All posts by z3u9t.icu

West Ham United will be out for swift revenge in the Europa League against Olympiacos tonight.

While David Moyes has transformed the Hammers into a seasoned outfit on the continental stage, last month's 2-1 defeat in Greece ended their 17-match unbeaten run in Europe.

As a result, the Irons still have a stranglehold on first position in Group A, but are now level on points with German side Freiburg in second.

If the Greek giants take all three points back to their homeland tonight, they will leapfrog the Hammers into first position, outlining the importance of fielding a strong team.

West Ham team news vs Olympiacos

West Ham's defensive stalwart Kurt Zouma missed the 3-2 defeat against Brentford on Saturday after failing a late fitness test and Moyes confirmed in his pre-match press conference that he was absent from the main training session at Rush Green on Wednesday, but did train separately.

He said: "We’re still waiting on Kurt. He didn’t train [with the main group] this morning. He’s done a bit inside and we'll have a look tomorrow and see how he is."

Whilst the Frenchman is touch and go this evening, the Scotsman does have Lucas Paqueta and Edson Alvarez back in contention after the pair missed the defeat against the Bees through suspension.

That said, while Moyes could persist with Tomas Soucek – who was subpar against Thomas Frank's men – there is a case to be made to unleash Alvarez back into the starting XI instead.

The Czech Republic brute won none of his ten duels, had zero tackles, completed zero dribbles and lost possession nine times last time out, as per Sofascore, hence the need for a possible midfield tweak.

Tomas Soucek vs Edson Alvarez this season

Hailed as "unbelievable" by former midfield partner Declan Rice, Soucek has had a monumental impact since arriving at the London stadium in 2020.

A box-to-box midfielder, whose high energetic work rate and physical prowess have been vital for the Hammers in both boxes, the 28-year-old has risen to cult hero status in claret and blue.

This season, however, the 64-cap international has let his performance levels drop and new signing Alvarez has outperformed him in a double pivot alongside James Ward-Prowse.

Indeed, when comparing the fundamentals associated with any deep-lying midfielder, including tackles won, successful dribbles and passes completed, the Mexican's metrics come out on top against his Czech counterpart.

Stat

Tomas Soucek

Edson Alvarez

Minutes per game

72

76

Tackles won

1.2

2.0

Balls recovered

2.7

4.7

Total duels won %

4.1 (50%)

4.4 (48%)

Successful dribbles

0%

78%

Pass completion

75%

85%

Interceptions

0.9

0.6

All stats via Sofascore

As the table above delineates, Soucek isn't comfortable at carrying the ball from deep – as demonstrated by his 0% dribble success rate – and is unable to eclipse Alvarez across the majority of the other defensive and technical metrics.

By contrast, the former Ajax star has the speed to recover more balls in central areas, can manoeuvre out of tight spaces with his precise ball control, is a tackling machine out of possession and has an exceptional pass range.

Taking all of the above into account, Moyes should drop Soucek for his "invaluable" 6 foot 2 ace – as previously dubbed by Rio Ferdinand – against Olympiacos.

Arsenal seem to be carrying on their form from last season to the 2023/24 Premier League campaign, as Mikel Arteta’s side sit just one point below the summit after 12 games played.

The Gunners narrowly missed out on claiming their first Premier League title since 2004 last term, gracefully falling short to eventual treble winners Manchester City, who obliterated everyone in their path on their road to glory.

Aside from the initial disappointment of not claiming the title, the north Londoners took a lot away from the 2022/23 calendar, which saw them finish in the top two for the first time since Arsene Wenger’s 2015/16 season.

The progression at Arsenal was traceable both on and off the pitch, as players evolved and the belief within the squad grew thanks to the tireless enthusiasm of Arteta, who went head to head with his former colleague, Pep Guardiola.

Out of all the players that represented the Gunners last season, one stood out as transforming his time at the Emirates in that term in particular, as Granit Xhaka emerged from the smoke as one of the club’s most crucial assets.

How much Arsenal signed Granit Xhaka for

Wenger purchased Xhaka from Bundesliga outfit Borussia Monchengladbach in the summer of 2016, welcoming the Swiss international as a 23-year-old in the bid to bolster his side’s options in midfield.

Arsenal were aware of the calibre of central midfielder they were to receive in the Monchengladbach whiz, who had recorded 140 appearances for his prior employers playing in a range of competitions including the German top-flight and the Champions League.

During Xhaka's final season in the Bundesliga, his defiant presence in the squad was highlighted by his stellar average of 2.4 tackles and 2.7 interceptions per game, reinforcing his defensive stability in the engine room.

For those reasons and the demographic of player that Wenger yearned for in his squad, Arsenal handed the German outfit £30m for the 23-year-old's services, making him the third most expensive capture in the club’s history at the time.

Granit Xhaka's career at Arsenal

Not many could have predicted the twists and turns that would prevail from the signing of the Switzerland international, with many sides of his playing style and personality both adored and hated in north London.

Once lauded as a “warrior” by journalist Anu Nande, Xhaka’s combative edge caused him more trouble than good in the early days of his Arsenal career, as highlighted in the table below as the Basel-born gem was consistent with his yellow card tally in the Premier League.

Goals

Assists

Key passes p/g

Tackles p/g

Yellow cards

2

2

1.1

2.4

5

1

7

1

2.1

10

4

2

1.4

1.8

10

1

2

0.5

1.5

10

1

2

0.5

1.6

7

1

2

1.2

1.2

10

7

7

1.3

0.9

5

What is most prominent are the ups and downs of the midfielder’s form, with a drop notable during Unai Emery’s reign, and a rise under Arteta, particularly last season.

The 2019/20 campaign was a particularly difficult one for the £30m man, whose career at the Emirates looked dead and buried when he was booed off the pitch to which he reacted with hostility – ironically while he was the club captain.

Emery stripped the Swiss of captaincy and he was left at rock-bottom, with limited backing from the fans and a lot to prove whilst fighting his own upset at the situation.

The 2022/23 campaign marked an act of moving full circle for Xhaka, who discovered his best form in his final season at Arsenal, where he won back the love and trust of the fans by showing his love for the club through his ability on the pitch.

Arteta trialled handing the 31-year-old a more advanced role in his final campaign, which worked to stellar effect as he recorded his best goal contributions tally in his entire career thanks to being handed the freedom to roam.

Before last term, Xhaka’s highest goal contribution tally in the Premier League was his eight contributions in the 2017/18 campaign, a figure that was smashed out of the park by his seven goals and seven assists in 2022/23 to showcase his effectiveness in the refreshed role.

A change in attitude, a change in role and a change in squad goals had a fundamental impact on the midfielder, enabling him to end his seven years in north London on a high note after experiencing some of the lowest lows earlier in his journey.

Unfortunately for Arsenal, seven years in England was enough for the two-time FA Cup winner, who departed in search of a new challenge and returned to Germany to sign for Bayer Leverkusen in the summer for a fee of £21.4m.

What Granit Xhaka is doing now

The Gunners were uplifted after Xhaka’s departure as his exit enabled space to be available in the squad for Declan Rice to arrive, with the Englishman not giving Arteta’s side a need to look back in memory of their departed star.

That being said, what Arsenal do miss is the role that the 31-year-old so sturdily made his own last season, with his ability to break the lines and his presence in the final sorely missed.

After finding his best-suited role at the Emirates, Xabi Alonso has relished in signing the beast that Arteta unearthed in the free-roaming role, as the 6 foot 1 dynamo excels back in the Bundesliga.

Prior to his exit, the Swiss was praised as “phenomenal” by analyst EBL on Twitter X, which has been reinforced by his chart-topping form at Leverkusen in the 2023/24 calendar so far.

As reported by Squawka, no player in Europe’s top seven leagues has made more successful passes into the final third than Xhaka this season, in which the 31-year-old has recorded a magnificent 129 passes.

Back in north London, Arteta is yet to get anything near the best out of his other summer midfielder acquisition, Kai Havertz, which only reminds those at Arsenal of what they are missing in their former hero since his departure.

Average

Rank in Bundesliga

Kai Havertz's PL average

94.84

Top 1%

29.62

92.4%

Top 1%

81.6%

11.82

Top 1%

2.65

101.26

Top 1%

35.80

110.94

Top 1%

46.76

The table above makes for painful reading for the Gunners, who haven’t yet been able to unlock their £65m signing, while their offloaded talent continues to thrive as one of the best in Germany.

Xhaka enjoyed seven eventful years at the Emirates and will always be remembered for his contributions both negative and positive, with the mourning period set to continue for far longer if his form remains at such levels going forward.

Arsenal could sanction the sale of one of their senior players next summer, with a reliable journalist claiming that he won’t be part of the first team upon his loan return.

Arsenal's summer departures

The Gunners got rid of 14 players in total during the previous transfer window, with eight of those being on a permanent basis, while the remaining six were sent out on loan for the remainder of the season in order to increase their experience and game time.

Folarin Balogun (AS Monaco)

Kieran Tierney (Real Sociedad)

Granit Xhaka (Bayer Leverkusen)

Nuno Tavares (Nottingham Forest)

Matt Turner (Nottingham Forest)

Marquinhos (FC Nantes)

Auston Trusty (Sheffield United)

Albert Sambi Lokonga (Luton Town)

Pablo Mari (Monza)

Arthur Okonkwo (Wrexham)

Rob Holding (Crystal Palace)

Runar Alex Runarsson (Cardiff City)

Nicolas Pepe (Trabzonspor)

Ainsley Maitland-Niles (Lyon)

Edu and Mikel Arteta have Jorginho, Mohamed Elneny and Cedric Soares who will have reached the expiration of their deals at the end of the season (Arsenal contracts), so they could also be heading for the exit door should they not put pen to paper on fresh terms.

Over the summer, Kieran Tierney was one of the stars to depart having joined Real Sociedad until the conclusion of the term, but with the left-back having no agreement in place to join them for good, he’s currently set to return to the Emirates Stadium.

Latest Arsenal transfer news: Euro winner closing in; striker nears N5 exit

With a month remaining in the transfer window, Arsenal are busy lining up their transfer targets.

ByHal Fish Jul 31, 2024

The Scotland international has been the subject of interest from Premier League rivals Newcastle United in recent months, and whilst that has now been dropped, the 26-year-old is reportedly wanted by his current club who are hoping to strike a deal next summer.

Kieran Tierney likely to start new adventure

Speaking to GiveMeSport, Dean Jones suggested that Tierney has played his last game for Arsenal due to Arteta not having any plans to include him in his long-term project.

“I think it's great that he's finding a new pathway for himself. After going down that road and rediscovering himself, I'd be very surprised if he even wanted to go back to Arsenal because I don't think his style will fit with what they want to do.

"So, to be honest, I don't even think Arteta has an eye on this. I think he wants Tierney to go away and be successful and find himself a new club and career route. I don't think he will be playing for Arsenal again.”

Arsenal should sell Tierney in 2024

According to journalist Josh Bunting, Tierney has been a “class” player for Arsenal in the past, but having only started six top-flight games last season (WhoScored – Tierney statistics), the fact that he’s so out of favour makes it a no-brainer of a decision to cash in next year.

The Douglas native ranked as Arteta’s 21st best-performing player out of 26 squad members overall during the previous campaign (WhoScored – Arsenal statistics), representing what little impact he was able to make when handed the rare opportunity to showcase his talent.

At the Reale Arena, Tierney currently pockets £112k-per-week (Real Sociedad salaries), which is more than the likes of Leandro Trossard and Gabriel in the capital (Arsenal salaries), so the hierarchy need to get him off the books and use the extra cash to generate funds towards further new signings in 2024.

Tottenham Hotspur got back to winning ways on Sunday as Ange Postecoglou's side beat Newcastle United 4-1 at home in the Premier League.

The Lilywhites had failed to win any of their previous five top-flight matches, which resulted in four defeats and one draw, despite taking the lead in all of them.

They took the lead once again against the Magpies but were able to hold on for all three points with an impressive, energetic, display in front of their own fans.

Heung-min Son and Destiny Udogie both caught the eye with superb showings but Richarlison was just as good with a pleasing redemption up front.

Son and Udogie's performances v Newcastle in numbers

The Spurs captain was electric out wide with one goal, from the penalty spot, and two assists out in his more natural position on the left wing.

He completed 85% of his attempted passes and created four chances for his teammates across his 89 minutes on the pitch, although the South Korea international did miss one 'big chance'.

Udogie, meanwhile, kicked off the scoring with a close-range finish as Son whipped the ball across the six-yard box for the left-back to convert.

The former Udinese prospect also won three of his four ground duels and provided two key passes in a dynamic, all-action, performance from the Italy international.

Richarlison's performance v Newcastle in numbers

Whilst Udogie and Son were excellent, Richarlison was just as good with his brilliant centre-forward performance after the disappointment of his miss against West Ham on Thursday.

The Brazil international sent his free header wide of the post, which went down as a 'big chance' missed, as Spurs were fighting to get something out of the game.

Postecoglou placed his faith in the former Everton star by handing him a start in the number nine position and the gem rewarded that faith as he redeemed himself against Newcastle.

Richarlison helped to set the tempo for Spurs with his energetic display up front. He constantly hassled and closed down opposition defenders to make sure that Jamaal Lascelles and Fabian Schar were always under pressure – in and out of possession.

His hard work was rewarded in the 38th minute as Son cut the ball back for the Brazilian hero to bundle the ball into the back of the net to make it 2-0.

The 26-year-old ace then made it 3-0 on the hour-mark as he peeled off the back of Lascelles and brought a brilliant ball from Pedro Porro down to finish past Martin Dubravka.

Football.london's Alasdair Gold handed him a 9/10 match rating in his post-match article and hailed the striker's aforementioned relentless work rate.

Richarlison won four of his eight duels in total but also showed composure in possession to go along with his hard work and goal threat, as the talented marksman completed 81% (13/16) of his attempted passes.

It was brilliant to see that he was able to quickly put the disappointment of the West Ham blunder behind him in order to produce an impressive performance against Newcastle.

The ex-Watford star put on a show against the Magpies and was one of the stars for Postecoglou alongside Udogie and Son on Sunday.

Aston Villa host Sheffield United in the Premier League this evening and a win would take them top of the table, until Saturday at least.

If Liverpool and Arsenal draw, however, the Midlands side would be top of the top-flight at Christmas for the first time since 1998.

They eventually slumped to sixth during that campaign, but there is a feeling surrounding Unai Emery’s side that they will be aiming for much higher than that.

Aston Villa team news vs Sheffield United

Emery spoke to the media prior to the clash this evening and gave an update on several members of his squad, saying:

“Tyrone Mings and Emi Buendía are out, Bertrand Traoré is out.

“Youri Tielemans is out, Pau Torres is out tomorrow as well, as is Boubacar Kamara with the red card, he is suspended.

“The other players are ready. They trained this morning and they are going to be available for tomorrow.”

Emery benches Cash in Aston Villa's predicted lineup vs Sheff Utd

Aston Villa will be looking for another three league points against the Blades tomorrow

ByRoss Kilvington Dec 21, 2023

This means that the Villans are without a number of key first-team performers and could need to dip into his squad to find solutions this evening.

Kamara will miss the next three matches following his red card against Brentford last weekend, yet the Spaniard could replace him with a returning Douglas Luiz against the Blades tonight to ease the blow of losing the ex-Marseille star.

Douglas Luiz’s season in numbers

Luiz has missed just one match all campaign and that was the recent 2-1 win over Brentford due to a suspension, but he should return to the fold this evening.

The Brazilian has been in stunning form for Villa during the 2023/24 campaign, registering ten goal contributions – six goals and four assists – across 25 matches, and this sort of form has attracted interest from the likes of Arsenal and Manchester City ahead of the January transfer window.

Emery has valued one of his prized assets at £100m and he will be hoping this deters any potential bids next month as the former City starlet is too important to lose midway through the season.

Indeed, across the whole Villa squad in the Premier League, Luiz currently ranks first for overall Sofascore rating (7.46), while also ranking third for goals and assists (seven), second for accurate passes per game (52.8), and first for tackles per game (2.3).

Meanwhile, Kamara is joint-top of the squad with him on 2.3 tackles per match and has chipped in with zero goals and one assist in the top-flight.

These statistics clearly show that Luiz is shining over a variety of different metrics and his tough-tackling nature could ease the blow of losing the French battler as he can be the defensive force in midfield to cut out opposition attacks that the former Marseille man has been throughout the campaign.

Hailed as someone who is “clever with the ball” by City boss Pep Guardiola back in 2021, the midfielder has taken his game to a new level under Emery and this could eventually secure Villa a massive profit, given his currently £100m valuation and interest from Premier League giants.

At this current moment in time, however, the former Arsenal boss will not be entertaining any offers next month as Luiz is crucial to his side.

With Kamara missing out due to suspension, Emery must unleash Luiz straight back into the starting XI in midfield, and the £75k-per-week Brazilian will be keen on making up for missing the previous league match.

Emery knows exactly what a win would mean for the club, and they could enter Christmas by topping the league table with yet another domestic victory.

Arsenal have seemingly been offered the chance to sign a bargain alternative to Brentford star Ivan Toney, with the player's agent reaching out for talks.

Edu's rumoured transfer plans for January

The Gunners, according to recent reports, have their eyes on a new marksman and midfield replacement for Thomas Partey next month. Arsenal are not traditionally busy in the January window, but as they chase a first Premier League title in 20 years, that could soon change.

Arsenal could sign "dream" £50m striker in repeat of Rice masterclass

The 26-year-old could be the clinical striker Arsenal need this season.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Dec 18, 2023

Sporting director Edu's "dream" target for midfield is Douglas Luiz from Aston Villa (Fabrizio Romano), though a deal may be very difficult to do mid-season so other more affordable options like Monaco ace Youssouf Fofana could come into play (Ryan Taylor, via FootballFanCast).

Meanwhile, in the striker position, it's reported that Arsenal are keen on signing a proven goalscorer next month, as their only senior options are Eddie Nketiah and Gabriel Jesus right now. Manager Mikel Arteta is a rumoured admirer of Toney to upgrade Arsenal's front line. The 27-year-old, who was prolific for Brentford last season, stands out as the most regularly-linked number nine.

Ivan Toney

90min

Dusan Vlahovic

Football Transfers

Marcos Leonardo

90min

Santiago Gimenez

TV Play

Boulaye Dia

Le Cronache

Some reports suggest Arsenal have held talks with Toney's agents over a possible January move, but Sky Sports claim he'll cost a seismic £100 million. A fee that high would be a huge challenge for Edu and co to navigate, especially factoring in FFP and their £200m-plus spending in the summer window.

Arsenal offered Guirassy chance

Now, according to 90min, it appears Arsenal could be offered a chance to sign Stuttgart star Serhou Guirassy as a cheaper alternative. The Guinea international, who's bagged 16 goals in just 13 Bundesliga appearances this term, is in fantastic form and his entourage are now contacting clubs to discuss a January deal.

One of them is Arsenal, with Guirassy's agents now reaching out to the north Londoners in an attempt to get their client a big move away mid-season.

The prolific forward's contract also contains a £15m release clause, which could come as a very enticing fee considering Guirassy's form this season. He's been called "outrageous" by reporter Seb Stafford-Bloor, while other members of the press claim half of England are currently weighing up a move for Guirassy.

"The race to sign Guirassy is getting quite interesting because half the Premier League are now considering whether they should be signing him in January," added journalist Dean Jones on GiveMeSport recently.

"But I’m learning that this will probably come down to big pay offers. The release clause makes an actual transfer relatively easy to get going, but because of that, the player himself will probably be looking for a handsome package that lands in his account, and as such, I think it’ll come down to who can put the best terms on the table.

"But he’s on fire, a European boot contender, and goals are hard to find these days at the top level.”

Newcastle United take on Liverpool on New Year's Day at Anfield and another defeat would mean the Magpies will have suffered seven defeats in their last eight matches.

Pressure is certainly building on head coach Eddie Howe as the Geordie outfit sit seven points behind fourth-place in the Premier League, although Manchester City have two games in hand, meaning this gap could become even wider over the coming days.

Several players underperformed during Newcastle's 3-1 defeat at home to Nottingham Forest on Boxing Day and Howe will need to change something quickly to ease some pressure off his back.

Newcastle's game in numbers vs Forest

Creating chances wasn't an issue for the Magpies on Tuesday afternoon. The northeast side had 19 shots on goal which recorded an expected goals total of 2.43, although the data was slightly skewed as a result of Alexander Isak's penalty. Nevertheless, this averages out at roughly 0.13 xG per 90, meaning that each opportunity had a 13% chance of finding the net on average which isn't too bad.

According to FotMob, Newcastle also missed three big chances, showing that Howe's men simply didn't have their shooting boots on and should have scored more than once throughout the game.

However, the biggest worry for the manager will be how many opportunities his side let the visitors have. Nottingham Forest had fewer shots, boasting 15 in total, but had five big chances and ended the game with an xG of 3.46 and had more than double Newcastle's xG total from open play as Chris Wood ran riot at his old stomping ground, scoring a hattrick.

The away team were more than happy to cede possession and hit Newcastle on the break and it was in transition that the Tricky Trees did the most damage, with one player in particular struggling to deal with the visitors' pace on the counterattack.

Dan Burn's game in numbers vs Forest

The player who struggled the most for Newcastle United on Boxing Day was Dan Burn. The 31-year-old was exposed by Forest's pace in behind time and time again by Anthony Elanga on that side and was even skinned for Wood's second goal as Nuno's men took the lead before he was replaced by Tino Livramento in the 55th minute.

In possession, the 6 foot 7 defender also struggled, playing just one ball into the final third throughout the game and completing merely 74% of his total passes, losing possession seven times. Furthermore, Burn boasted only 33 touches of the ball during the match which was even less than goalkeeper Martin Dubravka, who had 35 touches, as per FotMob.

Defensively, Burn lost 50% of his ground duels and 50% of his tackles, making just three ball recoveries and one interception before being given the curly finger by the manager before the hour mark.

After the game, Chronicle Live handed the ex-Fulham star a 4/10 match rating. Having come on as his replacement, Livramento won 100% of his ground duels, recorded the same number of interceptions as Burn and even made more ball recoveries.

Minutes Played

55

Shots

1

Expected Goals

0.06

Expected Assists

0

Passing Accuracy %

74%

Touches

33

Dispossessed

1

Tackles Won

1

Interceptions

1

Clearances

2

Defensive Actions

5

Ball Recoveries

3

Dribbled Past

1

Stats via FotMob

With Liverpool on the horizon, and Mohamed Salah being in fine goalscoring form once again this season, Howe should consider whether he wants Burn going up against one of the most potent attackers in world football on the right-hand side.

Burnley boss Vincent Kompany will be aware that his side need reinforcements in January to ensure they have a plausible chance of survival and the former Belgium international is now reportedly doing everything he can to get one deal over the line at Turf Moor.

Burnley look to strengthen in January…

Despite their admirable commitment to playing in an expansive manner, Burnley find themselves in the Premier League relegation zone and know they will need to strengthen to have any chance of guaranteeing top-flight football for a second successive season in Lancashire.

January is a notoriously difficult window to conclude business in as clubs are reluctant to lose key players midway through the campaign; however, that hasn't stopped the Clarets eyeing up some targets.

All confirmed Premier League done deals: January transfer window 2024

With the January transfer window coming towards its conclusion, FFC has all the info for tracking your club’s winter transfer activity.

ByLuke Randall Feb 1, 2024

According to The Telegraph, Burnley are keen on Strasbourg defender Gerzino Nyamsi as Kompany looks to beef up the central options in his backline. The 26-year-old started every game this campaign for the Ligue 1 outfit before coming down with an abdominal problem.

His current employers, managed by Patrick Vieira, will have a decision to make regarding whether he will be allowed to leave the club on loan. Nevertheless, Belgian giants Anderlecht are also mooted to be keen on his services.

Despite this, one man who won't be coming to Turf Moor this month is former loanee Ian Maatsen, who was a target last summer after his exploits on loan at the club from Chelsea. Borussia Dortmund have claimed the 21-year-old's signature on a loan agreement for the remainder of the campaign.

Now, a new report emerged indicating that Burnley are making advances to sign a target that has been likened to some fairly lofty names in football.

Burnley make Pape Gueye approach

According to reports in France via Sport Witness, Burnley have made "incessant approaches" to try and land Marseille midfielder Pape Gueye, who could be available for a cheap fee in the window due to his contract being set to expire this summer at the Orange Velodrome.

Five similar players to Pape Gueye (FBRef)

Player

Club

Ederson

Atalanta

Felix Nmecha

Borussia Dortmund

Pierre Lees-Melou

Brest

Mahdi Camara

Brest

Youssouf Fofana

AS Monaco

The outlet claim the 24-year-old left-footer is keen to move on from his time at the Ligue 1 outfit and Burnley are keen to take him off their hands as soon as possible despite his involvement at the African Cup of Nations with Senegal. Marseille are aware that selling him over the next few weeks may be their only chance to recoup any sort of financial gain for his services.

Likened to Paul Pogba and N'Golo Kante by reporter John Hutchinson, the Montreuil-born midfield shield has made 103 appearances for Marseille across all competitions, notching four goals and three assists (Gueye statistics – Transfermarkt).

Bringing in some additional muscle in the engine room should be a priority for Burnley as Kompany looks to solidify his ranks ahead of the coming weeks and months.

"We are already taking steps to identify and recruit the manager we believe can take West Ham United forward in line with our ambitions. We aim to appoint a high-calibre figure who we feel will lead the Club into an exciting future for our loyal supporters within the next ten days."

These are the words of Irons chairman David Sullivan, speaking in May 2018 after the close of David Moyes' short-term contract.

The Scottish manager had kept the Hammers up but was not deemed the long-term choice for growth, and former Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini was appointed with an illustrious vision in mind.

Sacked after 19 months. And so returns Moyes. And so, unwittingly, begins that shiny chapter of the London club's history that reached its apotheosis last June, when the Irons won the Europa Conference League final against Fiorentina.

One of Moyes' first ports of call following his comeback was to sign Hull City winger Jarrod Bowen in the 2019/20 January transfer market for £20m plus add-ons. Now, four years later, the 60-year-old is looking to repeat the feat.

West Ham eyeing Championship star

According to Football Insider, West Ham are looking to ship on first-team players Said Benrahma and Maxwel Cornet to facilitate a move for Leeds United winger Wilfried Gnonto this month.

The Premier League side are lacking in offensive depth in a quandary that has been exacerbated by the calf injury suffered by Lucas Paqueta, expected to keep the Brazilian out until mid-March.

Gnonto, aged 20, is struggling to earn a regular starting spot under Daniel Farke and could leave by the end of the month, with the Hammers favourites to land the Italy international.

Having been used sporadically this season, Gnonto's transfer valuation appears to have depreciated and reports from December suggest that he could exit Elland Road for just €15m (£13m).

Why West Ham want Wilfried Gnonto

Gnonto has started just seven matches in the Championship this season – scoring one goal and providing one assist – with just one opportunity from the outset since October.

Farke has sought to set his team up for an instantaneous promotion from the second tier after relegation from the Premier League before the summer and has perhaps been a little ruthless in his treatment of Gnonto, but then with the Whites currently just four points away from automatic promotion, it's somewhat understandable.

But the young dynamo is undoubtedly a player of immense potential and showcased his qualities to emphatic effect last term, with pundit Tam McManus dubbing him a "pocket rocket" for his energy and fizz in offensive sequences.

In the Premier League last season, Gnonto posted four goals and four assists apiece and impressed with his overall play but was unable to prevent Leeds from slumping to relegation, with his exploits attracting Everton's attention in the summer, with a series of offers rejected despite the Italian's official transfer request.

The 13-cap Italy international also ranks among the top 1% of attacking midfielders and wingers across divisions similar to the Championship over the past year for successful take-ons, the top 13% for pass completion, the top 20% for blocks and the top 16% for clearances per 90, as per FBref,

Hailed as an "absolute nightmare for defenders" by talent scout Jacek Kulig, Gnonto perhaps needs a change of scenery to aid him in fully realising his potential in the Premier League, having demonstrated his innate quality for beleaguered-looking Leeds last year.

One of the bright sparks, West Ham have clearly done their homework and are adamant about Gnonto's future prosperity and now seek to guide him to the fore at the London Stadium.

West Ham pushing to sign "monster" £52m Darwin Nunez clone

David Moyes needs to sign a new high-class striker for his side.

ByAngus Sinclair Jan 22, 2024

And in doing so, Moyes may well repeat that aforementioned deal to bring Bowen to east London, something that has proved an extraordinary piece of business.

How Wilfried Gnonto compares to Jarrod Bowen

Bowen is considered one of the Premier League's most dynamic forwards and has been one of the fulcrums of Moyes' success over recent years, even being heralded for his "unbelievable" performances by Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp.

Across 185 appearances, Bowen has scored 54 goals and supplied 36 assists for his teammates, scoring the winning goal as the Hammers won the Conference League last season.

#

Player

Club

No. of Goals

1.

Erling Haaland

Manchester City

14

1.

Mohamed Salah

Liverpool

14

3.

Dominic Solanke

Bournemouth

12

3.

Heung-min Son

Tottenham Hotspur

12

5.

Jarrod Bowen

West Ham United

11

Source: Premier League

Among the most clinical figures in English football right now having signed from the Championship – as Gnonto could himself – Bowen has netted 11 goals from 20 appearances in the top flight while posting 14 goals and five assists across all competitions.

As per FBref, the £120k-per-week ace ranks among the top 20% of positional peers across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for goals, the top 9% for interceptions and the top 11% for aerial battles won per 90.

Given that Gnonto and Bowen share a tenaciousness that allows them to thrive in defensive scenarios, aiding the backline, Moyes might just know what he's doing with this one.

The former is not earning regular minutes this term but this does not negate his skill set, comfortably one of the most athletic and exciting young wingers currently plying their trade on English soil.

Moyes also plucked Bowen from the second tier, so that's a trend that's worth continuing, and both players are natural wingers with a versatile edge to their respective games that allows them to find ample success when fielded in a focal role up front.

It's unlikely that Gnonto – despite his "electric" talent as described by pundit Sam Parkin – would cement a starring spot in the London Stadium side's team from the off but he has talents that make him a custom-made fit for Moyes' counter-attacking style and he could be a deadly weapon off the bench, with a goal to rising to a prominent standing over the coming years.

Sunderland will be desperate to stop the rot this Saturday when Stoke City travel to Wearside, Michael Beale keeping everything crossed that his Black Cats side don't succumb to their third defeat in a row in the Championship.

If they were to lose another game – putting them onto 13 losses already after 29 games played – the playoff picture could become even more distant for the stuttering Black Cats and Beale's job could even eventually be on the line.

Beale could attempt to win back over the hardened Sunderland masses with this January buy, therefore, shopping in France potentially to win the player in question's services.

Sunderland want to sign Lyon midfielder

According to a report in French outlet L'Equipe, Sunderland are interested in signing Olympique Lyonnais' midfield warrior Skelly Alvero who comes in at a lofty 6 foot 7 frame.

With the 21-year-old finding himself frozen out of the first-team in France currently – absent from Lyon's last five league encounters – Sunderland could come to the rescue and offer Alvero more game-time.

German side Werder Bremen are also reportedly interested in signing Alvero on a loan deal until the end of the campaign according to L'Equipe, Sunderland just behind the Bundesliga outfit in the queue for the young midfielder.

Having success recently signing Pierre Ekwah, who is a fellow compatriot of Alvero, the 21-year-old could well come into the Sunderland side and usurp the settled Black Cats first-teamer's presence regardless.

EFL Championship done deals: Every January 2024 transfer

As the January transfer window closes, FFC has you covered for every in and out involving your club in the EFL Championship.

ByLuke Randall Feb 1, 2024

The current Lyon man could well come in and form an intimidating midfield duo with Dan Neil in the process, a transfer for Sunderland fans to certainly keep an eye out on.

How Alvero would slot into the Sunderland team

Joining Lyon from fellow French side Sochaux just last summer, Alvero starred for his former club before making the big leap to the Groupama Stadium.

During his time with his previous employers, Alvero would bag five goals and pick up four assists playing for both the Sochaux B team and the senior side.

Moreover, looking at FBRef statistics, Alvero excels in his diligent defensive duties more so than Ekwah currently does at the Stadium of Light.

Helped by his imposing frame on the pitch, Alvero – over the last year on average per 90 minutes – has won 3.05 tackles and 3.98 aerials in contrast to Ekwah's lesser 1.87 tackles and 0.69 aerials.

Whilst Neil in the central midfield two enjoys roaming forward more than the Sunderland number 39, as seen in Neil's 7.01 progressive passes averaged over the same time period, Alvero could come in and fulfil the role of anchor in the Black Cats side far more impressively than Ekwah.

Still, Alvero beats Neil when it comes to successful take-ons – the former coming in at 2.24 to Neil's 0.96 – and could complement Neil's tenacity on the ball brilliantly with similarly brave runs going forward.

Ekwah has also had his fair share of off-days in the Sunderland first team ranks recently, notably giving the ball up against Newcastle United in the already tense Tyne-Wear Derby after a short goal kick out from Anthony Patterson for Alexander Isak to then rifle home.

Signing Alvero would see the Black Cats shop in a left-field market, but with the potential deal being risk-free by loaning Alvero into the building until the end of the season, it could be a buy that pays off.