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West Ham United appear to be keeping an eye on a Hungarian defender as David Moyes looks set to strengthen his squad in January…

What’s the news?

According to a report from Turkey (via Sport Witness), West Ham are closely watching defender Attila Szalai who plays for Fenerbahce.

The London side face competition from fellow Premier League teams Newcastle United and Leicester City as the January transfer window looms on the horizon.

The report goes on to say that despite having a contract until 2025, the centre-back wants to leave the club at the end of the current season.

Ideal Angelo Ogbonna heir

Moyes significantly boosted his defensive options in the summer transfer window, signing Nayef Aguerd and Thilo Kehrer to complement Craig Dawson, Kurt Zouma and Ogbonna.

However, with Dawson seeking a move away from the club in January and Ogbonna’s contract expiring next summer, the 59-year-old looks to be thinking ahead to the summer in order to sign another defender.

An imposing figure at the heart of defence, Szalai was described as “exemplary” by Emre Belözoğlu and he will be familiar to England supporters having starred for Hungary in their 4-0 victory over Gareth Southgate’s men.

Szalai has impressed this season in Turkey, playing 13 league matches for Fenerbahce, taking on average, 67.8 touches per match, proving that he is a ball-playing defender and regularly demands the play to start attacks.

He has helped his side keep seven clean sheets while making 1.2 interceptions, 1.0 tackles and 1.8 clearances per match, demonstrating his defensive ability. The 24-year-old uses his 6 foot 4 frame to excellent effect, winning 69% of his aerial duels this season and he could form an excellent partnership with either Aguerd or Kehrer at the heart of the West Ham defence.

A full ten years younger than Ogbonna, Szalai is certainly a player who can be the cornerstone of the defence for years to come.

The Italian has been a solid player for West Ham since joining in 2015, however, a serious injury sustained last term made sure he missed the majority of the season and it may cost him an extra year or two in his career.

The Hungarian would be an ideal replacement for the 34-year-old if he leaves in the summer, and as result, Moyes must continue to keep a close eye on Szalai.

Arsenal could make a push for Inter Milan star Hakan Calhanoglu, according to reports out of Italy.

The Lowdown: Arteta’s men flying…

Mikel Arteta’s side are currently Premier League title contenders and top the table as England’s most in-form side, even above current champions Manchester City.

The Gunners have been stern in defence, conceding the joint-fewest league goals so far this term alongside Newcastle United (11). Meanwhile, only City have scored more goals at the other end, with no team winning more games or losing fewer than Arsenal.

On paper, they appear to be in brilliant stead, but it’s the job of sporting director Edu to improve Arteta’s squad when given an opportunity.

The Latest: Arsenal could push for Calhanoglu…

According to Italian sources, Edu and Arsenal could make a move for Calhanoglu.

Inter Live reported on Tuesday that the 74-cap Turkey international’s ‘armoury’ could in fact ‘push some rich clubs’ to opt for his signing, specifically naming the north Londoners and top-flight rivals Aston Villa.

The report adds that Calhanoglu could be sold if an offer of €30m (£26m) comes in for him, even if he is one of Inter’s ‘big names’.

The Verdict: Make the move?

£26m is arguably a very fair price considering that the attacker is currently in his prime at 28 years of age.

Furthermore, Calhanoglu is also demonstrating very good form at club level right now, standing out as Inter’s second-best performing player by average match rating from WhoScored.

The midfielder’s creative influence cannot be understated, having made more key passes per 90 on average than any Nerazzurri player over 2022/23.

Calhanoglu could provide an extra dimension of attacking threat for Arteta if Edu does indeed decide to press ahead with this prospective move.

Newcastle United’s mid-season trip to Saudi Arabia could provide their commercial team with an “opportunity” to seek out new off-field partners, according to football finance expert Dr Dan Plumley.

The Lowdown: Newcastle off to Saudi Arabia

Fourteen months on from the much-publicised takeover by the Public Investment Fund (PIF) at St James’ Park, the Magpies go into the mid-season break in high spirits.

Eddie Howe had guided his team to third in the Premier League table, losing just once in the top flight this term, with Champions League football for 2023/24 becoming a distinct possibility.

With top-flight action not set to resume until Boxing Day, Newcastle jet off to Saudi Arabia tomorrow for a six-day warm-weather training camp, and it’s not just the playing squad who could benefit from the trip to the Middle East.

The Latest: ‘Opportunity’ for Newcastle

Dr Plumley stated that the trip to Riyadh could offer the club’s commercial team the perfect chance to clinch more sponsorship deals for the Tyneside outfit.

He told Football Insider: “I think there are two factors to this. We are in a digital world but you can’t replicate a face-to-face meeting and the owners meeting with the commercial department is important.

“But it also gives the commercial team an opportunity to scout out the area as well. They can get a feel for it on the ground.

“It makes perfect sense because we know they want to concentrate their focus on the region. We know it is going to be fruitful for them in the future.

“There are certain ways to do business, business etiquette, especially for deals of this size. You expect people from the club to meet face to face.”

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The Verdict: More good news for Newcastle

In addition to the stellar work that Howe and his players are doing, Newcastle’s behind-the-scenes staff also appear to be doing their jobs excellently.

Earlier this week, it was reported that the club are set to strike a ten-year, £300m partnership with airline SAUDIA, which could encompass both shirt sponsorship and St James’ Park naming rights.

The Magpies also have a shirt-sleeve sponsorship with PIF-linked Noon.com, which indicates that the owners are putting their connections to very good use.

The income from lucrative commercial deals could potentially trickle down to an increased transfer budget for Howe to exploit, so the upcoming trip to Saudi Arabia could have a telling impact both on and off the pitch for Newcastle.

Liverpool are hot in the market for quality additions that can bolster the midfield, and West Ham United’s touted phenom Declan Rice is rising up the Reds’ winter shopping list. 

What’s the word?

Despite initially refusing to accept their coveted asset wanting to depart, slapping a £150m price tag on him, the Hammers are now resigned to losing their man and are willing to take £70m, according to Football Insider.

And now renowned transfer journalist Dean Jones, writing for GIVEMESPORT believes that the Reds should consider the 23-year-old as an alternative to Jude Bellingham, who is attracting monumental interest in his services.

With Liverpool unlikely to be able to seal the deal for both stars, Jones believes that the Merseyside giants might be prudent in forging ahead for a deal with Rice, given Bellingham’s gargantuan £129m price tag. 

An excellent Bellingham alternative

While occupying different roles in the midfield, with Borussia Dortmund’s Bellingham a magnificent blend of offensive and defensive tricks, who Liverpool decide to pursue might fall down to factors such as the necessity to fill the position.

Fabinho currently occupies the defensive midfield role in the squad but has been beset with a stark decline in form this term, and Liverpool may look to replace him with the younger, vibrant Rice. 

Football Insider claims that Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has been observing Rice at the World Cup, looking to see if he can transfer his fine performances at club level to the major stage.

Klopp will undoubtedly like what he sees, with Rice an integral part of an England side that has topped the group and assuredly swept into the quarter-finals following the first knockout phase, where the nation bested a commendable effort from Senegal.

As per Sofascore, the 37-cap international has recorded an average pass success rate of 94%, making two interceptions and recording 0.8 tackles per outing, whilst out in Qatar, and has cemented his role as a vital presence at the heart of the midfield, alleviating the pressure on the defence and instigating forward transitions when he sees an opening. 

In the Premier League, he has fared even better; putting in a rating of 7.27 – the best in the entire Hammers squad – and recording 2.4 tackles and 1.6 interceptions per outing, Rice has continued to glisten as a brilliant star, despite his club’s woes.

Indeed, West Ham sit in 16th place after 15 matches, one point above the relegation zone, and Rice has seemingly decided he has led the club as far as possible, now seeking pastures anew.

While Bellingham holds the glamour and the glitz, the “machine”-like Rice – in the words of reporter Paul Carter – is a master at retaining possession, providing a cushion for the backline and diverting offensive moves away from danger, while also possessing a knack for goal himself. 

Liverpool must seriously consider the deal, he could be just what they need to cement their success for years to come.

West Ham United have struggled in the Premier League this season, winning just four matches and scoring only 12 goals in the process.

It’s a far cry from their league form last season and this could be down to the vast number of first-team players who are underperforming. The likes of Lucas Paqueta and Gianluca Scamacca have scored just six goals between them, despite costing £51m and £35.5m respectively in the summer and David Moyes will be expecting much more from them when the season resumes.

However, the performances of Tomas Soucek this season have been disappointing, registering just two goal contributions from 15 matches compared to his excellent performances last season and the fact his contract expires in 18 months, Moyes may have a decision to make.

The club have been previously linked with a move for PSV Eindhoven midfielder Ibrahim Sangare and with Diaro Sport (via Sports Illustrated) stating that an offer of £25m could be enough to secure the player, Moyes must reignite his interest in January.

The Ivorian has been excellent this season, averaging a Sofascore rating of 7.22 for his Eredivisie displays this term, chipping in with three goals from the centre of the midfield while making 0.4 key passes and creating a further two big chances.

Defensively, the 25-year-old has been solid. In 12 league appearances, he has averaged 3.1 tackles, 1.3 clearances, and 1.1 interceptions per match along with winning 59% of his total duels. This ability to focus on the defensive side of the game has allowed talents like Cody Gakpo to flourish, with the Dutchman knowing that Sangare will put in the hard work behind him.

Former PSV manager Aad de Mos sang the midfielder’s praises last season when he was being linked with various clubs, saying:

“He is extraordinary. This season, he has been the king of PSV. You miss Sangare when he’s not playing. He isn’t just suitable for Leicester; he can easily keep up at an even higher club. He can easily play at Tottenham and certainly at Arsenal.”

Judging by these comments, luring Sangare to West Ham would be somewhat of a coup for Moyes and with Soucek’s performances dipping this season, the Scot should be focusing all his attention on bringing the PSV sensation to London in January.

QPR manager Neil Critchley has confirmed a big boost for the Hoops ahead of their Boxing Day fixture against Cardiff City, with Ilias Chair now available for selection.

The winger will return from Qatar this week after Morocco sensationally reached the semi-finals of the World Cup, with the former Stevenage man making his World Cup debut in their third-place play-off defeat against Croatia last weekend.

It is undoubtedly a big boost for Critchley to have the 25-year-old back at Loftus Road, as he has arguably been the top performer in QPR’s squad so far this season.

Chair’s three goals and six assists in the Championship has helped him to average a superb 7.17 rating from WhoScored, which comfortably ranks him as the best in the Hoops’ squad, so they will be hoping that he can rediscover his pre-World Cup form upon his return to club action.

Although the west London outfit secured an impressive 1-0 win over Preston North End in Critchley’s first game in charge last weekend, it seems likely that Chair could return alongside Chris Willock and Lyndon Dykes in attack.

Ahead of the Moroccan’s return for QPR, Critchley said: “I’m delighted for Ilias. He loves to play football and I’m sure it was a very special moment for him.

“Players want to play and although I am yet to meet Ilias, it’s obvious to see that he is someone who loves to play football and he will feel relieved to have got some minutes under his belt at a World Cup.

“We will be pleased to have him back and we may also have one or two back and I may have a selection headache for the Cardiff game.”

The “exciting propsect” – as dubbed by Glenn Murray – has averaged the most shots, most key passes and second-most dribbles per game in QPR’s squad so far this season, which emphasises just how much of an attacking threat he provides and how delighted Critchley must be to have him back so soon.

Last weekend’s victory moved the R’s back into the play-off positions, and keeping Chair fit and firing could be pivotal to any promotion aspirations that the Hoops may have this season, so it would not be a surprise to see him going straight back into the starting XI on Boxing Day.

West Ham United travel to the Emirates Stadium to take on league leaders Arsenal in tonight’s Premier League clash, with David Moyes’ men hoping to gain a positive result and get their campaign back on track.

The Irons have struggled this season, recording just four top-flight wins and currently languishing near the relegation zone in 16th place.

Moyes is facing an attacking crisis ahead of the match, with Michail Antonio and Gianluca Scamacca both doubtful. This means that the Scot might need to place his trust in Jarrod Bowen to lead the West Ham line against the league leaders.

Bowen usually operates on the right wing for West Ham, but there is no doubt that he can provide an excellent attacking threat if deployed through the middle against Arsenal.

The £60k-per-week machine has been a revelation since arriving at the London Stadium in 2020 from Hull City, going on to score 32 goals and register 23 assists in 125 appearances so far for the Irons.

Last season was his most prolific one under Moyes, with Bowen scoring 12 league goals along with grabbing 12 assists as he played an integral part in helping his team to finish seventh in the table.

Furthermore, the “unreal” winger – as dubbed by football reporter Stephen Killen – managed to create nine big chances while averaging 1.2 key passes per match, showcasing his ability to create plenty of opportunities for his team-mates.

The Englishman hasn’t quite been in the same rich vein of form this term, netting just twice in the league so far in 2022/23, but his goalscoring credentials over the previous couple of years shouldn’t faze Moyes in having to play him slightly out of position against Arsenal.

There is no doubt that Bowen could cause problems for the Gunners’ centre-backs tonight if played through the middle, and if he can replicate his performances of last season, he might just net some hugely valuable goals for West Ham.

West Ham United have been dealt a huge double injury blow ahead of their Premier League meeting with Arsenal this evening.

What’s the latest?

In recent comments cited by the Evening Standard, David Moyes revealed that both Gianluca Scamacca and Michail Antonio look set to miss out on the trip to The Emirates tonight, as the Italian sustained an ankle injury during a mid-season friendly during the World Cup break, while the Jamaican has been suffering from a strain to his calf.

Regarding the current condition of the centre-forwards, the 59-year-old manager said:

“Gianluca has got an ankle injury and Mick had a calf strain. We’re hoping they both have a chance, but they are doubtful. I think every club is going to have issues with players returning after the World Cup.

“Jarrod [Bowen] is more than capable of playing down the middle. We’ve done the same with Marko Arnautovic and Michail Antonio, so who says we can’t do it with Jarrod?”

Huge blow

While it is true that Jarrod Bowen is more than capable of playing through the middle if required, considering the relatively poor form the England international has been in this season, coupled with the Hammers having struggled for goals even when all of their attacking options have been fit, the potential loss of both Scamacca and Antonio is undoubtedly awful news for Moyes.

Indeed, the £35.5m summer signing from US Sassuolo is currently the Irons’ top goalscorer in all competitions, having bagged six goals over 21 fixtures in the Premier League, Europa Conference League qualifiers, Europa Conference League proper and the Carabao Cup, while Antonio is the club’s joint second top scorer, having bagged five in 20 in the same competitions.

Furthermore, while it is undeniable that Bowen was in sensational form over his 36 Premier League appearances last season – scoring 12 goals, registering ten assists and creating nine big chances – the 26-year-old has so far failed to hit anywhere near this level of form in 2022/23 – scoring just two goals, providing no assists and creating one big chance over his 15 top-flight fixtures.

As such, with a daunting fixture against the table-topping Gunners coming up for West Ham this evening, it is evident that being without the services of the Hammers’ only two out-and-out centre-forwards will come as a huge blow to Moyes’ chances of leaving north London with all three points – with a positive result very much needed in order to ease the mounting pressure on the Scot.

Liverpool have reportedly opened talks with Brighton & Hove Albion for midfielder Moises Caicedo.

The Lowdown: Gakpo in

The Reds have already bolstered Jurgen Klopp’s squad days ahead of the January window officially opening by securing the services of Cody Gakpo.

An agreement has been reached with PSV that will see the Dutch forward become a Liverpool player on January 1. It doesn’t look as if the club are finished there, though, with significant news emerging on Caicedo.

The Latest: Caicedo next

Journalist Rudy Galetti took to Twitter to relay news regarding the Reds opening talks with Brighton for Caicedo on Thursday evening.

He added that an enquiry was made on Wednesday and said ‘just now Liverpool want to speed up things to sign the player’.

The Verdict: Exciting

Many supporters may have been hoping to see the club look to bring in a midfielder following the arrival of Gakpo, especially as that area of the pitch has been a hot topic of transfer conversation in recent months.

Caicedo, hailed as an ‘exceptional player and character’ by his team-mates, has been a regular for the Seagulls this season and has outperformed all of Liverpool’s senior midfielders in the Premier League, as per WhoScored.

Still just 21 years of age, he appears to be a star of the future, so a move now could be an exciting one both in the short and long run.

Phil Hay has revealed his concerns over Leeds United allowing Mateusz Klich to depart halfway through the season.

The Lowdown: Midfield not an area to strengthen

Leeds have already been active in the transfer window bringing in Maximilian Wober from RB Salzburg, making him the fourth player from the Red Bull group to join Jesse Marsch at Elland Road.

It’s been reported that Leeds are indeed keen on recruiting a new striker, which could largely be down to the fact they are just one Rodrigo injury away from having to rely on young Joe Gelhardt.

However, it appears as though Leeds are not too eager to bring in a replacement for Klich who was handed an emotional farewell on Wednesday evening as he prepares to join DC United in the MLS.

The Latest: No Klich replacement on the cards

Hay has insisted on The Phil Hay Show that he is concerned by the fact Leeds are seemingly content with their current midfield options and happy for Klich to depart.

He said: (15:10) “So it’s a concern to me that he’s going but I totally understand why he is. As I say, I think there are other players who Marsch would rather have in the team, I think Klich can see that himself and it makes sense that it’s a parting of ways.”

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The Verdict: A new midfielder should be recruited

Leeds are seriously short of options in the midfield department as things stand with Klich having or very close to confirming his arrival at DC United and now Adam Forshaw has picked up another injury which has seen him require small surgery.

Therefore, much like not signing a left-back or striker over the summer, if Leeds and Victor Orta were to not recruit a new midfielder this transfer window it would simply be negligence and leave Marsch hamstrung.

All it takes is for Tyler Adams or Marc Roca to pick up a muscular or another type of serious injury and Marsch could be forced to alter his system and seriously have Leeds up against it when it comes to staying in the division.