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Chelsea will seek swift discussions with Brighton & Hove Albion in the summer to gauge what it would take to do a deal to bring him to Stamford Bridge, according to journalist Dean Jones.

What's the latest transfer news involving Moises Caicedo?

According to one report in Spain, Chelsea are willing to pay as much as €80 million (£70.2 million) as they try to secure Caicedo's signature in the forthcoming transfer window.

In January, Chelsea and Arsenal were both keen to add the Ecuador international to their midfield ranks and the latter even had an offer of £65 million upfront with £5 million in add-ons turned down for his services, as per 90min.

In March, the 21-year-old signed a new long-term contract at the Amex Stadium, tying him to Brighton until the summer of 2027 despite trying to force a move away from the South Coast on social media in mid-season, as per The Guardian.

Nevertheless, talkSPORT have claimed that Sassuolo midfielder Davide Frattesi is on the Seagulls' radar ahead of the summer and could be a potential replacement for Caicedo, with the outlet stating on Twitter: "BREAKING: #BHAFC are interested in signing Italy midfielder Davide Frattesi. He's likely to command a club record transfer fee and is a potential replacement for sought-after Moises Caicedo. – talkSPORT sources understands."

In 2022/23, Caicedo has made 42 appearances for Brighton in all competitions, registering one goal and one assist in total, as per Transfermarkt.

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, journalist Jones thinks that Chelsea will seek talks with Brighton to establish the facts and figures surrounding the possibility of enticing Caicedo to Stamford Bridge.

Jones said: "I think early in the window we will see Chelsea seek guidance from Brighton over what it is going to take to sign Moisés Caicedo. I can't be sure yet that they make the offer, but that's what the first step will be, understanding exactly what the expected terms will be and to get a feel for how quickly things can move forward.

"Chelsea do not want to waste any time with their business. [Mauricio] Pochettino needs a settled squad for pre-season as much as possible. They absolutely do not want a repeat of last pre-season, as the poor preparations left them chasing from day one in the Premier League. I know that Chelsea have other options beyond Caicedo, but he is attainable in the next window and there will also be at least two other Premier League clubs interested, so I've been told to expect early talks on that one."

Why is Moises Caicedo so highly regarded at Brighton & Hove Albion?

Caicedo is primarily an enforcer and is able to use his energetic nature to get around the pitch and make a difference, though he is also very comfortable in possession.

WhoScored notes that the 21-year-old has managed to successfully win 2.8 challenges per match and has also recorded a pass accuracy of 88.9% in the Premier League, demonstrating that he can perform multiple useful functions in the engine room.

FBRef also concludes that Caicedo has been able to provide an offensive threat this term, as he has successfully pulled off 87 shot-creating actions in the English top flight.

It is unsurprising that interest is vast in the Ecuador international and Chelsea would be able to inject some fresh impetus into their midfield if he was to arrive in SW6 this summer.

Leeds United need a miracle to remain in the division, with one of the toughest run-ins and just three Premier League games left to play. Having enlisted the late help of Sam Allardyce, the hope is that this relegation stalwart can pull one last magical run out of the bag to retain their place in the division.

For a club as huge and historic as the Whites to return to the Championship would be a travesty, but years of mismanagement have led to this abysmal point in time.

Newcastle United, West Ham United and Tottenham Hotspur stand in their way, and on current form, they stand no chance.

Through enlisting the same tired squad full of those who have let them down all campaign, Javi Gracia drew criticism for claiming just one win since the start of April.

Although their loss against Manchester City was unfortunate, fans could remain pleased that at the very least they battled with the potential champions as a few key names were recalled under the new head coach.

Crucially though, Patrick Bamford retained his spot. The English forward is arguably the farthest away from those deserving a starting berth, and so his 68-year-old boss might seek to place his trust in someone who's actually playing well.

To feature alongside Rodrigo, surely the young prodigy Mateo Joseph is worth a shot.

Who is Mateo Joseph?

The 19-year-old has been in imperious form for the U21s this campaign, with a remarkable tally of 15 goals in just 18 appearances. Surely it marks a no-brainer to start someone brimming with confidence, over the English forward who has never looked so goal-shy.

Although the £70k-per-week marksman has been branded "unlucky" in the past by pundit Alan Hutton, few can excuse his recent form. Bamford boasts just four league goals all season, with his late miss in their draw with Leicester City drawing particular scrutiny.

After a late corner was flicked on at the near-post, as the scores remained level, the 29-year-old stood unmarked by the back stick. Unable to adjust his feet, the forward's strike was high and wide and the points were frustratingly shared. That is not a striker in form.

Meanwhile, his teenage competition is earning rave reviews from all who watch him, with his youth boss Michael Skubala reserving particular praise: "He’s in a good place, he’s scoring goals, he’s a character, but he still needs to keep working hard. His finishing ability is top drawer."

He continued: "He’s been training like a warrior and you can see that in his game."

Such hunger, added to a youthful exuberance and unpredictability could be key in bamboozling their next three opponents. Everyone knows that Bamford has lost his threat, but in Joseph, the sky really is the limit. This could be Allardyce's wild card option.

Journalist Jacques Talbot has claimed that West Ham United have already triggered a contract extension for Aaron Cresswell.

What's the latest on Aaron Cresswell and his contract?

As per Transfermarkt, the defender's current deal is set to expire in the summer, June 2023. And recent reports suggest a deal could be in the works.

Indeed, as per Football Insider, sources in late April claimed Cresswell was close to landing a new contract at the London Stadium. The club will green-light an extension if David Moyes remains in charge.

Well, if the latest reporting is accurate, it seems this has already happened. Indeed, when talking on his YouTube channel, Talbot explained that it had been "triggered".

He said (3:33): “So I got a message about Aaron Cresswell: 'He is joining Everton at the end of the season'.

"I was like, Oh yeah?

"Like: 'He's bought a house up in Merseyside, he's going back.'

“But it's just one of them where you go to West Ham and they're like, 'No we've done a new deal to [20]24'.

"I don't even know if that's even out yet. But basically, they've triggered the extension for him.”

How much is Cresswell's contract worth?

Seeing as there is less doubt about Moyes leaving now – as the club look certain to avoid relegation and have gone deep into the Europa Conference League – it would make sense if one of his preferred players was to stick around a little longer.

After all, while now aged 33, Cresswell has still played regularly for the Hammers this term, with 35 appearances in all competitions.

Indeed Moyes has trusted him at the vital point in the club's campaign, starting the left-back in seven of the last eight league games as West Ham have got themselves out of relegation trouble.

With that being the case, it's easy to understand why the club have apparently extended his £50k-p/w contract for one more year.

With 28-year-old Emerson Palmieri also available as an option for the left-back role (with a contract until 2026), the extension for Cresswell mean's the club are pretty set in that area of the field.

Perhaps that sort of deal will allow the Irons to then go out and add strength to more pressing areas of the pitch. For instance, they could soon look a little short in the middle of the park with key man Declan Rice expected to leave this summer.

Tottenham Hotspur have a squad inundated with players that need offloading, with almost the whole of English football aware of that.

However, it seems that the man who has allowed such mediocrity to fester, Daniel Levy, is the only one oblivious to such a fact.

For someone so frugal and seemingly petrified of spending big, the 61-year-old has certainly invested heavily in recent years in a desperate pursuit of silverware; a search that continues to go amiss.

Whilst there are plenty of depreciating duds that do need selling, perhaps the savvy CEO could first seek to capitalise on the few who have seen their value rise in preparation for the transfer war chest he will have to promise to the new boss.

One such name that springs to mind is Japhet Tanganga, who truly burst onto the scene during the 2019/20 season under Jose Mourinho.

The legendary manager saw immense potential in the 24-year-old, claiming after his first league start came against Liverpool: “I thought he did well. I think the kid has reason to be happy with his level.”

However, injuries and a sharp loss of form would see his reputation plummet, with the academy graduate falling way down in the pecking order. Therefore, he must be one of the first to go.

How much is Japhet Tanganga worth now?

Across his first six Premier League appearances, Tanganga maintained a 6.95 average rating that encouraged many. Journalist Charlie Eccleshare even branded him a “great prospect for the future."

Having burst onto the scene as a physical yet classy presence all across the back line, this figure would unfortunately decrease with each passing season.

With just three appearances to his name this campaign and a 6.3 rating to show for them, his downfall is truly exacerbated.

Pundit Jamie O’Hara even took to talkSPORT (5:38 pm, February 11, 2023) earlier this year to claim: “Tanganga, how he is still playing for Tottenham, I don’t know. It looks like he has got ice skates on him every time he is defending. It’s embarrassing.”

However, with increased prominence in and around the senior squad, no matter how poor the form, the £25k-per-week dud has still seen a valuation increase.

Transfermarkt has overseen this rise, suggesting that in September 2019 he was worth just €800k (£702k). However, despite the aforementioned underperformance, that has grown to €9m (£7.9m) as of November 2022. This marks a 1,025% rise across a three-year period.

With numerous poor performers culminating in what is set to be another year without a trophy, Tanganga could be an unfortunate but wholly necessary casualty of the impending revolution this summer should bring.

Arsenal could need to sign two midfielders this summer amid 'ongoing fears' over Thomas Partey, according to journalist Dean Jones.

Who could Edu sign this summer?

Transfer chief and sporting director Edu is reportedly a busy man behind-the-scenes, having apparently identified numerous targets ahead of the next transfer window.

Indeed, while Mikel Arteta's squad contend for their first Premier League title in nearly 20 years, the hierarchy allegedly aren't wasting time in preparing for next season.

Among the names to have been linked with a move to the Emirates Stadium is West Ham star Declan Rice, who Arsenal have apparently earmarked as a top target and are willing to pay north of £100 million (Football Insider).

An alternative to the 24-year-old could be Brighton midfielder Moises Caicedo – a player Edu was thought to be seriously chasing in January.

There have been other names mentioned for a variety of different positions with Wolfsburg defender Ridle Baku and Juventus striker Dusan Vlahovic also attracting Arsenal's interest.

It could be a busy summer for the north Londoners as reports also suggest that they're set to spend over £100m in a serious statement of backing to Arteta.

Now, speaking to GiveMeSport, reporter Jones believes not one, but two midfielders could be signed amid 'ongoing fears' over star midfielder Partey.

The Ghana international is a crucial player in Arteta's midfield, and despite the signing of Jorginho, Jones believes Arsenal could look to seek more cover for Partey.

He explained:

"There's an obvious need for at least one midfielder, but there's possibly a need for two with Champions League football on the table and ongoing fears, too, about how they might cope if Thomas Partey was suddenly missing from the side."

Who should Arsenal sign to support Partey?

The 29-year-old is an imperious figure, ranking among Arsenal's best-performing players by average match rating in the league whilst making more tackles per 90 than anyone under Arteta (WhoScored).

It will take a player of real quality to replicate Partey's influence, and we believe Rice could be the best option.

The Irons captain is David Moyes' best-performing star overall this campaign, averaging more interceptions per 90 than any other West Ham player (WhoScored).

He even replicated that form for England at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, again making more interceptions per match than any other Three Lions player (WhoScored).

Rice is also homegrown and already proven in the Premier League, making him a sure-fire candidate to add some steel to Arsenal's central midfield.

Liverpool have been uninspiring this season after so many years of excellent work under Jurgen Klopp's management, and have targetted thriving midfielder Khéphren Thuram to bolster the pack ahead of the new campaign.

What's the latest on Khephren Thuram to Liverpool?

According to 90min, the 21-year-old has admitted that he is aware of the mounting interest in his signature ahead of the summer transfer window after receiving a maiden call-up to France's international squad, with the Reds joined by top-flight rivals Manchester United and Newcastle United in vying for a deal.

Inter Milan, Juventus and Paris Saint-Germain all have one eye on the rising star too, and Liverpool would be wise to make the requisite moves to tie up a deal swiftly, before rival suitors pluck him from OGC Nice.

Journalist Jacque Talbot tweeted in January to confirm that the Reds had held talks with the player, also stating that a fee of at least £30m would be demanded to prise him away from Ligue 1, with the ace out of contract in 2025.

How would Thuram fare at Liverpool?

The tension currently bubbling away at Anfield has scarcely been felt at the club for a multitude of years, with Liverpool languishing seven points outside the top-four and defeated in every cup competition this season, despite winning last year's FA Cup and Carabao Cup trophies and reaching the final of the Champions League.

The failures of the midfield have been illuminated by the likes of The Athletic, describing the inability to protect the defence and a collective loss of cohesion as contributing factors behind the decline.

By completing a deal for Thuram, Klopp could make a major stride toward rekindling the fire that has waned, with the Frenchman having already made 128 appearances for his outfit, scoring eight goals and providing 11 assists.

Hailed as having "the perfect profile" by journalist Alex Jaquin, the assiduous midfielder has impressed this term, registering an average rating of 7.03, as per Sofascore, completing 87% of his passes, creating seven big chances and forging 1.5 tackles per match.

His assured passing and the robustness of his all-encompassing arsenal certainly hint toward a prosperous career, providing Liverpool with a high-octane component that has been discernibly lacking.

Liverpool need greater transitional efficacy to revitalise the centre, and with the £15k-per-week machine ranking among the top 3% of all midfielders across Europe's top five leagues for progressive carries and the top 9% for successful take-ons per 90, as per FBref, there is undoubtedly an allure to snatching his signature, precocious in his abilities as the central engine.

With a swoop, Klopp could even wield his own version of Federico Valverde, who has been imperious for Real Madrid over the past several years and is listed by FBref as a comparable player to the Nice ace.

The Uruguayan, who Liverpool were interested in last year, himself ranks among the top 8% of midfielders for progressive carries per 90, valued at an incredible £141m by CIES Football Observatory and playing a defence-splitting and match-winning assist to sink the Liverpool ship in the UCL finale last term.

Once hailed as "unbelievable" by Premier League icon Joe Cole, Valverde's signature may have slipped through Klopp's fingers like sand in the past, but replicating his exploits in the mould of Thuram could yet restore the once unrelenting intensity to Anfield once again.

Transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano has revealed that Manchester United are interested in Jeremie Frimpong but are not in “active” discussions over a transfer.

What are the latest Frimpong rumours to Man Utd?

It seems as though the Bayer Leverkusen right-back has been a target for the club for some time as a possible move was rumoured in the January transfer market window.

What’s more, Bundesliga insider Christian Falk recently told CaughtOffside that the Red Devils are “getting closer and closer” with talks likely having already taken place.

However, it sounds as though United aren’t quite that far down the line as of yet. Indeed, while talking on his YouTube channel, Romano explained that there is “no contact” between the two clubs yet despite genuine interest.

He said (2:33): “In the last few hours, we heard some stories about Jeremie Frimpong linked to Manchester United move for the summer.

“What we can say is that we say October, November. Man United are following the player they have constantly their scouts keeping an eye on Jeremie Frimpong.

“He is one of many right-backs they’re following but at the moment, from what I understand, there is no contact at all between Man United and Bayern Leverkusen.

“No negotiation,  no concrete or active discussion and so at the moment it is just following the player and nothing else and this is important to clarify.

“Because, let me remind you, the priority and the focus of Man United in that position is to extend the contract of Diogo Dalot as soon as possible.”

Why do Man Utd want Frimpong?

As Romano makes clear, United seem to be keen on keeping Dalot at the club, having actually triggered a contract extension for him earlier this season.

Still, that just adds 12 months to his deal and so his long-term future remains somewhat in doubt. What’s more, Aaron Wan-Bissaka has long been linked with a move out of the club and so an alternative right-back may be needed soon enough.

Frimpong certainly has impressed this season, becoming a regular starter for Bayer Leverkusen with plenty of attacking threat too. Indeed, he has five goals and seven assists in 30 outings across all competitions.

On top of that obvious quality, having come through the Manchester City academy he counts as a homegrown player and so this could make him an even more tantalising prospect tin the market.

Still, it sounds as though a deal isn’t close to being agreed just yet.

Everton striker Ellis Simms was ‘out of his depth’ during the Premier League game vs Liverpool on Monday evening, according to journalist Josh Bunting.

The Lowdown: Derby defeat at Anfield

The Toffees were the visitors at Anfield last night but suffered a 2-0 defeat thanks to goals from Mohamed Salah and Cody Gakpo either side of half time.

The Merseyside outfit recalled the 22-year-old from his loan at Sunderland in December and Sean Dyche handed him a starting place for the highly-anticipated derby against their rivals.

However, the 6 foot 2 starlet was substituted on 61 minutes after failing to make a significant impact, losing possession more times (eight) than he completed a pass (seven), which has since seen him come under a bit of scrutiny.

The Latest: Bunting’s reaction

Taking to Twitter after the game, Bunting delivered a brutally honest verdict on Simms’ underwhelming performance for Everton. He wrote:

“Sadly Ellis Simms just isn’t ready yet for the Premier League, understand why Everton recalled him with the form he was showing at Sunderland but he’s out of his depth tonight. Need to play him in a two really but he’s just not up to this pace yet, hard game for him to come into.”

The Verdict: A matter of time…

Simms has only made four top-flight appearances throughout his entire career so it will take some getting used to, but it’ll hopefully only be a matter of time before he hits the ground running.

The Blues forward scored seven goals and provided two assists in 17 appearances during his time at the Stadium of Light, showing how prolific he can be when given a consistent run in a side.

The Oldham-born talent also provided an aerial threat, having won 2.8 of his duels per league game, and with the guidance of his experienced teammates and Dyche, he’s surely capable of replicating the same level of form at Goodison Park.

Aston Villa are thought to be in the mix to sign Borussia Monchengladbach forward Marcus Thuram on a free transfer.

The Lowdown: Contract situation

Thuram, described as ‘world class’ by Wolfsburg sporting director Marcel Schafer, has been in fine form this season, contributing to 13 Bundesliga goals in 18 games.

Primarily a centre-forward who can also play out wide, the France international is out of contract at the end of the season. It appears as if Monchengladbach have given up on the chances of extending his stay in Germany, with Villa Park a potential destination.

The Latest: Transfer update

Sports Witness relayed an update from Sport regarding Thuram, where Villa were named.

They claimed that Unai Emery’s side are one of nine sides keen on his services, with clubs from Spain, Italy and German also in the mix.

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The Verdict: Perfect addition?

Thuram currently holds a €32m (£28.3m) Transfermarkt valuation and has impressed this season, so a free transfer could be a huge coup for Villa. Emery also appears to be a fan of the forward as he was allegedly determined to sign the player in the winter window, with the Villa boss making just one attacking addition in January in teenager Jhon Duran.

The 25-year-old would offer plenty of versatility at Villa Park, while also bringing experience at the highest level for club and country to the Midlands, so he could be the perfect addition to rival Ollie Watkins and Duran in the final third.

Liverpool have been dealt a blow as January midfield target Ryan Gravenberch is set to stay at Bayern Munich, Fabrizio Romano has revealed.

What’s the word?

Liverpool were linked with a loan move for the Dutchman, who has hardly featured for the club since his summer move from Ajax, but it now appears a deal is impossible.

Jurgen Klopp’s side are thought to be in the market for a central midfielder, and a deal for Gravenberch could have strengthened their squad as they look to recover from their current slump during the second half of the season.

But speaking on his YouTube channel, Romano revealed that Bayern want to keep the midfielder until the summer at the very least.

He said: “To clarify on Ryan Gravenberch. Some rumours on a potential loan deal to Liverpool or maybe to some other English club from Bayern – the message is pretty clear: Bayern want to keep the player.

“They want to keep Gravenberch, and at least until the end of the season. They trust him, they consider him an important player for their project. Of course, it’s not an easy moment for him, an easy first part of the season, but Bayern are convinced that he’s going to be a really important player in the future.

“So at the moment, they are not accepting any loan for Gravenberch and Liverpool are not negotiating for him.”

Time running out

It is clear that Liverpool need a central midfielder in the January window, but having spent £35m on Cody Gakpo, their options – and room in their transfer budget – remain limited, hence the reported interest in a loan deal.

With less than a week left in the window, the club need to find a solution that can keep them ticking over until the summer, when they could move for high-profile targets such as Jude Bellingham.

They could lose out on Bellingham if they fail to qualify for the Champions League, so any strengthening now could prove crucial.