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Despite Todd Boehly’s priorities lying in securing a new permanent Chelsea manager, there is still plenty of talk surrounding potential summer signings.

Indeed, according to Spanish outlet Diario AS, Chelsea have reportedly met with Barcelona youngster Gavi and his representatives in order to secure the signature of the player during the summer.

The 18-year-old only signed his first professional contract with the La Liga side which will keep him there until 2026, however, due to their ongoing financial problems, they have been forced to remove him from their registration of first-team players and this means the £160m-rated talent could remarkably become a free transfer this summer.

This is music to Boehly’s ears, with arguably one of the finest teenage stars in world football able to move without the need for a transfer fee and the American is aiming to make the midfielder one of the highest earners in the Premier League.

With Gavi being admired, it could well spell the end of Mason Mount’s time at the club. Liverpool have shown a keen interest as of late, and it could be time to cash in once the season is finished.

Could Chelsea sign Gavi this summer?

Chelsea certainly have the financial clout to lure Gavi to England there is no doubt about it, however, due to financial fair play regulations, there will surely have to be some major outgoings in order to balance the books with the Blues potentially set to ditch Mount.

The Englishman has featured 24 times in the league this term and with an average Sofascore rating of 7/10, he ranks as the ninth-best player in the squad according to overall rating.

It’s been a solid if unspectacular campaign for Mount, registering just five goal contributions and creating only three big chances. Therefore, it might be time to bring in someone who not only could improve the team but will also become a mainstay for the next few years.

Gavi was lauded by journalist Miguel Delaney as being “sensational” while Josh Bunting claimed the youngster is “excellent to watch” and there is no doubt that his feats over the previous 18 months have caught the eye of a lot of clubs.

He became the youngest-ever scorer for Spain in the World Cup when he netted against Costa Rica in the group stage victory and his statistics over the previous 12 months suggest he is one of the finest players on the continent.

Indeed, the 18-year-old ranks in the top 10% across Europe’s big five leagues when it comes to pass completion rate, interceptions, blocks, aerials won and touches in the attacking penalty area, suggesting his all-round ability would be crucial for Chelsea.

That final fact marks him out as someone who could well flourish in Mount's more advanced position. While not a natural goalscorer like the England star, the Barca youngster has proven his creative talents already by producing 12 assists at club level to date.

The next few weeks could be an interesting time for the club in their approach for the Spaniard and he could well be donning the blue of Chelsea come 2023/24.

Reliable journalist Alasdair Gold has suggested that Tottenham could well tempt out-of-work boss Julian Nagelsmann to join the club.

The Lowdown: Spurs seek Conte replacement…

Spurs have reportedly been seeking an heir to current head coach Antonio Conte after his outburst against Southampton last weekend.

The Italian had been linked with a departure from north London at the end of this Premier League season but an astonishing post-match rant last Saturday could push his exit forward.

Conte questioned the very culture of the club and lack of silverware in a thinly-veiled dig towards the Tottenham hierarchy, all the while questioning his squad’s overall desire.

“They are used to it here, they are used to it. They don’t play for something important yeah. They don’t want to play under pressure, they don’t want to play under stress,” exclaimed a furious Conte.

“It is easy in this way. Tottenham’s story is this. Twenty years there is the owner and they never won something but why? The fault is only for the club, or for every manager that stays here. I have seen the managers that Tottenham had on the bench.”

Spurs are still pushing for a top four Premier League finish and their next move will be a crucial one, yet the newly-found availability of Nagelsmann presents a real opportunity.

The Latest: Nagelsmann could be tempted by Spurs…

The north Londoners have been heavily linked with Bayern’s former boss in the last 24 hours and ever since his surprise departure from the Allianz Arena.

Gold, writing in a piece for football.london and on Twitter, claims he is a manager Spurs have contemplated hiring twice before.

The journalist says that Spurs ‘might be able to quickly tempt’ Nagelsmann into joining, especially when factoring in he ‘developed real affection for the club’ during Mauricio Pochettino’s tenure.

The 35-year-old apparently forged a real connection with Spurs while Pochettino was in charge and became a big fan of their playing style.

The Verdict: Boost for Spurs?

Bayern’s surprise decision to sack Nagelsmann has presented the north Londoners with a chance to sway him for the third time of asking.

Third-time lucky is the age-old saying and RB Leipzig’s former boss would come with both pedigree and the status of being Europe’s most exciting young coach.

Already boasting a league title on his CV at such a young age, Nagelsmann’s brand of intense, high-pressing football could also excite Spurs supporters.

Called a ‘sensational manager’ by Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp, it’s safe to say the German would come as a brilliant Conte replacement given his free agent status.

Manchester United captain Harry Maguire has come under a lot of criticism online after he failed to impress while on international duty with England.

What’s the latest on Harry Maguire and England?

The Three Lions were able to pick up all three points on Thursday in a hard-fought 2-1 win over Italy in Naples to kick off their Euro 2024 qualifying campaign.

After Declan Rice scored the opener, Tottenham Hotspur star Harry Kane made it two before half-time when he netted from the penalty spot to become his country’s all-time top scorer with 54 goals.

However, the second half was a lot more complicated for Gareth Southgate and co, as the Italians lifted their game in front of their own fans.

And in the 56th minute, Maguire stepped out of the defence to try and win the ball back for England but only succeeded in fouling Nicolo Barella. Not only would the Man Utd man be later booked for the challenge, but the referee played advantage, and with the centre-back horribly out of position, the Italians managed to score via Mateo Retegui.

It was a bad moment for the Red Devils – who is supposedly the club’s ninth-best paid player on around £190,000 a week – and Erik ten Hag won’t have been pleased to see Luke Shaw later sent off on what turned out to be a disappointing day for the United duo.

Despite these mistakes, England still managed to hold on and pick up all three points with the 2-1 victory, but it’s safe to say that fans on Twitter weren’t going to forget Maguire’s error anytime soon.

Indeed, a number of supporters quickly arrived on social media to make their feelings known. Here are some of the strongest reactions…

Newcastle United are back in their pomp and enjoying life at the top end of the Premier League table. It is a great time to be a fan of the club and there certainly are a lot of famous people who fit into that category.The St. James’ Park faithful are renowned up and down the country for being one of the most fierce fanbases in English football. This list goes well beyond Tyneside though, with Newcastle having fans from all over the world.Of course there are local heroes who have always followed the clubs but like with Katy Perry supporting West Ham United and Jay-Z being a big Arsenal follower, people from all corners of the globe can pledge themselves to some of the best Premier League teams.Closer to home there is the man himself Alan Shearer, a legend for the club and someone who was first and foremost, a fan. Here are just some of the icons from the world of music to politics who follow the Magpies that we at Football FanCast have gathered, via The Shields Gazette.

Chris Eubank

The list gets off to a powerful start with the softly-spoken, hard-hitting Chris Eubank. He is one of several sporting legends that has been previously spotted in the stands at St. James’.Eubank was born in Dulwich, South London and so his footballing allegiance may come as a surprise to some. Not only this but he lives in Brighton and his son Chris Eubank Jnr is a vocal Manchester United supporter.Eubank Snr was a champion at middleweight and super-middleweight with one of his biggest fights seeing him cross paths with a fellow Newcastle fan in the form of Welshman Joe Calzaghe.We’re sure that father and son have had some heated exchanges over the years when their two teams have gone head-to-head.

Gabby Logan

Remaining in the world of sport with one of the most recognisable faces and voices on television. Gabby Logan was recently at the fore of the BBC’s coverage of a historic Women’s World Cup over in Australia and New Zealand.Football isn't all Logan is known for either when it comes to presenting with tennis and athletics also being a part of her repertoire.Given her brilliance in front of the camera, many would forget that she herself was a competitor as a gymnast.Her support of Newcastle is just as interesting as Eubank’s given that she was born in Leeds and is Welsh, although her presenting career did begin in that area of the country. Her first game was a 1-0 victory over Everton in the early 1990s and her support may well stem from a boyfriend she had during her time at Durham University.

Sam Fender

From sports to music now and you just have to hear Sam Fender talk to know which club he supports.The peak of his excellent career to date will surely be performing at his beloved St. James’ Park earlier this year. It had always been a dream of his and the city was in an overjoyed mood when the day finally came around.Just days after the sold out shows on hallowed turf were announced, he was actually a guest of honour for a home game against Crystal Palace, a clash which ended goalless.It wouldn’t be a surprise to see him perform there again and his music will continue to be blasted out of the speakers on matchday.

Cam Norrie

Returning to the world of sports and this time to tennis, with Cam Norrie.Norrie was born in Johannesburg, South Africa but is a British tennis star, ranking number 1 for nearly two years now following on from the dominance of Andy Murray.His allegiances are wide-ranging given that his dad is from Glasgow and his mum is from Cardiff. Beyond this, he supports an Australian rugby league team, the New Zealand All Blacks and then Eddie Howe’s Magpies too.

Matty Healy

Sam Fender is probably the biggest solo artist of this generation to support Newcastle United whilst Matty Healy is probably the biggest member of a band of this generation to support them.The controversial frontman of The 1975 whose parents are TV stars Denise Welch and Tim Healy, he is never far from the headlines.Both Tim and Denise originally hail from the Newcastle area and so it doesn’t come as a massive surprise that the club they support has been passed down through the family to The 1975 star. As is the case with Sam Fender, the band have been on tour and as well as visiting The 02 and Finsbury Park, they also performed at St. James’ Park so it has been a big year for local talent.

Tony Blair

Making a swift transition into the world of politics and there are a few names of note in this field who support Newcastle.Matt Hancock and former Thailand Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva are two such names and a third is Tony Blair. He was Prime Minister of England from 1997 to 2007 and since childhood has been a follower of the Magpies.Hancock is more in the headlines at the moment than Tony Blair but the latter can still be occasionally spotted in the stands alongside other big names.

Cheryl

Another famous Geordie who follows their hometown club is the legendary singer Cheryl, who needs no introduction.She rose to fame as a member of Girls Aloud and has been a judge on The X Factor and The Greatest Days since she took a step back from her singing days.In the footballing world, some will know her better for when she was married to Chelsea and Arsenal fullback Ashley Cole but in her own right, she has performed at the ground and been there many, many times too.If you weren’t sure of Cheryl’s links to Newcastle United, the fans have sung songs with her name in over the years which very few people who aren’t players can boast.

Sting

There is clearly a strong link between famous musicians and Newcastle United with the final singer to feature on this list being the one and only Sting. Prior to launching his solo career, Sting, real name Gordon Matthew Thomas Sumner, was the frontman of The Police.Some of their best-known songs include ‘Every Breath You Take’, ‘Don’t Stand So Close To Me’ and ‘Message In A Bottle’. The band’s success is there for all to see and Sting having 17 Grammy Awards to his name is no mean feat at all.Sting was born in Wallsend which is just a few miles away from Newcastle, making sense of his allyship. He has been spotted at games alongside a good friend of his, Jimmy Nail, who is also a musician as well as being a prominent actor as well.

Malala Yousafzai

The most shocking and surprising name to feature on this list is without a doubt, Malala Yousafzai.Malala is the world’s youngster ever Nobel Prize winner at just 17, having won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2014. She has become a major figure for social change in the last decade or so and is a major advocate for a number of causes, the most notable being against the Pakistani Taliban in her home country.Her husband Asser Malik tweeted the following last year, "I’ve proudly supported Newcastle United since childhood and have always been fascinated by its fan base. Thank you to the club for inviting me to experience this surreal atmosphere at St. James’ Park."This points towards her following of Newcastle coming from her partner and she is certainly one of the most famous faces to grace the St. James’ Park stands.

Anthony McPartlin and Declan Donnelly (Ant and Dec)

There isn’t anyone as synonymous with the club when it comes to non-footballing fans than the presenting duo of all presenting duos, Ant and Dec.Anthony McPartlin and Declan Donnelly are television royalty having presented “Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway”, “I'm a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here!” and “Britain's Got Talent” to name just a few of their best-known shows.When watching Newcastle on the TV, the cameras regularly pan to this double-act in the stands and whereas previously they would be grimacing a lot, nowadays there is more reason to smile for both of them as well as the St. James’ Park faithful.Ant and Dec met as child actors and have since been inseparable both on and off of the screen, it is difficult to find one without the other!

Others

These are just 10, well 11 actually, famous Newcastle United fans. There are so many others who haven’t been mentioned here and so coming up next is just some of the honourable mentions.AC/DC frontman Brian Johnson, another musician in Mark Knopfler, TV presenter Matt Baker, singer James Bay, actor Robson Green, English cricket duo Steve Harmison and Graeme Swann, acting legend Brian Blessed and the hilarious Asim Chaudhry are just some of the other people in the public who don the black and white of Newcastle Un

Leeds United target Nuno Espirito Santo appears to be the preferred candidate amongst the Elland Road faithful, according to Dean Jones.

The Lowdown: Talks held

As we know, the Whites are yet to appoint a successor to Jesse Marsch, with the American on course for a swift return to Yorkshire next weekend with Southampton.

Leeds chiefs have had a number of targets for the vacant position, including Nuno, who they have interviewed for the role. An offer to the former Wolves and Spurs boss is yet to be tabled, however, it looks as if he would be a popular choice.

The Latest: Jones’ comments

Jones was talking to GiveMeSport regarding Leeds’ search for a new manager, stating that Steven Gerrard, another target, may not be welcomed at Elland Road.

The reporter did say that after talking to contacts and fans who love the club that Nuno ‘is the only manager mentioned that they actually want right now’.

“The feeling among Leeds fans is not good towards Gerrard, but the fact Gary McAllister would join him softens the blow a little if he was to come in.

“There are very few options right now that seem exciting, though. From people I speak to that love the club, Nuno is the only manager mentioned that they actually want right now.”

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The Verdict: Get it done…

Nuno enjoyed a solid spell in charge of Wolves, leading them to the Premier League and back-to-back 7th-place finishes in the top flight, and was hailed for his “fabulous job” at Molineux by BBC presenter Gary Lineker. He has plenty of experience in England and knows what it takes to win, something which Leeds haven’t done in the league since November.

The Portuguese manager is currently in work but appears to be open to a return to England, and with talks already held, it could make sense to bring the 49-year-old to Yorkshire at the earliest possible opportunity.

Plenty of Leeds fans also seem to be open to the idea as well, which can only be positive, especially as they were against former Ajax manager Alfred Schreuder when he was linked with a move.

Journalist Charles Watts has reported that Arsenal are still insisting that Emile Smith Rowe is still just absent with injury due to a “precaution” as opposed to any major setback.

What’s the word? Mikel Arteta and his side endured a disappointing trip away from home in the Premier League this weekend as they lost 1-0 at Goodison Park to Everton.They had to get through the match without Smith Rowe who has been absent for a great deal of this season and then suffered a thigh injury in training ahead of the recent fourth-round FA Cup tie at Manchester CityConsidering all of his recent struggles, some fans may well be concerned that this latest issue is another long-term problem. However, the club seem to be confident that it’s nothing too serious.While speaking about the player on YouTube, Watts explained: “We’ll wait and see if Emile Smith Rowe can get involved again at some point this week, be huge if he could.”Disappointing of course that he’s picked up this injury so soon after coming back from his long-term injury. Arsenal continuing to say that it is a precaution, that it’s nothing to do with the original injury.”Which hopefully is true and nothing is being sort of covered up there. You never know when it comes to football clubs, but hopefully it’s true.Back soon?Seeing as the Gunners suffered this bad result on the weekend, Arteta may be keen to have some fresh options available to him against Brentford on the weekend.After all, regular winger Gabriel Martinelli hasn’t scored or registered an assist in his last four Premier League outings and may be suffering a little fatigue having started every game in the top flight this term.Smith Rowe delivered 11 goals in all competitions last season but is yet to score this term with just 62 minutes of game time under his belt. It remains to be seen if he’ll be fit enough to play any part against the Bees but an appearance on the bench would certainly be heartening for supporters.

An update has emerged on Newcastle United goalkeeper Loris Karius and his future at St. James’ Park beyond the January transfer window…

What’s the talk?

Sky Sports journalist Keith Downie has revealed that the German shot-stopper is poised to put pen to paper on an extension with the Magpies.

The reporter Tweeted: “Loris Karius is close to signing a deal to extend his Newcastle contract until the end of the season.

“And according to colleague @Plettigoal, further talks have also been taking place over a longer contract for the German goalkeeper #NUFC.”

Can finally ditch Karl Darlow

Extending Karius’ contract with the club could allow Newcastle to finally part ways with long-serving goalkeeper Karl Darlow as the Englishman would be one of four shot-stoppers on Tyneside.

Nick Pope started between the sticks in the recent 1-0 win over Fulham in the Premier League at St. James’ Park and Martin Dubravka, who recently returned from his loan spell with Manchester United, was on the bench as his deputy.

This indicates that they are Eddie Howe’s first-choice options in goal and that would leave Karius and Darlow fighting it out to be third in the pecking order, with the former penning a contract extension potentially showing that he has won that battle.

The German colossus remaining with the Magpies for the rest of this season, and possibly beyond, could then open the door for the Englishman to depart as it seems unlikely that a fourth-choice goalkeeper will get minutes between now and May – as three other players in that position would need to be unavailable.

Darlow was called upon in the 2021/22 campaign after an injury to Dubravka and struggled badly in the Premier League, showing that he was not up to the task of being a number one in the top-flight.

The £30k-per-week shot-stopper averaged a Sofascore rating of 6.47 across eight appearances in the division and conceded 1.9 goals per match between the sticks.

In those games, the former Nottingham Forest ‘keeper let in 4.5 more goals than the average goalkeeper would be expected to from the post-shot xG that he faced, which essentially means that Darlow underperformed significantly in terms of shot-stopping.

Therefore, the 32-year-old is a liability at Premier League level and is not a goalkeeper who can be relied upon by Howe, which is why he should now be ditched from the squad following the news that Karius is set to stay as back-up behind Pope and Dubravka.

Manchester United could well be inching closer to bringing Atletico Madrid star Joao Felix to England, following a promising update regarding the club’s interest in the Portugal international…

What’s the word?

According to journalist Rudy Galetti, there appears to be positivity surrounding the potential addition of the 23-year-old, with the Red Devils seemingly eyeing an initial loan deal with the option to buy for a fee close to €100m (£88m).

Writing on Twitter about that developing story, the transfer insider stated: “Talks between #ManchesterUnited and #Atleti for Joao #Felix are progressing well. Under discussion an onerous loan with option to buy (around €90m/100m). After an initial closure, now the [Spanish] club seems open to evaluate this type of solution.”

The 28-cap starlet is believed to be keen on making the switch to the Theatre of Dreams, with reports last month having claimed that United are the forward’s “preference” should he depart the Wanda Metropolitano this month.

Ten Hag’s own Aguero

The former Benfica ace – who previously scored 20 goals and provided 11 assists in just 43 games for the Lisbon outfit – is facing an uncertain future in the Spanish capital, having started just six La Liga games under Diego Simeone this season.

Despite that lack of action, the “special” talent – as lauded by teammate Alvaro Morata – still has seven goal contributions to his name in the league this term, having also registered one goal and two assists at the World Cup in Qatar.

Should Erik ten Hag and co bring the dynamic forward to the club this month, the hope would be that he can replicate the impact of another striker who traded life at Atleti for Manchester in the form of Sergio Aguero, with the now-retired Argentine having previously shone for United’s arch-rivals, Manchester City.

As much as it may pain those at Old Trafford to admit, the prolific marksman was something of a revelation for the Etihad outfit following his £38m arrival in England back in 2011 – then aged 23 – having gone on to score 260 goals in just 390 games for the Cityzens.

The former Independent man memorably broke Red Devils’ hearts at the end of his debut campaign after scoring on the final day to clinch title glory for Roberto Mancini’s men, with that strike perhaps the most important of the 184 Premier League goals that he would amass during his decade-long stint at the club.

That transfer proved immensely fruitful for all parties, with the aim now for United to replicate the success of their long-time foes and snap up another star from Madrid in Felix.

With Ten Hag desperately searching for a new striker, the 5 foot 11 menace could well prove the ideal solution.

Wolverhampton Wanderers are seemingly in the race to sign World Cup star Azzedine Ounahi in the January transfer window and the Angers SCO midfielder could prove to be the next Romain Saiss at Molineux.

According to 90min, the 22-year-old has been scouted by several Premier League clubs, including the Old Gold, Newcastle United, Southampton and West Ham United, who all will have been impressed with the young midfielder’s recent displays in Qatar.

However, with the Moroccan contracted at the Stade Raymond Kopa until 2026, the Ligue 1 side are in a strong position financially, which is reflected in their reported asking price of £39m.

Ounahi was a mainstay in Morocco’s midfield as they sensationally reached the semi-finals of the World Cup, becoming the first African nation to ever do so, as they earned historic wins against Belgium, Spain and Portugal before their 2-0 defeat against France in the final four.

The all-action midfielder would earn a strong 6.72 rating from WhoScored for his performances in Qatar, while he was ranked third from the Atlas Lions’ squad in terms of key passes and dribbles per game, which emphasises that he loves to get forward and influence things in the final third.

Jose Mourinho was certainly impressed with what he saw from Ounahi in Qatar, as he sang his praises after the 1-0 win over Portugal in the quarter-final.

He said:

“Their No.8, the young boy that plays in France in Angers, Ounahi was absolutely incredible.”

Wolves may well look towards the young titan’s international teammate and captain Romain Saiss as good reason for bringing the Angers man to Molineux next month.

Saiss would join the Old Gold, initially as a defensive-midfielder player in 2016, coincidentally also from the Ligue 1 side, and would go on to make 206 appearances for the Midlands club, contributing 15 goals and three assists.

He would be transformed into a centre-back under Bruno Lage, earning the nickname ‘Moroccan Maldini’ and he was a key part in Wolves’ strong defensive record last season, which has become even more evident in the Old Gold’s less-than-impressive defence this season, following his move to Besiktas.

If Ounahi can have the same sort of impact as Saiss at Molineux, after completing a very similar transfer, then it would surely be a great deal for Julen Lopetegui and Jeff Shi to complete in January.

Everton will likely look to the upcoming transfer window to strengthen their squad ahead of the second half of the Premier League season after another disappointing start to the campaign.

The Toffees are currently 17th in the league table teetering on the edge of the relegation zone just one point clear of the bottom three, a position the team and the manager are both all too familiar with.

Frank Lampard will be desperate to improve upon the performances and get his side in a much more comfortable position in the Premier League as another difficult relegation scrap could result in much more devastating circumstances than Everton dealt with last season.

Indeed, the powers at Goodison Park did sanction eight new signings in the summer but will still likely remain cautious in their approach to transfer business when the market reopens next month.

As a result, Lampard could add further depth all over the pitch and save the club millions during the transfer window by looking at the players he already has at his disposal in either the youth academy or out on loan, with one player, in particular, thriving whilst earning first-team football.

Jarrad Branthwaite has been proving his worth over the last few months during his loan spell with PSV Eindhoven and had become an integral member of the Dutch club’s squad ahead of the World Cup break.

Over eight Eredivisie appearances, the 20-year-old centre-back has scored one goal and tallied up a 90% pass completion rate, as well as averaging 45.3 touches, 2.9 clearances and 2.4 duels won per game.

The former Everton U21 defender has risen through the ranks in the youth set-up on Merseyside since joining the club from Carlisle United back in 2020 and his former Carlisle manager Steven Pressley delivered high praise hailing Branthwaite in an interview with Everton’s official website:

“He had so many quality attributes to become a top player,” he said.

“I told people he was a future England international.

“The truth is, I think he has got everything. He can pass the ball almost equally as good with both feet. He’s a terrific footballer.”

It has been reported this week that the Toffees are in talks to cut short the player’s loan spell with PSV despite entering a deal for a season-long loan opportunity for Branthwaite, so it is clear Lampard is keen to bring his defender back to Goodison Park as soon as possible.

With that being said, it will be interesting to see whether Branthwaite makes a rapid return to Everton in January as it is questionable as to whether he will get as much game time at his parent club as he could be offered with PSV over the second half of the season.