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Chelsea have already lined up a potential replacement for Mason Mount, with the Evening Standard reporting that the Blues want Gabri Veiga to replace the England international.

What is the latest Chelsea transfer news?

The Blues have already started planning for life under new boss Mauricio Pochettino, with the manager working quickly to try and craft the squad to his liking. It means that there has been plenty of transfer news and stories floating around involving the club and the players that they could bring in.

One of the biggest names currently is Moises Caicedo, with the Brighton man believed to be in talks with the club over a switch to Stamford Bridge. It's unclear how much he may cost the English side but it looks as if discussions are certainly underway over a potential deal.

It also appears as if the Premier League side are eyeing more additions in goal, with the club set to hold talks over a move for Andre Onana. There has been interest from Man United in the current Inter shot-stopper too, but it's the Blues who are preparing to hold fresh negotiations over a deal.

Are Chelsea signing Gabri Veiga from Celta Vigo?

In terms of outgoings, Mason Mount is set to join Manchester United after the two clubs agreed a fee totalling £60m on Thursday.

And according to a report from The Evening Standard, Chelsea have already begun to look for potential replacements. It states that one of their top targets is Veiga at Celta Vigo. It adds that his release clause is just £34.6m and that the Blues may be prepared to trigger it to bring him to Stamford Bridge once Mount departs.

He may only be 21-years-old, but he has already earned acclaim for his performances for Celta Vigo. Football talent scout Jacek Kulig called him "highly-talented" and added that he has had a "great season" for the La Liga outfit.

The youngster then could be an excellent pick up for Chelsea, who will want to bolster their squad to improve on their torrid 2022/23 season. He ranks in the 99th percentile for non-penalty goals by midfielders, via FBRef, also ranking highly for total shots, expected assists and successful take-ons.

Veiga is a player who can certainly kick start Pochettino's new era, with his abilities already shining through in Spain and still so much potential left to fulfil. With Mount now set to leave then, he could be a perfect replacement at SW6.

“I suppose I should watch it,” said Brendon McCullum, of the BBL final, which his Brisbane Heat side will not contest, having lost to the Sydney Sixers at the Gabba.The sense is, though, that it does not matter that the Heat did not make the final, because this season’s effect on the club, and on BBL in the city, has been profound enough to leave a mark.McCullum’s is a team in his image, that went down in his style. He even hit the final ball of their season down the ground for six. It was too late, of course, but their swashbuckling style and total togetherness were on display in defeat. Twice in the game they should have been dead and buried, twice they fought back. Eventually, only a Super Over shook them. With their top six gone for 109, the lower order hustled 57 from the final five overs to set up a target, then with Sixers cruising to victory, they took 5 for 29 before Ben Cutting’s last over cost just five to force a Super Over.”It was pretty tense all right,” McCullum said. “We did well to get back into the game. Lesser teams would have lost that by five or six overs but the belief within the group meant we kept fighting hard. In the end it’s disappointing to run second but proud of the boys, not just tonight but for the whole campaign.”We have lost some close games, and a close semi-final. We can walk away saying we made some significant strides forward as a team, and the crowds that have turned up are testimony to that. It was an attractive brand of cricket which they have quite enjoyed. Some of those games you win and some you lose but I’m very proud of it – in a finals situation, behind the eight-ball, it’s a good sign that we are maturing quickly.”As McCullum said, Brisbanites have voted for his team with their feet. The Gabba had never seen a single BBL sellout before this season, and there was some whispers to suggest CA saw them as a club falling behind. But this year, all five of their games sold out, with 140,727 people through the gates in total. This crowd, 35,116, was their biggest ever – beating their last, against Renegades on Friday, by four people. It has been a remarkable turnaround, especially given they have won just one of those five home games.”We are a young team,” McCullum said, discussing why people have come to watch. “One that doesn’t mind having a go, and isn’t scarred by too much experience, as can be the case. We want to go out there and play attacking cricket and, as we’ve seen every game barring the [loss to] Scorchers here, we have tried to attack with the bat, try to take wickets, and try to be desperate in the field. That’s the basis of a good cricket team; as long as you’re consistent about doing it, and you turn up, and everyone else who who turns up knows exactly how you are going to play – win, lose or draw. In an inconsistent game that’s not a bad way to find a bit of consistency.”There has been a conscious effort, just as there was when McCullum captained New Zealand, to forge an identity to the team. “That’s what we are employed to do, to try to gain an identity about how you want to play,” he said. “Dan [Vettori, the coach], Bondy [Shane Bond], myself, then senior players within the group and the management behind the scenes – we’re all trying to sing off the same song sheet.”Asked to explain the team’s philosophy, McCullum cited Joe Burns, who has been a revelation batting down the order, and Ben Cutting as key players in pulling the team in the same direction. Burns has even started bowling (typically adventurous McCullum captaincy), and took a wicket – Nic Maddinson – in the first over of the chase, while Cutting batted and bowled in the Super Over.”I actually locked him [Burns] in for two wickets at the start of the day, so he is still one down in my book,” McCullum joked. “That was about match-ups and he’s flying at the moment, Burnsy. He’s a leader in the group, so I’ll just keep throwing him the ball, try and get him in the game. Same with Cutts – throw him the ball for the Super Over, and then with the bat get him out there. Give your big players, your leaders ample opportunity, and then the young guys will come along for the ride.All of this, of course, is straight from the McCullum copybook.”We are just trying to have a crack. It’s good fun playing T20 and we get big crowds turning up to support us, so you just try to do your best for those guys. Hopefully what we have done this year is just the start of something a lot bigger and better.”

Benoit Badiashile has arguably been one of the most intelligent signings under new ownership at Chelsea.

A relatively young, ready-made, physical, composed defender, who in the background of a tumultuous season at Stamford Bridge, has gently simmered into an extremely underrated piece of transfer business.

Attempting to pinpoint a long-term partner for the Frenchman will be a difficult process for Mauricio Pochettino, but one name that has been floated around is Castello Lukeba.

According to a report by But! Football Club last week, the 20-year-old had been discussing a contract extension with Lyon, but has displayed some reluctance, with Chelsea waiting in the wings ready to pounce.

The outlet also detailed that the 2021 Champions League winners had a €43m (£37m) offer rejected at the end of the January transfer window.

Therefore, this summer is a chance for the west Londoners to reignite their interest in this coveted talent.

Should Chelsea sign Lukeba?

Lukeba has made 38 appearances in all competitions for Lyon this season, scoring twice.

Defensively, the centre-half has performed admirably, as he has averaged 2.2 interceptions per game, the highest in the Lyon squad.

He also ranks impressively for this metric across the continent as he sits in the top 1% in Europe’s top five leagues among his positional peers for this metric per 90, according to FBref.

As a result of his meteoric rise to stardom, the defender was named as one of the 40 nominees for the 2022 Golden Boy.

According to Football Insider, a member of Manchester United’s recruitment team has described the youngster as 'generational' and he could be destined for a move to the top-flight.

Similarly to Lukeba, Badiashile has also formed a formidable and highly-esteemed reputation.

Former Chelsea manager Graham Potter was extremely pleased with the titan’s impact and said: “He brings a calmness, he’s good with the ball, he’s left-footed so he gives us balance on that side.

“Attacking and defending, he’s had a solid start for us. Young player, you never know when they come into the country in a different situation, a different league, but so far he’s managed it really well.”

His well-rounded profile is portrayed by the fact that he ranks within the top 7% for progressive passes per 90, and the highest 18% for interceptions per 90, according to FBref.

Joao Tralhao, who has previously coached Badiashile, described him as the "complete defender” and he could strike up a partnership with Lukeba – who has been described as having a "perfect mix of a pure defender and ball-playing centre-back" by talent scout Jacek Kulig – that could last for years to come.

Although the Blues are a side that appears to enter an endless phase of transition, complicated by the scattergun policy of their ownership, the signing of Lukeba would definitely be a step in the right direction.

Wolves star Ruben Neves "would seriously consider" joining Arsenal if his proposed move to Barcelona falls through, according to reports.

Who could join Arsenal this summer?

The Gunners and Edu have been preparing for this summer transfer window behind-closed-doors, with the sporting director admitting as much a recent interview with ESPN (via 90min):

"Maybe this season we can go to one or two players. Today, we have a much more balanced squad," said Edu."Our planning has already been done. 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."

In terms of who Arsenal could sign, it is reliably believed that reinforcing manager Mikel Arteta's midfield options is a top priority, with West Ham star Declan Rice and Brighton's Moises Caicedo on their list of targets.

As well as the aforementioned duo, Man City captain Ilkay Gundogan and Mason Mount of Chelsea are of interest to the north Londoners.

New targets like Leicester City playmaker James Maddison have also entered the frame recently, with one Spanish source now making an intriguing claim on Neves.

Arsenal have apparently shown an interest in the Portugal international who is thought to be closing in on a move to Barcelona.

However, despite his proposed transfer to the Camp Nou, it is believed that Neves "would seriously consider" joining Arteta's side if his Barca deal fails to materialize.

Arsenal could be a fall-back option for the midfielder whose priority is to join the La Liga giants, yet he would apparently really think about a move to north London as an alternative.

Who is Ruben Neves?

Neves, who is thought to be valued at around £45 million by reliable sections of the press, has been a star player under Julen Lopetegui – averaging Wolves' highest match rating per 90 of any regular (WhoScored).

He's contributed for Wolves both further forward and in defence – with only Joao Gomes making more successful tackles per 90 than Neves in the Premier League.

The 26-year-old has also averaged Wolves' highest rate of attempts at goal per 90 in the top flight, with their keeper Jose Sa saying this on his teammate last year (via The Express and Star).

“Ruben is a fantastic player, he’s amazing. He’s very young, only 24-years-old, so for me it is a pleasure to play with him again after playing together at Porto.“Of course, every day he is better and he helps the team a lot.”

Tottenham Hotspur are interested in signing Bayer Leverkusen centre-back Jonathan Tah, who is "pushing" to leave this summer, according to recent reports from Germany.

What's the latest Tottenham transfer news?

Tottenham have identified Leeds United's Robin Koch as a potential summer target, with it recently being reported the German could be available for a cut-price fee following his side's relegation from the Premier League.

Spurs are also plotting a fresh move for Villarreal's Pau Torres, having missed out on the centre-back last summer, but there may well be competition for the 26-year-old's signature, as Aston Villa have also been named as potential suitors.

Back in February, it was reported that the Lilywhites wanted to bring in two new centre-backs, and given that they showed little in the way of improvement defensively, conceding 63 goals last season, it would not be a surprise if multiple new defenders are signed.

Another player now emerging as a potential option for Tottenham is Tah, with BILD reporting that he fits the profile, but his release clause of €18m (£15.5m) will need to be paid before the beginning of July. (via Sport Witness)

The German is "pushing for a change" after spending eight years with Bayer Leverkusen, and his preferred destination is the Premier League, which could potentially open the door for a move to north London.

Spurs are interested in the 27-year-old, however, the signing mayy have to wait until chairman Daniel Levy appoints a new director of football and manager.

Should Tottenham sign Jonathan Tah?

Hailed as "excellent" by journalist Josh Bunting, the Hamburg-born defender has a wealth of experience playing in Europe, making 58 appearances across the Champions League and Europa League, and he rarely misses a game for Leverkusen.

Across the past two seasons, the defender has been absent for just two league games, highlighting his importance to the German side, and he ranked highly for some key defensive metrics in the Bundesliga last season.

The 6 foot 5 giant averaged 3.5 clearances per game, the highest number of any player in the Leverkusen squad, while an average of 1.2 interceptions places him third, and he also recorded the best pass-completion rate.

Given his level of experience playing in Europe, and his proven defensive aptitude, Tah could be a solid signing for Tottenham this summer, particularly considering he will cost just £15.5m, should the release clause be paid before the start of July.

Wolverhampton Wanderers have enjoyed a Premier League season of two halves, with the arrival of Julen Lopetegui proving vital to a change of fortune at Molineux.

With one game remaining, Wolves are safe from relegation and ready to push on under the Spaniard in his first full campaign after the summer break.

There isn’t likely to be much downtime for the former Real Madrid boss, however, with the transfer window looking to be a busy one for the Midlands club.

Despite improving since the dismissal of Bruno Lage, Wolves have a number of areas to improve on, including the issue of goal-getting, being the league’s joint-lowest scorers this campaign with just 31 scored in 37 games.

The transfer window will also be a chance for Lopetegui to prepare for expected departures, with the likes of Ruben Neves and Raul Jimenez rumoured to be headed to the exit.

It’s not just a matter of replacing talent, but also maintaining structure in the squad, with latest transfer gossip linking a potential partner for Mario Lemina amidst the Neves woes.

What’s the latest on Habib Diarra to Wolves?

As relayed by The Sun earlier this week, Strasbourg midfielder Habib Diarra is a wanted man in the Midlands, with both Aston Villa and Wolves reportedly battling for his signature this summer.

The 19-year-old is contracted to the Ligue 1 side until 2027, however, has caught the eye of Premier League clubs due to his strong form.

The report suggests the youngster has a price tag of £20m, with nine clubs monitoring his movement this summer.

What could Habib Diarra bring to Wolves?

There’s little surprise that the French-Senegalese talent is on the radar of so many, registering 27 appearances in Ligue 1 this season.

The midfielder ranks highly among Europe’s elite, impressively sitting in the top 1% of players in his position in Europe’s top five leagues for progressive carries, averaging 3.92 per 90 – as per FBref.

The impressive numbers showcase his abilities on the ball and in transition in the middle of the park, attributes that could be vital for the progression of Lopetegui’s side this summer.

When comparing his strengths to that of Lemina’s in Wolves’ midfield, the Guediawaye-born ace has an opposing skill set, telling that they could be a dangerous duo to marry in the heart of the pitch.

While Lemina’s game focuses on winning duels and possession, evidenced by the fact he ranks inside the top 10% of players in Europe for tackles per 90, Diarra flexes an ability to move forward and disperse play to the forwards, a recipe for the ultimate midfield pivot as shown through the years in world football.

Described as making “dazzling progress” by Foot Mercato’s Sebastian Denis, the 19-year-old is on the wish list of many around Europe and could shine at a club like Wolves in being given the chance to grow as a potential starter.

At just £20m, Lopetegui could save Wolves millions by investing in the young prodigy and could have the last laugh in those that are battling for his signature.

Tottenham Hotspur are unlikely to appoint a new manager until the summer, though one name has emerged as a primary candidate…

Tottenham manager news – Fabrizio Romano provides Julian Nagelsmann update

The Telegraph recently revealed that Julian Nagelsmann was a key target for the north London outfit, having been sacked by Bayern Munich only last month.

Now, renowned transfer guru and journalist Fabrizio Romano has provided an update on the situation, claiming that while a move is far from close, he is among chairman Daniel Levy's shortlist.

He told Caught Offside:

"Tottenham have Julian Nagelsmann in their list alongside other candidates, for sure; but nothing is advanced or decided yet.

"Daniel Levy will take his time to make final decision, the board/directors situation also has to be clarified after Fabio Paratici resigned; this is a crucial step to decide on the new manager.

"Nagelsmann is not in a hurry to decide his future."

Will Nagelsmann become Spurs manager this summer?

Many around N17 have pined for the return of Mauricio Pochettino over the last few months but with much of the same playing squad still contracted, it's hard to envisage anything being different to the end of his tenure at the club.

Naglesmann, meanwhile, could offer a similar philosophy but one that can inject this lifeless outfit with some fresh impetus.

His favoured counter-attacking 4-2-3-1 system is similar to that of the Argentine's prime Spurs side, with the full-backs given license to bomb forward, thanks to the defensive stability in the engine room.

The wingers, such as Heung-min Son, become equally crucial as they come inside to support the sole striker and getting the South Korean closer to his talismanic partner Harry Kane will surely reap rewards.

This is perhaps why former Newcastle United and West Ham United goalkeeper Shaka Hislop has hailed the German as a perfect candidate for Tottenham.

"I think Nagelsmann is a good fit," he told ESPN. "I don’t know what it would cost and whether he would want it, but I think Nagelsmann would be a good fit for Spurs. Given his experiences at Bayern, he would deal with the difficulties of Daniel Levy."

His youthful age, at least in coaching terms, is more of a positive than a negative as he's able to truly connect better with his players with his "awesome" and "outstanding mentality," according to Sky Germany reporter Philipp Hinze, who has also hailed him as a "mastermind."

That mix of player management and tactical nous is exactly what Tottenham's next manager needs to have, with Antonio Conte perhaps falling short in both regards on numerous occasions.

Having departed the Bavarian giants with an impressive 71.4% win rate and an average of 2.31 points-per-game, via Transfermarkt, there will be few better candidates available on the managerial market this summer, so it's on Levy and his staff to make the right offer to lure the 35-year-old to north London.

Given the evidence above, he could indeed be the breath of fresh air that the club desperately needs to move forward. He completely transformed RB Leipzig as a club and now Spurs could be the next to undergo an on-pitch makeover under the eye-catching stewardship of Nagelsmann.

Lionel Messi has had a chaotic season on almost every level, with the highs of December’s World Cup win contrasting his current predicament at Paris Saint-Germain.

The Argentina superstar looks set to depart PSG in the summer and has been suspended by his club for an unauthorised trip to Saudi Arabia.

Although he has played well at times this season, providing 39 goals and assists in 37 games, the blame fell at his door following yet another Champions League disappointment for the Parisians, and the fans have seemingly had enough of PSG’s big-name recruitment policy.

In scenes which may have been unimaginable just mere months ago, fans gathered outside the Parc Des Princes and expressed their anger towards the 35-year-old following his suspension.

It has been a rocky few months for the club, with a home defeat to Lorient sparking waves of anger amongst a fanbase seemingly tired of superstars joining for a large paycheck.

Twitter has been quick to react to the astonishing scenes, with some calling the PSG fans ungrateful for the fact that some of football’s biggest ever names have chosen to play for them, whilst others have stuck the boot into Messi, even claiming that being pushed out of a club could affect his overall legacy.

The best of the reaction can be seen below. Where will Messi end up next?

Some laid the blame at Messi’s feet…

Whilst others were more sympathetic towards him…

Aston Villa continued their excellent recent form with a 2-0 win over Nottingham Forest which has moved the club into the dizzying heights of sixth place in the Premier League table – an arguably unthinkable thought when Unai Emery took over last year.

Villa dominated the first half, having 69% possession, yet they couldn’t find a breakthrough, and it was 0-0 heading into the half-time interval.

Leon Bailey had to be substituted during the first half due to injury and Bertrand Traore replaced him. He was the match-winning hero against Leicester City in midweek, and it didn’t take him long to score again, netting just after the break.

Ollie Watkins sealed the victory in the dying minutes and the club are clearly enjoying themselves right now. Traore, clearly thriving in confidence, also managed three shots in total, was fouled twice and lost possession just four times in another solid performance, although it was perhaps another Villa star who made sure all three points were secured in defender Tyrone Mings.

How did Tyrone Mings perform against Nottingham Forest?

The defender has been excellent since Emery arrived at Villa Park, going from strength to strength and helping the club keep seven clean sheets since returning to domestic duty after the World Cup.

Mings was once again outstanding today following his solid display against the Foxes on Tuesday night, winning two of his three duels and making six clearances – and the quick turnaround clearly didn’t affect him this afternoon.

The 30-year-old took 95 touches during the match, suggesting he was comfortable on the ball and wanted to start attacks from the heart of the defence, while achieving a Sofascore rating of 7.3/10, ranking him as the second-highest outfield player behind goalscorer Watkins.

The English titan was rock solid at the back, making two interceptions, one clearance and winning six out of his seven duels, failing to let Forest gain any sort of foothold in the game and nullifying their attacking options.

He was also successful with six of his nine long ball attempts and completed an impressive 88% of his total passes, and Emery surely now has one of the finest English centre-backs in the Premier League at his disposal.

His performance was integral to yet another win for Villa, and even though the likes of Watkins and Traore will get all the headlines, we think Mings’ incredible defensive display should be equally praised.

West Ham could be afforded the luxury of having a fully fit squad for their vital Premier League clash with Southampton this weekend, according to a key update.

Are West Ham in action this weekend?

The Hammers are facing a huge battle to remain in the top flight currently, sitting 18th in the table with 12 league matches remaining. On Sunday afternoon, David Moyes' side face an enormous game at the London Stadium, with bottom-of-the-table Saints making the trip to east London for what feels like a six-pointer in the scrap for survival.

It is arguably a must-win match for West Ham, who technically don't have an easier fixture on paper between now and the end of the season, with victory likely to take them out of the relegation zone. Having key players fit and firing is going to be key this weekend, and in that respect, a hugely promising update has now emerged.

What's the West Ham vs Saints team news?

According to ExWHUEmployee on the West Ham Way Podcast [via West Ham Zone], Moyes could have a completely available squad to choose from on Sunday:

"This is a massive boost for us ahead of this must-win game. At the moment there are no reported injury issues which is a great thing for us. So pending no injuries are picked up, to have a fully fit squad at this stage of the season could prove vital, especially on Sunday with Southampton losing key players."

There is no denying how vital injuries can be to any football team at any level, often affecting the likes of squad depth, rhythm and ultimately results hugely. For West Ham to have no fitness issues this weekend would, therefore, be an absolutely massive boost, allowing Moyes to pick his strongest possible starting lineup, have options on the substitutes' bench and generally enhance their hopes of victory.

The Hammers certainly have the quality to pull away from the relegation zone, from the dominant Declan Rice in midfield to the dangerous Jarrod Bowen and Danny Ings in attack, and there should be confidence about a positive result against Saints after this update.

If West Ham continue to be largely injury-free between now and the end of the season, they will stand a great chance of pulling clear and even pushing for a mid-table finish – for now, though, it is a case of seeing off Saints and ensuring that a crucial fixture is hurdled without too much of an issue.