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Arsenal will "test the waters" for Real Madrid star Aurelien Tchouameni if they fail to sign either Moises Caicedo or Romeo Lavia, according to reports.

Who will Arsenal sign next?

The north Londoners are believed to have agreed a £105 million (£100m + £5m in add-ons) to sign West Ham United star Declan Rice after weeks of negotiations.

Rice, who looks set to become the most expensive British player of all time, is nearing a move to the Emirates Stadium in a big boost for manager Mikel Arteta.

The England international is now very likely to follow Kai Havertz through the door, with the Germany international's signing already confirmed in a £65 million deal from Chelsea.

Arsenal have been linked with further additions, namely Southampton's Lavia, Turkish wonderkid Arda Guler and even Wolfsburg defender Micky van de Ven in recent days.

The Gunners could end up spending north of £200 million this transfer window, and after just falling short in last season's title race, it appears they're determined to mount another serious challenge.

It will take a lot to usurp treble-winners Man City, who became only the second ever English side to win the Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League in a single season.

According to Football Transfers, Arsenal are looking to be very ambitious, as they could now make a move for Madrid's Tchouaméni.

The France international, who is on around £212,000-per-week, has apparently been added to Arteta's list of transfer targets this summer.

It is believed Arsenal will "test the waters" for Tchouaméni, which presumably means some form of approach/enquiry, but only on one condition.

Indeed, the north Londoners will only turn to him if swoops for either Brighton's Caicedo or Lavia ultimately fail – with Galacticos president Florentino Perez set to demand at least €100 million (£86m).

Perez apparently views Tchouaméni as the centre piece for Madrid's side next term, so prising him away from the Bernabeu will be a difficult task to say the least.

What's been said about Aurelien Tchouameni?

Called a "sensational player" by members of the media, former Man United star Rio Ferdinand was left in awe of the 23-year-old during his World Cup outings in Qatar last year.

"Listen, Tchouameni is a young kid, he’s going to make mistakes but he’s a superb talent, he produces moments out of nowhere, incredible player," said Ferdinand on the BBC (via This is Futbol).

“Replacing Pogba in a France XI is not an easy task, but so far, Tchouaméni has been superb.

“Tchouameni showed why he plays for Real Madrid. He has the patience, talent, control, he has everything you need.”

Newcastle United will need to bolster the ranks this summer despite finishing in the top four under Eddie Howe's stewardship and ending a two-decade absence from the Champions League this year.

It's been an incredible season for the Tyneside club and the impact of the affluent PIF takeover has been felt with considerable might, sending tremors across the rest of the Premier League as the Magpies swiftly crafted a team capable of competing against the most imperious outfits both domestically and abroad.

Now, having revelled in the success of the campaign, the Magpies must turn their attention to the summer market with haste, making astute moves to enrich the squad's collective talent ahead of an important season that will focus on sustaining the newfound stature, and swooping for someone like Adrien Rabiot could bear fruit.

Indeed, the Juventus midfielder is out of contract this month and has attracted attention from Newcastle and divisional rivals Manchester United, who failed in an attempt to sign the Frenchman last year.

According to Gazzetta dello Sport (via Sport Witness), Manchester United are 'leading the race' for the 28-year-old, but despite this, further reports from the likes of Calciomercato claim that Newcastle technical director Dan Ashworth is ready to return for the Old Lady's midfield general this month, with a battle for his services potentially forthcoming.

Should Newcastle sign Adrien Rabiot?

Newcastle's balance across the park was one of the main reasons behind their ascent to European qualification this season, and while the midfield department is oiled and whirring at full throttle, Rabiot's prowess as a "complete midfielder" – as he has been described by France manager Didier Deschamps – could allow him to slot into the system without seam.

Indeed, having scored 11 goals and provided a further six assists from 48 club appearances, the £150-per-week machine has also averaged two tackles and 1.2 clearances per game in Serie A, as per Sofascore.

Metrics provided by FBref also rank the 36-cap international among the top 16% of midfielders across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for progressive carries and aerials won per 90, illustrating his dynamism.

Hailed as a "wardrobe" for his imposing physicality by Gianluigi Buffon, the 6 foot 2 titan could be the perfect partner in the midfield for Joe Willock, whose own dynamism and progressive prowess could provide Howe's attacking third with devastating support from deep.

The £80k-per-week Englishman ranks among the top 9% of positional peers for rate of assists, the top 4% for progressive carries and the top 4% for rate of blocks per 90, and with Bruno Guimaraes pulling the strings from the centre, it could be a system to leave opposition quaking.

Considering this, securing Rabiot's services this summer might be the perfect way to provide the Toon midfield with the sheen needed to continue the resounding success under Howe's tutelage.

With plenty of experience at the World Cup, in Europe and domestically, at the highest level, the one-time Paris Saint-Germain star can bring a winning mentality and midfield tenacity to help Newcastle achieve their goals.

Arsenal have held talks with Leicester City over a summer move for right-back Timothy Castagne, according to journalist Sacha Tavolieri.

What's the latest Arsenal transfer news?

Mikel Arteta has identified the need for a new right-back, and Real Valladolid's Ivan Fresneda is seen as a viable option, with a decision about whether to step up the pursuit of the Spaniard set to be made soon, amid interest in other players.

Talks over Joao Cancelo have reportedly progressed, and the Gunners are likely to launch a bid of £35m in the coming days, however that figure is slightly below Manchester City's valuation, with the Champions League winners set to hold out for £45m.

Castagne has also recently emerged as an option for Arsenal, with it being reported they are keen to sign him following Leicester's relegation from the Premier League, and there has now been an update on their pursuit of the right-back.

Taking to Twitter, Tavolieri has now claimed the north London club are "going for" the Belgian, however he is only being considered as a back-up option for Fresneda, who remains their top target.

Talks have commenced with Leicester regarding a potential deal, with the journalist also claiming the move "could develop quickly", even though the 27-year-old is not the Gunners' first choice.

Is Timothy Castagne leaving Leicester?

After the Foxes' relegation to the Championship, they are set to lose a number of key first-team players, with journalist Dean Jones claiming they will find it "almost impossible" to keep hold of James Maddison, Harvey Barnes and Castagne.

The defender would almost certainly fancy a move to the Emirates Stadium, considering Champions League football is on offer next season, and there are some indications he could be a solid addition to the Arsenal backline.

Hailed as "brilliant" by members of the media, the £65k-per-week full-back ranks highly for a number of key defensive metrics over the past year, including clearances, averaging 3.04 per 90, which places him in the 91st percentile.

That said, the Belgium international does not offer much in the way of attacking contributions, sparsely showing the desire to get on the ball and take the game to the opposition, placed in just the 13th percentile for successful take-ons.

As a back-up option who could be brought on to help preserve a lead, Castagne could be a good signing for Arsenal, but he is not well-rounded enough to be a regular starter.

Chelsea forward Kai Havertz is wanted by Real Madrid in the summer transfer window, according to a new update from journalist Fabrizio Romano.

Did Havertz have a good season for Chelsea?

The German joined the Blues back in the summer of 2020 from Bayer Leverkusen, famously scoring the winning goal in the 2021 Champions League final against Manchester City.

It's fair to say that Havertz has blown a little hot and cold in a Chelsea shirt overall, however, with his performances not always matching his top-class levels of talent. This season, the £150,000-a-week attacker only scored seven times in 35 Premier League appearances, and while that was still more than any other Blues player, he still didn't offer enough leading the line.

It has led to queastion marks surrounding the 23-year-old's long-term future at Stamford Bridge, even though his current deal runs until the summer of 2025. Much may depend on how happy he is in west London currently, and whether Mauricio Pochettino sees him as a key figure.

Could Havertz join Real Madrid this summer?

Taking to Twitter, Romano claimed that Madrid are keen on acquiring Havertz's signature before the beginning of next season, with Carlo Ancelotti a big fan of his:

"Real Madrid have concrete interest in Kai Havertz. He’s one of the players in the list, really appreciated by Ancelotti. Understand Chelsea are open to discuss Havertz exit but they want important fee, no way for loan & similar."

Havertz leaving Chelsea would be a blow, especially if Pochettino considers him someone who he can build his team around. With Mason Mount looking likely to leave, it could even be that he is used in a No.10 role behind an elite striker who comes in, such as Napoli's Victor Osimhen, who has been linked with the Blues a number of times in recent months.

Granted, the 34-cap and 12-goal Germany international hasn't always performed at a consistently high level, but he remains a young player with a huge amount of potential. He was once described as "world-class" by Matthias Sammer during his Bundesliga days, so to lose him to Madrid at this point in his career would be a setback.

The hope is that Havertz is buoyed by the appointment of Pochettino and sees his future there for the time being, going up a gear under the Argentine next season and fulfilling his talent in the process.

Aston Villa are reportedly looking ahead to the summer transfer window, with the club already linked to a host of talent.

As the 2022/23 Premier League campaign draws to a close, Villa will have a broader expectation of the market, with European football in their grasp for next season.

Since the arrival of Unai Emery, Villa Park has played host to some incredible performances, contrasting to those seen at the end of Steven Gerrard's tenure.

With the Spaniard at the helm, the club is back where they belong and are expected to have a significant pull this summer, with the four-time Europa League winners’ success accountable for the rise of many stars in the continent.

A reported £150m kitty will be handed to Emery this summer to make improvements, however, the latest player linked to the club would not dent the budget.

What’s the latest on Manuel Lanzini to Aston Villa?

According to ESPN – as relayed by Sport Witness – West Ham United ace Manuel Lanzini could make the switch to Villa.

The 30-year-old, who will be a free agent this summer, has gained interest from Serie A champions Napoli, as well as the Midlands club.

The two sides are reported to have ‘initiated contact’ with the players’ representatives, with Lanzini’s knowledge of the Premier League reportedly playing a factor in Emery’s interest.

What could Manuel Lanzini bring to Aston Villa?

With 178 Premier League appearances under his belt, the Argentine playmaker has been a loyal servant to West Ham, and vice versa, with the player suffering a string of injuries during his eight-year stay in east London.

Hailed as “the jewel” at his club, as told by teammate Michail Antonio via Football Daily, the 30-year-old has still contributed to 47 league goals in claret and blue, coming through 20 assists and scoring 27 himself – as per Transfermarkt.

While players have passed him in Moyes’ current set-up, leaving him with just nine appearances and two starts in the league this season.

The Ituzaingo-born ace is far from nearing the end of his career however, popping up with moments of greatness, lauded by journalist Dan Woffenden as having “excellent technical qualities."

For Villa, the experienced star could be a positive signing for Emery’s plans, giving the squad extended depth with quality in a player that could push for a starting spot.

Branded as “inconsistent” by members of the media, Emiliano Buendia’s brilliance cannot be argued, however, the 26-year-old may flourish by having some competition for his position in the form of Lanzini.

Despite his age and lack of game time, he could challenge his fellow Argentine in attacking midfield with the "special" player, as praised by Declan Rice, actually bettering the Villa man in critical attributes linked with the position.

As per FBref, the £69k-per-week Irons midfielder maintains a pass completion percentage of 89.3% per 90, with Buendia averaging just 77.0%.

A similar pattern is evident in their threat going forward when dispatching the ball, with the West Ham ace averaging a huge 7.99 progressive passes to the 26-year-old’s 5.12 per 90.

It’s clear that Emery wishes to add depth to his squad, as relayed by The Athletic, and with European competition a possibility, adding experience and quality is essential.

Available as a free agent this summer, it could be a clever signing for the Villans to pull off, to see Lanzini in their cloth of claret and blue.

Tammy Beaumont and Lauren Winfield produced another dazzling opening partnership of 147 – England Women’s highest stand in T20s – to set up a 68-run victory in the first T20 at Bristol

The Report by Andrew McGlashan03-Jul-2016
ScorecardLauren Winfield struck 10 fours and a six in her 45-ball 74•Getty ImagesTammy Beaumont and Lauren Winfield produced another dazzling opening partnership of 147 – England Women’s highest stand in T20s – to set up a 68-run victory in the first T20 at Bristol.Beaumont, who set a new record for runs in a three-match ODI series with her tally of 342 against Pakistan Women, made 82 off 53 balls and Winfield 74 off 45 to lead England to their highest total in the format. It followed their 235-run opening stand in the second ODI at New Road when they both hit centuries.”There’s a lot more freedom,” Beaumont said of her form and the team’s success. “To go out there and do it, and know that if you fail it is not going to be the end of the world.”There were nine double-figure scoring overs in England’s innings, the highest being 19 off the third bowled by Maham Tariq, which kickstarted the charge. Beaumont launched the first six of the innings with a delightful straight drive which crashed into the sightscreen at the Ashley Down End.Beaumont reached her fifty off 30 balls, and having moved to 82 with nearly five overs remaining had time to score England’s first T20I century before falling lbw as she attempted a reverse-sweep, meaning Charlotte Edwards’ unbeaten 92, against Australia at Hobart, remained England’s best.As in the one-day series, Beaumont’s speed through the ball, power generated with a strong whip of wrists, was a standout feature of her batting.When Mark Robinson spoke on the day that Heather Knight was appointed captain, he picked out Beaumont and Winfield as players he thought had immense ability to strike the ball but had not been able to translate that to the international stage.”I needed to work on getting the ball behind me more, in T20 and it was nice that it came off today,” Beaumont said. “The coach also said that he wanted me to go out there and strike the ball hard. I have been able to do that too. The other thing is letting it come to me a bit more. A century was in the back of my mind but I will take 82. It would have been nice to have got a hundred, but I’m not worried.””I have been working really hard on my batting. I had a tough start to my career but it’s coming right now and my Dad always said to me ‘Remember you start on zero in each innings’. So, I think about that, I think about getting off the mark and then I think about building from there.”Like Beaumont, Winfield struck 10 fours and also a six off Sadia Yousuf and her final score equalled her career-best, having also made 74 against South Africa in 2014. She had a couple of close shaves; there was a tight stumping appeal on 15 when the third umpire adjudged she had a fraction of boot behind the line and then a close run-out chance on 31.At 146 for 0 in 15 overs, 200 was within reach for England but the last five overs were not quite as fluent as the first 15. The 16-20-over block had fewer runs – 41 – than the other five-over breakdowns.The final over included a team hat-trick for Pakistan as Nat Sciver edged a swipe, Danni Wyatt was run out and Heather Knight feathered a reverse-sweep to the keeper.A target of 189 was, unsurprisingly, well out of reach for Pakistan and England’s bowling was not stretched in defending the target. Four of the wickets fell to full-tosses, the third of them giving 17-year-old debutant Sophie Ecclestone, a left-arm spinner, her first international wicket when Sidra Ameen picked out deep midwicket.Asmavia Iqbal struck some powerful blows to finish as top-scorer — including the one six of the innings, which was Pakistan’s first of the tour – before being bowled by Danielle Hazell in the final over.

Bangladesh coach Chandika Hathurusingha has said that playing in England will be a steep learning experience for left-arm quick Mustafizur Rahman to develop as a bowler.Last month it was learned that Mustafizur had expressed reluctance to those close to him of going to England to play for Sussex soon after completing the IPL season. He also suffered a low-grade right hamstring injury towards the end of the tournament in India but it is not being considered a big problem. Sussex too have been keen on having him over, albeit a little later.”If you want to improve the performance, you have to play in those conditions,” Hathurusingha said. “[If] you don’t go there, you don’t know. Bangladesh cricket will be benefited. Mustafiz will develop quickly and perform well. So if it is not going to harm his health, I think it is a good thing for him to go and play. It is a rare opportunity for Bangladeshi players to play there [in England]. If I can send four players I will send them all. It is the best way to do it.”Hathurusingha’s statement is by far the strongest push for Mustafizur to honour his contract with Sussex, who signed him in March this year, to play in the NatWest T20 Blast and the Royal London One Day Cup this season.Hathurusingha, who arrived in Dhaka on Wednesday evening after his vacation at home in Melbourne, said that while Mustafizur’s next challenge would be to do well in Tests, he would also have to be taken care of, now that many batsmen around the world are seeing more of his bowling.”He has played two Test matches and became Man of the Match in one with four wickets,” Hathurusingha said. “At the start it is impressive but as you said it is going to be a challenge. He has to be fit, we have to look after him.”We all know that his mystery is going to be found out very soon, so at the same time I am looking forward to his cricketing intelligence. So we will find ways for him to be competitive. Our challenge is look after him and develop him and keep him in the pack to play for Bangladesh.”

Frank Lampard has only been in charge of Chelsea for four matches during his second stint and is already feeling the strain, such is the nature of being boss at the Stamford Bridge side under Todd Boehly.

They will persist with him until a new manager is appointed at the end of the season, but there are still seven matches to go in the Premier League and the Blues aren’t even guaranteed a spot in the top half.

A mass clear-out is required at the club under the new manager, whoever that may be, and Lampard will be doing all he can to give him a solid base to begin from.

One thing the former Blues midfielder should be doing is giving some young talent a chance in the first team before the campaign ends and Noni Madueke should be staking a claim after struggling for minutes recently.

Should Noni Madueke start for Chelsea?

The £29m signing from PSV Eindhoven deserves a chance over the final few weeks to showcase his incredible talent ahead of next term and this could give Lampard the licence to ditch Hakim Ziyech, who has been woeful during 2022/23.

The winger has made just 14 appearances in the top flight, with only six starts, registering just one assist and creating five big chances, proving that he isn’t nearly as effective as Graham Potter and Thomas Tuchel wanted him to be.

His Sofascore rating of 6.83/10 ranks him as only the 16th-best performer in the team, and it’s evident that his time at the club could soon be coming to an end.

Madueke hasn’t had much of a chance at the club having joined during the winter transfer window, with Potter restricting him to just five league games so far, yet he has shown glimpses of his ability.

The 21-year-old has averaged 1.4 key passes, 0.8 shots and 31 touches in the limited time he has had on the field of play, suggesting that with more game time, these stats will only get better.

Having succeeded with 2.2 dribbles per game, there is no doubt he can thrive on the right wing for Chelsea if given a chance under Lampard, and with nothing left to play for but pride, the chance is now.

Madueke is a regular for England at U21 level and manager Lee Carsley heaped plenty of praise on the youngster, saying: “He is exciting, fast, direct, and very versatile but what we have to remember is he is still young.

“He is going to need time, match minutes, the time to work on his game, but he has high potential. Like a lot of the younger players, he just needs an opportunity.”

Could this opportunity present itself over the coming weeks? Only time will tell but in order for the club to progress, they need to be placing their trust in talent who is willing to work hard and make an impression, while ditching those that have underperformed.

Mention Robin van Persie's name around the Emirates Stadium and you're likely to be greeted with several insults from Arsenal fans.

The flying Dutchman was an imperious figure for the Gunners down the years, notably scoring 132 times for the Londoners, 37 of which came in one scintillating season.

Unfortunately, trophies were few and far between for the striker who was eventually signed by Sir Alex Ferguson's Manchester United where typically, he won the Premier League in his debut campaign.

Why did Van Persie leave Arsenal?

The now-retired attacker was loved by Arsenal fans but found his reputation and legacy in tatters after joining Ferguson at Old Trafford.

Indeed, Van Persie is now deeply hated by those at the Emirates and when you consider the manner in which he left, you can hardly blame them.

Strangely, the former Netherlands international issued the club with several demands in order to keep him in north London. Ultimately, they weren't met as the 39-year-old continues to blame the Gunners for his departure several years on.

Speaking of disagreements with then-CEO Ivan Gazidis, the striker once said: "After many conversations, it became clear that we had different ideas about the club.

"I had seven points where I thought Arsenal could improve and, in my opinion, those seven points, they should start dealing with those straightaway to compete with the best teams."

You could argue that Van Persie had a point. At that period in Arsenal's history, their ambition was being questioned and rightly so considering a nine-year trophy drought.

However, that probably wasn't the best way of going about negotiating a contract renewal.

Either way, Arsenal have now moved on. There is a renewed vibrancy about the north Londoners whose culture shift in the last 18 months or so has been stark.

Very few can question their ambition now, not even Van Persie. In fact, every member of this squad are now likely to leave with a greater legacy than the Dutchman, even including those who often sit on the sidelines.

Who has a better Arsenal legacy than Van Persie?

The fact of the matter is that several Arsenal players do. Yet, if we're looking for those in a similar position, it's safe to say the hard-working Eddie Nketiah could depart the club with a better status than Van Persie will ever have back at N5.

That will, of course, depend on the outcome of this season, but if the forward helps fire Mikel Arteta's men to a first Premier League title since the Invincibles, he will be celebrated as a hero.

The England U21 international has had to play second fiddle for much of the campaign, despite being handed the number 14 shirt and rewarded with a bumper £100k-per-week contract.

Gabriel Jesus was signed and as such, the Brazilian was ahead of Nketiah in the pecking order. Rightly so too, with the former Manchester City star scoring five times and registering six assists prior to the World Cup.

Unfortunately, the 5 foot 9 hotshot picked up an injury during that tournament in Qatar, meaning that Nketiah was the man of the moment in the new year.

There was notable concern that thhe Hale End graduate would not be able to fill the boots of Jesus but he was superb in the opening few months of the year, notably scoring twice, including the late winner, in the 3-2 triumph over Manchester United.

That moment could still prove decisive in the title race with his four Premier League goals this term pivotal while his Brazilian colleague was on the sidelines.

His numbers aren't extraordinary this season but at a crucial moment in the campaign, Nketiah came up trumps and could prove to be a key reason behind Arsenal's title success, should they go on to be crowned champions.

Since that win over United, a lack of form and injury has dampened the attacker's campaign. Following on from that January win over United, the 23-year-old has even been dubbed "terrible" by writer Kyle Bonn due to his finishing.

In truth, the young striker still lacks that real cutting edge to take him to the next level. The mere presence of Jesus has clearly already made Arsenal a better team but few should forget just how big an asset Arsenal's number 14 was at the beginning of the year.

Once all is said and done, he will likely leave London behind with a bigger legacy than some of the superstars before him. After all, he may well have a Premier League winner's medal to boast about.

An update has emerged on Glasgow Rangers midfielder Bailey Rice and interest in his services ahead of the summer transfer window…

What's the latest on Bailey Rice's future at Ibrox?

According to 90min, the Gers B team central midfielder has caught the attention of a number of huge European clubs after earning his first-team stripes earlier this season.

The report claims that European sides Real Madrid, Monaco, Porto, Borussia Dortmund, RB Leipzig and Bayer Leverkusen are all keeping tabs on the Scotland youth international.

It is stated that Premier League sides Newcastle, Manchester City, and Manchester United have also shown an interest in the teenage talent.

What happened to Billy Gilmour at Rangers?

The Light Blues lost academy midfielder Billy Gilmour to English giants Chelsea at the age of 15 for an initial fee of £500k in the summer of 2017 and Ross Wilson is now risking a repeat of that disasterclass with Rice.

Since leaving Ibrox, the now-Brighton dynamo has been capped 16 times by Scotland at international level, signed for the Seagulls for a £10m package, and played 42 matches in the Premier League.

This shows that the Gers missed out on an excellent player, who has established himself at the top level in England and on the international stage, because they were unable to convince him to remain in Glasgow as a teenager.

Therefore, Wilson must do everything in his power to stop Rice from making a move away from Ibrox in the summer transfer window, whether that is south of the border or elsewhere in Europe, as the talented gem could be a future star for Michael Beale's side.

The 16-year-old recently became a club record-breaker by playing against Livingston in the Premiership – making him the youngest player ever to feature in a league game in Rangers history.

Rice has played 20 matches for the academy this season and has been capped 18 times by Scotland's U16 and U17 sides despite his young age, which shows that the enforcer is highly rated by coaches at club and international level.

Gilmour had also been capped by his country at U15 and U16 level prior to leaving the Gers in 2017 and his excellent progression since moving to England shows the path that Rice could take in the years to come.

The Light Blues teenager, who was once lauded as a "prospect" by journalist Mark Hendry, has clearly impressed enough to earn Beale's trust – to make him a record-breaker this season – and this indicates that the manager sees the gem as someone with the potential to make the breakthrough at senior level, following in Gilmour's footsteps.

Therefore, Wilson and the Gers head coach must work their socks off to convince Rice that remaining at Ibrox is the best decision he can make for his development in the coming years.