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  • Premier League clubs brace for the return of fans to stadiums

    Premier League clubs brace for the return of fans to stadiums

    With the players returning from international football and vacations, teams are getting ready to prepare themselves for the new season. The normal pre-season ritual of touring overseas countries is unavailable; hence the teams have to prepare locally for the season. Here are some of the top relevant Premier league news:

    Return of fans to stadiums

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    With the pandemic affecting our normal day-to-day lives, football was not spared as stadiums were left empty with no fans to spectate over matches. Playing behind closed doors was adopted by various sports bodies worldwide as a preventive measure to curb the spread of the virus.

    This characterized the 2020/21 Premier League campaign as an unorthodox campaign, with most matches played behind closed doors. However, towards the end of the campaign, the Premier League body allocated home fans slots of up to 10000 fans per home game. There were no away fans allowed in stadiums in a bid to curb the spread of the coronavirus.

    This was no match to the usual feel and passion that is associated with the Premier League.

    Football is indeed made for the fans, and nothing can be compared to a fully packed stadium with fans chanting and roaring their team to victory. This lack of fans often made the match lackluster as there is no added element or added pressure on the players.

    What to Expect: The Return of Betting and Bonuses

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    The Premier League, however, has announced the return of fans to the stadium. As seen with the Euro 2020 tournament where the stadiums were jam-packed with spectators cheering their countries, the Premier League, coordinating with clubs and working together with the government, is committed to ensuring that the 21/22 Premier League season is played in full stadiums.

    The stadiums will be open to home and away fans too. This is expected to bring back the feel to football as the sport truly belongs to the fans. Betting action will grow in popularity once again and bookies will give out loads of bonuses.

    With the new atmosphere in stadiums, you can take this opportunity and place a no deposit free bet and hopefully win money without taking any risks. The fans add an edge and will ensure the term home advantage is maximized to the fullest.

    Return of fans to stadiums follows a directive by the government that aims to lift the remaining restrictions to give the individual power to make informed decisions about how they will manage the coronavirus.

    The pilot events in which this easing of social distancing requirements was the Euro 2020 and Wimbledon tennis tournament.

    However, the fans were required to show proof of double vaccination or a negative result on a covid 19 test taken within the recent 48 hours. This served as a passport that allowed the Euro 2020 final to accommodate 60000 fans, although its capacity is 90000. The decision to use this passport method solely lies on respective sporting bodies and will not be compulsory.

    Campaign Fixtures

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    The Premier League fixtures have already been drawn and are out, and we have some mouthwatering clashes for the opening week for ourselves. One of the oldest and fiercest rivalries to grace English football is among the opening fixtures. With the fans back in old Trafford, Manchester United vs Leeds United is expected to be an absolute cracker of a match.

    Harry Kane, an exemplary striker, has been the subject of various transfer news that debate where he will ply his trade in the coming season. On an opening Day, his current team, Tottenham Hotspur, will play host to his suitors Manchester City. This leaves us with questions about whose colors Kane will be donning on that day.

    All the newly promoted sides are fortunate enough to start their campaigns at home, with Brentford being the unluckiest of the bunch, drawing Arsenal for their first-ever Premier League game.

    This is expected to be entertaining as Arsenal does not have European football this season for the first time in 25 years and all eyes are on them. Brentford is well capable of pulling surprises as they are nothing but short of Talent.

    Norwich faces injury-ridden Liverpool, a mountain of a task before them. Watford host Aston Villa and with the fans back in, expect a notable difference.

    Here are the opening day fixtures in the EPL:

    Brentford v Arsenal; Everton v Southampton; Chelsea v Crystal Palace; Leicester City v Wolverhampton Wanderers; Burnley v Brighton & Hove Albion, Norwich City v Liverpool; Newcastle United v West Ham United; Manchester United v Leeds United; Watford v Aston Villa; Tottenham Hotspur v Manchester City.

    Competition Expectation

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    Liverpool lost the Premier League title to Manchester City, Albeit holding it only for a season. They, however, had a season to forget as they had injuries that forced their managers to resort to young players and emergency signings to fill the gap.

    Liverpool, however, deservedly so snuck to the top 4 in the final weeks of last season. This season with reinforcements of Ibrahima Konate, and the return of Virgil Van Dijk, Jurgen Klopp’s men will be back on the hunt for glory.

    This makes them second favorites after Manchester City. Manchester City is favorites to win the league for the fourth time in five seasons under the guidance of Pep Guardiola.

    Chelsea, Manchester United, and Tottenham follow that order, with Leicester Fc and Arsenal football club rounding them off. This, however, is not set in stone as we may experience a repeat of what happened last season with Westham in particular, making this season a tight season. Chelsea may fancy themselves to win the premier league, drawing confidence from their tactical masterpiece forged by their tactician Thomas Tuchel when they robbed City of both the FA Cup and Champions League.

    At the bottom end of the table, Pundits expect the fight to be between Watford and Norwich. Burnley, Crystal Palace, and newly promoted Brentford aren’t far away from the speculation of dropping to the championship.

    We expect a thrilling premier league and hope the race for the title will be tight for the fans. This will serve as a cushion against the hectic year that gives hope to individuals through the sport they love FOOTBALL. We cannot wait for the start of the 2021/22 Premier League season.

  • Tottenham Hotspur join West Ham in race for Kurt Zouma

    Tottenham Hotspur join West Ham in race for Kurt Zouma

    According to various reports, Tottenham Hotspur have joined the race to sign Chelsea defender Kurt Zouma. West Ham United and Crystal Palace are also interested in the defender and they are pretty much in contention with Spurs.

    The North London club had dealt a blow after Atalanta decided not to budge down their asking price for Cristian Romero last month. Spurs have been tracking Romero all summer after Jules Kounde rejected a proposal to join the North London club. The talks are still on between both the clubs and there are reports suggesting that Atalanta and Tottenham Hotspur are close towards securing a deal. It is to be seen whether Spurs seal the deal because there have been reports indicating from many weeks that the deal is done.

    However, the truth is here for everyone to see. It’s still possible that Spurs can or cannot complete the deal for Cristian Romero. It entirely depends on Fabio Paratici if he wants to pay the asking price or not because Atalanta are not in any mood to budge.

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    This brings Spurs to look at other targets. One such target is Chelsea’s centre-back Kurt Zouma. The Blues are close towards completing the deal for Jules Kounde which would further push Zouma down the pecking order. Zouma is already struggling to gain game time and he has decided to leave Stamford Bridge this summer.

    Chelsea value Kurt Zouma at £30 million. With a range of clubs already looking at him, especially the Premier League clubs, a tug of war like situation could be witnessed in the coming days. If Spurs decide to move for him in the coming days they would gain an experienced and Premier League ready player. It is still risky signing centre-backs from other leagues since the Premier League is a high-intensity league. The majority of the players who are signed from the other leagues take time to settle down in England.

    Perhaps Spurs should go the Arsenal way. Arsenal recently completed an impressive signing. They signed Ben White from Brighton for £50 million. He is a Premier League ready player and also comes under the homegrown category. Spurs should similarly sign someone like him.

  • “The next best thing”: Conor Coventry could be the breakthrough star at West Ham next season

    “The next best thing”: Conor Coventry could be the breakthrough star at West Ham next season

    An excellent pre-season campaign has worked wonders for 21-year-old midfielder Conor Coventry. Following a string of promising displays against Reading F.C and Northampton Town during the ongoing pre-season campaign, the Irishman has caught the attention of the West Ham fan base. The highly-rated midfielder is a vital part of the Republic of Ireland’s U-21 squad and is considered a long-term successor to club captain Mark Noble at West Ham.

    With Noble set to retire at the end of the upcoming season, Coventry possesses the desire and maturity to replace the veteran midfielder, who the club after 18 seasons. The 21-year-old has been a shining star for West Ham’s U-23 squad, having played a vital role behind the squad’s survival in Premier League 2.

    Following the U-23 squad’s title-winning 2019/20 Premier League 2 (Division II) campaign, Coventry was the standout player amongst the West Ham U-23’s last season. The midfielder made 18 appearances, scoring five goals and providing two assists, in the league last season. Additionally, his name made seven appearances on the first-team sheet last season, failing to translate into minutes on the pitch.

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    Coventry is the captain of the U-23 squad and is an inspirational leader at the club. The youngster has made 30 international appearances at the youth level and received his first senior call-up in March 2021. The midfielder is amongst the most promising talents at the club, earning him comparisons with the likes of Michael Carrick and Mark Noble – both academy graduates from West Ham.

    The 21-year-old certainly possesses the talent to replicate, even better, the standard of quality and consistency set by Carrick and Noble. Coventry can function both as a defensive and a box-to-box midfielder with equal efficiency and adds the much-needed depth required in the former. The midfielder’s intelligent passing and technical ability was a vital part of the U-23 squad’s performances last season.

    In addition, Coventry is an excellent set-piece and penalty taker – he scored three penalties last season. The midfielder can also function as a deep-lying playmaker – spraying passes across the pitch – and is extremely capable of scoring from outside the box. The youngster’s physicality is a bonus on top of his ability to dictate games from the midfield.

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    Considering his steady improvement and consistent performances on the pitch, Coventry is marked as an heir to the retiring Mark Noble. The midfielder will expect to find first-team minutes in the Premier League, given West Ham’s lack of depth in the position and the club’s European ambitions next season. The 21-year-old is a cherished academy prospect amongst the fans, with the majority of them keen to see him involved in David Moyes’ plans next season.

    In addition to being likened to exceptional academy graduates, Coventry has been receiving much praise with many dubbing him as the “next big thing” from the academy and a “real old head on young shoulders.” Owing to his dynamic attributes, the Daily Mail’s secret scout dubbed him as a forceful tackler with an excellent passing range. Coventry is not only an “exciting talent” but also known for his “excellent composure and leadership.”

    Coventry’s performances on the pitch have earned him admiration from the fans and recognition from the manager. The midfielder has been an active part of West Ham’s pre-season campaign, having bagged two goals and scored the winner against Northampton Town. With the club set to compete in Europe next season, Coventry has shown enough promise to add to his three senior appearances.

    Under Noble’s mentorship, the 21-year-old may finally be ready to fill in his boots. However, Coventry maybe still a loan spell away from first-team minutes, which would see the club invest in the midfield ahead of next season.

  • Everton & West Ham United are set to lock horns to sign Clement Lenglet

    Everton & West Ham United are set to lock horns to sign Clement Lenglet

    Premier League clubs Everton and West Ham United are reportedly set to battle it out in the transfer market for FC Barcelona defender Clement Lenglet, as both clubs look to reinforce their squads before the start of the new season.

    FC Barcelona, who are in the midst of a financial crisis, are looking to sell and loan players as they look to reduce their wage bill and are reportedly open to listening to offers for about but all players and the Frenchman is one of the potential assets who can drive in major liquidity.

    Lenglet had previously played for French side Nancy, where he developed through their youth rank before joining Spanish side Sevilla during the 2017 winter transfer window, where he was eventually snapped up by Barcelona after his release clause of 35millioin Euros was triggered by the Catalan giant in 2018 summer transfer. He is an exciting silky left-footed defender who has an impressive record of pass completion coupled with his constant progressive passes and progressive carries. Incredibly, he adds shot-creating actions and the intelligence to make threatening moves from the defense to his numerous traits on the field.

    Here we take a look at how Clement Lenglet would fit into the squads of Everton and West Ham and how he could help their playing style:

    EVERTON:

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    The Merseyside club suffered a blow in June when manager Carlo Ancelotti resigned from his position to take up the vacant manager’s job at his former club Real Madrid. However, soon after Ancelotti resigned, the Toffees wasted no time to bring in another experienced manager in the form of Rafa Benitez, once the manager of their bitter cross-town rivals Liverpool. He is all set to take charge of his first season in the Merseyside Blue and is looking to make signings that he feels will add quality to the team. Rafa, according to reports off late, wants to replace Yerry Mina with Lenglet in order to add defensive stability.

    Benitez wants a leader and an experienced defender to partner with either Michael Keane, Ben Godfrey, or Mason Holgate and has set his sights on Lenglet to fill that position. Lenglet at the age of 26 is in the prime of his career right now and has the experience to take on the Premier League. Although he has had a torrid season in 2020/21, a move away from the La Liga could benefit him greatly.

    Though Ben Godfrey had filled the LCB position with eye-catching display whenever he’s called to action, but the integration of Lenglet alongside the experienced Michael Keane will not just add more quality to their defense but it’ll surely give Merseyside Blue the platform and option to build a quick (counter) attacking move from the defense, with Lenglet being the main distributor of the ball either with a through pass or long diagonal ball (a trait none of the current defender could do as seamlessly as Lenglet).

    Everton conceded 48 goals in the league last season, with only 2 more teams in the top 10 of the league conceding more. Lenglet has the quality and is composed on the ball. While he had a poor 2020/21 campaign, he still completed 92.1% of his passes in his 48 appearances in all competitions, which is higher than any Everton player. He is good in the air too and won 1.8 aerial duels per game last season. His stats make him a desirable player and Rafa Benitez, who is known for his defensive style of play, will need a strong defender like him to put his philosophy into action at Everton.

    WEST HAM UNITED:

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    At West Ham, there is an urgent requirement for a defender, with Fabian Balbuena leaving the Irons this summer. He was a regular in the first half of the last season but was left out of the squad after he tested positive for the virus and found it hard to get back into the starting eleven after.

    West Ham had an amazing season in 2020/21 and were unlucky to miss out on the top 4 places.  However, they qualified for Europa League and will be looking to go as deep as they can into it. David Moyes’ side is light on centre-backs and will need a young yet experienced defender to help them through what is going to be a long, very tough, and competitive season.

    Lenglet could be an excellent and smart signing for the Hammers, and he has the ability to start attacks if they look to play out from the back. He averaged close to 70 passes per game last season and is also known to dribble out of pressure and get the ball forward. David Moyes could use a good ball-playing centre-back to shore up his defence, after last season saw them concede 47 goals in the league. The Frenchman’s arrival will no doubt bolster their squad, but it will also give them a boost to continue last season’s form into the new season and challenge for the UCL spots.

    CONJECTURE

    France National Team manager Didier Deschamps has praised Lenglet on a few occasions saying, “He has a lot of serenity, assurance and technical ease. He’s calm on the ball. Without being very big, he is also effective in duels and knows how to anticipate. He’s still improving but he gives off a lot of confidence.”  For either West Ham United or Everton, he will certainly be a statement signing, and with Barcelona in financial difficulties and looking to get players off their wage bills, he could be easily available.

    Reports state that both the PL clubs are looking to explore a loan option, and it remains to see if there is any ground to these rumours. With Barcelona still looking for ways to reduce their wage bill considering their financial crisis, a deal could be done to move Lenglet out this summer, so as to ease the club’s wage bill.

  • Liverpool have placed West Ham winger Jarrod Bowen on their radar as Jurgen Klopp looks to add more firepower in the frontline

    Liverpool have placed West Ham winger Jarrod Bowen on their radar as Jurgen Klopp looks to add more firepower in the frontline

    Jurgen Klopp is ready to fight for the Premier League again this season after having failed to defend the crown last term. However, he needs certain quality additions to the team, especially in the frontline after struggling for goals in crucial moments last season. 

    Although the club signed Diogo Jota last summer, they are ready to let go of Xherdan Shaqiri and Divock Origi leaving the club this summer to bring in more quality into their frontline. Last season, the likes of Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane failed to live up to their form from previous seasons, courtesy of which Klopp wants to add more firepower into the side.

    To that end, Liverpool are monitoring the situation of West Ham winger Jarrod Bowen (as per The Athletic), who performed incredibly well for the Hammers last season as he contributed to 13 goals i.e., 20% of West Ham’s Premier League goals last season. 

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    Why Jarrod Bowen?

    While Liverpool could have gone out and signed any player, they have shortlisted Jarrod Bowen to add more depth into their frontline.

    There are a couple of reasons for this:

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    Firstly, Bowen is left-footed and highly creative, making him an instant replacement for Xherdan Shaqiri. However, Bowen is only 24, and he also has the potential to play in the starting XI due to his goal threat. The Englishman’s direct running towards defenders was mesmerizing last season as he went toe to toe with the best defenders in the Premier League. 

    Secondly, he would not mind playing on the bench, but Klopp rotated more than people thought he would last season. Liverpool played nearly 60 games last season and might do so again this year. Thus, Bowen knows that there are a lot of games to be played, and if he does impress Klopp, he could earn a place in the starting lineup week in and week out. Moreover, Salah, Firmino, and Mane are in the final 2 years of their contract, and it does not look like Liverpool intend to provide them with any more lucrative contracts. Thus, young players are the way to go, and Bowen could make himself one of those names. 

    Lastly, he can add a lot to this Liverpool team, and his numbers back it up:

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    While Sadio Mane and Mo Salah are dynamic wingers, Bowen prefers going past people and creating chances rather than running beyond people. Also a little different from Diogo Jota, Bowen does not need to use his pace to become a differentiating factor in this Liverpool team. 

    One of Liverpool’s biggest issues last season was the lack of creativity from midfield or even from the wingers. Jarrod Bowen had 11 goal-creating actions last season, while Mane and Salah had just one or two more than him. This was Bowen’s output in a West Ham team, which albeit impressive last season, does not have the firepower of Liverpool’s forwards.

    Jarrod Bowen, like the other Liverpool wingers, can also draw fouls (54 fouls drawn last season) while he is also a threat from a dead ball. The 24-year-old had 3 dead-ball passes that led to a goal last season, making him a threat from set-pieces, although Liverpool already have Trent Alexander Arnold and Andy Robertson for those jobs, the talent is there if need be. 

    Also, unlike the current Liverpool forwards, Bowen has a habit of coming deep and trying to create something out of nothing. He had nearly 160 touches in the defensive third last season, 50 more than both Salah and Mane. This would also enable Klopp to play Bowen behind the striker or even in a midfield three due to his creativity while he is also solid defensively. Bowen had 22 interceptions last season, again quite a bit more than Salah and Mane. Although Bowen’s passing could be better, it might improve automatically when he is around better players.

    All in all, Liverpool will be signing a player who could possibly solve more than one problem of theirs while he also provides quality squad depth. 

    Is Bowen a realistic prospect?

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    Jarrod Bowen’s current contract expires in June 2025, and if Liverpool want to sign the player, they would have to pay upwards of £35 million for the player. However, in his one and a half year as a Hammer, Bowen has made himself one of the most versatile players in the Premier League and a starter in a team that finished in the Top 6 of the table. 

    Liverpool did go out and sign Diogo Jota for £42 million last summer, so it is not out of the realm for the Reds to pay a similar amount for Jarrod Bowen, who West might let go if the price is right. Alternatively, Liverpool could maneuver a swap deal of some sort and send Xherdan Shaqiri or Divock Origi the other way. 

    Jarrod Bowen is a great talent, and in a better team, especially in a Klopp system, he could really explode. If Liverpool do go ahead and seal this move, only time will tell. 

    MUST READ:

  • Could Matheus Pereira be West Ham’s Jesse Lingard alternative?

    Could Matheus Pereira be West Ham’s Jesse Lingard alternative?

    Jesse Lingard turned on the heat for West Ham United in the second part of last season.

    The forgotten Manchester United star was loaned out to the East London outfit in January as an attempt to revive his career, and it is fair to say that it worked – Lingard registered nine goals and four assists in 16 appearances for West Ham.

    His performances made him an instant Hammers hero and an almost talismanic figure for the club in a relatively short time, but a positive loan spell was always going to result in a return to his parent club – leaving a huge void that is to be replaced.

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    One of the replacements that West Ham reportedly have on their radar is Matheus Pereira. The Brazilian forward impressed for West Bromwich Albion in the last two seasons – both in the Championship and the Premier League, and he particularly impressed in the top tier last season registering a total of 11 goals and six assists.

    Even though the Baggies were eventually relegated to the second tier, Pereira proved to be one of their only shining beacons of light – his best performance of the season coming against European champions Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, where he scored twice in a 5-2 win against the odds.

    The Hammers’ chances of retaining Lingard permanently decreases by the hour after it was reported that the player wants to stay and fight for a place in Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s team. As a result, David Moyes needs a replacement and there could be hardly any names more fitting than Pereira.

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    The 25-year-old could be on his way to the capital for a reported fee of £15 million, a deal that will cost significantly lesser than tying Lingard down permanently. Matheus Pereira’s profile is also quite similar, and could well be a better value-for-money addition considering Jesse Lingard’s age.

    Matheus Pereira can play on either wing, has a wicked delivery from set-pieces and possesses technical ability in abundance, and is already used to being a talismanic figure for his team in the Premier League. In addition, he can also play in the hole directly behind the centre-forward – as Jesse Lingard played as a central attacking midfielder to try and create chances for West Ham as well as score goals by himself.

    Pereira was influential in securing the Baggies’ promotion back up to the top tier as he had a noteworthy 2019/20 season where he registered eight goals and 16 assists and was one of the best players that season in the Championship. When the Hawthorns was able to host Premier League games once again, Pereira had quite the smooth transition to the excruciatingly exhausting top tier of English football – something not a lot of top players can boast of.

    There have often been times this season when Pereira proved to be the only West Brom player who tried to come up with something spectacular. Even though the season ended on a harsh note confirming the Baggies’ relegation, Pereira could hold his head up high as he well and truly looks like a Premier League player – and a very good one.

    Pereira is fast, creative and has a panache for flair, and would potentially offer a very similar threat in the attacking third for West Ham. Naturally, the links to the London Stadium are proving to be very exciting for Hammers who seem to have found a cheaper Lingard alternative with better numbers for a significantly worse team.

    Matheus Pereira’s potential switch to East London from the West Midlands could well be one that makes more sense than trying to tie Jesse Lingard down permanently – and an exciting one to say the very least about it.

  • Aurélien Tchouaméni: Is he a good alternative for Declan Rice?

    Aurélien Tchouaméni: Is he a good alternative for Declan Rice?

    Chelsea have reportedly been in pursuit of Declan Rice this summer, as the Blues look to land a top midfielder to their already impressive midfield catalogue. But even though the West Ham midfielder sounds like a player that would fit right into the club – considering that he was at the club academy until the age of 14 and is very well acquainted with the English contingent of Mason Mount, Ben Chilwell, and Reece James – his listed price of £100 million is a put-off. And with Rice still having four years left on his West Ham contract, Chelsea might have to look for cheaper alternatives.

    One of the cheaper alternatives that have reportedly appealed to the Blues is 21-year-old AS Monaco midfielder Aurélien Tchouaméni. Tchouaméni is a French-Cameroonian midfielder who excelled for Monaco in the Ligue 1 last season and also represented France U21 in the UEFA U21 European Championship this summer.

    While he majorly plays as a defensive midfielder for Monaco, Tchouaméni is a versatile talent who can play anywhere across midfield – as vouched for by his current teammate and former Chelsea midfield maestro Cesc Fàbregas. The French international has played most of his games for Monaco as part of a two-man midfield and could fit right into Tuchel’s ‘double six’ alongside Jorginho, Mateo Kovacic, or N’Golo Kanté.

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    Aurélien Tchouaméni plays in a Monaco side that press very high up the pitch, and he is one of the main cogs of the pressing machine – the French midfielder has averaged 19.28 pressures per 90 minutes since the start of last season. His experience of playing in a high-pressing possession system will help him get used to Thomas Tuchel’s system as well as the intense pace of the Premier League. And despite playing in a possession system, Tchouaméni has very decent defensive numbers – averaging 6.05 tackles and interceptions per 90 since the beginning of last season.

    As a contrast, Rice averages 4.53 tackles and interceptions despite playing in a much more defensive system. Tchouaméni is also statistically a better presser, as Rice averages only 15.8 pressures per 90.

    Aurélien Tchouaméni’s passing ability is underrated, as he has made 4.76 progressive passes per 90 and 2.2 long balls per 90 at a completion rate of 58% since the beginning of last season – while Rice has made only 2.97 progressive passes per 90. He is also more of an aerial threat than Rice, as he has won 2.70 aerial duels per 90 compared to Declan Rice’s 1.41.

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    Fabrizio Romano reported earlier this month that Petr Cech is a big fan of the midfielder, and could look to bring him to Stamford Bridge if Chelsea fails to agree on a reasonable fee with West Ham for Rice.

    And when one considers the difference in the price tags of both midfielders, it makes sense for the Blues to acquire the much cheaper target – considering how Tchouaméni has the upper hand in most comparable metrics.

    Keeping Chelsea’s desperate pursuit of an expensive Erling Haaland in mind, Tchouaméni seems like the more logical option to save up the big bucks for the big-money centre-forward – and add a cut-price and yet key midfield reinforcement.

    MUST READ: Is Declan Rice worth £100 million?

  • FPL 2021/ 22: West Ham Preview | Fantasy Premier League

    FPL 2021/ 22: West Ham Preview | Fantasy Premier League

    An impressive campaign last season saw West Ham United defy expectations and finish sixth in the league; securing European football in the upcoming season. Under David Moyes, the north London club not only put in notable performances but also managed to find consistency throughout last season.

    Additionally, West Ham boasted the second-best home record in the league – averaging 1.79 points at the London Stadium and 1.63 points away from home. The Hammers also recorded the fourth-highest assists (46) in the league last season.

    With the squad competing in the UEFA Europa League next season, West Ham will be keen to build on their achievements going into the forthcoming campaign. The Hammers will be looking to secure a top-half finish whilst also working on improving their results and consistency next season.

    In this series, we scrutinise every team in the division, picking out economical performers, helping you in your quest to become the ultimate FPL manager.

    Budget Players

    Aaron Creswell (£5.5m, DEF)

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    The club’s highest-scoring fantasy asset (153 pts.) last season, Creswell cemented his place in most fantasy teams. The 31-year-old English left-back assisted 11 goals – the most in the league – and kept the same number of clean sheets last season. Creswell also finished as the highest-scoring defender in his price range last season.

    In addition, the left-back also accounted for the highest expected assists (5.9xA) amongst his teammates in the league last season. Creswell also accounted for the highest number of Shot-Creating actions (96) and Goal-Creating actions (14) and completed the most passes (149) into the final third at the club last season.

    Being the squad’s primary set-piece taker, Creswell also provides additional threats through free-kicks and crosses. Having had an impressive outing last time around, the left-back will be keen on maintaining his excellent form going into next season. However, having to compete in Europe, Creswell may not be the first-choice left-back in FPL drafts given West Ham’s inconsistency at keeping clean sheets and the club’s untested squad depth going into next season.

    Tomas Soucek (£6.0m, MID)

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    Having had a remarkable 2020/21 season, the Czech international was a vital part of West Ham’s successes throughout the campaign. Souček finished the season as the club’s joint-top goal-scorer (10) in the league, whilst also finishing second amongst fantasy assets (147 pts.) at the club last season.

    An essential part of West Ham’s midfield, Souček was given the license to make forward runs which saw him involved in 11 goals last season. Additionally, the 26-year-old midfielder also ranked second for expected goals (9.2xG) and completed the third-most passes (102) amongst his teammates in the league last season. Souček also stood joint highest with Michail Antonio (£6.5m) for shots on target (23) at the club in the division last season.

    With the Hammers preparing for a crucial campaign, Souček is expected to build on his performances from last season. The midfielder is will be amongst the first names on the team sheet and will most certainly guarantee decent points, provided West Ham display consistent results next season.

    Michail Antonio (£6.5m, FWD)

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    The club’s joint-highest goal-scorer in the league last season, Antonio edged his teammate Tomáš Souček (£6.0m) owing to higher goal involvements (15) at the club. Although having endured a season riddled with injuries, the 31-year-old still managed to rank fourth-highest for expected goals (0.52xG) per game across the league last season.

    The focal point of West Ham’s attack, Antonio is a seasoned performer, having scored over 100 FPL points in each of his last three seasons in the division. Despite his injury concerns, the Englishman still had the joint-most shots on target (23) and had the fourth-highest Goal-Creating actions (0.50) per game amongst his teammates in the league last season.

    With the club keen on improving, Antonio will be a crucial part of the club’s ambitions. Decently priced at £6.5m, Antonio is a reliable forward provided he remains fit and develops into a consistent goal-scorer next season.

    Dark Horses

    Saïd Benrahma (£6.0m, MID)

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    Having had a decent start to his West Ham career, the Algerian found himself on the bench following the arrival of Jesse Lingard (£7.0) in the winter transfer window last season. Benrahma finished with 73 points, scoring a goal and providing six assists in 30 league appearances last season.

    Additionally, the 25-year-old also accounted for the highest assists (0.39) per game at the club in the league last season. Benrahma also finished with the highest number of key passes and shots from outside the box per game last season.

    However, given his current status as a bench player, the Algerian may not start every game for the club. With Lingard’s move to West Ham still uncertain, Benrahma could be first in line to take his place, provided Lingard does not move this summer.  Nevertheless, at £6.0m, Benrahma remains a risky option but may yield decent points provided he establishes himself as a first-team player next season.

    Jarrod Bowen (£6.5m, MID)

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    One of only two players to have made 38 league appearances at the club last season, Bowen made the most of this game-time – finishing the campaign with 141 points and 13 goal involvements in the league.

    The 24-year-old also ranked third amongst FPL assets at the club and remained an attractable prospect amongst FPL managers throughout last season. Despite having played the full 90 minutes on only eight occasions last season, Bowen still displayed remarkable numbers.

    The midfielder had the most carries into the 18-yard box (37) and ranked third for total shots amongst his teammates in the league last season. In addition, Bowen also ranked third-highest for goals+assists (0.46) per game and second for Shot-Creating actions (78) at the club last season.

    With West Ham keen on having a fresh squad next season, Bowen is expected to remain a mainstay in the team and may eventually cement his place in the first team line-up.

    West Ham faces Newcastle United (A), Leicester City (H), Crystal Palace (H), Southampton (A), and Manchester United (H) in their first five fixtures of the 2021/22 Premier League Season.

  • West Ham United are eyeing a move for PSG’s Alphonse Areola after impressive stint at Fulham last season

    West Ham United are eyeing a move for PSG’s Alphonse Areola after impressive stint at Fulham last season

    The dark horses of the Top 4 race last season, West Ham United have started their transfer business for the season as they are eyeing a move for Paris Saint Germain goalkeeper Alphonse Areola, who has become the fourth choice keeper at the club behind Sergio Rico, Keylor Navas and PSG’s new summer signing Gianluigi Donnarumma. 

    One of the best keepers in the Premier League last season, Alphonse Areola made quite a name for himself at Fulham as his acrobatic saves made him a sight to see for the fans towards the end of the season. While Fulham did not manage to avoid relegation, Areola returned to PSG after his loan deal expired at the end of the season, with the Hammers now interested in procuring his services, possibly on a permanent basis.

    Why do West Ham United need Alphonse Areola?

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    Although West Ham were relatively solid at the back last season, their first-choice goalkeeper in Lukasz Fabianski is 36 years old, and his contract is set to expire in June next year. Additionally, the backup goalkeepers in Darren Randolph and David Martin are also on the wrong side of 30 and are not good enough to play in the first team week in and week out. West Ham’s U-21 goalkeeper Nathan Trott, who has shown signs of promise, is set to be sent out on loan to French side Nancy. 

    To that end, West Ham needs a new goalkeeper, who has at least some experience in the Premier League and has the ability to replace Fabianski. Areola fits the bill as he has shown previously with PSG, Villarreal, Real Madrid, and Fulham that he can certainly be the No:1 at a club, while his age (28) also shows that he can continue to be the main man between the sticks for at least 5 more years. 

    Alphonse Areola’s season with Fulham last year in numbers:

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    Areola made 36 Premier League appearances last season, as he only missed out on 2 games of the season because he was signed towards the end of the delayed summer transfer window last year. 

    He made the fifth most saves in the league last season (115), only behind Sam Johnstone, Aaron Ramsdale, Emiliano Martinez, and Illan Meslier. It is also important to understand that Fulham only conceded 48 goals last season, six more than Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga, and a lot of this had to do with Areola’s unbelievable saves. 

    Another area where Alphonse Areola succeeded quite a bit last season was the number of crosses he stopped inside the penalty box by either handling the ball or punching it out and thereby rescuing his backline from danger. His crosses stopped percentage was 9.8%, better than any other Premier League goalkeeper last season. 

    However, the most impressive stat Areola achieved last season was a 100% pass completion rate in all of his short passes (between 5 and 15 yards). While most keepers come into the 95 percentile, it is incredibly hard to not make a mistake, and Areola achieved to do so as he completed all 221 of his short passes. Areola, however, did suffer when he made long-distance passes (above 40 yards) as he achieved only a 45% pass completion rate. This is a feature he will have to improve on, should he join the Hammers this summer. 

    Areola was also brilliant in 1v1’s as his 6’4 stature was enough to intimidate most strikers while his positioning is also sublime when his team is being counter-attacked. A starting position is crucial for any keeper, and Areola has perfected this ability over time. 

    When could West Ham complete this deal?

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    Once Donnarumma completes his medical with Paris Saint Germain, which should be by the end of this week, PSG will look to offload Alphonse Areola, and as per The Evening Standard, West Ham are closing in a move to sign the Frenchman on a loan deal with an option to buy next season.

    This could be a great signing for West Ham as they look to make yet another push into the Top 4 next season, but given that the traditional Top 6 have also strengthened in particular areas, it will be huge ask for the Hammers to enter that race again. However, everybody likes an underdog, and with Areola manning their goal, West Ham stands more than a chance to become the dark horse in the Top 4 race again.

  • West Ham United are hoping to sign Nikola Milenkovic this summer with a new bid of £20 million

    West Ham United are hoping to sign Nikola Milenkovic this summer with a new bid of £20 million

    One of the miracles of last season was when West Ham United were leading the race to finish in the Top 4 ahead of Chelsea, Liverpool, and Tottenham. However, their form trailed off towards the end of the season but the Hammers did manage to secure qualification to the Europa League alongside Leicester, who also missed out on Champions League football.

    David Moyes, however, was buoyed by his team’s performance throughout the season but believes that with a couple of additions, they can challenge for a spot in the Top 4 again, courtesy of which, the club have intensified their transfer business.

    A big part of this is signing Fiorentina’s Nikola Milenkovic, a player Moyes wanted to sign last summer and in the winter transfer window this year. 

    Who is Nikola Milenkovic?

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    One of the stars of Serbian club Partizan Belgrade’s academy, Nikola Milenkovic was bumped up to the senior team of the club in 2016 as an 18-year-old. One of the smarter defenders of his generation, Milenkovic always had the eye for a pass and believed in winning the ball back rather than tackling down somebody for the heck of it.

    His performances did not go unnoticed as Fiorentina were ready to snap up the 19-year-old after only a year in Partizan’s senior team. While it took him a year to adjust to life in Serie A, Milenkovic went to make 38 appearances in only his second season. While most Serie A clubs prefer experienced centre-backs or young Italian centre-backs, Fiorentina went a different way and kept faith in the Serbian.

    After a largely successful 19/20 season where Milenkovic helped Fiorentina finish in the top half of the table, the Italian club could not replicate the performances this year as they finished 13th in the table. Milenkovic, however, was a huge part of Fiorentina not conceding as much as they should have. Fiorentina’s xGA last season was 65, whereas they ended up conceding only 59, one more than 7th placed Roma.

    Playing style in Numbers:

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    Milenkovic averaged 3.5 clearances per 90 minutes during this period while he was also averaging 1.5 interceptions per game, the highest amongst the Fiorentina backline. While 1.5 interceptions may not seem a lot for a team that conceded more than 1.5 goals per game, most of the goals conceded by the Italian outfit were from set-pieces or through the wings, which would leave Milenkovic outnumbered at the back alongside Martin Caceres, the other centre-back in the team.

    A frequent passer from the back, the Serbian averaged 50 passes a game with an 85% pass completion rate, with most of his passes penetrating the opposition midfield line. Milenkovic did not hesitate to spray long balls either as he was completing 3.5 long balls per 90 minutes, a tactic very key to Fiorentina, who use the pace of their forwards to launch attacks. 

    How does Nikola Milenkovic fit into West Ham?

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    West Ham’s centre-back pairing last season of Issa Diop and Craig Dawson was brilliant as the pair let in only 47 goals, 3 fewer than Leicester City, who finished above them. While Diop bullied defenders off the ball, Dawson brought a calm presence in the backline. 

    However, with Dawson’s contract up in 2 years, West Ham want to get ahead and inculcate a new centre-back to replace the 31-year-old. Dawson’s age is catching up with him and with the Premier League becoming a faster game every year, West Ham will need a young centre back who can do all parts of the game comfortably for 90 minutes. Milenkovic fits the bill, as he can cover every blade of the grass, while he can offer the same presence as Dawson at the back.

    At 6’5, Milenkovic can not only win the aerial duels but also be an incredible addition to West Ham’s already loaded threat from set-pieces. While Issa Diop looks a tad unorthodox and uncomfortable while passing the ball out from the back, Milenkovic’s confidence on the ball will be a big relief for Diop. Michael Antonio’s pace will be something Moyes will be looking to utilise next season, and with Milenkovic’s range of passing, it could give the Hammers a new dimension of launching attacks. 

    He is a player suited to the style of the club, and the adjustment would be seamless given that Milenkovic is asked to perform the same duties as he did in Fiorentina.

    How close are West Ham to signing Nikola Milenkovic?

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    The Hammers have reportedly bid £20 million for the centre-back but Fiorentina are set to hold out for a fee of £25 million for the player. The reason behind this asking price is that 10% of Milenkovic’s transfer fee will go to Partizan Belgrade, and Fiorentina themselves want at least £20 million after giving Partizan their fee for the player.

    Milenkovic, whose contract will be up in June next year, has turned out a contract extension and made his intentions of leaving the club this summer sufficiently clear to the Fiorentina board. The Serbian is interested in a move to West Ham as the club will play European football next season.

    There is a lot to work out in this contract, but with two out of three parties in sync about the deal, it will not be long before West Ham bring Nikola Milenkovic to the London stadium.