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Chelsea are eyeing a move for Barcelona midfielder Gavi this summer, with manager-elect Mauricio Pochettino driving the deal, according to reports from Spain.

What's the latest Chelsea transfer news?

With the Blues now seemingly poised to appoint Pochettino as their new manager, they have now started to look at potential summer signings, recently being linked with a move for Bayern Munich winger Sadio Mane.

Another wide option is Paris Saint-Germain superstar Neymar, with Chelsea said to be interested in signing the Brazilian, and he is willing to leave the Parc des Princes this summer.

Attacking options appear to be the main priority for Todd Boehly, also being strongly linked with Brentford's Ivan Toney, however Pochettino has made it clear he wants to strengthen in a number of areas, including midfield.

According to reports from Spain (via Sport Witness), the former Tottenham Hotspur boss is the strongest candidate to take over at Stamford Bridge, with Graham Potter's successor set to be named in the next few days.

The Argentine is said to have "very clear" plans to rebuild the Chelsea squad, and wants to start by bringing in Gavi, who he "really likes", although it will not be easy to orchestrate a transfer.

The 18-year-old has no intention of leaving Barca, despite the fact he is currently on a youth contract, with his proposed contract renewal being rejected by La Liga due to the club's financial issues.

Would Gavi be a good signing for Chelsea?

If the Blues are able to convince the midfielder about a move, then he could be a very exciting signing, given that he has already emerged as a vital first-team player for Barca, despite his age, making 45 appearances in all competitions so far this season.

Hailed as "sensational" by journalist Josh Bunting, the maestro is also versatile enough to play on the wing, having featured on the left side 13 times this season, weighing in with two goals and three assists when played in that position.

Teammate Sergio Busquets has raved about the starlet, telling Movistar TV (via The Athletic): “He is at an incredible level, goals, assists, he has a brilliant future, but still many things he can improve."

That said, even though the £124k-per-week youngster undoubtedly has a great deal of potential, Chelsea already have the likes of Enzo Fernandez, Mason Mount and N'Golo Kante to choose from at central midfield.

Given that the Blues are among the lowest-scorers in the Premier League, a new striker must remain the priority, and it would not be the end of the world if they missed out on Gavi.

Chelsea have been named as a possible destination for Juventus midfielder Adrien Rabiot in the upcoming transfer window.

What’s the latest on Adrien Rabiot to Chelsea?

According to CaughtOffside, the Blues have been linked with the Frenchman as they begin their summer rebuild.

The 28-year-old is set to become a free agent at the end of the current campaign, and as per the report, a move to Stamford Bridge "could potentially happen".

The article also names Manu Kone and Khephren Thuram as other options, but for a club that has spent £585.5m in two windows and has Financial Fair Play regulations breathing down their necks, a move for either of these lucrative targets may be out of even Todd Boehly’s reach.

Therefore, Rabiot has been described as the most “realistic” and “more likely” to join the west London outfit.

Would Adrien Rabiot be a good signing for Chelsea?

The former Paris Saint-Germain ace is arguably enjoying the most productive and impressive season of his career so far.

The 36-cap international has registered 15 goal contributions in 43 appearances in all competitions this term and has been an imperative figure for a Juventus side that is currently second in Serie A and tussling with Sevilla in the Europa League semi-finals.

He also started five of France’s seven World Cup fixtures as his nation painfully lost on penalties to Argentina in the final.

During the tournament, Liverpool defender Ibrahima Konate praised his teammate's influence and said: “Talk to everyone. He is a key player in this competition. Adrien takes us a lot, in defence and attack.”

Konate’s comments about his attacking and defensive qualities are showcased by Rabiot’s excellent statistics.

The titan ranks in the top 2% in Europe’s top five leagues among his positional peers over the past year for non-penalty goals per 90, as well as the highest 19% for progressive carries per 90, according to FBref.

The £152k-per-week man has also acted as a formidable protector for the backline and massively outperforms current Chelsea midfielder Mateo Kovacic in these categories.

Rabiot has recorded 1.47 blocks, 1.54 clearances, and 1.6 aerials won per 90, whilst the Croatian has only averaged 0.68, 0.72, and 0.44 for the same metrics respectively.

Considering this and the Juventus star’s far superior potency in front of goal – scoring ten more goals this season than his midfield counterpart – he represents a far more accomplished and reliable option.

Gianluigi Buffon has also showered him in praise and said: "Rabiot is incredible, very strong. He has the physical strength of [Paul] Pogba – he is a proper wardrobe. He has [Arturo] Vidal's personality in the game and potentially [Claudio] Marchisio's dynamism and ability to integrate."

Furthermore, Kovacic is reportedly nearing his Chelsea departure to set up a clear pathway for the well-rounded and boundlessly talented Rabiot to begin his career in English football.

Celtic striker Kyogo Furuhashi was recently honoured with the PFA Scotland Men's Player of the Year award after another stunning campaign in the Scottish Premiership under Ange Postecoglou.

The Hoops plundered 25 goals and two assists in 30 starts in the top-flight with that coming after the attacker struck 12 times in 16 starts in the previous season.

The Japanese talent has proven himself to be a prolific scorer in Scotland and is a player who the manager can rely on at the top end of the pitch over the course of a campaign.

However, having variety in a squad can be important as it provides the opposition with different threats and allows the team to switch up their tactics and style if needed in games where a change is required.

The Hoops were recently linked with a possible swoop for centre-forward Eduvie Ikoba from Hungarian outfit Zalaegerszeg and he could be a dream alternative to Kyogo in the number nine position.

Who is Eduvie Ikoba?

The 25-year-old is an American striker who has been in fine form in front of goal this season since his move to Hungary from AS Trencin last summer.

He is a 6 foot 3 attacker, who Yanks Abroad hailed as "prolific", his physical presence could offer Celtic a different dynamic at the top end of the pitch.

Kyogo stands at 5 foot 7 and offers almost no aerial quality to the Hoops. The Japan international lost 87% of his contests in the air in 2022/23 and won 0.1 per game in the Premiership, which shows that the 28-year-old gets bullied in aerial duels.

Ikoba, meanwhile, could provide more of an outlet for his teammates when they play longer. His height could allow him to win flick-ons or hold the ball up to bring others into play, rather than Kyogo being dominated and potentially losing the ball to the opposition from longer passes.

Therefore, the American marksman could be a useful alternative to the Japanese star, particularly in European matches when Celtic are not expected to dominate the ball and may need more of a physical presence to retain possession.

The Zalaegerszeg ace, who writer Caleb Turner dubbed "fascinating", has also scored 11 goals in 21 league starts this season, suggesting that the potential is there for him to also be a reliable goalscorer, although it remains to be seen whether he can translate that form over to Scotland.

As an alternative option to Kyogo, who may only come off the bench and start the occasional game, this could be a worthwhile gamble for Postecoglou to make this summer.

Wolverhampton Wanderers have one game remaining of the Premier League season, and are reportedly looking ahead to the summer transfer window.

The Midlands side have endured a rollercoaster of a campaign, going from the lows of Bruno Lage’s final moments in his reign, to Julen Lopetegui’s impressive turnaround of fortunes at Molineux.

The Spaniard has made significant improvements since his arrival in November, however, the issue of goal-scoring has not been something the former Real Madrid boss has been able to relieve since joining mid-season.

With the transfer window presenting Lopetegui with the chance to make his own amendments to the squad, a number of forwards have been linked already with a move to Molineux, with one La Liga starlet part of an ongoing saga.

What’s the latest on Ansu Fati to Wolves?

As reported earlier this month by Spanish news outlet Sport (via Sport Witness), Wolves hold an interest in Barcelona forward Ansu Fati, in what could be a potential €30m (£26m) swap deal including Ruben Neves.

Earlier this week, it was revealed by The Athletic, that the 20-year-old has been mentioned as a “possible player” to make the switch to Molineux so Neves could depart to Catalonia.

The deal simmers down to whether the Portuguese ace goes to Barcelona, and importantly if Fati accepts a move to Molineux, with the player’s father insistent that he wants his son to move on – as per Spanish radio outlet COPE.

What could Ansu Fati bring to Wolves?

Once described as potentially being Barcelona’s heir to Lionel Messi, the 20-year-old was the club’s next big thing when he made his debut at 16 years old against Real Betis in 2019.

Hailed by Xavi as “extraordinary”, the forward has limitless potential in the game, however, has been deprived of game time at Camp Nou due to injury and competition within the squad.

The £199k-per-week youngster could be a star man under Lopetegui, who favours playing a system with traditional wingers playing to the touchline and imposing a 1v1 threat.

Likened by FBref to Arsenal hero Gabriel Martinelli, the Bissau-born ace could be the Spanaird’s answer to the young Brazilian in the Premier League, as communicated by his statistics.

The Gunners’ forward has started 34 of his 36 appearances in the league this season, with Ansu Fati making just 11 starts in 34 in La Liga, explanatory to the difference in goals scored, with Martinelli netting a phenomenal 15 goals this term to the latter's seven.

However, over an average of 90 minutes in the past year, the two are extremely similar in their effectiveness in game plan, both being go-to men in the box due to their abilities on the ball.

As per FBref, the Brazilian averages 6.99 touches in the attacking penalty area per 90, putting him in the top 3% of Europe’s top five leagues in his position, with Fati ranging in the top 2%, with 7.73 per 90.

Similar statistics that showcase their attributes in being direct and dangerous on the wing is the number of progressive passes received, highlighting their advanced positioning to cause havoc.

FBref shows that Martinelli receives an average of 11.29 progressive passes per 90, with the Barcelona youngster scoring marginally less in that area with 10.54.

The two forwards are comparatively prolific from wide areas, telling of the magnitude of the Spaniard’s talent relating to an established Premier League star.

In Lopetegui’s system, the 20-year-old could blossom into a real threat, though in being part of a complicated deal, only time will tell if he will reside at Molineux next season.

Glasgow Rangers are closing in on their second signing of the summer, with Dujon Sterling set to be announced shortly as Michael Beale looks to get a head start on his transfer business.

What’s the latest on Dujon Sterling to Rangers?

According to one Football Insider correspondent, Rangers “are set to announce” defender Dujon Sterling as their second summer signing, with the Chelsea product the "next to join at Ibrox" on a pre-contract deal.

Beale previously worked with the youngster during his time as youth coach at the Blues and the right-back spent the whole of the 2022/23 season on loan at Championship side Stoke City.

He will follow Kieran Dowell, who signed a pre-contract agreement to join the Ibrox side from Norwich City just last week, and it appears as though the 42-year-old is trying to do the majority of his transfer business early.

Will Dujon Sterling be a good signing for Rangers?

James Tavernier looks as though he still has a few years left in the tank having ended the campaign as joint top scorer along with Antonio Colak for the Light Blues, having netted 18 goals across all competitions, adding in ten assists.

Adam Devine has been given his chance to shine on occasions this term, featuring six times in the Premiership while offering attacking qualities similar to Tavernier as he has created two big chances, averaged one key pass per game and succeeded with 100% of his dribble attempts, indicating he could potentially have a future as the long term heir to the 31-year-old.

Sterling may disrupt those plans, however, with Beale obviously looking for more strength in depth in that area and the Englishman could stake a claim as a solid backup option to the captain.

Defensively, Sterling has the edge over the Scotsman as he has won more duels per game (4.5 to 1.8), made more tackles (1.7 to 0.7) per match and made more interceptions (1.3 to 0.2) per outing, albeit having played more matches than the Rangers starlet.

This shows that although Devine does offer a solid attacking threat, 6 foot 1 Sterling would provide greater defensive stability and could be a more viable option heading into the future than the 20-year-old.

Stoke manager Alex Neil even lauded the defender earlier this season for his defensive abilities, saying: "Dujon, for me, is arguably one of the best one-on-one defenders I've seen. There are very few players who get past him – he is strong, powerful and determined."

Having also been celebrated as "very Michael Beale", this is an acquisition that appears to tick plenty of boxes for Gers.

Hopefully, he can make a solid impression at Ibrox with the manager looking as though he has secured another young talent for nothing, saving funds to invest in other areas of the team.

An update has emerged on Leeds United and their plans to fill the vacant spot in the dugout at Elland Road this summer…

What's the latest on Brendan Rodgers to Leeds?

According to the Daily Star, Whites chairman Andrea Radrizzani has added former Leicester City boss Brendan Rodgers to his shortlist of managers ahead of the 2023/24 campaign.

The report claims that the chief is a 'huge admirer' of the Northern Irishman and the 50-year-old is now one of the contenders to take over the hot seat in the coming months.

Sam Allardyce has left the club by mutual consent following his short spell in the job and Radrizzani now wants to hold talks with Rodgers to potentially take over from the Englishman.

Would Rodgers be a success at Leeds?

The Yorkshire outfit could finally replace Marcelo Bielsa with a swoop for the ex-Liverpool coach as the tactician could be a huge success in the Championship next season.

Since the Argentine genius' departure in February of last year, no Leeds manager has averaged more than 1.16 points per game as Jesse Marsch, Javi Gracia, and Allardyce all struggled to get wins out of the team.

Whereas, Bielsa won 1.61 points per match during his time at Elland Road, including 1.55 per clash in his first top-flight campaign with the club.

Rodgers was hailed for the "terrific" job he did at Celtic by pundit Hugh Keevins, as the 50-year-old won seven trophies in less than three full seasons, and the Carnlough-born tactician carried that on for the majority of his time at Leicester as he finished in the top half of the Premier League in his first four campaigns.

The former Swansea City boss, who was once dubbed a "genius" by journalist Sid Lowe, also won the FA Cup and the Community Shield during his time with the Foxes and averaged 1.59 points per game across 204 matches.

He has showcased his coaching ability with a Premier League team and proven himself capable of regularly getting a side into the upper reaches of the division and his spell in Glasgow proved that the Northern Irishman can manage a team that is expected to compete for trophies and win games consistently.

Therefore, Rodgers could become a huge success with Leeds in the Championship as they plot an instant return to the top-flight. They will need to instil a winning mentality to escape the second tier and the ex-Leicester boss has a proven track record of being able to do just that.

Vincent Kompany and Paul Heckingbottom averaged 2.20 and 1.98 points per game respectively to earn promotion with Burnley and Sheffield United and Rodgers' 2.24 for Celtic shows that he has the coaching nous to oversee a team that wins week-in, week-out.

This means that Radrizzani could put an end to Leeds' run of poor managerial appointments and finally replace Bielsa in the dugout by swooping for the out-of-contract coach this summer.

Fulham are interested in signing Fiorentina centre-back Igor Julio, who is keen to leave this summer, according to reports from Italy.

What's the latest Fulham transfer news?

Fulham will have their work cut out trying to keep hold of midfielder Joao Palhina this summer, with the Portugal international emerging as a target for multiple teams who have European football on offer, including West Ham United and Liverpool.

The Cottagers are looking at bringing in new options in midfield, having recently been linked with a move for former player Fabio Carvalho, although the Liverpool youngster will only be available on loan, while Wolfsburg's Patrick Wimmer is also a target.

There has been less talk about new defenders, perhaps in light of the respectable defensive record in the Premier League last season, however there have now been reports about a move for Igor.

According to reports from Italy (via Sport Witness), Fulham are showing an interest in the Fiorentina defender, who is keen to leave the Serie A side this summer, despite their progression to the Europa Conference League final last season.

The Brazilian is "one of the first candidates" who will leave the Italian club, as he wants to have a new experience outside of Italy, having been in the country since moving to SPAL in 2019.

As the defender's contract is set to expire next summer, Fiorentina will need to sell him this summer, in order to avoid losing him on a free transfer.

Who is Igor Julio?

The 25-year-old has spent the vast majority of his career in Italy, across spells with SPAL and Fiorentina, however he first made a name for himself in Austria, totalling a combined 85 appearances during his time with Red Bull Salzburg, Wolfsberger AC, Austria Vienna and FC Liefering.

Journalist Alvaro Canibe has described the Fiorentina ace as "crazy", while also lauding him for the "incredible" levels of "security and reliability" that he has brought to his current club defensively.

Fiorentina had the joint-seventh best defensive record in the Serie A last season, with the £15k-per-week defender making a total of 27 appearances, and he ranks in the top 25% for blocks and tackles per 90 over the past year, when compared to his positional peers.

Igor could be a solid addition to the Fulham backline, having proven himself in the Serie A, and Marco Silva should now look to the take next step by lodging an official bid.

New MLS and Inter Miami signing Lionel Messi has claimed that he doesn't care about winning the Ballon d’Or anymore.

How many times has Messi won the Ballon d’Or?

The Argentine has won the personal accolade on seven different occasions between 2009 and 2021, with old adversary Cristiano Ronaldo second on the all-time list with five awards to his name.

This combined with the fact that he has now essentially completed football – having won the 2022 World Cup last winter – means many feel as though Messi is the greatest footballer of all time.

And at 35 years of age, it appears as though we are sadly coming towards the very end of his career as the former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain man has decided to leave the European game and head to America.

Even so, he departs having still delivered the goods over the past season, most notably with Argentina in Qatar, and so could possibly win the Ballon d’Or for pulling off such a remarkable achievement.

However, it seems as though Messi is not particularly interested in the prize anymore as he made clear in a recent interview (via @AlbicelesteTalk on Twitter).

|ndeed, he told the press: "Does Ballon d’Or matter to me? No, at this stage in my life, it is no longer important to me.

"I’ve always said, the individual prizes are not what matters to me, but the collective ones are the most important to me. The most important prize at the moment is the World Cup. This is the greatest prize for me."

Who will win the 2023 Ballon d’Or?

Unsurprisingly, Messi clearly cherishes his World Cup win above anything else he's achieved on a personal level over the course of his career.

Even so, his numerous Ballon d’Or wins will help future generations understand just how special he was as a player. With that in mind, the award does still hold real value and it will be interesting to see who it will go to win it in 2023, if not Messi.

As per Goal, they still rank the Argentine as the favourite at this moment in time. After that, Erling Haaland of Manchester City – with 53 goals, nine assists, a Champions League, Premier League and FA Cup under his belt – is in second.

While Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Junior, and Kevin De Bruyne make up the rest of the top five.

Glasgow Rangers target Los Angeles FC midfielder Jose Cifuentes is ready to sign an Ibrox contract at the end of the month, according to reliable reporter Alan Nixon.

What’s the latest Rangers transfer news?

Michael Beale and Rangers have been busy in the transfer window already this summer, with four new faces already brought in.

Dujon Sterling, Kieran Dowell and Jack Butland have all arrived in Glasgow on free transfers, whereas Sam Lammers signed from Serie A side Atalanta for a fee in the region of £3.5m.

It doesn’t look as if the club will stop there, though, with Cifuentes heavily linked with a move in recent weeks. Reports suggested that at the beginning of the week that there was a breakthrough in talks to sign the LAFC man, but there has been a new update.

According to reliable journalist Nixon, via Ibrox News, Cifuentes is ready to sign a Rangers contract at the end of the month, despite the fact a Premier League club showed late interest in his services.

He adds that Rangers still need to agree on a low fee with LAFC to bring the player to Scotland in time for the new season.

“Ecuadorian star Jose Cifuentes is ready to sign a pre contract with Rangers at the end of the month despite late English Premier League interest.

“Rangers will have to agree a low fee with the Americans to have him over in time for their domestic and European campaigns.”

Who is Jose Cifuentes?

Cifuentes looks like he could be the next through the door at Ibrox, and he should bring plenty of versatility to Beale’s midfield options, with the player capable of turning out in holding, central or attacking midfield roles.

The 24-year-old appears to be at the peak of his powers with a career-high €12m Transfermarkt valuation, a figure which is higher than any Rangers player, so could be a smart signing in the long run.

Ecuador football expert Benedikt Duda has previously described Cifuentes as a “physical” player, saying he models himself on Paul Pogba, wit the player earning 15 caps at international level.

“Cifuentes is a no.8, who is physical and strong in defence with a tendency to get involved in the attack. There is a good reason he wears the no.11, and footballing-wise, he models himself after Paul Pogba.”

All in all, it looks as if Rangers could be about to make a shrewd addition, and it is good to see that the club are still in pole position despite interest from a side south of the border.

Newcastle United have added another European talent to their wanted list this summer, with reliable journalist Gianluca Di Marzio reporting that the club are keeping tabs on Theo Hernandez.

How many games has Theo Hernandez played this season?

The defender currently plays for AC Milan in Italy, where he has become their first-choice left-back. He played 32 times in Serie A for the club over the course of the 2022/23 season and even managed to bag four goals and three assists from the flank, showing his ability to not only contribute defensively but to get forward and attack too.

It wasn't enough to help his side claim the league title though and Milan instead slumped to fourth in the standings.

Hernandez though has proven his ability at the highest level, having helped his current team to win the division a season ago with ten goal contributions along the way. He is also a former Champions League winner, having claimed that trophy back when he featured for Real Madrid.

He played a further eleven games in that competition with Milan this season but could only help the Italian side to get to the semi-final before they were dumped out by city rivals Inter.

Are Newcastle interested in Hernandez?

Now, according to a report from reliable journalist Gianluca Di Marzio, the player may have suitors from elsewhere. Newcastle have apparently got their eye on the defender and are monitoring him this summer, though the club are yet to lodge an official bid for his services. Right now then, the extent of the Toon's link to Hernandez is just interest, as they keep an eye on potential targets for Eddie Howe.

It's unclear how much a potential deal for Hernandez might cost, with the Premier League side having yet to make an official offer and no asking price officially placed on the player either. CIES Football Observatory though suggest that he could cost any interested party around 60 million Euros (or £51m) – it's more than what Milan paid for the player and would mean the Toon may have to stump up a large amount of money to bring him in.

It could be worth it though. Hernandez has been called "brilliant" by football journalist Josh Bunting in the past for his ability to manage a game. It shows that he knows how to win matches for his side – and considering his experience on the big stages too, that could be invaluable for Newcastle next season if they were to sign him.