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According to reports in The Sun on Sunday, West Ham United are ready to make a move £5m-rated Hadjuk Split midfielder Hamza Barry, but they could face competition for his signature from Premier League rivals Everton and Watford.

What’s the word, then?

Well, The Sun on Sunday says that new Irons boss David Moyes is to be handed £30m to spend in the January transfer window in order to try and help the team in their relegation battle, and he is looking at Barry along with some of the east London outfit’s top flight rivals.

How has Barry done this season?

The 23-year-old central midfielder has been an impressive performer for Hadjuk Split this term, scoring one goal and providing a further five assists in 19 appearances in all competitions.

The versatile Gambia international, who has played in central attacking midfield, central midfield, defensive midfield and on either wing, has a contract with the Croatian outfit until 2020 but The Sun on Sunday says he could be available for £5m.

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Would he be a good signing for West Ham?

It’s difficult to say.

While it seems clear that the Irons need reinforcements in the middle of the park with the likes of Cheikhou Kouyate, Pedro Obiang and Mark Noble underperforming this season, whether Barry would be the answer to their problems remains to be seen.

While he has proven to be a decent enough player in the Croatian league, it would be a huge step up to perform consistently well in the Premier League for a team that could be struggling towards the wrong end of the table.

What’s the verdict, then?

Well, West Ham have been linked with Bournemouth’s Harry Arter already this month and he would certainly be a more experienced and less risky addition than Barry because of his time in the English top flight.

While Barry could be a potential summer addition if the Irons stay up, they should look for players that are guaranteed to make an impact in the New Year for what could be a huge second-half of the campaign.

According to reports in The Sunday Mirror, Manchester United are ready to pull the plug on signing Real Madrid forward Gareth Bale unless the price is right, and they are only willing to pay £50m-£60m for the £100m-rated player.

What’s the word, then?

Well, The Sunday Mirror says that Real are ready to sell the Welshman in order to fund moves for Paris Saint-Germain forward Neymar and Manchester City playmaker Kevin De Bruyne, but they rate him at £100m.

However, The Sunday Mirror says that United don’t feel he is worth that much because of the fact that he has suffered a number of injury issues during his time with Spain, the fact that he turns 29 in July and how he is currently on £350,000-per-week.

The report adds that while the Red Devils were once willing to pay £100m, their chiefs will only do business in a cut-price deal.

How he has done this season?

It has been another injury-hit campaign for Bale at the Bernabeu.

The Wales international has made 10 appearances in all competitions, scoring three goals and providing a further five assists, but he picked up his 20th injury during his time with Real against Fuenlabrada last week.

That calf problem meant he missed the goalless draw against Athletic Bilbao on Saturday.

Could United get him for £50m?

Considering some of the transfer fees that are being thrown around right now, it would be difficult see Real accepting an offer of £50m for Bale.

Even if they are looking to offload the 28-year-old they will still believe that he is one of the best attacking players in the world on his day, and that is shown by their £100m valuation.

Of course, Real have long been linked with United goalkeeper David De Gea and there could be a compromise found if the stopper was involved in any deal, but the Red Devils won’t want that to happen either.

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According to a report from The Sun, Celtic and Belgium defender Dedryck Boyata is attracting interest from the Premier League. The centre back was a somewhat surprising inclusion in Roberto Martinez’s squad for this summer’s World Cup, but the 27-year-old has since impressed in starting all three of their group stage clashes, in what should be of interest to Southampton manager Mark Hughes. 

And with the Saints likely on the lookout for defensive reinforcements, alongside the success they have had in bringing the likes of Virgil van Dijk to the club from Celtic, they should seek to join the race for the £1.8 million-rated star (as per Transfermarkt). 

The Breakdown

Ultimately, Netherlands international van Dijk became one of the best centre backs in the Premier League during his stint at Southampton between 2015 and 2018, to the point that Liverpool splashed out £75 million to lure him away from St Mary’s earlier this year.

And having bought him from Celtic for £13 million three years ago, alongside having brought the likes of Victor Wanyama and Fraser Forster to the club from Parkhead to good effect, the Saints may well be looking to replicate that success this summer. And Boyata could be that man.

The centre back has enjoyed a fine few years north of the border following his move from Manchester City back in 2015, with the 27-year-old going on to appear over 100 times for Brendan Rodgers’ men, 39 of which coming last term as they secured back-to-back domestic trebles.

Add in the 22 appearances the campaign before in their run to all three domestic trophies, and it’s clear that Boyata has come on leaps and bounds under former Liverpool chief Rodgers since his appointment back in 2016, to the point that the 27-year-old has earned eight of his ten Belgium caps in the last two years.

And having performed particularly well for Martinez’s side in helping them win all three of their group stages matches at the World Cup, the centre back’s stock is raising quite considerably – there’s a reason Fulham are interested in his services.

But after selling van Dijk to Liverpool back in January, and having as of yet to replace the Dutchman, Hughes’ Saints must seek to join the race for the defender, especially given the success they have had in bringing Celtic stars south of the border to St Mary’s.

How far will England get in Russia? Tell us now

Yes, they were by no means the worse side defensively in the top-flight last term, but the South Coast outfit will certainly need to improve upon their tally of 56 goals conceded from their 38 matches if they are to re-establish themselves in the top half of the table – Boyata can help with that.

Thus, having had success in signing Celtic players before, alongside Boyata’s fine efforts for both club and country in the last 12 months, Southampton must seek to join the race for the 27-year-old this summer.

Southampton fans… what do you think? Let us know!

West Ham’s primary focus in this transfer window so far has been in defence and midfield.

The east London club have added the likes of Lukasz Fabianski, Issa Diop and Ryan Fredericks to their ranks while Jack Wilshere, Jean-Michael Seri and Felipe Anderson are said to be targets for midfield and attacking midfield respectively.

West Ham, though, could also probably do with bringing in a new striker. Javier Hernandez’s future remains uncertain and Andy Carroll is injured more often than not, potentially leaving Marko Arnautovic as the Hammers’ only real threat up front for the upcoming season.

With that in mind, West Ham should resurrect their interest in Celtic’s Moussa Dembele to improve their forward options.

The Daily Express reported last summer that the Hammers had targeted Dembele for a move to the London Stadium and, while nothing materialised back then, now would be the perfect time to finally get a deal done for the 21-year-old.

Dembele, who is valued at £5.4m by Transfermarkt, has enjoyed a good spell in Scotland with his debut season at Celtic standing out in particular. The Frenchman scored 32 goals in all competitions including the Champions League where he impressed in the SPL champions 3-3 draw against Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City.

The former Fulham striker possesses the sort of goalscoring ability that can help elevate West Ham and, ultimately, give manager Manuel Pellegrini another reliable alternative to Arnautovic up front.

Much could depend on what happens with Hernandez but, with Carroll’s injury record and no guarantee that Arnautovic will carry on as a striker, an offer for Dembele should be readied.

Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Moussa Sissoko is a transfer target for Fenerbahce this summer according to Turkish news outlet Sabha Sport.

What’s the story?

The 28-year-old joined Spurs in 2016 but he has failed to justify the lofty £30million price tag.

Last season, the midfielder made 33 Premier League appearances for the north London club, 18 of which were from the bench, and in the two years he has spent there, he has provided one goal and three assists.

According to the report, Fenerbahce’s new sporting director Damien Comolli, who used to work at Tottenham and Liverpool, is keen on bringing Sissoko to Turkey this summer with the promise of Champions League football.

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Time for Spurs to cut their losses

After spending two years at Tottenham, it’s still hard to pinpoint exactly what Sissoko does for the team.

Yes, he covers the pitch well and can’t be faulted for his effort, but far too often he wastes opportunities with a clumsy touch or making the wrong decision.

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Maurichio Pochettino still has faith in Sissoko and frequently throws him on when Spurs need to change the game but he so rarely does that.

Surely it’s time for Tottenham to recoup what they can and reinvest it into the team.

According to Bergamo Corriere Della Sera, Serie A outfit Atalanta have made an offer for West Ham United midfielder Pedro Obiang ahead of the 2018-19 campaign.

What’s the story?

The fact that seven new players have arrived at West Ham this summer means that the club will have to balance the books before the window slams shut.

Ryan Fredericks, Issa Diop and Fabian Balbuena have arrived to boost the defence, while Felipe Anderson, Andriy Yarmolenko and Jack Wilshere will certainly improve Manuel Pellegrini’s options in the final third of the field.

Speculation surrounding the future of Obiang has gathered pace in recent weeks, with a number of Italian clubs believed to be interested in the central midfielder.

According to Bergamo Corriere Della Sera, Atalanta have made an offer which would see the Serie A outfit take Obiang on a loan deal with the option to sign the Spaniard for £8m at any point.

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On paper, it seems decent business. However, it would be a mistake for Pellegrini to allow the 26-year-old to move on in this summer’s transfer window.

How has Obiang performed at West Ham?

Obiang moved to West Ham from Sampdoria in the summer of 2015, and he has made 87 appearances for the Hammers in all competitions.

The midfielder has not brought too much in the way of goals or assists – just three and two respectively – but he has certainly been a consistent performer at the London Stadium and still has a big role to play in 2018/19 and beyond.

A knee injury forced him to miss a lot of football in the second half of last season, but he still managed 21 Premier League appearances, and was certainly one of the team’s more consistent performers during a difficult spell.

Obiang will obviously have a say when it comes to where he will play his football next season, but West Ham would be wrong to make the 6ft 1in ace surplus to requirements.

It has been a frustrating window so far for Leeds United fans. They will want to see their club spark into action and bring some talent through the door. 

After a sub-par season last season, meticulous Argentine Marcelo Bielsa has been appointed as boss. His attention to detail and unique tactical approach have brought intense speculation on the West Yorkshire outfit. However, the lack of action on the transfer front has been disappointing.

Particularly considering the style of play Bielsa likely plans to employ, the lack of transfer activity is highly surprising. Bielsa mostly always employs a 3-3-1-3 formation, featuring an enganche between the midfield and attack. Whether the Argentine himself believes his current squad are capable of playing this system is doubtful. The former Marseille manager likes his players to be versatile, tactically aware and highly energetic. Whether this system will work with Championship standard players is questionable.

With that the case, Leeds should break the bank to sign Blackburn Rovers player Bradley Dack. The former Gillingham man is rated at £1m by Transfermarkt.

Attacking midfielder Dack would be perfect for the Enganche role Bielsa likes to employ, due to his high energy and game intelligence. Bradley Dack was undoubtedly the key man in Blackburn’s promotion winning League One season last time out, the 24-year-old netting 16 League goals from midfield.

There is very little the London-born player can’t do on a football pitch. A positive player who always looks to play forward, Dack would be perfect to sit in the hole between midfield and attack and dictate play. Quick in the pass, he would certainly get Bielsa’s team on the move. Long shots are another key element of Dack’s game, and the statistics show he knows where the net is.

With Dack being such a crucial player to Blackburn Rovers, it would be difficult for Leeds United to prize Rovers star man away from Ewood Park. They should drop everything and go after Dack, who could transform Leeds from a mid-table side to a side competing right at the top of the table.

Highly-rated Borussia Dortmund attacker Christian Pulisic impressed and scored twice for his side as they beat Liverpool 3-1 in a pre-season friendly on Sunday, and Tottenham Hotspur fans have urged their club to sign the brilliant 19-year-old, rated at £40.5m by Transfermarkt.

The teenager has made a big impression for the Bundesliga club with 12 goals and 20 assists in 97 competitive appearances for them despite his tender years, and he showcased his talent again in America with a goal from the penalty spot, before he added a second in North Carolina.

Spurs have been heavily linked with a move for Wilfried Zaha this summer to suggest that Mauricio Pochettino wants to add another forward to his ranks, and Pulisic would be competing with the likes of Christian Eriksen, Son Heung-Min, Lucas Moura and Erik Lamela in the starting XI if he did sign.

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Lots of Tottenham supporters, some of whom have named four attackers they would prefer to sign over Zaha, were quick to have their say on Pulisic’s performance via social media, and while one said he “would work so well with Kane”, another said he “would be perfect for Spurs on and off the pitch”.

Here is just a selection of the Twitter reaction…

Loads of Everton fans have been reacting to the latest transfer news, as Lucas Digne is on the verge of signing for the club.

According to Jason Burt of The Telegraph, Digne, who won La Liga last season with Barcelona, will definitely join Everton this summer.

The Barcelona left back has been heavily linked as a replacement for Leighton Baines ever since the Toffees were priced out of a move for Kieran Tierney.

It now looks as though Digne will indeed swap the Camp Nou for Goodison, with a deal expected to be around the €14.5m (£12.9m) mark.

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Marco Silva and Marcel Brands had a lot of work to do when they arrived at Goodison, and while fans have grown slightly impatient with the lack of transfer activity, it’s clear they have identified the left flank as a weak spot.

The signings of Digne and Richarlison will bring a double dose of youth and pace to the side, and hopefully the focus can now shit to finding a good centre back partner for Michael Keane.

Lots of fans have been reacting to the reports Digne is close, and you can find some of the best Twitter reactions down below…

Rangers are loving life under Steven Gerrard and they hope that his management skills can be utilised so his team can put significant pressure on Celtic for the Scottish Premiership.

The Gers have continued on their European journey as they now find themselves in the second qualifying round for the Europa League. The 10 new faces have all been good additions in their own right but with time still to go in the window, Gerrard won’t stop until his team is ready to be in contention with Celtic for the title.

One player who still has great ability, as well as bags of experience, is Bournemouth’s Marc Pugh, a player valued at £1.3 million on Transfermarkt.

The 31-year-old has spent 10 years with the Cherries but with his contract up, Rangers could be the perfect opportunity for him to continue getting regular football. Pugh made 20 Premier League appearances last year and altogether has played in over 300 games for Bournemouth, something that shows his commitment but also his genuine ability to keep playing at a high level.

First team opportunities are becoming rarer for Pugh though and that may be decisive when thinking about leaving Bournemouth. Nevertheless, Rangers are undergoing a new challenge under Steven Gerrard and as well as the lure of European football, Pugh could show on a big stage in Scotland why he is still a very useful asset on the wing.

The Gers and Steven Gerrard have so far seen 10 new face arrive at Ibrox, something that will un-nerve Celtic due to the potential of the signings being high. Whatever happens, the Englishman admits he is in a rush to recruit some new faces and a player who would fit right in at Rangers is Marc Pugh.

Do you agree… Let us know!