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Newcastle United were linked with a move for Hugo Ekitike last summer and now a new update has emerged from a reliable source on the club's continued pursuit of the player.

What's the latest on Newcastle's interest in Huge Ekitike?

The Northern Echo's Chief Sports Writer Scott Wilson has claimed that Newcastle could look to rekindle their interest in the Paris Saint-Germain loanee this summer.

As per the report, the Magpies have been long-term admirers of the young centre-forward but, after a struggle to secure a deal, turned their attention to Alexander Isak last summer.

However, Newcastle could be set to reignite their interest in the player after it was revealed the player is unhappy with the Ligue One Champions due to a lack of game-time, although PSG do have an option to buy Ekitike for £25.5m from his parent club Stade de Reims this summer.

Will Newcastle sign Hugo Ekitike?

There is no doubt that after a taste of the success that could be achieved at the North East club this season, their Saudi billionaire owners will be willing to invest further to strengthen the squad to ensure they can continue their pursuit of trophies and dominance.

Eddie Howe and sporting director Dan Ashworth are likely to be backed heavily in the summer transfer window if the Magpies can secure Champions League football over their remaining eight games, allowing the manager to add depth in the most influential positions on the pitch.

Indeed, Alexander Isak and Callum Wilson have been thriving equally in front of goal over this season, however, the departure of Chris Wood in January has prompted an opportunity to further bolster the attacking threat, especially with Wilson a year into his 30s at this point too, so he won't be able to keep up this form forever.

As a result, the signing of Ekitike could be the perfect move for Howe to continue his development and rebuild of an already highly-competitive squad, to give them the very best chance of continuously competing within the top six and Europe too.

Despite only earning eight starts under the management of Christophe Galtier with PSG this season, the 20-year-old has scored three goals, registered three assists and created two big chances, as well as averaging 1.1 shots on goal per game, proving that he is taking full advantage of the few opportunities he gets in the team.

When Newcastle were in contention to sign Ekitike last summer, Ligue One journalist Lee Davey gave an insight on the striker's development over his breakthrough season in 2021/22:

"I really do feel that it could be one of the signings of the summer. I just hope that it works out for him because he’s a good lad, he’s a good kid, he’s got bags of talent, and I really think he’s going to bring a lot to the Newcastle team."

Over his first season in the Reims senior side, the goal-hungry forward found the net 11 times and delivered five assists in 27 appearances – with a goal contribution tallied up every 91 minutes played on average, proving that the potential is there for him to become a prolific goal-scorer and valuable asset if developed well.

With that being said, a move for Ekitike this summer could be a great opportunity for Howe to bring in another raw talent that can polish up his skills and develop into a player who can become Wilson's successor in years to come.

An update has emerged on Chelsea and their ongoing plans to reshape their playing squad after they finished in the bottom half of the Premier League in the season just gone.

What's the latest Chelsea transfer news?

Mauricio Pochettino is in the market to bolster his options in the middle of the park and Sandro Tonali has emerged as a potential option instead of Brighton & Hove Albion's Moises Caicedo.

The Athletic's David Ornstein has reported that the Blues have had an offer of £60m turned down for the Ecuador international and that they are now considering a number of alternatives, including the AC Milan commander.

This is alongside their pursuit of a deal for Villarreal forward Nicolas Jackson, who is seemingly closing in on a move to Stamford Bridge from the Spanish side after agreeing terms with the Blues. The reporter tweeted:

"Chelsea have agreed terms with Nicolas Jackson + intend to strike deal with Villarreal. €35m clause if needed. 21yo striker has committed. + #BHAFC rejected £60m #CFC Caicedo bid 2wks ago – Lavia, Kone, Tonali, Barella among alternatives."

Ornstein's article, which is attached to his Tweet, does not reveal how much it would take to snatch Tonali away from the Champions League semi-finalists but the Italian international is on the club's list of targets this summer.

Who is Sandro Tonali?

The 23-year-old Milan ace is a defensive midfielder who has the quality to make an impact at both ends of the pitch with his defensive awareness and creativity.

Whilst it remains to be seen how much the Italian giants would demand for his services, Football Transfers estimates his market value to be in the region of €68m (£58m), which is significantly more than the €39.7m (£34m) he was valued at in June 2022.

This shows that the young maestro, who scout Jacek Kulig hailed as "Il Comandante", has been building his value over the last 12 months and that Chelsea would be bringing in a player who is on the up, rather than a depreciating asset with no sell-on potential.

Tonali enjoyed a terrific 2022/23 campaign in the Serie A with Milan. The Italian commander, who was once lauded as “extraordinary” by former Brescia manager Eugenio Corini, averaged a SofaScore rating of 7.21 across 34 appearances in the division and made 2.6 tackles and interceptions and 1.8 key passes per match.

Only Thiago Silva and N'Golo Kante (both with a score of 7.26) averaged a higher rating in the Premier League and only Kante (1.9) created more chances per game than the £76k-per-week dynamo.

Chelsea "really, really like" AC Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan and are interested in bringing the player to the Premier League, but the deal itself is "really tough" to get done, claims journalist Ben Jacobs.

Chelsea transfer news – what's the latest on Mike Maignan?

The Blues have been having something of a fire sale in recent weeks, with players like N'Golo Kante and Kalidou Koulibaly joining the Saudi Pro League, whilst Mason Mount and Kai Havertz have moved to Manchester United and Arsenal, respectively.

Among the players bidding farewell to Stamford Bridge is Champions League-winning goalkeeper Edouard Mendy, who has also opted to join the Middle East's burgeoning super league, joining Al-Ahli.

That move has left Kepa Arrizablaga as the club's undisputed number one, but based on recent reports, it appears that the club does not have the most faith in the Spaniard.

According to the Telegraph, Chelsea are 'considering a move' for the French international, despite manager Mauricio Pochettino's 'willingness to start the season with Kepa.'

If the Blues are serious about securing the keeper's signature, they will have to stump up some serious cash, as transfers expert Fabrizio Romano revealed earlier this month that Milan have priced their player at over €55m.

What has journalist Ben Jacobs said about Mike Maignan to Chelsea?

Jacobs explained that the interest and admiration from the West London club is genuine.

Speaking to Football FanCast, he said: "Mike Maignan is someone that Chelsea really, really like, but it's a really tough deal to do with Milan."

Would Mike Maignan be a good signing for Chelsea?

While Kepa has certainly improved for Chelsea over the last 18 months, Maigan would be a brilliant signing for the Blues and a real step up in terms of quality.

According to WhoScored, Milan's shot-stopping extraordinaire had a brilliant season in Serie A last year, averaging a rating of 6.64 across his 22 games.

The Cayenne-born "monster" – as described by journalist Robin Bairner – looks even more impressive when you look at his underlying numbers.

According to FBref, who compare players in a similar position across Europe's top five leagues, the Frenchman is in the top 8% for saved penalty kicks, the top 11% for goals against, and the top 22% for clean.

If that wasn't enough FBref also considers both Alisson and Ederson to be within the five most similar goalkeepers to Maignan, hardly bad company to keep.

If Chelsea can, they certainly should get this deal done, even if AC Milan want a king's ransom.

Aston Villa defender Pau Torres was slammed by the media for his performance against Liverpool in the Premier League this afternoon.

What was the Liverpool vs Aston Villa score?

Villa suffered their second defeat of the Premier League season this afternoon, and while they faced tough opposition in Liverpool, Unai Emery is still likely to be disappointed with his side's performance.

The Villans succumbed to a 3-0 loss at Anfield, with the hosts breaking the deadlock after just three minutes, through Dominik Szoboszlai, before Matty Cash doubled the Reds' lead by scoring an own-goal less than 20 minutes later.

Mohamed Salah added another in the second half, putting the game beyond doubt, with the visitors never posing much in the way of attacking threat, having recorded an XG of just 0.63 across the entire match.

A number of Aston Villa players were not at the races, including Cash, who scored an own-goal, and Diego Carlos, with the Brazilian receiving a Sofascore match rating of just 6.4.

However, Torres was the player singled out for criticism by sections of the media, with journalist Sam Tighe saying:

"What kind of mood did Pau Torres wake up in today? He’s doing some wild stuff."

Journalist Michael Akomeah also criticised the centre-back for his performance, saying:

"Someone tell Pau Torres , this is not la liga.., before also adding:

"He stays on the ball for too long".

How much did Aston Villa pay for Pau Torres?

The Spaniard arrived from Emery's former club, Villarreal, back in July, and set Villa back an initial fee of £33m, which was the second-highest fee paid in the club's history at the time, and it is expected to rise further.

The 26-year-old has had a mixed start to life in England, as he has looked impressive on the ball, completing 44 of the 47 passes he attempted against Burnley back in August, meaning he achieved a pass-completion rate of 94%.

Against Hibernian, the former Villarreal man was hailed by ESPN analyst Luis Miguel Echegaray for playing a "ball so magnificent you could marry it" in the build-up to Jhon Duran's goal, but he was not as impressive in possession against Liverpool today.

Across the 90 minutes, the Spain international lost the ball 16 times, the highest amount of any player on the pitch, receiving a Sofascore match rating of just 6.2 for his efforts, which was the joint-lowest alongside Cash.

It is still early days for Torres, and Emery will be hoping today's performance will be a learning curve for his new centre-back, ahead of Villa's next game at home against Crystal Palace after the upcoming international break.

Aston Villa would be a good fit for Manchester City right-back Kyle Walker this summer, according to talkSPORT reporter Alex Crook.

Will Walker leave Man City?

The 32-year-old has enjoyed a stellar career at club level, winning four Premier League titles during his time at City and arguably becoming one of the best players in his position in the competition's history. This season has been a harder one for him, however, and it has become increasingly apparent that he is no longer a key starter.

Only 15 league starts have come Walkers's way in 2022/23 to date, but a lot of those were earlier in the campaign and he has not often featured in recent weeks, even though he played all 90 minutes against Sheffield United in the FA Cup semi-final last weekend.

With the £160,000-a-week Englishman's current deal expiring in 2024, this summer could be the last opportunity for City to get good money for him, or risk losing him on a free transfer next year. He has been linked with a move to Villa, as Unai Emery eyes up strong summer signings.

Are Villa the ideal club for Walker?

Reacting to the rumours in a chat with Give Me Sport, Crooks talked up the idea of Walker moving to Villa Park at the end of the season, saying it would be a good fit:

"Sheffield United might be an interesting one for him. He started there, didn't he? And if they come into the Premier League, I wonder if they might try and have a go.

"But Villa would be a good move because I think they're going to back (Unai) Emery in the summer. They might well manage to sneak into a European place, too."

Walker could be a brilliant signing by Villa in the summer transfer window, possessing a winning mentality that is outlined by his aforementioned Premier League trophy tally, not to mention having a wealth of experience at this point in his career, racking up 75 caps for England.

There is an argument to say that the defender's best days may just be behind him, hence him losing his place in City's team, but he remains a top-level footballer – one who has been lauded as "frighteningly quick" by Troy Deeney in the past. Emery will want experience and nous in his squad this summer and Walker could be the man to provide it, lifting players around him and putting his combination of pace and power to good use.

Just when it looked as though Graham Potter had turned a corner with Chelsea following a month when the club remained unbeaten and qualified for the Champions League quarter-finals, a defeat against Aston Villa firmly piles all the pressure back onto him again.

The back three couldn’t counteract the threat Villa striker Ollie Watkins posed, and he duly scored a delightful lob over Kepa Arrizabalaga in the first half, continuing his recent fine form in front of goal and Potter found his team 1-0 down at the break.

John McGinn added a screamer in the second half and the game finished 2-0, with Chelsea clinging on to tenth position in the league.

There were many terrible performances, with Mykhaylo Mudryk underperforming once again. He received a Sofascore rating of just 5.8/10 which saw him miss a glorious chance in the first half, taking just 21 touches and winning only one duel.

Much more is expected from the January signing, especially with the vast sum spent on him, however he wasn’t the only one to let Potter down last night.

Ruben Loftus-Cheek was another player who majorly disappointed and will have the manager scratching his head.

How did Ruben Loftus-Cheek perform against Aston Villa?

Statistically speaking, he was the second-worst Chelsea player after the aforementioned Mudryk as his performance was only worthy of a 6.2/10 rating via Sofascore.

The Englishman didn’t even last the full game, being substituted on the 57th minute and despite completing 93% (41/44) of his passes and taking 61 touches, there wasn’t much else to be pleased about.

He failed to deliver an accurate cross, had zero shots, won just one duel and lost possession a staggering 14 times in under an hour, proving he was off the pace severely, and it certainly cost Chelsea the chance of securing something from the game.

The £13m-rated man's performance was heavily criticised by Spencer Millman, who said: “He is playing loftus cheek who shouldn’t be anywhere near this team.”

This clearly suggests the player isn’t strong enough to be considered for the starting XI, and it appeared so today, with the 27-year-old being bossed around the park by a Villa side who were evidently up for the challenge more so than the Stamford Bridge outfit.

It looks as though European football next season is slipping away from them, and with the money Potter has spent in January, that extra revenue will be essential.

Arsenal have enjoyed a period of stable progression under Mikel Arteta, with little cause for worry as he forges a brighter future. However, that has not been a process without its hiccups…

Is Douglas Luiz leaving Aston Villa?

Having handed Emi Martinez a show of faith amidst Bernd Leno's injury, the Argentine impressed in between the sticks for a period.

Many thought they have pulled a blinder when such a stint resulted in a permanent move away to Aston Villa, retrieving a hefty £17m fee for what was essentially a backup goalkeeper. Few could have imagined just how far he would continue to grow.

Read the latest Arsenal transfer news HERE…

Now, in an attempt to avenge that devastating decision, and bolster their midfield too, perhaps the Gunners could seek to snag Douglas Luiz from Unai Emery's clutches.

After all, journalist and transfer insider Dean Jones suggested that they remain in the hunt, speaking to GIVEMSPORT:

"I think it’s an open secret in football that Arsenal still want Douglas Luiz, but they have failed to sign him in the past and given that Aston Villa are in a better place now than they were in 2022, I would expect them to keep hold of him again.

"It would take a huge offer to change their stance on that and while I do actually think this would be a great style of player for Arsenal to sign, I’m not convinced they have the capability in this window to make an offer that is so strong that Aston Villa can not turn it down.

How good is Douglas Luiz?

In his debut campaign at Villa Park, the Argentina international quickly established how much of a blunder sanctioning his exit was with his fine goalkeeping displays.

Featuring in all of their Premier League games that year, he maintained a 7.18 average rating, buoyed by his 15 clean sheets and 3.7 saves per game, at a 76% success rate, via Sofascore.

He was comfortably the highest-rated shot-stopper in the division that term, made even more impressive given how busy he was. Martinez was forced to make the third-most saves that year too.

However, that was not the extent of his success in the Midlands, given he has gone on to feature 112 times for the club.

His exploits led to an emergence within his national team, which had huge ramifications on the recent 2022 World Cup.

The 30-year-old was called upon on numerous occasions, emerging at the biggest moments to keep his side alive. He helped them crawl through a penalty shootout against the Netherlands before his last-minute save from Randal Kolo Muani prevented France from winning the final at the death.

Then, he would be the hero yet again, saving once in another shootout to become the hero. Gabby Agbonlahor even suggested: "I think he's the best goalkeeper in the world."

To think of where his career has risen, and how easily he was allowed to leave by Arteta, it likely remains one of his few big regrets from his time at the Emirates.

However, adding Luiz to his ranks should alleviate that frustration, given the attacking impetus he would offer to his engine room, alongside a tireless work rate. It could be the key addition that helps push them closer to that title.

His 7.10 average rating in the league last season was the best of any Villa player, largely bolstered by his 12 goal contributions 86% pass accuracy, two tackles and 1.2 key passes per game, via Sofascore.

The Brazilian is creative yet cut-throat, with writer Jack Grimse having branded the £75k-per-week star a "warrior" in the past.

To bring this kind of steel and elegance to Arteta's side, which prides itself on blending work ethic with pure quality, and at last, they could be set to get back at Villa for taking and turning Martinez into one of the world's best.

An update has emerged on Aston Villa and their plans to bolster the squad in the upcoming summer transfer window…

What’s the latest on Aston Villa’s interest in Alberto Moleiro?

According to Mundo Deportivo, the Villans are prepared to pay €25m (£22m) to sign Las Palmas attacking midfielder Alberto Moleiro at the end of the season.

The report claims that Premier League teams Liverpool and Villa are both willing to match the Spanish side’s price tag, which is €25m (£22m) as a fixed fee.

It is stated that LaLiga giants Barcelona were only prepared to offer that much as part of a package with €15m worth of add-ons that were not guaranteed, which could open the door for the English teams to swoop in.

However, Mundo Deportivo also claims that the gem would be open to remaining at Las Palmas for another season if they are promoted to LaLiga, with the club currently sitting three points clear of third in LaLiga 2.

How would Alberto Moleiro fit in at Aston Villa?

The Spanish wizard has played between 19 and 21 matches as a left winger, right winger, and an attacking midfielder respectively in his career and this means that the youngster could line up in any of the three roles behind Ollie Watkins.

Moleiro could strike an instant connection with the Villa centre-forward as the 19-year-old is a creative talent who likes to constantly provide his fellow attackers with opportunities to score.

In LaLiga 2 this season, the teenager – whose “silky touch” was once lauded by scout Jacek Kulig – has produced 1.7 key passes per game and created 11 ‘big chances’ in total, which shows that the maestro is consistently opening up opposition defences for his side.

Meanwhile, Douglas Luiz (1.3) is the only Villa player with more than one key pass per match in the Premier League this term – providing just four ‘big chances’ – and this suggests that Unai Emery does not currently have one outstanding creator who he can rely upon to carve teams open.

Moleiro, if he can make the step up to the Premier League, has the potential to come in and be the creative presence in midfield that they have been lacking this season.

Watkins could greatly benefit from this as his form under Emery has shown that he has the scope to be an excellent goalscorer for the club if provided with the right services.

Since the World Cup, the Englishman has plundered six goals and one assist in ten Premier League appearances. Now, imagine the figures the marksman could rack up over the course of a season with a playmaker regularly creating big chances for him to score from at the top end of the pitch.

Emery could form an exciting pairing in the final third by signing Moleiro with that precisely the reason Johan Lange and the Spanish head coach must work to get this deal over the line in the coming months.

Chelsea look to have uncovered another wonderkid from their academy, as Lewis Hall's market value continues to soar at Stamford Bridge.

Hall would make his debut under Thomas Tuchel last season and has made another seven senior appearances for the Blues so far this campaign, with the 18-year-old no doubt viewed as a long-term option in Graham Potter's squad.

The versatile left-back, who can also play in midfield, has also shone in the Premier League 2 so far this campaign and looks more than ready for the step-up to men's football, as he boasts three goals and four assists in just 15 appearances so far this term.

Hall was tipped for big things as soon as he made his Chelsea debut in the 5-1 win over Chesterfield in January last year, with teammate Callum Hudson-Odoi dubbing him "amazing" following the game.

The Englishman's emergence as a first-team prospect at Stamford Bridge was recognised by Goal in their yearly NXGN top 50, which emphasises his growing reputation in European football, and certainly suggests that he is a talent that Chelsea need to nurture, rather than letting him join the long list of failed wonderkids.

Goal suggested in that report that the 18-year-old is most comfortable in midfield, which suggests that his long-term future at Chelsea could lie there, but it is his positional versatility – as he can play wing-back too – which could see him established as a top talent at Stamford Bridge.

How much is Lewis Hall worth?

Unsurprisingly, Hall's fairly regular appearances under Potter this season have seen his transfer value shoot up, as FootballTransfers suggested that he was valued at just €1m (£880k) back in April 2022, but they now value him at €8.2m (£7.2m), which represents an incredible 718% increase in less than a year.

After making just his second appearance as a Chelsea player in their 2-0 defeat against Manchester City earlier in the season, the teenager earned a lot of praise from Potter for his performance.

He said:

“I really enjoyed his performance. He took responsibility, took the ball in tight areas, attacked the box, and could’ve scored a couple of goals on another day.

“So it was a really nice performance, a mature performance, I thought. He is a quiet lad but goes about his work. I’ve been really impressed with him.”

Although Chelsea have spent big money on both left-backs and central midfielders in recent years, with Marc Cucurella and Enzo Fernandez two recent examples, Hall is a homegrown talent that looks to have both the ability and attitude required to make it at the top.

If he can continue to impress Potter at Stamford Bridge, his market value and reputation will only continue to grow further.

Aston Villa boss Unai Emery could be dealt a huge blow in his endeavours to keep hold of one of his star men in January after his recent positive form, according to a report.

Aston Villa updates: Watkins for England, Soler links

Speaking to Sky Sports, pundit Jamie Carragher has given a glowing endorsement regarding Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins' future at international level and had indicated that the free-scoring 27-year-old should be second in command to Harry Kane for England.

Carragher stated via The Daily Mail: "Even when he doesn't score he can play a big role and you can see that. As the game has gone on he runs in behind. When he stand alongside him, I thought he was taller. He has that presence and the pace.

"If Harry Kane is injured, he is England's centre-forward. Him and [Moussa] Diaby look like they're trying to combine. The set up means he doesn't need to come deep, you can see it all and it's all about getting it central. He doesn't need to go deep, he can create space between the lines."

According to reports, Emery's men are keen to bolster their engine room in the January transfer window and Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Carlos Soler has been identified as an Aston Villa transfer target.

Claims indicate that Spain international Soler is believed to be keen on a new challenge in 2024; however, both Premier League side Brighton & Hove Albion and La Liga outfit Valencia will rival the Villans to bring in the 26-year-old.

Club captain John McGinn has urged his teammates to target a top-four finish and subsequent qualification for the Champions League this term after Aston Villa defeated West Ham United 4-1 on Sunday, stating via BBC Sport: "This is a demanding place to play but the manager has educated the fans a bit. He has pleaded with them to be patient. Hopefully we can try and disrupt that top four, top six. It is not going to be easy, but why not? Why can't we challenge them and do what Newcastle did last season?"

Aston Villa's next five fixtures – all competitions

Competition

Opponent

Venue

Europa League

AZ Alkmaar

AFAS Stadion

Premier League

Luton Town

Kenilworth Road

Premier League

Nottingham Forest

City Ground

Europa League

AZ Alkmaar

Villa Park

Premier League

Fulham

Villa Park

Aston Villa transfer news – Douglas Luiz

According to an update on Douglas Luiz's future from 90min, Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta is personally keen to bring the Brazil international, who he holds a personal relationship with after working with the midfielder at Manchester City, to the Emirates Stadium in the January transfer window.

Despite both Arteta and Arsenal sporting director Edu Gaspar being huge fans of Luiz, the Villans have no intention to listen to any offers for the in-form 25-year-old as they aim to secure Champions League qualification.

From midfield, Luiz has enjoyed a blistering start to the campaign so far for Aston Villa, netting six times in his opening 14 appearances across all competitions (Luiz statistics – Transfermarkt).

Aston Villa will be desperate to keep hold of Luiz and will imaginably pull out all the stops to ensure he remains in the West Midlands for the time being, so it would be a massive blow if Arsenal can wiggle their way in and convince NSWE to sell.