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Aston Villa legend Gabby Agbonlahor has been reacting to the club's links with Leeds starlet Wilfried Gnonto, and the former Villans number 11 believes the Italy international could be an excellent signing.

How much did Wilfried Gnonto cost Leeds?

The 19-year-old made the switch to Elland Road last year, costing a mere £3.8m and being seen as a hugely exciting young player with a big future in the game.

While the Whites struggled greatly throughout the 2022/23 campaign, eventually being relegated from the Premier League to the Championship, Gnonto was one of the few positives to take, often looking like one of the most dangerous attacking players at the club, despite still being so inexperienced.

There was a fearlessness and unpredictability about some of the Italian's performances, and while he didn't necessarily light up matches every week, he still chipped in with four goals and assists apiece, in all competitions.

Leeds' relegation means that Gnonto's future at the club is now potentially in doubt, especially if a Premier League club come in for him, such as Villa. They are looking to have a highly productive transfer window before their European campaign, and that has seen Monchi and Unai Emery's eyes turn to Yorkshire, as the pair compete with Everton for Gnonto's signature.

Are Aston Villa signing Wilfried Gnonto?

Speaking to Football Insider, Agbonlahor, now a pundit on Sky Sports and talkSPORT, talked up the idea of Gnonto making the move from Leeds to Villa this summer, seeing him as an impressive option to come in and boost the squad:

"I do like him and I think he’s got a lot of potential. He would be joining a better team with a better manager and structure at Aston Villa. A lot of people did get carried away by him after a couple performances last season, as he did show some inconsistencies.

"But, he would still be a brilliant option to challenge for places on the wing, so I think it would be a good idea and Aston Villa could turn him into a better player."

Gnonto could be an inspired signing by Villa this summer, coming in as someone who could immediately be a reliable squad player, but also a potential future star at the club.

The winger already has 12 caps to his name for an Italy side full of big names, showing the composure that he has already shown on the big stage, and he has also been lauded for his "exuberance and positivity around the club" by Leeds chief Angus Kinnear in the recent past, painting the bit of an exciting young talent.

While it is imperative that Villa sign players at their peak this summer, in order to retain their current positive momentum, it is also vital that they continue to plan for the future, bringing in footballers who will develop over time and eventually become star figures as they head towards their mid-20s.

In Gnonto, the Villans could have the perfect option, in that respect, with his performances for a struggling Leeds side already showing what he is capable of, and this still very much the beginning of his journey as a footballer. Whether or not the Whites persuade him to stay on this summer remains to be seen, but his head could be turned by a move to the Midlands and swift return to the top flight.

Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino is desperate to sign Real Madrid star Federico Valverde this summer, according to an exciting new transfer rumour.

How good is Fede Valverde?

The £181,000-a-week midfielder has grown into arguably one of the best midfielders in the world in recent years, becoming an integral part of a successful Madrid side, winning two La Liga titles and one Champions League crown along the way.

Valverde has stood out as a complete modern player, combining relentless athleticism, technical quality and versatility, allowing him to thrive both in central midfield and a wide role. Last season, he scored seven goals in the league, also chipping in with four assists and averaging 0.9 tackles per game.

While the 24-year-old is surely seen as a vital part of Madrid's future moving forward, there is still huge competition for places in the middle of the park, especially with highly-rated England international Jude Bellingham sealing a big-money move to the Santiago Bernabeu from Borussia Dortmund earlier this summer.

There are also the likes of Toni Kroos, Luka Modric, Eduardo Camavinga and Aurelien Tchouameni at the club battling for minutes, so it will be hard for Carlo Ancelotti to keep everyone happy.

With Chelsea searching hard for new midfield signings this summer, in order to make up for the loss of K'Golo Kante and Mateo Kovacic, it looks as though Blues could be eyeing up an audacious move for Valverde.

Could Chelsea seal sensational move for Valverde?

According to Defensa Central [via The Chelsea Chronicle], the west Londoners' new boss Pochettino would love to bring the Uruguay international to the club this summer. The Argentine is believed to be "obsessed" with the idea of signing the Madrid superstar, pleading with owner Todd Boehly to complete the transfer.

In truth, it is extremely difficult to see Madrid being willing to part ways with Valverde any time soon, considering he is only 24 years of age and an undoubted key man, having racked up 204 appearances for them to date.

Kroos even described his teammate as one of the "top three in the world right now'' during one spell last season, highlighting just what a special addition he would be to Chelsea's squad, should he suddenly be made available in the summer transfer window.

The thought of the Blues having a new-look midfield of Enzo Fernandez, Moises Caicedo and Valverde is a truly mouthwatering prospect for any Chelsea supporter, and if it happened, the entire team could be transformed after a hugely underwhelming 2022/23 campaign that saw them finish 12th in the Premier League.

Valverde could be about the hit the sweet spot of his career, with so many players peaking around the ages of 25-29, which is why Madrid will almost certainly want to retain his services for the foreseeable future.

It is encouraging to hear Pochettino being so bold about Chelsea's transfer business, though, and if they can't sign the Madrid hero, it is essential that someone of a similar ilk heads to Stamford Bridge during the summer instead.

Sunderland may have been handed a boost in their efforts to sign Ellis Simms this summer, with Phil Smith of The Sunderland Echo reporting that the player himself could be keen on a switch back to the Stadium of Light.

What is the latest Sunderland transfer news?

The Championship side appear to have a few irons in the fire when it comes to transfer dealings, as they look to try and push on and seal a potential promotion into the Premier League next season.

The Black Cats are clearly keen to bring in attacking reinforcements, with the side revealed as one of the teams wanting to bring in Sonny Perkins on loan this summer. The Leeds man could be available on a short-term basis and the Black Cats have thrown their hat into the ring over a potential deal to sign him for the duration of the campaign.

In turn though, they lose some of their key players to those higher up the pyramid. Jack Clarke put himself on the map with his displays on Wearside last season and Burnley are now trying to snap up the winger.

One big striking target for Sunderland though has been former loanee Simms, with the Black Cats keen to get him back through the door at the Stadium of Light. It seems that a decision will be made soon over where the striker's future lies after a bid was made last week.

Are Sunderland signing Ellis Simms?

Now, according to a report from Phil Smith for The Sunderland Echo, there has been a fresh update over a potential deal. That's because the player himself is open to a return to the Championship side and "keen" to link back up with his old teammates.

That means that if the previously reported bid is accepted he will surely choose Sunderland. Other clubs are also interested, but it looks as though the Black Cats' previous association with the youngster has handed them a huge leg up in the race.

He's received high praise in the game already for his efforts up front, with Karen Carney calling him "unbelievable" in terms of his finishing ability. The Toffees starlet already possesses an excellent ability to find the back of the net despite being just 22-years-old and a transfer back to Sunderland could see him get more minutes and allow him to really hone that ability in front of goal.

It seems as if the player himself could fancy bagging goals again for the Black Cats too, so that will be positive news for fans of the club.

Manchester United officials have held a meeting with the agent of Inter Millan goalkeeper Andre Onana, according to Fabrizio Romano.

What’s the latest Man United transfer news involving Onana?

The Red Devils and Erik ten Hag appear to be making concrete moves in the transfer market, with Chelsea midfielder Mason Mount looking like he could be the first high-profile signing of the summer.

After two rejected bids, those at Old Trafford are now reportedly closing in on a £60m deal for the England international, with a five-year deal already agreed between Mount and United.

It doesn’t look as if the club will stop there, though, and with David de Gea’s future up in the air, with his contract set to expire at the end of the month, Onana, who worked under Ten Hag at Ajax, has emerged as a real target.

Reports previously suggested that Man United were in pole position to sign the goalkeeper, who Mark Goldbridge described as “box office to watch when he's got the ball under pressure”, and a further update has been shared.

According to Romano in the last 48 hours, Man United have held a meeting with Onana’s agent, Albert Botines, with the Cameroon international expected to cost around €50m (£42.9m).

“Andre Onana’s agent Albert Botines had direct meeting with Manchester United today.

“Man Utd are approaching goalkeepers to explore options in case de Gea leaves — still waiting for final decision on that one. Inter won’t sell Onana for less than €50m with add ons.”

Is David de Gea leaving Man United?

Ten Hag could be left with a real shortage of goalkeeping options ahead of the new campaign. As mentioned, De Gea is out of contract at the end of the month and David Ornstein has claimed a departure looks a possibility.

Alongside the Spaniard, Dean Henderson has been linked with a permanent move to Nottingham Forest following his loan spell last season, and should the pair seal exits, United would have just 37-year-old Tom Heaton as their only option.

Therefore, pursuing someone like Onana, who has just come off the back of a solid first season with Inter Milan, keeping 19 clean sheets in 41 games and coming in of praise from Pep Guardiola after the Champions League final, appears to be a smart decision. It looks as if a move will be one to monitor, and it’ll be interesting to see if United make a formal offer over the coming weeks.

Chelsea are holding “contact and talks” regarding a deal to bring Gabri Veiga to the Premier League, according to Sky Sports reporter Florian Plettenberg.

How good is Gabri Veiga?

Veiga is a central midfielder who currently plays his football for Celta Vigo in La Liga, having worked his way up through the various youth ranks to graduate from their academy. He’s now become a regular feature of the first-team, clocking up 55 senior appearances to date.

The Spaniard still has another three years to run on his contract at the Balaidos Stadium, but after establishing himself as his homeland outfit’s second top-performing offensive player last season, has been highlighted as an ideal transfer target by Mauricio Pochettino.

Reliable reporter Rudy Galetti revealed earlier this month that the Blues are one of several clubs to have “shown interest” in the 21-year-old, whilst Jacob Steinberg later claimed that a bid "could arrive soon”, and if the following update is to be believed, the two parties may already be discussing a switch to Stamford Bridge.

Are Chelsea signing Veiga?

Taking to Twitter, Plettenberg revealed that Chelsea are currently in negotiations with Celta Vigo and Veiga regarding a move ahead of the 2023/24 campaign. He wrote:

“Gabri Veiga is ready for the next step now. He will leave Celta Vigo. His management is considering many options as he could become a future top player in central midfield. Contact and talks with CFC and others. Release clause of around €40m [£34m] – confirmed. Bayern is not involved.”

Should Boehly make a bid for Veiga?

Chelsea will know that Veiga only being 21 means he would be more of an investment for the long-term future of the club, but having already started to show what he’s capable of on the main stage, Todd Boehly should certainly consider tabling an offer to secure his services.

The Gol International client – the same agency used by Christopher Nkunku – posted 15 goal contributions (11 goals and four assists) in 36 La Liga appearances last season, form which saw him collect three man-of-the-match awards, but the central midfielder was also a threat even when the ball didn’t hit the back of the net.

The Spain U21s starlet was averaging 3.14 shot-creating actions per league game which was the second-highest number in his squad, via FBRef, so he’s always looking to produce moments of quality for his fellow teammates.

Veiga has been lauded an “electric” player by journalist Fabrizio Romano for his youthful pace and energetic nature, so should he put pen to paper, it would be a massive coup for Pochettino.

Tottenham Hotspur have been credited with an interest in Lyon midfielder Maxence Caqueret as new manager Ange Postecoglou looks to craft a team capable of rising to prominence next term.

What's the latest on Maxence Caqueret to Tottenham?

That's according to Foot Mercato, who claim that Spurs join German giants Borussia Dortmund in the pursuit of the Frenchman this summer and have placed him on the 'short-list' of options.

While the report does not reveal a transfer value, CIES Football Observatory touts the 23-year-old at £26m, and with four years still left on his current deal in France, it is likely his outfit will demand a lucrative fee to secure his services.

Tottenham failed to qualify for Europe last year and now must place the onus on making astute purchases in the transfer window and returning to the fore, and Caqueret could be the midfield saviour that chairman Daniel Levy craves.

Should Tottenham sign Maxence Caqueret?

With the Lilywhites ending a campaign without European endeavours to look forward to for the first time since 2009, there is simply no margin for error this summer in targetting apt individuals capable of playing pivotal roles in a coveted ascent back to European football at the very least, but Champions League football coveted.

While the shoddy defence was illuminated after a dismal and leaky season for the London club, with the 63 goals shipped over the 22/23 league term shockingly the sixth-worst record in the division, the centre of the park will receive attention as Postecoglou attempts to instil some swagger and belief back into the fold.

And Caqueret could be the perfect midfield option to nurture into a world-class talent, having risen from Lyon's youth ranks to forge 130 appearances across all competitions, scoring five times and providing 13 assists.

The France U21 international is an all-encompassing midfield engine and catches the eye with both his dogged pursuit of retaining the ball and his attractive ball-playing ability.

Indeed, as per FBref, the £55k-per-week menace ranks among the top 5% of midfielders across Europe's top five leagues over the past 12 months for assists, the top 9% for shot-creating actions, the top 17% for successful take-ons and the top 14% for tackles per 90, illustrating a dynamic approach to his play that could weave the various facets of Tottenham's system together.

And given that he is listed as the most comparable player in Europe to former teammate Bruno Guimaraes, who departed Les Gones for Newcastle United in January 2022 for £40m, Postecoglou could hit the ground running by providing Spurs with their own version of the impressive Brazilian.

Guimaraes, comparatively, ranks among the top 19% of peers for assists, the top 13% for shot-creating actions, the top 13% for progressive passes and the top 13% for successful take-ons per 90, and has been hailed as "world-class" by Magpies teammate Dan Burn.

Caqueret could well be a "crucial" signing, as he has previously been called by Peter Bosz, enriching the central ranks and emulating Guimaraes in the Premier League, and Tottenham would be wise to kickstart their rebuild by forging ahead with negotiations for the dynamic ace.

Arsenal have reportedly made an approach to Sporting CP over a possible move for defender Ousmane Diomande.

What’s the latest Arsenal transfer news?

The Gunners appear to be working hard behind the scenes to bolster Mikel Arteta’s squad this summer following an impressive 2022/23 Premier League season.

One of the club’s top targets is West Ham midfielder Declan Rice. Reports have suggested that the England international has already reached a verbal agreement when it comes to personal terms ahead of a move to the Emirates Stadium.

A fee still needs to be agreed on between the two clubs, with Jacob Steinberg suggesting that is close with a figure possibly surpassing £100m with add-ons included.

Rice could therefore become Arsenal’s all-time record signing should a move go through in that price range, however, it looks as if the club could still make further additions.

Sport Witness relayed a report from Portuguese newspaper Record regarding Arsenal and Diomande in the last 48 hours. They claimed that the Gunners and Juventus have both made contact over a potential transfer, however, it is deemed ‘impossible’, with Sporting informing Diomande’s representatives he is ‘locked’ in at Lisbon.

The report does add that the player has a €80m (£68m) release clause, though, something that will need to be activated following Sporting’s stance on a sale.

Who is Ousmane Diomande?

Diomande is just 19 years of age and only joined Sporting back in January from FC Midtjylland. Since then, the Ivorian has gone on to make 17 appearances in all competitions for his current employers, two of which actually came against Arsenal in the Europa League.

The centre-back played the entirety of the game at the Emirates Stadium as Sporting progressed on penalties and was actually the visitors’ second-best outfield player on the evening, as per SofaScore. He appears to be a star in the making, with talent scout Jacek Kulig saying:

“You rarely see a player with such high ball-playing and pure defender skills. There are some tactical improvements but I'm quite sure this kid will play for the best teams in the world. The signs of elite talent.”

However, paying £68m for a teenager alongside a possible £100m+ deal for Rice could be seen as too much by Arsenal officials this summer, but following a recent approach and a starring display in north London back in March, it looks as if it could be one to keep an eye on over the summer.

Tottenham Hotspur could well have the chance to make a summer move for Real Madrid defender, Ferland Mendy, albeit with the full-back's arrival set to be tied to the future of a current Spurs star…

What's the latest on Mendy to Tottenham?

According to Spanish outlet CadenaSER, the France international is reportedly one of the players who could be offered to the Lilywhites as part of the La Liga side's push to sign Harry Kane.

As per the report, the England skipper is viewed as 'one of the main candidates' to replace Karim Benzma at the Santiago Bernabeu, with the latter man only recently sealing a move to Saudi outfit, Al Ittihad.

The piece notes that with Madrid unwilling to spend more than €80m (£69) in their attempts to bring Kane to the Spanish capital, Carlo Ancelotti's side could offer a player such as Mendy as part of the deal.

Should Tottenham sign Ferland Mendy?

The 28-year-old – who signed from Lyon on a £47m deal back in 2019 – could potentially represent a notable upgrade on Ben Davies at left-back for Spurs, with the club reportedly willing to sanction the sale of the long-serving Welshman.

With the arrival of Ange Postecoglou in the dugout likely to see the north Londoners return to a flat back four – due to the 57-year-old's preferred 4-3-3 formation – a more suitable option will be needed in that role, ahead of Davies, with the latter man having typically operated as a wing-back or on the left of a back three this season.

As pundit Gabby Agbonlahor stated, the 30-year-old seemingly just "isn't good enough anymore" having been "struggling to put in top performances", hence the need to find an "upgrade in that position".

Turning to Mendy, therefore, could be just what Postecoglou is in need of, with the 5 foot 11 speedster potentially able to offer more defensively having averaged 1.2 tackles and 0.8 interceptions per game from his 18 league outings this season, while Davies has averaged just 0.9 ad 0.6 for those same two metrics, respectively.

While the Frenchman has endured his fair share of injury woes in recent times, the £174k-per-week asset has been a particularly composed presence in the backline when he has featured as he ranks in the top 1% among those in his position in Europe's top five leagues for pass completion.

That knack for retaining possession does not appear to be shared by the current Spurs man, as the versatile dud ranks in just the top 27% among full-backs for that same metric, having been branded "so poor on the ball" by the aforementioned Agbonlahor following a recent outing.

As such, the signing of the Champions League-winning sensation – whose "physical strength" has been branded "incredible" by compatriot Raphael Varane – could be the Davies replacement that Tottenham are craving.

Although few Spurs supporters will relish the prospect of losing Kane this summer, there could be a small crumb of consolation if the 29-year-old's exit does lead to the addition of Mendy

Transfer insider Dean Jones has encouraged Tottenham Hotspur to make an attempt to sign Chelsea midfielder Jorginho this summer. 

The lowdown: Spurs eyeing replica

Spurs boss Antonio Conte will certainly be in the market for more reinforcements following the arrival and subsequent positive impacts of Juventus pair Dejan Kulusevski and Rodrigo Bentancur in January.

Following a report from the Evening Standard claiming that Spurs transfer chief Fabio Paratici will seek to find a player of a similar ilk to the 30-year-old Jorginho, a cultured midfielder is clearly on the list of priorities at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

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However, one reputable journalist has suggested that the north Londoners could make a move for the real deal…

The latest: ‘A lot of talk’

Speaking to Give Me Sport, Jones has suggested that Tottenham should make a move for the 43-cap Italy ace.

He said: “If Conte wants a Jorginho, then go and try and sign Jorginho, because I think that Chelsea might be open to him leaving at this point.

“There’s a lot of talk of him potentially being reunited with Maurizio Sarri this summer. And I think that we will be reading headlines about him potentially leaving Chelsea.”

With off-field matters still not resolved in west London, Jorginho is out of contract in 2023 and is currently unable to negotiate a new deal with the club.

The verdict: Not the right fit

Albeit nigh on impossible to question Jorginho’s quality having been named the Best Player in Europe in 2020/21, the experienced Italian midfielder isn’t where Spurs should be looking at this juncture, despite Conte previously recognising his improvement in becoming a ‘stronger’ player since arriving in the Premier League.

Instead, the Lilywhites need to bring younger options with the potential to flourish and develop further whilst at the club into their ranks.

For this, when using the FBref player comparison tool, names such as 25-year-old Eintracht Frankfurt defensive midfielder Djibril Sow, Lyon starlet Maxence Caqueret and Sassuolo 24-year-old Maxime Lopez all trend alongside Jorginho stylistically and would fit a more suitable age bracket.

Whilst a move on the cheap for the man described as ‘relentless’ by manager Thomas Tuchel would be a welcome one, we feel Conte and Paratici would be best served looking at long-term options.

In other news: Reliable source: Tottenham agreement now ‘very likely’ as Conte closes in on ‘top signing’, find out more here.

Tottenham Hotspur have been dealt an injury blow ahead of their Premier League clash with Liverpool on Saturday night.

What’s the latest?

Speaking in his pre-match press conference (via football.london), Antonio Conte confirmed that Sergio Reguilon, who missed the win over Leicester City last weekend due to a groin injury, is once again unavailable for selection this evening.

The 52-year-old went on to state that, with just two weeks remaining in the current Premier League campaign, the left-back may well be ruled out for the rest of the season as a result of his latest knock.

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Regarding the current condition of the 25-year-old, Conte said: “Sergio Reguilon is not available. He hasn’t had a training session with us. Honestly, I don’t know, it’s only two weeks until the end of the season and I’m not sure if he’ll be back.”

Conte will be fuming

While it is true that Reguilon has not enjoyed the best campaign of his career, the fact that the Spain international could be set to miss the remainder of the season due to injury is nevertheless sure to have left Conte fuming.

Indeed, although the full-back has often left a lot to be desired from his performances in 2021/22, he has still been a solid option for the Italian over his 25 Premier League appearances this term. The £25.2m-rated defender has scored two goals, provided three assists and created five big chances for his team-mates, along with taking 0.8 shots, making 1.2 key passes and completing 0.8 dribbles per game.

The £53k-per-week Spaniard has also been sturdy at the back, helping his side to keep six clean sheets, in addition to making 1.2 interceptions, 1.6 tackles and 1.6 clearances and winning 4.6 duels (at a success rate of 52%) per match.

These returns have seen the former Real Madrid starlet average a SofaScore match rating of 6.92, ranking him as Spurs’ 12th-best performer in the English top flight.

As such, with the top four race looking as if it will go down to the wire, and Conte’s other left wing-back option Ryan Sessegnon having suffered numerous injuries of his own this season, the fact that Reguilon is unavailable for a fixture as important as the trip to Liverpool tonight – and potentially the remainder of the campaign – is undoubtedly a huge blow for the 52-year-old and his team.

Indeed, with Tottenham very much in need of a result at Anfield – and in their further three league outings – if they are to have any hope of securing Champions League football next season, Conte will need as many of his first-team regulars fit and firing as possible in order to give themselves the best chance of sealing a top-four spot.

AND in other news – “Expect to see”: Eccleshare drops £145m Spurs summer claim, supporters will be buzzing