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Aston Villa are reportedly already looking to strengthen this summer as the end of the Premier League season is in sight.

The Villans have turned their fortunes around since hiring Unai Emery as manager in November, with the Spaniard rocketing the club from slugging near the relegation zone to two games away from clinching European football.

The Spaniard has installed faith into the squad he inherited from Steven Gerrard and has turned his players into a team that is hungry for success and steers away from fear.

Things are on the up for Villa, and the club have been linked with having a lucrative summer in the transfer window, in a bid to give Emery the chance to personalise his squad.

From La Liga to Serie A and the Premier League, a number of players have already been linked with a potential move to Villa Park when the window opens, with news coming earlier this month of interest in a Ligue 1 midfielder.

What’s the latest on Branco van den Boomen to Aston Villa?

As reported by Fabrizio Romano at the start of the month, Toulouse midfielder Branco van den Boomen has sparked interest from Aston Villa amongst a host of clubs around Europe.

The Dutchman has reportedly opted away from signing a new deal with the Ligue 1 outfit, with his contract expiring this summer.

Romano stated the player has decided to keep his 'options open', with interest coming from the likes of Marseille, Sevilla, Leeds United and of course Villa.

What could Branco van den Boomen bring to Aston Villa?

At 27 years old, the Eindhoven-born midfielder has enjoyed a successful season so far in Ligue 1, contributing to a total of 13 goals in 33 appearances.

The Dutchman has scored five times in the league and has assisted eight goals, ranking him among Europe’s elite statistically.

As per FBref, the midfielder ranks in the top 3% of midfielders for most assists per 90 over Europe’s top five leagues, averaging 0.26.

Likened by FBref to Christian Eriksen, the creative spark could be an upgrade for Emery to consider for John McGinn, to provide depth to his squad.

McGinn has performed well under the Spaniard, however, could reach higher levels should competition such as Van den Boomen arrive at Villa Park this summer.

The Toulouse star betters the Scotsman specifically in the attacking areas of midfield, most obviously through his ability to move the ball forward, averaging a remarkable 9.69 progressive passes to McGinn’s 4.78 per 90 – as per FBref.

Also a "master of set-pieces" as dubbed by George Metellus and a player who can "score from anywhere on the pitch", there is plenty to like about a player who last term, broke the assist record in Ligue 2 with 21 across the entire season.

Further described as having an “amazing right foot” by his Toulouse teammate Stijn Spierings, van den Boomen could be a strong signing for Emery’s budding side and a player that could add the depth required to progress.

Chelsea has entered the tug of war for Arsenal youngster Ethan Nwaneri.

What’s the latest on Ethan Nwaneri to Chelsea?

According to The Athletic, the Blues, alongside Manchester United and Manchester City are all monitoring the schoolboy, who is yet to resolve his future at the Emirates Stadium.

Although, the Gunners have not given up hope of convincing him to accept their offer and a new round of negotiations has taken place.

The teen’s current deal expires in the summer, so there is a race against time to secure his future in north London.

How old was Nwaneri when he made his Arsenal debut?

The prodigy is already engrained in top-flight folklore when he became the youngest player to appear in a Premier League match after he came off the bench against Brentford in September 2022, aged just 15 years and 181 days.

Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka eulogised over the talent and said: “He has a big future, if I am honest, I am doing my coaching licence and I have trained the Under-16s. You can see a big difference with him and the other guys. He is very, very special.

“Of course you have to protect him as he is very young but if he keeps going like this with his hard work he has a big, big future.”

Should Chelsea sign Nwaneri?

To those inside the Emirates Stadium, the boy’s incredible rise into national prominence is no surprise.

By the age of just 14, he was already playing for the U18 side, and at the start of this campaign, he moved to the U21s.

He has also featured for the England U17s, and has registered a commendable nine goal contributions in 14 appearances – this is a glowing testament to his quality and maturity. Nwaneri is already an overachiever, who is firmly on the pathway to immortality if he continues this growth at an exponential rate.

Former Arsenal U18 coach Dan Micciche has described the Englishman as someone “very highly thought of” with a “champion mentality”, whilst the club's U18 manager Jack Wilshere has labelled him “unplayable.”

He is a tricky, agile, and pacey player, who bares very similar traits to former Arsenal academy starlet Omari Hutchinson, who joined Chelsea last summer.

Across 71 appearances for various youth sides, the winger has recorded 51 goal contributions, and although he is yet to make meaningful inroads into the Chelsea first-team, he is still regarded as one of the nation’s biggest talents.

For Thomas Tuchel and head of youth recruitment, Jim Fraser, to pluck him from Arsenal was quite the statement. After all, like Nwaneri, he'd already appeared in first-team training and was on the bench a number of times.

Indeed, the prodigy looked all set for a bright future in north London, only to be snatched away by one of the club's rivals.

Given how young Nwaneri was when he made his debut, this would perhaps be an even bigger statement by Todd Boehly and co with it set to look like a real masterclass once again if they can repeat the feat of signing a promising youngster from the Arsenal academy.

Glasgow Rangers and manager Michael Beale are believed to be interested in bringing young FC Utrecht striker Tasos Douvikas to Ibrox, and have seemingly made contact over a possible deal.

Do Rangers need attackers this summer?

The Gers have a vital summer ahead of them, with a number of new signings required all over the pitch, in order to find an extra gear next season. There is still a gap in quality between themselves and Celtic currently, as shown by their respective trophy hauls in 2022/23, so the primary aim has to be to narrow it this summer.

Attack is certainly an area where reinforcements will be required, especially with influential duo Ryan Kent and Alfredo Morelos both expected to move on, having played such a big part in Rangers' success down the years. The duo could leave a void, considering they scored a combined 157 goals for the club, so it is imperative that the right replacements are brought in.

A new transfer update has now emerged regarding Douvikas, who has been linked with a summer move to Ibrox a number of times in the recent past.

Could Rangers snap up Douvikas?

According to Football Insider, Rangers have "expressed an interest" in signing the Utrecht man, who scored 19 goals and reigstered four assists in the Eredivisie this season. It is claimed that the Dutch side are "looking for a fee of around £6.9million in order to part with the 23-year-old", who is described as being a "crucial" player throughout the 2022/23 campaign, sharing the Eredivisie Golden Boot with PSV star Xavi Simons.

Douvikas could be exactly what the Gers are looking for in the summer window, providing the end product that will be so badly needed without Kent and Morelos around. His aforementioned record this season speaks volumes about his productivity in front of goal, but an overall tally of 31 strikes in 73 appearances for Utrecht further highlights it.

The 23-year-old is also a 15-cap Greece international, scoring once his country to date – he also netted eight times in 10 appearances for the Under-19s – and he is someone who could help take Rangers to a different level next season and beyond.

While primarily a centre forward, Douvikas can play on the left-hand side, as he has done once for Utrecht this season, according to WhoScored, so his ability to play across the attack is something that could appeal to Beale, as the Gers look to wrestle the Scottish Premiership title away from Celtic in 2023/24.

Reporter Dean Jones has been reacting to Leeds United’s links to Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou.

What’s the latest Leeds manager news?

The Whites are likely to be on the hunt for another new manager this summer following Sam Allardyce’s interim period in charge. The experienced head coach arrived with four games to go, becoming the fourth man to be in the Elland Road dugout this season.

Leeds have just a 3% chance of survival in the Premier League on the final day, though, and it looks as if the search for a new manager is already underway.

Reports suggested that former Leicester City manager Brendan Rodgers could be a target in the Championship, whereas a move for Graham Potter may be looked at if the club manage to stay up.

Another manager who has been linked with a move to Yorkshire this month is Postecoglou, with speculation earlier this month suggesting that the Whites have been keeping tabs on the Hoops boss and are monitoring his situation.

Talking to GiveMeSport regarding Leeds and Postecoglou, Jones said that the Australian could “fit” in at Elland Road, believing he may be able to “get people onside”.

“I think there are good reasons to believe that he'd fit. Emotionally, I think he would certainly be someone that could tap in to the vibe of Elland Road and get people onside.

“You can see the attachment that he's managed to form with the Celtic fanbase. That's something that I think could be key and something that Leeds have struggled with recently.”

Who is Ange Postecoglou?

Postecoglou, lauded as "incredible" by members of the media, has been with Celtic since 2021 and has won back-to-back titles in Scotland, with his side averaging 2.49 goals per game while also winning 76% of their fixtures this season.

He is on course to win a domestic treble at Celtic Park and has transformed the club after taking over following a disappointing 2020/21 season under Neil Lennon, which resulted in rivals Rangers winning the Scottish Premiership. Prior to that, the 57-year-old managed sides in Australia and Japan and even took charge of the Australian national team for four years.

Postecoglou has been linked with the likes of Chelsea and Tottenham as well as Leeds, though, so if the club dropped down to the second tier, you could say that a move to Yorkshire would be extremely ambitious, meaning the Whites may need to look elsewhere for a new manager in the Championship.

West Ham United are reportedly the latest club to have registered an interest in taking Amad Diallo on loan from Manchester United next season following the youngster's impressive campaign in the Championship.

Sunderland are understandably desperate to bring the 20-year-old back to the Stadium of Light, but The Northern Echo claims that Premier League clubs have taken notice of his form, with West Ham potentially leading the way.

Will Diallo make the breakthrough at Man Utd?

United splashed out an initial £19m to sign Diallo from Atalanta in 2021, with that fee potentially rising to £37m in add-ons should he succeed at Old Trafford.

The Ivory Coast international has been restricted to just three Premier League appearances for United thus far, however, having been sent out on loan to Rangers for the second half of 2021/22, and to Sunderland for the 2022/23 season.

Both loans can be considered a success, with Diallo registering three goals in ten Scottish Premiership appearances for Rangers and 14 in 39 for Sunderland in the Championship this season, finishing as the Black Cats' top scorer as they narrowly missed out on promotion via the play-offs.

Diallo finished just outside the top ten in terms of the English second tier's top scorers, but he ranked fifth for goal-creating actions with 20, which measures offensive actions – such as a pass or take-on – directly leading to a goal.

He also ranked joint-first alongside Coventry City's Gustavo Hamer for non-dead-ball passes (16) that led directly to a goal, showing his ability to not only score but also create in the attacking third.

Despite his starring loan roles over the past 18 months, Diallo is expected to spend 2023/24 away from Old Trafford to further improve his all-round game, before potentially forcing his way into the first team the following season.

Can Diallo repeat Lingard success?

In the week he was released from Nottingham Forest after making next to no impact in his only season at the club, it is easy to forget just what an impact Lingard made at West Ham after making the trip from Manchester, a journey Diallo could repeat.

The England international outcast scored nine goals and assisted four more in 16 Premier League appearances in the second half of the 2020-21 season, prior to returning to United for an underwhelming final year and then heading for Forest.

Lingard was, of course, far more advanced in his career than Diallo currently is, but that is not to say the latter cannot grab the opportunity with both hands if West Ham does indeed win the race for his signature.

Described as a "special" talent by football reporter Josh Bunting, and "maybe just [Sunderland's] best loan signing of all time", the £29k-per-week winger has earned his chance to have a crack at the Premier League.

Even if he has half the impact of Lingard, whose career is now at a crossroads, West Ham will benefit massively next season from having a future £50m player in their ranks.

Liverpool are interested in Brighton & Hove Albion midfielder Moises Caicedo, having just plucked Alexis Mac Allister from the Seagulls' ranks.

That's according to the Telegraph, who claim that while Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United lead the charge for the Ecuadorian talent, Jurgen Klopp's Reds could enter the race.

Albion will demand more than £70m for their 21-year-old enforcer, with the Gunners failing with a bid of that value in January – with his club unwilling to sell at the season's midpoint. Previous reports stipulate it could well cost as much as £80m.

Caicedo penned a new deal at the Amex earlier this year, but this is not expected to dissuade his mounting pile of suitors, and while Liverpool will seek prudence in the market this summer, a signing of his calibre could be too sweet to resist.

How good is Moises Caicedo?

Only last season, the £60k-per-week Caicedo plied his trade out on loan in the Jupiler Pro League before earning a winter recall and starting Brighton's closing eight matches of the Premier League campaign, scoring one goal and supplying one assist.

He has replicated his direct return this year, starting 34 times in the league, and now stands as one of the most robust and unwavering midfielders in the division, and the interest from the division's top outfits is unequivocally warranted.

For Liverpool, he is exactly the kind of energetic and unflinching midfielder Klopp needs to rekindle the former verve, with the Reds falling by the wayside this term and finishing fifth, now facing a campaign in the Europa League.

Described as Ecuador's "crown jewel" by historian Enrico Castro-Montes, the 21-year-old ranks among the top 6% of midfielders across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for pass completion, as well as the top 15% for attempted passes, the top 13% for rate of tackles and the top 11% for rate of interceptions per 90, as per FBref.

While he boasts a somewhat different skill set to Liverpool's pass master, Thiago Alcantara, he could be the perfect heir to return the Anfield centre to its more industrious roots.

Thiago, for all of his flair and elegance, is incessantly tethered to the medical department and is out of contract in one year's time. Indeed, at 32-years-old Klopp will no doubt be seeking a successor. The German could well find that in Caicedo, a brute capable of easily displacing Liverpool's number 6.

The £200k-per-week Spaniard ranks among the top 3% of midfielders across Europe's top five leagues for attempted passes, the top 4% for progressive passes, the top 4% for rate of tackles and the top 11% for rate of interceptions, illustrating the impact Caicedo could make, with Thiago heralded as "a special player" by teammate Andy Robertson.

Caicedo, who has been dubbed "terrific" by South American football expert Tim Vickery, has been riding the crest of a wave with the Seagulls this season and has led them to their first-ever European campaign with a sixth-place finish, and while Albion are on the up, the allure of playing a central role in the resurgence on Merseyside could leave Liverpool with an imperious new midfield enforcer.

Todd Boehly is eyeing up a Chelsea bid for Celta Vigo midfielder Gabri Veiga this summer as he looks to sign an ideal alternative to Moises Caicedo.

What’s the latest on Gabri Veiga to Chelsea?

According to the Telegraph, Chelsea are frontrunners to sign Caicedo, however they could face a challenge to negotiate terms for the youngster and this may lead Boehly to perhaps look for alternatives if a deal is proving too difficult to seal.

Journalist Jacob Steinberg has stated that a “Chelsea bid for Gabri Veiga could arrive soon” and with the Spaniard having a release clause of just £34m, he could certainly come at a cheaper price than the Ecuadorian international, who could cost around £100m.

Could Gabri Veiga improve Chelsea?

The 21-year-old midfielder could offer a greater positional versatility than Caicedo if he joined Chelsea, as he is able to operate either as a defensive or an attacking midfielder, while also being comfortable in the centre of the pitch, whereas the Brighton and Hove Albion star is primarily deployed just in front of the defence.

From an attacking perspective, Veiga would be a perfect alternative, as he ranks in the top 5% across Europe’s top five leagues for non-penalty goals per 90 (0.43) and total shots per 90 (2.43) while Caicedo ranks in the lowest 26% for non-penalty goals per 90 (0.03) and lowest 33% for total shots per 90 (0.8) across the same top five leagues.

His ability to push forward whenever possible is also much better than Caicedo’s as he makes more progressive carries per 90 (2.67 to 1.09) while also taking more touches in the opposition box per 90 than the Brighton midfielder (2.63 to 0.8) and there is no doubt he is among one of the continents finest for his attacking abilities.

For Celta Vigo last term, he registered 15 goal contributions – 11 goals and four assists – across 36 matches, which was two more goal contributions than any Chelsea player achieved last term, indicating that he could be an improvement on their midfield options, especially going forward.

The young maestro even managed to score twice against La Liga winners Barcelona in their final league match of the season, underlining his class and there is no doubt Mauricio Pochettino could certainly take him to the next level should he join the Stamford Bridge outfit.

Journalist Euan McTear dubbed him as “dangerous” and although Caicedo may have plenty of Premier League experience, spending just £34m on Veiga could turn into a very shrewd investment indeed.

Glasgow Rangers have made an excellent start to their transfer business and June is still in full swing. Michael Beale has signed four players already at Ibrox, luring Jack Butland, Dujon Sterling, Kieran Dowell, and Sam Lammers to Scotland, with surely more to come.

Indeed, the Gers are reportedly set to bid for striker Anastasios Douvikas while a move for Cremonese forward Cyriel Dessers is still in the works, despite the Gers facing competition for the player.

It isn’t just forwards that Beale is targeting either, with the Light Blues keen on making a move for Fenerbahce player Bright Osayi-Samuel during the summer transfer window according to Turkish outlet Fanatik (via Sport Witness).

The report states the Turkish club value him at €7m (£6m) and this figure could perhaps be problematic in terms of any potential move materialising.

Although deployed as a right-sided defender during his time in Turkey, Osayi-Samuel could also operate slightly further forward on the right wing and this is where Beale could potentially get the best out of him next season.

Could Bright Osayi-Samuel shine at Rangers?

With captain James Tavernier a mainstay at right-back, and new signing Dujon Sterling looked upon as a backup to the Englishman should he suffer an injury or require a rest, the Nigeria international would certainly be utilised much further forward than he was used to at times last term.

Tavernier scored 18 goals and registered ten assists across all competitions during 2022/23, underlining his attack qualities and he also created 13 big chances and made 2.9 key passes per game, however, adding in Osayi-Samuels into the mix slightly further forward than the captain could add another string to Beale’s bow.

During his final season with Queens Park Rangers, where he was usually deployed on the right of the midfield, the 25-year-old scored three goals and grabbed three assists while also creating four big chances and making one key pass per game.

Although not quite as impressive as Tavernier’s numbers, this was only over 21 matches, meaning he could well have doubled these numbers had he remained with QPR for a full term.

Beale could certainly form a scary duo on the right-hand side with Tavernier and Osayi-Samuel, especially with their attacking qualities shining through over the previous few years.

Dubbed a “very tidy footballer” by reporter Oma Akatugba, it’s evident he could complement Tavernier well in the first team.

Liverpool could be set to add some more exciting young talent to their ranks this summer, with Calciomercato in Italy reporting that Patrick Dorgu is on the club's wanted list.

Who is Patrick Dorgu?

The 18-year-old has yet to make a first-team appearance over the course of his career but has still stood out because of his showings in the reserves. He currently plays for Lecce's Under-19 side and managed 33 outings in the Primavera 1 over the course of the 2022/23 season. It amounted to a solid return of four goals along the way for the left-back.

Prior to his Italy move, he played in his home country of Denmark for FCN Youth and then Nordsjaelland's Under-19 side. He's also been given gametime with his national side's youth teams, playing for their Under-19 and Under-18 sides as well. With the former of the two, he has a healthy return of two goals in five games.

In spite of all this though, Dorgu is yet to break into the first-team picture at any of his clubs and has had to made do with reserve team football.

However, he hasn't needed senior minutes to catch the eye of Liverpool. The Reds have been watching the player on a handful of occasions according to Calciomercato, and Jurgen Klopp's side are now ready to make a move.

How much is Dorgu worth?

It's unclear just how much Lecce would demand for Dorgu if a deal was to go ahead and there is no fee currently mentioned in regards to a move from Liverpool. Transfermarkt suggest that his value could be around £400,000, which would be a decent sum for the Italians to generate from a player who has yet to feature in their first-team. It would though, be mere pocket change to a Premier League outfit such as the Reds.

He should, perhaps, rake in slightly more though considering his perceived potential. Danish Scout on Twitter for example shared a clip of the left-back driving through the opposition and tucking home a smart finish, and stated that he is an "extremely dynamic" player and is the "star" of that Lecce reserve side.

It appears as though he has some real talent then and if Liverpool can bring him to England, then they could have a future starter on their hands – although he would likely have to make do with more reserve team action in the interim for the Reds.

Tottenham Hotspur have reportedly made a huge stride forward in their pursuit of Ange Postecoglou's top summer target, leaving their rivals in the dust…

What's the latest on James Maddison to Tottenham Hotspur?

That is at least the thoughts of journalist Jacob Steinberg, who, writing for The Guardian, issued an update on Spurs' pursuit of Leicester City star James Maddison.

Although the creative star has been embroiled in a transfer battle between the Lilywhites and Newcastle United, now the former have reportedly pulled away as the frontrunners as Eddie Howe seeks to prioritise the signing of Sandro Tonali.

The 26-year-old is still waiting for someone to rescue him from the relegated Foxes, but a bid is not expected with immediacy. For now, they seem content with revelling in their new status as the favourites to secure this top-tier playmaker.

Could James Maddison emulate Kevin De Bruyne?

Given Postecoglou is due to set up his new team in his classic 4-3-3 formation, he will be desperate to add some much-needed creativity to a midfield that has been starved of it for some time now.

Fortunately for him, Maddison would be one of the best players he could have hoped to add to his squad, with his availability a huge bonus.

His addition could even emulate that of the league's best creator, with Kevin De Bruyne the template for someone seeking to copy perfection.

The Belgian star has been Manchester City's key player for years now, most recently notching ten goals and 31 assists on his way to securing a famous treble.

However, the 31-year-old has much more in common with the England international than just their penchant for scoring and assisting, to which Maddison also recorded 19 goal contributions of his own last term in the league.

When comparing their respective league campaigns on FBref, both share eerily similar pass completion percentages (73.3% v 73.4%), shots on target per 90 (0.78 v 0.98), shot-creating actions per 90 (6.55 v 5.01) and touches in attacking penalty area per 90 (100 v 103). It is also worth noting that one starred for one of the greatest club teams in history, whilst the other was relegated.

It is therefore no surprise to see the latter lauded for his "elite" assets by Statman Dave, given he comes so close to the man Jamie Redknapp dubbed "the best midfield player in the world".

Perhaps being surrounded by a boosted level of quality could allow Maddison to creep even closer to the legendary De Bruyne, supplementing the likes of Harry Kane and Son Heung-min to bolster his numbers.

Valued at just €37.3m (£32m) by Football Transfers, this could prove one of the coups of the summer to truly kickstart Postecoglou's reign in north London.