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Tottenham Hotspur have identified Chelsea midfielder Conor Gallagher as a replacement for Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, and manager Ange Postecoglou is a big fan.

Who will Spurs sign?

Spurs chairman Daniel Levy has backed Postecoglou with a handful of noteworthy additions so far, sealing deals for goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario, playmaker James Maddison and winger Manor Solomon.

All three have made their debuts already, specifically during Tottenham's 3-2 pre-season friendly defeat to West Ham this week, with Postecoglou professing his excitement about working with Maddison even before that game.

“Really excited to get James as part of the group," explained the Spurs manager.

“Any manager will tell you that part of the key to being a dominant team is having multiple attacking threats and having a midfielder who can score and create goals.

“I thought it was a really good fit for us to look for a player like James – even better if we could get James, so we ended up getting James."

Their transfer priority right now appears to be in central defence, with Wolfsburg's Micky van de Ven, Edmond Tapsoba of Bayer Leverkusen, Fulham's Tosin Adarabioyo, Barcelona's Clement Lenglet, Galatasary's Victor Nelsson and Juventus star Gleison Bremer all being linked.

However, according to The Daily Mail, the north Londoners could also sign more new midfielders after Maddison with a star regular from last season, Hojbjerg, potentially joining Atletico Madrid this summer.

The Denmark international is apparently open to it with discussions ongoing, and to succeed Hojbjerg, Spurs have their eyes on a number of targets – including Gallagher of Chelsea.

He's apparently "emerged as a candidate" for the Lilywhites to replace their midfield star, with Postecoglou being a personal fan of the 23-year-old "believes he would fit in well" with his plans.

Gallagher's energetic approach is particular draw for the 57-year-old, but as things stand, Chelsea would be reluctant to sell the Englishman given their shortage of midfielders.

How good is Conor Gallagher?

On loan at Crystal Palace over 2021/2022, Gallagher dazzled as one of the Eagles' best-performing players by average match rating, according to WhoScored, and chipped in with eight goals and three assists.

Gallagher featured regularly for Chelsea last season, too, making 35 league appearances whilst scoring three goals and adding a further assist (WhoScored).

Former Blues boss Thomas Tuchel, speaking to the media on Gallagher last year, claimed his development is "extraordinary" and raved over his brilliant potential.

“His development is extraordinary and outstanding," said Tuchel.

“He was a pleasure to coach in pre-season – he has so much positive energy, so much energy in general and so much work-rate to give that he can of course be a big help and a big influence.”

Meanwhile, former Tottenham star Jermaine Jenas told Match of the Day (via The Sun), that Gallagher can be a "game-changer".

“I think he is a game-changer aswell Conor Gallagher. He’s the type of player that you bring on and he has an impact on the game.

“Also, he’s won a World Cup. He was part of the U17 World Cup-winning side so he understands tournament football and I’m pleased for Conor.”

Both Wilfred Gnonto and Tyler Adams could sign new deals at Leeds United following their relegation from the Premier League according to Phil Hay

The pair were two of the Yorkshire club's best performers last season as the side suffered relegation from the top flight.

Will Tyler Adams and Wilfred Gnonto play for Leeds United next season?

Leeds will be hoping that both players stay at the club.

The American and Italian internationals both arrived at Elland Road in the summer of 2022 for £20m and £3.8m respectively, and both impressed in what was a disappointing campaign for the club.

Adams was incredibly impressive, with his 6.73 average rating on WhoScored being the highest in the entire Leeds squad, whilst Sky Sports pundit Stephan Warnock was full of praise after his Man of the Match performance against Liverpool in October, saying: “Tyler Adams, what a performance! He is not a pleasing player on the eye that’s going to hit 50 to 60 yard diagonals. He’s not going to dictate the speed of play. But what he’s going to do, he’s going to be a menace and he’s going to be a player who closes down extremely well. Magnificent performance from an extremely important player for Leeds.”

Gnonto also looked bright in his first season following his move from FC Zurich, with the 19-year-old managing eight goal contributions across all competitions for the Whites, with goals against the likes of Manchester United and West Ham United showing that the player with promising potential could also deliver. Former Leeds caretaker manager Michael Skubala heaped praise on the forward after his display at Old Trafford, stating: “He’s a great lad, he’s a special player. He’s a credit to Leeds, he’s a credit to himself and he’s a really nice player to work with.”

Both players have attracted interest from Premier League sides this window, with Adams reportedly a target of Aston Villa, whilst Gnonto was the subject of a £15m bid from Everton which the club rejected.

Speaking on The Square Ball podcast, when asked whether Gnonton and Adams staying could be tied in with a new contract, Hay revealed that Leeds may be able to tie down both players to new deals: “I suspect so with Gnonto and potentially with Adams as well. I think it would have to be some carrot with it to persuade them that it was the right thing to do. It’s slightly different for Gnonto to Adams, they’re at different stages in their career, Adams clearly USA captain already and has the World Cup coming up, but I don’t necessarily feel that for either of them a really good season in the championship, a promotion year in the championship would damage them or their reputation”

Should Adams and Gnonto stay at Leeds?

It could be beneficial for the duo to stay at Leeds this season

For Gnonto, interest from Everton may not represent the biggest step forward in his career. The Toffees only just survived relegation on the last day of the season thanks to a 1-0 victory against Bournemouth, and are expected to be in a similar situation next season, whilst Leeds could bounce straight back up to the Premier League at the first time of asking. Ultimately it will come down to whether Gnonto believes he needs to play Premier League football next season, or whether a strong season in England's second tier will keep him in the Italian national team and keep his development on track.

It's more difficult in regard to Adams' situation, as the interest in him from Aston Villa and West Ham would give the USA international the opportunity to return to playing European football in either the Europa League or the Conference League. The midfielder may also be in line for more regular starts at the Hammers following the departure of club captain Declan Rice for £105m, with the club needing a replacement in his position, which Adams played in last season for the Whites.

Leeds will be desperate to keep their star players as they give them the best chance at bouncing straight back up from the championship, and new deals would do just that amid Premier League interest.

Liverpool are believed to be eyeing a summer move for Manchester City and England midfielder Kalvin Phillips, according to an important update from reliable journalist James Pearce.

How old is Kalvin Phillips?

The former Leeds United hero, who is now 27 years of age, moved to the Etihad last summer. Phillips' first season as a City player proved to be an extremely frustrating one on a personal level, however, even though he was part of a team that won the treble in impressive fashion. He was limited to only two Premier League starts in the whole campaign, with a mixture of injuries and adjusting to his new club both proving to be problematic.

It remains to be seen if Pep Guardiola will retain the Englishman's services beyond the summer transfer window, but if he is allowed to leave, he surely won't be without suitors.

Liverpool are in the market for more midfield signings, with Fabinho and Jordan Henderson both looking highly likely to depart for Saudi Arabia in the coming days, and it looks as though the City man could be on their radar.

Could Liverpool sign Kalvin Phillips?

Taking to Twitter, Pearce named Phillips as one of a number of possible Liverpool midfield signings to replace Fabinho, as the Reds eye up further reinforcements:

'In terms of replacing Fabinho, Moises Caicedo is not viewed as a serious option with the Brighton midfielder expected to join Chelsea. Romeo Lavia, Sofyan Amrabat, Ryan Gravenberch and Kalvin Phillips are among those under consideration."

Phillips has enjoyed an impressive rise in recent years, becoming a regular for England at Euro 2020 and even being hailed as "superb" by Barcelona and Spain legend Xavi, who spoke of his admiration for both the City ace and Declan Rice.

While he is undoubtedly a good player while international experience – he enjoyed a 92.6% pass completion rate in the Premier League last season – there are clear negatives working against him joining Liverpool this summer.

At 27, he wouldn't represent a younger option whose best years are definitely ahead of him, while his recent injury problems would also make him a risky purchase, at a time when the Reds have constantly been hampered by fitness issues for various midfielders, whether it be Thiago, Curtis Jones or Naby Keita, to name just a few.

Phillips, on £150,000-a-week and shares the same agency as Ibrahima Konate, also may not come on the cheap, considering his current deal doesn't expire until the summer of 2028, and he could bring with him an English premium, so there are ultimately too many things working against Liverpool signing him. Whether City would even want to sell to one of their biggest Premier League rivals is also a potential drawback.

Jurgen Klopp needs to be eyeing younger alternatives, with some of those mentioned in Pearce' update making more sense, especially 19-year-old Romeo Lavia, who shone so much for Southampton last season – he averaged 2.1 tackles per match in the league in 2022/23 – and may well be seen as a much longer-term addition by the Reds.

Chelsea and Brighton & Hove Albion have a "great relationship" and are "talking about a deal behind the scenes" for Ecuadorian superstar Moises Caicedo, claims transfer insider Ben Jacobs.

It's hoped that the informal conversations between the two sides will increase the likelihood of an official bid being accepted at the first time of asking.

Chelsea transfer news – What's the latest on Moises Caicedo to Chelsea?

There's no such thing as a quiet transfer window at Stamford Bridge, and that has once again been borne out this year, with the West London club engaging in something of a fire sale over the last few weeks.

The club have shipped off several players from the team that helped them win their second Champions League two years ago to the ludicrously wealthy Saudi Pro League while seeing academy graduates Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Mason Mount join AC Milan and Manchester United, respectively.

There have also been a few incomings in the guise of Villarreal striker Nicolas Jackson, Christopher Nkunku from RB Leipzig and youngster Diego Moreira from Benfica B.

However, the biggest signing the Pensioners look set to make over the coming weeks is midfield maestro Caicedo, who has been hailed as the "crown jewel", with the Guardian reporting that the Seagulls want £100m.

What has journalist Ben Jacobs said about the situation surrounding Moises Caicedo and Chelsea?

Speaking to Football FanCast, he said: "The clubs have got a great relationship and rather than going back and forwards with formal offers, they're very much talking about a deal behind the scenes to try and see what is possible, verbally and slightly more informally.

"So, when, and I think it is fair to say when, Chelsea place a formal offer, again, for Moises Caicedo, there's a higher confidence that there'll be a framework there for success or just an offer actually being accepted.

Who are Chelsea's most expensive signings ever?

Chelsea are a club that has become synonymous with free-spending and extravagance since their takeover by Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich in 2003.

That hasn't changed under their new owners and Todd Boehly; if anything, they're spending more, breaking the record for the most amount spent in the January transfer window earlier this year, forking out an eye-watering £323m on eight players in just a month. So who are their three most expensive signings ever?

In third spot is new boy and Ukrainian international Mykhailo Mudryk, who joined Chelsea this January in a deal work £88.5m after being heavily linked to Arsenal for much of the preceding month.

It's fair to say that things haven't gone entirely to plan for the tricky winger yet, as other than a brief cameo against Liverpool in February, he is yet to show fans why he cost as much as he did, with no goals and just two assists in his 15 Premier League appearances.

Coming in at number two is Belgian international Romelu Lukaku, who the Blues spent a hefty £97.7m on to prise from Inter Milan, something they undoubtedly regret doing now.

To say the former Everton man's time in West London has been a disaster would be an understatement, as, after a poor first season at the club, he was immediately loaned back to Inter, who now look set to re-sign him for a fraction of what they sold him for.

And Chlesea's most expensive signing in the club's history is another new boy, World Cup-winning midfielder Enzo Fernandez who cost a whopping £106.8m from Benfica.

Unlike Mudryk, Fernandez has already shown some promise in midfield and, under Mauricio Pochettino, could flourish and end up being well worth the massive outlay the club paid to get him.

Everton had to sell to buy last summer, with the heartbreaking departure of Richarlison funding the bulk of their transfer incomings.

With Anthony Gordon having left in January, and Amadou Onana now the most likely to be their next big sale, it seems that once again the Toffees will operate on a shoestring budget as they desperately seek to retain their Premier League status.

Fortunately for them, manager Sean Dyche is well-versed in such an environment, given how Burnley often recruited from lesser-known divisions or the Championship during their top-flight stint.

A microcosm for last year’s summer window came with their first signing, as Frank Lampard welcomed James Tarkowski to Goodison Park on a free transfer.

With his contract having concluded, and the Clarets relegated, the Merseyside club intelligently preyed on a club in disarray to secure a huge coup.

Reports seem to suggest that they will once again scour the recently demoted clubs this window, with Leeds United’s Wilfried Gnonto high on their list.

Given how successful the steely centre-back proved to be in his debut year, perhaps they could repeat this masterclass with the Whites’ 19-year-old dynamo, who will reportedly cost around £18m.

Would Wilfried Gnonto improve Everton?

As a proven Premier League stalwart, it was hardly a surprise to see Tarkowski instantly thrive on Merseyside.

However, few could have predicted he would be so influential in their survival, proving a true defensive warrior in a back line that had seemed fragile the year before his arrival.

Their goals conceded dropped from 66 during the 2021/22 campaign to 57 most recently, with the 30-year-old a large part of that.

After all, he was the only outfield player in the entire division to play every minute of every game, somehow maintaining an outstanding 7.20 average rating throughout too.

This was a figure boosted largely through his petrifying presence at the back, and recording 5.2 clearances per game as well as making the most blocks in the league by some distance, he remained a solid constant amidst all the uncertainty.

Should Gnonto have half as big an impact through joining, he would certainly be considered an instant success.

Whilst wildly different assets, the Italy international could provide some attacking flair that Dyche’s team have admittedly been missing. They were the second-lowest scorers last term as they narrowly avoided the drop.

Not to mention that his tally of eight goal contributions in his first senior year in England is more than admirable, and certain to be boosted with added experience at this level.

Such fine form at one point during the campaign even spurred pundit Tam McManus to wax lyrical about him, branding the teenager a “pocket rocket”. Despite his 5 foot 5 frame, he boasts an explosivity and dynamism that Dwight McNeil lacks, and Demarai Gray has only shown in flashes.

Seeing as the latter seems set to depart this summer too, Gnonto could represent the perfect replacement who could once again prove a coup from a relegated club.

Chelsea are considering a move to sign bring AC Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan to the Premier League, according to reports.

Who is Mike Maignan?

Maignan is a goalkeeper who currently plays his football at the San Siro Stadium having moved there from Lille back in 2021, and despite not being Stefano Pioli’s official number one, he’s the manager’s current first-choice having made 22 Serie A starts last season when he wasn’t on the sidelines with his calf injury.

Earlier this month, 90min reported that the Blues hold an interest in the 27-year-old and had enquired about his availability during negotiations for Ruben Loftus-Cheek, but despite this quickly being shut down, Mauricio Pochettino has since been handed a huge boost.

The France international still has another three years to run on his contract in Italy, though it’s been claimed that he’s refused to discuss an improved deal which has prompted the belief that he could want to leave this window, with his decision having once again alerted chiefs at Stamford Bridge.

Are Chelsea signing Maignan?

According to The Telegraph (via CaughtOffside), Chelsea are "considering" a swoop for Maignan ahead of the 2023/24 campaign. Pochettino was reportedly "content" to head into the new term with Kepa Arrizabalaga as his number one, but having "impressed" during his time at AC Milan, the shot-stopper appears to be a target who the boss believes can strengthen his options in the net.

With Edouard Mendy closing in on a move to Saudi Arabian side Al-Ahli, Chelsea will know that they need to enter the market to find a suitable replacement and Maignan, who appears to be at the top of his game with a career-high €45m Transfermarkt bvalution, could be a replacement for the Senegalese and also a serious challenger for Kepa.

The 6 foot 3 “giant”, as described by talent scout Jacek Kulig, kept eight clean sheets from 22 Serie A outings last season and made 40 saves from 62 shots on target giving him a save percentage of 69.4%, higher than the 64.1% that was recorded by Mendy.

The 2022/23 Champions League participant, who pockets £59k-per-week, also has an extremely strong range of passing having completed 133 of 134 short passes and 354 of 360 medium, via FBRef, so he has an eye for dispatching balls to his outfield players, and by the looks of things, Todd Boehly may look to capitalise on this to bring him to SW6 over the coming months.

Arsenal are already closing in on a number of new signings to kick off this summer's spending, with Mikel Arteta unafraid to throw big money around to bolster his team.

For all their success in the Premier League last term, they still came up considerably short of Manchester City, who went on to claim an unprecedented treble as they won the FA Cup and Champions League too.

Immortalised forever, it will be no mean feat to topple Pep Guardiola's monopoly on English football. However, if anyone is best placed to do it, it's surely his apprentice turned adversary.

Kai Havertz promises to add some additional firepower, whilst Jurrien Timber would provide depth and immense quality to the full-back and midfield spots. Declan Rice is another hopeful addition, leaving almost every role bolstered except for one: a true centre-back.

For all the qualities of the Dutchman, it is clear he has transcended beyond being solely a defender. Still, the Gunners require viable competition for Gabriel Magalhaes and William Saliba, and yet they could even seek to displace one should reports be true.

After all, it could be argued that the potential acquisition of Marc Guehi from Crystal Palace has the necessary qualities to take over from the hulking Brazilian, and is available for around £50m.

Would Marc Guehi improve Arsenal?

As a couple of bulky central halves, the England international surprisingly boasts comparable quality in possession to the 25-year-old who has shone of late at the Emirates.

Considering that the Chelsea academy graduate has starred for a far weaker team, maintaining an average rating of 6.94 buoyed by his 85% pass accuracy, 1.2 interceptions, 1.4 tackles and 3.6 clearances per game in the league last term (via Sofascore), his performances are made even more impressive.

Such form was foreseen though, with his former teammate at U21 level, Josef Bursik, having branded him a "brick wall" and an "absolute tank" to play with,

To think that this man is three years younger than Gabriel, and yet outperforms him in all three of these defensive metrics just mentioned, it is a scary prospect to imagine Guehi in a team as good as Arteta's.

He would also prove a more reliable asset too, as the Brazil international committed two penalties last year, making one error leading to a goal, via Sofascore. Whilst the Eagles' star defender made a sole similar error of his own, he could be regarded as far more capable in his own box, having conceded no penalties.

Placing a more defensively capable asset beside the elegance and poise of Sailba could help skyrocket this partnership to levels beyond last season, pushing Gabriel back as a remarkable first reserve on the bench. It would be bold, but Arteta is chasing squad depth that only rivals Manchester City can boast.

Saliba could benefit from such a move too, with the Frenchman ranking in the top 7% for pass completion percentage when compared to other centre-backs across Europe. That ball-playing excellence could be further improved with this 6-foot warrior beside him.

Such a transfer would no doubt add the requisite depth needed to compete further with the Citizens, whilst also complying with the club's model of trusting in the quality that youth can bring.

Guehi's future is so bright, and arguably he is already at a level above his potential new teammate. His signing could be the final piece needed to make Arsenal true challengers.

Tottenham Hotspur are believed to be firmly interested in a summer move for Leicester City star, Harvey Barnes, with manager Ange Postecoglou having already strengthened his wide options with the permanent capture of Dejan Kulusevski.

What's the latest on Harvey Barnes to Tottenham?

According to respected insider Alasdair Gold – writing in his piece for football.london – the Lilywhites are said to hold a 'strong interest' in the 25-year-old, with the club said to have 'explored' the possibility of a double deal involving the Englishman and his Foxes teammate, James Maddison.

Although Barnes is said to be 'slightly older' than the profile of winger that Postecoglou is believed to be targetting, the one-time West Bromwich Albion loanee remains a possible option for the north London outfit, having impressed despite Leicester's relegation last season.

This follows a previous report from The Sun that also noted Tottenham's interest in the wing wizard, with a potential asking price of around £40m having been suggested.

Should Tottenham sign Harvey Barnes?

As Gold's report stated, Postecoglou is said to be looking for an additional wide option who has 'the ability to beat a man with pace or skill, be strong in the transition and able to press high up the pitch in order to regain possession', hence turning to Barnes as an astute candidate for that role.

Lauded as a "livewire" by pundit Alan Hutton, the Burnley native appears to possess the attacking attributes that the Spurs boss is demanding, with Hutton also going on to state that:

"Harvey Barnes is an excellent player, he has got that raw pace, he can score goals, he can assist."

The £35k-per-week speedster notably sparkled during the 2022/23 campaign despite his side's collective woes after chipping in with 13 league goals and one assist from the left flank, proving that he could represent a viable, long-term alternative to Heung-min Son in that wide berth.

With Barnes potentially set to be the man to succeed the 30-year-old in the years to come, Postecoglou could fashion an exciting wing pair involving the Leicester ace and the aforementioned Kulusevski, following the news that the latter man is set to stay put at N17 for the foreseeable future.

The Sweden international – who has been snapped up on a £25m deal after a promising 18-month loan spell with the club – could potentially prove to be a perfect partner for Barnes on the flanks, as the 23-year-old is arguably a more creative presence than the clinical Englishman.

With Barnes evidently a real goal threat – as his form last season illustrates – the 5 foot 9 dynamo could contrast nicely with Kulusevski on the opposite side, with the ex-Juventus gem more of a provider after chipping in with 16 assists in just 57 games for the club to date in all competitions.

As such, that left-foot, right-foot combination could wreak havoc on the rest of the Premier League due to their differing strengths and traits, hence just why Postecoglou should do all he can to snap up Barnes from the King Power Stadium ahead of next season.

Tottenham Hotspur have reportedly made a move to sign a Premier League-proven talent…

What's the latest on Harvey Barnes to Tottenham Hotspur?

That's according to the Daily Mail, who report that Spurs had lodged a £50m double bid for both James Maddison and Harvey Barnes.

It is a move that has been met with widespread ridicule, as Lilywhites chairman Daniel Levy continues to short-change his rivals. However, Ange Postecoglou will likely not be as amused, as he seeks to make his first signing since being appointed earlier this month.

Although it is set to be rejected, it does mark a statement of intent from the Lilywhites, who are setting out their plans for the coming transfer window.

However, to tempt only the £35m-rated wide man, they will certainly have to up their price. Leicester City were commanding a fee of £50m for the 25-year-old alone last summer.

Would Harvey Barnes improve Tottenham Hotspur?

As a left winger, his acquisition by Spurs would immediately put Heung-min Son's place in the side under fire, especially after the torrid term the South Korean has just endured, in which his stock plummeted.

The 30-year-old star would score just ten league goals, marking a miserable downturn from the 23 he notched the season prior, and even the 17 the year before that.

Although the north London outfit suffered a poor season themselves, it did not excuse the anonymity of their usually ever-reliable goal machine. This left the attacking burden solely on Harry Kane, who still mustered 30 goals to emphasise this gulf in class.

However, frustratingly for Antonio Conte, Cristian Stellini and eventually Ryan Mason, a lack of viable alternatives meant the former Bayer Leverkusen dynamo still featured in 36 out of their 38 Premier League games.

He could not be dropped to emphasise his unacceptable form, and so he trundled on with his levels below average.

To sign Barnes would give the struggling South Korean some ample competition at last, especially seen as the one-time England international outscored him in a Foxes side that eventually fell to relegation.

His 13 strikes in the most recent Premier League campaign marked a goalscoring career-best for the England gem, who has previously been lauded as a "huge talent" and a truly "special" footballer by journalist Adam Bate in the past.

With sheer pace and a thunderous right foot akin to Son, but at five years his junior, this could be a signing both for the near future and to reignite their once dependable finisher in the present.

After all, at the time when pundit Noel Whelan suggested his pairing with Kane was "the best partnership in world football", he was battling for his spot with a more spirited Lucas Moura, Dejan Kulusevski on top form, and Steven Bergwijn.

Barnes could arguably surpass all three of those options, to either usurp Son or spur him back to his brilliant best.

Liverpool could now be in pole position to complete an audacious swoop for Jarrad Branthwaite after PSV deemed the on-loan ace too expensive.

It would certainly send tremors through the city, with Abel Xavier in 2002 the most recent example of a player moving directly across Merseyside the historic rivals, but that's not to say a deal would be unattainable for Jurgen Klopp's side as he looks to bolster his defence this summer.

In February, a report from the Daily Mail stated that Liverpool – alongside Manchester United and Roma – had sent scouts to watch the Eredivisie star in action after his impressive displays on loan this season.

And now, according to a report from Dutch outlet Eindhovens Dagblad (via Sport Witness), PSV have pulled out of the running to make his transfer permanent, with Marcel Brands, the Eredivisie club’s director of football, saying: “Financially this will be difficult to achieve, I expect.”

PSV had a £15m offer rejected in January but Liverpool boast wealth on a different scale and could look to test Everton's waters with a shock bid over the coming weeks.

Could Liverpool really sign Jarrad Branthwaite?

It certainly seems unlikely on the surface, but although it hasn't happened in a long time, it has indeed not been unheard of for the Reds and Toffees to conduct business in the past.

And it makes sense from a playing perspective; Branthwaite is a towering defender standing at 6 foot 5, and given his natural preference as a left-footed defender, he could provide Virgil van Dijk – who favours his right foot but typically occupies the left side of the centre-defence – with a sturdy alternative.

Having made 37 appearances across all competitions this term, scoring four goals and supplying two assists, the 20-year-old has been hailed as a "great talent" by ex-boss Ruud van Nistelrooy and boasts all the attributes to flourish at the top level as he grows into his skin over the next several years.

As per FBref, the £15k-per-week titan ranks among the top 15% of centre-backs across Men's Next 8 divisions over the past year for goals, the top 24% for assists, the top 25% for progressive passes and the top 26% for rate of interceptions per 90. So while there is clearly room for improvement, he has time on his side to become one of the best in his position.

Described as "skilful" by Carlo Ancelotti, he could replace Joel Matip at Anfield, with the Cameroonian veteran now 31 years old and out of contract on Merseyside in just one year's time.

Despite playing an important role in an illustrious period in Liverpool's history, Matip started just 12 times in the Premier League this term and was an unused substitute for 13 of the last 17 matches of the campaign.

Branded "awful" by CBS reporter Nico Cantor for his dismal displays this term, Matip's time could be up and Branthwaite could provide youthful exuberance as a promising back-up for Klopp's team, growing into the role and perhaps cementing it as his own at some point over the next few seasons.

It might seem unlikely, but this is a deal to keep an eye on; Liverpool will understandably prioritise the bolstering of the midfield, but should the cogs fall into place, Branthwaite could be a shrewd option to enrich the defensive ranks at Anfield.