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Journalist Roshane Thomas was critical of Gianluca Scamacca’s ‘underwhelming’ performance in West Ham United’s defeat away to Manchester United in the Premier League.

The Lowdown: West Ham beaten at Old Trafford

The Hammers made the trip to Old Trafford on Sunday, looking to continue their improved recent form after the 2-0 win at home to Bournemouth six days ago.

Unfortunately, it proved to be a disappointing 90 minutes for David Moyes’ side, who lost 1-0 as Marcus Rashford’s header seven minutes before half-time ultimately secured the points for Erik ten Hag’s men.

Scamacca started proceedings against Man United but flattered to deceive with his performance, failing to have the desired impact in the final third.

The Latest: Thomas critical of Scamacca’s showing

Taking to Twitter, Thomas was critical of the Italian’s display at Old Trafford, as the 23-year-old continues to blow hot and cold in the absence of Lucas Paqueta.

The Athletic reporter stated:

“West Ham miss Paqueta. He provided creativity and service to Scamacca. He’s been underwhelming in the last three games and it’s mainly due to Paqueta’s absence.”

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The Verdict: Need more from him

Scamacca arrived as such an exciting, big-money summer signing for £35.5m, but it’s fair to say that he hasn’t fully convinced yet, only scoring twice in the league in 11 appearances.

Against Man United, the 23-year-old was too often on the periphery of the game, only having 18 touches of the ball, completing a mere nine passes and winning none of his four ground duels prior to being hauled off by David Moyes just 12 minutes into the second half.

While some signings can often take time to grow into their new surroundings, much more is needed from Scamacca before the World Cup – as pointed out by Thomas, the absence of Paqueta to injury certainly hasn’t helped the Italian’s cause.

European giants Barcelona are attempting to lure Chelsea midfielder Jorginho and have entered talks with the Italy international, according to reports.

The Lowdown: Potter era underway…

In his first 11 games as Blues manager, Graham Potter has lost just once in all competitions, with that defeat coming recently against his former club Brighton.

The Premier League big-hitters are aiming to propel themselves back among England’s most elite teams whilst potentially sealing a Champions League qualification place for next season.

This next 12 months could see a considerable transitional phase at Stamford Bridge, not least with big-name stars like N’Golo Kante and Jorginho now into the final year of their respective deals.

The Latest: Barcelona in Jorginho talks…

The Italy international, who has been a regular for Chelsea in recent years, is unsurprisingly attracting serious interest amid his contract situation.

It is reported by Sport (via Sport Witness) that Barcelona have entered talks with the player over potentially moving to Camp Nou upon the expiry of his deal at Stamford Bridge in 2023,

Potter risks losing Jorginho, with Barca reportedly ‘waiting to finalise the agreement’, and it’s added that Blaugrana boss Xavi is a personal fan of the 30-year-old.

The Verdict: Worry for Potter?

Across his 11 league appearances this season, Jorginho has averaged Chelsea’s fourth-highest rate of tackles per 90 in the top flight, which shows just how integral he can be in front of the back four (WhoScored).

He can also be a force going forward, having bagged three goals already this season, with the holding midfielder being hailed as ‘world class’ by former Liverpool defender Jose Enrqiue.

Losing him for nothing would also be a financial blow to Chelsea owner Todd Boehly and the Stamford Bridge board, so these transfer links could be worrying for Potter.

Arsenal have had a storming first few months of the season so far, racing to the top of the Premier League table while qualifying for the Europa League knockout stages.

With the World Cup causing an enforced hiatus of the domestic game, thoughts will turn to the January transfer market, with Mikel Arteta keen on bolstering his squad.

The club have reportedly placed a bid for winger Mykhaylo Mudryk while the Spaniard will also be looking at some midfield cover for Thomas Partey and Martin Odegaard, with Brazilian prodigy Danilo high on the list.

Speaking to Football FanCast, journalist Pete O’Rourke discussed the possibility of signing Danilo:

“So bringing in someone like Danilo would be a smart signing because as you said, there’s not much cover if Thomas Partey was to get injured or Martin Odegaard as well,” he said.

“So I think it’s definitely an area of the team that Arteta would really like to strengthen, Danilo does seem to be a long-term target for Arsenal.”

Palmeiras have set an asking price of €35m (£30m) for the player, yet this could prove to be a bargain in the long term, plus, Arteta can finally ditch Albert Sambi Lokonga.

The Belgian has been poor this season for the club, averaging a SofaScore rating of 6.75 in his six league matches, taking just 26.7 touches on average per game.

Danilo on the other hand has continued to go from strength to strength, with the 21-year-old playing 33 league matches for the Brazilian side, chipping in with three goal contributions.

Not only that, but the youngster constantly demands the ball, taking 51.3 touches on average each match while also playing 0.8 key passes per game, showcasing his creative abilities and this could be key for Arteta.

He doesn’t shirk his defensive responsibilities either, averaging 2.1 tackles, 0.8 interceptions, and 0.9 clearances per match, meaning he has the required maturity to dig deep and assist his teammates when the going gets tough.

For a player of his talent, £30m feels very much like a steal and although he missed out on the Brazil World Cup squad, this could well work in Arsenal’s favour as the January transfer window races into view.

Celtic are reportedly open to allowing midfielder James McCarthy to depart in January, with the Republic of Ireland international having failed to make an impact at Parkhead to date.

What’s the word?

Reports at the end of last month suggested that the Old Firm outfit are keen to move on the 32-year-old in the winter window, with the playmaker seemingly not part of manager Ange Postecoglou’s plans having struggled for game time of late.

The former Crystal Palace man – who arrived in Glasgow on a free transfer in the summer of 2021 – could well prove difficult to shift, however, with his existing deal at the club set to run until 2025.

Journalist Pete O’Rourke – in an interview with Football FanCast – has now given his thoughts regarding a potential departure for the 42-cap dud, with the transfer insider suggesting that the best scenario for all concerned could well be an exit.

Asked whether the experienced asset has been a disastrous signing for the Hoops, the reliable source stated: “I wouldn’t say it’s a disaster. Obviously, the move hasn’t worked out for either party really.

“James McCarthy just hasn’t been given enough minutes and when he has played he’s maybe not performed at his best level either, as well. So it’s probably looking like a parting of the ways is the best for both parties in this one.”

Ruthlessly ditch

As O’Rourke alluded too, it could well be that time is up for the £14k-per-week dud at Celtic Park, with McCarthy having been unable to establish himself in the side over the past year or so at his boyhood club.

Now something of a forgotten man with the Bhoys, the one-time Everton star has made just 27 appearances for his current side over the past 12 months or so, with only six of those outings having come from the start.

This season, in particular, has proven somewhat frustrating as far as the player is concerned, with the 5 foot 11 brute having made just five substitute appearances in all competitions, totalling only 62 minutes of action.

The arrival of the likes of Oliver Abildgaard and Aaron Mooy have only served to shunt the ageing talent further down the pecking order, with even the injury absence of captain Callum McGregor having failed to lead to a more prominent role for McCarthy.

The Glasgow-born ace has seen his woes compounded of late after suffering a “significant” injury, in the words of his manager, with the hope being that such an issue won’t prevent an exit, with Celtic likely keen to get the peripheral asset of the wage bill.

While it may not be easy to find a suitor for the player, Postecoglou and co simply need to be ruthless and ditch the midfield maestro sooner rather than later.

Sheffield Wednesday midfielder Dennis Adeniran is ‘almost ready’ to return to action, according to journalist Joe Crann.

The Lowdown: Adeniran undergoes surgery

The League One star sustained an injury during the emphatic 5-0 victory over Forest Green Rovers back in August and hasn’t featured since as a result of having to undergo surgery.

Darren Moore recently admitted that the 23-year-old was close to getting back on the field, and after the Owls shared a photo of him on the pitches on Tuesday, it looks like we could be seeing him in action at Hillsborough very soon.

The Latest: Crann’s fitness update

Taking to Twitter, Crann revealed that Adeniran has now returned to training and suggested that it won’t be long before he will be deemed fully fit to be involved. He wrote:

“Dennis Adeniran back on the grass for #SWFC… Really pleased to see he’s almost ready to get playing again.”

The Verdict: Boost for Moore

Adeniran isn’t likely to be thrown straight back in at the deep end considering the severity and time scale of his injury, but it will be a huge boost for Moore to have him available for selection again.

The Southwark-born talent made three goal contributions in just two Carabao Cup games prior to his absence and was averaging 2.5 shots and two dribbles per 90 minutes (WhoScored).

Whilst Wednesday are out of this tournament now, they are still in the FA Cup so these fixtures will provide Adeniran with the perfect opportunity to get some minutes under his belt as he prepares to make his league comeback.

Newcastle United could reportedly be set to make a fresh approach for Watford sensation Joao Pedro in January, with the Magpies having been unable to strike an agreement in the summer.

What’s the word?

According to Football Insider, the Tynesiders are said to have “concrete” interest in signing the 21-year-old in the winter window, with Eddie Howe and co having been ‘closely monitoring’ his progress at Vicarage Road this season.

The St James’ Park outfit had failed to bring in the Brazilian ace during the summer despite launching a reported £30m bid for the youngster, while fellow Premier League side Everton having also been interested in a move at the time.

As per this latest report, it remains to be seen if the Hornets will cash in this time around, with the Championship said to view the former Fluminese sensation as a ‘key player’ in their bid for promotion.

‘Incredible’ for Howe

Howe and co have seemingly been unperturbed by being knocked back in the recent window, with it looking as if Newcastle have their eyes firmly set on the 6-foot menace to help bolster their attacking options.

The “incredible” talent – as described by former boss Rob Edwards – is no doubt an attractive option as far as the top-four hopefuls are concerned as a result of both his top-flight experience, but also his invaluable versatility, with the youngster having the ability to feature on the flanks or in a centre-forward berth.

Despite his relative youth, the £12.5k-per-week man has already racked up 91 appearances for his current side since arriving in England from his homeland back in January 2020, scoring 19 goals and providing seven assists in that time.

While now competing in the second tier after last season’s relegation – in which he made five goal involvements across all fronts – the explosive marksman has showcased his quality in the early months of the campaign, registering six goals and two assists in just 17 league games.

A fluid and dynamic attacking threat, Pedro seemingly offers more than just a goalscoring touch, helping to drive his side forward and initiate attacks with his dribbling prowess, as he notably ranks in the top 10% among those in his position outside of Europe’s top five leagues in that metric, as per FBref.

The promising forward was only recently lauded by current boss Slaven Bilic for his display in the win over Luton Town at the end of last month, with the former Croatian international stating:

“Both Pedro and Davis were great, but Pedro was wow. I said to my staff that still we don’t really know him, but for such a young kid to have that kind of ability, that composure and that special something about him is amazing.”

That glowing assessment is an indication of just why the fleet-footed star is so highly-coveted at present, with it a truly exciting thought as to the havoc that he could unleash under Howe’s tutelage at St James’ Park.

Manchester City have reportedly offered Bernardo Silva a new contract at the Etihad Stadium. 

The Lowdown: Silva previously linked with exit

The midfielder was heavily linked with a move away from the Manchester club during the previous summer transfer window.

Despite links to Barcelona, Silva, who is currently involved in the World Cup with Portugal, ended up staying with Pep Guardiola’s side.

With domestic football on hold to make way for the tournament in Qatar, it seems as though some behind-the-scenes movement has been made at City regarding Silva.

The Latest: City offer Silva a new contract

According to a recent report from Football Insider, the Citizens have offered Silva a new contract to keep him at the club after Guardiola recently extended his stay at the Etihad.

The report also adds that this proposed deal with the Portuguese international is believed to be worth more than £40 million in total.

The Verdict: A smart move from City

Since joining the Manchester club from AS Monaco back in 2017, the midfielder has scored 50 goals and provided 56 assists in 273 appearances across all competitions.

In the Premier League, only three outfield City players have racked up more minutes than Silva this season, which shows how important he is to Guardiola and the team.

Across his 14 league appearances, the 28-year-old has scored two goals and delivered five assists, leaving only Kevin de Bruyne (9) with more assists.

Then from a defensive point of view, only Joao Cancelo (45) and Rodri (40) have a higher combined total of tackles and interceptions than Silva (29).

Having been praised for his “phenomenal” performances for City in the past by journalist Henry Winter, it’s safe to say that the midfielder is an integral player for the club.

Taking all of this into account, it’s easy to see why the club are looking to tie Silva down to a new contract and keep him in the squad, which we feel would be a very smart move.

West Ham have potentially been dealt another injury blow ahead of the Premier League’s resumption later this month, with Nayef Aguerd forced off in Morocco’s World Cup triumph over Spain.

While the Hammers returned to action at Cambridge, their summer signing was in action in Qatar, and played a big part in the Atlas Lions securing their spot in the quarter-finals, where they will face Portugal on Saturday.

No country at the World Cup has conceded fewer than Morocco, with their one goal conceded actually scored by Aguerd in the 2-1 win over Canada, which emphasises just how impressive he has been in defence.

David Moyes will perhaps have secretly been wishing that the centre-back had been knocked out earlier so he could return to London fully fit ahead of the upcoming Christmas schedule, but he will surely be gutted after watching the £30m signing limp off in Tuesday’s penalty shootout win.

The 26-year-old left the pitch in tears holding his groin after around 80 minutes, which will have the Hammers seriously concerned about his ability to feature in their upcoming games, with a tricky game against table-toppers Arsenal to come on Boxing Day.

This blow represents incredibly bad news for the club’s Scottish boss. Considering Kurt Zouma is also currently sidelined after undergoing surgery on his knee, West Ham look as if they will once again be short of centre-back options, having been plagued by injuries in their defence throughout 2022.

All eyes will be on Morocco’s quarter-final game on Saturday to see if Aguerd is fit to feature, as he will likely have scans this week to see if he is available, although, given the importance of the game, he will surely do everything he can to play.

This is also unlikely to benefit West Ham, as while the centre-back wouldn’t normally be risked after a potential muscle injury, this is the World Cup, the grandest of stages for any footballer. Indeed, he could make matters far worse by playing at the weekend.

The former Rennes star, who was dubbed “very good” by Moyes after his debut in a friendly against Reading, has already struggled with injury issues this season, making just one substitute appearance in the top flight, and it seems as if he will now be waiting even longer for his first start in the Premier League.

Newcastle United transfer target Joao Felix is prepared to leave Atletico Madrid next year, according to Fabrizio Romano.

The Lowdown: Newcastle eyeing Felix

Earlier this month, Atletico’s CEO, Gil Marin, revealed that the club will consider bids to sell the Portuguese international.

It was then reported that Felix’s agent, Jorge Mendes, is set to fly into the UK for talks with Newcastle – amongst others – regarding the Atletico star ahead of the upcoming January transfer window.

Now, Romano has shared some behind-the-scenes details regarding Felix and what the future could hold for him.

The Latest: Felix to leave Atletico

In a recent Twitter post, Romano had this to say on the situation surrounding Felix and his future.

“Joao Felix, prepared to leave Atletico Madrid in 2023. He’s open to a new experience and so there are concrete chances to make the move in January. Atletico try to ask more than €100m for Joao. Mendes, discussing with many clubs.” 

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The Verdict: Go for it!

Having started four of Portugal’s recent World Cup games in Qatar, the 23-year-old scored one goal, delivered two assists and earned himself the third-highest overall performance rating (7.1/10) in the squad, according to WhoScored.

This backs up why journalist Nick Cantor described his performances in Qatar as “electric” on Twitter.

At club level, in addition to scoring three goals and supplying three assists across 12 La Liga appearances this season, Felix has also made more goal-creating actions (5) than any other Atletico player as well as having the third-highest rate of shots at goal per 90 minutes (3.33).

Taking all of this into account, even though the Spanish club may look to pick up a significant transfer fee for him, Newcastle should definitely consider a move to make Felix their first truly marquee signing under PIF.

Journalist Pete O’Rourke has claimed that signing Atletico Madrid striker Matheus Cunha would be a ‘big coup’ for Leeds United.

The Lowdown: Contact made

As per 90min, Leeds, as well as Aston Villa and Everton, have made contact with Cunha’s representatives over a potential move, and are ‘actively trying’ to strike a deal for him in the January transfer window.

Cunha is interested in working with Wolves boss Julen Lopetegui, but ‘sources’ have claimed that he wants to explore all of his options before making a final decision on his future.

His entourage have also offered him to Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester United and Newcastle United, and Atletico are desperate to offload Cunha’s wages, and would be prepared to sanction a loan deal.

The Latest: Cunha a ‘big coup’

Speaking to GiveMeSport, O’Rourke has claimed that signing Cunha would be a ‘big coup’ for Jesse Marsch’s side:

“It’d be a big coup if they could land Matheus Cunha, who does seem like he is available. There’s going to be big competition for his signature. We’ve already seen the likes of Wolves and Aston Villa strongly linked with him.”

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The Verdict: Get it done

It has recently been reported that it is not clear how long Patrick Bamford is going to be out for with injury, meaning that the Whites need to strengthen their striker options in January.

Lauded as a player who is ‘very fast’, with ‘great technical skills’, ‘unpredictable gameplay’ and an ‘excellent goal instinct’ by his former boss Maurizio Jacobacci, Cunha showed early promise as a teenager at FC Sion, where he managed seven goals and four assists in 15 games under the Swiss (Transfermarkt).

Once hailed as ‘something special‘ by former Hertha Berlin head coach Bruno Labbadia, the Brazilian continued his impressive streak in Germany, managing 23 goal contributions in 40 games (Transfermarkt), while at RB Leipzig, he managed a further nine goals and three assists (Transfermarkt).

Cunha has not been able to reach the same heights at Atletico, failing to find the back of the net so far this term, but there is no doubt that the talent is still there.

If Marsch puts an arm around his shoulder on the pitch, then we could see the best of Cunha again, if the Peacocks are able to bring him to Elland Road.