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At the end of last season, there was one obvious weak link in Chelsea’s starting XI. Although Victor Moses certainly didn’t let himself down during 2016/17, he’s not a wing-back by trade and showed his defensive naivety at times – particularly against Arsenal during the FA Cup final.

So far this summer, however, there really hasn’t been much talk of the Blues signing an upgrade. But Sky Sports have thrown an interesting name into the mix, claiming the Premier League champions are interested in signing Southampton’s Cedric Soares.

The 22-cap international isn’t the most spectacular of players but he’s proved himself to be a very consistent performer, both offensively and defensively, since moving to St. Mary’s and was also part of the Portugal squad that unexpectedly won the European championship the season after.

So Chelsea fans, should your club move for the 25-year-old right-back, who Transfermarkt value at £12.75million? Let us know by voting below…

According to reports in the Daily Mail, Everton midfielder Ross Barkley after he suffered a hamstring injury in training on Monday, and it could see the club miss out on at least a £25m fee for the in demand star this summer.

What’s the word, then?

Well, the Daily Mail says that the 23-year-old, who is a summer transfer target for Premier League rivals Tottenham Hotspur, Chelsea and Arsenal after turning down the chance to extend his stay at Goodison Park, went down clutching his leg during a training session at their Finch Farm training base.

The Daily Mail says that Barkley had to be helped from the field and it could put a move away before the transfer window closes at the end of this month into doubt, which would be a blow for both the player and Everton.

With the England international refusing to sign a new deal and with less than a year remaining on his contract, the Merseyside outfit had been looking to sell him now rather than losing him for nothing in 2018.

While they are looking to get £50m for him, the likes of Spurs are reportedly only willing to pay £25m for his services, according to The Telegraph on August 8.

How did Barkley do last season?

The attacking midfielder scored five goals and provided a further nine assists in 36 Premier League appearances to help the Toffees to a seventh-place finish and to qualify for Europa League football, but it wasn’t enough to convince him that his future lies at Goodison Park.

His slightly inconsistent showings may not have convinced manager Ronald Koeman that he is the answer in the central attacking midfield position either as the club looks to eventually challenge for the top four in the Premier League, as well as make progress in Europe this term.

What happens next?

It will be interesting to see what the diagnosis of the injury is.

Koeman has already signed Davy Klaassen from Ajax this summer as well as continuing to target a deal for Swansea City playmaker Gylfi Sigurdsson, there doesn’t appear to be room for Barkley to stay.

It is clear that the Dutchman expected the England international to leave to avoid losing him for free, but he may have to rethink his plans in the remaining weeks of the window following the setback for the 23-year-old.

According to reports from BBC Sport, Chelsea have seen a £25million transfer bid for Ross Barkley rejected by Everton.

The 22-cap England international looks set to leave Goodison Park this summer, having rejected the chance to sign a new contract with the club that nurtured him from an academy product into one of the Premier League’s more exciting young talents.

But suitors appear incredibly reluctant to meet Everton’s original £50million valuation and the 23-year-old has now suffered a hamstring injury that could keep him sidelined for the majority of 2017, further complicating matters.

Reports from The Liverpool Echo, however, suggest Everton would be prepared to part with the 6 foot 2 midfielder for around £35million – not the worst price this summer considering some of the outrageous fees being paid out already.

So, Chelsea fans, should your club table an improved offer for Barkley before the transfer deadline? Let us know by voting below…

Aston Villa seem to have finally found their rhythm somewhat following back-to-back wins.Steve Bruce’s side had a difficult start to the Championship season, drawing one and losing two, but they managed to pick up their first triumph last weekend.The game had six goals, three of which were scored by Conor Hourihane in a 4-2 victory over Norwich City at Villa Park.On Tuesday night, the Midlands outfit faced League One opposition Wigan Athletic in the second round of the Carabao Cup and they secured a comfortable 4-1 win.Scott Hogan scored twice, while Birkir Bjarnason also found the back of the net; as did Albert Adomah.The latter’s first-half goal was a talking point, not because of the action itself, but more because of the celebration.Rather than go for a classic gesture, the 29-year-old opted to do a headstand in front of the goal.The celebration caught the eye of teenage winger Andre Green, who applauded his teammate’s effort on Twitter.

Last week, the Premier League elected to close the next summer transfer window before the first game of the 2018/19 season in an unprecedented move that has inevitably divided opinion.

While some believe it will prove to be one of the first major steps in adding some much-needed sensibility to the summer, following a window which saw Premier League clubs splash out a combined £1.4billion, and end the awkward uncertainty over the futures of key players during the opening weeks of the season, others aren’t quite so convinced.

For starters, the rest of Europe is yet to follow suit, meaning the Premier League could be left at a huge disadvantage when it comes to recruiting players next summer following the 2018 World Cup in Russia, with foreign top flights still able to sign players until the end of August.

So, Southampton fans, what’s your take on ending the transfer window early? Let us know by voting below…

Javier Hernandez is without question one of the most naturally talented poachers in the Premier League, something he not only proved during an affluent spell with Manchester United but also across two seasons at Bayer Leverkusen that saw him net 28 times in the Bundesliga.

The problem Slaven Bilic faces, however, is how to get the best out of his summer signing and the Irons’ second-deadliest weapon in attack, Andy Carroll. Indeed, for all the talk of returning to the ‘West Ham way’ after the board axed Sam Allardyce to make room for the Croatian, the Hammers’ best performances still seem to have Carroll’s physical menace and aerial prowess at their core.

So, how can Bilic optimise both centre-forwards amid an era in which lone strikers reign supreme? Football FanCast take a look at the options and then give you the chance to have your say…

Option A – 3-4-3

Returning to a back three has revived West Ham’s season after an abysmal start, instigating a mini-run of three clean sheets across all competitions followed by a narrow defeat to Tottenham Hotspur. However, the three-man front-line requires Hernandez to be somewhat sacrificed out wide, making room for Carroll in the central role. During his first two performances in the system, the Mexican international was very much a marginal figure, struggling to get on the ball and find opportunities that allowed him to drift into the box. But a goal against Spurs last Saturday, a real poacher’s effort from a corner, showed the benefits of having Hernandez on the pitch even if he’s in an unflattering role. It’s just a question of how many clear-cut chances will come his way when playing as the left forward and whether another formation will bring more out of him.

Option B – 3-5-2

Perhaps the most logical solution considering a back three now seems so important to West Ham’s efforts defensively. 3-5-2 would give the Irons an extra body in midfield and put Carroll and Hernandez alongside each other; in theory, that should be a potent partnership in the traditional little-and-large mould, allowing the Irons to switch between the aerial service that Carroll adores and passes into space for Chicharito. The consequential dilemma, however, is what happens to West Ham’s wide men. With the wing-back slots likely to be filled by Pablo Zabaleta and Aaron Cresswell, the likes of Marko Arnautovic, Andre Ayew, Michail Antonio and Manuel Lanzini will essentially be fighting it out for the No.10 role. Competition is good, but West Ham will inevitably end up letting quality go to waste on the bench.

Option C – 4-4-2

Leicester City proved 4-4-2 can still work in the Premier League with the right players and the Carroll-Hernandez partnership could be what makes it such a proficient system for the Hammers. It encourages a direct style and could quickly counteract the many 3-4-3 systems now used in the English top flight, placing two centre-forwards against three defenders. The key difference between 4-4-2 and 3-5-2 from West Ham’s perspective is that it will allow some of those aforementioned names more game-time in their preferred positions – although with the likes of Arnautovic and Ayew particularly, it could end up being more of a 4-2-4. On the other hand, it will likely leave West Ham exposed at the back and in central midfield, which many would argue is now their weakest department on paper. Likewise, there’s no obvious role for Manuel Lanzini, someone West Ham fans will be keen to see back in the starting line-up following his injury layoff.

Option D – One up front

Arguably the inevitable but least popular solution to Bilic’s conundrum – choosing between Hernandez and Carroll as the lone front-man. After all, West Ham acquired the 29-year-old during the summer in the knowledge that Carroll would still be on the books; surely the landscape of their season hasn’t changed so much after just six games that the towering England international is now as indispensable as the striker they essentially signed to replace him? Likewise, regardless of Carroll and Hernandez’s potential as a strike force, how West Ham perform as a collective must take precedent over a solitary partnership. So far this season, the Hammers’ only points and best performances have come with a single figure up top. That, in turn, begs the question of whether West Ham work better with Carroll or Hernandez leading the line, and who can have the bigger impact from the bench.

So, Hammers fans, which option would you choose? Let us know by voting below…

After the most expensive summer transfer window in the club’s history, this was meant to be the season Everton truly started to challenge the Premier League’s top sides for a place in the Champions League.

But as is often the case when significant squad overhauls take place and huge talents like Romelu Lukaku move on, the revolution on Merseyside hasn’t gone as planned – the Toffees finding themselves in 16th place, taking just eight points from eight games.

Inevitably, there are now question marks lingering over Ronald Koeman who simply hasn’t delivered. While poor performances against the likes of Manchester City and Manchester United could be forgiven, Everton have struggled even more against Burnley and Brighton in recent weeks.

So, Everton fans, on the same day Leicester City have decided to part company with Craig Shakespeare, do you think its time for change or are you sticking by the Dutchman? Let us know whether you think Koeman deserves the sack by voting in the poll below…

According to reports in The Sun, Newcastle United are eyeing a January move for £7m-rated Wolverhampton Wanderers star Conor Coady, but they could face competition from Premier League rivals West Bromwich Albion for his signature.

What’s the word, then?

Well, The Sun says the defensive midfielder, who has been featuring at centre-back for Wolves under Nuno Espirito Santo this season, has caught the eye of the Magpies and the Baggies following some impressive performances that have helped his club top the Championship table.

The 24-year-old moved to Molineux from Liverpool in 2015 and he has gone on to become a key part of their first team, and it is no surprise that he is starting to attract admiring glances from top flight teams.

The Sun says Coady is rated at £7m, with the club already turning down a huge bid from Sheffield United for the player during the summer transfer window.

How well has Coady done this season?

He has been brilliant.

There would have been a few people unsure if he could make the transition into a centre-back but he has proved any doubters wrong – although he was sent off after 15 minutes in the defeat to Sheffield United last month – and he was outstanding against Manchester City on Tuesday.

The 24-year-old was actually given the captain’s armband in the opening stages of the season with skipper Danny Batth struggling to get into the side, and he showed the leadership qualities he has.

Would he be a good signing for Newcastle?

Based on his performances for Wolves over the last two-and-a-bit seasons he certainly would be, and he looks to have all of the attributes needed to make the step up to the Premier League.

It would be interesting to see whether Rafa Benitez would want to play him in defensive midfield or at centre-back though, considering he has good options in both positions with the likes Mikel Merino, Jonjo Shelvey, Isaac Hayden, Jamaal Lascelles, Ciaran Clark, Florian Lejeune and Chancel Mbemba.

What’s the verdict, then?

Well, while Newcastle surely have a better chance of signing Coady than West Brom considering they are Wolves’ arch-rivals, a January move looks unlikely given the 24-year-old’s current club are doing so well in the Championship right now.

According to Sky Sports, former Borussia Dortmund boss Thomas Tuchel has refused to rule himself out of the running for the vacant Everton manager’s job, but Toffees fans are divided on whether he would be a good appointment.

The Bundesliga giants sacked the 44-year-old at the end of last season despite the fact that he led the club to their first trophy in three years, and he is still highly-regarded as a coach across Europe.

Sky Sports says that while the German manager had been reluctant to consider a team that wasn’t competing in the Champions League, he would be open to an approach from the Merseyside outfit after they relieved Ronald Koeman of his duties on Monday.

Everton supporters were quick to have their say on the news via social media, and they were divided with their opinions.

While some said “just get him”, others fear he is “just another Koeman”.

Here is just a selection of the Twitter reaction…

According to reports in the Daily Mail, Newcastle United are ready to step up their interest in £18m-rated Besiktas striker Cenk Tosun after scouting him in Turkey’s 3-2 friendly defeat against Albania on Monday night.

What’s the word, then?

Well, the Daily Mail says that the Magpies watched the 26-year-old – who has been in impressive form this season – in action on Monday, with the centre-forward also having been scouted by Premier League rivals Crystal Palace, Everton, West Ham United and Tottenham Hotspur previously.

The Daily Mail says that the Turkish giants want £18m for their star man, but they could also look to keep hold of him should they qualify for the knockout stages of the Champions League – they are currently top of Group G.

The report adds that while Magpies manager Rafa Benitez is keen to add to his squad during the January transfer window, he is still uncertain as to what funds he may have with the club currently up for sale and no takeover deal imminent.

Why do Newcastle want him?

To put it simply, they want him because of his goalscoring record.

Benitez will be concerned that his team have scored just 10 goals in 11 Premier League matches this season, and he will know that their record must improve if they are to stay away from the relegation zone.

With 10 goals in 15 appearances in all competitions for Besiktas this term, the 26-year-old has shown that he can find the net on a consistent basis, and it certainly isn’t a fluke campaign either.

The Turkey international netted 24 in 47 outings last season and also has eight goals in 25 caps for his country.

Would he be a good signing for Newcastle?

He certainly would be.

While Joselu has proven to be a decent addition it doesn’t seem as though he brings the goal threat that should mean he starts every Premier League game – he has two top flight goals this season – Dwight Gayle doesn’t appear to suit the lone striker role and Benitez doesn’t seem to trust that Aleksandar Mitrovic can keep himself out of trouble.

The 26-year-old has proven that he can play up front on his own and find the net regularly, and if he can be purchased for £18m that could prove to be a bargain in today’s market – the competition from other Premier League teams may be a problem though.