CHELSEA have reportedly made Jules Kounde their top summer transfer target.
The news comes amid reports that Antonio Rudiger is planning to leave on a free transfer in the summer, with no contract talks having been held.
Meanwhile, reports from Spain claim Real Madrid have leapfrogged Man Utd and Man City in the race for Erling Haaland following a constructive meeting.
Follow ALL the latest transfer gossip and news with our live blog below…
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- Dylan Terry
Conte odds to leave Spurs slashed
Antonio Conte's odds of leaving Tottenham are at a record low.
That's according to bookmakers Ladbrokes, who make the Italian just 5/4 to leave North London before the beginning of the 2022-23 campaign — the lowest they've been since his arrival.
Conte only signed an 18 month contract when he agreed to replace Nuno Espirito Santo in November.
The 52-year-old oversaw a nine-game unbeaten run in the Premier League.
But they've now dropped to eighth after three consecutive league defeats to Chelsea, Southampton and Wolves.
The results leave them seven points off the Champions League spots with trouble is brewing in the capital.
- Dylan Terry
Arsenal vs Liverpool date set
Arsenal's postponed clash with Liverpool will now take place in mid-March as the Premier League confirmed its revised fixture list.
The Gunners’ blockbuster encounter with the high-flying Reds had been due to take place on Saturday 26th February.
But the match has now been pushed back to Wednesday 16th March after Liverpool made it through to the final of the Carabao Cup.
They are now set to face Chelsea at Wembley on Sunday 27th February, with their trip to the Emirates pushed back 17 days.
That game will be shown live on Sky Sports with an unusual kick-off time of 8.15pm.
- Dylan Terry
Possible Chelsea return for Abraham?
Former Chelsea defender Glen Johnson has given his opinion on the Blues exercising their buy back option for Tammy Abraham in the future.
The Englishman joined Roma last summer and has hit the ground running in Italy.
And Johnson said: “I wouldn’t be totally shocked if Tuchel or Chelsea eventually went on to re-sign Tammy Abraham.
"He’s doing well away at Roma and I know that Chelsea has a place in his heart.
"He’s of course English as well. But I think as long as he’s performing at the right level – and keeps on performing – and Chelsea have proven in the past they’re not too embarrassed to buy back a player that they’ve previously let go, I could see that happening.”
- Dylan Terry
Arsenal clash too early for Eriksen
Thomas Frank says today’s trip to Arsenal is “one step too early” for Christian Eriksen as he edges closer to an epic comeback.
Frank said: “Christian looked good in the 60 minutes he played in the friendly last week, and in training.
“He's been out for seven months. Normally you need a proper pre-season to get going. He came to us with a good foundation and so he doesn't need those six weeks.
“But this game is just one step too early. We have another good opponent for a friendly on Monday, so that'll be really beneficial for him.
“We are aiming for the Newcastle game, that's the aim but everything from the Manchester City and Crystal Palace games have been open.”
- Dylan Terry
Rangnick on Maguire/Ronaldo rift rumours
Ralf Rangnick has responded to reports that there is friction between Manchester United captain Harry Maguire and Cristiano Ronaldo.
Speaking in his press conference, the Red Devils boss said: “I’m not frustrated at all because I know this is not the truth.
“I told you already about Harry being the captain.
“This is not an issue at all and it has never been an issue for us and for myself as the manager.
“All the other things, to be honest, I don’t listen to that noise because my job is to focus on preparing for the next game.”
- Dylan Terry
Madrid submit final offer for Haaland
Real Madrid have submitted a 'final offer' for Borussia Dortmund superstar Erling Haaland, reports say.
The Spanish giants are leading the chase for Haaland, 21, despite Premier League clubs also fighting for the Norwegian international's signature.
And Spanish outlet Sport say the striker's representatives have been in talks with Madrid after they tabled a formal offer.
The goalscoring machine is managed by super-agent Mino Raiola and it is said that a meeting in Monaco took place on Friday to discuss the bid.
And it could be the end of the road for Man Utd, Chelsea and Man City, with an agreement reportedly now in place that will 'block other negotiations'.
- Dylan Terry
Trippier remains key, says Howe
Eddie Howe expects crocked but 'inspirational' Kieran Trippier to still play a big role in Newcastle’s survival hopes.
The £12million January signing went under the knife on Thursday after breaking his foot during last Sunday’s 1-0 win against Aston Villa.
Howe hopes the right-back, 31, will play again this season. And while he admits they will miss his leadership, the Magpies boss said: “He’s got a big part to play.
“The players have found him an inspirational figure but that won’t change – he will be around them and supporting them from the training ground.
“It’s the first thing we discussed, and that’s the type of person he is. He wants to make a difference and wants to lead. I knew Kieran when he was younger (at Burnley), and he has changed and developed many facets of his game and personality.
“We hope to have him back before the end of the season but it is a significant injury. It’s a big blow but no one player makes the team. I’m confident we have enough quality to cover.”
- Dylan Terry
Ronaldo tops fake Insta followers
Cristiano Ronaldo is estimated to earn a staggering £388,000 per sponsored post from fake Instagram followers.
The Portuguese superstar, through no fault of his own, is believed to have 92 million fake accounts among his record 400 million followers.
This is due to the rise of bot accounts on social media.
For every sponsored post that Ronaldo – the most popular person on the photo-sharing app – uploads to Instagram, data complied by livefootballtickets.com suggests that he earns a staggering £1.69million.
But if 92 million of his followers are fake, that would mean that £388,000-per-post is earned due to bot accounts.
- Sam Dymond
Focused Gerrard demands Villa reaction
Aston Villa manager Steven Gerrard is expecting a vast improvement from his players this weekend when they host Watford.
The Villa boss was furious with his side's display in the defeat at Newcastle last week, 90 minutes that he described as being by far the worst since he arrived at the club.
Speaking this afternoon, Gerrard said: "The most important thing is that we need to see a change in the level of performance. The players are honest enough with themselves and we know we need to raise that.
“There’s been enough time to reflect but also to reset a few things individually and collectively, and I’m hoping to see that reaction tomorrow.
“We knew collectively that we had let our supporters down [at Newcastle] so tomorrow is all about a reaction.'
- Sam Dymond
Pep: I am not the best
Pep Guardiola has laughed off the suggestion that he is the best coach in the world.
Responding to Antonio Conte's claim that Guardiola is the top manager in the game, the Man City boss was quick to respond: "I am not. I am not. I appreciate it, but I am not."
Guardiola's City face Conte's Tottenham tomorrow evening, and the Spaniard returned the compliment by expressing his admiration for the Spurs gaffer, insisting that the London club should back the Italian for the long term.
“He showed it at Juventus. Managers need time and investment to be here for a long time, especially in this country. If the club rely on him 100%, they will have success."
- Sam Dymond
Mount targeting cup final return
Thomas Tuchel hopes to have Mason Mount fit again for Chelsea's League Cup final with Liverpool next weekend.
Speaking ahead of tomorrow's Premier League trip to Crystal Palace, the Blues boss admitted his midfielder was in a race against time, but promised that the club will do all they can to get the England international ready for the Wembley showpiece.
The German coach said: “[Mason Mount] has injured ligaments. The Champions League [game with Lille on Tuesday] seems very, very close, but we will try hard for the League Cup final.”
- Sam Dymond
Maguire will remain United captain
Ralf Rangnick has confirmed that Harry Maguire will remain as Manchester United captain despite rumours in the press that the armband was set to be handed to Cristiano Ronaldo.
Several United players have spoken out against stories of a split in the dressing room, and the interim boss echoed their views by labelling the reports as 'absolute nonsense.'
Speaking at his Friday afternoon press conference, Rangnick said: "I have never spoken with any player about a change of captaincy. This has never been an issue. It is me who decides who is the captain.
"Harry is our captain and he will stay captain."
- Sam Dymond
New MD can unite Blues
Troubled Championship club Birmingham City have appointed lifelong fan Ian Dutton as their new managing director.
The 37-year-old has been promoted from his current role as Chief Commercial Officer after 15 years of service at St Andrew's.
Birmingham's under-fire ownership has been targeted by protesting fans in recent weeks, with many fans turning up in white 'faceless,' masks to mock the club's 'faceless owners.'
Dutton's appointment is an attempt to bridge the divide between fans and the club, with the former Tilton Road season-ticket holder keen to push ahead with re-opening the club's closed stands.
“We know, as a Club, we have to improve our communication to supporters and work in that area has already begun,“ said Dutton.
“Repairing and reopening the lower tiers is a top priority for the Club but we are also looking at additional ways to overhaul the entire matchday experience for our supporters.
“It's about understanding the underlying issues and concerns and to come up with a proper plan and a process we can deliver. I think it is fair to say that we haven’t had that in recent years and it’s time to change now.
“This is a huge club. I have always said it is a sleeping giant that needs awakening.”
- Sam Dymond
Pogba does not unbalance United
Manchester United's Paul Pogba has found an unlikely ally in the shape of former Liverpool legend John Barnes.
The French international lost his place in Ralf Rangnick's starting line-up once again for Tuesday's match against Brighton with the interim boss favouring the returning Fred in midfield.
But while many continue to queue up in order to put the boot into Pogba, Barnes believes the 28-year-old to be a 'fantastic' player that does not jeopardise the system.
In conversation with BonusCodeBets, Barnes said: "Paul Pogba isn’t making Manchester United’s team unbalanced when he plays. The team has been unbalanced even when Pogba hasn’t been playing, and that obviously isn’t Pogba’s fault.
“However, it’s easy to see why managers would look to start Manchester United’s other players like Marcus Rashford, Bruno Fernandes and Cristiano Ronaldo, and then think we need to play two defensive midfielders [Fred and Scott McTominay]. As a result, Pogba ends up not playing.
- Sam Dymond
Jota out of Norwich fixture
As expected, Diogo Jota will be unavailable for Liverpool's match against Norwich City tomorrow due to the ankle injury sustained in midweek.
The in-form forward was substituted at half-time of the Champions League tie with Inter Milan on Wednesday, and was spotted departing the San Siro that night on crutches.
The extent of Jota's injury is still unknown, but Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp confirmed that ligament damage was involved and the player would definitely not be involved this weekend.
Jota will now undergo further tests with medical staff.
- Sam Dymond
No north London return for Eriksen
Brentford travel to the Emirates Stadium to take on Arsenal this weekend, but they will once again be without Christian Eriksen.
The former Tottenham star signed a six-month deal with the Bees in January as he continues his recovery from the cardiac arrest he suffered at last year's European Championships.
The Danish international is yet to feature for his new club in the Premier League, but did play in a behind closed doors friendly on Monday.
Eriksen would surely have received a warm reception from Arsenal fans had he appeared despite his status as a former Spurs player, who scored on his last visit to the Emirates back in 2019.
- Sam Dymond
Barca offer Azpi enticing deal
Barcelona have continued their pursuit of Chelsea captain Cesar Azpilicueta, and have now offered the Spanish defender a two-year deal with the option of a further season.
That's the word of transfers expert Fabrizio Romano, who reports that talks between Barca and Azpilicueta's representatives began back in December.
The 32-year-old is out of contract at Stamford Bridge at the end of the season and, while Chelsea want him to stay, there has been no communication between the player and the London club.
Azpilicueta has won the lot during his time with the Blues, most recently adding the Club World Cup to his honours list.
- Sam Dymond
Niasse gone for a Burton
League One outfit Burton Albion have announced the surprise capture of former Everton striker Oumar Niasse.
The Toffees paid £13.5million for the forward back in 2016, but his time at Goodison Park was far from a success.
Despite making his debut as a replacement for Romelu Lukaku, Niasse was frozen out following Ronald Koeman's arrival at the club.
Following the end of his contract with Everton in 2020, Niasse joined Huddersfield but failed to make an appearance for the Terriers.
He will now hope for better luck as he links up with Brewers boss Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink.
- Sam Dymond
Norwich's Idah out for season
Norwich City have been struck a further blow in their battle against relegation and an immediate return to the Championship.
The 20-year-old Republic of Ireland forward netted in the recent win over Everton, and has looked an improved threat since Dean Smith took charge at Carrow Road.
However, the new Canaries boss has now confirmed that they will be without the striker following his injury in the draw with Crystal Palace nine days ago.
He said: “We have had some bad news about Adam. He went in for an arthroscopy and then for a meniscus repair, and should be out for the season.
“It is a real blow and disappointing, but it gives other players an opportunity now.”
Life doesn't get any easier for Norwich, who head to Anfield to face Liverpool tomorrow.
- Sam Dymond
Million a week for Mbappe
Kylian Mbappe's expected move to Real Madrid has been thrown into doubt this week with Paris Saint-Germain now set to offer the forward an astonishing £1million-per-week to stay at the Parc des Princes.
That's the understanding of Miguel Delaney in The Independent, who reveals that the mega-rich French club are ready to make Mbappe the highest paid player in the world.
The 23-year-old is out of contract at PSG this summer, and had appeared destined to join Real in Spain.
However, the underwhelming performance of Los Blancos against Mbappe's current team in the Champions League this week has reportedly forced the player to think again about his future.
Liverpool have once again been linked as a possible destination, but now it is suggested that Mbappe may u-turn completely and remain in Paris.
- Sam Dymond
Blues hand United Rice initiative
Chelsea appear to have put Manchester United in the driving seat to sign West Ham's Declan Rice this summer.
The two clubs had been locked in a battle to tempt the £100million England man into a move, but United now appear favourites following the Evening Standard's revelation that Thomas Tuchel intends to integrate Conor Gallagher into his first team next season.
Gallagher has impressed on loan at Crystal Palace this term, and the Chelsea boss feels he is now ready to feature alongside the likes of Jorginho, N'Golo Kante and Mason Mount.
With competition for places in the Chelsea midfield fierce, United believe they can use that factor to pursue Rice, insisting they instead will build their team around his arrival.
- Sam Dymond
Gunners misfire in market again
Arsenal are preparing themselves for transfer disappointment once again after it was revealed that teenage sensation Savio was on the verge of joining Manchester City.
The Gunners had been tracking the 17-year-old and were keen to do business, but appear to have lost out to their Premier League rivals.
The Atletico Mineiro winger is expected to finalise his move to Manchester this month before joining up with his new club in the summer.
It means further disappointment for Arsenal, who missed out on Dusan Vlahovic last month when the Serbian instead opted for Juventus.
- Sam Dymond
Doku on Toon wanted list
The latest exciting European talent to make it on to Newcastle United's summer shopping list is Rennes winger Jeremy Doku.
The 19-year-old has caught the eye since moving to France from Anderlecht in 2020, and has now won ten international caps among Belgium's star-studded side.
However, the current campaign – his second season with Rennes – has been hampered by a series of injuries.
The teenager can operate on both the left and right of attack, and is said to be valued by the Ligue 1 side at around £22million.
- Sam Dymond
Mou wants Bailly at Roma
Roma boss Jose Mourinho wants to link up again with Eric Bailly by bringing the defender to the Italian capital in the summer.
Mourinho was the manager when Manchester United paid Villarreal £30million for Bailly in 2016.
The Ivory Coast international has found himself down the pecking order at Old Trafford following injuries and the arrival of Raphael Varane.
Bailly has started just three Premier League games this campaign, and has only a year to run on his current deal with the Red Devils.
Reports in Italy claim Roma failed with a move for Bailly in January but are now ready to return to the table.
- Sam Dymond
Hammers flop wanted by Bayern
Former West Ham striker Sebastian Haller is being tracked by German giants Bayern Munich as a replacement for Robert Lewandowski.
The Ivory Coast international failed to make the grade at the London Stadium following his club record £45million move to the Hammers in 2019.
However, his stunning form for Ajax has put him back on the radar of Europe's top clubs with Bayern now seeing the forward as the ideal man for Lewandowski's role should the Polish scorer leave the club.
Haller has hit 27 goals in 38 Eredivisie games since moving to Amsterdam. and this season became only the second player after Cristiano Ronaldo to score in all six Champions League group games.
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