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Sky Sports reporter Dharmesh Sheth has provided an update on the West Ham United pursuit of Lille midfielder Amadou Onana.

The lowdown: Wanted man

Previously linked to Leicester City, Everton and Liverpool in this transfer window, Onana has also been at the forefront of the Hammers’ targets throughout the duration of the summer.

In fact, the east Londoners are believed to have made numerous bids for the 20-year-old senior Belgium international who has already amassed 106 professional domestic outings across spells with Hamburg, Hoffenheim and current employers Lille.

After seeing their two opening offers for Onana rejected, Sheth has shed some light on the current state of play…

The latest: ‘Still in conversation’

Speaking to Give Me Sport, Sheth claimed that West Ham are awaiting a response to their third bid and remain keen on bringing the one-cap starlet to the London Stadium.

He said: “That one is still in conversation, as it were. They had two bids rejected.

“The latest one was around £25 million, but West Ham actually went in with the third bid, and that was around €38 million plus add-ons. Now, they still have not heard back from Lille to see whether that bid has been accepted or rejected.”

The verdict: Fingers crossed

With growing uncertainty surrounding the future of contract rebel Tomas Soucek and having already lost Mark Noble to retirement, adding another competent central midfielder to accompany the signing of Flynn Downes suddenly appears a priority for the Irons.

West Ham also rejected the opportunity to keep Alex Kral following his failed loan spell at the club, leaving Moyes somewhat bereft of options in the midfield department beyond talismanic superstar Declan Rice and Soucek.

Standing at 6 foot 3 and still some way from entering his peak, the underlying statistics behind Onana make for impressive reading as the towering Belgian possesses imperious aerial ability as well as strong tackling and passing qualities (WhoScored).

Last season, the youngster – who has been likened to Liverpool star Fabinho by football talent scout Jacek Kulig – won 3.4 duels on average per Ligue 1 outing whilst earning a 6.85 Sofascore rating.

Predominantly operating as a holding midfielder, Onana would be the perfect acquisition for the Hammers to supplement the potential attacking arrival of Gianluca Scamacca as someone capable of making an instant impact but also being allowed time to enjoy an adaptation period to the Premier League.

Tottenham Hotspur could look to make more signings before transfer deadline day, much to the delight of their supporters…

What’s the word?

That’s according to Sky Sports reporter Dharmesh Sheth, who claims that it’s not possible to rule out more business in north London heading into the final month of the summer transfer window.

“I don’t think you can rule Tottenham out of doing any more business,” he told GIVEMESPORT.

“Tottenham have surprised everyone, I think.

“If you’re a Tottenham fan, the ones I speak to, they just can’t believe how quickly they’ve done their business.”

Six and counting

The Lilywhites have already signed six new players to Antonio Conte’s squad for the upcoming Premier League season, with the most notable splash being a £60m swoop for Richarlison from Everton.

Conte will be looking to strike a balance in his side as Tottenham will be competing in both their domestic competitions, as well as the Champions League.

Yves Bissouma has also arrived in a £25m deal from Brighton and Hove Albion, and Djed Spence in a £15m swoop from Middlesbrough.

Meanwhile, Clement Lenglet has joined on loan from LaLiga giants Barcelona, with Ivan Perisic and Fraster Forster signing on free transfers from Inter Milan and Southampton respectively.

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However, it appears that sporting director Fabio Paratici and co aren’t done there, as Sheth cannot rule out Spurs making more additions in the coming weeks, and that surely leaves many supporters absolutely buzzing.

It’s an exciting time to be a Tottenham fan and the prospect of further signings may well raise expectations, especially considering the names who have been linked recently.

Leicester City playmaker James Maddison is one player that the club are thought to like, whilst Paratici has been in Italy discussing a potential move for Roma star Nicolo Zaniolo.

This would suggest that the Lilywhites are looking to bolster their attack once again, with a couple of no.10-type figures mooted.

Those around the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium are surely delighted to hear this claim from Sheth this week.

AND in other news, Paratici in talks to seal “Lampard-type” £43m gem, could be bye-bye “lazy” Spurs flop…

A major Sunderland claim has emerged on the club’s plans for the rest of the summer transfer window… 

What’s the talk?

Alex Neil has confirmed that the Black Cats are far from being done in the market as they plot further additions to their squad.

He told the Sunderland Echo: “We’ve still got four, potentially five that we want to bring in before the window ends.”We need to make sure the squad is competitive and not only that, they brought four or five really fresh lads on who know the level, and that can really make a difference.”I think what you could see today is that it was a step up in intensity. I thought towards the end of the game our lads were dead on their feet, it really is difficult. Normally we score a goal in League One, the opposition gets a bit scared and they sink back into their shape. We control the ball and it’s basically a case of when will the next goal come.”At this level, Coventry came here thinking, ‘we’re better than Sunderland and we have better players, we’re coming to win’.” Supporters will be delighted

Black Cats fans will be delighted by this claim from Neil because it now promises to be a very exciting end to the window for the club.

Neil and Kristjaan Speakman have a month or so left to bring players into the club, with the market closing on the 1st of September, and supporters can now look forward to seeing a host of fresh faces coming through the door.

As the head coach said above, Coventry had quality in depth and that paid off in the latter stages of the game as they gained control towards the end of the match. They were able to overwhelm the Black Cats and forced them back into their own box – with their attacking momentum spiking in the final 15 minutes.

Whilst the equalising goal was a moment of individual quality from Viktor Gyokeres, Coventry put enough pressure on the hosts to deserve a point from the game.

This highlighted the step up in quality from League One and that is why supporters will be delighted to read that Neil is keen on four or five more players coming in as that will, hopefully, provide him with the tools he needs to avoid being overwhelmed in matches.

AND in other news, Sunderland “seem hopeful” of sealing major deal that’ll leave supporters buzzing…

Dharmesh Sheth has dropped an update on the future of reported West Ham United transfer target Amadou Onana.

What’s the latest?

In a recent post on Twitter, the Sky Sports reporter revealed that, following a number of reports linking David Moyes’ side with a move for the LOSC Lille defensive midfielder this summer, the Premier League side have now agreed a €40m (£33.5m) deal for the Belgium international.

The journalist went on to state that, as of Wednesday, the deal is still a long way from being completed, as personal terms with the 20-year-old are still yet to be agreed upon.

In his tweet, Sheth said: “West Ham United agree a fee with Lille for midfielder Amadou Onana. Fee understood to be €40m including add-ons. Deal LONG way from being done – personal terms not close to being agreed. Lille reluctant sellers but conscious they may not get deal like this again.”

“Masterclass” signing for Moyes

Considering just how exciting a prospect Onana very much appears to be, the news that West Ham now look to be closing in on a deal to bring the one-cap international to the London Stadium this summer – potentially beating the likes of Arsenal to the midfielder’s signature – undoubtedly represents a huge coup for Moyes and his side.

Indeed, over his 32 Ligue 1 fixtures last time out, the £9m-rated youngster enjoyed a sensational campaign, scoring one goal and creating three big chances for his teammates, in addition to making an average of 1.5 interceptions, 0.9 tackles and winning 3.4 duels – at a success rate of 54% – per game.

These returns saw the £5.5k-per-week talent who Jacek Kulig dubbed a “masterclass” average a very respectable SofaScore match rating of 6.85, ranking him as Les Dogues’ joint ninth-best player in the league last season.

Further still, according to FBref, the former Hamburger SV starlet also ranks in the top 6% of midfielders in Europe’s big five leagues and European competitions for tackles per 90, as well as the top 21% for aerial duels won, the top 24% for clearances and the top 25% for interceptions over the past 12 months. All of that would make him a rather dominative partner for a certain Declan Rice in the middle of the park as the Irons aim to push hard for an elusive European trophy and a place among the Premier League’s top six.

Therefore, while it is true that Onana is very much at the beginning of his professional career at the highest level of the game, considering just how much raw potential the 20-year-old evidently possesses, should West Ham go on to seal a deal for the Belgian sensation, and Moyes’ men do indeed go far in Europe, it would undoubtedly be something of a transfer masterclass for the east London side.

Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Giovani Lo Celso could now be fast approaching an exit as journalist Alessio Lento shares a major update.

The Lowdown: Spurs eyeing exit deals…

The Premier League outfit have signed and sealed six major incomings with Ivan Perisic, Fraser Forster, Yves Bissouma, Richarlison, Clement Lenglet and Djed Spence arriving at N17.

In terms of outgoings, the biggest first team names who have managed to secure departures are arguably defender Joe Rodon, who recently completed a temporary move to Rennes, and Netherlands international Steven Bergwijn, who joined Ajax (Transfermarkt).

However, there are still a few names who Spurs need to offload with Tanguy Ndombele, Harry Winks, Sergio Reguilon and Lo Celso not thought to be in Conte’s plans.

The Latest: Lento shares big Lo Celso update…

Taking to social media, Italian reporter Lento has shared a big update on Lo Celso’s chances of leaving north London.

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The Argentine is apparently ‘fast approaching’ Villarreal and is ‘very close’ to making a return to Spain this summer.

Lento explained (via Twitter):

“Giovani #LoCelso is fast approaching #Villarreal : the Argentine is very close to returning to Spain, while the track #Fiorentina is fading. This is based on a dry loan from #Tottenham , but the formula is still being discussed”

The Verdict: Good call?

While this potential exit looks to be a loan, getting Lo Celso off the books even just for this campaign will come as a boost for sporting director Fabio Paratici.

The South American enjoyed a brilliant spell on loan in La Liga with Villarreal last campaign and it appears to be a match made in heaven, so perhaps another year there will even increase his value despite it taking 12 months off his contract.

Lo Celso’s likely exit before September 1 could also free up squad space and alleviate Spurs’ wage bill – assuming his hosts take some of that burden – so this possible agreement could really assist Conte’s side towards the end of this window.

Southampton could be set to lose one of their longest-serving players this summer, with reports suggesting that centre-back Jack Stephens is likely to join Watford.

What’s the word?

Stephens has been with Southampton since he was just 17 but 11 years later, it seems as if his time at St Mary’s could soon be up, with Watford heavily linked with signing the defender.

In a recent interview with GIVEMESPORT, talkSPORT journalist Alex Crook shared his knowledge of the 28-year-old’s situation with the Saints.

He said: “Stephens is interesting because I saw that knocking around yesterday and I’ve seen it again this morning.

“I did contact someone close to Southampton and they said he might go, they’re not entirely sure it’ll be to Watford, though, so keep an eye on that one.”

The best option

Stephens has steadily moved down the pecking order at Southampton in recent seasons, with the likes of Lyanco, Mohammed Salisu and Armel Bella-Kotchap joining the club, so selling the Englishman might be the best option for Southampton.

In his time on the south coast, Stephens has made 151 appearances in total, contributing six goals and six assists. However, he was limited to just 11 appearances in the Premier League last season and has started both of the games this campaign on the bench, so it would not be a surprise to see him leave in search of regular game time.

Stephens is surprisingly one of the better earners at Southampton, reportedly earning £48k per week with the club, so selling him would free up some funds for defensive improvements, which are definitely needed if the first two games of the new season are anything to go by.

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The Saints have shipped six goals already this season and had one of the worst defensive records in the top-flight last season. Indeed, they shipped 67 times, the fourth-worst number in the Premier League, so it’s clear that new additions are needed if Hasenhuttl’s side want to avoid another difficult campaign.

It must be worrying that Stephens can’t even break into a defence as poor as that so it is undeniably the best option for all parties if he is moved on this summer.

The 28-year-old still has two years left on his contract at St Mary’s so should demand a decent fee from Watford, and hopefully, his departure proves to be good news for Hasenhuttl, as it could pave the way for Southampton to sign a more reliable replacement.

A little over two weeks before the summer transfer window is shut, one of the teams facing really tough times has to be Leicester City. The team is the only one in the Premier League in the summer transfer period that hasn’t so far signed new players. This is despite having exiting players.

A bad start to the season, coming on the back of a poor ending to last season, complicates matters even more for Brendan Rodgers’ team. The Foxes have just one point in their opening two league games and in the process they’ve conceded six goals.

While they haven’t brought in new players, and with the transfer window’s closure fast approaching, Leicester City are between the proverbial rock and a hard place. Blunt in attack, and no longer solid in defence, it seems Leicester City, previously an epitome of talent, selling for the top dollar, will have to find top replacements themselves.

Their form at the start of the season has exposed their deficiencies and it is quite easy to bet on their matches, especially where lack of clean sheets is concerned. This is a good avenue for first time registrations which come with bonuses on some of the best betting sites by SportyTrader, including 1XBet, which offers up to $130 in bonus, Betobet which has up to €100 bonus, same to ShangriLa.

As the 2016 Premier League champions grapple with a poor run of form, Leicester City have already seen one of their best players over the previous seasons, Kasper Schmeichel, walk out. The goalkeeper has left to join French Ligue 1 side Nice. So far, replacing the iconic keeper has proven a challenge and Daniel Ward, in the two opening league games, has proven to be way short.

Leicester City will not have it easy with a number of teams salivating over their players. Jamie Vardy, one of the few remaining heroes of the league winning 2016 team, has attracted interest from Manchester United on a short term deal. It remains to be seen if the man who rejected Arsenal before will still hold his loyalty to Leicester City aloft as the season unfolds.

Youri Tielemans has also been a target for other Premier League sides, top among them being Arsenal. However, Leicester seems to be winning the race to hold on the Belgian international, at least for a year. The danger is that they may lose him for free next season.

Wesley Fofana is back to full fitness and his promise remains clear despite the team’s struggles. He has featured in both opening league games and has stayed professional despite open interest from Chelsea. The Blues have had offers rejected as they prop up a valuation of £80m and there is concern that the club is only setting the valuation high to frustrate a move, even as there have been indications the player would like to move to a team playing in the Champions League as a means of forcing his way into the French national team ahead of the 2022 World Cup.

Photo by Unsplash

Leeds United have been handed a timely injury boost ahead of today’s match…

What’s the latest?

The Yorkshire outfit welcome Chelsea to Elland Road this afternoon for the third fixture of the new Premier League campaign and manager Jesse Marsch will have the availability of Joe Gelhardt.

“Joffy is back in training and ready to go,” the American revealed ahead of kick-off (via LeedsLive).

The young striker was absent for the Whites’ 2-2 draw with Southampton last weekend, where fellow frontman Patrick Bamford picked up another injury.

Much-needed boost

Bamford, 28, limped off during the first half due to an abductor issue and has effectively been ruled out of today’s clash, so Joffy’s return certainly comes at a good time for the American head coach.

The England international missed much of last season through injury, having been restricted to just nine top-flight appearances all year. And Leeds suffered immensely from it.

Only the now departed Raphinha hit double figures in terms of goals scored (11) as Marsch looked to the likes of Dan James and Gelhardt to fill the void. If he did not have the latter, it would have been an even worse situation with the Yorkshire side only avoiding relegation on the final day.

Across 20 appearances in the Premier League, in which just five were starts, last term, the 20-year-old bagged two goals and provided four assists, including a strike against today’s opponents in a 3-2 draw.

He also showed immense composure to score a late winner against relegation rivals Norwich City and to deliver an assist to steal a point from Brighton on the penultimate day.

His availability will be a huge boost for Marsch and co as he’s the only other striker to Bamford in this current squad – something that the club are looking to resolve in the transfer window, though they are running out of time.

Both the manager and the Elland Road faithful will surely be very glad to have Gelhardt involved in some capacity today.

AND in other news, Marsch must now unleash Leeds “pearl” vs Chelsea after big Bamford blow…

Journalist Josh Bunting was left shocked by a ‘moment of complete madness’ from defender Steve Cook during Nottingham Forest’s 2-0 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur.

The Lowdown

Steve Cooper’s side took to the City Ground to face off against Spurs this afternoon after enjoying a decent start to the Premier League season, having picked up four points from their opening three games. The Tricky Trees duly sat 12th in the league table, and a win over the Lilywhites would have taken them up into the European places.

Antonio Conte’s men were also looking for another three points after a strong start to their campaign, with two wins and a draw in their opening three games of the season.

To Cooper’s dismay, Tottenham got off to an emphatic start, with star striker Harry Kane bagging the opening goal of the game in the fifth minute of play.

The Latest

Returning to the pitch after the half-time interval, a momentary lapse in concentration led to a Spurs penalty in the 54th minute.

Centre-back Steve Cook handled the ball in the Reds’ penalty area, leading to an opposition penalty and a yellow card. To the defender’s relief, Dean Henderson thwarted Kane’s spot kick, keeping Forest in contention for the remainder of the match.

Bunting was left astounded by the defender’s actions, given his wealth of experience playing at the top level.

As a result, the journalist took to Twitter to share his reaction, stating: “Penalty for Tottenham but what is Steve Cook thinking, that’s a moment of complete madness. For a player that experienced that’s just insane. Kane steps up and it is saved by Dean Henderson it’s his second penalty save of the season after keeping out Declan Rice. Excellent save.”

The Verdict

After ten years and 387 appearances playing for Bournemouth, Cook joined Forest in January as the Reds pushed on for Premier League promotion. The 31-year-old went on to play 14 times during the remainder of the Reds’ 2021/22 Championship campaign, eventually helping his team to triumph in the play-offs.

With 170 Premier League games under his belt, the defender certainly has enough experience to help Forest navigate their first top-flight campaign in 23 years.

You can duly see why Bunting was so surprised by Cook’s lapse in concentration, so hopefully he learns from it ahead of Wednesday’s clash against Manchester City and doesn’t repeat the feat then, as he might not get away with it a second time.

Everton have identified Manchester United youngster James Garner as their top target ahead of Thursday’s transfer deadline, according to The Athletic’s David Ornstein.

The Lowdown: Loan success

The 21-year-old spent last season on loan at Nottingham Forest, where he played a crucial part in their emphatic promotion to the Premier League.

The defensive midfielder made a whopping 44 appearances in the Championship, bagging himself four goals and eight assists – incredibly averaging his side’s highest match rating, with a 7.26 score across the campaign.

The Latest: Everton interest

According to Ornstein’s latest report for The Athletic, in addition to Idrissa Gueye from Paris Saint-Germain, Everton have identified Garner as their top target to sign before the transfer window’s closure.

It is said that the Toffees are waiting on Manchester United to engage in talks before they can proceed with negotiations.

Frank Lampard wants to secure two or three more additions before Thursday evening; ideally adding another midfielder and a striker or a wide forward to his squad.

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The Verdict: Great potential

Hailed by journalist George Smith for his ‘outstanding’ loan spell at Forest last season, the midfielder’s statistics clearly illustrate his potential to succeed at the top level.

As per WhoScored, the 21-year-old dominated the middle of the park last season, averaging 1.9 tackles, 1.4 interceptions and 1.2 dribbles per game.

Passing-wise, he further contributed an impressive 2 key passes, 1.6 crosses and 1.5 long balls per match – illustrating his all-round ability to dictate a game’s tempo.

Therefore, if Everton can secure the youngster on a long-term contract or even just a loan-to-buy deal, this could be a great addition to Lampard’s squad.