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West Ham United are 'ready to finalise' a deal for Juventus midfielder Denis Zakaria and the Italian giants are open to sanctioning his departure on loan or a permanent basis, according to journalist Rudy Galetti.

Is Denis Zakaria going to West Ham United?

According to Gianluca Di Marzio, West Ham United and Juventus are locked in talks over Zakaria as he has returned to pre-season training with his parent club.

The Hammers are believed to have offered €13 million for the £90k-a-week ace; however, there is a gap in valuation between the two sides, as cited by Tuttosport.

Italian outlet Tuttosport claim that Juventus value Zakaria, who has been hailed as a "sharp" player, at between €20-25 million as negotiations continue between both parties to try and find an agreement.

Juventus are seeking to make a profit on the 26-year-old this summer. Nevertheless, West Ham United are not expected to bow to their demands immediately despite running into a healthy financial situation following the sale of Declan Rice to Arsenal.

Initially, it was thought that West Ham United and Juventus would negotiate on the premise of Zakaria moving to the London Stadium on a loan deal with an option-to-buy, as per The Evening Standard.

Former Chelsea man Zakaria is 'surplus to requirements' at the Allianz Stadium and would welcome a move back to London if a transfer can be agreed by the two respective clubs.

Last term, Zakaria endured a difficult time of things due to encountering various injury struggles and finished the campaign with one goal in 13 appearances, as per Transfermarkt.

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, journalist Galetti thinks that there is a 'confidence' from both sides that a deal can be struck either on a loan agreement or permanently.

Galetti stated: "West Ham are ready to finalise the deal for Zakaria. The talks are well addressed for an overall figure of around €18million to €20million.

"Juventus want a permanent move, but would also accept a loan deal with a buy obligation. Discussions are in progress on the formula, but there is a lot of confidence.

"The player agreed personal terms and gave the green light for the move. The Swiss midfielder is not in the plan of Allegri, so Juve want the transfer as well, and it shouldn't be so difficult to agree the last details."

Who else have West Ham United been looking at this summer?

Strengthening in midfield following the departure of club captain Rice is likely to take priority for David Moyes this summer as he tries to fill the huge void left by the England international.

Manchester United star Scott McTominay is a target that could provide an alternative to Rice at the London Stadium. The Hammers are expected to firm up their interest in the Scotland international now that Rice has officially left the building, as per The Independent.

According to The Guardian, West Ham United have failed with a loan swoop for out-of-favour Manchester United defender Harry Maguire. Erik Ten Hag is open to letting the former Leicester City man depart Old Trafford, though the Irons would only be keen on putting together a loan deal with an option-to-buy due to the excessive cost of trying to sign Maguire permanently.

The Sun report that Moyes has seen a £40 million bid turned down for Fulham midfielder Joao Palhinha; nevertheless, more discussions are scheduled for this week and the Hammers hold hope that they can land the Portugal international for under £50 million.

Fulham have now submitted a bid of €30m (£26m) for Fluminense midfielder Andre, as they are keen to get the deal wrapped up as quickly as possible, according to a recent update from journalist Emmanuel Luiz.

What's the latest Fulham transfer news?

Signing a winger is seemingly one of Marco Silva's priorities this summer, and the manager has now brought Willian back on a one-year deal, with the Brazilian opting to return to Craven Cottage rather than move to Nottingham Forest.

The Cottagers have also made an offer for Chelsea winger Callum Hudson-Odoi, but while the 22-year-old does want to leave Stamford Bridge this summer, the opening bid was not high enough to tempt his current employers into a sale.

Silva may also need to think about bringing in a new central midfielder this summer, as Joao Palhinha's future is in doubt, with West Ham United recently making a £45m bid, however the 28-year-old insisted he is happy at Fulham earlier this summer.

According to Brazilian journalist Emmanuel Luiz, Fulham are "still talking" about a deal for Andre with Fluminense, but his current club are determined to keep him until the end of the year, so a new proposal has been submitted.

The Cottagers have now offered €30m (£26m) for 85% of the player, and they have agreed to let him stay in Brazil until January 2024, with negotiations over a deal now advancing.

Luiz states that Fulham want the deal done "as soon as possible" as they fear a club with a greater European pedigree could make a late swoop, with the likes of Liverpool and Barcelona also said to be interested.

The €30m (£26m) outlay would match the club-record fee paid to sign Jean Michael-Seri from OGC in the 2018-19 season.

Who is Andre signing for?

There have been a whole host of top clubs linked with moves for the 22-year-old in recent weeks, with Barcelona, Atletico Madrid, Arsenal, Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur also being spoken to by the player's representatives.

However, Fulham are confident about being able to strike a deal, and they have seemingly made good progress in negotiations over the past few days, having agreed to let him stay in Brazil until next year.

If the one-time Brazil international does pen a move to Craven Cottage, he could be a very good acquisition, not least due to his passing ability, ranking in the 99th percentile for his pass-completion rate per 90 in the past year, when compared to players at a similar level.

The maestro already has a great deal of first-team experience for Fluminense, having made 142 appearances for the club, most often being utilised in a defensive role, and he has averaged the highest number of interceptions in the squad so far this season.

Hailed as a "leader" by football scout Jacek Kulig, Andre could make a positive influence for Fulham both on and off the pitch, and it is exciting news that they could beat some of Europe's top clubs to his signature.

The number seven shirt is an iconic jersey at Manchester United, with the burden of that pressure having weighed heavily on most in the last decade or so, from the likes of Memphis Depay to Alexis Sanchez.

The current incumbent, Mason Mount, is the latest to be blessed with that honour, albeit with the 2023 arrival having failed to live up to the billing as yet. Some of the game’s greats have worn it for United – time is running out for Mount to try and follow in their footsteps.

But who are those names? Football FanCast takes a look back on the very best to wear it.

10 Edinson Cavani (2020-2021)

Maybe not the first name you think of when considering United’s No 7 shirt – but honestly, not that many players have worn it. Those who made a name for themselves held it for a very, very long time.

Cavani, on the other hand, was only United’s No 7 for a single season. It was a decent campaign, though, as the Uruguayan scored 17 goals in all competitions, including 10 in the Premier League. A Europa League final nearly capped a fine debut campaign for the club.

He’d give it up in 2021, however, to a certain returning superstar and wore 21 for his final season with United.

9 Antonio Valencia (2012-2013)

As a player for United, Valencia would usually be higher on a list like this. He only actually wore the No 7 for one season, though. The then-winger arrived and took up No 25, shining in the shirt and winning the club’s Player of the Year in 2012.

Michael Owen’s departure allowed Valencia the chance to wear the famous 7 and he took it that year. United would win the title in 2013, but the Ecuadorian had a subpar individual campaign. Related or not, he swapped back to 25 for the 2013/14 season.

Not exactly the most distinguished spell in the No 7 shirt, then, but Valencia does remain the last United player to win the title while wearing it.

8 Cristiano Ronaldo (2021-2022)

Ronaldo’s two spells in the shirt are split for this list, with his most recent time coming in at eighth. It’s a very hard spell to judge, after all, and very unlike his first.

Ronaldo returned to much fanfare in 2021 and his first season back was very good on an individual level. He scored 18 times in the Premier League, with another six coming in just seven Champions League games.

United, though, finished 6th and didn’t threaten in any competitions. They also went through three managers in what was an awful season – and his antics in the following campaign brought about much criticism.

Erik ten Hag clearly felt there was no longer a place for him in the team. Ronaldo would score three times in 16 games before being released from his contract in November 2022.

7 Steve Coppell (1975-1982)

Coppell can’t boast the success of anyone else on this list, given the era he played in. United just simply weren’t at the top of the game, with the highlight being that they stopped Liverpool from winning the treble in 1977 by beating them in the FA Cup final.

That trophy, and the subsequent Community Shield, was all that Coppell won in his career – but again, United just weren’t that competitive.

Coppell did hold down a place in the heart of the side for eight years, though, amassing over 300 appearances for the club. He doesn’t boast the medals to show for it, but the Liverpool-born winger managed a consistency in the 7 shirt that no one before him on this list could quite manage.

6 Johnny Berry (1951-1958)

Berry very much does have the medals to show for his time in United’s no.7 shirt. He won the league title three times under Matt Busby, playing just shy of 300 games for the club.

Perhaps he could have had even more to show for it, too. Berry was involved in the Munich air disaster, and though he survived, his injuries were too severe for his football career to continue. The then-31-year-old fractured his skull and broke his jaw, elbow, pelvis and leg. Berry suffered from amnesia as a result of the accident, too, and wasn’t even aware there had been a crash – let alone that many teammates had died.

So while Berry isn’t anywhere near as big a name as many on this list, none gave more for United. There’s no question about that.

5 Bryan Robson (1981-1992)

Okay, so now we’re firmly into the controversial ones, as depending on when you grew up, the following five players could be in just about any order. Some may even argue that Robson should be top, though places in this list at fifth.

Robson was United’s captain for their resurgence through the 1980s and return to the top of the English game in the early ’90s. He was the face of the side for a very long time – really until another name later on this list showed up and take the No 7 shirt from him.

But perhaps it’s best put like this. Coppell didn’t win much while wearing United’s no.7 shirt and it was Robson who took it off him. The latter certainly did win trophies, however – three FA Cups, a League Cup, a Charity Shield and the European Cup Winners’ Cup. There would be two Premier League titles, too, but Robson wasn’t wearing the no.7 anymore, having taken a backseat role towards the end of his career.

There is little doubt, though, that Robson was an absolutely essential part of United’s rise under Alex Ferguson. Without him, the stage would not have been set for the ’90s dominance and he’s unquestionably one of the club’s greatest – and most important – players ever.

4 David Beckham (1997-2003)

Beckham was far and away the most famous footballer on the planet for a spell. His fame reached such a level that it drastically overtook his reputation as a footballer, leaving some to believe he wasn’t actually all that good.

No, Beckham’s ability never matched his fame. That’s not to say he wasn’t an extraordinary player, however, and in United’s six years with Beckham in their No 7 shirt, they won four Premier League titles, an FA Cup, the Champions League and the Intercontinental Cup.

That spell included the 1998/99 treble season, of course, and Beckham’s role in that maybe gets forgotten a bit. UEFA named him Footballer of the Year in 1999, FIFA gave him their ‘Silver Award’, and the United star was second in Ballon d’Or voting with 154 votes (Andriy Shevchenko, in contrast, finished third with 64 votes).

Beckham was a true star in United’s No 7 shirt – it’s just absolutely remarkable that he was sandwiched between the two players following him on this list.

3 Eric Cantona (1992-1997)

If you have Cantona first, there are no hard feelings here. He has a very strong case in being the most important player in United’s history.

The Frenchman’s arrival from Leeds United in 1992 transformed United into the country’s best team and they immediately won the Premier League title – their first in 26 years. Teams just couldn’t handle him and Ferguson knew exactly how to take advantage.

Cantona was the star as United retained the title in 1994, then won it again in 1996 and 1997 – at which time the playmaker retired from football. In fact, a major reason they didn’t win it in 1995 was that Cantona got himself suspended for delivering his infamous ‘kung-fu’ kick at a spectator.

United’s dominance and rise to being the world’s biggest club was built on the back of Cantona, and without him, that simply doesn’t happen.

2 Cristiano Ronaldo (2003-2009)

Again, Ronaldo can easily be at the top here. His first spell at United was extraordinary as he developed from a teenager who mainly did stepovers into the world’s greatest player.

The first three years were decent from the Portuguese winger and it was clear he had talent. In 2006, however, Ronaldo exploded into a player no one saw coming. His 17 goals in 34 Premier League games carried United to the title, ending Chelsea’s spell of dominance. Ronaldo would go even better the following season as he scored 31 times.

He ended up with 42 in all competitions during 2007/08, and United clinched the Premier League and Champions League titles. They’d make it three league triumphs in a row, too, as Ronaldo scored 18 more in 2009.

He was so good that the Ballon d’Or arrived in 2008. This was the first time a Premier League player won the award since Michael Owen in 2001 and, amazingly, Ronaldo remains the most recent. He’d win a few more for himself, of course, after leaving for Real Madrid in 2009.

Ronaldo achieved more at United than just about anyone. He reached the very top of the game, after all – something only three other Red Devils have managed. In fact, it had been 40 years since someone had done it and he happens to be at the top of this list.

1 George Best (1963-1973)

Best has the trophies – two league titles and a European Cup. He’s got the individual awards – Golden Boot, Footballer of the Year, Ballon d’Or. He’s also got the fame that others boast – Best was, by all accounts, the first true celebrity footballer in England.

Of course, Ronaldo has all of that as well, but Best places ahead of him for one reason. The Northern Irishman is utterly synonymous with United’s No 7 shirt, while there’s a good chance that you picture Ronaldo more as a Real Madrid player now.

There’s really not much to separate the two in terms of accolades, after all, and we think they’re the two greatest to ever wear United’s No 7 shirt.

Best, though, is woven into the fabric of United like few players are. He took the club to the top of the game before anyone else and did it as the world’s best player. Without him, there’s a very good chance that none of the success that followed actually happens and that United never become one of the world’s biggest clubs.

When a player puts on that No 7 shirt, as Mount is set to do, they’re following in Best’s footsteps first and foremost. He’s the one who set the standards so incredibly high – and no one has yet beat them.

Chelsea have been handed a boost in their pursuit of Dusan Vlahovic, with Il Messagero reporting that the striker is keen on a move to Stamford Bridge should a deal materialise between the clubs.

How many goals has Dusan Vlahovic scored for Juventus?

The 23-year-old has only been with Juventus for two seasons, but has already bagged plenty for the Serie A side. In 2022/23, the striker managed a total of ten goals and two assists in just 22 league starts for the Italian outfit, which was impressive considering the Turin side could manage only a seventh placed finish during a campaign filled with turmoil on the pitch and off it. Prior to that, he had seven in 12 during his first campaign with the club.

The Serbian then has not slowed down since his switch from Fiorentina. Bursting onto the scene with La Viola as an 18-year-old, he managed a haul of 27 goals before turning 20. He ended up leaving the side with a final total of 44 goals in 69 league starts over four seasons with his old club – a record that prompted Serie A title challengers Juventus to stump up the cash to bring him in.

He's continued to hit the back of the net on a regular basis despite the change in scenery, but he could be off this summer it seems, with the Old Lady in FFP hell.

Man United have already held talks with the player's agent over a potential transfer to the Premier League and Chelsea have also held an interest in a deal, with the Blues adding him to their transfer wanted list. Now, it appears that the London outfit have the upper hand in their pursuit of the striker – but no offer is on the table yet.

Are Chelsea signing Dusan Vlahovic?

According to a report from Il Messagero, Vlahovic is personally tempted to move to Stamford Bridge should a deal be agreed.

It appears he is not averse to leaving Juve and heading to England this summer, but it adds that a potential transfer may only happen based on other events at Chelsea. That's because the Blues still have Romelu Lukaku on their books, meaning there isn't a whole lot of room in their strikeforce right now. Should the Premier League outfit be able to offload the Belgian, who cost them £97.5m, then they will formalise their interest and "attack" a deal for the 6 foot 3 Serbian.

It's unclear how much the striker may cost the English outfit should they launch a bid, but Transfermarkt suggest his value is around the 70 million Euros (or £60m) mark. However, that would be nearly £10m less than what the Turin side originally paid for him (81.6 million Euros/£69.9m) so they would likely want more than that amount as part of any potential deal as they look to balance their books.

Vlahovic is viewed as a very solid option up front, with football journalist Josh Bunting calling him "clinical" and "aggressive". He even added that he is a "consistent goalscorer" and is a "killer in the box". These are all big compliments for the attacker, and it shows how excellent he has been in front of goal to draw such praise.

Chelsea endured an incredibly disappointing 2022/23 campaign as they finished in the bottom half of the Premier League and will not be competing in any European competition next term.

Owner Todd Boehly parted ways with Thomas Tuchel and Graham Potter during the season and Frank Lampard landed the gig on an interim basis.

Mauricio Pochettino has now taken over and should be looking to bolster his squad this summer with a view to returning to, at least, the top six next term.

One reported transfer target who could be an exceptional addition to the team is Manchester City central defender Aymeric Laporte.

Where would Aymeric Laporte fit in at Chelsea?

Kalidou Koulibaly has completed a move to Saudi Arabian side Al-Hilal after just one year at Stamford Bridge and the Citizens outcast could be the dream replacement for the Senegal international.

The 29-year-old enforcer would be an ideal signing as he is a proven Premier League performer who would be able to hit the ground running. Whereas, a defender from abroad with no experience in the country may need an adaptation period and there is no guarantee that they would be able to perform at that level.

Laporte – once described as a “beast” by writer Muhammad Butt – is a player with a history of playing at a high standard on a regular basis and would, therefore, have a great chance of being a success for Chelsea.

The £120k-per-week defender, who was named in the 2018/19 PFA Premier League Team of the Year, has made 120 appearances in the English top flight and won the title an incredible five times.

He has also averaged a Sofascore rating of 6.94 or higher in all six of his league seasons with City, whilst Koulibaly averaged a rating of 7.07 in his only campaign with Chelsea.

However, the big difference between the two defenders comes is what they do in possession. Laporte ranks in the top 1% of players in his position over the last 365 days in the Men's Big Five Leagues and European competitions for progressive passes and progressive carries per 90, outlining him as an elite centre-back when the ball is on the deck.

Koulibaly, on the other hand, does not rank higher than the top 24% in either statistic, indicating that the City colossus would offer more on the ball as he has been one of the best on the continent at playing out from the back.

Guardiola's centre-back has proven himself capable of consistently progressing play by either breaking lines with his passes or by driving forward with the ball at his feet and this could help Chelsea's attackers to thrive as they would gain possession in better positions on the pitch.

Therefore, Laporte could be a dream replacement for the Senegal international as his Premier League experience and quality means that the 6 foot 2 man stands a good chance of being able to make an instant impact at Stamford Bridge.

David de Gea's future is hanging "in the balance" at Manchester United as Erik ten Hag is yet to make a decision on whether to hand the Spaniard a new contract, according to Dharmesh Sheth.

What's the latest on De Gea?

De Gea endured a somewhat turbulent season with the Red Devils last year.

The 32-year-old won the Premier League Golden Glove award, as well as being nominated for Save of the Season accolade, but made a number of high-profile gaffes throughout the campaign that led to question marks over the shot-stopper's future.

Much of the discourse surrounding De Gea has been due to his inability to play with his feet, certainly in comparison to other goalkeepers in the division, leaving Ten Hag questioning whether a more progressive, modern goalkeeper is needed for his squad.

Despite his contract expiring at the end of June, United left the Spaniard off their retained list at the end of the season, suggesting that contract discussions are taking place.

De Gea has already agreed a pay cut to his £375,000-a-week salary, but talks have seemingly not progressed, even prompting the goalkeeper to post a yawning emoji on his Twitter account.

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, Dharmesh Sheth admitted that De Gea's future is still very much uncertain at Old Trafford.

"I’ve spoken to him many times about David de Gea, and it looked like it was odds on he was going to stay at Manchester United. Erik ten Hag would make all the right noises in news conferences particularly after high-profile errors David de Gea would make. He would say ‘Look, he’s kept the most clean sheets in the Premier League."

Sheth added: "But the information we’re getting now is that David de Gea’s Manchester United future is in the balance, and that both parties, Manchester United and David de Gea, are considering all of their options."

If De Gea were to leave the club for free, United would need to dip into the market to find a new goalkeeper, leaving even fewer funds to be spread across the rest of the team.

De Gea has enjoyed a fruitful 12-year career at the Theatre of Dreams, appearing 545 times for the Red Devils and winning five major trophies with the club.

Who could United replace De Gea with?

Links with several goalkeepers have already surfaced as United prepare for a potential future without De Gea, the most prominent of which has been rumours of a deal for Inter's Andre Onana.

According to reports, Onana's agent has already met with Manchester United to discuss a move, with Ten Hag being told his side need to cough up over £40m for the recent Champions League finalist.

There have also been strong links with Everton and England stopper Jordan Pickford, as well as Porto's young goalkeeper Diogo Costa.

However, it appears that Onana is the priority should De Gea be pushed out of Old Trafford this summer.

Crystal Palace are keeping close tabs on FC Koln star Ellyes Skhiri ahead of a potential move to the Premier League, according to reports.

Who is Ellyes Skhiri?

Skhiri is a defensive midfielder who’s been playing his football for Steffen Baumgart’s side having joined there from Montpellier back in 2019. He’s since gone on to make a total of 133 appearances to date, but he will be moving onto new pastures during the ongoing window.

The Tunisia international’s contract in the Bundesliga expires at the end of this month and having not taken up the chance to extend his stay, it means that he will be available on the market as a free agent waiting to be snapped up ahead of the 2023/24 term.

The CAA Stellar client last season ranked as his side’s second-best defensive and third-best overall player with a WhoScored match rating of 7.04 so he’s clearly strong in all aspects of his game, and if the following update is to be believed, his form has caught the watchful eye of Roy Hodgson.

Are Crystal Palace signing Skhiri?

According to TuttoMercatoWeb (via Sport Witness), Crystal Palace have been "strongly" following Skhiri as they weigh up whether to make an official move this summer. AC Milan are also extremely keen having already made the midfielder an offer, though it's stated that it's his "dream" to play in the Premier League, with a final decision expected to be made "in the coming days".

Where could Skhiri fit in under Hodgson?

Crystal Palace will love the fact that they could sign up Skhiri for literally nothing, and having confirmed the departure of Luka Milivojevic, they will need to enter the market to find a long-term successor for their captain, with the 28-year-old being the ideal successor, lauded as "very impressive" by journalist Josh Bunting.

The World Cup participant is extremely strong in the natural aspect of his game sitting in front of the backline, having made 79 tackles last season, which was the second-highest total throughout his squad, via FBRef. He also averaged 1.8 interceptions and 1.3 clearances per league game, as relayed by WhoScored.

The Lunel native, however, can also pose a threat at the opposite end of the pitch having clocked up eight goal contributions (seven goals and one assist) in 32 Bundesliga outings during the previous term, so for a player who has such a positive impact both defensively and offensively, this feels like a no-brainer of a deal to complete.

It seems as though Arsenal are pretty close to pulling off their first transfer of the summer with all the rumours suggesting Declan Rice is heading to the Emirates.

What is the latest on Declan Rice to Arsenal?

Yes, as per The Guardian, the Gunners are closing in on a £100m deal to bring the West Ham United captain to North London in the near future.

It's noted that while a bid is yet to be submitted, talks between the sides have been progressing smoothly and there is confidence that the deal will be finalised shortly.

And with the transfer market now officially open, it seems as though it could be only a matter of time before we see Rice unveiled as Arsenal's first summer signing.

Interestingly, however, it appears that he's been on the club's radar for some time. Indeed, a 2019 article from the Evening Standard recalls how former boss Arsene Wenger first encountered Rice as a youngster.

The article claimed that back in 2015, the iconic manager was watching an academy game between Arsenal and West Ham and needed just 20 minutes to recognise that the English midfielder was the best player on the pitch.

It explained: "Arsene Wenger had been watching for 20 minutes when he decided he had seen enough.

"It was early one afternoon in September 2015 and Wenger had been standing by one of the pitches at Arsenal’s training ground watching his Under-18s play West Ham.

"As he walked away, he turned to a member of his coaching staff and pointed out that the best player on the pitch was Declan Rice.

"A 16-year-old Rice was playing at centre-back for West Ham. Arsenal went on to win the game 1-0 but Wenger was left in no doubt that he was a real talent.

"Just 18 months earlier, Rice had been released by Chelsea and the way he stood out that day in front of Wenger was an early sign of how hard he would work in a bid to rise to the top."

Can Declan Rice play centre-back?

It's fascinating to remember that Rice was initially seen as a centre-back and even last year the 24-year-old had to insist that his best position was further up the pitch.

He told TalkSport: "Look, if I had to drop back in to a centre-half in a back-three, of course I'd do a job for the team.

"But my best position is midfield. I don't want to be at the back because I feel like then I won't be able to show my full qualities that I can do on a football pitch like I do in midfield."

Well, it seems certain that he'll be playing in his favoured role at Arsenal and it will certainly be interesting to see how he gets on under the coaching of Mikel Arteta.

With the deal expected to cost around £100m, though, perhaps Wenger should have acted on his instincts all those years ago and convinced the Gunners to snap up the youngster back then when his potential was yet to be fulfilled.

It certainly would have saved the club a pretty penny.

Tottenham Hotspur are considering a swoop for Galatasaray centre-back Victor Nelsson this summer, with the north London club desperate for some defensive reinforcement.

For the first time since 2009/10, the Lilywhites have failed to reach European competition and will now need to work diligently on the transfer front to ensure that the seasonal misfortune is not replicated next term.

The somewhat shrewd appointment of Ange Postecoglou from Celtic has installed cautious optimism that a grounded coach with an eye-catching philosophy can dispel the malaise.

And his first order of business could be to swoop for Nelsson and provide the Premier League with its latest hot prospect, according to Turkish newspaper Takvim, with the Danish ace's contract containing a €25m (£22m) release clause.

Previous reports have linked Premier League rivals Newcastle United and Serie A giants Napoli and AC Milan to a transfer, while a recent report from Fanatik claims Arsenal could yet swoop, which only emphasises the need to strike swiftly in order to tie up a deal.

Should Tottenham sign Victor Nelsson?

Postecoglou will have his work cut out this summer, but this burgeoning defender could create a foundation from which more prosperous fortunes can be gleaned.

The 24-year-old played 33 times in the Turkish Super Lig this season as Galatasaray revelled in title-winning glory, with Sofascore recording his average match rating at a solid 6.95 as he completed 86% of his passes, averaged one interception, 3.3 clearances per game and succeeded with 65% of his aerial duels.

The ten-cap Denmark international has left the likes of Jacek Kulig waxing lyrical, with the talent scout saying: "Nelsson is a great mix of a pure defender and ball-playing centre-back. He can also play as a defensive midfielder.

"Great defensive skills combined with really good ball skills. The future leader of the Danish defence. Another pearl produced by FC Nordsjælland."

Given Postecoglou's preference to implement a fast-paced and possession-centric system, with centre-halfs expected to be comfortable on the ball, this could set Nelsson up nicely to cement a starting berth in the Lilywhites' team, potentially displacing Eric Dier in the process.

Dier has made 361 appearances for Spurs since signing from Sporting Lisbon for a bargain £4m in 2014 and has been a dynamic presence in north London, though he has been culpable for lacklustre performances this year. One such performance against Bournemouth attracted vast criticism after his poor clearance led to a Cherries goal.

The 49-cap England international matches up to Nelsson's skill set, completing 86% of his passes in the top flight this term, averaging 1.1 interceptions and 3.3 clearances per game, also winning 70% of his aerial duels.

Described as a "Danish lion" by Resit Omer Kukner, one of Cimbom's board members, Nelsson is on the cusp of prominence and will be hoping to earn a move to the Premier League this summer to take the next step in his progress, and at Tottenham, he could be provided with a starring role.

Burnley outscored every other team en route to finishing as winners of the Championship this past season, but Vincent Kompany is ready to add to his attacking options ahead of embarking on his first season as a Premier League manager.

Queens Park Rangers striker Lyndon Dykes is being eyed up by the Clarets, according to the Daily Mail, and he could bring something a little different to Turf Moor should he arrive.

Who is Burnley target Lyndon Dykes?

Dykes spent the first seven years of his career in his native Australia and Scotland – whom he now represents at international level – before being given a break in English football with QPR in August 2020.

The 27-year-old finished his first season at the club as top scorer with 12 goals and a further five assists, and has scored eight goals in each of the past two Championship campaigns, the most recent of which was disrupted by a worrying health scare in January.

After returning from a two-month lay-off, Dykes made up for lost time with a strong end to the 2022/23 campaign, scoring twice in QPR's final six matches and being named Man of the Match by WhoScored in half of those games.

Dykes also has a respectable eight goals in 28 caps for Scotland, but there is more to his game than simply finding the net, as reflected in the 4.8 aerial duels won per game in the Championship last season – the most of any QPR player.

Do Burnley need a Chris Wood 2.0?

Alan Hutton previously described Dykes as a "focal point" that one of his previous clubs, Rangers, could have done with at a time they were being linked with the striker in 2020.

Given his size, with QPR's official website putting him down as 6 foot 2, there are obvious comparisons to be made with former Burnley player Wood, who himself measures in at 6 foot 3.

A career-wide comparison of the two players only highlights their similarities in terms of playing style. Sofascore gives Wood a rating of 62 for his attacking play compared to 61 for Dykes, while the pair are both rated at 44 for creativity, as per Sofascore.

However, it is the physical side of the game where they are really alike, with the New Zealand international ranking in the top 9% of strikers in Europe's top five leagues for aerials won per 90. Comparatively, Dykes ranks among the best 8% in the next eight best divisions for the same metric.

Wood reached double figures for goals in all four full Premier League seasons with Burnley, before earning a move to Newcastle United in January 2022, so he undoubtedly has more goalscoring quality than unproven Dykes.

Yet, for a player who is rated at a small fee of just £2m, according to Football Transfers, it is clear to see why Burnley are showing a reported interest in the Aussie-born forward.

For while Kompany has transformed Burnley's style of play in his first year in charge, bringing on Dykes from the bench could act as a perfect back-up plan next season.