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Newcastle United target Ivan Fresneda may be on Eddie Howe's 'radar' and the Magpies may swoop for his services in the summer transfer window.

What's the latest transfer news involving Ivan Fresneda?

As per 90min, Newcastle United, Arsenal and Aston Villa scouts were all in attendance last month to watch Fresneda turn out for Real Valladolid in their recent 2-1 defeat to Valencia.

The report states that Arsenal tried to sign Fresneda in the January window; however, a move never materialised and now interest is said to be growing in the 18-year-old.

As per Sky Sport 24 via Sport Witness, journalist Gianluca Di Marzio has claimed that Newcastle United 'remain in the race' to sign Fresneda this summer; however, AC Milan and Borussia Dortmund are also monitoring his situation with intent ahead of the forthcoming off-season.

Fresneda is believed to have a release clause worth £26.5 million inserted into his contract at Real Valladolid, as per The Sun.

Madrid-born Fresneda has gained plenty of first-team experience this campaign, making 21 appearances for his current employers in all competitions, as per Transfermarkt.

Speaking to Football FanCast, journalist Jones thinks that Newcastle United will likely be one of several clubs keeping tabs on Fresneda moving into the summer.

Jones told FFC: "I think it's a situation that finally needs to be sorted out. There's so many clubs that have enquired and have shown interest in him, but Newcastle are one of them; it wouldn't surprise me at all if they kept him on the radar, ready to make a move."

Would Ivan Fresneda be a good signing for Newcastle United?

Fresneda is a youngster with bags of potential and could go on to be a very savvy piece of business by Eddie Howe if the Englishman could entice him to St James' Park this summer.

As shown on WhoScored, the 18-year-old has made an average of 2.2 clearances per match this campaign in La Liga, demonstrating his defensive awareness toward dangerous situations.

FBRef also note that Fresneda has successfully performed 37 shot-creating actions this term, illustrating that he can also carry an offensive threat bombing forward from the right-hand side of defence despite being in a relegation-threatened Real Valladolid side.

Given his age, the Spaniard also has plenty of room for development in the coming years and if he joined Newcastle United, he would be able to learn from the example that first-choice right-back Kieran Trippier sets every week on the field.

Moving forward, acquiring Fresneda, who has been hailed as "fantastic", would be an intelligent signing for Howe as he looks to strengthen ahead of 2023/24.

Aston Villa failed to win their sixth Premier League match in a row after slipping to a 1-1 draw against Brentford last weekend, however, coming back to steal a point showcases the improved mentality throughout Unai Emery’s side recently.

Douglas Luiz slotted home an equaliser with just a few minutes remaining, and the point further enhances Villa’s European ambitions as they sit just two points behind Tottenham Hotspur in fifth spot.

It will be a quick turnaround for the Villa Park side as they prepare to face Fulham this evening and with the Cottagers enjoying a successful season of their own, it could prove to be an exciting clash.

Emery won’t be making many changes to his team ahead of the match as Emiliano Martinez should be available after being substituted during the draw against Brentford due to illness.

Following a relatively quiet afternoon in front of goal, the Spaniard could mix things up slightly by unleashing winger Bertrand Traore against Fulham in the hopes he can continue his recent form.

Will Bertrand Traore start against Fulham?

The winger was brought back to the club by Emery in January following a six-month loan spell at Turkish side Basaksehir FK, where he scored three times, as some added cover to the wide positions.

Since returning, he has played a part in five matches and has scored twice, including a vital late winner against Leicester City at the start of April which continued their momentum.

His 12-minute cameo against the Foxes meant he started the following encounter with Nottingham Forest, and he didn’t disappoint, receiving a 7.1 rating via Sofascore for his efforts.

The 27-year-old demonstrated his talents during his first start for the club since leaving Turkey as he took three shots, won half of his ground duels, completed 91% of his passes and was fouled twice, clearly giving opposition defenders a tough time on the wing.

Although Emery perhaps sees the £17m winger as a better option to have come on from the bench and utilise his skills on tired opponents than unleashing him from the start, his display against Forest proves that he can get involved from the very first whistle.

He is still capable of producing moments of magic, with the winner against the Foxes drawing massive praise from journalist Matt Maher, who said: "You can't help but like a player like Bertrand Traore. All the times he frustrates, are forgiven when he produces something as ridiculously brilliant as that winner. Nonchalance personified."

Will Traore be the most important player for Villa during this impressive run? No, but he pops up from nowhere and produces important moments. This is why Emery has to unleash him this evening.

Celtic moved one small step closer to securing a second successive league title after recording a 1-1 draw at home to Motherwell on Saturday afternoon, with the Old Firm giants now just two wins away from being crowned as champions.

While Ange Postecoglou's men may be rather frustrated to have dropped two points after winning their previous 12 Scottish Premiership games, that stalemate has ensured that the Hoops have remarkably still only lost once in the top flight all season.

It had initially looked set to be yet another routine victory for the Glasgow side as long-serving captain Callum McGregor netted early on through a deflected, long-range effort, only for Well's main marksman, Kevin van Veen, to equalise just after the break with his 20th Scottish Premiership goal of the season.

Despite the overall disappointment of enduring a rare home outing without a win, one standout figure was undoubtedly that of goalscorer, McGregor, with the 29-year-old having brought 'such a calmness to the team', as per Glasgow Live's Alan Galindo.

The Scotland international – who led the way with his 8.3 match rating, as per Sofascore – notably enjoyed a stunning pass accuracy rate of 95% from his 125 touches as a marker of his innate composure on the ball, having also been an effective presence defensively after winning seven of his 11 total duels.

The influential skipper wasn't alone in having been a shining light for Postecoglou's side, however, with fellow midfielder Matt O'Riley having also shown why he is a simply 'sublime footballer', as per Celtic Way's Tony Haggerty.

How did O'Riley perform against Motherwell?

Fresh from bagging a brace in the thumping win over Kilmarnock last weekend, the "wonderful" talent – as previously hailed by Ross County boss Malky Mackay – was again a real 'joy to watch', as per Haggerty, having run the show in his playmaking berth.

The Denmark U21 international was a real thorn in the side of the opposition due to his relentless creative threat, having provided a stellar haul of five key passes from his 108 touches – by far the most of any player for either side.

Hailed as 'the man in form' by Galindo, the 22-year-old also completed all three of his attempted dribbles and created two big chances, notably sliding in Kyogo Furuhashi on the hour mark.

Despite losing possession on 35 occasions, the £12k-per-week dynamo also offered real quality in a defensive sense after winning seven ground duels in his 79-minute outing, with it no surprise to see the former MK Dons man record an impressive 7.9 match rating, as per Sofascore – second only to that of McGregor.

While such an impactful display could not ultimately lead the Bhoys to victory – with January arrival Oh Hyeon-gyu missing a gilt-edged chance late on – it will be encouraging to see O'Riley looking back to his best, ahead of next week's Scottish Cup, semi-final showdown with Rangers.

Tottenham Hotspur dud Davinson Sanchez was booed off as Cristian Stellini's side were defeated 3-2 by relegation candidates AFC Bournemouth on Saturday afternoon.

It was another miserable day for the Lilywhites as their season continues to peter out into nothingness and this moment, which is merely another slight of toxicity that the north London outfit have grown accustomed to, may well be the lowest ebb – if not the saddest, according to club captain Hugo Lloris.

There is no denying that Sanchez is part of the problem, rather than the sole villain for their woes and the fans' reaction over the weekend was somewhat harsh, though it is merely a culmination of the negativity that has been brewing throughout the current demise.

They have their right to vent such anger, however, and unfortunately for the Colombian international, his form for the club in recent seasons hasn't been good enough and it all came to a head against the Cherries, with Spurs losing their footing in the race for a top-four finish.

Should Spurs sell Davinson Sanchez?

Spurs parted with a then club-record fee of £42m for Sanchez back in 2017; earmarked as a centre-back for the ages for the club.

"We believe he will be one of the best centre-backs in the world in the future. That is why we made the effort to try to sign him," former manager Mauricio Pochettino claimed upon the defender's arrival from Ajax.

Now nearly six years later and aged 26, the 6 foot 2 flop has struggled to cement his place in the starting XI, even despite the constant change in manager. When as many as four different coaches can't trust you, then something is clearly up.

The £65k-per-week "liability" – as once lambasted by Daily Express reporter Joe Krishnan – hasn't started more than 17 top-flight matches in any of the last three seasons, with the current campaign being on track for his lowest output yet, per WhoScored.

Sanchez was introduced in the 35th minute as Clement Lenglet had to be withdrawn due to an injury and by the hour mark, the substitute got replaced himself, leading to the crowd's jeers.

It wasn't just the Lilywhites' faithful that was left disappointed by the 26-year-old's shocking 23-minute outing as former midfielder Jamie O'Hara slammed him on talkSPORT. "We spent a lot of money on him and he is absolutely awful," he said.

This was backed up by another ex-Spurs star as Jermaine Jenas claimed he was "sloppy" and that his passing was "just embarrassing" on BBC Match of the Day.

With 14 months left to run on his contract, the summer window represents one final chance to recoup a tiny bit of the eye-watering £42m the club paid for him.

He's human after all and does not deserve abuse. However, he is just not good enough for this level of football and must be offloaded under the new manager, as soon as possible.

Scottish champions Celtic took one giant step closer towards retaining the league title with a 3-2 victory over bitter rivals Rangers on Saturday afternoon, with Ange Postecoglou's men coming out on top in what was a typically thrilling encounter between the two foes at Parkhead.

After early controversy surrounding the decision to disallow Alfredo Morelos' header, the home side took full advantage of that reprieve as Kyogo Furuhashi lashed home on the turn, albeit with the Hoops soon being pegged back as Gers skipper James Tavernier curled in a free-kick from distance.

That man Kyogo went on to power the hosts ahead yet again on the hour mark, however, before Jota capitalised on a slack back pass from John Souttar to extended that lead just ten minutes later, the Portuguese gem showcasing impressive speed to round the advancing Allan McGregor.

While the aforementioned Tavernier would spark hope of a comeback after heading in late on, the Englishman's effort proved to be only a mere consolation, as the league leaders held on to extend their advantage at the summit to 12 points.

A key figure in that pivotal victory was undoubtedly defensive machine, Alistair Johnston, with the January arrival – who previously made his debut for the club against the Light Blues – having shown once again why he simply "loves an Old Firm derby", as per journalist Alexander Gangue-Ruzic.

How did Johnston perform against Rangers?

While it may be Celtic's attacking talents who will steal the headlines following that thrilling win, the Canadian international provided the steel in his right-back berth, having won a staggering haul of 13 duels on the day, including winning 12 of his 14 ground duels.

As the Daily Record's Michael Gannon noted, the £3.5m addition is seemingly 'heading for cult status' at Paradise such is his infectious and relentless presence on the pitch, as the 24-year-old also won five fouls for his side to help ease the pressure when needed.

That 'top-drawer performance' only served to rubberstamp the feeling that former Hoops star Josip Juranovic is 'being missed less and less each passing week', according to Glasgow Live's Will Lancaster, with Johnston having slotted in with his ease in his new surroundings.

The Vancouver native can be a bit 'rough and ready' at times – as per Gannon – while he did lose possession on 16 occasions form his 85 touches, although that will do little to detract from what was a stellar individual display from the rampant defender.

The 5 foot 11 menace is still in the infancy of his Bhoys career although appears to 'show up every time' when facing the club's Glasgow rivals, according to Football Scotland's Mark Hendry, having recorded an impressive 7.5 match rating this time around, as per Sofascore.

As for the club as a whole, while Postecoglou may not be counting his chickens just yet, it does appear that another league title is on its way to Celtic Park…

Newcastle United are reportedly eyeing up a summer move for exciting Lyon youngster Rayan Cherki during the summer transfer window.

How is Cherki doing this season?

The 19-year-old is a hugely talented young player who is already makes waves in France, becoming a key member of Lyon's attacking unit. This season, he has scored three goals and registered four assists in 25 Ligue 1 appearances, as his stock continues to rise.

Cherki is someone who is unlikely to remain at his current club for too much longer, with bigger teams possibly circling ahead of the summer window. Paris Saint-Germain are one of those sides in question and Kylian Mbappe has endorsed the teenager in the past, which highlights his potential. His current deal expires at the end of next season.

Now, it looks as though Newcastle could look to snap him up, following a new update.

Could youngster be off to Newcastle?

According to L'Equipe [via Sport Witness], the Magpies are ready to "get active" with regards to the possible signing of Cherki this summer. Eddie Howe sees him as a strong option to bring in and bolster his squad, ahead of what could be a very productive window for the club.

It is stated that the player himself would rather join PSG, however, with the lure of playing alongside Mbappe something that could be too big to ignore, so it may not be easy for Newcastle to get their man.

Cherki looks like a sublime talent – one who has been described as "incredible" by football talent scout Jacek Kulig – so the idea of him in a Magpies shirt next is mouthwatering. To already be such a key figure in a top league at such a young age says a lot about how good he is, and he should only improve in the coming years, as his all-round game matures both on and off the ball.

Newcastle could do with more squad depth moving forward, allowing Howe to rotate more effectively in the process, and Cherki could come in as a great option and someone who can become one of the first names on the team sheet over time. It is essential that competition for places gets more fierce all the time at St James' Park, allowing the Magpies to go up another gear next season and potentially even push for more of a title charge in the Premier League.

Scottish football journalist Barry Anderson says that more clubs are interested in signing Glasgow Rangers striker Alfredo Morelos on a free transfer.

The Lowdown: Galatasaray contact

As per Turkish news outlet Takvim, Galatasaray have contacted the agent of Morelos over potentially signing him as a free agent this summer, as his contract at Ibrox expires at the end of the season.

Another round of talks have been scheduled over the next few weeks, as the Turkish heavyweights look to wrap up a deal.

The Latest: Other clubs interested

Taking to Twitter, Anderson has shared that a ‘couple of other teams’ other than Galatasaray are also thought to be ‘interested’ in signing Morelos, after contact was made with his representatives by the latter:

“Galatasaray keen on Rangers striker Alfredo Morelos. Contact made with his representatives about a summer move. Morelos is out of contract at Ibrox in May. Couple of other teams interested. Turkish media reporting that meetings with Galatasaray are due in the next few weeks.”

The Verdict: Not looking good…

The fact that Galatasaray have already made contact over Morelos, and other clubs are also in the race, does not look good in terms of Rangers’ hopes of keeping him beyond this season.

There were even reports of La Liga side and UEFA Europa League quarter-finalists Sevilla signing a pre-contract with him, which have turned out to be premature, but the Colombia international is sure to have no shortage of offers on the table.

Morelos has been such a key player for the Gers not just this campaign but spreading over his whole time at Ibrox, having scored 10 goals and supplied a further seven assists in total across competitions so far this season, while he boasts a total of 180 goal contributions over the course of his entire career in a Light Blues shirt (Transfermarkt).

Nonetheless, it will be very difficult to replace him should he leave, especially if they do not recoup a transfer fee with him going on a free.

Fabrizio Romano has revealed that Arsenal are eyeing up midfield sensation Romeo Lavia ahead of a potential summer move.

What's the latest on Arsenal's transfer targets?

Mikel Arteta is clearly in hot pursuit of a central midfielder this summer, with reports that Declan Rice is the club's top target, and this follows a January window where large bids were made for Moises Caicedo.

The league leaders are now also keeping an eye on 19-year-old Lavia, who has impressed for Southampton in his 24 appearances this season.

A young option who can rotate with Thomas Partey, Jorginho and Granit Xhaka is seemingly on the wishlist, and Lavia has earned plaudits from his peers, with ex-teammate Kevin de Bruyne previously describing the Belgian as "very good".

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Romano revealed that whilst Arsenal are keeping an eye on the £25k-per-week star, there is nothing concrete in terms of a move just yet.

He said: "Arsenal are keeping an eye on the player.

"Arsenal are following Romeo Lavia, but at the moment, [there is] still nothing advanced. Arsenal have many options."

Why do Arsenal want a midfielder?

Three of Arsenal's main central midfielders in Xhaka, Partey and Jorginho are all aged 29 or older, and Partey's fitness record is particularly inconsistent.

Arsenal are often reliant on Partey at the base of the Arsenal midfield, with Xhaka and Martin Odegaard pushing forward. Whilst Jorginho has stepped in to great effect at times since his January arrival – including a performance against Aston Villa where he helped create the winning goal – a longer-term rotation option could be of great use.

This could explain the interest in younger talents such as Rice and Caicedo, and Lavia may be viewed as an alternative option to the pair.

However, it remains unclear if Lavia can step into Partey's shoes, even as a rotational option. Partey ranks in the top 5% of midfielders in Europe's top competitions over the past year for progressive passes, with the Ghanaian helping Arsenal build attacks from deep, while Lavia ranks in the bottom 29% in this regard, as per FBref.

Although he is still young, the experience Partey and Jorginho bring to the team may be lacking in someone as raw as Lavia. With just 26 senior appearances to his name in his career, it may be a tough task for him to step into a midfield which could potentially compete for the league title again next season.

Declan Rice, in contrast, is West Ham's captain, and has experience domestically, in Europe and on the international stage. Arsenal may have more confidence in the Englishman's ability to step in and perform when needed given the vast difference in pedigree between him and Lavia.

Aston Villa could well be plotting a summer bid to bolster their attack, as they seek to further back Unai Emery who has already impressed since joining in October.

The Spaniard entered Villa Park with the club in disrepute, floundering towards relegation under the struggling stewardship of Steven Gerrard.

Clearly out of his depth, thankfully for fans and players alike, he was put out of his misery, and since the Villans have become something of a barrier between the nine teams battling for safety and the rest of the league. They mark the safety point, and what half the sides in the division are striving to achieve.

With their place in the Premier League assured, it gives them the freedom to now look ahead at ways to progress further in the coming season.

One such name that has recently appeared is that of underperforming forward Tammy Abraham, who could be reborn with a move to the Midlands.

Would Tammy Abraham improve Aston Villa?

In a report by AS Roma Live, relayed by Sport Witness yesterday, the hulking Englishman has been touted with a romantic return to his former club where he starred in their return to the top flight.

Whilst the reported €40m (£35m) fee might seem lofty, the club does have form with spending big on those expected to transform their fortunes.

The 25-year-old recorded 25 goals in the Championship across just 37 games, where he would return to his parent club Chelsea to fire home 15 Premier League goals, silencing any scrutiny he might have received.

Even his move to Italy, which has faltered of late, showed initial promise, as his debut campaign saw him score 17 times in Serie A and a further nine as they won the Europa Conference League under Jose Mourinho’s tutelage.

Abraham even suggested that the Portuguese legend had turned him into a “monster”, teaching him how to “frighten defenders”. As a master of the dark arts, there is arguably no greater teacher to add some nastiness to someone's game than the Chelsea legend.

Finally, he could now be poised to come back to his homeland, to the club that gave him his platform for all the success he has enjoyed, to be the catalyst that truly helps them explode as a club.

Emery has already laid the foundation for success in the near future, with his experience and pragmatism sure to bear fruit sooner or later.

Should he add this 6 foot 3 finisher to his ranks too, then European football could start to become a real possibility given the quality they already boast.

Fabrizio Romano has revealed that Manchester City have offered Julian Alvarez a new contract and a payrise less than a year after joining, as they see him as a big part of their plans.

How has Alvarez performed for Man City?

The Argentina striker joined from River Plate in the summer and has since won the World Cup, but is second-choice at centre-forward behind Erling Haaland.

Nevertheless, the club view him as an integral part of their plans going forward and have now offered him a new contract despite him joining less than 12 months ago.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Romano gave insight into the details of the contract on the table.

He said: “Now what’s going on is that Manchester City have sent a new proposal to the player.

“So on the table of Julian Alvarez and his agents, there is a fresh proposal from Manchester City to extend the contract, and especially to have a new salary.

“From what I understand, the new proposal is on the table, Manchester City have improved their bid. And now it’s on Julian Alvarez, but there is optimism on both the player’s and club’s side to get the agreement reached and done as soon as possible.

“This could be important news for Man City, for the present and future, as we had many rumours, but let me clarify that for City, Alvarez is absolutely part of the project and an important player for the team and for Pep Guardiola.”

Where can Alvarez play for Man City?

Given Haaland’s astonishing form this season, with 33 goals in 34 games, it is unlikely that Alvarez will be able to displace him from the starting XI any time soon.

Alvarez has started just six of his 19 league appearances as a result, and has either played alongside Haaland as a second striker or on the wing.

Guardiola does have the option of switching to a two-striker formation, but given that this has not happened in his tenure when the likes of Gabriel Jesus and Sergio Aguero were battling for the same position – the duo only shared time on the pitch for as much as 45 minutes on 21 occasions – it seems unlikely that this could happen soon.

Haaland has described Alvarez as “amazing”, perhaps indicating that despite competing for the same spot, that the two can co-exist in the same side.

Alvarez may therefore have to settle for a wide role for the time being, but this prospective new contract indicates that City have no intention of letting him go, and could offer him more playing time in order to convince him to sign a deal.