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talkSPORT pundit Gabby Agbonlahor says that the reported £70m price tag for Liverpool transfer target Alexis Mac Allister is ‘ridiculous’.

The Lowdown: Liverpool interest

As per Football Insider, Liverpool have registered their interest in signing Mac Allister this summer, with ‘sources’ close to the Brighton and Hove Albion midfielder claiming that he is ‘ready to go’ to a ‘bigger’ club.

However, Brighton do not want to sell the FIFA World Cup winner for less than their £70m asking price.

The Latest: ‘Ridiculous’

Speaking to Football Insider, Agbonlahor claims that the £70m asking price for Mac Allister is ‘ridiculous’ and ‘silly’, and in spite of how good of a player that he is, he is not worth that much:

“I don’t think Mac Allister is worth £70million.

“To me, he’s a £30-40million player. I think these numbers are getting silly now.

“Anyone who has a good season is instantly a £70-100million player.

“I think it’s ridiculous.

“Yes, he’s had a good season with Brighton and he’s won the World Cup with Argentina.

“But I feel that £70million is far too expensive. Liverpool are in need of midfielders, though, and that could price them out of some transfers.”

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The Verdict: Have to pay a premium…

Unfortunately with the way that transfer fees are becoming more inflated by the year, with the Premier League recording a record spend in the January transfer window, clubs have to pay a premium if they want to sign quality players like Mac Allister.

Brighton are also renowned for getting top fees for selling players, and so would be tough negotiators in terms of barging from their asking price.

Thus, Liverpool may just to have to bite the bullet with this one, with their need for new midfielders apparent.

After scoring and assisting in the 4-0 thumping of West Ham United on Saturday afternoon, Mac Allister now has eight goals and one assist in total over all competitions so far this season, and at 24 years of age, would offer fresh legs and an ideal alternative to the ageing James Milner and Jordan Henderson.

Sky Sports have shared a Tottenham Hotspur managerial update with the club also ‘looking’ at Brighton boss Roberto De Zerbi.

The Lowdown: Spurs manager race beginning?

The race to succeed current boss Antonio Conte may already be underway, despite the fact he is currently still at the helm and set to take charge against Nottingham Forest tomorrow.

Spurs’ boss has just a few months remaining on his current deal and their mid-week Champions League defeat to AC Milan has seriously put Conte’s future into question.

It is widely believed that the Italian won’t stay beyond this campaign and could perhaps leave sooner, with the likes of Mauricio Pochettino and Luis Enrique linked.

The Latest: Spurs ‘looking’ at De Zerbi..

As per Sky, backing other reports, Brighton manager De Zerbi is also a contender to take over from Conte.

While the ex-Serie A coach has claimed he is happy in his current role, as we’ve seen with Brighton’s ex-manager Graham Potter, that can change quickly with the right offer.

The former Sassuolo head coach is enjoying a fine season on the south coast, catching the attention of Spurs and two other top clubs, who are all allegedly ‘looking’ at him according to the broadcaster.

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The Verdict: Phenomenal candidate…

There are many reasons to consider De Zerbi for the role, with one of them being his price.

It has been reported by reliable sources in Italy that the 43-year-old’s contract at Brighton contains an £11.5 million release clause – allowing Spurs to bypass Brighton demands and negotiate directly with De Zerbi.

Called a ‘special’ manager by members of the press and ‘incredible’ by Pep Guardiola, De Zerbi’s Brighton are challenging for Europe and have carried on their trend of overachieving with a small squad.

A promoter of attacking football also, De Zerbi certainly stands out as one of the better Spurs candidates.

Liverpool and Manchester City have both been boosted in their pursuit of Barcelona superstar Gavi, following a key update regarding his situation in Spain.

The Lowdown: Gavi a young superstar

The Spaniard is one of the most talked-about young players in the world currently, having burst onto the scene for both club and country in recent times.

Despite still only being 18 years of age, Gavi has already racked up 83 appearances for Barca, as well as winning 17 caps for Spain and appearing four times at the 2022 World Cup.

Along with Pedri, the teenager could be one of his current club’s most prized homegrown assets since Xavi and Andres Iniesta strutted their stuff, and he has the potential to be a future legend there.

That being said, Gavi’s future at Camp Nou has suddenly been thrown into doubt, which is where Liverpool come into play, having been linked with a move for him in the past.

The Latest: Liverpool given boost

According to The Times, Liverpool and City are both ‘keeping an eye’ on what is a ‘messy situation’ at Barca that could see Gavi leave on a free transfer this summer.

That’s because of a ‘dispute’ over the La Liga giants’ ability to pay to register the youngster, with their financial position far from the strongest right now.

It is noted that Liverpool have been admirers of Gavi ‘for a while’ now, and although a move has always seemed unlikely because of the size of his potential transfer fee and his happiness at Barca, this development has offered them ‘encouragement’.

The Verdict: Still feels unlikely

In truth, it still feels likely that Barca will be able to find a way around this situation, although Lionel Messi’s shock exit to PSG for similar financial reason certainly acts as a warning to the Catalan club.

Should Liverpool genuinely be in with a chance to sign Gavi, they should do all they can to snap him up, considering he has been called a ‘special’ player by Xavi himself.

At 18, he is already such an influential figure, enjoying an 88.1% pass completion rate this season and thriving in a central midfield role, and he could help transform the Reds’ issues in the middle of the park.

If Liverpool ended up signing Gavi on a free transfer and also got Jude Bellingham in a big-money move, as has so often been mooted with the latter, it could be a game-changing moment after what has been a stuttering campaign.

Chelsea have made an enquiry about signing Inter Milan goalkeeper Andre Onana this summer, according to reports from Italy.

The Lowdown: Long-term target

The Blues have been linked with Onana as far back as 2020, at which point Frank Lampard was considering the goalkeeper as a potential replacement for Kepa Arrizabalaga, and he was said to be keen on a move to the Premier League.

Almost three years on, Graham Potter is also unconvinced by Kepa, meaning the Inter Milan shot-stopper could reemerge as a transfer target for Chelsea, however the west London club are believed to be weighing up a number of options.

Borussia Dortmund’s Gregor Kobel is one player that the Blues are ‘very interested’ in, while they are said to have previously made contact with Brentford goalkeeper David Raya.

The Latest: Contact made

According to a report from TuttoMercatoWeb, Chelsea have enquired about the Cameroon international, however they may face competition for his signature, given that a number of Premier League teams are following him with great interest.

The Blues are targeting a new goalkeeper as Edouard Mendy is destined to say goodbye in the summer transfer window, and Todd Boehly is keen to secure a replacement.

Bringing in a new option between the sticks is believed to be one of the owner’s main priorities in the next transfer window, and he has now started to gather detailed information on the Inter keeper.

The Verdict: Get it done?

Lauded as a ‘superstar’ by journalist Oma Akatugba, the 26-year-old has recorded a seriously impressive save percentage over the past year, stopping 80% of the shots that he has faced, placing him in the 98th percentile compared to other top goalkeepers.

As a result, the Cameroonian also ranks in the 97th percentile for his clean sheet percentage, shutting out the opposition in 50% of all the games he has played during the same timeframe, while his willingness to get on the ball is displayed by an average of 42.75 touches per 90.

The former Ajax man has performed better than Mendy and Kepa in almost all key metrics for goalkeepers, indicating he would be a real upgrade for Potter between the sticks.

He also has proven experience performing at the top level, with Onana starring in Inter’s 0-0 draw against Porto on Tuesday night, making six saves, including three from inside the penalty area to help his team progress to the Champions League quarter final.

Southampton are closely following Manchester City youngster Carlos Borges and are likely to make a move in the summer transfer window, according to a recent report.

The Lowdown: Southampton building for the future

The Saints have been known for targeting Man City youth players in the past, bringing in Romeo Lavia for an initial £10.5m last summer, and they could be set to make a tidy profit on the midfielder.

Pep Guardiola’s side have a £40m buy-back clause which becomes active in the summer of 2024, while interest from Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United could drive his price up in the upcoming transfer window.

City have also sold Sam Edozie, Juan Larios and Gavin Bazunu to Southampton in recent times, with the latter player going on to establish himself in the first team, making 28 appearances in the Premier League so far this season.

The Latest: Borges targeted

As per a report from The Athletic, the Saints have an ongoing interest in bringing Borges to the club in the summer transfer window, and they have a good chance of being at the front of the queue for his signature.

Scouts have closely monitored the 19-year-old this season, and with the City influence that is now at the club, a move could appeal to all parties at the end of the campaign.

The young attacker has made it clear that he wants to get more minutes, having noted the progress made by Edozie since making the switch to the South Coast, which means he could actively seek out a move in the summer.

The Verdict: Get it done?

Southampton have a proven track record signing quality young players from Man City and giving them the opportunity to develop in the first team, and the left winger would be another excellent addition to the squad.

While he is lacking in experience at first-team level, the Portugal U19 international has proven that he is ready for the step up with his performances for the youth team this season, notching an incredible 23 goals and 15 assists in just 27 outings.

That said, the starlet is not going to reach his huge potential until he is given a consistent run in the first team, which means a move to St Mary’s is perfect for all parties, if City again choose to include a buy-back clause in his contract.

Hailed as the ‘real deal’ with a ‘seriously bright future’ by journalist Tom Young, Borges should undoubtedly be one of Southampton’s priority targets this summer.

Journalist Charles Watts was left blown away by the performance of Arsenal transfer target Declan Rice in the most recent England match.

What’s the latest on Declan Rice to Arsenal?

Earlier this week, the Three Lions travelled to Italy and came away with all three points in their Euro 2024 qualifying match in a narrow 2-1 victory.

Understandably, much of the talk post-game has been about Harry Kane, who netted the second goal of the match to become England's all-time top scorer.

However, it was West Ham United star Rice who opened the scoring, and it seemed as though he really stood out for Watts. Indeed, with the midfielder linked with a summer move to Arsenal, the journalist outlined his thoughts on the possible deal.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, he said: "He was so good in that game, especially in the first half when he absolutely ran the show in Naples. Second half, not quite so dominant and Italy played a lot better, but I still thought Declan Rice was good.

"And I was just watching that game yesterday, I was thinking he would be such a fantastic signing for Arsenal if it does happen this summer.

"It's not going to be easy, going to cost a lot of money. We've heard time and time again from West Ham in the build-up to this summer that it's going to take a British record transfer fee to sign Declan Rice.

"Now, whether that actually is the case, again, we'll have to wait and see. I'm pretty sure that we're going to try and get him for a lot cheaper than that considering he’ll only have, I think, a year left on his deal at the end of the season."

How good was Declan Rice against Italy?

To be fair, it seems Watts wasn't the only one impressed with Rice as journalist Jacob Steinberg handed the Englishman an eight out of ten in The Guardian player ratings for his efforts.

He noted: "The West Ham captain answered criticism from Graeme Souness by opening the scoring. He later produced a superb tackle to deny [Nicolo] Barella. Furious to be booked for time-wasting. Stood firm when England were under the cosh."

Souness had suggested that Rice needed to score more goals to prove himself as a top midfielder – to which Rice replied, calling the comments "harsh" before then netting against Italy.

There is a feeling that the West Ham man is particularly keen to come and play for Mikel Arteta at Arsenal as he is a big fan of the Spaniard and it's not hard to see why the Gunners are hoping to land the player, either, after he showed his talents in this most recent game.

However, a deal might not be easy as West Ham are said to want more than £100m for the player who no doubt also demand a major boost in wages compared to the current reported £60,000 he earns per week.

Eintracht Frankfurt boss Oliver Glasner is now interested in the idea of joining Tottenham Hotspur, according to reports.

Who do Spurs want to appoint as manager?

Chairman Daniel Levy and the Premier League top four hopefuls reportedly have an array of managerial targets on their radar as they eye a replacement for the departed Antonio Conte.

Conte left the club by mutual consent earlier this week but apparently gave his blessing for Cristian Stellini to remain at Spurs, where the latter man will take charge for the rest of the season alongside assistant Ryan Mason.

As the interim duo chase Champions League qualification, Levy is reportedly set to work on Conte's permanent replacement in the background. Indeed, the likes of Mauricio Pochettino, Luis Enrique, Julian Nagelsmann and even Zinedine Zidane are thought to be attracting interest from the north Londoners.

The aforementioned quartet arguably stand out as some of Tottenham's most presitigous and readily-available candidates, though left-field options like Glasner, who have also been linked, cannot be ruled out.

What's the latest on Glasner?

Now, as reported by journalist Dean Jones to GiveMeSport, it appears Spurs and Levy may have been handed a boost if they wish to appoint Glasner over their other options.

It is believed that the Lilywhites hold a particular interest in the 48-year-old and their fondness appears to be reciprocated, as Glasner would now be intereated in taking the job at Tottenham.

Jones wrote for GMS:

"Glasner is of particular interest as he has the ability to exit his current contract at Eintracht Frankfurt and is interested in the prospect of a switch."So Levy is not so much working through a shortlist of options here, but a rather long one. It may be that performance director Gretar Steinsson helps guide him through the process but, ultimately, this will come down to the chairman."

The 3-4-2-1 tactician, who deploys a similar system to that of Conte, could actually be a pretty shrewd hire by Levy given his plaudits and job at Frankfurt.

Glasner lead his side to Europa League glory last season, beating Scottish giants Rangers in the final, so would come to Spurs with real trophy-winning pedigree. The Austrian has also been heralded by Bundesliga bosses like Marco Rose for his 'aggressive' and 'intense' brand of football – something which could well excite Spurs supporters after the more pragmatic Conte era.

His employment at Tottenham doesn't appear to be ruled out just yet, so we urge supporters to keep an eye out for any Glasner updates.

Chelsea striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang could be set for more game time in the coming weeks, as he is thought of in high regard by Frank Lampard, according to journalist Simon Phillips.

Will Aubameyang leave Chelsea this summer?

Aubameyang arrived at Stamford Bridge from Barcelona last September, joining on a two-year deal, however, it appears as though his time at the club is set to be cut short, after failing to impress under Graham Potter.

The forward will "definitely" leave the Blues this summer, according to a recent update from Phillips, with Barca one of the clubs that are "pretty keen" on signing him, as manager Xavi never really wanted him to leave in the first place.

The Athletic has reported that Aston Villa could explore a move for the former Gabon international, meaning he is likely to have no shortage of offers this summer, however before then he could be set to come back into contention at Stamford Bridge.

Writing in a column for GiveMeSport, Phillips claimed that Lampard is a fan of the £160k-per-week attacker, and could give him increased game time in the latter stages of the season, with the Blues still competing for the Champions League.

The new manager is keen to give all the players at the club a fresh start, and he will not be afraid to give some more unknown players an opportunity.

Carney Chukwuemeka is also said to have caught the 44-year-old's eye since he's returned to Stamford Bridge, so it would not be a surprise to see the 19-year-old feature in the coming weeks.

Should Lampard start Aubameyang?

It seems a little unusual to start a player who is definitely set to leave at the end of the season, but Chelsea need some inspiration from somewhere, having failed to find the back of the net in their last three Premier League games.

In the 2-0 loss at home to Aston Villa, the Blues recorded 2.16 expected goals, but Mykhaylo Mudryk missed two big chances, with Kai Havertz also missing one, and they are in dire need of a more clinical goalscorer.

It has been hard for Aubameyang to put a good run together this season, making the majority of his Premier League appearances from the bench, but he has a fantastic record in front of goal throughout his career, scoring 11 in 17 La Liga games last season. He is currently rated as the second worst player at the club, according to WhoScored, which is 31st out of 32.

To stand any chance of winning the Champions League, Lampard's side need someone who can regularly convert chances, and at this stage, Lampard may as well give the 33-year-old, who Jurgen Klopp lauded as "wonderful", another opportunity to prove himself.

Derby County defender James Chester’s injury doesn’t look “overly promising”, according to manager Paul Warne.

What's the latest injury news on Chester?

The Rams defender first arrived at Pride Park when he joined on a free transfer from Stoke City in July 2022, but since that time, he’s only made seven appearances all season having been severely hampered by injuries.

The League One veteran sustained a serious calf injury back in October which kept him on the sidelines for a significant amount of time and he’s since suffered a fresh setback that’s believed to be related to his previous problem. Warne’s centre-back was forced off the pitch during the 2-0 victory over Forest Green Rovers earlier this month after complaining of tightness in his calf, the same location that he formerly had issues with, and the following update from the manager doesn’t sound positive.

Speaking during his pre-match press conference for Derby’s game vs Exeter, Warne was asked for news on Chester and specifically whether he was going to miss the remainder of the season. As quoted by Derbyshire Live, he said:

"I haven't had that confirmed to me but I do not think it looks overly promising unfortunately. I won't be saying that until somebody says that to me."

Is Chester being absent a blow for Derby?

Chester might have only played seven times for Derby but he’s been Warne’s top-performing defensive and second overall best player with a match rating of 7.30, which shows the impact he has on the pitch, so it’ll definitely be a massive blow for the boss to not have him available.

The 34-year-old was averaging 4.4 aerial wins, 3.9 clearances and 3.7 tackles per third-tier game prior to his absence, via WhoScored, highlighting the rock he can be at the heart of the backline, form which has seen him hailed a “solid” player by journalist Josh Bunting.

Whilst the £6.1k-per-week veteran has operated in his natural centre-back role for all outings in the Midlands, he does provide the boss with some versatility having played at left-back, right-back and slightly higher up in defensive midfield since the start of his career.

The Rams find themselves just one point outside the play-off places coming into tonight’s game and Chester returning to the side would only increase their chances of pushing for promotion, but whether he will be in action again before the end of the season remains to be seen.

Manchester United return to Premier League action away to top-four rivals Tottenham Hotspur later today, with the Red Devils having come out on top in each of the last four meetings with the north London outfit.

Seeking to make it five in a row this evening against a side that only recently parted company with interim boss, Cristian Stellini, the Old Trafford outfit have been dealt something of a blow amid the concern surrounding influential midfielder, Bruno Fernandes.

As manager Erik ten Hag revealed in his pre-match press conference on Wednesday, the 28-year-old is a doubt for the trip to the capital, having been withdrawn early on in extra time at the weekend after sustaining an ankle injury.

The sight of the Portugal international heading off in Sunday's FA Cup semi-final triumph over Brighton and Hove Albion undoubtedly sparked fears among supporters, as too did the images of the former Sporting CP ace wearing a protective boot earlier this week.

While there is still seemingly a chance that the £240k-per-week ace will feature this evening, if the midfield maestro is not fit for selection then it will pose a selection headache for Ten Hag in that creative berth.

That being said, one man who could well help to fill Fernandes' void is January arrival, Marcel Sabitzer, with the Austrian machine having previously made the difference against the Lilywhites during his time in Germany.

Who will replace Fernandes against Spurs?

The Bayern Munich loanee did rather unsuccessfully fill in for Fernandes in the second-leg humiliation away to Sevilla last week, although prior to that the 29-year-old had enjoyed a rich vein of form, bagging twice in an advanced role in the first-leg clash at the Theatre of Dreams.

The dynamic gem also 'thrived' in that role in the win over Everton earlier this month, as per Manchester Evening News journalist Samuel Luckhurst, while also contributing an assist for Marcus Rashford in the victory against Brentford.

Clearly capable of making an impact in the final third, the £13m-rated ace also offers the benefit of having been a match-winner against Spurs in the recent past, helping former club RB Leipzig to a 3-0 win in the Champions League last-16 back in 2020.

That one-sided, second-leg meeting with Jose Mourinho's side saw the 5 foot 10 menace score twice in the opening 21 minutes to take the tie away from the Premier League outfit, firing the hosts ahead in Saxony with a long-range effort that squirmed through the gloves of Hugo Lloris.

The one-time Rapid Wien ace then doubled his tally soon after having yet again got the better of the World Cup-winning 'keeper, producing a bullet, near-post header that proved "too much" for the experienced Frenchman in the sticks, as per football.london's Alasdair Gold.

While there are concerns surrounding Lloris' fitness ahead of tonight, Sabitzer could inflict even more misery on the struggling dud – who shipped five in the first half at the weekend away to Newcastle United – and his teammates by lining up from the start later today.

The possible loss of Fernandes would be an undoubted blow, yet the loan signing could represent something of a secret weapon for Ten Hag.