Arsenal can now sign a January striker target for a very affordable fee this summer, following their rejected bid in the winter transfer window.

Arsenal targeting Alexander Isak alternatives

Newcastle United star Alexander Isak is a priority transfer choice for manager Mikel Arteta, according to various reports, but a deal for the superstar Premier League striker will be very hard to pull off.

Arsenal seriously considering £60m Isak alternative after 17-goal haul

The Magpies star could be too unattainable.

ByEmilio Galantini Feb 19, 2025

Arteta is a real fan of Isak, and has the Swede at the very top of his personal striker wishlist, according to David Ornstein, but Newcastle have zero intention of selling and he could be priced out of the market.

“The way he [Isak] has developed and flourished is just spectacular, and it probably makes Arsenal rue their missed opportunity,” said Ornstein on the Sky Sports Back Pages podcast earlier this month.

West Ham (home)

February 22nd

Nottingham Forest (away)

February 26th

Man United (away)

March 9th

Chelsea (home)

March 16th

Fulham (home)

April 1st

“There’s no doubt that he is the player that Mikel Arteta has at the top of his list. If he was to sign a striker, he’s seen as perfect for Arsenal’s system and everything he offers. But Newcastle fans will hate hearing that, because they’ve got him under contract for a few years yet. He’s their key player. He’s at the centre of what they and their Saudi-led ownership are doing.

“And they’ve got no intention of seeing him go anywhere. They want him to sign a new contract. If they don’t qualify for the Champions League, maybe there’s a consideration, but the price will be phenomenally high.”

Some reports this week have even suggested that Newcastle could demand around £160 million to sell Isak, which would be the second-highest fee in football history after Neymar’s £198 million move to PSG.

As such, Arteta’s side are weighing up other options, with Arsenal seriously considering Eintracht Frankfurt sensation Hugo Ektike. Meanwhile, they’ve also been repeatedly linked with Juventus striker Dušan Vlahović.

Arsenal can sign Dušan Vlahović for just £33 million

The Serbian is about to enter the final 12 months of his contract at the end of this season, meaning Arsenal could sign Vlahovic for just £33 million in a bargain deal, according to Calciomercato.

Fiorentina’s ex-star has scored 13 goals in 29 appearances for the Old Lady this season, with Arsenal having a loan bid rejected for Vlahovic in January.

However, it appears the 25-year-old’s contract situation and fall behind Randal Kolo Muani could hand Arteta the chance to sign a prolific alternative to Isak at a very reasonable cost. Vlahovic has also been called the “strongest striker” in Serie A by his compatriot, Filip Kostić.

“He is very happy with my arrival. It feels wonderful to be a part of Juventus, which is among the biggest clubs in the world. It fills me with pride. It is important to have someone who speaks the same language. Having Dusan by my side is essential,” said Kostic in 2022.

“He is the strongest striker in the league. I’m fortunate to be able to play alongside him.”

تمكن وسام أبوعلي، مهاجم الأهلي من تسجيل هدف في شباك إنتر ميامي، في بطولة كأس العالم للأندية 2025 لكن تم إلغائه بداعي التسلل.

ويواجه الأهلي خصمه إنتر ميامي، على ملعب “هارد روك”، في إطار مباريات الجولة الأولى للمجموعة الأولى من بطولة كأس العالم للأندية 2025.

ويتواجد الأهلي في المجموعة الأولى ضمن منافسات كأس العالم للأندية، رفقة أندية إنتر ميامي الأمريكي وبورتو البرتغالي وبالميراس البرازيلي.

اقرأ ايضاً.. فيديو.. رفض التبديل | إمام عاشور يغادر مباراة الأهلي وإنتر ميامي مبكرًا.. ومشاركة زيزو

وعند الدقيقة 29 من عمر الشوط الأول، أحرز وسام أبو علي هدفاً في شباك إنتر ميامي، لكنه تم إلغاء الهدف بداعي التسلل.

وتلقى وسام أبو علي تمريرة طويلة رائعة من كوكا، لينفرد المهاجم الفلسطيني بحارس إنتر ميامي، ليسدد بين قدميه وتهز الشباك، لكن حالة التسلل منعت تقدم الأهلي من تسجيل أول أهداف المباراة. هدف وسام ابو علي الملغي امام انتر ميامي بكأس العالم للأندية

Northamptonshire 89 for 7 (Stewart 3-6) vs KentKent reduced Northamptonshire to 89 for seven on a rain-affected first day in the LV= Insurance County Championship at Canterbury.Grant Stewart took three for six and Michael Hogan two for 36 as the Spitfires exploited damp and dark conditions to leave the visitors deep in the mire at the end of a truncated evening session.Ricardo Vasconcelos was Northamptonshire’s top scorer with 39, but he fell in the only over bowled after tea before play was abandoned due to bad light.Heavy overnight rain at the St. Lawrence wiped out the morning session, but the home side were clearly the happier after winning the toss and rattling through Northamptonshire’s top order during the 26 overs that were possible.When play finally got underway at 2.15pm the visitors initially scored rapidly. Vasconcelos drove the first ball of the day, from Matt Quinn, for four and they cantered to 26 without loss, until Hogan trapped Hassan Azad lbw for seven in the sixth over.In the next over Quinn sent Sam Whiteman’s middle stump flying for just a single and both first-change bowlers then took wickets with their first deliveries.Joey Evison struck with the first ball of the 12th over, getting Luke Procter caught by Ben Compton at square leg for eight and Stewart then had Rob Keogh caught behind for three at the start of the 16th.Stewart subsequently took a superb return catch to dismiss Josh Cobb for seven, clinging onto a violent drive at ankle height, before he had Lewis McManus caught behind for five.Tea was originally scheduled for 4.10pm but with light deteriorating the session was curtailed three minutes early.Vasconcelos fell lbw to Hogan to the fourth ball after an extended interval, leaving James Sales and Gareth Berg as the out batters on five and three respectively when play was abandoned for the day.

Paul Stirling has not been picked in the Test squads for the games against Bangladesh and Sri Lanka

ESPNcricinfo staff09-Feb-2023Former Zimbabwe international Peter Moor has been picked in Ireland’s Test squads for upcoming matches against Bangladesh and Sri Lanka while senior batter Paul Stirling misses out.However, Stirling will lead Ireland in the ODIs against Sri Lanka in the absence of rested captain Andy Balbirnie, who is set to captain his country across all formats in Bangladesh and the Test in Sri Lanka.Ireland tours of Bangladesh and Sri Lanka

Three ODIs (Sylhet), three T20Is (Chattogram) and one Test (Dhaka) vs Bangladesh: March 18-April 8

One Test (Galle) and two ODIs (Colombo) vs Sri Lanka: April 18-28

Ireland will also be without left-arm seamer Josh Little, who will play only the ODIs against Bangladesh, after which he is due to fly to India for his first IPL stint with defending champions Gujarat Titans. Little will also play for Multan Sultans in the PSL just before Ireland’s tour of Bangladesh.The Test in Bangladesh will be Ireland’s first since July 2019, when they played England at Lord’s. Ireland have played only three Tests – the others being against Pakistan and Afghanistan – since obtaining Full Member status in 2017.Moor had qualified to play for Ireland last October, though he was overlooked for the tour of Zimbabwe last month. Moor, 32, has represented Zimbabwe in eight Tests, 49 ODIs and 21 T20Is, with his last appearance for them coming in a T20I in October 2019.”He’s [Moor] played a bit of Test cricket in Bangladesh and gives us some experience in that middle order,” Ireland coach Heinrich Malan said. “He has played international cricket [before], and it’s nice to have someone with that calibre in and around our environment.”Ireland squadsODIs and T20Is against Bangladesh: Andy Balbirnie (capt), Mark Adair, Curtis Campher, Gareth Delany, George Dockrell, Graham Hume, Matthew Humphreys, Barry McCarthy, Paul Stirling, Harry Tector, Lorcan Tucker (wk), Ben White, Stephen Doheny (ODIs only), Josh Little (ODIs only), Andrew McBrine (ODIs only), Ross Adair (T20Is only), Conor Olphert (T20Is only), Craig Young (T20Is only)One-off Test against Bangladesh and Sri Lanka: Andy Balbirnie (Capt), Curtis Campher, Murray Commins, George Dockrell, Graham Hume, Matthew Humphreys, Andrew McBrine, Barry McCarthy, James McCollum, Peter Moor (wk), Harry Tector, Lorcan Tucker (wk), Ben White, Mark Adair (Bangladesh only), Matthew Foster (Sri Lanka only)ODIs against Sri Lanka: Paul Stirling (capt), Curtis Campher, Murray Commins, Gareth Delany, George Dockrell, Stephen Doheny, Matthew Foster, Graham Hume, Matthew Humphreys, Andrew McBrine, Conor Olphert, Harry Tector, Lorcan Tucker (wk), Craig Young

South Africa muster belated fight to end a disappointing series on a better note

Tristan Lavalette08-Jan-2023

Australia claimed the series 2-0•Getty Images

South Africa defied Australia’s bold push for an improbable victory, and series sweep, as the third Test ended in a draw at the SCG.After following on, South Africa were 106 for 2 in their second innings when play ended five overs before the close. The surface played slowly and did not deteriorate as expected with South Africa mustering belated fight to end a disappointing series on a better note.Australia would have booked a spot in the World Test Championship final in June with victory, but one drawn match in the upcoming four-Test series in India will prove enough.Given their batting frailties, South Africa will be relieved to have escaped with a draw – their first such result since 2017.South Africa were nervous after skipper Dean Elgar fell before tea when he gloved a short Pat Cummins delivery to be caught behind. An under-pressure Elgar’s wretched series ended with just 56 runs at an average of 9.33 marked by struggles against short leg-side deliveries.After tea, spinner Nathan Lyon was left frustrated after a review on an lbw decision on Heinrich Klaasen went against him. The not-out decision was upheld even though replays showed the ball hitting middle stump.His mood soured further three balls later when Klaasen, playing his first Test match since 2019, stood his ground after edging a delivery to Steven Smith, who claimed a low catch at slip.But replays cast doubt over whether the ball touched the grass when it went into Smith’s fingers and it was enough for third umpire Richard Kettleborough to give not out.Klaasen’s luck ran out when he was clean bowled by a cracking reverse swinging delivery from Josh Hazlewood to provide a glimmer of hope for Australia with 20 overs remaining.South Africa were 82 for 2 with 15 overs left but Australia’s push continued with Cummins giving himself one last burst without reward.Cummins had also tried part-time spinners Smith, Marnus Labuschagne and Travis Head, who claimed the only wicket in the morning session, but to no avail.Left-arm spinner Ashton Agar, who was wicketless in 14 overs in the first innings, was surprisingly backed to share the new ball alongside Hazlewood.In his first Test match since 2017, Agar again struggled with his accuracy in what has been a tough return in an audition ahead of Australia’s tour of India. He finished wicketless from 22 overs in the match.South Africa started the day precariously placed at 149 for 6 after Cummins and Hazlewood bowled superbly late on day four in fading light.Steven Smith fails to grab onto a tough chance from Heinrich Klaasen•Cricket Australia via Getty Images

But Harmer and Marco Jansen batted cautiously to thwart Australia’s attack. Jansen played a rearguard until being dislodged caught behind by Head with a delivery outside off stump that stayed low.But an 85-run partnership between Harmer and Keshav Maharaj pushed South Africa close to the follow-on target and likely safety from a series whitewash.Maharaj reached his half-century on the first ball after lunch before falling to Hazlewood with South Africa 24 runs short of avoiding following on.Having been preferred over Scott Boland, Hazlewood repaid the faith of the selectors on his return with four wickets after suffering a side strain against West Indies in the opening Test of the home season.Maharaj’s dismissal triggered an all too-familiar rush of wickets for South Africa to set up an intriguing finish although it proved an anti-climax.Australia ran out of time in a truncated match, where four straight sessions across days three and four were washed out. Forty-nine overs were also lost to rain and bad light on the opening two days to continue a run of rain-affected matches at the traditional SCG New Year’s Test.But Australia thoroughly dominated South Africa throughout a one-sided series to complete an unbeaten home Test season after earlier thrashings over West Indies in Perth and Adelaide.Australia’s massive first innings was built on an unbeaten 195 from opener Usman Khawaja and 104 from Smith, who passed Don Bradman with his 30th Test century.Having won three straight Test series in Australia, South Africa were a shadow with their batting unable to muster much of a challenge.Apart from fiery quick Anrich Nortje, their attack also underwhelmed with spearhead Kagiso Rabada taking just three wickets at 87.66 in the last two matches after an eight-wicket haul on the bowler-friendly Gabba surface. South Africa’s disastrous series also ended their chances of qualifying for the WTC final.

Tempers flared as Manchester United defender Harry Maguire had to be pulled away from Cristian Romero following the Europa League final

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• Spurs beat Man Utd in the final
• Brennan Johnson scored the winner
• Maguire & Romero clashed after final whistle

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• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Spurs claimed a narrow 1-0 win at San Mames to bring home their first trophy in 17 years and book a place in next season’s Champions League – but the post-match scenes added a fiery footnote to the occasion. With emotions already high after a cagey and tense 90 minutes, Maguire and Romero's on-field confrontations spilled over once the whistle blew, prompting staff and players to step in and separate them before things escalated.

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  Throughout the second half, Maguire and Romero were frequently seen grappling during corners and free-kicks. Their duel was physical, with off-the-ball jostling increasing in intensity as the game wore on. In the closing minutes, United threw bodies forward in a last-ditch bid to force extra time, even sending Maguire up front.

  In one such aerial battle, the England international collided with Romero and was penalised for a foul. Romero stayed down, buying precious seconds for his side while Maguire received a yellow card – a moment that further fuelled the defender's irritation.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Following the final whistle, Romero passed by Maguire and paused to greet United full-back Diogo Dalot with a hug. As Romero turned away, Maguire came towards the Spurs captain. Visibly animated, he gestured repeatedly, apparently referencing an incident from earlier in the match. Their confrontation quickly drew attention from the coaching staff and players. Sergio Reguilon stepped in, alongside backroom staff from both benches, to keep the two centre-backs apart.

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• WATCH THE CLIP

Celtic’s dream of winning another domestic treble took another step closer to becoming a reality when they beat Hibernian 2-0 at Parkhead in the SFA Cup on Sunday.

The Hoops are 16 points clear in the Scottish Premiership table, and they beat Rangers to win the League Cup earlier this season, which means that winning the SFA Cup will likely clinch a treble.

Brendan Rodgers’ side secured the win over Hibs thanks to a first-half strike from Daizen Maeda and a stoppage-time finish by substitute Adam Idah, but they were not the only strong performers on the day.

January signing Jeffrey Schlupp, who is on loan from Premier League side Crystal Palace, put in an impressive performance at left-back for the Scottish giants.

Jeffrey Schlupp's strong Celtic impression

The Ghana international caught the eye with a strong showing on the left flank against Hibs, earning a player rating of 8/10 from 67HailHail and an 8/10 rating from GlasgowWorld, who wrote that he was a ‘real threat’ with his attacking play.

Chalkboard

Schlupp started for the third match in succession in all competitions and has continued to catch the eye with his fantastic performances for his temporary club.

The Eagles loanee had just come off the back of a sensational showing against St Mirren in Celtic’s last Premiership match, as he produced a goal and an assist in the 5-2 win, and this latest masterclass may have just sealed Greg Taylor’s fate.

Why Greg Taylor's fate may be sealed

The Scotland international was an unused substitute and played zero minutes in the quarter-final win over Hibernian, with Rodgers opting for Schlupp ahead of him for the entire 90 minutes.

That came off the back of him being an unused substitute in two of the previous three games, making it three of the last four, and he was hauled off at half-time against Hibs in the league in the match he did play.

This suggests that Schlupp is firmly ahead of him in the pecking order, given that the 32-year-old star has been keeping him on the bench, and that spells bad news for his long-term future at Parkhead.

Taylor’s current contract is due to expire at the end of this season and his place in the starting line-up being taken by a new signing does not suggest that he is likely to earn a new one before the summer.

Cameron Carter-Vickers

£37k

Callum McGregor

£37k

James Forrest

£19k

Daizen Maeda

£18k

Alistair Johnston

£16k

Reo Hatate

£16k

Arne Engels

£16k

Adam Idah

£16k

Luis Palma

£16k

Greg Taylor

£15k

As you can see in the table above, the former Kilmarnock man is among the highest earners at the club – earning even more than exciting forward Nicolas Kuhn, on £12k-per-week.

When you consider that Kuhn has racked up 18 goals and 13 assists this season, the Hoops are not getting much value for their money if Taylor is an unused substitute more often than not.

Celtic may not want to keep a player who is now deemed a back-up option by Rodgers on an extended deal when his wages do not reflect his current status at the club.

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Celtic could be in line to make a stunning profit in the years to come…

ByRobbie Walls Mar 9, 2025

Therefore, Schlupp’s impressive performances and his grasp on the starting jersey suggest that Taylor’s time at Glasgow may well be coming to an end later this year, unless there is a dramatic twist in the final weeks of the campaign.

West Ham United have now tabled a huge contract offer to sign a “sensational” striker, who’s Graham Potter’s top target for the summer transfer window, but there may be competition for his signature from Barcelona, according to a report.

Hammers and Potter in need of a striker

Striker has been a problem position for West Ham for quite some time now, with high-profile signings such as Sebastien Haller and Gianluca Scamacca not working out, meaning Michail Antonio has often been called upon to lead the line.

With Antonio and Niclas Füllkrug out injured, however, Jarrod Bowen has been playing in a more central role as of late, but the 28-year-old usually operates on the wing, so the Hammers may want to bring in a forward more accustomed to playing at striker in the summer.

Danny Ings has struggled to get into the team, despite the injuries to his fellow strikers, with the Englishman scoring just one Premier League goal this season, which came way back in September, suggesting his best days may be behind him.

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As such, Potter has now started identifying striker targets ahead of the summer, and Sky Sports reporter Sacha Tavolieri has revealed Jonathan David is right at the top of the list, after previous claims suggesting talks were held.

David is described as Potter’s priority target, and such is West Ham’s level of interest, they have now tabled a contract offer, which could amount to up to €20m (£16.5m).

There will be competition for the striker’s signature, with Barcelona also believed to be keen, and the player himself is said to desire a move to the Camp Nou, but the Spanish side are unable to match the Irons’ huge offer, given their financial issues.

David could be perfect for West Ham

The Hammers attempted to rectify their striker issues by signing Füllkrug in the summer, but the German could now be in the latter stages of his career, given that he is 32.

Season

Ligue 1 appearances

Goals

2020-21

37

13

2021-22

38

15

2022-23

37

24

2023-24

34

19

2024-25

22

13

The former Werder Bremen man is currently sidelined with a hamstring problem, but even before his injury issues he was hardly setting the world alight, netting just two Premier League goals.

David, on the other hand, is only 25, and the Canadian has been in remarkable form this season, bagging 21 goals in all competitions, including six in the Champions League, indicating he could be capable of leading the line for the Hammers for years to come.

Understandably, the Lille star is keen on a move to Barca, but if West Ham are able to pull off a deal, there is every indication he could be a fantastic acquisition, having been lauded as “sensational” by members of the media, while maintaining an impressive goal record in Ligue 1 for a number of years.

Hosts forced to follow on after five-for and brisk batting from New Zealand quick

ECB Reporters Network19-May-2023

Matt Henry claimed a five-for to cement Somerset’s dominance•Getty Images

Middlesex 175 (Simpson 57*, Henry 5-45) and 81 for 1 trail Somerset 404 (Bartlett 121, Abell 77) by 148 runsMatt Henry took centre stage with bat and especially ball as Somerset forced hosts Middlesex to follow-on on day two of their LV = Insurance County Championship clash at Lord’s.The New Zealand paceman, who took 4 for 93 against England in a Test at Lord’s eight years ago, again excelled at the home of cricket, returning 5 for 45 as Middlesex were bundled out for 175 in their first innings.Henry’s heroics with the ball came hot on the heels of a swashbuckling 40 in the day’s first hour which propelled the Cidermen beyond 400.For the Seaxes it was sadly a case of rinse and repeat where their batters were concerned, only a combative half-century from this season’s beneficiary, wicketkeeper John Simpson and a pugnacious 39 from Toby Roland-Jones saving them from greater ignominy. It’s now one batting point in 30 for Richard Johnson’s men this season.Following on, Middlesex lost Sam Robson in reaching 81 for 1, Mark Stoneman having survived an edge to third slip unbeaten on 45. They still trail by 148 and face an uphill battle to avoid a fourth defeat in six games.Somerset soon lost Craig Overton to Murtagh in only the third over the day, but that merely served to bring Henry to the crease and, no slouch bat in hand, he signalled his intent with a brutal drive back past the bowler to get off the mark with a boundary.Thereafter, he struck the ball really cleanly to send six more deliveries to the ropes, though he was helped by some friendly offerings from the home attack.In the blink of an eye Henry had reached 40 in only 22 balls and it needed the introduction of Higgins to end the revelry, the quick hooking a short one into the hands of Ethan Bamber behind square.England spinner Jack Leach came out swinging, before losing his off-stump to Bamber, but Lewis Gregory ensured a fourth batting point.It soon became apparent Henry’s whirlwind innings had merely been an hors d’oeuvre for heroics with ball in hand.He and Overton subjected Middlesex openers Stoneman and Robson to a searching examination with the new ball, Henry in particular beating the bat with monotonous regularity.It seemed as if the hosts had passed the test when with lunch looming Henry produced a Jaffa to get one between Stoneman’s bad and pad flattening the leg-stump. And Henry made that lunch all but indigestible for Middlesex by producing an outswinger first up to Stephen Eskinazi which he nicked through to wicketkeeper Steve Davies.The hat-trick ball was delayed by the interval before Henry came close to the feat with a delivery, left by Robson, which missed his off-stump by the proverbial coat of varnish.If the first two wickets could be put down to Henry’s brilliance the same wasn’t true of those that followed. Max Holden started well enough, twice driving Henry to the cover fence, only to then play no shot to one which came back up the slope and trapped him in front.Robbie White’s first knock of the summer lasted two balls before skipper Lewis Gregory pinned him on the crease and when Robson became the latest Middlesex player this season to be strangled down the leg-side, half their side were gone with just 70 on the board.To his credit Simpson was at his gritty best, driving fluently and briefly threatening a counter-offensive in company with Higgins.However, the latter missed a full toss from Leach (2 for 22) to be leg-before and with the rot set in Luke Hollman inexplicably reverse swept another from the England spinner into the hands of slip.Simpson became becalmed and entrenched, before a seventh four took him to a 92-ball 50, while home skipper Roland-Jones came out firing, hitting cleanly through the mid-on mid-off arc to smite six boundaries in a rapid 39, the pair adding 54 for the eighth wicket.But nemesis Henry returned to remove both Roland-Jones and Bamber to complete a five-for to condemn Middlesex to the follow-on.

West Ham United have now tabled a huge contract offer to sign a “sensational” striker, who’s Graham Potter’s top target for the summer transfer window, but there may be competition for his signature from Barcelona, according to a report.

Hammers and Potter in need of a striker

Striker has been a problem position for West Ham for quite some time now, with high-profile signings such as Sebastien Haller and Gianluca Scamacca not working out, meaning Michail Antonio has often been called upon to lead the line.

With Antonio and Niclas Füllkrug out injured, however, Jarrod Bowen has been playing in a more central role as of late, but the 28-year-old usually operates on the wing, so the Hammers may want to bring in a forward more accustomed to playing at striker in the summer.

Danny Ings has struggled to get into the team, despite the injuries to his fellow strikers, with the Englishman scoring just one Premier League goal this season, which came way back in September, suggesting his best days may be behind him.

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ByBarney Lane Mar 3, 2025

As such, Potter has now started identifying striker targets ahead of the summer, and Sky Sports reporter Sacha Tavolieri has revealed Jonathan David is right at the top of the list, after previous claims suggesting talks were held.

David is described as Potter’s priority target, and such is West Ham’s level of interest, they have now tabled a contract offer, which could amount to up to €20m (£16.5m).

There will be competition for the striker’s signature, with Barcelona also believed to be keen, and the player himself is said to desire a move to the Camp Nou, but the Spanish side are unable to match the Irons’ huge offer, given their financial issues.

David could be perfect for West Ham

The Hammers attempted to rectify their striker issues by signing Füllkrug in the summer, but the German could now be in the latter stages of his career, given that he is 32.

Season

Ligue 1 appearances

Goals

2020-21

37

13

2021-22

38

15

2022-23

37

24

2023-24

34

19

2024-25

22

13

The former Werder Bremen man is currently sidelined with a hamstring problem, but even before his injury issues he was hardly setting the world alight, netting just two Premier League goals.

David, on the other hand, is only 25, and the Canadian has been in remarkable form this season, bagging 21 goals in all competitions, including six in the Champions League, indicating he could be capable of leading the line for the Hammers for years to come.

Understandably, the Lille star is keen on a move to Barca, but if West Ham are able to pull off a deal, there is every indication he could be a fantastic acquisition, having been lauded as “sensational” by members of the media, while maintaining an impressive goal record in Ligue 1 for a number of years.