West Ham eye summer swoop for Kossounou

West Ham United manager David Moyes already has one eye on the summer transfer market as he lines up a swoop for Bayer Leverkusen defender Odilon Kossounou.

What’s the latest on Odilon Kossounou to West Ham?

According to The Sun, West Ham are lining up a summer move for the Bundesliga defender having failed in a bid to bring him to the Premier League in January on a loan deal.

Moyes will face competition from Leicester City and Nottingham Forest for the player and it could cost £25m for any club to prise him away from Germany during the summer.

Could Kossounou replace Angelo Ogbonna at West Ham?

The Italian defender is approaching the final few months of his current contract and having played just 20 times this season, it could well be his final campaign with the club.

He has featured over 200 times for the Hammers since joining back in 2015, however, with Nayef Aguerd and Thilo Kehrer arriving last summer, plus youngsters like Luizao and Levi Laing getting closer to the first team, his impact could be even smaller next term if he stayed.

Signing Kossounou could add some further depth to Moyes’ defensive options and despite falling slightly out of favour at the German side this term, starting only nine Bundesliga matches, his form for Club Brugge suggests he is an excellent talent.

In the 2020/2021 campaign, the Ivorian played 33 league matches and averaged a Sofascore rating of 6.96/10, keeping 12 clean sheets and losing possession on average just 7.7 times per game.

He made 1.2 interceptions, 1.2 tackles, and 1.9 clearances per match while winning 56% of his total duels, proving he was a reliable and solid option at the heart of the Brugge defence.

The defender was equally impressive in the Champions League the season before, particularly against Paris Saint-Germain and his agent Patrick Mork praised him for his display against the French side, saying: “He is a special player. For me, he is a complete defender, very fast as he showed last year in the Champions League against a certain (Kylian) Mbappe.”

Pace is clearly a major strength and this is a huge advantage in the Premier League, playing against some of the fastest players in the world such as Erling Haaland.

There is no doubt he could be the ideal player to fill the likely Ogbonna-shaped void in the team next season, and for £25m, it represents a fee that may prove to be a bargain in the near future, especially if he can recapture his form from 2020.

Chelsea: Raheem Sterling starred vs Leeds

Chelsea earned a hugely important three points on Saturday afternoon as Wesley Fofana’s header saw the Blues beat Leeds 1-0 at Stamford Bridge.

The pressure will have eased on Graham Potter somewhat but his future could still hang in the balance on Tuesday night when his side must overturn a one-goal deficit as they face Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League.

After overseeing a rare win against Javi Gracia’s side, which was the first for Chelsea since early January, Graham Potter will have some big decisions to make ahead of Tuesday’s crucial European tie.

It seems clear that after a superb performance against the Yorkshire outfit, Raheem Sterling should be given the nod to start at Stamford Bridge, as he showed his quality in the 1-0 win.

How did Sterling play against Leeds?

As per Sofascore, the former Manchester City man would earn a 7.5/10 rating for his display, with only Kalidou Koulibaly (7.8) rated higher of every player to feature in the game from both sides.

Sterling has endured a difficult time since his summer switch, notching just four goals and two assists in the Premier League, but that is the joint-most goal contributions of any Chelsea player this season, which perhaps puts into perspective just how much the Blues have struggled from an attacking point of view.

During the game against Leeds, the 28-year-old would register an impressive three key passes, four successful dribbles and an 80% duel success rate, which suggests that he was a constant threat to the Leeds defence.

Considering he has averaged just 1.4 key passes and 1.3 dribbles per game in the Premier League so far this campaign, it is clear that he was back to his best on Saturday afternoon.

In his 68 minutes on the pitch, he would also contribute 40 touches of the ball and two shots, which suggests that he was incredibly involved and perhaps unlucky to be taken off by Potter.

Described by talkSPORT pundit Tony Cascarino as “frightening” in the past, Sterling perhaps just needs a run of games to rediscover his best form at Stamford Bridge, having been a consistent source of goals for both City and Liverpool in the past, hitting the net 131 times during his spell at the Citizens.

With the likes of Hakim Ziyech, Noni Madueke and Mykhailo Mudryk all failing to fire, with just one assist between them in the top flight this season, Sterling must surely be given another chance to impress against Dortmund on Tuesday night.

West Ham interested in Ndiaye transfer

West Ham United are interested in signing Sheffield United forward Iliman Ndiaye, having recently conducted a scouting mission, according to a report.

The Lowdown: Scamacca struggling

After arriving from Sassuolo in a £35.5m deal last summer, Gianluca Scamacca has found it difficult to adapt to life at West Ham, with journalist Paul Brown recently claiming the signing ‘hasn’t really worked’.

David Moyes did strengthen his attack during the January transfer window, bringing in Danny Ings for £15m, however he is unlikely to be viewed as a long-term option, given that he will be 31 at the start of next season.

The Latest: Ndiaye eyed

According to a report from The Sun, West Ham are one of three Premier League teams to have scouted Ndiaye in recent weeks, with Everton and Newcastle United also said to be interested.

If Sheffield United fail to win promotion to the Premier League, they could look to cash in on the forward, opening the door for a move to the London Stadium, as long as the Hammers avoid relegation.

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The Verdict: Get it done?

The six-time Senegal international is unproven above Championship level, however he displayed he has what it takes to go toe-to-toe against a quality Premier League side by scoring the winner against Tottenham Hotspur in the FA Cup earlier this month.

Lauded as ‘outstanding’ after embarrassing Tottenham’s Pedro Porro by pundit Clinton Morrison, the 23-year-old is at the right age to be a long-term success at the London Stadium, and he has weighed in with a fantastic 11 goals and seven assists in the second tier so far this term.

Not only that, but the marksman is capable of featuring further back in attacking midfield, while he has also been utilised on both wings during his career, so his versatility could be of great use to Moyes.

As such, West Ham should continue to scout Ndiaye for the remainder of the season, especially considering Scamacca may well need to be replaced.

Lopetegui must solve Wolves’ biggest issue

Much has been made about Wolverhampton Wanderers' struggles in front of goal this season but Julen Lopetegui has another big issue to fix at Molineux if he wants to avoid relegation from the Premier League.

What is Julen Lopetegui's biggest issue at Wolves?

Hwang Hee-chan's goal against Newcastle United at the weekend was the first time a striker has scored for the Old Gold in the Premier League for more than a year.

The South Korean's tap-in wasn't enough for Wolves to escape St James' Park with a point, but fans will be hoping it is the catalyst to end the attacking curse which has afflicted the likes of Raul Jimenez, Diego Costa and Matheus Cunha across the past year.

Despite an upturn in form since Lopetegui's arrival, Wolves are still ranked as the joint-lowest scorers in the top flight this season alongside Southampton, with just 20 goals to their name in 27 outings.

Ruben Neves and Daniel Podence lead the way for goals with five each in the Premier League, but there is an argument that the problem lies not with scoring chances, but with creating them.

Only Bournemouth and Crystal Palace have a poorer expected goals tally in the top-flight this season, while Joao Moutinho leads the way for assists in Lopetegui's side, with just two to his name.

Considering the veteran Portuguese midfielder is a prime candidate to depart Molineux this summer when his contract expires, as well as his lack of game time since Lopetegui's arrival, it seems clear that the Spanish manager's main problem is a lack of creativity in his squad.

Lopetegui has favoured a 4-3-3 formation since taking over, so it is somewhat baffling that the wide options in his squad, namely Podence, Adama Traore, Pablo Sarabia and Hwang, have just two assists between them so far this campaign.

Results went against Wolves at the weekend and they are now just three points clear of the bottom three, so their spot in 13th cannot be considered a comfortable one, and Lopetegui must look to arrest their disappointing performances in the final third if he is going to keep them up.

His side have scored more than once just four times in the Premier League this season and it could well cost them a spot in the top flight next season, unless the manager can find a way of getting his wingers and midfielders more involved in creating chances.

Once he does that, the quality of Jimenez and Cunha should surely shine through, and the goals can start flowing again at Wolves.

Everton leading the race to sign Abraham

Everton are leading the race to sign AS Roma striker Tammy Abraham this summer, according to reports.

The Lowdown: January contact made

Sean Dyche failed to bring a single player to Goodison Park during the short amount of time he had available to him at the start of the New Year but it sounds like he’s already identifying his targets for the upcoming window.

Abraham’s contract at the Stadio Olimpico isn’t set to expire until 2026, but having recently dropped off in form under Jose Mourinho, he could be on the move at the end of the season.

The Yellow and Reds forward is no stranger to Premier League football, having worked his way up through the ranks from being an academy graduate to a senior first-team squad member at Chelsea.

iNews report that the Toffees had an approach for the 25-year-old turned down in January, but having made contact, it’s believed that the Italian giants would be willing to listen to offers.

The Latest: Everton in pole position

According to Forzaroma.info (via Sport Witness), Everton are in the ‘front row’ to sign Abraham with several clubs, including the Merseysiders, ‘ready to present important offers’.

Roma have already ‘fixed’ their asking price and are set to demand a fee of €75m (£66m) in order to sanction his sale.

Dyche’s side are ‘in the picture’ to land England’s former international, who could ‘part ways’ with the Serie A outfit should his form not improve between now and the conclusion of the term.

The Verdict: No-brainer

Abraham has been dubbed a ‘goal machine’ by former professional Stephen Elliot and should the opportunity to sign him arise this summer, Everton have a no-brainer of a decision to make.

Mourinho’s striker has posted a remarkable 202 goal contributions (159 goals and 43 assists) in 355 career appearances, highlighting how prolific he can be in the final third.

The Camberwell-born talent would also be the ideal target man up top standing at 6 foot 2 where he’s currently averaging 2.2 aerial wins per league game.

Chelsea’s former star offers excellent flexibility with his ability to operate out wide on both the left and right wings alongside his natural centre-forward position, making him a valuable player to have in the building.

Finally, Abraham has bagged three senior trophies during his career so far, including winning the Champions League with the Blues, so he would be able to bring a much-needed winning mentality to Goodison Park.

Wolves likely to trigger Semedo extension

Wolverhampton Wanderers are expected to trigger their two-year contract extension clause for Nelson Semedo, according to reports.

The Lowdown: Uncertain future

The Old Gold right-back swapped Barcelona in La Liga for the Premier League back in 2020 but has recently been facing an uncertain future, with his deal set to expire at the end of the season.

In January, Julen Lopetegui was reportedly considering making a new signing in the 29-year-old’s position, which saw him linked with a move back to his former club Benfica, but he has since become a regular feature at Molineux.

The Portuguese international has the option of a further two years included in his terms, which Fosun have until mid-May to decide whether to take up as revealed by journalist Liam Keen, though it sounds like they could have already come to a conclusion.

The Latest: Wolves set to green-light deal

According to Football Insider, Wolves are ‘likely to activate’ Semedo’s in-house clause which would see him remain at the club until at least 2025.

The Lisbon native is greatly appreciated by the hierarchy but it’s claimed that they are ‘keen to safeguard his transfer value’ should relegation occur at the end of the season.

The Wanderers full-back is believed to be currently earning £80k-per-week, though this is an amount that the club would ‘unlikely to be able to afford’ if they were to drop down to the Championship.

The Verdict: Boost for Lopetegui

Semedo has featured in all 17 of Lopetegui’s matches in charge since being appointed at Wolves so is clearly part of his long-term plans, and it’ll be a real boost for the boss should he secure his services for a further two seasons.

The Nike-sponsored star is currently averaging 2.1 tackles and two clearances per top-flight game but has also proven to be a threat getting forward down the flank (WhoScored). The 5 foot 10 defender has provided four assists and scored two goals during his time at the club and has already delivered 38 crosses into the box for his attacking teammates this term.

Semedo has also been highly praised by journalist Josh Bunting, who has been impressed with the several attributes he brings to the table, which is all the more reason why it’s a bonus he is set to be staying put, at least for the short-term. He said:

“Nelson Semedo is a joy to watch, so quick, really smart movement off the ball [and] always creating space.”

Daniel Levy May Take Months to Appoint Tottenham Manager

Journalist Fabrizio Romano has claimed it could take months for Tottenham Hotspur to appoint a new manager rather than anything happening in the near future.

Amid a run of poor form and explosive comments, Spurs opted to sack Antonio Conte and so Cristian Stellini and Ryan Mason have been asked to step up and take charge for the time being.

The announcement may have only come days ago, but already a number of names are being linked with the job. Indeed, Julian Nagelsmann is said to be open to talks having recently been fired from Bayern Munich, while former boss Mauricio Pochettino seems to perpetually be discussed as a possible option.

However, despite all these exciting rumours, Romano has suggested that a decision will not happen any time soon with the process expected to drag on for a while yet.

While talking about how it could all impact Harry Kane's future on The United Stand, the journalist outlined when he thinks a new head coach might come in.

He said: “I think this kind of manager situation will make things slow [for Kane's decision].

"Also because Tottenham are not appointing a new coach in a few hours or days. It probably will take weeks or months.”

Who is linked with the Spurs manager job?

Beyond Nagelsmann and Pochettino, the likes of Marco Silva, Roberto De Zerbi, Sergio Conceicao, Thomas Frank, and Vincent Kompany have emerged as credible options for the club (via Sky Sports).

With so many managers to consider, it's no wonder Daniel Levy and co might need months before coming to any final decision on the matter.

Of course, Spurs still have plenty to play for. After all, with just ten games left to go in the Premier League, they sit fourth in the division hoping to keep themselves in the Champions League next term.

With that in mind, the club do run the risk of not qualifying if Stellini and Mason don't have the quality to see out the final run-in with much success.

But certain managers may not want to come in until the summer, so they can get a full pre-season under the belt before being judged – while also knowing what European competition, if any, the north London side will be competing in.

All in all, there are a number of great candidates who will all have different demands if they are to join Spurs and so this hunt for a new head coach could take some time.

Tottenham’s £190k-p/w "Passenger" Was Awful Again

Tottenham Hotspur once again threw away two vital points on the road, as another relegation-threatened team snatched a result at the death courtesy of a 1-1 draw.

This time it was Everton who battled back despite a red card and conceding a penalty, with Michael Keane's unlikely scorcher leaving Huge Lloris stranded with minutes to go.

However, it was surprisingly exactly what their play had merited, as despite taking the lead the Lilywhites once again sat back instead of pushing on. Although Antonio Conte has been sacked, it felt like he was still right there in the dugout with last night's display.

This lack of attacking impetus once again forged a chasm between their potent front three and the midfield, which meant the likes of Harry Kane and Heung-min Son were starved of the ball.

It seems neither Conte nor Cristian Stellini can comprehend that these are the team's match-winners, and to isolate them reduces their chance of winning tenfold.

Due to this lack of service, the South Korean continued his barren run in front of goal. The 30-year-old has been a shadow of his former self of late, with just six league goals to his name after 27 appearances.

Goodison Park played witness to another toothless display last night.

How did Heung-min Son play vs Everton?

With the worst Sofascore rating of those Spurs players who started the match, this alone is a damning indication of his performance.

The anonymity of the winger led to such a poor showing, as his 27 touches were bettered even by his goalkeeper Huge Lloris, who enjoyed 49 touches (via Sofascore).

However, even when Son was involved he was hardly influential. The former Bayer Leverkusen speedster could not muster a single shot all night and was unsuccessful in the sole dribble he attempted. Also, the fact he would lose possession nine times meant that for every three touches, he would have the ball stolen.

heung-min-son-tottenham-hotspur-harry-kane

These abhorrent statistics were just the tip of the iceberg for journalist Charlie Gordon, who wrote a scathing assessment of not just his performance but his season as a whole: "Heung-min Son still performing so far short of his usual standards. Bit of a passenger in this Tottenham front 3 at present.

"All the quality coming from Kane and Kulusevski. 2yrs ago you’d have bet your house on him burying that chance just before the break."

With his strike partner Kane continuing to score, albeit from the penalty spot, it highlights just how impotent the £190k-per-week winger has been of late. If the England captain is managing to find the net, then his counterpart has no excuses.

In a season to forget for both the player and his club, Son must turn things around soon or face his season ending with a whimper.

Leicester City Have "Outstanding" Manager "On The Radar"

Leicester City have former Southampton boss Ralph Hasenhuttl "on the radar" as a potential replacement for Brendan Rodgers, according to transfer guru Fabrizio Romano.

What's the latest Leicester manager news?

Leicester have already received a setback in their pursuit of a new manager, with Graham Potter rejecting the chance to take over at the King Power Stadium. However, there are plenty of other targets still being considered by chairman Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha.

Adi Hutter has been shortlisted by the Foxes, although there has not yet been any concrete talks with the former Borussia Monchengladbach boss, while they are also said to be eyeing a move for Rafa Benitez, even going as far as to make an offer for the Spaniard.

However, Romano has since clarified that Leicester's interest is tentative at this stage, saying: "I also heard some rumours of Rafa Benitez but I'm told that at the moment it is not something advanced or that concrete."

Taking to Twitter, the transfer guru has claimed that Benitez has been "in the frame since Sunday", while he also confirmed that Hasenhuttl is one of the coaches that Srivaddhanaprabha has "on the radar" to replace Rodgers.

Romano's phrasing suggests that talks are yet to be held with the former Southampton boss, however it is certainly something to look out for in the coming days.

Should Leicester appoint Ralph Hasenhuttl?

There is likely to be some scepticism surrounding the Foxes' interest in the 55-year-old, given that he was sacked by the Saints in November, leaving them in the relegation zone, however, their performance since his departure indicates the squad is simply not good enough, as they are now four points from safety.

Hailed as "outstanding" by members of the media, the Austrian spent nearly four years on the south coast, taking charge of 173 games, meaning he has the requisite experience of managing a Premier League club, which could be crucial at this stage of the season.

Not only that, but he also oversaw RB Leipzig's rise to become contenders at the top of the Bundesliga, achieving a second-place finish in the 2016/17 season, a remarkable accomplishment, given that it was their first season in the German top flight.

Although Hasenhuttl struggled towards the end of his tenure at Southampton, his previous success indicates he could go on to be a real success somewhere else, and Leicester should undoubtedly consider him as their next manager.

Tottenham: Spurs Waiting To Bid For "Elite" Star

Tottenham are waiting for their new manager before green-lighting a bid to sign Leicester City star James Maddison, according to Fabrizio Romano.

Could Spurs sign Maddison this summer?

Various reports linking the 26-year-old to Spurs have been circulating in the past fortnight with some sources even suggesting that he looks certain to join them over Newcastle.

However, other claims have also stated that Maddison to Spurs isn't as advanced as some might say, and there appears to be consistently differing bits of news on the matter.

One thing that seems certain is the Premier League top four hopefuls are interested in his signing this summer, coming amid their search for a new manager.

James Maddison and Harry Kane play for England in the 2024 Euro qualifier against Ukraine.

Antonio Conte's departure has left the door open for chairman Daniel Levy to hire a permanent replacement while Cristian Stellini and assistant coach Ryan Mason take interim charge in the meantime.

Whoever comes in, whether it be the heavily linked Vincent Kompany or even a sensational return for Mauricio Pochettino, will be tasked with shaping the Spurs team in their own image – having a say on who Tottenham sign in the transfer market.

As such, reliable journalist Romano, writing in his CaughtOffside column, has shared an update on the club's efforts to sign Maddison. Indeed, the transfer reporter says Spurs definitely have the England international in their sights – but are waiting for their potential new boss to give the green light before bidding.

He explained:

“Tottenham are monitoring James Maddison for sure, also Newcastle have his name on their list since last August as he’s always been appreciated.

“We have to understand who’s going to be the new Tottenham boss to see if they will bid for Maddison, as at the moment it’s on standby.”

Should Spurs splash the cash on Maddison?

Regardless of who succeeds Conte, we believe the Lilywhites quite simply must move for Maddison.

Spurs have arguably been without a central creative presence since Christian Eriksen's departure in 2020, which makes the need for one all the more pressing.

As per WhoScored, Maddison certainly has the quality to succeed at Tottenham – having stood out as Leicester's shining light and best-performing player in an otherwise dismal campaign.

Racking up 15 goal contributions, the former Norwich City star also tops Leicester's charts in terms of shots at goal and key passes made per 90 in the final third (WhoScored).

Called 'elite' by members of the media, Maddison could certainly provide that spark of attacking threat through the middle of the park.

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