Liverpool "Have Met" Representatives Of Transfer-Linked 22-y/o

Liverpool have met with the representatives of midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai, but need to act quickly in order to get a deal done, presenter Mark McAdam has claimed.

What's the latest on Liverpool's transfer targets?

A big window lies ahead for Jurgen Klopp, as he aims to make Liverpool competitive at the top of the table again after a disappointing season in which they finished fifth.

They have already confirmed the signing of Alexis Mac Allister as part of their midfield revamp, and are now interested in Szoboszlai from RB Leipzig.

The midfielder has a release clause which expires at the end of June, so the Reds may have to act quickly if they are to strike a deal for the 22-year-old.

Speaking on Sky Sports News, McAdam revealed that Liverpool have already spoken to the player's representatives over a move.

"They are looking to revolutionise, revitalise, revamp that midfield after having lost various players. Of course, they've already signed Alexis Mac Allister, and to point out Dominic Szoboszlai, he's a 22-year-old midfielder currently at RB Leipzig," he stated.

"He currently has a €70m (£60m) release clause, which expires tomorrow [Friday], so if Liverpool are interested in the midfielder, they're going to have to act quickly.

"We know that he's been on their radar for some time, he fits the type of profile of the midfielders that they're looking to bring into the football club, and we know that Liverpool have met his representatives as well. So things are moving, probably not as quickly as the club needs to act."

What do Liverpool need to do in this transfer window?

The priority for Klopp is clearly the midfield, and if he can secure a deal for the Hungary international, he may still hunt for another option in the market.

Khephren Thuram has also been linked, and Liverpool could end the window with an entirely new midfield trio.

RB Leipzig midfielderDominik Szoboszlai.

They may also need reinforcements at the back. Virgil van Dijk attracted criticism for his performances last season, and a younger option may be needed to replace him and Joel Matip in the long-run.

There have been links with Micky Van de Ven, but it remains to be seen how much spending power Liverpool will have, having failed to qualify for the Champions League for the first time since 2016.

The expectation for Liverpool, should they sign Szoboszlai, would likely be a return to the top four, as well as challenging for major trophies, and returning to the level of performances they displayed as they challenged for the quadruple in 2022.

Tottenham: Spurs Chase Exciting New Defender Target

Tottenham Hotspur are among the clubs "chasing" young Everton defender Ishe Samuels-Smith, who has already been tipped for stardom.

Who are Spurs signing this summer?

The Lilywhites are moving surprisingly quickly in this transfer window, having already sealed deals for Guglielmo Vicario from Empoli and England international star James Maddison from Leicester City.

Spurs have also made Dejan Kulusevski's deal a permanent one from Juventus, coming after the Swede excelled in huge parts on an 18-month loan spell from the Old Lady.

New manager Ange Postecoglou is particularly delighted with Tottenham completing moves for both Maddison and Vicario, having assessed their characters whilst coming to the conclusion they're perfect.

“It’s not just about the talent they bring as footballers," said the Australian.

"It’s what they bring as people as well because we are going to play football that requires a certain type of personality and character.

“Both those guys have got it in abundance. I could hear it in their voices when I spoke to them. I had a couple of chats with both of them before we signed them and I knew that they were the right types to bring into the dressing room."

Now, it is believed Tottenham are attempting to sign a star centre-back, after also reaching an agreement to sign Israeli international winger Manor Solomon on a free transfer.

The former Fulham loanee is set for a Spurs medical, so he will join the likes of Maddison and Vicario if all goes to plan, while Edmond Tapsoba of Bayer Leverkusen and Wolfsburg's Micky van de Ven are being targeted.

Signing young and rising stars is apparently on the Tottenham agenda, as The Daily Mail and journalist Simon Jones explained this week.

Postecoglou's side are apparently among the sides "chasing" Samuels-Smith, who has been likened to ex-England defender Leighton Baines, alongside heavyweights Chelsea and Man City.

All three teams have performed spot checks on the teenager, with Spurs following him for the past 12 months. However, if they're serious about tempting him to north London, they may need to hurry as Chelsea weigh up an offer.

Who is Ishe Samuels-Smith?

The 17-year-old is yet to make his full debut for Everton but carries excelling potential and a brilliant reputation, having been included in The Guardian's 2022 best talents.

They drew particular attention to his "excellent passing range", composure and other attributes which make him stand out as quite the exciting prospect.

"An athletic, left-footed defender who is equally composed at full-back or centre-back, the Manchester-born Samuels-Smith has been with Everton’s academy since Under-nines level," wrote The Guardian.

"His twin brother, Odin, is also in the academy. The 16-year-old has impressive technical qualities and is very composed offensively and defensively.

"He is comfortable stepping into space with the ball and has an excellent passing range. Everton’s coaches consider him an exciting prospect who could mature into a dominant and robust defender.

"Has already been called up for training with the first team where coach Ashley Cole, and professional development coach Leighton Baines, offer the perfect education for a player in his position."

Southampton May Have Found Ideal Lavia Heir In £4m-Rated Ace

Southampton have been slow off the mark in terms of their transfer business this summer, not helped by a delay in appointing new manager Russell Martin, but that may be about to change.

Who have Southampton signed?

The Saints confirmed the arrivals of Derrick Abu and Josh McNamara from Chelsea and Manchester City respectively earlier this week, but neither player is expected to challenge for a first-team spot.

Southampton's lack of transfer activity is all the stranger when factoring in that Mislav Orsic has left for Trabzonspor, while the likes of Mohamed Elyounoussi and Theo Walcott are among those to have been released following the club's relegation to the Championship.

Martin's side may be forced to make a move soon, though, as James Ward-Prowse and Romeo Lavia continue to be linked with a return to the Premier League, meaning at least one midfield replacement will have to be brought in.

According to The Guardian, Southampton have made signing West Ham United's Flynn Downes a top priority, with the former Swansea City ace likely to take Lavia's place in midfield.

How good is Flynn Downes?

It is no coincidence that Lavia is reportedly wanted by pretty much each of the Premier League's top-six elite, with Liverpool said to be willing to pay £40m for the 19-year-old, according to Football Insider – though even that may still be £10m below Southampton's valuation.

Lavia stood out in a poor Southampton side last season and ranked in the top 12% of all midfielders across Europe's top five leagues in terms of possession won, as per The Analyst.

The teenager will leave big boots to be filled at St Mary's – as will skipper Ward-Prowse should he also depart – but Flynn looks a good choice to do exactly that.

romeo-lavia-premier-league-transfers-man-united

Downes made very little impact in his first season with West Ham, having arrived from Swansea in a £12m deal last July, but he has proven pedigree in the second tier.

Indeed, the 71.9 passes per 90 minutes Downes completed in the 2021-22 season was the 10th-most of any player in the Championship, as per FBref, while his pass-completion rate of 92.6% was the best in the entire division.

The former England U20 international also led the way for pass-completion percentage among West Ham players in the Premier League last season (87.3), and will clearly bring some composure to Southampton's midfield should he arrive.

But he has many other qualities, plenty of which often go unnoticed. As Martin, who managed Downes at Swansea, put it: "He does the dirty work really well which sometimes goes unsung.

"He enables people to do their roles brilliantly. He plays with no ego at all and knows exactly what his role in the team is."

Doing the dirty work is an aspect Martin will need if Downes – now valued at just £4m by CIES Football Observatory – is indeed going to replace Lavia. With 1.18 tackles per 90 minutes in the middle third last season, Downes ranked second only to Lucas Paqueta (1.51) among Hammers players.

While West Ham may not have seen the best of Downes, the talented midfielder can clearly do a job at Championship level and may just be the player who truly kick-starts Russell's Southampton tenure.

Liverpool Could Repeat Keita Disaster With £35m Menace

Liverpool remain keen on strengthening their midfield ahead of next following a potential exit for Fabinho and now a new update has emerged on a potential transfer target.

What's the latest on Liverpool's interest in Kalvin Phillips?

According to Sky Sports' senior reporter Melissa Reddy, Liverpool are considering a number of midfield options with Manchester City's Kalvin Phillips named.

Reddy revealed on Twitter:

"Liverpool had been assessing longer-term candidates to replace Fabinho. Profile might shift as they'll require an immediate starter. Among the names mooted have been Sofyan Amrabat, Ryan Gravenberch, Kalvin Phillips and Romeo Lavia…"

What is Kalvin Phillips' injury record?

After securing the services of Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai, Jurgen Klopp would've been feeling confident going into pre-season with the midfield rebuild that has been started.

However, the German coach could now be set to lose another midfielder after already letting go of Naby Keita, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and James Milner this summer, as his defensive midfield mainstay Fabinho is looking set for a move to the Saudi Pro League.

The Liverpool star did not travel with the squad to Germany this weekend ahead of a potential £40m switch to Al-Ittihad this summer and he is expected to travel to Saudi Arabia to complete his move.

Liverpool midfielder Fabinho.

As a result, new sporting director Jorg Schmadtke will be working hard to identify worthy replacements for the Brazilian stalwart, however, a move for Phillips could see the club fall into another Keita nightmare with fitness issues a real cause for concern.

After a stand-out tournament in Euro 2020 with England, Phillips was not only named England Player of the Year but also attracted the attention of Pep Guardiola – securing a £45m move from Leeds United to Man City last summer.

However, the former Leeds talisman – who has a reported £35m price tag – has struggled to reach the standards that he delivered in the European tournament due to fitness and injury issues over the last two years.

Since February 2021, the 27-year-old – hailed for his "outrageous" passing by teammate, John Stones – has had three separate incidents of long-term injury amounting to 204 days in recovery and missing out on 38 fixtures, demonstrating that he is prone to long spells on the sidelines, something that would be catastrophic for Liverpool if they were to sign the player.

Injuries in midfield were a constant issue last season for the Reds with Thiago Alcantara, Jordan Henderson and Keita picking up multiple issues over the campaign, with the latter tallying up an injury record that saw him unavailable for selection on 18 occasions during his five-year stint at Anfield; missing a whopping 105 fixtures.

As a result, the Merseysiders were stung by their £48m capture of the 5 foot 8 dud back in 2018, with the 28-year-old having gone on to depart on a free transfer last month, thus proving a real wasted venture for the club.

That lack of reliability and availability across the midfield ranks could well have played a key part in Liverpool missing out on Champions League football, struggling in cup competitions and finishing fifth in the Premier League, something that the Liverpool boss will be desperate not to repeat next season.

With that being said, Liverpool should avoid signing Phillips this summer if other options are available to take advantage of, as the Man City menace's injury issues could be a huge risk not worth taking.

Klopp certainly won't want to endure a repeat of the club's Keita disaster…

Newcastle Transfer News: PIF Eyeing Move For Atletico Star Joao Felix

Newcastle United are among the clubs eyeing a move for Atletico Madrid forward Joao Felix this summer, according to reports in Spain, via Sport Witness.

The Magpies are reportedly joined in the race for the former Chelsea loanee's signature by Aston Villa and Manchester United.

What's the news on Joao Felix and Newcastle United?

What ever happens this summer, one thing that looks like a certainty is the end of Felix's time at Atletico Madrid. The Portugal international hasn't exactly been welcomed back from his loan spell with open arms, even being stripped of his number seven shirt, which has been given to Antoine Griezmann.

Now, as per reports in Spain, the forward has asked his agent, Jorge Mendes, to find him a new club this summer, with a move to the Premier League proving to be a particularly attractive option.

Newcastle, Aston Villa, and Manchester United are all reportedly interested and have made contact with his camp. Newcastle, in particular, certainly have the funds to make a move happen, especially given the fact they've only made one signing so far this summer, with Sandro Tonali arriving.

Felix, of course, spent the second half of last season on loan at Chelsea, where he failed to impress enough to earn a permanent move. He wasn't helped, of course, by the chaos at the club as a whole, with three different managers at various points of a campaign to forget.

By the time that his loan spell ended, Felix had scored just four Premier League goals, with no assists to his name.

Should Newcastle United sign Joao Felix?

joao-felix-premier-league-man-united-transfers

The question comes down to whether or not Newcastle really need Felix this summer. If you look at their attack, you'd begin to lean towards the answer of no.

Whilst the Magpies will need added depth to compete on all fronts next season after qualifying for the Champions League last season, Eddie Howe already has Alexander Isak and Callum Wilson to call on when looking for a player to lead the line.

Full of praise for the Atletico Madrid man, Football Talent Scout took to Twitter with the following statistic and comment during the 2021/22 season: "No La Liga player with more than 1000 minutes has been fouled more per 90 than João Félix (4.3) this season. An absolute nightmare for defenders."

He is a handful to play against then, but Eddie Howe may have to change his system to accommodate Felix, given his strength as a false nine rather than an out-and-out striker like Wilson, for example.

So why fix what's not broken? Howe's system worked wonders last season, as the Magpies returned to the highest heights. For that system to change, it would likely have to be for a player with a better track record than Felix's over the last few years, despite all his potential and talent.

There's still plenty of time for a few twists and turns this summer, and as of right now the forward's future remains in question. Whether Newcastle decide to push ahead for a deal ahead of the forthcoming campaign remains to be seen. For now, Howe may be happy with his attacking options.

Man Utd: Ten Hag Could Land Their Own Nunez In Swoop For £85m "Superstar"

Manchester United have been fairly quiet during the transfer market, with Mason Mount and Andre Onana their only signings so far. Erik ten Hag will be eyeing more arrivals over the next couple of weeks, especially with the start of the Premier League season beginning shortly.

The Dutchman will surely be aiming to strengthen his attacking options ahead of next season and with this in mind, he has held talks with Rasmus Hojlund and Randal Kolo Muani, according to The Athletic.

How much will Randal Kolo Muani cost Manchester United?

Despite Hojlund being the priority target, it is evident that Ten Hag needs more than just one new striker should he wish to challenge both domestically and on the European stage next season.

The Frenchman could cost United a fee of around £80m should he make the move to the Premier League this summer and this could mean the Red Devils need to offload a few players in order to free up some funds.

How many goals has Randal Kolo Muani scored?

Although primarily a centre-forward, the 24-year-old can play across the front three, which will give Ten Hag some added options, yet it is clear that should he join United, his goalscoring abilities will ensure he is deployed through the middle.

Across his senior club career, Kolo Muani has scored 49 goals and registered 38 assists from 147 matches, and it appears he is getting better with each passing year.

During the 2021/22 campaign for Nantes, he notched 20 goal contributions – 13 goals and seven assists, yet since joining Eintracht Frankfurt in 2022, he began to deliver on his talent.

Having played 46 matches in all competitions, he managed to score 23 goals and grabbed 17 assists, doubling his goal contributions from the previous year, and it isn’t hard to see why teams such as United are after him.

He is also statistically similar to Liverpool forward Darwin Núñez and although the Uruguayan didn’t quite live up to his £85m transfer fee, he still scored 15 times across all competitions and given time to settle, he could be another excellent purchase by the Anfield side.

Randal Kolo Muani in action for Eintracht Frankfurt against Stuttgart in the DFB Pokal semi-final.

According to FBref, Nunez is the sixth-most comparable player to Kolo Muani and they both pose a significant threat in the final third.

The Frenchman ranks in the top 7% across Europe’s big five leagues for progressive carries (3.09) and the top 13% for touches in the attacking penalty area per 90 (6.24), suggesting he is among the elite at carrying the ball forward often while making sure he is a regular fixture in the box.

Nunez also scores highly for both of these attacking metrics, ranking in the top 6% across the big five European leagues for progressive carries (3.18) and the top 2% for touches in the attacking penalty area per 90 (8.12) and the similarities don’t end there.

WhoScored state that both Nunez and Kolo Muani list key passes and finishing as their main strengths, while the duo also like cutting inside as often as possible and Ten Hag could certainly have a formidable forward option at his disposal should he succeed with a move for the nine-cap French international.

German icon Lothar Matthaus even lauded him as a “future superstar”, yet judging by his recent numbers, it appears as though he is already showcasing his talents to the world.

Klopp Could Sign Ideal Lavia Alternative In Liverpool Swoop For 5ft 8 "Leader"

Liverpool are at risk of losing out on Romeo Lavia the longer the transfer saga drags on, but they may already have an alternative lined up in Fluminense midfielder Andre.

Who do Liverpool want to buy this summer?

It has already been a busy window for Jurgen Klopp's side, having spent close to £100m on bringing in Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai to strengthen their midfield.

Those arrivals helped offset the departures of Naby Keita, James Milner and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, but Klopp will almost certainly need another player in that position as Jordan Henderson and Fabinho are widely expected to depart for teams in Saudi Arabia.

Lavia is top of the Reds' wishlist, but The Athletic's David Ornstein reported on Tuesday that their initial offer of £37m was rejected by Southampton, who may be looking for a sum closer to the £50m mark.

That means Liverpool could be left disappointed in their pursuit of a player they are clearly eager to sign, but supporters should fear not.

According to Football Transfers, the Merseyside outfit are one of a number of Premier League clubs to have made an initial approach for talented ace Andre, and Fluminense are open to selling the €25m-valued (£21m) midfielder at the end of the Brazilian Serie A season.

Who is Brazilian midfielder Andre?

Andre – or Andre Trindade da Costa Neto, to give him his full name – is a 22-year-old midfielder who has spent his three-year senior career to date with Fluminense.

The Ibirataia native has made 110 league appearances for the Tricolor, scoring three teams. Indeed, Andre is far more accustomed to picking up yellow cards than creating goals, having been cautioned a pretty incredible 31 times already, as per Soccerway.

That provides a strong indication of what Andre's game is all about; a player who is in the side to help break things up, rather than get forward and finish off chances himself.

There are plenty of comparisons to be made between Andre and fellow Liverpool target Lavia, who picked up nine yellow cards in 29 Premier League appearances last season.

Southampton's Romeo Lavia

For added context, Fabinho received 11 bookings last season – no other Liverpool player received more than five – so that destructive midfielder is very much what Klopp is seeking.

As already touched on, neither Andre nor Lavia are in the side to score goals, as reflected in their near identical returns of 0.47 and 0.49 shots every 90 minutes respectively, as per FBref.

Andre has a better pass-completion percentage than Lavia (93.2 v 86.2) and boasts a better take-on success rate (59.4% v 56%), though the quality of the two divisions must be factored in.

Described as "incredible" by Brazilian journalist Victor Canedo, 5 foot 8 Andre also outshines Lavia in key defensive metrics such as tackles won per 90 (1.72 v 1.42) and interceptions per 90 (1.56 v 1.34).

The advantage of signing Lavia is that he has Premier League experience, but if it is a cheaper alternative the Reds want in an identical mould, then Andre may just be Klopp's ideal signing.

Man City Eyeing Potential Mahrez Replacement

Manchester City have added Rennes forward Jeremy Doku to their shortlist this summer, according to Fabrizio Romano.

The club are looking to replace Riyad Mahrez this window.

What is the latest news regarding Manchester City?

According to reports, the Citizens are stepping up their chase for their Mahrez replacement following his £30m switch to Saudi Arabian side Al-Ahli, and have two names on their shortlist.

Crystal Palace's Michael Olise is the first name, with the young Frenchman also attracting the interest of Chelsea this summer. The former Reading man has reportedly already agreed personal terms with the Blues according to RMC Sport, with Chelsea having submitted a £39m offer for the player.

City meanwhile are strongly interested in the player who is reported to have a £35m release clause, with manager Pep Guardiola seeing the Palace wideman as the ideal Mahrez replacement. The Eagles don't want to lose one of their best players this window after already losing WIlfried Zaha to Galatasaray, and are prepared to offer Olise £100k per week in order to stay at Selhurst Park.

Jeremy Doku Aston Villa

Doku is the other name on the Citizens shortlist, with the Belgian having already been the subject of a bid from Aston Villa this summer that was rejected earlier this window. The youngster has been highly thought of for many years and has been linked with Liverpool in the past, with Jurgen Klopp informing the player that he could be Sadio Mane's long term successor back in 2017.

Doku impressed last season with seven goals and four assists despite an injury riddled campaign that forced him to miss 11 games through three separate injuries. The injury problems may be a concern for the Manchester club, with the forward having missed 41 games since August 2021.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Romano revealed that the Belgian was a name being discussed alongside Olise and another who couldn't be mentioned:

"For Manchester City, discussing about Belgium players, have added Jeremy Doku to their list. There are two players on City’s list and one more that at this moment cannot be mentioned but Jeremy Doku is on the list and is one of the targets. Michael Olise is one of the targets, same for Chelsea because also as I have told you Olise is a player they really appreciate."

What is next for Manchester City?

The Citizens are hoping to conduct further transfer business this window.

The club remain in talks with RB Leipzig for defender Josko Gvardiol, however following a leak which resulted in Fabrizio Romano tweeting "Here We Go" despite the transfer not being completed, talks have stalled between all parties.

kyle-walker-manchester-city-tottenham-hotspur

A number of City players have been linked with moves away this window. England international Kyle Walker is reportedly a target of German giants Bayern Munich, and the player is reportedly keen on the idea of making the switch to Bavaria, whilst manager Guardiola wants to keep the player around.

Another player who reportedly wants to leave this summer is Portuguese midfielder Bernardo Silva. The former Monaco man has been the subject of a bid from PSG centering around a £35m fee and the choice of either Gianluigi Donnarumma or Marco Verratti, however City have supposedly rejected the proposal.

A deal that seems to be complete however is the deal to sell youngster Carlos Borges to Ajax after the Dutch club hijacked West Ham United's deal according to Romano.

Aston Villa Ready To Trigger Clause To Sign £20m "Machine"

Aston Villa are weighing up a move to bring Leeds United defensive midfielder Tyler Adams back to the Premier League, according to reports.

Is Tyler Adams leaving Leeds?

The USA international only arrived at Elland Road from RB Leipzig last summer and was a regular feature having made 26 appearances during his debut season, but despite missing the final 12 top-flight games of the previous campaign with a hamstring injury, his positive impact was clear to see.

The Whites talisman firmly established himself as Daniel Farke’s side’s overall top-performing player with a WhoScored match rating of 6.73, so even though he still has another four years remaining on his contract, it’s understandable that he’s been gaining attention in the market.

Read The Latest Aston Villa Transfer News HERE…

Speaking to GiveMeSport, CBS reporter Ben Jacobs confirmed that the 24-year-old is a player that has been “looked" at by NSWE and Monchi, but they aren't the only chiefs chasing his services with Nottingham Forest, West Ham United and Brighton and Hove Albion also interested.

However, Chelsea are the club currently in pole position as they have already entered formal talks and are in ongoing negotiations, so the other potential suitors need to act fast should they want any chance at hijacking the deal, something which Unai Emery is hoping to do.

Are Aston Villa signing Tyler Adams?

According to Football Insider, Aston Villa are "keen" on Adams and are "exploring a potential move" before the end of the summer transfer window. The Midlands outfit are "ready" to bolster their central ranks once again and want to "activate" the Leeds star's £20-25m relegation clause included in his deal in Yorkshire.

The LS11 ace is "keen" to make a return to the top-flight, handing all of his potential suitors a boost, but as previously mentioned, he's currently on his way to Stamford Bridge should nothing change.

Leeds United midfielder Tyler Adams.

How good is Tyler Adams?

Aston Villa will know that Adams is much stronger in the natural defensive midfield aspect of his game having recorded zero goals or assists since putting pen to paper at Leeds, but having been dubbed a “machine” in front of the backline by journalist Wes Rucker, he could be a fantastic recruit for Emery.

The New York native, who’s sponsored by Nike, last season ranked in the 99th percentile for tackles and the 97th percentile for blocks, via FBRef, highlighting just how good he is at clearing the danger before it gets through to his defence.

However, the 2022 World Cup participant is also capable of playing at centre-back, left-back and right-back alongside four roles in the centre of the park which is another extremely attractive attribute, so it’s no surprise that the boss is considering a swoop.

Marvelous Nakamba recently completed a permanent move to Luton Town so Emery will need to enter the market to find a suitable replacement. He's seemingly done just that with Adams, but as a result of Chelsea closing in with every day that passes, it won't be easy to convince him to change his mind and instead move to Villa Park.

West Ham: Moyes Could Now Repeat Scamacca Howler With £250k-p/w "Lightweight"

West Ham United are trying to raid Manchester United this summer.

The Guardian revealed that the Irons made a combined bid of £60m for Harry Maguire and Scott McTominay.

The latest Old Trafford asset to attract the attention of manager David Moyes is seemingly Anthony Martial.

What’s the latest on Anthony Martial to West Ham?

According to CaughtOffside, the Hammers are in the market for a new forward and Martial is on the shortlist.

Read the latest West Ham transfer news HERE…

Since this article’s publication, Gianluca Scamacca’s long-awaited departure back to Italy has been confirmed as he joined Atalanta BC.

Therefore, alongside Martial, the Hammers are also eyeing possible moves for Armando Broja, Elye Wahi, and Youssef En-Nesyri.

Is Anthony Martial the answer for West Ham?

The east Londoners are back to square one after this move.

Last summer, when Scamacca moved to the English capital, his domineering 6 foot 5 profile was expected to be ruthlessly exploited by Moyes.

However, the transfer materialised into a disaster. In a season ravaged by injury and inconsistency, the former Sassuolo marksman managed just three Premier League goals and didn’t feature at all for the club after March 2023 due to knee surgery.

Moyes underlined Scamacca’s troubles, criticising his “physical data” and “output" – but the divorce between the Scotsman and the player eventually boiled down to a lack of tactical harmony.

This perspective was reinforced by fellow West ham forward Michail Antonio, who said:

“The problem is, he can’t play the way the gaffer plays. He needs a different type of manager to play his type of football, [one who can] have other players play off him and stuff like that.

“You can see it, when the ball comes into him it sticks and he’s tidy. But the way David Moyes plays, if you’re upfront you’re dealing with scraps and you’ve got to be more of a fighter, that’s not him.”

Gianluca Scamacca

Antonio’s comments indicate that Moyes is after a dominant, selfless focal point, prioritising effectiveness over aesthetics. Therefore, it seems strange that the club is interested in Martial, who definitely doesn’t fit this mould.

The 27-year-old dud fits into that frustrating category of player that can appear either centrally or out wide, but flatters to deceive in either position. In his eight years in the north-west, Martial has failed to consistently nail down a starting spot and recurring fitness issues have stagnated his progress.

Last season, the attacker only made 11 top-flight starts and across his United career, he has missed 79 games through injury. At his best for the Red Devils in the 2019/20 campaign, Martial operated in a two-man strike force with Marcus Rashford, registering 24 Premier League contributions.

However, if he joined West Ham, you’d expect Martial to be given Antonio’s unflattering task of endlessly running and operating as an isolated figure up top, which he is unlikely to excel at.

Outspoken talkSPORT pundit Simon Jordan has previously expressed concerns over Martial, saying:

“I've looked at him over the last two or three years, objectively, and thought if you play him as a mainstay, you're never going to achieve very much.

"He just simply doesn't have what's required from an elite Manchester United side to put the fear of God into the opposition and deliver on a week-in, week-out, basis. I think he's lightweight. I think he does it when he feels like it.”

It is also unlikely that the Frenchman will be on the left wing as Jarrod Bowen is one of Moyes’ most consistent and popular options, whose reputation will be almost untouchable after netting the last-minute winner in the Europa Conference League final back in June.

Furthermore, Martial’s monstrous £250k-per-week deal makes a possible transfer even more questionable, and if the 30-cap international ended up at the London Stadium, he would likely follow in Scamacca’s underwhelming path.

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