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West Ham United have endured a tough year, with their struggling and ageing squad (joint-oldest in the Premier League) having fallen from European chasers to relegation fighters.

David Moyes attempted something of a summer rebuild as he splashed the cash on eight new players, but given their precarious standing in the top-flight table, it is clear that they are yet to reap the rewards.

Outlays such as £35.5m for Gianluca Scamacca and a club-record £51m expenditure for Lucas Paqueta have looked foolish so far, especially given the proficiency of the talents in the club’s academy.

Moyes may have been tempted by the excitement gained from dipping into the European market, but perhaps if he had looked a little closer to home, he could have saved millions whilst nurturing some homegrown talents of the future.

Who is the next Antonio at West Ham?

One standout name who has been earning vital senior experience in recent years is Mipo Odubeko, with the 20-year-old having received praise for not only the future that he boasts but his performances now.

Former Republic of Ireland international Stephen Kelly was particularly vocal in his praise for the youngster, as he noted last year: “I think he has got great potential. He’s been through the leagues in England. But his pace will push teams back, and offers a penetration which you can’t always get.”

Odubeko’s work throughout the divisions will have offered a fine experience that few others of his age will boast, having spells at Huddersfield Town, Doncaster Rovers and most recently Port Vale.

His current manager Darrell Clark elaborated on a skillset similar to that of tireless cult hero Michail Antonio, claiming of the youngster: “He’s a striker who loves to stretch the line and has that pace to be able to run in behind and he’s heralded as a massive talent at West Ham. His pace will offer other dimensions to our play, and he loves to run in behind a defence”.

How has Odubeko been performing on loan?

With Antonio struggling this season, having scored just two goals in 21 league games, there is a need for a replacement to soon be found. Scamacca was expected to spearhead the attack but is yet to really kickstart his career in east London (three league goals so far), all while Odubeko has been scoring in various divisions across England.

Having notched just three goals in League One this season, it has been a year of growth for the Ireland U21 forward as his body adjusts to the demands of senior football.

He had already proven to be a cut above those in the youth system during the 2020/21 campaign, when he notched ten goals in just nine Premier League 2 games as a teenager. Such form surely merits at least some consideration amongst the West Ham first-team, for whom he has only made two appearances so far.

His playing style resemble that of Antonio, with an impressive physique and speed to match his relentlessness in the press. Also, with a willingness to run the channels, he could certainly be the long-term heir to the Jamaica international, who has seen his performances wane in recent months.

Once Odubeko’s latest loan spell ends, it may be time for Moyes to look at throwing him into the team at his parent club later this year.

Journalist Sam Blitz has blasted the Wolves quartet of Daniel Podence, Diego Costa, Raul Jimenez and Joao Gomes for their second-half displays.

The Lowdown: Wolves struggle in the final third again

It looked as though Wolves had turned a corner under Julen Lopetegui in terms of scoring goals – something they’d struggled with under Bruno Lage – having netted five in the previous two matches.

However, yesterday’s slog against Bournemouth certainly brought them back down to earth at Molineux as they managed just four shots on target in the entire game despite having 67% possession (FBRef).

That suggests Wolves were – once again – dominant in their build-up play but were let down by their more attack-minded players with that result seeing them get dragged right back into a relegation scrap.

The Latest: Lopeteguis’ changes fail to make an impact.

Blitz analysed the encounter post-match and between Podence, Costa, Jimenez and Gomes they have just one goal since January 14th so they were unlikely to make an impact and certainly didn’t.

He said: ‘You can also look at the substitutes that Lopetegui brought on this Saturday. Daniel Podence, Diego Costa, Raul Jimenez and Joao Gomes were all brought off the bench – but all of them looked below par and only one of them has scored since January 14.’

The Verdict: Attacking woes persist

Wolves struggling in the final third is nothing unusual as last season they finished in the bottom four for goals scored and this term they have found the back of the net just 17 times which puts them in the bottom two.

However, the fact that three Premier League proven players and a new signing in Gomes couldn’t make an impact against a Bournemouth side who hadn’t kept an away clean sheet all season should set alarm bells ringing.

It’s not just that these Wolves attack-minded players failed to make an impact in the final third and rescue at least a point for the hosts, but they also only managed to record 59 touches between them during their second-half appearances which also shows a lack of willingness to get on the ball and make something happen.

Troy Deeney has admitted that he has messaged Javi Gracia and offered to help the Leeds United head coach.

The Lowdown: Perfect start for Gracia

The 52-year-old only received his work permit on Friday after agreeing to take over at Elland Road three days previously. However, the Spaniard managed to take all three points in his first Premier League game in charge of Leeds against Southampton, with a 1-0 win over their relegation rivals.

Junior Firpo was the match-winner in the second half, with the Whites taking themselves out of the drop zone as a result.

The Latest: Deeney’s offer to Gracia

Writing in a column for The Sun prior to Saturday’s win, Deeney said that he has been texting his former manager and has offered to help, ‘even if it is just getting him to understand just how big the club is’.

The ex-Watford striker has backed Gracia to enjoy instant success in Yorkshire and admitted that he has ‘a vested interest’ in Leeds through his family.

The Verdict: Good to see

It seems as if Gracia and Deeney have a good relationship following their mutual time at Vicarage Road, with the striker contributing to 20 goals in 53 games under the Spaniard, most of which came in the Premier League.

Currently the captain at Birmingham City, don’t expect to see the 34-year-old join the coaching team at Elland Road any time soon, but it’s good to see that Deeney is happy to offer any advice to his former boss over the coming months.

Whether or not Gracia will take him up on that offer remains to be seen, with the Leeds manager more than likely already planning for the Whites’ trip to Chelsea next weekend.

Journalist Charles Watts has claimed that Arsenal striker Eddie Nketiah has been suffering from injury problems, after he limped off the pitch in the victory over Everton.

What’s been going on with Nketiah?

The striker found himself thrust into the starting XI following an injury to Gabriel Jesus at the World Cup, and initially did well before suffering from a dip in form.

With nine goals in all competitions this season, he is one of the highest scorers in the Arsenal squad but was benched for Leandro Trossard in the last two games.

He has been struggling with a knock during this time, and this may be of some concern to Mikel Arteta.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Watts explained why Nketiah was on the bench and hinted that he could be a doubt for Arsenal’s upcoming match against Bournemouth.

(8:30) “Eddie Nketiah limped off at the end of the game,” he stated.”He went down as soon as the full-time whistle went, he fell onto the ground and then he got up and he limped off.”He went down the tunnel straightaway with one of the fitness coaches at Arsenal. He has been suffering with an issue for a while now, Eddie, which is kind of why he was rested at the weekend against Leicester.”His form hasn’t been great but I think a lot of that is down to his injury as well he’s been struggling with something. Arsenal will be managing it.”Are Arsenal better with Nketiah in the side?Although he has scored more than Jesus this season, Nketiah does not have the same level of influence on the pitch as the Brazilian, particularly in his ability to help his teammates improve.With Nketiah in the starting XI, Granit Xhaka has failed to score a league goal, whilst Gabriel Martinelli’s form slightly dipped.With Nketiah on the bench recently and Trossard starting, Martinelli scored against Leicester and Everton, before the Englishman came on and assisted Martinelli for another goal.When Jesus was starting, Martinelli and Xhaka were both at the top of their game in front of goal, possibly as a result of the former Manchester City star’s technical ability and work rate.Whilst Nketiah has proven himself to be a suitable understudy to help Arsenal score goals, the signing of Trossard and the potential return of Jesus could limit his game-time again, particularly if he continues to struggle with his injury problems.

Newcastle United will be hit with a big blow for their upcoming two Premier League games with Joelinton set to sit on the sidelines on the back of his recent suspension.

Why is Joelinton suspended for Newcastle?

The Brazilian midfielder will now miss the upcoming games against Wolverhampton Wanderers and Nottingham Forest having picked up his 10th yellow card on the weekend against Manchester City.

Joelinton has already served a one-game suspension earlier in the season having picked up five yellow cards in the Premier League by the end of October.

His disciplinary record has failed to improve since and now the 26-year-old is set to reduce Eddie Howe’s options in the middle for the next two games.

And speaking on the Everything is Black & White YouTube channel, journalist Andrew Musgrove has shared his concerns about the Brazilian’s absence:

“Without Joelinton, it’s going to be a huge challenge, I think, to get six points, but they’re more than capable. Just because they haven’t got a like-for-like replacement, they’ve got quality players to replace Joelinton.

“But yeah, devastating blow. He’s not going to be in the side for the next two games, which hopefully means he can rest up, come back after the international break fresh, [have] a bit more energy about him. He probably has looked the only one still with a full tank.”

Who will Eddie Howe play instead of Joelinton?

Howe’s options in midfield have been tested over the course of the 2022/23 campaign and this is just another example of the 45-year-old having to make do with what he has.

January saw the Magpies fail to add to his options in the middle and, instead, see his numbers reduced as a result of Jonjo Shelvey’s exit for Nottingham Forest.

Disciplinary issues have certainly proven to be a bit of a problem for Newcastle’s Brazilian midfielders with Bruno Guimaraes also recently serving a multi-game suspension as a result of a straight red card in January.

And although it is football and these things happen, it is probably in the position in which Howe’s options are already stretched.

The obvious replacement for Joelinton would be Joe Willock who has only just returned from an injury issue that saw him start the game on the weekend as a substitute.

Willock’s recovery will likely have a big say in whether he is chosen to start in the weekend’s game against Wolves with Elliot Anderson also an option for Howe.

But considering these two games feel like huge opportunities to keep their Champions League dreams alive, missing one of their mainstays in the middle of the park will naturally feel like a huge blow.

Aston Villa target Kieran Tierney could be allowed to leave Arsenal this summer after face-to-face talks with Mikel Arteta, according to reporter Ben Jacobs.

The Lowdown: Villa interest

Reports in the week linked Villa with an interest in Tierney, with Football Insider saying that Arsenal could green-light a summer sale and value the player at £30m.

Tierney has dropped down the pecking order under Arteta this season following Oleksandr Zinchenko’s arrival, with the majority of his minutes coming in the Europa League.

Villa could be willing to sell Lucas Digne to make room for the Scot, with Unai Emery already bringing in Alex Moreno back in January.

The Latest: Jacobs’ comments

Jacobs was talking to TEAMtalk regarding Tierney and his future in London. The reporter said that the player has held talks with Arteta and is still valued with the Gunners.

“My understanding with Tierney is that he held face to face talks with Arteta to try and better understand his future and was really just told to fight for his place and that he’s still valued.”

However, he went on to say “there is a very realistic possibility that he leaves if the right offer comes in over the course of the summer.”

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The Verdict: Gamble?

Tierney, described as a ‘warrior’ by Ashley Cole, has struggled for minutes this season, but when he has been on the pitch in the Premier League, he hasn’t impressed statistically, as per WhoScored. The Scot has a top-flight match average of 6.24/10, a lower score than both Digne and Moreno.

Therefore, an expensive £30m move could be seen as a gamble by some, but with Pete O’Rourke believing Emery may not trust Digne, a new left-back could be on the agenda in the Midlands this summer, meaning Tierney could be a name to keep an eye on, especially following Jacobs’ comments.

Chelsea are reportedly interested in signing Napoli striker Victor Osimhen and the Nigerian frontman could form a sensational partnership with Christopher Nkunku in Graham Potter's side.

Could Chelsea sign Victor Osimhen?

Recent reports from Italy have suggested that Todd Boehly is willing to offer the young forward a mammoth contract in order to tempt him to Stamford Bridge this summer, as he looks to solve Chelsea's goalscoring woes.

Calciomercato have also claimed recently that the Serie A leaders will demand €150m (£132m) for Osimhen as a result of his superb performances this season, which have been a major factor in Luciano Spalletti's side's domination in Italy's top flight.

The 24-year-old boasts an incredible 19 goals and four assists in 22 league appearances so far this season, with WhoScored awarding him a 7.52 rating from WhoScored for his performances.

For context, Kai Havertz is Chelsea's top scorer in the Premier League with just six to his name, while Thiago Silva is ranked as the top performer (of those to make at least ten appearances) according to WhoScored, with a far-less-impressive 7.03 average rating.

Mykhailo Mudryk, Raheem Sterling, Noni Madueke and Joao Felix have all been signed in the Boehly era in order to bolster Potter's attack, but the Blues have only scored just 28 goals in 27 Premier League fixtures so far this season, so the need for a clinical striker to finish the chances created is clear.

Owen Hargreaves was full of praise for Osimhen on BT Sport after Napoli's 2-0 win against Eintracht Frankfurt in the Champions League recently.

He said (via Football Transfers): "Osimhen is an absolute beast. Physically, his size, he presses the ball. Incredible. He’s incredibly hard to play against. Physically, he’s just impossible to deal with."

The former Genk striker has already spoken about his dream to play in the Premier League, and if the footballing history and wages on offer at Chelsea aren't enough to persuade him to join Potter's side this summer, then perhaps the prospect of playing with Nkunku will.

The "world-class" forward – as dubbd by Achim Beierlorzer, Leipzig's former assistant coach – has already agreed a move to Stamford Bridge ahead of the summer, with the former PSG man viewed as one of the most exciting talents in world football as a result of his displays in Germany in recent seasons.

The 2021/22 campaign saw Nkunku register a phenomenal 20 goals and 15 assists in the Bundesliga, and he has followed that up with another 17 goals and five assists in all competitions so far this term.

Capable of playing anywhere across the front three, the France international could form a mouth-watering and simply world-class duo with Osimhen at Stamford Bridge, with both players emphasising their attacking qualities in Europe across the last few years.

Chelsea need attacking quality if they are going to mount a serious challenge next season and if Boehly is willing to splash the cash again, Osimhen could be worth every penny.

Chelsea manager Graham Potter will be spending much of the international break considering how to get the best out of his side in the hope that they can secure an unlikely top-four finish with a strong run of form at the end of the season.

If the English manager is serious about improving his squad, he should consider ditching Croatian midfielder Mateo Kovacic, as he has been disappointing throughout the season so far.

Should Chelsea drop Kovacic?

Since signing from Real Madrid, initially on loan in 2018, the midfielder has gone on to make 211 appearances, in which he has contributed a disappointing six goals and 14 assists.

The 28-year-old has never been able to nail down a week-in, week-out starting role in Chelsea's side, with his 23 starts in the 2019/20 Premier League campaign the most of his career at Stamford Bridge.

A succession of minor injury problems have certainly played their part, as well as the multitude of midfield options available to the Blues, but there is an argument that the £100k-per-week earner simply hasn't lived up to his potential, and his disappointing form and age suggest that he could fall victim to Todd Boehly's youthful revolution at Chelsea.

This season has certainly been his worst at the west London side, as he has managed just one goal and one assist in 19 Premier League appearances, with WhoScored awarding him a shocking 6.49 average rating for his performances.

Kovacic is ranked as the 23rd-best performer in Potter's squad so far this campaign, which is nowhere near good enough for a player of his ability, as well as someone who has taken the captain's armband on more than one occasion in a Chelsea shirt.

Despite his role as an all-action midfielder, the Croatia international fails to rank in the top ten squad members at Chelsea for shots, key passes, dribbles and pass success rate so it is no surprise that he is rated so poorly by WhoScored.

The 28-year-old was once a valued member of Thomas Tuchel's squad and the German manager sang his praises back in 2022, saying:

"Even at Real Madrid, I was aware of his talent, and I felt there was a next step coming. I'm very happy that he's my player and plays a lot this season. He is crucial to us on the pitch and off the pitch in the way he behaves."

Unfortunately, that 'next step' hasn't materialised for Kovacic as his performances have clearly regressed this season and Potter must surely consider ditching the former Real Madrid man after the international break if he wants to push Chelsea to the next level.

Tottenham Hotspur and chairman Daniel Levy now have Paris-Saint Germain boss Christophe Galtier 'under consideration' as Spurs continue their manager search after Antonio Conte.

Who could Spurs appoint as new manager?

The north Londoners currently have a succession of managers they're targeting after both Conte and Levy parted ways by mutual consent earlier this week. Cristian Stellini and assistant coach Ryan Mason are set to take interim charge until the end of this Premier League campaign, having been tasked with delivering a top four finish.

This is as Levy works on finding a permanent successor for Spurs in the background with reports suggesting they have almost immediately begin their search for new manager. Mauricio Pochettino, Luis Enrique and Julian Nagelsmann are among the high profile names linked with the vacant post. Meanwhile, the likes of Oliver Glanser, Roberto De Zerbi, Thomas Frank and Arne Slot of Feyenoord are regularly mentioned by the press.

These next few months at Tottenham are set to be crucial since qualifying for next season's Champions League will be a massive, massive draw for any potential new head coach. It's apparently imperative that the Lilywhites gain a top four finish as candidates like Nagelsmann won't consider joining the club otherwise.

Away from the latter man, Levy has been identifying alternative candidates in case the German ultimately decides against joining Spurs. The Evening Standard claim that they have Pochettino, Enrique, De Zerbi, Celtic's Ange Postecoglou and now Galtier of PSG. The Frenchman has made his way on to Spurs' list, standing out as a new candidate, amid calls for him to leave the Parc des Princes.

Should Spurs hire Galtier?

Galtier could well leave PSG at the end of the season if growing murmurs are to be believed. If Spurs are take advantage of growing discontent around his reign, we believe the 56-year-old could actually be a shrewd option.

Having won a Ligue 1 title with Lille in 2021, Galtier has experience overachieving with a less illustrious squad to that of big rivals – something which could well attract a club like Tottenham. He isn't without his plaudits, either, with BBC Sport reporter John Bennett saying this on Galtier in March last year:

"Christophe Galtier seems to be a very underrated manager outside France. An unbelievable Ligue 1 title win with Lille last season… And after a 1 nil win over PSG last night, his current club Nice are 2nd (after finishing 9th last season). Improves players. Improves teams."

It's little surprise he has now become a manager of interest to Spurs and could be a fairly brilliant alternative to the likes of Nagelsmann.

Journalist Charles Watts has claimed that Declan Rice may no longer be keen on a transfer to Chelsea for three key reasons amid talk of a summer move.

What’s the latest on Declan Rice to Chelsea?

It's no secret that the Englishman is likely going to leave this summer, and a number of top Premier League clubs look to be in the race to land his signature.

Among those are Chelsea – the club Rice played for as a youngster before leaving when he was 14 years of age. He is known to be good friends with Mason Mount, but his England teammate may be leaving this summer amid contract issues and links to Liverpool.

If the West Ham United star does leave, he will surely do so for a Champions League club, with the 23-year-old previously stating that's the level he wants to be playing at

While talking about all this on his YouTube channel, Arsenal correspondent Watts explained why a move to Chelsea may longer be quite so "appealing" to Rice as it once was.

He said: "It's looking very unlikely – unless they go on and win it – they're going to be able to offer Champions League football, which is one of the big reasons that Declan Rice wants to leave West Ham now.

"We're not sure if Mason Mount's going to stay at Chelsea. He's obviously Declan Rice's really, really good mate. If he leaves, maybe that will stop [making] Chelsea quite so attractive to him.

"Whether he'd be willing to accept an eight-year contract as well – while that's appealing to some, it's certainly not appealing to others.

"So there's lots of reasons why potentially Chelsea isn't looking anywhere near as likely when it comes to Declan Rice as it did just a year ago."

Why would Declan Rice not want a Chelsea transfer?

Watts certainly is right on one front. Chelsea currently sit 10th in the Premier League with just 11 games to play. If they want to finish in the top four, they'll need to close the 11-point gap between them and the last Champions League spot with some incredible displays.

According to reports, Rice currently earns around £60,000 per week, but that will surely increase dramatically if he is to leave the Hammers in what could be a deal worth more than £100m.

Todd Boehly may well have that sort of money, and if he was to land the Englishman, he'd quite likely want to tie him to a long-term contract judging by the Blues' recent activity in that regard. However, that's been an issue with Mount – who supposedly doesn't want to commit to the club amid talk of a deal up for as much as eight years being tabled, and so Rice may feel equally hesitant.

Consequently, with no Champions League football, Mount, or a reasonable contract offer waiting for him at Chelsea, perhaps the 23-year-old will end up elsewhere.