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The summer transfer window officially opened for business earlier this month and Manchester United could be busy in an attempt to bolster their squad in the coming months.

Erik ten Hag's side finished third in the Premier League last season but could look to improve their attacking options after they scored 58 times, which was the eighth-highest in the division.

One player who could come in to solve some of their problems in the final third is reported transfer target Goncalo Ramos, who is valued at around £80m by Benfica.

It is difficult to gauge how a player will adapt to moving to England when signing someone who has no prior experience of performing in the Premier League, but United got it spot on when they snatched Bruno Fernandes away from Portuguese football in 2020.

The former Sporting CP midfielder has been a terrific signing for the Red Devils and was able to hit the ground running after the move from his home country.

He won the Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year award in both of his first two campaigns with the club and has racked up 64 goals and 54 assists in 185 matches in all competitions to date.

How did Goncalo Ramos perform last season?

United could now repeat the blinder they played with the signing of Fernandes by swooping to sign another star from Portugal in the form of Ramos, who enjoyed a terrific year in front of goal for Benfica.

The 22-year-old centre-forward averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.15 across 30 Liga Portugal outings and contributed 19 goals and two assists, which shows that the exciting ace was able to provide quality end product on a regular basis.

Talent scout Jacek Kulig once hailed the Portugal international as "incredibly prolific" and described him as being "on fire" throughout the 2022/23 campaign.

The talented Benfica star's return of 27 goals and 12 assists in 47 outings last season, coupled with three goals in four World Cup appearances, backs up that claim from Kulig, as the lethal finisher has proven himself in front of goal domestically and at international level.

Ramos, who scored 27 goals in 55 youth team outings for his current club, also plundered 14 goals in 18 Portugal U21 matches before his step up to the senior squad.

Meanwhile, Marcus Rashford (17) was the only United player who managed more than eight Premier League goals last term, and this suggests that Ten Hag is in desperate need of another reliable goalscorer, which is exactly what Ramos would be if he can follow in Fernandes' footsteps and adapt to English football next season.

Newcastle United have been strongly linked with a move for Sandro Tonali this summer and now a new update has emerged on the club's pursuit of the player.

What's the latest on Newcastle's interest in Sandro Tonali?

According to The Athletic, Newcastle are closing in on a move for the Italian midfielder.

The report suggests that a fee in the region of €70m (£60m) has been agreed after face-to-face meetings took place on Wednesday.

He has emerged as a key target in the early stages of this window with Craig Hope later revealing that Dan Ashworth boarded a plane today in order to fly out to Milan to conclude a deal.

Would Tonali be a good fit for Newcastle?

It is no secret that Bruno Guimaraes' attacking talent has been sacrificed to an extent this season due to the departure of Jonjo Shelvey in January, meaning the Brazilian star has needed to adopt a much more defensive role in the midfield set-up.

Indeed, the Newcastle talisman has done a fine job in the lone deep-lying role just ahead of the back-line, notably contributing to ten goals last term. As such, it would be advantageous to Howe next season if he could unlock Guimaraes and allow him to return to his more free-flowing role where he thrived expeditiously in his first six months at St James'.

As a result, Tonali could be a huge asset in the competitive midfield when they take on multiple competitions next season in their pursuit of success and trophies, as he could be the ideal profile player to partner Guimaraes in the centre of the pitch.

Over 34 Serie A appearances, the 23-year-old talent – hailed "world-class" by the Athletic's Martino Puccio – registered seven assists, created 12 big chances and tallied up an 81% pass completion rate, as well as averaging 1.9 tackles, 1.8 key passes and 3.5 duels won per game, operating as a prolific ball-winner with strong play-making and progressive capabilities too.

Not only that, the Italian ranks in the top 14% of his positional peers across the top five European leagues for chance creation – according to Opta Analyst Radar – again demonstrating that Tonali could work well alongside Guimaraes to deliver strong attacking opportunities for Newcastle's front-men.

The news of the Magpies' bid for the Champions League semi-finalist led football analyst and writer Connor Holden to speculate about a potential midfield partnership between the two, suggesting the Toon were looking for an "elite partner" for Guimaraes.

With that being said, a move for Tonali is definitely a big coup as he could be an ideal like-minded companion for their Brazilian dynamo in the heart of the team.

Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe confessed last month that he would love to target a 'marquee' signing this summer after his side defied expectations and ended a two-decade absence from the Champions League with a fourth-place Premier League finish.

Thus far, the work plied on the transfer front has been calculated and diligent, with the imperious defence in particular consisting of Kieran Trippier (£12m), Dan Burn (£13m) and goalkeeper Nick Pope (£10m) – all signed since the revolution created by the lucrative PIF takeover in October 2021.

Different now, is the allure of European nights, and there are indeed few outfits more tantalising than Newcastle, who could now use their newfound success to bring in someone such as Bayern Munich's Sadio Mane, who is set for departure in Bavaria after signing for £35m from Liverpool just one year ago.

According to BILD, the Senegalese forward fronts Thomas Tuchel's proposed summer clear-out strategy as he prepares for a major rebuild, with the German newspaper – via Caught Offside – also recently linking Newcastle and Manchester United with a move for the 31-year-old who could cost £30m.

Should Newcastle sign Sadio Mane?

Mane is on the wrong side of 30 but would bring a wealth of illustrious experience and prolific potency at the highest level to St. James' Park at a time when the club could do with such a star to galvanise the troops as they search for silver-laden success of their own.

During his time in the Premier League, the £363k-per-week forward plundered 111 goals and 47 assists from 263 appearances for both Liverpool and Southampton, earning praise from former Reds boss Jurgen Klopp for his "world-class" credentials as an unrelenting "machine".

While the balance within the Magpies ranks is just right at present, targetting first-class signings to enrich the different facets of Howe's system could pay dividends as silverware and successive seasons in the Champions League are targetted.

And Mane could well hold the key to ensuring such endeavours are successful; he may even emulate his former Liverpool teammate Mohamed Salah on Tyneside.

Indeed, the Egyptian is considered the second most comparable player to Mane on FBref's 'Similar Players' model, with the Bayern star ranking among the top 11% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for rate of non-penalty goals and the top 1% for touches in the attacking box per 90.

Salah, comparatively, ranks among the top 3% for rate of non-penalty goals and also ranks among the top 1% for touches in the attacking box per 90, and given that the 30-year-old has posted 30 goals and 16 assists across all competitions this term, Mane could match such heights under Howe's tutelage.

Mane has indeed demonstrated his aptitude and then some across his career and, despite not quite integrating as hoped in Germany, he could reignite his distinguished career on Tyneside.

An update has emerged on Celtic and their plans to bolster their squad during the summer transfer window…

What's the latest on Odin Thiago Holm to Celtic?

According to Norwegian outlet Nettavisen, the Hoops are in talks with Eliteserien outfit Vålerenga as they close in on a deal to sign defensive midfielder Odin Thiago Holm.

The report claims that the two clubs are discussing the details around a transfer that would send the 20-year-old to Scotland ahead of the 2023/24 campaign and that a switch is imminent barring any late setbacks.

It states that an offer in the region of 30m kroner (around £2.2m) is on the cards from Celtic, who will also give up a percentage of their profit from any future sale to sweeten the deal.

What is Odin Thiago Holm's style of play?

The young battler is a defensive-minded ace who has the ability to win possession back for his side on a regular basis whilst also having the quality on the ball to function in a progressive system.

Holm could be the club's next Nir Bitton, who left Parkhead at the end of the 2021/22 campaign, by coming in as a strong no.6 with excellent passing.

In his last season with the Hoops, the Israel international averaged a Sofascore rating of 6.90 across 24 matches in the Scottish Premiership and made 1.7 tackles and interceptions per game and completed 91% of his attempted passes.

The 6 foot 5 stalwart, who made 271 appearances for Celtic, also won 54% of his individual duels that year, which was after he came out on top in 62% of his battles in the division in 20/21.

This shows that the experienced ace was a reliable passer who also bullied opposition players to win the ball back for his team and prevent them from creating chances in the final third.

Holm, meanwhile, enjoyed an impressive campaign in the Eliteserien in 2022.

The youngster, who won 60% of his physical contests, averaged a Sofascore rating of 6.96 across 22 outings and managed to complete 88% of his passes and made two tackles and interceptions per match.

These statistics suggest that the 20-year-old gem, who plays in the same position as Bitton, could come in and replicate the former Celtic enforcer's success in Scotland as a strong defensive midfielder who can make an impact in and out of possession.

Talent scout Jacek Kulig once described the Norway U20 international as a "huge talent" and cited his defensive reliability and ability to dictate games with his passing quality as some of his biggest strengths, which is backed up by his form in the Norwegian top-flight.

Therefore, Holm could come in as Bitton 2.0 for the next Celtic manager ahead of the 2023/24 campaign and his arrival, based on his impressive statistics at such a young age for Vålerenga, could be an excellent first signing of the summer for the new head coach.

Arsenal have been linked with one of the Premier League’s top performers ahead of the transfer window, as Mikel Arteta sets his sights on bolstering his squad this summer.

The Spaniard enjoyed a strong title charge with his side this season and despite falling short of Manchester City on the final straight, can take many positives from the campaign.

The Gunners will play Champions League football again for the first time since 2016, and with an additional competition comes added need for squad depth, something that tainted Arsenal’s title charge this term.

As reported ahead of the summer, the Emirates may become home for a player that could significantly improve the side.

What’s the latest on Ilkay Gundogan to Arsenal?

As first reported by The Athletic at the end of last month, Manchester City ace Ilkay Gundogan is on Arsenal’s radar.

The 32-year-old will be a free agent at the end of the campaign should he fail to strike a new deal with the Citizens, which has become an appealing prospect for the Gunners.

Most recently, the Evening Standard claimed that Arteta’s relationship with the German could provide vital in the north Londoners’ pursuit of the midfielder, a player whom he worked with in Manchester.

What could Ilkay Gundogan offer to Arsenal?

As the season progresses, the experience and quality of the midfielder becomes more and more evident, as seen last weekend when he single-handedly fired City to complete the double, scoring two outside-the-box volleys at Wembley in the FA Cup final.

The Gelsenkirchen-born ace could provide so much to Arteta’s budding Arsenal side, and would most prominently provide as a perfect partner for Martin Odegaard.

The Spaniard could replicate the success of the 32-year-old in Guardiola’s midfield, just as he has done with Oleksandr Zinchenko’s role in the defence since making the switch from the Etihad to the Emirates.

Alongside Kevin De Bruyne, Gundogan has one of the best creators in the Premier League, with the Belgian acting as the pacemaker for creative midfielders to follow year after year.

The German could replicate the success in his play with Odegaard, who himself has been lauded as a “playmaking genius” by scout Antonio Mango.

The £140k-per-week City gem averages 63 attempted passes per 90, as well as maintaining a completion rate of 87.7% as per FBref, showing he could be a second creator in Arsenal’s midfield, giving Odegaard more to work with in the number 10 role.

De Bruyne reaps the positive vibrations from the 32-year-old, with the duo described by the Daily Mail’s Jack Gaughan as being ‘masters of slowing games down when City lead’, something that could be integral to Odegaard.

Sometimes it’s hard to comprehend that the Arsenal skipper is just 24 years old, however, the Gunners have suffered recently in holding their leads, as shown in drawing consecutive games in the run in this season with Southampton, West Ham and Liverpool.

The “exceptional” gem, as lauded by his manager, could not only support the Norwiegan’s progression in an offensive light but also defensively and through experience, in his ability to conduct the tempo of a game.

There are many ways that a player of the calibre of Gundogan could influence Arteta’s budding Arsenal squad, though his influence on Odegaard could unlock another level to the Gunners’ ace.

Arsenal have now “sounded out the possibility of a deal” for Southampton midfielder Romeo Lavia, according to recent reports.

Who could Arsenal sign this summer?

After a memorable 2022/2023 Premier League campaign, one where manager Mikel Arteta made serious strides in making Arsenal a force again, it is now time to prepare for the summer.

The Gunners missed out on their first league title in 20 years to Pep Guardiola’s imperious Man City side, but there were real positives to take, especially considering they missed out on a top four finish to Spurs the previous year.

Edu has already confirmed that planning has been done for this looming transfer window, with the Brazilian sporting director seemingly well ahead in his attempts to back Arteta on the field.

In terms of who Arsenal could sign, it is believed that they’re pushing for a star midfielder or two, with Brighton’s Moises Caicedo and West Ham’s Declan Rice among the primary targets.

The north Londoners have also been tipped to sign a new defender, especially at right-back, in recent weeks – leading to links with Galatasary’s Sacha Boey and Real Valladollid’s Ivan Fresneda.

Going back to their midfield search, another name to have been mentioned is former Man City player Lavia, who could leave Southampton following their relegation to the Championship.

According to a report by Football Insider, sharing news in the last 48 hours, Arsenal have “sounded out the possibility of a deal” for the 19-year-old.

As well as Arteta’s side, the likes of Liverpool, Chelsea and Man City are named as interested parties, with the latter possessing a £40 million buy-back clause which could gift them an advantage.

However, that seemingly hasn’t deterred Arsenal, who look to have made an approach for the Belgium international.

As well as this, FI claims that Arteta is personally a “big fan” of Lavia, with a potential move unrelated to their bids for the likes of Caicedo and Rice.

Who is Romeo Lavia?

Signing for Southampton from City in the summer of 2022, Lavia has gone on to become a mainstay, having made 29 Premier League appearances last term.

He stands out as tidy midfield player, amassing a higher passing accuracy than any Saints regular over the 22/23 campaign (WhoScored).

Lavia also chipped in with Southampton’s second-highest rate of tackles per 90 behind Mohammed Salisu – impressive numbers for a teenager (WhoScored).

Called a “sensational” player by members of the media, he could be a brilliant option for Arsenal this summer, depending on if they can beat Guardiola in the race.

Alasdair Gold has dropped a promising update on the future of Tottenham Hotspur centre-forward Harry Kane.

What’s the talk?

In a recent video posted on his YouTube channel, the football.london journalist revealed that, should Spurs go on to secure a top-four finish in the league, the 28-year-old’s long-term future in north London would not only be much less questionable but the England international could even be offered a new contract by Antonio Conte, Fabio Paratici and Daniel Levy.

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Discussing the implications of Tottenham securing Champions League football, Gold said: “I don’t think there becomes any question about Harry Kane’s future. I wouldn’t be stunned if there ends up being a new contract for Harry Kane if Spurs get top four.

“You might think Harry Kane’s best thought would be to just see out his contract, but I don’t get the impression he’s that kind of guy. He loves Conte, and I think he’ll see where Conte is hopefully going to take them.”

Supporters will be buzzing

While it is true that, under the management of Nuno Espirito Santo and the lingering interest of Manchester City, Kane did not get off to the best of starts in the current campaign, following Conte’s arrival in north London last November, the centre-forward has very much refound his best form.

Indeed, over his 27 Premier League appearances under the 52-year-old manager, the £90m-rated striker has bagged 15 goals and provided his teammates with seven assists – averaging a direct goal contribution every 109 minutes for the Italian – a stark contrast compared to his one strike and one assist over nine league outings for Nuno Espirito Santo.

These returns have seen the £200k-per-week forward average a quite breathtaking SofaScore match rating of 7.34, not only ranking him as Conte’s second-best performer in the top flight but also as the joint eighth-best player in the league as a whole.

As such, should Kane indeed go on to put pen to paper on a new deal at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium this summer, it would undoubtedly be a development that will leave Spurs supporters buzzing – as, only a matter of months ago, the Tottenham talisman’s time in north London appeared to very much be up.

AND in other news: Huge blow: Gold drops big Spurs injury update ahead of Norwich, Conte will be sweating

Manchester United are trying everything they can to sign Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong this summer, according to Sky Sports reporter Florian Plettenberg.

The Lowdown: De Jong linked with United

The 24-year-old Netherlands international has been heavily linked with a move to Old Trafford in recent weeks, in what would be a reunion with Erik ten Hag for the former Ajax midfielder.

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Fabrizio Romano revealed last week that contact has been made between United and Barcelona regarding De Jong. Reports elsewhere have suggested that the Spanish giants would want a fee in the region of £85m, with Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain also name-checked with an interest.

The Latest: Plettenberg’s update on De Jong

Sky Sports reporter Plettenberg took to Twitter on Monday evening to provide an update on United’s pursuit of De Jong after receiving information from ‘close sources’.

He claimed that Ten Hag ‘wants’ the midfielder and that the Red Devils are ‘trying everything’ in regards to a move. Talks have taken place and United are ‘verifying the financial package’, although Barcelona manager Xavi doesn’t want to lose the 25-year-old.

The Verdict: Promising signs

Romano previously stated that Barcelona’s financial situation may have an impact on the midfielder’s future. Therefore, United appear to be well placed when it comes to a possible move for De Jong after already holding talks and doing everything they can to get a transfer in place.

The Red Devils won’t be able to offer Champions League football next season whereas Manchester City and PSG can, but they may still have a few factors in their favour.

The pull of working under Ten Hag once again, the prospect of regular game-time with Paul Pogba seemingly on the way out and being a key figure in an Old Trafford rebuild could be enough to persuade De Jong to move to the red side of Manchester.

In other news: Man Utd hold ‘talks’ to sign star defender at top of his game after Ten Hag meeting

A major Wolves transfer development has emerged that will please everyone associated with the club as they aim to look ahead to next season.

What’s the news?

Sky Sports reporter Johnny Phillips has stated that there will be some “significant” transfer business done this summer at the Premier League club in order to begin a rebuild which could see Wolves reach the European spots as it looks like they will just miss out this term.

All in all, it’s been a solid season for the club, a top-half finish, but the previous few weeks haven’t been great, and some additions look necessary.

“This will be a summer of change with significant transfer activity, perhaps more so than in any other window during this Premier League period,” said Phillips.

“The spine of the team will change, with more than one central defender on his way in and a strengthening of the midfield and forward positions also set to happen.”

Great news for Lage

This should leave manager Bruno Lage ecstatic and it’s news that will surely please the supporters too. Although they sailed through the vast majority of the campaign in excellent touch, their form in the Premier League has been poor of late, with the 2-2 draw against Chelsea their first point since the start of April.

Under former manager Nuno Espirito Santo, the club proved that they could finish in seventh place and the onus is for Lage to repeat this achievement.

With Wolves being linked with players in the quality of Ryan Kent and Burnley midfielder Josh Brownhill, then there is absolutely no reason why the side can’t kick on and secure European football next season for the first time since Nuno left the club.

However, they will have to make do with the potential departures of Ruben Neves and Max Kilman, who have both been linked with moves away too. Should that happen, there is simply no excuse not to spend the cash they receive on replacements.

Even with players like that at their disposal, they are already punching above their weight, but there is a growing feeling amongst the fans that they aren’t being ambitious enough. Big investment this summer, however, could change that.

AND in other news, Forget Coady: “Ridiculous” Wolves dynamo who won 71% duels saved the day vs Chelsea

Jurgen Klopp signing a new deal is ‘huge’ news regarding the Liverpool futures of Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane, according to Noel Whelan.

The Lowdown: Klopp signs new deal at Liverpool

The Reds are flying on the pitch at the moment, going for an unprecedented quadruple, but some massive off-field news emerged earlier in the week.

Klopp has extended his stay at Anfield by a further two years, meaning he will remain as Liverpool manager until the end of the 2025/26 season.

It is an enormous boost for anyone of a Reds persuasion, given the German’s influence and success on Merseyside, and the hope now is that star players also commit their futures to the club.

Liverpool are reportedly nearing a breakthrough in talks with Salah, while FSG also intend to offer a new contract to Mane.

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The Latest: Whelan makes exciting claim

Speaking to Football Insider, Whelan claimed that Klopp’s new deal could spark a domino effect, leading to Salah and Mane also extending their Liverpool careers. The former Premier League striker said:

“This is huge. He’s key to players staying at the club as well. You see the reputation that he has with the players, that relationship, that one-on-one, that bonding.

“I think it’s great for the players to know that he’s there for another two years. That’s vitally important. There’s a lot of hard work that needs to be done in contract talks with Mane and Salah. But it’s important Klopp’s doing the contract talks.

“It also makes it very easy for the manager to know what he wants as well. It works both ways. I think the fans would choose manager over players because of what he’s done and how important and how key to their success he has been.

“He’s building something and he’s got plans in mind. Whether some of these players will be there with the plans in mind remains to be seen.”

The Verdict: Surely they stay at Liverpool

Given Liverpool’s current status as one of the world’s best teams, and with an iconic manager in Klopp staying put for another few years, it would be a big surprise if Salah and Mane – who have been hailed as “unbelievable” in the past by former team-mate Emre Can – didn’t sign new contracts.

In the past, one of Europe’s powerhouses such as Barcelona and Real Madrid may have had a greater appeal than the Reds, but things are very different now.

Someone like Gini Wijnaldum is perfect proof that leaving Liverpool could be viewed as a downward step these days, and that should act as a warning to both Salah and Mane if they see their futures elsewhere.

In other news, a journalist has made a key Liverpool transfer claim. Read more here.