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West Ham United have now held talks about the signing of FC Lorient striker Terem Moffi, according to a new report.

The Lowdown: Interest in Moffi

There are said to be several Premier League teams interested in signing Moffi, with Everton considering an approach, although Southampton were recently considered the favourites for his signature.

However, the Saints have had a £15m bid rejected for the striker, meaning that West Ham could still hijack the move, if David Moyes is willing to table a higher offer.

The Latest: West Ham hold talks

According to a report from 90min, the Hammers have now held talks over the signing of the Nigeria international, and they are currently in the process of exploring whether a deal is possible.

The 23-year-old is not the only target outlined in the report, however, as it also details that the Irons have made contact with Sevilla about Youssef En-Nesyri.

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The Verdict: Make it happen?

En-Nesyri is clearly a quality player, far more dominant in the air, as indicated by winning an average of 3.15 aerials per 90 over the past year, compared to a figure of just 1.16 from the Lorient man, but West Ham need goals quickly, which Moffi would be able to provide.

The Nigerian has scored ten times in 16 Ligue 1 appearances this term, following up an impressive 2021/22 season, in which he netted eight goals and four assists in the French top flight, being lauded as ‘incredible’ by football scout Jacek Kulig for his efforts.

With Gianluca Scamacca struggling to find the back of the net, scoring just three in the Premier League this season, Moyes needs a new source of goals from somewhere, and there is every indication that Moffi has the talent to be a long-term success at the London Stadium, especially given that he is still at a young age.

Manchester United have already begun their January transfer window by signing Burnley striker Wout Weghorst on loan until the end of the season as Erik ten Hag moved to improve his squad’s attacking options.

The 52-year-old could be eyeing up another couple of signings before the transfer window closes, with another attacking potentially option on the cards, along with a defender.

The Old Trafford club have been linked with Celtic right-back Josip Juranovic since the summer, and according to Sky Sports reporter Dharmesh Sheth (live transfer blog, 10 January, 16:02; via MSN), United are continuing to monitor his progress and he could be available for just £7m – what looks a bargain fee in the modern transfer market.

Aaron Wan-Bissaka’s future at United is uncertain, but Ten Hag could have a licence to ditch the Englishman should he secure a deal for Juranovic.

The £90k-per-week defender has played only seven times across all competitions this season as the manager has often favoured Diogo Dalot at right-back, and it looks like his future lies away from Old Trafford.

On the other hand, the Croatian has been attracting interest due to his performances north of the border for Celtic. Since joining the current Scottish Premiership champions in the summer of 2021, he has made 51 appearances for the Hoops while scoring six goals and registering three assists.

He has been in superb form this season when he has played, averaging a Sofascore rating of 7.19/10 across his nine league appearances so far, making 1.1 clearances and 1.3 tackles per game while succeeding with 58% of his total duels, proving to be a reliable option defensively.

The 27-year-old showcased his attacking abilities last season, netting three league goals and creating four big chances while making 1.3 key passes per game, and these traits could allow him to excel in Ten Hag’s side.

Although Scottish football can sometimes looked down upon compared to the Premier League due to their positions on the UEFA association club coefficient, Juranovic was one of Croatia’s finest performers at the recent World Cup with a rating of 7.13/10, which suggests that he could more than hold his own against the best players in the world.

He was dubbed “unbelievable” by former Premier League defender William Gallas, and Ten Hag could ditch Wan-Bissaka and push for a move for the Celtic sensation this month as he continues to stamp his own authority on the United squad.

Journalist Fabrizio Romano says that Newcastle United have ‘submitted a new proposal’ to try and sign Flamengo attacking midfielder Matheus Franca.

The Lowdown: Have pushed before

It was reported by Romano earlier this month that Newcastle will ‘push again’ to try and sign Franca, after opening talks over his potential signing in December.

After the signing of young Australian talent Garang Kuol, the St. James’ Park outfit have also been linked with a move for 19-year-old Edouard Michut, and adding 18-year-old Franca into the mix shows the direction that the club are trying to head in in terms of buying prospects with the promise to grow into superstars in the future.

The Latest: Offer made

Taking to Twitter, Romano has revealed that the Tynesiders have ‘submitted a new proposal’ for Franca, offering a total package of €16m (£14m) to Flamengo, while he is also attracting the interest of both Lyon and Real Madrid:

“Newcastle have submitted a new proposal for Brazilian talent Matheus Franca, offering €16m package to Flamengo.

“Understand Matheus Franca is also in Olympique Lyon list — Real Madrid have sent scouts to monitor him in Brazil as well.”

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The Verdict: Exciting!

Eddie Howe’s side seem really intent on gathering a serious crop of exciting young players together, and Franca could turn out to be a star for them in years to come should he sign.

The midfielder, who can also play up front and on the wings, has already played 28 times for Flamengo by the age of 18, scoring seven goals (Transfermarkt), and has won both the Copa do Brasil and Copa Libertadores.

Howe already has two Brazilians starring in his XI, and adding the exciting Franca could eventually form a dominant trio packed with flair and exuberance.

Franca is thought to have a €100m (£87m) release clause in his contract and has been courted by Manchester City as well as Madrid, further highlighting how highly rated he is, so the Magpies must look to get this deal done as soon as possible.

Leeds United winger Jack Harrison is the subject of interest from a number of European clubs ahead of a potential exit from Elland Road, according to journalist Ben Jacobs.

The Lowdown: Harrison struggling for goals

The 26-year-old hasn’t always been a key performer for the Whites this season, starting 14 times in the Premier League but arguably flattering to deceive in his performances.

Just one league goal has come Harrison’s way in 16 appearances overall in the current campaign, and that was against Chelsea in August. His influence has arguably diminished with Jesse Marsch at the helm, scoring only five times in 30 appearances under his current boss.

The £50k-per-week Englishman has been linked with a move away from Leeds in recent weeks, and it appears that he has plenty of suitors from the Premier League and abroad.

The Latest: Harrison a wanted man

Speaking to GiveMeSport, Jacobs claimed that there is interest in Harrison from several prominent clubs, with an exit from Elland Road perhaps still possible before the end of the month.

The CBS Sports journalist said of the Leeds winger:

“I know that there are clubs who he is still on the radar for. In particular, away from Arsenal, there are even a couple of European teams that are looking as well.

“Atalanta are one of them and I’m also told that Ajax have been keeping tabs on him since the summer.”

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The Verdict: Time to leave in the summer?

Harrison has reached a crossroads in his Leeds career, with his contract expiring next year and a feeling that things may have possibly started to grow a little stale in recent months.

His goalscoring record this season is a testament to that, with younger attacking team-mate Crysencio Summerville emerging to score four top-flight goals already in 2022/23.

At this point, Leeds could still earn a hefty sum from selling Harrison, so parting with him during the summer transfer window feels like the most logical option. A January exit would make little sense, weakening Marsch’s squad depth at a crucial point in the campaign when the manager has already had to deal with a plethora of injuries.

The winger had been hailed as ‘absolutely superb’ by Conor McGilligan earlier in the season, having scored 29 times for the Whites, but Harrison might feel that a change is needed if he is to reinvigorate himself.

Aston Villa are slowly shaping into a fluid outfit of head coach Unai Emery’s crafting, and could further bolster the squad with the signing of Matteo Guendouzi before the culmination of the January transfer window…

What’s the latest?

Having tied up deals for left-back Alex Moreno and young forward Jhon Duran already this winter, Emery is now looking to inject a vigorous boost into the centre of the park, and Olympique Marseille maestro Matteo Guendouzi has indeed been distinguished.

An earlier report from 90min stated that the French ace has been of firm interest to Emery as he looks to reunite with a star he previously had under his wing at Arsenal, with the outlet continuing to state that his outfit value him at €50m (£44m), which could prove to be a stumbling block at the season’s midpoint.

Recently speaking to the GIVEMESPORT, prominent transfer insider Fabrizio Romano recently sparked further fire onto the rumours by confirming that the Midlands outfit are indeed awaiting an opportunity to pounce on the former Premier League gem.

Romano said: “For Guendouzi, Marseille are still waiting for Aston Villa to make an official proposal to them, but they are pursuing the player.”

Emery’s new warrior

Guendouzi made 82 appearances for Arsenal when he last played in the Premier League – 66 of them under Emery – but failed to stake his claim for a regular starting berth in the Gunners’ outfit, taking a series of loan moves before departing for Marseille on a permanent transfer in 2022 for £9m.

Since then, the seven-cap France international has cemented his position as a regular presence in his outfit’s system, blending robust physicality with passing prowess to earn the attention of the likes of Aston Villa, whose hierarchy view him as the ideal fit to orchestrate the play from the centre.

As per Sofascore, the 23-year-old “warrior” – as he was once lauded by Robert Pires – recorded an average rating of 7.00 in Ligue 1 last term, boasting a solid rating of 6.93 this time out.

And this season, his 88% passing accuracy and 0.8 key passes per match highlight his creative flair and assurance in recycling possession, with the 1.2 tackles per match vital in snuffing out danger before it seeps into the defensive third.

Villa’s technical director will be pushing with all of his might to secure Guendouzi, who is swiftly asserting his authority on the major stage, and with the player ranking among the top 15% of positional peers across Europe’s big five leagues for rate of assists and the top 11% for progressive passes, the impact he would have on the collective offensive efforts is a clear illustration of the talent that he would instil.

Guendouzi is the fiery presence that every midfield needs, and should the Villans prove to be successful in a bid for his signature, that aura would only flicker into a roaring furnace, providing Emery with that unflinching, inflexible ‘warrior’ that can spearhead the charge to the dream of silverware and European endeavours once again.

Manchester United have been unable to yield the comprehensive might of their usual transfer activity this winter, with the uncertainty engulfing the ownership situation leaving Erik ten Hag opting for the shrewder route.

What’s the word?

And according to 90min, the Red Devils have one eye firmly fixed on the contractual situation regarding Borussia Dortmund stalwart Marco Reus.

The report continues that while the Yellow Wall are attempting to complete a renewal for one of their most distinguished current crop, Reus’ agent is attempting to drum up interest from elsewhere as the player approaches the twilight stage of his career, with United indeed interested.

While 90min relay news from Sky Sports Germany stating that Dortmund director Sebastien Kehl expects the ace to remain with the club he has plied his trade for the past decade, an enticing package from Old Trafford could prompt a switch in colours.

Ten Hag’s Tadic repeat?

With the loan signing of Wout Weghorst already completed to replace Cristiano Ronaldo, who terminated his contract with his two-time stomping ground of Old Trafford, United’s cohesive and free-flowing outfit is finely balanced, but another well-placed transfer this month could prove worthwhile.

And while Reus isn’t getting any younger, acquiring his signature for the next couple of years could be a major steal for Ten Hag.

Having made 368 appearances for Dortmund since his £14.5m move from Borussia Monchengladbach in 2012, the “crazy” talented veteran – as one hailed by former teammate Axel Witsel – German has scored 156 goals and served 117 assists, winning the German Bundesliga player of the Year on three occasions.

There is, however, the matter of his dreadful injury record, with the player having consistently missed periods of football throughout the majority of his career.

Despite this, he is still a capable pro with an abundance of talent and offensive impetus at his feet, with his performances last season chalking up 13 goals and 18 assists across all competitions.

With a transfer, Ten Hag could emulate his signing of Dusan Tadic for Ajax Amsterdam, which played out to resounding success.

The £187k-per-week Reus is currently 33-year-old, and while Tadic was only 29 when he arrived in Amsterdam in 2018, the latter has gone on to become one of the distinguished outfit’s most integral cogs; a conduit through which all flows for his relentless outfit.

Having made 219 appearances across all competitions since his £10m arrival from Southampton, the Serbian has scored 96 goals and 103 assists, including 61 direct contributions from 56 outings during his debut campaign, when Ajax narrowly missed out on the Champions League final after Tottenham Hotspur pulled off a miraculous comeback in the semi-final.

As such, while making a lunge for a veteran with a shoddy injury record might appear a daft addition on surface value for a robust, burgeoning Premier League squad, the Red Devils could only benefit from his leadership and wealth of experience.

Should Ten Hag prove successful in his pursuit, he might just replicate the crafting of Tadic’s resounding success at Ajax.

Ben Jacobs has revealed that Newcastle United have taken a look at Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.

The Lowdown: PIF set to go big in the summer

Newcastle decided to bolster their attacking options in January after letting Chris Wood go on loan, despite heading into the window with their priority being a new midfielder, which was surely only increased when Jonjo Shelvey departed.

Eddie Howe had spoken to the media about how the club wouldn’t spend lavishly in January and handcuff themselves in future transfer windows, so the arrival of just two new players won’t be a surprise to many.

While Newcastle were seemingly very keen on Anthony Gordon from the summer all the way up until January, that didn’t stop reports suggesting they were still looking at other targets such as Kvaratskhelia, who was said to be their number-one target heading into the window.

The Latest: Kvaratskhelia will be difficult to sign

Newcastle may well retain an interest in Kvaratskhelia as Jacobs spoke about on his latest Twitter Space, but luring him from runaway Serie A leaders Napoli could be a difficult task.

He said: “Other wide players for Newcastle that I think are worth keeping an eye on; ‘Kvaradona’ as he’s known, like Maradona, a player at Napoli often compared to Georgi Kinkladze – they share the same nationality as well. Manchester City have looked, Newcastle have looked.

“Really difficult to get anyone away from Napoli, though, because they’re flying at the moment, but who knows, the summer might be a different situation.”

The Verdict: Newcastle could flex their financial muscles

If Newcastle were able to land the Georgian winger, who has a reported £50m price tag on his head, it would be a sensational piece of business as he’s been tearing up Serie A this season with 17 goal involvements and combined impressively with Victor Osimhen last weekend for one of the goals of the season.

Kvaratskhelia was signed by Napoli for a reported £10m last summer and he’s already helped them to edge ever closer to a first Serie A title in decades, so he’s arguably already paid back the club and the fans for having faith in him.

The winger is certainly starting to catch the eye of people outside of Italy and Naples, with editor Bill DiFilippo claiming he is ‘different gravy’ – so he could seemingly be a player who can take Newcastle to that next level, especially if they manage to secure Champions League football.

Leeds United’s wretched form since returning from the break for the 2022 World Cup continued as they lost 1-0 to Nottingham Forest on Sunday.

Jesse Marsch’s side had not won a Premier League match since beating Bournemouth 4-3 in November and they were unable to change that at the City Ground.

The Whites started quickly but were hit with a sucker punch in the 14th minute of the match as Brennan Johnson produced a wonderful volley from the edge of the box to beat Illan Meslier – slamming the ball into the back of the net from Pascal Struijk’s clearance – and that turned out to be the only goal of the game.

One player whose performance was disappointing was centre-forward Patrick Bamford as the marksman failed what could be described as Marsch’s big test at the City Ground.

Earlier this week, the club confirmed that Spanish striker Rodrigo, who has scored ten goals in the Premier League this season, is set to miss up to two months of action with a leg injury.

This afforded Bamford the opportunity to lead the line against Forest and it was a significant chance for the Englishman to prove that he can step up and fill the void left by the Spaniard.

He had scored two and assisted two in his last two FA Cup appearances but his Premier League form throughout the campaign has left a lot to be desired with the 29-year-old having only found the back of the net once so far.

Before being substituted in the second half, the former Chelsea man failed to trouble Keylor Navas as his two shots were either blocked or missed the target. The forward also ceded possession eight times from 25 touches and Marsch may not have been impressed by the lack of concentration and, or, quality with his passing.

This shows that Bamford struggled in possession and had very little impact on the team at the top end of the pitch, both in terms of the sharpness of his shooting and his creativity on the ball to help his teammates.

The £70k-per-week dud was also a lightweight in the number nine position as the forward was bullied out of the game by Scott McKenna and Willy Boly. He lost 100% (4/4) of his individual duels in the match and this shows that the striker struggled to deal with the physicality posed by the opposition.

Therefore, it is clear to see just how the 29-year-old failed Marsch’s big test. In and out of possession, Bamford was unable to prove that he is the man to step up in Rodrigo’s absence, which could lead to the manager thinking of alternative solutions for the upcoming matches.

West Ham United’s manager shocked some of the media on Saturday night with an admission he made on the future of his star man, Declan Rice.

What’s the latest?

The Hammers earned a hard-fought point on the weekend against the high-flying Newcastle United which has seen West Ham climb outside of the relegation zone.

However, after the game, Moyes commented on the future of his main man who has been heavily linked with a potential move away in the summer:

‘Undoubtedly he’s going to be a top player and undoubtedly he’ll be a British transfer record and more whenever he leaves West Ham,’ said Moyes.

Rice has been linked with a possible move across London with the likes of Arsenal believed to be interested in snapping up the England midfielder this summer.

And speaking on his YouTube channel, journalist Craig Hope admits the comments shocked some in the press room as he admitted Rice could leave the club:

“David Moyes said afterwards – and I thought it was quite a telling admission; you know, it was fairly unprompted. He said whenever Declan Rice leaves West Ham, the bidding starts at a British transfer record.”

Set for summer exit

The future of the midfielder is in question as a result of his ongoing contract debacle which will seemingly go into the summer leaving him with just one-year remaining on his deal.

It has been reported the Hammers have offered their midfielder numerous contract extensions which has seen Rice reject an extended stay on three occasions.

And it is understandable why there are teams chasing Rice ahead of the summer and why the Irons seemingly value the player so highly after what he showed on the weekend.

Across the 90 minutes on Tyneside, Rice racked up three tackles, three interceptions and a clearance, as well as providing a key pass (via Sofascore).

It was apparent Hope was left impressed with the midfielder, with the journalist suggesting he dominated the game at St. James’ Park:

“He just looked bigger, stronger, quicker than everybody else. I thought he was absolutely outstanding. You can see why he is England’s first-choice midfielder.”

But with Rice reportedly rejecting three contract offers, it now seemingly puts a new responsibility on the club to get the absolute maximum price for the midfielder in the summer.

And the type of money which Rice could potentially bring in could allow the Irons to invest back into their squad and build on what has been a fairly disappointing campaign to date.

Liverpool are thought to be ‘close’ to appointing a replacement for former Director of Research Ian Graham, according to Jonathan Northcroft for The Times.

The Lowdown: Boardroom exodus at Liverpool

The Reds are having a tough season under Jurgen Klopp, failing to hit the heights of recent years and looking very likely to miss out on a top-four finish amid their current mid-table position in the Premier League.

Off the pitch, things have also been far from ideal, with hugely successful sporting director Michael Edwards leaving Anfield last year, his replacement Julian Ward moving on soon and Graham also departing.

It is essential that these roles are filled before long, and it looks as though Liverpool are making positive progress in that respect.

The Latest: Replacement now close

Taking to Twitter in sharing a corresponding article for The Times, Northcroft claimed that the Reds are closing in on a replacement for Graham:

“It’s going to require getting back to making the kind of brilliant transfer calls that underpinned the team’s rise. Gordon is gone, Michael Edwards too. Julian Ward leaving. But club are close to replacing Ian Graham and that’s a significant boost.”

Northcroft detailed in his report for The Times that ‘a leading data specialist, already working at a high level in football, is lined up as Graham’s replacement’.[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/liverpool-transfer-news-and-rumours/” title=”Liverpool Transfer News and Rumours” poster=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/cropped-2021-03-07T155652Z_1459311687_UP1EH3718ASBK_RTRMADP_3_SOCCER-ENGLAND-LIV-FUL-REPORT.jpg” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”] The Verdict: Huge summer at Liverpool

Nailing down Graham’s successor is just one of many things that Liverpool simply must get right in the coming months ahead of what looks set to be a pivotal summer in the club’s history, with FSG potentially selling the club.

This season will hopefully be considered nothing more than a one-off setback in an otherwise golden period under Jurgen Klopp, with the hope being that big signings such as Jude Bellingham and a new sporting director and director of research will come in at Anfield.

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Should that happen, with the Reds’ current players recharging their batteries and regaining full fitness, there is no reason why Liverpool can’t get back to their recent heights again next season.

This news is certainly a big positive as it suggests that the club are on course to address some of the issues behind the scenes, but it must only be the start of the turnaround.