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Newcastle United completing the summer signing of Inter Milan defender Denzel Dumfries would "take the team to the next level", according to BBC pundit Alan Hutton.

Will Denzel Dumfries leave Inter Milan?

The Dutchman has made 91 appearances to date since arriving at the San Siro back in 2021, and despite his contract not expiring for another two years, there’s a chance that he and some of his fellow teammates could be sold during the upcoming window as the Italian outfit look to resolve their financial crisis.

According to Gazzetta Dello Sport, PIF and Eddie Howe have recently submitted an official enquiry to discover what it would take to complete a deal for the 27-year-old right-back, with the boss also targeting a fresh face on the opposite flank, where it appears that the Magpies are closing in on a move for Arsenal’s Kieran Tierney having been given the green light by Mikel Arteta to make the switch to St. James’ Park.

Are Newcastle signing Dumfries?

Speaking to Football Insider, Hutton was asked whether he thought Dumfries was capable of taking Kieran Trippier's place in Howe's first-team should he put pen to paper at Newcastle in the Premier League, to which he replied:

“I think he is a brilliant football player. Already for such a young age, what he is achieving is up there. I think the next step for him is to go to the Premier League. Newcastle are definitely doing it in the right way. I think they are spending money and recruiting well, not just splashing the cash on anybody. They are in a situation that we did not see this early on."

“They have to go again and improve and Dumfries definitely gives you that. He definitely gives you the competition, so that would be a good battle moving forward and I think that is what they need to take the team to the next level. If they could get that over the line with Tierney possibly on the other side, I think they would have a really strong defence.”

Whether Dumfries would get into Newcastle’s starting XI ahead of Trippier remains to be seen, but regardless of if he’d be a regular or a back-up option, he’d be a fantastic alternative for Howe to have at his disposal having been dubbed a “monster” by journalist Alan Rzepa.

The World Cup participant is naturally much strong in the offensive aspect of his game and when bursting down the flank having clocked up seven assists and one goal in 31 Serie A games so far this season, but he’s still constantly looking to create moments of magic even if he’s not always on the scoresheet. As per FBRef, the £53k-per-week ace ranks in the 99th percentile for number of attacking touches in the opposition’s penalty area and the 93rd percentile for total shots, so is a real force to be reckoned with driving forward.

Finally, Dumfries has the flexibility to operate anywhere across the defence, including left-back, right-back, centre-back and even higher up in defensive and on the right side of the midfield, so would provide excellent cover should any unexpected injuries occur, therefore making this a no-brainer of a deal to for even if he doesn't dislodge Trippier.

Referee John Brooks and his VAR team may have made a big mistake this weekend as they failed to punish Manchester City defender Rico Lewis for a handball inside his own box.

What's the latest on Man City vs Brentford?

The Cityzens sealed the Premier League title last weekend and so had nothing on the line as they made the trip to West London to take on Brentford.

And having lost to the Bees at the Etihad earlier on in the campaign, Pep Guardiola's men were once again not at their best when facing Thomas Frank and co.

In the end, a single goal from Ethan Pinnock – coming via a well-worked free-kick routine – was enough to seal all three points for Brentford who have now finished ninth in the league

However, the home side potentially could have won the game by an even greater margin had Brooks pointed to the spot when the ball clearly hit Lewis' arm inside his own box.

As you can see in the image below, taken from the Sky Sports highlights package, the Man City player is potentially lucky to get away with this one.

Was this a penalty for Brentford?

The incident occurs when Brentford come forward and Vitaly Janelt cuts a low ball into the box for Ben Mee to attack.

The defender takes a slightly heavy touch and then stretches to flick the ball towards goal but Lewis comes across to block it.

He does just that but uses his hand to stop the ball from continuing towards goal before City eventually clear their lines.

The commentator notes that "VAR are going to have to get involved" but referee Brookes was not advised to change his initial decision and so no penalty was awarded.

In the end, it wasn't too costly for Brentford as they still won the game and both teams could come away from the match with smiles on their faces with City obviously the league winners even before kick-off. Although Guardiola may have been disappointed as his team's run of 25 matches unbeaten in all competitions came to an end.

After the final whistle, Bees boss Frank spoke about how delighted he was for his team even if they couldn't quite secure a finish in one of the European spots.

He told Sky Sports (via BBC Sport): "The team deserve a lot of praise. [The win] sums up a fantastic season.

"Sometimes you need to look back where we've actually come from. To finish ninth with 59 points and the second-lowest budget is incredible. Now we want to have a rest and come back as strong as possible."

Celtic centre-back Cameron Carter-Vickers suffered a knee injury earlier this month and has been ruled out for the remainder of the 2022/23 campaign.

The Hoops have conceded 30 goals in 36 Scottish Premiership matches this season, an impressive defensive record, but five of those goals have come in the last two games – without the American international.

Ange Postecoglou's side lost 3-0 in the Old Firm clash before being held to a 2-2 draw by St. Mirren last weekend in the top-flight, which shows that the back line has struggled without the ex-Tottenham man.

Speaking on PLZ Soccer, pundit Alan Rough criticised Carl Starfelt in the absence of his central defensive teammate. He said:

“They (St Mirren) looked at the Rangers game and said ‘right, if you have a go at this defence, no Cameron Carter-Vickers, no Johnston there.’

“Starfelt looks lost without Carter-Vickers there. He looks all over the place and I don’t know what he was trying to do at the second goal. He never even challenged the header."

The 27-year-old Sweden international was particularly poor in the Rangers defeat as he lost four of his seven duels and made one error directly leading to a goal.

As such, Postecoglou could ruthlessly ditch the £19k-per-week dud from the starting XI next season by securing a swoop to sign Xavier Mbuyamba this summer.

Who is Xavier Mbuyamba?

He is a 21-year-old central defender who is currently playing for FC Volendam in the Dutch Eredivisie and is a reported transfer target for Celtic and Watford heading into the summer window.

The former Barcelona and Chelsea academy prospect has enjoyed an excellent debut season at senior level after arriving in his home country from Stamford Bridge, where he played 21 Premier League 2 matches, last year.

Mbuyamba averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.00 across 27 matches in the Eredivisie and made 3.5 tackles and interceptions and 5.3 clearances per game. Starfelt, meanwhile, has averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.20 across 26 Premiership outings but only made 2.1 tackles and interceptions and 4.2 clearances per match.

The current Celtic centre-back has also won 67% of his duels in comparison to the Dutchman's 52% success rate in his physical battles, which suggests that the Hoops defender is more efficient in his defending.

However, he is also six years older than the ex-Chelsea enforcer and Mbuyamba could come in as a player who is able to hit the ground running whilst also having the potential to improve and develop as he gains more experience at first-team level.

The titan, who was lauded as "complete" and "dominant" by talent scout Jacek Kulig, won 73% of his aerial duels in five appearances in the Football League Trophy last season and this shows that the defender has the ability, at 6 foot 5, to dominate players in the air.

He may have work still to do to reach Starfelt's level but Postecoglou could place faith in the 21-year-old's development and bring him in as a starter, ditching the 27-year-old, next season in the hope that the gem can improve his efficiency whilst remaining active in making tackles, interceptions, and clearances more frequently than the Swedish dud.

Liverpool are set to announce a contract extension for Adrian with the Spaniard already putting pen to paper on a new deal.

What's the latest contract news for Adrian?

According to Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano, Adrian has already signed a new deal with Liverpool set to announce the deal.

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, Romano said: "He had some possibilities in Spain. Some Italian clubs were also asking about the situation.

"But the expectation is for Adrian to be ready to announce this new deal because everything is signed, from what I understand."

The former West Ham goalkeeper currently earns £58,000 per week, according to Spotrac, and with his current deal with the Reds set to expire at the end of June, Liverpool have renewed his terms.

It's unclear how long the extension is, but he will be at the club for the 2023/24 season at the very least.

Why are Liverpool extending Adrian's contract?

Adrian only played one game for Liverpool this season, playing the full 90 minutes during the 3-1 win over Manchester City in the Community Shield. Since the curtain raiser, the 36-year-old didn't play a single minute for Jurgen Klopp.

Some fans might be wondering why Liverpool would keep a player that barely contributes. One reason may be Caoimhin Kelleher's potential transfer away from Anfield this summer.

The Irishman is good enough to start for many Premier League teams with Redmen TV Paul Machin presenter urging him to leave the club in order to take his career to the next level.

Both Kelleher and Adrian are unfortunate to be playing second and third fiddle to Alisson Becker. The Brazilian finished the Premier League season with 14 clean sheets, missing out on the Golden Glove to Manchester United's David De Gea.

With Kelleher potentially on his way out, Liverpool will need to replace the Irishman. Letting Adrian leave as a free agent would create another transfer headache for the Reds solve.

The Reds are hard at work in the process of recruiting new midfielders with Naby Keita, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and James Milner all departing as free agents this summer. Arthur has also been released after his unsuccessful loan spell at Anfield.

Alexis Mac Allister could be the first player to join the club this summer with reports suggesting he has already agreed personal terms for a move to Liverpool. Now, negotiations will proceed with Brighton over a possible £70m transfer fee.

Burnley may have sauntered their way to promotion to the Premier League under the watch of impressive managerial rookie Vincent Kompany, but that is not to say some areas of the squad are not in need of addressing this summer.

According to LancsLive, one of the positions being looked at is right-back, with Leeds United's versatile Cody Drameh said to be of interest to the Clarets.

Who is Leeds United defender Cody Drameh?

Drameh has yet to make a name for himself at Leeds, being restricted to just four appearances across their three seasons back in the top flight, but he has impressed away from Elland Road.

Still aged just 21, Drameh did well during his half-season spell on loan with Cardiff City in 2021-22 and returned to the Championship in the second half of last season with Luton Town.

The former Fulham youth player was brought in during the January window and started 19 times for the Hatters as they earned a stunning promotion to the Premier League via the play-offs.

While predominantly a right-back, Drameh was asked to fill in on the right-hand side of midfield for the majority of his time at Kenilworth Road and chipped in with a couple of assists.

One of those came against Bristol City in March when setting up Carlton Morris for the only goal of the game. Luton boss Rob Edwards praised Drameh at the time for the way he quickly adapted to life at another new club, while also issuing the youngster a new challenge to develop his game further.

"Cody’s been really good since he's come in, but we encouraged him to be really brave and we wanted him to take some risks," Edwards said, as per LeedsLive. "I thought he was really on the front foot and he showed a lot of quality."

Where would Cody Drameh fit in at Burnley?

On the face of it, Burnley are not exactly desperate for a new right-back. That is a position, after all, that Wales international Connor Roberts thrived in last season.

However, Roberts played in a team-high 43 of Burnley's games last season, and Kompany could do with having another adequate back-up option ready to fill in.

Vitinho took up that role last season, featuring seven times at right-back, while also being used down the wing and on the opposite flank. That versatile nature is a big positive, and is something Drameh showed last season he can also provide.

There was little between Vitinho and Drameh last season in terms of creativity, with respective goals and assists combined per 90 minutes returns of 0.17 and 0.13, while they completed an almost identical number of passes per game (32.7 and 33.2).

However, Drameh outperformed Vitinha in terms of metrics such as shot-creating actions (3.50 per 90 compared to 2.53), tackles won (2.38 and 1.20) and aerial duels (1.13 compared to 0.90), suggesting he'd be a more solid asset on the right-hand side of the defence.

Vitinho has won the hearts of supporters at Turf Moor, and he may have a part to play in the Premier League, but it is clear to see why Drameh – valued as little as £4m by Football Observatory and with plenty of years of top-flight football ahead of him – is on the radar of Clarets boss Kompany.

Arsenal are days away from making an official proposal for West Ham United's Declan Rice, claims transfer expert Fabrizio Romano.

The update comes off the back of the Irons' triumph in the Europa Conference League just last week.

Arsenal Transfer News – Declan Rice

The West Ham captain has been heavily linked with a move to north London since the closing stages of the January transfer window earlier this year.

The most significant update in the whole saga came in the immediate aftermath of the Hammers' victory in the Conference League final, when chairman David Sullivan confirmed the player would leave in the summer.

Other teams have reportedly been interested in the player alongside the Gooners, notably the German giants Bayern Munich.

The interest from the Bundesliga champions primarily stemmed from manager Thomas Tuchel's "admiration" for the England international.

However, it looks like it's Mikel Arteta and Arsenal who are "confident" that they will land the "absolute monster", as described by ESPN writer David Cartlidge.

The deal is expected to be worth in the region of £100m if certain add-ons are achieved, which would be a new British transfer record, per the Guardian.

What has transfer expert Fabrizio Romano said about Declan Rice to Arsenal?

Romano updated Arsenal fans on the deal's progress and stressed that the official proposal was just around the corner.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Fabrizio Romano claimed: "I can confirm what I said weeks ago, days ago, and I keep saying, Arsenal will bid for Declan Rice. While I'm speaking, they are preparing the official proposal, the bid will arrive soon, we are just waiting for that moment, but Arsenal will send an official bid for Declan Rice. The idea has always been to bid this week, so let's wait and see."

Romano also clarified Bayern Munich's stance towards the player, saying: "Bayern sources feel that the player is now orientated 100% to staying in the Premier League as priority. It's up to the clubs now, there is no problem on the personal terms."

"So Arsenal working on Declan Rice deal. This is an important update for the Gunners."

Would Declan Rice be a good signing for Arsenal?

With the expected departure of long-term player Granit Xhaka to Borussia Monchengladbach this summer, a player like Rice would be an ideal replacement.

According to WhoScored, the English midfielder averages a rating of 7.01 across his 36 league appearances this year, marginally better than the Swiss captain's 6.98.

The underlying numbers better highlight the West Ham man's abilities.

According to FBref, Rice completes 1.36 tackles per 90 compared to Xhaka's 1.14, and the 24-year-old also completes one take-on per 90 compared to the ex-Gladbach man's 0.51.

Temperament is something else the 24-year-old midfielder has over the man he may replace, as he has averaged only 0.14 yellow cards a game, around half the number of the hot-headed Gunner.

Whilst most will agree that Xhaka has certainly improved this year, the potential purchase of the Kingston upon Thames-born midfielder would be an upgrade.

Former West Ham goalkeeper turned pundit Shaka Hislop thinks so, telling Ladbrokes Fanzone: 'it's time to move away from Xhaka, in which case Rice is a good fit.'

If Romano is right, the Gunners won't have to wait much longer to see their man in red and white.

Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford is “on the verge” of signing a new long-term contract, according to reliable journalist Fabrizio Romano.

When is Marcu Rashford out of contract?

The Premier League veteran is an academy graduate at Old Trafford having worked his way up through the various youth ranks to become a regular feature of Erik Ten Hag’s first-team, clocking up a total of 359 senior appearances to date.

The England international, however, will be out of contract at the end of next season meaning that the upcoming window would be the Red Devils’ final opportunity to cash in, and he wouldn't be short potential suitors having established himself as their top-performing offensive player last season.

The Mirror credited Paris Saint-Germain with an interest in the 25-year-old but stated that his intention was always to remain with his boyhood club, and it would appear that they share exactly the same viewpoint when it comes to extending his stay.

Is Rashford signing a new contract?

Taking to Twitter, Romano revealed that Man United and Rashford are close to finalising a deal that would keep him at the club for the foreseeable future. He wrote:

“EXCLUSIVE: Manchester United are on the verge of reaching an agreement with Marcus Rashford over new long term deal. He’s set to accept the proposal. Negotiations at final stages — Rashford, very happy with Erik ten Hag. Final details to be sorted — here we go soon.”

Man United will know that Rashford has played a major role in their success over the past few years, and considering how prolific he was in the final third once again last season, rewarding him with an improved contract is nothing less than he deserves.

Sponsored by Nike, the left-winger posted 22 goal contributions (17 goals and five assists) in 35 Premier League appearances during the previous term, form which saw him receive six man-of-the-match awards, not to mention that he recorded 98 shot-creating actions which was the second-highest total in Ten Hag’s squad, via FBRef.

In 2022/23, the £200k-per-week attacker was also recognised for his individual efforts by being named the top goalscorer in both the Europa League and the EFL Cup competitions, which just goes to show how lost the side would be without their star man leading the line, so retaining his services really is a no-brainer of a decision for the hierarchy to make.

Newcastle United are in a position of immense strength after years mired in obscurity, and have now identified Davide Frattesi to bolster the midfield after qualifying for the Champions League.

What's the latest on Davide Frattesi to Newcastle?

According to SempreInter, (relaying news from yesterday's edition of Gazzetta dello Sport), Inter Milan are closing in on a move for Sassuolo midfielder Frattesi, with Juventus also interested in a forward-thinking midfielder this summer.

Frattesi has stated that he is unsure whether he is ready for a move to the Premier League at this stage of his career, but the 23-year-old has been a target for the likes of Newcastle, Brighton & Hove Albion and Paris Saint-Germain regardless.

With the likes of Serie A giants Inter Milan and Roma both gunning for the Italy international's services, Sassuolo have touted him at €35m (£30m) – via SBNation relaying reports from Italy – and given Newcastle's affluence, they could well win the bidding war for the prolific centre-midfielder.

How good is Davide Frattesi?

Frattesi might have reservations about departing from his homeland, but he certainly boasts the skill set to flourish in a central role at one of Europe's most prominent outfits, and Newcastle technical director Dan Ashworth must jump on any opportunity to sign him.

This season, he made 36 appearances in the Italian top-flight, scoring seven goals, and has been praised as "something really special" by reporter Wayne Girard after captivating with his performances.

Indeed, as per FBref, the £25k-per-week star ranks among the top 9% of midfielders across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for goals, the top 18% for progressive carries and the top 2% for touches in the attacking box per 90.

While his bursting runs into the box are the most arresting element of his game, Frattesi is a well-rounded ace, having forged an average of 1.8 tackles and 1.1 clearances per game in Serie A this year, also completing 81% of his passes, as per Sofascore.

Given his imposing, progressive skill set, he could be the perfect profile to complement Joelinton in the centre of Eddie Howe's Toon midfield.

Joelinton was signed from Hoffenheim for £40m in 2019, and while flattering to deceive for much of the early phases of his career at St. James's Park as a striker, his conversion to the centre of the park has left him esteemed and hailed as "tireless" by writer James Nalton.

Compared to Frattesi, the £85k-per-week Brazilian ranks among the top 12% of peers for goals, the top 19% for progressive carries, the top 6% for successful take-ons and the top 10% for interceptions per 90, highlighting the glistening similarities between the pair.

Given that Newcastle have achieved a fine sense of equipoise, bolstering the ranks with a signing in Frattesi who would slot in without seam, and while it might seem implausible given his desire to remain in Italy, should the Magpies prevail, their chances of success next season would only be enhanced.

Leeds United have a great history of academy production, with a steady stream of top talents having emerged in Yorkshire and gone onto big things. James Milner, Fabian Delph and Kalvin Phillips are just a few who spring to mind.

However, following their relegation, they will likely need to rely on their youth more than ever given the financial implications a stint in the Championship can have.

Fortunately for them, they have a few readymade stars who have already shown their quality at this level, suggesting they could well play a huge role in earning an instant return to the Premier League.

One such example is Charlie Cresswell, who enjoyed a fine spell at Millwall last term, in which the Lions narrowly missed out on a playoff spot. His domineering displays at the back suggest a bright future for the combative 20-year-old colossus, but he will need the right guidance to ensure his growth is measured and consistent.

Given Patrick Vieira remains one of the top targets for the managerial vacancy, he would arguably be the ideal man to lead the youngster forward and develop him into one of the country's top defenders.

Who is Charlie Cresswell?

Having been at the Yorkshire outfit since 2013, the 6 foot 3 goliath has made just seven senior appearances for his boyhood club, suggesting a steady rise towards additional first-team opportunities.

However, after the year he has just enjoyed, that spot must now be a certainty.

Under the tutelage of Gary Rowett, the hulking centre-back would maintain a 7.13 average rating in which he would record 1.5 tackles and 3.1 clearances per game in the Championship, via Sofascore.

For comparison, were these figures put into Leeds' squad from last term in the top flight, he would be their top performer by some distance, and boast their joint-third-most clearances.

It is no surprise that Rowett would therefore wax lyrical about his on-loan star, noting:

"He has really calmed down and matured in how he thinks about the game. He’s getting the benefit from it because he has got amazing attributes for a young centre-back – aggression and desire, sometimes you can’t find them as much nowadays. Honing them is easier than finding them in the first place."

The justification for Vieira's expertise in nurturing young talent is best shown through Marc Guehi, whose rise to prominence is largely owed to the vision of the former Arsenal legend.

He was the one who tempted the 22-year-old to Selhurst Park, only to forge him into one of England's best young centre-backs.

Indeed, his 7.03 average Sofascore rating from the 2021/22 season serves to supplement this, as he went from Chelsea's academy to an England international in just one year under his stewardship.

His 92% dribble success rate, 87% pass accuracy and 3.5 clearances per game that year (via Sofascore) are just a small window into what the future might hold for Cresswell, as he will seek to emulate this ball-playing titan.

The defender will be well aware of Guehi's meteoric rise, and likely be hoping that Vieira is the chosen man to take over at his club.

Should he be hired, perhaps the Frenchman could sprinkle some more of his magic onto Leeds' top youngster, allowing him to flourish further in the second division before hopefully taking the top flight by storm as Guehi has.

Aston Villa are reportedly interested in Juventus defender Gleison Bremer, as Unai Emery aims to bolster his squad this summer.

The Spaniard, along with compatriot Monchi has it in his sights to bring the glory days back to the Midlands, as Villa bid to sufficiently equip the squad in preparation for their European adventure.

With the likes of Pau Torres and Aymeric Laporte linked as central defenders that could head to Villa Park, Bremer has joined the list of potential targets with news in Italy naming the Villans as a club interested in the Juventus centre-back.

Last weekend, La Gazetta dello Sport, relayed by Calcio Mercato, reported that both Aston Villa and Tottenham are ‘ready to move’ for the 26-year-old with ‘official bids’ expected.

The report states that a fee exceeding the €50m (£43m) mark could force Juve to ‘seriously think’ about letting the Brazilian depart, after signing from Torino only last summer.

What could Gleison Bremer offer to Aston Villa?

This transfer window, Emery is expected to clear the deadwood at the club to allow for an efficient upgrade ahead of his first full campaign at the helm of Villa Park.

A thrilling first term at the club has opened doors for the Spaniard to compete in the market, with the four-time Europa League winner reportedly having a transfer kitty of £150m to spend, as per Football Insider.

As reported today by David Ornstein, the Villans have reached an agreement to sign Emery’s former player Pau Torres from Villarreal, and with Bremer also linked, it could signal a complete revamp of the back line ahead of next season.

With a host of talent speculated to be Villa bound, one name that could be ushered away from the Midlands is Calum Chambers, who has made just 25 league appearances since signing for the club from Arsenal in the 2022 January window.

Recording just two starts all season, the Englishman could be replaced in the squad by a talent as highly regarded as Bremer, who could add serious firepower to Emery’s back line in his place.

Lauded as a “monster” by journalist Maxi Angelo, the Brazilian ranked as Juve’s third-highest performer last campaign, with an average Sofascore match rating of 7.11 in 30 Serie A appearances.

The 26-year-old won 56% of his total duels, as well as averaging 1.4 interceptions, 3.8 clearances and 2.6 aerial wins per game, while contributing to 12 clean sheets in the league, via Sofascore.

On an average based on his appearances this term, Chambers fell far short in comparison to the commanding Itapitanga-born machine, winning just 47% of his total duels and being expelled down the pecking order at Villa Park.

Described as “poor” by journalist Josh Bunting during his time in north London, Emery could free up £52k-per-week by letting the Englishman go, making room for talents at a level to compete in Europe.