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Sheffield Wednesday are slowly looking like they have finally started to turn a corner; however, an injury update regarding one of their key men at Hillsborough has now come to light…

Sheffield Wednesday form…

Last weekend, Sheffield Wednesday finally got their act together to secure a first victory in five Championship matches under Danny Rohl, with goals from Bailey Cadamarteri, Marvin Johnson and Josh Windass securing an impressive 3-1 scoreline over Blackburn Rovers at Hillsborough.

Speaking in his post-match press conference, Rohl indicated his belief that the Owls are going in the right direction under his stewardship, saying:

"My team fought until the end, they believe in what we are doing and I am so happy to take the points.

"We scored three goals today, in the past we spoke about how we could score. We are going in the right direction. I have spoken about bringing our xG higher and higher, it is a good step forward and after this game it is great to see."

Coupled with a draw against Leicester City in their previous home match, Sheffield Wednesday finally look to be generating some positive momentum; nevertheless, the South Yorkshire side are still rooted to the bottom of the league standings and find themselves 10 points adrift of Huddersfield Town in 21st point, leaving a mountain to climb if the Owls have designs on spectacularly avoiding the drop this term.

Taking a result against Stoke City on Saturday could be another important step to boosting their chances of a miraculous escape from relegation; however, an injury update has now emerged regarding one of their key men ahead of the match.

Dominic Iorfa injury update…

As shared by reliable Owls reporter Joe Crann, Sheffield Wednesday boss Rohl has given an update on the status of defender Dominic Iorfa, who is undergoing scans for a muscle problem sustained against Blackburn Rovers and looks a doubt for the weekend.

Rohl stated: "We have to look, but it looks not so good – we’ll see in the next days some scans, and then we’ll see what we can do and when he is available again. At the moment, though, it’s difficult to say – and it’ll be hard for him to play this weekend."

Labelled "brilliant" by club captain Barry Bannan, Iorfa has been ever present for the Owls this term, making 17 assists across all competitions and contributing a solitary assist into the bargain (Iorfa statistics – Transfermarkt).

In a difficult campaign for his current employers, the former England Under-21 international has also been a domineering presence in the air, winning around 2.2 duels per match in the English second-tier (Iorfa statistics – WhoScored).

Despite this, news of his potential absence this weekend may come as a huge blow to Sheffield Wednesday as they eye a chance to go three games unbeaten for the first time this campaign.

Gio Reyna reportedly went against Borussia Dortmund’s wishes when moving to England, and the Premier League flop now faces an uncertain future.

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• American slipped down pecking order in Germany
• Saw move sanctioned in winter window
• Failed to make any kind of impact in England

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  WHAT HAPPENED?

  The United States international is still only 21 years of age, with time on his side when it comes to unlocking and delivering on full potential. He has, however, found the going tough of late – with a tumble down the pecking order in Germany leading to loan switch being sought in the winter transfer window of 2024.

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• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  According to , Dortmund were against sending Reyna to England – as were his former agency Wasserman Media Group – but the youngster’s father, ex-USMNT star Claudio, and new representative Jorge Mendes felt a move to Nottingham Forest made sense.

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  DID YOU KNOW?

  Reyna has struggled for game time at a club battling to avoid relegation, taking in just two Premier League starts, with Nuno Espirito Santo favouring alternative creative options. A source told of those issues: “He has been training well and is a lovely kid, but the team was in a tough cycle, fighting against relegation and the manager has prioritized playing players with Premier League experience already.”

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• WHAT NEXT FOR REYNA?

  Dortmund extended Reyna’s contract until 2026 before seeing him head to Nottingham, but their long-term plans for the playmaker are unclear. The announcement that Marco Reus will be leaving BVB in the summer, along with the expiration of Jadon Sancho’s loan, may work in Reyna’s favour but struggles for form and fitness are leaving more questions than answers.

Liverpool are believed to be the "hottest club" in the race to sign an exciting young player, with scouts sent to watch him in action.

Liverpool's January targets

The January transfer window is edging closer all the time, at which point the Reds will have an opportunity to bolster their squad options between now and the end of the season, as they look to beat Manchester City and Arsenal to the Premier League title. Injuries have started to creep in more as a busy festive period kicks into gear, with Joel Matip out for the season after knee surgery and the likes of Andy Robertson, Alexis Mac Allister and Diogo Jota also absent in recent times.

Jurgen Klopp seems content with the squad that he has at the moment, having gutted the midfield and rebuilt it during the summer, but there is always a chance that he could look for a sprinkling of extra magic in certain areas next month.

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At centre-back, Matip's injury means that there is huge pressure on Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate to stay fit, and Crystal Palace ace Marc Guehi has been linked with a move to Liverpool. A defensive midfielder and a young backup option in attack are also potential possibilities – Fluminense middle man Andre has been seen as a target for some time – and a new update has emerged regarding the hunt for a new forward too.

Liverpool eyeing Momodou Sonko

According to Expressen [via Sport Witness], Liverpool are showing an interest in signing Hacken youngster Momodou Sonko, having sent scouts to watch him play. They viewed him in the Europa League against Qarabag FK last Thursday, and Barcelona and RB Leipzig are also credited with interest.

It is the Reds who are described as the "hottest club" when it comes to snapping up the 18-year-old, however, suggesting they are at the front of the queue to secure a move for him.

Liverpool's attack is littered with five fantastic options in Mohamed Salah, Luis Diaz, Darwin Nunez, Cody Gakpo and Jota, but bringing in Sonko as a young squad player could be shrewd long-term planning. Predominantly a left winger, Sonko has 13 goals and eight assists in 43 appearances for Hacken, not to mention netting once in five caps for Sweden's Under-19s.

At some point, Liverpool's attack will be the area that is rebuilt, with Salah turning 32 next year and Diaz not necessarily looking like quite the same player since his knee injury last season, although at 26, there could still be plenty to come from him.

The Merseysiders could even snap up Sonko and then immediately loan him out elsewhere, allowing him to continue maturing as a player, rather than potentially getting stuck at Liverpool for a while and not playing as much as he would like.

Manchester United look to have been given a shot in the arm regarding their pursuit of one particular target after it emerged that his club would be open to selling him next month, as per a report.

Manchester United prepare for West Ham United trip

Last weekend, despite fielding a depleted squad and coming off the back of consecutive defeats to Bournemouth and Bayern Munich, Manchester United fought hard to claim a credible 0-0 draw against rivals Liverpool at Anfield in a fixture where Erik Ten Hag's men weathered the storm to take a valuable point.

Undoubtedly, the Red Devils have endured an inconsistent campaign so far and sit seventh in the Premier League table with 28 points from their opening 17 matches, leaving them six behind Manchester City, who occupy fourth in the divisional standings heading into this weekend's fixtures.

As cited by Sky Sports via METRO, Dutch boss Ten Hag singled out Raphael Varane, Jonny Evans and Andre Onana for special praise and complimented his side's collective resilience in a tough Anfield environment, as he stated: "We know what he [Varane] is capable of, he has many such performances and I think he did very well as the whole team in the partnership with Jonny Evans."

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He then added: "Both led the team from the back, also Andre Onana played a big part in it but I can mention all the players because it was a really good team, very disciplined."

Next up for the Red Devils is a trip to London to face West Ham United on Saturday, in a test that will once again require Manchester United to show their capacity to dig deep as they seek to move closer to the Champions League slots.

Manchester United receive Roony Bardghji boost

According to 90min, Manchester United have scouted Copenhagen sensation Roony Bardghji on several occasions and it has now emerged that his current employers could cash in on his services next month.

Interest in the 18-year-old is widespread from England and further afield, with Chelsea, Aston Villa, Brentford, Brighton & Hove Albion, Fulham, Tottenham Hotspur, Newcastle United and Ten Hag's men all holding talks with intermediaries over a potential deal for the Sweden Under-21 international.

From the continent, Bayer Leverkusen, Borussia Dortmund, Juventus, Marseille, AS Monaco, Napoli and PSV Eindhoven are all keen on the Kuwait City-born youngster, who is under contract at Copenhagen until the summer of 2025.

Labelled "superb" by talent scout Jacek Kulig, there is no doubt that Bardghji is a hot topic among the world's elite clubs at present and it looks only to be a matter of time before he secures a blockbuster move elsewhere.

Paul Mullin is so important to Ryan Reynolds, Rob McElhenney and Wrexham because he “thrives” on pressure, says the club’s sports psychologist.

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• Striker has become a talismanic presence
• Has scored over 100 goals for the Dragons
• May be asked to take on captaincy duty

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The 29-year-old frontman has been a prolific presence for the Red Dragons across his three seasons in North Wales. Mullin is up to 105 goals in total for Wrexham, with 26 of those efforts contributing to another promotion being secured in 2023-24.

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  Mullin has overcome challenges on and off the field to become a talismanic figure for Phil Parkinson, with Reynolds and McElhenney moving to ensure that he is tied down on a contract through to 2027. The big occasion often brings the best out of the Merseyside native, with it not in his nature to back down from a challenge.

• WHAT KOTADIA SAID

  Sam Kotadia – first-team sports psychologist at SToK Racecourse – admits as much, telling the podcast of what makes the fearsome frontman so special: “Mulls loves pressure and sees it as a challenge. I think that’s a really, really healthy mindset – it’s like ‘come on, game on!’ He’s got that outlook. Some players can go into themselves a bit, but I think Mulls is a player that likes an occasion, likes the challenge. He comes to life and thrives on that.”

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  WHAT NEXT FOR MULLIN?

  Mullin is, with the likes of Ben Tozer and Luke Young moving on this summer, a serious contender to take on captaincy duty for Wrexham in 2024-25. He can be expected to embrace that responsibility if asked to do so, with the likes of Kotadia – who figures in the new series of the Welcome to Wrexham documentary – among those on hand with words of advice and encouragement if needed.

Aston Villa begin 2024 occupying second place in the Premier League table in what has been a wonderful campaign so far for the Midlands outfit.

Unai Emery has totally reinvigorated the club since taking over from Steven Gerrard, and the supporters will be hoping he can end their 28-year major trophy drought this term.

The Spaniard will not be resting on his laurels despite defeating the likes of Manchester City and Arsenal recently to take the top flight by storm, especially with the club still in three competitions.

Indeed, they have qualified for the knockout stages of the Europa Conference League while they face Middlesbrough in the FA Cup on Friday night.

The FA Cup could represent an ideal chance to claim a trophy and this could influence Emery’s choice of starting XI.

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We at Football FanCast have predicted that the manager will make four changes to his lineup from the one that beat Burnley 3-2 for the away trip to Middlesbrough, but they should still have enough quality to see off the Championship side.

1

GK – Emiliano Martínez

The Argentinian shot-stopper will keep his place for the cup tie, having played in all but five matches during the current season.

Martinez has kept just six clean sheets across all competitions for Villa, yet this does not appear to have hindered their performances as they remain on course for their finest season this century.

2

RB – Calum Chambers

Matty Cash missed the defeat to Manchester United due to suspension, while illness robbed him of a place in the side that won against Burnley, but Emery may rest him for this one.

Chambers has made just three appearances this term, with none coming in the Premier League, yet it could be a chance for him to gain a rare start for Villa this season.

3

CB – Ezri Konsa

Centre-back is a position in which Villa has solid strength, as Emery can call on Konsa, Diego Carlos, Pau Torres, and Clement Lenglet.

The Englishman will retain his place from the victory over Burnley, and he has missed just one match all season, proving to the Spaniard that he can be relied on.

4

CB – Clement Lenglet

The on-loan Barcelona defender has featured in Villa’s previous three Premier League matches having failed to make it off the bench in the previous 17 games and the tie against Boro represents an opportunity for another run out.

Lenglet started all but one of the Europa Conference League group matches, and it gives Emery the chance to rest Carlos ahead of tougher fixtures.

5

LB – Alex Moreno

With Lucas Digne currently injured and expected to miss all of Villa’s matches this month, Moreno will be called upon by Emery to be the main option at left-back.

The Spaniard returned to action following his own injury issues against Legia Warsaw in November and proceeded to score in what was an eventual 2-1 win.

The clash against Boro will be just his tenth start of the campaign, and he could forge his way into Emery’s plans due to the injury to Digne.

6

RM – Leon Bailey

The former Bayer Leverkusen winger has been in exceptional form this season, giving Emery a solid attacking outlet on the right-hand side of his midfield.

Indeed, the winger has netted nine goals and grabbed eight assists across all competitions, and he will be deployed on the right against the Championship side with the hopes of scoring in the third competition he has played in this term.

7

CM – John McGinn

The Scot has been an almost-ever-present in the Villa side this season, starting 27 of their 29 fixtures so far during 2023/24, and he will be expected to play against Boro.

The midfielder has also been a decent source of goals too, finding the back of the net on seven occasions as he always looks to push forward whenever possible.

In his previous two matches against Boro, McGinn has scored and provided an assist, and another goal contribution or two tomorrow will go a long way to the club securing a place in the next round.

8

CM – Boubacar Kamara

The Frenchman has missed Villa’s previous three matches due to suspension and the club missed his presence in the heart of the midfield as they won just one of those three league clashes.

A tie against second tier opposition is an ideal match for him to return and be unleashed in the starting XI, especially considering he hasn’t played since the 17th December against Brentford.

With a 90% pass completion rate in the Premier League this term, expect Kamara to dictate the play against Boro as Villa look to progress in the FA Cup tomorrow.

9

LM – Nicolo Zaniolo

The Italian has not quite had the greatest impact since joining from Galatasaray on a season-long loan, but playing against Boro could allow him to thrive on the left-hand side of the midfield.

The 24-year-old has more yellow cards than goals this season so far (six vs two) and he will need to improve over the coming weeks in order to convince Emery that he can be relied upon during the final stages of the campaign.

10

ST – Jhon Duran

The youngster – Jhon Duran – will take the place of Moussa Diaby for the cup tie in what will be a rare start in attack.

The £130k-per-week “bright spark” – as so dubbed by Leon Osman earlier this season – Diaby could be rested for the tie against Boro as Emery will rotate his side accordingly.

Villa's French whiz has scored just five times this season and while Duran has only netted four times, the 20-year-old has started just six matches all campaign.

Fikayo Tomori could not hold back his smile as AC Milan fans belted out X-rated chants directed towards England manager Gareth Southgate.

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• Tomori snubbed again by Southgate
• Milan fans hit out at Southgate
• The defender enjoyed every bit of it

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Southgate called up 33 players for the two upcoming friendlies against Bosnia and Herzegovina and Iceland but Tomori could not make a place for himself. After making his international debut in 2019, the defender has slipped down the pecking order and last appeared in November 2023 in a European Qualifier against North Macedonia.

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• WHAT THE FANS SAID

  Milan fans made their feelings known during a jersey signing session as they repeatedly chanted: "We love you Tomori, f*** Southgate”.

  The defender had a hearty laugh and was spotted shaking his head in delight as the chants grew louder.

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• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Tomori had a brilliant season with Milan, making 34 appearances for the Rossoneri. He scored four goals in Serie A, including one against derby rivals Inter.

Leeds United's attempts to secure an automatic promotion place in the Championship this season have left a little bit to be desired so far.

The Whites are seven points adrift of Ipswich Town in second place and four points behind Southampton in third, whilst they are a staggering 17 points off Leicester City in first.

Daniel Farke's side have only won two of their last six league matches and failed to score more than one goal in all four of the games they failed to win.

This suggests that the Yorkshire-based outfit have lacked a cutting edge at times and it has cost them in the race to secure a top two position in the division.

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They lost three games by one goal in that run and would have been in second place had they managed to turn those defeats into wins with two more goals in each match.

Latest Leeds transfer news

The Whites appear to have acknowledged their need for additional firepower as Fabrizio Romano has named them as one of the clubs in the race to secure the signing of Fabio Carvalho this month.

Leeds are said to be pushing to sign the talented attacking midfielder on loan until the end of the season, but they are not the only team in the running.

Fellow Championship high-flyers Southampton and Hull City are also trying to win the race to land his signature in January as they look to bolster their respective attacks.

However, Premier League side Wolverhampton Wanderers are also keen on the Liverpool starlet and this could make it a difficult deal for any of the second tier sides to complete.

Leeds could attempt to persuade Carvalho that a move to Elland Road is his best option to play regular football, which may not be available to him at a top-flight team.

Farke's reputation with young talent, particularly at Championship level, could also play a key role as the German tactician was pivotal in the development of James Maddison and Emiliano Buendia during his time at Norwich City.

Both of those players, albeit Buendia is currently out injured, have gone on to become impressive Premier League performers after shining in the second division as attacking midfielders or wide attackers for the now-Leeds boss at Carrow Road.

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Daniel Farke is keen to take him to Elland Road…

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If Leeds and Farke can convince Carvalho to make the switch to Yorkshire then they could land a similar attacking talent to those two Championship superstars, whilst also landing the German boss' own version of Pablo Hernandez.

Marcelo Bielsa had the mercurial Spanish wizard at his disposal to carve open opposition defences on a regular basis in the club's last promotion to the top-flight and the Liverpool youngster has the potential to be a similar creative force from an attacking midfield or wide position

Pablo Hernandez's Championship form under Bielsa

The impressive magician played two seasons in the Championship for the Argentine head coach and caught the eye with his terrific contributions at the top end of the pitch.

Hernandez played 39 matches and started 37 during the 2018/19 campaign, which was Bielsa's first at Elland Road, and racked up 12 goals and 12 assists.

He also created 16 'big chances' for his teammates and this shows that the exciting whiz was a consistent creator who could open up opposition defences for his teammates.

The magical Spaniard followed that up with nine goals, nine assists, and 13 'big chances' created in 36 Championship appearances during the 2019/20 campaign, which ended in promotion to the Premier League.

He ranked within the top 4% of attacking midfielders and wingers in the division for xAG (Expected Assisted Goals) with 0.32 per 90, along with being in the top 1% for shot-creating actions (6.67) per 90.

As you can see in the table above, Hernandez was not able to translate his immense Championship form over to the Premier League the following year, as he entered the final throes of his playing career.

However, there is no doubt that the now-38-year-old was a sensational operator in the second tier with his ability to score goals and create chances from a number ten or wide position for the Whites, and Carvalho could follow in his footsteps at Elland Road.

The statistics that show why Leeds should sign Carvalho

The 21-year-old dynamo has struggled at the top level since Liverpool decided to sign him from Fulham in the summer of 2022 after his second tier exploits.

Carvalho made 13 appearances for the Reds in the Premier League throughout the 2022/23 campaign and contributed with two goals, zero assists, and zero 'big chances' created.

His inability to make the step up led to Jurgen Klopp making the decision to send him out on loan during the first half of the current term.

He spent time on loan with RB Leipzig in Germany but was not able to provide a single goal, assist, or 'big chance' created in nine Bundesliga matches.

However, his form for Fulham in the Championship, prior to his move to Anfield, suggests that the quality is there for him to be Farke's own version of Pablo Hernandez during the second half of this season.

Carvalho was instrumental in the Cottagers' promotion to the top-flight during the 2021/22 campaign as the young ace showcased his attacking capabilities.

The £41k-per-week ace, who was hailed as a "real gem" by talent scout Jacek Kulig that term, racked up ten goals and eight assists in 36 league outings for Fulham.

This means that, like Hernandez did in the 2019/20 promotion campaign, Carvalho produced 18 direct goal contributions in those 36 matches – one every other game on average.

The former Fulham star also created 13 'big chances' for his teammates and ranked within the top 4% of attacking midfielders and forwards within the division for xAG (0.31) per 90.

These statistics suggest that the Reds youngster is a player who has the ability, having proven it at Championship level, to be a Hernandez-esque figure for Farke as both a scorer and a creator of goals from midfield, which is why Leeds must push hard to win the race for his signature.

Manchester United legend Ruud van Nistelrooy is reportedly in talks to replace Chelsea-bound Enzo Maresca at Leicester City.

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• Nistelrooy in talks with Leicester
• Could succeed Maresca at King Power
• Nistelrooy is currently a free agent

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Van Nistelrooy, renowned for his prolific goal-scoring with the Red Devils, transitioned into management with considerable success. He managed PSV Eindhoven in the 2022-23 season, leading them to victory in the KNVB Cup and the Johan Cruyff Shield. However, he resigned just before the season concluded, with PSV finishing second in the Eredivisie and has since been a free agent.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  According to the Foxes are in touch with Nistelrooy to take over the reins at King Power Stadium as Maresca is all set to head to west London and join Chelsea in a reported five-year deal. On the back of a triumphant season in the Championship, Leicester will compete in the English top flight and Nistelrooy will get the opportunity to lead his troops against his former club – in what would be a sensational homecoming for the ex-Dutch striker at Old Trafford.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  At PSV, Van Nistelrooy's leadership extended beyond the first team. He also managed the club’s reserve and Under-19s teams, demonstrating his ability to develop young talent. Additionally, he has served as an assistant coach for the Netherlands national team on two occasions, further bolstering his managerial credentials.

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  WHAT NEXT?

  Leicester will now look to build on their Championship success and establish themselves again as a formidable force in the top flight. Appointing Van Nistelrooy could be a strategic move to achieve that goal as he could herald a new and exciting era for the club with his ambition, experience, and tactical knowledge.

West Ham are said to be in ongoing talks to sign an "experienced" striker as manager David Moyes steps up his plans to bring in a new forward.

West Ham short of attacking options

Injuries to Jarrod Bowen, Lucas Paqueta and Michail Antonio have left Moyes with very few star attacking options to choose from over the next few weeks.

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Mohammed Kudus is also at the Africa Cup of Nations with Ghana at this moment in time, leaving Moyes with just Said Benrahma, Pablo Fornals, youngster Divin Mubama and the out-of-favour Danny Ings as his only options. This has apparently kicked West Ham into life, and it is believed that Moyes is personally working hard to sign a new striker.

They've been linked with a host of new centre-forwards over the past week alone, and there are also suggestions that West Ham are keen on a goal-scoring winger.

Sunderland starlet Jack Clarke, Norwich City ace Jonathan Rowe and Ajax captain Steven Bergwijn have been tipped as targets for the Irons, while the club are said to be eyeing up a few number nines.

Feyenoord star Santiago Gimenez, AZ Alkmaar ace Vangelis Pavlidis, fellow Greek Fotis Ioannidis and Stuttgart hitman Serhou Guirassy stand out among the many who West Ham are thought to be keen on.

The latter is apparently being chased by half of Europe, though Hammers technical director Tim Steidten has been working on a deal to sign Guirassy this month.

“As we have reported for some time, Serhou Guirassy is still a top target for the club this January,” said club insider ExWHUemployee recently.

“Tim Steidten has worked on this potential deal, although I must stress there are many others keen on the player. Not only has his performances attracted other top clubs to look at the player, but the fact he’s got a £15m release clause makes the competition for his signature fierce. Another stumbling block is the player is part of the Guinea side at the AFCON, although they are not expected to advance far due to a tough group they are in.”

The 27-year-old has scored a brilliant 17 Bundesliga goals in just 14 appearances for Stuttgart this season, alerting a host of clubs across Europe.

West Ham enter Guirassy transfer talks

Sharing an update on the club's interest in the forward, journalist Pete O'Rourke has some very interesting news for Football Insider. The reporter claims West Ham are now in ongoing talks to sign Guirassy, and are really keen to bring him to east London.

They're also in discussions over Gimenez, with Moyes' side extremely keen on bringing on one of the two. West Ham's manager is stepping up plans to bring in a new striker, and it appears Guirassy is an option firmly on the table.

Alongside his attributes as a potent goalscorer, Sky Germany journalist Florian Plettenberg has also branded the Guinea international "very experienced".