreement in principle with Manchester United for Harry Maguire on £30m fee. The verbal agreement is subject to final, key points on deal structure still under discussion but fee now agreed, as per Sky. Personal terms, to be discussed soon."

How much money is Harry Maguire earning?

Maguire, currently on £200,000-a-week, made the move to Old Trafford from Leicester City back in 2019 and has made 175 appearances for the Red Devils.

The 30-year-old fell out of favour under Erik ten Hag last season, though, turning out on just 16 occasions in the Premier League. He has also been stripped of the United captaincy this summer, with Bruno Fernandes taking over the role.

Therefore, a move away could be just what Maguire needs, and he could prove to be a smart signing at the London Stadium. United teammate Luke Shaw spoke out about the criticism the central defender has faced in recent years but hailed him as an “unbelievable player”.

“I will be honest, it is a tough period at the moment. Of course Harry is an amazing player, an amazing character. He has taken a lot of stick, probably more than I have ever seen before in football but he never hides away, he is always there.

“You can have people that can hide away and not want to be in the spotlight but he keeps putting himself in the spotlight and it shows the strength and character he has got because, come on, everyone knows that he is an unbelievable player.”

Moyes currently has four centre-back options in Nayef Aguerd, Kurt Zouma, Thilo Kehrer and Angelo Ogbonna, but with the latter of the four now 35 and into the final 12 months of his contract, signing Maguire may turn out to be a smart deal, especially with European football once again on offer at the London Stadium.

An update has emerged on Celtic and their plans to bolster the playing squad before the end of the summer transfer window…

What’s the latest Celtic transfer news?

According to the Daily Mail, Brendan Rodgers is eyeing up a swoop to sign Manchester City central midfielder James McAtee before next month's deadline.

The report claims that the Hoops are one of a number of clubs interested in signing the England U21 international, although it remains to be seen whether they would be willing to do a permanent or loan deal for his services.

It states that City are currently reluctant to move him on after his impressive spell on loan from Sheffield United but the likes of AZ Alkmaar, Brighton, Wolves, and Southampton are all pushing for a transfer.

How good is James McAtee?

The 20-year-old maestro is a goalscoring central midfielder who could be a menace to opposition defences with his ability to arrive late into the box to find the back of the net, which could make him a terrific partner for David Turnbull.

McAtee spent last term on loan with Sheffield United in the English Championship and showcased his ability to score goals on a regular basis from midfield as he produced nine strikes in just 21 starts for the Blades on their way to promotion to the Premier League.

Meanwhile, no Celtic midfielder managed more than six league goals last season and Reo Hatate (six) was the only player in that area of the pitch who scored more than four.

This suggests that the English youngster could provide Rodgers with a greater goal threat from central positions, which could also be the case with the revival of Turnbull this year.

The Scotland international caught the eye on the opening day of the Scottish Premiership with two goals in the 4-2 win over Ross County.

This came after the 24-year-old gem was surprisingly only handed six league starts by Ange Postecoglou throughout the 2022/23 campaign.

Prior to the Australian head coach's arrival at Parkhead, Turnbull plundered nine goals in 30 top-flight starts under Neil Lennon during the 2020/21 season and his display on Saturday suggests that Rodgers could be set to revive that form this year.

Therefore, the former Motherwell star and McAtee could form an exciting pairing in midfield for the Hoops as they both have the potential to offer the sort of goal threat that Postecoglou's midfielders failed to provide last term.

The £10k-per-week loanee's form for the Blades was not a flash in the pan as he displayed similar goalscoring qualities throughout his academy days.

He racked up 27 goals in 52 matches for his current club's U21 side and that came after an impressive 15 goals in 34 U18 outings for Man City, which shows that the talented dynamo has been a regular scorer at various age groups and now at senior level.

Therefore, the superb talent, who was once described as "electric" by scout Jacek Kulig, could be a fantastic option for Rodgers to call upon either alongside Turnbull to strike fear into opposition defences or as competition for the Scotland international this season.

Everton have held 'initial talks' over bringing a 'special' talent to Goodison Park this summer as Sean Dyche looks to strengthen his forward line, according to journalist Ben Jacobs.

Who has Sean Dyche brought in at Everton this summer and who else could he sign?

Dyche has been busy in the transfer market this summer as he looks to ensure Everton avoid being dragged into a relegation battle for a third successive campaign.

Despite late interest from Aston Villa, Everton have wrapped up a season-long loan deal to bring Leeds United winger Jack Harrison to Goodison Park, as per BBC Sport.

Harrison will recover from a hip injury before being available to participate in competitive fixtures; nevertheless, the 26-year-old joins Ashley Young, Youssef Chermiti and Arnaut Danjuma as new additions to the ranks at Everton, as per Transfermarkt.

Football Insider report that Udinese forward Beto is another target for Everton and negotiations are taking place over a potential loan deal with an option to buy for the 25-year-old.

Everton suffered a 1-0 defeat at Fulham at Goodison Park in their Premier League opener and missed numerous gilt-edged opportunities to take something from the encounter.

What has Ben Jacobs said about Hugo Ekitike?

Italian reporter Rudy Galetti has indicated that Everton are 'pushing hard' to try and sign Paris Saint-Germain forward Hugo Ekitike amid rival interest from Bundesliga side Eintracht Frankfurt.

Ekitike has made 33 appearances in all competitions for Paris Saint-Germain, registering four goals and four assists in the process, as per Transfermarkt.

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, journalist Jacobs has confirmed that 'initial talks' have taken place between Everton and Ligue 1 champions Paris Saint-Germain over the 'structure' of a potential deal to take the £79k-a-week earner to Goodison Park.

Jacobs stated: “I think PSG feel like Hugo Ekitke hasn’t worked out. And having fought off quite a bit of competition to sign him, with Newcastle in the mix, they are willing to let him go.

“So that obviously means that, where possible, they would like a fee, and they would like a lot of money up front for that fee.”

Who else could join Everton and what outgoings could occur?

According to The Daily Mail, Leeds United attacker Wilfried Gnonto remains a target for Everton despite the Toffees completing a deal to sign his teammate Harrison on loan.

Everton had a bid in the region of £15 million rejected for Gnonto back in July and the youngster is facing potential disciplinary action from Leeds United as he tries to force a move away from Elland Road.

Southampton are keen to sign Everton defender Mason Holgate on loan; however, there is a divergence between the percentage of his wages that the Sky Bet Championship side are willing to pay for the former England Under-21 international, according to Sky Sports.

Journalist Alan Nixon has revealed on Patreon that Everton striker Tom Cannon is a target for Preston North End, Leeds United, Sunderland and Stoke City.

Nottingham Forest have been linked to a Serie A midfielder according to recent reports, as Steve Cooper eyes further reinforcements in the middle of the park this summer.

The Welshman and his side are underway to a convincing start, claiming their first three points of the season at the City Ground during game week two, beating Sheffield United late on in a 2-1 thriller.

Despite recruiting strongly already in the transfer market through the arrivals of Ola Aina, Matt Turner, Anthony Elanga and the permanent deal of Chris Wood, the Reds are reported to be on the prowl for a new midfielder.

Who could Nottingham Forest sign this summer?

It’s clear to see just where Cooper envisions his next signing to play, with the club linked to a host of central midfield talent in recent weeks.

Reported interest in Chelsea’s Andrey Santos, Real Betis’ Guido Rodriguez, Monaco’s Youssouf Fofana and Benfica’s Florentino Luiz has circulated, however another name has emerged this week.

As reported by journalist Cesar Luis Merlo, Forest have approached to sign Bologna midfielder Nicolas Dominguez, who has a speculated price tag of €10m (£9m).

Merlo relayed that both the Reds and Galatasaray have “made offers to buy” the player, and are “bidding” to capture his signature this summer.

How good is Nicolas Dominguez?

Deployed in both central and deeper in defensive midfield, the 25-year-old has been lauded as being a presence that “loves a challenge” by South American football expert Nathan Joyes.

Such praise is supported by his monstrous average of 3.13 tackles per 90 over the past year, which has ranked him in the top 8% of midfielders in Europe’s top five leagues in that area, via FBref.

The Argentine won an average of 5.6 total duels per game last season in Serie A for Bologna, once more solidifying just how much of a protective cog he could be in Cooper’s engine room.

One player in particular that could benefit from the Velez Sarsfield gem’s potential arrival is fellow midfielder Danilo, who has impressed greatly since arriving at the City Ground in January.

Taking to Twitter, one Forest fan commented on the Brazilian’s positioning deeper in the midfield as being a waste of his “amazing talent” in impacting a game further forward, which highlights just how much of a revelation Dominguez could be on the 22-year-old.

The Bologna machine could be the anchor in midfield, which would allow Cooper to hand Danilo a more advanced role, with the assurance that the Argentine could hold the fort in the pivot.

Averaging 6.15 progressive passes and 1.41 key passes per 90 for the Italian outfit last term via FBref, the 25-year-old could be the perfect link to unleashing Forest’s January arrival further up-field, with him having the passing ability to transition play.

Asserting himself as one of the better combative midfielders in Europe, Dominguez could be the ideal acquisition for the Tricky Trees to chase, with him being a more cost-effective and equally as impressive target to others the club are speculated to have eyed.

With Galatasaray also monitoring the Serie A sensation, Cooper must strike fast if he is to secure the impressive talent’s signature before the end of the window.

Tottenham Hotspur's bid to bolster their forward line following the departure of former talisman Harry Kane has taken something of an unexpected turn, with Ange Postecoglou seemingly eyeing up a late, marquee move for an exciting young forward…

Who will Tottenham sign before Deadline Day?

Having lost the England skipper to German giants Bayern Munich on a £100m deal earlier this month, the Lilywhites have thus far only brought in free transfer arrival Manor Solomon and Argentine teenager Alejo Veliz to help strengthen the attack, albeit while also ensuring Dejan Kulusevski is set for a permanent stay at N17.

With fresh faces still seemingly needed before the close of the window later this week, various reports have indicated that Postecoglou has his eyes set on Nottingham Forest speedster, Brennan Johnson, with the Wales international valued at around £50m by his current side.

Read the latest Tottenham transfer news HERE…

Amid that interest in the 22-year-old, transfer guru Fabrizio Romano has also since reported that Spurs are in talks regarding an exciting move to bring Barcelona starlet Ansu Fati to England on a temporary deal, with the respected insider revealing on Twitter:

"Understand Tottenham are now in contact with Barça to negotiate for Ansu Fati deal on loan until June 2024. Discussions about conditions of the deal but Barça want 100% of the salary covered. Ansu, also presented to Chelsea as opportunity but no former approach yet."

How good is Ansu Fati?

With all the talk having been about the aforementioned Johnson of late, this apparent interest in the 20-year-old Spaniard has come somewhat out of the blue, with it yet to be seen if a deal can be wrapped up before Friday's deadline.

While there is still a chance that Fati could be brought in alongside the Forest ace, if a decision has to be made between which player would prove a better fit, it should well be the Barca sensation who gets the nod.

Much like Johnson, the highly-rated talent – who has been valued at around €80m (£69m) by CIES Football Observatory – has the ability to feature on either flank or in a central role if required, with such flexibility likely to be appealing as far as Postecoglou is concerned.

Although Johnson did enjoy a promising first season in top-flight football last time out – having scored eight goals and provided three assists for Steve Cooper's side in the league – young Fati was also impressive in La Liga, with seven goals and four assists under his belt.

That latter record came despite the "magic" ace – as described by teammate Eric Garcia – only being restricted to just 12 league starts for the Catalan outfit, while the Forest man started 33 times in the Premier League by contrast, thus indicating that a more prominent role for Fati in a new home could see him truly explode.

It is also clear to see the superior attacking threat that the latter man is able to pose in the final third as he ranks in the top 1% among his European peers for progressive passes received per 90 and in the top 8% for touches in the attacking penalty area per 90, while Johnson, meanwhile, ranks in just the bottom 13% and the bottom 38% for those same two metrics, respectively.

Equally, the younger man also appears to be able to retain possession more successfully and provide a truly composed presence on the ball as he ranks in the top 6% for pass completion, with that again far superior to the Nottingham native – who ranks in just the bottom 2% in that regard.

Despite his relative youth, Fati – who inherited Lionel Messi's number ten shirt at Camp Nou – has already racked up 39 goals and assists in 112 games in all competitions for his current side, proving that he can handle the pressure of performing for such an elite club.

The hope will be that such displays can be replicated on a more consistent basis if a move to Tottenham is to occur in the coming days for the 5 foot 10 menace…

Celtic majority shareholder Dermot Desmond and the rest of the board backed Brendan Rodgers throughout the summer transfer window with nine new signings.

Who did Celtic sign this summer?

The Hoops head coach was able to bolster his playing squad in a number of positions in spite of the club coming off the back of a treble-winning campaign.

South Korean enforcer Hyeok-kyu Kwon and Norwegian talent Odin Thiago Holm both arrived on permanent deals alongside Paulo Bernardo on loan from Benfica to improve his options in the middle of the park.

The defence was also strengthened with the arrivals of Swedish titan Gustaf Lagerbielke and Polish ace Maik Nawrocki for undisclosed fees, whilst Nat Phillips has also joined on loan from Premier League side Liverpool until the January transfer window.

Rodgers' attacking arsenal was added to with the signings of South Korean Hyun-jun Yang, Honduras international Luis Palma, and Australia international Marco Tilio, who all came through the door on permanent moves.

However, the former Leicester City boss could also add to his first-team group by dipping into the academy to promote one of the outstanding talents in the B team side – Rocco Vata.

How good is Rocco Vata?

New signing Paulo Bernardo could need to move aside in order for the 18-year-old starlet to finally be unleashed as his form so far this season at youth level has been nothing short of phenomenal.

The Glasgow-born maestro has racked up six goals in five games for Celtic B and is showcasing his ability to offer a consistent goalscoring threat from an attacking midfield position.

He has found the back of the net five times in four Lowland League outings and scored once in one Challenge Cup match for the youthful Bhoys and Rodgers must now pay attention to the teenage gem's displays as he could have the potential to make a big impact for the first-team.

His fantastic performances this season have not come out of the blue, either, as Vata enjoyed a successful 2022/23 campaign with 11 goals and one assist in 24 matches for the B team.

The magical ace, who was reported to be on his way out of Parkhead this summer before eventually staying put, racked up nine goals and one assist in 16 Lowland League clashes and earned himself opportunities with Ange Postecoglou's squad.

Vata made four appearances in the Scottish Premiership for Celtic last season and averaged a Sofascore rating of 6.77 over 44 minutes of action on the pitch.

Despite his limited minutes, the Republic of Ireland U21 international caught the eye with his impressive creativity as he provided his teammates with two 'big chances' and completed 89% of his attempted passes, as per Sofascore.

For context, Daizen Maeda only created six 'big chances' in 1925 minutes of Premiership football and captain Callum McGregor produced four 'big chances' for the attackers in a whopping 2759 minutes of game time.

This illustrates how special Vata's contributions in just 44 minutes were during the 2022/23 campaign as the talented youngster justified Postecoglou's decision to bring him into the first-team fold.

The Irish dynamo's form this season now shows that he is too good to be playing academy football as it has been far too easy for him to dominate matches at that level with his goalscoring prowess from midfield. As such, Rodgers should finally unleash him for the Hoops.

His statistics suggest that the £280-per-week ace has the potential to offer more than new signing Bernardo, who is yet to prove himself to be as impressive as Vata – at youth or senior level.

How good is Paulo Bernardo?

The 21-year-old central midfielder's career statistics do not suggest that he is as good as the Celtic academy star when it comes to providing attacking contributions from the middle of the park.

Bernardo spent the second half of the 2022/23 campaign on loan with FC Pacos de Ferreira and he managed two goals and zero 'big chances' created in 13 Liga Portugal appearances, whilst the Portugal U21 international also completed 82% of his attempted passes.

That came after the Benfica prospect failed to score a single goal and created one 'big chance' for his teammates in 17 top-flight outings for his parent club throughout the previous season.

In total, the Portuguese talent has scored two goals and assisted one in 39 senior games in his career to date, which is one goal involvement every 13 clashes on average from midfield.

This came after Bernardo managed seven goals and five assists in 38 matches for Benfica B, two goals and one assist in 23 outings for their U23 side, and two strikes in nine U19 appearances.

Therefore, he racked up 11 goals and six assists in 70 youth team games for the Portuguese club, which is an average of one goal involvement every 4.12 matches.

Whereas, Vata, who has been capped five times by Ireland's U19s, has scored 17 goals and assisted one in 29 academy games for the Scottish giants; a goal contribution every 1.61 outings on average.

This suggests that the Celtic prodigy, who was once hailed as an "exciting" talent by scout Jacek Kulig, could offer more quality in midfield than Bernardo when it comes to making a big impact at the top end of the pitch on a consistent basis.

He has already shown glimpses of his quality at first-team level with his showings for Postecoglou's side last season and Rodgers must now offer him the chance to showcase his talent again this term, as the potential is there for him to be a better option than Bernardo – who is three years older than him.

At the age of 18, Vata is a player with plenty of time left ahead of him to develop and improve, which is why more exposure to senior football could help his growth as he learns how to navigate a senior environment.

The teenage wizard, who coach Dara O'Dea previously claimed has a killer attitude that "never stops", deserves to be rewarded for his sensational form for the B team and that is why Rodgers must unleash him ahead of Bernardo over the coming weeks and months.

Manchester United midfielder Donny van De Beek could still be on his way out the door, amid ongoing talks over a move to a Champions League club.

Who did Man United sign in the summer?

Man United strengthened the spine of their team in the summer transfer window, with goalkeeper Andre Onana arriving from Inter Milan, while Jonny Evans and Sergio Reguilon were brought in to bolster Erik ten Hag's defensive options.

Rasmus Hojlund was the Red Devils' marquee signing in attack, and there is good news heading into today's match away against Arsenal, with Ten Hag revealing the striker is fit to play, as the £72m star has recovered from a back injury which delayed his debut.

In central midfield, Mason Mount was the main addition, with the former Chelsea man joining in a £55m deal, and Ten Hag will have been pleased to get a deal for Sofyan Amrabat over the line on deadline day, with the Fiorentina midfielder joining on a season-long loan.

Speaking after Amrabat's arrival, Football Director John Murtough said:

“We have tracked Sofyan for a long time, so we are really pleased to bring him to Manchester United. His committed, high-energy approach to the game fits perfectly with the group that we are building here.

“We know that Sofyan’s mentality, dynamism and technical qualities will help the squad as we look to achieve success in all competitions this season.”

With the Morocco international completing a move to Old Trafford, Van de Beek may fall even further down the pecking order, having failed to make a single appearance for United in any competition so far this season.

As such, according to The Daily Mail, the Red Devils remain in talks with Galatasaray over the midfielder, who is deemed surplus to requirements by Ten Hag.

Despite having a £1m loan offer rejected on deadline day, the Turkish club remain keen on the Dutchman, and they are believed to be the front-runners for his signature, although there has been interest from elsewhere.

French side FC Lorient are also keen, as are the 26-year-old's former club, Ajax, but Galatasaray are out in front, as their transfer window does not close for another two weeks.

Is Donny van De Beek leaving Man United?

Given that the 19-time Netherlands international has fallen so far down the pecking order at Man United, it would not be surprising if he is keen to leave, and a move to Galatasaray could allow him to keep playing at a high level.

The Turkish side are in the Champions League group stages, so a move may well appeal to the former Ajax man, and it could be one of the few options he has on the table, considering the transfer window has now closed for much of Europe.

It is a real shame the central midfielder's move to Man United has not worked out, as he is clearly a top player on his day, having been lauded as "sensational" by journalist Antonio Mango just 18 months ago. However, a move away appears to be the best solution for all parties at this stage, and Van de Beek should try and reignite his career with Galatasaray.