Tag Futebol

Barry Fry has told Football FanCast that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer firmly deserves his potential new contract at Manchester United.

A report has claimed that the Norwegian is set to earn a new deal whether he wins a trophy this season or not.

United’s only chance of silverware, realistically, comes in the Europa League, where they will play Roma in the semi-finals after dispatching Granada over two legs.

There is the potential of another semi-final defeat – United lost in the FA Cup, League Cup, and Europa League semis last season – but Fry insists that Solskjaer’s future should not hinge on whether he wins silverware this term.

Indeed, he believes that Solskjaer has done an excellent job in making United an exciting team once again, after the “very dull” football served up by Jose Mourinho prior to the former striker’s appointment.

Speaking exclusively to FFC, he said: “I think the rot started with Mourinho really, United for the last two years under Mourinho were very poor, very dull, very boring, it wasn’t a typical United side.

“They brought Ole in, obviously with his connection with Manchester United as a player, I think they felt that it was a real big, big job for Solskjaer to get it sorted out and they’re happy with the way he’s gone about it and the way he’s changed things, with playing some of the younger players, coming on strong, United are traditionally good at that, in the long distant past anyway.

“I think they like that about him. He’s made a couple of great signings and obviously, they’re going to back him now.”

Fry also thinks that Solskjaer has overperformed this season, with a number of supporters believing that the club would only be fighting to finish in the top four, though they are almost certain to finish second.

He added: “The Man United supporters are up in arms really in one way but in another way, they’re saying they didn’t expect this year to be anywhere near the top, they thought they would be out for the top four. And it looks as though United will finish second.

“Second to Man City who are arguably the best side in the world at the minute so they don’t see that as failure. I don’t think the Manchester United hierarchy feel it’s failure, they feel it’s progress. And they obviously felt that what Ole had to do was far, far bigger than everybody outside the club felt it was. I think that’s why United are going to reward him with a new contract.”

Watford are in the race to bring Jacob Murphy to Vicarage Road this summer, according to reports.

What’s the word?

That’s according to The Sun, who claim that Xisco Munoz is keeping a watchful eye on the Newcastle United winger ahead of a potential move this summer.

It is also reported that Burnley, Southampton and Rangers have all declared their interest in the 26-year-old, for whom Newcastle would demand a fee of around £6 million.

However, after news of Watford’s interest in Murphy was relayed on Twitter, a number of the Hornets fans appeared less than enthused at the prospect of the signing, with one stating that they “don’t see why” their club are interested, while another stated his belief that, if the interest in Murphy is a sign of things to come, then their “season will be sad”.

Form shouldn’t fool Watford

While it is undeniable that the player Steve Bruce dubbed “determined” has been enjoying a decent run of form in recent weeks, putting in impressive displays against the likes of Aston Villa, Burnley and Liverpool, this recent upturn in performance should not trick Watford into splashing a considerable amount of cash on the winger.

Having moved to Newcastle from Norwich City in what was a £10.17 million deal back in 2017, Murphy managed to score just one goal and provide one assist over his 25 Premier League appearances throughout his debut season, averaging an extremely disappointing WhoScored match rating of just 6.29.

In the following campaign, the £25,000-per-week man featured in just nine top-flight games for the Magpies, over which he averaged a WhoScored match rating of 6.25, before being sent on loan to the then-Championship side, West Bromwich Albion, where he scored two goals and provided one assist over his 15 appearances, averaging yet another disappointing match rating of 6.50.

A further loan spell followed in 2019/20, this time at Sheffield Wednesday, where Murphy’s form did improve, with the 26-year-old bagging nine goals and registering four assists over his 39 Championship appearances while averaging a WhoScored match rating of 6.80.

As such, regardless of his recent purple patch – which has still only seen the winger average a WhoScored match rating of 6.64 this season – these statistics would appear to indicate that Murphy has not been able to cut it in what is typically a struggling Newcastle United side, while the former Norwich City man’s performances tend to improve at Championship level.

So, it would not seem to be a wise move for Xisco to bring a player of Murphy’s apparent quality to the club this summer, should he wish to ensure the Hornets’ top-flight survival next season – especially considering his reported asking price of £6 million, as well as a rather hefty weekly wage.

In other news: Bye-bye Deeney: Journalist drops transfer news on “magnificent” ace Watford must land – opinion

علّق نادي ليفربول على أداء النجم محمد صلاح في مباراة منتخب مصر اليوم ضد المغرب، في بطولة كأس أمم إفريقيا.

وتلاقى المنتخبان في إطار منافسات ربع نهائي كأس الأمم الإفريقية، المُقامة حاليًا في الكاميرون، حيث فازت مصر بهدفين لهدف وتأهلت إلى نصف النهائي.

وقدم محمد صلاح أداءً رائعًا في المباراة حيث سجل الهدف الأول وصنع الثاني لزميله محمود حسن تريزيجيه.

وكتب الحساب الرسمي لنادي ليفربول عبر موقع “تويتر”: “هدف وتمريرة حاسمة وأداء ملكي بامتياز، تهانينا إلى العظيم محمد صلاح الذي قاد المنتخب المصري إلى الدور نصف النهائي من كأس الأمم الإفريقية 2021”.

هدف وتمريرة حاسمة وأداء ملكي بامتياز 👑❤️

تهانينا إلى العظيم @MoSalah الذي قاد المنتخب المصري إلى الدور نصف النهائي من #كأس_الأمم_الإفريقية2021 👏 pic.twitter.com/TbEyve41Dy — نادي ليفربول (@LFC_Arabic) January 30, 2022

ويلتقي منتخب مصر مع نظيره منتخب الكاميرون، يوم الخميس المقبل في نصف النهائي.

Reports linking Roy Keane with the vacant Celtic managerial role seem to be gathering pace.

On Thursday morning, Football Insider revealed that the Hoops had ‘sensationally’ opened talks with the Irishman and were ready to offer Keane a return to management 10 years on from his last position.

Fresh Keane update

The Daily Mail, cited by the Daily Record, have now had their say on the former Celtic midfielder.

They also claim that the 49-year-old has held discussions with the Hoops hierarchy, with Keane seemingly interested in becoming Neil Lennon’s long-term successor.

However, the latest report added that Keane is just one of a “number of candidates” in the frame to take over in Glasgow, meaning there could be more twists and turns to come yet.

Transfer Tavern take

With more than one outlet now sharing details of Keane’s reported Celtic discussions, it seems as if the Sky Sports pundit could well be making the move back to Scotland.

If he does, we feel it would be a risk, purely based on his lengthy absence from the dugout.

Yes, it would be sensational – causing huge public interest to shift towards Glasgow – but a 10-year gap from being the main man on the touchline could be a cause for concern.

Perhaps some fans will be hoping that one of those other candidates steals the show.

In other news: Report shares who Keane’s number two could be after Wednesday news, find out more here. 

احتفلت الصحافة ووسائل الإعلام النيجيرية بفوز النسور الخضراء على منتخب مصر، في كأس الأمم الإفريقية 2021.

مصر هُزمت من نيجيريا بهدف نظيف، في المباراة التي جمعت بينهما مساء اليوم الثلاثاء، على ملعب “رومدي اديجا”، بالجولة الأولى لمباريات المجموعة الرابعة بالأمم الإفريقية. شاهد ملخص مباراة مصر ونيجيريا في امم افريقيا 2021

مصر بهزيمتها تتواجد في المرتبة الرابعة والأخيرة بالمجموعة الرابعة دون نقاط، فيما تتصدر نيجيريا الترتيب برصيد 3 نقاط.

الصُحف النيجيرية وصفت ما فعله رجال المدرب المؤقت أوجوستين إيجوافوين، بالإنجاز وخاصًة وأن نيجيريا تفتقد لأكثر من لاعب هام بين صفوفها.

“بطولات” رصد أبرز ما جاء في صحف نيجيريا بعد الفوز على مصر، وجاء كالتالي:

البداية مع شبكة “futaa”، والتي جاء عنوانها: “إيهيناتشو البطل ونيجيريا تفوز على مصر”.

وأضافت في تقريرها عن المباراة: “هدف كيليتشي إيهيناتشو في الشوط الأول هو كل ما تحتاجه نيجيريا لبدء كأس الأمم الأفريقية 2021 بالفوز على مصر”.

وتابعت: “وصلت مصر إلى ملعب رومدي أدجيا في جاروا بالكاميرون، حيث كانت المرشح الأوفر حظًا لوجود مهاجم ليفربول محمد صلاح إلى جانبهم، لكن نيجيريا هي التي أظهرت عزمها على تحقيق الفوز”.

وأكملت: “صلاح هدد مرمى نيجيريا مرتين لكن بعد نصف ساعة تقدمت نيجيريا، عندما تلقى إيهيناتشو الكرة من جو أريبو على حافة المنقطة وسددها في الزاوية العليا، ليضع سوبر إيجلز في المُقدمة”.

وأردفت الشبكة: “كان ويلفريد نديدي، زميل إيهيناتشو في فريق ليستر سيتي، لاعبًا بارزًا في المباراة، حيث سيطر على معركة خط الوسط ضد محمد النني لاعب أرسنال وتريزيجيه لاعب أستون فيلا”.

واختتمت الشبكة تقريرها قائلة: “تأتي هذه النتيجة بمثابة ضربة لآمال مصر في الاستفادة من ألقابها القياسية في كأس الأمم الأفريقية والتي يبلغ عددها سبعة ألقاب قبل مواجهة يوم السبت مع غينيا بيساو، وستلعب نيجيريا ضد السودان في لقائهما المقبل في المجموعة الرابعة”.

فيما جاء عنوان صحيفة “نيوز اكسبريس نيجيريا”.. “نيجيريا تصدم مصر وتقترب من صدارة مجموعة كأس الأمم الإفريقية”.

وقالت الصحيفة في تقريرها: “أثبتت نيجيريا مساء الثلاثاء 11 يناير 2022، خطأ صانعي المراهنات بفوزها على مصر المرشحة في المباراة الافتتاحية للمجموعة الرابعة لكأس الأمم الأفريقية”.

وأضافت: “كان الهدف الوحيد الذي سجله كيليتشي إيهيناتشو بالقدم اليسرى في الدقيقة 30 هو كل ما احتاجه سوبر إيجلز لتحقيق النصر”.

وأتمت قائلة: “كانت مباراة قام فيها النسور بتحييد خطر فراعنة مصر بشكل فعال، وسيطروا على محمد صلاح لفترات طويلة”.

بينما جاء عنوان صحيفة “Blaze Newz”: “النسور تصطاد مصر وصلاح وهدف إيهيناتشو يمنح نيجيريا ثلاث نقاط”.

وتابعت في تقريرها عن المباراة: “سجل كيليتشي إيهيناتشو الهدف الوحيد حيث تغلبت نيجيريا بشكل مريح على مصر حاملة اللقب سبع مرات في المباراة الافتتاحية لكأس الأمم الأفريقية بالمجموعة الرابعة”.

وأكملت: “سيطرت نيجيريا على المباراة وأوقف محاولات النسور، العارضة ومحمد الشناوي في حين أن الفراعنة لم يُقدموا شيئًا”.

اقرأ أيضًا.. موعد مباراة مصر القادمة أمام غينيا بيساو في كأس أمم إفريقيا 2021

وأضافت: “كانت مصر باهتة في معظم مجريات المباراة، حيث تمكنت من تسديدة واحدة فقط بعد أول 70 دقيقة”.

واختتمت قائلة: “محمد صلاح نجم ليفربول، وجد نفسه معزولًا في المباراة، حيث فرضت نيجيريا أسلوبها على المباراة وتحكمت في الإيقاع”.

وعنونت صحيفة “ديلي بوست”.. “النسور تصعق مصر وتفوز بالمباراة الافتتاحية في كأس الأمم الإفريقية 2021”.

وقالت الصحيفة في تقريرها عن المباراة: “افتتحت نيجيريا مشوارها في كأس الأمم الأفريقية 2021 بفوز مذهل على مصر 1-0 مساء الثلاثاء”.

وأضافت: “كانت النسور الخارقة في حالة قوية ضد الفراعنة، الذين جاءوا إلى البطولة وهم من بينهم المرشحين لنيل اللقب، ولكن رجال أوجستين إيجوافين سيطروا على المباراة في الشوط الأول”.

واختتمت: “إيهيناتشو سجل الهدف الوحيد ونيجيريا أضاعت فرصتين لمُضاعفة تقدمها، وخاصة في الشوط الثاني، وتنهي الجولة الأولى في صدارة المجموعة الرابعة بثلاث نقاط”.

ونختتم بـ صحيفة “ذا جارديان نيجيريا” والتي جاء عنوانها: “إيهيناتشو يقود نيجيريا إلى الفوز في البداية بعد تعزيزات مضطربة!”.

وتابعت الصحيفة في تقريرها عن المباراة: “سجل مهاجم ليستر سيتي كيليتشي إيهيناتشو هدفا لنيجيريا لتفوز على مصر في كأس الأمم الإفريقية بالكاميرون”.

وأكملت: “هدف إيهيناتشو الذي جاء في الدقيقة 30 قاد النسور الخضراء إلى صدارة الترتيب في المجوعة الرابعة التي تضم غينيا بيساو والسودان”.

وأتمت: “في المباراة بالكاد لمس صلاح الكرة ولم يكن لدىّ هداف ليفربول إلا فرصة واحدة فقط في أواخر الشوط الثاني، وبعد نصف ساعة من الضغط استحق الفريق النجيري هدفًا في الدقيقة 30”.

MatériaMais Notícias

Dúvida? Diego Aguirre tirou essa palavra de seu vocabulário e decidiu colocar em campo as melhores opções que tem para formar a contenção do meio de campo. O técnico uruguaio decidiu que o Atlético-MG, no duelo contra o Villa Nova-MG, neste sábado (2), pela décima rodada do Campeonato Mineiro, será formado por três volantes: Leandro Donizete, Rafael Carioca e Junior Urso.

– É uma possibilidade, mas eu vou confirmar amanhã, antes do jogo. Mas é possível – afirmou, deixando a entender que utilizará essa formação no compromisso deste fim de semana.

Com 17 pontos conquistados, o Galo necessita de uma vitória para assegurar a sua classificação para a semifinal do Estadual. A liderança é um sonho bastante remoto, já que a equipe necessita vencer os dois compromissos restantes e o arquirrival Cruzeiro precisa tropeçar em ambos também.

O Atlético ainda terá desfalques importantes. Frickson Erazo e Juan Cazares, que defenderam o Equador durante as Eliminatórias da Copa do Mundo 2018, não reúnem condições de atuar contra o Leão de Nova Lima e ficarão à disposição da comissão técnica somente no duelo com o Independiente Del Valle, na próxima quarta-feira, pela Libertadores.

A dupla equatoriana não é o único problema da comissão técnica. Luan e Hyuri estão praticamente descartados, uma vez que se queixaram de dores musculares. Este é um dos motivos para a mudança tática do fim de semana.

– O Luan não é preocupação para a Libertadores. Pelo o que estou conversando com os médicos, o Luan vai ser poupado para estar 100% para o jogo de quarta-feira – tranquilizou o comandante da equipe mineira.

FICHA TÉCNICA
VILLA NOVA-MG X ATLÉTICO-MG

Local: Mineirão, em Belo Horizonte (MG)
Data-Hora: 2/4/2016 (sábado) – às 16h
Árbitro: Igor Júnio Benevenuto
Assistentes: Celso Luiz da Silva e Sidmar dos Santos Meurer

VILLA NOVA-MG: Thiago Leal; Tiago Baiano, Gabriel, Rafael Morisco e Marcelo Tchê; Luís Felipe, Marielson e Mancini, Thiago Silvy, Fábio Júnior e Soares. Técnico: Wilson Gottardo.

ATLÉTICO-MG: Uilson, Marcos Rocha, Leonardo Silva, Tiago e Douglas Santos; Leandro Donizete, Rafael Carioca e Júnior Urso; Robinho, Clayton e Lucas Pratto. Técnico: Diego Aguirre.

David Sullivan can pull off a masterstroke in the summer transfer window by completing a deal that would see prolific Brentford striker Ivan Toney to join West Ham United.

What’s the word?

According to Football League World, the Hammers hope their Deadline Day agreement that will see defender Winston Reid spend the remainder of the season at Griffin Park will help in any future efforts to sign Toney.

Reid’s move to the Championship side is the second piece of business carried out between the two clubs this season, following Said Benrahma’s initial loan deal which the Irons turned into a permanent move last week after bringing forward a £20m obligation to buy.

West Ham now reportedly hope that sending Reid to Thomas Frank’s side will place the London Stadium outfit in good stead with the Bees, should they look to formalise their interest in Toney in a future window.

Toney has been in sublime form with his Greater London outfit this term, netting 19 goals in 25 Championship games and Brentford will hope that he can help them secure promotion to the Premier League.

The 24-year-old ended his longest league drought in front of the net this season by scoring a hat-trick during the Bees’ 7-2 win over Wycombe Wanderers on Saturday, having gone five second-tier fixtures without scoring for the first time since moving to Griffin Park last summer.

Brentford paid Peterborough an initial £5m last August in a deal that could reach £10m through add-ons, but they are now said to value the Northampton-born marksman at £30m.

[snack-amp-story url=”https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/west-ham-deadline-day-latest-news-transfer-rumours-and-more” title=”Deadline day is here: Read the latest West Ham news, transfer rumours and more!”]

Should West Ham sign Toney?

Toney may have proven to be the perfect pick-up for West Ham in the winter market after the Irons parted with Sebastien Haller, but they will seemingly have to wait until at least the summer when co-owner and Chairman Sullivan could deliver a masterstroke by acquiring the forward.

Toney has taken to filling the void left by Ollie Watkins and Benrahma at Griffin Park without a second thought, and he boasts more goals than any other player in the Championship this season.

Brentford had lost the second-tier’s second-best striker in Watkins when the striker joined Aston Villa for £33m after scoring 25 league goals last term, while Benrahma’s move to the London Stadium saw the Bees also part with the fifth-top scorer (17 goals) from 2019/20.

Part of Toney’s success has come through what Frank describes as his “inner drive and determination” to reach the top and prove people wrong, after failing to make the grade at Newcastle United.

It has also helped Toney to produce “brilliant” displays in the eyes of the Bees boss, while former England international Darren Bent feels the 5 ft 10 hitman – previously linked with Everton – is a better finisher than both Watkins and Brighton’s £16m striker Neal Maupay.

“His movement is absolutely superb. Senses where the danger is going to be and gets himself in there. He’s good in the air and he has two good feet,” Bent said, via quotes by talkSPORT. “But where I think he excels (compared) to an Ollie Watkins and a Maupay is that I think he’s more clinical.

“In and around that box with his finishing. I think he’s more cultured to his finishing. He has got more to his game and there are different types of finishes. Whereas Watkins is a very, very good player and he might say that he’s a little bit better than him all round. But in and around the goal, if I give them both an opportunity to score a goal, then I fancy Ivan Toney.”

It will likely take a lot to prise Toney away from Brentford if they manage to secure promotion to the Premier League, but The Bees failing to do so could lead to Sullivan delivering a great signing if Reid’s loan spell at Griffin Park does prove beneficial in West Ham’s future efforts.

AND in other news: “It’s nonsense” – Exclusive: Pundit baffled by GSB’s West Ham decision…

It’s fair to say that since Ian Poveda arrived at Leeds United back in January last year, things haven’t quite progressed as the winger might have hoped or expected.

Marcelo Bielsa has only sparingly used him this season, with the most amount of minutes he’s played in a single match in the Premier League coming in at 45 – a feat he accomplished in a 1-1 draw against his former side Manchester City in early October.

But with the FA Cup third round clash against Crawley looming, the Leeds boss will no doubt be ringing the changes to try and keep his side fresh and give his first-team regulars a breather.

And it also gives him the perfect opportunity to finally give Poveda the chance to impress him from the off.

Speaking earlier last year, City boss Pep Guardiola was unequivocal in his praise of the 20-year-old, insisting that Elland Road was the perfect home for him and that he would go on to do great things.

He said: “He is young, he has to play, he was not able and I think Leeds United is an incredible challenge to be training for one of the best or maybe the best manager in the world in terms of how he helps the players to be better players.

“He has an incredible power to develop. For the way Leeds play suits perfect for his qualities. I didn’t speak with Ian, but anyway, either way it’s a really good decision for him.”

Whilst some of the pre-match talk may be dominated by whether Sam Greenwood gets his opportunity to impress Bielsa, Poveda may be the young starlet who really catches the eye when the Whites take on Crawley on Sunday afternoon.

Everton midfielder Tom Davies was Carlo Ancelotti’s real hero after returning to the starting line-up on Saturday and helping his side to claim a 3-3 draw at Manchester United.

Davies had only played one minute in the Toffees’ previous two Premier League games after falling to the bench following his role in last month’s 1-1 draw with Leicester City, but he took over the central position in the engine room at the expense of Gylfi Sigurdsson.

Ancelotti’s decision to hand the Blues product only his eighth top-flight start of the season at Old Trafford ultimately allowed the Italian tactician to reap the rewards, with Davies delivering heaps of entry and enthusiasm to break up the Red Devils’ game plan.

Davies began to come into his own in the second period and provided a perfectly weighted through ball to Dominic Calvert-Lewin, before the England international’s shot rebounded invitingly into the feet of Abdoulaye Doucoure for Everton’s first goal.

Doucoure kept pushing forward and soon saw James Rodriguez riffle his cross into the bottom corner of David de Gea’s net to draw the Toffees level at 2-2, and would go on to be named the Everton supporters’ Man of the Match.

Yet it was Davies’ performance in midfield that saw the £25,000-per-week outcast emerge as Ancelotti’s real hero at Old Trafford, with his determination to make a game of things coming to the fore just as Ancelotti welcomes Allan back into training after a hamstring injury.

The 22-year-old’s spirit was also bringing the best out of his teammates, having ensured they would ditch the early passive approach taken to the second half as United were already two goals to the good.

And then once they were back in the game, Davies’ drive kept the match within touching distance to allow for Calvert-Lewin’s late equaliser, having been anywhere and everywhere Everton needed him to be defensively until he was taken off with a quarter of an hour left to play.

Davies exited the field with three successful tackles to his name while Doucoure had zero, while winning the ball with 100% of his attempts. The former England U21 international also made four clearances, only Michael Keane (5) registered more, per WhoScored.

He also offered two interceptions while no United player had made more than one during the first 74 minutes, and he was never dribbled past while teammate Andre Gomes was beaten four times to lay claim to a tackle success rate of just 43%.

Everton, as a team, rarely beat the Red Devils on the ground with only three successful dribbles made while Davies was on the field and he accounted for one from just one run, with Richarlison providing the other two but from a game-high five attempts.

Ancelotti will no doubt have been buoyed to see Davies thrive in such a manner on his return to the line-up, having only offered an average of 1.2 successful tackles and 0.6 clearances a game in the league this term, per SofaScore.

But with Allan almost back, his performance may have come too late to lock down a more regular role going forward.

AND in other news, Carlo Ancelotti faces a key Everton call to unlock an £18m-rated gem’s max potential…

David Moyes can form an unbeatable midfield unit at West Ham United with the January signing of AS Roma enforcer Amadou Diawara.

What’s the word?

According to Corriere dello Sport, Diawara sits atop Giallorossi CEO Tiago Pinto’s list of players deemed surplus to requirements by head coach Paulo Fonseca.

Pinto is tasked with securing mid-season moves for those no longer wanted at the Stadio Olimpico, where Fonseca’s side currently trail Serie A leaders AC Milan by seven points and have played an additional game compared to SSC Napoli and Juventus in the race for Champions League football.

Diawara has struggled to re-establish himself in the Roma line-up since testing positive for coronavirus, and is now seen as a player who can be sold this month in order to raise funds for the arrival of a new holding midfielder.

West Ham and Leicester City have previously been said to be monitoring Diawara’s situation with a view to signing the €62,500-per-week (£57k-p/w) brute in January, with both sides willing to meet Roma’s €20m (£18m) valuation.

Diawara has played just 19 minutes of Italian top-flight football since recovering from coronavirus in November, while serving as an unused substitute on five occasions after starting the first game of the season as Fonseca’s favoured deep-lying talent.

Ideal partner for Rice

West Ham stepping forward in the January window with an offer to sign Diawara could see the east London outfit acquire an ideal partner for Declan Rice, who is one of only three players to have featured for all 1,530 minutes of Premier League football under Moyes this term.

Diawara was a frequent fixture of Roma’s plans last season with starting roles in 19 of his 22 Serie A appearances, and proved a real defensive force with 1.8 successful tackles, 1.5 interceptions, 0.6 clearances and success in 3.4 duels, per SofaScore.

The 23-year-old has not been given the same chance to improve on those numbers under Fonseca this season, so will be desperate to prove himself to Roma if given the opportunity to make the grade somewhere else in the mid-season market.

West Ham having the option of pairing Rice with Diawara would also free Moyes to move Tomas Soucek into a more attack-focused role, with the Czech Republic international proving to be a true force at the London Stadium.

Moyes has struggled to settle on a central attacking midfielder this season with Said Benrahma, Mark Noble, Jarrod Bowen and Pablo Fornals all fielded at some stage, yet Soucek ranks second among the Hammers squad for total shots (31), per WhoScored.

The 25-year-old has also won more aerial duels (98) than any of his teammates, any Moyes can use that expertise to improve West Ham’s long-range play while freeing his wide options.

AND in other news, David Moyes has dodged a huge bullet as West Ham dealt blow in bid to sign an 11-goal target…