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West Ham United have seemingly made bringing in a central midfielder or two their top priority in the remainder of the transfer window after sanctioning Declan Rice's £100m-plus move to Arsenal.

The Europa Conference League winners have been slow off the mark so far in terms of incoming activity, but David Moyes looks set to replenish his squad in the coming weeks.

Who could replace Declan Rice?

It is no coincidence that West Ham have been linked with a number of central midfielders over the past month or so, including the likes of Joao Palhinha, James Ward-Prowse and Denis Zakaria.

United have made an approach for Ajax ace Edson Alvarez, according to The Athletic, while The Independent reports that the east London side are now ready to step up their interest in Manchester United's Scott McTominay.

West Ham have plenty of money to spend following Rice's exit – although that will not necessarily be a good thing when it comes to negotiating with other clubs – but it will take a fee in the region of £50m to prise McTominay away from Old Trafford.

What kind of player is Scott McTominay?

McTominay has spent six seasons as a first-team regular for Man United and featured 39 times in all competitions last season, albeit starting just 16 of those matches.

The Scotland international's stock has fallen somewhat, with last season the first time since 2019-20 he made fewer than 30 appearances in the Premier League.

However, McTominay still showed what he is capable of when called upon, especially in terms of the defensive aspects of the game. The 26-year-old averaged 3.12 clearances per 90 and won 2.84 aerials per 90, as per FBref, which ranks him among the top 1% and 2% of all midfielders across Europe's top five leagues respectively.

The 6 foot 4 brute also added goals to his game in the second half of the season, scoring six times in his final 11 outings for club and country, though all but one of those goals came for Scotland.

The Lancaster native was given more of a licence to get forward by Scotland boss Steve Clarke, which may also be the case under his compatriot, Moyes at the London Stadium.

Should the Irons also get a deal over the line for Alvarez, it could provide United with a dream central-midfield partnership. Alvarez himself thrives in the defensive side of the game, but he is also capable of keeping things ticking over.

Indeed, the Mexico international ranked ninth in the whole of Eredivisie last season for passes completed per 90 (74.5) and fifth for pass-completion percentage (88.7).

Assuming Moyes sticks with the 4-2-3-1 formation favoured throughout last season, Alvarez and McTominay could sit in front of the back four, with the latter given a little more freedom to carry the ball forward.

For while McTominay's stock has fallen over the past season or so, it was less than three years ago he was being described as a "physical monster" by then-United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

Should West Ham follow up their initial interest in McTominay, they will have the opportunity to unleash the 'monster' in what could be an exciting new-look midfield this coming season.

Celtic being able to initiate a sensational deal to land Scott McTominay this summer would be 'tough to pull off', according to journalist Dean Jones.

What clubs are keen on Scott McTominay?

Last term, McTominay was used primarily as a rotational option by Erik Ten Hag for Manchester United, though he still managed to make 39 appearances in all competitions, registering three goals and one assist, as per Transfermarkt.

Nevertheless, the Scotland international could be set to be axed at Old Trafford this summer alongside Harry Maguire, Jadon Sancho and Fred as Dutch coach Ten Hag looks to 'streamline' his squad this season, according to The Independent.

Suitors have emerged for McTominay and Celtic have been named as a potential destination for the £60k-a-week ace, as Brendan Rodgers looks to strengthen his squad ahead of their defence of the Scottish Premiership title.

CBS Sports via The Daily Mail report that McTominay is also on the radar of Brighton & Hove Albion and Jose Mourinho's Roma; however, Manchester United's Financial Fair Play restrictions may lead to them keeping hold of the 26-year-old for another year due to the fact they would be unlikely to afford a direct replacement for him.

talkSPORT understand that West Ham United are in the market for a central midfielder and could turn to McTominay as a potential alternative to Declan Rice, who is set for a money-spinning move to Arsenal and looks to have played his last game for the Hammers.

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, journalist Jones thinks that McTominay would be a 'mind-blowing' signing for Celtic if they managed to convince him to swap the Premier League for the Scottish Premiership.

Jones stated: "If Celtic could land McTominay, it would be mind-blowing, to be honest. I think it would be one of the biggest deals of the summer.

"It would be huge for Celtic, but it would also be a big decision for McTominay to switch from the Premier League to the Scottish Premiership at this point.

"It would be an incredible get for Celtic if they can pull something like that off, but I think it'll be tough to pull off."

What other players could Celtic and Rodgers sign this window?

Celtic have been slow off the mark this window as boss Rodgers runs the rule over his squad in their pre-season training camp in Portugal; however, some arrivals will be expected in the next few weeks as the Irishman ramps up his market proactivity at the helm of the Scottish champions.

According to Ukrainian outlet Sport Novyny, Celtic are regarded as frontrunners to sign Brazilian winger Tete, who spent the second half of last term on loan at Leicester City. The report adds that he intends to leave his parent club Shakhtar Donetsk due to fears for his safety due to the region's ongoing conflict.

Gangwon midfielder Yang Hyun-jun has been extensively linked to Celtic this window and has stated that there has been "some progress" in the ongoing transfer saga that continues to unfold concerning his potential arrival in Glasgow, as relayed by Football Scotland.

Last month, The Scottish Sun claimed that Arsenal defender Kieran Tierney would be open to a blockbuster return to Celtic on a loan basis; however, both parties would need to come to a significant compromise over wages and any fee for the agreement.

Glasgow Rangers officially completed their sixth signing of the summer transfer window on Thursday as they announced the arrival of Cyriel Dessers.

The Nigerian international has joined on a four-year deal for an undisclosed fee from Italian side Cremonese to bolster Michael Beale's attacking options ahead of the 2023/24 campaign.

He follows Kieran Dowell, Abdallah Sima, Dujon Sterling, Jack Butland, and Sam Lammers through the door at Ibrox, with the Light Blues wasting no time in attempting to improve their squad.

The Gers failed to win a single trophy last season and they will be hoping that their moves in the transfer market this summer allow them to compete for major silverware over the next 12 months.

Another player who has been linked with a move to Glasgow is Bayern Munich attacking midfielder Malik Tillman. He spent last term on loan from the German giants and it has been reported that Rangers remain in the race to land him on a second deal, although they face competition from Premier League teams.

How much will Malik Tillman cost?

The Light Blues would only need to cover his wages, which are reportedly £13k-per-week, alongside a possible loan fee if they were to sign the American international on another temporary deal.

Although, it has also been claimed that Bayern would demand at least £10m, which is twice the value of the option-to-buy the Gers previously had in their loan contract, in a permanent transfer for the exciting gem.

Beale must push for Rangers to sign Tillman again as the 21-year-old magician's exceptional performances in midfield could make Dessers better next season, with his creative quality out wide and in the middle of the park.

The former Cremonese ace scored six goals in 19 Serie A starts this season, while he only missed five 'big chances'. This suggests that the 28-year-old gem did not get quality service from his teammates, which prevented him from finding the back of the net on a regular basis.

Dessers racked up an outstanding 19 goals in 16 starts for Feyenoord, along with 14 'big chances' missed, during the 2021/22 Eredivisie and Europa Conference League campaigns, whilst James Tavernier was Rangers' top league scorer with 16.

This shows that the Nigerian finisher is capable of being a prolific scorer when his colleagues are able to provide him with excellent opportunities in front of goal.

Therefore, Tillman could be perfect for him as the Bayern prospect was an excellent creator for the club last season. The 21-year-old wizard created a whopping 12 'big chances' on his own for his teammates in the Scottish Premiership, which was more than Fashion Sakala (seven), Todd Cantwell (five), and Ryan Kent (nine) managed.

This shows that the terrific youngster, who was lauded as "phenomenal" by John Lundstram, is an outstanding creative presence in midfield. He has the ability to open up opposition defences on a regular basis and this could allow Dessers to thrive in the box as the latest signing has proven himself to be a reliable goalscorer with the right service.

Therefore, Beale must swoop to bring Tillman back to Ibrox as his return could make the former Genk centre-forward unplayable over the coming months.

Leeds United defender Robin Koch is now wanted by Serie A champions Napoli this summer, according to a fresh transfer update.

Which players are leaving Leeds?

The Whites' relegation from the Premier League last month was a bitter pill to swallow for anyone associated with the club, following three years back in the top flight of English football.

It will create problem for so many reasons, not least the fact that Leeds are going to find it extremely difficult to keep hold of key players beyond the summer. Playing in the Championship will not appeal to many of their top young talents, especially if they have the opportunity to return straight to the top level at another club.

A host of current Whites heroes are being linked with summer moves away from Elland Road, with the likes of Wilfried Gnonto and Jack Harrison among those in the mix to depart.

Koch is another who has been tipped to move on, however, as he looks for a new challenge.

Is Koch potentially joining Napoli?

According to Sky Italia journalist Franceso Modugno (via Gianluca Di Marzio and Sport Witness), Napoli are eyeing up a summer move for the £38,000-a-week defender, as they look to bring in a tailor-made replacement for centre-back Kim Min-jae, who looks set to join Bayern Munich.

The report claims that the Serie A giants see Koch as a strong target because he "stands out for his physicality and ability in aerial play", with a bid now possibly in the offing.

In truth, these are the sort of departures that Leeds simply have to accept in the summer transfer window, with someone of Koch's standing no doubt intrigued by the idea of joining a Napoli side that excelled so much last season.

While it would be nice to see the 26-year-old stay put with the Whites and help them make a speedy return to the Premier League, it is difficult to be too critical of him moving on if a club of such stature comes in for him.

Granted, Koch hasn't always covered himself in glory for Leeds, starting 36 of his side's 38 league games en route to relegation in 2022/23, but he has been hailed as a "machine" by teammate Max Wober and he would be a loss, certainly boasting the physicality to thrive in the second tier.

The fact that the German's current Whites deal expires next year does make this a realistic time to sell him and receive good money, though, which is the one positive to take from his likely exit.

Aston Villa could start "making offers" for players, according to journalist Dean Jones, with the club linked to £35m midfielder Manu Kone.

Are Villa interested in Kone?

One of the names hot on the lips of transfer experts everywhere is Borussia Monchengladbach midfielder Manu Kone, with the young Frenchman having been linked with a move away from the Bundesliga this summer.

Even Gladbach's director of football has admitted as much, telling kicker (via 90min): "Our attitude is well-known. If there are sums involved that a club like Borussia has to think about, we will do it."

Gladbach have already lost Marcus Thuram to Inter, Ramy Bensebaini to Borussia Dortmund and Lars Stindl to Karlsruher, all on free transfers, and are expected to have to cash in on some of their saleable assets this summer.

This will likely be great news for clubs around Europe, one of whom might be Aston Villa.

According to Dean Jones, Unai Emery's side could start making offers for unsettled players, one of which could be Kone.

He told GIVEMESPORT: "There's been a lot of umming and ahing over targets like Manu Kone, and I feel like at some point Villa are just going to go in there and start making offers for these players to really give them something to think about and see if those other clubs react."

Having been frequently linked with Liverpool, although a move to Anfield is now "unlikely", Villa would have to fend off some of the world's biggest clubs to acquire the 22-year-old's signature. It would certainly be a huge statement of intent if Emery could lure him to Villa Park.

Why do Villa want Kone?

Currently at the U21 European Championship with France, Kone enjoyed an impressive season in an underperforming Borussia Monchengladbach team that slumped to 10th under Daniel Farke.

A robust defensive-midfielder, Kone, who has been hailed as a "one man army", is something of an all-rounder in the centre of park, excluding goals and assists.

Compared to other Bundesliga midfielders last season, Kone made 1.28 tackles in the defensive third per 90 (top 10%), 2.55 overall tackles per 90 (top 18%) and 1.52 blocks per 90 (top 25%), highlighting his ability to win the ball back and stop danger.

He also boasts a good passing ability, sitting in the top 9% for average passing accuracy (86.2%), and he very rarely loses the ball, being dispossessed just 1.73 times per 90.

One of his key strengths is his dribbling ability and press resistance, sitting in the top 11% per 90 for successful take-ons, carries and progressive carry distance. This would be incredibly useful for someone like Villa, given the high-intensity pressing of many Premier League teams.

Pinpointing a new midfielder to partner Enzo Fernandez at Chelsea is arguably one of Mauricio Pochettino’s biggest challenges, which he simply must get right.

Getting the perfectly curated protector with a tough-tackling ferocity and keen athleticism is a tricky task.

The club has been incessantly linked to Moises Caicedo, however, Brighton are supposedly demanding around £120m for the Ecuadorian’s services.

Nevertheless, a cheaper, more realistic, and attainable alternative has emerged in the form of Aurélien Tchouaméni, whose signing would be a humongous statement of intent from the West Londoners.

What’s the latest on Aurélien Tchouaméni to Chelsea?

According to reports in Spain, the Blues offered €60m (£51m) for the Frenchman which was immediately rejected, and they are planning an improved bid of €80m (£68m), which will give Real Madrid something to think about.

Although far-fetched and extremely ambitious, the 2021 Champions League winners possess a ludicrously excessive budget, which could be shrewdly sprayed upon this ball-winning machine.

Who can Aurélien Tchouaméni emulate at Chelsea?

The 25-cap international joined the 14-time European Champions last summer for €100m (£86m) and made 50 appearances for Los Blancos.

As per FBref, the former Monaco prodigy has been compared to the current talk of the town, Declan Rice, due to their strikingly similar attributes.

Defensively, both these titans are formidable protectors for their backlines, with Tchouaméni averaging slightly better numbers in most departments as he has more tackles per 90 (2.61 vs 2.17), interceptions per 90 (1.98 vs 1.73), clearances per 90 (1.87 vs 1.59), and aerials won per 90 (1.91 vs 1.02), according to FBref.

The £206k-per-week man also outperforms his positional peers in pass completion (92.9% vs 86.5%), but Rice makes more progressive passes.

Tchouaméni’s compatriot Paul Pogba has lauded the sensation for his quality saying: “Very very good. He's not a boy, he's a man.

“It was a pleasure to play next to him. He brings a lot of energy. A lot of energy, and extraordinary technical and physical quality.”

Indeed, that's a review that could well describe Rice too.

The 22-year-old has started every game for his nation at the 2022 World Cup and scored in the 2-1 quarter-final victory over England.

Sky Sports News chief reporter Kaveh Solhekol has said that Chelsea’s new ownership has targeted the world’s “best young players” and Tchouaméni certainly fits that bill.

The pivot ranks within the best 8% in Europe’s top five leagues among his positional peers for interceptions, pass completion, and clearances per 90.

For the West London outfit to get back to where it belongs, this is exactly the type of scintillating Rice-like signing to reinvigorate the fanbase with a new-found belief that its new setup can take the club forward.

An update has emerged on Celtic and their efforts to bolster their squad following Brendan Rodgers' return to Parkhead on a three-year deal…

What's the latest on Hyun-jun Yang to Celtic?

According to South Korean outlet Newstong, the Hoops have made an offer in an attempt to snap up Gangwon FC winger Yang Hyun-jun in the summer transfer window.

The report claims that the Scottish giants have 'formally' expressed their interest as they pursue a deal for the 21-year-old attacker but the K-League outfit are not willing to accept their current bid – although it is not revealed whether it has been officially rejected or not.

It states that Celtic's proposal is not enough to tempt Gangwon into cashing in on the young gem as they are currently in a relegation battle and do not believe that there is enough money on the table to warrant taking a significant blow to their chances of avoiding the drop.

What is Yang Hyun-jun's style of play?

The exciting South Korean U23 international is a right-footed right-winger who has showcased his ability to score and assist goals at an impressive rate for a player of his age.

By pushing the club to make an offer that convinces Gangwon to part ways with the talented youngster, Rodgers could forget all about Liel Abada, who could reportedly be on his way out of Parkhead for up to £10m this summer.

Abada, who is also a 21-year-old right-footed forward, has proven himself to be an excellent option out wide for the Hoops in the Scottish Premiership over the last two years.

The Israel international averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.01 and plundered ten goals and five assists in 34 league outings in 2022/23, and that came after the No 11 produced ten goals and six assists in 36 outings the previous year.

Yang's form for Gangwon in 2022 indicates that the potential is there for him to be an excellent replacement for the current Celtic attacker if he departs during the summer transfer window.

The South Korean whiz, who was hailed as "special" by journalist Nathan Sartain, averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.02 across 36 K League 1 matches and contributed with eight goals and five assists, whilst he also created six 'big chances' for his teammates.

This suggests that Yang has the quality to make a big impact in the final third with his goalscoring ability and eye for a pass, which means that he could replace a large portion of the production that Abada has provided during his time in Scotland.

A return of one goal and one assist in 14 league starts this year suggests that Yang has struggled this season, but his performances in 2022 indicate that there is still a very promising player for Rodgers to potentially unearth.

Therefore, the Northern Irish tactician could forget all about Abada by signing Yang and helping the 21-year-old to rediscover his touch in the final third, as the Gangwon star has the scope to contribute with goals and assists from a wide position.

Fans online have been left rather excited after hearing that Liverpool ace Darwin Nunez could soon be wearing the number nine shirt, suggesting it will help him find a new level next season.

What number will Darwin Nunez wear next season?

The Uruguayan striker arrived at Anfield with big expectations after sealing a club-record £85m move from Benfica. And right away, he was pitted against Manchester City’s big summer signing, Erling Haaland.

For instance, ITV’s coverage of the Community Shield noted that he “struck first blood in the battle of the summer super-signings” after he scored in the 3-1 win while the Norwegian didn’t.

However, now we’ve reached the end of the season, it’s safe to say Haaland had a much better debut campaign in England than his opposite number.

Indeed, the City star won the treble and scored 52 goals in all competitions, while Nunez scored only 15 times and didn’t win anything else.

However, both men are relatively young and there is plenty more to see from the pair. With that in mind, the 23-year-old Liverpool ace will hope to improve next term – and one thing will be different right from the off.

Indeed, The Anfield Talk hinted online that Nunes will be taking the number nine shirt from the departing Roberto Firmino this summer.

It’s safe to say a number of Liverpool supporters are already hyped for next season and they seem to think this new kit number could help their striker explode into life.

They took to Twitter to make their points. Here are the best reactions…

Some even think this means Nunez will now outshine Haaland.

Manchester United have been in hot pursuit of Mason Mount over the last few weeks and now a new update has emerged on their pursuit of the player this summer.

What's the latest on Man United's move for Mason Mount?

According to The Times, the Chelsea midfielder has agreed personal terms to become a Man United player this summer.

As per the report, it is claimed that the Red Devils are closing in on making Mount their first signing of the summer with Erik ten Hag keen to add more creativity into his midfield set up this summer and Chelsea are keen to cash in to ensure they don't lose a huge asset on a free next summer.

Would Mason Mount be a good fit for Man United?

Whilst the most pressing concern for Erik ten Hag will be the centre-forward role this summer, an opportunity to strengthen the quality and attacking perspectives in the centre of the pitch is a chance they cannot afford to pass up on.

Although Man United boast a number of highly-respected talent in midfield it is definitely an area of the squad that is starting to age with Christian Eriksen, Casemiro and Fred all in their 30s at this point and other than Bruno Fernandes, are three of the most experienced first teamers.

As a result, the signing of Mount presents an opportunity for the Dutch coach to continue his rebuild at Old Trafford by injecting not only some youth into the midfield personnel but also maintaining a high level of quality and a winning mentality to match those decorated players who surround him.

The 24-year-old Champions League winner – who has been "unbelievable" in the words of Joe Cole – offers flexibility in his positioning with experience operating in a number of roles over his illustrious career so far, but could be the dream creative outlet that Ten Hag is searching for who can combine with one of his England teammates to make United an unstoppable force.

Marcus Rashford has been one of the standout performers on the red side of Manchester this season – tallying up 30 goals and 11 assists in all competitions with a goal contribution every 104 minutes, an impressive output unmatched by any player in the team as Fernandes came in second scoring less than half (14).

Now, Mount could provide the pacey winger with even more opportunities to convert chances by injecting some consistent creativity into the midfield and breaking the lines of attack to form a dangerous attacking threat.

The Chelsea academy graduate ranks in the top 15% of his positional peers in midfield across the top five European leagues for shot-creating actions, shots on goal, progressive carries, touches and progressive passes received, proving that he could be a key asset in playing that final ball into the box or even taking the goal-scoring opportunities for himself with confidence.

With that being said, it will be interesting to see how Ten Hag will deploy Mount if he joins the Red Devils this summer and whether he can reach the high expectations that will come with his reported £70m price tag next season.

Everton are in the market for new players as they look to put a terrible 2022/23 season behind them, but boss Sean Dyche cannot bring in new recruits for the sake of it.

That is a category Crystal Palace Jean-Philippe Mateta – a possible loan target for the Toffees this summer, according to French outlet So Foot – very much fits into.

Who are Everton looking to sign this summer?

Everton have already been linked with a whole array of players since retaining their Premier League status at the end of last month, including the likes of El Bilal Toure, Wout Weghorst and Tammy Abraham.

As the second-lowest goalscorers (34) in the division last season, behind only Wolves (31), and eighth in terms of goals conceded (57), there is not really a position Everton could not do with strengthening in the coming months – a goalkeeper aside.

Smart recruitment has not exactly been a buzz phrase around Goodison Park in recent years, though, with Everton far more accustomed to splashing out large on a flop than spending wisely on a player for the future.

While he may still only be aged 25, meaning his best years should be ahead of him, Mateta has done little in his time in English football to suggest he will provide Everton with value for their money.

How has Mateta performed at Crystal Palace?

Signed for a reported fee of €18m (£15.5m) in January 2020, initially on an 18-month loan arrangement, Palace have not yet seen a return on their investment.

Mateta has scored just eight Premier League goals in 58 appearances and netted just once in his final 30 games of the 2022/23 season. Despite those disappointing figures, Everton, Torino, Valencia and PSV are all reportedly weighing up a move for the former France U21 international.

In last season's Premier League campaign alone, the former Lyon player scored twice from 27 shots and had a shot-on-target percentage of 25.9. To put that in some perspective, no Everton attacker who featured regularly last season failed to hit the target as often.

Those problems go beyond simply finding the net, with football reporter Raj Chohan describing Mateta's decision-making on transitions as "woeful".

Mateta's numbers are very similar to those of Weghorst, another rumoured target for the hierarchy at Goodison.

Like the Palace man, however, he has been a high-profile flop and failed to set the world alight during a temporary stint at Manchester United.

That said, the Dutchman did just about edge out his positional peer for pass completion percentage (72.9 compared to 69.8) and goal-creating actions per 90 minutes (0.23 and 0.12 respectively).

Pivotally, he also scored more goals last term. Although Weghorst netted just once for United, he bagged eight in 16 Super Lig appearances for Besiktas in the first half of the season.

Everton fans may joke that any option is an improvement on what they currently have, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin's fitness issues proving to be a huge concern, but given Mateta's weekly wage of £50k and a likely transfer fee in the region of £8m if a permanent move is forged, they will be better off biding their time and looking elsewhere.