West Ham are interested in signing Arsenal striker Eddie Nketiah, but a move would not come until late in the window, according to journalist Pete O’Rourke.

The Lowdown: Nketiah out of favour at Arsenal

The 22-year-old has been hailed as ‘extraordinary’ by Gunners manager Mikel Arteta but he hasn’t been considered a key man in the Premier League at the Emirates this season.

Nketiah has only appeared in 38 minutes of action in the Premier League in 2021/22 to date, with his three starts all coming in the Carabao Cup.

However, he has been phenomenal in those cup showings, scoring five times in just 263 minutes on the pitch – a goal every 52.6 minutes. He has also boasted an incredible 4.7 shots per game in the cup, one of which was a sublime back-heel finish to complete a hat-trick vs Sunderland.

The young striker has been linked with a move to West Ham in the past and it appears as though a switch could still happen.

The Latest: Journalist confirms West Ham’s interest

Speaking to Give Me Sport, O’Rourke claimed that the Hammers see Nketiah as a target, although there are other players higher on the list too:

“I’m sure he’s on the list at West Ham but I don’t think he’s a top target.

“He could be a cheap option late in the window if they don’t sign their other top targets. Arsenal will probably be looking to sell with his contract up in the summer.”

The Verdict: Long-term investment?

There is a risk element to signing Nketiah, considering he is yet to show that he can perform at a consistent level in the Premier League, scoring just five times in 41 appearances in the competition.

That being said, he is still only 22 and could arrive on a free transfer after his contract expires this summer or for a nominal fee this month, acting as a backup to Michail Antonio and hopefully maturing in the coming years into his replacement.

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In truth, not signing Nketiah certainly wouldn’t be a blow for West Ham but there is sense behind taking a punt on him. His pace has been described as ‘blistering’ by Tony Cascarino, and he is England Under-21s’ all-time record goalscorer, so the ability is certainly there if he can find the consistency.

In other news, a reporter has shared some West Ham transfer news. Read more here.

A number of Liverpool supporters are delighted after journalist Fabrizio Romano claimed Divock Origi would not be leaving in the January transfer window.

The 26-year-old had put together a memorable Reds career – one that will likely see him considered a legend for many years to come.

While Origi has rarely been a regular starter for Liverpool since arriving in 2014, he has scored some iconic goals against the likes of Barcelona, Tottenham, Everton, Newcastle United and most recently Wolves.

[freshpress-quiz id=“375258″]

The Belgian’s current deal potentially expires in the summer of 2023 and he has even been linked with a January exit, despite Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane being away from Africa Cup of Nations duty.

Taking to Twitter on Saturday, however, Romano claimed Origi was going nowhere until at least the summer, saying Liverpool have no intention of selling him this month.

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Liverpool fans love Origi update

These Reds fans provided their positive thoughts on the matter on Twitter, no doubt delighted to keep hold of the cult hero given their lack of options up front in January.

“Not surprised, Salah and Mane already left for Afcon. And Minamino still injured…”

Credit: @biGDhee08

“HE STAYS!!!!”

Credit: @SIGHYONARA

“The hero stays!!!”

Credit: @lfc_reviews

“THANK GOD. WHAT WOULD WE DO WITHOUT LORD ORIGI”

Credit: @Muniamma007

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“Good”

Credit: @lomein4real

“At least we got to keep Origi”

Credit: @Littleisprince

In other news, some Liverpool fans also love a David Ornstein transfer claim. Read more here.

Aston Villa are close to signing goalkeeper Robin Olsen on loan until the end of the season.

That’s according to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, which, as to be expected, has had plenty of Villa fans talking.

Johan Lange has made no secret of his hunt for a new back-up goalkeeper this month, as the club have been linked with West Ham’s Darren Randolph and PSG’s Sergio Rico as well as Olsen.

He has finally made a breakthrough, and it appears Olsen will now be the man to come in alongside Emiliano Martinez and Jed Steer, with a medical booked for Tuesday.

Olsen, who has won seven trophies during his career, is currently on loan at Sheffield United where he has made 11 Championship appearances. The Blades have agreed to cut that short, though, with Villa now agreeing on a temporary deal with parent club AS Roma.

Villa fans react

@villareport relayed Romano’s claim on Villa’s next January swoop. This is what these fans had to say in reply, with a mixture of responses available to view below.

“We’re massive!”

Credit: @MattSmith1874

“Robin Olsen wooaahhhh. Olsen woaaaah”

Credit: @AVFCFaithful_

“We needed a good experienced keeper as cover for Emi he’ll do nicely, now just Bissouma and Pau Torres and we’re sorted”

Credit: @STAUNT0N

“Pointless.”

Credit: @StevieGsVilla

“We need a centre half”

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Credit: @N1X0

“No analysis needed. Someone to take the furthest right seat on the bench.”

Credit: @jmhart1

In other news: Shares agent with Gerrard – Villa now after midfield ace ‘like’ Gascoigne.  

A frustrating Newcastle United transfer claim has been made regarding their efforts to bring in new recruits… 

What’s the talk?

Telegraph reporter Luke Edwards has provided fresh updates on the club’s pursuits of Mohammed Salisu and Mitchel Bakker as the Magpies look to strengthen their squad before the deadline next week.

Edwards tweeted: “#nufc have looked at Salisu at Southampton but was told last week that “it’s not going to be possible…”

He then followed that up with: “Also told the Bakker deal is not happening too #nufc.”

This comes after Newcastle reportedly agreed a deal with Bayer Leverkusen to sign the Dutch international left-back, with it now appearing as though the move has collapsed.

Howe will be livid

Eddie Howe will surely be left livid by these two claims, as it appears as though he is set to miss out on two targets this week.

 

It will be particularly frustrating for the Newcastle manager as his backline is in dire need of reinforcements before the window slams shut next Monday. Only Norwich have conceded more goals than the Magpies in the Premier League, and they have played a game more in the division.

Howe’s side have kept just two clean sheets so far this season, both coming in 1-0 wins, and have let in two goals per game on average.

This emphasises how below-par the defence has been and why it is imperative that the club bring in additional signings to bolster that area of the pitch, joining mid-season recruit Kieran Trippier in the back four.

Salisu has enjoyed a fine campaign with Southampton in the top flight, averaging a SofaScore rating of 7.01. He has made an incredible five tackles and interceptions per game, along with 4.4 clearances, and has won 61% of his duels, as per SofaScore.

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Meanwhile, Bakker has made 2.3 tackles and interceptions per match and won 55% of his duels whilst playing at left-back for Leverkusen in the Bundesliga, as per SofaScore. This shows that both players have the potential to be strong defenders on their day and could have improved Newcastle’s team.

Howe will be livid with the prospect of missing out on both of them, particularly with less than a week left to go in the transfer window. Time is running out for the Magpies, and failing to complete key deals could cost them if they are unable to improve their starting XI.

AND in other news, Craig Hope drops exciting NUFC transfer claim, PIF could now sign the new Ronaldo…

Rangers have been dealt a major blow this week as Gio van Bronckhorst has confirmed that Ianis Hagi will miss the rest of the season at Ibrox through injury.

The Romania international went off with a knock against Stirling Albion and the Dutch head coach has now revealed that he will not play again this season.

He said: “Ianis needed an operation.

“He went for this yesterday and we will sadly be missing Ianis for the season. I spoke to Ianis yesterday and he is positive and focused on his recovery.”

Forget Hagi

As sad as this news is for the Gers, it is now time to forget about Hagi for now and focus on solving the nightmare his injury has caused.

He has been a consistent performer for the club this season, with an average SofaScore rating of 7.10 across 15 starts in the Premiership, and has left a huge hole in the XI, with van Bronckhorst now needing to find a way to fill it.

One player who has been linked with a switch to Ibrox is Galatasaray midfielder Olimpiu Morutan and he could be an ideal replacement for Hagi. The club must look to snap him up before the transfer window slams shut next week as he could fill the gap left in the starting XI.

He has three goals and three assists in 12 league starts for Galatasaray, which means that he is averaging a goal contribution every other match so far this term. Morutan has also won 51% of his individual duels, showing that he can hold his own in physical battles, albeit not by dominating them, and would not be a lightweight for the Gers.

The attacker’s agent, Florin Vulturar, lauded his client back in 2021, saying: “He is an innate talent, probably the most technical Romanian player since Gheorghe Hagi.

“He is a pure number 10, capable of creating opportunities for his teammates, but who can also do well in the defensive phase of every match if necessary.

“He is fast, has a great vision and is good at passing. He easily surpasses his opponents in one-on-one situations.

“Paulo Dybala and Lionel Messi are the models to follow in his role, we can probably assimilate his style of play with the play of these players.”

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These comments highlight how similar he is to the injured Gers star in terms of his position and his style of play, with both players wanting to get on the ball and create chances with their vision and creativity in the number 10 role, or out wide. This is why the £4.5m-rated gem could be an ideal replacement for his compatriot this month.

Ross Wilson and van Bronckhorst must now look to strike a deal with Galatasaray to bring him in to solve the nightmare they are currently in following Hagi’s knee injury. He has shown that he can score and create goals and has potential to improve further at the age of 22, which suggests that he could be a fine addition to the squad.

AND in other news, “Not expecting”: Transfer insider drops big Rangers claim, fans surely frustrated…

According to talkSPORT journalist Alex Crook, Southampton did not make any attempt to sign Dele Alli this month, despite previous reports linking him with the club.

The Lowdown: Dele Alli’s recent struggles

Alli has faced a tough period in his career over the last year, having lost his place in Tottenham’s starting XI. The 25-year-old has made just two Premier League starts under current Spurs manager Antonio Conte, totalling a meagre six appearances during the Italian’s reign so far.

As a result, the playmaker has been linked with a move away from N17, and it seems that a breakthrough has been made regarding his exit from north London.

Fabrizio Romano took to Twitter to report the news, saying: ‘Dele Alli to Everton, done deal and here we go! Full agreement reached with Tottenham, permanent move subject to medical in the next few hours. It’s done.’

The Latest: Saints fail to move for Alli

According to talkSPORT journalist Crook on Twitter, Southampton made no effort to sign Alli from Tottenham during the January transfer window, stating: “Also reliably informed #SaintsFC did not make any attempt to sign Dele Alli this window”.

This is despite previous reports linking the 25-year-old with the south coast club, with Ralph Hasenhuttl an admirer of the England international.

The Verdict: Missed opportunity

Despite his poor form, Alli could have been a fantastic option for Southampton, who have now missed the opportunity to pull off a late transfer in January. This could have been similar to the Takumi Minamino loan move from this time last year, which proved to be relatively successful.

Once hailed as ‘good enough for Real Madrid’, it seems ridiculous that Southampton would not have gone in for the Spurs ace, particularly when he seems set to be leaving on a free, with a £10m fee following clauses being met. Having totalled 91 career goals, Alli could have been of real use to Hasenhuttl, as he would’ve bolstered the Saints’ attacking options with proven top-flight quality.

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If Southampton want to push higher up the league table, they will need to meet £100,000-per-week demands. Otherwise, they won’t be able to secure many players of significant quality in today’s inflated market.

In other news: Southampton are till in talks over this striker

David Sullivan’s insistence to insert a one-year extension clause in the deals of West Ham’s most important players could pay off, earning the club “10s of millions”, according to football finance guru Kieran Maguire (as per Football Insider).

The Lowdown

A number of Irons players have received heavy transfer interest in recent weeks and months following their superb form in the Premier League and Europa League this season.

During the summer transfer window, reliable reporter James Pearce revealed that Liverpool were interested in signing Jarrod Bowen as they sought to bolster their attacking options, with Reds manager Jurgen Klopp a keen admirer of the West Ham forward.

More recently, vice-captain Declan Rice has been linked with a multitude of elite Premier League and European clubs, with statistics indicating that he has been the Hammers’ best player this season.

As per the Daily Mail, David Moyes and the east London club are confident of earning north of £100m for Rice due to his extension clause. The 23-year-old’s contract is set to run until the summer of 2024, but the club have the option of extending his deal for a further year.

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The Latest

Maguire has praised the West Ham co-owner for his shrewd business move regarding the extension clause. Speaking to Football Insider‘s Adam Williams, he said:

“As a general policy, it’s very forward-thinking.

“It could be worth extra 10s of millions and it helps West Ham protect the value of their assets. At the same time, it de-risks things if they go wrong.

“There is always a danger if you sign a player on a very long contract and he doesn’t perform. You have that commitment there to pay the wages.

“Once you have identified which players are your most valuable, you can trigger the extension and that means you can’t lose that player on a Bosman.

“Normally when a player gets into the last 12 months of their contract, their value starts to taper.

“Normally, the player’s value declines by about 25 per cent. By the time it gets to January, you’re trying to get a fire sale price rather than nothing at all.”

The Verdict

With the Hammers currently fourth in the Premier League table, insiders are unsure as to where Rice’s future lies. If the east London club secures Champions League football, it is likely that the England international will stay put.

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However, if West Ham miss out on European football altogether, it is probable that the midfielder will move on in order to play at the highest continental level.

Therefore, if this does materialise, Sullivan’s move to put an extension in the England international’s contract will prove to be a tremendous strategic piece of business from the club.

In other news: This West Ham colossus is being eyed by European giants

West Brom have gone from challenging for the Championship title and automatic promotion to battling for a play-off spot lower down the table in a matter of months, and this demise has led to the sacking of Valerien Ismael, followed by the appointment of Steve Bruce in the last few weeks.

Bruce clearly enjoys working in challenging scenarios, of which he experienced during his most recent tenure at Newcastle United, and it will be no easy feat to turn around the poor fortunes of the Baggies as they have only picked up one win in nine games, with the new manager yet to seal a victory in his first two games in charge, following a goalless draw at The Hawthorns on Monday night against Blackburn Rovers.

There is one player who has proven he has what it takes to be impactful in the side following a string of starting appearances under the former manager, and he could become a talisman for Bruce if he can get the best out of the youngster.

Taylor Gardner-Hickman signed a new contract committing his future to the Baggies at the end of last year, after impressing in the first team which led to praise from Ismael, in which he called the 20-year-old “fearless” following the completion of his contract;

“He represents exactly what we want to see from young players. He’s hungry, he has desire, he’s fearless. He also has a lot of quality,” he said.

Despite only making his debut for the first team during this season, the young starlet was hugely impressive in his first four Championship games where he appeared in the line-up, with the Baggies taking all three point from three out of the four, and was given Man of the Match for his most notable performance against Coventry City.

According to Sky Sports, back in December, in the first away victory since September against Coventry, Gardner-Hickman had the most touches, most blocks, and most successful passes for West Brom proving he is capable of outstanding contribution for the side.

In fact, in the nine appearances that the 20-year-old gem has recorded in the league this season for the Baggies, the youngster has won the majority of his duels (55%), been successful in the majority of his dribbles (60%), made 2.6 tackles and 1.1 interceptions per game and has the sixth highest rating overall in the entire first team squad (6.98) according to SofaScore.

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With that being said, the ex-Newcastle boss must unleash Gardner-Hickman in the starting line-up of his struggling West Brom side as he could clearly make an impactful contribution in the challenge to secure a play-off place in the last 15 games of the season.

AND in other news, Forget Dike: Bruce could unearth his new Wilson by unleashing “powerful” WBA “diamond”…

Celtic have been given an injury boost on the double ahead of their next Premiership clash, with Sunday’s opponents deprived of two more players.

The lowdown

Fourth-placed Hibernian are due to welcome the Premiership leaders to Easter Road on Sunday lunchtime, but they will be without James Scott and Elias Melkersen, who have both joined an extensive injury list for the Edinburgh club.

Hibs already knew they would be without Paul Hanlon, Paul McGinn, Joe Newell, Demetri Mitchell, Harry Clarke and Kyle Magennis against Ange Postecoglou’s side.

Celtic have won all three meetings between the teams so far this season, prevailing 3-1 away from home in October before winning 2-0 at Parkhead last month in the Premiership. They also defeated tomorrow’s opponents in the Scottish League Cup final just before Christmas.

The latest

Speaking in his pre-match press conference, Hibs boss Shaun Maloney confirmed the fresh double blow, fearing that his side will miss the ‘speed’ and ruthlessness of Scott in particular.

As quoted by The Scotsman, he said: “Unfortunately, the same six players are still out, and they are senior players. We’ve also lost Elias and James through illness, which is a shame.

“It’s a shame because Elias was progressing, and James Scott brings something to us that I see as a coach. In certain moments in matches he brings that speed and that power to finish games.”

The verdict

Valued at £360,000 by Transfermarkt, Melkersen has yet to make his debut for Hibs following his January move from Bodo/Glimt, who knocked Celtic out of the Europa Conference League this week.

The absence of the £450,000-rated Scott is more significant given that he had featured in four of the last eight games, and Maloney seems to view the Hull City loanee as a potential game-changer off the bench.

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In truth, a severely depleted Hibs, who have only picked up five points from their last seven matches, may be dreading this clash with the league leaders, particularly with two more players added to their extensive missing list.

In other news, Celtic have been linked with someone who scored against them recently

Wolves have battled a full-back crisis almost unheard of in the Premier League, with number one choices for each flank Jonny and Nelson Semedo both having lengthy spells out injured, while their deputies have struggled on occasion this season.

While Jonny has returned to first-team action now, Semedo is likely to be out for between four to eight weeks – meaning former Liverpool wonderkid Ki-Jana Hoever was set to take his place and have a lengthy run in the first team.

However, much to Lage’s frustration, Hoever himself suffered an injury at the weekend – causing the Portuguese manager to send a warning to the player in particular, as well as the other youngsters in and around the first-team squad.

“This warning is not only for Ki [Hoever], it’s for all the kids we have in our team,” said Lage.

“They need to understand that I don’t waste time with guys who don’t work hard every day to improve.”

Once described as a “sensational young player” by his former boss Jurgen Klopp, the defender arrived at Molineux for 13.5m in 2020 with fans hoping he could replace the outgoing Matt Doherty, who signed for Spurs that Summer.

The 20-year-old Dutchman has started just four games this season, averaging a 6.60 match rating according to SofaScore – despite making an impressive start to the campaign, achieving a 7.40 in the first game. Furthermore, he has only registered one goal involvement in his entire Molineux career.

Hoever hasn’t yet made an error that has led to a shot this season, and has won over 50% of his duels this season, but it is reportedly his unwillingness to train harder and prepare himself for senior football which is the thing that is frustrating Lage the most.

Lage said. “Injuries can happen, but this one happened because he was not prepared because Ki sometimes doesn’t work in the same intensity.”

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With Hungarian right-back Bendegúz Bolla having an impressive season at Grasshoppers Zurich in Switzerland, Hoever will need to buck up his ideas quickly before he finds himself even further down the pecking order at Wolves – and eventually on the transfer list.

In other news: Huge blow: Insider drops behind-scenes Wolves update, it’ll “worry” supporters