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Liverpool are on the verge of confirming Alexis Mac Allister as their first summer signing and now a new update has emerged on another Brighton and Hove Albion star who could be set to join his teammate at Anfield.

What's the latest on Liverpool's interest in Moises Caicedo?

According to The Telegraph reporter Sam Dean, Liverpool could become involved in the race to sign Moises Caicedo this summer.

Dean tweeted: "Brighton will demand significantly more than £70m for Moises Caicedo this summer. Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester United have all shown interest — and Liverpool could yet become involved, depending on the eventual cost."

Should Liverpool sign Moises Caicedo this summer?

There is no doubt that Liverpool have a desperate need to complete an overhaul in midfield and the imminent announcement of a completed deal for Mac Allister will be a fantastic start to the club's intentions to inject some youth and high quality into the centre of the pitch.

The Anfield faithful will be under no illusion that FSG will be willing to splash the cash to match the extreme spending of Chelsea and Manchester United, but instead will focus on getting cost-effective deals done, with the World Cup winner reportedly costing the Reds a cool £35m for his services.

Having said that, the American owners scrimping has ultimately denied Liverpool the chance to compete in the Champions League and the struggles of last season should serve as a warning to the club hierarchy that their top-flight rivals are strengthening around them.

As a result, the signing of Caicedo would be an incredible opportunity for Jurgen Klopp as he would have a ready-made unstoppable midfield partnership if a deal could be done to reunite the Ecuadorian ace with his Brighton teammate Mac Allister at Anfield.

The dynamic duo dominated their opponents in domestic competition this term, with the pair part of a phenomenal side under Roberto De Zerbi who excelled to reach the semi-finals of the FA Cup and qualify for Europa League football with a sixth-place finish in the Premier League.

Caicedo's partnership with the 24-year-old has often been highly praised, with journalist Julien Laurens claiming that the pair are exactly what Liverpool need:

"The Mac Allister – Caicedo partnership is just so so good. They are exactly what Liverpool need so badly."

Whilst the Argentine boasts explosive attacking strengths, Caicedo – dubbed "terrific" by Tim Vickery – ranks in the top 15% of his positional peers across the top five European leagues for pass completion, tackles and interceptions, whilst also ranking in the top five Premier League players this season for tackles won and interceptions completed, proving he is one of the most prolific ball-winning midfielders in Europe.

Whilst Mac Allister is likely to serve as a replacement for Naby Keita and an upgrade on Curtis Jones or Harvey Elliott, Caicedo would be the perfect alternative for either Jordan Henderson or Fabinho, injecting energy, consistency and creativity from the deeper role.

Indeed, Caicedo's reported £80m price tag will pose as a stumbling block for Liverpool as it is unlikely they would be willing to commit to such a high transfer fee, however, securing the young talent's signature alongside Mac Allister would set up Klopp's midfield for years to come.

Hibernian are keeping tabs on defender Morgan Feeney as they look to bolster their defensive options ahead of next season.

What’s the latest on Morgan Feeney to Hibs?

According to the Daily Record, Hibs are eyeing up a move for Carlisle centre-back Feeney as Lee Johnson aims to bolster his back line.

The 24-year-old is out of contract at the English side this summer, meaning Hibs could secure him on a free transfer, although they could face competition from fellow Premiership sides Hearts and Aberdeen, while there is also interest from League One – suggesting that the Easter Road outfit face a tough battle to sign him.

Could Morgan Feeney improve Hibs?

In the top flight last term, Johnson’s side conceded 59 goals, which was the joint fifth lowest across the whole league, however, they face a big problem in terms of centre-back options ahead of 2023/2024.

The departure of Mikey Devlin leaves Hibs with just two senior centre-backs at the moment and there will need to be a few additions over the coming weeks in order to improve the depth of the squad.

Johnson could secure a reunion with Feeney, having coached him during his spell as Sunderland manager and the 6 foot 2 gem could certainly come in and solve their defensive problem, no doubt about it.

The Englishman made his debut for Everton when he was just 17, and although he didn’t make the grade at Goodison Park, he has played for Tranmere Rovers and Sunderland, before finally enjoying a solid run of matches at Carlisle, featuring 76 times for the club.

The defender played 31 times in League Two as Carlisle secured promotion via the playoffs, however Feeney missed the end of the season due to injury. The 24-year-old did play a big part in the club achieving a top seven spot however, achieving a Sofascore rating of 6.96/10, which ranked him as the third-best player in the squad.

He also ranked in the top five for accurate long balls per game (2.2), interceptions per game (1.3) and clearances per game (2.8) to further underline his importance to the team and Johnson must act sooner rather than later to snap him up ahead of next term.

Journalist Nathan Ridley lauded the player following his injury in April which ruled him out for the rest of the season, saying: “A real shame if Morgan Feeney's time at Carlisle ends like this. He's more than capable of playing in League One.”

Luring him North of the border for nothing would represent a good piece of business for Hibs, and they need to make defensive signings a priority considering just how thin they are at the back.

Burnley are going to need some attacking reinforcements if they are going to translate their success in the Championship into strong performances in the Premier League.

Vincent Kompany's side look like a strong outfit following their title win but have already lost key attacking outlets, Ashley Barnes and Nathan Tella, with it unclear at this stage if the Clarets' top scorer will return to Turf Moor after his superb loan spell from Southampton.

However, if a deal cannot be agreed with the Saints, who may well be keen to keep Tella given their own relegation to the Championship, then Kompany could find a new version of the 23-year-old in Liverpool's attacking talent, Fabio Carvalho.

Could Burnley sign Carvalho?

According to Football Insider, Burnley are open to both a loan or permanent move for the Portuguese youngster this summer after a frustrating debut season at Anfield, which has seen him muster just 340 minutes of action in the Premier League.

He did register three goals in 22 total appearances for Jurgen Klopp's side but given the array of attacking talent available at Anfield, it was perhaps always going to be difficult for him to earn a regular starting spot.

However, he has already shown his class in the Championship with Fulham, notching ten goals and eight assists as they won the title under Marco Silva in 2021/22, which suggests that he needs regular football in order to achieve his potential.

Klopp has already hinted that the Portugal U21 international, who earns £40k-per-week, could depart on loan this summer, saying:

“I think there is a possibility Fabio could go on loan, but we will see. This was not the best year of his career, his young career,” he said.

“No player has impressed me more than Fabio, that’s the truth. This very talented boy came here with big dreams and big expectations and it didn’t work out. His work ethic will give him a fantastic career."

Could Carvalho be Burnley's next Tella?

Carvalho has already proven himself to be a top Championship player and while he didn't get as much game time as he would have liked at Anfield, a year learning from Klopp will only have helped him grow as a player.

While Burnley would prefer not to be dependent on loan players, the success of Tella shows that Kompany can benefit greatly from the loan market, and Carvalho's goalscoring knack could help to keep the Clarets in the Premier League next season.

Liverpool journalist Paul Machin waxed lyrical about the young attacking midfielder in a recent interview with Football FanCast.

He said: "He's small, he's technical, he's actually quite quick. I think he's a tremendous little player. He's got a great eye for goal, he's got an uncanny knack to arrive in the right place at the right time, in terms of scoring goals."

A nimble forward with goals and assists in his locker, the similarities to Tella are clear, with the Saints loanee also emphasising his ability in front of goal with 17 in the second tier last season.

Therefore, if Burnley can help Carvalho to rediscover his best form at Turf Moor, then Kompany could have another gem on his hands.

Newcastle United appear to have been handed a huge boost in their pursuit of Stade de Reims striker Hugo Ekitike after an interview with the French club’s president emerged (via Sport Witness). 

The lowdown: Rising star

Having made a senior debut in 2020/21, Ekitike continued on a rapidly upwards trajectory last season, breaking out as one of the hottest young talents in French football

The 19-year-old ended the campaign with 10 goals and four assists in 24 Ligue 1 outings and has even been compared to Paris Saint-Germain phenomenon Kylian Mbappe as a result.

Previously linked to the likes of Chelsea, Manchester United, Arsenal and Tottenham, it now looks as though Newcastle are set to prevail…

The latest: Bid on the table

Speaking to French outlet France Bleu, translated by SW, Reims president Jean-Pierre Caillot has confirmed there is a suitable bid already in place.

“Today is very concrete. And on the table, there is one that suits us very well. An offer which, in my view, is sportingly interesting for the player and it is now up to him to make his choice, it is not for me to do so.

“From now on, it is his advisers who must move forward on this file. And if at the time of speaking this is not done, it is because his advisers have not yet wished to move forward with this club.”

Caillot went on to say that only offers of around €30-40million (£25-34million) would be deemed acceptable for the young striker who was hailed as a ‘very special’ talent by manager Oscar Garcia.

The verdict: Fingers crossed

There will certainly be high hopes from the North East that the aforementioned suitable bid has come from the St James’ Park hierarchy as all eyes remain on PIF and just how strongly the new owners will back Eddie Howe and Dan Ashworth this summer.

One key area in need of improvement was the centre-forward department, as Callum Wilson’s injury record means the Englishman cannot be relied on and Joellinton’s successful positional switch leaves only Chris Wood as a recognised, regularly healthy frontman.

Capped twice by France at the Under 20 level, the talented teenager has also shown impressive versatility in a developing career to date, occasionally operating from the left wing and showing off battling qualities by winning an impressive 4.1 duels on average per game last term (Sofascore).

If the Magpies are going to compete amongst the elite of the Premier League, signing a potent attacker such as the 6 foot 2 Ekitike would be a huge boost to the project.

In other news: Magpies send scouts to watch Ben Nelson…

Tim Thornton has dropped a huge update on the future of Leeds United central midfielder Kalvin Phillips.

What’s the talk?

In a recent article for Sky Sports, the reporter claimed that, despite continuous links with a big-money move away from Elland Road this summer, the 26-year-old has made it clear that he would like to remain in LS11 heading into 2022/23.

Thornton continues to state that the Whites do not need to sell any players in the summer transfer window and will only sanction the England international’s departure if they believe the deal is right for the club.

Supporters will love Thornton’s update

While there is obviously a long way to go before the summer transfer window closes on September 1, Thornton’s update concerning Phillips’ desire to remain a part of Jesse Marsch’s squad heading into next season is sure to be news that the Elland Road faithful will love.

Indeed, the £45m-rated midfielder is undoubtedly one of the most talented players currently in the Leeds squad, something the 26-year-old more than he proved over his 29 Premier League appearances in 2020/21.

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That term, the £38k-per-week talent was imperious in the middle of the park, scoring one goal, providing two assists and creating five big chances for his teammates, in addition to making an average of 1.2 key passes, taking 0.5 shots and completing 0.7 dribbles per game.

The 19-time capped international also impressed in metrics more typical of his position, making an average of 1.6 interceptions, 2.6 tackles, 1.7 clearances, completing 41.0 passes and winning 5.3 duels – at a success rate of 52% – per fixture.

These metrics saw Phillips earn a quite remarkable SofaScore match rating of 7.21, not only ranking him as Leeds’ best player in the league but also as the ninth-best midfielder in the division as a whole.

As such, with Marsch undoubtedly looking to build a squad ahead of 22/23 that is capable of much more than the Whites’ 17th place finish this season, retaining the services of the deep-lying playmaker would be a huge coup for the American – with Thornton’s latest update appearing to suggest that there is a very real chance of Phillips staying on at Elland Road next term.

AND in other news: Journo reveals Leeds are now “expected to win” transfer race, it’s a big coup for Orta

Sunderland are not interested in signing Tom Barkhuizen from Preston North End this summer, ending any hopes of a reunion with his former manager Alex Neil.

What’s the word?

When asked about The Black Cats’ interest in the winger on Twitter, journalist Alan Nixon confirmed that Sunderland weren’t interested in signing the player whose contract runs out at the end of this month.

He simply commented in four words: “Sunderland and Barkhuizen? No.”

He’s a player that Sunderland manager Alex Neil will know well, but it appears he’s not interested in bringing him to Wearside to help with their task in the Championship next season.

They recently defeated Wycombe Wanderers 2-0 in the League One play-off final to secure a long-awaited return to the second tier of English football.

Supporters will be gutted

Supporters of Sunderland will surely be gutted that Barkhuizen is not on their list for the summer. There have been many outgoings at the Stadium of Light recently as Neil looks to overhaul his squad in preparation for the challenge ahead.

The 28-year-old would have come with heaps of experience in the Championship, having made a total of 209 appearances for Preston North End where he was directly involved in 28 goals during that time.

He joined Preston for free in 2017 just before Neil was appointed, and he was valued at £180k. That has since risen massively to £1.35m which proves that he is a better player than when he arrived.

The Scottish manager regularly used the player and he clocked up over 30 league appearances in all three seasons Neil was at Deepdale.

Securing his services with no transfer fee involved seemed like a no brainer, but it appears Sunderland club are focusing on targets elsewhere. One of those players is Nathan Broadhead with The Northern Echo reporting recently that Sunderland want him to move to the club permanently following a successful loan spell.

It will be interesting to see the signings that the club make ahead of next season, will they be ambitious in the hope of achieving their ultimate goal of returning to the Premier League, or will they be cautious and look at establishing themselves in an already tough division.

IN other news: Sunderland can unearth their new Henderson by signing “exciting” £450k-rated EFL gem…

Manchester United are one of the sides ‘best positioned’ to sign Benfica forward Darwin Nunez this summer.

The Lowdown: Ten Hag request

Nunez, described as an ‘absolute beast’ on a Liverpool podcast last month following his display against the Reds, has been heavily linked with a move to Old Trafford.

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Reports last month claimed that Erik ten Hag made an ‘express request’ over a move for the 22-year-old forward.

The Uruguay international has scored 34 goals in 41 appearances this season, one of which knocked Ten Hag’s Ajax side out of the Champions League.

The Latest: Nunez update

Sports Witness relayed an update from Portuguese outlet Record regarding Nunez on Tuesday. They claimed that Ten Hag ‘appreciates’ Nunez’s qualities and that United are one of the best-placed sides to sign the attacker.

The report adds that Benfica are hoping to make around €100m (£84.5m) from the striker’s sale this summer, with Paris Saint-Germain and Atletico Madrid also name-checked with an interest.

The Verdict: Sign

Nunez has caught the eye across Europe this season and appears to be a real star already, so securing a big-money move could be a brilliant piece of business both in the short and long term.

The Benfica star is primarily a centre-forward but has also enjoyed success on the wing and in a deeper role this season, showing his versatility.

Attacking reinforcements appear needed under Ten Hag this summer, and it looks like he’s a big fan of Nunez, so a mega-money move could be a fantastic start to what could be an extremely busy few months.

In other news: Agreement reached: Man Utd now strike deal for ‘top’ gem who ‘dominates’ on the ball. 

Nottingham Forest’s U18 youth team have had a phenomenal season with the side competing in the FA Youth Cup final on Wednesday night, but despite losing the trophy to Manchester United there is a bright future for the individuals in the team.

Steve Cooper has also had a great season with the senior team who will take on the challenge of the Championship playoffs this weekend and if successful, the side could earn themselves a spot in the Premier League next season for the first time in over two decades.

With that being said, it could be a golden opportunity for the youngsters who have been shining in the youth set-up to prove their worth and gain a chance to play in the top flight should the club prevail in their promotion efforts over the next few weeks.

One player who has been a stand-out star for the U18 team is centre-forward Detlef Esapa Osong, who was hailed a “threat” by journalist Andy Kelly for his impressive performances in the academy this season.

The 17-year-old striker has scored 12 goals and contributed two assists in 20 appearances, but his most notable goal contributions have come in the FA Youth Cup with the youngster being absolutely crucial to the team’s advancement in the competition.

Esapa Osong scored twice in the sixth round 3-1 victory over Blackburn Rovers, scoring another brace and bagging an assist in the 3-1 semi-final victory over Chelsea, proving that his attacking output is effective when it matters and despite his age plays well under pressure, which will surely catch Cooper’s eye.

The centre-forward’s efforts haven’t gone unrecognised as he was offered his first professional contract by the club to secure his future and the young talent was thrilled to sign on with The Reds.

Esapa Osong spoke out on signing the terms (via Nottingham Forest Official):

“I’m extremely thankful for this opportunity.”

“I’ve really enjoyed my time at Forest so far and now I’m eager to keep learning and keep improving as much as I can.”

With that being said, the English goal-machine clearly has a bright future ahead of him and could become first team striker Keinan Davis’ heir if he carries on with the impressive performances he has displayed for his team this season, and there will surely be opportunities for him to prove his worth to Cooper in the not so distant future.

AND in other news: Imagine him & Johnson: Cooper must seal Forest swoop for “magic” 20-goal livewire

Former Tottenham manager Jose Mourinho is said to be eyeing up a move for Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg this summer, according to transfer insider Dean Jones.

The Lowdown: Strong connections

The Portuguese coach signed the 26-year-old when he was in charge of the north London giants just under two years ago, and a matter of months after Mourinho was confirmed as the new manager at Roma, it was reported that the Dane wanted to join him at the Stadio Olimpico.

The Mirror have recently claimed that Hojbjerg is attracting interest from Spurs’ top-flight rivals Newcastle United, with the £100k-per-week star being ‘high’ on Eddie Howe’s wish list, but it seems that a Serie A reunion between the midfielder and his former boss might be on the cards.

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The Latest: Jones’ comments on Hojbjerg

When speaking during an interview about Hojbjerg’s future at Tottenham, Jones told GiveMeSport:

“One thing I’m hearing on Hojbjerg is that Jose Mourinho quite fancies taking him to Roma.

“Next season Jose intends to ask the board to back his vision as he thinks they can make a real push at the top of Serie A – and Hojbjerg could be a great asset.”

The Verdict: Hojbjerg should stay at Spurs

Despite having a successful spell under Mourinho, who once dubbed the 54-cap Denmark international a “phenomenal” player, Hojbjerg has since settled into life at Tottenham, particularly under Antonio Conte, under whom he has started all but two Premier League games this season.

Roma have already failed to secure a Champions League place for next season with the 59-year-old in the dugout, whereas the Lilywhites still very much have a chance of finishing in the Premier League top four come the end of May.

The 6 foot 1 maestro has proven to be one of Conte’s most consistent performers over the course of the Italian’s N17 tenure, and should he have ambitions of playing any kind of European football at the highest level in the future, the best option for him would be to remain in north London and hopefully enjoy more success with Spurs in years to come.

In other news… sources have shared a huge update on one of Tottenham’s summer transfer targets

Victor Osimhen is ‘definitely’ on the ‘radar’ of Manchester United ahead of the summer transfer window, transfer insider Dean Jones has told GiveMeSport.

The lowdown

The Nigerian striker joined Napoli in a £67.5m move from Lille in September 2020, and his £112,000-per-week contract at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona still has more than three years to run.

He has scored 27 goals in his 60 appearances for Napoli to date, including 17 in 30 games this season. According to Gianluca Di Marzio, the Azzurri will demand at least €100m (£85.6m) to let him leave in the summer.

United are gearing up for Erik ten Hag’s first transfer window in Manchester after he was announced as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s permanent successor as manager. However, the Red Devils appear to have lost out in the race for Borussia Dortmund’s Erling Haaland, who now looks set to join local rivals Manchester City.

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The latest

Jones has said that Osimhen is an option for United as a centre-forward target in the upcoming transfer window. The player appears to boast the desired profile for Ten Hag, but his price tag could apparently be an issue.

The journalist told GiveMeSport: “He’s a really good player, and definitely somebody that’s on United’s radar for the summer.

“He is extremely expensive. That is a big drawback in terms of pursuing it. He does fit what they’re going to be looking for, though.”

The verdict

You can understand why Ten Hag would want to add a new number nine at Old Trafford.

Cristiano Ronaldo has scored 24 goals this season but he is now 37 years of age, and he could leave at the end of 2022/23 when his contract expires. Meanwhile, fellow veteran Edinson Cavani is poised to leave in a matter of weeks as his deal winds down.

Marcus Rashford is capable of operating as a centre-forward, but he has endured a difficult campaign, scoring only five goals.

Osimhen may come with an eye-watering price tag, but he is only 23 and looks like an elite striker in the making.

The Serie A player of the month for March is a ‘thoroughbred bomber’ who can become ‘world-class’, in the opinion of his manager Luciano Spalletti, and he definitely appears to be a viable alternative to Haaland for United in the transfer market.

In other news, Sky Sports have dropped a live-on-air Paul Pogba update.