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West Ham United are assessing their options on the transfer front regarding their shot-stopping options, with Sevilla’s Yassine Bounou eyed as the perfect heir to veteran stalwart Lukasz Fabianski…

What’s the latest on Yassine Bounou to West Ham?

According to Spanish outlet AS (via Sport Witness), the Hammers have joined the race to sign the Moroccan Bounou, who starred during his nation’s commendable run to the semi-finals in Qatar, and could make a move for the ace, who is believed to have a €50m (£44m) release clause in his contract.

The Irons would face stiff competition, however, with a separate report from Spain stating last month that Premier League champions Manchester City are interested in the 31-year-old goalkeeper.

Is Bounou the perfect Fabianski heir?

Fabianski, 37, is firmly within the twilight phase of his career, albeit still performing admirably, and with his contract at the London Stadium set to expire in June – although with the option for a one-year extension – moves might indeed be made to land Bounou ahead of the new season.

The £65k-per-week shot-stopper has been a staunch and impressive figure between the sticks for the Irons since arriving from Swansea City for £7m in 2018 following the club’s relegation from the Premier League.

Having made 162 appearances, including 23 this term, the 57-cap Polish star has been at the centre of the east London outfit’s revival under the tutelage of David Moyes and despite the woes this year, West Ham have clinched Europe across the past two campaigns and indeed await the knockout phase of the Europa Conference League next month.

But time waits for no man, and the Hammers hierarchy could soon look to ditch the former Arsenal ace in the stead of a more youthful, vibrant option, at least in goalkeeping terms and Bounou fits the bill.

Having made 128 appearances for Sevilla, keeping 56 clean sheets, ‘Bono’ saw his value skyrocket after playing an integral role in his nation’s exploits in Qatar, becoming the first African nation to reach the final four of a World Cup.

Via Sofascore, the keeper played six of Morocco’s seven matches, recording an impressive rating of 6.98 and keeping three clean sheets, notably starring against Spain in the last-16, repelling the former world champions’ advances and then producing a scintillating display in the penalty shootout, clinching a stunning 8.0 match rating.

Heaping adulation on his compatriot after the match, ex-Wolves titan Roman Saiss said:

“It is amazing for him. He had a heroic game today, not only during the penalties. He just wanted to show why he was named best LaLiga goalkeeper last season. He is a great keeper, he proved it against Spain. We owe him a lot today.”

And with a desire to wade through the thick of the action, Bounou ranks among the top 15% of positional peers for touches over the past year, illustrating his orchestrating demeanour as he demands the ball and swiftly looks to instigate forward manoeuvres from the back.

Having already produced a “monster” performance against Manchester United in the Europa League in 2020, as lauded by writer Ives Galarcep, the gem is well accustomed to the robust nature of Premier League outfits, and he could slot seamlessly into Moyes’ squad, playing a pivotal role in the club’s resurgence after a forgettable domestic campaign.

Bounou would be a brilliant addition to the team, with shot-stopping prowess, ball-playing assurance and pedigree on football’s biggest stage; Fabianski has been excellent for West Ham, but Bounou can take his baton.

Tottenham Hotspur have quite an impressive academy set-up, with several players transitioning from young hopefuls to first-team stars over the years, and the north London hotbed is capable of producing many more talents in the near future…

Who is Spurs youngster Kallum Cesay?

Ahead of this weekend’s Premier League clash with Chelsea, several U23 starlets were involved in the senior training session at Hotspur Way, one of which being versatile gem Kallum Cesay, according to football.london.

He was one of four academy prospects to receive a high-five from striker Harry Kane, who is no doubt the shining example of the path to stardom that they could take at the club.

Primarily a right-back, Cesay is also capable of playing in defensive and central midfield, which could surely be a valuable asset to manager Antonio Conte or whoever is in charge heading into next season.

The 20-year-old has also featured for his national side, Sierra Leone, at senior level and scored a match-winning brace on his debut to beat the Republic of Congo 2-1 in March 2021.

How is Cesay getting on at Hotspur Way?

Standing at 6 foot 2, the youngster is quite the composing figure, which leads to some belief that his future may well lie as an anchorman or ball-winning midfielder, rather than out on the flanks.

Last season, he racked up 22 appearances for Spurs’ U21 side in the Premier League 2 and has since maintained his place in Wayne Burnett’s side by featuring in 17 games across the same competition, as well as the EFL Trophy.

An outing against Brighton and Hove Albion’s youth side earlier this month even saw Cesay provide an assist from defensive midfield, which further highlights his multi-faceted game.

Whilst Kane is the pinnacle of success for any Spurs youngster, a player like the versatile 20-year-old could well follow in the footsteps of Oliver Skipp as someone that has been in and out of the side for the last few years, even going out on loan to Norwich City in 2020/21.

The 22-year-old is a fine case of what could happen if you’ve got the quality and show some loyalty in the progression system around N17.

Cesay’s ability to play in a multitude of positions will certainly aid his case, especially with Conte currently light on midfield options, owing to long-term injuries to Rodrigo Bentancur and Yves Bissouma, whilst the wing-back roles have always been contentious since the Italian took the helm.

The Newham-born prodigy has previously been lauded as a “really promising prospect” whose “prospects and development have gone through the roof” by Football Insider’s John Wenham.

As such, it could be Cesay who could emerge as the next Skipp at Tottenham, with signs of him being in first-team training a very positive step in him doing so.

AND in other news, Paratici eyeing 6 ft 4 “monster” in Spurs summer swoop, he’s a bargain Son successor…

Everton have suffered through a trying season, which seems destined to head towards yet another nervy climax in a desperate bid to avoid the drop.

There have seldom been things to celebrate for the Toffees, who have just five wins to their name after 24 matches.

It seemed like the misery almost culminated in the £45m sale of academy graduate Anthony Gordon last month, and whilst it represented great value, his sale was one of many at Goodison Park that has yet to be replaced.

This is a trend that stretches back over a decade, with Romelu Lukaku, Ross Barkley, John Stones and even Marouane Fellaini all having left with no viable replacement brought in.

The latter could finally be set to have his spot filled, should Sean Dyche look to his academy where a wealth of talent is just waiting to be unleashed. His standout substitution would surely be Tyler Onyango.

Can Tyler Onyango be Everton’s new Fellaini?

Standing at 6 foot 3, the 19-year-old giant is just one inch short of the Belgian powerhouse who too plied his trade in midfield for the Blues.

Whilst earning praise for his offensive capabilities which won him his move to Manchester United, he would prove to be equally adept in a holding role as his growing age sped up his decline.

When venturing forward, his hold-up play and immense physicality drew particular praise from David Moyes, who noted that “he’s the best in the world with controlling with his chest. It sticks, it’s soft. He’s a problem to the opposition.”

Although a slightly more all-action midfielder, Onyango could occupy a similar role within Dyche’s system as Fellaini dud under the Scotsman, which allows him to join the striker and offer a true threat in the air. 

He boasts the intelligence and work rate to do so, with the teenage starlet having been lauded by journalist Adam Jones for his “good amount of pace” that makes him “hugely energetic” in the engine room.

Having earned vital senior experience this season at Forest Green Rovers under the tutelage of brutish Everton hero Duncan Ferguson, the youngster already boasts four first-team appearances too, proving himself to be an offensive threat, as the Belgian ace was.

The future is incredibly bright for Onyango, who boasts the physical and technical assets to mirror the success Fellaini found at Goodison Park.

Under Dyche too, he boasts a similar manager to Moyes who could actually play to his strengths.

Newcastle United’s Matt Ritchie is fully expected to leave Tyneside in the summer despite some reports suggesting he could take working towards a coaching role.

How long does Matt Ritchie have left on his contract?

The 33-year-old is now playing into the final months of his deal with the Magpies which does leave his position at the club hanging in the balance.

Ritchie has now been playing his football at St. James’ Park since 2016 having made a £10m move from Bournemouth to the other side of the country.

However, there is a sense the veteran will not be handed a new deal with the Toon looking to take huge strides forward under the ownership of PIF.

And speaking on The Toon Review YouTube channel, Sky Sports journalist Keith Downie has suggested there is no chance Ritchie will be staying at Newcastle for next season:

(25:40) “No chance of him staying, no.”

“I would be majorly surprised if he doesn’t move further south to be nearer his family. I think Matt Ritchie and Jamaal Lascelles have been there for a while now. And I think both of them wanted to be around for the likelihood of Newcastle getting into a cup final.”

Could Ritchie go into coaching at Newcastle?

Earlier in the season Ritchie took charge of a number of training sessions for the Toon’s academy with the 33-year-old looking to work towards his coaching badges.

And having spent so long on Tyneside, there has perhaps been a belief that Ritchie could well take up a role within the club’s set-up as a result of his knowledge of the cub.

But this does not seem to be the case with Downie fully expecting to see Ritchie depart Newcastle in the coming months.

The report from The Chronicle which highlighted the player’s involvement in the academy sessions did suggest the Toon would have been open to allowing Ritchie to depart in January had the right offer landed.

Now, Ritchie is set to have his pick of clubs when he becomes a free agent and it is probably the right time for him to move on from the Magpies.

Since Eddie Howe’s arrival on Tyneside in 2021, Ritchie has only featured 12 times for Newcastle across all competitions.

And only five of them have come from the starting XI which is a damning indication that his chances of game time are simply not there at St. James’ Park.

But there is still a lot to play for at Newcastle this season and it would be a stunning way to bow out by lifting the Carabao Cup and potentially even securing Champions League football.

Phil Hay has admitted he would be tempted to hand Rodrigo the chance to extend his Leeds United stay.

The Lowdown: Finally found his feet and form

Rodrigo had struggled for form and to justify his £26 million price tag prior to this season managing just 13 league goals for Leeds, but this season under Jesse Marsch was totally different for the Spaniard.

The forward is the club’s top scorer with 12 goals to his name in all competitions but has been plagued by injury as of late having not stepped onto the pitch since January 28, so is yet to work with new boss Javi Gracia.

However, given the lack of goals and good performances from the likes of Patrick Bamford and Georginio Rutter during his short stint at Elland Road so far, Leeds are very dependent on Rodrigo’s goals.

The Latest: Rodrigo could sign a new contract

Hay has claimed on The Phil Hay Show that Leeds could well look to offer Rodrigo a new deal if he does manage to refind his form post-injury under Gracia as he’s been dependable this term.

He said: (47:15) “I think he would even say himself that he’s been better this season than he has been in the previous two and at this stage, he’s starting to get into the latter stages of his contract.

“I actually think I’d be quite tempted to extend it if he carries on playing like this.”

The Verdict: New contract must be on sensible terms

Given that Rodrigo is set to turn 32 later this month and pushing on into the twilight years of his career, a new deal could be tricky to negotiate as Leeds wouldn’t want to be trapped into a long-term contract, whereas the striker would likely want reassurances which would be understandable as he’d want a final big payday and also because he’s been ‘excellent’ this term.

Rodrigo has indeed been Leeds’ best player this season with 12 goals across all competitions and the Whites have certainly become dependent on him as they’ve won just one game when he hasn’t been starting.

The Spaniard may be keen to extend his stay if Gracia is afforded the job on a long-term basis and also if Leeds maintain their top-flight status because if they drop into the Championship there will be next to no chance that he’s eager on playing in the second-tier of English football.

West Ham United have conducted a scouting mission to assess Lille midfielder Carlos Baleba ahead of a potential transfer swoop, according to a report.

The Lowdown: West Ham eyeing midfielder

Declan Rice could well leave the London Stadium this summer, with it recently being reported that Manchester United are now set to push Arsenal for his signature.

As such, David Moyes has started looking at potential replacements for the Englishman, and Lazio star Sergej Milinkovic-Savic is one player being linked with a move, while Bristol City’s Alex Scott is a potential younger option.

The Latest: Baleba scouted

According to a report from 90min, the Hammers have also scouted Baleba in recent months, with a view to lodging a potential transfer bid.

However, West Ham will face stiff competition for the midfielder’s signature, given that the likes of Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United are also believed to be interested.

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The Verdict: Get it done?

Hailed as ‘brilliant’ by journalist Antonio Mango, the 19-year-old is at the right age to be a long-term heir for Rice, and he has already started to force his way into the Lille team, having made 14 first-team appearances in all competitions this season.

It has been a real breakthrough season for the starlet, however, he has mainly been limited to cameo appearances off the bench, and he is yet to prove himself as a consistent performer in Ligue 1.

That said, West Ham should undoubtedly continue to monitor his performances for the rest of the season, especially considering the club now appear to be resigned to losing Rice in the summer, and a suitable replacement will be needed.

Journalist Lee Ryder has claimed that there could be a few Newcastle United absentees at the City Ground this weekend.

The Lowdown: Howe will be hoping for positive injury news

Newcastle will be hoping that they can make it back-to-back wins in the Premier League for the first time in 2023 when they travel to Nottingham Forest in the first kick-off of the weekend – although they could be walking wounded.

This is mainly because Eddie Howe admitted during his press conference that there were a few knocks and niggles after his side were part of a very physical game against Wolves last Sunday, which could be a cause for concern.

The Magpies aren’t the only side with injury woes, though, as opponents Forest are set to be without Brennan Johnson for the big clash, which will be a huge boost for Newcastle given the form he’s been in as of late.

The Latest: Newcastle players may face late fitness tests

After sitting in on Howe’s pre-match press conference, Ryder revealed on his YouTube channel that the Toon boss hinted at some potential absentees on Friday evening due to several small injuries.

He said: “Really, for Newcastle now going into this crucial period, they’re going to need everyone. Eddie Howe said today the majority of the squad should be available for Forest.

“So that is a little hint that there could be a couple of absentees. He did say that a couple of players haven’t trained this week, so we’ll have to wait and see exactly what squad turns up at the City Ground.”

The Verdict: Managing fitness and injuries will be key for Newcastle

With just 13 games left to play in the Premier League, we have certainly entered into the business end of the season, so keeping everyone fit to play in these crucial games will be very important for Newcastle’s chances of finishing in the top four.

It would be a huge shame for Newcastle and Howe if they were to miss out on European football altogether – which is possible given the form of Brighton and Brentford – so Howe’s side will need their top players fully fit to fight off some stiff competition.

Howe has had to deal with several major injury blows to his team this season, with the likes of Allan Saint-Maximin, Callum Wilson, Alexander Isak, Joe Willock and Fabian Schar all missing games so far, and they can ill afford to miss many more given how often they’ve featured this term.

YouTuber Conor McGilligan has praised Leeds United left-back Junior Firpo for his "immense" recent form.

What's the latest on Junior Firpo and Leeds?

It wasn't that long ago, that the Premier League defender's future seemed uncertain at best. Indeed, back in January, journalist Beren Cross for LeedsLive wrote about how he could be on his way out, noting he was coming to a "crossroads".

What's more, reports in Spanish media throughout the winter window claimed that former club Real Betis were interested in signing Firpo.

However, in recent weeks, under new manager Javi Gracia, the left-back has improved his form and become a regular in the team again.

And while talking about Firpo on the One Leeds Fan Channel, McGilligan was full of praise about how he's managed to turn his career around.

He said: “We needed a left-back in January, and the reason we needed a left-back was to replace Firpo, was to get [Pascal] Struijk out of that left-back position.

“But what he's done right now is… you know, I think that that was his sixth game on the bounce. And I don't think he's done that for Leeds yet, which is great.

"And I think he's been immense. I think he's been very, very, very good."

Why is Firpo starting for Leeds again?

Since coming on for Struijk against Manchester United after 23 minutes, Firpo has since started every league game for Leeds.

This means manager Gracia hasn't had any reason to drop him, even though Struijk has been fit and on the bench for the past three – meaning the defender has started six games in a row for the Whites.

Indeed, in a recent article on BBC Sport, it was claimed that Firpo is "finally showing his class" and praised him for rediscovering his best form at the perfect moment when he scored the winner against relegation rivals Southampton.

What's more, a LeedsLive article recently claimed that the 26-year-old is the "biggest winner" of Gracia’s tenure so far and noted that he is now "one of the first names on the teamsheet" due to his improved defensive and attacking displays.

All in all, it's been a good period for the defender and if he can stay on top of his game for the final run-in, he may just do enough to help Leeds avoid the drop.

Tottenham Hotspur have been told by Tony Cascarino to appoint Burnley boss Vincent Kompany after his ‘miraculous’ feats this season.

The Lowdown: Conte leaving?

As per reports in the last 24 hours, it is now widely expected that Spurs will part company with Antonio Conte before the end of this 2022/2023 Premier League campaign.

The Italian has been skating on thin ice over the last few weeks with sporting director Fabio Paratici having already drawn a shortlist of possible replacements.

Former Lilywhites boss Mauricio Pochettino is among the contenders to replace Conte, coming after his furious post–match rant at the weekend – where he took aim at both the board and squad.

He stated: 

“We are 11 players that go into the pitch. I see selfish players, I see players that don’t want to help each other and don’t put their heart (in).

“Why? Because they are used to it here, they are used to it. They don’t play for something important yeah. They don’t want to play under pressure, they don’t want to play under stress.

“It is easy in this way. Tottenham’s story is this. Twenty years there is the owner and they never won something but why? The fault is only for the club, or for every manager that stays here. I have seen the managers that Tottenham had on the bench.”

The Latest: Tottenham told to make ‘brave’ Kompany call…

Speaking in a Q&A with The Times, pundit Cascarino claims Kompany, a Man City legend who has taken Burnley to the summit of Championship football, should be a contender to take over from Conte.

When asked who should replace the 51-year-old, he stated:

“In the past Tottenham have just made an obvious choice, picking managers with the best CVs, but it’s time for them to be brave, especially as Harry Kane may well depart, which would create a completely new dynamic at the club.

“I think Vincent Kompany would be an excellent appointment after his miraculous feats at Burnley this season. He’s had little money but transformed them, adopting a new playing style.”

The Verdict: Good candidate?

The 36-year-old, barring his spell at Anderlecht before Burnley, has very little experience in terms of managing at this level.

However, Kompany is also a natural leader, with City boss Pep Guardiola even recently claiming that the Belgian is destined to coach his former team one day.

Burnley are currently dominating England’s second tier with a free-flowing, attack-minded style – scoring more goals and winning more games than any other side in the division.

They could even still become one of only a few Championship clubs to seize over 100 points in a single campaign – emphasising the incredible job he’s done at Turf Moor.

Of course, this would still be a bold move considering the big name managers available for hire right now.

Sheikh Jassim has made a second offer to take control at Manchester United, Sky Sports report.

The Lowdown: Slight delay

Jassim and Sir Jim Ratcliffe have been the front runners when it comes to a complete takeover from the Glazers, with both holding Old Trafford talks earlier this month.

However, both missed the deadline to make a second offer for the club on Wednesday in an incredible development, asking for an extension from the Raine Group in New York. That was granted, with Ratcliffe needing less than 24 hours to place his revised bid for United. It went relatively quiet when it came to Jassim’s second bid, but there has now been a development.

The Latest: Second offer

Sky Sports provided an update regarding Jassim and United in the last 24 hours. They said that a new offer has now been submitted, describing it as ‘news that Manchester United fans have been waiting for’.

‘Now the news that Manchester United fans we know have been waiting for and that is that Sheikh Jassim, the Qatari bid, a new bid has now been submitted to buy Manchester United.

‘It went in overnight, the deadline for the second bid was 9pm on Wednesday, an extension was granted. We knew that Sir Jim Ratcliffe had submitted a second bid on Thursday – now we know that Jassim has followed suit.’

The Verdict: Now we wait

It looks as if it is now down to the Glazers to provide feedback to Jassim, Ratcliffe and other parties who have made Old Trafford bids, so it could be an interesting few months.

Fabrizio Romano has stated that Jassim and his group remain confident as they believe their bid is the best one for the club, fans and local community. He also seemingly has a marquee transfer on his radar, should he take over, with Jassim thought to be a huge fan of Jude Bellingham.

That might come as music to Erik ten Hag’s ears, with the manager after a midfielder and a forward this summer, but in regards to a takeover, Jassim may have to remain patient for now.