Journalist Ben Jacobs has claimed that Arsenal are currently among the "frontrunners" to land midfield transfer target Declan Rice in the summer window.

What’s the latest on Declan Rice to Arsenal?

While the Gunners will no doubt be primarily focusing on the exploits in the Premier League as they look to win the division as he enter the final 11 games of the campaign, others will still have one eye on the upcoming transfer market.

In fact, it seems the West Ham United captain may even be looking ahead to the end of the season as he dropped a big hint about his future when saying in December that he wants to play Champions League football soon.

This no doubt would have put a number of clubs on high alert and while speaking about the player on the Devils United podcast, Jacobs said Manchester United and Chelsea are both keen on the player but tipped Arsenal to get the deal done if things remain as they are.

He said: "Declan Rice is a player that Manchester United have liked for a while, but Arsenal and Chelsea are thought to be the frontrunners.

"And the reason for that is because, a bit like what I said a moment ago, Rice just really likes living in London and has spoken glowingly about Mikel Arteta.

"So I sense that Arsenal are frontrunners, but Chelsea are still very much in that race as well."

Why does Declan Rice want to join Arsenal?

As Jacobs alludes to, Rice is understood to be very keen to learn under manager Arteta – with the midfielder said to be a big fan of the Spaniard (via The Guardian).

What's more, the Gunners seem to be in the market for a big new midfielder signing – evidenced by their failed attempts to sign Moises Caicedo in the winter – so the West Ham captain may be able to see a clear path for him to claim a spot in the starting XI.

On top of that, the club's superb season now means the prospect of winning major trophies in the near future is a lot more realistic and this will no doubt appeal to Rice who is yet to win any silverware up to this point in his career.

Of course, clubs like Chelsea and Man Utd will also be able to offer him similar incentives, so it's not a done deal just yet. But it does feel as though this transfer is in Arsenal's hands for now.

Everton's season has been poor. Few people would debate that statement. But that is not to suggest that certain individuals have not performed well amidst the chaos and dogged relegation scrap.

For a period their defence was one of the best in the Premier League, and if not for a brutal mid-season collapse under Frank Lampard, they surely would have upheld this had Sean Dyche replaced him sooner.

The former Burnley boss did not waste time outlining the issues at the club, packing out the midfield to protect the back four which has resulted in a few vital wins to lift them out of the relegation zone.

In fact, since he joined the club the Toffees sit fourth in the form table, with only Arsenal, Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur above them.

His impact has been borderline revolutionary and has finally seen the best of James Tarkowski once again, although his levels have never really dropped despite the rest of his team's failures.

It was therefore a huge disappointment to see him omitted from Gareth Southgate's most recent England squad, although it hardly came as a surprise.

Should James Tarkowski be picked for England?

Back in 2017, Gareth Southgate proudly proclaimed: "I never pick on reputation — form has to come into it."

However, it is quite clear that since then he has developed certain favourites who maintain their place within his squad regardless of club form.

Until recently, Conor Coady was a mainstay within the England squad despite seldom actually playing. Whilst this was likely due to what he could offer within the dressing room, the continued selection of the likes of Eric Dier, Harry Maguire and Kalvin Phillips have all raised eyebrows.

The latter two in particular, given how neither plays regularly for their clubs.

Meanwhile, Tarkowski has played every minute of their albeit poor Premier League campaign thus far, yet without him their situation would look considerably more dismal. For comparison, the Manchester United defender has started just five times in the league for his club.

The fact that the Toffees' stopper has also maintained a 7.19 rating throughout a tumultuous campaign too, the highest rating of any of his teammates to feature over five times, further exacerbates his importance. The 7.00 average rating of Maguire is also somewhat gratuitous given his far smaller sample size within a squad boasting far more quality. However, it still does not compare to the former.

It is no wonder that other pundits were pleading with Southgate to take the £100k-per-week titan to the World Cup, with Danny Mills even telling Match of the Day (via the Daily Star): "He's [Tarkowski] the best English centre-half we have that's playing regularly. He's been that good."

Whilst his level hasn't dropped from that period, it feels like his opportunity to feature for his national team dwindles with each passing break.

Evertonians are seldom surprised to see their top players snubbed, so Tarkowski will have to do something truly exceptional to add to the two caps earned back in 2018.

Southampton manager Ruben Selles was spotted fuming at winger Mohamed Elyounoussi during Saturday’s vital 1-0 victory over Leicester City.

The Lowdown: Saints seal must-win…

Selles’ men secured a must-win over Premier League relegation rivals Leicester at the weekend, a match which could well be crucial in determining their top flight survival.

Midfielder Charly Alcaraz grabbed the game’s only goal ten minutes before half time with Southampton doing enough to shut the visitors out and confirm a huge three points.

During the match, however, Selles was spotted unimpressed with Southampton’s general play with one squad member in particular baring the brunt.

The Latest: Selles spotted angry with Elyounoussi…

At a time where the Saints were clinging on, resisting the Leicester onslaught, journalist Jacob Tanswell spotted Selles ‘really not happy’ Southampton’s carelessness in possession.

The St. Mary’s coach ‘slapped his thighs’ at Elyounoussi specifically after he sloppily lost the ball, especially with the home side sinking deeper and deeper in their half.

The Verdict: Unscathed…

The south coast side came through unscathed but came close to conceding on a number of occasions, with Leicester even striking the crossbar very, very late on.

Southampton supporters were dealt some scary moments as the Foxes also had a free kick right on the edge of the box and worked for corner after corner in the last few minutes.

Game management is a key aspect of football, especially in a division as ruthless as the top flight, and Selles will surely be addressing that to his team after a hard-fought victory.

Had Southampton retained the ball slightly better, there perhaps would’ve been fewer heart-in-mouth moments.

Everton have improved under Sean Dyche, with his appointment following the sacking of Frank Lampard giving the club a decent chance of retaining their Premier League status.

He has lost three times in the league since taking charge and with a few more positive results in the run in, the Toffees should be safe.

Jordan Pickford has been solid in the previous two matches, averaging a rating of 7.1/10 and he could be key over the remaining few months of the campaign.

The goalkeeper has made over 200 appearances for the club and with a contract that runs until 2027, he still has a few years left at the top.

Dyche might not need to look far for an heir to the England international, with a young keeper in the academy looking like he could well be ready to make the step-up to senior level in the next couple of years – Zan-Luk Leban.

Who is Zan-Luk Leban?

The 20-year-old has already excelled at youth level for both club and country during his short career. He joined Everton from Polish side FCB Escola Varsovia and although his first season was disrupted by injury, he has gone on to excel.

Across the U18 and U21 age groups, he has made 66 appearances, keeping 14 clean sheets in that time.

He also has experience at international level too, with the keeper playing 15 times at youth level for Slovenia across the U16 and U17 levels while making his U21 debut recently, proving that his country value him as potentially one of the players who could take over from Jan Oblak when he eventually retires.

The Athletic’s Patrick Boyland has previously dubbed the player “exceptional” and the 6 foot 2 titan certainly displayed his qualities during the EFL Trophy this season, playing four matches in the competition.

He averaged a rating of 6.83/10 via Sofascore, while conceding just two goals from those four games and making 2.5 saves per game – a success rate of 83% and these stats are evident that he can perform to a high standard moving up a level and facing senior opposition, which will stand him in good stead for the future.

Dyche appears to have a future gem on his hands in Leban and although Pickford is the undisputed starter at the moment, the cup competitions could be an area where he is unleashed next term.

Liverpool are interested in a swoop for Bayern Munich midfielder Ryan Gravenberch, who has been struggling to find his feet in the German Bundesliga.

What's the latest on Gravenberch to Liverpool?

According to The Athletic's James Pearce, the Dutch maestro is "under consideration" by Reds manager Jurgen Klopp and technical director Julian Ward, with a bid possibly forthcoming this summer.

The precocious midfielder joined Bayern in the summer for €24m (£20m) from Ajax, but has failed to make the impact desired thus far, subsequently linked with a move to Merseyside in January, though the player rebuffed the advances from Premier League suitors.

Valued at £44m by CIES Football Observatory, it is unlikely that the ace would be available for anything even close to cheaper than that fee, but with Liverpool interested in signing Jude Bellingham, who is rated at €125m (£110m), Gravenberch could be a shrewd alternative.

Should Liverpool sign Gravenberch?

Hailed as "one of the biggest talents in Europe" by Bavarian sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic, Gravenberch made a resounding start to life in Europe, attracting attention from a plethora of top outfits before making the move to Munich.

With Ajax, the 20-year-old scored 12 goals and supplied 13 assists from 103 appearances in the maiden phase of his career, flourishing as indeed one of the best teenage talents on the globe.

His spell at Bayern has certainly been less fruitful thus far, having scored just one goal and assist apiece and starting only four times across all competitions, but given the imperious nature of Julian Nagelsmann's outfit and Gravenberch's tender age, this is hardly a detriment to his impressive skill set.

The prowess of the Netherlands' "greatest talent" – as dubbed by former Ajax forward Wim Kieft – is evidenced through statistics provided by FBref, with the £156k-per-week phenom ranking among the top 11% of midfielders across Europe's top five leagues for shot-creating actions, the top 8% for total shots and the top 9% for progressive passes received, illustrating a transitional nature that would be a coveted asset at Anfield right now.

Frankly, Liverpool have been lacklustre and lifeless for large parts of the season, out of every cup competition and languishing six points off Tottenham Hotspur who occupy fourth spot.

And with the ever-reliable David Ornstein recently revealing that the Reds' prospects of clinching their top target, Bellingham, hang by a thread after concerns over the price involved and affluence of rival suitors, Klopp might be wise to make contingency plans.

The £27k-per-week ​​​​​​​"superstar" – as lauded by Rio Ferdinand – ranks himself among the top 11% of midfielders for shot-creating actions and progressive passes received per 90, also ranking among the top 1% for successful take-ons and the top 6% for progressive passes, and Bayern's prodigy seems to mirror the skill set; perhaps not quite refined, Klopp could mould the gem to his clay nonetheless.

Proclaimed to be a future "world-beater" by De Telegraaf journalist Marcel van der Kraan, Gravenberch holds the acumen and wields the tools to be a superlative midfield force over the coming years, and with minutes hard to come by at the Allianz Arena, Klopp must instigate a swoop and replenish Liverpool's midfield.

Newcastle United ended their recent wobble by edging past Wolverhampton Wanderers at St James’ Park on Sunday evening, with Eddie Howe’s men claiming all three points for the first time since beating Fulham back in January.

Having gone five Premier League games without a win – as well as losing in the Carabao Cup final to Manchester United – the Magpies had hit something of a rocky patch heading into yesterday’s encounter, with the club’s top-four hopes beginning to ebb way.

Despite those recent frustrations, the Tynesiders produced an excellent response to see off Julen Lopetegui’s side, with goals from Alexander Isak and Miguel Almiron proving the difference either side of Hwang Hee-chan’s close-range effort.

That impressive showing proved a welcome return to the side for midfield star, Joe Willock, with the former Arsenal man – who hadn’t started in the league since the draw with West Ham United – leading the way with his 7.8 match rating, as per Sofascore.

That eye-catching display from the 23-year-old saw the playmaker register an assist for Almiron’s late strike and provide two key passes in total, having also completed four of his six dribbles and won a solid six ground duels.

The London-born dynamo was not the only figure to have proven his worth in that 2-1 triumph, however, with compatriot Jacob Murphy also making the most of what was a rare start in the league.

How did Murphy perform against Wolves?

While Murphy has been a regular fixture under Howe during the latter man’s tenure to date – having featured more frequently than any other player in that time – the 28-year-old has largely been an impact player off the bench this season, making just six league starts thus far.

As such, it was undoubtedly a bold call for the Newcastle boss to include the winger in his starting lineup for the visit of the Old Gold, although the experienced asset seemingly passed that test with flying colours.

As the Chronicle’s Jordan Cronin stated, Murphy deserves a “special mention” for his performance against the Midlands side, having “more than justified his selection” despite the initial concern over his inclusion in the side.

The former Norwich City speedster simply ‘ran himself into the ground’ in that relentless display down the right flank, as per journalist Lee Ryder, notably winning four duels as a marker of that willing work ethic.

The £35k-per-week machine also attempted five crosses and completed 12 of his 16 passes, having showcased a real desire to make things happen in the final third – even while losing possession on 13 occasions.

There is, undoubtedly, a need for the 5 foot 10 menace to provide a greater end product when it matters, although it will be truly invaluable for Howe to have such a committed and hard-working figure to call upon when needed.

With January arrival Anthony Gordon facing a brief spell on the sidelines due to injury, there is now likely to be an even greater onus on Murphy to perform, with Sunday’s 85-minute outing seemingly indicating that the Wembley-born gem is up to the task.

Tottenham’s interest in Fulham boss Marco Silva is ‘increasing’ as a contract update comes to light courtesy of 90min.

The Lowdown: Conte exit nears…

It is perhaps an open secret in football that Spurs head coach Antonio Conte looks very likely to depart at the end of this Premier League season.

There is currently little appetite to trigger the 12-month extension clause in Conte’s deal, so as things stand, it looks like he will leave this summer.

The Italian has even admitted the club could sack him earlier than that, stating:

“My contract expires in June, we will see – they might sack me even before the end of the season. Perhaps the expectations were higher and they may be disappointed? What matters for a coach is trying to work and raise the bar. This year we are struggling to raise the bar.”

Spurs have already drawn up a shortlist of candidates to replace him, which includes a host of prestigious names like Mauricio Pochettino, Thomas Tuchel and Luis Enrique.

The Latest: Spurs handed Silva boost?

As per 90min, Spurs may have been handed a small boost in pursuit of Fulham boss Silva, who is also rumoured to be a target for the club.

Tottenham’s interest is ‘increasing’ in the Spaniard, and as the Whites attempt to tie him down with a new deal, talks over fresh terms have now stalled with Spurs lurking.

90min journalist Sean Walsh, sharing the news on Twitter, explained:

“Fulham are trying to tie Marco Silva down to a new contract, but talks have stalled recently amid increasing interest from Tottenham.”

The Verdict: Perfect alternative to Poch?

Dare we say, if Spurs cannot facilitate a move for fan favourite Pochettino, Silva actually shares some similarities with the Argentine.

Both have worked wonders on a shoe-string budget in the past, with Fulham spending just £62 million since being promoted back to the top flight.

The two managers also encourage expansive attacking football, which could be a potentially key factor in Spurs’ chase for a Conte replacement.

Indeed, Silva and Pochettino both hold one league title on their CV, with the latter man finally winning one with PSG last year.

The former, meanwhile, clinched Greek Super League glory with Olympiacos in 2016.

Spurs journalist Jack Pitt-Brooke has also heaped praise on 45-year-old and Fulham this season, stating:

“Brilliant movement in attack and they all work so hard for each other. Marco Silva is doing a sensational job there, and proving a lot of people wrong.

Aston Villa are thought to be plotting a move for Southampton defender Mohammed Salisu this summer, according to Football Insider.

The Lowdown: Expecting a busy summer

NSWE were willing to hand Unai Emery a ‘huge’ January transfer budget after he took over from Steven Gerrard last year, however, the Spaniard only brought in two players in Alex Moreno and Jhon Duran.

He has improved the current squad, taking them comfortably away from the danger zone after picking up 26 points from his opening 14 Premier League games in charge.

It seems as if there could be plenty of incomings and outgoings in the summer following a relatively quiet window, with chief executive Christian Purslow “expecting an extremely busy summer”.

Ashley Preece has previously said that ‘a new No.9 to partner Ollie Watkins is at the top of Villa’s shopping list this summer’, while also adding that ‘the defence will be strengthened’. It seems as if Emery and co may have identified their defensive target in Salisu.

The Latest: Villa keen

Football Insider shared a transfer update in the last 24 hours regarding Salisu and Villa. They revealed that those at Villa Park are plotting to sign the Southampton defender over the coming months, with Salisu possibly available for £25m.

Premier League rivals Leicester City and Manchester United are also thought to be keen on the 23-year-old, with the report adding that the Saints are bracing themselves for interest.

The Verdict: Shrewd signing?

Salisu arrived at Southampton back in 2020 and has gone on to make 80 appearances for the club, 28 of which have come during the current campaign.

The Ghana international has been a solid performer in what has been a struggling Saints side. Salisu is currently Southampton’s joint second-best performer behind James Ward-Prowse, as per WhoScored, averaging a better match rating than any Villa defender.

He has been hailed as a ‘nasty’ defender in his duels by his old Saints boss Ralph Hasenhuttl, something which is proven with Salisu making more tackles per 90 than any of his teammates. The centre-back has also averaged a whopping 5.4 clearances per game, more than the likes of Tyrone Mings and Ezri Konsa.

The Saints man appears to be at the top of his game in England with a career-high €18m Transfermarkt valuation, so if he is unable to help keep his current employers in the top flight, a move to the Midlands could be one to keep an eye on.

Aston Villa return to long-awaited Premier League action today, but face a tough test as they travel to the capital to face a resurgent Chelsea side.

The Blues had enjoyed a fine turnaround under Graham Potter but were halted last time out against Sean Dyche's resilient Everton. He has provided the blueprint for all visiting sides seeking to snatch some points from Stamford Bridge, and Unai Emery will look to build upon it further.

Having impressed since joining, the Spaniard is seeking to further separate his side from the eight teams embroiled in a relegation battle and push the Villans ever closer to an unlikely European push.

Surprisingly, these sides actually sit on the same points after 27 games, effectively making this a huge mid-table six-pointer.

To truly give themselves the best possible chance of winning, the Midlands outfit will have to be resolute at the back and clinical in the final third. As such, perhaps it could merit a recall for Lucas Digne in the place of Alex Moreno.

Will Lucas Digne start for Aston Villa?

Although the Frenchman has not had the desired impact since moving from Merseyside, having been signed by former manager Steven Gerrard, the £160k-per-week full-back remains a quality creative asset who is bound to come good eventually.

Perhaps starting him in a game of this magnitude could be the vote of faith needed to reignite the form that saw him revered by the Toffees.

During his final full season at Goodison Park, he provided seven assists for a side that finished decidedly in mid-table, outlining just how important he could be contributing to the attack.

His offensive impetus could prove key in exploiting Chelsea's big weakness, which coincidentally is down the flanks.

Although they have been somewhat toothless going forward, they boast one of the best defences in the league this season. However, given the three-at-the-back system that Potter prefers, it often surrenders plenty of space out wide; especially with Reece James and Ben Chilwell pushing on.

Therefore, Digne could look to overlap into that space, and with that cutting edge, he could be clinical enough to provide a killer blow.

He has maintained 0.8 key passes per game in a season where he is averaging just 65 minutes per outing, as per Sofascore. Especially when he'll be supplementing the red-hot Ollie Watkins, who boasts seven goal contributions across his last eight appearances.

Digne's experience will also help him know when the right time to push forward is, which his former Toffees boss Marco Silva lauded during his debut year in England. He said:

"Fantastic football player, a fantastic professional, works always with a big ambition, and he’s a winner – he likes to win, not just in the matches but in every training session as well."

With Moreno posting the worst rating of any of Emery's starters last time out, this switch seems like the natural decision to exploit that space in behind, so the Spaniard must look to unleash the decisive 29-year-old today.

South Africa have put a player on standby to take Aaron Phangiso’s place in the World Twenty20 squad, but remain hopeful they will not need to replace the left-arm spinner

Firdose Moonda01-Mar-2016

South Africa have put a player on standby to take Aaron Phangiso’s place in the World Twenty20 squad, but remain hopeful they will not need to replace the left-arm spinner. Phangiso’s action was found to be illegal when he was tested on Friday after being reported during a domestic game. Phangiso will undergo five days of intensive remedial work before a second round of tests next Monday, three days before South Africa leave for the World T20.”We had a conference call with the selectors last night and Linda Zondi will probably announce a replacement in the next couple of days should Phangiso not be able to go to the World Cup. We have put somebody on standby,” Russell Domingo, South Africa’s coach said in Durban, where the squad have assembled in preparation for their T20 series against Australia.”He is going to put in a lot of work over these next couple of days. He has got about five or six sessions before he gets retested on Monday in Pretoria. Hopefully we will get a good report on Tuesday and Wednesday and he is able to join us on Thursday when we leave. We’ve got to try and rectify whatever we can over the next couple of days and hopefully he is deemed legal.”Phangiso will remain with the squad, but not be considered for selection for the first two matches. Instead, he will be working with spin consultant Claude Henderson and high performance manager Vincent Barnes to rectify his action. If his action is declared legal by next Wednesday , it is likely Phangiso will play in the third T20 at Newlands because Domingo wants to give “everyone game time,” ahead of the World T20.Should Phangiso’s action still need work after Monday’s tests, he will be replaced in the national squad most likely, but not conclusively, by another spinner. Currently, Phangiso is the only back-up to legspinner Imran Tahir and South Africa may want another slower bowling option in their squad. Their options, though, are limited.Eddie Leie was the other spinner in contention for the World T20 squad but has been carrying a hamstring niggle in recent weeks. Leie’s injury worsened on Sunday, when he had to leave the field after bowling 5.3 overs in the Momentum One Day Cup final. Dane Piedt, who had the best economy rate among spinners in the One Day Cup, could also be in contention, while the likes of Tabraiz Shamsi and Keshav Maharaj, who have played for South Africa A, may be considered too inexperienced for a major tournament.Alternatively, South Africa may abandon the idea of another spinner and rely solely on Tahir, especially because the chances of playing two spinners in the XI are slim.”We need to look at conditions there. When we played one-day cricket there, the only wicket that spun appreciably was the one in Chennai,” Domingo said. “The others were good one-day wickets. Their one-day and T20 wickets are a little bit different to their Test wickets so we need to ask if it is going to deteriorate.”Given that is unlikely the pitches will crumble, South Africa may see Phangiso’s possible unavailability as an opportunity to add an extra quick bowler such as Morne Morkel or another allrounder, like Albie Morkel, who were both left out initially.