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Paris Saint-Germain are reportedly interested in signing Liverpool superstar Mohamed Salah this summer, according to a new transfer rumour.

The Lowdown: Salah’s future unknown

The future of the 29-year-old is one of the main talking points at Anfield currently, with a new contract not yet agreed due to differing stances on how much he is worth.

Salah’s current deal expires at the end of next season, and while Liverpool are desperate to extend his stay, they are not willing to offer him extortionate wages, with reports he wants £500k-a-week.

The diminutive Egyptian has been linked with moves to European giants Barcelona, and now a fresh rumour is doing the rounds.

The Latest: PSG keen on move

According to AS [via Sport Witness], PSG are also looking at Salah ‘very seriously’ as the ‘first possible’ replacement for Lionel Messi, should the legendary Argentine move on in the summer.

Nasser Al-Khelaifi and co, worth $8bn (£6.1bn), believe he would ‘fit perfectly’ at the Ligue 1 club, both in terms of talent and marketability.

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The Verdict: A nervy few months

It is still so difficult to predict what will happen regarding Salah but the hope is that he agrees to slightly less money than he is demanding, committing his future to the Reds in the process.

To lose such a special player at the peak of his powers would be an almighty blow, and if the current situation isn’t sorted, it has the potential to act as a distraction on the pitch.

Salah’s performances have dipped since the Africa Cup of Nations – he hasn’t scored in open play since February 19th – so it is now a case of returning to his best and sorting his future as soon as possible.

In other news, a Liverpool transfer rumour has emerged. Read more here.

West Ham United are reportedly interested in signing Mainz defender Moussa Niakhate this summer as David Moyes looks to bolster his defensive options.

What’s the latest?

According to The Telegraph, the Hammers could lure the 26-year-old to east London for just £8m, with Transfermarkt valuing the Frenchman at £16.2m.

The commanding central defender can also play at left-back and has featured in 24 of Mainz’s 28 Bundesliga matches this term, scoring three goals and keeping eight clean sheets.

Currently, the Irons have Kurt Zouma, Craig Dawson, Angelo Ogbonna and Issa Diop at centre-back, although the Italian has spent the majority of the season on the sidelines with an ACL injury, while Diop could depart this summer amid reported interest from Ligue 1 outfit Lyon.

Therefore, it’s vital that Moyes adds to his defensive arsenal in the upcoming transfer window.

West Ham must swoop for Niakhate

Zouma has done well to establish himself as the clear first-choice centre-back in his first season at West Ham following last summer’s £29.8m move from Chelsea. However, the Frenchman needs a regular partner, with the likes of Dawson, Ogbonna and Diop all taking turns this season to partner the 27-year-old.

Moreover, left-back is also an area which needs addressing, with Aaron Cresswell now 32 years of age. In fact, the Hammers squad is the second oldest in the Premier League, with an average age of 28.8.

With Niakhate, these issues can be solved.

The Mainz captain stands at 6 foot 3 and averages 1.4 tackles, 1.9 interceptions and 2.1 clearances per league game. For context, Zouma averages a lower tally of 0.6 tackles and 1.5 interceptions per match but also makes a whopping 5.6 clearances.

In Niakhate, West Ham can find their new Rio Ferdinand in colossus of a defender on whom they can later make a profit, particularly if £8m is the German club’s asking price.

Described as “clever” by Mainz manager Bo Svensson, the £12k-per-week French defender can add much-needed depth and quality to the Irons’ squad, which will be vital if Moyes’ side are to qualify for Europe again for 2022/23.

Having balanced four competitions over the course of the season, the Hammers’ lack of squad depth has been exposed at times, particularly when injuries have stacked up.

The lack of depth makes the upcoming transfer window particularly vital, especially considering that the east Londoners made no signings in January.

With reinforcements needed in essentially every position, Moyes will need to be shrewd in how he spends the transfer kitty provided to him, making a potential £8m deal for Niakhate an undoubted bargain swoop which must be made.

In other news – Fewer touches than Areola: West Ham dud who completed just one pass against Lyon let Moyes down

West Ham United have made a move in a bid to bring Bamba Dieng to the London Stadium in the January transfer window.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a report by French media outlet RMC Sport (via the Daily Mail), who claim that both West Ham and Crystal Palace have made an approach to Olympique de Marseille regarding a deal to sign the centre-forward this month.

The report goes on to state that the Ligue 1 side are now in a position where they have to sell in order to balance their books, and could let the 21-year-old leave the club for a fee of just €10m (£8m) in the current market.

The next Drogba

With a new centre-forward very much being a priority for David Moyes over the remainder of the January transfer window, the news that Dieng looks as if he will be available for such a small fee this winter is sure to have intrigued the 58-year-old Hammers manager.

And, it is clear to see why the Scot would be interested in a deal to sign the Senegal international this month, not only because West Ham’s only current senior centre-forward is Michail Antonio, but also because the 21-year-old is clearly a player who boasts a remarkable amount of potential for the future.

Indeed, over his 14 Ligue 1 outings this season – only seven of which have come as starts – the £7.2m-rated hitman has already scored four goals and created one big chance for his teammates, in addition to taking an average of 1.5 shots per game and finding the back of the net every 136 minutes of football played.

These returns have led to the player who Jorge Sampaoli dubbed “explosive” receiving some extremely high praise, none less so than from El Hadji Diouf, who stated of Dieng: “He’s a striker, a Didier Drogba. All he can do is score goals. He is a young person with a future. All I have to say is keep his head on his shoulders, keep working. He is an attacker who ends up in the box.”

As such, it would appear as if a move for the 21-year-old would be a very wise move for Moyes to make in the coming days, as, should Dieng continue his current rate of development following a switch to the London Stadium, the Hammers could very well have the next Drogba on their hands.

In other news: Moyes could form a deadly front three as WHU plot late Jan offer for £15m “greyhound”

It is not difficult to understand why Leeds United were heavily linked with a move for 19-year-old sensation Fabio Carvalho in the January transfer window.

Indeed, the £3.15m-rated attacking midfielder has been in breathtaking form over his 27 Championship appearances for Fulham this season, scoring seven goals, registering six assists and creating ten big chances for his teammates, as well as taking an average of two shots and making 1.9 key passes per game.

These returns have seen the teenager who Sky Sports analyst Nick Wright dubbed an “extraordinary talent” average an incredibly impressive SofaScore match rating of 7.01, ranking him as Marco Silva’s ninth-best performer in the second tier of English football – playing a key role in the Cottagers’ all but confirmed return to the Premier League.

And, although Victor Orta did spend £26m on support striker Rodrigo back in August 2020, in truth, between Tyler Roberts and the Spain international, Leeds have lacked a truly creative attacking midfielder ever since the departure of Pablo Hernandez.

While it is true that the 36-year-old was probably past his best in 2020/21, being used sparingly by Marcelo Bielsa, the playmaker was influential for the Whites over his 36 appearances in the club’s Championship-winning campaign back in 2019/20.

Indeed, this season, the £270k-rated Spaniard scored nine goals, provided nine assists and created 13 big chances for his teammates, in addition to taking an average of 2.1 shots and making 2.3 passes per fixture.

These metrics saw the £19k-per-week midfielder who Phil Hay dubbed both a “demon” and “unreal” earn a quite remarkable seasonal SofaScore match rating of 7.35, not only ranking him as Leeds’ best performer in the second tier but also as the third-best player in the division as a whole.

As such, while a deal for Carvalho – who looks set to become available on a free transfer this summer – may be a difficult move for Orta to pull off, with Liverpool, Manchester United, Chelsea, Barcelona, Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund all being linked with the 19-year-old, it would nevertheless appear essential for the sporting director to do all he can to land the Fulham sensation at the end of the season – as the Portugal U21 international could well prove to become the next Hernandez at Elland Road.

AND in other news: Huge blow: Phil Hay drops 7-word behind the scenes Leeds update, Marsch will be gutted

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Newcastle face Huddersfield at the weekend in what will be a must-win clash for the Magpies as they look to avoid relegation – the Terries are surely resigned to their fate already – and Rafa Benitez’s side may have gotten themselves on the right track just in time.

Benitez’s experimentation with a 5-4-1 has seen the standard of performances from the St James’ Park outfit sky-rocket in recent weeks, with a shock win over Manchester City epitomising their improvement.

The January arrivals of Miguel Almiron and Antonio Barreca significantly boost the Magpies’ chances of securing Premier League football for another season and as Matt Ritchie said, they know that getting a point if they cannot get all three at this stage of the season is vital.

Every player will have to be on top form and step up in the coming months, but who has already taken huge strides this season? Who has fallen off? Read on to find out who is hot and who is not at Newcastle…

Most improved: Isaac Hayden

Isaac Hayden’s Newcastle career has been revived this season and the Englishman is excelling in Benitez’s new system. Playing alongside academy product Sean Longstaff at the base of midfield, Hayden has impressed even Pep Guardiola, who admitted his title-winning side could not deal with the pair.

Despite reports of a potential exit, the 23-year-old has not let his calibre of showing slip, instead going from strength to strength from week to week.

A bit-part player for the first half of the season, Hayden has done a complete heel turn and is now a fixture in the starting XI – he has played the full 90 minutes in six of his seven appearances since the new year. His performances put him on the radar of Aston Villa in January, but a deal never materialised – could they or other clubs come in for him in the summer if his desire to leave doesn’t lessen?

Far removed: Kenedy

Kenedy’s impressive showings on loan from Chelsea last season earned him a second temporary stint at St James’ Park for the 18/19 season but, unfortunately, the Brazilian has cut a moody, disinterested figure this time round.

Wolves Fan TV give us their outsiders take on the turbulent situation behind the scenes at Newcastle in the video below…

The 23-year-old has chalked up just one goal and one assist in 20 appearances this season – the resurgence of Christian Atsu and the arrival of the aforementioned Almiron will make minutes hard to come by for Kenedy if he doesn’t pick his feet up soon.

With Hayden’s importance increasing as the season rolls on, Kennedy’s has decreased dramatically and he has played just 32 minutes of football since the start of the year. Based on this form, it’s highly unlikely he will be back on Tyneside for a third consecutive year.

Manchester United are unlikely to try to sign Raphinha in addition to Kalvin Phillips, journalist Samuel Luckhurst says. 

The lowdown

Luckhurst reported earlier this month that Manchester United are working on a move for Phillips.

They intend to sign a new defensive midfielder and are ‘advancing’ in their swoop for the Englishman.

But the 20-times champions have also been linked with Raphinha, raising the prospect of a summer raid.

The Brazilian, who joined Leeds in September 2020 for a fee of £16.74million, has just over two years to run on his £63,500-per-week contract at Elland Road.

The latest

A Red Devils supporter asked Luckhurst in a Manchester Evening News Q & A whether Raphinha could be a target in the right wing position.

“I suspect if they follow through with their interest in and work on Phillips then they won’t pilfer any more players from Leeds,” he replied.

The verdict

Unfortunately for Leeds, interest in Raphinha is still likely to come from multiple directions.

Indeed, Liverpool are said to be ‘exploring’ a potential move for the 25-year-old, while the player’s agent, Deco, has already spoken to his client about possibly joining FC Barcelona (via Fabrizio Romano).

It’s inevitable that he’s become highly coveted, having scored ten goals and provided three assists this season for a side that’s in the Premier League’s bottom five. For reference, only one other player in the Leeds squad – Jack Harrison (11) – has reached double figures for goal involvements.

Raphinha also ranks in the division’s top eight for both successful dribbles and chances created per 90 minutes (via WhoScored).

Team-mate Dan James has billed him as a ‘magician’, while former Leeds forward Jermaine Beckford has described him as ‘electric’ – the only silver lining for supporters may be that his likely exit will seemingly not be to Old Trafford.

In other news, Pete O’Rourke has dropped this exciting Leeds transfer claim.

The Times have now shared some transfer news out of Tottenham Hotspur involving free agent target and West Bromwich Albion goalkeeper Sam Johnstone.

The Lowdown: Spurs eye Bosman move…

A plethora of reports linking the Lilywhites with a move for the 29-year-old have emerged in recent weeks, and from reliable sources too.

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Sky Sports back that Spurs are set to battle Premier League rivals Manchester United for his signature with Johnstone set to leave the Hawthorns on a free deal.

Other claims, meanwhile, say Tottenham are the favourites to sign him this summer – as backed by football.london correspondent Alasdair Gold recently (via This is Futbol).

Now, sharing an update, it appears The Times have now joined in with Spurs further backed in their pursuit of Johnstone.

The Latest: The Times share Johnstone update…

The big name outlet and their journalist Gary Jacob claim that transfer chief Fabio Paratici and co are indeed the ‘frontrunners’ to sign West Brom’s keeper.

Johnstone has been dropped for the final few matches of 2021/2022 by manager Steve Bruce amid these claims with his exit now looking set in stone.

The Verdict: Driving seat…

As another reliable source backs Tottenham are in pole position to sign Johnstone on a free deal, the keeper’s addition will potentially be a solid start to the summer transfer window.

Lauded as an ‘unreal’ keeper by pundit Paddy Kenny, the 6 foot 3 powerhouse can come as both a solid understudy/eventual heir to captain Hugo Lloris whilst also helping to fill their homegrown quota.

A no-brainer move, Johnston’s possible addition will come as a real boost for manager Antonio Conte.

In other news: Conte personally approves ‘monster’ player move as Tottenham take pre-summer action, find out more here.

Tottenham Hotspur could be planning for life without Harry Kane, according to emerging reports…

What’s the word?

The Athletic claim that the Spurs striker is among Manchester United’s prime targets ahead of the summer transfer window, a year on from discussions between executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward and Lilywhites chairman Daniel Levy.

The Red Devils conceded that any move for the England skipper would have to wait until 2022 after they splashed the cash on international teammate Jadon Sancho.

As such, sources tell the website that renowned Portuguese super-agent Jorge Mendes has been on the lookout for a potential replacement and has held talks with Benfica forward Darwin Nunez over a potential switch to north London.

Mendes has a great relationship with Levy and sporting director Fabio Paratici, so he could hold the keys to bolstering manager Antonio Conte’s frontline.

Bye-bye Kane?

If Spurs are set for another summer of drama surrounding Kane, then they could well cash in this time as it’ll be the final chance to earn a pretty penny before the expiry of his £200k-per-week contract.

By then, he’ll have turned 29 and staring down the barrel of his thirties, where you could plausibly expect performances to drop off – it remains to be seen if he will age like a fine wine, similar to that of Cristiano Ronaldo or Thiago Silva, playing way beyond their years.

Should Levy cash in this time, then he’ll have a pretty big void to fill and Nunez is an intriguing candidate to take up the mantle, given his extraordinary form for the Primeira Liga giants.

As per Transfermarkt, the Uruguay international – who has earned comparisons to his compatriot Edinson Cavani in some regards – has found the net a whopping 26 times in 33 appearances for the Eagles this term.

Also capable of playing on the left flank, Nunez notched a further 14 goals and 12 assists during the 2020/21 campaign, so it’s no wonder he’s been lauded as the “complete forward” by talent scout Jacek Kulig.

Scoring goals and also providing assists, the Benfica star is echoing the sorts of accomplishments that Kane is recognised for in N17 – whilst he drops deeper to bring the likes of Heung-min Son and Dejan Kulusevski into play, Nunez is clearly more than capable of creating chances too.

Currently valued at £36m by Transfermarkt, the former Almeria and Penarol talisman won’t come cheap but when you’ve got to replace a player of Kane’s calibre, then you better be prepared to splash the cash.

Nunez would surely be something of a dream signing for Conte and co, given his relentless work rate and proven goalscoring ability. He’s not Kane but a worthy alternative for the longer term.

AND in other news, Forget Hojbjerg: Paratici could sign Spurs’ next Dembele in £22.5m-rated “phenomenon”…

A key update has emerged in Newcastle United’s pursuit of Atletico Madrid attacker Yannick Carrasco in the January transfer window…

What’s the talk?

According to journalist Matteo Moretto, the Magpies have agreed personal terms with the forward as they look to make a last-gasp deadline day swoop for him.

He tweeted: “Agreement between Newcastle and Yannick Carrasco, who will have a record of 12 million per season. Throughout the afternoon the English club will deposit its termination clause.”

Better than Ekitike

This news could come as a much-needed boost for the Magpies after their deal for Reims forward Hugo Ekitike reportedly fell through.

The Toon are prepared to pay £10m per season to the Belgium international, and he is a player who has the quality to come straight in and have an instant impact on the team. This may not have been the case with Ekitike, which is why he could be a much better alternative to the young Frenchman.

At the age of 19, the Reims talent has limited exposure to first-team football. He has scored eight goals in 18 games in Ligue 1 this season, but he has not proven that he can adapt to playing abroad or that he can do it over a prolonged period of time.

This means that he could have been a signing with the future in mind, rather than a player brought in to help the club immediately in their bid to avoid relegation. By contrast, Carrasco could come in and instantly improve the team, which could make him far better for Eddie Howe than Ekitike as Newcastle are currently 18th in the Premier League and need results as soon as possible.

The 28-year-old has 33 goals and 38 assists in 204 games for Atletico Madrid in Spain, competing in the Champions League and La Liga for Diego Simeone’s side. He also managed 24 goals and 17 assists in 54 matches for Dalian Professional in China, having started his career with 20 goals and 24 assists in 104 outings for Monaco in France.

This shows that he has been able to provide quality in the final third wherever he has been at the top level, which is why he could be a fantastic signing for the Magpies. He is a proven performer, rather than a player with potential, and that is why he could be far better than Ekitike for Howe in the second half of this season.

AND in other news, Keith Downie claims NUFC are now eyeing “another big name player” on D-Day, fans surely elated…

Tottenham Hotspur transfer chief Fabio Paratici is now lining up a fresh big money transfer bid after Antonio Conte’s personal summer request, according to reports.

The Lowdown: Conte issues behind-scenes demand…

Conte, setting his sights on improving his Tottenham squad already this summer, is apparently set to make some pretty big demands to chairman Daniel Levy and transfer chief Fabio Paratici behind-the-scenes.

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The Telegraph, sharing news on Wednesday evening, claim that the Spurs head coach wants as many as six major signings this summer – including a reserve goalkeeper, right-wing-back, central defender, two midfielders and a forward.

Paratici, tasked with backing Conte in the summer, is reportedly already at work – with news now coming to light involving Torino pair Gleison Bremer and Wilfried Singo.

The Latest: Paratici lines up big-money cash offer…

According to Italian newspaper Tuttosport, via Sport Witness, Paratici wants to make a big-money ‘cash’ offer of around €50 million (£42m) to sign both Singo and Bremer – shoring up Conte’s RWB and central defensive options respectively.

This comes after a personal request from Conte, according to this report, with Spurs’ managing director already advancing.

Paratici has apparently made ‘decisive’ moves and is ‘pushing strongly’ for the Serie A duo – making contact weeks ago.

The Verdict: Exciting claim…

This big-money claim comes as an exciting one for Spurs supporters, but their homegrown quota issue lingers as a stumbling block in the background.

The Lilywhites, arguably, simply need to sell before finalising these kinds of blockbuster transfers – with the permanent sale of surplus club-record signing Tanguy Ndombele coming as a real imperative early this summer.

That being said, the possible double-signing of Singo and Bremer for £42m would be a real statement of intent on behalf of Paratici.

In other news: ‘That’s for sure’ – Sky Sports reporter now backs big transfer news out of Tottenham, find out more here.