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Paris Saint-Germain youngster Edouard Michut is "open-minded" about the idea of joining Leeds United this summer, according to transfer expert Dean Jones.

Who is Leeds target Edouard Michut?

The 20-year-old is currently plying his trade at PSG, but it is difficult to force his way into the club's plans, considering some of the world-class talent on show there.

Last season, Michut was loaned out to Sunderland in order to earn some priceless playing time, and he did well there in general, making 25 appearances in the Championship and proving to be a key midfield presence at times.

The youngster is now back at PSG after ending his loan spell in the north-east, but it looks as though his long-term future lies elsewhere. He is contracted to the Ligue 1 giants until the summer of 2025, but they could feel that now is the right time to cash in on him, rather than lose him for a cheaper amount further down the line.

Leeds have been linked with a move for Michut during the current transfer window, as they prepare for life back in the Championship, and it looks as though they still have a chance of acquiring his signature in the coming weeks.

Could Leeds sign Edouard Michut?

Speaking to Give Me Sport, Jones provided an update on Leeds' quest to sign Michut this summer, saying they are still in the conversation to snap him up:

"Michut would offer something a bit different to Leeds and he is open-minded about the move as it could fit his style of play.

"Leeds do have limitations in terms of their spending in the Championship this season and this could be an astute addition."

Michut could be a great signing for Leeds, at a time when their midfield could do with reinforcements, having lost Adam Forshaw this summer, not to mention Weston McKennie returning to Juventus and Tyler Adams potentially leaving, too.

The youngster has still managed to make eight appearances for PSG, which is no mean feat in such a star-studded team, while his experience of playing in the Championship last season can only stand him in good stead ahead of a possible move to Elland Road.

Michut averaged 1.6 tackles per game for Sunderland in the competition last season, highlighting his off-the-ball work, while journalist Michael Graham described him as "superb" upon signing for the Black Cats last summer, so Leeds should view him as a strong target.

Brendan Rodgers has returned to Celtic for a second spell at Parkhead after a trophy-laden time in Glasgow earlier in his managerial career.

The Northern Irish tactician won seven trophies in less than three years with the Scottish giants between 2016 and 2019, before his move to Leicester.

He has now inherited a team that won five pieces of silverware in two seasons with Ange Postecoglou in charge, which included a domestic treble last season.

This means that Rodgers has a squad of proven winners with the quality required to dominate Scottish football in the upcoming campaign.

However, there is always room for improvement and the ex-Liverpool boss could improve his attacking options in midfield by signing Young Boys midfielder Fabian Rieder, who is a reported target for the club.

How good is Fabian Rieder?

The 5 foot 11 ace is an excellent midfielder whose performances in his home country during the 2022/23 season suggest that the 21-year-old technician would be a superb addition to the squad if he can translate his form over to Scotland.

Rieder could be unplayable alongside Reo Hatate in the middle of the park for the Glasgow-based outfit as they are both capable of making a big impact at the top end of the pitch.

The Switzerland international produced seven goals to go along with five assists in 33 Super League outings last term, whilst the talented youngster also registered an eye-catching two goals and five assists in five Swiss Cup matches.

Hatate (six) was the only central midfielder to score more than four Scottish Premiership goals for the Hoops last season, with Callum McGregor (four), Aaron Mooy (four), and Matt O'Riley (three) behind him.

These statistics suggest that Rieder and the Japan international would both be Rodgers' outstanding goalscoring options in midfield, which could strike fear into the opposition if they line up alongside each other.

They are both capable of finding the back of the net on a semi-regular basis to support the frontline attackers and their combined threat could force attention away from the likes of Kyogo Furuhashi and Liel Abada as teams may need to keep close tabs on them arriving late from a midfield position.

This could free up more space for the strikers to do their damage as the Scottish giants would have multiple scoring options for defenders to deal with, rather than allowing them to focus on one or two players to shut down.

Rieder also has the potential to be a creative force for Celtic. The left-footed maestro, who was lauded for his "exemplary" determination by talent scout Jacek Kulig, has racked up 11 assists across all competitions in each of the last two seasons for Young Boys, which included eight in the 2021/22 Super League campaign.

Now that Mooy and Jota have departed Parkhead permanently this summer, O'Riley (12) is the only current Hoops ace who assisted more than eight league goals last term.

This suggests that the Swiss whiz would come in as one of the club's most creative players whilst also being able to offer a huge goal threat from midfield alongside Hatate.

Therefore, the 21-year-old maestro, who could also be a long-term investment for Rodgers, with the potential to make Celtic a profit further down the line, could be unplayable alongside the Japanese dynamo next season due to their influence in the final third from a deep-lying position.

One of the most sensational rumours that have emerged from the current transfer window is talk of Kylian Mbappe making a staggering move to Liverpool.

It is no surprise, especially when you consider the chaotic and circus-like nature that envelops him at Paris Saint-Germain on a daily basis.

The latest twist in this astonishing saga has been reported by The Athletic, which states that the French juggernaut has sent a three-page letter to the forward, accusing him of unsettling the club throughout the summer and giving him an ultimatum deadline of July 31 to make a decision on his future.

The club has stated that he must sign a contract extension or he will be sold, as they refuse to lose the 24-year-old on a free next year. It is understood that PSG feels this is the only option to 'avoid lasting paralysis'.

This has left all of Europe’s biggest clubs sniffing around the globe’s best player, with Liverpool potentially lining up a stunning offer…

What’s the latest on Kylian Mbappe to Liverpool?

According to El Chiringuito TV, Liverpool is set to table a £171m bid for Mbappe to rescue him from his tumultuous situation at the Parc de Princes, a fee that would easily eclipse any previous arrival at Anfield to date.

Who can Kylian Mbappe link up with at Liverpool?

The 5 foot 10 attacker joined PSG back in 2017, forging 260 appearances and 310 goal contributions – a ridiculous record for an insanely talented individual.

He was also the spearhead of his nation’s 2018 World Cup triumph and became the only second player in history to score a hat-trick in the final of the tournament in 2022 against Argentina in Qatar.

His overarching quality has been noted from day one and his youth coach Antonio Riccardi said: “The first time I coached him was when he was six years old. You could tell he was different. Kylian could do much more than the other children. His dribbling was already fantastic and he was much faster than the others. He was the best player I've ever seen in 15 years coaching here. In Paris, there are many talents but I'd never seen a talent like him.”

Having Mbappe partner anyone in the frontline will ultimately improve the player and this would be particularly beneficial for Darwin Nunez, who endured an inconsistent debut season in England. The Uruguayan netted 15 goals in 42 outings last term, but in a transitional season for Liverpool, that saw long-term injuries to Luis Diaz and Diogo Jota, Nunez failed to reliably deliver.

Nevertheless, on multiple occasions, the 24-year-old showcased his burning pace, clever movement, and expertly-timed runs – three traits that have become trademarks of Mbappe’s devastatingly effective style of play.

With Nunez having been allowed a season to acclimate and adapt to the Premier League, the addition of Mbappe – who has been hailed as "phenomenal" by Manchester City's Erling Haaland – and his positional interchange with the former Benfica star could be a sickeningly efficient tactic next term.

Having the mercurial Frenchman competing against the robotic inevitability of Haaland is another mouth-watering storyline of this story, but it remains a pipe dream in what appears a never-ending saga.

Manchester United reportedly have a contract agreement in place with Inter Milan goalkeeper Andre Onana, while an official first bid has also been made.

Are Man United signing Andre Onana?

The Red Devils and Erik ten Hag have been heavily linked with a move for the 27-year-old in recent weeks. Reports previously suggested that Man United were leading the race for his services and stories in recent days claimed a bid was expected to be submitted soon.

Inter Milan want €50m plus bonuses for the shot-stopper, a figure Old Trafford officials are rumoured to be willing to pay, and a further update has now emerged.

The Faithful MUFC relayed an update from La Gazzetta Dello Sport regarding Man United and Onana on Monday. They claimed that an Old Trafford salary has been agreed between United and Onana, with Ten Hag keen on bringing in the goalkeeper to replace David de Gea, who is now out of contract in Manchester.

Ten Hag has reportedly assured Onana that Man United will do everything they can to secure a deal with his club after agreeing terms with the player himself.

In a fresh update on all this by Fabrizio Romano, it has now been revealed that a first bid has now gone in for the goalkeeper but has been rejected.

The journalist explained: "Negotiations between Man United and Inter continue for Andre Onana — after £34m bid plus £5m in add-ons rejected. Deal absolutely on. "

What has been said about Andre Onana?

Onana is a player who Ten Hag knows extremely well following their time at Ajax. Hailed as a "superstar" by members of the media, the Cameroon international has made more appearances under Ten Hag than any other manager during his career (145). The United boss labelled Onana as a “masterful goalkeeper” last year before the pair went on to leave the Dutch giants, saying:

“Obviously he’s not yet back at his level from before the suspension.

“But that can’t be expected from him. He has to work hard to get there again and I’m convinced that he’ll succeed. We’ve all seen that he is a masterful goalkeeper.”

Meanwhile, Pep Guardiola is also a big fan, praising Onana’s ability on the ball after the Champions League final last month.

“Identifying the space and emptying the midfield is a special quality. Normally, teams have great keepers, but he [Onana] is exceptional with his feet.

“When you have a goalkeeper like Onana who can read perfectly where everyone is to pass to, with Calhanoglu and Barella, then the strikers hold it up and move the ball around. It is very, very difficult. It would be a tiny bit easier without this goalkeeper, but still very tough.”

Therefore, with De Gea now out of contract at Old Trafford, Onana could be a solid signing ahead of the new season. He enjoyed a solid first season at the San Siro, keeping 19 clean sheets in 41 games in all competitions.

As per FBref, Onana outperforms De Gea in a number of areas, including save percentage, goals against, touches and crosses stopped, showing how he could be a shrewd addition.

By the looks of things, all that needs to be agreed on now is a transfer fee, and who knows, Onana could be the next marquee summer signing after midfielder Mason Mount, with the England midfielder undergoing a medical at Carrington on Monday.

An update has emerged on Liverpool and their efforts to overhaul their midfield options ahead of the 2023/24 Premier League campaign…

What's the latest on Romeo Lavia to Liverpool?

Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano has revealed that the Reds are in contact with Southampton over a potential deal to sign Romeo Lavia in the summer transfer window.

This follows their already-completed moves to sign Alexis Mac Allister from Brighton and Dominik Szoboszlai from Bundesliga side RB Leipzig.

Speaking on his YouTube channel on Sunday, the reporter said:

“Liverpool are now into the race and as I already mentioned, they are into this. They are working on Romeo Lavia and they are now having direct contacts on both player and club side.

“So, Liverpool and Arsenal are into the race and the two clubs pushing. It’s crucial to say though for Liverpool that despite signing Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai, there is still the desire to bring in new players. A defensive midfielder, like Lavia. So, Romeo Lavia is now a target for Liverpool. Southampton are demanding around £50m, which is why there’s been no bid yet.”

Where would Romeo Lavia fit in at Liverpool?

The Belgian is a holding midfield player who could slot in alongside the likes of Mac Allister and Szoboszlai to screen in front of the defence.

Having a defensive-minded enforcer like Lavia alongside two creative players, while also having Fabinho as an option and Trent Alexander-Arnold inverting from right-back into central positions, could be terrible news for club captain Jordan Henderson.

The 33-year-old skipper could find his game time restricted by these new additions to the midfield, after already seeing his starts diminish over the last two seasons.

Henderson started 29 of his 35 Premier League appearances during the 2021/22 campaign before being named in the XI 23 times out of 35 outings last term.

The England international could find it difficult to get in the side over Lavia on a regular basis as the Saints ace has the potential to offer a great deal more quality out of possession.

He averaged 3.2 tackles and interceptions per game along with a duel success rate of 56% last season, while the Liverpool gem made 1.5 per outing and won 50% of his battles.

Those numbers are made all the more impressive when you consider that no Reds player with at least 15 starts managed more tackles and interceptions per league match than Lavia, who started 26 times for Southampton.

Indeed, the Belgian prodigy clearly has the quality to win the ball back for his side at an impressive rate.

The teenager, who has been hailed as a "special player" by journalist Dan George, could be an excellent anchor at the base of the midfield and as such, his arrival would be terrible news for Henderson as it could tempt Jurgen Klopp to reduce the Englishman's game time.

An update has emerged on Newcastle United and their plans to bolster their attacking options in the summer transfer window…

What's the latest on Federico Chiesa to Newcastle?

Italian journalist Gianluca Di Marzio has revealed that the Magpies are tracking Juventus winger Federico Chiesa ahead of the 2023/24 campaign.

The reporter has stated, however, that they are not in official talks with the Serie A club over a deal for the Italy international at this moment in time.

It is also claimed, in Di Marzio's attached article, that fellow Premier League side Aston Villa are interested in the attacker, although the player is said to be uninterested in a move to Unai Emery's team.

This comes as Newcastle prepare to complete the signing of Chiesa's international teammate, Sandro Tonali, from AC Milan for €70m (£60m) on a six-year deal.

How did Federico Chiesa perform last season?

The 25-year-old attacker, who is still fully working his way back from the ACL injury he suffered at the start of 2022, showed signs of promise in his limited Serie A game time for Juventus.

He only started six league matches for the Old Lady and was able to contribute with an impressive two goals and five assists from out wide, whilst also being involved in two goals in three Europa League starts.

However, if Eddie Howe can get Chiesa back to the form he displayed in 2020/21, the £153k-per-week ace could represent a big upgrade on current left-winger Allan Saint-Maximin.

The Italian dynamo, who former teammate Gianluigi Buffon once hailed as "impossible to stop", averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.19 across 33 Serie A outings and chipped in with nine goals and nine assists, to go along with 18 'big chances' created in 2020/21.

His ability to score, as well as create goals and quality opportunities on a regular basis made him a constant threat on the left wing in a major European league for Juventus – and Saint-Maximin has never been able to hit those heights on Tyneside.

Since arriving at St James' Park in 2019, the Frenchman has never created more than eight 'big chances' in a single season, while his best return in front of goal came when he scored five and assisted five in the 2021/22 Premier League campaign.

The 26-year-old forward has never proven himself capable of delivering goals and assists on a regular basis for the Magpies during his time in England, so the club could now land an upgrade on him by signing Chiesa.

Whilst the Juventus magician has had a difficult couple of years due to injury, his form prior to suffering a devastating ACL injury suggests that this is a gamble worth taking for Howe and Newcastle, as they could end up with a terrific successor to Saint-Maximin.

Chelsea could be set to see some further players make the move from west London to Saudi Arabia this summer with Kalidou Koulibaly a potential departure.

How old is Kalidou Koulibaly?

It was a season which Chelsea will be hoping to forget in a hurry after the 2022/23 campaign was only able to offer them a 12th placed finish in the Premier League.

Although many will want to forget the season's failings, it will be important for Todd Boehly to learn from their errors which led to such a disastrous campaign.

And it seems as if the American's hectic transfer strategy could be set to continue into this summer with a number of exits potentially set to be finalised.

Indeed, it has been suggested N'Golo Kante's time at Stamford Bridge is coming to an end with a lucrative offer from Saudi Arabia set to see the Frenchman move to the Middle East.

And he may not be the only Chelsea star to make the move this summer with the likes of the 31-year-old Koulibaly also believed to be lined up for a move by Al-Hilal.

Indeed, speaking on his YouTube channel, Fabrizio Romano has claimed the Senegal international could be set to bring in around £25m for the Blues this summer:

"From what I told, Chelsea would get around €25m/€30m [£21m/£26m]. This is still under discussion will continue [this] week, but the fee will be around €30m [£26m] for Chelsea for Kalidou Koulibaly.

"This is the expectation between Chelsea and Al-Hilal. It's fair to say that also Inter Milan asked for Koulibaly on loan but Chelsea have been very clear only permanent transfer and this is why now Al-Hilal are the favourites."

How much does Koulibaly earn?

The 31-year-old has only played one season in the English top flight since arriving at Stamford Bridge last summer from Napoli.

It was believed the experienced centre-back signed for the Blues in a deal worth in the region of £33m.

Having signed for the Blues, it is reported the Senegal international was handed a stunning £295k-per-week deal to play in west London.

Despite earning such an enormous weekly wage, the experienced defender only made 20 starts for the Blues in the Premier League over the 2022/23 campaign.

And with this in mind, there is a huge sum of money being spent every week on a player who is not exactly contributing a huge deal to the starting XI.

Considering how heavily Chelsea have spent under the stewardship of Boehly and co, a potential deal to bring in around £25m for a player who is not exactly a crucial part of the starting XI could pose a seriously attractive proposition.

The Blues spent in the region of £600m last season under Boehly, and potential deals like this could possibly help the Londoners to balance their books.

Qatar’s Al-Watan newspaper has reported that Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad al-Thani’s bid to complete a takeover of Manchester United has been completed and will be announced soon.

What is the latest MUFC takeover news?

For months now rumours have circulated about who could be the new owners of Old Trafford, or if the club had even actually been fully put up for sale by the Glazer family.

While the situation is ever-changing, it wasn’t that long ago that Ineos’ Sir Jim Ratcliffe was viewed as the leading candidate as his bid would see two of the Glazers stay put in a partial takeover, though it would still see the British billionaire become majority owner.

However, as reported by CNBC, Manchester United shares surged as much as 30% in premarket trading on Tuesday, before paring gains, after Qatari media suggested Sheikh Jassim was likely to succeed with his takeover bid.

Indeed, a Tweet from the Al-Watan newspaper wrote about the “success of Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad bin Jassim’s acquisition of Manchester United” and said the announcement of deal the will be done “soon.”

On top of that, Zaid Al-Hamdan, who is the Vice Chairman of the Canadian Qatari Business Council and Chairman of Armasite Group – and is followed by Sheikh Jassim’s brother on Twitter – also spoke of ‘successful’ acquisition.

He wrote on social media: “Congratulations to Shaikh Jassim Bin Hamad Bin Jassim on his acquisition of Man Utd.”

How big is Man United’s debt?

In that CNBC report, they also note that a spokesperson for Manchester United was not immediately available to comment and so these reports are only coming from Qatar and have not been confirmed by the English side as of yet.

Last week, BBC Sport stated that Sheikh Jassim had made a final bid for 100% of the club and he will clear United’s debt – reported to be £969.6m – and has a separate fund for the club and local community as part of his offer.

If he is to fail with that bid, the Qatari banker will pull out of the race and so it feels as though we have finally reached crunch time with regard to the whole takeover saga.

It remains to be seen if his offer will be enough to meet the Glazer family’s demands but it seems those outside of England are pretty confident a deal has been struck at last.

Arsenal have been linked with a host of players ahead of the transfer window, with the latest news suggesting that the Gunners are eyeing a fellow Premier League ace.

Mikel Arteta will hope to arm his squad with the necessary depth to challenge once more for the league title, after falling short this season to treble-winners Manchester City.

What’s the latest on Timothy Castagne to Arsenal?

As reported by Belgian outlet Het Belang van Limburg – relayed by Sport Witness – Leicester City defender Timothy Castagne has been eyed by Arsenal.

The report runs off the narrative of Belgium’s match-ups against Austria and Estonia, stating that the ties will be a chance for players to show their worth ahead of the transfer window.

It’s suggested that Castagne could have a potential suitor in Arsenal, following his relegation to the Championship with the Foxes.

The full-back is currently valued at £26m as per Football Transfers.

What could Timothy Castagne bring to Arsenal?

Lauded as “brilliant” by teammate Jamie Vardy, the Belgian has been a revelation since trading Serie A for the Premier League, signing from Atalanta for £21.5m in 2020.

A flock of players have been linked with moves away from the Foxes following their relegation, with movements starting with Youri Tielemans who has made the switch to Aston Villa.

Arsenal could land themselves added defensive quality in moving for the 27-year-old, in a move that could finally see Cedric Soares depart.

The Portuguese defender went on loan to Fulham in January with his place in Arteta’s squad out of reach, however the 31-year-old only made six appearances at Craven Cottage, failing to make an impact this campaign.

Arsenal are in need of defensive depth, after a double blow to William Saliba and Takehiro Tomiyasu back in March left Arteta with minimal options for quality cover, having a significant impact on the Gunners’ season.

Based upon Castagne’s statistics from this season, and Cedric’s last term at the Emirates, the Belgian could prove to be an upgrade in depth on the out-of-favour right-back.

As per FBref, the £67k-per-week ace averages better than the German-born Portugal international over a range of defensive attributes.

The Leicester defender averaged 2.41 tackles and 1.19 interceptions per 90 this season in the league, as well as winning 51% of his total duels with an average of 4.5 won per game.

Last season, the Arsenal right-back averaged 2.30 tackles and 0.97 interceptions per 90 as per FBref, and won 49% of his total duels with three won per game on average, showing that the Gunners could land a worthy upgrade in the newly relegated gem.

Another area that suggests that Castagne could be a good fit for north London, is his ability to get forward, most prominently identified through his average of progressive passes he received per 90 this campaign with 4.12, via FBref. It's that sort of performance level that's seen him dubbed a "constant threat" by journalist Josh Bunting.

Arsenal whiz Ben White scored 3.65 in this area this season, showing the ability the Belgian has in getting into attacking positions considering the success of the Englishman in the defensive flank role under Arteta.

With no moves made yet ahead of the window, only time will tell if rumours are to be believed, however, the Gunners could finally wave goodbye to Cedric to make way for the FA Cup-winning defender.

Liverpool have "verbally agreed" personal terms with Nice midfielder Khephren Thuram, according to an exciting update from journalist Jacques Talbot.

Which midfielders are Liverpool signing?

The Reds have made it plainly clear that they are aiming to do some significant midfield surgery in the summer window, with constant links to new players emerging. On Thursday, Alexis Mac Allister was confirmed as a Liverpool player, with the Argentine completing a move from Brighton and coming in as a hugely exciting signing.

It would be a massive surprise if the Merseysiders stopped there, however, and Thuram is another player who has been tipped to make the switch to Anfield. The £14,000-a-week star enjoyed an excellent 2022/23 season with Nice, scoring twice and registering four assists in Ligue 1, as well as enjoying an 86.9% pass completion rate.

Paul Joyce has confirmed Liverpool see the 22-year-old as a summer target and a new update further suggests that that is the case.

Is Thuram joining Liverpool?

Taking to Twitter on Thursday evening, Talbot provided an encouraging update on Talbot's situation, saying personal terms have been agreed: "Understand personal terms have been verbally agreed between Liverpool and OGC Nice midfielder Khephren Thuram."

This is great news for Liverpool, if true, with Thuram someone who perfectly fits the profile of what the Reds need in the middle of the park moving forward. Last season, they looked horribly one-paced in midfield, as likes of James Milner, Fabinho and Jordan Henderson looked their age, while Thiago, Naby Keita, Curtis Jones and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain were on the treatment table too often.

In Thuram, however, Liverpool would be bringing in a vibrant presence with an ability to cover ground with ease – he averaged 1.5 tackles per game in the league last term – and he could add so much life in that area of the pitch. The Frenchman has been hailed as a "proactive and tenacious tackler" by football talent scout Jacek Kulig, as well as "fast and athletic", and these are the attributes that felt so lacking at Anfield in 2022/23.

If a move for Thuram can be sealed, and one more midfielder also come in alongside him and Mac Allister, Liverpool could be transformed next season, with the rest of their team already looking strong. The middle of the park is such an influential part of the side, as Fabinho, Henderson and Gini Wijnaldum showed at their peak, and this could be the new era there.