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Tottenham Hotspur could well have identified a new centre-back recruit ahead of the summer transfer window, with the Lilywhites said to be showing interest in a move for Barcelona's, Ronald Araujo.

What's the latest on Araujo to Spurs?

According to 90min, the north London outfit are among a handful of Premier League clubs who have enquired about the prospect of signing the Uruguay international, with Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United and Newcastle United also named as potential suitors.

The report outlines that the La Liga side have been unable to successfully register the impressive centre-back, despite the 24-year-old having signed a new long-term deal last year – opening up the door for potential interested parties to pounce.

That being said, however, the piece also adds that the Catalan outfit are seemingly steadfast in their desire to keep hold of the 6 foot 2 ace, with the Camp Nou hierarchy 'not worried' about the uncertainty surrounding the defender's deal.

Who could Araujo replace at Spurs?

As stated above, it may well prove difficult to prise the £71m-rated star from La Blaugrana ahead of next season, although the signing of the towering ace would certainly provide Spurs with a real upgrade in the heart of the backline.

Such an addition is no doubt required amid the recent woes of Colombian, Davinson Sanchez, with the 26-year-old having been booed off following his dire, brief cameo in the defeat to Bournemouth last time out.

Having been brought on in place of the injured Clement Lenglet after 35 minutes, the former Ajax man was unceremoniously hooked just before the hour mark, after playing his part in both of the Cherries' opening two goals courtesy of some "terrible" defending – as per journalist Sean Walsh.

The defender's woes pre-date that 3-2 loss, however, with Sanchez having previously been branded by pundit Jamie O'Hara as "one of the worst players I’ve ever seen" at the club.

The addition of a towering "monster" such as Araujo – as hailed by writer Muhammad Butt – could well help push the current Tottenham man even further down the pecking order under the new permanent managerial appointment next season.

The differing defensive quality between the pair is showcased by the fact that the Barca ace has won 65% of his total duels and 66% of his aerial duels from his 17 league appearances this season, while Sanchez, by contrast, has averaged just 61% and 55% for the same two metrics from his 15 league outings.

It would also appear that Araujo is far more accomplished at playing out from the back as the 12-cap rock ranks in the top 8% among his European peers for progressive carries and the top 15% for successful take-ons, while his fellow South American ranks in just the top 49% and the top 28% for those same two metrics.

The one-time Boston River ace could well be recognised "among the top three" best central defenders in the world – according to Spain legend Carles Puyol – with that a further indication of the potential upgrade that Spurs could be able to secure.

Chelsea are reportedly interested in signing Barcelona wonderkid Gavi this summer, in a deal which could represent Todd Boehly's best transfer since arriving at Stamford Bridge.

Could Chelsea sign Gavi?

According to Spanish news outlet Diario AS, Chelsea have already met with the 18-year-old's agent, Iván de la Peña, with the view of signing the teenager on a free transfer this summer.

The Spain international only signed a professional contract at the Nou Camp in September 2022, earning £114k-per-week with the Catalan side, yet La Liga have refused to recognise the legitimacy of this deal as it sees Barcelona exceed their wage limit once again.

Xavi's side might well be on track to win the La Liga title this season, but the financial issues at the club are still prevalent and it could cost them their biggest wonderkid this summer, as unless they can get back below the salary limit, Gavi's contract would not be recognised as a professional one, and he would be free to leave for any interested side in Europe.

The report claims that talks with Chelsea have gone well and Gavi is unsurprisingly less than impressed with the way Barcelona have handled his situation, which suggests that he could easily find himself at Stamford Bridge ahead of the 2023/24 campaign.

Would Gavi be Boehly's best signing at Chelsea?

Boehly has spent close to £600m since taking over from Roman Abramovich, but the Blues sit 11th in the Premier League and look destined to be knocked out of the Champions League after a 2-0 defeat against Real Madrid in midweek.

Other than Wesley Fofana and Enzo Fernandez, none of Boehly's signings have averaged above a 7/10 rating from WhoScored for their performances in the Premier League so far this campaign, which suggests that so far his investments have not really paid off.

Meanwhile, Gavi has been a mainstay in Xavi's side as they look to secure their status as the number one team in Spain this season, making 27 appearances in which he has contributed one goal and three assists, with a solid 6.92 rating from WhoScored.

Club and international teammate Sergio Busquets was full of praise for the youngster earlier this season, outlining qualities that could clearly benefit the Blues.

He said (via The Athletic): “Gavi is a competitive animal, super young, at this age most players are still playing in the youth team. He is at an incredible level, goals, assists, he has a brilliant future, but still many things he can improve.

“At his age, he has to listen to everything, learn more, and hopefully he will be a player to mark an era at Barca.”

Boehly clearly wants to build a team for the future at Stamford Bridge and the prospect of signing one of the best talents to emerge from La Masia in recent years on a free transfer would simply be a remarkable coup.

After all, this is a player valued at £158m by CIES Football Observatory. Not even paying a penny, therefore, would mark the Chelsea owner's best move yet.

Fans online have reacted after seeing the Manchester City crowd brutally boo loaned-out defender Joao Cancelo upon his return to the Etihad​​​​​​.

What’s the latest on Man City and Joao Cancelo?

In January, the full-back shocked many as he made a swift and unexpected move to German giants Bayern Munich until the end of the season.

Cancelo failed to start in any of City’s last three matches across all competitions right before his exit, and so there were suggestions in the media that tension between him and Pep Guardiola caused the swift winter departure.

Just months after leaving the Premier League side, the £250k-per-week star had the chance to return to England as Bayern faced his parent club in the Champions League.

In the end, the home team picked up a memorable win as goals from Rodri, Bernardo Silva and Erling Haaland sealed a 3-0 win.

Ironically, Cancelo didn’t start this game either, but Thomas Tuchel did bring him off the bench with about ten minutes to play – even though all the goals had already been scored.

The Bundesliga club have the option to make the loan move permanent for £61.5m, and after seeing the reaction to Cancelo when he came on it’s hard to see him coming back to City.

Indeed, as footage shared on the BT Sport Twitter feed shows, the home crowd clearly haven’t forgiven him for ditching their side mid-season.

The boos rained down on Cancelo as he came on for Alphonso Davies. And BT commentator Darren Fletcher noted: “that’s not the kind of reaction that a loan player would expect from his own fanbase.”

After seeing the footage, a number of fans online had their say on the matter. Here are some of the best reactions…

Some onlookers even seemed to think that spells the end of Caneclo and City as a partnership.

And some felt it was harsh to treat him that way.

Southampton are monitoring Juventus defender Koni De Winter ahead of a potential move to the Premier League, according to reports.

Southampton make De Winter enquiry…

The Belgian initially joined the Serie A outfit’s U17s five years ago and has since worked his way up through the ranks to become a member of the club’s Next Gen side, as per Transfermarkt. The 6 foot 2 colossus’ contract at the Allianz Stadium isn’t set to expire until 2026 but he’s currently out on a season-long loan at FC Empoli where during his ten starts and two substitute appearances, via WhoScored, has caught the eye of Ruben Selles.

Italian outlet Tutto Juve reported in November that the Saints, alongside their top-flight rivals Crystal Palace and West Ham, all made an enquiry regarding a deal for the 20-year-old with a view to taking him in January, and despite a move failing to materialise, they are still very much keeping a close eye on their target ahead of the upcoming window.

According to Tuttomercatoweb (via Sport Witness), Southampton still “like” De Winter who is being “followed closely” by the hierarchy at the St. Mary’s Stadium. Juventus are believed to be “happy” to sanction his sale should they receive a “good offer”, with the south coast outfit one of the clubs to have “viewed” him in recent weeks.

Sport Republic are “deeply attentive” to scouting younger players for the future with the defender one of the ideal candidates to have been identified and he has “no shortage of offers”, making this “one to watch” in the months ahead.

Should Southampton cash out on De Winter?

Italy and Juventus captain Leonardo Bonucci has claimed that De Winter is a player that has “no fear” with “enormous room” for improvement and he would be an exciting signing for the future of Southampton should they secure his services in the summer.

The Antwerp native is currently averaging 4.1 clearances per league game, highlighting the rock he is at the heart of the backline, and is recording an 86% pass success rate, displaying his calmness and composure when playing out from the back (WhoScored).

De Winter is also a threat at set pieces having scored three goals and provided two assists throughout his career so far with the versatile operator having additionally played at right-back and as a defensive midfielder, making this a no-brainer of a deal to complete (Transfermarkt).

Chelsea are one of a number of sides across Europe interested in signing AC Milan star Rafael Leao this summer and the winger's potential arrival at Stamford Bridge could see Graham Potter ditch January flop Mykhailo Mudryk.

Could Chelsea sign Rafael Leao?

Chelsea have long been linked with signing the former Lille forward, with the Blues reportedly offering €70m (£62m) during the World Cup in Qatar.

However, should the Blues retain their interest heading into the summer, they could be forced to shell out the 23-year-old's mighty €150m (£132m) release clause.

It has been another impressive campaign from the Portugal international, as he boasts eight goals and six assists in just 25 Serie A appearances, with WhoScored awarding him an impressive average rating of 7.07.

He has also caught the eye with his performances in the Champions League, as his one goal and two assists have helped Stefano Pioli's side reach the quarter-finals, where they will face Italian top-flight leaders Napoli next month.

For context, the top-performing player in Potter's squad this season, of those to make at least ten Premier League appearances, has been Reece James, and he also has a 7.07 average rating from WhoScored, which emphasises the quality Leao could add at Stamford Bridge next season, particularly in the attacking areas where the Blues have struggled.

Former England manager Fabio Capello lauded the pacy winger when on Sky Sports earlier this month, comparing him to PSG superstar Kylian Mbappe.

He said, via OneFootball: “Another important thing: he worries the opponents. He is one of the few players in Europe today who goes off easily in one-on-one situations. In terms of speed and quickness, he is like Mbappé."

Considering the France international is regarded as one of the best young footballers in the world, winning the golden boot in Qatar after a hat-trick in the final, Chelsea would surely be foolish to turn down a similar player this summer, no matter the cost for Todd Boehly.

If the left-winger were to arrive at Stamford Bridge, it would surely limit the chances of fellow youngster Mudryk, who has struggled since signing from Shakhtar Donetsk in the January transfer window for a mammoth £88.5m fee, signing a ridiculous eight-and-a-half-year deal.

In total, the 22-year-old has managed no goals and one assist in seven appearances for his new side, averaging a shockingly bad 6.26 rating from WhoScored for his performances in the Premier League.

It would be a ruthless decision by Potter to consider dropping the Ukrainian youngster so early into his Chelsea career but he has done little so far to justify his price and for that sort of money, he needed to come in and have an immediate impact at Stamford Bridge.

Leao has consistently produced in Italy's top flight in recent seasons and could be a big upgrade on Mudryk if Boehly can prise the Portuguese forward away from the San Siro this summer.

Leeds United enjoyed a summer of vast overhaul, as Jesse Marsch was handed a transfer war chest to reinvest in a threadbare playing squad that had narrowly avoided the drop.

What made that task even more arduous was the departures of Kalvin Phillips and Raphinha, as despite the astronomical fees gained they lost out on two of their best players.

The former in particular stung given how he had come up through the ranks to become a star of both their and the England national team's midfield; the pride and joy of Thorp Arch.

However, his sale made complete fiscal sense given the 27-year-old had been plagued by injuries during his final year at Elland Road and continues to be so at Manchester City.

Whilst the introductions of Tyler Adams, Weston McKennie and Marc Roca were expected to uphold a revolutionised engine room, the latter in particular has left plenty to be desired. Javi Gracia could now seek to repeat his club's Phillips success by unleashing another academy talent, namely Morten Spencer.

Who is Morten Spencer?

A calming presence in the U21s' midfield, the 19-year-old boasts a maturity that belies his youth.

The central midfielder has made himself a mainstay in that youth level of late, boasting 11 appearances this campaign including a further three in the Football League Trophy.

It is in this competition where his outstanding assets are showcased, as his defensive intelligence has shone through with 1.7 interceptions, one tackle and two clearances per game (via Sofascore).

Such is his immense positional awareness, the defensive-minded maestro has often been deployed at centre back too, highlighting his similarities to Phillips and usefulness to a squad not only due to his quality but his versatility too.

However, he is far from just the one-dimensional stopper that his statistics might suggest. His ability on the ball is unmatched, and had earned the attention of Pep Guardiola before the teenager decided to move to Leeds instead.

His mother Heidi Spencer clearly saw her son's future at the very top of the game, as she would claim: "Morten is very good with both feet so they tend to put him on the left wing but he can also play in a central midfield role.

"He’s very creative, he’s a good passer of the ball, good at dribbling and he’s got a helluva shot. He’s very strong, fit and fast and has grown quite a lot lately so he’s now around 5ft 10ins. He scores a few goals as well."

Clearly his future is sparkling, so with the poor recent displays of Roca an opportunity beckons. The Spaniard has recorded back-to-back displays of 6.4 or lower, with an underwhelming average rating across the campaign of 6.82. He has been far from the midfield magician they thought they had acquired from Bayern Munich.

This disappointment should hand Spencer hope that soon he will get his chance to prove the qualities that his mother outlined on the Premier League stage.

Journalist Dean Jones has predicted that Sean Dyche could end up "loving" Everton striker Ellis Simms as he has the potential to keep the club from relegation.

What's the latest on Ellis Simms and Everton?

Back in January, the Toffees looked to be in a really dire situation as they sacked Frank Lampard having not won a Premier League game since October.

However, in recent weeks form has changed somewhat and Dyche will see his team enter the International break 15th on the table, two points above the bottom three.

In their last outing, Simms managed to grab a superb solo goal to rescue a point for Everton against Chelsea way from home with just one minute of the 90 to play.

With that in mind, while speaking on Chasing Green Arrows, Jones explained how the 22-year-old could be a good fit for new manager Dyche.

He said: "He's better than Maupay, isn't he? So he's already shown that. At least he's got some front about him and can charge through. He looks very driven, doesn't he?

"And he's a big lad. I mean, that's the sort of player you can just imagine Dyche absolutely loving. And you want that hunger in someone to prove a point and he looks like he's got that, too.

"So could be a hero at Everton by the end of the season."

Is Simms a better option for Everton than Maupay?

In all competitions, Simms has actually scored a very tidy eight goals from 23 outings, with two assists to his name as well. However, seven of these efforts were on loan with Sunderland in the Championship.

That means his strike against Chelsea was his first in six outings since being recalled from the Black Cats in January. Even so, across that time, he's only been on the pitch for 110 minutes.

Neal Maupay, on the other hand, has been regularly involved for Everton but still only has just one goal in 22 outings, for a total of 1,096 mins of game time across all competitions.

With that in mind, it's not hard to see why Jones has suggested that the 22-year-old has more to offer than the Frenchman. And seeing as Maupay didn't get off the bench against Chelsea while Simms did, it seems quite likely that Dyche agrees.

It will certainly be interesting to see if the young forward can continue to help his team in the midst of their relegation battle or if this was just a one-off – much like Maupay's only goal of the season.

Everton striker Neal Maupay is Brighton & Hove Albion's all-time Premier League top goalscorer, level with Glenn Murray on 26, but has failed to offer even a shadow of his former cutting edge since transferring to Goodison Park last summer.

The Toffees appointed the stoic and gritty Sean Dyche to replace the dismissed Frank Lampard in the managerial position in January, but the recent purple patch should not negate the shambolic failures on the transfer front and consequently the pitch over the past several years, running the Merseyside into the ground like a fallen plane.

Indeed, Everton staved off relegation from the top-flight by the skin of their teeth last term, with a late surge of form preserving coveted status among the crème de la crème of English football once again, but the ensuing summer transfer left little to be admired, certainly from an attacking perspective.

Dwight McNeil and the Frenchman were signed, and while the former Burnley winger has been a steady presence, scoring the winner against Brentford last time out, his talismanic peer has offered little impactful contribution over his time in Everton colours.

How much has Maupay cost Everton?

When Maupay was signed for £15m in August, it was viewed as a shrewd deal, with Maupay a steady goalscorer for the Seagulls over his time at the club, scoring at least eight goals in each Premier League season.

But since his seasonal switch up north, the £50k-per-week ace has clinched just the solitary strike after 22 appearances across all competitions, hardly the reliable force desired to navigate away from danger at the pit of the division once again.

Given that the 26-year-old scored 27 goals and provided seven assists for Albion, the fact that he has fallen so drastically in front of goal is alarming, with FBref ranking the dud among the bottom 2% of forwards for rate of goals across Europe's top five leagues.

Branded as a forward "who can't finish" by former Aston Villa talisman Gabby Agbonlahor and "not good enough" by journalist Dean Jones already this season, Toffees owner Farhad Moshiri has effectively paid out £8m per goal for the former Seagulls man, given that Maupay's wages have totalled £1.5m thus far.

With the club one point and three places above 18th-placed Bournemouth, also holding the joint-lowest striking tally in the division, the lack of offensive impetus could indeed sour the fight for survival.

While £16.5m is not the most exorbitant of fees in the grand scheme of modern football, it is a figure that will continue to expand as Maupay's sorry Blues career drags on, and should relegation become an actuality come the end of the campaign, the choice to sign the uncapped Frenchman could prove to be a detrimental mistake.

Manchester United are likely to make a ‘marquee number nine’ signing during the summer transfer window, according to journalist Ryan Taylor.

The Lowdown: New striker needed at United

The Red Devils look like a formidable side these days, despite Sunday’s 7-0 hammering by Liverpool, with top-quality players all over the pitch.

The one area where United look short is in central attacking areas, however, with Wout Weghorst limited and Anthony Martial horribly injury-prone.

They have been linked with a number of world-renowned strikers recently, with Victor Osimhen and Harry Kane possibly the front-runners to come in.

The Latest: Taylor backs transfer to happen

Speaking to Give Me Sport, Taylor said he believes a ‘marquee’ striker will make the move to Old Trafford this summer:

“I do envisage United going big on a marquee number nine whether that’s Kane, Osimhen or Vlahovic. I do see that happening, to be honest with you. I do feel like it is the final piece of the jigsaw.”

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The Verdict: Kane or Osimhen?

It is essential that United bring in a big upgrade centrally this summer, and at this point, it does feel as though Osimhen or Kane are the two strongest options.

The former looks like a sensational player, scoring 19 goals in Serie A this season and 15 in 23 caps for Nigeria, and at 24 he is comfortably the younger of the two.

Meanwhile, Kane is unquestionably one of the best strikers of his generation, recently becoming Tottenham’s all-time leading goalscorer and netting 201 times in the Premier League.

The age element probably gives Osimhen the edge, with Erik ten Hag wanting to build for the long-term, but either would be a masterstroke for United this summer.

Everton have been dealt a double injury blow before they face Arsenal as Sean Dyche says that Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Nathan Patterson are both ruled out.

The Lowdown: Team News

Speaking to the media in his pre-game press conference ahead of their match in the Premier League tonight, Dyche confirmed that Calvert-Lewin has still not recovered from injury, and will be sidelined.

He also added that James Garner is still ruled out, although his fitness is getting stronger.

The Latest: Patterson out

Dyche also confirmed that Patterson is a ‘bit behind’ despite returning in an U21s game against Tottenham Hotspur a couple of weeks ago, and so will not be available:

“James Garner’s going well. He’s getting fitter & stronger… Nathan Patterson’s just a bit behind that so he’ll just need a bit more.”

The Verdict: Blow

It is certainly a blow for Dyche to be without Patterson again as well as Calvert-Lewin and Garner.

The 21-year-old right-back is a younger and perhaps more athletic option to the 34-year-old Seamus Coleman, who may struggle up against the in-form Gabriel Martinelli.

Patterson is currently averaging more tackles per game than any of his team-mates in the top flight, and also averages more shots, key passes, dribbles and pass success per game than Coleman (WhoScored).

The Scotsman would offer the Toffees an extra attacking threat up against the league leaders, as they are the lowest scorers in the division with 17, but now it will be more difficult to get something from the game, and they may just have to play for a point.