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Newcastle are planning a huge bid to try and sign Raphinha from Barcelona in the summer according to Spanish media via Sport Witness.

What's the latest on Raphinha to Newcastle?

The Brazilian made his name with Leeds United. bursting onto the scene with 15 goal contributions in his first 26 starts for the Whites in his debut campaign. A year later he had bagged a further eleven goals despite the Elland Road side's struggles.

It led to the winger being snapped up in a deal by Catalan giants Barcelona, where he has once more managed a double-digit figure for his goal contributions (he has 13 so far this season). This fine form has seen the 26-year-old linked with an immediate return to England despite spending just a campaign away from the Premier League.

The main suitors for his signature have been Newcastle, who have had an interest in the player for the last few months. The Toon have been electric this season, storming to third place in the Premier League table and chasing down a spot in Europe for the first time since the 2012/13 season. They'll now be looking to continue to improve their squad and have seemingly identified Raphinha as one of their main targets.

A fresh report from the Spanish media, via Sport Witness, claims that even with Barcelona demanding a fee of around 80 million Euros (£70m) to sign the player, Newcastle are prepared to do business for the winger. They have already made contact over a potential deal and have insinuated that they would be prepared to part with the La Liga side's asking price to bring him to St James' Park.

If the fee is placed on the table then, the Toon could soon bring the Brazilian back to England.

Should Newcastle sign Raphinha?

The winger has showcased his skills in the Premier League previously, terrorising defences and putting fear into opposition players during his time with Leeds. Even with the Whites struggling at the wrong end of the division during his last stint in the league, he managed to bag eleven goals and was part of the reason why the club ensured their top tier survival that year.

When allowed to get forward and run at other teams, he has proven to be one of the very best in Europe. This is shown through the fact he produced a rating of 7.33 (via WhoScored) when deployed as a right-winger for the Spanish side and ranks in the top ten in the entire La Liga for goals and assists per 90 currently, with 0.65.

One of his former teammates Daniel James even called the player a "magician" during his time with Leeds, adding that he can do "anything on the pitch."

Newcastle need players who can cut it with the elite in the eventuality that they get into Europe – and Raphinha can do that.

Scottish champions Celtic have moved a step closer toward the title following the recent round of weekend fixtures, with the Parkhead outfit now just one game away from securing their second successive league crown.

Despite having endured a rare slip-up after recording a 1-1 draw at home to Motherwell on Saturday, Ange Postecoglou's side were given an almighty boost following the woes of rivals Rangers a day later, with the Light Blues suffering a 2-0 defeat away to Aberdeen.

That surprise loss at Pittodrie has ensured that the Gers are now 13 points adrift of the rampant Hoops with just five games left to play, with clinching the title now just a matter of when and not if for those at Paradise.

The Bhoys seemingly have one of their own to thank for nudging them to within touching distance of wrapping up the league, with out-on-loan defender Liam Scales having netted a remarkable, long-range effort for the Dons against Michael Beale's men on Sunday.

That freakish – and somewhat fluky effort – will no doubt have endeared the Irishman to his parent club, with it perhaps not out of the question that the former Shamrock Rovers man could go on to play a part for the Old Firm giants next season.

How is Liam Scales getting on at Aberdeen?

Having been restricted to just 13 appearances across all fronts for Celtic last season after signing on a £500k deal in the summer of 2021, Scales was snapped up by Aberdeen prior to the start of the current campaign, subsequently going on to thrive in his temporary home.

Hailed as a "quality player" by former boss Jim Goodwin, the Dublin native has notably kept 11 clean sheets in just 27 Scottish Premiership games this season, scoring once and providing two assists in that time.

The versatile centre-back's defensive prowess has been showcased by the fact that he has averaged 1.7 tackles and 1.3 interceptions per game in that time, boasting a better record than even the likes of Cameron Carter-Vickers (0.5, 1.1) and Carl Starfelt (0.9, 1.3) for those same two metrics, respectively.

Although at 24 it may appear that the £5k-per-week man's chance has already come and gone at Celtic Park, the in-form asset can look to the previous journey of ex-Hoops star Ryan Christie as a source of inspiration, with the Scotland international having also flourished on loan at Aberdeen, before eventually establishing himself in Glasgow.

The current Bournemouth ace was snapped up by the Old Firm giants from Inverness Caledonian Thistle back in 2015, although would spend the first half of the 2015/16 season back on loan at his former employers, before featuring just ten times in the league over the next 12 months.

That lack of action sparked a temporary move to Pittodrie in January 2017, with the gifted playmaker proving his undoubted talent in that 18-month loan spell, bagging 33 goal involvements in just 57 games across all fronts.

Having proved his worth elsewhere, Christie returned to Parkhead at the start of the 2018/19 campaign and went on to firmly establish himself in the side, ultimately racking up 85 goals and assists in just 151 games prior to his £2.5m exit back in 2021.

There may be a potential for Scales to enjoy a similar route and force his way into Postecoglou's thinking next term, with the 6 foot 2 titan – who has been lauded as an "athletic defender" by the Celtic boss – having certainly already made his mark in Scottish football this season.

Leeds United are currently scrapping for their Premier League survival amid what has been a challenging season thus far at Elland Road, with the Whites currently just two points above the drop zone with only 11 games left to play this term.

New boss Javi Gracia has been tasked as the man to help guide the Yorkshire outfit away from danger over the coming weeks, although the Spaniard's job looks set to be made far harder amid a smattering of injury concerns for the club in recent days.

The dreaded international break has already seemingly claimed a handful of casualties for the relegation strugglers, with both Max Wober and Wilfried Gnonto having sustained injury woes during their time with Austria and Italy, respectively.

Although the former has revealed that his hamstring issue is just a "small" problem, in the case of the latter man, the dynamic youngster may be facing a more serious blow, having suffered a "sprain" during the win over Malta on Sunday evening, as per Azzurri boss, Roberto Mancini.

It will now be an anxious wait to see if the 19-year-old will be fit to feature against league leaders Arsenal at the weekend, with Gracia and co set to be sweating over the fitness of a figure who has quickly become a "fan's favourite" in his new surroundings, as per pundit Noel Whelan.

Also hailed for his "pace and power" by Whelan, the teenager – who arrived from FC Zurich on a £3.8m deal back in the summer – has been a real shining light for Leeds this season, having scored four goals and provided three assists in just 20 games in all competitions.

The eye-catching "firework" – as lauded by Whelan – has emerged as something of a breakout star in the top-flight this season, with it set to be of real concern if the 5 foot 7 sensation is to be out for an extended period of time.

In the meantime, Gracia will need to plot just who can replace Gnonto in the starting lineup, with fellow teen Sonny Perkins one such figure who will no doubt be pushing for an inclusion in the coming games.

Who could replace Gnonto?

As Yorkshire Evening Post writer Graham Smyth noted back in January, young Perkins is a player who those at Leeds are "very excited about", having already caught the eye since sealing a summer switch from West Ham United.

The Hammers were memorably angered by the manner of the forward's exit back in July, with that frustration having been born out of just how highly-rated the emerging starlet is by those in the know.

Much like Gnonto – who can operate all across the frontline – the 19-year-old has also showcased his versatility of late to be able to feature in a variety of attacking roles, making him a dream replacement for the Italian in the forward line.

While Perkins has thus far been limited to a bit-part role at senior level – having made just three first-team appearances this season – the £1.6k-per-week gem did take his chance in the FA Cup clash against Cardiff City earlier this year, after scoring a dramatic, late equaliser in that 2-2 draw.

That goalscoring cameo was a continuation of the stunning form that the England U19 international has shown at youth level of late, having bagged ten goals and two assists in just 18 games for Leeds' U21 side, after previously contributing 13 goal involvements at the same age group for the Irons.

Equally, like Gnonto – who Whelan praised for his willingness to do the "horrible part of the game" defensively – the former West Ham asset is also a real asset in a defensive sense, having averaged an impressive 1.7 tackles and 1.3 interceptions from his three EFL Trophy outings earlier in the campaign.

Such all-round quality should indicate that the sparkling talent can be the man to make the step up and ease the potential absence of Gnonto moving forward, with it surely not too long before Perkins is able to replicate his displays in the academy ranks at senior level.

Tottenham Hotspur managerial target Luis Enrique is ‘keen’ on a move to the Premier League and could now be Fabio Paratici’s first choice.

The Lowdown: Conte quitting?

Spurs head coach Antonio Conte is set to dominate the headlines over these next few months with the Italian heavily linked to leaving north London.

Conte’s current deal expires at the end of the 2022/2023 season, and while chairman Daniel Levy can extend his stay by a further 12 months, reports claim this is growing more and more unlikely.

Paratici and co have already drawn a managerial shortlist for if Conte does depart, with former fan favourite Mauricio Pochettino among the prime contenders.

In terms of other targets, Sky share that Roberto De Zerbi, Enrique, Thomas Tuchel, Marco Silva and Thomas Frank are also of interest to Spurs.

Enrique is an interesting and potentially enticing option, especially when taking into account his illustrious CV and status as a free agent.

The Latest: Paratici ‘first choice’ for Spurs…

According to journalist John Cross, writing in a column for The Mirror, the 52-year-old could well’ be Paratici’s ‘first choice’ for the job.

He is apparently ‘keen’ on a move to England and the top flight, but in a twist, Levy may actually disagree with the Italian club chief.

Cross states that Levy wants managers with Premier League experience, something that could count against Enrique in the race to be Spurs’ next boss.

The Verdict: Go for him?

Bar Pochettino, who we believe is the standout candidate to succeed Conte, Enrique could also be a sound option.

The former Spain boss has enjoyed a decorated managerial career, clinching nine pieces of silverware in total, which includes a Champions League at former club Barcelona.

Enrique encourages a more forward-thinking style of football than Conte and could steer Spurs away from their pragmatic style of the last two seasons.

Even though Spain eventually went out in the Last 16 of their World Cup campaign, Enrique attracted praise from some members of the media for his decisions during the tournament.

Juan Ignacio G-Ochoa, via Sam Leveridge, said this about the ex-Catalans head coach:

“He’s not crazy, he’s a genius.

“Luis Enrique was criticised for his squad, for dropping Gayà, for playing a midfielder in defence, for streaming… the World Cup debut, however, has shown the reality: Spain has a great team and his ideas work.”

Able to sign for Spurs at no cost, Enrique is a name who could be linked with the job right until a coach is formally announced.

Glasgow Rangers have reportedly been dealt a ‘major blow’ in their pursuit of Nikola Krstovic this summer, although they have set their sights on other targets.

The Lowdown: Rangers interest

It was reported in February that while Rangers are interested in signing Krstovic, they would ‘struggle’ to bring him to Ibrox this summer, as it would take a ‘huge outlay’ to sign him, while also involving selling one of their current options.

His club Dunajska Streda are looking for a fee of between £4m and £5m to sell him, and they are expected to knock back further offers for him in the next transfer window.

Krstovic is seen as a possible replacement at Ibrox for Alfredo Morelos, who is out of contract at the end of the campaign.

The Latest: ‘Major blow’

As per Football Insider, the Gers have been dealt a ‘major blow’ in their efforts to sign Krstovic, as he has recently put pen to paper on a new contract with his current club, that will run until 2027.

They have watched him on a number of occasions, and have kept track of him over the last 18 months, but his club made it clear in the January transfer window that he was not for sale.

Nonetheless, the Light Blues have ‘set their sights’ on signing multiple strikers in the summer, with Bordeaux forward Josh Maja, who is running out of contract, another player that they have a ‘genuine interest’ in.

He is thought to be a ‘top target’, with the future of Alfredo Morelos still ‘in doubt’ with his deal also set to expire.

The Verdict: Plenty of names out there…

The Teddy Bears have been linked with plenty of strikers outside of Krstovic and Maja for next summer.

They have also recently been credited with an interest in Swansea City forward Joel Piroe, while Malik Tillman is an attacker that they could look to sign permanently from Bayern Munich once his loan spell ends at the end of the season.

Nonetheless, should Morelos end up leaving on a free transfer, it will be difficult to replace the 122 goals that he has scored over the years at Rangers, so they may have to bring in more than one striker this summer in order to help fill the hole left by the Colombia international.

The Gers may struggle to do this financially though, with no transfer fee coming in for Morelos.

West Ham United could forge a victory worthy of transforming their turbulent season, with David Moyes preparing for a seismic clash against London rivals Tottenham Hotspur this afternoon.

Despite a recent upswing in form, the Hammers currently sit precariously above the Premier League drop zone, and the potential for victory against Spurs could be the galvanising element towards a revitalised push towards a more respectable position.

Indeed, West Ham went into the weekend’s action 13th in the Premier League form table, with just one defeat from their last five, but after clinching European football in each of the past two campaigns, there will be an embedded disgruntlement that those endeavours have not been replicated this season.

With the Irons having scored only 17 goals in the league this term, one of the lowest in the division, a reliable attacker will need to step up to the plate not just today, but for the rest of the campaign.

With this in mind, dynamic winger Said Benrahma could be offered the platform to flourish, and his wizardry on the pitch could hold the key to unlocking West Ham’s full potential.

Will Said Benrahma star v Tottenham?

Since signing permanently for West Ham from Brentford in a £20m deal in January 2021, having already been at the London Stadium on loan at the start of that campaign, Benrahma has made steady improvements to his game, with 18 goals and 15 assists from 111 appearances for the Irons.

Last year, the Algerian scored 11 goals and supplied six assists from 48 games to help his team during their marathon campaign. While he hasn’t quite reached the same heights this time around, a return of six goals and two assists from 30 matches in 2022/23 is not too shoddy.

As per FBref, the £55k-per-week phenomenon ranks among the top 8% of positional peers in Europe’s five main leagues for progressive passes received. He is also among the top 16% for successful take-ons and top 17% for progressive carries, illustrating his dynamic and direct threat which can be harnessed to bypass the Spurs defence today.

Once heralded by Brentford coach Sam Saunders as a creative wizard who can “nutmeg a mermaid”, such is the deft, fleet-footed prowess of his game, Benrahma’s brilliance could be aptly utilised to defeat a Tottenham side who have shipped three losses from their last five Premier League outings, notably crumbling to a 4-1 defeat against Leicester City last time out.

Defeat against Spurs could leave West Ham even closer to the peril of the relegation zone, but if the Algerian is provided with a platform on which to flourish, the Hammers could be well placed to inflict further misery on their London rivals. Benrahma netted in this fixture last season and ought to be given the chance to do so again today.

Presenter ExWHUemployee has denied reports that West Ham United captain Declan Rice has already agreed to join Arsenal.

What’s the word?

It’s widely understood that the English midfielder will be leaving the Hammers in the summer as he looks to fulfil his ambition of playing for a Champions League side.

It’s also reported that the Gunners are in the market for a new signing in the middle of the park with Rice being widely tipped as a key target this summer.

In fact, Spanish publication Nacional (via Football365) state that the player has already “given his word” to Mikel Arteta’s team, committing to a future transfer.

However, in a new update shared on The West Ham Way Patreon, Ex has denied it is anything close to being done and dusted just yet.

He said: “Reports that captain Declan Rice has a “gentleman’s agreement” in place to join Arsenal is untrue. Whilst Arsenal are said to be one of the front runners in signing the England international, there is no agreement and at this point all options are open.

“Rice remains fully committed to West Ham and in a week which has seen Brighton’s Caicedo (a player who West Ham once turned down signing) release a statement asking to leave and now being placed on leave to sort his head out, Rice is likely to captain the side out at Derby or at the latest Newcastle away.

“Whilst it is accepted in West Ham circles that Declan will move in the summer the player wants to do his best to get the club as far up the table as possible and hopefully achieve a successful cup run in either the FA Cup or the Conference League. We will keep you updated on the player’s future if and when we hear any developments.”

Future up in the air?

While Rice may well be on the club’s agenda, in all likelihood he won’t be moving this winter and so the Gunners are targeting Brighton’s Moises Caicedo for now.

According to the Mirror, though, that interest won’t stop Arsenal from still chasing Rice in the summer. Even so, while it remains possible that the north London outfit sign both, it doesn’t seem as though anything is set in stone just yet.

Rice is captain of the Hammers and has played over 200 times for the cub. He still has 18 months left on his contract and will likely want to leave on as best terms possible.

With that in mind, it makes sense for him to keep all his options open now and just focus on the season at hand. Seeing as the club are caught down towards the bottom of the table and may be dragged into a relegation fight, he may need to be at his best in the second half of the campaign to lead the Irons out of any potential trouble.

Broadcaster Kweku Afari believes that Marcelo Bielsa would be the perfect manager for Everton.

The Lowdown: Moshiri could go for another big name

It was reported fairly quickly after Frank Lampard was sacked by Everton that Farhad Moshiri had Bielsa near the top of his list as a potential candidate to replace the English manager.

However, given the intense demands Bielsa may put on the Everton players over such a short period of time, it could be a very difficult task for all involved to make that relationship work.

Bielsa enjoyed a very successful time at Elland Road, getting Leeds United back into the Premier League for the first time in many years while also improving many players such as Kalvin Phillips, who earned a move to Manchester City after being under Bielsa’s wing in West Yorkshire. The Argentinian also got Patrick Bamford firing in the top flight – something that had been eluding the striker up until that point.

The Latest: Bielsa potentially what Everton need

Amid reports that a high-stakes move for Everton to potentially get Bielsa could be of interest to Moshiri, Afari highlighted that the former Leeds United manager’s ability to improve players would make him a perfect fit for the Toffees.

Speaking live on Sky Sports, he said: “He’s the definition of a coach. If you look at the players at Leeds that he did make better: Luke Ayling, Liam Cooper, Stuart Dallas; Kalvin Phillips is probably the biggest one.

“He was deemed an average Championship player, he now plays for Manchester City who are champions of England – I say ‘plays’, he sits on the bench for Man City – but he is an England international and he is a player that developed massively under Bielsa.

“He is a coach that can make players better, and that’s what Everton need right now because there’s not much time to bring in players that maybe fit his style of play. He needs to work with what they’ve got.

“I think he’d be a perfect fit – whether or not they get that deal over the line in terms of bringing Bielsa in, remains to be seen.”

The Verdict: High-risk for high-reward

It’s true that Bielsa could well work some of his magic that took Leeds from an average Championship side to a top-half Premier League outfit in very little time at Everton, but recent revelations could well prove a stumbling block.

Reports have suggested that Bielsa already has reservations about the Everton squad after analysing it from afar. as they are thought to be too slow for how he would like to play, which could suggest it would be a huge uphill task from the start for the Argentinian.

Everton and Moshiri have to decide very quickly what style of manager they wish to go for this month, as the two favourites appear to be Bielsa and Sean Dyche, and they couldn’t be much further apart in terms of management styles, which just goes to show how unorganised everything is at Goodison Park.

Journalist Fabrizio Romano says that Everton are going to have ‘more conversations’ over the potential signing of Atalanta striker Duvan Zapata.

The Lowdown: Talks underway

It was reported earlier this week that ‘negotiations’ are believed to be ‘underway’ with regards to Zapata potentially moving to Goodison Park.

It was also claimed that Frank Lampard would personally ‘ask’ for his signing, and that Zapata may even have already played his last game for Atalanta.

The Latest: More talks to be held

Speaking to GiveMeSport, Romano says that the Merseyside club are set to hold ‘more conversations’ over Zapata’s potential signing, as they are ‘offering’ a loan deal with an option to buy, whereas Atalanta want to sell him permanently:

“Zapata is not easy too because they’re offering a loan with an option to buy, and Atalanta want a permanent move for Zapata.

“So, there will be more conversations between Everton and Atalanta about this Colombian striker.”

The Verdict: Get it done

The Toffees are currently the joint-second lowest scorers in the Premier League on just 15 goals, and are in desperate need of some more ammunition up top.

Zapata is a player who has been prolific in a major league in the Serie A, reaching double figures for goals in each of his last six seasons.

He has only managed to score once so far this term, but did miss six matches with a hamstring injury, and has not always been a regular starter (Transfermarkt).

Hailed as a ‘beast’ who is ‘so big his shorts look like underwear’ by his former Atalanta team-mate Papu Gomez, the six-foot-two colossus would also offer the Blues a physical presence similar to Dominic Calvert-Lewin, as he ranks in the 86th percentile for aerials won per game of all forwards in Europe’s top leagues over the past year (DCL ranks 96th).

Nonetheless, Everton are desperate for more firepower, and so need to take a chance on Zapata.

Crystal Palace have submitted an offer to sign Fenerbahce star Bright Osayi-Samuel, according to reports.

The Lowdown: Osayi-Samuel profiled

The Nigerian international has previously played in England having spent three-and-a-half years with Queens Park Rangers, before moving to the Turkish Super Lig in January 2021.

Despite his contract with Jorge Jesus’ side not expiring until 2025, the 25-year-old appears to have caught the eye of the Eagles, who are claimed to have made an approach to try and bring him to the Premier League.

The Latest: Crystal Palace table bid

According to Turkish outlet Feneralayi, Palace have made a £10m offer for Osayi-Samuel in the hope of completing a deal before the end of the winter window.

Fenerbahce haven’t responded yet, but having paid just £450k to sign him two years ago, would be set to make a hefty profit should they accept the proposal from Selhurst Park.

The Verdict: Potential advantage?

Osayi-Samuel is already friends with Eberechi Eze from their time together at QPR, as per reports, so this existing connection could give Palace a potential advantage in their pursuit of his signature.

The England-born talent has made nine goal contributions since arriving at Fenerbahce and is a versatile individual having spent this season equally playing at both right-back and in midfield (Transfermarkt).

Osayi-Samuel’s former manager Mark Warburton dubbed him a player who ‘terrifies defenders’ which is exactly the kind of attacking threat that the Eagles have been missing down the right flank.