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West Ham United apparently fear a mass exodus from the club if they’re relegated with Said Benrahma coming as one of the players who could depart.

The Lowdown: Hammers face drop…

David Moyes’ men are in serious danger of dropping to the Championship after what has been a season to forget domestically for the east Londoners.

West Ham currently sit 18th in the Premier League table, having lost 14 games and winning just six, all the while being among the division’s lowest goal scorers.

One shining light for Moyes’ side is that they actually boast the best defensive record of any side in the bottom ten bar Chelsea, potentially giving them something to build upon in the latter stages of this season.

Amid this relegation worry, though, it is now believed that more players could leave West Ham alongside the heavily mooted potential departure of star midfielder Declan Rice.

The Latest: West Ham hold Benrahma fear…

As per club insider Claret & Hugh, as well as the England international, West Ham are worried that midfielder Benrahma could be one of the players pushing to leave if they go down.

The Algeria international would apparently be unhappy to drop back down after securing a move to West Ham from Brentford in 2020/2021.

Winger Jarrod Bowen is another squad member who could want to quit the London Stadium in West Ham’s worst case scenario.

The Hammers hierarchy have also apparently written wage cut clauses into all contracts should they get relegated.

The Verdict: Worrying times…

Benrahma can be a player of real talent and poise in the forward areas when playing at his very best.

As per WhoScored, the 27-year-old sits joint-top of West Ham’s charts for most attempts at goal per 90 in the top flight and also completes more take-ons per 90 than any Irons player.

Benrahma one of West Ham’s most prolific in terms of key passes per 90 with only Bowen and left-back Aaron Cresswell making more per match (WhoScored).

Called ‘magic’ by former West Ham winger Trevor Sinclair, losing the attacker could be a blow for Moyes if they go down.

Chelsea's hopes of securing a European finish in the Premier League this season have been handed a big boost this week, as Raheem Sterling has returned to first-team training after a spell out injured.

What's the latest on Sterling's injury issue?

The former Manchester City and Liverpool star was ruled out of recent games against Leicester City and Everton through injury, which came as a big blow to Graham Potter after his impressive goalscoring performance against Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League.

He wasn't fit enough to earn a call-up to Gareth Southgate's England squad during the international break but has used the time to recover from his setback, and is now back in training ahead of this weekend's game against Aston Villa.

Could Sterling could reignite Chelsea?

It has been a tough time for Sterling since moving to Stamford Bridge last summer, as he has managed just four goals and two assists in 19 Premier League appearances, averaging a disappointing 6.73 rating from WhoScored for his performances.

However, he had impressed in each of his last two outings, earning 7.36 and 7.31 ratings from WhoScored in the wins against Leeds United and Dortmund, suggesting his return could be timely.

Despite his struggles in the final third so far this campaign, the England international is still the second top-scorer in Potter's squad behind only Kai Havertz, which suggests that he can be relied upon to deliver in the final third.

With the Blues looking like they are finally starting to click after a barren run of form in front of goal, the opportunities will surely start to arrive for Chelsea's attackers, and Sterling will surely be one to benefit, helping to reignite the club in the process.

The 28-year-old notched 131 goals and 95 assists during his time at the Etihad and Chelsea need to start seeing those numbers to justify bringing him to the club on a mammoth £325k-per-week deal last summer.

Former Premier League striker Tony Cascarino was full of praise for the Jamaican-born winger on talkSPORT last season, saying:

“Raheem Sterling has just been frightening. The year he has had since the Euros – he was brilliant then.

“This season, I thought, when they signed Jack Grealish I though Raheem might be a bit part player in this City team but he’s become an absolute permanent fixture. Left or right, he is ripping people apart."

Therefore, if Potter can unleash this version of Sterling in the final few months of the season, then the Blues have a real chance of surging up the table and ensuring that they have some form of European football next year.

Manchester United bolstered their Champions League hopes with a commanding 2-0 win over Everton at Old Trafford on Saturday afternoon, with Erik ten Hag's men yet again making the most of home advantage after beating Brentford just a few days earlier.

Having produced a "lifeless" display against Newcastle United just under a week ago – according to Manchester Evening News journalist, Samuel Luckhurst – the Red Devils were full of vigour this time around, notably ending the first half having had 21 attempts on goal, the most of any team in the Premier League this season.

Despite that dominance, the hosts only held a narrow one-goal lead heading in at the break, with Scott McTominay – who scored four for Scotland while on international duty – eventually making the breakthrough with a fine finish from the angle.

With United perhaps fearing that their spate of missed chances would come back to bite them – including a horror miss from Aaron Wan-Bissaka from close range – substitute Anthony Martial then made sure of the points with just under 20 minutes left to play, the Frenchman converting from close range after Marcus Rashford had capitalised on a rare Seamus Coleman mistake.

On a rather serene day for the top-four hopefuls, the standout performer was undoubtedly that of Bruno Fernandes, with the game's Man of the Match having registered a staggering tally of six key passes from his 117 touches, having been "balling" in his deep-lying role – according to presenter Terry Flewers.

That classy outing from the midfield maestro saw the 28-year-old record a standout match rating of 8.0, as per Sofascore, with that only bettered by opposition stopper Jordan Pickford among any player for either side.

The former Sporting CP ace was not alone in having bossed the midfield for Ten Hag's men, however, with that man McTominay also having been "superb", according to former MEN writer Hesham Bilal-Hafiz.

How did McTominay perform against Everton?

The 26-year-old has been offered the chance to impress in the absence of influential Brazilian, Casemiro in recent games, with it looking as if the United academy graduate has taken that opportunity with both hands due to his starring role earlier today.

Not only did the £60k-per-week man lash home his close-range effort in sumptuous style, but he also had a "very good game" overall, according to The Athletic's Laurie Whitwell, having provided a real dynamic presence in the centre of the park.

While the 6 foot 4 menace did lose possession on 17 occasions, he was able to provide a creative spark alongside Fernandes, having contributed three key passes in his 90-minute outing, while also creating one big chance.

It was McTominay's brilliance defensively that particularly caught the eye, however, as he won 11 of his total duels on the day, notably winning 100% of his aerial duels as an indication as to the physical prowess that the Lancaster-born brute can offer to the side.

That all-action display earned the 39-cap menace a solid 7.5 match rating, as per Sofascore, with that a fine reward for what was a promising performance both on an individual and collective basis.

While tougher tests may lie ahead for Ten Hag and co, the former Ajax boss can take great encouragement from today's dominant win, amid what is a hectic and relentless run of games.

Mikel Arteta can get his Arsenal side back to winning ways against West Ham United today after handing the initiative to Manchester City as they chase the Premier League title.

The Hammers are struggling near the foot of the table, and it gives Arsenal the ideal chance to secure a vital three points and give them a boost heading into their following tie at home to Southampton this coming Friday.

Arteta has confirmed that William Saliba will remain absent for today's tie, saying: "William is still not available. He’s progressing well, and we’re hopeful that we’ll have him available in the next few weeks. We’ll have to see.

"He’s not far off starting to do that. Obviously, we need to be cautious because of the injury, but he’s evolving well.”

This is a blow for the club, and although Rob Holding has been deputising for the injured Frenchman in recent weeks, his performance against Liverpool was poor, losing possession 15 times and winning just four duels.

This could give Arteta the licence to unleash January signing Jakub Kiwior against West Ham and give him an opportunity to shine.

Will Jakub Kiwior start for Arsenal against West Ham?

Having joined the Gunners in January for £20m, the Polish centre-back has had few chances to showcase his abilities thus far, making only three appearances.

Football talent scout Jacek Kulig had previously dubbed the 23-year-old as “a very positive surprise” for his performances earlier this term in Serie A, and he could spring a surprise against West Ham later this afternoon.

Across 17 matches in the Italian top flight for Spezia during the first half of the campaign, he won 51% of his total duels, made 1.3 tackles, 1.4 interceptions and four clearances per match, suggesting he was a reliable figure at the heart of the defence.

He also starred at the 2022 World Cup, ranking as Poland’s tenth-best performer during the competition as they reached the last-16 stage for the first time since 1986.

Throwing him into the deep end would be a bold and surprising call by Arteta, especially with the pressure ramping up following their dropped points last weekend. However, these are decisions that could win titles, and the 5 foot 11 brute is more than capable of slotting into the defence with ease given his previous experience.

Arteta has decided to field him in important games before, having appeared in the Europa League as well as in the closing stages at Anfield, so he must trust the defender's ability and presumably brought him in during the winter for this very purpose.

Three points are all that matters for Arsenal today and Arteta will be hoping they can bounce back from last week.

Insider ExWHUEmployee has revealed that possible West Ham United manager target Rafa Benitez wants a longer contract than the club are willing to offer.

What's the latest on Rafa Benitez and West Ham?

With just nine Premier League games left to play, it's safe to say that it has been quite a rocky season for the Hammers regardless of what happens over the coming weeks.

Indeed, the Irons are currently caught in an unexpected relegation battle, 14th in the division, just three points above the bottom three.

For the last few months, it's felt as if manager David Moyes has perpetually been on the brink but the 59-year-old has so far been backed by the board.

It now turns out, perhaps the club have been unwilling to sack the coach as one of their preferred potential replacements hasn't been open to what was on the table at West Ham should he arrive.

Indeed, while speaking on the latest The West Ham Way podcast, Ex revealed that Benitez supposedly wants a long-term contract but the board aren't so keen on that.

The insider explained (10:50): "Apparently Rafa Benitez is another manager that we've considered, but he wants a long-term contract and we only wanted to give him six months."

Why won't Benitez take the West Ham manager job?

Seeing as Moyes has been under pressure for quite some time now – in December he was booed by his own fans at the London Stadium – discussions about a future manager may have been going on for months.

With that in mind, the club may have approached Benitez with the idea of just giving him until the summer to help steady to the club and potentially prove himself – hence the six-month offer.

By the sounds of it, though, the 62-year-old Spaniard wasn't on board with that. Interestingly enough, his name also came up when linked with the Leicester City job.

The Foxes have gone for Dean Smith now, who will stay until the end of the season, and so maybe Benitez was also offered that interim role but turned it down as he may have done with West Ham.

He certainly has spoken about his ability to be picky with the job offers he gets. In an interview with the Daily Mail recently he said: “The good thing I have is that because I have managed so many years and because I was successful, I can decide.

“I have had around 20 offers since I left Everton. National teams, different teams in Asia, in the Emirates, in Mexico. National teams everywhere.

“Some teams in England, some teams in Spain. The reality is you need to find the right one, the team that will allow you to build.”

And so this certainly backs up Ex's claim that the Spaniard simply wasn't keen on the short-term offer made to him by West Ham.

Aston Villa are willing to trigger a release clause to sign Real Mallorca attacker Kang-in Lee this summer.

What’s the latest transfer news on Villa and Lee?

Unai Emery is set to be backed with a ‘huge’ summer budget ahead of his first full season in charge after making just two signings in the January window.

One player who was linked with a move to Villa Park earlier in the year was Lee, with reports suggesting that Villa offered an initial €13.5m for the 22-year-old’s services during the winter window. However, it looks as if the club could now go one step further to sign Lee, who can play as an attacking midfielder or winger.

One Spanish outlet provided an update on Lee’s situation in the last 48 hours, claiming that those from Villa Park are once again interested in his services.

The report states how Villa, and by extension owners NSWE and sporting director Johan Lange, are willing to pay the player’s €18m (£15.8m) release clause to bring him to England this summer. Lee is expected to leave the La Liga side this summer, with Mallorca preparing to ‘make a round deal’.

Should Villa sign Lee?

Lee is a versatile left-footed attacker who was labelled an “outstanding talent” by Valencia academy director Luis Vicente Mateo. The South Korea international now has plenty of experience in Spain, making 61 appearances for former employers Valencia and 65 for Mallorca. In total, Lee has contributed to 16 La Liga goals, and you’d like to think that there is room for improvement on his already impressive game at the age of 22.

As per WhoScored, Lee has been one of Mallorca’s top performers this season and has actually outperformed every Villa player aside from Ollie Watkins. The attacking midfielder has averaged more key passes and dribbles than any Mallorca or Villa attacker per 90 during the current campaign and has picked up more Player of the Match awards than any player from both sides.

Therefore, at €18m, a move to the Midlands could be a shrewd one, with Emery potentially taking Lee’s game to the next level over the coming years. Villa also don’t have an out-and-out attacking midfielder on the books at this moment in time, as per Transfermarkt, so Lee could be the creative spark needed at the club heading into the 2023/24 season, and by the looks of it, a transfer is one to follow closely over the coming months.

Aston Villa's ten-match unbeaten run in the Premier League came to an end on Sunday as Unai Emery's side lost 1-0 to Manchester United at Old Trafford.

Bruno Fernandes' first-half goal was enough to secure all three points for the home side but the Villans remain in contention to secure a place in Europe for next season as they currently sit seventh in the table as it stands.

Whilst the head coach may look to refresh his squad with new additions to bolster the squad in 2023/24, Emery could add to his first-team group by bringing young starlets up from the academy.

Sebastian Revan, Tommi O'Reilly, and Kadan Young were all named on the bench against United and this shows that the Spanish boss is willing to offer chances to U21 squad members.

Who is Kadan Young?

One of those players in Young is an "exciting" – as dubbed by reporter Ashley Preece – young winger who has caught the eye in the academy this season.

The teenage forward was handed a professional contract by the club in January and journalist Matt Maher described the gem as "one to watch" moving forward, which – along with his inclusion on Sunday – highlights the dynamo's potential.

Despite only turning 17 this year, the attacker has been directly involved in four goals (two assists and two goals) in nine appearances for the U21s this term, whilst the wizard has also produced one goal and two assists in three U18 matches.

This means that the playmaker has racked up seven goal contributions in 12 league outings at youth level this season, which is better than an involvement every other game.

These statistics suggest that the forward has the quality to make things happen in the final third and his emergence could threaten Leon Bailey's position at the club.

How has Leon Bailey performed this season?

The Jamaica international has been an inconsistent performer for Villa in the Premier League and has not been able to regularly deliver in the final third.

Bailey has scored four goals and provided three assists in 29 top-flight appearances for the club this term, which means that the forward has chipped in with a direct goal contribution once every 4.12 matches. Whereas, Young has managed one every 1.86 games for the U18 and U21 sides combined in 2022/23.

The current first-team winger has not been a standout performer for the Villans, as shown by his lacklustre return at the top end of the pitch, and Emery could use pre-season to determine whether Young is ready to step up and be the heir to the ex-Bayer Leverkusen man's position out wide.

If the 17-year-old can translate his stunning youth form over to the senior squad then he could burst onto the scene next term as the club's newest star from the academy, replacing Bailey on the wing, or it may take a season out on loan before the maestro is able to make his impact at Villa Park.

Liverpool will continue their unlikely pursuit of Champions League qualification when they welcome Brentford to Anfield on Saturday evening with the knowledge that dropping points would all but confirm their fate outside the top four.

An abysmal campaign has left Jurgen Klopp's outfit without major silverware, with the Reds occupying fifth place in the Premier League after 34 matches.

Brighton & Hove Albion's dramatic victory at the death over Manchester United on Thursday night did improve their minute chances of a late surge, but the Red Devils and third-placed Newcastle United boast four and six-point advantages over Liverpool respectively, while both have a game in hand.

However, five wins on the trot certainly leave the Merseyside outfit in good stead to pounce on any mishaps of their foes, with Klopp seemingly finding the formula that has evaded his men for so long this term – though it might indeed be too little too late.

Regardless, defeating Thomas Frank's Brentford is paramount and will certainly increase the pressure on the aforementioned opposition.

In order to unlock a mean defence and sturdy structure, we think Liverpool's German boss must return Harvey Elliott to the starting fold, with the exciting prodigy capable of sinking the Bees with his fleet-footed gait and creative flair.

Should Klopp start Elliott v Brentford?

Elliott has been an ever-present for his team this season, playing 43 matches across all competitions, scoring five goals and two assists. However, he has been an unused substitute for four of his club's past six league outings, starting just once in this period.

The 20-year-old maestro undoubtedly needs to work on his physicality, but at such a young age, he has plenty of time to make the requisite adjustments.

Regardless, he boasts plenty of pleasing attributes that could be utilised against the west London outfit, with FBref ranking the £46k-per-week star among the top 9% of midfielders for shot-creating actions over the past year, as well as the top 8% for progressive carries, the top 14% for progressive passes and the top 14% for blocks per 90.

While captain Jordan Henderson might offer greater leadership and an industrious grip, Elliott's creativity could pay dividends.

A "special" talent, as proclaimed by Fabrizio Romano, the one-time Fulham youth does need to crank the defensive side of his game up a notch, with Sofascore recording just 0.8 tackles and 0.5 interceptions per game, but with his rate of 2.3 ground duels per match (a 49% win rate) besting Henderson's 1.4 (at a win rate of 51%), he certainly has the foundation to build upon and round his scope as he continues to improve.

Against Brentford, Liverpool simply have to win, and as such, need a player who can "make things happen", as Elliott has been hailed by Reds writer Leanne Prescott.

There is a small chance that the table might turn in the battle for Champions League qualification this season, and if top-four territory is ceded, Elliott's skills will leave Klopp's team in good stead to narrow the margin and pull off a remarkable turnaround.

Tottenham Hotspur seemingly have a new frontrunner for their managerial vacancy with each passing week, however recently it seems to have settled on two outstanding candidates amongst the other fine options that remain.

That pair is Julian Nagelsmann and Luis Enrique.

Who will Tottenham's next manager be?

As the two with comfortably the most top-level experience of those being touted, it makes sense that Daniel Levy would want such knowledgeable heads to oversee the transformation of his club. Especially when the task at hand is so monumental.

The latter has overseen some of the greatest players of this generation through his exploits with Barcelona and the Spanish national team, with a 4-3-3 philosophy that worked with incredible success; particularly with the former.

Were he to conjure a similar triumph in north London, he would need the requisite additions to bolster this threadbare side. There are certain profiles of players that helped him to earn such an overflowing trophy cabinet.

One such asset that was paramount to this was Andres Iniesta, who provided that midfield grit combined with a quality on the ball that few players in world football have boasted.

The Spaniard is a true legend of the game, as he floated through matches with unbridled elegance and supreme intelligence.

Although there is a long way to go for one such teenager, Levy could secure Enrique the perfect platform with which to forge another player akin to the 38-year-old; after all, the rumours do continue to link Alex Scott with a £30m move to north London, who was videoed seemingly waving goodbye to his supporters earlier this week.

Who is Alex Scott?

The 19-year-old sensation has burst onto the English football scene of late, starring in the engine room of an underwhelming Bristol City side.

Having enjoyed six goal contributions this season from 42 Championship appearances, this lack of statistical excellence is actually incredibly similar to Iniesta's contribution to Barcelona.

During the 2015/16 season, of which Enrique was in charge and they would win their famous treble, the midfield artist maintained a 7.36 average rating despite only scoring once all year.

However, his 88% pass accuracy, 71% dribble success and two tackles per game paint the picture of a hard-working magician capable of playing his team out of trouble to allow the forwards to flourish, via Sofascore.

Although on a much smaller scale, Scott does currently rank in the top 12% for progressive carries per 90 when compared to other midfielders across Europe, suggesting he too possesses such quality.

Given his youth, it was no surprise to see teammate Kai Naismith rush to laud him:

"Like a [Steven] Gerrard kind of (player) – obviously I don't want to make that comparison, he's got a long way to go. He's tall enough, he's maybe six foot, he can run all day, he's hard in the tackle, really good on the ball."

He continued: "His past 5-6 games, he's been tremendous. I can honestly see him going to a top four/five team in the Prem."

With a composure on the ball that belies his youth, and that dogged work rate outlined in his 1.8 tackles per game, the platform is there for Enrique to mould his next Iniesta in N17.

Wolverhampton Wanderers are safe from relegation and are reportedly already looking ahead to the summer transfer window as the 2022/23 campaign draws to a close.

When Julen Lopetegui took over in November, Wolves were bottom of the table and in terrible form, but with three games to go the Midlands club sit in 13th with four wins in their last six.

The Spaniard has transformed the squad inherited from Bruno Lage into one that can remain securely in the Premier League, however with still a long way to go in terms of improvement, the former Real Madrid boss has turned his attention to spending in the summer.

Wolves have struggled for goals this season, with their top scorers in all competitions being Daniel Podence and Ruben Neves both on six for the season.

Neither of the two are traditional strikers, highlighting what Lopetegui is missing to get his side firing however, it’s believed that a “prolific striker” is the prime target in the summer – as per Football Insider.

His team’s goal-getting drought could be ended soon, with the club linked to a forward with 22 goals this season.

What is the latest on Viktor Gyokeres to Wolves?

Last week Football Insider’s transfer expert Pete O’Rourke stated that Coventry City striker Viktor Gyokeres is on Lopetegui’s radar.

The 24-year-old talisman is a player that Wolves are “pushing the hardest” to sign, with the report suggesting that his availability relies on the Sky Blues’ promotion status, as the forward is out of contract next summer.

As per O’Rourke, the Midlands club are aiming to 'steal a march' on the other clubs rivalling his signature by getting the deal done early, with his fee reported to be between £15m-£20m should Coventry fail to gain promotion via the play offs.

What could Viktor Gyokeres bring to Wolves?

With 21 goals in the Championship this season, and one in the FA Cup, Gyokeres is a face that defenders in the second division have feared coming up against all season.

Blackburn Rovers defender Dom Hyam was full of praise for the Swede, who is the league’s second-highest scorer this season.

“I don’t think he’s got a ceiling,” Hyam told The Sportsman, adding that the striker’s strengths are “so rare” and believes there is “nothing he’s bad at."

Gaining high praise from an opposing player proves the 24-year-old is one Wolves should be chasing this summer, his statistics support claims and reveal he excels in comparison to the club's current strike options.

While Gyokeres has found the net 20 times more in the league than both Diego Costa and Raul Jimenez combined, his numbers per 90 minutes are outstanding in comparison to Lopetegui’s forwards.

As per FBref, the Swede averages 2.15 successful take-ons per game, with Jimenez scoring a woeful 0.48 and Costa 0.32.

He’s more active in the box too than the duo, registering 7.16 touches in the penalty area per 90, incomparable to Jimenez’s 4.95 and Costa’s 4.41. The Championship star provides an attacking threat more than netting goals and has fared far better than the current options on show at Molineux.

Only time will tell if Wolves can get their man, however, there is no denying the impact the 24-year-old could add to Lopetegui’s attack.