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Liverpool are having "concrete" talks to sign Southampton midfielder Romeo Lavia, according to a key update from reliable journalist Florian Plettenberg.

How much does Romeo Lavia earn?

The 19-year-old is arguably one of the most talked-about young player in the country at the moment, having caught the eye with his performances for Saints last season, despite their relegation from the Premier League to the Championship, finishing bottom of the table in the process.

Lavia, who currently earns £38,000 per week at St Mary's Stadium, was a commanding presence in front of the defence, starting 26 league games and averaging 2.1 tackles per match, outperforming almost everyone around him, despite his tender years.

It seems clear that the Belgian will not be a Southampton player once the 2023/24 season gets underway, however, with a move to one of the biggest clubs in the Premier League clubs seemingly on the cards. Liverpool have emerged as one of the front-runners to snap up the teenager, but they are far from alone in expressing an interest, with rivals such as Manchester United, Arsenal, Chelsea and Newcastle all thought to be in the mix.

The Reds are perhaps still in need of signing one more midfielder this summer, despite Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai already arriving at Anfield, and it does look as though Lavia is now their primary target to add to the squad.

What's the latest on Romeo Lavia to Liverpool?

Reports over the weekend suggested talks had started between the Reds and Southampton, and now taking to Twitter, Sky Germany's Plettenberg has revealed the manager's personal desire to sign the player, confirming there are "ongoing" negotiations:

"Talks between Liverpool & Lavia are concrete and ongoing. Understand there is no agreement in terms of salary conditions yet.

"As reported: His price tag is around £50m. Klopp wants him! Very press resistant player – even in high pressure situations, he loses the ball only once out of 10 times."

This is a hugely encouraging update regarding Liverpool's pursuit of Lavia, with the player himself seemingly keen on the idea of moving to Merseyside, despite them missing out on Champions League qualification last season. The lure of working with Jurgen Klopp is certainly a massive positive for the Reds, given the German's reputation as one of the outstanding managers of his generation, and he seems keen on signing the Saints ace.

The one-time capped Belgium international is someone who could be viewed as Fabinho's long-term successor in the No.6 role, with the Brazilian turning 30 later this year and arguably being past his very best, so he could arrive at Anfield as a squad player, before eventually becoming one of the first names on the team sheet.

Pep Guardiola has called Lavia "incredible" in the recent past, with the midfielder leaving Manchester City last summer in order to enjoy regular football elsewhere, and he could give Liverpool's long-term midfield a perfect balance, sitting behind the likes of Mac Allister, Szoboszlai, Curtis Jones and Harvey Elliott, and combining a potent mix of tackling excellent and quality on the ball in defensive midfield to perfection, especially as he matures as a player.

Arsenal are reportedly interested in RB Leipzig defender Benjamin Henrichs, as Mikel Arteta and Edu set their sights on bolstering the squad this summer.

The Gunners have already penned a deal with Kai Havertz, and with Declan Rice set to be announced imminently, the clubs’ two former players could be planning something special at the Emirates.

Arteta’s side battled well last campaign, surpassing expectations by taking the title race to the wire, however, a lack of squad depth signalled a time for refurbishment this summer.

Signing Henrichs could be a leap in the right direction in terms of boosting the depth of the squad, in a player that shows shades of a fellow Premier League gem.

Journalist Florian Plettenberg revealed earlier this week that ‘talks’ between the German’s management and the north Londoners had taken place.

Plettenberg added that Arsenal are ‘considering’ the versatile full-back as a ‘backup target’ this summer.

Valued by Football Transfers at €9.2m (£8m), the 26-year-old could be a solid option for the Gunners to consider.

Where could Benjamin Henrichs play at Arsenal?

Hailed as a “talented” player by former Monaco vice-president Vadim Vasilyev, the 26-year-old has played at the top level for the majority of his career, working his way through the ranks at Bayer Leverkusen.

The versatile defender departed his boyhood club for Monaco in 2018, before returning to the Bundesliga with RB Leipzig, where he has cemented himself as a valued member of the squad.

In signing Henrichs, Arsenal could get their hands on a widely versatile defence-minded player, with capabilities of playing both on the right side of defence and in central midfield.

The German international has contributed to 66 career goal contributions over 327 appearances, having an eye for a pass as well as being a sturdy figure at the back.

Averaging three tackles and 1.44 interceptions per 90 in the Bundesliga last campaign, Henrichs has excelled defensively, as well as showing his abilities on the ball, averaging 4.48 progressive passes per 90 at right-back, via FBref.

Having a versatile full-back is something that the Premier League has become accustomed to, with Arteta reaping the benefits of having both Ben White and Oleksandr Zinchenko capable of contributing to offensive play.

Despite arriving as a side to watch last term, Arsenal still saw a gap between themselves and champions Manchester City, however, the Gunners could provide an answer to one of City’s sensations by signing Henrichs.

Lauded as a “versatile and tactical genius” by members of the media, John Stones has been a revelation under Pep Guardiola, emerging last season as having the talent to be deployed as a deep midfielder.

Averaging 1.12 tackles and 4.92 progressive passes per 90, via FBref, the Englishman showcased just how far the depth of his versatility goes, acting as the complete player for City.

Like Stones, Henrichs has the ability to venture into midfield, described by talent scout Jacek Kulig as being a player that ‘dictates tempo’ in central areas.

Averaging 3.78 passes per 90 into the final third, the 26-year-old has room to grow and flourish around the field, displaying strengths in his distribution and reading of the game.

Arteta could take another page from Guardiola’s book by signing a defensively equipped versatile player, replicating past notes that have seen the revolution of how the Spaniard orchestrates his back line.

Manchester City are now eyeing a stunning move for Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong, according to a recent report from The Sun.

Which midfielder are Man City signing?

With club captain Ilkay Gundogan putting pen to paper on a move to Barcelona, there is a huge gap in Man City's midfield that needs to be filled, and Declan Rice emerged as a major target, with a £90m bid being tabled earlier this week.

However, the Citizens have now pulled out of the race as they were unwilling to match Arsenal's offer of £105m, and they have now started to run the rule over other targets, including Celta Vigo's Gabri Veiga, as reported by transfer expert Fabrizio Romano.

Veiga is not the only La Liga central midfielder that City have shown an interest in, as The Sun reports they are now mulling over a stunning £90m move for De Jong, who has been linked with a move away from Barcelona for quite some time.

Rivals Manchester United considered the Dutchman a major target a year ago, but he opted to remain at Camp Nou, and the report details that he is still in no major rush to leave Spain.

However, Barca want the central midfielder off the wage books, and they know that City have the money to sign a top-class midfielder, following their pursuit of Rice.

Guardiola tried to sign the 26-year-old in 2019, and the Man City manager remains a fan.

How much does Frenkie de Jong earn?

According to Capology, the former Ajax man rakes in a massive £620k-per-week at Barcelona, so it is no wonder the La Liga club are keen to get him off the wage bill, particularly considering the recent arrival of Gundogan.

Despite Barca's willingness to sanction the departure of the Netherlands international, he is thought of in high regard by manager Xavi, who described him as "spectacular" last season.

The Arkel-born midfielder certainly played his part in Barca's title-winning 2022/23 campaign, making 33 appearances in La Liga, during which time he picked up two goals and four assists.

Over the past year, the maestro has averaged an 89.5% pass-completion rate per 90, which ranks him in the 97th percentile compared to his positional peers, indicating he would be a perfect fit for a Guardiola system.

However, De Jong's attacking output probably does not justify a £90m outlay, particularly if he is seen as a Gundogan replacement, so Man City should initially test the waters with a much lower offer.

Thomas Partey is happy to stay at Arsenal this summer, amid reports linking him with a move away, journalist Charles Watts has claimed.

What's the latest on Thomas Partey?

The Ghanian midfielder was one of Arsenal's key performers this season, although his form dropped off towards the end of the campaign, and he has been linked with Juventus as well as clubs in Saudi Arabia.

The 30-year-old's fitness record has been inconsistent since arriving at Arsenal in 2020, and with just two years left on his deal, as well as links to Declan Rice and Romeo Lavia, there have been suggestions that Mikel Arteta could cash in on the £200k-per-week star.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Watts revealed that despite rumours linking him with a move away, Partey would be happy to stay at the club if no transfer materialises and Arsenal want to keep him.

"I've heard Partey is very happy at Arsenal, he wants to stay, is happy to stay and play in the Champions League," he stated.

"The whole reason he signed for Arsenal was to get the club back in the Champions League. Now they're there, he wants to play in that, but instead that if you've got a bunch of Saudi clubs offering you unbelievable wages and you're a 30-year-old, then that is a highly tempting offer, so you know that might well turn his head.

"From a footballing point of view, my understanding is that Partey is absolutely happy to stay at Arsenal, and wants to play in the Champions League with Arsenal.

"Money talks at the end of the day, if someone's offering unbelievable money which will set you up for life and your family up for life, that might change your thinking as a player. So we'll wait and see on that."

Should Arsenal cash in on Partey?

Although the midfielder was a crucial figure as Arsenal surged to the top of the table in the first half of the season, his form dipped in the second half of the campaign, which even resulted in him losing his starting spot to Jorginho.

Arsenal have struggled when Partey has been absent, with their first three losses this season coming when he failed to appear for 90 minutes.

His injury record and age means he may no longer be reliable enough to count on, but given that Granit Xhaka looks set to depart, Arsenal could struggle to replace two starting midfielders in one transfer window.

Leeds United are on the hunt for the right manager who can lead the club in their Championship campaign next season and now a new update has emerged from a reliable source on a potential candidate.

What's the latest on Leeds' interest in Scott Parker?

According to The Athletic's Leeds reporter Phil Hay, the club's hierarchy are now entering the stage of face-to-face interviews this week and has named Scott Parker as one of those interviewees.

As per an article for the publication, Hay revealed that alongside Daniel Farke, Parker will be one of the candidates spoken to about the role, with the club expected to make a decision imminently due to pre-season coming up fast.

Is Scott Parker a good fit for Leeds?

Time is running out for the West Yorkshire club to bring in a manager who can get up to speed with the unfolding situation at Elland Road and build connections with players, whilst also utilising the summer transfer window to bring in new additions that possess the profile to succeed in the style of play deployed.

The 49ers have a big decision to make on whether they bring in a manager who can guarantee quick but short-term success in terms of promotion from the Championship back to the Premier League or somebody who can be part of the long-term project for the new owners, with Parker the perfect option for the former.

The 42-year-old coach – hailed "outstanding" by Jurgen Klopp – has twice masterminded automatic promotion to the Premier League from the second tier with Bournemouth and Fulham, making him the ultimate expert to give Leeds their best chance at following in the footsteps of Burnley next season and bouncing straight back up.

However, his 0.77 points per game record in the Premier League is much less inspiring than his 1.84 points per game in the Championship and could be a cause for concern should he be appointed and promote the Whites next term.

Over 52 top-flight fixtures in charge of both Bournemouth and Fulham, the English coach has tallied up just nine wins and 30 defeats, which ultimately saw Parker sacked in both appointments after leading them as far as he could take them.

That means that even if this just a short-term gig for the former midfielder, it could pay dividends. Indeed, in the second tier he has lost just 19 times while winning over 50% of his matches in charge.

With that being said, Parker would be the perfect appointment if Leeds are looking for a sure-fire way to get promoted next season.

Tottenham Hotspur are engaged in a battle to sign Brazilian winger Pepê as they look to bolster their attacking options, according to A Bola, via Sport Witness.

What's the latest Spurs transfer news?

Spurs are targeting FC Porto star Pepê as Ange Postecoglou gets started on his business in North London. A Bola also reports that the 26-year-old has a release clause of €75m (£64m), a figure Porto are insisting interested clubs meet.

Daniel Levy and Co are said to have already made their first move by placing a bid for the Brazilian, however the figure is believed to be 'still far' from what Porto expect.

PSG are also mentioned as an interested party, however the report from A Bola states they have yet to make a move, with Pepê viewed as a Neymar replacement for Les Parisiens.

One important note however is that Porto manager Sérgio Conceição is being suggested as a potential next PSG boss, in that scenario it is likely he favors a move for his current star player.

Who is Pepê?

Given Pepê's status as a fairly unknown name to those unfamiliar with the Primeira Liga, many Spurs fans will be questioning what exactly they'd be getting if this deal gets done.

In Liga Portugal last season, the winger scored four goals and assisted seven in 28 starts and 34 appearances, however his importance to the Porto side goes beyond goals and assists, and he showed his versatility by operating in a remarkable eight different positions this term.

Using FBRef as a basis, it is clear to see why Spurs are interested. Pepê ranks in the 91st percentile (2.55 per game) for successful take-ons among other left-wingers. Clearly he is a profiecient dribbler and someone who will get fans in N17 off their seats. He also averages 3.44 progressive carries per game (70th percentile).

Despite being a flair-filled Brazilian winger, Pepê also isn't afraid to do the dirty work, averaging in the 99th percentile for interceptions (1.5 per game) and also averaging 1.4 tackles per game – he seems tailor-made for the Premier League and Postecoglou's high-intensity style.

Despite not featuring for Brazil's senior side, Pepê had scored three in six for their u23 side.

FBRef also offers an insight into similar players, and one who will stand out to fans of English football will be Sunderland sensation Amad Diallo, on loan from Man United, who lit up the second tier this season with his one-on-one dribbling and finishing.

It does feel like a player who Postecoglou would feel like moulding and improving, similarly to how he did so successfully with the young attacking players at Celtic.

West Brom are reportedly interested in completing the signing of Luton Town right-back James Bree ahead of the start of next season.

The Lowdown: Bree excels for Luton

Luton enjoyed a memorable season in 2021/22, making it into the Championship playoffs against all odds, eventually losing to Huddersfield Town in the semi-finals.

Bree was a mainstay of the team throughout the season, starting 44 of the Hatters’ 46 league matches and chipping in with six assists along the way.

With West Brom looking at summer transfer options, the 24-year-old’s name has emerged as a target.

The Latest: West Brom linked with move

According to The Express & Star‘s Joseph Masi, the Baggies are ‘considering’ a move for Bree, seeing him as a contender to come in at right-back.

The report claims that he is ‘one of the best full-backs in the Championship’, having been called ‘very good’ by Steve Bruce when he managed him at Aston Villa.

The Verdict: Potential great exciting

Bree could be a fantastic summer signing for West Brom, ticking so many boxes when it comes to what they are after. He would provide competition for Darnell Furlong, while his aforementioned assist tally highlights his attacking ability.

The fact that the Englishman has already played under Bruce surely increases the chances of the Baggies making a move for him, too, with the manager clearly an admirer.

At 24, Bree is at an ideal age to come in and be a key man in West Brom’s 2022/23 promotion push, with his best years still also likely to be ahead of him.

In other news, a journalist has dropped a key West Brom transfer claim. Read more here.

According to talkSPORT journalist Alex Crook, Tottenham Hotspur and their transfer chief Fabio Paratici are now eyeing a ‘surprise move’ ahead of the summer.

The Lowdown: Spurs set for reshuffle?

Spurs head coach Antonio Conte is apparently planning a real reshuffle behind-the-scenes at Hotspur Way as he looks to ‘offload’ many players and bring in ‘at least’ six major signings (The Times).

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Outfield additions aren’t the only positions up for grabs either as the Premier League top-four chasers set their sights on a reserve goalkeeper and understudy to long-serving number one Hugo Lloris.

West Bromwich Albion keeper Sam Johnstone has long been tipped to make the move, but according to Crook, another target in Southampton keeper Fraser Forster has now come to light.

The Latest: Tottenham eye ‘surprise’ signing…

According to the talkSPORT journalist, Tottenham are now ‘ready to pounce’ for a ‘surprise’ signing in Forster as a twist emerges in Conte’s hunt for a back-up keeper.

Indeed, as Spurs and by extension Paratici search for a capable number two, the colossal 6 foot 7 shot stopper has now found his way on to their list of targets.

The Verdict: Right move?

While Forster (34) looks set to leave on a Bosman, gifting Tottenham a zero cost option who can also balance their homegrown quota, the often-linked Johnstone comes with a similar perks and is far younger (29).

Indeed, while the Saints keeper was actually called up to the England squad over Johnstone back in March, West Brom’s ace would come with a longer shelf life and proven ability in the top flight.

We believe signing Johnstone makes more sense from a long-term perspective, but that being said, landing Forster on a free deal also wouldn’t be bad business given his brilliant form over 2021/2022 in parts.

Pundit Paddy Kenny has raved over the ‘fantastic’ and ‘incredible’ keeper this season, perhaps backing why Spurs have now added them to the list of possible signings.

In other news: Offer imminent: Tottenham ready ‘sensational’ player move as club plan 50% discount, find out more here.

West Ham United opted against bolstering their offensive line in the January transfer window but it doesn’t look like David Moyes is ready to make the same mistake twice.

What’s the word? West Ham are interested in signing Emmanuel Dennis from Watford this summer according to the Mirror.The already-relegated striker is on the radar of the Irons with the club’s hierarchy believed to be weighing up a £20m bid for the attacker.[snack-amp-story url= “https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/read-this-weeks-latest-west-ham-news-transfer-rumours-gossip-and-more” title= “Read the latest West Ham news!”]That said, the Hammers may need to fork out up to £30m in order to get their man.Sign him upWest Ham haven’t got much wrong this season.They are on the cusp of qualifying for Europe again and enjoyed a miraculous run to the semi-finals of the Europa League.It’s hard to find fault with their football and their practices behind closed doors but not investing in a striker over the winter has arguably cost them dearly.Michail Antonio will run himself into the ground for Moyes but he has been the club’s sole centre forward for the entirety of the 2021/22 campaign.The Jamaica international’s efforts have to be applauded but such is his workload that performances have dwindled at times, scoring just twice in the top-flight since the turn of the year.That’s why signing Dennis would be a particularly good idea.He’s not exactly had the best service at Vicarage Road which makes his first season in the Premier League all the more impressive.Dubbed “superb” by one journalist, he has found the net on ten occasions while registering six assists in the process.Rather amusingly, he also ranks at the top of the tree when it comes to nutmegs in England’s premier division this campaign with a whopping 21.Clearly a nightmare for opposition defenders, the forward is also similar to a certain Jarrod Bowen.FB Ref’s detailed statistics reveal that the pair are ‘similar players’ and despite the duo operating in different positions, there are plenty of comparable attributes.For starters, they shoot with similar regularity. Throughout 2021/22, Dennis has registered 0.94 shots on target per 90 compared to Bowen’s 1.03, via FB Ref.When it comes to pass completion, they are both successful with 68%, while they also complete around five and a half passes under pressure per 90 minutes.Furthermore, their shot-creating actions per 90 are also pretty alike with the Nigerian registering 3.17 per 90 compared to the England hopeful’s 2.96.Finally, they both take the same number of touches per 90 at 38 and are successful with 41.5-44.5% of their dribbles.It took Bowen a while to finally get up to speed in the Premier League but since then he’s been a spectacular piece of business.GSB will have to hope that Dennis turns out the same way. Given his experience of England already, however, it would be a surprise if he didn’t settle in quickly.AND in other news, “I believe” – ExWHUemployee drops big West Ham transfer claim, supporters will love it…

Tottenham Hotspur boss Antonio Conte wants an upgrade to the right wing-back role and he’s demanded one name in particular, according to reports…

What’s the word?

Italian newspaper Tuttosport (via Sport Witness), the 52-year-old is pushing to sign defender Wilfried Singo from Torino this summer but the Serie A outfit are holding out for more money despite two approaches from sporting director Fabio Paratici, the latest of which was in the region of €25m (£21.5m).

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Torino president Urban Cairo is thought to have ruled out any potential sale this off-season but you’d imagine they would be tempted if a viable offer came in.

CIES Football Observatory, who assess the transfer value of professional footballers on a scientific basis, currently value him at €30m (£25m).

Emerson upgrade

Capped twice by the Ivory Coast, Singo would be something of a major upgrade to Conte’s right wing-back position, where he has summer signing Emerson Royal and the injured Matt Doherty.

The 21-year-old has been in immense form for Il Toro this campaign, having registered three goals and four assists, via Transfermarkt. Such performances have seen him rated amongst Ivan Jurić’s top five performers in Serie A.

Emerson has only offered up two direct contributions all season, by comparison.

Singo has offered just as much defensively as he has done in the final third, also averaging 1.6 tackles and 1.2 dribbles per game, the second-highest in Torino’s squad for both metrics, via WhoScored.

It’s no wonder CBS Sports journalist Matteo Bonetti dubbed him a “revelation” back in January 2021.

Conte was eager to sign Adama Traore for the very same role in January as he simply does not trust the Brazilian to execute the job expected of him and that’s easy to see why considering ex-Lilywhites defender Jonathan Woodgate dubbed him “horrendous”.

It’s Singo’s attacking exploits which make him more appealing, though. He accounts for 14.6% of Torino’s penalty box entries this season, and that also sees him sit amongst the top 12% of his positional peers across Europe’s ‘big five’ leagues, as per FBRef.

Evidently, he is solid enough at the back and can cause plenty of trouble in the opposition’s third, making him an obvious target for Conte, who is longing for someone in this mould.

The Torino wing-back is a far greater talent than Emerson, so the Spurs hierarchy needs to pay whatever they can to seal him this off-season.

AND in other news, Fabrizio Romano drops Pau Torres-Spurs transfer update…