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An update has emerged on Celtic and their plans to bolster their defensive options ahead of the 2023/24 Scottish Premiership campaign…

What's the latest Celtic transfer news?

According to the Liverpool Echo, Brendan Rodgers is keen on a swoop to sign out-of-contract central defender Jonny Evans during the summer transfer window.

The report claims that the Northern Irish head coach would like to reunite with his compatriot after their time together at Leicester City, as the veteran stopper's contract with the Foxes expired at the end of last season – making him a free agent.

It states that Premier League side Everton have no interest in signing the 35-year-old enforcer, despite speculation ramping up after a supporter heard an unknown person in the background of a training video posted on social media state that the club had Evans coming in.

What has Jonny Evans won?

Evans would arrive as a player with the experience to slot straight into the high-pressure environment at Celtic as he is a proven winner who knows what it takes to secure trophies.

The Northern Ireland international won ten pieces of silverware during his time at Manchester United, including three Premier League crowns and one Champions League title. Most recently, he lifted the FA Cup with Rodgers at Leicester in the 2020/21 campaign.

His arrival on a free transfer this summer could spell the end of 23-year-old defender Stephen Welsh's time at Parkhead, as it may push him further down the pecking order ahead of next season and in need of a transfer to revive his career.

Serie A sides Bologna and Hellas Verona have both been touted with an interest in snapping up the rarely-seen central defender, who wants to play regular first-team football instead of watching on from the sidelines or the bench for another 12 months.

It was also reported earlier this year that the Glasgow giants would be willing to sanction his departure if they are able to bring in a replacement.

Welsh only made four Scottish Premiership appearances last term as the likes of Cameron Carter-Vickers, Carl Starfelt, and Yuki Kobayashi were preferred ahead of him.

Evans, who was once described as a "Rolls Royce" by former Northern Ireland teammate Keith Gillespie, coming in would surely limit the Scotsman's chances even further, as it seems unlikely that Rodgers would want to bring him in with the intent of being the fifth choice in that position.

Therefore, signing the former Red Devils ace would open the door for the manager to part ways with Welsh, who may not get the regular game time that he is looking for at Parkhead.

The fact that Rodgers is eyeing up another central defensive option suggests that the ex-Liverpool boss wants to improve the quality of his backup options behind Carter-Vickers and Starfelt, which does not bode well for the 23-year-old enforcer and his chances of breaking into the XI.

Therefore, Celtic could capitalise on the interest from Italian teams in Welsh's services and cash in on him this summer by securing a deal to sign Evans on a free transfer first.

By doing this, the Hoops could add a vastly experienced and proven winner to their squad, who has already played 129 competitive matches under Rodgers, without spending a penny on transfer fees, whilst also potentially recouping a fee by selling one of their current centre-backs.

Wolfsburg defender Micky van de Ven is keen on joining Tottenham Hotspur this summer and manager Ange Postecoglou personally believes Spurs have a great chance of signing him.

Who will Spurs sign?

The Lilywhites are aiming to take this transfer window by storm and back Postecoglou in his attempts to restore exciting, expansive football at Hotspur Way.

Jose Mourinho, Nuno Espirito Santo and Antonio Conte before him encouraged a more pragmatic style but Postecoglou appears determined to deploy a much more different approach.

“In terms of how quickly the players embrace it, the new players coming in will help," said the former Celtic boss on his playing style.

"That’s the part I have control over – whether that’s James or Guglielmo in goal.

"They’re players who fit in the direction I want to go in. Then it’s about seeing with the existing group how many of them are able to adjust and embrace the way we’re going to play.”

Spurs have already sealed the signings of goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario from Empoli, a deal for James Maddison from Leicester City, the free transfer of Manor Solomon and Dejan Kulusevski on a permanent deal from Juventus.

The aforementioned boost Tottenham's options defensively and going forward, with reports suggesting they're now targeting major additions for their central defensive line.

There are a fair few names attracting Spurs' interest, including van de Ven, Edmond Tapsoba of Bayer Leverkusen, Fulham's Tosin Adarabioyo, Barcelona's Clement Lenglet and Galatasary star Victor Nelsson.

Van de Ven, though, is at the centre of reports claiming he is closing in on a move to north London – with reliable media sources like Fabrizio Romano claiming a deal is close.

As per The Daily Mirror and journalist Darren Lewis, Postecoglou personally thinks the Dutchman will be Tottenham's "fifth summer signing" after Vicario, Maddison, Solomon and Kulusevski.

The Australian is apparently confident he will join Spurs, and much like Romano, the Mirror claim an agreement is nearing. As well as this, van de Ven is thought to be keen on making the move to N17, a factor which could support Daniel Levy's attempts to sign him.

The 22-year-old is thought to command a price tag of around £25 million, a figure which may well be affordable from Tottenham's perspective.

How good is Micky van de Ven?

According to WhoScored, the defender stood out as a real shining light under Wolfsburg boss Niko Kovac last campaign.

Making more blocks per 90 than any of his teammates, van de Ven also ranked among Wolfsburg's top three best players for clearances made on average (WhoScored).

Indeed, it speaks volumes that Kovac selected van de Ven more than any other of his outfield players in the German top flight last year (WhoScored).

Called a "monster" of a player on Voetbal International, the Bundesliga website have described him as a lightning quick player and even compared him to Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk.

They wrote:

"Much like Liverpool’s Dutch centre-back, Van de Ven can be a nightmare for attacking players with his immense strength, determination and precision tackling scuppering the most promising of forward moves.

"With incredible pace and passing ability among his many assets, the Netherlands U21 international – who captained his country at the 2023 UEFA Europan Under-21 Championship – is on course to become a regular for the senior Oranje in the near future."

Arsenal have reportedly been offered encouragement in the race to sign Paris Saint-Germain contract rebel, Kylian Mbappe, according to the latest reports.

What is the latest on Mbappe to Arsenal?

As per the Independent's Miguel Delaney, it is believed that a move to the Emirates would be the Frenchman's 'preference' if he was to seal a switch to the Premier League, with the 24-year-old facing an uncertain future at the Parc des Princes with just under a year left to run on his existing deal.

The report adds that the World Cup winner has been left impressed by the progress that Mikel Arteta's side have made of late and would be keen to try and deliver the league title for the north Londoners, albeit with any deal at present seemingly out of the club's price range – with the 5 foot 10 ace valued at around €200m (£171m).

As per the report, the Ligue 1 giants are keen to sell the forward this summer if he does not agree to a contract extension over the next few weeks, albeit with current frontrunners, Real Madrid likely to wait to try and sign the fleet-footed speedster on a free transfer next summer.

This comes amid a prior piece from Football Transfers which also suggested that Arteta and co could look to make a move of their own in 2024, having been debating whether to contact the player's representatives.

Will Mbappe join Arsenal?

It does appear unlikely that the £1.2m-per-week marksman will be arriving at the Emirates this summer, although there does appear to be lingering hope that a deal could be on the cards in 12 months' time, due to Mbappe's interest in joining the club.

If such a move was to come to fruition it would undoubtedly be a sensational piece of business for the Gunners, with the 70-cap international simply something of a "phenomenon", according to teammate, Neymar.

The one-time Monaco man notably boasts a staggering haul of 212 goals and 90 assists in just 260 games for his current side despite his relative youth, having also already plundered 40 goals at senior international level.

While the sparkling talent has typically operated through the middle in a central role in recent times, he could also provide a possible upgrade on Gabriel Martinelli on the left flank, having been utilised in that wide berth throughout his career to date.

Although Martinelli has done little wrong of late – scoring 15 goals and registering five assists in the Premier League last term – the Brazilian ace can simply not match Mbappe's brilliance, with the latter man having scored 29 goals and laid on six assists in Ligue 1 in 2022/23.

The PSG wizard also appears to have a greater knack for being able to beat his man as he ranks in the top 3% among his peers in Europe's top five leagues for successful take-ons at an average of 2.36 per 90, while the current Arsenal man averages just 1.97 in that regard, further showcasing the difference in quality between the pair.

Equally, Mbappe's ability to bring others into play in the forward line is also to be credited, with the Paris native ranking in the top 5% for progressive passes as a marker of his creative prowess at an average of 4.15 per 90, while Martinelli averages just 3.04 per 90 for that same metric.

For all the 22-year-old's fine work under Arteta of late, the promising talent would simply have to get used to a watching brief if Mbappe was to be snapped up any time soon, with that signing likely to be an undoubted upgrade as far as the Gunners are concerned.

Nottingham Forest are in talks over a summer swoop to sign Leicester City forward Kelechi Iheanacho.

What’s the latest Nottingham Forest transfer news?

The Reds and Steve Cooper made close to 30 signings during the 2022/23 season following their return to the Premier League, and the club managed to avoid an immediate return to the second tier.

However, the club are yet to really make their mark in the window this summer, with the only real piece of business seeing Chris Wood’s loan move becoming permanent from Newcastle United.

The Reds could soon be on the search for another attacking addition, though, especially with Premier League rivals Brentford confident of signing Brennan Johnson. Forest have already rejected a £30m offer from the Bees for the Wales international, but they will consider accepting an offer in the region of £50m.

As a result, the club have been linked with a move for Iheanacho, who was a part of the Foxes side that suffered relegation last season.

According to journalist Santi Aouna in the last 48 hours, Forest have recently opened talks over a move for Iheanacho and have made the Leicester man a top target. The Reds are even hoping to seal a deal in the next days.

“Nottingham Forest have opened talks to sign Kelechi Iheanacho from Leicester.

“He’s on top of list. Nottingham want to close the deal in the next days.”

Who is Kelechi Iheanacho?

Iheanacho has been on the books at the King Power Stadium since 2017 after leaving Manchester City. Since then, the Nigeria international has made 206 appearances for his current employers in all competitions, scoring 55 times, one of which came at the City Ground in a FA Cup clash.

The 26-year-old is into the final 12 months of his Foxes deal and is valued at €18m by Transfermarkt, so a deal could be there to be done for the left-footed forward.

He is known for his quality in front of goal, and back in 2021, following a goal against Crystal Palace, former forward Tony Cottee hailed Iheanacho as “class”.

“With Kelechi, you’ve got that class. If you watch the slow-motion, you’ll see him take just a little glance up. His head goes up, ‘where is the goal?’. What am I going to do?’ and he just made it look so easy.”

“So let’s give him praise for two things: the closing down and then the quality of the finish.”

As per FBref, Iheanacho has been compared to the likes of Robert Lewandowski, Lionel Messi, Marcus Rashford and Christopher Nkunku in the last year, and he even ranks in the top 2% of forwards for assists, showing he has more to his game than just goals.

Therefore, should Johnson leave, bringing in an experienced Premier League striker like Iheanacho could be a wise move, and by the looks of things, it could be one to keep an eye on over the coming days.

Wolverhampton Wanderers are reportedly interested in Sevilla forward Lucas Ocampos, as Julen Lopetegui aims to bolster his side on a budget this summer.

The Spaniard must address the Old Gold’s struggles in the final third of this transfer window after his side ended the season as the Premier League’s lowest scorers with limited creativity in attack.

With Ocampos linked, Molineux could see an injection of attacking prowess added to the ranks, at a price that would not damage the clubs’ finances.

As reported by The Guardian earlier this week, Wolves are reportedly ‘in talks’ to sign the 28-year-old winger from Sevilla, in a deal worth €15m (£13m).

Earlier this month, the Telegraph confirmed Lopetegui’s commitment to the Midlands side, adding that the club will ‘intend to pay’ around £8m-£15m for new recruits this summer to remain within Financial Fair Play (FFP) boundaries.

In Ocampos, the Spaniard could land himself a financially friendly asset as well as an experienced player that can add an abundance of threat on the flanks.

What could Lucas Ocampos offer to Wolves?

Hailed as “dangerous” by members of the media, the 28-year-old could provide a new outlet to the right flank at Molineux, following the departure of Adama Traore.

After a total of five years employed by Wolves, the Spaniard will leave as a free agent this summer, having marked himself as one of the Premier League’s most feared players to challenge 1v1.

Averaging 2.95 successful take-ons per 90 over the past year, the 27-year-old ranks in the top 7% of players in his position in Europe in this area, as per FBref, showing the presence Wolves will be without next term.

Despite possessing such a threatening skillset, the £46k-per-week attacker only registered 25 goals and assists in a total 157 appearances at Molineux, conveying that at a time of need his exploits on the flank came to little avail.

With just 31 goals in 38 games, individual expeditions won't cut it next season for Lopetegui, who requires a genuine menace in attack to break Wolves free of their goal-scoring woes.

As per Sofascore, Sevilla’s Ocampos averaged 1.6 shots per game in La Liga this season, as well as averaging 4.95 touches in the attacking penalty area per 90, significantly more than Traore who registered 3.37 per 90, via FBref.

Similarly to the Spaniard who received an average of 9.39 progressive passes per 90, the Argentine received 8.73 per 90, showing the positions he can create just as Traore has for Lopetegui’s side.

Most prominently for Wolves is the added threat on goal that the 28-year-old could bring, highlighted by his 0.35 xG (expected goals) per 90 in La Liga, incomparable to the club’s departing star who averaged just 0.08 xG, as per FBref.

Lopetegui could ease the Spaniard’s departure by signing Ocampos, who could prove to be an upgraded asset to the front line at Molineux.

Leeds United are still without manager after falling from the Premier League this year, but that has not stopped rumours filtering through of the club's interest in Amad Diallo.

According to The Mirror, the Manchester United winger has emerged as an option for a loan move this summer with Wilfried Gnonto eyeing a departure from Elland Road after relegation from the Premier League.

The Championship outfit's soon-to-be-confirmed owners, the 49ers, will be targetting a swift return to the top-flight, and the Ivorian could hold the formula after a prolific loan spell with defeated Championship play-off semi-finalists Sunderland.

Signing for the Red Devils from Atalanta for a fee potentially rising to £37m in January 2021, the 20-year-old is certainly an unlikely candidate given the historic rivalry between the respective outfits but it could serve as a move to fit the interests of all parties.

How would Amad Diallo perform at Leeds?

The £29k-per-week winger has only made nine appearances for Manchester United since his arrival, scoring one goal and supplying one assist, and after an indifferent loan spell with Scottish giants Rangers, Diallo has found his feet in England's north east.

With Sunderland returning from the obscurity of the third tier last term, a stellar season is the only way to describe the job that Tony Mowbray did in mounting a promotion push, with the one-year deal for Diallo proving a masterstroke as the prodigious talent served as the offensive centrepiece.

Indeed, the three-cap gem scored 14 goals and supplied four assists from 43 matches across all competitions, including a goal against promoted Luton Town in the play-offs – his feats are even more impressive when noting that he blanked across his first eight matches in the Championship.

Earning an average Sofascore rating of 6.98 after complimenting his direct return with an 86% pass completion rate, averaging 1.8 shots and 1.1 key passes per game, Leeds would inject a "wizard" of a winger, as he has been called by journalist James Copley.

He could even emerge as Elland Road's next Raphinha, with the Brazilian "magician" – as he has been hailed by Dan James – departing the club for Barcelona for £55m last summer.

Like Diallo, Raphinha is an electric flanker with the capabilities to conjure up something out of nothing from the right wing, darting inside onto his favoured left foot to wreak havoc.

Indeed, for the Whites, he posted 17 goals and 12 assists across his two Premier League campaigns with the outfit, and given that he averaged 2.2 and 2.5 shots, and 2.1 and 1.9 key passes a game – as per WhoScored -across the two terms, it's clear that Diallo can match his presence in the second tier as Leeds target an instant return.

Perhaps their dynamic nature can be best compared via their dribble success. Both can beat an opponent with ease out wide, with Diallo registering 3.72 progressive carries per 90 in the last year to Raphinha's four per 90.

Blessed with trickery and speed to bamboozle any defender, such a signing would surely have fans at Elland Road standing to attention.

Arsenal supporters have been told to get “very excited” as they reportedly advance on a move to sign Southampton star Romeo Lavia this summer.

Who will Arsenal sign this summer?

The Gunners are aiming to seriously back manager Mikel Arteta in the transfer market this summer, so much so that they have already had two bids rejected for West Ham star Declan Rice.

One of those offers was a club record, and despite their approaches being snubbed, it is believed they’re preparing a third attempt to land the England international.

Meanwhile, it is reliably believed that Chelsea’s Kai Havertz is about to make the switch to Arsenal, with the north Londoners apparently sealing a £60 million deal (plus £5m in add-ons) for the forward.

Ajax defender Jurrien Timber is also being targeted by Arteta’s side amid reports of an offer for the 22-year-old Netherlands ace, but he isn’t the only starlet who could join Arsenal.

According to reports in the last few days, Arsenal are advancing in talks to sign Lavia from Southampton, with some sources even claiming that personal terms are almost agreed.

Amid these claims, former Southampton FC and Bleacher Report journalist Sam Tighe has told supporters to get “very excited” about Lavia’s possible signing. Tighe claims the 19-year-old has been a “shining star” on the south coast, having watched him throughout the entirety of last season.

Taking to Twitter, he said:

What’s been said about Romeo Lavia?

The impressive teenager has once been likened to former Man City captain and mainstay Fernandinho, with Pep Guardiola holding him in very high esteem.

“I am really impressed with what Romeo has done and is doing,” said Guardiola to City’s official website.

“(It’s a) good experience to go to the Premier League and play at this early age. So important.”

According to WhoScored, Lavia also averaged Southampton’s second-highest rate of tackles per 90 in the top flight last season, eclipsed only by Mohammed Salisu, whilst also amassing a higher pass accuracy than any other Saints player (86.4%).

Tottenham Hotspur chairman Daniel Levy has been praised for his work at Spurs after off-field news that he is become the highest-paid director in Premier League football.

How much does Daniel Levy earn?

As Lilywhites chairman, Levy ultimately oversees both on-field and off-field operations in N17, at least until they hire a new sporting director to replace Fabio Paratici.

Incoming Chief Football Officer Scott Munn is also due to start work in July, alongside new manager Ange Postecoglou, but until then, it appears Levy may be spearheading Tottenham's charge in the summer transfer market.

The Spurs chief, alongside these duties, is apparently attempting to seal a deal for Tottenham's stadium naming rights – with reports suggesting he is holding out for a record-breaking deal.

Levy, however, cuts a polarising figure among the Spurs fanbase. Indeed, supporters protested the leadership of him and club majority owners ENIC during a march back in April.

The board member has also been subject to criticism for not backing certain managers financially, with an off-field report by The Daily Mail recently revealing that he is England's highest-paid director on £3,265,000 per year.

Following this news, finance expert Kieran Maguire praised Levy for his efforts in some respects, claiming he is worth every penny of that lucrative wage packet.

“If you separate Tottenham in terms of what happens on the pitch and what happens off of it – Daniel Levy probably is worth every penny that he earns,” said Maguire to Football Insider.“He has created a stadium that will at the very least be in the top two in terms of matchday income in the UK.“They will be challenged for the top spot by Arsenal next season after they qualified for Europe.“The ability to sign commercial arrangements is very good, and the wage control is absolutely excellent.“However, a cynic would argue that not having to pay bonuses for winning trophies or qualifying for Europe would contribute to that low wage bill."

Who is Daniel Levy?

Graduating from Cambridge University in 1985 with a First Class Honours Degree in Economics and Land Economy, Levy has gone on to serve as Spurs chairman since December 2000.

He is also the longest-reigning chairman in the Premier League right now, alongside his role as Managing Director of the ENIC Group.

Levy also oversaw the recent appointment of former Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou, which marks the return of attacking football to N17.

"Ange brings a positive mentality and a fast, attacking style of play," said Levy.

He has a strong track record of developing players and an understanding of the importance of the link from the academy – everything that is important to our Club. We are excited to have Ange join us as we prepare for the season ahead."

Hollywood A-lister Julia Roberts has congratulated Manchester City and Pep Guardiola for winning the Champions League after he called her one of his biggest idols earlier in the season.

What happened between Pep Guardiola and Julia Roberts?

Back in March, the City manager told the press that he had three idols in his life in Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods, and Julia Roberts.

However, Guardiola went on to say that he was left disappointed when she came to England and went to Old Trafford and not the Etihad.

He explained: “Julia Roberts years ago came to Manchester – not in the 90s when Sir Alex [Ferguson] was winning titles and titles and titles. She came in the period where we were better than United, in these four or five years, right?

“And she went to visit Man United. She didn't come to see us. That's why even if I win the Champions League it will not compare for the fact that Julia Roberts came to Manchester and didn't come to see us."

He joked: “Even if I win the Champions League it will not compare to this disappointment I had.”

Well, on the weekend, Man City finally did manage to go all the way in Europe's most prestigious football competition, with a 1-0 win against Inter Milan.

And it seems Roberts has taken notice of all this as she took to Instagram to post a message of support.

He wrote: "Congratulations @pepteam for leading your team to be UCL champions. #pep #soccermom"

Why did Pep Guardiola say he is a failure?

It was no doubt a brilliant day for all those involved with City as a single goal from Rodri was enough to seal the victory in Istanbul.

Not only did that give the Manchester outfit their first-ever Champions League trophy, it also sealed the treble, having already won the Premier League and the FA Cup during the season.

After managing all that, Guardiola won't have had many better weeks during his many fears as a top coach and this personal message from one of his idols would have been the sweetest of cherries on top.

Indeed, back when first talking about Roberts, he claimed: “I am a failure in the Champions League. If I win the Champions League three times in a row I will be a failure."

This was all because of Robert's past snub, but now he's won the trophy and been acknowledged by the Hollywood star, perhaps he can feel like more of a success.

Liverpool "could yet become involved" in the race to sign Brighton and Hove Albion midfielder Moises Caicedo, according to reliable journalist Sam Dean.

Is Moises Caicedo leaving Brighton?

The Ecuador international first arrived in the Premier League back in 2021 and has since gone on to become an integral member and regular feature of Roberto De Zerbi’s squad, starting 34 out of the 38 games in the top-flight last season, establishing himself as the top-performing defensive player at The Amex.

Back in January, Arsenal saw two bids for the 21-year-old rejected as he even penned an open letter on his social media channels expressing his desire to leave, as per Sky Sports, but despite wanting to embark on a new challenge, he then signed a new long-term contract keeping him at the club until 2027.

Speaking on his YouTube channel in February, Fabrizio Romano confirmed that the Reds and Chelsea were also following the Seagulls talisman but claimed that Jurgen Klopp hadn’t made a formal approach due to his top target at the time being Borussia Dortmund’s Jude Bellingham, but with that pursuit now over, they could have a change of heart over the south coast star.

Are Liverpool signing Caicedo?

Taking to Twitter, Dean revealed that Liverpool aren't yet fully ruled out of the running for Caicedo and could be tempted to try their luck should they feel his price tag is reasonable. He wrote:

"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 FSG make a move for Caicedo?

Liverpool will already have a strong existing relationship with Brighton due to the deal for Alexis Mac Allister, and with him completing a switch to Anfield, FSG should definitely enquire to see if the Argentine’s former teammate could follow in his footsteps to Merseyside.

The World Cup participant is naturally a defensive midfielder which is proven by him recording a total of 100 tackles over the course of the last campaign, higher than any of his fellow peers, via FBRef, alongside averaging 1.5 interceptions per top-flight game, so he’s a real rock and protector of the backline.

Brighton’s “Machine Man”, as dubbed by talent scout Jacek Kulig, would also add wonderful versatility to the squad, so could well be worth his "astronomical" price tag of well over £70m. He has previously operated at right-back and slightly higher up in central midfield alongside his usual role in front of the defence, so should the opportunity to sign him arise, the board shouldn’t even have to think twice about wrapping this one up.