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Ipswich Town hadn’t been blown away in any Premier League contest to date, with valiant displays against the likes of Aston Villa and Fulham sticking out, until their visit to West Ham United this weekend.

The Hammers, who went into this game on a poor run of form under new boss Julen Lopetegui, ended up just brushing the Tractor Boys aside, as Kieran McKenna’s side fell victim to a 4-1 bruising on their travels to London.

The popular Ipswich boss will have plenty to ponder concerning his troops after this collapse on the road, mainly whether or not he should persist with Kalvin Phillips in the middle of the park, who struggled against his former loan employers.

Phillips' performance in numbers

It was always going to be a big risk bringing the Manchester City flop in and expecting him to instantly set the world alight considering how poor he was for West Ham last season.

Phillips must have felt charitable coming up against some familiar faces this weekend, with the ex-Leeds United man inexplicably surrendering the ball within the first minute, which then allowed Michail Antonio to find the back of the net.

Moreover, after some horrible play out from the back presented an opportunity for Jarrod Bowen to run at the Tractor Boys’ defence early in the second 45 minutes, the brand new Ipswich number eight just couldn’t get tight to the ex-Hull City attacker who fired home a decisive strike to make it 3-1 on the day.

Phillips was hauled off the pitch late on consequently after failing to show to his former side his true self, as the 28-year-old continues to slip up when it comes to resurrecting his career.

Not many Ipswich players could hold their heads high after this humbling loss, in all fairness, with Omari Hutchinson notably poor too in attack for McKenna’s visitors.

Hutchinson's performance in numbers

Hutchinson isn’t quite living up to his summer price tag of £20m playing in the Premier League, after regularly coming up trumps for the Tractor Boys in the Championship.

The ex-Chelsea youngster only has a mere assist next to his name from seven top-flight games so far, with zero goals also a worrying number when looking at his output, and it was clear for all to see why he’s been so ineffective this season watching his display up against the free-flowing Hammers.

Minutes played

83

Goals

0

Assists

0

Touches

44

Accurate passes

21/26 (81%)

Possession lost

17x

Shots

0

Successful dribbles

3/4

Duels won

4/12

As much as Hutchinson would trouble the West Ham defence on occasion with a slaloming run, the 20-year-old lacked any end product to go with a mazey burst forward, with zero shots attempted on Alphonse Aréola’s goal.

He was also poor on the ball in patches of the contest, with the former Chelsea man squandering possession 17 times in total away at the London Stadium.

It would result in a low 5/10 match rating being dished out to Hutchinson come full-time by journalist Alex Jones, who was said he was given ‘little space’ by the Hammers defenders to strut his stuff.

McKenna will be tempted to rejig his attack now in an attempt to get more out of his underperforming number 20, with the 5 foot 9 trickster perhaps moved out to the wing – where he shone last season during his side’s promotion heroics.

He could, also, just be dropped, with Phillips no doubt worried about his starting spot too moving forward.

Hutchinson does have an audacious strike like the one above up his sleeve, but the top-flight is a different kettle of fish altogether from the Championship, as many of Ipswich players are now well aware of.

Ipswich must regret not signing £16m PL star who's better than Hutchinson

The exciting star would have been incredible under McKenna.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Oct 3, 2024

After a busy summer transfer window, West Ham United are reportedly racing alongside Manchester United to sign a Champions League midfielder who’s unhappy at his current club.

West Ham transfer news

Despite welcoming a plethora of quality in the summer, West Ham are still feeling their way into the Premier League campaign with Danny Ings, amid all those new faces, becoming the last-minute hero against Fulham last time out. There’s no doubt that Julen Lopetegui will need time to find the perfect balance in his new squad, however, which may well come at the perfect time in a London derby against Chelsea this weekend.

When looking back on their summer window, there may even be names that Tim Steidten feels the Hammers missed out on, with Jhon Duran likely among those following his excellent start to the season at Aston Villa.

In the end, West Ham welcomed Niclas Fullkrug as a short-term solution, but are yet to see the former Borussia Dortmund star open his account. What could help the forward in January is the addition of another top Bundesliga talent.

He's now unemployed: West Ham struck gold selling Bilic signing for £18m

His career has rapidly declined after departing the London Stadium.

ByEthan Lamb Sep 18, 2024

According to The Sun, West Ham are now racing Manchester United to sign Leon Goretzka from Bayern Munich in the January transfer window, with the midfielder reportedly unhappy at the Bavarian giants.

Losing his place under Vincent Kompany to new man Joao Palhinha, Goretzka may well be on the move in the winter window to leave West Ham in place to take full advantage. Earning a reported £292k-p/w at Bayern though, the deal won’t exactly come cheap.

Bayern’s director of sport Max Eberl recently spoke about Goretzka’s place in Kompany’s squad, saying as quoted by The Sun: “We communicated very clearly from the start. Leon knew that we were relying on Pavlo [Aleksandar Pavlovic], and that we would bring in with Palhinha and that Josh [Kimmich] would play more in the centre again.

“We’ve also said that when Leon is there and ready to face the situation, he’ll be treated completely normally. Leon’s a great guy. I like him a lot, even though he’s obviously upset at the moment. I understand that too. But that’s part of life in football.”

"Great" Goretzka could take Premier League by storm

A serial winner at Bayern Munich and now 29 years old, Goretzka may well get one last big move and the chance to make his mark on arguably the biggest league in European football. What’s more, the prospect of a partnership between the German and Lucas Paqueta is mouth-watering enough to believe that this is a deal that West Ham should be pursuing.

Fending off interest from Manchester United will be key, of course, but if the summer window proved anything, it is West Ham’s new-found ability to compete against the very top clubs in the transfer market. As Goretzka’s unhappiness grows, he’ll be more and more one to watch, particularly when the January transfer window swings open in a matter of months.

Leeds United confidently put Cardiff City to the sword 2-0 last time out in the Welsh capital, with now ex-Bluebirds boss Erol Bulut relieved of his duties in the aftermath of Daniel Farke’s Whites picking up a straightforward three points.

The away side needed to get back to winning ways after a flat 1-0 loss to Burnley the match before, with the hosts brushed to one side eventually, to allow Leeds to pick up their third win of the early Championship season so far.

Farke would have been pleased with his side’s performance on the road, as Leeds new boy Largie Ramazani opened his account for his new club to get the Whites up and running away from home, before reliable impact substitute Joel Piroe delivered the goods again to make sure of the win.

Ramazani & Piroe's performances vs Cardiff

The 2-0 victory wouldn’t have been possible without the exploits of this attacking duo, with the ex-Almeria man standing out for the majority of the contest down the right channel, before Piroe was drafted in late on to make sure of the three points.

Despite scoring the decisive opener in the first half, the former Manchester United youth product could have even more to shout about from a goalscoring perspective on his first start for his new employers, with one big chance missed on top of a fierce effort thankfully beating Jan Alnwick.

As the game wore on, Farke decided that a change in personnel in the attacking positions was needed, with Piroe known to be a dependable option to throw into games when opposition legs are tiring.

The former Swansea City man only needed 16 minutes of action against Hull City to score at the back-end of August, with only 14 minutes needed in Wales for the Dutchman to leave his impact on yet another Championship tie.

Amazingly, the instinctive 25-year-old would only need to amass four touches of the ball to find the back of the net, with his crucial strike against the Bluebirds taking his Leeds total goal tally to 16 strikes from 56 games.

Both players moving forward will undoubtedly help their side when contests become even more nervy and tense as the season drags on, but both Leeds assets find that their pay packets are lesser when weighed up next to Sam Byram’s – according to Capology – despite the fact the ageing full-back’s own importance has definitely begun to wane in Farke’s camp.

Byram's wage in 2024

As per Capology, Byram currently finds himself earning a healthy £20k-per-week at the West Yorkshire club, despite only averaging ten minutes of action this season when thrown into action four times in the league. His only start came in the EFL Cup defeat to Middlesbrough.

The 31-year-old could still be seen as a useful utility figure to have around, considering the fact that the ex-West Ham United man can play at both left-back and right-back if needed, but his wage still feels extortionate next to other more key first-team presences.

Player

Wage

League games played

Minutes averaged

Largie Ramazani

£17.5k-per-week

3

37

Joel Piroe

£15k-per-week

6

24

Ilia Gruev

£15k-per-week

6

86

Mateo Joseph

£15k-per-week

6

85

Looking at the table above, away from the aforementioned Ramazani and Piroe both earning a lesser £17.5k-per-week and £15k-per-week respectively, both Ilia Gruev and Mateo Joseph – who have been largely everpresent this season under Farke in the league – also both earn £5k-per-week less than the reserve defender.

With Isaac Schmidt now at the German’s disposal in defence too, who can also play in either full-back spot, Byram gaining consistent minutes for his employers on a week in week-out basis looks like it’ll be harder to come by.

Farke will have to have some conversations with the 31-year-old down the line about his immediate Whites future, with his contract up next summer, whilst Ramazani, Piroe and the other named faces aim to play a major part in Leeds finally winning promotion back up to the Premier League.

Leeds wanted to sign £29m star in the making but Orta got Aaronson instead

The Whites failed to secure a deal for the impressive attacking midfielder that summer.

ByDan Emery Sep 23, 2024

Daniel Farke is plotting to win promotion from the Championship at the second time of asking after his Leeds United side fell short at the final hurdle last season.

The Whites were beaten 1-0 by Southampton in the play-off final at Wembley and have started the current campaign with two wins and two draws from their first four matches.

Farke has never gone more than two seasons without winning promotion from the Championship, after winning the division two times in three campaigns during his time with Norwich City.

The German head coach will be hoping to maintain that impressive record by helping his team to fire their way back to the Premier League this term, with the likes of Wilfried Gnonto and Mateo Joseph spearheading the attack.

Ethan Ampadu is captaining the side at the base of the midfield and has started all 50 of Farke’s regular Championship matches since the start of last season.

The manager clearly trusts the defensive midfielder and the player in his position was also crucial the last time that Leeds won promotion to the Premier League, as Kalvin Phillips was developed into a fantastic asset for the Whites under Marcelo Bielsa.

Kalvin Phillips' value when Marcelo Bielsa arrived

The Argentine head coach was appointed in the summer of 2018 and the academy graduate had already played two full seasons of Championship football.

Phillips had racked up 33 appearances during the 2016/17 campaign and 41 in the 2017/18 season before Bielsa was brought to Elland Road.

After those two campaigns, Transfermarkt placed his market value at €5m (£4.2m) from February 2018 to September 2018, which covers the time of the manager’s arrival.

The central midfielder had already established himself as a regular in the middle of the park for Leeds after coming up through the academy set-up at Thorp Arch, as shown by his 74 Championship games in the previous two seasons.

Bielsa, though, was able to take Phillips to the next level. The English ace later admitted that he “wasn’t the best” when the Argentine coach came through the door and that his and his staff’s coaching “helped a lot”.

It was revealed that the players were made to train at 100% every day and that they were also made to watch videos of their performances to see where they went wrong and how to improve.

He became a staple of the manager’s team over the subsequent two Championship seasons and his soaring market value in that time reflects his improvement during that period.

Kalvin Phillips' soaring market value in the Championship

The English whiz played a crucial role in Leeds’ run to the play-off semi-finals in the 2018/19 campaign after they finished third in the division in Bielsa’s first season, finishing just shy of Sheffield United and Norwich City in the automatic promotion places.

Phillips started 42 of the club’s 46 regular season matches in the second tier and showcased his quality in and out of possession for the Whites, with 4.0 tackles and interceptions combined per game.

He ranked within the top 30% of midfielders in the division for progressive passes per 90 (4.99) and the top 8% for passes attempted per 90 (65.22), which shows that the young gem was constantly looking to get on the ball to dictate the play, whilst also being progressive with his passes.

The right-footed battler was then instrumental in helping the team to finally get over the line by winning the Championship title in the 2019/20 campaign under Bielsa, with his fantastic performances in the middle of the park.

Appearances

37

Key passes per game

1.8

Tackles per game

2.6

Interceptions per game

1.4

Duel success rate

54%

As you can see in the table above, Phillips – once again – provided a steely presence in midfield for Leeds with 4.0 tackles and interceptions per game.

He also ranked within the top 21% for progressive passes per 90 (5.48) and this shows that Bielsa helped him to increase his output when it came to progressing the ball forward.

By April of the 2019/20 campaign, Transfermarkt placed his market value at €12m (£10m) thanks to his superb displays in the second tier to help his team win promotion to the top-flight.

How Kalvin Phillips earned his big-money move

Following the title win in the 2019/20 season, it was up to Phillips – and his teammates – to show that he was up to the task of playing in the Premier League.

That is exactly what he did as the talented maestro made his England debut in September 2020 and caught the eye with his performances in the top-flight.

Appearances

29

Key passes per game

1.2

Pass accuracy

85%

Tackles + interceptions per game

4.2

Duel success rate

52%

As you can see in the table above, Phillips maintained his strong defensive form from the Championship with 4.2 tackles and interceptions per game to consistently cut out opposition attacks and win the ball back for his side.

The central midfielder’s displays were good enough to convince Gareth Southgate to make him a regular in the England side that reached the European Championship final in the summer of 2021, as he started seven matches – including the defeat to Italy in the final at Wembley.

Phillips, who was called a “monster” by Yannick Bolasie at the Euros, then endured an injury-hit campaign for Leeds as he missed 16 matches with a hamstring injury and only made 20 appearances in the Premier League that term.

That did not stop Manchester City from swooping in to sign him for a reported fee of £45m, with £42m guaranteed, in the summer of 2022, though, and that gigantic figure illustrated his incredible rise under Bielsa, who left the club in February of that year.

The England international’s value soared by a staggering 971% from the £4m he was worth in 2018 upon Bielsa’s arrival to the £45m that Pep Guardiola’s side offered to sign him four years later, which speaks to the amazing work the Argentine coach did with him.

As you can see in the chart above, his valuation went as high as £42m on Transfermarkt, £3m shy of the fee City agreed, and it currently sits at £21m, with the midfielder on loan at Ipswich Town this season, which suggests that the Whites struck gold with the deal they agreed in 2022.

More assists than Rutter in 23/24: Leeds must regret selling £1m "animal"

The Whites had a shocker when they allowed the full-back to move on from Elland Road.

1 ByDan Emery Sep 11, 2024

Arsenal transfer target Jurrien Timber is set for a medical "in the coming days" as the Gunners agree an initial £34 million deal for his signing, according to reports.

Who are Arsenal signing this summer?

After weeks of talks, rejected bids and discusions over payment structure, Mikel Arteta is said to have finally sealed a move for West Ham United star Declan Rice.

The north Londoners have reached a compromise over the details of payment, with Arsenal set to give the Hammers an initial £100 million over 24 months for the midfielder.

The agreement includes a further £5m in add-ons as renowned transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano also gives his famous "here we go".

Rice's arrival is set to hand Arteta a major boost as the Spaniard looks to seriously contend for another league title next season, while Germany international Kai Havertz has already been confirmed in a deal worth £65 million from Chelsea.

“Kai is a player of top quality," said Arteta upon his arrival.

"He has great versatility and is an intelligent player. He will bring a huge amount of extra strength to our midfield and variety to our play.

“We welcome Kai and his family to Arsenal Football Club and we are all excited to start working with him when we start pre-season training soon.”

Ajax defender Timber, who has been targeted by transfer chief Edu as a versatile, elite defensive option, looks to also be nearing a move to the Emirates Stadium.

Arsenal have now reached an agreement for the Netherlands international, and if all goes to plan, he will become their third major signing of the window after Havertz and Rice.

That is according to Sky Sports journalist Dharmesh Sheth, who had an exciting mid-week update for Arsenal supporters on their pursuit of Timber.

"Just been confirmed to us in the past few minutes, Arsenal have now got an agreement in principle with Ajax to sign the defender Jurrien Timber," said Sheth (via Football Daily).

"The deal is worth an initial €40 million (£34m), plus a further €5 million (£4m) in performance-related add-ons.

"He's expected to have a medical in the coming days, and then finalise those personal terms, which effectively have been agreed as well.

"He's been a long term target for Arsenal. you'll remember last summer that Man United tried to sign Jurrien Timber, but Arsenal have been keeping an eye on him for a number of months, he will be signed predominantly as a right-back.

"I think Mikel Arteta really wants to strengthen that backline."

Why have Arsenal signed Timber?

The 22-year-old played more Eredivisie minutes than any other Ajax player last season, highlighting his real importance to them, with no other regular averaging a better passing accuracy (91.7%).

Seemingly a composed ball-player, Timber could slot into Arteta's fluid system perfectly, and the exciting young defender has received plenty of plaudits.

Journalist Antonio Mango, writing on Twitter last year, even claimed he is a "generational superstar".

"I can’t describe just how good Julien Timber is," wrote Mango.

"Only 20 years-old & been Ajax most reliable and consistent player this season. Mr Versatile.

"Along with Antony, he’s been Ajax POYT. Generational Superstar."

Aston Villa are reportedly interested in Manchester City defender Aymeric Laporte, as Monchi eyes his first transfer window masterclass during his first window in charge.

The Spaniard alongside former colleague Unai Emery will fuse together to ensure the Villans are in good stead ahead of next season, as the Midlands club prepare to endeavour on their first European journey since 2010.

Laporte has been on Villa’s radar since earlier this month, when 90min revealed the club’s interest in the central defender.

An update provided by Football Insider this week cemented the Claret and Blues’ desire to sign the 29-year-old, claiming that the club had ‘set sights’ on the Manchester City star and were ‘considering a move’.

The report adds that the Spaniard ‘ticks a lot of boxes’ wanted by Emery, with the four-time Europa League-winning manager hoping to sign a left-sided centre-back this summer.

Valued at £60m by the treble winners, as per the Mirror, the defender could be Villa’s record-breaking signing this summer, however, he’s not the only centre-back linked to Villa Park.

Indeed, Pau Torres looks as though he's also on his way to the Midlands, with reports emerging on Thursday that an agreement is in place to land the player from Villarreal.

The links to the two centre-backs is exciting news for the Villans, who could see a complete shift in defence with two experienced upgrades potentially incoming.

What could Aymeric Laporte and Pau Torres offer Vila?

While Ezri Konsa and Tyrone Mings have been a revelation at the back for Emery, the Spaniard could present Villa Park with two world-class signings in a rebuild of the defence this summer.

Hailed as the “best left central defender in the world” by treble-winning manager Pep Guardiola, the City star could be just what Emery requires to take Villa forward.

Despite falling down the pecking order at the Etihad, Laporte possesses quality that could see him dominate in most defences in Europe, seeing him lauded a “beast” by journalist Muhammad Butt.

The 29-year-old won an average of 60% of his total duels in the Premier League last season, cementing himself as a competent defender before anything else, however, his attributes go way beyond his defensive capabilities.

Similarly to Torres, Laporte flexes a powerful progressive ability, acting as a defender that can transition the ball upfield competently, in skills honed by the genius of Guardiola.

When comparing the two Villa targets based on their respective seasons and minutes via FBref, it makes for fascinating reading for those associated with the Midlands club, who could see a complete revamp of the defence as they know it.

While Torres’ 4.30 clearances and 1.74 aerials won along with Laporte’s 2.72 clearances and 2.18 aerials won per 90 communicate their defensive knowhow, their competency on the ball highlights just how much they could add to Villa Park.

As per FBref, the Villarreal gem averaged a monstrous 5.81 progressive passes and 2.24 progressive carries per 90 in La Liga this season, closely followed by the City ace who scored an average of 7.70 progressive passes and 2.72 progressive carries per 90.

By introducing two experienced players in quality and efficiency, Emery could equip his side with strength that could bolster all areas of the field, with two players boasting the ability to move the ball and dictate play from the back. This is surely a mouthwatering prospect for everyone associated with the club.

Liverpool target Kephren Thuram could be another Xabi Alonso-like midfielder at Anfield, believes Dean Jones.

The Frenchman has been linked with a move to Anfield this summer, and 'has got quite a few people excited' according to Jones.

Liverpool transfer news – Kephren Thuram

Liverpool remain in talks to sign Thuram this summer, but the midfielder's current club, Nice, would love a bidding war for the 22-year-old, according to David Lynch of Football Insider.

Lynch also reported that the Reds could turn their attention to Ryan Gravenberch if a deal for Thuram fails to reach completion in the coming months.

Currently, the young midfielder is playing into the final two years of his contract with the Ligue 1 side; providing Nice with some power over the future of the 22-year-old.

Given the fact that Jurgen Klopp has already welcomed Alexis Mac Allister from Brighton & Hove Albion this summer, too, it remains to be seen just how much is left of Liverpool's budget.

What has Dean Jones said about Kephren Thuram and Liverpool?

Speaking to Football FanCast, when asked about Thuram, Jones said: “Liverpool would love another Xabi Alonso-type player and I think Thuram’s got quite a few people excited I think.

"When you go through the normal list of players that Liverpool are pursuing, Kone is always on there, Thuram’s always on there.”

How did Kephren Thuram perform in Ligue 1 last season?

Thuram was one of the few bright sparks in a disappointing campaign for Nice as a whole, as they sunk to a mid-table finish.

The young Frenchman did enough to earn a potential Liverpool move, however, as further backed up by the statistics.

If Liverpool are to complete a move for Thuram, he'd offer them something crucially different from midfield. According to FBref, for example, the reported target completed 3.25 progressive carries per 90 last season. For context, Jordan Henderson completed just 1.61.

A player of Thuram's dribbling ability could help unlock defences where the likes of Henderson struggle at times, potentially handing the Reds' midfield a whole new dimension.

Defensively speaking, too, the Nice man fits Jurgen Klopp's pressing style, making 1.34 interceptions, and 1.80 tackles per 90, both of which are higher than the amount Henderson totalled in the last campaign at Anfield.

So, if Liverpool are to get Thuram, they could be getting themselves an upgrade in a midfield in desperate need of a rebuild.

Manchester City have made enquiries to Real Madrid over the possible signing of midfielder Fede Valverde, per TEAMtalk.

Manchester City transfer news – Fede Valverde

The arrival of Jude Bellingham from Borussia Dortmund to Real Madrid has meant English clubs including City have checked in on the potential availability of the Uruguay star.

TEAMtalk claim that the Premier League champions, as well as Chelsea and Liverpool, have all made enquiries with the LaLiga giants about Valverde and to those close to the player, but the message that Valverde does not want to leave, and that Real do not want to sell either.

Valverde has won a haul of trophies with Los Blancos, including LaLiga twice and the Champions League once. He also added the Copa Del Rey to his trophy cabinet this season.

This season, his game time was split almost equally between a central midfield role and one on the right wing.

With the potential for City to lose both Ilkay Gundogan and Bernardo Silva this summer, Valverde could be a perfect fit for Pep Guardiola and with newfound competition in the engine room at the Bernabeu, this rumour is surely likely to rumble on throughout the summer.

Valverde could be the perfect Bernardo Silva replacement

Valverde has been crucial to Real Madrid in recent years, this includes an assist for Vinicius Jr’s Champions League final-winning goal against Liverpool in 2022.

The 24-year-old machine joined Los Blancos' academy in 2016 from Uruguayan club Penarol for a mere £4.5m, and it is now worth an estimated €150m (£129m), according to CIES Football Observatory

England and Chelsea legend Joe Cole spoke glowingly of Valverde’s quality on BT Sport as he compared him to the incoming Bellingham.

“He’s at the top of the young players alongside Jude Bellingham, and he’s about to become the best," the pundit said. “We talk a lot about Bellingham in England, but this kid is as good as he is.”

Silva has been linked with moves away from the Etihad this summer, most notably to clubs in Saudi Arabia. Gundogan, meanwhile, is closing in on a move to Madrid's rivals Barcelona, meaning Guardiola will have a lack of options in midfield.

If the Spaniard does lose a player of Silva’s quality, Valverde would be one hell of a replacement.

It’s hard to understate the importance of Silva since his arrival at the Etihad Stadium from Monaco in 2017. The winger has played over 300 games for the Citizens, contributing as many as 55 goals and 59 assists, per Transfermarkt.

The wide-man has also made 82 appearances for his native Portugal, and has won almost all there is to win in English football during his time at the Etihad Stadium. Silva is a five-time Premier League winner, two-time FA Cup winner, and four-time League Cup winner. Now after defeating Inter Milan in the final in Istanbul, he is also a Champions League and treble winner with the Citizens.

If Silva does leave, Valverde must be a top priority, given the similarities in playing position and statistical profile.

As per FBref, the Madrid maestro ranks among the top 5% of all midfielders across Europe's top-five divisions over the last year for non-penalty expected goals and assists, averaging 0.39 per 90. This is actually more than Silva in Guardiola's squad. Both are in the top 9% for progressive carries per 90, with the City man just getting the nod.

Having been lauded as an "absolute machine" by journalist Raj Chohan, the Uruguyauan star poses clear and obvious qualities that will be of interest to Guardiola and his coaching staff and if Silva were to leave the Etihad, then this tentative interest must be revisited with a firmer force.

If any club right now has the pulling power to change Valverde’s mind, it’s Man City and Guardiola.

Manchester United appear to be in pole position to sign Adrien Rabiot this summer, with the Red Devils considered great favourites for his signature.

What’s the latest Man United transfer news?

Erik ten Hag seemingly wanted Rabiot at Old Trafford last summer ahead of his first season in charge. The United boss was reportedly on board with a transfer that would have been worth an initial £15m, however, a deal fell through and the midfielder remained at Juventus.

Rabiot was again linked with a move to Manchester prior to the New Year, and it seems as if he is still of interest to United officials after making 48 appearances for his current employers during the 2022/23 season, contributing to 17 goals.

Recent reports have suggested that a concrete offer has already been placed to the player, who is set to become a free agent in a matter of weeks when his Juventus contract officially expires.

Sport Witness have relayed a new update from Spanish outlet AS regarding Rabiot, citing Atletico Madrid’s interest in the player. However, they add that it is United who are the ‘great favourite’ to sign Rabiot at this moment in time in what appears to be a transfer boost for Ten Hag and co.

Who is Adrien Rabiot?

Rabiot would provide Ten Hag with an experienced and versatile option in midfield, with the 28-year-old’s Transfermarkt valuation currently standing at €30m, so from a business perspective, a transfer appears to be a smart one.

He can play as a central, holding or left midfielder and was once labelled as a ‘complete player’ by legendary midfielder Andrea Pirlo, who said:

“He is a complete player, I have rarely seen someone so strong both physically and technically.

“He doesn’t even know the potential for improvement he can have, and we work on the mental side of things to make him understand that he is a champion. He is improving game after game.”

The Red Devils could lose a midfielder of their own this summer with Scott McTominay’s future up in the air, so Rabiot could be viewed as a solid addition after ending the campaign as Juventus' best-performing player, as per WhoScored.

He would bring a winning mentality to United’s squad alongside the likes of Raphael Varane and Casemiro who arrived from Real Madrid in recent years, with the midfielder winning an impressive 24 major honours during his career to date.

Rabiot has come off the back of a season where he has played plenty of football with Juventus, and who knows, his balance could make him a smart signing, possibly featuring alongside Casemiro and Bruno Fernandes next year.

West Ham can look to next season with huge excitement and optimism. Their first major trophy in 43 years secured Europa League football and makes them a compelling option for any footballer looking to challenge themselves at a higher level.

After their £166m outlay last summer, David Moyes has demonstrated he isn’t afraid to be active in the transfer market, and the club is set for a busy summer.

One player who has been linked to joining the Hammers at this fruitful time is Brennan Johnson, who has been one of Nottingham Forest’s most consistent and productive players since their promotion back to the Premier League.

What’s the latest on Brennan Johnson to West Ham?

According to the Daily Mail, the 22-year-old is set to be the subject of an intense transfer battle between Everton and West Ham.

This outlet details that the Welshman is valued at £40m due to his massive effort to keep his side away from relegation.

However, with the added attractive option of European football, the East London outfit may have the edge to secure this talent.

How would Brennan Johnson fit in at West Ham?

The tricky attacker has been an indispensable component of a Reds side that gained promotion and kept their Premier League status.

In the 2021/22 campaign, the forward recorded 25 contributions in 46 appearances in the second tier and followed this up with 11 goal involvements in his debut season at the top level of English football.

Johnson appeared in every single domestic game and his manager Steve Cooper is a massive fan, saying: “He’s a fantastic player, we know he’s got qualities and is a great finisher.”

One of his most impressive attributes is his chameleonic ability to play across the frontline and his potential link-up with the dazzling Lucas Paqueta is a mouth-watering prospect.

The dazzling Brazilian ranks within the best 7% in Europe’s top five leagues among his positional peers for progressive passes per 90, and has averaged the second-most dribbles per game (1.2) in the West Ham squad.

Described as “simply sensational” by CBS’ James Benge, the former Lyon star’s impudent vision, skill, and passing, coupled with Johnson’s endless running and commendable athleticism could be a devastating method of attack next term.

The way Paqueta expertly slipped in Jarrod Bowen to win the final last night is a teaser of how Johnson can benefit from his creativity.

The 18-cap international was born in Nottingham and has been in the youth ranks at Forest since 2009 – to tempt Johnson to leave his boyhood club will take a humongous proposal.

The £30k-per-week man’s current deal expires in 2026, so it would certainly be an audacious swoop for the high-flying Hammers.