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Chelsea will need to decide on the future of midfielder Conor Gallagher in the summer amid interest in his services, according to journalist Pete O'Rourke.

What's the latest news surrounding Conor Gallagher?

As per The Daily Mail, Chelsea are said to be willing to offload Gallagher in the forthcoming transfer window in order to fulfil their Financial Fair Play obligations.

The report states that the 23-year-old is attracting interest from the Premier League and around Europe, with the likes of Liverpool, Borussia Dortmund, Newcastle United and Brighton & Hove Albion linked with a swoop for his services.

Football Insider back up the notion that Newcastle United are keen on Gallagher this summer and have claimed that Chelsea could ask for £30 million to let him depart Stamford Bridge.

Bringing the England international to the North East on a loan-to-buy agreement could also be an option for Eddie Howe. Additionally, Crystal Palace are also believed to be monitoring his situation.

Gallagher has made 39 appearances this term for Chelsea in all competitions, netting two goals and claiming a solitary assist, as per Transfermarkt.

Speaking to Football FanCast, journalist O'Rourke doesn't think that Chelsea will be too keen to part ways with Gallagher this summer.

O'Rourke told FFC: "I'm sure if Chelsea were to lose him, they would maybe see him as one that got away, that maybe they didn't see the best of Conor Gallagher as well, because, during that spell at Crystal Palace last season, he was superb for them and he's an England international as well. He's a top player, one that they won't really want to lose, but there will be clubs ready to take him and try and capitalize on the uncertainty within the Chelsea camp."

Should Chelsea sell Conor Gallagher this summer?

It's difficult to say at this point whether Chelsea should move to sell Gallagher; however, they will need to trim their squad appropriately ahead of next season, which could ultimately mean the 23-year-old is sacrificed if a suitable offer arises for his services.

WhoScored notes that the England international has earned an average rating of 6.56/10 for his exploits on the pitch this season, ranking him as Chelsea's 20th-best performer overall, indicating that there is room for improvement concerning his performances.

Nevertheless, Gallagher, who Pochettino is a "big fan of", has managed to successfully perform 79 progressive passes in 2022/23, as per FBRef, showing that he does still have the ability to have a positive impact in the engine room when on form.

Looking ahead to the off-season, Chelsea have a big decision to make on his future, which their new manager at Stamford Bridge will likely review extensively once in position at the club.

Manchester United will no doubt be looking to strengthen their centre-forward ranks this summer, with Erik ten Hag's side having been lacking a reliable number nine throughout the entire campaign.

Former talisman Cristiano Ronaldo scored just three times in all competitions prior to seeing his contract ripped up by mutual consent in November, while January arrival Wout Weghorst – who joined on loan from Burnley – has scored just twice for the Red Devils to date.

Those woes have been exacerbated by the injury setbacks of long-serving marksman, Anthony Martial, with the 27-year-old having been restricted to just 19 appearances across all fronts this term, scoring seven times.

That inability to get the Frenchman fit and firing has likely been a source of frustration for the United boss, with recent reports suggesting that the 53-year-old could be open to letting the striker depart this summer – with just over a year to run on the player's contract.

With at least one new forward set to be needed in the event of the former Monaco man's exit, there have been reports in Spain that the Old Trafford outfit are interested in signing Aston Villa hotshot, Ollie Watkins.

Should Man United sign Watkins?

On current form, it would seemingly be a real coup if United were able to prise the Englishman from Villa Park, with Watkins having been in deadly form in recent months, in particular.

The former Brentford ace is currently "sitting alongside [Erling] Haaland" with regard to his form following the World Cup break, as per Red Devils legend Rio Ferdinand, having notably bagged 11 goals in his last 12 Premier League games.

That remarkable hot streak has ensured that the 27-year-old now boasts a standout tally of 15 goals and six assists in the top flight so far this term, having now reached double figures for league goals in each of the past three seasons for the Villans.

Such a respectable haul is undoubtedly in stark contrast to that of Martial, with the 30-cap enigma having scored just nine Premier League goals since the start of the 2020/21 campaign, notably scoring just once in the first half of last season prior to joining Sevilla on loan.

A notable benefit of bringing Watkins into the fold would also be the £75k-per-week man's impressive work ethic as he notably ranks in the top 20% among his European peers for interceptions made, while the current United man ranks in just the bottom 32% in that regard.

The all-round quality of the 5 foot 11, Villa man – as well as his proven record in England's top tier – could well make him an ideal replacement for Martial through the middle, with it having proved near on impossible to rely on the latter man of late.

Tottenham Hotspur could look at appointing Brendan Rodgers as their next manager, as he "has admirers" within the boardroom, according to journalist Pete O'Rourke.

What's the latest Tottenham manager news?

Football Insider are now reporting Rodgers has a good chance of getting the Tottenham job, as the club are impressed by his track record of building teams and developing players, while he would also not be confrontational with the board.

Pundit Frank McAvennie has since backed the Northern Irishman to take over, claiming he would do a "great job" at N17, and is "good enough" to make the step up to Spurs from Leicester, but he is not the only candidate for the job.

ENIC have a number of managers on their shortlist, with the likes of Roberto De Zerbi and Thomas Frank believed to be of interest, although Julian Nagelsmann remains the main target for the time being.

In a recent interview with GiveMeSport, O'Rourke confirmed the 50-year-old has admirers within the Tottenham hierarchy, having been a managerial candidate in the past.

Talking about Spurs' search for a new manager, the journalist said: "It obviously increases the opportunities for Brendan Rodgers now.

"He's basically a free agent, he's on the market, has great experience and he’s managed top clubs like Liverpool and Celtic where there is massive pressure to deliver success.

"He has admirers in the Tottenham boardroom, as Daniel Levy has considered him previously for the job as well. So now, there's no compensation to pay for his services.”

Would Brendan Rodgers be a good appointment?

If the Spurs board are looking for someone with a track record of building teams, the former Leicester boss could be a suitable option, having taken the Foxes from ninth, up to fifth, missing out on Champions League football by one point in the 2020-21 season.

Hailed as "excellent" by members of the media, the tactician also has experience managing some big clubs, where there is a great deal of expectation, leading Celtic to two league titles, and taking charge of Liverpool for 166 games.

The main concern for Tottenham, however, will be just how much Leicester have regressed this season, now sitting 19th in the Premier League, two points from safety.

Of course, even the best managers cannot guarantee success every season, but the fact a drop-off of that magnitude happened under Rodgers' watch is a real worry, and Spurs may be better off steering clear.

Manchester United are set for a rapid return to Wembley following Sunday's FA Cup quarter-final victory over Fulham, with the Carabao Cup winners set to face off against Brighton and Hove Albion in the last four next month.

In truth, the Red Devils' were rather gifted a route to progression following a few minutes of madness from the visitors at Old Trafford yesterday, with former Arsenal man Willian seeing red for blocking Jadon Sancho's goal-bound effort with his hand, before both Aleksandar Mitrovic and Marco Silva were also dismissed due to their fervent protests.

With United having been trailing at the time of that subsequent penalty decision, it is fair to share that that frantic episode was crucial in Erik ten Hag's men sealing their place in the next round, with the hosts looking rather lifeless prior to the Cottagers' foolish implosion.

That is not to suggest that the home side did not also have a part to play in that late comeback, however, with the introduction of Antony, in particular, proving vital in sparking the Premier League giants into life in the closing stages.

How did Antony perform against Fulham?

It is not too hyperbolic to claim that the Brazilian simply "changed the game" as far as United are concerned, according to former Manchester Evening News writer Hesham Bilal-Hefiz, with the 22-year-old making an immediate impact down the right flank.

On a day in which leading scorer Marcus Rashford was 'unusually quiet' – according to MEN journalist Samuel Luckhurst – Antony proved that he could be the man to ease the reliance on the lethal Englishman, having dazzled in his wide berth.

The former Ajax menace notably drew a foul from Antonee Robinson after tearing away from the United States international, having shown a rare willingness to try and beat his man in that moment of magic.

It was also the £200k-per-week trickster's threaded pass that teed up Sancho in the build-up to United's equaliser, with that one of two key passes that the wide man produced in his 32-minute cameo.

The fleet-footed maverick's flowing confidence was also shown as he almost got himself on the scoresheet after producing a delightful, jinking run inside the penalty area, having also illustrated the typically tenacious nature of his game by winning five of his nine ground duels.

While the £86m man's tally of seven goals and one assist in 30 games in all competitions for the Red Devils this season is rather underwhelming, the win over the west London outfit showcased that he can be the inventive spark that Ten Hag and co are craving.

With the top-four hopefuls undoubtedly in need of those who can shoulder the goalscoring and creative burden alongside Rashford, Antony proved that he could finally be the man for the job.

Celtic defender Ronan Ferns could leave Glasgow this summer amid interest south of the border, according to reports.

The Lowdown: Ferns profiled

The Hoops centre-back has worked his way up through the academy ranks at Parkhead to become a regular feature of the club’s several youth sides.

Having turned 16 back in February, the talented prospect is now able to depart the Scottish Premiership outfit and it sounds like there’s already one potential suitor in particular waiting to snap him up in the Premier League.

The Latest: Brighton eyeing Ferns

According to Football Insider, Brighton are ‘interested’ in striking a deal for Ferns having ‘impressed’ for Celtic’s academy teams at Parkhead.

The Seagulls have reportedly ‘scouted’ the teenager and are keeping ‘very close tabs’ on him, hoping to make him the latest of a number of Parkhead talents to head down south.

The Bhoys view their left-footed ace as a ‘hugely promising talent’, but whether they will be able to keep hold of him yet remains to be seen.

The Verdict: Tie him down

Celtic have an extremely exciting player in Ferns who looks likely to make a breakthrough into the senior first-team in years to come, so the club need to tie him down in the hope of fending off interest.

The Hoops defender is already making a name for himself on the international stage having been selected to represent Scotland’s U16s at the UEFA Development Tournament back in February.

Ferns also provides excellent versatility with his ability to operate in both central and left midfield alongside his natural centre-back position so the Hoops need to do everything they can to get him to commit to his long-term future.

Liverpool make the trip to the northeast this evening for their Premier League clash against Newcastle United at St James’ Park, and Jurgen Klopp will be hoping that his side can take some confidence and momentum from their first league victory of 2023 in the Merseyside derby last Monday.

The Reds are currently ninth in the table after a run of poor performances over their first 21 top-flight outings, but taking all three points away could see them significantly the gap between themselves and the top four.

Klopp will be thrilled to see a number of players returning from long-term injuries over the last week, with Diogo Jota and Roberto Firmino making their first appearances in months when they were introduced in the second half against Everton earlier this week.

Virgil van Dijk is also expected to return to action after recovering from a hamstring injury which has rendered him unavailable for selection since the first week of January.

As a result, Klopp has a number of options in his squad heading into the clash against Newcastle, and unleashing Jota in the forward line could be the move which helps Liverpool to pick up their second consecutive win.

Will Jota start against Newcastle?

The Portuguese winger has been out of action since he was stretchered off the pitch in stoppage time against Manchester City in October, but after suffering a long-term hamstring injury, his recent return could not have come at a better time for the Reds.

Ahead of the 2-0 win against Everton this week, Liverpool had scored just one league goal in 2023, which came against Brentford in a 3-1 defeat on 2nd January, with new signing Cody Gakpo, Darwin Nunez and Mohamed Salah struggling to find the net since the turn of the year.

Klopp can now unleash a fresh option in Jota who is not only experienced but also prolific in the team since his arrival at the club in 2020, scoring 34 goals and registering 14 assists in his 94 appearances for the Merseyside giants.

Furthermore, the £140k-per-week star – who was dubbed a “pressing monster” by Pep Lijnders – has past experience of causing chaos for the Magpies, with two goals and one assist in six previous outings against Newcastle.

Indeed, he netted the equaliser in the 3-1 win over them at Anfield last season and set up Naby Keita’s winner in this fixture ten months ago, when the Reds were chasing down the league title.

If Jota is ready to start at St James’ Park later today, it would give Liverpool’s attacking threat a significant boost and could give them an ideal opportunity to secure the much-needed points to climb the table.

Chelsea are working behind the scenes to secure a new contract for midfielder Mason Mount amid their work to tie town defender Thiago Silva.

The Lowdown: Opening offer rejected

The Premier League star has worked his way up through the academy ranks at Stamford Bridge to become a regular feature of the first-team squad, but there is uncertainty over his future having now entered the final 18 months of his deal.

The Daily Mail claim that the England international rejected fresh terms offered to him before leaving for the World Cup last November which saw him heavily linked with a move to Liverpool.

However, reports suggested that the 24-year-old was set to resume negotiations after the January window had closed, and it seems like that is exactly the case.

The Latest: Contract negotiations prioritised

According to 90min, Chelsea are now ‘focusing all of their efforts’ into tying Mount down, with Todd Boehly previously admitting that agreeing an improved deal was one of the club’s ‘top priorities’ this season.

The Blues maestro’s representatives are ‘aware of interest’ from potential suitors, but the player is ‘keen to stay’ and establish his place under Graham Potter.

The SW6 outfit are prepared to make their youth product ‘one of the highest-earning’ members of the squad as a reward for his development and success over the years.

The Verdict: Alongside Silva

Thiago Silva has openly confirmed that he’s likely to put pen to paper on a new contract in the coming days, and Mount could be set to follow in his footsteps by extending his stay in the capital.

The Portsmouth-born talent has posted 70 goal contributions in 187 senior outings and is a vital cog in the centre of the pitch, currently averaging 1.5 key passes per league game.

He also ranks in their top seven best top flight players by average match rating, according to WhoScored, and only Thiago Silva has played more league minutes than Mount this season.

The midfielder is a mainstay under Potter and someone who is quite clearly rated highly by Brighton’s former boss.

Mount has been described as a ‘sublime’ player by journalist Josh Bunting, and as someone who’s going to be so important for the future of the club, it’s essential they reach an agreement as quickly as possible.

Newcastle United are receiving interest from a number of Championship clubs this month over the availability of their Scottish winger Ryan Fraser.

What’s the latest?

Although the Toon have not seen any new signings come through the doors at St. James’ Park this month, there has also not been many leaving the club.

Chris Wood became the first to leave this month after a deal with Nottingham Forest was confirmed on Friday.

And it seems as if the New Zealand striker’s expected departure could kickstart the Magpies into life in the January transfer window.

Speaking to Football FanCast prior to Wood’s departure, insider Dean Jones has suggested Dan Ashworth has been receiving some interest from a handful of teams in the second tier.

He said: “There’s a lot of options here. The one thing he’s really going to have to consider though is, would he go into the Championship?

“I think there’s a couple of the clubs interested in him that are at the top end of the Championship. So it’s a tough one for him to decide whether he’s ready to drop a level and hope he can get back to the Premier League.”

A big drop down to the Championship

What Newcastle have been able to achieve under Eddie Howe and the Saudi Arabian-based ownership has been nothing short of incredible.

The Magpies are sitting firmly within the Premier League’s top four and have a great chance of getting their hands of the League Cup this season.

There have been a number of new faces arrive on Tyneside since the takeover took place in the latter stages of 2021, but Howe has also developed a lot of the players he adopted when joining the club.

And perhaps the biggest example of this is Miguel Almiron who has been playing like a player reborn this season under the 45-year-old.

When Howe took on the job at Newcastle, you probably wouldn’t have been wrong in thinking the likes of Almiron could be the type of player who could be moved on under the new owners.

The Paraguayan has scored 23 goals for Newcastle in 146 appearances, however, nine of them have come in the 19 Premier League appearances under Howe this season (via Transfermarkt).

For a player like Fraser, he has clearly not had this sort of development under Howe with the 28-year-old netting just twice in their time together on Tyneside.

Not only does his lack of output in front of goal leave his spot in the squad vulnerable but the likes of Almiron’s progression will surely see his opportunities to prove himself pushed even further back.

Fraser’s time at Newcastle has not particularly done him any favours with just three goals and six assists to show across the 59 appearances he has made.

Although it may be difficult to leave a club on the up like Newcastle, at the age of 28, perhaps it would be wise for Fraser to leave and pick up some more frequent game time elsewhere.

Aston Villa manager Unai Emery is determined to sign Borussia Monchengladbach forward Marcus Thuram.

The Lowdown: ‘Huge’ January budget

The 51-year-old has enjoyed a perfect start to life back in the Premier League with two wins from two in charge of Villa prior to the break for the World Cup.

The Spaniard looks set to be handed a ‘huge’ January transfer budget from NSWE and will have a major say on any incomings.

Hailed as ‘world class’ by Wolfsburg sporting director Marcel Schafer, Thuram appears to be a real target in the Midlands, with his Monchengladbach contract expiring in the summer.

The Latest: Emery’s stance

Sport Witness relayed an update from L’Equipe regarding Thuram, in which Villa were once again mentioned.

They claimed that Emery is ‘determined’ to sign the Frenchman as he looks to take Villa into Europe, with the club possibly only needing €10m (£8.6m) to land the 25-year-old in the New Year.

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The Verdict: Get it done

Thuram, who is with France at the World Cup, currently holds a €30m (£25.9m) Transfermarkt valuation.

The 25-year-old is sponsored by Nike and has been in unbelievable form for Monchengladbach this season, contributing to 17 goals in as many games.

He can also play anywhere across the front three, so you could so that a potential £8.6m transfer should be a no-brainer for Villa, especially with a new A-list forward wanted and Emery being so keen on the player.

Scottish champions Celtic are reportedly keeping tabs on Sunderland striker Ross Stewart, with the Scotland international currently facing an uncertain future at the Stadium of Light.

What’s the word?

According to Football League World, the Parkhead giants – as well as Old Firm foes Rangers – are showing an interest in signing the 26-year-old ahead of the January window, with the forward having yet to commit his future to the Black Cats.

The report suggests that the former Ross County man could well be sold by the Championship outfit if he does not agree to a new deal, with the two-cap menace having just a matter of months left on his existing contract.

The piece goes on to add that the Irvine-born ace has been offered a bumper wage increase to become the highest-paid player in Tony Mowbray’s squad, although his current hesitancy to accept those terms could spark a departure in the winter.

The Hoops have already acted swiftly despite the market having not yet officially re-opened, with Vissel Kobe defender Yuki Kobayashi having already been confirmed as a new addition, while Canada’s World Cup star Alistair Johnston also appears set for a move to Glasgow.

‘Unbelievable’

A new addition to help bolster the forward line is seemingly firmly on the mind of Postecoglou and co, with recent reports having claimed that the 57-year-old is looking to strengthen his striking options in January.

Stewart’s arrival could well prove to be an astute capture to help provide further competition to both Kyogo Furuhashi and Giorgos Giakoumakis, with the 6 foot 2 brute having been in truly unbelievable form during his time south of the border.

The menacing forward – who was previously released by the Bhoys in his youth – has scored 34 goals and registered eight assists in just 72 games since joining his current side in January 2021, notably helping to fire the northeast side to promotion last term after netting 26 goals in League One.

Despite the step up this season, the one-time St Mirren ace has again remained particularly clinical in attack, scoring five times and laying on three assists in just seven games in England’s second tier, with only injury having inhibited him from wreaking further havoc.

The £3m-rated ace – who scored 28 goals in 82 games during his time in Dingwall – offers the invaluable experience of having played in the Scottish Premiership previously, ensuring there should be little time needed for adaptation.

The “unbelievable” machine – as described by journalist James Copley earlier this year – would no doubt be the extra firepower that those at Celtic Park are looking for.