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Arsenal are 'willing to pay' the 'jaw-dropping' price tag to sign Declan Rice from West Ham this summer, according to reports.

What's the latest on Rice leaving West Ham?

The England international has been heavily linked with a move away from east London, with Irons boss David Moyes facing a real battle to keep his club captain. Indeed, Rice is set to be a highly sought-after player when the transfer window opens, as Mikel Arteta, Chelsea, Man City and Liverpool are all apparently set to battle for his signature.

Currently in pole position to clinch their first Premier League title in nearly 20 years, Arsenal and sporting director Edu are already thought to be planning ahead on how best to strengthen Arteta's options ahead of the next campaign.

Rice is thought to be a top target for the Gunners, despite the January signing of midfielder Jorginho from Stamford Bridge – and reports have suggested it is inevitable the midfielder will depart West Ham in 2023.

Now, an update by journalist Pete O'Rourke, writing in a Football Insider column, says Arsenal are absolutely determined to sign the 24-year-old. It is believed that the north Londoners are 'willing to meet' Rice's 'jaw-dropping' price tag of £100 million+, with Arteta being a 'huge admirer' personally.

The Arsenal boss also believes his side have a potential ace up their sleeve – with the theory that clinching this 22/23 domestic crown will put them in the 'driving seat' to capture Rice.

What could Rice bring to Arsenal?

The former Chelsea academy starlet has been a revelation for Moyes and a key, key player in their last two European qualification campaigns. As per WhoScored, Rice is as pivotal as ever to West Ham – standing out as their best-performing player by average match rating whist playing more league minutes than any of his teammates.

Called 'sensational' by members of the media, the Hammers midfielder has also registered more interceptions per 90 in the English top flight than any West Ham player – all while averaging the highest pass accuracy (88.9%) out of any regular in Moyes' side (WhoScored).

Stats like this indicate he could add both composure and an element of defensive solidarity to Arteta's team next season, with defensive midfield players thought to be high on Arsenal's agenda.

Former England star Joe Cole was also ecstatic in his praise for Rice at international level during the most recent break, calling him the 'best player' by a mile against Italy.

Newcastle United are interested in signing Brighton & Hove Albion striker Evan Ferguson this summer, according to a report from the Daily Mail.

What is the latest Newcastle transfer news?

It has recently been reported that Newcastle hold a concrete interest in Watford forward Joao Pedro, as the club appreciate his versatility and view him as someone who could go on and play in a number of roles at the top level.

Another attacking option is Leicester City midfielder Harvey Barnes, and the Foxes will find it very difficult to hold onto the 25-year-old, should they be relegated to the Championship, in what would be a boost to Eddie Howe's chances of landing him.

Despite boasting the best defensive record in the Premier League, some new defensive signings are also on the cards, with Real Valladolid right-back Ivan Fresneda still being monitored, having missed out on the 18-year-old back in January.

That said, signing a new striker appears to be one of Howe's priorities in the summer, and the Daily Mail now report Newcastle are interested in signing Ferguson, although they are not the only Premier League side eyeing a deal.

Manchester United and Chelsea are also credited with interest in the forward, who Roberto De Zerbi claims can be a "European great", so there is set to be stiff competition for his signature.

However, there is every chance that the Irishman remains with Brighton for the time being, as the Seagulls have no desire to sell him, unless they receive a 'silly' offer.

Should Newcastle sign Evan Ferguson?

The report does not specify how much the striker could cost; however, he is showing all the signs that he could one day go on to be a top Premier League player, scoring eight goals in 18 first-team appearances for Brighton this season.

That is a fantastic return for someone so young, and football scout Jacek Kulig's comments indicate the starlet is only going to get better, lauding him as the "complete package", due to his power, aerial ability, pace and technique.

Newcastle have utilised a 4-3-3 formation in every match so far this season, meaning there is only room for one striker, and Alexander Isak has impressed whenever he has had the opportunity, scoring eight goals in 13 Premier League games.

As such, it will not be devastating if the Magpies miss out on Ferguson, but he is certainly one for the future and we think he would be an excellent addition to the squad.

Leeds United goalkeeper Illan Meslier is expected to keep his place in the side against Fulham this lunchtime, Adam Pope reports.

What’s the latest Leeds team news?

The Whites travel to Craven Cottage looking to bounce back after heavy home defeats to Crystal Palace and Liverpool. As a result, Javi Gracia’s side begin the weekend just two points above the Premier League relegation zone.

Defender Max Wober could be in line for a return to the starting XI today with Gracia saying he is in a better condition than last week, however, there are still question marks over Patrick Bamford’s availability.

One player who looks set to start though is Meslier, with Pope expecting him to carry on his record of starting every top-flight game this season after hearing Gracia defend him at his weekly pre-match press conference.

Keep Meslier or start Robles or Klaesson?

Meslier, who recently conceded 11 consecutive shots on goal, has come in for criticism this year, with Glenn Murray labelling the shot-stopper as “terrible” after a mistake against Everton back in February. Jamie Carragher also took aim at the Frenchman after the 6-1 defeat to Liverpool on Monday, saying:

“They’ve got really poor defenders, really poor. I’ve never been convinced with the goalkeeper, I haven’t. I know he’s a young player and obviously [Marcelo] Bielsa brought him up from the Championship. He was young then, maybe 20, he was good on the ball using his feet.

“But he’s got no presence. It looks like you’ve got a kid in goal. I’ve always felt that but I thought, ‘Okay, he’s a young goalkeeper learning his way’. But I’ve never been convinced with him at all.”

Gracia’s other options should he wish to change things up are Joel Robles, who has made just two cup appearances for the Whites, and Kristoffer Klaesson, who has just one senior appearance in Yorkshire.

Therefore, sticking by Meslier, who was being linked with a big-money move to Chelsea not long ago, seems to be a wise move.

The 23-year-old has shown his shot-stopping qualities in the past and currently ranks 38th in the all-time Premier League saves list with 369. Hopefully, the Frenchman will have Wober in front of him this afternoon, with the January signing seemingly a big miss in recent weeks with the Whites conceding 16 times in four league games following the international break without the Austrian.

Chelsea will need to decide on the future of midfielder Conor Gallagher in the summer amid interest in his services, according to journalist Pete O'Rourke.

What's the latest news surrounding Conor Gallagher?

As per The Daily Mail, Chelsea are said to be willing to offload Gallagher in the forthcoming transfer window in order to fulfil their Financial Fair Play obligations.

The report states that the 23-year-old is attracting interest from the Premier League and around Europe, with the likes of Liverpool, Borussia Dortmund, Newcastle United and Brighton & Hove Albion linked with a swoop for his services.

Football Insider back up the notion that Newcastle United are keen on Gallagher this summer and have claimed that Chelsea could ask for £30 million to let him depart Stamford Bridge.

Bringing the England international to the North East on a loan-to-buy agreement could also be an option for Eddie Howe. Additionally, Crystal Palace are also believed to be monitoring his situation.

Gallagher has made 39 appearances this term for Chelsea in all competitions, netting two goals and claiming a solitary assist, as per Transfermarkt.

Speaking to Football FanCast, journalist O'Rourke doesn't think that Chelsea will be too keen to part ways with Gallagher this summer.

O'Rourke told FFC: "I'm sure if Chelsea were to lose him, they would maybe see him as one that got away, that maybe they didn't see the best of Conor Gallagher as well, because, during that spell at Crystal Palace last season, he was superb for them and he's an England international as well. He's a top player, one that they won't really want to lose, but there will be clubs ready to take him and try and capitalize on the uncertainty within the Chelsea camp."

Should Chelsea sell Conor Gallagher this summer?

It's difficult to say at this point whether Chelsea should move to sell Gallagher; however, they will need to trim their squad appropriately ahead of next season, which could ultimately mean the 23-year-old is sacrificed if a suitable offer arises for his services.

WhoScored notes that the England international has earned an average rating of 6.56/10 for his exploits on the pitch this season, ranking him as Chelsea's 20th-best performer overall, indicating that there is room for improvement concerning his performances.

Nevertheless, Gallagher, who Pochettino is a "big fan of", has managed to successfully perform 79 progressive passes in 2022/23, as per FBRef, showing that he does still have the ability to have a positive impact in the engine room when on form.

Looking ahead to the off-season, Chelsea have a big decision to make on his future, which their new manager at Stamford Bridge will likely review extensively once in position at the club.

Arsenal left-back Oleksandr Zinchenko was slammed for his performance against Newcastle United in the Premier League this afternoon.

What was the Newcastle vs Arsenal result?

The Gunners had to weather an early storm away at St. James' Park this afternoon, with Jacob Murphy striking the post less than 90 seconds into the game, before the hosts were awarded a penalty for handball by Jakub Kiwior.

VAR ultimately overturned to the decision, with the replays showing the ball hit the defender's leg before bouncing up on to his arm, and Martin Odegaard opened the scoring with a sublime finish from outside the box just before the 15-minute mark.

After some good work from Gabriel Martinelli on the left-hand side, Fabian Schar turned the ball into his own net in the second half to create a two-goal lead for the visitors, which proved to be insurmountable for the Magpies.

Despite the important victory, which moves the Gunners back within point of Manchester City in the Premier League table, Zinchenko was slammed by members of the media for his performance.

GiveMeSport's Terry Flewers took to Twitter to say the left-back's side was being "exposed massively" by Newcastle, while Arsenal correspondent Charles Watts claimed the £150k-per-week defender "got turned inside out" by Murphy, in the build-up to Alexander Isak hitting the post.

Should Zinchenko be dropped?

It was not the Ukrainian's best performance by any means, which is evidenced by Mikel Arteta choosing to replace him with Kieran Tierney in the second half, and his inability to stop Murphy could have been more costly on another day, if Isak had buried his opportunity.

The 26-year-old has not been in the best form of late, receiving a 6.2 Sofascore match rating against Man City, the second-lowest of any Arsenal starter, while he was also ranked as their worst-performing outfield player against Southampton.

Famous Arsenal media personality Troopz praised Tierney's contribution after coming off the bench, claiming Zinchenko should "take notes" from the Scotland international.

As such, Mikel Arteta should undoubtedly reward the substitute with a start against Brighton & Hove Albion next weekend.

West Ham United return to the London Stadium this evening as they face Manchester United in their ongoing fight against relegation from the Premier League.

Saturday's results mean that the Hammers are still just four points clear of the bottom three and cannot be considered safe, but a positive result against Erik ten Hag's side would definitely put them in a strong position ahead of the final three games of the season.

David Moyes' side were soundly beaten by champions-elect Manchester City in midweek to make it three defeats in a row, although they were without the likes of Declan Rice, Tomas Soucek and Nayef Aguerd due to illness.

All three are expected to return this evening, however, which will surely boost the east London side's chances of securing a vitally important three points.

How should West Ham line up against Manchester United?

Lukas Fabianski has been Moyes' first-choice for the vast majority of the Premier League season and the experienced shot-stopper looks unlikely to lose his place in between the sticks this evening.

Vladimir Coufal was forced off with a hamstring injury in the defeat at the Etihad on Wednesday night so looks unlikely to be fit for the visit of United, which suggests that Thilo Kehrer will move to right-back as his replacement.

The Germany international should move from centre-back to the full-back position, which allows Nayef Aguerd to return to the side in the first of four changes, partnering Angelo Ogbonna in the heart of the Hammers defence in the absence of the stricken Kurt Zouma.

Moyes has a big decision to make at left-back, where he has alternated between Aaron Cresswell and Emerson throughout the campaign, but it is the Italian defender who should get the nod for this one.

Against a dangerous counter-attacking United attack, Cresswell's lack of pace could prove a problem for West Ham, as was seen with his "desperate" defending last season – as per Dean Ashton. Indeed, that came as he inexplicably earned a red card in the crucial Europa League away tie against Eintracht Frankfurt.

In midfield, changes seem like a must as Flynn Downes once again showed little to suggest he was a worthwhile purchase having 'frustrated Moyes' – as per Jonty Colman – versus City. That performance wouldn't have helped his cause with the Englishman still yet to register a goal or assist so far this term.

Rice and Soucek return after illness, with Lucas Paqueta moving back into the attacking-midfield role which has seen him notch goals against Bournemouth, Liverpool and KRC Genk in recent weeks.

Said Benrahma can offer magic in the attack, so he comes in for Pablo Fornals on the left-hand side, with Jarrod Bowen unsurprisingly keeping his place on the right.

They support the in-form Michail Antonio up front, in the hope that he can inspire the Hammers to a much-improved display this evening.

Predicted West Ham XI (4-2-3-1): Fabianski, Kehrer, Aguerd, Ogbonna, Emerson, Soucek, Rice, Paqueta, Bowen, Benrahma, Antonio.

Leeds United's appointment of Sam Allardyce, as has often been the case with any club that has looked for the 68-year-old in recent years, marked a desperate last-gasp attempt to ensure survival.

His teams in the past have been weak and underperforming, hence his acquisition of a 'firefighter' reputation, who comes in and calms down clubs in disarray.

However, he often gets afforded more time than chairman Andrea Radrizzani has handed him, given the fact he was welcomed with just four games left of the Premier League season.

The expectation that he could turn around a sinking ship like the Whites in such a small amount of time is painfully hopeful, and arguably even more desperate than any club that has ever appointed him previously.

For a team shipping goals and facing one of the toughest run-ins remaining, the hope is that at the very least this English football stalwart can steady the club and add an element of solidity after a run of five games without a win before his arrival, having shipped 17 goals.

Allardyce will have to call upon his best and most experienced defenders in order to do so, removing any culpable duds from his backline. He cannot afford mistakes to be the undoing of a potentially fine defensive display.

Therefore, perhaps Pascal Struijk could be set for a return to the side at left back, in a role he has featured in heavily in recent years.

How has Pascal Struijk played this season?

The Dutchman has often been forced into that left-hand side of a back four due to the fragility of Junior Firpo, who was branded a "liability" around this time last year by Mirror journalist David Anderson.

Meanwhile, just months before that claim, fellow writer Daniel Fraiz Martinez hailed an "absolutely monster defensive display" from the 23-year-old who has already played 93 times for the Whites.

Although his 6.79 average rating this season is far from outstanding, with his recent showings having underwhelmed too, he does boast a mastery of key assets that Allardyce will likely command.

Across this campaign, Struijk has recorded 2.9 tackles and 2.3 clearances per game, via Sofascore, which almost backs up TEAMtalk journalist James Marshment's claim that he is "a rock-solid defender" – not only this, but he is yet to make an error leading to a shot all campaign, let alone a goal.

In reigniting the struggling titan, who has dropped a rating of 6.1 or lower in each of his last three league matches, Allardyce would strike gold at the perfect moment.

This £50k-per-week colossus could well be the key to forging a back four capable of keeping out their final three opponents and completing the great escape, with big encounters against the likes of Newcastle United, West Ham United and Tottenham Hotspur to finish the season.

Fans online have reacted after Manchester City midfielder Ilkay Gundogan scored a stunning goal-of-the-season contender against Everton.

How did Ilkay Gundogan score against Everton?

After going toe-to-toe in their 1-1 Champions League draw against Real Madrid in the week, Pep Guardiola made four changes to his team to take on the Toffees.

Indeed, Aymeric Laporte replaced John Stones in defence, while Julian Alvarez, Phil Foden and Riyad Mahrez come in for Kevin De Bruyne, Jack Grealish and Bernardo Silva further up the pitch – talk about depth, huh…

Despite the ‘weakened’ team, City were looking to extend their lead over Arsenal at the top of the Premier League title and the opposition fought hard to make things awkward in the early stages of the game at Goodison Park.

However, all that good work was completely undone by a moment of pure brilliance from Gundogan – who incidentally was making his 300th appearance for the club – in the 37th minute of the game.

Indeed, as you can see in the Sky Sports footage below, the midfielder arrives in the box to get on the end of a Mahrez cross. However, the ball is slightly behind him, so he has to quickly readjust.

With that being the case, as if operating in slow-motion, the £140k-per-week German takes the ball on his thigh and then pivots mid-air to flick the ball into the back of the net without even being able to see the goal behind him.

It was a Dennis Bergkamp-esque type finish that would have had Arsenal fans hoping for a City defeat groaning in frustration.

Fans on Twitter didn’t take long to flock to the footage though and these are some of the best reactions…

His value to this team can’t be underrated as he added an assist to his name just minutes later as he set up Erling Haaland to make it 2-0 and then later made it three with his second of the clash.

Arsenal suffered a costly dip in form in the latter stages of the 2022/23 campaign, subsequently ending their title hopes.

The Gunners are reportedly weighing up options ahead of the summer transfer window, however, as Mikel Arteta will look to strengthen his squad.

It’s been far from all doom and gloom for the north Londoners, who despite falling short of the title, have confirmed Champions League football for next season, as well as their highest league finish since 2016.

With one game remaining to sign off the campaign, Arsenal are reportedly eyeing another midfielder to add to the team this summer, with the transfer window opening an opportunity for Arteta to build on his squad’s depth.

What’s the latest on Mohammed Kudus to Arsenal?

As reported earlier this week by The Athletic's David Ornstein, Ajax midfielder Mohammed Kudus could be on the move this summer.

The 22-year-old is contracted by the Eredivisie side until 2025, however, rejected the option to extend, making his wishes to depart the club.

Arsenal, along with Manchester United and Newcastle United are among the Premier League representatives that are “tracking” the youngster.

It’s stated that the attacking midfielder could be priced around the £40m mark, with the price possibly changing depending on the clubs showing interest.

What could Mohammed Kudus bring to Arsenal?

Averaging a Sofascore match rating of 7.08 in Eredivisie this season, the Ghanaian places himself within his side’s top ten performers this term.

Described by Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag as having “incredible potential”, the 22-year-old has cemented himself as one of the league’s hottest talents, contributing to 14 goals in 29 appearances – scoring 11 and assisting three – as per Sofascore.

The young midfielder could add further rejuvenation to Arteta’s young squad, particularly in midfield where he could prove to be the perfect partner for Martin Odegaard.

The Arsenal skipper has been formidable this season with 15 league goals to his name and could have a replica to his playing style in Kudus, who has been lauded as “absolutely outstanding” for his technical ability by U23 scout Antonio Mango.

While Arteta tends to line up with Odegaard as a lone attacking midfielder, the Accra-born talent could thrive alongside the Norwegian, should the Spaniard opt to one day integrate formations learnt at Manchester City at the Emirates.

Likened to PSV wonderkid and fellow Arsenal target Xavi Simons, Kudus is just as impressive when it comes to his numbers, averaging a mammoth 4.23 successful take-ons per 90, compared to the Emirates captain’s 1.26 per 90 – as per FBref.

Their slightly differential approaches to play in identical areas of the field could spark a budding duo in attacking midfield, as we see frequently in Pep Guardiola’s set-up with Ilkay Gundogan and Kevin De Bruyne, in a system that is constantly creating.

Squad depth is essential for Arsenal to target this summer, especially with the Champions League being added to their already-bustling schedule next season.

With rivalled interest from the Premier League, only time will tell if Arteta can get his man

While the Manchester United ownership situation is yet to be resolved, speculation is already rife as to the potential signings that could be the made this summer if the Glazer family are to finally sell up.

There has notably been much talk as to the incomings that could arrive at Old Trafford if Qatari investor Sheikh Jassim is to prove successful in his bid to buy the club, with recent reports in Spain suggesting that the Billionaire banker has drawn up a ten-man shortlist of potential dream targets ahead of next season.

On that list are the likes of Harry Kane, Victor Osimhen and Dusan Vlahovic, while Adrien Rabiot, Frenkie de Jong and Alexis Mac Allister are also among the names mentioned.

Napoli sensation Khvicha Kvaratskhelia is also referenced alongside his teammate Kim Min-jae and Barcelona colossus Ronald Araujo.

Further among those who are on that list of stellar names is Bayern Munich sensation, Kingsley Coman, with United seemingly keen on snapping up a player who has now won a league title in each of his 11 seasons at senior level, across his time in Bavaria, as well as with both Paris Saint-Germain and Juventus.

The Red Devils will likely be hoping that remarkable streak can continue if the £43m-rated Frenchman is to join Erik ten Hag's ranks this summer, with the 26-year-old having reportedly been a target for the club back in the summer of 2020, alongside then-Borussia Dortmund ace, Jadon Sancho.

The fear will be, however, that if Coman is to join United this summer, the 47-cap gem could replicate that the struggles that Sancho – who eventually sealed a £73m switch in 2021 – has endured in recent seasons…

Has Jadon Sancho been a success at Man United?

With the FA Cup final on the horizon, it looks as if Sancho is ending the season with something of a flourish, with the Englishman having contributed two goal involvements in his final two Premier League outings of the campaign.

That being said, however, rarely has the 23-year-old been able to put together a consistent run of form in the side since the start of the 2021/22 season, having recorded a rather disappointing tally of 12 goals and just six assists in 78 games in all competitions to date.

The misfiring "flop" – as described by journalist Jason Soutar – has simply been unable to replicate the scintillating form that he produced during his time with Dortmund, having bagged 114 goals and assists in just 137 games for the German outfit.

As has been evident with other imports from the Bundesliga, making the transition to life in England is not totally straightforward, as shown by the woes of Timo Werner who scored just ten league goals in two seasons at Chelsea, despite bagging 28 league goals in his final season at RB Leipzig prior to joining the west London outfit.

While Coman – who has racked up 121 goal contributions in 267 games at the Allianz Arena – has also proven himself to be a rather "extraordinary" talent in the Bundesliga, as hailed by teammate Thomas Muller, the £284k-per-week asset may also find life difficult if he is to link up with Ten Hag and co.

With Sancho already on "borrowed time" at United – according to club legend Dwight Yorke – the concern will be that a repeat scenario could occur with the addition of the Bayern speedster.