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West Ham United are "interested" in James Maddison and would "enter the discussion" if a deal is agreed for Declan Rice, claims transfer insider Dean Jones.

West Ham United transfer news – what's the latest on James Maddison?

Declan Rice's departure from West Ham has already become the summer's biggest transfer story, with Arsenal and Manchester City seeing their £90m bids rejected by the Irons over the last seven days.

While David Moyes and Co. will be smiling at the thought of a possible £100m bid for their star, they will want the deal to be concluded as quickly as possible as they have their own business to attend to over the summer, business that will heavily rely upon the sale of their club captain.

The names consistently linked with the East London side over the last few weeks have been similar in profile, hard-working, defensively solid midfielders, names like Joao Palhinha, James Ward-Prowse and Amadou Onana, to name but a few.

However, one name linked to the club could have Hammers everywhere very excited, Maddison.

Despite their relegation to the Championship last season, Leicester City have set the price tag for their prized asset at £60m, per the Telegraph.

West Ham will have to compete with the likes of Newcastle United, who have the player 'at the top' of their summer wishlist and Tottenham Hotspur, who are also keen on the player.

However, with the money from Rice soon to be burning a hole in their pockets, maybe they snatch the player from under the opposition's noses.

What has transfer insider Dean Jones said about James Maddison to West Ham United?

Jones has highlighted that while the Hammers are certainly interested in the services of the England international, they must conclude their business regarding Rice before splashing the cash on a player like him.

Writing for GIVEMESPORT, he said: "West Ham United are another club interested in Maddison and while they are certainly outsiders for now, they would enter the discussions if possible after a Declan Rice exit is sorted."

Would James Maddison be a good deal for West Ham United?

Although, the Hammers' chances of even getting a sniff of signing him look very slim as he's supposedly getting closer and closer to joining Tottenham Hotspur.

While the most logical replacement for a player such as Rice would probably be a more defensively-minded midfielder than Maddison, the Hammers massively struggled to create chances last season, and so should they have the opportunity to tackle that deficiency with the capture of the ex-Norwich City gem, they should.

According to FBref, who compare players in a similar position across Europe's top five leagues, Maddison sits in the top 1% for non-penalty goals, assists, expected non-penalty goals and assists, shot-creating actions, all per 90

He also had a great personal season last year, despite playing for an incredibly dysfunctional Foxes side. According to WhoScored, the 5 foot 9 dynamo managed a genuinely impressive average match rating of 7.24 across his 30 Premier League appearances.

It's unsurprising then that his former Brendon Rodgers hailed the player as "one of the best in the Premier League" last season.

The biggest hurdle for the East London club in their pursuit of Maddison isn't the fee of £60m, it's the competition they'll face to secure his signature, but if Moyes can work his magic and convince him that joining his project at the London Stadium is a good idea, the club will look much, much better for it.

Everton managed to clinch survival on the final day of the Premier League campaign, and have now been linked to a star from a club that couldn’t maintain his place in the division.

It’s set to be a busy summer for Sean Dyche, as he aims to ensure the Toffees don’t slip to the lows of the previous two seasons, which has seen them battle relegation to the final minutes.

The latest link could prove to be a significant upgrade in attack, with a player that has already passed the Premier League test.

What’s the latest on Wilfried Gnonto to Everton?

As reported by Football Transfers, Everton are interested in Leeds United forward Wilfried Gnonto.

The report suggests that Everton have ‘ongoing talks’ with Leeds over attacking duo Jack Harrison and Gnonto, with the Italian’s price in need of a ‘compromise’ for a deal to be reached.

While a price is yet to be named, the winger's expected transfer value sits at €30m (£26m).

What could Wilfried Gnonto offer to Everton?

Hailed as a “diamond” by U23 talent scout Antonio Mango, the 19-year-old lit up the Premier League when given the opportunity at Elland Road.

In 24 appearances, the winger scored two goals and registered four assists for the relegated side, via Sofascore, earning sufficient praise for his exploits and trickery on the left wing.

With relegation confirmed, it’s likely that Leeds will offload a host of talent seeking first-division football, as well as aim to keep their wage budget sustainable to adhere to the drop in finances that comes with demotion.

The Italian forward could add an abundance of talent to Dyche’s Everton side, identified as a skilful presence in the final third and keen creator, as highlighted by his average of one key pass per game this season, via Sofascore. That may not seem too impressive but compare it to those in the Everton ranks and it places him fourth for last term, behind Demarai Gray, Dwight McNeil and Alex Iwobi.

At just 19-years-old, Goodison Park could obtain one of Europe’s most encouraging talents in Gnonto, with a player that could excel in Dyche’s system reliant on the traditional role of a wide player.

The teen could not only fit perfectly into the squad but could challenge some of the side’s best players for a spot based on the potential he displayed in his opening Premier League campaign.

The aforementioned Iwobi is a player that’s deployed primarily in attacking midfield, however, rose to fame in the division through his ability on the wing, and is used at times on the left side by Dyche.

When comparing the numbers of the Nigerian and Gnonto, the teenager proves to be a potential candidate to compete with the former Arsenal gem as the top pick in the side.

As per FBref, the Leeds star averaged 0.27 assists per 90 to Iwobi’s 0.19 this campaign, as well as scoring higher than the Everton player of the season in terms of progressive play.

The Verbania-born ace averaged a huge 4.39 progressive carries to Iwobi's 2.40, as well as 9.04 progressive passes received to his 3.86, communicating the added threat he could equip Dyche with in the final third, via FBref.

Everton could add firepower to their attack in Gnonto; a player that could rise to be one of the most explosive wide talents in the league.

Arsenal look keen to begin their summer recruitment with a bang as Mikel Arteta looks to strengthen his squad significantly ahead of next season.

A move for Kai Havertz is “very close” according to reporter Florian Plettenberg while the Gunners are continuing to chase Declan Rice, and these two signings would certainly improve Arteta’s first-team squad, especially with their quality.

The Spaniard will surely be hoping for more than just these two, however. Champions League football will be gracing the Emirates for the first time since 2016/17 next term and this suggests a stronger, more in-depth squad will be required ahead of bigger challenges.

With this in mind, the Gunners have recently been linked with a move for Villarreal winger Samuel Chukwueze, who is also attracting interest from AC Milan and Real Madrid due to his performances of late.

Any potential move could cost the club around €80m (£68m) which could well prove to be a stumbling block regarding a move, yet with his ability on the wing enabling him to register 24 goal contributions last term combined with his likeness to Gabriel Martinelli, might this convince Arteta to make a move?

Could Samuel Chukwueze flourish at Arsenal?

Judging by his excellent 2022/23 campaign, where he managed to score against Real Madrid, he shouldn’t have a problem shining for the club should Arteta make his move.

Chukwueze and Martinelli share similar styles of play as the duo share dribbling as a key strength and according to FBref, the Brazilian winger is the first-most comparable player to the 24-year-old star. With his rise to prominence over the previous two years, scoring 21 goals and grabbing 13 assists certainly suggests it isn’t a bad comparison to have.

Indeed, over the previous 365 days, Chukwueze ranked in the top 19% for touches in the attacking penalty area per 90 (5.5) and progressive carries per 90 (5.12) across the big five leagues, while Martinelli ranked highly for both metrics too, sitting in the top 3% for touches in the attacking penalty area per 90 (6.99) and top 23% for progressive carries per 90 (3.95), indicating that the pair love to get forward as often as possible and poses a danger in the opposition box.

With both Chukwueze and Martinelli scoring over ten goals last season from the flanks (13 and 15 respectively), once they get into the opposing penalty area, they tend to thrive.

It’s no wonder the Villarreal star has been dubbed a “permanent threat” previously by his boss, Quique Setien and if Arteta manages to secure his signing, he would add another goal threat to an already stacked Arsenal forward line.

Mason Mount's Chelsea future looks like a transfer saga that will drag on right until the end of the summer window.

Manchester United remain eager to sign the England international, but there is a big gap between both sides' respective valuations, with the Red Devils supposedly only willing to offer £50m.

Chelsea want closer to the £70m mark for a player about to enter the final year of his contract, but allowing the rigmarole to continue deep into the summer would be damaging for the Blues.

Instead, it may be a case of accepting United's offer now and looking for a replacement – or indeed searching within their ranks for a ready-made alternative of sorts.

Who is Chelsea youngster Cesare Casadei?

In Cesare Casadei, Chelsea appear to have a midfielder who is ready to step up and play in the Premier League under new head coach Mauricio Pochettino.

According to the Evening Standard, Pochettino is weighing up whether to include the 20-year-old as part of Chelsea's pre-season training camp after he caught the eye at the U20 World Cup with Italy.

Casadei ended the tournament as top scorer with seven goals – this as a midfielder, remember – to follow in the steps of the likes of Lionel Messi, Erling Haaland and Sergio Aguero.

But rather than having the next Messi on their hands, Chelsea will settle for something close to the next Frank Lampard, a player who scored a club record 211 goals for the West London side.

With eight goals in nine appearances for Italy at U20 level, Casadei will now look to get close to the mark Lampard managed for England U21 when scoring nine goals in 19 caps.

The youngster is not strictly one of Chelsea's own, having been recruited from Inter Milan in a reported £16m deal last summer, before then being loaned out to Championship side Reading in January.

Casadei scored one goal in 15 appearances for the relegated Royals as he made his first foray into senior football. While he caught the eye with his goals at the U20 World Cup, it was more the defensive aspect of the youngster's game that stood out at Reading.

He averaged 1.87 blocks per 90 minutes, as per FBref, which was the third-most of any Reading player, while also ranking highly for the percentage of aerial duels won with 70.6 – again, only two others bettered that figure.

For comparison, Mount averaged 1.31 blocks per 90 minutes in the Premier League last season and won 29.1% of his aerial duels.

Italy head coach Roberto Mancini was glad to see Casadei go out and get some regular football, and he now looks set to step up and feature for the U21 side during the 2023-24 campaign.

"Cesare Casadei is really good. He had already impressed me [before the U20 World Cup]," Mancini told Corriere dello Sport last week, via Football Italia.

"He went to England and played in the Championship, a tough and formative league, almost like the Premier League. If it wasn't for the U20 World Cup, he would be playing for the U21 side already."

Given Chelsea's hugely bloated squad, it may well be that Casadei has to be patient for his chance. But if nothing else, the past six months suggest the Blues have another talented midfielder on their hands, regardless of whether Mount stays or goes.

Aston Villa are out in full force ahead of the transfer window as a Ligue 1 ace has been linked to the club.

Unai Emery will hope to bolster his squad this summer, after securing European football for next season.

With Sevilla sporting director Monchi speculated to be joining the fellow Spaniard in the Midlands, it could be a busy summer break at Villa Park.

What’s the latest on Matteo Guendouzi to Aston Villa?

As reported by French outlet Telefoot (via journalist Yassin Nfaoui), Aston Villa remain interested in January target Matteo Guendouzi.

There was a winter transfer window saga between the Villans and the Marseille man, ending with Fabrizio Romano denying any official move for the player.

Telefoot’s report this week claims that Villa, along with Newcastle, Inter Milan and Juventus are interested in the midfielder who is under contract at Marseille until 2025.

What could Matteo Guendouzi bring to Aston Villa?

The Frenchman has a strong relationship with the Villa boss already, having been one of the Spaniard’s signings at Arsenal when he joined the club in 2019.

At the age of 19, Emery saw something in Guendouzi that prompted him to not only bring him to the Premier League but to give him valuable game time in north London also.

While things didn’t work out for the Poissy-born star at Arsenal, a second Premier League spell could be on the script for the talent dubbed as a “warrior” by Gunners legend Robert Pires, via The Athletic.

Emery could bring a talent ranked in the top 3% of attacking midfielders in Europe in terms of progressive passes via FBref, averaging 7.34 per 90 over the past year, as well as having the potential to unearth a deadly duo in the middle of the park.

Having signed his ex-Marseille teammate Boubacar Kamara last summer, the Spaniard could reunite the two monsters in claret and blue.

Playing alongside each other in the 2021/22 Ligue 1 season, Guendouzi won an average of 52% of his total duels, with Kamara getting the edge on his partner with a successful total duel rate of 58%.

The Villa ace averaged 2.0 tackles per game that season, with Emery’s summer target averaging 1.2 per game, showing that the pair could combine to be a strong force in midfield with their added chemistry.

Most prominently, the former Arsenal gem is an expert passer of the ball, maintaining a successful pass rate of 88% this season, as well as creating six big chances with numbers that showcase his ability offensively from deep midfield.

Emery could reconnect two bonded souls to create a dangerous duo in his midfield and unearth a French core in the Midlands and with plenty of clubs interested in the £42k-per-week powerhouse, the Spaniard will have to work his charm once more to lure the Frenchman.

Aston Villa are reportedly interested in one of the Premier League’s best defenders this summer, as Unai Emery aims to bolster his squad in the transfer window.

The Spaniard has introduced an enhanced pull at the club when it comes to potential incomings, with a host of notorious talent in Europe already linked with a move to Villa Park.

The latest link could provide the four-time Europa League winner with a significant defensive upgrade, if reports are to be believed.

What’s the latest on Aymeric Laporte to Aston Villa?

As reported by 90min earlier this week, Manchester City defender Aymeric Laporte has gained interest from Aston Villa.

The report understands that the Spaniard is hunting for regular first-team football after being starved for minutes in Pep Guardiola’s plans this season, with Villa ‘keen’ to strengthen in central defence.

It’s stated that the 29-year-old could be available this summer for a fee around the £40m mark, after signing for City in 2018 from Athletic Bilbao for £57m.

What could Aymeric Laporte offer Aston Villa?

Hailed as a “beast” by writer Muhammad Butt, Laporte has had an unlucky term at City, after being dethroned by the illustrious form of Nathan Ake and Manuel Akanji in Guardiola’s prized three-at-the-back model.

The Spaniard’s falling down the pecking order is unfortunate for him, but a plus for Emery, who could incorporate the defensive ace into his plans at Villa Park.

The Villa boss has transformed the fortunes of Tyrone Mings, who has been rejuvenated during the 51-year-old’s reign and could be gifted the perfect partner in central defence in Laporte.

Despite playing predominantly at the heart of defence, the pair have opposing attributes, which could suggest they could form the perfect combination with their strengths and weaknesses held up by each other.

As per FBref, Mings ranks as the better player in a number of defensive areas, as highlighted by his average of 1.54 interceptions and 4.66 clearances per 90 in comparison to Laporte’s 0.42 and 2.38 respectively.

While the Spaniard's numbers fall short defensively to the 30-year-old’s, he is a master at playing progressively from the backline, which could unlock a new strength to Emery’s master plan at Villa, and create a perfect balance alongside Mings who lacks in such areas.

The £130k-per-week star ranks as one of Europe’s best progressive centre-backs via FBref, placing in the top 1% of central defenders in terms of progressive passes and carries averaged per 90.

In comparison to Mings, Laporte averages a monumental 7 progressive passes per 90 and 2.59 carries to the Villa ace’s 3.17 passes and 0.57 progressive carries, showing that his introduction could provide Emery with a more complete defence.

With Tottenham also reportedly interested in the defender and no direct contact reported to be made as of yet, only time will tell if the Spaniard can capture the services of the formidable Premier League star.

Liverpool are interested in making an audacious move for Benfica striker Darwin Nunez in the summer transfer window, according to a new report.

The Lowdown: Nunez excels for Benfica

The 22-year-old has emerged as one of the most highly-rated young strikers in Europe, having caught the eye with some sensational performances for Benfica.

Nunez ended the season with an incredible 26 goals in just 24 Primeira Liga starts, also finding the net six times in the Champions League, including two efforts against Liverpool.

The Reds have been linked with a move for the Uruguayan in the recent past and it appears as though their interest hasn’t gone away.

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The Latest: Liverpool keen on move

According to Record [via Sport Witness], Liverpool and Real Madrid are both battling to sign Nunez, with the winner of the Champions League final potentially proving key.

It is claimed that he is ‘on their radar’ ahead of a possible summer move and that while Benfica are demanding a whopping €100million (£85m) for his services, the Reds are ‘aware’ of the price, implying they are willing to pay it.

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The Verdict: Potential Mane replacement?

With Sadio Mane strongly linked with a move to Bayern Munich, it could be that Liverpool are already looking at replacements for the Senegalese superstar.

Nunez could fit the bill to perfection, admittedly costing a huge amount of money but arguably justifying it, given his long-term potential and record of 47 goals in 84 appearances for Benfica, as well as an ability to play left-wing or up front, just like Mane.

Jurgen Klopp himself has described Nunez as a ‘top, top boy’, suggesting that he admires him greatly as a player, and he could be the next Uruguayan superstar after Luis Suarez and Edinson Cavani.

In other news, one Liverpool player has committed his future to the club. Find out who it is here.

Everton’s woes this season are ‘nonsensical’, ESPN Editor Alex Shaw says. 

The lowdown

With just two games to go, Everton’s Premier League status remains in the balance.

Frank Lampard’s side had the chance to banish their relegation fears on Sunday by beating Brentford, but after twice taking the lead, the nine-man Blues wound up losing 3-2.

A victory over Crystal Palace on Thursday would also be enough to mathematically secure safety but anything less and they may be required to get something away to Champions-League-chasing Arsenal on the final day.

Everton finished 10th under Carlo Ancelotti last season and haven’t ranked outside the league’s top 12 since the 2003/04 season.

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The latest

Shaw tweeted that he was bewildered by Everton’s plight, arguing that relegation for the Toffees would be almost as big a shock as Leicester City’s title win in 2016.

He believes Everton have the players to be competing for a top-half finish, rather than mere survival.

“Honestly, Everton are blowing my mind,” he said. “To me, this is 5,000-1 Leicester territory. I don’t understand it whatsoever: they have some decent players.

“Why on Earth are they where they are? It’s nonsensical. There’s at least 5-10 teams worse than them.”

In a follow-up tweet, he added that they ‘should be 6-10th. Not this!?’

The verdict

One large reason why Everton have, in Shaw’s assessment, significantly underperformed is injuries.

As of 4 April, they had suffered a Premier League-high 34 injuries, sidelining their players for a total of 1,255 days.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s absence may have been particularly costly. The striker top-scored for Everton last season with 21 goals, eight more than his nearest challenger Richarlison.

But a fractured toe saw him sidelined from the end of August until the New Year, and he’s only been fit enough to start 13 Premier League matches.

Everton have, partly as a consequence, averaged less than 1.1 goals per game this season, with 39 from 36 matches.

In other news, a medical expert has shared another injury update.

Wolverhampton Wanderers under-23 manager Jamie Collins has again heaped praise on Old Gold academy star Luke Cundle.

The 20-year-old found the net twice as the club’s under-23s sealed a Premier League Cup win over Middlesbrough on Wednesday night.

Speaking to Wolves TV, Collins gave Cundle all the plaudits after his match-winning performance, saying: “I thought he was excellent tonight, he’s got his goals, but he was missing some as well, so I thought he could’ve got even more goals and I’ll be challenging him to do that.”

The under-23 boss hailed the starlet’s attitude for wanting to play for the reserves despite being called up to the first-team, revealing: “He texts me to ask if he can play and you don’t get that often with players who go up to the first-team.

“They’re not desperate to play for the under-23’s, but he just wants to play football. We could get a ball out now and have a five-a-side on the car park and he’d want a game, and when you’re a coach, you love players who are like that because they love the game.”

 Moutinho replacement

With Portuguese veteran Joao Moutinho – who hsa been slammed for some “rubbish” performances by Tim Spiers – linked with a move away from the Molineux, Bruno Lage may well be looking for an adequate replacement in the middle of the park.

Despite making most of his appearances in Premier League 2 as a defensive midfielder for Wolves, Cundle has earned comparisons to Manchester City and England star Phil Foden.

The 20-year-old’s versatility is just one of the reasons that he has earned this comparison, with the Wolves youth product capable of operating as a central midfielder and even as a false nine, having occupied the role in a reserves game against Newcastle United.

Speaking after that match in mid-April, Collins said: “We took a little risk with the change of shape and the ‘false nine’ with no centre-forward. We played Luke [Cundle] up there, ‘Phil Foden-esque’, and I thought he played really well.”

Lage knows all about the Molineux youngster, having raved about his first-team performance against Spurs in mid-February by saying: “Maybe Luke [Cundle] can be a key man because it allows us to play with four midfielders. He was there against top players playing like he is in the playground.”

Having achieved eight goal contribution for Wolves’ under-23s this season, Cundle poses more of an attacking threat than Moutinho, who has registered an underwhelming average of 0.6 shots per game, with two goals and one assist to his name this season.

Promoting the 20-year-old starlet to the first team on a more regular basis would duly enable Lage to let the veteran midfielder bring the curtain down on his time in the Black Country, particularly with his contract expiring over the summer.

In other news – Forget Semedo: Wolves can unearth new Doherty in rarely-seen 18-year-old who’s a “top player”