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West Ham must be rueing the decision to not sign Odsonne Edouard this summer after he kickstarted life in the Premier League with a bang…

What was the word?

Heading into the final week of the window, Eurosport journalist Dean Jones claimed that it was between Crystal Palace and the Irons in the race for the Frenchman’s signature as Celtic looked to move him on as he was entering the final year of his contract at Parkhead.

But just a few days later, Ryan Taylor of the Express revealed that Hammers boss David Moyes had actually rejected the opportunity to sign Edouard despite the obvious need for a new forward.

And on deadline day, the 23-year-old joined the Eagles in an initial £14m deal worth £70k-per-week, which could rise to £18.5m in add-ons, per Sky Sports.

One that got away?

After how events played out on Saturday afternoon, those around the London Stadium will surely be gutted to have not signed the new Palace talisman.

West Ham were held to a frustrating draw by Southampton, a game in which they failed to find the net and saw leading goalscorer Michail Antonio sent off.

For most clubs, they’d be able to cope with the loss of just one forward but Moyes does not have any other recognised senior player in the role, having failed to sign one this summer, thus making the decision to not sign a player like Edouard very foolish.

But to add insult to injury, the France U21 international made his debut for Palace and bagged a brace against Spurs, further punishing the Irons’ silly mistake.

Whilst it’s still early days, it’s reasonable to think that Edouard can keep up this form throughout the season as he’s clearly a proven goalscorer and many a player has been able to adapt from the Scottish top-flight when arriving in the Premier League – Virgil van Dijk, John McGinn and Kieran Tierney being three prime examples.

During the 2020/21 campaign, the former Hoops striker topped the charts for goals scored (18), total shots (110) and total shots on target (53) in the entire SPFL, as well as finishing second for dribbles attempted (108), via Sky Sports.

Overall, the £18m-rated Edouard delivered 86 goals and provided a further 36 assists across 179 appearances, averaging a direct contribution once every 97.5 minutes, as per Transfermarkt.

It’s no wonder he was lauded as “talismanic” and “unstoppable” by ex-boss Neil Lennon and Barry Ferguson, respectively, during his time in Scotland.

On this weekend’s evidence, the east Londoners must be rueing Moyes’ major call to not sign the prolific marksman. It’s one they could long regret as the season rumbles on.

AND in other news, Forget Antonio: £26m-rated West Ham star who lost possession 16x badly let Moyes down…

Aston Villa and Spurs transfer target Mikkel Damsgaard is now in talks with Serie A giants Inter.

What’s the story?

Reports over the course of the summer transfer window suggested that Dean Smith’s side were one of a number of clubs, both domestically and from abroad, who were interested in signing the Denmark international.

A deal however failed to materialise, and the winger ended up staying at Sampdoria.

Now, Italian publication Calciomercato claim that Inter have held talks with Sampdoria over signing Damsgaard, and have received a positive response in their negotiation attempts.

Imagine him and Bailey

The £18m-rated winger was hailed as “phenomenal” by Denmark teammate, Kasper Schmeichel, for his performances during EURO 2020 over the summer – Damsgaard of course was the man who struck that superb free-kick in the semi-finals against England at Wembley Stadium.

As per Whoscored, Damsgaard averaged an impressive 1.8 shots, 1.2 key passes and 1.8 dribbles per game during the competition – all evidence of someone who’s direct, forward-thinking but also has the creativity to pick out his teammates and set them up.

Despite landing Leon Bailey from Bayer Leverkusen in the summer, a move for Damsgaard may be the icing on the cake for Villa, especially when you consider how the two could actually work together on the pitch.

Like Bailey, Damsgaard has got an abundance of pace, and according to Norwegian football expert, Martin Mikkelsen, he is “dynamic and can go both ways.”

And, former Arsenal striker Kevin Campbell added to his list of lengthy admirers, saying “he looks very sharp on the ball and has an eye for goal too.”

With Damsgaard right-footed, and Bailey left, Villa could have two inside forwards operating at the same time and cutting in for devastating effect.

Having the duo wreak havoc on either side could cause real nightmares for Premier League sides coming up against them, and give Smith a terrifying tandem to work with at Villa Park.

Meanwhile, fresh details have emerged on this Aston Villa swoop…

Former Everton star Michael Ball believes a move to sign Sander Berge could be a shrewd one for the Toffees.

The club have been linked with a potential swoop to sign the defensive midfielder after the Blades were relegated to the Championship.

Berge enjoyed a breakthrough season in the Premier League when Sheffield United finished ninth, impressing in his 14 appearances.

He has struggled with injuries, however, and missed a large chunk of the 2020/21 season as the Blades finished rock-bottom.

Since their return to the Championship, Berge has played twice, and Ball believes he was quite simply the best player on the pitch when they took on Birmingham City, even though they lost the game 1-0.

Speaking exclusively to Football FanCast, Ball made the claim that he is too good for the second-tier, saying: “It always seems to be the same clubs linked to the same players, I think Arsenal are interested in him again and also Everton but I watched his game last week and he was head and shoulders the best player on the pitch.

“He probably is too good for the Championship.”

Berge has made a total of 34 appearances for the Blades and has also won 24 caps for Norway. He is valued at £16.2m by Transfermarkt.

Many West Ham United United fans have been angered on Twitter, after it was revealed by Evening Standard journalist Jack Rosser that Kurt Zouma’s Hammers medical is taking place in Paris.

Enjoying a memorable 2020/21 campaign, the 26-year-old managed to net five goals in 36 appearances as he helped Chelsea to their historic UEFA Champions League triumph [Transfermarkt].

Now, he looks to be on his way to East London, and is currently undergoing a medical before being unveiled as the Irons’ latest signing.

However, one of the finer details of the health assessment has been overlooked, with the Frenchman undergoing medical tests in Paris as opposed to London [Evening Standard].

Zouma is believed to be in Paris for personal reasons, which would mean he would miss the Hammers’ next league fixture against Crystal Palace due to quarantine guidelines.

In light of this news, no wonder loads of West Ham United diehards took to social media to question these developments.

WHUFC fans react:

Replying to Rosser on Twitter, here is what some West Ham supporters had to say about the situation, as one fan called the update ‘concerning’:

 “Why is he in Paris?”

Credit: @WestHam_Way

“Why in Paris. He was in Chelsea squad”

Credit: @Icevain7

 “In Paris lol”

Credit: @JamieWHU__

“What kind of event is a player who should be in London medical in Paris? ?? ?? Please let me know.”

Credit: @whu_sou_

“Just get it done already, the amount of times he’s been “set for a medical” is getting concerning #WHU”

Credit: @CornB_NY

“I guess he’ll just stay there for the international break anyways.”

Credit: @PatrickWHUFC

In other news, West Ham United fans react to the EFL Cup draw. Find out more here.

Inter Miami goalkeeper Drake Callender denied LA Galaxy talisman Riqui Puig from the penalty spot 10 minutes into their match Sunday evening.

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• Inter Miami draw LA Galaxy 1-1
• Callender denied Puig from the spot
• Messi net late equalizer

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The former Barcelona ace – who was once dubbed 'the next Messi' – had his penalty kick saved by the U.S. international just 10 minutes into their match. The Galaxy earned the spot kick after Sergio Busquets brought down MLS debutant Joseph Paintsil in the box, after the Ghanaian made a brilliant run towards the net.

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• WATCH THE CLIP

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Puig was the Galaxy's best player last campaign, and likely the individual you wanted taking that spot kick. However, Callender read his attempt like a book, diving perfectly to deny him an opener.

  Inter Miami fans shouldn't have been surprised to see their goalkeeper stand on his head early in the match, knowing that he denied Atlanta United's World Cup winner Thiago Almada from the spot last Summer in the Leagues Cup for the Herons as well.

  The crucial save ended up being what secured Inter Miami a point in the end, too. They drew the Western Conference side 1-1 to remain undefeated through two games this season.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR INTER MIAMI?

  Callender and Inter Miami take on Orlando City next weekend in their third match of the season. Their South Florida rivals will look to earn bragging rights, while the Herons will be looking for their second home win of the campaign.

Spain's victory over Netherlands in their UEFA Women's Nations League semi-final secured La Roja a place at the 2024 Olympics in Paris.

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• Spain's women qualify for Olympics
• Victory in Nations League semi-final
• Optimism for 2024 after tough 2023

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Jenni Hermoso and Aitana Bonmati each scored in the first half against the Dutch, with Barcelona full-back Ona Batlle adding a third later on to secure a 3-0 win. Only one Olympic qualifying place was originally going to be available through the Women's Nations League finals – to be awarded to the overall winner. But with France victorious in the other semi-final against Germany and having already qualified as hosts, it means that Montse Tome's Spain automatically now get that place before the final has been played.

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• WHAT TOME SAID

  Tome said after taking Spain through to the Olympics for the first time in their history: "We took charge in a difficult moment that nobody wanted and we took a step forward. We are proud of the work we have done. This team deserves to play an Olympic Games after all the prior generations who fought for it and came up short."

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Spain's World Cup win last summer was ultimately overshadowed by the scandal that erupted when the now disgraced former RFEF president Luis Rubiales kissed Hermoso on the lips without her consent after the final. He has since been banned from all football-related activities by FIFA until late 2026 and it has been proposed by a judge in Spain that he faces criminal trial on charges of sexual assault and coercion. Former head coach Jorge Vilda also stands accused of coercion and was sacked in the wake of the World Cup triumph, having previously seen 15 players refuse to be called up in the year prior due to problems with the regime. There was an even bigger player walkout after the World Cup and Tome, formerly assistant coach to Vilda, was left to pick up the pieces after being promoted to the top job.

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• DID YOU KNOW?

  Women's football at the Olympics is a far bigger deal than in the men's game, with no restrictions on age meaning that countries are free to pick all of their best players – the only limit is a smaller squad size (18) than other competitions. It is therefore much more more akin to a World Cup than the counterpart Under-23 junior tournament seen with the men.

West Ham United have reportedly agreed a deal with Martin Braithwaite…

What’s the word?

That’s according to Spanish outlet Sport, who claim the Barcelona striker has ‘a preliminary agreement’ with the Irons over a potential switch to the London Stadium this month, though it’s suggested that he’s holding out for local rivals Tottenham Hotspur.

The 56-cap Denmark international has only received a firm offer from David Moyes’ side, whilst he’s a very expendable option for the La Liga giants, especially in their bid to reduce their financial problems.

It’s thought that Barcelona would like to shift him on sooner rather than later but it remains to be seen exactly how much for. CIES Football Observatory currently value him at €20m (£18m), whilst he’s reportedly earning £105k-per-week at the Nou Camp.

Not the answer!

The fact that the Hammers are said to already have an agreement with Braithwaite is a major cause for concern.

Of course, it’s no secret that West Ham are absolutely desperate to sign a new striker before the end of the month as they cannot simply rely on the services of just Michail Antonio when they are soon to be competing in the Europa League.

But the 30-year-old flop is far from the answer. It would be a pretty reckless and disastrous move from Moyes and co, if these reports are to be believed.

In 53 appearances for Barcelona, Braithwaite has only found the net eight times, which is pretty disappointing when you had the likes of Lionel Messi, Pedri, Jordi Alba and many more providing you with creativity.

[snack-amp-story url= “https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/read-the-latest-west-ham-news-transfer-rumours-the-latest-gossip-and-much-more-3” title= “Read the latest West Ham news, transfer rumours, gossip and much more!”]

Furthermore, his last stint in England failed to garner much success and it actually ended on quite the sour note.

Eight goals in 36 Championship matches is hardly outstanding, especially when you consider that one of the Irons’ former mooted targets Adam Armstrong bagged 28 goals in just one season, earning a move to league rivals Southampton this week.

Braithwaite kicked up a fuss to try and force an exit during his time at Middlesbrough under Tony Pulis and the Welshman lambasted his actions to the press back in March 2019. He said, via GazzetteLive:

“The biggest disappointment for me is he’s the highest-paid player I’ve ever worked with in the Championship,” before adding: “To show the disrespect he’s shown to this club by saying he’s not coming back, to Steve Gibson, who’s made him a multi-millionaire, let’s make no bones about it, the wages and what he’s earning are astonishing. I’ve dealt with players all my life, some can make your hair curl – not mine. But for him to come out and say that, it just puts him up there as such an ungrateful person.”

There are just too many red flags to warrant or justify the Hammers’ interest in Braithwaite, so Moyes must be risking an absolute transfer nightmare if he has truly agreed on terms with the Barcelona dud.

The Scotsman must turn his attention elsewhere before it’s too late. Braithwaite would be one desperate mistake in East London.

AND in other news, David Moyes dealt gutting transfer blow over top West Ham target…

Marcos Alonso is reportedly set to choose between a Premier League return or a move to Saudi Arabia when leaving Barcelona in 2024.

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• Experienced defender seeing deal run down
• January move being speculated on
• Several options to consider

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The experienced full-back will see his contract at Camp Nou expire next summer. No extension has been discussed, with the expectation being that Barca will look to get another wage off their books. There are murmurs of a switch being sanctioned in January.

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  Former Bolton and Chelsea star Alonso was linked with Manchester United over the summer, and the Red Devils may choose to rekindle their interest. According to , the 32-year-old defender is also attracting admiring glances from the Middle East.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Alonso could be presented with an opportunity to join the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema in Saudi Arabia, with several sides in that region prepared to do a deal. It is, however, reported that the Spain international wants to see out the 2023-24 campaign in Catalunya first.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR ALONSO?

  He intends to compete for minutes with Alejandro Balde and Joao Cancelo. Another big decision on his future will be made at the end of the season, with interest from England and Saudi Arabia not going away.

Christian Pulisic has been told he is not "the man" at AC Milan but comparisons to Real Madrid's Jude Bellingham are unfair on the USMNT star.

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• Pulisic impressing at AC Milan
• US ace told to step up more
• Told "he's not Jude Bellingham"

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  WHAT HAPPENED?

  Pulisic has scored seven goals and bagged six assists for Milan since his £17 million ($22m) transfer to the Italian giants from Chelsea last summer. While the 25-year-old has been a regular for the Rossoneri this season, former West Ham star Nigel Reo-Coker thinks he needs to up his game in Stefano Pioli's side and be the key figure for them, just as Bellingham is at Madrid.

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  WHAT REO-COKER SAID

  Reo-Coker said on : "It's good to see him enjoying his football but I want Pulisic to have that edge about him, he needs to take that next level and embrace the pressure, and the limelight. I still don't think he is doing it. I don't think he's gone there to say, 'This Milan team is me, I am one of the key players for Milan'. I think he is having a great season but I wouldn't say he is the man for AC Milan. That is what he needs to do because that is what he has to compete against for the top of the young players we talk about in world football."

  While pundit Nico Cantor was more positive about Pulisic's season, he felt comparisons with Bellingham, who had a bigger impact at Dortmund than the American from a young age, were unfair.

  "But we are not comparing Pulisic to one of the best players in the world right now. Jude Bellingham is just a whole different category of player. This is Pulisic, not a potential next Ballon d'Or winner, you can't expect him to do Jude Bellingham things if he is not Jude Bellingham," he said.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Pulisic is an important player for Milan but Bellingham is breaking records with Los Blancos following his £89million ($113m) move from Dortmund in 2023. Last year, the 20-year-old won theKopa Trophy and Golden Boy award and has scored 20 goals and bagged eight assists in just 29 games. Therefore, comparisons between the two appear to be wide of the mark, even if Pulisic could perhaps do more at Milan.

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• WHAT NEXT?

  Pulisic is set to be in action for Milan, who sit third in Serie A behind Juventus and bitter rivals Inter, away to Monza on Sunday but Bellingham may miss Madrid's trip to Rayo Vallecano in La Liga on the same day due to an ankle injury.

The teenager has starred at Paris Saint-Germain, and is ready to establish himself in the senior setup for Les Bleus

France's next big star still has to worry about school. Warren Zaire-Emery, 17, went about standard press duties following his first national team call-up. He discussed the pressures of playing for France, the responsibilities of leading Paris Saint-Germain's midfield at just 17, and his burgeoning relationship with Thierry Henry. He also explained, in some depth, his study schedule. As it turns out, the potential next star of France's midfield couldn't celebrate his first national team nod – he had homework to finish.

His comments, if nothing else, prove that this is a very young man, handed a significant responsibility. Zaire-Emery has been pipped as a top talent for some time now. The classic anecdotes are all there; he supposedly had a miraculous first touch as a child, and he impressed youth coaches so much that he was playing with the Under-11s at the age of seven.

He is revered for his versatility, dedication to his craft and work rate, and could, quite comfortably, be a No.6, No.8 or No.10. Any of this sound familiar to an audience of an English footballing persuasion?

The Jude Bellingham comparison is a precarious one. Although the versatility shared between the two is remarkably similar, the skillsets at play here are radically different. Zaire-Emery is younger, more technical, and smaller than Bellingham. But, like the English midfielder, he could be the key piece to take his side to new heights.

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  Living up to the promise

  PSG have, over the last 20 years, developed some of the best talent in Europe. But holding on to them has been a real challenge in Paris. Historically, managers have been reluctant to integrate young players into the first team, instead opting for expensive big-name signings ahead of promising talent. Owners Qatari Sports Investment – whose general attitude towards football starts and ends with money – have only made things worse.

  Zaire-Emery is the latest of the production line, and they might just hold onto him, too. Former manager Christophe Galtier used him sparingly last season, handing the then-16-year-old 26 Ligue 1 appearances, and a Champions League last-16 start against Bayern Munich. The results were admittedly mixed. Zaire-Emery impressed when handed a midfield role, but was too often forced into a right wing-back position due to the manager's misshapen formation that tried, unsuccessfully, to accommodate Neymar, Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe.

  In centre-midfield, though, he was masterful at times. He bagged a crucial third goal against Montpellier in the spring, a strike that saw the Parisians pull away in the title race for good. He was even more impressive a few weeks later, this time deployed as a defensive midfielder in a 4-2 win over Nantes — holding down an area of the pitch where his side had lacked composure. Even against Bayern, he managed to rein in the lively Kingsley Coman. These aren't things that normal 16-year-olds do.

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  'Zaire-Emery is a diamond'

  Zaire-Emery has only developed since then. He assisted the Parisians' first goal from open play of the 2023-24 season – a classic piece of centre-midfield play, darting through the centre of the pitch, receiving a pass in stride, before flicking the ball to Marco Asensio who provided a classy finish. He delivered an equally impactful attacking showing a month after, setting up two of the Parisians' three goals in a drubbing of Milan in the Champions League. Throw in a pair of goals — one of which was an impressive piece of skill and 20-yard strike into the top corner — and you have something approaching a complete attacking midfielder.

  Still, it is not in the contributions in the final third where Zaire-Emery's value is truly found; the teenager is at his best when among the action in the middle of the park. He does all of the classic centre-midfielder things: tackles, intercepts, moves the ball, covers ground. But his true value is what happens when he gets on the ball.

  These things are hard to quantify. There aren't any awards for pass completion percentage (91 percent, in the 98th percentile among all midfielders), progressive ball carries (2.37 per 90 minutes, in the 87th percentile among all midfielders), or short passes completed (just over 30 per game, in the 90th percentile). Rather, they're small snapshots of what a manager can see overall. Zaire-Emery not only wins the ball back, but is both efficient and adventurous when he has it. He has done this all while starting 14 of 15 matches, and playing all 90 minutes in 11 of them. This is a young midfielder, playing with the smarts of an older one, and doing so every week, at a gruelling pace.

  Or, in his manager's words:: "Warren is a diamond."

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  'I wanted to see what he is made of'

  It was never going to take long before France's national team setup turned their eyes towards him. Zaire-Emery had been a fixture of the youth setups from a young age, and announced himself to the world in full during the U17 Euros in June 2022 — a standout tournament highlighted by a star showing in the semi-final as France beat a tricky Portugal side.

  Henry was among the first to offer Zaire-Emery consideration at the higher levels of youth football. In his first France U21 squad, Henry picked Zaire-Emery, anointed him captain, and made him the centre of a side that rolled through four opponents over the past two international breaks.

  "I wanted to see what he is made of," Henry declared after handing Zaire-Emery the armband — making him the youngest skipper in U21 history in the process.

  And Zaire-Emery responded in full. He starred in his first game as captain, pulling the strings from central midfield in a 4-1 win over Denmark. He was equally impactful against Slovenia a few days later, and led a comeback victory in a clash with Bosnia on October 13. If there was any pressure that came with captaining his country, the 17-year-old certainly didn't feel it.

  "The sky's the limit. I have never seen a player that young being so mature… It is rare to see such a young player in that position," Henry added.

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  Is Zaire-Emery the next Bellingham?

  There is no history between Bellingham and Zaire-Emery — outside of the rather fanciful rumour that the Parisians chose not to sign Bellingham due to their belief that it would block the teenager's path into the first team. Add to the fact that Bellingham is three years older, and admittedly further along in his development, and this isn't really a conversation of comparison.

  But if it is a discussion about impact, and the injection of quality that a young star can bring, then they are near-identical. Bellingham, at 20, is the midfield presence that England haven't had in years, the goalscorer from the centre of the park that could lift the Three Lions to new heights. Not since Steven Gerrard or Frank Lampard — never both at the same time, so we were told — have England had such a dominant player making fearless runs from the middle and affecting play in the final third.

  Zaire-Emery, meanwhile, is the maestro that France need. Les Bleus' midfield, of late, is a bruising, aggressive thing, lacking in a technical mastermind. Aurelien Tchouameni, Eduardo Camavinga and, to an extent, Adrien Rabiot are all excellent footballers. And while each has their own quality — Tchouameni the enforcer, Camavinga the scrapper, Rabiot the misfit who has fallen upwards into a World Cup-winning side — none have the kind of technical ability that PSG's young star possesses.

  Luis Enrique, a perennial proponent of young talent, pointed out that he would have called Zaire-Emery up to the Spain squad if he was still manager. Meanwhile, Didier Deschamps has never been shy about giving youth a chance — something he showed in handing Camavinga his debut at 17 years old. Everything points towards a debut, and, if he lives up to his potential, a run in the side.