Manchester United are believed to be considering a move for Brighton and Hove Albion starlet, Evan Ferguson, albeit with any deal not set to take place until next summer.

What's the latest on Ferguson to Man United?

According to journalist Melissa Reddy, the Red Devils – as well as rivals Tottenham Hotspur – are seemingly lining up a swoop for the 18-year-old sensation in 2024, with United having previously missed out on the teenager's signature despite taking him on trial in the past.

Writing on Twitter, the respected insider stated: "Manchester United and Tottenham have both earmarked Evan Ferguson as the forward that can lead their line long term, with groundwork having started over a future move…"

In her attached piece for Sky Sports, Reddy explains that the Republic of Ireland international – who recently signed a new deal with the Seagulls – is viewed as a '£50m-plus mistake' by those at United due to their previous failure to sign him, with Erik ten Hag and co now lining up the sparkling youngster as a target for the long-term.

Should Man United sign Evan Ferguson?

The former Bohemian striker has certainly caught the attention of late following what has been a real breakthrough campaign at the Amex, with the precocious talent having scored ten goals at senior level in all competitions this term.

The much-coveted striker – who also boasts a tally of five goals in just six Premier League 2 games this season in the youth ranks – has been earmarked as a potential "£100m phenom" of the future, according to Reddy, while Brighton boss Roberto De Zerbi has suggested that the 6 foot 2 ace could become one of the "best strikers in the Premier League".

Likened to one-time Man United man, Michael Owen, for his "ice cold" finishing prowess – as per talkSPORT pundit Scott Minto – Ferguson is deservedly earning rave reviews for his standout recent form, with it set to be no surprise if he kicks on again for the south coast side next season.

If the four-cap powerhouse does eventually end up at the Theatre of Dreams, Ten Hag could well have the makings of a truly mouthwatering, long-term attacking partnership involving Ferguson and fellow teen, Alejandro Garnacho, with the latter gem having also been a breakout star in the top-flight this term.

The FA Youth Cup-winning winger has netted five goals and provided five assists across all fronts at senior level to date, only recently marking his return from injury with a late strike off the bench against Wolverhampton Wanderers.

While still only 18 himself, the Argentine speedster has already emerged as a real "game changer" for United – according to Manchester Evening News journalist, Samuel Luckhurst – with Ten Hag hailing the "brave" youngster as a "huge talent" following his effort against the Old Gold.

Although the Madrid-born dynamo will need to maintain his initial, first-team impact next season – as too will Ferguson at the Amex – the signs are that Garnacho could well be a real star of the future for the Red Devils.

To think that the teen machine could be well be partnered with the clinical Brighton man at some stage over the coming years is exciting, indeed.

Michael Klinger stayed put when Sussex’s debutant Christian Davies thought he had caught him on 29. The umpires ruled in his favour. He went on to an unbeaten century

Will Macpherson13-Aug-2016
ScorecardMichael Klinger chose not to walk – and finished with an unbeaten century•Getty Images

When Michael Klinger punched Steve Magoffin to backward point, and the Sussex debutant Christian Davis dived forward, appearing to take a very fine low catch, he had 29. But as the fielders celebrated a wicket that would have left Gloucestershire reeling at 92 for five, Klinger was not for moving. He chose to leave the umpires to decide if the ball had carried and, after a lengthy conference, they decided he should stay. Sussex’s fielders initially appeared dumbfounded, but their lips loosened just in time for the exchange of some terse words.Klinger, almost inevitably, was still there at the close with a century to his name, with his team in the ascendancy after a disastrous start on a pitch he had elected to bat first on. On fine margins do such games turn.Sussex were within their rights to grumble (just as Klinger had been within his to stand his ground), but by day’s end they had let their outstanding start go to waste. Steve Magoffin, trotting in from the Sea End, had looked the force of old, picking up the Gloucestershire top three in his first six overs, and Jofra Archer had forced Hamish Marshall to edge to Chris Jordan, who took a fine catch at slip; Gloucestershire were ruinously placed at 34 for four.Magoffin took upwards of 28% of Sussex’s wickets during his first four years at the club, but his influence – on pitches often unkind to his art – has appeared to slightly wane this season, even if he still went into this game with his 25 wickets coming at 29. He was immediately into his work here, however, with his line, length and lots of lift making life uncomfortable for Gloucestershire. Will Tavare was bowled playing across the line, while Graeme van Buuren and Chris Dent pushed and were caught behind; the ball after the latter fell, Danny Briggs parried a very hard chance from Marshall in the gully. Never mind, Archer’s pace did for him shortly after.But then came some vintage Klinger fare; his driving was perfectly precise and his judgment outside off stump perfect, while he was always alive to the possibility of a single. On a day when the outside edge was beaten plenty, it is hard to recall the beaten blade being his. His contentious reprieve was his sole false stroke. He never really needed to put his foot down, but late in the day there was a nonchalant flick for six over midwicket and his cuts had more purpose too.”Given the position he went in on,” reflected his coach, Richard Dawson, “it was a massive achievement to be there at the end. He just took it ball by ball. He’s a soldier, he just carries on going. He’s a consistent person, the way he trains, he’s very honest, he wants to succeed and is hungry and wants to make big runs. If he gets low scores, he doesn’t let it get him down. It’s very simple – he knows his strengths and he sticks to them, and the bottom line is that he’s a quality bloke.”Klinger anchored three vital stands. First, 133 with Phil Mustard, playing his first innings of note for Gloucestershire, a typically roistering affair full of punchy cuts and beautiful off-drives, before he was bowled trying to slog Briggs. Then there was 62 with Jack Taylor, who never fully settled as he looked to open up the offside and, after Taylor and Benny Howell fell in quick succession, an unbeaten 109 with Craig Miles, who had an aggressive half-century by the close of play.It was during the stand with Miles that Sussex seemed to rather drop their bundle. Twice, four overthrows whistled away to the fence and, on a pitch where the new ball is key (as evidenced by Magoffin first thing), their performance with the second one was profligate. As the seamers inexplicably dug the ball in, Ben Brown had to be at his most athletic behind the stumps, and still 18 byes slipped through. Miles, to his credit, batted like a man auditioning for a promotion, accumulating adroitly then feasting on Sussex’s flagging seamers late on.”It was a niggly day, and one of the most difficult to watch this season,” said Sussex’s coach Mark Davis, “because we were in a good position and it didn’t quite go our way on occasions too. We weren’t good enough to make our own luck. The new ball is key on this pitch because the ball is getting soft quickly and when it does get soft it gets harder to get people out. We didn’t bowl well enough with it.”On Klinger’s reprieve, Davis veered on the side of diplomacy. “The umpires are there to make a decision, they made that decision and we have to move on,” he said. “It’s done, it’s massively frustrating – I thought it just went straight to backward point and the umpires conferred and that was that. It’s game-changing, and certainly day-changing. It is what it is, that happens in sport, and we’ve got to move on.”He was right, the umpires had made a game-changing decision. But he also knew that going into day two, his side had plenty to bemoan besides Klinger’s prosperous pardon.

Manchester United are reportedly eyeing a new midfield recruit in the form of Wolverhampton Wanderers captain, Ruben Neves, with the Portuguese playmaker in line for an exit from the Midlands side this summer.

What's the latest on Neves to Man United?

According to Spanish outlet Sport – via Sports Witness – the 26-year-old is said to have received 'important offers' amid the prospect of a departure from Molineux, with the Red Devils seemingly one of the clubs to have made contact with the former Porto ace.

The piece adds that the Old Trafford outfit are 'very interested' in signing the 39-cap maestro ahead of next season, with previous reports having claimed that manager Erik ten Hag is plotting to strengthen his midfield ranks this summer.

This latest report does add, however, that the 5 foot 11 gem – who is said to be valued at £45m with only a year left on his current contract – has his heart set on a move to La Liga giants Barcelona, after almost six years in England.

How would Neves slot in at Man United?

That apparent desire to make the move to Camp Nou could prove a stumbling block in United's hopes of signing Neves, although Ten Hag and co would likely also be able to help the player realise his ambition of playing in the Champions League, with just a point needed to secure their place in the top-four.

If the Carabao Cup winners could persuade the Wolves skipper to make the move to the Theatre of Dreams it could well prove an astute move, with the £50k-per-week ace having been hailed as an "incredible player" by teammate, Hugo Bueno.

The Mozelos native has been instrumental in helping to steer the Old Gold to safety this season after contributing six goals and one assist in 34 league appearances, albeit having particularly caught the eye due to his ball-winning prowess.

The deep-lying asset could well form a destructive and dominant midfield pairing with Casemiro if he was to join the Red Devils this summer, with the Portuguese ace having shown his defensive acumen by averaging 2.3 tackles and 1.5 interceptions per game this season – a fairly similar record to that of United's Brazilian warrior (3.2 tackles and 1.3 interceptions).

That ability to provide an effective screen in front of the back four is also showcased by the fact that the two men are both in the top ten in the division for tackles made this season, with it a truly mouthwatering prospect to think that pair could be working in tandem next term.

With Casemiro already flourishing in Manchester – having been hailed as the "difference-maker" by Ten Hag – the addition of Neves would undoubtedly provide further quality in the centre of the park, helping to form a midfield axis that could well be the envy of the rest of the Premier League.

On the evidence of their respective showings this season for United and Wolves, the tough-tackling duo would certainly prove a difficult test for any opposition.

Liverpool are still on the “track” of West Ham United midfielder Declan Rice ahead of the summer, according to journalist Rudy Galetti.

Who is signing Declan Rice this summer?

The Premier League veteran will be out of contract at the London Stadium at the end of next season, meaning that the upcoming window will be David Moyes’ final opportunity to cash in, and he won’t come cheap after the boss admitted that his captain is set to bring in a “British transfer record” should he be sold.

The Irons’ academy graduate has been his boyhood club’s overall best-performing player this season with a WhoScored match rating of 7.02, and his impressive level of performances haven’t gone unnoticed by Jurgen Klopp so he won’t be short of potential suitors if he was to depart.

According to Sky Sports, the Reds, Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United have all expressed an interest in signing the 24-year-old, whose price tag has been set at £120m, though the Hammers are reportedly open to £100m in cash plus a player going the opposite way as part of a swap deal.

Taking to Twitter, Galetti revealed that Rice has entered negotiations regarding a move to the Emirates Stadium, but didn’t rule out a surprise switch to Anfield, with FSG eyeing a move to swoop in and hijack the Gunners' deal. He wrote:

“After preliminary contacts in Jan with Rice – with Arteta also involved – now Arsenal started talks with West Ham. AFC still remain in pole position for the MF, but let's pay attention to Liverpool, on his track as well.”

Galetti has previously claimed that the Reds have also initiated tentative contacts with the Irons.

Would Rice be a good signing for Liverpool?

Rice is West Ham’s skipper and has been dubbed a real “leader” on the pitch by talent scout Jacek Kulig, so with these qualities alongside how strong he is in all aspects of his game, Liverpool would be recruiting a fantastic defensive midfielder in the form of the talisman.

The World Cup participant, who’s sponsored by Adidas, has made 79 tackles this season which is more than any other member of his squad, as per FBRef, as well as averaging 1.8 interceptions and 1.5 clearances per top-flight 90 minutes, via WhoScored.

The Kingston Upon Thames-born talent, who earns £60k-per-week, is also a threat at the opposite end of the pitch having scored four goals and provided the same number of assists across all competitions this season, not to mention that he’s recorded a total of 96 shot-creating actions which is the second-highest in E20, so this really would be a no-brainer of a deal to complete should the opportunity arise for FSG.

Worcestershire have gambled on a win-at-all-costs pitch at Worcester – but Glamorgan’s Will Bragg stood in their way with a sparkling unbeaten half-century on a 15-wicket day

ECB Reporters Network13-Aug-2016
ScorecardSteve Rhodes, seen here alongside former England coach Andy Flower, wants three wins in five [file picture]•Getty ImagesA sparkling half-century by Will Bragg steadied Glamorgan as 15 wickets went down on the opening day of the Specsavers County Championship meeting with promotion contenders Worcestershire at New Road.The hard-hitting left hander ended a recent run of single-figure scores by making 75 not out as the Welsh county reached 118 for 5 after dismissing the home side for 163 by tea.On a cloudy, sultry morning, Jacques Rudolph backed his seamers by choosing to bowl first and they were soon on a roll as Worcestershire collapsed to 37 for 5. A subsequent partnership of 66 by Ross Whiteley (40) and Joe Leach (43) seemed to be no more than damage limitation but grew in value when Glamorgan began to lose wickets.Worcestershire’s director of cricket, Steve Rhodes, has targeted three wins in the last five matches to put his team in “a really good position” in the promotion race. So far this one has been tougher than may have been anticipated against a side who were propping up the Division Two table.Bragg suggested that swing played a large part. “The pitch is quite slow, slower than normal, but the ball was swinging nicely for our bowlers once the lacquer had gone off it after 10 overs. It was the same when they bowled but we could have been in a stronger position but for a couple of sloppy shots.”Rhodes also played down too many pitch discussions. “At 37 for five we were in all sorts of trouble and it was not necessarily down to the pitch. We played a few shots we’d like to rewind and play again but the way we fought back was good. It was a wholehearted effort by the bowlers.”Kettleborough moves on

Glamorgan have released James Kettleborough, although they have yet to admit it in the hope that it will help him find a new county, .
As for Kettleborough, he has no qualms about telling it how it is. “Formerly of Northants and Glamorgan,” is the message already available – for confirmed followers only – on his Twitter feed.

Swing was Glamorgan’s big asset, as Brett D’Oliveira discovered when he was bowled, playing no shot, in teenager Lukas Carey’s second over. This was a big comedown for the opener after making a career-best 202 not out when the teams met at Cardiff in May.Wicketkeeper Mark Wallace was one who benefited from the movement, whether in the air or off the pitch. He took three catches in the morning and two more later.Graham Wagg bowled an excellent spell with the new ball, taking the outside edge to dismiss Daryl Mitchell in his fifth over, and Michael Hogan started with two wickets without conceding a run in 10 deliveries.Tom Fell (16) drove to cover, where Wagg held a smart catch, and Tom Kohler-Cadmore was quickly added to Wallace’s list of victims.It was five down when Joe Clarke followed a ball from Craig Meschede but Ben Cox held up the Welsh charge for a while until he was caught at first slip off Wagg after lunch.Glamorgan were only checked when Whiteley played responsibly for more than two hours and found buccaneering support from Leach.Whiteley was eventually caught at mid-on when cramped up by a ball from Meschede and Hogan (four for 44) landed a double blow in the space of three balls.Ed Barnard was caught by Wallace and Leach drove hard to Meschede at mid-on. The last pair hung around for half-an-hour before Wallace had the final word when holding Jack Shantry’s edge off Carey.With the sun shining, Glamorgan’s reply began badly with Nick Selman bowled, second ball, by Leach but Bragg got things moving with four boundaries in an over from Barnard.Rudolph helped put on 54 until driving a ball from Charlie Morris to mid-off and Bragg completed 50 from 54 balls before David Lloyd was taken at second slip off Shantry.Further wickets saw Aneurin Donald playing on to Leach and Meschede pulling Barnard to mid-on.

Liverpool hold a “concrete” admiration for Wolverhampton Wanderers midfielder Ruben Neves ahead of the summer transfer window, according to reports.

Is Ruben Neves leaving Wolves?

The Portugal international’s contract is set to expire at the end of next season, meaning that the upcoming market is likely to be Julen Lopetegui’s final opportunity to cash in on his prized asset, and the captain has already put teams on alert after admitting during an interview following his final home outing that he is keen to join a bigger club to achieve his dream of playing in the Champions League.

Of players to regularly feature this season, the Midlands outfit’s £50k-per-week talisman is ranked as the team's best-performing player at Molineux with a WhoScored match rating of 6.98, so it’s no surprise that he feels like he can compete at a higher level, and his impressive performances have grabbed the attention of Jurgen Klopp on Merseyside.

Back in April, Fabrizio Romano claimed that the 26-year-old was on FSG’s shortlist but that a move wasn't “imminent”, though Spanish outlet Sport (via TEAMtalk) has since reported that the Reds, alongside Premier League rivals Arsenal and Manchester United, are considering an approach – and as per the latest update, they could yet steal Neves from under their rivals' noses.

Who is signing Neves?

According to Football Insider, Liverpool have a “concrete” interest in Neves ahead of the 2023/24 season. Barcelona are currently in “pole position” to recruit the midfielder amid reports of a swap deal including Ansu Fati, but Wolves are only looking to complete a cash-only deal – which creates a roadblock at Camp Nou.

The Anfield outfit are therefore “lurking in the wings” and ready to hijack the move should an agreement fail to be reached. A “well-placed” Reds source has revealed that the Old Gold skipper is “highly regarded” for his passing range by the recruitment team behind the scenes, with chiefs of the opinion that he would fit “seamlessly” into the starting XI.

Liverpool might not be on the road to qualifying for the Champions League this season, but Neves – dubbed a midfield “orchestrator” by talent scout Jacek Kulig – will know that they are a club with a strong history of silverware, and FSG should certainly think about submitting a bid to bring him to Anfield.

The World Cup participant is extremely strong in the defensive aspects of his game, ranking in the 98th percentile for clearances and recording 78 tackles since the start of the term, which is more than any other of his fellow teammates, as per FBref. Meanwhile, he’s also equally capable of getting involved with the action in the final third.

Wolves’ versatile operator, who has the ability to play in three different positions, has seven goal contributions (six goals and one assist) to his name in the top flight this campaign and has produced 78 shot-creating actions which, once again, is the highest number at Molineux, so he could arguably be forgiven for thinking he has outgrown the team, which only confirmed their Premier League status in recent weeks.

Neves also shares the same agency, Gestifute, as Darwin Nunez, Diogo Jota and Fabinho, so this existing connection to Jorge Mendes could give Liverpool some kind of advantage over their fellow competitors in the race to secure their target’s signature this summer.

أعلن اتحاد بوركينا فاسو لكرة القدم، في بيان رسمي إقالة المدرب الفرنسي هوبير فيلود من القيادة الفنية لمنتخب الخيول البوركينية بعد الخروج من نهائيات كأس أمم إفريقيا بكوت ديفوار 2023.

وكان منتخب بوركينا فاسو ودع بطولة كأس أمم إفريقيا من دور الـ 8 بعد الخسارة أمام مالي بهدفين مقابل هدف.

ووفقاً للصفحة الرسمية للاتحاد البوركيني على موقع التواصل الاجتماعي “فيس بوك: “لن يتم تجديد فيلود وطاقمه بعد نهاية كأس أمم إفريقيا 2023”.

وأشار اتحاد بوركينا فاسو في بيان له، إلى أن اللجنة التنفيذية للاتحاد البوركينابي لكرة القدم، قامت بتقييم مشاركة المنتخب في كأس الأمم الإفريقية 2023، وأكدت اللجنة أن النتائج جاءت أقل من توقعات الشعب البوركينابي.

وأضاف: “أن ما تم ملاحظته خلال بطولة كأس الأمم الإفريقية لا يتماشى مع طموحات اللجنة التنفيذية لكرة القدم البوركينابية”.

ولهذا السبب، قرر الاتحاد البوركينابي توجيه الشكر إلى المدرب هوبير فيلود والإدارة الفنية ككل، وعدم تجديد عقده.

طالع | إبراهيم حسن يصدر أول فرمان بعد توليه منصب مدير منتخب مصر

وتخطط اللجنة التنفيذية بالفعل للمواعيد النهائية المباشرة التي تمثل التصفيات المؤهلة لكأس العالم 2026 والتصفيات المؤهلة لكأس الأمم الإفريقية 2025 وستشكل في أقرب وقت ممكن إطارًا فنيًا كفؤا ومرنًا بمواصفات وأهداف حتمية للنجاح.

ويتواجد منتخب بوركينا فاسو في المجموعة الأولى من تصفيات كأس العالم 2026 مع منتخب مصر وغينيا بيساو وجيبوتي وسيراليون وإثيوبيا.

ومن المقرر أن المباراة القادمة لـ بوركينا فاسو ستكون أمام منتخب مصر في إطار الجولة الثالثة من مواجهات المجموعة، ومحدد إقامتها يوم 3 من شهر يونيو المقبل.

ويتصدر منتخب مصر ترتيب المجموعة الأولى في تصفيات كأس العالم، برصيد 6 نقاط بعد الفوز في أول جولتين أمام جيبوتي وسيراليون.

ويحتل منتخب بوركينا فاسو المركز الثاني برصيد 4 نقاط من الفوز أمام إثيوبيا والتعادل مع غينيا بيساو.

Tottenham Hotspur's search for a new manager is reportedly close to reaching its conclusion, with former Barcelona boss Luis Enrique having reportedly spoken to Daniel Levy about the position.

Should the Spanish manager take over in north London it could just be enough to keep Harry Kane at the club, as his pedigree with some of the top strikers in world football suggests that he could get the best out of the Englishman and potentially inspire the Lilywhites to a trophy.

What's the latest on Spurs' manager search?

According to The Telegraph, Levy made contact with the former FC Barcelona boss recently in Spurs' ongoing search for an Antonio Conte replacement, but no significant progress has been made since then.

The likes of Arne Slot, Ange Postecoglou and Roberto de Zerbi are also name-checked as potential options but none possess the experience of Enrique, who would win everything there is to win with Barcelona before managing Spain for three years between 2019 and 2022.

A disappointing World Cup campaign saw the former Celta Vigo boss sacked but it seems only a matter of time before the 53-year-old finds his next job and at Spurs, he could potentially convince Kane to stay and smash the Premier League goalscoring record with his boyhood club.

Would Harry Kane break the record under Luis Enrique?

As things stand, the 29-year-old Kane remains 50 goals behind Alan Shearer in the all-time top scorer list, having recently overtaken Wayne Rooney to move into second place overall.

Despite a woeful season for Spurs, which will end with no trophies and a potentially unwanted Europa Conference League spot for the 2023/24 campaign, the England captain has produced some more phenomenal performances.

Across 36 top-flight appearances, the world-class talisman boasts 27 goals and three assists, which would have surely been enough for the golden boot without the seemingly-robotic Erling Haaland as his closest competitor.

Kane's 7.47 average rating from WhoScored also sees him comfortably ranked as the top performer in Spurs' squad, so it could definitely be argued that he has been let down by his teammates once again, and it is perhaps easy to understand why there are so many reports linking him with a move away.

However, the powerful 6 foot 2 forward need only look at the record of a top striker such as Luis Suarez, who notched a remarkable 120 goals and 67 assists in just 140 games under Enrique.

Having once been dubbed a "remarkable" manager by former Arsenal stalwart Arsene Wenger, the Spaniard's work at Barcelona suggests that he is able to get the best out of a world-class front three, as Neymar, Lionel Messi and Suarez would all flourish under his management.

If he could get similar results out of the likes of Heung-min Son and Dejan Kulusevski next season, then the number of goalscoring chances for Kane would surely increase, and the 50 goals he needs in the Premier League could perhaps still be achieved in a Tottenham shirt.

Newcastle United have recently been credited with an interest in Villarreal ace Samuel Chukwueze, with manager Eddie Howe looking to bolster the flanks ahead of the 2023/24 campaign.

What's the latest on Samuel Chukwueze to Newcastle?

According to reports in Spain (via Sport Witness), the Magpies and technical director Dan Ashworth 'have in mind' that Allan Saint-Maximin is expendable and have earmarked the Yellow Submarine's Chukwueze, who has been in fine form this term.

The Nigeria international has just one more year on his contract and reportedly shows little sign of renewing, sparking life into rumours that he could depart for pastures new imminently, with his exit becoming 'more and more clear’ every day.

Villarreal are holding out for a jaw-dropping €80m (£71m) fee, though it is unlikely any prospective suitors would meet that exorbitant valuation, and as such, could definitely whittle down the price to a less daunting figure.

Should Newcastle sign Samuel Chukwueze?

At just 23 years old, Chukwueze has blitzed into prominence in La Liga and was instrumental in his outfit's triumph in the 2020/21 Europa League, defeating Manchester United on penalties in the final.

Over the duration of his club career, having only plied his trade with Villarreal, Chukwueze has scored 37 goals and supplied 31 assists from 203 outings, but it is this year that he has truly blossomed into his own.

Indeed, the "extraordinary" gem and "crazy dribbler", as he has been hailed by Quique Setien, has plundered 13 goals and 11 assists this year from 46 displays, notably netting an emphatic brace during his side's 3-2 victory over Real Madrid last month.

The £32k-per-week star would bring a new sense of dynamism to the Magpies fold, gallivanting up the flanks and providing a consistent threat both as a direct striker and a creative option.

As per FBref, the "fantastic" machine, as he has also been heralded by Setien, ranks among the top 8% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe's top five leagues for progressive carries and the top 3% for successful take-ons per 90, underscoring his efficacy in transitional manoeuvre.

The statistical site lists him as a comparable player to Arsenal phenom Bukayo Saka, who has been nothing short of exemplary during Mikel Arteta's crafting of a Premier League team capable of competing for major honours once again.

Having risen through the Hale End youth academy, the 26-cap England phenom has clinched 37 goals and 40 assists from 177 matches, described as a "mentality monster" by FourFourTwo writer Mark White.

This term, he has scored 14 goals and provided a further 11 assists from 46 games, with a striking resemblance to Chukwueze's own prolific exploits.

With Newcastle hoping to make that next stride in their ascension to overtake title-challenging Arsenal next year, replicating a player of Saka's ilk could indeed go a long way to ensuring progress is not derailed.

Manchester United remain in the race to sign West Ham and England midfielder Declan Rice this summer, according to a fresh claim.

Is Rice on the move this summer?

The future of the 24-year-old is a big talking point currently, with his exit from the Hammers almost certain to be sealed before the start of next season. He has been an excellent servant for the east Londoners, making 244 appearances in total, but he is now ready for a move to a bigger, more successful club.

Rice looks most likely to remain in the Premier League moving forward, even though there is rumoured interest from Bayern Munich, and United are one of several top-flight who have been linked with a making a move for him, although Arsenal have allegedly agreed on personal terms with the player.

The Red Devils could be in need of midfield reinforcements moving forward, considering Casemiro and Christian Eriksen are both 31 years of age, while Fred is also 30 and could be on the move this summer. It looks as though Rice could remain a firm option moving forward, following a new update regarding the current situation.

Could Rice join Man Utd?

According to Football Insider, United "are emerging as realistic contenders in the race to sign" the Englishman this summer, even though Arsenal "remain in pole position" to snap him up. The Reds are believed to be "waiting in the wings" to swoop and hijack Rice's signature, should the Gunners fail to match West Ham's asking price, and have seemingly made an approach by registering their interest over a possible deal.

The Hammers reportedly want £100m for their most prized asset, and with Arsenal valuing him at between £80-85m, it "keeps the door open for United."

Rice could be a magnificent addition at Old Trafford if they managed to beat others to his signing, with the midfielder having the potential to be one of Europe's best players in his position in the coming years, outperforming all but three United players in the Premier League in a struggling West Ham side, as per WhoScored.

He is already an undisputed key man for England, having won 41 caps and been a key starter at both Euro 2020 and the 2022 World Cup, and at 24, he should only improve, too.

The physical dominance that the £60,000-a-week ace could bring to United's midfield has the potential to take them up a level, especially since age isn't on Casemiro and Eriksen's side, as mentioned. He has been hailed as "superb" by Barcelona legend Xavi after his performances at Euro 2020, and an average of 2.1 tackles per game in the Premier League this season, as well as four goals and two assists, shows the all-round game that he possesses.