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Arsenal have now been given the "green light" to negotiate a deal to sell former club captain Granit Xhaka to Bayer Leverkusen over the "next days", claims transfers expert Fabrizio Romano.

Arsenal transfer news – what's the latest on Granit Xhaka?

It has finally happened for Arsenal, after almost a week of silence following news that West Ham United had accepted an offer of £105m for their captain Declan Rice, it was confirmed that a payment structure has been agreed upon, and the England international will be having his medical with the Gunners in the coming days.

With the deal complete and at a huge cost to the Gunners, the plan to sell Switzerland international Xhaka has been given the go-ahead by the board.

It was revealed before the final game of the season that the former Borussia Monchengladbach midfielder would be leaving the club.

Still, any deal had to be put on hold until the situation with Rice was finalised, just as a precaution.

With that no longer being a concern, the club have reportedly accepted an offer worth £21.5m from Bundesliga giants Bayer Leverkusen, who are said to have offered the 30-year-old a four-year deal.

It will be the end of a seven-year spell in north London that has seen him go from public enemy number one to a cult hero, but with Rice coming in, playing time would have inevitably become more limited.

Transfers expert Fabrizio Romano explained the situation on his YouTube channel, saying:

"Green light for Granit Xhaka to Bayer Leverkusen, so this deal will happen in the next days, they were just waiting to close the Declan Rice deal."

How good was Granit Xhaka last season?

It has been a rocky road for the Swiss captain in North London, to say the least, from a near-universally disliked figure among the match-going fans to a man that was serenaded for much of last season before getting a standing ovation on his final appearance for the club.

One of the main reasons for that turnaround has been his form for the club, going from a decent player to someone that was an unquestioned starter in a title chasing side.

According to WhoScored, the Basel-born machine achieved a brilliant average rating last season of 6.98 across his 37 appearances in the Premier League and seriously upped his attacking threat, scoring seven goals and assisting another seven.

His underlying numbers prove that it wasn't just luck last year either, but a sustained improvement to his overall game.

According to FBref, who compare players in a similar position across Europe's top five leagues, the midfield destroyer sits in the top 4% for touches in the opposition's penalty area, the top 8% for non-penalty goals, the top 15% for non-penalty expected goals and expected assists, and the top 16% for shot-creating actions, all per 90.

Mikel Arteta has made no secret of the admiration he feels for his player either, describing him as:

"Really, really important on every level, for the team and for the club as well. In the great moments like the season he has had, and in the difficult ones."

Whilst the Gunners are certainly getting an upgrade in the form of Rice, Xhaka has well and truly left his mark on the club and has been able to leave with his head held high.

Bayern Munich have prepared "a second offer" for Tottenham Hotspur's Harry Kane, with the German club being the England international's "preferred destination" should he leave the Premier League, according to Sky Sports reporter Mark McAdam.

Tottenham Hotspur transfer news – What's the latest on Harry Kane?

Earlier this week German giants Bayern made an initial verbal offer to Spurs for the services of their talismanic captain and all-time leading goals scorer, Kane.

According to the Daily Mail, the opening offer was in the region of £60m, which was swiftly rejected by the north London side, who maintain their position that they would rather lose the player for free next year than sell him for a figure that low.

The publication also revealed that personal terms between the player and club had been agreed 'in principle', leaving the ball firmly in Daniel Levy and Co's court.

It would appear that the Bundesliga champions see the Englishman as one of their key targets this summer, as they are reportedly set to make a second offer to the north London club imminently.

Speaking on Sky Sports News, reporter Mark McAdam revealed the latest information on this unfolding transfer saga: "We are now being told by Sky Germany that there is a second offer being prepared, and this is a more formal offer in writing from Bayern Munich to Tottenham Hotspur.

"Their information is also that Harry Kane would be open to the move, and should he leave the Premier League, Bayern Munich would be his preferred destination.

"Of course, Spurs' stance has always been the same, they do not want to sell Harry Kane, they want to keep him, Ange Postecoglou would like him as part of squad for next season, and that they would be more happy to let him go on a free next season when his contract comes to an end.

"He is of course in the last year of his current Tottenham Hotspur deal at the moment and to try and find a replacement for man that scored 30 Premier League goals is almost impossible."

Just how good was Harry Kane last season?

In a season that saw headlines dominated by the sensational exploits of Erling Haaland, it has flown under the radar somewhat just how good of a campaign it was from an individual point of view for Kane.

The Walthamstow-born machine scored a seriously impressive 30 goals for a lacklustre Lilywhites side, coming up with a further three assists.

According to WhoScored, he averaged a rating of 7.51 across his 38 league appearances as well, highlighting that he wasn't just hiding behind a good goal tally.

His temporary boss Cristian Stellini certainly appreciated his goals in his short tenure, hailing the player as a "GOAT in this league" following their shock 1-0 win over Pep Guardiola's Manchester City.

Guardiola is another great of the game that has never hidden his admiration for the England captain, lauding him as "exceptional" and "one of the best I have ever seen."

It is hard to argue against Kane being one of the Premier League's greatest ever players, and with that, it is easier to understand Spurs' position of being happier to lose him for free next year if they can get another year of exceptional service out of him.

Whatever happens, and wherever Kane plays next season, he will likely be challenging for the golden boot all over again.

Wolverhampton Wanderers are not willing to match the £25m price-tag set by Bristol City for young midfield star Alex Scott, according to Dean Jones.

Scott has been linked with a move this summer after impressing for the Robins in the Championship last season.

Wolverhampton Wanderers transfer news – Alex Scott

Several Premier League clubs have entered the chase to sign Scott this summer, according to TalkSPORT, with Wolves among those.

The Midlands club reportedly face competition from West Ham United and Bournemouth for the teenager's signature this summer.

Meanwhile, Liverpool previously sent scouts to watch the midfielder, before cooling their interest.

As the summer goes on, it looks like Scott will have a big decision to make regarding his future.

What has Dean Jones said about Alex Scott and Wolverhampton Wanderers?

Speaking to Football FanCast, when asked about Scott and Wolves, Jones said: "Scott’s an interesting one. Bristol City value him at around £25m at the moment.

"That’s been quite off-putting for a lot of teams, it’s not just Wolves that aren’t willing to get to that make, so I think as the window goes further in, we might find that price-tag comes down a little."

How did Alex Scott perform in the Championship last season?Reports over a potential Premier League move for Scott come as no surprise after the Bristol City youngster picked up the Championship's Young Player of the Year award.

Many were quick to praise the 19-year-old throughout the season, with Robins manager Nigel Pearson saying, via Bristol World: "He’s just a very unique talent and he’s got a very impressive temperament.

“I think he’s destined for the very top, but football dictates to you what’s going to happen because you can’t always be in control of your own destiny.

"Alex Scott will, I think, continue to progress and he’ll be a top player. But he also knows that he’s got to do it for us while he’s here, he just enjoys playing football so it's good to have young hungry players at the club as well as senior players who want to continue to perform and get better.”

In total, the man in demand was involved in seven goals from midfield in the Championship last season, as well as particularly impressing through his progressive dribbling ability, making 2.34 progressive carries per 90, as per FBref.

Wherever he ends up this summer, there is no doubt that Scott has all the tools to become a top talent.

Everton supporters are bracing themselves for Amadou Onana's exit from Goodison Park this summer, but they should fear not as there is a ready-made replacement waiting to join.

Onana is reportedly being targeted by Chelsea should they fail to sign top target Moises Caicedo from Brighton and Hove Albion, with the Seagulls refusing to budge on their nine-figure valuation.

Everton are themselves said to be after £55m for Onana, which the big-spending Blues would likely pay, and the Toffees can then sign as good a player – if not better – for half of that fee.

What are the latest Everton transfer rumours?

According to the Daily Mail, Sean Dyche's side have already made enquiries over Leeds United midfielder Tyler Adams, though the United States international is also wanted by Aston Villa, Nottingham Forest and indeed Brighton.

The report suggests that the 5 foot 9 ace could be the subject of a £25m bid from the Seagulls.

Is Tyler Adams an upgrade on Amadou Onana for Everton?

Adams may have suffered relegation from the Premier League in his first season with Leeds, having only joined from RB Leipzig for a reported £20m last summer, but his reputation as a tough-tackling midfielder remains intact.

The American ranked joint-fourth in the Premier League last season in terms of tackles, level with Manchester United's Casemiro on 89, as per FBref. To put that in some perspective, Onana ranked 16th in the division with 72.

Adams (50) also ranked second, behind only Fulham's Joao Palhinha (71), for dribblers tackled in last season's Premier League, while he ranked tenth for tackles and interceptions combined (129).

That translates to 5.17 combined tackles and interceptions per 90 minutes for Adams, compared to 3.95 for Onana, the man he may be brought in to replace by Everton.

Not only would the Toffees be bringing in one of the finest around at breaking up play – he ranks in the top 4% of all midfielders across Europe's top five leagues in that metric, as per The Analyst – they also have a natural leader in the engine room, as pointed out by former Leeds boss Jesse Marsch.

"We used to have conversations in New York about whether we make Tyler the captain at 17, 18 years old," Marsch told The Athletic of the pair's time together at New York Red Bulls. "Everyone talked about his potential as a leader."

Adams is also comfortable on the ball, ranking in the top 17% of midfielders in the Premier League, La Liga, Bundesliga, Ligue 1 and Serie A for average number of touches per game, whereas Onana is in the bottom 14%.

The 24-year-old does not provide any sort of attacking threat, as highlighted by the fact he is in the lowest 2% of his positional peers across Europe's elite leagues for shots taken, but that is not what Everton are after.

In some ways, a bid from Chelsea for Onana should almost be welcomed by Everton. Not only will they be able to bring in a player for half the cost at £25m, as per the Daily Mail report, but they will also have money left over to strengthen other troublesome positions in the hope of a more positive 2023/24.

Liverpool are gathering information regarding what it would take to bring Fiorentina star Sofyan Amrabat to the Premier League, according to reports.

Who is Sofyan Amrabat?

Amrabat is a defensive midfielder who currently plays his football at the Artemio Franchi Stadium having joined back in 2020 from Hellas Verona. With his contract set to expire at the end of next season, Vincenzo Italiano is now facing his final opportunity to cash in should he not want to lose his prized asset for free in 12 months.

The Morocco international was his nation’s most regular outfield player at the 2022 World Cup having played 660 minutes of football, and excelled to the point where they made it all the way to the semi-finals, and these displays for his country grabbed the attention of Jurgen Klopp back in January.

The Athletic’s James Pearce reported that the Reds were considering a swoop for the 26-year-old as an outside alternative compared to some of their more high-profile targets at the time, Jude Bellingham being an example, and despite them eventually deciding against a move, it sounds like they might have since had a change of heart.

Are Liverpool signing Amrabat?

According to Spanish outlet Sport (via Sport Witness), Liverpool are "attentive" to Amrabat's situation and have "sounded out" the midfielder about a potential summer switch to Anfield.

Fiorentina are believed to have set a price tag of €30m (£25m) plus objectives for the player, who wants to leave and start afresh elsewhere "as soon as possible", but it's not specified whether the fee is one that the board would be happy to pay.

Could Amrabat be a good addition for Klopp?

Liverpool will know that Amrabat is stronger in the natural defensive aspect of his game having only recorded one assist across all competitions last season, but with the protection that he could give to the backline, he would be a great acquisition for FSG.

The Huizen native ranked in the 95th percentile for pass completion so is calm and composed in possession, and loves to get stuck in after averaging 1.3 tackles per league game during the previous campaign, preventing the danger before it was too late.

Fiorentina’s “monster”, as dubbed by reporter Carlo Garganese, would also add wonderful versatility to Klopp’s squad with his ability to operate in eight various positions across the pitch, including everywhere in the centre and even in defence, making him a useful option to have available.

Finally, Amrabat shares the same agent, CAA Stellar, as Ibrahima Konate, Caoimhin Kelleher and Rhys Williams, so this existing connection that their representative has to the club could hand them a small advantage should they try and get a deal over the line this summer.

Arsenal remain interested in a Premier League rival's player, with a recent update on their pursuit having now been dropped…

What's the latest on Joao Cancelo to Arsenal?

Speaking on The Gooner Talk YouTube channel, journalist Harry Symeou detailed the numerous players that the Gunners have been linked with despite the window having only truly opened on Wednesday.

Whilst the likes of Kylian Mbappe and Declan Rice were mentioned, what he noted about Joao Cancelo was perhaps the most interesting.

He claimed:

"I really do think that Arsenal want to do this deal, I really, really do. Whether they’ll be able to do it or not remains to be seen, because I think financially this is quite a difficult one to do.

“We know that there was an option-to-buy available for Bayern at around about €60m (£51m) and we know that Bayern don’t want to take that up. This suggests that Manchester City are of the belief that the player is worth [the] money and he absolutely is.

“It’s going to cost money to get him off of a rival and City do see us as that now, I don’t think they’re going to be letting people move across to Arsenal as freely as they did last summer looking at the way that elevated us."

How good could Joao Cancelo be at Arsenal?

Whilst the acquisition of someone so ingrained in a philosophy akin to Mikel Arteta's would offer widescale improvements, it could be argued that the comfortability of the defender in his role could have a particularly revolutionary effect on those within the back line.

After all, should he invert to form the base of a box midfield, just like he has done at times under Pep Guardiola, it could allow the likes of William Saliba to truly thrive and become one of the best ball-playing defenders in the game.

The way in which Cancelo accepts the ball in awkward areas, as a creatively unique full-back, would offer another key passing lane for the Frenchman who has enjoyed a stellar first full year playing English football.

When compared to other central defenders across Europe, the 22-year-old ranks in the top 8% for passes attempted and the top 7% for pass completion per 90, via FBref. This has boosted his 6.96 average rating, further upheld through 1.3 tackles and three clearances per game too, via Sofascore.

Meanwhile, the Portugal international, when put alongside other full-backs in Europe, blows them all out of the water creatively. He ranks in the top 2% for progressive carries, the top 2% for successful take-ons, the top 1% for assists, but most importantly for Saliba, the top 4% for progressive passes received, all per 90 via FBref.

This has led teammate Jack Grealish to wax lyrical about his qualities, claiming:

"He is so good technically. You know when we're playing one-touch, two-touch, he's just a joke and then he can shoot right foot, left foot from anywhere."

City's treble-winning boss Pep Guardiola would also supplement this, by outlining one particularly outstanding showing: "He was aggressive and has incredible quality with the ball."

With a defensive steel showcased in his 1.5 tackles and one interception per Bundesliga game last season, but an unparalleled ability to take the ball and forge opportunities, Cancelo has all the attributes to come into the Emirates and help make Saliba one of the best in his position.

Liverpool are in the race to sign Borussia Monchengladbach midfielder Manu Kone this summer as Jurgen Klopp looks to add midfield reinforcements, according to journalist Ben Jacobs.

What's the latest transfer news involving Manu Kone?

As per FootballTransfers, Liverpool are said to be 'in talks' with Borussia Monchengladbach midfielder Kone ahead of a possible summer move to Anfield.

The report states that discussions have taken place and he could be available for a price close to €40 million (£34.45 million). However, Newcastle United are also keen to add the 22-year-old midfielder to their squad in the off-season.

In 2022/23, Kone made 31 appearances in all competitions for Borussia Monchengladbach, registering one goal and a solitary assist apiece, as per Transfermarkt.

As per Salary Sport, the France Under-21 cap earns around £37,000 per week on the books at BORUSSIA-PARK on a contract that runs until June 2025.

According to The Guardian, Liverpool are 'continuing to push' in order to tie up a deal to bring Kone to Merseyside alongside Brighton & Hove Albion man Alexis Mac Allister.

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, journalist Jacobs has detailed that Kone is a name 'on the list' for Liverpool and said they could land him for an affordable price.

Jacobs stated: “I think with Kone, Liverpool certainly have the player on the list, and he might be available at a bargain price. He’ll be well under £50m, more likely closer to £35m or in that ballpark. So, that’s certainly a name that can't be discounted.”

Would Manu Kone be a good signing for Liverpool?

Kone, who has been hailed as a "one man army", is an excellent talent with plenty of room for development and unsurprisingly, Reds boss Klopp is keen to add him to Liverpool's squad ahead of next term.

According to WhoScored, the 22-year-old achieved a pass success rate of 87.9% in 2022/23, demonstrating his reliability in possession of the ball.

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The same outlet also report that Kone is a key force in driving Borussia Monchengladbach forward from midfield and managed to complete 1.9 dribbles per match in the Bundesliga.

As per FBRef, Kone also compares well to his positional peers across Europe's top five divisions in the art of successful take-ons, having completed 1.96 per 90 minutes across the last 365 days, which puts him in the fourth percentile for this statistical metric.

Liverpool need to replace their experienced outgoing midfield trio of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlian, Naby Keita and James Milner with more youthful energy and bringing in Kone could help to freshen up the engine room ahead of 2023/24.

An Italian source has now shared a big Southampton transfer update involving Wolfsburg forward and Torino loanee Josip Brekalo.

The Lowdown: Saints eye attackers…

Saints boss Ralph Hasenhuttl reportedly has attacking signings in his sights as he gears up for the 2022/2023 Premier League season.

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The likes of Liam Delap of Man City have recently been linked alongside more senior options like Taiwo Awoniyi of Union Berlin, coming as Southampton’s chances of sealing a permanent deal for Chelsea loanee Armando Broja reportedly grow thin.

Club chief Martin Semmens is tasked with backing Hasenhuttl over what could be a crucial summer window at St. Mary’s, and according to reports, they’ve already made a pre-summer move.

The Latest: Southampton open talks…

According to Calciomercato.it, Southampton have now opened talks for Brekalo amid his brilliant season on a temporary spell at Torino – making contact with either a ‘formal request for information’ or ‘draft offer’.

Indeed, the Saints, along with Atletico Madrid, Eintracht Frankfurt and West Ham are thought to have made ‘concrete moves’ for the Croatia international.

The Verdict: Push on?

The 30-cap attacker has played brilliantly in Serie A over the course of 2021/2022, prompting members of the media to call his form ‘frightening’ in parts (Josh Bunting, Islington Gazette).

Ranking as one of Torino’s top-five performers going by average match rating, Brekalo also boasts the highest number of key passes made per 90 in the final third out of any regular under Ivan Juric (WhoScored).

The 23-year-old, who still has many years ahead at the top, is also level with teammates Andrea Belotti and Sasa Lukic in terms of goals and assists combined (WhoScored).

He comes as a fairly promising new transfer target and one who could demand just €10 million (£8.4m) on Southampton’s part.

In other news: Southampton also want ‘extraordinary’ 10/10 colossus who has sights set on a move to England! Find out more here.

Newcastle United journalist Luke Edwards has been left raging over news of a bizarre Newcastle kit that will reportedly be on show next season.

The Lowdown: Saudi kit

As shared by Edwards for The Daily Telegraph, there has been an image leaked in the last 24 hours of the St. James’ Park faithful’s proposed third strip for the new season.

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It presents green sleeve and neck lines with the badge and manufacturer’s logo also coloured in green, on a pre-dominantly white shirt. It is very reminiscent of what the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) national team play in.

The Latest: Edwards reacts

Taking to Twitter, Edwards gave his instant reaction after hearing of the leaked shirt, calling it a ‘stupid’ idea:

“The Saudi third kit idea for NUFC was a stupid one and, quite honestly, the club deserve all the criticism coming their way over it.”

The Verdict: Needs rethinking

It is normal to have a secondary colour on away and third kits not usually seen in the club’s traditional colours, but colouring the badge and manufacturer name green is not needed and not subtle at all in light of controversies in the KSA.

If they were to keep those aspects in their traditional colours, and merely have the sleeve and neck outlines green, then it could be deemed an acceptable strip which both appeals to the new audience in the Middle East and does not detract from the legacy of the club in the North East.

Nonetheless, you can see where Edwards is coming from, and the club have to prepare to face criticism if they go through with the idea.

In other news, find out who is now ‘set to leave’ NUFC in the summer here!

Manchester United are strongly looking into the possibility of signing Benfica striker Darwin Nunez, according to transfer insider Dean Jones. 

The lowdown: Nunez’s rise to stardom

The 22-year-old has enjoyed a continued upwards career trajectory ever since arriving in Europe from South America in 2019.

Originally signed by Spanish second-tier outfit Almeria, Nunez scored 16 times and provided three assists in just 32 outings before being snapped up by Benfica.

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Having since netted 48 goals in just 84 appearances for the Portuguese giants, a host of Europe’s elite clubs are looking on with intent…

The latest: United keen on Nunez

Speaking to GiveMeSport, Jones has claimed that the Red Devils are ‘100 per cent’ weighing up a move for the dynamic frontman.

He stated: “Darwin Nunez is 100 per cent somebody that they are looking into right now. He’s very likely to land in the Premier League in the summer, and Manchester United are taking his availability very seriously. And they think that he might be just the guy that they need for next season.”

The verdict: Sign him at all costs

As statement signings go, few are likely to turn heads like the eventual winners of the race to sign eight-cap Uruguay star Nunez this summer.

So far this season, the man who was branded ‘world class’ by his Benfica manager Jorge Jesus has scored 34 times and provided four assists in 40 appearances across all competitions.

With the immediate futures of Marcus Rashford, Anthony Martial, Cristiano Ronaldo and Nunez’s compatriot Edinson Cavani all in doubt, bringing the Uruguayan youngster to Old Trafford would be a sensational early piece of business from new Red Devils manager Erik ten Hag.

In other news: Man Utd star could make sensational summer exit…find out more here