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West Ham United would send out a serious message to the rest of the Premier League if they manage to secure the services of Maxi Gomez from Celta Vigo this month.

BBC Sport claim that the Hammers are considering whether to trigger the striker’s £43.3m release clause before the end of the January transfer window, at which point they would loan him back to the Spanish outfit for the rest of the campaign.

The Chalkboard

Gomez arrived at Celta from Uruguayan outfit Defensor Sporting in the summer of 2017 and the centre-forward has proved to be a fine addition for the La Liga club.

Check out the video below to see Pl>ymaker FC’s American Soccer Fan give his take on all six ‘field goals’ in West Ham v Burnley…

Indeed, Gomez has managed 27 goals and 10 assists in 58 appearances for Celta, including nine goals in 18 La Liga appearances this term.

Standing at 6ft 1in, Gomez can certainly handle himself and he could have a huge impact at West Ham moving forward.

Indeed, the thought of the Uruguay international operating alongside the likes of Felipe Anderson, Samir Nasri, Manuel Lanzini and potentially even Marko Arnautovic will be an extremely exciting one for the West Ham fans.

Breaking the club’s transfer record once again would also be another indication of the club’s intent moving forward, after an underwhelming start to life at the London Stadium.

Could Gomez play with Arnautovic?

Arnautovic has revealed that he will be staying at West Ham this month but his future beyond the end of the season – when Gomez would arrive should the Irons loan him back to Celta Viga – remains unclear.

Nonetheless, Arnautovic has played through the middle for West Ham but operated in a wider position for Stoke City and is capable of turning out in a number of areas in the final third. Gomez, although mainly a target man, also moves quite well and is clever enough to link with Arnautovic.

At the same time, Manuel Pellegrini has used a 4-4-2 formation eight times in the Premier League this season according to Whoscored and initially favoured a similar setup at Manchester City, utilising Alvaro Negredo as Sergio Aguero’s strike partner to great effect.

So, although there is an understandable assumption that Gomez is being targeted as Arnautovic’s replacement as claimed by The Guardian – which makes delaying his move to the summer convenient for both West Ham and Celta Vigo, who are fighting relegation – there is the potential for them to play alongside each other in what would be a fearsome strike partnership.

That, however, would appear to depend on Arnautovic staying beyond the summer. At this moment in time, that feels unlikely.

Journalist Tim Spiers hailed evergreen midfielder Joao Moutinho’s performance in Wolves’ 2-1 victory at home to Aston Villa on Saturday afternoon.

The Lowdown: Big win for Wolves

Bruno Lage’s side hosted Villa in the Premier League, as they looked to continue their march towards European football next season.

It proved to be another positive day at the office for Wolves, who led 2-0 at half-time thanks to a Jonny strike and an Ashley Young own goal as part of an excellent counter-attacking display.

Ollie Watkins’ late penalty made for a nervy ending at Molineux but the Wanderers held on to jump to seventh place in the table, for the time being at least.

[freshpress-poll id=“388780″]

The Latest: Spiers hails Moutinho

Taking to Twitter straight after the game, Spiers gave a brief but positive assessment of Moutinho’s display: “Moutinho’s class showed throughout.”

The Portugal international enjoyed an 88% pass completion rate against Villa, as per Sofascore, not to mention making three tackles and playing one key pass.

[freshpress-quiz id=“388797″]

The Verdict: Evergreen hero

At 35, Moutinho could be forgiven for being on the wane but he continues to produce influential performances week in, week out for Wolves, being hailed as ‘outstanding’ by Alan Shearer.

The Portuguese maestro brings so much experience and quality in the middle of the park and the hope is that he remains at Molineux for at least another year, with his current deal expiring at the end of the season.

It may be that Moutinho becomes more of a bit-part player over time but keeping hold of him makes far more sense than losing him this summer, as the Villa win showed.

In other news, Spiers has also provided a key Wolves injury update. Read more here.

Flocking to Twitter, many Liverpool fans have erupted over a fresh transfer claim involving their club and Borussia Monchengladbach midfielder Denis Zakaria.

Jurgen Klopp has already been linked to a host of new midfield additions so far this month with the Reds and FSG seemingly setting their sights on a fair few central options.

The likes of Toni Kroos and Jude Bellingham have been mentioned recently given Liverpool’s arguable lack of depth in that area.

Now, sharing some news on who Liverpool are also eyeing, Sport 1 and their reporter Patrik Berger say that the the Anfield side are one of the clubs interested in signing Zakaria from Monchengladbach.

The Swiss ace’s deal is currently set to expire this year as things stand, meaning he can negotiate a pre-contract this month or opt to leave as a free agent in the summer.

Alternatively, Monchengladbach could even sell for a cheap fee, with Sport 1 claiming they could offload for as little as €6-7 million (£5.07m-£5.8m).

Liverpool fans erupt…

Flocking to Twitter, many Liverpool fans have erupted with their takes, with some believing he could be an ‘absolute bargain’ for Klopp.

The powerhouse 6 foot 3 midfielder can play both as a defensive midfield player and a centre-back whilst still being only 25-years-old, leaving little wonder why some supporters feel this way.

Zakaria averages 1.5 tackles, 1.2 interceptions and 1.9 dribbles per game, showing his quality on both sides of the ball.

Find all of their best reactions down below:

“Seems like a no brainer for Liverpool and Klopp….”

Credit: @TheKop_

“€6m-€7m??? This sounds like an absolute bargain?”

Credit: @TomBrownrigg200

“We are crying out for a midfielder. €8m would be a rob. Buy him”

Credit: @JamzLFC786

“Plz”

Credit: @jj___lfc

“Sign him up a beg and let minamino go for 7m”

Credit: @lfanCai

“This is the classic no brainer. Best bang for buck.

sign him already”

Credit: @muootarek

“SIIIUUUUUUU”

Credit: @RitsonLFC

Leeds United are heading into January in dire straits.

They are just five points above the relegation zone, with several teams below them having a game or two in hand, and there’s a mounting injury crisis amongst Marcelo Bielsa’s first-team squad.

As many as 11 players missed the 4-1 defeat to Arsenal at the weekend – their third successive thrashing in the Premier League.

It means Bielsa, director of football Victor Orta and owner Andrea Radrizzani will surely go against their usual mid-season transfer window plans to actually sign someone.

Of course, the Argentinian head coach needs widespread additions across the team but there is one role that he may already have a solution to.

It’s no secret that United have missed a creative influence in the final third, having waved goodbye to Pablo Herandez in the summer. Only five teams have scored fewer goals than Leeds (18), two of which occupy a place in the bottom three, whilst a little over 44% of their goals have come from set pieces alone.

Although Bielsa could well discover a new Hernandez in the form of academy gem Stuart McKinstry, who seems primed to save Radrizzani and co millions in the upcoming window.

The 19-year-old dynamo has already made his senior bow, coming on as a substitute during a Carabao Cup clash with Fulham in September this year, where he scored the winning penalty to see the Whites into the next round.

Meanwhile, for the U23s in the Premier League 2, he has provided three assists from 11 appearances, whilst playing anywhere in midfield.

The Athletic’s Phil Hay once labelled McKinstry as Leeds’ ‘next big thing’.

“He’s a very confident ball carrier, he’s physically strong, good upper body strength, excellent feet, good at beating his man and creative. In his head, he probably feels he can play in other positions up front as well,” he said.

That very much sounds like Hernandez and in his hay day, he too was able to play on the wing, as well as centrally.

Elsewhere, McKinstry’s former academy director at Motherwell, Steven Hammell, lauded him as a “fabulous young player” who “will do wonderful things and become a household name in the next three or four years” to the Lanarkshire Live Sport Podcast.

Even some of his academy teammates have spotted his massive potential, likening him to Sergio Busquets and Lionel Messi, so the Elland Road faithful also have plenty to be excited about when it comes to their promising Scottish gem.

As such, Bielsa should turn to the teenage sensation in 2022 because he could well emerge as a solid candidate to replace Hernandez in attacking midfield.

AND in other news, Leeds could sign Bielsa’s next Ben White in swoop for “flawless” £18m-rated colossus…

Everton have been one of the most active Premier League clubs during the transfer window, and with good reason.

The Toffees are in desperate need to turn their season around after a disappointing first half to the campaign. In order to rectify that situation, they have made three signings already in the first two weeks of January, and Rafael Benitez and co may not be finished yet.

What’s the word?

The Everton manager took to his press conference ahead of today’s match against Norwich to give an update on the club’s next steps in the winter transfer window, teasing the potential of more signings to come.

Benitez revealed: “We are always looking to strengthen the squad. The reality is we’ve balanced the books, which I think is a positive. We are open to any good option.”

“At the moment we’re happy with the three we’ve brought. But we are open-minded.”

This week has been a busy one at Goodison Park, with fan favourite Lucas Digne sold to Aston Villa after three-and-a-half years with the Merseyside club, and Anwar El Ghazi signing on loan until the end of the season, and Benitez isn’t ruling out further business yet.

Fans will be buzzing

Everton fans haven’t had an easy ride supporting their team this season, and many have definitely made no secret of their disappointment over poor performances, walking out of matches at Goodison Park and planning protests against the owners and the manager.

This transfer window has provided Benitez with the opportunity to change the trajectory of the club by signing new players and freshening up the squad, in the hope that a fresh perspective will help the Toffees climb back into the top half of the table, where they are expected to finish this season.

It is important that Everton start to pick up results, as they have a run of winnable games against bottom half teams such as Leeds United, Brentford, Aston Villa and Newcastle coming up over the next few weeks. That should give them the ideal opportunity to ascend to a much more comfortable position in the Premier League if they can capitalise.

For now, the manager’s claim that the Toffees are “open” to making further additions this month should bring some overdue happiness to the Goodison Park fan base, as the current squad just haven’t been delivering the goods.

In other news: Alan Myers makes January transfer window prediction regarding Everton

David Moyes has been handed a big injury boost at West Ham United this week…

What’s the latest?

In recent weeks, the Irons boss has been dealt some cruel blows to his backline, seeing the likes of Angelo Ogbonna and Kurt Zouma ruled out for most, if not all, of the remainder of the season.

He also saw young versatile academy graduate Ben Johnson hampered by a knock during the win over Chelsea, where the Frenchman also picked up a serious problem.

However, according to club insiders Claret and Hugh, the 21-year-old full-back has returned to training ahead of their two Premier League matches this week.

The Hammers face Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday evening before hosting basement boys Norwich City on Saturday afternoon. It’s thought that he will be available for the latter encounter.

Big boost

This will serve as a massive, massive boost to the Scot as it means he will get one of defensive regulars back, perhaps earlier than expected. He, along with Ogbonna, Zouma and Aaron Cresswell missed the draw to Burnley at the weekend, meaning Moyes was without his ‘best’ back four.

To have three of the four out for a substantial amount of time would seriously dent their hopes of qualifying for the Champions League, or at worst the Europa League.

So, it’s easy to see why the 58-year-old would be delighted by this latest development.

As per WhoScored, Johnson has been one of the Hammers’ most consistent performers, averaging a rating of 6.87 per match. He ranks second for tackles (2.1 per game) and interceptions (1.4 per game), whilst fellow insider ExWHUemployee dubbed him “sensational” back in October.

His importance to the side was recently emphasised by Moyes, who waxed lyrical about his presence only last month.

“He’s a bit of utility player for us, he’s been here for a while. He’s a really important player for us. In the squad and the group he’s really important,” he said (via football.london). “Quite often we’ve brought him on and used him in different roles and he’s had a chance to have some games under his belt, he’s not let us down and scored a good goal in midweek.”

If he’s back involved this weekend, then the Irons boss will be getting a major squad boost heading into kickoff, and that should leave many around the London Stadium absolutely buzzing.

AND in other news, Newman can seal West Ham’s biggest signing since Payet in “complete” £24.3m-rated gem…

Flocking to Twitter, many Liverpool supporters have absolutely erupted over a three-word message from their club concerning superstar Sadio Mane.

The Senegal international is one of manager Jurgen Klopp’s most crucial players and has been a key component of his forward line since signing from Southampton for £34 million in 2016.

His 105 goals and 43 assists in all competitions for the Reds since then have made his £34m fee look like an absolute bargain, and after last season’s torrid time with injuries, supporters are concerned over losing their key players to fitness issues.

Liverpool suffered a scare in that regard over the weekend when Mane returned prematurely from international duty with Senegal.

Lions boss Aliou Cisse confirmed to the country’s media that Mane had flown back to Merseyside following a blow to the ribs, with supporters and the club alike sweating over his condition.

In a teasing update, Liverpool have now dropped the three-word message ‘time for training’ whilst also showcasing an image of Mane in full practice at Kirkby.

As the club’s post alleviates fears Mane could have been a doubt for Arsenal this weekend, reliable reporter James Pearce has since reaffirmed that the 29-year-old ‘should be available’ (The Athletic).

Liverpool fans erupt…

According to WhoScored, Mane has racked up the second-most shots per 90 on average for Liverpool out of their entire squad so far this campaign (3.4) – sitting just behind star man Mohamed Salah (4).

He’s also racked up the second-most goals and assists combined (6G, 0A), with Salah again the only man above him with a ridiculous ten goals and seven assists (WhoScored).

Given Mane stands out as one of Liverpool’s major players by a distance, it’s little wonder fans have swooned as he takes part in full training.

Find all of their best reactions down below.

“let’s gooooo”

Credit: @Longiinus_

“Oh boy…”

Credit: @ZamoZitha

“Good news”

Credit: @prrrrLFC

“This is beautiful”

Credit: @CELESTOFC

“Yesssssss he’s in training”

Credit: @IsraeliKopite

“Awesome. We have Mane gearing to go. Now for Hendo training pics within the week”

Credit: @Xenuphrasis

“Wow! I am happy to see you playing against Arsenal.”

Credit: @AlieBSillah4

Pundit Alan Hutton has been reacting to Ewan Henderson’s move from Celtic to Hibernian, Football Insider report.

The Lowdown: Busy start to 2022

The Hoops have wasted no time when it comes to their January business, with moves for Reo Hatate, Yosuke Ideguchi and Daizen Maeda already finalised.

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Permanent moves for loanees Cameron Carter-Vickers and Jota are also being worked on behind-the-scenes while moving on a number of players is also on the club’s to-do list.

The likes of Vasilis Barkas and Boli Bolingoli could be where Celtic bring in some funds, but it is Henderson who is the first player to depart Parkhead in 2022.

The Latest: Hutton reacts

Hutton, who regularly features on BBC Radio 5 Live, was talking to Football Insider regarding Henderson and Hibs in a story released on Tuesday evening.

A move to Easter Road has since been announced, with the 21-year-old joining on loan before making a move permanent in the summer.

Here’s what Hutton had to say, labelling an exit as ‘heartbreaking’.

“I think it’s always a worry. As fans and as a club, you always want to see the academy doing well.

“You want to see young players coming through. They know what the club’s all about, they know what it feels like to play and support the team and just see the development.

“That’s what the academy is there for, to have a pathway to the first team. Throughout the years, Celtic and Rangers have had times where the odd player’s come through and then went missing for a long time.

“It is a worry they’re getting back to those years where it’s constant players coming in through the door. Foreign players or players on initial fees and there’s no opportunity for youngsters.

“So it can be heartbreaking, it can be devastating for the youth setup because you can’t see any way in.

“I even remember when I was coming through at one stage. I was thinking there is no way I’m going to make into this first team. Every transfer window there was a new player coming in.

“It can be disappointing, but I think ultimately if you’re good enough, you will have an opportunity. Then it’s up to the player.”

The Verdict: The right call

Although it’s never ideal seeing a player Celtic have developed for a number of years move on, it appears to be the correct decision. Henderson played just once under Ange Postecoglou this season, coming off the bench to score in a Europa League dead rubber against Real Betis.

He was never really in the matchday squad either despite the club’s huge injury list, so a fresh start with Shaun Maloney should be the best move for him.

It doesn’t look as if Celtic have received any money for the attacking midfielder’s services due to the loan and Henderson being out of contract in the summer, but hopefully funds will be brought in from the likes of Barkas and Bolingoli.

In other news: Celtic may now sign £4.5m-rated man on loan; would ‘separate’ Nicholson from Lawwell. 

Financial expert Kieran Maguire has hailed Leeds United after they shared their 2020/21 accounts, Football Insider report.

The Lowdown: Profit

The Whites, owned by Andrea Radrizzani and the San Francisco 49ers, announced a profit of £26m for the 2020/21 campaign in the week, in what was their first season back in the Premier League after 16 years.

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Leeds, who made a loss of £62m in their Championship winning season, posted a turnover of £171m this time around, which was helped by new partnerships with Adidas and shirt sponsor SBOTOP.

The club also brought in just over £20m in merchandise sales, with £15m coming in from other commercial sources. [FI]

The Latest: Maguire reacts

Maguire, who contributes for Sky Sports, was talking to FI regarding Leeds’ annual numbers.

He labelled them as ‘very encouraging’ and pinpointed the club’s merchandise sales, describing them as ‘outstanding’.

“These are very encouraging figures.

“They had no matchday income or catering income, which together I would expect to be the thick end of £25m.

“When they get matchday income back, it gives them the opportunity to grow. Commercial revenue will only grow as well.

“For me, the outstanding figure was merchandise. To sell £20m worth of merchandise during Covid is indicative of the strength of the fanbase.”

The Verdict: Premier League status crucial

The two contrasting accounts just go to show how crucial Premier League football is to the club, with the Whites recording just their second profit in ten years.

And Leeds took a big step towards ensuring a third season in the division by beating Watford on Saturday.

Another year in the Premier League, along with a possible big-money move to Barcelona for Raphinha, could allow the Whites to back Jesse Marsch in his first transfer window at Elland Road, but there is still work to be done on the pitch before the club can think about any eye-catching signings.

In other news: ‘Strong’ Leeds defender out for weeks as worrying news emerges from Thorp Arch. 

As per a report by The Telegraph, it appears Tottenham Hotspur boss Antonio Conte has set his sights on a brand new target as news emerges on Everton keeper Jordan Pickford.

The Lowdown: Spurs eye goalkeeping swoops…

Amid Hugo Lloris’ precarious contract situation, with his deal set to expire in 2022 as it stands, Tottenham have been linked to bolstering their roster with new goalkeeping additions.

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Sam Johnstone of West Bromwich Albion is a name repeatedly mentioned alongside Spurs with his deal also running out at the end of the season.

Ajax shot stopper Andre Onana is another shot stopper currently on Tottenham’s radar as 90min reiterates Conte’s personal desire to strengthen his options.

This is despite the addition of Pierluigi Gollini on loan with an option to buy over the summer, with the Italian only featuring in Tottenham’s cup competitions thus far.

The Latest: Conte eyes new name…

As per The Telegraph, Conte is now personally targeting Pickford as he adds a new target to his list.

According to the reliable outlet’s sources, England’s number one is being ‘lined up’ as a successor for Lloris as the Tottenham veteran’s contract continues to run down.

If the Frenchman does end up signing extension, Conte wants a homegrown keeper regardless as he eyes a high profile candidate who can compete for the number one spot.

The Verdict: Big move…

Given the availability of another homegrown ace in Johnstone, who could move on for much cheaper, this Pickford swoop would certainly come as the more audacious move.

The 27-year-old is under contract at Goodison until 2024 and it is believed that Everton will want to make a profit on the £25 million paid to sign him from Sunderland in 2017.

This represents a gamble financially for Spurs when compared to Johnstone, who they could snap up for free in 2022, but would he be worth it?

Pickford enjoyed a phenomenal Euro 2020 campaign as one of the Three Lions’ best players, attracting praise for his heroics between the sticks.

Trevor Sinclair, speaking to talkSPORT during the tournament, described him as ‘one of the best goalkeepers in the world’ and heaped praise on the player for utilising a sports psychologist and improving his all-round game.

Meanwhile, a fellow former England international in Danny Mills raved over just how underrated Pickford can be – going on to suggest he is one ‘nobody ever talks about’ (Football Insider).

These plaudits certainly point to a player who can bolster Conte’s options, but only time will tell whether Spurs opt to invest.

In other news: ‘World class’, ‘Perfect’, ‘Winning already’…Sky pundit raves over transfer news out of Spurs, find out more here.