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Chelsea are preparing a staggering £100m offer to bring Napoli striker Victor Osimhen to the Premier League, according to reports.

Is Victor Osimhen linked with Chelsea?

Blues striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang could reportedly see his contract terminated after recently returning to Barcelona to support his former teammates and reports claim the Napoli star has been identified as an ideal replacement. The Nigeria international’s contract in the Serie A isn’t set to expire until 2025, but being Luciano Spalletti’s top-performing offensive player, has caught the eye of Graham Potter.

Sky Sports reporter Florian Plettenberg has confirmed that the SW6 outfit are firmly in the race for his signature alongside Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain. Fabrizio Romano has since given the boss a further huge boost after claiming that it’s the forward’s dream to one day complete a move to the English top-flight.

Now, according to Football Insider, Chelsea are even “prepared” to put £100m on the table to try and sign Osimhen, who is their “top priority” target later in the summer. Napoli value their talisman at this exact price and are set to “hold out” for a nine-figure bid to even consider sanctioning a sale.

The Blues know that negotiations will become “harder” should they fail to secure a place in the top four but they are hoping that a flex of their “financial muscle” will give them a good chance. Potter is “keen” to add more attacking depth and goals to his ranks and would like an out-and-out centre-forward to be bought.

Should Chelsea splash the cash on Osimhen?

Osimhen’s price tag is no doubt a lot more than Chelsea would have liked but we feel they should be 100 per cent willing to empty their pockets to secure his services ahead of their fellow competitors this summer.

The 6 foot 1 star has posted a remarkable 30 goal contributions in 29 appearances across all competitions this season, including 21 goals in 23 Serie A outings, as per Transfermarkt, whilst ranking in the 99th percentile for shots per game against all strikers in Europe's top leagues. The Lagos native is also a useful option to have in the building even if he doesn't play as a number nine week in week out, having previously operated out wide on both the left and right flanks alongside as a second striker.

Napoli’s forward has received plenty of silverware throughout his career but has seen his personal performances rewarded being the recipient of the Serie A’s Best Young Player and the African Cup of Nations top goalscorer awards. Finally, Osimhen has been dubbed a “machine” by journalist Mina Rzouki, making him the perfect physically imposing force to put pen to paper at Stamford Bridge and lead the line for years to come.

Leeds United take on Nottingham Forest this evening in a game which could be huge for both sides in their ongoing battle against relegation.

Defeat against Arsenal at the Emirates last time out saw the Yorkshire outfit slip back into the relegation places but a win could lift them as high as 13th tonight if results go their way, which emphasises just how tight it is in the bottom half of the Premier League table.

A 1-0 reverse in the fixture at the City Ground proved to be the end for Jesse Marsch but the Whites have looked like a more solid outfit under Javi Gracia and have earned vital recent wins against Southampton and Wolverhampton Wanderers.

However, they will have to be more stable at the back than they were against Arsenal last weekend if they want to keep Steve Cooper's side out at Elland Road tonight.

How should Leeds line up against Nottingham Forest?

Here is how Football FanCast expects Gracia to line his side up against Forest, with three changes from the team that started the 4-1 defeat at the Emirates.

(4-3-3) Meslier (GK); Kristensen (RB), Koch (CB), Cooper (CB), Struijk (LB); McKennie (CM), Roca (CM), Aaronson (CM); Harrison (LW), Summerville (RW), Rodrigo (ST).

Although he shipped another four goals against the league leaders, it would be a surprise to see anyone other than Illan Meslier in between the sticks come 7:45pm at Elland Road.

After another goal at the weekend, Rasmus Kristensen should revert to his natural right-back position with Luke Ayling dropping out after a calamitous performance in north London where he gave away a penalty.

Meanwhile, captain Liam Cooper could also return to the side after a spell on the sidelines, as he partners Robin Koch in the middle.

This allows Pascal Struijk to move to left-back to make Leeds a more solid defensive outfit, with Junior Firpo the man to miss out. The Spaniard has proven himself to be a defensive "liability" – as per the Mirror's David Anderson – on too many occasions for the Yorkshire outfit, with no player dribbled past more per game in Gracia's squad so far this campaign.

In the absence of Tyler Adams, Gracia could restore £40k-per-week maestro Weston McKennie to his starting side on Tuesday night, in the hope that the American "conqueror" – in the words of Alexi Lalas – can add some steel alongside Marc Roca and his more creative compatriot, Brenden Aaronson.

Finally, Jack Harrison and Crysencio Summerville get the nod to start on the wings, with Luis Sinisterra benched to make room for top scorer Rodrigo, who surely has to start in a match of this importance.

Journalist Dean Jones has been left 'surprised' by rumoured Arsenal talks to sign Leicester City star Youri Tielemans, sharing his own update.

What's the latest on Tielemans to Arsenal?

The midfielder has been repeatedly linked with a move to north London this summer as his Foxes contract ticks down to expiry this summer. Indeed, there have been claims of Arsenal negotiations with Tielemans' representatives recently from a variety of different sources.

Both TEAMtalk and Football Insider reported last week that the Gunners have held discussions with the agents of Tielemans, coming after he was a real transfer target for Arsenal last summer. Ben Jacobs even stated at the time that he would love to join them with links re-emerging this year.

Tielemans has been tipped as a summer target amid sporting director Edu's alleged search for midfield options. The likes of Declan Rice and Moises Caicedo, to name a few, are also apparently in Arsenal's thinking for the 2023/24 season.

The 25-year-old will be available on a Bosman deal at the end of this season as things stand, potentially motivating the Gunners to reignite their interest according to recent reports.

However, speaking to GiveMeSport, reporter Jones has offered quite a different update of his own contrary to the aforementioned claims of talks being held.

He says that Arsenal hold a long-standing interest in Tielemans, calling it 'common knowledge', but also explains there is now 'desire' to move beyond the Leicester dynamo.

Jones explained:

"I have been surprised to see reports of talks being opened around this because as far as I'm aware, any talks with Tielemans aren't that recent.

"Arsenal do have a long-term interest in him, they obviously know about his availability, that's common knowledge.

"But, there has also been a desire to move beyond him now because of the way the team has progressed so fast."

Should Arsenal move on from Tielemans?

The former Monaco star hit double figures for goal contributions in both the 2020/21 and 2021/22 Premier League campaigns (WhoScored).

However, Tielemans hasn't been able to hit those same heights this year, scoring just three goals and assisting one other in the top flight.

He does still stand out as one of Leicester's best-performing players by average match rating, though, with the international's status as a soon-to-be free agent coming as an attractive incentive for clubs to move.

There are both pros and cons to this potential swoop from an Arsenal perspective as Tielemans' debatable drop in form could deter Edu and co. Yet, his availability without a transfer fee could also be quite enticing.

It will be interesting to see if Arsenal do end up considering a move after being so heavily linked last year, but going by Jones' update, their interest isn't quite as intense as previously suggested.

Aston Villa's transfer business in the Championship was often erratic and rarely successful, but the signing of Ross McCormack will surely go down in history as one of the club's worst.

Why did Aston Villa sign McCormack?

With Villa desperate to escape the second tier, the signing of McCormack looked to be a sensible one, given his impressive form in spells at Leeds United and Fulham previously.

The Scottish striker had crashed in 21 goals and ten assists in the 2015/16 Championship campaign for Fulham and boasted a superb return of 58 goals and 31 assists in 157 appearances for Leeds.

The Villans had been relegated from the Premier League that season and were keen for an immediate return to the top flight, so were more than willing to spend £12m on the 29-year-old, which saw him become the joint second-most expensive player in the club's history at the time.

How did McCormack perform during his time at Villa?

Unfortunately for the Midlands club, that investment would prove to be a disastrous one, as he mustered just three goals and one assist in 24 appearances for the club, before he was eventually released by the club in 2019 following loan spells at Nottingham Forest, Central Coast Mariners, Melbourne City FC and Motherwell.

McCormack will be remembered by Villa fans not for his performances on the pitch, but for his shocking attitude off it, which was perhaps the main factor behind his demise in English football.

The former Scotland international famously missed training under Steve Bruce due to an incident with the gate at his house, with the experienced manager not holding back in his criticism of McCormack.

He said: “In my opinion, he is not fit enough to play, and he will not play unless his attitude towards training and missing training improves. If that improves then I will reconsider him but if he continues to miss training, as he has done, that will be the situation."

Simon Jordan, who is a regular pundit on talkSPORT, was also less than complimentary of the striker during his time at Villa Park, dubbing him a "lazy slob."

Where is Ross McCormack now?

Villa fans may not be surprised to hear that, at the age of 36, McCormack's time in professional football looks to be well and truly over.

Other than his time at Melbourne City, which returned 14 goals in just 17 appearances, all of his loan spells away from Villa were something of a disaster, so it was not a surprise when few sides were willing to take a chance on him upon his release in 2019.

He did have an extremely brief spell at Aldershot but mustered just 28 minutes of National League action, despite signing a one-year contract with the non-league side.

He hasn't played professionally since departing The Shots and many will look towards his failed time in the Midlands as the beginning of the end for McCormack, in what must surely be considered a transfer shocker by the Villa Park outfit.

Leeds United find themselves in crisis mode following yet another defeat, this time at the hands of Fulham, and their Premier League status looks far from certain.

With six games to go until the end of the season, Javi Gracia's side find themselves 16th in the league, but just one point clear of the drop zone.

Their last three games have seen them lose 5-1, 6-1 and 2-1, and they have won just one of their last five games.

They now have six games left to save their season. Here's how we think they'll get on…

Leeds fixtures 25 April: Leicester (h) 30 April: Bournemouth (a) 6 May: Man City (a) 13 May: Newcastle (h) 21 May: West Ham (a) 28 May: Tottenham (h) Leeds vs Leicester

Leeds are just one point ahead of the visitors in what will be a huge game in the relegation battle.

Leicester's victory over Wolves may see them begin to return to some form under new interim manager Dean Smith, whilst Gracia's bright start at Leeds has turned sour very quickly.

Given the difficulty of the other fixtures left, Leeds simply have to win this match at Elland Road, and there is no room for error. The precarious position they find themselves in could either see the team ignite a spark to recover some form, or continue to implode.

With nerves from both sides expected on the night, the fans at Elland Road may just be the 12th man that pushes Leeds to secure all three points.

Prediction: Leeds 2-1 Leicester.

Bournemouth vs Leeds

Another six pointer towards the bottom of the table awaits, but some recent good results for Bournemouth has seen them go four points clear of Leeds.

However, a 4-0 home defeat at the hands of West Ham may have knocked their confidence, and Leeds will hope to capitalise. Although it may prove to be a tough game on the road, this is one of the more winnable fixtures Leeds have left, and they cannot afford to lose.

Prediction: Bournemouth 1-1 Leeds

Man City vs Leeds

Pep Guardiola's side have looked particularly strong in recent weeks, and as they are still competing for the title with Arsenal at the top of the table, they will have their foot firmly on the pedal.

Boyhood Leeds fan Erling Haaland has torn even the best defences to shreds, and given Leeds' troubles at the back, this could prove to be an ugly result at the Etihad stadium.

Man City have recently heavily beaten the likes of Liverpool and Bayern Munich, and it seems unlikely that Leeds will be able to halt their march towards a potential treble.

Their participation in the Champions League semi-finals may be of some benefit to Leeds if it means City rest some big name stars, but given the strength of their squad, this may be of minimal use as the Whites travel to face the side which beat them 3-1 at Elland Road in December.

Prediction: Man City 4-0 Leeds

Leeds vs Newcastle

With Newcastle flying high and competing for a place in the Champions League, they will still have plenty to play for as they travel to Elland Road, and with Alexander Isak in good goalscoring form, another tough day awaits Leeds.

Newcastle did lose their last away game 3-0 at Aston Villa, but a 6-1 demolition of Spurs in their next game has reminded everyone of what they're capable of.

Leeds did manage to snatch a point at St James' Park with a 0-0 draw in December, but their current defensive issues means a clean sheet looks unlikely.

Prediction: Leeds 0-2 Newcastle

West Ham vs Leeds

West Ham's recent upturn in form has seen them rescue a point against Arsenal before inflicting a heavy defeat on Bournemouth, and are now five points ahead of Leeds.

Their participation in the Europa Conference League could see them rest players for the Leeds game, which may provide hope that Gracia's side can snatch at least a point from the game.

The reverse fixture saw the sides draw 2-2 in an entertaining encounter, and Leeds may be grateful if they come away with a similar result given their form.

Prediction: West Ham 1-1 Leeds

Tottenham vs Leeds

The final day of the season sees Leeds travel to Tottenham, who are in a crisis themselves.

Although Spurs are still in the hunt for European qualification, it remains to be seen whether they will still have anything to play for on the final day, as a 6-1 humiliation at Newcastle has left their ability to finish in the top four in jeopardy.

Given that Leeds could still potentially be fighting for survival, there may be no room to even draw, and they will have to attack.

The chaos of the 4-3 loss at Elland Road earlier this season could be repeated, and Leeds may find themselves in real danger heading into the game.

Prediction: Tottenham 2-2 Leeds

Predicted run-in points: 6/18

Predicted total points: 35

Chelsea return to Premier League action on Wednesday night, as Frank Lampard looks to ensure that the Blues don't make it five defeats from five under his tenure.

The west London outfit were treated to a weekend off due to Manchester United's involvement in the FA Cup final, although last week's 2-0 defeat at the hands of Real Madrid will still be fresh in Lampard's thinking ahead of this evening's game against Brentford.

If the former Everton boss wants to turn his fortunes around at Stamford Bridge, he must consider dropping Marc Cucurella, as the Spaniard has been a liability at the back since joining from Brighton last summer.

Should Chelsea drop Cucurella vs Brentford?

Lampard was forced to select the former Getafe man in the game against Real Madrid following Ben Chilwell's suspension, but now that the England international is available for selection, he should surely get the nod to start on the left side of Chelsea's defence.

Cucurella, who earns £175k-per-week, showed in both games against Madrid that he cannot be considered a reliable defender, as he was caught out of position for Chilwell's red card at the Santiago Bernabeu before he left Trevoh Chalobah completely exposed against Rodrygo at Stamford Bridge.

Jamie O'Hara, who works as a pundit on talkSPORT, labelled the 24-year-old a "disgrace" after his performance in Madrid, while BBC Sport contributor Raj Chohan also criticised him for his performance in the return leg.

He said: "Cucurella’s aggression is such an issue. Always mistiming his jumps out of the back 3. And doesn’t have the recovery pace to get back into position when it gets played around him. Leaves the gap for Rodrygo to run into there. Shocking."

Chelsea spent £63m to bring the Spanish defender to Stamford Bridge, but he has definitely not justified his price tag thus far, averaging a disappointing 6.65 rating from WhoScored which ranks him as the joint 14th-best performer in Lampard's squad.

Despite often featuring as a centre-back as well as a left-back, the summer signing fails to rank in the top six Chelsea players for interceptions or clearances per game, while he is the second-most dribbled past player at Stamford Bridge, which emphasises why he has established himself as a defensive liability.

Brentford may be struggling for form at the moment, but they are still ahead of Chelsea in the table and will cause real problems with the dangerous attacking duo of Ivan Toney and Bryan Mbuemo at Stamford Bridge, so Lampard must ensure that his best defenders are on the pitch tonight.

Therefore, Cucurella must be dropped to the bench, with Chilwell returning to the starting side after his recent suspension in the Champions League.

Arsenal boast a fluid team capable of shifting into numerous shapes under Mikel Arteta.

It has been one of the crowning jewels of the Spaniard's short reign, that he has crafted a team full of top-quality talents who can play across various positions within his flawless system.

Few personify this more than Bukayo Saka, who has starred all across the front line, and yet at times has been deployed as a wingback for his national team.

It is a testament not just to his ability and versatility, but the desperation managers often have to ensure that the 21-year-old remains in their starting XI no matter the role.

Arsenal transfer news – Is Raphinha back on Arteta's radar?

These interchangeable qualities could be put into action next season, should the rumours suggesting the Gunners' interest in Raphinha prove to be true.

As one of the reported suitors of the Brazilian, Barcelona are seeking a fee of around £60m as they look to afford themselves enough room to potentially facilitate Lionel Messi's return.

As another left-footed right winger, fitting both of these exciting wingers into one system could prove devastating during the new campaign, in which Arteta will want to take that next step and claim the Premier League title.

Can Arsenal play both Bukayo Saka and Raphinha in the same side?

Despite a slow start to life in Spain, the 26-year-old has since become ever-present for Xavi's side who are currently leading LaLiga. With ten goals and 11 assists in all competitions, the wide man has even managed to surpass his impressive tally of 14 goal contributions from the season prior with Leeds United.

This experience in English football makes the deal an even more attractive proposition, as the trickster has proven his quality on a physically demanding stage. He will require no embedding period and likely would see those goalscoring figures rise further when surrounded by others at an elevated level.

His former teammate Dan James had suggested that Raphinha's talents were above that of the rest of the Whites' squad, as he claimed: "He’s a magician. He’s always been a great player."

The Brazilian contingency already in north London could sway this move too, with Gabriel Jesus and Gabriel Martinelli sure to encourage him to complete a Seleção front three.

Although Saka has 13 goals and 11 assists in the league this season from the right flank, his technical brilliance gives credence to the suggestion that he could easily thrive as an attacking asset as a no.10 or even another option on the left instead.

With him and Martin Odegaard creating from slightly deeper, almost akin to Bernardo Silva's role at Manchester City, this additional firepower could prove to be the key factor in pushing them ever closer to that elusive silverware next season.

Newcastle United are considering a summer transfer bid for Juventus striker Dusan Vlahovic, who would likely garner a mouth-watering fee.

What's the latest on Dusan Vlahovic to Newcastle?

Switching Florence for Turin in January 2022, Vlahovic completed his £66.6m move to the Old Lady with a weight of expectation and has been of interest to some of Europe's most prominent outfits after an emphatic start to life in the Serie A.

Eddie Howe's Magpies are 'mulling' over a swoop, and according to 90min, might look to take advantage of the player's desire to move to the Premier League.

Previous reports have touted the Serbian sharpshooter as high as £96m, which could well deter all but the select few of football's most opulent sides from making a move.

Should Newcastle sign Dusan Vlahovic?

When Vlahovic signed for Juventus, he was one of the most touted and prolific young strikers in European football, but he has not quite reached the desired heights thus far in Turin.

And while the 23-year-old is still a top talent, given the exorbitant fees that have been thrown around and the striker's indifferent form in front of goal over the past few seasons, parting with a fee nearing £100m would be simply ludicrous for Howe and co, despite PIF's limitless wealth.

After scoring 29 goals and supplying six assists last year, having joined Juventus from Fiorentina at the midpoint, the ace boasts only 13 strikes and four assists from 38 matches this term, though he has started just 31 times.

As per FBref, Vlahovic ranks only among the top 42% of strikers across Europe's big five leagues for rate of non-penalty goals per 90, with his expected goals (xG) metric also illustrating his profligacy in front of goal, ranking among the top 30% of positional peers for non-penalty xG per 90.

A further stumbling block lies in the ace's wages, with Vlahovic reportedly taking home £220k-per-week. For reference, the Toon's £63m club-record signing Alexander Isak, who has scored ten goals and served two assists from just 14 matches and ranks among the top 8% of positional peers for rate of non-penalty goals, boasts only £120k-per-week.

Hailed as a "monster" by journalist Carlo Garganese, Vlahovic boasts a skill set worthy of leading the line for many outfits chasing silver-laden success, but with the Magpies on the rise and requiring a meticulous approach on the transfer front to cement their newfound stature at the forefront of English football, signing the Old Lady frontman for such a high fee would not be an auspicious move.

With the summer transfer window fast approaching, speculation is now mounting as to just who will be arriving at Manchester United ahead of next season, with manager Erik ten Hag no doubt hoping to kick on from what has been an encouraging, albeit far from perfect debut campaign at the helm.

While Saturday's win over Wolverhampton Wanderers has got the club's top-four bid back on track – with the Carabao Cup winners also having the chance of gaining further silverware in the FA Cup final next month – the current campaign has not been without its notable lows, including suffering hefty defeats away to the likes of Brentford, Manchester City and Liverpool.

Those shambolic drubbings have showcased that there is still plenty of work for United to do to improve defensively, despite the fact that long-serving goalkeeper David De Gea currently ranks first in the Premier League for clean sheets (16).

In order to address that problem, speculation is rife that club captain Harry Maguire will be among those to leave Old Trafford at the end of the season, with the Englishman's potential departure opening the door for a possible new recruit in the backline.

According to a recent report from journalist Santi Aouna, the Red Devils may have already found a replacement for the 30-year-old in the form of RB Leipzig's Mohamed Simakan, with the transfer insider stating that the club – as well as rivals Arsenal – have "enquired" about the signing of the promising Frenchman.

Would Simakan be a good signing for Man United?

The obvious benefit of signing the 23-year-old would be his ability to feature in both a centre-back role and at right-back if required, with such flexibility having seen the "complete" defender likened to a "young Lilian Thuram" by talent scout Jacek Kulig.

That comparison to his legendary compatriot – who was memorably part of Les Blues' World Cup-winning side in 1998 and is second to only Hugo Lloris for caps for his country – is an indication of just what a huge talent Simakan has, having shone in Germany in recent times.

The £26m-rated powerhouse has racked up 76 appearances across all fronts for the Bundesliga side since his arrival from Strasbourg in 2021, notably scoring three goals and providing eight assists in 35 games in all competitions so far this season.

Not just a greater attacking threat than Maguire – who has no goals and assists this season – the Marseille-born ace also appears to offer a greater ability at playing out from the back as he ranks in the top 6% among his European peers for progressive passes, as well as in the top 2% for progressive carries.

Maguire, by contrast, ranks in just the top 42% and the top 16% for those same two metrics, respectively, with the United man having been restricted to just seven top-flight starts after falling down the pecking order under Ten Hag.

It is also Simakan who appears to offer a greater ball-winning presence having averaged 1.67 tackles per 90 across the last 365 days, as per FBref, while the former Leicester City man has averaged just 1.03 in that regard.

As such, turning to the Leipzig sensation could well represent the Maguire upgrade that Ten Hag will be craving, helping to apply greater pressure on his fellow Frenchman, Raphael Varane over the coming years.

Glasgow Rangers defender Connor Goldson is facing up to ten weeks on the sidelines with a foot injury, according to Michael Beale.

What's the latest injury news on Goldson?

The Scottish Premiership outfit secured a 3-1 victory over Hibernian on Sunday but had to play the game without the services of the 30-year-old who was completely missing from the matchday squad due to a problem picked up in the closing stages of his side’s previous encounter in the Old Firm derby.

During the 3-0 win against Celtic almost a fortnight ago, the centre-back was able to carry out the full 90 minutes but was reportedly playing through injury towards the end of the fixture, and having since seeked medical advice, it’s not good news coming out of Ibrox.

Speaking during his post-match interview following the three points over Hibernian at the weekend, Beale confirmed that Goldson is facing a lengthy spell on the sidelines after sustaining a serious foot injury. As quoted by Rangers Review, he said:

“He will be out for about 10 weeks. He had a funny land on his foot with a couple of minutes to go last week and wanted to play on. After we’ve had it scanned and seen a specialist. He will probably be six weeks to stay off it and then a four/five-week rehab back into next season. All going well, he’ll be available for the first game of next season, albeit he might have a slightly modified pre-season compared to others. This season seems to be the worst ever with injuries for the club, certainly in my time associated. Let’s hope that’s out the way and next season we get a clean bill of health.”

Will Goldson's absence be a blow for Rangers?

According to Sky Sports producer Andrew Dickson, Goldson is a “rock” at the heart of the Rangers backline and it will definitely be a massive setback for Beale not to have him available for the final few matches of the 2022/23 season.

The 6 foot 2 colossus, who currently earns £37k-per-week, was averaging three clearances and 2.6 aerial wins per league game prior to his absence, alongside recording an 89.2% pass success rate, via WhoScored, so he is clearly a huge physical presence in the centre of the defence, but he’s also a threat at the opposite end of the pitch having posted three goals and the same number of assists across all competitions since the start of the term.

Finally, Goldson is a wonderfully versatile option for the manager to have at his disposal with his ability to operate at left-back and right-back alongside his natural centre-back position, so the only positive to take from this injury update is that there’s a good chance he’ll be back out on the grass and ready to go again for the first game of the new campaign in August.