أعلن الجهاز الفني للفريق الأول لكرة القدم بنادي الزمالك، بقيادة البلجيكي يانيك فيريرا، تشكيل مباراة وادي دجلة الودية اليوم.

ومن المقرر أن يلعب الزمالك أمام وادي دجلة، بعد قليل على ملعب نادي النادي بالعاصمة الإدارية، في إطار الاستعداد للموسم الجديد.

طالع| عضو الزمالك يوضح تطورات أزمة أحمد فتوح ويطالب بمعاقبته

وتم الاتفاق بين الفريقين على أن تكون مدة كل شوط 60 دقيقة، لمنح فرصة لجميع اللاعبين للمشاركة لفترة أطول في اللقاء.

ويواصل الزمالك، استعدادته للموسم الجديد، بإقامة معسكر في العاصمة الإدارية، ولعب خلاله مباراتين وديتين أمام رع والشمس، ويخوض المواجهة الثالثة اليوم أمام وادي دجلة. تشكيل الزمالك اليوم أمام وادي دجلة

في حراسة المرمى: محمد صبحي.

الدفاع: عمر جابر، محمود حمدي “الونش”، حسام عبد المجيد، هاني ياسر.

الوسط: نبيل عماد دونجا، سيف جعفر، عبد الله السعيد، ناصر ماهر.

الهجوم: شيكو بانزا، ناصر منسي.

Leeds United are back in action in the Championship for the second time in 2025 this afternoon as they travel away from West Yorkshire to take on Hull City.

The Whites head into this match off the back of a disappointing 1-1 draw at Elland Road against Blackburn Rovers on New Year’s Day on Wednesday.

Daniel Farke’s side appeared to be on course for all three points after Pascal Struijk’s 88th-minute penalty, only for Danny Batth to equalise for the away team just 90 seconds later.

The German head coach, with this game coming just three days later, may decide to make some changes to his starting XI, and one player who should come back in is Ethan Ampadu.

Why Ethan Ampadu should start

Firstly, the Wales international, who only recently returned from a lengthy absence with a knee injury, is the club captain and this suggests that he brings quality leadership on the pitch that will be needed if Leeds are to mount a successful promotion push.

Also, Ampadu brings energy and strength to the middle of the park, which is something that Joe Rothwell did not provide with his performance last time out.

The English midfielder, who started next to Ao Tanaka, ended the game with zero duels won, zero tackles, zero interceptions, and only one duel contested.

Ampadu, meanwhile, has averaged 2.8 tackles and interceptions per game and won 5.4 duels per match, at a success rate of 69%, which suggests that he could offer significantly more to the team out of possession.

The former Chelsea man is not the only player who should be drafted into the starting line-up, as Farke should also bring Largie Ramazani back into the fold.

Why Largie Ramazani should start

The Belgian forward was an unused substitute against Blackburn after he struggled in his start against Derby, which was his first start since returning from an ankle injury.

Ramazani missed a ‘big chance’ to open the scoring and only created one chance in his time on the pitch, before being substituted for Manor Solomon.

The Leeds whiz, who was described as “explosive” and a counter-attack “weapon” by Jacek Kulig, has shown plenty of signs of quality in a Leeds shirt this season, particularly prior to his injury, though, and should be given another chance to build up his match sharpness.

As you can see in the table above, Ramazani has scored three goals and provided one assist this season, and all of those contributions came in his first eight appearances and six starts.

This shows that the potential is there for the 23-year-old whiz to be an excellent option for Farke in the final third, but he needs game time to build himself back up and that is why he should be unleashed against Hull today.

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Solomon started on the left and offered little against Blackburn, with zero shots and zero ‘big chances’ created, and should be dropped from the team to make way for the former Manchester United academy starlet.

da pinup bet： Arsenal have asked Bayern Munich about signing a “ridiculously talented finisher” in Vincent Kompany’s squad, with manager Mikel Arteta also said to be a real fan of his, as the Spaniard seeks fresh forward options.

Arsenal target striker as January window clock ticks down

da premier bet： Just days remain of this year’s January transfer window, and interim Gunners sporting director Jason Ayto is running out of time to hand Arteta a much-needed new striker before the deadline on February 3rd.

Related Fabrizio Romano: Arsenal have made recent contact over signing £85m striker

The Gunners are still chasing a forward.

Posts 1 ByEmilio Galantini Jan 29, 2025

A host of high-profile centre-forwards have been linked in the past few days, with reliable journalist Fabrizio Romano even reporting that Arsenal made recent contact with Aston Villa over Jhon Duran, despite the Colombian’s reported £85 million asking price.

Arsenal’s next five Premier League games

Date

Man City (home)

February 2nd

Leicester City (away)

February 15th

West Ham (home)

February 22nd

Nottingham Forest (away)

February 26th

Man United (away)

March 9th

As well as Duran, the likes of Benjamin Sesko, Viktor Gyokeres, Victor Osimhen, Igor Jesus and Matheus Cunha are all rumoured Arsenal striker targets from the last month, but as the January clock ticks down, the chances of landing a quality, prolific new name grow slimmer and slimmer.

Arsenal will be without Gabriel Jesus for the remainder of 2024/2025, after the Brazilian ruptured his ACL in an FA Cup third round defeat to Man United, while star winger Bukayo Saka isn’t expected to return until March.

This has left the north Londoners very short in the final third, with new transfer targets appearing on a consistent basis as we fast approach deadline day.

Now, according to a report by TEAMtalk, Arsenal have emerged as contenders to sign Bayern Munich starlet Mathys Tel.

The Frenchman has decided to leave Bavaria this month, handing a boost to his potential suitors, with Arsenal now joining the frantic late race for his services.

The versatile striker is well and truly up for grabs, with TEAMtalk expanding on their interest.

Arsenal make contact with Bayern Munich over signing Mathys Tel

They report that Arsenal have asked Bayern about the conditions of a deal for Tel, who’s struggled to battle his way into Kompany’s starting elevens consistently, despite possessing an abundance of quality and a glowing reputation abroad.

Arteta is also a fan of the 19-year-old, and Arsenal are in a “good position” when it comes to potential negotiations, due to their status as a Champions League club and contenders atop the Premier League table.

People close to Tel are also convinced that he could seize the Arsenal striker’s spot long-term, and this is echoed by Football Analyst Ben Mattinson.

“Ridiculously talented finisher (better than what we have) and if you convince him to stay long term, he could replace Gabriel Jesus/Trossard,” wrote Mattinson on X, regarding his suitability to Arsenal. “Huge fan of Tel, huge opportunity if available, even if it’s just on a straight loan for 6 months.”

Arsenal, according to other reports, would have to pay around £40 million to strike a permanent deal for the teenager.

Sheffield United are now plotting a move for a “clinical” Championship star to strengthen a priority position, according to a recent report.

Blades pushing for promotion

Chris Wilder’s side are faring very well in the Championship as we approach the end of the January transfer window, after a solid recent run of form. The Blades are in a very strong position to return to the Premier League at the first attempt, and they are trying to capitalise on the opportunity that has presented itself by making signings capable of aiding their promotion push.

The main aim this month has been to strengthen in attacking areas, and it is job done for Wilder on that front, having moved swiftly to bring in Ben Brereton Diaz and, most recently, Tom Cannon.

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As such, the United boss may turn his attentions towards reinforcing other areas of the squad, and Football League World report that signing a new defender is now a priority, in order to replace Harry Souttar, who suffered a season-ending injury in December.

Queens Park Rangers’ Jimmy Dunne has now emerged as a target for the Blades, with the defender out of contract at the end of the season, which means he could be available this month if Wilder pushes to get a deal done.

QPR are having a decent season themselves, now just four points off the play-offs, but they risk losing the 26-year-old for free in the summer if they don’t cash in this winter.

Although Jack Robinson has performed well in Souttar’s absence, Sheffield United are keen to bring in a replacement for the Leicester defender, and they are now plotting a move for Dunne.

Dunne could be the perfect Souttar replacement

Souttar was particularly impressive in the air during his stint at Bramall Lane, and there are signs the QPR defender could be a like-for-like replacement in that regard, having also displayed his aerial ability on a regular basis over the course of the past year.

Statistic per 90

Jimmy Dunne

Harry Souttar

Clearances

5.69 (99th percentile)

5.55 (89th percentile)

Aerials won

4.86 (99th percentile)

3.87 (92nd percentile)

Blocks

1.06 (48th percentile)

0.97 (15th percentile)

Interceptions

1.11 (59th percentile)

1.27 (65th percentile)

Tackles

2.22 (66th percentile)

1.12 (34th percentile)

As shown, Dunne is outperforming Souttar on almost every key defensive metric, so he could be the perfect replacement for the injured Australian.

Not only that, but the £8,500-a-week defender is also a threat on the front foot, having been lauded as “clinical” by journalist Sam Tabuteau at the end of December, and he now has four goals to his name in the Championship this season.

The Blades are already in a very strong position to seal promotion to the Premier League, but signing a top defender could help them get over the line, and Dunne is showing signs he could be the perfect addition to the squad.

England seamer happy to talk up rivalry ahead of attempts to reclaim the urn this summer

Alan Gardner29-Mar-2023Ollie Robinson has been likened to Glenn McGrath for his height and metronomic bowling style, and the England man seems keen to fulfil a similar pantomime villain role when it comes to the Ashes.Having suggested a couple of weeks ago, in an interview with BBC local radio, that England could give Australia “a good hiding” this summer, Robinson was happy to once again talk up his side’s chances while on pre-season media duties for Sussex at Hove. “The way we’re playing cricket, we feel like we can really stick one on them and win the series comfortably,” he said with a smile.For Robinson, who ended the previous Ashes in Australia under scrutiny about his fitness levels, having been last man out at Hobart to complete a 4-0 drubbing, this summer’s contest also represents an opportunity to atone – albeit 11 wickets at 25.54 put him second on the England averages in 2021-22.Related

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“There’s definitely a desire there still, a hunger to put it right,” he said. “I felt when I got back from that trip I didn’t leave it all out there and I’d let myself down and the side down a little bit. So it’s definitely something I want to put right and there’s a few fellas in that position as well. So there’s a lot of hungry boys this summer to beat the Aussies again.”Of his recent comments, he said he was happy to have fired the first shots in the 2023 Ashes phoney war: “I was talking to local radio but I was happy that it got out. I mean it’s been happening in every Ashes series for years – Glenn McGrath says 5-0 every Ashes. We say 5-0 every Ashes. It’s one of the biggest series we play, it only comes around every four years in England, so why not talk it up? Get it going, get it big and give the fans what they want.”I think the cricket we’re playing at the moment makes it such an exciting time to play them. We’ve been dominating teams in all conditions for 12 months now. In England we dominated, in Pakistan we dominated and in New Zealand we played most of the cricket for nine days and lost on the last day because we probably weren’t quite there. But I think the way we’re playing cricket, we feel like we can really stick one on them and win the series comfortably.”Robinson is currently No. 6 in the world on the ICC’s bowler rankings, and looks a leaner, fitter presence after heeding the advice of his Test captain, Ben Stokes, last year. He is set to play “three or four” of Sussex’s opening six County Championship games, as part of his preparations for the Test summer, and said that he had already begun to focus his training on pitching the ball up again, after feeling that he had slipped into bowling “pretty” lengths during England’s 1-1 draw in New Zealand last month.He will also be able to practice his Ashes smack talk in the dressing room in a few weeks, with Australia’s Steven Smith due to arrive for a three-game stint with Sussex in May.”It’ll be good to have him here,” Robinson said. “For county cricket it’s great to have Steve Smith at Sussex. For myself, it’s not going to change a huge amount. I’ll prepare the same way. I might get a better look at him in the nets.”I might not bowl at him to be honest. We’ll see how it goes. But we had [Cheteshwar] Pujara here last summer and we played India and I bowled at him a lot. I don’t read too much into it. He’s a good player, he’s going to get runs whether I bowl at him here or not. It’s one of those things.”The signing of Smith, who will be looking to attune himself to English conditions ahead of Australia’s appearance in the World Test Championship final against India, and then the subsequent Ashes, prompted familiar questions about whether the county system should be providing such a service for England’s great rivals.But Paul Farbrace, Sussex’s new head coach and England’s assistant the last time they won the Ashes in 2015, argued that the presence of Smith could potentially be of benefit to Stokes and Brendon McCullum in the long run – with Tom Haines, who scored a century on debut for England Lions over the winter, foremost among a crop of young batters at Hove who will be looking to learn from the way Smith goes about his business.”We want to keep county cricket strong and we want the best players coming to play county cricket,” Farbrace said. “In Tom Haines we’ve got a player who could very much be playing for England in the next 12-18 months. If he spends a month with Steve Smith, batting in the middle and learning about international cricket from him, then Steve Smith is doing English cricket a huge favour.”As long as we can remember, county cricket has been the finishing school for cricketers from all over the world. I was lucky enough to play against Viv Richards and Richard Hadlee and people like that. These players came over and enhanced county cricket. Either we want county cricket to be the best version of cricket in the world it can be or we want it to be second-rate where we don’t want overseas players.”If you ask members and supporters, they want to watch the best players. We moan when we can’t see our own international players, so let’s get the best internationals we can over here and make county championship cricket the best it can be. If it means Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne come and get an opportunity before the Ashes, why not? Absolutely why not?”

Sheffield United have now agreed a deal to sign a new player for Chris Wilder as they look to end the January transfer window on a high in their bid for promotion back to the Premier League, according to a fresh report.

Sheffield United need additions

Though they have been one of the busier Championship sides this January, injuries mean that Sheffield United still need additions.

Wilder’s side have already added reinforcements in attack in the shape of Tom Cannon and Ben Brereton Diaz from Leicester City and Southampton respectively, with the two combining to help the Blades edge past Derby County in their most recent outing.

Meanwhile, fellow new signing Hamza Choudhury was named man of the match for his performance in the heart of the Blades midfield after joining the club on loan from Leicester City.

And reinforcements have arrived at the back too, with Wilder’s side sealing a deal for Harry Clarke, while the Blades are also closing in on a pair of deals to sign wingers recommended by AI in a deal driven by their new owners.

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But at least one more addition is still needed after a serious injury to Harry Souttar, who was ruled out for the season in the New Year after suffering an Achilles injury on Boxing Day.

“We are after a centre-half, no doubt about it”, Wilder explained after the win against Swansea City four days ago.

Now, it seems that the Blades are finally moving to address the issue, and are closing in on a deal to land another new face.

Sheffield United agree loan move for defender

That is according to a fresh report from Football Insider, which claims that Sheffield United have now agreed a deal with Crystal Palace to take Rob Holding on loan for the remainder of the season.

The former Arsenal defender was Gunners legend Paul Merson dubbed “reliable” during his time at the Emirates Stadium, where he was often relied upon by Mikel Arteta when he wanted to see a game out.

However, he has hardly featured since moving to south London after falling out with Oliver Glasner, with his only senior appearance coming in the EFL Cup before he was suspended from the first team by the Eagles head coach.

Appearances

162

Goals

5

Yellow Cards

22

Red Cards

1

Now, his south London nightmare appears to be coming to an end at least temporarily, with the former England U21 international now closing in on a move to South Yorkshire.

As per the report, “the Blades have won the race to land the 29-year-old centre-back on loan for the remainder of the 2024-25 campaign” as they look to continue their push for promotion, though there is no mention of just how much of Holding’s £45,000 a week wages Wilder’s side will be asked to cover for the duration of his time at Bramall Lane.

With plenty of experience to his name, should he be match-sharp Holding could well be the perfect short-term replacement for Souttar, and could be a key part of Sheffield United’s hopes of an instant return to the top flight.

Still looking to commence their January business, Liverpool are now reportedly battling against former manager Jurgen Klopp to sign a future star who is attracting plenty of interest.

Liverpool transfer news

Having opted not to splash the cash in the summer transfer window upon Arne Slot’s arrival, some may have expected the Reds to hand the Dutchman one or two reinforcements this month, but so far that has not been the case. Top of the Premier League and top of the Champions League – and both very convincingly so – those at Anfield have so far decided that Slot’s squad good enough as it is.

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Instead, Liverpool have been forced to think about potential departures this month. Trent Alexander-Arnold, Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah are still yet to put pen to paper on new deals and that has only sparked exit rumours, particularly in the case of Alexander-Arnold. With Real Madrid’s interest no secret these days, the right-back has seen his name linked to the Bernabeu since the beginning of the month.

That’s not to say no rumours over potential incomings have arrived, however. According to Graeme Bailey for The Boot Room, Liverpool are now battling Klopp to sign Ryan One from Sheffield United. The 18-year-old has impressed for the Blades and earned interest from Anfield, Brighton & Hove Albion and Red Bull clubs RB Leipzig and Red Bull Salzburg as a result.

Whether the Reds make their move as early as this month remains to be seen, but seeing Michael Edwards and Richard Hughes square off against Klopp in the transfer market would certainly be an interesting scenario a year on from when the German announced he would leave at the end of the last campaign. That said, One could be a player to watch in the final days of the winter window.

"Powerful" One is a rising star

At just 18 years old, One is already making an impact for Sheffield United’s senior side under Chris Wilder, scoring once in two starts and 10 appearances in the Championship. As things stand, the only way is up for the young forward who may yet have the biggest decision of his career so far to make in the coming weeks or months.

The striker role is certainly one that is up for grabs at Liverpool, even for a player as young as One. With Darwin Nunez yet to convince, Diogo Jota proving unreliable thanks to his injury record and Luis Diaz merely a square peg in a round hole, any forward who is good enough should be considered ready enough to lead the line at Anfield.

One has unsurprisingly found himself at the centre of praise in recent months, including from Scottish football experts Scotball, who described the young Scotland forward as “powerful” at the start of the month.

A player to watch, One could find himself playing Premier League football with or without Sheffield United by the time that next season arrives.

Liverpool fans have been given fresh hope over the future of star right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold.

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Liverpool fans hoping for positive Alexander-Arnold newsClub owner's wife posted cryptic update on InstagramEngland international heavily linked with Real MadridFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Linda Pizzuti, the wife of Liverpool owner John W. Henry, was in attendance for the Premier League title-sealing victory over Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday and sent fans into a frenzy with her response to a comment on an Instagram post regarding Alexander-Arnold, who has been tipped to join Real Madrid upon the expiry of his contract at Anfield this summer.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Alexander-Arnold's deal with the Reds runs out at the end of the season and Madrid have been heavily tipped to make him their latest free transfer bargain, having taken the likes of Kylian Mbappe and Antonio Rudiger on similar deals in recent years. The England international has remained tight-lipped on his future but a final decision is expected imminently before the summer transfer window.

WHAT PIZZUTI SAID

The caption of Pizzuti's Instagram post reads: "A magical moment of connection, community, hopes, and pure joy. After more than 14 years with the club, this was truly a dream come true. Thank you, Liverpool."

One fan then replied "Just throwing in that Trent photo" with an eye emoji, to which Pizzuti's responded with an eye emoji of her own.

DID YOU KNOW?

Alexander-Arnold was seen chatting with Liverpool owner Henry after beating Spurs, with a professional lipreader claiming the defender was told to "do the right thing" in regards to his future. While Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk have ended uncertainty around their own futures by signing contract extensions, no new deal has materialised for the 26-year-old.

With CONCACAF arguably the deepest it's ever been, GOAL looks at the North American stars ruling the region

Who is the best player in CONCACAF? The debate rages on – and rightfully so. With around 400 days until the 2026 World Cup, all eyes are on the region, especially as the U.S., Canada, and Mexico prepare to host. The CONCACAF Nations League offered another stage for the region's biggest stars to shine, and it's safe to say Mexico's triumph shook things up. Now, all eyes are on the Gold Cup, a tournament that will once again put this region's best on display.

Determining the best isn’t easy. CONCACAF is arguably deeper than ever in terms of talent. For years, the U.S. and Mexico dominated, but that’s no longer the case. The rise of teams such as Canada, Panama and Jamaica has made this debate more intriguing, thanks to their own standout players.

Panama, the competition's underdog, defeated the U.S. to book a date with Mexico in the Nations League finale, and it was only a late penalty call that undid their quest for a trophy. And Canada denied the U.S. any sense of redemption by winning the third-place game over the three-time defending champions. All four will be among the favorites at the Gold Cup this summer, as all feature some of the best players in the region.

When evaluating the best, several factors come into play, but none more than form – at both club and international level. The truly great players deliver no matter the jersey. That’s what sets them apart.

So who are the best players in CONCACAF right now? GOAL takes a look.

• Getty Images
  

  7Alphonso Davies: Canada ⬇️

  Davies will soon fall off this list, but it's worth mentioning him at the moment.

  The Canadian star tore his ACL in Canada's win over the USMNT, an unfortunate setback at a key time. The injury has put Canada and Bayern Munich at odds, but the hope is that cooler heads will prevail on both sides. The good news is that he'll be back in advance of the World Cup, but he'll need to recover.

  On his day, Davies might be the best player in this region, one with an unmatched ability to break a game open. There's a reason he's just signed a new Bayern contract, ending any hopes of a Real Madrid move: Bayern need him. And they will hope to have him back at full health.

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• Getty Images
  

  6Santi Gimenez: Mexico ⬇️

  His strike partner did all of the heavy lifting during the Nations League, but EL Tri fans have plenty of reasons to remain high on their young AC Milan star.

  He assisted Joao Felix in his Milan debut, scored his first goal just a few days later, and then netted in the Champions League loss to his former club Feyenoord. In total, he has three goals in his first 13 games in all competitions, a decent haul given the leap in level. Milan will need more of him going forward but Gimenez wasn't a player brought in for a quick fix. He's one for the future and Milan will see a better version of him next season, for sure.

  As for Mexico, Gimenez proved he can play as a second striker during the Match window, helping lead El Tri's attack in the Nations League. Gimenez still has a lot of growing to do if he's going to be the prolific goalscorer many think he can be on the international level.

  With just four goals in 34 appearances, and none since 2023, Gimenez is due for a major leap with El Tri and should be given a real chance to make a starting spot his own on the road to the World Cup.

• Getty
  

  5Tyler Adams: USMNT ⬆️

  A healthy Adams is key for both Bournemouth and the USMNT, who are both benefiting from the midfielder's return earlier this year.

  For the USMNT, that difference didn't result in team results, but the eye test made it quite clear how much Adams adds to the midfield. The debate rages when it comes to him having another defensive-minded midfielder next to him – and the fact that it is a debate illustrates just how much ground Adams can cover.

  He remains the key player in the USMNT's spine and, just as importantly, he's still the best leader this team has. He's been thriving for Bournemouth, too, earning the club's Player of the Month honors for February.

  With Adams healthy, Bournemouth are making a push for a European spot, although they do have some significant ground to make up in that race. His injury issues seem behind him, which means Adams can now reclaim his place among the best in CONCACAF.

• Getty
  

  4Antonee Robinson: USMNT ↔️

  The assist numbers have dried up in recent months, but there's no denying that the American fullback has been elite in the Premier League this season Only one player, Mohamed Salah, has more assists in England's top flight this season – with the Liverpool star at 17 to Robinson's 10.

  Robinson remains in a four-way tie for second despite an assist drought dating back to February. Still, Robinson continues to play at the highest of levels for Fulham, a team that is generally doing well in the world's fiercest league.

  If you didn't believe that before, just look at how much the USMNT dropped off without him in the XI in the Nations League. With Robinson injured, the U.S. struggled with width, something that the Fulham star adds to the team every time he's on the field. They'll need that at the Gold Cup this summer if they hope to put this spring's disaster behind them.

A European giant are now in talks to sign one of West Ham’s first-team players this month as they look to raid Graham Potter’s side in the winter window.

Potter's West Ham debut ends in defeat

After taking over from Julen Lopetegui with West Ham sitting down in 14th in the Premier League, Potter’s first game ended in defeat as his side were knocked out of the FA Cup by Aston Villa.

Despite that, the new Hammers boss saw plenty of positives from that performance. “Our performance gave me a lot of encouragement, the way the players tried to do what we asked them to do. We’re just disappointed now because we’re out and wanted to go through.

“We just try to get the team into a good shape. The talent is there but it’s just about trying to get the team together as a collective. That’s what we’re trying to do.”

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However, the defeat is set to have longer-term implications for Potter, with Niclas Füllkrug having been substituted off after just 15 minutes through injury, and reports have claimed that he will miss up to three months after scans confirmed the significance of the issue.

That means that West Ham may well be forced into the transfer market, with Michail Antonio also sidelined indefinitely after a car crash last month, while Jarrod Bowen is still recovering from a broken foot, leaving Danny Ings as the only recognised option to lead the line.

But first, they will have to fight off interest in other members of their first team between now and the end of the January transfer window.

European club table bid for West Ham midfielder

Now, according to Fabrizio Romano, AS Monaco have made an offer to sign Mexican midfielder Edson Alvarez on loan this month.

The Ligue 1 side are third in France as things stand, and are looking to bolster their ranks to ensure that they qualify for the Champions League again this season.

To that end, they have made an offer to sign the West Ham man, tabling an initial loan offer for the 27-year-old for the remainder of the campaign.

Unsurprisingly, West Ham have rejected this offer, having signed Alvarez for £35m just 18 months ago and with the Mexican still having three and a half years left to run on his £100,000 a week deal at the London Stadium. He is considered an “important player”, as peer Romano, something that makes a move tricky for the Monegasques.

Handed a start in Potter’s first game in charge, Alvarez has been a regular when fit for the Hammers this season, starting 11 games.

He could continue to figure for the new West Ham boss should he remain at the club. However, in news that may concern Hammers fans, Romano adds that talks continue “as Monaco want Alvarez and can offer UCL football”, while West Ham look on course to miss out on European football altogether barring a major turnaround in the second half of the campaign.