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Liverpool could be poised to fortify the defensive fold with the steely addition of Crystal Palace centre-back Marc Guehi, who has been flourishing at Selhurst Park.

What's the latest on Marc Guehi to Liverpool?

Such claims enter the whirring rumour mill courtesy of the Daily Mail, which states that Jurgen Klopp's Reds and Manchester United have added Guehi to their list of summer transfer targets.

London rivals Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur both have deeper-rooted interest in the impressive 22-year-old, who has been touted at £50m ahead of a potential departure from south London.

Anfield's priority will be the centre of the park, considering the forthcoming midfield clear-out, but Joel Matip and Joe Gomez have been underwhelming this term and recruitment is required across multiple departments if Liverpool are truly to craft a renaissance next year.

Why should Liverpool sign Marc Guehi?

Guehi is contracted with the Eagles for another three years and will be a difficult gem to procure this summer, however, Palace has something of an exodus forthcoming themselves this summer, with a score of first-team players set to depart at the end of their contracts.

Funds claimed from Guehi's exit could be used to reinvest in the squad, and Klopp and co will be eager to take advantage of such a situation and in turn, unleash a robust new presence at the plinth of the Anfield set-up.

Signing from Chelsea for £18m in 2021, the "magnificent" – as hailed by journalist Andy Sixsmith – 6 foot monster has completed 81 matches and scored five goals, playing 39 times this season and captaining his outfit on eight occasions.

The three-cap England international has been in fine fettle this year, missing just one top-flight encounter and recording a dependable average rating of 6.94, as per Sofascore, keeping eight clean sheets, boasting an 85% pass success rate, making 3.6 clearances, 1.4 tackles and 1.3 interceptions per outing, also succeeding with 82% of his dribbles and winning 69% of his ground duels.

As per FBref, the £50k-per-week titan ranks among the top 18% of central defenders across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for successful take-ons per 90, and combining this metric with his aforementioned tenacity and physicality in dribbles and duels suggests he could be a driving force to be reckoned with from the back.

He is listed by FBref as a comparable player to Manchester United phenom Raphael Varane, who has only started 21 times in the Premier League this term due to injury issues, still boasting an 86% pass completion rate and an average of 3.8 clearances and a duel win rate of 63%.

Hailed as a "top talent" by John Terry after completing his £41m transfer from Real Madrid in 2021, the illustrious Frenchman boasts an average career pass completion rate of 88.3%, also exhibiting his sweeping prowess by making 4.3 clearances per game, as per WhoScored.

With remarkable semblance between his skill set and Guehi's, who has been lauded as an "absolute tank" by England U21 teammate Joe Bursik, Liverpool could utilise his rebuffing aptitude against enemy onslaughts and provide Merseyside with the perfect new addition to complement the likes of Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate.

It looks set to be a summer of change for Manchester United with manager Erik ten Hag seemingly plotting to move on a host of first-team assets ahead of next season, in order for the Dutchman to continue his squad rebuild at Old Trafford.

One man who appears to be a certainty to move on to pastures new is long-serving dud, Phil Jones, with the former Blackburn Rovers man – who arrived in Manchester on a £16m deal back in 2011 – having just a matter of months remaining on his existing deal at the club.

As The Athletic's Laurie Whitwell revealed earlier this week, the former England international is yet to complete a full training session since the former Ajax boss arrived at the club, having been so "unfortunate" with injuries in recent years.

The 31-year-old has not been included in United's Premier League squad and is not set to be handed a look in any time soon, despite the loss of both Lisandro Martinez and Raphael Varane to their own injury woes of late.

The £75k-per-week man's slide down the pecking order was laid bare during the club's Carabao Cup final triumph back in February, with the experienced asset having been part of Sky Sports' pre-match coverage, rather than earning a place in the matchday squad.

That fall from grace represents a real decline for a player who was once tipped to be the Red Devils' "best ever player" by Sir Alex Ferguson, with it somewhat bizarre that the peripheral figure has not been moved on even sooner, having made just six league appearances since the start of the 2019/20 campaign.

While by his own admission, the 27-cap brute has endured a "tough time" of it of late, Jones can still look back fondly on his positive start to life at the club, having notably played his part in United's most recent title success, back in 2013.

That winner's medal is something which teammate Harry Maguire – who has also been tipped for a departure this summer – is unlikely to get his hands on any time soon.

Is Maguire worse than Jones?

It could well be said that it would be Jones who could leave the club with a greater legacy as a result of his part in that title triumph, having made 17 league appearances in the 2012/13 campaign.

Maguire, by contrast, only swooped his first piece of silverware as a result of the League Cup success earlier this season, albeit while only featuring off the bench in the showpiece victory against Newcastle United.

Although the 30-year-old still has time to add to his tally with Ten Hag's men still in the FA Cup and League Cup, supporters would no doubt have been expecting more from the England international following his £80m arrival from Leicester City just under four years ago.

Not that the Sheffield native is to blame for that price tag – nor is Jones to blame for being handed a new long-term deal in 2019 – although such a high-profile signing would have been expected to lead a side toward a title charge.

Equally, while with the case of Jones – who was branded a "very good player" by former boss Jose Mourinho – the struggling dud has largely been impacted by his injury woes, it is Maguire's on-field performances that have drawn notable criticism, having been described as "woeful" by pundit Lianne Sanderson earlier in the campaign.

Club legend Rio Ferdinand also suggested that the former Foxes man should feel "embarrassed" after arguably being outshone by Jones when the injury-prone defender made a rare outing against Wolverhampton Wanderers last season in his place, with the latter man having impressed despite his lack of action prior to that defeat at Old Trafford.

As Ferdinand noted, supporters were notably "singing his name" when the Preston-born rock left the field following that 1-0 loss, with there perhaps a sense of sympathy toward Jones for the repeated injury woes that he has had to endure, having "kept trying" to get fit – as per Whitwell.

As Ferguson's ultimately failed prediction showcased, the ageing talent was at one stage a hugely bright prospect at Old Trafford, with repeated setbacks having ensured that the 5 foot 11 man never managed to reach that early potential.

In the case of Maguire, supporters are likely to be less forgiving of a player who is captain of the club and who remains the most expensive defender of all time.

Of course, neither man can be deemed a successful signing, in truth, although Jones' title glory will ensure he leaves behind a legacy that it looks as if Maguire will be unable to match, particularly should the £190k-per-week skipper follow his compatriot out the door this summer.

Aston Villa reporter Gregg Evans has slammed Fulham's performance and away fans after their "pitiful" display away at Villa Park on Tuesday night.

What's the latest on Fulham and Aston Villa?

In their mid-week Premier League outing, the Villans played host to the Cottagers as they continue their push to end the season with European football guaranteed next term.

Unai Emery's men came into the match in great form – in the midst of a nine-game unbeaten streak – and showed their confidence in the early stages. Inded, Villa dominated large sections of the first half and were good value for their lead at halftime, with Tyrone Mings heading in the opener from a corner.

All the while, Fulham failed to really look that bothered on and off the pitch, racking up just a measly 0.1 expected goals during the entire encounter. And that was certainly noted by journalist Evans who was at Villa Park and remarked on the underwhelming atmosphere.

Indeed, he wrote on Twitter: "Are Fulham just not bothered? Very little attacking intent. Pitiful away following. What’s going on…"

Why was it so quiet at Villa Park?

Comparatively, another game in the Premier League on the same night really showed how intense crowds can really be when two teams have something big on the line worth fighting for.

Indeed, Leeds United were coming up against relegation rivals Leicester City at Elland Road, and journalist Graham Smyth noted a "guttural a post-MOT roar" from the home fans, while Sky Sports' Sam Blitz called the atmosphere "raucous".

Of course, both those teams are fighting for their lives at the bottom of the division. Fulham, on the other hand, are comfortable in the middle of the table – which may explain their fans' apparent apathy towards this particular encounter.

Everton now talking with MSP Sports Capital again after recent off-field issues, according to a key update from journalist Paul Brown.

What's happening off the field at Everton?

It's fair to say that this has been another season of struggle for Blues, having stayed in the Premier League by the skin of their teeth in 2021/22. Once again, they find themselves in a relegation scrap towards the bottom of the table, as Sean Dyche is tasked with steering them clear of the drop.

Away from the pitch, it has also been a turbulent time of things at Everton, with the Premier League recently releasing a statement claiming that the Blues have allegedly breached Profitability and Sustainability rules. The matter is now being passed over to an independent commission.

This has been a big blow when it comes to potential investment, as talks with MSP Sports Capital appear to have cooled since the news broke. Now, a more positive update has emerged, though.

Are new investors likely to arrive?

Speaking to Give Me Sport, Brown said that the situation has changed again, with investors now once again interested in talking to Everton:

"Something has changed over the last week or so, yes. It had gone very quiet with MSP and talks had basically completely stopped for nearly a month. There had been no contact between the two parties. That was for a number of reasons.

"I don't believe it has anything to do with the Premier League investigation but there are other problems in the background too, with the clubs finances that I think were scaring off potential investors.

"But yes, it sounds now like MSP are talking to the club again and still willing to invest. Whether that deal will actually happen, we don't know yet, but it's certainly much more positive than it was about a week ago."

This is certainly encouraging news from an Everton perspective, at a time when so much of the club's future feels like it depends on these next six weeks or so.

The importance of the Blues' remaining fixtures cannot be underestimated, with relegation to the Championship likely to put off investors, not to mention act as a huge all-round financial hit. With the new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock is also being built, this would be a terrible time for Everton to suffer relegation from the Premier League for the first time.

Should they stay up, however, the future could look bright, with a shiny new home to look forward to in the near future, as well as more money likely coming in from investors, allowing the club to thrive.

Sky Sports reporter Kaveh Solhekol has explained why Manchester United's high debt levels may indicate why the Glazers are willing to sell the club right now.

What's going on with Man United's ownership?

Bids have been launched to try and acquire ownership of the club from the Glazers, with Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Sheikh Jassim Bin Hamad Al Thani's groups thought to be the frontrunners.

United's debt levels were revealed, with a rise to £535.7m, and this may indicate why the Glazers are willing to sell now.

With rising debt and rising costs as Old Trafford is in need of refurbishment, a sale now makes a lot of sense for the American owners, according to Solhekol.

Speaking on Sky Sports News, Solhekol explained why there is such a high level of debt.

He said: "If you dig into the accounts, you will see that Manchester United's debt is up, to £535m. Now, they say that is largely due to the weak pound, but you have to remember that the reason Manchester United have a debt of £535m now is because when the Glazer family bought the club 18 years ago, they bought the club in a leveraged buyout and they loaded £550m of debt onto the club.

"And 18 years later, it still stands at £535m. United were a debt-free club before the Glazers arrived.

"The wage bill for the quarter actually was down 21% – a decrease of £20.4m. A lot of people wondering if that has anything to do with the fact that Cristiano Ronaldo left the club during that period.

"United say that decrease is down to squad turnover, and also not being in the Champions League, because a lot of their players get paid more when they are in the Champions League – so a mixed picture.

"Just looking into these figures gives you an idea of perhaps why the Glazer family think now is the right time to sell Manchester United, especially if they can get the £6bn that they want for the club."

Do the Glazers need to sell now?

There has been a lot of anger directed towards the Glazers from United fans, as the rising debt and lack of successful investment into the playing squad has meant they are set to go ten years without a Premier League title.

There has been particular scrutiny of their lack of investment in the infrastructure, especially since Cristiano Ronaldo highlighted the problems at United prior to his departure.

The current financial situation means that now probably is the best time for the Glazers to make an exit, which could see them make a huge profit on their initial investment whilst also avoiding any future costs of redeveloping the stadium, which their successors can take on instead.

Sheikh Jassim has already promised heavy investment into club infrastructure – as well as a debt-free takeover – should his Qatari consortium successfully purchase the club, so his bid may well appear to the outgoing owners.

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.

Liverpool are interested in signing RB Leipzig sensation Josko Gvardiol and could complete their defence with a successful swoop for the Croatian World Cup star.

What’s the latest on Liverpool’s pursuit of Gvardiol?

According to transfer guru Fabrizio Romano, speaking via his column for Caught Offside, Reds manager Jurgen Klopp instigated discussions for the 21-year-old defender in January, though his German Bundesliga outfit were unwilling to converse midway through the campaign.

This follows prior reports that despite interest from the likes of Chelsea, Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur, it is the Merseyside outfit that hold the greatest admiration for the rising prodigy, though his €110m (£97m) release clause may prove a hindrance.

The defender has also admitted Liverpool is his favourite team, saying: “My dream club? That would definitely be Liverpool. Since I was little, I watched a lot of their matches with my dad.

“We covered every season in detail. It is a club that has remained in my heart.”

Is Gvardiol really the dream VVD partner?

Liverpool’s defending this season has been questionable, with the midfield failing to provide the requisite support to allow the machine to churn at full throttle, but also the efforts of the backline often lamented as lackadaisical and woeful in the face of pressure.

And despite a recent purple patch that has been recently iced with an incredible 7-0 demolition of historic rivals Manchester United, the likes of Joe Gomez and Joel Matip have been under fire for the regularity of their wayward showings.

And Gvardiol, who has made 75 appearances for Leipzig, could be the perfect addition to strengthen Klopp’s squad and ensure that silverware is gleaned over the coming years.

Ranking among the top 1% of defenders in Europe’s best five leagues for attempted passes, the top 8% for progressive passes, the top 2% for successful take-ons and the top 17% for shot-creating actions per 90, as per FBref, the 19-cap colossus fits the mould that Klopp desires – ball-playing prowess and a creative robustness to ensure counter-attacking moves can take off with lightning speed.

Should he arrive at Anfield, the “Rolls-Royce” – as heralded by journalist Zach Lowy – could be the perfect partner for £75m monster Virgil van Dijk, who has been instrumental to Liverpool’s success since signing from Southampton in 2019, notably winning the Champions League, Premier League and FA Cup.

Van Dijk ranks among the top 5% of positional peers for attempted passes per 90, also maintaining an impressive career average 87.4% passing accuracy and winning 4.1 aerials per match, as per WhoScored, and with his imposing presence and Gvardiol’s dynamic aura, combining with the superlative passing skills of both phenoms, Klopp could boast one of football’s most devastating defensive pairings.

While the cost would be high, Liverpool need to act with conviction if they are to return to the top spot in both English and European football – table-toppers Arsenal are currently 21 points above the Reds, who trail Real Madrid 5-2 after the first leg of their Champions League knockout tie – and ensure that success is laden with silver across the coming years under Klopp’s tutelage.

With Gvardiol’s inclusion alongside Van Dijk, the jackpot could well be hit, with past feats potentially being eclipsed, and sustained triumph sure to follow.

It’s fair to say that Newcastle United haven’t always got it right in the transfer market, especially under Mike Ashley.

The Magpies have made enough mistakes to be in a better position when it comes to spending their new-found riches. Now in their first summer as one of the richest clubs in world football, they’ll be hoping to have learnt from previous mistakes.

With that said, we’ve ranked Newcastle United’s biggest flops of the Premier League era.

10) Sol Campbell 

Featuring one of the greatest Premier League centre-backs of all time on this list feels somewhat ludicrous, but here Sol Campbell is.

The idea of signing experience is always a harmless one; a helpful one, if you will.

But, the fact is, sometimes experience doesn’t necessarily bring a player in their prime and ready to perform, as Newcastle found out when signing a 35-year-old Campbell.

He made a total of eight appearances before slipping away into retirement.

9) Jean-Alain Boumsong

When a player’s former club are surprised to see a player attract interest for a fairly decent fee, then the buying club are in big trouble.

The scout who took the central defender to Rangers, Paul Montgomery, told Chronicle Live: “I said ‘he can’t play in the Premier League’.

“When we signed him, I told Alex, ‘he’ll be like Beckenbauer in Scotland but when we play the good teams in Europe, he’ll get found out’.” 

And, best believe, that’s exactly what happened.

8) Claudio Cacapa 

Claudio Cacapa’s time at Newcastle was summed up when Sam Allardyce subbed the Brazilian off with just 18 minutes on the clock against Portsmouth.

This was a player fresh off the back of six Ligue 1 titles.

Yet, come the end of his time at St James’ Park, this was a player destined for the ‘flop’ category of Premier League transfers.

In total, he played 29 times for the club and left to no fanfare whatsoever.

7) Hugo Viana 

Billed as one of the best young players in world football at 19, Newcastle mustn’t have believed their luck when they managed to sign Hugo Viana.

But that lucky feeling soon turned into incredible disappointment.

The midfielder scored just four goals in 61 appearances for Newcastle and he departed for Sporting Lisbon in 2004. 

He’s actually gone on to have a decent career, and played 29 times for Portugal; he just couldn’t adjust at Newcastle.

6) Siem de Jong 

The football gods just didn’t want Siem de Jong to star, or even consistently feature, for Newcastle.

The Dutchman arrived in 2014, before going through injury hell.

The former Ajax man even suffered a collapsed lung at St James’ Park. Say what you want about De Jong as a player, but the fact is, he didn’t exactly get the luck he needed at Newcastle.

In the end, he only managed to play 26 times for the club and only scored twice; he’s still going, and is now playing for De Graafschap in Holland’s second-tier.

5) Chancel Mbemba 

Since leaving Newcastle, Chancel Mbemba has flourished at Porto, hitting the form of his life.

So, what went wrong at Newcastle?

Well, for starters, in his final season at the club, the centre-back was forced to play out of position at full-back, which is not how you help a struggling central defender.

It’s also fair to say that Mbemba featured in a difficult era for Newcastle, making things even more difficult.

4) Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa 

Arriving as a Ligue 1-winning captain, Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa seemed to have all the potential to become a real asset for Newcastle.

He made just 46 appearances in 18 months, however, and fell victim to the Magpies’ habit of playing struggling centre-backs at full-back, before leaving the club.

Amazingly, he actually seemed to thrive after leaving the club, even playing in the Champions League for both Roma and Lyon.

Now, though, he’s without a club.

3) Seydou Doumbia 

Every Fifa player would have been excitedly rambling on about just how good Seydou Doumbia was in 2016 after seeing the forward join Newcastle on loan. 

And, in fairness, he wasn’t just a good player in the video game, his record at CSKA Moscow spoke for itself, as he netted 95 goals in 150 games for the club, before making just three appearances for Newcastle.

He just didn’t seem to fit in at the club and was not kept around; he later had spells at Basel, Sporting Lisbon, Girona and Sion before bringing the curtain down on his career at Maltese club Hamrun Spartans.

2) Florian Thauvin 

Florian Thauvin must be one of Newcastle’s biggest regrets when you look at how he’s done since leaving the club.

Of course, the Frenchman didn’t help himself, however, opting to do his best 007 impression by arriving dressed in a full tux in a home game against Watford.

But, he clearly had talent, given the fact that he has since starred for Marseille back in France.

During his time at Newcastle, though, he played just 16 times and only scored one goal. What a shame.

1) Remy Cabella 

Remy Cabella arrived at Newcastle United as a player meant to be the difference-maker; the man to take the Magpies out of mediocrity.

In the end, however, he was the exact opposite, making 34 appearances in one season for Newcastle and scoring just the one goal in what was an incredibly disappointing spell in England.

Having cost £12m from French club Montpellier, he was a bitter disappointment, and has since played for Marseille, Saint-Etienne, Krasnodar, Montpellier, again, and Lille.

So, there you have it, our list of Newcastle United’s biggest flops of the Premier League era. We’re sure that, if the Magpies spend their riches unwisely in the coming transfer windows, then this list will need a re-write. As of right now, however, their business deserves a bit of praise. The players that they have welcomed since the takeover have been nothing but smart acquisitions. 

Nottingham Forest will also be without defender Serge Aurier against West Ham today, adding to their plethora of injury issues.

The Lowdown: Forest treatment table…

Steve Cooper has had to contend with many absences over the last few months as Forest’s treatment table becomes more and more stacked with crucial squad members.

Willy Boly, Scott McKenna, Taiwo Awoniyi, Moussa Niakhate, Dean Henderson, Jesse Lingard, Ryan Yates, Giulian Biancone, Omar Richards and Cheikhou Kouyate have all been sidelined at various points – dealing a real worry for Cooper and the Reds (premierinjuries).

Five points off the Premier League relegation zone, Forest are still very much in contention for the drop and today’s clash against West Ham comes as a pivotal one for both sides.

The Latest: Cooper without Aurier…

Ahead of this afternoon’s bout against David Moyes’ men, an injury to Aurier has added yet another name to the sidelines at Forest.

Cooper confirmed the Ivorian will be out for three-four weeks with a calf problem, adding to the injury list.

The Verdict: Blow for Cooper…

The former Spurs defender has been a solid option at right-back since he joined from Villarreal on a free deal.

Aurier has earned plaudits from members of the press for his ‘superb’ form at Forest after he put pen to paper on a summer move.

He will be a big miss, especially considering he has averaged more tackles per 90 than anyone in Cooper’s squad (WhoScored)

He also ranks among their best-performing players by average match rating this season with Forest now having to cope without his presence against West Ham.

Liverpool are considering making a move for Juventus and France midfielder Adrien Rabiot, according to a fresh transfer rumour from Italy.

The Lowdown: Midfielder rebuild needed

It is essential that Jurgen Klopp is given the funds to rebuild his midfield this summer, with major surgery required in that area of the pitch.

Despite improving of late, Fabinho and Jordan Henderson have looked past their best this season, while the likes of Thiago, Naby Keita, Curtis Jones and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain are all injury-prone and/or out of contract.

Liverpool have been linked with endless midfielders, from Jude Bellingham to Matheus Nunes, and now a new target has emerged.

The Latest: Rabiot emerges as target

According to Gazzetta dello Sport [via Sport Witness], the Reds are in the race to sign Rabiot for free when his contract expires this summer, with his chances of staying at Juventus currently looking ‘slim’.

The report states ‘watch out for Liverpool’ and a decision over his future is set to be made at the end of the season.

The Verdict: Classy option?

Rabiot could be an interesting signing for Liverpool, possessing great experience which has seen him rack up 35 caps for France and start in a World Cup final.

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At 27, he is very much in his peak years and he could bring both ball retention and defensive work to the team, having averaged an 86.9% pass completion rate and 3.2 tackles per game in the Champions League this season.

Should Rabiot arrive, however, it is important that he isn’t the marquee midfield signing Liverpool crave, with Bellingham still surely the dream option who can make the biggest difference.

Instead, the Juve man should be viewed as a safe pair of hands – Andrea Pirlo has called him a ‘complete player’ in the past – who can help turn Klopp’s side’s fortunes around in the middle of the park alongside the addition of a marquee man.