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Newcastle United ended their remarkable 22/23 Premier League campaign on a high after earning a point at Stamford Bridge in a thrilling 1-1 draw, having qualified for next season’s Champions League last week.

Eddie Howe’s side were unable to secure victory against Chelsea, who have plummeted to mid-table obscurity and finish in 12th place after a woeful season, though demonstrated their grit and determination after holding on against the home side’s second-half onslaught.

Anthony Gordon opened his account for the Tyneside club after netting his first goal since completing a £45m move from Everton in January and staked his claim for a prominent role next term after struggling to find his feet across the maiden phase of his career with United.

While the fleet-footed winger will steal most of the headlines for his point-securing goal, it was midfield machine Elliot Anderson who deserves the plaudits for impressing during one of his rare starting appearances in the Premier League, grabbing the assist for his outfit’s solitary strike on the afternoon.

How did Elliot Anderson perform vs Chelsea?

The Magpies’ homegrown talent has not played with consistent regularity under Howe’s wing this season, but he has impressed when called upon and looks to be a reliable option for his manager, especially when considering the increase in competition next year.

The £4m-rated starlet makes his midfield work look “effortless” – as former boss Steve Bruce proclaimed – and plays with a composure that belies his 20 years of age and inexperience (the contest at Stamford Bridge was Anderson’s third league start of the campaign).

Against Chelsea, he produced another all-encompassing display and complemented his “perfect” pass for Gordon’s goal – as it was described by the Chronicle’s Lee Ryder – with an impressive blend of composure, tenacity and guile.

As per Sofascore, the “huge talent” – as he was once heralded by Joey Barton – recorded an average match rating of 7.0, making 37 touches, completing 86% of his passes, succeeding with two of his three attempted dribbles and winning four of his seven duels.

Dominic Scurr gave the Scotland U21 international an 8/10 match rating for his feats and said: ‘Grabbed his first Premier League assist in only third start. Was really tidy in possession and was a threat going forward with some teasing balls into the penalty area. Ran himself into the ground before being taken off.’

For a player that has played a peripheral role in the top-flight this term, Anderson is exuding confidence and could grow into a central role at St. James’s Park over the next few years.

With more stellar showings such as the one against Chelsea, he will certainly have left his manager pensively reflecting upon the best way to fit the youngster into his plans.

An update has emerged on Glasgow Rangers and their plans to improve their attacking options in the upcoming summer transfer window…

What's the latest on Sam Lammers to Rangers?

According to Monday's edition of The Scottish Daily Mail [via Ibrox News], the Light Blues are keeping tabs on Sampdoria's loanee centre-forward, Sam Lammers.

The report claims that the Dutch number nine is one of a number of players on the club's shortlist as they attempt to replace Alfredo Morelos, who is set to depart on a free transfer this summer.

It is stated that the Serie A attacker, whose parent club is Atalanta, is also out of contract in the coming weeks and this means that the Gers could snap him up for nothing ahead of the 2023/24 campaign.

Who is Sam Lammers?

He is a 26-year-old striker from the Netherlands who has struggled since leaving his home country to play in Italy and Rangers could get him back to his best by partnering the ace with Todd Cantwell next season.

Since the start of the 2020/21 campaign, Lammers has scored five league goals for Empoli, Atalanta, Sampdoria, and Eintracht Frankfurt combined and this run of form does not suggest that the attacker would be a good signing for the Light Blues.

However, the former Dutch U21 international, who talent scout Jacek Kulig hailed as "two-footed", enjoyed a prolific spell in the Eredivisie and for PSV at youth level and Michael Beale could have some player on his hands if he is able to get him on top form.

Lammers scored 19 goals and provided five assists in 35 appearances for Heerenveen in all competitions in 2018/19 after he caught the eye during his time in PSV's academy.

The marksman plundered an impressive 46 goals and 21 assists in 101 appearances for the Dutch giants at U19 and U21 level combined.

These statistics suggest that the £17k-per-week finisher has the potential to be a prolific scorer, and provider, at Ibrox if he can get back to the levels of form he displayed at PSV and Heerenveen and Cantwell could help him to do just that.

The Englishman was a shining light in the Scottish Premiership in the second half of the season after joining from Norwich in the January window.

He averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.36 across 14 appearances in the division and contributed with six goals and four assists from the middle of the park.

The maestro also created five 'big chances' for his teammates and made 1.3 key passes per game, which shows that the magician is capable of opening up the opposition's defence to create opportunities for his teammates.

Therefore, Cantwell could be exactly the man Lammers needs to return to his goalscoring best as the Norfolk-born wizard could present him with chances to find the back of the net on a regular basis in the Premiership, which could make them an exciting pairing for the Light Blues.

Celtic are now lining up Jesse Marsch as a potential successor to Ange Postecoglou, according to a recent report from Sky Sports.

What's the latest Celtic manager news?

With Postecoglou's departure now confirmed, Celtic have already been linked with a number of potential replacements for the 57-year-old, including David Moyes, and journalist Santi Aouna reports the 60-year-old is the club's "priority" target.

Former Chelsea boss Graham Potter has also emerged as an option for the Hoops, while the Daily Mail highlight the likes of Lucien Favre and Kjetil Knutsen as potential targets, with the latter impressing during his time with Norwegian side Bodo/Glimt.

Journalist Jan Aage Fjortoft has urged the Hoops to make a move for Knutsen, due to his "attractive" brand of football, but there will be competition for his signature, with Ajax also being linked.

According to a report from Sky Sports, Marsch is in the frame to replace Postecoglou, with Celtic lining the former Leeds boss up as a potential option, having already started work on appointing a successor to the Australian.

The American is looking for a route back into football after leaving Leeds last season, previously being linked with moves to Southampton, and more recently French side AS Monaco.

The 49-year-old is one of the managers currently being considered, however there are a plethora of other options, including former boss Brendan Rodgers, and Manchester City coach Enzo Maresca.

Should Celtic appoint Jesse Marsch?

Although he was ultimately sacked by Leeds, the Wisconsin-born manager left the club when they were outside the relegation zone, and there is evidence he would have been able to turn their form around at the back end of the season.

In the 2021-22 campaign, the former Red Bull Salzburg boss led his side to safety on the final day, while he has also experienced a great deal of success in his previous roles, amassing a total of five trophies during spells with Salzburg and New York Red Bulls.

Not only does Marsch have a previous track record of winning silverware, he is known for an attacking style of play, implementing a gegenpressing system, which means he could be a suitable candidate to take the reins from Postecoglou.

Hailed as a "brilliant" coach by members of the media, Marsch could be a very astute appointment for Celtic, given that he is a proven winner, and he plays an exciting brand of football.

After sealing promotion to the Premier League with plenty of time to spare, Burnley must now compile a squad strong enough to remain in the division.

A new full-back is said to be on Vincent Kompany's list of targets, with The Sun reporting that he may just get a helping hand from Manchester City in a possible transfer merry-go-round.

City are said to be interested in signing Raphael Guerreiro, who is out of contract at Borussia Dortmund this summer, which would pave the way for Sergio Gomez to depart for Burnley.

Who are Burnley looking to sign?

Burnley have been linked with a whole array of players since earning promotion nearly two months ago, including the likes of Cody Drameh, Jack Clarke, Habib Diallo and now Gomez.

Having completely transformed the club's style of play since taking charge 12 months ago, Kompany has also shown he can spot a talent when he sees one.

Indeed, from the £11m earned from Nick Pope's sale to Newcastle United, the Clarets recruited seven players in his place who played their part in a sensational campaign.

Kompany has put his City links to good use, too, with Taylor Harwood-Bellis coming in on loan last season – and possibly staying on this term – and CJ Egan-Riley arriving permanently.

Furthermore, Kompany managed Gomez during their time at Anderlecht, so it is a transfer that would make sense in more ways than one.

How has Gomez performed at Man City?

After being brought to the Etihad Stadium from Anderlecht for a fee of £11m, Gomez has frustratingly been restricted to just ten starts in all competitions this season, only two of those in the Premier League.

In classic Pep Guardiola fashion, the £50k-per-week earner has showcased his versatility across those matches by appearing at left-back six times, as per WhoScored, as well in a left-sided forward role and central midfield.

It is that ability to play comfortably not just at full-back but also further forward, even in a central position, that led to Guardiola hailing Gomez as a "perfect" player for City and likening him to Oleksandr Zinchenko, who has continued to show his versatility at Arsenal.

It would be fair to say Gomez has not exactly had a proper chance to demonstrate his talents at City, reflected by his solitary assist and no goals across 23 appearances, the vast majority of those from the substitutes' bench.

But it was the six goals and 13 assists Gomez managed in 26 games for Anderlecht in 2021-22, and his seven direct goal involvements for Spain at U21 level, that persuaded City to splash out an eight-figure sum.

Described as a "full-back, playmaker, king of assists and winger" by football talent scout Jacek Kulig, the 22-year-old – who has also previously represented Barcelona B and Borussia Dortmund – will no doubt be eager for more regular football in order to hit something close to those figures again.

It is at Burnley under Pep protégée Kompany that his chance to truly shine in English football may arrive.

Manchester United are showing interest in Juventus winger Federico Chiesa ahead of the summer transfer window, with Erik ten Hag looking to add some quality to his attacking department.

What’s the latest on Federico Chiesa to Manchester United?

According to Italian outlet Corriere dello Sport (via TEAMtalk), the Red Devils are keen on making a surprise move for Chiesa, with the player looking for a move away from the Serie A side.

Juventus will consider bids in the region of €35m (£30m) for the Italian international, which considering his form before his horrific knee injury suffered in 2022, suggests Ten Hag would be securing a potential bargain, especially if he could get him back to his best.

Could Federico Chiesa improve Manchester United?

Before missing the majority of 2022, the 25-year-old had scored 18 goals and grabbed 14 assists since arriving in Turin at the start of the 2020/2021 campaign, underlining his attacking qualities from the left wing.

His form hasn’t been quite as sparkling since recovering, which is understandable, yet he has still managed four goals and six assists during 2022/2023, a decent enough return and a solid pre-season will surely have him back to his best.

Chiesa is statistically similar to Arsenal starlet Bukayo Saka according to FBref, with the Englishman the third-most comparable player to the Italian and given that he has been on fire over the previous few seasons, registering 44 goal contributions, it certainly isn’t a bad comparison to have.

Indeed, this season has seen the pair register similar stats across a variety of attacking metrics such as shots per 90 (2.75 to 2.43), shot-creating actions per 90 (4.56 to 4.34) and goal-creating actions per 90 (0.79 to 0.63), displaying their eye for creating scoring opportunities for both themselves and others.

Both Chiesa and Saka count crossing and holding onto the ball as key strengths according to WhoScored, while they both have a similar style of play as the pair like to cut inside on a regular basis, fashioning chance after chance and this must come into Ten Hag’s thinking if he is considering launching a bid for the player.

He was lauded as “incredible” by journalist Jack Gallagher and having also shone on the international stage, helping Italy win their first European Championship in 53 years after defeating England at Wembley in 2021, he has plenty of experience and a move to Old Trafford shouldn’t faze him in the slightest.

For just £30m, the move is a gamble that could be worth every penny should he recapture his previous form.

Sunderland have gone continental in their search for another new striker as Tony Mowbray looks to further add to a squad capable of challenging for Premier League promotion once again.

What are the latest Sunderland transfer rumours?

The Black Cats suffered a disappointing playoff semi-final loss to Luton Town a little over a month ago, but since then they have moved to bring in Nectarios Triantis, Jobe Bellingham and Luis 'Hemir' Semedo.

Semedo impressed for Benfica B last season but is still a relative rookie, having yet to play any senior football, and that could mean Mowbray spreading his proverbial net further out in search for an unpolished gem.

French outlet Le Parisien reports that Rennes forward Matthis Abline may be just the player, with the Black Cats said to be keeping an eye on his situation.

Who is Rennes forward Matthis Abline?

Abline has already played 38 times in Ligue 1 and also has four Europa League appearances to his name, which includes a goal in Rennes' 1-1 group-stage draw with Larnaca last season.

With that strike, he overtook El-Hadji Diouf as Rennes' youngest scorer in European competition, earning praise from football reporter Tom Maston as "another top talent" to emerge through the club's academy.

That was one of just four senior goals the youngster has netted, suggesting he is hardly the 15-goal-plus attacker many Championship clubs crave, but 22 of his 30 league appearances with Rennes and loan side Auxerre came as a substitute last season.

The 20-year-old is also attracting interest from French sides Strasbourg and Lorient, while Rennes value him at €8m (£7m), so he clearly has something about him.

Indeed, while there is definitely room for improvement in terms of his goal return, FBref ranks Abline in the top 15% for progressive carries per 90 minutes (1.96) in comparison to his positional peers across Europe's top five leagues, and top 14% for both successful take-ons (1.20) and touches in the opposition penalty box (5.81).

To give those numbers some context, at a lower level last season, the highly-regarded Ellis Simms registered 1.92 progressive carries per 90 minutes for Sunderland, 0.48 successful take-ons and 4.64 touches in the opposition box.

Abline also stands out in terms of various defensive metrics such as interceptions (0.34 per 90 minutes) and blocks (0.77) – putting him in the top 16% and 18% respectively among his peers – which shows he is capable of doing both sides of the game.

With Amad Diallo back at Manchester United and Jack Clarke continually linked with a move away, it might well be that France U21 international Abline is considered an ideal option to partner the returning Ross Stewart.

Stewart's 1.12 goals and assists per 90 last season was the third-best return of any Championship players to have played 10 games or more, meaning he is capable of taking care of that side of things.

If Abline can add some goals to his game, the data shows he can be an upgrade on Simms at the Stadium of Light, which will in turn only benefit Stewart when he is fully back up to speed.

Everton are targeting a deal to sign Jack Harrison this summer, according to Football Insider, as Sean Dyche prepares for his first full season at Goodison Park.

Everton transfer news – will they sign Jack Harrison?

The Toffees are reportedly looking to swoop in and bring Harrison to Goodison Park this summer after the Leeds United winger suffered relegation to the Championship last season.

As per the report, the 26-year-old dynamo's current contract at Elland Road includes a release clause of just £16m following their demotion to the second tier.

With such a low fee, the Merseyside outfit may need to act fast in order to secure Harrison's signature this summer, as they begin a rebuild which Dyche will hope ensures their Premier League safety and more in the coming campaign.

Will Jack Harrison replace Demarai Gray in Everton's line-up?

If Harrison does make the move to Everton this summer, then Demarai Gray should be concerned.

Since the arrival of Dyche, the former Leicester City winger has struggled to establish himself in a similar way that made him a key figure under former boss Frank Lampard, going from playing the full 90 in four consecutive games to being instantly benched in the new manager's first game in charge, against Arsenal.

The arrival of Harrison would only limit Gray's game time even more, too, given the fact that they are both wingers, primarily on the left flank, and the Leeds man is coming off the back of an impressive season in a struggling side.

During the 2022/23 campaign, the reported target was involved in 16 goals in all competitions, with six goals and 10 assists to his name as Leeds were relegated – pretty impressive returns considering just how badly the Whites struggled in front of goal.

Meanwhile, in comparison, the man that he could replace at Everton managed just seven goal involvements in all competitions – scoring six goals and assisting just one other. He also ended the season with a barren run, with nine straight games without a direct goal contribution.

That's not to say that Dyche wouldn't have a selection headache, however, as statistics show players of very similar potential and quality.

As per FBref, both players make over three progressive carries and have over 30% shots on target success per 90. The key difference, and the stat that should leave Gray worried about his place is Harrison's passing ability.

The Leeds man makes over double the amount of progressive passes per 90 than Gray, and as Everton look to finally find some goals in their side in a bid to change their fortunes on the pitch, this could be the key.

Harrison has certainly attracted praise in the past, too, even when struggling, with Kevin Phillips telling Football Insider:

"Harrison was quite brilliant last year.

"He hasn’t been anywhere near as effective as this season though which has surprised me.

“The second season is always more difficult though because people work you out, as a team and an individual. You need to come up with different ways of playing to combat that. The sign of a good player is one that is continually evolving and getting better.

"Harrison is undoubtedly a good player. It’s great that he got himself a goal. It will do his confidence the world of good."

The former Sunderland man was proved right as well, as Harrison – who was also once hailed as a "beast" by Leeds reporter Beren Cross – bounced back and could now be on his way to Everton in a move that may spark concern for Gray's future at Goodison Park.

Chelsea and Brighton & Hove Albion are now "speaking about Moises Caicedo" as the clubs get closer to reaching an agreement around the player's possible transfer to the Blues, claims transfers expert Fabrizio Romano.

Chelsea transfer news – What's the latest on Moises Caicedo?

After a January transfer window that saw the club spend a record £323m and bring eight new faces into the club, it looked incredibly unlikely that the west Londoners would have the ability to go big again only six months later, or at least that's what then manager Graham Potter thought, saying in a press conference:

"I don't think the spending will continue as it has. There was a regeneration [of the squad] and I think we have to say the next window and the window after will be different, that's for sure."

It certainly looked like the ex-Brighton manager was right in his assessment after The Athletic revealed in April that the side were set to make significant losses last year, losses that would only be mitigated if the club were able to make significant player sales by July 1st – which is exactly what they have done.

The bulk of player sales have come thanks to the free-spending Saudi Pro League, with the likes of N'Golo Kante, Kalidou Koulibaly, and Edouard Mendy all leaving for the Middle Eastern state.

These deals have once again allowed the Blues to flex their financial powers and target some of the league's most sought-after stars, notably Caicedo.

Last week The Athletic reported that Chelsea had officially registered their interest in the Ecuadorian dynamo.

However, things now look to have advanced beyond that point, with the clubs being in direct and constant communication over a deal, per Fabrizio Romano.

He explained the current situation on his YouTube channel:

"I can confirm that Chelsea and Brighton are speaking about Moises Caicedo. There is direct contact, as already explained a few days ago in a video. This is not an old-style negotiation like 'I sent a bid submitted waiting for an answer', this is a bit different. Chelsea are having direct contact with Brighton, trying to find a way together, common ground to make it happen also because the player is very clear in his communication to Brighton.

"Roberto De Zerbi told him in February that is possible for him to go in case they receive a proposal, so there is almost a green light from Brighton to let him go, but they also want the right proposal. So now the conversation Brighton Chelsea is ongoing and next week is going to be an important moment for Moises Caicedo deal because there will be new contacts between Chelsea and Brighton."

Would Moises Caicedo be a good signing for Chelsea?

Kante's departure from Stamford Bridge has left the team somewhat light in the defensive midfield department, a problem that would be solved with the addition of the brilliant Caicedo.

With the amount of attention the 21-year-old received last season, it should come as no shock that he had an unbelievable year on the south coast.

According to WhoScored, the "special" midfielder averaged an impressive rating of 6.92 across his 37 Premier League appearances last season, scoring once and providing one assist along the way.

His underlying numbers are, once again, unsurprisingly outstanding.

According to FBref, who compare players in a similar position across Europe's top five leagues, the "physical monster" – as labelled by sports scientist Dr Rajpal Brar – sits in the top 6% for pass completion, the top 11% for interceptions, and the top 13%, all per 90.

The only problem the Blues could face with this deal is the price tag, with The Athletic reporting that the Seagulls are monitoring the price of Declan Rice as a guide to how they should price their own prized asset.

That said, with the exodus of players from the Bridge so far and the money they will have surely brought in, Todd Boehly should be doing all he can to get this deal done.

Tottenham Hotspur could launch an offer for Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins if Harry Kane leaves this summer, according to reports.

Is Harry Kane leaving Tottenham?

Kane has reportedly reached an agreement in principle with Bayern Munich after his agent held talks with the German champions, but the £60m offer made was immediately dismissed by Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy.

The Bundesliga side are set to come back in with a bid of £70m, with the striker getting "closer and closer" to a move to Germany, however, Levy is said to be holding out for a minimum of £86m, so the two clubs are still some way apart.

Journalist Alasdair Gold has been informed that Spurs have no plans to sell their talisman this summer, but they have now seemingly started work on contingency plans, should he force his way out of the club.

According to reports from Spain (via The Hard Tackle), Tottenham and Ange Postecoglou could launch an offer for Aston Villa striker Watkins, amid the uncertainty surrounding Kane's future, however, they are not the only Premier League club interested in his services.

Manchester United and Newcastle United are also attentive to the situation surrounding the Englishman, who Unai Emery could be willing to let leave, as long as Villa are able to find a suitable replacement. The 27-year-old's contract is set to expire until June 2025, meaning the Villans will be in a strong position when it comes to negotiating a transfer fee.

How many goals has Ollie Watkins scored?

The Torquay-born striker scored a very respectable 15 goals in the Premier League last season, reaching double figures in the top flight for the third season on the spin, so it is no wonder some top clubs are now queuing up for his signature, with the player even scoring twice at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Hailed as "sensational" by members of the media, the £75k-per-week forward averaged a 6.96 WhoScored rating in the top flight during the 2022-23 campaign, the highest of any player in the Villa squad, having also recorded a total of six assists.

Of course, every Spurs fan is well aware that it will be a massive blow if Kane leaves this summer, with the England captain scoring a total of 70 goals in the Premier League over the past three seasons.

Although Watkins has been very impressive for Villa, it is very unlikely he would be able to record those sorts of numbers in a Tottenham shirt, so Levy's main priority should be keeping hold of Kane for the foreseeable future.

With Steven Gerrard announced as the new Ettifaq Club manager, it always seemed obvious that he would come calling for his past teammates, who are at an age that a move to Saudi Arabia would sound attractive, especially after running the numbers.

According to The Daily Mail, the Liverpool legend is targeting a move for Reds midfielder Jordan Henderson this summer, who may see his game-time at Anfield significantly cut following the arrivals of Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai this summer.

The England international, now 33, wouldn't be the first to make the move, and certainly won't be the last in the coming months, should he decide to join Gerrard's new side.

What's the latest on Jordan Henderson and Liverpool?

As things stand, Henderson has just two years left on his current, £140k p/w deal, and as the Reds look to rebuild their midfield this summer, an offer from elsewhere could tempt both parties.

Having just lost James Milner to Brighton & Hove Albion, however, it remains to be seen if Jurgen Klopp would be willing to lose another member of his leadership group – particularly the biggest part as club captain – in such a short space of time.

The 33-year-old is reportedly being lined up as a big-name signing alongside Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Philippe Coutinho, the latter of which worked under Gerrard at Aston Villa and was a teammate of his at Liverpool.

Henderson's departure could disrupt what has been an incredibly successful summer so far for Liverpool. They've managed to welcome two midfielders – high-profile ones at that, too – and have been linked with a move for Southampton's Romeo Lavia on top of that.

The former Sunderland man isn't the only Liverpool midfielder linked with a move away, either, after Thiago Alcantara's social media activity seemed to drop an alarming hint over his immediate future, suggesting he could be off in the near future.

By the time the new Premier League season begins, in an ideal world, the Reds have signed at least three midfielders, and have not seen any needless departures take place.

Jamie Carragher backs Jordan Henderson

After a difficult season last time out, Henderson's popularity among Liverpool fans wasn't exactly boosted, especially given how much Klopp's side struggled in the middle of the park.

Amid links to a move to Saudi Arabia, some fans may be ready to happily wave goodbye, perhaps forgetting that this is a Champions League, Super Cup, Club World Cup, Premier League, FA Cup, Carabao Cup-winning captain of theirs. He has simply won it all in club football. And it wasn't by luck.

However, section of the fanbase have, to their credit, jumped to Henderson's defence, with one fan Tweeting: "The disrespect he gets on here is embarrassing yeno. He's been an unbelievable servant for us.. he's not good enough to be starting every week anymore, but he's captained us to win every trophy in club football, and there are people on here abusing him."

Carragher liked the Tweet, suggesting that he agrees that the Liverpool captain gets too much disrespect from fans. And it could suggest that he doesn't want Henderson to be sold just yet either.