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.

Glasgow Rangers head coach Michael Beale suffered defeat for the first time since entering the dugout at Ibrox as his side lost in the League Cup final on Sunday.

The Scottish giants lost 2-1 to their bitter arch-rivals and were unable to secure the first trophy of the new era at the club, following the manager’s arrival during the break for the 2022 World Cup.

Kyogo Furuhashi’s double either side of half-time was enough to secure the win for Celtic, despite Alfredo Morelos pulling a goal back in the second half, and the Light Blues will now have to turn their attention to the Premiership and the Scottish Cup.

On a disappointing day for the Gers, one player who must be ruthlessly ditched from the team after his performance at Hampden Park is midfielder John Lundstram.

Should John Lundstram be dropped for Rangers?

The Englishman was an injury doubt heading into the game and did not look ready to be playing, as he left a lot to be desired with his display in the middle of the park.

Journalist Josh Bunting claimed that the former Sheffield United man “really struggled”, while reporter Mark McDougall stated that Celtic “dominated” the midfield as Lundstram looked “poor”.

Rangers Review’s Derek Clark was also scathing in his assessment of the 29-year-old’s performance, writing: “A poor performance from the Scouser who looked a yard off the pace and lost out in almost all his duels. He was often slow and cumbersome in possession.”

The £22k-per-week dynamo has enjoyed a strong season in the Premiership, averaging a Sofascore rating of 7.07 across 25 matches, but the signing of Nicolas Raskin now means that there is competition for places, and even one bad outing could cost a player their place in the starting line-up.

This could be the case for Lundstram, as his dreadful display in the final should result in Beale ruthlessly dropping him from the starting XI for their upcoming match against Kilmarnock next weekend.

Raskin has made a strong start to life in Scotland, with an average Sofascore rating of 6.95 in his first two matches, winning 73% of his individual duels and completing 89% of his attempted passes.

The 22-year-old has shown that he can handle the physical contests of Scottish football and has demonstrated his quality in possession by being reliable with the ball at his feet.

Raskin’s early promise could tempt Beale into throwing him into the start for the clash against Kilmarnock, and after his woeful performance against Celtic, Lundstram is the midfielder who should duly be ditched from the team in order to free up a space in the starting XI.

West Ham summer signing Gianluca Scamacca has been linked with an exit as reports from Italy make a surprise claim.

The Lowdown: Hammers player exodus?

Members of the Irons squad have been linked with potential moves away this summer.

The most obvious of these names is midfield sensation Declan Rice, who has been attracting serious interest from Man City, Arsenal and Chelsea.

Meanwhile, the agent of West Ham forward and current Torino loanee Nikola Vlasic has reportedly explained that the Croatia international would like to remain in Serie A.

The Latest: Scamacca eyeing West Ham exit…

Now, Italian news website PLANETAMILAN.it have shared an update involving Scamacca, as the 24-year-old allegedly ‘wants to return’ to play in Serie A.

Indeed, the striker has found it difficult to fully break into manager David Moyes’ starting eleven and is now eyeing a summer exit.

However, as AC Milan take an interest, West Ham won’t let him go for cheap – with this report claiming they will demand around £44 million for his services.

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The Verdict: Pinch of salt?

Just half way through his first season at West Ham, Scamacca is currently still finding his feet again after an injury lay-off and it could take more time for him to adapt life in the Premier League.

The Italy international suffered a knee problem mid-way through January, just after he scored in West Ham’s 2-2 draw away to Leeds, and it’s been difficult for him to fight his way back into Moyes’ eleven since.

That being said, Scamacca has netted seven goals in all competitions this season, and a hot streak of form towards the end of this campaign could seriously bring up those numbers.

Called a ‘quality’ player by members of the media, we believe the former Sassuolo star still has plenty to prove in claret and blue.

Leeds have cultivated a reputation for developing young talents in recent years and have benefitted from their exploits, with the likes of Kalvin Phillips, Lewis Cook and Jack Clarke notably big-money departures following their progression from the academy.

The Yorkshire outfit have also recruited well, and it seems clear that they could make a significant profit on Jack Harrison should he ever depart Elland Road.

How much is Leeds star Jack Harrison worth now?

Leeds would initially sign Harrison on loan from Manchester City in the 2018/19 Championship campaign, notching four goals and three assists as the Whites fell short in the playoffs.

He returned the following season on loan again and played a significant role in their promotion back to the top flight, contributing six goals and eight assists in 46 appearances in the second tier.

Despite his impressive displays out on loan, City were willing to send him back to Elland Road for a third straight season and he took no time in adjusting to the demands of top-flight football, hitting eight goals and eight assists in what was his best season as a professional.

It was confirmed in the summer of 2021 that Leeds had agreed a deal to sign Harrison permanently, with the left-winger joining for the bargain fee of just £11m. That now looks to be incredible value when you consider how his market value has soared in his time at the club.

When he first joined on loan from City in 2018, Harrison was a relatively unknown quantity, with Transfermarkt valuing him at just €3.5m (£3.1m) but five years on, the website now values him at €25m (£22.3m), which represents a mammoth 619% increase.

The Whites could have guaranteed themselves a profit on the 26-year-old in January this year when Leicester bid £20m but they instead opted to keep him at Elland Road, in the hope that he can turn his disappointing start to the season around, with just one goal and five assists to his name in 23 top-flight appearances this term.

One of his assists was lauded by Leeds legend Jimmy Floyd-Hasselbaink, who described his cross for Rodrigo to score against Chelsea this season as “absolutely magnificent.” Although those moments have been few and far between of late, he has still been a strong signing considering his longevity as a starter.

As such, Harrison certainly has what it takes to recover his best form and be a big player for Javi Gracia in Leeds’ fight for survival but Victor Orta certainly deserves a huge amount of praise for his role in bringing the English winger to the club back in 2018.

Chelsea produced a phenomenal performance at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday night as a 2-0 win over Borussia Dortmund sealed their spot in the Champions League quarter-finals.

Graham Potter’s side had trailed 1-0 on aggregate after their defeat in Germany last month and were second favourites to progress given their respective form, which had seen the Bundesliga title hopefuls win their last ten games in all competitions.

However, the Blues were dominant throughout the game at Stamford Bridge and took a deserved lead just before half-time when Raheem Sterling slammed home inside the box to cap off a fine return to form having been particularly impressive against Leeds last time out.

Kai Havertz made it 2-0 in controversial fashion early in the second period, as the home side were awarded a penalty for handball, which the Germany international initially missed, before tucking the re-taken penalty into the bottom corner following perceived encroachment on his first attempt.

It wasn’t only his goal that marked out the former Bayer Leverkusen man as one of the best players on the pitch, however.

How did Havertz perform vs Dortmund?

As per Sofascore, the 23-year-old would earn a strong 7.9/10 rating for his performance against Dortmund, which ranked him as the best player to feature in the game from both sides.

The 51-touch Havertz was extremely unfortunate not to score even before his penalty, as he saw an early effort come off the inside of the post after beating Alexander Meyer, while his phenomenal finish off the crossbar was ruled out for a narrow offside against Sterling.

In total, the young attacker would register five shots against Dortmund, which is extremely promising when you consider Chelsea’s recent goalscoring woes and the fact that he has averaged just 1.8 shots per game in the Premier League.

He also contributed two key passes, 28 passes and three successive dribbles, which again was a significant improvement on his stats in the top flight so far this campaign, which have returned 1.1 key passes, 24.1 passes and just 0.5 dribbles per game.

Owen Hargreaves labelled his performance “absolutely outstanding” on BT Sport, and suggested that he showed “real courage” by stepping up again for the penalty after his first attempt came off the post.

It was a hugely controversial moment in the game with the spot kick having to be retaken after a number of players encroached on the penalty area.

The Havertz of late would likely have missed again but instead, the 23-year-old finally produced the sort of performance that fans expected after his £76m move in 2020.

NBC Sports writer Joe Prince-Wright dubbed it his “best performance” in a Chelsea shirt and considering he has managed just six goal contributions in 24 Premier League appearances this season, it is easy to see why.

Indeed, like his teammates, the attacker has been incredibly below par in recent months, with that penalty his first strike since the middle of January and only his second goal since the World Cup.

Hopefully, for the Blues, Tuesday’s impressive display can be the catalyst for Havertz becoming a far more consistent option in their attack for the rest of the season.

Newcastle United have reportedly made an inquiry over the possibility of signing Robin Koch from Leeds United this summer.

The Lowdown: Standout performer

In what has proven to be a difficult season for Leeds so far, with the sacking of Jesse Marsch coupled up with them being just outside of the relegation zone in the Premier League, Koch has been one of their standout performers.

No other player in the Leeds side is averaging more clearances per game in the division than he is, while he also ranks highly among his team-mates for a number of other metrics (WhoScored).

The Latest: Newcastle inquiry

As per German news outlet Sport1, Newcastle ‘above all’ are ‘interested’ in signing Koch this summer, but he has also received ‘inquiries’ from the Bundesliga.

His contract at Elland Road is up in 2024, putting Leeds under pressure to cash in at the risk of him leaving as a free agent at the end of next season.

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The Verdict: Shrewd addition

Koch would certainly be a shrewd addition at St. James’ Park, given that he already boasts plenty of Premier League experience.

The six-foot-three colossus is also capable of playing in a number of defensive and even midfield positions, and so his extra versatility would be very useful in the squad.

At 26 years of age, the Magpies would be signing a player about to enter his prime, and so this seems like a smart deal to do if Eddie Howe really fancies the player.

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.

Jermaine Jenas criticised Tottenham Hotspur defender Cristian Romero during the club’s UEFA Champions League second leg with AC Milan on Wednesday. 

The Lowdown: Champions League exit

Antonio Conte returned to the dugout for the first time following gallbladder surgery last month but failed to guide his side through to the Champions League quarter-finals.

Spurs failed to get going in front of their home supporters and couldn’t overturn a 1-0 deficit from the first leg, with Romero having an evening to forget on a personal note after receiving a red card due to two separate bookings.

The Latest: Jenas reacts

Jenas was on co-commentary duty for BT Sport on Wednesday evening and was quick to give his comments on Romero after he picked up his first yellow card for a foul on Rafael Leao in the 17th minute.

The former Spurs midfielder said that it is a ‘huge flaw in his game’ and feels that he ‘puts himself under unnecessary pressure every single game’ by getting an early booking. Romero was then shown a second yellow following a rash tackle on Theo Hernandez in the 77th minute.

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The Verdict: Shocker

Romero was making his 24th appearance in all competitions this season and seventh in the Champions League, starting alongside Ben Davies and Clement Lenglet in a back three.

However, the Argentine struggled and ended with a SofaScore rating of 6.2/10 – considerably worse than both Davies and Lenglet. Romero lost possession 11 times, was second-best in six of his nine duels and failed to make a successful tackle all evening.

The 24-year-old was also unsuccessful in all of his attempted long balls, so overall, had an evening to forget, with Jenas’ comments early on proving to be spot on.

Wolves are interested in signing hugely exciting Bristol City youngster Alex Scott at the end of the season, according to reliable journalist Steve Madeley.

The Lowdown: Scott a huge talent

At just 19, Scott has already become a very important player for City, catching the eye with dominant and mature performances in the middle of the park.

He has started 36 Championship matches this season, scoring once and registering four assists, but impressing with his all-round game both on and off the ball.

Scott’s rise at City certainly isn’t going unnoticed currently, with a number of Premier League clubs linked with making a move for him during the summer transfer window, from Champions League-chasing Newcastle United to relegation-threatened West Ham, among others.

It looks as though Wolves are one of the clubs in the mix, however, following a new update regarding the teenager’s future at his current club.

The Latest: Wolves keen on signing

Taking to Twitter, The Athletic‘s Madeley claimed that Scott is very much on Wanderers’ radar ahead of a potential summer move:

“Alex Scott looks set to be one of Wolves’ major transfer targets this summer. And he looks like a player with a massive future.”

The Verdict: Would be a major coup

Scott really does look like a special young talent with a massive future, so the idea of him ending up at Wolves is certainly an exciting prospect for supporters.

He is already such a rounded footballer, despite his tenders years, winning an average of 1.2 aerial duels per game in the Championship this season, as well as 2.1 tackles and 1.2 dribbles per match.

Scott is both supremely gifted and a tenacious figure  – Pep Guardiola has described him as ‘unbelievable’, which is high praise indeed – so Wolves must do all they can to acquire his signature, with long-term planning something that is vital, rather than simply focusing on the here-and-now with experienced signings.

Granted, he may need a little time to adjust to life in the Premier League, coming in as a squad player to begin with, but the speed of his rise means it would be no shock if he was a key figure under Julen Lopetegui in no time at all.

Scott already has 12 caps to his name for England’s Under-19s, scoring once for his country, and an Under-21s call-up surely isn’t too far away now, given the level of his performances for City throughout the 2022/23 campaign.

As Liverpool headed to the Bernabeu on Wednesday evening to face Real Madrid, they did so with only a glimmer of hope.The chances of overturning a 5-2 deficit against the most successful team in the competition’s history was always going to be a tall order, and that it was, as Jurgen Klopp’s men lost 1-0 on the night.Typically, it was Karim Benzema who found the net on an evening where the Reds never really got going.Mohamed Salah was guilty of rare errant passes in the final third, the midfield looked as toothless as it has all campaign and Trent Alexander-Arnold was cooked by Vinicius Jr on the right flank.The defeat meant that any hope of winning a trophy has now disappeared. Considering how the last few years has played out at Anfield, that is a particular surprise.Klopp and co now need to turn their attention to the summer and a transfer window that will be decisive in how they bounce back in 2023/24.One man who could well leave the club during that period is Fabio Carvalho. The former Fulham man looked capable of magic moments in his early days in Merseyside but has barely featured of late, playing just two minutes of Premier League football following the World Cup.He was then given a matter of seconds in Madrid on Wednesday as Klopp threw him into the action in the dying embers, quite literally. There was only around nine seconds left when the youngster was introduced into the fray.It was a truly bizarre substitution and one that drew plenty of reaction on social media, the best of which can be found below.