AFFILIATE SEARCH | Shop Amazon.co.uk using this search bar and support WHO!
Ad blocker detected: Our website is made possible by displaying online advertisements to our visitors. Please consider supporting us by disabling your ad blocker on our website.
"Standard Baylee Dipepa: West Ham join race for teenage English striker The Hammers are one of a number of clubs keen on the Port Vale teenager Simon Collings West Ham have joined the race for Port Vale's teenage striker Baylee Dipepa. The 17-year-old made his debut this season and became Port Vale's second-youngest goalscorer in March. He was then called up to the England squad for the European Under-17 Championship. Dipepa scored in England's opening 4-0 win over France and is hoping to keep his place for Friday night's game against Portugal. Scouts are keeping a close eye on Dipepa and it is understood that West Ham are one of a number of clubs tracking him. The Hammers are expected to face competition from clubs in the Midlands for Dipepa, who signed his first professional contract in January. The deal runs until the summer of 2026 and Port Vale have high hopes for the striker, who has been with them since he was eight. “His profile as a player is an exciting one, he possesses a lot of attributes and qualities required to be a successful striker in the modern game,” Port Vale’s director of football David Flitcroft said when Dipepa signed his contract. “Professional contracts at this club are not given, they’re earned and Baylee has certainly earned his. If he continues his hard work and focus, there is no ceiling to what he can achieve at the club.”"
"Think I’d rather Greaves from Hull than Kilman, not sure if Kilman is all that good tbh. If we could get one player out of Wolves it’d be Cunha or Gomes for me. I just hope we finally sign a fucking centre forward this summer, I know we need about 8 players but I’d be content with most of our budget going on couple decent CB’s & a Striker."
"Oh that's nice ain't it, ask for my opinion which I give then dismissively cսnt me off. You're certainly, Eerie, alright.. I look forward to his hopeful arrival and returning to this discussion on him."
"Guardian Lopetegui has Kilman among West Ham targets but Paquetá charge hits plans At least six signings wanted but budget will depend on sales Lopetegui arrives as head coach vowing to make ‘big, big noise’ Jacob Steinberg West Ham’s plans to overhaul their squad after confirming the appointment of Julen Lopetegui, who wants the Wolves defender Maximilian Kilman among at least six signings, will be affected by the Football Association charging Lucas Paquetá with alleged betting breaches. Paquetá has an £85m release clause and was a target for Manchester City. But he is unlikely to move this summer and West Ham had factored his potential sale into their budget. It is understood that they have been preparing for both scenarios but the absence of a big sale would leave Lopetegui with less money to spend. West Ham are determined to keep the Ghana attacker Mohammed Kudus, whose release clause becomes active next year. Lopetegui, who vowed to “make a big, big noise” after replacing David Moyes, has held talks over plans to make six to eight signings. West Ham are looking for two central defenders, a right-back, a midfielder, a right-footed left winger and a forward. They are also looking to sign a third-choice goalkeeper. West Ham, who have handed Lopetegui a two-year deal with the option of a one-year extension, are prioritising defensive reinforcements after conceding 74 goals in the Premier League. They have explored a deal to sign the 28-year-old Brazil centre-back Fabrício Bruno from Flamengo, and intend to revive their move for Kilman, who was targeted by Moyes in January. Wolves will want about £45m for Kilman, who is one of their most important players. It will not be easy to sign Gary O’Neil’s captain, even though Wolves have financial challenges. West Ham have also been monitoring the Hull centre-back Jacob Greaves. Moyes’s back four struggled with form and fitness last season. Kurt Zouma, the captain, has had injury problems and Nayef Aguerd wants to leave. Angelo Ogbonna has not been offered a new deal and Konstantinos Mavropanos has been unconvincing since joining from Stuttgart. West Ham also need an upgrade on Vladimir Coufal at right-back, particularly with Ben Johnson due to depart. Ademola Lookman, who scored a hat-trick in Atalanta’s triumph over Bayer Leverkusen in the Europa League final, has been mentioned as a possibility on the left wing. There is interest in Sporting Lisbon’s Marcus Edwards and Coventry’s Callum O’Hare. Stuttgart’s Serhou Guirassy is an option up front and West Ham will be offered the chance to sign Chelsea’s Armando Broja. Lopetegui has brought five backroom staff with him and will consult with Tim Steidten, the technical director, on transfers. The Spaniard has arrived after Moyes departed at the end of four and a half successful years. Lopetegui, who won the Europa League with Sevilla, has been out of work since leaving Wolves last summer. “We had other opportunities but I am very happy that West Ham chose me because I chose West Ham too, so we are really happy about this,” Lopetegui said. “We came here with the idea and the thought to make a big, big noise.” The 57-year-old, who will officially start on 1 July, said of setting his sights high: “I feel that we have a fantastic platform. I think the last few years have been very good years to have this base, of course, but my ambition as a coach is always to be better and better, to achieve more and bigger aims and to encourage and improve the players, the team, and to compete because football is about this – to compete. We are very ambitious about this.”"
"Yeah, I reckon I'll take all that with a pinch of salt, especially the good leadership qualities bit, as there fans, to a man pretty much, don't rate him as a leader whatsoever. I'll go with their judgement, especially over yours, given what you said about Soucek."
"He's got a bit of everything Eerie. Great at general defending like blocks tackles etc, decent positional awareness being in right place at the right time be it in a back 4 or a back 3. Seems very switched on to me whenever I've watched him play. Happy to bring the ball out of defence. Got good leadership qualities. He's also a unit but athletic with it. Generally seems a consistent reliable performer and one I feel is destined 1 day to play for England. The bonus I like to this is Lopetegui already having the advantage and respect of the Player having managed him previously so knows exactly what he's getting and can trust him to follow his orders no problem. I'd rate him now as a £30M+ player."
"How many times have you watched him, Attack son, and what attributes would he bring? Wolves fans would apparently bite hands off for the money being mentioned. You think circa £40mil for this lad, who at 26 doesn't even get a mention for England when there's a major problem at centre back, so much so they've picked a kid who's played a handful of games ahead of him? I reckon he's overrated by people who don't watch him much. Lot's of mentions by their fans that he's in no way captain material, just for starters."
"Apparently, Wolves fans don't rate Kilman as highly as our fans seem to. Not that they think he's shit, but nowhere near worth the money being talked about, . I think given what he'd cost, taking a big chunk out of our budget, it'd be a bad move. I'd rather we went for Jacob Hargreaves, similar profile as in tall and left footed, 3 years younger, swept up Hull's POTY awards and was named in Championship team of the season. Would cost half the money."
"Kilman is only 26. Would be decent and get what we can for Aguerd. A right back and a forward. Another midfielder especially if Paqueta goes down unless Loopy sees Downes, Potts etc in his plans? Gonna have to sell Benrahma and imo Soucek, and possibly Cornet? Might raise another 30 million? Looks like we might hear of “budget restrictions” before long. Hopefully not but we need to be spending 150 million or Lop might walk out on us too"
"I know, but I wouldn't just assume this bloke comes in and replaces either of them two. August 31 is a lifetime away, so who knows how we end up in the CB dept."
"...Am happy to have a centre half who defends & gives the ball to the footballers…. In 2024 defenders are also locked at as footballers. Time to travel from the pre historic Moyes era. Re Dawson, he was a no nonsense defender, superb header, but a shit footballer."
"Watching Zouma try & run shows his knee is fucked … take a look at him chasing Jackson on one of Chelsea’s goals Interesting to see talk of next seasons captain, Bowen ? JWP? Suspect if we can sell him we will I think Mavropanos can develop but still a bit error prone. For me centre halves don’t come into their own until they are 28-ish"
"Watching Zouma try & run shows his knee is fucked … take a look at him chasing Jackson on one of Chelsea’s goals Interesting to see talk of next seasons captain, Bowen ? JWP? Suspect if we can sell him we will I think Mavropanos can develop but still a bit error prone. For me centre halves don’t come into their own until they are 28-ish"
"Faux - But we already have Dinos and Zouma for that, no? But there are going to be a lot of in's and outs this summer so who knows how it all ends up."
Am happy to have a centre half who defends & gives the ball to the footballers…. like Craig Dawson was Can be paired with one that can pass out like Aguerd The classic combination like that was J Charlton & Bobby Moore
