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Newcastle United are leading the race to sign Leicester City midfielder James Maddison this summer, according to reports.

What's the latest on Maddison to Newcastle?

The Premier League playmaker has now entered the final 18 months of his contract at the King Power Stadium and having rejected several new offers to extend his stay, is likely to be on the move during the upcoming window. The England international is currently the Foxes' top-performing offensive player with an average WhoScored match rating of 7.24 and the high level of his performances have been attracting the attention of Eddie Howe for a long period of time.

The Magpies submitted two offers for the 26-year-old last summer worth up to £50m but they were both rejected as a result of them being considerably below the Foxes' £60m valuation. In January, journalist Rudy Galetti revealed that the two parties were previously in talks regarding a potential deal but a move failed to materialise before the deadline meaning that he had to stay put for the remainder of the season. Now though, it sounds like the northeast outfit are about to take yet another bite of the cherry…

According to Football Insider, Newcastle are the "firm favourites" to sign Maddison ahead of the 2023/24 term. The St. James' Park outfit are currently in "pole position" to land their long-term target with sources stating that they view him as a "superstar". PIF are already "laying the groundwork" for an approach, with £60-70m likely to be enough to prise him away from the Midlands.

Leicester now "expect" to lose their standout performer and the likes of Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester City and Liverpool are also "keeping tabs", but it's the black and whites who are leading the race.

Would Maddison be a good signing for Newcastle?

Maddison has been dubbed a midfield "magician" by Statman Dave and looking at his creativity and remarkable return in the final third, he could be the absolute perfect fit to slot into the centre of Howe's squad at Newcastle.

The Coventry-born talent has racked up 15 goal contributions (nine goals and six assists) in 23 appearances across all competitions this season where he's averaging 2.8 shots and 2.3 key passes per league game, via WhoScored, not to mention that he's also the current second highest free-kick scorer in the top-flight, highlighting how strong he is at set pieces alongside in open play.

Finally, Maddison shares the same agent as both Kieran Trippier and Matty Longstaff so this could potentially give the Magpies even more of an advantage in the race for his signature in the months ahead.

Chelsea are one of a number of sides across Europe interested in signing AC Milan star Rafael Leao this summer and the winger's potential arrival at Stamford Bridge could see Graham Potter ditch January flop Mykhailo Mudryk.

Could Chelsea sign Rafael Leao?

Chelsea have long been linked with signing the former Lille forward, with the Blues reportedly offering €70m (£62m) during the World Cup in Qatar.

However, should the Blues retain their interest heading into the summer, they could be forced to shell out the 23-year-old's mighty €150m (£132m) release clause.

It has been another impressive campaign from the Portugal international, as he boasts eight goals and six assists in just 25 Serie A appearances, with WhoScored awarding him an impressive average rating of 7.07.

He has also caught the eye with his performances in the Champions League, as his one goal and two assists have helped Stefano Pioli's side reach the quarter-finals, where they will face Italian top-flight leaders Napoli next month.

For context, the top-performing player in Potter's squad this season, of those to make at least ten Premier League appearances, has been Reece James, and he also has a 7.07 average rating from WhoScored, which emphasises the quality Leao could add at Stamford Bridge next season, particularly in the attacking areas where the Blues have struggled.

Former England manager Fabio Capello lauded the pacy winger when on Sky Sports earlier this month, comparing him to PSG superstar Kylian Mbappe.

He said, via OneFootball: “Another important thing: he worries the opponents. He is one of the few players in Europe today who goes off easily in one-on-one situations. In terms of speed and quickness, he is like Mbappé."

Considering the France international is regarded as one of the best young footballers in the world, winning the golden boot in Qatar after a hat-trick in the final, Chelsea would surely be foolish to turn down a similar player this summer, no matter the cost for Todd Boehly.

If the left-winger were to arrive at Stamford Bridge, it would surely limit the chances of fellow youngster Mudryk, who has struggled since signing from Shakhtar Donetsk in the January transfer window for a mammoth £88.5m fee, signing a ridiculous eight-and-a-half-year deal.

In total, the 22-year-old has managed no goals and one assist in seven appearances for his new side, averaging a shockingly bad 6.26 rating from WhoScored for his performances in the Premier League.

It would be a ruthless decision by Potter to consider dropping the Ukrainian youngster so early into his Chelsea career but he has done little so far to justify his price and for that sort of money, he needed to come in and have an immediate impact at Stamford Bridge.

Leao has consistently produced in Italy's top flight in recent seasons and could be a big upgrade on Mudryk if Boehly can prise the Portuguese forward away from the San Siro this summer.

Arsenal are reportedly battling Premier League and London rivals Chelsea to sign 15-year-old Birmingham City gem Trevan Sanusi.

The Lowdown: Sanusi profiled

Sanusi is a young attacking prospect who has been capped by England at both U15 and U16 level.

He scored the opening goal of the Development Tournament that the U16s won in late February, and has travelled with Birmingham’s senior matchday squads despite his age.

Nonetheless, Sanusi could follow in the path of English superstar Jude Bellingham, who came through at Birmingham before moving to Bundesliga heavyweights Borussia Dortmund.

The Latest: Arsenal interest

As per Football Insider, Arsenal are battling Chelsea to sign Sanusi, who has rejected offers of a scholarship contract from Birmingham, and wants to leave once he turns 16 in April.

The Gunners are ‘hot on the trail’ of the youngster, but the Blues are currently in ‘pole position’ to land his signature.

Sanusi has been ‘closely watched’ by scouts from the Premier League, who have given ‘rave reviews’ of his performances, with the versatile forward a ‘prolific scorer and creator’ at youth level.

The Verdict: Get it done

With Chelsea leading the race for Sanusi, the Gunners need to step up their interest in order to try and snatch his signature.

Journalist Joaquin Guimaraens has hailed him as a ‘creative’ player with an ‘overwhelming ability to dribble’, and has likened him to Chelsea and England star Raheem Sterling.

Plenty of English talent have come through the Hale End Academy over the years, like current first-teamers Bukayo Saka, Emile Smith Rowe and Eddie Nketiah, and Sanusi could be next in line should he move to the Emirates Stadium.

Leeds United are enduring a tough season, in which Javi Garcia has been handed the unenviable task of rescuing a team that was in freefall under Jesse Marsch.

The Spaniard was only gifted the job following the conclusion of the January transfer window, so inherits a squad largely made up of players purchased by the previous two managers.

It seems that a lack of urgency to correct the big issues in the squad was the downfall of both Marcelo Bielsa and Marsch, with the former refusing to bolster his thin squad and the latter wasting huge amounts of money on several players who are yet to make an impact.

Despite this contrast, one huge let-down that springs to mind of the Argentine’s tenure is Daniel James, who was signed from rivals Manchester United back in the summer of 2021. 

The Welsh speedster was expected to supplement an already free-flowing Whites front line, however, it quickly became apparent that he lacked the quality and cutting edge to be relied upon at the lower end of the table. 

It resulted in a gruesome relegation battle, in which survival was only earned on the final day of the season.

How much has Dan James cost Leeds in total?

His acquisition was not cheap, as the Whites were forced to stump up £25m to tempt James from Old Trafford.

It was not the first time a player had made the switch between these two bitter rivals, but it certainly left the Manchester club delighted having only signed the winger two years earlier for £15m.

Having been handed a mouth-watering £50k-per-week wage, with hindsight it was a foolish move to reward a player who had done little to warrant such a huge expenditure.

The 25-year-old would then make just 40 appearances for the club, scoring four and assisting just five before being forced out on loan to Fulham. He is poised to return at this season’s conclusion; something which Gracia will hardly be eagerly awaiting.

When factoring in his wage for his sole year in Yorkshire alongside his transfer fee, in total he has already cost the club £27.6m. What makes it worse is that this is a figure that is only set to increase.

Bielsa did many great things for the club, but convincing Andrea Radrizzani to make this move was not one of them.

Journalist Tom Dutton put it best when he wrote on Twitter: “Dan James is a pace merchant with poor final ball and awful decision making. Not sure how he ever got a move to United.”

That burning question still remains, as his move to Leeds seems equally perplexing given its failure thus far.

Coach Mikel Antia looks set to make the move to Leeds United to work alongside Javi Gracia for the first time, according to Beren Cross for Leeds Live.

The Lowdown: Antia profiled

The 50-year-old has experience of being an assistant manager in the Premier League. The Spaniard worked under Rafael Benitez at Newcastle United for 136 games between 2016 and 2019 and is currently in the MLS with Charlotte.

He was a part of Miguel Angel Ramirez’s backroom team and has been assistant to current manager Christian Lattanzio for 20 games (as per Transfermarkt), but it looks as if a return to England is on the cards.

The Latest: Antia to link up with Gracia at Leeds

Cross shared a story for Leeds Live on Wednesday evening regarding Gracia’s backroom staff setup. He said that Zigor Aranalde will once again be the 52-year-old’s assistant, while Juan Solla is also set to work with Gracia once again.

However, Cross added that Antia is set to work under the new Whites manager on a coaching basis for the first time, with the two having played together at Real Sociedad in the late 1990s.

The Verdict: Wise move?

Although Antia has never worked under Gracia, there is still a connection from their time at Sociedad as players. He would bring previous experience of coaching in England, so it could be a wise move by the new Leeds boss in the short run.

Michael Skubala also looks set to remain at the club under Gracia, so a blend of his previous assistants in Aranalde and Solla, a new coach in Antia and a current Leeds figure in Skubala could be a good blend for the newly-appointed 52-year-old as he looks to steer the Whites away from the relegation zone.

Everton’s talks about signing Isco are well underway and a new meeting is planned between the relevant parties, according to journalist Rudy Galetti.

The Lowdown: Isco an option for Everton

The 30-year-old is a free agent, having had his contract terminated by Sevilla earlier this season, and it has recently been reported that Goodison Park is a potential destination, with the Spaniard able to sign for a new club outside of the transfer window.

While it has been claimed that the midfielder prefers a move to the MLS, casting doubt on whether he would be open to joining Everton, a new update appears to indicate that a deal could be struck with the Premier League club.

The Latest: Isco talks underway

According to Rudy Galetti, writing for Tribal Football, talks are well underway regarding a possible move to Everton for Isco, and a new meeting is scheduled with the aim of advancing the negotiations.

It is claimed that a possible move to Union Berlin broke down earlier in the January transfer window after the player was told that he would not be included in the Europa League squad list, but no MLS teams are explicitly named as interested parties.

The Verdict: Get it done?

In truth, the 30-year-old has not been at his best for many years, last recording more than four goal contributions across a single league season in 2017/18, after showing such promising signs at Real Madrid earlier in his career.

That said, the Toffees are at a point where they need to take a gamble, considering that they failed to strengthen Sean Dyche’s squad at the end of the January transfer window, even missing out on Andre Ayew, who joined Nottingham Forest.

Signing Isco would be a risk given his decline in form, but he can still make an impact at a high level, scoring and assisting in the Champions League this season. He has also been hailed as a ‘magician’ by football scout Jacek Kulig in the past.

A fresh start in a new league could be exactly what the playmaker needs in order to reignite his career, and Everton should take the plunge on him, at least on a short-term deal until the end of the season.

Leeds United boss Jesse Marsch will be able to welcome back several of his key players as his side welcome Brentford to Elland Road in the Premier League…

What’s the latest?

In recent weeks, the treatment room was becoming a busy place once again with skipper Liam Cooper, recent signing Max Wober and Robin Koch joining the likes of Luis Sinisterra, Adam Forshaw and Crysencio Summerville on the sidelines.

However, according to The Athletic’s Phil Hay, the majority of Marsch’s squad is fit to feature against the Bees today.

“Georginio Rutter is available and should be in the squad. He said himself that he wasn’t 100 per cent yet having missed some training while he was moving from Hoffenheim so a seat on the bench seems most likely – but I hope we’ll get to see him at some stage. The absentees today are Summerville, Forshaw, Gray and Dallas. From what Marsch said on Friday, everyone else should be fit,” he revealed in a pre-game update.

That means Cooper, Wober and Koch are all available in a major defensive boost.

Huge boost for Marsch

During the Whites’ midweek 5-2 win over Cardiff City in the FA Cup third-round replay, the £11m arrival went off injured in what appeared to look like a worrying blow. His versatility in playing left-back, centre-back and in midfield will be vital over the coming weeks, so the fact that he’s good to go is great news for Marsch and the squad.

Similarly, being able to welcome back their “real leader” – as described by journalist Dean Jones – in the Scotsman is going to be huge as without him, there is a considerable lack of true experience and guile in the backline.

Fellow defensive titan Pascal Struijk looked rusty and uncomfortable against the Championship outfit, having been moved centrally after playing much of the campaign out on the left, whilst Diego Llorente always seems to have a rick in him, so he cannot be relied on, which is why Koch’s availability is further key.

Sinisterra, who played his first 11 minutes in months against the Bluebirds, adds quality to the final third, where Leeds have lacked creativity and threat for much of the Premier League season, remaining winless since November.

All in all, this update is surely going to have the manager delighted as he can near-enough select from a full group of players and as such, that has got to bolster their chances of picking up a result against a European-chasing Brentford outfit this afternoon.

AND in other news, Forget Rutter: Marsch must unleash Leeds’ “mouth-watering” £21m “animal” on Brentford…

Chelsea are intensifying their pursuit of want-away Borussia Monchengladbach forward Marcus Thuram, and could instigate a move in the coming weeks.

Chelsea have recently completed the £9.7m loan signing of Atletico Madrid phenom Joao Felix, but are displaying little sign of slowing on the transfer front as new owner Todd Boehly looks to establish the club at the forefront of the European scene. 

And now, manager Graham Potter has been boosted in his pursuit of a title-winning team following Fabrizio Romano’s recent revelations on the current state of play, stating that the Blues are indeed honing in on further additions, with the £10m-valued Thuram indeed at the top of the shopping list.

Romano said: “João Félix deal will not change Chelsea plans as negotiations will continue for Marcus Thuram as revealed last week and also other targets — in different positions.

“Again, Christopher Nkunku deal 100% sealed for June – can be considered a Chelsea player.”

“World-class” partnership

If Chelsea are to match the boardroom’s ambitions on the field, then major adjustments are swiftly needed; it is paramount that the aspiring outfit unbound their tethered attacking play and rekindle the offensive prowess that will ignite the success Boehly so dearly craves.

Indeed, languishing in tenth place in the Premier League, and with severe concerns rising ever-closer to the brim that European football will evade Stamford Bridge entirely next season, something needs to change.

Potter has led his side to the ignominy of six defeats from the past nine competitive outings, while the tally of 20 goals in the top-flight is the lowest of any top-half side in the division; the cogs are not whirring despite the abundance of talent and reported £315m injection since the opening of the summer transfer window.

However, as confirmed by the aforementioned Romano, the west London outfit have already completed a £52.4m deal for RB Leipzig’s Nkunku, who has netted 52 goals from 75 appearances for his German Bundesliga side across the past two seasons, and Thuram could be the final ingredient to serve up a fluid and cohesive offensive tint to the Chelsea sword.

Having endured an injury-hampered campaign last year, the Frenchman Thuram has plundered a prolific 13 goals from 17 appearances this term, consequently earning a place in his nation’s 2022 World Cup squad and impressing when called upon, notably serving an assist for Kylian Mbappe in the historic finale against Argentina, who clinched triumph in a penalty shootout.

The 25-year-old has been described as “world-class” by Daniel Farke, also demonstrating his perpetually-filled gas tank by playing every minute of the league campaign despite the relentless nature of his high-octane frontal role.

As per FBref, the £28m-rated gem ranks within the top 7% for goals, 8% for total shots and 6% for dribbles completed when compared to forwards across the major European leagues; Nkunku, meanwhile, ranks within the top 4% for goals, but intriguingly within the top percentile for pass completion and top 8% for progressive passes.

Effectively, the pairing has every inclination of prospering on English soil, with both players capable of peppering opposing nets with a consistent, devastating goal threat but merging into a partnership that situates the Leipzig ace behind his compatriot, seeking openings and creating space.

The duality of offensive excellence, balanced by the counterpoint of differentiating skill sets, could provide Chelsea with a forward line that can conjure up goals and assists from every nook and every cranny; effectively, it could be a torrent of sustained attack, tempestuous waves that will displace even the most resilient of defences.

West Bromwich Albion have been reaping the rewards of their new leadership of late, with Carlos Corberan having masterminded their five-match winning streak despite having not made any signings of his own.

It therefore makes the January transfer window all the more promising, as he can add to a group of players who are currently on a roll.

Of the rumours swirling around, the most plausible and prominent is linking the Baggies with a move for Huddersfield Town midfielder Jon Russell, with the Jamaican having broken into the first team under Corberan during their mutual time at the John Smith’s Stadium.

He became a mainstay for the Terrier’s promotion push last season which only ended in a Championship play-off final defeat, anchoring the engine room with composure and class beyond his years.

Adding him to Albion’s squad and pairing him with Tom Rogic could form one of the best midfields in the Championship, offering the perfect balance between defensive steel and attacking impetus.

The 22-year-old could be particularly impressive playing alongside the Australian, who has recorded a goal and an assist in his last two matches. This has seen his average Sofascore rating for the campaign increase to 6.85, despite only averaging 33 minutes per game.

Rogic has now established himself as a cemented starter at The Hawthorns, and if Russell could come in and perform similarly to last season, he could inspire another club to potential play-off glory.

During the 2021/22 campaign, he averaged a 7.03 Sofascore rating as he maintained an 87% pass accuracy. He paired that with a hulking physique, as the 6 foot 4 titan recorded 1.3 interceptions, 1.4 tackles and one clearance per game (via Sofascore).

He would offer West Brom a metronome-like quality in midfield, along with a work rate and solidity which could see them dominate their battles in the middle of the park.

Such is Russell’s ability that Danny Schofield claimed that the Terriers always knew he would be a “special talent”, with the former Huddersfield boss adding: “He’s got real ability with the ball, very composed in central areas…”.

To acquire a player of his talent and to pair him with someone of Rogic’s experience has the makings of a powerful midfield partnership. Should Corberan make it happen, West Brom will surely not be in the Championship for much longer. 

Celtic striker Giorgos Giakoumakis is believed to be attracting notable interest ahead of the January transfer window, following a stall in contract negotiations at Parkhead.

What’s the word?

According to the Scottish Sun, the 28-year-old could seemingly be set for a ‘life-changing’ move next month amid interest from a number of uber-rich Saudi Arabian sides, while clubs both in England and Germany are also believed to have registered an interest in his signature.

The report suggests that the Old Firm outfit won’t let the Greece international – whose existing deal is set to run until 2026 – leave on the cheap, however, with the Scottish champions set to demand a fee of around £6m if they are to sanction an exit next month.

This comes following speculation that talks over a new contract have hit an impasse in recent times, with the former VVV-Venlo man believed to be ‘unhappy’ at the failure to match his increased wage demands.

Postecoglou could strike gold

Despite the potential disappointment of losing a player who has scored 25 goals in just 50 games for the Hoops to date, title-winning coach Ange Postecoglou could well strike gold with the striker’s departure, with it looking as if the Glasgow side can make a sizeable profit on their initial investment.

Having been signed from the Netherlands for a fee of just £2.5m back in the summer of 2021, the Bhoys could now be set to take home more than double that figure if they can secure that £6m asking price, with such a sale set to prove astute business for the Scottish Premiership side.

Equally, despite the striker’s impressive goal return – having finished as the joint-top scorer in the league last term with 13 goals – the 11-cap machine has rarely been a regular starter in Postecoglou’s side, making only 22 starts in all competitions over the last 18 months or so.

As such, it may not prove too destabilising if the £12k-per-week “phenomenon” – as previously described by reporter Jeroen Kapteijn – is allowed to leave Celtic Park in the New Year, with teammate Kyogo Furuhashi still delivering the goods in attack with ten top-flight goals to his name already this season.

Equally, amid recent links to the likes of Gue-sung Cho and Ross Stewart, Postecoglou could well easily reinvest any funds from Giakoumakis’ sale to help fill the void, with the blow of losing the latter man set to be eased by the potential funds that can be recouped.