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Liverpool will not keep hold of out-of-favour midfielders Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain at the end of the season, according to Fabrizio Romano.

The Lowdown: Midfield pair out of favour

The Reds have endured a painful season to date, finding themselves battling only for a top-four finish in the Premier League, following exits from every other competition.

Liverpool’s midfield has been a big reason for their struggles, with the likes of Fabinho, Jordan Henderson and Thiago not possessing the legs they once did, and youngsters Stefan Bajcetic and Harvey Elliott still very much learning their game.

Injuries to some of those players have constantly been an issue and Keita and Oxlade-Chamberlain have been hugely problematic, in that respect.

They have been continually out of the team, starting only seven league games between them, and even when they have been fit, they have often been overlooked.

The Latest: Summer exit expected

Writing in his daily briefing for Substack, Romano claimed that both Keita and Oxlade-Chamberlain would depart Liverpool alongside Roberto Firmino once the summer transfer window arrives, with their contracts expiring:

“I expect both Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain to follow Roberto Firmino and leave Liverpool on a free transfer this summer.

“James Milner will decide in the next months, he will speak to Jurgen Klopp too. For all the other players, it will be decided in May/June ahead of the transfer window. Firmino, Keita and Oxlade will explore options soon but nothing is decided yet.”

The Verdict: Both hugely disappointing

This is absolutely the correct decision from Liverpool, with both Keita and Oxlade-Chamberlain flattering to deceive far too much to justify being retained beyond the summer.

Injuries have clearly played a big part in their struggles, which is not their fault, but their overall impact for the Reds has diminished greatly as the years have passed.

Keita has simply never managed to get going in a Liverpool shirt after arriving with such a huge reputation from RB Leipzig, making just 129 appearances as he approaches five years at the club.

Meanwhile, Oxlade-Chamberlain never seems to have fully recovered from the cruciate ligament injury that he suffered against Roma back in 2018, at a point when he was in superb form and a key member of Jurgen Klopp’s starting lineup.

He has lost that dynamism that he once possessed and other injuries have stunted his progress further down the years, and with his 30th birthday approaching this summer, he won’t be as good as he once was.

Manchester United gave their fans something big to cheer last summer after they welcomed back Cristiano Ronaldo to Old Trafford.

The 2021/22 campaign saw the 37-year-old score 24 goals in 37 appearances across the Premier League and Champions League.

To further highlight how prominent an attacking figure he was for United in the league, nobody else at the club had as many shots at goal as the veteran’s 108.

With the attacker’s contract at United set to expire next summer, at which point he’ll have hit the age of 38, the current transfer window could give the club the chance to bring in what could be their dream heir for Ronaldo.

One player who has been linked with a move to Old Trafford and who could have a chance of filling the Portugal legend’s metaphorically enormous boots is Atletico Madrid attacker Joao Felix.

After scoring 20 goals in 43 senior appearances for Benfica, the Portuguese gem joined his current club during the 2019 summer transfer window in a deal worth a reported £113m.

Since then, the 22-year-old – who is currently picking up a wage of £154k-per-week – has scored 29 goals and provided 15 assists in 110 appearances for Diego Simeone’s side across all competitions.

Labelled an “outstanding” player by Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp, Felix has shown that he has the credentials to play for one of Europe’s top clubs.

Also, should Erik ten Hag be able to convince the 22-year-old to come to Old Trafford and play alongside his fellow countrymen Ronaldo and Bruno Fernandes, the versatility that Felix has shown throughout his career would make it easier for the new United boss to get him in the same team as those two players.

Playing alongside the duo at club level, like he has done for Portugal, could then see the youngster become a very important figure for the Red Devils in the future and potentially be their next version of Ronaldo.

If Ten Hag wants to make a real statement signing at his new club before the season starts and bring in a player like Felix who has the potential to be a long-term star for them, then the Old Trafford hierarchy should definitely make an approach to Atletico to see if they would be willing to negotiate a deal for the young attacker.

AND in other news – Imagine him & Bruno: Ten Hag can form scary duo as MUFC eye “beautiful” 52 G/A dynamo

Tottenham have not played their first match of pre-season and they have brought in three players during the summer transfer window.

Fabio Paratici is not messing around and has secured deals for Fraser Forster, Yves Bissouma, and Ivan Perisic before the end of June.

They are not done there, though, as a recent report in The Independent, via The Sun, claimed that Antonio Conte is interested in a deal to sign Antony from Dutch giants Ajax, who is valued at around €70m (£60m).

The report claimed that the winger could be brought in as part of a deal for Steven Bergwijn, who looks set to leave North London for his home country this summer.

Charlie Eccleshare has stated that the club will look to replace the Dutchman, tweeting:

“On Bergwijn, as reported yesterday, deal is not yet done. There are details that still need to be sorted. But expectation is v much that he will leave #THFC for Ajax. Spurs hoping to bring in another forward before selling, + expectation is deal won’t be formalised before July 1.”

Tottenham’s own Raphinha

Another player Spurs are reportedly keen on a deal for is Leeds United star Raphinha. Paratici and Conte are eyeing him up as a target to improve their attack ahead of next season but it remains to be seen whether or not they can tempt the Whites into parting ways with their key player.

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Instead of attempting to snap the Premier League forward up, Tottenham can land their own version of the former Rennes man by signing Antony from Ajax.

Raphinha has produced 17 goals and 12 assists in the last two league seasons, cutting in on his left foot off the right wing to score and assist for his team.

Antony, meanwhile, is also a left-footed, Brazilian, right winger who has been thriving in the final third. In the last two seasons, the 22-year-old has scored 17 goals and provided 12 assists in the Eredivisie – further highlighting their similar skillsets.

Dutch scout Piet de Visser previously lauded the gem in an interview Voetbal International, saying: “Antony, that will be a winner!

“Wonderful technical football player. You can’t compare him to David Neres or Hakim Ziyech, he really has his own style. A very good, short dribble, a lot of speed, a beautiful staircase.”

The Ajax man is also three years younger than Raphinha and this means that he has the potential to improve and become better than the Leeds gem by the time he gets to the age of 25.

Spurs, therefore, can land their own version of Jesse Marsch’s main man if they can secure a deal to sign the young dynamo from the Dutch giants.

AND in other news, Contact made: Spurs eyeing “extraordinary” £80m “tank”, Conte can now forget Bastoni…

A big Newcastle United transfer claim has emerged on their plans for the rest of the summer transfer window…

What’s the talk?

Express journalist Ryan Taylor has claimed that the Magpies will be attempting to bring in an attacker to bolster their options at the top end of the pitch.

Dan Ashworth has already strengthened the club’s backline with deals to sign Matt Targett, Nick Pope, and Sven Botman – all on permanent deals – and the reporter is now backing up to look further up the pitch.

He told GIVEMESPORT: “I do think there’s scope to recruit another wide attacker as well, but obviously as we’ve seen with Newcastle, their recruitment strategy is actually very calculated, it’s not just throwing money at big names as many expected them to do, it’s smart shopping.

“So, I don’t have any specific names, but I do think there will be an attacking signing on the agenda.”

Eddie Howe will be delighted

The Magpies’ head coach will be delighted by this claim as he will surely be eager to bring in more attacking talent to the team.

PIF sanctioned a spending spree in January and Chris Wood was the only out-and-out attacker amongst the group of new arrivals.

The Burnley man has struggled for form on Tyneside and did not show enough to suggest that he will be the man to fire Newcastle into the top half of the table next season.

He scored two goals in 17 Premier League matches for the Toon and his statistics over the course of the campaign, including his time at Turf Moor, do not make for much better reading. The New Zealand international scored five goals and failed to register a single assist in 34 games, which is why Howe cannot rely on him to find the back of the net next term.

Callum Wilson (eight) was the only Newcastle player with more than five league goals in total and Allan Saint-Maximin (five) was the only one with more than three assists to his name.

These statistics suggest that the Magpies are in desperate need of players who can score and or assist goals as they did not have any regular contributors to rely upon in the 2021/22 campaign.

Therefore, Howe will be buzzing with the suggestion that Ashworth is now set to pursue a deal for an attacker and will be hoping that a top player can be brought in and not another Wood.

AND in other news, Ashworth eyeing NUFC swoop for “dangerous” £30m dynamo, just imagine him & Wilson…

Manchester City have been linked with a summer move for Atletico Madrid attacker Joao Felix.

What’s the news?

Portuguese football journalist Bruno Andrade has shed some light on the matter in a recent tweet, stating: “[Erling] Haaland may not be the only strong reinforcement: Pep Guardiola wants Joao Felix at Manchester City. Trading, however, essentially depends on the departures of Gabriel Jesus and [Raheem] Sterling. It’s about opening up space in attack and, above all, balancing financial fair play.”

After scoring 20 goals in 43 senior appearances for Benfica, Felix joined Atletico in 2019 in a deal worth a reported £113m. Since then, the 22-year-old has found the net 29 times and delivered 15 assists in 110 appearances for the Spanish club across all competitions.

Praised by his manager Diego Simeone for a “complete” performance against RB Salzburg in October 2020, the Atletico star has shown he has what it takes to play for a top club. His latest La Liga campaign saw the former Benfica starlet score eight goals and supply four assists in 23 games.

Imagine him and Haaland

While the £63m-rated forward may not have shown that he has what it takes to be a talisman for a top club in Europe just yet, he can still be considered a more than useful attacking figure. This could duly make him a solid prospective signing for City if he’s able to play next to or around Haaland.

With 83 goals in 87 appearances for Borussia Dortmund and 29 in just 27 games for Salzburg, the Norwegian has already shown by the age of 21 just how natural he is when it comes to finding the net.

Taking into account how Felix has played in every attacking position at times throughout his career, his versatility could make it easier for Guardiola to fit him into the team alongside Haaland, should the Portuguese gem make a move to the Etihad Stadium this summer.

If Atletico are willing to negotiate a deal for their attacker this summer, City should definitely test the waters to find out what it would take to get him to make a move to Manchester and potentially form a scary attacking partnership with Haaland.

In other news – Terms agreed: City now closing in on “refreshing” £30m signing, Pep will be buzzing

Yorkshire Live journalist Dom Howson has delivered an update on Lee Gregory’s future at Sheffield Wednesday during a fan Q&A session.

The Lowdown: Gregory’s debut season

The 33-year-old first made the switch to League One when he joined the Owls in a permanent move from Championship side Stoke City last summer, where he has become a regular feature in Darren Moore’s starting XI in his debut season at Hillsborough, racking up 39 appearances across all competitions.

When the striker put pen to paper on arrival, his contract was set to run until 2023, so with just 12 months now remaining on his current deal, the club will no doubt be sweating over his future after such a successful campaign.

The Latest: Howson drops Gregory update

In a fan Q&A session for Yorkshire Live, Howson was asked by a supporter whether Sheffield Wednesday are in negotiations over a new agreement for Gregory, confirming there are no talks yet but they will be in the pipeline:

“Not sure talks have taken place yet with Gregory but I am sure that is one Wednesday will be looking to sort out sooner rather than later. Gregory was superb in his first year at the club.”

The Verdict: Exciting

The former Potters star was a standout performer for the Owls during his opening campaign in the third-tier, so it wouldn’t come as any surprise to see the club wanting to extend his stay for as long as possible.

Throughout the 2021/22 term, the forward, who was once hailed an “instrumental” player by former Millwall teammate Tom Bradshaw, scored an outstanding 16 goals and provided six assists in League One, as per Transfermarkt, and was a pivotal figure in helping his side reach the play-offs.

Looking ahead to next season, Gregory will be pivotal if the club manage to go all the way and seal promotion to the Championship, so this update that talks are due is certainly an exciting one.

In other news… Sheffield Wednesday are reportedly closing in on the signing of a new defender.

Fabrizio Romano has dropped an update on the future of Tottenham Hotspur winger Steven Bergwijn.

What’s the talk?

In a recent post on Twitter, the Italian journalist revealed that, with the 24-year-old having been heavily linked with a move away from north London this summer, Fabio Paratici will be demanding a figure in the region of €30m (£26m) in order for him to sanction the sale of the Netherlands international.

The transfer insider went on to state that Ajax are currently working on a deal with Tottenham but are yet to come to an agreement, while a number of other clubs are also believed to be keeping a very close eye on the situation of the winger ahead of a potential move of their own in the coming weeks.

In his tweet, Romano said: “Tottenham want around €30m to let Steven Bergwijn leave this summer. Ajax are working on it with an official proposal, still waiting to reach an agreement with Spurs. There are many clubs interested in Bergwijn – but Ajax are on it since January.”

Supporters will be buzzing

While it undeniable that Bergwijn is an incredibly talented player, considering just how little Antonio Conte has utilised the former PSV Eindhoven starlet since his arrival at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium last November, Romano’s claim that Spurs could receive as a much as £26m from the forward’s sale this summer is sure to have left supporters buzzing.

Indeed, of the 20 Premier League games in which the £16.2m-rated talent featured under the management of the 52-year-old, the 24-year-old was handed a start just once – playing a total of 275 minutes of league football for the Italian.

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Despite this lack of game time, the £73k-per-week winger still managed to catch the eye, scoring three goals over his aforementioned 20 league appearances for Conte – an average of one every 92 minutes – as well as bagging a further goal and assist over his three outings in the FA Cup and Carabao Cup.

However, with the joint Premier League Golden Boot winner, Son Heung-min, ahead of him in the manager’s left-wing pecking order, unfortunately for Bergwijn, his route to regular first-team minutes was very much blocked by the South Korean sensation – something that looks unlikely to change heading into 2022/23.

As such, it would appear that a parting of the ways this summer would best suit the player and the club, with the flying Dutchman undoubtedly looking forward to the prospect of becoming an important player for his new side, while Fabio Paratici will certainly welcome an additional £26m to his budget in the transfer market.

AND in other news: Conte could land the next Alba as Spurs now eye £15m “monster” who can “run all night”

Aston Villa are expected to sign Rangers teenager Rory Wilson in the coming weeks, according to The Athletic. 

The Lowdown: Finally!

Wilson, a 16-year-old striker labelled as ‘clinical’ by Brian McLaughlin, has been on Villa’s radar for some time.

Villa were linked with the forward at the end of March and again at the beginning of May, with reports suggesting that Gerrard wanted Villa to pip Liverpool in the race for Wilson’s services.

It looks as if the Villa manager is finally set to get his way when it comes to the teenager regarded as one of the best young players in the United Kingdom.

The Latest: Set to leave Ibrox

The Athletic’s Jordan Campbell provided a Rangers transfer update on Friday, looking at the club’s summer plans.

When it came to youngsters at Ibrox, Campbell stated that Wilson ‘is expected to leave for Aston Villa in the coming weeks’.

The Verdict: Shrewd move

Wilson appears to be a future star and has already been snapped up by Adidas in a boot deal and CAA Base agency, who represent the likes of Heung-min Son and Raphael Varane.

You’d expect that the striker, who scored more than 40 goals at youth level last season, will go into the club’s academy ranks to start with. However, it wouldn’t come as a shock if the Scot impresses at Bodymoor Heath, which could see him make the odd first-team match-day squad from time to time, as we saw with Tim Iroegbunam last season.

In other news: Sky Sports man now drops ‘crazy’ Luis Suarez to AVFC claim after what he’s heard from Villa Park. 

Aston Villa are set to back away from a move for Bologna defender Aaron Hickey, according to the latest rumours.

What’s the word?

As per The Athletic, the Scotland teenager had been a target for the Midlands outfit, although the club have since ‘cooled’ their interest owing to the player’s reported £20m price tag.

The report suggests that Villa are in the market for a new left-sided defender, despite having signed Lucas Digne in January, with Steven Gerrard eyeing a ‘young and progressive’ deputy to the £25m Frenchman.

Sporting director Johan Lange is now set to scour the continent for another possible target, while as for Hickey, the 19-year-old is rumoured to be of interest to fellow Premier League outfit, Arsenal.

The next Lahm?

With the aforementioned Digne on one side and Matty Cash on the other, Gerrard appears well-stocked at present in his full-back ranks, although the addition of the former Hearts starlet would have provided genuine competition and cover, with the £13.5m-rated gem seemingly comfortable on either flank.

The Glasgow-born ace has caught the attention of clubs across Europe in recent times, having made the bold decision to move to Italy at the age of just 18, going on to make 48 appearances for the Serie A outfit over the last two seasons.

Having been eased in during his debut campaign, the 2021/22 season proved a real breakthrough term for the three-cap star, as he went on to score five goals and register one assist in his 36 league outings – 34 of which had come as starts.

The “special talent” – as he has previously been dubbed by former Hearts boss Daniel Stendel – has thrived for his current side of late, with such form even seeing him handed a surprise start in the recent 2-0 defeat for Steve Clarke’s Scotland side in the crucial playoff clash against Ukraine.

Although he struggled on the night – earning a dismal rating of 4/10 from journalist Matt Atkinson – the expectation is that he will go on to remain a regular for his country in the coming years, having been tipped for big things by those who have worked closely with him.

The aforementioned Stendel, in particular, seemingly has a real fondness for the youngster’s talents, once insisting that he is “like Philipp Lahm” amid rumours of a potential move to Bayern Munich.

That is high praise indeed to compare him to the World Cup-winning German legend, with now-retired full-back having claimed almost every prize going in the game, while racking up a remarkable 516 appearances for the Bundesliga outfit during his 15-year senior career.

Dubbed “one of the most intelligent” players in the game by Pep Guardiola, Lahm was also able to convert into a holding midfielder during the Manchester City boss’ time in Germany, with his adaptability and quality making him one of the finest players of his era.

Like the 38-year-old, young Hickey can also be deployed in a midfield role, with his versatility making him a real asset were he to be signed by any side this summer.

At present, it looks like Gerrard and co are nearing almighty mistake if they are to let the wonderkid escape their grasp.

IN other news, Gerrard can land AVFC’s next Southgate with move for “outstanding” £120k-p/w warrior

Manchester United and Arsenal have emerged as suitors for Leeds United winger Raphinha this summer, according to journalist Gianluigi Longari.

The Lowdown: Homage to Catalonia?

The Whites preserved their Premier League status after winning 2-1 away to Brentford last weekend, on what was a huge day for the club.

Raphinha did his more than his fair share throughout the campaign, leading Leeds’ scoring charts with 11 league goals and firing home a vital penalty in the aforementioned victory over the Bees.

It is widely expected that the 25-year-old will depart for Spain this summer, however, having reached a natural conclusion at Elland Road and with Barcelona eyeing up a move.

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The Latest: MUFC and Arsenal twist

Taking to Twitter late on Wednesday night, Longari claimed that Manchester United and Arsenal could throw a twist into the battle to sign the Brazilian:

“Raphinha first offer rejected by #Leeds. Barca have priority but watch out for the Premier (#Arsenal and #Mufc).”

The Verdict: Barca or nothing?

It is wholly understandable why a move to Barca would appeal to Raphinha, with some of his country’s greatest-ever players representing the club, whether it be Ronaldo, Ronaldinho or Romario.

It would be hard to begrudge him a switch to the Catalan giants then, but it is tough to see him heading to United or Arsenal, especially with the former being Leeds’ bitter rivals.

Meanwhile, the Gunners failed to qualify for the Champions League in 2022/23, so Raphinha is unlikely to leave a club he loves only to be plying his trade in the Europa League next season.

Moving to Barca still feels likely but if that doesn’t materialise it could give Jesse Marsch hope of keeping hold of one of his star men.

In other news, a transfer expert has talked up a Leeds signing happening this summer. Read more here.