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There's rarely a dull moment in the transfer window for Chelsea these days, with their place as one of the Premier League's busiest clubs unlikely to go away any time soon.

The Blues endured a campaign to forget last season, despite spending a reported £600m, and have attempted to solve their problems by splashing the cash once more this summer, with plenty of departures along the way, too.

So far, however, things haven't exactly gone perfectly to plan, with Mauricio Pochettino's side drawing against Liverpool, losing against West Ham United, and beating Luton Town.

What's the latest Chelsea transfer news?

Bidding farewell to a total of 20 players this summer, Chelsea have been absolutely ruthless, and wasted no time in finding replacements, spending an absurd amount of money yet again. You can see just how much money they have spent, and just how many reinforcements they have welcomed this summer below, per Transfermarkt:

Player

Fee

Moises Caicedo

€116m (£100m)

Romeo Lavia

€62m (£53m)

Christopher Nkunku

€60m (£52m)

Axel Disasi

€45m (£39m)

Nicolas Jackson

€37m (£32m)

Lesley Ugochukwu

€27m (£23m)

Robert Sanchez

€23m (£20m)

Djordje Petrovic

€16m (£14m)

Deivid Washington

€16m (£14m)

Angelo

€15m (£13m)

Total

€417m (£358m)

As you can see, the Blues have not hesitated to spend big this season, and what may worry the rest of the Premier League is the suggestion that their business is still yet to end.

According to Fabrizio Romano, Chelsea have now added Manchester City's Cole Palmer to their list of targets, as they look to welcome one final addition. The Blues are reportedly set to open talks with the Manchester club soon, and see Palmer as their best solution in attack.

"Chelsea add Cole Palmer to list of talented offensive players being considered for final addition! Chelsea are set to open talks soon as they see Palmer as best solution. It remains to be seen Man City position on Palmer but Chelsea really want him."

The transfer expert has since added that an agreement has been reached worth around £45m.

"Cole Palmer to Chelsea, here we go! Agreement in principle reached with Manchester City on £40m deal plus £5m add-ons Exclusive news revealed earlier today then quick resolution between clubs and green light from Palmer. Medical tests to be booked soon."

How good is Cole Palmer?

After his goals in both the Community Shield and the Super Cup, it's no surprise that Palmer is attracting interest. The winger has shown the potential to become the next best thing at Manchester City, though, and it remains to be seen whether the Premier League champions would sanction a deal this summer.

The statistics only further prove just how good the 21-year-old is, too. According to FBref, Palmer is in the top 92 percentile for shot-creating actions, with 3.85 per 90, whilst also maintaining a place in the top 99 percentile for progressive carries per 90, successful take-ons per 90, and progressive passes per 90. Every way you look at it, he looks destined to become a star.

Read the latest Chelsea transfer news HERE…

During his time at Manchester City, the winger has earned plenty of praise, including from club legend Paul Dickov, who previously said, via Manchester Evening News after Palmer scored against Swindon Town:

"I don’t care what the competition is or who the opposition is – that was just a world-class finish.

"He has created the first goal and was involved in everything that was good and positive about Manchester City."

MatériaMais Notícias

Na próxima sexta-feira, o Vitória terá o Cruzeiro pela frente e o técnico Bruno Pivetti pode contar com o lateral-esquerdo Leandro Silva, que está regularizado e adaptado ao novo clube.

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Contente com os primeiros dias no Rubro-Negro, ele projeta o seu primeiro jogo diante da Raposa no Mineirão.

‘Esses 10 dias foram bons. Estou bastante adaptado, lógico que joguei com vários atletas que aqui estão e a gente tira algumas informações. O gruo é muito bom e a comissão técnica muito bem orientada pelo professor Bruno Pivetti. Se precisar de mim neste jogo contra o Cruzeiro, espero estrear bem e dar conta do recado para que possamos conseguir o nosso objetivo’, afirmou.

Classificação

O Vitória de Leandro Silva está na 7ª colocação, com 13 pontos, dois a menos que o Cuiabá, primeiro time do G-4.

Liverpool are interested in signing Torino centre-back Perr Schuurs this summer as Jurgen Klopp looks to tidy up his defence after a miserable campaign.

Last season, the Anfield side's lack of fluidity and harmony resulted in a fifth-placed Premier League finish and a failure to qualify for the Champions League for the first time in seven years, and while moves are being made on the transfer front to rectify this, a defender has yet to be signed.

This is largely down to the emphasis on the midfield rebuild, but with the 2023/24 season having now arrived, Klopp and co would be wise to act swiftly and secure the club's targets.

What's the latest on Perr Schuurs to Liverpool?

According to Italian outlet Calciomercato, Liverpool will be able to secure Schuurs' signature if they meet Torino's €40m (£35m) price tag, with English rivals Crystal Palace and West Ham United also interested.

Read the latest Liverpool transfer news HERE…

The 23-year-old is right-footed which does not make him the perfect profile for Klopp's side but he is developing and could be a fine addition to supplement Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate.

How good is Perr Schuurs?

After such a deflating campaign last year, it is imperative that the Reds' sporting director Jorg Schmadtke bolsters the squad effectively before the transfer window slams shut in several weeks time.

Schuurs might not be the finished piece yet, but he could definitely complement Liverpool's defence and improve the depth and resilience of the squad, having been praised as a "great Dutch talent" by Ajax director of football Marc Overmar.

As per Sofascore, he recorded an average match rating of 6.87 last season in the Italian top-flight, completing 88% of his passes, averaging 3.2 clearances per match and succeeding with 55% of his contested ground duels.

He is an impressive ball carrier and has an eye for a penetrating pass, with FBref ranking the Dutchman among the top 19% of centre-backs across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for successful take-ons, the top 20% for tackles and the top 7% for assists per 90.

Given the £30k-per-week star's aptitude for ball carrying and his vigour in his craft, he could prove to be Klopp's answer to Manchester United phenom Lisandro Martinez, who joined the Red Devils from Ajax on a £57m deal last summer, since being heralded as a "warrior" who is "skilful" by manager Erik ten Hag.

The menacing Argentinian ranks among the top 20% of positional peers for progressive carries, the top 12% for successful take-ons, the top 6% for tackles and the top 5% for blocks per 90, highlighting his energy and presence as an unrelenting defensive force.

Schuurs will need to improve his ball progression, ranking among the bottom 17% for progressive passes, but he is making gains each season and by joining the fold at Anfield, he could finally take his game to the next level and unleash the full scale of his skill set under Klopp's stewardship.

With Martinez having proven an "absolute monster" at Old Trafford – according to teammate Luke Shaw – finding their own version of the World Cup winner in the form of Schuurs could well prove an astute move as far as the Merseysiders are concerned.

Described as a "mountain" by journalist Josh Bunting, the 6 foot 3 colossus must be signed to provide Liverpool with an added layer of protection and a new dimension to help the club achieve its goals once again.

Leeds United have been strongly linked with a move for Nathaniel Phillips this summer, and now a new update has emerged on the club's pursuit of the player.

What's the latest on Leeds' interest in Nat Phillips?

According to LeedsLive reporter Beren Cross, the Yorkshire giants remain interested in signing the Liverpool centre-back this summer.

As per the report, the journalist claims that although the noise around Phillips' move has fallen quiet, the Whites had made enquiries about the defender earlier in the summer and remain interested in securing his signature.

Read the latest Leeds transfer news HERE…

Will Leeds sign Nat Phillips?

There is no doubt that Daniel Farke is still in desperate need of reinforcements this summer, considering the number of outgoings already confirmed whilst the future is not promised for many others at Elland Road.

Several first-team regulars have left the club following relegation from the Premier League last season including Rodrigo, Robin Koch, Brendan Aaronson, Marc Roca, whilst more recently, Maximilian Wober completed a season-long loan move to the Bundesliga via Borussia Mönchengladbach.

As a result, Farke desperately needs to bolster the defensive depth, quality and experience in the Leeds squad to ensure they have the best chance of competing for automatic promotion in the Championship next season, something Phillips could help the side achieve if he makes the move this month.

Despite struggling to gain consistent first-team football over his career at Liverpool due to huge competition in the centre-back position with the likes of Virgil van Dijk, Joel Matip and Ibrahima Konate occupying the starting spots, Phillips became a cult hero during a huge injury crisis at Anfield back in the 2020/21 season.

Over 17 Premier League appearances, the 26-year-old titan scored one goal, delivered one assist, successfully completed 100% of his dribbles and won 61% of his ground and aerial duels combined, as well as keeping seven clean sheets to help Liverpool secure Champions League qualification in the final fixtures of the season.

His successful breakthrough for the Reds led to huge praise from many including ex-Liverpool midfielder Jamie Redknapp who waxed lyrical about the defender in 2021 after he scored a goal against Burnley:

"The second goal really helps and Nat Phillips has had an unbelievable time, he's full of confidence. He's a throwback defender. He wants to make blocks, he wants to make tackles, he's got great anticipation."

Since then, the Bolton-born colossus has been rarely seen at Anfield but was given the opportunity to play regularly and gain more first-team minutes whilst on a six-month loan in the Championship with AFC Bournemouth during their promotion challenge of 2022, so such experience would be massively advantageous in the Leeds squad next season.

Phillips – who has a reported price tag of just £10m – tallied up an 82% pass completion rate, kept eight clean sheets, successfully completed 50% of his dribbles and won 65% of his duels combined over 17 appearances in the second tier, contributing massively to the South coast club's final push for automatic promotion success.

With that being said, the opportunity to sign Phillips should not be missed for Farke this summer, as his strong presence, consistency and domination in the defensive third would help Leeds achieve their dreams of instant promotion back to the Premier League.

Chelsea have already agreed personal terms with Montpellier striker Elye Wahi as the Ligue 1 side await their first bid, according to reports out of France.

Who will Chelsea sign?

Mauricio Pochettino's side are preparing for their new manager's debut season behind-the-scenes, having already sealed summer deals for Christopher Nkunku from Leipzig and Nicolas Jackson from Villarreal.

Chelsea have also seen a plethora of stars from last season leave through the exit door, including the likes of Mateo Kovacic, Kai Havertz, Edouard Mendy, Mason Mount, Kalidou Kouliably, Christian Pulisic, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, N'Golo Kante and Cesar Azpilicueta.

That's not even counting youngster Ethan Ampadu, who joined Leeds United in a permanent deal too. The mass exodus helps to balance Chelsea's books and frees up squad space for more potential signings this summer.

The west Londoners are still believed to be locked in talks over a move for Brighton star Moises Caicedo as Pochettino looks to shore up his central midfield options.

Meanwhile, they have also been tipped to sign a new forward as out-of-favour flop Romelu Lukaku is likely to leave Stamford Bridge this summer, if a solution can be found.

Chelsea have been linked with Tottenham's Harry Kane – though he will be near-impossible to prise away from chairman Daniel Levy – and even Napoli's Victor Osimhen.

The Blues also hold a serious interest in electric young forward Wahi from Montpellier, with reports this week suggesting Chelsea are set to lodge a formal bid for him and lead the race.

According to a report out of Europe and French news outlet L'Equipe (via Get Football News France), the 20-year-old has "found an agreement" on personal terms with Chelsea.

The idea of moving to London is "attractive" to Wahi, but a move would see him join sister club Strasbourg on loan for the 2023/2024 season under Patrick Vieira. That idea isn't exactly enticing to him, but he isn't completely closed off to it either.

Meanwhile, it is believed Montpellier are "awaiting a €30 million (£26m) opening proposal from Chelsea" – which is the "minimum" Montpellier Chairman Laurent Nicollin expects for him.

How good is Elye Wahi?

The young forward scored 19 goals and assisted five others in just 33 Ligue 1 appearances last term, making him quite the exciting prospect for Chelsea supporters.

Ex-Caen academy director Francis de Taddeo, speaking to the media on Wahi, believes his potential is sky high – while he also lauded the forward's exceptional speed and physicality.

De Taddeo said:

"He is a powerful, athletic and fast player with a range of dribbling skills where only he knows what he is going to do next."

The starlet has been revered by members of the media as well, with journalist Andrés Onrubia Ramos explaining on Twitter how Wahi can be a "real beast" in the final third.

"Elye Wahi (2003). If he manages to polish the definition, we are facing a striker who is going to exceed ten goals per season," said Ramos.

"A real beast in space that, in addition, associatively also leaves interesting things. It should definitely explode."

Newcastle United have been strongly linked with a move for Axel Disasi this summer and now a new update has emerged on the club's pursuit of the player.

What's the latest on Newcastle's interest in Axel Disasi?

According to Sky Sports Germany journalist Florian Plettenberg, Newcastle are in ongoing talks to sign the Monaco centre-back.

Plettenberg revealed on Twitter: "Understand, Newcastle pushing a lot for Axel #Disasi! Concrete talks between #NUFC & Monaco took place and are ongoing.

"Man Utd, also exploring a deal but #MUFC has to sell players first (Maguire). Newcastle in the lead at this stage. AS, waiting for concrete offers."

How tall is Axel Disasi?

The Magpies matched Premier League champions Manchester City for the best defence in the entire league last season, conceding just 33 goals over the 38-game campaign, which is a testament to the back-line at St James' Park.

However, bolstering the squad with quality depth will be a huge priority for Eddie Howe this summer as he prepares to match the outstanding output that his squad delivered last season, as well as competing comfortably in the Champions League too.

As a result, the signing of Disasi would be a great opportunity to bring in a defender who can maintain the quality of the current centre-back options next season, which could push club captain Jamaal Lascelles – who has been linked with an exit – even further down the pecking order.

The 29-year-old has been a loyal servant to the North East outfit since his arrival back in 2014 and unlike many others, has stuck by the club through the bad times under Mike Ashley's reign to the good times following the Saudi takeover.

However, last season, following the arrival of Sven Botman in the summer transfer window, Lascelles found his game-time slashed considerably making just two Premier League starts and averaging 32 minutes per appearance.

Should the club secure a deal for Disasi, it is extremely likely that the 6 foot 3 Frenchman will be leaned upon to rotate into the team to prevent exhaustion and injury over a campaign that is set to be all-action for Newcastle, with Howe leading his team in both domestic competition and on the elite European stage too.

The Monaco titan – hailed as a "hidden gem" by football talent scout Jacek Kulig – is a huge ball-playing presence in the back-line and one of the hottest prospects in his position throughout Europe – ranking in the top 10% of his positional peers across the top five European leagues over the last 12 months for assists, touches, successful take-ons, progressive passes and progressive carries, as per FBref.

It is reported that it would cost Newcastle up to €50m (£43m) to secure Disasi's services this summer, but with Financial Fair Play restrictions affecting the club's ability to secure more signings after Sandro Tonali, it is likely players will need to be sold to fund any further incomings.

With that being said, it will be interesting to see whether Lascelles will continue to commit to his very limited role on Tyneside or seek out another club where he could earn first team football, either way a move for Disasi would improve the defensive depth and provide Howe will a player he can rely on to rotate into the squad.

The summer transfer window is already in full swing, although transfer activity has been rather muted at Everton so far, with the Merseyside outfit yet to bring in any new faces with the new season just over a month away.

With the Toffees having also previously made no new signings in January amid their bid for survival, the need for further depth and quality is seemingly now even greater, with Sean Dyche no doubt in need of the appropiate tools to help avoid another relegation scrap in 2023/24.

Despite the rather quiet nature of the club's window so far, one name that has been mentioned is Sheffield United star, lliman Ndiaye, with Fabrizio Romano naming the Goodison outfit as one of the clubs who are interested in signing the 23-year-old playmaker.

This follows claims made by Sky Sports journalist Rob Dorsett back in January which suggested that Dyche and co had lodged a £25m bid to sign the Senegalese international on deadline day, with the player facing an uncertain future at Bramall Lane having now entered the final year of his contract.

Fresh form having propelled the Blades to promotion – after scoring 14 goals and laying on 11 assists in 46 Championship outings last term – Ndiaye could be the man to help bolster Dyche's attacking ranks this summer, following in the footsteps of the likes of Phil Jagielka and Dominic Calvert-Lewin in arriving on Merseyside from the Yorkshire side.

Due to his likeness to the latter man as a figure who typically operates through the middle – or in a number ten berth – the hope will be that Ndiaye can prove as much of a success as Calvert-Lewin has been in recent years.

How much did Everton pay for Calvert-Lewin?

The England international was snapped up from the Blades on a bargain £1.5m deal back in the summer of 2016, having spent time on loan at Stalybridge Celtic and Northampton Town prior to that in his teenage years.

While injury has dogged the 26-year-old of late – having notably made just 17 league appearances last season – the 6 foot 2 striker has blossomed into the Toffees' main man in attack, having now scored 60 goals in 209 games in all competitions over the past seven years.

That includes a particularly fruitful spell during Carlo Ancelotti's time at the helm, with Calvert-Lewin bagging 13 league goals in the 2019/20 season, before plundering 16 top-flight goals in the following campaign.

Lauded as a "top striker" by Ancelotti, the Sheffield-born machine has proven to be a truly astute capture since joining from his local side, with the hope being that Everton can replicate that masterclass with the addition of another exciting forward in the form of Ndiaye.

The latter man has earned rave reviews as a result of his standout form in the second tier in recent times, with Sheffield United coach Jack Lester stating that the France-born sensation "does things you can't coach" such is his "natural" talent, with the 5 foot 11 gem also seemingly rather "fearless" when taking to the field.

That fearlessness could ensure that the fleet-footed ace is not overawed by the step up to life in the top flight, with the chance there for him to replicate Calvert-Lewin's success if he is to link up with Dyche and co this summer.

At this stage of the year, there seems to be more interest in transfers than there is in actual football. Indeed, it seems some fans would rather ‘win the transfer market’ than actually win a genuine bit of silverware.With that being the case, one of the undisputed kings of the summer window is Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano who has built up a reputation for breaking many of the best transfer stories over the last few seasons. In an interesting twist on things, however, instead of focusing on his transfer reporting as usual, supporters have been able to actually critique his footballing ability thanks to some recent footage that was shared online.

Can Fabrizio Romano play football?

Twitter user JD Football posted a short clip on social media of the transfer guru playing a game of football in the dead of night after a hard day’s work.

The video included a caption saying: “Football game after transfer news day at 2am… Here we go!”

In the clip, Romano showed that he wasn’t too bad with the ball at his feet either. Indeed, in one instance, he rolls the ball past his defender before curling in a fine shot with the outside of his foot to score. While in another brief highlight, he controls the ball superbly before flicking it in on the bounce to score again.

Romano saw the video shared online and took to Twitter to simply reply with the eyes emoji.

Fans had some fun with the footage too, sharing their own reactions to the surprising highlights package of the Italian journalist.

Which team does Fabrizio Romano support?

It might be a bit of a surprise to see that Romano is actually any good at football. After all, he once told Bleacher Report that he prefers transfers to actual games of football.

Indeed, he explained: “I feel excited when I get a big story. For me, it’s like scoring an important goal in a big match. I remember when Bruno Fernandes joined Manchester United; that was a good one for me. When you put in so much on one story, and I get the news it has finally happened, I feel excited.

“People ask me which team I support, but it is not about that. I am excited because of the way the signing will make people feel.”

He added: “I prefer the transfer window to the actual football matches! Of course I love games, but there is an excitement about working on the market and how things can change so quickly.”

According to SportsKeeda, Romano is a fan of Championship outfit Watford and has been since 2013 after witnessing their remarkable comeback against Leicester City in the Championship playoffs – you remember, the one where Manuel Almunia saved the penalty and then Troy Deeney immediately scored on the counter.

Supposedly from that moment on, the Hornets – who have an Italian connection as they are owned by the Pozzo family who also own Udinese – became the club for Romano and he even chooses them when playing FIFA career mode and Football Manager.

Match facts

March 15-19, 2017
Start time: 10am local (0430GMT)3:28

Fernando: P Sara Oval the most result-oriented venue in the world

Big picture

The bigshots of the Bangladesh Cricket Board are arriving to much fanfare, soaring rhetoric about South Asian “brotherhood” abounds. Mementos are being polished, showmen are practicing their lines for the presentation: the celebrations for Bangladesh’s 100th Test are all set to go, but after the politically-minded have lavishly slapped each other on the back, there is some cricket to be played as well.It is the plight of Mahmudullah that will have most Bangladesh fans aflutter. He has been dropped from the Test squad but will continue to stay in the country. So will he play in the limited-overs series? Has the board overridden a coaching decision? Has a senior batsman been dealt with too harshly here? Whatever unfolds over the next 48 hours, Mahmudullah will not play, which means Bangladesh will make changes to the batting order that misfired in Galle – bringing in Sabbir Rahman or uncapped 21-year-old Mosaddek Hossain. Imrul Kayes is likely to replace Mominul Haque as well.Bangladesh will need a stronger top order, because they are about to play on perhaps the most reliable result pitch in Test cricket. It has been 11 Tests and almost 14 years since a Test at P Sara Oval was drawn. The seamers generally gain good bounce early in the match, and the spinners run riot late in the game. Generally, there are precious few sessions where batsmen can claim to have had favourable conditions.If Sri Lanka field the same attack, they may pose varied questions to the opposition. Lakshan Sandakan was wayward, but turned the ball viciously at times, while Rangana Herath and Dilruwan Perera were agents of guile and control. In Lahiru Kumara, Sri Lanka also have a quick who will relish bowling on a track that has a bit of zip.Their own top order, however, is not quite as formidable as a flattering Galle surface made it seem. If Bangladesh are to level the series, here is the weakness they must exploit.

Form guide

Sri Lanka WLLLW (completed matches, most recent first)
Bangladesh LLLLW

In the spotlight

Having batted largely at no. 4 through the Australia series last year, Kusal Mendis is seemingly back for a long stint at first drop. In Galle he produced an innings that showcased why he is so highly rated by coaches, working his way through tough early spells, before opening his shoulders and setting the match up for Sri Lanka. He did, however, benefit from an early reprieve in that innings, and it is that looseness outside off stump that presently appears to be his greatest obstacle. On a Colombo track expected to be better for seam bowling than the previous pitch had been, Mendis may profit from a more discerning outlook at the start of his innings.His teammates keep throwing their wickets away, and there have been three last-day collapses in the last four Tests, but consistently providing the innings with a spine this year is Mushfiqur Rahim. So far he has two hundreds and a fifty in six innings in 2017. Among the times he didn’t reach a half-century was his defiance of New Zealand on day five in Wellington, where he was battered with bouncers, while he batted with an injured hand. If there is to be more substance from the Bangladesh top order in this Test, they could do worse than follow the example their captain has set.Bangladesh should look to exploit Sri Lanka’s batting weakness on a lively P Sara deck•AFP

Team news

Herath was tightlipped about Sri Lanka’s combination before this match, but there may be little reason to change the winning XI. There is a chance Dimuth Karunaratne’s is under pressure from Dhananjaya de Silva. It is also possible Sandakan is left out in favour of an extra batsman.Sri Lanka (possible): 1 Dimuth Karuanaratne, 2 Upul Tharanga, 3 Kusal Mendis, 4 Dinesh Chandimal, 5 Asela Gunaratne, 6 Niroshan Dickwella (wk), 7 Dilruwan Perera, 8 Rangana Herath (capt.), 9 Suranga Lakmal, 10 Lahiru Kumara, 11 Lakshan SandakanImrul and Sabbir are the likeliest batsmen to enter the XI, but there could also be a bowling change in the offing. Subashis Roy claimed only 1 for 137 in Galle, so it is possible Taijul Islam replaces him. Liton Das has been ruled out after suffering a fractured rib while batting in the nets on the eve of the game. That means Mushfiqur Rahim will take the gloves again.Bangladesh (possible): 1 Tamim Iqbal, 2 Soumya Sarkar, 3 Imrul Kayes, 4 Mosaddek Hossain, 5 Mushfiqur Rahim (capt & wk), 6 Shakib Al Hasan, 7 Sabbir Rahman, 8 Mehedi Hasan, 9 Taskin Ahmed, 10 Mustafizur Rahman, 11 Kamrul Islam Rabbi/Rubel Hossain

Pitch and conditions

This track may be a little more batting friendly than the usual P Sara surfaces, but expect regular breakthroughs nonetheless. Daily pre-monsoon thunderstorms in Colombo may also make an appearance – evening sessions are particularly vulnerable.

Stats and trivia

• Each of the last 14 Tests in Sri Lanka have yielded a result
• Rangana Herath is three wickets shy of a first-class tally of 1000
• Bangladesh’s three previous Tests at this venue have ended in innings defeats – their lowest Test total of 62 coming here in 2007
• Mushfiqur has scored 441 runs at an average of 88.20 in 2017. He needs only 51 further runs to make this his most successful batting year.

With West Ham United rejecting the latest big-money bid for Declan Rice, this time from Manchester City, it is clear the Hammers are being serious with their £100m valuation of the midfielder.

While that saga continues to drag on, with the ball now firmly in Arsenal's court, West Ham will no doubt be on the lookout for midfield recruits of their own.

What is the latest with Monaco midfielder Youssouf Fofana?

Monaco midfielder Youssouf Fofana is one of those to have been touted as a target for David Moyes' side earlier this month, but they have now been joined in the race by Premier League rivals Arsenal and Newcastle United.

According to L'Equipe, it is likely that Fofana will be sold to the highest bidder, with a fee of around €35m (£30m) possibly enough to prise him away from the Principality club.

That may seem like a high valuation for a player with a year left to run on his contract, but Monaco have the option to extend that by a further 12 months, so they are not in desperate need to sell.

Is Youssouf Fofana a good option for West Ham?

First things first: No matter which midfield target West Ham sign this summer, they will not tick as many boxes as outgoing Rice. Then again, none of their targets will cost a nine-figure sum.

Fofana is the same age as Rice, the pair play in the same central-midfield position and they were each regulars for teams in Europe's top five leagues, so comparing the two only makes sense.

Rice added an attacking edge to his game last season, and that reflects in the statistics as he averaged 0.16 goals and assists per 90 minutes, as per FBref, compared to 0.09 for Fofana.

There are plenty of similarities in other areas, however, such as their number of shots on target (23.9% for Rice and 24.6% for Fofana), their shot-creating actions per 90 minutes (2.54 v 2.41), with that metric factoring in passes and take-ons leading up to a shot, and tackles won (1.26 per 90 v 1.30).

The pair also won a very similar number of aerial duels (58.3% for Rice, compared to 56% for Fofana), which all suggests the Monaco man would be a good like-for-like replacement alongside Tomas Soucek, or indeed another new midfielder Moyes brings in.

Fofana is not exactly an under-the-radar gem, having already been capped ten times by France at senior level. Indeed, the Paris-born midfielder showed he can more than hold his own alongside some of the game's biggest names, with Statman Dave hailing his "exceptional" debut against Austria last September.

That game showcased many of Fofana's qualities, as he completed 100% of his dribbles, won 12 out of 14 ground duels and played one key pass. It is in terms of take-ons Fofana arguably brings something a little different to Rice that West Ham could do with, completing 1.36 per 90 last season to the Englishman's 1.02.

Potentially available for less than a third of the sum they will get for Rice, West Ham must ensure they are ahead of their Premier League rivals in the race to sign the talented Fofana.