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Chelsea's current run of results under Frank Lampard is the worst form in the history of football, Paul Merson has claimed.

What's going on at Chelsea?

Lampard has lost all five games in charge as interim manager, despite the club investing heavily in the last two transfer windows, and he is the fourth head coach – permanent or temporary – Chelsea have had all season, after Thomas Tuchel, Graham Potter and Bruno Saltor.

With Chelsea still yet to reach 40 points and having to face Arsenal, Manchester United, Manchester City and Newcastle in their final six games, there is a real danger that they could finish the season even closer to the bottom three.

Chelsea have scored just once under Lampard, which was a deflected effort from Conor Gallagher in a game they eventually lost to Brighton, and there appears to be no solution in sight.

Speaking on Sky Sports, Merson claimed that given the level of investment into the squad, who finished third last season, this current dismal run is the worst seen at any level of football, as there are quality players in the side who are currently incapable of finding the back of the net.

"I'm not exaggerating here, this is the worst run in the history of football. And I know people will go 'oh, some teams have gone 25 games without a win like lower league or wherever or in other countries' – not with talent like this," he stated.

"When you've got talent like this, who are top international footballers, and you could put out two teams, and they're on a run like this, I would have to say it's the worst run in the history of football for the talent they have."

Can Chelsea recover next season?

Mauricio Pochettino is expected to take over from Lampard at the end of the season, and the club will hope that he can have more success than Potter in getting the best out of what is a sizeable squad.

The main problem in recent weeks has been a lack of goals, and without a recognised quality centre-forward, this could continue into next season if it is not addressed.

If Chelsea are able to trim their large squad and inject some proven attacking quality up front, then they may be able to get back on the right track, but it may prove to be a difficult job for Pochettino.

All of their managers have struggled with the heavy influx of signings this season, and a lot of departures may be necessary in order to keep control of the chaos within the squad.

There have been reports that the dressing room is too full, and it is impossible to give everyone their desired game time given how many players are currently in the squad.

Whilst there is quality within their ranks, it seems unlikely that their form will recover before Pochettino replaces Lampard.

Leeds United CEO Angus Kinnear has fallen victim of Gary Neville's criticism amid their Premier League struggles with the threat of relegation bringing its own financial burden.

What has Angus Kinnear done?

Relegation has been a threat throughout the 2022/23 campaign for the Whites on the back of their survival on the final game of the season last term.

However, now there are just four more games in the Premier League campaign to save their top-flight status with just goal difference currently keeping them out of the drop zone.

To aid their hopes of staying in the Premier League, Leeds have made the dramatic move to change managers once again and have brought in veteran Sam Allardyce.

Relegation to the Championship would see Leeds' revenue decrease significantly as a result of the difference in payments given to the sides in each league.

Last season, Kinnear hit out at the prospect of an independent regulator being introduced to help distribute the wealth into the lower leagues:

"Forgetting that independent regulation has not proven to be a panacea for any industry (take Ofwat presiding over three billion litres of leaked water every year and thousands of hours of illegal raw sewage disposal in our nation’s waterways as a case in point), it is hard to see the value an independent regulator would have added to the perceived issues,” he said.

However, speaking on his own podcast, Gary Neville has acknowledged the irony in Leeds potentially relying on the parachute payments if they are to be relegated over the coming weeks:

(19:15) "I'll always remember Leeds when they in the [virus] season they were the ones that wanted to stop the season, weren't they? Was it to stop the season, so they went up because they needed to go up that season for financial reasons?

"They were worried about it being null and void. And I think that last year, their CEO Angus Kinnear said that bringing in their independent regulator was like Maoism. If they go down they might need some of those social principles to look after them. Particuarly the parachute payments."

What would relegation mean for Leeds?

A potential takeover from the 49ers Enterprises has been longly awaited with the American group having until January 2024 to make the deal official.

There have been suggestions that relegation may not have too great of an impact on the possible takeover, but it will not be clear until the season is completed.

Even if the takeover is to go ahead, relegation would potentially see a number of the Yorkshire club's stars vulnerable for a summer exit.

Not only may the prospect of playing second-tier football not appeal to some of their current crop, but financially, Leeds may have to make some adjustments.

One of the players who could potentially be sold is Illan Meslier with the young Frenchman believed to be a player of interest for a number of Premier League clubs.

Regardless of whether they stay up or go down, it is apparent significant change is needed at Leeds following two consecutive relegation-battling campaigns.

Everton owner Farhad Moshiri has been urged to step away from footballing decisions at Goodison Park by talkSPORT's Simon Jordan.

Will Everton avoid the drop?

It has been yet another season which Everton will want to forget in a hurry over the summer with their Premier League status under serious threat.

This comes on the back of last season which offered up a similar story as Frank Lampard's men narrowly avoided the drop in the end.

However, it is apparent the Toffees have not learnt from their lessons last year with just three games remaining to save their top-flight status.

The victory over Brighton & Hove Albion has not only taken them out of the drop zone, but it has also allowed them to open up a two-point cushion on 18th place.

But their fortunes could all change by the end of the weekend with their cushion on the relegation spots so small.

Ahead of the new season, talkSPORT's Jordan has issued Moshiri with a warning to stand down from making footballing decisions on the back of their recent failures:

(0:40) "And the third thing is get Moshiri as far away from the football side of things as possible."

"£500m/£750m on players to achieve a side that's in absolute freefall, financial meltdown, sitting at the bottom of the table two seasons in a row for the football club, the size of Everton, with its neighbours across the road, constantly doing better and sneering at them. I think I'd say to myself, maybe, maybe it's better for me to take a back seat and put some people in place that are capable.

"Maybe I'd look at changing up the board with no disrespect to Denise [Barrett-Baxendale] and Bill [Kenwright] and look at the calibre of people that I've got there and where they are in the great scheme of things. And try and get this club back on the right track."

Can Everton return to their old self?

The reality is, Everton absolutely have to avoid relegation this season given the financial implications which could affect the club over the coming years if they were to go down.

Currently, the Toffees are funding the construction of their new state-of-the-art stadium which will could do without the revenue stream which Championship football would bring.

But perhaps just as importantly, they are currently under financial scrutiny for their losses over the last few years which will hinder their ability to spend in the summer.

If Everton are able to avoid the drop over the coming weeks, it will be intriguing to see whether Moshiri does look to make significant changes behind the scenes.

Although Everton fans will never accept their side being a relegation-battling side, a one-off season probably could have been accepted had this season offered up more.

However, it has almost been a carbon copy which is a serious indication that change is perhaps needed off the field if Everton are to return to playing top-half football.

This new stadium currently under construction will host more home fans but Moshiri will surely recognise he may struggle to maximise the stadium's profitability if the action on the pitch is not to improve.

Liverpool are "very far in" with negotiations to bring Jorg Schmadtke to the club as sporting director, according to journalist Christian Falk.

Do Liverpool need a sporting director?

The job of sporting director has been an influential one at Anfield during Jurgen Klopp's time in charge of the Reds, with Michael Edwards bordering on a genius who worked wonders in the transfer market, bringing in the likes of Sadio Mane, Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk. Julian Ward has continued to do an impressive job as his predecessor, but he is leaving his role at the end of the season.

Liverpool are working hard on finding a replacement and Schmadtke has emerged as a front-runner in recent weeks, with the 59-year-old previously at Bundesliga side Wolfsburg. Now, a fresh update has emerged – one that suggests that he will indeed be Ward's imminenty replacement on Merseyside.

Will Schmadtke move to Anfield?

Speaking to Caught Offside, Falk claimed that talks are now at an advanced stage, with Klopp seemingly seeing his compatriot as the best possible appointment:

"The negotiations are very far in for Jorg Schmadtke, I heard. He thought about retiring after leaving Wolfsburg in January. He said his wife is now making the decision and if in the next three months she can’t stand him anymore he has to go out and work again.

"So, I think it’s not easy for him to be coming back into a full-time job in July, especially not in Germany. I heard the talks started with the idea of an external consultant position working just for transfers. This idea included just a few months, especially the summer transfer window. Now the talks are looking at something more, which is why they are taking longer than expected.

"At a minimum, it will be a consultant role. If Liverpool wants and gets more from Schmadtke – that remains to be seen."

There is no absolute confirmation that Liverpool want Schmadtke as sporting director, rather than a different position, but he could be an astute appointment in that job, given his vast experience down the years.

While some negative reports have emerged regarding his personality and ability to fall out with managers, Klopp is to be trusted with decisions such as these. If he wants to bring him in, there is a good reason for it, having helped Hannover 96 finish fourth in the Bundesliga in 2010/11, and reaching the Europa League quarter-finals the following season.

It is absolutely vital that Liverpool get this appointment right, though, ahead of one of the most important summer transfer windows in recent memory, with numerous new signings required to get the Reds back towards the top of English football.

Everton are keeping tabs on UD Almeria forward Largie Ramazani ahead of a potential move to the Premier League, according to reports.

Who is Largie Ramazani?

Ramazani is an exciting winger who currently plays his football at the Power Horse Stadium having made 93 appearances since joining back in August 2020, and he’s already got experience playing in England having previously undergone spells at Charlton Athletic and with Manchester United’s U18s and U23s youth sides, as per Transfermarkt.

The Toffees were already heavily linked with a move for the 22-year-old back in January after outlet AS reported that Farhad Moshiri had made contact to ask about the possibility of a deal, and they were handed a further boost by Estadio Deportivo who claimed that the attacker would say yes to joining if a proposal was made.

The Goodison Park outfit and the Belgian, however, failed to reach an agreement at the start of the new year, but with there being a method to prise him away, Sean Dyche appears to be preparing to take a second bite of the cherry during the upcoming window.

Are Everton signing Ramazani?

According to Spanish reports (via Sport Witness), Everton still have Ramazani in their “sights” ahead of the 2023/24 season. The Almeria forward is “attracted” by the prospect of establishing himself in the Premier League and the Blues are “looking” to recruit him to bolster Dyche’s attacking department, with the club believing that he would play an “important role” on Merseyside. The only “potential hurdle” that the board could face though is his €40m (£34m) release clause which may prove to be a “challenge”.

Ramazani isn’t as high-profile of a name as Everton fans might expect to be targeting but he’s a hidden gem that’s even been dubbed a “Mini-Vinicius” by talent spotter Jacek Kulig, so the left winger, who has the versatility to play in seven various positions across the pitch, would be a promising purchase for the long-term future of the club.

The Europa League participant, whose contract still has another two years remaining, has racked up 46 goal contributions (32 goals and 14 assists) in 144 appearances throughout his career, but even when he’s not on the scoresheet, he’s constantly looking to produce moments of quality in the final third.

As per FBRef, Ramazani ranks in the 99th percentile for interceptions, the 98th percentile for progressive carries and the 95th percentile for successful take-ons so loves to dribble past his marker and make the magic happen, and an offensive player with this level of drive to succeed is the exact profile of what the manager needs at his disposal.

Chelsea are in desperate need of some key reinforcements, despite their free-spending nature since Todd Boehly's takeover of the club.

Having welcomed Graham Potter in for a hefty sum and handed him countless January additions, the former Brighton and Hove Albion boss was dismissed in the same season, with Frank Lampard selected to warm the seat until Mauricio Pochettino's imminent arrival.

When the Argentine does make his controversial return to English football, joining the bitter rivals of his former employers Tottenham Hotspur, he will be keen to spearhead the recruitment to avoid further bloating his squad and suffering from the same issues as his predecessor.

However, one thing which will be of paramount importance to the hierarchy is getting their British transfer record signing performing to the levels that his £106.8m fee merits.

Therefore, he must worry not about spending big once more, if it means securing Enzo Fernandez the perfect midfield partner.

What's the latest on Moises Caicedo to Chelsea?

Although Moises Caicedo has been a long-term target of Arsenal, new information has come to light that suggests he has now become the top priority for the inbound 51-year-old manager seeking to kickstart his revolution in west London.

Journalist Simon Phillips detailed such a pursuit, noting in the Talk Chelsea SubStack: "He [Pochettino] has communicated that he wants a new six as priority, and the double pivot in his system is the most important position.

“Unless there is a miracle, Chelsea won’t be landing Declan Rice this summer (it’s not over yet). And incidentally, yesterday I was told by a top source that Chelsea have placed Caicedo as their number one priority for midfield this summer. This has been approved by the decision-makers and Pochettino, Chelsea want Caicedo and will move for him very soon."

The Ecuador international is expected to cost upwards of £90m this summer.

Would Moises Caicedo shine at Chelsea?

As number sixes go, there are few across Europe who have shone as brightly as the 21-year-old.

Defensively unstoppable and a surprise creative star too, the Seagulls' unprecedented campaign would have been nowhere near as successful without the exploits of this midfield workhorse.

After all, his 7.10 average rating is upheld by an impressive 1.5 interceptions, 2.8 tackles and 1.2 key passes per game (via Sofascore), with it no surprise to see him branded a "machine" by journalist Andy Naylor given his unparalleled tireless attitude.

This ability to create from deep whilst offering security to the back four would offer the necessary foundation for Fernandez to then flourish, showcasing his true creative assets that have been somewhat stifled this season.

Despite that, the 22-year-old has still managed one key pass and 2.6 tackles per game, keeping things ticking with his 89% pass accuracy too, via Sofascore.

With these two together in the engine room, few would dare challenge such a formidable pairing that could dominate the Premier League for the next decade.

Many questioned the decision to spend so big on the Argentina international, but should Caicedo's arrival finally unleash his potential, this near-£200m double swoop could be worth every penny to give Pochettino a faultless midfield from the start.

Tottenham Hotspur is a more likely destination for former Leicester City manager Brendan Rodgers than Leeds United due to the latter side being relegated to the Sky Bet Championship, according to journalist Alex Crook.

What's the latest news involving Brendan Rodgers?

As per FootballTransfers, Rodgers has reportedly been offered the chance to become Tottenham manager as they continue to hunt for a permanent successor to Antonio Conte.

The outlet reiterate that Spurs are 'keeping their options open' due to the possibility of the 50-year-old turning down the position and have Graham Potter and Luis Enrique on their radar if that scenario unfolds.

According to The Daily Mail, Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou and Sporting Lisbon boss Ruben Amorim are also candidates to take over in N17, though it is no clearer who will be installed as Tottenham manager and in the dugout for the start of next season.

Phil Hay of The Athletic has claimed that Rodgers is also 'likely to come into the equation' at Leeds United should they choose to part ways with Sam Allardyce, stating: "Should they go down, recently-sacked Leicester manager Brendan Rodgers is likely to come into the equation, at least in terms of the sort of coach they would want."

Speaking on the LS11 YouTube channel, Leeds United pundit Ben Parker has hinted that he would like to see Rodgers at Elland Road, stating: “Brendan Rodgers, I think, is a fantastic manager. I’d be 100% behind that, but can I see him in the Championship? No, even with a club of our size, whatever money he wants, transfer budgets, still no."

Journalist Crook has recently spoken to GIVEMESPORT about Rodgers and thinks that there is much more of a chance that he would take over at Tottenham than Leeds United.

Crook said: "No, I think he is still a Premier League manager and a good shout for Spurs. I know he doesn't fit the profile as a young, up-and-coming manager but he is someone that Daniel Levy has admired in the past."

Where will Brendan Rodgers pitch up next?

It's impossible to tell at present; however, we do know that Daniel Levy has admired the Carnlough-born boss in the past and seen him as his 'preferred choice' to take over from Harry Redknapp back in 2012, as per Football Insider.

Former Arsenal ace Ian Wright has been critical of Rodgers regarding his management of Leicester City in 2022/23, stating on the Wrighty’s House podcast: “You looked at the way they played, you looked at his demeanour in interviews, you look at the lack of intensity and fight and drive in the players in certain games. The lack of organisation, everything was missing from a manager of that calibre, that probably had something to do with it. He was in a place where he wanted to leave, they probably wanted him to leave, but it didn’t work out financially well for either of them. So, they’re together for all the wrong reasons.”

And, he has even been hailed as "unbelievable" by West Ham United star Michail Antonio.

Nevertheless, the Irishman was hamstrung by financial restrictions in the final stages of his spell at the King Power Stadium that prevented him from effectively strengthening in the transfer market.

It is hard to envisage Rodgers dropping down to the Sky Bet Championship to manage Leeds United, meaning that Tottenham is a far more likelier destination if the Spurs' hierarchy decide he is the man to take them forward.

Glasgow Rangers have been given the perfect opening to bring Jack Butland to the Scottish Premiership, according to reports.

Is Jack Butland leaving Crystal Palace?

Butland first joined Crystal Palace from Stoke City back in 2020 but has only made 17 senior appearances since that time and was therefore sent out on loan to Manchester United at the start of the year for the remainder of the season.

However, the 30-year-old failed to record a single outing across all competitions last term, and with his contract set to expire this month, he’s currently set to become a free agent having not yet been offered the chance to extend his stay at Selhurst Park.

Speaking to Football FanCast, Dean Jones, transfer expert and journalist, claimed that Michael Beale is on the hunt for a new first-choice shot-stopper and the Eagles star is someone that he has “looked into”, with Fabrizio Romano since revealing that the Light Blues have held talks and are in “advancing” negotiations to bring him to Ibrox.

Are Rangers signing Butland?

According to The Sun, Rangers are now "clear" to sign Butland on a free transfer as a result of Crystal Palace having "passed on the chance" to trigger his one-year contract extension. The Teddy Bears have reportedly been "keen" on the goalkeeper for 12 months but have only started to pursue a deal in "recent weeks".

Rangers have confirmed that Allan McGregor will be leaving the club this summer upon the expiration of his deal so a replacement will need to be recruited, and having been hailed “confident” between the sticks by journalist Josh Bunting, Butland could be his ideal experienced successor.

The 6 foot 5 colossus, who’s sponsored by Nike, has kept 83 clean sheets from 293 appearances throughout his career and impressed at Palace when given the opportunity to showcase his talents during the 2021/22 campaign.

England’s former international, who earns £35k-per-week, made 16 saves from 28 shots on target against when in the net and displayed an extremely strong range of passing having completed 61 of 61 short passes and 108 of 108 medium passes, giving him a 100% success rate for both statistics, as per FBRef.

Football Insider have since reported that Butland is undergoing a medical on Monday after agreeing personal terms on a move north of the border, and if this is true, then he would be a fantastic acquisition and definite bargain for Rangers.

Chelsea midfielder Mateo Kovacic is close to agreeing personal terms with Manchester City ahead of a summer transfer, Fabrizio Romano has revealed.

What's the latest on Mateo Kovacic?

The 29-year-old has one year left on his contract at Stamford Bridge, and the potential arrival of Manuel Ugarte, following the January signing of Enzo Fernandez, means that he has become a more expendable asset at Chelsea.

Man City first registered their interest earlier this season, and it seems that a deal to bring the Croatia international to the Etihad Stadium is progressing well.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Romano revealed that the midfielder and City are close to an agreement on personal terms.

"The agreement between Mateo Kovacic and Manchester City over personal terms is really close," he stated.

"More will follow in the next days, Chelsea and Man City will speak so I will keep you posted. The deal is advanced, the agreement is close between the player and Man City, waiting on the two clubs but nothing will happen today."

Should Chelsea sell Kovacic?

With one year remaining on his deal, and Chelsea need to sell players to comply with financial fair play, Kovacic is a player who may have to be sacrificed regardless of whether incoming manager Mauricio Pochettino would like to keep him.

The £100k-per-week star made 37 appearances across all competitions this season, but drew criticism from Chelsea fans for some of his performances as the Blues suffered a disastrous campaign, finishing in the bottom half of the table.

City moving for Kovacic could be an indication that midfielder Ilkay Gundogan is set to depart, and they will be landing a vastly experienced player who has won multiple Champions League titles with Real Madrid and Chelsea.

Kovacic has made 221 appearances for Chelsea since joining in 2018, and could still be a useful asset under Pochettino alongside Ugarte and Fernandez, but if there is no sign of a new contract, then a sale this summer is the best possible outcome.

The Croatian ranks in the top ninth percentile of midfielders for progressive passes as per FBref, having also attempted on average 70 passes per game.

Failing to qualify for Europe means that Chelsea need to desperately trim their squad, and given their focus on younger players in the market, selling the 29-year-old suits all parties involved, as Kovacic will be able to play in the Champions League under Pep Guardiola.

Manchester United have Sofyan Amrabat on their wanted list this summer and are set to battle Barcelona to get a deal done, as reported by Calciomercato via Sport Witness.

Who is Sofyan Amrabat?

Amrabat has once more been a regular first-team player for current club Fiorentina this season, managing 29 league appearances for the club with one assist. He's now played more games for the Italian side in the league than any other club over the course of his career too, with 83 outings to his name to date. It shows just how important the midfielder has become to the side since his move from Club Brugge in Belgium.

In fact, the 26-year-old has now become one of the most impressive players in his position for passing in the Big Five leagues. His 67.12 passes per 90 means that he is in the 89th percentile for that figure (or the top 11%). Even more impressive is that despite attempting so many passes, he actually ranks in the top five percent in his position for pass completion rate and the top eight percent for progressive passes.

His vision and ability to control the player and get the ball forward with his excellent passing range has now caught the eye of two big European sides. According to a report from Calciomercato via Sport Witness, both Manchester United and Barcelona are keen to sign the player after he said "goodbye" to his current team following their Europa Conference League final defeat.

However, the report adds that United may have the upper hand though because of their financial power compared to the Catalan outfit. Fiorentina have slapped a 40 million Euro (or £34m) price tag on his head and the Red Devils are more able to pay that fee compared to Barcelona.

Should Amrabat join Man United?

The midfielder could certainly help bolster the Premier League side's ranks in the centre of the field if he was to join. Erik Ten Hag would be getting a player that is not only a good passer of the ball as previously shown but can also get the ball forward himself, with a knack for dribbling and driving the play forward himself. His rate of 1.62 progressive carries per 90 mark him out as better than average in his position (67th percentile) for example and his 70.6% successful take on rate show that he is able to not only get the ball forward but beat his man too.

In addition, football journalist Josh Bunting has previously hailed the player as "outstanding," admitting that during the Europa Conference League Final the midfielder "ran the game."

Amrabat then is certainly talented and his ability to dictate the play could come in useful at Old Trafford if they did sign him.