West Ham United have just hours to complete their summer transfer business. Technical director Tim Steidten has earned his stripes after spending over £120m on some exciting additions, but there is still work to be done.

On one side, West Ham are fighting tooth and nail to get rid of some of the flotsam clogging up the transfer waterways, in turn opening up space to bring in a target who wants the move – but will he get it?

West Ham eyeing last-minute deal

Rumours of interest in AS Roma striker Tammy Abraham have been debunked but West Ham are very much hoping to complete the transfer of Carlos Soler before this evening's deadline.

According to Fabrizio Romano – speaking to GIVEMESPORT – the Irons are pushing to sign the Paris Saint-Germain midfielder, who wants to make the move.

In full, the reporter said: "The player wants to go to West Ham, it’s about the director who is pushing, it’s about the manager, who is Spanish, Lopetegui. So this could also be an important factor. So talks are taking place, and I think before the end of the window, West Ham can go strong on this deal to get it done."

Valued at €20m (£17m), Soler could join on an initial loan deal, with an obligation to buy, but much depends on the London Stadium's outgoings – with plenty in the pipeline at the eleventh hour.

What Carlos Soler would bring to West Ham

Soler is a skilled midfielder with playmaking qualities that could make a real difference to Julen Lopetegui's team. He's enjoyed two years in the French capital but is consigned to a bit-part role and, at 27, seeks a stomping ground that will better recognise his talent.

James Ward-Prowse is rumoured to be on the move and the Spaniard would mark a significant upgrade, having been hailed as the "complete midfielder" by former Valencia star Curro Torres.

And while he hasn't been handed a starring role in Paris, starting only 26 Ligue 1 games since joining from Valencia in the summer of 2022, Soler has managed to maintain an impressive rate of potency in front of goal.

Statistic

Per 90

Percentile

Goals scored

0.17

Top 13%

Assists made

0.17

Top 19%

Passes attempted

63.51

Top 19%

Progressive passes

6.10

Top 24%

Touches (att pen)

2.59

Top 7%

His driving force from the middle of the park speaks highly of his skills, and could actually prove to be the perfect midfield supplementary for Jarrod Bowen, who has carried his golden scoring form from 2023/24 into the current campaign, netting twice from West Ham's opening three fixtures.

He's a dynamic player but his goalscoring is arguably his finest property, having even been described as "unplayable" by Brentford boss Thomas Frank after bagging an emphatic hat-trick last season.

The Irons skipper created five key passes against Crystal Palace last weekend to complement his second-half goal, a fine illustration of the playmaking ability that allows him to maintain a multi-dimensional approach.

But, as stated, Bowen's 20-goal haul across all competitions last season serves as the marker of his finest attributes, and while he has Lucas Paqueta to aid him from deep, further creative options from midfield are somewhat limited.

Soler must be signed, for he could make all the difference as Lopetegui seeks to stamp his identity into the West Ham first team, propelling the club back into the limelight.

West Ham hit gold on star worth more than Fullkrug & Summerville combined

He’s been quite the sensation over the past several years…

ByAngus Sinclair Aug 5, 2024

أعلن مجلس إدارة نادي مودرن سبورت برئاسة وليد دعبس، عن المدرب الذي سيقود فريق الكرة خلال مباراة اليوم أمام طلائع الجيش في الدوري المصري.

وكان مودرن سبورت قد أعلن عن رحيل المدرب فرانك دوما من تدريب الفريق اليوم، وذلك بسبب سوء النتائج وتراجع الأداء بالدوري المصري.

طالع | مودرن سبورت يٌعلن رحيل فرانك دوما قبل ساعات من مواجهة طلائع الجيش في الدوري

واستقر مسؤولو مودرن سبورت على تعيين أحمد صالح في منصب المدرب ضمن الجهاز الفني الجديد للفريق والمقرر الإعلان عنه خلال ساعات وذلك ضمن خطة النادي في التطوير خلال المرحلة المقبلة.

ومن المقرر أن يقود أحمد صالح فريق مودرن سبورت فنيًا أمام فريق طلائع الجيش في الرابعة من مساء اليوم الخميس.

ويتولى المدير الفني الجديد القيادة الفنية لـ مودرن سبورت بداية من مواجهة بيراميدز المقبلة بالدوري المصري.

As a football club, Arsenal have been utterly transformed over the last few years.

Gone are the days of struggling to break into the top four, as the only objective Mikel Arteta and his side have in the Premier League these days is to win it.

However, it's not just on the pitch where the Gunners have dramatically improved, as their work in the transfer market is practically unrecognisable from four or five years ago, both in terms of incomings and outgoings.

For example, a player the club let go for a pittance in 2018 has been outscoring Gabriel Martinelli over the last season or so.

Martinelli's recent form

So, while there were a lot of issues with Arsenal's transfer policy during the mid-to-late 2010s, a signing who's been an unequivocal success from that period is Martinelli.

The Brazilian dynamo joined the North Londoners from Ituano for just £6m in 2019, and since then, he has made 177 appearances for the club, in which he has scored 41 goals and provided 24 assists, equating to a reasonably impressive average of a goal involvement once every 2.72 games.

That said, it was in the 22/23 campaign that the Guarulhos-born gem really stepped up a level and showed the rest of the league that he has the raw ability to become something special, scoring 15 goals and providing six assists in 46 matches, meaning he maintained an incredible average of a goal involvement every 2.19 games.

However, while the talented winger looked unreal two years ago, he struggled to have the same impact last season and ended the campaign with just eight goals and five assists in 44 appearances, equating to an underwhelming average of a goal involvement once every 3.38 games.

In fact, Martinelli was actually outscored and outperformed by a former Arsenal flop last season.

Joel Campbell's recent form

Yes, the former Arsenal flop in question is Costa Rican icon Joel Campbell.

He joined Arsenal from Saprissa in 2011 for a fee believed to be around £1m, although issues with his work permit prevented him from making his debut until the 2014 Community Shield.

The talented attacker made only 40 appearances for the Gunners before leaving in 2018 to join Italian outfit Frosinone for around £1m. However, the last six years saw him move all over the world and play for teams in Mexico, Brazil, and his home country.

However, while he has been a bit of a footballing nomad since leaving North London, he has been impressive in spells, particularly last season with Costa Rican side LD Alajuelense.

In fact, as mentioned above, the former Arsenal ace outscored Martinelli last season. In his 56 appearances for the club, he scored 16 goals and provided seven assists, meaning he managed to maintain an average of a goal involvement once every 2.30 games.

Martinelli vs Campbell in 23/24

Players

Martinelli

Campbell with LD Alajuelense

Campbell with Atlético-GO

Appearances

44

56

5

Goals

8

16

2

Assists

5

7

0

Goal Involvements per Match

0.29

0.41

0.40

All Stats via Transfermarkt

Moreover, he then joined Brazilian outfit Atlético-GO towards the end of the campaign, where he scored two goals in five matches and has remained on loan for this upcoming season, where he'll no doubt maintain his electric form.

Ultimately, while Campbell failed to make an impact at Arsenal, he has since gone on to have a brilliant career back in Central and South America, and even though he's outscored Martinelli of late, we doubt that there will be too many fans looking to bring him back.

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Posts 3 ByJack Salveson Holmes Sep 6, 2024

Jack Leach in line for recall as England fined 40% of match fees for slow over-rate

George Dobell07-Jun-2021

Dom Bess has joined up with the England squad from Yorkshire•Getty Images

England have added Dom Bess to their squad for the second LV= Insurance Test against New Zealand at Edgbaston.Bess, the offspinning allrounder, has effectively been called up to provide cover for Jack Leach. While Leach, England’s first-choice spinner, is understood to be fully fit, current Covid protocols render it complicated and time-consuming to bring players into the squad from county cricket.Bess arrived in Birmingham on Sunday night, having taken four wickets earlier in the day to help Yorkshire to victory in their County Championship game against Sussex. After two days of managed isolation and testing, he will be free to train with the rest of the squad on Wednesday.Related

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“The reason we’ve added Dom is that any cover we may need has to be in here with us,” Chris Silverwood, the England coach, said. “If Jack was to feature, we would need back-up for him in terms of concussion replacements and things like that.”If we are looking at playing a spinner and Jack were to get injured leading into the game, then we will need someone else there as well. It’s making sure we cover that.”Are we expecting a spinning wicket? We will see when we get there, but I’m making sure we’ve got every base covered.”While Bess is not expected to play in the second Test, it seems safe to assume England are highly likely to recall Leach on a surface which has tended to provide assistance to spin in recent years, not least after they were fined 40% of their match fees for maintaining a slow over-rate in the first Test.Chris Broad of the ICC Elite Panel of Match Referees imposed the sanction after England were ruled to be two overs short of the target after time allowances were taken into consideration. As Joe Root pleaded guilty to the offence and accepted the proposed sanction, there was no need for a formal hearing.In the past, such an incident would have left Root sitting uncomfortably heading into high-profile series against India and Australia, but captains are no longer suspended for over-rate penalties.Still, the extent of the fines may well impact England’s team selection for the second Test, with Leach set to come into the side after they did not include a specialist spinner for the first Test – the first time they had done so at home since 2012.

Real Madrid youngster Endrick has shared the hard work he has been getting up to as he eyes first-team minutes under Carlo Ancelotti.

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• Endrick using winter break to train
• Real Madrid star posted pictures on social media
• Waiting for first real chance since arrival

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• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Endrick shared a number of training pictures on Instagram, demonstrating to fans (and Carlo Ancelotti) that he is seeking to build his fitness and strength after struggling to command playing time since moving to Europe during the summer. This was his own individual training regime, putting the work in away from Real Madrid's training centre.

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• WHAT ENDRICK SAID

  "Trabajo y trabajo," was the caption alongside the pictures, which translates as "work and work".

• GOAL/Getty
  

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  Endrick has been afforded just 160 minutes in a Real Madrid shirt so far this season, usually just put on for the final stages off the bench. The immense competition for places from Vinicius Junior, Kylian Mbappe and Rodrygo, combined with his age – just 18, explains that, but it is still frustrating for the youngster after making such a whirlwind impact at former club Palmeiras.

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• WHAT NEXT FOR ENDRICK?

  What Endrick has plenty of is time. He will still be a teenager until 2026, while his Real Madrid contract runs until 2030. As long as he puts the work in, which he appears to be, opportunities will come with patience – Ancelotti has said those chances are just around the corner already.

A “phenomenal” title-winning manager is reportedly liked by Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Manchester United, with Erik ten Hag’s future still looking shaky.

Ten Hag still given time at Man Utd

Ten Hag is now at the beginning of his third season as Red Devils boss, but despite winning two trophies in that time, he is still yet to fully convince the vast majority of the Red Devils’ fanbase.

An EFL Cup and FA Cup apiece is all well and good, but performances and results in the Premier League have been nowhere near good enough too often, while United failed to get past the Champions League group stage last season.

After five league matches in 2024/25 to date, the Red Devils sit 11th in the table, winning only two matches so far and losing 3-0 at home to bitter rivals Liverpool earlier in the campaign. For that reason, Ten Hag finds himself battling to save his job, even though one report has stated that Ratcliffe and others high up at the club are still willing to give him time to prove himself.

That hasn’t stopped other managers from being linked with the job, however, with former Juventus boss Max Allegri linked with taking charge at Old Trafford if the current manager is relieved of his duties soon. Now, another name has been thrown into the mix.

Man Utd like "phenomenal" title-winning manager

According to InterLive [via Sport Witness], Simone Inzaghi has emerged as a potential Ten Hag replacement at Manchester United, with the Red Devils admiring the Italian.

The report says that they “don’t have too much confidence” in their current leader, adding that “at this point his farewell to Old Trafford seems almost obvious”, with the Inter Milan manager standing out as a candidate to be his successor.

Inzaghi’s credentials are clear, with the 48-year-old doing a superb job in charge of Inter, including winning the Serie A title last season and clinching Italian Cup glory three times in his managerial career – once with Lazio.

He likes to adopt a 3-5-2 formation, which can be an awkward system to come up against because of the effective use of wing-backs, while Felipe Caicedo has waxed lyrical over him in the past, saying he is the best manager he has played under:

“Inter are an unplayable team, come on. They’re very strong and know what they want. The squad has been together for years. Inzaghi is a phenomenal coach. I’ve never had a better manager, even though I had top coaches like Eriksson and Hughes.”

For now, it does appear as though Ten Hag is safe in his job, but there is a nagging feeling that he isn’t the right man to take United forward, with one step forward often seemingly leading to two in the wrong direction.

Related Man Utd keen on signing 21 y/o superstar who Kane thinks is "unbelievable"

This could be a game-changing addition by Sir Jim Ratcliffe.

Posts ByHenry Jackson Sep 23, 2024

In Inzaghi, the Red Devils have a proven winner at the peak of his powers as an option, so if Ratcliffe doesn’t see enough improvements in the coming weeks, he could consider making a move for him.

In a deal that would replace Pedro Neto for years to come, Wolverhampton Wanderers are reportedly plotting a move to beat Manchester United to the signature of an exciting young winger.

Wolves transfer news

Those in the Midlands endured a mixed summer transfer window, with both Max Kilman and Pedro Neto joining Premier League sides West Ham United and Chelsea, before the likes of Jorgen Strand Larsen and Carlos Forbs arrived to boost Gary O’Neil’s side.

Yet, even after those reinforcements, Wolves remain without a single Premier League victory after five games in what is a major cause for concern when it comes to their early survival hopes.

It hasn’t been for the want of trying, however, with Wolves taking the lead in a strong performance against Aston Villa only for their Midlands rivals to battle back and eventually secure a 3-1 victory. In the story of Wolves’ season so far, they’ve lacked the attacking quality that they could now find in the transfer market.

According to Swedish outlet FotbollSkanalen, Wolves sent scouts to watch Bazoumana Toure in action for Hammarby and are now plotting a move to beat Manchester United to his signature.

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Hammarby director Mikael Hjelmberg recently admitted that scouts have been watching his side’s future star, telling FotbollSkanalen as relayed by United in Focus: “There are a lot of clubs coming to the match against Hacken (on Thursday).”

“We need to plan for a future without him. Then if it happens this winter, next summer or even further than that – I don’t think so, we’ll see. But the longer we get to keep him the better.”

Seemingly resigned to losing Toure, Wolves should swoop in as soon as they get the chance to sign a player who would replace Neto once and for all at the Molineux.

"Strong" Toure is one for the future

At just 18 years old, Toure is certainly one to watch. The Hammarby winger is quickly becoming the star of the show in Sweden, with six goals and three assists throughout the current campaign representing his recent rise. Now, if Wolves can jump ahead of Manchester United to sign the teenager, they’ll have a major coup in 2025 and the ultimate heir to Neto’s throne.

Scouts around England have been impressed by the Ivorian, with The Next Wave – a scout based in London – dubbing Toure’s alertness “strong” which heavily “compliments his speed”.

When the January transfer window swings open, it will be interesting to see whether the Midlands club decide to make an early move or, indeed, wait until, the summer in an attempt to jump ahead of Manchester United in the race for a future star.

Marcus Rashford has reportedly rejected three massive offers from Saudi Arabia amid his struggles at Manchester United.

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Rashford looking for a fresh challengeSaudi clubs were linked to the forwardForward has rejected all approachesFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

It has been reported that United are open to letting Rashford leave following his recent omission from the squad by new head coach Ruben Amorim. Despite the club’s willingness to entertain offers, Rashford, 27, is clear about his priorities. He has expressed interest only in joining a club and league that offers a competitive environment, which is essential for him to revive his international career and return to England’s squad under Thomas Tuchel.

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According to theRashford has reportedly rejected three significant offers from Saudi Pro League clubs, which would have far exceeded his current £315,000-a-week salary and could be even £35 million ($43m) a year. He has also ruled out a potential move to Turkey. These decisions highlight Rashford’s focus on maintaining his competitive edge and regaining his spot in the national team when Tuchel names his first squad as manager of the Three Lions. His last England appearance came in a friendly against Brazil in March but he was subsequently excluded from the squad for Euro 2024 by erstwhile manager Gareth Southgate.

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United are prepared to listen to offers for Rashford this month as part of efforts to comply with profit and sustainability rules. The club would also consider a loan arrangement, provided the receiving club agrees to pay a fee and cover most of Rashford’s wages. It has also been suggested that Rashford’s brothers, Dwaine Maynard and Dane Rashford, who serve as his representatives, will only entertain offers that align with the player’s ambitions. Any potential deal must benefit Rashford’s long-term career prospects, making it a critical period for all parties involved.

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(C)Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR RASHFORD?

Rashford has not featured in United’s last five games, having been dropped following his performance in the Manchester derby last month. Although he was named as a substitute in United’s 2-0 defeat to Newcastle earlier this week, he remained unused, further fuelling uncertainty about his role under Amorim. United face Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday, and it remains uncertain whether Rashford will be included in the squad. It will be a tough decision for Amorim as he has scored seven goals against the Merseyside side – the most he has scored against any Premier League club.

The tour starts with three ODIs in Rawalpindi on September 17 and culminates with five T20Is in Lahore.

ESPNcricinfo staff05-Aug-2021Pakistan’s efforts to bring cricket back home continues in full swing as they prepare to host New Zealand for a limited-overs series in September. It will be the first time the Black Caps will tour the country since November 2003. They will play three ODIs in Rawalpindi and five T20Is in Lahore.Cricket in Pakistan has been a sporadic occurrence ever since the 2009 attacks. But the PCB has been making great strides to change that in recent times. Their premier T20 tournament, the PSL, now takes place exclusively at home and has been used as a vehicle to convince foreign players that it is safe to tour the country. Luke Ronchi, the current New Zealand batting coach for example, was a regular at the PSL and even went on to win the tournament with Islamabad United.ESPNcricinfo LtdNew Zealand’s players are also regulars at the Indian Premier League, whose second leg begins on September 19 and as a result will be clashing with this limited-overs series. Kane Williamson leads the Sunrisers Hyderabad team, Trent Boult is a key member of the defending champions Mumbai Indians and rookie sensation Kyle Jamieson is usually a regular at Royal Challengers Bangalore. Given the remainder of this year’s IPL takes place in the UAE, which will also host the T20 World Cup, the New Zealand hierarchy will have a choice to make over where to send their first-choice picks.Even so, Pakistan will enjoy the fact that another top-tier team has decided to tour them after successful visits from South Africa, West Indies, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe. They are also preparing for Australia’s arrival in 2022 and have made a bid to host ICC events in the 2024-2031 cycle.”I am pleased New Zealand Cricket has accepted our offer to play two additional Twenty20 Internationals,” PCB chief executive Wasim Khan said in a press release. “These will not only provide extra games to both the countries as part of their ICC Men’s T20 World Cup preparations, but will also allow New Zealand players to spend extra days in Pakistan, familiarise with our culture and enjoy our hospitality.”With leading cricket playing countries resuming their tours to Pakistan in 2019, I remain confident and optimistic that the 2021-22 season starting with the series against New Zealand will prove to be a catalyst in rejuvenating our talented youngsters while attracting new fans to the game that has the most passionate following in the country.”

Nottingham Forest could be about to sign a free agent who ranked in the top 20% in all seven of the major defensive metrics last season – the only player in world football to do so.

The Reds continued their impressive start to the new Premier League season by pulling off a shock 1-0 win against Liverpool at Anfield this past weekend, a result that continues their unbeaten run.

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He’ll be a big miss for Forest…

ByTom Cunningham Sep 16, 2024 Man City interested in Morgan Gibbs-White

Forest’s start to the season is bound to gather attention, as they are unbeaten in their opening four games of the league season and their players are performing at a very high level. One player who is really impressing and has been for some time now is Morgan Gibbs-White, as he’s continued his fine form from last season into the new campaign. The 24-year-old has scored one goal in four league games, and he has been rewarded with a call-up to the England squad earlier this month, making his debut in the break.

But unfortunately for Nottingham Forest, this may be costly, as it is now being reported that Manchester City are keeping a close eye on Gibbs-White. The report states that the Blues have been compiling a detailed dossier on the midfielder after his impressive performances, and the club’s scouting network are said to be huge admirers.

Apps

84

Goals

12

Assists

18

But while City have their eye on Gibbs-White, the Reds are planning to do some transfer business of their own as they weigh up a move for a free agent.

Free agent defender may join Nottingham Forest

According to HITC, Nottingham Forest are among the teams interested in signing free agent Oumar Solet. The 24-year-old was in the final year of his contract at Red Bull Salzburg, but the Austrian side decided to part ways with the player on Saturday and terminate his contract.

Solet had been with Salzburg since 2020 and was an important figure in the club’s recent success, winning three league titles in four seasons, and he now finds himself without a club but not short of interest. The defender is being eyed by Forest, Aston Villa, Wolves, and West Ham, while there are also teams from around Europe such as Marseille and AC Milan looking at the player.

The 24-year-old was ranked in the top 20% in the top seven major defensive metrics last season; he stood in the 98th percentile for passes completed, 97th for progressive passes, 96th for progressive runs, 89th for aerial win rate and 88th for defensive duel win rate. Furthermore, he was ranked 83rd percentile for defensive actions and 82nd for forward passe rate.

Given those numbers, he may not have to wait long to find his next side. Forest already have Murillo, Morato and Nikola Milenkovic as their first choice trio, but it appears as though Nuno Espírito Santo may want to add one more depth piece in that area of the pitch as they try to continue their solid start to the season.