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One of the main transfer sagas this summer has been Liverpool’s public pursuit of Aston Villa striker Christian Benteke, with no-one currently truly sure of whom the Belgian will be lining up for next season.

Tim Sherwood’s Villa are holding out for the £32.5m release fee in the player’s contract to be met, but the Reds are determined to get their main target on a much cheaper deal.

Benteke has been the main man at Villa for several seasons now, his goals and overall physical presence are the sole reason they have survived relegation battle after relegation battle. Since his £7m move from Genk in 2012, the striker has scored an impressive 42 league goals in 82 games – a decent record for a player who spent most of his time working under the most defensive manager in football, Paul Lambert.

Should Benteke leave there will be a massive hole that needs filling and Villa face a very difficult task finding someone who can contribute to the side the way he has, but is also interested in joining a club who will most likely be involved in another relegation battle.

However there is one man who is standing out as the perfect replacement… Step forward Blackburn Rovers striker, Rudy Gestede.

Although the player has not actually been targeted by the Villains as of yet, he is being heavily linked to a Premier League move with the likes of Swansea, Norwich and Watford all interested in Benin international.

And Tim Sherwood would be mad not to get involved in the chase.

The 26-year-old has impressed at Blackburn, scoring 34 goals in 65 appearances for the club, and would certainly be interested in a move to the top flight.

The player would be suited to top flight football. When his side faced Liverpool in the FA Cup, Gestede was a complete nightmare all game for his opposing defenders and was one of the best players on the pitch.

He would reportedly be available for around £6m this summer, offering a cheap alternative to the likes of Charlie Austin – whom QPR are demanding a vast fee for.

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The cheap sum would prove very beneficial, allowing extra funds to spent on other areas of the team, including the centre of midfield and defence.

The striker possesses similar characteristics to Benteke with his aerial ability and keen eye for goal the real strong points of his game. He would fit right into the tactics Villa currently use, allowing the side to continue to play direct football up to Gestede for him to bring other players into the game or carve out chances for himself.

Whoever steps into the void, the club will have a difficult task ahead of them. But Rudy Gestede certainly has all the necessary skills and, at a fraction of Benteke’s price, certainly offers a value option.

As reported by the Daily Mail, Newcastle United are interested in a January loan move for Arsenal forward Theo Walcott.

What’s the story?

Newcastle have only scored 19 goals in 21 English Premier League matches this season and if they’re to stay safe from relegation back to the Championship then they’ll need to add some attacking firepower to Rafa Benitez’s side in January.

One player they’re reported to be interested in is out of favour Arsenal star Theo Walcott.

That’s according to the Daily Mail, who say the Magpies are one of seven top-flight sides who are interested in a loan move for the England international.

Is he the answer to Newcastle’s attacking woes?

Still got it?

Despite still being rated at £18m by Transfermarkt, Walcott is very much a fringe player at the Emirates these days, despite performing well more often than not when given the opportunity.

He’s failed to start a single Premier League match all season, relegated to Europa League and League Cup duty by Arsene Wenger.

In those competitions he’s done the job for the Gunners, scoring three and assisting five in Europe and helping Arsenal into the semi-finals of the EFL Cup.

He still has a cutting edge that would enhance the Newcastle attack with proven creativity and goalscoring skills at the level the Magpies require.

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Bereft of other options and shopping on a budget, a loan move for the Arsenal man could be the perfect January move for Newcastle fans.

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According to the Daily Mail, West Ham United are interested in signing Stoke City midfielder Joe Allen during the January transfer window.

What’s the story?

West Ham boss David Moyes is keen to strengthen his midfield this month, and it is understood that the Scot will be backed by the board in the transfer market.

A number of midfielders have been linked with a move to the London Stadium, but according to the Daily Mail, Allen is Moyes’ leading transfer target in that area.

The report claims that West Ham are willing to pay £15m for the Wales international, but face a fight to convince Stoke to sell one of their key players at this stage of the season.

The Potters are desperate to keep hold of Allen, although it is thought that the 27-year-old is interested in a move to London due to Stoke’s troubles in the Premier League this term.

Would Allen be a good signing for West Ham?

Stoke are not exactly enjoying the best of seasons, but Allen has had another extremely consistent campaign for the Potters.

The central midfielder has scored once and provided four assists in 20 Premier League appearances this term, and is now very much an established performer at this level.

It is worth remembering that Allen played over 130 times for Liverpool before joining Stoke, and he scored six goals in all competitions for his current club last season.

West Ham are in need of a ball-playing midfielder that is capable of getting around the park, and there is no question that Allen fits the bill.

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It will be difficult for the Hammers to convince Stoke to sell, but if they manage to secure a deal; it could turn out to be a very smart piece of business from Moyes.

Liverpool are a team who can only play football one way: Jurgen Klopp’s side is built to attack.

That might be more by luck than design in some ways.

This is a squad whose best players are found up front. Their front three of Sadio Mane, Roberto Firmino and the on-fire Mohamed Salah would leave even the best defences in the world sweating at the prospect of facing them. Only Manchester City – their opponents in the Premier League this weekend – have scored more.

The sale of Philippe Coutinho clearly weakens the Reds’ attack, however. The so-called Fab Four has morphed into a Thrilling Three. Missing their now-departed string-puller Liverpool’s attacking trident are perhaps that bit more rabid and unrestrained, more geared towards their manager’s lust for animalistic pressing without having to worry about the slower, more considered play of Barcelona’s Andres Iniesta stunt double. But they’re probably that bit less effective, too.

Manchester City is a tough test for any team, but this season it’s more than that. Often a write-off rather than an opportunity for points, plenty of sides have come up against Pep Guardiola’s team this season seeking to limit the damage and get out of there without a dent in their goal difference. Such teams have often suffered even more harm as a result.

But Liverpool can’t do that. They come up against the league leaders and top scorers with the worst defensive record in the top four. Their recourse can’t be a Newcastle-style attempt to beat City with 11 men behind the ball, but with a sparkling display of counter-attacking football featuring some of the brightest attacking talent in world football – though with the added solidity of Virgil van Dijk, they might be better protected at the other end, too.

The trouble is, City don’t just have the best attack in the league, they also have the best defence, too. Only two teams have scored more than once against them in the league all season: one was West Brom, whose late consolation to make the score 3-2 at the Hawthorns was down to a defensive mix-up, and the other was Stoke City, who still managed to lose by five clear goals.

But despite that defensive record, there’s still a view – though it is much more hidden than it was a few months ago – that City’s defence isn’t as strong as it could or should be. That’s still true: it is the weakest part of their team, though that doesn’t necessarily mean that it is weak. We have seen, however, that sitting deep and attempting to come away with a 0-0 draw – as Manchester United did at Anfield earlier this season – isn’t a course of action which takes points from City, but that being brave and attacking them sometimes does. Those who have been bravest have come closest.

This weekend, Liverpool might find that they are the Premier League team who are actually best equipped to defeat this Manchester City side for the first time this season. If Guardiola’s side are susceptible to anything, it appears they are to a pacey counter-attack and a front three who press mercilessly. They also score a surprising amount of goals from crosses and set-pieces, which are traditionally problems for Klopp’s Liverpool, but that may well be helped – though surely not solved – by the addition of Van Dijk.

City have, this season, scored the most goals from open play, the most goals from set-pieces and the most from both inside and outside the box. They have simply scored the most goals. And yet, it is Liverpool who have scored the most from counter-attacks, scoring seven times on the break to City’s two.

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Whilst that might be explained by the growing trend of teams who simply sit back against City, and thus don’t allow the league leaders a chance to counter-attack, this should also give Liverpool hope. The Reds are clearly well-equipped to give Guardiola’s team a problem at the back, and perhaps they may not need to fear the counter-attack as much as their opponents do.

It’s a risky tactic to play City at their own game, but it might just be the best way to beat them. For Klopp’s Liverpool, however, their defensive record looks like it leaves them no other choice. And that could be to their benefit.

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Sky Sports reports that Javier Hernadez’s agent has disclosed that the Mexican forward is willing to depart West Ham United having only been at the club for six months.

The 29-year-old has failed to fulfil the expectations bestowed on him with the Hammers, and there are persistent rumours linking him with a move away from West Ham.

What’s the story?

Manchester United’s former striker – who is valued at £16.2m by transfermarkt.com – is willing to leave West Ham having failed to emulate the dizzying heights that he achieved during his last spell in the Premier League. Since completing a £16m switch from Bayer Leverkusen in the summer transfer window, the Mexican forward has only scored five goals in 21 games for the Irons.

In fact, he has failed to score in cup competitions for David Moyes’ side this season, and in the eyes of many supporters, he has failed to justify the relatively sizeable fee they paid for a player who is approaching the age of 30.

David Moyes has publicly stressed his desire to keep every player that he has at his disposal beyond the window. Thus, it will be interesting to see how this story progresses.

Should he go?

The players’ agent has highlighted the need for regular first-team football – in a World Cup year – as Hernandez’ justification for willing to leave West Ham this window. While those claims are understandable, as his country’s all-time leading goal scorer it is difficult to envisage Mexico opting to exclude the striker from their squad.

Additionally, given the injuries that Andy Carrol and Marko Arnautovic have sustained, it is conceivable that the Mexican will be rewarded with greater first-team involvement over the course of forthcoming weeks.

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If he seizes his opportunity, then he could reinvigorate his career in East London. Accordingly, he should stay and fight for his place in Moyes’ team.

According to reports in The Mirror, Norwich City are preparing to sell Liverpool target James Maddison in the summer, but they will demand up to £30m for the exciting attacker’s services.

What’s the word, then?

Well, The Mirror says that the Reds and Tottenham Hotspur have been tracking the talented 21-year-old for weeks, and now Manchester City have joined the race to land the highly-rated Championship star.

The Mirror says that the Canaries refused to sell Maddison during the January transfer window having already let Alex Pritchard join Huddersfield Town earlier in the month, but they are now ready to sanction the £30m exit of their prized asset as their parachute payments are due to run out at the end of the season.

How has Maddison done this season?

He has been brilliant.

The 21-year-old has established himself in the starting XI as a key Norwich player, with nine goals and eight assists in 34 appearances in all competitions prior to his side’s clash against Derby County on Saturday.

According to WhoScored.com, the attacking midfielder has made 74 key passes in 28 Championship outings this term, while he has further shown his ability on the ball by successfully completing 59 of the 84 dribbles he has attempted.

Would he be a good signing for Liverpool?

He certainly would be.

The 21-year-old looks to have all of the ingredients and the potential to go on to become a Premier League star, and it is no surprise that some of the biggest teams in the top flight are looking at signing him.

While Maddison may not be a starter right away next season, he has the ability to push for a spot in the side or the squad, and his goalscoring ability and keen eye for a pass mean that he could even play in a similar role to former Red Philippe Coutinho.

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Liverpool certainly shouldn’t be afraid to spend £30m on the England U21 international, even if they perhaps have more pressing transfer issues this summer.

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According to reports in the Daily Mail, Manchester United are keeping tabs on Nice midfielder Jean Seri, who has a release clause of around £33m, ahead of a possible summer move after watching the Ivory Coast international in action in the Europa League on Thursday night.

What’s the word, then?

Well, the Daily Mail says a number of the Red Devils’ scouting team watched the 26-year-old in action in his side’s 3-2 defeat against Lokomotiv Moscow at the Allianz Arena on Thursday night, while their head of scouting, Marcel Bout, also watched him in person against Monaco last month.

Jose Mourinho is known to want to strengthen his midfield options during the summer with Michael Carrick retiring and with the futures of Marouane Fellaini and Ander Herrera potentially in doubt with the Belgian still yet to sign a new contract and with the Spaniard being linked with a move to AC Milan.

How has Seri done this season?

The 26-year-old nearly joined Barcelona during the summer after a brilliant 2016/17 campaign for the Ligue 1 outfit, but he has been slightly less effective from an attacking point of view this term as he has often played in a more defensive role in the middle of the park.

The Ivorian has scored one goal and provided a further six assists in 30 appearances in all competitions, compared to seven goals and 10 assists in 34 outings in total during the previous season when he was playing more of a box-to-box role.

According to WhoScored.com, he has an overall passing accuracy of 90.9% in 23 appearances in Ligue 1 and the Europa League this term, while he has still made 50 key passes even when he has mainly been playing in a deeper defensive role.

Would he be a good signing for United?

He certainly would be.

If Mourinho is looking for an energetic midfielder to make an impact at both ends of the pitch to work alongside Nemanja Matic and Paul Pogba, then it is no surprise that Seri is near the top of his list.

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The 26-year-old has been hugely impressive for Nice and looks as though he has the ability to make the step up to a club like the Red Devils.

At £33m he could be one of their cheaper options in that position too, and would allow Mourinho to play the 4-3-3 system that so many fans seem to want him to play to get the best out of Pogba.

Southampton fans have not had much to celebrate this season due to the team’s poor form in the Premier League.

Mauricio Pellegrino’s side remain in the relegation zone, one point from safety following just five wins in 27 matches.

In the FA Cup, though, things have looked much more positive as the club managed to secure a place in the quarter-finals of the competition.

On Saturday, the Saints took on fellow top-flight club West Bromwich Albion after ousting Fulham and Watford in the previous rounds.

Wesley Hoedt and Dusan Tadic put the coastal club two goals to the good before the hour mark.

Salomon Rondon pulled one back for the Baggies, but it was not enough to inspire a comeback.

Later that evening, the quarter-final draw was made, and Southampton were rather unlucky as they could face league leaders Manchester City in the final eight.

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Pep Guardiola’s side take on Wigan Athletic in the fifth round on Monday evening, and barring a major upset, the Cityzens will face Southampton at home for a place in the semi-final.

Many Saints supporters are convinced that the team will play City instead of Wigan, and the prospect is filling them with dread.

Newcastle United’s worries of English Premier League relegation continued on Saturday after they fell to a 2-0 defeat away to Liverpool.

It wasn’t the most surprising result given the Reds’ excellent attacking form of late, but still a disappointment for Rafa Benitez’s side, who now sit just two points above the bottom three.

Rather predictably, it was Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane who grabbed the goals, living up to their reputation as two of the best attackers in the division.

Newcastle supporters were left disappointed with the Magpies’ negative performance and had particular criticism for Chelsean loan star Kenedy who again failed to impress on the flank.

After promising initial performances against Norwich City and Burnley, the Brazilian has failed to find consistency.

Some fans are now suggesting he is dropped as Benitez looks to find a winning formula in the final stages of the season.

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They took to Twitter to share their thoughts…

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Arsenal have had their fair share of bad luck this season, but in the Europa League, they managed to avoid Atletico Madrid in the quarter-final draw.

Instead, Arsene Wenger’s men were handed a two-legged tie against CSKA Moscow, with the first match being held at the Emirates on April 5 and the return fixture in Russia a week later.

The draw comes amid some tension between the two countries after a Russian-made poison was used on a former spy and his daughter in Salisbury.

Russia have denied involvement in the incident, which has caused friction between the countries.

With regards to footballing matters, Arsenal have a realistic chance of reaching the semi-finals of the second-tiered European competition.

Given that Wenger’s side are likely to miss out on a top-four position in the Premier League, winning Europa could be their only chance of qualifying for next season’s Champions League.

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Arsenal’s Twitter page asked the fans to sum up their feelings on the draw in three words, and below is a selection of their responses.

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