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An emotional Raphael Varane announced his Manchester United exit and revealed his opinion about Sir Jim Ratcliffe after a disastrous 2023-24 season.

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• Varane to leave United as a free agent
• The club chose not to trigger extension option
• Defender to play final home game against Newcastle

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The French defender looked close to tears as he geared up to break the news of his departure from Old Trafford, after spending three seasons on United's books following his arrival from Real Madrid in the summer of 2021. Although Varane had a clause in his contract which could have seen him extend his stay by 12 months, the club refrained from activating it and hence the centre-back will leave as a free agent at the end of the season.

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• WHAT VARANE SAID

  Varane bid an emotional goodbye to United fans in a video on his social channels, stating: "To you guys, supporters of Manchester United. It's been an amazing few years to play for this special club and wearing that shirt. The first time I went to Old Trafford as a Man United player, it was insane. The atmosphere was amazing. I fell in love with the club and the fans. You have to play for Man Utd to understand what that represents. For my kids, it's home here. It's going to be a special place for me, for life. When the fans go to Wembley, it's something they remember for life. To share that moment with them was absolutely amazing."

  Varane also shared his thoughts about Ratcliffe and INEOS' arrival as United's new part owners, adding: "Despite the fact we had a difficult season, I'm very positive for the future. The new owners are coming in with a clear plan and a great strategy. I will see you at Old Trafford to say goodbye for the last game at home this season and it's going to be a very emotional day for me, for sure."

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• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Varane has played 93 matches for United and won the Carabao Cup trophy in 2023 when the Red Devils beat Newcastle United at Wembley. However, the 31-year-old has struggled with fitness issues this season and has not taken the field since the 4-3 loss to Chelsea on April 4.

Arsenal have deployed chiefs to assess the performance of a new forward overseas, according to a fresh report that has emerged.

Arsenal transfer targets

Ahead of January, Edu Gaspar and Mikel Arteta appear to be looking to strengthen all areas of the pitch, with recent claims suggesting that the club are currently in pole position to sign Sporting CP centre-back Goncalo Inacio.

In midfield, Aston Villa’s Douglas Luiz has been a long-term target of the hierarchy, though with Unai Emery’s side standing firm on their stance that their prized asset is not for sale during the upcoming transfer window, chiefs might have to be more patient with that particular deal.

The Gunners are additionally keen to increase their options in the final third and have highlighted Rennes’ left-winger Ibrahim Salah as a potential candidate, with the attacker having made 30 appearances since joining from KAA Gent back in January (Transfermarkt – Salah statistics).

The Morocco youth international, who is 22 years of age, still has just under four years remaining on his deal (Rennes contracts), but that hasn’t stopped the manager and sporting director from wanting to take a bite at the cherry in the hope of bringing him to the Premier League, in particular to the Emirates Stadium.

Arsenal monitoring Salah

According to Moroccan outlet Le360 Sport (via Sport Witness), Arsenal have sent scouts to watch Salah ahead of January. The North London outfit “would be interested” in signing the forward next month because they have already “sent emissaries” to keep tabs on him “during a recent appearance” as they weigh up approaching Rennes.

Salah is a real threat in the final third

Across all competitions this season, Salah has scored six goals from a total of 16 appearances, showing the positive impact that he can make in the opposition’s box, and he’s constantly posing a threat regardless of whether the end product comes to fruition.

Standing at 6 foot 1, the colossus currently ranks in the 94th percentile for shots and the 92nd percentile for successful take-ons, highlighting how much he loves to use his athletic pace to dribble past his marker and create as many chances as possible for both himself and his fellow teammates (FBRef – Salah statistics).

Arteta’s target is even a versatile operator having been deployed in five different positions over the grass since the start of his career, including everywhere across the frontline and even on the left side of the midfield, though he has been described as an “inside forward” by football talent scout Jacek Kulig.

Having been crowned U23s Africa Cup Winner with Morocco, Salah will possess a winning mentality and will know what it takes to compete and be successful at a high level, so there’s no doubt that he could be a great addition should he put pen to paper at Arsenal.

Robert Lewandowski says he wants to win "many titles" with Barcelona, seemingly shutting down speculation linking him with a transfer exit.

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• Lewandowski targeting titles next season
• Veteran contracted until summer of 2026
• Shuts down any transfer exit rumours

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The 35-year-old joined Barca from Bayern Munich in 2022 and in his first season, the striker led the Spanish giants to a La Liga title. Despite the Polish international's side having a trophyless campaign this time out, he has no plans on leaving the Catalan outfit – despite big-money links to the Saudi Pro League.

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  WHAT ROBERT LEWANDOWSKI SAID

  He told : "Of course, for me it is super clear. I want to win many titles with Barcelona and I am sure that next season we will be even stronger and we will also win titles. I always want the best, not just for me, but for my teammates and I am sure that this team will win titles next season because I see what we do each day. For me that is what matters because this a club that I hold close to my heart and I want to give a lot for the team and the club."

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Barcelona are 12 points behind bitter rivals and La Liga champions Real Madrid with one game to go, whereas last term Xavi's side had a 10-point cushion over Los Blancos. Amid their financial struggles, competing with Madrid is always going to be hard, and it could get harder if Kylian Mbappe joins this summer. But Lewandowski, whose contract runs until 2026, is positive about the club's future.

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  WHAT NEXT?

  Lewandowski's side, who lost in the quarter-finals of both the Champions League and Copa Del Rey in 2023-24, round off their La Liga season away to Sevilla on Sunday night. Incidentally, the Pole has scored 58 goals and bagged 17 assists in 94 matches for Barca to date.

The true art of Liverpool's success under Jurgen Klopp's guidance is not the scintillating attacking arrowhead, nor is it the imperious defence that strikes fear into hapless attackers when Virgil van Dijk is at his apex.

No, it is the never-say-die mentality that never allows the opposition a chance to breathe. Sewn into the very fabric of the club's core, Liverpool breeds winners, and while many of the stars of the illustrious Klopp era did not arrive with glittering trophy cabinets, they have been moulded into players of the highest pedigree.

Liverpool could sign "immense" Van Dijk partner in bid for £52m Arsenal target

Jurgen Klopp is interested in strengthening his title-chasing side’s defence this winter.

By
Angus Sinclair

Dec 28, 2023

Occasionally, however, the Reds have opted to sign a player of established brilliance, with honours and accolades pinned to their garment and with a hunger to replicate the feats on Merseyside.

Liverpool have identified a player who fits this mould; indeed, Inter Milan's Nicolo Barella remains a target and could be the subject of an official approach in 2024.

Liverpool transfer news – Nicolo Barella

Italian outlet L'Interista has recently revealed that while Inter are eager to commence contract negotiations with Barella, there are many obstacles in the way of an agreement and this could open the door for Liverpool, Chelsea and Newcastle United to swoop.

In the summer, the Telegraph reported that Newcastle were closing in on a £50m deal to sign the Italy international, though the Serie A side rejected advances in the late stage, with Barella himself also discouraged.

Last week, revelations came to light that Inter are embroiled in financial uncertainties and might need to cash in on some key players to balance the books.

Although multiple parties have registered an interest, there is a sense that 2024 is the perfect year to advance negotiations and snap Barella up, and this is something that Klopp will undoubtedly be considering.

Nicolo Barella's style of play

Barella has been hailed as a "little warrior" by talent scout Jacek Kulig in the past, and while he may be diminutive in stature, the maestro projects a monstrous presence in the centre of the park.

As per FBref, he ranks among the top 8% of midfielders across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for shot-creating actions, the top 6% for progressive passes, the top 12% for progressive carries and the top 9% for progressive passes received per 90.

Such metrics highlight a remarkable level of creativity but also a willingness to surge up the pitch and make things happen in pockets between the lines, evidenced by his return of nine goals and ten assists across all competitions last season, as Inter won the Coppa Italia and the Supercoppa Italiana.

Deft and delightful, Barella's direct rate of contribution might have declined this season but he has still been integral to Simeone Inzaghi's side's pursuit of the Scudetto, currently in first place after 17 matches, four points clear from Juventus.

Having started 16 of these fixtures, the 26-year-old has scored two goals, supplied three assists and completed 87% of his passes in the centre of the park, averaging 5.0 ball recoveries and 1.1 key passes per outing.

Having once been declared a "genius" by journalist Mike Pielluci, there's no denying that Barella would be a credit to any ambitious side on English shores, but given the overload of creative and multi-functional midfielders in Klopp's squad, the question does arise regarding whether it would be a prudent venture to launch significant funds toward the acquisition of Barella.

Who Nicolo Barella could replace at Liverpool

Of course, Liverpool maestro Thiago Alcantara, aged 32, is out of contract at the end of the season and has not actually featured once during the 2023/24 campaign as he fights to return from a long-term injury.

Undisputably magnificent, the distinguished Spaniard ranks among the top 3% of midfielders for passes attempted and progressive passes, the top 6% for successful take-ons, the top 4% for interceptions and the top 13% for tackles per 90, but his inability to avoid the clamping jaws of the medical room will ultimately convince Klopp that he must depart in June.

While Thiago occupies a deeper-lying role than his Cagliari-born counterpart, both are sublime passers of the ball with a metronomic swagger that establishes control and command in the engine room.

Barella could be a worthy successor but his signing still wouldn't address the concerns relating to Liverpool's requirement for a specialist No. 6.

The move could also prove to be detrimental to the progress and success of Alexis Mac Allister at Anfield, with the Argentinian World Cup winner completing a £35m transfer to the club in the summer.

While Mac Allister has been utilised from deep this season, he remains one of the Premier League's most creative and cultured centre-midfielders, earning praise in the past for his "intelligent" approach by countryman Sergio Aguero.

As the graph above shows, Mac Allister and Barella are midfielders of similar like; not quite cut from the same cloth but mirroring in qualities that would perhaps not be worth the cost, with Dominik Szoboszlai, Harvey Elliott and Ryan Gravenberch also plying their trade at Anfield.

The backline needs attention and, while Wataru Endo has been impressive of late, a long-term solution to the anchor of Liverpool's midfield must be discovered too.

Barella might be an excellent player, perhaps he is even world-class, but there it might be best to invest resources elsewhere to maintain the dynamism and growth of this exciting Liverpool team.

Our writers debate Emma Hayes' first USWNT roster, with big names brought back into the fold

Emma Hayes' tenure as coach of the USWNT is officially underway. The former Chelsea boss worked wonders in London, but now faces a different kind of challenge on the international stage. After a disappointing World Cup showing in 2023, the USWNT will look to push back to the top of global soccer in Paris this summer at the Olympic Games.

And it all starts next month.

Hayes has picked her first roster, and there are plenty of talking points. Alex Morgan is in the fold, but Lynn Williams didn't make the cut, while Ashley Sanchez sits out, too. However, does any of that matter? This is the strongest roster the U.S. have ever bolstered, but still… there's questions over whether or not the ex-Blue will be a success stateside, on Morgan's role in this team and the June camp roster.

Piece it all together, and it adds up to an intriguing start for the new manager, who will have to battle the sky-high expectations of the most difficult job in women's soccer.

To break it all down, GOAL has enlisted global women's soccer writer Amee Ruszkai, as well as the usual cast of GOAL US writers, in the latest edition of… .

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  Point blank: Will Emma Hayes be a successful USWNT boss?

  Amee Ruszkai: Yes. She’s a proven winner, she knows what it takes to cope with pressure and she represents a healthy balance between someone who is a breath of fresh air but who still understands all things USWNT, having spent several years at the start of her coaching journey in the United States. Hayes has spoken about how, after an exhausting season with Chelsea, this new role and the Olympics can reenergize and reinvigorate her, too, which all sounds really positive.

  Ryan Tolmich: Maybe not initially. Hayes has been given a tough, tough task here. Preparing a group for the Olympics on just a few weeks' notice is almost impossible, even for a coach at Hayes' level. The U.S. will need things to bounce their way if they want gold in Paris. If they don't win in all? That's fine, too. This summer is just the start for Hayes, who is tasked with rebuilding the program from the ground up. It'll take time for us to see the fruits of that – if there are any fruits to be had – but Hayes' resume tells you not to bet against her when she's given the tools to create something special.

  Jacob Schneider: Considering she’s coming from Chelsea, London’s football club, the answer is yes … Alright, jokes aside, Hayes will be an immediate hit with the U.S.

  Anyone who has followed the Blues appreciates her tactics, and has witnessed the brilliance she plans out for her players on the pitch. She’s a sensational manager on the touchline and that it will transition over with the USWNT.

  The record clearly speaks for itself: five FA Cups, seven WSL titles, two League Cups, one community shield and multiple brilliant European competition runs. She knows how to coach at the highest level and she’s a proven winner, which is exactly what the USWNT needs right now.

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  Who has the most to prove this June camp?

  AR: US Soccer and Lily Yohannes. She’s undecided on her future and while the federation and team won’t want to pressure her into an answer, as it’s her own to make in her own time, it will certainly want her to choose the USWNT (over the Netherlands).

  Proving to Yohannes that the U.S. is the place to be is key and Hayes finally coming in will surely help, especially with her track record of developing young players. The U.S. has a lot of young talent coming through but — having seen what she’s done on the big stage in Europe at 16 years old — Yohannes is special so it’d be a huge boost to have her represent the USWNT.

  RT: Casey Murphy feels like the answer here. With Alyssa Naeher out, at least for now, Murphy looks to be the USWNT's No. 1 goalkeeper in this camp. For a while, it looked like Naeher was going to hold on to be the Olympic starter, giving her one last tournament in a USNWT shirt. Her injury, though, makes that less clear. Can Murphy do enough to seize the No. 1 shirt? The USWNT will hope so, even if it just leads to a more interesting competition should Naeher return.

  JS: It’s Alex Morgan, right? That assumes she’s healthy, of course, as Morgan has missed considerable time with an ankle injury. The USWNT has an insane amount of attacking players to work with, and Sophia Smith is in absolutely ridiculous form at the moment. It's also notable that Cat Macario and Hayes have a relationship from their time at Chelsea – odds are that chemistry doesn’t just up and vanish.

  Morgan is the most experienced attacker of the lot for the USWNT, but there are more in-form and healthy players ahead of her. She needs this camp to prove to Hayes that she is still the starting striker for this team, and that she is the best choice to lead the line in Paris.

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  Who is the biggest snub from the USWNT roster?

  AR: Lynn Williams. She offers so much to any team, in and out of possession, and she’s in great form right now. The other side of the coin, of course, is that the forward areas are just so competitive, so while it’s the biggest snub, it's also not a total shock that she’s missed out. That's just how it goes with the USWNT's attacking pool at the moment.

  RT: Generally, this roster feels about right. There are a few surprises, such as newcomers Sam Staab and Hal Hershfelt but, overall, the heavy hitters are all here.

  Outside of the injury absences, there's one missing player that sticks out: Olivia Moultrie. She's on the training squad, so she's involved, but won't be playing in these games. That's disappointing given how well she played in her USWNT chances.

  A spot was there for her, too, given the inclusions of Hershfelt and 16-year-old starlet Yohannes. All three are longshots for the Olympics at this point, to be fair, but it would have been nice to see Moultire get much-needed minutes this camp.

  JS: Going to make a case for Williams and you’re going to agree with me, alright? She recently became the NWSL’s all-time leading goalscorer, and has been in relatively good form this season. She has three goals in six appearances after starting the season on the sideline. She started the semifinal and final for the USWNT in the CONCACAF W Gold Cup in March, and turned in two very good performances.

  She brings something that Morgan can’t: pace. Williams is deviously fast, and can also slot out wide, if needed. Beyond Smith, the striker options aren’t players who you can bring on to spring a blistering counter off the bench late if you need a goal. Williams can do that, and more. It feels a bit cruel to not see her with this group after her performances for club and country of late.

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  With a plethora of attacking options, who are the starting front-three?

  AR: Smith in the 9 with Jaedyn Shaw and Trinity Rodman either side of her. Mallory Swanson has shown great things recently and can really press to start, and what Morgan brings to the table as a pure 9 is always top quality – something that will suit certain games and moments in the Olympics. However, Rodman, Smith and Shaw feels so strong. As for Macario, she might be at her best in the 10, so it will be interesting to see how Hayes uses her.
  RT: This is the million-dollar question, isn't it? There are plenty of ways you can go, and the good news is that any and all of them might be right.

  Assuming the U.S. plays a 4-2-3-1 with Shaw as the attacking midfielder, go with a front three of Rodman, Smith and Swanson. That trio is dynamite, with each player having the ability to open up a game at a moment's notice.

  Will Hayes go with those three? Too soon to tell. There are plenty of combinations that could work. But the Rodman-Smith-Swanson trio feels like the most dynamic one on offer for the U.S.

  JS: This attack is being built around Smith. She is the future of the USWNT, period. That said, the US should be playing her centrally and not placing her on the wing, like both Twila Kilgore and Vlatko Andonovski did in previous months.

  Choosing who to play out wide and at the 10 is where things get difficult, but that’s all part of what makes this group so exciting. There are so many good options. On the left Swanson, and on the right will be Rodman with Rose Lavelle at the 10. It feels awful to not have Shaw in the XI, but the thought process is how to get the most out of Smith – and this group is the best supporting cast for that task.

Following a four-game winning run, Everton are now on a four-match losing streak and are dangerously sitting just one point above the relegation zone, having initially done so well to climb out of the bottom three in the Premier League after receiving a ten-point deduction for breaching FFP regulations back in November.

However, the biggest worry for Sean Dyche will be his side's lack of potency up top. Only five teams have scored fewer goals than the Toffees this season and the manager is reportedly keen to rectify this issue during the winter transfer window.

Everton transfer news – Iliman Ndiaye

According to a report from Ignazio Genuardi last week, Everton are keen to sign Marseille attacker Iliman Ndiaye before the January window slams shut and will battle it out with Crystal Palace and his former club Sheffield United for the forward's signature.

Furthermore, the journalist is claiming that the French outfit are not willing to send the Senegalese attacker out on loan, meaning only a permanent deal could be on the table, with the player currently valued at £26m, as per CIES Football Observatory.

Having helped the Blades to promotion back to the Premier League last season, earning the club's Player of the Year award, Ndiaye moved to France for £20m during the summer transfer window. However, his time at the Stade Velodrome hasn't gone as well as he'd have hoped, having scored just one goal and recording three assists in 23 appearances in all competitions for the French giants.

Nevertheless, now a return to England could be on the cards and Everton should do everything in their power to push to the front of the queue.

Iliman Ndiaye stats comparison vs Beto

Perhaps the biggest indictment on Everton's season so far has been that midfielder Abdoulaye Doucoure is the club's top goalscorer this term, having scored six goals in 20 appearances. One could even argue that the Malian has been the Toffees' best player this season. Doucoure has missed all of Everton's previous four outings and the side have managed to score merely three goals, losing each one in the process.

Meanwhile, Dominic Calvert-Lewin is second in the team's goalscoring charts with four goals, while £26m summer signing Beto lags behind by one. The latter has arguably been the biggest disappointment this season. Calvert-Lewin has spent large parts of Dyche's reign sidelined with recurring injuries and the Portuguese striker was brought in to lead the line in his absence. However, three goals in 19 appearances paint a different picture.

The 25-year-old seems to have all the characteristics of a perfect Dyche centre-forward, notably his 6 foot 4 frame, but it hasn't quite clicked at Goodison Park for him. On the other hand, Ndiaye is just under 6 foot, yet looks like a much better fit for Everton given his ability to not only score goals but to link the play up front as well.

In Ndiaye's final season in English football, his stats are levels above Beto's from the current campaign – albeit while having been operating in the second tier.

Ndiaye was integral to Sheffield United achieving promotion in the 2022/23 campaign and even earned praise from his teammate Chris Basham, who expressed that the Senegal international "can do anything" on a football pitch.

Now, the 23-year-old could be Dyche's saviour if Everton can get a deal done by the end of the transfer window.

Barcelona's Robert Lewandowski has been linked with a potential exit but the Poland international has hit back at the speculation.

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• Lewandowski linked with Fenerbahce
• Striker denies links with Turkish club
• Not thinking about retirement at the moment

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  WHAT HAPPENED?

  The Polish striker's form for the Catalan side has dwindled since the start of 2023 and as such there has been speculation he could move away from the Blaugrana as they look to return to their peak to challenge Real Madrid'. Recently, Lewandowski has been linked with a move to become Jose Mourinho's marquee signing with Fenerbahce. However, he has outright denied the links.

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• WHAT LEWANDOWSKI SAID

  Speaking to the media, Lewandowski said [via Sport]: "Move to Fenerbahce? Fenerbahce has not contacted me. I don't know anything about it."

  When asked about mirroring Toni Kroos' decision to retire, the Pole said: "My heart will tell me that moment. Before making a decision, I must first feel something. I don't know when it will happen, it's difficult to determine it by myself. I need to hear my decision to be sure of it and now I don't have it.

  "Physically I feel very good and that means I can't think about retirement. Maybe Toni Kroos felt that moment, but it's not my case. I'm realizing that the hard work I've done and I'm still doing is paying off."

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Despite not having been at his previously showcased top level, Lewandowski has been the Blaugrana's top scorer this season with 26 goals to his name, a significant drop off from his first season. Nonetheless, there has been no noise from the Barcelona camp regarding the hierarchy wanting to see the Pole exit the club.

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• WHAT NEXT FOR LEWANDOWSKI?

  The legendary striker will switch his focus from Barcelona to Poland now. Lewandowski is in the Poland squad for Euro 2024 in Germany.

Lionesses star Alessia Russo admits England have let standards "slip" recently but believes they raised them for a historic win in France on Tuesday.

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• Russo on scoresheet in crucial Lionesses win
• England beat France away for first time since 1973
• Striker reveals honest post-match discussion

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The Lionesses went into the game in Saint-Etienne knowing that defeat could be hugely damaging to their hopes of qualifying automatically for Euro 2025, having lost to France in Newcastle just four days earlier. However, they bounced back to win 2-1, securing a first victory away to Les Bleues since 1973.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Georgia Stanway's wonderful strike broke the deadlock for England midway through the first half and Russo doubled that lead before the break with a smart header. France did get back into things when the visitors conceded a needless penalty late on but Hannah Hampton's heroic late save ensured a 2-1 win.

• WHAT RUSSO SAID

  Speaking to after the game, Russo said: "We just spoke as a team then, we know that our standards have to be higher. We've probably let them slip a little bit in these past few qualifiers but we know the talent we have, we know the potential that we have as a group and we saw a lot more flashes of it tonight.

  "I think we got our standards back to where we wanted them. There were still parts that we'll work on, for sure, but that's a performance that we want to keep going forward [with] now. We know the level is higher than ever and we know that to do anything at the Euros, to even qualify, is going to be harder than ever. We're proud. We'll have a little bit of a rest and then we're back in July for another massive camp."

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• DID YOU KNOW?

  Though England remain third in their qualifying group after this win, they are in a much better position now. France top the table with nine points, Sweden are in second with seven and the Lionesses are only behind them on goal difference.

West Ham United are "now in talks" to sign an "exceptional" player for manager David Moyes, according to Sky Sports this morning.

Hammers yet to make January signing

Despite the club being linked with a new midfielder and attacking additions, West Ham are yet to do any business so far this month, but that could be about to change very soon.

Fabrizio Romano says West Ham could sign club captain if Benrahma leaves

The east Londoners are admirers.

By
Emilio Galantini

Jan 18, 2024

The Hammers' transfer plans have changed after injuries to the likes of star midfielder Lucas Paqueta and striker Michail Antonio, who recently suffered a setback in his recovery from a knee problem.

While star winger Jarrod Bowen could be back to face Sheffield United this weekend, Paqueta's long-term absence and Antonio's unreliability hand Moyes real squad conundrums.

West Ham's lack of depth behind their traditional eleven has been somewhat exposed, and Mohammed Kudus being at the Africa Cup of Nations with Ghana is also leaving Moyes pretty short of options – both in the middle of the park and further forward.

West Ham are being linked with a number of attacking stars, including the likes of Santiago Gimenez and Serhou Guirassy, but it's believed they have a serious interest in Man City outcast Kalvin Phillips for the midfield area.

West Ham enter negotiations to sign Phillips

West Ham are touted as contenders to sign the 28-year-old, who has found game time very difficult to come by under Pep Guardiola since joining City from Leeds in 2022.

Dropping a Friday update, Sky Sports have shared some breaking news "this morning", and they claim West Ham are "now in talks" to sign Phillips and offer him a way out of Eastlands.

"What we're hearing this morning, West Ham are now in talks with Manchester City over a move for Kalvin Phillips", said the broadcaster.

They add that the England international, lauded for his "creativity" by Paul Robinson to Football Insider, is being chased by a host of clubs both in Europe and abroad – but it's West Ham who are making the first moves.

Moyes has publicly expressed his admiration for Phillips before, so it is little surprise the Scotsman is attempting to take advantage of the player's dwindling City career.

"I'm a big admirer of Kalvin Phillips and have been for a long time," said Moyes in 2021.

"Every time I went to watch Leeds, and when I was out of work and they won the Championship, I was always thinking he looked a really influential player and a real prospect.

"I think he has stepped up really quickly, I think he got into the England squad when maybe other people were suggested in front of him but I think he's done well."

On a reported £135,000-per-week wage packet (Sky Sports), it will be interesting to see if West Ham manage to whittle down his salary and still sway him to east London.

It has been quite the month for Everton, who were hit with the news of a second Financial Fair Play charge this season following a 10-point deduction earlier in the campaign. The Toffees now await punishment, hoping to avoid a mountain to climb when it comes to securing their Premier League status. With the transfer window also open, things could have quite easily got worse for those at Goodison Park, who have had to field interest in Amadou Onana.

Onana transfer news

Onana's name has been at the centre of the headlines since the start of the window. The main clubs mentioned in pursuit of the Belgian have been Arsenal and Newcastle United. According to Sacha Taviolieri, an Arsenal sale could still see them make a last-minute move to sign Onana this month. Meanwhile, recent reports have claimed that Newcastle are eyeing a move for the Everton star in the hope of replacing Joelinton, who is set to miss the rest of the season through injury.

Both Premier League sides look set to face disappointment, however. According to Belgian outlet DH Les Sports, via Goodison News, Onana has decided to stay at Everton this month and help the Toffees avoid relegation. In a major boost for Sean Dyche and his side, the former Burnley boss will now hope to get past the transfer window unscathed and ready to push into the comforts of mid-table.

Given that Everton are yet to welcome a single reinforcement, keeping hold of Onana so late in the window should prove to be crucial. The last thing that those at Goodison Park need is a scramble to land a replacement for their star in the remaining days of the January transfer window. Now seemingly able to breathe a sigh of relief, Everton will hope that the good news just continues to come.

"Exciting" Onana crucial to Everton survival chances

As things stand, Everton sit just one point above the relegation zone, having played one game more than Luton Town to leave them in a precarious position. If the Toffees want to gain control of their fate, however, then Onana could quickly prove to be the key. The 22-year-old has more than earned the interest of Newcastle and title-challenging Arsenal and will only continue to showcase his talents in Dyche's side.

Former Belgium and Everton manager Roberto Martinez was full of praise for Onana when the midfielder first arrived at Everton. He told Sky Sports via HITC: “Really exciting footballer. I know that sometimes when we speak about players, it’s very difficult to measure their potential. I think we are talking about a 20-year-old boy, who is probably one of the most talented at that age in European football, and that’s how excited we are in Belgium.

“He’s got the physicality and the presence of a player that the Everton fans know very well in Marouane Fellaini. He can become anything in that central area, so I can understand the excitement around Everton – this is one of the most exciting prospects in European football at this present time.”