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One Arsenal player in particular looks like he's now set to stay at the club, according to journalist Ryan Taylor.

The Gunners have already made a number of signings this summer with the hope of toppling Manchester City, but it's exits that were the topic of discussion for Ryan Taylor.

What is the latest Arsenal transfer news?

The Gunners have had a very strong transfer window already.

The club have made three signings so far, adding Kai Havertz from Chelsea in a deal worth £65m, Jurrien Timber from Dutch side Ajax for a fee of £38m, and the British domestic record transfer for West Ham United midfielder and captain Declan Rice for a fee of £105m.

The club are also in advanced talks with Brentford for Spanish goalkeeper David Raya, with David Ornstein reporting that despite the fact the opening bid was rejected, it was only slightly below what Brentford will accept, with all parties wanting to complete the deal for the 27-year-old shot-stopper.

One deal that doesn't look like it'll happen is the transfer for Ajax midfielder Mohammed Kudus. Arsenal were reportedly interested in the Ghanaian this window, however, Ornstein reports that the attacking midfielder is closing in on a move to Brighton and Hove Albion for €40m(£34.5m).

But, it seems now that the Gunners will be focused on outgoings for a while, with the focus on reducing the deadwood in the squad and bringing in funds in case they want to complete any more signings, with a number of players potentially leaving the Emirates this summer.

One player who has been linked with an exit from the Emirates is Takehiro Tomiyasu, who earns around £56k per week, as Inter Milan are one of the clubs who are looking at potentially signing the defender.

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, journalist Taylor revealed that Albert Sambi Lokonga and Cedric Soares were earmarked for potential departures this summer, whilst Takehiro Tomiyasu is part of manager Mikel Arteta's plans for next season.

He said: "Lokonga is one that's being looked at by Burnley, but from what I understand, the stuff that's been reported in the past few days has been sort of blown up a bit. It's not quite as close as being reported. Cedric Soares can leave. Tomiyasu, from what I understand, is very much part of Arteta's plans, and he's not going to leave the club. The only case that would maybe change – Tomiyasu is really appreciated at Arsenal because he's a versatile defender who's done a solid job – is if a right back comes in, which I don't forecast happening. I don't know how much money Arsenal have got left to spend, but the fact they are in for David Raya indicated that they're not done yet. I still think there could be a few surprises at Arsenal, but ultimately outgoings will be key to that further spending."

Read the latest Arsenal transfer news HERE…

So, who could leave Arsenal this summer?

There are a number of players who are attracting interest ahead of potential departures.

As Taylor stated, Sambi Lokonga is a reported target of Burnley, with current manager Vincent Kompany driving the interest for the midfielder who he worked with previously at Anderlecht. The report states that it could be either a permanent deal or a loan move that brings the Belgian, who spent the second half of last season on loan at Crystal Palace, to Turf Moor for this season.

Another player close to sealing a departure is goalkeeper Matt Turner. The USA international is set to join Nottingham Forest according to Fabrizio Romano, with a verbal agreement in place between the two sides, and personal terms also agreed between Forest and Turner.

Cedric is also set to leave the Gunners this season, with a number of sides around Europe interested in the fullback according to football.london. Villarreal retain their interest in the defender whilst the big three in Portugal all hold an interest in the player who didn't join the Gunners on their pre-season tour around America.

Chelsea are still "pushing" for a "10/10" talent and someone tipped to be a "future midfield leader" after completing the record-breaking deal to sign Moises Caicedo from Brighton & Hove Albion, per transfers expert Fabrizio Romano.

Chelsea transfer news – what is the latest?

The transfer window is already one of the most entertaining periods in the football calendar, one filled with twists, turns, and drama everywhere you look, but perhaps no club does it better than Chelsea.

Ever since their takeover by the Russian Billionaire Roman Arkadyevich Abramovich in 2004, the West Londoners have consistently splashed unimaginable amounts of cash on a seemingly yearly basis, and they've done it again.

After the dramatic developments on Thursday night that saw Brighton accept Liverpool's offer of £111m for their Ecuadorian dynamo Caicedo it looked like Mauricio Pochettino's side had quite embarrassingly lost out on their number one transfer target after spending months trying to get a deal over the line.

Read the latest Chelsea transfer news HERE…

And yet, in another twist nobody saw coming, the 21-year-old turned down the Reds, preferring instead a move to Stamford Bridge following the discussions he had been having with the team.

And according to Fabrizio Romano, a deal has been agreed for a new Premier League record fee of £115m, with the medical already booked and ready to go.

However, with the Pensioners still a little light in midfield, they look set to continue in their pursuit of Southampton wonderkid Romeo Lavia, and just as with Caicedo, they could steal him from under the noses of Liverpool, per Transfers expert Fabrizio Romano.

He explained the situation on his YouTube channel and how the Blues are still "pushing" to secure the youngster's signature:

"One of the players in the list of both Liverpool and Chelsea remains Romeo Lavia. Let's see how Chelsea will act after signing Moises. They spent a lot of money, so let's see if they will decide to go also on Romeo Lavia.

"They had the bid in at Southampton, but the same happened also in Liverpool, so both clubs are actively working on Lavia. At the moment, we still have to wait and see how Chelsea will act after closing the Caicedo deal because the focus was on Caicedo in the recent hours and let's see also what Liverpool will decide to do if they want to push for Lavia or maybe go on another Target.

"But I can tell you that Liverpool are already speaking to agents of other players in that position, so there is Lavia but not only Lavia. And Chelsea remain interested in the Lavia deal, so everything is open on that one. Let's see what's going to happen.

"But Chelsea pushing Liverpool still there but Liverpool also speaking to agents of other players for that position so let's see what's going to happen there."

How much will Romeo Lavia cost?

Southampton have been entirely consistent in their appraisal of their youngster so far this year, with the club constantly reaffirming their valuation of the teenager is £50m, following all three of Liverpool's bids that have been slightly below that figure.

However, with demand in the 19-year-old increasing and Chelsea's need for bodies in midfield, Todd Boehly and Co have seemingly increased the asking price, with 90min reporting that they made an offer worth £55m on August 11th.

Not to be outdone and lose another priority target to the same team in under a week, Jurgen Klopp's side have reportedly agreed on a deal worth £60m with the Championship club, per Sky Sports News.

While this is a significant development in this evolving saga, the same publication also reiterates exactly what Romano has said, that regardless of this agreement, Chelsea are 'still pushing to sign Lavia.'

While the fee might be ballooning a far beyond what either team would've thought likely just a week ago, the full Belgium international is an excellent player and an exciting prospect that would help improve both teams' midfield.

Football talent scout Jacek Kulig was raving about him only a few months ago, saying:

"Roméo Lavia is a very underrated passer. Born in 2004. Maturity and quality. 10/10 talent. The future midfield leader of Belgium NT and a top Premier League club."

If the West Londoners can sign Caicedo and Lavia in the same week whilst depriving a direct rival of their services, it could go down as one of the greatest transfer coups ever.

Tottenham Hotspur’s search for a Harry Kane replacement rumbles on, as they contend with trusting the squad they already have, or reinvesting the funds gained.

Will Richarlison replace Harry Kane?

Ange Postecoglou has been vocal in his admiration for Richarlison, as someone who clearly aligns with his philosophy with regard to work ethic and the sacrifices he will make.

However, that cannot excuse the poor form in front of goal that the Brazilian suffered last term, which led to widespread ridicule.

Read the latest Tottenham transfer news HERE…

Regardless of whether the Australian truly believes he is the man to lead the line for the foreseeable future, he clearly has alternative plans should this turn into a failed venture.

The latest of which were detailed by journalist Sacha Tavolieri earlier in the week, who wrote on Twitter: “Talks ongoing for Gift Orban to Tottenham Hotspurs. Still no official written offer sent today by Spurs but I’ve been told, it’s processing."

It is expected that Spurs will seek to pay around €30m (£26m) for the K.A.A Genk marksman according to previous reports.

How good is Gift Orban?

To swap the 26-year-old for the 21-year-old in question would be to trade out steely hard work and running for guaranteed goals.

After all, the Nigerian youngster has set Belgian football alight in his sole full year there, having posted 22 goal contributions in as many games last season. This is a trend he seeks to maintain, with five goals in four games already to start the current campaign.

No wonder he is drawing such intrigue.

With pace, power and proficiency in abundance, it is hard for fans not to be drawn to the promising marksman with all the attributes to star in English football.

Football Talent Scout Jacek Kulig sought to outline just a few of these assets that suggest Postecoglou would be acquiring a gem already on the path towards stardom, as he branded him a “goal poacher” with “electric pace and acceleration” as well as “killer instinct & fantastic movement in the final third”.

Gent coach Hein Vanhaezebrouck also singled him out for praise: “He’s a phenomenon and he will continue to be a phenomenon. I’ve said it five times and I’ll keep saying it.

“Even if he is no longer here, he will remain a phenomenon and I will continue to say that. He is 21 and remains a young guy. His hat-trick? That is nothing special in itself anymore, is it? This is normal for him. Gift Orban was hungry and showed his qualities once again, I keep calling him a phenomenon and that will not change.”

To compare these outstanding technical and physical assets with Richarlison, and the Brazil international does have a right to be worried.

Especially given the fact that he scored just one league goal all year most recently, with writer Andrew Gaffney suggesting he had been decidedly “toothless”.

Just 12 league starts did not aid this endeavour, but his 4% conversion rate paired with the fact he seldom created either (0.6 key passes per game), via Sofascore, made him almost useless when starting within Antonio Conte’s front three.

All this could be set to change should he hit the ground running in his new central striker role, but that could certainly be thwarted by the arrival of Orban, even if he is five years his junior.

Age offers no barrier to entry when they are as deadly as Orban, and should he translate his form straight into the English game, it would spell terrible news for Richarlison.

Once again he would find himself stuck to the bench, likely with added frustration due to the fact he is no longer a backup to the legendary Harry Kane, but instead some young upstart who is stealing his chance to be in the limelight.

Fabrizio Romano has shared what he's heard on star Arsenal midfielder Martin Odegaard and how they plan to tie him down with a new deal.

Which Arsenal players are leaving?

Following a major summer spending spree of around £200 million, Mikel Arteta and co now must decide who is free to leave as they attempt to balance the books.

There are many who could reportedly part ways with the north London club, including left-back Nuno Tavares, winger Nicolas Pepe, striker Folarin Balogun, defender Rob Holding and midfield ace Albert Sami Lokonga.

The focus for Arsenal is shipping these surplus-to-requirement players out the door if they're to make more signings before September 1, though an injury to summer signing Jurrien Timber means they could dip back into the market.

"It’s a huge blow, especially for him having just joined the club to have the injury that he has is a huge disappointment for him," Arteta said on Timber at his most recent press conference.

"It’s true that he was giving us very different things in terms of what we could do on both sides, but again, these things happen, and we have to be prepared for that.

"We are always open and we have to always be open to react if something happens, not only with an injury but with the market as well and that’s what we are doing."#

It appears a further overhaul could be on the cards at Arsenal going by Arteta's hint, but one player who is very unlikely to be going anywhere is Odegaard.

The Norway star, who was a key player during Arsenal's title challenge last season, could be about to receive a bumper new contract offer as Romano shares some news.

Taking to X, Romano says that fresh terms for Odegaard are "one of the priorities of the year" at Arsenal and initial talks are "set" to take place.

"Arsenal want to advance in talks to get new deal done for Martin Ødegaard in the next weeks," wrote Romano.

"AFC Initial discussions set to take place as extending Martin’s contract will be one of the priorities of the year."

The 24-year-old started 37 league matches as a mainstay under Arteta last season, bagging 15 goals and seven assists in the process.

What's been said about Martin Odegaard?

There is little question Odegaard is deserving of improved terms after a phenomenal 2022/2023 season, with Arteta heaping praise on the former Real Madrid player.

Read the latest Arsenal transfer news HERE…

"Those are the demands he puts on himself and the areas he had huge margins to improve. He is making huge steps in the right direction to become a game-winner," said Arteta on Odegaard's goal tally.

"Then you need really good team-mates around you, which he has, and that obviously helps as well.

"He needs to continue to develop those skills in the best way because the demands will keep increasing, and his role hopefully as well."

PSV Eindhoven midfielder Ibrahim Sangare has been a reported transfer target for Nottingham Forest this summer and an exciting development has now emerged.

How old is Ibrahima Sangare?

The Reds have had another productive summer transfer target so far, at a time when it is crucial that they consolidate in the Premier League, having impressively avoided relegation last season.

A number of players have been added to Forest's squad, including former Manchester United attacker Anthony Elanga, but their spending may not be over yet, with the window slamming shut next Friday night.

One player who has been linked with a summer move to the City Ground is Sangare, who continues to stand out as a formidable performer for PSV. The 25-year-old scored in his side's 2-2 draw away to Rangers in the Champions League qualifiers on Tuesday night and has enjoyed an 89.3% pass completion rate in his first two Eredivisie appearances this season.

Now, it looks as though Forest are still pushing hard to complete the signing of the impressive Ivorian, following a new update regarding his future.

Will Nottingham Forest sign Ibrahim Sangare?

According to Football Insider, Forest have now tabled a £21.3m bid for Sangare, as they look to get a loan-to-buy deal over the line before next week's transfer cutoff:

"Nottingham Forest have submitted a £21.3million loan-to-buy bid for PSV Eindhoven midfielder Ibrahim Sangare, sources have told Football Insider. The Premier League club have held extensive talks over a deal for the midfield anchorman, who has a £32m release clause in his contract.

"Forest have not activated that clause and have instead offered to take the player on a season-long loan with an obligation to buy set at £21.3m. PSV have a replacement lined up for Sangare in case they lose him in the final week of the window."

Sangare could be a real signing of intent by Forest if they strike a deal in the next week or so, considering what a key player he is for a side that could be in the Champions League group stages this season, being called "extraordinary" by Aad de Mos.

At 25, the 31-cap and nine-goal Ivory Coast international has plenty of experience at the top level but also time on his side, so the Reds could be acquiring his signature at a real sweet spot in his career, at a point when his best years still may well be ahead of him for the foreseeable future.

Blessed with the all-round ability to provide defensive cover in midfielder but also provide end product in the final third, Sangare averaged 3.7 tackles per game in the Europa League last season, but also found the net five times in the league.

Forest appear to be a solid side at present – one who only lost 2-1 at Arsenal on the opening weekend and followed that up with a 2-1 victory at home to Sheffield United – but Sangare is someone who could elevate them to another level, potentially making a huge difference in midfield and providing really strong competition for the likes of Danilo and Orel Mangala.

Glasgow Rangers manager Michael Beale underwent the biggest squad overhaul at the Ibrox side in recent years during the summer transfer window.

Having failed to secure a trophy during the 2022/23 season while watching rivals Celtic claim a treble indicated that change was needed at the Light Blues and time will tell whether the new arrivals can change the landscape of Scottish football in the coming months.

Failing to qualify for the Champions League group stages is a major disappointment and hope now lies in the Europa League, a competition which the Gers came so close to winning in 2022.

Who did Rangers sign during the transfer window?

Beale secured the services of nine new players over the summer, as Jack Butland, Leon Balogun, Danilo, Cyriel Dessers, Sam Lammers, Abdallah Sima, Dujon Sterling, Kieran Dowell and Jose Cifuentes arrived in Glasgow.

Coupled with the fact 11 players were either sold or left due to the expiration of their contract over the course of the last few months, it’s evident that Beale is trying to build his own team, with sentiment not coming into the equation regarding the departures of several first team players.

Despite bringing in various new faces, the club did miss out on several key targets, of which some would likely have improved the first team squad, most notably Harry Souttar, Auston Trusty and Morgan Whittaker and time will tell whether not making a more concrete effort to sign them could come back and haunt Beale.

The 42-year-old will definitely regret one failed move for a winger who was shining on the continent and could have added something extra to the Gers attacking department, that of Luis Palma, who in the end, did secure a move to the Premiership…

Why did Rangers miss out on Luis Palma?

The Light Blues first started showing an interest in Palma before the transfer window even opened, with Greek outlet Sportime claiming the club were keeping tabs on the player and had sent scouts to watch his performance for Aris Thessaloniki against Olympiacos and the report suggested that a potential move would cost the club €4m (£3.5m).

It was then reported in May that the Ibrox side had submitted an offer of £4.4m in order to sign the winger as they looked in pole position to lure him to Glasgow before the window even opened.

The bid was swiftly rejected, and the saga continued to persist throughout the remainder of the window before Beale moved on to other targets.

Palma did eventually get his move, and it transpired that Celtic managed to secure his signature for a fee of £4.3m, seemingly nicking the player from under Beale’s nose right at the end of the transfer window.

It represents a big, missed opportunity and the Honduran star will now get an opportunity to shine in Scotland and the manager may live to regret not making a more concrete effort to sign him.

How good is Luis Palma?

Last season for Aris, Palma registered 21 goal contributions across all competitions – 13 goals and eight assists – as he sparkled in Greece, and it was these performances which arguably drew interest from other clubs.

His manager Apostolos Terzis even hailed him for his outstanding campaign, saying: "Luis has done that all season. He has been a huge player for us. We know there has been a lot of interest in him and it's not surprising.

“Hopefully, playing in Europe next season will persuade him to stay with us.”

He will be playing Champions League football following his decision to join Celtic, yet Beale could have secured another Ryan Kent if he had made the move to the other side of the city.

The Englishman left Rangers following five seasons in Glasgow and during that time, he scored 33 goals and registered 56 assists across 218 matches, which works out at a goal or assist every 2.4 matches, a decent return from the winger.

Last season, however, saw his performances drop under both Giovanni van Bronckhorst and Beale, netting only three times throughout the whole season, and it was perhaps apparent that his heart wasn’t in it anymore, departing for nothing when his contract expired.

His pace and keen eye for goal are traits Beale has yet to replace and Palma would have been an ideal heir for the former Liverpool gem.

In the league last term, the 23-year-old ranked second in the Aris squad for overall Sofascore rating (7.12), while also ranking first for goals (11), shots on target per game (0.9) and successful dribbles per game (one) as he showcased his attacking talents and proved to be one of their most dangerous threats in the final third.

In comparison, Kent ranked in a lowly tenth spot for overall match rating (7.03) while failing to even crack the top five for league goals (three) or shots on target per game (0.7) and although he did finish first for successful dribbles per game (1.9), it was clear that his end product was poor, negating the impact of his dribbling skills.

There is no doubt Kent will be a miss due to his ability to run at players and cause defenders nightmares, but his overall goal output over the previous 12 months wasn’t what it should be, and perhaps a move will work out well for both parties.

Beale could have signed Kent 2.0 in Palma, especially due to his wonderful statistics from the left wing last term.

It wasn’t to be for the 42-year-old, and he will see first-hand just how much of a talent the Honduran is when he begins to play for Celtic in the coming months.

The first Old Firm derby of the season takes place at Ibrox tomorrow and Palma could well make his maiden appearance for the club in the pressure cooker environment of one of the biggest derbies in the world.

If he sparkles under Brendan Rodgers, it will prove that Rangers suffered a huge transfer howler failing to pay just £4m to land him from the Greek side way back in May and there is no doubt he would have thrived under the former QPR manager.

Liverpool are considering a surprise swoop to sign Sunderland's Dan Neil before tonight's transfer deadline, and Sky Sports journalist Keith Downie has revealed the latest update.

Who is Dan Neil?

Neil is naturally a central midfielder who has plied his trade at the Stadium of Light since his childhood days having worked his way up through the various youth ranks to get promoted to the first team back in 2021. He’s made a total of 110 senior appearances on Wearside.

England’s former youth international still has another three years remaining on his contract in the Northeast, but having established himself as Tony Mowbray’s second best-performing defensive player last season, according to WhoScored, he’s caught the eye of FSG and Jurgen Klopp, who have already been completing background checks of their own.

The Telegraph’s Mike McGrath has reported that the Reds have previously sent scouts to watch the 21-year-old live in action as they weigh up whether to make an official move, and the chiefs that were in attendance on those particular occasions clearly must have liked what they saw and delivered their positive feedback if the following update is to be believed.

Are Liverpool signing Dan Neil?

According to Football Insider, Liverpool are "exploring a shock deadline-day move" for Neil. The Merseyside outfit have been "monitoring" the midfielder over the course of the past year and believe that he could "help fill the void" of Jordan Henderson who left the club last month to join Saudi Pro League side Al-Ettifaq.

The Anfield side hold a "strong interest" in the central talisman, who has also emerged as a target for Premier League rivals Crystal Palace, Brentford and Burnley.

However, Sky Sports' Northeast reporter, Keith Downie, has since revealed the latest on the links, reporting that no real progress has been made: "Dan Neil — understand Sunderland have had no contact for his services. He’s admired by clubs, yes."

What is Dan Neil's salary?

At Sunderland, Neil currently pockets just £1.3k-per-weekm so he is an extremely cheap and affordable option for Liverpool as he would be the lowest earner on the books. With that in mind, perhaps Klopp should push to get a deal over the line considering the positive impact he could make.

The South Shields-born talent, who is naturally left-footed, has so far recorded 11 shots this season which is more than any other of his teammates, via FBRef, and since the start of his career, this has resulted in him clocking up 20 goal contributions (13 assists and seven goals) at first-team level.

Read The Latest Liverpool Transfer News HERE…

The Black Cats’ “creative spark”, as hailed by journalist Josh Bunting, also currently averages a 90.2% pass success rate in the Championship which would make him the second best out of the regular starters in the German's squad just behind Virgil Van Dijk, highlighting his excellent calmness and composure on the ball.

The Reds are expected to finalise the signing of Bayern Munich midfielder Ryan Gravenberch before the end of play today, and with Neil sharing the same agent, Wasserman, as both Curtis Jones and Joe Gomez, his representative’s existing connection to the club could mean he’ll soon be following in his footsteps.

Everton boss Sean Dyche still seems uncertain about what his strongest side is, likely due to the lack of availability he has suffered in their opening few Premier League fixtures.

However, with a full bill of health expected for this weekend, now marks the perfect time to unleash some stars.

Such an injury crisis on the wings, which has seen Jack Harrison and Dwight McNeil sidelined, has forced others to deputise in that role. James Garner, perhaps a victim of his immense versatility, was the unfortunate casualty enlisted to star on the right flank rather than in his favoured central midfield role.

How good is James Garner?

Whilst the 22-year-old has struggled, his 7.10 average rating in the league marks an admirable return for a man playing massively out of position. Such a figure is buoyed by his creativity and work rate, with the tireless general posting 1.3 key passes, two tackles and 4.8 ball recoveries per game, via Sofascore.

The former Manchester United academy graduate is making the best of a frustrating situation, and although his form actually makes him the joint-third-highest-rated player within the squad, a distinct lack of dynamism is dulling the threat that Dyche's attack would hope to pose.

With the return of those aforementioned wide men to be welcomed with open arms, the question now turns to where Garner could be shifted to maintain his form, but not push out a teammate who too is shining.

Although it might mark the obvious move to move him into his preferred position, there is perhaps another who could be handed one last chance to impress to see if he can recapture his form of old.

After all, Andre Gomes has become something of a forgotten man at Goodison Park, with his horrific ankle injury in 2019 hampering his career. Losing that initial burst of speed, it has been a tough and arduous process to recover some semblance of the fine performance that spurred Marco Silva to spend £22m on his permanent acquisition.

Is Andre Gomes leaving Everton?

However, his recent loan spell with LOSC Lille is indicative of a man potentially reborn, who should be allowed to try and stamp his starting claim before Garner due to his seniority.

After all, it is worth trying to get some return on the Portuguese maestro, with his counterpart sure to still be patiently waiting should he fail.

Former Everton goalkeeper Nigel Martyn issued his own show of faith for the former Barcelona man though: "He’s a very composed footballer, looks very good on the ball, intelligent and knows which space to run into. His passing’s very good, his tackling’s very good – he’s a great all-round footballer."

Featuring 26 times in Ligue 1 last season, the silky 30-year-old maintained a 6.83 average rating whilst scoring three, assisting two and posting an 89% pass accuracy all from the engine room, via Sofascore. This attacking impetus will be warmly received on Merseyside, who have been craving a potent creative force to partner Amadou Onana.

The Belgium international has already established himself as one of Dyche's most important players despite his youth, with his domineering displays proving integral in quelling opposition threats and forging their own.

As such, his 7.22 average rating is upheld through his 1.8 tackles, four ball recoveries per game and 1.3 key passes per game, via Sofascore.

Defensively mature but retaining that touch of class, placing Gomes beside the 22-year-old could see a stellar partnership formed, set to finally spearhead their first Premier League win of the campaign whilst Garner awaits his moment to shine.

West Ham United could make a January move for a talented young striker, but they will have to do battle for his signature with a rival Premier League club, according to a report.

What's the latest West Ham transfer news?

There is likely to be some concern over the futures of two first-team players heading into the January transfer window, with journalist Ben Jacobs hinting Jarrod Bowen could seek a move to a bigger club to boost his chances of playing for England.

Not only is Bowen's future in doubt, but there could be renewed interest in Lucas Paqueta this winter, with it being reported that Newcastle United are now keen on the attacking midfielder, following serious interest from Manchester City in the summer.

David Moyes was able to strengthen his squad considerably in the previous transfer window, particularly in central midfield, but the manager was unable to get a deal for a striker over the line, despite chasing Paris Saint-Germain's Hugo Ekitike.

PSG wanted Ekitike to move to Eintracht Frankfurt, as a makeweight in a deal for Randal Kolo Muani, but he had no interest in moving to the Bundesliga club, and ultimately ended up remaining at the Parc des Princes.

However, Football Insider have now confirmed the Irons could reignite their interest in the PSG striker in the January transfer window, as he is likely to be "one of the best" options available on the market mid-season.

There may be competition for the Frenchman's signature though, with Crystal Palace also being named as potential suitors, having targeted him themselves during the summer.

The Hammers were involved in talks over a potential deal for the 21-year-old right up until the last day of the transfer window, and he made it clear he wanted to move to the Premier League, rather than making the switch to the Bundesliga and joining Frankfurt.

As such, there is seemingly a good chance the youngster will be interested in a move to the London Stadium this winter, at which point he will be ready to quit PSG, having mutually agreed an exit is the best possible route forward.

Will West Ham sign a striker?

Gianluca Scamacca was sold to Atalanta in the summer, and West Ham did not bring in a replacement for the Italian, leaving Moyes with Michail Antonio as his main choice to lead the line.

Antonio has started the season fairly well, scoring two goals in five Premier League games, and he has been a fantastic servant to the club over the years, but he is 33-years-old and it is about time the Hammers brought in a younger option.

Lauded as an "absolute talent" by scout and football writer Antonio Mango, Ekitike could be the perfect long-term replacement for the Jamaican, having impressed in France, registering ten goals and four assists in 24 Ligue 1 games for Reims in the 2021-22 campaign.

Although the starlet has been unable to kick on since moving to PSG, it is obviously very tricky to dislodge Kylian Mbappe in the starting XI, and a move to the London Stadium could give him the perfect opportunity to reignite his career.

Chelsea's recent form has been underwhelming to say the least. In a week that saw a goalless draw with Bournemouth before a 1-0 home defeat to Aston Villa, fans have been left bemused and reeling. It's especially emphatic, given the billion-pound injection from owner Todd Boehly, but also the raw mediocrity on display under such a highly respected manager in Mauricio Pochettino.

With his side sitting in 14th and three games without a goal, Pochettino was led to provide some semi-scathing analysis of his young group. He mentioned they needed to "grow up like a team" but wistfully accepted that players "need to learn and make mistakes" in order to improve.

So, a point to a lack of Premier League experience? The average age of the Blues side that lost to an Ollie Watkins-inspired Aston Villa was 24.9 years. Despite this, there are still some youngsters who can step up to the plate, possessing that natural leadership. A noticeable absentee, and fine example of this, is Reece James.

Where did Reece James come from?

Born into a football-mad family in Redbridge that included coach father, Nigel and later younger sister Lauren, Reece James shone at junior grassroots level with Kew Park Rangers and Epsom Eagles. So much so, that he was snatched up by Chelsea at just six years old. There was clearly something in the water down there, as Chelsea went back for teammate Conor Gallagher just two years later in 2008.

Initially, the now marauding wingback James actually began life as a striker. He idolised Didier Drogba yet had to settle with playing further back in order to keep his place. For a quickly adapting player of his nature, this was little issue as first he went down to defensive midfield before the more current familiar right back position.

How much was Reece James worth at the start?

2017 was when James' mainstream emergence started to enter its first real phase. He turned pro that year and topped that by being named Chelsea's Academy Player of the Season as he captained the U18 side to 2017-18's FA Youth Cup victory. He wasn't just knocking on the door of the first team, he was nearly smashing it off its hinges as he received a fresh four-year deal in 2018.

Progress was brilliant, yet with the talent at Maurizio Sarri's exposure, James had to find game time elsewhere. Wigan Athletic was the loan destination and a perfect platform for James. From his free kick goal against Leeds, to earning a place in the Championship Team of the Season – the DW Stadium proved to be a match made in heaven as he proved he could compete in senior men's football.

After that season in which he picked up three club awards including Player of the Year, Reece James' value rose from around £3.5m to nearer £6m, as per Football Transfers' expected transfer value model.

Just how good is Reece James when he's fully fit?

In an almost cruel turn of events, Reece James has been gifted with a superb skill set – yet seemingly a hamstring made of blu-tac. Before being plagued with that injury this term, it was his knee. Whilst being set back though, there have been serious glimpses of his world-class capabilities.

When fit, the 5 foot 10 23-year-old James is up there among the top wingbacks in the top five leagues. If his skills aren't broadly summarised enough from the Sofascore graphic above, looking at his in-depth data reinforces his prevalence as a top name in his position.

What is Reece James worth now?

FBref data shows that in the last year, Reece James has proved a progressive cog for a Chelsea side that relies on his creativity from the right wing-back position. Particularly eye-catching, are the numbers that find him in the upper reaches of his peers. James has 1.83 successful take-ons per 90 minutes – putting him in the top 5% in his position among full-backs in Europe.

Add to that, his penchant for progressive passes (6.33 per 90) and shot-creating actions (3.46 per 90) those numbers still find him in the top 10%. His expected assists (0.18 per 90) are just outside the top 10%, and given Chelsea's misfiring tendencies last term, his actual assist rate (0.07 per 90) is perhaps more telling of the players around him.

According to Football Transfers, James' market valuation has now soared astronomically, a telling indication of just how well he has developed at Stamford Bridge. Indeed, his current valuation is €57.1m – working out at around £50m. When he returns, could he be the difference-maker for a floundering Chelsea? Only time will tell. The numbers suggest the progressive stalwart could well play his part.