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Frank Lampard has been confirmed as Chelsea's new manager on a deal until the end of the season and the Englishman could seal an instant masterclass at Stamford Bridge by dropping Mateo Kovacic.

The 44-year-old, who was sacked by Everton earlier in the season, has returned as the man in the dugout at Stamford Bridge having managed the Blues for 84 matches between 2019 and 2021.

During his time at the club, Lampard would average a solid 1.75 points per game, which is a significant upgrade on the 1.42 points per game averaged by Graham Potter in his spell at the west London club.

Lampard was in attendance for Chelsea's stalemate with Liverpool in midweek and if he was paying attention, he will surely realise that Kovacic needs a spell out of the team, despite his role as captain in the absence of Thiago Silva and Cesar Azpilicueta.

Should Chelsea drop Kovacic?

During the game against Liverpool, the Croatia international would spurn two glorious chances to give the hosts the lead, first failing to score after rounding Alisson, before firing over the bar when through on goal, despite having two teammates available in support.

Unfortunately, this was not a one-off for the former Real Madrid man, as he has endured one of his worst seasons in a Chelsea shirt and should surely spend some time on the bench for upcoming fixtures, especially after the return of N'Golo Kante.

In 21 Premier League appearances so far this campaign, the 28-year-old, who earns £100k-per-week, has contributed just one goal and one assist, with WhoScored awarding him a woeful 6.50 rating for his performances.

Considering this ranks him as the 23rd-best performer at Stamford Bridge so far this campaign, it is baffling that he has featured so often, especially when Chelsea have the likes of Conor Gallagher and Denis Zakaria waiting in the wings.

The midfielder's previous seasons at Stamford Bridge have resulted in far-more-impressive average ratings of 7.05, 6.84 and 6.94 in the last three Premier League campaigns, so it seems clear that his standards have dropped so far this term.

Indeed, as far back as 2021, journalist Daniel Childs was labelling the Croat both "pretty awful" and "very lucky."

Now, it makes perfect sense for Lampard to drop the midfielder following Kante's return to action after injury, while the likes of Gallagher and Carney Chukwuemeka could also be given chances if the 44-year-old continues his philosophy of putting faith in Chelsea's youth.

Whatever the incoming interim manager decides, it seems clear that Kovacic hasn't been good enough this season and as such, it would be a masterclass to instantly remove him from the team.

Arsenal are determined to win the race for Lazio midfielder Sergej Milinkovic-Savic this summer, according to a recent report from TuttoMercatoWeb.

Will Arsenal sign a central midfielder this summer?

Arsenal are definitely in the market for a new central midfielder this summer, having been linked with moves for a number of top players, most notably Declan Rice, although journalist Simon Phillips claims they are unwilling to pay a high fee to win the race for the West Ham United captain.

Talks have also commenced with Leicester City's Youri Tielemans, who is also being targeted by Newcastle United and Barcelona, although his wage demands are said to be high, which could be a potential roadblock.

The Gunners have been chasing Milinkovic-Savic for some time now, with the midfielder being viewed as one of Mikel Arteta's top candidates, and their interest only appears to be getting stronger as we approach the summer transfer window.

As per a report from TuttoMercatoWeb (via Sport Witness), Lazio have likely missed their chance to receive a huge fee for the central midfielder, having previously valued him at around €100m. (£88m)

The Serie A side are trying to negotiate a contract renewal, however there has been no development in that regard, so a sale in the summer is looking increasingly possible.

Arsenal are said to be the most determined club in the race for the Serbian's signature, and a deal appears as though it could be there to be done, should Arteta give the green light.

Would Sergej Milinkovic-Savic be a good signing?

Members of the media have hailed the 28-year-old as a "different beast" as a result of his exploits with Lazio, displaying his attacking prowess by recording eight goals and eight assists in all competitions this season.

However, the maestro is also very solid when it comes to the defensive side of the game, ranking in the 80th percentile for blocks, and in the 97th for aerials won per 90 in the past year, when compared to other players in his position.

Given his age, having turned 28 less than two months ago, the £75k-per-week midfielder is likely to be in his prime, and he is showing all the signs that he would be an excellent signing for Arsenal.

Not only that, but Milinkovic Savic's contract is up at the end of next season, which means a cut-price deal could be possible this summer, making him a viable and cheaper alternative to Rice, who could cost well over £100m.

Manchester United have been told they will need to pay up to £25m to sign Marcel Sabitzer on a permanent basis from Bayern Munich.

What’s the latest Man United news on Sabitzer?

Erik ten Hag brought Sabitzer in on loan until the end of the season back in January after an injury blow to Christian Eriksen. Since then, the 29-year-old has gone on to feature heavily in all competitions, impressing in Thursday’s Europa League quarter-final first leg with Sevilla.

The Austrian netted twice in the first half before the Red Devils went on to concede twice late on to leave the tie in the balance ahead of the return leg in Spain. Sabitzer was singled out for praise from Red Devils legend Peter Schmeichel as a result, with the former goalkeeper saying:

“The best player is the guy who scored two goals, Marcel Sabitzer was really good. His teammates have let him down. He showed the way, and they didn’t catch on to it.”

There has been speculation of a permanent transfer for the midfielder, with previous reports suggesting that there were set to be “decisive talks”.

The Sun shared a transfer update regarding Sabitzer in the last 48 hours. They claimed that the player wants to turn his loan into a permanent move, with Ten Hag also keen on a full-time transfer.

However, they add that Bayern are demanding an initial £20m plus a further £5m in add-ons to sanction a permanent exit, saying that the chances of a transfer rely on the German giants lowering their asking price.

Is Sabitzer worth £25m?

Sabitzer, described by Diogo Dalot as a “machine”, is under contract in Germany until 2025, so Bayern may feel no pressure to lower their asking price this summer.

The player’s Transfermarkt valuation currently stands at €20m (£17.8m) a figure which has dropped from a career-high €42m (£37.5m) back in 2021 before moving to Munich. You could argue that a switch to Bayern hasn’t worked by looking at those figures, and with the player turning 29 last month, a £25m asking price may potentially be viewed as high.

The Red Devils are after a new midfielder this summer, though, so they will have to decide whether or not they see Sabitzer as part of their long-term plans.

United already have two experienced midfielders in Casemiro and Eriksen, so the club could be better off targeting a marquee midfielder younger than Sabitzer, possibly someone like Frenkie de Jong or Jude Bellingham, players who have been linked with big-money moves.

Journalist Fabrizio Romano has revealed that Chelsea hadn't even spoken to Mauricio Pochettino about becoming manager until last week.

What is the latest on Mauricio Pochettino and Chelsea?

It's been a dramatic few days for the Premier League side as the search for a new head coach really begins to heat up.

Indeed, in the week, it was reported that Luis Enrique is no longer a favourite to take charge of the Blues. This was followed up by reports that Julian Nagelsmann was also dropping out of the race.

Since then, it has emerged that former Tottenham Hotspur boss Pochettino is now being considered as a prime candidate for the Chelsea job.

However, when talking about this on his YouTube channel, Romano revealed that these talks have only just begun.

He explained: "Pochettino was already in conversation with Chelsea board last summer, when they decided to go for Graham Potter. It was Potter or Pochettino. Chelsea decided in a few days [to hire Potter], but Pochettino was there and was really appreciated.

"Now he's back in the list after first contact made this week. So until last week, Pochettino never spoke to Chelsea. Now he is in the list and the conversation is there."

Will Pochettino want to join Chelsea?

This is interesting, as in some parts of the media, Pochettino was viewed as a favourite to come in at Chelsea weeks ago. For instance, Gary Nevile told Sky Sports (via BBC Sport): "If they appoint [Zinedine] Zidane, [Diego] Simeone, [Luis] Enrique, they're going to want another £300m because they won't like some of the players they've signed.

"They have to appoint a manager who is going to inherit and like the squad that they’ve got – I think that man, because a lot of them are young, is Pochettino.”

However, despite all these rumours, it seems as though the Chelsea board hadn't seriously considered hiring the 51-year-old until recently.

This could be because their favourites Luis Enrique and Nagelsmann were no longer viable options, and it doesn't necessarily bode that well if they are now trying to hire their third-choice option.

What's more, the club have already opted against Pochettino in the past. As Romano explained, they viewed Potter as the better option when they were last appointing a new boss.

With that being the case, it remains unclear if the Argentine would even want to come in. It certainly sounds as though Chelsea haven't always been totally convinced even if they may now turn to him.

Arsenal remain interested in Declan Rice and he could be the missing piece in the Gunners' attempts to go one further next season…

What's the latest on Arsenal's interest in Declan Rice?

The Athletic's David Ornstein recently gave a fresh update on the situation, reaffirming the north Londoners' interest in the 24-year-old's signature to Rio Ferdinand's podcast.

"It perhaps illustrates that Mikel Arteta really wants a prominent signing in there to help this squad going forward. So I’m really intrigued to see in which direction they go. Many Arsenal fans asking me all the time. We know the interest in Declan Rice is strong," he said.

Back in January, the Guardian reported that the West Ham United captain was the top target for Arteta and co, with other reports suggesting that £70m could be enough to get a deal over the line.

What would Declan Rice bring to Arsenal?

Rice's role under David Moyes at the London Stadium has often changed over recent seasons but it does highlight the England international's wide skillset and major ability – he's able to be a defensively-sound anchorman, a deep-lying playmaker and a box-to-box machine.

Currently ranking as the Hammers' best-performing player in the Premier League this term, the Rush Green graduate has provided five goal contributions whilst maintaining an average of 2.3 tackles (second-most) and 1.8 interceptions (most) per game, via WhoScored.

In the latter regard, he actually ranks among the top 3% of his positional peers across Europe's 'big five' divisions, as per FBref, who have also compared him – in terms of statistical profile – to present Gunners mainstay Thomas Partey, which bodes well for Rice's chances of adapting to Arteta's system.

Now capped 41 times for the Three Lions, Rice has been lauded as an "absolute monster" by ESPN UK editor David Cartlidge and is believed to be capable of taking a team "to another level" – in the eyes of ex-professional Paul Parker.

Indeed, with the Gunners seemingly letting slip of the title this season, the arrival of the Bukayo Saka and Aaron Ramsdale's international teammate could be what Arteta needs to bridge that gap between his side and his former employers, having been whitewashed by them in midweek.

Rice would add some defensive stability to a threadbare engine room and isn't afraid to chip in with goals and assists further up the pitch either. That strength in depth will also aid them in the Champions League too. Given the evidence above, it's no wonder he remains one of Arsenal's main priorities in the off-season.

Whatever the price, sporting director Edu Gaspar and co must pay up otherwise they risk this season being a mere anomaly in what has been a mediocre few years for the club.

Liverpool have officially made contact with Sporting CP regarding the possible signing of Manuel Ugarte, according to reports.

Which midfielders are Liverpool signing?

The Reds are in desperate need of midfielders this summer, with Jurgen Klopp and FSG's decision not to invest in that area last summer coming back to bite them throughout this season, with the likes of Jordan Henderson and Fabinho looking well past their best.

Naby Keita, James Milner and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain are all out of contract this summer while Arthur Melo's underwhelming loan spell will also end, leaving the manager with even less options at his disposal.

The Reds are expected to pursue deals for the likes of Brighton's Alexis Mac Allister and Chelsea's Mason Mount, but another name has now emerged in Ugarte, who perhaps fits the mould of a Fabinho replacement.

According to reliable reporter Bruno Andrade, speaking to CNN, the Reds have officially spoken to Sporting behind the scenes regarding their midfield enforcer. Klopp is thought to be a big admirer of the player and impressed by his talents, with other reports revealing Ugarte has a £53m price tag.

Should Liverpool sign Ugarte?

If Liverpool are looking for more end product from their midfield signings, then Ugarte is not their man, but if they simply want a tenacious ball-winner in the same vein of their struggling Brazilian no. 3, then Ugarte could be the perfect signing.

Praised for looking like he's "made of steel" by Portuguese newspaper Record earlier this year, talent scout Jacek Kulig calls the 22 year-old Uruguay international a "midfield machine" for his ability to win duels in the centre of the park, something Klopp is certainly missing in his current batch, who have often looked timid and worn down this season.

Ugarte, who has been booked a whopping 14 times this season as well as getting sent off for a brutal tackle during a Europa League win against Arsenal, is a classic ball-winner, ranking extremely highly on FBRef's metrics for tackles, interceptions and blocks.

The Reds could find their new Javier Mascherano if they go through with a deal for Sporting's next rising star.

Celtic are worried that manager Ange Postecoglou has already decided to swap the Scottish Premiership for the Premier League this summer.

Is Postecoglou heading for the Premier League?

The Australian has impressed with his impact on the Celtic side since joining the club in 2021, winning the league twice.

According to Football Insider, Celtic chiefs are fearful that the 57-year-old has already decided to manage a Premier League team.

Tottenham and Leeds United are both said to be interested in hiring him although the latter may not be in the Premier League next season if they are unable to avoid dropping into the relegation zone in their next three games.

It's reported that Premier League clubs have been particularly impressed by the Australian's knowledge of the Asian markets, with his handling of Kyogo Furuhashi and co. an attractive prospect for sides looking to increase their global reach.

Are Celtic vulnerable to a Premier League approach for Postecoglou?

With Celtic already concerned about Postecoglou's ambitions of a Premier League switch, they have not placed themselves in a strong position to hold onto their much-loved manager.

Postecoglou remains on the 12-month contract he signed when he moved to Celtic Park in 2021. This allows him the freedom to leave should he receive an acceptable offer from a Premier League and places Celtic in a very vulnerable position.

According to Football Insider, not only are Celtic worried that the manager has already decided to move to England but they are fearful they will be unable to prevent him from departing.

Is it too late to stop Postecoglou from leaving?

Celtic have little power to stop their manager from leaving especially if he has already decided that he needs to leave to further his career.

Contractually speaking, they could offer him a new deal with more long-term protection but that boat may have already sailed.

Celtic will compete in the Champions League next season but players and managers are drawn to the Premier League for the challenge it presents across the season.

It's important to note that he has yet to be approached by a Premier League side but it's apparent he has his eyes set on a switch to England.

Leeds United's winless run in the Premier League stretched to seven matches after a battling draw against Newcastle United at Elland Road.

The home side took the lead in the early phase of the affair through captain Luke Ayling's emphatic close-range strike before a Callum Wilson brace from the penalty spot left silence pervading across the ground like a foul smell.

Whites striker Patrick Bamford fluffed his lines when presented with a glorious opportunity to double his outfit's advantage in the first half, agonising moments before Wilson collected his first strike of the day.

Elsewhere, the likes of Junior Firpo and Maximilian Wober were shoddy in their defensive duties, with both guilty of giving away penalty kicks.

But the same cannot be said for Rasmus Kristensen, who produced an impressive dynamic display from his newfound home at the centre of the defence, as he was robust in his display against the Magpies storm and popped up when all seemed lost with a scintillating strike, albeit deflected, to restore parity and ensure Leeds did not slide to a third defeat in succession.

How did Rasmus Kristensen perform vs Newcastle?

The former RB Salzburg defender who signed for the West Yorkshire side for £10m last summer, has certainly endured something of a tumultuous journey at the back of his team's system this season, having shipped goals in abundance but shown flashes of brilliance, with Alan Hutton stating that his arrival solved a "huge problem" for the club.

The £40k-per-week gem was named as BT Sport's Player of the Match against Eddie Howe's Newcastle, during which he made five clearances and two interceptions, as per Sofascore, complementing his match-levelling goal.

Kristensen's output at Elland Road has taken his outfit to 31 points in the top flight, now only one point behind Everton, who are an infinitesimal distance away from the danger zone.

Revitalised after spending much of the season's midpoint constricted to the bench, Kristensen has now scored three goals from 19 starts in the Premier League, and having played three consecutive games as a centre-back, he might just have cemented his new role.

Leeds Live stated that Kristensen was "steady and solid, but passing still leaves so much to be desired", so despite his struggles as an adept ball-player, if he can harness his display and turn it into a late-season purple patch, Leeds might just clinch a monumental turnaround and prevent a plummet back into the second tier.

Newcastle United are now on the verge of securing qualification for the Champions League as they sit four points clear of fifth place with two games left to play in the Premier League.

Eddie Howe has done a remarkable job at St. James' Park and it could be another exciting summer of transfer business for the English head coach as the Magpies are tasked with building a squad to compete on the European stage.

One player who is reportedly a target for the Magpies is Barcelona forward Raphinha and the club are willing to pay €80m (£69m) to land the attacker to bolster their squad, with the Spanish giants said to be willing to do business for a fee in that region.

The Brazilian international could come in as the club's next version of former cult hero Hatem Ben Arfa, who was a magician for Newcastle during his time on Tyneside.

How has Raphinha performed this season?

Raphinha has enjoyed an excellent campaign with the Spanish giants and has proven, as the dynamo did with Leeds, that he can provide goals and assists on a regular basis at the top level.

He has scored ten goals and provided 12 assists in 46 games in all competitions after his return of 17 goals and 12 assists in 67 outings for the Yorkshire-based side prior to his move to Spain last summer.

As a left-footed winger that plays off the right, he can also play in a number of other positions in the attack, which could get fans off their seats in the same way that Ben Arfa did.

The Frenchman – currently without a club – scored 14 goals and provided 15 assists in 86 competitive matches for Newcastle as a left-footed forward who enjoyed coming inside onto his favoured foot.

Journalist John Bennett once lauded the gem as "magical" and his invention in the final third, which led to his many goal contributions in a black and white shirt, could be emulated by Raphinha next season.

The £212k-per-week trickster, who was once hailed as a "magical" player by journalist Muhammad Butt, has already proven himself to be an excellent Premier League performer.

In the English top-flight in 2021/22, the 26-year-old phenom scored 11 goals and created ten 'big chances' in 34 starts for the Whites and showcased his quality in the final third on a regular basis, whereas Miguel Almiron has plundered 11 goals and created three 'big chances' for his teammates in 27 starts in the same division this year.

Raphinha is evidently capable of being a difference-maker in the final third by being a regular scorer and creator and he could be a new cult hero, like Ben Arfa, by producing magical moments for the supporters in the Premier League and Champions League next term.

Therefore, Toon chief Dan Ashworth must follow up his tentative interest in the Brazil international with an actual bid when the transfer window reopens for business.

Manchester United's ownership battle and the time it may take for someone to eventually assume control of the club isn't something that has been clearly defined and is flexible, according to journalist Ben Jacobs.

What's the latest on the ownership situation at Manchester United?

As per BBC Sport, both Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani and Jim Ratcliffe's petrochemicals firm INEOS have submitted offers to take over Manchester United.

Qatari businessman Sheikh Jassim wants to lay claim to 100% control of the club, while INEOS want to buy out 69% of the Glazer family's shares and are open to leaving the rest on the New York Stock Exchange.

The Mirror report that Avram Glazer was spotted leaving a hotel with Sheikh Jassim's father in London known as Claridge's Hotel; however, the outlet understand that the billionaire is set to lose out to Ratcliffe in the ongoing bidding war.

Ratcliffe is said to be 'very confident' of winning control of Manchester United in light of recent discussions involving his firm and The Raine Group, who are intermediaries in the process of the sale.

Speaking to Football FanCast, journalist Jacobs has said that there is no straight deadline for the deal to be completed.

Jacobs told GMS: "I think the final decision from the Glazers will all just depend on valuation and I still think that there's probably a little more verbal back and forth to come. But the formal deadlines are gone, which means that any interactions are fluid and there's a fair amount, therefore, of back channelling and flexibility also needed from both of the groups, which can allow things to move faster. It's a little bit superficial to put it in transfer terms. But if you think about a transfer, you have a formal bid, and you can have verbal offers and negotiation, and the formal aspect of a listed deadline has perhaps passed and now there's that element of finessing and verbal back and forth, which can allow you to potentially get the deal done a little bit quicker. I think that that's where we're at now, where the groups are communicating and understanding whether or not they have an offer on the table that is being genuinely considered, or they potentially need to adapt and make a new offer."

What about Manchester United on the pitch?

Of course, boardroom matters can't be manipulated or controlled by Manchester United manager Erik Ten Hag or his playing staff; however, they can help to make the club a more attractive prospect for new ownership to invest in by finishing the season in a strong fashion.

Securing a top-four finish has to be the priority for the Red Devils, who are guaranteed a Champions League spot if they defeat Bournemouth, Chelsea and Fulham in their last three Premier League matches before the close of play.

Manchester United are also in FA Cup final action in early June against rivals Manchester City, which could yield a second piece of silverware this season following their Carabao Cup win in February.

For Ten Hag, all of his focus will be squarely on the task at hand before gearing up for a busy summer period that could see multiple incomings and outgoings at Old Trafford.