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Manchester City star Kyle Walker could make a move to Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich this summer as the Germans are willing to offer him a contract for "two years plus an extra year", whereas the Citizens are willing to offer just "one further season", claims Sky Sports reporter Mark McAdam.

Is Kyle Walker leaving Manchester City this summer?

It was truly a season to remember for the blue half of Manchester last year. Not only did they win the first treble in the club's history, but they did it while beating local rivals Manchester United in a tightly contested FA Cup final.

In many ways, it felt like the culmination of everything that Pep Guardiola and the City Group had been working towards since the Spaniard's arrival back in 2016, and for one of the club's longest-serving players, it seems like it's the perfect time to bid farewell.

According to The Athletic, England and City star Kyle Walker has courted the interest of German behemoths Bayern this summer and has now reached a verbal agreement with the side for a two-year contract.

While an agreement between the two clubs has yet to be formally agreed, it's expected that the treble winners could make upwards of £15m.

Reporter Mark McAdam explained the situation live on Sky Sports News (via Football Daily), saying:

"He's currently going into the last year of his contract at City. Now, there are talks that they would be willing to extend that, but only for one further season, whereas Bayern Munich are offering him two years plus an extra year – so he would extend his career at the very highest level for another three seasons, in theory.

"There is no agreement in place between Bayern Munich and Manchester City, but talks continue between the two clubs – and this is fascinating because it's always the way with these situations: guess who's playing each other next week in Japan on a pre-season tour? It's Bayern Munich and Manchester City.

"So that's the latest with that situation, but again, would Bayern Munich be making these noises publicly about Kyle Walker if they hadn't been given an indication that he would be interested in talking to them, should the two clubs agree a fee?"

How good was Kyle Walker last season?

Despite starting just 29 times across the Premier League, FA Cup, and Champions League last season, it was yet another campaign in which Walker demonstrated to the world just why he is so well thought of by Guardiola and why he'll go down as one of the most successful English full-backs of all time.

According to Sofascore, the Sheffield-born dynamo averaged a match rating of 6.74 in the Premier League and a seriously impressive rating of 6.96 in the Champions League, where he was included in the Team of the Week twice for his efforts.

As you'd expect for a full-back in a Pep system, his underlying offensive numbers are brilliant.

According to FBref, which compares players in a similar position across Europe's top five leagues, the dynamic defender sits in the top 3% for attempted passes, the top 5% for progressive passes, and the top 6% for pass completion per 90.

That said, for as "exceptional" as Walker is, he is now 33 years old, and having won everything there is to win at the club, a move away to prolong his career at the very highest level could be what's best for everyone involved.

Newcastle United "remain in talks" with Monaco centre-back Axel Disasi over a summer move to the club, according to journalist Fabrizio Romano.

How much does Axel Disasi earn?

The 25-year-old is currently earning £18,000 per week at Monaco and has matured into an important player who generally walks into the starting lineup week in, week out. Last season, he started an impressive 37 out of 38 Ligue 1 matches, highlighting both his influence at the back, and also his fitness levels and consistency.

Disasi could feel that now is the right time for him to enjoy a fresh challenge, however, and there is plenty of interest in him from Premier League clubs. Newcastle are one of them, seeing the Frenchman as a strong to bring in and make them even more formidable defensively, having only conceded 33 goals in the league in 2022/23.

He still has two years left on his current Monaco deal, but there could well be a temptation from the French side to sell him this summer, in order to receive a big amount of money, rather than a smaller fee in 2024, or even worse, losing him for free 12 months after that.

What's the latest on Axel Disasi to Newcastle?

Taking to Twitter, Romano dropped a brief update on Newcastle's interested in Disasi, claiming that talks are ongoing over the signing, although Manchester United are also in the picture:

"Newcastle and Man United remain in talks for Axel Disasi deal, as reported two weeks ago."

Disasi may not necessarily be a household name compared to some centre-backs across Europe, but he is someone who could be a superb addition at Newcastle, having impressed so much more Monaco.

At 25, he is still relatively young, especially for a player in his position, and he could be viewed as Sven Botman's centre-back partner for the next five or six years, assuming the Dutchman stays put at St James' Park.

Disasi averaged 2.9 clearances per game in Ligue 1 last season, and also completed 84.7% of his passes across eight Europa League appearances, showing that he can impress both in and out of possession. He won 2.6 aerial duels per match in the former, too, with such dominance in the air something that is needed in what is a physical Premier League.

The fact that United are also competing for Disasi's signature is a potential issue, considering their continued reputation as one of the world's biggest clubs, but the days are gone of them having such a big advantage of Newcastle when it comes to signing players, with the Magpies now back in the Champions League and only going from strength to strength.

Joining this exciting project at St James' could appeal to the Monaco ace even more than a switch to Old Trafford, and he arguably has more chance of being a regular for the Magpies, too. Manager Jean-Luc Vasseur has said that the player's "great quality is his intelligence" in the past, further showing what a shrewd addition he could be to Newcastle's back-line.

Arsenal are reportedly interested in Brazilian midfielder Bitello, as Mikel Arteta seeks reinforcements to bolster his squad this summer.

The Gunners have had a busy transfer window so far, securing the signing of Kai Havertz, with Jurrien Timber and Declan Rice waiting in the wings to be officially announced as arrivals.

Edu Gaspar’s business this window could be far from over, with reports suggesting that the club’s sporting director could repeat a previous masterclass.

Could Arsenal sign Bitello?

According to reports in Brazil (as relayed by Sport Witness), Arsenal have sparked an interest in Gremio star Bitello.

The 23-year-old was in action on Sunday, with representatives from the Gunners in attendance with a scout watching the game.

Reports in Brazil speculate that the club would want at least €10m (£8.5m) for the attacker, who could be a versatile addition at the Emirates.

Who is Bitello?

With the ability to play in both deep and attacking midfield as well as on the right wing, the Brazilian could be a useful weapon for Arteta to have at his disposal next term.

The Gunners could add another dangerous forward to their ranks in Bitello, whose statistics show his devilish ways in possession and his eye for a good pass.

In 13 Brazilian Serie A appearances, the playmaker has scored three goals and has demonstrated his innate versatility in play.

As per FBref, the 23-year-old averaged 5.65 progressive passes per 90 in the league, as well as making an average of 3.82 passes into the final third per 90 to highlight his strengths in distribution.

The Formosa do Oeste-born gem played an impressive 2.07 key passes per 90 in the competition, showing his creative side and strengths in playing a strong pass.

A live wire on the ball, Bitello drew an average of 3.42 fouls per 90 to suggest the danger he can unearth going forward and to put into comparison, Arsenal winger Gabriel Martinelli drew 1.19 fouls on average per 90 in the Premier League.

Being the subject of fouls is not the only thing the two have in common, with his fellow countryman also being snatched by the north Londoners while expressing his talents in Brazil.

Signed by Arsenal in 2019 from Ituano, Martinelli has established himself as a firm starter at the Emirates, contributing 15 goals and five assists in the Premier League last season.

When the teenager arrived in the capital, his influence was not expected with a more sporadic role anticipated while he found his feet thousands of miles away from home, however it didn’t take him long to adjust.

In his first season, the Brazilian earned 14 Premier League appearances and scored three goals, followed the season after with another 14 league appearances and three goal contributions, via Transfermarkt.

In 2021/22, Martinelli began to become a starter in north London, securing 29 appearances and contributing to 12 goals before his campaign high of 36 appearances and 20 goal contributions this year.

Edu could now repeat the masterclass from seeking talent from his homeland in securing the signature of Bitello, who has shown glimpses that he could provide a real threat if given the chance.

Arsenal are set to take a break regarding incoming transfers following the signings of Declan Rice and Jurrien Timber, according to journalist Dean Jones.

What has Arsenal's transfer window been like?

The Gunners have really attacked the transfer market as they look to take the next step forward following their success last campaign, finishing second after a title challenge with Manchester City and returning to the Champions League for the first time since Arsene Wenger was manager of the club.

The north London side's first move this window was completing the signing of German forward Kai Havertz from rivals Chelsea for a fee reported to be in the region of £65m. The 24-year-old spent three seasons at Stamford Bridge, with his greatest moment being scoring the winning goal in the 2021 Champions League final against City.

The club have also agreed a fee of around £38m for Ajax defender Timber. The 22-year-old Dutch international has come through Ajax's youth system and last summer was the subject of heavy interest from Erik ten Hag and Manchester United before the club ultimately made the move for his former teammate Lisandro Martinez.

The defender has received praise from National team captain Virgil Van Dijk, who said that he "wasn't as far along as he [Timber] is (at the same age)".

The biggest move for Mikel Arteta this summer has undoubtedly been the move for Rice. The West Ham captain led his side to their first-ever European trophy and after weeks of tense negotiations, the two clubs finally reached an agreement on a £105m fee for the English international, who is set to undergo a medical soon. The 24-year-old also reportedly garnered interest from Manchester City, but he will play his football at the Emirates next season.

However, Jones has said on The Football Terrace's 'Done Deal' show that Arsenal will have to wait until the "second phase" of the window for any more incomings, especially in the wide areas, with the focus now on trimming down the squad with some outgoings.

"The focus has been so heavily on getting these first three guys through the door that there is no certainty over who they go for in that position [right wing] yet. So let's wait until the mini clearout starts to take place, the tidy up I should say, of the Arsenal squad takes place.

"And then we'll see, once that second phase is ready to be activated if Arsenal can go for those players in the wide areas."

Who will Arsenal sell this summer?

The club are set to listen to offers for a number of players this window as they look to recoup some of the £208m they have spent so far.

One player who has already left the Emirates is midfielder Granit Xhaka. The 30-year-old has joined German side Bayer Leverkusen in a deal worth £21.4m. The Swiss international spent six seasons with the Gunners, where he made 297 appearances across all competitions and had a spell as club captain.

Reports also state that his midfield partner from last season Thomas Partey could also be departing the club this summer, with Juventus interested in his signature. Partey enjoyed the best season of his Arsenal career last time out, making 45 appearances for club and country and recording WhoScored rating of 6.92. However, with the arrival of Rice and the reports that the club are looking at Southampton's Romeo Lavia, the Ghanaian could find his game time reduced.

A number of Arsenal defenders could also move on this summer, with Scottish full-back Kieran Tierney being most notably linked with a move to Newcastle United. The 26-year-old has struggled to beat out Oleksandr Zinchenko for the starting spot at left-back, making just six starts in the league last season, and is reportedly holding talks this week with the manager to figure out his future at the club.

Englishman Rob Holding is another player who could leave the club this summer, with journalist Ed Aarons reporting that the centre-back is expected to depart this summer, either permanently or via a loan switch. Holding make 24 appearances for the side last campaign and had an extended run of games following William Saliba's season-ending injury.

It is hard to guess how much Arsenal will make off these player sales, but the club will be hoping it is enough to fund the "second phase" of their already strong window.

In an ideal world, a £15m striker gets off to a flying start and establishes himself as a reliable goalscorer. In a not so idea world, however, that £15m striker picks up a season-ending injury on the opening day of the season. And, unfortunately for Wolverhampton Wanderers, it was the latter which occurred to Sasa Kalajdzic last season.

The former Stuttgart forward arrived off the back of six goals in 15 Bundesliga appearances in the 2021/22 season – ready to take the Premier League by storm. One damming injury later, however, and Wolves were left short in the goals department once again.

Despite scoring the least amount of goals in England's top flight last season, though, the Midlands side managed to comfortably survive in the end, much to the credit of Julen Lopetegui, who arrived, before steering them to safety.

Now, with Kalajdzic set to return, the former Sevilla boss could have himself a secret weapon next season. Or, at least, that's what transfer insider Dean Jones believes, who told Football FanCast:

“I mean, we’ve not seen what he’s fully capable in this league yet. And this is a player who was on the radar of clubs Tottenham before he made the move.

"So, he’s got a decent reputation in the game generally, and I think that for Wolves, he could be a bit of an unknown factor that helps them next season."

How good is Sasa Kalajdzic?

Given the departure of Diego Costa this summer, Kalajdzic may well find himself as the man that Lopetegui turns to at the start of next season. And, whilst, on paper, this is a 6 foot 6 striker that many will immediately identify as a target man, the former Stuttgart forward is much more than that.

He does present the obvious qualities as a target man, given his intimidating height up against defenders, but, as the stats show, he is also capable of playing in the neat and tidy system that the current Wolves boss prefers.

When compared to Raul Jimenez's 2022/23 season, Kalajdzic, in the campaign prior to his Wolves move, made 12 more progressive passes, nine more progressive carries, and made 16 more shot creating actions, according to FBref, highlighting just how much more involved in the build-up that the 25-year-old is when fully fit compared to the Mexican's output last year.

Lopetegui wants his sides to play from the back, and the progressive passing ability of Kalajdzic should provide the perfect end product to that tactic. Given his tall frame, too, the Austrian should have no problem holding the ball up, allowing the likes of Pedro Neto and Daniel Podence to get more involved next season.

So, whilst his £35k per-week wage was simply spent on the treatment room last season, Kalajdzic is more than capable of providing Wolves with an unexpected secret weapon next season, plus much more.

It's goals they need, and with Wolves' financial problems well documented, he could be an option that potentially saves them millions in the transfer market.

Liverpool were expected to sign "three midfielders" in the summer transfer window, but the position Trent Alexander-Arnold ultimately ends up playing in preseason could change that plan to be "two midfielders and a fullback", believes transfer insider Dean Jones.

Liverpool transfer news – who is linked to Liverpool?

The big transfer news for Liverpool this week has been the developments around Hungarian midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai.

The Athletic have reported that the club have met with the 22-year-old's representatives to discuss personal terms with a view to the player making a permeant move to Merseyside this summer, with things being stepped up.

A bit closer to home now, and the Reds have also been heavily linked with a move for Southampton's exciting young midfielder, Romeo Lavia, with the transfer expert Fabrizio Romano reporting that Liverpool have 'opened talks' with the South coast club.

The 19-time league winners have already completed one midfield signing this summer, Argentinian international Alexis Mac Allister, who the club signed from Brighton & Hove Albion earlier this month for an estimated initial fee of £35m.

What has Dean Jones said about Liverpool's transfer window?

Jones made a point of assessing Liverpool's current players before making too many guesses as to who they might pursue in the summer and what positions they might focus on.

Speaking to Football Fancast, he said: "I think we should also consider what Liverpool have already to work with, and the use of Trent next season. I mean, I'm intrigued to know what actually we see from Trent. Once we get into preseason and where he's lining up.

Interestingly, he believes that the position Jurgen Klopp decides to play Trent in will have a huge impact on the club's overall transfer vision, adding: "Like we've been expecting three midfielders to be signed, really, over the course of this summer, but it could be two midfielders and a fullback that that turns into."

How good was Trent Alexander Arnold last year?

It was a mixed year for Trent, to say the least. While he still excelled in certain metrics and was often a joy to watch, he was also frequently caught out in the defensive side of the game.

Andy Jones of the Athletic pinpointed his display against Crystal Palace earlier this year as the perfect 'microcosm' in which fans could see his brilliant best and ever-increasing frailties, all in one game.

Klopp has recognised the growing criticism of his superstar right-back in recent seasons but defended him, arguing that some of the mistakes are due to a lack of rest, saying after the Palace game, "Trent plays all the games."

That said, at his best, very few, if any, can do what the Liverpool born-gem can do.

According to FBref, who compare players in a similar position across Europe's top five leagues, Trent sits in the top 1% for expected assists, the top 2% of attempted passes and progressive passes, the top 4% for shot-creating actions and the top 8% for assists.

Those are the kind of underlying numbers that Klopp was referencing when he called the dynamic fullback a "world class talent" just a couple of years ago.

Whether Liverpool decides to persist with Trent in the backline or slowly move him into a midfield role, he will still be considered one of the game's best players if he can maintain the level of performance we have seen from him so many times before.

Liverpool have turned their attention to Bayer Leverkusen centre-back Edmond Tapsoba as Jurgen Klopp looks to recraft his side, according to reports.

What's the latest on Edmond Tapsoba to Liverpool?

According to 90min, Liverpool's interest in the Burkina Faso international is acting as a deterrent to Tottenham Hotspur, who are "wary" of several Premier League rivals as they look to bolster their defence.

The Reds are focussing their attention on their midfield with James Milner, Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain leaving next week at the end of their contracts, and Alexis Mac Allister has already arrived for £35m.

But the defence also needs reinforcement and Tapsoba could be the perfect addition to return Anfield to its former vigour, with Die Werkself demanding around £61m for their star defender.

Who could Edmond Tapsoba replace at Liverpool?

Given Liverpool's defensive woes last season and inability to retain their Champions League status after finishing fifth in the Premier League, it's understandable that Klopp is hoping to secure a signature to bolster his backline.

While it is unlikely that Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate will be displaced from their starting berths at the centre of the Reds' defence, the pool of depth in the position needs expanding after Joe Gomez and Joel Matip failed to inspire confidence.

The latter, 31-year-old Matip, is approaching the final year of his contract with Liverpool and looks set to remain at the club, departing on a free next summer.

While he is still a valuable backup to have, Tapsoba would be an upgrade and could be viewed as the eventual heir to the Cameroonian, who has made 187 appearances since signing from German outfit Schalke on a free transfer in 2016.

He has won a wealth of major honours during his stay, but after starting just 12 times in the Premier League this term he has received criticism for his "awful" displays by CBS reporter Nico Cantor.

In the 24-year-old Tapsoba, Liverpool would sign a "monster" of a centre-half – as praised by journalist Antonio Mango – who could bring a progressive approach to match Matip's and an iron-clad determination, having averaged 1.5 tackles and three clearances per game last term and won 62% of his ground duels, as per Sofascore.

And given the £37k-per-week ace ranks among the top 5% of positional peers across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for progressive passes, the top 8% for progressive carries and the top 6% for successful take-ons per 90, as per FBref, he could indeed emulate Matip's role at the club.

Liverpool's 6 foot 5 colossus ranks among the top 6% for shot-creating actions, the top 9% for progressive passes and the top 1% for progressive carries per 90, with such parallels strengthening the claim that Tapsoba is a tailor-made replacement.

Liverpool must make their move and reconstruct the club's framework after a lacklustre year, and while Matip is undoubtedly a stalwart, his ship has sailed on Merseyside and Klopp must make his move to sign a burgeoning upgrade in Tapsoba.

Celtic are thought to be interested in signing Leicester City midfielder Wilfred Ndidi this summer, according to reports.

What’s the latest Celtic transfer news?

The Hoops ended their search for a new manager earlier in the week after bringing back Brendan Rodgers. The Northern Irishman, who won seven major honours with Celtic in 169 games in charge during his first stint in charge, agreed terms on a long-term deal.

Reports have suggested that Celtic will also back their new boss in the transfer market this summer to help continue the good work by Ange Postecoglou, and it looks as if Ndidi is a target for those at Parkhead.

The Daily Mail’s Simon Jones shared a transfer round-up in the last 48 hours and provided a Celtic transfer update.

When talking about possible players leaving the King Power Stadium following their relegation to the Championship, he stated that Celtic are interested in signing Ndidi.

Who is Wilfred Ndidi?

Ndidi is 26 years of age and is primarily a defensive midfielder who can also play as a centre-back if required.

Valued at a career-high €60m by Transfermarkt back in 2021, the midfielder’s current value stands at €25m and is under contract until 2024, so Celtic may be able to exploit a cut-price move due to his contract situation.

The Nigeria international has made 237 appearances for Leicester after joining back in 2017 – 138 of which have come under Rodgers. The new Celtic boss is clearly a big fan of the player, labelling him as “irreplaceable” back in 2021.

“He’s one of the top players in world football in the recovering of the ball.

“He’s irreplaceable. For such a young player, he has been fantastic.”

As per WhoScored, Ndidi has averaged an impressive match rating of 7.11/10 and has experience of playing in the Champions League with the Foxes, so for the right price, could be a shrewd signing.

He would offer Rodgers a proven quality option who he already knows extremely well and would bring versatility n midfield and defence at Celtic Park, and with the club set to back the manager, a move could be one to watch closely alongside another linked Foxes player in Daniel Amartey.

Celtic are reportedly closing in on a deal to confirm Brendan Rodgers as the club's replacement for the recently-departed Ange Postecoglou.

The Hoops lost their Australian manager earlier this month as he opted to move down south to join Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur and majority shareholder Dermot Desmond is now in advanced talks to land his heir.

Rodgers is poised for a second spell at Parkhead after almost three years in charge of the Scottish giants before his switch to Leicester in 2019. He won seven trophies in that time and enjoyed great success that the Northern Irish tactician will now be hoping to replicate this time around.

The 50-year-old tinkerer will have the summer transfer window to bolster his side and one player he must swoop for is FC Utrecht star Anastasios Douvikas.

Who is Anastasios Douvikas?

The 23-year-old striker is a reported transfer target for the Hoops and the talented Greek marksman could come in and be the manager's next Moussa Dembele.

During Rodgers' first spell at Celtic, the French centre-forward was a prolific scorer who was able to provide a reliable source of goals over the course of two seasons.

He racked up 51 goals and 25 assists in 94 appearances in all competitions for the former Liverpool coach and these statistics show that the experienced boss was able to rely upon the ex-Fulham dynamo at the top end of the pitch.

Douvikas, who is reportedly available for a fee of £6.9m, could be Dembele 2.0 for Rodgers as his form for Utrecht in the Eredivisie suggests that the young ace has the potential to be a lethal scorer for Celtic next season.

During the 2022/23 campaign, the Greek international, who journalist Josh Bunting once hailed as "sharp", plundered 19 goals in 32 appearances.

He started 24 of those matches and his exceptional return in front of goal in the Netherlands indicates that he has the quality to replicate the former Hoops star's impressive strike rate of more than one goal every other game.

The 6 foot 1 frontman also showcased his creative ability as a centre-forward.

In the Eredivisie, Douvikas registered four assists and created seven 'big chances' for his teammates, which shows that the prolific scorer has the awareness and passing ability to open up defences for his fellow attackers to go along with his own goalscoring threat.

Therefore, Rodgers must push for the club to go through with a deal to sign the Greek ace as his statistics indicate that the Utrecht centre-forward could be the manager's new star striker.

Hearts head into a new era, with Steven Naismith being appointed as their new full-time manager until 2025, although he won’t be allowed to use that title just yet.

The Scot doesn’t have the required Pro Licence qualification to be able to manage in European competition, therefore Frankie McAvoy will have the title of head coach, with Naismith acting as the technical director, for now at least.

The former Scotland international will still be going about his business as usual, and he will be determined to build a squad which can secure a better finish than the fourth place they ended up last term, while qualifying for the Europa Conference League group stages for the second year in a row.

To do this, the 36-year-old will have to add some quality to his first team, and recently released Scott Arfield could be the ideal person to give the squad a boost according to former Hearts' winger Neil McCann.

He told BBC Sportscene (via Football Scotland): "I love Scott [Arfield]. I think he has been a magnificent servant coming up from Burnley. He wasn't at the starting point of his career. People might have said he was on the way down but I think he has performed brilliantly.

"He would be another super signing for someone like Hearts or Aberdeen maybe.”

Could Hearts sign Scott Arfield?

The 34-year-old admitted that he plans on playing until he is 40 and considering he made 43 appearances for the Rangers last term, registering ten goal contributions – nine goals and one assist – it certainly suggests he has plenty more to offer.

Indeed, with his relentless work rate and ability to score the occasional goal, the £10k-per-week midfielder could be perfect slotting in behind Lawrence Shankland during the 2023/24 campaign.

Arfield created two big chances and made 0.5 key passes per game for the Ibrox side last term, yet he averaged just 34 minutes a game, starting only seven league matches and there is no doubt these numbers would have been better had he played more.

Shankland was Hearts' top scorer with 24 goals, while also ranking first in the squad for overall Sofascore rating (7.11/10), shots on target per game (1.4) and scoring frequency (a goal every 127 minutes), pushing the club into the European places with his impressive strike rate.

Journalist Jordan Campbell lavished praise on the Canadian following his cameo against Hearts last November, saying: “Scott Arfield has added a lot of personality to the team since coming on. Cajoling teammates, pressing with intensity, trying to link things.”

If he could bring these qualities to the Jambos next season, he and Shankland would link up well.

Indeed, Arfield would be at ease doing the legwork while giving the 27-year-old plenty of ammunition to repeat his goal-scoring antics from recent years.

As such, the 5 foot 10 gem could be a shrewd piece of business for the new boss. Naismith, it’s over to you.