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West Ham United are reportedly interested in signing Barcelona full-back Sergino Dest this summer and the USA international could be a big upgrade on Vladimir Coufal in David Moyes' squad.

Could West Ham sign Sergino Dest?

According to Spanish publication Sport, both West Ham and Crystal Palace are keen to bring the right-back to the Premier League this summer, with the Catalan club likely to accept offers of around €12m (£11m), which could make the 22-year-old a potential bargain for the Hammers.

Dest, who earns £102k-per-week at Barcelona, has spent the season on loan with AC Milan but has struggled for form, and the Serie A giants have already confirmed that they will not be exercising their buy option, which suggests that he will be on his way out of the Nou Camp at the end of the season.

Barcelona signed the defender from Ajax in 2020 and he has gone on to make 72 appearances for the La Liga side, contributing two goals and three assists, before losing his place under Xavi and being sent on loan to the Rossoneri last summer.

Although he has mustered just two starts in the league for Stefano Pioli's side this season, he could still be an excellent signing for the Hammers if he could rediscover the form that he showed at the Nou Camp in the 2021/22 campaign.

After a 4-1 win against Valencia in February 2022, the legendary Xavi would sing the praises of Dest and his vast improvement in a Barcelona shirt.

He said: "Let's take Sergiño as an example. When we got here, he wasn't doing so well, but now he is doing great. I thought he was spectacularly good [against Valencia], both with the ball and without it. I am really happy with his progress."

Would Dest be an upgrade on Coufal at West Ham?

After a promising start to life at West Ham, Coufal has sadly been one of several players to massively regress under Moyes this season, averaging a shocking 6.53 rating from WhoScored across his 18 appearances in the Premier League.

The Czech Republic international, who is now 30, looks a far cry from the player that first arrived at the London Stadium in 2020, when he notched seven assists in 34 top-flight outings, averaging an impressive 6.95 rating.

If we compare Coufal's performances from this season with Dest's from last season, the American looks a far more assuring and well-rounded asset.

Indeed, he was dribbled past on fewer occasions (0.2 vs 0.5), had more attempts at the opposition goal (0.6 vs 0.3) and completed far more dribbles per game (1.8 vs 0.1) than the Hammers defender.

Therefore, considering he is eight years younger than Coufal and could arrive for a fairly cheap fee, Moyes should definitely consider replacing the former Slavia Prague man with Dest this summer.

Leeds United are thought to be eyeing a summer move for AZ Alkmaar forward Vangelis Pavlidis, according to Jeunes Footeux.

What’s the latest news on Leeds and Pavlidis?

The Whites appear to be putting plans in place for the summer transfer window despite not knowing what division they will be in, with Javi Gracia looking to guide Leeds to Premier League safety over the coming months.

Victor Orta has confirmed that the club are interested in bringing Barcelona youngster Ilias Akhomach to Elland Road, while a move for loanee Weston McKennie will likely become permanent in a £30m deal should the club avoid the drop.

It looks as if a new striker is also of interest, with Patrick Bamford enduring a frustrating campaign through injury. The 29-year-old has scored just twice in 19 top-flight appearances this season, whereas club-record signing Georginio Rutter is yet to get off the mark.

Rodrigo has been the club’s main source of goals with 13 in all competitions, although the Spaniard will soon be entering the final 12 months of his current contract.

Jeunes Footeux provided an update regarding Pavlidis in the last 48 hours, name-checking Leeds with an interest. They claimed that the Whites and a rival are closely following the performances of the forward, citing a €25m (£22m) fee which they say is within the reach of officials at both clubs.

Would Pavlidis be a good signing for Leeds?

You’d expect that Leeds will need to remain in the Premier League to stand any chance of signing Pavlidis this summer, but he could be the type of forward the club require.

Sponsored by Nike, Pavlidis has scored 10 or more league goals in each of his last four seasons and appears to be at the top of his game with a career-high €12m Transfermarkt valuation.

Hailed as a "difference maker" in the media following his goal involvements during the current campaign, he would also provide an option as a left-winger or as an attacking midfielder, although he is primarily a centre forward who has 29 senior caps for Greece.

You could argue that the Whites took a gamble by breaking their transfer record to sign Rutter earlier this year, a 20-year-old who has scored just 12 senior goals, so bringing in a proven goalscorer like Pavlidis could be a wise move and one that may prove to be cheaper than the deal that brought Rutter to Yorkshire.

Newcastle United's season has been unprecedented, as somehow Eddie Howe managed to carry their blistering form from the second half of last campaign and turn it into a genuine push for Champions League places.

Such has been their impressive work, amidst the disappointment of that EFL Cup final loss, the Magpies are now firmly in the driving seat to remain in that coveted third-placed spot which has been hotly-contested.

Should they achieve this unthinkable accomplishment, fast-tracking the development of a club still buoyed by their new ownership, it will likely widen their opportunities for player acquisition too. Previously, money was no object, but now with the promise of European football assured, suddenly Tyneside once again becomes an attractive proposition for Europe's top talent.

That would therefore explain the shift in focus to this summer, which promises to be an enthralling transfer window for a team that has already bolstered with intelligence.

The likes of Sven Botman and Bruno Guimaraes were immediate hits at St James' Park, but Alexander Isak has had to bide his time before truly showcasing his talents. His return to fitness has proved vital, and now the hulking forward cannot stop scoring.

That makes the links to Moussa Diaby all the more frightening, as adding another top-quality asset to this ever-improving outfit could not only push the team even further forward, but offer a fine creative presence to provide for the Swedish international.

Could Newcastle sign Moussa Diaby?

Having been noted among the favourites to acquire the Frenchman earlier in the week, this new development almost encourages them to act with haste among the growing list of suitors. They will likely still have to overcome the reported €75m (£66m) price tag that was touted in January too.

The interest this tricky wide man has drummed up hardly comes as a surprise given the consistency of the 23-year-old, who continues to thrive for Bayer Leverkusen.

Explosive with his turn of pace and possessing lightning-quick feet, these intangible qualities gave way to what has also been a fine goalscoring season for the former Paris Saint-Germain star. He boasts nine goals and seven assists in the Bundesliga, seeking to surpass his 13-goal and 12-assist tally from the season prior.

Such consistency across various campaigns only adds to the intrigue of this potential move, which Isak would likely endorse given the space and added chances someone like Diaby would command.

With five goals in his last five games, the club-record acquisition has thrived even when surrounded by the likes of Jacob Murphy and Sean Longstaff. Although both have impressed this season, to instead replace them with the talent being mentioned could see the 6 foot 4 finisher explode on Tyneside.

After all, his potential new teammate does average 1.9 key passes per game alongside the 46% dribble success rate that likely spurred journalist Julien Froment to laud him as someone who "creates gaps and danger as soon as he touches the ball," back during his time in the French capital.

With the future on Tyneside brighter than ever, and a calibre of players like Diaby potentially on the horizon too, Isak must be licking his lips at the prospect of this future superteam he will spearhead.

Leeds United fell to yet another Premier League defeat last night in embarrassing fashion, as Liverpool cruised to victory at Elland Road.

Having gone into the break 2-0 down, a glimmer of hope returned when Luis Sinisterra halved the deficit after a fast start to the second half. The home crowd whipped up a frenzy as they sensed a comeback, but again the Whites shot themselves in the foot to concede just five minutes later. A subsequent three goals would follow, capping off a torrid night.

Having shipped six goals at home, just one week after conceding five to Crystal Palace, it has truly launched an inquest within the Yorkshire outfit. Javi Gracia was supposed to promise pragmatism and solidity, a change from the unpredictability that Marcelo Bielsa and Jesse Marsch had made fans accustomed to. However, the Spaniard has seen his side fall into a downward spiral following a short initial upturn in form.

Now, their chances of survival have dropped sharply, with last night an opportunity missed to drag themselves clear of the relegation zone; especially when welcoming a side that had not won since early March in all competitions.

Whilst next to none of the home team will have left the stadium with any credit remaining, few disappointed like Robin Koch.

How did Robin Koch play vs Liverpool?

Again opted to start ahead of club captain Liam Cooper, the German defender put in one of the most torrid displays of the season in front of furious home support.

His 5.4 Sofascore rating did not even begin to scratch the surface of just how poor the 26-year-old was, who has now been at the heart of a defence that has conceded 11 goals in their last 180 minutes of football.

Of the starters, there were just three others who received worse ratings, but it was the anonymity of the centre-back that was truly frustrating. Throughout the full match, Koch could only muster 28 touches, that which Illan Meslier even managed more (30). He went into hiding when they needed him most.

The French shot-stopper might well have been the true villain of the night in between the sticks, making just one save as six sailed past him, but he was hardly helped out by his defenders.

Koch's four clearances were the one saving grace of a debilitating display, and it perhaps might paper over the cracks of a performance where the £40k-per-week flop was dribbled past twice, lost four of the seven duels competed in and maintained just a 57% pass accuracy, via Sofascore.

Journalist Graham Smyth even took to Twitter to lambast his role in Liverpool's fourth goal, as he suggested that the defender was first beaten for pace, making it "far too easy" for another goal to go in.

Anyone who is part of a back four that ships six goals at home deserves scorn, but when Koch was particularly culpable, it merits further highlighting.

Tottenham Hotspur have held 'positive' talks with the agents of former Barcelona boss Luis Enrique, and he is now happy to sit down with them.

Who could Spurs replace Conte with?

The north Londoners, over a month after parting ways with former boss Antonio Conte, are still very much on the look out for his permanent replacement. Cristian Stellini and assistant coach Ryan Mason have taken interim charge of the Premier League top four hopefuls in the meantime, with the aim of securing Champions League qualification.

The Lilywhites have reportedly drawn up their shortlist of managerial candidates to succeed Conte with the likes of Mauricio Pochettino, Julian Nagelsmann and Enrique among their most high profile options as free agents.

Those in-work are also attracting attention from Tottenham, with perhaps most notably Arne Slot of Feyenoord and Oliver Glasner of Eintracht Frankfurt being the most heavily tipped to potentially join. Whoever chairman Daniel Levy chooses to appoint will be a crucial, crucial decision – especially as voices in the stands grow ever more restless with the ownership of ENIC.

Brendan Rodgers and Graham Potter have also been sporadically mentioned by members of the media, though the British duo don't appear to be as regularly talked about as the likes of Enrique. Going back to the Spaniard, after reports of Spurs planning to open talks with him, an update has come to light courtesy of 90min.

The outlet claims that Tottenham have held 'positive' talks Enrique's entourage, and after these optimistic discussions, Spurs are set to sit down with the 52-year-old. He is now apparently happy to talk with Spurs over their vacancy as both sides prepare for 'face-to-face' negotiations.

Should Spurs go for Enrique?

One big obstacle in Tottenham's way will be rivals Chelsea, who could surely be stepping up their pursuit of a new manager after they crashed out of the Champions League on Tuesday evening.

They're apparently targeting Enrique as well, but if Spurs can somehow convince the tactician to move to their side of London, he could be an exciting appointment. Boasting multiple La Liga titles and a Champions League winner's medal on his CV, Enrique encourages an attack-minded 4-4-3 formation (Transfermarkt) – being called a 'genius' by members of the press.

Of course, his lack of Premier League experience could be seen as something which may count against him, but Enrique's status as a free agent opens the door for clubs like Spurs to make a risk-free move financially.

We believe he should, at the very least, be up there on Levy's list of serious options.

Aston Villa take on Fulham at Villa Park on Tuesday night, with Unai Emery's side hoping to earn another three points in their push for European football.

How does the Premier League table look ahead of Aston Villa vs Fulham?

The Villans' winning run came to an end in Saturday's 1-1 draw against Brentford, but they remain just eight points off Newcastle United in third, with six points remaining.

It would be a big ask for the Midlands outfit to secure a top-four spot, especially given their less-than-impressive start to the season under Steven Gerrard, but a European finish is certainly on the cards.

Fulham also harbour hopes of a top-eight finish under Marco Silva and boast consecutive wins in the Premier League, which should make this evening's game an exciting spectacle.

How could Aston Villa line up against Fulham?

Here is how Football FanCast expects Emery to line his side up tonight, with three changes from the side that started against Brentford last time out.

(4-2-3-1) – Olsen; Chambers, Konsa, Mings, Moreno; McGinn, Luiz; Traore, Buendia, Ramsey; Watkins.

Emiliano Martinez was forced off at half-time in the draw with Brentford due to a stomach bug, which suggests that Robin Olsen could be forced to deputise in between the sticks against Fulham this evening.

There is one change at right-back, as Ashley Young is rested after starting a lot of games recently in the absence of Matty Cash, with Calum Chambers replacing him in the defence.

Ezri Konsa and Tyrone Mings continue their partnership at centre-back, although summer signing Diego Carlos will surely be itching for a start having returned from his long-term injury recently, while Alex Moreno continues at left-back.

There is one change in the midfield, as Leander Dendoncker drops out with John McGinn moving into a more familiar central midfield position alongside Douglas Luiz, to give the Villans more of an attacking look ahead of a must-win game at Villa Park.

This allows Bertrand Traore to come into the side on the right wing after two impressive cameos from the bench in recent weeks, with the Burkina Faso international, who was dubbed "marvellous" by former manager Dean Smith, notching important goals against Nottingham Forest and Leicester.

Jacob Ramsey will be looking to continue his fine recent performances on the left wing, with Emiliano Buendia playing through the centre at Villa Park in support of the in-form Ollie Watkins in the attack.

Wolverhampton Wanderers are a club that have been consistently praised for their recruitment ability, particularly through the introduction of Portuguese stars to the Premier League through Nuno Santo and Jorge Mendes.

The quality has always been there for Wolves, who have managed to maintain a good standard of football in the English top division since their promotion from the Championship in 2018. From Joao Moutinho to Ruben Neves, the Midlands has seen its fair share of Portuguese talent over the years, however it’s not always worked out for the players far away from home comforts.

Wolves missed a trick in keeping hold of Pedro Goncalves, who has shown his worth since leaving the Premier League to return to Portugal with Sporting Lisbon. While the 24-year-old was not given a real chance to show his talents in England, a current Wolves star has gone in the opposite direction, with having game time but unable to replicate form of the past.

Nelson Semedo was signed from Barcelona in 2020 for a fee of £36.8m after three memorable years in Spain. The right-back left the Camp Nou as a two-time La Liga winner and Copa del Rey winner, playing in a side that was dominating domestic competition and gaining a strong amount of playing time.

Once dubbed to have the ability to “reach Dani Alves’ level” by former Barcelona and Portugal goalkeeper Vitor Baia, Semedo’s move to England was one of excitement for Wolves fans as Mollineux geared up to watch a former teammate of Lionel Messi grace the Premier League.

So far during his time in Wolverhampton, the Lisboa-born full-back has failed to live up to expectations of the player Wolves envisioned they would be getting in a defender with 124 appearances for Barcelona.

How much has Nelson Semedo cost Wolves?

Whether it be the physical demand of the Premier League, the change in quality around him, or simply the weather, the 29-year-old has been a shell of his former self since arriving in England.

Described as being a “liability” and “frustrating” by journalist Nathan Judah for his often match-costing performances at Wolves, the Portuguese defender has had a tough time since being away from La Liga.

The Premier League isn’t for everyone, clubs and fans have seen many players over the years excel abroad and not live up to expectation when moved to the top tier of English football.

While an adaptation period is sympathised, Semedo’s third year in the league is coming up and little improvement has been seen, all as the fullback earns £80k-per-week regardless of performance.

The struggles Semedo has endured are highlighted best through his dip in form in comparison to his final season at the Catalan giant.

According to statistics provided by Opta, the inconsistent full-back was in the top 3% for pass completion and successful take-ons when compared to those in his position in LaLiga in 2019/20.

In the Premier League this season, meanwhile, the 29-year-old ranks in the top 31% for pass completion and top 16% for successful take-ons, telling the story of his failure to emulate past form.

Semedo has taken almost £12.3m from Wolves since his arrival in 2020 in wages, as well his £36.8m transfer fee, equating to a figure of £49.1m in just under three years.

It’s astonishing money for a player that has been far from astonishing in form.

Crystal Palace have sensationally been named as a possible destination for James Rodriguez.

What’s the latest on James Rodriguez to Crystal Palace?

According to renowned journalist Christian Martin (via AS), the 31-year-old is being tracked by a host of English clubs, including the Eagles, as he wishes to continue his playing career in England.

The Argentine said: “We understand that he (James) prioritises staying in European football. Could it be England? We understand that yes, there is a possibility that clubs like Crystal Palace, Bournemouth or even Brighton itself, which does not usually make this type of addition, at least find out the conditions in which the Colombian could arrive.

“The English clubs have the money, the big ones in Scotland too. No one would shy away from at least assessing the possibility of repatriating James to the UK. From our sources, the inquiries have been, through intermediaries, by Crystal Palace, by Bournemouth, by Everton itself.”

Since his contract was terminated by Olympiacos last month, the Colombian is currently without a club and is training in Madrid whilst he awaits the next step in his football journey.

Would James Rodriguez be a good fit for Crystal Palace?

The former Real Madrid man has previously appeared in England, playing the 2020/21 season with Everton.

The 90-cap international began his Premier League career in imperious form, as he registered six goal contributions in his first six outings.

The joyous technician seemed to have seamlessly adapted to his new surroundings with Dominic Calvert-Lewin describing him as a “top player” when he was in this formidable form.

However, the playmaker’s time in Merseyside quickly deteriorated due to injury and inconsistency, failing to appear in 15 of the Toffees’ top-flight encounters.

After this, the midfielder has had failed stints in Qatar and Greece, which has led to his current status as a free agent.

However, when considering the talent he previously displayed for his nation, as well as for Porto, Monaco, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, and the early stages of Everton, it would be foolish to discard him.

Indeed, the player who made headlines at the 2014 World Cup has registered a mammoth haul of 58 goals and 61 assists in Europe's top five leagues, largely from a central attacking berth.

As a result of those phenomenal numbers, he could be an invaluable source of advice for Eberechi Eze.

The Englishman, who is quickly developing into one of the division's most graceful and creative forces, is certainly reminiscent of Rodriguez when he burst onto the scene.

The flair is there and the end product is beginning to blossom too, with the Englishman having notched 11 goals and assists this season.

Eze's progress is accelerating at an extraordinary rate and the signing of Rodriguez for the south London outfit would only help. It would be large a statement to the teams around them, all while offering some inventive depth to the squad.

Manchester United are at the front of the pack in the race to sign Victor Osimhen this summer, with Il Mattino in Italy stating that the Red Devils are "on pole" to land the striker.

What is the latest on Victor Osimhen to Man United?

The Premier League outfit have outlined their need for another striker already this summer, with boss Erik Ten Hag intending to try and add both another forward and a midfielder to his Old Trafford squad during the transfer window.

With his side struggling to hit the back of the net – only Marcus Rashford has scored a double-digit tally of Premier League goals for the club this term – the Dutchman will be eager to add another attacking option to his side this summer.

There have been several names already linked with a switch to United. Harry Kane has been one of the most notable, with some reports suggesting that the Spurs striker is high up on the Red Devils' wanted list.

However, one name that won't go away is that of Victor Osimhen, who currently plies his trade for Napoli. The forward has been heavily linked with a switch to England, with United one of the teams that have gathered the most mentions over a potential transfer for the player.

Now, it appears as though Ten Hag's side are in the driving seat to seal a deal for the attacker, with Il Mattino in Italy reporting that the Red Devils are "on pole" position in their efforts to try and add the player to their squad.

The report also states that the Old Trafford outfit have already been in negotiations with Napoli owner/president Aurelio De Laurentiis, with these talks happening all the way back at the beginning of the season. In addition to that, Napoli are also prepared to sell it seems if the right offer comes in, with the report adding that the Serie A outfit are not prepared to offer Osimhen any more money, with De Laurentiis not prepared to raise the wage budget. That means that if the Red Devils make the right offer, then a deal could be done for the player this summer.

Would Osimhen be a good signing for Man United?

With Man United toiling in front of goal, Osimhen firing in the goals upfront for the club would certainly be a boost for the side.

With 23 goals this season, it is the player's best ever return for Napoli and over the course of his career. At just 24-years-old too, the likelihood is that he will continue to improve and get better and so now would be a good time to sign up the striker. In fact, his goals and assists rate so far this campaign is 1.03 per 90 minutes – which means that, on average, he is guaranteed to do one or the other every single game he plays in.

In addition, the player has even received praise from opposition coaches. He's been called "phenomenal" by former Cagliari coach Walter Mazzarri for example after his performance in Napoli's victory over the Italian side. It shows just how impressive the striker has been in Serie A.

Ten Hag then would instantly upgrade his frontline with a player like Osimhen. Even if the player ends up costing a substantial amount of money, it would still be seen as good business if he could produce similar numbers at Old Trafford.

Arsenal have reportedly opened preliminary talks to sign West Ham United star Declan Rice, who has "made it clear" he'd prefer a move there.

What's the latest Arsenal transfer news?

Mikel Arteta's side were dealt a hammer blow in their race to seal a first Premier League title in nearly 20 years, anf it looks like their hopes are all but gone, following a dismal 3-0 home defeat to Brighton.

Title rivals Man City, after their victory over Everton at Goodison Park, have one hand on their third-successive domestic crown and could seal it with a win over Chelsea this weekend.

For Arsenal, it could be back to the drawing board as sporting director Edu prepares transfer plans for the upcoming summer window.

Preparing for a title challenge next season could now take centre stage, with reports heavily indicating that a central midfield signing is on their agenda despite bringing in Jorginho.

Arsenal have been heavily linked with moves for forwards as well, including the likes of Jonathan David and Lois Openda, as the north Londoners look to Ligue 1 for more back-up.

Going back to the midfield, one name who has been repeatedly mentioned as a transfer target is Rice, who seems likely to leave West Ham.

Even though some reports have suggested that they have dropped out of the race lately, the vast majority say Rice is still a firm target for Arsenal, with Football Transfers sharing some information.

According to the outlet, Arteta's side have opened preliminary talks to sign the England international, who has already made it clear he'd prefer a move to the Emirates Stadium.

The Gunners have apparently taken iniative in the race for his signature by contacting West Ham ahead of time, who could demand a British record fee.

Arsenal could apparently drive his price tag down through a potential swap deal, as it's known the Irons are looking for a striker and Moyes is a big fan of Folarin Balogun.

What could Rice bring to Arsenal?

The 24-year-old averages more interceptions per 90 than any West Ham player and stands out as their best-performing Premier League player overall, according to WhoScored.

Rice has also been praised for his form in the top flight this season, with Sky pundit Alan Smith recently claiming he is like two midfielders rolled into one.

Smith said on Sky (via The Boot Room):

“Declan Rice, He’s like two players for West Ham. He’s unbelievable, world-class and he is starting to add goals to his game as well.”

Valuation and the difficulty of this deal will be Arsenal's main obstacles, but if they can seal him, there is no doubt Rice would serioisly reinforce Arteta's midfield.