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Aston Villa completed their 2022/23 campaign with a 2-1 win over Brighton and Hove Albion to secure a seventh-placed finish in the Premier League table.

The Villans will now be competing in the Europa Conference League next season and Unai Emery could use the lure of European football to make improvements to his squad in the summer transfer window.

Earlier this month, the Daily Mail reported that Villa and Tottenham Hotspur are both interested in signing Leicester City forward Harvey Barnes in the coming weeks.

The Foxes were relegated to the Championship on Sunday as their 2-1 win over West Ham United was not enough to keep them up, due to Everton beating Bournemouth, and Emery could take advantage of that by swooping to sign the former England U21 international to bolster his roster.

How did Harvey Barnes perform this season?

He enjoyed a strong campaign with Leicester in spite of their struggles and eventual relegation down to the second tier and could form an exciting partnership with current Villa star Ollie Watkins.

Barnes plundered 13 goals in 34 Premier League appearances in 22/23 and this was a significant improvement on the six goals in 32 matches he managed in the previous year.

The maestro ranks in the top 6% of players in his position in the Men's Big Five Leagues and European competitions over the last 365 days for non-penalty goals per 90 (0.43) and scored his 13 goals from 8.9xG, which means the ace was efficient in front of goal as he outperformed the level of chances his teammates provided him with.

Meanwhile, Watkins was the only Villa player to find the back of the net more than six times in the division, with 15, and this suggests that the Leicester ace could provide a much-needed goal threat from out wide next term.

Barnes, who was once hailed as "exciting" by ex-boss Darren Moore, also has the potential to be a creator for the team. Since the start of last season, the 25-year-old created 13 'big chances' and registered 11 assists in the top-flight, whereas no Villa player provided more than seven assists in 22/23 or six in 21/22.

This suggests that the ex-West Brom loanee could create chances for the clinical and ruthless Watkins to continue firing into the back of the net on a regular basis.

Therefore, the pair could be a dream duo as they are both proven goalscorers in the top flight who could cause major issues for the opposition week-in-week-out, whilst Barnes could also open up opposition defences with his creativity if Emery can get the best out of the £35k-per-week whiz.

West Ham United are reportedly the latest club to have registered an interest in taking Amad Diallo on loan from Manchester United next season following the youngster's impressive campaign in the Championship.

Sunderland are understandably desperate to bring the 20-year-old back to the Stadium of Light, but The Northern Echo claims that Premier League clubs have taken notice of his form, with West Ham potentially leading the way.

Will Diallo make the breakthrough at Man Utd?

United splashed out an initial £19m to sign Diallo from Atalanta in 2021, with that fee potentially rising to £37m in add-ons should he succeed at Old Trafford.

The Ivory Coast international has been restricted to just three Premier League appearances for United thus far, however, having been sent out on loan to Rangers for the second half of 2021/22, and to Sunderland for the 2022/23 season.

Both loans can be considered a success, with Diallo registering three goals in ten Scottish Premiership appearances for Rangers and 14 in 39 for Sunderland in the Championship this season, finishing as the Black Cats' top scorer as they narrowly missed out on promotion via the play-offs.

Diallo finished just outside the top ten in terms of the English second tier's top scorers, but he ranked fifth for goal-creating actions with 20, which measures offensive actions – such as a pass or take-on – directly leading to a goal.

He also ranked joint-first alongside Coventry City's Gustavo Hamer for non-dead-ball passes (16) that led directly to a goal, showing his ability to not only score but also create in the attacking third.

Despite his starring loan roles over the past 18 months, Diallo is expected to spend 2023/24 away from Old Trafford to further improve his all-round game, before potentially forcing his way into the first team the following season.

Can Diallo repeat Lingard success?

In the week he was released from Nottingham Forest after making next to no impact in his only season at the club, it is easy to forget just what an impact Lingard made at West Ham after making the trip from Manchester, a journey Diallo could repeat.

The England international outcast scored nine goals and assisted four more in 16 Premier League appearances in the second half of the 2020-21 season, prior to returning to United for an underwhelming final year and then heading for Forest.

Lingard was, of course, far more advanced in his career than Diallo currently is, but that is not to say the latter cannot grab the opportunity with both hands if West Ham does indeed win the race for his signature.

Described as a "special" talent by football reporter Josh Bunting, and "maybe just [Sunderland's] best loan signing of all time", the £29k-per-week winger has earned his chance to have a crack at the Premier League.

Even if he has half the impact of Lingard, whose career is now at a crossroads, West Ham will benefit massively next season from having a future £50m player in their ranks.

Liverpool will face competition from Portuguese giants Benfica as Reds manager Jurgen Klopp seeks a deal for Feyenoord captain Orkun Kokcu this summer.

What's the latest on Orkun Kokcu to Liverpool?

That's according to a report from the Netherlands (as relayed by the Liverpool Echo), which claims that the recently-crowned Eredivisie champions' captain is attracting interest from multiple angles after a brilliant campaign.

Due to Premier League interest, Feyenoord are hoping for at least €40m (£34m) for their star midfielder, and while Benfica are pushing hard to land the Turkish ace, the allure of Jurgen Klopp's outfit could swing the odds in his favour.

Earlier this year, former Liverpool gem Dirk Kuyt stated his desire to see the Anfield side make their move for the 22-year-old, which could be realised this summer as the Reds look to replace departees James Milner, Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.

Should Liverpool sign Orkun Kokcu?

It's fair to say that it's not been a bad season for Kokcu, who scored 12 goals and served five more from 46 appearances across all competitions en route to divisional glory in the Netherlands, ending Ajax's five-year dominance.

Dubbed a "true leader" by talent scout Jacek Kulig, the Feyenoord captain offers an impressive goalscoring prowess to complement a dynamic slant to his midfield play – two elements that could prove enticing to Klopp considering Harvey Elliott's five-goal haul was the highest of any Liverpool midfielder this term.

Klopp's team tends not to find prolific success from the centre, instead relying on the marauding creativity of full-backs Andy Robertson and Trent Alexander-Arnold while harnessing the blistering frontal potency of the likes of Mohamed Salah and co.

But the season gone past illustrates the need for change after the Reds fell by the wayside and failed to qualify for the Champions League for the first time in seven seasons, and Kokcu could change that.

As per Sofascore, he recorded a stunning average match rating of 7.48 in Eredivisie this term, complementing his direct contributions by completing 85% of his passes, making 2.8 key passes and 1.2 tackles per game, and succeeding with 58% of his attempted dribbles.

Truly an all-encompassing midfielder, burgeoning and yet to channel the full scope of his potential, much like Nice machine Khephren Thuram, who could yet forge a deadly midfield alliance with the 20-cap Turkey international on Merseyside having received reliable and heavy links with a move to Klopp's team.

With holding midfielder Fabinho likely to retain his spot in Klopp's system despite a campaign where he flattered to deceive, the more progression-centric duo could wreak havoc behind Liverpool's frontline, with Kokcu, who ranks among the top 1% of midfielders across Men's Next 8 divisions, as per FBref, for both shot-creating actions and progressive passes per 90, achieving a state of confluence with his "tenacious" – as dubbed by talent scout Jacek Kulig – prospective teammate.

Thuram has been regarded as "dangerous" and "powerful" by club peer Aaron Ramsey, and himself ranks among the top 6% of midfielders across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for progressive carries and the top 9% for successful take-ons per 90.

The state of confluence that Liverpool might craft with a deal for both of these exciting dynamos could be the perfect remedy for the seasonal strife, and it must be enacted by new technical director Jorg Schmadtke to ensure that the desired ascent takes the Reds right back to the top.

Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez wants to talk to Mauricio Pochettino about playing in a more attacking role next season.

What's the latest on Enzo Fernandez and Chelsea?

Last January, fresh of the back of winning the World Cup with Argentina, the 22-year-old was snapped up by the Blues in a British transfer record.

Indeed, Todd Boehly and co splashed £107m to land him from Benfica but the deal hasn't necessarily worked out at this moment in time.

While Enzo hasn't necessarily been that poor, he has been part of a terrible Chelsea side that finished 12th in the Premier League – a club-record low.

Graham Potter was sacked not long after the Argentine arrived and Frank Lampard's unsuccessful spell as interim has now finished with Pochettino set to take charge next season.

The former PSG manager will have a big task on his hands trying to get the best out of his underperforming players and we can expect to see plenty of changes when the side next play a competitive game.

Perhaps one notable difference could be Enzo operating further up the pitch. After all, his father seems to think that's what his son wants.

Speaking to The Chelsea Spot (via Evening Standard) Raul Fernandez said: “He was happy about the arrival of Pochettino. Next season? My son wants to be a champion.

“I think [we will see Enzo play further forward]. He was going to ask [Pochettino] to play further advanced.”

Who will play in midfield for Chelsea next season?

It will certainly be interesting to see if Pochettino entertains this idea with Enzo playing a pretty central role for the Blues since arriving in the Premier League – as you can see on his SofaScore heat map.

However, perhaps he will feel as though he can move further up the pitch if Chelsea can make the right sort of signings in the summer window.

One player who could sit in a deeper midfield role is Moises Caicedo. As things stand, Pochettino's side are "frontrunners" to land the Brighton star but it remains to be seen if the two clubs can agree upon a transfer fee.

However, the club will still likely have to deal with the expected departure of N'Golo Kante – who is poised to seal £86m-a-year move to Saudi Arabia’s Al-Ittihad (via The Guardian).

With that in mind, it might take more than just the one signing of Caicedo before Pochettino allows Enzo to play a more attacking role.

West Ham United are considering submitting an offer to bring Bristol City starlet Alex Scott to the Premier League, according to reports.

Who is Alex Scott?

Scott is a central midfielder and academy graduate at Ashton Gate having worked his way up through the various youth ranks to get promoted to Nigel Pearson’s first-team in 2021, where he’s since gone on to make 91 senior appearances for his boyhood club.

The England U20s international still has another two years remaining on his contract, but having been one his side’s standout performers last term, which saw him receive the EFL Championship Young Player of the Year award at the end of season ceremony, he’s been attracting interest from David Moyes at the London Stadium.

The Daily Mail reported back in April that the Irons had sent scouts to watch the 19-year-old live in action, and the Hammers chiefs must have been impressed with what they witnessed as they are now thinking about a summer swoop for the in-demand teenager.

Are West Ham signing Scott?

According to the Evening Standard, West Ham are “weighing up a move” for Scott. The E20 outfit have already “held initial talks” with the midfielder’s representatives and are in the process of “deciding” whether to table an offer. Bristol are “hoping to command” £25m for their prized asset who is “expected to earn” a switch to the Premier League.

Where would Scott fit in under Moyes?

West Ham will know that they are likely to lose Declan Rice to Arsenal despite having already rejected two offers from the Gunners, so central reinforcements will be needed should he depart, and having been hailed an “unbelievable player” by Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola, Scott could help fill the the void.

The Euro U19s champion racked up six goal contributions (five assists and one goal) in 42 Championship outings last season and recorded a total of 87 shot-creating actions, which was higher than any of his fellow teammates, via FBRef.

The Guernsey-born talent would also provide the boss with wonderful versatility having operated in five different positions over the pitch since first bursting onto the scene, including four roles in the midfield and even as a second striker, which is a great attribute to have available should any unexpected injuries occur.

The Irons wouldn’t put Scott under increased pressure to immediately take the place of Rice knowing that he’s still a teenager – he also typically plays a bit more advanced – but he can certainly contribute if the skipper goes, perhaps with the help of a second signing in a more natural number six position.

Thomas Partey is happy to stay at Arsenal this summer, amid reports linking him with a move away, journalist Charles Watts has claimed.

What's the latest on Thomas Partey?

The Ghanian midfielder was one of Arsenal's key performers this season, although his form dropped off towards the end of the campaign, and he has been linked with Juventus as well as clubs in Saudi Arabia.

The 30-year-old's fitness record has been inconsistent since arriving at Arsenal in 2020, and with just two years left on his deal, as well as links to Declan Rice and Romeo Lavia, there have been suggestions that Mikel Arteta could cash in on the £200k-per-week star.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Watts revealed that despite rumours linking him with a move away, Partey would be happy to stay at the club if no transfer materialises and Arsenal want to keep him.

"I've heard Partey is very happy at Arsenal, he wants to stay, is happy to stay and play in the Champions League," he stated.

"The whole reason he signed for Arsenal was to get the club back in the Champions League. Now they're there, he wants to play in that, but instead that if you've got a bunch of Saudi clubs offering you unbelievable wages and you're a 30-year-old, then that is a highly tempting offer, so you know that might well turn his head.

"From a footballing point of view, my understanding is that Partey is absolutely happy to stay at Arsenal, and wants to play in the Champions League with Arsenal.

"Money talks at the end of the day, if someone's offering unbelievable money which will set you up for life and your family up for life, that might change your thinking as a player. So we'll wait and see on that."

Should Arsenal cash in on Partey?

Although the midfielder was a crucial figure as Arsenal surged to the top of the table in the first half of the season, his form dipped in the second half of the campaign, which even resulted in him losing his starting spot to Jorginho.

Arsenal have struggled when Partey has been absent, with their first three losses this season coming when he failed to appear for 90 minutes.

His injury record and age means he may no longer be reliable enough to count on, but given that Granit Xhaka looks set to depart, Arsenal could struggle to replace two starting midfielders in one transfer window.

Arsenal are now leading the race for Fenerbahce attacker Arda Guler, having leapfrogged Newcastle United in the race for his signature, according to a report from Football Insider.

What's the latest Arsenal transfer news?

Arsenal are thought to be very close to finally agreeing a fee for Declan Rice, with just disagreements over the payment structure left after a £105m total bid on Tuesday, as Manchester City now pull out of the race.

The Gunners are also advancing in their pursuit of Chelsea forward Kai Havertz, with Fabrizio Romano reporting that a deal is set to be completed "this week", after agreeing a fee of an initial £60m, plus £5m in add-ons.

Mikel Arteta is keen on bringing in new attacking options this summer, and the manager is preparing to make room in the squad by allowing either Eddie Nketiah or Folarin Balogun leave the club, although he will not sanction the departure of both.

Guler meanwhile has been linked with a switch to north London for quite some time, and Arsenal now appear to have made progress in their pursuit of the youngster, with Football Insider reporting they are leading the race and "seriously exploring a deal".

Having overtaken rival suitors Newcastle, the Gunners are now in pole position for the 18-year-old, but there is still a great deal of competition from abroad, with European giants Barcelona and Ajax also said to be interested.

The Fenerbahce star, who has been dubbed "Turkish Messi" and "the next Ozil", is one of the most sought-after young players in world football, and Arsenal are now seriously exploring a deal this summer.

Who is Arda Guler?

Not only has the starlet been compared to Messi, his play-style has meant he has also drawn comparisons with former Gunners star Mesut Ozil, with journalist Tom Maston describing him as the "golden boy of Turkish football."

Despite his age, the Ankara-born ace has already cemented himself as a consistent starter for Fenerbahce, making 20 Turkish Super Lig appearances last season, during which time he weighed in with four goals and four assists.

With an average WhoScored match rating of 7.28, the attacking midfielder was ranked as the second-best performing player for Fenerbahce in the league last season, averaging two key passes per game, the highest figure of any player in the squad.

An average of 1.3 tackles per game is indicative of the Turkey international's willingness to pitch in defensively, and highlights that he is a well-rounded player, but his attacking qualities are undoubtedly his most exciting attributes.

Guler is certainly one for the future, but his performances in Turkey demonstrate he would not be far off pushing for a place in the Arsenal starting XI, should he complete a switch to north London this summer.

Following their recent return to the Championship, Leeds United will no doubt be fearing the worst with regard to the possible departures of their key men, with top-flight clubs likely to be circling in order to secure potential bargain deals this summer.

Those at Elland Road will likely be fearing that rivals Manchester United, in particular, are among those hoping to capitalise on their recent relegation, with Football Insider having claimed that the Red Devils are notably interested in United States international, Tyler Adams.

It would not be the first time that Leeds have seen a high-profile figure make the controversial switch to Old Trafford, with the likes of Alan Smith and Rio Ferdinand having followed that path in the Premier League era.

Perhaps the most infuriating sale to the Manchester outfit, however, will be that of Eric Cantona on a measly £1m deal back in 1992, with the Yorkshire side having willingly let the enigmatic Frenchman depart following their league title success the season prior.

That decision to sell the prolific forward ultimately proved something of a blunder as Cantona went on to become a cult hero at the Theatre of Dreams, scoring 70 goals and providing 56 assists in just 156 Premier League games over the next five years, winning four league titles in that time.

Having been stung by that memorable sale, it would no doubt be nice for the Whites to exact some revenge by raiding Erik ten Hag's side for a signing of their own this summer, having been linked with a loan swoop for Amad Diallo of late.

Should Leeds sign Amad?

As per The Mirror, Leeds could make a move for the Ivorian starlet amid the uncertainty surrounding Wilfried Gnonto's future at Elland Road, with Amad having returned to his parent club after spending last season on loan at Sunderland in the Championship.

Having previously joined the Red Devils on a £37m deal back in January 2021, the £29k-per-week sensation has thus far made just nine first-team appearances for the club to date, albeit while having showcased his undoubted class during that temporary stint at the Stadium of Light.

Once likened to Argentine icon, Lionel Messi by his former Atalanta teammate, Papu Gomez due to his quality in training, the 20-year-old has been tipped for big things in recent years, although finally began to fulfil that stellar potential while with the Black Cats.

The 5 foot 8 speedster was simply a "joy to witness" in the 2022/23 campaign – according to journalist Josh Bunting – having scored 14 goals and provided four assists in 39 Championship games, as Tony Mowbray's side narrowly missed out on promotion.

Such standout form has illustrated just why the four-cap gem is a "massive talent", as per Bunting, and also why he is destined to be a "future star" – in the words of Gomez – with it likely to represent a major coup if Leeds can tempt him into making a return to the second tier this summer.

With the Whites having seen Cantona go on to blossom at Man United, perhaps they can hand their rivals a taste of their own medicine by snapping up Diallo ahead of next season.

Crystal Palace target Folarin Balogun could be a pivotal figure at Selhurst Park under Roy Hodgson if he was to move to the Eagles this summer, according to journalist Dean Jones.

What's the latest transfer news involving Folarin Balogun?

According to The Sun, Arsenal have slapped a £35 million price tag on Balogun this summer to ward off interest in his services following an impressive campaign on loan at Ligue 1 side Reims.

Crystal Palace are keen on the USA international, who is also attracting attention from RB Leipzig, AC Milan and Inter Milan this off-season as his stock continues to rise.

As quoted by The Mirror, Balogun has recently spoke about his future in an interview, stating: "What I can say is that I definitely won't go on loan again. I'm not sure [about] the discussions that are going to take place, I'm not sure what's going to happen."

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, journalist Ben Jacobs has signalled his belief that Arsenal may offload the forward if he isn't granted senior minutes at the club, stating: “He wants regular game time, meaning he doesn't want to go out on loan a second time. That means that Arsenal either have to give him a pathway or sell him. The player will push for one or the other.”

Eagles' boss Hodgson has been confirmed as their manager for this campaign and is eyeing a 'top-half finish' in south London, which is a feat bringing Balogun to the club could help to achieve.

Journalist Jones thinks that Balogun would be a good fit for Crystal Palace if a move to Selhurst Park was to arise for the 22-year-old this window.

In conversation with Football FanCast, Jones said: "Goals have been hard to come by a Crystal Palace and if Balogun is going to be a top-level forward in the Premier League, it seems like a good sort of level club for him to go and prove himself. The streams of ammunition that they have to provide for the central forward would mean that there are no excuses and if Balogun wants to step forward and say 'I am the main man, put them on a plate with me, you give me a certain size type of chance and I will make sure I score goals', you're going to get that at Crystal Palace."

Would Folarin Balogun be a good signing for Crystal Palace?

Balogun is a clinical finisher in need of being relied upon as a preferred striker somewhere and Crystal Palace need a prolific forward, making him a great fit for Hodgson's project at Crystal Palace.

Last term, the 22-year-old made 39 appearances on loan at Reims, registering 22 goals and three assists across all competitions, as per Transfermarkt.

WhoScored illustrate that the London Colney youth product carried a threat to be reckoned with among Ligue 1 defences in 2022/23, averaging around 3.5 attempts on goal per fixture.

As per FBRef, Balogun also led the line efficiently and linked play well during the campaign, successfully performing 80 shot-creating actions in total.

With Crystal Palace on the lookout for offensive firepower, Balogun could offer an exciting solution to their wishes and help them to further their aims in 2023/24.

Crystal Palace have submitted a proposal for Flamengo youngster Matheus Franca this summer, according to an update from journalist Fabrizio Romano.

Who is Matheus Franca?

The 19-year-old is seen as a big talent back in his homeland of Brazil, already picking up plenty of experience despite not yet being out of his teens. He has racked up 54 appearances for Flamengo, scoring nine goals in that time, and he also won six caps for Brazil's under-16s in the past.

Franca's current contract doesn't expire until December 2027, so Flamengo are in a strong bargaining position when it comes to the attacker's future, being able to demand big money for his signature and not having to worry about losing him on the cheap any time soon.

Chelsea have been linked with a move for the Brazilian a number of times recently as they look to make some significant progress in the summer transfer window, but it looks as though Palace are also in the mix to sign him, as they eye up an ambitious piece of transfer business.

Could Crystal Palace sign Franca?

Taking to Twitter, Romano provided an update on Franca's future, confirming Palace's interest in the youngster, but also talking up a potential move to Chelsea:

"Crystal Palace have submitted a formal proposal for Matheus França. Talks are ongoing for the Brazilian talent. Understand Franca’s open to the move despite interest from Chelsea – #CFC spoke to Flamengo but no bid as €25m is still excessive."

Franca could be a hugely exciting signing for Palace this summer, especially if they can beat Chelsea to his services, acting as something of a statement signing. Fabio Matias, Under-20s coach at Flamengo, has spoken glowingly about him in the past, saying:

"He has many important aspects to his game. In addition to technical and tactical ability, he has a very good understanding of the game.

"That makes him stand out because he interprets spaces well. The most talented players have an understanding of space and how to manage that. He also has the ability to be decisive in front of goal and is a great finisher."

Franca could be viewed as the latest attacking starlet at Palace, with the likes of Eberechi Eze and Michael Olise developing so much down the years, and he could even help fill the potential void left by Wilfried Zaha should the Eagles legend move on to pastures new this summer following a memorable couple of spells in south London.

Primarily a central-attacking midfielder, the young South American can also play out wide, and such versatility could appeal to Roy Hodgson as he looks to make key reinforcements and bring in players who can be effective in the present and the future.

Chelsea do appear to be the favourites to sign Franca, however, considering they are a bigger club who have a greater chance of winning trophies moving forward, but it is certainly encouraging to see Palace in the picture as things stand, as they look to beat one of their London rivals to the signature of a top young talent.