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Arsenal seem to be closing in on their fourth signing of the summer, with this relative unknown sure to play a big role in the future of the club…

Who are Arsenal signing this summer?

The latest on their pursuit of Brazilian talent Bitello comes courtesy of 90min, who suggest that the Gunners are continuing their pursuit, working on a deal to tempt him from Gremio.

It is noted in the report that they are confident of securing the move, with the touted £8.5m fee a nominal one given how free-spending Mikel Arteta has been thus far this window.

Negotiations are ongoing, with the player also said to be keen on a move to north London despite the various interest across Europe.

His signing would supplement the earlier additions of Kai Havertz, Jurrien Timber and Declan Rice, which have put them in a far greater position to topple Manchester City in the coming season.

Who is Bitello?

There is a good reason why the 23-year-old maestro is so sought-after, given his recent starring campaign within the Brasileiro Serie A. He announced himself as one of the division's top performers despite his youth, suggesting a bright future for such a classy midfield ace.

His entrance into the Emirates could coincide perfectly with the earlier exit of Granit Xhaka, which has left a huge creative void in the engine room.

His £21.4m move to Bayer Leverkusen was felt heavily by a fanbase who had enjoyed a rollercoaster experience with the Swiss international, eventually coming to love the man they once booed.

This was largely encouraged due to his stellar 2022/23 year, in which his creativity from deep helped to spearhead their unlikely title charge.

The 30-year-old would maintain a 7.05 average rating in the Premier League, upheld through his seven goals, seven assists, 1.3 key passes and 0.9 tackles per game, via Sofascore.

He was everywhere, and deservedly earned praise from his manager following the conclusion of the campaign: "He’s been exceptional. A key part of the success of the team and I’m so happy that everybody is appreciating what he’s done. He’s had an exceptional season."

To replace that will be a tough task, though Bitello has already showcased his possession of the key attributes that made Xhaka so effective.

Standing at 6 foot in stature, just one inch shorter than his potential predecessor, he already has the physical qualities that emulate the box-to-box stalwart. However, it is his creativity in his homeland that has truly caught the eye.

Last term in the Brazilian top flight, Bitello posted a 7.09 average rating alongside his 83% pass completion, 1.9 key passes and 1.8 tackles per game, via Sofascore.

Although he would only record three goal contributions, it is clear that his efforts in forging chances have perhaps not been reciprocated by the strikers. Should he move to Arsenal, instead supplying the likes of Gabriel Jesus, Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli, these are figures only set to grow.

In fact, his key passes per game would have ranked him third amongst Arteta's squad last season in the league, to further emphasise the creativity that led data analyst Ben Mattinson to laud his "unique profile" and versatility.

With a little bit of work, it would not take long to mould the powerful midfielder into the perfect Xhaka heir, with his exceptional creativity already suggesting he is ready to take that step up.

Sunderland are still on the lookout for a new striker and are fast running out of time to find one before beginning their Championship campaign against Ipswich Town in two weeks' time.

What is the latest Sunderland transfer news?

The Black Cats acted swiftly in bringing in young quartet Luis 'Hemir' Semedo, Jenson Seelt, Jobe Bellingham and Nectarios Triantis last month, but their transfer activity has gone quiet since then.

On the back of missing out on signing Ellis Simms permanently, as well as seeing fellow loanee Amad Diallo return to Manchester United, manager Tony Mowbray revealed earlier this month he is after another striker.

With Ross Stewart still sidelined ahead of the new season, Mowbray is effectively relying on Hemir – a talented player but one who has zero senior appearances to his name – to lead Sunderland's line.

However, Mowbray's men could find the ideal alternative in Everton's Tom Cannon, whom The Sun has reported is a £3m option this summer after starring on loan for Preston North End last season.

How many goals has Tom Cannon scored?

Cannon made two substitute appearances for Everton in the first half of last season's Premier League campaign prior to being sent to Deepdale for the final four months of the season.

The 20-year-old had a big impact during his short stay at Preston, scoring eight goals and assisting one more in 20 Championship appearances – eight of those coming in the space of 11 matches when he found his feet – as North End finished 12th.

That equates to 0.65 goals per 90 minutes in the second tier, as per FBref, which only Stewart could better among Sunderland players last season with 0.86. For further perspective, Simms registered 0.56 goals per 90 minutes, while Diallo managed 0.45 per 90.

Indeed, Cannon also outperformed Diallo (39.1) and Simms (27.5) in terms of shots on target percentage (47.8), as well as take-on success rate (51.1% compared to 42.5% for Diallo and 28.6% for Simms).

Beating opponents is a particular strength for Cannon, as he ranks in the top 16% of all forwards across the eight leagues most alike the Championship in terms of quality when taking the last 12 months into account.

While all three players boast strengths in different areas – Simms is the best of the three in the air; Diallo is a lot better in the defensive metrics – Cannon could ultimately do a very similar job to both should Sunderland land his signature.

Losing Simms in the second half of last season was a major blow for Mowbray, but Cannon showed he can score at an even better rate in what was a weaker side than Sunderland last season.

As football reporter Josh Bunting put it, Cannon is a "threat" and a "goalscorer", and a player who looks destined for big things on the basis of what we have seen from him before the age of 21.

If that happens to be away from Goodison Park, Sunderland must ensure they are at the front of the queue to sign the Republic of Ireland U21 international.

Newcastle United have been strongly linked with a move for Axel Disasi this summer and now a new update has emerged on the club's pursuit of the player.

What's the latest on Newcastle's interest in Axel Disasi?

According to Sky Sports Germany journalist Florian Plettenberg, Newcastle are in ongoing talks to sign the Monaco centre-back.

Plettenberg revealed on Twitter: "Understand, Newcastle pushing a lot for Axel #Disasi! Concrete talks between #NUFC & Monaco took place and are ongoing.

"Man Utd, also exploring a deal but #MUFC has to sell players first (Maguire). Newcastle in the lead at this stage. AS, waiting for concrete offers."

How tall is Axel Disasi?

The Magpies matched Premier League champions Manchester City for the best defence in the entire league last season, conceding just 33 goals over the 38-game campaign, which is a testament to the back-line at St James' Park.

However, bolstering the squad with quality depth will be a huge priority for Eddie Howe this summer as he prepares to match the outstanding output that his squad delivered last season, as well as competing comfortably in the Champions League too.

As a result, the signing of Disasi would be a great opportunity to bring in a defender who can maintain the quality of the current centre-back options next season, which could push club captain Jamaal Lascelles – who has been linked with an exit – even further down the pecking order.

The 29-year-old has been a loyal servant to the North East outfit since his arrival back in 2014 and unlike many others, has stuck by the club through the bad times under Mike Ashley's reign to the good times following the Saudi takeover.

However, last season, following the arrival of Sven Botman in the summer transfer window, Lascelles found his game-time slashed considerably making just two Premier League starts and averaging 32 minutes per appearance.

Should the club secure a deal for Disasi, it is extremely likely that the 6 foot 3 Frenchman will be leaned upon to rotate into the team to prevent exhaustion and injury over a campaign that is set to be all-action for Newcastle, with Howe leading his team in both domestic competition and on the elite European stage too.

The Monaco titan – hailed as a "hidden gem" by football talent scout Jacek Kulig – is a huge ball-playing presence in the back-line and one of the hottest prospects in his position throughout Europe – ranking in the top 10% of his positional peers across the top five European leagues over the last 12 months for assists, touches, successful take-ons, progressive passes and progressive carries, as per FBref.

It is reported that it would cost Newcastle up to €50m (£43m) to secure Disasi's services this summer, but with Financial Fair Play restrictions affecting the club's ability to secure more signings after Sandro Tonali, it is likely players will need to be sold to fund any further incomings.

With that being said, it will be interesting to see whether Lascelles will continue to commit to his very limited role on Tyneside or seek out another club where he could earn first team football, either way a move for Disasi would improve the defensive depth and provide Howe will a player he can rely on to rotate into the squad.

Tottenham Hotspur star Harry Kane has reached a personal "agreement" to join Bayern Munich and won't be tempted by any other side, according to Sky Sports Germany's Florian Plettenberg.

Will Harry Kane leave Tottenham?

Spurs are facing the distinct possibility of losing their talismanic forward within these next 12 months, either this summer or next depending on developments.

Kane is out of contract in 2024, meaning Lilywhites chairman Daniel Levy must weigh up whether to sell him this year or let him leave for nothing next summer – if fresh terms can't be agreed.

The 29-year-old was seriously linked with a transfer to Premier League heavyweights Man City two years ago, with Pep Guardiola's side lodging £100 million bids in the summer of 2021.

Those offers did little to sway Levy into a deal, as Spurs were in a very strong position given he still had three years on his contract at the time.

The situation now is far more precarious, and given Kane's desire to win silverware, it has been reported that German giants Bayern Munich are trying to tempt him to the Bundesliga.

Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou, speaking to the press recently, admitted he has received no assurances over Kane's future at N17.

"No, I haven't had any assurances [over Kane's future] and I wouldn't expect any assurances because with these kind of things you're never dealing in definites or certainties," said Postecoglou.

"I'm trying to concentrate on the things that I know right now, and what I know right now is that Harry's part of this squad. He's looking forward to coming back to training, getting among the players back in here and we start working together."

Sharing an update on his future, reporter Plettenberg of Sky has some news on Twitter, with Kane apparently reaching a Bayern "agreement" behind-the-scenes.

The England star is apparently "convinced" he can win the Champions League with former Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel in Bavaria.

"As reported: Harry Kane made 100 % clear that he only wants to join FC Bayern," said Plettenberg.

"He’s not considering a move to another club abroad. It’s an agreement between Kane & Bayern.

"Kane is convinced that he can win the Champions League with Bayern & Tuchel."

Adding to that, Plettenberg has since Tweeted that Levy has met up with some Bayern officials.

He said: "Yes, some Bayern bosses have visited Daniel Levy in London yesterday – confirmed. Understand it was a good meeting, good atmosphere."

He added: "It was important for Bayern to show respect to Levy. Kane was informed of the visit."

What's been said about Harry Kane?

The former Leyton Orient loanee has broken both Jimmy Greaves' all-time goal-scoring record at Tottenham and Wayne Rooney's previous best haul for England.

Kane is, without doubt, Spurs' most crucial asset and losing him would be an almighty blow.

"I am happy for him because we are talking about a world class striker,” said former Spurs manager Antonio Conte on Kane.

“He deserves the best because he's a great worker, hard worker… this is not normal because usually the players that have talent many times don't like to work hard because they have talent.

“When you see him work in this way, and for sure you have the desire to continue to work, to work very hard. For this reason, I want to tell him thanks because he's always a big example for everything."

Manchester United are 'one step away' from announcing Chelsea midfielder Mason Mount as their first summer signing, according to journalist Dean Jones.

What's the latest transfer news involving Mason Mount?

As per Sky Sports News, Mount is undergoing a medical ahead of his move to Manchester United in a deal that is worth in the region of £60 million.

The Red Devils has three bids turned down for Mount in the process of trying to secure his signature; however, the £80k-a-week ace now looks set to swap Stamford Bridge for Old Trafford in a high-profile summer signing for Erik Ten Hag's men.

Renowned journalist Fabrizio Romano has revealed that Mason Mount has completed his medical ahead of signing for Man United.

According to The Manchester Evening News, Manchester United midfielder Fred could be shunted out of the exit door at Old Trafford once Mount finalises his move to the Premier League giants, with Fulham believed to be keen on his services.

Donny van de Beek and Scott McTominay have also been linked with moves elsewhere this summer, though there is pessimism that another midfielder besides Mount would be affordable for Manchester United.

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, journalist Jones has detailed that Manchester United are nearly there as they prepare to officially capture Mount from Chelsea.

Jones stated: "An announcement is prepped and soon he will be getting the 'Here We Go' treatment. This is a very good signing, a player with pedigree at every level on the elite stage and still only 24.

"As an 8 in this United team, he will really thrive. I’m told Erik ten Hag can’t wait to work with him."

Will Mason Mount be a good signing for Manchester United?

Mount is a hard-working, quality individual who has possibly become a victim of circumstance at Chelsea and joining Manchester United under Ten Hag may be the best move for him, as the Dutch boss will have detailed plans to help him rediscover the consistency of his earlier career at the Blues.

In total, the England international has made 195 appearances for Chelsea, notching 33 goals and 37 assists in total, as per Transfermarkt.

Last term, Mount also showed his credentials as a creative force in midfield, racking up 1.3 key passes per match in the Premier League, as per WhoScored.

FBRef display that Mount recorded 83 successful shot-creating actions during last campaign, showing sparks of what he is capable of despite an underwhelming time of things across the board at Stamford Bridge.

With the right stewardship, Mount could be a key asset for Manchester United and form an exciting midfield alliance with the likes of Bruno Fernandes and Casemiro.

A tumultuous and troubled campaign for Leeds United, which oversaw three different managers, culminated in a bitterly disappointing relegation back to the Championship.

But now, the Whites can finally look forward. Daniel Farke has been appointed to provide much-needed stability and direction to a highly dysfunctional set-up.

As well as a new manager, Elland Road will also host new ownership as the 49ers Enterprises are to take over from Andrea Radrizzani sold his majority stake.

The previous regime failed to adequately prepare Leeds for top-flight life – they signed an array of inexperienced youngsters, who failed to acclimatise to the demands of a fast-paced environment, and instigated a managerial merry-go-round that left a team lacking identity.

But Farke, who achieved two promotions from the second tier with Norwich City, will likely fill the Yorkshire faithful with new-found optimism.

Now the mission is to pinpoint the correct targets to curate the ideal promotion-chasing outfit and Joel Piroe would be the perfect way to kickstart this.

What’s the latest on Joel Piroe to Leeds United?

According to The Athletic’s Phil Hay, Leeds is one of several clubs who are 'on the trail' of the Swansea star.

Previously, Southampton, who also suffered relegation last season, are also chasing Piroe, who would only cost a modest £12m.

Who can Joel Piroe replace at Leeds United?

The 23-year-old joined Swansea from the Netherlands in 2021 and has become established as one of the Championship’s most dangerous and effervescent prospects.

In 88 outings, he has netted a commendable 41 times. This included 19 goals last season, at a rate of 0.45 goals per 90, the fourth-highest in the division.

With Leeds in search of a reliable and potent goal-scoring force, the answer lies in Dutchman.

His former manager Russell Martin described him as an “excellent athlete” and added: “He is so clinical with both feet, and he is a great technician.

“He shows composure, he is calm, and he just focuses on his technique, something that all top strikers possess.”

Piroe would be a smart addition, and he has the potential to be a better option than Patrick Bamford.

The Englishman was a pivotal figure in Biesla’s Leeds outfit that cantered to the 2020 Championship title and secured a phenomenal ninth-place finish in their first season back in the Premier League.

However, the 29-year-old has endured a torrid time in the past two years, and his admirable form has been ruthlessly halted by a series of unfortunate injuries. He has only started 25 of the last 76 domestic games, scoring just six goals.

It has been difficult for the former Chelsea graduate to forge any kind of consistency as his physical endurance has deteriorated in recent times, affecting his performance on the pitch.

On 13 May, with Sam Allardyce’s men desperately needing a win and with a 1-0 advantage, they were awarded a penalty, but Bamford’s effort was dramatically saved by Nick Pope, which ceded momentum and ascendency to the high-flying Magpies. After that miss, he had the biggest underperformance of xG in the Premier League at that stage in the campaign.

It seems harsh to criticise Bamford due to his torrid luck. However, these fine margins are what define the outcome of a season, and his continuous absence and lack of form ultimately hindered Leeds’ survival bid.

Therefore, in a new era for the club, the signing of Piroe to compete and potentially displace Bamford could be the required factor to propel Leeds back to where they belong.

Manchester City have built an unbeatable squad over the last few years and it finally paid off for Pep Guardiola when his impressive side completed the treble, winning the Champions League, Premier League and FA Cup last season.

It's hard to believe that the Sky Blues would be in the market this summer but the ruthless operation at the Eithad has been a testament to their success as they continue to acquire the services of some of the best talent in the world.

Mateo Kovacic became the first signing of the summer transfer window for City and will hope he can make the desired impact on his move to the North West, but it seems like the former Chelsea star hasn't been the only midfielder that Guardiola has been chasing.

The Premier League champions made an attempt to sign West Ham United midfielder Declan Rice, as reported by David Ornstein they made a massive bid to rival Arsenal earlier this week:

However, the Gunners upped their bid which quickly led to Man City pulling out of the race and now the England star is set to complete his move to the Emirates imminently.

Whilst Guardiola is unfamiliar with missing out on transfer targets, he could now be set to seek out a cheaper alternative this summer and recently linked Marcelo Brozovic could be the perfect short-term solution at the Etihad next season.

Should Man City sign Marcelo Brozovic?

The Inter Milan midfielder's future has been up in the air for the last few weeks with not only a move to the blue side of Manchester speculated, but has also earned interest from Barcelona and Saudi Arabian clubs.

Brozovic is now 30 years old and whilst he can't provide the longevity that Rice could have given to City, he could provide a great output in the centre of the pitch that would be valuable at the Etihad next season.

Over 28 Serie A appearances last season, the Croatian star – hailed "unbelievable" by journalist Dean Jones – scored three goals, registered five assists and successfully completed 63% of his dribbles, displaying solid attacking attributes in his versatile role.

When comparing Brozovic's output with Rice in league football over the latest campaign, the pair shared many similarities including their pass completion rate (87.7% v 86.5%), shot-creating actions per 90 (2.95 v 2.75) and take-on success rate (59.3% v 55.6%), proving that the Inter Milan midfielder could be a worthy cheaper alternative for Guardiola.

With that being said, if reports are to be believed it would only cost €25m (£22m) to secure the services of Brozovic for next season which would be a steal in comparison to Rice and could make him one to watch for City this summer.

Everton could do with landing an exciting player to get supporters in the mood for next season's Premier League campaign, but a move for one such option appears to be off the cards.

The Toffees had been tipped to move for Udinese striker Beto after showing an initial interest in the January window, though Italian outlet Tutto Udinese suggests they have yet to make an approach.

Instead, Serie A champions Napoli are considered to be the frontrunners for the 25-year-old, albeit with their initial €20m (£17m) offer said to be some way off the €30m (£26m) Udinese are holding out for.

However, with Sean Dyche unable to rely on injury-prone Dominic Calvert-Lewin, and Ellis Simms seemingly next in line to lead the attack, Everton should reconsider making an offer for Beto.

Who is Udinese forward Beto?

The Portuguese attacker arrived at Udinese from Portimonense in the 2021 summer transfer window on an initial loan basis, which the Italian side happily took up the option to make permanent last year.

Beto scored 11 goals in his first Serie A season with Udinese and followed that up by hitting double figures again last season with 10 in 33 games as the Bianconeri finished in a comfortable 12th.

To put Beto's scoring rate into some perspective, his 0.42 goals per 90 minutes in the Italian top flight last season, as per FBref, is a near identical rate to that of Ollie Watkins in the Premier League with Aston Villa (0.43).

His ability to cause unrest has also been noted by football writer Sam Tighe, who described Beto's ability to "spook defenders" as "amazing".

The Udinese number nine is ranked in the top 13% of all forwards across Europe's top five leagues in terms of touches in the opposition box, putting him on a par with Newcastle United's Alexander Isak, as per The Analyst.

Beto is a player who can get on the ball in dangerous positions and indeed find the net at the highest level, then, which is something Simms has so far been unable to do.

After impressing with seven goals in 17 Championship appearances with Sunderland in the first half of last season, Simms scored just once in 11 Premier League outings – albeit a late equaliser away to Chelsea – after being recalled by Everton.

The 22-year-old did show the odd encouraging moments but, as put by football writer Josh Bunting, he "just is not ready for the Premier League" and looked "out of his depth" in Everton's 2-0 Merseyside derby defeat to Liverpool in February.

Even when factoring in that Simms spent half of last season playing at a lower level, he is still unable to match Beto in terms of key attacking metrics such as shot-on-target percentage (33.3 v 27.5 respectively), successful take-ons (1.35 v 0.53) and aerial duels won (52.2% v 44.6%).

There was little between the pair in terms of shot-creating actions per 90 (2.07 v 2.06) – used to measure factors such as passes and take-ons leading to a shot – and pass-completion rate (63.5% v 63.7%), while Simms will naturally get better in other areas as he ages.

But Everton are after a player for the here and now, and in Beto they can sign someone who has already registered successive seasons of double figures for goals in a major European league. Do that, and supporters may just have a little more hope for what is ahead.

Aston Villa have been offered the chance to sign Benfica forward Goncalo Ramos, with the player’s agent approaching those at Villa Park.

What’s the latest Aston Villa transfer news involving Ramos?

Villa have already made a start on their summer transfer plans by reaching an agreement with Youri Tielemans, who will officially become a Villa player on July 1 when his Leicester City contract expires.

The club have now brought in former Sevilla sporting director Monchi as Villa’s president of football operations and he will work closely with manager Unai Emery.

A new attacker was previously the club’s top transfer priority, and it looks as if a new striker could arrive over the coming months to rival or possibly partner Ollie Watkins during Emery’s first full season in charge which will include Europa Conference League football.

According to The Sun, Portuguese super-agent Jorge Mendes is working hard to get Ramos a Premier League move, with Manchester United offered the striker’s services.

However, Mendes has also approached Aston Villa, Newcastle, Tottenham and West Ham, with Benfica set to demand £80m for Ramos, a figure which would smash the transfer record at Villa Park.

Who is Goncalo Ramos?

Ramos is just 21 years of age and is an out-and-out centre-forward who has seen his Transfermarkt valuation rocket from €8m to a career-high €50m over the past two years.

Sponsored by Nike and under contract until 2026, the Portugal international progressed through Benfica’s academy and has now made over 100 senior appearances for the club. He has scored 41 goals and provided 16 assists during that time, with 19 of his goals coming in Liga Portugal last season.

Ramos, dubbed a "monster" in the media, has also starred on the international stage, scoring a hat-trick in last year’s World Cup in Qatar after replacing Cristiano Ronaldo in the starting XI.

You can see why a move for Ramos could appeal to those in the Midlands, especially with Watkins linked with a move to Manchester United in recent days. Villa enjoyed a brilliant resurgence under Emery but scored just 51 goals in their 38 Premier League games in 2022/23, the fewest out of the top 10 sides.

Therefore, bringing in someone like Ramos to bolster the club’s attacking ranks could be an extremely shrewd move, however, should a move materialise over the coming months, you’d expect he would arrive at a big cost, with many expecting immediate results.

Arsenal are set to make an offer for Manchester City full-back Joao Cancelo, having held positive talks, according to a report from Football Transfers.

Is Joao Cancelo leaving Man City?

Cancelo left Man City to join Bayern Munich on loan during the January transfer window, with Pep Guardiola confirming his departure was due to a lack of game time, after the manager changed his side's play-style following the World Cup.

There were also reports the defender had a training ground bust-up with his manager, which led to his shock move to Bayern, however the German champions are set to reject the chance to sign him on a permanent basis this summer.

City proved they are more than capable of succeeding without the Portugal international, finally winning the Champions League on Saturday night, and he could be on the move this summer, having already held talks about a move to Arsenal.

According to a report from Football Transfers, those talks are progressing positively, so much so that Mikel Arteta is set to launch an opening bid of around £35m in the coming days, although that may not be enough to secure 29-year-old's signature.

Man City are asking for around £45m for the defender, £10m more than the Gunners are set to offer, but the indication is that they could table a higher bid, should their opening offer be rejected.

The report details that the £250k-per-week earner would become the starting right-back at the Emirates Stadium, allowing Arteta to use Ben White as cover in that area of the pitch.

Will Joao Cancelo sign for Arsenal?

The aforementioned report claims that Guardiola wants to get rid of the Portuguese full-back, and he does have a previous history of selling players to rival Premier League clubs, with Raheem Sterling joining Chelsea for £47.5m last summer.

As such, it would by no means be a surprise if Arsenal sign the Man City ace, and he could be a quality addition to the squad, having been hailed as "sensational" by Bayern Munich director Hasan Salihamidzic.

For a full-back, the Barreiro-born star is very impressive on the front foot, ranking in the 99th percentile for assists per 90 over the past year, and in the 98th percentile for successful take-ons, when compared to his positional peers.

Not only that, the former Benfica man is also solid defensively, ranking first in the Man City squad for average interceptions per game in the Premier League last season.

Cancelo could be a great signing for Arsenal, and it is fantastic news that Arteta is ready to test the waters with an opening bid.