Liverpool are set for a busy summer, as the club hierarchy are tasked with setting up a squad that can get the club back to the top of the Premier League table.

There has already been plenty of change in the background, with Arne Slot losing his job and Andoni Iraola set to replace him in the Anfield dugout.

Within the squad there has been some churn too, as Mohamed Salah, Andy Robertson, and Ibrahima Konate have confirmed their exits from Liverpool, as the Reds look set to step into a new era.

That means signings will be needed, not only to strengthen the team but to match the new intense style of play they will be expected to perform with.

Plenty of links have appeared before the transfer window opens, as Liverpool put their plan in place, with the latest being a centre-back option to replace Konate.

Liverpool Eye Maxime Esteve Transfer

As links continue to surround Liverpool and some possible market movements, TeamTalk reports that Burnley defender Maxime Esteve is of interest to the Merseyside outfit.

The 24-year-old has been a key player for the Clarets, with exactly 100 appearances made for the club, but relegation from the Premier League could see the centre-back move on.

While Esteve signed a new long-term deal last year, Burnley are claimed to be resigned to losing the defender as teams begin to circle around a move.

Liverpool are joined by Chelsea and Crystal Palace as the teams listed as interested parties, while a deal from the Reds will be dependent on an internal discussion.

The club hierarchy need to hold transfer discussions with Iraola upon his arrival to decide whether Esteve is the player both the manager and recruitment team want to sign.

It’s unclear how much Burnley value Esteve at, though their move to potentially sign Dael Fry as a free agent replacement suggests a move is coming either way.

Who Is Maxime Esteve?

Maxime Esteve may be a name who isn’t particularly familiar with all Liverpool fans, given the time he has spent in the Championship as well as the Premier League.

The 24-year-old is a left-footed centre-back who was born in Montpellier, France, coming through the youth academy of his home city before featuring in the senior side.

He featured in the French youth teams, playing at under-20, under-21, and under-23 levels, but is yet to make an appearance for the senior side.

Burnley signed Esteve on an initial loan deal in the winter window 2024, which was made permanent that summer, with some impressive performances coming in that time.

The defender has over 160 professional appearances to his name, with 50 of those coming in the Premier League, where he equalled an unwanted record this season.

In a clash with Manchester City, Esteve was unfortunate enough to score two own goals, a rare feat that has only happened five other times in Premier League history.

One of the other players to do that is Jamie Carragher, who suffered the same fate in 1999 in a 3-2 defeat to fierce rivals Manchester United.

Fortunately for Carragher, that mistake didn’t go on to define him, and if Esteve can go and join Liverpool and follow in his footsteps, then it will be a fine move indeed.

As Manchester United enter the summer transfer market, all eyes are on what they will do in the midfield, with the engine room set to take up the majority of the budget.

While the central ranks will take priority for obvious reasons, as Man United close in on the signing of Ederson, there is another area that will need some attention.

That is the goalkeeping department, which has seen plenty of change in recent years, but could be set for further moves in the weeks ahead.

Last summer’s arrival of Senne Lammens worked as planned, having taken the number one shirt with some calm and considered performances, but it is beyond him that change is needed.

There may be three deals in the works for Man United that would take the side’s development to the next level, while providing a financial boost, too.

Man United Need Goalkeeper Exits

With Lammens sealing the first-choice spot in goal at Old Trafford, Man United now have a dilemma surrounding what to do with the players behind him in the pecking order.

Andre Onana was the number one for a while before Lammens arrived, but left to join Trabzonspor on loan for the campaign in search of regular playing time.

The Cameroonian shot-stopper is set to return from Turkiye, but his future remains uncertain, meaning he could look to leave the club this summer.

The 30-year-old has two years left on his deal at Old Trafford, having played 102 times for United since joining, but with options seemingly unclear for what could come after.

He isn’t the only one, however, as Altay Bayindir has been linked with a return to Turkiye, as he has also struggled to secure a starting spot at the club.

The 28-year-old is into the final year of his contract at the club, though there is a one-year extension option, having made just 17 appearances since joining back in 2023.

With both goalkeepers in the mix, it means Man United have four to call upon, when they could do with reducing that to just three, making for an awkward situation.

The pair could leave, forcing the club to enter the market again, but that would be a financial boost with funds raised from two exits, only to be replaced by one option.

As Lammens is the current number one, it would make sense to land a number two who won’t be quite as costly, creating a strong goalkeeping union once again.

And there are plenty of options that could be on the market.

Man United Need A Second-Choice Goalkeeper

If both Onana and Bayindir are to leave Man United this summer, then it would make sense to enter the market for a second-choice goalkeeper to bridge the gap between Lammens and Tom Heaton in the squad’s ranks.

That would see a third transfer deal completed in that position, but one that may be needed, and there are some top options that may be available.

Aaron Ramsdale, for example, could be on the cards. The 28-year-old is returning to Southampton at the end of his Newcastle loan spell, where he couldn’t quite break in to become the side’s number-one.

Ramsdale has plenty of quality, and while he may want to become a number-one elsewhere, he would certainly be one of the best backup goalkeepers in the league.

Beyond him, looking at the relegated sides could be an option, with experienced shot-stoppers Jose Sa and Martin Dubravka both offering plenty of quality from their time at the very top.

Then there’s the possibility of looking at potential, someone who could push Lammens in the long-term, but may require some time to be his understudy.

That may expose Man United more, especially if the promising arrival has to be thrown in for some key games for any particular reason.

But in all, a second-choice goalkeeper arrival would help secure the shot-stopping ranks for a while, and there would be a financial boost in landing some much-needed transfer fees for those who leave with just one replacement coming in.

Arsenal and Tottenham are set to go head-to-head in the pursuit of a new forward during the summer transfer window.

The Gunners could be one of the most attractive prospects in European football heading into the summer after they lifted the Premier League title during the 2025-2026 season.

Arsenal almost completed a double, losing the Champions League final against Paris Saint-Germain on penalties last month.

For Tottenham, attracting players isn’t going to be as easy after two years in a row spent battling to avoid relegation.

Spurs undoubtedly need a huge overhaul of their squad in the summer, but it’s not going to be easy due to their current situation.

Tottenham and Arsenal Battling for Forward

According to a report from Sports Boom, Arsenal and Tottenham are locked in a hot pursuit to try to sign Real Sociedad forward Ander Barrenetxea in the summer transfer window.

It’s claimed that Arsenal are already preparing an opening bid in the region of £26 million, but Tottenham intend to make him a key target.

Barrenetxea is believed to have a release clause in the region of £65 million, and Real Sociedad will be pointing directly to that in negotiations.

It appears Arsenal’s potential offer isn’t going to be enough, and either they or Tottenham will need to fork out a hefty amount of money to secure his signature.

It feels unlikely that either club would be willing to pay the £65 million, and it remains to be seen whether Real Sociedad are willing to negotiate.

Arsenal Likely to Have Advantage in Race

If Arsenal and Tottenham are both battling it out for the signing of Barrenetxea, described as a ‘baller’, it feels unlikely that Spurs would be able to win the race.

Arsenal were able to offer Champions League football, which in turn would likely mean more game time due to more competitions and rotation.

On the other hand, Tottenham’s squad certainly isn’t as good, so there is a chance that Barrenetxea could nail down a starting spot in Roberto De Zerbi’s side.

Either way, it appears that Real Sociedad aren’t going to let him go without a fight unless one of the two sides decides to trigger his release clause.