Journalist Jacque Talbot has revealed that Wolves are now the ‘most likely’ to sign Joao Palhinha once the summer transfer window opens, with an ‘agreement’ in place for Jorge Mendes to ship the player from Lisbon.
The Lowdown: Scouts sent
It was reported last week by Jornal de Noticias (via Sport Witness), that the Midlands club had personally sent some of their scouts to watch Palhinha play recently, after his agents had a few approaches for him in January.
Described as a ‘sensational player‘ and an ‘artist‘ by sports journalist Josh Bunting after watching him for Sporting CP in the Portuguese top flight, he is someone that is certain to attract a lot of interest once this season ends – one journalist suggested this week that Manchester United could pip Wolves.
The Latest: Wolves ‘most likely’
According to Talbot, the Molineux faithful are now the ‘most likely’ to sign Palhinha this summer, although agent Mendes does have a ‘good relationship’ with Tottenham Hotspur managing director Fabio Paratici.
However, Talbot also revealed that a number of other clubs in the Premier League are also ‘in the running’ for his signature:
“Exc: Sporting Lisbon’s Joao Palhinha – heard similar, will be offered to Man United, Spurs, Newcastle, but other Premier League clubs in the running/more likely. Agreement in place with Jorge Mendes to forge a move.
Wolves the most likely, I’m told, but of course, Mendes does have a good relationship with Tottenham’s MD Fabio Paratici.”
The Verdict: Get it done
With the amount of competition that Bruno Lage’s team are likely to face in the summer, they just need to get this deal done.
Of course, Lage himself knows the player well from his time managing in the Portuguese league with Benfica, while Palhinha was playing for Braga, so if Wolves are pursuing this then the manager must be a big fan.
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Now at Sporting, he was a title last season, and with Joao Moutinho now 35 years of age, his countryman could be the ideal successor in the heart of the midfield.
In other news, find out who has now been backed to leave WWFC this summer by a transfer expert here!
Liverpool have joined the race to sign Borussia Dortmund superstar Erling Haaland in the summer transfer window, according to a fresh transfer update this week.
The Lowdown: Haaland a sensational prospect
In terms of the players most likely to take on the mantle from Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo as the world’s best player over a sustained period, Haaland is arguably at the top of the list.
The 21-year-old has already achieved great things at Dortmund, scoring a remarkable 80 goals in just 82 appearances, not to mention registering 21 assists, too.
He has been described as a ‘freak’ by Norway teammate and Watford striker Josh King and there looks set to be a big battle for his signature this summer.
The Latest: Liverpool linked with move
According to sources in Spain, translated by Sport Witness, Liverpool are considering making a shock move for Haaland at the end of the season if Mohamed Salah ends up leaving.
It is stated that the Norwegian would demand higher wages than the Egyptian, however, which could be an immediate stumbling block.
[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/latest-liverpool-transfer-news-24/” title=”Latest Liverpool transfer news!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]
The Verdict: Seems highly unlikely
While the idea of Liverpool signing Haaland is hugely exciting, given his potential as possibly the best player of his generation, it is extremely hard to see a move happening.
In truth, the Reds simply can’t offer the same wages as someone like Manchester City or Real Madrid, and it is far easier to see him joining one of those clubs instead.
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The hope is that Salah stays on, of course, with the Egyptian a priceless figure at Anfield whose possible exit this summer would hurt deeply. Him remaining on Merseyside is surely still the preferable option over signing someone else instead, even though he turns 30 later this year.
In other news, Liverpool have been linked with another exciting attacking signing. Read more here.
Liverpool are now in “talks” to sign an alternative to Antoine Semenyo in the January transfer window, according to recent reports.
Liverpool set to miss out on Semenyo
With Mohamed Salah at AFCON, and Alexander Isak now with Cody Gakpo on the sidelines, Liverpool have been left scrambling for attacking options heading into the new year. And in a campaign full of defensive issues, the last thing Arne Slot needed was attacking injuries to emerge.
Liverpool keen on signing £100m "warrior" to upgrade on Mac Allister
Liverpool are getting ready to make a series of changes in the transfer market in 2026.
ByAngus Sinclair
Nonetheless, it’s something that the Dutchman must solve together with Richard Hughes and Michael Edwards. The Premier League champions aren’t afraid to splash the cash, breaking their record twice in the summer to sign Isak and Florian Wirtz, but look unlikely to welcome Antoine Semenyo next month.
Despite chasing the winger’s signature, it now looks as though Manchester City are in pole position to secure his arrival in frustrating blow for the rest of the Premier League’s chasing clubs.
That leaves Liverpool back to square one, with concern over Salah’s long-term future not exactly helping those at Anfield in that regard. The Egyptian’s left for AFCON in a calmed state after being restored to the squad, but those at Anfield won’t be forgetting his bombshell interview anytime soon.
So the Reds should aim to kill two birds with one stone next month and that’s where Karim Adeyemi could come in. According to Anfield Index, Liverpool are now in “talks” to sign Adeyemi with his representatives and could secure his arrival for as little as £20m next month.
Liverpool in "talks" to sign Adeyemi
The Borussia Dortmund star seems to be a candidate to arrive instead of Semenyo and one who could replace Salah in the long run. At just 22 years old, it’s easy to see why he’s caught the eye of those at Anfield, especially if he is to cost just £20m when the winter window swings open.
League stats 25/26
Adeyemi
Semenyo
Minutes
735
1,439
Goals
4
8
Assists
1
3
Key Passes
9
23
Replacing Salah is a lot easier said than done, however. Both Semenyo and Adeyemi struggle to match the incredibly high numbers that the Liverpool star has produced over the years – particularly the Dortmund star.
But rumours that Adeyemi is on their radar could suggest that the Reds are heading into another direction in the post-Salah era. The Dortmund star represents a classic winger, rather than the inside forward type and that would free up room for Isak to take centre-stage.
What’s more, his £85,000-a-week salary demands wouldn’t exactly break the bank at Liverpool, once again making him an ideal option when 2026 arrives.
After two months of excruciatingly painful withdrawal symptoms, Football Fancast’s relentless addiction to the English top flight has finally been satisfied by the grand opening of the 2015/16 Premier League season.
Today’s fixture list was full of fantastic match-ups as per usual – not least including Tottenham’s visit to Manchester United – but tomorrow’s affairs offer equal excitement, starting with Arsenal’s 1.30pm kick-off against West Ham.
The Gunners have certainly enjoyed the better rub of the green during recent encounters against the East Londoners. In fact, they’ve won all of their last six clashes with the Hammers, producing an aggregate scoreline of 19-4.
But could things be a little different this time around, with Slaven Bilic now in the Upton Park hotseat and West Ham spending around £25million on new signings this summer?
Perhaps a look at the FIVE key individual battles can shed some light on the issue; and give some insight into who’ll finish victorious at the Emirates.
OLIVIER GIROUD VS JAMES TOMKINS AND ANGELO OGBONNA
Slaven Bilic may be looking to take West Ham in a more progressive direction following their attritional days under Sam Allardyce but the East London outfit are still an overtly physical side, with power, strength and aggression in every department.
The Gunners, on the other hand, are amongst the least physical sides in the Premier League, so rare exception Olivier Giroud will have to assert his 6 foot 4 relentlessly if the Emirates outfit are to get their title bid off to a flyer.
The Frenchman isn’t exactly known for snide elbows and robust aerial challenges in typical English centre-forward style but his ability to hold up the ball has always been an integral component of Arsenal’s build-up play and they’ll need more of that service on Sunday.
He’ll likely be up against James Tomkins, who averaged the second-most successful aerial duels per match (4.6) of any Premier League centre-half last season and summer signing Angelo Ogbonna, who will be desperate to demonstrate the quality and experience gained from claiming back-to-back Serie A titles and regularly participating in the Champions League during his spell with Juventus.
Resultantly, Giroud can’t expect to win every ball, although his 3.7 successful aerial duels per-match from last term is certainly impressive. But he needs to occupy Tomkins and Ogbonna as much as possible, persistently challenging their power and dominance in the air, to create space for Arsenal’s potent midfield.
DIMITRI PAYET VS FRANCIS COQUELIN
It remains to be seen how Slaven Bilic plans to utilise £12million signing Dimitri Payet, having proved himself equally adept as a winger and as a No.10 during his decade in Ligue 1.
Indeed, the France international has been predominantly considered a wide man during that time period but racked up a rather incredible 17 assists in a more central role at Marseille last season, which paved the way for his Upton Park move.
But either way, as the most creative force in the Hammers squad, Francis Coquelin’s primary task on Sunday should be to keep Payet out of the game as much as possible – especially on the counter-attack.
Defending on the break has been one of the Gunners’ biggest failings in recent years but the Frenchman appeared to put an end to that last season as he forged a regular role for himself at the base of Arsenal’s midfield.
Whether the 24 year-old’s impressive form was simply a zeitgeist remains to be seen. But Arsene Wenger has placed plenty of faith in the speedy enforcer – rewarding Coquelin with a new contract in February and perhaps most importantly, not signing the big ‘n’ burly holding midfielder that much of the Arsenal fan base continue to crave – and he’ll be keen to repay it with a strong performance on the opening day of Arsenal’s campaign.
MESUT OZIL VS HIS POSITION
There’s no question that Mesut Ozil’s best performances for Arsenal – and indeed, throughout his career – have come in his preferred role of No.10; the position he finally began to look like a £42.2million player in last season after spending the first 18 months of his Emirates tenure dwindling aimlessly on the wing.
But with Alexis Sanchez out injured and the trio of Francis Coquelin, Santi Cazorla and Aaron Ramsey proving to be Arsenal’s most resilient midfield, it’s likely the German World Cup winner will start against West Ham on the left channel in consistency with his selection for the Community Shield last weekend.
Ozil’s never been much of a touchline hugger so the real challenge for him against the Hammers is finding a way of still contributing positively from that left hand-side. He’s certainly got the talent to do so but still hasn’t truly proved it since joining the north Londoners two summers ago.
Injury free, fully rested and now well acquainted with Premier League football, there’s no more excuses for the 26 year-old – this is the season where he needs to start producing the goods on a consistent basis.
DIAFRA SAKHO VS PER MERTESACKER AND LAURENT KOSCIELNY
Diafra Sakho was West Ham’s top scorer in the Premier League last season, netting ten times in 23 appearances, so with strike partners Enner Valencia and Andy Carroll both stuck in the physio room for the foreseeable future, goalscoring responsibilities will be firmly on his shoulders this Sunday.
Whether the Senegal international can sustain that one-in-two strike-rate long term remains to be seen; last season was his first ever in a top flight, having previously represented Metz and scored all of his goals for them in the French second and third tiers, and there was something suspiciously one-season-wonder-esque about his flurry of goals during the 2014/15 campaign.
That being said, Sakho offers plenty of traits that could make him a real handful for Arsenal’s tried and trusted centre-back duo Laurent Koscielny and Per Mertesacker. The former will have to concentrate on the 25 year-old’s penetrative pace, whilst the 6 foot 6 latter must ensure he doesn’t let the striker with the most headed goals in the Premier League last season out of his sight.
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Despite Arsenal’s impressive end to last season, Mertesacker hasn’t quite been at the races since Germany’s World Cup triumphs in Brazil. In my opinion, he’s a weak link the Hammers could exploit.
ALEX OXLADE-CHAMBERLAIN VS AARON CRESWELL
With Alexis Sanchez a serious doubt and Danny Welbeck a confirmed absentee, the Gunners will be depending upon stocky and explosive winger Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain to stretch the West Ham backline with some lung-bursting runs on Sunday.
The 21 year-old perhaps goes a little underrated outside of the Emirates; last season he averaged 3.6 successful dribbles per match, which was only bettered throughout the Premier League by Chelsea’s Eden Hazard.
Limited output is probably the England international’s lingering criticism but if his superb strike against Chelsea last weekend, securing the Gunners a second consecutive Community Shield, is anything to go by, he’ll show vast improvements in that department throughout the coming season.
That also suggests he’ll enter the West Ham clash high in confidence and strong in form, so Aaron Cresswell could have a job on to keep Oxlade-Chamberlain in check, especially with right-back Hector Bellerin proving so potent on the overlap since becoming a Gunners regular last season.
That being said, Cresswell is a force in his own right, last season picking up the second-most assists of any player in the Hammers’ squad (4) after the now-departed Stewart Downing.
With Bellerin bombing forward, Oxlade-Chamberlain will need to ensure the Spaniard is covered at all times; the Hammers’ No.3 offers lethal delivery from his left peg and has the potential to produce a match-winning cross if he’s given the time and space to do so.
Everton have made a ‘formal complaint’ to the Premier League over the standard of refereeing after they were controversially denied a penalty against Manchester City on Saturday.
The lowdown
With around five minutes of normal time remaining at Goodison Park, and Everton trailing 1-0, VAR official Chris Kavanagh examined a possible handball by Rodri in the penalty area, with on-field referee Paul Tierney also failing to blow for a foul.
Kavanagh felt there wasn’t enough ‘conclusive evidence’ to award a spot-kick, but after further review, the Premier League Match Centre admitted that ‘it looks a penalty’.
BBC Sport pundit Alan Shearer was among those in the media to express his bewilderment at the decision, calling it ‘ridiculous’ on Match of the Day.
The latest
The Athletic’s Patrick Boyland tweeted on Monday morning: “Understand Everton made a formal complaint to the Premier League this morning over the officiating in recent matches. Not just about Rodri handball, but other decisions too”.
The journalist also shared a link to a corresponding article for The Athletic in which he revealed that Everton CEO Denise Barrett-Baxendale harbours ‘grave concerns’ over the standard of officiating in recent Toffees matched and has demanded that an apology be made to Frank Lampard and his players following Saturday’s controversy.
The verdict
Lampard said after the match that he expected an apology, or a statement admitting the error, but stressed that ‘it will mean nothing’.
Indeed, it could prove to be a particularly consequential moment in Everton’s season given that they find themselves just a point above the relegation zone with 14 matches left to play.
That’s two disputed penalty calls which have gone against The Toffees in as many weeks, with Oriol Romeu escaping punishment for what Noel Whelan called a ‘stonewall’ handball in the 2-0 defeat at Southampton.
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Therefore, it’s little wonder that the club’s management and hierarchy feel so hard done by, as such refereeing oversights simply aren’t good enough.
In other news, Boyland has also shared news of a recent injury blow for Everton
As reported by The Scottish Sun, Hibernian will face significant competition in the race to sign former Hamilton winger Ali Crawford this summer.
What’s the story?
Crawford has been a stand out at Hamilton for a number of season, but was one of the players who left at the end of the 2017/18 following the expiration of his contract.
It seems though that he won’t be lacking for suitors this summer.
The Scottish Sun report that as well as Hibs, the likes of Blackpool, Dundee and Motherwell are all interested in signing him ahead of the new season.
Normally rated as worth £630,000 by Transfermarkt, is he a player that Hibernian should be going all out to attract to Easter Road?
[ad_pod ]
What can he offer Hibs?
Crawford has one of the stand-out players in the Scottish Premiership for a number of years now. Although he struggled with injuries throughout last season, he still contributed three goals and three assists from 19 appearances.
In the three seasons prior to last year though he demonstrated he has the ability and consistency to shine for a club like Hibs, scoring 26 goals and assisting 32 goals in three Premiership years.
That’s an attacking contribution that would be very welcome at Easter Road next season in support of Florian Kamberi, who signed permanently for the club this week.
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Lennon improves most players he works with and working with 26-year-old Crawford could bring the winger’s game to the next level, and at least back to the heights that saw him become a star player for Accies.
On a free transfer, it’s a signing Hibs should prioritise this summer.
[brid autoplay=”true” video=”252976″ player=”12034″ title=”Watch 21 things that will definitely happen at the World Cup”]
Taking to Twitter, Liverpool correspondent James Pearce has revealed what Reds star Mohamed Salah did in the tunnel immediately after suffering an injury against Brighton this afternoon.
The Lowdown: Reds secure win…
The Reds secured a vital three points away to Brighton at the Amex with Jurgen Klopp’s side keeping chase on Premier League title rivals Manchester City.
Goals from Salah and new signing Luis Diaz in either half guided Liverpool to victory, but in potentially concerning news, their Egyptian talisman was taken off through injury.
Klopp elected to remove his star winger in the 65th minute after Salah went down needing treatment, with Pearce of The Athletic sharing something interesting he did in the tunnel immediately after coming off.
The Latest: Pearce shares Salah gesture…
As per the journalist, via Twitter, Salah threw his shirt to a Brighton supporter in what was a kind gesture and perhaps an indicator of his mood after the injury.
Pearce explained: “As Mohamed Salah went down the tunnel a Brighton fan asked for his shirt, Salah smiled, took it off and threw it to him.”
The Verdict: Good sign?
The 29-year-old’s good spirits to honour the Seagulls supporter’s request could be an indicator that his knock might not be as serious as some supporters may fear.
ESPN journalist James Olley reiterates that Salah walked unaided off the pitch when substituted by Klopp, further backing that there may be some positivity.
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As we await a more definitive update, Salah’s kind gesture to a home fan may well be a good sign ahead of this week’s trip to Arsenal.
In other news: Contact made: Liverpool make pre-summer move to sign ‘top level’ marquee record-breaker! Find out more here.
They might still be frustratingly inconsistent, but Chelsea are one of the most exciting projects in the Premier League.
Enzo Maresca’s side is usually the youngest in any given gameweek, and while that can cause problems, it’s also an indication of the club’s many hugely promising prospects.
For example, at just 24 years old, Moises Caicedo is one of the club’s oldest stars, while the two most exciting attackers, Cole Palmer and Estevao, are just 23 and 18, respectively.
Unsurprisingly, if reports are to be believed, Chelsea are once again on the lookout for young talent and seem to have their eye on someone who could be seen as a mix of Palmer and Estevao.
Chelsea target Palmer & Estevao hybrid
The summer window saw Chelsea continue their strategy of primarily signing young, up-and-coming talents who could have an impact this season but will truly hit their peak a few years from now.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
Sure, the likes of Jamie Gittens, Alejandro Garnacho and Jorrel Hato haven’t exactly been smash hits for the Blues, but given the fact that they are all 21 or under means they have the time to make their mark.
However, the most exciting youngster to make his way to West London in the summer was Estevao, who was signed in 2024, and the good news is the club now seem intent on signing another youngster who appears to be a lot like him and Palmer.
At least that is according to a recent report from TEAMtalk, which claims Chelsae are interested in Konstantinos Karetsas.
In fact, the report goes further than that, revealing that the Blues have already been in contact with the young Greek star and made it clear to his camp that ‘they want the next chapter of his footballing career to be in West London.’
However, it might not be as simple as that, with the story claiming that teams such as Bayern Munich, Arsenal, Liverpool and Paris Saint-Germain are also interested in the 18-year-old.
Finally, while a potential price is not mentioned in the report, stories linking the youngster to the Gunners back in June suggested he could cost around £38m.
Therefore, it could be a costly and complicated transfer to get over the line, but given Karetsas’ ability and potential, one Chelsea should pursue, especially as he could be another Estevao or Palmer.
Why Karetsas is like Estevao & Palmer
The first thing Karetsas shares in common with Palmer and Estevao is his positional versatility.
Like the two Chelsea stars, the young Greek has played in several positions across the pitch, but is primarily an attacking midfielder or right-winger.
Furthermore, the Genk-born dynamo has proven himself a serious attacking outlet.
For example, in 27 appearances so far this season, totalling 1731 minutes, he has scored two goals and provided ten assists.
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That comes out to an impressive average of a goal involvement every 2.25 games, or every 144.25 minutes, which would be a great rate of return for a seasoned veteran, let alone a teenager.
It’s not just the goals and assists that make the young dynamo a dangerous player in the vein of the two Blues stars.
For example, FBref rank him in the top 5% of attacking midfielders and wingers in the next best 14 leagues for carries, the top 6% for crosses, the top 7% for shot-creating actions and carries into the final third, the top 9% for successful take-ons and more, all per 90.
Karetsas’s Scout Report
Statistics
Per 90
Percentile
Fouls Drawn
3.29
Top 2%
Switches
0.82
Top 4%
Touches (Att 3rd)
31.62
Top 4%
Carries
41.83
Top 5%
Crosses
6.79
Top 6%
Total Carrying Distance
261.35
Top 6%
Shot-Creating Actions
5.43
Top 7%
Carries into Final Third
2.92
Top 7%
Touches
60.89
Top 9%
Successful Take-Ons
2.26
Top 9%
Key Passes
2.55
Top 10%
Progressive Passes
6.01
Top 12%
Progressive Carrying Distance
120.63
Top 12%
Progressive Passing Distance
180.91
Top 13%
Passes into Penalty Area
2.06
Top 13%
All Stats via FBref
Finally, like his potential new teammates, the “superstar in the making,” as dubbed by analyst Ben Mattinson, has already made a splash at the international level, winning nine senior caps for Greece, scoring three goals and providing one assist.
Ultimately, it might not be easy to get over the line, but Chelsea should do whatever they can to sign Karetsas, as he could be like another Estevao or Palmer for Maresca.
Chelsea have a "ridiculous" talent at Cobham who looks like the next James
The teenage sensation could follow in James’ footsteps at Chelsea.
Celtic have spent a significant amount of money on new players over the past few years in their efforts to win every domestic competition they play in and go as far as they can in Europe.
However, as tends to be the case with almost every club, not every completed transfer that sees a new player join the squad ends up being particularly successful.
One prime example of this with Celtic in recent memory is regarding striker Albian Ajeti, who the Hoops signed 83 weeks ago back in the 2020 summer transfer window for a fee of £4.5m from Premier League side West Ham United.
Since then, the 25-year-old has gone on to make 48 appearances for the Parkhead club across all competitions but has only managed to score nine goals and provide five assists in the process, which is less than what the club’s fans and hierarchy will have been hoping for in terms of his goal contributions given how long he’s been there.
His debut season with the Hoops saw the attacker score just six times in 30 appearances, highlighting the fact that he didn’t exactly hit the ground running at his new club.
This season has seen the Switzerland international make just 17 appearances and find the back of the net three times, which suggests that Ange Postecoglou doesn’t rate Ajeti as highly as some of his other attacking options such as Kyogo Furuhashi and Giorgos Giakoumakis who have both played more league minutes than him in this campaign.
As well as his lack of regular goal contributions, the former Hammers figure hasn’t done much to impress his manager when he has been able to get on the pitch, with WhoScored listing him as the second-lowest rated player currently in the squad to have started more than one league game.
In fairness, the centre-forward has had to deal with a significant injury issue that saw him miss 22 games between December and March which will have undoubtedly hurt his chances of convincing Postecoglou he deserves to be in the squad.
All in all, it’s safe to say that the player has pretty much rinsed the club out of a combined total of £5.9m from his transfer fee and weekly wages of £18k-per-week based on the lack of consistency he showed in terms of his goal contributions and overall performances.
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That certainly backs up what Frank McAvennie had to say by claiming that it was “unbelievable” the striker is getting paid by the club at all.
In other news: Cost £0, now worth £6.75m: Celtic hit the jackpot on “outstanding” £30k-p/w machine – opinion
While the heel injury West Ham United’s Jarrod Bowen picked up in the 1-0 defeat to Liverpool on Saturday does not appear to be anything serious, David Moyes nevertheless confirmed in his pre-match press conference that the 25-year-old will be unavailable for selection for tonight’s Europa League round of 16 clash against Sevilla.
As such, the 58-year-old Hammers boss must decide who should come in to replace the winger against Julen Lopetegui’s side, with Said Benrahma and Nikola Vlasic appearing to be the two most likely candidates.
However, while it is true that the Croatia international’s form has picked up somewhat in recent weeks, it is the 26-year-old Alergian who we believe would be the better choice of the two at the Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan Stadium this evening.
Moyes must unleash Benrahma
Indeed, it cannot be ignored that, following an extremely bright start to the current campaign, Benrahma has struggled to refind his impressive level of form prior to departing East London for the Africa Cup of Nations in January – with the winger having failed to score a goal or register an assist in his last six outings for the Hammers.
However, the £22.5m-rated forward’s returns over his six appearances – only two of which came as starts – in the Europa League earlier this season would appear to give him the edge over Vlasic, with the £58k-per-week dynamo having bagged three goals and created one big chance for his teammates in the competition, as well as taking an average of 2.3 shots and making 1.2 key passes per game.
These metrics saw the player who Joe Cole dubbed both “unplayable” and “exquisite” average an extremely impressive SofaScore match rating of 7.22 in the Europa League, ranking him as the Irons’ fifth-best player in the tournament.
In comparison, over Vlasic’s five starts in the competition, the £24.3m-rated forward failed to hit the back of the net, registered one assist and created one big chance for his teammates, as well as taking an average of 1.6 shots and making 0.6 key passes per game – with these returns seeing the 24-year-old average a SofaScore match rating of 6.76.
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As such, with Moyes desperately looking to replace the 12 goals and 11 assists of Bowen against Sevilla, there would very much appear to only be one choice between the Vlasic and the player Jurgen Klopp recently labelled an “outstanding” talent.
In other news: “We understand…”: Insider hints at early West Ham team news, Hammers will be buzzing