West Ham United have been handed an injury boost ahead of their upcoming Premier League clash.
What’s the talk?
That’s according to a claim made by Claret & Hugh, with the club insider recently revealing that Arthur Masuaku, who has missed the Hammers’ last four fixtures due to a knee injury, looks set to make a return to David Moyes’ first-team squad for the visit of Wolverhampton Wanderers this Sunday.
Regarding the current condition of the left-back, C&H said: “West Ham boss David Moyes has a chance of recalling a fit Arthur Masuaku to the squad for Sunday’s game against Wolves. The [defender] is understood to have been suffering from a recurrence of his knee injury which needs washing out on a regular basis to keep it clean.
“And Claret & Hugh [were] told [on Tuesday] that he is likely to be available for the game against the upwardly mobile Midlanders who are currently in seventh place on 40 points, two points behind the Irons but with two games in hand.”
Moyes will be buzzing
While Masuaku is by no means a guaranteed starter for West Ham, with Moyes’ first-choice in the position, Aaron Cresswell, having already sustained injuries of his own this season – in addition to having been in something of a run of poor form in recent weeks – the return of the 28-year-old is sure to have left the 58-year-old Hammers boss buzzing.
Indeed, the £4.5m-rated defender has been in decent form over his 11 Premier League appearances in the current campaign, having scored one goal, provided one assist and created one big chance for his teammates, as well as making an average of 0.8 interceptions, 2.6 tackles, 0.9 clearances and winning five duels – at a success rate of 65% – per game.
These returns have seen the £43k-per-week DR Congo international average a SofaScore match rating of 6.88, ranking him as Moyes’ 12th-best player in the English top flight.
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As such, while Masuaku would appear unlikely to start against Wolves this weekend, the return of the left-back will undoubtedly come as a huge boost to the Scottish manager and his side, as the 28-year-old certainly represents an excellent option from the bench for the Irons.
In other news: David Moyes can unearth West Ham’s next £60m “genius” in “unplayable” £58k-p/w dynamo
Journalist Dean Jones has dropped a major transfer claim on Leeds United stars Kalvin Phillips and Raphinha, GiveMeSport report.
The Lowdown: January links
The Whites are in serious danger of dropping back down to the Championship and are currently just two points clear of the relegation zone.
Poor form in recent weeks has cost Marcelo Bielsa his position as boss, with Jesse Marsch coming in as the Argentine’s successor.
He should be able to call upon holding midfielder Phillips soon, who has been out injured since December. Raphinha is another key man for Leeds, with the pair both wanted by West Ham during the January window.
The Latest: Jones’ comments
Jones, talking to GiveMeSport, dropped a major update regarding Phillips and Raphinha after what he’s heard from Elland Road, claiming it looks unlikely the duo will be Leeds players in 2022/23.
“Sadly for Leeds fans, the Bielsa exit is not the only one they will be sorrowing this year. From what I’m hearing, the chances of Kalvin Phillips and Raphinha staying beyond this season are slim-to-none.”
The Verdict: Next few months key
It seems as if there is a real chance Phillips and Raphinha will be leaving the club at the end of the season, so it is crucial that the Whites ensure they remain in the top flight.
Reports recently have suggested that Raphinha has a €75m (£62.4m) release clause in his Elland Road contract, however, should the Whites suffer relegation, that will drop to €25m (£20.8m).
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You’d expect that Phillips’ valuation would also drop if the club goes down, so hopefully, the pair can star over the coming months under Marsch and help Leeds pull away from the bottom three before possibly leaving in big-money deals.
In other news: ‘According to insider sources’ – Report claims Leeds chief set to ‘resign’ in Bielsa aftermath.
Journalist Tom Barclay believes it is ‘very odd’ that Crystal Palace striker Odsonne Edouard isn’t getting opportunities at Selhurst Park, GiveMeSport report.
The Lowdown: On the bench
Edouard had been a regular under Patrick Vieira after arriving from Celtic in the summer.
He featured in 21 successive league games before failing to get on against Chelsea last month and then didn’t manage to feature against Burnley or Wolves.
The 24-year-old was also an unused substitute against Stoke City in the FA Cup at the beginning of the month, which has led to Barclay giving his thoughts on the Frenchman.
The Latest: Barclay’s comments
Barclay, talking to GiveMeSport prior to the 0-0 draw with Manchester City, had this to say on the forward.
“It is odd how he’s not getting any kind of look in at the moment. I’ve been trying to find out what the deal is, and I’ve just been told that Vieira is favouring other players, but it does seem odd.
“It’s not so much odd that he’s not starting because I guess he wasn’t giving Vieira what he wanted, but to not bring him on at times when he’s had the chance, he didn’t come on in the FA Cup game when there’s five subs available, it’s very odd.
“I don’t really have any insight on why that is; I imagine it’s frustrating for him at the moment.”
The Verdict: Mateta first choice
Edouard’s absence could purely be down to Jean-Philippe Mateta’s upturn in form, with the Eagles making his loan permanent during the January window.
Mateta appears to be Vieira’s go to striker at this moment in time, becoming a regular in recent weeks with Wilfried Zaha and Michael Olise on either flank.
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Edouard will more than likely get his chance to impress from the off once again, but it’s good to know that the Palace boss now has options in attack.
In other news: 100% duels won, not dribbled past all night, 14 clearances: Palace’s 3 best players vs Man City.
Wolves have seen a number of standout players move away from Molineux in recent months and years, such as Diogo Jota and Adama Traore.
Looking ahead to the summer transfer window, it seems as though the Old Gold could be at risk of seeing a couple more of their prominent players saying goodbye to the club.
What’s the talk?
Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, journalist and transfer insider Pete O’Rourke was discussing the upcoming summer transfer window and what it could hold for Wolves duo Joao Moutinho and Romain Saiss, who are both out of contract at the end of the season.
He said: “I’m sure lots of clubs will be looking at both players and thinking they can maybe lure them away from the club with lucrative offers.”
Focusing on Saiss, the defender has made more blocks (49), interceptions (65) and clearances (156) than any other Wolves player in the league this season. That highlights just how crucial he has been for the Old Gold at the back and how much he has contributed to their solid defensive record, with just 23 goals conceded in 28 games.
This also shows how big a miss he would be if he does end up moving away from Molineux in the summer and the club don’t replace him.
Moutinho would also be a major loss for Bruno Lage’s side, as he has racked up the joint-highest average of key passes per game (1.2) and the second-highest passing success percentage out of anyone to have started more than one league match this season with 86.6%, making him an important cog in Wolves’ midfield.
With all this in mind, it’d be safe to suggest that Wolves fans would be terrified by the prospect of seeing both players leaving the club in the summer, and the pressure would rightly be on to find suitable replacements for them before the 2022/23 season starts.
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The club should definitely approach the two players and their representatives to see if they would be willing to extend their stay at Molineux and continue being important figures in Lage’s team.
In other news: “Sensational” Wolves machine with 96% pass accuracy was immense against Watford
West Ham United are once again in the race to secure European football for next season among the top eight teams in the Premier League as well as competing in the Europa League.
With 48 points on the board, David Moyes’ side are currently in sixth place behind Manchester United who are two points ahead of the Hammers, both with 29 league games played.
In terms of which individual players have been particularly prominent and effective for West Ham this season, one figure that seems to be consistently pushing his side to achieve everything they can is midfielder Declan Rice.
With 27 league appearances under his belt, Michail Antonio is the only outfield player to play more minutes in the league than the Englishman, highlighting how crucial he is for the side and how highly rated he is by Moyes.
In terms of what he delivers on the pitch, the 23-year-old has racked up more tackles (62), blocks (48) and interceptions (83) than any of his teammates in this campaign. He has also made a staggering 1538 passes during his time on the field in 2021/22.
As well as his impressive defensive attributes, the midfielder has managed to score one goal and provide four assists, showing just how much of a well-rounded midfield option he is.
Labelled as an “exceptional” player by Pep Guardiola, who knows a good midfielder when he sees one having coached the likes of Kevin De Bruyne, David Silva, Xabi Alonso, Xavi and Iniesta to name a few, Rice has earned himself an overall performance rating of 7.16 from WhoScored, making him the second-highest rated player at the London Stadium.
While Jarrod Bowen has certainly played a big part in West Ham’s successes this season with eight goals and eight assists to his name, the £67.5m-rated gem has definitely been a more pivotal figure for the Hammers in terms of what he’s able to offer the side in all areas of the pitch in terms of keeping the opposition from scoring as well as helping his side in front of goal.
In the words of Stuart Pearce, the £62k-per-week earner offers an “explosion” moving forward and has been a “revelation” according to his manager.
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Moving forward, if the England international can keep performing at a high level for his club in terms of his defensive work and attacking actions, he could be the difference regarding how far the east London club go in the Europa League and where they finish in the Premier League.
In other news: Sold for £20m, now worth 64% less: GSB sealed WHU masterclass on £25k-p/w liability
Tottenham Hotspur are following RB Salzburg starlet Roko Simic, but face a battle with a European heavyweight in the race to sign him.
What’s the story?
Ranked 36th in GOAL’s NXGN 2022 list which features the top fifty wonderkids around the world, the 18-year-old has seemingly caught the eye of some of the big clubs across Europe.
According to them, Antonio Conte’s side are joined by the likes of Real Madrid and Arsenal as teams who are tracking the teenager ahead of a potential move, despite seeing him sign a new four-year deal at Salzburg following his breakthrough into the first-team.
Conte would love him
One of the big issues that has continued to plague Spurs for a number of years now, is of course the lack of depth behind Harry Kane up front.
An injury to the England international would be Conte’s and the Lilywhites’ worst nightmare, and it’s exactly why a swoop for the talented Simic would represent a fine addition to this squad.
Despite only being 18, Simic has earned some rave reviews for his performances, with former Croatia and Everton striker Nikica Jelavic, saying: “Roko is certainly one of the greatest talents in Croatian football! That’s for sure, he’s a young and decent guy, brilliantly brought up and he’s a real rough diamond.
“He is gaining experience, I played with him and as one of the older players, we helped him along. Everyone knows who he is because of his famous father, but that’s a burden that will shortly be off his back because he’s good enough to write his own story. I am convinced that Roko will make a great career and that he will be a world-class striker, I really haven’t seen a more talented player than Roko for a long time.”
Indeed, a player profile done by GOAL likened him to Erling Haaland and Dusan Vlahovic, and read: “Red Bull Salzburg’s conveyor belt of attacking talent is showing no signs of slowing, with Roko Simic set to be one of the latest strikers to emerge at the Austrian champions.
“The son of Croatia legend Dario Simic, the 18-year-old joined Salzburg for €4m in the summer of 2021 having become the youngest scorer in Lokomotiva Zagreb history the previous season.”
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This year has seen him take his game to a new level, bagging 17 goals in 26 games across all competitions, including five in seven in the UEFA Youth League, the Champions League equivalent for the U21s.
Bringing in someone of Simic’s considerable talent and potential would surely leave Conte delighted.
AND in other news: Left in 2019, now worth £50m: Levy suffered shocking Spurs howler over “insane” star
Labelled as ‘fantastic’ by Ange Postecoglou, Doak scored a hat-trick for Scotland’s U17s during the international break, but the Hoops could potentially receive just £150,000 for his services.
The Latest: Social media activity
Football Scotland shared a story on Doak on Wednesday lunchtime, revealing the player has now followed Liverpool’s official Instagram page.
Doak has also given the Reds’ unofficial academy page a follow, hinting that a move to join the youth ranks at Anfield is imminent.
The Verdict: Unavailable for the run-in?
The young winger has made the bench three times alongside his two appearances since December, but it seems as if he could be on the move very shortly.
It looks as if Postecoglou is now resigned to losing his services after not including him in the last seven Premiership matchday squads.
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He could be unavailable for the run-in, with a move to link up with former Celtic goalkeeper Liam Hughes at Liverpool’s academy looking like a formality at this point.
In other news: Sky Sports: Celtic have opened talks for another player as well as Bayern’s Christopher Scott.
Liverpool midfielder Curtis Jones has been passed fit for his side’s Champions League clash with Benfica on Tuesday night, journalist Ian Doyle has confirmed.
The Lowdown: Liverpool face latest test
The Reds continue their quadruple charge with a trip to Portugal as they take on the Lisbon outfit in the first leg of their quarter-final tie.
In truth, Jurgen Klopp’s men were handed a relatively kind draw in the grand scheme of things, with the Portuguese side surprise winners over Ajax in the last round.
Jones was a doubt for the game after he limped out of Saturday’s 2-0 win at home to Watford, but a positive update has now emerged.
The Latest: Jones passed fit
Taking to Twitter on Monday, Doyle confirmed via Klopp that the 21-year-old was in contention to start, having overcome his weekend problem.
The journalist tweeted: “Klopp on injuries: Full squad available for the game, absolutely. Curtis had a little swelling, disappeared overnight. Trent now, 4-5 days is ready as well.”
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The Verdict: Place on the bench
Prior to going off last weekend, Jones had disappointed against Watford, firing a couple of efforts wide of the target and struggling to get into the game, also losing possession 12 times.
For that reason, it would be a surprise if he starts tonight in what is another crucial match in Liverpool’s potentially legendary season, especially given his recent injury concern and his rarity of starts throughout the season in general.
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Fabinho coming back into the number six role makes complete sense, while Jordan Henderson and Naby Keita could be the number eights, allowing Thiago to be managed carefully ahead of Sunday’s huge Premier League clash with Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium.
In other news, a fresh update has emerged regarding Mohamed Salah’s Liverpool future. Read more here.
AFCON is up and running as Africa’s greatest players take to the spotlight once more in Morocco.
Huge names like Mohamed Salah are still yet to win their first AFCON title, while Ivory Coast seek to go back to back and Nigeria chase their first title since 2013.
African football has grown exponentially in the 21st century, but who is the best player to emerge from the continent since the turn of the millennium?
20 Kalidou Koulibaly (Senegal)
Kalidou Koulibaly stands among the finest African defenders of the modern era. At Napoli and later Chelsea, his sheer physicality combined with excellent reading of the game made him near impossible to beat.
As a leader for Senegal, he played a key role in their AFCON triumph, and now leads the Lions of Teranga as their captain.
Koulibaly has featured in the CAF Team of the Year four times and in the Serie A Team of the Season on four occasions.
19 Ahmed Hassan (Egypt)
Ahmed Hassan’s longevity and leadership makes him one of Egypt’s greatest ever players.
As the Pharaohs’ most capped player, he was a central figure in their unprecedented AFCON dominance in the 2000s, racking up 184 games for his country.
His work rate, discipline and consistency made him invaluable in midfield, anchoring a side who won AFCON four times in the space of 12 years.
18 Mohamed Aboutrika (Egypt)
Mohamed Aboutrika was the heartbeat of Egypt’s dominant national team in the 2000s.
A technically gifted playmaker, when you think of Africa’s growth as a football powerhouse you think of players like Aboutrika.
Staying loyal to home rather than moving to a major European club, he played over 500 combined games for Al Ahly and Egypt, winning the Egyptian Premier League seven times and AFCON twice.
17 El Hadji Diouf (Senegal)
El Hadji Diouf’s influence in the 21st century is inseparable from Senegal’s stunning 2002 World Cup campaign.
His confidence and flair helped announce Senegal as a global football force.
Though his club career never fully matched his talent, his peak impact remains historically significant, winning trophies with iconic clubs such as Liverpool and Rangers.
16 Younès Belhanda (Morocco)
Younès Belhanda was a key creative force in North African football during the early 2010s. His technical ability and vision made him influential at club level and for Morocco, paving the way for playmakers like Brahim Diaz and Azzedine Ounahi to emerge.
Belhanda spent over a decade playing for top clubs throughout Europe, winning trophies in France, Ukraine and Turkey, all while racking up 50 caps for his country.
15 Seydou Keita (Mali)
Seydou Keita was the unsung backbone of one of the greatest club teams ever assembled.
At Barcelona, his intelligence and versatility allowed creative stars to flourish as the Catalans won La Liga three times during his four-year spell with the club.
Though rarely in the spotlight, his role in multiple Champions League triumphs highlights the growing tactical sophistication of African players in modern football.
14 Emmanuel Adebayor (Togo)
Emmanuel Adebayor’s peak years placed him among Europe’s most feared strikers. His combination of size, finishing and slick technique made him a hit at huge clubs like Arsenal and Manchester City.
As Togo’s star player, he carried immense responsibility, leading them to their first World Cup appearance.
In nearly two decades leading the line for his country, he earned 87 caps, scoring 32 goals.
13 Asamoah Gyan (Ghana)
Asamoah Gyan was the face of Ghana’s golden generation. He delivered decisive goals in multiple World Cups and became one of Africa’s highest international scorers.
Subscribe for deeper African football insights in the newsletter Explore beyond the headlines — subscribe to the newsletter for longform player profiles, tactical breakdowns, and expert debates that enrich AFCON conversations and the wider story of African football’s modern era. Subscribe for deeper African football insights in the newsletter Explore beyond the headlines — subscribe to the newsletter for longform player profiles, tactical breakdowns, and expert debates that enrich AFCON conversations and the wider story of African football’s modern era.
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Gyan’s strength, pace and finishing ability made him a constant threat, and he helped establish Ghana as a global football presence in the 21st century.
Perhaps due to his famous penalty miss against Uruguay, he is often underrated, having bagged a remarkable 51 international goals.
Notable players with 50+ international goals
Goals
Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal)
143
Lionel Messi (Argentina)
115
Miroslav Klose (Germany)
71
Wayne Rooney (England)
53
Asamoah Gyan (Ghana)
51
12 Vincent Enyeama (Nigeria)
Vincent Enyeama is arguably the greatest African goalkeeper of the 21st century. His performances for Nigeria at AFCON and the World Cup will be remembered forever.
At club level, especially with Lille, he earned recognition as one of Europe’s most reliable goalkeepers.
Enyeama was also named in the AFCON team of the tournament both for Nigeria’s 2013 triumph and again in 2004.
11 Achraf Hakimi (Morocco)
Achraf Hakimi symbolizes the evolution of African players in modern tactical systems.
As an attacking fullback, he combines speed, intelligence and end product at an elite level and was recently named the 2025 African footballer of the year.
A Champions League winner amid a decorated club career with PSG, Inter and Real Madrid, he is closing in on 100 Morocco caps despite still being very much in his prime.
The Italian national team has a history of prospering in the wake of domestic disarray. The side that won their nation’s fourth World Cup in 2006, several of which will feature again this summer, did so on the back of the damaging Calcioppoli affair, while in their 1982 victory, striker Paolo Rossi had just returned from a ban for his part in a betting scam. This term has seen no such controversy, but the Azzuri’s problems are far more deep-rooted than the absence of a seemingly team-building Serie A scandal.
Marcello Lippi’s reluctance to part with members of his 2006 squad may be key in Italy’s probable failure to retain their title. While Buffon is still a world-class custodian despite an injury plagued season, defenders Grosso (32), Zambrotta (33) and captain Cannavaro (36), are looking every bit their age. All three have endured miserable Serie A campaigns and lack the pace and incisiveness that made them integral four years ago. The only positive to be drawn from the backline is the inclusion of Giorgio Chiellini. The centre half has grown into his role as Juventus’ defensive lynchpin admirably, providing presence, vision and a maturity beyond his 25 years.
In midfield Camoranesi (also 33) will occupy the right wing, despite an apparent loss of fitness and creative spark. Pirlo will feature, with his impressive passing range and dead ball accuracy an ever present threat. While many suggest his attributes would see him best utilized as a ‘trequartista’ at the point of the diamond, it is likely we will see Pirlo in his favoured deep-lying role. Exciting Juventus product and ‘Pirlo-lite’ Marchisio will sit alongside the man many believe to be the cornerstone of Italy’s next great side, Daniele De Rossi. The defensive midfielder possesses all the bustle, energy and skill of Gerrard, though unlike the Englishman, delivers consistently masterful performances for his country.
Talk of Totti and Del Piero returning to the international fold is garnering excitement among the more deluded members of the Italian press, which sums up the lacklustre attack. Though Gilardino is a poacher in the mould of Paolo Rossi, the Fiorentina hit-man who has 16 goals in 39 international appearances contributes sparsely in build up play. Giuseppe Rossi showed flashes of brilliance in a disappointing Confederations Cup campaign last summer, and is regarded as the only creative option alongside Gilardino, given the baffling exclusion of Cassano from Lippi’s squad…
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Read the full Italy World Cup Preview in which the age of the current crop of players is called into question and their chances are discussed at http://topcam.wordpress.com/