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It’s the news that all Liverpool fans have been waiting for, as transfer guru Fabrizio Romano has given his much-anticipated thumbs up regarding the Reds’ move for Darwin Nunez.

What’s the word?

Writing on Twitter, the respected journalist gave the all-important “here we go” announcement to all but confirm the 22-year-old’s switch from Benfica to Anfield, with the suggestion that the Premier League outfit are set for a “meeting” on Sunday morning.

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After weeks of speculation, it would appear that Jurgen Klopp is now nailed on to get his man, as Romano revealed that: “Liverpool are now closing on Darwin Núñez deal, here we go! Meeting in the morning with verbal agreement in place between Liverpool & Benfica, just waiting to sign. €80m plus €20m add ons fee.

“Liverpool are preparing paperworks. Five year contract, already agreed.”

That deal would likely see the Uruguayan become the Merseysiders record signing, surpassing the £75m paid for Virgil van Dijk in 2018, with the club seemingly having won the race for the striker’s signature ahead of bitter rivals, Manchester United.

Supporters will love it

That latest update will be music to the ears of the club’s supporters, with it now looking as if the £31k-per-week marksman will be a Liverpool player next term, adding further firepower to an already star-studded forward line.

Having seen long-time title rivals Manchester City move swiftly and decisively to secure the signing of Borussia Dortmund machine Erling Haaland, Klopp and co are set to hit back with their own statement, early addition, with Nunez potentially set to soften the blow of the impending departure of Sadio Mane.

Even with the Senegal international potentially heading for the exit door, the FA Cup winners still have the likes of Diogo Jota, Mo Salah, Roberto Firmino and January arrival Luis Diaz in tow, making them firm contenders to challenge for major honours again next term.

Throw Nunez into that mix and not only will the Champions League finalists have even further depth, but they will also have the out-and-out centre forward that some quarters have been crying out for in recent years, even though they have enjoyed success without one.

There may be concerns at spending such a hefty fee on a player who has largely enjoyed only one standout campaign in his senior career thus far, although his prolific form in that most recent season illustrates that the Anfield outfit will have a real talent on their hands.

The £49.5m-rated predator hit 34 goals in all competitions in what was a stellar 2021/22 campaign for the Portuguese side, notably netting twice against the Reds in the Champions League quarter-finals to catch the attention of what look set to be his future employers.

The one-time Almeria youngster showed in that two-legged clash that he can be a real handful for even a usually watertight defence – Klopp’s men having only shipped 26 goals in the league last term – with hopes that he can be the man to end City’s title dominance in the coming years.

Supporters will no doubt be praying that Nunez can be the difference-maker next term as Liverpool plot to usurp Pep Guardiola’s relentless side at the summit.

IN other news, Klopp now plotting Liverpool bid for “dangerous” £34m talent, just imagine him & Nunez

Transfer insider Fabrizio Romano has revealed that West Ham are now in ‘talks’ to bring Rennes defender Nayef Aguerd to the Premier League during the summer transfer window.

The Lowdown: Moyes’ second time lucky

The Moroccan first joined the Ligue 1 outfit from Dijon in 2020 as he put pen to paper on a four-year deal with the Brittany club, making 80 appearances during his two years there.

Even though the 26-year-old’s current contract with Bruno Genesio’s team isn’t set to expire until 2025, his impressive performances have caught the eye of David Moyes, who made a move for the centre-back last summer but failed to prise him away from Rennes.

Fast forward 12 months, though, and it now looks highly likely that the Scot may be about to capture his target.

The Latest: Romano drops ‘talks’ claim

In a new post on Twitter, Romano confirmed that negotiations for Aguerd are “progressing” and that West Ham are very close to striking an agreement for the 26-year-old.

He wrote: “West Ham are now getting closer to reaching full agreement with Rennes for Nayef Aguerd, negotiations progressing.

“Talks are underway – final details about add-ons then the deal can be completed.”

The Verdict: Defensive cover needed

West Ham suffered massively from injuries this season, with Issa Diop, Angelo Ogbonna and Kurt Zouma all having long spells on the sidelines, so it comes as no surprise to see Moyes looking for cover in the centre-back department, and Aguerd could be the perfect candidate.

The 6 foot 3 colossus averaged four clearances and 5.6 long balls per league game for Rennes this term, via WhoScored, showing his ability to not only get stuck in at the back but also provide opportunities for his attacking team-mates at the opposite end of the pitch.

A long-time admirer of the Moroccan, the Hammers boss must now be buzzing to be so close to a deal for Aguerd, who would appear to be an ideal addition to Moyes’ squad ahead of the 2022/23 season, when the Irons can look forward to an exciting campaign in the Europa Conference League.

In other news… a journalist has reacted to news linking West Ham to this ‘interesting’ transfer target

Manchester United have been heavily linked with a move for Villarreal defender Pau Torres in recent months and if the Spaniard were to arrive at Old Trafford, it could be the perfect chance for Erik ten Hag to axe Harry Maguire.

Recent reports say that Torres’ move to Manchester is gathering pace, as the Red Devils target defensive reinforcements following a season which saw them concede 57 goals in the Premier League, more than the likes of Brighton, Brentford and relegated Burnley.

Although it is difficult to blame one man for United’s defensive horror shows, Maguire’s mistakes were often a serious cause for concern, with data suggesting that he held the unnecessary record of most errors leading to goals in the Premier League last season.

Therefore, if ten Hag wants to turn United into contenders again, then he arguably needs to axe the England international from his starting side next season.

Reports have already claimed that the new Dutch manager plans to strip the former Leicester City man of the captaincy at Old Trafford, while further reports suggest he could be out the door altogether.

That may be seen by many United fans as a step in the right direction, but a more reliable option than Victor Lindelof and Eric Bailly needs to be brought in to partner Raphael Varane.

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Torres could be the ideal man after excelling in Spain for Villarreal in recent seasons. The 25-year-old made 33 appearances in La Liga last season for Unai Emery’s side, averaging a solid 6.86 rating from WhoScored for his performances.

He was also a regular as the Spaniards reached the semi-finals of the Champions League, so has plenty of experience playing at the elite level.

Former United man Owen Hargreaves was full of praise for the centre-back last season, saying:

“He’s a fantastic player. I’m quite surprised he’s still at Villarreal. English teams were looking at him.

“I think everyone was talking about Man United and even Real Madrid, I think his potential is literally that high.

“He’s got a fabulous left foot, he’s great in possession. A fantastic player so I don’t think he’ll be at Villarreal very long.”

Torres reportedly has a £56m release clause in his Villarreal contract and if United do decide to pay it and bring him to Old Trafford then you would expect him to be a regular starter.

That could be the catalyst for the club finally getting rid of Maguire for good.

And, in other news… Ten Hag must swoop for £56.5m-rated sensation, he’s got “no weaknesses”

An update has emerged on Newcastle United and their pursuit of Juventus gem Adrien Rabiot heading into the summer transfer window…

What’s the talk?

According to Corriere Dello Sport, via Sport Witness, the Magpies are one of the clubs eyeing up a deal to sign the central midfielder ahead of the 2022/23 campaign.

The report claims that he is set to be available for a fee in the region of €15m (£13m) as the Italian giants are willing to part ways with him in the coming months.

Chelsea and the Toon are said to be the two Premier League teams leading the race to land his signature, although Arsenal have been credited with an interest in the past.

Newcastle’s own Paul Pogba

Eddie Howe can land his own version of the Manchester United midfielder by signing the Old Lady gem this summer.

Italian legend Gianluigi Buffon once compared Rabiot to his fellow French international, saying: “He is a fantastic mix, he has the physical strength of Pogba, who is like a wardrobe, has the personality of Vidal and potentially the dynamism of Marchisio. He is incredible, extremely strong.”

Pogba, who is leaving Old Trafford this year, has played at the top level throughout his career as he has represented Manchester United, Juventus and France. In over 400 games for club and country, he has averaged 2.6 tackles and interceptions and 1.3 key passes per game.

Rabiot, meanwhile, has also played for Juventus and France – along with PSG – and has caught the eye with his displays in the middle of the park. In over 300 games for club and country, the 27-year-old has averaged 3.4 tackles and interceptions and 0.5 key passes per game.

These statistics show that he is not as creative on the ball as his international teammate but has been able to win the ball back for his side more regularly. This aligns with Buffon’s comments about them sharing physical strength as an attribute as both players have proven that they can get stuck in to win possession for their teams.

Rabiot has also averaged a career WhoScored rating of 7.03 and this proves that he is an excellent performer at the top level. He has shown that he can handle the pressure of playing in major competitions; in Ligue 1, the Serie A, the European Championships, and the Champions League, and Newcastle must now bring him in to be their own physical central midfield option like Pogba is for club and country.

AND in other news, PIF plotting record-breaking NUFC bid for £60m gem who’s “all pace”, Howe needs him…

Reports last month suggested that Newcastle United had offered Sean Longstaff a new four-year deal, and lo and behold, he put pen to paper earlier this week, penning what was actually a new three-year deal at St James’ Park.

That previous report had suggested that the academy graduate had ‘sought assurances’ over his playing time under manager Eddie Howe – hence the initial delay in any negotiations – but he does now have a future under the former Bournemouth boss.

Howe had indicated that he wanted the 24-year-old to stay at the club beyond the end of the season – with his past deal set to expire in just over a month – but fortunately, he now has his wish.

The North Shields-born ace made just 15 Premier League starts in the 2021/22 campaign, although that is the same as he managed in the previous season, having failed to really establish himself in the side under both Steve Bruce and his successor.

The 5 foot 11 star had initially burst onto the scene during the 2018/19 season, making nine top-flight appearances and reportedly catching the attention of Manchester United, who were linked with a hefty £50m bid in the summer of 2019.

Longstaff – and teammate Isaac Hayden – had also earned praise from Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola in that debut season in the first team, with the serial-winning coach stating that his side “could not deal with” the midfield pairing after succumbing to a 2-1 defeat at St James’ Park.

Such displays had seen then-boss Rafa Benitez tip the youngster for an England call-up, although the Spaniard’s subsequent departure – and frustrating injuries for the player – have stunted his progress, with a Three Lions bow now seemingly a long away off.

Nevertheless, the £11.7m-rated man is clearly a valuable asset – having been dubbed “immense” by Chronicle Live journalist Charlie Bennett – with the club possibly now forming a dream duo in the middle of the park.

There will likely be another raft of high profile incomings this summer as PIF look to realise their lofty ambitions, although having a local lad in tow also remains important, ensuring that the spirit of the club is not lost in the coming years.

Newcastle already have Bruno Guimaraes in their ranks but they could add positively to their midfield options in the shape of Jesse Lingard this summer too.

The Magpies very nearly signed the Manchester United attacking midfielder in January but a deal fell through. However, his contract is expiring this summer and there is no sign of a new deal on the table with Newcastle linked again.

Thus, the future of Howe’s midfield could very much look like a Longstaff, Guimaraes and Lingard triumvirate, something that would no doubt spark intrigue and fear in opposition team’s up and down the country.

Longstaff’s renewal, therefore, is not just for sentimental reasons. He has also performed impressively on the pitch of late, ranking in the top 4% for tackles made among midfielders across Europe’s top five leagues and in the top 13% for pressures made.

He may not be a glamour name, but Longstaff deserves to be a key part of Howe’s squad for the years to come and must be unleashed more regularly next term.

IN other news, Signed for £20m, now worth £9m: Ashley had a howler on “struggling” £50k-p/w NUFC dud 

Wolves rounded off their 2021/22 Premier League season with a 3-1 defeat to Liverpool having taken the lead in the third minute through Pedro Neto.

Goals from Sadio Mane, Mohamed Salah and Andy Robertson secured the comeback for the Reds as defeat condemned Wolves to a tenth place finish in the Premier League, having spent plenty of recent weeks in eighth.

Eyes were on Bruno Lage’s side to see whether or not they could play a part in the title race with their opponents in need of a victory as well as Manchester City dropping points against Aston Villa to be crowned Champions of England.

However, Pep Guardiola’s side sensationally scored three goals in five minutes to go from 2-0 down to 3-2 leaders as City secured a fourth Premier League title in five seasons.

Although Wolves couldn’t cause a shock at Anfield, it was, at times, a spirited performance from Lage’s men.

However, what has been a poor end to a decent campaign was rounded off with another defeat, with midfielder Joao Moutinho quiet on what could potentially be his final appearance for the West Midlands outfit.

The 35-year-old’s contract at Molineux is set to expire next month, although Lage has confirmed that the Portuguese veteran wants to stay at Wolves.

At Anfield, the midfielder lost all of his four attempted duels whilst losing possession nine times having made 52 touches, an average of once every 5.8 touches.

Moreover, Moutinho failed to make a single tackle as well as making just one interception and clearance whilst being dribbled past twice.

A decision now has to be made by the hierarchy at the West Midlands outfit regarding the future of the veteran with Lage undoubtedly keen to build on his first season in England and make Wolves genuine contenders for European football next term.

Whether or not that involves extending the midfielder’s contract will be a decision made by Jeff Shi and Fosun in the near future.

However, rounding off the campaign with one win in nine matches will certainly be a major disappointment for Wolves who will strive for improvement come August.

AND in other news: Great news: Huge Wolves transfer development emerges; supporters will be ecstatic

Rangers have scored 77 goals in their 37 SPFL games this season, making Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s men the second-highest scoring side in the top flight.

One player that has been a rather prominent attacking figure at Ibrox for the Gers is Ryan Kent.

In 24 league appearances, the winger has scored two goals and provided 11 assists along the way.

To further highlight how dangerous the Englishman has been in this campaign, no other Rangers player has averaged a higher number of dribbles per game than Kent (2).

Looking ahead to the upcoming summer transfer window, this could give the Ibrox outfit the chance to sign one player, in particular, that could go on to form a deadly attacking duo with the 25-year-old.

Back in April, it was reported that Rangers are one of the clubs interested in signing Sunderland striker Ross Stewart this summer.

After spending time with St. Mirren and Ross County, the striker joined the Wearside club in the 2021 January transfer window in a deal worth a reported fee of £300k.

Since then, the 25-year-old has scored 28 goals in 64 appearances for the Black Cats across all competitions.

To further highlight how much of a dangerous centre-forward he is, only three other players have racked up more shots on target than Stewart (56) in the entire league.

Labelled as a player “who never gives up” by Kevin Phillips, Stewart could be an ideal summer signing for Rangers as they will be aiming to take the SPFL title off their Old Firm rivals Celtic.

This would also give Gers manager Giovanni van Bronckhorst the chance to create a scary attacking pair at the top of the pitch between the Sunderland hitman and Kent.

With the winger’s talent for creating goalscoring opportunities for his side and Stewart’s impressive ability to put the ball in the back of the net, this could be just what Rangers need to bolster their attack and launch another title charge.

Moving forward, with Sunderland in the mix to gain promotion to the Championship, should the Wearside club fail in their attempt this time around, Rangers should definitely make a move to bring their star striker back to Scotland for a chance to bring the SPFL title to Ibrox again.

In other news: Big worry: Rangers dealt huge injury setback ahead of UEL final, GvB will be sweating

Rangers fans will have the opportunity to watch the Europa League final in a fan viewing area at a separate stadium in Seville, but the news has left some members of the Ibrox media bemused.

The lowdown

Rangers are due to face Eintracht Frankfurt in the Spanish city on Wednesday as they look to clinch the first major European trophy in their history.

It’s the club’s first continental final since the 2007/08 season, when they lost 2-0 to Zenit St Petersburg in the UEFA Cup showpiece.

It’s no surprise, then, that supporters are expected to flock to Spain in large numbers. The game will be held in Sevilla’s Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan stadium, which can hold 40,000 spectators.

Rangers have announced that supporters who don’t have tickets for the match will be able to watch it at a screening event at the nearby Estadio La Cartuja, which has a capacity closer to 60,000.

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The latest

Heart & Hand, Rangers media partners and podcasters, offered their reaction to the development on Friday.

They called it ‘bizarre’ that the fan viewing arena is actually larger than the final venue and admitted that ‘UEFA logic’ had left them baffled in this instance.

The verdict

One report has estimated that 100,000 of the club’s supporters will be descending on Seville, even though UEFA has strongly advised ticketless fans not to make the trip and warned against the risk of counterfeiting.

It’s worth stressing that Rangers have been allocated only around 25% of the seats in the Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan Stadium (10,000). A further 13,000 spots will be up for grabs in a public ballot, but around nine thousand appear set to go to UEFA partners.

It’s clear that they could have filled out a far larger stadium or indeed a larger allocation with relative ease.

In other news, this Rangers star will leave on one condition. 

Liverpool could sign Bayern Munich star Serge Gnabry in a swap deal with Sadio Mane this summer, according to Sky Germany’s Florian Plettenberg.

The Lowdown: Mane linked with exit

On Monday, Mane was linked with a surprise exit in the summer transfer window, with Bayern believed to have spoken to his representatives over a possible move.

The Senegalese superstar is out of contract at Liverpool in 2023 and the Bundesliga giants see him as a primary transfer target, especially with Robert Lewandowski potentially moving on.

Another key aspect of this update is also doing the rounds, though, now suggesting Liverpool may not be looking just for cash…

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The Latest: Gnabry to come in?

According to Sky Germany’s Plettenberg, Liverpool are considering a swap deal with Mane and Gnabry, bringing in the Bayern winger as their current superstar’s replacement.

The former Arsenal man has enjoyed an impressive spell in Germany, scoring 64 goals and registering 40 assists in 170 appearances, as well as winning the Champions League in 2020.

The Verdict: Good player, but no thanks

While Gnabry is an outstanding player in his own right – Rio Ferdinand has hailed him as both ‘phenomenal’ and world-class’ – it would still be preferable for Liverpool to keep hold of Mane.

Granted, he is three years older than the Bayern hero, but he is an incredible physical specimen, meaning he should still be a top-level player well into his 30s.

Mane has only just started to thrive in a new central role under Jurgen Klopp and it would be a huge blow to see him decide to move on now.

If a swap deal did happen however, Gnabry would certainly fit the bill, given his pace, directness and end product, but the hope is that it won’t come to fruition.

In other news, James Pearce has dropped a key Liverpool transfer update. Read more here.

Wolves have been urged to prioritise strengthening the wide positions during the upcoming transfer window by Reach PLC journalist Josh Holland, amid recent reports linking them to Newcastle United forward Allan Saint-Maximin.

The Lowdown: Confirmed interest

According to 90min, the Magpies would be open to selling the 25-year-old this summer, with the Midlands outfit believed to be just one of the clubs interested in his services, alongside fellow Premier League rivals Everton.

The Frenchman won’t come cheap for any potential suitors though, as the Mail on Sunday have claimed that Eddie Howe’s side are looking for a fee in the region of £50m for their star man.

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Following the Wanderers’ links with Saint-Maximin, the reporter has suggested that Wolves need to sign some new wingers ahead of the start of next season.

The Latest: Impressive opposition display

When asked during an interview with GiveMeSport if the club needs to strengthen out wide in the summer, Holland said:

“Yeah, of course. I think they’ve got to. Looking at their squad, you’ve got [Pedro] Neto, [Daniel] Podence, [Francisco] Trincao and Hwang [Hee-chan]. But would you say that all four of them have had a telling effect in this season? I wouldn’t say so.

“Saint-Maximin, I think we all know, is such a good player to watch. He gave Wolves so many problems [last month]. It was more like a trial game for him; it had the feeling that he was trying to impress Wolves.”

The Verdict: Traore replacement

Bruno Lage hasn’t yet found a suitable replacement for Adama Traore, but the highly-rated talent could prove to be the perfect candidate for such a role.

Whilst the £93k-per-week ace hasn’t probably been as prolific as he would have liked this season, scoring just five goals and registering four assists, he has still proven to be an absolute handful for defenders in the final third, averaging 4.3 dribbles, 1.9 shots, and 1.4 key passes per league game, via WhoScored.

Dubbed as being “unplayable” by BT Sport pundit and former Newcastle man Rob Lee, Saint-Maximin might just be the attacking profile of player that Wolves need to add to their squad ahead of next season to aim for that European finish.

In other news… Wolves have been backed to sign a ‘special’ Premier League star this summer.