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Manchester United have been blasted for their “atrocious” defending for Ellis Simms' chance during their Premier League game against Everton by journalist Laurie Whitwell.

Victory at Old Trafford…

The Red Devils were the hosts at Old Trafford this afternoon where Erik Ten Hag and his side secured a 2-0 victory thanks to goals from Scott McTominay and Anthony Martial either side of the break.

Prior to the Scottish international’s moment of magic for the opener though, Toffees forward Simms had a glorious chance to put the visitors in front after breaking free and getting one-on-one with David De Gea only to put his effort wide of the post.

Taking to Twitter, Whitwell couldn’t believe how easy it was for Simms to get away from Manchester United’s defence and provide himself with an opportunity. He wrote:

“Atrocious defending from United for that Everton chance. Tarkowski ambled forward unchallenged, then Simms + Coleman had all the space/time they wanted to exchange passes. Terrible finish by Simms. He could have picked his spot.”

Should United be worried about their defence?

Manchester United will obviously have been concerned in that specific moment that they could have been about to go behind but given the overall performance on the day, luckily for Ten Hag it’s not something that he should worry about.

During the first-half, the Red Devils had 21 shots on target which is the most by any side in the opening 45 minutes of any game this season which just goes to show how many chances they were creating in the final third, albeit not putting every one away, as per OptaJoe.

The Dutch boss will no doubt be concerned by the injury to Marcus Rashford, who was forced off the pitch on 71 minutes, which put a slight dampener on the positive spirits.

However, there was so much to be optimistic about, and in terms of the race for the top four, United have put themselves in a very strong position heading into the run-in.

Aston Villa have reportedly made Sporting CP attacker Pedro Goncalves a transfer priority this summer.

What’s the latest news on Villa and Goncalves?

A new striker is thought to be of interest to Unai Emery ahead of his first season in charge; however, Goncalves, primarily a left-winger, is also a target.

The 24-year-old recently scored an "outrageous" goal against Arsenal in the Europa League and has been linked with a move to the Midlands. Reports suggested last month that Villa are set to make a move for Goncalves who was viewed as a sizeable upgrade on Philippe Coutinho, and a further update has now emerged.

Sport Witness relayed an update from Portuguese newspaper Record regarding Goncalves in the last 48 hours, claiming that Premier League rivals Tottenham Hotspur are in a new chase for his services.

However, they add how Villa ‘were the first’ to show their interest and ‘intensify observations’ over him, saying he is ‘considered a priority’ for Emery and Villa.

Goncalves has an €80m (£70m) release clause in his current contract, something which may need to be triggered for a potential deal this summer as Sporting owe fellow Portuguese side Famalicao 50% of any transfer.

Should Villa push through a move for Goncalves?

Goncalves would offer plenty of versatility at Villa Park, playing in a variety of central and wide roles during his career so far. He also has an eye for goal, scoring 56 times and registering 31 assists in 120 appearances for his current employers.

The player even has experience in the Midlands after spending two years in the academy at Wolverhampton Wanderers before leaving in 2019, so could be keen on a return to England, looking to prove himself in the Premier League.

Villa and Emery do not actually have a senior attacking midfielder on the books at this moment in time, while there are four wingers alongside strikers Ollie Watkins and Jhon Duran.

Therefore, Goncalves could be viewed as the creative spark needed in the final third to take Villa to the next level, with the player topping the chart for Sporting when it comes to shot and key passes per 90, as per WhoScored.

It could cost big money, however, owners NSWE are seemingly ready to back Emery in a 'huge' spending spree this summer, so Goncalves could become the club's record signing, should a fee get anywhere close to the attacker's release clause.

Celtic may struggle to keep hold of playmaker Matt O'Riley this summer, according to journalist Pete O'Rourke.

What's the latest transfer news involving Matt O'Riley?

Transfer guru Fabrizio Romano issued an update surrounding the future of O'Riley last week on Twitter, stating: "Matt O’Riley, understood to be happy at Celtic even after a few Premier League and Bundesliga clubs have shown serious interest in him."

Football Insider have also backed up claims that the 22-year-old is a sought-after presence this summer, revealing that Celtic are 'expecting bids' for his signature amid interest from the Premier League and Championship.

The report states that there is a 'strong level' of suitors keen to make a move to sign the Danish playmaker in the off-season, though it is unclear how much they would need to part with to tempt the Hoops into selling one of their prize assets.

This season, £12k-a-week earner O'Riley has produced some impressive showings, registering four goals and 12 assists from 45 outings across all competitions, as per Transfermarkt.

As per Football Scotland, former Celtic midfielder Morten Wieghorst has tipped O'Riley to win his first senior international call-up with Denmark, stating:

"The competition for the midfield (with Denmark) is great and he is up against English Premier League players too so we need to remember that. But he looks like he is going to win the title with Celtic and that's really good for the players. Usually what happens is if you finish as a champion, you get to play international football too. So from our point of view it's great."

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, journalist O'Rourke thinks that the financial muscle of clubs around Europe may prove to be a roadblock in the Hoops' attempts to keep hold of O'Riley this summer.

O'Rourke said: "Celtic are not considering selling him right now. But as we all know, these big Scottish clubs will struggle to compete with other top European clubs when it comes down to transfer fees and also when it comes down to contract offers as well.”

Will Celtic be able to keep hold of Matt O'Riley this summer?

It's very possible, especially when you consider the carrot of Celtic being involved in the Champions League group stage next campaign, which is now a formality given they need just three more points to secure the Scottish Premiership title.

Undoubtedly, O'Riley will be keen to once again test himself against the elite of European football, which is something he likely wouldn't get to do unless a top-four English side tried to secure his signature.

WhoScored shows that the 22-year-old has earned a rating of 7.25/10 for his exploits this season, making him the fourth most consistent performer at Parkhead this year behind Carl Starfelt, Yuki Kobayashi and Jota.

For now, at least, both O'Riley and Celtic's attention will be on finishing 2022/23 in a strong fashion, as they can potentially secure a historic treble if they add the Scottish Cup to their impending Scottish Premiership triumph.

O'Riley has been hailed as a "pressing machine" by his previous manager Russell Martin but it seems his efforts in Scotland may see him receive a lot of interest in the coming months.

Tottenham Hotspur's managerial target Julian Nagelsmann could potentially be softening to the idea of becoming their next permanent manager.

Could Spurs appoint Nagelsmann?

After Sunday's humiliation on Tyneside, the decision was made to part ways with the interim boss Cristian Stellini after he stepped in to take over from Antonio Conte.

With just six games remaining of the season, Spurs will be led by their third manager of the campaign with Ryan Mason stepping up to the plate.

However, their search for the permanent replacement of Conte will continue in the background with one manager of interest believed to be Nagelsmann.

The German was initially believed to be the favourite to take on the vacancy at Stamford Bridge but it is thought he has recently pulled out of the running.

However, this has potentially opened the door for the German to possibly make a move to north London following his dismissal from Bayern Munich.

Indeed, speaking on talkSPORT, insider Alex Crook has claimed the out-of-work manager is softening to the idea of becoming the next Spurs boss:

"I think the other interesting development coming out of Spurs today is Julian Nagelsmann, who a couple of weeks ago when Chelsea were interested, it looked like he wasn't necessarily too keen on taking the Tottenham job.

"From what I'm hearing, over the course of the afternoon, there maybe has been a softening on that stance and maybe Nagelsmann is more interested than he was previously about taking over at Spurs.

"Daniel Levy, I think would love to bring in a coach of his calibre so certainly that's a situation to keep an eye on."

Should Spurs hire Nagelsmann?

There will be a lot of disappointment around north London currently with their side freefalling in terms of their results on the back of their dismal display on the weekend.

A spot inside the top four is still achievable but highly unlikely given the level of performance they have treat their fans to over recent months.

However, a new manager could provide the club with a boost ahead of the summer with the German clearly an in-demand manager with Chelsea initially keen to hire him.

But that raises potential concerns in itself with the 35-year-old also believed to have initially snubbed Tottenham for their London rivals.

And this ties into the reports that Daniel Levy is looking for a manager who views the Spurs vacancy as his best option and is solely focused on being the Spurs manager.

This would seem as if perhaps the Lilywhites were not Nagelsmann first choice with suggestions that he was initially keen to make the move to Stamford Bridge.

But with Mauricio Pochettino seemingly set to move to Chelsea, does this leave the Spurs board with a huge task of bringing in a big name to appease the fans?

Levy has done that in the past with the likes of Jose Mourinho and Conte and neither have proved to be successful in north London so a huge decision lies on the shoulders of the 61-year-old.

Wolverhampton Wanderers are already looking ahead to next season as Julen Lopetegui’s side look safe to be staying another year in the Premier League. Wolves currently sit in 14th in the league table, winning just ten games this season in a year of changes and reflection for the Midlands representatives.

There has been transfer speculation regarding the futures of a number of Old Gold stars, including captain Ruben Neves who could depart the club in the summer. It will be a busy summer for Lopetegui as he looks to get to work on building his own squad at Mollineux after inheriting the work of Bruno Lage.

The club have been linked with a host of forwards so far ahead of the summer transfer window, including Barcelona gem Ansu Fati who looks certain to leave the Catalan club at the end of the season.

News emerging last month revealed that Wolves could be on the prowl to bring a defender to the club, a face that the Premier League is more than knowledgeable of already.

What’s the latest on Matt Doherty to Wolves?

Irish full-back Matt Doherty spent 10 years of his career in Wolverhampton, signing for the club in the summer of 2010 for a fee of around £66k from Bohemians at just 18-years-old.

Before his departure in 2020 to Tottenham Hotspur for £15m, the Irishman made 302 appearances in all competitions for the club and established himself as a rated Premier League right-back.

As per reports from 90min, the full-back could return to Mollineux in the summer with the 31-year-old linked to a move away from 11-time Spanish champions Atletico Madrid.

Doherty made the move from Tottenham to Madrid in a dramatic January deadline this year, with the Lilywhites terminating the 34-capped Irish international’s contract allowing his move to La Liga to take place.

It hasn’t gone to plan for the right-back, who has made just two appearances in the league since making the switch, subsequently sparking rumours of his potential return to England.

Sources close to 90min have reported that there is Premier League interest for the former Wolves star, with Crystal Palace, newly promoted Burnley and his former club interested in capturing his signature.

What could Matt Doherty offer Wolves?

There is little to debate when it comes to discussing the defender’s success in the Midlands, highlighted best through his final season at Molineux. The Irishman ranked in the top 2% of players in the league during the 2018/19 season for winning aerial duels, being a dominating presence in Wolves’ defence.

Even at 31, the veteran defender could add an area of expertise and threat to this current Wolves side and could take the place of under-performing Nelson Semedo in the team.

The Portuguese right-back has won just 1.07 aerial duels per 90 minutes this season, in comparison to Doherty’s 4.18 in his final Wolves campaign, via FBref.

Semedo has been classed as a “liability” by Express and Star correspondent Nathan Judah this season as he has struggled to adapt to the demands of the Premier League, so Wolves could instead get themselves a “consistent” and “superb” defender back in the Irishman, as once hailed by former Leeds United full-back Danny Mills.

Premier League full-backs are expected to be strong going forward too, which the £65k-per-week star has in his locker shown through his 12 goal contributions (seven goals and five assists) for an inconsistent Spurs side in all competitions in his last season.

The Dublin-born dynamo also ranked in the top 7% of players with the highest expected non-penalty goals per 90 – as per FBref, showing his attacking presence.

Only time will tell if Lopetegui will take the plunge to bring Doherty back to Mollineux, however he could be an experienced and knowledgeable player to reintroduce to the back line.

Aston Villa have had a season to remember since Unai Emery took charge, transforming their sluggish league results under Steven Gerrard to potential contenders for European football next campaign with the Spaniard.

Emery has revolutionised this Villa squad, sharpening the defence, turning the midfield into a goal-hungry unit and getting Ollie Watkins firing.

With just four games remaining of the 2022/23 campaign for the Villains, attention has reportedly already turned to the summer transfer window, with the aim to improve the squad to take the club to the next level with Europe in their sights.

Ahead of his first full season in the Midlands, Emery has identified areas that he wishes to strengthen in the summer, telling The Athletic of his desire to create a “stronger squad” having “two players for each position” available.

The English football calendar is a demanding one, making squad depth an essential area to have strength in.

The Spaniard has already fine-tuned the Villa defence tactically, however it’s expected to be a busy summer with more options required in a number of positions.

The 51-year-old introduced left-back Alex Moreno to the squad in January, however an upgrade for the full-backs could already be on the horizon with rotating defender Lucas Digne’s future at Villa in doubt.

What’s the latest on Kieran Tierney to Aston Villa?

As reported by Football Insider back in March, the Midlands club are one of the Premier League representatives interested in signing Arsenal left-back Kieran Tierney – who could command around £30m – in the summer.

The 25-year-old who signed for the Gunners from Celtic in the summer of 2019, has been out of favour since the emergence of Oleksandr Zinchenko, starting just four matches in the league this season.

The man that made the deal happen was current boss Emery, who has been praised by the Scotsman in the past for being “brilliant” at helping him adapt to the move to England. Despite having a solid start to life in the capital, the FA Cup winner is reportedly looking for a move away as he aims for a permanent spot in a squad.

What could Kieran Tierney bring to Villa?

Once lauded by former Hibernian striker Tam McManus as being one of the “best in the world” at left-back, the Scotsman could prove to be a statement of intent for Villa with strengthening their depth in defence.

Across his 119 appearances for the Gunners, the defender has 19 goal contributions (five goals and fourteen assists), showing the areas of strength in his game being more than just staying back.

With the arrival of Alex Moreno came doubt over the future of Lucas Digne as reported by Football Insider. While the Spaniard continues to adapt to the Premier League, Villa could get themselves a worthy replacement in Digne, and arguably an upgrade on the Frenchman too.

Despite not regularly featuring in the league this season, Tierney comes out on top in comparison to the 29-year-old full-back in a number of valued attributes in that position, attributing to him being named a “warrior” and a "leader" by Premier League legend Ashley Cole during a punditry appearance for Sky Sports (via the Metro).

The Scottish international is ranked in the top 12% for progressive carries per 90 (3.25), compared to Digne’s 1.80 per 90 minutes, showing his direct play from the back, which is integral to Emery’s style of play.

Meanwhile, the former Everton man is also less impressive in defensive areas than the Arsenal left-back, winning an average of just 1.65 tackles per 90, compared to Tierney’s 2.26, as per FBref.

With Newcastle United also chasing the Isle of Man-born star, only time will tell if being reunited with Emery is on the cards but there is little doubt that he would be a strong addition to Villa.

Arsenal will hope to keep their Premier League title dreams alive when they welcome Brighton and Hove Albion to the Emirates Stadium this afternoon.

By the time kick-off swings around, Mikel Arteta's side could be four points adrift of their rivals Manchester City, who play relegation candidates Everton earlier in the day and today's task will be no easy one as the Seagulls will be wanting to get their own European push back on track.

The visitors have slipped to eighth in the standings following a shock 5-1 defeat to Wolverhampton Wanderers, with Aston Villa's red-hot form under Unai Emery another factor.

Arteta is left with plenty to consider in terms of team selection as his squad continues to be affected by injuries, but will the Spaniard make any big decisions today?

Will Bukayo Saka start vs Brighton?

A leading star for club and country, it's been one phenomenal season for Gunners winger Bukayo Saka.

The 21-year-old dynamo leads the goal contribution charts in north London and ranks fifth overall in the English top-flight this campaign, with 13 goals and 11 assists to his name.

But it has been a quiet couple of weeks for the England superstar, having failed to register a goal or assist in each of Arsenal's last three league outings, whilst his two contributions against relegated Southampton have been the Hale End prospect's only two returns in his last seven matches, via WhoScored.

Saka has also struggled to see out 90 minutes in the trio of games against Newcastle United, Chelsea and Man City and has arguably looked a little jaded, so perhaps his place against the Seagulls can be questioned.

It would be a huge surprise and one hell of a ruthless call from the Spaniard but with a viable alternative in Leandro Trossard, who will be keen to punish his former club, the decision to put Saka on the bench is surely made a little easier.

Gunners legend Ian Wright has also called for the England winger to be dropped, having endured a long and physical campaign, one that was interrupted with a mid-season World Cup.

"Maybe Saka should get a little bit of a rest," claimed Wright (via the Metro). "I think a little rest. Maybe my mouth is going too quickly for my brain, in this situation we can’t afford to lose anymore games. We need everybody out there, but I just worry, I worry for him."

Having also been hailed as "phenomenal" by West Ham star Jarrod Bowen this week, there is no denying that the £76m-rated machine is one of the team's brightest and best players on his day, though it's also evident that he is suffering the effects from his continuous involvement for both Arsenal and England.

Only two other Gunners players have registered more minutes than Saka in the Premier League this term, with the £70k-per-week star playing nearly 200 minutes more than his wide counterpart Gabriel Martinelli, by comparison.

Brighton will likely be preparing for the threat of Saka down the right flank too, where the match-up with Pervis Estupinan is certainly one to watch, so Arteta could even spring a surprise on Roberto De Zerbi by opting for Trossard instead.

As such, the Arsenal boss must make a major call on his star man heading into kick-off. Perhaps it's time for Saka to come out of the starting XI for just one game.

Aston Villa have Giovani Lo Celso "on the list" ahead of the summer window, according to reliable journalist Fabrizio Romano via GiveMeSport.

Who are Aston Villa signing this summer?

The Villains have made some dramatic strides this season under boss Unai Emery, with the club currently sitting in eighth in the Premier League table. With two games left, the club could also still finish within the top six – which would be a fantastic achievement for the Midlands outfit.

Regardless of where the club finish this campaign, their boss will want to continue to build on what he has already achieved at Villa Park. Having toiled under previous boss Steven Gerrard, who managed only a 32.5% win rate during his time there, they were taken over by the former Arsenal manager back in November 2022. He's thrived so far, with a much better 56% win rate and an average of 1.80 points-per-match. With the side on the brink of a European spot now, improvement will be key for Emery.

The manager seemingly already has an idea of who he likes and might sign too, according to journalist Fabrizio Romano. He told GiveMeSport that one name already "on the list" for Aston Villa this summer is that of Giovani Lo Celso, who currently plays for Villareal on loan from Tottenham.

The journalist added that Emery – who worked with the midfielder in Spain – is "really appreciated" by the manager. It seems then that a potential reunion could be in the offing during the upcoming transfer window.

Speaking about it, Romano said: "Aston Villa, there will be big investments. They want to do something important in the market and Lo Celso's a player really, really appreciated by Unai Emery, so he's on the list, for sure. But It depends also on Tottenham's new coach."

Would Lo Celso be a good signing for Aston Villa?

The midfielder has once more impressed in Spain on his short-term deal to Villareal, managing a 6.81 rating on WhoScored so far this campaign. That includes two Man of the Match awards, with the player also showcasing his excellent vision with his three assists this year too. It's an even better tally for the La Liga outfit than he managed during his loan stint with them last season.

Even former professionals have heaped the praise on Lo Celso, with Paul Robinson admitting that he is a "brilliant" player for a team to have and adding that he could play a "big role" when he was involved in the Tottenham team.

Indeed, it comes as no surprise that Emery is looking to bring the attacking midfielder to Villa Park as he's already seen him perform regularly in the flesh over in Spain, and by the sound of things he liked what he saw.

It seems as if a return to England could be on the cards then once his loan spell is up – it just might not be to White Hart Lane.

Mauricio Pochettino has already set his sights on Inter Milan star Lautaro Martinez, and Chelsea have also been told what it will take to sign him.

What's the latest Chelsea transfer news?

Pochettino, ahead of this looming summer window, has already identified key Stamford Bridge targets – with goalkeeper Andre Onana also of serious interest to the Argentine.

It's been an underwhelming first full season for Chelsea owner Todd Boehly, who has overseen a calamitous drop to the bottom half, just two seasons after the west Londoners were crowned champions of Europe.

A succession of managers have come and gone, too, with Thomas Tuchel and Graham Potter being relieved of their duties over 2022/2023 as Frank Lampard takes interim charge till the end of this torrid Premier League season.

One major hope for supporters is what the future could hold under Pochettino, who has joined Chelsea 10 months after leaving Ligue 1 giants Paris-Saint Germain.

Chelsea's task is to back their incoming manager as Pochettino looks to shape the team in his own image, with Football Insider sharing an update on his plans.

According to the outlet, Inter striker Martinez is a personal target for the 51-year-old, with Pochettino being a "massive fan" of his.

Chelsea have also been told exactly what it will take for the Nerazzurri to sanction a sale as both the Blues and Man United eye up summer moves.

The Champions League finalists will apparently demand a fee of around £69.5 million to let their forward depart Italy, with Chelsea searching for a proven goalscorer.

Who is Lautaro Martinez?

The Argentine, who was a member of their 2022 World Cup-winning squad, has been in exceptional form this season.

Martinez stands out as Inter's best-performing player overall by average Serie A match rating, scoring over 20 league goals for Simone Inzaghi's side (WhoScored).

Averaging around 3.5 attempts at goal per 90, the highest number of any Inter player, the £184,000-per-week star is a constant threat in the final third.

Called "spectacular" by footballing icon Lionel Messi, Chelsea's Romelu Lukaku also holds no doubt over Martinez's ability as a forward.

“Amazing, the guy is really a beast,” said Lukaku on Instagram Live in 2020 (via GOAL).“He is doing so well, he keeps improving, I love him".

Still just 25-years-old and a proven goalscorer, Martinez could be a great option for Chelsea at £69.5m – especially considering other options like Victor Osimhen will cost far more.

Arsenal have made contact to enquire about a summer deal to sign Chelsea midfielder Mason Mount, according to reports.

Is Mason Mount leaving Chelsea?

The Stamford Bridge academy graduate has made 20 Premier League starts this season but has missed the last six top-flight outings with a pelvis injury, and during his spell on the sidelines, his future off the field has become extremely uncertain over the past couple of weeks.

The England international’s contract is set to expire at the end of next season, meaning that the upcoming window is likely to be the Blues' final big opportunity to cash in, should he not want to extend his stay further, a scenario which is likely considering that he’s already rejected multiple new offers to commit to his future in SW6.

Sky Sports have reported that Manchester United are the current frontrunners to land the 24-year-old should he leave despite a long-term interest from Liverpool, and it’s claimed that Todd Boehly has placed a £70m price tag on his star’s head, with that being the minimum fee needed to part ways ahead of the 2023/24 term.

Are Arsenal signing Mount?

According to 90min, Arsenal have also “registered their interest” in Mount by approaching his representatives to make them aware of their admiration for him. Chelsea’s anticipated new manager Mauricio Pochettino is said to be a “huge fan” of the midfielder and “wants him to be a part” of his long-term project which has created a “confidence” that he will turn down outside interest to put pen to paper on fresh terms.

The Blues are therefore “set for a meeting” with the Portsmouth-born talent “next week” to try and convince him to remain in the capital beyond the summer.

Chelsea will know that it’ll be hard to turn down a sizable bid for Mount given the financial crisis that they are in, so Arsenal should definitely capitalise on this by testing the waters to see if an agreement could be reached for him to move to the Emirates Stadium.

The Blues attacking midfielder, who’s sponsored by Nike, has clocked up 70 goal contributions (37 assists and 33 goals) in 195 senior appearances and has even been lauded a “leader” in the centre by talent scout Jacek Kulig having previously captained his side, whereas Rio Ferdinand also labelled Mount a "mad player".

The Champions League participant is also a versatile operator having played in an outstanding seven different positions since first bursting onto the scene, including four in the midfield, out wide on both flanks and even at centre-forward, so this could be an attractive attribute to Mikel Arteta and yet another reason why he would make for a fantastic signing during the upcoming window.