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According to Sport, Schalke 04 midfielder Leon Goretzka wants to move to the Premier League when his contract expires at the end of the 2017-18 campaign.

What’s the story?

Goretzka, 22, is widely expected to leave his German club Schalke when his contract expires this summer, and as a result, a host of clubs are scrambling for his signature.

Barcelona have previously been credited with an interest in the versatile midfielder, but according to Sport, Goretzka has decided that he wants to play in the Premier League.

Arsenal and Liverpool are both said to hold a strong interest in the German, and a battle between the English duo could take place in the second half of the season.

Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea are also believed to be in the hunt, although various reports place Arsenal and Liverpool as the two favourites for one of the hottest free transfers on the market.

What are Goretzka’s credentials?

Goretzka has been in fine form for Schalke this season – managing four goals in nine appearances from midfield, which is impressive at any level of football.

Despite being just 22, he has played almost 130 times for Schalke’s first team, and has also scored six times in just 12 appearances for the German national team.

A powerful presence in the middle of the park, Goretzka is built for Premier League football, and would surely have to go down as one of the best free transfers of all time.

With Barcelona, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich all said to be interested, it is not going to be easy for the likes of Arsenal and Liverpool to win the battle.

Goretzka, who is valued at £20.7m by transfermarkt.co.uk, is seemingly desperate to play in the Premier League, however, and whoever wins the race for the brilliant German could have a midfield general for the next 10 years.

Mark Hughes will have been left bitterly disappointed by the manner of Stoke’s defeat to Crystal Palace on Saturday. The visitors could only hold onto their lead for three minutes at Selhurst Park and then allowed the Eagles a last-second winner through Mamado Sakho with practically the last kick of the game.

Stoke now find themselves just three points above the relegation zone with only one win and five points taken from their last six games. But if there’s one positive for Hughes to take into what is traditionally the most chaotic and demanding period of the season, it’s that his side boast one of the Premier League’s most in-form players – Xherdan Shaqiri.

The Switzerland international has always been highly-rated as a top-class albeit mercurial talent, but there’s been a real consistency to his game throughout 2017/18, notching up three goals and five assists in 12 top flight outings already this season – which is one strike shy and three setups greater than his entire Premier League tally from last term.

That includes a frankly outrageous goal against Palace on Saturday, in which Shaqiri glided past a succession of defenders before powerfully curling a finish into the bottom of the Eagles’ net. Alongside the opening goal, the 64-cap international created two chances, completed four dribbles and won four fouls.

Of course, we’ve seen the attacking midfielder’s form peter out before, but this season feels different and there is a curious comparison to make. Marko Arnautovic took three seasons to hit top gear during his spell with Stoke, netting eleven times during 2015/16, and Shaqiri is now into his third term at the Bet365 Stadium as well.

Coincidence, perhaps. But either way, this is shaping up to be the season in which Shaqiri finally reaches his full potential in a Stoke jersey.

Jurgen Klopp came under fire from some Liverpool supporters for deciding not to start Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane against Chelsea on Saturday.

The manager’s call could have cost the Merseyside outfit all three points as they were unable to find a winner after Willian cancelled out Mohamed Salah’s opener.

Mane was eventually brought on as a substitute, but it was not until the 89th minute when the game was in its closing stages.

The fact that the team had played four days earlier in a dramatic 3-3 draw with Sevilla in the Champions League may have played a part in Klopp’s decision.

However, the German has since claimed that rotating the squad is not a way of resting players, but for using the ones at his disposal.

In response to the comments, some fans took aim at Klopp and mentioned the regular absence of Andrew Robertson.

The left-back joined Liverpool from Hull City in the summer, but has made just three appearances in all competitions so far this season.

According to reports in the Sunday Mirror, Tottenham Hotspur have been told that they must pay £20m if they want to sign Fulham left-sided player Ryan Sessegnon during the January transfer window.

What’s the word, then?

Well, the Sunday Mirror says that Spurs left-back Danny Rose is expected to quit the north London outfit and join Manchester United in a £50m deal in the New Year, and Mauricio Pochettino wants Sessegnon to replace him.

The Sunday Mirror says that Tottenham have been a long-term admirer of the 17-year-old, who already has more than 50 first-team appearances for the Cottagers to his name.

The report adds that Pochettino’s men are in pole position to land the teenager, who can either play as a left-back or further up the field.

How has he done for Fulham this season?

He has been excellent.

The 17-year-old has made 24 appearances in all competitions and aside from when he was substituted off in the second-half of the west London club’s opening day draw against Norwich City he has played every minute of their Championship campaign.

The teenager’s standout moment came in the incredible 5-4 win against Sheffield United at Bramall Lane last month, when he scored a hat-trick from the left wing on his 50th senior outing for the Cottagers.

With two of those being fine finishes with his right foot, Sessegnon continues to show just how good he is and the great potential he has despite his tender years.

According to WhoScored.com, he has made 40 tackles, 17 interceptions and 32 clearances in the league this term, while he has successfully completed 29 of the 56 dribbles he has attempted.

Would he be a good Rose replacement?

While he is still young and developing, there seems little doubt that Sessegnon could go on to become Tottenham’s first-choice left-back/left wing-back for many years to come.

With plenty of pace and with him seemingly being good from both an attacking and defensive point of view, he could prove to be a brilliant addition.

Convincing Fulham to sell for £20m could be an issue though, especially with the The Sun reporting back in September that they want £50m for the talented teenager.

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For the majority of the transfer window so far, most Newcastle United fans have been desperate for the club to sign Kenedy on a permeant deal.

The Brazilian was a welcome addition to Rafael Benitez’s team when he signed for the club from Chelsea on a short-term loan deal in January.

During that time, the left-sided player, who can be positioned as a winger or a fullback, made 13 appearances in the Premier League, scoring two goals and creating two assist.

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The Magpies were lacking pace down the side of the field, and Kenedy provided that.

It is believed that Newcastle have been working on getting a deal done, and on Tuesday morning, Sky Sports News reported that the 22-year-old will undergo a medical before signing a season-long loan deal.

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There are no indications as yet that there will be an option to buy, but if Kenedy enjoys a positive season with the North-East outfit then plenty of fans will be keen for the Brazilian to stay put.

There has not been any official word from either club yet, but Sky Sports journalist Pete Graves sparked a major reaction from the supporters when he tweeted a photo alongside the talented footballer.

Brighton defied the odds last season to ensure Premier League survival and another crack at the top flight for manager Chris Hughton. 

The Seagulls will be looking to make big improvements to their squad in the coming weeks, and with that will come spending some decent sums on players he feels will add something to his squad.

One player we at the Transfer Tavern think could be a good addition to the squad is Sheffield United defender Jack O’Connell, who has been superb for the Blades over the last two seasons.

Playing on the left hand side of a three at the back, O’Connell has become one of the toughest defenders in the league, and is rarely beaten in one on one situations. Strong in the air too, O’Connell is a real presence at the back, and a move to a team like Brighton, who already have an excellent young defender in place in Lewis Dunk, would be a good switch.

While United are under no pressure to sell thanks to the big money sale of David Brooks, O’Connell would surely find a move to the top flight hard to resist, and under Hughton, we can see O’Connell really developing into a top class central defender at the highest level.

A quality performer at Championship and League One level, the next logical step for the former Brentford man is a move to the top flight, and Brighton could well be a match made in heaven.

Brighton and Blades fans, what do you think? Good signing? Let us know in the comments!

Paul Pogba has cut a frustrating figure since making his then-record money move to Manchester United two summers ago.

The midfielder clearly has bags of talent and deserves his place among that echelon of world class talent, but too often he seems a passenger failing to exert his influence on the game, and you never know when he will turn it on. It doesn’t help that Jose Mourinho never fully worked out how best to employ the talent, with the player insisting on making driving runs to join the attack but the manager wanting him to form a more solid and complete midfield partnership with Nemanja Matic.

Where he often looks laboured and burdened for Manchester United, he looked unshackled and bounding for France at the World Cup. He wasn’t playing a markedly different position from the one he adopts to Manchester United, so why did he play at the tournament the way we all know he can and should regularly for his club?

Could it all be down to the diminutive and unassuming presence at his side?

In three years, N’Golo Kante has won the Premier League with Leicester City, then again with Chelsea, walked the PFA Player of the Year Award, clinched an FA Cup and now the World Cup. With such pedigree and playing so well alongside United’s star player in Russia, it makes you wonder why Manchester United didn’t try harder to sign him back in 2016 when Chelsea bought him for an incredible £32million.

After making the move to Stamford Bridge two years ago, the Frenchman spoke about how he was courted by the new Manchester United manager, but it was too little, too late.

He said: “It was amazing to have Mourinho call me, even though I’d been warned before how he would appeal to me.

“I listened to his arguments about why I should move to United. But at that time I was hesitant between staying at Leicester or leaving for Chelsea.

“My discussions with them were already well underway. But when I spoke, I had a good feeling with Conte.”

Seeing the midfield duo team up so harmoniously in Russia must have been particularly frustrating for The Special One, as this is surely what Pogba has missed at United. Even though Matic performs a similar role to Kante, he does not have the legs and the tenacity to cover the whole pitch seemingly at once which allows Pogba to drift and drive where he so pleases.

Had Mourinho got in there before his nemesis Conte and built a team around Kante and Pogba, perhaps the last two seasons would have told a very different story in the Premier League and we would have seen the very best of the once most expensive player in the world.

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Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley regularly receives abuse from supporters, but more so during a transfer window.

At the end of last season, the businessman promised that revenue generated by the club would be handed over to manager Rafael Benitez to spend in the transfer market.

Similar to the year before, the Spaniard is yet to see those funds as the club have been relatively quiet in the window.

So far, the North-East outfit have signed Martin Dubravka on a permanent contract, and have also welcomed Ki-Sung yueng to the club on a free transfer.

In addition, Kenedy will spend another season at St James’ Park after securing a loan deal from Chelsea.

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Clearly, Newcastle are yet to spend any real money, which is why a handful of supporters are confused by reports linking the club with a swoop for Lille midfielder Thiago Mendes.

According to a recent report in The Times, the Magpies have enquired about the 26-year-old, who is valued at £18m, but West Ham United, Crystal Palace and Huddersfield Town are also interested.

Fans had a similar reaction to the news, and it was centred around the price tag.

Josh Windass is set to leave Rangers this summer, with West Ham United, Burnley, West Bromwich Albion and Burnley all interested in the midfielder according to The Daily Mail’s liveblog (24/07 13:20).

What’s the story?

The 24-year-old joined Rangers in 2016 from Accrington Stanley and finished as the club’s joint top scorer last season with 18 goals, 13 of which came in the Scottish Premier League.

However, it appears the attacking midfielder is not part of new boss Steven Gerrard’s plans and he is reportedly keen to move back to England to secure first team football.

According to the report, Rangers want £3million for Windass but they expect offers to be lower than their asking price.

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Time to sell?

Rangers have made a number of attacking signings this summer and Gerrard will be hoping they won’t have to rely too much on Windass’s goals this season.

It seems unlikely that he would get any more first-team football at the clubs supposedly interested in signing him, but that isn’t Gerrard’s problem.

If the new boss prefers other options, it makes sense to sell now and trim the squad rather than let him sit on the bench for the season.

Leeds fans were split this week when news broke that Ronaldo Vieira is leaving the club, but Marcelo Bielsa can upgrade by moving for Marko Grujic.

What’s the story?

Vieira agreed a five-year deal to join Sampdoria this week, leaving Leeds dangerously short of options in midfield.

Bielsa should now immediately turn his attention towards Grujic, who could be available on loan thanks to Liverpool’s summer business.

Jurgen Klopp has been very active in the transfer market, already adding Naby Keita and Fabinho to his midfield ranks. Given the huge transfer fees for both players and the presence of the likes of James Milner and Jordan Henderson, it seems unlikely that Grujic will get any playing time at all.

The Reds have already loaned him out twice, and the 22 year-old showed he has what it takes to compete in the Championship last season during an impressive loan spell with Cardiff.

If Bielsa wants someone who is both extremely physical and capable of spraying the ball about, then he should look no further than a loan deal for the towering Serbian.

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Better than Vieira?

Grujic has made just eight Premier League appearances since joining Liverpool from Red Star Belgrade as a teenager, but his form on loan with Cardiff last season showed exactly what he is capable of.

The 6 ft 3 youngster played a huge part in the Bluebirds’ promotion, and could have a similar impact as an enforcer in Leeds’ midfield.

His physical presence is no doubt his best trait, winning a truly incredible 5.6 aerial duels per 90 minutes last season, as per WhoScored. He also averaged 1.6 tackles, 2.6 interceptions and 3.7 clearances per 90 minutes, so he will help Bielsa keep the clean sheets required to surge up the Championship.

He is also more technically gifted than he gets credit for, creating 0.7 chances per 90 minutes, a decent ratio for a very defensive minded midfielder, while also completing over one dribble per game.

If Bielsa wants someone in midfield to win balls in the air, break up play and launch attacks of their own, then a loan deal for Grujic could be perfect for all parties. He has Championship experience, a good head on his shoulders, and a bit of a mean streak that fans will love.

So, Leeds fans, would you back a loan move for Grujic? Is he an upgrade on Vieira? Let us know your thoughts by voting in the poll below…