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Chelsea are reportedly interested in signing Aston Villa left-back Alex Moreno this summer and his potential arrival at Stamford Bridge could see Todd Boehly get rid of £60m flop Marc Cucurella.

Could Chelsea sign Moreno?

According to reports from Foot Mercato earlier this month, both Chelsea and Manchester City are interested in signing the Spanish left-back this summer as a result of his impressive performances in Unai Emery's side.

It may prove difficult for Boehly to prise the 29-year-old away, given that Villa are in a far better position to secure European football next season than the Blues, but the money on offer at Stamford Bridge could also be difficult for him to turn down.

He has only spent just over four months at Villa Park too, having signed in January from Real Betis in January in a deal worth £12m, but has certainly caught the eye of the Premier League's elite, helping the Midlands club shoot up the Premier League table as they eye a top seven finish.

Could Moreno replace Cucurella at Chelsea?

Since signing for Emery's side, the former La Masia man has contributed an impressive three assists in just 17 top-flight appearances, which has helped him earn a solid 6.73 rating from WhoScored for his performances.

He showed similar attacking intent in the first half of the campaign in La Liga, notching three assists in just 15 league outings for Betis, which emphasises his ability going forward.

The difference between a competent director of football, and Chelsea's seemingly clueless chairman, is perhaps clear to see when comparing Moreno and Cucurella, given their respective transfer fees and performances in recent months.

The former Brighton man has earned a 6.65 rating from WhoScored across the Premier League season thus far with Chelsea, while he has also averaged fewer shots (0.3 vs 0.8), key passes (0.5 vs 1.2) and dribbles (0.2 vs 1.4) when compared with Moreno, which suggests that the Villa man would be the far more dangerous defender if Chelsea stick with a wing-back system next season.

Journalist Lewis Steele was full of praise for the Spaniard for his performance in the 3-0 win over Newcastle United recently, as he wrote on Twitter:

"Ollie Watkins will get all the headlines again but left-back Alex Moreno is some talent. Two mins ago assists Watkins but he’s offside; now he’s done it again and it’ll count. A constant danger."

Moreno produced a similarly strong performance in the 2-0 win against Chelsea which proved to be the end of Graham Potter, earning a clean sheet and a 7.3 rating from WhoScored at Stamford Bridge with Ruben Loftus-Cheek, the man the Villa defender was up against, earning a terrible 5.9 rating.

Boehly certainly knows what he's capable of and if Cucurella is to leave after a less-than-impressive first season at Stamford Bridge, then Moreno could prove to be a big upgrade as his replacement.

Chelsea managerial target Mauricio Pochettino is open to accepting the job at Stamford Bridge, according to reports.

What's the latest manager news at Chelsea?

Following Graham Potter’s sacking at the start of April, Todd Boehly moved swiftly to appoint Frank Lampard once again as interim coach until the end of the season but the work is very much ongoing behind-the-scenes to find his long-term successor ahead of the 2023/24 Premier League season.

Bayern Munich and Spain’s former bosses, Julian Nagelsmann and Luis Enrique, who were likely seen as the two leading contenders, have both now been ruled out of the running – meaning that the board are having to turn their attention elsewhere with a new three-man shortlist.

The Argentine is one of those and is considered the favourite, alongside Burnley’s Vincent Kompany and another unnamed candidate who is “liked” and “respected” by the hierarchy but whose identity is currently unknown, as per journalist Matt Law.

Now, according to 90min, Pochettino is “firmly in the frame” to become Chelsea’s new manager after holding “talks” regarding the role in SW6 in “recent days”. Tottenham Hotspur’s ex-coach would reportedly be “open to joining” the club, but equally hasn’t ruled out a return to N17 and would be “willing to discuss” a comeback should the Lilywhites want him back.

Would Pochettino be an ideal fit for Chelsea?

Chelsea’s board have reportedly been long-term admirers of Pochettino, and with the experience that he already has managing in the Premier League, a time in his career that saw him lauded “world-class” by Sky Sports pundit Jamie O’Hara, he would be the perfect candidate to take charge.

The 4-3-3 attack-minded boss won 132 and drew 61 of his 256 games in the top-flight with Spurs and Southampton and has since gone on to secure three pieces of silverware at Paris Saint-Germain so now knows what it takes to be successful having previously missed out on the Champions League title with Tottenham.

Finally, Pochettino is currently out of work and a free agent on the market which means that the Blues wouldn’t have to pay any compensation to secure his services, so Boehly should capitalise on this as well as the fact that he’d be keen to sign on the dotted line to get him in the dugout over the summer and in place ready for the start of the new term in August.

Tottenham Hotspur take a welcome break from Premier League action as their FA Cup campaign gets underway this lunchtime.

It’s a chance for manager Antonio Conte to rotate some of his key players ahead of a pretty congested and tough fixture list, with Arsenal and Manchester City on the horizon.

The Lilywhites welcome midtable and managerless League One outfit Portsmouth to north London and it is surely time to see Pape Matar Sarr given a runout as the 20-year-old dynamo has all the attributes to carry Spurs to the fourth round.

Indeed, the Senegal international has caught the eye with a couple of cameos from the bench in recent outings and his powerful presence in the heart of the pitch could help the top-flight giants demolish Pompey and avoid being the upset of the round – just like they were last year, losing to Middlesbrough.

Sarr has only mustered up 34 minutes of first-team action since his move from Metz last summer, with both coming in the last two outings against Aston Villa (2-0 defeat) and Crystal Palace (4-0 win).

Speaking about the midfielder in his pre-game press conference, assistant manager Cristian Stellini waxed lyrical about his ability to reporters (via football.london):

“He’s a very young player and it’s the first time he came to England. One year experience in Ligue 1. About [his] skill, he can do everything. Great player with many possibilities and [can] play in many different positions.”

Having cost around £14.5m from the Ligue 2 side, Sarr has also been praised by transfer guru Fabrizio Romano, who described him as a “fantastic talent” with “real potential” and one that plays in the “style of [Paul] Pogba,” which is a particularly glowing endorsement and further reinforces his quality as a box-to-box midfielder.

That sort of role is much needed in Conte’s system, with him only deploying two in the engine room and after three tackles, two clearances, one interception and one shot from the aforementioned half an hour of game time, it’s clear that he has all the qualities to punish the Football League minnows.

If he can do the business against Premier League opposition at 20, then he’s capable of ripping apart what should be an easier tie on paper.

As such, the midfield monster – who The Athletic’s Jack Pitt-Brooke dubbed a “big talent” who’s “one of the best young players in the world in his position” – must be unleashed on Portsmouth today.

AND in other news, Conte may have already signed Spurs’ dream Perisic heir in 20 y/o “serious talent”…

The January transfer window is now officially open for business and Newcastle United could look to improve their squad heading into the second half of the season.

They used the winter market to great effect last season as PIF’s first window as owners of the club ended with Bruno Guimaraes, Chris Wood, Matt Targett, Kieran Trippier, and Dan Burn all coming through the door.

PIF significantly bolstered Eddie Howe’s team and it led to the Magpies breezing clear of the relegation zone to comfortably finish in midtable.

Guimaraes was one of the standout additions to the side as he came in and hit the ground running in England. The Brazil international averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.25 across 17 appearances in the Premier League, scoring five goals and providing one assist from central midfield.

He also made 3.1 tackles and interceptions per game and made a huge impact at both ends of the pitch for Howe, by winning the ball back on a consistent basis and then having the quality to be a difference-maker in the final third in possession.

PIF and Howe struck gold on the Brazilian from Lyon and they could now repeat that masterclass by bringing in another talented young star in the form of Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.

Last month, The Times reported that the Georgian winger has emerged as a priority target for the Magpies in 2023 after rave reviews from their scouts and they could look to swoop for him during the January transfer window.

90min, however, have claimed that Newcastle are only one of a number of teams interested in signing the attacker and that it would take at least £100m to snatch him away from the Italian giants.

The Magpies must go all out to secure a deal for the Georgia international ahead of their rivals as his form for Napoli this season indicates that he could have a Bruno-esque impact at St. James’ Park.

Speaking to Fabrizio Romano, Rubin Kazan boss Leonid Slutski claimed that “football is like Disneyland for Kvaratskhelia” and the gem’s statistics suggest that he is certainly having fun on the pitch this season.

The 21-year-old has plundered six goals and five assists in 12 Serie A starts, averaging a Sofascore rating of 7.38, for Napoli this term and has also caught the eye in the Champions League with two goals and three assists in five outings.

Kvaratskhelia, who has provided eight ‘big chances’ in total and 1.9 key passes per game in the Italian top flight, is showcasing his ability in a major European league at such a young age and this suggests that he could be a phenomenal addition to Howe’s squad.

The attacker has proven that he has the quality to score and assist goals on a regular basis at the top level and he could, therefore, be a match-winner for Newcastle in the Premier League and aid them in their European push this season.

Everton have joined the race to secure a move for Birmingham City’s 18-year-old midfield prodigy George Hall. 

The Lowdown: Hall’s emergence at Birmingham

In 22 appearances for the Midlands club across their under-18 and under-21 teams, the teenager has six goals and three assists to his name.

Having now made 20 senior appearances for Birmingham, 18 of those have come in the current Championship campaign.

Now that the January transfer window is shortly due to open, the youngster has found himself on the radar of numerous Premier League clubs.

The Latest: Everton join Hall transfer race

According to a recent report from Football Insider, Everton and their Merseyside rivals Liverpool have joined Leeds United in the race to sign the Birmingham teenager.

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The report adds that the Toffees are ‘on Hall’s trail as they hunt for dynamic young midfielders who can slot straight into their first team and play a big part in their future at Bramley-Moore Dock Stadium’.

The Verdict: A long-term option

Hall found himself on the receiving end of high praise last year from Birmingham’s under-18 coach Martyn Olorenshaw, who raved about the young midfielder.

He said of the 18-year-old: “He is explosive, dynamic and has the prowess to influence games. He is a really exciting player that has the ceiling to achieve whatever he wants to achieve. He has received international recognition recently which is a huge achievement, a testament to all his hard work and a reflection of his character.”

While Hall may be a very promising young talent who seems destined for a strong career, he may not be exactly what Everton should spend their time and money on in January.

Given how the Toffees are currently hovering just above the relegation zone, it appears that Frank Lampard will need some experienced players to come in who can hit the ground running and help the team to improve straight away, rather than signing someone like Hall who is more likely to be someone for the future.

Football Insider pundit Kevin Campbell has been reacting to Tottenham’s reported interest in Brighton star Alexis Mac Allister.

The Lowdown: Spurs speculation

Mac Allister is still away with Argentina at the World Cup in Qatar, preparing for Sunday’s final against France. The 23-year-old has made five appearances on the biggest stage, netting his first international goal in a crucial group game with Poland.

Reports in recent days have claimed that Spurs are interested in bringing the player to north London and that Antonio Conte has registered an interest in Mac Allister.

The Latest: Campbell’s comments

Campbell, who contributes to Sky Sports, was talking to FI regarding Tottenham and Mac Allister. He labelled the Brighton man as ‘a really good player’ and seemed to be excited over a possible move, although he did share his fear for Yves Bissouma.

“He’s a really good player.

“There was a lot of talk about him before the World Cup anyway, but you can see what an impact he’s had on this Argentina midfield.

“He’s good on the ball, he’s smart, he’s a worker.

“But them signing another midfielder will make life very difficult for Yves Bissouma.

“He’s not getting into this side, and they’ve spent £25million on him. If Mac Allister comes in, then it’ll be interesting to see what happens with Bissouma.”

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The Verdict: Versatility

Mac Allister has starred alongside Lionel Messi for Argentina and has showcased his talent as a central and left midfielder.

He would provide plenty of versatility for Conte at Spurs, ranging from a defensive midfielder to a centre-forward throughout his career so far, so could be a wise signing by Daniel Levy and Fabio Paratici.

However, the player recently extended his Brighton contract until 2025, so the Seagulls could demand a huge fee for his services, especially after his displays in Qatar.

Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe will no doubt be looking ahead to the upcoming January transfer window, with the mid-season market providing the Englishman with the chance to freshen up his squad again, both with regards to incomings and outgoings.

In terms of potential departures, the 44-year-old is set to oversee something of an exodus with Football Insider claiming that four first-team players will be up for grabs in the New Year, with one of those deemed to be surplus to requirements that of club captain, Jamaal Lascelles.

This follows a previous report from the same publication that suggested the Magpies would be hoping to recoup around £10m for the long-serving centre-back were he to depart, with the Englishman having joined the club from Nottingham Forest alongside Karl Darlow for a combined fee of around £7m back in 2014.

As pundit Alan Hutton suggested, the Tynesiders appear to have “moved on” from the 29-year-old in recent times, with the former City Ground star having made just six appearances in all competitions this season, including just a solitary Premier League start.

The addition of towering Dutchman, Sven Botman has seemingly served to shunt the skipper down the pecking order in the early months of the campaign, with the former Lille man already making a “huge difference” to the side, according to journalist Josh Bunting.

That has been laid bare by the fact that the northeast side have shipped just 11 league goals so far this term – the best record in the division – after previously shipping 62 goals last season with Lascelles playing a prominent role after making 26 top-flight appearances.

Howe could well strengthen his backline even further – and hasten the Derby-born dud’s exit – with the addition of Inter Milan sensation, Milan Skriniar, with the Slovakia international believed to be a firm target for the St James’ Park outfit.

The 27-year-old titan has caught the eye of a number of England’s top clubs as a result of his sparkling form in Italy of late, with the 6 foot 2 “leader” – as described by former coach Tibor Goljan – also offering the benefit of potentially being available for nothing at the end of the season, due to his expiring contract.

The 58-cap brute – who has racked up 236 appearances for the Serie A giants to date – has started 14 of his side’s 15 league games so far this term, notably averaging 1.4 tackles per game as a marker of his defensive prowess.

Lascelles, by contrast, only averages 0.3 tackles per game despite having featured far less frequently, while the former England U21 international is also less comfortable in possession as he ranks in just the bottom 2% in Europe for pass completion among those in his position, with Skriniar ranking in the top 4% for that same metric.

That difference in quality showcased just why the latter man could well be an all-round better fit for Howe’s side, with the “incredible” asset – as described by former teammate Adam Zilak – set to be a notable coup for PIF if a deal can be agreed.

As for Lascelles, it may well be in his best interests to push for an exit due to his limited involvement, with the player having become something of a spare part of late.

Queens Park Rangers managerial candidate Mark Robins would ‘tick a lot of boxes’ at Loftus Road, according to 90min journalist Graeme Bailey.

The Lowdown: Alongside Critchley

The Championship club are now on the hunt to find Michael Beale’s successor after he left the Kiyan Prince Foundation Stadium for Glasgow Rangers, and there have already been several names circulating over the past 24 hours.

Former Blackpool boss Neil Critchley has emerged as one of the clear favourites to take the job, although a new name in Robins has now entered the fold, and it’s believed that he would be an ideal fit for the R’s.

The Latest: Bailey’s update

Taking to Twitter, Bailey stated that Robins is a candidate that QPR are considering and insisted that he could be a good option for them to have in the dugout.

He wrote: “Interesting to see who QPR turn to – Coventry’s Mark Robins, one on their list…would tick a lot of boxes, has been brilliant at The Ricoh/CBS.”

The Verdict: Perfect candidate

Robins’ contract at Coventry isn’t set to expire until 2024, so QPR would need to be pay a substantial compensation fee to lure him to west London, but he would arguably be the perfect candidate for the role.

The Sky Blues boss has won eight and drawn five out of two points outside the play-offs heading into Christmas.

The R’s suffered a 2-0 defeat to Robins’ team in their last game before the World Cup break, so he will already have an understanding of where improvement is needed at Loftus Road, making him perhaps the ideal man for the job.

Aston Villa could be set to tie down their man in form, who already seems to have turned things around since the departure of Steven Gerrard…

What’s the latest?

According to Birmingham Live, whilst Unai Emery discussed transfer talk, it was revealed contract talks are continuing for striker Danny Ings.

The former Southampton hitman has just 19 months left on his £120k-per-week deal and, having been signed for £25m, Johan Lange will be reluctant to see him leave for free so soon after his 2021 summer move.

With the report also detailing that a winger is a top priority for the new boss in January, it is clear that the Spaniard hopes that a show of faith will spur Ings back to his goalscoring best.

Dream start

Although the 30-year-old had struggled in the early part of the season, in all honesty, he was one of many at Villa Park who suffered due to the ambiguous nature of Gerrard’s leadership.

With just one goal in the opening ten Premier League games of the season, it could have been assumed that the marksman was simply slowing down with age. Especially with a play style that relies upon explosive bursts to earn him the space to fire home.

However, since the departure of the 42-year-old, it is clear that he was simply a victim of the previous regime.

In the two games that Aaron Danks oversaw, he bagged two goals, and although he played little part in the win over Manchester United, his brace at Brighton & Hove Albion won them their first game on the road this season.

It is clear that given the right conditions he can still be a lethal striker at this level, continuing to prove himself as the “clinical finisher” that football writer Leanne Prescott once dubbed him.

Perhaps now, given a show of faith by a renowned manager, he can find himself recapturing his goalscoring form from his Saints days.

Should he accomplish this, where he bagged 46 times in 100 games on the south coast, it will further underpin how this makes Emery’s start in the Midlands a dream start.

Tottenham Hotspur are now ‘looking’ for goalkeeper Hugo Lloris’ long term replacement after a ‘massive decision’ from Antonio Conte, according to reports.

The Lowdown: Wonderful servant…

The Frenchman, who is a near-certain inclusion for his country’s 2022 World Cup squad in Qatar as Les Bleus captain, has proved a long-serving, reliable and dependent mainstay since joining from Lyon in the summer of 2012.

A decade has passed since Lloris’ move to the Premier League, with the Spurs figurehead going on to make 436 appearances in all competitions. Even now, the 35-year-old is an ever-present under Antonio Conte, playing more league minutes than anyone in the squad (WhoScored).

However, Lloris has been criticised for some of his performances this season, with Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher even questioning the Spurs number one’s fading abilities.

The Latest: Tottenham ‘looking’ for Lloris replacement…

In light of the 35-year-old’s apparent downturn in form, journalist Graeme Bailey has shared an update on the goalkeeper’s long-term future at Spurs.

Conte has apparently made a ‘massive decision’ in regards to Lloris, with Tottenham now looking at his future heirs as they draw up a shortlist. It is believed that Spurs are eyeing Jordan Pickford, Robert Sanchez and Illan Meslier as possible candidates, with it being ‘unlikely’ that the Frenchman remains their number one after this season.

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Bailey explained (via TEAMtalk): “Hugo Lloris has a deal until 2024, but it is highly unlikely he will be Tottenham number one after this season. He has been up and down and it is understood Tottenham are looking for his long-term replacement. And we can reveal that a number of options are in the Premier League.

“They have been linked to the likes of Jordan Pickford, Robert Sanchez and Illan Meslier, and these are the options for them. They really like Sanchez at Brighton – but it is likely that won’t be until the end of the season.”

The Verdict: End of an era…

Spurs supporters will surely look back fondly on Lloris’ long tenure at their club’s number one shot-stopper with great memories, and he is hardly over the hill despite a recent slump.

Just this season, the goalkeeping veteran put on a brilliant performance away to Sporting Lisbon in the Champions League, with reporter Alasdair Gold describing him as a ‘bright light’ in that Tottenham defeat.

Lloris does deserve to see out this season as Conte’s first choice at the very least, even if all eras must come to an end eventually.