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Sky Sports presenter Joe Thomlinson has insisted on the Football Daily YouTube channel that Kim Min-jae would be a statement signing for Newcastle United this summer.

The Lowdown: Summer recruitment will be key

Newcastle were unable to bolster their squad sufficiently in the January transfer window with one eye on going bigger in the summer, but if they miss out on the top four, they may need to readdress their transfer strategy.

The Magpies have also not been helped by injuries and suspensions to key players, with the likes of Bruno Guimaraes, Joelinton, Joe Willock and Fabian Schar all missing games of late.

If Newcastle want to become a serious competitor at the top end of the Premier League, they will certainly need to recruit some top-class players this summer to take the next step, as there are still several players in their squad who have been in and around the team for a long time now.

The Latest: Kim Min-jae could be an upgrade

Despite Schar and Sven Botman forming a solid partnership, the former is on the wrong side of 30, and Thomlinson believes signing an eventual successor in the form of South Korea international Kim could be a statement of intent from PIF.

Discussing who Newcastle should sign in the summer, he said: “I don’t know whether it’s actually achievable but I’m putting forward Kim Min-jae at Napoli, who, of course, has the release clause that becomes active for six weeks of the summer at about the £40m mark.

“I just think he’s an incredibly gifted centre-back and if Newcastle are being punchy, he’s the type of player who takes them to the next level, a statement signing at centre-back.

“I know he’s playing on the left for Napoli, but he is right-footed so you hope he’d be able to play on the right with Botman on the left. I think if Newcastle beat out a Manchester United or a top team on the continent to Kim Min-jae’s signature, I think a lot of people would be like, ‘wow, that is a big, big signing for them’.

“So, I think more of a statement name but he is incredible. It’s going to be hard to get him out of Napoli.”

The Verdict: Newcastle will look to improve the league’s best defence

While Schar and Botman have done well together this season as they’ve been at the heart of the meanest defence in the Premier League, the Switzerland international is coming off the back of a concussion in recent weeks and is not getting any younger.

Therefore, signing his replacement while he is still capable of being a starter would be smart recruitment from Newcastle and Eddie Howe so that they aren’t left with a problem area when Schar does start to drop off.

We feel Kim would be a top signing judging by the way the South Korean has taken to life in Italy as he looks on course to lift the Serie A title this season, but if the Magpies wish to land him, they’ll have to act quickly in the summer to activate his release clause before teams such as other potential suitors Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United swoop in.

Chelsea midfielder N’Golo Kante is expected to sign a two-year extension on his current deal at Stamford Bridge imminently, according to a fresh report.

The Lowdown: Kante’s future up in the air

The Frenchman has endured a frustrating 2022/23 season for the Blues, with injuries constantly robbing him of playing time under both Thomas Tuchel and Graham Potter.

In fact, Kante has only managed to appear in two Premier League matches throughout the campaign, which are his only outings in all competitions.

At 31, there has been speculation surrounding the midfielder’s future at Chelsea, especially with his current deal expiring at the end of the current campaign.

Some reports have linked Kante with a move away from west London but a new update suggests that he could now be set to extend his stay with the Blues.

The Latest: Two-year extension ‘on the way’

According to Calciomercato, Kante is very likely to sign a new two-year deal at Chelsea ahead of the summer, with the official confirmation ‘on the way’.

Inter Milan and Juventus are noted as potential suitors to sign him in the report, hence the interest from the Italian media, but they fully expect to miss out.

The Verdict: Great news for Chelsea

This has to be considered positive news from a Chelsea perspective, with Kante still an important player even though injuries have clearly become an issue of late, once being hailed as ‘world-class’ by none other than Cesc Fabregas.

The 53-time capped Frenchman is such an experienced head, when fit, with his ability to cover ground so influential, too, and he averaged 2.5 tackles per game in the league in his two games this season.

Granted, Kante may no longer be considered a guaranteed starter for Chelsea, given his age and the fact that Enzo Fernandez has come in – more midfielders are also needed during the summer transfer window – but he can continue to be a great asset for another two years, at which point an exit will make sense.

This is someone with two Premier League titles to his name, not to mention one World Cup and Champions League apiece, and he also won the PFA Player of the Year and Footballer of the Year awards back in 2016/17.

Some may feel that offering an extension to an injury-prone figure is a needless risk, but Kante could remain so important upon his return, proving to be a great foil for the younger players around him.

Barcelona are reportedly considering a Bosman move for Spanish midfielder Aleix Garcia in the summer window to bolster their squad options.

What's the latest on Barcelona's transfers?

Barcelona's financial situation means that they will have to reduce their wage bill massively before making any signings, with midfielder Gavi recently deregistered from their La Liga squad.

Should they make room to bring players in, Xavi is reportedly eyeing up a midfielder who can compete with Pedri and provide depth in attacking midfield.

They have now been linked with Girona midfielder Aleix Garcia, who is out of contract at the end of the season. The 25-year-old has even been described as the best midfielder in the division amid some impressive displays this campaign.

The former Manchester City youngster was once referred to as "special" by Pep Guardiola, and it seems that the Spaniard is living up to his promise.

Reports from media in Spain have indicated that Barcelona, as well as Atletico Madrid and Valencia, are all eyeing up Garcia for a free transfer in what could be one of the bargain deals of the summer.

A move for Garcia has been described as a "great opportunity," and it could prove to be shrewd business for the Blaugrana, although given that Girona have an option to extend his contract for another year, they may be forced to wait.

What would Garcia bring to Barcelona?

The midfielder ranks in the top 2% for shot-creating actions amongst his peers as per FBref, which highlights the level of attacking creativity he could bring to Xavi's side.

He would be able to start in place of Pedri should the 20-year-old be absent. Pedri has already made 104 appearances for the club despite his young age, and having a strong rotational option could help Barcelona compete on all fronts next season.

Given that he is on a contract of just £2.5k-per-week, Garcia would likely not add an extraordinary amount to an already inflated wage bill, and if Sergio Busquets departs, he could even step into his role as a deeper midfielder.

Garcia has provided six assists this season, and he would join as a player with a lot of pedigree in Spanish football under his belt, as he has made over 130 appearances for Girona, Eibar and Villarreal over the years.

He could prove to be a solid long-term option who is also capable of making an immediate impact on the team, at a low cost. If Barcelona can manage to complete a deal, it could be a smart one.

Liverpool are in desperate need of a refresh in the summer after struggling over their current campaign to maintain their high standards and Jurgen Klopp will surely be looking for new additions that could help him bring success back to Anfield next season.

The Reds are currently sixth in the Premier League and have been knocked out of every opportunity to win a trophy this season which has been a testament to the inconsistent and poor performances put on display by the current squad.

Their impressive German coach has reached ultimate success with the outstanding team he has built over the last seven years, however, the time has now come to start thinking about the next generation at Anfield.

Liverpool have already been linked to a number of young players who could make the move to Merseyside this summer, with Jude Bellingham and Mason Mount two household names touted to become the catalyst in the much-needed youth revolution.

Indeed, there will be high expectations for FSG to reach deep into their pockets to invest in solutions to improve the uninspiring and lethargic performances, but the Anfield faithful will be no strangers to the frugal ways of their American owners.

As a result, Klopp could look to the club's academy set-up to further improve his team and add depth in key positions with Kaide Gordon surely hoping to follow in the footsteps of Trent Alexander-Arnold and Stefan Bajcetic next season.

Who is Kaide Gordon?

It is likely that the majority of Liverpool supporters will be familiar with the 18-year-old youth talent due to his participation in the lead-up to the FA Cup victory last season, as he scored his first senior goal against Shrewsbury Town in the third round.

Gordon, who earns just £770-per-week, joined the Merseyside outfit from Derby County back in 2021, quickly becoming an important player for the U18s and U21s as well as earning himself four opportunities to impress Klopp in the senior team and frequently appearing on the bench last season.

The teenage talent has already earned high praise from the Liverpool boss after he became the club's second-youngest goalscorer of all time last season:

"Exceptional pre-season, little drop in form which is normal at his age but an outstanding talent. If he is fit, he is always on my mind. The Shrewsbury game helped a lot, proper adult football, and he dealt with it. It's important."

Despite being most experienced in the right-wing position, Gordon has also been deployed in the attacking midfield role too and just like Harvey Elliott could become a versatile option for Klopp next season, not only adding depth in Mohammed Salah's position but also an alternative to Elliott too.

Over 35 appearances this season, the youngster has been in fine form, proving himself to be equally creative as the aforementioned Liverpool youngster. Indeed, he has scored 15 goals and registered seven assists, indicating that he is a great attacking threat with an eye for goal. That could well be a valuable asset to Klopp next season.

With that being said, the future is looking bright for Gordon and if he can continue to thrive in the youth set-up there is no doubt he will be a player who will be in contention to make a regular step up to first-team football once again.

Tottenham Hotspur once again surrendered valuable points to a relegation-threatened side on Monday, as they let slip their slender lead against the ten men of Everton.

Having struggled for large portions of the game to create chances of real value, they were handed a get-out-of-jail-free card during a ten-minute moment of madness that saw Abdoulaye Doucoure sent off and Michael Keane concede a penalty.

With a numerical advantage and one goal to the good, it was expected that a well-drilled side such as theirs would easily see out the match to earn a vital three points.

But just like weeks earlier at Southampton, they would once again go into self-destruct mode.

Having been subbed on to inject some pace and energy into a front line that had looked sluggish, Lucas Moura's cameo will likely go down as one of the worst in recent Premier League memory.

The Brazilian graced the field for all of six minutes before his nasty late challenge on Keane saw him quickly dismissed. The English defender would then hop up, accept the ball from Ben Godfrey, and unleash a vicious strike past a stranded Hugo Lloris to compound a miserable end to the match for the Lilywhites.

It was a tackle that football podcaster Mayowa Obiagu branded "comical and clueless", although that phrase could apply to most of the team from that night.

Whilst few left Merseyside with credit from Cristian Stellini's side, Moura could well have consigned himself to a summer exit after once again failing to make a positive impact.

Will Lucas Moura leave Spurs?

Ironically enough, much of January saw the 30-year-old linked with a move to Goodison Park as Sean Dyche desperately scrambled for reinforcements.

It was already clear then that he was not in the plans of Antonio Conte, and little seems set to change after such a miserable substitution.

This season the former Paris Saint-Germain winger is yet to make a start in the Premier League, having been limited to two Champions League starts and a lengthy role in their FA Cup exit to Sheffield United. He now has more red cards than goal contributions in all competitions this season.

With just a few months remaining on his £90k-per-week deal, perhaps Daniel Levy will seek to act immediately after such an embarrassing showing, showing him the permanent exit door as soon as possible.

Whoever he should choose to succeed the Italian in the dugout will need heavy backing to purge this squad of their poor mentality. So often they have let themselves down when put under just the tiniest bit of pressure, and Monday night was just a microcosm of such disappointment.

Journalist Josh Bunting took to Twitter to lambast their lack of intelligence in these key moments, as he wrote: "Game management from Spurs dreadful. Have to go and see that game out, Lucas Moura with a dreadful cameo, the mentality in this Spurs team is utterly dreadful."

Moura may act as a lightning rod for such negativity after his brainless decision and subsequent sending-off, but he has seldom offered much for the club anyway.

Fans will always remember his famous hat trick in Amsterdam and will thank him greatly for that contribution, but to force his exit in the summer would hardly draw widespread condemnation. His time is up, and he is now arguably more of a detriment to the club than an aid.

Manchester United have held “positive” conversations over a move for AS Monaco defender Axel Disasi, according to Dean Jones.

What’s the latest news on Disasi and Man United?

The Red Devils have been linked with a move for Disasi in recent weeks, with manager Erik ten Hag seemingly looking to bring in a new centre-back this summer.

Reports suggested that contact was made by United over a possible transfer for Disasi, with Monaco prepared to sell this summer for a hefty fee in the region of £44m. A further update has now emerged regarding the 25-year-old, who is under contract with the Ligue 1 side until 2025.

Jones was talking to GiveMeSport regarding United and a potential move for Disasi. The reporter said that “initial conversations” have been “positive” and said that the defender could be viewed as a “Patrice Evra mark two” at Old Trafford due to the Monaco connection.

"He’s a different sort of player, but Axel Disasi could be viewed as Patrice Evra mark two if he was to come from the same Monaco pathway.

"His ceiling is high, he has as a similar age to Evra when he first arrived at the club and I'm told the initial conversations over the past couple of months have been pretty positive around this one.”

Could he be Man United’s Virgil van Dijk?

Disasi has seen his Transfermarkt valuation rise to a career-high €25m prior to the World Cup, and the France international could be a shrewd signing by those at Old Trafford.

That’s because there could be some defensive departures in Manchester over the coming months, with Ten Hag reportedly giving the green light to possible exits for both Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelof.

Should they depart, Ten Hag would surely need a central defensive addition to challenge Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez, with Disasi an experienced option at the age of 25 after making 120 senior appearances for his current employers.

He has been described as “dominant” by football talent scout Jacek Kulig, who even compared him to Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk back in 2020. The 6 foot 2 defender has also impressed during the current campaign, making more interceptions and clearances than any of his Monaco teammates while also topping the charts for average passes per game, as per WhoScored.

It could well be one to keep an eye on over the coming months following this claim from Jones, with United also looking to bring in a new midfielder and forward ahead of Ten Hag’s second season in charge.

Despite Mikel Arteta signing players in the calibre of Gabriel Jesus, Oleksandr Zinchenko and Martin Odegaard in recent seasons for Arsenal, it has arguably been the capture of goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale which has proved to be the most integral, especially in terms of long-term stability.

He joined in 2021 from Sheffield United for a fee that could potentially rise to £30m and so far, it has been a worthy investment.

This season, the Englishman has kept 12 clean sheets from 30 Premier League matches and makes 2.5 saves per game – at a success rate of 75% – suggesting he is in top form as the club chase the title.

Only last weekend did the England star showcase his importance to the club, making two miraculous last-gasp saves against Liverpool to deny Mohamed Salah and Ibrahima Konate from scoring a winner.

If Ramsdale gets injured, however, Arteta’s options aren’t too appealing with Matt Turner struggling for game time.

The sale of Bernd Leno, therefore, particularly for such a low price has to be questioned a tad.

How much did Bernd Leno cost Arsenal?

The German ‘keeper was signed by Unai Emery for a fee of £19.2m with the new manager looking to assert his own stamp on the team.

He became the first choice between the posts at the club over the next three seasons, keeping 34 clean sheets across 117 appearances in what was a transitional period for the Gunners.

When Ramsdale joined in 2021, his opportunities grew less frequent, making just eight appearances across all competitions that term, and it was clear he wasn’t going to be the main choice for the 41-year-old heading forward.

The 31-year-old subsequently moved to Fulham for just an initial £3m, which was a significant loss for the club. They will, at least, make another £2m after Fulham stay up but just how the Cottagers managed to prise him away at such a low cost is remarkable.

On his departure, the former Bayer Leverkusen shot-stopper was praised by writer Jason Soutar, saying: “Bernd Leno was actually class on his day and a wonderful servant to the club. I’ll never forget his double save against Spurs and that save against Lukaku last season.”

This high praise perhaps suggests Arteta suffered a howler by not only letting him go too quickly but also for such a small fee.

Of course, Ramsdale is doing extremely well for the north Londoners and this is unlikely to change, however losing money on players is not something Arteta wants to make a regular habit.

Leno has found a new lease of life at Craven Cottage this term, making 28 appearances in all competitions and with their solid Premier League showing, it proves that he still has what it takes to succeed.

Arsenal's prestigious Hale End Academy is a seemingly non-stop producer of top-quality talent. Bukayo Saka and Emile Smith-Rowe would be the first to step forward and testify to that.

With Jack Wilshere also manning the U18s squad now, he is a man who knows exactly what it takes to burst through into the senior team and take an opportunity with both hands.

One of the latest success stories to do just that has been Folarin Balogun, who had scored goals for fun in the youth setup. Having been sent out on loan for some senior exposure, few likely expected the England youth international to enjoy such a fine goalscoring run in Ligue 1.

The forward has established himself as one of Europe's hottest young prospects, and as such is seeking a first-team spot to continue that development. Few would want to return to the bench after the campaign he has enjoyed.

The Athletic's David Ornstein had reported that an Emirates exit did appeal to the 21-year-old, should he not get his wish of a starting place, and this summer could mark his opportunity.

Whilst the Gunners would likely earn a huge financial benefit from the sale of such a talented youngster, it once again leaves a void for the next big star to fill. Although far from an out-and-out number nine, Marcelo Flores is one who could go under the radar but might be next in line.

Who is Marcelo Flores?

The Mexican youngster, who moved to north London in 2019, already boasts a stunning three appearances for his national team. This is before the 19-year-old has even been granted an appearance for Arsenal's first team.

It is this pedigree which already makes him such a red-hot prospect and suggests that Balogun's legacy could quickly be expunged with his potentially stunning emergence.

This season the teenage sensation has enjoyed a first full campaign within the senior game, featuring on loan for Real Oviedo. Although just one assist in 13 games might suggest a poor year, the club's president, Martin Pelaez, has been quick to defend the wide man.

He claimed:

"Marcelo is a player with a lot of potential, he’s 19 years old, I see him as having the quality to continue in Europe. He has a lot of room for improvement, he has a great future, he is extremely professional, with an incredible mentality, he has all the conditions to continue in Europe.

“We hope he continues to grow, he has talent, youth, professionalism, he has a great future with us."

This comes a year after the speedster had recorded six goals and two assists in 11 U18 Premier League games, and a further five goal contributions in just ten Premier League 2 appearances. Clearly, the forward is a cut above the youth level.

With Balogun's sudden emergence after a tough prior loan in the Championship, perhaps Flores will see the progression of his former teammate and seek to emulate it. There is no rush to become the next big thing, but the fearless youngster who is already a full international has all the pieces in place to become it.

Leeds United have deployed chiefs to watch Strasbourg striker Habib Diallo ahead of a potential move to the Premier League, according to reports.

What's the latest on Diallo's future?

The Whites have Rodrigo out of contract at the end of next season and both Patrick Bamford and Wilfried Gnonto are expected to be sold during the upcoming window should they get relegated, so if that turns out to be the case, Javi Gracia will need to enter the market to find suitable attacking reinforcements, and the 27-year-old has been identified as a potential ideal candidate.

The Senegal international has spent the last three years with Frederic Antonetti's side in Ligue 1 making 98 appearances to date, and his form this season has been particularly eye-catching being the top-performing offensive player and second overall with a WhoScored match rating of 6.97, so despite his contract not expiring until 2025, he's gained himself an admirer in Yorkshire.

According to Football Insider, Leeds are "among" a host of clubs in the Premier League that are "interested" in signing Diallo ahead of the 2023/24 term. The Elland Road outfit are "on the lookout" for a new striker and "sent club scouts" to assess the forward during Strasbourg's 2-1 defeat to Lyon on Friday evening. West Ham United, Leicester City, Crystal Palace, Aston Villa and Burnley, who have already sealed their promotion back to the top-flight, also "dispatched" their chiefs to the same game.

Strasbourg "understand" that it will be a hard task to retain the services of their key player and as a result are "resigned" to losing him should they receive "appropriate" bids during the upcoming window. His agent, Mark McKay, has also been given the green-light by the club to offer him to interested suitors.

Should Leeds submit an offer for Diallo?

Leeds won't yet know how much they'll be able to spend in the summer or exactly how much it will cost to prise Diallo away from Strasbourg, but should a deal be affordable to complete, the hierarchy should definitely table an offer to test the waters with their target having been lauded "quality" by Metz's former coach Vincent Hognon.

Predominantly a centre-forward but also with the versatility to play out wide on both the left and right flanks, the £10k-per-week gem has 17 goals to his name in 32 Ligue 1 appearances this season and has recorded a total of 71 shots since the start of the term which is higher than any other of his fellow teammates, as per FBRef, not to mention that he's also collected four man-of-the-match awards during that time.

Finally, Diallo shares the same agent as Weston McKennie, Adam Forshaw, Brenden Aaronson, Sam Greenwood, Luis Sinisterra and Crysencio Summerville, so this existing representative connection could potentially give the Whites an advantage over their fellow competitors in the race to secure his services this summer.

Everton have just four Premier League games left to save their season and avoid their first relegation from the top tier of football since 1951.

The Toffees are currently one point deep in the relegation zone after failing to pick up a victory in their last seven outings and it is clear that Sean Dyche needs to re-evaluate his team selection ahead of their remaining fixtures.

The former Burnley boss had a bright start at Goodison Park which looked to put Everton in a great position to comfortably survive their second consecutive relegation battle, however, over the last month, the new manager's magic has well and truly worn off.

Dyche made several tweaks to the team upon his arrival at the end of January, which has seen Conor Coady become an outcast, whilst the likes of Michael Keane and Abdoulaye Doucoure have been given a second chance to revive their careers on Merseyside.

Indeed, the return of Keane was met with mixed emotions following his "awful" as per Connor O'Neill- defensive performances last season. However, at first he was a breath of fresh air alongside James Tarkowski in the centre-back partnership, scoring a phenomenal long-range strike against Spurs.

Unfortunately, much like Dyche's impressive start, the defender's performances have been questionable in recent weeks, with the Toffees conceding a whopping 11 goals in their last five Premier League meetings.

Should Yerry Mina start for Everton?

Whilst Keane cannot be completely blamed for the downward spiral Everton have found themselves in this season, continuing to play a defender who is consistently showing they are not up to scratch could be the catalyst in the club's potential relegation to the Championship in the coming weeks.

In his most recent calamitous display against Leicester City on Monday night, the 30-year-old dud – branded "pathetic" by journalist Ryan Taylor last term – was dribbled past twice, lost possession of the ball 16 times and lost nine duels, as well as giving away a penalty to the Foxes just before half-time for a blatant handball in the box.

As a result, there is no doubt that Keane should be dropped in a time where there is now no room for error. Instead, Dyche should deploy Yerry Mina alongside Tarkowski for the remainder of the season.

The £120k-per-week Colombian has been rarely seen in the starting XI this season due to numerous injury issues, however, it is without question that Mina is a solid centre-back who could significantly improve the defensive performances given the opportunity.

Despite only making three league appearances this season, he is the second highest-rated player in the entire Everton squad – according to SofaScore – and it's not hard to see why when reflecting on the huge presence he provides when on the pitch.

The 28-year-old – dubbed a "monster in the air" by Lutz Pfannenstiel – has scored one goal and tallied up a 90% pass completion rate, as well as averaging three tackles, three clearances and winning a whopping 6.3 duels per game, proving that he is dominant and looks after the ball both in possession and when distributing it to his teammates.

With that being said, deploying Mina in the important centre-back role could ultimately be a tweak to the team that saves them from leaking even more goals and in a position to earn vital points over the next few crucial weeks for Everton.