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Liverpool have been credited with an interest in a long-term midfield target as manager Jurgen Klopp looks to complete his transfer activity and ensure his club is well-placed for an auspicious season.

What's the latest on Liverpool's midfield hunt?

Following a report from Anfield Watch, the Reds are considering a move for Wolverhampton Wanderers midfielder Matheus Nunes, having agreed a £44m fee for the former Sporting Lisbon before his move to Molineux.

Read the latest Liverpool transfer news HERE…

Liverpool have prioritised a No. 6 this summer and still scour the market after failing to sign both Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia, with both joining Premier League rivals Chelsea.

However, given the mass exodus at Anfield, there is likely room for Nunes to join, and the Merseyside team could complete their rebuild by belatedly making a swoop.

How good is Matheus Nunes?

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola once heralded Nunes as "one of the best midfielders in the world", and while this seemed perhaps somewhat heightened praise, he has glistened in the centre of the Old Gold midfield since joining last year.

Indeed, the Portugal ace made 34 appearances in the Premier League last season, completing 82% of his passes, making two tackles per match and succeeding with 61% of his attempted dribbles.

While the 24-year-old might've taken some time to acclimatise to the rigours of English football last season, he kicked the current campaign off with aplomb, earning a Sofascore rating of 7.40 as Wolves narrowly fell to defeat against Manchester United at Old Trafford, incredibly winning 14 of his 24 ground duels, making five interceptions and three tackles, and creating two key passes.

This all-engulfing midfield display epitomises exactly what Klopp needs from his midfield, with such tenacity and intensity likely combatting the crux of last year's issues, where the Reds' sapped midfield failed to adequately protect the defence.

It brought shades of former Liverpool star Gini Wijnaldum, with the Dutchman hailed as "irreplaceable" by Richard Jolly after playing his industrious role superlatively at Anfield after signing from Newcastle United for £25m in 2016, making 237 appearances, yet only scoring 22 goals and supplying 16 assists, keeping things tidy with an infallible passing prowess, never falling below an 87% success rate.

Nunes only scored one goal and assist apiece last season, with his skills also lying outside the plundering of direct goal contributions, but given that he ranks among the top 18% of midfielders across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for progressive carries and the top 6% for successful take-ons per 90, as per FBref, he is clever in possession.

Just like his 87-cap Netherlands counterpart, Nunes could be "perfect" under Klopp's stewardship, as Wijnaldum was once lauded by his former Liverpool manager, and his acquisition could restore the cohesiveness of the side.

Once praised as "unbelievable" by ex-teammate Goncalo Santos, Nunes would be a credit to the Liverpool side, and given that Klopp and co have clearly done their homework on the £85k-per-week maestro, he could slot into the system without seam.

Arsenal and Fulham have been facing off against one another for over a century since their first meeting in an FA Cup tie all the way back in February 1904, a game the north Londoners – then Woolwich Arsenal – won 3-2.

Football FanCast has everything you need to know as the two teams prepare to meet again in the Premier League.

Despite playing just two games of the new campaign, it's the Gunners that come into the tie in slightly better form, having won against both Nottingham Forest and Crystal Palace. However, the nervy way those games concluded could give the Cottagers some encouragement.

For their part, the west Londoners kick-started their season with a brilliant 1-0 win away to Everton before succumbing to Brentford 3-0 on Saturday, losing Tim Ream to a red card in the process.

Arsenal vs Fulham: What's their head-to-head record?

Arsenal and Fulham have met 61 times since that initial clash in 1904, perhaps less often than people would've assumed. There have been some fairly large periods in which the two teams haven't met, like between 1915 and 1949, and 1968 and 2001.

The fixture has been heavily dominated by the Gunners throughout its history, with the men in red winning over two-thirds of games and drawing more than they've lost.

• Arsenal wins: 42
• Draws: 11
• Fulham wins: 8

Arsenal vs Fulham: What's their record at Highbury/Emirates Stadium?

Arsenal have hosted their west London opponents 31 times over the years and have been utterly dominant when doing so. They've won 25 games at home – including one south of the river.

For their efforts, Fulham have managed to come away with a point on eight separate occasions, most recently in April 2021 – but have yet to record a victory when travelling to Arsenal.

It's been an incredibly one-sided affair at the home of the Gunners and helps to explain the lopsided nature of this fixture's results.

• Arsenal wins: 25
• Draws: 6
• Fulham wins: 0

Arsenal vs Fulham: What's their record at Craven Cottage?

Fulham have had a better time of things when at home, winning eight of the 30 games played at Craven Cottage and drawing a further five.

However, the Gunners again dominate, even when away from their place. Their 17 wins are over double what their hosts have managed over the years, and so even though there is a better chance of a Fulham win, the odds remain in Arsenal's favour in west London.

• Fulham wins: 8
• Draws: 5
• Arsenal wins: 17

Arsenal vs Fulham: What's their Premier League record?

The two teams have faced off 32 times since the inception of the Premier League, and unsurprisingly, it's three-time champions Arsenal that have been utterly dominant in that period. The north Londoners have won 23 of those meetings and drawn six.

However, Fulham have had at least some success since their first Premier League meeting in September 2001, achieving three victories, the last of which came in January 2012 courtesy of goals from Steve Sidwell and Bobby Zamora.

That said, since 2012, it has been one-way traffic, with Arsenal winning eight out of ten games and drawing only twice to take 26 of the 30 points on offer.

Arsenal vs Fulham: Which team has the most goals?

Given the sheer level of dominance when it comes to results, it shouldn't come as much of a surprise to hear that it's a similar story with the number of goals scored as well.

In their 61 meetings, the Gunners have managed to put away 136 goals, with the Cottagers only being able to reply with 66 of their own.

Unfortunately for Fulham, it doesn't get any better at home either, with the side scoring just 38 goals to Arsenal's 59.

When Arsenal host, it's been a barrage of goals from the home side. In 31 games, they've scored a massive 77 goals, whilst Fulham have only responded with 28 of their own – a ratio of 2.85 Arsenal goals for every Cottagers goal.

Arsenal vs Fulham: What happened in last season's fixtures?

Mikel Arteta's men won both fixtures against Marco Silva's outfit last season, and whilst the second game was a walk in the park, the encounter at the Emirates was a much tighter affair than many expected.

It was Fulham that opened the scoring in the second half, with Serbian striker Aleksandar Mitrovic finding the back of the net on 56 minutes – stunning the Islington crowd.

However, it took just eight minutes for the hosts to respond thanks to a deflected shot from captain Martin Odegaard which trickled past former Gunner Bernd Leno in goal.

The following 20 minutes saw sustained pressure from the home side until Gabriel Magalhaes lashed home the winner from a corner on 86 minutes.

The return fixture was a far more relaxing affair for the Arsenal faithful as the team found themselves 3-0 to the good by half-time thanks to a hat-trick of assists from January signing Leandro Trossard.

It was a goalless affair in the second 45, as with the match all but sewn up, there was no need to push their luck. Silva will be hoping his side can enact some revenge this weekend and come away with at least a point this time around.

Arsenal vs Fulham: What is Gabriel Martinelli's record?

Not many players in the current Arsenal squad have played many games against the Cottagers, as Arteta has completely overhauled the squad following his arrival in late 2019.

That said, Martinelli has a good record against Fulham, having played three games against the side, winning two of them, drawing one and scoring in the team's 3-0 demolition of the side earlier this year.

Arsenal vs Fulham: What is Raul Jimenez's record?

Jimenez has faced the Gunners eight times in his career, all in the Premier League for his former side Wolverhampton Wanderers.

In those eight games, he has emerged on the victorious side twice, with one point another two times and leaving empty-handed on four occasions. The 32-year-old has scored one goal and provided one assist for his teammates in those eight games.

However, with no goal or assist against Arsenal in his last five games against them, Fulham probably shouldn't expect too much from the Mexico international.

Arsenal vs Fulham: What is Arsenal's biggest win?

Arsenal's record win over Fulham is 5-1 – a result they have managed twice in their 61 meetings with their London rivals.

The first instance was a home game in the old First Division that saw inside forward Doug Lishman score a hat-trick alongside goals from Alex Forbes and Peter Goring back in the 1950/51 campaign.

Of course, most Arsenal fans will have a far better memory of the game at Craven Cottage in October 2018, when Unai Emery was still in the dugout.

Despite taking the lead on 29 minutes thanks to a strike from Alexandre Lacazette, the two sides went in on level terms at half-time following a 44th-minute equaliser from Andre Schurrle.

The second half was a total rout, however, with the Gunners playing some incredibly silky football and putting another four past Marcus Bettinelli to no reply.

Both Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Lacazette scored a brace that day, but Aaron Ramsey's goal is perhaps remembered most fondly for the outstanding build-up play and passing that led to it.

Arsenal vs Fulham: What is Fulham's biggest win?

Despite often being on the losing end of encounters with their cross-city rivals, Fulham has actually got the biggest win out of the two sides, and it came all the way back in November 1913 when both teams were in the old Second Division.

It was the first league encounter between the two sides after Arsenal had beaten the Cottagers 3-2 in the FA Cup nine years earlier, and it ended 6-1 to the home side in front of a crowd of around 35,000 fans.

Arsenal vs Fulham: What are the recent results?

Across the last six meetings between these two sides, it has been all Arsenal. The most recent game – taking place in mid-March – finished 3-0 to the visiting Gunners and was a completely one-sided affair from start to finish.

The game prior to that was a more tightly contested encounter, with Arsenal relying on an 86th-minute winner to claim all three points.

However, the match before that – in April 2021 – ended in a draw thanks to a 59th-minute penalty from Josh Maja and an incredibly late 90th-minute equaliser from Eddie Nketiah.

Arsenal vs Fulham: When is it?

Arsenal host Fulham on Saturday 26th August at 3pm UK time. Whilst it might not be one of the most prominent fixtures in the league, it is still a London derby and one that both sides will be desperate to win for very different reasons.

The Gunners go into it with two wins under their belt, however, with tactical changes being made by Arteta, they haven't looked anywhere near their flowing best and will look to make a statement with a big home win in front of their supporters.

It'll also be the perfect opportunity for Kai Havertz to justify his hefty price tag to the Arsenal faithful after failing to register a goal or assist in his first two league games.

On the other hand, Fulham will be looking to bounce back from their defeat to Brentford and maintain their push to stay in the top flight for another year.

The Cottagers, too, have a new signing that will be looking to prove his worth to the wider league in Raul Jimenez. The Mexican has come in to fill the void of Mitrovic, who has joined Saudi Pro League outfit Al-Hilal.

The ex-Wolves ace will have to perform brilliantly to get anything out of this Arsenal team at home.

With both clubs looking nervously at either end of the table, this clash should be an exciting one to watch and could be precisely what the sides need to springboard their respective campaigns.

While Newcastle United appear to be done and dusted during the 2023 transfer window, Eddie Howe is still mulling over fresh faces to bolster his thriving outfit in the future.

Having qualified for the Champions League with a fourth-placed Premier League finish last term, the Magpies have worked diligently on the transfer front this summer to ensure that the squad is ready for European football and a challenge to emulate last year's feats.

Sandro Tonali, Harvey Barnes, Tino Livramento and Lewis Hall have all been added to the first team, and while the spending is ostensibly complete, one exciting star remains of a vested interest.

What's the latest Newcastle transfer news?

According to i news, Newcastle are plotting their next move and have identified Athletic Bilbao's Nico Williams, with the 21-year-old 'under consideration' for a swoop when Financial Fair Play (FFP) regulations permit.

Read the latest Newcastle transfer news HERE…

Believed to hold a £42m release clause in his contract, Williams is now in the final year of his contract, and Howe could soon land his man on a cut-price deal.

How good is Nico Williams?

Although Williams is only young, he has already captured the awe of the masses in Basque Country and has been praised for his "daring" approach on the pitch by former manager Marcelinho.

Last season, the eight-cap Spain star scored nine goals and supplied six assists from 43 matches across all competitions as he dazzled in his wide attacking role, receiving praise for his ability in 1v1 situations, pace, and progressive nature.

This is showcased through his ranking among the top 5% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for progressive carries and the top 10% for successful take-ons per 90, as per FBref, and, as such, Howe could have his hands on the next version of Allan Saint-Maximin by securing the winger's signature.

Saint-Maximin departed St. James' Park for £23m in July after forging 124 appearances for the Magpies, posting just 13 goals and 21 assists.

The 26-year-old ranks among the top 14% of positional peers for assists, and the top 1% for progressive carries and successful take-ons per 90, and has also been dubbed a "wizard" by journalist Graeme Bailey for his brilliant, fleet-footed displays on the pitch.

Alas, the 26-year-old never quite ignited the kind of cutting edge that Howe covets, which is evidenced through his Tyneside exit and the subsequent £39m signing of Harvey Barnes, who scored 13 Premier League goals last term and ranks among the top 5% of positional peers for goals per 90.

However, given Williams' youthful age and inexperience, Howe will likely feel he can craft a refined version of the Magpie fan favourite by nurturing the whiz to the fore, maintaining his blistering pace and dribbling skills while adding goals and assists with regularity.

Described as a "sensation" by journalist Shina Oludare, Howe is wise to get in on the action, and while this is a transfer that likely will not occur over the next week, the winter transfer market could prove to be a tantalising time indeed as the burgeoning Premier League side assess their next move.

Nottingham Forest made headlines on transfer deadline day when they announced a total of seven new incomings to their squad.

Among the new arrivals was Belgian international and former Liverpool forward, Divock Origi, who has joined the City Ground on an initial season-long loan from AC Milan.

The 28-year-old was officially announced as a Tricky Trees player in the early hours of Saturday morning after the club were granted extra time to complete the paperwork for the deal after the 11pm deadline.

How much are Forest paying for Divock Origi?

European football journalist and transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has now detailed more information regarding the move on social media, in which the true cost that ambitious owner Evangelos Marinakis will have to pay was revealed.

"Divock Origi has just completed formal steps of his move to Nottingham Forest with stadium presentation," he tweeted around 48 hours after the window slammed shut, also adding: "Loan deal includes buy option clause. €4.5m buy clause not mandatory. Salary 100% covered by Forest."

That salary is thought to be around £120k-per-week, which equates to £6.24m for the whole year, as per Capology.

How good is Divock Origi?

Origi returns to England after a season in Milan in which he appeared 36 times for the Rosseneri but only managed to find the net on two occasions. The striker is remembered more fondly for his previous spell in the Premier League at Liverpool, where he built a reputation on stepping up for the big occasion.

After joining Liverpool in 2014, Origi would play 175 times, scoring 41 goals.

The Belgian famously scored a brace in Liverpool’s 4-0 comeback win against Barcelona in May 2019 to send them through to the final of the Champions League, in which he would again score the winning goal as they beat Tottenham 2-0 to lift the famous trophy for the sixth time.

Other achievements from his Liverpool career include his involvement in their Premier League success in 2020, as well as featuring in the 2022 FA Cup and Carabao Cup double.

On the international stage, Origi has been capped 32 times for Belgium and scored three times, one of which came in the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

Despite still being available for national team selections at this stage of his career, he has not featured for Belgium since March 2022 and was not included in the squad for the upcoming international friendlies this September.

Will Divock Origi start for Nottingham Forest?

Regarding his new side Nottingham Forest, they currently sit ninth in the Premier League table after four games played, winning two and losing two. They most recently picked up three massive points in a 1-0 win against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, ensuring they go into the break on a positive note.

Origi will have strong competition at Forest upon his arrival with several players being able to lead the line, including Chris Wood and Taiwo Awoniyi – the latter having scored or assisted in each of his four league appearances so far this season, though Origi can offer his valuable experience of winning major titles to the current squad.

The former Liverpool "monster" – as once regarded by Burnley boss Vincent Kompany – could be a vastly experienced and worthwhile addition to the frontline and perhaps a true successor to the departed Brennan Johnson, who joined top-flight rivals Tottenham Hotspur the very same evening.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has delivered an impassioned defence of summer signing Kai Havertz when speaking about the German in a recent press conference.

What's the latest on Arsenal and Kai Havertz?

It's not exactly been the easiest start to life for the 24-year-old in North London. Indeed, it's easy to get the sense that many of his new supporters aren't particularly happy with the big £65m transfer fee handed to rivals Chelsea in exchange for the player.

After all, the Emirates let out a "cry of frustration" after Havertz misplaced a pass in the Gunners' recent 2-2 draw with Fulham, showing how little patience the fans already have for the summer signing.

Having failed to impress on that most recent Premier League outings, the German has now played three games (plus an appearance in the Community Shield) without claiming either a goal or an assist for Arsenal.

Read the latest Arsenal transfer news HERE…

With all that in mind, there appear to be doubts over the player already and manager Arteta has tried to deal with this by urging the club to show more "love" for Havertz as he finds his feet in his new surroundings.

Indeed, when speaking to the press this week (via The Mirror), he said: “It’s difficult to ask more of our supporters and our people, but my feeling is give him love and we’ll get the best out of him. I think we have some very beautiful examples in the last years with players that we have given a lot of support and got behind them, and they have felt that love and they just exploded.‌

After all, as you can see in the graphic below – shared on Twitter by statistician Scott Willis using data from Opta via Fbref – the German is actually outperforming his Swiss counterpart in a number of attacking areas such as goal probability added, open play key passes, progressive carries.

On top of that, he's also doing well defensively with more aerial duels won, ball recoveries made, and less fouls committed than Xhaka – albeit from a small sample size.

Manchester United appear to be one of two clubs leading the race to sign an in-demand gem, and a new update has been shared when the Red Devils may hear if they are going to be successful.

What’s the latest Man United transfer news?

It turned out to be an eventful few months at Old Trafford off the pitch, with several incomings and outgoings in the transfer market and a takeover failing to materialise.

In total, United and Erik ten Hag brought in seven new players, with the likes of Rasmus Hojlund, Andre Onana and Mason Mount joining in big-money deals. The club also received fees for six players in permanent exits and even sealed late loan moves for Sofyan Amrabat and Sergio Reguilon from Fiorentina and Tottenham Hotspur.

However, despite the transfer window shutting, it looks as if the Red Devils are still trying to put deals in place ahead of the New Year.

One youngster who was linked with a move to Old Trafford last month was Dino Klapija from Croatian side Kustosija. Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano said that talks were held over a deal, with RB Leipzig also keen.

“Understand Manchester United and RB Leipzig are both negotiating to sign top talent Dino Klapija — also an option to close the deal now for January Decision on player side expected soon as 2007 born striker will leave Croatian side NK Kustosija soon.”

There has now been a further update, showing how there could soon be a further development.

According to The Daily Mail, ‘Klapija hopes to have a clearer idea of whether he will move to the club after the international break’. It is believed that United and Leipzig are the clubs in pole position to sign the 16-year-old ahead of AC Milan, Barcelona, Chelsea and Juventus and are willing to pay £5m to seal a deal.

Who is Dino Klapija?

Klapija is a centre-forward who previously turned out as a midfielder and is actually yet to make his senior debut for NK Kustosija but has been capped by Croatia at U17 level.

Born in the USA, Klapija was previously on the books of New York City and appears to be a highly-rated teenager going off the clubs who have shown an interest in his services.

He could well be the next player to make the move to Carrington after the club moved on a number of youngsters in recent months.

The likes of Matej Kovar, Teden Mengi, Zidane Iqbal, Charlie Savage and Marc Jurado have all left Old Trafford, with the club adding in some beneficial sell-on and buy-back clauses as well as achievable long-term add-ons.

Should Klapija choose United over Leipzig in the coming days, weeks or months, then you’d expect that he may go into the club’s academy ranks before a potential loan move away looking to get a first taste of senior football.

It could be a while until he progresses into the first team, but after rejecting a £4m move for Erling Haaland previously, United won’t want a repeat when it comes to Klapija.

Aston Villa fans could be in dreamland for the second time in a few days following their victory over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge as Unai Emery's men are now confident of being able to agree a big new contract at Villa Park, as per reports.

What's the latest news involving Aston Villa?

According to Calciomercato via TEAMtalk, Juventus are keen on Aston Villa loanee Nicolo Zaniolo despite his bright start to life in the West Midlands and may try to make a surprise swoop for the Italy international next summer.

Zaniolo has previously shown interest in moving to Juventus and it is said that 'anything can happen' with his future; however, it remains to be seen if Aston Villa will look to strike a permanent deal with Galatasaray for the 24-year-old. At the same time, a lot would depend on the financial capability of Italian giants Juventus, something which has been called into question in recent months.

Aston Villa managed to pick themselves up in exemplary fashion away to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Sunday, recording a victory over their ten-man opposition thanks to a strike from Ollie Watkins in the 73rd minute, as per BBC Sport. Chelsea defender Malo Gusto was sent off for a lunge on Lucas Digne at the 58th-minute mark, enabling Aston Villa to gain control for the rest of proceedings and subsequently find a way to win in west London, moving Emery's men up to sixth in the Premier League standings.

Speaking to the media post-match, Emery applauded his side's resilience in the wake of damaging defeats to both Newcastle United and Liverpool this term, stating: "We needed to find a way where we were stronger than we were against Newcastle and Liverpool. Today was tough but we competed very well."

Who could sign a new deal at Aston Villa?

According to Football Insider, Aston Villa are still working to tie England international striker Watkins down to a new deal in the West Midlands and there is now 'confidence' from all sides that a new contract will be agreed very soon. Watkins is believed to be happy at Aston Villa and the new deal will include a sizeable upturn in his wage expenditure alongside his responsibility of leading the line under Emery.

Torquay-born Watkins has been an integral part of the furniture at Aston Villa since joining the club in 2020 and has gone on to rack up 47 goals and 15 assists in 125 appearances in all competitions for the Villans, as per Transfermarkt.

Once again proving to be a nuisance for defenders this term, Watkins has averaged 2.7 shots and 1.7 key passes per match so far in the Premier League in 2023/24, according to WhoScored.

Labelled "outstanding" by former Aston Villa boss Dean Smith back in 2021, Watkins has also shown his selfless side this campaign, successfully mustering 19 shot-creating actions in the English top flight, with five directly leading to goals, as per FBRef.

Real Madrid superstar Jude Bellingham has thanked Los Blancos fans for their support as the midfielder serves his two-match suspension.

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• Bellingham banned for two matches
• Real Madrid fans put out banner in support
• England star thanks fans after Celta Vigo clash

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The English midfielder received the suspension after reportedly using abusive language towards referee Jesus Gil Manzano in very controversial circumstances against Valenica. The ban means he had to watch Real Madrid's 4-0 rout of Celta Vigo from the stands at the Santiago Bernabeu. During the game fans unfurled and held up a banner in support of the 20-year-old. The banner read "Hey Jude! The Madridismo is with you." Bellingham replied on social media with the message: "Can’t take my smile. Thank you for the love, Madridistas."

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• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Since his sensational move from Borussia Dortmund to the Spanish capital, the English midfielder has set the league alight as he is currently the top scorer with 16 strikes to his name in 22 games. His goalscoring has slowed down significantly over the last month, however, he remains a pivotal player in Carlo Ancelotti's set up.

• (C)Getty Images
  

  DID YOU KNOW?

  Real Madrid are currently top of the league and look the most likely team to take home the league trophy this season. They have accumulated 69 points from 28 matches and sit seven points clear of Girona in second and eight clear of Barcelona in third place. They have only lost one game in the league so far and that came against city rivals Atletico Madrid.

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• WHAT NEXT FOR BELLINGHAM?

  The former Birmingham City midfielder will miss another league game when Real Madrid take on Osasuna on March 16. He will be available when they face Athletic Club on March 31.

West Ham United are looking to continue their impressive start to the season and clinch European qualification for a fourth successive year, having struggled in the Premier League last term but triumphed in the Europa Conference League.

David Moyes' outfit have made a confident start to the domestic season while winning both of their matches in the Europa League, but despite this, Michail Antonio's recent injury has raised a few question marks regarding the club's centre-forward position.

Gianluca Scamacca was signed for £35.5m last summer with a weight of expectation but failed to acclimatise and was described as "miserable" by pundit Chris Sutton, sold back to his Italian homeland in a £27m deal to Atalanta.

Danny Ings was only signed in January in a £15m transfer from divisional rivals Aston Villa, but he is not performing at the requisite standard and, as such, will likely have Moyes questioning his role in the first-team going forward.

Should West Ham ditch Danny Ings?

Once hailed as a "lethal" goalscorer by Sutton, Ings has been a salient name on the Premier League scene for some time now, having started with Burnley before earning a transfer to Liverpool in 2015, though his time at Anfield was hindered by injury, scoring four times from just 25 appearances.

He completed a £20m move to Southampton in 2019 after finishing a season-long loan deal, scoring seven times from 24 outings.

He would enjoy his most fruitful fortunes on the south coast, bagging 46 goals from 100 displays in total and notably netting 25 strikes during the 2019/20 campaign.

At West Ham, he has not been at the races, leading The Athletic's Roshane Thomas to remark, "I don't think this system works for Danny Ings. He's often too isolated up front."

This may well be the case, with the three-cap England international only scoring three times from 30 matches for the Hammers, and having only made five substitute showings in the Premier League this season, yet to start and yet to score, the 31-year-old's time might be running out.

On £125k-per-week, he is not living up to the wage and is a shadow of the man who was once so 'lethal' in the final third; a force to be reckoned with and a destructive centre-forward.

With Antonio out injured for the recent victory over Freiburg in the Europa League, many might've thought that it was the perfect opportunity for Ings to step up the plate, but with Moyes refraining from offering him a starting berth, there is little doubt regarding where he stands in his manager's mind at present.

It might be best for all parties that he moves on as soon as possible; with West Ham surely poised to move for an established centre-forward sooner rather than later, he will only see his role further hampered and may even be detrimental to rising stars such as Divin Mubama, who is striving for a starting spot at the front of the ship himself.

Who could replace Danny Ings?

While the obvious heir to the centre-forward position at West Ham right now is Mubama, the teenage forward is still only in his fledgling phase and must not be thrown into the deep end before learning to tread water.

He has already scored his first goal and supplied his first assist for the Irons' senior set-up, but remains an untested prospect and must be nurtured with care – as, to be fair, Moyes is doing.

Jarrod Bowen impressed as the focal frontman against Freiburg on Thursday night after teeing up Lucas Paqueta for the game's opening goal, but he is undoubtedly best served down the right channel, and, as such, the club's Scottish manager could look to provide the under-fire Maxwel Cornet with a new lease of life at the front of the ship.

Signing from relegated Burnley in 2022 for £17.5m on a five-year contract, the Ivorian winger hasn't hit the ground running by any stretch of the imagination, having only made 25 appearances across all competitions, yet to score and registering five assists.

During the 2021/22 campaign with the Clarets, he previously hit nine Premier League goals from only 21 starting showings, capturing the awe of supporters and leading Alan Shearer to describe him as “dangerous”.

While his maiden season in east London was blighted by an injury that ruled him out from October until March, he didn't prove himself at all on the pitch and only made two starts in the top-flight.

Having only played one minute in the Premier League this season, he has not been entrusted with a prominent role but could now be reborn in a central striking role, replacing the out-of-sorts Ings.

He scored three times when used in the position under Sean Dyche's wing at Burnley, and would certainly offer a different dimension to the side's frontal efforts while allowing Bowen to remain in his preferred role down the right.

As per Sofascore, Cornet offered 1.8 shots and 0.6 key passes per game while at Turf Moor, which surpasses Ings' 1.2 shots and 0.4 key passes per game in the Premier League last season.

He also offers a sense of dynamism that could prove invaluable when looking to shift with Antonio, who is a powerful and brutish striker, and while he offers different skills, he still holds a knack for some "fantastic" finishing, as has been previously noted by Dyche.

The £65k-per-week ace is only 27 years old and is ostensibly suffering from a stark decline in confidence, but with a fresh slate in a new role, he could be transformed and finally start exuding the class that Moyes knows is at his disposal.

And while Ings is still capable of finding the back of the net, his days appear numbered at the London Stadium and a tactical tweak could be vital for sustaining the fluidity over the duration of the campaign.

It would be a bold move, but handing a third Premier League start of his West Ham career to Cornet could be a wise move as far as Moyes is concerned.

Manchester United are believed to be interested in signing someone tipped to become a superstar one day, according to a fresh transfer update.

Will Man United sign another defender?

There was a time when the Red Devils had some legendary centre-back partnerships on show at Old Trafford, playing a big part in them enjoying so much success under Sir Alex Ferguson.

Steve Bruce and Gary Pallister were the backbone of United's team in the 1990s, as they won the Premier League title numerous times, while further down the line, Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic were equally brilliant. In between, Jaap Stam and Ronny Johnsen were key to the Reds winning the treble in 1998/99.

Now, though, things have been different for United, with Lisandro Martinez and Raphael Varane doing well together, when fit, but injuries affecting both in recent times. Meanwhile, Victor Lindelof and Harry Maguire arguably aren't at the required standard, and it has played a part in a poor opening to the season.

For that reason, the Reds could look into delving into the transfer market for central defensive reinforcements in the January transfer window or next summer, and it looks as though they are keen on signing one player with a big future.

Which defender could Man United sign?

Speaking to Caught Offside, relayed on X, journalist Fabrizio Romano claimed that United "will keep tracking" Benfica centre-back Antonio Silva. He says that they have already scouted the highly-rated 19-year-old on several occasions and that other clubs are also interested.

This could be a fantastic piece of business in the long run if the Reds get a deal for Silva over the line, with the Portuguese a defender with so much potential, already becoming a key player while still in his teens. He has already made 52 appearances for Benfica, scoring five goals in that time, and he is a footballer who appears to be mature beyond his years.

Former Tottenham centre-back Jan Vertonghen has waxed lyrical over Silva in the past, talking up his future greatness and saying:

"Because of the injuries they had to put the kid Antonio Silva, but the boy will be a legend, If he keeps doing what he’s been doing, he has everything to be one of the best defenders in the world in a year or two."
Benfica manager Roger Schmidt has also praised the teen, saying:
"Antonio is 18, but when you see him on the pitch, he doesn't look that age.
"It was obvious in pre-season that he is a talented player and that he is already a professional player who is able to withstand the pressure playing for the Benfica first team, and he has shown it many times this season."

This season, Silva has already started six Primeira Liga matches, and in that time he has enjoyed an incredible 94.3% pass completion rate, not to mention winning four tackles and making 3.8 clearances per game, which shows what a force he is both in and out of possession.

If United could entice him to Old Trafford in one of the next two transfer windows, it could help solve their centre-back issues for many years to come, acquiring the signature of a special young talent.