All posts by z3u9t.icu

An update has emerged on Southampton and their attempts to bolster the playing squad before the summer transfer window slams shut on Friday.

What's the latest Southampton transfer news?

c is looking to add a seventh new signing to the group on top of Shea Charles, Flynn Downes Ryan Manning, Ryan Fraser, Mason Holgate, and Joe Lumley.

According to Football Scotland, the Saints are interested in a deal to sign Aberdeen centre-forward Bojan Miovski to improve their attacking options.

The report claims that the Scottish Premiership side are now braced for offers for their star striker as Martin is a big fan of him and is pushing the club to make a move for the left-footed marksman, who he also wanted to sign for Swansea during his time in Wales.

It states that it would take a fee of at least £4m to secure his services and that the ongoing negotiations with Everton over a possible deal for Che Adams could open the door for the 24-year-old gem to arrive at St. Mary's.

How good is Bojan Miovski?

The Dons number nine has been in sublime form for the Scottish outfit since he joined the club ahead of the 2022/23 campaign and the talented dynamo could be a perfect replacement for the outgoing Adams.

So far this season, the Scotland international has plundered three goals in three Championship matches for the Saints. However, he has not been a prolific striker throughout his time on the south coast as the 27-year-old attacker scored 25 goals and assisted 14 in 124 Premier League appearances for the club before their relegation earlier this year.

His impressive start to life in the second tier with the Saints does, however, suggest that the ex-Birmingham City star has the potential to be a reliable scoring option for Martin this season.

Therefore, Southampton must bring in a proven scorer who can provide a significant attacking threat on a regular basis to replace Adams if he does move on to Everton, or elsewhere, before the deadline passes on Friday.

Miovski's time at Aberdeen so far indicates that he would be a dream signing for the Saints to bolster their frontline. Last season, the exciting marksman racked up 18 goals and three assists in 42 appearances, which included 16 goals in 37 Scottish Premiership outings for his club.

No current Southampton player managed more than five Premier League goals last term, which illustrates how impressive the North Macedonia international's displays were for Aberdeen – albeit at a different level of football.

The 24-year-old hotshot has started the current campaign in blistering fashion with three goals and one assist in four matches in all competitions, which means that he has been directly involved in a goal every single game on average so far.

Miovski, whose movement was hailed as "fantastic" by ex-boss Jim Goodwin, is a man in form who is seemingly full of confidence in front of goal based on his goal return over the last 12 months or so, which is why he could be a perfect replacement for Adams to make up for the goals that Martin's team would lose if the Scottish ace moves on.

Insider ExWHUemployee has revealed that West Ham United goalkeeper Alphonse Areola has now “resumed training” after his recent injury and may return at the start of next month.

What’s the latest on Alphonse Areola and his West Ham injury?

The Frenchman has been out recently with a hamstring injury and consequently hasn’t been able to feature in the club’s last two Premier League games.

As result, in the recent draw against Newcastle United, manager David Moyes opted to name third-choice goalkeeper Joseph Anang and academy stopper Krisztian Hegyi both on the bench at St James’ Park – he did the same against Chelsea last weekend, too.

However, following a new update on Areola on The West Ham Way podcast, it seems as though the goalkeeper may be back on the bench shortly to provide more senior depth to Lukasz Fabianski.

Indeed, Ex revealed that the 29-year-old is close to returning although likely won’t play until they face Manchester United in the FA Cup.

He said: “Areola has also resumed training. He’s unlikely to feature for us until the Manchester United game, but obviously, it will be good for him to get back on the bench and get some training in before that game.”

What does the Areola injury mean for WHUFC?For now at West Ham, Fabianski remains very much the number one goalkeeping option for Moyes, with the Pole starting all 22 league games so far this season.He is, however, 37 years old now and with Areola completing a permanent transfer to the club from Paris Saint-Germain last summer (signing a five-year deal), it suggests the Frenchman will be the first pick in years to come.This term, though, the 29-year-old has mainly had to settle for minutes in the cup competitions. For instance, he has started every Europa Conference League game.Taking that into account, even if he is fit enough to play, he probably won’t come into the side for another few weeks until West Ham take on Man United in the fifth round of the FA Cup on 1st March.

Everton “need to get in a new number nine” and have now made a “bid” for a £12m man described as a “breath of fresh air” and a “clever player”, per journalist Alex Crook.

Everton news – What’s the latest?

There’s no escaping from the fact that last year was yet another terrible season for the blue half of Merseyside, one that needed a final-day win to avoid ending in relegation for the historic club.

That said, the transfer business this summer has been really quite good, with the Toffees adding both quantity and quality to Sean Dyche’s squad as they hope for a slightly less eventful campaign this year.

The loan signing of Jack Harrison from Leeds United and the permanent £15m signing of 19-year-old striker Youssef Chermiti from Sporting Lisbon are probably the two stand-out arrivals at Goodison Park so far.

Read the latest Everton transfer news HERE…

However, getting in Ashley Young on a free and finally securing Arnaut Danjuma on loan after their failed attempt in January also represents some great business.

And the club aren’t stopping there as they have now made an offer for Southampton and Scotland striker Che Adams worth in the region of £12m, per journalist Alex Crook.

He explained the situation live on TalkSport, with the clip then being posted to their YouTube channel:

“Che Adams, we understand that a bid is in from Everton for around about £12m. He’s in the last year of his contract, so a decision for Southampton to make. He’s actually started the season quite well, scoring a couple of goals in the championship.

“But I think Everton, they need to get in a new number nine don’t they because they just can’t rely on Dominic Calvert-Lewin to stay fit.”

How much does Che Adams earn?

The Saints man is currently on a pay packet of £30,000-a-week, or £1,560,000-a-year, which is the ninth-highest wage at Southampton now that James Ward-Prowse has left.

Should he get his move to Merseyside this summer, he can probably expect a nice raise as well, as he currently earns less than half of the team’s average weekly salary, which is around £62,000-a-week, per Capology.

He had a good enough last season and showed in glimpses that he has the required talent and attributes to make it in the Premier League and that for a team battling relegation like the Toffees, he would probably be a great fit.

In just 23 league starts last year, the Scotland international scored five goals, provided three assists, took 1.7 shots per game, won 2.2 aerial duals, won one Man-of-the-Match award and averaged a match rating of 6.59, per WhoScored.

One man who is undoubtedly a fan is Rangers and Scotland legend Ally McCoist who heaped praise on the 27-year-old, saying:

“But Adams is one I like a lot. He’s such a clever player. He’s got a bit of pace and can go in behind, and he can finish.

“He has been a breath of fresh air for us.”

Ultimately Everton could do a lot worse than Adams, and whilst he maybe isn’t the most exciting of signings, he would make a brilliant addition to Dyche’s squad this year.

Manchester United are set to continue with their pursuit of striker Rasmus Hojlund as Fabrizio Romano has dropped another update…

Are Manchester United close to signing Rasmus Hojlund?

The Italian journalist tweeted:

“Rasmus Højlund wants Man United, it’s very clear since day one of negotiations and these final days of the week could be crucial.

“PSG bid hasn’t changed Højlund mind at this stage: priority Man Utd, club set for new round of talks w/Atalanta.

“Up to Man United now.”

This comes after the Red Devils sent a proposal of €60m (£51.4m) to Atalanta, yet the Serie A outfitt are demanding €70m (£60m) to secure his signing.

Paris Saint-Germain also remain keen on signing the young striker, although they have yet to agree personal terms with the player, unlike United.

With the next stage of negotiations looking like they will make or break any potential deal, Erik ten Hag must make a solid pitch to the Danish international.

How many goals has Rasmus Hojlund scored?

While Mason Mount and Andre Onana have arrived at Old Trafford during the transfer window, the Dutchman is desperate to bolster his attacking options ahead of the new Premier League campaign.

United scored just 58 league goals last term, with only Aston Villa in the top half scoring less and this needs to be fixed if they wish to challenge for their first top-flight crown since 2013.

Marcus Rashford and Bruno Fernandes led the way in terms of goals scored, as they bagged 30 and 14 goals respectively across all competitions, yet Ten Hag simply can't afford to rely on just two players for another campaign.

Hojlund could certainly take the pressure off the duo, having netted 16 times for both Atalanta and SK Sturm Graz last term, and he can boast a tally of 33 goals for both club and country since making his senior bow in 2020.

The 20-year-old gem ranked first across the whole Atalanta squad for shots on target per game last term (0.9) whilst also winning two penalties, and it’s clear he thrives in the opposition penalty area by causing chaos for defenders.

The Danish prodigy could form an exciting attacking duo alongside Antony, who shone in spells during his debut season in Manchester.

Eight goals and three assists weren’t the most sparkling of returns given the club had shelled out £81.3m for his services, however, he did rank in the top 5% across Europe’s big five leagues for total shots per 90 (3.44) and top 15% for progressive carries per 90 (4.55), suggesting that he is always aiming to score and progresses the ball close to the opposition goal.

This could suit Hojlund, who would be ready to receive passes from Antony in the box, aiming to stick any chances away especially as the Danish striker ranked in the top 1% compared to positional peers for progressive passes received (10.99) and top 7% for touches in the opposition box (6.53) per 90, suggesting he could be the ideal player to link up with Antony.

Once hailed as a “machine” by Raffael Behounek, a former opponent, Hojlund could certainly improve United’s faltering attack, and he has the potential to turn into one of Ten Hag’s finest-ever signings in the process.

Manchester United and Erik Ten Hag have opened contract talks with one of the boss' most reliable defenders, according to reports.

What's the latest news involving Manchester United?

The Red Devils have endured a strange last few days since their 3-1 defeat to Arsenal in the Premier League last weekend and have seen a drop of over £600million in the clubs' market value since reports emerged that the Glazers were keen to take Manchester United off the market, according to Sky Sports.

Nevertheless, former Manchester United icon Gary Neville has his doubts over whether the Glazer family would actually follow through on taking the club off the market, as he told the outlet: "I just can't believe that the report is true. It's part of the game playing and the manipulating of stories that they have been doing for a long time. I don't see anyway that they can keep hold of the club because they've got no money."

Back in the world of squad planning, fringe player Donny van de Beek has been linked with a move to Turkish giants Fenerbache and reports in Turkey claim that the Netherlands international is 'looking forward' to leaving Old Trafford.

Injury problems have plagued Manchester United as they struggle to get a clean break regarding squad selection – Lisandro Martinez, Victor Lindelof and Mason Mount are all doubts for the visit of Brighton & Hove Albion after the international break, as per The Evening Standard.

Is Aaron Wan-Bissaka signing a new contract?

According to Telegraph Sport, Manchester United are keen to tie down defender Aaron Wan-Bissaka to a long-term deal at Old Trafford – he has one year left on his current £90,000 per week contract in the North West.

Wan-Bissaka has turned his career around at Manchester United under Ten Hag despite being a spare part in the early part of his reign and the Red Devils are keen to ensure he remains a key part of the side moving forward toward the next few years.

Last term, Manchester United were open to offloading Wan-Bissaka during the first part of the campaign and a return to his former club Crystal Palace had been mooted for the 25-year-old, who joined from the Eagles for £50 million back in 2019, as per The Daily Mail.

Ten Hag praised Wan-Bissaka at the tail end of 2022/23 and noted his improvement in performances over the course of his time in charge at Old Trafford, telling Manchester United's official club website: "He has improved a lot, as many players have improved during the season. That's one of the jobs for a manager and the coaching staff, to get that done and we are really happy with it, that players are developing."

Labelled "absolutely fantastic" by talkSPORT commentator Micky Gray, Wan-Bissaka has made four appearances in all competitions so far for Manchester United this term and he registered an assist in their 1-0 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers on the opening day.

Following his upturn in fortunes at the Red Devils, a new contract looks to be afoot for Wan-Bissaka and few could argue that he hasn't merited reward for his displays.

Former Sheffield Wednesday midfielder and club icon Carlton Palmer has given his verdict on what he thinks about two of the Owls' summer signings.

When Sunderland got promoted from League One in 2022, they entered the Championship with one of the strongest squads in the league – Black Cats’ sporting director Kristjaan Speakman managed to recruit the likes of Édouard Michut, Daniel Ballard and Amad Diallo, who would help the side finish in the playoffs.

Sheffield Wednesday on the other hand hasn’t managed to recruit as well as their new league rivals since their promotion to the Championship and losing manager Darren Moore only makes their fight for survival much harder.

Former Watford boss Xisco Muñoz was appointed as Moore’s successor, however, the Spaniard is struggling to guide his side to points.

The Owls currently sit 23rd in the Championship with their only point coming in a lacklustre 0-0 draw to Yorkshire rivals Leeds United.

And Palmer hasn't been too impressed by the deadline-day acquisitions of Jeff Hendrick and John Buckley…

What has Carlton Palmer said about Wednesday's transfer business?

Speaking to FootballLeagueWorld this week, Palmer said:

"Sheffield Wednesday needed to bring in some Championship experienced players into their squad, so on deadline day, they secured the services of John Buckley.

“It was believed that Buckley was the subject of a £3 million pound bid from Swansea on a permanent deal, but Buckley rejected the move to stay up north.

"Buckley has fallen down the pecking order at Blackburn starting only 21 games last season, but at 23, has played over 100 Championship games, so is a useful acquisition."

Palmer then turned his attention to Hendrick. The former Leeds United midfielder added:

"Hendrick is 31, is experienced, and has a lot of Championship experience.

"He spent last season out on loan at Reading playing 45 league games. Although they were relegated, that was due to the six-point deduction. So, [Hendrick is] another useful acquisition.

"Both are not top-drawer signings but useful additions to the squad."

Who have Sheffield Wednesday signed this season?

Wednesday’s deadline day business may save them from relegation as they managed to get a few additions through the door. One signing that the three-time FA Cup winners signed was Irish midfielder Hendrick from Newcastle United.

The 31-year-old had seen his minutes vanish at Newcastle United as the Magpies invested heavily in their midfield with the Dublin-born midfielder being nowhere near the quality of £55m rated Sandro Tonali or £42.7m Bruno Guimarães.

Name of signing Former club Price as per Transfermarkt Djeidi Gassama PSG 850k Pol Valentín Sporting Gijón 250k Juan Delgado Paços de Ferreira Free Di'Shon Bernard Manchester United Free Anthony Musaba Monaco Free Ashley Fletcher Watford Loan Devis Vásquez AC Milan Loan Mohamed Diaby Portimonense Loan Jeff Hendrick Newcastle United Loan John Buckley Blackburn Rovers Loan Bambo Diaby Preston North End N/A Reece James Blackpool N/A The £1.2m valued midfielder played three times for Newcastle in the 2021/22 season and was later shipped off to Reading the next year. During his time at the Royals, Hendrick played 45 times in the Championship scoring four and assisting once as his side were relegated.The Owls also reinforced on deadline day with 23-year-old John Buckley arriving on loan from Blackburn Rovers.Like Hendrick, Buckley also plays in the centre of the park and has already played 130 times for the Riversiders despite his relatively young age. Last season, the hard-working midfielder averaged 0.43 yellow cards a game (seven in total), so Muñoz may want to have a chat with his new signing about being less aggressive when defending.Whether Palmer is right in his assessment remains to be seen, but after the international break, the Spaniard will be hoping the arrival of these two midfielders will help change their fortunes on the pitch or they will face an instant return to the doldrums of League One.

Aston Villa could potentially make a move for Manchester United attacker Jadon Sancho this summer, according to an update from transfer expert Dean Jones.

How old is Jadon Sancho?

The England international made the move to Old Trafford from Borussia Dortmund back in 2021, with enormous things expected of him after a superb spell in the Bundesliga.

Instead, Sancho's time at United has been hugely disappointing to date, with the 23-year-old failing to have anything close to the impact many expected him to. He is struggling to get into the starting lineup, while his overall tally of 12 goals and six assists in 81 appearances is a poor return for such an attacking player.

It could even be that the Englishman's time in Manchester comes to an end sooner than most predicted this summer, should he be frustrated with his lack of playing time. Villa have been linked with an audacious move for him before the end of the month, as the club look to complete some more key transfer business.

The likes of Pau Torres, Youri Tielemans and Moussa Diaby have already come in, significantly bolstering the squad, and a wide option could also be required to add an extra attacking spark to the team.

Will Aston Villa sign Jadon Sancho?

Speaking to Give Me Sport, Jones talked up the idea of Sancho completing a move to Villa this summer, in order to reignite his stuttering career:

"Yeah, he has been heavily linked. I just think it’s a difficult deal to do. I think Aston Villa could be a good place for Jadon Sancho to consider joining. But the stance from Manchester United this summer is that they’re not keen on giving it up and I think that it would take a pretty significant sum for that to happen."

While it seems clear that United have no great desire to see Sancho leave the club in the current transfer window, no doubt still potentially seeing him as someone who could improve as the years pass, Villa should certainly do all they can to entice him to the club and get a deal over the line.

At Old Trafford, it seems clear that he isn't considered a regular starter, with Alejandro Garnacho and Antony preferred to him at the moment, and once new signing Rasmus Hojlund is fit, the likelihood is that Marcus Rashford will play out wide again, further pushing Sancho down the pecking order.

In comparison, the former Dortmund man could come straight as a key player for Villa from the off, even though his time as a United player has clearly been very underwhelming. This is still someone who has been described as "incredible" by Brazil legend Neymar in the recent past, and he has so much of his career ahead of him.

It may simply be that he and United are the wrong fit, and that he needs a new challenge to reset, and it would be fascinating to see how he fared as a star man for Villa, potentially finding a new lease of lease and helping Unai Emery's side find another level.

Newcastle United are interested in completing their defence by signing Nice centre-back Jean-Clair Todibo this summer, with Eddie Howe preparing his side for Champions League football.

What's the latest on Jean-Clair Todibo to Newcastle?

According to French publication Nice-Marin – via Sport Witness – Nice have made their financial demands for the sale of Todibo following 'recurring' stories regarding Newcastle's interest in the 23-year-old.

The Frenchman has impressed of late after a challenging start to life with Les Aiglons, and Newcastle are keen admirers, with Premier League rivals Aston Villa and West Ham United also vying for his services.

The Ligue 1 outfit do not want to sell but are said to have placed a €40-50m (£34-43m) price tag on his name, and it's now up to Magpies technical director Dan Ashworth to negotiate a move after making initial contact.

How good is Jean-Clair Todibo?

Despite emphatically securing Champions League qualification last season and completing the 22/23 league campaign with the English top-flight's joint-best defence – conceding 33 goals alongside Manchester City – Newcastle are still hoping to bolster their backline.

Sandro Tonali has supplemented the midfield, arriving from AC Milan for £55m, while Harvey Barnes – who scored 13 league goals last season – brings directness and a goal-scoring threat to the attack after joining from relegated Leicester City for £39m – with Allan Saint-Maximin departing for Saudi Arabian side Al Ahli in a £23m deal.

But the back four remain undisturbed thus far, though efforts have already been made to sign full-back Tino Livramento from Southampton; Todibo would be a fine addition and could provide competition for Fabian Schar, who is 31 years old and entering the final year of his contract at St. James' Park.

Todibo would bring a new dimension to the United squad, hailed as a “rock” by talent scout Jacek Kulig – the same could be said of Sven Botman – but differing in his ball-playing ability, which is top-class.

As per FBref, the one-time Barcelona prospect ranks among the top 13% of centre-backs across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for passes attempted, the top 12% for progressive passes, the top 5% for successful take-ons and the top 8% for tackles.

This evidences his passing ability but also his tenacity and defensive acumen, with the different facets combining to craft a defender to be reckoned with and an ace more than capable of flourishing under Howe's wing with Newcastle.

And given that he is likened to Manchester United menace Lisandro Martinez via FBref's 'Similar Players' model, it could be an apt move to continue the upward trajectory of the club, who will be hoping to leapfrog the Red Devils – who finished third last year – and creep toward title contention.

Martinez has been something of a revelation at Old Trafford, with the £120k-per-week Argentine heralded as "one of the best signings" the club have made for years by pundit Patrice Evra, recording an average match rating of 7.12 (Sofascore), and keeping eight clean sheets from 27 appearances, winning 65% of his ground duels, completing 87% of his passes and averaging 3.6 clearances per game.

Diminutive in stature, the 5 foot 9 centre-half looks to have cast concerns over his height aside with a nonchalant shrug and lets his feats on the pitch do the talking, and given that he ranks among the top 6% of centre-backs for tackles, the top 5% for blocks, the top 15% for passes attempted and the top 11% for successful take-ons per 90, he's evidently in the top stratosphere of defenders.

Having been called an "absolute monster" by teammate Luke Shaw too, Howe might be wise to secure a similar profile in Todibo and rival Erik ten Hag's side in the defensive department.

Newcastle would only benefit from adding a new dimension to their already well-oiled defensive third, and it is a move that Howe must seriously consider, ensuring that progress does not stagnate this season.

Manchester United have held "positive" talks to sign a new defender, with Erik ten Hag personally wanting a deal to go through.

What’s the latest Man United transfer news?

The Red Devils appear to be on the search for a new defender to join the three new players already through the Old Trafford door in Mason Mount, Andre Onana and Rasmus Hojlund. The club need to sell before they can make their next move, though, with midfielders Donny van de Beek and Fred two who could soon be on the way out.

Another player who is on course to leave Manchester is former captain Harry Maguire. An agreement in principle worth around £30m has been reached with West Ham, although the defender still needs to discuss personal terms over a move to the London Stadium.

Read The Latest Man United Transfer News HERE…

A new defender to replace Maguire is seemingly on the cards, and the versatile Benjamin Pavard from Bayern Munich appears to be an option. Fabrizio Romano said on Wednesday that Pavard was one of three names being considered.

“Manchester United have three options in the list for new centre back. Benjamin Pavard, Jean Clair Todibo and Edmond Tapsoba are being considered as possible names to replace Maguire.”

Sky Sports reporter Florian Plettenberg took to X to provide a further update specifically on Pavard, revealing that positive Man United talks have taken place and that the Red Devils are the favourites for his services.

“Man Utd, at this stage the favorite in the poker for Benjamin Pavard! Pavard can really imagine to join #MUFC as Ten Hag wants him.

“Concrete talks are ongoing and positive. Price valuation: Around €30m. Tuchel wants to keep him. Pavard wants to leave Bayern. Would be a massive loss for the club.”

Who is Benjamin Pavard?

Pavard is primarily a right-back but can also turn out as a centre-back and is into the final 12 months of his Bayern contract. The 27-year-old has won the World Cup and Champions League during his career and has made over 250 club appearances during his career, with more than 100 of those coming as a centre-back.

The player also has plenty of self-belief, personally claiming he is better and more complete at right-back than Liverpool’s Trent Alexander Arnold and Paris Saint-Germain’s Archaf Hakimi, but adding that he is naturally a centre-back.

“My position is a central defender. It always has been, this is where I feel most comfortable, where I take the most pleasure. This is where I find myself the best. I think we see more of my qualities in this position.

“If the great coaches put me on the right side, it is because they have confidence in my abilities. With Deschamps I have always been a holder. If he trusts me it’s not for my beautiful eyes or my hair. He is aware of my qualities. After that I have to improve in certain areas: I have to take more risks, more initiatives, I am aware of it and I work on that on a daily basis.

“A defender must first defend well. On paper, Pavard may be less sexy than Hakimi, Arnold, but I find that defensively I am more complete.”

Therefore, a Man United move for Pavard could be a shrewd one, as not only would he provide an option to rival Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez, but the France international could also challenge Diogo Dalot and Aaron Wan-Bissaka, and by the looks of things, the Red Devils are working on a deal.

West Ham, led by co-chairman David Sullivan and technical director Tim Steidten, are now favourites to sign a £25 million forward in January.

Forwards linked with moves to West Ham

The east Londoners are believed to be prioritising attacking options above all else next month, as they seek to give manager David Moyes what he needs to make another European push.

Moyes may well end up leaving West Ham at the end of the Premier League season, with his contract set to expire in 2024. However, until then, it's perhaps imperative that they bring in more attacking options.

Transfer twist as West Ham may green-light exit for "energetic" team player

This could come as a surprise after recent news.

ByEmilio Galantini Dec 7, 2023

As highlighted by a recent injury to Michail Antonio, and Jarrod Bowen's knock coming back from international duty, Moyes could suddenly find himself very short of numbers going forward depending on the fitness of his squad. Stuttgart striker Serhou Guirassy has been linked with a move to West Ham, while RB Leipzig forward Timo Werner is another player who could join Moyes in the winter.

This comes as Sullivan and Steidten seemingly work in tandem on the club's transfer activity, with the latter's influence growing behind the scenes.

“Tim Steidten’s role at the club has grown in seniority since his arrival,” stated club insider ExWHUemployee recently.

“His knowledge, targets and dealings have really impressed Sullivan, who now fully trusts Tim as his right-hand-man. This will almost certainly mean that Steidten will be leading the search for our next manager in the future. However, its understood his main focus for now is player contracts and January recruitment – with a striker top of the list.”

Now, according to a report by TEAMtalk, there is another attacker who West Ham could well bring to the London Stadium soon.

West Ham "best placed" to sign Cherki

According to their information, that man is Lyon forward Rayan Cherki. West Ham are the Premier League favourites to sign Cherki next month with Chelsea pulling out of the race to sign him.

Lyon are now willing to cash in on the 20-year-old amid their terrible season in Ligue 1, and Moyes' side are allegedly "best placed" to do a deal for him. A transfer is apparently "there to be done" for around £25 million, with the French side ready to part company for a lesser fee when compared to summer.

The playmaker's current deal expires in 2025, having extended it earlier this year, but a run of poor form has prompted Lyon to green-light his sale mid-season.

Cherki scored four goals and bagged six assists last term, with former Napoli and Lyon boss Rudi Garcia once calling him a player with "exceptional qualities".

"He's a player with exceptional qualities," said Garcia.

"He's already worked with the National 2 group since the start of the season, which is quite rare for a 15-year-old player. He's mature and has great technical qualities. He reminds me of Hatem Ben Arfa."