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West Ham United are "interested" in Manchester United duo Harry Maguire and Scott McTominay this summer but a deal for the pair may be difficult for David Moyes to pull off, according to Dharmesh Sheth.

Are Maguire and McTominay joining West Ham?

Now that Declan Rice's £105m transfer to Arsenal has been completed, West Ham's recruitment team can turn their attention to incomings this summer window.

The Irons are yet to sign anybody and with just over two weeks until the club's Premier League opener against Bournemouth, Moyes needs reinforcements.

Now a Europa League team following their Europa Conference League triumph, West Ham simply need more players. At times last season their form in the Premier League suffered as a result of their efforts in Europe and they even flirted with getting embroiled in a relegation battle.

To cope with the demands of the dreaded Thursday to Sunday schedule, Moyes will need to be proactive in the market.

According to Sky Sports' Sheth, West Ham see Man United's Maguire and McTominay as players who can make a positive impact at the club next year. However, a deal for either player will not be simple to complete.

Speaking on the Transfer Talk podcast, Sheth said: "West Ham also interested in the Manchester United defender Harry Maguire and in Scott McTominay, but with regard to those two players, the information we're getting is that United see them as top players, as key members of the squad as it stands.

"And for them to even consider sales it would require very, very, very big offers. So, you know, never say never, but United are planning at the moment for those two players to be in their squad next season."

While a deal is not completely off the cards, either player may cost West Ham a small fortune. Now that clubs know the Irons have £105m in the bank, there is little room for bargaining.

Remarkably, United are said to value 30-year-old Maguire at £50m, despite the fact that the centre-back rarely started for the Red Devils last season and has just been stripped of the captaincy at Old Trafford.

Such an eye-watering fee for a player who has received hefty criticism for his subpar performance levels may put West Ham off, especially given the value that can be found across Europe in the market.

Meanwhile, McTominay would command a similarly high fee with United holding out for £40-45m for the Scotsman. The midfielder turns 27 in December and only made 24 Premier League appearances last season, many of which came from the bench.

Moyes would clearly like to bring in his compatriot who could offer experience and grit in central midfield, but such a steep asking price may force the West Ham boss to look elsewhere.

Who are West Ham signing?

Another expensive British midfielder who could be on his way to the London Stadium is Chelsea's Conor Gallagher. Having seen an initial £40m bid rejected, the Hammers could well go back in for the 23-year-old, who featured readily for the Blues last season.

Similarly, James Ward-Prowse has been linked with a lucrative move to the Irons in a deal that looks pretty nailed on to happen sooner rather than later. The Southampton midfielder looks set to leave the only club he has played for in his professional career and is reportedly keen on a move to London.

Moyes is also keen to bolster his side's defence and Real Betis centre-back Luiz Felipe is a man firmly on the club's radar. The 26-year-old impressed in La Liga last season and could be available for as little as £17m (via CaughtOffside).

Michael Beale is undergoing a total revamp at Glasgow Rangers this summer, freshening up the squad by making seven signings already, with a few more to come before the end of the transfer window.

The 42-year-old doesn’t want a hugely inflated squad, however, and thus he has begun the process of shipping players out who clearly won't be in his plans at Ibrox next term.

Who has left Rangers this summer?

Despite scoring 18 goals for the club in his debut season, Antonio Colak was sold to Parma for £2.5m.

Glen Kamara looks certain to be another departure from the Gers, with Leeds United closing in on a £5m move for the midfielder.

Right-winger Scott Wright is also set for a fresh opportunity away from Ibrox, with Turkish side Pendikspor looking to sign him for a fee of £500k after two and a half years at the Gers.

A move away from Rangers is perhaps the best option for the 25-year-old, especially considering he started just eight matches across all competitions last term, registering a paltry three assists and this won't be good enough going forward under Beale.

Who could replace Scott Wright?

Wright ranked in a lowly 21st position across the squad for key passes (0.4) and tenth for successful dribbles (0.5) per game during the Premiership season. These statistics clearly show he struggled when called upon, failing to impose himself as a key attacking outlet for the club.

His time at Rangers did yield a league medal whilst also scoring in the Scottish Cup final win over Hearts in 2022, yet he managed just eight goals in 84 matches, a poor return for someone who was expected to make the step-up when he joined from Aberdeen.

In terms of a replacement, Beale may not feel the need to turn to the transfer window. Instead, academy prospect Ross McCausland stands a good chance of making a mark. He not only could save the Gers money in the long run, but he also has the ability to forge himself in the senior setup.

The 20-year-old has already made his debut for the first team, given a 30-minute cameo against Hearts during the final match of the 2021/22 season, even grabbing an assist, showcasing his talents.

Journalist Josh Bunting hailed him as a “superb talent” and the youngster certainly kicked on last term, registering 14 goal contributions for the B team – ten goals and four assists – scoring more goals during one season than Wright did across 84 games for the Light Blues.

A speedy winger who isn’t afraid to take on defenders is what Beale wants and in McCausland, the Northern Irishman may be exactly who he is looking for.

Former academy chief Craig Mulholland praised him when he signed a new contract in 2021, saying: “The modern game requires ‘1v1’ dominant players and this is a real strength that Ross has that we will look to enhance.”

With Wright seemingly destined for the exit door, McCausland could certainly take full advantage and showcase to Beale why he deserves another shot in the first-team squad after he made his second appearance for the club during the 3-1 win over Hibs in May.

Such is the attraction of playing in Pep Guardiola's current treble-winning side, combined with the amount of money the Premier League champions have at their disposal, Manchester City can usually feel confident about landing their key transfer targets.

And all seemed to be pointing in the usual direction in the case of Josko Gvardiol, too, with the deal even receiving the famous Fabrizio Romano 'here we go', which almost always means a deal will reach completion.

RB Leipzig are in no mood to entertain the transfer expert's news, however, even contradicting Romano in a shock new twist.

In what will no doubt rub some salt in the Man City wounds, too, it appears as though Liverpool have played a deciding role in the unexpected Grvardiol twist.

Manchester City suffer Josko Gvardiol blow

Taking the opportunity to shut any rumours down, RB Leipzig director Max Eberl said, via Philipp Hinze of Sky Germany: "There is no agreement with Manchester City. Not even close."

He then continued, saying: "The fact is that Manchester City would like to have him. Currently, we are still very far apart. The transfer of Szoboszlai has secured us financially. We don't need the money. We would prefer Josko to stay."

Slamming the message home, Eberl added: "We are not a club that blocks anything. We are transparent. But we have our ideas and want them to be implemented.“

It will likely leave Liverpool delighted that their £60m deal to bring Dominik Szoboszlai to the club has played a large part in Leipzig's stance on Gvardiol.

The defender was pictured in training this week, despite initial reports from Romano stating that the defender had completed the first stages of his medical at Manchester City.

The transfer specialist has since claimed that tensions are high between Leipzig and City in the final stages of negotiations, causing a delay to the medical, which was supposed to be booked today.

Also speaking about Gvardiol, Leipzig manager Marco Rose said, via Hinze: "Josko is one of our players and as far as I know he will remain one of our players. I don't know anything about a medical check, nothing about a first and nothing about a second. I think if it was, I would know as head coach!"

After Leipzig contradicted Romano, the Gvardiol saga is certainly one to keep an eye on.

How did Josko Grvadiol perform last season?

There's a reason why Leipzig want a reported €100m (£86m) for Gvardiol this summer. The defender had another outstanding campaign last season, as the club finished third in the Bundesliga, five points behind champions Bayern Munich.

When compared to Nathan Ake, who could be his future teammate at Manchester City, the Leipzig defender outplayed the Dutchman in certain areas.

According to FBref, last season, Gvardiol made more blocks, clearances, won more tackles, and made more interceptions per 90 than Ake. So, statistically speaking, the transfer target would be an upgrade for Guardiola.

As things stand, though, the chances of Gvardiol becoming a Manchester City player seem to be growing slimmer and slimmer, with those at RB Leipzig quick to contradict Romano's initial claims.

As the saga goes on, however, more twists and turns could easily occur.

There is now a "serious possibility" that Chelsea could sign Flamengo's exciting young midfielder Matheus Franca this summer, transfers expert Fabrizio Romano has told GIVEMESPORT.

Chelsea transfer news – what's the latest on Matheus Franca?

It's been another busy summer of frantic transfer business in West London, but more due to outgoings than incomings for once, with the club selling a raft of first-team players to the burgeoning Saudi league, European leagues and even rivals in the Premier League.

The shipping off of so many players has now allowed the club to start looking towards incomings, with the young striker Nicolas Jackson already coming through the doors at Stamford Bridge from La Liga outfit Villarreal.

The club are also making a conscious effort to sign young, exciting players that are full of potential, with one of those targets being Flamengo's much sought-after Franca.

Fabrizio Romano confirmed on his YouTube channel last week that the Blues were preparing to make an opening offer for the youngster in the region of £17m, with additional add-ons driving the fee up further.

Things appear to have progressed yet further over the course of the week, with a deal now looking increasingly likely, according to the Italian.

What has Fabrizio Romano said about Chelsea and Matheus Franca?

Romano was clear in confirming Chelsea's interest in the exciting youngster as well as revealing the club's overall strategy when it comes to South America in the future.

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, he said: "Matheus Franca is a serious possibility. They are already invested in Angelo Gabriel. Franca is another super talent.

"So, it seems very clear the idea is to invest in a big way in South American talents and hope to see them in a Chelsea shirt in the future."

How good is Matheus Franca?

It isn't easy to get a full picture of just how good Franca really is as he is still relatively new to senior football, having played just 28 times for Flamengo in Brazil's Serie A.

However, he has managed to impress in his short time as a professional footballer finding the back of the net five times in those 28 appearances and considering he has managed that feat while playing in five different positions, the hype might well be justified.

Football scout Jacek Kulig would likely agrees as he was full of praise for the player when he first flagged him to fans outside of Brazil almost two years ago, saying:

"Great midfielder, great striker, he can play almost everywhere. One of the most exciting teenagers in Brazil at the moment."

Even with his limited experience, some elements of his game jump off the page when you look at his underlying numbers.

According to FBref, who compare players in a similar position in what they define as the world's next best eight competitions, Franca sits in the top 2% for non-penalty goals, the top 3% for non-penalty expected goals and total shots, the top 4% for touches in the opposition's penalty area, and the top 11% for successful take-ons, all per 90.

If Chelsea can secure his signature for just £17m, it could prove to be a brilliant bit of business in a few years time.

Wolverhampton Wanderers are keen to strike a summer deal to sign Manchester City defender Taylor Harwood-Bellis, according to reports in the last 48 hours.

Who is Taylor Harwood-Bellis?

Harwood-Bellis is a centre-back who currently plays his football at the Etihad Stadium having graduated from his club’s academy to get promoted to the first-team back in 2021, but having only ever made eight senior appearances under Pep Guardiola, his future is up in the air.

Throughout his career, the England U21s international has been sent out on four development loans to build his experience and to help him receive more game time, the first being at Blackburn Rovers, the second Anderlecht, the third Stoke City and most recently last season he was at Burnley, helping them gain promotion to the Premier League.

The Sky Blues product will also be out of contract at the end of next season meaning that the ongoing window is likely to be his parent club’s final big opportunity to cash in should they not want to lose him for free, and following his impressive performances last season, he’s got a potential suitor waiting for him in Julen Lopetegui at Wolves.

Back in November 2022, reliable journalist Alan Nixon reported that the Old Gold were indeed keeping a close eye on the 21-year-old, and despite a deal failing to come to fruition back in January, it sounds like the Wolves hierarchy may be aiming to take a second bite of the cherry in the weeks ahead.

Are Wolves signing Harwood-Bellis?

According to TEAMtalk, Wolves hold a serious “interest” in Harwood-Bellis but are set to face stiff competition for his services with Brighton and Hove Albion, Everton and Fulham also wanting to reach an agreement for the defender.

Burnley are “battling” to try and re-sign the talented prospect following a successful loan spell with Vincent Kompany having already “asked” Man City to let him have his player back, but his former club are “yet to decide” whether they want to loan their product back out or even consider a permanent sale.

Where would Harwood-Bellis fit in at Wolves?

Wolves and Fosun have just sold Nathan Collins to Brentford for £23m so Lopetegui will need to enter the market to find a suitable successor at centre-back, and after being described as having the attitude of a “warrior” by journalist Josh Bunting, Harwood-Bellis could be the perfect candidate.

The 6 foot 2 colossus, who earns just £7k-per-week at the moment, impressed last season averaging 3.1 clearances, 2.8 aerial wins and 1.8 interceptions per second tier game, via WhoScored, so was a real rock at the heart of the backline for the Clartes. He also contributed in the final third with three goal contributions (two assists and one goal) to his name.

Harwood-Bellis, who will possess a winning mentality having not only achieved promotion with Burnley but also secured three trophies prior to that with Man City – albeit with fleeting appearances – also has the versatility to operate at right-back which is an extremely useful attribute for the boss to have available should any unexpected injuries occur.

Tottenham Hotspur's summer business has not been surprising, largely for the plain and simple fact that their new manager is a quick thinker.

Ange Postecoglou's general rule of thumb at Celtic was that he'd act quickly and decisively in the transfer window, notably bringing in three players to Parkhead before the window for the January 2022 market had even opened.

They haven't acted that swiftly here, but they are making moves in the market, with a new transfer target now named; Marc Cucurella.

How much is Marc Cucurella worth?

Signed by Chelsea from Brighton for a fee of £60m last summer, the Spaniard could already be on the move after a tricky season.

Football Transfers note Spurs as one potential destination for the left-back.

It's claimed they are following his situation closely as they seek a replacement for the potentially outgoing Ivan Perisic.

The north Londoners are reportedly 'ready' to make a deal happen, something that could well materialise considering Mauricio Pochettino's side are 'desperate' to get rid of him.

Any deal could potentially cost around £48m, his expected transfer value, as per the same source.

How good is Marc Cucurella?

During his stint at Brighton, Cucurella emerged as a flying wing-back, one who looked every bit a La Masia graduate.

Barcelona's famous academy has housed some of the very best names in world football, from the likes of Lionel Messi, Xavi and Iniesta.

It's safe to say the 24-year-old isn't quite that good, but he has forged a successful career for himself.

In his one and only season with the Seagulls, the 2021/22 campaign, the full-back posted one goal and two assists. They are hardly outstanding numbers but when it came to marauding defenders that year, there were few better in the division.

Cucurella sat inside the top 14% of full-backs in the Premier League for touches in the attacking third and the top 12% for carries, via FBref. Not just competent going forward, he was in the best 8% for ball recoveries with 7.20 per 90 minutes.

Are those numbers worthy of a £60m price tag? Arguably not. That said, he was an exciting proposition and one at an age where only growth was surely possible.

Unfortunately for Spurs, they would now be getting a player who has shown his flaws. Only another two assists were registered by the Spaniard in a poor Chelsea side. This time out, he was only in the best 30% for touches in the attacking third and the best 20% for carries. If there was one positive, he still recovered the ball on a regular basis, making 6.46 recoveries per 90, marking him in the best 14% positionally.

That doesn't look dreadful but the truth of the matter is that he made a number of notable errors too. He was hooked after just 63 minutes against his former employers in what turned out to be a 4-1 loss.

Described as a "liability" by journalist Josh Bunting during a game with Villa, he notably cost the Blues in Europe. In both games against Real Madrid, he let them down a great deal. At Stamford Bridge, Cucurella came charging out of his position leaving a huge gap in behind down Chelsea's left-hand side. The end product was a goal.

Similarly, at the Bernabeu, he was caught out of position. Rodrygo turned the wing-back all too easily which left Ben Chilwell vulnerable in behind. The result? A red card for the England man who was rather hung out to try by his defensive colleague who attempted to make a last-ditch challenge.

Spending big money on a Premier League talent, therefore, has rather worrying echoes of Richarlison.

The former Everton man made his own £60m switch last summer after impressing in the lower reaches of the table.

However, like Cucurella, he was one of the worst signings of the season. In total, the Brazilian found the net just three times, one of which came in the top flight. Remarkably, the attacker had to wait until the 30th April to finally break his league drought.

That isn't to say that every transfer from a Premier League side works out poorly, but Tottenham must learn their lesson from 12 months ago.

Investing in Cucurella this summer would feel like a costly mistake. This is surely one to swerve for Daniel Levy and Co.

Tottenham Hotspur could be set to add some true defensive steel to their midfield this summer, with one top target having emerged…

What's the latest on Joao Palhinha to Tottenham Hotspur?

The latest comes from The Sun (1/7; page 67), who suggests that the Lilywhites are huge admirers of Fulham's Joao Palhinha, but will expect competition from West Ham United.

Having enjoyed a stellar debut campaign in the Premier League, the Portugal international has unsurprisingly earned widespread interest from some top clubs. However, the Cottagers will reportedly hold out for a mouth-watering £90m fee in an effort to ward those suitors off, likely viewing their midfield general at a similar level to the £105m-rated Declan Rice.

With that kind of figure unlikely to stir Ange Postecoglou into action, the fact he remains keen on the player could see him seek to negotiate, in an effort to build a fine platform for his new signing James Maddison to truly thrive.

How good is Joao Palhinha?

For what was his first year in English football, the 27-year-old took to the physicality demanded of him with ease, showcasing his ability to consistently snatch back possession in that engine room with huge success. Even as early as August did commentator Steve Wilson brand the midfielder "outstanding", as a sign of the imperious presence that would go on to dominate many games.

In fact, the former Sporting CP metronome finished quite comfortably as the division's top tackler, with his 147 tackles dwarfing the competition. Moises Caicedo recorded the next best, with 100, and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg was nowhere near with his tally of 56.

Given the Denmark international could be set to depart this summer, Palhinha could represent a fine replacement who boasts that additional bit of defensive steel and athleticism to allow him to screen a back four all on his own.

That being said, Spurs' 27-year-old ace did maintain a 7.11 average Sofascore rating last term in the league, marking a slight improvement on the 7.00 of his potential successor.

However, a gulf in class is not made apparent in their underlying statistics, as whilst the former recorded an 89% pass accuracy, 0.9 key passes, 1.6 tackles and 1.7 clearances per game (via Sofascore), Palhinha would instead maintain an 83% pass accuracy, 0.2 key passes, 4.2 tackles and 1.7 clearances per game of his own, via Sofascore.

Should Postecoglou opt to enact this transfer switch around, he would sacrifice the added offensive impetus that Hojbjerg offers for more solidity, likely aiming to give his true creative threats the best possible environment to exert their will on a game and win matches on their own.

Few within the Premier League could offer what Marco Silva's main man would, thus explaining his astronomical price tag. However, should it be slashed at any point, Spurs must swoop to secure what would be the perfect all-action defensive midfielder to underpin their new manager's high-octane philosophy.

Tottenham Hotspur have identified several defensive targets for this summer, but one homegrown asset could be the standout…

What's the latest on Marc Guehi to Tottenham?

That's according to The Athletic, who detail various targets that Ange Postecoglou could swoop for in his first transfer window since joining.

Despite links in recent months suggesting a move for Manchester City's Aymeric Laporte, they could instead invest in youth and stump up the £50m Crystal Palace are set to demand for Marc Guehi with the defender believed to be a target.

After all, he boasts an impressively high ceiling, with his malleable nature making him the perfect foundation for which the Australian head coach can build his dynasty in north London. He has been a long-term target of the club, seemingly way before the arrival of the former Celtic boss.

Is Marc Guehi better than Aymeric Laporte?

The key differences between these two defensive stalwarts are their age and minutes played, with one having starred for a mid-table outfit, whilst the other has played a supplementary role in an unprecedented achievement in Manchester.

The Spain international made just 24 appearances in all competitions last term, with 12 of those coming in the league. For all his quality during his time at the Etihad, this lack of influence must surely be a factor in Postecoglou's thinking.

Not to mention that he is set to turn 30 next year, whilst Guehi is still just 22 years old.

Already an England international, and having starred for an uninspiring yet solid Palace side, even during a campaign where they were at points threatened with relegation, he still maintained a 6.94 Sofascore average rating. This was matched by Laporte in the league too, although he did play 25 fewer matches for a far greater team.

To further emphasise the impressive form of the Chelsea academy graduate, it is worth emphasising his 85% pass accuracy and 82% dribble success rate he upheld in his most recent season, to match his outstanding 3.6 clearances per game, via Sofascore. For context, no player made more clearances a match in the entire Spurs squad.

A true ball-playing leader, yet with the solidity needed to improve this struggling squad, it is no surprise to see former England U21 teammate Josef Bursik had branded him an "absolute tank", and a "brick wall" to have in front of him as a goalkeeper.

It is also worth outlining that, in Opta's player radars, he is shown to truly excel when it comes to touches of the ball and possession won. Able to wrestle back possession with his immense strength, but combining it with imperious technical quality, makes him something of a physical marvel.

Laporte has been impressive for so long, but his age would make him a short-term signing in an attempt to force instant success. Guehi poses a fine alternative in terms of instant impact but arguably has well over a decade to continue his growth into a huge figure in the Postecoglou revolution.

Tottenham Hotspur do hold an interest in Conor Gallagher this summer but it is not something which is close at this stage in the window.

How old is Conor Gallagher?

Spurs look prepared to press the reset button this summer with a seriously underwhelming 2022/23 campaign now behind them which saw finish in a miserable eighth spot.

Ange Postecoglou has now come through the doors as their new manager as Daniel Levy has finally solved his managerial hunt following Antonio Conte's departure.

However, there are still some glaring areas which are in need of improvement considering the Lilywhites were unable to even secure a spot in the Europa Conference League for the upcoming campaign.

It is believed the north London outfit have identified the Leicester City star James Maddison as a potential option for the summer window with expected competition from Newcastle United.

But another name which is also seemingly on their radar is that of the Chelsea midfielder Gallagher who is also believed to be a target of the Toon.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Fabrizio Romano has claimed someone at Spurs appreciated the Chelsea midfielder but at the moment their attention is on Maddison:

"It's true that also someone at Tottenham appreciates the player. But, at the moment, it's not something concrete and Tottenham's focus is on James Madison."

How many years does Conor Gallagher have left on his contract?

The Chelsea midfielder did not have a campaign he will be wanting to remember in a hurry having only been able to provide a return of three goals and one assist in the Premier League (via Transfermarkt).

And this is a position where Spurs have been in dire need of some creativity and dependability in returning goals and assists.

Tottenham's highest scoring midfielder over the 2022/23 campaign was Rodrigo Bentancur with a total of six goals across all competitions.

But to put that figure into perspective, the Uruguayan has been out of action since February after sustaining a season-ending ACL injury which resulted in him undergoing surgery.

With his 2022/23 returns in mind, perhaps Maddison would prove a safer option for Tottenham considering he was able to provide an impressive 10 goals and nine assists for Leicester City (via Transfermarkt).

And despite having just two years remaining on his deal at Stamford Bridge, reports from Germany (via football.london) suggest Chelsea could still be looking for around £44m for the 23-year-old.

Liverpool are interested in signing Southampton prodigy Romeo Lavia this summer, hoping to capitalise on the south coast club's Premier League relegation.

What's the latest on Romeo Lavia to Liverpool?

According to Football Insider, while Jurgen Klopp's Reds are considering lodging a formal offer for the Belgian teenager, they do not wish to be dragged into a bidding war with rival suitors Chelsea this summer.

The 19-year-old is reportedly available for around £45m-£50m, though if multiple outfits prove desperate to secure his signature, such a valuation could balloon, which would effectively end the Reds' interest.

Sporting director Jorg Schmadtke will be working diligently to add to the recent £35m acquisition of Alexis Mac Allister after the departures of James Milner, Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, and Lavia might just be the perfect rising star to be nurtured to prominence in their wake.

How would Lavia perform at Liverpool?

It's a strange old atmosphere at Anfield right now, with Liverpool nursing the wounds inflicted throughout the 22/23 campaign, failing to qualify for the Champions League, but holding an embedded sense of optimism that the dismal midfield and defensive displays will be rectified this summer.

The energetic Mac Allister is undoubtedly a stunning signing to pave the new foundation, but the club are expected to target two further additions in midfield and Lavia could be the shiny new anchor to hold the centre together with an iron-clad grip for years to come, already hailed as "incredible" by Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola.

Despite a terrible collective season with Saints, Lavia's pedigree shone through in coruscating light, having made 35 appearances across all competitions, scored one goal and assist apiece and earned a respectable Sofascore league rating of 6.8 after completing 86% of his passes and making 2.1 tackles per game.

It is unlikely that the one-cap star's positional peer on Merseyside, Fabinho, will be displaced for the forthcoming campaign despite sitting at the epicentre of Liverpool's seasonal strife, having rekindled some of his former vigour towards the business end of the campaign.

The “exquisite” Lavia – as he has been called by Jacob Tanswell – would be nurtured and integrated with care as he works towards a prominent role under Klopp's tutelage, and his ascent could coincide with Stefan Bajcetic's, who could form a devastating central partnership alongside the holding midfielder.

Liverpool's once imperious centre lost its sparkle this year after years of illustrious success, tired legs and sapped vitality playing their role in the decimation of an outfit once striking fear with a searing iron into opposition across Europe, but the prodigious Bajcetic entered the fold after impressing for the academy ranks and earned praise as an "incredible prospect" by journalist Tom Barnes for his energy and exuberance.

A robust enforcer, the 18-year-old Spaniard made 19 appearances for the Reds' senior side – scoring one goal – before injury cruelly ended his breakout year prematurely, but he is the future and with a pivot such as Lavia burgeoning alongside him over the next several terms, a fearsome duo could well be born.