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Arsenal are still monitoring Real Valladolid youngster Ivan Fresneda ahead of the summer transfer window as Mikel Arteta looks to strengthen his squad.

What’s the latest on Ivan Fresneda to Arsenal?

In his daily briefing on CaughtOffside, Fabrizio Romano claimed that Arsenal are continuing to send scouts to monitor Fresneda despite missing out on him during the January transfer window.

The youngster has a release clause of €30m (£26m) which considering how highly rated he is, could prove to be a bargain for Arteta should he secure his signature in the summer.

Would Fresneda be an upgrade on Takehiro Tomiyasu?

Despite Arsenal sparkling for the majority of the Premier League campaign and leading the chase for what would be their first title since 2003/04, there are still some improvements to make regarding their starting XI.

The right-back slot is arguably the area under the most scrutiny, with Ben White – a natural centre-back – playing there for the majority of the season, with Takehiro Tomiyasu deputising when required.

The Japanese defender has been solid when called upon, making 1.3 tackles per game and winning 53% of his total duels while averaging a Sofascore rating of 6.66/10, however, his attacking input is poor, registering just one assist and creating only one big chance. Fortunately this is something Fresneda could offer in abundance.

Indeed, this season has seen the 18-year-old register more shot-creating actions (17 to ten), crosses (29 to nine), and touches in the attacking third (137 to 98) while succeeding with more take-ons (three to one) proving that he could offer Arteta a lot more going forward than Tomiyasu.

This doesn’t mean he shirks his defensive responsibilities, with the Spaniard displaying great maturity that has seen him already develop into one of the finest full-backs on the continent, as evidenced by FBref.

Fresneda ranks in the top 10% of positionally similar players across Europe’s big five leagues for tackles (3.39), interceptions (1.52), and clearances (3.16) per game, whereas Tomiyasu ranks outside the top 10% for all three metrics.

He has received substantial praise recently and none more so than from ESPN journalist David Cartlidge. He said: “Fresneda is a very special talent and any club will be lucky to sign him. He’s like a CM dropped in at full-back. Just over 6ft, athletic but above all excellent with the ball at his feet.”

Arteta is clearly looking to the future by scouting Fresneda, aiming to bring the average age of his squad down by signing young talent who have the potential to explode into life at Arsenal. The 18-year-old is certainly good enough to merit a spot in the starting XI, especially with his statistics this season and the 40-year-old will be hoping it’s second time lucky when the summer window opens.

Wolverhampton Wanderers’ attacking output is now ‘extremely worrying’, but journalist Dean Jones still backs Julen Lopetegui to steer them clear of relegation.

The Lowdown: Wolves improving

Wolves have shown definite signs of improvement under Lopetegui, having sacked Bruno Lage in October after slipping into the relegation zone, now sitting three points clear of the bottom three.

However, their work is by no means done yet, especially considering the Old Gold have a very tricky period coming up, facing Liverpool at Anfield tonight before coming up against Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United in the following games.

The Latest: Jones concerned

In an interview with GiveMeSport, Jones expressed concern about the performances of Wolves’ strikers, saying:“The goal output of this team in terms of the forwards is extremely worrying. But with Lopetegui in charge, I still think they’ll just be fine.

“He’s improved this team in most other areas and surely it’s only a matter of time before they start scoring more goals.”

The Verdict: Must improve

Not only do Lopetegui’s side have very tough games coming up, but they end the season with trips to Manchester United and Arsenal, travelling to the Emirates Stadium on the final day, by which point you feel they will have to already be mathematically safe.

As such, their strikers must start stepping up to the plate, with both Raul Jimenez and Diego Costa yet to score in the Premier League this season, despite making a total of 21 appearances between them.

Wolves have largely had to rely on goal contributions from the likes of central midfielder Ruben Neves and winger Daniel Podence so far this season, but it is not sustainable to be without a consistently-scoring striker.Lopetegui will be hoping his current strikers can do enough to keep his side up this season, before no doubt strengthening his attacking options in the summer transfer window.

Arsenal have submitted a bid of around €40m (£35m) for Lazio midfielder Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, according to a report.

The Lowdown: Arsenal eyeing midfielder

Arsenal were very interested in signing a central midfielder during the January transfer window, going as high as £70m in their bid for Brighton & Hove Albion’s Moises Caicedo, however their advances were rejected outright.

The Gunners continue to be linked with a move for West Ham United midfielder Declan Rice, and they are now said to be in pole position for the Englishman, but Milinkovic-Savic is also a subject of interest for the north London club…

The Latest: Offer made

According to a report from CalcioMercato, the Serbian is almost certain to leave Lazio in the summer, opening the door for a move to the Premier League, and there are multiple teams eyeing a deal.

Arsenal, West Ham and Newcastle United are all said to have made bids in the region of €40m (£35m) for the midfielder, via his agent Mateja Kezman.

The Verdict: Get it done?

Hailed as ‘sensational’ by journalist Josh Bunting, the 28-year-old’s main strength is his ability inject end product from midfield, weighing in with 11 assists in the Serie A last season, while he also picked up the same number of goals.

It has been yet another strong season playmaking-wise for the Lazio ace, currently on eight assists in the Italian top flight, now ranking in the 97th percentile for assists per 90 compared to other midfielders in the past year.

After missing out on Caicedo in January, the Gunners brought in Jorginho, however he does not offer much in the way of attacking threat, averaging 0 non-penalty goals and 0.06 assists per 90.

Milinkovic-Savic is a very different type of player, with a proven track record of finding the back of the net, and Mikel Arteta should undoubtedly pursue a summer deal.

Considering Wolves’ woes in front of goal so far this season, the last thing Julen Lopetegui will have wanted to see on Saturday afternoon was Diego Costa forced off with a knee injury.

Although the Spaniard is yet to score in Wolves colours, he has featured on 16 occasions this season and can certainly be trusted to give opposition defenders a hard time, so is clearly still a valued member of Lopetegui’s squad.

While Saturday’s 1-0 win against Spurs moved the Old Gold up to 13th in the Premier League, they are still ranked as the lowest scorers in the division, and a return of 19 goals in 26 top-flight fixtures is nowhere near good enough.

The Spanish manager has also been without summer signing Sasa Kalajdzic throughout his time at Molineux, and given the apparent severity of Costa’s injury, it now seems as if he will have to cope with Matheus Cunha and Raul Jimenez for the remainder of the campaign.

Who could replace Costa at Wolves?

For Jimenez, it could be a chance to rescue his career at Molineux and win back the support of the fans, who perhaps turned against the Mexico international when he travelled to the World Cup in Qatar last year, despite injury problems keeping him out of Wolves’ side for the months prior.

While he is still without a goal in the Premier League this term, his recent performances have been good, as he had a direct hand in the goals against Fulham and Spurs, which emphasises the intelligence that the £100k-per-week striker can add in the final third for Wolves.

Lopetegui praised the 31-year-old’s impact from the bench in the 1-0 win yesterday, saying:

“Above all, Raul Jimenez has played a fantastic match in my opinion. It’s good news for him and for us.“He didn’t score but he was very important in a lot of facets of the play.“It’s important. Sometimes we analyse the forwards for the goals that they score but they have a lot to offer to the team. I have to review the match, but in my opinion, he has made a very good match.”With Matheus Cunha also failing to fire since his arrival from Atletico Madrid – failing to score – Costa’s injury represents a golden chance for the once “sensational” Jimenez, in the words of Conor Coady, to rediscover his best form at Molineux.If he can get the proverbial monkey off his back and find the net in the top flight, while also continuing to add a creative threat in the final third, then he could still be a massive player for Wolves in their fight for survival.

Newcastle United are reportedly eyeing up a move for out-of-favour Manchester United captain, Harry Maguire, with the Englishman looking destined for a summer exit from Old Trafford.

What’s the latest on Maguire to Newcastle?

According to 90min, the Magpies are believed to be ‘monitoring’ the 30-year-old’s current situation at the Theatre of Dreams, with the report outlining that the 53-cap brute is set to be up for grabs at the end of the season.

The piece suggests that while the Red Devils would prefer an immediate permanent exit for the Three Lions star, Erik ten Hag and co could be inclined to accept a loan departure, provided that temporary move leads to a sale later down the line.

Newcastle sporting director Dan Ashworth may well have competition in his bid to land the experienced defender as the report notes that a ‘number of Premier League clubs’ are interested in his signature, with any deal set to cost significantly less than the £80m that was paid to prise the Sheffield-born titan from Leicester City back in 2019.

Who could be Newcastle’s next Botman?

There is no getting away from what has been a difficult season for Maguire under Ten Hag, with the £190k-per-week man having been restricted to just five top-flight starts to date, having lost his regular role in the side following the 4-0 loss to Brentford in August.

As the Red Devils’ recent 7-0 drubbing showcased, however, Maguire has not been the sole defensive villain at his current side this term, with the one-time Hull City ace having sat out that thrashing at Anfield.

It could be that the defensive “monster” – as previously lauded by journalist Liam Canning – is simply in need of a fresh start in order to recapture his form, having arguably been hampered by the pressure of his exorbitant price tag in recent years.

The hope for Eddie Howe and co will be that the towering asset can replicate the displays he has shown for his country on Tyneside, having been lauded as a “fantastic leader” by teammate Kieran Trippier after playing his part in England’s surge to the quarter-finals at the World Cup last year.

It will also be of note for Howe that the central defender is said to share a number of stylistic and statistical similarities with current Newcastle ace, Sven Botman, according to FBref, with that boding well for the impact that Maguire can make in the northeast.

Not only do the pair offer a real imposing presence due to their respective 6 foot 4 frames, but their likeness is also showcased by the threat that they oppose in attack, with Maguire ranking in the top 11% among his European peers for touches in the opposition penalty area, while Botman ranks in the top 6% in that regard.

Equally, the latter man has made six progressive carries and recorded three progressive passes in the league so far this season, while Maguire has racked up five progressive carries and two progressive passes in that time, showcasing the duo’s ability to play out from the back.

With Botman having already made a “huge difference” since his summer arrival from Lille – according to journalist Josh Bunting – it would seemingly be a real masterstroke to be able to secure something of a clone for the Dutchman in the form of the Man United skipper.

The signing of the struggling figure may not be a universally popular one among Magpies supporters, although that comparison to Botman should showcase the benefits of Ashworth pursuing a deal this summer.

Newcastle United are one of the sides that have sent scouts to watch the Lille midfielder Carlos Baleba ahead of the summer transfer window.

Who is Carlos Baleba?

The 19-year-old midfielder has now been playing his football with Lille for just over a year, having made the move from his homeland, Cameroon.

Baleba quickly made the leap from the youth side to Paulo Fonseca's senior team and has made 12 appearances in Ligue 1 this season.

Only three of those appearances have come from the starting XI. However, it has become apparent he has earned the trust of Fonseca.

And speaking on the Talking Transfers podcast, journalist Toby Cudworth has suggested a number of Premier League clubs are looking at the midfielder, Newcastle being one of them:

"It's our understanding that a number of Premier League clubs are already looking at him. Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester United and Newcastle among those who have watched him.

"And Serie A champions, AC Milan, actually made a bid for him in January that was knocked back. So he's got plenty of clubs looking at him."

Who else is interested in signing Baleba?

Despite the Toon holding an interest, it seems as if they could have a fierce challenge on their hands if they are to persuade the Cameroon midfielder to Tyneside.

As noted by Bailey, the likes of Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United have all been monitoring the youngster ahead of the summer window.

This will naturally provide the Magpies with a challenge with all three of the clubs providing the Cameroon ace with some huge names to choose from.

On top of the interest coming from England, it is believed Baleba was the subject of interest in the recent January window with Lille turning down an approach from AC Milan.

With interest from across Europe, it certainly seems as if Newcastle have a big task on their hands if they are to land the Cameroonian in the summer.

However, they have recently been able to bring in young prospects with the likes of Garang Kuol who made the move to Tyneside earlier in the season.

What would be interesting to see is what role Baleba could potentially play in the Newcastle squad under Eddie Howe.

It is believed the Magpies are looking to add to their midfield in the summer transfer window and Baleba has made an impression already in Ligue 1.

But whether Newcastle would look to offload him on loan to continue his development would have to be considered with the likes of Joelinton, Sean Longstaff and Joe Willock likely ahead of him in the pecking order.

Everton have been linked this month with a move for Tammy Abraham and now a promising update has emerged ahead of the summer transfer window that could improve their chances of securing the player.

What's the latest on Everton's interest in Tammy Abraham?

According to Calciomercato, AS Roma have reduced the asking price for their striker from €75m (£66m) to just €40m (35m).

As per the report, Abraham could be heading for an exit from the Italian side this summer after his importance in the team has declined over the current campaign and Aston Villa are named as one of the Premier League clubs who could compete with Everton for his signature.

Should Dyche ditch Dominic Calvert-Lewin for Tammy Abraham?

There is no doubt that Everton need to address the depletion of their attacking threat following Richarlison's exit in the summer and Anthony Gordon's shock move to Newcastle United in January.

Not only that, the Toffees have struggled without their prolific goalscorer, Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who has been an inconsistent feature in the side due to his non-stop injury issues over the last 18 months which has contributed to the club falling into another relegation battle this season.

As a result, if Sean Dyche can stop Everton from a drop into the Championship over the remaining ten fixtures it could finally be time to move on from the heavy reliance on Calvert-Lewin and instead, sign a fresh perspective in front of goal.

Since joining Jose Mourinho's side in 2021, Abraham has scored 34 goals and registered 11 assists over 93 appearances – offering a goal contribution every 147 minutes, which is a consistent output that would be highly valuable to Everton next season.

Over 26 Serie A appearances this season, the 25-year-old striker – hailed "Drobga-esque" by Rio Ferdinand – has scored six goals, registered three assists and created six big chances, as well as averaging one key pass, 1.9 shots on goal and 4.7 duels won per game, which is more goals than Everton's Neal Maupay, Dwight McNeil and Calvert-Lewin combined so far.

In fact, the former Chelsea dynamo has scored only 25 fewer goals over his two campaigns in Italy than Calvert-Lewin has scored (59) over his entire seven-year tenure at Goodison Park, proving that he could be the perfect player to replace the Toffees striker and improve the output considerably.

With that being said, there is no doubt that Farhad Moshiri must capitalise on a potential opportunity to snap up Abraham this summer as it could put the Everton boss in a great position to boldly ditch Calvert-Lewin next season.

Among the plethora of positives that have come out of the season so far for Manchester United under manager Erik ten Hag, one of the more notable success stories has been the emergence of teenage sensation, Alejandro Garnacho, with the 18-year-old having established himself as a vital member of the squad since the World Cup, in particular.The promising “game changer” – as hailed by Manchester Evening News journalist Samuel Luckhurst – has registered nine goal involvements in all competitions in what has been a breakout campaign thus far, memorably scoring away at Elland Road and providing an assist for Marcus Rashford in the Manchester derby in what were two of his more notable contributions.The rapid and meteoric rise of the Madrid-born speedster – who had been included in Argentina’s senior squad prior to his recent injury blow – is yet another marker of the benefits of having such a star-studded youth set-up, with United undoubtedly masters at continually churning out potential gems of the future.For all the warranted hype surrounding Garnacho, however, the beauty of football is that there is always another youngster who can emerge as the next poster boy, with 15-year-old Shea Lacey seemingly the player who is sparking “lots of excitement” among those at the club, according to journalist Tom Maston.

Who is Shea Lacey?

Although both club and supporters will no doubt be wary of talking up the teen ace too greatly – with the case of Ravel Morrison still firmly in the minds of those at the Theatre of Dreams – it is hard to ignore the buzz that is surrounding the fleet-footed maestro.

While the precocious talent – who has been likened to Manchester City sensation, Phil Foden – may have to bide his time for a first-team berth due to his tender age, it does appear that United are keen to elevate him up the age groups, with the playmaker having already featured for the club’s U18 side this season, scoring once and registering two assists in just six league outings.

That is an indication of just how highly rated Lacey is by the Premier League giants, with that excitement beginning to bubble among those outside of the club, with the forward having set tongues wagging after producing a scintillating, solo goal for the U16’s earlier this month.

The manner in which the Liverpool-born menace weaved his way through a sea of bodies with breathtaking skill and trickery ensured that it is easy to see why the comparisons to Foden have come about, with Lacey truly having a “left foot made of gold” – according to talent scout, Jacek Kulig.

Football Transfers reporter Jacque Talbot even when as far as to suggest that the Old Trafford outfit may have stumbled across the “next [Lionel} Messi” in the form of the teen starlet, with the club’s current first team figures likely to be running scared at the prospect of losing their place in the side in the coming years.

Summer signing Antony, in particular, could well be fearing for his starting berth more than most, with Lacey potentially set to prove a direct rival to the Brazilian’s position on the right flank, with the duo both able to wreak havoc by cutting in onto their stronger left foot.

In the case of the former Ajax man, the 23-year-old has endured a mixed start to life in England, in truth, since his £86m arrival, having registered just eight goal involvements in all competitions thus far, including only three goals and no assists in the league.

It is no stretch to stay that Antony has not received a wholly warm welcome to the Premier League, with club legend Paul Scholes branding him a “clown” after the 15-cap enigma produced his trademark spin in the Europa League win over FC Sheriff, while talkSPORT pundit Gabby Agbonlahor also labelled him a “bluffer”.

Although it is that individualistic nature that has seemingly led the one-time Sao Paolo man to become a favourite of Ten Hag, the £200k-per-week wizard will need to begin proving himself more reliable in the final third or find himself ousted from the side.

If the 5 foot 9 ace is not careful, he could well be displaced by young Lacey not too far down the line…

Celtic are thought to be readying a new ‘huge’ contract offer for manager Ange Postecoglou, Football Insider report.

The Lowdown: Transformation

Postecoglou arrived in Glasgow back in the summer of 2021 from Japanese side Yokohama F. Marinos and has helped turn things around at Parkhead. The 57-year-old has won 76 of his 102 games in charge of the Hoops, with his side averaging an impressive 2.54 goals per game.

The manager has won three trophies so far during his tenure and is on course to retain the Scottish Premiership title ahead of rivals Rangers this season, with the Hoops currently nine points clear at the top of the table.

Postecoglou could also guide Celtic to a domestic treble over the coming months after already securing the League Cup, however, his current contract is set to expire in the summer. He has been linked with a move to the Premier League in recent months, with Tottenham the latest English club to be backed for a swoop.

The Latest: Off-field update

Football Insider reporter Wayne Veysey provided an update he’s heard from Parkhead in the last 48 hours regarding Postecoglou. He stated that the Hoops want to tie the manager down to a new long-term deal after recent interest from the Premier League.

Celtic are ready to increase Postecoglou’s wages, with a ‘source with knowledge of the situation’ revealing that Celtic are preparing a “huge” offer which may include a release clause.

The Verdict: Good news

Postecoglou has only been on a 12-month rolling deal since taking over from Neil Lennon, so it is good to see that the club want to finalise a long-term agreement following plenty of speculation over a possible exit. He’s made an immediate positive impact and actually has a better record with Celtic than any of his previous clubs.

Celtic also appear to be doing everything they can to keep Postecoglou when it comes to their current squad, with the club working hard to keep Kyogo Furuhashi, Liel Abada and Jota, players who Postecoglou views as key.

They are even planning to add to their squad with three headline signings in the summer, with Postecoglou targeting a new centre-back, central midfielder and striker. Therefore, should the manager and club officials remain on the same page reading into the summer, you’d like to think that a long-term contract could be agreed upon over the coming months, which may prove to be the most important piece of business.

Leicester City are reportedly interested in making Graham Potter their new manager after Brendan Rodgers' exit over the weekend.

Who will replace Rodgers at Leicester?

The Foxes have found themselves in a terrible run of form recently, getting into a relegation scrap and now sitting in 19th place in the Premier League table. Saturday's 2-1 defeat away to Crystal Palace proved to be the end of the road for Rodgers, who left by mutual consent the following day.

The Northern Irishman enjoyed a successful stint at the King Power Stadium overall, famously winning the FA Cup in 2021, but it felt like the right time to make a change after things had grown increasingly stagnant.

The hard work now begins to find a successor to Rodgers, with the appointment needing to be nailed, in order for Leicester to avoid relegation to the Championship. A host of names are likely to be linked with the job in the coming days, but it looks as though the Foxes are potentially lining up one individual already, following a fresh update.

Could Potter head to Leicester?

According to The Daily Mail, Leicester "would be interested to know" Potter's plans after being sacked as Chelsea boss on Sunday night, in what was yet another managerial casualty. It is claimed that the 47-year-old was "admired by the Leicester hierarchy long before he moved to Chelsea" and he looks like a potential front-runner to take charge, with Khun Top on his way to Leicester.

It is "unclear" whether or not the Englishman would want a new job immediately, but if he is intending to wait until the summer, he is "likely be top of their long-term list".

Potter could be a perfect appointment by Leicester – hopefully as soon as possible – with the Chelsea job such a poisoned chalice that it is harsh to be too judgmental of his time there. Instead, it is better to assess how much he worked wonders at Brighton, playing some great football and earning praise for his tactical acumen, with one unnamed player during his Swansea City days hailing him as a "genius".

There is still the talent there at Leicester for a new manager to get the best out of, from Youri Tielemans to James Maddison, and Potter looks like the best available option to fill the Rodgers' shaped void, hopefully coming in straight away and steering them clear of dangers, or joining in the summer if they have avoided relegation.