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West Ham United can be forgiven for being distracted by negotiations with Arsenal over a payment structure for £105m midfielder Declan Rice, but David Moyes' side are at risk of being left short come the start of the new Premier League season.

What new players have West Ham bought?

With five weeks to go until their trip to Bournemouth to kick off the 2023-24 season, West Ham have yet to make any signings this window.

That will surely frustrate manager Moyes, who will be fully aware that his squad is in need of freshening up, with May's Europa Conference League triumph papering over the cracks of a poor Premier League season.

A new central midfielder is top of Moyes' list of targets – or indeed a couple if a like-for-like Rice replacement cannot be found – with Ajax's Edson Alvarez, Manchester United's Scott McTominay and Everton's Amadou Onana all rumoured targets.

According to The Guardian, West Ham also hold an interest in Bristol City's Alex Scott, who is on the radar of fellow Premier League side Wolverhampton Wanderers.

How much is Bristol City's Alex Scott worth?

Scott may have spent his senior career to date in the Championship, yet he is reportedly worth at least £20m to Bristol City due to the fact he has two years to run on his Ashton Gate contract.

Despite being just 19 years old, Scott already has 81 Championship appearances under his belt, having been a regular for the Robins over the past two campaigns.

The teenage midfielder rose to prominence earlier this year after impressing Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola in an FA Cup tie, with the Catalan describing him as an "unbelievable player".

As pointed out by football talent scout Jacek Kulig after Scott was named the Championship's Young Player of the Year, he has a "big future ahead" of him.

Scott cannot be expected to slot straight in and take over the role of Rice, of course. Then again, who could?

Instead, the Guernsey native can provide some versatility for Moyes, given he featured in defensive midfield, central midfield, attacking midfield and on both flanks last season, as per WhoScored.

Versatile he may be, but it is as a pure central midfielder that Scott thrives. The Englishman ranks in the top 11% of all midfielders in the eight competitions most similar to the Championship for progressive carries (2.34 per 90 minutes), as per FBref, and in the top 16% for successful take-ons (1.22).

In that aforementioned FA Cup tie with Man City last season, which Bristol City lost 3-0, Scott's five dribbles were the joint-most of any player on the field, level with opponent Phil Foden – quite the company.

As per WhoScored, Scott's pass accuracy of 83.3% that day was also the third-most of any Robins player to attempt 10 passes or more, which is made all the more impressive when you factor in he was playing as an attacking midfielder.

Scott is not exactly a hidden gem, which explains his price tag, but he could be a very smart option for West Ham to kick off their transfer business in the post-Declan Rice era.

Newcastle United are reportedly interested in signing both Kalvin Phillips and Conor Gallagher on loan this summer, as they look to bolster their midfield options.

Are Newcastle signing more midfielders?

The Magpies enjoyed a fantastic 2022/23 season, qualifying for the Champions League and arguably finding themselves ahead of schedule under Eddie Howe.

This is not a time for Newcastle to rest on their laurels, however, and a number of new signings are required this summer with Champions League football sure to be taxing on the squad, as Sandro Tonali is now the first major capture of the summer.

Midfield is clearly still an area of the pitch Howe has identified as in need of strengthening however, as the Magpies have also missed out on bringing in James Maddison and Dominik Szoboszlai, who have joined Tottenham and Liverpool respectively.

Are Phillips and Gallagher joining Newcastle?

According to The Irish Independent, Phillips and Gallagher have emerged as potential targets for Newcastle this summer, with loan moves being mooted:

"Newcastle United are looking into possible loan signings this summer with Manchester City’s Kalvin Phillips and Chelsea’s Conor Gallagher both of interest."

The report claims The Magpies are keeping a "close watch" on Phillips, who wants to fight for his place at Manchester City but may find out it's simply not going to work come pre-season. Gallagher meanwhile has been a target in "each of the past two transfer windows", although he too could look to stay and fight for his place with his current club.

Phillips and Gallagher would represent exciting additions for Newcastle's midfield before the new season gets underway, with the pair both England internationals with plenty of Premier League experience, despite their inability to force their way in with their current squads.

The former may have had a tough first season at Manchester City, suffering injury problems and only starting two Premier League matches, but he is still a top-level midfielder who Barcelona legend and one of the greatest midfielders of all time, Xavi, has described as "superb".

Meanwhile, Gallagher could be a strong link man between the midfield and the attack, and he has already shone on loan away from Chelsea in the past, scoring eight goals and registering three assists in the league for Crystal Palace.

Whether City and the Blues are willing to let them leave could be an obstacle, but if the chance to sign them temporarily emerges, Newcastle should jump at it, with the moves potentially becoming permanent further down the line.

Tottenham Hotspur are after the new ‘Pochettino’ as BBC journalist Guillem Balague shares why they want Burnley boss Vincent Kompany.

What’s the latest on Kompany to Spurs?

Reliable outlets have suggested that the 37-year-old is high on chairman Daniel Levy’s wishlist as he scours the market for a new permanent manager to succeed Antonio Conte.

It’s been a torrid time in north London of late, with Spurs’ latest 6-1 humbling at the hands of Newcastle United dealing a mighty blow to their hopes of sealing a top four Premier League finish.

Former interim boss Cristian Stellini lost his job as a result of their St. James’ Park thrashing, with Levy placing Ryan Mason in charge until the end of the campaign instead.

In the background, Tottenham are well and truly searching for the tactician who can take them forward and reinstall some much-needed optimism. Julian Nagelsmann and Luis Enrique, both out of work after leaving their most recent jobs, have been heavily linked – meanwhile the likes of Arne Slot (Feyenoord) and Kompany continue to be of interest.

However, despite supporters singing his name in the stands on match day, former Lilywhites boss Mauricio Pochettino never made it far enough to enter serious contention and is now just steps away from joining Chelsea.

This will be a frustrating development for many Spurs fans, not least because their ex-hero is reportedly about to take the reins at a major rival. Balague, sharing why Tottenham didn’t move more seriously for Pochettino despite reports, has also explained the interest in Kompany.

Taking to Twitter, the BBC regular says Spurs are ‘after’ the new ‘Pochettino’ – hence their fondness for Anderlecht’s former manager.

He explained:

What has Kompany done so far?

Burnley are now champions of the English second tier after a 1-0 win over Lancashire rivals Blackburn Rovers on Tuesday night.

The Clarets stormed to Championship promotion in real style and in Kompany’s debut season – winning the most games, losing the least and conceding the fewest out of any other side in the division thus far (Sky).

Called ‘amazing’ for his work at Turf Moor by members of the media like Chris Kamara, the Belgian has been heralded for his brand of football and overall job at Burnley.

It’s little surprise Spurs are considering him but we believe a lack of experience elsewhere is something Levy should also take into account.

Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou may soon be forced to part company with a Spurs player he really admires after some transfer news this week.

Latest Spurs news

The north Londoners are enjoying an absolutely sensational start to this Premier League season.

Postecoglou's era has begun very brightly with the Australian yet to suffer his first top flight defeat in charge of the club. Following Antonio Conte's regrettable last season in charge, Spurs' new head coach has implemented the return of an entertaining, attack-minded style of play.

The Lilywhites boast four wins out of a possible five in the league; scoring 13 goals while sitting just behind Brighton and Man City as part of the division's top three attacking teams.

Certain Spurs players who never got a look-in under Conte, like Yves Bissouma and Pape Matar Sarr, are now thriving as part of a new-look Postecoglou team.

Attacking midfielders Giovani Lo Celso and Bryan Gil – who also weren't favoured by Conte – may soon come into the fold as well.

Tottenham have chalked up impressive victories over the likes of Bournemouth, Man United, Burnley and Sheffield United since mid-August – with the latter result seriously testing their character.

The Blades took a shock lead against the run of play before very, very late goals from Richarlison and Dejan Kulusevski gifted Spurs a hard-fought 2-1 win on Saturday.

Who could leave Spurs?

Postecoglou appears to be finding a winning formula at N17 and his best Tottenham side is taking shape; meaning certain squad members could be facing the axe ahead of January.

Former superstar striker Harry Kane, Sergio Reguilon, Joe Rodon, Djed Spence, Harry Winks, Alfie Devine, Troy Parrott, Dane Scarlett, Davinson Sanchez and Tanguy Ndombele have already left the club during Postecoglou's tenure.

It may only be a matter of time before another follow them out the Spurs door, with an update coming to light on Lo Celso's future.

The Argentine was linked with an exit in the summer window, and his departure is well and truly on the cards this winter. Postecoglou is actually a big fan of Lo Celso, as he admitted to the press recently.

"I’m really happy with Gio," said the Tottenham boss. "He’s been really good in training. You can see he’s a quality player and I think the way we play suits him. I’ve enjoyed working with him and I think he’s enjoying himself in terms of the football we want to play."

Despite this statement, a report from Spain has now claimed that Lo Celso has "made clear his desire" to leave Tottenham in the winter window. The player and his agents are apparently working on a transfer already. Lo Celso, for his part, has one specific destination in mind – Real Betis.

The 27-year-old apparently believes he will have far more opportunities returning to Spain with his former club.

How good is Giovani Lo Celso?

Lo Celso could still do a job for Tottenham, and we believe he could be hastily making a decision if the report is indeed true. Goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli, speaking to Super Deporte during the Argentine's 2022 loan spell at Villarreal, called him a "top player in the world".

"He gives us a plus as a team," said Rulli. "He helps us improve and I don’t discover anything by saying that he is a top player in the world. I know him well as a player and a person, so I hope he does very well."

Newcastle United are set to send scouts to watch Sporting CP midfielder Manuel Ugarte this weekend ahead of a potential switch to the Premier League, according to reports.

What's the latest on Manuel Ugarte to Newcastle?

The Athletic have reported that Eddie Howe is set to enter the upcoming transfer window in search of a new number six, and with the 22-year-old being Ruben Amorim’s top-performing defensive player and third overall with a WhoScored match rating of 7.08, Ugarte has seemingly been identified by the manager as an ideal deep-lying target on the market.

Back in April, Record claimed that the Jose Alvalade Stadium outfit could be forced to cash in on some of their most prized assets at the end of the season to create funds for new signings and the Magpies were credited with a “growing interest”, off the back of which they are believed to have promised to submit an official proposal ahead of the 2023/24 term.

Who is signing Ugarte?

According to Portuguese newspaper Correio da Manha (via Sport Witness), Newcastle and top-flight rivals Liverpool will both "have representatives" in Lisbon this weekend to "focus" on Ugarte during Sporting CP's fixture vs Benfica on Sunday.

As it stands, it's currently unknown which of the two suitors are leading the chase, but it's worth noting that the midfielder has a €60m (£52m) release clause included in his contract, alongside the fact that Aston Villa are claimed to have already held contact regarding a deal, as per A Bola.

Newcastle are clearly serious about securing the services of Ugarte, first to have promised to table a proposal and now to deploy officials to assess him in action, and should they be able to get a deal over the line for the defensive midfielder, it would be a massive coup for PIF and Howe.

The World Cup participant ranks in the 99th percentile for tackles having made 114 this season which is higher than any other member of his squad, as per FBRef, and the 98th percentile for interceptions so loves to get stuck in and win back possession for his team.

Sporting’s “warrior”, as dubbed by talent scout Jacek Kulig, who has the versatility to operate slightly higher up in central midfield alongside his natural position, is also capable of contributing to efforts at the opposite end of the pitch having provided three assists and scored one goal since joining, so this really is a no-brainer of a move to pursue should the opportunity present itself.

Newcastle United have identified West Bromwich Albion's Josh Griffiths as a potential signing, with the club targeting several names for the future, according to Dean Jones.

Having qualified for the Champions League for the first time in two decades, the Magpies have a crucial summer ahead, with plenty of talent on their radar as they look to bolster their squad.

Eddie Howe's side has done an incredible job in the transfer market since the club was taken over by the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund in 2021, and don't expect that to change this summer.

What's the latest Newcastle United transfer news?

With Champions League football on the horizon, the Magpies have been linked to several high-profile names as they strengthen the squad ahead of their return to Europe's elite competition.

In a sensational move, the club are currently agreeing terms with AC Milan midfielder Sandro Tonali, ahead of a move to St James' Park, according to the Daily Mail.

The club have also been linked to Leicester City's James Maddison with the English midfielder looking for a way out of the Foxes after they were recently relegated from the Premier League, but according to Sky Sports, any deal for the star might be hurt by the signing of Tonali.

Newcastle aren't only targeting superstars for right now, though, with the club also having a firm eye on the future as they navigate the transfer market.

West Brom's young goalkeeper Griffiths has been identified as a potential signing by The Sun, with Jones believing the club will look at numerous names for the future.

What has Dean Jones said about Newcastle United's transfer business?

Having been linked to the likes of Tonali and Maddison, many will have been surprised to see the latest reports suggesting Newcastle were interested in a prospect like Griffiths, but Jones believes the club will be targeting more names of the future going forward.

Speaking to Football FanCast, the journalist said: "I think you should always remember that, every now and then, Newcastle aren't going to be linked with big names. They're going to be linked with names for the future. It's kind of a two-tiered approach here."

Furthermore, he compared the reports to the Magpies' previous interest in Paris Saint-Germain's Hugo Ekitike as proof that the club continue to have an eye on the future, saying:

"Goes all the way really back to when we first read about Ekitike, who we spoke about for months never actually arrived, but he was always seen as a striker for the future. And so they'll be continuing to look down that path actually unveiled a signing last week along the same lines. So yeah, definitely more signings like that coming too."

How did Josh Griffiths perform last season?

Having spent half of the season on loan at Portsmouth, the 21-year-old caught the attention of many in football after an impressive spell at the south coast side, that saw him keep seven clean sheets in 22 games.

His performances for Portsmouth caused West Brom to recall the goalkeeper, and he made his Championship debut shortly afterwards against Blackburn Rovers, and in his 10 league games for the Baggies, he kept another four clean sheets, bringing his seasonal tally to an impressive 11.

The 21-year-old also showed his fine ability as a shot-stopper, pulling off an average of 2.2 saves a game throughout all competitions, a similar number to Nick Pope's 2.3.

Liverpool are now looking for their next defensive midfielder with Fabinho expected to make a move to Saudi Arabia this summer and now a new potential transfer target has been identified.

What's the latest on Liverpool's interest in Joao Palhinha?

According to Sky Sports reporter Melissa Reddy, Liverpool are interested in signing Fulham midfielder Joao Palhinha.

Reddy revealed on Twitter: "Lavia and Gravenberch have long been considered by LFC (regardless of current situation), with their reps spoken to. Other players they've looked at: Nicolo Barella, Khephren Thuram, Florentino Luis, Joao Palhinha, Teun Koopmeiners…"

"They do love a surprise, stealth signing"

How good is Joao Palhinha?

There is no doubt that Jurgen Klopp will be desperate to quickly replace Fabinho as the Brazilian mainstay has had a huge influence on the club's success over the last five years.

The Liverpool ace played a key role in his deep-lying role to lead his team to a Champions League trophy, FA Cup, League Cup and their first-ever Premier League title, so it will be difficult to find a player who can emulate his impact.

As a result, the signing of Palhinha would be a great move for the Merseyside giants as the Portuguese sensation has been a revelation over the last 12 months and has been a difference-maker at Craven Cottage.

No other Premier League player completed more tackles and interceptions than the 6 foot 3 titan (193), with fellow Liverpool target Moises Caicedo coming in second to the Fulham whiz (156), and this attribute is not the only one that the two hot top-flight talents share.

When comparing Palhinha's output to his Ecuordorian positional peer last season, the pair came close in a number of key attributes desirable in the defensive midfield role including pass completion (82.5% v 88.5%), percentage of dribblers tackled (53% v 58.8%), blocks (48 v 43) and aerial duels won (64.5% v 64.9%). as per FBref.

Not only that, the 28-year-old ranks in the top 1% of his positional peers across the top five European leagues for tackles per 90, as well as ranking in the top 12% for clearances per 90 and aerial duels won per 90, proving that he is one of the best defensive presences in Europe.

Lauded as being as "strong as an ox" by Sky Sports reporter Jamie Weir, the confident ball-winner has been the recipient of high praise during his short time in English football, with pundit Jamie Redknapp showering compliments on Palhinha:

"He has been a brilliant signing. £20 million. He has got a real knowledge and nous of where he should be. He picks the right pass. He has a real presence about him. He is a fantastic signing for them."

Despite making a £20m move from Sporting Lisbon to west London last summer, the Portugal international has already become an invaluable asset to Fulham and it would reportedly take an offer of £90m for them to part ways with their star player, presenting a slightly cheaper alternative to Caicedo who has a £100m price tag.

With that being said, if sporting director Jorg Schmadtke could secure a deal for Palhinha it would be a major coup for the club and if he can continue to dominate in midfield at Anfield, he would be the dream successor for Fabinho next season.

Four wins from five and their place confirmed in the Scottish Cup final, it's fair to say that Rangers have got off to a good start under new boss Philippe Clement. The former AS Monaco man has breathed new life into the Scottish Premiership giants, who may yet have a say in Celtic's pursuit of a third consecutive title and a first since the return of Brendan Rodgers.

With games coming thick and fast, Clement will simply be hoping to see the Gers continue their fine form and unbeaten run for as long as possible. That may prove more difficult, however, after recent injury news emerged to deal the new manager a frustrating blow.

Rangers injury news

Clement has already had to deal with several Rangers injuries during the early days of his tenure. The Belgian has been without John Souttar, Borna Barisic, Dujon Sterling, Nicolas Raskin and Rabbi Matondo at various stages in what has been a difficult few weeks when it comes to finding consistent options. Those absences make Clement's start all the more impressive, however, and beg the question as to just how good the Gers will be when the new manager has a full squad available.

The answer to that question looks unlikely to come anytime soon, though, with Clement confirming more Rangers injury news. The manager said, via Four Lads Had a Dream: “Ahead of Prague, You want to build from game to game, you want to give players a chance but we miss a few from the European squad. One player is unavailable but I will not tell you who. Minor [injury] but may not make it Thursday or Sunday.”

With that said, only time will tell just who it is that Rangers will be missing for their next Europa League clash, as Clement continues to remain coy over his squad's availability.

Rangers team news vs Sparta Prague

With the chance to potentially move top of Group C with a win over Sparta Prague, Clement must get his Rangers selection right from the players that he has at his disposal. The new boss has already faced the Czech Republic side in charge of the Gers, of course, when they held them to a 0-0 draw in Prague in just his second game in charge. Now on four points, two points adrift of group leaders Real Betis, Rangers have the chance to lay down a marker halfway through the group stage.

Having eased past Hearts to progress into the final of the Scottish League Cup last time out, the likes of Danilo and Ryan Jack could keep their starting place, whilst Cyriel Dessers may well get an opportunity to feature at some stage.

If the Scottish giants can go one better than their previous away day by defeating Sparta Prague, then it will show just how much they've improved in such little time since the arrival of Clement. Even without what is currently an unknown injury, the Gers have the opportunity to make it six games without defeat under their new boss.

As Manchester United booked their place in the FA Cup final with a shootout victory over Brighton and Hove Albion on Sunday afternoon, a key performer for the Red Devils was resurgent defender, Aaron Wan-Bissaka.

The Englishman was "superb" in his right-back berth against the Seagulls – as per the Mail on Sunday's Oliver Holt – notably winning seven of his eight total duels and completing all four of his attempted dribbles, memorably surging down the right flank with an impressive driving run in the second half.

That stellar outing saw the 25-year-old hailed as "probably the best in the world" at one on one defending by compatriot James Maddison, with the former Crystal Palace ace having previously produced a "monstrous" display at Wembley in the Carabao Cup triumph over Newcastle, as per Daily Express journalist Alex Turk.

Despite those strong showings on the big occasion, it should not prevent United from strengthening in that full-back role this summer, with The Athletic recently reporting that Wan-Bissaka could be sold if a more 'attacking' option can be found.

There has been talk of a potential new deal for the £90k-per-week machine in the aftermath of yesterday's triumph, although it should not be forgotten that it was only a matter of months ago that Erik ten Hag looked ready to sell the defender in the January window.

It was also just a few days ago that the Croydon native was hooked at half-time amid the grim loss to Sevilla, with Manchester Evening News journalist Samuel Luckhurst writing of his all-round woes:

'Offered next to nothing in attack for the umpteenth time. There is a reason why Ten Hag wants a new right-back.'

That perfectly summarises just why the Old Trafford outfit should not be clouded by a handful of standout Wembley showings from Wan-Bissaka, with a new recruit still needed ahead of next season.

Who could replace Wan-Bissaka this summer?

One name that has been repeatedly mentioned of late is Bayer Leverkusen ace, Jeremie Frimpong, with Football Insider stating earlier this month that United are in 'pole position' to sign the former Celtic starlet.

The 22-year-old – who could be worth around £40m this summer – has enjoyed a stellar campaign for the Bundesliga side this season, having been hailed as "one of the best wing-backs in Europe", as per talent scout Jacek Kulig.

While largely operating in a more advanced berth in Xabi Alonso's side, the one-time Manchester City man has showcased that he can be the more attack-minded solution for Ten Hag on the right side of the defence, such has been his standout form this season.

The Netherlands international has remarkably chipped in with nine goals and ten assists in 41 games across all fronts this term, while Wan-Bissaka, by contrast, has contributed just one assist in 26 games in all competitions.

Equally, while the latter man has just two goals and 15 assists to his name in 198 games for both the Red Devils and former club Palace, Frimpong has 14 goals and 27 assists under his belt in 139 games for the Hoops and for Leverkusen.

Frimpomg also impressively ranks in the top 1% in Europe's top five leagues among those in his position for progressive carries, successful take-ons and touches in the attacking penalty area, while the current United man ranks in just the top 13%, the top 17% and the top 14% for those same three metrics, respectively.

That should indicate why it would be wise for Ten Hag and co to make the ruthless decision to replace Wan-Bissaka this summer, with the £50m signing – who was previously branded "useless" on the ball by club legend Paul Scholes – having already had four years to impress at the Theatre of Dreams.

Like many others at the club, he may well have now outstayed his welcome.

Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers is now in a predicament as he looks set to miss one of his key first-team stars for a period of time due to an injury he picked up on international duty, according to reports.

What's the latest news involving Celtic?

Celtic are in a good place at the minute and sit top of the Scottish Premiership on ten points from four matches, as boss Rodgers begins to show why he dramatically returned north of the border earlier this summer.

Last weekend, The Hoops got the better of their arch-rivals Rangers in front of a packed Ibrox Stadium, courtesy of a well-struck volley from Japanese striker Kyogo Furuhashi. Former Celtic and Liverpool great Kenny Dalglish has lavished praise on Furuhashi in a recent interview with The Sunday Post, cited via 67 Hail Hail, stating:

“I need to commend the winning goal from Celtic’s Kyogo. It was an outstanding strike and just reaffirmed again what a wonderful talent he is. At a transfer fee of around £4m, he is one of the transfer bargains of the millennium.

He then added:

"Last Sunday showed, once again, that Celtic are the team to beat and will not give up their title lightly. They have quality players and a winning mentality. Led by captain Callum McGregor, they know what it takes to be successful."

As per Sky Sports reporter Anthony Joseph, Denmark Under-21 international Matt O'Riley is expected to be offered an improved contract at Celtic following interest from Leeds United, who had a £10 million bid turned down for the ex-MK Dons playmaker late in the window.

Serie A side Bologna and Championship outfit Southampton were also keen to offer O'Riley an escape route from Parkhead; however, he could now commit his future to the Scottish champions and end any speculation surrounding his next career steps.

Who has suffered an injury at Celtic?

As per The Daily Record, Celtic winger Liel Abada has suffered an injury in training on international duty with Israel and will be sent for a scan to find out more information after feeling a "pinch in his muscle", according to Israel boss Alon Hazan.

Israel drew 1-1 with Romania on Saturday and are pencilled in to take on Belarus in Euro 2024 qualifying on Tuesday; however, Abada will now no longer be able to participate in the fixture and it remains to be seen how long the 21-year-old will be out of action for.

Since then, it has been claimed the player has a quad issue and could be out for a month as a result, missing three league games and the Champions League opener.

Abada, who has previously been labelled "undroppable" by journalist Kieran Devlin, has been a key figure for Celtic since joining the club in 2021 and has gone on to make 106 appearances in total for the Hoops, registering 29 goals and 21 assists in the process, as per Transfermarkt.

Starting 2023/24 off in fine fettle, Abada has managed to average around 1.5 shots taken per match in the Scottish Premiership, according to WhoScored. Despite his initial bright start, Celtic may have to turn to alternative options for the time being as they wait for Abada to return.