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Aston Villa have been linked with Athletic Club attacker Nico Williams and journalist Dean Jones thinks that the Spaniard would be a 'good fit' under Villans boss Unai Emery.

What's the latest transfer news involving Nico Williams?

As per 90min, Aston Villa have opened discussions regarding a deal to bring Athletic Club forward Williams to Villa Park as Emery eyes an addition on the flank.

The report states that the £57k-a-week ace is 'very highly-rated' at the West Midlands based club and Arsenal, Manchester City and Newcastle United are also monitoring Williams' situation this window.

According to The Athletic, Real Madrid are also keen on Williams, who is believed to have a €50 million (£42 million) release clause in his present terms at Athletic Club.

Williams has one year left on his deal and has emerged as a target for Aston Villa following their failed pursuit of Marco Asensio earlier this summer, as per FootballTransfers.

Manchester United winger Jadon Sancho is another player of interest to Aston Villa as they look forward to Europa Conference League football next term.

Speaking to Football FanCast, journalist Jones thinks that Williams has a bright future, though may need to refine some parts of his game to reach the very top.

Jones told FFC: "In terms of Nico Williams who is another target, I really like Nico Williams, I think that I can understand why Emery would feel that he's a good fit for him personally.

"In terms of the Premier League, I would worry a little bit about how he would fit. I see a lot of him at Athletic Club and he's a really good talent. He's got a lot of skill, but his decision-making in the final third just often falls a bit flat."

Would Nico Williams be a good signing for Aston Villa?

Williams is a highly talented youngster – and has been hailed a "sensation" by some in the media – that could add an extra layer of exuberance to Aston Villa's attack under Emery should they capture him this summer.

In 2022/23, the Pamplona-born star notched an impressive nine goals and six assists in 43 appearances across all competitions, as per Transfermarkt.

FBRef detail that Williams was a key presence for Athletic Club this campaign in terms of chance provision and successfully completed 105 shot-creating actions in La Liga.

His ability to drive past his marker and make things happen has also caught the eye of clubs around Europe, evidenced by the fact he averaged around 2.3 dribbles per match in the Spanish top-flight during the season, according to WhoScored.

Aston Villa manager Emery will be keen to add some quality this window to take his side to the next level and Williams would be a statement addition at Villa Park who has bags of exciting potential.

However, whether he would be able to adapt quickly to the English game may be another question.

Arsenal youngster Folarin Balogun is still attracting "interest" from clubs in the Premier League and abroad, reveals Sky Sports reporter Dharmesh Sheth.

The interest in the young striker has intensified thanks to his excellent loan spell with Ligue 1 side Stade Reims last season.

Arsenal transfer news – What's the latest on Folarin Balogun

Alongside the player's impressive exploits in France last season, his much-publicised desire to be a starting number nine next year and opposition to playing second fiddle has increased the interest in him.

The most recent club to signal interest in the player is West Ham United, who have reportedly made the New York-born striker a priority signing in the Summer window, per FootballTransfers.

According to the report, the player has been discussed as a potential makeweight in the Declan Rice to Arsenal saga, a deal that could suit all parties involved.

Outside of the Premier League, Juventus are one of the possible destinations for the player.

Italian Journalist Rudy Galetti informed GiveMeSport that the Bianconeri could sign Balogun as a potential replacement for Dusan Vlahovic, who is said to be on Chelsea's list of potential summer transfers.

The price Arsenal are looking to get for their young star is reported to be around £35m, as per football.london.

What has Dharmesh Sheth said about Folarin Balogun and Arsenal?

Sheth highlighted the player's contract situation and informed GiveMeSport of the interest in the player from clubs both in and out of the Premier League.

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, he said: "I think he's got two years left on his contract. If Arsenal do want to keep them, we've not heard of any noises of a new contract, so that one could move.

"I think his representatives do have interest in the player from the Premier League and from clubs abroad, including RB Leipzig as well, so keep an eye on that one."

How good was Folarin Balogun's season last year?

Whilst the player certainly had his fans and excitement surrounding him before his stint in Ligue 1, that year abroad has generated much of the current interest and hype around the player, and rightly so.

According to WhoScored, the player averaged an impressive rating of 6.90 across his 37 league games last season, scoring 21 goals and assisting a further two.

His underlying numbers are equally impressive and paint the picture of a player who could go on to be a star.

According to FBref, who compare players in a similar position across Europe's top five leagues, the dynamic forward is in the top 7% for non-penalty expected goals, the top 9% for total shots and the 19% for touches in the opposition's penalty area, all per 90.

With statistics like that, it's no surprise that Mikel Arteta heaped praise on him back in February, saying:

"When you look at the numbers and what he is doing, it's just incredible. It's very rare to see that. But he's got something special, that's why we decided to give him a long-term contract."

If the Gunners are set to cash in on their American wonderkid, they might regret it further down the line.

Newcastle United have been reported to hold an interest in Leeds United midfielder Brenden Aaronson, but the USMNT international has endured a torrid time in the Premier League this year.

That's following an exclusive from Football League World, who claim that Magpies technical director Dan Ashworth has his eye on Aaronson and his international and Leeds teammate Tyler Adams this summer after the Whites were relegated from the top-flight after three seasons.

The 22-year-old only signed last summer for around £25m and started brightly, but as Leeds' campaign deteriorated so did Aaronson's, and he might be searching for new pastures as the outfit look to recuperate some of the sum paid to RB Salzburg.

Newcastle are in the market for new firepower in the central department after qualifying for the Champions League with a top-four finish, but the main question on supporters' lips would be whether signing the ace would be the most auspicious move to make…

Should Newcastle sign Brendan Aaronson?

Aaronson still has four years left at Elland Road after penning a five-year deal upon signing for the club, but there is every possibility that he will be shipped on as Leeds look to rebuild ahead of mounting a bid for promotion straight back to the top flight.

And while he is clearly a talented playmaker, given Newcastle's newfound stature and breakthrough to European competition, it is unlikely that Howe would be inclined to make the move with the squad's midfield already so robust and reliable.

The 29-cap ace only scored once across the entirety of the 22/23 Premier League season, assisting a further three goals, and was even branded a "lightweight" by pundit Jon Newsome for his anonymous, almost lackadaisical presence on the pitch.

As per Sofascore, the £45k-per-week American recorded a, candidly, woeful average league rating of 6.51, and while he completed 79% of his passes and averaged 1.3 key passes per game, his flimsiness was on full show as he won only 40% of his contested duels and succeeded with 41% of his attempted dribbles.

And given that Magpies outcast Ryan Fraser statistically completed a better season, recording an average rating of 6.71 after playing just eight times all year, it hardly seems to be the most propitious option for the Toon to delve down.

Especially considering the likes of James Maddison and Dominik Szoboszlai have peppered the rumour mill with reports of United's heated interest in their services.

Fraser, while embodying the etymology of the word peripheral under Howe's wing at St. James's Park, won 59% of his duels in the Premier League and at least held his own, something that Aaronson – who reportedly has a relegation clause worth in the region of £25m – has, as illustrated by the aforementioned metrics, failed to do.

Such talents would undoubtedly come at greater cost, but Newcastle have established the foundation for a future laden in success and must now make the right moves to ensure that the good fortunes this year do not falter with the turning of the page, and Aaronson, talented as he may be, is surely not the answer at such a crucial stage in this burgeoning outfit's development as a European superpower.

Aston Villa could potentially make a move for Villarreal attacker Nicolas Jackson in the summer transfer window, according to journalist Ryan Taylor.

Have Villa been linked with Jackson move?

The Villans had a memorable 2022/23 season in the end, overcoming a poor start to the season under Steven Gerrard to finish seventh in the Premier League, securing a place in the UEFA Europa Conference League in the process.

A hugely promising summer window is now about to get underway at Villa Park, with the owners making plenty of funds available for new signings as Villa look to find another level next term.

It could be that attacking reinforcements are at the top of Unai Emery's shopping list, and one player who has been linked in the past is Jackson, who the Villa boss worked with during his time in charge at Villarreal between.

The 21-year-old scored 12 goals and also chipped in with four assists in La Liga in 2022/23, and it could be that this summer is a chance for him to enjoy a new challenge. His current deal doesn't expire until the summer of 2026, but it would be a surprise if he remained at Villarreal until then.

What's the latest on Jackson to Villa?

Speaking to GiveMeSport, Taylor talked up Villa's chances of making a move for Jackson, also name-checking another former Emery player:

"From what I understand he likes Nicolas Jackson. I do think he could maybe look at some of his former Villarreal players for transfers to Aston Villa. Yeremy Pino, as well, is another one. Nico Williams of Athletic Bilbao, too."

Jackson could be precisely what Villa are after this summer, bringing youth and freshness to the attack, not to mention providing Emery with more options ahead of their European commitments next season.

The fact that the Spaniard knows him so well can only be a good thing, too, making the move less risky and suggesting that the Villa boss will know exactly what he will get from him. A tally of 13 goals and six assists in 47 appearances for Villarreal is a good return for someone who is still so young, and he should only improve as the years pass.

The one-time Senegal international has been called "extraordinary" by football talent scout Jacek Kulig, and Villa snapping him this summer could signify a major statement of intent.

Aston Villa are still showing an interest in signing Atletico Madrid superstar Joao Felix during the summer transfer window, according to a fresh update.

What is Joao Felix's contract and salary?

The £235,000-a-week Portuguese arguably hasn't yet hit the heights many predicted of him a few years ago, having won the prestigious European Golden Boy award back in 2019.

Felix made the move to Chelsea on loan back in January, having struggled to consistently make an impact at Atletico, but his time at Stamford Bridge was largely underwhelming. Granted, he was playing for an out-of-sorts team were low on both quality and confidence, but a tally of four goals in 16 Premier League appearances was still a forgettable return.

It doesn't look as though the Blues will take up the offer of signing the 23-year-old permanently this summer, so instead, he will return to Atletico but looks likely to depart again and perhaps permanently this time, despite his contract not expiring until 2027.

Villa have been linked with a move for Felix recently, and it looks as though their interest isn't showing any sign of waning.

Will Villa sign Felix?

According to Onda Cero [via Sport Witness], both the Villans and Tottenham "could be interested" in snapping up the Portugal international this summer, with Atletico set to deem him surplus to requirements.

There is a possible issue surrounding a move for Felix, however, with the report stating that the youngster "only wants teams qualified in the Champions League".

Felix is undoubtedly a huge talent, having been hailed as "special" by Alvaro Morata and "complete" by Diego Simeone in the past, so the thought of Villa signing him is a mouthwatering one.

He possesses genuine star talent and he could thrive by being the main man at Villa Park, raising the level of those around him and spearheading their charge in Europe next season. There are question marks surrounding him, given the manner in which he has struggled to reach expectations levels, but at 23, he is still so young and could be a superstar addition for years to come.

That being said, it does feel unlikely that Villa, or Spurs for that matter, will be able to entice him to the club, considering he seemingly only has eyes on playing Champions League football. The lure of playing under the much-revered Unai Emery could be the one thing given them a chance of signing him, though.

Arsenal have been linked to a striker ahead of the transfer window, as the Gunners turn their attention to strengthening this summer.

Mikel Arteta’s side enjoyed a memorable 2022/23 campaign, falling just five points short of winning their first Premier League title since 2004.

Despite there being a sense of disappointment surrounding the Emirates with reference to what could have been, there are an excess of positives the north Londoners can take into next season.

With the summer window around the corner, the Gunners will look to capitalise on their errors made this term to challenge again after the break with potential new signings on the cards.

What’s the latest on Marcos Leonardo to Arsenal?

As reported by 90min last week, a host of clubs have been scouting Santos striker Marcos Leonardo at the U20 World Cup.

Premier League representatives such as Tottenham, Newcastle, Chelsea, Manchester United and Arsenal have been named as those watching the young star.

The 20-year-old is valued by Football Transfers at €16.1m (£14m), and is contracted to the Brazilian club until 2026.

What could Marcos Leonardo bring to Arsenal?

Hailed as “frightening” by U23 scout Antonio Mango, the Brazilian has scored three goals in three matches at the U20 World Cup, averaging a seriously impressive 3.7 shots per game as per Sofascore.

The youngster is continuing his form from his season with Santos, in which he has contributed to six goals in 11 appearances in Paulista Serie A1.

His record throughout 2022 told a similar story, as per Mango, seeing him score 19 goals in 39 games in all competitions, all of which came inside the box, making him a hot prospect in European football this summer.

With reference to Arsenal, the young forward could bring essential depth to the strike areas, which was required in the absence of Gabriel Jesus who needed knee surgery following an injury sustained at the Qatar World Cup.

Second-choice striker Eddie Nketiah held the fort strongly, notably scoring against Manchester United, however, after the Englishman, Arsenal’s strikeforce was all-out.

The quality shown at such a young age by Leonardo could see him potentially rival Jesus in north London, bringing essential competition to Arteta’s attack to increase performance.

Arsenal’s number nine brought with him from Manchester City an infectious energy and tireless flare as seen so frequently in Brazilian players, replicated by the 20-year-old target.

Lauded by Mango as being a player that plays “without fear”, the forward has comparable qualities to Jesus, and could raise the standards of the 26-year-old who was described as being "poor" in the run-up to the final straight, showing slight inconsistencies in front of goal.

With depth in numbers comes competition which naturally raises the bar of expectation for a manager regarding selection, introducing a hungry-to-succeed starlet such as Leonardo could benefit Arteta’s squad in so many ways beyond goals.

There has been an update in Manchester United's pursuit of Napoli sensation, Kim Min-jae…

What's the latest on Kim Min-jae to Man United?

According to Italian journalist Rudy Galetti, the Red Devils are seemingly close to reaching an agreement with the 26-year-old regarding personal terms.

Writing on Twitter, the transfer insider stated: "Man Utd made important progress for Kim (Napoli). Talks with the [Korean] player are at the good stage, not far from reaching a long-term agreement.

"On the club's side, MUFC are thinking to pay the release clause to anticipate the competition that is becoming fierce".

As per 90min, that release clause is believed to be in the region of €45m (£39m) and is set to be active in the first two weeks of the summer transfer window, although a €60m (£53m) offer outside of that period could also be accepted by the Serie A champions.

Would Kim Min-jae be a good signing for Man United?

With club captain Harry Maguire seemingly on his way out and with Raphael Varane having been hampered by injury at times over the last two years, it is no doubt wise for manager Erik Ten Hag to be contemplating making a marquee, centre-back addition this summer.

In Kim, the Dutchman could well be acquiring a figure who "truly is the best centre back in the world" – according to manager Luciano Spalletti – with the South Korean star having played a vital role in Napoli's Scudetto success in 2022/23.

The former Fenerbahce man notably kept 14 clean sheets in 35 league games for Spalletti's side, while also showcasing his defensive prowess after averaging 1.6 tackles and 1.2 interceptions per game in that time.

The "dominant" asset – as hailed by writer Neal Gardner – is a truly menacing asset in the air as he ranks in the top 14% among those in his position in Europe's top five leagues for aerial duels won, with the 47-cap ace no doubt aided by his towering, 6 foot 3 frame.

The addition of the £54k-per-week rock would certainly help to add further steel to Ten Hag's current spine, with the former Ajax boss having already reaped the rewards of bringing in the menacing presence of Casemiro last summer.

Like Kim, the £70m man is a true master at winning possession back for his side as he finished joint-fourth in the Premier League with regard to tackles made (89), while also ranking in the top 3% among his European peers for aerial duels won.

An additional element that has also been an added bonus for United is the Brazilian's quality in possession, with the 31-year-old having created seven big chances so far this term in the top flight, as well as averaging one key pass per game.

That quality on the ball is also shared by Kim, with the one-time Beijing Guoan man ranking in the top 12% for both progressive passes and progressive carries, illustrating his ability to play out from the back with ease.

As such, it would certainly be a mouthwatering prospect to have both the Napoli titan and Casemiro lining up in tandem at the Theatre of Dreams next season, such is the pair's destructive and ball-playing brilliance.

Manchester City have numerous players in their current squad who have made more than 200 appearances for the club under Pep Guardiola.

Now that the summer transfer window is on the horizon, it seems as though a behind-the-scenes development has emerged which could lead to one of those players seeing their time at the club come to an end.

What’s the news?

According to a recent tweet from journalist Mike Keegan, City midfielder Ilkay Gundogan is set to leave the club this summer.

The Daily Mail reporter also added that talks between the club and the midfielder will take place at the end of the season, but the Citizens have reportedly made their stance clear on the matter.

The Germany international joined City from Borussia Dortmund in 2016 as the first signing that Guardiola made for the club in a deal worth £20m.

Since then, the 31-year-old has gone on to make 252 appearances for the Manchester club across all competitions. In that time, the former Dortmund star has scored 47 goals, supplied 33 assists and won numerous trophies along the way.

The German was a crucial figure for his club last season, as his 13 top-flight goals helped City to secure the Premier League title, ending the campaign as their top scorer.

Bad news for Guardiola

With 26 league appearances under his belt this season, the midfielder has found the net six times, delivered four assists and earned himself an overall WhoScored performance rating of 7.21/10. This makes him the seventh-highest rated player in Guardiola’s current squad according to the site, further highlighting his importance to the team.

Taking all this into account, it’ll surely be a blow for the City manager to not have Gundogan in his squad for next season given everything he’s done for the team and everything that he can offer.

In terms of what the German’s next step could be should he find himself leaving the Etihad Stadium this summer, he has mentioned in the past that he could see himself playing in USA or Turkey.

With fellow City midfielder Fernandinho set to say goodbye to Manchester this summer, having him and Gundogan potentially leaving at the same time will surely fforce the club into signing some replacements.

In other news: Man City plot exciting bid to sign a “huge talent” this summer, he’s Phil Foden 2.0

Can’t get enough Manchester City football content? Watch Manchester City Live Streams  and other videos at StreamFootball.tv.

Sky Sports pundit Paul Robinson has urged Tottenham Hotspur to do everything within their power to keep Antonio Conte at the club, amid reports of Brighton manager Graham Potter being lined up as a possible replacement.

The Lowdown: Potter identified by Spurs

The 52-year-old still has one year remaining on his current contract with the north London giants, but his future has been the subject of much speculation in recent weeks after the Italian reportedly offered himself to Paris Saint-Germain, following the news that former Lilywhites boss Mauricio Pochettino looks set to leave the French capital.

According to The Telegraph, it is claimed that the Seagulls coach has been identified as Spurs’ number one target if Conte decides to leave N17 at the end of the season, although they would have to cough up a hefty £10m in compensation should they want to lure Potter away from the south coast.

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The Latest: Keep Conte at the helm, says Robinson

When asked for his thoughts on the Brighton manager potentially making the switch to north London, former Spurs goalkeeper Robinson told Football Insider:

“They have got to keep hold of Conte. I wouldn’t like to see Graham Potter come in.

“Conte is going to get linked with every top job in the world and unless Spurs are in the Champions League it is not going to go away. Spurs need to be competing regularly. They have to fight off the interest in Conte and give him the money.

“I don’t want to think about who the next manager could be because I don’t want Conte to leave. Spurs have one of the best managers in the world right now. Anything from Conte would be a downgrade.

“Potter is a manager who is doing a great job but he is not Antonio Conte. The club can’t go down the route of looking for a lesser manager than what they have got.”

The Verdict: Not enough experience

Potter, who was once hailed an “unbelievable” manager by ex-Brighton player Will Buckley, first made the move to the Amex Stadium from Swansea ahead of the 2019/20 campaign, guiding the Seagulls to their then-highest Premier League points tally (41) during his first season in charge.

Most recently, he led his team to a staggering 4-0 victory over Manchester United at the weekend, and he has done a great job in steering them away from the relegation zone and transforming them into a team pushing for a top-half finish in England’s highest division.

However, if Spurs are looking to appoint someone who could take them to the highest level on the international stage, the 46-year-old hasn’t quite got this kind of experience at the top of the European game yet. Therefore, as Robinson has advocated, it could prove wise to stick with Conte and see what he can achieve with a potentially new squad next term.

In other news… a transfer insider has hinted that a reunion might be on the cards for one Spurs first-team star and his former boss

Everton will return to action on Sunday as they travel to the King Power Stadium to play Leicester City for their second meeting in less than a month, and Frank Lampard has given an early injury update ahead of the game.

What’s the latest?

The Toffees boss took to Everton TV to talk about the plans for the last five games, and revealed a promising update on Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s injury progress:

“We have a week now [before the Leicester game] to get Dom more fit because he can be a big player for us – we know that – and to keep the levels in the squad high and positive.”

Supporters will be excited

Everton are in an extremely vulnerable position with their Premier League status hanging in the balance.

The side are currently 18th in the league table, two points deep into the relegation zone currently so the return of Calvert-Lewin will surely be welcomed and leave supporters excited ahead of the final hurdle in their battle for safety.

The star striker has had a horrendous season in terms of dealing with constant injuries that has seen him miss large chunks of the campaign, which has notably had an effect on the attacking output of the team and as a result, has led Everton into the desperate situation they have found themselves in.

Calvert-Lewin was out from August 2021 to January 2022 with a quad injury and broken toe, despite making ten appearances since his return the centre-forward has struggled to get back into form with just one assist and no goals since he scored against Brighton in August last year, just before he sustained his long-term injury.

With that being said, the fact that there is a chance he can return against Leicester will be a huge relief to Lampard and the team, giving them a huge boost to their forward line that could ultimately be the difference in Premier League or Championship football next season, as they approach the finale of their season over the next few weeks.

Lampard must find a way to keep the confidence and the momentum going in his team following a fantastic victory over Chelsea last weekend whilst they still have the opportunity to save themselves.

AND in other news: Forget Holgate: Everton must unleash “composed” 18y/o tank with “plenty of potential”