All posts by rastrear-estafeta.com

As per The West Ham Way website, reliable club insider ExWHUemployee has shared a transfer update out of Rush Green involving long-time target Jesse Lingard.

The Lowdown: West Ham still chasing…

Since the Manchester United ace’s prolific 2020/2021 loan spell at the London Stadium, it’s no secret that manager David Moyes has been eager to sign Lingard on a permanent deal.

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/west-ham-latest-news-copy/” title=”West Ham latest news!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

The Hammers were knocked back in their summer attempts to do so but that interest has since continued into this January transfer window.

It is believed by reliable sources that Lingard is still a top target for Moyes and recruitment chief Rob Newman as the England international seeks a move away from Old Trafford in search of game time and one last major move before the twilight phase of his career.

Newcastle have also been attempting to sign the 29-year-old this month, but after those talks stalled, insider Ex believes West Ham are ready to try and take advantage in a last-gasp move.

The Latest: West Ham ‘attempting’ to now ‘reach a deal’…

According to the insider, via WHW, the Irons are ‘attempting now to reach a deal’ for Lingard after failed negotiations between Newcastle and his club.

As just two full days remain to conclude business, with the window shutting at precisely 11pm on Monday night, Newman and co are apparently at work on an eleventh-hour agreement.

However, there are still hurdles to the potential transfer as Man United seem ‘reluctant’ to do business with a direct challenger for the Premier League top four, while there are also still ‘issues’ to be resolved on Lingard’s side.

The Verdict: Time to move on?

As West Ham also chase the signing of a striker and centre-half in this final hurdle, Moyes shouldn’t spend too much time chasing his former favourite.

One final attempt may be worth it to see if an agreement can in fact be reached, especially considering United run the risk of losing him for nothing in the summer.

Valued at around £18 million by Transfermarkt, the Irons could potentially snap up Lingard for far less given his contract situation, which is set to expire later this year.

Pundit Rio Ferdinand also branded the player ‘amazing’ for this spell on loan in east London last year, as evident by his nine goals and four assists in 16 Premier League starts.

However, if this transfer continues to drag into deadline day, Moyes, unfortunately, has no time to waste and alternatives simply must be pursued at that point.

In other news: West Ham eye late window bid for ‘world class’ player after manager leaves him out of squad, find out more here.

Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly leading the race to sign Franck Kessie…

What’s the word?

That’s according to Italian outlet Calciomercato, who claim the 25-year-old midfielder is yet to agree on a contract extension at Serie A giants AC Milan and with his current deal set to expire in the summer, he could depart the San Siro for nothing.

Spurs are among the Premier League teams chasing his signature and are the favourites to seal him, whilst Paris Saint-Germain are also interested.

Kessie is free to speak to teams outside of Italy from January, meaning the north London outfit could secure a pre-contract agreement with the 52-time Ivory Coast international, who is currently valued at €30m (£26m) by CIES Football Observatory.

Shades of Dembele

Whilst manager Antonio Conte may have to wait until next season to see the talents of Kessie in action, he would still be a mighty fine addition to his engine room.

The bustling midfield enforcer could well bring shades of Mousa Dembele back to N17. He’s capable of being an absolute rock defensively with his big physical attributes, whilst also being able to drive forward with the ball. He even has a goal or two in him, too.

Among Milan’s three best performers in the Serie A this season, Kessie has scored five goals in 13 starts, to add to his 13 goals last term.

Meanwhile, since the start of the 2020/21 campaign, he’s averaged at least 1.3 tackles, 0.8 interceptions, 0.9 dribbles and 0.8 key passes, via WhoScored, which shows his influence at both ends of the pitch.

Such consistent form has led to high praise indeed.

His former Rossoneri boss Vincenzo Montella once lauded him as an “extraordinary player” with “sublime intelligence”, whilst ex-Milan frontman Antonio Cassano likened him to Yaya Toure and dubbed him “devastating.”

“I want Kessie in my team, he scores, he assists, he has personality, he has quality, he doesn’t lose the ball, he’s intelligent. I’m watching him carefully, with Roma it was devastating,” he said. “It reminds me of the Yaya Toure of the best times. He is a different player, but in terms of impact. He is holding Milan’s midfield alone.”

You could argue that Spurs have lacked that sort of physical ball-carrying beast in the heart of their midfield for quite some time and it would appear that Kessie seems a perfect fit to solve that lingering problem.

Therefore, it would make sense for sporting director Fabio Paratici to push ahead to try and land the Ivorian machine over some of their biggest rivals.

It would be an absolute steal, not having to pay a transfer fee, and in Kessie, the Lilywhites could well discover their next Dembele – a mouth-watering prospect indeed.

AND in other news, Conte can finally axe Spurs’ “liability” by signing £36m-rated “absolute beast” in Jan – opinion

Speaking live on talkSPORT radio (January 6), via Read West Ham, reporter Alex Crook shared what he knows on the Jesse Lingard transfer saga.

The Lowdown: West Ham chasing Lingard…

As well known, West Ham and manager David Moyes are eager to reunite with Lingard on a permanent deal this month with the irons earmarking him as a top transfer target.

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/west-ham-latest-updates/” title=”West Ham latest updates!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

Club insider ExWHUemployee believes the club are certain to move for Manchester United’s forward whilst reliable journalist Jack Rosser of The Evening Standard backs their interest.

Talks over a new deal for Lingard at Old Trafford recently broke down, with his current deal set to expire at the end of this season, prompting club to take note of his situation – with West Ham among the suitors for his signatures (ESPN).

Sharing what he knows, Crook has now made a live radio claim on talkSPORT.

The Latest: Crook makes Lingard to West Ham claim…

Speaking to the broadcaster (via Read West Ham), the journalist believes a West Ham bid for England’s attacker is ‘inevitable’ as the club believe they can secure him for a ‘fraction’ of what he would have cost in the summer window.

“West Ham United are looking for reinforcements,” he explained.

“One name mentioned to me that won’t come as a big surprise to fans is Jesse Lingard.

“Clearly not happy at Manchester United, out of contract in the summer. West Ham believe they could sign him for a fraction of the fee quoted in the summer.

“I think it’s inevitable that West Ham will try again. He really needs to leave Old Trafford – that would seem a no-brainer to me.”

The Verdict: A must move?

Homegrown and a proven player under Moyes, having bagged a brilliant nine goals and four assists over 16 top flight outings on loan at West Ham last season (WhoScored), signing Lingard would come as a major boost for West Ham mid-season.

Reports have suggested that the Three Lions ace could be available for as little as £10 million this month given his precarious contract situation (The Sun) – a fee certainly affordable and representing good value for money.

Former Tottenham and England goalkeeper Paul Robinson recently claimed he would be a ‘massive signing’ who could gift the Hammers ‘another dimension’ amid their chase for a top four Premier League finish (Football Insider).

Given his numbers over the second half of 2020/2021, with talkSPORT pundit Adrian Durham also calling him the best player in terms of league form at one point last year, we strongly advise West Ham to push the boat out for his capture.

In other news: ‘Tears in my eyes’, ‘Finally’…Many West Ham fans flock to ‘very exciting’ transfer development, find out more here.

Newcastle United are hopeful they can lure Kieran Trippier to St James’ Park in January, according to The Northern Echo’s Scott Wilson. 

The lowdown

The Magpies are said to be ‘finalising their plans’ for the January transfer window and, in his discussions with head of recruitment Steve Nickson, manager Eddie Howe has identified right-back as a ‘priority area’. Howe’s existing options in the position include Emil Krafth and Javier Manquillo.

Trippier made 107 Premier League appearances before he moved from Tottenham Hotspur to Atletico Madrid in 2019, notching 18 assists in that time.

The 31-year-old, who has been called a player of real ‘quality’ by his manager Diego Simeone, is thought to be earning £77,000 per week in the Spanish capital.

The latest

According to Wilson on Twitter, ‘NUFC are hoping’ that Trippier could be guided by his 2022 World Cup ambitions as he makes a decision on his future.

Marcos Llorente, a rival for the right-back spot at the Wanda Metropolitano, ‘is seen as a coming force’, raising concerns about the Englishman’s game-time ahead of the tournament in Qatar.

Wilson revealed that the Magpies are willing to stump up £25m to make the deal happen.

The verdict

When you consider the extent of competition at right-back for England, you can understand why Trippier might be worried. Gareth Southgate could call upon Trent Alexander-Arnold, Reece James, Kyle Walker, Tariq Lamptey and more.

Leaving the Spanish champions for a relegation-threatened English club does seem quite a step-down, but perhaps Tuesday’s night’s events could be key.

Atletico could yet finish bottom of their Champions League group, leaving them without European football in the spring. In addition, they’re already 10 points off the pace in La Liga, albeit with a game in hand.

All of a sudden, they might be a significantly less attractive proposition. That might yet prompt Trippier to strongly consider a return to his homeland.

In other news, a top Newcastle target has been revealed

Newcastle United star Allan Saint-Maximin will face a late fitness test ahead of the Magpies’ clash with reigning champions Manchester City on Sunday afternoon.

What’s the latest?

The 24-year-old was forced off late in their 3-1 defeat to Liverpool on Thursday night and could be a potential absentee ahead of the visit from Pep Guardiola’s side on Sunday.

“With Maxi, he took a really nasty tackle,” said Newcastle manager  Eddie Howe. “I don’t know whether his injury is related to that tackle, or is more muscular. I’ve no idea.

“Fingers crossed for him, he’s such a big player for us. We don’t want to lose him for any amount of time.”

Furthermore, Federico Fernandez and Paul Dummett still remain unavailable with their respective injuries.

The Frenchman is the latest name added to what appears to be a growing injury list for Howe. Jamal Lewis was also withdrawn against Liverpool and will be facing a spell on the sidelines with a hamstring injury.

Fans could be gutted

The £27m-rated Saint-Maximin will be a major loss for the Magpies if he is ruled out for a significant spell, particularly if his injury makes him unavailable for a chunk of Newcastle’s hectic festive period.

Now in his third season with the club, the Frenchman is certainly a fan favourite amongst many Geordies, and a prolonged absence would leave supporters gutted if he is set to miss a sizeable portion of their upcoming schedule.

United will play four Premier League matches within the next 15 days as things stands and will need their main creative output available, with their top-flight status at risk given their precarious position in the league table.

Saint-Maximin has contributed three goals and three assists in the Premier League thus far this season, playing a part in 33% of Newcastle’s top-flight goals and level with six-goal Callum Wilson in terms of overall contributions.

According to SofaScore, the Frenchman also averages a 76% passing accuracy, as well as 63% dribble success and two shots per game; while WhoScored rank him as by far the Magpies’ highest-rated player so far this term.

Therefore, if the 24-year-old is sidelined for the whole festive period and beyond, his absence would be a huge blow for Newcastle and would leave fans feeling gutted.

In other news – “Senior source says”: George Caulkin delivers DOF update which will delight NUFC fans

Aston Villa have been linked with a move for Brighton & Hove Albion manager Graham Potter, and as to be expected, a number of Villa fans have been giving their thoughts to the rumour via social media.

The Daily Record claimed on Monday evening that the 46-year-old, who is under contract at the Amex Stadium until 2025, had been discussed as an option to replace Dean Smith at Villa Park.

BBC’s Phil McNulty provided a managerial update on Tuesday morning, name-checking the likes of Steven Gerrard, Roberto Martinez, Kasper Hjulmand, Ralph Hasenhuttl and Potter.

When it came to the Brighton boss, he said that the Englishman would be a prime contender for any vacancy, but it is highly doubted he could be tempted to leave the Seagulls.

Despite this doubt, a number of Villa fans are desperate for Solihull-born Potter, who Smith has called ‘fantastic’, to return to the Midlands.

Villa fans react

The AVFC Faithful shared McNulty’s claim regarding Potter via Twitter. Here is what these Villa supporters had to say in reply, with some urging the club’s NSWE ownership to make their move for the Brighton boss.

“Please Villa”

Credit: @JackAVFC77

“I’d love to see us do whatever it takes.”

Credit: @calvmcd713

“Give them 20mil if they want it”

Credit: @AVAlex1874

“Try it!”

Credit: @EarwigLLe

“If we want to play an attractive and associative game, Graham is the best option. But it’s true that it’s the most complicated option.”

Credit: @JohnMcGinnism

“Please”

Credit: @buendiazboyz

In other news: ‘I understand’ – Ashley Preece drops Tuesday morning Frank Lampard to Aston Villa claim

Tottenham Hotspur aren’t afraid to pay the asking price for mooted January target Weston McKennie, according to reports in Italy…

What’s the word?

Calciomercato.it claim the American midfielder is ‘on the list of potential exits’ from Juventus this winter and Spurs are amongst the teams monitoring his situation ahead of a possible swoop.

The Old Lady value him in the region of €30m (£25m) to €35m (£30m), with both sporting director Fabio Paratici and manager Antonio Conte keen on his signature.

Premier League rivals West Ham United are also linked with interest by the report.

Bye-bye Alli

The 23-year-old has gone from outcast to a regular under Massimiliano Allegri, starting three of their last four Serie A outings and in return, he current rates out as his seventh-best performer, as per WhoScored ratings.

McKennie has been dubbed a “leader” and an “outstanding talent” by ex-Schalke boss David Wagner, one that is capable of playing any central midfield role required, making him a very intriguing fit for Conte’s system, which relies more on the middlemen than wingers.

[snack-amp-story url = “https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/spurs-latest-news-updates-transfers-antonio-conte-thfc” title=”Read the latest Spurs news, transfer updates and much, much more!”]

“In the No.6 or No.8 position he has the mentality, a real working mentality that you need. And he’s brave on the ball as well. He can be one of the best midfielders in the Bundesliga,” he added.

His versatility is reflected by his numbers across several key statistics, with WhoScored describing his strengths as primarily being his defensive contribution.

In the Serie A this campaign, he’s attempted 2.2 tackles, 1.2 interceptions (third-best), 1.3 dribbles and 1.6 shots per 90 minutes, showing he’s all over the pitch contributing in abundance.

This makes the £22.5m-rated star a much better fit for the Italian boss than someone like Dele Alli, who has been much-maligned in recent times.

Last month, The Athletic revealed that for the very first time, Spurs would be open to offloading the struggling 25-year-old midfielder and after failing to start either of Conte’s first two matches in charge, it’s hard to imagine things have changed much.

McKennie could be his replacement in the engine room, one that would be of much more use to the 52-year-old.

AND in other news, £25m-rated flop has handed Antonio Conte a fresh dilemma at Spurs…

Ryan Sessegnon should consider a loan move away from Tottenham in the January transfer window, according to former Spurs defender Alan Hutton.

The Lowdown: Sessegnon’s struggles continue

Sessegnon joined Spurs in 2019 with a massive reputation after shining for Fulham, but he has struggled in north London, making just 14 appearances to date.

The 21-year-old has suffered from fitness issues and Nuno Espirito Santo confirmed another development earlier this week, with a setback expected to keep the youngster out for ‘a while’.

The Latest: Hutton tips youngster for move

First-team opportunities look sparse for Sessegnon currently, so it could be that a loan move in January is beneficial to him.

That’s certainly the opinion of Hutton, who told Football Insider that a switch elsewhere could be important for Sessegnon following the news on his fitness this week:

“I would want to move out somewhere on loan. He can have a future at Tottenham but it’s a matter of going out and finding out about himself. Where is his best position?

“Playing for a club regularly to come back a better player and then really try and focus on getting into that Tottenham team. I think it would be good for him to go out on loan.”

The Verdict: Makes perfect sense

At 21, Sessegnon is still such a young player and his talent is undeniable, with Jose Mourinho once hailing the left-sided player as ‘fantastic’.

The Englishman needs some luck with injuries and to pick up some playing time and confidence elsewhere – if he can achieve those things he can still go on to reach his potential at Spurs.

Time is still very much on Sessegnon’s side and some players can take longer to fully develop than others.

In other news, three Spurs players struggled in the defeat to Vitesse Arnhem. Find out who they are here.

Antonio Conte is facing plenty of important decisions as he embarks on his first game in charge of Tottenham Hotspur this evening.

The north London outfit appointed the 52-year-old on Tuesday after handing Nuno Santo his marching orders less than 24 hours earlier following a 3-0 defeat to Manchester United at the weekend.

It’ll be no easy task for the Italian, who won a Premier League and FA Cup during his last stint in England, but he could do himself a massive favour by axing Ben Davies.

The Red Devils had been leaking goals for fun before they turned up at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday afternoon, so it was perhaps a huge surprise to see Nuno opt for the 67-cap Welshman over the more attack-minded Sergio Reguilon.

Ultimately, it was a decision that cost him dearly as Spurs looked lacklustre in attack once again and they leaked three goals in yet another league outing.

The 28-year-old left-back was given the run around by United’s veteran frontline of Edinson Cavani and Cristiano Ronaldo and he was caught ball watching for the latter’s superb opener.

Davies was also Spurs’ lowest-rated outfield player (6.1), as per SofaScore figures, which only further highlights his struggles.

Across the full 90 minutes, the £14.4m-rated star won just one of four ground duels (25%), lost possession 16 times, failed to deliver a single accurate cross and even earned a booking for his troubles.

He has often failed to impress in the big matches, as seen by Sunday and last season. One game against Liverpool saw ex-Leeds striker Noel Whelan deem him “appalling” to Football Insider.

Whilst Vitesse are no great shakes, the £93k-per-week Wales international captained the side when these two faced each other in the Netherlands 14 days ago and he was once again one of the poorer players on the pitch, earning a 6.3 rating – the joint-third lowest, as per SofaScore.

Conte is likely to utilise an attacking formation with wing-backs, so Davies’ time at the club could be thrown into doubt. Therefore, it seems a wise decision for the Italian to ruthlessly axe him, starting with tonight’s encounter.

If he were to start, it could prove costly and the new manager will want to kickstart his reign with a bang.

AND in other news, Spurs have “close agreement” with “devastating” £34m-rated beast, Conte surely buzzing…

Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins is now being wanted by fellow Premier League side Spurs.

What’s the story?

According to Spanish publication Fichajes, Nuno Espirito Santo’s side are considering bidding for Watkins as they’ve become worried over Harry Kane’s lack of goal-scoring form.

The report claims that Spurs’ sporting director, Fabio Paratici, is eyeing up some attacking reinforcements, and Watkins’ name features prominently on that list.

Dean Smith would be livid

After suggestions initially emerged that Liverpool were actually interested in signing Watkins in the summer transfer window just gone by, former Villa star, Lee Hendrie, exclusively told FFC:

“If you’re going to start selling those players to the bigger clubs, how are you meant to compete? I get that you’re possibly going to get £60m for someone, but then who do you go and buy that’s going to replace Ollie Watkins?

“You’ve got to go and spend decent money on someone to go and bring him in and then it could possibly be a gamble.”

The striker was a key reason behind Villa’s successful campaign last year, bagging 16 goals in all competitions and netting in home and away fixtures against Liverpool (including a hat-trick at Villa Park) and also against Arsenal.

It’s no surprise then that the likes of Liverpool and Spurs both have their eye on signing a “machine” like Watkins, and it will leave Smith very worried about trying to hold on to his main man up front.

Were the Villa hierarchy to decide that they should cash in on Watkins, Smith would certainly not be in a forgiving mood.

The Villa boss worked with the striker back at Brentford, and then brought him to Villa Park and clearly has a real rapport and relationship with him, and the 25-year-old’s performances have been a real vindication of that faith.

Johan Lange must avoid selling the £34m-rated star to Spurs at all costs, or risk leaving Smith absolutely fuming.

Meanwhile, Gregg Evans drops an Aston Villa update on this star…