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Tottenham Hotspur have 'definitely' looked at Marcelo Gallardo as a potential option to replace Antonio Conte, according to Alasdair Gold.

What's the latest on Tottenham's manager search?

In the last fortnight, names linked with the Spurs managerial position have been in no short supply, with an array of coaches both in and out of work emerging as contenders.

Chairman Daniel Levy may already have his ideal candidates and recent reports suggest that the likes of Arne Slot (Feyenoord) now stand a real chance of succeeding Antonio Conte.

Beforehand, former Lilywhites boss Mauricio Pochettino had been tipped as a hot contender, with reliable news outlets indicating he would be very open to talks with Spurs.

Julian Nagelsmann, Luis Enrique, Zinedine Zidane and even Brendan Rodgers, despite his disastrous final season at ex-club Leicester City, are also in the running. Meanwhile, currently employed tacticians like Eintracht Frankfurt's Oliver Glasner and Brentford's Thomas Frank are said to have admirers at Tottenham.

Their next manager after Conte comes as Levy's most crucial decision of this year and he will be eager to avoid an embarrassing repeat of Tottenham's 72-day search for Jose Mourinho's replacement in 2021.

Now, reliable reporter Gold has suggested that a new name has been looked at in former River Plate boss Gallardo – who has also attracted interest from Chelsea.

While the 47-year-old isn't a 'leading candidate' at this stage, Gold also wouldn't rule out a move for him entirely.

The journalist explained in a football.london Q&A:

"I wouldn't rule out Marcelo Gallardo entirely but I think he'd be an outlier in the running. For one reason or another he hasn't been linked with a move to the Premier League too much, or at least he wasn't until there was some suggestions from Brazil about him being a potential Chelsea candidate.

"I think he's one Spurs have definitely looked at but I don't get the impression he's a leading candidate at this stage. As with Nuno in 2021 though, who knows what can happen to the order of candidates as others fall away."

What would Gallardo bring to Spurs?

The South American has won trophies galore from his spells at both Club Nacional and River Plate – boasting a grand total of 10 pieces of silverware across the Atlantic.

For Spurs supporters who wish to see the return of possession-based, forward-thinking football – Gallardo could be the manager for them as he encourages a 4-3-3 attacking formation similar to Pochettino.

His status as a free agent comes as yet another reason to consider moving for Gallardo, and if their search continues to drag on, we wouldn't be at all surprised to see him become a more solid option.

Antonio Conte's explosive press conference in the aftermath of Tottenham Hotspur's 3-3 draw with Southampton on Saturday afternoon all but confirmed that the Italian's time in north London is coming to an end.

The 53-year-old threw anyone he could under the bus, taking aim at the players, chairman Daniel Levy and the club's ambition and history in a 10-minute, uninterrupted rant.

It was a rare case of the manager giving up on the dressing room, having brandished his squad as "selfish" for not taking responsibility for their failings on the pitch.

Although, Conte has hardly helped himself with key decisions over personnel, team selection and tactics.

For instance, bringing on Davinson Sanchez instead of an attacker when chasing an FA Cup tie against Sheffield United was baffling, to say the least. Whilst his insistence to play a boring, defensive brand of football hasn't won much of the fanbase over.

It didn't have to be like that, though, as Harry Redknapp displayed during his four-year tenure, where Rafael van der Vaart starred as the creative outlet in a pretty dogmatic, well-oiled long ball system.

How good was Rafael van der Vaart at Tottenham?

The Dutch playmaker played off the towering presence of 6 foot 7 target man Peter Crouch and did so to great effect, managing a return of 28 goals and 18 assists across 77 appearances for Spurs.

It was by no means pretty, but it saw the north London outfit make a second successive League Cup final in 2009, having won it a year earlier (their last taste of silverware).

You'd imagine that many supporters around the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium would take that over what they're witnessing from a Premier League-winning boss right now.

Having been pushed out at Real Madrid following the additions of Mesut Ozil and Ángel Di María, and battled with fitness problems following his £8m move to Spurs, van der Vaart was still often reliable when called upon. He was almost the perfect 'Redknapp player' – clearly technically gifted but not exactly the chiselled athlete we see today.

The Heemskerk-born maestro, once tipped to be the next Johan Cruyff, was always good for a goal and helped Tottenham navigate the Champions League for the first time, whilst also finishing in the top-five in back-to-back seasons.

His brace against arch-rivals Arsenal and that 25-yard strike at Anfield will long live in the memory and his folklore at the club. Oh, how Conte could do with a player of his quality right now, helping lessen the burden on both Harry Kane and Heung-min Son in the final third.

For the past few seasons, the Lilywhites' chances of winning a game have depended on that electric duo finding each other and subsequently, finding the net and yet again, they led the charts for shots per game and are among the mix for being the most creative players in the squad, via WhoScored.

Without a true no.10 of van der Vaart's ilk, having averaged a whopping 3.2 shots and 2.3 key passes per outing during the 2011/12 campaign, Spurs will struggle when their star duo aren't on their game, which in a defensive-heavy system is difficult enough.

And while they are absolutely imperative members of the squad, an attacking midfield presence is really what could get Spurs back on track.

Redknapp recently suggested that his old team, in which the Dutchman – who was hailed as a "magician" by former footballer Marvin Sordell – starred alongside the likes of Gareth Bale and Luka Modric, could beat Conte's current outfit. A worrying verdict indeed.

Now more known for his ruthless takes in the punditry game, it's hard to argue against van der Vaart changing the fortunes of the Italian and his team. It not only would save Tottenham's season but also Conte's job as it seems as if he wants a divorce during the international break, rather than when his contract expires in June.

Perhaps a player like £8m maestro would have prevented this toxic end to what should've been a more successful and glowing tenure.

Manchester City have the opportunity to reach a third successive FA Cup final when they take on Nottingham Forest this afternoon at Wembley.

Pep Guardiola has won this competition twice, but will still be stinging from the defeat to Manchester United in the 2024 final.

Forest defeated City in the Premier League last month, but the Spaniard may have learned from this loss, and his side could reach another final.

They warmed up for the clash with a 2-1 victory over Aston Villa, but a few players weren’t quite at their best. İlkay Gündoğan was one, and he could return to the bench this afternoon.

Why Man City must drop İlkay Gündoğan

Guardiola operated with a 4-1-4-1 system against Villa, and Gundogan was one of the four midfielders tasked with providing opportunities for Kevin De Bruyne.

Despite playing for the full 90 minutes, the midfielder failed to register a single shot on goal, while he failed with his only dribble attempt.

Gundogan also lost possession seven times against the Midlands side and won just one of his three aerial duels.

For the semi-final clash against Forest, Guardiola must revert to a 4-2-3-1. Mateo Kovacic will reprise his role at the heart of the midfield, but for this game, winter signing Nico Gonzalez must be brought into the starting XI.

Why Nico Gonzalez must start for Man City

Gonzalez may have cost the club around £50m back in January, but he is already looking like a potential long-term heir to Rodri.

The midfielder has already featured 12 times for City in all competitions, even scoring against Real Madrid in the Champions League, although it wasn’t enough to see his club make it to the next round.

Across his eight Premier League matches for the club, the 23-year-old has averaged a 93% pass success rate, along with making 1.9 tackles, two clearances, and recovering 3.9 balls per game in the top flight.

Furthermore, the Spaniard wins 1.9 aerial duels per game – a success rate of 59% – while averaging 81.9 touches each match for City. These statistics show just how dependable he is at the heart of the pitch, because he rarely gives the ball away and is strong in his physical duels.

He was praised by football talent scout Jacek Kulig in July 2024, who said: “Nico González – 4 goals in FC Porto’s four friendly games this preseason. Simply superb in the second half of the 23/24. Technique, football IQ, and pure elegance.”

The move to Manchester hasn’t fazed him, and he now looks like an excellent signing. Settling in throughout the second half of the 2024/25 season appears to be a smart move by Guardiola, as Gonzalez will hit the ground running in August.

Moving back to a 4-2-3-1 system for the FA Cup semi-final could go a long way to seeing City reach yet another final. With Gonzalez and Kovacic at the base of the midfield, the attacking quartet will be given free rein to cause plenty of destruction.

Man City have struck gold on "exceptional" gem worth more than Kerkez

City have hit the jackpot on a current academy graduate who is starring under Guardiola.

By
Ross Kilvington

Apr 26, 2025

While Newcastle United have strengthened midfield and attack this summer with the additions of Sandro Tonali and Harvey Barnes, injury to star defender Sven Botman has left them short on options defensively.

Despite bringing in Tino Livramento and Lewis Hall, who are hot prospects at full-back, the Magpies felt adding quality cover at centre-back wasn't a priority, and they are already paying the price.

Newcastle were outclassed by Brighton on Saturday evening, and they were torn to shreds by teenage sensation Evan Ferguson, who became only the fourth player in Premier League history to score a hat-trick at 18-years-old.

With the Seagulls inflicting a third defeat in four matches on Eddie Howe's side, the most alarming issue to come from the match was how easily they were cut apart defensively, leaving them fearing the worst ahead of their Champions League campaign.

The devastating injury to Botman meant Howe had to shuffle Dan Burn into a more familiar role at centre-back, partnering Fabian Schar, but on the evidence of his performance, Newcastle's unwillingness to strengthen that position has cost them.

How did Dan Burn perform against Brighton?

Having starred as a left-back throughout last season, Burn's return to centre-back was unsuccessful as the 6 foot 6 colussus struggled to live with Brighton's attacking trio of Koaru Mitoma, Solly March and Ferguson.

The Seagulls' agile and quick forward line exploited Burn's immobility by launching a number of attacks down the right flank while the piercing runs of March in behind dragged him out of position with Ferguson taking full advantage of the space afforded to him centrally.

Burn's struggles defensively were highlighted in several departments as the 31-year-old only won one of his seven ground duels, committed four fouls, lost possession five times and was dribbled past twice, according to Sofascore.

While this performance is a cause for concern moving forward, it also lays as a reminder that Newcastle could rue not moving for one of their defensive targets and one of those was Bayer Leverkusen's Edmond Tapsoba, who would have been a huge upgrade on Burn.

How good is Edmond Tapsoba?

Newcastle were in the race to sign centre-back Tapsoba earlier on in the summer as Leverkusen slapped a £50m price tag on their star defender, who was deemed as a long-term successor to Fabian Schar.

The 24-year-old has risen to prominence as one of the Bundesliga's brightest talents and having starred in his side's run to the Europa League semi-final last season, it is clear to see why clubs are circling for his signature.

Tapsoba excelled against his positional peers when comparing various parts of his game across last season, including his ability to carry the ball long distances, defend in one-vs-ones and provide an exquisite passing range to his side.

The £43k per-week "monster", as lauded by scout Antonio Mango, ranked in the top 2% for ball recoveries (8.46), top 10% for progressive passes (5.30), top 13% for progressive carries (1.25) and top 14% for successful take-ons (0.50), all per 90 via FBref.

Despite playing at left-back last season, Burn falls well below Tapsoba in each of those key metrics, recording 4.8 ball recoveries, 3.41 progressive passes, 0.84 progressive carries and 0.32 successful take-ons.

Newcastle are transitioning into a side that has more possession as confirmed by their average of 49.5% this season and Howe needs players who are comfortable in possession, but at present, they don't currently have that, especially in defence.

Without ball-playing defender Botman in their side, Burn is attempting to fill a void that he isn't capable of filling, especially when it comes to progressing play from deep, spraying long passes and driving his team forward.

For the short-term, while the Netherlands international is absent, Newcastle are going to be held back by their inability to build from the back and having already suffered for their defensive misunderstanding against Brighton, ignoring their need for defensive cover is costing them.

Although signing Tapsoba would have cost upwards of £50m, he would have brought his ball-playing capabilities and European experience to the party, placing Newcastle in good stead for their Champions League challenge.

Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou may soon be forced to part company with a Spurs player he really admires after some transfer news this week.

Latest Spurs news

The north Londoners are enjoying an absolutely sensational start to this Premier League season.

Postecoglou's era has begun very brightly with the Australian yet to suffer his first top flight defeat in charge of the club. Following Antonio Conte's regrettable last season in charge, Spurs' new head coach has implemented the return of an entertaining, attack-minded style of play.

The Lilywhites boast four wins out of a possible five in the league; scoring 13 goals while sitting just behind Brighton and Man City as part of the division's top three attacking teams.

Certain Spurs players who never got a look-in under Conte, like Yves Bissouma and Pape Matar Sarr, are now thriving as part of a new-look Postecoglou team.

Attacking midfielders Giovani Lo Celso and Bryan Gil – who also weren't favoured by Conte – may soon come into the fold as well.

Tottenham have chalked up impressive victories over the likes of Bournemouth, Man United, Burnley and Sheffield United since mid-August – with the latter result seriously testing their character.

The Blades took a shock lead against the run of play before very, very late goals from Richarlison and Dejan Kulusevski gifted Spurs a hard-fought 2-1 win on Saturday.

Who could leave Spurs?

Postecoglou appears to be finding a winning formula at N17 and his best Tottenham side is taking shape; meaning certain squad members could be facing the axe ahead of January.

Former superstar striker Harry Kane, Sergio Reguilon, Joe Rodon, Djed Spence, Harry Winks, Alfie Devine, Troy Parrott, Dane Scarlett, Davinson Sanchez and Tanguy Ndombele have already left the club during Postecoglou's tenure.

It may only be a matter of time before another follow them out the Spurs door, with an update coming to light on Lo Celso's future.

The Argentine was linked with an exit in the summer window, and his departure is well and truly on the cards this winter. Postecoglou is actually a big fan of Lo Celso, as he admitted to the press recently.

"I’m really happy with Gio," said the Tottenham boss. "He’s been really good in training. You can see he’s a quality player and I think the way we play suits him. I’ve enjoyed working with him and I think he’s enjoying himself in terms of the football we want to play."

Despite this statement, a report from Spain has now claimed that Lo Celso has "made clear his desire" to leave Tottenham in the winter window. The player and his agents are apparently working on a transfer already. Lo Celso, for his part, has one specific destination in mind – Real Betis.

The 27-year-old apparently believes he will have far more opportunities returning to Spain with his former club.

How good is Giovani Lo Celso?

Lo Celso could still do a job for Tottenham, and we believe he could be hastily making a decision if the report is indeed true. Goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli, speaking to Super Deporte during the Argentine's 2022 loan spell at Villarreal, called him a "top player in the world".

"He gives us a plus as a team," said Rulli. "He helps us improve and I don’t discover anything by saying that he is a top player in the world. I know him well as a player and a person, so I hope he does very well."

West Bromwich Albion are reportedly looking to bring in two new players before tomorrow evening’s deadline.

What’s the latest West Brom transfer news?

The Baggies and Carlos Corebran have enjoyed a solid start to the new Championship season on the pitch, picking up seven points from a possible 12. However, off the pitch, it has been a struggle for those at The Hawthorns to bolster the squad, with just two new players arriving so far.

Brighton & Hove Albion attacking midfielder Jeremy Sarmiento arrived at the club on loan, whereas centre-forward Josh Maja signed on a free transfer after leaving Bordeaux.

Speaking after the win over Middlesbrough on Saturday, though, Corberan addressed the need for late arrivals, saying:

"I think our future in the competition depends a lot on this week.

"I like to have a strong team in attack and strong team in defence. The fact we scored goals today doesn't mean anything. We still need one attacking player for me, to strengthen the squad. Also we need someone who can play as a wing back or full back to cover the options for the team at the back."

A fresh update has been shared by The Express and Star, and it looks as if the club are trying to give Corberan exactly what he wants. The report, relayed by West Brom News, stated that the Baggies have rejected offers from Stoke City for striker Brandon Thomas-Asante, whereas Grady Diangana is attracting interest from Burnley, Leicester and Leeds.

Should any player leave, it is claimed that they will be replaced, but even if the club don’t sell, they are looking at signing an “attacking midfielder or versatile option able to cover a couple of attacking roles”. Another area is at right-back, with USA international and free agent Reggie Cannon named as a potential target.

Who could West Brom sign?

It appears as if it could be a key couple of days at The Hawthorns, especially following Corberan’s comments on the weekend, so it’ll be interesting to see if the club can give him his wish before the window slams shut.

One player who has recently been linked with a move to the Championship is Newcastle United’s Jeff Hendrick. It has been reported that West Brom, Leeds and Sheffield Wednesday have all registered their interest over a possible transfer after falling out of favour at St James’ Park.

The 31-year-old is primarily a central midfielder who can turn out in an attacking or right midfield role when required. He spent last season out on loan with Reading where he was praised by former manager Paul Ince, who said:

“He trains like a demon every day. He is very professional and I like professional players and he is one you can trust. The thing about football ultimately is that you’ve got to have 11 players you can trust. Sometimes you don’t pick the players with the most talent but ones you can trust week in, week out and Jeff is one of those."

Therefore, a move for the Irishman and defender Cannon could be ones to keep an eye on before tomorrow evening.

Leicester City have begun the Championship season in flawless fashion, having secured three wins from three games.

However, manager Enzo Maresca is still on the search for reinforcements and a long-term successor to Harvey Barnes, who joined Newcastle United earlier in the summer.

Therefore, the Foxes are hoping to bring one of Africa’s rising stars into their ranks this summer…

What’s the latest Leicester transfer news?

According to the Daily Mail, the Midlands outfit are chasing Sporting Lisbon dynamo Issahaku Fatawu, who is valued at around £12m.

The winger has reportedly been told that he is not part of the Portuguese outfit’s plans this season, with the 2016 Premier League champions aiming to take advantage with a loan deal that would include an option to buy.

Would Issahaku Fatawu be a good signing for Leicester City?

The 19-year-old gem’s rise to his current position and status is absolutely glorious, meandering through the leagues of his homeland and now seemingly on the verge of a move to a side that won the FA Cup just two years ago.

Fatawu’s endearing journey began in 2019 when the then 15-year-old played for Ghanaian second-tier club Steadfast FC. He registered 13 goal involvements in his first 12 games before the league was abandoned due to the pandemic.

But when he returned to action his form hit new heights, as the attacker netted 12 goals and crafted 12 assists in 14 league outings.

Fatawu’s name was gaining popularity around Ghana, and he was subsequently selected for his nation’s 2021 Africa U20 Cup of Nations squad, where he played in every game and scored twice to enable his side to win the tournament.

This was the next stage of his development and prompted more worldwide recognition of his effervescent talent as the Guardian included him in their ‘Next Generation 2021’ and wrote: 'Arguably the best African prospect of his generation.'

The Tamale native is an all-action midfielder who can play behind a striker or on the right wing, where he cuts onto his powerful left foot and plays incisive passes. He was especially electric at the U20 Africa Cup of Nations in 2021, where he was named player of the tournament, despite being younger than the vast majority of the players.”

This was the final tipping point for a European club to get involved and Fatawu joined Sporting CP in April 2022. However, he has only started once for the senior side in all competitions and if tempted with the chance of more game time in a different environment, he could easily make the move.

In comes Leicester, who are brimming with confidence having forged an unbeaten start to the Championship campaign. In their latest match against Cardiff City on Saturday, Wanya Marcal started on the right wing, and it was a memorable occasion for the 20-year-old.

On just his fourth appearance for the club, the attacker netted the first goal for the senior side in a 2-1 victory, whilst managing 93% pass accuracy and winning five ground duels.

However, he only completed one successful dribble, didn’t register any key passes and just 20% of his crosses were accurate, demonstrating that there is still much room for improvement.

Therefore, this opens a pathway for Fatawu, who could relish a new start in the Midlands to battle for that starting spot.

Once described as a “great talent” by Sporting boss Ruben Amorin, it could be an exciting new era for the forward, should he make the switch to the King Power Stadium.

The legspinner was eligible to feature in his second successive Under-19 World Cup, but the selectors did not want to distract him from his progress at the senior level

Nagraj Gollapudi10-Jan-2018

Rashid Khan is eligible to play his second Under-19 World Cup but isn’t part of Afghanistan’s squad for the 2018 edition of the tournament. Rashid, the second-highest ODI wicket-taker in 2017 (43 wickets), was one of the names on the selectors’ shortlist, but they decided not to pick him, given how far he has progressed at the senior level, and given the wealth of other spin options in their squad.Players born on or after September 1, 1998, are eligible to play the 2018 edition of the tournament, which begins on Saturday in New Zealand; Rashid was born on September 20, 1998.Rashid was Afghanistan’s top wicket-taker in the 2016 edition of the tournament, with 10 wickets at an average of 17.10. The legspinner made his ODI and T20I debuts a few months before that tournament, and has since gone on to become the senior Afghanistan side’s leading strike bowler. He is also among the most sought-after wristspinners in franchise T20 leagues. Delivering stump-to-stump legbreaks and a well-disguised googly at a brisk pace, Rashid has flummoxed a number of batsmen around the world.Afghanistan, who earned Full Membership of the ICC last June, enter the Under-19 World Cup as contenders based on their recent form: the Under-19s won their maiden Youth Asia Cup late 2017. Afghanistan’s strength remains their bowling attack, which is dominated by spinners including the mystery offbreak bowler Mujeeb Zadran, the third-highest wicket-taker in Under-19 ODIs since the 2016 World Cup.Immediately after the Under-19 team’s Asia Cup triumph, coach Andy Moles requested the selection panel, led by the former Afghanistan captain Nawroz Mangal, to consider including Rashid in the squad. Yet, despite the temptation of playing him, the Afghanistan selectors felt bringing Rashid back into the Under-19 fold would only distract him.”We have three very good spinners in the squad and the selectors felt that Rashid has moved on with his career and these young spinners need to develop their game for the good and future of Afghanistan cricket,” Moles told ESPNcricinfo. “I am very happy with the selection policy as it ensures and encourages growth in our outstanding talent for the future.”If Rashid had been picked, he would have been the fifth member of the Afghanistan squad to feature in consecutive Under-19 World Cups, the others being Naveen-ul-Haq, Tariq Stanikzai, Zahir Khan and Ikram Ali Khil.Those four could be the last Afghanistan players to feature in two Under-19 World Cups. Chief executive officer Shafiqullah Stanikzai has said the ACB has put in place a policy that, going forward, no player can play more than one edition of the tournament.”We have passed a new resolution about our junior cricket that a player will participate in only one Under-19 World Cup [from the next edition],” Stanikzai said. “That way every two years we will have a new pool of players and help our development programmes in junior cricket.”Stanikzai also said the ACB backed the selectors’ decision on Rashid. “The core idea is for the player to go from strength to strength. Rashid has represented Afghanistan senior side, he is playing all the leagues, so we have to push him up, not bring him down. Instead of giving Rashid, we (the selectors) preferred giving a chance to Qais Ahmad, Zahir Khan and Mujeeb Zadran. We are quite strong in the spin department and we are keen to see how these bowler cope in New Zealand.”

West Ham have shown interest in making a move for Chelsea defender Trevoh Chalobah this summer.

How much is Trevoh Chalobah worth?

According to the Guardian, David Moyes is in the market for a new centre-back and has shortlisted Chalobah as a possible option.

The 24-year-old is also being targeted by Internazionale, and faces an uncertain future at Stamford Bridge.

It was previously reported the Chelsea hierarchy was open to selling Chalobah, who is now behind teammates Thiago Silva, Wesley Fofana, Benoit Badiashile, and Levi Colwill in the pecking order.

New manager Mauricio Pochettino wants to head into the season with four centre-backs in the squad, but this plan has been thrown into question due to Fofana’s long-term injury.

With Badiashile also to miss the start of the season through injury, the Argentine doesn’t want his defensive options further depleted.

Nevertheless, Chalobah remains a target for the Hammers, and he could be available for around £25m.

The £50k-per-week gem could be swayed by a move to the London Stadium as he will be eyeing an England debut ahead of the Euro 2024 tournament next summer.

West Ham also have Harry Maguire and Taylor Harwood-Bellis on their radar this summer, according to the same report.

Who can Chalobah replace at West Ham?

The 6 foot 4 titan has been at Chelsea since 2007 and is one of the very few academy prospects to make a notable breakthrough into the first team.

His career in West London began in emphatic fashion when he netted on his Premier League debut in a 3-0 win over Crystal Palace on the opening day of the season.

In total, he has made 63 appearances across all competitions for the Blues, and although he isn’t a regular starter, he has emerged as a dependable squad option.

Last campaign, Chalobah was Chelsea’s second most-used defender (only behind Silva) and occasionally deputised at right-back for the injured Reece James. On that evidence, he'd provide David Moyes with plenty of versatility, something that could be key as the Irons embark on another voyage in Europe this season.

Former manager Graham Potter is one notable fan of the Englishman’s composure and positional awareness, saying: “I’ve been very impressed from day one. He’s trained really well, very professional, very determined. He’s an impressive character, very focused on his football. He’s a bit of a soldier.”

From a West Ham perspective, someone of this durability and versatility would be the perfect long-term replacement for Angelo Ogbonna.

The Italian is in the twilight years of his career and looks set to struggle with another year of domestic and European football.

The 35-year-old only started 13 Premier League matches last season and Moyes opted for alternative defenders in the crucial, latter stages of the club’s Europa Conference League triumph.

Chalobah can be deemed a certified upgrade due to his superiority in a number of metrics. Defensively, the Chelsea star outranks Ogbonna for tackles per 90 (1.71 vs 0.8), interceptions per 90 (1.28 vs 1.24), and blocks per 90 (0.92 vs 0.8).

Moreover, the former Ipswich loanee is also far more accomplished on the ball, comfortably trumping the veteran for pass completion per 90 (88.1% vs 80%), progressive passes per 90 (3.65 vs 0.8), and progressive carries per 90 (1.01 vs 0.00).

Judging by these statistics and his profile, If West Ham can persuade the Chelsea owners to sanction Chalobah’s departure, it would be an extremely shrewd piece of business.

JJ Watt has been told to take Burnley to MLS as he “can afford it”, with the NFL legend admitting to having an American plan for the Clarets.

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Article continues below

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• American football icon now an investor at Turf Moor
• Hoping to see club preserve Premier League status
• Intend to head to the States in pre-season schedule

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The former Houston Texans and Arizona Cardinals defensive end acquired a stake in Premier League side Burnley alongside his former USWNT star wife Kealia back in May 2023. He has been a regular visitor to Turf Moor since then, with a promotion party enjoyed at the end of last season.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Watt is hoping to contribute towards the Clarets enjoying a bright future, with the plan being to cement the club among English football’s elite. He has, however, been advised by fellow former NFL star Pat McAfee to consider relocating the club. McAfee told his talk show during a discussion with Watt: “You should think about bringing Burnley to MLS. There would be a lot of travel, I assume you can afford it.”

• WHAT JJ WATT SAID

  Rather than be dragged into that rather bemusing discussion, Watt revealed that Burnley are planning to head for the United States for friendly dates at some point in the near future. He said: “We’re working on bringing them over to America for a little pre-season action. We’re working on that.”

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  WHAT NEXT FOR WATT & BURNLEY?

  Burnley currently sit inside the Premier League relegation zone, with a five-point gap separating them from safety. Vincent Kompany’s side have 18 more games to take in before a testing 2023-24 campaign comes to a close.