All posts by z3u9t.icu

Leeds United will be well aware of the looming Championship season that draws ever closer, making their reluctance to appoint a new manager somewhat concerning.

With Daniel Farke the frontrunner, it seems that the confirmation of the 49ers' takeover is stalling the official announcement that would allow the German to actually get to work not only with the current squad but in adding to it too.

Despite that, there have already been numerous transfer targets that have seemingly been drawn up by the club. One such example is Coventry City's Viktor Gyokeres, who continues to be linked with an Elland Road switch despite Premier League and other top-flight clubs from across Europe having shown an interest.

The Swedish marksman has already shown his ability to dominate the English second tier, so it would take an almighty task for the Whites to convince him to stay for one more season.

However, should they earn a promotion at the first time of asking, this 25-year-old marksman could star up front for them for the next decade. This would make his reported £25m price tag more than justified.

Should Leeds United sell Brenden Aaronson?

Should this hulking, pacey front-man decide on a move to Yorkshire, he could not only revolutionise their attack in an instant but have a transformative effect on those around him too.

At last the wingers would have a true focal point with which to play off, and the midfielders can now seek to push on knowing the chaos this 6 foot 2 finisher will bring.

However, should such a move accelerate, it is perhaps Brenden Aaronson that would be most excited to welcome this classic number nine into the side.

The American only joined last summer for a mouth-watering £24.7m fee, but struggled under the weight of his price tag and the physicality of the Premier League.

What did not aid matters was that Patrick Bamford, Leeds' usually-reliable striker, endured one of his worst seasons in recent memory. Rodrigo had to pick up the pieces, and whilst his 13 league goals marked an outstanding year, he plays without those physical assets that make Gyokeres so frightening and tricky to defend.

Should he join up with the 22-year-old attacking midfielder, perhaps the two could strike up a fine partnership that revitalises the former RB Salzburg maestro at last.

After all, in his final year in Austria, he did record 16 goal contributions across all competitions.

Not only would Aaronson be able to feed off the carnage his new teammate would provide, but the space he would be afforded would multiply massively as Gyokeres wrecks his way through defenders.

His tally of 21 goals and ten assists in the Championship last term somehow dwarfed the 17 he scored the year before even that, with it being no surprise to see former teammate Maxime Biamou brand him "unplayable".

It could be argued that this level is now beneath him, and therefore a move to Yorkshire makes little sense. However, should he look to the long-term, and was to be the man to spearhead their promotion the Sweden international would remain a hero at this famous club for many years to come.

Reigniting Aaronson though, who could only muster one league goal all last campaign, would still remain his most impressive feat though should he manage both.

West Ham United appear to have paid the price for seemingly focusing entirely on negotiating the terms of a fee with Arsenal for captain Declan Rice over the past few weeks.

Having been named the frontrunners to sign Harvey Barnes from Leicester City last month, The Guardian reports that Newcastle United are now close to wrapping up a deal for the in-demand winger.

Who are West Ham's transfer targets?

Bringing in around £105m through the sale of Rice, on top of the fact West Ham can offer European football next season, was supposed to leave the Irons in a strong position this transfer window.

However, with the new season beginning in five weeks' time, the Hammers have yet to bring in any new players.

As well as needing a replacement for Rice, with Juventus star Denis Zakaria and Southampton skipper James Ward-Prowse two possible options, United could also do with bringing in another attacker and a defender.

With Barnes now apparently out of their reach, it may well be that West Ham are forced to turn to another of their targets.

Chile international Dario Osorio is said to be on David Moyes' hitlist, and Universidad de Chile head coach Mauricio Pellegrino accepts his side may have to cash in this summer on a player rumoured to be valued at £7.5m.

Who is Dario Osorio?

Still aged just 19, Osorio has already earned two senior caps for his country after impressing for his club. The teenage talent has made 37 appearances in Chile's Primera Division and has scored eight times.

While that may not sound like a prolific return as such, Osorio has scored seven of those goals in 27 games this season at a rate of 0.41 every 90 minutes, as per FBref.

To put that figure in some perspective, the now-departed Manuel Lanzini topped that particular metric for West Ham last season with 0.36 goals per 90 minutes in the Premier League. Barnes, for what it is worth, scored at a rate of 0.43 goals per 90.

The quality of the two leagues must be factored in, of course, but that gives a rough indication of what Osorio is all about.

The Hijuelas native finds the net from 0.19 of his shots, which again only Lanzini (0.33) could better among West Ham players last season, while Barnes recorded a figure of 0.18 – pretty much the same as Osorio.

Osorio is not quite an exact like-for-like match for Barnes, given that he averages 4.03 crosses per 90 compared to the Leicester player's 1.46, but he certainly ticks a lot of boxes in terms of what Moyes is after.

As pointed out by football talent scout Jacek Kulig, Osorio is a "flamboyant winger" who also has good pace and dribbling ability, and he is also versatile in that he can play on the right, left or just off the striker.

West Ham may be left to wonder what might have been with Barnes, but they still have a chance to rectify the situation by winning the race for Osorio, and all for a fraction of the cost.

A new possible transfer target has emerged for German head coach Jurgen Klopp and Liverpool during the summer transfer window…

What's the latest Liverpool transfer news?

According to Foot Mercato, the Reds are one of the teams named as a potential suitor for Zenit attacker Malcom ahead of the 2023/24 campaign.

The report claims that the Premier League side 'appreciates his profile' and that the Brazilian forward is expected to move on from the Russian club over the coming months.

French giants Paris Saint-Germain were interested in signing the 26-year-old dynamo during the January transfer window and the player is said to be hoping that they come back in for his services this time around.

Liverpool have made two additions to their squad so far this summer as Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister have arrived to bolster their options in midfield, with this latest rumour suggesting that the attack could also be strengthened.

What happened to Malcom at Barcelona?

The Zenit winger joined Barcelona for an initial fee of €41m (£35m) in 2018 and only made six LaLiga starts, in which he plundered one goal to go along with two assists, as the exciting attacker failed to nail down a regular starting berth.

His disappointing debut campaign with the Spanish giants led to him joining his current club in the summer of 2019, where the two-cap Brazil international has been able to thrive on the pitch.

Malcom's incredible form for Zenit last season suggests that the potential is there for him, as a left-footed right winger, to be a dream alternative to Mohamed Salah for Klopp at Anfield.

There is no doubt that the Egypt international is the manager's star attacker as the former Chelsea man registered 19 goals and 12 assists in 37 Premier League starts, with no other Liverpool player able to match his tally in either statistic.

The 31-year-old superstar also topped the charts for league goals (23) and assists (13) for the Reds during the 2021/22 campaign, which highlights his importance to the side as their main attacking threat.

Malcom, whose season was described as "sensational" by journalist Graeme Bailey, showcased his quality with a staggering 23 goals and seven assists in 27 Premier Liga appearances last term.

The 26-year-old averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.95, which would have placed him top of the Liverpool squad, and created 2.3 chances per match for his teammates – a tally on Trent Alexander-Arnold (2.8) bettered for Klopp's men, which indicates that the former Bordeaux gem could be a terrific rotational player for the English giants.

Therefore, the £108k-per-week phenomenon has been a prolific scorer and creator for the Russian outfit, whilst also being able to deliver consistently exceptional performances from the right wing.

Given his struggles with Barcelona, it is hard to judge whether or not Malcom is capable of replicating his exceptional displays in a major European league. Although, the goalscoring whiz is five years older than he was at the time of the move to Spain, which could mean that the maturity is there for him to handle another big transfer this time around.

His outstanding contributions for Zenit in recent seasons suggest that the potential is there for him to be a delightful alternative option to Salah, for Klopp to use in cup competitions or as a rotation option in the Premier League, as a left-footed right winger who can score and create chances on a regular basis.

This is why Liverpool must take a calculated gamble on the former Barcelona prospect this summer with the hope that his performances translate to success in England.

At times last season, Chelsea’s attack was unwatchable. Games were either marred by countless missed chances or a stark lack of dynamism, efficiency, or purpose in forward areas. It finished with just 38 goals in as many Premier League games – a dismal reflection of the disjointed nature of the Blues’ attack.

This has been noted by Mauricio Pochettino, who has been joined by the likes of Christopher Nkunku and Nicolas Jackson at Stamford Bridge, whilst allowing Kai Havertz and Christian Pulisic to depart the club.

Currently, Noni Madueke is the only right-winger firmly in his plans, with Hakim Ziyech looking to leave this summer.

Pochettino may look to add further strength on the right-hand side, with Leroy Sane mentioned in what seems an improbable signing.

What’s the latest on Leroy Sane to Chelsea?

According to Simon Phillips (via The Chelsea Chronicle), the 2021 Champions League winners are admirers of the Bayern Munich livewire.

However, at this stage, Phillips confirmed it is still no more than a rumour to keep an eye on, with Manchester City also interested in bringing the German back to the Etihad Stadium.

Who can Leroy Sane link up with at Chelsea?

The 27-year-old originally came to England back in 2016 when he joined Manchester City, and was unplayable in flashes.

He spent four seasons in the north-west under Pep Guardiola, making 135 appearances and notching 85 goal involvements, winning two Premier League titles.

His best year in sky blue came in 2017/18 when he recorded 25 goal contributions in 32 matches and was named the PFA Young Player of the Year.

Upon his arrival at Bayern Munich in 2020, chief executive Karl-Heinz Rummenigge said: “He is an outstanding player who has proven his qualities over the past few years.”

Thus far, he has failed to hit the same productive heights in Germany and was part of the Bayern team that was thrashed by Manchester City in the Champions League quarter-finals last term.

Nevertheless, the forward still retains his esteemed reputation for his dazzling dribbling speed, and creativity. Among his positional peers in Europe’s top five leagues, the £238k-per-week dynamo ranks within the best 8% for progressive passes per 90, successful take-ons, total shots, and non-penalty goals per 90.

If a move to Stamford Bridge ever eventually materialised, the idea of a partnership on the right with Reece James is frightening. Due to continuous injuries, the full-back has only appeared in 42 of Chelsea’s last 76 Premier League games, and his patchy fitness was one of the major drawbacks last term.

The 23-year-old is arguably a future Chelsea captain and is a formidable combination of defensive solidity and attacking threat. Speaking on Match of the Day (via Planet Football), Ian Wright once said:

“He’s easily one of the best right-backs in the world at the minute. He’s got everything. His delivery is amazing, his closing down. He’s got the ability and strength to progress the ball, he’s so combative. He’s a super player.”

His talent in attack is what sets him apart from the majority of full-backs, as he ranks within the top 18% for non-penalty goals per 90, as well as the highest 10% for shot-creating actions, progressive carries, and successful take-ons per 90.

Whilst the idea of Sane in west London is a pipe dream at present, it could spark the beginning of a partnership that could terrorise Premier League opponents.

Nottingham Forest pursuing both Manchester United goalkeeper Dean Henderson and Wolverhampton Wanderers stopper Jose Sa 'might open up problems' as it will be hard to keep both players satisfied if one is not getting regular minutes, according to transfer insider Dean Jones.

Are Dean Henderson and Jose Sa heading to Nottingham Forest?

According to Telegraph Sport, Nottingham Forest are in talks with Henderson over trying to lure him to the club permanently following his loan spell at the City Ground in 2022/23.

Last term, the £100k-a-week earner made 20 appearances for Nottingham Forest in all competitions and managed to keep six clean sheets in total, as per Transfermarkt.

Renowned journalist Fabrizio Romano recently spoke to GIVEMESPORT regarding Henderson's future, stating: "I think in the end Henderson will become a Nottingham Forest player and they [Manchester United] will bring in a new backup goalkeeper.”

The Telegraph report also states that Wolves goalkeeper Sa, who earns £25,000 per week on the books at Molineux, is another option that the Tricky Trees are evaluating, as Henderson may not be ready to feature from the start of the Premier League season.

In light of interest in Sa, Wolves have turned towards Liverpool substitute goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher as someone who could fill the prospective void between the sticks at the West Midlands-based outfit, according to The Daily Mail.

Kelleher is believed to want to play regularly, which has proved tough to achieve due to the presence of Alisson at Anfield; nevertheless, Liverpool would command a fee of £20 million for the Republic of Ireland international before sanctioning his departure.

Speaking to Football FanCast, transfer insider Jones thinks that bringing both Henderson and Sa to the City Ground this summer could prove problematic if their minutes aren't evenly distributed by Steve Cooper.

Jones told FFC: "In terms of chasing both of these, they really like Dean Henderson and they want him back at the club, but he's not apparently fully ready to start the new season yet and so that's why they're looking at Jose Sa as well right now. If they were to both come in, you're obviously getting to a point later on in the season, one of them is going to be frustrated and that might open up problems that you don't necessarily need for a club of Forest's level."

Who else could Nottingham Forest target this summer?

Nottingham Forest boss Cooper has several targets in his sights as he looks to consolidate his side in the Premier League for a second successive campaign.

Chelsea left-back Ian Maatsen has emerged as a target to fill the left-back position at the City Ground; however, the Reds will face competition from top-flight newcomers Burnley, where he spent last season on loan, as per The Athletic.

Dutch outlet HLN via Nottingham Forest News claim that Nottingham Forest will battle with Bournemouth for the signature of Genk captain Bryan Heynen, who is weighing up an exit from his current employers.

The Tricky Trees have also looked at Chelsea forgotten man Callum Hudson-Odoi and Manchester United winger Anthony Elanga as momentum starts to take shape regarding potential incomings at the City Ground, according to a separate report from The Athletic.

Manchester United playing Jadon Sancho behind the striker in a central role isn't journalist Dean Jones' 'favourite' role to see the England international play in.

Where does Erik Ten Hag see Jadon Sancho playing?

Erik Ten Hag has utilised Sancho in a false nine role in pre-season and the £350k-a-week ace recently impressed in a 2-0 victory over Arsenal in the United States, scoring in the process, as per Sky Sports.

METRO cite that the Dutchman spoke in the aftermath of the game regarding where he sees Sancho as best fit to contribute for Manchester United, stating: "‘He’s doing well, also in that role. I think Jadon is the best in central positions where he can have involvement. Also when he plays in wide areas, but you know when you’re playing with me wide areas in the right setting you also have the freedom – in the right setting, so get me right! – to be inside, in No.10 positions, in central positions".

Sancho has flattered to deceive at times since joining the Red Devils for a fee of £73 million back in 2021 from Borussia Dortmund, registering 12 goals and six assists in 79 appearances for the Premier League giants in all competitions, as per Transfermarkt.

Now at a crossroads in his career, Sancho looks to have won the trust of Ten Hag despite being subject to a failed loan bid from former club Borussia Dortmund earlier this window, according to The Daily Star.

The Manchester Evening News claim that Ten Hag is 'trialling him as a false nine with a view to possibly playing him there when the season starts' and views his ability to enter deeper positions and carry possession as a promising attacking outlet.

Speaking to Football FanCast, journalist Jones doesn't think Sancho is best suited to playing centrally as his attributes are more effective on the flank.

Jones told FFC: "I don’t think there are many people out there that expected Sancho to be occupying a false nine role at this stage of his career. I don’t personally think it's the spot I wanted for him as my favourite version of Sancho is the one getting at people, facing up to them and taking them on, using his trickery along the way. But he hasn’t shown that for a long time, so now Ten Hag is trying something else."

What next for Manchester United?

Manchester United will hope to continue their impressive summer recruitment following the high-profile additions of Mason Mount and Andre Onana and Jonny Evans, who has joined on a short-term basis at Old Trafford, as per Transfermarkt.

CaughtOffside claim that a double raid of Serie A is the next priority for the Red Devils, who have reportedly lined up formal bids for Atalanta striker Rasmus Hojlund and Fiorentina defensive midfielder Sofyan Amrabat.

Though, it now appears as if only Amrabat remains a target as Hojlund is now at here we go status from Romano.

In the next few weeks, Manchester United look set to move a step closer to completing their transfer business ahead of the new Premier League campaign getting underway.

Tottenham Hotspur could finally be set to secure an heir to an old favourite of theirs, perfecting Ange Postecoglou's new-look midfield in the process.

Who are Tottenham Hotspur signing this summer?

With James Maddison the star new addition thus far, supplemented by the signings of Manor Solomon and Guglielmo Vicario, it seems that the Lilywhites are heading in the right direction towards building a brighter future.

However, it could certainly still be worth borrowing some ideals from the sole successful regime in recent memory though, taking a leaf out of Mauricio Pochettino's book by emulating his main men to prop up the new regime.

Read the latest Tottenham transfer news HERE…

Of those stars of the past, few compare to Mousa Dembele, who held down the engine room with relentless power and endless grace for seven fine years. However, there is one star on the market who does boast frightening similarities both in physical profile and play style.

Sofyan Amrabat has been touted with an exit from Fiorentina ever since his exceptional World Cup, and it is Spurs who too are reportedly interested in making the Moroccan general the heir to their Belgian maestro.

He is expected to cost around €40m (£34m), per transfer guru Fabrizio Romano.

How good is Sofyan Amrabat?

Whilst those performances on the world stage still stand as the apex of his career thus far, he has impressed for his club too across four years in Italy.

The 26-year-old managed a 6.86 average rating in Serie A last season, buoyed by his 90% pass accuracy, 75% dribble success and 1.3 tackles per game, via Sofascore.

When comparing that to Dembele's best year in north London, arguably throughout the 2015/16 campaign, it is clear that the similarities begin to shine through.

After all, they are both a couple of tough-tackling 6 foot 1 midfield stars, with the class to retain possession but also turn defence into attack in an instant.

During that Premier League term, the 36-year-old ace recorded a 7.41 average rating, with just four goal contributions, a 90% pass accuracy, a 92% dribble success rate, one key pass and 3.6 tackles per game, via Sofascore.

It was such form that led Pochettino to compare his key man to some of the greats he had met, claiming:

"I always say to him, ‘Mousa, when I write my book, you will be one of my genius players that I have been lucky enough to meet.

"One was Maradona; also Ronaldinho, Okocha and Iván de la Peña – he was a genius, too – and then Mousa. We always tell Mousa that if we had taken him at 18 or 19, he would have become one of the best players in the world."

Perhaps Postecoglou could now be credited with engineering that rise to the apex of world football with Amrabat, especially given that he has already received widespread praise of his own for that recent World Cup run. Journalist Carlo Garganese even noted:

"Amrabat the best centre midfielder in the tournament. MONSTER."

He too has that genius within him which is just waiting to be unleashed, with only flashes of it having been shown thus far in his career despite his ranking within the top 8% for progressive passes per 90 when compared to other midfielders across Europe.

Perhaps a switch to north London could see him truly look to Dembele as the benchmark, emulating the stylish flair that made him much more than your average defensive midfielder.

Manchester United could be set to repeat a masterclass from just last summer, looking to snag another star from a European heavyweight…

Is Aurelien Tchouameni leaving Real Madrid?

Amidst Erik ten Hag's first window in charge, the Dutchman sought to truly make his mark on a struggling squad with a number of key additions.

Whilst Lisandro Martinez and Antony came from his old club, it was instead Casemiro who stood out amongst all of the new recruits, bringing quality, experience and tenacity in bucketloads.

Read the latest Man United transfer news HERE…

Having enjoyed another summer of vast change, he could once again look to Real Madrid to cap off a fine transfer period, with links suggesting they could prey on the frustrations felt by the out-of-favour Aurelien Tchouameni to bring him to Old Trafford.

The Frenchman only moved to the Spanish capital last year, in a switch rising to €100m (£86m).

How good is Aurelien Tchouameni?

Whilst his exit would come as a surprise to many, given the bright future the 23-year-old is set to enjoy at the Santiago Bernabeu, he would almost certainly be assured more play time should he join Ten Hag's revolution.

After all, for all his immense quality, the midfielder made just 24 starts last term in La Liga, averaging 65 minutes per game.

However, he certainly thrived when the opportunity was handed to him, as he used these league showings to maintain a 7.13 average rating. This was a score buoyed by his exemplary defensive figures, as he managed a stunning 94% pass accuracy alongside 1.5 interceptions, 1.9 tackles and 1.5 clearances per game, via Sofascore.

In fact, these figures suggest that he is one of the finest midfield stalwarts on the continent, starring at both ball retention and winning it back.

When compared to other midfielders across Europe, he ranks in the top 1% for both pass completion and interceptions per 90, with journalist Stefan Bienkowski suggesting he remains part of an elite crop of talent at Carlo Ancelotti's disposal:

"Real Madrid already have three potentially world-class midfielders in Valverde, Camavinga and Tchouameni. And yet… they reportedly want another 3-4."

Should he move to Manchester and translate these talents with ease, there is every reason to suggest he would emulate the masterclass had with Casemiro the year earlier.

The 31-year-old tread that same path, and instantly became one of United's top performers in the Premier League, with his 7.21 average rating only surpassed by the ever-brilliant Bruno Fernandes.

He too shone defensively, screening a backline that helped David De Gea end his career at the club with the Golden Glove award.

His 3.2 tackles and 2.1 clearances per game (via Sofascore) bolstered such a notion, which led to widespread praise.

Old Trafford legend Paul Scholes even claimed:

"He's a proper Manchester United midfielder that gets involved in everything. You see him up the pitch, you see him defending, you see him controlling the game at times.

"He's probably as close to Roy Keane as you're going to get. I think he's been brilliant."

And yet, all the figures suggest that Tchouameni, at eight years his junior, could prove just as impactful.

This could be one of Ten Hag's finest coups yet, and not just repeat, but surpass their masterclass by signing Casemiro from Los Blancos the summer earlier.

Tottenham Hotspur's search for a new number nine continues, as they have earmarked a new young target to replace Harry Kane…

Who could replace Harry Kane at Spurs?

The departure of the England captain was a tough one to take for fans and those within the club, as everyone knows how much quality they have just lost, even with the lofty £100m fee attained.

Ange Postecoglou now has a curious task on his hands, deciding whether to put his trust in Richarlison and invest elsewhere, or to spend the money earned on a direct replacement. Few could do what the 30-year-old marksman has done in recent years, who leaves with 280 goals for the club.

Read the latest Tottenham transfer news HERE…

However, that has not stopped them from perusing the market, as TEAMtalk suggest that the Lilywhites have enquired to Brighton and Hove Albion about the availability of their young striker Evan Ferguson.

The Republic of Ireland international is highly rated at the Amex Stadium, and with the security his new long-term contract brings, this will be far from an easy deal to do. Reports from earlier in the window even suggested that the Seagulls believe they have a £100m player on their hands.

How good is Evan Ferguson?

It is no surprise to see the teenage sensation draw such interest, given he is in possession of numerous assets that have already allowed him to start in the Premier League.

The 18-year-old boasts just 30 senior appearances for his current side, having scored six times in the league last term, and marked the first game of this campaign with a goal too.

His bulky, towering frame belies his pace in behind, and he blends both of these starring physical attributes with a deft touch and an ability to link up the play.

As such, he has received plenty of praise, that of which Tim Sherwood led by comparing him to one of England's most legendary goalscorers:

"I mean he's a man at a very young age, you know. He looks to me like the nearest thing I've seen to Alan Shearer. I mean, when he's getting the ball half a yard, he's not even giving any respect to the goalkeepers. He's just smashing it with power. He's just looking after contact and smashing it through the goalkeeper."

Given how relentlessly Kane sought to chase after Shearer's all-time Premier League scoring record, seemingly sacrificing that for silverware in Germany, to now compare their new striker target with the former Blackburn Rovers and Newcastle United star bodes well for Postecoglou in his hunt for a successor.

The Australian manager will not be seeking a perfect replacement for the forward, but instead someone able to hold their own and lead the line with pace, power and energy.

His youth should service the latter, whilst Ferguson's interview with Sky Sports helped outline how he shares enough similarities to make up for what they have just lost.

Spending the earlier parts of his career in midfield definitely aided this notion: "I think it's helped me sort of just be more natural as a modern striker. You see strikers now, like Harry Kane, the way they drop in… I wouldn't be surprised if he played midfield as a kid.

"I can understand the kind of run to make or when to delay a pass. It's helped me be more complete."

With the physicality and finishing know-how to emulate Shearer, but the quality to create and score that mirrors Kane, Ferguson could be that big-money risk that helps lay the foundation for over a decade of success under Postecoglou.

West Ham United may have begun the summer transfer window at a pedestrian pace, but they are now speeding through a plethora of different deals.

David Moyes has signed Edson Alvarez and James Ward-Prowse, spending the cash raised from the sale of Declan Rice wisely and there are likely to be more arrivals before the window closes in just under three weeks.

With this in mind, the Hammers could now make a move for one of the most highly sought-after talents on the continent; Mohammed Kudus.

Who else could West Ham sign?

Fabrizio Romano dropped an update on West Ham’s interest in the Ajax starlet on Monday.

He took to social media, saying: “West Ham now open initial talks to sign Mohammed Kudus — priority target in case Lucas Paquetá leaves to join Manchester City.

“Positive talks on player side, Kudus open to the move — still waiting to approach Ajax as deal will depend on Paquetá.”

Read the latest West Ham transfer news HERE…

Brighton & Hove Albion reached an agreement in principle with the Dutch club to sign Kudus for a fee of €40m (£34.5m), yet no move has materialised, and it looks as though West Ham are looking to swoop in and hijack any potential deal.

Is Lucas Paqueta leaving West Ham?

Current West Ham star Lucas Paqueta could soon be on his way out of the club, with Manchester City showing plenty of interest and even having a £70m bid rejected by the club recently.

Pep Guardiola isn’t ready to give in just yet and another bid could soon be made, but Moyes should take the money and invest it in Kudus, forgetting about the Brazilian in the process.

Paqueta did enjoy a solid debut campaign in England, scoring five goals and registering seven assists while ranking fourth for shots on target per game (0.6), creating three big chances and making 1.1 key passes per game, good enough to rank him sixth and fourth across the squad in the Premier League.

What is Mohammed Kudus’ style of play?

That was an encouraging start for Paqueta, yet the 5 foot 9 frame of Kudus was far more impressive for Ajax.

The 23-year-old scored 18 goals and grabbed seven assists across all competitions for the Eredivisie side, clearly posing a much greater danger going forward.

Kudus also ranked fourth for shots on target per game across the Ajax squad domestically last term (0.9) and he also created four big chances and made one key pass per game, similar figures to Paqueta.

When compared to positional peers, it is clear who has enjoyed the better 12 months. Kudus ranks in the top 2% of positionally similar players in divisions comparable to the Eredivisie for non-penalty goals, pass completion percentage and successful take-ons per 90, while ranking in the top 3% for touches in the opposition box, showcasing his attacking qualities.

In contrast, the Brazilian only ranked in the top 25% for pass completion percentage while ranking outwith the top 60% for both successful take-ons and non-penalty goals per 90 when compared to positional peers in Europe's top five leagues.

The “electric” starlet – as dubbed by talent scout Jacek Kulig – could be the perfect fit for Moyes at West Ham, and he should be doing everything he can to secure his signature.

The Scot could forget all about Paqueta in the process.