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Nottingham Forest could now be set to emulate the success earned by one of the Premier League's top coaches…

Who are Nottingham Forest signing this summer?

Having already made their move for Chris Wood permanent, as well as securing the shrewd acquisition of Ola Aina on a free transfer, Steve Cooper's squad is shaping up nicely given they have also begun cutting down their bloated squad.

Departures for Jesse Lingard, Jack Colback, Lyle Taylor and a number of loanees mean space is once again freed up for another summer of spending.

One such asset that would fit perfectly into their system is Ian Maatsen, who was noted as a reported target of the Tricky Trees just last week. Despite the £15m fee mentioned to pry him from Chelsea, this would still represent fine value to invest in the future of such an exciting young talent.

He is fresh off the back of a fine campaign on loan at Burnley, ready to tackle the top flight as a marauding wing-back for Cooper.

How good is Ian Maatsen?

Despite being only 21 years old, the Dutchman enjoyed a starring year most recently at Turf Moor, thriving within Vincent Kompany's free-flowing system, and proving to be a key asset in their comfortable Championship promotion.

He would feature 42 times across all competitions, notching ten goal contributions from the defence. For comparison, his four goals in the league would have made him the joint-third-highest scorer at Stamford Bridge last term.

Often beginning games at left-back, it would take little time at all for Maatsen to begin pushing forward, inverting to move into areas where he can truly exert his will on the game.

Such an ability to do so from that particular flank immediately draws parallels with Joao Cancelo, who enjoyed a fine few years doing so at Manchester City, slowly popularising such a role which reached its pinnacle during the 2021/22 season.

The Portugal international would maintain a 7.33 average rating in the league that year, as his eight goal contributions fed into his 1.1 key passes and 2.3 tackles per game, via Sofascore.

For comparison, Maatsen would record a 7.07 average rating of his own last season in the Championship, also mustering one key pass, 1.4 interceptions and 1.9 tackles per game, via Sofascore.

Coventry City goalkeeper Simon Moore sought to praise such an outstanding loan term, noting: "The kid is bright, he’s hugely talented, he wants to learn, and he never gives up."

His desperation to progress the play can be further emphasised through his underlying figures, as when compared to other full-backs across Europe, the Netherlands U21 international ranks in the top 13% for non-penalty goals per 90, the top 6% for progressive passes per 90, and the top 4% for progressive carries per 90, via FBref.

Pep Guardiola can be credited with the popularisation of the inverted full-back, as one of the top coaches to first bring it to prominence on the world stage; his praise aimed towards Cancelo serves to detail exactly what is expected of someone featuring in that position: "Defensively sometimes he needs to be consistent but when he is consistent, his focus is fantastic. He’s a fantastic guy and a football player."

Maatsen perfectly encapsulates these all-around qualities, and with his entire career laid out in front of him, the future looks sparkling for the dynamic attacking threat.

He could underpin Cooper's philosophy, adding that firepower from the left flank to supply Morgan Gibbs-White and Taiwo Awoyini for another fruitful season.

Leeds United could be set to repeat a recent transfer success of theirs, should they choose to once again sign from the Bundesliga.

Is Alexander Nubel leaving Bayern Munich?

With Daniel Farke's summer revamp having been kicked off by the signing of Ethan Amapdu, it now finally feels like the 49ers will start to exert their influence on their new club and help forge a brighter future for this struggling giant.

Dropping into the Championship last season was a gut punch to their reputation, having only spent three years back in the Premier League. However, it already seems like the new owners are planning for an instant return, with a fresh report coming from Sky Sports Germany to reaffirm the Whites' interest in Bayern Munich goalkeeper Alexander Nubel.

Whilst VfB Stuttgart seem in the lead for his signature, the report does not discount the pull of the Yorkshire team, who remain in the race despite having yet to make an offer.

The German shot-stopper is valued at €13m (£11m) by FootballTransfers.

How good is Alexander Nubel?

Having spent the last two seasons on loan at AS Monaco, as playtime at his parent club was limited given the legendary status of Manuel Neuer, the 26-year-old has proven himself more than capable of starring as a first-choice option.

After all, his 6.93 average rating last term in Ligue 1 is indicative of this, with his 71% save success rate feeding into the mammoth 3.7 stops he averages per game, via Sofascore. A tally of 24 clean sheets across his 97 appearances for the French club is an admirable one.

However, his talents reach far beyond his ability to keep the ball out of his net, as Germany's U21 coach Klaus Thomforde claimed: "You can only speak highly of Alex – he's an incredibly talented goalkeeper, with the world at his feet. He's got an extraordinary footballing ability, but he's also very down to earth and is a great lad."

In once again returning to the Bundesliga for a signing, similar to how they did by prying Tyler Adams from RB Leipzig, the Elland Road outfit could be set to repeat old successes that would all but assure their promotion next season.

After all, the USMNT international proved to be an instant hit in the engine room despite relegation, having provided a much-needed injection of pace, dynamism and defensive steel.

This was outlined through his statistics, as he posted 1.5 interceptions, 3.7 tackles, one clearance and one key pass per game, whilst maintaining an 82% pass accuracy too, via Sofascore.

His ability to break up and dictate the play was impressive, as his 6.98 average rating in the Premier League made him the club's best performer of those who had started five or more games.

Sky Sports journalist Tim Thornton sought to support this, noting back in September:

"He's done really, really well. He knows his game. When he came in, he said ‘I'm not going to be the man to replace Kalvin Phillips, I’m my own man.’ There are similarities in the way he plays with Phillips in the way that he breaks play up and screens the defence. But he's also very different in a lot of ways. So he's done brilliantly."

Given the immediate success the 24-year-old garnered, translating his form from Germany to England in a flash, perhaps Nubel could seek to emulate this switch and help alleviate an area of huge weakness for Leeds.

Manchester United strengthened their midfield options ahead of the 2023/24 campaign recently as they completed the signing of Mason Mount from Chelsea.

The Red Devils snapped the England international up from their Premier League rivals for a fee in the region of £55m and he arrives as a proven performer who knows what it takes to be a star at the top level.

Mount has already racked up over 100 top-flight appearances and won the Champions League by the age of 24, which means that the attacking midfielder comes in with the quality to make an instant impact on the team.

This was also the case with the signing of Casemiro from Real Madrid last summer. The Brazil international joined the club after winning 18 trophies, including five Champions League titles, and was able to use his experience to hit the ground running at Old Trafford.

Erik ten Hag could repeat the blinder he played with the signing of Casemiro by signing another vastly-experienced proven winner in the form of Bayern Munich midfielder Leon Goretzka, who has been linked with a move to the club this summer.

How many trophies has Leon Goretzka won?

The German international has won 12 trophies, including one Champions League, during his time in Bavaria so far and is a seasoned performer at the top level.

He has been capped 53 times by his country to go along with 240 Bundesliga appearances throughout his career, whilst the 28-year-old colossus has played 179 times for Bayern in all competitions.

United supporters have already seen the impact that bringing in a proven winner can have on the team as Casemiro enjoyed a terrific debut campaign.

The Brazilian enforcer averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.21 across 28 Premier League matches, which placed him second in the squad – only behind Bruno Fernandes (7.53).

This shows that the 31-year-old tank was able to come in and instantly become one of the club's best players without an adaptation period, as he has been around the block and knows exactly what is required to win high-pressure games.

Goretzka has averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.12 or higher in three of the last four Bundesliga seasons for Bayern, which is a score that would place him joint-third in the United squad last term – level with Lisandro Martinez.

The German maestro, who teammate Manuel Neuer described as "cold as ice", has showcased his ability to be a consistently excellent performer over the course of a number of years, whilst winning plenty of trophies in the process.

Alongside his vast experience and winner's mentality, the £231k-per-week ace would bring an exceptional attacking threat from midfield.

Goretzka ranks in the top 1% of players in his position across the Men's Big Five Leagues and European competitions for non-penalty xG per 90 over the last 365 days, whilst he is also among the top 4% for assists per 90.

This means that he is one of the best midfielders at the top level when it comes to getting into high-quality goalscoring positions and assisting his teammates, which is another reason why the towering dynamo could be a fantastic signing for United.

Therefore, Ten Hag could repeat his Casemiro masterclass by bringing in another central midfielder who is ready to make an instant impact at Old Trafford.

An update has emerged on Manchester United and their plans to add a central defender to their squad in the summer transfer window…

What’s the latest on Benjamin Pavard to Manchester United?

According to FootballTransfers, the Red Devils have turned their attention to Bayern Munich stopper Benjamin Pavard ahead of the 2023/24 campaign.

The report claims that the Premier League side are looking at alternative options to Napoli’s Kim Min-jae, who is said to be on his way to Bavaria, with Erik ten Hag now eyeing the Bundesliga monster.

It states that the German outfit are set to demand a fee of at least €30m (£26m) for the French international, although it remains to be seen whether the English outfit are willing to match that figure or not.

Where would Benjamin Pavard fit in at Manchester United?

The very versatile former Stuttgart enforcer played the majority of his matches at centre-back for Bayern last term and his arrival could spell trouble for Raphael Varane next season.

Pavard is a right-sided player, who can also be deployed as a full-back and could partner the left-footed Lisandro Martinez at Old Trafford as part of a rather balanced-looking back four.

Varane averaged a Sofascore rating of 6.85 across 24 Premier League outings in the 2022/23 campaign as he contributed with one tackle and 0.5 interceptions per game.

The ex-Real Madrid star, who also won 64% of his duels, did not rank among the top ten performers for United for tackles or interceptions per match, whilst he also placed 13th overall in the team when it came to his Sofascore rating.

The Bayern titan, meanwhile, made 2.3 tackles and 1.5 interceptions per Bundesliga outing, along with a duel success rate of 67%, and no player in ten Hag’s squad made as many, which suggests that the 27-year-old machine could be an outstanding addition to the defence.

Pavard's average Sofascore rating of 7.36 across 30 league matches was only bettered at Old Trafford by Bruno Fernandes' rating of 7.56. This illustrates how impressive the French tank's displays were for the German champions and why United must swoop for him this summer.

Once described as "underrated" by current Bayern head coach Thomas Tuchel, the Frenchman is also an exceptional ball-playing defender who could provide Ten Hag with an upgrade on Varane in possession.

The £83k-per-week talent has averaged 7.59 progressive passes per 90 across the last 365 days, which ranks among the top 1% of players in his position across Europe's top five divisions.

Meanwhile, the current United centre-back has averaged 3.23 per 90 over the last 365 days and is in the 52nd percentile, which suggests that he is a fairly average player at progressing the play with the ball at his feet.

Therefore, the signing of Pavard would be bad news for Varane as his international colleague could provide more quality on and off the ball as a central defender, which could leave the 30-year-old colossus out of the starting XI on the right side of the backline.

Manchester United are reportedly interested in making a move for Porto star, Mehdi Taremi, with manager Erik ten Hag still seeking a new centre-forward addition ahead of next season.

What's the latest on Taremi to Man United?

According to Portuguese outlet Jornal de Noticias, the Red Devils are believed to be keen on signing the 30-year-old this summer having been tracking his progress for an extended period of time, with the United boss said to appreciate the striker's 'qualities'.

The report adds that the 66-cap Iranian international could be available for as little as €20m (£17m) if he is to leave the Primeira Liga outfit over the coming weeks, with the experienced marksman having just a year left to run on his existing deal.

This comes amid the news that the Old Trafford outfit have also agreed a £60m fee with Chelsea for the signing of England playmaker, Mason Mount, with the club now turning their attention towards the acquisition of a new number nine – as well as a new goalkeeper.

Who is Mehdi Taremi?

The former Rio Ave machine may well be something of an unknown quantity to some, although he has certainly proven his goalscoring credentials during his time in Portugal in recent years, scoring 80 goals in just 147 games for his current side.

That includes a standout haul of 31 goals and 14 assists in just 51 games in all competitions during the 2022/23 campaign, with that a better record than even United's top scorer, Marcus Rashford achieved last season, with the Englishman bagging 30 goals and nine assists across all fronts.

The 6 foot 1 hotshot has also previously made his presence felt against English opposition after scoring a "ridiculous" overhead kick against Chelsea in the Champions League back in 2021 – as hailed by ex-Red Devils star, Rio Ferdinand – having also netted twice for his country against the Three Lions at the World Cup in Qatar.

While there may be concerns over the striker's age – as he is set to turn 31 in just a few weeks' time – that could make Taremi an ideal alternative to another potential short-term fix in the form of Harry Kane, with the Tottenham Hotspur talisman set to turn 30 at the end of the month.

The latter man has been heavily linked with a move to the Theatre of Dreams in recent times, although thus far there appears to be no sign that Ten Hag and co will be able to pull off a deal, amid Spurs' apparent reluctance to sell.

With Lilywhites chairman Daniel Levy also likely to demand £100m for the Englishman – despite having just 12 months left on his existing deal in north London – United could bring in a figure like Taremi for a fraction of that price tag instead.

It was in fact the Porto ace who enjoyed a more profitable 2022/23 season also, with Kane 'only' managing to register 37 goal involvements across all fronts, in contrast to the Iranian's stellar tally of 45 goals and assists.

That would suggest that while the signing of Taremi would be an undoubted wildcard move for the Red Devils, it could well allow Ten Hag to find an ideal, bargain Kane alternative.

An update has emerged on Celtic and their plans to bolster their squad following the appointment of Brendan Rodgers as their new head coach.

What’s the latest on Marco Tilio to Celtic?

According to the Daily Record, the Hoops are closing in on a deal to sign Melbourne City winger Marco Tilio ahead of the 2023/24 campaign.

The report claims that the Glasgow-based side have agreed a fee with the A-League outfit and they will now discuss personal terms with the player and organise a medical in the hope of making him the second signing of the summer, following on from Odin Thiago Holm's arrival from Valerenga.

This comes after the Daily Mail reported that head of recruitment Mark Lawwell used his relationship with the City Group to target the Australian, with the Scottish giants now pursuing his signature.

Would Marco Tilio be a good signing for Celtic?

The 21-year-old ace could be a terrific addition to Rodgers’ squad as the young forward has the potential to be a big upgrade on current Hoops wide man Daizen Maeda.

In the 2022/23 Scottish Premiership campaign, the Japan international averaged a Sofascore rating of 6.78 across 35 matches and contributed in the final third with eight goals and five assists, whilst he also missed 11 ‘big chances’.

The Celtic winger created 0.8 chances per game for his teammates – which placed him 15th in the squad – something that does not suggest the 25-year-old was a regular source of creativity for Ange Postecoglou.

Tilio, on the other hand, averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.02 across 29 A-League outings, showing that the young ace has the potential to perform at a higher level week-in-week-out, and chipped in with ten goals and five assists.

The Melbourne dynamo produced 1.1 key passes per match for his fellow attackers and only missed seven ‘big chances’ himself, indicating that he would provide more creativity than the current Hoops attacker.

Their respective goal returns, and conversion rate of 'big chances', also suggest that Tilio has the quality to be more ruthless in front of goal.

Maeda was certainly wasteful with the opportunities he had in the Premiership with the forward missing more 'big chances' than he scored goals. Therefore, signing the Australia international could improve the goal output of the team from the wide positions.

With Tilio once being described as a "playmaker" by talent scout Jacek Kulig, he could well be a big upgrade on the Japanese frontman in the final third and, as a result, be an exceptional signing for Rodgers this summer.

Manchester United are readying a £45m offer to sign Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford this summer, according to reports.

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

It looks set to be a busy few months off the pitch at Old Trafford ahead of Erik ten Hag’s second season in charge, with a potential takeover the hot topic of conversation.

A number of incomings and outgoings may also materialise, with Ten Hag seemingly after a new goalkeeper. That’s because David de Gea is on course to become a free agent next month, should he not sign a new Manchester United contract, whereas Dean Henderson is being linked with a permanent move to Nottingham Forest.

If both players depart, United may be left with just Tom Heaton as their only senior option, with the 37-year-old’s contract expiring next year.

One target appears to be current England number one Pickford, who shares the same agency as Red Devils defender Luke Shaw.

According to The Daily Star, Man United are preparing a £45m transfer offer for Pickford. The report states that the £100k-per-week goalkeeper is Ten Hag’s top shot-stopper target and that Everton may have to look into a sale to balance their books.

Are there any other goalkeepers Man United have been linked with?

Pickford, once hailed as a "monster" by journalist Joe Crann, has plenty of Premier League and international experience, turning out 248 times in the top flight and winning 53 caps for the Three Lions, and he may not be the only England international to sign for United, with a bid already made for Chelsea midfielder Mason Mount.

However, he isn’t the only option Man United have to bolster their goalkeeping ranks, with Inter Milan’s Andre Onana another the Red Devils are eyeing. The Cameroon international previously worked under Ten Hag at Ajax, and recent reports have said that Man United are in pole position to sign Onana, valued at £50m after Chelsea pulled out of the race.

Another rumoured target is FC Porto’s Diogo Costa, who has a £64m release clause in his contract. Man United are reportedly willing to get a deal done, so it seems as if one of the three could be on their way to Manchester.

It will also be interesting to see if De Gea remains at Old Trafford for the 2023/24 season, and if he does, he may well have some real competition on his hands with either Pickford, Onana or Costa possibly rivalling him as first choice.

Liverpool will make their priorities clearer 'in the next few days' at Anfield as Jurgen Klopp looks to bring in midfield reinforcements this summer, according to journalist Dean Jones.

What midfielders have Liverpool been linked with?

According to FootballTransfers, Borussia Monchengladbach ace Manu Kone remains high on Liverpool's shortlist at Anfield as their hunt for midfield signings intensifies.

The report states that Liverpool may have to pay up to €40 million (£34.1 million) to land the enforcer and talks are said to have taken place between his current employers and the Reds.

As per The Athletic, Liverpool are also believed to have held 'positive discussions' with Bayern Munich midfielder Ryan Gravenberch, though the German giants are reluctant to let go of the 21-year-old in the transfer window.

Journalist Jacque Talbot has revealed that Liverpool are keen on Khephren Thuram and issued an update on their pursuit on Twitter, stating: "Told Nice are in talks with Liverpool over the potential fee for Khephren Thuram but there is a fear that the French outfit may look to draw out a number of other interested clubs in purchasing the Reds’ number one target."

Liverpool have already completed one midfield signing in the form of Alexis Mac Allister, who has arrived from Brighton & Hove Albion for an initial fee of £35 million, as per Sky Sports.

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, journalist Jones has stated that Liverpool's intentions over who they may turn to next to feature in their engine room moving forward will start to become clearer shortly.

Jones said: “I think it's an example of when clubs have to have a wide field of options and decide which one they're closing in on.

“They’re not going to sign all three of those, but after getting Mac Allister through the door, they'll still sign at least one more midfielder.

“It will probably be one of those two [Thuram and Kone] or Gravenberch. I think it should become clear in the next few days.”

Have Liverpool targeted any other midfielders this window?

Liverpool have targeted a whole host of midfielders as they look to replace the departed trio of Naby Keita, James Milner and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, who have all left the club under freedom of contract.

According to Football Insider, Fulham anchorman Joao Palhinha is a target for the Reds, though they will need to pay a fee of around £50 million to tempt the Cottagers into selling him.

The Daily Mail report that Southampton ace James Ward-Prowse has also cropped up on the radar at Anfield following his current employers' relegation to the Sky Bet Championship.

In a different Football Insider scoop, Ward-Prowse's teammate Romeo Lavia has been identified as another potential incoming; however, Liverpool are keen not to be dragged into a drawn out pursuit for the 19-year-old this summer.

Real Madrid have put Tottenham Hotspur’s Harry Kane atop their list of potential Karim Benzema replacements.

With just a year left on his current deal, Harry Kane has attracted the attention of Europe’s biggest clubs, but it is perhaps Europe’s biggest that will end up taking him away from north London.

What’s the latest on Harry Kane?

According to Spanish Football expert Guillem Balague, Real Madrid have made Kane their new priority to replace the departing Karim Benzema.

The news comes on the back of the recent announcement that the club’s all-time leading goalscorer has left the club for a lucrative deal in the Saudi Pro League.

Before the Frenchman departed from the Spanish capital, the most likely destination for England’s record goalscorer looked like it would be Erik ten Hag’s Manchester United.

However, the new vacancy in Real’s attack has turned everything on its head.

The prospect of playing under Carlo Ancelotti and for a team that has made winning the Champions League a habit might prove too much to turn down for Kane.

What are the stumbling blocks?

The most significant barrier to this deal being completed is undoubtedly the hefty price tag that Daniel Levy has placed on his star man reported to be a minimum of £100m.

This is in spite of the fact that the 6ft striker only has a year left on his deal, and according to Balague, this figure is something ‘Real would be reluctant to pay.’

Then there is the much-publicised desire from the player himself to break Alan Shearer’s Premier League goal record of 260 goals, only 47 more than Kane’s current tally.

Would Harry Kane improve Real Madrid?

The Walthamstow-born forward has been an integral part of every Spurs side he has played in and quickly established himself as one of the first names on an England team sheet.

He certainly has the approval of Pep Guardiola, who only this year described him as ‘one of the best strikers I have ever seen in my life.’

With praise like that, it shouldn’t be surprising to find out that according to WhoScored, Kane has averaged a rating of 7.51 throughout his 38 games in the Premier League this season.

Those 38 games have seen him rack up 33 goal involvements in a dysfunctional Spurs side.

In contrast, Benzema, the man he would be replacing in the Spanish capital, could only reach 22 goal involvements in LaLiga this term.

The underlying numbers are there as well. According to FBref, the Spurs man ranks in the top 10% for shot-creating actions, the top 4% for progressive passes and the top 14% for non-penalty goals per 90.

If Florentino Perez and Daniel Levy can figure out a way to make this deal work, Harry Kane could well end his career with a whole host of trophies in Madrid.

Everton are in desperate need of attacking reinforcements this summer to avoid another Premier League relegation scrap and now an update has emerged on a potential new transfer target.

What's the latest on Everton's interest in Brennan Johnson?

According to The Daily Mail, Everton are one of the Premier League clubs keen to sign Nottingham Forest ace Brennan Johnson this summer.

As per the report, the Toffees are competing with West Ham United to secure the young winger's services ahead of next season and it is claimed that the Tricky Trees value Johnson at no less than £40m.

Will Brennan Johnson sign for Everton this summer?

There is no doubt that Sean Dyche will be keen to bolster his forward line after a real struggle to compete and retain their top-flight status this season, with an Abdoulaye Doucuoure goal in the last 33 minutes of the season saving the club from the drop.

Everton has seen their attacking threat significantly weakened over the last 12 months with Richarlison departing last summer and Anthony Gordon making a shock exit in the January transfer window, whilst Dominic Calvert-Lewin has continued to struggle with injury issues throughout the campaign.

As a result, no other club in the entire Premier League scored fewer goals this season (34) over 38 fixtures clearly demonstrating how uninspiring and unreliable Dyche's attacking options have been, so the signing of Johnson could be the perfect chance to improve goal contributions and even secure an upgrade on Gordon.

Over 38 league appearances, the 22-year-old talent – hailed a "great finisher" by Steve Cooper – scored eight times, registered three assists and created four big chances, as well as averaging 1.4 shots on goal per game, proving that he could be a great attacking asset to Everton next season.

Not only that, when you compare Johnson's output to his positional peer Gordon over this season for their respective clubs, the Welsh winger has comfortably outperformed the Newcastle United ace in many attacking attributes.

That includes goal-creating actions per 90 (0.34 v 0.06), progressive carries (88 v 48), goals per shots on target (0.13 v 0.12) and goal contributions in total (11 v 4).

Considering Nottingham Forest were one of Everton's closest competitors in the relegation fight this season, it would be interesting to see whether the Trentside club would be willing to sell their homegrown prodigy to a rival that could strengthen with the services of Johnson next season.

Having said that, it would be a no-brainer for Dyche to secure a deal for Johnson should the opportunity arise, as he is not only showing huge potential as a threat in front of goal but has the Premier League experience needed to make an instant impact at Goodison Park next season.