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A victory is always a positive result, but it’s often paved over the cracks for Manchester United this season, with a handful of performances not warranting three points.

This was the case against Everton on Saturday at Old Trafford, as although Erik ten Hag’s team won 2-0, there were large alarm bells ringing from a defensive perspective.

The Red Devils faced 23 shots against Everton, which is one more than what Manchester City conceded in their last three Premier League games prior to the Liverpool draw, for context.

In fairness, there were a few standout performers who impressed, but one player who stood out for the wrong reasons was Casemiro.

Casemiro’s 23/24 season in numbers

After enjoying a successful first campaign in Manchester following a £70m move from Real Madrid, Casemiro hasn’t quite been living up to his price tag.

The 32-year-old has featured 15 times this season out of a possible 28 Premier League matches, with an injury in October making him miss 17 matches.

Since his return, Casemiro has been off the pace, struggling with the tempo on the ball while also finding it difficult to match the speed and physicality of opposition players.

The Brazilian’s performance against Luton Town last month served as evidence of that, as he lost seven duels, was dribbled past twice, and received a yellow card, which ultimately led to his substitution at half-time.

Unfortunately, he was exposed once again against the Toffees on Saturday afternoon.

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By
Tom Lever

Feb 22, 2024

Casemiro’s performance against Everton

The number 18 started his ninth game in a row against Sean Dyche’s team, partnering Kobbie Mainoo in the midfield of a 4-2-3-1 formation.

The defensive midfielder's performance can be summed up by his 5/10 rating by the Manchester Evening News, with journalist Samuel Luckhurst writing:

“So careless he had his hands on his hips during one stoppage, possibly in disgust at his own performance. Will need to raise his level next week.”

As you can see by his 76% pass accuracy and the fact that he lost the ball 17 times, Casemiro provides absolutely zero control to the midfield, which often allows the opponent to transition quickly.

The lack of dominance that United had at the weekend can be highlighted by Everton having more possession than the hosts in the second half, which is poor considering they average the second-lowest possession per game in the league this season, and unfortunately, a decent amount of that falls on the shoulders of the tenacious tackler.

Casemiro's inability to cover space and stop transitions also played a part in Everton having so many shots, but football creator Liam Canning recognised this issue in September, stating:

"McTominay, Eriksen and Casemiro can’t defend transitions. They do not offer anything. Players run past them like they’re not there. A joke."

As well as his declining performances, there’s also some concern regarding his wage and contract, which sees him earn £350k-per-week, the most at United, until the summer of 2026.

Therefore, this is just another reason why Man United simply have to sell Casemiro in the summer before he continues to bleed the club dry.

West Ham have announced the signing of Germany international Niclas Fullkrug from Borussia Dortmund.

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• Fullkrug joins for £27m
• Joins Kilman & Summerville among arrivals
• Aaron Wan-Bissaka could be next

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  West Ham have announced the signing of Niclas Fullkrug from Borussia Dortmund on a four-year deal. The Hammers have reportedly paid £27 million ($34m) for the 31-year-old Germany international, who joins Luis Guilherme, Wes Foderingham, Max Kilman and Crysencio Summerville among the Premier League club's summer signings.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Fullkrug provides experience at the highest level, having played in the Champions League for Dortmund and in the World Cup for Germany. West Ham fans got a glimpse of their new striker at Euro 2024, where Fullkrug scored two goals for his country en route to the quarter-final. He works hard and should benefit from the service provided by Summerville, Mohammed Kudus and Jarrod Bowen.

• WHAT FULLKRUG SAID

  The 6ft 2in striker told the club's website: "I’m delighted to be here, and I can’t wait to get out on the pitch with my new teammates. I think the Premier League is the best league in the world, and for me it is the right time to move over to England and play for a big Club like West Ham.

  "The chance to play under the Head Coach [Lopetegui] is also really exciting. His playing style is important for me, and I am confident that under him I will be able to perform at my best, and score lots of goals."

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  WHAT NEXT FOR WEST HAM?

  Manchester United's Aaron Wan-Bissaka could be next through the door at the London Stadium. The Hammers have been linked with the English right-back and are reportedly pushing to complete the deal.

Everton have often conducted poor business in the transfer market in recent seasons, with their spending partly to blame for the club's point deduction this season.

The Toffees spent a lot of money during the 2019/20 season, with the club spending upwards of £100m on players – with just one signing remaining at Goodison Park in 2024.

Players such as Alex Iwobi, Moise Kean and Jean-Philippe Gbamin arrived at the club, for fees all over £20m, with the latter leaving the club on a free transfer last summer after making just eight appearances for the Toffees.

However, one big-money signing over the last few years impressed for the Toffees, before leaving the club to hunt for European football. His departure was one that many fans were unhappy with, but it did see the club make a profit on their investment.

Lucas Digne's stats at Everton

Left-back Lucas Digne joined Everton for £18m back in 2018, with the defender having great pedigree after his spell in Spain playing for European giants Barcelona.

He made an immediate impact during his first campaign for the club, making 37 appearances for the Toffees during his first campaign – with his set-piece ability catching the eye.

His second campaign in 2019/20 was just as successful, with the Frenchman making 39 appearances for the club in all competitions, with Digne grabbing nine goal contributions – a great return for a defender.

However, the appointment of former Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez would be the start of his Everton downfall, with Digne falling out of favour under the Spaniard.

Although he started all nine games at the start of the 2021/22 campaign, he would quickly lose his place in the starting lineup, with the left-back sometimes not even being included in the matchday squad.

Digne wasn't involved in four consecutive games throughout December and January, with his lack of game time leading to his departure.

Although the departure wasn't a hit with the Everton fanbase, his move to Aston Villa in January 2022 was a profitable one for the club, with the Frenchman leaving for £25m – making the Toffees £7m on the defender during his three-and-a-half-year stint at Goodison.

Lucas Digne's market value in 2024

Just over two years on from his Everton departure, the "phenomenal" defender, as dubbed by his agent Mikkel Beck, has failed to impress at Villa Park under Unai Emery, with the former Arsenal boss preferring to use Alex Moreno over the £25m man.

His lack of form has seen his value drop to just £10m – as per Transfermarkt – with the 30-year-old now worth less than current Toffees left-back Vitaliy Mykolenko, who boasts a market value of £24m – less than two years on from his £17m move to the club.

Whilst there's no debate that Digne is better going forward, Mykolenko has excelled defensively, blowing the Frenchman out of the water and being a real part of Everton's stellar defence that has the best defensive record outside the Premier League's top four.

The Ukrainian has averaged 2.7 tackles per game in the Premier League this season, with former Everton man Digne only managing to reach a tally of 1.8.

Mykolenko also dominates with regard to interceptions and clearances, with his tallies of 1.6 and 3.5 respectively, far more than the attacking full-back who's struggled at times defensively this campaign.

The Frenchman has only averaged 1.1 interceptions and 2.2 clearances, with 23-year-old Mykolenko seemingly more suited to boss Sean Dyche's defensive system.

Market Movers

Football FanCast's Market Movers series explores the changing landscape of the modern transfer market. How much is your club's star player or biggest flop worth today?

Although at the time it was an unpopular decision to let Digne leave, it turned out to be a brilliant piece of business with the club replacing him with a younger and more defensively solid full-back who has outperformed the former Toffee this campaign.

The U.S. U23 men qualified for Olympic quarterfinals for the first time since 2000, and here's how they can make history

The U.S. U23 Men's national team will be in rare territory when they face Morocco in Friday's quarterfinal match in the 2024 Summer Olympics.

This is the first time in 24 years the U.S. will be playing in the knockout stages of the Games. It's a significant development for a men's program that has only advanced out of the group stages once (in 2000) since the Olympic soccer became an Under-23 tournament in the 1992 Summer Games.

Should the Americans advance, they would book a trip to the medal rounds, which would be monumental for Marko Mitrovic and his squad — the U.S. men have never earned a medal in soccer in the modern Olympic era.

The U.S. have the opportunity to turn the tide when they kick things off against Morocco at 9 a.m. ET Friday.

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  Paxten Aaronson needs to be the focal point

  Paxten Aaronson has to be the frontrunner for Player of the Tournament for this U.S. squad, right? The 20-year-old's stats don't jump off the page, as he's only totaled one goal and one assist in the U.S.'s first three matches, but he has been their most influential attacker during that span.

  The former Union standout excelled as a center forward against Guinea in the U.S.'s group stage final as he was able to effectively and seamlessly connect with No. 10 Djordje Mihailovic and the team's wingers in Griffin Yow and Kevin Paredes. He warrants another look at that position against Morocco. If he does, he will be the key to everything in the opposition box.

  He's in strong form and has the trust of his teammates up top. It's pivotal to keep him there to keep the attack rolling.

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  Mitrovic keeps faith in Tolkin

  It's safe to say that Mitrovic sees John Tolkin as his starting left back at this point. Going into the tournament, many thought it would be Caleb Wiley, but the New York Red Bulls star has gotten the nod in three straight matches. He faces his biggest test yet in Morocco's versatile Achraf Hakimi.

  The Paris Saint-Germain star, one of the AFCON side's overage players, is widely-considered the best right back in the world. Incredibly pacey, Hakimi is wicked on and off the ball, and is known to be a force in the final third, too.

  Hakimi gets into the attack frequently, despite playing as a defender himself. As a result, Tolkin will be among those tasked with marking the 26-year-old star, and it will be crucial to keep him quiet as the U.S. search for a result.

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  Be cautious with Gianluca Busio

  If healthy, Gianluca Busio has to start. His talent makes him one of the first names on the team sheet. Yet, questions remain about his recovery and the U.S. need to be mindful of how they use the Venezia midfielder. If not, there could be longer-term consequences.

  Busio was one of the few standouts for the U.S. in the opening-match loss to France and he built off of that performance with an impressive goal against New Zealand in the next game. Unfortunately, though, he was removed from that contest with a non-contact injury. He's since revealed it's the same hamstring injury that bothered him towards the end of his 2024 club season.

  Busio is a player who could potentially make a case for the senior national team as they prepare for the 2026 World Cup. His club team was recently promoted to Serie A and he is primed for a potentially breakout campaign. For Busio's long-term health, the U.S. need to be cautious in how they utilize the 22-year-old. U.S. Soccer can look to their experience with Tyler Adams earlier in the Copa America as an example of how things can go awry if not handled in the right manner.

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  More playing time for Yow

  The Westerlo winger was brilliant in his first start of the tournament, creating two big changes against Guinea. Moreover, Griffin Yow was an imposing menace for the opposition — winning 75 percent of 12 ground duels. In addition, he competed three of four dribbles and 100 percent of his tackles defensively.

  Yow's first start came down to Aaronson being shifted into center forward, and he responded. It is unclear if he will start Friday, but it is something Mitrovic should strongly consider. The U.S. appeared to have a clearer idea of how to attack and form interplay in the final third.

  If he finds himself in the mix again, there's a good chance to see a lot of buildup through him on the left side of the pitch – especially as he tries to keep Hakimi on his toes.

Coventry City couldn't have dreamed of a better away day at Wolverhampton Wanderers in the FA Cup, dramatically scoring twice in injury time to win 3-2 to seal a Wembley semi-final showdown with Manchester United.

Mark Robins' Sky Blues could find themselves playing against the Red Devils twice more next campaign if they can also break out of the Championship, with the West Midlands outfit just four points shy of the playoff spots.

Regardless of what happens, Coventry will keep their fingers crossed that they can keep a firm grip on this attacking midfield hero who didn't cost the club a single penny in transfer costs when he entered the building back in 2020.

Callum O'Hare's time at Coventry

Callum O'Hare would join the Sky Blues as a hot prospect eager to make a name for himself, unfortunately let go of by his boyhood club Aston Villa in the process.

Still, that wouldn't play on the 5 foot 9 creator's mind too much who has been a consistent hero for Coventry since making the move permanent four years ago after an initially fruitful loan.

Joining on a free transfer when the Sky Blues had just made it up to the second tier, O'Hare's rise and continued excellence has coincided with his side knocking on the door of the Premier League after once being viewed as a sleeping giant.

O'Hare has amassed an impressive 51 goals and assists from 173 Coventry appearances to date, with 13 of those coming just this season for Robins' men.

Although the 25-year-old might have taken a relative back-seat compared to the likes of Haji Wright and Ellis Simms in Coventry's Cup upset at Molineux – with the number ten only given a 20-minute run-out – O'Hare was still key late on to that dramatic 3-2 victory being achieved.

He wouldn't pick up another goal or assist to add to his sparkling Sky Blues back catalogue, but O'Hare would give his side the necessary grit and fight required to shock the Premier League hosts – the ex-Aston Villa man would win five ground duels, alongside attempting four dribbles to unlock the scared Wolves defence.

He also teed up Simms to play Wright in for the winning strike against Gary O'Neil's flustered men, an adventurous foray forward justly rewarded.

Callum O'Hare's transfer value in 2024

Obviously, O'Hare's transfer value has now been bumped up from the £0 he was once purchased for with the 25-year-old now worth €1.0m (£855k) according to Football Transfers.

No doubt Coventry would want any potential suitor to cough up more than that, knowing how vital he is to the Championship side's cause currently.

However, they could be powerless to lose O'Hare on a cheap deal – the 25-year-old attacking midfielder's contract is up at the end of this season, alerting suitors to his services consequently.

Battling to be back in Robins' first-team plans this season after a devastating anterior cruciate ligament injury, O'Hare has more than proven his worth back in his team with "outstanding" performances as his manager has previously described.

The 25-year-old is still some way off being at the top of the list involving the most valuable players at the CBS Arena, but it would still be a monumental sucker punch for Robins and Co if they were to lose their much-loved servant.

Coventry will have their eyes on replacements already if that circumstance does arise, however, knowing that they have a reputation for being able to operate shrewdly and effectively.

Newcastle United's unthinkable season last campaign was helped massively by the financial backing from the Saudi PIF, with players such as Bruno Guimaraes and Kieran Trippier playing a key role in the club's success.

The Magpies finished in the Premier League's top four, securing a place in the Champions League for this campaign before being knocked out in the group stage.

However, things haven't gone as planned this campaign, with Eddie Howe's side lingering around mid-table after suffering somewhat of an injury crisis throughout the season.

Sven Botman was the latest player to be ruled out through injury, with the Dutchman needing surgery on an ACL injury that could see him miss up to nine months.

Despite the injury crisis, many players who had an impact at the club before the takeover have still failed to gain any game time, with certain players being victims of the club's rapid success.

One player in particular is currently on loan away from St James', with the club needing to permanently offload the player to help in their battle to avoid any punishment for breaking PSR rules.

Ryan Fraser's stats at Newcastle United

After arriving at St James' on a free transfer from Bournemouth in the summer of 2020, winger Ryan Fraser made 18 appearances in the Premier League during his first campaign for the team – failing to score a league goal during the 2020/21 season.

However, the attacker did manage to find the back of the net on his Newcastle debut in the 1-0 Carabao Cup victory over Blackburn Rovers in September 2020.

His second season on Tyneside saw him have his best season for the Magpies, scoring twice in his 27 games in a campaign in which the club finished 12th in the Premier League.

It would all rapidly go downhill for the Scottish international, with the 2022/23 campaign his worst to date for the Magpies, with Fraser only featuring eight times in the league – featuring for just 311 minutes, with the winger subsequently leaving the club on loan ahead of the current season.

The 30-year-old joined Southampton on loan during last summer's transfer window, with the former Bournemouth attacker scoring eight times in the Championship, having enjoyed a good run of form in the second tier.

How much Ryan Fraser earns in 2024

After signing a five-year deal at St James' Park, the attacker would take home £42k-per-week, a decent chunk of money given his lack of impact during his time at the club.

His wage sees him earn £12k-per-week more than talented youngster Elliot Anderson, who currently earns £30k-per-week, and unsurprisingly teen superstar Lewis Miley who is on a weekly salary of £5k. The "terrible" forward, as Fraser said of his own performances on Tyneside, currently earns a whopping £2.1m a year, with the club needing to clear the attacker off the wage bill at the next opportunity.

His good form on loan at Southampton could tempt Russell Martin's side to permanently sign the 30-year-old, with Fraser still having one more year under contract at St James'.

Should he leave the club, Howe's side would command a fee for his services, with his transfer fee and wages going a long way in the club's battle to stay within the PSR confines.

The attacker's move to Newcastle has been a disaster for both parties. Nine goal contributions in 59 appearances for the Magpies is a poor return given the club's desire to sign him back in 2020.

Wage Burners

Football FanCast's Wage Burners series explores the salaries of the modern-day game.

Here's everything you need to know about Liverpool's pre-season games and how to watch them.

Liverpool finished third in the 2023-24 Premier League season and will be looking to push for the title under new boss Arne Slot in the upcoming season.

The Reds finished with 82 points from their 38 matches, nine points behind leaders Manchester City. They will be looking to bridge that gap in performance and challenge the Cityzens for the trophy.

Here, GOAL brings you everything you need to know about Liverpool's pre-season plans ahead of the 2024-25 season, plus ticket information, where to watch games live and more.

• Liverpool 2024 pre-season fixtures & results

  Date	Game	Kick-off time	Venue
  Jul 19	Preston 1-0 Liverpool	NA (behind-closed doors)	AXA Training Centre, Kirkby, Liverpool
  Jul 27	Liverpool 1-0 Real Betis	12.30am BST	Acrisure Stadium, Pittsburgh
  Aug 1	Liverpool 2-1 Arsenal	12.30am BST	Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia
  Aug 4	Liverpool 3-0 Man Utd	12.45am BST	Brice Stadium, South Carolina
  Aug 11	Liverpool vs Sevilla	12.30pm BST	Anfield
  Aug 11	Liverpool vs Las Palmas	5pm BST	Anfield

  The Reds were edged out 1-0 by Preston North End in a behind-closed-doors friendly on Friday, July 19 at the AXA Training Centre but the post-Jurgen Klopp era got up and running with the Reds' first win on their US tour.

  Dutch boss Arne Slot earned his first win as Liverpool manager with a 1-0 victory over Real Betis thanks to an excellent Dominik Szoboszlai finish in Pittsburgh.

  Liverpool then beat Premier League rivals Arsenal and Manchester United in a span of six days.

  They will conclude their pre-season a week before the Premier League opener, with games against Sevilla and Las Palmas on the same day at Anfield.

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  Liverpool 2024 pre-season tour tickets

  Buy Liverpool tickets at Ticketmaster USCheck availability

  Tickets for Liverpool's pre-season tour are available to buy now.

  • Tickets for Liverpool vs Real Betis
  • Tickets for Liverpool vs Arsenal
  • Tickets for Liverpool vs Man Utd

  Read our comprehensive guide to buying Liverpool tickets here.

• How to watch Liverpool pre-season games on TV & livestream online

  Liverpool's friendly against Sevilla in this pre-season will be shown live on Fuboand FOX in the US.

  However, all the club friendly games should be available to watch on LFCTV and LFCTVGO, which is the club's official streaming platform. Watch this space to learn where the games can be streamed, once it is confirmed.

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• When does the 2024-25 season start for Liverpool?

  The Premier League fixtures for the 2024-25 season have been released. Liverpool will kickstart their league campaign with a trip to Ipswich Town on August 17.

  The Reds will be taking part in the Premier League, Champions League, Carabao Cup and FA Cup next season and are set to head into a busy campaign.

Carlo Ancelotti says Kylian Mbappe is not being restricted by playing as a striker as his wait for a first La Liga goal for Real Madrid continues.

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• Mbappe draws another blank for Real Madrid
• New signing played as a striker vs Valladolid
• Ancelotti backing forward to score eventually

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Mbappe started in the centre-forward role as Madrid ran out 3-0 winners against Real Valladolid on Sunday. However, the Frenchman failed to find the net despite having four shots at goal – only one was on target – and he was taken off in the 87th minute. Shortly afterwards, his replacement, 18-year-old striker Endrick, scored his team's final goal of the game.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  After scoring in his competitive debut as Madrid beat Atalanta in the UEFA Super Cup, Mbappe has not yet opened his account in La Liga, having drawn a blank in their 1-1 draw against Mallorca in the first week of the campaign.

• WHAT ANCELOTTI SAID

  Ancelotti was asked at a press conference if the 25-year-old is being hindered by playing as a striker, but the Italian backed him to find the net, saying: "Mbappé is not penalised at all by playing as a No. 9. He is a spectacular forward, fast, he moves very well without the ball, he attacks space. Today he had three or four chances and he is going to score as he has always scored, no matter what position he plays in."

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  WHAT NEXT FOR MBAPPE?

  The World Cup winner will hope to get up and running in La Liga when Real come up against Las Palmas in La Liga on Thursday. Three days later, they will host Real Betis at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Chris Sutton has aimed another dig at Rangers after their shock Scottish Premiership defeat away to Ross County over the weekend, as he looks to get a rise out of supporters once again.

Rangers suffer damaging defeat

Philippe Clement's side had the chance to close the gap at the top of the table on Celtic on Sunday, keeping destiny in their own hands at the same time. They fluffed their lines horribly, however, falling to a surprise 3-2 loss which could have been worse if not for a late James Tavernier penalty.

Having taken the lead in the first half, heading into half-time 1-0, things went badly wrong for Rangers, who suddenly found themselves 3-1 down and facing one of their most disappointing results of the season.

There was time for Tavernier to score a late consolation from the penalty spot, giving them faint hope of a last-gasp comeback, but the Gers were unable to find an equaliser during a frantic ending.

The defeat means that Rangers are now four points adrift of Celtic with only one game in hand, firmly handing their rivals an advantage in the Scottish Premiership title race, and there is now huge pressure to respond, starting with Wednesday night's trip to Dundee.

Sutton takes aim at Rangers again

Speaking on Sky Sports on Sunday [via Ibrox News], Sutton once again had a sly dig at Rangers, even though he admitted that their penalty was deserved on Sunday: "It’s the position of the arm. You could say it’s a little bit unlucky, but he jumps using his arms, his knee is up. I don’t think any of us are going to complain, we’re used to Rangers getting penalties."

This is just the latest example of Sutton looking to rile Rangers supporters, even if he has made far more controversial comments than this in the past. He can never prevent himself from taking a swipe, given his Celtic past, perhaps knowing that he has the knack of annoying Gers fans, and he has taken plenty of criticism from them recently.

That came to the fore during the 3-3 draw at home to Celtic earlier this month, when Sutton's bias came across on Sky Sports commentary, leading to former Rangers midfielder and manager Graeme Souness hitting back on talkSPORT: "I can't believe how biased Chris is when he's talking about Rangers. He was saying 'it's embarrassing, it's not a penalty'.

"It was easily a penalty. It's not even a discussion to have for me that. And here's a question. Do VAR listen to the commentary for the game? Because I'm thinking 'Chris is going that strong here he's trying to influence whoever is listening maybe in the VAR.'"

Clement could now ditch 3/10 Rangers man after County disaster

Clement must have a clear out of his squad in the summer…

By
Ross Kilvington

Apr 15, 2024

West Ham are eyeing a move for free agent Joel Matip who left Liverpool at the end of the 2023/24 season.

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• West Ham in talks to sign Matip
• Defender left Liverpool in the summer after eight years
• Won every major trophy with the Reds

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The 33-year-old Cameroonian defender exited the Premier League after eight years when his contract with the Reds expired at the end of last season. However, he could now make a comeback to the English top flight as West Ham have shown interest in the centre-back, according to talkSPORT.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  The Hammers signed players like Max Kilman and Jean-Clair Todibo while the summer transfer window was open, but they also parted ways with defenders Thilo Kehrer, Angelo Ogbonna, Kurt Zouma and Nayef Aguerd. The report adds that new manager Julen Lopetegui is looking to further strengthen the team's backline and as a result, the club have initiated talks with Matip.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  During his time with Liverpool, Matip made 201 appearances across all competitions and was an integral part of Jurgen Klopp's side that won the Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup, Carabao Cup and the UEFA Super Cup.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR WEST HAM?

  Lopetegui's side have managed to win just one of their first three Premier League matches and will be back in action after the international break on September 14, as they take on London rivals Fulham.