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Chelsea have ‘good chances’ of sealing the signing of West Ham and England midfielder Declan Rice this summer, according to journalist Florian Plettenberg.

The Lowdown: Rice linked with Chelsea move

The Blues have needed midfield additions for some time now, in order to replace the likes of experienced duo N’Golo Kante and Mateo Kovacic in the long term.

Enzo Fernandez has already come in as a big-money addition in January, helping alleviate that issue, but Rice is another player who has been strongly linked with a move to Stamford Bridge.

The 24-year-old is undoubtedly one of West Ham’s most important players, and England’s for that matter, having started all five matches for the Three Lions at the 2022 World Cup.

Rice is likely to leave the Hammers at the end of the season, in order to enjoy a new challenge at a bigger club, and Chelsea will know that they face strong competition for his signature.

Now, a new update shows that the Blues remain extremely keen on the midfielder.

The Latest: Fresh update emerges

Taking to Twitter, Sky Sport journalist Plettenberg claimed that Chelsea are ‘definitely in the race and highly interested’:

“News #Rice: Chelsea is definitely in the race and highly interested – confirmed! He’s one of the top candidates in order to strengthen the defensive midfield. Contract until 2024. Therefore good chances to sign him this summer.”

The Verdict: Perfect midfield signing

Rice would be absolutely perfect for Chelsea this summer, potentially coming in as part of the midfield rebuild along with Fernandez and fellow rumoured transfer target Romeo Lavia.

At 24, the 39-cap England international is maturing into the complete midfielder, possessing quality in possession, dynamism off the ball and also being a strong leader, already captaining West Ham at a young age.

Rice averaged 2.2 interceptions per game at the World Cup, as well as enjoying an incredible 94.3% pass completion rate, while in the Premier League, he has averaged 1.2 key passes per match, showing all facets to his game across various stages.

The fact that he is also a boyhood Chelsea fan could be an added bonus for the Blues, as they look to acquire the service of someone who Gary Lineker has hailed as ‘magnificent’.

Rice is a player who could end up captaining England in the future, such is his current standing, and it is hard to see him being anything other than a big success for Chelsea, even though he would clearly cost a lot of money.

Manchester United are thought to be interested in Southampton midfielder Romeo Lavia, according to The Daily Mail. 

The Lowdown: Lavia profiled

Lavia left Manchester City for Southampton over the summer and has enjoyed a breakthrough season at St Mary’s. The 19-year-old can play as a holding midfielder or as a centre-back and has made 15 Premier League appearances during the current campaign.

Lavia shares the same agency as Jadon Sancho and has seen his Transfermarkt valuation rocket from €2m to €25m as a result of his performances, and it looks as if they have caught the eye at Old Trafford.

The Latest: United interest

The Daily Mail shared a story in the last 48 hours regarding Lavia, where United were named.

They said that the Red Devils have joined the list of clubs interested in the Belgian, with Southampton facing a battle to hold onto Lavia beyond this season.

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The Verdict: Future star?

Lavia has made a real impression in his debut season in the top flight, catching the eye of Paul Scholes back in August, with the United legend admitting he was surprised Manchester City decided to let him go.

He has been labelled as ‘impressive’ by members of the media and recently shone at Stamford Bridge in a 1-0 win against Chelsea, so appears to be a star in the making.

Therefore, it could be a wise move for United to explore a deal further over the coming months, especially with Southampton in real danger of slipping down into the Championship.

Manchester United’s latest triumph at home to Leicester City saw Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho steal the limelight as a result of their devastating displays in attack, with the England duo having been vital figures in the Red Devils’ stirring second-half display at Old Trafford.

For all the quality of that fleet-footed pairing, though, arguably the “best player on the pitch” on the day was midfield maestro Bruno Fernandes – in the words of manager Erik ten Hag – with the Portuguese magician having yet again been the team’s creative hub.

Despite being deployed out on the right flank for the visit of the Foxes – as he has done on occasion this season – the 28-year-old playmaker was still central to everything which was good about the home side, notably teeing up Rashford with a stunning outside-of-the-boot assist in the first half.

The former Sporting Lisbon man also found the aforementioned Sancho with a perfectly weighted pull-back on the hour mark to make sure of the points, while he should well have had a third assist to his name late in the first half, only for compatriot Diogo Dalot to inexplicably fail to convert.

That stellar impact saw Fernandes rack up a truly outrageous haul of nine key passes in total – albeit while losing possession 30 times – having also completed four of his five dribbles as a marker of his dynamic brilliance.

What was most impressive about the 5 foot 11 man’s display, though, was his willingness to put in a shift for his team despite featuring in something of a makeshift role, winning eight of his 11 ground duels.

Such an all-action outing – in which the £240k-per-week star racked up a 9.7 match rating from Sofascore – has no doubt become the norm for Fernandes during his time in Manchester, with United having truly hit the jackpot after signing the 53-cap menace for an initial fee of just £47m back in January 2020.

How much is Fernandes worth now?

The midfielder’s continued rise is showcased by the fact that he is now said to be worth around €100m (£89m) according to CIES Football Observatory, with that a notable increase on what the club signed him for just over three years ago.

Although United will have no intention of letting the consistent “genius” – as once described by journalist Muhammad Butt – depart the Theatre of Dreams any time soon, it will be pleasing to see what has been one of the few transfer success stories in the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era.

In truth, Fernandes’ impact at the club upon his arrival in England was almost immediate as he scooped the Man of the Match award on his debut in a goalless draw against Wolverhampton Wanderers, before going on to finish the pandemic-impacted 2019/20 campaign with 20 goal involvements in just 22 games in all competitions.

That impact has continued since then, with the Maia-born sensation now boasting 106 goals and assists in 162 games for the club across all fronts, including 41 goals and 31 assists in just 110 Premier League appearances.

Currently ranking third in the division for chances created (17), the former Udinese man has enjoyed another standout season with regard to his impact in the final third, with 17 goal contributions in 36 games so far.

That relentless brilliance has been aided by the player’s ability to be available for selection almost every week, having rarely been absent through injury or illness throughout his career, both before and during his time in Manchester.

To have a player who can be counted upon to perform no matter the occasion or the opposition is truly worth its weight in gold, with Ten Hag no doubt thankful to have inherited such a gloriously joyful talent as Fernandes.

Arsenal slumped to a 1-0 defeat to Everton in their last Premier League match, although the gap at the top of the table remains five points due to Manchester City failing to take advantage, as Tottenham Hotspur secured a 1-0 win against them.

Mikel Arteta’s side have a game in hand so the gap could stretch to eight points, but he may be worried by the performance against the Toffees, which featured a lack of cutting edge as the home side were given a major lift having just appointed Sean Dyche and the players certainly delivered.

Despite having 70% possession, Arsenal simply couldn’t find the back of the net, with Eddie Nketiah failing to shine, while Gabriel Martinelli delivered just one cross during his time on the pitch and lost possession 14 times.

It is Ben White, however, who will give Arteta the biggest selection dilemma ahead of the match against Brentford.

His last two Premier League matches have seen the Englishman achieve an average Sofascore rating of just 6.3 and it might be time for the Spaniard to unleash Takehiro Tomiyasu.

Will Tomiyasu play against Brentford?

The Japanese defender is a natural right-back, unlike White, and Arteta could well look to unleash him from the start this afternoon and drop White to the bench following his recent performances.

Since arriving for £16m in 2021, Tomiyasu has gone on to make nearly 50 appearances for the North London side and has emerged as a solid first-team player, who Arteta can be comfortable calling upon when required.

With White underperforming recently, a run in the starting XI might boost the 24-year-olds confidence and give the manager a major dilemma heading into the final months of the campaign.

Indeed, when he has played this term, Tomiyasu has been solid if unspectacular, although starting just four matches in the league doesn’t do much for rhythm.

An average Sofascore rating of 6.74 ranks him as Arsenal’s 17th-best performer this term, however, he does rank in the top five for clearances made per game (0.8) and in the top ten for tackles made (1.3) and clearances (0.8), suggesting he does provide a solid defensive option when called upon.

Mitchell Dijks – his ex-teammate at Bologna – dubbed the right-back a “warrior” while after a great display against Bodo/Glimt in October, football.london reporter Kaya Kaynak graded his performance as one of the finest on the night – ‘Got forward superbly and showed that he’s more than ready to fill the right-back spot if Ben White finds his standards slipping at any point,’ he wrote.

There is no doubt Tomiyasu could shine against Brentford and with a chance to secure a regular spot at right-back up for grabs, it might just be the chance he was waiting for and what the Gunners need to reignite their title charge after a loss last time out.

Newcastle United’s reported January target, Anthony Gordon, could be made available this month for a lot cheaper than he was in the summer.

What’s the latest?

There have been some reports to emerge over the last few days suggesting the Magpies are showing an interest in the Everton youngster.

This is a player who has been heavily linked with a potential exit from Goodison Park just a matter of months ago with Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur said to be interested.

But speaking on his YouTube channel, journalist Craig Hope has suggested the player may not necessarily cost the £60m suggested back in the summer:

“That interest is real. I’ve had that confirmed to me. There’s a feeling that Everton might demand a fee that is prohibitive. Now, if you speak to people closer to it on Merseyside, they don’t necessarily think that will be the case as it was in the summer.”

“He is one I would expect them to be, if they haven’t already, having conversations with Everton and testing the waters.”

Cut-price deal?

The money put on Gordon over the summer was huge considering he has a fairly low return in the Premier League with just seven goals in his 65 appearances.

And in addition to that, the 21-year-old has only provided three assists on top of those goals in the English top flight.

So it is apparent the investment in Gordon will be in hope of developing him into a top talent with other young prospects in the Premier League, the likes of Bukayo Saka, showing a lot more at the moment.

Newcastle have shown they are not scared of spending big on players they want with the Magpies parting with a club-record £63m on Alexander Isak in the summer.

However, it is apparent they would only be willing to pay that type of money on a player who they are convinced will prove to be a success on Tyneside.

And it seems they may have been correct in spending big on Isak with the Swede already scoring the same number of goals as Gordon this season but in 11 fewer appearances.

Now, it seems as if Gordon, who has been hailed as an “absolute beast”, could be made available for less than the asking price in the summer, but there is a reason for that with the 21-year-old having an underwhelming start to the campaign for the Toffees.

The local lad has since been subjected to frustration from the Everton fans and is clearly open to a career outside of Merseyside with the winger believed to be interested in a move last summer.

Perhaps Dan Ashworth will see this as a deal Newcastle can pounce upon, but with his current output in front of goal, it does feel as if it could be a risk signing.

Wolves have been linked with Sporting Lisbon midfielder Manuel Ugarte recently and the Uruguay international could prove to be Julen Lopetegui’s next Casemiro at Molineux.

According to Media Foot, the Midlands outfit and Atletico Madrid have spoken to Sporting Lisbon about potentially signing the 21-year-old this month, with the Jorge Mendes connection potentially set to be fruitful for Wolves once again.

The young midfielder has established himself as a key player in Ruben Amorim’s side and could add defensive steel to Wolves’ midfield that Lopetegui currently lacks, although his €60m (£53m) release clause could prove a sticking point for the Old Gold.

Ugarte has contributed more tackles per game (three) in the Portuguese top flight than anyone in the Wolves squad has managed in the Premier League, while he has also averaged a mammoth 4.8 tackles per game in the Champions League this season.

In fact, no player has won more tackles or duels in the UCL this term, which certainly backs up football talent scout Jacek Kulig’s description of him as a “midfield machine.”

Lopetegui has been lucky enough to manage some world-class talents during his time as Spain, Real Madrid and Sevilla boss but few will have been better than Casemiro, who is currently starring at Manchester United following his summer switch from Los Blancos.

The Brazil international would make 55 appearances under the Wolves boss at Madrid, contributing four goals and three assists in that time, so the Spanish manager will be well aware of his ability and influence in the midfield.

Ugarte’s FBref scouting report sees him ranked in the top 1% of midfielders across Europe for pass completion and tackles completed, while he is also in the top 10% for interceptions, blocks and dribbles completed.

Casemiro also scores impressively, as he is ranked in the top 20% for tackles, blocks, interceptions and passes completed, so the similarities with Ugarte are clear to see.

Considering the 31-year-old is ranked as the second-best performer in Erik ten Hag’s team so far this season according to WhoScored, it is obvious how important a defensive ball-winner can be in a successful side.

With Wolves still very much in a relegation fight despite positive recent results against West Ham and Everton, Lopetegui would surely love to have another Casemiro-esque player in his squad at Molineux, so the Spanish boss should definitely look at bringing Ugarte in this month.

West Ham United have distinguished one of the Premier League’s most industrious presences to replace a likely outgoing phenom…

What’s the word?

Signing for Manchester City from boyhood club Leeds United last summer, Kalvin Phillips has been hampered by injury during his stay with the Sky Blues, and has been at the epicentre of claims that boss Pep Guardiola branded him “overweight” upon returning from World Cup duty with England.

And now, Football Insider state that sources have confirmed the Hammers’ interest; with coveted midfielder Declan Rice likely to depart at the end of the campaign, the 27-year-old Cityzen could be the player to adopt the role his compatriot has held so well in east London.

Phillips arrived at the Etihad Stadium in a £45m deal last year, and he would certainly not come cheap even if City were prepared to grant a departure, but the funds garnered from Rice’s prospective sale would free up space to make a move for someone of his ilk.

Perfect Rice replacement 

Since rising through the youth ranks at the Irons academy, Rice has cruised towards Premier League eminence, and is now being touted for a move to one of the country’s top outfits.

Indeed, with the likes of Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United among the clubs that might make a swoop for a player out of contract at the end of next season and showing no sign of agreeing a new deal, cashing in for a lucrative fee might be the best option for West Ham boss David Moyes.

In Phillips, the veteran Scottish manager would boast a robust and all-encompassing central figure to take the baton from Rice, and ensure that the stability and charge that his counterpart has created does not waver.

Granted, the east London outfit have been beset with a stark decline this term, miserably above the drop-zone on just goal difference following two European-clinching seasons in-and-amongst the elite of the Premier League, but the abundance of quality and affluence underpinning the efforts on the pitch should steer the club in the right direction once again.

As per FBref, Rice ranks within the top 4% for pass completion and the top 7% for interceptions when compared to positional peers in Europe’s top five leagues over the last year, while Phillips, despite lacking the same level of ball-playing assurance, ranks within the top 1% of players for tackles, the top 14% for interceptions and the top 4% for blocks.

There is a clear prowess in the anchored position of the pitch, also flourishing as a pivot when called upon, instigating positive transitions by timing challenges with pinpoint precision.

And with Phillips’ City career thus far blighted by injury, Sofascore record his rating in the Premier League last year at a solid 6.84, earning the transfer to the division’s champions by displaying his stellar consistency in a Leeds team that battled to stave off relegation last term.

Hailed as a “destroyer” by ex-England manager Steve McClaren, who waxed lyrical about the ace to Sky Sports News (via Leeds Live), Phillips might be wise to depart from Guardiola’s City, where he will likely struggle for consistent game-time, and flourish with the Hammers, who can return on course and challenge for Europe once again with a Rice replacement every bit as formidable as their current gem.

Manchester United are currently plotting possible replacements for Cristiano Ronaldo, with Lille’s Jonathan David having emerged as a potential centre-forward option for Erik ten Hag.

What’s the word?

The former Ajax boss has only recently confirmed his desire to land a new striking recruit following the departure of the aforementioned Ronaldo, with the Canada international believed to be a “candidate” to fill the void, according to reports in Germany.

The suggestion is that the former Genk man – who made the move to France back in the summer of 2020 – would command a fee of around €50m (£43m) were the Old Trafford outfit to make a move in January, with the 22-year-old having also been linked with both Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur in recent times.

Transfer insider Dean Jones – speaking to GIVEMESPORT – has now provided his thoughts on that rumoured interest in the youngster from the Red Devils, with the journalist stating that he could well prove a better fit over other reported targets such as Marcus Thuram and Memphis Depay.

The respected source stated: “I see Thuram and Depay as short-term fixes, but if they were to go for Jonathan David that’s not a short-term fix – that’s a vision for the future.

“That’s putting your faith in someone to be a goalscorer so that would be a very different signing for me.”

Martial upgrade

It is not the Ronaldo situation alone that has sparked the need for a new acquisition, with United already craving a reliable goalscoring presence due to the persistent injury woes of Anthony Martial, with the Frenchman having made just seven appearances in all competitions this season.

Although the 27-year-old has impressed when he has been available, with four goals and two assists to his name across all fronts, the former Monaco man has yet to convince he can deliver the goods on a consistent basis, having scored only five Premier League goals across the last two campaigns combined, prior to the start of this season.

While the 30-cap gem enjoyed a profitable 2019/20 campaign in which he scored 17 goals in the top flight, the £36m addition has only twice reached double figures other than that for league goals since his arrival back in 2015.

It could well be said that Martial has had more than enough chances to prove himself over the last seven years or so, with an upgrade potentially what is needed if Ten Hag’s men are to clinch Champions League qualification this season.

Turning to David, who was dubbed “one of the best strikers in the world” by radio host Tony Marinaro, would no doubt be a notable solution to that problem, with the Brooklyn-born menace having scored 41 goals in just 111 games for the Ligue 1 outfit, after previously netting 37 times in 83 games during his spell in Belgium.

That tally of 78 club career goals is only marginally less than that of Martial’s (99) despite the 5 foot 9 ace still being in his early twenties, with the electric “phenomenon” – as described by former coach Hein Vanhaezebrouck – having proven himself a truly clinical presence despite his relative youth.

One of those “silent assassins” and a player with a “killer instinct” – in the words of national boss John Herdman – the highly-rated asset also boasts a haul of 22 goals and 13 assists in just 38 games for his country to further illustrate his finishing prowess.

With Martial having simply too often proven unreliable and been unable to enjoy a clean bill of health, the addition of David would no doubt be a suitable upgrade in the New Year for United.

Arsenal are looking to bolster Mikel Arteta’s playing squad in January in a bid to keep their early season form ticking into the second half of the 2022/23 campaign.

The north London giants head into Christmas atop the Premier League standings after an electric few months that has seen them put the heartache of missing out on Champions League football last term well and truly behind them.

However, everything is at risk of crashing down if the Spaniard were to suffer a couple of injuries in key areas of the squad – someone like Granit Xhaka or Gabriel Jesus being sidelined for a long period of time could have devastating consequences due to the lack of strength in depth.

That’s largely because the Gunners are still on their journey of rebuilding, though adding a couple of strong options at the turn of the year could really turn them into title contenders.

One name that has emerged on newly-appointed sporting director Edu Gaspar’s shortlist appears to be Marcus Thuram of Borussia Monchengladbach.

According to transfer guru Fabrizio Romano earlier in the week, Arsenal now have a “big opportunity” to sign the 25-year-old – who is representing France at the World Cup currently – because he isn’t going to extend his contract with the Bundesliga outfit, thus making him a bargain signing in January.

90min have also suggested that the north Londoners are keen admirers of Thuram but face stiff competition from arch-rivals Tottenham Hotspur, as well as other top-flight clubs like Manchester United and Liverpool.

The Italy-born Frenchman will be available for absolutely nothing next summer, thanks to his expiring deal, and is currently valued at €30m (£26m) by Transfermarkt.

Some reports have suggested that he would cost as little as €10m (£8.7m) in January, so it would be foolish for Edu and co not to make a move.

Adding a versatile and exciting talent for nearly a third of his true worth would be something of a transfer masterclass, and one that would benefit Arteta hugely.

Indeed, Thuram can play on the flank and through the middle, where he has notched 13 goals and four assists across 17 appearances this campaign, as per Transfermarkt.

The 6 foot 4 dynamo has previously caught the eye of Arsenal’s legendary stalwart Arsene Wenger, who compared him to another club great in Thierry Henry, which should come as little surprise given the similarities in stature, position and nationality.

“Thierry Henry had the timing of the smartest footballers. He was also very strong physically, and technically he could do everything,” the veteran told Der Spiegel back in 2020. “In fact, there’s a player in the Bundesliga who reminds me of him – Marcus Thuram from Borussia Monchengladbach.”

The prospect of signing another Henry should be too good to ignore, particularly for a paltry fee of just £8.7m.

Not just that, though, as Arteta cannot expect the likes of Jesus and Gabriel Martinelli to play every game, with the Gunners still in the knockout stages of the Europa League too.

As such, Thuram could become the perfect foil for someone like Jesus heading into 2023.

His average of 3.03 shot-creating actions and 1.72 successful dribbles per 90, which sees him rank within the top 22% and the top 8% of his positional peers across Europe’s elite divisions (via FBref), would suggest that he could add way more than just goals to this Arsenal side.

The dynamic Gladbach gem – once described as a “physical monster” by Herve Renard – could be an ideal signing in January and one that could bring shades of Henry back to the red side of north London.

AND in other news, Edu must ruthlessly bin “shocking” £75k-p/w Arsenal dud, he’s “just not good enough”…

Tottenham Hotspur are interested in a deal to bring Radu Dragusin to the Premier League.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a report by Italian media outlet Serie B News (via Sport Witness), who claim that Fabio Paratici is already putting together his transfer plans for the summer transfer window in 2023, with the Italian eyeing ‘young but highly prospective’ talents to bring to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

One such player is believed to be the 20-year-old Genoa loanee – who the sporting director knows well from his time at Juventus – with the Italian said to be keeping a close eye on the situation of the centre-back ahead of launching a potential move at the end of the current campaign.

Conte’s next Bonucci

Considering just how “highly rated” Dragusin is by those in the know, coupled with Paratici having already witnessed the centre-back’s defensive capabilities during his time in Turin, it is not difficult to see why the 50-year-old would be interested in a deal to bring the youngster to north London next summer.

Indeed, despite struggling to break into the Juventus first team following his 2018 move from Romania – making just four senior appearances for the Bianconeri – Dragusin is beginning to demonstrate at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris why both Juve and Chelsea were reportedly so eager to sign him four years ago.

The 20-year-old – who himself admitted is inspired by Leonardo Bonucci – is exhibiting the confidence in possession and positional understanding reminiscent of the Juventus and Italy legend, having completed an average of 50.2 passes – at a success rate of 86% – played 2.5 long balls and won 4.4 duels – at a success rate of 69% – per game in Serie B so far this season.

The £15.5k-per-week talent has also impressed in more general metrics, helping Genoa keep four clean sheets, in addition to making an average of 0.9 interceptions, 0.5 tackles, 3.0 clearances and being dribbled past just 0.2 times per fixture in 2022/23.

Furthermore, Dragusin’s physical stature is also similar to that of Bonucci, with the 20-year-old standing at 6 foot 3 – exactly the same height as the 35-year-old – while the starlet has also been known to spend two hours in the gym each morning before training in order to increase his muscle mass and strength.

As such, should Paratici believe that the player who Football Talent Scout Jacek Kulig dubbed a “complete” and “dominant” defender could go on to fulfil his undoubted potential at Spurs, it would seem an extremely wise move for the sporting director to move for the youngster next summer – as he could be rewarded with the discovery of Antonio Conte’s next Bonucci.