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Chelsea are ‘desperate’ to sign Napoli striker Victor Osimhen and are expected to offer players as part of the exchange.

The Lowdown: Blues busy…

The Stamford Bridge side have been one of Premier League football’s busiest sides in terms of making transfers, spending a grand total of £488 million since Todd Boehly’s arrival.

Graham Potter is yet to realise the full potential of this star-studded Chelsea squad but could need more time to truly assemble them to a real winning force.

Chelsea chiefs, despite their lavish spending thus far, appear set to make more moves this summer with the Blues now listing Osimhen as a top target.

The Latest: Chelsea ‘desperate’ to win Osimhen race…

According to 90min, Chelsea have the Napoli star at the very top of their wish list, with this report claiming they are ‘desperate to win the race’ for his signature.

It is believed he is valued at a staggering €150 million (£133m) but the west Londoners are planning to whittle down this price by offering a ‘number of players’ in exchange.

Romelu Lukaku is a possibility in this regard, provided the player doesn’t return to Inter permanently.

The Verdict: Perfect player…

Chelsea will face serious competition for Osimhen this summer given Man United are also on the hunt for a world class striking option.

The Red Devils have been credited with serious interest in Nigeria’s international gem, but if Chelsea can tempt him to London instead, there is little denying he will upgrade Potter’s forward options.

Called a ‘monster’ by members of the press, Osimhen has lead Napoli’s charge to a potential Serie A title this season – standing out as a real key player.

According to WhoScored, the 24-year-old has racked up a pretty incredible 16 goals in 16 starts for Napoli with the threatening forward also averaging a seismic 4.1 attempts at goal per 90.

It’s hardly surprising Napoli and chairman Aurelio De Laurentiis have slapped such a mammoth valuation on Osimhen’s head. If the club chief is open to discussing part-exchange offers, Chelsea may be set to attempt one of the summer’s biggest moves.

TalkSport’s Alan Brazil believes that Antonio Conte will leave Tottenham Hotspur this summer and be replaced by Mauricio Pochettino.

The Lowdown: Spurs struggling for consistency

Tottenham have been in and out of good form this season, having picked up points against the champions last weekend and progressed to the knockout stages of the Champions League, yet they find themselves sitting outside of the top four.

Due to this form, there has constantly been talk about Conte’s future and how he is seemingly unwilling to sign an extended deal that would keep him in north London for the foreseeable future.

If that is to be the case, Daniel Levy will surely already have candidates in mind from which to appoint a successor come the summer if Conte does leave – and someone who’s been linked with a return is Pochettino.

The Latest: Pochettino backed to replace Conte

Brazil has been speaking on TalkSport about how Pochettino will replace Conte this summer, but claimed no matter who the manager is, Levy must hand the man in charge a decent transfer budget.

He said: “I’ve been disappointed with Spurs, but you look at the table, you look at what they’re left in, and I’ve just said I think they can overcome Milan in London, I do. I think they can go through to the next round.

“I’ll say it again, that I’m told that he’s probably going to leave and Poch will come in, but whoever comes in has got to have money to improve – especially the midfield.”

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The Verdict: May be difficult to improve Tottenham

While it is easy for Brazil to say Spurs have to spend money this summer on players and improve their midfield, things may well have just got far more complicated, as Iranian-American billionaire Jahm Najafi is now reportedly readying a £3.1bn takeover of Tottenham.

This could make Spurs’ situation seem less clear in terms of how much money will be made available if ENIC and Levy were to leave in the near future, as well as who the new owners may want as manager.

No matter who the manager or owner is in the summer, though, at least one new midfielder surely has to be brought in, as in midweek, Conte had no choice but to hand Champions League debuts to Oliver Skipp and Pape Matar Sarr, which shows how desperate they are for reinforcements in that particular area.

Phil Hay has claimed that Victor Orta knew Alfred Schreuder prior to him being approached for the Leeds United job.

The Lowdown: Orta failed to land a new manager

After being met with a brick wall in their attempts to appoint both Andoni Iraola and Arne Slot as Jesse Marsch’s successor it appeared as though Orta changed tactics and started looking at people who were already out of a job.

This seemingly saw him turn to former Ajax manager Schreuder who was in attendance for the club’s defeat at the hands of Manchester United, although nothing ever came of that meeting.

The fact that Schreuder was invited to Elland Road would suggest that Leeds certainly had an intention of handing him the keys and letting him crack on until at least the end of the season, which may have been down to the fact he was known by Orta already.

The Latest: Schreuder was certainly of interest to Leeds

Hay has admitted on The Phil Hay Show that Orta certainly knew Schreuder before he attended a Leeds game which shows he may well have been looking out for someone he knew.

He said: (25:10) “I think he does know Schreuder but it seemed to me that it became an option towards the end of the week when it was apparent that Iraola wasn’t going to be coming out of Rayo Vallecano.”

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The Verdict: Leeds can’t afford relegation

The fact that Orta was looking to bring in someone that he already knew within football isn’t a good sign of how he must like to operate by connecting with people he is familiar with and not necessarily just the best man for the job.

It is a huge amount of pressure that Orta and Andrea Radrizzani have thrust upon the inexperienced shoulders of Michael Skubala as he is tasked with guiding them away from the bottom three despite having no first-team managerial experience prior to this stint in charge.

Leeds can’t afford to drop down a division because of their impending takeover by the 49ers enterprise and also the fact that they’ve spent very heavily in the last few windows which would certainly harm them financially if they were to be relegated.

Liverpool could reportedly need to spend as much as €80m (£70.7m) if they want to sign Inter Milan midfielder Nicolo Barella this summer, according to reports from Italy.

The Lowdown: Barella linked with Liverpool

The 26-year-old has continued to be one of the standout midfielders in Serie A this season, registering five goals and five assists in the division.

Barella has been linked with a move to Liverpool in the past year as the Reds look to address their serious midfield shortcomings during the summer transfer window.

A fresh update has emerged from the continent regarding their potential pursuit of the Italian maestro.

The Latest: Barella could cost £70m

According to Italian outlet Gazzetta dello Sport [via Sport Witness], Liverpool could have to pay as much as £70.7m for Barella’s services this summer.

The report states that Jurgen Klopp has had the midfielder ‘followed by’ scouts for a while as the Reds manager looks to ‘revolutionise’ his midfield moving forward.

However, Barella is currently happy at Inter and is in no rush to leave, with his current deal not expiring until 2026.

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The Verdict: Would be a superb signing

Barella is someone who could be the perfect addition for Liverpool this summer – Klopp has called him a ‘really good player’ in the past – possessing both the natural talent and the dynamism to transform the Reds.

His aforementioned goal and assist tally highlights his ability in possession, while he has also averaged 1.3 tackles per game in Serie A this season, showing an aptitude for working hard out of possession.

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Barella is also a born winner, having tasted Euro 2020 glory with Italy and won four trophies with Inter; and at 26, he is in that prime mid-20s age bracket that Liverpool’s current midfielders have either passed or are far away from reaching.

It does seem as though it will be difficult for the Reds to get the Italian, especially if big money is spent on Jude Bellingham, but the Azzurri midfielder should be viewed as a primary candidate to come in at Anfield.

Leeds United’s prestigious academy has been working overtime in recent years, having produced some incredible talent the likes of which played a big role in their survival last term.

Although acquired as a youngster, Joe Gelhardt came up with some vital goals and assists at important moments for Jesse Marsch, who then enjoyed a burst of success from Crysencio Summerville this season before the World Cup halted his momentum.

As such, the American ran out of leeway and was dismissed just last month, leaving Javi Gracia as the man to pick up the pieces and guide the Whites to safety once again.

Whilst the academy will likely be low down in the Spaniard’s list of priorities, come the conclusion of the campaign he will likely be pleasantly surprised with the wealth of talent available to him who all are pushing for first-team spots.

One such example could be Archie Gray, who despite being incredibly young arguably boasts the brightest future.

Can Archie Gray be Leeds’ own Ronaldinho?

At just 16 years old, this teenage sensation already has numerous Premier League 2 appearances under his belt and this season has assisted twice in the four he has featured in this season. 

The gem, who turns 17 this month, has played 19 times for the club’s U21 side in total and has been called up by England at U15, U16, and U17 level in his short career to date.

It marks an impressive maturity and quality that belie his youth, only serving to solidify his status as “the future of the club”; a claim uttered by Gracia himself in a press conference earlier this week.

There is precedent to believe that, with Gray’s focus being more on the skillful side of the game rather than the tangible, his emergence could indicate Leeds receiving their very own Ronaldinho.

Even Dan James suggested that: “the ability he’s got is something that he can take to be one of the best players in the Premier League if not the world.”

Having been brought up on futsal and Brazilian soccer schools, his close control and quality with the ball at his feet are unparalleled for someone of his age. 

Legendary Portugal midfielder Deco once said of Ronaldinho that he “did things that I’ve never seen anyone do”, and in Gray, there is a suggestion he too could boast that maverick streak that could make him a true star.

Like the former Barcelona wildcard, Gray is an attacking midfielder and could be a creative spark in the middle of the pitch for the Whites – assisting four goals for the U21s already despite his young age.

The future of the club will remain sparkling with the youngster in midfield, and Gracia will surely have one eye on a senior promotion should he continue to capture the imagination.

Manchester City could be considered new ‘favourites’ to sign West Ham United star Declan Rice this summer, according to reports.

The Lowdown: Rice linked…

The 24-year-old has been sporadically linked with a move to Eastlands as manager Pep Guardiola reportedly identifies transfer targets for next season.

Rice, however, is also attracting interest from the likes of Arsenal and Chelsea with reports suggesting that the England international is open to joining Mikel Arteta’s side.

City also have both Rodri and Kalvin Phillips in their ranks, making a move for the Irons star seem impractical.

The Latest: Man City considered Rice ‘favourites’…

According to a report by TEAMtalk and reporter Graeme Bailey, the Premier League champions could be considered new favourites for Rice.

The race to sign him is apparently ‘intensifying’, and to make room for the player at City, Kalvin Phillips, Ilkay Gundogan and Bernardo Silva are all nominees for potential exits this summer.

The Verdict: Phenomenal player…

Called a ‘superstar’ by some members of the media, there is little denying he has become that at the London Stadium.

Rice averages more interceptions per 90 than any West Ham star in midfield whilst also completing a higher pass accuracy over all of his teammates (WhoScored).

As a player proven in the English top flight, the pull for Guardiola and co is Rice’s undoubted quality, having even cemented himself as a regular under Gareth Southgate at international level.

That being said, the gem could also command a heavy price tag, with manager David Moyes even demanding a £150 million fee for him last year.

Phillips is currently still finding his feet after injury and is growing accustomed to life at the Etihad during his first season, and despite Rice’s brilliance, we believe the former Leeds star should be afforded far more time.

Sheffield United are monitoring Barnsley defender Jordan Williams ahead of a potential move this summer, according to reports in the last 48 hours.

The Lowdown: Catching the eye

The Tykes right-back has now entered the final 18 months of his deal at Oakwell, and being Michael Duff’s second-best-performing defensive player, is catching the eye of potential suitors.

The Yorkshire outfit are currently fourth in League One, but should they not achieve promotion to the Championship, a move to a team in a higher division would certainly be of appeal.

The Latest: Sheff Utd eyeing Williams

According to Football League World, Sheffield United, Norwich City and Middlesbrough are all ‘monitoring’ Williams as they look to make the jump up to the Premier League.

The Blades and their competitors are ‘taking a closer look’ at the 23-year-old as they weigh up whether to make an official approach.

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The Verdict: Get it done…

Williams has been hailed a ‘brilliant’ player by journalist Josh Bunting and United should act fast to get this deal over the line ahead of their fellow admirers.

The Huddersfield-born talent is currently averaging 2.3 clearances and 1.5 aerial wins per league game (WhoScored), but is also a threat at the opposite end of the pitch.

The Tykes star has six assists and five goals to his name in 33 appearances in all competitions this season, showing how much he loves to get down the flank.

Williams also has the versatility to operate in five various positions, including on both wings and at centre-back, so this will be yet another attractive attribute to Heckingbottom.

Niels Nkounkou could be given a chance to resurrect his career at Everton once his loan spell at Saint-Etienne ends.

The Lowdown: Loaned out

Nkounkou is currently on loan at Saint-Etienne in France, and has impressed in recent games.

In his last five matches in Ligue 2, he has scored one goal and made four assists from left-back, and also featured 18 times for Cardiff City in the Championship earlier in the season, producing one assist (Transfermarkt).

The Latest: Caught the eye

As per Football Insider, Nkounkou is set to be given the chance to resurrect his career at Goodison Park this summer.

He has ‘caught the eye’ with recent performances, with Saint-Etienne tempted to trigger the buy option in his contract.

However, that fee is thought to be ‘relatively high’, and Sean Dyche could recall him back into the squad, with Ruben Vinagre set to leave after his loan spell.

The Verdict: Why not?

With Vinagre set to leave, a spot at left-back will open up in the squad for a player to compete with Vitaliy Mykolenko.

Hailed as a ‘magnificent find’ by pundit and former left-back Stephen Warnock, Nkounkou has not always been given the chance to impress at the Toffees, with just seven first-team appearances made.

Still only 22 years of age, the Frenchman still has a lot of potential, and could flourish on Merseyside under a new manager in Dyche.

While Manchester United still have plenty left to play for between now and the end of the season, manager Erik ten Hag will already likely have one thought on just how his squad will shape up heading into next season, with key decisions needing to be made to continue the recent progress under the Dutchman.

One notable area that does appear in need of addressing is the midfield ranks, with the Red Devils currently having something of an ageing pool in that department, with the likes of Christian Eriksen, Casemiro and Fred all in their thirties.

There is seemingly an urgency to find a more youthful, long-term replacement for the latter man, in particular, with the diminutive Brazilian – who has been at the club since 2018 – reportedly one of those who could be moved on this summer.

The 30-year-old currently has just over a year to run on his existing deal after the club recently triggered a 12-month extension, albeit with it seemingly unlikely that a long-term contract will be in the works, with the former Shakhtar Donetsk man having been a polarising figure during his time at Old Trafford.

Branded "not good enough" by club legend Roy Keane earlier in the campaign, the relentless gem does still have his merits, however, having been hailed as a "mosquito" by Ten Hag for his pest-like, all-action style in the Europa League triumph over Barcelona.

As such, if Fred is to move on any time soon, the former Ajax boss will be looking to find a suitable successor for the 32-cap machine in the centre of the park, with promising youngster Charlie Savage one such candidate for the role.

How is Charlie Savage getting on at Forest Green?

The 19-year-old – who is the son of one-time United academy graduate, Robbie Savage – is currently shining out on loan at League One side, Forest Green Rovers, having joined the club in January on a temporary deal until the end of the season.

The Wales youth international – who recently turned down a call-up from his nation's U21 set-up in order to focus on his club side – notably scored his first senior goal in the defeat to Bristol Rovers earlier this month, with that having been just reward for his fine start to life under manager, Duncan Ferguson.

Much like Fred the 'mosquito', Savage is also seemingly "full of energy and enthusiasm" – according to Ferguson – with that showcased by the fact that he has averaged 1.2 interceptions and 0.7 tackles from his six league outings this season, while the current United man has averaged 0.7 and 1.6 for the same two metrics, respectively.

A left-footed midfield asset – much like Fred – the teenager was previously given the chance to shine under the watchful eye of Ten Hag during the Red Devils' pre-season tour, notably leaving club legend Bryan Robson "impressed" due to his impact on the trip.

Having also done "really well" in the friendly win over Liverpool in Bangkok – as per treble-winner Andy Cole – the Leicester-born maestro certainly made a positive impression, with Ten Hag himself reportedly having been left 'surprised' by the 6-foot gem's ability.

While that did not lead to game time at senior level earlier in the campaign, Savage previously earned his debut alongside friend and midfield colleague Zidane Iqbal in the Champions League back in December 2021, with the pair likely to be hoping to build on that brief taste of first-team football moving forward.

Although it would be a notable step up for the playmaker to rise from playing in England's third tier to establishing himself at the Theatre of Dreams, the possible departure of Fred could give the teen gem the opportunity to stake his claim for a first-team berth next season.

Newcastle United winger Anthony Gordon has recovered quickly from his recent injury, and could be fit to play against Manchester United at the weekend, according to a report.

What injury does Anthony Gordon have?

Gordon has been unable to hold down a consistent place in the Newcastle starting XI since arriving for £45m in January, missing the last two Premier League games due to an ankle injury, which was sustained when going in for a tackle against Manchester City.

Speaking about the issue, Eddie Howe said: "He had a scan and we were hoping we could get away with it and he would be alright, but unfortunately not. He’ll probably miss two games, and I’m not sure whether he’ll be back after the international break. We hope so, but that’s not 100 per cent certain."

Despite Howe's fear that the winger would be unavailable for Sunday's encounter against Man United, he appears to have recovered ahead of schedule, according to a recent report from The Telegraph.

It is detailed that the 22-year-old has recovered quickly from the ankle issue, meaning he will be fit to play some part in the game this weekend, in news that will come as a real boost for Howe. The manager is currently without Miguel Almiron, who is not expected to be available until the end of April, so Gordon is set to compete with Jacob Murphy for a start on the right of the front three, with Allan Saint-Maximin poised to play on the left.

Will Gordon start against Manchester United?

The former Everton man has only started once since arriving at St. James Park, struggling to make his mark on the game in the Magpies' recent 2-0 defeat against Manchester City, however it is too early to be overly critical of the Englishman.

Members of the media have claimed the winger looks "streets ahead" of Saint-Maximin in his cameo appearances off the bench, indicating he could stake a claim for a place on the left of the attack, rather than competing for Murphy's starting spot.

Former Everton manager Frank Lampard has claimed Gordon ranks highly among the "fantastic young players" he has worked with in his career, but he is only going to fulfill his potential if he receives regular game time.

As such, if the £60k-per-week starlet is fit enough to start against Man United at the weekend, then Howe should give him the opportunity to prove himself, in what is a very important game in the race for the top four.