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Liverpool currently have no interest in bringing Bayern Munich forward Sadio Mane back to the Premier League, according to reports in the last 48 hours.

Is Sadio Mane leaving Bayern Munich?

The Senegal international swapped Anfield for Munich last summer after a hugely successful six-year period on Merseyside, as per Transfermarkt, and despite him still having another two years remaining on his contract, there’s a chance that he could be set to seal a permanent move elsewhere during the upcoming window after just one campaign following a behind the scenes bust-up.

The Reds legend was reportedly involved in an altercation with his teammate Leroy Sane, who he punched in the dressing room, which saw him receive a one-match ban and a hefty fine. It then wasn’t long before Football Insider suggested that the German giants were happy to listen to offers for him, with a return to the top-flight a real possibility.

Chelsea have been credited with an interest in the 31-year-old, but rumours were sparked after it was claimed that he would like to reunite with Jurgen Klopp. It would appear that the player's feelings aren’t reciprocated if this fresh update is anything to go by.

Will Mane go back to Liverpool?

According to Football Insider, Liverpool, at this stage, have "no plans" to make another move for Mane ahead of the 2023/24 campaign. The Bayern winger does "not feature" in Thomas Tuchel's long-term project and is therefore expected to depart.

However, the chances of him reconnecting with his former squad members are next to none as it's stated that the recruitment team have "no interest" in bringing him back to Anfield. This is despite Mane telling private friends he misses the club and wants to return.

During his time at Liverpool, Mane was undoubtedly a fan favourite and quickly established himself as one of the heroes of the Klopp era, posting 168 goal contributions (120 goals and 48 assists) in 269 appearances across all competitions, but making the decision not to be tempted into acquiring his services once again is the correct one.

Since his departure, the northwest outfit have signed the likes of Darwin Nunez and most recently Cody Gakpo, so are well-stocked in their attacking department, especially now the likes of Luis Diaz and Diogo Jota are both also back to full fitness.

At Bayern, Mane is the highest earner on their books pocketing £367k-per-week, which is more than any current member of the Reds squad, the richest being Mohamed Salah on £350k-per-week, so his wage demands would likely be too high to take on again, therefore meaning that it would be best to avoid a deal, close that previous chapter and start a new one.

Liverpool are in advanced negotiations for Brighton midfielder Alexis Mac Allister, as Jurgen Klopp is closing in on the first step of an extensive rebuild.

What’s the latest on Alexis Mac Allister to Liverpool?

According to transfer guru Fabrizio Romano, the Reds are closing in on a deal for the 24-year-old, who is described as one of their “priority targets” alongside Mason Mount.

The journalist had previously tweeted that the Merseyside outfit were close to full agreement on personal terms with the player and club just waiting to finalise the final details.

It has been revealed that there’s no fixed clause in his current contract, but it has been suggested it could take more than £70m for the move to happen.

Why should Liverpool sign Alexis Mac Allister?

The £50k-per-week gem has been on the south coast since 2019, but in the last year, he has deservedly enjoyed a phenomenal rise in prominence and popularity.

He has made 39 appearances in all competitions and registered 15 goal involvements for the Seagulls this campaign and has been an integral component of a side that secured Europa League qualification thanks to a 1-1 draw with recently crowned Premier League champions Manchester City yesterday evening.

The 16-cap international, whose current contract expires in 2025, has received this vast admiration thanks to his indispensable role in his nation’s World Cup triumph last year having played in six of the seven tournament games for the eventual winners.

The Argentine provided for Ángel Di María in his team’s second goal in the final against France, to become immortalised in his country’s folklore.

From a deep-lying playmaker role, Mac Allister has been in impeccable form – showcased by the fact that he ranks in the top 19% in Europe’s top five leagues among his positional peers for progressive carries per 90, the highest 17% for shot-creating actions per 90, and the best 16% for successful take-ons per 90.

He represents an upgrade to Naby Keita, who is to depart Liverpool this summer after five years at the club.

Previously labelled as the "complete midfielder" by Jurgen Klopp, the former RB Leipzig man, but his time in England has been blighted by injury and inconsistency.

As per The Athletic, the Reds have played 277 competitive matches since his arrival, but he’s only featured in 129 of them, which equates to 47%.

This season, he has only made eight top-flight outings for Liverpool and has shockingly registered just the 25th-highest rating within the whole squad, according to WhoScored.

Compared to Liverpool's priority target, he also ranks poorly, as he sat inside the top 41% of Premier League players last term for successful take-ons, demonstrating he is dispossessed easily and lacks composure.

Meanwhile, Mac Allister, who has been hailed as a "magician" by Danny Welbeck, embodies reliability and consistency and would be a welcome replacement for Keita at Anfield.

Aston Villa want to sign Pau Torres this summer, with Unai Emery personally trying to convince the Villarreal centre-back to join, according to recent reports from Spain.

What's the latest Aston Villa transfer news?

Villa are keen on strengthening at centre-back in the upcoming transfer window, despite the fact Diego Carlos is set to play a "big part" next season, according to transfer insider Dean Jones, and they have set their sights on a number of key targets.

According to reports from Italy, the Villans have started to move for AS Roma's Roger Ibanez, with the Italian club said to value the defender at around €35m – €40m (£30-£35m), amid interest from a number of Premier League clubs.

Back in May, it was reported that Emery was considering a move for Barcelona's Andreas Christensen, and the Dane is not the only target from La Liga, as Torres has been heavily linked with a move in recent weeks.

According to reports from Spain (via Sport Witness), Emery is now personally trying to convince the Villarreal defender about a move to Villa Park, hoping that he will be enticed by becoming a part of the "ambitious project."

The Spaniard has a €60m (£51m) release clause included in his contract, although this is unlikely to be triggered as he has just one year remaining on his current deal, which means the two parties will need to negotiate.

Given his contract situation, the 26-year-old is one of the main players that Villarreal could choose to cash in on this summer, but they do intend to offer him a contract.

Who is Pau Torres?

It would be a big decision if the Spain international were to decide to leave this summer, as barring a loan spell with Malaga, he has played for Villarreal for his entire professional career, having come through the youth ranks at his hometown club.

It is no wonder Villa are so keen on signing the 6 foot 3 colossus, however, as he is a very impressive modern-day centre-back, as highlighted by how composed he is on the ball, ranking in the 98th percentile for successful take-ons, and the 96th for progressive passes.

With a 7.06 average Sofascore rating in La Liga this season, Torres is ranked as Villarreal's fourth-best performing player, while he has also been hailed as "fantastic" by Owen Hargreaves, indicating he could be an excellent signing for Aston Villa.

Leeds United are in talks with Steven Gerrard over becoming their next manager this summer, according to a new report regarding the situation.

What's the latest Leeds manager news?

The Whites are working hard on nailing Sam Allardyce's successor at Elland Road, with the veteran's time in charge coming to an end last week. His appointment felt short-term and his primary job was to avoid relegation from the Premier League, but he couldn't work his magic and a younger alternative is now being eyed up.

A host of names have already been mooted as Leeds' potential next boss, with Gerrard thought to be right in the middle of the conversation, despite a disappointing spell at Aston Villa. The 43-year-old is far from the only target, however, as the Whites also eye up the likes of Brendan Rodgers and Carlos Corberan, among others.

As the pursuit continues, a new update has emerged that further suggests Gerrard could among be the front-runners to take the reins moving forward.

Is Gerrard a front-runner to take charge?

According to Football Transfers, Leeds are having discussions with the Liverpool legend over the vacant manager's post at Elland Road, although they aren't the only club he is talking to:

"In other coaching news, we hear that Steven Gerrard is talking to Leeds and Leicester City over their vacant managerial position."

Gerrard would be an exciting appointment in some ways, given his reputation as a legendary footballing figure, having produced so much magic in a Liverpool shirt, arguably standing out as one of the greatest players England have ever produced.

That being said, the jury is still out with him when it comes to his managerial expertise, even though he won the Scottish Premiership title with Rangers back in 2020/21 in his first senior management role – something that has been very rare of late, given Celtic's dominance in the competition.

Gerrard flattered to deceive at Villa, however, and Unai Emery has turned them into a completely different animal since taking charge, which shows that he still has plenty to learn in management. There is a feeling that the likes of him and Frank Lampard are handed jobs because of their playing careers and high-profile statuses, which is why some Leeds fans may be wary of his appointment.

In fairness, though, he is still a title-winning manager who remains young in his field, and he could see the Whites as the perfect opportunity to prove his worth, showing that Villa was a slight blip in a managerial career that will otherwise flourish.

Wolverhampton Wanderers have reportedly identified their target to solve the clubs’ goal scoring woes, as Julen Lopetegui looks towards a busy summer.

The Spaniard will face a challenging transfer window following the emergence of Wolves’ FFP issues, however the show must go on and Molineux must see improvements over the break.

One name has been on the radar since the conclusion of the Premier League season, in a move that could transform Wolves in the final third.

What’s the latest on Viktor Gyokeres to Wolves?

As reported by talkSPORT at the beginning of May, Wolves are interested in Coventry City talisman Viktor Gyokeres.

Since the news first surfaced, it has emerged that the Midlands side will face competition for the striker, with Sporting Lisbon and Burnley also interested.

Portuguese outlet Record (as relayed by Sport Witness) revealed this week that Wolves remain in the race for the Swedish forward, with Sporting CP set to ‘struggle’ to battle the Premier League side due to their ‘bigger financial capacity’.

The report claimed that the price set by Coventry for the goalscoring machine is in the region of €20m (£17m).

What could Viktor Gyokeres bring to Wolves?

Ending the season as the lowest scorers in the Premier League, Lopetegui must solve the equation to get his side firing again, having netted just 31 goals in 38 games.

Once hailed as “unplayable” by former teammate Maxime Biamou, Gyokeres could be the man to end the stagnant nature in front of goal at Molineux, having scored 21 goals in the Championship this campaign.

While Wolves as a club would benefit hugely by the influence of having a goal machine leading the line once again, one player in particular could be unearthed by his presence.

Matheus Nunes made the move from Sporting CP to Molineux last summer, and has shown glimmers of his quality since arriving, but has been starved of having an attacking outlet to generate play with.

Having also been described as a “playmaker” by members of the media, the Portuguese ace averaged 0.8 key passes per game, a number that could be significantly raised should Lopetegui bring in the correct reinforcements.

As per FBref, the 24-year-old averaged 3.06 progressive passes per 90 this season, far fewer than his average the term before in Portugal, where he completed an average of 5.74 per 90, which shows what he is capable of should Wolves sign a frontman.

Gyokeres could finally unlock Nunes by acting as a player that is goal hungry and always looking for the ball, as communicated by his monstrous 11.01 progressive passes received per 90 over the past year, via FBref.

Placing financial constraints aside, Wolves must find a goal scorer this summer and not many could be more suited to the club than Gyokeres, who could prove to be a vast influence on Lopetegui’s attack.

Chelsea's extortionate spending has created an unbalanced and demoralised squad that has seen the club at its lowest point since the turn of the century.

The amount of players is unmanageable and some have been brought in for ridiculous figures and have dramatically failed to repay their fees.

The Blues need to adopt a more meticulous and calculated transfer policy, spending lower sums on more quality players.

In recent times, the West London outfit has been linked with Benjamin Pavard, and securing his signature would be a notable step in the right direction for incoming boss Mauricio Pochettino.

What’s the latest on Benjamin Pavard to Chelsea?

Last month, it was first reported by BILD’s Christian Falk that the 2021 Champions League winners were interested in the Bayern Munich man.

This was followed up by a tweet by Fabrizio Romano, which confirmed that the Frenchman will not sign a new deal at his current club and wants to start a new chapter in his career.

Florian Plettenberg of Sky Germany has since gone on to reveal that a fee of €40m (£34m) may be required to convince the Bavarian Giants to sanction his departure.

Pavard’s contract expires in 2024, so Bayern may be forced into his sale this summer to avoid losing him on a free next year.

How would Benjamin Pavard fit in at Chelsea?

The former Stuttgart star has made 30 Bundesliga appearances and averaged 2.3 tackles, 2.5 clearances, and 1.5 interceptions as he secured his fourth-straight league title.

Described as “outstanding” by Uli Hoenes, the 27-year-old also excels outside of Germany, as he ranks in the top 7% in Europe’s top five leagues among his positional peers for tackles per 90, as well as the best 17% for interceptions per 90, according to FBref.

Coupled with his obvious defensive acumen, the 2018 World Cup winner is also a force going forward, sitting within the best 3% for progressive passes, total shots, shot-creating actions, and non-penalty goals per 90.

His solidity, offensive threat, and his ability to appear across the backline means he has drawn comparisons to Chelsea legend Branislav Ivanovic.

The aforementioned duo both regularly appeared at centre-back or full-back, and their functionality means they are two of the most underrated players in each of their generations.

This trait goes under the radar as functional players make the game look so easy and this versatility is invaluable for any manager.

Nine years, 337 appearances, 34 goals, and ten trophies later – Ivanovic is a Premier League legend, lauded for his consistency, productivity, mentality, and reliability.

Pavard mirrors this set of imperious qualities and being available for such a modest fee, it makes complete sense for Chelsea to make a move.

Newcastle United could land themselves Sofyan Amrabat this summer, with a report from FirenzeViola.it, via Sport Witness, stating that they are one of the only teams currently "ready" to stump up the funds for the player.

Are Newcastle United signing Sofyan Amrabat?

Having completed a permanent switch to Fiorentina in Italy three seasons ago, the midfielder has gone on to become an important first-team regular for the Serie A side during his time there. He featured on 29 occasions for them in the league this season and also helped lead them to the Europa Conference League final, with 13 outings in that competition.

It's not his first time in continental action either, having played in both the Europa League and Champions League before for previous sides Club Brugge and Feyenoord. Amrabat then is well-versed in top-level football and having now made a name for himself at the World Cup, he is drawing interest from elsewhere.

That's because, according to a report from FirenzeViola.it, via Sport Witness, the midfielder is wanted by both Newcastle and Liverpool during this summer window.

It states that both Premier League outfits are keeping tabs on the 26-year-old and that of all the interested parties in the player, they are the two clubs "ready to pay" the asking price for his services, though it does not specify what the price actually is.

What is Amrabat's transfer value?

Having become a key player for Fiorentina, they will no doubt want to recoup more money for the midfielder than they paid for him. No fee is mentioned in the report, but Transfermarkt suggests that his value currently could be around 30 million Euros (or £25.7m).

If that was the case, then Newcastle would have to pay at least slightly more than the Italians did for Amrabat, meaning the Serie A side would at least make a profit on him.

It could be worth paying that amount of money too. Football talent scout Jacek Kulig has called the former Hellas Verona man an "icon of Moroccan football" because of his showings for club and country. You don't get that label for a World Cup semi-finalist without being a solid player, regardless of the concerns about buying players after international tournaments.

Newcastle would clearly be getting themselves a midfielder who can really do the business for them in the centre of the field, with Amrabat even likened to Gennaro Gattuso by former England manager Fabio Capello.

Newcastle United have already spoken to Juventus about Federico Chiesa, according to a report from Sky Italy journalist Gianluca Di Marzio, via his website.

How many goals has Federico Chiesa scored this season?

Juventus have struggled this season in Serie A and will miss out on Champions League football in the 2023/24 campaign due points deductions.

The Turin outfit finished in seventh – much further down the table than one would expect considering their domestic dominance in the 21st century – and it means we could see some stars depart this summer.

Chiesa was able to contribute on a regular basis despite more struggles with injury, and played on 21 occasions for the outfit. However, the winger was only able to actually start six games throughout the season – his worst ever total.

In spite of this, the forward was still able to produce the goods when he was called upon. He bagged himself two goals and five assists along the way and that was a better tally than his efforts last season, despite the fact he both started and featured in more Serie A games for Juventus during that campaign.

It also meant that the player had a goal contribution rate of 0.74 per 90 – which is his best ever total barring a short spell with Fiorentina before his Juve move.

Do Newcastle United have an interest in Chiesa?

It was recently reported that Liverpool were lining up a cut-price £34m bid for him and were prepared to splash the cash, despite no official offer having been lodged yet. Now, according to a report from Sky Sports' Di Marzio, via his website, the player could indeed be about to try his luck in the Premier League with yet another team throwing their hat into the ring for him.

That's because it appears Newcastle have also asked about Chiesa. No formal bid has yet been made for the £150,000-a-week star however.

After all of his injury issues, it appears as though Chiesa might finally be refinding the kind of form that thrust him into the spotlight. Football journalist Josh Bunting for example stated back in June that Chiesa performed as the player that "we've missed" during a game, adding that he still has "drive" and scores "beautiful" goals.

The player could be back at his best now then – and with Juve perhaps prepared to sell, Newcastle appear to be prepared to capitalise.

It's hard to judge whether or not a Man of the Match award should add to a player's reputation. After all, in the Premier League, it is often Gary Neville giving them out. Yet, when a player wins a certain amount, it is a clear indication of their quality.

Throughout the last 10 seasons, of course, it has been Lionel Messi who has dominated. The Argentine icon just has an ability to leave people with no choice but to hand out the award. For many, he comfortably sits on football's throne as the greatest player of all time.

There have still been a few surprises along the way, however, which you can see below, courtesy of a Reddit post.

2013/14, 2014/15, 2016/17, 2017/18, 2018/19, 2019/20, 2020/21, 2022/23: Lionel Messi

Messi is a joke, isn't he? In eight of the last 10 seasons, the Barcelona legend has picked up the most Man of the Match awards. And we can't even say that it's unjustified. Football's king has comfortably sat on his throne in a dominant reign over the beautiful game.

The most awards that he won in a single season in the last 10 years came in the 2014/15 campaign, when he scored 58 goals and recorded 31 assists in an incredible year that ended with a Ballon d'Or, Champions League, La Liga, and Spanish Cup win to complete a treble at Barcelona before the individual award.

Most recently, too, Messi picked up 17 Man of the Match awards – the most last season – as Argentina finally ended their World Cup heartache in Qatar, and Paris Saint-Germain won Ligue 1 once again, albeit in a difficult campaign.

With a move to Inter Miami on the way, Messi's reign over Europe has reached its end, and so begins the chance for others to dominate the Man of the Match award.

2015/16: Zlatan Ibrahimovic

Believe it or not, we actually did get a short reprieve away from Messi dominance over the last 10 years, with Zlatan Ibrahimovic getting an obviously much-needed confidence boost to his ego in the 2015/16 season.

The former Sweden international was playing for PSG at the time, and clearly impressed those in France with his 50 goals and 19 assists for the season, winning a total of 16 Man of the Match awards.

In what was his last season at the club, before making the move to Manchester United, the legendary forward ended in world-class style at PSG.

2021/22: Christopher Nkunku

As Messi struggled to adapt to life in the French capital, it was Christopher Nukunku who won the most Man of the Match awards in the 2021/22 season, picking up a total of 14 for RB Leipzig.

Although the Frenchman didn't hit the levels of his Argentina counterpart, Nkunku scored an impressive 35 goals on top of recording 20 assists to make 55 goal involvements.

That season, combined with the last campaign of 32 goal involvements was enough to secure the Leipzig star a move to Chelsea this summer.

Arsenal are reportedly interested in FC Porto striker Mehdi Taremi, as the Gunners bid to add depth to their title-challenging squad this summer.

Mikel Arteta and Edu have had a stellar transfer window so far, confirming the signing of Chelsea star Kai Havertz while Declan Rice and Jurrien Timber are in the pipeline to be announced as arrivals next week.

Despite surpassing expectations last season, the north Londoners will aim to close the gap between themselves and Manchester City, with adding quality in depth essential this summer.

Is Taremi going to Arsenal?

According to Portuguese outlet O Jogo, relayed by football.london, Arsenal are interested in Porto forward Mehdi Taremi, who could be a valuable asset in Arteta’s bid to add strength in numbers.

The 30-year-old has been linked with a move to Manchester United already this summer, with a separate report in Portugal valuing him at no less than €20m (£17m).

O Jogo claim that the Gunners are monitoring the striker, who is entering the final year of his contract at Porto.

How good is Mehdi Taremi?

Praised as “intelligent” by scout Antonio Mango, the 30-year-old has been an integral member of Porto’s squad, cementing himself in the top three of the side’s best performers in Liga Portugal.

Averaging a match rating of 7.38, the Iranian striker registered a mammoth 29 goal contributions in 33 league appearances, scoring 22 and assisting seven in a memorable individual campaign, via Sofascore.

Adding numbers like these to his CV, there’s little surprise that the forward is attracting interest from the Premier League.

Indeed, he stacks up well compared to a certain Harry Kane too. Over the last two campaigns, the Spurs star has found the net on 59 occasions compared to Taremi's 57.

For Arsenal, a player as clinical as the Bushehr-born ace could give Arteta an added outlet for goals in attack, with a figure that could provide significant depth to the title-challenging squad.

While the Gunners have a strong attack, there’s always room for improvement, and with Gabriel Jesus netting 11 goals in 26 Premier League appearances last term, there is undoubtedly room for more goals in the front line.

The north Londoners have welcomed Folarin Balogun back from his emphatic loan spell at Reims, in which the 22-year-old scored 21 in 37 Ligue 1 appearances, giving the boss a potential headache for selection.

There has, however, been speculation that the United States international could depart this summer having made his wishes to be the leading striker for Arsenal clear, leaving a potential gap in the squad for a forward to challenge Jesus.

Taremi could be a risk-free alternative to Balogun, who has had just one imposing senior goal-scoring season in his budding career so far.

Last season wasn’t an unusual feat to record for Taremi, who has become a favourite in Porto since signing for the club in 2020 from fellow Portuguese outfit Rio Ave.

In 147 appearances in all competitions, the 30-year-old has contributed to a monstrous 129 goals scoring 80 and assisting 49 to showcase his consistent ability in the final third, via Transfermarkt.

Averaging 0.52 non-penalty goals per 90 over the past year, the Iranian could be a safer bet for Arteta than the 22-year-old Balogun who averaged 0.45 non-penalty goals per 90.

It could be a smart move for Edu to cash in on Balogun while his value is high, and to add a seasoned scorer to the side to compete with Jesus next campaign.