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Celtic head coach Brendan Rodgers has unfortunately confirmed that new signing Marco Tilio is poised to miss the start of the 2023/24 campaign through injury.

Supporters will now need to wait patiently before they are able to watch the Australia international, who arrived from Melbourne City on a permanent deal earlier this summer, in action for the first time.

Norwegian maestro Odin Thiago Holm is the club's only other fresh addition ahead of next season so far but the Hoops have until the start of September to bolster their options.

One player who has been linked with a switch to Parkhead is Manchester United central midfielder Scott McTominay, who could be a "mind-blowing" signing for the Scottish giants, as per journalist Dean Jones.

How good is Scott McTominay?

The 26-year-old titan is a superb defensive midfield player who has played over 200 times for the Red Devils to go along with 39 caps for Scotland.

Rodgers could unearth his next Nir Bitton by securing a deal to sign the Premier League colossus. Standing at 6 foot 4, the £60k-per-week ace has the height to provide a similar level of physical dominance to the former Hoops star, who stands at 6 foot 5, in the middle of the park.

The Israeli international, who played 67 matches under the Northern Irishman, was a versatile gem for Celtic as he was able to be deployed in the number six role or as a central defender.

McTominay's primary position is as a defensive midfielder but he has also been utilised as a centre-back for Scotland and described playing in that area of the pitch as "second nature".

The Red Devils academy graduate only started ten Premier League matches last term and that came after he showcased his quality across 28 starts throughout the previous campaign.

During the 2021/22 Premier League season, McTominay averaged 3.2 tackles and interceptions per match to go along with an aerial duel success rate of 67%, which shows that the towering midfielder was able to dominate opposition players in the air.

No Celtic player managed more than 2.8 tackles and interceptions combined per league appearance last term, whilst no central midfielder produced more than 2.2.

These statistics suggest that the United enforcer has the potential to replicate the defensive quality that Bitton provided during his time at Paradise. In the 2020/21 Scottish Premiership campaign, the now-31-year-old warrior made 2.8 tackles and interceptions per outing to go along with a 65% success rate in aerial battles across 12 league starts.

Therefore, McTominay, who was once described as a "monster" by ex-manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, could be the manager's next version of the terrific eight-time title winner.

Like Bitton, the strong maestro has the ability to win possession back for his team on a regular basis by disrupting the opposition's attacks, potentially more frequently than any of Rodgers' current options in those positions were able to do last term, whilst also offering versatility and a significant aerial presence.

However, it remains to be seen whether or not the Hoops will be able to get a deal over the line to sign the Scotland international before the deadline, or how serious their interest in his services is.

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.

Arsenal's deal for West Ham United midfielder Declan Rice is "almost there", with talks progressing on payment terms and the structure of the deal, according to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano.

Is Declan Rice signing for Arsenal?

With Manchester City dropping out of the race for Rice earlier this week, Arsenal seemingly have a clear run at the West Ham captain, and they have finalised an agreement in principle over a move totalling £105m, including add-ons.

However, the intricacies of the deal still need to be sorted out, with West Ham eager to receive the initial £100m lump sum before 2025, while the Gunners would prefer to stagger the payments over a period of five years.

The same report details that personal terms have already been agreed, meaning the last remaining hurdle is agreeing on a payment structure with the Hammers, and a new update from Romano appears to indicate progress has been made in that regard.

Taking to Twitter, the transfer expert has now claimed the deal is "almost there", with Arsenal and West Ham "progressing in talks" to agree on payment terms and the structure of the move.

"Talks will continue" to get the deal done, however, it is now "close", with a £105m package having already been agreed.

"Declan Rice deal, almost there! Arsenal and West Ham are progressing in talks to agree on payment terms/structure of the deal — it’s really, finally close now. Talks will continue to get it done… and then, here we go. £105m package/fee agreed two days ago."

Is Declan Rice a defensive midfielder?

The 24-year-old has most commonly been deployed in a defensive midfield role throughout his career, but he has also been utilised at centre-back on 52 occasions, displaying his versatility.

It is clear the England international is most comfortable in a deeper role, ranking in the 95th percentile for interceptions per 90, and in the 83rd for clearances over the past year, when compared to his positional peers.

However, the central midfielder, dubbed "fantastic" in the media, does also manage to get on the scoresheet from time to time, netting five goals in all competitions last season, including a brilliant solo goal in the Europa Conference League quarter-final against Gent.

That said, if the Englishman is to fulfill his £105m price tag at Arsenal truly, then he probably does need to add a few more goals to his game, and there are indications he will be able to do so, having previously been hailed as West Ham's "best finisher" by Jack Wilshere.

It is exciting news that Arsenal's deal for Rice is edging closer to completion, as he could play a huge role in helping Mikel Arteta's side bridge the gap to Man City next season.

Wolverhampton Wanderers will be aiming to bolster their attacking options during the summer transfer window in order to improve on the meagre goal totals they have recorded during the two previous Premier League campaigns.

Under Bruno Lage in 2021/22, Wolves scored just 38 goals in 38 matches while they finished last term having netted just 31 goals across their fixtures, and it was clearly the ability to grind out wins under Julen Lopetegui from Christmas onwards which kept them in the top flight for another season at least.

With this in mind, there looks set to be an overhaul at the Old Gold this summer, as Adama Traore and Diego Costa have both departed following the expiration of their contracts and this could free up the wage bill for a few new additions.

Indeed, the Molineux outfit are interested in signing Sevilla winger Lucas Ocampos, who could be available for as little as €15m (£13m) this summer, which could become a very wise move by Lopetegui should he hit the ground running in England.

The Argentinian could form a dream duo with striker Raul Jimenez, who will be desperate to put the past year behind him and kick on during the 2023/24 campaign.

Could Wolves sign Lucas Ocampos?

With the 28-year-old not breaking the bank, he could be seen as an ideal option to add some dynamism to the Wolves side, which as mentioned earlier, struggled for goals during the league last term.

Lauded as “incredible” by Dermot Corrigan, the winger registered five goals and grabbed two assists for Sevilla across 29 games, having spent the first half of the season on loan at Ajax, yet his game is more than just goal contributions.

Across Europe’s big five leagues, Ocampos ranked in the top 14% for successful take ons per 90 (2.45) and in the top 17% for touches in the opposition penalty area per 90 (5.32), which is decent considering he started only 16 times across both La Liga and the Europa League.

Combining this with his ability to recover loose balls (ranked in top 8% across the big five leagues with 5.91 ball recoveries per 90) could allow him to flourish on the right wing and Jimenez could be the man to take advantage.

The Mexican striker played just 20 times for the Old Gold during 2022/23 due to suffering knee and hip problems, yet if he could replicate the form he showed during his first two years at the club, where he netted 44 goals, the supporters could be in for a treat.

Ocampos could use his ability to take the ball past defenders and create chances for Jimenez to tuck away and after a dry period in terms of goals since 2021, as another season like last might just condemn them to relegation.

Lopetegui must act swiftly to sign the Sevilla gem, and for £13m, it could be a bargain.

Arsenal are set to complete the deal to sign Chelsea forward Kai Havertz "this week", according to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano.

How much are Arsenal paying for Kai Havertz?

As per The Guardian, the Gunners have agreed to sign Havertz from Chelsea for a fee of £60m, plus £5m in add-ons, with Mikel Arteta said to be a long-term admirer of the forward, as the manager thinks he can help bridge the gap to Manchester City.

The £150k-per-week attacker likewise believes Arsenal is the best place to help him build his career, a view shared by Jurrien Timber, another player who the north Londoners have recently made an "official proposal" for.

It remains to be seen whether Ajax are willing to part ways with the defender, however the move for Havertz is now edging closer to completion, as reported by Romano on Twitter.

The transfer expert has now claimed the 24-year-old has "already completed the first part of the medical tests" to become an Arsenal player, with the deal set to be completed "this week".

All that remains before the move becomes official is the contracts to be signed on the club's side.

How many goals has Havertz scored?

The Germany international has not exactly been prolific since arriving at Stamford Bridge for £75.8m in 2020, recording just nine goals in all competitions last season, despite most commonly being utilised as a striker.

Having averaged just 0.2 goals per 90 over the past year, the former Bayer Leverkusen man has underperformed his expected goals by a considerable margin, indicating that he is a poor finisher, which is also reflected by the number of opportunities he wasted last season.

The Chelsea forward missed 14 big chances in the Premier League, and his finishing must improve if he is to be played as a striker by Arteta, however he does have other qualities, including his ability to bring his teammates into the play.

During his time with Leverkusen, the Aachen-born forward picked up 31 assists in 150 appearances, indicating that he could be a creative force in advanced midfield, should Arteta choose to play him in a deeper role.

Having been described as a "unique" and "physically commanding" player by members of the media, Havertz clearly has the talent to be a success in the Premier League, but he must improve his finishing if he is to displace Gabriel Jesus in the starting XI.

Aston Villa have added additional Spanish firepower to the club by recruiting Monchi as president of football operations, to work alongside former Sevilla colleague Unai Emery.

The duo are expected to have a busy summer at Villa Park, with a host of talent already linked to the club.

The Spaniard could unleash some magic in the Midlands by signing one player linked with Villa, if reports are to be believed.

What’s the latest on Jadon Sancho to Aston Villa?

As initially reported by Football Transfers last week, Aston Villa are speculated to hold an interest in Manchester United winger Jadon Sancho.

The report suggested that United would be willing to sell the Englishman for a fee around the £60m mark, with his current contract running until 2026 with an option for an additional year.

Earlier this week, journalist Rudy Galetti revealed to GIVEMESPORT that the 23-year-old is a “main target” for the club, in a move that could be monumental to Villa.

What could Jadon Sancho offer to Aston Villa?

Lauded as “unbelievable” by journalist Liam Canning, the misunderstood talent could be a revelation signing for the Villans, and perhaps their biggest one for years.

There’s little denying the talent that the Englishman possesses, despite his difficulty in finding his feet in the Premier League after making the switch from the Bundesliga in 2021.

In his two seasons in Manchester so far, Sancho has contributed 15 goals and assists in 55 Premier League appearances, numbers incomparable to his final two Bundesliga campaigns in which he recorded 54 in 58 appearances for Borussia Dortmund.

His first full breakthrough in the 2018/19 season saw him record 30 G/A, scoring 12 and assisting a monstrous 18, nearly double the number of goal contributions in one term than he has in two campaigns at Old Trafford, via Transfermarkt.

Something isn’t ticking for the Englishman in Manchester, making him a valuable target for Villa should Emery have the capability to unlock his talents in the Premier League.

Hailed as a “phenomenon” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, Monchi could deliver Villa Park with his first marquee signing in Sancho, who has all the ability to thrive under Emery as the leading man.

While the goals and assists haven’t arrived in the Premier League, in his game playing actions the numbers show glimpses of the player that graced Signal Iduna Park.

As per FBref, the Londoner averaged 4.70 progressive passes and 1.76 successful take-ons per 90 in the last year, highlighting his innate ability to act as a traditional wide player.

Emery identified the desire to equip Villa with a “specialist winger” in January, which he could land by signing Sancho, who is a player with all the attributes to thrive as a technician in Villa’s squad.

Taking a step back may be the best option in the search for his form, at a club where he would be regarded as an innovator under a manager that has a reputation for getting the best out of young stars.

Hearts will be hoping the Steven Naismith era will enable the club to reach the next level and perhaps even lift a trophy, with, aside from two Championship titles, the 2012 Scottish Cup remaining their last major trophy win.

He will have the entirety of the summer transfer window to sign players and vastly improve his squad, and with the qualifying stages of the Europa Conference League fast approaching, the 36-year-old may have to start his business sooner rather than later, especially if he wants the Tynecastle outfit to repeat their group stage heroics last term.

There is a good core to the Hearts side, with a reliable goalkeeper in Zander Clark, talents such as Toby Sibbick and Barrie McKay across the defence and midfield, while striker Lawrence Shankland scored 28 goals last season remarkably.

One player that will be hoping to have a more productive season in 2023/24 will be defensive midfielder Peter Haring, who saw his playing time last term limited due to suffering a concussion and missing 26 games across all competitions.

Will Peter Haring be a key player for Hearts next season?

The 30-year-old joined the Jambos back in 2018 and has since gone on to play over 100 games for the club, helping them reach three Scottish Cup finals during that time period, albeit losing each one.

During 2021/22, he showed his importance to the team by ranking in the top ten out of the whole squad for tackles (1.5), interceptions (0.7), clearances (1.2) and key passes per game (0.7), indicating that he was a vital member of the first team as they finished third in the Premiership.

Due to the aforementioned injury problems, he started just 15 matches last term which affected his performances as he achieved a Sofascore rating of 6.72/10, creating zero big chances and making only 0.4 key passes per game as he averaged 60 minutes a match.

Naismith will be hoping to get him back to his best following a full pre-season, and he lauded the 30-year-old as he signed an extended contract with the Edinburgh side.

He said: “Having played alongside Pete I know all about his strengths and qualities so it’s great news for the club that he’s going to be here next season. He was a big miss to the team when he was out injured but he’s come back and made an impact because he’s influential both on and off the pitch."

These words will surely give him a confidence boost and there is no denying how effective he can be in the midfield when fully fit. That is something Naismith will be counting on when the 2023/24 campaign kicks off in a matter of weeks.

Brendan Rodgers and Graham Potter could still be in contention to become Leeds United's next manager, according to a key update from journalist Ben Jacobs.

Who's likely to take charge of Leeds?

There is a constant search going on to find the Whites' new boss this summer, as they prepare for life back in the Championship after three years away.

A host of different names have been thrown into the hat over the past couple of weeks, whether it be Steven Gerrard, Carlos Corberan or Scott Parker, among others, and Rodgers and Potter have also been named as potential candidates to come in.

The pair were sacked by Leicester City and Chelsea earlier in the season, respectively, and will no doubt be champing at the bit to get back into management.

While it has appeared unlikely that Leeds would be able to entice either of them to Elland Road, given the Whites' relegation, a new update does give them some fresh hope.

Are Rodgers and Potter in the mix?

Speaking to Give Me Sport, Jacobs said that both Rodgers and Potter are still in the conversation to take charge of Leeds, even though their preference is to remain in the Premier League:

"There are obviously a few candidates that Leeds are looking at at the moment. We're hearing growing talk of names like Brendan Rodgers and Graham Potter.

"I think both of those would see themselves as Premier League managers, but Leeds are a big club and in a year might be in the Premier League again, which is why Leeds may feel that they have that opportunity."

To get either Rodgers or Potter would be a major coup for Leeds, considering they are arguably seen as two of the best British managers around, even if things didn't end well for them at Leicester and Chelsea.

In many ways, it could be a major show of their own self-confidence if they decide to take charge of the Whites, in terms of backing themselves to get back into the Premier League straight away, and accept that they will spend one season managing in the second tier of English football.

It does still feel likely that Rodgers and Potter will be more unattainable than others, though – Gerrard will be desperate to test himself again and Corberan is still young, for example – but it is encouraging to see their names in the mix still, highlighting how big a club Leeds are.

Chelsea have opened talks to sign Paris-Saint Germain superstar Neymar for Mauricio Pochettino, according to le10sport journalist Alexis Bernard.

Who could Chelsea sign this summer?

After a very underwhelming and regrettable 2022/2023 Premier League campaign, which saw the west Londoners finish in the bottom half, it is the task of Todd Boehly to back new manager Pochettino to turn the tide.

Chelsea are also without European football next campaign and must convince star players that they can become successful at Stamford Bridge.

According to recent reports, it appears they’re could be targeting upgrades in a variety of different postions, including a new goalkeeper, star striker and central midfield reinforcements.

The likes of Romeo Lavia, Moises Caicedo and Manuel Ugarte have been linked for the latter position most recently, while AC Milan keeper Mike Maignan is apparently among the targets for in-between their sticks.

Dusan Vlahovic and Tammy Abraham are attracting interest for the striker role, but according to a report by le10sport and Bernard on Twitter, it appears Brazil superstar Neymar is another big name on their radar.

According to the French reporter, Chelsea have opened discussions with PSG over the 31-year-old, and the Ligue 1 giants are willing to entertain their advances.

There has been “official contact” to sign Neymar, who are apparently open to idea of selling their forward, with Chelsea making moves behind-the-scenes.

Who is Neymar?

The former Barcelona star has over 120 caps for Brazil and is among their highest goalscorers of all time, having also won a plethora of honours at club level.

Called a “special talent” by pundit Danny Murphy, Neymar’s trophy cabinet boasts a Champions League winner’s medal, a huge array of European league titles and even an Olympic gold medal (Transfermarkt).

Pochettino, commenting on the attacker during his PSG managerial days, heaped real praise on Neymar for his contribution at the Parc des Princes – having been left “thrilled”.

“I’m very happy with his state of mind, his mentality, and everything he brings to the team,” Pochettino said of Neymar (Le Parisien via Tribuna).“He is a creative player, and, as with any creative player, you expect magic every time he touches the ball.”These players have a higher energy expenditure than others. It’s not easy and I’m thrilled with what he’s doing.”

Chelsea, despite all the riches expended since Todd Boehly's arrival, boast a squad far from the finished article.

Mauricio Pochettino is the man who has been tasked with solving the puzzle presented in west London, as a willing challenger to unearth the numerous high-potential stars at Stamford Bridge.

However, to do so he must first foster the correct environment, likely having assurances that he will be given time to work his magic. The success he earned in transforming Tottenham Hotspur did not come overnight, and the same is certainly the case for his latest managerial venture.

He will need to add some key additions of his own in the coming summer window to build upon a year where 17 new players were welcomed and two managers have been sacked.

Whilst investing in this high-risk high-reward strategy has allowed them to stockpile some of Europe's finest young talent, a few key positions remain bare.

Naturally, a centre-forward will be high on the list of priorities, but a true defensive midfielder will be just as imperative to unlock Enzo Fernandez. Therefore, it will please fans that earlier in the week it was reported that Chelsea had opened talks with Sporting CP over the signing of Manuel Ugarte.

The touted €60m (£52m) price tag would mark a small sum if it meant unleashing their British transfer record signing.

Would Manuel Ugarte be a N'Golo Kante upgrade?

In acquiring a player who operates with a defence-first mindset, the Uruguay international could act as a screen for the back four to allow their Argentine maestro to truly thrive.

Although his 7.17 average rating has been upheld by 1.1 key passes and 2.5 tackles per game, in pushing him from the six role into the eight, he could add to his two assists in 18 starts, via Sofascore.

After all, his potential new teammate has mustered 3.9 tackles and 1.8 interceptions per game too (via Sofascore) and therefore ranks in the top 1% for tackles and the top 3% for interceptions per 90 when compared to other midfielders across Europe.

Whilst writer Raj Chohan might have been lambasting the midfielder when branding his choices on the ball as "aggressive", it is this mindset that arguably makes him such a combative and frightening presence defensively in the engine room. Regardless, his 92% pass accuracy suggests otherwise.

Such defensive excellence could easily earn comparisons to the enigmatic N'Golo Kante, who is rarely seen around these parts nowadays due to his persistent injury problems.

The ageing ace has been ravaged with ailments since his move from Leicester City, yet when fit represents one of the division's most relentless midfielders.

Last season showcased this, as he started 21 games and managed to maintain a 7.12 average rating.

This was a figure supported by 2.3 tackles and 1.3 interceptions per game, which was impressive but highlighted a decline from times gone by, via Sofascore. He is admittedly nowhere near the level of his potential 22-year-old successor, who Pochettino will surely prefer.

Given the youthful revolution Boehly has seemingly planned, the 32-year-old is a prime example of those who need replacing in west London and the sooner the club can find his successor, the better because he cannot be trusted like the Kante of old, as evident above.

Few fit the bill more appropriately than Ugarte, to graciously take the mantle from this legendary midfield enforcer, who is a shadow of the player who managed 4.7 tackles per game back in the 2015/16 term.