All posts by h716a5.icu

West Ham have not had the best start to their Premier League campaign, losing their opening two matches against Manchester City and Nottingham Forest respectively.

However, at least a morale-boosting 3-1 win over Viborg in their Europa Conference League qualifier on Thursday will have given David Moyes’ men a confidence boost heading into Sunday’s clash against Brighton and Hove Albion.

It’s clear that Moyes needs to add a few more faces in order to bolster both the quality and depth of his squad ahead of yet another gruelling campaign, and that is despite the arrivals of Gianluca Scamacca, Thilo Kehrer, Nayef Aguerd, Maxwel Cornet and Flynn Downes.

With this in mind, the 59-year-old could face a reunion with a player who he managed during his stint at Manchester United.

A report from Diario AS states that West Ham are keen on bringing Adnan Januzaj to the London Stadium on a free transfer following the expiry of his Real Sociedad contract in June.

Moyes gave the Belgian his debut at Manchester United back in 2013 and he was one of the few bright sparks in a tumultuous season following the departure of club legend Sir Alex Ferguson.

West Ham face competition from Everton and LA Galaxy, but Moyes will be hoping that his previous connection with the player, who cost Real Sociedad £9.7m  to sign him in 2017, will be key in any potential move to east London.

If the Belgium international does arrive at Stratford, he could well be Moyes’ very own Raphinha, with the two being deemed stylistically alike via FBRef’s similar player model.

Both players offer significant goalscoring threats, although the Brazilian netted almost four times as often as Januzaj last season (11 to three). They both averaged over three shot-creating actions per match (3.67 to 3.66), which shows that Januzaj has the ability to create opportunities despite his lower goalscoring rate.

Both of them also offered a threat from wide positions, with a combined total of 148 crosses over the duration of the campaign. If the Belgian replicates this with a move to the Premier League, West Ham summer signing Gianluca Scamacca might be able to improve on his three headed goals from last term.

Paul Scholes once described Januzaj as “brilliant”, and if the Hammers could secure the 27-year-old’s signature and he turns out to be half as good as what Raphinha was last season, then Moyes might have made yet another shrewd move in the transfer market.

Everton have been linked with a move for Conor Gallagher on several occasions over the summer so far, and now a new update has emerged on the club’s pursuit of the player over the final week of the transfer window.

What’s the latest?

According to talkSPORT, Everton “have asked” for either Gallagher or Armando Broja on loan as part of a deal for Chelsea target Anthony Gordon.

The popular sports broadcaster tweeted:

“Breaking: Everton have asked Chelsea to include either Armando Broja or Conor Gallagher on loan as part of the deal to sign Anthony Gordon.

“talkSPORT sources understand”

Big Gomes upgrade

Frank Lampard will be keen to add more quality to his team following the disappointing start to Everton’s Premier League campaign, with the side remaining winless with just one point tallied up over the first three games of the season.

With Abdoulaye Doucoure and Tom Davies injured again there is certainly an opportunity for the Toffees to strengthen their midfield even further after already signing up Amadou Onana this summer.

There is no doubt that Gallagher, who has a reported price tag of £50m, would not only be a great signing to add depth to the centre of the pitch but can also offer a lot of quality in the midfield role and would be a big upgrade on Toffees midfielder Andre Gomes.

When you compare the two player’s output last season, it is clear the England international would be the perfect fit to replace the Portuguese player in the central role at Goodison Park.

Gallagher outperformed Gomes over many attributes including shots on target rate (42.3% v 28.6%), tackles won (44 v 9), pressure success rate (28.4% v 25.8%) and aerial duels won (46.7% v 31.6%), although the two were completely identical in their 76.3% pass completion.

The Chelsea youngster who was hailed “outstanding” by Thomas Tuchel was also a much more clinical goal threat in his role whilst on a season-long loan with Crystal Palace last season where he scored eight goals and delivered five assists, something that would come in very handy at Everton right now.

Everton have converted just two of their 42 shots on goal, so adding in Gallagher, could give them a player who can not only occupy the midfield role comfortably, but would give Lampard a player who has trouble finding the back of the net when the opportunity rises.

With that being said, the signing of Gallagher would be a major coup for Everton and would certainly give Lampard a boost in his midfield quality to finally give their Premier League campaign the kickstart it desperately needs.

West Ham United have been dealt a knockout blow in their bid to bring Jan Bednarek to the London Stadium on transfer deadline day.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to David Ornstein, with The Athletic journalist revealing in a recent post on Twitter that, despite West Ham being heavily linked with a move for the Southampton centre-back, the 26-year-old has now actually agreed a move to Aston Villa.

In his tweet, Ornstein said: “Aston Villa have agreed to sign Jan Bednarek from Southampton on 1yr loan. 26yo centre-back has chosen AVFC & is heading to medical.”

Moyes should be gutted

Considering just how impressive Bednarek was for Southampton last time out, coupled with Craig Dawson appearing to be on his way out of east London in the coming hours, Ornstein’s update that the Poland international has now chosen a move to Aston Villa ahead of one to the London Stadium is sure to have left David Moyes gutted.

Indeed, according to FBref, the £25.5m-rated defender ranks in the top 4% of centre-backs in Europe’s big five leagues and European competitions for interceptions made per 90, as well as the top 10% for blocks, the top 11% for clearances and the top 13% for aerial duels won over the past 365 days – proving just how effective the 26-year-old is at the back.

Furthermore, the £20k-per-week talent also ranks in the top 4% for non-penalty goals per 90, in addition to the top 10% for non-penalty xG, the top 24% for shots, the top 28% for xG assisted – xG that follows a pass which assists a shot – and the top 34% for shot-creating actions over the last 12 months – demonstrating just how much of a threat the defender is going forwards.

These returns see Bednarek compared to one of the most in-demand centre-backs of the summer transfer window, with FBref listing Gleison Bremer – who was linked with both Tottenham Hotspur and Inter Milan before sealing a €41m (£34.8m) move to Juventus – as one of the Poland international’s most comparable players.

As such, it is clear to see that missing out on the 26-year-old is sure to have come as a gutting blow to Moyes and his West Ham transfer team – who will now have to turn their attention elsewhere over the remaining hours of the transfer window.

Tottenham Hotspur central midfielder Harry Winks is set to depart north London in the coming days.

What’s the latest?

In a recent post on Twitter, Fabrizio Romano relayed the comments of Carlo Osti, in which the Sampdoria director confirmed that the Serie A side have now reached an agreement with both Spurs and the 26-year-old midfielder ahead of the former England international joining on a season-long loan.

In his post, the transfer insider said: “Sampdoria director Osti confirms: ‘We have reached an agreement to sign Harry Winks from Tottenham, so we’re going to sign contracts soon.’ Winks will join Sampdoria from Spurs on a loan deal.”

Great news for Conte

Considering just how little Winks has featured for Tottenham since Antonio Conte’s arrival at the club last November, coupled with the fact that the 26-year-old’s departure could allow Fabio Paratici to bring in one of his own replacements for the 10-cap international, the news that the midfielder is now set to join Sampdoria is undoubtedly great news for the Italian manager.

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Indeed, following Conte’s appointment at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium last year, the £13.5m-rated Englishman has been selected from the off in just eight Premier League fixtures, in addition to making a further nine appearances from the bench – playing a total of 845 minutes of league football under the 52-year-old manager.

And, so far this season, Winks is yet to be included in a single matchday squad for Spurs, with the likes of Oliver Skipp, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, Yves Bissouma and Rodrigo Bentancur all very much appearing to be ahead of the Tottenham academy graduate in Conte’s central midfield pecking order.

Furthermore, with it being known that the Italian coach is hoping to add a new attack-minded midfielder to his ranks ahead of the closure of the transfer window this week – with Nicolo Zaniolo, Sergej Milinkovic-Savic and Ruslan Malinovskyi all said to be of interest – moving the £50k-per-week Winks on may provide Paratici with a clear run to move for his targets.

As such, considering his current standing within the Spurs squad, his considerable weekly wage and the fact Conte is hoping to land one of his own targets in the 26-year-old’s position, Romano relaying that Winks does indeed now appear to be moving onto pastures new in the coming days is certain to be fantastic news for the 52-year-old manager.

Tottenham Hotspur chief Fabio Paratici could make his first big mistake as the club’s sporting director in the upcoming winter transfer window, if reports are to be believed…

What’s the word?

According to journalist Paul Brown, who was speaking to GIVEMESPORT, the north London outfit are one of several teams “sniffing around” Everton winger Anthony Gordon as he appears unlikely to sign a new contract at Goodison Park.

The Lilywhites were first linked with a move for the England U21 international around the time they signed Richarlison as they tried to complete a deal for both players. Premier League rivals Chelsea also came close to sealing his signature.

“I think it’s up to Everton to change his mind. Otherwise, they’re going to be in the same situation they were with him come January,” the reporter claimed.

“It may be that the interest from those two clubs has waned a bit by then. We’ll see.

“But, if he has a brilliant few months, you can guarantee that Spurs, Chelsea and possibly other teams will be sniffing around because they know from his advisors that Gordon is not about to sign a new long-term deal tomorrow with Everton.”

Paratici disasterclass

The 21-year-old is, of course, still very young and under the right development could blossom into a future star on both the Premier League and international stage but based on the evidence so far, he’s not a player that Spurs should be pursuing.

It’s not as if manager Antonio Conte is short on wide attacking options, and even then his wing-back system hardly caters for one. On top of Heung-min Son and Dejan Kulusevski, there is the aforementioned Richarlison, as well as Bryan Gil and Lucas Moura.

Whilst over his 67 senior appearances for the Toffees, Gordon is yet to be deployed as a wing-back, so it’s not as if he could feature there either.

And in those outings, the Finch Farm academy product has only mustered up six goals and eight assists, averaging one direct goal contribution every 288.5 minutes – not great returns from an attack-minded player, one that has also played up front, as per Transfermarkt.

Given his reported asking price is in the region of £60m, it would be an expensive and high-risk gamble to sign the Everton winger, particularly as they signed his more proven former teammate – Richarlison – for the same price, whilst that fee is also being bandied about for Leicester City’s James Maddison, who could well offer Conte something that’s actually needed.

Once described as “fearless” by BBC pundit Alan Shearer, it’s evident that Gordon just wouldn’t be the answer at Hotspur Way, so signing him would potentially be one of Paratici’s first big mistakes in the Tottenham hot seat.

His lack of genuinely consistent end product is surely a big cause for concern, just as much as that price tag is, too. Gordon must not be revisited come January.

AND in other news, “Congratulations, Mr Levy”… Spurs hit jackpot on £15m ace whose value has risen 308%…

Crystal Palace have had plenty of players featuring around the world on international duty, with some fine displays to boot. Whilst many might look to how Wilfried Zaha’s Ivory Coast performed, there was an underrated display found in Europe.

The undoubted standout performer has to be Joachim Andersen, whose fine defensive display managed to hold the world champions France to a clean sheet on their way to a 2-0 win.

The 26-year-old played a full 90 minutes alongside former Chelsea centre-back Andreas Christensen; however, it was the Eagles man who really excelled at the heart of the defence.

His average SofaScore rating of 7.5 is indicative of a solid performer, with his defensive stats further proving his performance was worthy of stopping someone of Kylian Mbappe’s quality.

He recorded three clearances, blocked three shots, made three tackles and completed one interception. The centre-back also was not dribbled past once, whilst the £180m-rated French superstar was only successful in three of his nine attempted dribbles.

The 23-year-old was limited to just one big chance during the match, which he missed, as well as losing possession ten times. Andersen kept him quiet throughout, using his impressive physique and turn of pace to stop both him and Olivier Giroud.

Since making the move to Selhurst Park the “commanding” stopper has impressed at the back for Patrick Vieira, who will likely be delighted to see him continue his performances for his national side.

His defensive superiority is further outlined in the fact that he won four of his six ground duels, which would have been imperative against a side like the French, who have incredible technical players capable of dazzling most defenders.

Of his teammates, only Christian Eriksen and the unflappable Kasper Schmeichel recorded higher ratings than him on SofaScore. The shot-stopper made an outstanding seven saves to deny the onslaught they faced.

With a 7.38 average SofaScore rating for this Premier League season, it is clear that this display is merely a continuation of what Palace fans will already be well accustomed to with Andersen, as he has been integral for them over the last season.

This nullification of Mbappe only adds to his ever-growing list of credentials, as he seemingly improves with each game. He has been a wonderful addition to Vieira’s side, and the French manager will be elated with his continued high level of performance

Southampton captain James Ward-Prowse could be contemplating a move away from the club, according to journalist Dean Jones.

The Lowdown: England snub

During the summer of 2021, the now 27-year-old missed out on Gareth Southgate’s England squad for the European Championship. Looking to bounce back from that disappointment, the midfielder subsequently claimed: “I had to use that as motivation to raise my levels even more to make sure I don’t miss out on another one.”

However, after initially being included in England’s squad for their recent UEFA Nations League games, Ward-Prowse failed to play a single minute, having been left out of the matchday squad entirely for their game against Germany.

The Latest: Jones’ claim

With his omission from the England setup coming just two months before the World Cup is set to commence, Jones believes that Ward-Prowse will be seeking assurances over his career at Southampton.

Speaking with GiveMeSport, the journalist said of the Saints skipper: “At this stage of his career, he’ll want to have some assurances about where he’s going, and can he finally get a proper running the England squad?

“So, it’s a tough decision for him. I don’t think he’ll get aggressive about pushing for a move, but I’m sure it’s on his mind.”

The Verdict: He’d be a huge loss

Hailed by Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola for his ‘exceptional’ abilities as a set-piece taker, Ward-Prowse’s overall game has also proven pivotal to Ralph Hasenhuttl during his time in charge of the Saints.

As per FBRef, compared with positional peers across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year, the midfielder ranks in the 93rd percentile for shot-creating actions and expected goals assisted, and in the 92nd percentile for non-penalty goals.

This marks him out as a player who can make a telling impact in the final third, even from his customary midfield role.

Having finished last season as Southampton’s top scorer in the Premier League, fans will surely be desperate for the Saints to keep hold of their captain, who has proven instrumental in ensuring the club’s top-flight survival in recent years.

West Bromwich Albion slumped to yet another defeat last night, marking their third loss in their last four games.

This has left them just inside the relegation zone, and left Steve Bruce’s job seeming more unstable by the week.

It also marked another game without scoring, as Karlan Grant put in another abysmal display up front. He recorded a rating of 6.3, the worst on his team.

It will leave fans dreaming of a time when they had someone who would perfectly lead the line for this current toothless side, with Jay Rodriguez being one man who could do just that, and in the Championship too.

Having been signed in 2017 for a whopping £12m, his stint at the Hawthorns was one of few where he managed to actually avoid injuries.

He managed to feature 90 times for the Baggies, scoring 33 times and assisting eight more.

Seven goals in his debut season for a team that would get relegated marked a solid return, however, it was his 22-goal haul in the Championship the following campaign that outlined him as someone who would be of great use to them now.

Even during Grant’s best goal-scoring season for West Brom, which was last season, his 18 goals did not come close to Rodriguez’s best tally.

Not only that but standing at just over 6 foot would make him enough of a physical presence to occupy the hulking defence the second-tier often throws up.

Having signed for Tony Pulis, he was full of praise for him after finalising the move: “He was exceptional for Southampton, he’s got these different qualities to play anywhere along the front line.”

With the ability to play poacher or score screamers, his dependability and flexibility would make him a fine asset to any team.

Even today, at 33 years old, he has five goals and one assist in Burnley’s opening ten Championship games.

If he can do it now, in his prime he would certainly prove a fine asset to this current Baggies outfit.

They are crying out for a striker like Rodriguez, and the fact that they don’t have one seems like it might end up costing Bruce his job.

Every youngster in West Ham’s academy right now will be looking to emulate Declan Rice’s progression into the first team but 16-year-old Ollie Scarles may well have a better chance than most.

Rice joined West Ham’s academy after leaving Chelsea and has gone on to become the Hammers’ captain after Mark Noble’s retirement, making 208 appearances for the first team by the age of 23.

He is also an England regular, having earned 34 caps for Gareth Southgate’s side in his career thus far, and he looks likely to be a mainstay for the Three Lions for the next decade.

In Scales, West Ham look to have an extremely talented teenager who is already threatening to break into the first team, having travelled to Belgium to face Anderlecht last week.

The Athletic’s West Ham reporter Roshane Thomas has claimed that Scarles is “on David Moyes’ radar” and it is easy to see why, as he has registered three assists in three U’18 Premier League games so far this season.

Transfermarkt suggests that Scarles’ main positions are as a defensive midfielder and a centre-back, so the Rice comparisons are only going to be natural as he continues to progress in the Hammers’ academy.

However, The Athletic claim that he is also capable of featuring as a left wing-back and left-midfielder, having featured there in Papa John’s Trophy game earlier this season.

Scarles’ former coach David Kingston spoke very highly of the youngster’s attitude and ability when speaking to The Athletic.

He said: “West Ham have a great player on their hands. He’s probably the most humble teenager you’ll come across. In terms of having a positive attitude, he’s the best I’ve worked with.”

While it might be some time before we see Scarles feature regularly in West Ham’s first team, he looks to have a bright future ahead of him and with enough hard work, there seems no reason why he can’t emulate Rice’s progression from academy star to England regular.

Wolves will keep Steve Davis on as interim manager until the Premier League ends for the World Cup break after Michael Beale rejected the role.

The Lowdown: Beale turns down job

Wanderers have been on the lookout for a new boss since Bruno Lage was sacked earlier in the month, but finding a successor has been a difficult task.

Julen Lopetegui had to turn down the job for family reasons and then in the last 48 hours QPR manager Beale has also rejected the gig, opting to focus on his promotion charge in London.

Davis has been in temporary charge since Lage’s dismissal and it looks as though he is here to stay, for the time being at least.

The Latest: Davis to stay on

Writing on Twitter, Cook said that the 57-year-old will now be in charge at Molineux until the World Cup begins in the middle of November:

“As suspected Wolves will stick with Steve Davis until the World Cup break. Rob Edwards could possibly form part of his backroom team.”

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The Verdict: Right decision?

Considering Wolves have missed out on two of their main managerial targets, it now makes sense to stick with Davis for the next three or four weeks.

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There isn’t much time for a new boss to come in and get his ideas across before the squad breaks up for a month or so, especially if the new arrival were to be third choice after Lopetegui and Beale, so waiting until after the World Cup is a shrewd decision.

Davis is doing a solid job as interim manager, too, winning 1-0 at home to Nottingham Forest last weekend, so he should be trusted to tackle these next five games before the break.