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West Ham United manager David Moyes could still look to push for another forward in the coming days despite signing Danny Ings just last week.

What’s the latest?

Amid the Hammers’ struggles in the Premier League this season, Moyes was handed a boost in front of goal last week with the signing of Ings from Aston Villa.

It was a deal which is believed to have cost the Irons in the region of £15m for the 30-year-old who arrives in London with six league goals already to his name this season.

However, West Ham may have already endured an issue with Ings given he is believed to have picked up an injury in the weekend victory over Everton.

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And on the back of this news, speaking to Football FanCast, journalist Pete O’Rourke has suggested Moyes could now look to bring in another forward option before Tuesday’s deadline:

“Obviously getting Danny Ings eases that blow that they’ve now got an extra forward in the building right now as well. But now he’s got an injury as well, which isn’t ideal, but I think West Ham, still, if the right opportunity might come along before the end the window could still be in the market for another forward.”

More reinforcement needed

Goals have been a serious issue for the Hammers this season with the likes of Gianluca Scamacca struggling to adapt to the Premier League so far.

In their 20 league games this season, Moyes’ men have only been able to provide a return of 17 goals which is the fourth-lowest in the league.

The big-money summer signing of Scamacca is yet to provide much of a return on the investment but the likes of Jarrod Bowen have also struggled to find his scoring boots too.

Therefore, the addition of a proven Premier League goalscorer in Ings felt like it had great potential to be an inspired signing for the Hammers as they look to battle against the drop.

Instead, his injury has proven a serious setback with just days remaining of the January window.

Reports have suggested West Ham are set to be without their £15m signing for several weeks following the knee injury the 30-year-old picked up on the weekend.

A difficult run of fixtures lies ahead of what has been a struggling West Ham side and missing a goal threat like Ings will likely be a major blow for Moyes.

But with just days remaining of the window, it will be interesting to see if West Ham make any moves and if they do to what expense they will be willing to spend.

Journalist Alasdair Gold has revealed that Tottenham Hotspur defender Djed Spence is being targeted by a number of Premier League sides ahead of a January loan.

What’s the word?

The 22-year-old wingback arrived at Spurs last summer with big expectations after leaving Middlesbrough for a £20m fee. Since then, however, things have not gone to plan.

Indeed, Spence is yet to start even once for Spurs in across all competitions, seemingly failing to win the trust of manager Antonio Conte with his efforts on the training pitch.

As a result, it looks as though the youngster will be sent out on loan this January with Premier League sides such as Crystal Palace, Southampton and West Ham chasing the player, as well as Bundesliga outfit Bayer Leverkusen.

Indeed, that is according to Gold, who explained in a new article for football.london: “Tottenham will have to move right wing-backs out the door if they are to accommodate a fourth player in the position.

“Emerson Royal would have to be convinced his game time would be minimal [at Spurs] if he is to consider a move with clubs in Spain and Italy considering him while there is interest in Djed Spence from Bayer Leverkusen and Premier League clubs including Crystal Palace, Southampton and West Ham.”

Time for a change

Spurs’ possible need to shift a right-back this winter relates to the fact that they are heavily linked with a transfer for Sporting Lisbon ace Pedro Porro.

Should he arrive, Spence would potentially be fourth on the list of options for Conte in that part of the field, behind Emerson Royal and Matt Doherty as well as the new man.

Indeed, the wingback has played a measly 41 minutes of football spread across just six senior outings at Tottenham so far, and was not even trusted to start in the domestic cup competitions.

His last Premier League outing came against Aston Villa as he played ten minutes in the 2-0 defeat on New Year’s Day. He failed to impress, however, picking up a 6.2 rating on SofaScore, losing the ball four times, failing with two attempted ground duels and completing just two out of four passes.

Conte has not played him in the league since and so it does look as though a loan is likely, regardless of what happens with Porro.

Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou has already utilised his J-League connections to secure the signings of both Yuki Kobayashi and Tomoki Iwata in the current transfer window, although it looks as if the 57-year-old could eyeing another Japanese recruit before the end of the month.

According to recent reports – as per the Daily Record – the Premiership champions are said to be keeping tabs on Shimizu S Pulse sensation Yuito Suzuki ahead of a potential move to Parkhead, albeit with the Hoops said to face competition for the 21-year-old’s signature from Belgian outfit Club Brugge.

The promising playmaker was previously linked with a possible move to Glasgow last summer, and it looks as if the Old Firm giants could revive that interest with a concrete approach in the coming weeks.

The “really interesting” youngster – as described by talent scout Jacek Kulig – has caught the eye as a result of his impressive displays in his homeland, having recorded a respectable tally of six goals and four assists in 93 appearances in all competitions at senior level to date.

Although the “inconsistent” talent – as per Kulig – clearly has room for improvement, the expectation is that he could go on to truly blossom in the near future, having been tipped for a move to Europe last year.

The attacking midfielder – who can also feature on either flank or through the middle – could well emerge as something of a superstar if he makes the move to Scotland any time soon, with the 5 foot 9 starlet reportedly idolising Manchester City talisman Kevin De Bruyne.

Having been described as an “advanced playmaker” and a player whose notable strengths include “vision” and “creativity”, in the words of the aforementioned Kulig, Suzuki does appear to have traits which could well align with the experienced Belgian.

The latter has been lauded by Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher in recent weeks as the “best player in the Premier League for the past four or five years”, having regularly delivered the goods from his playmaking midfield berth for the English champions.

The 31-year-old boasts a haul of 60 goals and 96 assists in 228 top-flight outings in English football, with the hallmark of his game having arguably been his creativity, with Jamie Redknapp notably stating in 2021 that the one-time Chelsea ace is “the best passer the Premier League has ever seen”.

That has been evident this season as De Bruyne has already registered ten assists in the league so far, while recording a remarkable tally of 19 big chances created and averaging a stunning 3.4 key passes per game.

Although Suzuki is not yet close to reaching such heights, the Japan youth international clearly also possesses the ability to produce a moment of magic and unlock a defence, having created seven big chances during the most recent J-League season while averaging 1.1 key passes per game.

Having admitted himself that he is a player who likes to “receive the ball in the gaps of the opponents and link it to the attack”, the versatile dynamo is clearly able to provide that invaluable ‘link’ between midfield and the forward line, much like De Bruyne offers for Pep Guardiola’s side.

As such, Postecoglou and co could well be onto a winner if Suzuki is to prove anywhere close to the quality of his footballing hero.

Aston Villa are still pursuing a potential move for experienced Real Betis left-back Alex Moreno in the January transfer window, according to reports from Spain.

The Lowdown: Moreno linked with Villa

Unai Emery is highly likely to add to his squad this month, with funds available to bring in reinforcements and bolster their Premier League ambitions.

One player who has been linked with a move to Villa of late is Moreno, with the left-back starting 14 matches in LaLiga this season.

A fresh update has emerged, and it’s one which suggests that the Villans’ interest is not going away.

The Latest: Villa in a hurry for Moreno

According to Spanish outlet AS [via Sport Witness] on Thursday, Villa are attempting to ‘speed up negotiations’ with Moreno, with Emery keen on bringing him in this month.

Betis are hesitant to part with the 29-year-old, though, and will likely only sell him if a club matches their valuation of the player.

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The Verdict: Good competition for Digne

Moreno would be an ideal January addition for Villa, providing Lucas Digne with healthy competition at left-back and allowing Emery more quality and depth in that position.

The Spanish defender has vast experience at a high level, having made 145 appearances in LaLiga, so he would be considered a safe pair of hands at this point in his career.

Whether or not Villa and Betis are able to agree on a fee remains to be seen, but at this point, it feels as though Moreno could be one of Emery’s first signings at Villa Park.

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Everton are in desperate need of reinforcements in their attacking threat when the January transfer window opens later this week, and now a new update has emerged from a reliable source on the club’s plans.

What’s the latest?

According to The Athletic’s Everton reporter Patrick Boyland, the Toffees will be in the market for a striker in the new year but it could be challenging for the club to secure one of their top targets.

As per the report, Boyland claims that Everton cannot compete financially to secure permanent deals for players due to financial constraints, and it seems more plausible to focus on the loan market.

Lampard will be worried

There is no doubt that Frank Lampard will be worried about the current situation at Goodison Park and will be hoping that the January transfer window will allow for vital improvements ahead of the second half of the season.

Everton are currently teetering on the edge of the relegation zone in 17th after suffering their third consecutive Premier League defeat on Boxing Day to Wolverhampton Wanderers at Goodison Park – remaining just one point clear of the bottom three.

The Toffees have scored just 12 league goals this season so far which is the third worst goal-scoring record for any club in the top flight, which has been contributed by Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s constant injury struggles and Richarlison’s exit in the summer.

As a result, the signing of a prolific and natural finisher could be the difference between a comfortable finish in the top flight and another difficult relegation scrap at the bottom of the table that could lead to much worse circumstances than their previous campaign.

Indeed, with the financial concerns plaguing the club, the powers at Goodison Park will need to be smart to ensure they can find the right profile of forward that can improve the front line for the right price.

With that being said, Lampard will need to do everything he can to pull Everton through their upcoming fixtures ahead of the transfer window and will need to hope that Kevin Thelwell can provide the team with a quality striker at the beginning of 2023.

Reported Everton transfer target Sasa Lukic could be beyond the Toffees’ price range, according to journalist Pete O’Rourke.

The Lowdown: Everton linked with Lukic

The Serbia midfielder, who started all three of his country’s games at the World Cup in Qatar, has been linked with a move to the Merseyside club in recent weeks.

Reports from Italy stated that Everton are in a direct fight with Premier League rivals Leeds in the race to lure the 26-year-old away from Torino, with his departure from the Serie A club in January deemed probable.

However, according to O’Rourke, it won’t be Goodison Park to which the Serbian makes tracks in the winter transfer window.

The Latest: Lukic too expensive for Everton

The journalist told Football FanCast that Torino will likely demand £30m for Lukic, which he feels could be just beyond reach for Everton next month.

O’Rourke said: “The only problem for Everton right now is probably the transfer fee, I think it might be out of their reach for January for Lukic. I don’t think Torino will be willing to sell for anything less than £30m and I don’t think Everton could go to that right now.”

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The Verdict: Could’ve been an ideal option

Having spent £33m to sign another central midfielder in Amadou Onana over the summer, it’s a pity that a similar outlay on Lukic appears to be beyond Everton’s January budget, judging by O’Rourke’s claim.

The Serbian, who has been dubbed “excellent” by former Torino team-mate Gleison Bremer, could offer something different from the middle of the park in comparison to Onana and Idrissa Gueye.

As per FBRef, Lukic has averaged 3.4 shot-creating actions per game, far more than Onana (1.04) and Gueye (1.59), while he has also made more key passes this season (12) than the Everton midfield pair combined (nine).

His skill set could have nicely complemented those of the Toffees duo, in particular the industrious Gueye, but it looks like Everton will need to turn their attention elsewhere if they want to bolster their midfield next month.

Scottish champions Celtic are reportedly eyeing a move for Al Ahly midfielder, Afsha, as manager Ange Postecoglou looks to add to his recent transfer activity.

What’s the word?

That’s according to journalist Mark Hendry, who revealed that the Hoops have made an approach to the agent of the 26-year-old regarding a potential swoop in the upcoming January transfer window.

The transfer insider stated on Twitter: “EXCLUSIVE! Celtic contact Afsha representatives over January transfer as Ange Postecoglou eyes further additions”.

In his attached piece for Football Scotland, Hendry goes on to add that the Old Firm outfit’s interest has gone no further than mere ‘brief discussions’ at present, although the Egyptian ace has seemingly been a long-term target for the club, having previously been linked back in the summer of 2021.

The report also states that the playmaker is attracting interest from clubs in the Championship as well as in Turkey, while also adding that any move is set to be a permanent one, rather than on a loan deal.

‘Wonderful move’

The winter window is still just under a month away yet the Parkhead giants have already moved quickly to help bolster their squad heading into the second half of the season, with Postecoglou and head of recruitment Mark Lawwell overseeing the signings of both Yuki Kobayashi and Alistair Johnston of late.

The latter man only joined from MLS side CF Montreal for a reported fee of £3.5m earlier this week, with the Glasgow side seemingly not willing to rest on their laurels despite the healthy, nine-point lead they have obtained at the top of the Scottish Premiership table.

Adding Afsha – whose full name is Mohammed Magdy – into the mix could well help to drive the Bhoys on even further in 2023, with the 20-cap sensation having showcased his quality for his current side of late.

The 5 foot 6 maestro has two assists in just six outings for the Cairo outfit so far this season, while his total tally for the club stands at 61 goal involvements in 146 games to date as a marker of his creative brilliance.

A dynamic presence in the final third, the diminutive gem – who has 47 club career goals to his name and five at international level – has notably been dubbed a “wonderful player” by former boss Ante Cacic, as well as earning the label of the “the best player in Egypt”, according to Cacic.

Such a talent could well slot in nicely in Postecoglou’s attacking and progressive outfit, with the club still potentially in need of a further creative spark after having seen long-serving genius Tom Rogic depart at the end of last season.

With the Johnston deal now wrapped up, it would seemingly be an astute and wonderful move as far as Celtic are concerned to now get the experienced Afsha through the door next.

Glasgow Rangers couldn’t have entered the winter break at a better time with the Ibrox outfit currently nine points adrift of top spot in the Premiership and having crashed out of their Champions League group with zero wins and just two goals scored.

Giovanni van Bronckhorst is under severe pressure following the 1-1 draw against St Mirren last Saturday and it might well be the Dutchman’s final match in charge of the side.

He hasn’t managed to get the best out of the vast majority of the squad this season, especially in Europe. Striker Alfredo Morelos has notably looked like a shadow of his former self recently, with his abject performance against the Saints arguably the final straw.

During that contest, the Colombian completed only 71% of his passes and failed to have a single shot on target.

A new manager would potentially be able to unlock his ability again, with Maccabi Haifa boss Barak Bakhar linked with a switch to the club.

The 43-year-old has won the Israeli league five times in his career while following a memorable 2-0 victory over Serie A side Juventus, CBS writer Ives Galarcep claimed that Bakhar’s team put on a “clinic” with these type of results clearly impressing the Rangers hierarchy.

During his managerial career, his teams have scored 747 goals at an impressive rate of 1.7 per game and his penchant for attacking play might get Morelos firing on all cylinders again.

Indeed, he is not afraid of taking a risk, even when down to ten men. One such example of his attacking philosophy shone through in 2018 when his team received a red card. Instead of parking the bus, he opted for an offensive strategy, one that ultimately gave his side an unlikely advantage.

Rangers’ £33k-per-week frontman – who was once dubbed “lethal” by Jordan Campbell – could truly benefit from such an approach.

He has scored just three times this season, although he does seem to thrive when a new manager takes over.

In Van Bronckhorst’s first match, the Colombian scored twice against Sparta Prague and he could well repeat the trick if Bakhar took over.

With his contract expiring at the end of the current season, combined with his recent performances, not many of the Ibrox faithful want the 25-year-old to remain at the club next term.

On his day, however, Morelos is the spark that ignites Rangers’ lofty ambitions and is the main focal point for the team. Perhaps a change of manager is what is required in order to bring the best out of him.

Peter Silverstone’s appointment as Newcastle United’s new Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) has been praised by journalist Charlie Bennett.

The Lowdown: Silverstone’s appointment

On Monday, the Magpies took to their official club website to announce the behind-the-scenes appointment of Silverstone at St James’ Park.

Prior to his arrival on Tyneside, Silverstone spent seven years at Arsenal – four of which were working as the Gunners’ Commercial Director and as their Chief Commercial Officer.

Following this, he joined football media organisation OneFootball, where he was Senior Vice President of Global Development.

The Latest: Bennett’s reaction

Alongside the arrival of Darren Eales as the club’s latest Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Dan Ashworth as their new Sporting Director, Bennett is also extremely impressed by PIF’s appointment of Silverstone.

Taking to Twitter, the Chronicle Live journalist fired a cheeky dig at the much maligned Lee Charnley:

“Just a CEO, DoF and CCO appointed on Tyneside in recent months to join five existing board members.

“Who remembers when Newcastle were run like a local handyman? Lee Charnley – the jack of all trades – spinning plates on a shoestring budget.

“Seems like a lifetime ago.”

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The Verdict: Times have changed

With stark behind-the-scenes changes at St James’ Park starting to show on the pitch, Newcastle are only on an upward trajectory from here.

After ten games played this season, the Magpies sit sixth in the Premier League table. Prior to Eddie Howe, the north-east outfit hadn’t finished above 12th place since Rafa Benitez’s first season back in the top-flight, when the club finished tenth in 2017/18.

However, with the investment made with PIF’s takeover, Newcastle now look well on their way to achieving European qualification, if not this season then in the very near future.

The arrivals of the likes of Kieran Trippier and Bruno Guimaraes at St James’ Park illustrate the owners’ ambitions on the pitch, and the appointments of experienced industry leaders shows exactly how smart they are off it.

Aston Villa have played host to an abundance of talent over their illustrious history, and since the turn of the century have had plenty of well-known names grace Villa Park.

With these arrivals, they often have ensured that plenty of money could be made from them too.

Although their untimely relegation in 2016 seemed devastating, both before and since their return they have had names that have influenced the English game.

One man who is certainly renowned is Stewart Downing, who whilst not being the greatest player in the world, impressed enough for the Villans that it spurred Liverpool into action.

The winger had scored 11 times and assisted 13 in 79 games, and whilst not outstanding, was deemed good enough for a Reds side in transition that were desperate to return to the top.

They forked out a whopping £20m fee for his services, marking a 66% increase from the initial £12m Villa paid to Middlesborough. 

Martin O’Neill brought the relegated man in as his first signing of the 2009 summer, with the winger eyeing a spot in the World Cup squad for the following summer.

It is a testament to his somewhat underwhelming performances that he was not selected, and throughout his whole international career, he did not manage to score in 35 games. Yet still, Kenny Dalglish was keen on him.

When a player is sold for big money, there is often a quiet resignation that they will likely be going on to bigger and better things.

However, when he made the switch to Anfield, many would argue his play somehow regressed.

Playing 91 times for the club, 12 more than he did for the Midlands outfit, he only mustered seven goals and 12 assists. In less game time Downing scored and assisted more for O’Neill’s side. 

The only benefit he gained from the move was his League Cup win, which he had already won with the Boro.

His displays on Merseyside labelled journalist Jack Reeve to claim: “Stewart Downing has been so disappointing for Liverpool, I have given him a chance to prove but he hasn’t delivered #Flop”.

How his career regressed after leaving suggests that Villa hit the jackpot when selling the forward when they did.