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West Ham United will surely be heading into the 2023/2024 campaign full of confidence having not only won a major European trophy, but also guaranteeing another season of continental football due to their Europa Conference League success.

David Moyes will be hoping to juggle the demands of European and Premier League football better than he did last term, as the Hammers struggled throughout the domestic season, eventually finishing 14th in the table, winning just 11 matches, five fewer than the previous campaign.

With this in mind, Moyes may wish to improve the depth of his squad to better cope with the hectic schedule which is likely to follow during 2023/2024 and with Declan Rice certain to move on, he will surely have plenty of funds to play with.

The club have recently been linked with a move for Coventry City striker Viktor Gyokeres and Fabrizio Romano has claimed that the club are “ready to push” in order to bring him to London this summer.

He has been valued at £25m by the Sky Blues and this shouldn’t represent a problem for Moyes, especially considering he could be an ideal Michail Antonio heir.

Could Viktor Gyokeres join West Ham United?

A move is certainly a possibility considering that the club will be playing European football once again next term and the Swede may see this as a major incentive.

Having scored 14 goals across all competitions last term, Antonio was the highest scorer in the squad, showing that he is still clearly important to Moyes.

With just one year on his current deal however and the fact he is 33 years old, the striker is closer to the end of his career than the start and this indicates that the club should be targeting a player who could take over from him, with Gyokeres clearly the ideal choice.

Last season, the Sky Blues goal machine netted 22 times and also registered 12 assists across all competitions, scoring eight more times than Antonio, and he has a ruthless nature in front of goal.

Indeed, across 2022/2023, Gyokeres not only registered more goals and assists domestically than Antonio (32 to ten), but he also had more shots on target per 90 (1.19 to 0.84), generated more shot-creating actions per 90 (4.27 to 1.92) and managed more carries into the penalty area (105 to 26), suggesting that he was a lot more clinical in front of goal whilst being able to take the ball into the opposition box on a more regular basis in order to create more chances.

The “unplayable” talent – as once dubbed by teammate Maxime Biamou – has demonstrated his goal-scoring credentials in the second tier and the statistics suggest he outshone Antonio in range of attacking metrics last term.

Although untested in the Premier League, Moyes had success by luring Jarrod Bowen from Hull City to West Ham in 2020, and he has been repaid handsomely, with the Englishman registering 71 goal contributions in just two and a half seasons and the Swede could follow in the same footsteps.

For a fee of £25m, Gyokeres could exceed all expectations should he join the Irons this summer while becoming the perfect heir to Antonio in the process.

David Moyes appears to have made Amadou Onana one of his top targets to replace Arsenal-bound Declan Rice, but there could be a better alternative out there for West Ham United at a cheaper price.

Who should West Ham sign to replace Rice?

Money is not an issue for West Ham this summer given they are about to land £105m through the sale of Rice to Arsenal, a deal that is close to being officially announced.

That is not to say the Hammers want to overpay for any player, but it seems unlikely Everton will budge on their reported £55m valuation of Onana, who impressed in his debut Premier League campaign.

Not only that, Chelsea are also supposedly eyeing up the Belgium international should they be unable to land their own top target in Brighton and Hove Albion's Moises Caicedo.

West Ham should not worry too much about the prospect of missing out on Onana, though, as The Sun claims the Europa Conference League winners are also interested in signing Scott McTominay from Manchester United.

Would Scott McTominay be a good signing for West Ham?

McTominay featured 24 times for United in the Premier League last season, but the imminent arrival of Mason Mount from Chelsea will push the Scotsman further down the midfield pecking order.

The 26-year-old has been praised and criticised in equal measure across his six seasons as a United regular, but there is no doubt he is good enough for a side outside of the top six.

Indeed, on the basis of his performances over the past 12 months, FBref's player comparison model ranks Onana as the player second-most like McTominay from midfielders in the English top flight.

The pair have an identical return of 0.17 goals per shots on target, while also attempting an identical number of passes (33.5 per 90), with Onana ever so slightly ahead in terms of passing accuracy (83.3% v 82.2%).

While Onana also has a slightly better figure in terms of tackles won per 90 (1.56 v 1.47), McTominay ranks better when it comes to aerial challenges won (2.64 v 2.17) and ball recoveries (6.05 v 5.43).

Described in December 2020 as a "physical monster" by then-United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, and someone who "can do everything", it would not be harsh to suggest McTominay's Old Trafford career has not quite taken off in the way many may have hoped.

But valued at a slightly smaller fee than Onana at £50m, according to the Daily Star, and with the midfielder recently adding more goals to his game, it may be a move worth pursuing for Moyes to kick-start to post-Rice era.

Tottenham Hotspur are set to hold talks with Barcelona "in the next few days", with a view to signing Clement Lenglet on a permanent deal, according to journalist Rudy Galetti.

Is Clement Lenglet signing for Tottenham?

Daniel Levy appears to be closing in on a rather exciting signing in the form of James Maddison after successful talks, but that's not all that's going on as Spurs look to strengthen in another area this summer.

Tottenham have been negotiating a deal for Lenglet for quite some time now, with Barcelona recently proposing a swap deal including Giovani Lo Celso, who is not viewed as an "essential" player at N17.

However, Spurs were reportedly not keen on a deal of that nature, and they have instead come to the table with a bid of around €5m (£4.3m), with Barca hoping to have the transfer wrapped up by June 30th.

Not only are the La Liga club keen to conclude negotiations, the Lilywhites are also hoping for progress to be made in the near future, or they may end up moving on to other targets.

In an interview with GiveMeSport, Galetti confirmed Tottenham may consider alternative options at centre-back, should the upcoming discussions not prove to be worthwhile, saying:

"The talks will also continue in the next few days, even if Tottenham Hotspur have no intention of holding long negotiation as they do have other possible names on their list of centre-backs."

Should Tottenham sign Lenglet?

The Frenchman had a mixed season on loan last season, having been hailed as "outstanding" by members of the media early on in the campaign, after making three clearances and blocking one shot in a 2-1 victory against Fulham.

As the season went on, however, the 28-year-old did put in some very poor performances, receiving a 4.6 match rating in the 4-2 loss against Manchester City in January, after making an error that led to a goal.

That said, the former Sevilla man is a vastly experienced player at the top level, making a total of 50 appearances in the Champions League, while he has also received 15 caps for France.

If Spurs are able to sign Lenglet for a fee of just £4.3m, then he could be a solid addition to the squad, at least as a back-up option, however they should not be held to ransom by Barca if they demand a higher fee.

There are plenty of alternative options available, including Fulham's Tosin Adarabioyo, who may also be available for a cut-price fee this summer, having recently made it clear he wants to leave, while Edmond Tapsoba at the "top of the list" of targets.

Leeds United will be desperate to ensure that this stay in the Championship is not as long as their last, given the 16-year absence from the Premier League following their initial relegation back in 2004.

Fortunately for the club and the new ownership, the Whites do not find themselves in nearly the same level of financial peril that culminated in their brief entry into League One during that period.

The 49ers will seek an instant return to the top flight and thus could look at the other success stories from teams who bounced straight back after such a demotion.

One such example was Newcastle United, who were relegated in 2016 but saw an immediate upturn the season following. The secret to their success was shrouded in their ability to purchase the division's top players, easily cruising back to the big time.

They brought in Matt Ritchie, Grant Hanley, Dwight Gayle, Ciaran Clark and more, and finished first with 94 points.

It seems that the Whites are beginning their stroll down the same path, seeking to bolster their ranks with the stars of the most recent term.

This explains their reported interest from May in James McAtee, a young £25m-rated midfielder who spent a stellar loan spell at Sheffield United, who went up automatically in second place.

Would James McAtee be a success at Leeds United?

The 20-year-old, who has mustered up six senior appearances for his parent club Manchester City, enjoyed his first full season in senior football last campaign at Bramall Lane.

Posting 43 appearances across all competitions, in the league the Citizens loanee scored nine imperative goals and assisted a further three, outlining his offensive impetus from deep.

The left-footed maestro was omnipresent during their promotion campaign, as a relentless presence in the engine room with that touch of class needed to truly shine. As such, his 6.89 average rating in the league was upheld through a 77% pass accuracy, 57% dribble success rate, 0.9 key passes and 0.8 tackles per game, via Sofascore.

To place this kind of youthful energy into the Whites' midfield could be a masterstroke for the 49ers, who are yet to even name their new manager following the exit of Sam Allardyce and have recently released Adam Forshaw, albeit with the intention to take another look at him in pre-season.

It is a testament to the bright future that this youngster boasts, that Pep Guardiola was so keen to praise him after turning down one loan spell in 2022: "Maybe it happened because he's a special player."

To sign a proven talent at this level, who has a future likely way beyond this division, would not only be a statement of intent that they are not planning on staying in the Championship for long but also that they have one eye on once again battling the best from top flight too; whoever takes the dugout.

McAtee could be integral in achieving both of these goals, as a dynamic midfield magician liable to propel them back into the Premier League at the first time of asking.

Manchester United may set their sights on trying to bring Nice defender Jean-Clair Todibo to Old Trafford in the transfer window, according to journalist Dean Jones.

What's the latest transfer news involving Jean-Clair Todibo?

Last month, acclaimed transfer guru Fabrizio Romano gave an insight into Todibo's situation heading into the summer, stating on Twitter: "Understand Newcastle, Manchester Utd and Liverpool scouts were in attendance at Nice-Rennes game to monitor Jean-Clair Todibo. French centre back could get top club move in the summer — with price tag understood to be around €45m."

L'Equipe via Get French Football News also echo a similar story, claiming that Manchester United, Liverpool and Newcastle United want to sign the 23-year-old defender, who is also being tracked by clubs around Europe, including Serie A giants Napoli and Juventus.

The £21k-a-week ace is said to be open to a new challenge next season and is mulling over his options before deciding his next career move.

Nice-Matin have revealed that Paris Saint-Germain also hold an attraction towards the former Barcelona defender, who has considerable levels of interest in his services in the off-season.

Manchester United have also been linked with other defenders recently, namely Napoli defender Kim Min-jae and Monaco star Axel Disasi, with Erik Ten Hag believed to be keen to strengthen his backline.

Speaking to Give Me Sport, journalist Jones has signified that Todibo could 'come into the equation' at Old Trafford this summer.

Jones told FFC when asked about Manchester United's interest in Todibo, Kim and Disasi: "Both players that have been scouted throughout the season [Kim Min-jae and Axel Disasi], I think Todibo as well in Ligue 1 has been looked at, so there's another name that potentially could come into the equation."

Would Jean-Clair Todibo be a good signing for Manchester United?

Todibo has enjoyed a solid campaign over in France at Ligue 1 outfit Nice and looks primed to test himself this summer by securing himself a move to an elite-level side.

In 2022/23, the Cayenne-born made 46 appearances in all competitions for Nice in a season where he was almost ever-present for his current employers, as per Transfermarkt.

WhoScored also shows that Todibo has excellent awareness of dangerous attacking situations and managed to complete an average of 3.1 clearances per match in the French top-flight this term.

The 23-year-old, who received massive praise from German legend Lothar Matthaus, who stated: "Todibo is the best centre back I’ve seen in a long time.”, was also solid in the tackle across the campaign and obtained an impressive challenge success ratio of 72.3%, according to FBRef.

Manchester United boss Ten Hag will be keen to boost his side's defensive abilities looking ahead to 2023/24 and Todibo is an addition that would excite the Old Trafford faithful due to his consistency and room to blossom further in the next few years.

Everton have been approached by Premier League rivals Tottenham Hotspur regarding a deal for Jordan Pickford, according to reports.

Is Jordan Pickford leaving Everton?

Pickford has firmly established himself as Sean Dyche’s number one between the sticks having started 37 of the 38 top-flight games last season, and whilst coming close to relegation, he was a standout performer on Merseyside.

The England international only signed a new contract back in February which keeps him at the club until at least 2027, but there had been prior speculation that he could have been set to depart if the Toffees had dropped to the Championship.

Writing in his column for CaughtOffside, CBS reporter and journalist Ben Jacobs claimed that there was an informal agreement in place that the 29-year-old could leave if relegated, with Spurs the “frontrunner” to secure his services having held a long-term interest, and that is something that they appear to have stepped up despite him surviving the drop.

Are Tottenham signing Pickford?

According to Football Transfers, Everton have been “contacted” by Tottenham to enquire about the possibility of a summer swoop for Pickford. The Lilywhites have been tracking the goalkeeper for “several months” and have now “started to make moves” for the 6 foot star.

The Goodison Park outfit have been approached by Spurs to “establish a dialogue”, and there have also already been “discussions” held between the player’s representatives and his admirers in N17.

The Blues have placed a £40m price tag on his head, but it’s claimed that before joining, he wants “reassurances” over who their new manager is going to be as well as if Harry Kane will remain in the capital beyond the upcoming window.

Should Everton sell Pickford?

Pickford has been dubbed Everton’s “leader” by journalist Josh Bunting having captained Dyche’s side on several occasions last season, and considering the positive impact he has on the club, the board should do everything they can to retain his services for the 2023/24 campaign.

The World Cup participant kept eight clean sheets in the top-flight during the previous term which saw him receive two man-of-the-match awards, not to mention that he made a total of 123 saves from 181 shots on target against, giving him a save success percentage of 71.3%, as per FBRef.

Toffees supporters also clearly hold a lot of admiration for Pickford having voted him the Player of the Year twice, first in 2017/18 and second in 2021/22, and the thought of losing him would be a huge blow which is why he needs to remain in the net on Merseyside.

Manchester United hold a big advantage in the race for Fiorentina midfielder Sofyan Amrabat as Erik ten Hag aims to strengthen his squad.

What’s the latest on Sofyan Amrabat to Manchester United?

According to Italian outlet Calciomercato, United are in a ‘two-way’ battle alongside Barcelona for Amrabat this summer, however, the Red Devils hold an advantage in the chase for the player due to the La Liga sides financial situation.

The report also states that the 26-year-old has said ‘goodbye’ to the Serie A side ahead of a potential move this summer.

Ten Hag wouldn’t have to spend extravagant amounts on him either, with Fiorentina wanting a fee of around €40m (£34m) for the midfielder and this shouldn’t be a problem for the Old Trafford side.

Could Manchester United sign Sofyan Amrabat this summer?

There are a couple of factors which ensure United are leading the chase for the Moroccan international. Firstly, the aforementioned financial problems at Barcelona could give them cause for concern when pursing a move, as United are in a much healthier position.

Secondly, Ten Hag knows the player well from their time at FC Utrecht between 2015 and 2017, as he made 50 appearances under the Dutchman, registering 11 goal contributions in that time.

Indeed, Amrabat’s brother recently claimed that the United manager is “charmed” by his former player and this could be another factor which may lead to his arrival at the club this summer.

The Moroccan is a reliable presence in the heart of the midfield, being a wonderful passer of the ball, evidenced by his 90% pass success rate in Serie A last term, which ranks him second in the Fiorentina squad, while he also averages 59.3 touches each game, indicating that he is equally confident on the ball.

It was his performances at the 2022 World Cup however that brought his name to the public eye, especially due to Morocco’s excellent tournament as they became the first nation from Africa to reach the semi-finals of the competition.

He played in all seven games in Qatar, averaging a rating of 6.83/10 as per Sofascore while ranking first in the squad for accurate passes per game, third for tackles per game and eighth for interceptions per game, showcasing his passing and defensive abilities on the grandest stage of all.

Dubbed the “best central midfielder in the tournament” and a “monster” by journalist Carlo Garganese for his displays in Qatar, it proves just how effective he can be, and Ten Hag should be making a move for his former player sooner rather than later.

Newcastle United journalist Dominic Scurr added his take to the speculation surrounding Newcastle United and the pursuit of Manchester United goalkeeper Dean Henderson. 

The lowdown: Recent reports

Reliable journalist for the Manchester Evening News, Samuel Luckhurst, has this week claimed that the Magpies are ‘closing in’ on a move for Henderson.

It is believed that the 25-year-old was heading to North East this week to put the final pieces of a move together ahead of the summer transfer window, as Magpies boss Eddie Howe prepares for a busy off-season.

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However, it now appears that the switch may not be as far along as Luckhurst claims following a contradictory report…

The latest: Scurr’s update

Taking to Twitter in response to reports elsewhere, The Shields Gazette journalist Scurr was quick to state that ‘sources at Newcastle’ have denied a move is close to completion.

Citing his own story, he stated: “Reports suggesting MUFC goalkeeper Dean Henderson is on the verge of completing a move to NUFC. But sources at Newcastle have been quick to play down the story.”

Within the report, Scurr confirms Henderson is a target who has been ‘discussed’, likely for a season-long loan deal, but also reconfirms that those close to the club have ‘quickly played down’ the likelihood of it happening in the coming days.

The verdict: Make it happen

Whilst few could question the service of 33-year-old Martin Dubravka since arriving at the Toon in 2018, it’s no surprise that Howe would be on the lookout for additional goalkeeper options to challenge the Slovakian.

Capped once by England, Henderson enjoyed a stellar 2019/20 campaign whilst on loan at Sheffield United, earning a 7.00 Sofascore rating whilst making 2.7 saves on average per game and keeping 13 Premier League clean sheets.

Since returning to Old Trafford the £16.2million valued man – dubbed as possessing ‘insane’ ability in 2020 by then-teammate Sander Berge – has found opportunities hard to come by as understudy to David de Gea and a summer move could suit all parties, including Newcastle.

In other news, find out which £36m-rated star NUFC could now sign for free here!

Former Scotland manager Alex McLeish has been left hugely impressed with Carl Starfelt’s improvement in form for Celtic this season, hailing his work behind the scenes with Ange Postecoglou.

The Lowdown: Starfelt superb for Hoops

The Hoops are on the verge of sealing Scottish Premiership glory, with numerous players starring for Postecoglou’s side throughout the campaign.

Starfelt has undoubtedly been one of them, starting 31 league matches and averaging a 90.8% pass completion rate and winning 4.4 aerial duels per game.

The Swede’s current deal expires in the summer of 2025, and considering he is still only 26, he could prove to be a long-term player for Celtic after an initial shaky start.

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The Latest: McLeish hails defender

Speaking to Football Insider, McLeish heaped praise on Starfelt’s brilliance and the work he has done with Postecoglou in training, having improved his all-round form hugely:

“The manager has seen the guy every day. I imagine they have been doing some individual stuff, some video stuff.

“The manager will have known what Starfelt is capable of before he joined Celtic. There was a few Celtic players at the start of the season who weren’t at the level.

“Carter-Vickers is one. Starfelt, after a very shaky start, he has blossomed. It’s a credit to the manager and the coaches but it also shows the player has the bottle to play for these teams.”

The Verdict: Key man for years to come

Starfelt deserves all the accolades he receives this season, having been such an influential part of a defence that has conceded just 21 goals in 36 league outings in 2021/22.

He and Cameron Carter-Vickers has formed a wonderful understanding alongside one another and the hope is that they continue to provide the backbone of the team for many years.

Starfelt hasn’t done his job yet, though, and it is vital that he carries on performing at his current level in the final two league games of the season, becoming a Scottish champion in his first year at Parkhead.

In other news, Celtic have been tipped to sign a player in one position this summer. Read more here.

Josh Holland has dropped an exciting claim regarding reported Aston Villa target Ibrahim Sangare.

What’s the word?

Speaking recently to Football FanCast, the transfer insider insisted that the PSV Eindhoven midfielder could well be making a move to the Premier League in the near future, while he dished out praise for the £14.4m-rated man following his stunning displays for the Dutch outfit in recent times – including in the recent European Conference League meetings against Leicester City.

Asked about the 24-year-old, Holland said: “He reminds me of Wilfried Ndidi, in a sense of his structure and how he’s tall but he’s not a big, strong player. He’s quite niche in how he moves across the pitch.

“I think he’s destined for a move to the Premier League, whether that be to Leicester or to Villa. I think both clubs need a defensive midfielder, so it’s going to be an interesting battle for them to bring him in”.

Previous reports have linked the Ivorian with a move to Villa Park, although the Midlands side are likely to face stiff competition from the Foxes for his signature, according to recent suggestions.

Gerrard will love him

It has proven a fairly tricky start to life back in English football for Villa boss Steven Gerrard – with nine wins and ten defeats since his appointment back in November – with the former England international seemingly hoping to strengthen this summer in order to kick on again next season.

Having already snapped up Philippe Coutinho and Lucas Digne back in January, the 41-year-old is now turning his attention towards the club’s next notable capture, with Sangare potentially the man on their radar.

Recent reports have suggested that Gerrard went on a scouting mission last month to watch the 17-cap international in action at the King Power Stadium, having also kept a close eye on his current teammate, Noni Madueke.

Recruiting a new defensive midfielder appears high on the priority list this summer, with the club lacking a genuine holding player at present, relying on the more attack-minded Douglas Luiz to fill in in the absence of the stricken Marvelous Nakamba.

There have been links to Leeds United’s £60m man Kalvin Phillips to solve that problem role, although the club can secure a quality and much cheaper alternative in Sangare – who is rumoured to cost in the region of £3om.

While he may be half the price of the Englishman, he is certainly not half the player, having enjoyed a fine campaign for the title-chasing Eredivisie outfit.

The former Toulouse man – who has been dubbed “extraordinary” by former coach Aad de Mos – has registered a hugely impressive 3.3 tackles and 2.4 interceptions per game this season in his 26 league outings, while also winning 72% of his aerial duels.

Not just a midfield destroyer, however, he is also a smooth operator in the ball, having also completed 74% of his total dribbles and achieved an 86% pass accuracy rate thus far.

The Villans are seemingly crying out for an all-around presence in midfield, with Sangare the perfect fit for what Gerrard is after.

In other news, Gerrard must ruthlessly axe “unplayable” £38k-p/w AVFC dud, he’s stealing a living