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Manchester United enjoyed a relatively solid debut season under the leadership of Erik ten Hag – securing a League Cup triumph and qualification for the Champions League, ensuring the first stage of his rebuilding job is complete, yet there is still so much work to do.

These achievements might not be enough to satiate the Old Trafford faithful, and further progress will be required next year as the Dutchman will be hoping his two star performers, Bruno Fernandes and Marcus Rashford, can take their games to new heights in Europe’s premier competition.

Last season, Fernandes was in exceptional form, registering 29 goal contributions – 14 goals and 15 assists – from an attacking-midfield position and creating a staggering 32 big chances, as well as completing 3.3 key passes per game – numbers that saw him ranked first in both metrics across the whole of the Premier League.

The Portuguese sensation will turn 29 during the opening stages of 2023/24, and with United recently linked with Wolfsburg midfielder Felix Nmecha, could Ten Hag potentially be eyeing up someone who could eventually replace Fernandes?

Could Manchester United sign Felix Nmecha this summer?

The 22-year-old could be available for as little as €15m (£13m), and the Dutchman should look to secure his signature as soon as possible.

Having started off his career at Manchester City, he is not a complete stranger to English football, however, he only really began to showcase his wonderful potential in Germany after signing for Wolfsburg in 2021.

Across 50 appearances for the Bundesliga side, he has scored three goals and grabbed seven assists, yet it was 2022/23 which saw him register all but one of these goal contributions in what was a solid campaign for the one-cap Germany international.

Indeed, he ranked as the third-best player in the squad for overall rating, as per Sofascore, while ranking fifth for big chances created (five) and successful dribbles per game (0.9), suggesting he was a positive influence within the side.

The former City starlet doesn’t just pose attacking qualities, as he ranks in the top 20% across Europe’s top five leagues for aerials won (2.16) and clearances per 90 (1.52), showcasing a different side to his game – and this ability to chip in defensively when required could be a big bonus for Ten Hag.

Journalist Josh Bunting has been quick to praise the youngster due to his displays recently, saying: “He’s very quick, technical ability is good, a ball carrying number 8, strong in his duels and has an intelligent eye for a final pass.”

With this in mind, a fee of around £13m would surely represent a bargain for the Red Devils as they continue to plan ahead for not only next season, but also the future.

Declan Rice is incredibly keen on making a move to Arsenal this summer following several rejected bids from West Ham.

When will Arsenal sign Declan Rice?

While the Gunners are not the only club interested in Rice's signature, they are certainly first in the queue at present. Arsenal have submitted two bids already for the midfielder, both of which have been rejected by West Ham as they feel they can get more money from a potential deal.

According to journalist Dharmesh Sheth, however, there are reports that Rice has his heart set on a move across London.

"It looks like the primary focus now is Declan Rice. And we think they're getting encouraging signs that Declan Rice wants to move to Arsenal."

"Look, it's interesting this, because there are so many noises from different areas surrounding this potential deal with regard to Declan Rice," Sheth told Sky Sports News's Transfer Talk podcast.

He added: "If you believe, you know, some people are saying, on the one hand, he only wants Arsenal. Arsenal are confident of getting him, there's a degree of optimism that the deal will get done."

Following a second-placed finish last season, in which they pushed Manchester City for the Premier League title, Arsenal are in need of reinforcements ahead of a busy upcoming campaign. Mikel Arteta wants to bring in several fresh faces at the Emirates as the Spaniard's young and exciting squad are tested again next term.

While Rice could cost approximately £120m, the 24-year-old has already proven himself to be one of the best holding midfielders in the Premier League, and even guided West Ham to a European trophy at the end of last season in the form of the Europa Conference League.

It looks, therefore, as if it may only be a matter of time before Rice makes the move to Arsenal, despite Manchester City's interest in the Englishman. It would be one hell of a coup for the Gunners should they wrap the deal up.

Who else do Arsenal want to sign?

With Granit Xhaka and Thomas Partey looking likely to leave the Emirates this summer, the Gunners need to bolster their midfield, with Rice not the only midfielder they are interested in signing.

Southampton's defensive midfielder Romeo Lavia has been strongly linked with a move to north London following a stellar breakout season with the Saints, albeit there are a number of other clubs interested in the 19-year-old.

Further up the pitch, Arteta looks to have a deal sorted for Chelsea attacker Kai Havertz. The German, who has scored a Champions League-winning goal during his time at Stamford Bridge, looks to be on the move for approximately £65m.

The defence is also an area where Arsenal are eager to strengthen their depth, with an opening £30m bid for Ajax's highly-rated Jurrien Timber having been made over the past few days. The 22-year-old would prove a versatile option for Arteta with the ability to play at right-back and centre-back.

Liverpool are increasing their efforts to secure one of the signings of the summer transfer window and tie up a deal for Real Madrid midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni.

What's the latest on Aurelien Tchouameni to Liverpool?

That's according to reports in Spain who claim that Liverpool have launched an opening proposal of £55m for the France international, who only signed for the Spanish giants from Monaco for €100m (£85m) last summer.

The report continues that after a tepid first year under Carlo Ancelotti's wing, Reds boss Jurgen Klopp is hoping to ensnare the 23-year-old after failing in his pursuit one year ago, and while Real are 'open to negotiating', they demand £80m for the ace.

An imposing midfielder and an exquisite talent, Tchouameni would be the ultimate upgrade at Anfield with James Milner, Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain concluding their contracts this month.

How good is Aurelien Tchouameni?

Such a transfer might seem unlikely, with prominent Liverpool reporter daveOCKOP stating that he "would be surprised" if the Reds succeeded in securing a deal for a player who moved to, arguably, football's most prestigious outfit in Real Madrid just one year ago, but much has changed since.

Jude Bellingham has completed his much-anticipated move to Los Blancos from Borussia Dortmund for an initial €103m (£88.5m) this month, bypassing the likes of Liverpool in their interest, and Tchouameni has endured a disspiriting campaign that has left him on the periphery of prominence at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Joining the fold on Merseyside could prove to be a match made in heaven for someone of Tchouameni's ilk; he is a formidable, prodigious star who will know of the vested attention from Liverpool over the past year or so, and despite Klopp's side failing to qualify for the Champions League this year, there is an expectation that the requisite adjustments in midfield will banish the seeping indifference.

He played regularly this term, clinching 50 appearances for his LaLiga outfit, but was not entrusted with a starting berth in the definitive moments, benched for both Copa del Rey semi-final ties against Barcelona and every knockout phase fixture in the Champions League.

Despite this, the "superb talent" – as dubbed by Rio Ferdinand – ranks among the top 1% of midfielders across Europe's top five leagues for pass completion, the top 1% for interceptions, the top 8% for clearances and the top 11% for aerials won per 90, as per FBref.

He could forge a cohesive and frightening partnership with his international comrade Ibrahima Konate at Liverpool, with the "extraordinary" midfielder's robustness and battling mentality exactly what has gone missing for Klopp's team this year, with The Athletic highlighting the inefficacy of the midfield in protecting the defence and subsequently allowing sustained fire on Alisson's goal – with the Brazilian shot-stopper ranking fourth in the saving charts.

Konate is an aggressive and burly central defender, who signed for the club for £36m from RB Leipzig in 2021 and has been praised as "incredible" by defensive partner Virgil van Dijk; the £206k-per-week menace that is Tchouameni would enhance his game with his defensive omnipresence at the nucleus of the pitch.

Konate ranks among the top 10% of centre-backs for successful take-ons and the top 12% for tackles per 90, indicating that he already has the tenacity and vigour to play a central role for Liverpool over the next age, and with an imperious anchor ahead of him, one can only imagine the spectacular success.

Considering the various facets, Klopp must go full ham for Tchouameni this summer and entice him with a package worth taking – he might play for Real Madrid, but at Liverpool he could etch his name into the history books and flourish as the centrepiece as the new chapter under Klopp's sagely stewardship.

An update has emerged on Manchester City and their attempts to bolster their defensive options after their treble-winning 2022/23 campaign.

What's the latest on Josko Gvardiol to Man City?

According to Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano, the Citizens are set to advance their attempts to land RB Leipzig central defender Josko Gvardiol this summer.

Pep Guardiola is pursuing a deal to sign the Croatian ahead of next season and the club will need to pay at least £85m in order to secure his signature.

The reporter said: "Manchester City will keep working on Joško Gvardiol deal next week. Talks will enter into advanced stages with Leipzig with new verbal bid. Exclusive story from yesterday: personal terms, 100% agreed. Gvardiol said yes. Leipzig want at least €100m."

Where would Josko Gvardiol fit in at Man City?

Guardiola often deployed a system last season that had four out-and-out central defenders across the back four and Gvardiol could easily slot in on the left side in either position.

The 21-year-old has experience playing as a central defender and as a left-back in his career and the talented youngster could come in as a big upgrade on Nathan Ake in the latter role.

RB Leipzig's stopper has proven himself to be an excellent Bundesliga performer and caught the eye with his exceptional performances at the World Cup last year. He averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.16 and made 2.9 tackles and interceptions per match across seven outings in the tournament.

The Croatian defender also averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.10 across 29 Bundesliga appearances in 21/22 and made 3.4 tackles and interceptions per game.

Ake, comparatively, has not averaged a Premier League rating higher than 7.08 or managed more than 1.9 tackles and interceptions per outing in any of his three campaigns with City to date, which suggests that Gvardiol has the potential to deliver better performances week-in-week-out.

The "monster" – as the aforementioned Romano once described him – could suit the left-back role in Guardiola's new-look system perfectly as he is adept at progressing the ball through dribbles to get his team up the pitch.

He has averaged 1.63 progressive carries and successful take-ons per 90 over the last 365 days in the Men's Big Five Leagues and European competitions, in comparison to Ake's 1.41 per 90.

This suggests that the £19k-per-week colossus could also be an upgrade in terms of how he drives the team forward by dribbling past opposition attackers to open up space for the midfielders and attackers to then receive possession.

Gvardiol is also seven years younger than Ake and, therefore, has many years left ahead of him to grow and develop under Guardiola's coaching, which is another reason why City could land a big upgrade on the Dutchman by securing this deal.

Manchester United are ready to compete to sign Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, according to reports in the last 48 hours.

Is Emiliano Martinez leaving Aston Villa?

The Premier League shot-stopper still has another four years remaining on his contract in the Midlands, but having established himself as Unai Emery’s overall third-best-performing player last season alongside winning the World Cup, he’s been attracting significant interest.

The Argentina international has reportedly emerged as a target for the Red Devils, Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea, and it’s been claimed that there is a chance he could leave his club in the coming weeks and months ahead.

Speaking to GiveMeSport, Dean Jones, journalist and transfer expert, revealed that there’s “potential” for the 30-year-old to join a more high-profile suitor should a big enough offer be tabled, and if the following update is to be believed, Erik ten Hag is prepared to seriously pursue his target.

Are Man United signing Martinez?

According to Football Transfers, Man United are “ready to battle” Chelsea to sign Martinez ahead of the 2023/24 campaign. Ten Hag “hopes to team him up” with his compatriot Lisandro Martinez and believes that their existing connection will “benefit” his side’s defensive unit.

The Old Trafford boss “sees him as the perfect replacement” for David De Gea whose future still remains uncertain, and they could hold an advantage over the Blues because the goalkeeper “wants a move” to a club in the Champions League.

Should Ten Hag consider a bid for Martinez?

Man United will know that Martinez is a man in-demand off the back of the World Cup where he was dubbed Argentina’s “unsung hero” by journalist Josh Bunting, so should Ten Hag fail in his pursuit of Inter Milan’s Andre Onana, Aston Villa’s £120k-per-week goalkeeper could be the perfect alternative.

In the Premier League, the 6 foot 4 colossus kept 13 clean sheets from 36 appearances last season and ranked in the 99th percentile for most crosses stopped so he isn’t afraid to come out of the sticks, claim the ball and clear the danger from his area. Meanwhile, he has been branded "the best penalty-kick keeper in the world" by teammate John McGinn, who went on to call him a "unique character" when speaking on Sky Sports Premier League (7:25 pm, January 13, 2023).

The Universal Twenty Two client also recorded 97 saves from 132 shots on target against, giving him a save percentage of 74.2%, via FBRef, which was higher than De Gea whose success rate was just 71.1%, so it’s clear that Martinez, who admitted he created "chaos" at Old Trafford when Bruno Fernandes missed a penalty, would be an upgrade on the boss’ current first-choice in the net should he put pen to paper in M16.

Tottenham Hotspur are "sounding out" Juventus striker Dusan Vlahovic as a possible replacement for Harry Kane, a player they had plans to sign "last year".

Who will Spurs sign?

Spurs and new manager Ange Postecoglou are busy preparing for the 2023/2024 season behind-closed-doors, having already sealed deals for goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario, playmaker James Maddison and winger Manor Solomon.

The trio join Dejan Kulusevski, who's put pen to paper on a permanent deal from Juve after 18 months on loan, and right-back Pedro Porro who's signed indefinitely from Sporting Lisbon.

Maddison, who signed from Leicester City for around £45 million, is a player who particularly excites Postecoglou – as the Australian explained in his most recent Spurs press conference.

“Really excited to get him as part of the group,” Postecoglou said on the England international.

“Any manager will tell you that part of the key to being a dominant team is having multiple attacking threats and having a midfielder who can score and create goals, they’re not easy to come by.

“We’re going to need leadership on the field and he feels like he can be a player who does that.”

While the north Londoners are thought to prioritising central defensive additions right now, leading to reports they're closing in on a deal for Wolfsburg's Micky van de Ven, there are suggestions Tottenham could add more firepower after Maddison.

According to Football Transfers, Tottenham are even "sounding out" Serbia international forward Vlahovic as a potential replacement for Kane should he leave.

The latter star is attracting serious interest from Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich, and even though chairman Daniel Levy is reluctant to sell, there could be a decision to make given Kane is out-of-contract in just 12 months.

Vlahovic, as a result, is being targeted by Spurs with this FT report also claiming he is a player they "had plans" to sign "last year".

Juve are thought to be open to selling if they receive a suitable offer for their talisman, who finished last season as their top goalscorer in Serie A.

How good is Dusan Vlahovic?

The 23-year-old arguably didn't have his best campaign last term, scoring 10 goals in assisting two others in the Italian top flight, but he has previously shone.

Over the 2021/2022 season, Vlahovic bagged a brilliant 17 goals in just 21 Fiorentina starts before signing for Juventus – prolific numbers for such a young centre-forward.

His scintillating form for La Viola attracted praise from members of the media and pundts alike, with journalist Jack Gallagher calling Vlahovic a "perfect" front man.

Meanwhile, former Man City star Micah Richards called the £215,000-per-week star "lightning" in an interview with BBC Radio 5 Live.

“I have watched him a couple of times now,” Richards said (via The Independent).

“He is lightning. It’s ridiculous. He has got 16 in 18 this season. His left foot is like a wand. I am telling you now, he is everything, he is everything you need.”

Celtic look to be taking advantage of Scott Brown being in charge of EFL League One club Fleetwood Town and could form an 'interesting' link with the club that could 'benefit' both parties, according to journalist Dean Jones.

Do Celtic and Fleetwood Town have a partnership?

Earlier this month, Football Insider suggested that Celtic are said to be 'forming a partnership' with Fleetwood Town that would allow players from the Scottish giants to go on loan to the Fylde Coast side to gain experience.

Although there is no official link between the sides has been reported through reputable sources, Celtic youngster Adam Montgomery has joined Fleetwood Town on a season-long loan deal and will spend the year at the Highbury Stadium working under Celtic legend Brown.

Former Celtic midfielder Scott Robertson left Glasgow to join the Cod Army back in January on a free transfer, providing another indication of a link between the two sides.

Fleetwood Town manager Brown signed a new two-year deal at the club last week and expressed his delight at being able to commit his future to the English third-tier outfit, as per STV News, stating: “I’m glad to have got the deal over the line, it’s been a brilliant first year in the job and can’t wait for the new season to start. “I’ve been made to feel right at home by the Fleetwood staff, players, and fanbase, so I just want to give everything I can to bring success to the town, hopefully starting with a win on Saturday.”

As cited by The Scottish Sun, Brown was linked with a sensational return to Celtic in an assistant manager role before Brendan Rodgers was appointed at Parkhead; however, nothing transpired and Brown is now readying Fleetwood Town for their endeavours in 2023/24.

Speaking to Football FanCast, journalist Jones thinks that having a link between Celtic and Fleetwood Town could prove beneficial to both clubs.

Jones told FFC: "I think it's really interesting, actually, that this link has developed and I totally see how it benefits both parties. You often hear about linkups between Premier League sides and clubs abroad, but for Celtic to be using a side in the Football League to one, use some of their players to go out and get experience but two, think that along the line, they'll benefit is really interesting."

What else is going on in the world of Celtic?

Celtic are slowly ramping up their preparations for the new campaign and have jetted out to Portugal for a pre-season training camp where boss Rodgers will be able to run the rule over his squad.

Once their time in Portugal ends, the Hoops will then head across the world to play matches in Japan against Yokohama F. Marinos and Gamba Osaka before a trip to Dublin to face Wolverhampton Wanderers at the Aviva Stadium, Capping off the friendly action, Celtic will return to base and field a side in long-serving wide man James Forrest's testimonial against Athletic Club at Parkhead.

On the transfer front, Marco Tilio and Odin Thiago Holm have both joined Celtic from Valerenga and Melbourne City, becoming Rodgers' first two signings since making his shock reappearance in Glasgow's East End.

Plenty more action will be expected in the market as the Bhoys look forward to defending their Scottish Premiership crown in 2023/24.

Glasgow Rangers have so far made seven summer signings in order to significantly bolster their squad ahead of the rigours of the 2023/24 campaign, which will once again feature Champions League football.

Michael Beale has so far done well to offset the departures of Ryan Kent and Alfredo Morelos – both leaving following the end of their contracts – by luring forwards Sam Lammers, Cyriel Dessers, and Abdallah Sima to Ibrox, alongside attacking midfielder Kieran Dowell. If these four make an immediate impact at the Ibrox side, then the achievements of Kent and Morelos may soon be forgotten by the supporters, especially if the club win silverware next season.

Beale doesn’t appear to be stopping there either, with Brazilian forward Danilo being eyed as his next arrival in Glasgow. An initial offer of £4.5m was rejected by Feyenoord for the striker, however, the Gers could be set to test their resolve with another bid.

The Eredivisie side value him at around £6.5m and with plenty of players departing club this summer in order to raise funds, the fee shouldn’t prove to be a problem. If Beale can't get a deal over the line for the 24-year-old, he could target an ideal alternative – Anastasios Douvikas.

Will Rangers sign another striker this summer?

There is no doubt that at least one more forward will arrive through the door at Ibrox during the window, especially if Antonio Colak does leave the club amid recent interest from the Bundesliga and MLS clubs.

Last month it was claimed that Rangers were set to make a bid of £7m according to Greek outlet Nova Sports (via The Daily Record), while Celtic were also seemingly keen on the player and if a move for Danilo falls through, Beale should divert all his attention to luring the Greek international to Scotland.

Last season, the “sharp” frontman – as dubbed by journalist Josh Bunting – netted an impressive 19 goals in just 24 starts for FC Utrecht last season, and this total would have seen him rank as the highest scorer in the Rangers side during 2022/23, with James Tavernier and Colak finishing on 18 goals apiece.

Indeed, his overall tally of 22 goals in 36 matches across all competitions was better than Danilo’s total, as the Brazilian scored 14 goals from 48 games, indicating that the Utrecht hitman has a much better strike rate.

Douvikas doesn’t just score more goals, he also has a higher percentage of shots on target (46.1% to 39.7%), registers more shot-creating actions (49 to 44) and takes more touches in the attacking penalty area (142 to 106) than Danilo, and he appears to be a more rounded forward than Danilo, giving Beale some interesting options on where to play him.

The Feyenoord striker does appear to be the main target given that the Gers are looking to make a second bid for him, yet Douvikas could be an excellent alternative, not only by having a better scoring rate but also by getting into the box more often while generating more shot-creating actions.

Wolverhampton Wanderers are reportedly finalising a deal to bring Matt Doherty back to Molineux, as Julen Lopetegui seeks defensive upgrades this summer.

The Irishman spent a total of 10 years in the Midlands and now looks to be on his way back to the club after three years away.

Sky Sports reported on Wednesday that the 31-year-old would undergo a medical ahead of his free transfer, after a short-lived spell at Atletico Madrid.

Meanwhile, Daily Mail journalist Tom Collomosse relayed that the right-back would sign a three-year deal at Molineux, with the club set to target free agents and loan deals this summer.

What will Matt Doherty bring to Wolves?

Doherty is a player that needs little introduction in Wolverhampton, a strong servant of the club for a decade, the Irishman was present and pivotal in the Old Gold’s charge back to the Premier League and success in the top tier.

Across 302 appearances for the Midlands side, the Dublin-born ace was there for the trials of League One and Championship football to Nuno Santo’s drive to the Premier League and Europa League, with many fond memories at the club.

After departing the Midlands, game time became a struggle, recording just 44 appearances in the league for Tottenham Hotspur, to then becoming a stranger in Madrid with just two LaLiga appearances for Atletico following his January switch.

A figure that will be welcomed back with open arms, the veteran wing-back offers a host of experience, as well as a host of qualities that could undeniably bolster Lopetegui’s bid to get the side back in the top half of the table.

The 2022/23 campaign showed a level of stagnancy in the squad, in a side depleted in confidence following Bruno Lage’s mishaps at the start of the season.

Installing competition to his side will be critical in Lopetegui’s bid to get the squad to peak form ahead of next term, which could be pivotal in getting the best out of a host of underperformers.

There was a lot anticipated of Nelson Semedo following his £36.8m move from Barcelona to Wolves in 2020, however, the Portuguese has struggled to consistently live up to the levels expected in a player of his calibre.

Adding Doherty to the mix at right-back could force the 29-year-old to up his individual game, with the Irishman proving to be a higher performer than the former La Liga gem in his final season at Molineux.

In the 2019/20 campaign, Doherty was at the heart of all things progressive on the right side of Nuno’s defence.

The £74k-per-week "machine", as lauded by The Athletic's Tim Spiers, contributed to seven goals from the back, scoring four and assisting three in 32 appearances that term, as per WhoScored.

Despite being away from the Midlands for three years, the Wolves hero could find his place in the starting eleven restored under Lopetegui, with him proving to pose a bigger threat than Semedo.

When comparing the Premier League seasons of the Portuguese last season and Doherty’s final year at Wolves, it’s clear to see just how influential the Irishman can be.

As per FBref, the 31-year-old averaged 5.01 progressive passes and 2.38 progressive carries per 90 in 2019/20, compared to the former Barcelona man’s 3.76 progressive passes and 1.71 progressive carries last campaign.

The former Spurs defender averaged higher than Semedo in terms of interceptions too, averaging 1.27 to his 0.99 per 90, communicating the levels the 29-year-old must hit to remain as first choice at Molineux.

Inducing competition could be a hit for Lopetegui to get his side progressing again, and with the experience of Doherty on the horizon, the Spaniard may have struck the perfect deal.

Scottish champions Celtic capped a hectic few days by adding Polish defender Maik Nawrocki to their ranks from Legia Warsaw, with the 22-year-old following the South Korean duo of Hyun-Jun Yang and Hyeok-Kyu Kwon in making the move to Parkhead.

The addition of the "very highly-rated" young centre-back – as described by manager Brendan Rodgers – will no doubt help to provide further competition to the Hoops' defensive ranks ahead of another title charge next season.

The signing of Nawrocki may not necessarily mean the end of the Old Firm outfit's search for new central defenders, however, particularly with academy graduate Stephen Welsh having been linked with a departure, while Carl Starfelt has also been the subject of interest from Russian side, Spartak Moscow.

Should that duo move on any time soon, Rodgers will likely need another body to help compete with the likes of Yuki Kobayashi, Cameron Carter-Vickers and Nawrocki, hence the recent interest in FC Voldendam starlet, Xavier Mbuyamba.

What's the latest on Mbuyamba to Celtic?

Reports back in May appeared to indicate that the Scottish Premiership side – as well as Watford – were keeping tabs on the 21-year-old following what was a fine debut season in the Eredivisie, with the youngster having only made the move back to the Netherlands after leaving Chelsea last summer.

A more recent piece from the Daily Mail suggested that the promising Dutchman is 'high on the list of targets' at Celtic Park, albeit with the club set to face competition for a player who has earned comparisons to compatriot, Virgil van Dijk.

Currently valued at around €5m (£4m) – according to CIES Football Observatory – the 6 foot 5 colossus would surely be a worthy addition to Rodgers' ranks this summer, allowing the Northern Irishman to form an exciting defensive duo involving the towering gem and the aforementioned, Nawrocki.

How good is Xavier Mbuyamba?

The Bhoys have only recently been handed a boost following the news that first-choice defender, Carter-Vickers is set to resume full training following his recovery from a knee operation earlier this year, having started 29 league games last season prior to that.

There will likely be fears over rushing the United States international back into the action too soon, however, hence the need to have worthy figures who can support and replace the 25-year-old when needed, such as Nawrocki and Mbuyamba.

In the case of the latter man, the emerging menace has been hailed as "elegant" and "dominant" by talent scout Jacek Kulig in the past, with the imposing asset notably averaging an impressive 3.5 tackles and interceptions per game last season in Holland – more than even Carter-Vickers achieved in Scotland (1.6).

The Maastricht native also posed a real threat in an attacking sense from his defensive berth after scoring five goals from his 28 league outings, ensuring he could be something of a secret weapon for Rodgers in that regard.

Those traits also seem to be shared by Nawrocki, with the 6 foot 1 ace averaging 2.5 tackles and interceptions per game from his 25 league appearances in Poland, while also chipping in with four goals in that time, as per Sofascore.

A further benefit of that pairing would be their relative youth, ensuring that they could be the basis of Rodgers' side for years to come, having already shown strong indications of their talent in their respective careers so far.

Of course, Carter-Vickers – who was dubbed the "best defender in the league" by former boss Ange Postecoglou – may still be the main man, although a reserve defensive axis of Nawrocki and Mbuyamba would offer some immense strength in depth.