Mason Mount’s father keen on Chelsea exit

Chelsea midfielder Mason Mount’s future at the club has further been thrown into doubt with the news that his father is eyeing up a move for his son.

The Lowdown: Mount on the move?

The future of the 24-year-old has been a major talking of late, with contract talks at an impasse and neither party looking likely to budge at this point.

Mount has been linked with a move away numerous times in recent months, with Liverpool arguably emerging as the front-runners to snap him up at this point.

The midfielder’s current Chelsea deal expires at the end of next season, so realistically, this summer will be the best time to sell if he doesn’t agree an extension at Stamford Bridge.

A new update regarding the situation has now emerged – one that further suggests that Mount could be moving on to pastures new in the near future.

The Latest: Key update emerges

According to Football Insider, Mount has ‘dropped the biggest signal yet’ regarding his potential exit this summer, with his father mandating an agent to ‘sound out interest in his services’.

It is stated that a price tag of £60-70million has been slapped on the England international’s shoulders, which if met, will be enough to prise him away from west London.

The Verdict: Feels increasingly likely

For a long time, the idea of Mount leaving Chelsea seemed unthinkable, given his lifelong affiliation with the club and the fact that he has always appeared happy there.

Things have clearly changed, however, and it could simply be that he feels under-appreciated in terms of his contract, as he looks to earn more than his current £80,000 per week.

Mount has certainly not had his best season for Chelsea overall, scoring just three times in 23 Premier League appearances, and he hasn’t completed a full 90 minutes since the 1-0 victory at home to Crystal Palace back in January.

The hope is that the 36-cap England international can end up agreeing an extension with the Blues – he has been described as an ‘unbelievable’ footballer by Joe Cole – but it does feel increasingly likely that he could end up plying his trade at a rival club next season, which will be a strange sight for supporters.

His love for Chelsea does mean that a sudden change in the current situation is possible but this latest update is further proof that an exit arguably now feels like the most likely outcome during the summer transfer window.

Man United: Ten Hag’s 79-touch dud looked "lost" vs Fulham

Manchester United continued their bid for FA Cup glory after edging past Fulham at Old Trafford on Sunday evening, with Erik ten Hag's men capitalising on a bizarre, late implosion from the visitors to seal their place in the last four.

After a shaky first 70 minutes or so from the Red Devils – with the away side taking a deserved lead after the break through Aleksandar Mitrovic – the game was flipped on his head in what was a frankly chaotic few moments, with Willian, Marco Silva and that man Mitrovic all seeing red as the hosts were awarded the chance to equalise from the penalty spot.

Portuguese playmaker Bruno Fernandes duly took that opportunity to drag his side level, before adding a second late on to clinch United's progression, with those clinical efforts coming either side of a clever flick from January arrival Marcel Sabitzer, marking a fine way for the Austrian to net his first goal for the club.

Amid the euphoria – and obvious relief – of sealing that late comeback, Ten Hag will undoubtedly be concerned at the manner of the display from the home side on the day, with club legend Roy Keane suggesting that United were "so poor" for the large majority of the match.

A key villain for the former Ajax boss against the Cottagers was seemingly that of club captain, Harry Maguire, with the peripheral Englishman having simply looked "lost" in his central defensive berth, as per writer Hesham Bilal-Hafiz.

How did Maguire perform against Fulham?

With usual starter Raphael Varane absent from proceedings, Maguire was named in the starting lineup for the second game running, having previously produced a solid, albeit unspectacular display against Real Betis in midweek – notably winning five of his seven duels in Seville.

While the 30-year-old – who was recently named in Gareth Southgate's Three Lions squad despite his lack of regular game time at club level – did win five of his seven duels again this time around, it was a far from serene performance from the towering dud.

As per The Athletic's Adam Crafton, some "sloppy defending" from both the centre-back and teammate Scott McTominay sparked a chance for Antonee Robinson in the second half, with Maguire also picking up an early booking for foolishly dragging Mitrovic to the ground.

That yellow card has ensured that the former Leicester City man will be suspensed for the semi-final meeting with Brighton and Hove Albion, although there will be few shedding any tears over that 'blow', with the Red Devils skipper having repeatedly irked the Old Trafford crowd yesterday for his clumsy and slow manner in possession.

While centre-back colleague Lisandro Martinez has regularly earned plaudits for his prowess on the ball – having been hailed by Crafton for his line-breaking, "sharp passes" – the Sheffield native undoubtedly sparks a sense of nervousness when trying to play out from the back, having been "slow to release the ball", according to Crafton.

Maguire-Man-United-Ten-Hag-Mitrovic-FA-Cup-Fulham-1

The respected journalist also stated that such a performance – in which the £190k-per-week man lost possession on eight occasions from his 79 touches – felt like "another signpost of the end for Maguire at Man United", amid reports that the struggling asset could be on his way out of the club this summer.

On a day in which the 6 foot 4 dud simply 'regressed' – as per Manchester Evening News correspondent Samuel Luckhurst – the aforementioned Martinez truly shone, with the Argentine warrior having been "excellent" yet again, according to Luckhurst.

The stark difference in quality between the pair is not helping Maguire's cause of nailing down a regular role in the side, with the ambling, shaky defender seemingly failing to inspire confidence among his teammates or the home crowd.

While the one-time Hull City ace was not alone in having disappointed on Sunday – with McTominay also being withdrawn early in the second half after winning just a solitary duel – that limp showing served as another reminder as to why a fresh start away from Manchester could be what is needed for the heavily-scrutinised defender next season.

On the evidence of yesterday, he is only set to cost United rather than aid them moving forward.

Arsenal could have next Sol Campbell in Hale End teen

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta named young defender Reuell Walters on the bench for a second time this week.

The 18-year-old gem was involved in the Gunners' matchday squad during their Europa League defeat to Sporting CP in midweek and made the team again in the Premier League as the north Londoners welcomed Crystal Palace to the Emirates Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

His youthful presence amongst the first-team has largely been down to injuries, with William Saliba and Takehiro Tomiyasu the latest names to pick up issues and whilst he didn't play any minutes across the two outings, he is surely in line for a big future around these parts.

Who is Reuell Walters?

Walters joined Arsenal as an U16s player in 2021, having taken a short break from the game after leaving arch-rivals Tottenham Hotspur, where he had played for four years.

In February last year, the teenager signed his first professional contract, clearly impressing the likes of Per Mertesacker and Arteta with his displays for both the U18s and U23s at right-back.

He has clearly continued to catch the eye as he featured for the seniors during a couple of pre-season friendlies in Germany and America before becoming a more frequent presence in first-team training this year.

Given his past ties to the Lilywhites and his ability to also play in central defence, the Gunners could well unearth their next Sol Campbell, who controversially signed for the club in 2001 after eight full seasons at White Hart Lane.

Sol Campbell – Arsenal in action against Luka Modric – Tottenham Hotspur

Speaking about his performances during pre-season, football.london reporter Kaya Kaynak claimed he "really impressed", whilst Morning Star reporter Layth Yousif lauded him as an "outstanding prospect" who has "a series of excellent performances under his belt" earlier this month.

It may be a while before he can usurp either Saliba, Gabriel Magalhaes or Benjamin White from Arteta's starting XI in north London but what is clear is that Hale End have yet another promising homegrown gem that could one day feature in the first-team.

Given his capability of playing centrally and out on the right, and him switching allegiance from Spurs to Arsenal, the Spaniard may well have unearthed a future club legend in Walters.

Only time will tell, though the early signs are hugely encouraging.

Chelsea could sign Eden Hazard 2.0 In £88m "phenomenon"

Chelsea are reportedly lining up a move for Napoli star Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and the electric winger could prove to be the next Eden Hazard at Stamford Bridge.

Could Chelsea sign Khvicha Kvaratskhelia?

According to Italian outlet Gazzetta dello Sport, the Serie A leaders are prepared to double the wages of the man they signed only last summer when he penned a five-year deal after joining from Georgian outfit Dinamo Batumi, in order to keep him at the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium amid interest from the Blues and elsewhere.

Chelsea could look to increase their £550m spending spree under Todd Boehly and improve the attacking options available to Graham Potter at Stamford Bridge, as the Blues continue to struggle in the final third, with just 29 goals in 27 top-flight fixtures so far this campaign.

Kvaratskhelia certainly won't come cheap, with the Azzurri expected to demand as much as €100m (£88m) for one of their most coveted assets, with the 22-year-old instrumental in Luciano Spalletti's side's likely Scudetto triumph this season.

In 23 Serie A appearances, the Chelsea-linked star has contributed a phenomenal 12 goals and 10 assists, earning a hugely impressive 7.64 rating from WhoScored for his performances. This has spilled over into all competitions too, where he boasts 14 goals and 16 assists.

Not only is this a higher rating than anyone in Chelsea's squad, but his average of 2.9 shots, 1.7 key passes and 1.8 dribbles also cannot be matched by anyone who has made more than 10 Premier League appearances for the Blues so far this campaign.

Journalist Mina Rzouki was full of praise for the Georgia international just a month into his career with Napoli, writing:

"Ok, Kvaratskhelia is a phenomenon. This kid is so special. I know it’s just Napoli’s second game, but he is bossing everything."

Could Kvaratskhelia be Chelsea's next Hazard?

Arsenal legend Thierry Henry also lauded the 22-year-old on CBS Sports earlier in the season and likened the Georgian wide man to Real Madrid winger Hazard, who was previously a star at Stamford Bridge.

He said:

"[He is] very Eden Hazard-like. He is brilliant. He can do anything. Press. Dribble and assist. The balance, composure and vision."

During his time in England, the Belgium international would make a remarkable 352 appearances, contributing 110 goals and 92 assists in that time, firmly establishing himself as a fan favourite and Premier League great. His fall from grace has been stark though, with just one goal and one assist in seven appearances across all competitions.

Chelsea have lacked a winger of Hazard's immense quality since his 2019 exit, with the likes of Christian Pulisic and Hakim Ziyech failing to take up his mantle at Stamford Bridge, so Kvaratskhelia could be exactly what Potter needs as he looks to mould a squad capable of challenging at the top next season.

West Ham’s "Isolated" £15m Star Was Poor vs Southampton

West Ham United secured a crucial victory over Southampton yesterday to edge further away from the Premier League relegation zone, and it will hopefully inject some spark into David Moyes’ side.

This was the club’s first league win since the end of February, and it couldn’t have come at a better time. The Irons struggled to retain possession during the tie, but they managed more shots than the Saints with Nayef Aguerd ultimately scoring a header during the first half which proved to be more than enough to secure all three points.

Moyes will have been happy to see players such as Lucas Paqueta and Said Benerahma getting back into some sort of form, with the duo receiving ratings of 7/10 and 7.3/10 via Sofascore for their displays, although there were still a couple of bad performances.

Tomas Soucek endured a disappointing match, taking just 33 touches and completing only 11 of his 21 attempted passes. Indeed, he was somewhat of a passenger in the West Ham midfield that sought to establish a foothold in the match.

As Football.London's Jonty Colman noted, he was 'sloppy at times' in possession, a notion backed up by the fact that the Czech lost possession on 15 occasions throughout the clash. Also poor from a physical standpoint, he won just six of his 19 defensive duels.

That said, Moyes may well be disappointed at another one of his players for their abject display – Danny Ings.

How did Danny Ings perform against Southampton?

Ings’ 65 minutes on the pitch were extremely underwhelming, and it’s no wonder he was brought off for Michail Antonio.

The striker made just seven passes at a success rate of 47%, 15 fewer than goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski, as he failed to link up well with his teammates.

What was even more damning is that the ex-England international took no shots at all during the match.

Danny Ings for West Ham

West Ham correspondent for the Athletic, Roshane Thomas believes Ings doesn’t quite fit into Moyes’ tactical plan, saying: “I don't think this system works for Danny Ings. He's often too isolated up front. Hasn't quite clicked barring his two goals against Nottingham Forest. Antonio has great work rate so he has no issues playing as a lone striker. But Ings has struggled in that role.”

Taking just 25 touches in a game – 18 fewer than Fabianski – is often a sign that a player is isolated and Ings didn’t quite receive the service he required to make a meaningful difference.

Moyes signed the Englishman to score goals and a tie against his former employers in Southampton should have been the perfect opportunity for him to add another couple to his tally for the club.

If it wasn’t for Ageurd’s winner, the Hammers may well have dropped more vital points and with Ings responsible for scoring the goals to maintain the club’s league status, he has only heaped further pressure on Moyes.

Newcastle Predicted XI & Team News vs West Ham

Newcastle United are back in action away to West Ham United in the Premier League this evening, with the Magpies having made a fine return from international duty after beating Manchester United last weekend.

That commanding, 2-0 win saw goals from Joe Willock and Callum Wilson prove the difference against a lacklustre Old Trafford outfit, with Eddie Howe's men having surged into third place with the battle for Champions League football now hotting up.

The Tynesiders will be hoping to maintain that momentum against the relegation-threatened Hammers later today, with the two sides having previously played out a 1-1 draw in the reverse fixture at St James' Park back in February.

Ahead of the trip to the London Stadium, there are believed to be doubts surrounding the fitness of the aforementioned Willock with the Englishman sustaining a hamstring issue on Sunday, while both Miguel Almiron and Emil Krafth remain long-term absentees.

With that in mind, Football FanCast has predicted how the northeast side could line up against David Moyes' men tonight.

What will Newcastle's starting XI be against West Ham?

4-3-3 – (GK) Pope; (RB) Trippier, (CB) Schar, (CB) Botman, (LB) Burn; (CDM) Guimaraes, (CM) Longstaff, (CM) Joelinton; (RW) Gordon, (LW) Saint-Maximin, (ST) Wilson.

We predict that there could be three alterations from the side that powered past the Red Devils just a few days ago, albeit with Howe likely to keep faith with his tried and trusted defensive unit, having conceded the fewest goals in the division this season.

As for the midfield, the potential concern surrounding the stricken Willock could see a return to the starting lineup for influential Brazilian, Joelinton, with the 26-year-old having only been involved off the bench last time out after serving a two-game suspension prior to that.

Newcastle vs West Ham

The most notable changes could seemingly lie in the forward line, with fleet-footed Frenchman, Allan Saint-Maximin potentially the only figure to keep his place after looking "back to his best" against Erik ten Hag's side, according to Northern Echo's Scott Wilson.

On the other flank, Jacob Murphy could make way for January arrival Anthony Gordon, with the young 6-foot "game-changer" – as described by himself – having looked 'dangerous' during his lively cameo at the weekend, in the words of the Chronicle's Lee Ryder.

The final attacking berth could well be taken up by Sunday's goalscorer, Wilson, with the England international's stellar record of ten goals in just 12 games against today's opponents potentially set to see him take the place of Alexander Isak through the middle.

Arsenal Eye Move For Everton Striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin

Arsenal are interested in signing Everton striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin in the summer transfer window, according to an update from journalist Dean Jones.

Is Calvert-Lewin struggling this season?

Back in the 2020/21 season, the Englishman was on fire for the Blues, scoring 16 goals in 32 Premier League starts and standing out as one of the best attacking players in the division. Since then, however, he has been plagued by injury problems and is currently still out – with his 2022/23 campaign being horribly stunted.

This season, Calvert-Lewin has made just nine league starts and 11 appearances overall, scoring only once in that time and struggling to make any kind of positive impact. The 26-year-old is out of contract in the summer of 2025 and he has been linked with a move to Arsenal numerous times in recent months.

It is a rumour that is refusing to go away, as the Gunners look to add more attacking quality to their ranks ahead of next season.

Everton striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin.

Could striker join Arsenal in the summer?

Speaking to Give Me Sport, transfer expert Jones claimed that Arsenal remain keen on acquiring Calvert-Lewin's signature at the end of the season:

"Calvert Lewin genuinely has been looked at; it's one that they've had on their radar for a couple of years now.

"But, because they've got Gabriel Jesus now, because they've had Nketiah playing in that role, they've also used Trossard in that role, they've got Balogun to come back into the fold in the summer, it's difficult to see why they would go and spend reasonably big money on Calvert-Lewin."

Losing Calvert-Lewin would clearly be a blow for Everton, given his pedigree as a footballer – Carlo Ancelotti once hailed him as "fantastic" during his time as manager – although his injury problems are now becoming a big issue, which would make losing slightly easier to accept.

On one hand, seeing such a talented striker move on would be a big setback, given his match-winning potential and the fact that he has won 11 caps and scored four goals for England. On the flip side, however, if Arsenal were to come in with a huge offer this summer, the funds could to used to sign a few new players – individuals who are less injury-prone and who can strengthen the Blues in a couple of areas.

It could simply be a case of waiting to see how much Arsenal are willing to spend on Calvert-Lewin, before weighing up his future, assuming Everton stay in the Premier League, with relegation to the Championship almost certain to lead to an exit.

Gracia Must Unleash Leeds Star With ‘Blistering Pace’

Leeds United's injury woes may have gotten worse in the 5-1 defeat to Crystal Palace last weekend, with Patrick Bamford forced off in the second half as he continues to struggle with a knock.

What's the latest on Bamford's injury?

According to the BBC's Adam Pope on the Don’t Go To Bed Just Yet podcast, the 29-year-old forward was playing with a bit of an injury in the defeat against Roy Hodgson's side and had to go off in the second half when he "wasn't moving well."

Javi Gracia has favoured the Englishman in his attack during his time at Elland Road, with top scorer Rodrigo often left on the bench as he returns to full fitness following a spell on the sidelines through injury.

While the extent of Bamford's injury is not yet clear, the Spanish manager could be without his number-one choice for upcoming fixtures, which could prove to be a big blow in Leeds' hopes of remaining in the Premier League.

This could leave the former Watford boss with a dilemma of whom to select up front for Leeds' game against Liverpool on Monday but given the Reds' recent defensive struggles, as well as their woeful record away from Anfield which has seen them win just three of their 15 away games, Gracia should see the game as an ideal time to pick up some points.

Therefore, with a counter-attacking style likely to cause problems for Jurgen Klopp's side, Gracia should consider unleashing the rarely-seen Georginio Rutter, as the Frenchman's pace could make him the ideal man to step in for Bamford in the attack.

Should Rutter be given another chance at Leeds?

Rutter's time at Elland Road so far has been something of a disaster, with the 20-year-old starting just once in the Premier League following his club-record £35.5m move from Hoffenheim in January.

Georginio Rutter at Leeds United.

Leeds and Victor Orta clearly saw something in the young striker, who hit 11 goals and eight assists in 64 appearances for Hoffenheim, but his 11 outings for the Yorkshire outfit have so far produced no goals or assists.

However, Leeds cannot afford to give up on him so early into his career, especially as he is just 20 and had no previous experience in English football, so surely he should be given another chance to impress if Bamford is sidelined.

Football talent scout Jacek Kulig certainly has faith in Rutter's ability and potential, as he described the forward as a "clinical striker" with "blistering pace" in his assessment of the Frenchman in 2022.

With tough fixtures to come against Manchester City, Newcastle and Tottenham Hotspur before the season's end, Leeds may find that counter-attacking is their best chance of picking up points, and Rutter's pace and finishing ability could make him the ideal man to keep Gracia's side in the Premier League if he is given another opportunity by the Spanish manager.

Leeds: £60k-p/w ‘Liability’ Cost Gracia Vs Leicester

Leeds United did their survival hopes little good on Tuesday night as they could only muster a 1-1 draw against fellow relegation candidates Leicester City.

What happened in Leeds vs Leicester?

Leeds came into the game on the back of three defeats, with Dean Smith's side having earned a morale-boosting win over Wolverhampton Wanderers last weekend, and this game could certainly be considered a relegation six-pointer.

Javi Gracia's side were fortunate to not find themselves behind within ten minutes as Youri Tielemans' rocket was ruled out by VAR as Boubakary Soumare was offside before he set the ball up to his Belgian teammate.

In a frantic, fast-paced first half at Elland Road, it was the Yorkshire outfit who landed the first blow on Tuesday night, as Luis Sinisterra continued his fine recent goalscoring form by heading in Jack Harrison's wicked delivery at the back post.

Unfortunately, the Colombian was forced off through injury and Leeds lost some momentum as a result, with the Foxes looking dangerous throughout the second half until the talismanic Jamie Vardy found an equaliser from James Maddison's pass.

The veteran striker thought he had won it for Leicester only to be denied by the offside flag before Leeds rallied, with Marc Roca's header kept out at point-blank range by Daniel Iversen. Patrick Bamford then fluffed a golden opportunity in the final moments by sending his effort wide when left unmarked at the back post.

The result leaves Leeds deep in relegation trouble and Gracia's side could find themselves back in the bottom three by the end of the game week, with tough games against Manchester City, Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur still to come.

Who was Leeds' worst performer vs Leicester?

While Bamford will be the scapegoat for a lot of Leeds fans after his late miss, it was arguably Junior Firpo who was Gracia's poorest performer last night.

As per Sofascore, the Spanish full-back would earn a disappointing 6.5/10 rating for his performance, with only Liam Cooper and Robin Koch (both 6.3) rated lower of the Leeds players to feature in the game.

Although he has often been labelled a "liability" from a defensive perspective – as per the Mirror's David Anderson – it was the former Barcelona man's shocking passing throughout the game which made him Gracia's main antagonist at Elland Road.

javi-gracia-leeds-united-premier-league-preview-predicted-xi-liverpool

Firpo would complete just 11/24 passes with a woeful success rate of only 46%, despite having 41 touches of the ball in his time on the pitch, emphasising just how poor he was in possession.

For context, Illan Meslier would complete 13 passes on the night, while the £60k-per-week defender has averaged 27.9 passes in the Premier League so far this term, so he was even worse than usual.

The left-back lost possession on 15 occasions in total, while he was also unsuccessful with all four of his long balls and failed with his one dribble attempt, in what was a truly dreadful display at Elland Road where he failed to exert any composure on proceedings.

Gracia will be hoping that Max Wober is back fit for upcoming games after witnessing Firpo's performance on his return to the side against Leicester. He was truly let down by the full-back on this occasion.

Man Utd Face Huge Decision On £375k p/w Ace This Summer

Manchester United will find it 'really difficult' when deciding whether to keep hold of goalkeeper David De Gea this summer, according to journalist Dean Jones.

What's the latest news involving David De Gea?

According to 90min, Manchester United are said to be close to finalising a new contract for De Gea on a reduced pay packet from his current weekly salary of £375,000.

The report states that the Spaniard has an automatic one-year extension that could've been triggered on his present terms at Old Trafford, which would've stopped him from leaving on a free transfer once his deal expired in the summer; however, De Gea has now agreed to take a significant pay cut to prolong his spell at the Red Devils.

Nevertheless, Sportske Jutarnji via The Daily Mail have claimed that Manchester United are keen on Dinamo Zagreb goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic and are looking to trigger his £8.9 million release clause, potentially providing a problem for De Gea as he may have competition for the starting slot between the sticks if the Croatian was to join.

Intriguingly, the Croatia international would become the first player from his native land to play for Manchester United if he was to complete a move to Old Trafford.

Speaking to Football FanCast about De Gea, journalist Jones thinks that Manchester United will need to weigh up his future carefully over the next couple of months.

Jones told FFC: "It's really difficult to get that right; it's really difficult to know that you're making a decision to axe a goalkeeper that's been there for so long and has been one of the best goalkeepers in the game. You're going to replace them, but you really have got to get that right. It's a big decision, but we've got to remember that Man United have been making progress in talks with De Gea."

Should Manchester United let David De Gea leave this summer?

It will undoubtedly be a difficult call for Ten Hag to make; however, it looks like the plan may be to keep De Gea and add some serious competition to the ranks, which may turn out to be an intelligent solution that would please the Manchester United support.

In 2022/23, De Gea has been ever present for the Red Devils, keeping 23 clean sheets in 51 appearances across all competitions, as per Transfermarkt.

David de Gea warms-up for Manchester United's Europa League clash against Real Betis.

Despite this, he has also shipped 55 goals this term and has endured some uncertain moments at times, leading some to suggest that his status at the club as first-choice goalkeeper should be called into question.

Moving forward, signing De Gea to another contract and bringing in someone of considerable quality to compete with him could be a stroke of genius by Ten Hag.

And it will be intriguing to see how the experienced Spaniard would take to some serious competition with the likes of Martin Dubravka not providing that earlier in the campaign.

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