Celtic have an unhappy player on their hands who could be set to push for a departure before the end of the transfer window, according to reports.

What's the latest news concerning Celtic?

The Hoops are in the midst of an injury crisis at present and are said to be on the hunt for another defensive recruit after Cameron Carter-Vickers, Maik Nawrocki and Stephen Welsh were ruled out with various injury concerns for the next two months, as per The Daily Record.

Rodgers has confirmed his intention to add to his backline in his pre-match press conference before Celtic take on St Johnstone this weekend, stating: "We have to look at it, no doubt. It's an area we are light on and when you are losing three players for that length of time knowing the number of games we have and the importance of every game, it's something we have to look at. Especially at centre-back, it's a specialised position where the experience always helps."

Celtic have made six summer signings since Rodgers returned to Glasgow earlier this summer in the form of Marco Tilio, Odin Thaigo Holm, Kwon Hyeok-kyu, Yang Hyun-jun, Gustaf Lagerbielke and Nawrocki, as per Transfermarkt, though it seems as if they may look to add a few more bodies in the latter stages of the window.

Sky Sports reporter Anthony Joseph has given an update on X detailing areas of the squad that Celtic may look to strengthen between now and the deadline, stating: "Celtic are likely to be busy before the end of the transfer window, with the club targeting a goalkeeper, left-back and left winger as priorities. They would also be keen to bolster their centre forward options."

According to The Daily Mail, Celtic have submitted a £3.5 million bid for Aris Thessaloniki winger Luis Palma as they continue to look for a replacement for now-departed Portuguese attacker Jota, who left the club to join Saudi Pro League outfit Al-Ittihad earlier this summer for £25 million.

Wage expenditure concerns have put the breaks on the Hoops' advances to try and acquire Wolverhampton Wanderers winger Daniel Podence and Newcastle United outcast Ryan Fraser, and they have now turned to Honduras international Palma, who has also been courted by arch-rivals Rangers.

Who could leave Celtic?

Palma's proposed arrival may lead several Celtic wingers to be pushed further down the pecking order at the Scottish champions, not least out-of-favour ace Sead Haksabanovic, who has flickered in and out of consistency at the club.

According to Football Insider, Haksabanovic is unhappy with his involvement at Celtic and is now pushing to quit the club before the transfer deadline next Friday.

Several clubs around Europe are believed to be open to offering the Montenegro international an escape route from the Glasgow giants and he could quit in order to become a regular starter in a different environment.

Former Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou labelled Haksabanovic as "brilliant" earlier this year, though he has struggled to make a lasting impact at Parkhead, registering five goals and four assists in 41 appearances across all competitions, as per Transfermarkt.

Finding himself down the pecking order under Rodgers, it may be time for both parties to shake hands and move on if a suitable destination is found for Haksabanovic.

South Africa’s head coach knows the fast bowler could be undercooked following his long injury layoff and doesn’t want him breaking down mid-Test

Firdose Moonda in Cape Town02-Jan-20184:43

Know your opponent: Dale Steyn

At least one of South Africa’s selection conundrums appears to have already been solved with Dale Steyn’s comeback likely to be delayed by another week. Conditions at Newlands usually call for a three-seamer, one spinner attack (to which South Africa might add an allrounder). Given Steyn’s lengthy absence from international cricket, coach Ottis Gibson appears reluctant to include him in that combination.”Dale Steyn is fit again. But I don’t know just yet whether we will see him this week,” Gibson said. “He has had a year’s layoff. I don’t think if we were to pick a three-man seam attack plus a spinner that you would want to put him in that three-man attack, in case something happens and that leaves the team vulnerable if he can’t finish the game. That’s not to say that he won’t finish the game, but you don’t want to take that risk in the first game of the summer. He will come into the discussion but it depends on the formation of the team that we put on the field.”Those who have been waiting to see Steyn steaming in may not have to wait much beyond the first 10 days of January. Gibson has described his use of South Africa’s full strength squad as being a “horses for courses” approach and suggested that the pace spearhead will be unleashed on the Highveld, where the second and third Test will be played.”You’re looking at three different sets of conditions,” Gibson said. “Down here on the coast, the wicket tends to dry out quickly so you might play an extra bowler [allrounder] here. Further up into the Highveld, it might be different. We have to take each set of conditions as we find them now and then pick the best team for them.”The extra week could also be used to get Steyn properly match-fit. Though the franchises are involved in the one-day cup, Steyn could play in a three-day provincial round of matches which would allow him to bowl several spells in competitive conditions to prepare himself to compete on equal terms with the other five quicks – Kagiso Rabada, Vernon Philander, Morne Morkel, Chris Morris and Andile Phehlukwayo – in a team that should have an attack for every occasion.”This is a world-class bowling attack and we’ve got to come up with the best combination to win this match and then think about the next one,” Gibson said. “But certainly this attack, if all those guys are able to take the field then this will be up there with the best ones.”It is this attack that he hopes South Africa will be able to call on as they aim to challenge for the top spot in Test cricket again. Currently, they lie at No. 2 and will need a clean sweep over India and to beat Australia by a margin of at least two Tests in order to reclaim the mace. While this may be a long shot, it is also probably the only shot Gibson will get at making a serious challenge in Tests.South Africa’s schedule peters out after this summer, with only a tour to Sri Lanka and home series against Sri Lanka and Pakistan before the 2019 World Cup, which Gibson has been tasked with winning. While the ICC tournament remains Gibson’s major focus, he understands this Test summer could also define his tenure as coach.”In one-day cricket, I don’t worry too much about rankings because it’s built around a four-year cycle of World Cup cricket,” he said. “You can be No. 1 in the world and you don’t win the World Cup. It doesn’t matter where you are once you go to the World Cup. In Test cricket it’s different. You play a series against the best teams in the world and then the prize at the end of it is to reach the pinnacle and be called the best team in the world – even if it is just for a series or a week. The objective for this team is to try and get to No. 1. We feel strongly that if we win the next two series that will put us somewhere very close to being No. 1 again. The next two series will tell us [where we stand] or take us somewhere towards where we want to go. Everybody understands what we are trying to achieve.”Gibson has a full strength squad at his disposal with all the previously injured and ill players now available for selection. Apart from Steyn, South Africa also have AB de Villiers back from a self-imposed sabbatical, Chris Morris has been included in the squad after a lengthy back problem, Quinton de Kock has recovered from a hamstring strain and Faf du Plessis is healthy after a viral infection. There is a slight concern over Hashim Amla, who has picked up “sniffles”, but Gibson expects all 15 members of his squad to be in contention to play the opening Test at Newlands which starts on Friday.

Celtic are closing in on their seventh summer signing and he will arrive this week to finalise his move to the Scottish giants before their crucial Glasgow Derby match against Rangers this weekend.

What's the latest transfer news involving Celtic?

According to Honduran outlet Diario Diez, Aris Thessaloniki winger Luis Palma has already said goodbye to his teammates and is in London to put the finishing touches to his impending move to Celtic.

He will then travel to Glasgow to be officially unveiled by the Scottish champions and will don the iconic number seven jersey at Parkhead, which has been worn by club legends such as Jimmy Johnstone and Henrik Larsson in the past.

The Scottish Sun detail that Celtic will pay a fee in the region of £3.5 million for the Honduras international and he could be the first of five late-window incomings to bolster Brendan Rodgers' underperforming side. Manchester City youngster Tommy Doyle has been mentioned as a potential arrival to bolster the Irishman's engine room before the deadline.

Several outgoings are also expected and it is believed that Benjamin Siegrist, James McCarthy, Albian Ajeti and Ismaila Soro could all be on their way out of the club.

Celtic have failed to score in over 180 minutes of football and were knocked out of the Viaplay Cup against Kilmarnock, followed by putting in a disappointing display in a 0-0 draw against St Johnstone in the Scottish Premiership last weekend, as per Sky Sports.

Cited by The Sunday Mail (27/08 print edition, page 59), Celtic boss Rodgers has laid down the gauntlet to the Hoops' hierarchy to fulfill his wish for further recruitment in the market before the close of play, stating:

“We need to improve for sure. I spoke to the club when I came in and, assessing the squad, we need to improve the quality. It’s clear if you see the team, if you go back to my first time here the team was fast and dynamic, got through the lines quickly, created and scored goals.

"So this is what we’ll eventually get to. But we’re missing those certain profiles so hopefully we can bring that into the squad and be a lot cleaner and a lot quicker in our play.”

What could Luis Palma bring to Celtic?

Since Portuguese winger Jota left Celtic to join Saudi Pro League side Al-Ittihad earlier in the summer for a fee in the region of £25 million, the Hoops have lost a valuable creative outlet, which is something Palma could help to remedy due to his direct style of play.

During his time in Greece, Palma has been a live wire and regularly troubled opposition backlines, registering 17 goals and 11 assists in 52 appearances across all competitions, as per Transfermarkt.

Dubbed a "huge player" by Aris manager Apostolos Terzis, Palma will be desperate to hit the ground running at Celtic and show that he can live up to the hype of his iconic shirt number.

Cited by Football Scotland, Terzis has confirmed that Palma is leaving Aris and stated in an interview: "I want to wish him the best of luck with his new club, Celtic. He worked so hard for our team and Aris also helped him a lot to develop."

They added 197 for the second wicket, eclipsing the their country’s previous best stand in the Intercontinental Cup made by Mohammad Nabi and Mohammad Shahzad in 2010

The Report by Peter Della Penna in Abu Dhabi29-Nov-2017
ScorecardPeter Della Penna

Back in the late 1990s during The Rock’s heyday with the WWE, he developed one of his trademark promo routines.The Rock would bring out a rival wrestler that he’d most likely be facing at an upcoming Pay Per View and then set him up with a basic inquisitive question such as “What’s your name?” or “What do you think about this?” Before the opponent could get more than a few words out, The Rock would embarrass his opposite number by cutting him off shouting, “IT DOESN’T MATTER WHAT YOU THINK!”At the toss on Wednesday for Afghanistan’s final Intercontinental Cup encounter, UAE captain Rohan Mustafa sent Afghanistan in to bat, telling the TV commentary crew that the pitch had a tinge of green to it and he wanted to take advantage of early conditions. Though not nearly as arrogant as The Rock, when Afghanistan captain Asghar Stanikzai was asked how he felt about losing the toss, he responded much like the People’s Champ, saying, “It doesn’t matter who wins the toss.”Such is Afghanistan’s swagger nowadays when hanging around the Associates that they are leaving behind following this match. It is justified too. Whether it is because the pitch was flat and there was little to no movement on offer for the UAE bowlers, or because Afghanistan is just so dominant in this tournament with four innings victories in a row, the toss was of little consequence to Stanikzai. Bat first, bowl first, Afghanistan will set out to seek and destroy their opponents.That’s how day one played out at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium. Following the early wicket of Javed Ahmadi – suckered into hooking to long leg – Ihsanullah and Rahmat Shah batted in metronomic fashion to grind 197 for the second wicket – a record for Afghanistan in the Intercontinental Cup.The pair came together in the seventh over and were circumspect early as Amjad Javed tried to build pressure. He ended his sixth over with figures of 0 for 14 and three maidens when drinks were called after 13 overs. But after play resumed Javed’s focus wavered when he dropped short to be cut behind point. Three balls later, Javed overcorrected and Ihsanullah drove him past mid-off for the second boundary of the over. From there, a long day of toil lay ahead of Javed and the rest of the UAE bowling attack as the medium pacers posed little threat while the spinners received scant assistance on a flat pitch.There was nothing audacious about Ihsanullah’s strokeplay. The 19-year-old batsman was borderline robotic in his methods, programmed to block anything on the stumps and only drive when width was offered outside off. Rarely did he play across the line to open up scoring options on the leg side. It was simple, but effective. His innings could best be described as mature, especially for someone playing just his fourth first-class match, and just the kind of temperament needed for Afghanistan’s entry into Tests.Peter Della Penna

Entering the day, Ihsanullah’s best first-class score was 63, coming last month in Hong Kong. He nearly doubled it by the time he was done. He had a willing ally in Rahmat for much of the journey to ease the load.Rahmat was more adventurous, particularly against the spinners. After taking his time to see off the rest of the new ball, Rahmat treated the 100 or so Afghanistan fans who turned out to a nifty display of footwork, regularly using his feet to come down the wicket to Ahmed Raza and Rohan Mustafa.When Ihsanullah reached his half-century off 77 balls, Rahmat was only on 20 and by the time the junior batsman reached the 90s, Rahmat was still comfortably behind him. But after Rahmat reached his own fifty off 102 balls, he sprinted down the pitch to UAE’s slow bowlers with regularity to speed up his scoring rate.In the 57th over, a shimmy down the pitch to scoop Mustafa over his head followed by a thumping cover drive took Rahmat into the 90s. He overtook Ihsanullah in the following over after another charge at Raza helped him clear mid-on for another boundary. Rahmat then clipped a couple through mid-on in the final over before tea to bring up his second first-class ton. In the process, Rahmat and Ihsanullah eclipsed their country’s previous best stand in the Intercontinental Cup. Mohammad Nabi and Mohammad Shahzad had added 178 for the fourth wicket in their epic fourth-innings chase of 494 against Canada in Sharjah in 2010.Shortly after play resumed, the stand ended three short of 200 when left-arm spinner Raza had Rahmat slicing a thick edge to Chirag Suri at point. Having watched from the stands as Rahmat and Ihsanullah ground down the UAE bowling unit, Stanikzai then backed up his “It doesn’t matter” stance by tearing into the hosts early and often through the off side, cruising to 67 not out by the end of play.At the other end, Ihsanullah continued to churn out runs through the off side until he brought up his maiden ton off 165 balls by clipping Raza off his pads for two. Though the second new ball was taken immediately, the movement on offer was as negligible as the first and Ihsanullah looked set to bat on. It took a spectacular effort from Mohammad Naveed, who plucked a one-handed grab low in his follow through to intercept a firm punch down the wicket, to dismiss Ihsanullah for 124.

MatériaMais Notícias

O Botafogo conquistou uma importante vitória nos bastidores. Nesta quinta-feira, o departamento jurídico, em reunião com o Sindeclubes e o Juizado do Trabalho, ficou perto de quitar todos os salários atrasados com jogadores e funcionários. A informação foi divulgada pelo portal “Fogo na Rede” e confirmada pelo LANCE!.

A ação foi movida pelo Sindeclubes, que ajuda o Botafogo a desbloquear verbas que estão congeladas por penhoras.A decisão da juíza Cissa de Almeida Biasoli, da 75ª Vara do Trabalho, determinou que o clube apresente a relação de jogadores e funcionários e os respectivos valores de vencimentos atrasados em até 48 horas.

O Botafogo deve desbloquear cerca de R$ 12 milhões, como deferido pela juíza. A quantia é mais que suficiente para quitar os meses de julho e agosto ao elenco profissional, além de maio – para quem recebe acima de R$ 2 mil -, junho, julho e agosto aos colaboradores.

Desta forma, o Botafogo tem meio caminho andado para entrar em dia com os salários. O dinheiro será depositado nas respectivas contas de jogadores e funcionários pelo próprio Sindeclubes, de acordo com a relação que o Alvinegro apresentar à Justiça do Trabalho.

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Australia 328 (Smith 141*, Marsh 51) and 0 for 173 (Warner 87*, Bancroft 82*) beat England 302 and 195 (Root 51, Bairstow 42) by 10 wickets
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsDavid Warner and Cameron Bancroft resolved to offer England’s toiling bowlers no crumbs of comfort in the closing moments of the first Test at the Gabba, as they eased Australia to a crushing ten-wicket win in just over an hour’s play on the fifth and final morning.After resuming on 114 for 0 overnight, Australia’s openers resisted any temptation to gallop to the finishing line, with just 56 runs required and England’s players doubtless distracted by overnight headlines concerning Jonny Bairstow’s alleged altercation with Bancroft in Perth last month.Both batsmen eased themselves back into the groove, seeing off another disciplined but unpenetrative burst from James Anderson and Stuart Broad before picking up their tempos against the second seamers, Chris Woakes and Jake Ball.Ball did induce the day’s solitary half-chance, an edge off Bancroft that flew wide of Alastair Cook, the solitary slip, but it was left to Bancroft to strike the winning runs off Woakes, in a three-boundary fusillade in the first over after the drinks break. Moeen Ali was not called upon to bowl after struggling with a finger injury earlier in the innings, with Joe Root sending down two overs of offspin before the end.Despite Australia’s justified jubilation, it was an anticlimatic end to what had been, for three and a half days, a gripping and hard-fought contest, and it was very similar, in fact, to the first Test of the 1990-91 series, also at the Gabba, when England were again crushed by ten wickets despite having held the upper hand at times in a low-scoring contest.Afterwards Root rued the moments in the match when Australia got away from England.”We’re very disappointed to lose the game,” he said. “We came here fully confident that we could get a win, and for three days we were excellent. We probably missed a couple of chances with bat and ball in the first innings, where we should have maybe gone on and made that 400-plus score, being four-down with 250-plus on the board, you want to make that count.”Root singled out the efforts of Mark Stoneman and James Vince, whose first-innings half-centuries seemed to have set England up in the match.”I thought Mark and Vincey in particular played outstandingly well in their first Ashes Test,” he added. “To stand up like that showed great character, composure and skill. It’s just about making sure they go on and make big hundreds when they get in next time.”Similarly with the ball, we made them work extremely hard. I do think the wicket got better and better throughout, but [Steve] Smith played an unbelievable knock and if you take that out, we bowl them out for 150.”We’ve got to make sure we bounce back straight away,” said Root. “We’ve showed great resilience and character over the last year and we’ve got to do that again.”Smith, Australia’s captain, was proud of both his team and his personal contribution to the victory, a brilliant unbeaten 141 that shored up Australia’s first innings and secured a priceless lead.”The first Test of an Ashes is always incredibly important, especially with our record here at the Gabba,” he said. “So it’s great to keep that intact. We played some really good cricket after losing the toss, and to get a ten-wicket win against a quality side is very satisfying.”My hundred has got to be up there with one of my best, purely from the position we were in and that it’s an Ashes series. I had to work really hard for it, dig deep and get ourselves out of that situation, so I’m really pleased with it.”

Manchester United have spread their summer transfer activity across the pitch, but with just over a week to go, the Premier League club have not yet bolstered the central defence despite consistent speculation.

Andre Onana has replaced David De Gea in goal, Mason Mount has been brought in to add depth and dynamism to the midfield, while Rasmus Hojlund has been signed as the new centre-forward.

While focus appears to be on signing pass master Sofyan Amrabat, Erik ten Hag's side are also monitoring the situation of OGC Nice's Jean-Clair Todibo, and a formal offer may be forthcoming.

What's the latest on Jean-Clair Todibo to Manchester United?

According to prominent French outlet L'Equipe (via Get French Football News), the Frenchman is closing on a move to the Old Trafford side and is valued at around €40m (£34m).

Read the latest Man United transfer news HERE…

The Red Devil hierarchy have identified the 23-year-old as the perfect heir to Harry Maguire, who has been intensely linked with a move away, and while this has not materialised, United remain in pursuit.

How good is Jean-Clair Todibo?

Manchester United have started their Premier League campaign with a narrow victory over impressive Wolverhampton Wanderers before suffering defeat in London against Tottenham Hotspur.

While the season is in it's primitive stage, it's clear that the United midfield needs more support and more energy, and deploying Todibo into the fold would boost those ahead of him, with Casemiro likely to benefit immensely.

The distinguished Brazilian anchor was signed from Real Madrid in a deal worth £70m last summer, having won five Champions League trophies and three LaLiga titles during his time in Spain.

Back in February, Casemiro was praised by The Athletic for his transformative effect on United's midfield, providing an all-encompassing sheen to his defensive efforts, ranking among the top 12% of midfielders across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for shots taken, the top 28% for shot-creating actions and the top 17% for progressive passes per 90, as per FBref.

More importantly, his defensive application is superlative, ranking among the top 4% for tackles and aerials won and the top 1% for clearances and blocks per 90.

Not only would Todibo enhance the 31-year-old's game, but he would also see his own skill set improved by the ace, who has been said to be on a "different level" by journalist Liam Canning.

Todibo, described as "solid as a rock" by scout Jacek Kulig, recorded an impressive average Sofascore rating of 6.94 in Ligue 1 last year, completing 89% of his passes, making 2.2 tackles and 3.1 clearances per game and succeeding with 65% of his duel attempts.

The £19k-per-week colossus also ranks among the top 4% of positional peers for successful take-ons and the top 10% for tackles per 90, highlighting a robustness that could allow Casemiro's qualities to shine.

The Bundesliga official website also noted that the former Schalke titan is 'superb on the ball', which only strengthens the argument for his acquisition.

Casemiro has been dribbled past three times per game in the Premier League this term, and while it's only early into the year, this is a concerning element.

With Todibo erected as an impregnable wall in front of Onana's goal, 'solid as a rock', United could move closer to establishing the cohesion and hardiness needed for success this season, and Ten Hag must now orchestrate a transfer.

Chelsea are set to continue their spending spree this summer, with the deal for an "enormous talent" looking more and more like a formality, per transfers expert Fabrizio Romano.

Chelsea news – what is the latest?

Mauricio Pochettino's side have been on a serious buying spree in recent weeks after starting the summer with a firesale of first-team players the club deemed surplus to requirements.

And despite just smashing the league's transfer record by signing Brighton & Hove Albion's Moises Caicedo for £115m and following that up by agreeing a £53m fee for Southampton's exciting youngster Romeo Lavia, the Blues want more.

The next item on the agenda seems to be another attacker, and with the recent long-term injury to new boy Christopher Nkunku, that's not all that surprising.

Read the latest Chelsea transfer news HERE…

The player Todd Boehly and Co have opted to sign to bolster their front line is Crystal Palace's Michael Olise, with the Blues activating the dynamic winger's £35m release clause to take the deal out of the South Londoner's hands, per transfers expert Fabrizio Romano.

He explained the situation on his YouTube channel, saying:

"Now [the] £35m release clause for Michael Olise has been activated by Chelsea. It was an exclusive news about the release Clause of Olise, and I saw for many days people denying the clause is no longer there the clause has been removed. No, the clause was there the clause was valid was considered by both Chelsea and City, both clubs [were] waiting to understand also how was advanced in the situation of the injury of Michael Olise as he was injured in June.

"But now Chelsea decided to proceed with the player saying yes, with his Camp being very open to move to Chelsea. Chelsea decided to activate the clause. Now it's time to fix the deal with the Agents of the player to prepare the structure of the contract in this case because, with Palace, there is no need to negotiate [as] the clause has been activated, and then Olise is going to become the third signing in couple of days for Chelsea.

"So, incredible spending from Chelsea, incredible commitment from the owners, let me say because they're really investing and investing and investing on young talents, so the vision is clear, and Olise is going to be the next signing with a very long contract I will enter into details as soon as possible, but the deal is imminent for Michael Olise to Chelsea.

"So, work in progress on that one waiting very soon for the here we go."

How old is Michael Olise?

Born December 12th 2001, in Hammersmith, England, Olise is 21 years old, and despite being born in London, he has opted to represent France at both under-18 and under-21 level due to his French-Algerian mother.

While the agile attacker made his Premier League debut for Palace in the 2021/22 season, starting 12 games and making a further 14 appearances from the bench, it was last season when he truly burst onto the scene and made the country take notice.

In his 31 starts for the Eagles last campaign, he scored two goals, provided 11 assists, took 1.4 shots per game, won five Man-of-the-Match awards and averaged a superb match rating of 6.99, per WhoScored.

His underlying numbers also make for impressive reading and suggest that his output could explode under a more attacking coach like Pochettino.

According to FBref, which compares players in a similar position across Europe's top five leagues, the "enormous talent", as described by manager Roy Hodgson, sits in the top 7% for assists, the top 9% for blocks, the top 15% for interceptions, and the top 18% for expected assists and tackles, all per 90.

Described as "one of the best wide playmakers in Europe" only a couple of months ago by football talent scout Jacek Kulig, it's fair to say that despite being just 21 years old, Olise has well and truly announced himself to fans of the Premier League, and by joining Chelsea, he might just have the opportunity to do the same on a European stage soon enough.

West Ham have been linked with a move for Ajax attacking midfielder Mohammed Kudus this summer and a positive new update has now emerged.

How many goals did Mohammed Kudus score for Ajax?

Still just 23 years of age, the Ghanaian is a highly-rated young player who has become a key man for Ajax, shining with his quality in the attacking third.

Kudus has registered 35 goal contributions (24 goals and 11 assists) in 85 appearances for the Eredivisie giants, highlighting his quality, and he has also shone at international level for Ghana, netting twice in three appearances at the 2022 World Cup.

The Ajax man's future has been a big talking point this summer, with a move elsewhere potentially coming to fruition before the end of the summer transfer window. West Ham are one of the clubs who have been linked with a move for him numerous times recently, with his current deal expiring at the end of the 2024/25 season.

Now, another update has emerged regarding the Hammers' pursuit of Kudus, suggesting a switch to the London Stadium is on the cards sooner rather than later.

What's the latest on Mohammed Kudus to West Ham?

Taking to Twitter X, renowned journalist Fabrizio Romano provided a new claim on West Ham's hopes of signing Kudus this summer, with fresh talks now underway:

"West Ham have scheduled new round of talks for Mohammed Kudus deal – the agreement on personal terms is close as final points need to be discussed.

"Verbal negotiation ongoing with Ajax throught intermediaries, no formal bid yet but deal advancing."

Kudus showed exactly what he is capable of at the World Cup, looking such a threat for Ghana with his technical quality and pace, so he could be an outstanding signing by West Ham if they manage to get a deal over the line.

Legendary former Netherlands striker Marco van Basten has spoken about how much better he thinks the Ajax ace is than Manchester United winger Antony, saying:

"Kudus has much better technique and he knows what he is doing. Antony may be faster, but Kudus is smarter and more technical.

"He is much more of a footballer, you can place him anywhere on the pitch, an all-rounder for the team. In fact, I like him much better than Antony. He's more fun to watch play."

This says a lot about the quality that Kudus could add to West Ham's team, and his ability to play in attacking midifeld, out wide or as a forward also makes him a dream for David Moyes, in terms of versatility and providing squad depth across several different positions.

Read the latest West Ham transfer news HERE…

Calvin Bassey has also described him as a "star boy" in the past, further highlighting his reputation, and at 23, there is no reason why his best years shouldn't be ahead of him for a long time to come.

West Ham need that extra sprinkling of attacking magic this summer, as they look to become more consistently potent in front of goal, and in Kudus, they could have the ideal option to come in and make them a more formidable prospect.

West Ham United have enjoyed a solid start to their 2023/24 Premier League campaign, securing four points from six and defeating Chelsea in the process.

Having won their first major trophy in over 40 years last season, David Moyes has seemingly carried this momentum into the new term and will be hoping for the good form to continue.

Having used the £105m that was raised via the sale of Declan Rice to sign Edson Alvarez, James Ward Prowse and Konstantinos Mavropanos, the Scot is still aiming to add a few more signings before the end of the transfer window.

Could he perhaps make a swoop for a former crowd favourite who has already shone during a spell at the club?

Are West Ham United going to make another signing?

According to ExWHUEmployee via his West Ham Way Patreon, West Ham could potentially offer Jesse Lingard a short-term deal.

He was released by Nottingham Forest following the expiration of his contract at the end of last season and has since been training with the Hammers in a bid to maintain his fitness.

Read the latest West Ham transfer news HERE…

The ever-reliable insider told supporters:

“He (Lingard) is looking good fitness-wise. At this stage, any offer would be short-term, around 6-12 months with a lower wage but incentive-based.

“At he start it was described to me as a ‘tiny chance’ – now there is a ‘chance’, it seems its getting more likely.”

It could certainly be a risk-free signing for Moyes and given the fact they have another hectic schedule, combining group-stage European football along with domestic commitments, securing him for nothing could be a shrewd move.

What could Jesse Lingard offer West Ham United?

The last two seasons haven’t exactly gone to plan for the former Manchester United gem, having made just 42 appearances since the start of the 2021/22 season.

He is fondly remembered for his stunning loan spell at the club during the second half of the 2020/21 season, getting back to his best which saw him star for England at the 2018 World Cup.

Across just 16 appearances for the Irons, he scored nine goals and grabbed five assists, demonstrating just how good he can be when full of confidence.

Indeed, Lingard created three big chances, averaging 1.1 key passes per game and succeeded with 1.1 dribbles per game, proving he was a key attacking threat for the club.

If, and it’s a big if, he could replicate that sort of form should he rejoin the club, he could strike up a solid partnership with Ward-Prowse.

The former Southampton maestro has already grabbed two assists on his first appearance for the club last weekend and sitting just behind Lingard at the heart of the midfield, he would surely feed him the ball often.

Last term, the 28-year-old registered nine big chances while averaging two key passes per game, all for a relegated outfit, and this could directly benefit the 5 foot 8 whiz, who could feed off this creativity in a no.10 role, just behind the striker.

The 30-year-old free-agent might not play every single match, but there is no doubting his quality when he is given the confidence to perform and play his own game.

Former United defender Rio Ferdinand praised the talented Englishman during his temporary spell at the Hammers two years ago saying:

“I’ve argued with pundit after pundit, on-air, and off-air. He could play in any top team because he’s an intelligent footballer. He can play off one-touch or two-touch. Anyone who knows football surely has to see the kid has a talent.”

His levels have dipped since then, but with Ward-Prowse being a key influence playing behind him, Lingard could return to his previous levels should Moyes give him another chance in what would likely be a bargain deal for all parties.