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West Ham United insider and reliable club source ExWHUemployee has now lifted the lid on a new transfer target in Arsenal left-back Ainsley Maitland-Niles.

The Lowdown: West Ham eye left-back…

Long-serving defender Aaron Cresswell is currently approaching the twilight phase of his career and it is believed that the Hammers wish to sign an additional left-back.

Searching for an heir to the Englishman, West Ham were believed to be closing in on a move for Chelsea full-back Emerson Palmieri, but that deal is now under threat due to personal terms.

As such, the east Londoners may now need to turn to alternatives as a long, gruelling Premier League season awaits for manager David Moyes and his squad.

The Latest; West Ham weigh Maitland-Niles move…

Taking to social media, insider ExWHUemployee has now claimed that Gunners left-back Maitland-Niles is on West Ham’s agenda before September 1.

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He explained, when asked about the 24-year-old (via Twitter):

“One of a number of domestic loans being considered I believe.”

The Verdict: Make the move?

Signing the versatile ace in a temporary deal would be quite a brilliant move by head of recruitment Rob Newman.

Still fairly young, Maitland-Niles is able to play in a huge variety of positions, including across midfield and on either flank defensively.

This could plug many holes in Moyes’ squad and especially defensively with the Englishman also attracting real praise in the recent past.

Former Liverpool striker Peter Crouch even called Maitland-Niles ‘tremendous’ with manager Mikel Arteta also calling him a ‘different player’.

The serious competition for starting places in Arsenal’s first eleven could be reason for him not featuring often, but given West Ham’s need for a left-back, a move across London may be ideal.

Journalist Pete O’Rourke has shared what could be a significant update on Tottenham Hotspur’s pursuit of Everton star Anthony Gordon this summer.

The Lowdown: Spurs real admirers…

As backed by reliable journalists like Alasdair Gold, Spurs hold a concrete interest in the Toffees winger after his brilliant 2021/2022 campaign in the Premier League.

The 21-year-old turned heads at Goodison Park and earned subsequent praise from members of the media for his performances, not to mention they seemingly lead to real admiration from the likes of Chelsea and Newcastle.

Both Thomas Tuchel’s side and the Magpies, like Tottenham, have also been linked with a move for Gordon with O’Rourke now sharing the latest.

The Latest: O’Rourke shares significant Gordon update…

Taking to social media, the reporter has made a Lilywhites claim involving the 21-year-old as September 1 looms.

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Indeed, O’Rourke now says Spurs are ‘ready’ to make a ‘late move’ to sign Gordon – rivalling their London counterparts Chelsea in the process.

He explained (via Twitter):

“Tottenham are ready to make a late move to rival Chelsea for Everton attacker Anthony Gordon. Spurs have held a long-term interest in Gordon and made an approach for him earlier in the summer.”

The Verdict: Make the move?

Called a ‘massive player’ for Everton by Toffees boss Frank Lampard, it will be difficult to negotiate a deal for Gordon given his importance to them and lateness of this window.

The Englishman would come with real quality, not to mention he is homegrown and able to balance Spurs’ troubling quota in that regard.

However, Everton may dig their heels in with just over a week of the summer market to go, so we believe Gordon’s potential signing may be one for another window, especially if a bidding war with Chelsea drives the price up.

Sunderland have been dealt a transfer blow after reportedly agreeing a deal with Brighton and Hove Albion to sign centre-back Jan Paul van Hecke on loan.

The Lowdown: Deal agreed

It was reported on Friday morning that a deal had been agreed between the Stadium of Light outfit and the Seagulls for Van Hecke to move to Wearside on loan.

However, in the afternoon it was reported that Alex Neil is set to become the new manager of Stoke City, leaving his post at the Black Cats and thrusting the club’s transfer plans into chaos.

The Latest: Deal in doubt

As per Sussex World, the proposed deal to take Van Hecke to SAFC is now in doubt after the news of Neil leaving the club.

There is uncertainty over its completion before the transfer window closes, as Sunderland prioritise looking for a new manager to replace Neil.

The Verdict: Worrying

It is certainly worrying for the club to see their move for Van Hecke potentially collapse due to Neil’s departure.

Having impressed while on loan at Blackburn Rovers in the Championship last term, manager at the time Tony Mowbray sung his praises, and even likened him to footballing legend Bobby Moore:

“He looks like Bobby Moore out there sometimes. It’s amazing to watch how composed, how calm he can be, yet he has the fire of a warrior in belly.”

Nonetheless, Van Hecke’s Championship experience would help the Black Cats after winning promotion from League One last campaign, but now it looks like they face a battle to get this deal over the line.

Wolves will be looking to pick up their first three points of the new season when they take on Newcastle United at Molineux on Sunday, and Bruno Lage can give his side a strong chance by unleashing Adama Traore.

The Old Gold have endured a difficult start to the new season, with just one goal and one point in the top flight thus far, with last season’s issues in front of goal seemingly still prevalent.

However, Lage’s side did pick up their first win of the new campaign in midweek as they earned a 2-1 win over Preston North End in the Carabao Cup, with Traore getting on the scoresheet with a superb volley.

Considering Pedro Neto has been heavily linked with a move to Arsenal in recent weeks, Lage might be better off starting Traore on the wing, as rumours of his potential exit have seemingly died down.

Traore’s pace and power down the right-hand side could cause all sorts of problems for Matt Targett in Newcastle’s defence and if he is on top form, he could be the catalyst for Wolves winning their first league game of the new campaign.

While the Spain international managed just one goal and no assists in the Premier League last season before his January move to Barcelona, his overall performances ranked him as the second-best player in Wolves’ squad (of those to make at least ten appearances), which suggests that he can still offer Lage a lot this season.

Neto has started the campaign poorly with no goals and no assists in three appearances, so perhaps it is time Lage looked to Traore, who should be in a confident mood after his goal last time out.

Jurgen Klopp was full of praise for Traore in 2020, hailing qualities that could devastate Newcastle if he’s at the top of his game:

“Traore is pretty much unplayable,” the Liverpool boss began. “I’ve said it a couple of times and it’s still true. He keeps the ball, holds the ball, and sets up goals obviously.”

Newcastle will arrive at Molineux looking to take all three points and having Traore’s game-changing counter-attacking threat on the pitch could definitely swing the game in the home side’s favour, as teams often do not know how to deal with his speed.

He puts fear in defenders and with Raul Jimenez and Goncalo Guedes also likely to feature in attack, he could occupy Newcastle’s back four and free up more space for the Wolves attackers to benefit from.

Therefore, Lage should hand him a rare start against Eddie Howe’s side, as he could easily inspire the Old Gold to three points if he is at his best.

West Ham United have endured a dire start to the new Premier League season thus far, having suffered five defeats from their opening seven top-flight games, including their latest loss at the hands of fellow strugglers Everton at Goodison Park.

The Hammers must be contemplating just what has gone wrong after two hugely impressive seasons under manager David Moyes prior to the current campaign, with the former Toffees boss having secured European qualification in successive seasons.

The east Londoners had looked set to build on that recent rise having enjoyed what had appeared to be a strong window with regards to recruitment – completing eight major summer deals – although those arrivals have failed to have the desired effect thus far.

It is not just the new faces who have underwhelmed at the London Stadium in recent months, however, with Jarrod Bowen one of the notable figures to have suffered a drastic downturn in performances following what had been a sparkling 2021/22 campaign.

Plucked from Hull City in January 2020 on a £20m deal, the 25-year-old has since gone on to become a key figure for the Irons in recent seasons, scoring 29 goals and registering 23 assists in 113 games in all competitions to date.

That haul was largely bolstered by a particularly fruitful run of goalscoring form last season, as the £96k-per-week menace scored 12 goals and registered a further ten assists in the top-flight alone, while his tally of 31 goal contributions in all competitions was the highest of any player in the West Ham squad last term.

Such sparkling form has seen the former Hereford United man linked with a move to Liverpool in recent times, with the winger potentially set to command a fee of around £75m were he to be sold in the near future.

Equally, that potent attacking threat saw the forward catch the eye of England boss Gareth Southgate at the end of last season, resulting in his first appearances at senior level for his country during the Nations League meetings in June.

To the surprise of some, the £37.8m-rated man has retained his place in the Three Lions squad for the upcoming international break, despite having endured a relatively “poor start” to the season in the words of Martin Laurence.

While the new campaign is still in its infancy, Moyes will no doubt be concerned that the wide man has failed to register a single goal or assist in the league thus far, scoring his only two goals in Europa Conference League qualifying and the subsequent group stage.

Although the Hammers boss has suggested there are “signs” that Bowen could be getting back to his best, the latter man failed to make the difference once again in the recent defeat on Merseyside, failing to record a single successful dribble and losing possession 20 times from just 59 touches.

The hope will be that the Leominster-born gem can rediscover his confidence over the next week or so while on international duty, with West Ham needing him to be fit and firing once league action resumes next month.

Everton ‘nailed’ their business in the transfer market this summer and it clearly shows on the pitch, according to pundit John Wenham.

The Lowdown: Everton’s transfer business

With the imperative need to revamp the Toffees’ squad ahead of the Premier League season, manager Frank Lampard got to work in the transfer market.

After £85m worth of deals was agreed, Everton welcomed nine additions to Goodison Park as they sought to overhaul the starting XI.

Seven games into the season, the Toffees sit 13th in the table. In their last match before the international break, new signing Neal Maupay scored the winning goal as Everton secured their first top-flight victory of the season over West Ham.

The Latest: Wenham’s claim

Wenham believes that Everton’s new signings made the difference for the Toffees as they came out victorious over the Hammers.

Speaking with Football Insider, the pundit sais: “Everton did very well to get that win against West Ham.

“I saw Frank Lampard very exuberantly celebrating the win. They seem to have made some good signings actually, it looks like they have nailed it. They have really upgraded the defence.

“I really like that all-England defensive partnership of Coady and Tarkowski and they finally have a fully fit striker. It was a great finish from Maupay as well.

“Onana seems to be featuring a bit more and they also have Anthony Gordon as well. There seems to be a bit of an identity building at Everton now which is important for them.

“That will get the fans on side. They will be hoping this revival can continue and get a few more wins on the board.

“Poor start to the season but there are some signs there that they can maybe avoid a relegation battle this season. They are a big club, they shouldn’t be down there.”

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The Verdict: Big season ahead

Following last season’s narrow escape from relegation, Lampard’s tenure as Toffees manager seemed under threat. As a result, it was imperative that Everton got off to a good start in the league this time round.

However, with a net transfer balance of -£32.6m this summer – already heavily deflated by Richarlison’s departure – the club’s board will be expecting better from the team, given the money spent.

Therefore, Everton will need to maintain good form and add a few more wins to their succession of draws. Otherwise, another relegation battle may ensue, as might speculation over some people’s future at the club.

David Moyes led West Ham United to just their second Premier League win of the season with a 2-0 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday evening.

It was a solid performance by Moyes’ team and should give them confidence going forward into a busy October.

One player in particular that stood out for West Ham, even more so considering he was playing at right-back instead of his usual centre-back spot, was summer arrival Thilo Kehrer, and he could well be one of the best signings of the transfer window.

West Ham have struck gold

The German defender was excellent against Wolves, making five tackles, four clearances, and winning five out of his eight duels as the Old Gold couldn’t find a way beyond the solid West Ham backline.

Since joining the club from PSG in the summer for a fee of just £10.1m, which was described by Roshane Thomas as a “brilliant addition” to the team, he has settled in extremely well.

Kehrer ranks third in the West Ham side for pass success rate (87.2%) and he has taken on average, 54.3 touches per match, proving he is always keen to get involved and keep the ball circulating. That element of composure is hugely important to Moyes who will no doubt value calm build up play from the back.

In the West Ham squad, Kehrer also ranks second for clearances per game (3.7), proving he he can also be no-nonsense in his approach. He ranks fourth for interceptions (1.5), and seventh for tackles per game (1.2), suggesting that he has eased into Premier League life and is adding some quality to Moyes’ backline.

With those numbers in mind, it’s hardly a surprise that Hansi Flick dubbed the versatile ace a “complete” player.

Further praise was forthcoming after the Europa Conference League win against Silkeborg, with writer Craig Morrison lavishing praise upon Kehrer, claiming he “is going to prove the bargain of the year”. Certainly, with his initial performances, this prophecy could well be spot on by the end of the season.

Indeed, the German defender is already valued at a whopping £26m by Football Observatory, a 157% increase on their initial investment.

The most remarkable thing about the move for the German, however, was Moyes selling Issa Diop for £15m and bringing the 26-year-old in as a replacement while still having the best part of £5m in the bank.

Getting rid of a player whose contract was set to expire next season and then signing a proven Germany international, is simply excellent business by Moyes and it could well be the deal of the summer.

Arsene Wenger led Arsenal to countless major trophies during his 22-year reign at the club, leading them to an undefeated Premier League season as well as a first-ever Champions League final.

It was perhaps the Frenchman’s vision in the transfer market, particularly in his first decade, which really enamoured him to the Arsenal faithful.

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The likes of Thierry Henry, Robert Pires, and Marc Overmars were all signed and contributed towards one of the greatest periods in the club’s revered history.

One of his most underrated signings was that of Theo Walcott in January 2006, with Wenger paying Southampton an initial fee of just £5m for the 16-year-old. He had to wait until his 17th birthday to sign full professional forms.

That summer, Walcott made headlines by being selected for Sven-Goran Eriksson’s England World Cup squad, without having played a single minute for Arsenal.

He didn’t feature at the tournament but made his Arsenal debut in August 2006 and scored just eight goals in his first two seasons.

Goal returns of six, four, 13, and 11 suggested he was developing into the player that saw Wenger bring him to the club in the first place.

It was 2012/2013 when he had a proper breakthrough, certainly in goal contribution terms, for the club. Buoyed on by being part of England’s Euro 2012 squad (scoring in a 3-2 win over Sweden) Walcott netted 21 goals and registered 16 assists in all competitions.

This proved to be the apex for the winger at Arsenal, with 2016/2017 being the only campaign that came close to matching those ridiculous heights (19 goals and two assists). His talents deserved more trophies, with the Englishman winning three FA Cups under Wenger, but his spell at the club coincided with their nine-year trophy drought.

The Frenchman lavished praise on the winger when he was going through the best scoring season of his career in 2013, saying he was “absolutely sensational” following the successful transformation at the club.

All in all, Walcott scored 108 goals and grabbed a further 80 assists during his 12-year spell in London, before moving to Everton and back to his first club, Southampton.

For £5m, Wenger certainly spotted a prodigious young talent. Whether or not he lived up to his early promise is up for debate, but 108 goals for Arsenal and 47 appearances for England suggest that the Frenchman saw something.

Much of Celtic’s success under Ange Postecoglou in recent times has been built on the Parkhead outfit’s impressive recruitment, with the club having invested wisely in a number of new faces over the past few transfer windows.

The likes of Reo Hatate, Matt O’Riley and Jota – among numerous others – have all arrived through the door during the 57-year-old’s tenure thus far, with the former Yokohama boss having developed a knack for spotting potential hidden gems.

That model of continually recruiting heavily window after window may not be a sustainable one, however, with the Old Firm side potentially needing to turn towards the youth ranks to find their next batch of talent, saving themselves millions in the process.

Centre-back Stephen Welsh is arguably the only notable recent academy graduate to have forced their way into Postecoglou’s first-team plans of late although there is undoubtedly an emerging crop of youngsters who could well be deserving of a chance in the senior set-up.

One such prospect who will be looking to follow in the footsteps of the likes of James Forrest and Callum McGregor by rising up from the youth level is that of 18-year-old forward, Tsoanelo Letsosa, with the teenager having been in sparkling form so far this term.

The Lesotho-born starlet – who joined the Glasgow side at the age of 12 – has already scored three goals and provided three assists in just 13 games in all competitions this season for the Hoops’ ‘B’ team and U19 side, recently netting in the UEFA Youth League triumph over RB Leipzig a week ago.

The Scotland youth international – as well as his teammates – were subsequently praised by coach Stephen McManus following that victory, who described his exciting side as being full of “terrific young players” who are set for a “bright future.”

Letsosa had shown his goalscoring quality last term after netting a stunning late equaliser in a 3-3 draw with Queen’s Park back in February, having also previously been linked with a move to Leicester City back in 2020 amid interest from former Celtic boss, Brendan Rodgers.

The Scottish champions were ultimately able to fend off that interest as the promising winger signed a new three-year deal at the time, with Postecoglou and co now simply needing to hand the speedster a chance to impress in the first team.

Glasgow Rangers bounced back from their midweek disappointment in Europe as Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s men returned to winning ways in the Premiership on Sunday.

The Light Blues were hammered 7-1 by Liverpool at Ibrox, despite taking the lead through Scott Arfield, but got that loss out of their minds quickly in order to beat Motherwell 2-1.

Rangers struggled throughout the first half as Croatian striker Antonio Colak was left isolated but they eventually wore the home team down.

Malik Tillman opened the scoring shortly after the start of the second half with a wonder goal. He picked the ball up just inside the opposition’s half and dribbled past a number of players before brilliantly slotting the ball past Liam Kelly.

John Lundstram, via a deflection, made it 2-0 from a corner before the 70th minute and the hosts pulled one back when Allan McGregor misjudged a free-kick and the ball went over his head into the far corner.

Whilst the American, Tillman, scored a wonderful goal for the Light Blues with the opening strike, the real star of the show for van Bronckhorst’s side was central defender Ben Davies.

Connor Goldson suffered an injury blow in the defeat to Jurgen Klopp’s side in midweek and the former Sheffield United loanee played alongside Leon King at the back.

It was far from a classic display from Rangers as they struggled to control the game in large parts, with Motherwell making it a scrappy affair. This meant that Davies had plenty to do as the home side attempted to hurt the Light Blues on the counter-attack and by being physical at the top end of the pitch.

He could do nothing about the goal that the Gers conceded as James Tavernier gave away the free-kick and McGregor was the only player capable of stopping the strike.

Defensively, he was a rock at the back as he dominated the Motherwell attackers throughout the match. As per SofaScore, he won six of his seven (86%) individual duels, including 100% (4/4) of his battles on the ground, which shows that he was able to stand up to the physical tests that were thrown his way.

He also made five clearances and two interceptions, without committing a single foul, as he dealt with almost every ball that came his way in the match.

In possession, the defender was composed on the ball and looked to play out from the back quickly to start attacks, completing 37 passes and four of his eight attempted long passes from 65 touches.

Davies was, therefore, the real star of the show as Rangers needed to dig in to grind out a result and his superb defending at the back was crucial to the side picking up a crucial three points.