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Napoli are "not far away" from reaching Wolverhampton Wanderers' asking price for their English centreback Maximilian Kilman after their initial bid of £30m was rejected, claims Sky Sports reporter Mark McAdam.

Wolverhampton Wanderers transfer news – What's the latest on Max Kilman?

It hasn't been the start to the summer transfer window that fans of the Old Gold would've been hoping for, with the only incoming of note being Boubacar Traore, who signed a permanent deal after impressing on loan last year, whilst there have been some fairly major outgoings.

Last month the club announced the departure of club captain Ruben Neves, who, after six years with Wolves, was joining Saudi Pro League outfit Al-Hilal in a deal worth £47m.

On top of that, the club have sold Conor Coady to Leicester City for £7.5m and seen Adama Traore, Diego Costa and Joao Moutinho all leave for free.

This lack of spending and inability to keep players is partly due to the club's precarious financial position after spending significant amounts of money over the last few years without seeing much return.

Now there could be one more name out the door at Molineux this month as Serie A champions Napoli have made Wolves defender Kilman one of their primary targets to replace the outgoing Kim Min-jae, per Sky Sports reporter Mark McAdam.

McAdam explained the situation on Sky Sports News (via Football Daily), saying:

"The spotlight is on another defender in Max Kilman, they have rejected an offer from Napoli for Kilman, we understand the offer to be around £30m, Wolves value him at £35m plus. So Napoli not far away, they're losing Kim Min-jae to Bayern Munich, so they need to replace him, and they have identified Max Kilman as the one to do that."

How good is Max Kilman?

To employ one of football's most famous phrases, it was a season of two halves for Wolves last year. The Midlands side looked destined for the drop when they were rock bottom of the league going into the World Cup break, but the arrival of Julen Lopetegui saw them fight back in the second half of the year, eventually finishing in 13th place, seven points above 18th.

Kilman was one of the team's key figures last year and one of the players that helped drag them back into good form.

According to WhoScored, the 23-year-old averaged a respectable match rating of 6.63 across his 37 Premier League starts, winning 2.3 aerial duals a match and achieving a pass completion rate of 83.4.

His regular and reliable performances for the Old Gold have also won him plaudits from the greats in the game, with Pep Guardiola hailing the Englishman as "quality" in 2022.

If he really is on his way to Naples this summer, it could make what was already looking like a tough season next year into something much worse for Lopetegui's side.

Newcastle United are reportedly keen to prise Kalvin Phillips from Manchester City this summer, as Eddie Howe seeks to continue his midfield overhaul at St James' Park.

What's the latest on Phillips to Newcastle?

With the Magpies having already wrapped up a deal for AC Milan playmaker, Sandro Tonali, the Telegraph are now reporting that the club could turn their attention towards the England international over the coming weeks, with the 27-year-old having endured a difficult debut season at the Etihad.

While the report suggests that the former Leeds United man – who made the move to Manchester on a £45m deal last summer – is hoping to stay and fight for his place under Pep Guardiola, a possible swift exit from the treble-winning outfit is potentially still on the cards.

Although the piece does not state how much a deal for the Yorkshireman would cost, the Mirror reported earlier in the window that Premier League rivals Liverpool were eyeing a £35m move for the 5 foot 10 ace.

Would Phillips be a good signing for Newcastle?

There is no denying that it proved to be a frustrating first season for Phillips with the Cityzens, with the 27-cap maestro having been restricted to a bit-part role in the club's glittering success, after racking up just 21 appearances in 2022/23, making only two league starts in that time.

While previously described as a "machine" by The Athletic's Jordan Campbell during his prior stint at Elland Road – where he made 234 appearances across all fronts and helped guide the club to promotion – the £150k-per-week man's recent woes should well be of concern to Howe and co.

Newcastle may wish to avoid making the same mistake as that of their bitter rivals, Sunderland, with talkSPORT pundit Ray Parlour suggesting that the situation of Phillips at City is "very similar" to that of Jack Rodwell – who also endured infamously dour stint at the Stadium of Light.

Much like his compatriot, Rodwell had shown early promise after rising up through the ranks at Everton, with then-Toffees boss David Moyes stating that the midfielder had a "good future ahead of him", prior to making the move to Man City on a £15m deal in 2012.

As it proved, the Southport-born dud arguably "wasted two years of his career" at the Etihad – according to journalist Leigh Curtis – as he made just 25 first-team appearances, before joining the Black Cats in 2014.

That move proved even more disastrous as Rodwell endured a run of 39 top-flight games without a win – a league record – having also been lambasted by former boss Chris Coleman due to his apparent willingness to see out of his contract, rather than move on elsewhere.

Described as the 'worst signing in Sunderland's history' by the Chronicle's James Hunter back in 2018, the current Sydney FC man endured a torrid time of it in the northeast, with those at St James' Park perhaps wary of seeing history repeat itself.

The Tynesiders could well follow in the footsteps of their long-time foes with the addition of Phillips, with the Leeds native – who Guardiola described as "overweight" last season – seemingly not the solution for Howe this summer.

Everton have been strongly linked with a move for Wilfried Gnonto this summer and now a new update has emerged on the club's pursuit of the player.

What's the latest on Everton's interest in Wilfried Gnonto?

According to Italian news outlet Gazzetta Dello Sport (via Sport Witness), Everton have made a concrete move for the Leeds United winger.

As per the report, the Toffees are the first to make a serious move for the player alongside Freiburg and the club have already made contact with the recently-relegated West Yorkshire outfit to confirm their interest in Gnonto.

It is claimed that Leeds will demand up to €20m (£17m) to part ways with their young forward this summer as they are attempting to keep together as much of their Premier League squad as possible.

Will Everton sign Wilfried Gnonto this summer?

Improving the quality of the attacking threat at Goodison Park will be the top priority for Sean Dyche this summer as he aims to stabilise Everton's situation in the Premier League after the club suffered two consecutive relegation scraps.

Whilst the midfield and defensive personnel have been refreshed with quality as the likes of James Tarkowski, Idrissa Gueye and Amadou Onana have become key players for the Merseysiders, the presence in the final third has been significantly weakened over the last 12 months.

Anthony Gordon followed Richarlison out of the door in January, leaving the wide attacking options limited to Dwight McNeil and Demarai Gray for the remainder of the campaign and whilst the Toffees were saved with two points to spare at the end of the 38-game campaign it came a little too close for comfort.

Now Dyche could significantly improve the forward line with opportunities presented to him in the summer transfer window and by signing Gnonto could provide McNeil with a partner on the opposite flank who can work alongside him to offer more creativity and goal-scoring opportunities next season.

Only McNeil offered more goal contributions (10) than the Italian sensation (8) in all competitions last season, which is a testament to just how poor the threat was in front of goal last season for the Toffees and how valuable the signing of Gnonto could be for Dyche.

As per FBref, the teenage sensation – hailed "special" by Michael Skubala – already ranks in the top 20% of his positional peers across the top five European leagues for blocks, tackles and progressive carries, proving that not only does he have an eye for goal but is also a consistent ball-winner who can comfortably progress into dangerous positions. The thought of two lively wingers, therefore, is a mouthwatering one for those at Goodison.

With that being said, the signing of Gnonto would be a major coup for Everton as his Premier League experience and potential to develop into a really valuable threat in front of goal could set up the future of their forward line for many years to come.

Alongside a new midfielder and striker, the goalkeeper is another position that simply must be upgraded by Chelsea.

The incoming Mauricio Pochettino is attempting to fix the mess of the new ownership, who have spent around £585.5m but have failed to source a consistent and reliable shot-stopper.

Giorgi Mamardashvili is a name that has been linked to solving this damaging conundrum.

What’s the latest Giorgi Mamardashvili to Chelsea?

According to the Evening Standard, the Blues are keenly tracking the Valencia man.

The 22-year-old has emerged as one of the favourites to join the West Londoners after it was revealed that the club has ended its interest in Inter Milan’s Andre Onana.

It is understood that Chelsea have also distanced themselves from AC Milan’s Mike Maignan as they were put off by his mammoth £80m asking price.

Therefore, Mamardashvili has now become the focus and is viewed as a cheaper and more attainable alternative, with a reported £26m price tag.

Is Giorgi Mamardashvili a good signing for Chelsea?

The Georgian joined Valencia on a permanent deal in December 2021 and has made 63 appearances for the club, conceding just 71 goals whilst keeping 18 clean sheets.

During his debut campaign for Los Che, the 6 foot 5 titan went 560 minutes in a row without letting in a goal.

As recognition for his swift and smooth acclimatisation to Spanish football, the eight-cap international was named in Marca’s La Liga Discovery of the Season term.

Last term, he played every game for Valencia in the league and was arguably the team's most important asset, as the club narrowly avoided relegation.

A player of this reputation, form, and potential dramatically differs from Edouard Mendy, who is set to leave.

When the Senegalese arrived in West London in 2020 he was an incredible breath of fresh air, as he conceded just 29 goals in 44 games as he won the Champions League.

However, since this ceremonial moment, it has just been downhill for the 31-year-old, who has made more errors that have led to goals (2), than he has clean sheets (1) in the Premier League this term, as per Sofascore.

Despite Kepa Arrizabalaga’s highly questionable consistency, Mendy still couldn’t break back into the first team after injury and began just one of the club’s last ten top-flight encounters.

Therefore, it is a position that desperately needs to be addressed as Mendy has been labelled as a “liability” by the Athletic's Liam Twomey to underline his untenable predicament.

Comparatively described as “sensational” by a journalist, the signing of Mamardashvili would therefore be a fantastic replacement for Mendy.

Tottenham Hotspur have opened talks with Leicester City over a summer move for James Maddison, according to a recent report from 90min.

Is James Maddison leaving Leicester?

Back in May, Simon Jordan told talkSPORT that Maddison would be "one of the first to leave" Leicester this summer, and following their relegation from the Premier League, the midfielder looks like he will be on the move.

According to journalist Rudy Galetti, Aston Villa are "in the race" for the Englishman, while Newcastle United are "still in talks" having started work on a move back in January. He also claimed Tottenham "may decide to take some concrete steps soon".

Galetti confirms the 26-year-old wants to leave, and The Athletic reports his current club could receive around £40m given his contract is set to expire next summer, though his price may be driven up if a bidding war breaks out.

Tottenham have now taken one step closer towards lodging an official bid, as they have opened talks with Leicester about a summer move for the former Coventry City man, who they have been interested in on a long-term basis.

Incoming manager Ange Postecoglou has already given the move the green light, but 90min reports the Foxes could hold out for as much as £60m, given the level of interest from numerous top clubs.

Spurs are hoping to beat Newcastle to the England international's signature, and his entourage has also spoken to the likes of Liverpool, Manchester United and Arsenal over the last six months.

Is Maddison signing for Tottenham?

One potential stumbling block for Tottenham is the fact they do not have any European football on offer next season, while Newcastle will be in the Champions League, so a move to St James' Park could be a very attractive proposition.

However, the aforementioned 90min report details that Newcastle are unwilling to spend much more than £50m, so if Spurs outbid the Magpies, they could be well-placed to win the race for the Leicester star.

If the Lilywhites are able to complete a move, the midfielder could be a very good acquisition, having been hailed as "outstanding" by journalist Henry Winter back in 2021, while he also impressed considerably last season.

With an average WhoScored match rating of 7.24 in the Premier League, Maddison was ranked as the Foxes' best-performing player by a huge margin, amassing a total of ten goals and nine assists – more goal contributions than any other player.

Michael Klinger scored 87 off 78 to stud Western Australia’s 6 for 190 in 28 overs, before Andrew Tye took three wickets to ensure that Victoria fell 41 short of their revised target in a rain-affected match at the WACA

ESPNcricinfo staff08-Oct-2016
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsAndrew Tye took 3 for 10 in three overs and also effected a run-out•Getty ImagesMichael Klinger scored 87 off 78 to stud Western Australia’s 6 for 190 in 28 overs, before Andrew Tye took three wickets to ensure that Victoria fell 41 short of their revised target in a rain-affected match at the WACA ground in Perth.Victoria won the toss and started well, dismissing Shaun Marsh for 15 and Adam Voges for a ten-ball duck, leaving the hosts at 2 for 30. But Klinger and D’Arcy Short then put on 92 off 87 for the third wicket, with Short contributing 52 off 43 before falling to Jon Holland. Klinger batted on, though, hitting three fours and three sixes in his knock as Western Australia added 66 in the last eight overs.With more rain disrupting play, Victoria found themselves chasing a D/L-adjusted target of 140 in 18 overs. But at no point were they able to even approach the required run rate. The opening stand added 25 in 5 overs and was ended by Jason Behrendorff, who got Marcus Harris caught behind. Behrendorff then got Glenn Maxwell for 9 in his next over. By the time Tye dismissed Dan Christian in the ninth over, Victoria had only managed 54 runs.That wicket opened the floodgates – a further six wickets fell for 28 runs in 36 balls to leave the visitors at 9 for 82 in the 15th over. They managed to scrape together 16 more runs and avoid being bowled out, but that would have come as scant consolation.Meanwhile, Western Australia, who tied their first match and lost their second, would be relieved to have their first win on the board.

With takeover talks ongoing over the sale of Manchester United, Sky Sports pundit Kieran Maguire has reacted to the latest rumours from Old Trafford in an interview with Football Insider.

What is the latest on Man United's potential takeover?

The Red Devils are on the market, with several parties interested in potentially buying the Premier League outfit. A sale has been on the cards for months now too, with current owners the Glazers allowing the team to go through three stages of a bidding process so far in order to see any further offers for the side.

The two frontrunners to takeover at United are currently Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS and Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani from Qatar. Both have made bids to be handed the reins at Old Trafford but, as of yet, neither has officially been confirmed as being accepted by the Glazers. However, recent reports suggest that it is the offer from the Qatar-based group that is the "preferred" offer.

If Al Thani was to buy the Red Devils, it would be a "full takeover" from the new owners. If Ratcliffe was to buy the Premier League outfit, he could leave the Glazers on the board, with this latest report stating he may buy only just over 50 per cent of the team. That is an option that is likely to "anger" Man United supporters according to Sky Sports pundit Kieran Maguire via Football Insider, who stated that it could "allow the Glazers to have an element of input".

He said: "If they’re [The Glazers] allowed a 20 per cent threshold, there’s no obligation from Sir Jim Ratcliffe to give them a seat on the board. But that could be part of the negotiation strategy by the Glazers to demand that they stay in the boardroom. However, having a voice on the board isn’t the same as controlling the board.

"Ultimately, that would be by Sir Jim’s team, but it would allow the Glazers to have an element of input. I have a suspicion that it would anger quite a few Manchester United fans."

Would either takeover option be better for Man United?

The Red Devils supporters have displayed their annoyance at current owners the Glazers on several occasions since their tenure began, with fans even angry at them taking over before any deal had been completed.

Their ire has only increased since, with protests regularly arranged at Old Trafford in order to show their unhappiness at the Americans. It would therefore be a better option for the businessmen to have no further involvement with the club when they do decide to sell up, as supporters have recently demanded a complete sale. Whilst Ratcliffe's ownership would take some power away from the Glazers, they could still have some involvement – and therefore the Qatar bid seems the better option for everyone involved at Old Trafford.

Liverpool are front-runners to complete a swoop for Celta Vigo maestro Gabri Veiga this summer, with manager Jurgen Klopp undoubtedly looking to bolster his central ranks.

What's the latest on Gabri Veiga to Liverpool?

That's according to TEAMtalk's sources, with the Premier League giants hoping to requite Real Madrid's ostensible success in the pursuit of highly-sought prodigy Jude Bellingham by sealing a deal for Veiga.

The 20-year-old attacking midfielder has been electric in LaLiga this season and has consequently attracted interest from a host of top European outfits, with Arsenal also notable suitors for the burgeoning starlet.

Holding a €40m (£35) release clause, Los Blancos are seemingly only willing to offer around €30m (£26m) for his signature, whereas Klopp and co will pay the full sum.

Should Liverpool sign Gabri Veiga?

Having plied the majority of his trade in the Spanish third division last year, Veiga has taken flight at the top level with expeditious might this term, reaping nine goals and four assists from 32 LaLiga matches during his breakout season.

It's no wonder that the "Spanish gem", as he has been lauded by transfer guru Fabrizio Romano, has been so highly touted at this maiden stage of his career, flourishing at a level that belies his tender age and inexperience.

Described as "dangerous" by reporter Euan McTear, Veiga is developing capabilities across different facets of the pitch, with FBref ranking him among the top 1% of midfielders across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for rate of non-penalty goals, the top 2% for shots taken, the top 15% for rate of assists, the top 13% for progressive carries and the top 10% for successful take-ons per 90.

He is already as dynamic a midfielder as water is wet, and could be unleashed on Merseyside as the Premier League's very own emulation of Real Madrid sensation Federico Valverde, a player Klopp knows all too well.

Having signed for the prestigious Santiago Bernabeu side for €5m (£4m) in his adolescence, the Uruguayan has steadily made the requisite increments for success at one of football's most distinguished outfits, now valued at £130m by CIES Football Observatory.

The 24-year-old has won the whole gamut with his team, having scored 18 goals and provided 14 assists from 200 senior appearances.

And ranking himself among the top 7% of positional peers for rate of goals, the top 3% for shots taken, the top 7% for progressive carries and the top 17% for successful take-ons per 90, the £132k-per-week machine is certainly a pro Veiga would be wise to emulate.

If Liverpool complete a swoop for Veiga, Klopp would enrich his midfield with a prodigious central talent, potentially signing his very own Valverde capable of lifting the club towards illustrious success once more.

Arsenal will reportedly reconsider a move for Brighton midfielder Moises Caicedo in the summer window and his potential arrival at the Emirates could see Mikel Arteta ditch the disappointing Fabio Vieira.

Could Arsenal sign Caicedo this summer?

Arsenal are reportedly still interested in signing the 21-year-old this summer despite him recently committing to a new deal with Roberto De Zerbi's side until 2027 after being rather vocal about his desire to leave the Seagulls two months prior.

The Gunners had reportedly bid £70m for the Ecuador international during the January transfer window but saw it rejected, with Arteta suggesting that it was a "big inconvenience" to miss out on his priority midfield signing following the long-term injury suffered by Mohamed Elneny.

The Spanish manager opted to bring in Jorginho from Chelsea instead, although the Italian has done little to suggest that he is an adequate alternative to the Brighton wonderkid, averaging a disappointing 6.52 rating from WhoScored across his eight Premier League appearances for Arsenal this term.

Caicedo, meanwhile, has been a mainstay in Brighton's side as they target a European finish in the Premier League, averaging a strong 7.03 rating from WhoScored for his performances. Thus, it is easy to see why the north London side would still be keen on bringing him in ahead of the 2023/24 campaign, especially after a lack of squad depth has hurt their chances of sealing the title in recent weeks.

However, any move for the young midfielder would likely set Arsenal back around £90m this summer, which suggests that another midfielder could be moved on in order to accommodate Caicedo, and on current form, Vieira would surely be a contender.

Could Arsenal ditch Vieira for Caicedo?

It has been a difficult first full season in English football for Vieira, having joined the Gunners from Porto last summer in a deal worth £34m.

The 22-year-old has mustered just three starts and 17 substitute appearances in the Premier League, with one goal and two assists to his name, which has seen him earn a woeful 6.32 rating from WhoScored for his performances.

The Portuguese youngster was handed a rare start by Arteta against Southampton last time out in the absence of Granit Xhaka as a no.8 but struggled immensely and was substituted before the hour mark, with the midfielder now ranked as the 17th-best performer at the Emirates so far this campaign.

Vieira has averaged fewer tackles (0.3 vs 3.2), key passes (0.6 vs 1.2) and dribbles (0.3 vs 0.7) per game when compared to Caicedo, which suggests that the Brighton "machine" – as per scout Jacek Kulig – would be a clear upgrade from both an attacking and defensive perspective should he move to the Emirates this summer.

Tottenham Hotspur are a club in disarray, left in disrepute after the tumultuous reign of Antonio Conte.

The Italian was brought in with the sole thought that he would bring silverware to the otherwise barren N17, however after nearly a year and a half in the dugout, and having launched into a scathing rant about the failing mentality of everyone involved in the operation, he admittedly had to go.

This leaves them once again back to square one, seeking a new head coach who is expected to lead them into a brighter future.

However, the same crop of players who continue to let every manager down will remain.

The first port of call for the new man must be to cull this current squad, which is laden with weak-minded and low-quality assets for the level they aspire to attain.

Many suggest that upon the arrival of a new boss, everyone gets a clean slate; a fresh chance to impress someone with no preconceived notions about a player's technical quality or personality.

However, for many, their mere continued presence within a consistently-failing dressing room should be enough to see that new opportunity revoked. Whilst plenty could have been selected for such scrutiny, Harry Winks springs to mind as a particular character who already has one foot out the door.

How is Harry Winks playing out on loan?

Having been at the club since 2002, joining the academy at the tender age of just five, it has been a long journey for the central midfielder to break into the first team.

However, the 27-year-old has since made 203 senior appearances for his boyhood club across a nine-year spell in north London, which should conclude this summer.

Conte may have made plenty of mistakes during his tenure, but to exile the £50k-per-week maestro was likely a smart move given his lack of career progression and the abundance of alternative talent within his role. Since moving on loan to Sampdoria, this decision has only been proven right by his dwindling displays.

The ten-cap England international has only managed a 6.71 average Sofascore rating in the Serie A, a league famed for the drop-off in speed when compared to the Premier League.

It seemed like a lack of cutting-edge and rapidity in shifting the ball often saw Winks' career labour, as he did not manage to surpass an average Sofascore rating of 6.84 during his six recorded seasons in England's top flight; so to see him struggle in Italy only exacerbates this worry.

For comparison, this season has seen Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and Rodrigo Bentancur achieve a 7.15 and 7.21 average rating respectively.

The steady decline of Winks' pedigree was first picked up by journalist Ryan Rosenblatt, who branded him "terrible" back in 2020 before former manager Alex McLeish suggested that even Oliver Skipp had surpassed him in the pecking order: "All of a sudden he’s deemed not good enough. This is why I’m bracketing the young boy Skipp to Harry."

Having recorded 0.6 key passes and 0.8 tackles per game in his most recent season in the Premier League, a searing indication of the lack of mastery in any one facet of the game, the chance of this midfielder making a comeback this summer is slim.

As such, Daniel Levy should look to allow his contract to come to its natural conclusion, marking the start of what should be a transfer window of vast change.