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Wolverhampton Wanderers are keen on a summer move for AZ Alkmaar left-back Milos Kerkez, according to a report.

The Lowdown: Bueno eyed

Wolves may need to sign a new left-back in the summer transfer window, given that Atletico Madrid are said to be eyeing a move for Hugo Bueno, who has been praised by Jamie Carragher in the wake of his recent performances.

The Old Gold have previously been linked with Benfica’s Alejandro Grimaldo, however with Champions League-chasing Newcastle also said to be interested, they may be forced to turn their attentions elsewhere.

The Latest: Keen on Kerkez

According to a report from Record (via Sport Witness), Julen Lopetegui is keen on signing Kerkez this summer, with Brentford, Benfica, Bayer Leverkusen and Borussia Dortmund also said to be eyeing deals.

The left-back has his sights set on Benfica, however the Portuguese club are not willing to stump up the €20m (£17.7m) that Alkmaar are set to demand, meaning he may have to move elsewhere.

The Verdict: Get it done?

Hailed as ‘incredible’ by members of the media, the Hungarian is fantastic going forward, having picked up three goals and six assists in all competitions for Alkmaar this season, also ranking in the 93rd percentile for non-penalty goals per 90 in the past year.

Given that the starlet is just 19-years-old, he is only going to improve, and he has already emerged as a vital player for Alkmaar, making 36 appearances for the title-chasing Dutch side in all competitions this season.

It is difficult to assess how good Kerkez is defensively, as he plays for a side that are not used to being on the back foot, but his attacking ability indicates he would be a great signing for Wolves this summer, perhaps capable of playing further forward on a long-term basis.

Tottenham insiders believe defender Clement Lenglet could become their ‘best option’ at the centre of a back three, according to Alasdair Gold.

The Lowdown: Lenglet joins…

The Frenchman, after a few seasons in the Barcelona wilderness, joined Spurs on a season-long loan deal from the Catalans last summer.

As part of sporting director Fabio Paratici’s bid to strengthen Antonio Conte’s defence, Lenglet put pen to paper on a move to N17, but he has endured a mixed campaign.

The 27-year-old has been criticised for some questionable performances this Premier League season and reports suggest Spurs want to strengthen the centre-back position further this summer with other signings.

The Latest: Spurs hold Lenglet belief…

However, despite the criticism and another lacklustre performance against Wolves on Saturday, Spurs insiders believe Lenglet could star under Conte.

According to Alasdair Gold, writing for football.london, those within the club believe the former Sevilla star could become their ‘best option’ at the centre of a back three.

It’s added that they’re a big fan of his passing ability, even if Lenglet’s showing at Molineux did little to back up that theory.

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The Verdict: Right call?

Lenglet’s ability as a ball-playing central defender is without question – completing a cool 87.4% of his passes out from the back this season (WhoScored).

However, the concerns lie in his ability to thwart opposition attacks, with pundit Jamie O’Hara calling Lenglet an ‘imposter’ after a recent Champions League horror show against AC Milan.

The £145,000-per-week ace also ranks below the likes of Eric Dier and Cristian Romero in a lot of key defensive metrics – with the two Spurs stars averaging a higher rate of blocks, interceptions and clearances made per 90.

While Lenglet stands out a composed ball-player, there appears to still be work to do in terms of his defensive ability, and these next few months will be crucial in determining his future.

An update has emerged on Glasgow Rangers midfielder Bailey Rice and interest in his services ahead of the summer transfer window…

What's the latest on Bailey Rice's future at Ibrox?

According to 90min, the Gers B team central midfielder has caught the attention of a number of huge European clubs after earning his first-team stripes earlier this season.

The report claims that European sides Real Madrid, Monaco, Porto, Borussia Dortmund, RB Leipzig and Bayer Leverkusen are all keeping tabs on the Scotland youth international.

It is stated that Premier League sides Newcastle, Manchester City, and Manchester United have also shown an interest in the teenage talent.

What happened to Billy Gilmour at Rangers?

The Light Blues lost academy midfielder Billy Gilmour to English giants Chelsea at the age of 15 for an initial fee of £500k in the summer of 2017 and Ross Wilson is now risking a repeat of that disasterclass with Rice.

Since leaving Ibrox, the now-Brighton dynamo has been capped 16 times by Scotland at international level, signed for the Seagulls for a £10m package, and played 42 matches in the Premier League.

This shows that the Gers missed out on an excellent player, who has established himself at the top level in England and on the international stage, because they were unable to convince him to remain in Glasgow as a teenager.

Therefore, Wilson must do everything in his power to stop Rice from making a move away from Ibrox in the summer transfer window, whether that is south of the border or elsewhere in Europe, as the talented gem could be a future star for Michael Beale's side.

The 16-year-old recently became a club record-breaker by playing against Livingston in the Premiership – making him the youngest player ever to feature in a league game in Rangers history.

Rice has played 20 matches for the academy this season and has been capped 18 times by Scotland's U16 and U17 sides despite his young age, which shows that the enforcer is highly rated by coaches at club and international level.

Gilmour had also been capped by his country at U15 and U16 level prior to leaving the Gers in 2017 and his excellent progression since moving to England shows the path that Rice could take in the years to come.

The Light Blues teenager, who was once lauded as a "prospect" by journalist Mark Hendry, has clearly impressed enough to earn Beale's trust – to make him a record-breaker this season – and this indicates that the manager sees the gem as someone with the potential to make the breakthrough at senior level, following in Gilmour's footsteps.

Therefore, Wilson and the Gers head coach must work their socks off to convince Rice that remaining at Ibrox is the best decision he can make for his development in the coming years.

Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy ‘will consider’ Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou to succeed current head coach Antonio Conte.

The Lowdown: Spurs manager list growing…

As per recent reports, Spurs’ managerial shortlist to succeed Conte appears to be growing larger and larger.

Indeed, Mauricio Pochettino, Luis Enrique, Thomas Tuchel, Marco Silva, Roberto De Zerbi and Thomas Frank have all been mentioned as targets by reliable sources.

Conte has also been linked with a move back to Italy, where Serie A giants Inter Milan are lurking.

The 53-year-old’s future seems far away from Spurs after this season, with journalist Matt Law now sharing another candidate in the frame.

The Latest: Levy will consider Ange…

According to Law, writing in a piece for The Telegraph, Spurs chairman Daniel Levy ‘will consider’ appointing Postecoglou alongside other ‘alternative’ candidates to Pochettino.

It is also believed that Levy will take the suggestions of Fabio Paratici into account with Postecoglou now sitting on the shortlist with De Zerbi and Napoli boss Luciano Spalletti.

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The Verdict: Good choice?

While there are some arguments to be made that the 57-year-old has enjoyed success in a less competitive division than the Premier League with Celtic, Postecoglou has still seriously made waves in the SPFL.

The Australian has endeared himself to Parkhead’s faithful and re-established the Hoops as Scotland’s dominant number one side.

He is currently on course to win a second-successive league title, with pundits like Owen Hargreaves praising his ‘beautiful’ attacking football.

The Australian has totalled six league titles in his career overall, clinching first division medals with South Melbourne FC (2), Brisbane Roar (2), Yokohoma F. Marinos and Celtic (Transfermarkt).

While he isn’t a prestigious name like Pochettino or Thomas Tuchel, for instance, nobody can argue he has impressed during his career.

He could be a more left-field choice but there is little surprise the 57 year-old has made his way into Tottenham’s thinking.

Crystal Palace podcaster Dan Cook has claimed that Patrick Vieira's decision to remove Shaun Derry from his coaching staff may have been a factor in his dismissal as manager.

What happened with Vieira at Crystal Palace?

The former midfielder was appointed at the start of last season and led the Eagles to a 12th-place finish and an FA Cup semi-final, but a downturn in form has seen the club fail to win any of their games in 2023.

Vieira was eventually sacked after a run of three straight defeats, with his predecessor Roy Hodgson in talks to replace him.

Speaking on a Twitter Space, Cook pointed to the recent decision from Vieira to remove club hero Shaun Derry from his role on the coaching staff back in late January as a potentially contributing factor in his exit, as the decision may not have gone down well with some of the executives at the club.

He said: "I can't say this for sure, but Shaun Derry was removed from the coaching staff, I believe, at Patrick Vieira's request a few weeks ago. The suggestion was that his style of coaching didn't mesh with Pat's and I think, given Shaun Derry's reputation within the club, that that probably is something that's factored into this decision.

"It won't have been a call that was made with universal agreement, I would imagine, from the likes of Steve Parish and Dougie Freedman – I could be wrong there. But it doesn't seem to me to be an obvious call to make from everybody at the club, and if you are going to give someone like Patrick Vieira that freedom, and then the results and performances don't improve, I would suggest there is more to it than just the simple removal of a coaching member."

Did Vieira deserve the sack?

Whilst Palace's recent run of results has been dire, they did have a tough schedule to navigate.

Each of their last 11 league games came against teams who were above them in the table, and they still remain in 12th place – albeit just three points above the relegation zone.

It can be argued that Vieira deserved more time to manage the team until an easier set of fixtures came up and that he wasn't given the required backing in the transfer market.

Palace have struggled for goals this season and did not sign a striker in the last two windows. Jean-Philippe Mateta and Jordan Ayew have just one goal each this season, and with better quality up front, Vieira's side may have started picking up more points.

Making the change mid-season is a big risk, and if the next appointment is a poor one, it could cause disastrous consequences.

How much of a difference Shaun Derry will have made is unknown, but it is perhaps worth considering that his departure may have had a negative knock-on effect on the squad, which has inevitably helped lead to Vieira's sacking.

Everton have enjoyed an upturn in form since Sean Dyche's appointment, with the 51-year-old taking over a squad admittedly lacking in quality and confidence and managing to steer them out of the relegation zone thus far.

Since the Toffees brought him in, they have yielded the fourth-most points, with only Arsenal, Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur having recorded more.

It marks a mini miracle, as the ex-Burnley boss seeks to continue this following the imminent conclusion of the international break.

However, disaster has once again struck for the Merseyside outfit, who were dealt a huge blow as their club captain Seamus Coleman was outlined as a doubt for his country's upcoming game.

The Irishman has seldom had much fortune when playing for the Boys in Green, with the 34-year-old suffering the worst injury of his career in a match against Wales where he sustained a broken leg.

Given that this potential ailment is of far less concern, despite him enjoying the best form he's had in recent years, it does now allow the returning Nathan Patterson to prove to the new boss why he is the perfect man to take over from him in the near future.

When will Nathan Patterson play for Everton?

Having joined for £16m back in January of 2022, the youngster has struggled for fitness throughout his tenure at Goodison Park. Just when opportunities seem to arise for him, the Scotsman is usually struck down with an issue of his own.

His latest came against Brighton and Hove Albion, where he suffered what Frank Lampard described as a "freak" injury that has seen him ruled out ever since.

But whilst one right back suffers on international duty, the other made his triumphant long-awaited return to senior football in a short cameo for Scotland.

The 21-year-old came on for the final portion of the game, having built up to a re-emergence by featuring for Everton's youth sides multiple times.

But by finally getting on the pitch again, for club or country, it bodes well for a strong finish to the season back at Everton.

Having only featured 13 times this season before the injury, Patterson's 6.74 average rating thus far in his debut Premier League season is impressive. He has already established himself as a capable defender, boasting three tackles and 2.1 interceptions per game (via Sofascore), but it is his youthful energy that marks him apart from the £55k-per-week "leader", as branded by journalist Paddy Boyland.

Although he has impressed this season, Coleman will eventually start to slow down. It, therefore, means that his young successor needs to be ready to step up, and this marks his huge chance to do so. With pundit Danny Murphy having lauded him as a "diamond" already for his displays in Royal Blue, should he find consistency then it could prove incredibly fruitful for Dyche and the club.

Aston Villa are thought to be interested in signing Liverpool midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain this summer.

What’s the latest transfer news on Oxlade-Chamberlain?

Oxlade-Chamberlain has been on the books at Anfield since 2017, but his days on Merseyside appear to be numbered. The 29-year-old has made 145 appearances for the Reds, however, he has been limited to just 469 minutes of football under Jurgen Klopp this season.

The midfielder has started just four times in the Premier League and is out of contract at the end of the campaign, with Fabrizio Romano stating that he is expected to leave Liverpool as a free agent over the coming months. It looks as if the Midlands could be a potential destination for the player, who has a successful record against Aston Villa, winning 11 of his 13 games against the club.

The Daily Mail provided an update regarding Oxlade-Chamberlain in the last 48 hours, saying that he has interest from Italy. However, there are also clubs in England who are keen on securing his services, one of which is Villa. Brighton and Newcastle are also thought to be interested in his signature, with the former of the two previously looking at a move in January.

Would Oxlade-Chamberlain be a good signing for Villa?

Oxlade-Chamberlain, lauded as 'superb' as a number eight by journalist Raj Chohan, has plenty of experience at the highest level for club and country and can play in a number of different midfield and attacking roles ranging from a central midfielder to a winger.

On that basis, you could say that he could be a shrewd squad addition under Unai Emery, however, in recent years, he has struggled for game time at Anfield. Since the beginning of the 2020/21 season, Oxlade-Chamberlain has played just 38 times in the Premier League, with his last real run of games for Liverpool coming four years ago.

He hasn’t had any luck with injuries either, missing 169 during his club career with Liverpool and Arsenal due to a number of different issues. The Englishman has missed 34 games in recent years with knee and hamstring problems, so there is no guarantee he would be available to Emery all year round.

Therefore, you could say that a move for the player over the coming months could be a gamble by NSWE and Villa despite no transfer fee required, especially as Oxlade-Chamberlain is on a £120,000-a-week salary on Merseyside, the same as star man Emiliano Martinez.

Tottenham Hotspur continued their patchy form during Monday's draw with Everton, in which very few of the visitors left Goodison Park with any credit.

Cristian Stellini clearly outlined how assertively aligned he remained to Antonio Conte's philosophy, as he put out a side that mirrored the unpredictable performances that had plagued their campaign thus far.

The defence remained shaky and the midfield was once again distant from their front three, lending to another disjointed display in which they were pegged back through a late thunderbolt that few could argue with. The hosts had merited their equaliser, despite being reduced to ten men; another damning indicator of the turgid football on display from Spurs.

They got lucky playing out from the back on numerous occasions too, and on another day the Toffees might have stolen a few more goals from the times they nearly dispossessed the back three.

Clement Lenglet in particular disappointed, with the Frenchman continuing his abhorrent form that has left many questioning his acquisition.

Having struggled at Barcelona, where he carried the burden of never rating above a seasonal average of 6.9 (per WhoScored) his stint in north London has been no different, and that aforementioned shakiness was often attributed to his struggles escaping the hosts' press.

Perhaps Stellini could cut his losses now and return him to the bench, potentially in favour of an academy graduate more deserving of his spot. The outstanding candidate would therefore be Brooklyn Lyons-Foster.

Who is Brooklyn Lyons-Foster?

Featuring as one of the more developed members of the U21s, the defender has starred throughout the youth ranks without actually making his senior debut.

However, his versatility would make him a fine asset for any outfit, given that he can play anywhere across the back four or in midfield. The ability to play in the engine room also lends to his technical assets, which Lenglet clearly has lacked for the Lilywhites.

Against Everton, the 27-year-old had to be withdrawn early due to his unreliability, having been booked for a reckless foul mid-way through the second half.

He was dribbled past twice and would win just three of the nine duels he competed in. As such, his 6.6 rating was the second-worst of any of his teammates that started, via Sofascore.

The £145k-per-week stalwart has maintained this misery throughout his loan spell in north London too, earning a 6.61 average rating. Although, it was foolish to expect much else from the man dubbed "a complete & utter liability of a defender" by journalist Jonathan Johnson.

Meanwhile, Lyons-Foster has been biding his time in the academy squads for years now, even training among the senior ranks on occasion. His ability has surely surpassed the youth level, with his performance in the Football League Trophy last season meriting praise. There he boasted one clearance and two tackles per game, as well as an 84% pass accuracy, per Sofascore.

It might not be the most outstanding audition for the first team, but given his competition, surely he is worth the risk for the potential reward the youngster could bring.

Manchester United are monitoring Birmingham City defender Rico Browne ahead of a potential move to the Premier League, according to reports.

What's the latest on Browne's future?

The Blues centre-back is a promising young and rising talent who joined the academy at St. Andrews on a free transfer back in 2016 where he has since worked his way up through the various youth ranks to become a regular feature and captain of the U21s outfit.

The Midlands-based 19-year-old has made a total of 31 appearances since putting pen to paper but is yet to have forced his way into the senior first-team fold. Nevertheless, the teenager’s contract is set to expire in the summer and his future is uncertain having not yet committed to extending his stay further.

Premier League rivals West Ham are understood to have taken him on a trial two years ago whilst Tottenham Hotspur also verbally offered him an 18-month contract, but at the time, he decided to stay where he was and continue as skipper. Now though, he’s attracting interest once again, this time from Old Trafford.

According to Football Insider, Manchester United are “keeping close tabs” on Browne who has been “on the radar” of several high-profile clubs in the Premier League. The Birmingham starlet’s potential availability has “alerted” the Red Devils who are in the process of compiling an “extensive dossier” on him and it’s believed that he would “jump at the chance” to join with the aim of making an impression for Erik Ten Hag. The Blues are reportedly “keen” to retain his services and offer him a new deal, but should the hierarchy come calling with a “clear plan for his development”, he could well favour a move to Old Trafford.

Would Browne be a good signing for United's academy?

Manchester United have a history of academy players coming through the ranks and making their name in the first-team, including the likes of Anthony Elanga, so Browne could follow in their footsteps and he would be a fantastic addition to the youth set-up.

Being captain, the 6 foot 2 colossus will hold plenty of great leadership qualities and will be able to organise his team from the heart of the backline. Alongside playing in his natural role at centre-back, the £330-p/w talent also has the flexibility to play slightly higher up in defensive midfield which will be yet another attractive attribute to the board.

The St. Kitts & Nevis native additionally shares the same agent as Luke Shaw, Elanga and Facundo Pellistri so this could potentially give the Red Devils an advantage in the race to secure Browne's services at the end of the season.

Chelsea have endured a woeful 2022/23 campaign which has seen them manage just 30 goals in 31 Premier League games, with a bottom-half finish now looking likely under interim manager Frank Lampard.

The lack of goals at Stamford Bridge could be due to a number of factors but fingers have naturally been pointed at Kai Havertz, as the German forward has once again struggled for consistency in a Chelsea shirt.

Is Havertz to blame for Chelsea's goalscoring woes?

The 23-year-old may well be the top scorer in Chelsea's squad so far this season but he has just seven top-flight goals to his name in 29 Premier League outings and would have been expected to score far more given his role as the main striker for the west London outfit.

Havertz, who earns £150k-per-week, arrived at Chelsea in 2020 in an eye-watering deal worth £75.8m, having contributed an impressive 46 goals and 31 assists in 150 appearances for Bundesliga outfit Bayer Leverkusen.

His time at Stamford Bridge has been far less fruitful, as he boasts just 32 goals and 15 assists in 132 appearances, despite moving from an attacking midfield role to a central striker role with the west London club.

This campaign has seen the Germany international underperform on his xG by 4.52, which is comfortably the worst return of his career, and perhaps explains why he has been left out by the interim boss in recent fixtures.

How much is Havertz worth now?

In a recent interview with Football FanCast, Simon Phillips speculated that, if Chelsea were to try and sell the 23-year-old on the back of another disappointing campaign, they would get nowhere near the price they paid.

He said: "When he's poor, he's poor. He will go through a run of five, six, or seven games where he will be very poor. He's far too inconsistent really.

"In terms of how much he's worth, I think he's got a market value of around £50m, but I think Chelsea would be very lucky to get that this summer."

Todd Boehly has obviously invested a huge amount since arriving at Chelsea and has failed to see the results on the pitch, which suggests that a number of first-team players could be moved on this summer ahead of the arrival of a prospective new manager.

Unless Havertz can pick up his form in the remaining fixtures, having managed just five goals in 20 appearances since the World Cup, then he could be a prime candidate to depart, even if it means the Blues making a significant loss on him.