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Aston Villa have an advantage in their race to sign Moussa Diaby this summer from Bayer Leverkusen as other clubs vying for his signature have cooled their interest in the France international, according to journalist Ben Jacobs.

Is Moussa Diaby coming to the Premier League?

Renowned transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has issued an update surrounding Aston Villa's interest in Bayer Leverkusen winger Diaby, stating: "Aston Villa plan to bid again for Moussa Diaby in the next days. Negotiations are still ongoing with Bayer Leverkusen. Opening €35m plus add-ons bid turned down by Leverkusen but talks on. Diaby, open to Premier League football as Villa got the green light from player side."

CBS Sports journalist James Benge has detailed that Diaby also has interest from Saudi Arabian side Al Nassr and Serie A champions Napoli, as he said: "Al Nassr ready to pay €50m for Bayer Leverkusen winger Moussa Diaby, who is also wanted by Aston Villa and has been linked to Napoli."

90min report that despite Aston Villa's failed initial bid of £30m plus add-ons to try and entice Diaby to the West Midlands, the £37k-a-week ace is believed to be open to the move and the opportunity to work under Unai Emery.

Arsenal and Newcastle United have been 'monitoring' his situation for a long period of time while Aston Villa are also working on alternative targets including Nottingham Forest forward Brennan Johnson.

Wales international Johnson is valued at over £50 million by Nottingham Forest; nevertheless, there is optimism at Villa Park that they can land him for a lower price, according to Telegraph Sport.

Sky Germany reporter Florian Plettenberg has revealed that Bayer Leverkusen are looking to accumulate a financial reward of €60 million (£51.3 million) before sanctioning an exit for Diaby.

Speaking to Football FanCast, journalist Jacobs believes that Arsenal and Newcastle United have slowed down their attraction towards Diaby, which could give Aston Villa a boost in their pursuit of the Paris-born winger.

Jacobs stated: "Moussa Diaby is quite an interesting one. I think that the interest in him dates all the way back to last summer and Arsenal then certainly considered, but the player ended up staying at Bayer Leverkusen. Now I don't think that Arsenal are as active on this front and the same can be said for Newcastle as well, those are the two clubs that were always linked with Diaby."

Would Moussa Diaby be a good signing for Aston Villa?

Aston Villa being able to bring a player of Diaby's directness and quality to Villa Park would have to be considered a real coup by Emery as he ramps up his transfer business in the West Midlands.

Last term, the 24-year-old was in inspired form for Bayer Leverkusen, registering 14 goals and 11 assists from 48 appearances across all competitions, as per Transfermarkt.

In the Bundesliga, Diaby also recorded the fourth top speed in the entire division behind Karim Adeyemi, Sheraldo Becker and Alphonso Davies, reaching 36.52 kilometres per hour and he possesses an elite level of pace that can hurt defences in counter-attacking scenarios.

Diaby is also a master of putting opportunities on a plate for his teammates and successfully performed 143 shot-creating actions in 2022/23, as per FBRef.

Undoubtedly, the France international has the potential to be a statement signing at Villa Park and could take the Premier League high-flyers to a new level in 2023/24.

Manchester United have made an improved offer for Inter goalkeeper Andre Onana having seen their previous bid rebuffed, according to Fabrizio Romano.

Will Manchester United sign Onana?

Onana's potential move to Old Trafford is proving to be one of the transfer sagas of the summer with a deal seemingly no closer to completion.

Inter have already rejected Man United's opening £38.5m bid for their goalkeeper as Erik ten Hag seeks a reunion with his former Ajax stopper. Onana is keen on a move to the Premier League too and has expressed his desire to link up with Ten Hag once again.

The 27-year-old's stock has significantly risen as a result of consistently outstanding Serie A and Champions League performances, the peak of which came in last season's 1-0 European final defeat to United's rivals Manchester City.

Onana's willingness to play out from the back and his assurance with the ball at his feet make him an understandably desirable target for Ten Hag, especially given the pair have already worked together in the Netherlands.

While Inter are holding firm on their valuation of the Cameroonian, their resolve looks set to be tested again as transfer expert Romano claims an improved bid has been sent to the Italian club.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, he said: "He [Onana] is a top target for Manchester United – a goalkeeper. They are working on it. They made an opening proposal of €45m [£38m], add-ons included. Rejected by Inter. Inter always wanted €60m [£51m] for Onana.

"But what we can say today is that after new contacts during the day, Manchester United have improved their proposal for Onana and now they are around €50m [£43m], add-ons included."

He added: "So, Man United have arrived at €50m now, Inter always wanted €60m. So, at the moment it seems from Inter sources that they are not happy yet with this proposal.

"€50m with add-ons included, so likely to be €45m plus €5m, and so the idea of some sources close to the negotiation is that for €55m package this deal could be done. So, let's see how it will advance."

Romano goes on to add that Inter want the deal done as soon as possible with the club not wanting to sell the player late in the window. The Nerazzurri will need to replace Onana and will want as much time as they can get to go into the transfer market themselves for a goalkeeper.

With both sides seemingly keen to get the deal done for the right price, Onana could very well be on his way to Old Trafford sooner rather than later.

Is David de Gea leaving Man United?

Of course, the future of United's current goalkeeper De Gea depends on the negotiations taking place with Onana.

De Gea's contract expired at the end of June and he is now technically no longer a Man United player, despite ongoing talks between the Spaniard and the club.

A series of cryptic tweets from De Gea suggest that talks are not going smoothly or advancing at present, with De Gea's 12-year United career perhaps coming to an abrupt halt. Partner this with the Red Devils' Onana discussions and there is good reason to believe the 32-year-old will not be at Old Trafford next season.

Ten Hag has said in the past that he cannot guarantee that De Gea will always be his number one (via 90min), with the shot-stopper's technical ability having come under fire in recent years.

Despite this, De Gea still won the Premier League Golden Glove following a season of 17 clean sheets.

Newcastle United boast one of the richest owners in world football. That is a fact that everybody is well aware of, especially selling clubs.

Nobody will be willing to allow a bargain to slip through their fingers when the financial might of a Saudi prince is the buyer, and so the Magpies are set to suffer from a similar issue that Manchester United have been plagued with; over-inflated price tags.

Whilst they are happy to pay on occasion, FFP will keep them restricted despite their presence in the Champions League next campaign.

As such, they must once again invest with intelligence and precision, so as to not fall into the pitfalls that these 'unlimited funds' can bring.

With a few key areas certain in need of urgent improvement, it could be argued that a matter of priority lies at centre-back.

For all the quality Fabian Schar has, the Swiss is set to turn 32 next season. A replacement is sorely needed to partner Sven Botman, and a quality one at that.

It is therefore admirable that someone like Marc Guehi has already reportedly been lined up, once again showcasing the forethought of this remarkably well-oiled machine that Dan Ashworth keeps ticking.

However, the £45m fee could prove a stumbling block for a side that reportedly only had £75m to spend this entire window…

Would Marc Guehi improve Newcastle United?

Given the way Eddie Howe has ingrained his philosophy into this current squad, the former AFC Bournemouth coach will likely want a few readymade assets that don’t demand additional coaching.

With his centre-backs, playing out from the back remains a prerequisite, alongside the physicality and speed to cope with his high line.

In Guehi he would immediately attain all of these attributes and more, with a particular resemblance to Raphael Varane that has surely caught the eye. FBref certainly thinks so, as they include the former Real Madrid ace on his list of ‘similar players’.

The Frenchman has been a rock at the back for their Manchester rivals, as an admirable stopper worthy of mimicry.

After all, his trophy cabinet is one laden with silverware, boasting four Champions League titles, three La Liga successes, as well as last season’s EFL Cup win over the Tyneside outfit.

Not to mention he was a mainstay of a defence last campaign that helped David De Gea take home the Golden Glove award.

Whilst Guehi has shone on a much smaller scale, their shared ability to dominate with grace and poise suggests the England international is ready to make that step up.

Especially given his 6.94 average rating from last season, in which his figures were more than comparable to the World Cup-winning defender.

His rating was aided greatly by his 85% pass accuracy and 82% dribble success rate, alongside 1.2 interceptions, 1.4 tackles and 3.6 clearances per game, via Sofascore.

It is no surprise to see he has been lauded as an “absolute tank” in the past by former U21 teammate Josef Bursik.

When compared to Varane, the 31-year-old only trumps the 22-year-old in pass completion (87%) and clearances (3.7 per game), neither of which are particularly convincing victories either, via Sofascore.

Perhaps Guehi is more ready for the elite level than many would believe, as his true talents are hidden by the struggles felt at Crystal Palace.

As a top homegrown talent who could command his back line for the next decade, Howe needs to look no further.

Glasgow Rangers head coach Michael Beale has been a busy man in recent weeks as his side have made four signings ahead of the 2023/24 campaign.

Despite there being over two months left to run before the deadline passes, the Light Blues have moved swiftly to land Kieran Dowell, Sam Lammers, Dujon Sterling, and Jack Butland to bolster the squad.

However, they may not be done there as the Scottish giants have been linked with a host of other players in their bid to win the Scottish Premiership title back from their bitter rivals.

Incomings are not the only order of business for the club, though, as fresh arrivals also open the door for players to move on.

The Daily Mail recently claimed that Antonio Colak is being eyed by teams in Germany and could be sold after just one year at Ibrox.

Does Antonio Colak have a future at Rangers?

Beale could ruthlessly ditch the Croatian international in the coming weeks by securing a deal to snap up 20-year-old marksman Benie Traore.

According to journalist Alan Nixon on his Patreon (25/06/2023), Rangers are one of the clubs interested in signing the Hacken centre-forward this summer. The striker is said to be available for a fee in the region of £5m, while Sheffield United and Celtic are also pursuing his signature.

Traore, who scout Jacek Kulig lauded as "talented" and a "jewel", has been in phenomenal form in the top-flight of Swedish football this year. He has plundered an outstanding 12 goals and three assists in 13 matches, while his average Sofascore rating of 7.25 would place him sixth within the Gers squad last term.

Colak, on the other hand, averaged a Scottish Premiership Sofascore rating of 7.11 across 25 appearances during the 2022/23 campaign to go along with his 14 goals and one assist for the club.

This indicates that the reported Light Blues target could provide more than the 29-year-old in the final third based on his superior scoring return of one strike every 1.08 matches – better than any Rangers player managed last season – compared to the Croatian forward's 1.79.

The former PAOK man created 0.5 Premiership chances per game for his teammates, whilst Traore's 1.4 league key passes per match for Hacken suggests that the Ivorian gem would be a big upgrade from a creative perspective – Fashion Sakala led the way for Beale's strikers with 1.5 per outing.

Therefore, the signing of the 20-year-old prodigy would allow Beale to end Colak's time at Ibrox as the English head coach would be bringing in a forward with the potential to offer far more quality, in terms of scoring goals and creating chances, week-in-week-out.

Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou is hoping to bolster his side's defence with the signing of Wolfsburg centre-half Micky van de Ven.

What's the latest on Micky van de Ven to Tottenham?

The London outfit's desire for the Dutchman has been clear for the past several weeks, with Football Insider recently reporting that Spurs will battle against Premier League rivals Liverpool for his signature.

The indication is that Die Wölfe are willing to conduct business with suitors for a fee of around €30m (£26m), which could prompt Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy to instigate a move following the club's dismal 22/23 campaign.

Given that Van de Ven is a left-footed central defender, he is something of a rarity and would be a fantastic addition to a Spurs backline yearning for some inspiration and exuberance to dispel the present misfortune.

How good is Micky van de Ven?

Tottenham capitulated in the closing weeks of the 22/23 Premier League season, winning just four of their final 13 matches and hurtling away from Champions League contention to squander European qualification in its entirety.

The crux of the matter? The disastrous defensive displays; the Lilywhites shipped 63 league goals, a tally bettering only Bournemouth, Nottingham Forest and the three relegated outfits.

This is why Van de Ven's signing is so imperative to the club's progress, wiping away the cobwebs from a forgettable campaign and restoring the equilibrium at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

At just 22-years-old, the "complete" and "flourishing" defender – as hailed by journalist Ronan Murphy – has made his mark in the German Bundesliga and earned an average Sofascore rating of 6.85, keeping 11 clean sheets from 33 games, completing 88% of his passes, averaging 1.4 tackles per game and succeeding with 64% of his ground duels.

Such numbers are impressive, particularly when you consider only two defenders in the squad – Cristian Romero (2.5) and Clement Lenglet (1.5) managed more tackles per match last term.

The Netherlands U21 international is a burgeoning titan and would likely leave Eric Dier quaking in his boots if he were to arrive in London under Postecoglou's wing, with the 29-year-old culpable of producing poor performances over the past year.

Rebuked by journalist Ryan Taylor for being "nowhere near the required level that Spurs are trying to achieve", Dier has since made 361 appearances since signing from Sporting Lisbon for £4m in 2014.

Also said to be "not good enough" by pundit Darren Ambrose, Dier's ranking across metrics for progressive passing (bottom 40%) and ball-carrying (bottom 24%) could further leave him down in the pecking order, with Postecoglou favouring pass-proficient central defenders to complement his possession-based, free-flowing system.

And with Van de Ven ranking among the top 10% of centre-backs across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for progressive carries and the top 7% for successful take-ons per 90, as per FBref, he has the forward-thinking mentality to displace Dier, who also occupies the left side of the central defence.

That's not to mention his frightening pace either, with the centre-back clocking up a top speed of 35.97 km/h in the Bundesliga; a number that defeats even that of Son Heung-min's 34.4 km/h.

With journalist Jonathan Veal suggesting that Dier's "time is up" at Tottenham, it might be time to hoist him from his starting berth and provide Van de Ven with the license to cement a prominent role in an outfit craving a resurgence.

Wolverhampton Wanderers are reportedly 'keeping tabs' on Gambian starlet Adama Bojang.

Wolves transfer news – What's the latest on Adama Bojang?

According to the Evening Standard, the Old Gold are amongst a 'raft of European clubs taking an interest in 19-year-old gem Adama Bojang.

The youngster has shot to prominence in recent months thanks to his exceptional performances for the Gambian team in the U20 World Cup, where he scored in the round of 16.

Before that, in March, he helped guide his team to the final of the U20 Africa Cup of Nations, where they finished runners-up, and he was named in the team of the tournament.

His club side, Steve Biko FC, have valued the player at just £2.6m, and with a low price tag, it's no surprise that Chelsea, Crystal Palace, Liverpool and Tottenham are also interested.

Would Adama Bojang be a bargain at just £2.6m?

In a world in which Chelsea are signing 16-year-olds for £17m, a fee of only £2.6m for a 19-year-old prospect who has plenty of experience as a youth international and some experience in senior football seems like a bargain.

Granted, that senior football has come in the Gambian league for club side Steve Biko, but it will still have been beneficial towards his development.

Looking at the player's statistics from his time with the Gambian U20s paints a picture of a clinical forward. In just ten appearances for the side, he has produced seven goal contributions, six goals and one assist.

Nicknamed as "The Gambian Hurricane" in his domestic league thanks to his rapid pace and trickery, the 6 foot 3 dynamo expressed his reaction to the European links, telling BBC Africa back in April:

"I've heard about the news and I am excited about it. It boosts my morale. I'm focusing more on consistency which motivates me a lot, because seeing such clubs following you is a great feeling."

He hasn't been shy in revealing his lofty ambitions, though, saying: "I want to be like Cristiano Ronaldo."

Bojang might get close if former Millwall and Plymouth Argyle striker Cherno Samba is to be believed.

Speaking to talkSPORT, the former Pilgrims player said:

"He's ready to go, he works hard and he's hungry. He is destined for greatness.

"Fingers crossed he stays away from injury but he will be a top, top, top player."

If the hype is to be believed and you look at the several Man of the Match awards he has already won with his U20 international side, then that fee of £2.6m starts to look very good.

It was in one of those game-changing performances that he really shone.

In a match against South Sudan in the quarter-finals, and after sitting out the final group game, the dynamic forward came back into the team to score a hat trick in just 27 minutes.

With performances like that, Wolves should be pursuing Bojang, as they held the unfortunate award for scoring the fewest goals out of any team in the Premier League last season, only 31 in 38 games.

Attacking reinforcements are desperately needed at the club, and with Atalanta reportedly asking for an eye-watering £86m for Rasmus Hojlund after one breakthrough debut campaign in Serie A, for example, a significantly cheaper gamble seems too good an option to pass up, especially given Wolves' Financial Fair Play issues.

Aston Villa could top their recent signing of Youri Tielemans on a free transfer from Leicester City by acquiring Manchester City star Aymeric Laporte, according to journalist Dean Jones.

What's the latest transfer news involving Youri Tielemans and Aymeric Laporte?

Last week, BBC Sport confirmed that Tielemans will complete a move to Aston Villa on July 1st on a free transfer once his Leicester City contract officially expires.

Manchester United, Roma and Arsenal were all keen on enticing the Belgium international elsewhere; however, he will now ply his trade at Villa Park next term and will have Europa Conference League football to look forward to in the West Midlands.

90min also claim that Aston Villa have held talks with Manchester City defender Laporte and Villarreal stopper Pau Torres as Unai Emery kicks his transfer proactivity up a notch ahead of the coming season.

The report states that Laporte has grown frustrated by his lack of first-team minutes at the Citizens and Aston Villa have emerged as a possible destination for the Spaniard to gain regular time on the pitch.

Capology understand that Laporte earns around £120,000 per week at the Etihad Stadium on a contract that runs until the summer of 2025.

Speaking to Football FanCast, journalist Jones is of the opinion that Laporte would be an even better but of business than bringing Tielemans to Villa Park and signalled that the 29-year-old would improve Emery's side.

Jones told FFC: "I definitely think Laporte could be an even better signing than Tielemans. I mean, he would definitely improve this team immediately and for Emery himself, just the sort of mentality that you have coming into his team just continues to rise."

Would Aymeric Laporte be a good signing for Aston Villa?

When you factor in his extensive experience at the top level and calm presence in the backline, Laporte could be an ideal signing for Aston Villa as they enter into continental football in 2023/24.

All in, Laporte amassed 24 appearances in all competitions for Manchester City during 2022/23, registering one assist, as per Transfermarkt.

Laporte is one of the best examples you'll find of a ball-playing defender around Europe, which is reflected in the fact he maintained a pass success rate of 93.1% throughout the campaign, according to WhoScored.

FBRef also take into account that Laporte has excelled in comparison to his positional peers in Europe's top five divisions in the art of progressive carries, averaging around 2.59 per fixture in the last 365 days, putting him in the first percentile for this metric.

Looking ahead, Aston Villa should do everything in their power to try and tempt Laporte to Villa Park as boss Emery looks to strengthen ahead of what will be an exciting forthcoming season for everyone connected with the club.

Liverpool would be 'silly' not to at least enter the race to sign Wolverhampton Wanderers' Ruben Neves this summer, believes transfer specialist Dean Jones.

Despite Neves reportedly waiting for a move to Barcelona, according to Fabrizio Romano, Jones believes that Liverpool should throw their name in the hat for his signature.

Liverpool transfer news – Ruben Neves

It's no secret that Liverpool are after midfield reinforcements this summer following the departures of James Milner, Naby Keita, and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.

The Reds have also just completed the signing of Alexis Mac Allister from Brighton & Hove Albion, and have recently been linked with moves for both Manu Kone and Khephren Thuram by Romano, as they look to rebuild in the middle of the park.

Given their need for midfielders, Neves could yet prove to be an adequate option, should Jurgen Klopp decide to target the Wolves man.

As of right now, it seems as if the Portuguese midfielder has his eyes firmly set on a potential move to the newly-crowned La Liga champions.

The Portugal international is Premier League quality, there's no doubting that, and, with a year left on his contract, this summer is one of the last chances that Wolves will have to cash in – potentially resulting in a cut-price deal.

What did Dean Jones say about Ruben Neves and Liverpool?

Speaking to Football FanCast when asked about Neves and Liverpool, Jones said:

"I think they’d be silly to not at least be in the conversation for Ruben Neves. I’m not sure if it’s their ultimate goal here, we know they’ve got their eye on other situations, too, like Gravenberch and Mount."

How much does Ruben Neves earn?

If Liverpool are to make what seems like an unlikely move for Neves this summer, then they will be hoping to avoid any disruption to their wage structure.

At Wolves currently, Neves, who has been hailed as "incredible", earns £55k per week, according to Salary Sport, which would place him in the middle of earners in the first-team at Anfield.

The wage certainly wouldn't be an issue, and, even so, it is justified by Neves' clear ability.

The midfielder found the back of the net six times from midfield last season, whilst also recording one assist to tally up seven goal involvements.

By comparison, Liverpool's highest-scoring midfielder last season was Curtis Jones, who scored just three times, whilst only assisting once in a frustrating season in the middle of the park for Jurgen Klopp's side.

Crystal Palace have made contact with Borussia Monchengladbach forward Alassane Plea about a summer move to Selhurst Park, according to Foot Mercato journalist Santi Aouna.

Who will Crystal Palace sign this summer?

With Wilfried Zaha seemingly heading for the exit door upon the expiration of his contract at the end of next month, Palace will need to bring in a replacement, and Fabrizio Romano reports they have already made a bid for Sunderland's Jack Clarke.

The Eagles appear to be very keen on strengthening their attacking options, and they have recently been linked with a move for Gambia starlet Adama Bojang, while they are also said to be interested in Middlesbrough striker Chuba Akpom.

Plea is able to play on both wings and through the middle, which means he could be brought in to replace either Zaha or Jean-Philippe Mateta, with the latter player making it clear he wants to leave this summer.

Foot Mercato journalist Aouna reports Palace, and by extension chairman Steve Parish, are interested in signing the Monchengladbach forward, having already made initial contact, but there will be competition for his signature, with Fulham and West Ham United also said to be interested and making an approach.

The 30-year-old is thinking of leaving the German club, and Aouna claims he "dreams" of returning to Ligue 1, with Lyon "pushing" to bring him back. A move to the Premier League is not completely ruled out, but it appears as though he has his sights set on a return to his home country at the moment.

Who is Alassane Plea?

It is no real surprise the Frenchman is keen to return to Ligue 1, as he has been a resounding success in the French top flight in the past, registering 36 goals and 22 assists in 119 appearances in the competition during spells with Nice and Lyon.

The £79k-per-week forward moved to Monchengladbach in the summer of 2018, where he has also impressed, reaching double figures for goals in three out of the five seasons he has played in the Bundesliga.

Hailed as "extraordinary" by Gladbach legend Gunter Netzer, the one-time France international has displayed his remarkable playmaking abilities over the past year, averaging 0.46 assists per 90, in the 98th percentile compared to his positional peers.

Plea's attacking threat could make him a fantastic replacement for Zaha, and if Palace are able to tempt him into a move to the Premier League, he may prove to be an excellent addition to the squad.

Arsenal will 'touch base' with West Ham United captain Declan Rice later this month as they plot a swoop for the England international, according to journalist Dean Jones.

What's the latest transfer news involving Declan Rice?

As per The Daily Mail, Arsenal, Manchester United and Bayern Munich are all involved in the race for Rice's signature this summer, who is valued at around £120 million by West Ham.

The report states that the Gunners will have around £180 million to spend in the off-season once they initiate player sales, though Bayern Munich are willing to offer £87 million and also players in exchange to land the England international.

According to The Times, one factor that may help Arsenal in their efforts to sign Rice is the fact that Chelsea midfielder Mason Mount has agreed personal terms over a potential move to their Premier League rivals Manchester United, something which could pave the way for Rice to pitch up at the Emirates Stadium.

Rice has been non-commital regarding his future in a recent interview cited by The Manchester Evening News, instead indicating that his full focus will be given to trying to win the Europa Conference League trophy, as he said: “I’ve not really focused on any of that, to be honest. My main focus this season, from the World Cup onwards, has been getting us out of a relegation battle and, of course, having one eye on winning this trophy."

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, journalist Jones has detailed that Arsenal will initiate contact with Rice and his entourage in early June, though warns that the Gunners will need to act soon to ensure they fend off competition from other clubs.

Jones said: "We know that Arsenal are going to touch base early on in June to see what they can do with Declan Rice.

"While that's going on, if Mount is available and Manchester United could potentially look to tie that up, it straightaway gives you a foot up for if Rice doesn't sign for Arsenal, where he goes after that."

Would Declan Rice be a good signing for Arsenal?

Rice, who has been hailed as a "rare" player, is a versatile midfielder that looks primed for a move to one of the Premier League's big guns this summer and Arsenal could be the perfect environment to progress his career in the right direction.

In 2022/23, the 24-year-old has made 49 appearances in all competitions, registering five goals and four assists in the process, as per Transfermarkt.

The £60k-a-week earner has also shown commendable consistency this term and has been West Ham's top performer, according to WhoScored, obtaining an average match rating of 7.01/10 for his exploits on the pitch.

Driving his side forward is one of Rice's main plus points and he has been able to successfully carry out 111 shot-creating actions this campaign, as per FBRef.

Looking ahead, Arsenal will need to move fast in order to secure his signature; however, the lure of Champions League football may work in their favour when trying to recruit Rice.