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Rangers could be about to pull off another piece of transfer business, with The Mail + reporting that Abdallah Sima is closing in on a deal that will see him move to Ibrox on loan and join up with Michael Beale.

How many goals did Abdallah Sima score this season?

The 22-year-old currently plays his football for Brighton but has actually yet to make a first-team appearance for the club in the Premier League. Instead, the centre-forward has had to make do with loan spells to get game time and that involved him being shipped out to Angers in the 2022/23 campaign.

He was a regular feature there for the Ligue 1 outfit and made 37 appearances in all competitions, scoring six times and registering two assists. However, it marked his best season for goal contributions since he was a 19-year-old with Slavia Prague.

Prior to his spell in France, he also spent some time with Stoke in the Championship. However, he featured much less prominently for the Potters and came on only twice for the club in the second tier. He only ever had one league start for them and actually featured more for their reserve team. It appears as though he will now be allowed to leave on a short-term basis again – and this time, it seems he will be trying his luck in Scotland for the first time.

Are Rangers signing Abdallah Sima?

That's because according to a report from The Mail+'s Graeme Croser, Scottish Premiership side Rangers are the frontrunners to add Sima on a loan deal for the upcoming campaign. They expect to potentially get a deal over the line as soon as next week, and it means that they could soon have another forward to choose from for their pre-season schedule, with Beale a fan after first watching the player back in 2021.

The giant attacker – who stands at 6ft 2 – may not have hit double digits since his teen years, but it's stated that the Gers feel they can get him firing. Whilst his goal stats don't look favourable when compared to others in his position, he does have one of the best tackling rates for a forward with 1.08 per 90 (88th percentile) and a solid progressive carries rate of 1.86 (72nd percentile). [FBref]

It shows that Sima is a hard worker, who isn't afraid to press and get stuck into a tackle and then can take the ball forward with an ability that is above average compared to others. If he can just add a finishing touch, he could be a solid addition for Rangers if they do seal a loan deal for the Brighton player, possibly making him the club's fifth addition of the summer already.

Birmingham City are in talks to sign Derby County midfielder Krystian Bielik, according to a report from the Telegraph

What is the latest news regarding Krystian Bielik?

According to the report, the Championship side are locked in talks with the League One outfit for the Polish international, with the fee potentially reaching £1m

The midfielder spent last season on loan at the Midlands club, making 35 appearances in the league and recording one goal and one assist across the campaign.

Birmingham look set to be under the new ownership of American hedge fund manager Tom Wagner soon, and manager John Eustace will be hoping to make Bielik his first signing of the new era.

Will Krystian Bielik join Birmingham City?

Bielik joined his parent club Derby from Arsenal in the summer of 2019 for a fee that could’ve risen to £10m, should all of the performance incentives been met.

The Polish midfielder has had an incredibly unfortunate time at Pride Park, suffering a pair of devastating knee injuries in back-to-back seasons that kept him out of action for a combined 634 days.

Ahead of last season, following Derby’s relegation to League One and the potential of a place in the Polish national team for the 2022 World Cup, Birmingham swooped in and picked him up on loan for the season.

Across the campaign, Bielik averaged a 6.77 rating, according to WhoScored, which was the second-highest average rating in the Birmingham squad for players who played over 2000 minutes

The midfielder is a defensive powerhouse, having averaged 1.92 blocks per 90, 2.17 clearances per 90 and 2.07 aerials won per 90 ranking him in the top 10% of all players across Europe's "next eight" leagues over the last year, as per to FBref. The Pole also averages 2.04 tackles per 90 and 1.45 interceptions per 90, further showcasing his defensive solidity

The Blues stand to get a fantastic deal for the 25-year-old colossus, with his market value currently €2.8m (£2.4m).

One reason why the midfielder, who was described by journalist Ryan Conway as Derby County’s “X-Factor”, is available for less than half his market value is his contract situation, with the players deal at Derby set to expire in the summer of 2024.

Should Birmingham be able to complete this deal despite their potential FFP problems, they will secure a fantastic midfielder who could help them in their quest to finish in the top half of the Championship for the first time since the 2015/16 campaign.

Tottenham Hotspur are a side who have been mentioned in the expected pursuit to sign James Ward-Prowse this summer following Southampton's relegation.

How much is Ward-Prowse worth?

It was a season to forget for both Spurs and the Saints with both hugely underwhelming their fanbases, however, Southampton's will provide bigger consequences.

The Saints ended the campaign rock bottom of the Premier League table and, therefore, will play second-tier football next season and likely lose some of their star players.

Although Spurs will have to go into the new campaign without any European football to look forward to, it will provide Ange Postecoglou with an opportunity to instil his philosophy at the club.

And it will be intriguing to see what changes he brings over the coming months in the transfer window as he will likely be keen to stamp his influence on the starting XI.

One player who is expected to bring in big money for the south coast side is the Englishman, Ward-Prowse, with reports (via SportBible) suggesting the Saints will be looking for a bid in the region of £52m for his services.

Whether or not a team will be willing to part with that sum of money for him is another question, though.

However, it is apparent he will have a lot of potential suitors as insider Alex Crook explained when speaking about the 28-year-old on TalkSPORT:

"Newcastle have got him on their list, as I understand it. I don't believe he's at the top of that list. And again, Southampton I think are asking for quite a substantial fee.

"Tottenham have been mentioned as well and you could see him improving their midfield. Wolves would like to sign him, as I understand it, but they think he might go to a club higher up the food chain."

How much does Ward-Prowse earn?

The £100k-per-week England international has played a huge role in Southampton's side for a number of years now having started every single game in the Premier League this season (via Transfermarkt).

And during his time on the south coast, Ward-Prowse has established himself as one of the league's most fierce free-kick takers.

But it is not just free-kicks in which he scores with the 28-year-old chipping in a total of nine goals in the Premier League alone this season (via Transfermarkt).

Upon his arrival at Celtic, Postecoglou made some major changes in the Bhoys' midfield with the additions of Reo Hatate and Matt O'Riley.

So it will be interesting to see if he also looks to do similar at Spurs when he has the chance to assess his options of Rodrigo Bentancur, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, Yves Bissouma and Oliver Skipp.

However, if the Saints are holding out for in excess of £50m this summer, then perhaps this is a deal which Spurs may have to forget about considering they are reportedly in talks to sign the £60m-rated James Maddison.

But this is a player who has been hailed as a "machine" by some in the media despite the struggles Southampton endured over the course of the 2022/23 campaign.

Southampton could look to revisit their interest in Lecce midfielder Morten Hjulmand ahead of the club's first season back in the Championship, according to a report from The Athletic.

Who is Southampton signing this summer?

The Saints are set for one of their most important transfer windows in recent years as the club aims to bounce straight back up to the Premier League.

The club is expecting a number of players to depart this summer, with key names including Romeo Lavia who is linked with a move to both Chelsea and Liverpool, James Ward-Prowse who is linked with a move to a number of Premier League clubs such as West Ham United and Tino Livramento who is drawing interest from Champions League outfit Newcastle United, according to NUFC Blog.

The South Coast side will be hoping to bring in as much money as possible from sales in order to fund the rebuilding and retooling of their side.

One player that has been rumored to join Southampton is Swansea City captain Matt Grimes.

The 27-year-old was incoming manager Russell Martin's captain during his tenure at the club, and Martin may want to bring in a player who has a strong understanding of his philosophy and how to implement it.

Another player linked with a move is Manchester City academy prospect, Carlos Borges. The Portuguese winger desires for more regular first-team football, and a deal could be struck due to the strong relationship between the clubs.

The Athletic also reports that the club could reignite their interest in Hjulmand, who they tried to bring to St Mary's in the January transfer window. The Saints saw their £8.5m offer rejected by the Italian side, but there was a belief that an increased offer would have been accepted.

Would Hjulmand be a good signing for Southampton?

According to reports from Italy, the Danish international has drawn interest from a number of top European sides including Juventus, Eintracht Frankfurt, Borussia Dortmund, and Brentford, which may turn the player's head away from the Championship outfit.

The 23-year-old enjoyed a fine season for the Serie A side, averaging a rating of 6.82 across 35 appearances which was the highest rating any Lecce player achieved across the campaign, according to WhoScored.

Hjulmand shares a lot of statistical similarities with the current Saints star Lavia, with both players having very strong defensive numbers per 90 compared to other midfielders in Europe's top five leagues, as per FBref. Hjulmand, for example, ranks in the top 1% for interceptions per 90 and Lavia the top 4% for blocks per 90.

The £6.1k-per-week midfielder has received plenty of praise from journalists due to his performances this season, with Italian football expert Steven Moore stating:

"Looking for a regista who is also able to defend? Look no further than Lecce's Morten Hjulmand. At 23, he is one of the league’s rising stars and most underrated players."

Should Southampton manage to convince the Danish midfielder to turn down approaches from the top European sides, they will have their perfect Lavia replacement for just €20m (£17m).

Chelsea are still hoping to make Mason Mount have a "last-ditch" change of heart over his future, according to a key claim from journalist Ben Jacobs.

Is Mount leaving Chelsea this summer?

The future of the 24-year-old has been a major talking point of late, with it looking increasingly likely that he will move on to pastures new this summer.

Mount has had a frustrating season by his high standards, with a mixture of injuries and form seeing him struggle for regular starts as the campaign has gone on. With his current Chelsea contract expiring at the end of next season, it is a case of either tying him down to an extension this summer and letting him leave before he exits for free in 2024.

The £80,000-a-week midfielder has been linked with a move to a number of the Blues' rivals, from Liverpool and Manchester United, with a new challenge potentially appealing to him.

Could Chelsea persuade Mount to stay?

Speaking to Give Me Sport, Jacobs said that Chelsea are still doing all they can to keep Mount at Stamford Bridge moving forward:

"The situation is still open until Chelsea at least try something last-ditch. But, even if Mount is leaning towards Manchester United, they've still got to strike a deal with Chelsea, and that's the other component to all of this that I think is worth touching upon.

"Chelsea, even though Mount's contract is running down, would be looking for something in the region of £70million or £75million. That's my understanding. I know that some people will say it's even higher than that, but that's the ballpark figure that I think Chelsea would want."

In truth, it does look as though Mount will stay put at Chelsea, as things stand, but he does still have a strong affiliation with the club from a young age, which may not make it easy for him to leave. If Mauricio Pochettino can do his best to sell his ideas to the midfielder, promising him a role as a key man, there could be a late change of heart, but that could be wishful thinking now.

If Mount does opt to move on, it is essential that Chelsea get as much as possible for him, ensuring that those funds can go towards signing a tailor-made replacement – someone who can thrive across several positions and provide similar levels of energy and quality, having been hailed as "fantastic" by Graham Potter.

Tottenham Hotspur are interested in signing Bayer Leverkusen centre-back Jonathan Tah, who is "pushing" to leave this summer, according to recent reports from Germany.

What's the latest Tottenham transfer news?

Tottenham have identified Leeds United's Robin Koch as a potential summer target, with it recently being reported the German could be available for a cut-price fee following his side's relegation from the Premier League.

Spurs are also plotting a fresh move for Villarreal's Pau Torres, having missed out on the centre-back last summer, but there may well be competition for the 26-year-old's signature, as Aston Villa have also been named as potential suitors.

Back in February, it was reported that the Lilywhites wanted to bring in two new centre-backs, and given that they showed little in the way of improvement defensively, conceding 63 goals last season, it would not be a surprise if multiple new defenders are signed.

Another player now emerging as a potential option for Tottenham is Tah, with BILD reporting that he fits the profile, but his release clause of €18m (£15.5m) will need to be paid before the beginning of July. (via Sport Witness)

The German is "pushing for a change" after spending eight years with Bayer Leverkusen, and his preferred destination is the Premier League, which could potentially open the door for a move to north London.

Spurs are interested in the 27-year-old, however, the signing mayy have to wait until chairman Daniel Levy appoints a new director of football and manager.

Should Tottenham sign Jonathan Tah?

Hailed as "excellent" by journalist Josh Bunting, the Hamburg-born defender has a wealth of experience playing in Europe, making 58 appearances across the Champions League and Europa League, and he rarely misses a game for Leverkusen.

Across the past two seasons, the defender has been absent for just two league games, highlighting his importance to the German side, and he ranked highly for some key defensive metrics in the Bundesliga last season.

The 6 foot 5 giant averaged 3.5 clearances per game, the highest number of any player in the Leverkusen squad, while an average of 1.2 interceptions places him third, and he also recorded the best pass-completion rate.

Given his level of experience playing in Europe, and his proven defensive aptitude, Tah could be a solid signing for Tottenham this summer, particularly considering he will cost just £15.5m, should the release clause be paid before the start of July.

Liverpool are in pursuit of Wolverhampton Wanderers midfielder Ruben Neves, and are now believed to have made their move to tie up a deal for the Portuguese ace.

What's the latest on Ruben Neves to Liverpool?

That's according to Football Insider, who claim that the Old Gold are set to accept a £50m bid for their most coveted asset with just one year remaining on his current deal and no resolution in sight.

The report continues to claim that the Reds have requested to be kept informed about potential developments in the situation, and with the 26-year-old completing an emotional lap of honour after his final home game of the term against Everton it appears that a departure is forthcoming.

Barcelona are also interested, with Spanish sources previously indicating that La Blaugrana had the lead in the race, but Ansu Fati's refusal to be included as a makeweight in a prospective transfer has left Liverpool ready to pounce.

How good is Ruben Neves?

Liverpool will target several midfielders capable of making a marked improvement on Jurgen Klopp's squad this summer, with Europa League football the destination after failing to qualify for the top four.

James Milner, Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain are all departing at the end of their contracts, while captain Jordan Henderson and pass master Thiago Alcantara are both 32, with the captain 33 in one month's time.

The "incredible" Neves – as lauded by former teammate Hugo Bueno – is at the peak of his powers right now and has been the centrepiece of Wolves' success since rising from the Championship and reaching a Europa League quarter-final, forging 252 appearances, scoring 30 goals and providing 13 assists.

The 39-cap machine has been robust and dynamic from his conducting role this term, which is evidenced by his average Sofascore rating of 7.26, scoring six goals from 34 outings, completing 83% of his passes, averaging 0.9 key passes per game and making 2.3 tackles, 2.4 clearances and 1.5 interceptions each match.

Having been a "hero" for his side during his time at Molineux, as lauded by journalist Matt Maher, the midfield titan would provide composure and steel to the Liverpool centre, bolstering the ranks with his tenacious, unflinching demeanour on the pitch.

His arrival would only serve to enhance the endeavours of centre-back Virgil van Dijk, who has been criticised for some of his performances this season amid Liverpool's strife.

The club's issues this season have largely been a product of negligence on the transfer market over the past several years, with Thiago the only senior midfield signing since 2018, and for all the Spaniard's prowess with the ball, there is a belief that he has "slowed" the Reds down with his distinctive style of play – as per club legend John Barnes – with his injury record also less than admirable.

Van Djik has consequently suffered from the absence of control and energy in the midfield this term, with one journalist branding him "nonchalant".

While the Dutch titan is not the most tackle-happy centre-back in the Premier League – he ranks among the bottom 4% of centre-backs across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for tackles per 90 – this is largely a product of his commanding style of play and efficacy in timing his defensive movements to inhibit opposing attacks.

Equally, the former Southampton man is also adept at sweeping away the danger when it presents itself, as he has made 4.2 clearances on average per game in the Premier League this term and won 70% of his contested duels.

A sturdy conductor would not only reignite the Reds midfield but serve as a buffer for the back four, and with Van Dijk not quite so imperious anymore, renewed vitality in the mould of Neves would only serve to enhance his side's prospects of success next season and beyond.

Luke Edwards has now revealed some exciting plans for Newcastle United in the summer.

The Lowdown: Pre-season in USA

The St James’ Park club are set to go to the USA for pre-season, a few weeks after their 2021/22 Premier League campaign ends away to Burnley on Sunday afternoon.

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They are not the only club in the top flight set to go to Stateside, with Arsenal set to play both Chelsea and Everton across the Atlantic.

The Latest: Edwards update

Taking to Twitter, Daily Telegraph journalist Edwards has revealed that Newcastle are due to announce a pre-season training camp in the USA in July and will play some friendlies in Cincinnati.

He tweeted: “#nufc are due to announce a pre-season training camp in the USA in July, with friendly games; in Cincinnati. Expect things to be confirmed this week.”

He added that he has had it confirmed from Stateside, but not from the Tyneside club itself, stating: “I’ve had this confirmed from the USA. Nothing yet from #nufc other than they are going to States this summer for pre-season.”

The Verdict: Exciting

It is always exciting to hear where your club is going to go for pre-season, and it will be good for the Magpies to train in the United States, with the view of potentially playing some of the best teams from the MLS.

The climate should also be nice and warm for them to relax after confirming their place in the Premier League for another season, and the players should enjoy themselves as they prepare for what looks to be a busy 2022/23 campaign ahead.

The new owners will no doubt want to stamp their authority on the market, so some big names could well come through the doors at the Toon.

In other news, find out who NUFC are now ‘confident’ of signing this summer

A big update has emerged on Newcastle United’s pursuit of Fabian Ruiz ahead of the summer transfer window.

What’s the talk?

According to Spanish outlet AS, via Sport Witness, the Magpies are to be handed the opportunity to sign the Napoli midfielder as Barcelona are struggling to stump up the €40m (£34m) required to prise him away from Italy.

The report claims that Eddie Howe tried to bring him to St James’ Park in January, only to be told that he wanted to wait until the end of the season to consider his future. Ruiz is now poised to depart the Serie A club, and Newcastle are now eyeing a bid for his services after their failure in the previous transfer window.

Imagine him & Bruno Guimaraes

PIF must ensure that they are able to get this deal over the line ahead of the 2022/23 campaign, as Ruiz would be a sublime addition to the squad to partner with Guimaraes.

He is a consistent, quality midfield player who is heading into the prime years of his career at the age of 26. Newcastle will therefore be getting a gem who can come in and make an instant impact, instead of a prospect who may take a year or two to settle in.

Ruiz has been in superb form for Napoli in Serie A this season as he has proven his ability to produce quality displays on a regular basis. He has averaged a SofaScore rating of 7.21 across 31 outings for the Azzurri, scoring seven goals and providing four assists.

Journalist Josh Bunting showered him with praise earlier this year, tweeting: “Fabián Ruiz is a beautiful footballer, he scored the only goal in Napoli’s win over Torino. His pass selection is so good, dictates the play, so smart and intelligent on the ball and off it, so good at popping into space and rotating the ball around, keeps them ticking.”

These quotes illustrate the type of midfielder he is and why he would complement Guimaraes in the middle of the park. Whilst Ruiz has the technical ability to dominate matches in possession, the Brazilian is a combative enforcer with three tackles and interceptions per game in the Premier League.

The January signing from Lyon also has quality on the ball, with four goals and one assist in nine Newcastle starts, but his defensive awareness would allow him to cover for Ruiz when the Spaniard wants to advance forward. Therefore, they could be an exciting midfield pairing for Howe, as they are both impressive in their own right and have the potential to work well together.

AND in other news, Craig Hope drops worrying worrying £50m NUFC claim, it’s a first major disaster for PIF…

Sunderland ensured themselves of a play-off spot in League One after beating Morecambe 1-0 on Saturday.

Everton loanee Nathan Broadhead opened the scoring within the first 10 minutes before unfortunately having to come off injured, and the nerves started to kick in as Alex Neil’s team managed just seven shots on goal and only edged possession against a team near the bottom of the table.

As such, The Transfer Tavern have now used statistical experts SofaScore to analyse who the three worst performers were (to have played at least 45 minutes) for the Stadium of Light faithful on the day:

Jack Clarke (6.5)

Clarke replaced scorer Broadhead in the 26th minute but was unable to make anywhere near the same impact, ending the game with a 6.5 overall rating,

The forward lost nine of his 12 duels, gave away possession 10 times and, appallingly for a player in his position, failed to even record a shot against Morecambe in more than an hour on the pitch. Also, just one of his three dribble attempts was successful.

Ross Stewart (6.3)

It was not Stewart’s day either, as the striker was given just a 6.3 rating.

Taken off for Jay Matete midway through the second half, the 25-year-old Scotsman lost a team-high 12 duels and also failed to record a shot on target, successful dribble or key pass. In addition, he lost the ball 19 times, the third-most of any Sunderland player.

Patrick Roberts (6.2)

With a 6.2 rating, Roberts ranked as the Black Cats’ worst player on Saturday.

The winger lost 10 duels, missed one big chance, failed with four of his dribble attempts and made no key passes, giving the ball away a mammoth 20 times.

In other news, find out which three Premier League clubs are now ‘eyeing’ this Sunderland star