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Just eight games into the new Premier League season and the managerial merry-go-round has already begun.

Scott Parker was the first victim when he was sacked by Bournemouth, with Thomas Tuchel axed by Chelsea not long after.

Wolves were forced to sack Bruno Lage after he won just one of the Old Gold’s opening eight fixtures this season, with his side managing a measly three goals, the worst of any side in the top flight.

Those at Molineux could profit from another Premier League side’s lack of patience, however, with reports suggesting that Nottingham Forest could soon part ways with Steve Cooper after the Reds slipped to the bottom of the top flight after a 4-0 defeat against fellow strugglers Leicester City on Monday night.

According to John Percy in The Telegraph, Wolves could consider a move for Cooper if he is given the boot by Forest, and while he has endured a difficult start to Premier League management, his career thus far suggests that he could be a very promising appointment.

The former England youth coach did a superb job at Swansea City, taking them to successive Championship play-off finals, and did an extraordinary job with Forest last season, taking them from the relegation places to the promised land after they defeated Huddersfield in the play-off final.

Cooper also spent time with Liverpool’s academy earlier in his career and earned a lot of praise from former player Jordan Lussey last season.

He said: “He is the most dedicated manager I’ve come across, in terms of his appetite, his eagerness, his energy, his buzz.”

While the Premier League has proven to be a tough ask for Cooper this term, he has essentially assembled an entirely new squad after promotion, and he may be able to work wonders with a more tightly-knit squad such as Wolves.

His spells at Swansea and Forest have seen him average 1.61 and 1.83 points-per-game respectively, both of which are significant increases on the 1.29 points per game averaged by Lage at Wolves.

Cooper’s experience of English football too will no doubt mean he is better suited to the job than the previous manager, even if his Portuguese nationality will have benefited their lusitanic crop of stars.

Therefore, with a move for Sporting Lisbon boss Ruben Amorim seemingly not on the cards, Wolves could take advantage of Forest potentially sacking Cooper by bringing the 42-year-old to Molineux.

Based on his ability to overachieve, the Old Gold could well strike oil by luring him across the Midlands.

An update has emerged on Sunderland and their pursuit of Edouard Michut in the summer transfer window… 

What’s the talk?

Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano has revealed that the Black Cats are set to sign the attacking midfielder before the deadline on Thursday.

He Tweeted: “Excl: Edouard Michut leaves Paris Saint-Germain and joins Sunderland, done deal. Full agreement in place on initial loan move with buy clause around €5m and future sale percentage. #PSG …and Michut is already at the stadium right now, to follow #SAFC game.”

The Chronicle’s James Hunter confirmed the last part of Romano’s claim, Tweeting: “#safc transfer target PSG midfielder Edouard Michut is here today. He is sitting below us in the directors’ box at the SoL.”

Kristjaan Speakman blinder

Sunderland have made seven additions to their squad so far this summer and Speakman is now pulling off a blinder with their soon-to-be eighth arrival.

It was reported that Scottish giants Celtic, who are in the Champions League this year, and other teams in Europe were interested in signing the midfielder, which highlights the level of competition the club have beaten off to land Michut.

The Black Cats have only been out of the third tier for a few months and are already showing the pull that they can have in the transfer market. It shows that players are aware of the size of the club and believe that the potential is there for the Stadium of Light to host Premier League football once again in the future.

Sunderland’s incredible support could help to persuade players. They have averaged 38,392 fans per home game this season in the Championship, which is over 10,000 more than Sheffield United and Norwich in second and third when it comes to attendance.

However, it may also be down to Speakman’s power of persuasion in negotiations as he has clearly convinced the player that a move to Wearside is the best next step in his development.

Football talent scout Jacek Kulig claimed that he has “natural football IQ” and once dubbed him “highly technical and creative”, which suggests that he could add a touch of quality in possession.

His eight first-team appearances for PSG by the age of 19 also suggest that he has a lot of potential as he has been deemed ready to feature for the French champions in Ligue 1.

Therefore, this move is a blinder as Speakman is bringing in a talented, sought-after, young player with the scope to develop as he gains more experience.

The initial loan also covers Sunderland from a financial point of view as they can send him back to PSG if the move does not work out, which prevents the club from splashing out a significant fee if he struggles to adapt to English football.

This is another reason why Speakman has pulled off a masterclass with this deal and hopefully, Michut will now be able to back that up with excellent performances on the pitch this season.

West Ham United are currently ‘working on deals’ to bring Jakub Kiwior and Hans Vanaken to the Premier League, according to 90min journalist Toby Cudworth.

The Lowdown: After Kehrer

Thilo Kehrer became the Irons’ sixth signing of the summer when he arrived at the London Stadium earlier this week, but David Moyes remains on the hunt for further defensive reinforcements.

The Scotsman has already seen an official offer for Club Brugge’s Vanaken turned down, though he isn’t giving up the fight, and by the sounds of it, has now identified a target in that centre-back role who he’d like to sign alongside the 29-year-old midfielder.

The Latest: West Ham targeting duo

Taking to Twitter, Cudworth confirmed that West Ham are in negotiations for both Vanaken and Spezia’s Kiwior. He wrote:

“#WHUFC are working on deals for Jakub Kiwior and Hans Vanaken. A €10m bid already rejected for the latter but he’s a player David Moyes is believed to rate very highly – talks to continue with Club Brugge.”

Expanding in his column for 90min, the journalist stated that ‘talks are ongoing’ for Kiwior, whilst the Irons are ‘continuing to push’ for Vanaken, despite suffering the opening offer setback.

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The Verdict: Prioritise Kiwior

Nayef Aguerd has been ruled out of action for three months after undergoing ankle surgery and Craig Dawson is also sidelined with a hamstring injury, so that’s why Moyes should prioritise a move for Kiwior, if any.

The Polish international averaged 2.3 tackles, 2.2 clearances and 1.8 interceptions per Serie A game last season, via WhoScored, and could add some decent height to the Hammers’ backline, standing at 6 foot 2.

The 22-year-old can also operate as a defensive midfielder which offers the boss versatility, so he’d be getting a talented player who is comfortable in two positions for the price of one.

Aston Villa are one of several clubs looking to tempt a Premier League giant to sell their club-record signing.

What’s the word?

According to French publication Foot Mercato, the Villains are interested in the possibility of signing Tanguy Ndombele from Tottenham Hotspur.

With Villarreal and Napoli frontrunners, Steven Gerrard will also have to battle it out with the likes of Everton and Nottingham Forest before convincing the £120k-per-week star to move to the Midlands rather than abroad.

With the Frenchman desperate for playtime, perhaps he could be tempted to move further down the Premier League table in search of some consistency with far less pressure. 

He would be their most creative midfielder

Villa currently possesses quite a strong and deep squad, however in central midfield, they are inundated with hard workers who do not quite possess the creativity needed to transition defence into attack.

That would leave a huge hole for Ndombele to fill, as a tricky midfielder whose first thought is always to go forward after receiving the ball.

He ranked in the top 1% for dribbles completed per 90, and combined with his progressive carries, of which he ranked in the top 4%, he is clearly a standout candidate for pushing his team up the pitch with the ball at his feet.

There must a reason that Jose Mourinho dubbed him “absolutely phenomenal”.

This outperforms any of Villa’s current crop of midfielders, with Jacob Ramsey’s 6.02 progressive carries, Boubacar Kamara’s 4.22, John McGinn’s 3.71 and Douglas Luiz’s 3.34 not even close to the creative force that is Ndombele.

His 88.4% pass completion rate also suggests that the “relentless” maestro can sit deeper and be something of a metronome for Gerrard’s team, allowing the likes of Philippe Coutinho and Emi Buendia to have less defensive constraints.

Managing 30 appearances across both the Premier League and Ligue 1 last season due to his loan move to Lyon, he still has featured a substantial amount, suggesting he will still be on top of his game. He also chipped in with six goal contributions.

He is a versatile midfielder and arguably is better than what can already be found at Villa Park. If he was to join, there is no doubt he would walk in as their most creative midfielder by some distance.

According to a French source, Tottenham Hotspur are plotting a move to sign Palmeiras left-back Joaquin Piquerez this summer.

The Lowdown: Piquerez profiled

The 23-year-old joined the Brazilian club last summer and has had an impressive debut season at the Allianz Parque, clocking up 49 appearances, providing three assists and netting one goal during that time (as per Transfermarkt).

Despite still having almost three-and-a-half years left on his contract with Abel Ferreira’s side, his form has now seen him being linked with a move away from Brazil’s top flight, and a move to the Premier League – and to north London in particular – could be on the cards.

The Latest: Spurs eyeing move for Piquerez

As reported by Goal France (via Daily Express), it’s claimed that Piquerez is ‘being courted’ by Tottenham, alongside Marseille and an unnamed German club.

The source claimed that Spurs are ‘admirers’ and ‘appreciate’ the Uruguayan, who is likely to be available ‘for a fraction’ of the price that Fabio Paratici would have to pay for one of the club’s main targets Josko Gvardiol.

The RB Leipzig star is valued at approximately £80m according to The Athletic, making Piquerez a ‘much cheaper alternative’ for the Tottenham hierarchy.

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The Verdict: Reguilon replacement

Paratici has already shown just how much he is willing to financially back Antonio Conte this summer, having already signed five new players.

They are also reportedly closing in on a sixth summer recruit in Djed Spence, so there’s no reason why he’d stop now.

Sergio Reguilon has been consistently linked with a move away from N17 in recent weeks, and if Ivan Perisic will be playing in that natural wing-back role, this frees up a position for a new left-back if the Spaniard departs N17.

Piquerez, who was dubbed a ‘tempting’ target by football journalist Martin Charquero, averaged 2.2 tackles and 1.7 interceptions per league game for Palmeiras last season (via WhoScored), and he would appear to be a brilliant reinforcement for Conte at the heart of the Spurs defence.

Nottingham Forest are believed to be keen on a deal for Wolverhampton Wanderers midfielder, Morgan Gibbs-White, as Steve Cooper’s extensive summer recruitment continues.

What’s the word?

As per the Telegraph’s John Percy, writing on Twitter, the newly-promoted side are said to be “interested in signing” the 22-year-old in the current window, albeit amid rival interest from both Everton and Crystal Palace.

The Englishman – who made his first-team debut at Molineux as a 16-year-old back in 2017 – impressed on loan at Sheffield United last term in the Championship, notably scoring against the City Ground outfit in a 1-1 draw back in November.

The promising starlet – who has just two years remaining on his current deal with the Old Gold – is expected to be moved on by his current side, with the Toffees having already reportedly seen a £25m offer rejected.

Sensational coup

The door remains open then for the Midlands outfit to land the England U21 international before the start of the upcoming season, in what would no doubt prove to be yet another astute piece of business in an already eye-catching window for the club.

Back in the Premier League for the first time since 1999, it would appear that the two-time European Champions are doing all they can to ensure they avoid a swift return to the second tier, having already made notable moves in the transfer market.

The club have thus far brought in six new additions with the start of the new campaign still a few weeks away, notably wrapping up deals for Bayern Munich defender Omar Richards and highly-rated Liverpool full-back Neco Williams in recent days.

Adding Gibbs-White to that list of incomings – which also notably includes club-record signing Taiwo Awoniyi – would serve as yet another statement of intent for last season’s playoff final winners, with the youngster set to be a notable coup if an agreement can be struck.

Although the £9.9m-rated starlet has fallen down the pecking order at his parent club in recent years – with just ten top-flight starts to his name thus far – he proved “instrumental” during his time at Bramall Lane, according to club captain Billy Sharp, having scored 11 goals and provided nine assists in 35 league outings.

Also dubbed “sensational” by the aforementioned Sharp, the Stafford-born ace also recorded an impressive 16 big chances created and averaged 1.6 key passes per game, proving himself a real menace in the attacking third.

A member of Cooper’s stellar U17 World Cup-winning squad in 2017, the 5 foot 10 playmaker could well link up with his former boss again in the coming weeks, having previously featured under the 42-year-old at Swansea City.

The Forest boss must surely utilise that connection to strike a deal again in the current window, with it finally time that Gibbs-White is truly handed the chance to shine in the top tier.

AND in other news – Imagine him & Awoniyi: Cooper can form deadly duo by signing “stunning” £10m star

Liverpool are willing to allow Neco Williams to leave on loan for the first half of the 2022/23 campaign, according to a report from The Mirror. 

The lowdown: Summer so far

The Reds have acted swiftly so far in the summer transfer window, having already secured the captures of Darwin Nunez from Benfica and former Fulham sensation Fabio Carvalho.

Also believed to be nearing the confirmed arrival of teenage Aberdeen right-back Calvin Ramsay, Jurgen Klopp has already addressed key areas in terms of strengthening the squad.

However, as Sadio Mane prepares to leave Anfield, there could well be more outgoings to follow, and Williams appears to be among those destined for a departure.

The latest: Move allowed

As per The Mirror, Liverpool ‘have told’ the Wales international that he can leave on loan until the World Cup in order to get regular action at the tournament.

It’s claimed that the 21-year-old is a ‘target’ for newly-promoted duo Nottingham Forest and Fulham where the talented Welsh right-back spent the second half of the last campaign.

The report also states that the ‘Reds are happy’ for Williams – who was lauded by journalist David Lynch for an ‘outstanding’ display against Everton in January 2020 – to obtain more senior exposure this season.

Darwin’s a Red! Get your special edition Darwin Nunez tee here. The verdict: All bases covered

Only allowing Williams to leave on loan once again may seem like a bizarre stance from the club, particularly should the deal for Ramsay as understudy to Trent Alexander-Arnold come to fruition over the coming days as expected.

However, with an unprecedented mid-season World Cup on the horizon, it’s important that Klopp has all bases covered throughout the campaign, and Williams’ versatility could be an important addition to the squad after the tournament has taken place.

Capable of playing on either flank, the £7.2m-valued youngster – who came through the ranks under the German – can also operate in more advanced positions and would therefore be a welcome boost to the squad depth at Anfield should injuries occur either in Qatar or before Christmas.

Should that not be the case and Williams enjoys another fruitful spell away from Merseyside after scoring twice and providing two assists in 14 Championship outings last term, then a permanent January departure could well be the best move for all parties.

In other news, a transfer expert has dropped a key Liverpool claim. Read more here.

Liverpool are believed to be ready to make a move to sign Barcelona wonderkid Gavi this summer, according to a report from Spanish outlet Sport (via Sport Witness). 

The lowdown: Rise to stardom

The 17-year-old midfielder has taken a rapid rise to prominence in Spain having joined the famous La Masia academy in 2015 from Real Betis.

Despite his tender years, Gavi has already amassed 46 appearances for the Catalan giants’ first team and has become a fully-fledged senior Spain international.

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Out of contract in 2023 (Transfermarkt), Barcelona have been desperately attempting to secure the future of the latest top talent in a long production line, but currently to no avail.

The latest: Liverpool ‘willing’ to splash the cash

As per Sport, translated by SW, Liverpool are believed to pose a ‘big threat’ to Barcelona’s plans to offer the teenage sensation a renewal.

It’s claimed that Anfield chiefs FSG are now ‘willing’ to match the €50million (£42.5m) release clause currently in the six-cap starlet’s contract and can offer a deal that is ‘very superior’ to the one on the table at the Camp Nou.

The report also states however that Gavi  – who was heralded as ‘spectacular’ by manager Xavi following a 3-2 La Liga victory over Elche in December – is ‘happy’ in Barcelona.

The verdict: Building for the future

As Jurgen Klopp attempts to put the heartbreak of losing out to Real Madrid in the Champions Final behind him, both he and new Sporting Director Julian Ward will soon be setting their minds to work on the summer transfer targets.

Recently, the Reds’ recruitment has shown a penchant for snapping up the hottest young talent in Europe, adding the likes of Ibrahima Konate, Harvey Elliott, Kaide Gordon and Fabio Carvalho to the squad.

Signing Gavi, who scored twice and provided six assists during a breakout 2021/22 campaign, would be another signal of intent by the club as the Reds look to refresh an ageing midfield department in the here and now whilst also protecting the future.

Albeit undoubtedly a potential capture with a nod towards the next generation, boasting similar stylistic traits to Manchester City star Bernardo Silva, RB Leipzig ace Konrad Laimer and the much talked about Borussia Dortmund revelation Jude Bellingham (Fbref), the talented Spaniard would add immediate strength in depth to the Liverpool midfield.

In other news, one Liverpool player has hinted at a summer exit. Find out who it is here.

Ex-BBC pundit Noel Whelan says it is ‘brilliant to see’ that Celtic are already working on completing summer transfer deals ‘behind the scenes’.

The Lowdown: Postecoglou’s transfer success

In a report by the Scottish Sun published just last week, it was claimed that the Hoops are now very close to signing Hammarby left-back Mohanad Jeahze.

The Glasgow giants recently secured the Scottish Premiership title after a 1-1 draw against Dundee United and lifted the trophy the following weekend following an emphatic 6-0 victory over Motherwell.

Ange Postecoglou has already enjoyed plenty of success stories in the transfer market since arriving at Celtic last summer, with the likes of Cameron Carter-Vickers, Jota, and Kyogo Furuhashi all becoming regular members of the first team, and it seems the manager isn’t messing around this summer either.

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The Latest: High praise for the boss

Reacting to the ‘brilliant’ news on Jeahze, Whelan hailed the Australian manager and admitted that he is impressed by the clear vision ‘behind the scenes’.

He told Football Insider: “You can’t question his signings so far, can you?

“They’ve all done really well and fitted right into his system almost seamlessly. They’ve taken to it like a duck to water.

“I love it when teams and managers go out with purpose in the summer and get their business done early doors.

“It just points to good scouting and hard work behind the scenes that they’ve got this deal ready to go.

“They want him through the door and up to speed, ready in time for pre-season.

“I think it’s brilliant to see them not taking any time off, not resting on their laurels – Celtic want to make this title theirs next season as well.”

The Verdict: Get it done

Jeahze is a 25-year-old defender who majorly impressed for Hammarby during their Europa Conference League stint earlier this term, providing five assists and scoring two goals across all competitions for the Swedish outfit this season, as per Transfermarkt.

As a result of the Bhoys officially topping the Scottish Premiership table, this of course means that they have now automatically qualified for the 2022/23 Champions League group stage, something that is expected to hand them a big boost in the market.

Being offered the opportunity to play on a world stage and compete at the highest level would be a deal difficult to turn down for any possible new signing, and so it wouldn’t come as any surprise to see Jeahze making his way through the doors at Parkhead in the weeks ahead.

In other news… a finance expert has dropped a ‘significant’ Hoops transfer claim.

Tottenham Hotspur have reportedly ‘made contact’ with Paulo Dybala’s representatives ahead of a possible move to the Premier League this summer, according to ESPN journalist James Olley.

The Lowdown: Previous links

The 28-year-old, who currently plays for Juventus, did hold talks with the Lilywhites back in 2019 when Mauricio Pochettino was in charge, but they failed to reach an agreement before the transfer deadline due to issues with his image rights.

The striker is expected to leave the Serie A giants when his contract expires at the end of the current season though, and with four Premier League clubs said to be interested in his services, the chances of him staying in Italy beyond this campaign are now highly unlikely.

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The Latest: ‘Made contact’

ESPN reporter Olley took to Twitter to confirm that Tottenham, Arsenal, Manchester United, and Newcastle have all ‘made contact’ with Dybala’s team, though it’s believed that nothing is yet at an advanced stage.

Expanding in an article for ESPN, it’s claimed that Antonio Conte has ‘identified’ the 32-time international as an ideal target, ahead of his squad overhaul in preparation for the start of the new term.

The Verdict: Perfect target

If the opportunity arises for Spurs to sign the forward, then it’s an absolute no-brainer of a deal to try and get over the line.

The £222k-per-week star has been prolific for Juventus so far this season, where he has made an impressive 20 goal contributions in just 34 appearances in all competitions, as per Transfermarkt.

Once hailed for having an “extraordinary” technique by his former Palermo teammate Stefano Sorrentino, Dybala would be a wonderful option to have up top alongside the likes of Harry Kane and Son Heung-Min, and if the Italian boss can secure his signature, he could play a huge part in helping the north London outfit achieve a top four spot next year or even better.

In other news… a source has revealed some new Tottenham pre-summer exit talks.