England opener still sweating on place as tough conditions hinder progress

George Dobell14-May-2021

Rory Burns made 55 to give Surrey a platform at Taunton•Getty Images

Surrey 191 for 4 Burns 55) vs SomersetOn the sort of surface which might convince an opening batsman – or a spinner – they should give it all up and become a plumber, Rory Burns made his fifth half-century in seven innings and fourth in succession. Nobody in the land has reached 50 more often this season.But these are uncertain times for Burns. He lost his England place in India and is far from certain to win it back in the New Zealand series. With Zak Crawley and Dom Sibley seemingly assured of their places in the top three, Burns’ involvement may depend on where England decide to play James Bracey, who they appear to see as a utility player capable of fulfilling a role in the top and middle-order. In that light, Dan Lawrence’s eye-catching century for Essex might not be great news for Burns.But, at his best, Burns’ batting has a phlegmatic quality that rises above such concerns. His maiden Test century, made against Australia in Birmingham, was in many ways a masterclass of mental strength overcoming every challenge. He was dropped often and beaten frequently but not for a moment did he lose his composure.It was similar here. With damp conditions denying any chance of play before 2pm on the second day, this pitch had been under cover for a long time before Somerset’s bowlers took first use of it. Inevitably, the ball nipped around and edges were beaten.But apart from one occasion, when Burns followed one he could have left, he refused to be drawn into pushing at the ball and was able to put any play-and-miss behind him. Eventually, as the ball softened and the bowlers tired, more poor balls were his reward. He failed to fully capitalise on his start but in terms of the basics of opening the batting, he looked in fine order.Related

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Joe Root's clock stops on 99 – just as predicted

He would have been relieved to hear that Somerset had rested Craig Overton. Overton bowled 40 overs in the second innings of Somerset’s win over Hampshire last week and has already clocked over 200 this season already; heaven knows he has earned his break. But, with three five-wicket hauls in his last three Championship matches, his absence leaves quite a hole in this attack. Jason Kerr, the Somerset head coach, later confirmed the decision had been taken in collaboration with the England management. If Overton does win an England chance in the coming weeks, Somerset want him in the best possible shape to seize it.Perhaps more of a surprise was the absence of Jack Leach. He, too, was rested, though having bowled only 129.5 overs this season, this was more with a view to the challenges ahead; Leach has spent a long time in bubbles and there is more of the same to come. Perhaps the lush green surface persuaded Somerset that he would be surplus to requirements anyway. There wasn’t an over of spin in the day.Somerset were also without Steve Davies, who was absent to undergo a minor medical procedure. That left Tom Banton as designated keeper for the first time in first-class cricket.As it was, having beaten the bat regularly but without fortune in the first hour, Somerset’s control slipped. Burns, having weathered the storm, was able to accumulate neatly off his legs and drove a couple sweetly through the off-side when the bowlers over-pitched. Kerr later conceded that he found the performance “a bit frustrating”.”We haven’t quite capitalised on a surface which had been under cover for two days,” he said. “We didn’t ask the batsmen questions often enough.”Indeed, Somerset might consider themselves a bit fortunate with a couple of the wickets. Hashim Amla, who was starting to look ominously sound, pulled a long-hop to the long-leg fence – it provided Lewis Gregory with his 300th first-class wicket – and, after a couple of typically elegant cover drives, Ollie Pope top-edged an attempted pull shot from a ball that was too full for the stroke.Burns was, perhaps, a little unlucky. In attempting to defend a good-length delivery, he saw the ball bounce off the face of the bat and roll back onto the stumps. His consistency is impressive, certainly, but he will know that it is centuries, not half-centuries, that force selectors to take notice.”In those conditions, we have a decent score,” Surrey head coach, Vikram Solanki, said. “We needed a bit of luck early on, with playing and missing, but that is always going to be the case on that sort of pitch. I thought both Rory Burns and Mark Stoneman played well to overcome the new ball.”With the forecast grim, there is every chance that none of this will count for much. But if progress in the weeks ahead is decided by a point here or there, perhaps Somerset will reflect on this match and rue a squandered bowling point which they probably should have been able to claim.

West Ham United have been busy this summer, and while Julen Lopetegui boasts a first-team squad capable of fighting for a place back in European competition, the window has not yet slammed shut…

It looks decidedly unlikely that the Hammers will sign a centre-forward before this evening's deadline, but with Nottingham Forest exploring a move for James Ward-Prowse, space might be freed for an exciting new midfield addition.

West Ham eyeing last-minute signing

Indeed, as per Sky Sports' Dharmesh Sheth, West Ham are still hoping to sign Carlos Soler, with the Paris Saint-Germain midfielder available for €20m (£17m).

That might be an affordable figure, but the Irons have spent over £120m this summer and much hinges on player sales. Should the right cogs be shifted, Soler could be the latest high-class playmaker from Ligue 1 to sign for the east Londoners.

What Carlos Soler would bring to West Ham

He needs no introduction, but Dimitri Payet is still one of the most talented players to ever play in a West Ham shirt. Signed from Marseille in France for just £10m in 2015, his short stint in the Premier League has left a lasting impression.

The former France international scored 12 goals and claimed 15 assists during his stunning debut campaign, proving to be one of the division's great entertainers and even being hailed as "one of the most important players in Europe" by Zinedine Zidane.

He might have fled at the midpoint of his second season, with West Ham foundering and Payet flattering to deceive with his head early elsewhere, but those halcyon days of utter brilliance are woven into the club's modern fabric – wouldn't Lopetegui love to repeat the feat.

He could do just that with another Ligue 1 signing in Soler, who has been described as an "incredible player" by former coach Raul Martinez and has maintained an impressive level of prolificness at PSG despite a bit-part role that has seen him start just 26 top-flight fixtures since signing from Valencia for €20m (£17m) in 2022.

Indeed, as per FBref, Soler ranks among the top 10% of midfielders across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for goals scored, the top 18% for assists, the top 10% for touches in the attacking penalty area and the top 18% for passes attempted per 90, emphasising that excellent technical quality.

He's also as versatile as they come, capable of operating across a range of roles to inflict real damage on West Ham's opponents, finding space to strike on goal while also keeping a watchful eye on creative openings.

Central midfield

142

27

16

Right midfield

92

11

18

Attacking midfield

28

2

1

Left midfield

25

4

1

Defensive midfield

9

3

1

Right-back

5

1

2

Left-back

2

0

0

For now, West Ham supporters can only wait with bated breath for a potential development in Forest's pursuit of Ward-Prowse. Should the free-kick specialist be moved on, a more refined upgrade could be found in Soler, with the 27-year-old sure to thrive in a role of significance under Lopetegui's leadership.

West Ham hit gold on star worth more than Fullkrug & Summerville combined

He’s been quite the sensation over the past several years…

ByAngus Sinclair Aug 5, 2024

Over the last week, it’s looked as though Sami Omorodion would be the man to solve Chelsea’s ongoing hunt for a new centre-forward, but it appears that deal is off for now.

The Blues had agreed a £35m deal with Atlético Madrid for the Spaniard, but journalist Fabrizio Romano confirmed that the move wouldn’t be happening despite the agreement between the two clubs.

Omorodion would’ve been an excellent addition for Enzo Maresca’s side, providing a focal point at the top of the pitch which the Blues have been desperately lacking in recent times.

However, the hunt continues for the Blues, with the West London outfit no closer to securing a deal for a new striker despite the new Premier League campaign getting underway in just three days time.

As a result, they could turn to one of their former transfer targets to try and fill the void, with the Blues potentially rivalling multiple other English sides for the services of one talent.

Chelsea could make move for £85m striker this summer

During this transfer window, numerous different strikers have been linked with a move to Stamford Bridge, but all links have been to no avail, with Nicolas Jackson still the club’s main centre-forward.

Maresca could re-enter the race to sign Porto’s Brazilian centre forward Evanilson after previously being linked to sign the 24-year-old.

He managed to score 13 goals in the Liga Portugal last season, ending the campaign as the club’s top scorer as they finished third behind Sporting CP and Benfica.

It’s rumoured that Evanilson has a €100m (£85m) release clause in his current deal, with Bournemouth and Nottingham Forest both in the race, but highly unlikely to pay the aforementioned fee for his services.

He could be seen as an alternative to one player who’s also been touted with a move to West London this summer, proving to be a better fit for Maresca’s system.

Why Evanilson would be a better option than Gyokeres

Sporting forward Viktor Gyokeres is another talisman who has constantly been rumoured to be on the club’s shortlist to provide the added goal threat wanted by Maresca.

He registered a total of 39 goals or assists in the same division as Evanilson, finishing the campaign as the league’s top scorer – averaging 1.2 goal contributions per appearance.

His ability to find the back of the net is undisputed given his figures from 2023/24, but the Brazilian could prove to be a better option for the system the Italian is trying to implement at Stamford Bridge during his debut season at the helm.

He won the league with Leicester City last season utilising a possession-based system, with an emphasis on every player being comfortable on the ball, with Evanilson fitting the bill perfectly, registering a 7% higher pass completion rate last season.

How Evanilson & Gyokeres compare per 90 in 2023/24
Statistics	Evanilson	Gyokeres
Games played	27	33
Goals + assists	16	39
Goals per shot on target	0.5	0.45
Progressive passes	2.4	1.6
Pass accuracy	79%	72%
Take-on success	46%	44%
Stats via FBref

The Porto talent may have scored fewer goals than Gyokeres, but he did manage a higher goal per-shot-on-target rate, showcasing he’s more clinical with his opportunities in front of goal – potentially excelling with the likes of Cole Palmer and Pedro Neto behind him.

The “complete” forward, as described by talent scout Jacek Kulig, likes to press out of possession, whilst also running the channels, allowing for frequent opportunities in attacking areas, whilst also teeing up Palmer to allow the Englishman to increase his own goalscoring tally.

Whilst it’s unknown if Porto are willing to negotiate a deal below his release clause, Evanilson would be an excellent addition that would certainly improve Maresca’s options.

His goalscoring ability, coupled with his talents in possession could make him a handful for defenders, with the Blues potentially picking up an underrated gem.

He's like Henry: Chelsea could sign a £100m Omorodion & Osimhen alternative

Chelsea looking at Omorodion alternatives

By
Connor Holden

Aug 12, 2024

Glasgow Rangers won a game, friendly or otherwise, for the first time since May when they secured a 2-1 win against Motherwell at Hampden Park on Saturday.

The Ibrox giants, who are currently having to play away from their usual home stadium, did not win any of their four pre-season matches ahead of the first game.

They then kicked off their Scottish Premiership season with an underwhelming 0-0 draw with Hearts and held Dynamo Kyiv to a 1-1 draw in the first leg of their Champions League qualifying match.

Philippe Clement's side finally secured the win they were searching for, though, at Hampden on Saturday thanks to goals from Cyriel Dessers and Vaclav Cerny.

The Light Blues should have their eyes on a run at the Premiership title this season, having come up second-best in the division in each of the last three years.

They may need to dip back into the transfer market to add further quality to their squad in order to do so, with the summer transfer window not set to close until the end of this month.

The Gers have been linked with an interest in adding another striker to compete with the likes of Dessers and Danilo, and they could land a dream signing for Cerny in the process.

Rangers' interest in £5m marksman

Back in June, DigiSport reported that Rangers were one of the teams interested in a deal to sign Albion Rrahmani from Rapid Bucharest this summer.

However, the outlet added that Slavia Prague are also keen on a swoop for the young centre-forward to bolster their attack, and that they had already had an offer of €3m rejected.

There was then a quiet period in July, with little speculation over a potential summer move to Ibrox, until a new report emerged earlier this month.

ProSport reported at the start of August that the Gers are still one of a few clubs keen on signing the 23-year-old star and that they are preparing to make an offer for his services.

The outlet stated that Rapid Bucharest are now looking for a fee in the region of €6m (£5m) for the whiz, who they also want 20% of future profit on.

It now remains to be seen whether or not Rangers are prepared to go in and match that price for Rrahmani but, if they can, he could be a dream signing for Cerny at the top end of the pitch.

Vaclav Cerny's attacking potential

Rangers swooped to bring the Czechia international in from Wolfsburg on a season-long loan earlier this summer to improve their options out wide.

His early showings in a Gers shirt suggest that they have pulled off a masterclass, as the impressive flanker looks to be back to his best after a difficult year in Germany.

Cerny scored four goals and failed to provide an assist in 22 Bundesliga games for Wolfsburg last season. However, he had showcased the best of his attacking talent for FC Twente in the Eredivisie in the previous campaign, which earned him his move to a major European league.

Appearances

32

Goals

13

Assists

11

Big chances created

17

Key passes per game

2.4

Dribbles completed per game

2.0

As you can see in the table above, the 26-year-old forward produced regular quality as both a scorer and a creator of goals for the Dutch side from a right wing position.

In fact, his teammates let him down at times as they only rewarded him with 11 assists from 17 'big chances' created, which suggests that they were wasteful with the opportunities that he provided them with.

Cerny has seemingly rediscovered that form for Rangers with one goal and one assist in his last two appearances for the club, teeing up Dessers with a sublime cross in Kyiv before scoring the winner against Motherwell with a stunning strike from range.

A left-footed right winger, the new Light Blues star excels when cutting in onto his left foot from the right to either fire in a shot from distance or whip an inswinging ball into the box.

Nils Koppen and Clement could now land a dream signing for Cerny to create high-quality chances for by securing a deal to sign Rrahmani this summer.

Why Rrahmani would be a dream for Cerny

The £5m-rated sensation, who was hailed as "powerful" by RangersReview founder Kai Watson, is coming off the back of an impressive season in Romania for Rapid Bucharest.

He has also enjoyed a strong start to the current campaign with a return of one goal and one assist, and 1.7 key passes per game, in two league starts.

His form in comparison to Dessers' at league level in the 2023/24 campaign suggests that Rangers could bring in a striker who is more likely to thrive off the level of service that Cerny can produce.

The Czechia international created 2.4 chances per game for Twente in the 2022/22 Eredivisie season, whilst no Gers midfielder made more than 1.7 per match in the Premiership last term, which suggests that he could be a key creative talent for Clement.

Goals

17

16

Assists

5

4

Big chances created

13

8

Big chances missed

18

27

Successful dribbles per game

1.2

0.4

Key passes per game

2

1.4

As you can see in the table above, Rrahmani scored more goals and created more 'big chances' for his teammates whilst missing fewer 'big chances' in front of goal than the current Light Blues number nine.

Dessers has started the current Premiership campaign with one goal and three 'big chances' missed, which does not suggest that his finishing has greatly improved since last term.

These statistics suggest that the Rangers target would come in as an upgrade on Dessers, both as a scorer and a creator of goals, if he can translate that form over to the Scottish top-flight.

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The Light Blues have been linked with an interest in the midfield star this summer.

ByDan Emery Aug 8, 2024

Therefore, Rrahmani could be a dream signing for Cerny as he would seemingly be more likely to finish off the chances that the impressive winger creates.

A £42 million forward who Tottenham chiefs have held internal discussions over signing is "one to watch" in the final days of the window, with Fabrizio Romano sharing a significant update on his future.

Spurs planning one more signing for the summer window

After sealing a quartet of summer deals for senior additions in Timo Werner, Archie Gray, Dominic Solanke and Wilson Odobert, who all cost a total of around £113 million, it is believed that Spurs chairman Daniel Levy could look to bring in one more fresh face for manager Ange Postecoglou.

Ange desperate to sign Bentancur alternative as Tottenham eye £50m star

Postecoglou wants a new man for his midfield.

1 ByEmilio Galantini Aug 22, 2024

Spurs sealed their first Premier League win of the season last Saturday with an impressive 4-0 victory over Everton at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, with goals from Yves Bissouma, Son Heung-min (2) and Cristian Romero rounding off a superb display.

It is perhaps a sign of things to come from Postecoglou's men, who are looking to build upon their fifth-placed finish of last season by going one better and qualifying for the Champions League, and perhaps even competing for major silverware.

Newcastle United (away)

September 1

Arsenal (home)

September 15

Brentford (home)

September 21

Man United (away)

September 29

Brighton (away)

October 6

However, they face different challenges in 2024/2025, namely their increasingly congested fixture calender due to their involvement in the new Europa League format – which is set to kick off next month.

Tottenham are believed to be plotting to move for a new midfielder before the transfer cut-off on August 31, with Pape Matar Sarr, Rodrigo Bentancur, Gray and Bissouma standing out as their only available options.

Gray predominantly starred at right-back for Leeds United last term, prompting speculation as to how Postecoglou will utilise the English sensation, with Emerson Royal joining AC Milan earlier this window and there being no natural senior cover for Pedro Porro in that position.

Meanwhile, there have been other suggestions that Spurs are also prioritising a new centre-back signing before the window closes, so it appears that the Lilywhites may not be done with their most recent acquisition of Odobert from Burnley.

It remains to be seen exactly which position will be strengthened before the window shuts later this week, but another player on their radar is apparently Bayern Munich forward Kingsley Coman.

Reliable journalist Ben Jacobs of GiveMeSport recently claimed that Spurs chiefs have discussed making a late swoop for Coman, who would cost around £42 million to prise away from the Bundesliga.

Coman could make surprise late Bayern exit as Tottenham eye move

The £276,000-per-week winger is subject to intense interest from numerous Premier League clubs, according to Romano, who explained on his YouTube channel that Coman could make a surprise late Bayern exit as Tottenham allegedly consider him.

“A player to watch in the final 24 hours, 48 hours, 56 hours or whatever. In the final days is Kingsley Coman because interest in Coman is still there," said the reporter.

“It’s a strong interest from Premier League clubs, from Barcelona. Barca are considering Coman and Federico Chiesa.

“Kingsley Coman has several possibilities also in England. So he’s going to be one to watch for the final days because there is still an expectation for Coman to leave Bayern. There could be a surprise with Coman.”

The Frenchman has played just 16 league minutes for Bayern this season, coming after his six total goal contributions for Bayern in 17 appearances last season.

From the ball that will be used to playing conditions – here’s a detailed FAQ

Nagraj Gollapudi28-May-2021 • Updated on 13-Sep-2021When is the WTC final and where? 
From June 18-22 in Southampton.What type of ball will be used? 
Not only will they be playing at a neutral venue, governed by neutral match officials, but India and New Zealand will also utilise a neutral ball – Dukes, which is used for first-class cricket in England. Usually, India play at home with the SG Test while New Zealand operate with the Kookaburra. The Dukes conventionally has been found favourable by bowlers for its rich seam and even got a thumbs up from Indian captain Virat Kohli as well R Ashwin in the recent past.What happens in case of a draw/tie/match being abandoned? 
In case of each of those scenarios, both teams will be declared joint-winners.How do you determine a draw? 
If less than 60 minutes have been accounted for as lost playing time and there is no result in sight at the end of the fifth day, then teams can agree for a draw.What is lost playing time? 
If there are more than 60 minutes of lost playing time, then those overs would be bowled from the start of the Actual Last Hour. The close of play would accordingly be rescheduled to 60 minutes from the start of the lost playing time. If there is any interruption during this period, then an over would be cut every four minutes. Any time lost due to interruption during the rescheduled period would be added to the reserve day.Is there a reserve day?
Yes, June 23 will be the reserve day. The sixth day will comprise maximum of 330 minutes or 83 overs plus the actual last hour. The reserve day will kick in only if the time lost during regulation play on each day is not made up on the same day. For example, if you lose an hour of play due to rain and then make it up by the end of the same day, then that is zero net time lost. But if you lose an entire day’s play due to rain and then make up, say, only three hours over the remaining four days, then you are short of net playing time for the match. That is when the reserve day kicks in.What is the prize money for the finalists? 
The ICC has announced that the winning team will take home USD 1.6 million, while the losing team will pocket USD 800,000. In case the final is drawn, the two teams will split the total prize purse of USD 2.4 million, as well as the ICC Test Mace.

Sporting CP sensation Viktor Gyokeres dreams of playing for one of the biggest teams in Europe after becoming one of the best strikers this season.

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• Gyokeres in red-hot form for club and country
• Wants to play for one of Europe's elite teams
• Has been linked to Manchester United

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• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Sporting CP striker Viktor Gyokeres has addressed his future and acknowledged that playing for one of the biggest teams in Europe is one of his ambitions. His statement could be looked at as an eye wink to Premier League giants Manchester United, who have been heavily rumoured to be interested in the Sweden international's services after acquiring his former manager Ruben Amorim.

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• Getty Images
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Gyokeres has become arguably the most sought-after forward in world football following his exploits with both Sporting CP and Sweden this season. The 26-year-old has scored an outrageous 34 goals in 27 games for club and country in the ongoing campaign, attracting attention from Manchester United, Barcelona, and Arsenal over a potential summer switch in 2025. The frontrunners are, however, the Red Devils. Amorim helped Gyokeres unlock his potential at Sporting CP, and the Man Utd boss will be licking his lips over a reunion with his former player as he aims to oversee a major overhaul at Old Trafford next summer.

• WHAT VIKTOR GYOKERES SAID

  "We will see. There are many rumours circulating, but we are in the middle of the season, there are still many months left," Gyokeres admitted when talking about his future to Sportbladet (h/t MARCA). "We will see when the time comes what will happen. Playing in one of the best teams in Europe, that is the objective."

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  WHAT NEXT FOR VIKTOR GYOKERES?

  The Sporting CP striker will be aiming to help his club get out of their mixed run of form following Amorim's departure to England, as the Portuguese heavyweights have suffered four losses in six games under new manager Joao Pereira. They are at the top of the league with 36 points in 14 games, but have in-form Porto and Benfica breathing down their neck.

تأهل ريال مدريد إلى دور نصف كأس ملك إسبانيا، بعدما فاز على نظيره ليجانيس بنتيجة 3/2 في لقاء مثير ضمن منافسات دور الـ8.

وواجه ريال مدريد خصمه ليجانيس على ملعب “بوتاركي البلدي”، في إطار منافسات كأس ملك إسبانيا.

طالع أيضًا.. الفرق المتأهلة إلى نصف نهائي كأس ملك إسبانيا (محدث باستمرار)

أحرز لوكا مودريتش الهدف الأول لـ ريال مدريد عند الدقيقة 15، بعدنما تلقى تمريرة حاسمة من رودريجو.

وأضاف إندريك ثاني أهداف ريال مدريد في المباراة بحلول الدقيقة 25، مستغلاً دربكة في دفاعات الخصم بعد عمل جماعي رائع بين لاعبو الفريق الملكي على حدود منطقة الجزاء.

وتمكن خوان كروز من تقليص نتيجة المباراة بتسجيله للهدف الأول من علامة الجزاء لصالح ليجانيس بالدقيقة 39.

في الشوط الثاني ومع الدقائق الأولى، منع سوريانو مرمى ليجانيس من تلقي هدف ثالث، بعد أن أنقذ هدفًا محققًا عن طريق فينيسيوس جونيور.

ونجح خوان كروز في إدراك هدف التعادل بعدما اصطدمت تسديدته بـ فيرلاند ميندي بحلول الدقيقة 58.

ومنع القائم هدفين مؤكدين لـ ريال مدريد عن طريق فينيسيوس جونيور وإبراهيم دياز بمنتصف الشوط الثاني.

وعند الدقيقة الثانية من الوقت المحتسب بدل من الضائع، سجل جونزالو جارسيا الهدف الثالث لـ ريال مدريد من ضربة رأسية في شباك أصحاب الأرض.

بهذه النتيجة يتأهل ريال مدريد إلى دور نصف نهائي من بطولة كأس ملك إسبانيا، في انتظار إجراء مراسم القرعة والتي من المقرر أن تقام يوم الأربعاء المقبل.

وقدم بطولات تغطية مباشرة لأحداث مباراة ريال مدريد وليجانيس في كأس ملك إسبانيا من خلال هذا الرابط.  اهداف مباراة ريال مدريد وليجانيس المثيرة 3 2 كأس ملك اسبانيا

West Ham United are at the start of an exciting new era, and Julen Lopetegui has certainly been backed by the board as he seeks to get the Irons flying.

Over £120m has been spent, and with James Ward-Prowse heading for the exit door, joining Nottingham Forest in a loan move, West Ham are looking to strengthen the middle of the park.

West Ham transfer news

According to The Guardian's Jacob Steinberg, West Ham are hoping to complete the signing of Chelsea talent Carney Chukwuemeka before the deadline.

This eleventh-hour deal is separate from the ongoing talks to sign Carlos Soler from Paris Saint-Germain and would not negatively impact that move. Chukwuemeka would join on loan, with the door open for a permanent solution down the line.

The Telegraph's Mike McGrath has followed up that report by suggesting that the Hammers are actively working to get the deal done for Chukwuemeka, albeit with rivals clubs also interested in the youngster.

What Carney Chukwuemeka would bring to West Ham

Chukwuemeka signed for Chelsea from Aston Villa for a fee in the region of £20m in 2022, but injuries and a consequent fall down the pecking order have limited him to just 27 appearances – starting only two top-flight fixtures last year.

Regardless, the £100k-per-week midfielder has so much potential and could find the London Stadium provides him with the platform to go from strength to strength and really announce him to the Premier League.

He's even been hailed as an "absolute 10/10 talent" by scout Jacek Kulig, invariably performing with silky dribbling and an eagerness to get on the ball and make things happen.

Carney Chukwuemeka: Career Stats by Position

Position

Apps

Goals

Assists

Central midfield

48

5

11

Attacking midfield

24

7

3

Left midfield

2

0

0

Defensive midfield

2

0

1

Centre-forward

1

0

0

Stats via Transfermarkt

He's a dynamic player but Chukwuemeka would likely find himself operating in the centre of the park, thrusting forward and opening circles of space in the opponent's half, in turn allowing Mohammed Kudus to zap forward down the flank, or perhaps creating an opening for Jarrod Bowen to latch onto and strike true, ball to net.

He's demonstrated something of an aptitude for an assist, and this could see the 20-year-old grow into his skin as a superb Ward-Prowse upgrade, with the Forest-bound free-kick specialist falling to the fringe since Lopetegui's arrival, lacking mobility and success when not in a dead-ball situation.

Ward-Prowse ranks among the top 8% of midfielders across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for assists and the top 15% for shot-creating actions per 90, as per FBref. Nice going, right?

Sure, but such high-ranking metrics derive from his set-piece deliveries. In regard to his production in open play, he ranks among the bottom 43% for progressive passes, the bottom 15% for progressive carries and the bottom 9% for tackles per 90.

Chukwuemeka is a vibrant talent, bursting onto the scene, and he would be a significant upgrade on West Ham's one-trick pony. He must be signed.

Related Sky Sports: West Ham still hoping to sign Payet 2.0 in £17m talent

This would mark a terrific finish to a promising transfer window…

Posts ByAngus Sinclair Aug 30, 2024