With the summer transfer window quickly approaching, one of the most in-demand players in Europe will be Lyon and France striker Alexandre Lacazette.

The sprightly forward has been on the collective radar for a number of seasons but has catapulted himself to the next level in 2014-15 with superb feats of goalscoring in Ligue 1.

As such, a host of Premier League clubs have been linked with a move for him at the end of the current campaign, including Liverpool, Manchester United and Tottenham.

But, with these three heavyweights of English football potentially set to move for Lacazette, who needs him more?

Liverpool

Brendan Rodgers has admitted that his side have not been as clinical in the final third this season, with Luis Suarez’s departure and injury to Daniel Sturridge blunting the Reds as an attacking force.

The Merseysiders look almost certain to sign a centre forward this summer as a result, with Lacazette an excellent option for them.

Rodgers prefers young, technically able and mobile players, with the France international firmly fitting the bill.

His pace offers a threat in-behind opposition defences, while his partnerships with the likes of Philippe Coutinho and Raheem Sterling would be an ominous proposition.

Man United

United have announced the first of what is expected to be a glut of summer signings, with Memphis Depay set for a switch to Old Trafford.

Despite the Dutch starlet’s arrival, the Red Devils are expected to still be in the market for a new centre forward to bolster Louis van Gaal’s options.

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With Radamel Falcao failing this season and Robin van Persie getting older, an injection of youth will surely reinvigorate the side.

A partnership with Wayne Rooney would be an enticing prospect, but is remains to be seen whether Lacazette is a big enough name for United.

Tottenham

The North Londoners have been overly dependent on homegrown hero Harry Kane for goals this season, with back-up options to the England international non-existent.

As such, Spurs are likely to bolster their ranks with a centre forward also, but it is hard to know whether this will be to accompany Kane or act as an alternative to him.

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Lacazette’s signing would be a real statement of intent by the White Hart Lane side but tactically Mauricio Pochettino would need to think it through.

Playing the strike pairing together would require a change in formation from the club’s usual 4-2-3-1 system, or dropping Kane into the number ten role – which could limit his ability to hit the back of the net and put more emphasis on him to create.

Verdict

Lacazette looks set to be a real star for years to come and is clearly ready for a move to the Premier League.

Although all three clubs would benefit from his acquisition this summer, Liverpool are crying out for a centre forward of his ilk and would be best advised to do whatever it takes to bring him to Anfield.

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In light of Jurgen Klopp’s upcoming departure from the Signal Iduna Park at the tail end of the season, Borussia Dortmund are now a team who seemingly find themselves in a state of limbo.

The 2014/15 campaign has certainly been one to forget for the plucky German outfit, and with a whole host of top European clubs likely to be sniffing around BVB’s most high profile talent this summer, the former Bundesliga champions really could be entering a somewhat transitional phase in the not too distant future.

The likes of Mats Hummels, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Henrikh Mkhitarayn could all soon be following Klopp out of Dortmund if the circumstances prove suitable in the next few months – regardless of how notoriously supportive their current set of fans prove to be.

However, with Ilkay Gundogan reportedly going down as Louis van Gaal’s prime summer target in the run up to the new campaign, will we soon be seeing the German international turning out at Old Trafford next season, and would the midfield dynamo really suit playing for Manchester United in the ever testing reams of Premier League football?

Well, by most accounts of those who have consistently watched the Bundesliga star on a regular basis, Ilkay Gundogan would certainly be able to do the business for van Gaal should the Dutchman follow through on his reported interest in the star this summer.

In deriving from a Turkish-German background much like Arsenal’s Mesut Ozil, the Dortmund no. 8 is also blessed with some classy composure on the ball and an ability to pick out a fine pass whenever called upon. The centre-midfielder can also provide the tackles for his team and begin to break up play, but he is invariably much more effective in the final third with the ball at his feet.

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Gundogan goes down as an extremely intelligent player, someone gifted with the technical grace to be able to glide across the pitch at ease – and at the early age of only 24-years-old – the BVB favourite still has many years left in him to perfect his game even further.

There have nonetheless been a few question marks raised over his ability to stay fit for an entire season however, as injuries have certainly hampered the Dortmund star so far in his career. The classy midfield maestro failed to play any role in his nation’s World Cup triumph in Brazil last summer after all, so careful thought must be applied in any potential deal likely to take place next season.

Yet if such a hurdle can be effectively dealt with by the player in question, there is absolutely no reason to suggest that Ilkay Gundogan won’t go on to potentially become one of the stand out players of his generation.

A move to Manchester United next season would therefore seem like a positive step for the German international should his time at Dortmund come to a natural end. Alongside the likes of Daley Blind and Ander Herrera in the heart of the Red Devils midfield, Gundogan would seemingly fit in perfectly with the style of football trying to be achieved by Louis van Gaal at Old Trafford, as his side look to push on for that ever illusive Premier League title.

The former FC Nürnberg man would add that extra bit of flair and efficiency into a squad already possessing some of the most high profile talents the current game has to offer.

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With 33-year-old Michael Carrick looking likely to call time on his Manchester United career sooner or later, Borussia Dortmund’s current no. 8 could turn out to be the perfect replacement to not only emulate what the former West Ham and Tottenham star has achieved so far at Old Trafford, but also someone worthy of improving on where Carrick has left off at United.

The good news seemingly continues for Red Devils fans wanting the land the German star this summer though – as with just over one year reaming on his current contract at the Signal Iduna Park this season – Jurgen Klopp’s former favourite could perhaps be sourced on the cheap for Manchester United by the end of the season.

As the signing of high profile Borussia Dortmund stars hasn’t always worked out for Louis van Gaal’s side in the past however – just ask former United man Shinji Kagawa – perhaps a degree of caution must be applied with any similar deal likely to take place this summer. Just watch this space…

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Arsenal’s point at Old Trafford last weekend against Manchester United, all but assured Arsene Wenger’s men of third place and ensures they will miss those tricky qualifiers and will begin next year’s European campaign in the group stages.

For all of The Gunners’ improvement this term they have still come up short where it really matters; over ten points behind leaders Chelsea and seemingly destined to finish behind runners up Manchester City.

It has been well documented that Arsenal’s wait for a league title is now over a decade, since ‘The Invincibles’ in 2003-04, Wenger has been unable to build a side capable of finishing top of the pile.

With the season almost reaching its conclusion, where can Arsenal look to improve in the summer to give them a real chance of challenging Chelsea next term?

In between the sticks seems a place that Wenger is almost certain to improve, Wojciech Sczcesny, through a combination of off-the-field misdemeanours and lack of form, lost his starting place and the recent incumbent of that spot David Ospina has hardly exuded confidence from his goal line.

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It has been an area that The Gunners have struggled in for what seems like an eternity, in comparison to all of their competitors they are streets behind. Petr Cech has been linked with a move to The Emirates and acquiring the Chelsea stopper would give finally give The Gunners a dominating presence to marshal presence and one of the top keeps in European football will no doubt improve their credentials.

In defence, Laurent Koscielny and Per Mertesacker seemed to have finally forged a solid defensive pairing, but even the staunchest Per fan would struggle to argue he is good enough for where Arsenal must aspire to be.

Debuchy and Gibbs are dependable full backs and Chambers has provided a glimpse into the future with some promising performances this term. With another year’s experience behind him, the former Southampton man will look at next year being his real breakthrough one.

In midfield The Gunners are over populated with different versions of the same player, Wenger must look to add bite to his, at times, passive midfield, Flamini has been criminally off the pace for much of his second spell and his position should be one that his high on the list for potential replacements.

In attacking areas, Arsenal must improve. Olivier Giroud has been a revelation this season but there are still question marks over his ability to be their main man. Welbeck’s first season has been a relatively underwhelming one and further bolstering their striking options will ensure they are serious challengers come next August.

In short, Arsenal just need players, although of course there are particular areas that need strengthening more than others; it is more important they are simply improving as a side. They cannot stand still, Chelsea will look to improve on the side that strolled to the title and both Manchester clubs are surely readying a summer spending spree.

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If Arsenal remain motionless they will once again be left behind, they are close to a side that can truly compete and they must not waste this opportunity to return to the top of English football.

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West Ham United have been among the more active sides in the transfer window so far and the nature of their activity seemingly signals strong intent to improve on last season’s mid-table finish and establish themselves as Europa League regulars.

The Hammers have a shot at European football this term thanks to the UEFA fair play system but have so far made heavy going of their qualifiers.

They also won’t be getting in on fair play again anytime soon, having a terrible disciplinary record since their quest for the group stages began.

Are the new additions to the squad the right type of players to elevate the club’s performance and stature or is new boss Slaven Bilic merely overseeing a spending spree that will leave the fans disappointed?

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The marquee capture so far has been that of attacking midfielder Dimitri Payet.

The playmaker arrives on the back of an excellent season with Marseille so expectations are sure to be high. Last season the Frenchman wracked up 16 Ligue 1 assists; one of the best returns around Europe’s top leagues.

This figure, along with his £11million price tag, will have supporters confident the club have acquired a player of real quality and creative spark.

Payet is technically excellent but he is small in stature and having spent his entire career in France so far, the club are gambling to an extent that he can make the transition to the rigorous Premiership.

A further £8million has been spent of defensive reinforcement in the form of Angelo Ogbonna.

Unlike Payet, Ogbonna should have little problems adapting, on the pitch at least; the 6 ft 3 centre back will relish the physical aspect of his new challenge.

He has come in from Juventus and with 10 International caps for Italy to his name, bringing a certain amount of experience and pedigree.

The 27-year-old is a powerful athlete but he is capable of passing too and in general looks to be a fairly solid addition to Bilic’s squad.

Also coming in from Serie A is former Sampdoria midfielder Pedro Obiang. The Spaniard was acquired for a more modest fee of around £4.4million.

He will give Bilic another option in the middle of the park, albeit not a goal-scoring one. The 23-year-old has just four senior strikes to his name but has performed consistently for his previous club over the last five seasons, giving him good experience for his age.

He is another one, though, that will need to adapt quickly for West Ham to see benefit this term, with his acquisition nullifying the loss of Alex Song.

A key piece of business has also been to secure the services of Carl Jenkinson on loan from Arsenal for another season.

The young Englishman was a consistent performer last term and the deal seems like a good move on West Ham’s part, as it takes care of a full back slot with no risk involved.

The club’s other loan capture will be less well known to anyone in English football. Manuel Lanzini has come in on a one season deal from Al Jazira in the Arabian Gulf League.

The 22-year-old winger is capped by Argentina at youth level but with his diminutive stature, will need to have plenty of tricks in his repertoire.

The only other addition to date has been journeyman goalkeeper Darren Randolph, who has clearly been added with strength in depth in mind. Both Bilic and the club’s fan base, will be hopeful of further arrivals before the transfer window shuts.

The principle piece of business still to be done concerns Song. The midfielder spent last season on loan at Upton Park and remains a key target for the club with his current employer, Barcelona, seemingly willing to let him leave on a free transfer.

The Cameroonian impressed last term and is likely to have other suitors. West Ham are currently in contract discussions with the former Arsenal man and Bilic seems hopeful.

The manager has stated that he plans to add at least two more players to his squad this summer. If one is Song then the other would seem to be a striker.

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Charlie Austin seems destined for a return to the top flight after his exploits last term and West Ham are in the mix of clubs chasing his signature. Alternatives targets include Fenerbahce forward Moussa Sow and Manchester United’s Javier Hernandez.

Landing any one of the three would be a further serious statement of intent, and if one of them can be lured to East London then they will surely be relishing the service that Payet will provide.

In general the summer business shows that the Hammers are not simply happy to rest on their laurels, but make genuine progress.

The key additions to the squad, including the manager himself, all come with impressive statistics and a great deal of potential.

There will be a lot for them to prove though, as Bilic attempts to help his new charges gel before the Premier League kicks off.

The Upton park faithful will be less than impressed to date, given the penalty shootout victory over Maltese minnows Birkirkara and last night’s debacle against Astra Giurgiu in which Bilic himself was sent from the touchline.

Reported Newcastle United target Joe Bryan scored a goal and was arguably the best Bristol City player on the pitch as the Robins beat Manchester United 2-1 in the EFL Cup quarter-finals on a famous night at Ashton Gate on Wednesday, and Magpies fans were quick to have their say in the 24-year-old.According to reports on Football Insider on Wednesday, both the Magpies and Premier League rivals Everton are keen on a January deal for the versatile left-sided player, but he may have caught the attentions of other clubs following his performance against the Red Devils.The 5ft 7in player was impressive at both ends of the pitch, and it was his rasping drive that gave the Robins the lead in the second-half.Newcastle supporters took to social media to give their thoughts on Bryan’s display, and they aren’t confident of signing him now.While one said “Bristol City aren’t going to sell him”, another said “I think that’s #NUFC officially ruled out for Joe Bryan after that performance!”Here is just a selection of the Twitter reaction…

According to reports in The Telegraph, Tottenham have been dealt a huge blow in their attempts to sign Fulham starlet Ryan Sessegnon, who is valued at £50m according to The Sun, this month after their vice-chairman Tony Khan said he won’t be leaving the club before the transfer window slams shut on January 31.

What’s the word, then?

Well, The Telegraph says that despite interest from Spurs and Premier League rivals Manchester United – among others – Sessegnon will not be leaving the Championship outfit this month with a summer exit – for a potential British record fee for a teenager – now likely to happen.

The Telegraph says that while the Reds Devils made the biggest attempt to sign the 17-year-old, Tottenham were also frontrunners and they will hope that their track record of developing young English talent will see them win the race to sign the England U19 international at the end of the current campaign.

According to the report, Khan said: “As it’s been the subject of a great deal of speculation, I’d like to announce that Ryan Sessegnon is staying with Fulham football club and will not be departing during this January transfer window.”

How has Sessegnon done this season?

He has been excellent.

It’s incredible to think that despite the fact that he doesn’t celebrate his 18th birthday until May, he has already made 59 appearances in all competitions for Fulham.

The versatile left-sided player, who can play as a full-back or on the wing, has scored seven goals and provided a further four assists in 26 Championship appearances this term, including two goals and an assist in the 4-1 win against Ipswich Town at Cravan Cottage in their previous league game.

The 17-year-old is good defensively, mature, pacy and decent with his right foot too – as he showed with two fine finishes with his so-called weaker foot when he netted a hat-trick in the 5-4 win against Sheffield United at Bramall Lane in November.

How much of a blow is this for Spurs?

As we mentioned previously, it certainly isn’t a disaster right now given that they still have Rose and Davies.

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However, Tottenham will be determined to win the race to sign one of the best young players in the country right now, and they will be aware that there could be even more competition for his services by the summer.

Tottenham Hotspur defender Toby Alderweireld is expected to begin training with his teammates next week, according to HLN journalist Kristof Terreur.

What’s the latest?

Spurs Âhave been without one of their key players since the start of November.

Alderweireld suffered a hamstring injury during the team’s 3-1 victory over Real Madrid in the Champions League at Wembley.

Manager Mauricio Pochettino has maintained that the Belgian will not be available until February, and even though that is still the case, the centre-back has stepped up his recovery.

Terreur wrote on his Twitter account that Alderweireld will join his teammates in training next week.

Have Tottenham missed him?

There is no denying the centre-back’s quality and when he is fit and ready, he will boost the team for certain.

Initially when Alderweireld was sidelined, Spurs went through a tricky period in the Premier League, dropping points in four consecutive games.

Since the team’s 4-1 loss to Manchester City in mid-December, Pochettino’s men have won four and drawn one, proving that they are coping without the defender.

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Bringing back Alderweireld next month, though, will almost be like a new signings and will help massively with the club’s juggling of various competitions.

Manchester United centre-back Phil Jones has paid tribute to the finishing qualities of in-form teammate Anthony Martial.

Martial struggled for consistency in the early stages of the season, but the Frenchman has been in terrific form for the Red Devils in recent weeks.

Indeed, the 22-year-old has scored in each of his last three Premier League appearances – including the only goal of the match against Burnley on Saturday afternoon.

The former Monaco attacker now has nine goals and four assists in 22 league fixtures this season, whilst he also managed one goal and three assists in the group stages of the Champions League.

Jones, who has also impressed for United in recent weeks, has explained why Martial is so crucial to the 20-time English champions at this moment in time.

Jones told MUTV:

“Martial needs one chance and he scores and that is why he is so crucial for us at the moment. He doesn’t need a second chance, his finish was terrific as well.”

Martial, who is valued at £58.5m by transfermarkt.co.uk, is expected to be rested when United travel to Yeovil Town in the fourth round of the FA Cup on Friday night.

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West Ham United have sent Toni Martinez on loan to Real Valladolid for the remainder of the 2017-18 campaign.After scoring nine times in 13 appearances for West Ham’s Under-23 team, Martinez appeared in three FA Cup fixtures for the Hammers before leaving on loan.When considering that West Ham currently have a lack of options in the final third of the field, it was a surprise that the loan of Martinez was sanctioned.The majority of the club’s supporters were not pleased when the deal was announced, but the 20-year-old could yet become a very important player for the London club.On Tuesday, Martinez, who is valued at £1.4m by transfermarkt.co.uk, posted a message on Twitter where he revealed that ‘it was a dream come true’ to make his first-team debut for West Ham this season.As expected, the response section was full of the club’s fans already looking forward to having the Spaniard back for the 2018-19 campaign.A selection of the Twitter reaction to Martinez’s post can be seen below:

As reported by The Sun, Real Madrid are lining up a surprising summer bid for midfielder Paul Pogba this summer, just two years after the Frenchman arrived at the club.

What’s the story?

We’re still months away from the summer transfer window opening but already the big headline grabbing stories are emerging and a potential Paul Pogba move away from Man United is sure to raise some eyebrows.

The Sun report that Real Madrid are plotting to bring him to La Liga at the end of the season despite both Man United and Pogba himself not being receptive to such a move.

The paper reckon that the Spanish side are keeping tabs on his happiness in Manchester due to his dip in form and the fact Mourinho has either substituted him off or dropped him completely in recent matches.

However, any bid would need to be well over £120m if business is to be done, says the report.

Should they sell?

Given United’s investment in Paul Pogba and the fact that Jose Mourinho is looking to build a team around him in years to come, it would be silly for the Manchester side to consider any move for the French international in the summer, regardless of what money is offered.

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He may be struggling to find his most effective role in the Red Devils first team, but he has a quality that can be priceless when he is on top form and rather than give up on him, United need to find the best way to utilise him.

Selling him to a potential UEFA Champions League rival makes even less sense and despite Madrid’s reported desire to land him, this is one transfer rumour that the Old Trafford side should shut down.