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Chelsea are heating up their pursuit for new talent, as Mauricio Pochettino prepares for his first transfer window in charge of the club.

The Blues have been linked with a host of players ahead of the summer, however not many rank as highly as one name.

What’s the latest on Neymar to Chelsea?

As reported by journalist Julien Laurens via ESPN last month, it was revealed that PSG could lose superstar Neymar, with Chelsea identified as a club interested in the Brazilian.

This week, it was reported exclusively by Le10sport journalist Alexis Bernard that the Blues have made ‘official contact’ with PSG over the availability of the 31-year-old.

The report claims that PSG are ‘listening’ to the Premier League side as they open ‘discussions’ for the £51m-rated ace.

What could Neymar offer Chelsea?

Hailed as “spectacular” by former teammate and Spain legend Xavi, the Brazilian has been one of the world’s best players since making the switch from his homeland to Europe in the summer of 2013 when he joined Barcelona.

The Mogi das Cruzes-born star enjoyed a dazzling stay in Catalonia, where he contributed to 106 goals in La Liga during his four seasons, scoring 68 goals and assisting 38 – via WhoScored.

A similar wave of success came at PSG, where he posted 24 goal contributions in 18 Ligue 1 appearances this campaign, scoring 13 and assisting 11 – as per WhoScored – showing that he’s still performing at the top level past his prime years.

Any club could benefit from having the Brazilian in their arsenal, especially Chelsea who have struggled for goals and creativity this term, scoring 38 goals in 38 games in the Premier League.

The arrival of Pochettino is expected to prompt significant change to the underperforming squad, with a number of players already rumoured to be heading towards the exit, one name being Kai Havertz.

The Chelsea forward has found the net just seven times this term, and could be significantly upgraded by Neymar at Stamford Bridge, should both players make switches this summer.

Based on their statistics this season in their respective leagues, the German is blown out of the water by the 31-year-old, who could offer strength in critical areas in the bid to get the most out of Chelsea’s under-performing attack.

While his goal contributions are glaringly impressive, his movements and distribution in play communicate the overall positivity he could bring to the side in place of Havertz.

As per FBref, Neymar averages a huge 9.38 progressive passes to the 23-year-old’s 3.12 per 90, as well as completing an average of 4.02 progressive carries to the Chelsea ace’s 2.07 per 90.

The £930k-per-week superstar contributes to making 6.12 shot-creating actions per 90 to Havertz’s 2.21 via FBref, highlighting the impact the PSG gem has on his side’s entire attack, being an eager creator as well as deadly in the final third.

Chelsea must do what they can to get the extraordinary deal over the line – as with Pochettino and Neymar, the Blues could fire themselves back to where they belong next season.

TalkSPORT pundit Simon Jordan has shared what he thinks about Tottenham Hotspur striker Harry Kane's future after speaking with Daniel Levy.

Who could leave Spurs this summer?

The arrival of Ange Postecoglou at Spurs marks the dawn of a new era in north London, with Levy expressing his delight at the Australian's appointment.

“Ange brings a positive mentality and a fast, attacking style of play," Levy told the club's official website."He has a strong track record of developing players and an understanding of the importance of the link from the academy – everything that is important to our Club. We are excited to have Ange join us as we prepare for the season ahead."

It is also set to bring in sweeping changes as many Tottenham players have been tipped to leave this summer. Indeed, Hugo Lloris, Ivan Perisic, Davinson Sanchez, Ryan Sessegnon, Clement Lenglet, Eric Dier and Ben Davies could all potentially leave, with Spurs are also looking to offload Giovani Lo Celso, Sergio Reguilon and Harry Winks (The Telegraph).

Kane, who is apparently wanted by La Liga giants Real Madrid, is another name to have been linked with a move away, though his departure would be far more detrimental than the aforementioned names.

Speaking to talkSPORT, though, Jordan says Spurs believe there is a good chance he could remain in north London – coming after a conversation the pundit had with Levy himself.

"I've always felt, because I've had a conversation with Daniel about it, that they believe there is a distinct possibility he'll stay."Of course, the background noise rumbling around it, other situations manifest themselves like Karim Benzema coming out of Real Madrid and interest being in Harry Kane stipulated by that departure."I think there's a distinct possibility he will stay, I just can't get my head around the idea that Daniel will allow him to stay for a year and let him go on a free."

Who is Harry Kane?

Scoring 30 league goals in 38 top flight games last season, Kane is a pivotal, all-important member of Postecoglou's squad and losing him would be an almighty blow.

However, we believe a transfer is unlikely this summer, especially considering Levy is reportedly set to demand a fee of around £100 million for him.

There are arguably few clubs who would be willing to pay a sum of that nature for a near-30-year-old going into the last 12 months of his contract.

However, if he doesn't pen fresh terms, Levy does face the possibility of losing his most valuable asset for nothing next year.

Leeds United are interested in appointing West Bromwich Albion manager Carlos Corberan this summer after the last-ditch move for Sam Allardyce failed to preserve Premier League status.

What's the latest on Leeds' manager search?

The Athletic's Phil Hay stated last week that the club had left the door open for the Spaniard to return to west Yorkshire this summer.

Since then, Daily Express reporter Ryan Taylor – speaking to GIVEMESPORT – has claimed that the Spanish boss "has a connection" to the outfit after heading their U23 side in the past and working with the esteemed Marcelo Bielsa.

Taylor said: "I like Corberan, obviously he's got that Leeds connection as well because he's worked with the clubs U23s before. But again, it needs to be a project at Leeds. It's a cliché at the moment to say this, but you need to look at Burnley as a kind of benchmark in the model they've used to bounce back and come back even stronger than before."

The 40-year-old did sign a contract extension with the Baggies in February to ensure that his future would remain in the Midlands, but Leeds' new owners, the 49ers, will search for a way to bring him back to Elland Road regardless.

Should Leeds appoint Carlos Corberan?

Bringing in a manager with a proven track record in the Championship and a connection to the club will be at the forefront of the Whites' planning as they look to make the requisite moves to forge a path back to the Premier League at the first attempt.

Corberan plays the kind of football to get Leeds fans cheering again, and while he does emphasise a more defensive structure than past managers – namely Bielsa – this is hardly a detriment to his merit.

According to one tactical analysis, the former Huddersfield boss – who led the Terriers to the Championship play-off final last term – brings a meticulous approach to his trade and looks to utilise a possession-based style that is easy on the eye and relatively straightforward, having concluded the term with the fifth-highest possession ranking in the division (54.1%).

Indeed, there is beauty in simplicity and it's clearly working; when West Brom appointed the "genius" – as he has been dubbed by Romario Vieira – last October, they were near the pit of the Championship table and facing depths unseen for some time at the Hawthorns.

A meteoric ascension left the aspiring outfit concluding the term in ninth-place, just three points off the play-offs, and Leeds could now utilise his prowess to unleash their own version of Manchester City's Pep Guardiola to the dugout.

Indeed, the Citizen gaffer's compatriot, while he does not emulate him in the intricate, complex creation of his squads, plays an expansive style and excels in bringing the best out of the players at his disposal.

The aforementioned tactical report also illustrates positional versatility, the set-up interchanging, ebbing and flowing, when in possession and ceding the ball.

Indeed, that is something seen so regularly within Guardiola's sides, with the likes of Joao Cancelo and Oleksandr Zinchenko most prominently playing as inverted full-backs under his wing, not to mention John Stones' new role as a central defender who plays in midfield in possession, but at the back when the opposition holds the ball.

It is this dynamic flair that could allow Leeds, who will ostensibly be at the forefront of the pack next year, to flourish and push not only for promotion but the No. 1 spot.

Following Monchi's appointment as transfer chief – or president of football operations, to give him his official title – Aston Villa can ramp up plans for the 2023-24 season.

With European football returning to Villa Park, it is important the Villans strengthen their squad as they look to balance continental football with the bread and butter of the Premier League.

What is the latest with Aston Villa's transfer activity?

Monchi gained a reputation during his time as Sevilla's sporting director as someone capable of finding a gem, while also garnering big fees for players sold on.

Villa have been quick to move on unwanted players, while first-team regular Ashley Young has also departed, and now focus is on those coming into the club.

The Midlands outfit have been linked with a whole array of players, from Napoli ace Hirving Lozano to Manchester United captain Harry Maguire. One player has already been brought in, meanwhile, with Youri Tielemans arriving from neighbours Leicester City as a free agent prior to Monchi's appointment.

That signing was hailed as a coup of sorts for Villa, given the midfielder supposedly had a number of clubs to choose from following his Leicester departure, and they could be about to repeat a similar trick.

Is Leeds United striker Rodrigo a good fit for Aston Villa?

Having plucked a highly regarded player from one relegated club, Villa could do likewise in moving for Leeds United's Rodrigo, a player previously described as a "livewire" by former striker Aaron McLean.

According to football reporter Ben Jacobs, via the Leeds United Ultras' YouTube channel, the Villans are battling Brighton and Hove Albion and even Paris Saint-Germain for the Spain international's signature.

Rodrigo's 13 goals last season – Jack Harrison was next highest for Leeds with a mere five – were not enough to keep United in the top flight, and they will surely now be tempted to cash in on a player on wages of £100k-a-week, according to Capology.

With 0.56 non-penalty goals per 90 minutes over the past year, as per FBref, Rodrigo ranks in the top 12% of his positional peers across Europe's top five leagues.

Indeed, that figure increases to 0.60 on the basis of last season alone – in a poor Leeds side, remember – which compares to 0.43 for Ollie Watkins and 0.65 for Danny Ings among Villa players.

Signing a player from the Championship should not be sneered at, either, with a number of relegated players going on to prove themselves when given a lifeline.

Tielemans is likely to be one of those, much in the same way as Andy Robertson (Hull City to Liverpool), Georginio Wijnaldum (Newcastle United to Liverpool) and Harry Maguire (Hull to Leicester) to name just a few.

Rodrigo showed during the last of his three Premier League seasons with Leeds that he is good enough to stay in the division. With Monchi in place, it may just be a matter of time until he has a chance to prove that at Villa.

As Newcastle United ready themselves for their first Champions League campaign in two decades, excitement levels have well and truly ramped up this week.

Amid talk that deals are being worked on for Sandro Tonali and Federico Dimarco, of AC Milan and Inter Milan respectively, it appears a new centre-back could also be incoming at St James' Park.

Are Newcastle interested in signing Joachim Andersen?

The Daily Mail reports that Newcastle have enquired about Crystal Palace defender Joachim Andersen, who has been a Premier League regular at Selhurst Park for the past two seasons, having also impressed in his solitary season with Fulham.

Andersen is considered one of the finest defenders outside of the top six clubs and still has three years to run on his contract, though Football Observatory suggests he could be available for £13m this summer.

That is potentially a sticking point, however, with the report suggesting Newcastle are waiting to hear back on Palace's true valuation for the 23-cap Denmark international

Is Joachim Andersen a good option for Newcastle United?

Fabian Schar and Sven Botman were Newcastle's most-used central defenders last season, with the latter's 6.7 rating by WhoScored the same as that of Andersen. That gives a rough indication of the Dane's quality, though may not exactly get Newcastle supporters' pulses racing.

Andersen ranked particularly highly for touches last season, with The Analyst placing him in the top 14% of all defenders across Europe's top five leagues, showing he is comfortable with the ball at his feet.

In fact, Andersen is very alike to another ball-paying defender in Manchester City's Ruben Dias. According to FBref's player comparison tool, Dias is the eighth-most similar centre-back to the 27-year-old in terms of their statistical profile.

That includes metrics such as touches per 90 minutes in the defensive third (39.9 for Andersen, 39.7 for Dias), dribblers challenged (0.52 v 0.50) and blocks (0.91 v 0.95).

Dias is unquestionably the better passer, completing 92.7% of his passes to Andersen's 79.2%, but only three others in the Premier League can better the Spaniard in that regard.

Besides, Andersen shines in other areas, such as aerial duels won per 90 minutes (2.82 v 1.98) and goals scored (one compared to Dias' zero last season).

Assuming Newcastle do not want to spend £90m on Dias – and that Man City would cash in to a serious rival – handing over a more reasonable sum for Andersen seems a smart choice.

While he may not be the biggest of names, Robbie Earle summed it up well when labelling Andersen as "underappreciated". Should a move to Newcastle go through, that will surely not be the case for much longer.

Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez could be tempted to join Manchester United this summer according to South American expert Tim Vickery.

The World Cup winner could be convinced to leave Villa due to the allure of Champions League football on offer at Old Trafford.

What is the latest regarding Emiliano Martinez to Manchester United?

According to Football Transfers, United are ready to battle with Chelsea for the Argentine goalkeeper's signature.

Erik ten Hag wants to partner up Lisandro Martinez with his namesake and believes that their experience together with the national side will have resulted in a strong connection, whilst the 30-year-old shot-stopper wants to leave his current club in order to play Champions League football.

There is still major uncertainty around the future of David de Gea, whose contract has officially expired at United, however, talks are still ongoing with the Spaniard about a new deal. There have been rumours that the club has retracted an offer that De Gea had agreed on, which may have built up tension.

Football Insider are also reporting that Villa are braced for the Red Devils bid, with Martinez reportedly having continued friction with boss Unai Emery which dates back to their time together at Arsenal.

The report states that a bid north of the keeper's £40m valuation could tempt the Midlands club into negotiations.

What has Tim Vickery said about the situation?

Speaking on talkSPORT, Vickery said: "It's come out in Argentina that he would like to move, not that he's unhappy with Villa, but you can understand why he's a man in a hurry, and he's 30 now."

Vickery also went on to say "If there's someone there who can offer him Champions League and so on I think he would really, really want to take that. Not that he's unhappy at Villa but you know tick tick tick tick tick I'm 30, what am I going to do now."

Would Martinez be a good buy for Manchester United?

Martinez enjoyed the finest moment of his career last season, saving two penalties in the World Cup final shoot-out as Argentina went on to win the World Cup, and his stock has never been higher.

The keeper enjoyed a fine club campaign as well, recording 13 clean sheets in 36 appearances as the Midlands club secured European football for the first time in over a decade under the management of Emery.

The 30-year-old made 98 saves last season and recorded a save percentage of 73.6%, which is higher than what De Gea managed last season in 71.1%.

A key part of Martinez's game is his sweeping and ball-playing ability, with his 2.09 defensive actions outside the penalty area ranking him in the top 3% of all goalkeepers across Europe's top five leagues. The World Cup hero also ranks in the top one percent for crosses stopped with 1.72 per 90. He also attempts 33.57 passes per 90, only launching 35% of them, showcasing his ability to build up from the back, a quality Ten Hag is desperate for his goalkeeper to have in order to play his style of football.

Should United bring in Martinez, they have brought in one of the most in-demand keepers who should free them up to play the style of play that Ten Hag envisions his side playing.

Manchester United are ready to compete to sign Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, according to reports in the last 48 hours.

Is Emiliano Martinez leaving Aston Villa?

The Premier League shot-stopper still has another four years remaining on his contract in the Midlands, but having established himself as Unai Emery’s overall third-best-performing player last season alongside winning the World Cup, he’s been attracting significant interest.

The Argentina international has reportedly emerged as a target for the Red Devils, Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea, and it’s been claimed that there is a chance he could leave his club in the coming weeks and months ahead.

Speaking to GiveMeSport, Dean Jones, journalist and transfer expert, revealed that there’s “potential” for the 30-year-old to join a more high-profile suitor should a big enough offer be tabled, and if the following update is to be believed, Erik ten Hag is prepared to seriously pursue his target.

Are Man United signing Martinez?

According to Football Transfers, Man United are “ready to battle” Chelsea to sign Martinez ahead of the 2023/24 campaign. Ten Hag “hopes to team him up” with his compatriot Lisandro Martinez and believes that their existing connection will “benefit” his side’s defensive unit.

The Old Trafford boss “sees him as the perfect replacement” for David De Gea whose future still remains uncertain, and they could hold an advantage over the Blues because the goalkeeper “wants a move” to a club in the Champions League.

Should Ten Hag consider a bid for Martinez?

Man United will know that Martinez is a man in-demand off the back of the World Cup where he was dubbed Argentina’s “unsung hero” by journalist Josh Bunting, so should Ten Hag fail in his pursuit of Inter Milan’s Andre Onana, Aston Villa’s £120k-per-week goalkeeper could be the perfect alternative.

In the Premier League, the 6 foot 4 colossus kept 13 clean sheets from 36 appearances last season and ranked in the 99th percentile for most crosses stopped so he isn’t afraid to come out of the sticks, claim the ball and clear the danger from his area. Meanwhile, he has been branded "the best penalty-kick keeper in the world" by teammate John McGinn, who went on to call him a "unique character" when speaking on Sky Sports Premier League (7:25 pm, January 13, 2023).

The Universal Twenty Two client also recorded 97 saves from 132 shots on target against, giving him a save percentage of 74.2%, via FBRef, which was higher than De Gea whose success rate was just 71.1%, so it’s clear that Martinez, who admitted he created "chaos" at Old Trafford when Bruno Fernandes missed a penalty, would be an upgrade on the boss’ current first-choice in the net should he put pen to paper in M16.

Southampton took their time confirming the appointment of Russell Martin, but the new Saints manager is seemingly wasting no time in compiling a squad capable of earning an instant promotion from the Championship.

According to The Athletic, Russell is set to make Derrick Abu his first signing at St Mary's following the right-back's release from Chelsea last month.

Who is Derrick Abu?

Abu made headlines for non-footballing reasons last year when pursuing a second career as a rapper with the release of his debut single Life's Changing. Under the moniker 'Cho$en', Abu is hopeful he can continue making music and make it big one day.

The 19-year-old still has a shot at making it at the top as a footballer, even if his career took a setback when being released by his boyhood club after more than a decade in West London.

The German-born England U17 international did not make a senior appearance for Chelsea, but he featured eight times in Premier League 2 for the Blues last season and also had a trial with Crystal Palace.

Could Derrick Abu be the next Tino Livramento?

Southampton have clearly seen enough in Abu to take a low-risk punt on a player on as little as £3.4k per month at Chelsea, as per Salary Sport.

The Saints have a good recent record of signing a right-back from Chelsea, with Tino Livramento arriving at St Mary's for a small fee of £5m in August 2021.

Like Abu, Livramento also spent 11 years at Stamford Bridge without being given a shot at first-team action. However, after impressing for the Saints in his first season, before being restricted to just two outings last season due to injury, the 20-year-old could be on his way back to the Premier League.

Chelsea are one of a handful of big-name sides in the running to sign Livramento, meaning Martin is in need of a new right-back to plug the gap. Besides the fact they are both right-backs with Chelsea roots and a similar age, there are plenty of other similarities between the two players.

For example, Abu – who stands at 5 foot 10, picked up four yellow cards in Premier League 2 last season, matching the number received by Livramento from his 20 appearances in that competition in 2020-21 prior to joining Southampton.

Southampton are hardly signing the youngster based on that disciplinary quirk, of course, but he also shares similarities with Livramento in terms of their attacking nature, with both men just as happy to play as wing-backs.

As pointed out by Daily Echo writer Reece Barrett, Abu is a "brilliant" prospect who shows "lightning-fast acceleration and natural crossing ability". Only two Southampton players crossed the ball more times than Livramento (62) in the 2021-22 Premier League season, so it could be a like-for-like swap in that regard.

Buying a player with no senior experience is always a risk, but if history is anything to go by, Southampton could be about to land themselves another gem at Chelsea's expense. With Championship football on the horizon, there is certainly less pressure than a relegation scrap too.

It seems almost incredulous when you consider the money spent and how he’s played since arriving in England, that we’re about to embark upon the 2023/24 season and Kepa Arrizabalaga could potentially be starting for Chelsea on the opening day.

How did we get here? When the Blues signed the Spaniard for a record fee for a goalkeeper in 2018, some may have viewed it as a statement of intent to bring in a youngster brimming with potential, others perhaps saw it as what it has evolved as – a panic buy and a quick solution to combat Thibaut Courtois’ sudden and unceremonious departure to Real Madrid.

The former Athletic Bilbao man has always struggled for consistency and when he was finally displaced by Edouard Mendy in 2020, it seemed the Blues had finally sourced the Courtois’ long-term successor. The Senegalese stopper originally started in emphatic fashion, conceding just a staggering 29 goals in his first 44 games, helping the club win its second-ever Champions League.

However, his form suffered a steep decline, which has allowed Arrizabalaga back into the starting lineup.

Chelsea must follow in Manchester United’s footsteps and take control of their goalkeeping woes. The Red Devils have parted ways with long-serving number one David De Gea – who made two errors leading to goals in the Premier League last term – and Andre Onana is on the verge of a move to Old Trafford.

Similarly, the west Londoners may also look to raid a Milanese Giant as rumours continue to circulate around Mike Maignan.

What’s the latest on Mike Maignan to Chelsea?

It was reported by the Evening Standard that Mauricio Pochettino feels he can improve Arrizabalaga and there is still a chance for him to be the first-choice keeper.

However, Matt Law (via the Chelsea Chronicle) has said that Chelsea haven’t ruled out the chance of upgrading the position, and he named the AC Milan star – who has been valued at £73m – as a possible target, saying: “I know in the last 2 weeks there has still been conversation about Mike Maignan which leaves me to believe that the whole goalkeeping thing hasn’t been completely left alone.”

It would be a wise decision for Pochettino to pursue Maignan, who has been a revelation in Italy.

Why would Mike Maignan be a good signing for Chelsea?

During the 2021/22 campaign, the Frenchman conceded just 21 goals in 32 Serie A games, keeping 17 clean sheets as the Rossoneri clinched the Scudetto.

As for the most recent season, although the form of his teammates dropped off, with the club scraping top four, Maignan remained imperious, conceding just 27 goals in 29 outings in all competitions.

His international Raphael Varane has applauded his compatriot’s quality, saying: “Maignan is a goalkeeper who brings serenity, as well as having those skills in goal.

“He is a calm person, sure of his strengths, and it is true that as a defender, feeling this presence behind is important. It’s not just the potential he has but also the presence he has on goal.”

Signing a player of this calibre would be a huge statement of intent from Chelsea and would hugely improve their trajectory for improvement. It would rank alongside the signing of Christopher Nkunku as the club’s most important and influential addition, proving yet another transfer masterclass.

In 25 Bundesliga appearances in 2022/23, the former RB Leipzig attacker bagged 16 goals and was the division’s top-scorer, despite missing nine games through injury.

As well as this prolific record, the playmaker’s dazzling creativity is also hugely attractive – he ranks within the best 8% in Europe’s top five leagues among his positional peers for shot-creating actions, progressive passes, and successful take-ons per 90.

Maignan, described as a “monster” by Goal’s Robin Brainer, coupled with Nkunku’s impeccable pedigree mean that Chelsea could be a far more formidable outfit come August.

Manchester United are reportedly in the mix to sign Netherlands international, Xavi Simons this summer, with it looking as if manager Erik ten Hag could be set to utilise his Dutch connections once again in order to bring the youngster to Old Trafford.

What is the latest on Simons to Man United?

According to L'Equipe journalist Loic Tanzi, the Red Devils are believed to be a "serious" option to land the 20-year-old ahead of next season, with the one-time Barcelona ace potentially set to be up for grabs on a loan deal this summer.

Writing on Twitter, the transfer insider revealed: "And be careful, if Leipzig is well ahead. Manchester United – who already wanted the player at PSV – are also among the serious suitors."

The promising playmaker is set to re-join former club Paris Saint-Germain following an impressive season in the Eredivisie at PSV Eindhoven, with the Ligue 1 outfit ready to trigger their reported £5m buy-back clause in order to snap up the in-demand ace.

As per Tanzi, however, it would appear that a temporary exit away from the Parc des Princes is set to be the next step for the 5 foot 10 gem, with United in the race alongside Bundesliga side, RB Leipzig, at present.

How good is Xavi Simons?

The Amsterdam native is likely to have piqued the interest of Ten Hag following what was a stunning 2022/23 campaign in Eindhoven, with the five-cap sensation having proven himself to be a truly "fantastic talent" amid what was a "fantastic season", according to talent scout Jacek Kulig.

Having been restricted to just 11 appearances at first-team level during his prior stint at PSG – where his chance of game time was hampered by the likes of Neymar, Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe – the £51m-rated ace more than took his chance last term, having contributed 22 goals and 12 assists in 48 games in all competitions.

With Ten Hag believed to be keen to acquire a forward who can play all across the front line, alongside the signing of a new number nine, the capture of Simons – who has been dubbed a "top talent" by Kulig – could then represent a perfect option for the former Ajax boss, due to his impressive versatility.

That addition could also prove to be an upgrade on Jadon Sancho at the Theatre of Dreams, with the Englishman seemingly on "borrowed time" in Manchester, according to treble winner, Dwight Yorke.

The former Borussia Dortmund trickster has scored just 12 goals and contributed only six assists in 79 games in total for United over the past two seasons, with Ten Hag believed to be growing 'increasingly impatient' with the 23-year-old, as per Manchester Evening News.

The duo's contrasting form can be seen by the fact that while Sancho recorded just six goals and three assists in the Premier League last term, Simons' 2022/23 campaign proved far more fruitful as he registered 19 goals and eight assists in the Eredivisie.

The latter man's superior creative quality is also shown by the fact that he created 11 'big chances' in contrast to just six for Sancho last term, while his average match rating of 7.52, as per Sofascore, was also far more impressive than that of his United counterpart (6.85).

Not only that, but Simons also appears to be more adept at beating his man having averaged 2.2 successful dribbles per game, while the one-time Manchester City man averaged just 1.3 for that same metric last term, ensuring he could offer a far more dynamic and direct threat from the flanks.

As such, if Ten Hag is looking to improve on the struggling Sancho this summer, then the 53-year-old should certainly consider snapping up his dazzling fellow Dutchman.