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Fabrizio Romano has insisted that Newcastle United transfer target Marco Asensio is liked by English clubs amid his  current contractual situation.

The Lowdown: Asensio has been on the radar for a long time

Newcastle have been linked with a move with the midfielder this month, so perhaps this news will be of interest to the Magpies.

It has been reported by Romano that Real Madrid have discussed a new deal with Asensio to keep him at the club. However, amid interest from England and Italy, the Spain international may well look to explore the market as a free agent.

The Latest: English clubs still tracking Asensio

Romano has confirmed on his YouTube channel that the long-time Newcastle target is still putting off signing a new contract at Real Madrid ahead of the summer.

He said: “He has to decide. Real Madrid have already discussed with him the terms of a potential new contract; now, Asensio has to decide if he wants to continue at Real Madrid on these conditions or try a new challenge.

“There is still interest in England for Marco Asensio – also in other countries – so his agent is already exploring the market because there are some possibilities around Europe.

“But the player has to make a decision, of course, together with his agent [and] together with [his] family, but Marco Asensio could be a free agent and, for sure, could be one to watch.”

The Verdict: PIF could land bargain of the summer

Given that Eddie Howe has constantly spoken about Financial Fair Play regulations and how the club would always refuse to put themselves in an awkward position by spending recklessly, if they could land someone of Asensio’s ability for no transfer fee, it would certainly upgrade their team heading into a potential European campaign next season while ticking many FFP boxes.

However, landing someone such as ‘spectacular’ as Asensio will likely depend on whether or not Newcastle finish in the Champions League spots, as it is very unlikely someone who’s won that competition three times will drop down to play in the likes of the Europa League or Europa Conference League – particularly if there is plenty of interest in him come the summer.

Todd Boehly is reportedly ready to sanction a Chelsea deal for Napoli sensation Victor Osimhen and the Nigerian's potential arrival at Stamford Bridge could allow Graham Potter to finally unlock the best version of Kai Havertz.

Could Chelsea sign Osimhen?

Chelsea, like several other sides across Europe, have been regularly linked with signing Osimhen in recent months amid his incredible performances for Napoli in Serie A and the Champions League.

Evening Standard journalist Nizaar Kinsella has now suggested on Twitter that Chelsea are one of two serious clubs that are "ready to poach" the forward away from the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium this summer.

Manchester United are the other side credited with an interest in the 24-year-old forward, but any potential suitor could be forced to pay as much as €150m (£132m) if they want to land Napoli's main man ahead of the 2023/24 campaign.

Chelsea's need for a natural striker is clear, as they have mustered just 29 goals in the Premier League so far this season, with only seven sides scoring fewer, all of whom are currently embroiled in a closely-fought relegation battle at the bottom.

Osimhen's return of 21 goals and four assists in just 23 Serie A appearances this season suggests that he could be the man to fix that problem, as Potter's side look to challenge back at the top end of the table again next year.

Since joining from Lille in 2020, the Super Eagles striker has crashed in 53 goals and 14 assists in just 91 appearances, with his performance against Cagliari in 2021 seeing him described as "phenomenal" by former manager Walter Mazzarri.

Could Havertz benefit from Chelsea signing Osimhen?

Chelsea's top scorer so far this season is Havertz and the German boasts just seven goals in the Premier League, with the German maestro underperforming on his xG in all three of his seasons at Chelsea, having regularly overperformed during his time at Bayer Leverkusen.

There is no doubt that the 23-year-old still has the attributes and the potential to be a big player for Chelsea in the future but his record in front of goal suggests that he will never be the clinical striker that they require to be a success at the top of the Premier League.

Should Osimhen arrive at Stamford Bridge and lead the line, it could allow Havertz to drop into a more familiar attacking midfield role where he excelled at Leverkusen, with the Nigerian forward running the channels and winning the physical battles to allow the German more time on the ball to create opportunities.

Therefore, while £132m is obviously a huge amount of money for Boehly to invest, he could help Potter to finally unlock a more dangerous version of Havertz if he were to play alongside Osimhen in the Blues' attack.

Crystal Palace are believed to be interested in signing Celtic attacker Kyogo Furuhashi during the summer transfer window, according to a new update.

Is Kyogo having a good season?

The 28-year-old has become an influential player for the Hoops since arriving from Vissel Kobe back in 2021, scoring 48 goals in just 74 appearances, as well as chipping in with 10 assists. This season, he has netted 22 times in 26 Scottish Premiership matches, standing out as one of the most effective attacking players in the division.

Kyogo's brilliance stood out again on Saturday as Celtic beat bitter rivals Rangers 3-2 at Parkhead, with the Japanese scoring two of his side's goals on the day, as they edge closer to the title glory this season.

While the forward's current Hoops deal doesn't expire until the end of the 2024/25 season, it could be that he looks for a new challenge this summer, with a move to the Premier League possibly on the cards. That's where Palace come into play, as they look to make some key signings during the upcoming window.

Could Palace snap up Celtic man this summer?

According to Football Insider, the Eagles have "watched the 28-year-old regularly this season and have been left impressed by his performances". Celtic are believed to be "braced for offers" for one of their most important players, while a "bid of £15million could be enough to prise the forward away from Parkhead".

Kyogo could be a really shrewd signing by Palace this summer, coming in as a slightly different option than the likes of Wilfried Zaha, Eberechi Eze and Michael Olise. The 16-cap and three-goal Japan international leads the line with a combination of quality, hard work and team ethic, not only scoring goals at a regular rate but also providing for others, as his aforementioned assist tally highlights.

The Eagles are lacking a ruthless goalscorer currently, with Odsonne Edouard and Jean-Philippe Matete scoring just five times between them in the Premier League. Granted, Kyogo could find the step up from the Scottish Premiership tough to adjust to, but he should still be a strong option than the current Palace attacking central pair, having been called "outstanding" by Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou.

At 28, Kyogo is at peak age to come in and make an immediate impact at Selhurst Park, possessing plenty of experience at this point in his career, but also still hopefully remaining in and around his prime years for the foreseeable future.

Tottenham Hotspur have 'definitely' looked at appointing Brentford boss Thomas Frank as Spurs search for a new manager, according to Alasdair Gold.

What's the latest Spurs manager news?

All eyes are on chairman Daniel Levy and who he may appoint to succeed Antonio Conte, with it now being over three weeks since the Italian parted company.

Despite Spurs still being well in contention for a top-four Premier League finish, tension boiled over when Conte launched a scathing post-match rant after their recent 3-3 draw at Southampton, eventually spelling the end of his tenure.

Having left north London, Conte's exit has paved the way for a host of managers to be linked with the post.

While interim boss Cristian Stellini and assistant coach Ryan Mason take charge in the meantime, Levy may be working on Conte's replacement in the background.

Perhaps most notably, the likes of Mauricio Pochettino, Luis Enrique and Julian Nagelsmann stand out as the big three who have been linked with a move to Spurs – while Zinedine Zidane was also rumoured to be a target by Sky Sports.

In-work managers aren't completely ruled out either, as the likes of Arne Slot and Vincent Kompany reportedly entice Spurs.

Now, sharing an update on the Tottenham managerial search, reliable football.london correspondent Gold has made a claim on Bees boss Frank.

When asked how likely it is the 49-year-old could get the job, the reporter explained in a Q&A:

"Thomas Frank will definitely have been looked at. He's done a great job at Brentford but I wonder whether Spurs see him as enough of a name or trophy winner. They seem to have been drawn to those types in recent years."

What could Frank bring to Spurs?

While he may not arguably be as prestigious a candidate as Pochettino and Nagelsmann, we believe Frank could be a solid outside contender.

The former Brondby boss has turned Brentford into a very hard side to play against, with only Manchester City, Arsenal and Newcastle United losing fewer league games than them this season.

Frank, who favours the 3-5-2 formation, has also been praised for his 'extraordinary' job at Brentford by members of the media, with journalist Ryan Taylor emphatic:

He explained:

"What Thomas Frank is doing with Brentford is simply extraordinary. Now regularly outcompeting & outperforming the Big Six with expressive, attractive football despite operating with the lowest budget in the Premier League. Incredible."

We couldn't have summed it up any better than Taylor, with it being little surprise Spurs are thought to be taking note.

Julian Nagelsmann was unhappy with Chelsea's recruitment process before deciding not to become their new manager, according to reliable journalist Mike Keegan.

How close was Nagelsmann to the job?

The Blues have gone through a tumultuous time of things this season, sitting in the bottom half of the Premier League as the campaign gradually reaches its conclusion. Both Thomas Tuchel and Graham Potter have been sacked since August, with neither impressing in charge, and Frank Lampard is in the Stamford Bridge hot seat until the end of the campaign.

Since Potter's dismissal, the search has been on to find his long-term successor, and for a long time, it looked as though Nagelsmann was the clear front-runner to become the new Chelsea boss. He has since backed of the race, however, deciding against taking the job and looking elsewhere after his surprise sacking at Bayern Munich.

The news came a shock to many, but now the reasoning behind the 35-year-old declining the job has emerged.

Why didn't German take charge of Blues?

Writing for The Daily Mail, Keegan claimed that Nagelsmann wasn't enamoured by the entire process, growing frustrated when Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali turned their attentions towards Mauricio Pochettino and Vincent Kompany:

"Julian Nagelsmann pulled out of the running to become the next Chelsea manager after harbouring serious concerns over the recruitment process, sources have disclosed.

"The German is understood to have been under the impression that the job was his and that talks were a formality. However, unease grew following a succession of meetings, and reports that managers such as Mauricio Pochettino and Vincent Kompany were also being considered."

This update has to lead to question marks over the manner in which Chelsea handled this situation – essentially, they have blown the chance to land one of Europe's brightest manager because of their scattergun approach. Boehly and his right-hand man Egbali clearly have a way of going about things, and while they are within the right to do things exactly the way they want to, it feels like it has backfired in regard to Nagelsmann.

This is such a crucial period in Chelsea's recent history, in terms of getting the right man in and making sure the Blues keep in touch with their Premier League rivals, and having missed out on Nagelsmann, it is essential that the next-best option is hired, whether it be Pochettino, Kompany of somebody else.

At the moment, too many poor decisions are being made at the club, both on and off the pitch, and it is no surprise that the team are struggling because of it.

Manchester United continue their bid for further silverware by taking on six-time winners Sevilla in the Europa League this evening, with the tie firmly in the balance ahead of that quarter-final, second-leg meeting at Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán Stadium.

In truth, the Red Devils could seemingly have had progression secured in the reverse fixture at Old Trafford after racing into an early, two-goal lead, having also missed a handful of promising openings to take extend that advantage.

As it proved, that lack of a killer instinct proved costly, in more ways than one, as Erik ten Hag's men ultimately conceded twice late on amid a freakish implosion at the death, while also losing first-choice centre-back pairing Lisandro Martinez and Raphael Varane to injury.

A further setback from that frustrating, first-leg meeting was the yellow card picked up by playmaking maestro, Bruno Fernandes, with the 28-year-old having been harshly penalised for handball early in the first half.

That bizarre booking has ensured that the former Sporting CP ace – who has one goal and four assists in the competition this season – will be suspended for tonight's pivotal encounter, with United forced to make do without a player who has started 48 games in all competitions this term.

Who could replace Fernandes against Sevilla?

The most obvious replacement for the 55-cap gem in that advanced midfield role would seemingly be that of Marcel Sabitzer, with the Austrian international having produced a 'fine performance' in that berth in the first leg, as per Manchester Evening News journalist Samuel Luckhurst, after netting twice inside the opening exchanges.

Despite having already made his mark against the La Liga side, the January arrival was subsequently ruled out of the weekend win over Nottingham Forest, after sustaining an injury in the warm-up.

While Ten Hag has received a real boost heading into tonight's meeting with Sabitzer among four stricken stars who have made the trip to Seville, it may be too soon to unleash the 29-year-old straight back into the action.

As such, it could be time for polarising midfielder, Fred, to take on that playmaking berth later today, with the Brazil international having previously made his mark against Spanish opposition earlier in the competition.

The £120k-per-week machine notably laid on an assist for Marcus Rashford in the 2-2 draw away to Barcelona at Camp Nou, before getting on the scoresheet himself in the second-leg encounter at the Theatre of Dreams, producing an excellent touch and finish from just outside the area.

The former Shakhtar Donetsk man has made a habit of getting himself in and around the opposition penalty area this season as he boasts a respectable haul of 11 goal involvements in all competitions, showcasing that he can provide a creative spark when needed for the Carabao Cup winners.

That quality in a more advanced position has illustrated that Fred can do "a lot more than just defend", as per interim boss Ralf Rangnick, with the German coach also stating that the 30-year-old has "surprising elements" to his game, which can help to unlock an opposition defence.

The diminutive "mosquito" – as previously hailed by Ten Hag for his pest-like display against La Blaugrana back in February – will also offer the benefit of his relentless work ethic, having been described as a figure who "would give his last drop of blood for the team", in the words of Rangnick.

On a night in which United may have to fight it out to edge past a side with real heritage in the competition, a workmanlike asset such as Fred could be just what is needed to help fill the gaping Fernandes void.

Unai Emery was visibly angry with Aston Villa playmaker Emi Buendia following his first-half display at Old Trafford, as journalist Ashley Preece spotted the two in a heated exchange on the touchline.

How has Buendia played for Aston Villa?

The Argentina international has had an inconsistent season, racking up five goals and three assists in 36 appearances across all competitions.

He had a first half to forget as Villa went behind at Old Trafford, completing just 53% of his passes and losing possession nine times, much to Emery's annoyance.

The Spaniard has done a magnificent job since arriving at Villa Park, helping take the Villans from relegation candidates to European contenders, but it appeared as though Buendia was not following the manager's strict instructions.

Preece highlighted the exchange between the two while covering the game for BirminghamLive, claiming that Emery may have been annoyed by Buendia's inability to follow his instructions.

He wrote: "The manager calls Buendia over, he's clearly not happy with something. He gestures to his player to keep his head, with the playmaker clearly not following what's being asked.​​​​​"

Does Buendia have a bright future at Villa?

Aston Villa spent a whopping £38m to bring Buendia to the club as one of the replacements for Jack Grealish,

He has provided just nine goals and nine assists in 73 appearances and has not contributed as much to Villa's incredible run as the likes of Ollie Watkins.

If Villa do end up qualifying for Europe, they could look to upgrade on their attacking midfield options, perhaps by reigniting their interest in Arsenal's Emile Smith Rowe.

If they do reinforce in attacking areas, Buendia may the one who loses his starting place, and if this issue with Emery is a sign any strain behind the scenes, he could even be sacrificed from the squad.

Emery has previously clashed with technical attacking stars including Mesut Ozil and Neymar from his spells at Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain respectively, and it remains to be seen whether he would like to continue with the system that deploys Buendia in a No 10 role.

If he does elect to change formation, the Argentinian could be up for the chop, given that the likes of Jacob Ramsey and John McGinn are adapting to his tactics with more ease than the former Norwich star.

His clear inability to retain the ball this weekend may not have done Buendia any favours in trying to stay in Emery's good books going forward.

Arsenal striker Folarin Balogun is set to return from his season-long loan deal with Reims in Ligue 1 but he is expected to seek an exit from the north London club.

Why did Balogun leave on loan?

Over the summer, Arsenal made a number of ambitious signings which included the arrival of players like Gabriel Jesus from Manchester City.

The summer additions alongside the continuous development of the current squad under Mikel Arteta has seen the Gunner put together an ambitious title charge.

Of course, that surge for the title has hit the rocks over recent weeks with Manchester City taking control of the pursuit for the Premier League crown.

The competition for a spot in the starting XI as a striker saw Balogun leave the club in search of more regular football which is what he has found in France.

Under manager Will Still, the youngster has enjoyed a stream of action in the starting XI in which has seen the Englishman shine abroad (via Transfermarkt).

However, it seems as if the 21-year-old may not look to showcase his talent in north London upon his return with a potential move away believed to be on the cards.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Fabrizio Romano provided an update on his future ahead of the summer:

(3:20) "What they want to do? One more loan to send the player to any other club or to sell him on a permanent deal. This is something to be decided but on [the] player's side, he feels that he wants to try a different kind of challenge – as [Charlie] Patino – on permanent basis. This is why Balogun is one to watch, for Patino the decision is already made."

Could Balogun impact the Arsenal starting XI?

The gauntlet has certainly been laid down in attack for the Gunners this season with Arteta's men the second-highest scorers in the league this season.

And one player who has largely impressed this season is Jesus who only joined the Gunners over the course of the summer.

Over his 21 appearances in the league, Jesus has returned nine goals and six assists for the north London side having also battled a significant injury issue (via Transfermarkt).

Considering Arsenal spent big money to bring the Brazilian to the Emirates, it is difficult to see how he could be dislodged from the starting XI when he is providing a goals return.

Perhaps the spot on the bench could be won, having said that, Arsenal did only recently reward Eddie Nketiah with a significant deal which has him earning £100k-per-week.

Even if that spot on the bench was there to be won, you have to question whether a player who is currently Ligue 1's fourth-highest goalscorer would be willing to sit on the bench waiting for his opportunity.

And it seems that is the case, on the back of an impressive campaign, the "goal machine" – as hailed by journalist Garland Gillen – is seemingly on the hunt to continue his run of games ahead of next season.

Liverpool could pull off a huge signing this summer by forging ahead with a move for electric Napoli phenom Piotr Zielinski, who has been excellent this season.

What's the latest on Piotr Zielinski to Liverpool?

According to Polish outlet Meczyki (via reports in Spain), Liverpool are 'seriously considering' a move for Zielinski as manager Jurgen Klopp looks to reshape his centre.

The 28-year-old playmaker has been of previous attention to the Reds, with Udinese turning down a bid of £11.7m from the Merseyside club in the early phases of Klopp's reign.

While Liverpool do hold interest, it is unlikely that the Serie A champions would be willing to part with such an instrumental member of their title-winning exploits, however, the player's contract is set for expiry in 2024, which could force Napoli into cashing in on their £23m-rated asset while they can.

Should Liverpool sign Piotr Zielinski?

The argument that Liverpool have been somewhat over-reliant on creativity from the flanks during Klopp's tenure certainly wouldn't be a baseless claim.

Indeed, marauding full-backs Andy Robertson and Trent Alexander-Arnold have collectively chalked up a whopping 134 assists for the Anfield outfit, both making their debuts under Klopp's wing, with the German gaffer's system demanding a more consummately industrious midfield.

Zielinski, however, could rewrite the script; the £110k-per-week machine has been a faultless presence for his outfit this term, hailed as a "baller" by The Athletic's Patrick Boyland, scoring seven goals and providing ten assists from 40 matches as the Little Donkeys secured their first Scudetto since 1989/90.

The distinguished Poland international, with 80 caps, is one of Europe's superlative creative forces, with FBref ranking him among the top 11% of midfielders for rate of goals, the top 1% for rate of assists and shot-creating actions and the top 18% for progressive carries per 90, with the site likening him to the likes of Kevin De Bruyne, Martin Odegaard and Luka Modric.

He is the all-encompassing midfielder Liverpool need to return to the top, having fallen by the wayside this term and scrambling to qualify for the Champions League, fifth with three matches to play.

His former boss, Carlo Ancelotti, furthered the argument that he is one of Europe's leading midfielders after waxing lyrical over his laudable scope.

He said: “Zielinski is a complete midfielder, he played in all positions with me. He is dynamic and skilled with the ball.”

Should Klopp succeed with a bid, the 5 foot 10 gem could forge a deadly partnership with the Reds' rising star Curtis Jones, who has impressed with his recent performances from the centre.

Liverpool are currently rising on a six-match win streak in the Premier League, unbeaten in eight, with eight of Jones' nine starts in the top-flight this term coming during this period, with one analyst & scout hailing him as the "complete #8".

With Jones ranking among the top 4% of midfielders across Europe's big five leagues for pass completion, as well as the top 8% for progressive carries, he can mirror Zielinski's impact and perhaps drive the ball further up-field with the regularity that will allow the Napoli maestro to find pockets to wreak havoc.

Liverpool must swoop, Napoli's blistering seasonal success is evidence enough that the Pole's acquisition would be a resounding triumph, and with Klopp holding a longtime admiration, he has clearly done his homework.

While Manchester United bolstered their midfield ranks last summer with the signings of the experienced pairing of Christian Eriksen and Casemiro, the centre of the park looks set to be another priority area for Erik ten Hag ahead of next season.

As per Manchester Evening News, the Dutchman is said to be targeting a 'younger midfielder' in order to freshen up the current ranks, with the likes of Eriksen, Casemiro and Fred all now in their thirties and hardly long-term options.

Amid that search for a more youthful addition, there have been notable links to West Ham United skipper, Declan Rice, with the 24-year-old – who's been described as "world-class" by manager Danny Cowley – seemingly the type of figure who could be a fixture of the Red Devils side for the foreseeable future.

It is then something of a surprise to see the current speculation that United are also said to be keen on signing Croatian star, Mateo Kovacic from rivals Chelsea, with Football Insider recently stating that the Old Trafford outfit are willing to splash out £30m on the wantaway playmaker – who has just a year left to run on his existing deal at Stamford Bridge.

At 29, the former Real Madrid man – who is also reportedly of interest to Manchester City – would appear to be at odds with Ten Hag's desire for a 'younger' acquisition, with it perhaps wise for the top-four hopefuls to think again before sanctioning such a move.

Should Man United sign Kovacic?

The Red Devils should wish to avoid a repeat of the signing of another midfield maestro from the Blues in the form of Nemanja Matic, with the Serbian colossus having been snapped up from west London on a £40m deal back in 2017.

While the one-time Benfica ace arrived at the Theatre of Dreams with a wealth of experience having claimed two Premier League titles during his time with Chelsea, the 6 foot 4 brute's age meant he was never likely to be a long-term solution, having been 28 at the time of his capture.

Although the 48-cap destroyer did make a strong early impression during Jose Mourinho's tenure – having been described as a "genius" by the Portuguese coach – he was unable to maintain that influence during Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's time at the helm, notably making just 12 league starts in the 2020/21 campaign.

As it proved, United ultimately took a hefty loss on Matic as he was allowed to leave for nothing last summer after five years at the club, with that again showcasing the perils of signing a player who is potentially past their peak.

In the case of Kovacic, the one-time Inter Milan man has been lauded as a "baller" – in the words of podcaster Dan McCarthy – after racking up 220 appearances for his current side to date, notably winning the Champions League under Thomas Tuchel in 2020/21.

As for the current campaign, however, the £100k-per-week asset has found life difficult after being restricted to just 17 league starts for the mid-table outfit, providing just one goal and two assists from his number eight role.

Having hardly done much this season to warrant a move to Old Trafford – notably having 'failed to impact the game' against Nottingham Forest last time out, as per football.london's Sam Hill – it could well represent another short-term, transfer gamble for United if they are to push for a move, much like the case of Matic.