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Fulham are in “talks” with Willian regarding a new contract at Craven Cottage, according to journalist Fabrizio Romano.

Is Willian leaving Fulham?

The Brazilian only joined Marco Silva’s side from Corinthians last summer and has impressed during his 29 appearances in his debut season, ranking as the manager’s overall second-best-performing player this term with a WhoScored match rating of 6.99.

The Whites winger, though, is already used to playing in the Premier League having previously undergone spells at both Chelsea and Arsenal so is no stranger to the style of play in England, hence why he’s likely adapted so well since putting pen to paper in SW6.

Willian, however, will be out of contract at the end of the season meaning that he could be set to depart as a free agent should the club not offer him an extension, but it sounds like work is already underway behind the scenes to retain his services beyond the current campaign.

Have Fulham offered Willian a new contract?

Taking to Twitter, Romano revealed that Fulham have now opened discussions with Willian over fresh terms, but admitted that there are admirers overseas that are keen to recruit him should he leave. He wrote:

“Understand talks are ongoing between Willian agent and Fulham over [a] new deal in order to stay next season. Nothing is done/sealed yet. There are more European clubs and Saudi League clubs interested in signing Willian.”

Fulham will know how much of an integral part of their success Willian has been this season, and having been hailed “electric” in the final third by journalist Simon Collings, the left-winger being rewarded for his displays with a new contract would be nothing less than he deserves.

The Cottagers’ £40k-per-week attacker has ten goal contributions (five goals and the same number of assists) to his name in 29 appearances since joining, with this form having seen him receive three man-of-the-match awards, not to mention that he’s averaging 4.38 shot-creating actions per top-flight game which is higher than any other member of Silva’s squad, via FBRef.

Willian also provides the boss with wonderful versatility having operated slightly deeper in left midfield and even on the opposite flank as a right-winger over the course of the current term which is a great attribute to have, so making the decision to keep him beyond the summer has to be a no-brainer for the Craven Cottage board.

Celtic completed the 2022/23 campaign by securing the domestic treble with a 3-1 win over Championship side Inverness in the Scottish FA Cup final on Saturday.

The Hoops can now turn their attention to the transfer window with a view to improving their playing squad ahead of the 2023/24 season.

Ange Postecoglou has been linked with a move to Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur but the Australian remains in post with the Scottish giants for now and one of his first moves this summer should be to brutally ditch outcast James McCarthy.

What's the latest on James McCarthy's future at Celtic?

Earlier this week, 90min reported that Major League Soccer teams Houston Dynamo and Colorado Rapids have both shown an interest in signing the central midfielder.

Their second transfer window opens on the 5th of July and it could provide the Republic of Ireland international, who has two years left on his current contract, with a chance to finally depart Parkhead.

Celtic must now take advantage of the interest in his services by sanctioning a departure as the 32-year-old must never play another game for the club.

He offered very little to Postecoglou during the 2022/23 campaign as the former Crystal Palace man made five appearances in all competitions and played just 22 minutes of football in the Scottish Premiership.

Former Hoops striker Frank McAvennie described the dud as "lost" earlier this season and stated:

“Now, he does not look fit when he comes on. He obviously is not match fit.".

This was highlighted by the fact that the Irishman lost 67% of his duels in the league in his limited minutes on the pitch, which suggests that the liability found it difficult to compete in the middle of the park.

The £14k-per-week flop came into the current campaign off the back of ten outings in the top-flight in 21/22. He averaged a Sofascore rating of 6.72 and that placed him 26th in the squad, which shows that the dud was a million miles away from being one of the club's top performers.

McCarthy is reportedly earning more per week than fellow midfielders Reo Hatate and Matt O'Riley, who both rank in the top three of Celtic's performers for average Sofascore ratings this term, and this suggests that the Hoops are not getting their money's worth from him.

Therefore, the former Wigan Athletic man should be ruthlessly sent packing this summer, whether that is to the MLS or elsewhere, to ensure that he does not play another game for the club and to offload his wages from the bill.

Having avoided relegation from the Premier League in dramatic circumstances this past season, plenty of transfer activity is expected at Everton in the coming months.

The latest name to be linked with a move to Goodison Park is talented Sunderland winger Jack Clarke, who scored nine goals and provided 11 assists for the Black Cats in the regular season as they narrowly missed out on promotion to the top flight.

According to The i, Everton are one of a number of Premier League clubs – along with Crystal Palace, Brentford and newly-promoted Burnley – who are tempted to hand over £15m to land the 22-year-old.

Who is Jack Clarke?

It is little wonder Sunderland are facing a battle to keep hold of Clarke on the back of his hugely efficient 2022-23 campaign, one in which the Leeds United academy product directly contributed to 20 goals in 45 regular-season matches – only seven others can boast a higher return.

The £14k-per-week Clarke also ranked second in the division for progressive carries (183), which measures moves that carry the ball at least ten yards towards the opposition's goal, behind only Viktor Gyokeres (198).

The England U20 international has truly kick-started his career across a season-and-a-half at the Stadium of Light, having initially joined on a short-term loan from Tottenham, where he was restricted to just three appearances across three seasons.

It did not take Clarke long to win over Sunderland supporters after signing permanently on a four-year deal last July, with his two-assists-and-a-goal showing in August's 3-0 win over Rotherham United a true sign of what was to come.

"Honestly unreal," football reporter Josh Bunting said of that performance. "He's been incredible so far this season. He's been head and shoulders the best player on the pitch. Stunning performance."

Where would Jack Clarke fit in at Everton?

Everton are not exactly short on players in wide areas, but the Toffees' squad is in desperate need of freshening up, and they could do a lot worse than bringing in a hungry player no doubt looking to prove himself at the highest level.

There is a case to be made that Everton supporters have already seen a player similar to Clarke up close in recent years, with Gerard Deulofeu another skilful ball carrier who was capable of playing out wide or through the middle.

Deulofeu has averaged 0.26 assists per 90 minutes across his career, which is almost identical to Clarke (0.22). The pair are also very alike in other aspects of their attacking game, such as goal-creating actions (0.49 compared to 0.40) and successful take-ons (50% compared to 47%).

While Deulofeu is hardly remembered as a player who truly lit up the Premier League, scoring just eight in 75 for Everton, his performances earned him a return to Barcelona, albeit for just half of the 2017-18 season.

Clarke will be hoping for a similarly bright future, and in the Toffees, he may well be given a similar platform as Deulofeu to further kick on and show Tottenham were wrong to let him go.

As Clarke's agent Ian Harte told The i, "every player has a price". At a reported £15m, that is surely a fee worth paying for an Everton side in desperate need of change.

Liverpool are considering a summer swoop to bring Torino defender Perr Schuurs to the Premier League, according to reports.

Who is Perr Schuurs?

Schuurs is a centre-back who currently plays his football for Ivan Juric’s side having joined from Ajax last summer, and he’s been a regular feature during his debut season, clocking up a total of 33 appearances to date.

The Dutchman still has another three years to run on his contract, but being the Serie A outfit’s top-performing defensive player, has caught the eye of Jurgen Klopp, and it’s not the first time he’s been talked about at Anfield.

The Reds reportedly wanted to sign the 23-year-old back in 2020 but never fully pursued a move, though with the boss believed to be entering the market for a new centre-back during the upcoming window, it appears that he’s ready to return and take a second bite of the cherry for his former target.

Are Liverpool signing Schuurs?

According to CaughtOffside, Liverpool have “added” Schuurs to their “list” of transfer options ahead of the 2023/24 campaign. The Merseyside outfit are “considering” an approach for the 6 foot 3 colossus who is also attracting interest from Juventus, and it’s stated that Torino would be “ready to start negotiations” for a fee between €20-25m (£17-21m) in order to sanction his sale.

Should FSG submit an offer for Schuurs?

Football Insider have reported that Liverpool are open to offers for Joel Matip and Nat Phillips this summer so backline reinforcements will be needed should one or both of the duo depart, and having been dubbed a “mountain” by journalist Josh Bunting, Schuurs could be a perfect acquisition.

The Nike-sponsored titan averaged 3.2 clearances and two aerial wins per league game last season, via WhoScored, not to mention that he made 51 tackles which was the second-highest number in his squad, highlighting how much of a rock he can be (FBRef).

The Nieuwstadt native, who has the versatility to operate slightly higher up in defensive midfield, can also get involved at the opposite end of the pitch having posted three goal contributions (two assists and one goal) in 33 outings for Torino.

Finally, Schuurs already knows what it takes to compete for silverware and be successful at the highest level having secured six trophies throughout his career, so he would be able to match and even add to the winning mentality of the current squad already at Anfield.

Arsenal are "now leading the race" for Chelsea forward Kai Havertz and manager Mikel Arteta is a huge admirer, according to journalist Steve Kay.

Who could join Arsenal this summer?

Even before the Gunners fell short in their quest to win a first Premier League title in nearly 20 years, sporting director Edu was working long and hard behind-the-scenes on summer targets.

The Brazilian confirmed as much in an interview with ESPN (via 90min), saying back in April that planning was already done with the transfer window firmly in their sights.

"Our planning has already been done," said Edu.

"It has already reached the owners. Now, we're taking things step by step. We're focused on how we will finish the season, but we've put in the planning and I'm very excited."

A lot of the noise lately has surrounded a potential move for West Ham star Declan Rice, who impressed yet again under David Moyes last season.

The north Londoners saw an opening bid of £80 million for Rice rejected on Thursday, with Brighton star Moises Caicedo and Man City captain Ilkay Gundogan also linked recently.

A fairly new target, however, is Havertz – with journalist David Ornstein of The Athletic breaking news of a "proposal" for the player from Arteta's side.

Now., sharing an update for Football Transfers, journalist Steve Kay has claimed that Arsenal are "now leading the race" for Havertz and personal terms have already been agreed.

They've seemingly entered pole position for the 24-year-old, who apparently wants to join Arteta, with the Gunners boss being a huge admirer of him.

However, while Arsenal are "pushing hard" for Havertz's signature, there is still work to be done, as Chelsea and Arsenal are about £15 million apart in terms of valuation.

The Blues want £70 million for their forward, but Arsenal apparently value him at around £55 million.

Who is Kai Havertz?

Signed from Bayer Leverkusen in 2020, Havertz has gone to produce some big moments at Chelsea, perhaps most notably a winner in the 2021 Champions League final against Man City.

His versatility is big draw for Arteta and the "terrific" attacker has even been likened to French footballing icon Zinedine Zidane by Lothar Matthaus.

“I compare him to Zinedine Zidane in terms of skills, technique and overview, and anticipating a situation,” he said to Kicker (via The Mirror).

“Zidane didn’t seem quick, but he was when he hit the ball. Havertz can do that too.”

If Arsenal secure his signing, there is certainly plenty of potential there.

Having snapped up the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Raphael Varane and Casemiro in recent years, it looks as if Manchester United could be plotting to sign another high-profile, experienced figure this summer, amid current speculation regarding the club's interest in Antoine Griezmann.

According to reports in Spain last week, the Red Devils are said to be among a raft of elite European sides who are interested in prising the 32-year-old from Atletico Madrid ahead of next season, with the likes of Paris Saint-Germain and Inter Milan also showing an interest in the playmaking forward.

The suggestion is that the former Barcelona man has a release clause worth in the region of just €25m (£21) in his current deal with the La Liga side, ensuring that the Old Trafford outfit could well be able to snap up the 121-cap maestro on the cheap in their quest to bolster their attacking ranks.

It is not the first time that United have seemingly shown an interest in signing the one-time Real Sociedad man in recent times, with Sky Sports journalist Melissa Reddy having suggested that Erik ten Hag and co had enquired about the prospect of signing the World Cup-winning Frenchman last summer.

With Ten Hag seemingly keen to strengthen his forward line and midfield ranks over the coming months, the Dutchman could perhaps kill two birds with one stone by snapping up the versatile sensation…

Should Man United sign Griezmann?

The £206k-per-week asset could well follow in the footsteps of his compatriot, Varane and last year's summer arrival, Casemiro, in making the move from the Spanish capital to the Theatre of Dreams, with the hope being that Griezmann can replicate the success of the latter man, in particular.

The Brazilian has made a "huge difference" since his arrival from Real Madrid on a £70m deal back in August – according to club legend Gary Neville – having proven himself to be a truly "great football player", in the words of his manager, after chipping in with seven goals and six assists in 51 games across all fronts last season.

Much like there may be with Griezmann, there were initial doubts about the 31-year-old midfielder joining towards the latter stages of his career – with pundit Graeme Souness describing the fee as "too much money" at the time – although the experienced machine has seemingly firmly quashed any such concerns.

The aim then will be for Casemiro's old Madrid adversary to also make a smooth transition to life in the Premier League if he is to make the move this summer, with the 5 foot 9 magician having the ability to showcase to those in England just why he is a "super talent", according to Alan Shearer.

Having arguably been his nation's "key player" after taking on a surprise deep-lying midfield role at the World Cup in Qatar – as per ex-United man Diego Forlan – Griezmann continued that impact at club level in Diego Simeone's side, having operated behind the striker for much of the 2022/23 campaign.

It is not wrong to suggest that the Macon native perhaps even outperformed Bruno Fernandes in his playmaking role having contributed 15 goals and 16 assists in 38 La Liga games last season, while the Portugal international, by contrast, registered eight goals and eight assists in 37 Premier League games.

That haul of 31 goal involvements ensured that Griezmann was able to record a standout average match rating of 7.74 – as per Sofascore – with that again putting him ahead of Fernandes (7.56), showcasing just what an astute addition he could be for Ten Hag.

Whether the fleet-footed ace is to operate as an option through the middle or in an advanced midfield role, such a quality recruit could potentially be able to emulate Casemiro's influence on the Red Devils.

Tottenham Hotspur could be set to secure the first true Ange Postecoglou signing this summer, if reports are to be believed…

What's the latest on Edmond Tapsoba to Tottenham Hotspur?

The latest comes from the Daily Star, who suggest that Spurs are on the verge of signing Edmond Tapsoba from Bayer Leverkusen.

Despite welcoming Dujan Kulusevski to north London on a permanent move, this was a deal that had been a year and a half in the making, and crucially forged by Antonio Conte when the Swede was first loaned.

The Australian seems to still be scoping out where his squad needs boosting, and who the right men to fill those spots are.

In this hulking central defender, for whom a £25m bid is reportedly on the table, they could immediately bolster their back line with a cut-price swoop.

Considering the German club had demanded a fee of around €70m (£61m) back in 2021, this would mark a sensational transfer masterclass, as they are noted as 'very close' to sealing the deal.

How good is Edmond Tapsoba?

Whilst the price alone would make this a phenomenal deal, the player they would acquire is also arguably the perfect man to step into Postecoglou's side with ease.

His ability on the ball is arguably preferred to his outright defensive qualities, and for a side that will seek to dominate possession, a centre-back with a quality akin to his will be imperative.

After all, when compared to others in his position across Europe, he ranks in the top 5% for progressive passes, the top 8% for progressive carries and the top 6% for successful take-ons per 90, via FBref.

This paints the picture of a defender so supremely confident with the ball at his feet, yet standing at 6 foot 4, he has the physical qualities to remain a staunch defender. Journalist Antonio Mango sought to outline this, branding him a "monster" back in 2020.

To compare him to others within the Spurs squad, it is clear that he would walk in as the shining light for what their Australian boss will crave.

His 86% pass accuracy and 89% dribble success rate in the Bundesliga last term would have had him ranked joint-third and first respectively among Spurs' centre-backs, had he been a part of last year's disaster in north London.

He added a further 1.5 tackles and three clearances per game too, not to discredit his solidity.

It is for all these reasons, plus the huge coup they are set to claim, that make Tapsoba sure to be the first of many masterclasses Postecoglou will hope to perform in N17.

Sunderland may already have brought in four new faces this summer, but Tony Mowbray is clearly not ready to stop there in his quest to guide the Black Cats into the Premier League.

After coming so close to doing exactly that last season by taking Sunderland to the Championship play-off semi-finals, the early signs in the summer transfer window certainly point towards another attempt next time around.

Who is Sunderland trialist Armstrong Oko-Flex?

According to ExWHUemployee, Armstrong Oko-Flex is on trial with Sunderland after being told he is no longer wanted by West Ham United.

The 21-year-old was signed from Celtic in June 2021 and impressed for West Ham in Premier League 2, including a hat-trick on his debut against Arsenal, but he made just one senior appearance – in a Europa Conference League match against Viborg last August.

Oko-Flex was also restricted to just four appearances for Celtic, though he did have more of a chance during a spell on loan at Swansea City in the first half of last season when appearing 13 times before being recalled midway through the campaign.

In terms of his playing style, as pointed out by football writer Josh Bunting, he is a "very intelligent" player who is direct and can hold the ball up well.

Is Armstrong Oko-Flex good enough for Sunderland?

The Republic of Ireland U21 international may have featured fairly regularly for Swansea last term, but 12 of his 13 outings came as a substitute as Russell Martin used him as an impact option from the bench.

While predominantly a winger, Oko-Flex's numbers across last season suggest he is similar in style to Chelsea's Mason Mount.

For example, he had 1.52 shots per 90 minutes, as per FBref, compared to 1.80 for Mount, while they played 38.2 and 38.6 live passes per 90 respectively – passes that are not from set-pieces.

The comparisons do not stop there, either, as Oko-Flex recorded 1.82 tackles per 90 minutes last season, which is almost identical to Mount's 1.80, albeit in a division higher for the latter.

It should also be pointed out that Armstrong-Flex's figures are based over a far shorter sample period than Mount's in terms of minutes played, but the Arsenal youth product clearly has something about him.

It may well be down to Mowbray to unlock that potential, giving Sunderland yet another option in the final third to link up with – or provide cover for – the likes of Ross Stewart, Patrick Roberts, new signing Hemir and Jack Clarke, assuming the latter stays at the Stadium of Light.

With no transfer fee involved, and the youngster reportedly only on wages of £5.5k a week, it could be a low-cost risk that pays dividends for Sunderland as they attempt to unearth the EFL's next Mount.

If there is one area of the squad that Ange Postecoglou needs to bolster at Tottenham Hotspur, it is the defence.

Fortunately, the Australian and Daniel Levy are making progress in their bid to do just that.

Are Tottenham signing Micky van de Ven?

Spurs have been hot on the trail of a new centre-back so far this summer and high on their priority list is Wolfsburg man Micky van de Ven.

The north Londoners have seemingly been in talks to sign the 22-year-old in recent times, a fact that Fabrizio Romano confirmed this weekend.

Writing in his column for Caught Offside, the journalist noted: ‘They keep negotiating also for van de Ven because, in the end, the price is the crucial point for them when signing a new centre-back.’

That followed a statement which read: ‘I’m told Tapsoba remains the top target, and he has always been super appreciated.'

It's thought a move could cost around the £30m mark should the speedster leave the Bundesliga.

How fast is Micky van de Ven?

Perhaps the most exciting trait about the Dutchman is his scintillating pace. Indeed, he was clocked as the fastest centre-back in the German top flight, posting a speed of 22.3mph.

To put that number into context, it is the same as Erling Haaland's top speed and quicker even than former Spurs man Kyle Walker, who has posted 21.13.

Such a fact could well see the young defender replicate Walker's own feats in the top flight, with Premier League Panel, ran by BBC journalist Raj Chohan previously noting the similarities.

Taking to Twitter, one notable tweet read: "Van de Ven can become a Kyle Walker-esque monster in terms of defending transitions & 1v1 defending and carries well, but the issue is his distribution. Limited ball manipulation under pressure, limited pass execution and timing of when to pass can be sub-optimal for the receiver."

A limited ability to move possession around could well hinder him in the immediate future but that pace is always likely to get him out of danger and mistakes if they appear.

Standing at 6 foot 4, the range of Van de Ven's skill set is remarkably impressive. Over the last year, he ranks inside the best 7% of centre-backs in Europe's top five leagues for successful take-ons, illuminating his modern and 'Cruyffian' style of play that involves plenty of 'risk-taking', as Volendam director Ruben Jongkind, Ajax's former head of talent development best put it.

Also sat in the top 10% for progressive carries, his ability to move the ball out from the back is like very few others in the game, but the Netherlands man is far from just a technically gifted footballer.

Pivotally, he ranks higher than Eric Dier and Davinson Sanchez (both worst 22%) for ball recoveries, sitting in the best 35% for that metric. For clarity, that does fall below Cristian Romero (best 20% in Europe) but it illuminates the need for improvement within Tottenham's squad.

Walker's own speed allows him to sit equally in the top 35% for ball recoveries, albeit for full-backs, but it once again highlights the similarity in style between the two rapid defenders.

For far too long Spurs have had a problem at the back but the signing of Van de Ven, a man who could keep up with a certain Haaland, would help a great deal.