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Chelsea have been “offered” the chance to bring Napoli winger Hirving Lozano to the Premier League, according to journalist Ciro Venerato.

Who is Hirving Lozano?

Football.London have recently reported that the Blues could be set for a mass exodus at the end of the season with the futures of the likes of Hakim Ziyech and Christian Pulisic uncertain, so Graham Potter has to enter the market to search for suitable replacements.

The Mexico international made the big-money move to the Serie A from PSV Eindhoven back in 2019, but with his contract set to expire next summer and having not put pen to paper on fresh terms to extend his stay, it’s likely that he’ll depart during the upcoming window.

Earlier in March, journalist Raffaele Auriemma claimed that Potter “likes” the profile of the 27-year-old and that Luciano Spalletti’s side are hoping to receive €50m (£43m) from his sale whenever that time comes.

Speaking to Rai (via CalcioNapoli24 and Sport Witness), Venerato revealed that Chelsea have since been presented with the opportunity to sign Lozano, but he isn’t short of potential suitors with interest also emerging from across Europe. He said:

“There are several clubs interested. The Mexican has entrusted himself to an English agency, who are trying to guarantee the player a salary on par with the current one, which Napoli will see reduced in the future.

"The player has been offered to some English clubs, including Chelsea, but there is no lack of admirers in La Liga, including Sevilla and Villarreal. In the case of the attacker, a negotiation will have to be started with De Laurentiis;”

Should Chelsea wrap up a deal for Lozano?

Lozano has been dubbed a “defender's nightmare” by journalist Josh Bunting and considering Chelsea are in need of attacking reinforcements, this is a no-brainer of a deal for them to complete.

The Nike-sponsored star has posted 184 goal contributions (113 goals and 71 assists) in 374 career appearances and is always trying to get on the front foot, ranking in the 89th percentile for most progressive carries per game by players in his position. The World Cup participant is also comfortable being fielded in six various positions throughout the pitch, including anywhere across the frontline, so would offer Potter flexibility during his selection process.

The Blues could additionally hold an advantage in the race for Lozano as a result of him sharing the same agent as Reece James, so this is likely to be a situation to watch in the months ahead.

Leeds United are thought to be plotting a move for Borussia Dortmund left-back Raphael Guerreiro after contract talks stalled with the Bundesliga side, Football Insider report.

The Lowdown: Left-back options

Javi Gracia is light of senior left-back options at Elland Road, with Junior Firpo the only out-and-out left-back in Yorkshire.

Centre-back Pascal Struijk has turned out as a left-back on 20 occasions so far this season due to Firpo’s injury issues, however, the Spaniard has been a regular under Gracia, starting every Premier League fixture under the new head coach.

He even scored the first goal of the Gracia era against Southampton but is reportedly wanted by a number of Spanish clubs ahead of the summer. It looks as if Leeds are looking to strengthen their full-back ranks in the summer, with Guerreiro a real target.

The Latest: Guerreiro update

Football Insider reporter Pete O’Rourke shared an update regarding Guerreiro in the last 48 hours, describing it as a boost for Leeds.

The Whites, and by extension owner Andrea Radrizzani and shareholders the 49ers Enterprises, are plotting a move for the full-back, with the good news for the club being that contract talks between Guerreiro and Dortmund have stalled in recent weeks.

It looks likely he will leave the club as a free agent in the summer, with Leeds planning to reignite their interest but need to retain their Premier League status to have a chance of a deal.

The Verdict: Shrewd signing?

A move for Guerreiro, who represented his country at the World Cup last year, appears to be an ambitious one, especially as the player has featured in the Champions League over the last seven campaigns.

It could be an excellent piece of business, though, with the 29-year-old impressing for Dortmund this season. He has contributed to an impressive 16 goals in 27 games in all competitions and has even turned out as a central midfielder on two occasions.

Guerreiro has been hailed by Dortmund head coach Edin Terzic, who labelled the full-back as an amazing player.

“An amazing player. So you see especially against a deep defending side, we want him to get on the ball because he makes things happen.”

Therefore, if Leeds stay up, Guerreiro could be a real marquee signing and just what the club needs to rival the likes of Firpo and Struijk next season. It looks as if it could be one to keep an eye on, but the Whites will need to keep picking up points and ensure they remain in the Premier League to have any chance of a deal.

Journalist Jacque Talbot has been speaking about the rumoured interest from Newcastle United in Folarin Balogun.

The Lowdown: Newcastle need more goals

After flying high in the top three earlier in the season, Newcastle and Eddie Howe have been brought crashing back down to earth in 2023 having slipped outside of the top four and lost in the Carabao Cup final.

Newcastle have failed to score two or more goals in a Premier League game since Boxing Day when they beat Leicester City 3-0, so Howe must start getting his attacking players to click in the final third if they are to rediscover their early-season form.

That is quite amazing to be saying, however, as Newcastle spent £63m on Alexander Isak last summer and £45m on Anthony Gordon in January. But to be pushing for the top four, they need quality and depth – which someone as young and talented as Arsenal loanee Balogun could provide.

The Latest: Balogun for both the present and the future

Talbot has been speaking on his YouTube channel about Newcastle’s interest in Balogun, who’s been tearing up Ligue 1 this season with 15 goals to his name.

He said: “I am bouncing off a report by Steve Kay, Balogun – he’s over at Reims, I think, doing very well in Ligue 1. Newcastle have got a bit of an eye on him, something that I heard as well, but again, he’s just one to consider, one to watch.”

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The Verdict: A youthful option could be useful

While Talbot doesn’t appear to consider Balogun as a transfer priority for Newcastle, given that the Magpies already have two strikers within their ranks who will be itching to start every week, recruiting someone a lot younger such as Balogun, who could learn from and eventually replace Callum Wilson, could be a smart move.

Wilson is exploring a tough time of things, with his body seemingly not able to cope with the demands of the Premier League having missed nine games this season, so the club may have to start looking towards the future.

Balogun is still very young and unlikely to get much game time back at Arsenal given they have Gabriel Jesus and Eddie Nketiah on the books, but a departure could likely anger Arsenal fans, especially legend Ian Wright, who believes the youngster has ‘a lot of hype’ surrounding him following his stunning Ligue 1 season.

Sky Sports News pundit Gary Neville has warned that Manchester United fans will be scared that the Glazer family don’t end up entirely leaving amid recent takeover talks.

What’s the latest on the Glazer family and the Man Utd takeover?

Recently, it was reported that The US hedge fund Elliott Investment Management have put forward a proposal for possible financing to the Glazers if they opt not to sell the club.

Of course, Qatari-linked Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani and British billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe have both tabled offers to take over instead as majority owners.

With plenty of interest, it remains to be seen as to how exactly it all plays out but Neville has stayed that this upcoming period has to spell the “end of the Glazer ownership” in order for the club to progress.

While talking on The Gary Neville Podcast, he explained: “I think what scares Manchester United fans most at this moment in time is the feeling that this Manchester United ownership, the Glazer family, are running this process to drive a massive price up to try and somehow establish a level that means that two of them can stay in, and the rest of the family that want out can be bought out, by, for instance, an American fund who they wouldn’t mind owning a minority or a sort of, if you like, significant share, but not the whole entirety of the share.

“That is the biggest concern, and the absolute emphasis at this moment in time from all of us United fans is that this has got to be the end of the Glazer ownership.

“They’ve run out of money. They’ve not invested in a stadium. The fans want a new stadium here, whether that’s this one [Old Trafford] refurbished or there’s a new one rebuilt. We need new facilities. Manchester United’s stadium is behind, well behind, a lot of the big clubs in Europe.”

What does the latest takeover news mean for Man Utd?

The Premier League club certainly haven’t been at their best in recent times under the Glazer ownership and have not won a league title since Sir Alex Ferguson departed after the 2012-13 season.

What’s more, club legend Cristiano Ronaldo recently slammed the family, stating that they “don’t care” and have let all the facilities fall below the standard of top European clubs because they don’t care about the sport and only about the marketing.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe has bid for 69 per cent of United– which is as much as is currently owned by the Glazers – so the family would not be involved. While the Qatari bid would wipe out all the club’s debts and try to “restore” the Red Devils back to the top of European football.

With that in mind, it’s no wonder so many just like Neville are desperate for a clean break in ownership. It will be interesting to see how things play out in the coming weeks with takeover bids on the table but nothing yet confirmed one way or the other.

There is optimism aplenty at Arsenal right now despite the failure to secure the signing of Moises Caicedo from divisional rivals Brighton & Hove Albion, but moves must be made to ensure a deal is tied up in the summer…

What’s the word?

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta attempted to raid the Seagulls once again and fired a succession of bids at the south coast in hopes of securing the Ecuadorian prodigy Caicedo, but Albion’s resolve was unwavering.

An initial £60m bid was followed by a £70m offer, both of which fell on deaf ears amid an £80m asking price, and Arsenal instead turned attention towards Chelsea’s Jorginho, who was signed for £12m to instil experience and composure into the ranks.

While technical director Edu may see the failure to land priority targets in the shape of Mykhaylo Mudryk and indeed Caicedo as somewhat of a disaster, high-flying Arsenal must nurse their wounds and ensure focus does not slip from the Premier League title race and make the requisite moves to continue talks at the end of the campaign.

“Revelation”

Brighton signed the 21-year-old Caicedo for a paltry £4.5m from his Ecuadorian homeland outfit Independiente del Valle, beating Manchester United to his signature after the Red Devils were credited with an interest in the weeks preceding Albion’s swoop.

Since then, he has blossomed into a regular presence in his outfit’s side, starting 18 of his team’s 19 league matches this term, providing tenacity and composure from the centre for a side that currently occupy sixth place in the Premier League, just seven points behind fourth placed Man United and with a game in hand.

This meteoric ascension up the table is a testament to the club’s diligence and accuracy in the transfer market, with an esteemed recruitment team that rarely hit wide of the mark.

And with Caicedo, once heralded as a “revelation” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, in the centre pulling the strings, it is no wonder that some of the division’s most prominent outfits have been sniffing around and willing to part with such a lucrative sum of money to land his signature.

As per Sofascore, the 28-cap gem has recorded an average league rating of 7.10 this season, completing 88% of his passes, averaging 1.1 key passes per match, also making 2.9 tackles and 1.4 interceptions per game – illustrating his dynamic approach that indeed sets him a gulf apart from the majority of positional peers plying their trade in the Premier League.

And upon his arrival to English football, South American football writer Tim Vickery waxed lyrical about the calibre of the young gem.

He said: “He is a terrific athlete who makes football look easy. A box-to-box midfielder.

“That kind of box-to-box midfielder that’s very much in the tradition of the England game. Strong, quick, intelligent and cool. He really does look like the genuine article.”

Granted, Arsenal would have reaped the rewards of landing Caicedo for the remainder of the campaign, but the club are in a superb position regardless, five points clear atop the league table and boasting a remarkable crop of superlative young talent.

And with the signing of Chelsea’s experienced pass master Jorginho, the centre of park has added the sheen it needed ahead of the business end of the season.

As such, the Gunners should not feel the effects of the missed transfer too strongly, but in order to cement success for years to come, and make up for their late transfer woes, Edu must pull all the punches and secure their man in the summer.

Manchester United winger Antony has been slammed for his midweek performance by TalkSport pundit Gabriel Agbonlahor.

What’s the word?

United dropped crucial points as they attempted to go into second place in the Premier League, as Michael Olise’s stunning late free-kick meant Crystal Palace snatched a draw at Selhurst Park.

Midfielder Casemiro picked up a yellow card, meaning he is suspended for United’s game away at league leaders Arsenal this weekend, adding insult to injury.

United were below-par in attack and Brazil winger Antony was singled out for his display.

Speaking on TalkSport, Agbonlahor claimed the £86m signing has not been doing enough and compared him to Gunners flop Nicolas Pepe.

He said: “Watching him last night, he wasn’t happy when he got dragged [off]. He doesn’t do enough, for me. He’s giving me [Nicolas] Pepe vibes.

“[He does] tricks, he doesn’t really beat a player, and they need, for me, Garnacho to start against Arsenal.

“They need more options on the wing because Antony is not at it at the moment. Maybe he will [be] with time, but at the moment, he’s not doing enough.”

An anonymous display

The 22-year-old was almost completely ineffective against Palace, failing to create a single key pass or complete a single dribble, while he was dispossessed eight times, as per Sofascore.

He has had a mixed start to life at United, scoring five times in 18 appearances, but clearly needs more time to adapt to life in the Premier League.

United parted with a substantial fee to bring him to the club at the request of Erik ten Hag, and whilst he is yet to justify his fee, he has shown talent in flashes, although he has also drawn criticism for his showboating style, and he needs to start providing more output on a regular basis.

Chelsea could well be looking to continue their January spending spree with the signing of Tottenham Hotspur’s Yves Bissouma, with the Blues currently closing in on the signing of Noni Madueke.

What’s the word?

According to the Telegraph’s Matt Law, the Stamford Bridge outfit are said to have made an enquiry regarding the potential acquisition of the 26-year-old, with the west Londoners also seemingly willing to offer Hakim Ziyech as part of any deal.

Despite including the Moroccan international as part of the exchange, the report does suggest that Spurs do not intend to part ways with the former Brighton and Hove Albion man any time soon, having only signed Bissouma on a £25m deal over the summer.

As stated above, this comes amid widespread reports that PSV Eindhoven starlet, Madueke is set to follow the likes of Joao Felix and Mykhaylo Mudryk in joining Graham Potter’s side this month, with the Englishman set to be the 15th addition of the Todd Boehly regime to date.

Dream Kante heir

Although those at N17 do appear reluctant to sanction a sale for Bissouma in the coming weeks, Chelsea’s chances of sealing a move could well be boosted by the fact that the Malian midfielder has endured something of a bit-part role under Antonio Conte this term, with only nine of his 21 outings across all fronts having come from the start.

It has proven a difficult transition to life in the capital for the one-time Lille ace, although the 6 foot maestro did previously flourish during his time at the Amex, having been described as a “monster” by journalist Aaron Stokes in the recent past.

The £55k-per-week playmaker notably illustrated his ball-winning prowess in what was a fine campaign under Potter last term, having averaged 2.9 tackles and 1.9 interceptions per game from his 26 Premier League outings.

Such quality in regaining possession – which is also showcased by the fact that he ranks in the top 8% among his European peers for interceptions made – could well ensure that Bissouma proves a dream heir for the ageing N’Golo Kante at Stamford Bridge.

The diminutive Frenchman has been lauded as one of the top-flight’s most “influential” midfielders of the last decade by club legend Joe Cole, having helped the club to Champions League and Premier League glory since his move from Leicester City back in 2016.

The 31-year-old’s hallmark has arguably been his relentless presence in the centre of the park, showcased by the fact that he ranks in the top 13% for tackles and the top 16% for interceptions at present.

That being said, the experienced asset’s powers may well be on the wane, with persistent injury woes having ensured that Kante has only featured twice this season in all competitions.

Equally, with just six months remaining on his existing deal, the £290k-per-week machine is facing an uncertain future at present, hence the need to potentially find a suitable successor for the long term.

As such, Potter could well find that ideal heir for the World Cup winner by reuniting with Bissouma in the coming weeks.

Tottenham Hotspur are eyeing Wolves winger Adama Traore alongside heavily linked Sporting Lisbon defender Pedro Porro, according to reports.

The Lowdown: Spurs want wing-back…

Spurs boss Antonio Conte and sporting director Fabio Paratici are currently targeting the fresh addition of a right-wing-back ahead of January.

The Italian head coach is thought to be dissatisfied with current options Matt Doherty and Emerson Royal as repeated links emerge to the likes of Porro.

Chasing a second-successive finish in the Premier League top four, signing a new wing-back appears to be among Conte’s top transfer priorities.

The Latest: Tottenham eye Traore move…

According to a recent claim, alongside Porro – who remains of real interest – Spurs are also thought to be eyeing Molineux attacker Traore, just as they were earlier in the year.

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90min claim that, ‘in addition to Porro and [Denzel] Dumfries’ , the Lilywhites ‘retain a long-standing interest’ in the 26-year-old, who ‘came close’ to a north London move last January.

Traore is seen as someone who could fit Conte’s mould of a makeshift right-wing-back, and a further incentive for Paratici and co is that his deal expires in 2023.

The Verdict: Right man?

Hailed by pundit Noel Whelan as the ‘perfect fit’ and a ‘game-changer’ , the former Barcelona player can be a truly devastating asset when at peak form.

The Spaniard has failed to find that season, but over the course of 2021/2022, he proved that his dribbling and take-on ability can be near unstoppable.

He averaged a brilliant 4.2 successful take-ons per 90 before signing for Barcelona on loan for the second half of last season, which hints at why he was once valued at £100m.

Spurs could sign the wide man for much, much less than that now and it’s certainly something they should consider.

Everton remain top of the pile for signing Boulaye Dia but now face Premier League competition…

What’s the latest?

That’s according to Tutto Salernitana, who claim that Kevin Thelwell will continue to rival West Ham United for the Senegalese striker.

With the 26-year-old currently on loan at the Italian side, they plan to exercise their €12m (£10.4m) option to buy clause with plans to “fix the price” for his summer exit.

Therefore, it seems the enthusiasm from the English clubs will have to wait until the conclusion of this season. Having contacted his entourage, both teams are aware of this plan.

It is expected they will demand €17m (£15m) for his signature.

“Exciting” signing

Although it may be one for the future, this remains a signing that Evertonians can get excited about.

With Dominic Calvert-Lewin continuing to suffer from injuries, and Neal Maupay having scored just once since his summer move, obtaining a striker is a move of the utmost importance for Frank Lampard.

Especially given how his side in total has scored just 11 times in 15 games.

Having become somewhat reliant on the one-season exploits of their Sheffield-born frontman, it seems up front has become a position somewhat neglected.

Calvert-Lewin had scored 16 goals during the 2020/21 campaign but has featured just 23 times across the season and a half following.

Dia alone already has six goals this season for his side, as well as assisting a further two. His entry to Goodison Park would mark an instant upgrade on the current crop of toothless attackers that have frustrated fans thus far this season.

He seems set to glide past last season’s tally of seven goals and six assists, which included a strike against Liverpool in their Champions League semi-final collapse.

What has further marked a sensational season for the on-loan Villarreal marksman is his World Cup goal, which will likely have seen his value rocket even further.

Transfer insider and journalist Dean Jones had expected him to “be a breakout” from the competition in Qatar, also labelling him “exciting” and “confident”.

This move could be worth the wait for Lampard and Thelwell, but they will be wary of going the rest of the season without a reliable goal scorer.

Everton’s financial troubles have been painfully public for some time now, but their £60m sale of Richarlison in the summer saw them narrowly avoid FFP sanctions after years of financial misconduct.

This could have spurred Farhad Moshiri to become warier about sanctioning further deals, however, following that switch he allowed Frank Lampard to unload £67m on seven new permanent signings.

The same could happen again this January, underpinned by another potential big sale.

Anthony Gordon was subject to vast transfer interest throughout the summer, with a similar £60m fee touted and a £45m bid reportedly knocked back.

Tottenham Hotspur could pick up the pieces this January, as per the Daily Mail, paving the way for Lampard to ditch the 21-year-old starlet in favour of a rumoured move for Samuel Chukwueze.

Having failed in a deadline-day swoop for the Nigerian, the Toffees will join a list of suitors that include Unai Emery’s Aston Villa for the mercurial 23-year-old.

This season he already boasts five goals and six assists across all competitions for Villarreal, looking to demolish last season’s seven-goal and three-assist campaign.

The £31k-per-week wide man would offer far more than Gordon currently has done for his boyhood club, as he has scored just seven goals in 75 appearances at Goodison Park.

Bursting onto the scene, he quickly became a favourite as expectations grew. But with just one goal in his last nine Premier League games, he is beginning to cause unrest amongst fans of the Merseyside outfit.

Bringing in Chukwueze would surely freshen up a tired-looking selection of wide men, who combined have only managed eight goals across all competitions.

He ranks in the top 1% for dribbles completed and touches in the attacking penalty area of attacking midfielders and wingers in Europe’s big five leagues, as well as sitting in the top 6% for total shots, via FBref.

At the very least he would provide a dangerous and consistent goal threat, the likes of which have drawn praise from legendary forward and former Everton man Samuel Eto’o.

He said: “He is an incredible player who is growing in leaps and bounds and it’s just a matter of time”.

To swap out Gordon for this unrelenting offensive presence would be a stroke of genius from Moshiri, and could for once represent money well spent.