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Another new era at Chelsea is now firmly up and running following the official unveiling of Mauricio Pochettino at the weekend and the arrival of another new player.

With Nicolas Jackson joining Christopher Nkunku in making a move to Stamford Bridge, the Blues could be about to land another talented attacking player in Flamengo teenager Matheus Franca.

Will Chelsea sign Matheus Franca?

According to the Daily Mail, Chelsea are looking to sign Franca this summer as part of a £25m deal with Brazilian heavyweights Flamengo.

The 19-year-old is no stranger to being linked with big-name clubs, having previously been touted as a target for La Liga's big two Barcelona and Real Madrid.

Newcastle United, West Ham United and Crystal Palace are also said to have shown an interest in Franca, but Chelsea could get there ahead of their Premier League rivals.

Who is Chelsea target Matheus Franca?

Franca is a versatile attacker who can play across the forward line and in central attacking midfield, which is where most of his appearances have come this season, as per WhoScored.

Chelsea are not exactly short of attacking midfielders, though that is likely to change as Mason Mount is on the verge of joining Manchester United, while Christian Pulisic is unlikely to stay at Stamford Bridge.

Mykhailo Mudryk looked set to capitalise on those exits, having struggled for any sort of rhythm since arriving in an £88.5m deal in January, but Franca's mooted arrival could spell further bad news for the Ukraine international.

Like Franca, Mudryk also operated in a number of positions last season, including central attacking midfield. Chelsea will want to get their money's worth from Mudryk, but Pochettino will not be afraid to bench the 22-year-old in favour of Franca should the Brazilian be better suited to his system.

There are similarities between the two players, as you would expect given they take up similar positions, but it could be argued that Franca is showing even more potential than Mudryk did prior to his Chelsea switch.

Taking Mudryk's figures from his final season with Shakhtar Donetsk, which ultimately paved the way for his move to Stamford Bridge, he scored 0.22 goals per 90 minutes, which compares to 0.64 for Franca at Flamengo in the 2022 season.

Franca also had a better pass-completion percentage across those respective seasons (75.1 v 70.5), as per FBref, and also played more passes that led to a shot attempt (2.56 v 2.50), which highlights his ability to link play high up the pitch.

Interestingly, the Brazil U20 international also ranked higher for tackles (2.05 v 1) and ball recoveries (3.59 v 3), showing he is also able to get stuck in if required.

More than that, though, it is his ability to find space at such a young age that has most caught the eye. "He has a very good understanding of the game, Flamengo U20s coach Fabio Matias told GloboEsporte, via Goal. "He also has the ability to be decisive in front of goal and is a great finisher."

That sounds like the player Chelsea were signing in Mudryk. While that could still be the case, it may well be that Pochettino turns to a different talented attacking midfielder in his first season at Stamford Bridge.

Journalist Andrew Musgrove has urged Newcastle United to keep Jamaal Lascelles at the club ahead of next season.

Is Jamaal Lascelles going to leave Newcastle?

The club captain has been at Newcastle since 2014, when he joined from boyhood club Nottingham Forest alongside Karl Darlow in a double-swoop for the Magpies which cost them £7m.

Since then, Lascelles has made 225 appearances for the team, captaining them in the 2016/17 campaign as they won the Championship title and subsequent return to the Premier League.

Following the arrival of Eddie Howe in 2021, however, the Englishman has found his game time reduced, with the 29-year-old making just 11 appearances for the club last season.

Despite this, it is thought that the central defender remains an important figure on Tyneside and has been a big influence in the Magpies dressing room amid the club's return to the Champions League for the first time in 20 years.

While there will be more matches for Newcastle next season, Football Insider reports that Lascelles will have to leave St James' Park this summer if he wants to get more regular first-team football, with competition for places potentially getting even tougher if reports about the club's interest in Sporting CP defender Goncalo Inacio come to bear fruit.

Reports from earlier this year stated that a sensational return to Nottingham Forest was potentially on the cards this summer, with Steve Cooper wanting to add more experience to his side. However, that interest hasn't ended up resulting in a bid just yet.

Lascelles' contract runs until the summer of 2024 and it seems unlikely that the Magpies will be offering the defender a new deal, so this summer would be the final chance for the side to cash in on the player who is closing in on 10 years on Tyneside.

But speaking on the Everything is Black & White YouTube channel, Musgrove stated that he disagrees with the result of a fan poll which stated that over 20,000 fans believed the club should sell Lascelles, citing the 29-year-old's experience and influence, as well as the quality he still has as reasons to keep him around.

Musgrove said: "He hasn't kicked off at losing his place – he's taken it in his stride and he's put his focus and attention elsewhere and become a real benefit to Newcastle United off the pitch.

"A lot of you guys will remember him picking up two bookings as a substitute, and that's the kind of thing that really reaffirms just how important he is off the pitch; he's always fighting for the club, even if he isn't kicking a ball for 90 minutes.

"And he's got the right attitude, because let's be honest, a lot of club captains who are suddenly out of the side would've kicked off, they would not have been happy. And I'm sure he's not happy at not playing, but he understands the bigger picture and he really has handled essentially being benched really, really well.

"And when he did come in against Manchester City, against Liverpool, I thought he did very well – and I think he can still play a big part in Newcastle's future going ahead, especially next season."

What should Lascelles do next season?

Lascelles has a big decision to make this summer about his career.

He is 29 years old now and should be in the prime of his career. Does he want to spend it playing regular Premier League football at his boyhood club, or does he want to captain the side he has been with for the past nine seasons into their first Champions League campaign in over two decades?

The big thing that might sway the decision is the fact that he only has a year remaining on his deal, so he could move on in the summer of 2024 and clubs wouldn't have to pay a fee. However, should he only play limited minutes next season, the question will have to be asked about whether teams should take the gamble on him.

It is a massive call for the defender to make, but he has two very appealing options, whatever he decides.

Liverpool are expected to make an offer for highly-rated Southampton midfielder Romeo Lavia, according to an update from talkSPORT.

Who is signing Romeo Lavia?

The future of the 19-year-old has been a big talking point of late, with an exit from Saints widely expected after their relegation from the Premier League to the Championship.

Lavia has been constantly linked with a move to Liverpool, as the Reds look to do major surgery to their midfield, having already acquired the services of Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai, now seeking their next addition.

The Merseysiders are far from alone from expressing an interest in signing the young Belgium international however, with fellow Premier League powerhouses such as Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea all thought to be eyeing him up.

It looks as though Liverpool could be in pole position to sign Lavia, though, following a positive update that emerged on Monday morning.

What's the latest on Lavia to Liverpool?

According to talkSPORT, Liverpool are now ready to table an offer for the Southampton starlet, as they look to snap him up during the summer transfer window:

"Liverpool are preparing an opening offer for Southampton midfielder Romeo Lavia, talkSPORT understands. The Reds have moved ahead of Chelsea in the race to sign Lavia, whom Saints have valued at £50million.

"Chelsea’s co-director of recruitment Joe Shields has recommended Lavia to new manager Mauricio Pochettino. But the Blues are thought to be exploring alternative targets for now."

This is a hugely exciting update for Liverpool, with Lavia such a talented footballer who could develop into one of the best defensive midfielders in the world over time, proving to be the perfect long-term replacement for Fabinho.

He is already a senior Belgium international, winning one cap for his country, as well as making 29 Premier League appearances. Not only has he not looked out of his depth, but he has even stood out as possibly Saints' best player over the past 12 months or so, being lauded as "ridiculous" by Southampton reporter Jacob Tanswell for his courage to take the ball from deep and beat the opposition press.

Alongside Mac Allister and Szoboszlai, Lavia could complete a major rebuild of Liverpool's midfield that last well into the future – bringing in Nice star Khephren Thuram would arguably make it a perfect summer at Anfield – and beating big six rivals to his signature would also feel significant.

Assuming he avoids serious injury, the sky is the limit for the Belgian, and the hope is that he would jump at the opportunity to working under Jurgen Klopp.

Chelsea's pursuit of Mike Maignan may have received a huge helping hand, with the Italian media, via Tribal Football, reporting that the player has refused to discuss fresh terms with AC Milan and could now leave.

How good is Mike Maignan?

The shot-stopper currently plays in Italy and has slowly established himself as Milan's first-choice option inbetween the sticks, despite having only played for the side for two seasons now.

In his first campaign in Serie A, he helped them to a league title with only 21 goals conceded in 32 games, but his minutes tailed off in 2022/23 due to an injury. In that most recent season, he played on 22 occasions and conceded 21 again, as the side dipped to fourth in the standings.

Even though his playing time fell, he still ranks as one of the best in his position across Europe. When you compare Maignan to othe 'keepers across the Men's 'Top Five' big leagues, his 50% save rate for penalty kicks puts him in the 92nd percentile there while his rate of goals against puts him comfortably in the 89th percentile.

What's the latest transfer news on Maignan?

Despite being successful so far in Milan, reports from the Italian media, via Tribal Football, suggest that the player will not be agreeing a new contract at San Siro, or even engage in talks with them.

That could mean he is available on a deal this summer, with Premier League sides Chelsea and Man United ready to pounce to bring in the 27-year-old and the player himself keen to explore something new.

Whilst he wouldn't be cheap – the asking price for the shot-stopper could be a whopping 70 million Euros (or £60m) – it appears as though a deal is doable. That is because interested parties such as the Blues are being told by intermediaries to go in with a formal bid.

Maignan has been praised for his performances in Italy with AC Milan over the last few years, with football journalist Josh Bunting for example calling the player "impressive" in the past.

His aforementioned stats certainly back that up and if he did make the move to Chelsea, then it would surely help solidify their backline given their struggles in the goalkeeper department this season.

Manchester United enjoyed a steady debut season under the tutelage of Erik ten Hag, winning the League Cup and qualifying for the Champions League, yet it may arguably be the rejuvenation of Marcus Rashford which is perhaps the best thing to come from 2022/2023.

By the end of the 2021/2022 campaign, Rashford had scored a paltry five goals and grabbed just two assists in what was a season of uncertainty and a clear lack of any ruthlessness in front of goal.

Fast forward a year later and the 25-year-old had upped these numbers to 30 goals and 13 assists, a remarkable turnaround and it was clearly the Ten Hag effect which allowed Rashford to flourish yet again, having been the golden boy of English football for so long.

With the Dutchman on the lookout for new talent that could make an impression in the United first team over the next few years, could he sign United’s next Rashford with a move for Arsenal teen starlet Ethan Nwaneri this summer?

Could Manchester United sign Ethan Nwaneri?

According to The Athletic, Man United are in the hunt for Nwaneri as they look to bring him to Old Trafford this summer.

He made headlines back in September for becoming the Premier League’s youngest-ever player after appearing against Brentford, albeit only gaining a minute of action, however his undoubted talent could see him emerge properly over the coming years.

Rashford broke into the United first team aged just 18 during a Europa League clash against FC Midtjylland, scoring a double and although Nwaneri is still a couple of years younger, he has impressed in Arsenal’s Hale End academy.

The 16-year-old scored nine goals and registered five assists for the U18 side, while the 5 foot 10 ace has even made appearances for the U21 team, playing nine games in the Premier League 2, clearly showing how highly rated he is at the Gunners.

Football talent scout Jacek Kulig dubbed him as a “wonderkid” while fellow Arsenal teammate Granit Xhaka has lauded the teen starlet as “special” although also declaring that the club must “protect” the player not long after he made his first team debut.

It may be a few years until he makes a Rashford-like impact on the first team should he actually make the move to United, however, the boy is talented, absolutely no doubt about it and Ten Hag should be doing all he can to lure him to Manchester.

Tottenham Hotspur are edging closer to an agreement for Brentford goalkeeper David Raya and are working on the “last steps”, according to journalist Rudy Galetti.

Who could join Spurs this summer?

The Spaniard is one of a number of players being targeted by Spurs as new manager Ange Postecoglou seeks to strengthen his ranks and sign a replacement for Hugo Lloris.

Having served as Spurs number one for the last decade, the Frenchman could bid a farewell to supporters this summer, with Lloris candidly admitting as much to Nice-Matin recently.

“We are coming to an important moment, whether for the club or for me. It’s the end of an era,” said Lloris.

“I have desires for other things, I will ask myself quietly to study what will be possible. But I don’t forget that I still have a year of contract with Tottenham and that in football it is always difficult to predict what will happen.”

As the 36-year-old confirms he is looking for new opportunities, and could well make a move to the Middle East, it is imperative for Spurs and chairman Daniel Levy to sign a capable replacement.

There have been a fair few names mentioned by the press in this regard, with AC Milan’s Mike Maignan, Everton’s Jordan Pickford and Croatia number one Dominik Livakovic all linked in recent weeks.

Raya, who is believed to a top target for Spurs, has perhaps been the most regularly mentioned – with reports even suggesting that personal terms are already agreed.

Galetti shared news recently that an agreement between Brentford and Tottenham is close, but the Italian journalist has just dropped another update on the situation.

Taking to Twitter, he claims Spurs are edging nearer and nearer to a deal, with the “last steps” being taken – though there is still work to be done.

What’s been said about David Raya?

As well as drawing admiration from Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp, who claimed he could wear the number 10 shirt, Raya has also been praised by esteemed members of the press.

The Athletic’s Jay Harris, for instance, even claimed he is “one of the best” in Premier League football.

“David Raya has shown he is one of the best goalkeepers in the PL,” said Harris.

“He might have a year left on his deal, but I can’t see Brentford accepting anything less than a club-record sale.”

Standing out as one of Thomas Frank’s best-performers last season, signing him for around £21m plus add-ons would be quite the bargain, even with just over 12 months left on his current deal.

Tottenham Hotspur are interested in a deal to bring Josko Gvardiol to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in the summer transfer window.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a report by The Athletic, who claim that the RB Leipzig defender is one of Antonio Conte’s top transfer targets for the left-sided centre-back role in his three-man backline, despite the fact the 20-year-old would likely set Tottenham back an extremely large fee.

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A further report by the same publication claimed that Daniel Levy would have to pay a club-record fee – currently Tanguy Ndombele’s £63m signing from Lyon back in 2019 – in order to land the Croatia international this summer, with Jack Pitt-Brooke suggesting the former Dinamo Zagreb starlet will cost around £80m.

Alaba 2.0

Considering the sheer amount of potential Gvardiol quite clearly possesses, it is not difficult to see why Conte would be interested in a deal to bring the 20-year-old to north London in the summer transfer window.

Indeed, according to FBref data, the £102m-rated talent ranks in the top 3% of centre-backs in Europe’s big five leagues for interceptions per 90, as well as the top 16% for pressures, the top 23% for blocks and the top 24% for tackles over the last 365 days.

The £21k-per-week defender is also extremely creative with the ball at his feet, with FBref ranking him in the top 4% of centre-backs for passes attempted per 90, the top 3% for progressive passes, the top 1% for dribbles completed, the top 6% for progressive carries and the top 6% for progressive passes received over the last year.

Furthermore, it is evident that Gvardiol also causes the opposition problems in an attacking capacity, with FBref ranking the centre-back in the top 7% of his peers for shot-creating actions per 90, in addition to the top 15% for npxG, the top 13% for assists, the top 4% for xA and the top 3% for npxG+xA over the last 12 months.

As such, it is easy to see why the former Bayern Munich centre-forward and Croatia international, Ivica Olic, claimed “everyone is talking about” the “extraordinary” Gvardiol, while it is also not difficult to understand why the Bundesliga website compares the defender’s style of play to that of Real Madrid’s David Alaba.

Indeed, should Fabio Paratici be able to get a deal over the line for the RB Leipzig star this summer, the Italian would appear to have landed Tottenham the next Alaba – something that is sure to be an incredibly exciting prospect for both Conte and supporters of the club alike.

AND in other news: Paratici now closing in on “unreal” £15m Spurs signing, it’ll give Arteta nightmares

Liverpool currently have the second-best defence in the Premier League this season, with just 25 goals conceded in 37 games.

Even though the Reds still have one match left to play in this top-flight campaign, which could potentially end with Jurgen Klopp’s side winning the league title, it seems as though the manager and the club’s hierarchy have identified one player who could make a move to Anfield in the summer.

What’s the news?

According to a recent report from Voetbal International (via Sport Witness), Liverpool have joined the race to sign PSV Eindhoven midfielder Ibrahim Sangare.

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The report also claimed that fellow Premier League clubs Aston Villa, Leicester City and Newcastle United are all interested in signing the 24-year-old.

After scoring two goals and providing five assists in 86 appearances for Toulouse, the midfielder joined his current club in September 2020.

Since then, the Ivory Coast international has gone on to make 87 appearances in Eindhoven across all competitions, scoring five goals and supplying six assists along the way.

With 29 league appearances to his name this season, no other PSV player has racked up more minutes than Sangare, showing just how important he has been to the Eredivisie giants.

To further highlight his significance to the team and his defensive talents, he has the highest average for tackles (3.3) and interceptions (2.6) per game of any PSV player in the 2021/22 campaign.

Klopp’s own Yaya Toure?

Speaking about the PSV maestro, African journalist Alpha Balde put him in the same frame as two of the Premier League’s most decorated midfield stars of yesteryear. He said of the 24-year-old: “Physically, he’s like Yaya Toure but he reminds me of Michael Essien.”

Sangare has also received praise in the past from his former Toulouse boss Alain Casanova, who dubbed the Ivorian a “complete” player who is “calm in small spaces and comes out of pressure in incredible ways.”

Casanova also said that the PSV midfielder has “a great ability to recover the ball and does a huge amount of running.”

Taking all this into account, if Liverpool are to secure a deal for Sangare in the summer, which could reportedly cost them £30m, this could end up being a great bit of business from the Merseyside club and strengthen what is already a world-class squad.

In other news: FSG eyeing Liverpool swoop for £106m-rated titan, he will “be better than Van Dijk”

Newcastle United have reportedly now made contact over the potential signing of Victor Osimhen in the summer.

The Lowdown: Club record

Rated at €100m (£85m), Osimhen would comfortably be the North East club’s record signing, should he make the move to St. James’ Park .

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That would be more than double what they paid for current club-record signing Joelinton, and would really signify the start of a new era under the Kingdom of Saudi Arabian (KSA) consortium, who may well be looking to make a big statement signing after officially securing Premier League safety this week.

The Latest: Osimhen contact

Writing in his latest piece for Calciomercato, transfer expert Daniele Longo has revealed that the Tyneside outfit have now made contact in the ‘last few hours’ over the signing of Osimhen, along with Manchester United.

They are one of only a select few clubs who can afford to sign the Napoli striker, as the report claims Premier League teams are the only ones with the cash to sign him this summer.

The Verdict: Sign

Yes, it is a lot of money to pay, but at 23 years of age, Osimhen has the potential to become one of the best players in the world, and so the Magpies should fork out the premium price now in order to reap the benefits over the next few years.

Dubbed ‘the most terrifying striker in Europe’ by journalist and African football expert Saddick Adams, the Nigeria international has no fewer than 17 goals and six assists in total over all competitions so far this season (Transfermarkt), and will be desperate to prove himself in the English top flight.

Nonetheless, with Erling Haaland destined for Manchester City this summer, the Toon could sign their own big name number nine to really send out a statement.

In other news, find out which ‘absolute beast’ NUFC are now eyeing here!

Crystal Palace look set to fend off interest in academy star David Obou by securing his services to a three-year professional deal, according to The Daily Mail.

The Lowdown: Obou profiled

Obou joined Palace’s academy in January 2021 and has seemingly caught the eye at international level, along with the attention of several clubs.

The 16-year-old, who can play on either flank or in a central attacking midfield role, is being tracked by France and has been invited to play for England at youth level.

He has already turned out for Palace’s under-18s, and it looks as if he will remain with the Eagles when he turns 17 in November.

The Latest: Obou set to sign new Palace deal

The Daily Mail’s David Kent shared a story on Monday evening, suggesting that Palace will fend off interest from Bayern Munich and PSV Eindhoven to secure Obou to a three-year professional contract.

They described it as a boost for Palace, with the club agreeing on terms for a professional deal to kick in when he turns 17 later this year.

The Verdict: Good news for Palace

Obou clearly has plenty of potential, judging by  the two European clubs being keen on his services, so Palace landing the teenager on a permanent professional deal can only be good news for Patrick Vieira.

The Eagles have a number of exciting attacking youngsters coming through, including Jesurun Rak-Sakyi and David Omilabu, who both penned professional deals last year, and Obou looks set to follow in their footsteps.

The next step for the 16-year-old could be to establish himself in the club’s under-23s over the coming years, with a view to eventually breaking through into Vieira’s first-team setup.

In other news: Journo says Palace are now ‘in talks’ with ‘effortless’ £19.8m-rated maestro.