West Ham Online

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Thanks Alan 3:42 Mon Aug 5

marlonsrightsock 1:58 Mon Aug 5

Thanks Alan

"BBC Former Liverpool and Cameroon defender Joel Matip, 32, is a target for Bayer Leverkusen on a free transfer, having left Anfield at the end of his contract. (Sky Germany) But England defender Joe Gomez has no interest in leaving Liverpool this summer, despite the club offering the 27-year-old in a swap deal with Newcastle for England winger Anthony Gordon, 23. (Mirror) Chelsea could move for Celtic's Danish midfielder Matt O'Riley, 23, if England midfielder Conor Gallagher, 24, joins Atletico Madrid. (Sky Sports) Napoli have not received any official offers for Nigeria striker Victor Osimhen and the 25-year-old is not keen on a move to Chelsea, with Belgium forward Romelu Lukaku, 31, moving the other way as part of any deal. (Corriere dello Sport - in Italian) Borussia Dortmund lead Chelsea and Aston Villa in the race to sign Hoffenheim's 21-year-old Germany forward Maximilian Beier. (Sky Germany) AC Milan have made a bid worth 15m euros (£12.78m) plus add-ons to sign Brazilian defender Emerson Royal, 25, from Tottenham. (Fabrizio Romano) Germany striker Niclas Fullkrug, 31, has completed his West Ham medical before his move from Borussia Dortmund. (Sky Sports) Leeds United have asked about the availability of 19-year-old English midfielder Bobby Clark on loan from Liverpool. (Football Insider) Juventus want to offload eight stars in a summer overhaul, including 26-year-old Italy forward Federico Chiesa, who has been linked with Tottenham. (Mail) Manchester United and Arsenal are also interested in a cut-price deal for Chiesa, who is in the final year of his contract. (Teamtalk) Everton could be forced to sell England defender Jarrad Branthwaite, 22, below their asking price to avoid any cashflow issues. (Football Insider) Sky Paper Talk DAILY TELEGRAPH Erik ten Hag has suggested Manchester United could start the new Premier League season with Jadon Sancho as a makeshift striker after admitting new signing Joshua Zirkzee will take time to get up to speed. Atletico Madrid have opened talks with Manchester City over a deal for Argentina forward Julian Alvarez. DAILY MAIL Atletico Madrid remain keen on Chelsea midfielder Conor Gallagher after agreeing a £33.7m fee. Edu has claimed that his 'unpopular decisions' have helped to get Arsenal back on track over the past five years. THE SUN Chelsea have joined the race to sign Celtic star Matt O'Riley. Hull are looking into a shock move for veteran 'keeper Vito Mannone - 12 seasons after his second loan spell with the Tigers. Promoted Leicester look likely to sign Watford midfield star Yaser Asprilla in a £21m deal. Tottenham full-back Emerson Royal is closing in on a £12.8m switch to AC Milan. Tom Lockyer hopes to resume his Luton career after rehabbing with heart specialists in Amsterdam. THE TIMES Joe Gomez remains committed to Liverpool and is focused on emerging as a key player under the new head coach, Arne Slot. SCOTTISH SUN Giovanni van Bronckhorst insisted winning his first trophy with Besiktas since he led Rangers to the Scottish Cup two years ago was one of the proudest moments in his career. Almost 150 football fans lost or had their passports nicked while watching Scotland flop at the Euros. DAILY RECORD Yan Dhanda reckons Hearts can ""go past"" the Old Firm in the title race. Jim Goodwin expects a report to be sent to the Scottish Football Association after he and some of his players were pelted with coins in the Dundee derby. Jimmy Thelin has revealed he has held initial talks with Jack MacKenzie over a new contract for the Aberdeen full back. EPL Index Report: West Ham, Arsenal Vie for Top Free Transfer West Ham vs Arsenal: Race for a Champions League Winner In a fascinating twist to this summer’s transfer window, West Ham United are poised to potentially outmanoeuvre Arsenal in the race to sign former Barcelona stalwart Sergi Roberto as reported by Football Insider. Lopetegui’s Ambitious Plans Under the guidance of Julen Lopetegui, West Ham are carving out a blueprint for success, evident in their recent signings. Notably, the club have already sealed a deal for Niclas Fullkrug, a key player in Borussia Dortmund’s recent Champions League campaign, with a transfer fee of approximately £27 million. Now, with ambitions inflamed, Lopetegui has his eyes set on Sergi Roberto, aiming to fortify his midfield before the transfer deadline. Sergi Roberto, now a free agent after his tenure at Barcelona, could be a monumental acquisition for the Hammers. With over 350 appearances and 20 major trophies to his name, including two Champions League titles, his experience and winning mentality could be pivotal for West Ham’s aspirations. Lopetegui’s connection with Roberto from his days as Spain’s manager might just tilt the scales in West Ham’s favour. Arsenal’s Countermove However, the narrative is not one-sided. Arsenal, led by Mikel Arteta, are also in the fray. The Gunners, who are reportedly close to securing Real Sociedad’s Mikel Merino, view Roberto as a potential addition to a star-studded midfield. This move could see Arsenal executing a significant double swoop, intensifying their roster as they aim to contend on all fronts this season. Timing is Crucial As both West Ham and Arsenal prepare their strategies, the clock is ticking. The competition is not limited to the Premier League, with several LaLiga teams and clubs from Saudi Arabia also expressing interest in Roberto. The coming days are crucial as both English clubs may need to hasten their negotiations to secure Roberto’s signature. Prospective Impact on the Premier League The acquisition of a player of Sergi Roberto’s caliber would send ripples through the Premier League. For West Ham, it would be a clear statement of intent to challenge for a spot in Europe once again. For Arsenal, securing Roberto could bolster an already impressive lineup, reinforcing their squad depth as they chase silverware. Statistical Analysis by EPL Index: Sergi Roberto’s Performance Data Sergi Roberto’s Striking Efficacy The provided data from Fbref presents a compelling insight into Sergi Roberto’s recent performance, highlighting his striking efficacy in non-penalty goals. Positioned in the 98th percentile among midfielders, Roberto’s ability to find the back of the net is exceptional, underlining his sharpshooting capabilities that extend beyond typical midfield duties. His stats in non-penalty expected goals also impress, placing him in the 83rd percentile, which suggests that he often outperforms what is expected of him in scoring scenarios. Creative Contributions and Possession Roberto’s creative metrics are equally noteworthy. His assists tally positions him in the 95th percentile, backed by an expected assists (xA) metric in the 87th percentile. This combination indicates not only his vision and precision in delivering key passes but also his consistency in creating tangible scoring opportunities. Moreover, his overall involvement in play is reflected in his high percentile rankings in shot-creating actions and touches in the attacking penalty area, making him a pivotal figure in building up offensive plays. Master of Midfield Dynamics In terms of ball distribution and midfield dynamics, Roberto’s performance data underscores his technical proficiency. His pass completion rate is stellar at 98.7%, placing him in the 86th percentile, a testament to his accuracy and reliability in maintaining possession. His contributions are not limited to offensive play; his progressive passes and carries illustrate his role in transitioning the ball effectively across the pitch, ensuring that he is integral to both the defensive and offensive phases of the game. This detailed analysis from Fbref highlights Sergi Roberto as a multifaceted midfielder whose statistical outputs contribute significantly to his team’s dynamics. His blend of scoring acumen, creative playmaking, and solid ball-handling skills make him an invaluable asset in any team setup, demonstrating why he remains a sought-after player in top European football. Could the former Barcelona man maintain these impressive statistics whilst playing in the Premier League with consistent minutes? Only time will tell."