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David Sullivan should fund a move for West Ham United to sign Goncalo Guedes in the summer transfer window as Valencia reportedly look to sell the Portuguese forward.

What’s the word?

According to AS, Valencia’s dire financial outlook has seen the La Liga giants slap a for-sale sign on Guedes and teammate Maxi Gomez.

The Mestalla Stadium natives are willing to listen to offers for the pair as they look to drum up vital funds, with owner Peter Lim facing losses of €26.5m (£23m) and challenges to meet Spain’s Financial Fair Play limit.

Reports in Spain last month had touted West Ham as a potential destination for Guedes, with David Moyes said to have an eye on the 24-year-old’s uncertain outlook.

A deal to sign Valencia’s record signing, for whom they paid Paris Saint-Germain £36m in 2018, was claimed to be possible for just €15m (£13m), sparking interest from the Irons as well as Napoli and AS Monaco.

West Ham could look to couple the Portuguese’s arrival with a revived pursuit of Gomez, with AS adding that Valencia are open to selling the striker for €18m (£15.5m) just two years on from the Hammers reportedly agreeing to pay Celta Viga €50m (£44.5m).

Gomez has scored 15 goals in 67 games across all competitions since rejecting West Ham’s interest for a move to Valencia, while offering eight assists.

Guedes has 20 goals and 20 assists in 126 games for Valencia, including during his initial season on loan, but has only started 17 of a possible 28 La Liga fixtures this term.

Should West Ham sign Valencia’s Guedes?

West Ham looking to capitalise on Valencia’s dire financial outlook and raiding the Mestalla for Guedes could see Sullivan fund a move for a forward who Javi Gracia lauded as “decisive” and may only need a fresh start to rediscover the form which saw PSG demand £36m.

Guedes lit up La Liga in the 2017/18 campaign during his year on loan with five goals and 11 assists, but abductor and groin issues arose in the following season to kick off his decline and 14 games out with a sprained ankle last term ensured it continued.

This year has been a massive challenge for Valencia as a whole, with Gracia overseeing just eight wins in 28 top-flight games, to sit closer to the relegation zone than Los Murcielagos are to the European places.

Given their struggles, it is no wonder that Guedes has also lost his form, but a fresh start could see that talent return, similar to how West Ham have benefitted from Jesse Lingard since his arrival on loan from Manchester United.

Lingard had not featured in the Premier League this season before moving to the London Stadium in the winter market, but has five goals and three assists to his name from seven appearances in claret and blue.

It’s the 28-year-old’s best return in front of the goal since the 2017/18 campaign, when he registered a career-best eight goals and six assists, but it took 33 games and three times as many minutes as he has played this season for Lingard to reach that tally.

Moyes had the key to unlock Lingard’s best form of his Premier League career, and may have the ability to unlock Guedes’ maximum potential as well.

AND in other news, West Ham are adamant a deal to sign a £100k-p/w “revelation” will be reached…

After being one of the early stars of Leeds United’s return to the Premier League, it’s fair to say Mateusz Klich hasn’t quite hit those heights in recent weeks.

The Poland international had managed two goals and five assists in Marcelo Bielsa’s side’s first 16 top-flight games, but since then, there’s been nothing to write home about with no goal contributions whatsoever.

Bielsa has been reluctant to drop him from the starting line-up, however, persisting with the 30-year-old even when times have been tough, and that’s a testament to just how much of a trusted lieutenant Klich has been over these past few years at Elland Road.

But with West Ham on Monday night, Bielsa must seriously consider dropping Klich from his team, and allowing him the time to just regroup and recharge his batteries.

In fact, speaking just in late January, former Leeds man Noel Whelan delivered his verdict on the 30-year-old, saying: “Sometimes you can play too much football and I think that is the case with him right now. It would only be right to give him a little bit of a break. He has played a lot of football in the past 12 months.

“He hasn’t been himself for over a month now. He’s not doing too much. He is drifting through games and that’s worrying.”

Things have continued in that same fashion since Whelan’s comments, with Bielsa even taking him off multiple times during games – he’s completed the full 90 minutes in just the past eight Premier League games, which is a far cry from a run earlier in the season when he played the full 90 in ten out of the club’s 13 opening matches.

As per Whoscored, he hasn’t scored higher than a measly 6.36 match rating in his past ten matches, including multiple instances of performances recorded lower than six. Only Helder Costa is ranked below Klich’s average rating over the course of the season, and that’s a damning statement of just how badly his performances have been.

He may not like it, but Bielsa must be ruthless. The £45k-a-week earning man simply has to be dropped against West Ham.

Meanwhile, Bielsa must start this £17m-rated star vs West Ham tonight…

Leeds have been a breath of fresh air to the Premier League this season but in order for them to develop further, they will have to strengthen their squad in the summer.

What’s the word?

Last September, the Telegraph reported that Leeds were interested in signing AZ Alkmaar midfielder Teun Koopmeiners in the transfer window.

The Whites didn’t end up pursuing their interest in the 23-year-old and there has now been an update on his future.

Phil Hay put together a list of potential midfield options for Leeds in the upcoming market and Koopmeiners was a name that was included. Hay noted a number of Italian clubs were monitoring his situation, while including some quotes from the player’s agent.

Bart Baving told Italian media last month that “the time has come for the next move.”

Forget De Paul

The transfer everyone at Leeds was talking about last summer was Rodrigo De Paul.

The Udinese sensation was regularly linked with a move to Elland Road and even teased a potential switch on social media. Leeds’ interest is still there but he has proven to be too expensive for them in the past.

It was thought that Udinese’s asking price usurped the £35m mark.

With that in mind, Victor Orta could do much worse than target a move for Koopmeiners. Like De Paul, he is capable of scoring and assisting with great regularity.

The Dutchman is competent in a number of positions from centre-back to central midfield, but it’s further forward that he feels most at home.

He’s registered 16 goals in all competitions this term, providing five assists for his teammates in the process. For context, that’s more than De Paul, someone who’s managed just the 11 goal involvements in comparison.

Those numbers are magnificent for someone playing in midfield and it provides evidence of what he could bring to Elland Road.

Koopmeiners seemingly has it all. He is incredibly astute defensively and has won 2.8 tackles per game this season; a number defeated by nobody in the current Leeds squad.

In that respect, he certainly offers more than De Paul. The Argentine wins just 1.2 tackles per match for instance.

Koen Stam, the midfielder’s coach at Jong AZ, once said: “I was the coach of Teun in the Under 15. At the age of 14 he was already very intelligent and he had a beautiful left foot.”

Indeed, his wand of a left foot has not deserted him as he’s grown older. Stam continued: “He always wanted to think along about the way of playing and he also got that freedom to think along. As he grew older he became more dominant and by always setting a good example himself he became a leader.”

It’s fairly evident why Orta must bring him to Yorkshire. He is an all-action midfielder capable of breaking up the play and scoring goals.

AND in other news, Orta could sign Leeds’ new Roofe in “exceptional” 26-goal gem, he’s a “special player”…

Manchester United will have Eric Bailly available for their clash with Arsenal at the Emirates on Saturday.

The centre-back was absent for the shock defeat at the hands of Sheffield United that saw the Red Devils surrender their lead in the Premier League.

Young defender Axel Tuanzebe was forced to fill in but he endured a night to forget at Old Trafford.

He came into the team to take on Chris Wilder’s side but he was nothing short of a disaster at the back as the visitors hit back in style, capitalising on a dreadful defensive performance from the hosts to pick up only their second win of the season and cause a stunning upset in the process.

A lapse in concentration saw the Blades take a surprise lead after Kean Bryan’s well-timed header from John Fleck’s corner and then an unfortunate deflection for Oliver Burke’s goal summed up his frustrations.

It was a far cry from his heroics against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League and there’s no doubt he will be bitterly disappointed with his individual performance.

Victor Lindelof has also been used across the backline but is suffering from a recurring back injury.

It leaves Ole Gunnar Solskjaer with his options somewhat limited but the United boss could have Bailly available.

Solskjaer confirmed he is fit for the Premier League fixture at Arsenal after missing the midweek defeat due to a knock.

“He’s travelling to Arsenal, yeah,” said Solskjaer. “Apart from that, we didn’t get any other losses from Sheffield United and the players are all fit and raring to go.”

The timing couldn’t be better for Solskjaer, as Bailly has been a colossal at the back since the start of this season, and put in a tremendous shift against Aston Villa a few weeks ago. Bailly blocked one shot, made one interception and completed six clearances – the most out of any player from either side, as per SofaScore.

On his day, it’s fair to say that the 26-year-old is currently one of the best defenders in the Premier League, providing that he is fully fit, with former United manager Jose Mourinho lavishing praise on his former charge after he played through the pain barrier against Liverpool in 2018.

Bailly is far more experienced than Tuanzebe and is a safe bet to start alongside Harry Maguire in the heart of the defence.

AND in other news, Manchester United must avoid signing Edin Dzeko in January…

Jurgen Klopp has been dealt another big injury blow ahead of his side’s trip to Leicester City on Saturday afternoon, with Fabinho set to miss the game at the King Power Stadium.

The Athletic correspondent James Pearce confirmed on Twitter that the Brazilian would be absent for the game against Brendan Rodgers’ side on Saturday due to a “little muscle issue”.

The defensive-midfielder has been one of Liverpool’s most important players in this bizarre season so far, having filled in superbly at centre-back in the absence of Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez and Joel Matip, who have all been ruled out for the season with long-term injuries.

Whilst the Reds did add Ben Davies and Ozan Kabak during the January transfer window, both are yet to make their Reds debut, but could be forced into action against Leicester on Saturday following this injury blow.

Fabinho has been the only real constant at centre-back for Liverpool this season, with Klopp selecting a plethora of centre-back partnerships throughout the season, which have more often than not seen the Brazilian starting alongside the likes of Nathaniel Phillips, Rhys Williams or Jordan Henderson.

The former Monaco man has made 18 appearances in the top-flight this season, with Matip the only other centre-back option (other than Henderson), to reach double digits in terms of league appearances so far this campaign, which highlights how important Fabinho has been in this Liverpool defence.

Whilst he has not been at his best in recent fixtures, which have seen the Reds lose significant ground in the title race, there was perhaps hope amongst fans that he could return to his best by moving back into midfield, now that Klopp has more options in his defence.

If Liverpool were to lose against Leicester on Saturday afternoon it would surely bring an end to their hopes of retaining the Premier League title, so to lose a player as influential as the “world-class” Fabinho through injury is undoubtedly a huge blow for Klopp.

And, in other news… Edwards should swoop for “exciting” PL beast who is “only going to get better”

Ahead of Tottenham Hotspur’s Carabao Cup semi-final clash with Brentford this evening, Jose Mourinho has been dealt some worrying news…

What’s the latest?

According to the Evening Standard’s Dan Kilpatrick, attacking midfield maestro Giovani Lo Celso is now set to miss the whole of January through injury.

The 24-year-old was withdrawn early during Spurs’ 2-0 defeat to Leicester City last month and did not feature against Wolves or Leeds United.

Lo Celso has been in the headlines for all the wrong reasons over the festive period after he was pictured breaking strict tier-4 Covid regulations, along with teammates Sergio Reguilon and Erik Lamela.

Although this news comes at a bad time for Mourinho too.

Attacking midfield worries

The Portuguese tactician has labelled tonight’s match his biggest game since arriving in north London over a year ago, and he’ll have to steer his side to victory without one of his best players.

Lo Celso has contributed to six goals in all competitions this season and has been their most creative midfielder in the Premier League, averaging 0.8 key passes per game, which is more than Tanguy Ndombele and Dele Alli.

Only Harry Kane and Heung-min Son have managed more (of any player that has started four or more matches).

The duo combined for their 13th goal of the season, tying a top-flight record, but if Mourinho is to successfully negotiate the busy fixture list, he’ll need to find inspiration from elsewhere.

And without Lo Celso that is so much harder. The £28m (€32m) signing has been noted for his creative output before – Alasdair Gold lauded his urgency and desire back in September, whilst Harry Winks dubbed the gem “technically gifted” and “exciting.”

He clearly doesn’t fancy Dele Alli, who has been snubbed from the matchday squad in ten of 16 Premier League matches. He’s also been linked with an exit following Mauricio Pochettino’s appointment at Paris Saint-Germain.

Ndombele also carries question marks as he won’t be able to cope with the additional workload in Lo Celso’s absence as he’s barely able to complete a full 90 minutes – something he has accomplished only twice in 21 appearances this term.

This all leaves Mourinho with quite the headache, and he’ll have every right to be fuming given the lack of alternatives ahead of such a big game.

AND in other news, Spurs could find their own VVD with swoop for £36m leader…

Since Brendan Rodgers took over at Leicester, the Midlands outfit has been flying in the Premier League. The Foxes arguably look the closest to securing a Premier League title since their underdog win back in 2015/16.

The former Liverpool and Celtic boss has reeled in blockbuster new recruits including Youri Tielemans and Wesley Fofana. But it’s not just the big money signings that Leicester can gloat about. Rodgers has enticed one of the country’s most exciting young talents to the King Power Stadium in the form of James Justin.

The England youth international has rapidly become one of Leicester’s most important players. He hasn’t missed a single minute of Premier League action this season and has contributed a goal and two assists as well as seven clean sheets, as per Transfermarkt.

Speaking to Football FanCast, Rob Lee has waxed lyrical about the 22-year-old defender and his promise of a very decorated future.

“Leicester sign a lot of good, younger players,” the pundit said. “James Justin, they got from Luton for £4million. He’ll be the next England left-back, or right-back because he can play either.”

Indeed, Justin boats extreme versatility and has already showcased this in his short time at Leicester. This season alone, the Luton-born defender has played on both defensive flanks and has also taken midfield positions in his stride as well.

England have the likes of Trent Alexander-Arnold and Reece James in their ranks after impressing at club level. According to premierleague.com, Justin is in the top ten players this season for most tackles made so far. His 51 tackles trumps the likes of Kalvin Phillips and Kyle Walker-Peters.

Rodgers recently praised his defender’s performances as of late and branded him an “outstanding” player to have on his books.

Already, the £35,000 per week talent is putting himself on a pedestal for Gareth Southgate and if Leicester continue to turn the gears in the Premier League, Justin could find himself following a similar path to his fellow young internationals.

In other news, Rob Lee says Danny Ings could be Vardy’s successor…

Everton have no new injuries ahead of visiting Burnley in Saturday’s lunchtime Premier League kick-off, but Carlo Ancelotti must make two changes against Sean Dyche’s side at Turf Moor.

The Toffees travel to Lancashire striving to bounce back from a 1-0 loss at home to Championship title-holders Leeds United last time out, as their torrid run of form continued with just one win in their last six top-flight fixtures.

But Everton could still move back within the top-four places with a win over Burnley, who have won just once all season and sit above basement boys Sheffield United with the division’s third-worst defensive record having conceded 17 times in nine games.

Ancelotti will be eager to see his side deal further damage to the Clarets’ record this weekend and has confirmed Seamus Coleman and Lucas Digne are his only absentees through injury.

But, if the Italian is to win at a ground the Blues have only won at twice in their last 10 visits, he will have to make changes. So, with that in mind, here’s a predicted line-up the Toffees could name at Turf Moor on Saturday…

Despite conceding the game-winning goal when Raphinha let rip from range, goalkeeper Jordan Pickford enjoyed a strong performance at home to Leeds last time out with five saves, one high claim, a 100% runs out success rate and 13 accurate long balls, per SofaScore.

Pickford’s display between the posts saw him lauded by Aston Villa hero Gabby Agbonlahor, who praised the England international’s “strong personality” for not allowing the relentless criticism following his collision with Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk to affect his performances.

Everton have not kept a clean sheet in the Premier League since the opening day of the season when Ancelotti oversaw a 1-0 win over table-toppers Tottenham Hotspur, while allowing six goals in their last three games, meaning the pressure will be on Pickford to deliver again if he wishes to avoid being benched for AS Roma loanee Robin Olsen.

Ancelotti, meanwhile, will be expected to name an unchanged central defensive pairing of Mason Holgate, Michael Keane and Ben Godfrey at Burnley with the trio recording five, six and four clearances respectively against Leeds, while blocking one, two and two shots and recording two, two and one interceptions, per SofaScore.

Holgate was also the only one of Everton’s defenders to be dribbled past by a Whites player, while Godfrey won all five of his duels.

Ancelotti faces a selection headache at full-back, however, with Coleman and Digne still out, having struggled to see Tom Davies and Alex Iwobi impress against Leeds when fielded in unfamiliar surroundings.

Iwobi lost possession nine times, won just one duel, misplaced each of his two crosses, failed to register a shot on goal and offered one tackle before being replaced in the 67th-minute, per SofaScore, while Davies struggled on the opposing side with two tackles and 11 accurate passes before his early exit despite creating a big chance to score.

Niels Nkounkou, who his agent Yvan Le Mee describes as a “strong, powerful, technical and very fast” defender, should expect to start in place of Iwobi at Burnley after Ancelotti discussed the Frenchman’s omission from the squad to face Leeds.

“Nkounkou was not in the squad because I have 11 players, I decided to put Iwobi on the left. The squad is really big,” the Italian said, via quotes by the Liverpool Echo. “He’s still young, he needs more experience, he needs to work more. But I am honestly satisfied for what he is doing. He will have time in the next game because we have a lot of games.”

Ancelotti awarded Nkounkou his Premier League debut at Newcastle United last month, while favouring the 20-year-old in all three of Everton’s Carabao Cup fixtures thus far this season.

Ancelotti faces more debate over who starts at right-back, having so far only trusted Jonjoe Kenny with playing 77 minutes in the Premier League since his return from a season-long loan with Bundesliga side FC Schalke 04.

But the Italian tactician faces less question marks over his midfield and offensive options with Dominic Calvert-Lewin the top-flight’s top goalscorer with 10 to his name, while James Rodriguez ranks third for big chances created (six) and fourth for key passes (24), per SofaScore.

Summer signing Allan also ranks second only to Aston Villa’s Jack Grealish (83) for ground duels won (64) by any Premier League player thus far this term, and Richarlison registers the seventh-most successful dribbles per game (2.57) despite missing three fixtures through suspension.

AND in other news, Carlo Ancelotti could unearth his ideal James Rodriguez heir in an Everton sensation David Unsworth loves.

The Newcastle Consortium Supporters Ltd (NCSL) have replied to a tweet from Nick De Marco QC amid talk of the proposed £300m takeover of Newcastle United by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) consortium.

The sports lawyer, who may be representing Mike Ashley in a possible court case versus the Premier League, tweeted about a link between his family and the city, which prompted a reply from a member of the NCSL reading:

“I look forward to having that beer with you when this is all done! Take care Nick and keep doing what you’re doing.”

Can De Marco help Newcastle win the takeover battle?

The fact that De Marco and the NCSL seem to be in close relation, added to the former’s relationship with the North East suggests that he will do his very best to get a positive result for the St. James’ Park faithful if the legal dispute between the Tyneside club and the English top flight had to be settled in front of a judge.

He also has a very good reputation in the world of sports law, and so members of the Toon Army can take a lot of encouragement if he is chosen to represent Ashley in court.

However, until a set of dates are decided as to when this could occur, everything is all speculation up until this point in time.

In other news, find out the exciting takeover update that Liam Kennedy has given here!

David Moyes is set to be in dreamland once the West Ham United boss recalls Issa Diop to the starting line-up following vivid praise for Fabian Balbuena from Irons icon Frank McAvennie.

What’s the word?

Moyes has been unable to call on Diop in recent weeks after he and the French centre-half both returned positive tests for coronavirus, which sidelined the 23-year-old in mid-September and forced him to miss Premier League meetings with Wolverhampton Wanderers and Leicester City.

Diop returned to the West Ham bench last time out against Tottenham Hotspur but did not feature in the dramatic 3-3 draw in north London, and is expected to once again miss out on a starting role in the Hammers’ clash with Manchester City this Saturday.

It is predicted that Moyes will name an unchanged XI from the side which drew at Spurs, with Balbuena joined by Angelo Ogbonna and Aaron Cresswell at the back and summer signing Said Benrahma only featuring on the bench.

Moyes can take great confidence in his recently-utilised defence following their latest form, and McAvennie believes Balbuena is finally starting to display his potential thanks to the Scottish coach’s tactics and training.

“I have always liked him,” McAvennie told Football Insider. “I have known about him for a while and I knew how well the boy could play. On the top of his game, he is probably one of our best defenders.

“The fans are seeing it now and that is because he is getting worked on. David Moyes was a centre-half so there is no doubt in my mind that he is working with the defenders. They are getting worked every day in training.

“It is good and then benefits are there for all to see.”

But the benefits from Balbuena’s form will only continue on an upward trajectory once Diop has returned to the starting line-up, with the Paraguayan enjoying his best defensive partnership in east London with the Frenchman.

Moyes’ dream backline

Since Diop and Balbuena moved to the London Stadium in 2018, the pair have tackled 29 Premier League fixtures together in which West Ham have taken 13 wins, five draws and lost on 11 occasions.

Their win rate of 44.8% is vastly superior to the 34.7% that Diop shares with Ogbonna and eclipses the 42.8% that Balbuena and Ogbonna share – something Moyes will surely love to tap into once he feels ready to alter the names in his defence.

Balbuena is also currently recording the highest number of successful tackles per 90 minutes by one of West Ham’s defenders in the Premier League (2.0), along with their most interceptions (2.7), passes blocked (1.7) and accurate long balls (3.3), while Diop ranks first for shots blocked (1.5) and accurate short passes (42), per WhoScored.

The combination of Balbuena and Diop amid their form this season could prove to be a master plan for Moyes, who would be left in dreamland should the 23-year-old Frenchman also return to a level that saw West Ham demand £60million amid interest from Manchester United, FC Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain in 2019.

Current Tottenham boss Jose Mourinho has also previously sung the praises of what Diop can offer, having lauded the defender for dominating Paul Pogba in a 3-1 defeat to the Irons during his tenure at Manchester United.

“[Diop had a] fantastic match,” Mourinho told BT Sport, via quotes by the Evening Standard. “Congratulations to the scout that found a 21-year-old kid Diop – a monster who dominated in the duels.”

AND in other news, West Ham risk a Jack Wilshere 2.0 scenario by signing a once-£42.4m-valued outcast backed by a club legend.