Tottenham Hotspur are now very interested in signing a “sensational” Premier League forward this summer, and they are preparing a €60m (£51m) offer for his services, according to a report.
Spurs planning for the summer transfer window
The 1-0 victory against Eintracht Frankfurt on Thursday night was a stellar effort, with Ange Postecoglou’s side booking their place in the Europa League semi-final, but there is still a great deal of uncertainty lingering over Tottenham as we edge closer to the summer transfer window.
Given Spurs’ very poor Premier League campaign, Postecoglou’s future remains in doubt, and AFC Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola has been invited for talks over a potential move to north London this summer.
The Lilywhites are also putting plans in place to improve their squad, and there could be a focus on bolstering their attacking options, with Athletic Bilbao attacking midfielder Oihan Sancet recently joining the list of targets, given the Spaniard’s goalscoring exploits.
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Signing a new winger is also on the agenda for Tottenham, and scouts have been left hugely impressed by Strasbourg’s Dilane Bakwa, having recently watched the Frenchman in action.
However, given that Bakwa remains unproven in the Premier League, it could be viewed as a risk to sign the 22-year-old, and Spurs have also set their sights on a winger from much closer to home, namely AFC Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo.
Antoine Semenyo in Premier League action for Bournemouth.
That is according to a report from Spain, which states the Lilywhites and by extension Daniel Levy are now preparing to make a €60m (£51m) offer for Semenyo, having been impressed by the forward’s performances in the Premier League this season.
Bournemouth are open to negotiations over a move, which suggests the door could be open for a deal, should the north Londoners be willing to stump up a sizeable fee.
"Sensational" Semenyo impressing for the Cherries
The Ghanaian made a flying start to the campaign, and he has continued to impress throughout the season, picking up ten goals and six assists in all competitions, most recently scoring the winning goal in his side’s 1-0 victory over Fulham.
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Journalist Thierry Nyann lauded the Bournemouth star as “sensational” earlier in the campaign, and he has developed a reputation for scoring some spectacular goals, including a fine effort in his side’s 3-1 victory against Southampton in September.
The only concern about signing the winger will be the fact he is yet to prove himself at the very highest level, but he has shown remarkable signs of development throughout his career, working his way up from League 2 to the Premier League.
At 25-years-old, Semenyo still has time on his side to improve even further, and he could be a fantastic signing for Tottenham this summer.
With the New Year on the horizon, those of a Manchester United persuasion will no doubt be looking to forget 2024 in a hurry, with it having been a simply miserable 12 months at Old Trafford on the whole.
The notable high point came at Wembley back in May, yet that shock FA Cup final triumph has been quickly forgotten amid the club’s woes both prior and since, with manager Erik ten Hag shown the door just a matter of months after lifting the trophy.
New boss Ruben Amorim has arrived with bold new ideas and an engaging personality, although as recent results have shown, it has largely been more of the same for a side that still languishes in 13th in the Premier League table.
Just a month or so into the Portuguese’s tenure, the Red Devils reached their latest nadir following Sunday’s grim 3-0 defeat at home to Bournemouth, with that result laying bare just where the three-time European champions are at present.
Seven goals conceded across their last two games in all competitions may point to worrying issues defensively, although it is the attacking unit which remains a “major problem” – as noted by journalist Liam Canning.
Man Utd's attacking woes
It says a lot that the Old Trafford side meekly capitulating on home soil no longer sends shockwaves across the game. In truth, defeats like the one to the Cherries have simply become the norm over the last 18 months or so.
This season alone, the Red Devils have now lost 3-0 on three occasions at the Theatre of Dreams, having also wilted up against Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur to mark the beginning of the end for Ten Hag.
Again, the defence will cop much of the blame for those dismal results, but the lack of goals has become a real concern of late. Indeed, United have scored just 21 league goals thus far, leaving them level with the likes of Leicester City, while even behind relegation strugglers, Wolverhampton Wanderers (27).
Those woes were even evident at the weekend, with the hosts registering 23 shots in total and finishing with an xG of 2.28. Bournemouth, meanwhile, had just ten shots and finished with an xG of only 1.63, as per Sofascore.
As Amorim lamented after the defeat to Spurs in the Carabao Cup, his side simply just aren’t “clinical” enough, with the lack of a reliable number nine still a significant issue.
Indeed, while young Rasmus Hojlund has scored seven goals in 20 appearances in 2024/24 thus far, only two of those have come in his 12 league outings.
As for summer signing Joshua Zirkzee, the Dutchman has had an even worse time of it, netting only four times in 25 appearances since his arrival from Bologna.
Man Utd – Top scorer by season
Season
Player
Goals
2024/25*
Alejandro Garnacho
8
2023/24
Rasmus Hojlund
16
2022/23
Marcus Rashford
30
2021/22
Cristiano Ronaldo
24
2020/21
Bruno Fernandes
28
2019/20
Anthony Martial
23
2018/19
Paul Pogba
16
2017/18
Romelu Lukaku
27
2016/17
Zlatan Ibrahimovic
28
2015/16
Anthony Martial
17
2014/15
Wayne Rooney
14
2013/14
Wayne Rooney
19
Stats via Transfermarkt
The return of the latter man, in particular, simply isn’t good enough, with a swift upgrade needing to be found to resolve what has long been a problem position at Old Trafford.
Man Utd's search for a striker
Back at Sporting CP, Amorim’s success was built on the strength of his leading goalscorer, with Viktor Gyokeres scoring 66 goals in just 68 games during their time together in Lisbon.
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As a result of that fruitful partnership, there will be clamour for a reunion to occur between the pair in Manchester, although according to recent reports, United could well look elsewhere to make a dream first signing of the Amorim era.
Indeed, there have been claims that the Red Devils are among the clubs keen to sign Nigerian sensation, Victor Osimhen, with the 26-year-old currently on loan at Galatasaray from parent club, Napoli.
Reportedly valued at around £62m, the former Chelsea target could make a belated move to the Premier League after a Stamford Bridge switch broke down over the summer, with the striker’s capture likely to be just what United are craving to end their goalscoring woes.
Why Osimhen would be a dream signing for Man Utd
The former Lille man may now be operating outside of Europe’s top five leagues in Turkey, yet it is hard to overlook his goalscoring prowess, having already bagged 12 goals in just 15 games during his time in Istanbul.
That haul ensures he has scored more times than Zirkzee and Hojlund combined in 2024/25 thus far, with the young pair netting just 11 goals between them across all competitions.
This red-hot form follows a prolific spell back in Naples for Osimhen, with the in-demand hotshot having netted 76 times in just 133 games for the Serie A side. In total across his career, the £62m man has scored 126 goals from 238 senior appearances.
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To put that into context, Hojlund has scored just 50 senior goals in his career thus far, while Zirkzee’s record is even worse, having scored just 40 times (not including his stint with Bayern Munich’s second team).
Zirkzee vs Osimhen – 2023/24 Serie A stats
Stat (*per game)
Zirkzee
Osimhen
Games (starts)
34 (32)
25 (22)
Goals
11
15
Minutes per goal
252
133
Big chances missed
4
15
Assists
4
3
Big chances created
11
5
Key passes*
1.3
0.9
Total duels won*
40%
43%
Aerial duels won*
43%
44%
Stats via Sofascore
The difference in quality between Zirkzee and Osimhen is stark indeed, as evidenced by their respective statistics in Italy’s top-flight last term, with Osimhen simply far more clinical, even if Zirkzee offers a greater creative influence. Amorim needs to ensure this deal gets done as a matter of urgency.
There will no doubt be fears over whether the Napoli man can make the transition to life in the Premier League, although any concerns should be eased by his likeness to a certain Zlatan Ibrahimovic, with that comparison having been made by his former Charleroi manager Felice Mazzu:
While Ibrahimovic’s time at Old Trafford was fleeting, the veteran certainly made his mark under Jose Mourinho, having ended the 2016/17 campaign with 28 goals to his name in 46 appearances.
As that short but sweet stint proved, players of that ilk can score goals anywhere without the need for a period of adjustment, with United – and Amorim – in need of a repeat scenario with the capture of Osimhen.
For too long, since the days of ‘Ibra’ and Robin van Persie before him, have the Red Devils been seeking a genuine world-beater to lead the line. Now is the time to go out and get one.
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Ruben Amorim could be about to target a new star for Manchester United in January.
Reliable journalist Fabrizio Romano says Tottenham are eyeing a £12 million player alongside their pursuit of Bournemouth striker Dominic Solanke.
Spurs pursuing move for Dominic Solanke and other strikers
Manager Ange Postecoglou confirmed last week that Spurs are actively looking to sign a striker as a priority before deadline day, so it appears a new number nine is certainly one to watch in the coming weeks.
Tottenham predict late exit as £134,000-per-week star holds talks to leave
He could be yet another name out of the door at Spurs.
ByEmilio Galantini
Postecoglou was heavily reliant on both Son Heung-min and Richarlison for the majority of Spurs' goal tally last season, with the duo scoring 29 between them in all competitions, but Postecoglou doesn't want a repeat of that for the 2024/2025 season – explaining how he would've certainly utilised Harry Kane if he hadn't decided to join Bayern Munich.
"If Harry would have stayed I definitely would have used him!," said Postecoglou on Tottenham's plans to sign a new striker.
"So I think for us what's more important is the type of striker we get. You know we play a certain way. We demand certain things from a physical perspective from the technical aspects of it that it's going be a striker that fits that mould.
Tottenham's top goalscorers in all competitions – 2023/2024
Player
Goals scored
Son Heung min
17
Richarlison
12
Dejan Kulusevski
8
Brennan Johnson
5
Cristian Romero
5
James Maddison
4
"It's still the area of the park we're really probably the thinnest when I talk about squad-wise at the moment, so obviously that's a focus for us.
"Irrespective of the approach, I like to think I've always been pretty clear on what I want. I've had success for the most part of my career with transfers and, I mean, I thought last year's window was excellent."
According to Fabrizio Romano, Tottenham are in talks over signing Solanke from Bournemouth, and Spurs are pushing to seal a deal for the Englishman who scored 21 goals in all competitions for the Cherries last term.
However, he is by no means the only forward target on their radar, as fellow reliable reporter Ben Jacobs of GiveMeSport backs that Tottenham have a concrete interest in signing Brentford's Ivan Toney as well.
While bringing in a striker is a top priority, Spurs also may need to sign another right-back, with Emerson Royal thought to be closing in on a move to AC Milan.
Tottenham also thinking about signing Issa Kabore from Man City
Speaking to GiveMeSport, amid their high-profile chase for Solanke, Romano says that Tottenham are considering a move for Issa Kabore – who would come in to replace Emerson if the Brazilian does, at long last, seal his San Siro move.
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“Tottenham would look to fill the gap, for sure, because they have Pedro Porro, but they would need one more player," said Romano.
Fulham'sJoaoPalhinhain action with Luton Town's Issa Kabore
“It's true that Kabore at Manchester City, former Luton Town player, is appreciated by Tottenham. But I’m told he is not the only option. So there are several possibilities being considered."
The Burkina Faso international spent last season on loan at Kenilworth Road, making 24 Premier League appearances, with City believed to value Kabore at around £12 million. Ex-Marseille boss Igor Tudor also branded Kabore a "top athlete" when the pair worked together in Ligue 1.
The 2023/24 season has been a breakout campaign for many young stars across the world. Chelsea have many, although not all of them have seen much game time.
The same cannot be said for Kobbie Mainoo of Manchester United, Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal, and soon-to-be Real Madrid forward Endrick who have all announced themselves into professional football in recent months.
Both Mainoo and Yamal are products of Carrington and La Masia, their respective clubs’ youth systems, and will hope to be the next academy success stories of two legendary clubs.
Endrick, however, was bought by Real Madrid from Palmeiras for a fee rumoured to be £52m. Los Blancos were not the only club vying for the 17-year-old’s signature, with Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea and Manchester City also interested in signing the forward.
Endrick for Palmeiras.
Chelsea were actually rumoured to be the club most likely to sign Endrick before Madrid beat them to it. Aiming to sign youngsters from South America is a policy that the Blues have often employed under Todd Boehly. Endrick is rumoured to not be the only name on their list.
Chelsea’s youthful transfer policy
It is no secret that since Boehly took over the reins of Chelsea, their transfer policy has been chaotic, to say the least.
They have spent over £1bn and had a squad so inflated that "some players had to sit on the floor during team meetings while others changed for training in the corridor", according to The Athletic.
The aforementioned policy of signing, or trying to sign, South American wonderkids is certainly one that Chelsea have at least unofficially employed in Boehly’s time at the club.
Aside from missing out on Endrick, the other notable failure was young Gabriel Moscardo, a midfielder from Brazil. The 18-year-old had offers on the table from Chelsea and PSG but opted to go with the latter.
However, there was one South American youngster Chelsea managed to land. Ecuadorian attacking midfielder Kendry Paez will join the Blues from Independiente del Valle for a fee that could eventually rise to £17m, according to Fabrizio Romano. Aged just 16, he could well be Chelsea's answer to Endrick.
Chelsea's answer to Endrick
It will not be until the summer of 2025 that Paez can join Chelsea, as he must wait until he turns 18, although he has trained with the first team already.
Incredibly, at just 16 years of age, Paez is already a full international with Ecuador and has six caps to his name so far, scoring once and registering two assists.
Paez plays as an attacking midfielder and possesses all the flair that you would expect from a South American number 10. Paez is a creative genius, who has an eye for goal, and already has seven goal involvements in 16 starts in the Ecuadorian top flight so far.
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The youngster has a brilliant low centre of gravity and an eye for a pass. He loves to pick the ball up in deeper areas and spray long passes into teammates ahead of him and is excellent in combination play around the penalty box.
His previous manager had spoken very highly of him in the past. In an interview with Ole, Martín Anselmi, the former manager of Independiente del Valle, said “In Kendry we find a daring one. A boy who asks for it, and he is 15 years old and he doesn't care who is in front of him, and he asks for it.”
Not only that, Paez is highly rated by former Ecuardioan national team players. Carlos Tenorio, who made 52 appearances for Ecuador, compared him to two legends of the game when Paez was just 15. “He has the potential to be better than Lionel Messi and Neymar, but much will depend on him and the people around him”.
It is certainly high praise for such a young talent. Chelsea’s transfer policy towards signing youngsters might have been hit-and-miss so far, but it seems they have certainly struck gold with the signing of Paez. Together with Endrick, they could be the next superstar talents to emerge from South America.
Chelsea: Poch's stunning starting XI in 2025 built around Kendry Paez
Chelsea’s starting XI in 2025 which includes the exciting Kendry Paez is a mouthwatering prospect.
Chelsea have quenched their thirst for acquiring a whole host of emerging talent since the arrival of Todd Boehly.
The Blues have scoured Europe to unearth gems, predominantly aged 21 or under, who boast a high ceiling of potential and can direct the club back towards a trophy-laden period under Mauricio Pochettino.
In the summer, this model was particularly prevalent as only three of their 12 signings were older than 23, including Christopher Nkunku, Robert Sanchez and Axel Disasi.
From the evidence of their recruitment, it is no surprise to see the Blues field the youngest squad on average in the Premier League this season (23.7).
If reports linking them to AS Monaco's youngster Malamine Efekele are to be correct, the 19-year-old would bring the average age of their squad down even further.
Chelsea transfer news – Malamine Efekele
According to Foot Mercato [via Football Transfers], Chelsea are one of several clubs scouting winger Efekele after reports emerged of the Blues' interest.
Compared to former Monaco wonderkid, Kylian Mbappe, who left the club to join Paris Saint-Germain for €180m (£157m) in 2018, the Frenchman has been in fine form for the youth teams this term, scoring four goals and supplying five assists.
The Mbappe comparisons run deeper than the fact that Efekele is a lightning-quick winger from Monaco, having also played for AS Bondy, like the PSG star, and was coached by Mbappe’s father, Wilfried, at the club.
Despite admiring the Frenchman's qualities, transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has admitted that there have been no concrete talks between Efekele and Chelsea, although several clubs are interested.
Romano said in his Caught Offside Daily Briefing column: “I’ve had some fans ask me about Monaco wonderkid Malamine Efekele and links with Chelsea.
“He’s a very good and interesting talent, but I’m not aware of any concrete talk or link, at this stage. It’s just normal scouting activity by many top clubs, something very normal for talents like Efekele.”
If Chelsea were to secure the wonderkid's signature, it wouldn't be the first time they've utilised the French market, having acquired Benoit Badiashile, Malo Gusto, Disasi and Lesley Ugochukwu in the past year.
However, Blues legend Eden Hazard – who arrived at Stamford Bridge as a 21-year-old in 2012 – is arguably their most successful Ligue 1 export.
Eden Hazard's goal record for Chelsea
Hazard was captured from Lille for a fee in the region of £32m and the rest, as they say, is history.
The brilliant Belgian moved to England on the back of a staggering 20 goals and 18 assists in one campaign for Lille and instantly left his mark at Stamford Bridge by terrorising defences.
In 352 appearances for Chelsea, Hazard enjoyed a glittering career at the club, recording 110 goals and 92 assists as well as scooping a whole host of domestic honours, including two Europa League trophies, an FA Cup and two Premier League titles.
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If Efekele was to link up with Pochettino, although he boasts the blistering pace and the fleet-footed nature of Hazard, it would be near impossible for him to eclipse what he achieved at the club.
Despite demonstrating his tremendous talent in the youth setup, Efekele is still yet to make a senior appearance in Ligue 1 at the age of 19.
By contrast, the former Belgium international was already ripping up France's top division at his age, posting 18 goal contributions in the 2010/11 season to help Lille secure their third-ever Ligue 1 title.
When comparing the abilities of both players at a similar age, Hazard was, quite clearly, levels ahead in terms of his development, however, the Monaco youngster could soon see his talents explode on the world stage and reach the potential that the "next Mbappe" tag promises.
Al-Hilal are now considering a world record bid for Harry Kane and there is a belief it could tempt Tottenham Hotspur chairman Daniel Levy into doing a deal.
Is Harry Kane leaving Tottenham?
The 30-year-old has entered his final year as a Spurs player, and with his contract expiring in around 11 months time, these next few weeks could be pivotal.
August, arguably, represents the last chance for Tottenham to acquire a sizeable fee for Kane if the Englishman doesn't wish to pen fresh terms – as interested clubs would have plenty of wiggle room to bid far less in January.
The north Londoners have offered Kane a huge new contract, according to reliable media sources, but those same reports claim the striker has zero intention of signing it this window.
As a result, Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich sense an opportunity and appear above all on Kane's heels. The German champions, despite seeing bids rejected, are still attempting to sway Levy into selling before deadline day.
Read the latest Tottenham transfer news HERE…
Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou, meanwhile, has admitted that he is far from relaxed about the Kane situation – especially as he prepares for his first full season in charge.
“Fair to say I am not relaxed about it," he said.
“It’s not something you go: ‘Ah, well, you know if it does or doesn’t happen!’ I mean it’s a very important part of this football club, not just the team, but the football club.
“So, you’ve got to deal with it, and I think, for everyone concerned, we don’t want to be doing it for too long. I don’t think that is good for anyone. I don’t think it is good for Harry, I don’t think it is good for the club, because as laser focused as we want to be, you end up sort of repeating yourself along the way."
The saga, according to TEAMtalk, may now have taken another interesting twist as Saudi Arabian side Al-Hilal weigh up a huge move.
harry-kane-1
It is believed they're "considering making a world record bid" for Tottenham's talisman, namely £200 million, which would eclipse the fee PSG paid for Neymar in 2017.
Intermediaries close to Al-Hilal believe this fee would "tempt Levy into a deal", but the problem lies with Kane, as it is suggested that he currently has no desire to make a move to the Middle East.
The Saudi Pro League giants are determined to add a superstar to their ranks, having already seen approaches for both Kylian Mbappe (PSG) and Victor Osimhen (Napoli) rejected.
What's been said about Harry Kane?
Every football fan is all too familiar with the quality of Kane.
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The superstar forward shattered record after record during his most recent full campaign, becoming both England and Tottenham's all-time top goalscorer.
Former Spurs boss Antonio Conte called Kane "world class" and "not normal" before the Italian coach and Tottenham mutually parted company.
"We are talking about a world class striker,” he said.
“He deserves the best because he's a great worker, hard worker… this is not normal because usually the players that have talent many times don't like to work hard because they have talent.
“In my career I didn't have great talent [so] for this reason I worked hard. What I liked about him from the first time was his ability. He was a big example for his team-mates."
Chelsea are likely to be in the market for a striker this summer, and their new manager could be presented with a number of options ahead of the 2023/24 Premier League campaign.
Goalscoring has been a major issue for the Blues in the top flight so far this campaign, with just 30 goals in 31 outings, and it appears that a clinical forward is required if the west London outfit are to challenge at the top again next season.
Although Romelu Lukaku could still return after his loan spell with Inter, Todd Boehly could find a significantly more reliable option in Brentford talisman Ivan Toney.
Could Chelsea sign Ivan Toney?
In a recent article for GiveMeSport, journalist Dean Jones detailed five different striker options for Chelsea ahead of what will be a vitally important summer transfer window for the club, while touching on the chances of Toney moving across west London.
He wrote: "Toney has proven himself to be a regular goalscorer in the Premier League and he has a confidence in his own ability that Chelsea have been crying out for.
"A ban is looming over his betting investigation and that needs to be factored into the potential of any pursuit, but it is true that he has caught the eye of Chelsea recruiters who feel he could be a good fit with the other attacking players available to them.
"Brentford will not let him leave easily. They sold Ollie Watkins to Aston Villa for £33m at a time when he had not even played in the Premier League. Toney eclipses anything he had achieved and will easily be valued at over £50m by the Bees."
Would Toney be an upgrade on Lukaku?
As Jones suggests, Toney has developed a supreme confidence in his own ability which has been cultivated in a series of phenomenal goalscoring seasons in the lower leagues and the top flight.
He crashed in 49 goals in 94 appearances for Peterborough United before earning a move to the Bees, where he broke a long-standing record in the Championship for most goals scored by a single player, hitting 33 as Thomas Frank's side were promoted through the play-offs.
The English forward enjoyed a strong debut campaign in the Premier League with 12 goals and five assists, while he has been one of the most consistent players in the division so far this season, registering 18 goals and four assists in just 29 appearances.
Frank was full of praise for his star striker in 2021, saying:
"If you want to be a top player you need to work hard, constantly reflect and want to learn and then of course you need to have that confidence that he’s got so naturally.
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"He’s coming across so fantastically: he’s humble, calm, but with a mindset of a lion."
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By comparison, Kai Havertz is the top scorer at Stamford Bridge this term with just seven Premier League goals, while the £97.5m spent on Lukaku in 2021 has also gone down the drain as he continues to struggle out on loan with Inter.
The Belgian forward would manage just eight top-flight goals last season and has registered just three in Serie A during his current loan spell, so looks unlikely to be the saviour at Chelsea next year.
Not only is Toney a younger, more confident goalscorer than Lukaku, but he has also averaged far more shots (3 vs 1.7), aerials won (3.4 vs 1.6) and average passes (23.1 vs 13.2) than the 29-year-old this season, so could represent a significant upgrade at Stamford Bridge should Boehly bring him in.
West Bromwich Albion enjoyed a relatively quiet January transfer window, but admittedly they were hardly in need of vast reinforcements.
Carlos Corberan had already inherited a relatively strong squad and managed to knit them together into a unit which will now have eyes on a return to the Premier League. Considering where the Baggies lay prior to Steve Bruce’s dismissal, this marks an outstanding turnaround.
There was no need for his Spanish successor to go wild in the transfer market, as it offers unpredictability alongside the potential to upset his finely-tuned machine, although he did supplement the squad with two new arrivals and nearly added a third on deadline day.
It was reported by the Evening Standard that Albion had agreed a deal with Chelsea starlet Omari Hutchinson to join until the end of the season, with the 19-year-old turning down offers from Europe and other Championship clubs in favour of a move to The Hawthorns.
However, according to The Athletic’s Elias Burke, it appeared that complications arose, which in turn led to Karlan Grant’s failed move to Swansea City. As such, both deals could not be completed in time, and the clubs missed out on their respective targets.
This arguably would have been the perfect move for West Brom to make given their current situation, bringing in a super-talented teenager to supplement the likes of John Swift, push them for a place in the team or even offer an instant upgrade to drive the team even closer to their objective of promotion.
The youngster has impressed this season for Chelsea’s youth setup and already boasts two senior appearances, having only moved from Arsenal last summer.
In 14 Premier League 2 appearances, he has notched five goals and a further seven assists. This is further supplemented by his three goal contributions in four EFL Trophy matches.
His dynamism paired with a fine technical proficiency would have made him an ideal partner for Daryl Dike to play off of, with the American having only recently returned from a lengthy spell on the sidelines.
He has notched two goals in his last three league games and will likely play a big role in their promotion push. His return adds pace and power, as well as the cutting edge that they had been lacking up front, and he would have surely thrived from the service of Hutchinson.
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Graham Potter’s line about the teenager’s performance during a mid-season friendly further outlined exactly what Dike and West Brom will miss out on, with the Chelsea manager saying: “[Hutchinson] was really good, dangerous and asked a question all the time.”
That prying offensive nature could have been the additional spark to add even more goals to a solid West Brom outfit with the Championship’s fourth-best defensive record.
They should still finish in the play-offs without him, but he could have been the vital difference towards going even further and daring to dream of an automatic promotion spot.
Reported West Ham United transfer target Youssef En-Nesyri could be made available for sale during the upcoming January window.
The Lowdown: West Ham linked with En-Nesyri
The Premier League club have been linked with a move for the Sevilla striker in the past, most recently during the previous summer transfer window.
Since then, the 25-year-old has gone on to make 15 appearances for his club across all competitions this season, while he also grabbed a goal for Morocco in the World Cup as he helped his country to top their group ahead of Croatia, Belgium and Canada.
Now that another transfer window is set to open for business in the coming weeks, it seems as though En-Nesyri could be at the centre of attention once again.
The Latest: En-Nesyri potentially up for sale
According to a recent report from Marca, Sevilla could look to cash in on the striker in January to improve their financial situation.
The report also mentions West Ham’s previous interest in signing the Moroccan in both January 2021 and last summer.
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The Verdict: A question for West Ham
With just two La Liga starts to his name across 10 appearances this term, it seems that the striker – who was once described as “prolific” by journalist Muhammad Butt – is not Sevilla’s first-choice at the moment, despite boasting 73 goals across club and international level.
However, the Moroccan has still shown how much of a threat he can offer by posting the second-highest rate of shots at goal per 90 minutes (3.98) at his club, along with the highest rate of shots on target per 90 minutes (1.49).
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Considering how only four teams have a lower rate of shots on target per 90 than West Ham (3.53) in the Premier League this season, it could be said that a player with En-Nesyri’s attacking quality is something which could greatly benefit David Moyes’ side.
With all of that in mind, it could well be worth the Hammers testing the water to see how much it could take for Sevilla to sell the Morocco striker in January.
Wolverhampton Wanders look like they are about to complete a surprise move for a former Premier League striker due to their current injury crisis.
What’s the news?
The Athletic reported on Sunday night that Wolves were considering a deal to sign former Chelsea striker Diego Costa and he was arriving at Molineux on Tuesday for a trial.
This morning however, the same outlet stated that Costa will now be having a medical at the club on Tuesday ahead of a proposed move to England.
This comes after Bruno Lage lost new signing Sasa Kalajdzic to an ACL injury on his debut while Raul Jimenez is still struggling to come back to full fitness.
Costa could be a surprise fix for Lage
With the transfer window only ending last Thursday, it looked as though the Old Gold would be done with any further new arrivals in 2022. However, they have taken the rather surprising and unexpected decision to head back into the market with their hand being forced following events at the weekend.
Wolves got their first Premier League win of the campaign at home to Southampton on Saturday as they won 1-0, but it came at a cost with injuries to Kalajdzic and Jimenez overshadowing the victory.
The club’s goalscoring woes were clearly evident recently, netting only twice in the league before Saturday and with their two main goal threats ruled out going forward, it has led to desperate measures for Lage.
Jimenez was the club’s top scorer last term with six goals, while their recent arrival has bagged 24 league goals in the last two seasons.
Costa has been without a club since January 2022, with his contract at Brazilian side Atletico Mineiro terminated and this means Lage can sign him outside of the summer transfer window.
Despite his proven experience in the English top flight, the fact he hasn’t played since January could be a massive cause for concern, but Lage obviously sees the talent the player possesses.
The 33-year-old has scored 52 Premier League goals and registered a further 18 assists in the competition as he helped Chelsea to win titles in 2015 and 2017, while he also won a host of honours at Atletico Madrid, including the Copa Del Rey and La Liga.
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With ten goals in 24 appearances for Spain and having played at two World Cups, the bullish forward will certainly bring big game experience to a Wolves side badly needing rejuvenation in the form of goals and points.
It’s highly unlikely the club will get the attacker who was at his peak between 2013-2017, but it could well be a surprising Lage masterstroke, as his season could well be saved by the addition of another goalscorer.
Jose Mourinho described Costa as an “animal” during his prime and the Old Gold certainly need some predatory instincts in the box to turn around their campaign.