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Chelsea have had their fair share of injury problems over the Premier League season so far, however, Graham Potter could soon be given a huge boost as an update emerges on a key player’s recovery.

What’s the latest?

According to Premier League injury expert Ben Dinnery, N’Golo Kante is making progress in his recovery from a long-term injury.

Dinnery told GIVEMESPORT: “He’s progressing really well. He has begun some work outdoors, although that’s all around that individualised training programme.

“These sorts of dates are never set in stone when we’re talking about long-term injuries, particularly given the fact there has been a long line of problems with N’Golo Kanté.”

The news came amid reports that the Frenchman had returned to light training at Cobham.

Imagine him & Enzo

There is no doubt that Potter will look forward to Kante’s return to action as the midfielder could be the key to reigniting the disappointing season at Stamford Bridge so far.

Chelsea are currently ninth in the Premier League table following a string of inconsistent performances that have left the side ten points adrift of a Champions League qualifying spot inside the top four, so the manager will be looking for solutions and opportunities to tweak the starting line-up in order to find the formula for success.

Kante – who was once dubbed “magic” by Ally McCoist – is in his seventh year with the London club and has become a fan favourite for his contributions to the side in a Chelsea career that has seen him win a Premier League title, the Champions League, an FA Cup, Europa League and the UEFA Super Cup.

The 31-year-old France international is set to be out of contract with the Blues this summer, however, Potter could benefit a great deal from his world-class qualities for the final time over the remaining fixtures.

Indeed, the idea of him forming a partnership between the Chelsea stalwart and shiny new midfielder, Enzo Fernandez, is a mouth-watering one.

Fernandez has already shown a glimpse of what he can offer Potter during his debut performance against Fulham last week, with the young Argentine picking up the highest SofaScore rating in the entire Chelsea team – winning nine duels and six tackles, taking 99 touches and completing 64 accurate passes.

Combining the talented 22-year-old with the experience of his £290k-per-week team-mate could be a deadly combination for opponents as Kante is stronger in the few attributes Fernandez lacks – ranking in the top 15% of his positional peers across the top five European leagues for successful take-ons, tackles, interceptions and progressive carries.

With that being said, Potter could improve the midfield presence significantly if he could finally deploy Kante alongside Fernandez in the near future. Indeed, it may be exactly the boost the team needs to pick up crucial points in their pursuit of closing the gap between themselves and the top four.

Presenter Joe Wainman has expressed his concern that Nuno Espirito Santo may not be interested in a short-term role as Leeds United manager.

Could Espirito Santo join Leeds?

The former Wolves and Spurs manager has been linked with the vacant role at Elland Road as a replacement for the recently sacked Jesse Marsch, and he is currently head coach of Al-Ittihad in Saudi Arabia.

Leeds may turn to the Portuguese coach as a short-term solution to help keep them up before looking at long-term targets in the summer, but this may not be desirable for the 49-year-old.

However, Alfred Schreuder is in serious contention to become the Leeds head coach.

Speaking on the Just Joe Football Show, Wainman claimed that if Espirito Santo was to join and help Leeds survive, that he would want to stay at the club beyond the summer.

“It’s just difficult right now. That’s what I’m mean, if Nuno keeps you up, you have to keep him,” he stated.

“You have to keep him. I don’t know if he’d agree to an 18-month deal, he might want a longer one.”

A poor fit?

Although he was an overall success at Wolves, helping them get promoted and even reaching a Europa League quarter-final, the style of play he employed is a heavy contrast to the high-energy football Leeds played under Marcelo Bielsa, and Marsch.

Leeds have averaged the eighth-highest possession in the league this season, with an average of 50.3%, whilst Wolves came 13th in this regard in Espirito Santo’s first Premier League season with Wolves in 2018-19, with an average of 47.4%.

Leeds focused a lot of their recruitment in recent windows on players suited to Marsch’s style, with the likes of Brendan Aaronson and Tyler Adams arriving having previously worked with the American, and Espirito Santo may provide too much of a stylistic clash to have a positive impact with their current squad during this season.

Everton might have won their past two matches at Goodison Park in the Premier League, early evidence of the impact that newly-appointed Sean Dyche is instilling across the blue side of Merseyside, but the failings on the transfer front is a personification of the sticky situation the Toffees have been beset with over the past several years.

The strugglers are facing a battle to remain in the division for the second successive season after a multitude of factors have run the outfit into the mud over the past few years.

A large reason behind the woes stems from the inability to get it right on the transfer front, with so many signings under Farhad Moshiri’s ownership failing to make the desired effect and steadily plunging the proud football club further into the ground; like quicksand, Everton need pulling from danger with a herculean effort.

Dyche is the perfect man to lead such a charge towards top-flight prominence once more, but he will need to clear out the deadwood in order to re-establish the cohesion that the Toffees so dearly crave.

By how much has Yerry Mina cost Everton?

When the Colombian defender arrived at Goodison Park from Barcelona for £27.2m in 2018, there was a weight of expectation for a player that had starred in shining light at the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

As per Sofascore, the South American titan recorded an exemplary average rating of 7.87 for his exploits, scoring three times; his defensive dominance, imposing height and presence in the box left all affiliated with Everton brimming with optimism at how the stud would perform for their outfit.

For such a high cost for Moshiri, there is little to justify that the decision to sign the centre-back has been anything remotely close to resembling a resounding success, with his £120k-per-week wages putting him at the top of the club’s earners.

And despite this, Mina has only played 95 matches across his five campaigns (including the current term). Currently, this averages out to just 19 appearances across all competitions per season.

Largely, the hapless 39-cap star has been restricted to the sidelines due to his woeful injury record, missing 54 matches in total.

Taking the transfer tag and the accumulation of wages over his 236 weeks on Merseyside into account, Mina has cost his club more than £55.5m.

Branded “average” by Noel Whelan, the dud, who has only managed four appearances this season, is out of contract in the summer and appears to have no way back into a regular starting berth, especially given the new defensive partnership of Conor Coady and James Tarkowski dazzling for the Toffees.

Once, there was a man from Colombia who stood proud and tall among the swathes of defensive hopefuls looking to earn a place among the pantheon of professionals on the major stage.

It didn’t work out for Mina, first at Barcelona and now at Everton, and while injuries have agonisingly dictated the flow of his career, there is now little chance for retribution on Merseyside, with the heavy cost all to show for his labours.

Liverpool are monitoring Paris Saint-Germain striker Kylian Mbappe ahead of a potential move to the Premier League, according to reports.

The Lowdown: Talks previously held

The Frenchman’s contract at the Parc des Princes isn’t set to expire until 2025, but Fabrizio Romano suggested last October that the 24-year-old is looking to leave Christophe Galtier’s side ‘as soon as possible’.

The Athletic report that the Ligue 1 giants blocked a move to Real Madrid last summer, insisting that they would only sanction a sale should he join Jurgen Klopp at Anfield.

The Merseyside outfit, who are the 24-year-old’s mother’s favourite club, previously held talks with their transfer target regarding a possible move, and it sounds like he has come back onto their radar.

The Latest: Liverpool eyeing Mbappe

According to Football Insider, Liverpool are ‘continuing to monitor the situation’ of Mbappe, with his future uncertain in Paris. The PSG talisman has ‘publicly and privately’ made his ‘discontentment’ known and is looking for a fresh start.

However, the Reds know that a deal will be ‘hard to complete’ thanks to the figures involved, with the forward currently earning more than £1.2m per week – more than three times the current highest earner at Anfield (Mohamed Salah on £350k-p/w).

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The Verdict: Would be a massive coup

Mbappe has been hailed as a ‘work of art’ by commentator Rodolfo Landeros, and it would be a massive coup should Liverpool be able to secure his services this summer.

The Nike-sponsored machine has clocked up an astonishing 292 goal contributions in 245 appearances for PSG at the age of just 24, highlighting just how prolific he can be in the final third. The Parisian also ranks in the 99th percentile of positional peers in Europe’s top five leagues for five different statistics, including the most progressive carries and touches in the attacking penalty area.

Finally, Mbappe would provide Klopp with great versatility, having operated in four various positions throughout his career, making this a no-brainer of a move to complete in theory.

However, it seems most unlikely that the notoriously frugal FSG would cough up the funds that it would likely require for a player who cost €180m (£159m) as a teenager, especially with the Reds looking unlikely to qualify for next season’s Champions League.

Tottenham Hotspur ‘have opened talks’ with star striker Harry Kane over a new contract alongside their attempts to tie down Eric Dier, according to reports.

The Lowdown: Kane’s future uncertain…

The England forward’s contract expires in 2024, leaving chairman Daniel Levy with three choices – reach an agreement over fresh terms, decide to sell in the next two transfer windows or let him leave as a free agent.

Kane departing the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium would come as an almighty blow to Antonio Conte or any other manager who succeeds the Italian.

The 29-year-old is arguably Spurs’ most crucial Premier League player and stands out as their best-performing asset, making his future a hot topic in north London.

The Latest: Tottenham open Kane contract talks…

According to Football Insider’s Pete O’Rourke, Spurs ‘have opened talks’ with Kane over a new deal in N17, although the negotiations are believed to be at an ‘early’ stage.

This comes amid the club’s attempts to also agree fresh terms with Dier, with the report adding that Tottenham (and Levy by extension) are ‘desperate’ to tie down Kane in particular.

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The Verdict: Crucial…

Kane signing on the dotted line to extend his Tottenham stay would be a major boost for the club. The attacker’s importance cannot be overstated, not just as an all-round striker, but also a creator who can drop further deep and link up the play.

Kane’s class in this regard saw him take home the English top flight’s Playmaker of the Year award in 2021, alongside his Golden Boot exploits in that campaign.

The Spurs academy graduate has since gone on to become a figurehead under Conte, currently standing out as Tottenham’s best player by average match rating and top goal scorer with 18 in 25 league starts (WhoScored), also becoming the club’s all-time top scorer earlier this month.

Manchester United and Bayern Munich are reported to be watching developments closely, and these next few months could be pivotal in determining Kane’s future.

Leeds United’s academy boasts a wealth of talent, and as such, they have distributed many of the graduates across English football in the hopes they can develop into first-team options.

The Championship in particular is currently laden with those who have graced the Yorkshire side, and are fighting to return at this season’s conclusion with Javi Gracia’s starting team as their goal.

Whilst Joe Gelhardt will certainly hope that he can manage this at Sunderland, an asset that has perhaps gone under the radar but has been excelling is young Charlie Cresswell for Millwall.

Having joined in the summer, the 20-year-old has become a mainstay for Gary Rowett’s side that have been maintaining an unlikely promotion push.

That success seeks to focus on a steely defence, of which Leeds’ young defender has been at the heart of.

Could Cresswell partner Wober?

Should his form take him through to the end of the season, he has every right to believe he can be the man to partner their big January addition Max Wober.

The Austrian has quickly established himself as a warrior within their camp, best outlined in how he dislocated his shoulder against Everton only to play a full game the week later in their win over Southampton.

With a 7.03 average rating for his eight Premier League games thus far, it is clear the 25-year-old has already made a big impression. He pairs his 2.8 clearances, 1.4 interceptions and 1.6 tackles per game with a 74% pass accuracy (via Sofascore), and would thrive beside the equally resolute Cresswell.

He too has earned a 7.03 average rating, but his 3.1 clearances and 1.6 tackles (per Sofascore) perhaps suggest he could be a more brutish force besides Wober, who boasts vast experience at the top of the game.

In his debut for the Lions, Rowett was quick to praise the 6 foot 2 goliath by claiming: “He showed us what he is all about. He’s worked incredibly hard and has been excellent in pre-season.”

The centre-back has only gone from strength to strength, and now seems poised for a return to Leeds where he can truly establish himself as a capable defender at the top level.

Chelsea are interested in making Joao Felix’s current loan move a permanent one during the summer transfer window, according to a fresh update.

The Lowdown: Felix impressing on loan

The Portuguese starlet joined the Blues from Atletico Madrid back in January, with his time in Spain growing increasingly stagnant under Diego Simeone.

While Felix hasn’t necessarily set the world alight at Stamford Bridge to date, his class has shone through and he has scored once in the Premier League.

There is the option for Chelsea to sign the 23-year-old permanently at the end of the season, and a key update has emerged regarding the situation.

The Latest: Chelsea want permanent stay

According to Portuguese outlet Record [via Sport Witness], the Blues are ‘very happy’ with Felix and believe he is someone who can ‘catapult’ them back to the top of English football.

It is claimed that they will need ‘a lot of diplomacy and financial capacity’ in order to make his move permanent but they ‘will negotiate’ with Atletico in the near future.

The Verdict: Make it happen, Blues

Turning Felix’s move into a permanent one is a no-brainer for Chelsea, considering his ceiling as a player, having won the prestigious European Golden Boy award in 2019 and been called ‘special’ by former Blue Alvaro Morata.

In his six appearances to date, the 28-cap Portugal star has done enough to suggest that he can become a favourite at Stamford Bridge, bringing quick feet, deft touches and an element of unpredictability to a sometimes stagnant attacking group.

A little more consistency in Felix’s performances is certainly required moving forward, but at 23, he remains a young player who is only going to get better, so it’s worth remembering he hasn’t even touched his prime yet.

An average of 3.4 shots per game in the Premier League is proof that he isn’t shying away at the moment, and once that next goal comes, more could arrive more regularly, especially if Chelsea improve as a team.

Aston Villa boss Unai Emery has enjoyed a strong start to life at the club since replacing Steven Gerrard at the helm just before the World Cup break.

The Spanish head coach has won seven of his 13 games in charge of the Villans in the Premier League and brought in 1.77 points per game so far, following the 1-1 draw with West Ham United at the weekend.

However, the club are seven points off the top six and a late European charge may be one step too far for Emery after Gerrard won just two of the opening 11 top-flight games.

Next season, the ex-Villarreal manager will have a full summer transfer window and pre-season to prepare his squad to attack the 2023/24 campaign and it will be interesting to see who he brings in to bolster the squad.

One player the club have been linked with is Sevilla centre-forward Youssef En-Nesyri, who is reportedly available for a fee in the region of £44m (€50m) this summer.

Johan Lange must avoid any temptation to add the striker to Emery's squad as the Villa chief could end up repeating the disasterclass he had with the signing of Danny Ings from Southampton.

How did Danny Ings perform at Aston Villa?

In the 2020/21 campaign, the Englishman scored 12 goals in 29 matches for the Saints in the top-flight but his underlying statistics were warning signs that he would not be a fruitful signing for the Villans. He only completed 66% of his passes, missed six 'big chances', and lost 62% of his individual duels.

Lange spent £25m to sign the attacker in the summer of 2021 and the same underlying problems persisted. In 2021/22, Ings scored seven Premier League goals for Villa but also missed six 'big chances', completed 69% of his passes, and lost 63% of his battles in 30 appearances.

He was then sold to West Ham in January of this year for an initial £12m – £13m less than what they paid for him – and En-Nesyri could be a similarly disastrous move.

The Morocco international, who was once dubbed "dangerous" by journalist Josh Bunting, has scored five goals in 11 starts in LaLiga this season, after managing five in 15 last term, and that is a solid return on paper.

However, like Ings, his underlying statistics paint a different picture. The 25-year-old has only completed 66% of his passes, missed a whopping nine 'big chances', and lost 57% of his duels in 2022/23.

The Sevilla gem may have an impressive goal return on first glance but the striker has been profligate in front of goal and not offered much in terms of link-up play or holding the ball up for the team with his physical attributes.

Therefore, En-Nesyri could be Ings 2.0 by coming in for big money and not offering enough in his all-around game to be worth the price tag, which is why Lange must avoid this deal.

West Bromwich Albion's revival under Carlos Corberan has been nothing short of miraculous. The Spaniard took over whilst the club languished around the relegation zone, and turned a sorry season that seemed destined for failure into one where fans could once again start dreaming of promotion.

Unprecedented mid-season winning runs saw them come ever closer to that goal, however recent stuttering results have faltered their crusade. It now seems like the Baggies might once again be forced to miss out on a potential Premier League return for another season, with Steve Bruce's tenure to thank.

Despite that, it has been a season of immense growth for many of the players, who looked tired and unmotivated under the previous regime.

Their new boss has them organised and incisive, with solidity marking the foundation of his philosophy early on. This has largely been achieved, but often left them somewhat wanting upfront.

Daryl Dike and Brandon Thomas-Asante have certainly pulled their weight in that department, but the sudden and aggressive drop-off of Karlan Grant has seen them lose out on a huge number of goals, which might just have cost them promotion.

How has Karlan Grant been playing this season?

Having signed in 2020 for a mouth-watering £15m, the forward endured a tough first season in the Premier League as the midlands outfit fell to relegation.

However, the campaign following saw him notch an impressive 18 goals despite their mid-table finish, with the 25-year-old commended for his continued high performances amidst poor form.

This was clearly a trend he would not follow into Bruce's second season, as after 23 appearances in the Championship Grant has just three goals to his name.

Unsurprisingly, this has merited the £20k-per-week forward's abysmal 6.57 average Sofascore rating for a season in which he has been branded "absolutely lost in front of goal" by Football League World's Albion pundit.

For comparison, Dike and Thomas-Asante have recorded seven and five goals respectively, managing a return from injury and a step up from League Two.

Had Grant elevated himself to his previous levels, or even to alongside his striking teammates, perhaps promotion would now be comfortably secured with an injection of some added goals.

Previously their top marksman and a shining light in an otherwise dull team, this fall from grace has been startling, which culminated in the 25-year-old's failed deadline day exit in January.

Perhaps it would have been best for all parties had he departed, with the Baggies removing a man who had the ability to fire them back to the top flight but simply did not show up.

Crystal Palace could potentially offer Paddy McCarthy the reins until the end of the season given he has the support of some of senior players at Selhurst Park.

Who could replace Vieira at Palace?

The Eagles moved on from their manager, Patrick Vieira, last week on the back of defeat during the week to their rivals Brighton & Hove Albion.

Despite being 12th in the table, Palace do sit dangerously close to the relegation zone with one weekend of unfavourable results holding the potential to see them sink into the bottom three.

Since Vieira's exit, McCarthy has stepped up and took charge of the game against the Premier League leaders, Arsenal, on Sunday which ended in a heavy defeat.

However, speaking to NBC Sports, the reliable David Ornstein has suggested the 39-year-old could still be an option until the end of the season:

(3:30) "I don't think now is possibly the right moment to be making the big appointment that is more likely to come in the summer. And that's why Paddy McCarthy fits the bill as well. He'll take charge today [Sunday]. If he does well, there is support for him among sections of the hierarchy to continue because he's popular with players like Wilfried Zaha."

Would McCarthy be a good option for Palace?

It is interesting to hear Ornstein suggest this inexperienced coach is a popular member at Palace despite potentially leading them into a relegation battle without any managerial experience.

And that is seemingly not only from the players but also from the board with sections of them in favour of him staying on if he shows signs of promise.

But the defeat on the weekend to Arsenal was a heavy one and although it may have been expected, it may not show too kindly on McCarthy's resume.

And the issue for the 39-year-old now is there are no more Premier League games this month with the international break taking place for the next two weeks.

On one hand that offers McCarthy with the opportunity to work with his players and implement any potential changes he would like to see ahead of their next game against Leicester City.

But it also means, he has no games to prove his worth as the Palace board have some time to consider their options ahead of the run-in.

And when he is potentially being weighed up against the experienced Roy Hodgson, the game on the weekend will likely have done him no favours.