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Newcastle United are reportedly interested in signing Manchester City youngster Taylor Harwood-Bellis in the summer transfer window.

Is Harwood-Bellis having a good season?

The 21-year-old is currently out on loan at Burnley and he has enjoyed an impressive spell there this season, helping the Clarets lie on the verge of a return to the Premier League. He has started 27 games in the Championship since arriving from the Etihad, being given plenty of minutes by City legend Vincent Kompany, who is excelling in charge.

This is invaluable experience for Harwood-Bellis, who has averaged 3.1 aerial duel wins and 2.5 clearances per game in the league in 2022/23 to date, as he looks to reach his potential as a highly rated centre-back. It is clearly going to be difficult for the Englishman to make the grade at City, however, with the Premier League champions having a wealth of top-quality options in that area, from Ruben Dias to Nathan Ake.

For that reason, Harwood-Bellis – whose current deal expires in the summer of 2024 – could look for a new challenge at the end of this season and leave the Citizens permanently in the summer, and a fresh exit rumour has now emerged.

Could the youngster head to Newcastle this summer?

According to 90min, Newcastle are "one of a number of Premier League clubs showing a strong interest" in Harwood-Bellis ahead of the summer window. City are believed to have plans in place "to hold extension talks at the end of the season", although it remains to be seen if he will want to sign a new deal.

It is claimed that the youngster "recognises he is some way down the pecking order" under Pep Guardiola, which is why joining another club could make more sense.

While Harwood-Bellis is clearly a big talent for City to have in their ranks – Kompany has called him "incredible" – it could be best for his development to move on at the end of the season. Granted, if he is happy to sign a new contract and be a bit-part player, that would be no great issue as far as City are concerned, but there is the risk that this would stunt his progress.

He has shown this season what an effective player he can be when given a chance, even at just 21, and in order to match his promise, he needs to be a regular starter for a team from this point onwards.

Match facts

Thursday, March 10, 2016
Start time 1500 local (0930GMT)

Big Picture

The cruelty of the World T20 qualifying phase is that every game is crucial and Scotland’s key moment may already have come and gone. Their defeat to Afghanistan meant their hopes of progressing now depend on themselves and other results. So for them, there has to be a bigger picture. And there is. Scotland have played 19 matches in six global limited-overs tournaments but are yet to win a game.Zimbabwe will be pleased to hear that because they need another victory before facing the group’s strongest team, Afghanistan, in what they hope will be a showdown for a place in the main draw. Zimbabwe have already recorded one win but it was achieved in untidy fashion. Their batsmen squandered starts, their bowlers lost their lines and they were occasionally comical in the field. They did not look like the only Full Member in the group and would want to tighten up on the basics.Scotland have already faced Afghanistan and found that their bowlers struggled to contain aggressive batting but they were able to respond with runs themselves. They got off to a speedy start before the middle order collapsed and fizzled out, and given the nature of Zimbabwe’s attack that concentrates on a squeeze upfront rather than at the end, Scotland may eye an opportunity to record a first victory.

Form guide

(last five completed games most recent first)
Zimbabwe WWWLL
Scotland LWLWL

In the spotlight

Although a team will take a win no matter how messy in a major tournament, Zimbabwe’s disciplines need to improve if they are to sustain hopes of playing in the main draw. The opening match saw three run-outs, three batsmen holing out, two dropped catches and several misfields. They got away with it once but will not want to risk slipping up as the qualifiers continue.Calum MacLeod was identified by Paul Collingwood as someone who has played a lot of high-pressure cricket, presumably at Warwickshire, and would know how to handle tough situations but his recent scores don’t suggest that. MacLeod has not got past 20 in his last 12 T20Is but has a century in the format at domestic level and will know he is due some runs.

Team news

Zimbabwe may want to add a more attacking spinner to their arsenal but with Graeme Cremer out injured, their only other option is Tendai Chisoro, who went wicketless in the warm-ups against West Indies and HPCA XI. If they are after a change in the batting line-up, they could make space for Peter Moor or Chamu Chibhabha but only by leaving someone like Sikandar Raza or Malcolm Waller out.Zimbabwe: (probable) 1 Hamilton Masakadza, 2 Vusi Sibanda, 3 Richmond Mutumbami (wk), 4 Sean Williams, 5 Sikandar Raza, 6 Malcolm Waller, 7 Elton Chigumbura, 8 Donald Tiripano, 9 Wellington Masakadza, 10 Tinashe Panyangara, 11 Tendai ChataraScotland’s pace attack adjusted well to very their pace and slow Afghanistan briefly on Tuesday, and they may also think of bringing in another spinner considering the Nagpur pitch. Allrounder Con de Lange, who bowls left-arm spin, could complement the 19-year-old legspinner Mark Watt.Scotland: (probable) 1 George Munsey, 2 Kyle Coetzer, 3 Calum MacLeod, 4 Matt Machan, 5 Richie Berrington, 6 Preston Mommsen (capt), 7 Matthew Cross (wk), 8 Josh Davey, 9 Safyaan Sharif, 10 Mark Watt, 11 Alasdair Evans

Pitch and conditions

The Nagpur surface proved difficult to score on freely on the first day and it is expected to continue challenging batsmen. Although it did not take much turn, taking pace off the ball was effective for the seamers and batsmen will have to spend time building an innings. The mercury is only headed in one direction – up – with temperatures expected hotter on Thursday compared to Tuesday. Both teams will hope the crowd numbers balloon like that too.

Stats and trivia

• The margins of victory in both Zimbabwe and Scotland’s opening match was 14 runs. Zimbabwe beat Hong Kong but Scotland lost to Afghanistan.
• Zimbabwe lost the first four T20s they played this year but have won the last three. 

Fabrizio Romano has said that ‘many clubs’ are scouting Leeds United goalkeeper Illan Meslier ahead of the summer window.

The Lowdown: Meslier planning to quit?

The French goalkeeper has been a regular at Elland Road in recent years and became the youngster goalkeeper in Premier League history to reach 100 appearances. The 23-year-old helped the Whites to a much-needed 4-2 win over Wolves on Saturday, a result that lifted Leeds up into 14th place in the table.

However, with relegation a real possibility, there have been some worrying reports regarding Meslier’s future. The Leeds ‘keeper, along with Robin Koch and Jack Harrison, is already allegedly ‘planning to quit’ Elland Road and find a new club if Championship football comes the Whites’ way at the end of the season.

Chelsea have become the latest side to show a real interest in Meslier, as per Football Insider, and are ‘prepared to out-bid their rivals in order to secure his signature’.

The Latest: Romano’s comments

Romano provided an update on Meslier in his daily column for CaughtOffside, saying that ‘many clubs have sent their scouts to follow him’, but ‘Leeds want to keep things quiet and not to open any negotiation’ at this moment in time.

“Links with someone like Illan Meslier and a top club like Chelsea are normal, he’s a very talented goalkeeper and many clubs have sent their scouts to follow him.

“But at the moment, Leeds want to keep things quiet and not to open any negotiation now. Chelsea are yet to make a decision on the goalkeepers situation.”

The Verdict: One to watch

Should Leeds suffer relegation, then it looks almost certain that Meslier would depart Yorkshire. However, if Javi Gracia keeps Leeds up, the club would be under no pressure to sell Meslier, who is under contract until 2026.

He has been a brilliant performer for Leeds under a number of managers and was praised by teammate Brenden Aaronson earlier in the season, who said:

“You see it from him every single day. I think there was one day last week where he was saving everything and we were just shooting on him. He has so much quality in goal. He’s such a great goalie.”

Meslier also already ranks 39th in the all-time Premier League saves list with 365, so if Leeds manage to avoid the drop, they could keep hold of one of their star players, making the next few months crucial both on and off the pitch.

An injury update has emerged regarding Glasgow Rangers midfielder John Lundstram ahead of the weekend’s Premiership action, and it could come as a concern for Michael Beale at Ibrox.

What’s the latest injury news involving John Lundstram?

The English midfielder, who turns 29 tomorrow, was substituted in the Light Blues’ most recent league clash after incurring an ankle injury and missed the Gers’ subsequent Scottish Cup tie.

However, Beale spoke to the media before the Premiership clash away to Livingston tomorrow, providing a tentative update on the 28-year-old’s fitness.

The Rangers boss said: “Lundstram is touch and go for the weekend.”

Will John Lundstram be fit to play for Rangers?

Saturday’s game might come just too soon for Lundstram judging by Beale’s comments to the media, and with the League Cup final against Celtic just nine days away, the 42-year-old may wish to ensure that the Englishman is fighting fit for that match instead of risking him on Livingston’s artificial pitch.

The 28-year-old has been in outstanding form this season under both Giovanni van Bronckhorst and Beale, becoming an integral part of the Rangers midfield.

Across 25 Premiership appearances this term, Lundstram has averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.07/10, ranking him not only as the Light Blues’ seventh-best performer but also as the joint-20th best player in the Scottish top fight, underlining his importance to Beale.

His all-round ability has been on show this season, with the player scoring five times, taking 80.8 touches per game and having a 90% pass success rate, not only content with improving his goal tally but also controlling the play in midfield and utilising his combative style to great effect.

The £22k-per-week maestro has also chipped in with 1.2 tackles and 1.1 interceptions per match and has won 3.3 duels per game, with his defensive ability adding an extra layer of protection in front of the Rangers defence.

Former Ibrox defender Maurice Ross praised Lundstram last year, hailing him as the “cornerstone” of the team. The Englishman has certainly justified that billing during the season so far, and it will be a big blow for Beale if the birthday boy is unable to take to the pitch tomorrow.

At the WACA, they say, batsmen can leave alone balls pitched at a good length. Some tellable pitchside tales from Wild West Perth

Dileep Premachandran16-Jan-2008

Home is where the bounce is: The WACA was a track tailormade for Ambrose © Getty Images
To understand just how frightening the WACA used to be for batsmen, you only have to watch the footage of Curtly Ambrose and Ian Bishop in their prime in 1992-93. Australia had been denied a first series win in a generation in Adelaide, and the teams had come to Perth all square. And although Australia lost Justin Langer early, caught behind off Bishop, they were pretty handily placed at 58 for 1 when the match and series went pear-shaped. Again, it was Bishop, targetting Steve Waugh’s body, and the diffident glance was taken by Junior Murray.The initial incisions may have had a Trinidadian flavour to them, but it was all Antiguan aggression after that. Ambrose had enjoyed a stellar series, beating Malcolm Marshall’s record for most wickets in a series against Australia, and with the flick of an imaginary switch, he produced one of the great spells of fast bowling seen anywhere.Mark Waugh nicked one behind, and David Boon was helpless against one that lifted off a good length. When Allan Border was squared up and caught behind first ball, the innings was in disarray. But Ambrose was far from done. Of the seven wickets he took, conceding just one run, six were caught by the keeper or the slip cordon. The seventh, Merv Hughes, perished to an ambitious hoick that was taken at cover.It wasn’t the fastest spell you’ll ever see, but it was an object lesson in what length to bowl on the fastest pitch in the world. Ambrose was never too short, and his height and the steepling bounce meant that even balls that landed on a driving length were too hot for batsmen to handle.After Australia succumbed just before lunch on the third day, the curator was sacked. It was West Indies’ fourth win in four attempts at the WACA, and it was small wonder that Border used to regard Perth games against the men in maroon caps as an away fixture.The next match West Indies played here would mark the end of an era. They arrived having lost a series in Australia for the first time since 1975-76, but there would be one final sting in the tale from the last of the great assembly line of the Caribbean quicks.Only Mark Waugh and Michael Bevan offered resistance as Ambrose and Bishop again triggered a slide to get Australia all out for 243. In reply, Brian Lara produced one of his greatest Test hundreds, the equal of his glorious 277 at the SCG four years previously. His 132 was the difference between the sides, and by the time Australia wiped off the deficit, they were eight wickets down.This time, the destroyer in chief was another legend, Courtney Walsh, who ignored a hamstring injury to bowl 20 overs on the trot for his five wickets. West Indies haven’t won a game in Australia since, and the game is immeasurably poorer for their decline.The first sign of their years of plenty, when they were almost invincible, had also been glimpsed at the WACA in Greg Chappell’s first series as Australian captain. Australia had won comfortably in Brisbane, and Ian Chappell’s scintillating 156 gave them a decent total of 329 on a lightning-fast pitch in Perth.At least, it appeared decent until Roy Fredericks went to work. Kid Cement, as Fredericks was known for his courage against fast bowling, got away with a miscued hook for six off Dennis Lillee, and there was seldom a false stroke afterwards as a four-pronged attack of Lillee, Jeff Thomson, Gary Gilmour and Max Walker was put through the mincer. Fredericks hooked, pulled, cut and drove with awesome power and imperious timing on his way to 169 from 145 balls. Such was the awe it inspired that Clive Lloyd’s regal 149 (off just 186 balls) became almost an afterthought. Viv Richards, who made just 12 himself, called it a “privilege” to be there, to witness the best innings that he ever saw.

Kid Cement: Roy Fredericks is cheered off by the Australians as they go in for a tea break © The Cricketer International
Greg Chappell’s take on it is slightly different. “Fredericks played very well, but to be fair we bowled badly,” he says. “We were too short most of the time and too wide the rest. It was a very good pitch for fast bowlers, hard and well grassed, but good for the batsmen too if you gave them room or length to work with. The West Indies didn’t give us the room and their extra bounce made it difficult. It was the perfect wicket for their combo of shot making and tall, fast bowlers.”They were too good over the three to four days of the Test. Ian Chappell was the only one who batted well for us and his innings was probably the better of the two, because he was made to work harder than we made Fredericks work. We couldn’t have bowled more to suit him if we had tried.”Australia would win the four remaining Test matches, though, with West Indies unable to cope with the pace barrage, the sledging and what Richards called blatantly racist abuse from sections of the crowds. Chappell, though, regards that 5-1 series win as one of the high points of Australia’s cricket history, though he qualifies it by saying: “I think the series we drew with them in the West Indies during WSC [World Series Cricket] when their bowling was more mature would rank as highly.”As for India, this has seldom been a happy hunting ground. It’s 16 years since they last played here, a one-sided match remembered only for the bright kernel of hope to emerge from the embers of a defeat triggered by one of cricket’s quintessential journeymen. “Ripping through a line up containing the likes of Sachin Tendulkar, Dilip Vengsarkar, Kapil Dev and Mohammed Azharuddin takes some doing,” says Michael Whitney, looking back on his 7 for 27 from 12.1 overs that pushed India to a 300-run defeat after Krishnamachari Srikkanth and Navjot Singh Sidhu had put on 82 for the first wicket in the second innings.Tendulkar still regards that first-innings 114 (161 balls) as one of his finest hundreds, and those who have watched him since 1989 would find it hard to pick a knock that has eclipsed it. Kiran More, who added 81 for the ninth wicket with him, had the best view in the house. “For any batsman to play at Perth for the first time is not easy,” he says. “He played some shots straight through the covers off the back foot. On that pitch, if you play on the back foot, most of the shots go square and fine, but he was playing through extra cover and cover. Sachin’s a short person, and those shots are difficult to play, but he was doing it so easily.”The best assessment of Tendulkar’s masterpiece came from an Australian with a gift for the pithy phrase. Merv Hughes’ language may usually have been colourful, even blue, but he was spot on when he turned to Border and said: “This little prick’s going to get more runs than you, AB.”

Newcastle United might be on the up under the tutelage of Eddie Howe, but littered across St. James' Park are the remnants of a less prosperous past.

True, it's still early into the new dynasty at the Premier League club, with the affluent PIF takeover transforming the hopes and dreams of a proud and prestigious outfit, but already the difference from the pitch to the boardroom is clear.

Newcastle has been restored, with the footballing marriage of technical director Dan Ashworth and manager Howe paying off to a tee, having navigated away from relegation peril in the ex-Bournemouth manager's first season on Tyneside before eclipsing expectations with a sensational top-four finish last term, resulting in Champions League qualification.

The early results of the present season have not gone in Newcastle's favour, with a 5-1 victory over Aston Villa on the opening day followed up with three successive league defeats, but it's inevitable that this talented squad will click soon and start to climb the table in search of European qualification once again.

As stated, there are, however, certain utility members of the squad who could do with discarding and upgrading, with the likes of Javier Manquillo among those on the periphery under Howe's stewardship, something that doesn't look likely to change any time soon.

How much did Newcastle sign Javier Manquillo for?

Having previously featured on loan with Liverpool and for Newcastle's bitter rivals Sunderland, Manquillo made the £4.5m move to St. James' Park in 2017, penning a permanent transfer from Spanish giants Atletico Madrid.

His acquisition was made with the view that he would aid the club in cementing a position in the English top-flight, having achieved an instantaneous return to the big time with a first-place finish in the Championship, relegated the year prior for the second time in eight years.

That maiden year on Tyneside, he did earn 20 league starts, however, with just four coming during the second half of the campaign, when Newcastle's form picked up; in fact, seven of United's 12 Premier League victories came with Manquillo as an unused substitute, hardly evoking high levels of confidence.

He has now made 110 displays for the Magpies across all competitions since first penning a contract, though given how fleeting his action has been over the past few years, he is effectively just steadily draining the club's cash, earning a wage to sit on the fringe.

What is Javier Manquillo's salary at Newcastle?

Given that Manquillo is not a regular name on the teamsheet, it's somewhat surprising that he is on a salary of £35k-per-week, putting him on a similar wage to first-teamer Fabian Schar (£40k-per-week) and the same deal at Jacob Murphy (also £35k-per-week), who has been described as "so important" by his manager.

Indeed, despite not holding a particularly alarming injury record under Howe, he has only made 19 appearances since the 45-year-old's appointment in October 2021, playing just 33 minutes of league action last term – sidelined as an unused substitute on 24 occasions.

When combining the transfer fee paid with the dripping outlay of Manquillo's salary, it's gathered that Newcastle have consigned £16m to oblivion for an ace to have barely made a mark.

While such does not appear a particularly large amount in the modern game, it's a reminder that he has cost over £10m in wages across his six years at St. James' Park.

And indeed, even when he does earn time under the lights, his performances have left the likes of pundit Jamie Carragher criticising his "Championship" level defending, also branding him "really poor".

How good is Javier Manquillo?

While Manquillo was once deemed a prospect exciting enough to earn a loan move to Liverpool, even though they were at their nadir in the term preceding Klopp's arrival, he failed to impact a struggling Reds team and only chalked up 19 appearances, seeing his two-year loan spell cut short after not featuring in the Premier League beyond December.

Playing just 22 times for the Black Cats the year before his move to Newcastle, Manquillo did score on his final outing against Chelsea, albeit in a chastening 5-1 defeat.

The versatile defender was allegedly "told he's allowed to leave" this summer, according to one report, but no move materialised and it now looks likely that he will sit the 2023/24 season on the periphery before departing on a free transfer when his contract expires in June.

The report continued to claim that Newcastle had even offered a gentleman's proposal to allow him to depart on a free transfer, cutting his stay short by one year amid interest from LaLiga outfit's Girona and Getafe, with Manquillo said to be pushing himself for a return to his homeland.

For whatever reason, it didn't happen, and with journalist Luke Edwards rebuking him for his “awful” defending just months after Howe's arrival, it's evident that he lost his manager's backing right from the get-go.

Having yet to feature in any capacity within the matchday squad thus far this campaign, the prospects of pitch time for the 29-year-old Spaniard grow slimmer by the week.

This summer, Howe bolstered his full-back ranks with exciting young talents Tino Livramento and Lewis Hall, both previous Player of the Year holders with Chelsea's academy, and given that the likes of club captain Kieran Trippier, Dan Burn, Matt Targett and even Paul Dummett still reside on Tyneside, Manquillo might be moored in the shadows for a while longer.

Perhaps Manquillo might feel that his decision to reside on Tyneside is justified following the club's qualification to the Champions League, which is now but a stone's throw away.

However, the dynamo can only watch from the sidelines having not been included in Howe's final continental squad, set to miss out on the most exciting phase of the club's new direction; surplus to requirements.

It would be a prudent move for the full-back to depart the club as soon as he can, salvaging his career and forging a new chapter that might warrant some more time on the pitch.

At Newcastle, under Howe, he has barely made a mark, and the chances of a Toon resurgence for his ill-fortuned full-back are indeed infinitesimal.

Some supporters in Hong Kong climbed a mountain in a bid to try and watch Lionel Messi, but were left disappointed as he was benched by Inter Miami.

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All-time great in the Far EastHas been nursing a knockSupporters left frustratedGettyWHAT HAPPENED?

The Argentine superstar is in the Far East as the Herons continue their jet-setting pre-season tour. Messi has, however, seen his game time limited since picking up a knock. He was given just seven minutes during a friendly contest against Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia that did not feature his eternal rival Cristiano Ronaldo.

AdvertisementTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Fans in Hong Kong had been hoping to see the eight-time Ballon d’Or return to the field as he visited their part of their world, but he was an unused substitute alongside Luis Suarez in a game that Inter Miami won 4-1.

DID YOU KNOW?

Those inside the stadium, who had moved quickly to snap up expensive tickets, aired their anger at not seeing Messi step onto the pitch. Those outside the ground had even more cause for frustration, with some having taken to climbing a nearby mountain in order to catch a glimpse of the all-time great.

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WHAT NEXT FOR MESSI & INTER MIAMI?

Inter Miami will remain in Asia for a meeting with Japanese side Vissel Kobe on Wednesday, before then returning to the United States for a home date with Newell’s Old Boys and the start of the 2024 MLS campaign on February 21.

Bayern Munich legend Lothar Matthaus has criticised the club for going after ageing players like Eric Dier and Kieran Trippier this transfer window.

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Matthaus slams Bayern Munich Signed Dier and linked with Trippier Bayern recently lost 1-0 to Werder Bremen WHAT HAPPENED?

The 1990 World Cup-winning Germany captain questioned Bayern Munich's decision to sign Eric Dier on loan from Tottenham Hotspur as he felt that the club needed to go after younger talents instead of signing ageing players. The reigning German champions are also heavily linked with a move for veteran England and Newcastle United full-back Kieran Trippier.

AdvertisementWHAT LOTHAR MATTHAUS SAID

Speaking , the legendary player said, "Bayern need more depth and reinforcements, but are these players reinforcements? Eric Dier wasn’t necessarily a key player at Tottenham recently. I remember Uli Hoeness (Bayern’s honorary president) once saying that, ‘We won’t be bringing in any more players who are sitting on the bench at other clubs’. The latest transfer looks different.

"Kieran Trippier would be a similar case. That’s not Bayern Munich for me. Bayern should focus on reinforcements or on the young players. Aleksander Pavlovic sat out against Bremen and wasn’t substituted. When he did play, he was always outstanding. Bayern Munich have very good youth players and Christoph Freund (Bayern’s sporting director) is responsible for that. He has a good network."

He added, "In the summer it was said, ‘We can let (Benjamin) Pavard and (Josip) Stanisic go and get someone else instead’, and then they didn’t get anyone else. As a result, they’ve got problems at right-back and in the centre. They thought, ‘We’ll manage that’. No, they reacted too late. The team can’t find itself."

GettyTHE BIGGER PICTURE

On Sunday, the German giants suffered a shock 1-0 defeat at the hands of Werder Bremen in the Bundesliga. The Spurs loanee was included in the matchday squad, although he did not play a part in the game. The defeat left Bayern seven points adrift of league leaders Bayer Leverkusen.

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GettyWHAT NEXT FOR BAYERN MUNICH?

Thomas Tuchel's side will aim to get back to winning ways on Wednesday as Harry Kane & Co. take on Union Berlin in a crucial Bundesliga clash at the Allianz Arena.

Given he is also keeping wickets, it is possible Bancroft could be included in any one of three ways in the Australian side: as an opener, No. 6 batsman or gloveman

Daniel Brettig13-Nov-2017Getty ImagesCameron Bancroft built a near undeniable case for Ashes selection by adding another innings of real substance to his Sheffield Shield ledger against South Australia at the WACA Ground.Pushed as a candidate by his state coach Justin Langer, Bancroft batted throughout day one to finish on an unbeaten 161, aided by a freewheeling 95 from the Western Australia captain Mitchell Marsh.Given he is also keeping wickets, it is possible Bancroft could be included in any one of three ways in the Australian side: as an opener, No. 6 batsman or gloveman. Either way, he is fitting the definition of “banging the door down” the selectors have been looking for.There were less glad tidings for Shaun Marsh, Hilton Cartwright and the returning Marcus Stoinis. All made starts before being dismissed, Marsh dragging on, Cartwright bowled between bat and pad, and Stoinis caught behind.SA’s bowlers were largely unable to stem the scoring rate, though the wicketkeeper Alex Carey claimed a pair of catches and the recalled Kane Richardson was economical.

Southampton boss Russell Martin is likely to get backed in the transfer market and could pursue Swansea City striker Joel Piroe amid interest from the Premier League in Che Adams, according to journalist Alex Crook.

Could Joel Piroe move to Southampton this summer?

As per Football Insider, Southampton and Leeds United are keen on Piroe this summer and a fee of £15-20 million may be enough to secure his services this summer.

The report states that Leicester City are also interested in taking the 23-year-old to the King Power Stadium; however, his current employers are in no rush to part ways with their prize asset despite his £11k-a-week deal at the Welsh outfit being set to expire in 2024.

Last season, Piroe, who has been hailed as "outstanding", was in fine form for Swansea City and it is easy to see why he is garnering attention, given that he notched 20 goals and two assists in 45 appearances across all competitions in 2022/23, as per Transfermarkt.

Southampton striker Adams is also attracting a wealth of suitors from the English top-flight and could move on this window, with Everton, Bournemouth and Wolverhampton Wanderers mooted to be among his many admirers, according to Football Insider.

Scotland international Adams will be allowed to leave St Mary's Stadium for a suitable fee and could be joined by James Ward-Prowse and Romeo Lavia, who are being heavily linked with West Ham United and Liverpool, respectively.

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, journalist Crook thinks that Southampton's hierarchy will back Martin this window and Piroe could be an individual who the former Milton Keynes Dons manager could choose to invest in.

Martin stated: "I think he'll be backed, Russell Martin, because the owners have got deep pockets. They're willing to invest. I still think, even though James Ward-Prowse and Romeo Lavia will be a big miss, their priority will be a new number nine.

"He's only got a year left on his contract and he's made it pretty clear that he's not going to sign a new deal."

Who else could Southampton bring in this summer and who could leave?

Gazzetta dello Sport via Hampshire Live report that West Ham United striker Danny Ings could be set for a sensational return to the South Coast this summer after only six months at his current employers.

Southampton are believed to be frontrunners to sign Norwich City right-back Max Aarons and it is said that he could be a potential replacement for Tino Livramento, as per talkSPORT, who is being linked with a move to Newcastle United.

In other news, Saints may be set to let Kamaldeen Sulemana move to Everton and the Toffees are reportedly 'exploring' a deal to bring the Ghana international to Goodison Park, according to The Daily Mail.

Aston Villa midfielder Lamar Bogarde has been earmarked as an alternative in the event Belgium international Lavia leaves St Mary's to join Liverpool between now and the close of play in the market, as per FootballTransfers.