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Leeds United have been tipped to seal a late move for Roma midfielder, Nicolo Zaniolo, with the Italy international facing an uncertain future at the Stadio Olimpico.

What’s the word?

Reports earlier today claimed that Whites sporting director Victor Orta had made a loan-to-buy offer for the 23-year-old, with the towering playmaker having also been linked with a £31m switch to fellow Premier League side Bournemouth in recent times.

According to transfer insider Dean Jones – speaking to GIVEMESPORT – the Elland Road outfit could well capitalise on the player’s apparent desire to leave his current side, by making a concrete move before the deadline.

The respected journalist stated: “Leeds could take advantage of a tricky situation but they only wanted a loan and other clubs, including some in Italy, are having a look. We know Zaniolo is stuck between a rock and a hard place because he needs to leave Roma.”

Aaronson upgrade

The addition of Zaniolo could well allow Orta and Jesse Marsch the chance to secure an upgrade on summer signing Brenden Aaronson, with the USA international having been unable to truly make his mark in the playmaking berth so far this season.

Although the 22-year-old’s relentless work ethic has been commendable – as he notably ranks in the top 4% among his European peers for blocks made – he has been unable to offer a greater end product to go with it, having scored just once and laid on only two assists in 22 games in all competitions this season.

For a player that is seemingly meant to be the creative hub of the side, such a limp return is no doubt something of a problem for the Yorkshire outfit, hence the possible desire to provide quality competition in the form of the Roma maestro.

The latter man – who has been described as “such a special player” by journalist Carlo Garganese in the past – has already provided five goal involvements in 17 outings in all competitions, despite a spell out with injury, after previously registering eight goals and nine assists under Jose Mourinho last season.

That difference in attacking threat between the pair is also illustrated by the fact that Zaniolo ranks in the top 4% for total shots and the top 11% for progressive passes received, while Aaronson ranks in just the bottom 14% and the bottom 17% for the same two metrics, respectively.

While Marsch may be inclined to stick by his compatriot – who cost in the region of £24.7m back in May – the evidence would suggest that it is Zaniolo whom the former RB Leipzig coach could really build his team around.

Arsenal could go back in for Moises Caicedo this summer depending on how Albert Sambi Lokonga performs on loan at Crystal Palace, according to a recent report.

The Lowdown: Failed Caicedo pursuit

The Gunners went in for the Ecuador international multiple times at the end of the January transfer window, having a £60m offer rebuffed by Brighton & Hove Albion, before a bid totalling £70m was also turned down.

The saga went right down to the wire, with the midfielder travelling to London on deadline day in the hopes of securing a move. While it did not transpire last week, that does not mean a deal is off the cards for the summer…

The Latest: Summer move possible

Writing for Tribal Football, journalist Rudy Galetti details that Mikel Arteta will make a final decision about whether to go back in for the 21-year-old after he has had time to assess Sambi Lokonga’s performances at Crystal Palace.

The Belgian midfielder recently joined the Eagles on loan until the end of the season, and the implication is that if the 23-year-old proves himself at Selhurst Park, then Arteta will have no need to sign another player in his position.

The Verdict: Wise move

Sambi Lokonga is showing signs that he has what it takes to succeed at Arsenal, with his passing ability particularly impressive as he ranks in the 97th percentile for his completion rate per 90 (91.4%) among positional peers in Europe’s top five leagues in the past year.

However, considering the Gunners’ fantastic season up to this point, the 23-year-old has not had the chance to prove himself, appearing for just 213 minutes across seven appearances in the Premier League, so the loan move to Palace should be beneficial.

Hailed as a ‘top player’ by football scout Jacek Kulig, Caicedo has proven himself in the top flight, specialising in dispossessing the opposition as he ranks fifth in the entire league for tackles completed (55).

However, reports in January indicated that Brighton could demand up to £90m for the starlet, so Arteta is right to wait and see how Sambi Lokonga develops out on loan before shelling out a huge transfer fee on the Ecuadorian target.

Newcastle United are reportedly among a number of Premier League clubs eyeing up a move for Royal Antwerp midfielder Arthur Vermeeren this summer.

The Lowdown: Vermeeren impressing for Antwerp

The 18-year-old is making a big name for himself for his current club, already maturing into a key figure despite still being in his teenage years.

Vermeeren has made 10 appearances in the Jupiler Pro League this season, operating predominantly as a defensive midfielder and averaging 2.9 tackles per game.

Backed by PIF’s massive wealth and with Champions League qualification a firm possibility, Newcastle could be set for a big-spending summer in the transfer market, which is where the Belgian comes into play.

The Latest: Newcastle eyeing Vermeeren move

According to The Daily Mail, the Magpies have ‘watched’ Vermeeren ahead of a potential move for him this summer, although they are not alone in expressing an interest.

Manchester United are also in the race to sign the 18-year-old, along with other unnamed Premier League clubs.

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The Verdict: Big prospect for the future

Vermeeren looks like a massive talent who has caught the eye at youth level, winning 10 caps for Belgium’s under-17s and three for their under-18s.

Midfield could be a priority position for Eddie Howe in the summer following the deadline day exit of Jonjo Shelvey to Nottingham Forest, which has left them lacking depth in that area of the squad, and the Antwerp starlet would be viewed as a long-term addition who can learn from the likes of Bruno Guimaraes and Joelinton.

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Vermeeren’s aforementioned average of 2.9 tackles per match this season is superior to any Newcastle player in the Premier League, with Joelinton leading the way at St James’ Park with 2.5 per game, so the Belgian could add plenty of steel in the middle of the park on Tyneside.

He has been hailed as ‘fantastic’ by team-mate Toby Alderweireld in recent days and he could be part of the continued rebuild at Newcastle, potentially becoming a dominant figure in black and white.

Former Leeds United player Andy Couzens believes that the club should be looking to bring in Gary McAllister as interim manager.

The Lowdown: Skubala still in charge at Leeds

The Whites have failed to secure any of their top targets after parting ways with Jesse Marsch last week, with pursuits for the likes of Andoni Iraola and Arne Slot thus far hitting a dead end.

That has resulted in Michael Skubala, Chris Armas and Paco Gallardo taking charge of both games against Manchester United in the meantime. Skubala has been confirmed as the club’s caretaker for the upcoming fixtures and will be in the dugout against Everton this weekend.

The Latest: Couzens backs McAllister for Leeds job

Former Whites player Couzens was speaking to LeedsUnited.News about the club’s managerial situation. He urged Andrea Radrizzani and the 49ers Enterprises to appoint former Elland Road boss McAllister, believing that ‘there’s no better man’ for the job.

The 47-year-old said: “I’ll throw another name out there. On an interim basis, something until the end of the season, someone who’s got experience in the Premier League; Gary McAllister. Bring him in, he knows the game, he knows the game inside out.

“He’s out of work. His record as Leeds manager was a good one. If you’re looking into him and you need some help, there’s no better man than him in my eyes in that sense.”

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The Verdict: McAllister and Gerrard?

There has been speculation over McAllister returning to Yorkshire alongside Steven Gerrard. Leeds have reportedly considered a move for the former Rangers and Aston Villa boss, with McAllister his assistant in both Scotland and the Midlands.

It could be one to keep an eye on, especially with the pair currently out of work. Gerrard was first on Leeds’ radar back in 2019, and with McAllister’s previous connections in Yorkshire as a player and manager, they could be the ideal pair to guide the club away from the relegation zone.

The Whites may have to act fast, though, especially as relegation rivals Southampton are also on the search for a new manager and have been linked with Gerrard.

Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s last few months in charge of Glasgow Rangers were anything but enjoyable for the Ibrox faithful.

Having secured the Scottish Cup and reached the Europa League final in 2021/22, there were high hopes amongst the Light Blues’ supporters that the club could win back the Premiership crown and qualify for the Champions League.

Despite reaching the group stages of Europe’s premier club competition, the Light Blues lost all six matches, posting the tournament’s worst-ever group stage record in the process. They have also slipped nine points behind their Glasgow arch-rivals in the chase for the title, with a 4-0 defeat at Parkhead earlier this season a low point of Van Bronckhorst’s tenure.

The Dutchman had a somewhat low-key transfer window last summer, and following some laughable defensive displays such as the 7-1 Ibrox drubbing by Liverpool, he should have perhaps kept Croatian defender Nikola Katic at the club for at least another year.

What is Nikola Katic doing now?

The centre-back wasn’t perfect, but he possessed a “warrior”-like attitude according to former Rangers boss Steven Gerrard. The 26-year-old played 59 times for the club and scored six goals, with his headed winner against Celtic in 2019 his most notable contribution.

An injury which ruled him out of the entire title-winning campaign in 2020/21 set him back in terms of first-team action, and he spent a season on loan at Hajduk Split last year before Van Bronckhorst decided to sell him to FC Zurich last summer.

His form this season, coupled with the Gers’ defensive lapses, would suggest that the Glasgow club might have pulled the trigger a little too soon when it came to selling the Croatian. Across 12 league appearances for Zurich, Katic has an average Sofascore rating of 7.01/10, ranking him as the club’s fifth-best performer this term.

He also ranks first for accurate passes (38.5) and clearances (four) per game, while ranking third for interceptions (1.6 per game) and sixth for tackles (1.5) with the Swiss club, proving his worth in Europe and becoming a crucial member of their first-team.

His figures for clearances and interceptions would actually rank him first among the Rangers squad for both metrics, with Connor Goldson top with three clearances per game and John Lundstram leading the way in terms of interceptions with 1.1 per game. That all suggests that Katic could well have made a difference had he remained at Ibrox.

Of course, this is just conjecture, as he may not have been given much game-time under Van Bronckhorst had they both stayed. However, with John Souttar missing every match since making his debut in July and Goldson also ruled out for a period of time earlier in the campaign, Katic may have played a bigger part this term than what might have been anticipated at the time that he was sold.

The club had a shocker last summer in jettisoning the Croatian, and hopefully Michael Beale is slightly savvier than his predecessor when it comes to selling players in the future.

West Ham United ‘may be hoping’ that Chelsea manager Graham Potter becomes available if they are to replace David Moyes.

The Lowdown: Moyes under pressure…

The east Londoners succumbed to a damaging 2-0 defeat at Tottenham on Sunday, heaping pressure on the under-fire Moyes to quickly get results back on track.

West Ham were unbeaten in their previous three Premier League matches before Spurs, drawing at Newcastle and against Chelsea at the London Stadium, whilst also beating Everton 2-0 in late January.

However, their latest loss has seemingly fired Moyes straight back into contention to be sacked, with The Times sharing that he could be dismissed if West Ham lose to Nottingham Forest on Saturday.

The Latest: West Ham ‘may be hoping’ for Potter…

According to club insider Claret & Hugh, the pool of available managers who could appeal to the West Ham board is alarmingly thin.

As such, they appear stuck with Moyes for the time being, but could see Potter as a potentially viable candidate amid his torrid run at Stamford Bridge.

As per C&H, the Irons ‘may be hoping’ Brighton’s former coach ‘could soon become available’.

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The Verdict: Good candidate?

If Potter were to become available, and if West Ham did target him to replace Moyes, we believe he would be a sure-fire successor for the Scotsman.

The ex-Seagulls head coach lead Brighton to top flight safety over two-successive seasons from 2019/2020 to 2020/2021 – all whilst earning high praise from the likes of Pep Guardiola for his bold, attack-minded philosophy.

Operating on a shoe-string budget, Potter also guided Brighton to a ninth-placed finish last season with his side scoring an impressive 42 goals (Transfermarkt).

While his current spell at Chelsea isn’t bearing fruit, it could simply be a case of a square peg in a round hole.

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp is another to have hailed the Englishman for his work, revealing to the media that Potter is ‘highly regarded’ among football people at the top level.

Hypothetically, a fairly young manager like the 47-year-old would be the ideal replacement for Moyes, depending on developments.

Tottenham Hotspur are keen on signing Chelsea striker Romelu Lukaku, who is on loan at Inter Milan, as a potential replacement for Harry Kane.

The Lowdown: Kane’s future in doubt?

The latter’s contract is currently set to expire at the end of next season, but there has been some good news for Tottenham fans in recent days, as it has emerged that talks about a new deal have already commenced.

That said, there is no guarantee that the Englishman will commit to a new contract, given that it has also been reported that he is ‘full of doubts’ about extending his stay in N17, so Antonio Conte may have to start thinking about replacements for the club’s all-time record goalscorer.

The Latest: Tottenham keen on Lukaku

According to a report from Spanish sources (via The Boy Hotspur), the Lilywhites are keen on signing Lukaku if Kane decides he does not want to sign a new deal with Tottenham.

It is explained that Inter Milan have no interest in signing the Belgian forward on a permanent deal this summer, while the player himself has no intention of returning to his parent club, perhaps opening the door for a move to north London.

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The Verdict: Avoid

Juventus defender Leonardo Bonucci has hailed Lukaku as a ‘complete’ striker who ‘can win games on his own’, and his record in front of goal with Inter is fantastic, scoring 68 times in 109 appearances while also claiming 17 assists.

However, the 29-year-old did struggle the last time he played in the Premier League, only managing eight goals in 26 top-flight games for Chelsea, and the fact that he has only netted twice in the Serie A this season indicates that he is perhaps past his best.

Of course, Tottenham will be hoping that they have no need to sign a new striker this summer, given that contract talks with Kane seem to be progressing. However, if they do enter the market, Lukaku should not be one of Conte’s targets.

A number of Leeds United supporters have expressed their frustration with Brenden Aaronson and Georginio Rutter’s performances against Chelsea.

The Lowdown: Leeds lose at Chelsea

The Whites faced a tough Premier League clash on Saturday afternoon, visiting a Chelsea side that may be in poor form but have some hugely talented players.

Javi Gracia’s side battled for long periods at Stamford Bridge, but ultimately, they returned north having lost 1-0, courtesy of Wesley Fofana’s solitary goal.

Once the weekend action had come to a close, Leeds founds themselves sitting 17th in the table and only clear of the relegation zone by virtue of goal difference.

The Latest: Fans criticise Whites duo

Aaronson and Rutter both disappointed on the day, having no shots on target between them and also losing possession 32 times combined, according to Sofascore.

These Leeds fans took to Twitter to reveal their frustration at the duo’s efforts in west London:

“Was a lot better after they came on. Rutter and Aaronson were poor.” – @bigmack1

“How poor are Harrison Aaronson and Rutter today” – @John14Malone

“I thought that was a dreadful performances against a bang average Chelsea team. McKennie, Aaronson, Harrison, Summerville and Rutter all terrible. Utterly lacking in quality” – @CraigWalker1983

“How Aaronson and Rutter get in this team is a joke. Both offer nothing.” – @fletcheyben

“Rutter has 12 goals in 75 games Aaronson 22 in 175 See the issue?” – @AmusingName0

“McKennie, Greenwood, Aaronson, Summerville, Rutter all atrocious” – @simonw1991

The Verdict: Much more needed

A massive few months now lie ahead for the Whites and they need as many players as possible performing at their highest level, which wasn’t the case at Chelsea.

Aaronson made a lively start to life at Elland Road, looking like an exciting signing, but his form has clearly tailed off, with only one league goal to his name in 24 appearances this season.

Meanwhile, it is still early days with Rutter, but he is still awaiting his first goal contribution of any kind after eight outings, which isn’t the most promising of starts.

The pair simply must find an extra gear and provide more firepower in the remaining months of the season – the return of ten-goal leading scorer Rodrigo is vital, too – or Leeds could find themselves in big trouble.

Tottenham Hotspur have made Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford their top target ahead of the summer transfer window…

What’s the latest on Tottenham’s interest in Jordan Pickford?

That’s according to Alan Nixon of The Sun, who reports that the England no.1 remains a priority to replace Hugo Lloris for the north London outfit despite him signing a new long-term deal at Goodison Park recently.

If the Toffees are relegated, there is an agreement that would see Pickford sold and whilst his value would be a lot lower as a Championship player, the Merseyside giants would still hold out for around £35m.

It’s also thought that Pickford would earn similar wages at Spurs to what he’s currently on, which is reported to be around £150k-per-week.

What is Hugo Lloris’ future at Spurs?

It’s increasingly apparent that Lloris’ days are numbered around N17.

After an 11-year stint between the sticks, the French veteran could finally be forced out of the club.

His 2023 has been littered with mistakes following heartbreak at the World Cup, registering more errors leading to a goal than any other player in the Premier League – and more than double any other goalkeeper, including Pickford (two).

Lloris spilt a long-range effort from Douglas Luiz to tee up Aston Villa to score, then blundered against arch-rivals Arsenal in the north London derby before flapping at a near-post strike from Riyad Mahrez to squander a two-goal lead against Manchester City.

Such exploits have led to a host of criticism, the latest coming from Birmingham City striker Troy Deeney, who claimed that ‘we know he is going to chuck a few goals in every season’ to The Sun.

Whilst the Evening Standard’s Dan Kilpatrick lambasted him as a “liability” earlier in the year, with the 36-year-old being described as “passed his sell-by date” by Sky Sports pundit Graeme Souness too.

It’s no wonder that a move for Pickford has now become a likely possibility as the 29-year-old has long proved his credentials as a leading glovesman for club and country.

Once heralded as a “monster” by journalist Joe Crann, the energetic 6 foot 1 shot-stopper excels with the ball at his feet, ranking inside the top 6% of his positional peers across Europe’s ‘big five’ for launch and length of goal kicks per 90, as well as outranking Lloris for both saves and save percentage per 90, via FBref.

Whoever stands in the dugout next season must resolve the underperforming goalkeeping department and in Pickford, Tottenham could well find their next no.1 for the next few years.

£35m may seem like a pretty penny but considering the Gunners gambled around £30m on Aaron Ramsdale, it may actually prove to be a complete bargain in the end and clearly, a considerable upgrade on the £110k-per-week Lloris.

AND in other news, Could’ve cost £300k, now worth £70m: Spurs must rue not signing 12-cap “beast” in 2015…

Tottenham Hotspur fans have been left fuming with Antonio Conte appearing to back down in his criticism of the board.

The Lowdown: Conte fuming

After Tottenham’s 3-3 draw against Southampton on Saturday, Conte was left fuming by the capitulation from his players, saying:

“I see selfish players, players that don’t want to help each other and don’t put their heart into this”

“There’s no fire, no desire. You need to have this in every moment. When you are NOT a team, you can’t improve”.

Not only did the manager criticise his team, but he also appeared to take a swipe at owner Daniel Levy, questioning why the club have failed to win major trophies under his stewardship.

However, Alasdair Gold has recently reported that the Italian has clarified his comments to the board, explaining they were aimed solely at the players.

The Latest: Spurs fans react

Taking to Twitter after the news, Spurs fans expressed their frustration about their manager appearing to change his stance.

They said:

“So he’s a coward. Regardless, how can he work with the players after this. Does he pick the same team and expect different, will they play for him? It’s untenable. End it now. He needs to go, the bad egg players definitely need to go and the owners most definitely need to go.” – @80sHotspur

“You throw your players under the bus and expect them to perform for you. Coward.” – @ForgorJonathan

“So the board now have a manager that won’t commit and players that they don’t believe in. This could be awkward.” – @mint_spurs

“So he’s backed down? Great.” – @HeHeFunnee

“Conte has well and truly bottled it, the man really has no class. Overrated washed up dinosaur. He’s now attacked the fans numerous time and the players, time to go.” – @Bridgenn

“Stick to your guns Conte. It is the board and the players.” – @Rory4Spurs

The Verdict: Time to go?

Regardless of who the main target of the extraordinary rant was, it is looking ever more likely that Conte will exit, at least by the summer, with members of the squad now said to be growing frustrated by the negativity he often conveys in public.

There are a whole host of options for Tottenham, with Thomas Tuchel still out of work, however he is only believed to want the job if the club secure Champions League football for next season.

Ryan Mason has been discussed internally as a potential interim manager for the rest of the campaign, but appointing the 31-year-old would be a risk, given his lack of experience.

Levy faces a difficult task when it comes to appointing his next manager, with both Jose Mourinho and Conte failing to win any silverware, despite being successful elsewhere, indicating there is a fundamental problem with this group of players.