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Chelsea are monitoring Real Madrid Castilla starlet Rafa Marin ahead of a potential move to the Premier League, according to reports.

Who is Rafa Marin?

Marin is a centre-back who currently plies his trade at the Alfredo Di Stefano Stadium having graduated from his club’s academy to get promoted to Real Madrid Castilla – Real's B side – back in 2021, where he’s been a regular feature ever since.

The Spain youth international played 3,510 minutes of football last season which was about 400 more than any other member of Raul’s squad, as per Transfermarkt, and his consistent performances, playing 90 minutes in every single match, appear to have caught the eye of Mauricio Pochettino.

The Blues will be in the market for defensive reinforcements having lost Kalidou Koulibaly to Saudi Arabian outfit Al Hilal, and the 21-year-old could be available for a cut-price with his contract expiring next summer, something which has alerted chiefs at Stamford Bridge.

Are Chelsea signing Marin?

According to Spanish outlet AS (via Sport Witness), Chelsea are “keeping close tabs” on Marin as they weigh up whether to make an official approach this summer. With Real Madrid Castilla recently having failed to achieve promotion to the third tier, the defender has made it his “aim to leave” this window, and should that be the case, he won’t “lack proposals”.

The Blues and RB Leipzig are the two clubs “paying the most attention” to their target, so this could be one to watch closely in the weeks ahead.

Chelsea and Pochettino will understandably be assessing the centre-back options that are out there, but Marin isn’t yet ready to make the required step up so Todd Boehly should avoid signing him unless it's for an absolutely minimal fee.

The youngster has made zero senior appearances for Real Madrid so whilst he’s been impressing in the youth setup, Carlo Ancelotti and the rest of his management team clearly don’t feel he’s at the stage of his career to take on the first-team challenge.

The 6 foot 2 colossus also wouldn’t provide any real versatility having only operated at left-back on six occasions throughout his career outside of his natural role so it would be extremely difficult for him to receive regular minutes when competition for places is so high.

Therefore, Chelsea should turn their attention towards defensive targets who have a lot more experience under their belt and have proven themselves at the highest level, so that they can meet the standard of quality that is likely to be expected of them under the new manager next season.

Manchester United could have been in for England international Declan Rice if the proposed “takeover had actually happened”, believes transfer insider Dean Jones.

The West Ham United captain has been linked to multiple clubs over the last few months, but United have been notably absent from rumours.

Manchester United transfer news – What’s the latest on Declan Rice?

Rice’s expected departure from the Hammers was confirmed in the aftermath of the team’s historic Europa Conference League win earlier this month when chairman David Sullivan told the media his player was promised he could leave.

The club most heavily linked to the Kingston upon Thames-born player has been Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal.

The Gunners have made two bids for the player so far, with the second offer of £90m being rejected by the east London club as they look to get the maximum they can for their prized asset.

Worse still, the Red Devils’ cross-city rivals Manchester City have entered the race, with David Ornstein reporting that this morning the club is “expected to submit an offer for Declan Rice today [Thursday].”

Where, in all of this, have United been?

The club do have the imperious Casemiro as their starting number six, but with Scott McTominay not being of the required level and few other options, a player like Rice could be transformative for the side.

What did transfer insider Dean Jones say about Declan Rice to Manchester United?

Jones was very quick to point out that the process of the potential takeover has thrown a spanner in many of United’s transfer plans, including any plans they may have had for Rice.

Speaking to Football FanCast, he said: “I don’t think they’re in the race for Rice right now. I think in an ideal world, they would be, maybe if the takeover had actually happened, they could have been. But as it stands right now, don’t think Rice is going to come into their thoughts.”

Would Declan Rice have been a good transfer for Manchester United?

The £60k-per-week West Ham captain is undoubtedly one of the most sought-after midfielders in the league – hence all the interest from other clubs – and for that reason, he would surely have improved United.

There is an argument that the England international wouldn’t get into the team as an out-and-out defensive midfielder due to the immense performances of Casemiro last season.

However, he could have performed well as a number eight whilst the Brazilian was still a part of the team.

Last season the Irons “destroyer”, as labelled by ex-Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper Paul Robinson, achieved an average match rating of 7.01 across his 37 Premier League appearances, just slightly below the Brazilians’ 7.17, per WhoScored.

His underlying numbers are equally impressive.

According to FBref, who compare players in a similar position across Europe’s top five leagues, Rice was in the top 5% for interceptions, the top 15% for progressive carries – suggesting he could fulfil the eight role – and the top 19% for pass completion, all per 90.

The United faithful will surely feel even more ire for their owners if they have missed out on a player of Rice’s quality due to the circus surrounding the takeover.

Aston Villa are eyeing a move for rising Japan star Keito Nakamura, but NSWE will have to fend off a mega transfer battle to get a deal done this summer, report The Daily Mail.

What's the latest Aston Villa transfer news?

Unai Emery is expected to go on somewhat of a shopping spree in the current transfer window, with the Villans set for a challenging 2023/24 campaign in four competitions, having secured UEFA Europa Conference League qualification on the final day of the season.

NSWE are reportedly happy to back their manager with some serious funds, and they’ve made a positive start already by bringing in Leicester City and Belgium star Youri Tielemans.

The Villans are clearly seeking more midfield reinforcements though, considering they are also linked with the likes of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Manu Kone, and The Daily Mail are now reporting another new target.

According to the newspaper, NSWE are battling with Liverpool, Burnley, Eintracht Frankfurt, Borussia Dortmund, Borussia Monchengladbach, Lille, Reims, Lyon and Feyenoord for LASK star Nakamura, and the player is expected to jump to a new club this summer.

Who is Keito Nakamura?

The 22 year-old, who plays as an attacking midfielder or as one of the wide roles in 4-2-3-1 formation, has burst onto the scene in the Austrian Bundesliga this season, scoring 14 times and providing seven assists in 31 league appearances, adding another three goals in cup competitions and finding the net once in two Japan caps.

His importance in his side’s Europa League qualification has apparently sparked the mass interest from across the continent, and it’s easy to see why when hearing from people who have seen the youngster play.

The £4,000-p/w Nakamura led all Japanese players in Europe aged 26 and under for direct goal contributions this season – beating the likes of Brighton star Kaoru Mitoma – and talent scout Jacek Kulig believes he’s a “brilliant” prospect who has been “absolutely on fire” throughout this season.

Given the rise of Japanese players throughout Europe’s top leagues in the last few seasons, with Mitoma shining in the Premier League, Celtic utilising several Japan internationals and Daichi Kamada thriving in the Bundesliga, Villa could certainly strike lucky by taking a dip into a previously underappreciated market.

Tottenham Hotspur are now looking forward to a new era under incoming boss, Ange Postecoglou, with the 57-year-old set to take charge at N17 after catching the eye following his impressive work at Old Firm giants, Celtic in recent seasons.

Having won five trophies during a glittering two-year spell at Parkhead, the experienced coach has been tasked with the job of trying to revive the fortunes of the north London outfit next term and beyond, with the Lilywhites still reeling from a disappointing 2022/23 campaign that ended with a dismal, eighth-place finish.

Amid that search for improvement in his new home, recent reports have suggested that Postecoglou could be ready to spark something of a mass clearout at the club over the coming weeks, with the veteran duo of Ivan Perisic and Hugo Lloris leading the list of those who could depart.

Among those who may also be shown the door is long-serving defender, Ben Davies, with the Wales international – who signed from Swansea City back in 2014 – potentially set to be moved on if bids are to arrive this summer.

This follows a recent report that suggested Daniel Levy and co were willing to sanction the 30-year-old's exit for a fee of around £15m, with the 77-cap dud having formed part of a backline that shipped 63 Premier League goals this season – the sixth-worst record in the division.

As pundit Gabby Agbonlahor suggested, a departure for Davies could well be in the best interests of the club, with the versatile full-back having been "struggling to put in top performances", as he simply "just isn’t good enough any more."

With Postecoglou likely to need to find an "upgrade" – as per Agbonlahor – or a more youthful replacement for the £80k-per-week man, then the Greek-Aussie should look no further than reported target, Thierry Small.

Who is Thierry Small?

According to Football Insider, Spurs are set to make a fresh approach for the Southampton teenager ahead of next season, having previously seen an offer of around £800k rejected by the Saints back in January.

The piece adds that the newly-relegated side had been looking for closer to £1.2m at the time, with Levy and co now seemingly ready to make a 'new offer' in order to prise the 18-year-old from St Mary's.

The signing of the England youth international could well be the long-term solution at left-back that Spurs are in need of, with the "quality" gem – as previously hailed by ex-Everton boss Carlo Ancelotti – able to take Davies' place moving forward.

The former Toffees ace – who made the move to the south coast back in 2021 – showed his defensive prowess while on loan at St Mirren in the second half of the campaign after averaging 1.3 tackles per game, with that a superior record to what Davies averaged in the Premier League (0.9).

Equally, it is young Small who also appears to offer more in attack, with the 5 foot 10 starlet having averaged one key pass per game as a marker of his creative talent, while Davies averaged just 0.6 key passes in that time.

That would suggest that despite his inexperience, the youngster has the makings to be a real star of the future in the game, hence just why it would be wise for Postecoglou to push for a move.

As such, after 311 games for the club, it could be time for Davies to seek out pastures new…

Tottenham Hotspur have reportedly ‘intensified’ their contacts over a potential summer move for AS Roma defender Roger Ibanez.

What’s the latest Tottenham transfer news?

Spurs officials appear to be hard at work in the transfer window after finally bringing their managerial search to an end by appointing Ange Postecoglou last week.

Reports have suggested that personal terms with Brentford goalkeeper David Raya have been agreed, however, the two clubs still need to shake hands on a transfer fee.

Elsewhere, English trio James Maddison, Harry Maguire and Jadon Sancho have also been linked with a move to north London. However, it does look as if Tottenham chiefs are also looking abroad when it comes to potential additions, with Ibanez another target.

Recent reports from Italy suggested that Spurs have been handed a boost in their attempts to sign Ibanez, with Roma lowering their asking price, and it looks as if Tottenham could soon make their move.

Sport Witness relayed an update from Italian website Roma Giallorossa on Monday regarding Spurs and Ibanez. They claimed that Tottenham have ‘intensified’ their contacts in the ‘last few hours’, saying that an official offer ‘within a few days’ is now a possibility.

Postecoglou is thought to be an admirer of the defender, and a bid from Spurs in the region of €25m and €30m could be enough to sign him.

Who is Roger Ibanez?

Ibanez is primarily a centre-back but can also play as a right-back or even as a holding midfielder, so could provide plenty of versatility to Postecoglou’s squad, should a move get over the line.

The 24-year-old appears to be at the peak of his powers with a career-high €30m Transfermarkt valuation and has won senior two caps for Brazil.

In total, Ibanez has made 149 senior appearances for Roma, contributing to 11 goals. As per WhoScored, the defender was Roma’s fourth-best player during the 2022/23 season, as per WhoScored, outperforming Spurs defenders Cristian Romero, Eric Dier, Ben Davies, Clement Lenglet and Davison Sanchez.

Therefore, with Spurs conceding the most Premier League goals last season in the top 14 sides (63), you could argue that a new defender is needed. Someone like Ibanez, who is seemingly at the top of his game and has been lauded as "untouchable" by former Spurs head coach Jose Mourinho, could be a shrewd addition, and with Postecoglou a fan, it appears as if a transfer is one to watch.

Arsenal are set to accelerate talks for West Ham United star Declan Rice and will push to sign him for £30 million less than his price, according to reports.

Who could Arsenal sign this summer?

The Gunners and transfer chief Edu are tasked with improving manager Mikel Arteta's options ahead of what will be a very interesting 2023/2024 Premier League campaign.

Arsenal missed out on their first title in nearly 20 years last season, having been pipped by reigning champions Man City, and strengthening in key areas will be vital for the north Londoners.

Edu confirmed as far back as April that preparations have already been made.

"Our planning has already been done," said the Brazilian sporting director to ESPN (via 90min)."It has already reached the owners. Now, we're taking things step by step. We're focused on how we will finish the season, but we've put in the planning and I'm very excited."

Central midfield is believed to be a major priority for Arsenal this summer, leading to links with Rice and Brighton star Moises Caicedo. Man City captain Ilkay Gundogan is rumoured to be a target also, though Arsenal face stiff competition from La Liga champions Barcelona, who are also very interested in the Germany international.

Arsenal, meanwhile, are on the hunt for a traditional right-back – with Real Valladolid starlet Ivan Fresenda and Galatasary star Sacha Boey also being targeted for Arteta.

Going back to potential additions in the middle of the park, journalist Simon Collings of The Evening Standard has shared an update on the club's interest in Rice.

The Hammers captain is reliably believed to be a major target for Arsenal and The Standard claim they will "accelerate talks" after West Ham's Europa Conference League final against Fiorentina tonight.

As well as this, Arteta's side "will push to strike a deal" at around £90 million, which is £30m less than West Ham's valuation of their star – thought to be around £120m.

Who is Declan Rice?

The England international, who has been called "world class" by members of the press, certainly lived up to that tag over the course of 2022/23.

As per WhoScored, he stood out as West Ham's best-performing league player by average match rating – making more interceptions per 90 than any of his teammates in the top flight.

It's hardly surprising Rice is set to command a major fee this summer and it will be interesting to see if the Irons soften their stance on his £120m asking price.

Sky Sports journalist Tom White has now revealed some ‘talks’ going on behind-the-scenes at Sunderland.

The Lowdown: Shares sold?

There have been rumours circulating on social media that both Stewart Donald and Charlie Methven have now sold up their shares at the Stadium of Light.

Football Insider have reported that they would part with their shares for £10.7m, while The Sunderland Echo claim that Kyril Louis-Dreyfus is looking to take full-control of the Wearside club.

The Latest: Sky Sports update

Taking to Twitter, White, a presenter on SSN, has revealed that Donald and Methven have not shared their shares at the Black Cats, in spite of the rumours, but ‘talks are at an advanced stage’ with one group:

“Regarding the rumours that Stewart Donald and Charlie Methven have sold their shares in Sunderland, it’s my information that talks are at an advanced stage with one group, but there is still a long way to go.”

The Verdict: Get it done

Donald and Methven are clearly not connected to the club anymore, as finance expert Kieran Maguire has claimed that they have left a ‘toxic legacy’, and so their shares need to be sold as soon as possible.

Whether Louis-Dreyfus takes full control, or their shares are sold to another bidder, they need to get their board structure finalised before the start of next season.

Rich Energy drink founder William Storey has reportedly submitted his own takeover offer to the club, and so this is another path to consider as they look to cement their place in the Championship, and potentially push for promotion to the Premier League in the future.

In other news, find out which three Championship clubs are now eyeing this ‘incredible’ SAFC star here!

West Bromwich Albion saw their under-23 side make history last week by winning their first Premier League Cup after beating Wolves on penalties.

One youngster who ended up playing a crucial part in the game was 19-year-old right-back Ethan Ingram, who scored the winning penalty to secure the trophy for his team.

A product of the club’s youth academy, the teenager has racked up 62 appearances across their under-18 and under-23 sides, chipping in with seven assists and one goal along the way.

The full-back has made just one senior appearance for the Baggies, which came during their disheartening 6-0 defeat against Arsenal in the Carabao Cup last August.

Deployed at right-wing back, the youngster managed to show glimpses of what he’s capable of against top opposition by making two tackles, winning 10 duels and completing one successful dribble that night.

Described by journalist Josh Bunting as an “aggressive” player who is “good at going up and down from full-back”, Ingram recently revealed that his aim for next season is to push into the first team.

This shows just how determined the full-back is to take the next step in his career and development and really make a name for himself at senior level for his club.

Taking into account how the likes of Taylor Gardner-Hickman managed to do just that in the recently-concluded season after making 19 Championship appearances following his senior debut against Hull City back in November, the same pathway could well be there for Ingram in 2022/23.

While Darnell Furlong may have the right side of defence all to himself as things stand after making 41 appearances in the league this term, embedding the 19-year-old into the squad as a potential backup option, or as competition for the incumbent right-back, could be the way forward for West Brom.

Looking ahead to the future, with Bruce previously mentioning the possibility of a big transfer overhaul taking place in the summer to try and get the club back to the Premier League, unleashing the Baggies starlet could potentially save the club millions and prove that they may not need to spend too heavily to freshen up their squad.

In other news: Bruce must axe WBA’s “lazy” & “disappointing” nightmare duo, they’re stealing a living

Injury expert Ben Dinnery has now dropped a claim on Yerry Mina as Everton host Brentford in the Premier League on Sunday afternoon.

The Lowdown: Arsenal return?

As cited by The Liverpool Echo, Frank Lampard revealed that Mina could be in contention to return for their last game of the season away at Arsenal.

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He was forced off after just 18 minutes in their 2-1 win away at Leicester City, and so is now a doubt for their remaining fixtures.

The Latest: Dinnery claim

Speaking to Football Insider, Dinnery, who runs the Premier Injuries site and has a background in both medicine and data analysis, has claimed that Mina would come back into the team against the Gunners if they need a result, otherwise he will likely not be risked:

“Realistically, we are probably looking at the last game of the season.

“He has had a heavily disrupted campaign with numerous muscular injuries and setbacks. If Everton get a few points on the board and are safe, I wouldn’t expect him to play again this season.

“I wouldn’t see any point in taking the risk. However, if they need to go to Arsenal and get a point, I’m certain he would come into that team because he’s such a presence.

“That is the gamble they have to weigh up, but I certainly wouldn’t expect to see him back any earlier than that.”

The Verdict: Focus on Brentford

It sounds like Mina will not be able to play a part against the Bees, or indeed at home to Crystal Palace in midweek, so the focus for the Goodison Park faithful should be getting as many points as they can from those two games before worrying about the trip to the Gunners.

If they can secure enough points to guarantee their safety before the final day, then Mina will not have to be risked, which is an ideal situation for Lampard as he looks to regain his fitness in pre-season.

However, the Colombia international still has to make sure that he is ready if called upon, so the supporters now have an anxious wait going into the final week of the campaign.

In other news, find out who the Toffees have now been ‘tracking’ ahead of a summer move here!

According to journalist Pete O’Rourke, West Ham’s existing relationship with Hull City could help them to win the race for the signing of Keane Lewis-Potter during the upcoming transfer window.

The Lowdown: Premier League interest in Lewis-Potter

The forward first made his breakthrough into the Tigers’ starting XI in League One last season, but following their promotion, he has made the step up to the Championship look incredibly easy, having scored 13 goals and provided four assists across all competitions this term, as per Transfermarkt.

Following some impressive performances of late, a move to the Premier League looks like it could be on the cards, with Tottenham, Brentford and the Irons all said to be interested in battling it out for the 21-year-old’s signature.

David Moyes signed Jarrod Bowen from the Yorkshire outfit two years ago, with the winger going on to become a fan favourite at the London Stadium, and that existing connection may just put the east Londoners in pole position this time around.

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The Latest: West Ham hold Lewis-Potter advantage

When asked if the Bowen deal from 2020 could potentially impact whether West Ham are successful in bagging Lewis-Potter this summer, O’Rourke told GiveMeSport:

“It will benefit West Ham if they do decide to pursue their interest in Keane Lewis-Potter. They considered a possible move in January, as did Brentford, so there’s quite a few clubs looking at the young winger, and he’s really impressed in the Championship.”

The Verdict: Another Bowen?

Bowen has been prolific since making the switch to the top flight, having already made a staggering 46 goal contributions in just 101 games for West Ham, which offers hope that Lewis-Potter has the potential to make a similar impact should he decide to replicate the 25-year-old’s move from Hull to east London.

Once described as a “special talent” by his former Tigers manager Grant McCann, the £900k-rated gem was the star of the show at Hull’s end-of-season awards earlier this week, where he took home a hat-trick of trophies after being voted the Supporters’ Player of the Year, Players’ Player of the Year and overall Player of the Year.

In addition, Lewis-Potter made his debut on the international stage for the England under-21s back in March, and he definitely has a bright future ahead of him, wherever that may be.

O’Rourke’s suggestion that the Irons could hold the upper hand due to their previous transfer dealings with Hull is very much an intriguing and promising one.

In other news… a new report has shared a huge transfer update on West Ham’s pursuit of one of their summer targets