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Despite Newcastle United wanting Harvey Barnes, a deal is not "as close as some people have suggested", according to Pete Graves.

Is Barnes joining Newcastle?

There were not too many in Leicester City blue that stood out for the right reasons last season as the Foxes suffered relegation to the Championship, but Barnes still managed to put up some good numbers in a disappointing campaign.

Netting 13 goals in 34 Premier League games was a very respectable total for the 25-year-old last season, who enjoyed the best goalscoring season of his professional career in spite of the underwhelming performances of those around him.

That is not to say Barnes was perfect last season, but he certainly did his best to ensure that the Foxes beat the drop.

Such an impressive output teamed with the fact that he is now playing for a Championship club has understandably drawn interest from some of the Premier League's top sides, with Newcastle at the front of the queue.

The Magpies have been strongly linked with the left-winger, with some reports even suggesting a deal is done, but Sky Sports' Graves believes a transfer is still some way off.

Speaking on the Transfer Talk podcast, Graves said: "Look, I think Harvey Barnes is definitely on the list. I don't think it's as close as some people have suggested, but there's definitely an interest from Newcastle.

He added: "I think Harvey Barnes, before I go on too long, is a target. I think that he scored 13 goals in the Premier League last season and to put that into perspective that is more Premier League goals than Allan Saint-Maximin has scored since arriving in England.

"So, there's been talk that Allan Saint-Maximin could leave the club, talk of interest from Saudi Arabia, and it would be for me quite an obvious replacement. Saint-Maximin would go and Harvey Barnes would come in and he would provide competition on the wings. So, yeah, it's one I can see happening but I don't think it's close."

One potential reason why the deal could be some distance away is Leicester's large valuation of the one-cap England international, with the Foxes having reportedly slapped a £60m price tag on the winger last summer to fend off Newcastle interest. However, that fee may be lower this time round, something which Eddie Howe could capitalise on.

Barnes, who came through the academy at Leicester, was part of the famous 2021 FA Cup winners and has managed 45 goals and 32 assists in 187 games for the Midlands side.

Who are Newcastle signing?

Having already signed AC Milan's Sandro Tonali for approximately £55m, the Magpies are expected to continue investing in their squad over the summer window as they prepare for life back in the Champions League.

One area which Howe is believed to be looking to strengthen is at centre-back with Monaco's Axel Disasi emerging as a target in recent days. The four-cap French international is 25-years-old and has thoroughly impressed in Ligue 1.

The Magpies are also looking at reinforcing others defensive areas, chiefly right-back. As a result, links to Southampton's Tino Livramento have surfaced, despite the fact that the youngster missed all but two games for the Saints last season following a year-long cruciate ligament injury.

With the extra workload that comes with European football, Howe has to make sure his squad has strength in depth, something that was perhaps lacking at times last season.

Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly showing an interest in Borussia Monchengladbach defender, Ko Itakura, with Ange Postecoglou's admiration for the Japanese international dating back to his time at former club, Celtic.

What are the latest Tottenham transfer rumours?

According to Sky Sports Germany, the Lilywhites are said to be rivalling Napoli for the signing of the 26-year-old, with the former Schalke loanee seemingly "open to a change" this summer, as per reporter Florian Plettenberg.

While there is also Saudi interest in the one-time Manchester City asset from Al Nassr, Postecoglou may be hoping that his previous desire to sign the versatile centre-back – who can also feature in midfield – could count in his favour.

Reports back in 2021 suggested that the 57-year-old was keen to sign the 6 foot 2 ace during his first summer in charge at Parkhead, with that followed by further speculation last summer which also claimed that the Greek-Aussie was eyeing a move, in order to bolster his backline in Glasgow.

Who is Ko Itakura?

The 20-cap menace has no doubt warranted such interest from Postecoglou over the years, having previously been hailed as "one of the very best central defenders in the Eredivisie" by pundit Hans Kraay during his prior stint on loan at Dutch outfit, FC Groningen.

Also described as "incredibly fast" by Kraay, the Yokohama-born ace was surprisingly unable to get a look during his time on the books at the Etihad after failing to make a first-team appearance during his three-year stint at the club, albeit with a move to north London potentially set to allow him the chance to finally enjoy a taste of English football.

Whether Tottenham should pursue a move, however, remains to be seen, with there likely to be some intrigue at the fact that Itakura is said to share a number of statistical and stylistic similarities with Clement Lenglet, as per Opta's Player Radars.

That likeness between the pair is notably showcased by their desire to play out from the back, with Lenglet ranking in the 14% among his European peers for touches made, while Itakura ranks in the top 5% in that regard.

The duo are also alike due to their ability in the air, with the £31k-per-week Gladbach menace ranking in the 36% for aerial duels won, while Lenglet ranks in the top 38% in that regard, utilising his 6 foot 1 frame.

Although the belief is that the Lilywhites are hoping to bring the Frenchman back to the Premier League on a permanent deal following his loan spell last season, the 28-year-old hardly set the world alight in the 2022/23 campaign, having been branded an "imposter" by pundit Jamie O'Hara amid his errant form.

Remarkably, not only was Lenglet part of a defence that conceded 63 league goals last term, but the Barcelona man also recorded just a solitary clean sheet from his 26 league outings at centre-back, with his 6.65 average match rating, as per Sofascore, ranking him just 20th among his teammates at N17.

To think then that Postecoglou could land a possible carbon copy of the former Sevilla man with the signing of Itakura could be of concern to the Spurs faithful, with supporters likely to want to see an improvement on last season's shaky defence.

While the Japanese defender is his own man and is clearly a player that the one-time Australia head coach has watched closely in recent years, that similarity to Lenglet will not exactly be sparking much excitement in north London, if a deal is to go ahead.

Liverpool are expected to make an offer for highly-rated Southampton midfielder Romeo Lavia, according to an update from talkSPORT.

Who is signing Romeo Lavia?

The future of the 19-year-old has been a big talking point of late, with an exit from Saints widely expected after their relegation from the Premier League to the Championship.

Lavia has been constantly linked with a move to Liverpool, as the Reds look to do major surgery to their midfield, having already acquired the services of Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai, now seeking their next addition.

The Merseysiders are far from alone from expressing an interest in signing the young Belgium international however, with fellow Premier League powerhouses such as Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea all thought to be eyeing him up.

It looks as though Liverpool could be in pole position to sign Lavia, though, following a positive update that emerged on Monday morning.

What's the latest on Lavia to Liverpool?

According to talkSPORT, Liverpool are now ready to table an offer for the Southampton starlet, as they look to snap him up during the summer transfer window:

"Liverpool are preparing an opening offer for Southampton midfielder Romeo Lavia, talkSPORT understands. The Reds have moved ahead of Chelsea in the race to sign Lavia, whom Saints have valued at £50million.

"Chelsea’s co-director of recruitment Joe Shields has recommended Lavia to new manager Mauricio Pochettino. But the Blues are thought to be exploring alternative targets for now."

This is a hugely exciting update for Liverpool, with Lavia such a talented footballer who could develop into one of the best defensive midfielders in the world over time, proving to be the perfect long-term replacement for Fabinho.

He is already a senior Belgium international, winning one cap for his country, as well as making 29 Premier League appearances. Not only has he not looked out of his depth, but he has even stood out as possibly Saints' best player over the past 12 months or so, being lauded as "ridiculous" by Southampton reporter Jacob Tanswell for his courage to take the ball from deep and beat the opposition press.

Alongside Mac Allister and Szoboszlai, Lavia could complete a major rebuild of Liverpool's midfield that last well into the future – bringing in Nice star Khephren Thuram would arguably make it a perfect summer at Anfield – and beating big six rivals to his signature would also feel significant.

Assuming he avoids serious injury, the sky is the limit for the Belgian, and the hope is that he would jump at the opportunity to working under Jurgen Klopp.

West Ham United have "asked" about a deal to bring Juventus star Denis Zakaria back to the Premier League, according to reliable journalist Fabrizio Romano.

Who is Denis Zakaria?

Zakaria is a defensive midfielder who first arrived at the Allianz Stadium back in January 2022 from Borussia Monchengladbach, but having made just 15 senior appearances, he was sent out on a season-long loan to Chelsea.

The Switzerland international’s spell didn’t go as well as hoped however, having made just five top-flight starts, and there were numerous occasions that he was either an unused substitute or wasn’t named in the matchday squad altogether.

The Irons will know that they are likely to lose captain Declan Rice this summer with Arsenal, Manchester City and Manchester United all chasing him, so David Moyes could enter the market for replacements, and despite his unsuccessful period in England, the 26-year-old has been highlighted as a potential successor.

Are West Ham signing Zakaria?

Taking to Twitter, Romano revealed that West Ham have enquired about Zakaria to discover his availability as they weigh up whether to make an official offer ahead of the 2023/24 campaign. He wrote:

"Understand West Ham are among clubs interested in signing Denis Zakaria. He’s back to Juventus after Chelsea loan. #WHUFC West Ham asked for informations on conditions of the deal — but there are many clubs in the race. Zakaria is not in Juventus plan for next season."

Could Zakaria be a good addition for Moyes?

West Ham will not only know that Zakaria didn’t receive enough game time to prove himself at Chelsea but also that he’s much stronger in the defensive aspect of his play having scored just one goal in SW6, and whilst he’s not someone supporters will see romping forward and providing goals, he could be a risk worth taking.

Standing at 6 foot 3, the £52k-per-week colossus last season ranked in the 95th percentile for pass completion, which has seen him hailed “sharp” by journalist Josh Bunting, and the 89th percentile for most clearances, so his precision in possession and ability to get rid of the danger is hugely impressive.

Zakaria, who represented his nation at the 2022 World Cup, is a versatile operator having been deployed in four various positions since the start of his career, including at centre-back and slightly higher up in central midfield alongside his number six role, so he is an individual who could flourish more than you’d imagine under the leadership of Moyes.

Glasgow Rangers head coach Michael Beale has been a busy man in the summer transfer window as he has wasted no time in attempting to bolster his squad at Ibrox ahead of the 2023/24 campaign.

Kieran Dowell, Dujon Sterling, and Jack Butland have all been snapped up on free transfers from Norwich, Chelsea, and Crystal Palace respectively and will officially arrive on the 1st of July.

The club have also completed the permanent signing of Dutch centre-forward Sam Lammers for an undisclosed fee from Serie A side Atalanta to improve their options at the top end of the pitch.

However, one number nine from the Italian top flight who will not be joining the Light Blues this summer is Cremonese ace Cyriel Dessers.

The Gers were reportedly closing in on an initial €4.2m (£3.6m) deal for the Nigerian but the 28-year-old has opted to turn down a move to Ibrox as he would prefer to remain in Italy, despite his team's relegation to Serie B.

Rangers transfer news – Lyndon Dykes interest

Beale could move on from Dessers this month by completing a deal to sign reported transfer target Lyndon Dykes, who is currently playing in the Championship with Queens Park Rangers.

The Scotland international has the potential to be a shrewd addition to the squad as he has already worked with the Light Blues boss in the past and is a proven performer in the Scottish Premiership.

Dykes played under Beale at the start of 22/23 before the Englishman made the switch to Ibrox and plundered six goals in 21 league outings before he went on to score two in the 18 games after the coach's departure.

The 27-year-old, who registered a goal and an assist in Scotland's recent 2-1 win over Norway, clearly thrived under the Rangers chief and this is backed up by the 42-year-old saying "he is giving me everything he can give me" during their time together.

Adapting to football in the Premiership could also be easy for the Australian-born marksman, who ex-boss Mark Warburton hailed as "outstanding", as the powerhouse racked up 11 goals and eight assists in 28 top-flight outings for Livingston before his move to England.

Dykes could be an ideal option to bolster the club's number nine options due to his pre-existing relationship with the manager and his knowledge of Scottish football.

Therefore, Beale could forget about Dessers and move on from the forward, who scored six Serie A goals in 22/23 and has no experience in Scotland, by reuniting with the £8k-per-week QPR ace this summer.

As Manchester United plot to strengthen ahead of next season, one priority area that Erik ten Hag looks set to target is the midfield ranks, with a new, more youthful addition needed to help bolster an ageing pool of talent.

With the likes of Fred, Casemiro and Christian Eriksen all in their thirties, the former Ajax boss appears to be keen to find a longer-term option in the centre of the park, with the aim of kicking on from a largely positive first season in charge at Old Trafford.

According to Football Insider, one man who has reportedly caught the eye of the Dutchman is Leeds United maestro, Tyler Adams, with the 24-year-old – who joined the Yorkshire side on a £20m deal from RB Leipzig last summer – potentially set to be up for grabs for a fee in excess of £35m.

As 90min also reported, the United States international is among those who are likely to leave Elland Road prior to the start of next term, following the club's recent return to the Championship.

Would Tyler Adams be a good signing for Man United?

Despite being part of a side that slipped to relegation in 2022/23, Adams had previously been an "instrumental" figure for the Whites prior to his frustrating injury blow in March, as per pundit Kevin Campbell, having been something of a "tackling machine" at the base of the midfield.

The signing of the 5 foot 9 ace – who ranked joint-fourth in the division for tackles made last season despite his lengthy absence – could then represent a real coup for Ten Hag, with the 53-year-old able to benefit greatly from Leeds' drop into the second tier.

It would not be the first time that United have astutely snapped up a newly-relegated midfielder in the Premier League era, with legendary boss Sir Alex Ferguson having signed Roy Keane on a £3.75m deal from Nottingham Forest back in 1993, following the Garibaldi's tumble out of the top flight.

A tough-tackling presence, like Adams, the iconic Irishman would go on to win seven league titles, four FA Cups and the Champions League, among other major honours, over the next 11 years or so, captaining the side for much of his time at the club.

Also an "inspirational" leader – according to fellow treble winner Gary Neville – Keane would prove a hard act to try and emulate as far as Adams is concerned, albeit with the latter man also something of a leader in his own right, having been described as "the general" by national team boss, Gregg Berhalter.

Equally, like Keane – who was a notoriously fierce operator having picked up seven red cards in his Premier League career – the Leeds man also appears to have a much-needed edge to his game, having been described as "aggressive" by the aforementioned Campbell.

Those shared traits should indicate that Adams could prove to be Keane 2.0 if he does also make that move from a relegated outift to the Theatre of Dreams.

Tottenham Hotspur are set to approach Brentford to discuss a potential transfer fee for goalkeeper David Raya, according to Sky Sports.

What’s the latest Spurs transfer news involving Raya?

Spurs and new manager Ange Postecoglou look set for a relatively busy summer transfer window, with up to five new additions on the cards.

Reports have claimed that Postecoglou, chairman Daniel Levy, chief scout Leonardo Gabbanini and coach Ryan Mason have already held a transfer meeting. A new goalkeeper to come in and replace Hugo Lloris is on the agenda over the coming months, with Raya heavily linked with a move to north London.

Personal terms between the Spaniard and Spurs are allegedly already agreed, with a fee now needing to be agreed between the two clubs.

According to Sky Sports, Tottenham are expected to approach the Bees over a fee for Raya. The report states that Thomas Frank has previously said the goalkeeper is worth £40m, however, Spurs are reluctant to pay that amount.

How did Raya perform against Tottenham?

Raya is 27 years of age and has just 12 months remaining on his Brentford deal, with a new contract unlikely to be agreed, so now appears to be the best time for Spurs to make their move.

The shot-stopper appears to be at the top of his game with a career-high €25m Transfermarkt valuation and recently shone against Spurs. Raya outperformed every Tottenham player aside from Harry Kane in the 3-1 win for the Bees last month, as per SofaScore, recording six saves. BBC pundit Garth Crooks praised his performance, describing one of his saves as “world-class”.

“The first save from the head of Richarlison was world-class, but the recovery to save the second attempt from the same player was quite remarkable.

“Brentford were better than Spurs in every department and Raya was central to their 3-1 victory.”

Frank has also called Raya “very aggressive” in his goalkeeping, and if a fee can be lowered below a £40m asking price, a move could prove to be a shrewd one by Spurs and Postecoglou ahead of the new season.

Aston Villa have been linked to another Premier League ace, after the Villans sealed their first signing of the summer in Leicester City midfielder Youri Tielemans.

Unai Emery is expected to have a busy transfer window following his incredible first season in charge at Villa Park, in a bid to build upon the success of this term and prepare the squad for Europe.

Latest news has suggested that the Midlands club are looking to replicate their move for free agent Tielemans in another Premier League star out of contract.

What’s the latest on Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain to Aston Villa?

As reported by talkSPORT, Liverpool midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain could be on his way to Villa Park.

The report states that sources close to the outlet understand that the 29-year-old is ‘on the verge’ of completing a move to Aston Villa.

The £125k-per-week Englishman will become a free agent this summer after no new contract was established on Merseyside.

What could Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain offer Aston Villa?

Hailed by BBC Sport writer Raj Chohan as “superb”, the former Arsenal ace has shown spells of his potential at Liverpool in a period tainted by injury.

During his six years at Anfield, the Portsmouth-born ace missed a total of 88 games due to injury as per Transfermarkt, contributing to him losing his spot as a regular in the side.

Starting his career as a dynamic wide player, Oxlade-Chamberlain was unleashed by Jurgen Klopp as a central midfielder, in a switch of position that paid off greatly for the Englishman.

Emery could land himself a force to be reckoned with in his midfield, with the Premier League and Champions League winner posing as a perfect fit for the Spaniard’s plans.

Following the arrival of Tielemans, the Spaniard has added significant depth to the middle of the park and by introducing Oxlade-Chamberlain as well, it could mean bad news for Philippe Coutinho.

The Brazilian has failed to find his best form at Villa, and having been linked with the exit door of late could be forced out of Emery’s plans entirely should another central talent arrive at Villa Park.

Comparing their statistics from last season when both players accumulated sufficient game time, the Englishman could offer a significantly greater threat to Villa’s midfield both going forward and as a defensive presence.

As per FBref, the Liverpool gem acts as more of a threat in the final third than Coutinho, averaging in the 2021/22 campaign 7.22 progressive passes received per 90 to the Brazilian’s 4.20, showing his ability to pop up in threatening positions.

In terms of actually distributing the ball, the 'Ox' averaged 6.99 progressive passes per 90 to the 30-year-old’s 6.37 per 90 as well averaging 3.99 progressive carries to his 3.25, via FBref.

The 29-year-old could rediscover his impressive form between his injury woes under Emery, and pose as a valuable member of his plans at Villa Park, being a better fit than the out-of-favour Coutinho to the Spaniard’s demands of his midfielders.

Everton are turning their eyes towards the summer transfer window, as the Blues have been linked with a Premier League starlet.

With survival confirmed, Sean Dyche can place his focus on improvements ahead of the 2023/24 campaign as the club must avoid a repeat of the previous two seasons.

In a year of struggle both on and off the field, Everton have had some shining lights, one being the performances of Amadou Onana, who could potentially remain at Goodison despite rumours suggesting his departure.

The latest transfer link could be an exciting one for Dyche should Onana remain a Toffee, as the Blues could swoop for an electrifying midfield partner for the Belgian.

What’s the latest on Shea Charles to Everton?

As reported by the Daily Mail, Everton are one of the clubs interested in Manchester City U21 midfielder Shea Charles.

The Northern Ireland international has gained interest from the Bundesliga, with RB Leipzig and Borussia Dortmund also rumoured to be “admirers” of the player.

The 19-year-old made his debut for City last weekend against Brentford as a substitute, and is contracted to the champions until 2027.

What could Shea Charles bring to Everton?

Pep Guardiola handed the teenager his first minutes for the first team last Sunday, as he played 27 minutes earning an impressive 7.0 Sofascore match rating in the process.

It was a difficult game for the champions who were defeated 1-0 away from home, however, the Spaniard was full of praise for the academy graduate after the fixture, hailing him as “so good” and “so composed” on the club’s official website.

It’s praise indeed from one of the greatest managers of all time, however, his compliments are supported by his impressive numbers, hinting that he has an exciting career ahead of him.

On his Premier League debut, the teen won 100% of his aerial duels, as well as four out of five of his ground duels in midfield, making four tackles and one interception in just under 30 minutes of play – as per Sofascore.

The Manchester-born ace, lauded as “terrific” by journalist Mark McIntosh, could be an exceptional future addition to Everton’s midfield, alongside the talents of Onana.

Goodison’s midfield gem has similar attributes to the City youngster, inspiring the thought that they could be a commanding duo in the middle of the park together.

The Belgian has averaged 2.60 tackles per 90 over the past year, as well as an average of 2.17 successful aerials per 90, placing him in the top 6% of midfielders in Europe's top five leagues in terms of winning challenges in the air – as per FBref.

With Onana being just 21, and Charles only 19, Dyche could have a midfield pairing for years to come, in two players that are combative both in the air and on the ground, as supported by their numbers.

There are lots of indicators to suggest that Charles is ready to take the leap into senior football, not just through his performance on his debut, but his integral presence in City’s U21 side, starting in all 26 of his appearances in Premier League 2 – as per Transfermarkt.

Whether the player would be available to purchase permanently, or as a loan deal is yet to be discovered, however with such talent shown in his youth career, Dyche could unlock a generational talent in Everton’s midfield.

An update has emerged on Glasgow Rangers and their attempts to add to their squad in the upcoming summer transfer window…

What's the latest on Anastasios Douvikas to Rangers?

According to Football Insider, the Light Blues have registered an interest in signing centre-forward Anastasios Douvikas from FC Utrecht in the coming weeks.

The report claims that the Gers are on the lookout for a replacement for Alfredo Morelos, who is set to depart on a free transfer this summer, and the Greek international has emerged as one of their targets.

It is stated that the Eredivisie outfit are demanding a fee in the region of £6.9m for the prolific marksman and it remains to be seen how much Michael Beale's side are willing to pay for him.

Who is Anastasios Douvikas?

The 23-year-old striker has caught the eye with his impressive performances in the Dutch top-flight this season and he could form an exciting partnership with Kieran Dowell at Ibrox.

In the Eredivisie this term, Douvikas – who was hailed as "sharp" by journalist Josh Bunting – has averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.01 and has plundered 19 goals in 24 starts, which shows that the dynamo has the quality to find the back of the net on a regular basis.

No Rangers player managed more than 16 goals in the Scottish Premiership in 2022/23 and this indicates that the Utrecht forward has the potential to come in as Beale's go-to man for goals next season.

The signing of Dowell on a free transfer from Norwich City could allow the Greek international to thrive even more as the Englishman is a creative midfield maestro that could provide the striker with the chances he needs to be a success in Scotland.

Over the last 365 days, the ex-Everton man ranks in the top 25% of players in his position in the Men's Next Eight Competitions for assists per 90 (0.24) and has racked up 0.20 xAG per 90.

In the 2020/21 Championship campaign, the magician created 0.31 xAG and made 5.12 shot-creating actions per 90 and this placed him in the top 3% of players in his position in that division, which shows that the wizard excels at opening up opposition defences for his teammates.

These statistics show that the 25-year-old has the playmaking quality to be a consistent provider for Douvikas in the final third, which could allow the Greek ace to flourish in front of goal.

The Utrecht star could also return the favour as the 23-year-old has created seven 'big chances' for his teammates in the Eredivisie and Dowell, who scored 12 goals in 72 games for Norwich, could profit from that by getting on the scoresheet for himself.

Therefore, they could form an exciting partnership at the top end of the pitch for Beale next season and the head coach should be hoping that the club are able to secure a deal for Douvikas in the coming weeks.