Rice to cost Chelsea OVER £100m, Raphinha ‘happy’ at Leeds, Liverpool target Mbappe – Tottenham, Arsenal transfer news

WALK AND TALK

Bruno Fernandes ignored a yelp from the touchline as Kyle Walker tried to put the Manchester United star off his penalty on Sunday.

The defender’s claim that Ederson would get the better of Fernandes was picked up by pitchside microphones.

With no fans inside the Etihad Stadium, a Sky Sports clip revealed the shout as Fernandes ran up.

A voice can be heard calling out: “He’s saved it!”

It’s not clear from the video who was behind the shout but reporters from the Mirror and Standard pinpointed Walker.

CROWN & OUT

Defeat to Fulham left Liverpool with a six-game Anfield losing streak and the worst decline of any Premier League champion in history.

The Reds romped to the title last season, their first in 30 years, with a hugely impressive 99 points to their name.

Few expected Jurgen Klopp’s side to match that tally again yet even the most pessimistic fan would have dismissed the sort of collapse that was to follow.

Mario Lemina made hay on an uncharacteristic Mohamed Salah mistake at Anfield to fire 18th-placed Fulham to a huge 1-0 win.

It followed victories on Merseyside for Manchester City, Everton, Burnley, Chelsea and Brighton in recent weeks, as well as a defeat away to Leicester.

THIA-NO GO

Here’s how Chelsea could line up against Everton tonight – with Thiago Silva still expected to be sidelined.

CASH IS KING

David Moyes has warned Chelsea they’ll have to fork out ‘way more’ than £100million to land star man Declan Rice.

The Blues have been long-term admirers of the defensive midfielder and looked into the possibility of landing him last summer.

Speaking ahead of West Ham’s clash with Leeds on Monday night, he said: “I don’t agree with the owners that Declan Rice is a £100m footballer… far, far more than £100m.

“I look at the players who have joined some clubs from overseas and come in and had nowhere near the impact that Declan Rice would have.

“Also he is English, [we have] just had Brexit, so I wouldn’t agree with the owners if Declan Rice was only £100m. No, I wouldn’t.”

The defensive midfielder still has a contract with West Ham until 2024 with the option of an extra year.

RAPH AND READY

Leeds winger Raphina insisted he is happy at the club despite links with Manchester United and Liverpool.

The Brazilian has bagged five goals and five assists in 20 Prem games, catching the eye of the league’s big boys.

He told Sky Sports: “The club, all the people who work here, the staff and the players have really helped me develop. I’m really grateful for this and always look to do my best for them all. This creates a bond with everybody here.

“I’m really happy here and feel I’ve adapted well. Everything’s in place for us to achieve good results working together.

“We know that Leeds are a club who belong in the Premier League. We’ll be always looking to keep the club here.

“We’re also aware that we’re a promoted side that needs to adapt to the league like we’re doing now. Our initial objective is to stay in the top division.”

REF MIC?

The FA says it welcomes talk over broadcasting refereeing decisions to clarify the process in a similar fashion to rugby.

The laws of the game currently stop the audio between officials being broadcast live.

FA chief exec Mark Bullingham told Sky Sports News: “I think it’s absolutely worth exploring.

“Our starting point has to be that anything which adds value to the fan, and demystifies any part of the decision making by referees, has got to be something that we’d consider, of course.

“We then need to look at that counter arguments that might exist from any referees feeling that’s intrusive.”

LAMP FADE

Brighton will be without wing-back Tariq Lamptey for the rest of the season.

The former Chelsea ace was instrumental for Graham Potter’s side in the early weeks of the season, grabbing assists in his first three games.

But he has been unavailable for selection since mid-December, after sustaining a hamstring injury against Fulham.

According to The Athletic, the 20-year-old underwent surgery in London on Saturday to repair a tear in the tendon.

The operation is believed to have been a success.

But while Lamptey will likely return to training before the end of the season, he isn’t expected to be fully fit in time to play another game this term.

ODE TO MIK

Martin Odegaard insists Arsenal will return to great heights under ’top coach’ Mikel Arteta.

The 22-year-old has only worked with the Spaniard for around five weeks since his arrival at the Emirates on-loan from Real Madrid.

And the Norwegian midfield has already seen enough to be convinced Arteta will guide the Gunners back to glory ‘very soon’.

Odegaard told BT Sport: “He’s a top coach, he’s really intelligent. He’s really smart.

“There are so many things to learn from him, so I’m just happy to be here.

“I think the club is in the process now where things have changed a little bit but, from what I’m seeing here and what I’ve experienced at the club, I’m sure that the club will be back at the top very soon.”

NOBLE CAUSE

West Ham legend and captain Mark Noble has signed a one-year extension at the club.

The 33-year-old has been rewarded for his reaction to a lack of playing time this season and will begin his 18th campaign in East London next year.

David Moyes has used Declan Rice and Tomas Soucek in the middle of the park to great effect with no room…