According to the Daily Mail via Man City Superbia, manager Pep Guardiola has awarded every travelling fan to September’s away game to Shakhtar Donetsk a hospitality package for the return game.
The Sky Blues ran rampant in Ukraine that night, with goals from Riyad Mahrez, Ilkay Gundogan and Gabriel Jesus getting City off to a flying start in their Champions League group.
However, from the fans perspective, it was one arduous journey to make – with a credible travelling support of 114 flying all the way out to Ukraine on a Tuesday night to watch their team put on a dominant performance.
While some football fans may laugh at those numbers and perceive them as small, the logistics of the trip have to be taken into account – especially when you consider the politics – with the country currently at war with neighbours Russia.
Realising this, and making an enormous gesture, Guardiola personally sent free hospitality tickets to all the travelling fans for the return leg at the Etihad.
Here’s how the supporters reacted to a brilliant piece of news.
Brendan Rodgers returned to Celtic to replace Ange Postecoglou in the dugout at Parkhead last year to start his second spell with the Scottish giants.
The Northern Irish manager had spent almost three years at the club between 2016 and 2019 and secured six domestic trophies, with back-to-back domestic trebles.
Upon his return, Rodgers encountered some early difficulties, losing in his first League Cup match and finishing bottom of the team’s Champions League group.
However, a strong second half of the season resulted in the Hoops winning the Scottish Premiership title and the SFA Cup, to ensure that Celtic added more trophies to the cabinet.
After those two pieces of silverware were collected at the end of last term, the board decided to back Rodgers in the summer transfer window in an attempt to take the side to the next level.
The Scottish giants swooped to sign Kasper Schmeichel, Viljami Sinisalo, Arne Engels, Luke McCowan, Paulo Bernardo, Adam Idah, Alex Valle, and Auston Trusty to bolster the squad in a number of positions.
Their swoop to sign central midfielder Engels from Augsburg was a particularly interesting move, given the reported fee that was paid for the young talent.
How much Celtic paid for Arne Engels
It was reported that the Hoops splashed out a staggering fee of £11m to sign the Belgium international from the Bundesliga side, which is a club record for Celtic.
When asked if the price tag would potentially weigh him down in Glasgow, Engels said that he just wants to “enjoy” his football and did not pay too much attention to the money that was spent to bring him to Parkhead.
The 21-year-old starlet arrived in Scotland off the back of a return of three goals and two assists in 32 appearances and 14 starts in the Bundesliga during the 2023/24 campaign.
Arne Engels for Augsburg.
Engels came in as a young player with no prior experience of Scottish football and has still managed to hit the ground running with his performances for Celtic.
He has already racked up two goals and three assists in seven appearances in all competitions for the Hoops, all of which have come in his last six games.
The Belgian youngster still has a long way to go to justify the club spending a record fee on him but he has made a terrific start to life in Scotland, and Rodgers will be hoping that long may it continue so that his value can soar beyond £11m in the future.
Celtic do, however, already have one player who has already surpassed a valuation of £11m. The Hoops have hit gold with Kyogo Furuhashi, whose value has skyrocketed during his time at Parkhead.
How much Celtic paid for Kyogo Furuhashi
In the summer of 2021, Ange Postecoglou swooped to sign the marksman from Vissel Kobe for a reported fee of £4.5m to bolster his attacking options ahead of the 2021/22 campaign.
Kyogo enjoyed a strong start to life in Scotland with a return of 20 goals and five assists in 33 appearances in all competitions in his first season with the club.
Market Movers
Football FanCast's Market Movers series explores the changing landscape of the modern transfer market. How much is your club's star player or biggest flop worth today?
The Japan international followed that up with an outstanding 2022/23 campaign. He racked up a staggering 34 goals and five assists in 50 outings in all competitions for the Scottish giants.
However, his form did suffer after Rodgers’ appointment at Celtic last year, as he struggled to live up to the incredible standards he set of himself in the previous season.
Appearances
36
38
Goals
27
14
Big chances missed
16
24
Conversion rate
31%
14%
Pass accuracy
68%
67%
As you can see in the table above, Kyogo’s finishing took a turn for the worse last season as he struggled to make the most of the chances that were created for him by his teammates in the Premiership.
The 29-year-old forward did still manage to score 14 goals, though, and helped Celtic to win a third Premiership title in three years at the club, which shows that he was still good enough to lead the line for the Hoops – despite not being as prolific as he once was.
In spite of that downturn in form, Kyogo was reportedly wanted by a European giant in the recent summer transfer window and was given a significant valuation.
How much Kyogo Furuhashi is currently worth
It was reported by Football Insider in August that the Hoops would consider offers of £25m or more for the Japanese attacker, which is significantly more than the £4.5m the club paid for him in 2021.
This shows that, internally at least, Kyogo’s value has skyrocketed throughout his time at Parkhead, as he has proven himself to be a big asset to the Scottish giants with his goals and assists.
That particular valuation came off the back of a report from Sky Sports that claimed the Celtic star was on a shortlist of forward options for Premier League champions Manchester City, who were looking at potential replacements for Julian Alvarez – who moved to Atletico Madrid.
However, they did not go through with a pursuit of the Hoops sensation and he has been available to Rodgers throughout the current season so far.
Appearances
7
Goals
3
Big chances missed
9
Big chances created
0
Assists
2
As you can see in the table above, Kyogo has been directly involved in five goals in seven outings in the Premiership this term, although his finishing has still left a bit to be desired.
The amazing forward, who has scored one goal in two Champions League games, offers a consistent threat in the final third, even when missing chances, by constantly generating opportunities for himself.
Overall, Celtic have hit the jackpot with the former Vissel Kobe man. They brought in a player for £4.5m in 2021 and have turned him into a £25m-rated star who has delivered bundles upon bundles of goals and assists over the years.
Celtic have struck gold with Hoops ace who's similar to a £105m star
The Hoops maestro did not cost a penny when he joined the club.
After a testing start to the Premier League season that saw them draw with Leicester City and lose to Newcastle United and Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur appear to have turned things around.
In the last four matches, Ange Postecoglou’s side have finally added a cutting edge to their impressive build-up play, winning all four games and scoring 11 goals to their opponents’ two.
Granted, two of those games were against Coventry City and Qarabağ FK, but yesterday’s demolition of Manchester United was a real statement win and one that should make the likes of Liverpool, Chelsea, and the Gunners take notice.
Given the nature of the victory, several starters could claim to be the player of the match, but perhaps the most impressive showed that he could become Spurs’ new Christian Eriksen.
Eriksen's Spurs career
It’s been over a decade since Spurs paid around £11.5m to Ajax for the services of the then-21-year-old Eriksen, and while he was a part of the club’s ill-fated ‘magnificent seven’, he was an undeniable success in North London.
Over the next seven years, the Danish superstar would make 305 appearances for the Lilywhites, in which he scored 69 goals and provided a staggering 88 assists, equating to an average of a goal involvement every 1.94 games.
Unfortunately, the Middelfart-borm maestro was unable to win any trophies with the club, but he was an essential part of the team that reached the Champions League final in 2019 and the League Cup Final in 2015.
Appearances
305
Points per Game
1.80
Goals
69
Assists
88
Goal Involvements per Match
0.51
Moreover, his sensational playmaking abilities were one of the key reasons, alongside the goals of Harry Kane and Son Heung-min, that Spurs were such a potent force in the league under Mauricio Pochettino.
Even at 32, with everything he has been through, he remains a talented international capable of putting on a “masterclass,” as BBC pundit Pat Nevin described his performance against Slovenia at the Euros this summer.
In all, Eriksen has to go down as one of the most creative midfielders in Spurs’ recent history, and while they have struggled to replace him ever since his £16.9m move to Inter Milan in 2020, Postecoglou may have just fashioned his own with another Nordic international.
Spurs' new Eriksen
So, the Spurs player who is starting to remind us of Eriksen is fellow Scandinavian superstar Dejan Kulusevski, who initially joined the North Londoners on an 18-month loan deal from Juventus in January 2022, before the deal was made permanent in June 2023 for around £25m.
For the majority of his time in the capital, the Swedish international has played off the right of a front three, and while he has looked good there, scoring eight goals and providing 14 assists in 59 games, there was a feeling among fans that his technical ability was being slightly wasted out wide, and that when he starts in his second most played position, attacking midfield, he’s far more effective.
This is clearly a perspective shared by Postecoglou, as ten of the 24 starts the Swede has made in this position have come under the Australian, including in the game against United yesterday evening, where the former Juve star put on a creative masterclass.
During his 96 minutes of action, the “special, special player,” as Sky Sports’ Jamie Weir dubbed him, scored a goal, produced an expected assists figure of 0.38, took 61 touches, maintained a passing accuracy of 89%, was accurate in 100% of his long balls, played nine key passes, produced three big chances and even chipped in with two clearances and an interception for good measure.
Moreover, according to OptaJoe, he is the first visiting player to create nine chances in a game at Old Trafford.
Ultimately, while it is still early in the season, it appears that Postecoglou has found the perfect position to get the absolute most out of Kulusevski in this team, and if he can keep up the sensational form he has shown thus far, there is no reason why the Swedish international couldn’t become the club’s next Eriksen.
Ange can solve potential Son problem by relocating Spurs' "special" talent
Glasgow Rangers were outclassed in the Europa League on Thursday evening, suffering their first defeat in the newly revamped league phase.
Lyon emerged as 4–1 victors from the clash at Ibrox, with Philippe Clement’s side paying the price for not being clinical enough in front of goal.
It has been a problem which has persisted over the previous few years, as the Light Blues have struggled to replace Alfredo Morelos, who departed in the summer of 2023.
The result of the game might have been slightly different if Vaclav Cerny had slotted the ball into an empty net after just seven minutes, squandering a chance which looked harder to miss than actually finding the back of the net.
Vaclav Cerny's performance for Rangers vs Lyon
In a game which required the front four to be clinical with their chances, Rangers weren’t able to find the back of the net more than once.
Tom Lawrence scored yet again, his fourth of the season, while Nedim Bajrami also looked exciting on the left flank.
It was Cerny who spurned the biggest chance, and he continued to look poor throughout his time on the pitch, winning zero duels and making zero dribbles, before he was replaced by Dujon Sterling with 20 minutes left.
Vaclav Cerny’s Rangers statistics
The Czech winger arrived on a season-long loan deal during the transfer window as Clement was aiming to bolster his first-team squad.
Given that he had scored four Bundesliga goals for Wolfsburg last term, it looked like a solid piece of business by the Belgian.
During his first six games before the international break in September, the 26-year-old scored once and grabbed two assists for the Ibrox side, showcasing his class.
Despite starring for the Czech Republic in the Nations League tie against Ukraine, Cerny has looked a shadow of his former self in recent weeks.
One that got away
The transfers that nearly happened but never did. This article is part of Football FanCast's One That Got Away series.
Although he started both Europa League matches, the winger failed to create a big chance, averaged only 0.5 key passes per game and succeeded with just 0.5 dribbles each match.
With this in mind, could Clement drop him to the bench for the Premiership clash against St Johnstone on Sunday evening? As his heart doesn’t quite look in it right now.
This could give Ross McCausland the chance to showcase his abilities from the start against the Saints. Considering he scored against them in the League Cup back in August, the Northern Irishman could be given the chance to repeat the trick on the weekend.
If Clement had his way in the summer, however, it may have been another player who would be vying for a place in the side against the Saints, as the Gers missed out on a familiar face…
Rangers missed out on Abdallah Sima in the summer
Following the end of his loan spell, it was clear that the Light Blues were looking to potentially bring Sima back to the club for the 2024/25 campaign and beyond.
Clement even confirmed he had kept in contact with the winger, saying: “I’ve been in touch with him, of course. He’s like one of my sons. Abda loves the club. Abda loves the way of playing we had last season and his role in that. He loved his teammates and the staff.
Rangers winger Abdallah Sima.
“But at the end of the day, Brighton is the owner so it’s all about the money then. At the moment it’s not possible. But we will see along the way if there comes a possibility because we would love to get him back. We will see if it is possible.”
The Senegal attacker scored an impressive 16 goals for the Light Blues during his single season spell at the club, chipping in with two assists in the process.
After a summer filled with plenty of rumours regarding his future, it was clear Rangers were keen on him returning, but in the end, the promising gem ended up joining French side Brest on a loan deal for the 2024/25 season.
Metric
Premiership
Europa League
Goals
11
3
Assists
2
0
Big chances created
2
0
Key passes per game
0.8
1
Successful dribbles per game
1.2
1.8
Given how he has started the campaign for the Ligue 1 side, it represents a glaring error by Clement in not securing his signature during the summer.
Abdallah Sima’s stats for Brest
The winger – who is valued at €7.5m (£6.2m) by Transfermarkt – has enjoyed an impressive start to life in France.
Across seven games in the top flight and the Champions League, Sima has scored three goals, while grabbing an assist. It is in Europe’s premier club competition where he has demonstrated his true qualities.
On the first matchday, the winger netted in the club’s first-ever European game during the 2-1 win over Sturm Graz, but it got even better in midweek against RB Salzburg.
Not only did Brest claim a stunning 4-0 victory away from home, but Sima – who James Tavernier previously dubbed “electric” – was on the scoresheet twice.
Abdallah Sima
Along with his goals, Sima attempted three dribbles, missed a big chance and took four shots in total during the game, flaunting his attacking abilities in what was a wonderful display on the continent.
A performance like this would have helped Rangers massively during their tie against Lyon, suggesting that Clement should have tried to bring Sima back to the club this summer.
Of course, much would have depended on the fee Brighton would have demanded for the player, but surely he was a better option than Cerny?
Hopefully the Czech attacker gets better over the next few weeks, otherwise the fans will continue to turn on him, impacting his confidence.
If Sima continues to deliver on the big stage, Brighton will have several offers for him come next summer, which could see Rangers priced out, that’s for sure.
Fewer passes than Butland: Clement must drop 5/10 Rangers star after Lyon
Philippe Clement suffered his first Europa League defeat of the season
West Ham’s summer starts now. The £105m fee acquired from Declan Rice’s departure gives David Moyes the power to revamp his squad.
With Europa League football in the upcoming season, there is no room for complacency, and there must be another reshuffle of the squad.
One name tipped to be part of Moyes’ continued revolution is James Ward-Prowse.
What’s the latest on James Ward-Prowse to West Ham United?
According to The Guardian, the Hammers are set to step up their interest in Ward-Prowse and are prepared to smooth negotiations with Southampton by allowing Flynn Downes to move in the opposite direction.
Fulham are also interested in the 28-year-old, but West Ham are ahead in the pecking order due to their offering of Downes.
It is understood that the midfielder, who could cost at least £40m, is keen on the move, and Moyes is a fan of his Premier League experience and set-piece expertise. However, the Irons are yet to submit a formal bid.
The report also details that West Ham want to bring in two midfielders after selling Rice – and Joao Palhinha, Youssouf Fofana, Conor Gallagher, Denis Zakaria, Scott McTominay and Amadou Onana are among the possible options.
Would James Ward-Prowse be a good signing for West Ham?
Ward-Prowse first joined Southampton as an eight-year-old in 2003, and after making his first-team debut in October 2011, he has gone on to make over 400 appearances for the club.
Upon making his Premier League bow on the opening day of the 2012/13 season, then-manager Nigel Adkins lauded him as “outstanding” – and he continued in that vein over the years.
The Englishman has also been the Saints' captain since 2020, and in recent times, has undoubtedly been their most important player.
Last term was a nightmare for Southampton – a chaotic whirlwind of unsuccessful transfers, a lack of squad harmony and a managerial merry-go-round resulted in a miserable relegation that will see the club play Championship football for the first time since 2012.
However, Ward-Prowse defiantly displayed that he should be playing top-flight football, and was a shining light in a desperately disappointing year for the south coast outfit.
The 11-cap international started every Premier League game and was the club’s top goal contributor (nine goals and four assists), averaged the most key passes per game (1.9), and created the most chances in all competitions (81; Che Adams in second had 23).
Southampton's James Ward-Prowse
Ward-Prowse also possesses an esteemed reputation as one of the world’s best set-piece takers, having scored 17 free-kicks in Premier League history, just one behind David Beckham in the all-time rankings. He has netted six winners from direct free kicks, which is the best figure in the division.
This impressive repertoire of leadership and skill led former manager Nathan Jones to eulogise over his talent, saying: "He's been absolutely world-class for me. He's one of the best technicians I've ever seen, the consistency he shows is world-class."
The signing of Ward-Prowse appears a relatively low-risk transfer for the Irons as he has over a decade of top-flight experience, which coupled with his supreme technical impudence, means he would be an invaluable addition at the London Stadium.
Newcastle United forward Anthony Gordon was named the U21 European Championship Player of the Tournament after England secured the trophy in remarkable fashion on Saturday.
The former Everton prospect featured in all six of his country's matches on their way to success in the final against Spain, thanks to a goal from Curtis Jones, and has been recognised for his outstanding performances at the tournament.
He arrived on Tyneside from the Toffees in January and struggled to find his feet after his £45m move, with one goal and zero assists in 16 Premier League appearances during the second half of last season.
However, the winger was converted into a striker by England U21 manager Lee Carsley and could be like a new signing in that role for Eddie Howe over the coming years.
Who have Newcastle signed this summer?
They have enjoyed a relatively quiet summer transfer window so far as Sandro Tonali from AC Milan has been the only major addition, alongside youngster Yankuba Minteh – who is now on loan at Feyenoord.
The Italian joined on a permanent deal from the Serie A giants for a fee in the region of £55m to bolster Eddie Howe’s midfield options ahead of the 2023/24 campaign.
Eddie Howe can, however, find the solution to Callum Wilson’s long-term heir without dipping into the market to sign another striker to take his place in the future.
At the age of 32, the England international is heading closer to the final years of his career and is eight years older than Alexander Isak, meaning the club are potentially starting to think about what life will look like after his departure.
Instead of Dan Ashworth splashing the cash on a shiny new centre-forward to eventually replace the ex-Bournemouth marksman, Howe could convert Gordon into a number nine in the same way that Carsley did.
What position does Anthony Gordon play?
The 22-year-old has plenty of years left ahead of him to develop and develop he is doing having been phenomenal at the European Championships.
The talented youngster caught the eye with his performances and contributed with two goals to go along with one assist in five starts.
Newcastle winger Anthony Gordon.
Wilson and Alexander Isak both scored regularly throughout the 2022/23 Premier League campaign but the latter's ability to play on the left flank could open the door for Gordon to play centrally in the future.
Indeed, the Sweden international scored ten goals and provided one assist in 17 league starts last term, a contribution every 1.55 starts on average – in comparison to Gordon's goal or assist every 1.67 starts at the U21 Euros.
Whilst the 23-year-old Swede boasts a better ratio in front of goal than the £21m-rated Gordon, the wide man's dismal form in that position suggests that Newcastle would be better off playing him centrally and the ex-Real Sociedad star out wide in attack.
In doing so, Howe could unearth the long-term heir to Wilson's position in the team as Gordon would be able to use his pace to stretch defences down the middle of the pitch while providing a threat as a goal scorer and creator alongside Isak.
There is no guarantee that the youngster will be able to replicate Wilson's 18-goal and five-assist haul that the former Bournemouth ace managed in 31 Premier League matches last term, but the "frightening" talent – as he was once dubbed by ex-Leeds goalkeeper Paddy Kenny, has the potential to be an excellent centre-forward, given his Player of the Tournament accolade at the Euros.
West Ham United could do with landing a new player to soften the imminent exit of Declan Rice, having so far been linked with numerous names without actually getting any deals over the line.
Leicester City's Harvey Banes has been repeatedly touted as a target for David Moyes' side, and they may now be in a position to move for the England international.
How much does Harvey Barnes cost?
Leicester's relegation from the Premier League has already seen them lose the likes of James Maddison and Youri Tielemans, with a couple of others – Barnes among them – expected to follow.
The Foxes are certainly not short of interested suitors in the 25-year-old, who is said to be wanted by Newcastle United, Aston Villa, Tottenham Hotspur and indeed West Ham.
According to the Daily Mail, West Ham have made an enquiry regarding the one-cap Three Lion, and it has been made clear Leicester are prepared to cash in if his valuation is met.
In what can be considered a big boost for West Ham and the other circling clubs, they are said to be willing to accept £35m for Barnes, having already brought in £40m through the sale of Maddison to Spurs.
Where would Harvey Barnes fit in at West Ham?
Barnes started 32 games for Leicester in the Premier League last season, each of those coming down the left-hand side. The former Barnsley loanee is a player who likes to cut in and find the net from his wide starting position.
That could spell bad news for Said Benrahma in particular, as the Algeria international made the vast majority of his starts out on the left for West Ham last term.
Benrahma did not have the same impact as Barnes in the 2022/23 Premier League, scoring and assisting a combined nine goals to the 14 managed by his possible future team-mate.
Far from being West Ham's weakest attacker last season, Benrahma would be the most natural player for Barnes to replace on the left, with Bowen providing attacking support down the other flank and a new striker leading the line should Moyes get his wish.
Barnes' 13 goals last season places him in the top 1% of all midfielders across Europe's top five leagues for goals scored, as per The Analyst, whereas Benrahma is in the bottom 32% when compared to forwards in the same metric.
Barnes also ranks far higher for shots on target percentage (47.2 v 33.3), as per FBref, and goal-creating actions per 90 minutes (0.47 v 0.22), highlighting just how much more of a menace he is in the final third.
That is not to say Benrahma does not have his own strengths, with his three assists last season two more than Barnes managed, while he is ranked in the top 9% across Europe's elite leagues among his positional peers for chances created.
Barnes is in the bottom 20% of midfielders when it comes to chances created, but it is someone who can put those chances away that Moyes could ideally do with, given his side were outscored by 13 other Premier League teams last campaign.
It is evident that the Englishman is far too good for the Championship, with his ability clear to see for a number of years now. "Barnes is probably one of the biggest talents [at Leicester]," Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp said in February 2021.
"I'm not sure if he is respected or appreciated as much as he should be. He is an unbelievable player to be honest, a proper Leicester product."
A Leicester product he may be, but it could well be West Ham fans who get to enjoy seeing him regularly from this summer should Moyes get his wish. That will of much delight to the fans, although perhaps not so much to Benrahma.
Manchester United are one step away from signing Inter Milan goalkeeper Andre Onana, according to reports.
Is David de Gea leaving Man United?
The Red Devils could have a busy summer in the transfer window, with numerous incomings and outgoings seemingly on the table. Up to 13 players have been put up for sale ahead of Erik ten Hag’s second season in charge, including Dean Henderson, who could complete a £15m permanent move to Nottingham Forest.
David de Gea’s future is also up in the air, with the Spaniard’s Old Trafford contract actually set to expire in a matter of days. Recent reports have suggested that De Gea actually signed a new United contract that would drastically cut his current £375,000-a-week salary, however, the Red Devils have since backed out of that deal and have made a new proposal with even lower wages.
As a result, the club appear to be on the hunt for a new first-choice ‘keeper, and it looks as if Onana is on course to move to Manchester with those at Old Trafford previously in pole position to secure his services.
What’s the latest Man United transfer news involving Onana?
According to reports from Italy over the last 48 hours, Man United are one step away from signing Onana this summer, with Inter Milan identifying Yann Sommer, Keylor Navas and Hugo Lloris as potential replacements.
The Red Devils are expected to pay an initial €50m (£43m) fee for Onana, although a transfer will reportedly include bonuses as well.
Onana knows Ten Hag well from their time at Ajax, where the 27-year-old made 145 appearances under the Dutchman. Therefore, the United manager will know exactly what to expect from Onana, including his ability on the ball.
Mark Goldbridge described the shot-stopper as “box office to watch when he's got the ball under pressure”, whereas Pep Guardiola also hailed Onana’s ability on the ball following the Champions League final.
“When you have a goalkeeper like Onana who can read perfectly where everyone is to pass to, with Calhanoglu and Barella, then the strikers hold it up and move the ball around. It is very, very difficult. It would be a tiny bit easier without this goalkeeper, but still very tough.”
With a move seemingly close, it looks as if Onana could come in and become first-choice under Ten Hag, and it will be interesting to see if De Gea’s future finally gets resolved before the end of the month.
Arsenal are set to make a third bid for West Ham United midfielder Declan Rice, who is pushing for a move to the Emirates Stadium, according to a report
What's the latest on Declan Rice to Arsenal?
The Gunners have already had multiple bids for Rice rejected, the most recent of which amounting to £75m plus £15m in add-ons, a club record offer, with Manchester City also now joining the race for his signature.
In the same report, it is detailed that Man City have held talks with the Hammers, although they are yet to lodge a formal offer, as they want assurances that he wants to make the move to the Etihad Stadium before entering negotiations.
Fabrizio Romano has recently confirmed "the race remains open", with City making direct contact with the West Ham captain, however all the indications are that he still has his heart set on a move to north London.
According to a report from Football Transfers, the England international is pushing for a move to Arsenal, having already agreed personal terms, and he is likely to make the switch, despite increased movement from Man City in recent weeks.
A third bid is expected in the coming days, which is sure to be closer to West Ham's asking price of £100m, and the Gunners are still in the driving seat for his signature.
How much will Declan Rice cost?
There have been some reports that West Ham could demand as much as £120m for the Englishman this summer, which would make him Arsenal's record signing by a considerable distance, but there are strong indications that he would be worth it.
Hailed as a "terrific player" by manager David Moyes, the West Ham star averaged 1.7 interceptions per game in the Premier League last season, the joint-third highest amount in the top flight, while he also poses a threat on the front foot.
Moyes has praised the central midfielder for his "power and speed", adding that he has the potential to become a "very good goalscoring midfielder player", and Jack Wilshere previously lauded him as the "best finisher" at West Ham.
Rice still has some work to do before becoming a world-class player, considering he only managed to score four league goals last season, however he has been showing very promising signs, and it is a real boost he is set to choose Arsenal over Man City.
Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou could start life in London with a bang by completing the signing of Bristol City teenager Alex Scott.
What's the latest on Alex Scott to Aston Villa?
According to journalist Dean Jones – speaking to GIVEMESPORT – Tottenham have invested time and attention to the development of Scott this year and could now look to make their move to tie up a deal with the transfer window in full swing.
He said: "One of the stories to look out for this summer involves Alex Scott. He has been coveted by loads of Premier League teams previously, including Tottenham and Leeds, but at the moment, no one seems willing to offer the £25m Bristol City want for him.
“He’s a really good player, so I think it's only a matter of time before something happens.”
Tottenham have been credited with an interest in the 19-year-old since March following Bristol City's defeat to eventual champions Manchester City in the FA Cup, earning praise for his "fearless" performance by The Times' Henry Winter.
Bournemouth, West Ham United and Wolverhampton Wanderers are also vying for his signature, but Postecoglou will be determined to sign a prodigious talent who could catalyse the club's desired resurgence.
Should Tottenham sign Alex Scott?
Hailed as the "Guernsey Grealish" for his striking resemblance to the City phenom, Jack Grealish, Scott has exhibited his prowess in dribbling and ball-carrying, with his display against the Sky Blues setting him apart from the swathes of hopefuls, earning a Sofascore match rating of 7.0 after succeeding with four of his five attempted dribbles and winning 11 of his 15 attempted duels,
Given that Manchester City's £100m man also remarked that Scott is a "top talent", he seems to have the approval of a man distinguished and admired as one of the Premier League's most naturally talented players around, capable of petrifying opposition with his gliding gait.
This season, he recorded an average league rating of 6.83, making 40 starting appearances, scoring one goal and supplying four assists, completing 79% of his passes and making 1.8 tackles per game.
As per FBref, given that he ranks among the top 11% of midfielders across Men's Next 8 divisions for progressive carries and the top 17% for successful take-ons per 90, he could well emulate Grealish as he continues his burgeoning rise.
Grealish, comparatively, ranks among the top 3% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for progressive carries per 90, which only further illustrates the superlative company Scott finds his name likened to.
While Tottenham have failed in their endeavours this season and concluded the campaign with an eighth-placed finish, thus confirming an absence from European competition to strike a detrimental blow to hopes of brighter fortunes.
Scott's acquisition could be a turning point, unleashing a new wave of prosperity on a proud football club desperate for silverware once more.