According to reports in the Daily Mail, Everton and West Ham United have joined the clubs interested in £3m-rated Augsburg right-back Daniel Opare.

What’s the word, then?

Well, the Toffees and the Irons have joined Premier League rivals Stoke City and Swansea City in the race to sign the 27-year-old, who looks set to leave the Bundesliga outfit during the January transfer window with his contract due to run out in the summer.

The Daily Mail suggests that Augsburg would rather sell him in the New Year rather than losing him for nothing at the end of the campaign.

How has Opare done this season?

Having started the first two Bundesliga matches this term on the substitutes’ bench, the Ghana international has started all 12 of their German top flight matches since, including the 3-1 win against FSV Mainz on Saturday.

According to Squawka, the Ghanaian has shown his defensive qualities by making 44 interceptions and 22 interceptions in those 12 outings.

While he is primarily a right-back, the 27-year-old has played in a more advanced role on the right flank this season and he can also play on the left when required.

Do Everton and West Ham need him?

The Toffees have certainly struggled in the absence of the injured Seamus Coleman with summer addition Cuco Martina struggling to make an impression, while Jonjoe Kenny is still relatively inexperienced despite filling in well at times this term.

While Opare could be a decent signing, the fact that Coleman should be back in action sooner rather than later suggests he would be back-up.

Meanwhile, the Irons currently have Pablo Zabaleta as their first-choice right-back but if they want to start looking for a long-term solution in what has been a problem position in the past then Opare could be a good addition.

Will they get him?

On the face of it, you would think that Opare would be more likely to join Stoke or Swansea over West Ham or Everton, but if the latter duo want a right-back in January that will come at a reasonable price then the 27-year-old could be the ideal signing.

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Phil Thompson has tipped Liverpool to sign Leicester City centre back Harry Maguire, but the Reds would be much better off hijacking Everton’s move for Barcelona’s Yerry Mina.

What’s the story?

While there are plenty of fans that feel Dejan Lovren deserves to start again next season after his impressive form in 2018, Liverpool could yet move for another centre back this summer, and Thompson believes it should be Maguire.

“I’ve been a big fan of Harry Maguire since his days at Hull City,” Thompson told the Liverpool Echo.

“Since then he’s got better and better. He’s had a fantastic World Cup so far.

“I was saying long before the tournament started that he has all the attributes needed to be a Liverpool player. Harry has been one of the best defenders in the World Cup and he certainly fits Liverpool’s philosophy. I can’t speak more highly of him.

“No disrespect to Leicester but I can’t see him being there come the end of the transfer window. I think he would have been £50million before the World Cup and probably a bit more now. But I think he would be worth it.

“Big clubs will be after him and I’d like to think that Liverpool would be at the forefront.”

While Maguire has been a beast at the World Cup for England, he hasn’t shone as bright as Mina, who bagged three goals for Colombia and formed a rock solid partnership alongside Tottenham’s Davinson Sanchez.

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Everton interest?

Everton are chasing the Barcelona youngster, and according to The Liverpool Echo the Toffees have already made contact with Barcelona over a potential deal for the highly rated 23 year-old.

Marco Silva is on the hunt for a new a centre back to partner Michael Keane, as Phil Jagielka is now closer to 40 than 30 and Mason Holgate is still learning his craft.

The Toffees sold Ramiro Funes Mori this summer, leaving a gaping hole in the heart of their defence, but Liverpool should make sure they don’t plug that hole with Mina by swooping in and stealing the World Cup star.

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What’s all the fuss about?

The 23 year-old is seeking a fresh start after failing to make an impact in Catalonia, and Anfield would be the perfect place for him to do it.

The cliché “good feet for a big man” fits absolutely perfectly for Mina, as the 6 ft 5 defender boasted an 89 per cent pass success rate at the World Cup with Colombia.

He is also one hell of a defender, winning nearly five aerial duels per game, 1.3 tackles, one interception and a simply ridiculous seven clearances per game. This balance of defensive muscle and ball playing ability is exactly what the Reds need alongside van Dijk.

Mina’s three goals at the World Cup weren’t a coincidence either. The towering defender scored eight times in 33 appearances for Palmeiras before his big move to Barcelona, so just imagine the havoc he and van Dijk would cause at corners for the Reds.

His one weakness is his positioning, occasionally getting sucked out of wide or too high up the pitch. His surprising pace helps him recover though, and at 23 these mistakes are understandable. Playing alongside the colossal van Dijk would also help iron out these creases.

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All in all, Mina isn’t the perfect defender, but he ticks all the boxes of what Jürgen Klopp is looking for and at 23 has a lot more room to develop than Maguire.

So, Liverpool fans, which centre back would you rather sign? Let us know your thoughts by voting in the poll below…

According to AS, Sevilla want £31m for reported Tottenham Hotspur target Steven N’Zonzi in this summer’s transfer window.

What’s the story?

Speculation linking N’Zonzi with a move away from Sevilla has gathered pace since the end of last season, although the midfielder’s future is currently on hold whilst he represents France at the 2018 World Cup.

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Les Bleus have made the semi-finals of this summer’s competition, and will take on Belgium on Tuesday night for the right to play in this weekend’s final.

N’Zonzi’s future is expected to be determined later this month, with Arsenal believed to lead the Premier League interest.

Tottenham have also been linked with a move, however, and according to AS, Sevilla are holding out for £31m, which is £5m less than the midfielder’s release clause.

Spurs will be in the market for a new central midfielder if, as expected, Mousa Dembele moves on this summer, and N’Zonzi could be the perfect replacement for the Belgium international.

Why should Tottenham move for N’Zonzi?

It would be wrong to compare N’Zonzi with Dembele as the two are very different players, but the Sevilla midfielder has the credentials to easily slot into the Spurs team.

The 29-year-old has made more than 130 appearances for Sevilla over the last three seasons, but made just shy of 200 Premier League appearances for Blackburn Rovers and Stoke City in the English game between 2009 and 2015.

Standing at 6ft 6in, N’Zonzi, who is valued at £27m by Transfermarkt, is an absolute giant of a man, but also possesses an impressive range of passing, and boasts leadership qualities.

There would be absolutely no concerns as to whether the Frenchman would be able to adapt to Premier League football, meanwhile, and it would certainly be a signal of intent if Tottenham managed to beat bitter rivals Arsenal to his signature this summer.

Garry Monk is looking to put together a Birmingham City squad fit for the play-offs but finds himself with something of a goalkeeping crisis ahead of his first full season in charge at St Andrew’s.

The former Leeds United and Middlesbrough manager is happy to offload both his senior goalkeepers – David Stockdale and Tomasz Kuszczak – provided he can find an experienced replacement.

The issue is that the interest in Stockdale has died down since Leeds signed Jamal Blackman on loan from Chelsea, and former Manchester United stopper Kuszczak is still lingering, but Monk has left the duo off the pre-season tour.

To make matters more difficult, Monk is battling against an EFL transfer embargo, which has added a layer of mystery to the Blues’ dealings this summer.

So, we put it to the club’s fans that 6ft 4in former Holland international Tim Krul – who is now a free agent – would be the perfect upgrade for Stockdale.

The supporters agree, with 79 per cent of them believing that the former Newcastle glovesman would be a good addition, as you can see from the full results below…

With the BBC reporting that Wolves are set to make Portuguese midfielder Joao Moutinho their eighth signing of the summer, this would leave right wing-back as one of the only positions that boss Nuno Espirito Santo is yet to strengthen ahead of their return to the Premier League.

What’s the story?

Santo has been adding to his squad and signing players from top European clubs this summer in order to propel Wolves up the Premier League and avoid being relegated back to the Championship next season.

However, it is back to the Championship they should look for an upgrade on current right wing-back Matt Doherty.

Doherty is a Republic of Ireland international who played 47 games for Wolves in all competitions last season and contributed four goals and five assists while playing on the right of Santo’s favoured 3-4-3 formation.

He has been at the club since 2010 and has made 207 appearances in that time. While there is no doubt that Doherty has been a fantastic player for the West Midlands club, his position is one where Santo may look to upgrade or at least add competition.

Upgrade with Ayling

The Championship player that Wolves should look at signing is Leeds United full-back Luke Ayling. The 26-year-old former Arsenal trainee joined Leeds in 2016 from Bristol City and has since gone from strength to strength. In fact, he has become so important to the Whites that their downturn in form at the end of last season coincided with Ayling’s season-ending ankle injury that meant he missed from January onwards.

This summer, the appointment of Marcelo Bielsa at Leeds has seen Ayling play pre-season fixtures at right wing-back and the Englishman has excelled. He has scored impressive goals against both Forest Green Rovers and Southend so far this summer and looks as though he could easily make the step up to the Premier League.

Santo would be wise to make an offer this summer for the man who is rated at just £1.35m by Transfermarkt and could prove to be an exceptional bargain.

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Manchester United fans will be disappointed after watching the Red Devils lose 4-1 to Liverpool in pre-season.

The two sides looked a world apart, and a visibly frustrated Jose Mourinho let his feelings be known during his post-match press conference. He lamented the lack of players available due to the World Cup and blasted the youngster who were on show. The Portuguese also hinted that United board needed to add to the squad this summer.

The former Chelsea boss has spent over £70m to bring Fred, Diogo Dalot and Lee Grant to Old Trafford. However, he remains to keen to add to their attack with Anthony Martial linked with a move away. To catch Manchester City, United need to add another world-class attacker.

That man should be Bayern Munich superstar – Robert Lewandowski. Valued at £76.5m by Transfermarkt, the Pole is one of the best strikers on the planet and could be set to leave the club this summer. According to the manager, Niko Kovac, Lewandowski ‘toys with going elsewhere’ but Bayern does not want to lose their prized asset.

Real Madrid are long-term admirers of the Poland captain, but United must beat them to his signature. Lewandowski has finished as top scorer in the Bundesliga in two of the last three season – he netted an incredible 29 goals in 30 appearances last year as Bayern cruised to another league title. Alongside Romelu Lukaku and Alexis Sanchez, Lewandowski would score goals for fun in the Premier League.

A truly world-class finisher, United would be unstoppable if they added the 29-year-old to their attack next season.

Manchester United fans, thoughts?

Tottenham Hotspur are yet to make a move in the transfer window with less than a week remaining.

Spurs ended the season in third, 23 points behind winners Manchester City. Nevertheless, securing Champions League football in time for their new stadium was crucial. Mauricio Pochettino is yet to make a signing this summer and has instead focused on handing new contracts to key players like Christian Eriksen and Harry Kane.

There is a significant transfer development in Spain that might peak the Argentine’s interest. Fresh from selling Cristiano Ronaldo to Juventus, Real Madrid are also set to allow star midfielder, Luka Modric, to leave the club. Despite a sensational World Cup campaign, Los Blancos are ready to offload the 32-year-old to Inter Milan as they look to cash in on their ageing stars.

Valued at £22.5m by Transfermarkt, Tottenham should hijack Inter’s move and bring the Croatian back to White Hart Lane. Modric spent four years in North London after joining from Dinamo Zagreb back in 2008. His excellent performances saw him earn a £30m move to the Bernabeu.

Modric is an extremely popular figure in Spain after developing into a crucial player under Zinedine Zidane. He made 26 appearances in La Liga last season, scoring one and assisting six. Despite his age, he remains a world-class midfielder that would thrive in the Premier League.

If Real Madrid do end up selling their talisman, Tottenham would be foolish not to attempt to re-sign him.

Tottenham fans, thoughts?

Marko Grujic has struggled to earn a regular spot in Liverpool’s first team since his move to Anfield from Red Star Belgrade in 2016.

The 22-year-old is still in the early stages of his career, but now is the time when he needs to begin making an impression on manager Jurgen Klopp.

The Merseyside outfit have strengthened their attacking options in midfield with the arrival of Xherdan Shaqiri.

Fabinho and Naby Keita have made the middle of the park more competitive following their moves to Anfield earlier this summer.

Grujic predominantly plays centrally, but he can also push forward or drop back in a more defensive role if needs be.

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The Serbian needs to produce more goals in his game as he has only found the back of the net 10 times in 83 outings in his career.

According to the Liverpool Echo, out of all the fringe players, Grujic is the one likely to stay as he wants to fight for his place rather than go out on loan, despite interest from Cardiff City.

According to the print version of The Sun on Sunday (August 19, page 60), Southampton will face competition from Premier League rivals Burnley in the race to sign Lille winger Nicolas Pepe during the January transfer window.

What’s the word, then?

Well, France Football reportedly earlier this month that Saints had a €14m (£12.5m) offer rejected for the highly-rated attacker before the transfer window slammed shut, and their interest in the Ivory Coast international is backed up in The Sun on Sunday.

The Sun on Sunday report that Clarets boss Sean Dyche also wants him after he was priced out of a summer move for West Bromwich Albion’s Matt Phillips, and he will launch a £15m bid to bring Pepe to Turf Moor in the New Year.

The report adds that Lille are ready to sell the wide man for the right price, and he certainly began the new season well with a goal and an assist in the 3-1 win at home to Rennes on the opening day of the French top flight campaign.

Should Southampton be worried by Burnley’s interest?

Possibly.

While Saints will know that they can probably offer higher wages to the player, if the Lancashire club proceed through to the group stages of the Europa League and beyond then the offer of European football could swing things in their favour.

That is a long way away though, and there is no doubt that Mark Hughes would likely be able to guarantee that Pepe would be a regular fixture in the starting XI given his side’s continued struggles in the final third.

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James Ward-Prowse started on the right in the 2-1 defeat to Everton on Saturday, but he certainly isn’t a player that can cause a threat with his pace and trickery like Pepe can.

Southampton should be confident of sealing a deal for the 23-year-old if it’s solely between them and Burnley, and his arrival at St Mary’s would surely push Ward-Prowse through the exit door given it would push him further down the pecking order.

Rangers fans will be delighted to see Celtic crash out of the Champions League at the hands of AEK Athens.

The Hoops were defeated on aggregate against the Greek side meaning they will now drop into the Europa League qualifiers alongside the Gers. Steven Gerrard’s team will be looking to secure their place in the next round in their second-leg against Maribor. The Light Blues take a healthy 3-1 lead to Slovenia, but Gerrard will be cautious of complacency.

The former Liverpool captain has made an impressive start to his tenure and picked up his first win in the SPFL against St. Mirren at the weekend. Unlike English clubs, the Gers can sign players until the end of August and Gerrard is keen to add to his squad. The boss is desperate to bolster their firepower and land another striker.

One man he should consider is Stoke City forward – Peter Crouch. Valued at £900k by Transfermarkt, Gerrard played alongside the striker during his time on Merseyside, and the 37-year-old could look to reunite with his ex-teammate up north following Stoke’s relegation. Crouch made 31 appearances in the Premier League last season, scoring five goals.

The former Portsmouth man has plenty of experience that could be vital if Rangers are to finally knock Celtic off the top of the table. Crouch also has experience playing in Europe which will benefit Gerrard’s side if they reach the Europa League group stages. He could link up perfectly with Alfredo Morelos in the Rangers forward line to create a big and small partnership.

With just one year remaining on his contract, signing Crouch wouldn’t break the bank and give Gerrard a useful striking option.

Rangers fans, thoughts?