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West Ham have been offered the chance to sign an available striker in a late and desperate deadline day twist…

What’s the word?

According to beIN Sports correspondent Tancredi Palmeri, former Chelsea striker Diego Costa is an option for David Moyes’ side, he tweeted:

It comes several hours after transfer analyst Kristian Stuart mooted the London Stadium as the ‘most likely’ destination for the out-of-contract veteran.

And given he’s not under contract anywhere, the Hammers do not have to get this over the line before tonight’s 11pm deadline, though it would still signal an act of desperation on the Irons’ part as they have had all month to secure a new striker.

Much-needed addition

Indeed, the east Londoners have been looking to replace Sebastian Haller after the club-record £45m signing left for Ajax in a £20m deal at the start of the month.

Right now, Moyes is living rather precariously as he only has Michail Antonio to call upon in attack. If the 30-year-old were to pick up an injury, it could certainly derail the good form that’s seen them rise into fifth place.

He has already missed eight league outings this term, so there’s always a risk he could miss more given his history.

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Costa would be an interesting solution at this stage as there cannot be many other options out there this late – or after the window. The 32-year-old powerhouse has bags of experience in the top-flight.

He made 120 appearances for Chelsea, of which 89 were in the Premier League, where he bagged 52 goals – a rate of a goal every 1.7 matches in the competition, via Transfermarkt.

Earlier in the window, when Costa was initially linked, Paul Merson delivered his verdict on the potential move, claiming that he’d be “perfect for West Ham, absolutely perfect” to Sky Sports News [1:03 pm, January 2nd, 2021].

At this stage of the window, it is a case of getting someone in regardless of the quality, so in some ways Merson is right. Costa is the only ‘perfect’ option out there right now.

At least he valuable experience in the English top-flight, unlike several of their other mooted targets this month.

AND in other news,ÂWest Ham must strike as “top target” receives transfer blow…

MatériaMais Notícias

O comando do futebol vascaíno passou por mudanças após o rebaixamento do time para a Série B, no fim da temporada de 2015. Uma dessas mudanças foi o afastamento de José Luis Moreira do cargo da vice-presidência de futebol. Vice-presidente geral, Fernando Horta (que é presidente da Unidos da Tijuca) falou sobre como concilia o trabalho entre a escola de samba e o clube em entrevista à Rádio Brasil e também comentou sobre como anda a questão política vascaína após as polêmicas do ano passado.

– Eu sempre estive presente. O Vasco está unido. O Zé Luis pediu um licenciamento, é um grande vascaíno, está cuidando de assuntos pessoais. Esteve ontem (domingo) no jogo, todas as forças estavam lá e nós estamos unidos para fazer um Vasco forte – disse Horta.

A reportagem do LANCE! procurou o vice-presidente de futebol licenciado para saber se existe alguma possibilidade de retorno em pouco tempo ao cargo. No rápido contato, o dirigente limitou-se a dizer que continuará afastado para ficar mais próximo do filho, que está com problemas de saúde. E a previsão para voltar a direção vascaína é indefinida.

– Estive no jogo, mas continuo licenciado. Não tenho previsão para retornar. Vou ficar mais próximo do meu filho – disse Zé Luis.

Tradicional aliado de Eurico Miranda, José Luis Moreira não aprovou mudanças no futebol no fim de 2015 – como a saída de Paulo Angioni – e quis até renunciar, mas foi demovido na ocasião e entrou de licença. O tempo fez com que os problemas ficassem de lado e uma reaproximação, como a presença no clássico diante do Flamengo, parece estar acontecendo.

Leeds United and their fans will be delighted with their recent Premier League result which saw them come away from Goodison Park with a hard-fought three points. The victory lifts them higher up the table, just one point behind Manchester City.

It was winger Raphinha who came to the rescue with a late goal to tip the scales in his side’s favour. Marcelo Bielsa was thrilled with his performance and lauded Victor Orta for signing him in his recent post-match press conference.

However, the boss didn’t have praise for all of his players and targeted Liam Cooper, Stuart Dallas and Mateusz Klich for their struggles to keep James Rodriguez in check.

“We made a conscious effort to have someone close to him throughout so that he was not able to do the thing he likes to do the most,” Bielsa said. “And despite the efforts of Dallas, Cooper and Klich, he was a player who was very difficult to neutralise.”

Indeed, Rodriguez was Everton’s most dangerous player and he caused the Whites a lot of trouble. According to Sofascore, the Colombian completed five key passes and created a big chance for the Toffees to score. He also had two shots on target and was successful in 100% of his attempted dribbles, highlighting just how much of a thorn in the side he was for the Leeds defence.

Bielsa and his men will face Chelsea in their next outing and will need to tighten up their defence if they want to keep the likes of Timo Werner and Tammy Abraham at bay. The Blues pose a huge threat in front of goal and Leeds simply cannot afford to be lax at the back.

Skipper Cooper will particularly be disappointed and he must improve his and his defensive teammates’ game to stand a chance next weekend.

In other news, This Leeds ace was Bielsa’s star man against Everton…

Aston Villa must surely consider going back in for Reading midfielder John Swift, after rivals Sheffield United appeared to drop out of the race to sign him.

What’s the story?

The former England U21 international was the subject of intense speculation over the course of the summer transfer window, with reports even going so far as to claim that Villa were ready to make a bid for him.

That however failed to materialise before the end of the deadline, but Villa could be tempted to go back in for Swift given what Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder had to say about possible incomings for the Blades.

He said: “There are conversations. There won’t be permanent transfers. There will be loans. There’s been discussions through agents who represent players and through clubs as well. It’s a fluid situation, as you can imagine. I’d like to use both loans and I’ll be putting my recommendations to the board.”

Potential McGinn upgrade

With John McGinn woefully out of form this season for Villa – he’s managed no goals or assists in the Premier League since mid October – Smith must surely be looking at Swift as someone who could add a bit of dynamism and spark to the centre of midfield.

The Reading ace hasn’t featured much for the Royals this season due to injury, but he does have a track record of being someone who can offer a goal-scoring threat, managing 45 goal contributions in 152 games for the club.

And after he put an impressive performance against Leeds United last season in the Championship, Marcelo Bielsa made it quickly just how much he likes him, saying: “Swift is a great player. I rate him a lot. He is a player who appears suddenly in attack and the same in transition. Especially when he passes from the defence to the attack.”

The £4.5m-rated man could give Villa an extra edge in the middle of the park.

Meanwhile, Villa could land a surprise bargain in this Premier League star.

MatériaMais Notícias

Após comandar um trabalho dando prioridade à parte física dos jogadores no período da manhã, Ricardo Gomes deixou a bola rolar no treino da tarde desta sexta-feira. A outra novidade foi a presença mais significativa do público. O meia Octávio anotou três gols no final da atividade.

Com o sol menos escaldante, pouco mais de 20 torcedores estiveram acompanhando o último treinamento do dia, em General Severiano, e puderam assistir, por exemplo, aos trabalhos de troca de passes e chutes a gol. Neste segundo quesito, o recém-chegado Lizio se deu relativamente bem. Ele deixou sua marca, balançando a rede. Entretanto, na sequência, acabou isolando uma outra finalização.

Assim como na atividade matinal, Ricardo Gomes não contou com Gervasio Nuñez e Bruno Silva, que, pelo segundo dia consecutivo, ficaram liberados para resolverem problemas de documentação.

Outros reforços para 2016 puderam ser vistos em campo. Caso dos zagueiros Emerson Silva e Joel Carli. O argentino também se aventurou e mandou bola para a meta de Jefferson.

Por fim, o treinador usou metade do campo e dividiu o grupo em quatro times de seis jogadores cada, que se revezavam de dois em dois. Os goleiros Jefferson. Helton Leite, Saulo e Matheus Cabral também participaram do mini-coletivo. Entre uma “partida” e outra, o meia Octávio fez bonito, marcando três vezes na disputa derradeira.

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Convivendo com alguns problemas físicos, Taiberson não fez a temporada que desejava pelo Internacional em 2015. Visando o próximo ano, o jovem atacante espera que as lesões sirvam de aprendizado.

– 2015 foi um ano de aprendizado e amadurecimento, mesmo tendo altos e baixos. Quero fazer uma boa pré-temporada, com muito trabalho e esforço para conquistar meu espaço no grupo – afirmou através de sua assessoria de imprensa.

Aos 22 anos, Taiberson não conseguiu se firmar como titular da equipe em nenhum momento do ano, seja sob o comando de Diego Aguirre ou de Argel Fucks. Foram 17 jogos na temporada, com dois gols marcados.

Para o jovem atacante, com contrato até o fim de 2017, a atuação diante do Joinville, na vitória por 2 a 0 do Internacional, deve ser o parâmetro para o próximo ano.

– Tive um bom começo no Gauchão, fiz gols importantes, mas depois tive uma lesão. Recebi oportunidades no Brasileiro e tentei aproveitar da melhor maneira possível. Contra o Joinville, joguei os 90 minutos e sofri um pênalti. Foi um dos melhores jogos que fiz pelo Inter.

Além de Taiberson, o Internacional tem em seu elenco as seguintes opções de ataque para 2016: Rafael Moura, Eduardo Sasha e Valdívia. Enquanto Lisandro López acertou com o Racing (ARG), a situação de Vitinho segue indefinida. O Colorado negocia a renovação de seu empréstimo com o CSKA (RUS).

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It’s safe to say it’s been a very enjoyable few weeks if you’re an Aston Villa fan.

Dean Smith’s side kicked off the new Premier League season with a 1-0 win over Sheffield United, eased past their first two ties in the Carabao Cup, and have been doing some major business in the transfer market.

Now, French publication Foot Mercato claim that their work in trying to strengthen their first-team squad is not over yet, with a €17.5m (£16m) offer being made for Nice midfielder Wylan Cyprien.

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The report reveals that Villa are convinced of the 5 foot 11 ace’s potential, and even see him following a similar trajectory to that of Idrissa Gueye – the club’s former midfield ace who now plays for Ligue 1 and European giants Paris Saint-Germain.

Cyprien is a goal-scoring midfielder who has the ability to do most things in the engine room, with his former teammate at Nice, and current Fulham star, Jean Michael Seri, saying: “He is very capable and he knows how to do everything with the ball: dribble, shoot, score. And then, honestly, a 6 who can attack as well as he can defend, I have rarely seen that.

“I saw from the get go what he brings, but the moment at which I said to myself that he is a top player was at the Parc (des Princes – PSG’s stadium). In Paris, he showed that he is a phenomenon. Very few midfielders, at his age, take their responsibilities. He did and had a huge game. He is a great player, he can play anywhere.”

£16m seems like an absolute bargain for a player who can do all that.

Global talent and Liverpool target Kylian Mbappe could have his price tag lowered by Paris Saint-Germain if he doesn’t pen a new deal with the club.

The highly sought-after young talent will have just one year left on his current contract once this season is over. According to L’Equipe (relayed via @AnfieldEdition), the Ligue 1 champions may be willing to slash his transfer fee to £91m.

The Reds have been loosely linked with Mbappe over the course of the last 12 months, but recently talks seemed to have reignited. Recent reports claimed that Liverpool and Real Madrid had both entered talks with the World Cup winner over a potential move.

Mbappe’s current Transfermarkt value is a whopping £162m, which makes him the most expensive player on the database. Signing him for £91m will be a huge discount on what he is really worth.

Many Liverpool fans love the idea of making a move for him and are hoping that Michael Edwards can work his magic on a deal.

One supporter has tweeted ‘please I beg’, whilst another thinks that ‘we could get him’ next year.

Read more replies from the Anfield faithful here:

Do you think Liverpool can make a move for Mbappe happen? Join the conversation in the comments below!

With the joint-worst defensive record in the Premier League’s top-ten, it’s no surprise to see Tottenham being linked with a whole host of centre-backs ahead of the summer transfer window.

The futures of the likes of Jan Vertonghen and Juan Foyth are also very much up in the air, so a new central defender is likely to be even more of a major priority for Jose Mourinho’s side.

And according to The Daily Telegraph, the Lilywhites are looking at Sevilla powerhouse Diego Carlos.

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The report claims that whilst Spurs are involved in the race to sign Beijing Guoan defender Kim Min-jae, Carlos is another viable alternative for them. However, the one main sticking point behind doing a deal for the Brazilian, is his asking price, with Sevilla reportedly wanting in excess of £35m to part ways with the 6 foot ace.

After hearing about their links to Carlos, Spurs fans flooded to Twitter to share their reactions.

A few fans insisted that Daniel Levy simply wouldn’t be willing to shell out to sign someone like Carlos, and with that reported £35m asking price, it’s clear to see why.

Another Spurs fan in particular questioned why the club just didn’t go for a more proven and elite option like Napoli centre-back Kalidou Koulibaly.

Part of a Sevilla side currently lying in fourth place in La Liga and well in the fight for Champions League football next season, Carlos has been one of the standout performers.

The 27-year-old has featured in all but two of Sevilla’s league games this season, and boasts some pretty impressive defensive and passing stats when compared to someone like Toby Alderweireld.

As per Sofascore, he wins more total duels (4.1), averages a better passing accuracy (84%), and has committed no errors that have either led to a shot or goal this season, unlike Alderweireld who has made two.

Spurs have got plenty of options to decide over, but Carlos is playing in a side competing with the big boys in Spain, and seems to be more than holding his own.

TalkSPORT’s Jim White has said there is no chance of Steven Gerrard leaving his job as Glasgow Rangers manager despite interest from Bristol City.

The Championship club were said to be interested in the Ibrox outfit’s boss as they look to fill their own vacancy. Gerrard has been north of the border for the past two years, and is yet to win a trophy – at some point, he is likely to return to England anyway.

White, though, believes that he has no interest in leaving his current job. He said (via Bristol Live):

“It is our understanding that Steven Gerrard will be staying with Rangers as he has absolutely no interest in being anywhere else other than at Rangers.

“So Rangers fans will be breathing a sigh of relief because they want Gerrard at the helm as they go all-out next season to stop Celtic winning 10-in-a-row.”

This does not come as too much of a surprise – Gerrard has unfinished business to contend with at Ibrox. It would be a real shame if he were to depart the club at this point after failing what he initially set out to achieve, which was to win something in Scotland.

As said previously, he is likely to return to his homeland in the future, but it is far too soon for that, and he would likely want a more prestigious job than the one reportedly on offer here.

Let us know what you think below!