Newcastle United reportedly want to sign Borussia Dortmund left-back Raphael Guerreiro as a free agent in the summer.

The Lowdown: Out of contract

Guerreiro is out of contract at Dortmund this summer, meaning that he can leave as a free agent at the end of the season.

The 29-year-old would certainly not be short of suitors, having amassed an impressive four goals and nine assists in 26 games in total over all competitions so far this term, mainly from the left-back position (Transfermarkt).

The Latest: Newcastle interest

Co-writing in his latest piece for 90min, transfer expert Graeme Bailey says that Guerreiro is ‘wanted’ by Newcastle, among a whole host of other clubs, as a free agent this summer.

Teams from both Italy and Spain, as well as some of Dortmund’s rivals in Germany, have also made their interest known, while Leeds United, Aston Villa and Wolves are also all believed to be interested in his signature.

Burnley, who are currently in the Championship at the moment but look set to make a swift return to the Premier League under Vincent Kompany, are also thought to be thinking about making an ‘audacious’ attempt to try and sign Guerreiro, while the Magpies have also looked at Arsenal and Scotland left-back Kieran Tierney as a potential alternative.

The Verdict: Statement signing

Guerreiro would certainly be a statement signing from the St. James’ Park outfit, as he has the potential to completely transform their backline for the next campaign.

Boasting a total of 214 appearances for Dortmund over all competitions, where he has notched up an impressive 38 goals and 45 assists from defence (four goals and 13 assists in 61 senior caps, including three goal contributions at the most recent FIFA World Cup in Qatar.

Hailed as an ‘amazing player’ by his manager at Dortmund Edin Terzic, and someone who ‘oozes class’ by journalist Josh Bunting, Guerreiro would be sure to make the left-back spot his own should he make the move to the Magpies, with Dan Burn, who has Eddie Howe so far this campaign, primarily a central defender by trade.

Guerreiro actually shares the same agent as the Magpies boss, and if the North East club could snap him up on a free transfer this summer it could turn out to be a real bargain in the future.

Graham Potter has seen his Chelsea side pick up three consecutive victories recently and the former Brighton boss looks set for a long-term project at Stamford Bridge.

After some serious investment in the summer and in January, the Englishman will have to consider carefully how to best manage his squad at the end of the season, with some names surely likely to depart.

If the Blues have aspirations of challenging at the top end of the Premier League once again, then Potter must consider getting rid of 23-year-old academy graduate, Trevoh Chalobah.

What is Chalobah's record at Chelsea?

Chalobah, who is the younger brother of Nathaniel, has been with Chelsea since he was nine and has progressed through the academy and into the first team.

The centre-back would enjoy loan spells with the likes of Ipswich Town, Huddersfield Town and FC Lorient before breaking into Chelsea's senior side last season, featuring 29 times under Thomas Tuchel in all competitions.

He has gone on to make another 22 appearances so far this campaign to take his tally to 51 outings in a Chelsea shirt but his form so far suggests that he cannot be considered a viable long-term option in Potter's squad.

In 15 Premier League appearances, the young defender has averaged a disappointing 6.48 rating from WhoScored, which ranks him as the 23rd-best performer in Potter's inflated squad.

Chelsea's upturn in form has coincided with Chalobah being returned to the bench, with the likes of Kalidou Koulibaly, Thiago Silva and Benoit Badiashile all earning higher average ratings from WhoScored than the academy graduate so far this campaign.

Despite his role as a defender, the English defender ranks 21st for tackles, ninth for interceptions and eighth for aerials won per game in the top flight throughout 2022/23, which suggests that Potter has far better options at his disposal.

Although he still has plenty of time to develop, the age of 23 cannot be considered that young in football anymore, especially when you consider that the likes of Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe are widely regarded as two of the best strikers on the planet at 22 and 24 respectively.

Wesley Fofana and Badiashile are both younger than Chalobah yet are arguably more established talents, while the Blues also have the exciting Levi Colwill out on loan at Brighton.

Chelsea did hand the 23-year-old defender a new £50k-per-week contract recently, as he followed in the footsteps of the new signings by agreeing to a long-term deal until 2028.

However, his performances this season indicate that this could have been a mistake by the Blues, as Potter arguably has better and younger centre-backs in his squad.

After some disappointing performances so far this campaign, the 47-year-old boss should ruthlessly bring an end to Chalobah's 14-year stay at Stamford Bridge and cash in on the defender while his stock is still high.

Tottenham Hotspur have endured plenty of transfer missteps in recent years, as their desperation for a trophy has revealed itself in many failed big-money moves.

As Mauricio Pochettino was building his squad, which seemed to improve with each passing season, it seemed even the measured Argentine succumbed to this pressure in the form of a few questionable deals during the end of his reign.

One such example was the decision to acquire Davinson Sanchez, who admittedly had enjoyed a fine last season at Ajax before moving to north London.

However, it was not a campaign that perhaps warranted his £42m fee, which shattered the club record at the time.

His 7.25 average rating in that concluding campaign in Amsterdam was underpinned by an 89% pass accuracy as he recorded 1.9 interceptions, 1.4 tackles and an impressive 5.2 clearances per 90 (via Sofascore). All signs pointed towards the Colombian being a stellar modern-day defender for the Lilywhites, but his career has not quite panned out as planned.

How much has Davinson Sanchez cost Spurs?

Whilst the astronomical initial price tag might have drawn initial scrutiny, the additional finances he has swallowed only serve to exacerbate just how poor a signing he has been.

Earning £65k-per-week for 289 weeks now, from wages alone the 26-year-old has also incurred £18.8m. Therefore, in total Sanchez has cost Daniel Levy £60.8m.

His 6.8 average rating for this league campaign is far from meriting such a price tag, and these impressive aforementioned statistics have made a harsh drop off to just 0.8 interceptions, 1.2 tackles and just 1.9 clearances per game, per Sofascore.

Sanchez was handed an opportunity to perhaps prove himself a capable starter in their midweek FA Cup clash, yet they were knocked out by Championship outfit Sheffield United. Cristian Stellini’s second-string side crumbled under the pressure of the high-flying Blades, with the 6 foot 2 dud partly to blame for their winner too.

TalkSPORT pundit Jason Cundy was full of contempt for the defender following the display, in which he claimed: “For the goal it’s like he’s moving in quicksand. He’s not interested. He’s terrible.” 

His fall from grace has been dramatic, and a man who could have spearheaded Spurs to numerous trophies has instead been a drain on their resources for nearly six years now. 

Aston Villa could well be plotting a summer bid to bolster their attack, as they seek to further back Unai Emery who has already impressed since joining in October.

The Spaniard entered Villa Park with the club in disrepute, floundering towards relegation under the struggling stewardship of Steven Gerrard.

Clearly out of his depth, thankfully for fans and players alike, he was put out of his misery, and since the Villans have become something of a barrier between the nine teams battling for safety and the rest of the league. They mark the safety point, and what half the sides in the division are striving to achieve.

With their place in the Premier League assured, it gives them the freedom to now look ahead at ways to progress further in the coming season.

One such name that has recently appeared is that of underperforming forward Tammy Abraham, who could be reborn with a move to the Midlands.

Would Tammy Abraham improve Aston Villa?

In a report by AS Roma Live, relayed by Sport Witness yesterday, the hulking Englishman has been touted with a romantic return to his former club where he starred in their return to the top flight.

Whilst the reported €40m (£35m) fee might seem lofty, the club does have form with spending big on those expected to transform their fortunes.

The 25-year-old recorded 25 goals in the Championship across just 37 games, where he would return to his parent club Chelsea to fire home 15 Premier League goals, silencing any scrutiny he might have received.

Even his move to Italy, which has faltered of late, showed initial promise, as his debut campaign saw him score 17 times in Serie A and a further nine as they won the Europa Conference League under Jose Mourinho’s tutelage.

Abraham even suggested that the Portuguese legend had turned him into a “monster”, teaching him how to “frighten defenders”. As a master of the dark arts, there is arguably no greater teacher to add some nastiness to someone's game than the Chelsea legend.

Finally, he could now be poised to come back to his homeland, to the club that gave him his platform for all the success he has enjoyed, to be the catalyst that truly helps them explode as a club.

Emery has already laid the foundation for success in the near future, with his experience and pragmatism sure to bear fruit sooner or later.

Should he add this 6 foot 3 finisher to his ranks too, then European football could start to become a real possibility given the quality they already boast.

Manchester United remain interested in signing Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong during the summer transfer window, according to a new update.

The Lowdown: De Jong a constant target

The Dutchman has found himself endlessly linked with a move to Old Trafford in recent times, whether it be last summer or again in January, with the two teams even agreeing an initial fee of €75million (£63million) before the start of this season.

De Jong has remained loyal to Barcelona to date, however, refusing to move after that agreement was met and proving to be a key player for them so far this season, starting 19 La Liga matches in total.

The United rumours are refusing to go away, though, with Pete O’Rourke sharing the latest ahead of this summer’s window.

The Latest: Ten Hag’s first choice

According to Football Insider‘s O’Rourke, the Red Devils ‘remain keen’ on acquiring De Jong’s services this summer.

They are planning to ‘reignite their interest’ in the Barca man, whose current contract expires in 2026, with the Catalans ‘aware they will have to sell to help manage their financial problems’.

Erik ten Hag wants a new striker first but also a new central midfielder, and De Jong is his ‘first choice’.

The Verdict: Perfect summer addition?

De Jong could be absolutely perfect for United this summer, adding both class and energy to the midfield at a time when a younger signing is needed in that area.

The 25-year-old is superb on the ball, enjoying an incredible 90.5% pass completion rate in La Liga this season, but he also averaged 2.4 tackles per game for the Netherlands at the 2022 World Cup, showing his tenacity on the defensive side.

De Jong could be the perfect foil for Casemiro and Bruno Fernandes, proving to be a box-to-box link man, and he would also represent a younger option than both, as well as Christian Eriksen.

He was described as both ‘spectacular’ and ‘one of the best midfielders in the world’ by Xavi over the weekend, which further highlights his brilliance, and the arrival of the Dutchman along with a marquee striker signing could be massive for Ten Hag’s future.

Injury expert Dr Rajpal Brar believes Aston Villa midfielder Philippe Coutinho may have suffered a Grade 2 tear in his hamstring.

The Lowdown: Coutinho’s absence

Coutinho has been out of action at Villa Park since February with a muscular issue sustained in the 4-2 Premier League defeat to Arsenal. The Brazilian actually scored his first goal of the season in what was a rare start under Unai Emery but has missed the last four top-flight games as a result.

Journalist Pete O’Rourke described the injury as a ‘blow’ for Emery and Coutinho, whereas Ben Dinnery said back in February that it could be April until we see Coutinho back in action, and another injury expert has shared his views on what the player may have done.

The Latest: Injury expert’s claim

Brar was talking to Villa News regarding Coutinho in a story shared in the last 48 hours. The expert said that ‘it sounds like a Grade 2 tear’ in his hamstring which would be a three-to-six-week timeline for a return, while also describing the risk of re-injury as a ‘major concern’.

“It’s been reported as a muscular injury and based on the timeline of him being back in April, it sounds like a Grade 2 tear.

“Those are typically three to six weeks so the timeline [of his return after the break] does fit.

“Re-injury risk is always a major concern with hamstring injuries and especially if it’s a hamstring region he’s already injured before.”

The Verdict: Summer exit?

Coutinho hasn’t exactly been a regular under Emery, and he was actually ruled out of the first two games under the Spaniard back in November with another hamstring issue.

The 30-year-old was linked with an exit from the Midlands in January, with speculation even suggesting that the player asked to leave the club. As we know, a move away failed to materialise, but following his struggles under Emery and injury issues, it wouldn’t come as a shock if he did depart in the summer.

Coutinho is thought to be one of the highest earners at the club on £125,000-a-week, so moving him on could help free up funds for new signings ahead of Emery’s first full season in charge.

Chief executive Christian Purslow has admitted he is “expecting an extremely busy summer” at Villa Park, so it’ll be interesting to see if Coutinho features in the remaining games of the season once he gets over his latest injury concern.

Chelsea are at the inception of a new era, with owner Todd Boehly replacing long-time proprietor Roman Abramovich last year after the Russian oligarch was forced to sell in the fallout of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

It has been imperfect, to say the least, with Thomas Tuchel sacked in the early phases of the campaign after a discernible and steady decline in 2022 and replacement Graham Potter failing to provide the results on the pitch during the foundation of his reign in west London.

Indeed, Chelsea currently languish in tenth place in the Premier League, also falling in both domestic cup competitions prematurely, bested by Manchester City on either occasion.

But there is now light at the end of the tunnel, with four successive victories and qualification to the quarter-finals of the Champions League, where holders Real Madrid await.

Around £600m has been pumped into the club since last summer, but one area yet to find lucrative replenishment is the talismanic position, with 33-year-old striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scoring three times all season and omitted from the club's Champions League squad for the latter phase.

With Romelu Lukaku out on loan at Inter Milan, some might call for the 29-year-old powerhouse's return amid the changing cogs at the club, but Potter must stick to his guns and search for a fresh face, with Lukaku's time at the helm of the Stamford Bridge ship surely over.

How much did Chelsea pay for Lukaku?

When Lukaku signed for Chelsea for £97.5m from Inter Milan – the club's record transfer until the British-record £107m acquisition of Enzo Fernandez in January – optimism was rife that a devastating forward would rain goals down on opposing forces in destructive and unrelenting fashion.

Indeed, the Belgian holds his own in discourse detailing the most prolific modern strikers, scoring 68 goals from 104 international appearances and boasting 271 goals and 88 assists from 571 outings at club level, including 121 goals in the Premier League.

However, his stint at Chelsea last season was a dismal failure; scoring just eight times in the top-flight and leaving the Blues fan base incensed after an explosive and damaging interview at the season's midpoint.

The "woeful" – as once branded by Samuel Luckhurst – £185k-per-week ace was pushed back out on loan to Serie A with I Nerazzurri, where he has scored just five times from 19 outings during an injury-stricken year.

Wedged in the centre of this term, Lukaku infamously suffered an ignominious performance at the 2022 World Cup, missing four glaring opportunities and recording a shambolic 5.6 match rating – as per Sofascore – in the group phase against Croatia and crashing out of contention prematurely.

The signing has been such a profound catastrophe that journalist Chris Deerin even labelled it a "transfer calamity", and Potter must indeed target a new talisman if he wants to ensure Chelsea to not stagnate in their endeavours.

It's been a stark plummet from prominence for the towering Belgian powerhouse, with injury and the taint of a woeful World Cup indeed inhibiting his fortunes with Inter, so much so that he's now worth only £48m, via Transfermarkt, a staggering 51% decrease in such a short space of time.

With Chelsea transitioning to a new phase this season, the next chapter at the illustrious Premier League outfit must not be hindered by the return of Lukaku, perhaps reaching the end of his imperious best. Indeed, they must finally call time on his second spell at the club this summer; it has been a shambolic transfer all round.

Liverpool centre-back Joe Gomez could potentially return from injury in time for his side’s vital Champions League clash with Real Madrid this week.

The Lowdown: Gomez missing recently

The Reds make the trip to Spain on Wednesday evening, looking to produce one of the greatest comebacks in their history after their 5-2 loss in the first leg – one that saw them lead 2-0 during the first half and eventually capitulate in grim fashion.

Progression into the quarter-finals would arguably be an even greater achievement than the semi-final triumph over Barcelona back in 2019, such is the size of the task and the fact that the second leg isn’t at Anfield.

Liverpool have been dogged by injury problems all season and someone who has been unavailable recently is Gomez, who hasn’t featured since the aforementioned 5-2 defeat last month.

Now, it looks as though he could be nearing a return, however, following a fresh update.

The Latest: Back fit for Madrid?

Speaking to Give Me Sport, injury expert Ben Dinnery suggested that Wednesday night could see Gomez back in the fold after his recent absence:

“Gomez shouldn’t be too far away, but that Real Madrid game, I would never rule out a return to the matchday squad, but not in terms of being thrust into that starting-11.

“Unless something serious was to crop up or arise ahead of that game, then it’s highly, highly unlikely he’s involved.”

The Verdict: Certainly shouldn’t start

This is a clear positive for Jurgen Klopp, in terms of having as many players available as possible, although it would be a huge shock if Gomez started proceedings on Wednesday.

Firstly, the £85,000-a-week defender will be lacking match fitness after being out for a few weeks, and finding that rhythm against a world-class Madrid side would be asking a lot of him, considering they possess the likes of Vinicius Jr and Karim Benzema in attack.

The 25-year-old is also having a shaky season for Liverpool, with both he and Joel Matip a long way short of their best and doubts surrounding his future, while Ibrahima Konate and Virgil van Dijk are the strongest centre-back pairing available.

For Gomez, the next few months represent a vital period for him in his Reds career, as he looks to prove to Klopp that he is worth persevering, even though his contract doesn’t expire until 2027.  His manager has called him a ‘sensational’ footballer in the past, though, and given his age, he could deserve to stay on as a squad player beyond this summer.

Journalist Fabrizio Romano has claimed it could take months for Tottenham Hotspur to appoint a new manager rather than anything happening in the near future.

What's the latest on Spurs and their manager search?

Amid a run of poor form and explosive comments, Spurs opted to sack Antonio Conte and so Cristian Stellini and Ryan Mason have been asked to step up and take charge for the time being.

The announcement may have only come days ago, but already a number of names are being linked with the job. Indeed, Julian Nagelsmann is said to be open to talks having recently been fired from Bayern Munich, while former boss Mauricio Pochettino seems to perpetually be discussed as a possible option.

However, despite all these exciting rumours, Romano has suggested that a decision will not happen any time soon with the process expected to drag on for a while yet.

While talking about how it could all impact Harry Kane's future on The United Stand, the journalist outlined when he thinks a new head coach might come in.

He said: “I think this kind of manager situation will make things slow [for Kane's decision].

"Also because Tottenham are not appointing a new coach in a few hours or days. It probably will take weeks or months.”

Who is linked with the Spurs manager job?

Beyond Nagelsmann and Pochettino, the likes of Marco Silva, Roberto De Zerbi, Sergio Conceicao, Thomas Frank, and Vincent Kompany have emerged as credible options for the club (via Sky Sports).

With so many managers to consider, it's no wonder Daniel Levy and co might need months before coming to any final decision on the matter.

Of course, Spurs still have plenty to play for. After all, with just ten games left to go in the Premier League, they sit fourth in the division hoping to keep themselves in the Champions League next term.

With that in mind, the club do run the risk of not qualifying if Stellini and Mason don't have the quality to see out the final run-in with much success.

But certain managers may not want to come in until the summer, so they can get a full pre-season under the belt before being judged – while also knowing what European competition, if any, the north London side will be competing in.

All in all, there are a number of great candidates who will all have different demands if they are to join Spurs and so this hunt for a new head coach could take some time.

Fabrizio Romano has revealed that Arsenal are eyeing up midfield sensation Romeo Lavia ahead of a potential summer move.

What's the latest on Arsenal's transfer targets?

Mikel Arteta is clearly in hot pursuit of a central midfielder this summer, with reports that Declan Rice is the club's top target, and this follows a January window where large bids were made for Moises Caicedo.

The league leaders are now also keeping an eye on 19-year-old Lavia, who has impressed for Southampton in his 24 appearances this season.

A young option who can rotate with Thomas Partey, Jorginho and Granit Xhaka is seemingly on the wishlist, and Lavia has earned plaudits from his peers, with ex-teammate Kevin de Bruyne previously describing the Belgian as "very good".

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Romano revealed that whilst Arsenal are keeping an eye on the £25k-per-week star, there is nothing concrete in terms of a move just yet.

He said: "Arsenal are keeping an eye on the player.

"Arsenal are following Romeo Lavia, but at the moment, [there is] still nothing advanced. Arsenal have many options."

Why do Arsenal want a midfielder?

Three of Arsenal's main central midfielders in Xhaka, Partey and Jorginho are all aged 29 or older, and Partey's fitness record is particularly inconsistent.

Arsenal are often reliant on Partey at the base of the Arsenal midfield, with Xhaka and Martin Odegaard pushing forward. Whilst Jorginho has stepped in to great effect at times since his January arrival – including a performance against Aston Villa where he helped create the winning goal – a longer-term rotation option could be of great use.

This could explain the interest in younger talents such as Rice and Caicedo, and Lavia may be viewed as an alternative option to the pair.

However, it remains unclear if Lavia can step into Partey's shoes, even as a rotational option. Partey ranks in the top 5% of midfielders in Europe's top competitions over the past year for progressive passes, with the Ghanaian helping Arsenal build attacks from deep, while Lavia ranks in the bottom 29% in this regard, as per FBref.

Although he is still young, the experience Partey and Jorginho bring to the team may be lacking in someone as raw as Lavia. With just 26 senior appearances to his name in his career, it may be a tough task for him to step into a midfield which could potentially compete for the league title again next season.

Declan Rice, in contrast, is West Ham's captain, and has experience domestically, in Europe and on the international stage. Arsenal may have more confidence in the Englishman's ability to step in and perform when needed given the vast difference in pedigree between him and Lavia.