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This season has left little to be desired so far for West Ham United, as they sit just one point from the looming threat of relegation as the World Cup is set to commence.

Whether it has been the addition of Europa Conference League games or simply just poor form, domestically David Moyes seems clueless about how to get consistency out of a team he had led to back-to-back top-seven finishes the two seasons prior.

The break comes at a good time, and with only a handful of Hammers selected to represent their countries, perhaps it could be used as an exercise to recharge and relearn some of the basic principles that allowed them to earn such success.

One player who is suffering, in particular, is Jarrod Bowen, with the English winger yet to come close to the blistering form of his 18-goal and 13-assist campaign last year.

He has just two goals in the Premier League, offering little threat at all from the right flank.

The 25-year-old was subsequently not selected for England because of this form, which could add fuel for the wide man to up his performance and prove why he should have been on that plane.

Another factor that could spark him back to life is the potential introduction of a new winger in January, with reports circling in recent months that link Noa Lang with a move to the London Stadium.

The Dutchman plays off the left but enjoys cutting in onto his favoured right foot, the converse of Bowen, but actually boasts many similarities.

He is a fine goalscorer, and despite a slow start to this season with Club Brugge, has earned a place with the Netherlands to travel to Qatar.

This is likely birthed from his form last campaign, where he scored nine and assisted 15 in all competitions including the Champions League.

It was this form in front of goal that led Football Talent Scout Jacek Kulig to label him “unstoppable”.

Across that campaign, despite getting 12 of his assists in the Belgian Pro League, he actually created 19 big chances whilst averaging 1.9 key passes a game, via SofaScore.

With his introduction to east London, it could alleviate some of the goalscoring burden that Bowen carries from the wide areas, whilst revitalising a team that has scored just 12 times in 15 games in the league.

Lang truly is the “phenomenon” that Belgium journalist Peter Vandenbempt dubbed him, and given his price tag sat as high as just €25m (£22m) in the summer it could mark a sensational coup for Moyes that could get his team firing once again.

West Ham United are considering a move for Borussia Dortmund defender Raphael Guerreiro in January, according to reports.

The Lowdown: Priority position identified

The Premier League side have had a hugely disappointing start to the 2022/23 season, finding themselves just one point above the relegation zone, with reinforcements required in the winter to try and turn things around.

GSBK are believed to have made left-back a priority position heading into the New Year, and it would appear that they have identified the 28-year-old as their number one target.

The Latest: West Ham want Guerreiro

French outlet Jeunes Footeux reported (via Sport Witness) that West Ham have ‘identified’ Guerreiro and ‘would like to recruit’ him in January.

The Dortmund defender’s contract expires at the end of the season, meaning that he will be able to negotiate a free transfer for next summer, although the Irons aren’t willing to hang about.

The east London outfit ‘don’t want to wait’ for him and are instead hoping that a deal can ‘take place’ in the winter, with a small fee and agreement with his club needed in order for it to go through.

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The Verdict: Cresswell alternative

According to Josh Bunting, Guerreiro ‘oozes class’; and with 32-year-old Aaron Cresswell not getting any youngster, the Portugal left-back would be the perfect alternative to come and compete for the Merseysider’s place at West Ham.

The Bundesliga gem is a massive threat along the flank, having racked up 39 assists and 37 goals in just 206 appearances for Dortmund, and he also has the versatility to operate in midfield.

Guerreiro being available on a cut-price deal given his contract situation is great news for David Moyes’ side, and this is a prospective transfer that they should aim to get over the line as soon as possible.

Real Sociedad are aware of interest from Aston Villa in midfielder Mikel Merino as Unai Emery looks to sign him, according to a fresh transfer update.

The Lowdown: Merino impressing in Spain

The 26-year-old has been a key member of Sociedad’s midfield for some time now, making 173 appearances in total and chipping in with 22 assists and 18 goals.

Merino’s current deal expires at the end of the 2024/25 season, so time is slowly ticking away in terms of them being able to receive a big fee for his services. Now, it looks as though Villa could be one of the front-runners to snap up Merino.

The Latest: Emery wants player at Villa

According to Mundo Deportivo [via Sport Witness], Emery would ‘love to take’ the 11-time capped Spain international to the Midlands in January, with Sociedad aware that Villa ‘like’ him.

The Villans’ financial power is described as ‘indisputable’, suggesting they will easily have the funds to sign him.

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The Verdict: Great midfield option

Merino could be a great signing for Villa, with midfield possibly an area of the pitch that Emery could do with freshening up, especially if Douglas Luiz leaves.

He has been described as the ‘best player’ in La Liga by Sociedad coach Imanol Alguacil in the past, highlighting his quality, and he can provide both defensive nous and end product in the final third.

Merino’s average of 2.4 tackles and 2.3 clearances per game in the league this season are proof of the former, while six assists show how adept he is in the latter.

Sunderland have received a ‘major boost’ with the news that centre-back Aji Alese is back from injury this weekend, following an update from James Hunter.

The Lowdown: Sunderland back in action

The Black Cats haven’t played since the 2-1 victory at Birmingham City on November 11, with the World Cup in Qatar prompting a hiatus in the club season.

Sunderland are back in action on Saturday as they host Millwall in what is the only Championship fixture of the day.

Alese hasn’t been in action since the 2-0 defeat at Blackburn Rovers in October because of a foot issue, but he is on course to return this weekend.

The Latest: Hunter drops Alese update

Taking to Twitter in sharing a corresponding article for Chronicle Live, Hunter revealed that the 21-year-old is back fit again and could feature against Millwall tomorrow.

He tweeted:

“‘Monster’ Aji Alese’s return is a major boost for #safc”

The Verdict: Massive boost for Black Cats

This is an undoubted boost for Sunderland, with Alese such an important presence already despite his tender years, being hailed as a ‘seriously good’ player by podcaster Tom Edwards during his time at West Ham.

The Englishman has done well in his 10 appearances for the Black Cats since joining permanently in the summer, averaging 2.7 clearances and 1.8 tackles per game in the league this season. Those returns see him rank among the top five for both metrics at the Stadium of Light.

Whether or not Tony Mowbray throws Alese straight into the starting line-up on Saturday remains to be seen, but the probability that the whole squad could be lacking some rhythm after so long without playing makes it less of a risk than it would in the thick of a hectic fixture schedule.

CBS journalist Ben Jacobs has shared a promising update on Liverpool’s chances of signing Borussia Dortmund star Jude Bellingham.

The Lowdown: Reds eye move…

It is no secret that the Reds are seriously interested in signing the England international who has been shining for the Three Lions in Qatar.

The 2022 World Cup ace has started every tournament game under manager Gareth Southgate and stands out as their second-best performer by average match rating, behind only Arsenal star Bukayo Saka (WhoScored).

Bellingham has completed more dribbles per 90 than any England player, notching a goal and assist over his outings, adding further fuel to the fire that he will be a superstar.

The Latest: Liverpool ‘frontrunners’ for Bellingham…

The 19-year-old has an array of suitors from the Premier League but is in fact the Reds and manager Jurgen Klopp who are in pole position for his signing.

As per reporter Jacobs of CBS, Liverpool are the ‘frontrunners’ for his signature after putting in ‘a lot of leg work’.

He explained (via Twitter):

“Liverpool are frontrunners for Jude Bellingham largely because they have put in a lot of legwork. As previously reported, signing a top young talent isn’t just about the fee but the courting process. #LFC have always been excellent at pitching to players.”

The Verdict: Promising…

Called a ‘monster’ by other members of the media, Bellingham’s performances in the Middle East only highlight further why Klopp seems determined to bring him to Anfield.

Liverpool are arguably short of both quality and youth in the middle of the park and England’s newest sensation would certainly bring both in abundance.

There will be competition, but this latest update comes as a promising one.

West Ham United fans have been provided a positive injury update on Nayef Aguerd directly from the club medical staff, thanks to first-team coach Mark Warburton.

The Lowdown: Aguerd’s fitness

Aguerd arrived at the London Stadium in a deal totalling £30m in the summer transfer window, but fans have seen little of the centre-back after he had to undergo surgery for an ankle injury sustained in a pre-season friendly match against Rangers.

As such, news of the Morocco international limping off the pitch against Spain at the World Cup, after appearing to clutch his ankle, will have caused massive concern for manager David Moyes, but a new update has emerged which indicates it is not as bad as first feared.

The Latest: Warburton’s update

As per Football London, Warburton has given West Ham fans some cause for optimism with his latest comments from a very good source:

“He came off tonight, we all saw him on the coach rubbing his groin.

“He’s made contact with the medical team and he didn’t appear too concerned so fingers crossed it is not too bad.”

The Verdict: Promising news

Although the full extent of the injury is yet to be revealed, it will still be a relief for Moyes that the defender was not too concerned, and one would think Aguerd would not be so relaxed if there were a chance he could miss the quarter-final against Portugal.

Kurt Zouma is already unable to train at present due to a knee problem, according to insiders Claret & Hugh, so options at the back are already getting a bit sparse for the Hammers.

Not only that, but when Aguerd came into the team for a short stint prior to the World Cup, he impressed considerably, putting in a commanding display in the 3-0 triumph at FCSB, registering three clearances, the second-highest tally for a West Ham player, while also putting his body on the line with one blocked shot.

The good performances don’t stop there, however, with football writers lauding the enforcer as ‘heroic’ for his work in stopping Spain from scoring in the World Cup round of 16, and he will be a huge boost for Moyes’ side upon the restart of the Premier League season.

Tottenham Hotspur could be set to move in for a former Premier League star…

What’s the latest?

That’s according to German publication Sport Bild, who claim that the Lilywhites are one of a few teams interested in Barcelona attacker Ferran Torres.

With Arsenal seemingly holding the most interest following the injury to Gabriel Jesus, it will mark a tough task to win in a transfer battle containing them and AC Milan.

It is questioned whether the 22-year-old will remain a huge part of Xavi’s squad, and as such he may push for an exit from the Spotify Camp Nou.

He was only signed by the Catalan giants back in the December of 2021 from Manchester City, for a fee of £55m.

Drop Son

This move seems to have come out of nowhere but does make sense for a Spurs side in need of added firepower.

There was been an over-reliance on the attacking exploits of Harry Kane and Heung-Min Son in recent years, and with the latter faltering it has unsurprisingly negatively affected the whole team.

The South Korean has just three Premier League goals this season, and they all came in one game against Leicester City.

He would then captain his country at the World Cup, where he once again struggled in front of goal as he recorded just one assist in their four matches before elimination.

With the 30-year-old seeming out of sorts, looking to freshen their front line up with Torres could be a stroke of genius.

The Spaniard already boasts experience at this level and has five goals for Barcelona this season, looking to build upon his 14 goal contributions last season for his new club.

He even translated his form into international success, where he scored twice in four World Cup games before their untimely penalty defeat to Morocco.

His last full season in England also saw him earn 16 goal contributions having played all across the front three, highlighting his versatility and the usefulness he will bring alongside Richarlison and Dejan Kulusevski.

It will not be an easy task to pry him from Barcelona though, as Xavi remains a fan. Just last year he lavished praise on the youngster: “He’s a player on another level, he’s spectacular: how he understands the space, links play, doesn’t lose the ball, his defensive work… he’s world-class. He’s a great signing, one I wanted, and a wonderful footballer.”

Should he bring this form back to England, it could mark a huge coup for Antonio Conte, who could go as far as to boldly bench a certain Son as a result.

West Ham United are in need of reinforcements after a lacklustre start to the Premier League season, and Blackburn Rovers’ Ben Brereton Diaz fits the bill…

What’s the word?

Having risen to the top of the talented pool of Championship strikers over the past two seasons, the 23-year-old has attracted the attention of numerous clubs across Europe.

West Ham are one such club with interest in the forward, with The Sun claiming last summer that Irons manager David Moyes wanted to bring the Chile international to the London Stadium. 

With Brereton Diaz’s contract with Rovers set to expire next summer, it is anticipated that scores of clubs will dive in to try and secure his signature, and with West Ham in need of bolstering their squad, a January transfer would be prudent.

Speaking to GiveMeSport, transfer specialist Dean Jones stated that the east London club indeed still want the 23-year-old, and that such a move might be forthcoming. 

He said: “I think West Ham are still in a pretty good position on this one for whenever the time comes to move, but he’s been prepped by a lot of teams this season, like a ridiculous number of teams.”

Antonio upgrade

Michail Antonio has been a stalwart for West Ham, a beloved figure and scorer of 66 goals for the Irons since signing from Nottingham Forest in 2015, although only five of those goals have come this season.

However, with the Jamaica international now 32, recruiting a fresh face to lead the line alongside £35.5m summer acquisition Gianluca Scamacca could reap rewards for the Hammers, who sit a lowly 16th in the Premier League after 14 matches, having clinched European qualification in the past two campaigns.

Brereton Diaz could be that man. Having netted 41 goals for Blackburn across 152 appearances, including ten this season, the 23-year-old has gone from strength to strength over the past 18 months. 

The 17-cap Chile star scored 22 times from 37 Championship outings last term, earning the £20m price tag that his club demanded for his signature. However, with his contract edging closer to its conclusion, such a demand might fall on deaf ears now.

Moyes will likely have been reminded of the forward’s prowess when he scored against the Hammers in the Carabao Cup this season, with Sofascore recording his match rating at 7.4 from his impactful 30-minute cameo off the bench. 

In the Championship this season, the €16m-rated (£14m) gem has averaged 2.7 shots per match and  created five big chances.

With West Ham’s two established centre-forwards recording one shot per game and one big chance created (Antonio), and 1.9 shots per game and one big chance created (Scamacca), the Blackburn man’s vastly superior level of output could indeed bode well if he is recruited to Moyes’ squad. 

Hailed as “phenomenal” by football scout Ron Dor, Brereton Diaz simply must be signed by Irons head of recruitment Rob Newman.

With the east London club languishing dangerously near the Premier League relegation zone, a return to the fine form of the last two campaigns is imperative for both the manager’s job security and the club’s top-flight future.

Liverpool are leading the race for a Serie A winger as Jurgen Klopp looks set to strengthen his squad in January…

What’s the news?

According to Italian outlet CalcioMercato (via TEAMtalk), Liverpool are leading the race to sign Napoli winger Hirving Lozano.

The Reds were first linked with the player at the end of last season, yet no move ever materialised during the summer transfer window, but it appears that Klopp could well do business next month.

The Mexican might be available for a reasonable fee, especially considering he has been in and out of the Napoli side this season and that his contract is set to expire in 2024.

Klopp’s own Saka

Liverpool have had their fair share of injuries this season and their front three has changed regularly throughout the campaign, although with Luis Diaz and Diogo Jota out for an extended period of time, Klopp will be looking to add at least one of two wide options ahead of the second half of the season.

Lozano hasn’t quite been in his usual sparkling form this season, registering seven goal contributions across 19 matches – four goals and three assists – however, this shouldn’t have any bearing on Klopp’s decision to sign him or not, especially considering how impressive he has been in the past for Napoli.

The 27-year-old has scored 30 goals and registered 16 assists in 133 matches since joining the Serie A side, and is very similar to a player lightening up the Premier League at the moment – Bukayo Saka.

According to FBref, the Arsenal winger is the fifth-most similar player to Lozano across Europe’s top leagues and this is not a bad comparison to have considering the youngster’s recent form for the north London side.

This season has seen the two wingers register similar statistics when it comes to shots on target (nine to eight), shot-creating actions per 90 (4.43 to 3.89), dribble success rate (46.2% to 35.1%) and blocks (16 to 11).

Both players obviously provide an excellent attacking threat from wide positions, and Klopp urgently requires an attacking spark. Signing someone that is statistically similar to Saka would be an excellent investment.

The £87k-per-week winger was dubbed “frightening” by Rangers Review journalist Derek Clark before Napoli played Rangers in the Champions League and there is no doubt Klopp can get him back firing and at his very best if he manages to lure him to the Premier League.

Aston Villa reporter John Townley has confirmed the club’s interest in Udinese forward Gerard Deulofeu, with an approach made and the player open to a Premier League return.

The Lowdown: Forward wanted

Unai Emery has been promised a ‘huge’ 2023 transfer budget by NSWE and seemingly wants to add to his ranks in the final third.

Reports in recent months claimed that the Villa manager wanted to sign a new versatile forward, with players like Nicolas Jackson and Joao Felix linked.

Speculation over a move for Deulofeu has emerged more recently, and a further update has now come to light.

The Latest: Townley’s post

Birmingham Live reporter Townley took to Twitter in the last 48 hours to share what he knows about Villa and Deulofeu.

He ‘confirmed’ that an enquiry has been made, with the Spaniard, who he said is in the ‘best form of his career’, open to a return to England.

“Had it confirmed AVFC are interested in Gerard Deulofeu and have enquired about his availability – Unai Emery has previously worked with the winger. Understand Deulofeu is open to a move back to the Premier League. He is in the best form of his career.”

The Verdict: Realistic?

A move for Deulofeu could well be realistic and one that appears to now be picking up some serious pace.

The 28-year-old has impressed over the past 18 months, netting a senior career-best 13 league goals last season and already contributing to ten goals during the current campaign.

He ticks the box in regards to being able to play anywhere across the front three and is now into the final 18 months of his contract, so Udinese may see this as the ideal time to sell, especially if their attacker has his eyes on an exit.