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David Moyes is on a lookout for potential reinforcements this summer and if the latest reports coming from The Telegraph are to be believed, he has cast his gaze on Queens Park Rangers’ Ryan Manning.

The same outlet says West Ham United would be interested in securing the transfer early in the window. That way, it would seem, he could fend off potential rivals and get his man in as soon as possible.

Of course, it all depends on Manning’s availability, especially since QPR recently activated their option to extend the full-back’s contract, albeit only for an additional year. Otherwise, he’d be gone on a free.

Still, Moyes seems to believe signing Manning would be a low-risk deal seeing how the player in question has been improving year after year. But this also means the Hammers might not be the only club looking to acquire his services in the ongoing summer transfer window.

West Ham will have to be swift and decisive if they want to get this deal over the line. Of course, we also know Manning is not the only QPR player Moyes is eyeing and is also interested in Eberechi Eze.

Can they really make a swoop for both players or is Moyes potentially being a bit too ambitious in his attempts? We will simply have to wait and see for that one.

Verdict

The 24-year-old left-back seems like a reliable man to boost West Ham’s full-back options and should he indeed be available this summer, it’s fairly easy to see why they might be interested in bringing him in.

Throughout 2019/20, Manning has played all but five Championship games and has pretty much cemented his place as a hard-working and secure wide defender for QPR.

Even though they have recently extended his contract, now he has only one year left on that deal and his asking price could therefore drop, giving the Hammers a chance to swoop in and seal the deal.

Danny Ings was the man of the hour after netting a brace in Southampton’s 3-1 win over Watford on Sunday.

The former Liverpool man seems to have really found his calling on the south coast as he now boasts 18 goals in this Premier League season. Ings is just one goal behind leading scorer Jamie Vardy of Leicester as the race for the Golden Boot becomes even more heated (via BBC Sport).

From an Anfield tragedy to Southampton’s driving force, Ings has made arguably the most impressive transformation over the last couple of seasons. The 27-year-old missed a total of 85 Liverpool games after ongoing knee injuries impacted his time on the pitch (via Transfermarkt).

He made the switch to Southampton colours last summer for a fee of £20m and has made a colossal impact to a side who just managed to stay up last season. Not only is Ings only one goal behind Vardy, he is one ahead of former Anfield teammate Mohamed Salah, who has 17 league goals to his name this term.

The Foxes got their 2019/20 season off to a flying start but have gradually slipped away from the top of the table as Liverpool and Manchester City excelled. However, they could still clinch Champions League football if they can maintain third place and stay ahead of the likes of Chelsea, Wolves and Manchester United.

However, winning the Golden Boot will be a huge boost for both Vardy and Leicester and, if he wants to ensure that happens, he must not underestimate Ings. The Winchester-born striker may have come into this season as an underdog but he is a force to be reckoned with and certainly threatens any mainstream Golden Boot race.

Do you think Jamie Vardy can hang onto his lead and win the Golden Boot this season? Have your say in the comments below!

As the Premier League rides the current conveyor belt into uncertain waters, many clubs are wondering how the current global crisis will affect their next transfer window.

For some, their financial worries will be of a much greater magnitude and could involve offloading players in order to make back some summer funds. Everton are amongst those likely to be concerned over their budget and whether the current climate will allow Carlo Ancelotti any breathing space to bring in new talent.

Another option to help minimise costs would be to turn to the out-of-contract players who are set to depart their teams at the end of the campaign. The Premier League has 57 free agents who have not been offered new contracts and Football FanCast has looked at two players who could fit the bill for the Blues if buying big is not an option.

Olivier Giroud

The Merseyside outfit once upon a time came close to penning Olivier Giroud’s future after he was made a top target to replace Romelu Lukaku. In 2017, Everton looked firmly in the running to poach the Frenchman after talks of Dortmund bringing him in were snubbed due to not wanting to offload Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

In an update from Transfermarketweb, Giroud was reportedly set to leave London with Merseyside his likely destination. Of course, the striker instead signed for Chelsea but Everton were reportedly inches away from winning the race for the £25million star (via BBC Sport). But now, with the French international looking to be leaving Chelsea as a free agent this summer, Everton should reignite their interest and add him to the Goodison ranks.

Giroud’s last two full seasons with Arsenal saw him tally a combined 40 goals and 13 assists – proof that when played consistently, he is a threat in front of goal.

The Blues have Dominic Calvert-Lewin who is currently in fine form, but to be able to learn from a veteran of the game who has a total of 203 career goals would be priceless experience. Not to mention the crucial rotation Giroud could provide for Everton’s attack.

Shane Long

The 33-year-old centre-forward could be available for free this summer unless Southampton act fast in renewing his contract. According to a report from the Daily Echo in February, the Saints were set to extend Shane Long’s deal but no further action has been taken as of yet.

However, amid the current financial difficulties, the club could want the striker off their books in order to free up some cash. Southampton also have younger forward options in the form of Che Adams and Michael Obafemi, as well as Danny Ings who has had an explosive season. His 15-goal tally compared to Long’s two could be enough to favour the Englishman and let the latter leave this summer.

Everton were reportedly linked to a move for Long back in 2016, but talks never came to fruition. However, with the Toffees looking to offload a hefty amount of deadweight this summer, they may not be able to spend big on targets they had in mind prior to this global crisis.

Furthermore, as Long approaches the end of his career, he could prove an important pivotal asset to this Everton side. His Premier League expertise and decades in the game would make for a strong substitute during more calculated games.

After being linked with a move to PSV Eindhoven in the January transfer window, per Sky Sports, Patrick Van Aanholt is reportedly now a transfer target for French giants Paris Saint Germain, according to Eindhovens Dagblad and a lot of Crystal Palace fans are reacting to this news on Twitter, via CPFC News HQ.

The Dutch left-back has been a fan favourite since joining the club in 2017 for £9.45 million from Sunderland, per Transfermarkt, featuring 97 times and managing to score 13 goals along the way.

This season he has performed well at both ends of the pitch, managing 1.5 interceptions and 1.4 tackles on average per game, whilst also averaging 1.1 key passes and 1 shot per top flight match, via WhoScored.

The player seems pivotal to the side due to the fact that he does help both from an attacking and defensive perspective, and if he did leave it would be hard to find a player who can do the same for a price that is not massively inflated. It shows how good a role he plays on the pitch when Ligue 1 champions PSG want the player.

Here is what fans had to say following the news:

And there are some fans who don’t think he is good enough for Palace 😂

— WARREN GUEST (@WARRENG39) April 20, 2020

Palace fans, do you think it is a good or bad idea to sell Van Aanholt? Comment below!

This article is part of Football FanCast’s Transfer Focus series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent transfer news…

Aston Villa are weighing up a move for Carlisle United defender Jarrad Branthwaite in the January transfer window, according to reports from Football Insider. 

What’s the word?

Branthwaite, 17, has made his breakthrough at the League Two club in the 2019/20 campaign, with the report suggesting that Villa sent scouts to watch Carlisle play Port Vale in their 2-1 defeat on Saturday.

The centre-back has made a total of nine appearances so far this season, marking his first term of first-team football with the north-west outfit.

Having signed a two-year contract in February 2019, the 6ft 4 defender is contracted to the Blues until 2021, but Dean Smith could look to test the resolve of Steven Pressley’s side in the upcoming window.

Wrong man for the wrong window

Centre-back is an area where Villa have a number of young options at their disposal already, with the likes of Tyrone Mings, Bjorn Engels, Kortney Hause and Ezri Konsa all vying for a starting berth and aged 26 or younger. In fact, the latter is just 22 and experiencing Premier League football for the first time.

Of course, Branthwaite is more of one for the future, but as things stand there’s no obvious pathway for him into the first team over the next few years with so many young defenders on the books already. He could easily end up fading into obscurity through a series of loan spells, especially if Mings and Engels remain Smith’s preferred partnership.

In the short-term too, Villa have conceded 20 goals in the league this season – a number only worsened by the bottom-three.

If Villa are to sign defensive recruits in the new year, those with first-team experience should unquestionably hold greater importance to Smith, acquiring players who can have an immediate impact and potentially replace the influence of injury-striken captain James Chester (the club’s oldest centre-half). 

Adding another youngster to the mix feels counter-intuitive at this stage.

This article is part of Football FanCast’s In Numbers series, which takes a statistical look at performances, season-long form and reported transfer targets… 

Another week, another narrow win for Liverpool.

Despite winning 12 of their first 13 matches in the Premier League so far this campaign, seven of those victories have been by a single goal. However, it shows that although the Reds are yet to hit top gear during this season, they are still picking up the points they need to give them a commanding eight-point advantage at the top.

On Saturday against Crystal Palace, they were without Mohamed Salah, the division’s Golden Boot winner in each of the last two seasons. Without him, Senegal international Sadio Mane moved over to the right wing to take the 27-year-old’s place, whilst Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain lined up on the opposite flank. In this match, it was the former’s performance that showed Klopp can deal without the presence of the Egyptian King.

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The former Southampton man set the ball rolling for the Merseyside outfit, netting in the 49th minute after an assist from Andrew Robertson. It was a vital moment, and it was just one facet of a great display from Mane.

That was one of three shots he managed during the match, whilst he also completed the only dribble that he attempted. He also turned creator as well, managing two key passes for his teammates. Only Trent Alexander-Arnold managed more than the 27-year-old. He won 50% of his duels, including two in the air, and he also managed to win two fouls, with Fabinho being the only Liverpool player to beat him in that department.

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Since moving to Anfield, Mane has played more than twice as many games on the left of the front three than on the right according to those where his position has been recorded by Transfermarkt. However, he actually has a better record on that side.

In 40 matches, he has 20 goals, as well as nine assists – as per Transfermarkt – whilst in 91 games on the left, he has 44 goals and 17 assists. The numbers are similar, yet there is a slight advantage on the right. He has scored 0.48 goals per match on the left compared to 0.5 on the right, and he has 0.23 assists per game on the right compared to 0.19 on the other side.

The reason he has been used on the left for the most part is down to Salah’s proficiency. According to Transfermarkt, the £135m-valued ex-Chelsea player has never played on the left wing for Liverpool, but has 61 goals in 96 games on the other side. Clearly, he is less manoeuvrable than Mane, hence why he been used there predominantly. Whilst the Senegalese man may be performing fantastically, the stats show that the former AS Roma man is perhaps preventing him from reaching his full potential. It is something for Klopp to think about.

In other news, Liverpool fans cannot believe they could make a profit on this dud.

This article is part of Football FanCast’s Pundit View series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent quotes from journalists, pundits, players and managers…

Amidst all of Aston Villa’s summer transfer business in which the club shelled out over £130m on new arrivals, the signing of Marvelous Nakamba is currently proving to be one of Dean Smith’s shrewdest additions and the Zimbabwean international has been speaking out regarding his time so far in the West Midlands.

What did he say?

Speaking to The Herald, Nakamba said: “The (Villa) fans are very friendly, they are amazing, even if we walk in the streets, they are very supportive. I am feeling at home and enjoying the experience.

“I am giving everything, it is a new league and I am trying to adjust to the new environment, now I am more mature, I have played somewhere and it is a bit easy to adapt.”

“I am 25 now and I think I can handle the pressure. For me it is an honour playing against the best players in the world week-in-week-out.”

Nakamba’s growing importance

Nakamba, 25, arrived from Club Brugges in an £11m deal in July, and the defensive midfielder has featured regularly for Smith’s side in the current campaign – starting all of Villa’s last eight league matches.

The summer signing has nailed down a regular starting berth at the expense of Douglas Luiz who had initially impressed for the newly-promoted side, but Nakamba’s relentless work ethic and tenacity in central midfield is proving to be exactly what Smith is looking for in the centre of the park.

Although the club are currently on a tricky run of form, having lost their last three league matches to Manchester City, Liverpool and Wolves, Nakamba will be looking to get his club back on track when they host Newcastle following the conclusion of the international break.

There can be no doubting the former Club Brugges man is enjoying his time so far in the English top-flight and is impressing accordingly, too. 

Strong in the tackle, Villa’s number 11 has won 3.8 of them per game in 2019/20, as well as producing 1.8 interceptions. He’s certainly been a big presence.

This article is part of Football FanCast’s Pundit View series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent quotes from journalists, pundits, players and managers…

As quoted by The Evening Standard, Eddie Howe has given Ole Gunnar Solskjaer a glowing endorsement for the work he has done at Manchester United.

What did he say?

Following a difficult start to the campaign, the Red Devils have bounced back in style in recent games, and look to be finding their feet once more.

Solskjaer’s men halted Liverpool’s flawless run in the Premier League with a battling draw at Old Trafford, before racking up three consecutive away victories in quick succession.

And now, Bournemouth boss Howe has given his seal of approval to what the Norwegian has achieved at United, and insisted he has done an “excellent job” so far.

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He said: “There’s positive signs for them. They’ve got quality players, a very good manager who has given them real stability. He’s working to the future to build a new Manchester United. I imagine it is (hard under that level of pressure). I think he’s handled himself really well and done an excellent job to this point.

“Certainly looking at their last few games, which I have in great detail, I think they have played very well. The game against Chelsea was a very strong performance. They’ll be pleased with their attacking play and defensive structures.”

Platform

For someone like Howe to deliver an encouraging verdict on Solskjaer’s time at Old Trafford, should act as a ringing endorsement for what the Norwegian has done. The pressure and the spotlight at United is second-to-none in the Premier League, and with his only previous managerial experience including Cardiff and Molde, the step-up to taking the reins at one of English football’s most dominant sides would have been intimidating.

And with speculation surrounding his long-term future at the club appearing to intensity earlier this season, the writing may have been on the wall. But, Solskjaer has kept cool, calm and composed in the face of adversity, and looks to have guided his stumbling United side around the corner. A win against Howe’s Bournemouth on Saturday lunch-time would firmly give them the platform to keep improving.

This article is part of Football FanCast’s Pundit View series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent quotes from journalists, pundits, players and managers…

Arsenal boss Unai Emery believes that Eddie Nketiah will eventually play regularly at Leeds United while on loan at the club, per Football.London.

What’s he said?

The striker joined the Championship club in the summer as he looked to gain more minutes and experience away from north London.

He has struggled for game time in Yorkshire, however, and has yet to make a start in the Championship.

In his seven substitute appearances, he has managed to score twice and has also netted two in the Carabao Cup, in games against Salford City and Stoke City.

Emery, though, insists that the youngster will be given opportunities to impress by Marcelo Bielsa.

He said: “Now is not the moment. We are in October. He’s now on loan at Leeds.

“I respect his coach, his decision and I think he’s going to play more. He’s going to deserve it.

“Each match he is playing with his national team, with Leeds is very important for him and for Arsenal. Our way with him is to give him the possibility of going on loan to play and to take confidence, rhythm and experience to use in the future for us.

“He is doing that. He is playing less than we want but I am sure he is going to play more.”

A close eye

Arsenal need to monitor Nketiah to ensure he is getting the playing time he so desperately needs.

As it stands, he is more regularly used as a substitute than a starter.

He is clearly a goalscorer – he netted 28 goals in 38 games for Arsenal’s U23 side and hit 15 in 16 for the U18s.

If he is to develop properly, if he is to become the striker the Gunners seem to expect him to be, he needs to play and he needs to be trusted.

As it is, he isn’t being given an opportunity; if that doesn’t change, Emery should take the difficult decision to bring the youngster back to the capital.

This article is part of Football FanCast’s Loan Watch series, which takes a closer look at those players who are aiming to galvanise their careers away from the spotlight of their parent club.

Back in the summer, Scottish Championship side Partick Thistle signed QPR right-back Osman Kakay on a loan deal until January in order to get some game time under the right-back’s belt.

The 22-year-old has been with QPR since the age of eight, coming through the Londoners’ academy and going on to gain international recognition with Sierra Leone – Kakay has one cap, coming in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Ethiopia.

Kakay has previously made 12 first-team appearances for the R’s before his departure to Scotland, but his early performances for Partick Thistle have been encouraging, to say the least.

The youngster has only made two appearances in the Scottish Championship, but earned the Man of the Match award last time out from two outlets – the sponsors named him as the Man of the Match, as did the ‘Jag Zone’.

It is of course early days, and Mark Warburton will presumably not be thinking about putting Kakay immediately into his first-team, but his starting right-back – Todd Kane – has been putting in some pretty dodgy showings so far this term.

We detailed how the on-loan Chelsea man lost possession 25 times against West Brom recently in what was a terrible performance, and he has come in for some more criticism elsewhere.

Gareth Dixon, from QPR podcast Ranger Things, recently told Love Sport Radio just how bad Kane’s performance against the Baggies was.

“His performance against West Brom was one of the worst I’ve seen from a full-back”

As aforesaid, Warburton isn’t going to put Kane’s questionable form alongside Kakay’s impressive loan showings and swap the two around in the pecking order – that would be a far-fetched statement, to say the least.

However, if Kakay can keep his form up and Kane cannot find a way to shrug off his poor showings, then there is certainly reason for the 26-year-old to be concerned upon Kakay’s return in January.