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Everton have yet to make a signing during the January transfer window so far, despite several areas needing to be upgraded.

David Moyes appears to be getting things right on the pitch since taking over from Sean Dyche, recording two wins from his first three Premier League matches.

Plenty of players have been linked with a move to Goodison Park, but time is running out to secure a new arrival or two.

Although their recent win over Brighton and Hove Albion gives the Toffees some breathing space in the league table, they aren’t out of the woods just yet.

Moyes will be keen to see his side keep their foot on the gas over the next few games. Leicester City are the next opponent in the league, which represents an ideal opportunity to move even further away from the drop zone.

Might the manager have a signing or two in the door by the time this game rolls around? It looks as though he is working hard to make things happen.

As it happens, they could well sign their next Big Dunc before the window is done…

Duncan Ferguson’s Everton stats

Cast your mind back over 30 years ago. Ferguson joined Rangers in the summer of 1993 for a fee in the region of £4m, making him the most expensive British player at the time.

It didn’t quite work out as planned for the burly Scot, who failed to settle in Glasgow, despite his obvious talents, It wasn’t until he joined the Toffees on loan in October 1994, before eventually signing for the English side on a permanent basis, that he begun to shine.

He endeared himself to the Goodison Park faithful by helping the club defeat Manchester United in the 1995 FA Cup final, which is still their last major honour.

As time went on, Ferguson secured cult figure status in Merseyside. Across two different spells, he went on to make a total of 267 appearances for the club, scoring 70 goals while registering 12 assists.

He later returned in a coaching capacity, before assisting Carlo Ancelotti, even taking charge of Everton in a caretaker role on two occasions.

So, why in 2025 is this all relevant? Well, Everton look as though they’re heading back to Rangers for a new recruit.

Everton targeting attacking starlet

According to journalist Graeme Bailey, the Toffees are still showing an interest in Rangers striker Hamza Igamane.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

“Igamane is a player of real interest to a number of Premier League clubs as the window closes. Everton still like him, they have done work on him,” said Bailey.

“It remains to be seen if they make a push, Tottenham have joined the hunt for him but a host of clubs are now looking – he is one to really keep an eye on the final week or so of the window.”

It was reported before Christmas that Everton had sent scouts to watch Igamane during the Europa League clash between the Gers and Tottenham Hotspur, but it looks as though Moyes is keen to make a deal happen sooner rather than later.

If so, Everton could perhaps land Ferguson 2.0 by signing the Moroccan striker, luring a promising attacker from Glasgow south of the border.

Why Hamza Igamane would be a good signing for Rangers

Plenty of eyebrows were raised when the Light Blues paid around £1.7m to sign the unknown Igamane from Moroccan side AS FAR last summer.

Considering Philippe Clement required a player who was able to hit the ground running and had plenty of experience in senior football, Igamane’s arrival was a surprise indeed.

Fast-forward a few months later, however, and it appears to have turned into a wonderful bargain.

Since making his debut against Celtic at the start of September, the 22-year-old has played 27 times for the Ibrox side, finding the back of the net on 13 occasions, proving plenty of the doubters wrong.

It isn’t just his goalscoring feats that have pleased the Ibrox faithful either, as his overall abilities have been impressive. He is able to hold the ball up well, linking up with those behind him, plus his versatility has seen the striker perform better than expected.

He was praised by journalist Josh Bunting following the stunning 3-0 win over Celtic, who said of the centre-forward: “Hamza Igamane is not staying at Rangers long in my opinion. Think someone at a higher level will pick him up. So much talent and potential there. Movement is so good out of possession, smart with his runs. Into channels or into the central zones. I’ve been so impressed with him.”

Hamza Igamane’s Rangers stats this season
Metric	Europa League	Premiership
Goals	4	9
Assists	1	1
Shots on target per game	1.2	1.2
Big chances created	1	5
Successful dribbles per game	1.4	1.3
Via Sofascore

His performances in the Europa League have been the most impressive aspect, however. Across five matches in the competition, the youngster has scored four goals, scoring once every 71 minutes for the Gers.

Additionally, the Moroccan, who’s been dubbed “outrageous” by analyst Ben Mattinson, also averages 1.6 shots per game in Europe’s second-tier competition, along with creating one big chance and averaging 1.4 key passes and successful dribbles each match for the club.

These displays on the continent have arguably shown the clubs interested that Igamane has everything in his locker to shine at the very highest level.

Moyes is desperately keen on bringing in some new attacking talent, especially with Dominic Calvert-Lewin suffering an injury against Brighton recently.

Much will depend on the sort of fee Rangers are after, especially considering the striker only joined the Scottish club last summer.

If an offer high enough was presented to Clement, he may find it hard to turn down, with the financial issues at the club needing to be resolved as soon as possible.

Igamane may have started the season as a work in progress, but just seven months later, he is showing the sort of form which has attracted those in the Premier League.

Everton aren’t alone in their admiration of the 22-year-old, indicating the need for Moyes to act swiftly.

Not Lovelace: Rangers may have next big talent in "really bright" teen

Rangers have a few young talents in the squad who deserve more game time.

By
Ross Kilvington

Jan 24, 2025

As Andrew Robertson continues to struggle, Liverpool have reportedly opened talks to sign a young left-back who could eventually replace the ageing Scotsman at Anfield.

Liverpool transfer news

The Reds have been unstoppable at times in the current campaign, losing just twice in all competitions and leading the Premier League and Champions League. What will also please manager Arne Slot is how his side bounced back from their shock defeat against Tottenham Hotspur in the Carabao Cup by matching expectations and easing past League Two side Accrington Stanley in the FA Cup.

However, the Spurs defeat may have signalled some alarm bells for the Dutchman, as his side struggled to match the Lilywhites’ intensity just days after being held to a 2-2 draw against rivals Manchester United.

Once again, Robertson was at the scene when Amad Diallo equalised late on for Manchester United last time out at Anfield and questions are being asked once more about whether it is time for the Reds to replace the Scotland captain – questions that they could answer this month.

Forget Kvaratskhelia: Liverpool could land star with 'Mane at Saints vibes'

Liverpool are looking to strengthen their frontline this year.

ByAngus Sinclair Jan 10, 2025

According to reports relayed by Sport Witness, Liverpool have now held talks to sign El Hadji Malick Diouf with the left-back’s agent in a deal that would need to meet Slavia Prague’s €25m (£21m) valuation.

With the likes of Crystal Palace and Nottingham Forest also eyeing the defender, Liverpool could quickly use their place among the very best in European football to lure him to Anfield.

Just 20 years old, Diouf should be a candidate to replace Robertson for years to come and potentially end a growing problem under Slot. However, whether the Reds make their move as early as this month remains to be seen.

Diouf remains one to watch

Whilst the likes of Milos Kerkez would steal greater headlines, it wouldn’t be the first time that Michael Edwards went against the obvious choice at Anfield, and Diouf’s £17m price tag should certainly be tempting. A player who Slot can mould into the reliable option that Robertson has struggled to become under the Dutchman, Diouf is certainly one to watch.

With six goals and three assists to his name in all competitions this season, Liverpool certainly wouldn’t have to worry about Diouf’s attacking output and ability to replicate the quality that Robertson handed the Reds for several years.

The left-back spot is certainly up for grabs at Liverpool. Whether it’s Kerkez, Diouf or another option, replacing Robertson is seemingly becoming a growing priority following his struggles.

If they are to set their sights on more than just this season’s Premier League title, welcoming a future star in Diouf would be one way to achieve that rather than fall back on Robertson, especially if they make their move before the winter window closes.

Newcastle United have yet to make a January signing and with just over a week before the window closes, time is running out for Eddie Howe.

The Magpies are in contention for a top-four finish in the Premier League amid a decent run of results of late, but a new arrival or two could certainly help this cause.

Plenty of names have been linked with a move to St James’ Park, especially defenders. Ousmane Diomande from Sporting CP is one player who Howe is keen on signing, but he could cost too much this month.

This could see the manager turn elsewhere for a new centre-back…

Newcastle's search for a centre-back

According to journalist Graeme Bailey, Newcastle have been offered the chance to sign defender Eric Garcia, who is currently at Barcelona, having also played in the Premier League for Manchester City.

Transfer Focus

The 24-year-old has been scouted previously by the Magpies, according to Bailey, and with their need for another centre-back heightening throughout the transfer window, could they strike a deal this month perhaps?

His contract at the Catalan side expires in 2026, which means Howe will have to pay a decent fee in order to secure his signature before the end of the window.

If so, would they be getting someone who is even better than Diomande?

Why Newcastle should sign Eric Garcia

The Spaniard won a league title during his spell with City, but it is while playing for Barcelona that the centre-back has really come into his own.

The 24-year-old has made nearly 100 appearances for the La Liga side, and he would almost certainly be a vital player for Howe, no doubt about that.

Accurate passes

32.6 (92%)

Tackles

1.2

Key passes

0.1

Interceptions

0.4

Total duels won

3

Possession lost

4x

When compared to his positional peers across Europe’s top five leagues, Garcia currently ranks in the top 3% for shot-creating actions (1.64), the top 2% for progressive carries (1.86), the top 1% for progressive passes (8.05) and in the top 14% for tackles (2.05) per 90 over the previous 365 days.

These statistics prove that he is a forward-thinking defender who loves to play the ball out of the defence as often as possible, starting attacks from his own half.

In comparison, Diomande doesn’t show anywhere near the same level of performance across these metrics.

Indeed, the Sporting CP defender ranks in the bottom 92% for shot-creating actions (0.38), the bottom 85% for progressive carries (0.26) and progressive passes (2.29), along with ranking in the bottom 86% for tackles (1.02) per 90 when compared to his peers in Europe’s top five leagues.

This proves that Garcia may be the better option for Howe, especially as he could cost slightly less than Diomande.

The £96k-per-week star was even hailed as a “monster” by football talent scout Jacek Kulig during his spell with City, indicating how big a talent he was.

On the evidence presented, Garcia would be an excellent signing for Newcastle, especially if they hope to secure qualification for the Champions League.

Will Howe be able to get a deal done this month? Only time will tell.

Imagine him & Isak: Howe chasing £55m talent who’d be “ideal for Newcastle”

Newcastle are gearing up to strengthen their frontline in the transfer market this year.

ByAngus Sinclair Jan 24, 2025

Laxmi Ratan Shukla has been appointed as the head coach of the senior Bengal side for the upcoming season. He succeeds Arun Lal, who stepped down from the post earlier this month.”It’s a new responsibility and I will give my best like I did when I used to play for Bengal,” Shukla, 41, was quoted as saying in a Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) release on Tuesday.”I like taking new challenges. All the past coaches for Bengal did a superb job for the team. We have come close to winning trophies in the past but we’ll have to climb all the way again to reach the top in the new season.”My motto is everyone can and everything is possible. I want everyone to believe in themselves. We will have to develop the art of holding onto our nerves when the situation is tough. All players who have reached this level are all capable. It’s a new year, new season and we are hoping for the best.”Bengal were runners-up in 2019-20 in Ranji Trophy and bowed out of the semi-final earlier this year. They had a rather underwhelming white-ball season in 2021-22, bowing out of the quarter-final in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy while missing out on the knockouts in the 50-over Vijay Hazare Trophy.””The decision is taken by all the office bearers unanimously as we selected the veteran as the most deserving among the other reputed contenders who were up for the slot,” Avishek Dalmiya, the CAB president, said.”I am very hopeful that under him Bengal cricket would reach greater heights as we all know his commitment for Bengal cricket. He can connect with the players very smoothly.”Meanwhile, former head coach of India women’s national side, WV Raman was appointed as the batting consultant while Saurasish Lahiri will continue as the assistant coach of Bengal.Raman was previously head coach of Bengal in 2011-12. Under him they won the Vijay Hazare trophy in 2012 by beating Mumbai, a game in which Shukla made a match-winning century.Bengal will be without Wriddhiman Saha, who will play for Tripura in the 2022-23 season.

Liverpool “must be confident” they can reach an agreement to sign an “unreal” defender, in light of recent developments, according to one insider speaking this week.

Doubts over Andy Robertson grow after Fulham draw

After picking up an early red card during Liverpool’s 2-2 draw against Fulham at the weekend, Andy Robertson has been the subject of heavy criticism from supporters, leading to doubt over his position as first-choice left-back.

Daily Mail reporter Lewis Steele has now given an overview of the players that could be brought in to replace Robertson, should Arne Slot feel that a change is needed, with the Premier League’s Milos Kerkez and Rayan Ait-Nouri among the names listed.

The Reds are also looking at options from further afield, with Bayern Munich’s Alphonso Davies, who is out of contract at the end of the campaign, also among the targets, and recent reports indicate a transfer battle with Real Madrid could be on the cards.

Liverpool’s upcoming Premier League fixtures

Date

Tottenham Hotspur (a)

December 22nd

Leicester City (h)

December 26th

West Ham United (a)

December 29th

Manchester United (h)

January 5th

Nottingham Forest (a)

January 14th

Now, insider Mick Brown has provided a promising update on Liverpool’s pursuit of the left-back in an interview with Football Insider, saying: “From what I hear, Liverpool have had scouts watching him. They’ll know all about him and they’ll be making their assessment on how good they think he is.

“Then, the scouts will report back to the chief scout or even to the manager before a final decision is made based on what they’ve seen. The fact he’s available on a free is a big draw as well, for a player of his stature, because he’s very highly regarded.

“There is lots of interest in him from clubs across Europe, including Real Madrid, so Liverpool may not be able to compete financially with them. But if they’re looking that closely at him, they must be confident that they can reach an agreement.”

Liverpool negotiating with "complete" £100m player ready to move in 2025

He could be an upgrade on Darwin Nunez.

ByTom Cunningham Dec 16, 2024

Should the Reds beat Real Madrid to the Canadian’s signature, there are signs he could be the perfect long-term replacement for Robertson, given the praise he has received from the media and his peers alike.

Journalist Simone Sandri has lauded the 24-year-old as being “unreal”, while teammate Joshua Kimmich described him as “unbelievable” after a remarkable assist against Barcelona in the Champions League.

Not only is the full-back capable of providing assists, but he also has an eye for goal, which was on show when he scored Canada’s first-ever World Cup goal against Croatia in 2022.

That said, it feels a little harsh to replace Robertson after one tough patch, considering just how important he has been for Liverpool over a number of years.

The Scottish defender is still only 30-years-old, meaning he is by no means coming to the end of his career anytime soon, so Slot should continue to monitor his performances over the next few months before making an official move for Davies.

Celtic are in pole position to complete the signing of a “powerful” Premier League player, according to an exciting new transfer report.

Celtic transfer news

The Hoops are flying in the Scottish Premiership title race, showing no sign of slowing up and giving the likes of Aberdeen and Rangers little hope of closing the gap on them. On Saturday, Brendan Rodgers’ side won 3-0 at home to Hibernian, meaning they have now opened up a nine-point lead at the top of the table.

Despite this, the Scottish giants mustn’t rest on their laurels, especially in terms of their success in Europe, so new signings are unsurprisingly being mooted.

One player who has been linked with a move to Celtic is Chelsea’s Carney Chukwuemeka, who has struggled to become an important part of Enzo Maresca’s plans in west London so far this season, not appearing once in the Premier League and playing one solitary game in the EFL Cup, totalling just 14 minutes.

Celtic have also been linked with an audacious move for Manchester United midfielder Christian Eriksen, although a transfer likely wouldn’t materialise until the end of the season. The 32-year-old isn’t at his peak anymore, but he could still be a fantastic option for the Hoops.

Celtic in pole position to sign "powerful" ace

According to a new report from Calciomercato, Celtic are leading the battle to sign Chelsea midfielder Chukwuemeka in the January transfer window. The 21-year-old is also wanted by AC Milan, but the Hoops are currently ahead of the European giants in the pecking order, having “gained pole” in the race. A loan move with an option to buy is mooted for the £100,000-a-week ace.

Carney Chukwuemeka

Chukwuemeka may be struggling to make an impact at Chelsea, but in fairness, there is no shame in that, considering he is being kept out by the likes of Enzo Fernandez, Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia, all of whom cost huge amounts of money.

The young Englishman could be a brilliant signing for Celtic midway through the campaign, though, with Graham Potter praising him during their time together at Stamford Bridge: “Well, if you look at these attributes, he’s a big powerful boy that can run and run away from people, and in a game like Brentford, you’re often in duels and need physicality.

“I thought he and Christian did well when they came on. They affected the game. That was just the thinking. He’s a young player, but he’s got exciting attributes. We just need to help him reach his potential because his potential is exciting.”

A move to Celtic could ultimately be the best outcome for all parties, allowing Chukwuemeka regular football and ensuring the Hoops have additional quality in the middle of the park.

Rangers v Celtic: 8 of the best Old Firm League Cup finals

The Glasgow rivals have shared a few cup final classics over the years.

By
Ross Kilvington

Dec 8, 2024

The Chelsea ace has been capped for England across four different age groups, winning a combined 23 caps, and a switch to Scotland could give him a new lease of life. If there was an option to sign him permanently, that would be even better.

Aston Villa have had an up-and-down season in 2024/25 so far, and are perhaps not achieving what might have been expected of them in the Premier League. Unai Emery’s side are currently seventh in the Premier League, with 25 points to their name.

They are currently three points outside the top four, which is where BBC Sport’s chief football writer Phil McNulty expected them to finish. At the start of the season, he predicted that ‘they will stay in the top four’, and whilst there are still plenty of games left, they do need to start picking up consistent points.

If they fail to secure Champions League football for next season, attracting big-name signings next summer may be a tough port of call. They may have to think smarter in the market and have been linked with one under-the-radar addition.

Aston Villa chasing new striker

The player in question here is Greek striker Stefanos Tzimas. The attacker is currently on loan at Nurnberg in the 2. Bundesliga, joining from Greek side PAOK Thessaloniki, and has impressed so far.

According to a report from Sky Sports Germany’s Florian Plettenberg, several Premier League clubs have taken note of his impressive performances so far. Villa are one of those clubs and could go up against Chelsea and Newcastle United for his signature.

However, there is a caveat to the deal. Tzimas has an optional buy clause in his loan deal which the German side plan to activate this summer. He will join for £14.8m, but will reportedly be immediately sold.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

As Plettenberg states in his report, Nurnberg hope to make upwards of £4.1m in profit by selling the 18-year-old. That means he could cost around £19m to buy in 2025 in what could be one of the more confusing deals of the year.

Why Tzimas would be a good signing for Aston Villa

There is no doubting Tzimas’ talent as a striker. Although he is only 18 years of age, his ability is shining through. Already, he has seven goals and two assists in 13 games in the second tier of Germany this term.

He also made a fantastic impact for PAOK during the 2023/24 campaign. He managed to score four goals and grab one assist in 26 games, and whilst that may not seem like an incredible contribution, he played just 438 minutes. That equates to 4.8 full 90-minute games, which is a great return.

Interestingly, the 18-year-old has scored as many league goals as Ollie Watkins has this season, and one more than the much talked about Jhon Duran, who has six to his name. With his seven league goals this term, no Villa player has found the back of the net more than Tzimas has for Nurnberg.

Indeed, a move away from Villa Park for Duran could be on the cards. Spanish reports back in November previously suggested that he is a target for French giants Paris Saint Germain, who could make a move in January.

Well, whilst any transfer for Tzimas to the Villans could not materialise until the summer due to his complicated loan in Germany, they could target him as the Colombia international’s long-term replacement.

Not only do Tzimas’ goalscoring numbers stack up well against Duran, but so do his underlying stats via FBref. Per 90 minutes in league football this season, the Greek striker averages 0.18 goals per shot and 0.32 goal-creating actions. In comparison, the Villa striker averages 0.23 goals per shot and 0.18 goal-creating actions each 90 minutes.

Goals per shot

0.18

0.23

Expected goals

0.61xG

0.69xG

Shots on target

2.65

2.2

Shot-creating actions

2.65

2.56

Goal-creating actions

0.32

0.18

It is certainly positive for Villa that they may have found a ready-made Duran replacement. Tzimas would have the opportunity to learn from Watkins, who has clearly helped his Colombian teammate become so deadly in front of goal, and Emery would hope he can help the Tzimas too.

Described as a “monster in the making” by football talent scout Jacek Kulig, it could be a fantastic budget signing for Villa for the present and the future.

Emery must drop 5/10 Aston Villa dud who gave away the ball 14 times

Emery must drop 5/10 star who cost Aston Villa against Forest

ByConnor Holden Dec 15, 2024

Hoping to kick the Ruben Amorim era off with a bang on the transfer front, INEOS have reportedly made contact with the agent of a defensive target who would undoubtedly be their biggest signing at Manchester United yet.

Man Utd transfer news

There’s work to be done at Old Trafford. The gap in quality between Manchester United and Arsenal was exposed for all to see in midweek as Mikel Arteta’s side eased past the Red Devils on their way to another Premier League title race. The Gunners put faith in the Spaniard and have been rewarded ever since, climbing out of an era to forget and back into the Champions League.

Now, Manchester United must give Amorim the same treatment and hand the former Sporting Club boss some much-needed targets. Names such as Viktor Gyokeres and Nico Williams have recently stolen the headlines on that front, but it could be a defensive star who becomes INEOS’ biggest star yet when the opportunity arrives.

According to Graeme Bailey for The Boot Room, Manchester United have now contacted the agent of Alphonso Davies following initial reports of their interest and could now take advantage of the left-back’s contract uncertainty.

As things stand, the Canada star is set to leave the Bundesliga giants as a free agent at the end of the season to hand one lucky club one of the bargains of the summer. With talks yet to reach a breakthrough, Manchester United could swoop in when the January transfer window opens to land a pre-contract agreement with the £180,000-a-week defender.

Man Utd sold their original Yoro for £10m, now he's struggling big time

The former Manchester United ace has failed to make an impact away from Old Trafford.

ByEthan Lamb Dec 6, 2024

One of the best, if not the best left-backs in European football, Davies could instantly put an end to United’s struggles down that side of their backline.

"Incredible" Davies would be an instant upgrade

By signing Davies, Manchester United – by coincidence or not – would have three of what could have been a Bayern Munich back four this time last season. But what they would also more crucially have is an instant and reliable upgrade on Luke Shaw who would also slot straight into Amorim’s wing-back role as such a dangerous attacking asset.

Just ask Barcelona and they’ll be quick to admit that Davies is too hot to handle at his best down that left-hand side, with the Bayern star playing a vital part when the Bundesliga giants historically thrashed Lionel Messi and his teammates 8-2 at the Nou Camp.

Since that night, Davies has continued to impress too and earned the high praise of former Bayern Munich manager Julian Nagelsmann, who told reporters via Bavarian Football Works: “He is an extremely fun-loving person who sings a lot and laughs a lot. He is a kind-hearted person, has incredible dynamism. He is far from the end of his development. He will surely become one of the best left offensive defenders in the world.”

INEOS are plotting a move to sign an “electric” £82,000-a-week left-back, as Ruben Amorim has made it a priority at Manchester United, according to a Sky Sports reporter.

The Red Devils played their first game under the Portuguese boss on Sunday, and while they were held to a 1-1 draw at Ipswich Town, there were some early positives for the head coach to take, as he continues to get to know his new crop of players.

Man Utd make approach to "machine" after internal talks, could cost £40m+

The Red Devils have now made contact.

ByBrett Worthington Nov 26, 2024 Man Utd transfer news

The club’s hierarchy appear to be keen to back Amorim in the upcoming transfer windows, as long as the finances are right, but there is also a willingness for them not to rip up the entire squad. However, as every new manager or head coach wants, Amorim will have his eyes on potential players he would like to bring to Old Trafford.

One player who has emerged on their radar in recent weeks is Chelsea’s Christopher Nkunku, and United have made him a top target ahead of the January transfer window. The forward is not getting regular minutes at Stamford Bridge, and United are ready to go all out and bring him to Old Trafford in a deal that could cost them £50 million.

As well as Nkunku, Man United have now made an approach to Ederson from Atalanta. The Red Devils held internal talks over a possible deal and have now approached his agents to get an understanding of a potential transfer. Atalanta don’t want to sell but could be willing to listen to offers should they receive around £40 million. But it seems that there is a position that has become more of a priority for Amorim, as the club has identified a new target.

Man Utd eyeing move for AC Milan's Theo Hernandez

According to Sky Sports Germany reporter Florian Plettenberg, Manchester United are now closely monitoring Theo Hernandez of AC Milan, as they continue their search for a new left-wing back.

The Red Devils do have Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia as their regular left-backs, but both have been injured for a while now, and even though they both appeared in the matchday squad against Ipswich, with Shaw coming off the bench, signing a player for that position is still key for the club.

Hernandez, who has been dubbed “electric” by football analyst Ben Mattinson, has been at Milan since July 2019, when he joined from Real Madrid, and he has been a key player for the Italian side in his six seasons there, playing 30 or more games in all five campaigns before this 2024/25 season.

The 27-year-old has started eight of the 10 league games he has played so far, during which he has captained Milan on multiple occasions. Now, according to Plettenberg, he is someone United are keeping a close eye on, as Amorim has made signing a new left-back a priority.

Apps

10

Goals

2

Assists

2

Big chances created

2

Key passes

1.4

Passing accuracy per game

36.1 (91%)

Clean sheets

3

Interceptions per 90

1.2

Tackles per 90

1.1

Balls recovered per 90

3.9

Dribbled past per 90

0.3

Hernandez is under contract at Milan until the summer of 2026, so he could potentially be a cheap option, as the Italian giants may have to sell him if he is unwilling to sign a contract extension. While he may not cost as much as other players in a transfer fee, he comes with hefty wages, as he earns €98,654 a week, which is roughly £82,366 a week.

West Ham are struggling so far this season, sitting 14th in the Premier League after 11 games, winning three, drawing three, and losing five matches.

Julen Lopetegui was hired to take over from David Moyes, tasked with changing the Hammers playing style. However, things haven’t been plain sailing, with their change of identity proving tough to implement alongside getting results.

Their most recent 0-0 draw with Everton may have bought Lopetegui some time, but if their poor form continues, the Hammers could look to make a change in the managerial hot seat.

The key stats under Julen Lopetegui at West Ham

West Ham are currently averaging 45.3% possession this season, an increase from 40.5% possession under Moyes last season. This improvement is one West Ham wanted to see, hiring a more possession-based manager and looking to guide the team in that direction.

Lopetegui’s tactics have also seen an improvement in shots per game, taking 13.5 this season, compared to 11.8 per game last season. Again, this comes from a change in style, having more of the ball, and being able to assert more control in games to pin teams in and get shots off.

Lastly, West Ham have also improved with their shots conceded per 90, still conceding 16.3 shots – the fourth highest in the league. Comparatively, the Hammers conceded 17.2 shots per match under Moyes last term so there has even been a slight improvement in this aspect.

So why have all of these stats have increased, yet West Ham are performing worse, and struggling for results? Well, their pressing hasn’t improved enough. Lopetegui is not known for coaching his pressing structures, but the athleticism of the team and therefore their inability to cover ground is not great.

West Ham’s PPDA (passes per defensive action) last season was 16.3, the third-worst ranking in the Premier League, only ahead of Sheffield United and Nottingham Forest. This tells us West Ham wouldn’t put much pressure on the ball, and allowed teams to move through the thirds far more easily than other sides.

This does not seem to have improved this season under Lopetegui, meaning West Ham are often exploited and played through in their pressing scheme, and this is due to a multitude of reasons, one of which could be solved with a new managerial appointment.

Manager Focus

Who are the greatest coaches in the land? Football FanCast's Manager Focus series aims to reveal all.

Ruud van Nistelrooy is the answer

Premier League legend, Ruud van Nistelrooy, recently left Manchester United, having spent the past four games in charge of the Red Devils on an interim basis. During those four games, the Dutchman managed three wins and a draw, averaging 2.50 points per match (PPM).

His other managerial experience in senior management comes from PSV (2022-2023), having taken charge of 50 games, averaging 2.20 PPM, and leading PSV to a double, winning the Dutch Cup, and Dutch Super Cup.

The 48-year-old – who coincidentally played 36 times under former Irons boss Manuel Pellegrini at Malaga and Real Madrid – has been known to deploy a 4-2-3-1, something West Ham had success with at times under Moyes.

However, the former United interim manager favours a slightly more aggressive out-of-possession system, looking to win the ball back quickly, whilst cutting off central penetration, often moving between a 4-2-4 and a 4-4-2 hybrid pressing system.

Van Nistelrooy's Eredivisie record compared to Arne Slot and Erik ten Hag.

During the 2022/23 season for PSV, Van Nistelrooy’s side averaged 55.6% of the ball, which was the fourth highest in the Eredivisie, whilst averaging 18.2 shots per game – the third highest in the league and averaging just 10.7 shots against per game, this time the third lowest.

PSV also made 17.7 tackles per 90, the fifth-largest tally in the division, showing their intent to win the ball back, regain control, and hurt teams in transition. Thus, this appointment could help West Ham continue on their quest to control games, bringing in another possession-based coach, but also one who can help their out-of-possession work.

This isn’t just a coaching issue, though. West Ham lack athletes, especially in the middle of the park, so who could Van Nistelrooy bring through to help with this, and are there any internal problem solvers to get him through to January?

Who could benefit from Van Nistelrooy's appointment

In Van Nistelrooy’s 4-2-3-1 system, the two holding midfielder options would be between three players currently in the West Ham squad, with Edson Alvarez, Guido Rodriguez, and Tomas Soucek all familiar with the role.

Goals

0.00

0.00

0.23

Progressive Carries

0.89

0.22

0.27

Progressive Passes

3.78

2.70

3.70

Passes Attempted

51.3

44.2

35.6

Pass Completion %

85.3%

82.7%

80.4%

Passes into Final Third

4.44

3.26

3.15

Tackles

2.44

2.81

1.92

Blocks

1.56

1.69

1.10

Interceptions

1.67

1.09

1.16

Aerial Duels Won

1.33

0.79

4.11

When comparing the metrics of those midfield options above, Alvarez seems to offer the most overall, making the most progressive actions, the most passes, the highest pass completion, and still putting in high defensive actions (most interceptions, second most tackles + blocks behind Rodriguez).

To add athleticism in the middle of the park, 18-year-old midfielder, Lewis Orford could be introduced under Van Nistelrooy, who has been compared to Declan Rice in the past by journalist John Brewin. By adding a more mobile midfielder to the squad, West Ham would be able to better implement their press, especially when going man for man in central areas.

It would, of course, be a risk to appoint the former United striker having only really managed PSV, before taking the assistant manager role at Old Trafford, only to get four games as interim boss before leaving the club.

That said, the risk/reward could be worth it in order for West Ham to fully complete their identity rebrand under a new and exciting coach, who is already well respected in the league.

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