Unfortunately for Ritchie, it does not look like he will get regular game-time with Newcastle next season, and at 33 years of age, it would probably be best for all parties if he left St James’ Park this summer.
Also, with the Scotsman earning £45,000 per week, the Magpies would free up a sizeable amount on the wage bill by letting him leave, which in turn could be used to then bring in a new midfielder.
Eddie Howe has hailed Ritchie as an ‘incredible’ servant to him in the past, with the 33-year-old playing 154 games under the Newcastle boss dating back to their time together at Bournemouth as well, but it seems like the player’s time in the northeast has now come to an end.
Liverpool are reportedly battling fierce rivals Manchester United to sign New England Revolution goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic this summer.
The Lowdown: Goalkeeper uncertainty
Liverpool are facing uncertainty in the goalkeeping department this summer.
There is reportedly speculation over the future of Caoimhin Kelleher, while Adrian is running out of contract.
If both were to leave, then it would only leave Jurgen Klopp with Alisson in terms of goalkeepers in his senior squad, and so a new number two would have to be signed.
The Latest: Petrovic interest
As per The Daily Mirror, the Reds are considering a move for Petrovic this summer, but face competition from bitter rivals United for his signature.
The Serbia international has earned rave reviews for both club and country since moving to New England Revolution in the MLS in April.
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The Verdict: Get it done
Should both Kelleher and Adrian leave this summer, then it is imperative that the Anfield outfit get a deal for Petrovic done.
Hailed as ‘absolutely incredible’ by his team-mate DeJuan Jones, the 23-year-old has kept one of the best goalkeepers in the competition.
Nonetheless, the six-foot-four colossus would follow in the footsteps of the likes of Arsenal’s Matt Turner in terms of ‘keepers moving from the MLS to the Premier League, and would be a welcome addition on Merseyside.
Arsenal have reportedly joined the race to sign Brighton and Hove Albion midfielder Alexis Mac Allister this summer.
The Lowdown: More business with Brighton
Arsenal have done plenty of business with Brighton over the last couple of seasons, signing both Ben White and Leandro Trossard, as well as having a £70m bid rejected for Moises Caicedo in the January transfer window.
It looks like they could try and do business again with them this summer, with Mac Allister emerging as a new target.
The Latest: Arsenal join Mac Allister race
As per Football Insider, the Gunners, as well as Manchester United and Manchester City, have joined Liverpool in registering an interest in signing Mac Allister this summer.
The Seagulls have set a £70m price tag on his shoulders, and he is thought to be ‘ready to go’ to a bigger club.
They have the option to extend his deal by another year, with his current contract set to expire in 2025.
The Verdict: No-brainer
If a player of Mac Allister’s quality becomes available, it is surely a no-brainer for Mikel Arteta’s side to try and sign him.
Hailed as a ‘stunning’ player by his manager Roberto De Zerbi, he is enjoying an outstanding season for both club and country.
His eight goals and one assist in all competitions has helped Brighton challenge for the European spots in the Premier League, and reach the quarter-finals of the FA Cup.
Mac Allister also played six times for Argentina on their way to winning the FIFA World Cup in Qatar, recording one goal and supplying one assist.
Nonetheless, with the North Londoners looking to compete in the UEFA Champions League as well as the Premier League next term, the 24-year-old would be a top signing.
Tottenham Hotspur striker Harry Kane has been tipped for a potential summer move by his former teammate Danny Rose following their defeat to AC Milan in the Champions League.
What has Danny Rose said?
The former Spurs and England left-back spoke on Sky Sports during the Lilywhites’ Champions League clash against the Serie A champions.
Defeat on Wednesday night means the opportunities for Spurs to get their hands on a trophy this season have come crashing to a halt for another season short after their elimination from the FA Cup.
This has led to question marks hanging over Kane’s future, who is being linked with a potential summer exit to Manchester United.
And Rose has suggested the England captain will be thinking hard about where his future lies ahead of the summer with just one-year remaining on his current deal.
He said: “I haven’t spoken to him for a while. So I’m only speculating, but for me, it’s obvious where I think his mindset will be right now and for the [remainder] of the 2-3 months of the season. He deserves so much more than what’s been handed to him over the years.
“For me, knowing Harry, I think once his mind’s made up, I don’t think it will matter who’s the manager. If his mind’s made up that, you know, I’ve done everything possible to get the club where you wanted it to be. It’s not happened. I deserve a chance to go and play elsewhere and have a bigger chance, a better chance of winning a trophy.”
Should Harry Kane leave Tottenham?
The big issue hanging over Kane’s head is his record of not winning any trophies despite being one of the most successful goalscorers in the Premier League’s history.
There has been suggestions in recent months that the 29-year-old would be open to the idea of putting pen to paper on a new deal with the north London club.
However, it will be interesting to see whether the club’s issues over recent weeks may have changed that with Spurs sent packing from both the Champions League and FA Cup.
In addition, there is an overhanging feeling that the players want Antonio Conte at the club any longer and the feeling is said to be mutual with the manager himself.
Kane has been linked with a potential move to Bayern Munich which could possibly be a guaranteed move which would see him get his hands on a trophy given their incredible record in the Bundesliga.
But he is also chasing Alan Shearer’s all-time goalscoring record in the Premier League.
A move to Old Trafford is said to be a possibility, however, whether Daniel Levy would be open to allowing him to move on to another English side could be another question.
The 29-year-old is now the club’s all-time record goalscorer and you do have to question what more he can give to Spurs to put them in a position to succeed.
And considering he is soon to turn 30, this does feel like a huge summer for the striker’s future.
Islam Feruz was once touted for great things at Chelsea but it seems the Blues got it spot on when releasing the striker in 2019, as he hasn't found a club in the four years since.
Who was Islam Feruz?
Chelsea would sign Feruz from Celtic in 2011 when he was just 15, such was his reputation with the Hoops' academy side, with the Somalia-born striker being touted as one of the most prodigious talents to emerge from Scottish football in years.
Speaking on the Open Goal podcast in 2018, Liverpool left-back Andy Robertson summed up just how highly-rated Feruz was by those at Celtic.
He said: "He was the golden boy, obviously. Celtic did everything for him and rightly so. He won every game for us really, scoring hat-tricks all the time."
The striker would impress with Chelsea's U21 side, hitting an impressive 18 goals and four assists in 39 appearances for the club, but his only senior outing would come in a pre-season tour of Asia under Jose Mourinho.
He was handed a new long-term contract with the Blues in January 2014, as they clearly still believed that the then 18-year-old was destined for big things.
However, he would endure a series of woeful loan spells away from Stamford Bridge, and his talent was clearly lost along the way, as he failed to score in any of his appearances for OFI Crete, Blackpool, Hibernian or Swindon Town.
During his time with Hibs, he perhaps cost himself any chance of making it at Chelsea due to his actions away from the pitch, as he was stopped by police in Glasgow and charged with driving while banned, driving without insurance, and perverting the course of justice in 2015.
Feruz was finally released by Chelsea in March 2019, four months before his contract was due to expire, such was his lack of progress in England, with the diminutive striker sadly going down in the record books as another failed wonderkid at Stamford Bridge.
Given that he has failed to make another professional appearance since 2017, he looks set to finish his footballing career with a dismal record of zero senior goals, with that an indication the Blues' decision to part company was the right one.
Feruz would ditch football entirely in 2020 to set up his own designer hat company, with some branded with the logo 'the controversial one', which is perhaps a nod to the Special One, who was the only Chelsea manager to give him any first-team minutes during his dreadful eight-year stay in west London.
A report by Fantacalcio has suggested that former Tottenham Hotspur boss Mauricio Pochettino is Antonio Conte’s ‘designated’ replacement.
The Lowdown: Conte set to leave?
Spurs’ current head coach, going by developments in the last 24 hours, seems set to depart north London with reports suggesting that Conte is on the way out.
The Italian, after being appointed by chairman Daniel Levy in 2021, guided Spurs to a top four Premier League finish last season but has arguably failed to build upon that success since.
Conte took his frustrations out on both the board and Spurs’ squad in a furious post-Southampton rant last weekend, questioning Tottenham’s very culture.
He stated:
“We are 11 players that go into the pitch. I see selfish players, I see players that don’t want to help each other and don’t put their heart (in).
“Why? Because they are used to it here, they are used to it. They don’t play for something important yeah. They don’t want to play under pressure, they don’t want to play under stress.
“It is easy in this way. Tottenham’s story is this. Twenty years there is the owner and they never won something but why? The fault is only for the club, or for every manager that stays here. I have seen the managers that Tottenham had on the bench.”
The Latest: Report suggests ‘designated’ Conte replacement…
Following Conte’s speech which has sent shockwaves throughout football, noise surrounding a possible replacement for the 51-year-old has only gathered pace.
Pochettino is one man to be heavily linked with the job, and a report by Fantacalcio has suggested that the former PSG boss seems to be Conte’s ‘designated heir’.
In terms of where Conte could go next, this report adds that Inter Milan are currently ‘in the front row’ to give him a chance to return to Serie A.
The Verdict: Perfect candidate…
The ex-Southampton manager is a sure-fire candidate to succeed Conte and we believe he is perfect, especially considering his top flight experience and status as a free agent.
Pochettino has earned real praise for his job at Spurs with journalist Alex Crook calling him ‘ruthless’ and a ‘good man-manager’ when talking about the Argentine’s previous links with Man United.
He would also come back to Spurs with more pedigree and experience having managed superstars at PSG, a club he also guided to a Ligue 1 title last year.
Indeed, it would seem Pochettino really should be the favourite to take over.
Everton midfielder Alex Iwobi is believed to be close to signing a new contract, which would be a "big boost" for the Toffees, according to journalist Paul Brown.
Will Alex Iwobi sign a new contract with Everton?
There are conflicting reports about whether Iwobi is set to remain at Goodison Park, with Football Insider last week reporting there has been a breakthrough in talks, following negotiations which took place over a number of weeks. A more recent update from the same source states Everton still remain confident about the midfielder extending his stay, however he is not expected to put pen to paper until the summer, amid concerns about the club being relegated.
Pundit Tam McManus has recently lauded the 26-year-old as a "critical player" for Sean Dyche's side, claiming it's a "no brainer" for the club to offer him a new long-term deal. In an interview with GiveMeSport, Brown has also now commended the decision to offer the £120k-per-week earner fresh terms, in light of his vital contribution to the Merseyside club's attacking output so far this season.
The journalist said: "I think a new contract for Iwobi would be a big boost. He's made a case for Everton's player of the season. Some of his production has tailed away in recent weeks, but I still think he's one of their most dangerous players.
"He seems to unlock defences better than most of his teammates can. If you watch most of the situations that Everton score from, he seems to have been a part of those moves, whether it's the beginning or the end of them."
Should Everton offer Alex Iwobi a new contract?
The former Arsenal man has been vital for the Toffees going forward, weighing in with one goal and seven assists in all competitions, recording more goal contributions than any other player in the squad.
It is true that the Nigeria international's form has fizzled out in recent weeks, picking up just one assist in his last ten Premier League matches, however Dyche still clearly views him as an important player, given the game time he has received.
Arsenal's Gabriel Martinelli in action with Everton's Alex Iwobi.
As such, it will be frustrating for Everton that the midfielder may wait until the end of the season before signing a new deal, considering he is still one of the club's most consistent performers, with an average Sofascore match rating of 6.93.
That said, the Toffees have put themselves in a good position to avoid relegation since Dyche's arrival, now sitting two points clear of the bottom three, which could convince Iwobi to make a decision sooner.
Chelsea are reportedly interested in signing Juventus striker Dusan Vlahovic in the summer transfer window and the Serbian could be Graham Potter's own version of Erling Haaland at Stamford Bridge.
Could Chelsea sign Dusan Vlahovic?
According to journalist Ben Jacobs earlier this month, both Manchester United and Chelsea are keen on the former Fiorentina forward and a departure from Juventus this summer is a very real possibility.
The Old Lady have endured a difficult season in Serie A and were docked 15 points earlier this year due to financial irregularities and false accounting, so a fire sale could be on the cards this summer as they look to balance the books.
Although Chelsea may not be able to offer Vlahovic European football, unless their Premier League form drastically improves following the international break, the temptation of being the main man in this youthful revolution at Stamford Bridge may be tough for the 23-year-old to turn down.
However, he won't come cheap for Todd Boehly, as it was reported earlier this year that the Serbia international would set any interested sides back an eye-watering €110m (£97m).
Despite Juventus' struggles on and off the pitch, which leave them seventh in Italy's top flight, Vlahovic has caught the eye with his performances this season, hitting 11 goals in all competitions for Max Allegri's side, including eight in 18 Serie A appearances.
Journalist Siavoush Fallahi was full of praise for the young striker last season on Twitter, writing:
"Vlahovic is a beast. Half chance, wrong foot, against two and scores. Offside but insane how little Allegri-ball is serving a world-class striker. He’s like an animal in a cage."
This description of the Juventus star is similar to the performances we have seen from Haaland in his first season as a Manchester City player, with the young Norwegian boasting an incredible 42 goals in all competitions for Pep Guardiola's side.
Is Vlahovic like Haaland?
According to FBref, Haaland is the tenth-most similar player to Vlahovic when compared to other strikers across Europe's top leagues.
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This season has seen the two powerful number nines register similar numbers with regard to key passes (17 vs 19), goal-creating actions per 90 (0.37 vs 0.47) and shots per 90 (3.14 vs 3.62).
This emphasises that both frontmen are capable of creating chances as well as putting them away, which is something Potter has lacked in his squad so far this campaign, as Kai Havertz leads the way for Premier League goals with just seven to his name.
In fact, some even think the Juve frontman is superior to the aforementioned Norwegian, with Serbian FA president Nenad Bjekovic remarking: "Vlahovic is better and more complete than Haaland.
"The Norwegian has devastating power, but Dusan is not inferior: there is also very little difference in their height."
If Vlahovic can have even half the impact at Chelsea that Haaland has had at City, then he will surely prove to be a worthwhile addition in the summer transfer window.
Chelsea midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek has been made available for transfer at Stamford Bridge, according to reports.
What's the latest on Loftus-Cheek's future?
The Premier League playmaker has worked his way up through the academy ranks in the capital to become a regular feature of the senior first-team, but with his contract set to expire next summer, has already been linked with an exit this season.
The Daily Mail reported that Newcastle United were plotting a move for the 27-year-old in January and were also eyeing an approach for his fellow teammates in Hakim Ziyech and Conor Gallagher, but it was stated that Graham Potter wouldn't let him or any of the trio leave as a result of the injury crisis his squad were facing at the time.
Football Insider have since claimed that England's former international is now being tracked by several unnamed clubs in the UK and is attracting interest from AC Milan and Roma in the Serie A, with the SW6 outfit not keen to activate the one-year extension option that's included in his current terms.
Now, according to Football Insider once again, Chelsea are expected to officially make Loftus-Cheek "available for transfer" at the end of the season with the hierarchy "not keen" to trigger the option to extend his stay for a further 12 months.
The Adidas-sponsored star has pretty much been a mainstay in the team since Potter's arrival having featured in 21 of his 30 games in charge, and has even publicly praised the boss for his efforts, but it sounds like this isn't set to change the club's decision on his future.
Chelsea midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek.
Would Chelsea be right to sell Loftus-Cheek?
Chelsea have already previously sold academy graduates like Tammy Abraham and Fikayo Tomori while Mason Mount could also be on the verge of a departure, but considering the positive impact Loftus-Cheek has had on the team of late, the club should keep hold of him and give him a chance moving forward.
The £120K-p/w talent currently ranks in the 98th percentile for progressive carries and the 96th percentile for successful take-ons per game, compared to other players in his position via FBRef, showing his desire to get forward and create as many chances as possible in the final third. The Blues prospect has also clocked up his fair share of goal contributions since making the step-up to the senior first-team, netting 13 strikes and providing 17 assists at the Bridge (Transfermarkt).
Loftus-Cheek has been dubbed a "dangerous" player by journalist Josh Bunting and he is certainly someone that could go on to become a key player in the centre for Chelsea if they were to have a change of heart before the end of the season.
Back in 2009, an Arsenal youth side containing a spritely Jack Wilshere lifted the FA Youth Cup, defeating Liverpool by a 4-1 margin. Typically, Wilshere was a scorer on that evening, finding the back of the net courtesy of a penalty as he drove his teammates to success.The career that would fall upon the midfielder’s shoulders after that was extraordinary. He would go on to boss one of the best Barcelona teams we’ve seen in the Champions League as a teenager, but that was about as good as it got for the now 31-year-old.Nearly 14 years on, Wilshere has retired after an injury-ravaged career that saw him never reach his true potential.However, the former England international would prefer us to now focus on the positives. Last week, the gifted technician spoke of rediscovering his love for football.How has he done that? Well, by coaching Arsenal’s U18s. Wilshere was only ever going to land back at Arsenal but few would have predicted the roaring success he’d turn out to be behind the scenes.Now firmly involved in the academy set-up, the Stevenage-born hero took charge of his first game against non-league Hendon last summer. Fast forward several months and he’s now dining out at the Emirates, aptly guiding the club to another FA Youth Cup final.
They have achieved that feat in some style, with Myles Lewis-Skelly scoring a last-gasp extra-time winner against Manchester City at the Emirates a matter of days ago. The teenager lept the highest from a ball into the area and found the net in the dying seconds of the tie.
How poignant it would be if they were to now win that final. A key part of that has been wonderkid Ethan Nwaneri who will no doubt take most of the attention in the side, but there is a Wilshere-esque talent just lying in wait for Arsenal; Bradley Ibrahim.
Who is Bradley Ibrahim?
The 18-year-old is highly rated by those at Arsenal having trained among the senior team and been named on the bench during two Europa League clashes this term.
Described as an ‘an energetic box-to-box midfielder’ and a ‘tireless holding midfielder’ by the club’s website it’s clear to see where the comparisons to Wilshere come in.
Like his coach, Ibrahim is an able ball carrier while his passing range from deep is arguably what sets him apart from his peers.
His 81% pass success in the EFL Trophy, as per Sofascore, this term outlines the teen as someone who is calm in possession, while he is particularly good in front of the back four, maintaining a pass accuracy of 94% inside his own half.
The highly-gifted starlet’s range of passing was on full display in that semi-final win over Manchester City a few days ago, with scout Jacek Kulig going as far as to suggest he was sending “long diagonals like prime Xavi.”
That said, there is a physicality to Ibrahim’s game which suggests he could be like Thomas Partey too, having won two ground duels per game in the EFL Trophy.
Indeed, there are plenty of similarities between the two, with the Ghanaian notably adept at evading the press, bullying opponents and spraying cross-field passes.
It’s unlikely the FA Youth Cup star will ultimately rival Partey for a place but there is every reason to believe that Charlie Patino should be looking over his shoulder.
Arsenal's Charlie Patino.
The Blackpool loanee is the current darling of the Arsenal academy and has been tipped for big things after scoring on his senior debut in last season’s Carabao Cup.
Indeed, after scoring three times and laying on four assists for the Tangerines this term, the 19-year-old has impressed a great deal after finally being handed regular senior minutes.
As such, it feels like there will be a place ready and waiting for him in the first team next term. He will likely now face competition from young Ibrahim, however, a combative presence who is learning from one of the best to come through Hale End and progressing at a rapid rate.
Whatever way you look at it, the future seems incredibly bright for the centre of Arsenal’s midfield.