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Nottingham Forest are interested in signing Monza left back Carlos Augusto this summer, journalist Fabrizio Romano has claimed.

Who is Carlos Augusto?

The £12,000-a-week defender was a key player for Monza throughout the 2022/23 season, starting 35 of his side's 38 Serie A matches mostly on the left of a back five. In that time, he scored six goals and registered five assists, highlighted his attacking pedigree from his defensive role, also winning four Man of the Match awards from WhoScored.

Augusto's performances throughout the campaign are likely to have caught the eye of a number of clubs – he led his squad in direct goal contributions and overall match rating from wing-back – and with his current deal expiring next year, he finds himself at a potential crossroads in his career.

It means his current club will either have to sell him this summer, in order to receive a healthy fee for his services, or risky losing him for free in 2024, should he fail to agree an extension.

That's where Forest come into play, as the Reds look to make significant reinforcements in the summer transfer window. They could soon have to replace loan star Renan Lodi, with reports suggesting they may miss out on a permanent deal for the Brazilian.

Are Forest signing Augusto?

Writing on Twitter on Sunday, Romano claimed that Forest are keen on the idea of signing Augusto, although Inter Milan are ahead of them in the pecking order:

"Inter will continue talks with Monza for Carlo Augusto next week. He’s concrete target as new left back — no issues on personal terms. Nottingham Forest also appreciate the Brazilian LB but Inter are now ahead."

Augusto could be a really shrewd signing by Forest if they could get a deal over the line, although the presence of Inter is clearly a possible issue, given their status as recent Champions League finalists.

At 24, the Brazilian would be arriving at the City Ground at a good age, with plenty of time to mature under Steve Cooper, and his aforementioned quality going forward could make Forest more of a force in the attacking area of the pitch.

That's not to say that Augusto isn't also an effective defensive player, however, averaging 2.1 tackles and clearances apiece in Serie A in 2022/23, so the Reds could be signing an impressive all-round package who could help take Cooper's side up a gear once next season gets underway.

Augusto looks like the perfect replacement for Lodi if Evangelos Marinakis cannot tie the latter down to a permanent stay.

Newcastle United are “informed” on the situation of Napoli defender Kim Min-Jae ahead of the summer, according to journalist Fabrizio Romano.

Is Kim Min-Jae leaving Napoli?

Since joining from Fenerbahce last summer, the centre-back has been a regular feature of Luciano Spalletti’s former side, making 45 appearances across all competitions during his debut season at the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium.

In his CaughtOffside Daily Briefing last month, Romano stated that the Magpies had sent scouts to watch the 26-year-old and suggested that Eddie Howe and Dan Ashworth could compete with Manchester United in the race to bring him to the Premier League.

Journalist Raimondo De Magistris has since claimed that the Red Devils have offered the South Korean a “huge salary” so the northeast outfit will have to act fast, but with his contract including a £52m release clause that’s set to become active next month, anything can still happen.

Are Newcastle signing Kim?

Taking to Twitter, Romano revealed that Newcastle are keeping close tabs on Kim as they weigh up a potential hijack this summer. He wrote:

“Manchester United have Kim Min-jae on their list since October and remains the main target. Release clause, only valid in July as United are in contact with agents; Newcastle are informed too. Understand Man Utd are also monitoring the French market for plan B options.”

Could Kim be a good addition for Howe?

Newcastle obviously hold a clear interest in Kim to be considering a swoop during the upcoming window, and having been dubbed a real “leader” by former professional Park Ji-Sung, the centre-back putting pen to paper would be a massive coup for PIF.

The Serie A champion averaged 3.5 clearances and 2.6 aerial wins per league game last season, alongside recording a 91% pass success rate, via WhoScored, which was higher than any of the black and white striped players, highlighting his calmness and composure on the ball.

The Nike-sponsored ace is also capable of contributing to his team’s efforts at the opposite end of the pitch having clocked up four league goal contributions (two goals and the same number of assists) in 35 appearances last term.

Finally, Kim has spent the majority of his career playing in the heart of the defence but he also has the versatility to operate out wide at right-back so he would be a great option for Howe to have at his disposal should rotation be needed as a result of an injury crisis, in a similar way to how the gaffer has used Dan Burn this season.

Liverpool are keen on Bayern Munich midfielder Ryan Gravenberch and it will soon become clear whether there is a roadmap for the Reds to sign the Netherlands international this summer, according to journalist Dean Jones.

What's the latest transfer news involving Ryan Gravenberch?

According to Football Insider, Liverpool are keen on signing Gravenberch this summer and will attempt to try and prize him away from Bayern Munich as Jurgen Klopp eyes a squad rebuild.

The report states that Liverpool have been admirers of Gravenberch for a long period of time and the Reds believe that the prospect of offering the 21-year-old more playing time at Anfield may be enough to tempt him to move to Merseyside.

As per The Daily Mail, Liverpool have previously held discussions with Gravenberch's entourage over the possibility of acquiring Gravenberch; however, it is said that Bayern Munich are reluctant to lose his services in the off-season.

Capology understand that Gravenberch earns around €176,923 (£153,680) per week at the Allianz Arena and is contracted to his current employers until June 2027.

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, journalist Jones thinks that we will soon find out whether Liverpool moving to bring Gravenberch to Anfield is a viable option this summer.

Jones said: “I’d say we should probably keep an eye on the Gravenberch situation because that’s the other one they’ve really wanted to know about. And I think there will be indications very soon on Gravenberch and whether Liverpool could even get involved in that conversation.”

Would Ryan Gravenberch be a good signing for Liverpool?

Despite finding it difficult to make an impact at Bayern Munich, Gravenberch is a talented midfielder who would add some extra composure in Liverpool's engine room.

In 2022/23, the 21-year-old made 33 appearances in all competitions for the Bundesliga champions, registering one goal and a solitary assist apiece, as per Transfermarkt.

WhoScored show that Gravenberch is a reliable outlet in possession for Bayern Munich and managed to maintain a pass success rate of 89.3% in the German top-flight this season.

As per FBRef, Gravenberch has also excelled in comparison to his positional peers across Europe's top five divisions in the art of shot-creating actions, having averaged around 4.01 per 90 minutes across the last 365 days, putting him in the seventh percentile for this metric.

Liverpool need to add midfield depth to compensate for the loss of trio Naby Keita, James Milner and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Gravenberch would add some fresh legs and an ability to exert control in the middle of the park.

West Bromwich Albion manager Steve Bruce spoke previously about the significant overhaul that he’s looking to oversee during the upcoming summer transfer window.

Having secured a deal to sign John Swift on a free transfer from Reading last month, this shows just how eager the club have been to get new faces through the door quickly.

On the flip side, the Baggies did release some big names from the club in recent weeks such as Andy Carroll, Sam Johnstone and Romaine Sawyers.

Regarding any potential future recruitment from the club this summer, one player who has been linked with a move to The Hawthorns recently and who could be an ideal replacement for Sawyers in particular is Lewis O’Brien.

Having played in 123 Championship games throughout his career, with eight goals and 10 assists to his name, the 23-year-old certainly has the experience to come in and be a fine addition to Bruce’s side.

His latest season with Huddersfield Town saw the midfielder play a big part in their campaign which saw the Terriers make it all the way to Wembley for the play-Off final, only to then fall at the final hurdle and miss out on securing their place in the Premier League.

In 46 league appearances in the current campaign, O’Brien highlighted what a capable all-around midfielder he is by scoring three goals and providing three assists.

He also racked up 48 shots at goal, 31 crosses and 33 interceptions and won 59 tackles, totally eclipsing Sawyers for each of these statistics as the former Baggies midfielder spent the season on loan with Stoke City.

Ending the campaign as Huddersfield’s highest-rated outfield player according to WhoScored also shows how capable O’Brien is of performing at a high level in the Championship.

Labelled a “very special” player by Huddersfield head coach Carlos Corberan, the 23-year-old could be a significant prospective signing for the Baggies this summer as Bruce looks to build a side capable of reaching promotion back to the Premier League.

With a reported price tag of £10m, this is a deal that West Brom should be all over as they continue their summer overhaul ahead of the new season.

In other news: WBA can finally replace Evans as Bruce eyes move for “solid” £2.7m-rated machine

Celtic and Ange Postecoglou showed during the previous summer and winter transfer windows just how astute they can be when it comes to securing deals for players moving in and out of Parkhead.

Last month, the Australian revealed that the club are “always looking to improve areas” that they see fit on and off the pitch.

Now that his debut campaign in charge of the Bhoys has come to an end, his focus can now turn to helping the club to progress even further and strengthen the areas that he feels need work.

In terms of improving his squad as they look to not only retain the Premiership title but also compete with the top clubs in Europe, one area of his ranks that he may feel the need to strengthen is the left-back position.

Looking at current left-back options Greg Taylor and Boli Bolingoli, the latter has found himself out of the squad more often than not this season, meaning that this summer could well see him leaving the club if he’s not in Postecoglou’s plans for the future.

One man who has been linked with a move to Celtic recently and who could not only be a suitable potential replacement for Bolingoli but also a possible upgrade on Taylor is Hammarby left-back Mohanad Jeahze.

Better than Taylor

Last month, the Hoops were linked with a £2m move for the Iraq international.

Taking a look at the Hoops full-back and his recent campaign, in which he made 24 league appearances, the 24-year-old only delivered three assists and failed to score, making him one of the few Celtic players who started more than one league game not to find the net.

To compare Taylor’s latest campaign at Celtic with Jeahze’s previous full season with Hammarby, the 25-year-old not only managed to get his name on the scoresheet, he also racked up more assists than his Hoops counterpart.

He also had more shots at goal, crosses and interceptions than the Scotland international, which says to us that Taylor could see his place in the team come under threat should Jeahze find himself at Parkhead in the summer.

Hailed by his teammate Darijan Bojanic as a player who “always makes good decisions” on the pitch, Jeahze could find himself making another good decision if he chooses to link up with Postecoglou at Celtic to help them achieve their targets for next season.

In other news: Worrying behind-the-scenes development emerges, it’s bad news for Celtic

Reliable journalist Sami Mokbel of The Daily Mail has now shared an interesting Tottenham Hotspur transfer update involving Newcastle United forward Allan Saint-Maximin.

The Lowdown: Paratici talks held…

Spurs head coach Antonio Conte, gearing up for his first full Premier League season in charge of the Lilywhites, has now held a summit with transfer chief Fabio Paratici in Italy.

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On Friday, it is believed that the pair had talks over the club’s recruitment plans and strategy in Turin – coming after Conte lead his side to a previously unthought of Champions League qualification place.

A list of targets, as mapped out by Conte, have apparently been drawn up.

According to the Mail and Mokbel, though, a brand new name has found it’s way on to Tottenham’s radar with the north London coach now eyeing a move for Saint-Maximin.

The Latest: Conte eyes brand new target…

Their sources believe that the Frenchman is now a target ‘for Conte’ with Spurs seemingly holding no shortage of ambition after their £150 million equity increase.

They have allegedly ‘already’ started making ‘firm enquiries’ for their targets as they seek to full back their manager, but in Saint-Maximin’s case, the move will ‘prove difficult’.

The Verdict: Ambitious move?

Depending on whether Spurs advance with a possible summer bid, landing the 25-year-old could be one of their more challenging transfer goals for the summer.

Newcastle, now backed by PIF, are seemingly under no pressure to sell one of their star assets, who has been a revelation for them over the last few seasons.

That being said, if Tottenham can somehow pull it off, there is little denying his arrival would be a head-turning forward addition for Conte.

Former Leeds striker Noel Whelan has lavished Saint-Maximin as a ‘massive’ and ‘exciting’ player in two separate interviews with Football Insider, as evident by the fact no top flight star averaged a higher rate of successful take-ons per 90 last year (WhoScored).

In other news: Conte could see ‘one of the best in the world’ join Tottenham after behind-scenes demand…find out more here.

Manchester United’s ambition of signing Barcelona’s Frenkie de Jong could easily be realised this summer.

What’s the word?

According to the latest report from Corriere dello Sport, via The Faithful MUFC, the La Liga giants have a debt of more than €1bn (£848m) and are required to “bring this to an acceptable level” before June 30.

As per the report, Barcelona president Joan Laporta needs to sell players in this summer’s transfer window in order to reduce the Blaugrana’s wage bill and make way for signings who can strengthen Xavi’s squad further.

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After the sale of the Nou Camp club’s record signing Philippe Coutinho to Aston Villa, it is said that De Jong could indeed be next out the door and is ‘close’ to securing a deal to join United, but he will likely not be the last to leave.

On the other hand, it is also reported that Laporta is still optimistic of improving the financial situation at Barcelona without having to sell any key players, saying: “We are working. If we manage to settle the accounts with the operations we are preparing, no player will leave for economic reasons.”

De Jong could be Modric 2.0

With the latest news in mind, United have a fair chance at signing a player who could be their next talismanic figure in the mould of a Luka Modric, with FBRef categorising the two as stylistically similar playmakers.

The “magic” 25-year-old, who has been dubbed a “unicorn”, has failed to hit the heights we saw at Ajax, but he has still managed to post some excellent numbers over the past year.

Whilst De Jong’s average of 56.7 passes completed per 90 is not far behind Modric’s average of 65.43, his averages of 1.5 key passes, 5.59 passes into the final third and 7.06 progressive carries per game are similar to the Croatian’s 1.63 key passes, 7.35 passes into the final third and 6.73 progressive carries per 90.

It’s also worth noting that the Netherlands international has registered a slightly higher pass completion percentage over the past year than the Real Madrid veteran, with his 90.3% success rate pipping that of the 35-year-old, who boasts a pass completion percentage of 88.3%.

It takes some doing to beat a pass master like the Croatian, and with De Jong’s ability, he would make for a sure-fire astute signing for United for what looks to be a fee of £58m.

In other news: Man Utd eye £25m talent with “bulldog-like” approach, Ten Hag loves him

Reliable journalist Steve Nicholson has dropped an update regarding a mystery local businessman’s potential role in the takeover of Derby County.

The Lowdown: Takeover saga ongoing

The future of the Rams remains up in the air, following relegation from the Championship and constant rumours swirling regarding the club’s future ownership.

A recent update suggested that American businessman Chris Kirchner’s potential acquisition of Derby had hit roadblocks, with issues surrounding the purchase of Pride Park.

Now, another key update has emerged regarding a possible takeover, with a ‘behind the scenes’ bidder potentially about to smooth things over when it comes to purchasing the stadium.

The Latest: Journalist makes fresh claim

Speaking in a Q&A with The Derby Telegraph, Nicholson claimed that a mystery individual is ‘working hard behind the scenes’ to resolve the roadblock:

“He does not want his name in the public domain at present, I am told, and that has to be respected. He and others are working hard behind the scenes, I understand.”

The Verdict: Divisive potential owner

The idea of a local success story being involved in the takeover at Derby is something that could appeal greatly to supporters, rather than handing the reins completely over to a foreign entity.

Someone like Mike Ashley could be a more unpopular owner, for example, with many Newcastle fans thinking he never invested enough money or was the right fit in general during his time at St James’ Park.

The Rams are admittedly in a position where beggars can’t necessarily be choosers – frankly, any takeover would feel welcome during a precarious time for the club – but it could be that a local influence is the best solution.

In other news, Wayne Rooney is facing a battle to keep one Derby player. Find out who it is here.

West Bromwich Albion concluded what has been a thoroughly disappointing Championship campaign with an emphatic 4-0 victory over already-relegated Barnsley at The Hawthorns this afternoon.

A Karlan Grant penalty kicked off proceedings and Adam Reach doubled the Baggies’ lead before half-time, with a second-half effort from Matt Clarke and top-scorer Grant’s 18th goal of the campaign completing the rout.

The victory secured a 10th-placed finish for Steve Bruce’s side, having been relegated from the Premier League last year. However, it is the West Midlands side’s lowest league placing for more than two decades.

It was an excellent way to close out a poor season, with Reach’s heroics particularly pleasing for Albion supporters.

Reach stole the show

The Englishman’s first season at The Hawthorns has mirrored West Brom’s in the sense that, on the whole, it has been below par after his move from Sheffield Wednesday last term.

Today saw the 29-year-old score just his second goal of the campaign, having netted his first in March against Bristol City. However, it was an excellent performance to close out the season ahead of what he will hope will be a better campaign personally next year.

Alongside the goal, Reach made an impressive 74 touches whilst completing 40 of his 50 attempted passes for an 80% accuracy return. Moreover, the winger managed two shots on target, including the one which ended up in the Barnsley net, and he provided three key passes for his Baggies team-mates in an 8.1/10 rated performance.

There was also a solid defensive contribution from the 29-year-old, with three interceptions and one tackle.

Having scored five league goals in a relegated Sheffield Wednesday side last term, scoring two for a team with the quality of West Brom will be a serious disappointment for the wide midfielder.

Moreover, whilst at Hillsborough, Reach was the subject of praise from former interim manager Lee Bullen, who claimed that the player “works so hard”.

However, with manager Bruce set to stay on at The Hawthorns, today’s performance from the 29-year-old will hopefully act as a strong audition for a more regular place in the Albion team next term.

AND in other news: West Brom must swoop for “super talented” £25k-p/w ace, he’s way better than Diangana

A huge Rangers update has emerged on goalkeeper Allan McGregor and his future in Glasgow heading into the summer transfer window.

What’s the talk?

According to Football Insider, Ibrox sources have revealed that the Scotland international is set to put pen to paper on a fresh deal with the club ‘imminently’.

The report claimed that both sides are close to reaching an agreement to keep him with the Light Blues next season, with his current contract expiring at the end of next month.

Supporters will be delighted

Gers supporters will surely be delighted by this news, as the veteran’s performances in Europe have been sensational this season.

Although he has struggled domestically for Rangers, the 40-year-old has been a standout in the Europa League and has been crucial to the team’s run to the final. Across 13 appearances in the tournament, he has averaged an excellent SofaScore rating of 7.00.

He has been named in the Europa League Team of the Week twice in that time and saved 73% of shots against him. The shot-stopper has also been able to avoid making a single error leading to a shot or goal, which shows that the Ibrox stalwart of 443 club appearances has been a reliable presence between the sticks for Gio van Bronckhorst.

Therefore, fans will be buzzing with this update, as they will surely want to see him rewarded for his form with the chance to play in the Champions League next season, if Rangers can see off Eintracht Frankfurt in the Europa League final in Seville next week or go through via the qualification phases in the summer.

It is worth stressing, though, that Ross Wilson must bring in a young goalkeeper to challenge McGregor for his position. The Scot has been underwhelming in the Premiership, as he has made three direct errors leading to goals, and only saved 67% of the shots against him in the league.

At this stage in his career, the 40-year-old has not been able to maintain a consistent level of performance across multiple competitions, and that is why a new shot-stopper must be brought in. This will allow Van Bronckhorst to rest the veteran regularly and ensure that the club do not suffer from any of his lapses in concentration, as they have in the league this season.

For now, Rangers fans will surely be happy with McGregor’s new deal and hoping that he is provided with a significant challenge for his number one jersey in 2022/23.

AND in other news, Van Bronckhorst can finally axe £14k-p/w Rangers dud by unleashing “really impressive” 18 y/o gem…