Chelsea have made contact to bring Athletico Paranaense striker Vitor Roque to the Premier League, according to reports.

What's the latest on Roque to Chelsea?

Roque arrived in the Brazilian Serie A back in April last year, while his contract isn’t set to expire until 2027. But having made 41 appearances during his debut season in the senior team, he has caught the eye of the hierarchy at Stamford Bridge.

Spanish outlet Sport credited the Blues, alongside their top-flight rivals Arsenal, with an interest in the 18-year-old back in March, and speculation regarding a move was soon fuelled. The £5.5k-p/w talent’s father recently took to social media to confirm that he was in London, which came not long after there was rumoured interest in his son from the capital – and it would now appear that the admiration from both clubs has been taken a step further.

According to 90min, Chelsea and the Gunners are “in contact” with the representatives of Roque regarding a potential deal later in the summer. Barcelona had been leading the race, but they are currently only able to offer a loan with an obligation to buy due to their financial position, which doesn’t satisfy the striker’s agents – meaning that he’s looking elsewhere.

The SW6 outfit have held an interest in their target for a “considerable amount of time” and would be willing to table a permanent deal at the end of the season. The teenager’s camp have already “assured” the club that he is “open” to moving to the English top flight.

Should Chelsea splash the cash on Roque?

Roque is still only a teenager, but age is just a number in football as long as you have the skills to perform on a consistent basis, and Roque definitely fits that profile, having been dubbed a "diamond" by talent scout Jacek Kulig. Therefore, we feel Chelsea should absolutely cash out to secure his services ahead of their fellow competitors.

The Nike-sponsored star has scored 11 goals and provided three assists in 41 outings since joining Paranaense, where he's currently averaging 2.74 shots per game, highlighting how confident he is in the final third.

The Timoteo native also has the flexibility to play out wide on either flank in addition to centre-forward, so could bring plenty of versatility to west London for whoever is appointed as the new manager at Chelsea.

Roque is also making a name for himself on the international stage, having made his debut for Brazil during a friendly against Morocco last month, so it seems he has an extremely bright future ahead of him – one that could potentially see him featuring at Stamford Bridge.

Arsenal fell to yet another collapse yesterday, cruising into a 2-0 lead only to let it slip. Against Liverpool at Anfield, this could be excused, but when clashing with relegation-threatened West Ham United, a 2-2 draw on the road could prove costly.

It has truly opened the door for Manchester City to come bursting through, for if Pep Guardiola's side win their game in hand, the title will likely come down to their meeting at the Etihad in just over a week. Given they were dismantled at the Emirates by them earlier this year, it does not bode well.

Mikel Arteta was forced into some frustrating changes for their trip to the London Stadium, but it was felt like there remained more than enough quality within the squad to achieve a vital victory. When they had scored twice within ten minutes, this thought process was vindicated.

However, conceding a clumsy penalty before the break allowed the deficit to be halved, and after Jarrod Bowen's volley squirmed past Aaron Ramsdale on 54 minutes, the visitors were rumbled.

Few have come under fire for their performances, with Thomas Partey's 6.1 Sofascore rating the worst of anyone on the field drawing particular scorn.

The Ghanaian was especially bad in the middle of the park, perhaps dropping one of his worst performances of the campaign to date. Caught trying to play an audacious flick by Declan Rice, it was Partey who was dispossessed in the build-up to Lucas Paqueta earning a first-half penalty that started the comeback.

Despite this, it was clear where their main deficiencies truly lay. In the absence of Oleksandr Zinchenko, Kieran Tierney simply did not step up to the levels required of him. As such, the whole team suffered.

How did Kieran Tierney play vs West Ham?

Starting in his first Premier League game since December, the Scotsman was drafted in due to the Ukrainian's minor injury sustained in their last game. The 26-year-old has been integral to the way the Gunners have played this season, with his knowledge of the inverted full-back role key in their fine form.

However, it quickly became clear that the former Celtic man was without such capabilities, and as such his performance suffered.

Earning a 6.6 rating courtesy of Sofascore, of which only three players on the pitch earned lower, the lack of creative impetus from the £110k-per-week defender proved criminal in their lack of potency.

It seemed that once the Hammers had equalised, Arsenal had lost all control of the game. Had Zinchenko been playing, the experienced maestro would likely have proved to be a cool head to calm down a shell-shocked side.

However, his absence was instead exacerbated, as his replacement recorded 67 touches, an 81% pass accuracy and offered no key passes. Whilst his defensive numbers might have been impressive, with two tackles and two clearances, via Sofascore, this is arguably indicative of how on the back foot the visitors were compared to their usual dominant displays.

To further outline just how much pressure they were under against a side that started the day three points above the relegation zone, journalist Tom Victor highlighted one "desperate block" that Tierney made to deny Bowen a second. That was likely the Scot's best moment of a game in which he looked well out of sorts.

This struggle was supported by another journalist in Tan Copsey, who wrote: "Tierney and Holding don't have the passing range and it all starts to get so messy in the build-up."

He understood the sheer gulf in quality between the 25-year-old featuring as opposed to when Zinchenko starts. Arteta will now seek to rush back the former Cityzens star, to avoid another miserable result like yesterday's that further hands the title to their rivals.

Journalist Roshane Thomas slammed Said Benrahma's role despite West Ham's 2-2 draw with Arsenal on Sunday afternoon, as their Premier League improvements continue.

How did West Ham fare against Arsenal?

The Hammers were back in league action on Sunday, looking to kick on from their 1-0 victory away to Fulham last weekend and aiming to pull further away from the relegation battle in the process.

It was a shocking start for the hosts, who fell behind to Gabriel Jesus' tap-in, as the Gunners opened up West Ham's defence with worrying ease. Martin Odegaard then doubled the advantage with a close-range finish, with the Norwegian afforded all the space in the world to finish past Lukasz Fabianski, with the north Londoners looking set for a comfortable three points.

Benrahma reduced the arrears after scoring from the penalty spot, following a foul on Lucas Paqueta, and while Jarrod Bowen earned his team a point, the former's defensive involvement in the opening two goals still proved costly.

Was Benrahma to blame?

Taking to Twitter, Thomas rued the 27-year-old's negative impact on the game, as David Moyes' side picked up an important Premier League point in what has been an up-and-down season:

"Benrahma largely at fault for both goals. Really poor."

While Benrahma found the net on the day, so wasn't solely a negative influence at the London Stadium, he simply didn't do his job well enough defensively. Odegaard's goal was particularly poor, as he allowed the midfielder to ghost in behind him to score with ease at the back post, and such moments must be so infuriating for Moyes to witness, as he looks to keep things tight at the back.

In the modern game, an attacking player doing the dirty work is absolutely essential, so Benhahma's lack of effort was unacceptable and won't endear himself to supporters, having been brought back into the starting lineup.

On this evidence, there have to be question marks over whether or not the Algerian deserves to keep his place for the visit of Genk on Thursday evening, as West Ham look to progress in the UEFA Europa Conference League, and also for the trip to Bournemouth next Sunday, which could be another key league encounter.

Wolverhampton Wanderers could end up targeting Liverpool midfielder Fabio Carvalho this summer, says journalist Dean Jones.

What's the latest news involving Fabio Carvalho?

Speaking on the Here We Go Podcast, transfer guru Fabrizio Romano issued an update on Carvalho's Liverpool future, stating: "Fabio Carvalho I am told is also leaving. We have to see what solution they will find but he is young and he is never playing so it is important to clarify these things.”

The Daily Mail interpret Romano's comments as signalling that he will be made available for a loan exit this summer, which could be initiated to help clear space for the prospective arrival of Ryan Gravenberch, who is said to be a top target for the Reds in the forthcoming transfer window.

As per The Liverpool Echo, Jurgen Klopp has recently praised Carvalho for his work ethic in training, stating to reporters: "He's training exceptionally, Fabio Carvalho is training exceptionally."

Earlier this year, The Sun claimed that Wolves pair Ruben Neves and Matheus Nunes were on a shortlist of potential midfielders the Reds could sign this summer, something which journalist Jones believes may potentially send the £40k-per-week ace heading in the opposite direction to Molineux on a loan basis.

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, Jones said: “There is uncertainty about what happens with Fabio Carvalho. Firstly, it’s worth pointing out that he will not give up on making it with Liverpool. He’s very driven to ensure the move works out long-term.

“But this has been a tough season for all involved, and chances could be just as limited for him next season because Liverpool have to bounce back. That is going to mean top-level recruitment.

“I think a loan will be discussed for Carvalho. Fulham hoped it would become an option when he left them, but it never did. Marco Silva helped hugely with his breakthrough, and I’m sure he would welcome him back if the player is open to it.

“It is difficult to take a decision like that. From Carvalho’s perspective, it may feel like admitting defeat, and I did check out other moves that could be on the table.

There has been nothing yet, but it sounds to me like Wolves could become an option. They are in an uncertain moment with players like Matheus Nunes and Ruben Neves, and an opportunity to sign someone like Carvalho, who is an adaptable attacking midfield player, would be a good fit.

“At least one of those two will leave Wolves, and of course, Liverpool are interested in both, so again, there could be room for negotiation around this. There are also doubts about players like Adama Traore and Joao Moutinho. So, this is a squad that is going to undergo maintenance in the summer. It is early days, and there are so many discussions to be had at every end of this, but one thing for sure is that Carvalho will have good options.”

Would Fabio Carvalho be a good signing for Wolves?

Carvalho is a bright young talent and could add some versatility to the Wolves midfield, given his capacity to operate in an attacking midfield, central midfield or on the left flank.

In the 2022/23 season, the 20-year-old has made 20 appearances for Liverpool in all competitions and netted three goals in the process, as per Transfermarkt.

FBRef also note that the youngster compares well to his positional peers across the top five European leagues in the metric of touches in the opposition penalty area, with Carvalho having had an average of 6.13 per 90 minutes across the last 365 days, putting him in the top 1% of midfielders in this statistical realm.

If Wolves are indeed to part ways with either Nunes or Neves in the summer, Carvalho would be a sound addition to the ranks that would help to soften the blow.

Everton will continue their pursuit of Premier League survival this weekend when they make the trip to Selhurst Park to face Roy Hodgson's revitalised Crystal Palace on Saturday.

The Toffees relished the new manager bounce when Sean Dyche arrived at Goodison Park; however, they have failed to pick up a win in their last four outings, which has left them 17th in the league table – matching Nottingham Forest on 27 points – with just seven games left to save their season.

Indeed, Palace are no strangers to bad form, after becoming the last team in the Football League to pick up their first win of 2023, which finally came in Hodgson's first game back in charge against Leicester City just three weeks ago, but they have since then gone unbeaten, so the meeting will be no easy task for Everton.

Who is suspended for Everton this weekend?

Following an altercation with Harry Kane in the well-fought draw with Tottenham Hotspur earlier this month which led to a red card and suspension, Abdoulaye Doucoure remains unavailable for selection whilst he serves his ban.

The 30-year-old midfielder will be eligible for selection again when Everton host Newcastle United at Goodison Park on 27th April.

What is the latest Everton injury news?

Andros Townsend remains ruled out for selection following a battle to recover from an ACL injury, however, Dyche will have several knocks and small injuries to battle with when putting together his starting XI this weekend.

The Everton boss confirmed on Thursday that club captain Seamus Coleman will not be available for selection this weekend due to a hamstring injury, whilst Ruben Vinagre has been ruled out for the foreseeable after sustaining an Achilles injury during training ahead of the Spurs clash, and will be unlikely to feature due to the potential need for surgery.

A big question mark has been hanging over Amadou Onana's availability after missing out on the Fulham game last weekend due to a groin strain, and Dyche took to his pre-match press conference to give a better insight into the midfielder's recovery:

"Ama (Onana) has made a bit more of a recovery. He was training today and we'll see how that reacts tomorrow."

Despite several concerns ahead of the weekend, there has been one massively positive development from the recovery room, with a potential return for Dominic Calvert-Lewin.

What is the latest Dominic Calvert-Lewin injury update?

Following the disappointing defeat at Goodison Park last weekend, Dyche has delivered some promising news about Calvert-Lewin's availability for the upcoming clash against Palace when he spoke to the press:

"He will certainly be in my thinking, without a doubt. [The behind-closed-doors match on Tuesday] was all about him, really. It was the end of a rehab period so we're very pleased that he came through that and he felt good."

This promising message from the Toffees boss came after a 65-minute performance put on by the striker in a behind-closed-doors friendly with Chester this week at Finch Farm, clearly designed to build his fitness following a lengthy spell on the sidelines this season.

Not only that, but Calvert-Lewin also hinted at his hunger to get back onto the pitch this weekend by posting a three-word message accompanied by a training picture, sending fans into a frenzy on Twitter:

"Bring on Saturday! #UTFT"

Who could play instead of Calvert-Lewin v Crystal Palace?

Although it is looking very promising for Calvert-Lewin to return to action this weekend, Dyche will likely be cautious about throwing the relegation-threatened side's biggest talisman straight into the deep end after struggling with injuries over the last 18 months.

It wouldn't come as a surprise to anyone if the 26-year-old is eased back into top-flight football, and he could instead serve as a fantastic option from the bench in south London this weekend instead of being a nailed-on starter to ensure he doesn't burn out too fast or pick up any problems in the final hurdles of the relegation battle.

Luckily, the forward line seems to be one of the only areas of the pitch that hasn't come across niggles in the last few weeks, so Dyche should have a number of options available for selection this weekend.

Demarai Gray and Dwight McNeil have been much more prolific in front of goal since the former was moved into a centre-forward role to make up for the absence of their experienced striker.

McNeil has been much more effective in front of goal since being reunited with his former manager – offering up two goals and one assist over the last three months, which included the winning strike in the 1-0 victory over Brentford last month.

Dyche has also been keen on several occasions to include Ellis Simms, involving him in a number of games in recent weeks. However, we think is unlikely that the breakthrough youngster will be put under pressure to start against Palace and the manager will instead be more likely to lean on his most experienced attackers.

قدم المدير الفني لبرشلونة، تشافي هيرنانديز، آخر التطورات الخاصة بشأن فريقه، وذلك قبل مواجهة أوساسونا في منافسات كأس السوبر الإسباني.

ويلاقي برشلونة نظيره أوساسونا، ضمن منافسات دور نصف النهائي من كأس السوبر الإسباني على ملعب “الأول بارك” في جامعة الملك سعود بالرياض مساء الخميس، في تمام التاسعة مساءًَ بتوقيت القاهرة.

الفائز من هذه المواجهة سيلاقي الفائز من مباراة ريال مدريد وأتلتيكو مدريد، في نهائي البطولة، يوم الأحد المقبل الموافق 14 يناير.

اقرأ أيضًا.. أراوخو يرد على أنباء التفاوض مع بايرن ميونخ ويؤكد: الفوز بالسوبر الإسباني سيساعدنا

وقال تشافي هيرنانديز في تصريحات صحفية قبل المباراة: “لا نعرف النهج الذي يتبعه أوساسونا، لكن لديهم مدرب عظيم، إنه فريق بدني يدافع بشكل جيد للغاية، هم يمكنهم الضغط علينا في كل مكان بالملعب”.

وتابع تشافي: “نحن نحترم أوساسونا كثيرًا، بالتأكيد نحن الأقرب للفوز، نحن برشلونة، ولكن من الواضح، إنها مباراة، ما زلنا نؤمن، مسابقة خروج المغلوب، يجب علينا أن نثبت أننا نستحق التواجد في هذا النهائي”.

وواصل: “لدينا منافس قوي، لدينا منافس صلب، ولكن نعم، أتمنى أن تساعدنا هذه المباراة أو هذه المسابقة لإعادة اكتشاف أسلوب لعبنا، لاستعادة لقب العام الماضي الذي جاء بشكل رائع، أعطانا الكثير من الروح المعنوية، الكثير من الثقة والاستقرار، وهذا العام أيضًا سيعطينا ذلك”.

وعن جاهزية كانسيلو وبيدري، أكد تشافي: “نحن متفائلون أكثر مع بيدري، نتمتع بأحاسيس جيدة منذ أيام، لكن بالنسبة لكانسيلو يبدو الأمر معقدًا لمباراة الغد، سنرى كيف هي الأحاسيس اليوم، لكن بيدري الأقرب للعودة”.

وأوضح قائلاً: “لدي ثقة كاملة في اللاعبين وهم يعرفون ذلك، إنهم قادرون وقد أظهروا ذلك، في المباريات المهمة ارتقى معظمهم إلى مستوى الحدث، الفريق مستعد، لدينا أشياء إيجابية لنقدم بطولة رائعة”.

وعن بطولة السوبر، أفاد تشافي: “إنها لقب، ولا يوجد هناك ألقاب صغرى، السنة الماضية فزنا بلقبين، أحدهما هذا اللقب، فزنا به عن جدارة ولعبنا مباراة عظيمة في النهائي، علينا أن نواصل البحث عن هذا المستوى، إنه مهم، ربما بطولة السوبر ليست مهمة بقدر الليجا أو دوري الأبطال، لكننا نريد الفوز بها”.

وبيّن تشافي: “قلت بالفعل إننا نفتقر إلى القوة، خاصة في منطقتنا، تلك التي تمنحنا الأمان والثقة فيما يتعلق باللعب، إنها تثقل كاهلنا أكثر بكثير، لقد قدمنا ​​الكثير في العام الماضي، كنا في غاية الصلابة”.

عن متابعة الدوري السعودي: “أتابعه كثيرًا، لأنني كنت في السد، أتابع الاتحاد، أتابع النصر، أتابع الهلال، ونادي الشباب، أتابع العديد من الفرق وهناك العديد من اللاعبين المهمين في هذا الدوري، وهو ينمو كثيرًا، كان بالفعل دوريًا مهمًا في آسيا والآن مع اللاعبين والمدربين الذين جاءوا، أصبح أكثر أهمية”.

Chelsea midfielder Mason Mount can become a key player under Mauricio Pochettino if both end up crossing paths at Stamford Bridge, journalist Dean Jones has suggested.

What's the latest news involving Mason Mount and Mauricio Pochettino?

As per The Mirror, Chelsea caretaker boss Frank Lampard recently spoke to media over the future of Mount in a press conference, stating when asked if he'd played his last game for the club:

"I don’t know the answer to that, it’s a conversation between Mason and the club, so I don’t know. It’s not final at this point and we’ll have to see because those conversations are ongoing.

"It’s a shame for me personally because I think everyone knows how I feel about working with Mason and I like to think he feels the same about me, and we could have done with him in the games we’ve played already this season. But the bigger picture is something that’s going to become clearer in the next weeks and months, and that will be the club and Mason together having conversations."

The Evening Standard have revealed that the £80k-a-week ace has resumed contract talks with Chelsea co-owner Todd Boehly over extending his terms at the club, which are set to run out in the summer of 2024.

The report also states that the Blues have slapped a £70 million price tag on the Portsmouth-born man to ward off interest in his services from Liverpool, Arsenal, Newcastle United, Manchester United and Manchester United.

Of course, there is a strong possibility that if Mount chooses to stay, he could find himself linking up with ex-Tottenham Hotspur manager Pochettino, who is in 'advanced talks' to permanently succeed Graham Potter at Stamford Bridge, as per BBC Sport.

Writing in his column on GIVEMESPORT, Jones thinks that Mount is a player that would suit Pochettino's tactical methods down to the ground.

Jones suggested to GMS: "Of all the players Poch is set to inherit in the new job, perhaps none seem more likely to thrive under him than 24-year-old Mount. A typical Pochettino Premier League line-up could see Mount play an advanced role in a 4-2-3-1 formation and as the counter-pressing figure in that team his levels from past Chelsea seasons could quickly re-emerge."

How key could Mason Mount become under Mauricio Pochettino's stewardship?

Given that Pochettino does prefer to operate in a high-pressing system, there is real potential that Mount could be used as the linchpin to initiate pressure on opposition backlines in advanced areas of the pitch.

The Argentinian coach operated a similar structure to his side involving Christian Eriksen when he was at Tottenham, despite the Danish midfielder initially struggling to adapt to his role in the side, eventually leading him to become one of Spurs' key men in forcing turnovers during that period and gaining his team possession in dangerous offensive pockets.

In light of his inconsistent form this term, there will also be question marks over how to get Mount back to putting up impressive goal contribution numbers. In 2022/23, the England international has registered just three goals and six assists in 35 appearances, as per Transfermarkt.

Compared to 2021/22, Mount lodged 13 goals and 16 assists in 53 outings, as per the same outlet, showing that there is some work to do in order to get him back to his best at Stamford Bridge.

FBRef show that Mount ranks in the top 1% of midfielders for touches in the attacking penalty area across Europe's top five divisions, managing to complete 3.97 per 90 minutes across the last 365 days at the time of writing, showing that Pochettino would have a lot to work with if he could convince the Cobham graduate to stay in west London beyond the summer.

It'll be an interesting few months ahead as we wait to find out what the future will hold for Mount come the start of next season.

Journalist Dean Jones has dubbed striker Anthony Martial "unreliable" due to his inability to get regular minutes at Manchester United.

What's the latest on Man United and Anthony Martial?

It could be a difficult final end to the season for the Red Devils as they've suffered some unfortunate injury setbacks recently.

Indeed, Lisandro Martinez has been ruled out for the rest of the campaign after fracturing a metatarsal bone in his foot, while Raphael Varane is also expected to be out for a few weeks.

On top of that, Marcus Rashford is also out with a muscle injury. This has, however, opened the door for Martial to impress. And the Frenchman really took his chance as he delivered a headline-grabbing performance in the week against Sevilla.

Even so, while speaking on the latest edition of the Chasing Green Arrows podcast, insider Jones explained that he just isn't able to play enough to ever truly be a reliable option for the club.

He said: “He is so unreliable, isn't he? He is so unreliable.

"Not in terms of playing well when he is playing – in terms of actually getting him on the pitch, that's the problem."

Will Martial start and finish the game for Man United against Nottingham Forest?

Martial certainly delivered for Man United mid-week. For instance, journalist Samuel Luckhurst handed him an 8/10 score in the player ratings for Manchester Evening News and wrote: "His assist for Sabitzer's second goal was one of his best pieces of play in a United shirt. His first start in almost three months and he didn't disappoint."

However, within that praise, you can see why Jones has his doubts about the player. Indeed, this was Martial's first start in three months with a series of injuries limiting him to just six starts in the Premier League this term.

Despite his limited game time, the £250k-per-week star has still managed to score seven goals and provide three assists in all competitions, showing glimpses of his quality.

Still, spread across his last three seasons in the Premier League, he has just nine goals in 32 outings – so it's not as if he's been doing enough to make himself a regular in the starting team.

And even with Rashford out, it seems as though manager Erik ten Hag doesn't feel as though he can rely on Martial to play the full 90 minutes in games, either.

He told the press ahead of this weekend's clash against Nottingham Forest (via Manchester Evening News): "Maybe he can but it's a risk and we can't take that risk in this moment," the manager said of Martial starting and finishing a match.

"Because we don't have so many options in the frontline with Rashford injured and [Alejandro] Garnacho injured, so we don't have so many options there.

"We have to be careful and also in the individual prospect we know when there's a lot of load he gets injured. So we have to build it, especially when the games come quick after each other, the recovery time is less, we have to take that in mind, manage that [well] and very carefully."

As a result, it is plain to see why Martial continues to frustrate at Old Trafford.

Newcastle United are interested in signing Leicester City midfielder Harvey Barnes, and he could be available for a lower fee if the Foxes are relegated, according to a report from Football Insider.

Will Harvey Barnes leave Leicester this summer?

Leicester are fighting for their lives in the Premier League, currently sitting two points from safety with just nine games to go, and interest is growing in some of their top players, namely Barnes, who is said to be "admired" by Tottenham Hotspur.

Newcastle were known to be interested in the Leicester star in the last summer transfer window, but they may have been dissuaded from making a move for the midfielder by the huge asking price of £50m.

If Leicester are relegated to the second tier, however, they may be unlikely to command that sort of fee for the 25-year-old, and Football Insider reports they will find it tough to keep hold of him, amid growing interest from elsewhere.

The Magpies headline a list of a number of Premier League clubs interested in the Englishman, with the other potential suitors remaining unnamed, and they believe they could secure a bargain deal, should the Foxes finish inside the bottom three.

Even though the £40k-per-week earner has two years left before his contract expires, his current employers may have to come to terms with losing him in the summer, and he is not the only key player who could be on his way out.

James Maddison remains a target for Eddie Howe, although Tottenham Hotspur are currently said to be in pole position for the 26-year-old's signature.

Should Newcastle sign Harvey Barnes?

Hailed as a "beast" by members of the media, the one-cap England international is enjoying a very good season, despite his team underperforming as a whole, registering ten league goals for the first time in his career.

It appears as though the Burnley-born midfielder's role has changed somewhat this season, as last year he predominantly weighed in with assists, while his goalscoring has been his best attribute in the 2022/23 campaign, displaying his ability to both score and set up his teammates.

At 25 years old, Barnes is likely to be entering his prime years, and Newcastle should definitely look to pounce if Leicester are relegated this season, but if they manage to stay up, Maddison should be their priority target.

The midfielder has recorded similar numbers to his teammate in the Premier League this season, and given that his contract expires next summer, the Foxes could be more willing to sell him.

Newcastle United bringing in James Maddison from Leicester City this summer would be an 'exciting signing', according to journalist Pete O'Rourke.

What's the latest transfer news involving James Maddison?

As per The Telegraph, Leicester City could be set to part ways with Maddison this summer to try and balance the books at the King Power Stadium.

The report also states that Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United are keen on his services. At the same time, it could cost between £45-60 million to entice the England international to leave his current employers and seek a new challenge elsewhere.

Leicester City manager Dean Smith praised Maddison last week following his performance in the Foxes' 1-1 draw with Leeds United at Elland Road last week, as per Leicestershire Live, stating: “He (Maddison) looked really bright against Leeds, especially in the last 20 minutes of the game, and caused them all sorts of problems. I'm liking what I'm seeing in training so far and he's not disappointed in games either. I think when you've got players that have that personality and character they push you as coaches and you want to go and help them become better players. James seems to have that."

Before Leicester City's crunch Premier League tie with Everton on Monday night, Maddison has been a shining light for the Foxes in an underwhelming campaign, notching nine goals and seven assists from 27 appearances in all competitions, as per Transfermarkt.

Capology understand that Maddison earns around £110,000 per week at Leicester City on a contract that runs until June 2024.

Speaking to Football FanCast, journalist O'Rourke has talked up the merits of Newcastle United acquiring Maddison in the forthcoming transfer window.

O'Rourke told FFC: "It'd be an exciting signing for Newcastle; I think Eddie Howe has come out and said the standard of Bruno Guimares raised the levels amongst the rest of the players in the squad and just took it up another notch as well and I think James Maddison could be similar."

Would James Maddison be a good signing for Newcastle United?

Maddison would offer another element of creativity to the Newcastle United midfield. He has plenty of Premier League experience under his belt, making him someone who could fit into Eddie Howe's project in the North East quite nicely.

WhoScored notes that the Englishman has recorded an average rating of 7.20/10 for his displays at Leicester City, making him their most consistent performer in 2022/23 overall.

Before Leicester City's tie against Everton on Monday night, FBRef also shows that Maddison has pulled off 112 shot-creating actions in the Premier League, demonstrating his ability to provide chances for his teammates routinely.

Regardless of whether the Foxes stay up or suffer relegation to the Sky Bet Championship, it looks as if Maddison may be set to jump ship this summer in order to take his game to the next level.