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14 goals this season: West Ham could make their move for striker this month
West Ham United have recently sanctioned the £20 million departure of Sebastien Haller to Ajax. The Premier League side are now looking to bring in replacements and the Athletic claims that Abdallah Sima is a potential target. The 19-year-old Slavia Prague forward has been quite impressive for his side this season and his performances have attracted a lot of attention from other European clubs. The Senegalese striker has 14 goals and two assists to his name so far this season in just 20 appearances and he could prove to be a superb long-term investment for West Ham. The Hammers decided to sell Haller because the 26-year-old did not fit into David Moyes’ style of play. It will be interesting to see if Sima can adapt to the way Moyes wants to play at West Ham and establish himself as a first...
Report: Leeds and West Ham set to battle it out for Championship midfielder
Leeds United are thought to be interested in signing the Derby County midfielder Jason Knight. According to Football Insider, West Ham United are also interested in signing the 19-year-old. Knight is highly rated in the Championship and he has a big future ahead of him. Leeds will be hoping to sign him and develop him into a key first-team player in future. Marcelo Bielsa has done well to develop young midfielders like Kalvin Phillips in the recent seasons and he could have a similar impact on Knight’s game. Leeds could certainly use some depth in central midfield and Knight would be a quality addition to the side for a reasonable fee. Signing a talented player like him and developing him into a first-teamer could end up saving Leeds millions in the transfer market. Furthermore, the youngs...
Report: Hammers keeping tabs on 21y/o striker as they seek Haller’s replacement
According to Standard Sport, West Ham United are keeping tabs on the situation of Arsenal striker Eddie Nketiah at the Emirates Stadium as they search for a replacement for Sebastien Haller. The Ivory Coast international has joined Eredivisie giants Ajax after just 18 months at the London Stadium, and manager David Moyes is looking to sign another central forward before the end of the month to provide the injury-prone Michail Antonio with quality cover and competition. Nketiah has 18 months left on his current deal at Arsenal, and he is yet to agree to terms of an extension. West Ham have money to spend following Haller’s sales, with Moyes told that he can use the funds to strengthen his squad before the end of the January transfer window. It remains to be seen whether Arsenal are open to ...
Sebastien Haller finally breaks his silence following West Ham exit
Ivory Coast international striker Sebastien Haller has taken to Twitter to break his silence following his departure from West Ham United. The 26-year-old joined Dutch heavyweights Ajax yesterday for £20.25 million – around half of the club-record fees the Hammers parted with for his signature 18 months ago – on a four-and-a-half-year deal. Haller ended his time with West Ham with 14 goals in 54 games in all competition, and it isn’t a particularly impressive return for a striker who commanded a £45 million fee. David Moyes’ side will now look to bring in a replacement before the January transfer window shuts, and it’s safe to say Haller won’t be missed. The French-born striker will now look to prove himself at Ajax, and he has taken to social media to say his goodbyes: A chapter in my car...
Report: West Ham eye move for ‘exceptional’ player in January after offloading Haller
West Ham United are looking to bring in a new striker this month after they offloaded Sebastien Haller, and the Hammers have reportedly earmarked Chelsea striker Olivier Giroud as a potential option. The Hammers allowed Haller to join Dutch giants Ajax for a fee of €22.5m (£20.3m) on Friday. He will be eligible to face PSV Eindhoven. Haller’s departure has freed up space for a new arrival, and West Ham are exploring options to replace him in their front line. The Hammers officials are looking into the financial aspect of the deal to sign Giroud, but they have other targets as well. According to Eurosport, sources close to the player believe he could leave Stamford Bridge this month, and the possibility of staying in London could tempt him to move to West Ham. Reims forw...
Report: Queens Park Rangers in advanced talks to sign West Bromwich Albion star
Queens Park Rangers are in advanced negotiations to sign former striker Charlie Austin on loan from West Bromwich Albion for the season. Austin bagged 10 goals during the Baggies’ promotion from the Championship last season, but he has not been able to make his mark this term. The 31-year-old has been restricted to only five Premier League appearances, all of which have come from the substitutes’ bench. According to Sky Sports reporter Mark McAdam, Rangers are in advanced talks with the Baggies over a loan deal for Austin, who played for them between 2013 and 2016. Austin was a huge hit during his time at the west London side with 47 goals and 11 assists from just 89 appearances in all competitions. He is no longer at the prime of his career, but his return could bring about a change of fo...
Mourinho: Underperforming Spurs star set for run out at Marine
Jose Mourinho has confirmed that Gareth Bale could play for Tottenham Hotspur in their FA Cup third round match at Marine on Sunday. Spurs have already reached the final of the Carabao Cup this season and will be eager to make similar progress in the FA Cup The non-league team have played seven matches to reach this stage of the competition and could be rewarded by facing one of football’s biggest stars. Bale has struggled for fitness and form since returning to Spurs on loan from Real Madrid, but he has indicated that he wants to be involved this weekend. “He trained today for the first time with us and tomorrow for the second time,” Mourinho said. “Tomorrow after training we will make a decision. “It’s also a way to show you the way we are looking, the respect we have for this fixture, i...
‘Genuine possibility’: Southampton target could join Everton on loan this month – Report
Manchester United defender Brandon Williams could leave the Old Trafford club in the January transfer window on loan, and several Premier League clubs are vying for his signature. Earlier this week, Shields Gazzette reported that Newcastle United are leading the race to sign the 20-year-old defender. The report claimed that the Magpies have agreed the framework of a deal in principle to sign the highly-rated Red Devils academy graduate. Sky Sports reported this week that Southampton are also in the hunt to sign the youngster and are waiting for United to decide whether or not to loan out Williams this month. And now, The Athletic has claimed that Everton have joined the race to sign the versatile full-back. Laurie Whitwell claims that a move to Everton on loan is a ‘genuine possi...
6 FA Cup games to watch this weekend
The third round of the FA Cup is upon us, and there are plenty of reasons to be excited. The big boys have entered the pot, giving us some tasty fixtures and several potential upsets. Here are some games that might be worth keeping an eye out for this weekend. Aston Villa vs Liverpool (Friday, January 8, 19:45) Villa hoping to upset the odds against Liverpool Aston Villa welcome champions Liverpool to Villa Park on Friday night, in one of three all-Premier League ties. On the surface, the visitors will seem like the favourites. However, Jurgen Klopp’s men aren’t in the greatest form right now, picking up just two points from their last three outings. Furthermore, the Reds have lost their last two visits to Villa Park by an aggregate score of 12-2. Although, in fairness, they were playing t...
French pundit urges Arsenal to wait for ‘special’ talent
Arsenal have been urged to remain patient in their pursuit of Lyon playmaker Houssem Aouar. Speaking on the Sky Sports Transfer Talk podcast, ESPN football expert Julien Laurens advised the Gunners not to splash the cash on alternative targets during the January transfer window. Arsenal were linked with Aouar last summer but eventually turned their attentions to sealing a deal for Thomas Partey. Laurens says that with Lyon still involved in the Ligue 1 title race Aouar won’t move in January, but he will be available in the summer. “He still wants to leave and join a bigger league – but can Arsenal really wait until the summer to get that creative player?” he said. “Do you wait for Aouar or do you go for an Emi Buendia? He would be cheaper, and he’s a slightly different profile, but he know...
NorthEast United 2-4 Hyderabad FC: Report, Ratings & Reaction as Colaco’s Brilliance Helps the Nizams Past the Highlanders
The 11th matchday of the Indian Super League got underway tonight, and the first match saw 7th-placed NorthEast United face Hyderabad FC, who were a spot above them in the table. The Highlanders were winless in five, so they desperately needed three points, while Hyderabad FC had rediscovered their mojo in that 4-1 success over Chennaiyin FC, so they wanted to build on that momentum. An important clash was set to ensue, and here’s what we made of it: Report Within three minutes, Joel Chianese beat three defenders as he got to the byline on the right, turned inside and poked the ball across to Aridane Santana, who turned it in from close range. Took what four players out by dribbling from the wings till the 6 yard box and putting it on a plate, brilliant — Raghu (@Raghunandhanan_) January 8...
‘I think the situation is clear’: Lampard dismisses out-of-favour Chelsea star’s hopes of a recall
Chelsea manager Frank Lampard has refused to offer Kepa Arrizabalaga any assurances over his future at Stamford Bridge. Speaking at the press conference ahead of the Blues’ FA Cup third round tie against Morecambe, Lampard made it clear that Edouard Mendy is his number one goalkeeper. Arrizabalaga has failed to live up to his £71.6 million price tag since joining the club from Athletic Bilbao, forcing Lampard to find a replacement he could rely on. While the Spaniard may be handed a rare start against the League 2 minnows, Lampard has hinted that his long-term future at the club isn’t promising. “Well, at the moment he’s our player, and I think the situation is clear,” he said. “Edou’s come in – he’s been playing regularly as the number one for us. “And when Kepa has come in he did well, a...
