Liverpool are one of three big Premier League clubs interested in signing Brighton midfielder Alexis Mac Allister this summer, according to journalist Fabrizio Romano.

Is Mac Allister impressing this season?

The Reds badly need reinforcements at the end of the season in order to kick on and forget all about their hugely forgettable campaign. Unfortunately, their interest in Jude Bellingham appears to be over, with Borussia Dortmund simply asking for too high a price tag.

It appears as though those high up at the club believe that spending such a large amount on one player and blowing most of their transfer budget doesn't make sense at a time when several new faces are needed in the summer.

One player who could potentially be looking for a fresh challenge once this season reaches its conclusion is Mac Allister, who has been a key man for Brighton this season, scoring eight goals in 24 league starts.

It looks as though the 24-year-old could be on Liverpool's radar, following a new claim.

Could Liverpool sign Alexis Mac Allister?

Taking to Twitter, Romano said that the Reds are battling with Chelsea and Manchester United for the signing of Mac Allister this summer:

"Alexis Mac Allister, expected to leave early this summer — understand there are three clubs in the race: Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester United

"These clubs have approached player’s camp to discuss the project. #BHAFC will decide price tag soon."

Mac Allister could be exactly what Liverpool are looking for moving forward, with the Argentinian having been hailed as a "very intelligent" player by Manchester City legend Sergio Aguero. His aforementioned goalscoring ability from the middle of the park could be such a key addition for Liverpool, with none of their current midfielders even scoring twice in the Premier League this season.

The Brighton man was also an important part of Argentina's World Cup-winning side, starting six of his country's seven matches in Qatar and providing an assist for Angel Di Maria in their triumph over France in the final.

He could give Liverpool the energy and quality that has been missing so badly in midfield during the current campaign, with players such as Fabinho and Jordan Henderson coming in for criticism this term.

Meanwhile, at 24, he is at the perfect age to come in and mature over the next few years. He is someone who could find another level playing alongside superior players and he should be viewed as a key part of the midfield rebuild at Anfield during the summer transfer window.

Wolverhampton Wanderers will take on Crystal Palace this evening in a Premier League clash in which a win could be a monumental step towards securing safety for Julen Lopetegui’s men.

After impressive back-to-back wins over Chelsea and Brentford, Wolves suffered a hugely disappointing defeat at the hands of relegation-threatened Leicester City at the King Power Stadium on Saturday.

However, Wolves still retain a six-point gap between themselves and the drop zone, so a victory tonight would take them above their opponents into 12th position.

Lopetegui is expected to name a rotated team and here is how Wolves' starting XI could look when they take to the field at Molineux this evening.

How could Wolves line up against Crystal Palace?

4-3-3 – Sa; Semedo, Dawson, Kilman, Toti; Nunes, Neves, Gomes; Traore, Podence, Cunha.

Sa will start in goal despite having one of his worst performances against the Foxes last weekend when he unceremoniously apprehended Jamie Vardy to concede a penalty, which Kelechi Iheanacho dispatched.

However, the Portuguese has begun every game this term and this poor display is not expected to deter Lopetegui’s faith in him.

Semedo, Dawson, Kilman, and Toti are to make up an unchanged back four. These were the same defenders who performed admirably in the previous two home league matches that starved Chelsea and Brentford of any goals.

Nunes and Gomes will also keep their places, whilst Neves will replace Mario Lemina. The Gabonese sustained a minor hamstring issue in the last outing and the return of Wolves’ prize asset, club captain, and most influential player seems like a formality.

The £38m-rated star was back on the bench for the Leicester game after serving a two-game suspension.

The biggest changes for this team could appear in the frontline. Daniel Podence was surprisingly dropped from the last lineup and could replace Diego Costa in a rotated attack. The £60k-per-week man is the club’s top scorer with six goals this campaign and has created the second most chances in the squad (39) at a rate of 1.15 per 90, as per BBC Sport.

The diminutive winger has been likened to Eden Hazard by retired Premier League striker Darren Bent, due to his effervescent and dynamic profile.

The final Wolves change will see Traore come in for Pablo Sarabia, to provide some more pace and athleticism on the right wing. The former Barcelona man scored the last time the Midlands club faced the Eagles back in October 2022.

Finally, Cunha, who scored the goal last weekend with a coolly placed finish, will be deployed as the lone central striker.

Aston Villa are reportedly going to join the bidding for Lens forward Lois Openda this summer.

What’s the latest Aston Villa transfer news?

Unai Emery looks set to be backed by owners NSWE ahead of his first full season in charge in the Midlands. Reports have suggested that the manager will be handed a “huge” budget which could see the club’s transfer record smashed.

A new forward was previously top of Emery’s wishlist, however, that appears to have changed due to Ollie Watkins’ fine form under the Spaniard.

It seems as if a new attacker could still arrive at Villa Park ahead of the 2023/24 Premier League season, though, with Openda a new target.

One Spanish outlet shared a transfer update regarding Openda in the last 48 hours. They claimed that Leicester City were one of the first clubs to sow an interest in the player and will make a move over the coming months.

However, as well as the Foxes, Villa and current league leaders Arsenal are “going to join the bid” for Openda and have “enough economic potential to get him out of Lens”.

Who is Openda?

Openda is 23 years of age and is primarily a centre-forward but can also play on either wing if required. The Belgium international made the move to Lens from Club Brugge last summer and has seen his Transfermarkt valuation rocket from €7.5m to a career-high €20m.

He has scored an impressive 17 goals in 31 Ligue 1 games during the current campaign – 11 more than any other Lens player and two more than Watkins. Openda came in for praise from former Brugge manager Philippe Clement, who labelled the forward as “super-fast”.

“He's super-fast but he also has an eye for goal and a will to be decisive. In difficult times, he's someone who remains combative. That's a very important quality in life and as a player.”

You'd like to think that his free-scoring form in front of goal this season as well as his versatility could make him a shrewd signing at Villa Park to rival the likes of Watkins and Jhon Duran next season. It looks as if NSWE are readying their move, so it looks like it will be one to keep a close eye on over the coming months.

Chelsea are genuinely monitoring the signing of Valencia goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili during the summer transfer window, according to a fresh report.

Who is Mamardashvili?

The 22-year-old has established himself as a strong performer for the La Liga side, arguably standing out as one of the best players in the division in his position. He has started 29 league games so far this season and was once described as "amazing" by football talent scout Jacek Kulig.

Valued at £22m by Transfermarkt, Mamardashvili is contracted to Valencia until the summer of 2027, but that doesn't mean a summer move away is out of the question. Chelsea, Tottenham and Manchester United are all clubs who have been linked with signing the Georgian, who has won seven caps for hos country to date.

The Blues haven't looked wholly convincing between the sticks this season, with both Kepa Arrizabalaga and Edouard Mendy struggled to consistently shine, so it could be that a new 'keeper arrive once the summer window rolls around. It certainly looks as though Mamardashvili could be the man to fill the void, following a new update.

Could Valencia star join Chelsea?

Taking to Twitter on Monday, journalist Fabrizio Romano talked up Chelsea's interest in Mamardashvili this summer:

"Georgian goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili, expected to leave Valencia in any case at the end of the season despite contract extension signed few months ago.

"Told Chelsea and Tottenham are just monitoring his development; Leicester met with his agent 10 days ago."

Mamardashvili could be a great addition for Chelsea this summer, coming straight in as first-choice goalkeeper and hopefully acting as an upgrade on both Kepa and Mendy. He now has 53 appearances to his name for Valencia and is a young player who is growing all the time.

While some may point towards a potential lack of experience being an issue, given his age, it is easy to forget that Petr Cech was also only 22 years of age when he joined the Blues back in the summer of 2004.

Mamardashvili is now an established figure playing at the top level, and his ability to play the ball out from the back could appeal to whoever Chelsea's new manager ends up being, not to mention his impressive all-round game. The towering 6ft 6in Georgian has a presence that the Blues' current options arguably lacking, and they should look at him as a good option to sign at the end of the season.

توفي أسطورة كرة القدم الألمانية ونادي بايرن ميونخ، فرانز بيكنباور، بعد صراع طويل مع المرض، عن عمر يناهز 77 عامًا.

القيصر كما كان يلقب، ولد في ميونخ عام 1945، ولكنه كان بعيدًا عن ممارسة أي نشاط خلال الفترة الماضية بسبب المرض، بعدما أصيب قبل كأس العالم في قطر العام الماضي بأزمة صحية في عينه ولم يتمكن رؤية أي شيء بعينه اليمنى.

بيكنباور يُعرف بالليبرو التاريخي في كرة القدم، بعدما فاز بكأس العالم كلاعب في 1974، وكمدرب في عام 1990، وبطولة أمم أوروبا كلاعب أيضًا في 1972، وحصل أسطورة بايرن ميونخ على كرتين ذهبيتين في 1972 و1976.

طالع أيضًا.. بايرن ميونخ يشعر بالقلق تجاه مشاركة مزراوي في كأس أمم إفريقيا

بيكنباور صنف ضمن أفضل لاعبي كرة القدم في القرن العشرين، بجانب مارادونا وبيليه وكرويف، وأوزيبيو ودي ستيفانو وبوشكاش.

ظهر لأول مرة مع بايرن ميونخ في عام 1964، واعتزل كرة القدم مع نيويورك كوزموس في عام 1983 بالولايات المتحدة الأمريكية.

كان بيكنباور قائدًا لفريق بايرن ميونخ الأسطوري الذي كان يضم جيرد مولر وأولي هونيس وسيب ماير من بين آخرين، وزامل بيليه في نيويورك كوزموس، وصنع التاريخ في نهاية مسيرته للنادي الأمريكي بثلاث بطولات.

فاز بيكنباور بكل البطولات الممكنة مع بايرن ميونخ ومنتخب ألمانيا، بعدما قاد مع الماكينات 103 مباريات، قبل أن يقودهم لمونديال 90.

حصد بيكنباور خمسة ألقاب دوري ألماني، وأربعة كؤوس وكأس أبطال أوروبية مرة واحدة، وثلاثة كؤوس أوروبية على التوالي، وإنتركونتينتال مرة واحدة، بالإضافة لبطولة أوروبا وكأس العالم 1974.

فيما يتعلق بالجوائز الفردية، فاز بيكنباور أيضًا بكل شيء “كرتان ذهبيتان، وثالث أفضل لاعب في القرن العشرين” وفقًا للاتحاد الدولي للتاريخ والاحصاءات، وفريق الأحلام لكأس العالم تاريخيًا من الفيفا.

Referee John Busby seemed to have made a big mistake in the most recent Sunderland match as he awarded a dubious penalty against the Black Cats.

What's the latest on the penalty against Sunderland?

Playing away against West Bromwich Albion, Tony Mowbray and co did their hopes of securing a promotion play-off spot a big boost on Sunday afternoon.

Indeed, Sunderland climbed into the Championship top six as they came from behind to win at The Hawthorns thanks to two second-half goals from Dennis Cirkin.

The task for the Black Cats was made all the more difficult, however, when referee Busby pointed to the spot on the brink of halftime when John Swift hit the deck after a slight brush with Luke O'Nien.

As seen in the official Sky Sports highlights package (0:33), the West Brom man hits the deck without much actual contact.

Did John Swift dive against Sunderland?

Journalist Josh Bunting certainly seemed to think the officials got this one wrong. Indeed, he made his feelings known on Twitter.

The football writer wrote: "If that’s a penalty you’re giving a number of them in the same match, Swift is already going down without contact. There is very little contact there if even any.

"That’s a dreadful decision, absolutely awful error. But with the EFL officiating I am not surprised it’s been given."

While the co-commentator on the highlights seemed to feel similarly, saying: "John Siwft, I think they buy this because there isn't any contact."

All in all, it certainly was a dubious decision at best but with no VAR in the Championship to help overturn the decision, the penalty stood.

In the end, it still wasn't enough to put away Sunderland who did brilliantly to fight back and claim all three points on the road.

After the game, manager Mowbray certainly seemed delighted with the win, telling BBC Sport: "We've had some great away days this season – and this was another one.

"We were brave on the ball. It's nice to see so many of our young lads trying to play football the right way.

"We controlled the game for long periods. And you can see they're enjoying it.

"This is a good football team with real talent. If you preach the right messages to them, then they get it."

The Black Cats are back in action again this Saturday when they play host to Watford at the Stadium of Light.

Sheikh Jassim submitted a world-record bid of more than £5bn to take control at Manchester United on Friday evening, Sky Sports report.

When did Jassim make his final offer for Man United?

Jassim, who previously made two bids for the Red Devils, has always been confident of completing a takeover. It was previously believed that his third offer could be in the region of £4.5bn, but it seems as if it has broken the £5bn barrier.

Sky Sports reporter Kaveh Solhekol shared an update from Manchester United shortly after the deadline, confirming that Jassim’s bid was placed just before 10pm.

He said that a “significant” part of the bid is that Jassim still has finance available to improve Erik ten Hag’s squad as well as make changes to the infrastructure, with people close to Jassim “convinced” their offer is the best one.

“The bid went in very close to the deadline, just a few minutes before 10pm. It is a world-record bid, we believe it is worth just over £5bn.

“People close to Sheikh Jassim have been telling me today and also this evening, they are convinced this is the best bid for Manchester United.”

Jassim and Sir Jim Ratcliffe?

As well as Jassim, Sir Jim Ratcliffe also placed a final bid at Old Trafford, with the two appearing to be the main frontrunners to take control from the Glazers.

The ball is now firmly in the court of the current owners, and there is expected to be a quiet few days in the process. According to Ben Jacobs, no decision will be made over the weekend, although there is confidence that things can move quite fast in May.

Ten Hag may well be hoping that is the case with the transfer window just around the corner, and with Jassim looking at signing players such as Neymar and Jude Bellingham, he could be hoping the Qatari group are successful.

Arsenal are set to be without defender William Saliba for the trip to the Etihad Stadium to take on Manchester City this Wednesday, amid fears about serious structural damage being caused to his back.

What's the latest Saliba injury news?

Saliba has been unavailable for the Gunners' last five Premier League matches, as a result of a back injury, meaning bit-part player Rob Holding has been given the nod in defence.

There were initial hopes the £40k-per-week Frenchman would be able to return in time for Wednesday's huge game against Man City, with the Daily Mail reporting he had returned to training, and was willing to risk aggravating the issue by playing through the pain barrier.

However, the same publication now report the 22-year-old is set to miss his side's trip to the Etihad Stadium, as he has "serious structural damage" in his back, and Mikel Arteta does not want to risk causing a long-term injury.

There is doubt about whether the defender will even be able to feature again this season, such is the severity of the issue, despite the fact he is desperate to play, with his side currently in the race for the title.

With Arsenal pushing for top spot for the first time since 2004, they have considered taking the risk of starting their centre-back, but he will miss the upcoming game against Pep Guardiola's side at the bare minimum.

How much will Arsenal miss William Saliba?

The 6 foot 3 colossus' importance to the team has been evidenced by the Gunners' recent defensive issues, having failed to keep a clean sheet in their last five Premier League games, conceding three against a struggling Southampton side.

Holding has been very disappointing since coming into the side, with journalist Uche Amako labelling him as a "clear weak link" in the Arsenal backline after a subpar performance against West Ham United.

Arteta will be extremely disappointed Saliba will not be available for such a monumental game, having been hailed as "amazing" by Emmanuel Petit earlier this season, however it would be unwise to risk aggravating the injury, which could potentially rule him out for the remainder of the campaign.

The Arsenal boss has a big decision to make on Wednesday night, as Holding has not impressed, but he is very short on other options, with back-up player Jakub Kiwior playing just 14 minutes worth of Premier League football this season, and it would be a risk to start the Pole against the reigning champions.

Rangers pundit Michael Ball has been left thrilled amid reports that Championship midfielder Kieran Dowell is closing in on a move to Ibrox.

What's the latest on Dowell to Rangers?

The Canaries star is being heavily linked with a move to Glasgow as Michael Beale allegedly plots a major summer overhaul, with many first teamers out of contract this month.

Rangers could see a plethora of squad members depart before the summer begins, and after a lacklustre campaign, it is imperative that work begins soon to prepare for next season.

Arch rivals Celtic are on the cusp of a potential domestic treble with the gap between them and Rangers growing wider.

Rangers must strengthen in key areas, especially with the likes of Ryan Kent nearing exits, and the Scottish Premiership giants could be closing in on their first signing.

According to reports, Dowell has already completed a medical ahead of his proposed move up north as Rangers inch ever closer to his capture (Football Insider). This comes after Beale's side reportedly gave the green-light for his team to make a move.

The Daily Record have also backed that Dowell has shaken hands on a three-year Rangers deal with the club close to finalizing his capture, and speaking to the same outlet, pundit Ball has been left thrilled after hearing this news.

He explained:

“It’s a huge opportunity for Kieran to step up and show he can play for a huge club like Rangers.“He deserves his chance having racked up a number of successful loans while at Everton. He should have got more games at Goodison had Everton not wasted so much cash bringing in big players under the new owner.“Before Moshiri came to the club, Everton were successful in promoting youngsters into the first team.“He went to Nottingham Forest and they were keen to keep him. Everton didn’t want to sell at that stage and he went on a few more loans but ultimately Kieran decided it just wasn’t going to happen for him at Goodison and he had to move on to get the games he needed.“But he’s now getting that reward with this move to Rangers on the horizon.”

What could Dowell bring to Rangers?

The 25-year-old has been brilliant at Carrow Road under David Wagner, and on a free deal, he could come as an excellent like-for-like Kent replacement.

Chipping in with eight goal contributions in England's second tier this season, he has been a fixture in Wagner's midfield and could well replicate that solid form under Beale.

Now that Norwich are out of contention for promotion, Dowell could find a new lease of life north of the border and help to bridge the gap between Rangers and Celtic.

Tottenham Hotspur should let Davinson Sanchez and Clement Lenglet leave the club this summer, but it would make sense to offer Eric Dier fresh terms, according to talkSPORT pundit Gabriel Agbonlahor.

What's the latest news involving Lenglet and Sanchez?

It appears as though Tottenham are keen on signing Lenglet on a permanent deal this summer, with Sport reporting they have entered negotiations with Barcelona, over a potential deal that could end up being worth €20m (£18m).

Sanchez will have one year left on his contract this summer, however it would not be a surprise if the defender left the club, as he is now open to an exit, having recently been booed by Spurs fans after being substituted in the 3-2 defeat against Bournemouth.

With it recently emerging the Lilywhites are set to offer Dier a new three-year contract, Alan Hutton indicated that fans will not be happy with the club's decision, however Agbonlahor believes he may be worth keeping, at least as a back-up option.

In an interview with Football Insider, the pundit said: “It’s a tough decision because he has some good games, but he is also capable of some really poor performances.

“It’s easy to see why Spurs fans want Dier, Sanchez and Lenglet out of the club. You can understand the frustration.

“But the club might not have the budget for two new centre-backs, so it might make sense to keep Dier on a new contract.

“But if you look at Arsenal with Gabriel and Saliba, and other teams with reliable centre-backs – you understand that frustration.

“He’s better than Sanchez and Lenglet, so you might look to keep Dier as a squad player and get rid of them – but they’ve got to sort out some new blood in defence this summer.”

Should Tottenham let Sanchez and Lenglet leave?

Tottenham have struggled considerably in a defensive sense this season, having conceded a total of 45 goals, so it is evident they will need to bring in some new options this summer, which means Sanchez and Lenglet should be allowed to leave.

It is strange that Spurs are in talks with Barcelona about Lenglet, as the Frenchman has been very unimpressive since arriving on loan, with Jamie O'Hara describing him as an "imposter" back in February.

Sanchez has also been way below par, which is indicated by the fact he has mainly been utilised as a substitute this season, despite the Lilywhites' issues in defence, making a total of just 15 Premier League appearances.

Although Dier has been criticised at times, he has averaged a 6.95 match rating in the top flight this term, which ties him with Cristian Romero as the joint-best performing defender at the club, and he should be kept as a back-up option next season.