All posts by n8rngtd.top

West Ham United made some excellent signings during the summer transfer window. David Moyes brought in the likes of Nayef Aguerd, Lucas Paqueta, and Gianluca Scamacca to the club and they all have the potential to shine in the Premier League.

However, arguably his greatest piece of business wasn’t an incoming, but rather selling a player who had underperformed during his time at the club and getting him off the wage bill…

Moyes did well to sell Diop

The Scot was able to sell Issa Diop to Fulham for a transfer fee of £15m in August, which represented a loss of £7m, as the club brought him to England in 2018 for £22m, which was a club record at the time.

It’s safe to say the Frenchman’s spell in the Premier League with the Hammers was underwhelming, despite early praise from then Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho, who dubbed Diop as a “monster” in his first season.

He made 121 appearances for West Ham in his four-year spell, with the majority coming in his first two seasons.

The last two campaigns saw his game time limited, featuring just 47 times under Moyes. In 13 league matches last season, Diop averaged a rating of just 6.69, with the club keeping just two clean sheets in those games.

The 25-year-old won just over half of his total duels (51%) and made just 0.8 tackles per match, ranking him at a lowly 12th in the West Ham squad.

Over the course of his four-year spell, a total of 216 weeks, the £67k-per-week defender cost GSB a total of £36m (£22m transfer fee plus £14m in wages) and this might have been better off spent on someone else.

Moyes pulled off a masterstroke getting £15m for the player in the summer, and this allowed the Scot to sign Paris Saint-Germain centre-back Thilo Kehrer for just £10.1m, and this has proved to be a popular decision.

The Scot appears to be more astute in the transfer market than Manuel Pellegrini, who signed Diop, and getting rid of the Frenchman might be one of his finest deals yet.

Celtic are back in action away to Livingston in the Scottish Premiership on Sunday afternoon, with the Old Firm outfit looking to shake off their recent European disappointment following their midweek draw against Shakhtar Donetsk.

That Champions League stalemate at Parkhead ensured that Ange Postecoglou’s side are still without a win on their return to the group stage, having also seen any hope of reaching the next round of the Europa League dashed.

For all the frustration on the continental stage, it is largely been smooth sailing for the Glasgow side domestically so far this term, having won 12 of their 13 games in league and cup, with that solitary defeat coming against St Mirren back in September.

That loss had ended the Hoops’ 38-game unbeaten run in the top flight, with their last slip-up prior to that coming against Livi almost exactly a year earlier, amid what was a slow start to life in charge at Celtic Park for Postecoglou.

This weekend’s opponents have provided a stern test for the Bhoys in recent seasons, with David Martindale’s side having also secured a draw when the two sides met in October, as well as a further two draws from their four meetings during the 2020/21 campaign.

As such, it will no doubt be a challenge to walk away from the Tony Macaroni Arena with all three points on Sunday, although the Scottish champions could well have a secret weapon in the form of long-serving ace, James Forrest, with the 31-year-old boasting an impressive record against the Lions.

The Scotland international has scored four goals in just ten games against Celtic’s upcoming opponents in his career to date, including his one and only league goal last term back in March to help his side to a 3-1 win and end a 15-year wait for a win in west Lothian.

The 35-cap sensation will be hoping to bolster that tally and keep his recent goalscoring form going this weekend, with the £19k-per-week speedster having netted four goals in his last two league games, including the opener during last week’s thriller against Hearts.

The one-club “hero” – as described by journalist Sean Markus Clifford – has looked “reborn” in recent weeks, as per Josh Bunting, with Livingston likely dreading coming up against a figure who is not only looking deadly at present, but has also regularly tormented them over the years.

After last season’s misery and the financial situation they found themselves in, the new campaign looked decidedly bleak for Everton. Especially after the sale of their top scorer in Richarlison.

However, some shrewd business saw eight major deals completed for just £68m, and Frank Lampard’s revolution had truly begun.

The first of those deals, and one which likely went under the radar at first with how shrewd a transfer it was, James Tarkowski on a free instantly added Premier League experience, solidity and leadership that they wholeheartedly lacked last season.

Unsurprisingly, he has gone on to excel at the back for a Toffees team that have conceded just 12 goals so far, the third-best record in the league thus far.

It marks a sensational step up from the 66 goals conceded during their narrow escape from relegation last year.

The former Burnley colossus has been instrumental in this turnaround, with the 29-year-old boasting an average SofaScore rating of 7.30.

With regard to the upcoming World Cup, that is a rating that betters Harry Maguire, Conor Coady, Tyrone Mings and even John Stones; most of whom are likely to be called up as they often have in recent times.

It almost proves Martin Keown’s claim, that the 6 foot 3 goliath is “the best English centre-half we have that’s playing regularly”.

He further supports this with his mammoth 5.7 clearances per 90 yet boasts a wide range of passing that would make him perfect for Gareth Southgate’s system. His 81% pass accuracy is solid, but with a 51% accuracy with long balls, this marks a fine return on passes that could potentially split a defence apart.

Although having not featured for the national side since 2018, there would be no better time for a recall than now; and how deserved it would be.

Tarkowski would likely perform admirably at the centre of a back three, as the commanding presence to lead his faster counterparts.

The fact that Everton have switched so dramatically from a team that could not stop conceding to one that rarely does stands as a glowing endorsement to the job he has done at his new club.

Perhaps the £100k-per-week star could continue this form to Qatar, should Southgate give him a chance, and help push England closer to the elusive and immortal trophy.

Southampton have been hit with a potential injury blow to young winger Sam Edozie. 

The Lowdown: Busy weekend for Edozie

The 19-year-old had a hectic weekend, featuring for 16 minutes as a substitute in the first team’s 1-0 defeat at Crystal Palace in the Premier League on Saturday.

The following day, he was in action for the Saints’ B team as they thumped Middlesbrough 8-1, but he lasted just 34 minutes before his enforced withdrawal through injury.

The Latest: ‘Fingers crossed’ for Edozie

In a tweet on Sunday, Daily Echo journalist Alfie House said: “Understandably, concern at Samuel Edozie’s substitution after 34 minutes for the B team today. Waiting on conclusive update but encouraging to be told he walked off okay to the eye and looked precautionary. Fingers crossed… #SaintsFC.”

Following the aforementioned win over Middlesbrough’s under-21s, Southampton B team manager David Horseman said that the Saints’ coaches didn’t think the injury was a serious one at first, which could be a big relief for first-team manager Ralph Hasenhuttl.

The Verdict: Hope it’s not serious

After joining Southampton from Manchester City during the summer, Edozie – who Pep Guardiola described as an “incredible” player – has made six substitute appearances for Hasenhuttl’s side in the Premier League.

Across those games, the winger has averaged 1.82 shot-creating actions per 90 minutes, which is higher than the likes of Mohamed Elyounoussi (1.79) and Adam Armstrong (1.61). This highlights how much he tried to make an impact in the final third and why this injury worry would be a concern for Southampton.

Despite not yet being able to fully break into the first team and get his first league start of the season, potentially not having the teenager as an option from the bench would still be frustrating for Hasenhuttl

As House mentioned, everyone at St Mary’s will have their fingers crossed that whatever issue the 19-year-old picked up over the weekend is not a serious one and that, unlike fellow youngster Romeo Lavia, he won’t be sidelined for an extended period of time.

Despite having seemingly secured their Michail Antonio replacement in the summer, West Ham United could be set to add some competition this January…

What’s the latest?

That’s according to Football Insider, who claim that the Hammers are plotting a move for Blackburn Rovers striker Ben Brereton-Diaz despite their acquisition of Gianluca Scamacca in July.

Scouts from the club have reportedly been eyeing up the Chile international for some time, as he has carried his fine goal-scoring form from last season into the current one.

David Moyes is also reported to be a huge admirer, seeing him as a versatile attacker who can cover multiple positions for his side.

The forward is out of contract in the coming summer, but will likely retain interest from the likes of Everton, Fulham and Leeds United.

He is a fine Scamacca alternative

Despite the Italian’s strong start to life in England, having scored six goals in his first 19 games for the Irons, it is clear that Moyes still wants more depth.

The Scotsman seems unable to wholly rely on Scamacca, and bringing in a proven goal scorer in England might just make the perfect partnership to feed off one another.

With 22 goals in the Championship last campaign, the 23-year-old seems set to improve on that having already scored nine goals in just 20 appearances this season.

Brereton-Diaz certainly brings the feelgood factor wherever he goes, with his story of how he entered the Chilean national team a heartwarming and humorous one.

Since then, however, he has been one of the division’s most lethal strikers, leading Tony Mowbray to call him an “extraordinary talent” and a “wonderful footballer”.

Having become something of a “hero” at Ewood Park, as branded by journalist Charles Watts, perhaps now he could translate this to a Premier League club that sits in 15th, just three points off the relegation zone.

With quick feet and the ability to run at defenders, Brereton-Diaz would provide a different kind of forward from the hulking target man of Scamacca.

Moyes would boast two differing but equally impressive attacking options, whom he could call upon when the game suited.

Newcastle United are currently enjoying a remarkable resurgence under manager Eddie Howe, with the 44-year-old having dragged the club from relegation contenders to Champions League hopefuls in just over a year.

The season so far has proven particularly impressive with the Magpies now in third place after winning their past five Premier League games, having notably sealed a hard-fought 1-0 win over Chelsea at St James’ Park last time out.

One man that was a bystander to proceedings against the Blues once again was club captain Jamaal Lascelles, with the centre-back having been resigned to a peripheral role so far this term amid the form of Fabian Schar and summer signing Sven Botman.

While the 29-year-old has only recently admitted he can “completely understand” his role on the sidelines – having started just one top-flight game this season – the former Nottingham Forest man is now something of a spare part for the Tynesiders, with it perhaps time that the Englishman sought out pastures new.

That is the view of pundit Alan Hutton, who suggested that “it has just not really worked out” for the £40k-per-week dud to date, having arrived at the club back in 2015 after signing from the City Ground outfit the year earlier.

The former England U21 international has gone on to rack up 220 appearances for the club in all competitions over the past seven years or so, although the latest suggestion is that he could be shown the door sooner rather than later.

As per Football Insider, the club are reportedly willing to cash in on the Derby-born brute – who has just 18 months left on his existing deal – for a fee of around £10m, with the player not seemingly part of the club’s long-term plans moving forward.

It is hard to argue with the defender’s fall from grace with the club currently thriving in his absence, with Howe’s men having conceded just 11 times in the league so far this season – the joint-best record in the division.

That contrasts greatly with the previous campaign – in which Lascelles featured prominently after making 26 league outings – as the club shipped 62 goals in the Premier League, with that the sixth-worst record in the division.

That stark contrast has illustrated the improvement that Howe’s men have made without their skipper in the side, with the 6 foot 2 menace seemingly serving as a reminder of the turbulent period that has gone before under Mike Ashley, rather than a figure who can be counted on to lead the charge under the ambitious new ownership.

Newcastle United have been closely linked with Stuttgart defender, Borna Sosa, in recent times, with the highly-rated gem potentially set to strengthen the Magpies’ full-back options.

What’s the word?

The Croatia international – who is currently representing his country at the World Cup in Qatar – has seemingly been a long-term target for the Tynesiders, with reports in the summer having suggested that he was on Eddie Howe’s radar.

This has been followed by a recent report from German outlet Bild which has claimed that the northeast side – as well as Serie A duo Inter Milan and Atalanta – are interested in signing the 24-year-old, with the player set to command a fee of around £17m.

Journalist Pete O’Rourke – in an interview with Football FanCast – has now provided his thoughts on that potential move to bring the nine-cap starlet to St James’ Park, suggesting that he could well prove to be an improvement on the Premier League side’s current options.

Asked whether the Zagreb-born ace would be an ‘upgrade’ on both Matt Targett and Dan Burn, the transfer insider stated: “Yeah, I think you would have to say he would be an upgrade.

“He’s an out-and-out left-back. Dan Burn’s done a brilliant job that has to be said for Newcastle at left-back this season,  he’s been part of that really mean Newcastle defence. So it’d be harsh on him if they were to bring in a new left-back”

Big ‘upgrade’

As O’Rourke alluded to, it may well be somewhat ‘harsh’ to dislodge the aforementioned Burn – who has helped form the meanest defence in the league this season after shipping only 11 goals – although Sosa’s quality end product should well make a move a no brainer.

The “outstanding” talent – as described by Stuttgart coach Pellegrino Matarazzo – has proven a truly lethal asset from his wide berth, having produced 31 assists in just 96 games during his time in Germany thus far, including a stunning haul of eight assists in just 11 games this season.

A player who is simply a “weapon” due to his David Beckham-esque delivery, in the words of Sven Mislintat, the 6 foot 2 ace also offers real attacking intent from his full-back or wing-back, as he ranks in the top 10% for progressive passes and in the top 12% for dribbles completed among those in his position in Europe.

Burn, by contrast, has chipped in with just one goal involvement since his arrival from Brighton and Hove Albion back in January, with the towering defender also ranking in just the bottom 23% for progressive passes and only the bottom 6% for dribbles completed, having provided a less glamorous, more robust option at left-back.

While the 30-year-old could well still have a role to play in the side in a central defensive berth, if the ambitious outfit are to kick on and push towards Champions League qualification and major honours moving forward, it could well need a quality ‘upgrade’ such as Sosa to come through the door.

Chelsea are in desperate need of reinforcements in their team after a poor start in the Premier League has left them eighth in the league table and now a new update has emerged on a potential new transfer target who could save the season.

What’s the latest?

According to journalist Pete O’Rourke, Chelsea are “looking at” the potential of bringing in a number nine, and signing Brentford striker Ivan Toney could be an option.

O’Rourke told GIVEMESPORT:

“I think Chelsea long-term will be looking to bring in a number nine, probably this summer.

“I don’t think Pierre Emerick Aubameyang is the long-term answer due to his form and his age probably.

“So, I think Chelsea will be looking at him [Toney]. If you’re looking at Premier League strikers and ones that are probably more gettable than others, Ivan Toney definitely comes into the reckoning.”

Boehly can finally ditch Lukaku

If Chelsea are serious about targeting a brand new number nine in the summer of 2023, it could spell the end of the £97.5m nightmare featuring Romelu Lukaku as Todd Boehly could ditch the banished striker who is currently on a season-long loan with Inter Milan after a disastrous return to Stamford Bridge.

Toney has been a stand-out performer in the Premier League this season with Brentford and has been constantly put into conversations about the potential of going to the World Cup in Qatar with England over the last few months, but ultimately missed out.

Despite the snub from Gareth Southgate, it is without question that the forward, who is thought to be valued at around £40m, has the talent to take the next step in his career and Chelsea could provide that if they do make a move for the goal machine.

Over 14 league appearances, Toney has scored 10 goals, delivered two assists and created six big chances, as well as averaging 1.1 key passes, 1.1 clearances, 2.9 shots and 6.1 duels won per game, with only Harry Kane and Erling Haaland scoring more goals than the Bees star so far.

The 26-year-old has been the recipient of high praise for his performances at the Brentford Community Stadium over the last 18 months, with manager Thomas Frank hailing Toney a “lion” and “very intelligent” in an analysis of the striker’s form:

“Ivan is very intelligent, because he’s reflecting, and he deserves a lot of praise himself for also coming into a well-run club and listening to all the small bits and adding extra layers to his development and performance.”

“He’s coming across so fantastically: he’s humble, calm, but with a mindset of a lion.”

So far, the Blues have scored the fewest amount of goals in the top half of the table despite signing Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang and Raheem Sterling in the summer to strengthen the attacking threat.

With that being said, if Toney continues to score at the rate he has this season there is no doubt that Chelsea will be interested in snapping up his services in the summer, as he could be the long-term solution to one of the club’s biggest problems on the pitch.

Leeds United are thought to be in contact with the representatives of Rangers defender Jack Wylie.

The Lowdown: Leeds linked with Wylie

The Whites have been extremely proactive in adding to their Thorp Arch academy ranks since returning to the Premier League, with Darko Gyabi and Sonny Perkins the two high-profile academy arrivals over the summer.

Rumours emerged in October regarding Wylie and Leeds, with reports suggesting that the Whites joined Arsenal in the race for the full-back, who will turn 16 in January.

The Latest: Wylie transfer update

Football Insider reporter Pete O’Rourke shared an update on Wylie, claiming that the Scottish giants are ‘rolling out the red carpet’ to try and convince the youngster that he should stay at Ibrox.

He added that Rangers are aware of interest down south, with Leeds one of three English clubs who have ‘registered their interest’ and are in ‘dialogue with the player’s camp’.

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The Verdict: One to watch?

Leeds have had great success when it comes to bringing some of the best young footballers in the UK and beyond to Yorkshire and turning them into first-team players.

The likes of Illan Meslier, Pascal Struijk, Leo Hjelde, Sam Greenwood, Crysencio Summerville and Joe Gelhardt are all considered first-team players after initially plying their trade in the Thorp Arch academy.

You’d expect that Victor Orta and co will be presenting a plan to Wylie over a possible move to Elland Road, but it seems as if Rangers are desperate to keep the teenager in Scotland.

The January transfer window is only a matter of weeks away from opening for business and Aston Villa may be one of the clubs in the market to strengthen their squad.

Unai Emery has arrived from Villarreal and next month will be his first opportunity to bring players through the door in order to stamp his own mark on the side.

This means that the Villans could be busy throughout the window in an attempt to give the Spaniard everything that he needs to enjoy a successful second half of the season, and beyond.

The arrival of new players could also mean that underperforming players lose their place in the squad and have to be moved on, or shifted into a reserve role.

One man who could be on the chopping block is Jamaica international Leon Bailey. The 25-year-old has struggled to produce in the final third since making the move from Bayer Leverkusen in the summer of 2021 and Emery could replace him by signing a new winger.

Bailey has registered just four goals and provided only three assists in 32 Premier League outings for Villa since the start of the 2021/22 campaign.

He has averaged a Sofascore rating of 6.75 or lower in that time and Emery must now ditch the underperforming dud by swooping for Ismaila Sarr from Watford.

Villa agreed a £25m deal with the Championship side in the summer but were unable to finalise the move and the Spanish head coach must now pick up from where Steven Gerrard left off to revive the transfer in January.

Sarr’s form at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar suggests that he could be a terrific signing for the Villans and an upgrade on Bailey, as he caught the eye for Senegal during their run to the last 16.

His country were knocked out by England on Sunday night but the 24-year-old winger was superb across his four appearances in the competition.

As per Sofascore, he scored one goal, completed a whopping nine dribbles, and created six chances for his teammates, whilst winning 66% of his individual duels.

These statistics show that he was a wizard on the ball and held his own from a physical perspective, as he danced around opposition defenders and opened up space for his teammates to go along with his strong defensive work to help out his full-back.

Sarr, who scored five goals and created five ‘big chances’ in 21 Premier League starts last season, averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.10 at the World Cup and no Senegal player managed a higher rating, which indicates that he was the top performer for his country in Qatar.

Therefore, the Watford man – who has been dubbed an “unbelievable talent” by the Guardian’s Ed Aarons – could be an excellent signing for Villa as he is coming into January off the back of an impressive tournament and should be high on confidence after showing the world that he can compete at the top level.

Bringing him in would then allow Emery to ditch Bailey and unleash Sarr on the wing for the Villans in the second half of the campaign.