Manchester United are already thinking about sacking Ruben Amorim, and a “genius” manager who’s won 11 trophies may be on the list of candidates to replace him, according to a report.
Tottenham defeat adds to Amorim's troubles
It has been far from an ideal first three months at Old Trafford for Amorim, with his side now languishing in 15th place in the Premier League.
A 1-0 defeat away at fellow strugglers Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday has piled even more pressure on the Portuguese coach, who has since expressed just how difficult he has found his time in charge of United, saying: “I have a lot of problems. My job is so hard but I’m here to continue my job to the next week with my beliefs. I will try to do it, I will try to win again,”
Of course, the Red Devils were hardly flying under Erik ten Hag prior to Amorim’s arrival, but it would be fair to say there have been no real signs of improvement, leading to questions about the 40-year-old’s future at Old Trafford.
Man Utd progressing in talks to sign £33m ace who wants Old Trafford move
The summer transfer window is still a few months away from opening but United are looking to wrap up a deal fairly quickly.
1 ByBrett Worthington Feb 17, 2025
According to a report from Spain, INEOS are already thinking about sacking the former Sporting CP boss, with doubts about his long-term project now starting to emerge.
The United ownership are likely to give their current manager until the end of the season, barring anything drastic happening, but they are now starting to evaluate potential alternatives for the summer.
Former Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane is named as someone who could be on the list of candidates, with INEOS keen on bringing in a manager capable of returning Man United to Europe’s top table.
Former Real Madrid player and coach ZinedineZidanewith club president Florentino Perez
Zidane has a track record of success
Although United have managed to compete for honours since the retirement of Sir Alex Ferguson, winning the Europa League under Jose Mourinho and the two domestic cups with Ten Hag, replacing their legendary manager has proven to be extremely difficult.
Reports suggest some players are already starting to lose patience with Amorim’s methods, in light of the poor results, so it is no wonder INEOS are starting to assess replacements for the summer.
That said, the players have to take a huge share of the responsibility, given that they have been poor in the Premier League for quite some time now, with the FA Cup triumph last season arguably papering over the cracks of a eighth-place finish.
Zidane has a proven history of success at a top club, winning 11 trophies during his time with Real Madrid, while he has also been dubbed a “tactical genius” by Steve McManaman.
However, the truth is this Man United squad needs a major overhaul if they are going to return to being the dominant force they once were, regardless of which manager is in the dugout.
Nepal legspinner says he will return home to ‘defend against false complaint’ when his health improves
ESPNcricinfo staff26-Sep-2022
Sandeep Lamichhane is Nepal’s highest wicket-taker in international cricket•Peter Della Penna
Two weeks after the Nepal police issued an arrest warrant in Sandeep Lamichhane’s name, the cricketer has come out with a statement that the case has made him unwell, affecting him mentally and physically and added that he is planning to return to Nepal when his health improves.When news of Lamichhane’s arrest warrant was made public – for alleged coercion of another person – on September 8, he was in the West Indies, taking part in the Caribbean Premier League. Back then, he had said he would leave the CPL and would be returning to home to face the “baseless allegations”. This latest statement, put out on Monday, suggests Lamichhane is yet to arrive in Nepal.”The news that a warrant has been issued in my name and that the complaint against me has been lodged, made me upset and unwell,” Lamichhane’s said in a Facebook post written in Nepali on September 26. “I was not able think about what to do and what not to do.”All these things affected me mentally on one hand and on the other hand, I had to go through illness, and due to mental stress and ill health I kept myself in isolation. I have been mentally and physically affected by the portrayal and I have reached a state of imbalance and I have been bringing myself back to a normal state under the advice of doctors. My health is gradually improving, and I am planning to return to Nepal as soon as possible to defend against the false complaint against me.”Lamichhane once again reiterated that the accusations against him were “false” and had “severely damaged” his “character”.”I will fight the legal battle against the false accusations. As far as I understand, according to the constitution of Nepal, I am innocent until proven guilty. I also understand that the constitution provides for the right to live with dignity, the right against torture, the right to privacy, the right to health and the right to consult with my legal practitioner.”Lamichhane, 22, is by far Nepal’s most high-profile cricketer, and the only one to have played in T20 leagues around the world, including the IPL, the Big Bash League, the Pakistan Super League, the Bangladesh Premier League, the Lanka Premier League and the CPL.He is also the world’s second-fastest bowler to 50 ODI wickets and third-fastest to 50 T20I wickets, and last played competitive cricket in the T20I series against Kenya, in August 2022. After that, he was set to represent Jamaica Tallawahs in the CPL but was unable to take the field.Lamichhane was Nepal’s captain at the time of the arrest warrant, a position he has since lost having been suspended by the board. At the time, Cricket Association of Nepal’s acting secretary Prashant Vikram Malla said that his suspension would remain in place pending a complete investigation.
Wolverhampton Wanderers are looking to sign another new defender in what remains of this transfer window, according to a new report.
Wolves suffer four consecutive defeats
Vitor Pereira’s side suffered a fourth consecutive defeat in the Premier League on Saturday afternoon, as they were beaten 1-0 by Arsenal. The Midlands side gained an advantage early on, as Myles Lewis-Skelly picked up a red card, but that advantage disappeared in the 70th minute, as Joao Gomes also received a red card, and then four minutes later, Arsenal scored what turned out to be the winning goal from Riccardo Calafiori.
Romano: Wolves now want to sign "extraordinary" new £11k-p/w ace this month
It comes after a failed attempt to land their top target.
ByBen Browning Jan 24, 2025
Wolves have now lost to Nottingham Forest, Newcastle United, Chelsea, and Arsenal in their last four Premier League games. However, despite the defeat to Arsenal, Pereira wasn’t too disappointed with his side’s performance. Pereira said after the game: “At the end of the game, I tell you we lost a big chance to win this match because we play a very good game. In my opinion, we played a very good game.
“Tactically, commitment, energy, we did everything to win the game. What [we] missed was to score one goal. We had two chances before they scored; we have two clear chances to score the first goal. After the yellow card for Joao, they score one goal, and we didn’t.”
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It has been a quiet transfer window so far for the Old Gold, as they have brought in just one new signing, despite the fact they have been sitting around the bottom of the table for the majority of the season. Defender Emmanuel Agbadou joined Wolves earlier in this transfer window from Stade de Reims, and it would be expected that Pereira would like to add to that signing even more so, after the defeat to the Gunners.
Wolves working to sign another new defender for Pereira
In fact, the Premier League side are working on another transfer, as according to Football Insider journalist Pete O’Rourke, Wolves are looking to sign a new defender before the transfer window closes on February 3rd.
The report claims that Pereira is keen to further strengthen his backline this month, despite the arrival of Agbadou. It is probably no surprise that signing a new defender is high on the agenda for Wolves, as they have conceded the second-most goals in the league, with only bottom side Southampton conceding more.
Wolves currently have Toti, Santiago Bueno, Yerson Mosquera, Bastien Meupiyou, Craig Dawson, and, of course, Agbadou as their centre-back options. However, Mosquera is currently out with an injury, and it looks as though Pereira is keen to add more competition at the heart of his defence, as he still has a lot of work to do to keep his side above that dotted line.
It is unclear if signing another defender will be done via a loan switch or a permanent move, but either way, Pereira obviously sees this as a must, as while they have scored 32, they have also conceded 52 goals.
The Sri Lanka batter is enjoying a revival in his career after working on his fitness
Shashank Kishore26-Aug-2022You have a supremely-talented batter who isn’t the modern-day definition of fit – so what do you do as coach? It’s possible that Chris Silverwood has pondered the Bhanuka Rajapaksa question a few times.But four months since becoming Sri Lanka’s coach, Silverwood doesn’t have to worry about the issue anymore, and for that Rajapaksa deserves some credit. A concerted effort to improve his fitness – with weight loss being one of the by-products – has led to a revival in his career.At 30, an age where cricketers at the crossroads begin to wonder if opportunities will bypass them, Rajapaksa is enjoying a new wind in his young career. This change didn’t seem possible when he retired in a huff, citing differences with then coach Micky Arthur over the prescribed fitness standards, but sanity prevailed and he un-retired with a commitment to work on his fitness.Related
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At the IPL this year, Rajapaksa showed his power-hitting skills for Punjab Kings, even if he couldn’t sustain his aggressive tempo over long periods. His abilities have now earned him a deal in the UAE’s International League T20 with Dubai Capitals, who also run Delhi Capitals in the IPL.As Rajapaksa returns to a familiar venue, one where he began last year’s T20 World Cup with a match-winning half-century against Bangladesh, he is looking forward to carrying the confidence from the IPL and his recent T20 success into the Asia Cup.”For me, the experience I bring after playing in the IPL will create good energy for the side,” Rajapaksa said. “One of the best chats I had with Liam [Livingstone] was when he said, ‘If it’s in the V, make sure the ball is in the trees’. He’d just be that aggressive. Proper slam-bang player.”Coming back to the Sri Lankan side, I have brought in a lot of positivity after speaking to a lot of the IPL players, like Shikhar Dhawan, Mayank Agarwal and KG [Kagiso Rabada]. I don’t think I have the time to explain in detail the talks we had, but there were a lot of positive vibes. I’m hoping we can take that same brand of cricket to the world.”
“I’ve found the guys are open-minded, willing to learn. They want to learn and want to move forward. From a coaching perspective, I couldn’t have asked for anything more from the team.”Chris Silverwood
As Rajapaksa spoke of the “brand of cricket” Sri Lanka want to play, Silverwood, sitting beside him, chuckled. He knows all too well the kind of adjustments England made to become the white-ball powerhouse they are today. Sri Lanka have a long way to go, but having an attacking mindset is a good place to start.It isn’t something Silverwood can instantly make happen, though. He’s barely had any time to settle in as coach. Soon after his arrival in May, Sri Lanka played two Tests against Bangladesh at home, and then played Australia and Pakistan in two intense series.The Asia Cup is going to be tough too, with Sri Lanka in the tougher group along with Bangladesh and Afghanistan. Silverwood, though, is happy with how the team is shaping up during his short tenure.”My experience with Sri Lanka has been excellent,” he said. “I’ve found the guys are open-minded, willing to learn. They want to learn and want to move forward. From a coaching perspective, I couldn’t have asked for anything more from the team.”It would’ve been lovely to play [the Asia Cup] in Sri Lanka, but unfortunately it’s not happening there. We’ve embraced the fact that we have to play it here [in UAE]. Our mindset is very much focused on what we need to do to compete and be successful in the UAE. A lot of the guys have the experience of playing here anyway, so we will use that. We’re here to do our best to win the tournament.”While Sri Lanka begin the Asia Cup by playing Afghanistan in the tournament opener on Saturday, the spotlight is already on Sunday’s game – with India playing Pakistan. Silverwood said that flying under the radar could be exactly what Sri Lanka needs.”I think every game is must-win, but if people are talking about something else, you can go about your business [normally], so it is an advantage, absolutely, ” he said. “But at the same time you have to meet these teams [India, Pakistan] at some point. We’re busy working behind the scenes to ensure we’re well prepared, equally we’ll be watching every game with interest to see what to do.”
Erik ten Hag has been ruled out as Roma's next coach despite visiting the club's training ground after attending the Serie A game against Juventus.
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Ten Hag attends Roma match as owners' guestDutch coach also visits training groundWill not be replacing Ranieri this summerFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
Ten Hag was in the stands at the Stadio Olimpico on Sunday to see the 1-1 draw, having been invited by the home team's owners, the Friedkins. The Dutchman's presence sparked suggestions he could replace Claudio Ranieri as head coach at the end of the season.
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On Monday, Ten Hag was welcomed to the Roma training ground, where he posed for pictures alongside his former Ajax charge Devyne Rensch. Despite his appearance, reports that the former Ajax and Manchester United boss is not in talks with the Serie A side, with both his agent and Roma denying the rumours of a possible move. The Italian club are looking to bring in an Italian coach to take Ranieri's place at the end of the season.
DID YOU KNOW?
Ten Hag has been without a job since he was sacked by United at the end of October when the Red Devils were languishing in 14th place – one place worse off than their current position under Ruben Amorim.
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The 55-year-old has given no indication of where and when he will next be seen in the dugout, but it will not be at Roma, with Stefano Pioli the reported frontrunner to take over.
The sun has set on Mumbai Indians’ IPL 2022 campaign. And there are far too many questions than answers at present.Did they spend wisely at the auction? In breaking the bank for Jofra Archer, who wasn’t going to be fit this season, did they shoot themselves in the foot? Having put the kind of exorbitant bid for Tim David, why haven’t shown faith in him? Is there a solution for Ishan Kishan’s form slump? Is his auction price – a humongous INR 15.25 crore – hampering him mentally?And then there’s an entirely different issue – the curious case of Rohit Sharma. What has happened to his form? Is Kishan’s poor form affecting his style of play at the other end? How long does he back a misfiring Kieron Pollard, a bonafide legend for the franchise.Addressing some of these questions over the next three weeks could be a good start building towards next year.Related
Cricket-wise, there is little that bothers the Rajasthan Royals currently. Until last week, everyone wondered how they’d fare without Jos Buttler’s contributions. Well, they did just fine, and managed to beat Royal Challengers Bangalore too, courtesy a fine hand from Riyan Parag, one they’ve backed through thick and thin. It doesn’t appear to be much of a concern that they’re regularly playing just six specialist batters.The bowling attack has looked as threatening as they come, and they’ve fired in unison to make them look strong contenders to go all the way. A win on Saturday will keep them in the top two, maybe even first with a bit of luck.The first time they met, Buttler hit IPL 2022’s first century•BCCI
In the news
For the Royals, the match is significant in a different way. They will wear specially tailored kits in memory of Shane Warne, “the first Royal”. This is to celebrate the life and times of their captain, mentor and guide who masterminded their first-ever IPL triumph fourteen years ago.Mumbai Indians have signed left-arm spinner Kumar Kartikeya as a replacement for another uncapped player Arshad Khan. Kartikeya has so far featured in eight T20s for Madhya Pradesh.
How do you stop Buttler? Maybe the trick is in giving Bumrah the extra over upfront to play on his mind? In eight meetings, Buttler, the season’s orange cap holder, has been out to him four times, while only striking at 89.
After a roaring start to the season – seven wickets in four games at an economy of 7.3 – Boult is amid a form slump. He has gone wicketless in the last three games, with an economy of 10.5. Among 20 bowlers to have bowled more than seven overs between overs 15-20, Boult’s economy of 13.6 is the second worst. Could they then try to strengthen their batting a bit more by bringing in the all-round James Neesham, who can also send down a few overs? That could also mean they consider Navdeep Saini or Karun Nair over Daryl Mitchell to balance out the XI.
Stats that matter
Six of Prasidh’s nine wickets in IPL 2022 have been in the Powerplay. That’s more than how many he has taken in this phase in the past four seasons combined.
Royals’ average of 15.7 per wicket with spin is by far the best this season. No spin attack has taken more wickets than them.
Rohit Sharma has been out five times out of eight inside the powerplay, the most in a single IPL season.
His streak of 16 innings and counting without an IPL fifty is also his longest ever since joining Mumbai Indians in 2011.
A pundit has claimed that one member of the Tottenham Hotspur squad won’t be happy with the treatment he’s had from some supporters, and it could be “bugging him” behind-the-scenes at Hotspur Way.
Tottenham face Bournemouth after disappointing 1-1 draw against Fulham
Ange Postecoglou cut a frustrated figure on the touchline after his side dropped points at home to mid-table Fulham over the weekend, with their disappointing 1-1 draw following up their very impressive 4-0 win away to Premier League champions Man City.
New target: Spurs now want to sign £25m defender for Postecoglou in January
He would help fix a major problem area in north London.
ByBen Browning Dec 2, 2024
This has been a reoccurring theme of Spurs’ season so far – wins against elite opposition overshadowed by poor results against teams they’re favourites to beat – with Postecoglou gifting both Crystal Palace and Ipswich Town their first victories of 2024/2025.
Alongside those poor outings, the Lilywhites beat Man United 3-0 at Old Trafford, knocked City out of the Carabao Cup, demolished London rivals West Ham and beat top four rivals Aston Villa 4-1.
Bournemouth vs Tottenham
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Tottenham vs Chelsea
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Southampton vs Tottenham
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Tottenham vs Liverpool
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Nottingham Forest vs Tottenham
December 26
Tottenham are blowing very hot and cold, with Postecoglou not helped by a plethora of injuries to key players, including number one goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario and a domestic ban for mainstay midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur.
Spurs take on Bournemouth next week, off the back of this questionable run, but one very bright spark of their season so far has been Wales international winger Brennan Johnson.
Tottenham winger Brennan Johnson
The £70,000-per-week forward has scored 10 goals in all competitions, standing out as one of their star players, after he was forced to delete his social media accounts due to abuse from a section of critics online.
Johnson’s bagged seven goals in his last nine league games, whilst also playing a major role in their Europa League campaign with three goals in five matches against Ferencvaros, Qarabag and Roma.
He’s a real Postecoglou success story, and it is safe to say that the £47 million signing is proving all of his doubters wrong with some prolific performances on the field. Johnson is also impressing for Wales at international level, and right now, the sky appears the limit for Spurs’ rejuvenated 23-year-old.
Pundit claims Brennan Johnson remains unhappy with Tottenham fans
However, speaking to Tottenham News, pundit and former Spurs scout Bryan King says that Johnson could still be unhappy with a section of Tottenham fans for the abuse he received online – specifically after what he spotted the winger do against Fulham.
“We saw Johnson’s reaction when he scored,” King said.
“He is obviously still not happy with Tottenham fans and comments that have been made about him on social media because he didn’t exactly go into a jubilant celebration when he scored.He made sure people knew how he felt about the way he has been treated by the supporters.
“I thought he had moved past that. However, it still seems to be bugging him.”
Johnson has a chance to prove his worth yet again when Spurs take on Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium on Thursday, and he could continue to be a key talking point campaign.
Chelsea's victory over Leicester was reportedly a "very important" marker as Enzo Maresca's men pursue Champions League qualification.
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Chelsea are desperately seeking a top-four finish
Win over Foxes fired them into fourth
Had aimed to reach 49 points with 10 games to go
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WHAT HAPPENED?
Marc Cucurella's decisive goal ensured that Maresca’s side collected all three points to climb up to fourth place in the Premier League standings. They are now two points clear of Manchester City and Newcastle in the race for European football. However, the battle remains tight, with just six points separating third from eighth, making every remaining fixture crucial in the final stretch of the season.
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's Matt Law has now revealed Chelsea’s analytics team has been working on data modelling to determine the minimum number of points required before the international break to remain on course for a top-four finish. Having missed out on Europe's elite competition for two consecutive seasons, Chelsea are eager to reclaim a spot among the continent’s best and they are tracking every detail to help them achieve their target. Fifth place could be enough to secure a Champions League place due to English clubs' performance in this year's edition.
WHAT LAW SAID
Speaking on the , Law revealed: "I know internally at Chelsea they have been doing a little bit of data modelling over the last few weeks and the data modelling they came up with suggested that they needed to finish before the international break with at least 49 points.
"So the Leicester win, albeit not convincing and not particularly impressive in many respects, has been viewed as very important internally because they’ve hit what their data modelling suggested at bare minimum they needed to be on going into that international break to really give them a good chance of Champions League qualification, so that win was viewed as a big win."
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WHAT NEXT FOR CHELSEA?
With the win over Leicester behind them, Chelsea must now shift their focus to European competition as they are set to face Copenhagen in the second leg of their Conference League round of 16 tie, hoping to secure passage to the quarter-finals. Following their midweek assignment, Chelsea will prepare for a high-stakes Premier League showdown against Arsenal at Emirates Stadium on Sunday.
Former coach cites reported lack of support but writes of pride in what he has achieved
ESPNcricinfo staff06-Feb-2022Justin Langer has apologised if he came across as “too intense” in an emotional letter of resignation to the Cricket Australia board but said he hoped he had left the men’s team in a better position than when he arrived.The letter was published in the newspaper on Sunday, just over 24 hours after Langer had tendered his resignation as Australia men’s head coach, declining a short-term six-month contract extension that was offered to him on Friday.In the letter, Langer addressed the media speculation about his coaching style and said he accepted that the team wanted to head in a different direction.”There has been a great deal of media speculation on my future as the Australian men’s cricket coach over the last 12 months and this has taken an enormous toll on my family. I hope through this time, and throughout my tenure, I have held myself with integrity and dignity,” Langer wrote in the email to CEO Nick Hockley.”Last night I was offered a short-term contract until the end of the T20 World Cup in Australia, with the sentiment of ‘going out on a high’. After careful consideration I have decided not to accept this contract renewal, and as a result I believe it is in everyone’s best interests for the Australian cricket team to begin the next chapter immediately.”If media reports are correct, several senior players and a couple of support staff don’t support me moving forward, and it is now apparent the CA board, and you Nick, are also keen to see the team move in another direction. I respect that decision.””My life has been built on values of honesty, respect, trust, truth, and performance and if that comes across as ‘too intense’ at times, I apologise.”Related
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An inevitable outcome, but Langer was let down by Cricket Australia
Hockley confirmed on Saturday that the six-month offer, unanimously endorsed by the board on Friday, would have been the end to Langer’s tenure with the view that it was time to transition to a new coaching era in the men’s team sighting unity as one of the key factors of the decision.Hockley also acknowledged that player relationships with Langer, which had come to a head last August before high-level talks patched the situation up to the extent that the World Cup and Ashes were won, were a factor in the board’s decision. Senior assistant Andrew McDonald has been appointed interim coach.Langer flew to Perth on Saturday having not been home in five months due to Western Australia’s border restrictions and began 14 days home quarantine.”It is said that in any venture, if you leave things in a better place than when you started then you have done your job,” he wrote.”Whilst it is not up to me to judge, I hope Australians respect what has been achieved over the last four years in Australian cricket. From day one I believed it was possible to both win and play the game in the spirit that is now expected from our supporters.”For the last four years it has been proven this can be achieved and I am very proud of the team for their efforts on and off the cricket field. I hope we have made Australians proud and earned respect from countries around the world.”In terms of ‘going out on a high’, I am blessed to have been a part of a T20 World Cup-winning squad, an Ashes winning squad, watched the Test team rise to #1 ranked team in the world today, been selected as the Wisden Coach of the Year and been elevated to the Australian cricket Hall of Fame; all this in the last five months.”I am grateful that today, I am going out on a high.”
West Ham United might well need some January reinforcements to bolster their survival hopes in the Premier League this season. It has been a poor campaign so far for Julen Lopetegui’s side, and they sit 14th in the Premier League so far, having racked up just 12 points.
Already, the transfer rumours have begun to fly around for exactly who the Hammers could recruit over the January transfer window. It certainly seems as though Lopetegui will need to add depth to his squad as they continue to fight relegation.
With that in mind, here is a look at West Ham’s dream XI if the East Londoners manage to sign some of their rumoured January targets.
1 GK – Lukas Fabianski
Lukasz Fabianki for West Ham
At 39 years of age, It seemed as though Lukas Fabianski’s Hammers career was over. The Polish goalkeeper was second choice for much of the past two seasons to French World Cup winner Alphonse Areola.
However, he has managed to displace the former Real Madrid and Paris Saint Germain shot-stopper in the side this season. He has started the last three Premier League games, keeping a clean sheet last time out, and seems set to continue in that role after the international break.
2 RB – Aaron Wan-Bissaka
One of several summer signings for the Hammers, Aaron Wan-Bissaka has impressed for the Hammers at the start of his career in East London. The 26-year-old has played 11 times for the club this season, following his £15m move from Manchester United.
Football presenter Dougie Critchley described him as the Hammers’ “best summer signing”, which is impressive given he was one of nine new additions. It seems more than likely that he will keep his place in the side.
3 CB – Jean-Clair Todibo
Jean-Clair Todibo at West Ham
Another new addition last summer was Jean-Clair Todibo, who made a loan move from French side OGC Nice, which can become permanent. The defender has impressed since moving to London, making eight Premier League appearances so far.
His ball-playing skills make him a fantastic option at the heart of the Hammers’ defence. Todibo averages a pass completion rate of 89.4% as per FBref this season, better than any of his teammates who average at least one full 90 minute game.
4 CB – Max Kilman
Max Kilman
Like his centre-back partner in this proposed team, Max Kilman was another summer signing, joining from Wolverhampton Wanderers. He has been a pivotal player at the heart of the defence at the London Stadium this season.
The 27-year-old has completed 90 minutes in every single game this term and has been colossal at the back. His 64 clearances and 16 blocks in the top flight are more than any of his new teammates so far.
5 LB – Jayden Oosterwolde
The first proposed new signing in this dream West Ham XI is Jayden Oosterwolde. The East Londoners have been linked with the Fenerbahce defender as per Turkish reports via Sport Witness, and he could cost a fee of around £16.7m.
The 23-year-old Dutchman, who can also play at centre-back, could replace first-choice left-back Emerson. This term, the defender has played eight times, although is currently sidelined with an injury. He was compared to versatile French defender Lucas Hernandez by football talent scout Jacek Kulig.
For just £16.7m, this could be a bargain for the Hammers as they look to sure things up at the back, having conceded 19 goals this term.
6 CM – Guido Rodriguez
West Ham midfielder Guido Rodriguez
Experienced World Cup winner Guido Rodriguez is the first midfielder in this Hammers lineup. He has featured in all 11 of their top-flight games this term, providing defensive nous and allowing others the licence to get forwards.
He certainly does his job well. Rodriguez has made 36 ball recoveries and 35 tackles and interceptions this term. In the latter metric, he is bettered by just one player in the Hammers squad. He seems a crucial player under Lopetegui now.
7 CM – Andy Diouf
The second proposed addition to the Hammers in January is midfielder Andy Diouf. The France under-23 international currently plays at RC Lens and has performed to a high level. GiveMeSport suggest that he is a target for West Ham, as well as London rivals Tottenham Hotspur and Crystal Palace.
The 21-year-old has been superb in the midfield for the French outfit this season. He has played 11 times, with a goal and an assist to his name. He is a wonderful ball-carrier, and averages 4.18 progressive carries per game, ranking him in the top 2% of midfielders in Europe’s big five leagues, as per FBref.
Described as a “menace” by football scout Antonio Mango, Diouf could be a superb addition for the Hammers in midfield.
8 RW – Jarrod Bowen
West Ham’s captain has impressed this season, in what has been a tough campaign so far. The England international has four goals and two assists to his name, having played 13 games in all competitions.
Perhaps his best performance came against newly-promoted Ipswich Town. That day. Bowen scored and assisted to lead his side to a crucial 4-1 victory. He will no doubt be hoping to rediscover his best form soon as they battle relegation.
9 AM – Lucas Paqueta
West Ham midfielder Lucas Paqueta
Hammers fans might count themselves lucky that talisman Lucas Paqueta is still playing at the London Stadium. He was a target for Manchester City last summer, although an off-field issue meant he stayed at the club.
The Brazil international has featured in all 11 Premier League games, with two goals to his name. He has not really been at his best but has still created 12 chances in the Premier League, bettered only by Bowen.
10 LW – Mohammed Kudus
Mohammed Kudus celebrates for West Ham
The third member of West Ham’s dynamic front three is Mohammed Kudus. Although his best position might be further infield, the attacker would surely be given a license by Lopetegui to drift around the pitch.
He has played eight times this term, scoring twice. Unsurprisingly, the Ghanaian forward has shown off the flair he possesses when dribbling. His 28 successful take-ons are more than any other West Ham player this term.