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Sunderland are showing serious interest in FC Sochaux striker Eliezer Mayenda, according to reports in France.

What's the latest news on Ross Stewart's contract?

Kristjaan Speakman and the Black Cats have been pretty open with fans when it comes to Ross Stewart’s future. The club’s star striker, who’s bagged 40 goals and eight assists in 80 appearances on Wearside, has struggled with injuries in recent times and is also attracting interest from elsewhere as his contract ticks down into its final 12 months.

"We're not getting into whether we've had bids," Speakman told The Athletic. "That's our private business.

"The situation is no different to where we have been: we are really keen to retain Ross and everything from his camp is that he'd like to stay.

"But we haven't got to an agreement that both parties would like to sign off. Externally that can seem strange, but we don’t think it is – Dennis Cirkin re-signed last week and we have been speaking to him about his contract for maybe six months."

Rangers, Middlesbrough, Blackburn Rovers, Stoke City, Crystal Palace and Brentford were all said to be keen on Stewart back in January, while it is apparently Stoke City and Luton Town that Sunderland fans will need to worry about now, as per Football League World.

And it looks like work has started on finding some young players who can eventually take over from Stewart, whether that is this summer or further down the line, after Portuguese starlet Luis Semedo was brought in early on in the transfer window, and there is now interest in another youngster.

According to Foot Mercato in France, the Black Cats are “very interested” in Sochaux star Mayenda, an 18 year-old Spain youth international.

The teenager, who has dual citizenship in Spain and France, is under contract until 2025, but with his club going through a “terrible descent into hell” he could now “slip away and discover the Championship”.

Indeed, Sochaux are going through something not overly dissimilar to what Sunderland fans endured a few years back, as this once top flight club has been demoted down the divisions via an “administrative relegation” due to financial crisis.

Many of their rising talents and best players have left the club and more are expected to follow, claim Foot Mercato, which is where Sunderland’s interest in Mayenda comes in.

Who is Eliezer Mayenda?

The teenager looks like he could be an exciting addition alongside Semedo, with the Black Cats perhaps banking on the fact that if even one of them fulfils their potential they could have a real star on their hands in the second tier.

Mayenda hasn’t got the best goalscoring record you’ll ever see, bagging only once during his first full season in Ligue 2, but his performances have been good enough to earn him three caps for Spain’s Under-17 side.

Of course, the ideal scenario for Tony Mowbray is Stewart stays put, Mayenda signs, and the boss has a recognised number nine to allow his two new youngsters to learn from. If the Scotland star goes, one would have to assume the club will splash out for a more senior addition alongside the likes of Semedo and Mayenda.

Manchester United are set to make a £50m offer to sign Atalanta forward Rasmus Hojlund, according to reports.

Are Man United signing a new striker?

The Red Devils and Erik ten Hag have made a start on their summer business by signing midfielder Mason Mount from Chelsea.

The England international has cost the club £60m and will wear the famous number 7 shirt at Old Trafford in what looks likely to be the first of numerous arrivals.

Inter Milan goalkeeper Andre Onana could be the next to arrive, with the shot-stopper saying “yes” to a transfer and United confident of a £45m deal.

Up to 13 players could leave Man United this summer, including centre-forward Anthony Martial. Wout Weghorst’s loan spell has also come to an end, meaning Ten Hag and those at Old Trafford are after a new forward.

Sky Sports reporter Dharmesh Sheth recently stated that United were still in talks over a move for Hojlund, and a further update has now emerged.

According to The Telegraph, Man United will make a £50m offer to sign Hojlund, with the player seen as a forward with huge potential.

It is stated that the Red Devils are working to a strict budget because of financial fair play considerations, however, they feel they can secure a deal for Hojlund around £50m.

The report adds that a transfer may have to wait for a resolution in the Glazer sale process, with Sheikh Jassim and Sir Jim Ratcliffe awaiting to see if their takeover bids have been successful.

Is Rasmus Hojlund good?

Hojlund is only 20 years of age but made a huge impact in his first season with Atalanta, which resulted in his Transfermarkt valuation rocketing to a career-high €45m.

The Denmark international contributed to 14 goals in 34 games and was compared to Manchester City’s Erling Haaland as a result, with Atalanta manager Gian Piero Gasperini also hailing Hojlund.

“Hojlund has this spirit, energy, intensity, but also technical quality that is just remarkable.

"He still has so much margin for improvement, too. He is so quick, he’s under 11 seconds over 100m and that’s not even trying very hard. Considering his height, he has a low centre of gravity and can move his legs very fast. I am convinced he’ll have a great career, he just gets stronger every day.”

You’d expect he has plenty of time to prove on his already impressive game before hitting his prime, especially as he has been hailed as an "absolute monster in the making" by football scout Jacek Kulig.

As per FBref, Hojlund has been compared to the likes of Robert Lewandowski and Randal Kolo Muani. He ranks in the top 6% of strikers for shots on target % and the top 1% for progressive passes received. The youngster has a knack for winning penalties as well, ranking in the top 4% of forwards, so he could be just what Ten Hag needs heading into his second season in charge, and by the looks of it, a move is one to watch with a big bid ready.

Manchester United will give Jadon Sancho "another season" of Premier League football to prove his worth after "ridiculous" suggestions of a £45m sale, claims transfer insider Dean Jones.

Manchester United transfer news – what's the latest on Jadon Sancho?

After over a year of back and forth with Borussia Dortmund, in the summer of 2021, United finally secured their long-term target Sancho in a monster move that cost the Red Devils an estimated £73m.

Since his arrival in the Premier League and putting pen to paper on his bumper £350,000-a-week contract, it's fair to say that things haven't gone entirely to plan for the dynamic winger.

Having made 79 appearances in all competitions for United, Sancho has scored just 12 goals and created even less, with only six assists to his name.

These poor performances have led to speculation that Erik ten Hag may be about to cut his losses with the player in an attempt to recuperate some of that initial £73m spent on him.

According to the Daily Mail, the price United would sell at is just £45m.

What has transfer insider Dean Jones said about Sancho leaving Manchester United?

Jones was quick to label any notion of selling the 23-year-old for just £45m as an absurd idea, and from his information, he expects the winger to have one more chance under ten Hag.

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, he said: "Sancho at £45 million stands out to me to be ridiculous. You can't go basically half-price on Sancho and give up at this stage, and I'd find that very surprising if they were to do that."

However, he does go on to say: "My personal information is that Sancho will get another season at United, so I would expect that to be the case."

How good was Jadon Sancho in his final year at Borussia Dortmund?

While Sancho has undeniably struggled during his time in Manchester, he was simply electric during his time with the famous Black and Yellow, and so it seems only fair to judge him based on the ceiling he could once again reach should he get another chance.

According to WhoScored, he averaged a seriously impressive rating of 7.54 across his 26 Bundesliga matches in the 2020/21 season, scoring eight and assisting a further 11.

Even more impressive is that during his three full Bundesliga campaigns, the Camberwell-born gem never achieved a season rating of lower than 7.52, which is frankly ridiculous.

It's perhaps not surprising that only a few months into his first full season with the German giants, he was hailed as the "perfect player" by legendary German skipper Lothar Matthaus in his column for the Sun.

If Sancho can get back to even half his best, then ten Hag and United as a whole will be handsomely rewarded for their patience with the player.

Liverpool are reportedly closing on their second signing of the 2023 summer transfer window as negotiations with OGC Nice's Khephren Thuram continue.

What's the latest on Khephren Thuram to Liverpool?

That's following an update from transfer insider Rudy Galetti, who claims that the respective outfits are in active discussions over the transfer of the burgeoning France international.

He said on Twitter: "Talks between Liverpool and OGCNice for Khephren Thuram are progressing. The 2 clubs are working to reach an agreement for around €40/45m (£34/39m).

"No issues on personal terms."

Liverpool have already signed World Cup winner Alexis Mac Allister this summer for £35m, but will hope to bolster the midfield further after James Milner, Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain's contractual conclusions.

How would Khephren Thuram perform at Liverpool?

Although Liverpool failed to qualify for the Champions League for the first time in seven years after finishing fifth in the Premier League, there is reason for optimism given the moves being made on the market.

And with a late-season purple patch underscoring the lofty heights this outfit can return to – Liverpool won seven matches in succession before a succession of draws closed the play – the ambitious stratagems of the Reds' German manager could yet be realised once again.

Thuram would bring energy and exuberance to the Liverpool fold, evidenced by his relentless driving runs – as per FBref, the 22-year-old ranks among the top 6% of midfielders across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for progressive carries and the top 9% for successful take-ons per 90.

Described as a "monster" by Sam McGuire, the £14k-per-week star could bring the best out of Darwin Núñez, who has endured an indifferent maiden year on English shores after joining Liverpool from Benfica for a club-record £85m transfer.

As evidenced by FBref, the £140k-per-week menace ranks among the top 1% of forwards for total shots and xG per 90 – with the latter metric meaning Nunez has squandered a higher rate of goalscoring opportunities than any other striker in Europe over the past year.

The Uruguayan did still plunder 15 goals across all competitions from just 26 starting displays, also ranking among the top 6% for progressive carries and the top 2% for touches in the attacking box per 90, and Thuram's involvement behind him could finally unlock a prodigious talent.

Indeed, the Nice ace is a "dangerous" midfielder – as praised by Aaron Ramsey – and could utilise his prowess as a central vehicle, pushing through the thirds, to provide Nunez with the support that he needs to flourish – Thuram also assisted eight goals last season.

Liverpool are 'progressing' with a deal, and must now ensure that they do not cede the chance to sign such a vibrant talent, it could just finally ignite the full scale of Nunez's capabilities.

Liverpool superstar Mohamed Salah won't be going anywhere this summer despite reports suggesting a shock exit is on the cards, according to reliable journalist David Lynch.

How many goals has Mo Salah scored?

The 31-year-old has etched his name into Reds folklore since arriving back in 2017, arguably becoming one of the greatest players in the club's history.

He has amassed a staggering tally of 186 goals in 305 appearances, and few players have had a greater impact for any club over recent decades. He has won all there is to win, whether it be the Champions League in 2019 or the Premier League title the following year, among numerous other trophies.

Worryingly however, Salah has been linked with a shock move to Saudi Arabia, where clubs are offering eye-watering amounts of money to top players, and the idea of Liverpool losing him at this point is something that doesn't bear thinking about.

The £350,000-a-week Egyptian has two more years remaining on his current Reds contract, putting them in a slightly precarious position, should he suddenly decide that he wants to move on. That being said, it doesn't look as though he intends on doing that any time soon, following a new update.

Is Salah staying at Liverpool?

According to Football Insider's Lynch, Salah is "set to stay" on Merseyside this summer, despite reports suggesting that he could depart for a new challenge. It is stated that a move there one day remains "probable", though.

This is clearly a massive boost for anyone of a Liverpool persuasion, with Salah a genuine world superstar who remains a priceless player for the Reds. He has been rightly hailed as "world-class" by Jurgen Klopp down the years, and while so many players struggled last season, he still found an incredibly high level, scoring 30 times in all competitions.

He may be 31 years of age now, but he is a physical machine who is rarely injured, and with players managing to be at an elite level well into their 30s these days – Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are two obvious examples – there is no reason why Salah can't be a force for years to come still.

Next summer could be a tricky situation for Liverpool, with Salah having one year remaining on his contract at that point, but for now, fans should appreciate him while he is still at Anfield, as he looks to spearhead their resurgence in 2023/24.

An update has emerged on Tottenham Hotspur target James Maddison and his thoughts on a potential move to north London this summer.

What's the latest on James Maddison to Tottenham?

According to The Daily Mail, the chat from around England's international camp over the past week has been that the attacking midfielder would prefer a move to Spurs over other teams.

The report claims that the former Norwich City playmaker is keen on a switch to join Ange Postecoglou's men following on from Leicester City's relegation to the Championship. It states that they are also interested in signing his Foxes teammate Harvey Barnes, although West Ham United and Arsenal are also keen on the winger.

The Northern Echo recently reported that Newcastle United have been working on a deal to sign Maddison for a number of months and that Leicester currently value the mercurial talent at £50m.

Therefore, this latest claim from the Daily Mail should come as a boost to Postecoglou as the player, who was described as a "magician" by Statman Dave, is seemingly ready to snub other teams in order to push for a move to Spurs.

How did Maddison perform last season?

Despite his team ending the campaign in the bottom three in the Premier League, Maddison enjoyed an excellent season on an individual level as the 26-year-old wizard showcased his ability to score and set-up goals on a regular basis from a number ten position.

The Foxes number ten averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.33 across 30 Premier League appearances and contributed with ten goals and nine assists. He also created 12 'big chances' for his teammates and registered 2.3 key passes per game, which illustrates his creative brilliance.

Only Harry Kane (7.44) averaged a higher Sofascore rating in the top-flight within the Spurs squad and no player managed more than 1.7 key passes per match for the Lillywhites.

These statistics suggest that Maddison, who was only outscored by Kane (30) for Tottenham in the Premier League last term, would provide Postecoglou with some much-needed creativity.

Former manager Brendan Rodgers described Maddison as "one of the best" players in the division and this was backed up by his eighth-placed ranking on average Sofascore ratings last season.

The ex-Coventry City prodigy has proven himself to be an exceptional performer in the top tier of English football, having also produced 12 goals and eight assists for Leicester in 2021/22, and that is why the exciting creator could be a fantastic addition to the squad this summer.

Chelsea have shown “no indication” that they will be “prioritising” Declan Rice over their other transfer targets such as Moises Caicedo, believes journalist Ben Jacobs.

The West Ham United midfielder has been heavily linked to Arsenal for much of the last six months, but the Blues have also reportedly shown interest at times.

Chelsea transfer news – Declan Rice

Following the Hammers’ Conference League final win on Wednesday night, chairman David Sullivan revealed that club captain Rice would leave over the summer.

Whilst the team primarily linked to the English international has been the Gunners, other sides have also shown interest, notably Thomas Tuchel’s Bayern Munich and Chelsea.

Tuchel reportedly has “high admiration” for the 24-year-old from his time in the Premier League, per Ben Jacobs.

However, with the player’s believed desire to remain in the country, specifically London, a move to either Mike Arteta’s side or West London seems far more likely.

For the west Londoners’ part, they have yet to show much significant interest in the 6 foot 1 midfielder, instead being heavily linked to Sporting CP’s Manuel Ugarte before he opted to sign for Paris Saint Germain, per Fabrizio Romano.

According to 90min, the club are looking at a potential double swoop for both Caicedo and Rice, but there is yet to be anything concrete linking the West Ham man to West London.

What has Ben Jacobs said about the potential transfer of Declan Rice to Chelsea?

Jacobs recognises that the Blues might be interested in the 24-year-old, but their behaviour in the market so far suggests that, unlike Arsenal, they won’t prioritise the player over their other targets.

Speaking to Football FanCast, the journalist said:

“There’s no indication at this point that Chelsea are going to prioritise Rice over, for example, Caicedo. We know that Chelsea want more than one midfielder, but the fact that they went for Ugarte and the fact that Caicedio is on the radar, perhaps suggests that Chelsea won’t come into the race, and go head-to-head with Arsenal at this point.

“But obviously, Arsenal will be wary of the Mudryk saga, and it is true that Thomas Tuchel also has high admiration for Rice as well.”

Should Chelsea sign Declan Rice?

There is a reason Rice is one of the most sought-after players in the Premier League at the moment, and if the Blues have a genuine chance to pick him up, they should.

According to WhoScored, the “absolute monster”, as described by ESPN writer David Cartlidge, has an average rating of 7.01 across his 36 Premier League games this year.

The underlying numbers for the Hammers captain are just as impressive.

According to FBref, compared to players in a similar position across Europe’s top five leagues, he sits in the top 5% for interceptions, 15% for progressive carries, 17% for clearances, 19% for pass completion and top 20% for progressive passes all per 90.

That said, there is the small problem of his transfer fee.

Thanks to his excellent performances and the interest from clubs like Arsenal, the price for the player is expected to reach a minimum of £92m, per the Telegraph.

That kind of money might be better spent elsewhere for the two-time European champions, especially after outlaying £107m for Enzo Fernandez in January this year.

Everton defender Conor Cody has admitted he shied away from a confrontation with Erling Haaland during a Premier League game.

What happened between Conor Cody and Erling Haaland?

It looks as though this is destined to be a pretty amazing debut season in English football for the prolific goalscorer.

Indeed, Haaland has won the league, the FA Cup, and could make it a treble if Manchester City beat Inter in the Champions League final this week.

In that period of 52 games, the 22-year-old also happens to have scored 52 goals as well as provided nine assists – remarkable stuff really.

It’s no surprise then, that he’s scored one goal each time he played Everton this term, netting both home and away this term. However, in the match at the Etihad, you could say Ben Godfrey rattled Haaland somewhat.

Indeed, the defender opted to be rather physical on the day and succeeded in getting under his skin – as shown by this footage of the City striker pulling a funny face during the game.

While talking about the match on BBC Sounds recently though, Godfrey’s teammate Coady has now spoken about the incident from his point of view.

The Englishman said: “What was funny about it, there’s a little story to that. So we obviously said Ben’s a big strong lad, isn’t he?

“And we obviously said we’ll try and get into him [Haaland] a little bit. Do you know what I mean? Make him feel that he’s in a game. And so Ben, about 30 seconds in gave him a bit, stood on the back of his foot or whatever it was and Haaland stayed down for a little bit.

“So Haaland didn’t know who it was, right? So I’m stood in the middle of a back three and I’m trying to talk, next minute he’s walking towards me.

“Big massive fella, isn’t he? So as he’s walking towards me, I’m looking at him, and he went: ‘was that you?’ and I said ‘no, it was him’ [pointing at Godfrey] and he went ‘ok’ and walked off!”

What did Godfrey say about his fight with Haaland?

It’s clear from Cody’s facial expression that he wanted absolutely no part of any sort of fight with the sizeable Haaland at that particular moment.

You can hardly blame him either as the Man City star has bullied defenders up and down England this term, breaking the Premier League record for the most goals scored in a signed season with his 36 strikes.

At least Godfrey enjoyed the ball, telling TV after (via TalkSport): “Godfrey also said he enjoyed the battle, commenting: “I don’t need to tell you Erling Haaland’s a good player. I just had to do my job.

“Yeah of course he was [upset]. You could see his reaction. He got his goal and is always causing people problems and it’s those challenges you have to look forward to.”

Tottenham Hotspur have been handed the green light from Ange Postecoglou that he is keen to take on the vacant managerial role in north London.

Who is Ange Postecoglou?

Daniel Levy saw Antonio Conte leave the club back in March following a run of underwhelming results amid the Italian's ongoing issues off the pitch.

But the off-field issues did not end there for Spurs with Fabio Paratici also leaving the club after the director of football was caught up in legal issues from his past.

However, Tottenham could now be heading in the right direction to get their plans for the future underway with the managerial vacancy expected to be filled in the coming days.

Indeed, it is believed the Celtic manager, Postecoglou, will take the reins at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium having completed the Scottish treble on the weekend with the Bhoys.

The 57-year-old has never managed in one of Europe's top five leagues with the opportunity at Parkhead presenting him with his first role in the United Kingdom.

However, the Australian is seemingly keen to make the step up to the Premier League with Alex Crook telling TalkSPORT the Celtic boss has informed Spurs of his desire to take the job:

"What I was told last night [Sunday] by sources close to Postecoglou, that it's pretty much a done deal, but he's already given Tottenham the indication that he wants to job obviously still have to formally approach Celtic. They were holding off out of respect until after that cup final at the weekend.

"But it won't be a complicated one because Postecoglou has a 12-month rolling contract, so compensation won't be an issue for Spurs."

Where has Postecoglou managed before?

The Australian has a very short history of managing in Europe with the job at Parkhead marking just his second role on the continent having previously managed Panachaiki in Greece.

Prior to taking the role at Celtic, Postecoglou had mainly managed in his homeland and Japan with Yokohama but it is apparent he has made a positive impression on those within the Premier League.

Indeed, it is believed Spurs were not the only side to have looked at Postecoglou as a potential option with Leeds United and Leicester City – prior to the relegation – both linked with the Australian.

Although some Spurs fans may not look at these links as positives, it is worth mentioning that Postecoglou was also a serious candidate for the job at Brighton & Hove Albion when Graham Potter left.

Again, the Seagulls who many may view as the best-run club in the league, are believed to be seriously keen on one of the Asian stars which Postecoglou has introduced to Europe in Reo Hatate.

Postecoglou may not be a familiar name with some just yet, however, Spurs fans could take a lot of optimism from the attention he has received from the likes of the Brighton board.

After all, Spurs have tried the big names with the likes of Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte, perhaps it is now time to try a manager who could bring the fanbase back together.

Chelsea have started to explore a deal to sign Southampton midfielder Romeo Lavia this summer, according to reports.

Is Romeo Lavia leaving Southampton?

The Belgium international only arrived at the St. Mary’s Stadium from Premier League rivals Manchester City, who do have a buy-back clause available, last summer, but after establishing himself as Ruben Selles’ second top-performing defensive player last season, has caught the eye of Mauricio Pochettino.

Speaking to GiveMeSport, journalist Rudy Galetti revealed that the Blues have the 19-year-old at the “top of their list” of central targets and have “already started” talks regarding a potential move, and it’s fair to say that reinforcements will be needed in the months ahead.

The Stamford Bridge outfit have N’Golo Kante and Denis Zakaria both out of contract this summer whilst Mateo Kovacic has reportedly entered negotiations over joining Pep Guardiola’s side so fresh faces will be required which is where the south coast starlet comes in.

Are Chelsea signing Lavia?

According to Football Insider, Chelsea, and by extension owner Todd Boehly, have “sounded out the possibility” of a deal for Lavia ahead of the 2023/24 term. The SW6 side have already “made some early moves” for Southampton’s midfielder, and it’s stated that Pochettino has “marked” the teenager as a player who he is a “huge fan” of. The £25k-per-week gem, who is preparing to leave, is also attracting interest from Liverpool, Man City and Arsenal.

Could Lavia be a good signing for Chelsea?

Chelsea will know that Lavia is still a very young player in the development stages of his career, but having been labelled a “diamond” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, the defensive midfielder could be a fantastic signing for the long-term future at Stamford Bridge.

The Elite Project Group Ltd client ranks in the 96th percentile for blocks and recorded a total of 60 tackles throughout last season which was the third-highest number out of the squad on the south coast, as per FBRef.

Hailed as "perfect for Chelsea" by journalist Nick Emms, Lavia is sponsored by Adidas and also occasionally chips in with his team’s efforts at the opposite end of the pitch having provided one goal and the same number of assists during his debut campaign at Southampton.

Finally, Lavia would add versatility to the manager’s ranks with his ability to operate slightly higher up in central midfield alongside his natural role sitting just in front of the backline, and he could only excel even further under the guidance of Pochettino.