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According to reports in The Mirror, West Bromwich Albion are said to be open to the idea of selling striker Salomon Rondon this summer if they receive any decent offers.

The Mirror says that the Baggies rejected a bid of £32.2m from Chinese Super League side Tianjin Quanjian for the centre-forward during the January transfer window as they didn’t have enough attacking options, but they have already signed Southampton’s Jay Rodriguez this summer.

That deal could mean that Tony Pulis is ready to let the 27-year-old leave, and it is news that may have alerted West Ham United manager Slaven Bilic.

The Irons boss is keen to sign at least one new striker before the start of the new season with continued doubts over the fitness of Andy Carroll and Diafra Sakho, and it would be a bonus if he was able to bring one in that has Premier League experience.

Rondon certainly ticks that box having spent two seasons in the English top flight, and he could be ready for a new challenge at this level.

Here are three reasons West Ham should make a move for Rondon…

Goals

It can be hard to adapt to the Premier League when you are playing in it for the first time, but Rondon’s return of nine goals in 34 top flight matches in his debut season in England was relatively impressive.

The 27-year-old looked set to better that record last term after netting seven in the first-half of the campaign – including a hat-trick of headers against Swansea City – but he scored just once more after the speculation linking him with a move to China, and as West Brom’s strong early season form dropped off.

With all due respect to the Baggies, it isn’t the easiest club to play up top on your own at and Rondon has certainly done an admirable job of leading the line and doing his fair amount of chasing the ball in the last two years, and he would make an impact for West Ham.

Style of play

If West Ham are looking for a tall and physical striker to potentially replace Carroll, then there won’t be many better or available options on the market than Rondon.

The 27-year-old has become used to battling with defenders, holding the ball up and bringing his teammates into play, and he won 101 aerial duels in 38 Premier League appearances last season.

However, he isn’t just a threat in the air and he has shown that he has some ability with his feet too by successfully completing 27 take-ons.

The Venezuela international would also prove to be useful from a defensive point of view for the Irons having made 40 clearances for the Baggies last term.

Price tag

With West Brom seemingly keen to sell Rondon having signed him on a £70,000-a-week deal for £12m two years ago, you would think that he could be purchased for under £20m this summer if he wants out.

That is certainly an affordable fee for the Irons as they look to strengthen their squad this summer, and as we alluded to previously the 27-year-old is probably a more realistic and affordable target than the likes of Arsenal striker Olivier Giroud and Bayer Leverkusen’s Javier Hernandez, while he should be entering the prime years of his career.

Do you agree, Irons fans? Let us know below.

According to reports in the London Evening Standard, Newcastle United are interested in signing £13.4m-rated Arsenal striker Lucas Perez, but they would prefer to bring the Spaniard to St James’ Park on loan.

Magpies manager Rafa Benitez is looking to sign a striker to provide competition to the likes of Dwight Gayle, Aleksandar Mitrovic and Siem de Jong – and following the departure of Daryl Murphy to Nottingham Forest last month – and is keen on the Gunners attacker.

The London Evening Standard says the 28-year-old wants to leave the Emirates following a disappointing first campaign with the north London outfit following a move from La Liga side Deportivo La Coruna last summer.

Perez spent just 948 minutes on the pitch across 21 appearances in all competitions, but did score seven goals and provide a further five assists.

Newcastle supporters were quick to have their say on the rumour via social media, and they were understandably concerned that the club aren’t willing to pay £13.4m for the striker, with many questioning the club’s ambition ahead of their Premier League return.

Here is just a selection of the Twitter reaction…

Italian journalist Gabriele Marcotti has claimed that Liverpool are in a financially secure position in that they can keep hold of Philippe Coutinho and also buy RB Leipzig midfielder Naby Keita.

It seems as though Barcelona have stepped up their pursuit of Coutinho, despite the Brazilian signing a new long-term contract at Anfield in January.

Sport recently reported that the Spanish club sent representatives to London to hold talks over a potential deal after a £72m bid was rejected.

The publication suggested that the Reds may be willing to sell if Barcelona match the world-record transfer bid of £89m – the amount that Manchester United paid Juventus to re-sign Paul Pogba last summer.

In terms of incomings, Liverpool have been linked to Keita for some time, but it appears that Leipzig are digging in their heels.

The Merseyside outfit have been knocked back numerous times by the Bundesliga club, but The Mirror reports that they will make one last attempt to sign Keita by tabling a bid in excess of £70m.

Marcotti has claimed that Jurgen Klopp’s club are in a position to have both players at the club, but he has suggested that Coutinho’s future is uncertain.

He told ESPN:

“We’re still talking a tremendous amount of money and I think ultimately from Liverpool’s perspective, if we get into the situation with Neymar, Coutinho, whatever, the question is do you sacrifice Coutinho to get Keita?

“As I understand it, in terms of money, they are in a position where they can [sign Keita and keep Coutinho]. But if a spot opens up at Barcelona and Coutinho might decide ‘listen I’d really like to go there’.

“It’s part of the reason they’ve got all these frontmen now, because they’ve added [Mohamed] Salah to [Roberto] Firmino and [Sadio] Mane and [Daniel] Sturridge and [Dominic] Solanke and whatever. Part of it is because it gives them a bit of insurance in case Coutinho does move.”

According to reports in the Daily Mail, Chelsea are ready to go head-to-head with Premier League rivals Manchester United in the race to sign Paris Saint-Germain right-back Serge Aurier, whose strength and power mean he has similar qualities to those of former Blues star Branislav Ivanovic.

What’s the word, then?

Well, the Daily Mail says that Blues boss Antonio Conte is desperate to further strengthen his squad before the summer transfer window slams shut at the end of this month and the Premier League holders are confident of landing four more signings.

The Daily Mail says that the wing-back positions are a priority for Conte as they little competition for the likes of Marcos Alonso and Victor Moses in what is going to be a fixture-heavy season following the club’s return to the group stages of the Champions League.

The report adds that the Italian’s attempts to bring in Danilo and Benjamin Mendy were thwarted as the duo chose to join Manchester City, while he is losing hope of signing Juventus left-back Alex Sandro.

Now the Daily Mail says that Chelsea have switched their attentions to Red Devils target Aurier, who is available for around £27m.

How did Aurier do last season?

The Ivory Coast international made 32 appearances in all competitions for PSG last term, providing five assists for his teammates.

The 24-year-old made his name for his country with some explosive performances for his country at right-back during the 2014 World Cup, but he has sometimes struggled to match those showings during his time in the French capital following a move from Toulouse.

He has also had problems off the pitch too and he was suspended in 2016 after making insulting comments towards former PSG manager Laurent Blanc, while he was refused entry to England for his side’s Champions League clash with Arsenal last season after he had been previously accused of assaulting a police officer.

Would he be a good signing for Chelsea?

Although he has played as a right-back for PSG, Aurier has all of the ingredients to slot into the right wing-back role and he has experience of playing in the Champions League.

As long as he continues to mature on and off the pitch he could prove to be an important addition, while the 24-year-old is also able to cover the left-hand side if required.

However, the Blues face strong competition for the Ivorian from United, who have already beaten them to the signing of Romelu Lukaku this summer.

Southampton fans were on a high after winning a frantic Premier League match against West Ham United at the weekend, but they were brought back to earth with a thud in midweek.

Mauricio Pellegrino’s side took on Championship club Wolverhampton Wanderers in the second round of the Carabao Cup on Wednesday night.

Given that the Saints reached the final of the tournament last season – in the end losing to Manchester United – the fans would have been hoping for a decent run, but it was not to be.

Pellegrino made six changes to the side that clinched a 3-2 victory over West Ham on Saturday, but they could not get the job done against a team that had a completely different first XI to the ones that started Wolves’ recent league match.

The Saints were undone in the second half at St Mary’s, as Danny Batth and Donovan Wilson got on the scoresheet in the final 23 minutes of the match.

As expected, the supporters were fuming at what they had witnessed.

Everton begin their Group G Europa League campaign with a trip to Serie A side Atalanta on Thursday evening, and manager Ronald Koeman may well be considering ringing the changes following a disappointing performance at the weekend.

The Toffees were beaten 3-0 by Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League at Goodison Park on Saturday, with a brace from Harry Kane and a goal from Christian Eriksen giving the visitors a comprehensive victory.

It was the Merseyside outfit’s second successive league defeat and with a tough looking-trip to leaders Manchester United to come on Sunday, the Dutchman may well be ready to utilise his squad in northern Italy.

Koeman’s men face Apollon Limassol and Lyon at Goodison Park next in Europe and he would love to pick up a positive result on the road going into those two clashes in order to boost his side’s chances of advancing from the group.

Here are three changes Everton should make for the clash against Atalanta…

Mason Holgate for Cuco Martina

With Martina struggling defensively in the 3-0 defeat against Tottenham on Sunday and beginning to frustrate the Goodison Park faithful, Koeman may be ready to drop the summer signing to the substitutes’ bench and bring Mason Holgate in at right-back for the clash against Atalanta.

The 20-year-old would bring some pace to the position and that attribute could be vital at both ends of the pitch if the Toffees are planning to play a counter-attacking style in Bergamo.

With Seamus Coleman not yet ready to return to first team action, it would be a real opportunity for the England Under-21 international to stake his claim for a regular spot in the team.

Phil Jagielka for Ashley Williams

Like Martina, Williams struggled to deal with the Tottenham frontline at Goodison Park on Saturday and with the clash against Manchester United at Old Trafford on Sunday, Ronald Koeman could choose to rest the Welshman against Atalanta.

Everton reverted from a three-man defence against Chelsea to a back four against Spurs with Jagielka the man to lose his spot in the starting line-up, and he was an unused substitute in the 3-0 loss.

However, he may well return to partner Michael Keane at the heart of the defence in Italy, and he should bring some experience and much-needed composure with him on an important European night for the club.

Ademola Lookman for Davy Klaassen

With just one assist in six appearances for Everton following his summer move from Ajax, it seems as though Klaassen is taking some time to adjust to life with the Toffees.

The Netherlands international was sacrificed at half-time during the 3-0 defeat against Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday and if Koeman is once again going to go with the 4-2-3-1 formation in Italy, he may well be better off bringing some pace into the attack.

Lookman certainly has that speed and directness but he has played just 143 minutes of football so far this season – all in the Europa League.

The 20-year-old may well be given the opportunity to impress again in Europe against Atalanta and he could play an important role on the counter attack, if that is how Koeman plans to set his team out against the Serie A outfit.

Do you agree, Toffees fans? Let us know below.

In the same week that Diego Costa left Chelsea for Atletico Madrid, Alvaro Morata scored a brilliant hat-trick for the Premier League champions.There will be no more Costa at Stamford Bridge as the Spain international closes on a return to Atletico, but the Chelsea supporters have a new hero in the shape of Morata, who has made a brilliant start to life in London.Indeed, the 24-year-old, who is valued at £50m by transfermarkt.co.uk, has scored six times in his first six Premier League appearances for the Blues.The striker had three in five entering Saturday’s clash with Stoke City, but netted a treble at the Bet365 Stadium to help Chelsea record a strong victory over the Potters.As expected, Morata was voted as Chelsea’s man of the match following a brilliant performance, and the club’s supporters were out in their numbers on Twitter to pay tribute to the former Real Madrid forward.A selection of the best reaction can be found below:

Southampton boss Mauricio Pellegrino has revealed that key centre-back Virgil van Dijk is nearing a first-team return for the Saints.

The Netherlands international has not represented Southampton’s first team since picking up an ankle injury in January, but has turned out for the club’s Under-23 side this term.

Van Dijk has made the bench for the club’s last couple of matches, although he is yet to feature under new manager Pellegrino.

The Southampton head coach refused to confirm whether the 26-year-old would start Saturday’s Premier League clash with Stoke City, but revealed that the centre-back was improving with each passing week.

Pellegrino told reporters, in quotes published on Southampton’s official website:

“Little by little, every single week, he’s getting better. Physically he looks fresher and with better timing, but the first game back it will be difficult to see the best version of Virgil.

“Because normally after eight months you need some games, but I am happy with his attitude, every single week he’s getting better.”

Van Dijk, who is valued at £30m by transfermarkt.co.uk, was linked with a move away from Southampton during the summer transfer window.

Liverpool were said to have expressed the strongest interest in Van Dijk, but Southampton refused to part with the former Celtic defender.

Manchester United star Juan Mata branded himself an “offensive midfielder” when explaining his position in Jose Mourinho’s team.

Mata came through Valencia’s youth system as a number 10, and also operated in that position for Chelsea between 2011 and 2014.

The 29-year-old has played central for the Red Devils since arriving in 2014, but has mainly been used on the right of a three-pronged attack.

Mata has hit double figures in each of his three full seasons with United, whilst he is already off in the mark in the Premier League this term – netting against Crystal Palace before the international break.

Despite not possessing the physical attributes usually associated with a winger, Mata has insisted that he enjoys playing off the right as he is able to pick up more space in dangerous areas.

Mata told Inside United:

“Let’s say offensive midfielder. But, obviously, I am playing more now on the right-wing, when I try to come inside and create space for my team-mates, and with the overlaps of Matteo [Darmian], Antonio [Valencia] or Ashley [Young], it makes things easier for me.

“And you know, it’s this kind of freedom that allows me to be in touch with the ball, that’s where I feel comfortable. As much time as I have the ball, I feel better and I feel that my game grows and that’s what I try to do.

“I consider myself as this kind of attacking midfielder, trying to find the gaps between the opposition midfielders and defenders and produce what the team needs between the lines.”

Despite the form of Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford in the final third of the field, Mata, who is valued at £27m by transfermarkt.co.uk, has started six of United’s seven Premier League matches this season.

The Spaniard is again expected to be in Mourinho’s XI when the Red Devils visit bitter rivals Liverpool on Saturday afternoon.

Erik Lamela could make his first Tottenham Hotspur appearance in 12 months when Spurs face bitter rivals West Ham United in the fourth round of the EFL Cup on Wednesday night.

Lamela has not turned out for his English club since October 2016 after struggling to overcome a series of hip problems, which have required surgery.

The Argentine attacker has returned to full-contact training over the last couple of weeks, however, and it is understood that Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino is strongly considering selecting him for the clash with West Ham.

On Monday, Tottenham’s official Twitter account posted images from the club’s first training session since beating Liverpool 4-1 in the Premier League on Sunday afternoon.

It would be fair to say that the club’s supporters were excited by the prospect of Lamela’s return, with the attacker looking to put his injury problems behind him.

Lamela, who is valued at £22.5m by transfermarkt.co.uk, actually scored 11 times in all competitions during the 2015-16 season, and his return would be like a new signing for the English outfit.