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Chelsea are on the hunt for midfield reinforcements this summer and now a fresh update has emerged on a potential transfer target who could be the perfect alternative to Moises Caicedo.

What's the latest on Chelsea's interest in Tyler Adams?

According to The Times (as relayed by The Daily Mail), the Blues are now interested in signing Leeds United midfielder Tyler Adams this summer.

As per the report, the London giants have added Adams to their shortlist of alternatives should they be unable to secure the signature of the Brighton and Hove Albion star this summer, with Mauricio Pochettino intent on bringing in new additions to bolster the midfield presence at Stamford Bridge.

Read the latest Chelsea transfer news HERE…

How good is Tyler Adams?

The departures of Mateo Kovacic, Mason Mount and N'Golo Kante this summer have significantly weakened the experience and quality in midfield ahead of the upcoming Premier League season, so bringing in much-needed reinforcements will likely be the top priority for the new Chelsea boss.

The West London club couldn't maintain their high expectations over last season, finishing 12th in the Premier League, struggling to make an impact on the European stage and failing to qualify for Champions League football, meaning there is a real opportunity for Pochettino to focus on domestic competition and the squad rebuild.

As a result, the signing of Adams could be a great piece of business for Chelsea this summer and would present a much cheaper alternative to their top target Caicedo who has an ever-rising £100m price tag, whereas the Leeds star is believed to have a much cheaper £20m relegation release clause, according to The Athletic.

Despite being relegated with the west Yorkshire outfit last season, Adams was a stand-out performer in the Leeds squad executing a hard-working attitude, sound leadership skills and outstanding defensive strengths in the centre of the pitch, all of which will be attractive attributes to Pochettino in his search for the right midfield additions.

As per FBref, the USMNT captain ranked in the top 17% of his positional peers in the Premier League per 90 minutes for tackles won, percentage of dribblers tackled, blocks, interceptions, ball recoveries and percentage of aerial duels won, proving that he is a valuable asset in the deep defensive midfield role.

Not only that, when comparing the 24-year-old's output to Caicedo's last season, the pair came close in a number of key attributes including pass completion (82.5% v 88.5%), progressive passes (5.68 v 6.28), tackles (3.27 v 2.87), interceptions (1.46 v 1.61) and aerial duels won (1.04 v 1.06), per 90 minutes played.

Adams has been the recipient of high praise over his first season in the English top-flight due to his positive performances in the disjointed team at Elland Road, with TEAMtalk journalist James Marshment outlining the midfielder's leadership qualities:

"Tyler Adams – a lion on the pitch; a dignified, intelligent, humble and politically savvy person off it. He'll go a long way that lad."

With that being said, if Pochettino is looking to bolster Chelsea's defensive presence on a stricter budget, there is no doubt that Adams would be a worthy alternative to Caicedo this summer.

Manchester City have made a “fresh” approach for Lyon forward Bradley Barcola, and a reliable journalist has shared the club’s stance on a deal taking place.

Who is Bradley Barcola?

Barcola, primarily a right-winger, is an academy graduate at the Groupama Stadium having worked his way up through the various youth ranks to get promoted to Laurent Blanc’s first team back in January 2022, and since that time he’s gone on to make a total of 44 senior appearances to date.

The France youth international still has another three years to run on his contract in his homeland, but having established himself as the Ligue 1 outfit’s third best-performing offensive player last season, he’s grabbed the attention of Pep Guardiola and chiefs at the Etihad.

According to 90min, the Sky Blues regularly scouted the 20-year-old during the previous campaign, and after being hugely impressed by the talent they saw on offer, have reportedly identified him as an ideal replacement for Riyad Mahrez who left last month to join Saudi Pro League side Al-Ahli in a £30m move.

Are Man City signing Bradley Barcola?

Taking to Twitter X, Gianluigi Longari revealed that Man City have taken their initial interest in Barcola one step further by holding preliminary discussions with Lyon to discover what it would take to bring him to the Premier League before the end of the transfer window. He wrote:

“Fresh contact between Manchester City #MCFC and Olympique Lyon #OL for Bradley #Barcola. He’s one of the City’s target.”

How good is Bradley Barcola?

Man City have reportedly seen an opening £70m offer for West Ham United’s Lucas Paqueta turned down, but with outlets claiming that a second bid is being prepared, Barcola could be following in the formerly mentioned player’s footsteps to put pen to paper with the reigning champions should negotiations continue in a positive manner, and what an exciting double move it would be.

Lyon’s £6k-per-week earner has posted 19 goal contributions (12 assists and seven goals) in 44 senior outings at his club, not to mention that last season he ranked in the 94th percentile for attacking touches in the opposition’s penalty area, highlighting his desire to create chances for himself and his fellow teammates in the final third, and this form saw him receive three man-of-the-match awards from WhoScored.

The Villeurbanne native, who has been dubbed an “elite” player by talent scout Jacek Kulig, also has the versatility to operate everywhere across the frontline and even on the left side of the midfield, so he would give the manager great flexibility when it comes to choosing his formation and team selection should he want to include several different players altogether.

Finally, Barcola shares the same agent, Gestifute, as Ederson, Ruben Dias, Joao Cancelo and Bernardo Silva, as per Transfermarkt, so this existing connection that his representative already has to the club could them a potential small advantage should they decide to continue pursuing a deal for the attacker in the closing stages of the summer market.

The door could well be open for Tottenham Hotspur to strike a deal for Japanese international, Daichi Kamada, following the midfielder's recent exit from Eintracht Frankfurt.

What are the latest Tottenham transfer rumours?

According to 90min, the Lilywhites have reportedly been offered the chance to land the free agent this summer following the collapse of his proposed move to AC Milan, with the north Londoners – as well as Newcastle United – having been 'informed' about the 26-year-old's situation.

As per the piece, the 6 foot sensation – who has been without a club since coming to the end of his contract at Frankfurt last month – had reached an agreement regarding a move to San Siro, albeit with subsequent changes to the hierarchy at the Serie A outfit leading to the club pulling out of a deal.

This follows reports in Germany that revealed Tottenham's interest in the former Sagan Tosu man heading into the January transfer window, following the playmaker's impact at the World Cup in the winter.

Who is Daichi Kamada?

The 29-cap dynamo notably started all four games for his country during their run to the last-16 in Qatar, having also impressed in the Bundesliga last term after scoring nine goals and chipping in with six assists from his 32 league outings.

Prior to that, Kamada had been part of the Frankfurt side that claimed Europa League glory during the 2021/22 campaign, notably scoring five goals in 13 appearances in the competition that season, including in the first-leg, semi-final victory over West Ham United.

As journalist Josh Bunting stated back in August, the exciting gem is not only an "incredible talent" but is also simply a "joy to watch", hence why the likes of Spurs and Newcastle have been paying such close attention to him of late.

If Ange Postecoglou is to seal a deal for Kamada ahead of those rival suitors over the coming weeks, the 57-year-old could seemingly find a perfect partner for recent addition, James Maddison in the centre of the park, with the latter man having joined on a £40m deal from Leicester City.

With the ex-Celtic boss likely to utilise his preferred 4-3-3 formation next season which includes two advanced midfielders – or number eight's – then the Greek-Aussie could be able to slot Kamada in alongside Maddison in that system.

Like the Englishman – who notably averaged 1.7 tackles per game in the Premier League in 2022/23 – the Frankfurt machine can also muck in defensively having averaged 1.6 tackles per game last term.

Also lauded as a player with "intelligent movement in and around the box", according to Bunting, Kamada showcased a real desire to get forward and impact proceedings in the final third as he ranks in the top 10% among midfielders for touches in the attacking penalty area, with Maddison sharing that front-foot approach as he ranks in the top 1% in that regard.

The duo are also alike due to their ability to net themselves or tee up others with quality service, with the former Foxes ace – who registered 19 goal involvements in the top-flight last season – ranking in the top 1% for both non-penalty goals and assists, while Kamada is not too far behind as he ranks in the top 5% and the top 15% for those same two metrics, respectively.

To potentially have two players who possess that same attacking and creative intent is a truly exciting prospect as far as Spurs are concerned, with it no doubt set to be a real bargain if Postecoglou can snap up the in-demand asset on a free.

It proved to be a summer of change for Tottenham Hotspur, with the most notable departure having been the sale of club record goalscorer, Harry Kane, following the Englishman's £100m move to Bayern Munich.

The 30-year-old goal machine was followed out the door by fellow academy graduate Harry Winks who sealed a £10m switch to Championship side, Leicester City, while Davinson Sanchez was another remnant of the Mauricio Pochettino era to have moved on permanently, joining Galatasaray for a reported fee of £12.8m.

Aside from a raft of further loan departures – including Djed Spence following Joe Rodon to Leeds United – the north Londoners also saw diminutive forward, Lucas Moura move on to pastures new after just over five years on the books at N17.

The experienced Brazilian had originally been snapped up from Paris Saint-Germain back in January 2018, although the 31-year-old was sent packing this summer with chairman Daniel Levy making a sizeable loss on his initial investment.

How much did Tottenham pay for Lucas Moura?

The fleet-footed speedster had caught the attention of Levy and Pochettino following his standout form in France at the Parc des Princes, having racked up 94 goals and assists in 229 games in all competitions for the Ligue 1 giants.

That impressive, trophy-laden spell in Paris persuaded Spurs to fork out around £23m in order to bring the winger to England, with the winter arrival tasked with providing further firepower alongside the likes of Harry Kane and Heung-min Son.

While not always a regular fixture of the side over the next few years, Moura did cement his "cult hero" status – as per pundit Paul Robinson – following his remarkable hat-trick against Ajax to fire the club to a maiden Champions League final in 2019.

That stellar showing came as a significant high point in an otherwise mixed spell in north London for the 5 foot 8 enigma, as he was never able to truly kick on from that thrilling night in Amsterdam.

How much did Tottenham sell Moura for?

On reflection, it would appear that the 2018/19 season was as good as it got for the 35-cap international in a Tottenham jersey, as he scored 15 goals in all competitions, including bagging ten goals in 32 league appearances.

Following on from that standout season, Moura would remarkably score just ten top-flight goals across the next four seasons combined, having perhaps suffered as a result of the sacking of Pochettino in November 2019.

The winger's woes were particularly evident in his final season at the club as he failed to start a single league game under Antonio Conte and co, with it somewhat perplexing that Levy did not agree to sanction his departure last summer – amid reported interest from the likes of Newcastle United and Aston Villa.

As it proved, the Lilywhites ultimately allowed the misfiring marksman to leave at the end of his contract back in June, with the club unable to recoup any of their initial investment in the former PSG man.

There may be those who believe that the forgotten figure should have been allowed to depart far sooner amid his slide down the pecking order, with the 2018 transfer having perhaps not quite gone as expected, despite Moura's haul of 39 goals and 27 assists in 221 games in all competitions.

Chelsea are expressing "concrete interest" in signing Flamengo youngster Matheus Franca this summer, according to a recent update from journalist Fabrizio Romano.

Who is Matheus Franca?

The 19-year-old is a bright young prospect in his homeland of Brazil currently, making a name for himself at Flamengo with his attacking quality.

Franca has already scored nine goals in 53 appearances for his current club, invariably taking up an attacking midfield role but being capable of playing deeper or even further forward in attack, and he is also a six-time capped Brazil Under-16s international.

Chelsea are seemingly set to have plenty of competition in any potential move for the teenager, as Newcastle United have been backed to snap him up in the near future, with a move to the Premier League clearly on the cards.

A new update suggests that the Blues are now at the front of the queue to snap up Franca, however, as Mauricio Pochettino looks to bring in the right players during the summer transfer window, hitting the ground running after officially coming in as manager over the weekend.

Are Chelsea close to signing Franca?

Taking to Twitter, Romano confirmed Newcastle's interest but said that Chelsea are genuinely interested in signing Franca this summer, with talks set to take place this week, in order for a move to be sealed before others can swoop in:

"Chelsea are showing concrete interest in Brazilian talent Matheus França as per Mail — he was on Newcastle radar in January. Understand there’s still no official bid but talks will take place this week with Flamengo. Negotiations will be around €20/25m fee."

While Franca may not yet be a household name in the English game, there is no doubt that his arrival could be met with excitement, considering the flair and unpredictability that so many young Brazilian footballers can possess, whether it be Ronaldinho, Neymar or Vinicius Jr down the years.

The Blues are also set to sign his compatriot Angelo Gabriel this week, so the club's hierarchy clearly have a focus on building a real fresh dawn for their new manager to work on long into the future. France is someone with a high ceiling who could develop into a real force eventually, but if he does join Chelsea, he should be given time to adjust to his surroundings and get used to the pace and physicality of the Premier League, rather than be expected to be an instant hit.

In Pochettino, the hope is that the Blues have someone who is an expert at dealing with youngsters, as was the case at Tottenham with Harry Kane and Dele Alli at the time, for example, and if the manager sees Franca as an ideal target, he has to be trusted in the transfer window by Todd Boehly.

The Brazilian has been hailed as a "great finisher" by coach Fabio Matias – an attribute that felt lacking at Stamford Bridge too often last season – but he has described so many aspects of his game, too, saying: "He has many important aspects to his game. In addition to technical and tactical ability, he has a very good understanding of the game. That makes him stand out because he interprets spaces well. The most talented players have an understanding of space and how to manage that."

Tottenham Hotspur have scheduled talks tonight to re-sign defender Clement Lenglet, and Barcelona see it as a "magnificent opportunity" to finally sell.

Who are Spurs signing next?

Goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario, young centre-back Ashley Phillips, defender Micky van de Ven, playmaker James Maddison, winger Manor Solomon and striker Alejo Veliz have all officially put pen to paper on moves to Spurs this summer.

They follow on from permanent deals for right-back Pedro Porro and Sweden international Dejan Kulusevski, with Rosario Central striker Alejo Veliz being the latest confirmed arrival at N17.

Lilywhites head coach Ange Postecoglou, speaking to the press recently, also confirmed that there should be more activity to come – as Spurs hunt for another defender and look to offload fringe squad members.

“It's not done yet," said Postecoglou.

"We need bolstering in that central defensive area. We need defenders who can work in an aggressive formation, defend well & behind them. We'll be looking to bring in a couple in that area in the coming days."

On potential exits, the Spurs boss has said that certain players will be looking for new opportunities – drawing attention to Tottenham's "bloated" squad.

It's fair to say our squad is too big at the moment," explained Postecoglou.

"There are guys who will want to explore opportunities elsewhere. I'm not involved in that. I think we'll see some movement out in the coming weeks.”

Lenglet, who spent last campaign on loan at Spurs from Barca, has been repeatedly linked in the past week and some reports even suggest he is prioritising a second stint in north London.

The 28-year-old coming back to N17 is, potentially, a very realistic possibility as a report by Spanish newspaper Sport (via Sport Witness) share an update on the matter.

Both Tottenham and Barca chiefs, during tonight's friendly match at the Estadi Olímpic Lluis Companys in Catalonia, have scheduled a summit and fresh round of talks over Lenglet's transfer.

The La Liga champions, for their part, see this as a "magnificent opportunity" to finally finalise the defender's sale and rid themselves of his hefty wages.

There is a price named as well, as Sport claim the potential move could amount to a small €5 million (£4.3m), a fee which may rise to €15m (£12.9m) if add-ons are met.

After tonight's meeting, further developments are expected.

What's been said about Clement Lenglet?

Spurs pundit John Wenham, speaking to Football Insider last season, heaped praise on the former Sevilla star after a solid north London derby outing against Arsenal.

Wenham said Lenglet appeared in the mould of a "very reliable" player who could be called upon to do a solid job as part of Tottenham's defence.

“I just wanted to give credit because I think his performance went a little bit under the radar. I have been impressed with him so far," said Wenham on Lenglet.

“The fact he has instantly come in for Ben Davies and we don’t look any weaker, that is a huge credit to him really.

“He’s a new signing to the Premier League, I know he has a lot of experience from Barcelona and with France but he already seems very reliable, like we could drop him in for any fixture.“

Saturday evening confirmed several things for Tottenham Hotspur.

One, Harry Kane's £100m transfer to Bayern Munich is not the world-ending scenario some have feared.

And two, manager Ange Postecoglou's freshly implemented system tantalises an exciting, refreshing new chapter for the club.

Dispatching Manchester United 2-0 after opening the seasonal account with a battling 2-2 draw against Brentford at the Gtech Community Stadium has hinted that goals and points will flow this term, but there remains space, unequivocally, for a new forward.

Richarlison has led the line for the opening two matches, whilst young striker Alejo Veliz, aged 19, has penned a £13m deal from Argentinian outfit Rosario Central.

What's the latest on Ernest Nuamah to Tottenham?

According to Football Insider, Spurs are preparing a formal offer for Danish side FC Nordsjaelland's teenage forward Ernest Ernest Nuamah, with the Daily Mail claiming he is rated at £22m.

Read the latest Tottenham transfer news HERE…

Premier League rivals Burnley, Brighton & Hove Albion and West Ham United are also interested, so Postecoglou and co will have to act swiftly and incisively to secure his services this month.

How good is Ernest Nuamah?

The dynamic Ghana sensation, who can play across both wings and centrally, has started the 2023/24 campaign with aplomb, scoring four goals and providing one assist from four matches in the Danish Superliga.

Still only 19 years of age, this follows an impressive breakthrough season where Nuameh plundered 15 goals and four assists from 34 matches for Nordsjaelland across all competitions.

Profiling the youngster, his former manager Flemming Pedersen said:

“Ernest is first and foremost a dribbler. He is incredibly fast, has a huge acceleration, and a good agility. He is primarily left-footed, but can also use the right. He is a great individualist with tremendous power, who has great potential to also become a skilled team player.”

While he is not naturally a forward, preferring to utilise his blistering speed and force as a forward-surging vehicle out wide, Nuamah, who has also been dubbed the "Ghanaian Flash" by talent scout Jacek Kulig, boasts an average Sofascore rating of 7.53 in the league this term, having complemented his prolific return with two shots per game and a crisp pass success rate of 83%.

Given his ability to flourish both wide and as a centre-forward, Nuamah could prove to surpass Richarlison's presence with the Lilywhites, with the Brazilian forward only scoring three goals and supplying four assists from 37 outings since completing a £60m transfer from Everton in July 2022.

The 44-cap international only managed to record a score of 6.73 across 21 Premier League appearances last season, taking just one shot per game and completing 73% of his passes.

With Kane gone for pastures news, Richarlison might feel he has a new lease of life under Postecoglou's wing, and while he has indeed started the first two games this year in the talismanic role, an average rating of just 6.5, taking one shot each match, hardly evokes confidence following a disappointing introduction to life in north London.

Nuamah might be young and inexperienced, but he looks to be a true talent and if he can retain his cutting edge with a move to Postecoglou's project, Tottenham might unveil the perfect new attacking outlet to cement a starring role, surpassing Richarlison.

Leeds United scout Alex Davies was in the stands for Preston North End vs Coventry City on Tuesday amid links of a move for Viktor Gyokeres.

The Lowdown: Gyokeres links

The Whites have been heavily linked with a move for Coventry forward Gyokeres in recent months. Reports following Javi Gracia’s arrival at Elland Road claimed that the club are plotting a move to sign the 24-year-old regardless of what division they find themselves in next season as they think he could be a key addition.

Gyokeres, hailed by his manager Mark Robins for his “unbelievable” power and technique, has scored 15 Championship goals this season and can play anywhere across the front three.

The Latest: Davies in attendance

Jordan Webber, who appears on Swans Cast Media, took to Twitter on Tuesday evening to say that Swansea’s chief scout, Lee Maybury, was at Deepdale for Preston vs Coventry.

Davies, who first mentioned Ben White’s name to Victor Orta, was also on that list to presumably cast a further eye on Gyokeres.

The Verdict: Disappointing display

Gyokeres struggled to back up a match-winning display on the weekend against Sunderland, with the game against Preston finishing goalless.

The Sweden international had an evening to forget, as per SofaScore, ending with a match rating of 6.4/10. He gave possession away 23 times, lost 13 of his 17 duels and failed to register a shot on target.

He was Coventry’s second-worst starter on the night, so Davies may have come away with some reservations about the forward, so it’ll be interesting to see if Leeds make their move in the summer.

Leeds United have already bolstered their backline considerably this summer, yet there remains one more addition they could make to truly forge a formidable defence once again…

Is Taylor Harwood-Bellis leaving Manchester City?

Ethan Ampadu and Karl Darlow marked fine additions to kickstart Daniel Farke's reign, but he will still be far from comfortable going into the new Championship campaign, which gets underway this Sunday.

He will want to build for the future, whilst also ensuring that their Premier League absence is considerably shorter than their last.

In an effort to achieve both of these feats in one fell swoop, the reports linking them with a move for Taylor Harwood-Bellis should have fans thrilled, especially after the exceptional past year the young defender has enjoyed, which has led to such widespread interest.

Read the latest Leeds transfer news HERE…

With Manchester City set to command just £15m for his services, such a deal would represent a no-brainer for the promotion-chasing Whites seeking to put themselves in the strongest position to succeed this season.

How good is Taylor Harwood-Bellis?

To once again raid the Etihad for talent would be to repeat a thorough success of the past, given Jack Harrison was a famous export from the Sky Blues who has gone on to shine at Elland Road.

Despite only joining permanently in 2021, the 26-year-old has featured 206 times for the club due to his near-three-year loan spell, as a mainstay under every boss that has passed through in recent terms.

Although his form might have waned for periods, he has remained one of the few consistent quality assets at the Yorkshire outfit, with his figures seldom letting the side down.

Just last season saw him post 12 goal contributions in the league as they fell to the drop, building on the eight goals and one assist he recorded the year prior. To emphasise his longevity at the club, he even notched 14 goal contributions during their last promotion.

There is no doubting his quality, which Marcelo Bielsa sought to showcase in 2021:

"He’s a player who, when he manages to play at his best version, he has a big influence on our offensive game".

To think, the English trickster was signed for just £11m, marking yet another coup that they could be set to emulate with Harwood-Bellis.

The 21-year-old centre-back has most recently enjoyed a standout year on loan at Burnley, featuring 32 times in the league as they walked to the Championship title.

His 7.21 average rating was the second-best among Vincent Kompany's players, and was buoyed by his 85% pass accuracy, 1.8 interceptions, 1.1 tackles and 3.1 clearances per game, via Sofascore.

Then, after adding one piece of silverware to his cabinet, he then captained the England U21 side to the European Championship, winning the tournament without conceding a single goal.

He truly is a formidable leader, with the figures to suggest he could even surpass Harrison's legacy should he grow into the player his potential suggests he might.

Tony Mowbray, who enjoyed his services whilst at Blackburn Rovers, helped to outline the bright future in question further:

"Taylor has a defensive instinct, a warrior attitude and he’s someone who wants to win headers and tackles. He wants to engage, he’s composed on the ball and has a lot of really good attributes."

If Harwood-Bellis can realise even half the potential that he is gathering with his ever-improving performances, then he would not just emulate but demolish the success enjoyed with their signing of Harrison from City.

Liverpool enjoyed an impressive summer of transfer business as they overhauled their midfield options in order to bounce back from a disappointing 2022/23 campaign.

The Reds failed to win any major trophies last season and finished outside of the top four, in fifth place, as they missed out on Champions League football this term.

Jurgen Klopp's side are currently competing in the Europa League, due to their struggles last year, and the German head coach will be hoping for a swift return to the continent's elite competition for the 2024/25 campaign.

The former Borussia Dortmund tactician clearly identified his midfield as an area of the squad that needed surgery as the likes of Naby Keita, Fabinho, Jordan Henderson, and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain all moved on from Anfield over the summer.

This opened the door for Dominik Szoboszlai, Alexis Mac Allister, Ryan Gravenberch, and Wataru Endo to come in and compete for a place in the middle of the park, alongside Curtis Jones and Harvey Elliott.

Szoboszlai and Mac Allister, in particular, have been outstanding additions to the squad and Liverpool played a blinder with the latter as they brought in a proven Premier League performer who could hit the ground running.

Liverpool transfer news – Douglas Luiz

The Reds could now replicate that masterclass by swooping for another player who has already showcased their quality on a regular basis in the English top-flight – Douglas Luiz.

TEAMtalk reported at the end of last month that Liverpool are one of a number of clubs interested in a deal to sign the Brazilian maestro during the upcoming January transfer window.

The outlet claimed that Premier League rivals Manchester City and Arsenal, who both finished above Klopp's side last term, are also eyeing up the impressive whiz to bolster their own midfield options.

It is said that the Villans do not want to lose their star player in January and that it would take a fee within the region of £80m to even make them consider a deal.

TEAMtalk added that Pep Guardiola, who had Luiz on City's books prior to his move to Villa, is a big admirer of the central midfielder and that Liverpool believe he suits what they need in the middle of the park.

It was also claimed that Tottenham Hotspur have previously held an interest in his services but it remains to be seen whether or not they are ready to rejoin the race for his signature.

The report did not, however, state whether or not Liverpool are prepared to firm up their interest with an official approach for Luiz, or if they would be willing to meet Villa's £80m demand.

If the Reds were able to snap him up in January, though, then the club could repeat the blinder they played with Mac Allister earlier this year.

Alexis Mac Allister's season in numbers

The Argentina international was signed from Brighton & Hove Albion over the summer after his impressive season for club and country last term.

Starts

Six

Goals

One

Assists

One

Big chances created

Two

Pass success rate

89%

Ground duel success rate

67%

As you can see from the table above, Mac Allister played a crucial role at the 2022 World Cup as his side went on to win the famous trophy – with Lionel Messi captaining them to glory in Qatar.

The central midfielder did not allow that to detract from his club form for Brighton, though, as he played 35 Premier League matches and contributed with ten goals and two assists.

Liverpool then secured his services in a deal that could rise up to £55m and the talented whiz has enjoyed a strong start to life at Anfield.

The 24-year-old wizard has not showcased the best of his attacking qualities – with one goal and one assist in the league – but has been an excellent defensive presence in front of the back four.

Mac Allister has produced 3.7 tackles and interceptions per game for his side and currently ranks first within the squad for tackles (2.4) and joint-first for interceptions (1.3) per match.

This suggests that the World Cup winner, who has made 6.6 ball recoveries per game, has been an outstanding defender for Liverpool this season as their main ball-winner on the pitch to cut out opposition attacks.

Whilst there is more to come from Mac Allister in terms of his attacking contributions, the former Brighton star has hit the ground running, thanks to his prior Premier League experience, as a superb midfielder for Klopp.

Douglas Luiz's season in numbers

The Brazil international has been in sublime form for Villa so far this season in the English top-flight and could, therefore, follow in the Argentine talent's footsteps in 2024.

Unai Emery's side are currently fourth in the division and competing to land a spot in next season's edition of the Champions League, and Luiz has been a pivotal cog in their well-oiled machine.

The 25-year-old star has played 14 Premier League matches and caught the eye with his contributions in and out of possession from midfield.

Luiz has produced five goals – four more than any Liverpool midfielder has managed – and two assists for his team in those 14 outings.

He has created three 'big chances' for his teammates and made 1.2 key passes per game, which would place him fifth within the Reds squad.

The former Manchester City prospect has also impressed onlookers with his defensive qualities. He has made 2.4 tackles per game for the Villans, which would place him joint-first in the Liverpool squad alongside Mac Allister.

Luiz, who was hailed as "transformed" by pundit Gabriel Agbonlahor last year, has also made 6.4 ball recoveries per outing and has showcased his strength in midfield with a duel success rate of 59%, which shows that opposition players do not get the better of him with ease in physical contests.

His form this season has come off the back of his return of six goals and six assists, along with 3.1 tackles and interceptions per match, in 37 Premier League appearances for Villa during the 2022/23 campaign.

The Brazilian maestro is, therefore, a proven top-flight performer who would not need a period of adaptation in England and could hit the ground running in midfield in the same way that Mac Allister has, if Liverpool can snap him up in January.