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Liverpool have a decent number of young players in their squad across different positions on the pitch such as Curtis Jones, Ibrahima Konate and Caoimhin Kelleher, among others.

However, their youngest senior squad member is 19-year-old Harvey Elliott, who the Reds signed from Fulham in the 2019 summer transfer window.

Since then, the teenager has gone on to make 40 appearances for Liverpool’s senior and youth teams combined, scoring five goals and providing 12 assists in the process.

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With an average of 1.4 shots and 1.2 key passes per game in the Premier League this season, this shows what a creative and attacking talent the Liverpool youngster is for Jurgen Klopp’s side.

Moving forward, it seems that the Merseyside club have their eye on snapping up another teenage prodigy to add to their ranks as a potential future star.

According to a recent report from Turkish media outlet Fanatik (via TEAMtalk), Liverpool and fellow Premier League giants Arsenal are keeping tabs on Fenerbahce starlet Arda Guler.

Since joining the Istanbul club’s youth ranks in 2019, the 17-year-old attacking midfielder has made 42 appearances across their senior and youth teams, delivering a combined total of 27 goals and assists.

With eight senior league appearances to his name this season, the teenager has earned himself a performance rating of 6.98/10, making him the third-highest rated player in Fenerbahce’s squad according to WhoScored. This shows just how capable the youngster is at playing regular senior football at such a young age.

Labelled a “special” player by youth coach Erol Tokgozler, Guler certainly has what it takes to follow in the footsteps of Elliott and become a potential first-team figure for the Reds.

With that in mind, this could give FSG the chance to replicate the same sort of transfer masterclass they pulled off when they secured a deal for the former Fulham starlet three years ago.

If Fenerbahce’s teenage prodigy ends the season with a few more impressive performances and more goal contributions, Liverpool and FSG should definitely have a move for Guler in their sights by the time the summer transfer window opens for business.

In other news: Liverpool eyeing swoop for “powerful” £18k-p/w machine, he’s their new Matip

Aston Villa are open to offers for 2021 arrivals Leon Bailey and Morgan Sanson, according to The Mirror’s Neil Moxley.

The lowdown

Villa paid £25m to sign Bailey from Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen just last summer, making him the third most expensive signing in their history, while Sanson arrived the previous January in a £14m switch from Ligue 1 outfit Marseille.

Steven Gerrard is gearing up for his first summer transfer window as Villa manager, having taken over from Dean Smith in November.

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The latest

In a report for The Mirror, Moxley wrote that Villa could ‘surprisingly’ entertain any bids which arrive for Bailey or Sanson, which may come as a shock development given how recently both players came to the club.

Gerrard apparently believes that he needs to improve the quality at his disposal if he is to fulfil his ambition for the Villans to compete with the top teams in England and qualify for Europe.

The verdict

In truth, neither player mooted with an exit has made much of an impact this season.

Bailey has only started five Premier League games, although that’s partly a reflection on his struggles for fitness as opposed to his ability. The Jamaican has been unavailable for 13 matches, and it’s tempting to wonder how differently things might have panned out so far had he enjoyed an injury-free run.

Sanson has started even fewer top-flight games – just three of a possible 32. The Frenchman has been an unused substitute for three of the last four, raising further questions about the level of faith that Gerrard has in him.

Whatever about Bailey, it certainly isn’t looking too great for Sanson’s future in the Midlands judging by this report and his lack of game-time.

In other news, Villa will have to make a decision between two midfield targets

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BBC Football pundit Mark Lawrenson has tipped Premier League strugglers Southampton to lose 2-0 when they face Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday, but that isn’t the only piece of bad news he has for the club.

What’s the word, then?

Well, the Liverpool legend was once again providing his weekly score predictions in the English top flight, but he doesn’t believe that Saints will bounce back from the disappointing 2-1 defeat against lowly Cardiff City last time out, a result which saw them slip into the relegation zone.

Predicting a 2-0 scoreline for the Gunners, the 61-year-old also added that he believes the south coast outfit are going to find themselves in a lot of trouble for the foreseeable future.

According to BBC Football, Lawrenson said: “Southampton dropped into the relegation zone after losing to Cardiff last time out, and I think they might stay there for a while longer.

“Arsenal have got some issues they need to sort out – Mesut Ozil’s future being one of them – but their home record is very good and they should still be too strong for Saints.”

Is he right?

While his comments won’t be great reading for Southampton supporters or manager Ralph Hasenhuttl, he may well be correct in his thinking.

The south coast outfit face Unai Emery’s men, Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United in their next four Premier League fixtures, while they have fellow bottom-three outfit Fulham at St Mary’s on Wednesday night.

The clash against the Cottagers may be more winnable on paper than the other three, but the south coast outfit showed by taking just one point at home to Crystal Palace and the Bluebirds that they don’t always have the quality to get wins against the teams around them in the table on their own patch.

Even if they beat Claudio Ranieri’s side and lose the other three, they will be in big trouble in the final eight games.

Leeds United have now emerged as the front-runners to sign USA star Brenden Aaronson this summer.

What’s the story?

The Red Bull Salzburg sensation – who will no doubt be eagerly awaiting the World Cup draw later on Friday afternoon – has been linked with a switch to Elland Road in the upcoming summer transfer window.

According to Football Insider, Jesse Marsch’s side have now come to the head of the queue in the race to sign him. The report adds that talks are now underway to sign the 21-year-old, who is Leeds’ number one priority for the summer.

Marsch will be buzzing

The Athletic’s Phil Hay had previously indicated that the Whites were planning making a bid for Aaronson, who he had been identified by the club as someone who could add some much-needed creativity.

Hay said: “Leeds have telegraphed the fact that when the summer window opens, they intend to make a fresh bid for Red Bull Salzburg’s Brenden Aaronson. US international midfielder Aaronson joined the serial Austrian champions in 2020 while countryman Marsch was head coach there, so his appointment at Elland Road was never likely to diminish Leeds’ interest.

“The dip in creativity within a squad who were so adept at creating chances for so long under Bielsa has left little doubt that Aaronson is broadly the type of footballer they should be looking at in the next window: largely within budget, and in possession of the right skill set. Leeds must wish they had found a way to address that midfield nine months ago.”

While Marsch may have since replaced Marcelo Bielsa in the dugout, the 48-year-old will also be happy to hear that Aaronson is someone who works extremely hard off the ball.

Salzburg boss Matthias Jaissle said: “The special thing is, I hardly know any other No. 10 who works so much without the ball. He always puts himself behind (on defence), he is a great team player, very hardworking and has a monster mentality.”

Furthermore, the £18m-rated star has also drawn a considerable amount of praise from Arsenal legend Thierry Henry, who watched him first-hand during his time in the MLS.

The Frenchman said: “I came across him when I was a coach with Montreal, and he killed us with Philadelphia Union. His activity, the way he sees the game. I’ve always been a big fan of him and I’m not surprised to see what he’s doing right now with Salzburg.

“He’s contagious. The way he plays, his energy. His intensity is second to none. He supports the team. He’s a good player. I always thought he was going to be a player. He’s still learning.”

This latest transfer update is sure to have Marsch buzzing.

AND in other news – Leeds could unleash Thorp Arch’s breakout star in “fiery” 18 y/o who’s “got an edge”

Former Wolves loanee Vitinha didn’t enjoy much success at Molineux last season, as the midfielder was subject to just 22 appearances for the West Midlands club under former manager Nuno Espirito Santo.

The Portuguese youngster failed to impress during an underwhelming campaign as the Black Country outfit finished 13th in the Premier League.

However, upon his arrival at Wolves, the midfielder was showered with praise by executive chairman Jeff Shi, who said:

“Vitinha is a crucial signing and an integral component in our recruitment plan for this summer. He is an exciting and special young talent, with an abundance of technique and creativity.”

Having struggled to make a positive impact for Wolves, the English side refused to take up their £16m option to buy and the 22-year-old subsequently returned to his parent club, FC Porto.

However, the West Midlands outfit may be kicking themselves with Vitinha now starring for the Portuguese juggernaut.

The midfielder has made 40 appearances across all competitions this season for Porto, with six of those coming in the Champions League as the youngster featured in all of his side’s group games before dropping down to the Europa League.

After a slow start to the season where the Portuguese starlet had to prove himself to manager Sergio Conceicao, patience has paid off with the 22-year-old starting 22 of Porto’s 29 league games this term.

Although the quality of the Portuguese top-flight is lower than that of the Premier League, Vitinha has certainly come a long way in a short period of time, with his market value also proving a good indicator of his progress.

When the midfielder made the move to Molineux, he was worth just £4.5m, according to Transfermarkt.

Having registered just one goal and one assist in an underwhelming season, the 22-year-old didn’t see much of an rise in his valuation, with a £1.8m increase.

However, fast forward almost a year and the Portuguese is Porto’s second-most valuable player behind Otavio with a market value of a whopping £21.6m.

Wolves will almost certainly be in the market for a new midfielder this summer with Joao Moutinho’s contract expiring in the summer, while Ruben Neves has been heavily linked with a move away – with Manchester United seemingly the front runners.

Therefore, by paying the £16m for Vitinha, not only could Wolves have secured a future profit but also a long-term successor to Moutinho, which would’ve allowed for recruitment of top quality in other positions to be pursued instead.

Granted, there were little signs from Vitinha that suggested he would be a revelation in a Wolves shirt, however, under new management in Bruno Lage, it would’ve certainly been worth a punt to see if the midfielder could turn around his fortunes at Molineux.

AND in other news: Lage could unearth Wolves’ next £100m talent as Fosun plot offer for 19-year-old “missile”

The Athletic’s Sam Lee has given his verdict following the news that Manchester City defender Joao Cancelo has signed a contract extension.

The Lowdown: Cancelo’s rise at City

The Portuguese defender became the most expensive full-back of all time in 2019 when he signed for Manchester City from Juventus in a deal worth £60m, with Danilo heading the other way for £34m.

Since arriving at the Etihad Stadium, the 27-year-old has played an integral part in Pep Guardiola’s side, having totalled 106 appearances for the Citizens. That includes 22 Premier League outings this season, where he has amassed one goal and five assists in becoming one of the team’s best performers, according to WhoScored metrics.

Cancelo signed a six-year deal when he joined the Sky Blues, keeping him at the club until 2025.

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The Latest: Cancelo signs contract extension

Despite having three years left on his contract, City have been looking to tie down Cancelo on a long-term deal. On Tuesday morning, the club announced that the full-back has signed a two-year contract extension, which will keep him at the Etihad until 2027.

The Athletic’s Man City reporter Lee shared this news on Twitter along with a link to his corresponding article, beaming that it is ‘a fitting reward’ for the 27-year-old’s impressive form.

He proclaimed: “New deal for Joao Cancelo, a fitting reward for his emergence as a key City player and his phenomenal form over the past few months in particular”.

The Verdict: Great business

Cancelo is currently one of the most valuable full-backs in world football, with Transfermarkt estimating his value at a cool £54m.

When the initial lockdown happened, the defender struggled to adapt to life in England and thus wanted to leave the club. However, he overcame this to duly become one of the key components of Guardiola’s side.

Former City midfielder Nigel de Jong has offered some effusive praise of the 27-year-old, saying: “We can have a healthy discussion and debate on who is the best right-back in the world and Cancelo is certainly up there for me. It’s not only his versatility but also the fact he is as strong defensively as any right-back or left-back in the world.”

Taking everything into account, this seems like a brilliant bit of business by City, and it’s no wonder that Lee has voiced his firm approval of Cancelo’s contract extension.

In other news: These Manchester City fans approved of one prospective successor to Pep Guardiola

Leeds United are interested in a deal to bring Matt Targett to Elland Road in the summer transfer window.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a report by 90min, who claim that sources have revealed Victor Orta is hoping to hijack Newcastle United’s £15m signing of the Aston Villa loanee this summer, by launching an offensive of his own for the 26-year-old left-back.

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The report goes on to state that both Wolverhampton Wanderers and Leicester City are also keen on the former England U21 international, however, Targett’s preferred destination is thought to be St. James’ Park.

Orta must move

Considering how impressive Targett has been following his January switch to Newcastle, coupled with Junior Firpo’s struggles on the left of the Leeds’ backline following his own £13m move to Elland Road last summer, it is not difficult to see why Orta would be keen on a deal for the Aston Villa defender at the end of the season.

Indeed, over his 12 Premier League appearances for the Magpies, the £15.3m-rated full-back has been in fantastic form for Eddie Howe’s side, making an average of 2.3 tackles, 1.6 interceptions, 2.3 clearances and 0.2 blocks per game.

The £35k-per-week defender has also impressed in a creative capacity, making an average of 1.3 key passes, 1.6 crosses and 1.8 long balls per fixture, in addition to completing 0.6 dribbles and taking 0.5 shots per outing.

These returns have seen the player who Aaron Stokes dubbed a “tremendous” signing and James Hendicott labelled a “beast” average a WhoScored match rating of 6.99, ranking him as Newcastle’s fifth-best player in the top flight.

Meanwhile, over Firpo’s 19 league fixtures for the Whites, the £10.8m-rated left-back has been rather less impressive, averaging an extremely disappointing SofaScore match rating of 6.59, ranking him as Jesse Marsch’s seventh-worst performer in the division.

As such, it is clear to see that the signing of Targett would be a huge upgrade on the 25-year-old Dominican Republic international, leading us to believe that Orta must do all he can to land the former England youth international this summer.

However, with Newcastle also appearing extremely keen on making the defender’s temporary stay at St. James’ Park a permanent move at the end of the current campaign, the Spanish sporting director certainly has a battle on his hands for the Aston Villa sensation.

AND in other news: Forget Rodrigo: “Pathetic” Leeds dud who lost ball every 2 touches failed Marsch again

Celtic centre-forward Giorgos Giakoumakis has been in exceptional form of late for the Hoops and is finally making a name for himself at Parkhead.

The Greece international has scored nine goals in his last seven matches for the club in all competitions, including two Premiership hat-tricks against Dundee FC and Ross County respectively.

He joined Celtic from VVV-Venlo for a reported fee of £2.5m last summer, and Ange Postecoglou explained why he hit his peak late in his career, saying:

“Giako had a disrupted time in the first few years of his professional career.

“Sometimes when that happens it just means they blossom a bit later and hit their peak a bit later. Hopefully his best years are well ahead of him, not just in the next couple. He had a great season in Holland last year and that brought him to the attention of a lot of clubs, not just us.”

Dynamic duo

No… not Batman & Robin but Postecoglou can form his own defence-fighting duo by unleashing Kyogo Furuhashi and Giakoumakis alongside each other before the end of the season.

Whilst the Greek attacker has been thriving on his own at the top end of the pitch, he could hit another level by forming a partnership with Kyogo upon the Japan international’s return from injury.

He is currently sidelined with a knock but the head coach has hinted that he will back for “the run-in” and this means that he could be available in the final weeks of the campaign. This will be a huge boost for the Hoops, as he scored 16 goals in 24 matches in the first half of the season.

The forward, who was brought in for £4.6m last summer, previously earned high praise from ex-Celtic striker John Hartson. He told The Sunday Post [05/09 print edition, via 67HailHail]:

“There is no doubt Celtic have landed someone quite special in Kyogo. His movement is outstanding.

“It was a pity he couldn’t get more involved against Rangers, but when he moved into the central role, he was an absolute menace to their defence.”

The pair were brought to Parkhead for just over £7m combined and Postecoglou must play them alongside each other up front before the end of the campaign. They have both proven that they can score goals on a regular basis for the club, so imagine what they could do to the opposition when they are both poaching in the box and attempting to get on the end of crosses in the Premiership.

It will give defences two hitman to concentrate on and that could, in turn, mean Celtic creat more chances, leading to confusion and gaps opening up. Instead of being able to focus on marking one deadly striker out of the game, teams will need to deal with two of them and that would result in defenders being dragged around and run ragged if Kyogo and Giakoumakis are on their top form.

AND in other news, Celtic now handed major boost ahead of Old Firm clash, Postecoglou surely buzzing…

Despite Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou bringing five fresh faces into Parkhead during the January transfer window, the 56-year-old’s Bhoys side appear to still be lacking strength in depth in a couple of positions.

One such position is at left-back, with Adam Montgomery having departed Celtic Park on loan last month, and Boli Bolingoli looking to be very much out of the picture under the management of the Greek-Australian coach.

Seemingly as a result of this lack of depth on the left-hand side of his defence, Postecoglou was linked with moves for a number of left-backs in January, with Derby County’s Lee Buchanan and Barnsley’s Callum Styles being two of the more intriguing names reported.

However, with the 56-year-old failing to get a deal over the line for a new left-sided defender – or simply choosing not to pursue a move for a player in that position – last month, the club’s only natural left-back, Greg Taylor, now has a perfect opportunity to prove that he should be the undisputed first choice for the role – not just for the rest of this season, but for many a year to come.

January transfer lifeline

Since joining Celtic from Kilmarnock back in 2019, Taylor has somewhat struggled to hold down a regular starting spot in the Bhoys XI – making 11 times in the top flight of Scottish football so far this season.

Indeed, it is not difficult to see why the £1.58m-rated defender is yet to truly establish himself as Celtic’s first choice in the position, as the 24-year-old’s seasonal SofaScore rating of 6.97 ranked him as the Hoops’ 16th-best performer last season, while his average match rating of 6.99 so far this term also ranks him as Postecoglou’s 16th-best player – of those who remain in the 56-year-old’s first-team squad.

As such, should Taylor wish to forge himself a long-term career at Parkhead, the £8.2k-per-week Scotland international simply must take the opportunity handed to him by Celtic’s failure to sign a left-back this January during what remains of the current campaign – or else the man who James McFadden dubbed a “brilliant” talent could be in danger of slipping back down the pecking order next season, or even being moved on in the summer transfer window.

In other news: Postecoglou drops teasing update on further winter business, Celtic must act quickly

Aston Villa will look to sign a new left-sided centre-back this summer to replace club captain Tyrone Mings, Football Insider report.

The Lowdown: Summer rebuild

Villa have struggled in recent weeks, losing their last four Premier League games. They have dropped down to 15th in the table as a result, and it looks as if Steven Gerrard is planning a major rebuild ahead of his first season in charge.

Recent reports have claimed that NSWE are expected to spend over £150m this summer, with the futures of eight players thought to be in doubt.

One of those is Mings, who has been a regular at Villa Park this season, and a further update regarding the England international has now emerged.

The Latest: Source shares update

Football Insider shared a story on Monday morning after being informed by a Villa source. They led with a title suggesting that Villa want a new defensive star to replace Mings, with Gerrard not convinced about the 29-year-old.

Mings has just over two years remaining on his current contract and is actually represented by the same agency as Gerrard.

The Verdict: Busy summer

Should Mings and Ezri Konsa move on as reports have suggested, Villa would be in desperate need of marquee defensive signings with just Calum Chambers and Kortney Hause remaining.

It looks as if Villa will have the funds to make some big-money signings, and you’d expect that could grow beyond £150m with funds brought in by possible departures.

The likes of Joe Gomez, Stefan de Vrij and Matthias Ginter are just three centre-backs who have been linked with a move to the Midlands in recent months, and at this rate, all three could be needed.

In other news: Gregg Evans: AVFC chiefs very excited over midfielder now set to sign at Villa Park