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Arsenal are reportedly looking to sign an upgrade on Oleksandr Zinchenko this summer, which could see a rising star arrive from La Liga on a path already trodden by club captain Martin Odegaard.

Arsenal transfer news

The Gunners won't stop here after their sensational Premier League campaign, with Josh Kroenke remaining defiant in the fact that this is just the start for those in North London.

With that said, whilst the headlines will likely be dominated by their search for a ruthless goalscorer this summer, those at The Emirates are also reportedly looking to land a new left-back.

Arteta has privately called £40 million defender his ideal Arsenal signing

The Spaniard is a big fan.

By
Emilio Galantini

May 18, 2024

According to reports in Spain, Arsenal are eyeing a move to sign Miguel Gutierrez, who has starred at Girona this season to help them secure a shock Champions League place. Earning a reported £6k-a-week, Arsenal could land a bargain deal if they trigger Gutierrez's €40m (£34m) release clause in the coming months.

Having come through Real Madrid's ranks, Gutierrez can now follow the same path as Odegaard by completing a move to North London and providing Mikel Arteta with a long term left-back solution. With Bayern Munich also interested though, the Gunners will have to act sooner rather than later if they want to kick off their summer plans with a bang.

Welcoming Gutierrez and others would certainly be the first step towards building a deep squad capable of competing for four trophies next season.

"Fantastic" Gutierrez would be an upgrade on Zinchenko

At just 22 years old, Gutierrez looks set to have quite the decision to make about his future this summer, especially if Arsenal turn their interest more serious. If the move does take place though, then it's one that should leave the Gunners in a position of strength down their left-hand side, with Zinchenko and Takehiro Tomiyasu handed quite the competition.

The number of ball recoveries that Gutierrez manages is a particular positive and stands out as something that would slot straight into Arteta's attempt to suffocate teams on the front foot when Arsenal want to counter-press.

After such an impressive campaign, the left-back has earned plenty of deserved praise, including from Football Talent Scout's Jacek Kulig, who described his season as "fantastic". Things could now get better than ever this summer if Arsenal step up their interest and sign a player who is showing all the signs that there's plenty more to come yet.

Ajax midfielder Jordan Henderson is reportedly open to returning to England just a year after leaving Liverpool.

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• Henderson endured miserable Saudi spell
• Now playing for Ajax in Eredivisie
• Midfielder linked with England return

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Earlier this month it was reported that the 34-year-old had attracted interest from English clubs as his minutes at Ajax started to dwindle. Henderson, who signed for the Dutch club in January, has started just twice in the Eredivisie this season, and his lack of involvement has caught the eye of Premier League and Championship clubs.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Henderson has endured a rocky time of things since leaving Liverpool in the summer of 2023. He would later come to call his decision to join Saudi Pro League side Al-Ettifaq a "mistake" as he came under fire for chasing the money, and he's now struggling to get minutes in an Ajax side that isn't pulling up trees in the Netherlands.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  A return to familiar surroundings would presumably suit the former England midfielder, and Football Insider claim Championship side Sunderland are working on a deal to sign him in the January window. Their report adds that Henderson "would welcome" a return to his boyhood club, who he played for before joining Liverpool in 2011. The Black Cats are currently top of the Championship and have their sights firmly set on reaching the Premier League.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR HENDERSON?

  A Sunderland switch seems to suit all parties, but there are concerns that tax issues could block Henderson from moving back to England. He'll be gearing up for Ajax's trip to Heracles this weekend in the meantime.

It was another case of so close yet so far for Arsenal this year, as Mikel Arteta's side fell just short of Manchester City in the Premier League for the second successive campaign.

However, there's no rest for the wicked, and with the transfer window about to open, Edu Gaspar and Co will be hard at work looking to bring in the right players to make it the third time the charm next year.

That said, one of their supposed targets, Martin Zubimendi, is said to be unsure about moving to England, and while that's not ideal, the club already look to have the perfect alternative lined up.

Arsenal transfer news

According to a recent report from the Standard, Everton's star midfielder Amadou Onana is one of the options Arsenal have looked at ahead of the summer transfer window.

Alongside the Gunners, the report names Chelsea, Manchester United, and Newcastle United as sides linked to the Belgian and relays an interview with Het Laatste Nieuws, in which he proclaimed his desire to play for a "top club."

The story doesn't mention a potential price, but a Football Insider report from late last week claimed the Toffees might be willing to accept a £50m offer for the "dominant" midfielder, as dubbed by talent scout Jacek Kulig, due to concerns over PSR.

It would be an expensive and potentially challenging deal to negotiate for Edu and Co, but with Zubimendi looking likely to stay in Spain, it might be one worth pursuing.

How Onana compares to Zubimendi

Now, with a deal for Zubimendi looking increasingly unlikely, it would be worth seeing how the Spaniard compares to Onana, to determine if the Everton ace would be a good substitute, or even an upgrade.

The first thing to note is that the pair essentially play in the same position, with the Spaniard starting 38 games as a defensive midfielder and five as a central midfielder this season, while the Belgian has started 17 games in both areas of midfield, and as such neither one has registered over four goals this season.

However, the differences between the pair become more apparent when looking at their underlying numbers.

For example, the Real Sociedad ace appears to be somewhat more capable with the ball at his feet, registering a higher passing accuracy and producing more progressive passes and carries per 90.

However, the Toffees' "one-man army", as dubbed by Kulig, isn't poor with the ball either, as he produces a higher non-penalty expected goal and assists figure, receives more progressive passes, produces more shot-creating actions per 90 and takes more shots than his potential competition.

Moreover, he may well be more useful in a deeper role for the Gunners, as he makes and wins more tackles, completes more ball recoveries, wins more aerial duels, miscontrols the ball less often and is dispossessed less frequently as well, all per 90.

Ultimately, while missing out on Zubimendi is far from ideal, Everton's "monster duel-winner," as described by analyst Raj Chohan, looks like he might be the better option anyway.

Arsenal could land Bergkamp 2.0 by signing "the best 9 in the world"

The similarities to the Flying Dutchman are undeniable.

By
Jack Salveson Holmes

May 31, 2024

His defensive solidity and 6 foot 4 frame could make him the perfect six, thus allowing Declan Rice to become the club's long-term eight simultaneously.

It looks set to be a busy summer of transfers for Arsenal this year, as after another Premier League season full of incredible performances, they fell just short of Manchester City.

The main area of interest seems to be the striker position, with players like Benjamin Sesko and Victor Osimhen being linked in recent weeks, but somewhere else Mikel Arteta may need to reinforce is left-back.

Oleksandr Zinchenko has been touted for a move away from the Emirates in recent days, and while it's never good to lose talented players, the latest star linked with a move to N5 might just be the perfect replacement.

Arsenal transfer news

According to a recent report from The Athletic, Arsenal have maintained their interest in Ajax's star defender, Jorrel Hato.

The Gunners' original interest was reported in January, and even though the youngster signed a new deal with the Amsterdam club in the meantime, they seem undeterred.

No potential price is reported in the story, but in November, journalist Suleyman Öztürk told Dutch website SoccerNews he expects the youngster to be sold for around €100m, which converts to around £85m.

While it would be an enormous sum of money, this might be a player worth breaking the bank for.

How Hato compares to Zinchenko

Now, when comparing these two players, there are a couple of things that should be taken into account. The first is that Hato is just 18 years old and the second is that he's primarily a centre-back who is versatile enough to thrive at left-back , for which data analyst Ben Mattinson lauds him as a "swiss-army knife."

That said, in spite of these two things, he stacks up incredibly well against Zinchenko, and actually already looks better in a number of ways, and the best way to see that is through their underlying numbers.

While the young Dutchman understandably comes out second best in metrics like progressive passes, progressive carries, and non-penalty expected goals and assists, he comes out way ahead in a number of others.

For example, the "elite" youngster, as dubbed by Mattinson, makes more blocks, interceptions, clearances, and ball recoveries, makes fewer errors leading to a shot, wins more aerial duels, and actually has better passing accuracy, all per 90.

His offensive qualities may be lacking compared to the Arsenal full-back, but Arteta showed this season that he is happy with a more defensively-minded left-back in the side when he opted to play both Jakub Kiwior and Takehiro Tomiyasu in the role over the Ukrainian.

Ultimately, while Hato is still young and would likely cost an arm and a leg to sign, he could be the perfect player to replace Zinchenko, especially as talent scout Jacek Kulig has argued he has a "huge future ahead."

Arsenal could land Lacazette 2.0 in "monster" 1st signing

The incredible forward has shades of the Frenchman about him.

By
Jack Salveson Holmes

Jun 4, 2024

Arsenal star Katie McCabe admits that the Gunners squad are jealous of Chelsea's recent Women's Super League success.

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• McCabe and Arsenal jealous of Chelsea
• Blues are seven-time WSL champions
• Arsenal have not won title since 2018/19

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  McCabe admits that Arsenal have been left green with envy by Chelsea's success throughout the past few years, ahead of this weekend's London derby between the two sides at Emirates Stadium. The Blues have won the WSL title in each of the last five seasons; the Gunners won the title in 2018-19 but have not lifted the trophy since.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Arsenal have won the title 15 times in total but only three times since the inception of the WSL. In recent years, they have won the FA Women's League Cup twice, in 2023 and 2024. That has clearly not scratched the itch for McCabe and Arsenal, however, as they have finished third in both of the last two seasons.

• WHAT MCCABE SAID

  McCabe told BBC Sport: "It always hurts [seeing Chelsea lift the title]. You want that to be you. You are in a team sport to be lifting trophies with your team-mates. Of course you are envious of them being successful. What we can do is focus on ourselves and put one foot in front of the other. Hopefully, by the end of the season, that will be us.”

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  WHAT NEXT?

  Arsenal play Chelsea this weekend in a blockbuster encounter. They have to right the ship after a dismal 5-2 defeat to Bayern Munich in the Champions League on Wednesday.

Phil Parkinson continues to work on a rolling contract at Wrexham, with Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney happy to run that agreement indefinitely.

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• Experienced coach sought after takeover
• Back-to-back promotions enjoyed since then
• Rolling contract continues to be ticked over

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The Hollywood co-owners arrived at SToK Racecourse in 2021 aware of the need to bring an experienced coach into the dugout. A big play for Parkinson was made, following initial reluctance on his part, and a memorable journey has been enjoyed together in North Wales since.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Wrexham have taken in back-to-back promotions, making history along the way, and are now flying high in League One. Parkinson has the full support of a loyal fanbase, given all that he has achieved, while the famous chairmen are happy to let him continue for as long as he feels beneficial to the club and long-term ambition.

• WHAT SHAUN HARVEY SAID

  Wrexham director Shaun Harvey has told of getting Parkinson on board shortly after Reynolds and McElhenney’s takeover was completed: “None of us at the time truly knew how big the football club was going to become back then. But what we did realise was with everything else that was going to be attached to the club, we needed a manager with experience. Not just an experienced manager but somebody who was prepared to commit for the long term.

  “Everybody says it's been great but it was always going to be. There were moans and groans amongst the fanbase early on that we weren't delivering, you have just got to have courage and strength in your conviction. What success over a period of time buys you is that right. You should have it right from the start but understandably, everybody needs to be persuaded it is right rather than trusting you. Whereas at the moment, I think the phrase 'in Phil we trust' is probably the default now for the majority of fans but that is only because he has earned it over the last three-and-a-bit years.”

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  DID YOU KNOW?

  Harvey added on how Parkinson’s contract works and why there is no reason to believe that he will be walking away any time soon: “Phil's contracted approach hasn't changed since the day he arrived. We made a commitment to Phil to get him to come to the club and that commitment still remains in place today. He's on a rolling contract and that continues until either party decides it is not going to. And for anybody who has got any concerns about it, we can only point towards the success we have had so far.”

Newcastle United's injury troubles during the 2023/24 are well known, with Eddie Howe's side hit with multiple long-term absentees, subsequently missing out on any form of European football for next season.

Players such as Sven Botman and Nick Pope missed large spells of the last campaign with various issues, with Howe’s defence massively suffering as a result of their respective absences.

However, the attacking department was just as affected, with Callum Wilson and Miguel Almiron both suffering their own fitness issues, restricting their minutes on the pitch.

The latter saw a drop in performance when he returned to action, failing to score a single goal in the Premier League for the Magpies in 2024, and unable to get anywhere near his tally of 11 goals from the season prior.

As a result, Howe must look to offload the Paraguayan this summer, with the club willing to part ways with the former Atlanta United attacker.

Miguel Almiron could be set to leave Newcastle this summer

According to journalist Fabrizio Romano, Almiron's future at Newcastle remains unclear ahead of the transfer window which opens over the coming days.

The Magpies reportedly agreed to sell Almiron to Saudi Arabian side Al Shabab during the January window, but Howe decided to keep hold of the attacker, with the 30-year-old potentially one step closer to the exit this time around.

However, the transfer guru confirmed that Newcastle are open to parting ways with the Paraguayan during the off-season, with the club needing to raise funds to avoid any form of punishment for breaking the Premier League’s FFP rules.

When delving into his weekly earnings on Tyneside, it’s no surprise that Howe and Co are willing to offload the attacker, with his wages massively more than one player who has impressed during the closing stages of 2023/24.

How much Miguel Almiron earns at Newcastle

Over the last couple of years under the Saudi PIF, the club have been able to hand out more lucrative contracts to the playing squad, allowing them to attract numerous top-quality players.

Alexander Isak and Bruno Guimaraes are just two examples, with the pair, who earn £120k-per-week and £160k-per-week respectively, as per Capology, both arriving at the club, transforming Howe’s side and pushing them back towards European football.

Almiron was another beneficiary, earning a reported £60k-per-week on Tyneside, with the forward taking home just over £3.1m per season at St James’ Park.

His subsequent weekly earnings see him pocket eight times more than £28m signing Lewis Hall, who only earns £7k-per-week despite his excellent end to the season, which saw him score his first Premier League goal in the 3-2 defeat against Manchester United.

Given Almiron’s recent injury troubles and lack of impact when called upon, Howe should look to offload him upon the opening of the transfer window, with this summer potentially the last chance to make a profit on the £20m they paid for him over five years ago.

His wage and any fee generated would go a long way towards the club’s battle to avoid an FFP punishment, with the club still in danger of a breach should they splash the cash once more this summer.

Another Toney situation: Newcastle could sell ace with "Vinicius quality"

Newcastle may have to part ways with a superb talent to avoid FFP issues.

By
Ethan Lamb

Jun 13, 2024

Glasgow Rangers summer transfer activity so far has proved that Philippe Clement is keen on undertaking a rebuild at Ibrox.

So far, five players have been released, as Borna Barisic, John Lundstram, Ryan Jack, Kemar Roofe and Jon McLaughlin were told they wouldn’t be getting extensions at the end of last season.

It is clear Clement isn’t bowing down to sentiment, as letting those five go for nothing has saved the club over £80k-per-week in wages, a remarkable amount which could go towards much better options ahead of next season.

The likes of Jefte, Oscar Cortes and Connor Barron have already joined, bringing the average age of the squad down substantially, as the Belgian manager and Nils Koppen are clearly focusing on building the team full of young talents, supplemented by the odd experienced player.

Barron is a good example of the club recruiting smartly from a club in the same division. Not only does the youngster have experience of playing in the Premiership, but he is young enough to develop into a better player by joining Rangers.

Could Clement follow up this signing by making another move for a striker who shone in the Scottish top flight last term?

Rangers eye move for SPFL centre-forward

According to the Athletic, Rangers are showing interest in signing Motherwell sensation Theo Bair this summer, joining Celtic as keen admirers of the player.

The report also states that several teams in Germany are also emerging as possible destinations for the striker should he look to move away from Well.

In the past, the Light Blues, especially during Walter Smith’s two spells in charge, used to add in one or two players from the top flight along with a few marquee names.

This hasn’t happened under the likes of Michael Beale and Giovanni van Bronckhorst, as the Gers have gone down the route of splashing money and wages on players from elsewhere.

The signing of Barron from Aberdeen could be the catalyst for Clement to use his funds wisely and sign players who have knowledge of the Premiership, allowing them to settle in far quicker than those who come from abroad.

Theo Bair’s season in numbers for Motherwell

The 6 foot 3 machine joined the Steelmen from St Johnstone in the summer of 2023, yet the move looked like a bit of a gamble from their perspective.

In 31 matches for the Saints, Bair managed to score just one goal, adding three assists, hardly the goal ratio that Motherwell required to keep them away from the relegation zone.

The 24-year-old went on to prove the doubters wrong during his debut season for the club. Not only did he score 15 goals in all competitions, but the Canadian also chipped in with six assists too, showing that he offers more than just a predatory threat in front of goal.

His 21 goals and assists last season saw Bair rank first among his teammates in the Premiership, while he also ranked first for shots on target per game (0.8), fourth for key passes per game (0.9), fourth for big chances created (six) and sixth for successful dribbles per game (0.6), showing evidence that he can offer a well-rounded threat to the opposition goal in the final third.

His performances and stats may not be earth-shattering, but considering Motherwell finished the 2023/24 season in ninth place, scoring just 56 goals in total, Bair’s 15 goals accounted for 27% of their entire total in the top flight.

He saved some of his best performances for the big matches, including in Rangers' 2-1 defeat to the Steelmen in March.

Theo Bair's performance vs Rangers

Motherwell had lost their previous two league encounters with the Ibrox side prior to the third meeting of the 2023/24 season.

Rangers hadn’t lost domestically in 2024 coming into the clash and Clement had brought the Light Blues back into a title challenge that was fading just six months before.

Against a defence consisting of Connor Goldson and John Souttar, however, Bair was an absolute menace. He scored the opener after just nine minutes, slotting home a pass from striker partner Jack Vale, who exploited a mistake by Souttar.

Aside from the goal, Bair also made one key pass, succeeded with 50% of his dribble attempts and took three shots in total, clearly unaffected by the raucous Ibrox atmosphere that day.

Clement is desperate for a striker who not only scores regularly but can cause mayhem among opposition defences. Bair certainly fits the bill and the manager must surely have that performance in Glasgow on his mind as he weighs up whether to bring the 24-year-old to Ibrox this summer.

Bair currently in action at Copa America

His goalscoring feats last term were rewarded with a call-up to the Canadian side for the 2024 Copa América.

He made his debut way back in 2020, scoring on his debut against Barbados in a 4-1 win, yet he hadn’t made a full squad until the game against Trinidad and Tobago.

He failed to come off the bench in pre-tournament friendlies vs the Netherlands and France, while also watching the 2-0 defeat to Argentina in Canada’s opening match of the competition from the sidelines.

Despite that, it is clear Bair has a wonderful future ahead. The likes of Jonathan David and Cyle Larin are clearly the main contenders to fill the centre-forward slots, but the Motherwell gem can learn massively from the duo this summer.

He has just a year to run on his current contract, which means he will be able to sign a pre-contract agreement in January. Could this tempt Clement into making a concrete offer in the coming weeks to rest Motherwell’s resolve?

It could be yet another smart transfer decision by the 50-year-old tactician if he was able to sign the striker, adding some much-needed depth in that area, especially after losing Roofe and Fabio Silva at the end of last season.

£7m duo sign, Tavernier & Goldson sold: Rangers' dream XI for 2024/25

Rangers could look very different next season compared to last

By
Ross Kilvington

Jun 16, 2024

Manchester United announced that they parted ways with Erik ten Hag, and Red Devils' players have now reacted to the Dutchman's sacking.

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• Man Utd part ways with Erik Ten Hag
• Players send messages to the Dutchman
• Van Nistelrooy takes over as interim boss

• Getty Images
  

  WHAT HAPPENED?

  Manchester United announced their decision to part ways with Ten Hag after the Red Devils suffered from an abysmal start to the season as they only won four times in 14 outings in all competitions. United have now appointed Ruud van Nistelrooy as the interim manager, and the Red Devils players have now sent their farewells to the Dutchman on social media.

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• WHAT THE PLAYERS SAID

  On Instagram, Bruno Fernandes wrote: "Thanks for everything boss! I appreciate the trust and the moments we share together, I wish you all the best in the future. Even knowing the last period hasn’t been great from all of us I hope you fans can keep with you the good things the manager has done for our club!"

  Rasmus Hojlund said: "Thanks for everything boss. Wish you all the best in the future."

  Alejandro Garnacho wrote on Instagram: "Thank you for everything, boss. I will always be grateful to you for giving me the opportunity and the confidence to play for this club. It hasn’t gone as well as we wanted, but I will remember the good times we had together and I wish you all the best in the future. Thank you very much Erik."

  Kobbie Mainoo wrote: "Thank you for your trust and belief in me and for giving me the opportunity to play for my boyhood club. I wish you all the best for the future."

  Summer signing Joshua Zirkzee wrote: "Thank you for everything coach."

  Lisandro Martinez wrote on Instagram: "Thanks for the trust you placed in me, coach. It’s not the ending we hoped for, and we’re really feeling it because responsibility is always shared. But we hold onto the great memories of Wembley and your passion for United. Good luck and every success in the future."

  Defender Luke Shaw said: "Days like today are not nice or easy, but I’m grateful for what we achieved together. I want to say thank you and wish you all the success for the future boss."

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Manchester United are now linked with a number of managers to take over from interim coach Van Nistelrooy. Sporting boss Ruben Amorim is reportedly of significant interest, with the likes of Thomas Frank, Xavi Hernandez and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer also linked with a potential move.

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• WHAT NEXT FOR MAN UTD?

  Van Nistelrooy will be on the touchline when Manchester United begin their post-Ten Hag era with a clash against Leicester City in the round of 16 of the Carabao Cup at Old Trafford on Wednesday, October 30.

West Ham United have entered a new era, with Julen Lopetegui anointed as the London Stadium's new manager and tasked with taking a talented squad and lifting them back into European competition.

Having risen from 14th in 2022/23 to ninth during David Moyes' final year, despite selling Declan Rice to Arsenal, the Hammers showcased their quality but, ultimately, ran out of steam, and a change in managerial structure could provide the club with the clean slate needed to attack the upper end of the Premier League with renewed vigour.

Lopetegui has been hard at work, with United signing 18-year-old winger Luis Guilherme for £25.5m and working on several more deals. Mohammed Kudus, who has an £85m release clause in his contract, is eyeing a move away, while a brooding cloud remains sheeted over Lucas Paqueta's footballing future.

Still, Tim Steidten and Co will be working feverishly toward adding the perfect signings to the squad. Let's take a look at how Lopetegui's squad could look come September.

1

GK – Alphonse Areola

Alphonse Areola will hope to keep his place between the sticks for West Ham.

The 31-year-old played second fiddle to Lucasz Fabianski through his first two Premier League campaigns in east London, but featured prominently last year, starting 31 matches.

One of the sharpest shot-stoppers last term, he could prove to be an invaluable figure under Lopetegui as the West Ham defence transitions.

2

RB – Vladimir Coufal

Ben Johnson is closing on a move to Ipswich Town and Vladimir Coufal is nearly 32. The latter will expect to play a big role next season but expect Lopetegui to assess his options at right-back.

Still, Coufal's reliability and dynamism have established him as one of West Ham's most underrated transfers in recent years, playing 155 matches, placing 20 assists, winning a European trophy. All for the not-so-steep price of £5m.

3

CB – Jacob Greaves

Konstantinos Mavropanos has his strengths but if Kurt Zouma and Nayef Aguerd are both to depart the club as anticipated this summer, high-quality replacements must be brought in.

And according to Football Insider, Hull City centre-back Jacob Greaves could be headed to the capital. The 23-year-old – who is valued at around £20m – has enjoyed an excellent campaign in the Championship and boasts the modern ball-playing style to succeed within Lopetegui's system.

As per FBref, Greaves ranked among the top 8% of centre-backs during the 2023/24 Championship season for assists, the top 11% for shot-creating actions, the top 16% for pass completion, the top 10% for passes attempted and the top 4% for aerial duels won per 90.

4

CB – Max Kilman

Will he, won't he? West Ham are pushing to sign Max Kilman from Wolverhampton Wanderers. Valued at £45m, the left-sided defender starred during Lopetegui's tenure at Molineux and would be the perfect replacement for Aguerd, averaging 4.7 ball recoveries and 4.7 clearances per game in the league last year and winning a whopping 71% of his aerial battles.

The Wolves captain – who didn't miss a minute in the English top flight last year – would grow into an important and influential role for the Hammers.

5

LB – Emerson Palmieri

No full-back made more tackles than Emerson Palmieri's 106 in the Premier League last season. The Italian has been a dependable member of the Irons squad.

Iron, indeed, is Emerson's watchword, and he will be tasked with adding balance and mettle to a new-look backline.

6

DM – Edson Alvarez

Manchester United are interested in signing Edson Alvarez this summer, though Lopetegui is unlikely to sanction the tough-tackling Mexican's sale.

As The Athletic's Roshane Thomas puts it, he was the main man during his first term in east London claret, the steely, metronomic presence. He must remain at the London Stadium.

7

CM – Tomas Soucek

What a stalwart. Tomas Soucek is an industrious and tenacious member of the West Ham midfield, important for inculcating balance into the team.

Last year, the Czech star scored ten goals from 52 appearances. The 6 foot 3 midfielder is imposing and committed and he will be crucial, whether he ends up cementing a regular starting berth under Lopetegui or not.

8

CM – James Ward-Prowse

Signed from Southampton for £30m, West Ham have made good use of James Ward-Prowse's talents, with the midfielder scoring seven goals and adding 11 assists across all competitions.

In the Premier League, as per Sofascore, he completed 90% of his passes and averaged 1.7 key passes per game. He will be the playmaking linchpin in Paqueta's absence, centrally at least.

9

RW – Jarrod Bowen

Guilherme brings prodigious talent to the Premier League, flicks and tricks that will serve West Ham well over the coming years, but he's not going to take Jarrod Bowen's place on the attacking right flank.

The Three Lions star's 20-goal haul was his personal best in an Irons shirt and provided English football with another illustration into the skill set of a first-rate forward.

Lopetegui will seek to stamp more possession and more attacking intent into his side and Bowen will be the architect on the field, shooting on goal himself and playing quick exchanges with the man in the middle.

10

LW – Crysencio Summerville

With Kudus likely to leave and Paqueta's future uncertain, securing a talented new winger is paramount for Lopetegui and West Ham. Crysencio Summerville, the 2023/24 Championship Player of the Year, could be that man.

According to reports relayed by Claret and Hugh, the 22-year-old Dutchman is attracting his fair share of Premier League attention after scoring 20 goals and supplying nine assists as Leeds United finished third and narrowly missed out on promotion.

He could be the catalyst in attack for Lopetegui, praised for his "relentless" running by analyst Ben Mattinson to complement his sharp attacking abilitiy.