Former Premier League goalkeeper Paddy Kenny has urged West Ham United to add attacking options to the squad this summer. 

The lowdown: Quiet January

Despite calls from the likes of Trevor Sinclair for a striker to be added in the January transfer window, David Moyes opted against adding to the Irons’ attack and instead kept faith with Michael Antonio and his ongoing fitness issues for the remainder of the campaign.

Whilst the 31-year-old talismanic frontman remained available from mid-season onwards, the goals dried up, and as such the Hammers’ bid for Europa League glory and indeed qualification for the competition next term via the Premier League fell by the wayside.

So far this summer, the east Londoners have completed the signing of defender Nayef Aguerd from Rennes, and one onlooker has urged the club’s head of recruitment Rob Newman to focus his attention on attacking options…

The latest: Kenny makes West Ham transfer plea

Speaking to Football Insider, former Sheffield United stopper Kenny has suggested that West Ham must strengthen their attack with expensive captures in the summer transfer window.

Reacting to the £30m fee forked out for Aguerd, the 44-year-old said: “This has to become the new normal at West Ham if they are going to stay where they are. £30million needs to be the fee they are paying for a lot of their players. I’m thinking of a new striker.

“That’s what needs to happen now, that is where they have to improve. They fell away at the end of last season without having another option other than Antonio.

“That needs to change if they are going to keep competing in Europe. They have the investment so now it is time to get more bodies in. Hopefully this is the first of many big signings for them.”

The verdict: Spot on

Although the emergence of Jarrod Bowen as a goalscoring threat continues to help Antonio spearhead the attack, behind those two the next top scorer for West Ham last season was Said Benrahma with 11 goals in 50 appearances across all competitions.

Outside of Bowen and Antonio, only Sonny Perkins and Andriy Yarmolneko operated as genuine centre-forwards last term, both of whom could be on their way out of the club in the coming days as their contracts expire. Indeed, the Ukrainian’s exit has already been confirmed.

If there wasn’t already enough call for a natural centre-forward signing, this possible double exit must prompt Moyes and co into action, and links with the likes of £30m-rated Chelsea marksman Armando Broja must start to take shape if the Irons are to compete amongst the upper echelons of English football once again next season.

Nottingham Forest have been linked with a move for Dean Henderson this summer, and now a new update has emerged on the club’s progress in completing the move for the player.

What’s the latest?

According to The Daily Mail, Nottingham Forest are close to securing a deal for Manchester United goalkeeper Henderson this summer.

As per the report, Forest made the move for the ‘keeper after Brice Samba’s future at the club has been put in doubt, and Manchester United are currently finalising the details with the newly-promoted club to complete a season-long loan deal.

Both parties are keen to get the deal done this week.

Cooper will love it

Steve Cooper will love the fact that the club are acquiring players with Premier League experience to help them in their long-awaited return to the top flight, and it will definitely take the pressure off the manager in regards to Samba’s future.

Henderson has made no secret about his desire to leave Manchester United, something he expressed to the club back in January and he will surely be thrilled to get the move as his game-time has dwindled over the last season following David de Gea’s impressive form at Old Trafford.

The £120k-per-week monster who was hailed “insane” by Sander Berge, has only made five appearances in all competitions this season, including two Premier League appearances, so it is no wonder that the young keeper wants to move on to get first-team football, something Forest will be capable of providing.

Despite his snub at Manchester United this season, Henderson has proven he is more than capable of being a reliable stopper for Forest next season when you look at the opportunities where he has had a consistent run of form.

In 2020/21, he kept 13 clean sheets in 26 appearances for the Red Devils leading to a second-place finish and played a huge part in Sheffield United’s promotion to the Premier League in 2019 after conceding the joint-fewest goals in the Championship when he was on loan at the club.

With that being said, the signing of Henderson will be a major coup for Cooper and can offer invaluable experience that gives Nottingham Forest a great shot in the Premier League next season.

AND in other news: Bid made: NFFC in talks to sign “influential” £20m magician, he can be Johnson 2.0

Wolverhampton Wanderers have had their hopes of keeping Ruben Neves boosted.

What’s the word?

As per a report from Fabrizio Romano, via GIVEMESPORT, it is said that Neves could stay at Wolves after the club potentially priced him out of a move to Manchester United.

Romano believes that United may opt against negotiating for the Portugal midfielder due to Wolves’ starting price.

Speaking to GMS, Romano said: “The point is about the price because, a few weeks ago, Wolves manager Bruno Lage said in public that they want around £100m for Ruben Neves.

“They don’t see Manchester United paying that money for a single midfielder like, in this case, Ruben Neves. I’m sure that they will consider other options.”

Lage will be delighted

The latest news from Romano will come as a delight for Lage, who would majorly benefit from Neves’ stay at Molineux.

The 25-year-old is the string-puller in midfield for the Old Gold, averaging around 53.88 passes per match at a solid completion rate of 82.8%. The reason for his pass accuracy being in the early 80s in terms of percentile, is due to the types of passes he looks to make.

Despite occupying a slightly deeper role in the engine room, he is extremely progressive in his passing play, covering 1313.68 yards in total passing distance, with 14.31 long-distance passes completed per game.

6.63 of his overall passes are directed into the final third, whilst his average of 75.59 touches per 90 will not come at all as a surprise, considering his ability to dictate the play.

If Neves does stay, it will be a big victory for Wolves, and will almost feel like a new signing in itself.

It would give Lage a chance to bring in quality to surround the Portuguese and improve the team whilst sticking to a core base.

In other news: Lage could land Wolves their very own Cancelo by signing “unique” £30m machine – opinion

West Ham United insider ExWHUemployee has dropped an update regarding the club’s reported interest in Christian Eriksen…

What’s the word?

According to the trusted source, the Hammers are believed to be keen on a deal for the Danish midfielder, following reports that suggested the east Londoners have ‘made contact’ with the 30-year-old’s representatives.

Asked on Twitter if the club do in fact want to sign the playmaker, he stated: “We do but so does half the Premier League! Including Man United, Spurs and Brentford who has affiliations with”.

As alluded to above, David Moyes and co will face stiff competition for his signature, with both Manchester United and his former club Tottenham Hotspur believed to be in the running, while a return to Brentford – where he spent the last six months – is not out of the question.

Supporters buzzing

That clamour for the £18m-rated gem is unsurprising considering that he is available on a free transfer this summer, having only signed a temporary deal with the Bees upon joining the club in January, with Thomas Frank’s side offering a return to elite-level football just a matter of months after he suffered a cardiac arrest while on international duty at Euro 2020.

The use of an ICD implant as part of his recovery saw him unable to feature for former club Inter Milan due to Serie A regulations, with that eventually sparking his return to the Premier League, where he has since rubber-stamped just what a talent he is.

In just 11 outings for the west London outfit, the creative midfielder chipped in with one goal and four assists, notably netting in the club’s shock 4-1 victory over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge back in early April.

Such form served as a reminder as to the quality he had showcased in his previous spell in English football, the 6 foot menace having registered 69 goals and a further 90 assists in 305 games in all competitions while at Spurs, proving an integral cog in Mauricio Pochettino’s impressive machine that reached the Champions League final in 2019.

Having departed the Lilywhites in January 2020, Eriksen went on to claim the Scudetto under Antonio Conte during the 2020/21 campaign, with it no surprise that the Italian is seemingly keen on a reunion this summer.

As for the Hammers, however, such a deal would add undeniable quality to an area of the pitch in need of both depth and competition, with Moyes’ side currently crying out for midfield recruits following the retirement of long-serving skipper, Mark Noble.

Although they face a battle to get an agreement secured – amid the hefty rival interest – just knowing that the club is in the conversation will be of great delight to supporters, with the Hammers seemingly able to set their sights on more high-profile targets following their impressive rise in recent years.

IN other news, Moyes plotting move for “special” £45m “baller”, he’d be a “superstar” for West Ham

Newly-promoted Nottingham Forest are interested in signing Liverpool midfielder Curtis Jones this summer, according to Midlands-based journalist Trent Hutson. 

The lowdown: Liverpool prodigy

A product of the thriving youth system at Anfield, the youngster captained the club at numerous age groups whilst making his way through the ranks on Merseyside.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, the Toxteth native was fast-tracked to the first team and capped off a Merseyside derby debut to remember with a majestic strike in January 2020 whilst on a rapidly upwards trajectory, amassing 41 goals in 80 outings for the young Reds at under-18 and under-23 level.

After 73 appearances for the first-team under Jurgen Klopp, a move away could now be the next step in the 21-year-old’s development…

The latest: Forest keen on Jones

Taking to Twitter, Hutson has claimed that Forest are looking to land the England under-21 starlet on loan this summer.

The reporter stated: “I’m told #NFFC will explore the possibility of bringing Curtis Jones to the club this summer. Caution to be taken given the MAX TWO loan rule in the Premier League. Strong relationship & trust between Steve Cooper and #LFC. Cooper previously worked with Jones at England and #LFC”

The verdict: On one condition

Spending time out on loan and obtaining regular Premier League action would undoubtedly be a huge positive for Jones’ development. However, Liverpool – and Klopp in particular – must ensure that the squad allows for such a departure to take place without having an adverse impact on the playing ranks at the AXA Training Centre.

Last season, the flamboyant ace scored once and provided four assists in 27 appearances across all competitions for the Reds, starting 11 top-flight matches in the process. Those levels of involvement are unlikely to be found from other midfielders within the current squad, as Thiago, James Milner, Fabinho, Naby Keita and Jordan Henderson are already stretched to their very limits of exertion.

Far from an affront to the prospects of the youngster, who is valued at £25.2m and under contract until 2025 (Transfermarkt), the Scouser should remain an integral part of the future on the red half of Merseyside; and any loan move which may manifest itself this summer would very much be viewed as a short-term way of progressing a supremely talented individual.

Held in high regard by Steven Gerrard himself after the Anfield icon hailed Jones as a ‘top player’ during his time in charge of the under-18s, Liverpool should be reticent to sanction any exit for the talented youngster until another genuine first-team midfield option is through the door.

In other news: Liverpool now considering big-money move for ‘world class’ powerhouse, read more here

Wolves are reportedly interested in signing Vitoria de Guimaraes youngster Andre Almeida in the summer transfer window, according to a fresh rumour.

The Lowdown: Lage chasing summer additions

The 22-year-old has matured into an impressive player at his current club, making 84 appearances to date and thriving in the middle of the park.

Almeida appeared 31 times in the Primeira Liga last season and enjoyed an 86.3% pass completion rate, along with averaging 1.4 tackles per game, ranking him in the top four for both metrics at his club among anyone to start more than 12 league matches (WhoScored).

It now looks as though a summer move to Molineux could possibly be on the cards for the youngster.

The Latest: Wolves keen on Almeida

According to Jornal de Noticias [via Sport Witness], Wolves are keen on acquiring Almeida’s signature, with the midfielder valued at ‘between €4m and €6m’ (£3.4m-£5.1m), which is described as a price range that the Old Gold could easily pay.

However, Portuguese champions FC Porto are also interested in the 22-year-old, so Bruno Lage may have a battle on his hands to bring him to Molineux.

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The Verdict: He could fill a need

With Ruben Neves expected to leave Molineux this summer, and with Joao Moutinho turning 36 later this year, there is no doubt that midfield reinforcements are required.

Almeida could be ideal in that respect, proving to be an effective figure in front of the defence and allowing more attack-minded players the freedom to express themselves further forward.

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That’s not to say that the Portuguese gem is purely defensive as a midfielder, though, having averaged 1.6 dribbles per game in the league last season (second-highest at Guimaraes), and his all-round game should only improve with exposure to the Premier League.

A big Rangers claim has emerged over their budget at Ibrox during the summer transfer window… 

What’s the talk?

The Athletic’s Jordan Campbell has claimed that Ross Wilson has the money to land a major addition to the squad ahead of the 2022/23 campaign, despite the addition of Antonio Colak.

Joe Aribo is now closing in on a move south of the border and the journalist has confirmed that it will allow the club to spend more in the window.

He Tweeted: “There is a budget for a significant fee for a key player + fund other signings from Bosman/cross-border markets etc. Extra spending was always going to be from sales like Aribo.”

The reporter followed that up with: “And to answer those asking, I’m sure there would be funds left over after Colak for fees, based on what I was told. Aribo moving for good money will free up more funds, though, and that should allow Rangers to reinvest in several positions. Then it is a test of the model…”

Supporters will be buzzing

This update will leave supporters buzzing as it suggests that they could be in for a thrilling end to the window, with Wilson potentially looking to bolster the team with a ‘significant’ deal for a player.

The Light Blues chief has until the end of August to get business done and his work may now be accelerated by the prospective sale of Aribo to Southampton. He will leave a huge gap in Gio van Bronckhorst’s squad and an attacking midfielder may now be a position on the club’s radar.

Supporters will be excited by the potential of a big figure being spent on a signing as the last player the club brought in for a fee in excess of £5m was Ryan Kent.

The English winger has been a huge success since arriving at the club as he played a major role in the team’s 2020/21 Premiership title success. He produced an outstanding ten goals and nine assists in the Scottish top-flight to help Steven Gerrard’s team to the trophy, averaging a SofaScore rating of 7.23.

Kent followed that up with a whopping 20 assists in all competitions in the 2021/22 campaign. The 25-year-old has proven himself to be a key player for the club and this shows the level of quality Rangers can bring in by spending big money.

Of course, that does not mean that they are guaranteed to land a good player as they still need to pick suitable targets to fit van Bronckhorst’s system. For now, though, the fans will be buzzing by the prospect of another ‘significant’ deal coming in.

AND in other news, Rangers can land Jack 2.0 by signing £20m gem who “dominates”, he’s “one of the best”…

Arsenal have been outlined as frontrunners for Ajax’s versatile defender Lisandro Martinez.

What’s the word?

That’s according to talkSPORT, who report that Arsenal have brushed aside Manchester United in pursuit of the Argentine.

The Gunners have tabled a bid worth £35m and are awaiting a response from Ajax.

They have been long-time admirers of the 24-year-old and will be pleased to get this deal done sooner rather than later, with United still sniffing around.

The news comes with Arsenal now on the verge of signing Manchester City’s Gabriel Jesus.

Arteta will love him

Mikel Arteta will delight in getting the deal done for this battle-hardened South American, who, similarly to Takehiro Tomiyasu, can play across the backline and also midfield.

Standing at just 5 foot 9, the Argentina international does not shirk a tackle. He sits in the 99th percentile for tackles and progressive passes per 90, combined with a 93% pass completion rate.

Clearly, he is a forward-thinking defender, hence his ability to deputise in midfield.

He could provide healthy competition for multiple Arsenal players due to his versatility and could prove a perfect midfield partner for Granit Xhaka, or the perfect centre-back partner for Benjamin White.

His average SofaScore rating sits at a remarkable 7.61, which is only bested by Dusan Tadic amongst his Ajax teammates. He seems ready for a step up, and Arsenal could be the perfect springboard to bring his talents to England.

The £28.8m-rated stopper has drawn praise for these kinds of performances, notably from scout Jacek Kulig who dubbed him “elegant” and at just 24-years-old he still has his entire career in front of him.

He also managed to grab four goal contributions this season, so marks himself out as a real all-rounder who can get forward, marshal the midfield, and put a tackle in.

Back when he managed him, Erik ten Hag dubbed him an “excellent player” just under a year ago. This would explain United’s interest and would make it even sweeter if Arteta could push this deal through.

He would add a bit of bite to a relatively soft Arsenal side, and that is why Edu Gaspar would play a masterclass by completing this deal as soon as possible.

AND, in other news: David Ornstein drops big Arsenal transfer update that’ll leave supporters gutted.

The Rangers Review and Sky Sports journalist Joshua Barrie has revealed some ‘significant’ Glasgow Rangers transfer news he has now been ‘told’.

The Lowdown: Aribo chase

As per The Scottish Sun, Nottingham Forest have jumped ahead in the chase to sign Joe Aribo this summer, while Fulham, Crystal Palace and Aston Villa are also thought to be interested in his signature.

The Nigeria international only has one year left on his contract at Ibrox, leaving his future uncertain going into the new season.

The Latest: Barrie update

Taking to Twitter, Barrie has given an update on Aribo, revealing that the club are ‘relaxed’ about his contract situation, but are ‘confident’ that they can make a ‘significant’ profit on him amid ‘interest’ from the Premier League:

“Regarding Joe Aribo I’m told that Rangers are relaxed about his contract situation. There is interest from the Premier League, but I understand the club remain confident they can make a significant profit for Aribo in this window. In keeping with the player trading model.”

The Verdict: Frustrating

Although the Gers could make a good profit on Aribo, they seem resigned to selling him this window if the price is right, which will surely come as a frustration to the supporters.

They will want to keep their best players going into the new term, as they look to wrestle the Scottish Premiership title off of the hands of their bitter rivals Celtic.

Aribo was among their top four performers in both the SPFL and the UEFA Europa League last campaign, and so the 25-year-old would not be easy to replace.

Arsenal have reportedly made a move for Atletico Madrid striker Alvaro Morata, according to reports coming out of Italy.

What’s the word?

As per TuttoMercatoWeb, the La Liga side have ‘received an offer’ for the Spaniard from the Gunners, with Mikel Arteta and co hoping to steal a march on Serie A giants Juventus, who are believed to be keen on securing a permanent deal for the 29-year-old.

The 56-cap gem has spent the last two seasons on loan in Turin – having also previously enjoyed two years with the Italian outfit after signing from Real Madrid in 2014 – with his total record for the club now standing at 59 goals and 39 assists in 185 appearances in all competitions.

There are, however, said to be ‘economic differences’ between Max Allegri’s side and the forward’s parent club, with that uncertainty potentially allowing the Emirates outfit the chance to pounce for the £125k-per-week ace.

Disaster

Signing a new centre-forward has seemingly become something of a priority for sporting director, Edu, with the north Londoners having seen Alexandre Lacazette return to Lyon on a free transfer this summer, while former skipper Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang joined Barcelona in January.

The recent confirmation that academy product Eddie Nketiah has signed a new long-term extension at the club has helped to ease the blow of those departures, although it would seem that the 22-year-old alone cannot shoulder the goalscoring burden alone.

Having also been linked with Manchester City’s Gabriel Jesus, it would seem that Morata is one of the names on the club’s attacking shortlist, albeit with it somewhat questionable as to the wisdom of signing a player who has already underwhelmed in English football.

The £22.5m-rated marksman previously endured a difficult spell at London rivals Chelsea, having joined the club in a then club-record £60m deal from Los Blancos in 2017.

The two-time Champions League winner went on to score just 24 goals and provide just six assists in 72 games in all competitions during his confidence-sapping stint at Stamford Bridge, with his knack for missing chances and all-round woes seeing the move categorised as something of a “disaster” – in the words of the player himself.

While he has proven his talent at other top European clubs – earning praise for his “composed” finishing from journalist Josh Bunting – it is hard to shake what was such a dire 18-month period with the Blues, with Arteta not wanting to replicate previous mistakes by bringing in another former Chelsea man.

The arrivals of the likes of David Luiz and Willian previously proved notable costly errors, with the Gunners boss potentially better served identifying a younger, hungrier alternative this summer.

IN other news, Arsenal now plotting record-breaking bid for £100m gem, he’d be a “superstar” signing