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Aston Villa have submitted an enquiry to ask about the summer availability of Leicester City forward Harvey Barnes, according to reports.

Is Harvey Barnes leaving Leicester?

The Foxes academy graduate has overcome loan spells at MK Dons, Barnsley and West Bromwich Albion to become a regular first-team feature at the King Power Stadium, where he made 32 starts from 38 Premier League games last season, establishing himself as the club’s best-performing offensive player.

Despite still having two years to run on his contract with Enzo Maresca’s side, the 25-year-old is expected to be one of the next prized assets to get cashed in on following James Maddison’s move to Tottenham Hotspur, and should he depart, he’s got admirers in Unai Emery, Monchi and NSWE.

During a Q&A for BirminghamLive, Villa Park reporter John Townley confirmed that the left-sided winger is indeed a “target” for this window and broke the news that he would be “open to joining”, and this appears to have prompted the hierarchy to make their first official move.

Are Aston Villa signing Barnes?

According to The Daily Mail, Aston Villa have "enquired" to discover the chances of a swoop for Barnes ahead of the 2023/24 campaign. Premier League rivals West Ham United and Spurs have also made contact, whilst Newcastle United are credited with an interest as well.

Leicester's attacker is "set to leave" this summer and clearly isn't short of potential suitors in the top-flight, but where his next home will be is "not yet known". The Foxes are "optimistic" that they will be able to demand a fee of £35m for their youth product, though it remains to be seen whether this is a price that any of the mentioned clubs would be happy to meet.

What could Barnes bring to the Midlands?

Aston Villa will recognise Barnes being Leicester’s top-performing offensive player last season, showing his ability to step up and making an impact in a struggling side – that type of mentality could serve him well on the European stage.

He is of course naturally a wide player, possessing a creative flair that's led him to be labelled a “livewire” in the final third, as lauded by BBC pundit Alan Hutton, but he would also bring an extremely prolific edge to Emery’s attacking ranks should he put pen to paper.

During the 2022/23 campaign, England’s former international clocked up 14 goal contributions (13 goals and one assist) in 34 outings and over the course of the term and recorded a total of 72 shots, which was the second-highest number throughout the whole of his squad, as per FBRef, showing that he always has an eye on hitting the back of the net.

The Burnley-born talent, who has experience of playing in the Europa League, would also provide the boss with remarkable versatility having operated in nine various positions since the start of his career, including everywhere across the frontline and in the midfield, making him a great option to have when competing in several competitions.

Finally, Barnes shares the same agent, Wasserman, as Tyrone Mings and Leander Dendoncker, so this existing connection that his representative already has to the club could give them a small edge over their competitors should they try and pursue a deal in the weeks ahead.

Arsenal, Manchester United, and Chelsea will still feel like "they can win the signature of Lavia" as the race to land the Southampton midfielder is still "pretty open", claims transfer insider Dean Jones.

Arsenal transfer news – what's the latest on Romeo Lavia

The summer window has kicked off in some style in Islington as the Gunners have already confirmed the £65m purchase of Chelsea's Kai Havertz, and the deal to bring Declan Rice to the Emirates is also nearing completion.

Alongside these established names, the club has been linked to Southampton's exciting young prospect and full Belgian international, Romeo Lavia.

According to a report from the Independent, Arsenal first turned their attention towards the £45m player after concluding that any deal to bring in Brighton & Hove Albion's Moises Caicedo would be too difficult to achieve alongside their other targets.

However, the race has become a lot more complicated as Chelsea and Manchester United are said to be directly challenging the Gunners for his signature, with Liverpool 'monitoring' developments for now.

Where there is some doubt as to where Lavia would fit in at Arsenal, there is less about any potential move to the Red Devils.

At the moment, Erik ten Hag's choices in defensive midfield are the imperious Casemiro and the hard-working but under equipped Scott McTominay. If United could bring the 19-year-old to Old Trafford, he could make for the perfect understudy to the 30-year-old Brazilian, eventually stepping in to replace him a few seasons from now.

Chelsea on the other hand have just sold a huge portion of their midfield with N'Golo Kante moving to Saudi Arabia, Mateo Kovacic to Manchester City and the aforementioned Havertz to Arsenal deal, so a move for the Brussels-gem would make perfect sense, filling a current gap in the team and potentially staying with the club for the next decade.

What has transfer insider Dean Jones said about the race to sign Romeo Lavia?

Jones was confident that no club had the upper hand regarding the young Belgian at the moment and that all three teams will feel relatively good about their chances.

Speaking to Football FanCast, he said: "I honestly think it's pretty open race at the moment. I wouldn't say that Arsenal are placed any better than Chelsea any better than Man United. I think that all of those clubs will feel that they can still win the signature of Lavia."

Do Arsenal need to sign Romeo Lavia?

The sides in this transfer saga could clearly use Lavia both now and in the future, but what about Mikel Arteta's side?

Well, it's a little more complicated; as things stand, the club have Thomas Partey and Mohammed Elneny in that defensive midfield position and will soon add Rice, the club's most expensive transfer ever.

From that, it looks hard to see where the "monster" – as dubbed by football writer Benjy Nurick – would fit into Arteta's immediate plans.

However, if the recent report from the Telegraph claiming that the club will cash in on Ghanaian international Partey is true, there could well be a way into the team for the ex-Manchester City wonderkid.

However, with Rice likely to take Partey's place as the clubs go to defensive midfielder anyway, Lavia would still be firmly behind a player only five years his senior.

While he would certainly be a fantastic rotation option, the player might view himself as something other than just a backup.

Whoever ends up landing the Southampton starlet will have an unbelievable prospect on their books, but it looks like some teams need his services more than others.

With outgoings aplenty and reports of replacements on their way, Chelsea could field a much-changed line-up on the opening day of the Premier League season against Liverpool at Stamford Bridge.

It will be the start of what will be a crucial first season for Mauricio Pochettino and the Blues, who will be looking to make an instant return to the Champions League. It may take time for a new-look squad to gel, however, as the new boss attempts to find his strongest starting line-up.

With that said, we've taken a look at the potential new additions to Pochettino's line-up after the summer transfer window.

4 GK: Mike Maignan

Following the pending departure of Edouard Mendy, Chelsea are short on a goalkeeper to compete with Kepa Arrizabalaga next season. And that's where Mike Maignan could come in, with the shot-stopper valued at £30m (via Yahoo).

According to The Telegraph, the Blues are considering making a move for the AC Milan shot-stopper this summer with Kepa's number-one spot in doubt under Pochettino.

3 CB: Levi Colwill

Not exactly a new signing, but Levi Colwill more than showed that he's capable of stepping into Chelsea's side next season after playing a key role at Brighton under Roberto de Zerbi in the last campaign.

The young defender can form a solid partnership with Wesley Fofana next season, finally adding some much-needed stability to the backline at Stamford Bridge.

It makes sense for Chelsea to keep hold of Colwill after letting Kalidou Koulibaly leave to Saudi Arabia this summer, too. The last thing they want is to be short on options.

2 CM: Moises Caicedo

After playing a pivotal role in Brighton & Hove Albion's Europa League qualification last season, Moises Caicedo is unsurprisingly a man in demand this summer. And, according to reports, it is Chelsea who lead the way.

As per Fabrizio Romano, the Blues are set to open talks with Brighton for the midfielder and personal terms are not an issue as the London club prepare to go full steam ahead for a deal – though a fee will reportedly cost over £80m.

Caicedo would likely replace N'Golo Kante in Chelsea's side after the Frenchman swapped London for Saudi Arabia this summer.

1 ST: Nicolas Jackson

According to Romano and Will Unwin of The Guardian, Chelsea have completed the signing of Villarreal forward Nicolas Jackson for £31.8m, as they look to solve their goal-scoring issues.

Scoring just 38 goals last season, the London club are in desperate need of a capable goalscorer, especially with Kai Havertz on the verge of joining Arsenal.

The hope will be that Jackson, who scored 12 La Liga goals last season, can take things up a level or two under Pochettino and become the striker that's needed at Stamford Bridge.

Pochettino's potential line-up: Mike Maignan; Reece James; Levi Colewill; Wesley Fofana; Ben Chilwell; Moises Caicedo; Enzo Fernandes; Conor Gallagher; Noni Madueke; Nicolas Jackson; Raheem Sterling

Newcastle United have added another player to their transfer radar this summer, with Football Insider reporting that Conor Gallagher is on their wanted list.

Are Newcastle United signing Conor Gallagher?

The midfielder was finally given a chance in the Chelsea first-team this campaign, featuring 35 times in the Premier League for the Blues over the year. He also managed three goals and one assist from the centre of the field despite his side's struggles, with the Blues finishing outside of the top half.

It was his showings during a spell with Crystal Palace that propelled him into the starting eleven with his parent club for the 2022/23 season. He featured 34 times for them and bagged eight goals and three assists – leading to his best campaign yet in terms of goal contributions. He wasn't able to hit the same heights back at Stamford Bridge but his showings have clearly still led to interest in his services.

That's because, according to a report from Football Insider, Newcastle are one of a number of sides keeping tabs on Gallagher, despite their very advanced move for AC Milan's Sandro Tonali.

He's believed to be on their wanted list during this summer transfer window, but they have yet to make an official offer for his services. They also face competition to add him to their ranks from Brighton and Tottenham too.

Neither of those clubs have made a concrete bid yet either but it appears as though the Seagulls could potentially try and use Moises Caicedo as a bargaining tool in a potential deal – something that Newcastle don't have.

Should they sign Gallagher along with Tonali?

It's unclear how much Gallagher could potentially cost Newcastle should they launch an official bid for the player, but CIES Football Observatory suggest that his value could be around the 40 million Euro mark (or £34.3m).

And he could be worth it too – his former boss Thomas Tuchel drew comparisons between the youngster and N'Golo Kante, and while that may be a bit of a reach, it showcases how highly he is viewed. This is further backed by football journalist Josh Bunting also praising his "stunning" ability in front of goal from his time in the Chelsea first-team.

Considering the money that the Toon now have at their disposal, they could certainly afford a fee around the suggested value. Signing Gallagher to add more end product while adding Tonali – who is expected to sign soon – to provide more balance and composure in deeper positions could bring an excellent does of quality and depth into the Magpies' central ranks.

West Ham United have their sights set on Joao Palhinha and are now preparing to make an initial offer for the player, according to Fabrizio Romano.

Are West Ham United signing Joao Palhinha?

The Portugal international, who currently stars for Fulham, had an excellent first campaign in the Premier League in 2022/23. The Cottagers surprised many by not battling near the relegation zone after their promotion from the Championship and instead bursting into the top ten in the top flight. Palhinha had a key role to play in that success, as he featured on 35 occasions for the club in the league and even bagged three goals along the way.

Not only did he produce a joint-best individual year in terms of his goal haul but he also had plenty to contribute in defence too. When you compare Palhinha to others in his position amongst the Men's 'Top Five' big leagues in Europe, he is one of the most eye-catching prospects out there at the moment. With a superb rate of 4.26 tackles per 90, it means that he sits in the top one percent in that area for midfielders. With 2.06 aerials won too, he also sits in the top eight per cent for that category.

The 27-year-old then has certainly caught the eye of other clubs and it's the Irons who are the most heavily linked. According to reliable journalist Romano, an initial opening bid be made soon. He states that the Hammers are lining up an offer and that he is seen as a good replacement for Declan Rice, who appears to be heading out of the exit door.

Romano said: "West Ham are preparing their first approach for João Palhinha. Not an easy deal with Fulham but he's top of the list for West Ham to replace Declan Rice. Edson Alvarez remains in list but Borussia Dortmund are pushing to agree personal terms after proposal sent."

What is Joao Palhinha's transfer value?

There is no potential fee or asking price mentioned in terms of a bid and although CIES Football Observatory suggest that his value could be about 20 million Euros (or £17m), one would expect that to be much higher in reality considering the Cottagers paid £20m for the player last summer and he's only gotten better since.

It could well be worth splashing out big though when you consider how well he has performed. He's been hailed for his form in the Premier League for example, with football journalist Josh Bunting calling the midfielder "outstanding" and adding that he is "top class" in a variety of different areas. David Moyes then would no doubt love to add such a fantastic player to his side and if he can get a deal done, the worries over a Rice departure might ease for the Hammers.

Tottenham Hotspur are believed to be leading the summer transfer pursuit for the Leicester City England midfielder James Maddison.

How much is James Maddison worth?

This summer will potentially see a lot of change unfold in north London with the recent appointment of Ange Postecoglou promising a fresh start.

Indeed, speaking following his appointment, the Australian has told Spurs fans he hopes to provide them with a brand of football which will excite them:

"I think it’s an exciting opportunity for us to now set off in a new direction, play football and create an environment that embodies the values and traditions of this fantastic football club," he said.

However, whether he currently has the players at his disposal to instil his attacking style of play which comes amid the transfer links to Maddison.

The attacking midfielder has been heavily linked with a move away from the King Power Stadium this summer with the likes of Newcastle United also believed to be interested.

There have been some suggestions that Maddison will be made available for sale this summer but it will cost clubs up to £60m to secure his services.

As a result of the hefty price tag, insider Graeme Bailey has said on the Talking Transfers podcast that Spurs are the more likely suitors for the 26-year-old star:

"What we're getting out of Newcastle, they're not willing to go over £40m, let alone over £50m which is what it's going to take to get Maddison. It's going to be close to a £60m deal. We think at least £50m with add-ons taking it to £60m.

"So as it stands, Newcastle are not willing to go to that price. And if you do believe Newcastle are not going to go there. I make Spurs quite strong favourites to get him, at this moment in time."

Who does James Maddison want to join?

The £110k-per-week star enjoyed an exceptional individual campaign in the Premier League despite the Foxes suffering relegation to the Championship.

Hailed a "magician" by some in the media, the England international was able to return a stunning 10 goals and nine assists in the league alone (via Transfermarkt).

In the not-so-distant past, it has been reported that the 26-year-old would be keen to make a move to London when his time at Leicester comes to an end.

However, reports over the last week have claimed he is being tempted by the prospect of potentially playing on Tyneside amid their believed interest.

Given the Toon are believed to only have £75m made available for Eddie Howe to spend this summer, it has to be questioned whether Maddison is a viable option.

Newcastle were not believed to be willing to match Leicester's £60m valuation last summer and now he only has one year remaining on his deal, which feels even less likely.

This could well open the door for Spurs to come in and snap up the midfielder who is thought to have been given the thumbs-up by their new boss, Postecoglou.

Liverpool youngster Fabio Carvalho just doesn't fit the system at Anfield, claims RedMenTV host, Ste Hoare.

The 20-year-old joined the Reds last summer and after initially impressing early on this season, things haven't quite gone to plan.

In fact, he's played just eight Premier League minutes in 2023, and that could be down to Jurgen Klopp's tactics.

What's the latest on Fabio Carvalho's future at Liverpool?

The former Fulham midfielder has been linked with a move away from Anfield, but the club are only prepared to let him go out on loan, recently rejecting a £10m bid from Bundesliga outfit RB Leipzig.

With the arrival of Alexis Mac Allister, and reports suggesting Liverpool are pursuing several midfielders, there's going to be plenty of competition in the middle of the park for the club, and it seems Carvalho won't fit into plans this season.

A number of Premier League sides, including his former club Fulham are interested in taking the Portuguese youngster on loan, with several offers currently on the table, but it remains to be seen where he'll end up.

What has Ste Hoare said about Fabio Carvalho and Liverpool?

Despite Carvalho's struggles at Liverpool this season, Hoare believes it's not down to talent, but a lack of fit in Klopp's system that has caused the £16m-rated midfielder problems this year.

Speaking to Football FanCast, the RedMenTV host said:

"It's mad because Liverpool tried so hard to sign Carvalho. They beat so many teams, they paid more than they needed to make sure they got him.

"They really liked what they saw and by all accounts, he is a good player, he just doesn't fit the system."

How did Fabio Carvalho perform this season compared to last year?

While making the move from Fulham and Championship football, to one of the Premier League's biggest sides in Liverpool was always going to be tough, Carvalho's spell in Merseyside has seen his game time and output drop drastically.

Across the board, the 20-year-old's statistical numbers have all decreased this year, which is hardly a surprise given his lack of regular minutes.

Last year, the midfielder completed 1.2 dribbles per game for Fulham, seeing that number drop dramatically to 0.2 per game for Klopp's men this season, whilst his WhoScored average rating dropped from 7.11 at Fulham to 6.37 for the Reds, and he went from completing 1.7 key passes per game at Craven Cottage, to a measly 0.1 this campaign.

At 20 years old, there's still plenty of time for Carvalho, who is sponsored by Nike, to turn his Liverpool career around and a spell out on loan may be the catalyst in that, but if he doesn't fit the system now, who's to say he will when he comes back.

Manchester United could be set for a major boost as one of their transfer targets looks like he wants a move to Old Trafford this summer in order to win trophies…

What’s the latest on Harry Kane to Manchester United?

According to Football Transfers, Tottenham striker Harry Kane appears to want a move to the Red Devils so he can start competing for trophies.

Journalist Graeme Bailey tweeted a few weeks ago that Kane is the “preferred option” when it comes to Erik ten Hag’s search for a new striker, however, it remains to be seen whether Spurs want to do business this summer.

The Englishman could cost a minimum of £100m if any potential transfer was to take place – and if any team could afford this fee, it’s United.

Could Harry Kane sign for Manchester United this summer?

Nothing can be ruled out, especially with Spurs’ 15-year trophy drought looking like it could continue judging by their performances last season, and with Kane fast approaching 30, he will surely be looking to add some silverware in order to complement his qualities as a player.

Ten Hag desperately needs a world-class forward that can take his side to the next level, with United scoring just 58 Premier League goals – only Aston Villa scored fewer out of the teams in the top half of the table last term. Anthony Martial netted just six times in the league (nine in all competitions) as United had to rely on Marcus Rashford and Bruno Fernandes to score the majority of their goals, grabbing 30 and 14 respectively, and it’s clear they need an upgrade on the Frenchman.

Kane, lauded as “incredible” by Spurs coach Ryan Mason, is among one of the finest forwards on the continent, ranking in the top 10% across Europe’s top five leagues for goals, shot-creating actions and progressive passes over the past year, suggesting that not only does he pose a significant threat in front of goal, but he is willing to move the ball into key attacking areas as often as possible.

Compare this to Martial, who ranks in the top 23% for goals, top 37% for shot-creating actions and top 13% for progressive passes across Europe’s top five leagues over the same period, Kane would surely be a major upgrade with regard to these metrics.

Indeed, in their respective teams, the Englishman ranked as Spurs’ best player for overall rating, goals and assists and shots on target per game (as per Sofascore), while the United striker could only rank as the 17th-best player in the Red Devils squad, as well as placing fifth for goals & assists and fourth for shots on target per game, proving that Kane is vital for his side, whereas Martial isn’t quite as effective.

Signing Kane should be a no-brainer for Ten Hag this summer given his quality, and if they wish to push Manchester City and Arsenal properly next term, luring one of the most devastating strikers of his generation to Old Trafford would give them a wonderful chance of challenging for the title.

Manchester United have reportedly made contact with Everton forward Richarlison ahead of a possible summer swoop.

The Lowdown: Richarlison in England

Richarlison, labelled as a ‘match-winner’ by Kevin Campbell, has been plying his trade in England since 2017.

He impressed with Watford in his first year in the top flight which resulted in Everton spending over £35m on his services. Since then, the Brazilian has made more than 150 appearances for the Toffees, scoring 52 times, including 10 this season.

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He’s played a key role in Everton’s attempts to avoid the drop, and it looks as if a move to work with Erik ten hag at Old Trafford could be on the cards.

The Latest: United contact

Sports Witness shared an update from Goal regarding Richarlison on Tuesday. They claim that United, along with Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain, have made contact to learn conditions over a move and are all in the running for his services.

The report adds that Everton are yet to name a price for their star attacker, however, United are willing to ‘invest’ in the 25-year-old.

The Verdict: Shrewd?

Richarlison has played as a centre forward and as a left-winger this season, two areas of the pitch where Ten Hag may be looking to strengthen this summer.

He could have limited options in both positions, should Edinson Cavani and Marcus Rashford depart, as has been rumoured, so Richarlison could be a smart signing based on his versatility and experience in the Premier League.

You’d expect that his asking price would fall if Everton dropped down to the Championship, but if they remain in the top flight, then perhaps United would have to pay over his £45m Transfermarkt valuation as he enters the final two years of his Goodison Park deal.

In other news: Agreement reached: Man Utd now strike deal for ‘top’ gem who ‘dominates’ on the ball. 

Former Celtic striker Charlie Nicholas has pleaded with the club to tie manager Ange Postecoglou down to a new deal, claiming the club must already be plotting or even in behind-scenes ‘negotiations’.

The Lowdown: Ange excels in first year

The Australian replaced Neil Lennon in the Parkhead hot seat last year, looking to improve fortunes on the pitch after a disappointing period.

Postecoglou has done just that, inspiring Celtic to within touching distance of regaining the Scottish Premiership title, needing just one more point to achieve that goal.

Not only that but the Hoops have already sealed Scottish League Cup glory, too, further outlining the job he is doing.

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The Latest: Nicholas wants new deal sorted

Postecoglou only signed a one-year deal at Parkhead, however, and speaking to The Scottish Daily Express, Nicholas, 60, claimed the club must surely already be engaged in or plotting behind-scenes talks:

“Forget about all the transfers because Celtic’s No. 1 priority in the coming weeks should be rewarding Ange Postecoglou with a new contract. I would be absolutely amazed if talks haven’t already started.

“Celtic would be absolutely crazy if they haven’t opened negotiations or even scheduled them for the coming weeks. Ange deserves to be rewarded for what he has done.

“Let’s get him tied up because he is at the heart of everything good that Celtic are doing and have done. They kept topping up Brendan Rodgers’ deal and look at the compensation they got for him when Leicester City came in.

“I don’t think Ange will be pushing for a new deal but it would be a reward for the remarkable job he has done at Celtic…so far. His reputation is growing and there is no doubt other big clubs will be looking at him.

“So Dermot (Desmond) show a bit of loyalty and reward Ange, please. He should be the top priority at the club.”

The Verdict: No-brainer for Celtic

It would be devastating to see Postecoglou suddenly leave at the end of the season, having not agreed terms on a contract and found a new club instead.

That seems unlikely, in truth, with the Celtic boss seemingly happy at the club, but supporters won’t rest easy until he has extended his stint with the Hoops.

Postecoglou has made an enormous difference since replacing Lennon, becoming an undoubted fan favourite already, and the club could enjoy a rich period of success under him.

In other news, an exciting Celtic financial update has emerged. Read more here.