West Ham, in out of the ordinary fashion, have actually been one of the busier Premier League sides so far this window as they look to try and salvage anything from this increasingly doomed season.

Their crushing 2-1 defeat at home to Nottingham Forest on Tuesday night has left them even more stranded in the bottom three with Nuno Espírito Santo’s future looking very uncertain.

Nevertheless, it’s never over until the fat lady sings, and West Ham’s business so far this month suggests they’re desperate to rescue their campaign.

The first order of business was to complete a surprise double-striker deal for Pablo Felipe and Taty Castellanos, who arrived from Gil Vicente and Lazio respectively for a combined fee of around £47 million.

It remains to be seen whether the centre-forward duo will be enough to keep West Ham afloat with seven points now separating them from safety, but the Hammers apparently aren’t done there.

According to some insiders, West Ham also want to splash the cash on a centre-back, a winger and a new goalkeeper in addition to the two new strikers they’ve already brought in.

Between the sticks, only one name has dominated the headlines — Al-Nassr’s Bento.

The Brazilian, who’s made just one Saudi Pro League appearance all season, is firmly behind Saudi international keeper Nawaf Al-Aqidi in the pecking order.

This has alerted interested clubs to the prospect of tempting the 26-year-old away from the Middle East this month, and West Ham are chief among them.

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According to Fabrizio Romano and other reliable media sources, West Ham are currently in talks over a deal for Bento, and a bid has already been made for the ex-Athletico Paranese star.

Romano didn’t go into too much detail in regard to the ins and outs of this offer, but Sky Italia reporter Gianluca Di Marzio has lifted the lid on some key aspects of West Ham’s bid.

Bento holds Tuesday exit talks as West Ham submit loan bid

Di Marzio writes that West Ham’s offer for Bento is a loan-to-buy worth around £4 million, and Bento held exit talks with Al-Nassr yesterday underlining his desire to leave this month.

However, it is also believed that the Irons are by no means the only club in the race for his signature.

Di Marzio also reports that Genoa have made an identical offer for the South American, and as things stand, the keeper actually prefers a move to Serie A over the Premier League.

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Because of this, West Ham are currently behind Daniele De Rossi’s side in pursuit of Bento, who wants a switch to Italy to showcase his very best ahead of the 2026 World Cup.

His situation at Al-Nassr is very intriguing when you factor in how he was basically undroppable in his debut campaign.

Bento played all but one of Al-Nassr’s games in all competitions last season, starting a seismic 49 matches and featuring over 4,410 minutes.

Still pretty young in goalkeeping years, Bento left Brazil in 2024 with huge potential, but it now appears West Ham have a fight on their hands to sign the £102,000-per-week ace before deadline day.

Related Alongside Cresswell: West Ham seriously considering signing English star

The Hammers are desperate to strengthen their squad this month.

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Aston Villa are now preparing a contract offer to sign a “revelation”, who is available for a bargain fee this month.

Villa remain title contenders after Nottingham Forest triumph

Villa are still just six points behind Premier League leaders Arsenal, following a 3-1 triumph against Nottingham Forest on Saturday, but despite his side’s top form, Unai Emery has hinted there could be some new additions to the squad, if the right deal is on the table.

Emery said: “We are alert. We signed Alysson and we are trying to understand how we can improve our squad, but of course intelligently, and as well, with the financial rules.

“But we are a team and my mentality is: always be alert in case we can improve something in the squad, to do it. We must be ready for different options we can have in the transfer window.”

Signing a new forward appears to be of particular interest, with the likes of Manchester City’s Omar Marmoush and Borussia Dortmund’s Julian Brandt recently being named as potential targets.

However, according to a report from Caught Offside, Aston Villa are also keen on strengthening at the opposite end of the pitch, and they are preparing a long-term contract for Celta Vigo’s Oscar Mingueza, who they are looking to sign on a deal until 2030.

Mingueza will be available for the bargain fee of just €8m – €10m (£7m – £9m) this month, with the Spanish club willing to sanction a departure for a low price, given that his contract is set to expire at the end of the season.

There is no shortage of interest from the Premier League, with West Ham United and Newcastle United also named as potential suitors, and the defender’s versatility is of great appeal, as he is capable of playing at right-back, centre-back and in a back three.

Related Aston Villa join Man United in race to sign 'perfect' and 'unusual' centre-back

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Posts ByEmilio Galantini "Revelation" Mingueza could challenge for Cash's starting spot

Matty Cash has been a reliable option for Emery this season, with the right-back impressing from an attacking point of view, amassing three goals and two assists in 19 Premier League outings, and most recently setting up John McGinn’s opening goal against Forest.

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The Celta vigo defender is able to make an impact going forward too, chipping in with four goals and six assists in La Liga last term, during which time he was lauded as a “revelation” by journalist Zach Lowy.

The former Barcelona man has also displayed his defensive attributes as of late, making a number of important contributions as his side triumphed 4-1 against Valencia last time out.

Oscar Mingueza’s key statistics vs Valencia

Number completed

Tackles

4

Clearances

4

Duels won

6

Having averaged a SofaScore match rating of 7.05, Mingueza is Celta Vigo’s third-best performing player in La Liga this season, and he could be a smart addition for Villa for around just £9m, given their well-documented FFP issues.

Tottenham Hotspur are set to lose the player who scored the winner in the Europa League final last year, as Brennan Johnson inches closer towards the exit door.

Crystal Palace are reportedly confident that they will have him in the building for their clash with Newcastle United on Sunday, after they agreed a £35m fee with Spurs for the Wales international.

The £47.5m signing from Nottingham Forest is set to move on from North London after a return of 27 goals in 106 games, as shown in the graphic above, and the most memorable of those 27 strikes has to be his winner against Manchester United in the Europa League final.

Johnson, though, has only managed two goals and no assists in 16 Premier League appearances for Thomas Frank, per Sofascore, which may be why the Danish coach is willing to sanction this departure.

Spurs preparing offer for Premier League attacker

Spurs will need to be in the market for a replacement for the Welsh attacker, with his move to Palace days or hours away from completion, and they are reportedly looking at a Premier League forward.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

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According to talkSPORT, Tottenham Hotspur are interested in a deal to sign Manchester City winger Savinho in the January transfer window.

The report claims that the Lilywhites are preparing a fresh offer to bring the Brazil international to North London, after they failed to get a transfer over the line in the summer.

Manchester City rejected their attempts to sign Savinho in the summer in a deal that could have been worth around £69m, but this update states that Spurs hope Antoine Semenyo’s rumoured move to The Etihad will convince them to part ways with the Brazilian.

It adds that the left-footed star was keen on a move to Tottenham ahead of the 2025/26 campaign, which suggests that he would be open to a transfer this month.

Why Savinho would be an upgrade on Johnson for Spurs

If Spurs can get a deal over the line for the City attacker in the coming days or weeks, Frank could have an upgrade on Johnson at his disposal on the right flank.

Savinho does not offer the same threat as a goalscorer, with just five goals since the start of last season (Sofascore), but his all-round play on the flank suggests that he can contribute more to the team’s overall performance than Johnson was doing.

The chart above illustrates the gulf in quality between their performances at Premier League level in the 2024/25 campaign, as it shows that the Brazil international is significantly better in possession, particularly as a passer and a creator.

Savinho has registered 13 assists in all competitions since the start of last season, after recording ten in the 2023/24 campaign for Girona, and has the potential to be one of the most creative wide players in the entire division.

Most PL assists in 24/25

Player

Assists

Mo Salah

18

Jacob Murphy

12

Bukayo Saka

11

Bruno Fernandes

11

Morgan Rogers

11

Mikkel Damsgaard

11

Anthony Elanga

11

Savinho

10

Heung-min Son

10

Jarrod Bowen

10

Stats via Transfermarkt

As you can see in the table above, the left-footed wing wizard was one of the top creators in the Premier League last term, despite the fact that he only started 21 top-flight matches for the Cityzens.

Savinho has only started four times in the division this season, registering one assist, and Spurs could provide him with an opportunity to play more regular football, to allow his creativity and quality in possession to shine through once again.

Early on last season, the winger “sent (Riccardo) Calafiori for a hotdog”, per U23 scout Antonio Mango, in the build up to a beautiful assist for Erling Haaland against Arsenal.

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Unfortunately, the clip of Haaland’s goal cuts out the part where he skipped past Calafiori by the touchline, but you can see his sublime through ball in the post below.

This shows that he is capable of game-changing moments against top-quality opponents in the Premier League, and he did not only deliver assists against the lesser sides in a dominant City side last season.

Overall, the Brazilian winger’s all-round game, creativity, and scope to improve further at the age of 21 suggest that he would arrive as an upgrade on Johnson on the wing for Spurs if they can get a deal over the line this month.

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Leeds United will be looking to put things right when they welcome Tottenham Hotspur to Elland Road for this afternoon’s early kickoff in the Premier League.

Last time out, Marcelo Bielsa’s side were thrashed 6-0 by Liverpool, one of many heavy defeats in recent months as the Yorkshiremen sit perilously above the relegation zone.

Burnley’s win over today’s opponents has closed the gap to the drop to just three points, making this encounter a rather important one.

It will be interesting to see what sort of side Bielsa opts for, here’s what we are predicting…

There could be two changes from Wednesday evening.

In goal, Illan Meslier remains, whilst the Argentine head coach is able to welcome back Diego Llorente and Robin Koch to the matchday squad after their respective injuries.

But it may be a risk to throw in the latter so soon after his concussion, so the former gets the nod alongside Pascal Struijk with Junior Firpo on the left and vice-skipper Luke Ayling returning to his natural right-back role.

In midfield, there are decisions to be made as Mateusz Klich has been underwhelming. He’s axed for this fixture with Rodrigo dropping deeper from the attack to take his place. The Spaniard joins Stuart Dallas and Adam Forshaw in the engine room.

Raphinha could be at risk of being dropped once again after his lacklustre display at Anfield. His attitude looked poor and that may not have gone down well with Bielsa.

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Instead, Joe Gelhardt is given a rare start, leading the line with Jack Harrison and Daniel James providing the support. The 19-year-old gem has started only two of his ten Premier League appearances this season.

AND in other news, Fewer touches than Meslier: Leeds disaster who lost 86% duels was shocking at Anfield on Wednesday…

An update has emerged regarding Newcastle United and their pursuit of Torino defender Wilfried Singo… 

What’s the talk?

According to Torino Granata, the full-back is not on his way to Italian giants Juventus and is instead likely to move to the Premier League.

The report claims that the Toon are currently leading the race to land his signature as they prepare to make a bid in the region of £17m (€20m).

Forget Trippier

Dan Ashworth is reportedly set to join the Magpies as their director of football after leaving fellow Premier League side Brighton, and he can seal an instant masterclass by striking a deal for Singo in the summer.

Kieran Trippier arrived to bolster the right-back position in January and quickly asserted himself as the main man at St James’ Park. He scored two goals in four league outings whilst averaging a phenomenal SofaScore rating of 7.67 – a score that no Newcastle player has been able to get near so far in the league.

The England international is currently out injured after fracturing a bone in his foot, and the signing of Singo could provide perfect cover for the Englishman should he pick up more injuries further down the line. Trippier will be 32 in September and potentially heading towards the final years of his prime, with the Torino gem coming in as backup for him initially before taking over from him in the future.

In Serie A this season, Singo has averaged a solid SofaScore rating of 6.98 across 26 games. He has chipped in with three goals and four assists from full-back, which shows that he can also impact the game in an attacking sense in the same way that Trippier has done since his move from Atletico Madrid.

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Whilst his rating may not seem all that impressive in comparison to the 31-year-old’s, it is worth noting that the current Magpies defender has only played four games whilst Singo has caught the eye over 26 matches. Meanwhile, Trippier averaged a SofaScore rating of 6.86 in the first half of the campaign in Madrid, which suggests that they are closer to each other in ability than his short time back in the Premier League would have you believe.

At the age of 21, the Serie A tank is also 10 years Trippier’s junior and this means that he can be the long-term replacement for him at Newcastle whilst providing excellent cover for him in the short-term. This is why Ashworth will be sealing an instant masterclass by landing him for £17m to bolster Eddie Howe’s squad.

AND in other news, Insider suggests £46m “phenomenon” is a “realistic” target for NUFC, it’ll excite Howe…

Former Premier League referee Keith Hackett has criticised the decision not to show Liverpool forward Diogo Jota a red card against West Ham, with Football Insider even suggesting a ban could be in order. 

The Lowdown: Jota returns

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has only recently been able to recall Jota to the squad having been previously ruled out with an ankle injury.

The Portuguese forward was used from the substitutes’ bench as the Reds overcame the Hammers 1-0 at Anfield at the weekend, following his start back from injury in the FA Cup win against Norwich.

However, the 25-year-old was cautioned in the second half for a foul on Pablo Fornals, one which left David Moyes questioning the severity of the challenge after the match.

Jota was handed a start in the Champions League on Tuesday – although his performance was questionable to say the least – but Hackett believe he should miss the Reds’ next three fixtures.

The Latest: Hackett gives red

Speaking to Football Insider, whose headline called for an ‘extended ban’, ex-Fifa official Hackett claimed that VAR should’ve instructed the on-field referee to dismiss Jota and subsequently rule the ace out of this weekend’s trip to Brighton.

“It doesn’t look great.

“These are the sorts of challenges when they are highlighted and you look at the video you see something but when you are in the middle of the park, it’s difficult to see it.

“He’s a lucky guy that he got a yellow. There is an element of doubt in there.

“The referee obviously sees it as reckless but the photograph shows it’s worse than reckless, it’s a red card offence.

“VAR could have come to the assistance of John Moss on that one.”

If the FA were to issue a retrospective ban, it would rule the Portugal international out for Brighton, Arsenal and the FA Cup quarter-final.

The Verdict: Harsh…

Given the incidents like this which have gone before – Liverpool supporters, in particular, will point to the lack of action taken against Jordan Pickford when Virgil van Dijk was sidelined for nine months – there won’t be much sympathy for this view amongst Reds fans.

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Whilst the tackle from Jota does look horrible on the still image, there is no precedent for retrospective punishment for such a challenge and to dismiss him would’ve felt harsh, especially considering Craig Dawson produced a similar challenge on Sadio Mane while already on a yellow card.

Jota has been nothing short of a revelation since arriving on Merseyside – scoring 30 times and providing four assists in 65 outings for the Anfield club – but will perhaps be best served by leaving this type of foul play outside of what is otherwise a supremely well-stocked repertoire.

In other news, Pete O’Rourke has claimed one Liverpool player could leave the club this summer. Read more here.

Aston Villa have been rather busy over the two previous transfer windows when it comes to bringing new players to the club on permanent deals for a range of transfer fees as well as some loan deals as well.

With the next summer transfer window in mind, it seems as though some details have been dropped over the possibility of the Villa Park outfit making one of their recent loan captures into a permanent one.

What’s the talk?

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, journalist and transfer insider Dean Jones had this to say about the possibility of the Midlands club potentially securing a permanent deal for Coutinho once his loan spell ends in the summer.

He said: “The transfer fee will be fine. They’re happy with the fee that is going to be in place. It’s the wages that are obviously going to cause a problem and also the competition from elsewhere.”

Fans would be fuming

Since arriving at Villa Park back in January on loan from Spanish club Barcelona, the Brazilian has been a revelation for Steven Gerrard’s side, with four goals and three assists under his belt in just nine league games.

In addition to his goal contributions, the former Liverpool star’s overall performances have provided a massive boost for the Villans, with WhoScored giving him a rating of 7.37/10, making him the highest-rated player in Gerrard’s squad.

With the Midlands club having the option to sign Coutinho on a permanent basis for a reported fee of £33m, which is the same price that they signed Emi Buendia for in the previous summer transfer window, it’s easy to see why Jones thinks paying that fee would not be an issue for the Villans.

However, with the Brazilian previously picking up a hefty weekly wage of £401k-per-week back in 2018 when he originally joined Barcelona according to Salary Sport, there’s a likely chance that the Midlands club would have to work out a deal that would see Coutinho pick up a suitable weekly wage that wouldn’t break the bank and potentially dismantle their wage structure.

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Moving forward, taking into account how well he has done for the team since returning to England, the Villa fans would surely be fuming if their club ended up losing him as a result of Johan Lange not being able to offer the attacker a suitable deal, which could then be a major disaster for the team moving forward.

In other news: Better than Emi: AVFC will have nightmares on £20m gem who could “nutmeg a mermaid” – opinion

Breaking some big team news on Twitter, journalist Kieran Gill has now shared what he knows involving West Ham United defender Kurt Zouma.

The Lowdown: RSPCA begin proceedings…

As confirmed in an official statement, the RSPCA have now begun the process of bringing a prosecution against Zouma and his brother Yoan of Dagenham & Redbridge.

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/west-ham-latest-developments-3/” title=”West Ham latest developments!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

This comes after West Ham’s centre-back was filmed by his sibling kicking and slapping his cats with the Frenchman later issuing a public apology for his actions.

The Irons, in response to the RSPCA’s statement, have declared their awareness of the charity’s intent – saying that Zouma is cooperating fully but declining to comment any further (via Sky).

As West Ham face off against Sevilla this evening, Gill has broken some major team news on Twitter, sharing whether David Moyes will select Zouma for their Europa League bout at the London Stadium.

The Latest: Gill shares Zouma update…

Taking to social media, Gill says that the 27-year-old is still set to start tonight despite the RSPCA statement.

“Told Kurt Zouma will still start tomorrow vs Sevilla,” he explained.

“No suspension. Not until any court proceedings are concluded, at least.”

The Verdict: Right decision by Moyes?

West Ham and Moyes have attracted widespread criticism for continuing to select Zouma after the footage emerged and will potentially attract even more with the former Chelsea star set to start against Sevilla.

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It appears the Hammers boss is still set to stick by his defender amid the controversy but it remains to be seen whether this call could bring more negative press to the club.

One thing is for sure though, his presence will certainly be a boost for the other ten Hammers on the pitch tonight.

In other news: West Ham in pole position to sign ‘magnificent’ man who’s perfect for Moyes, find out more here.

Reliable journalist Phil Hay has outlined three key factors which could ensure that Leeds United sign Red Bull Salzburg midfielder Brenden Aaronson this summer.

The Lowdown: Aaronson linked with Leeds move

The American has already become a key player for Salzburg at the age of just 21, starting all eight of their Champions League matches this season.

Back in the January transfer window, he was strongly linked with a move to Leeds, and that was before his former manager Jesse Marsch had replaced Marcelo Bielsa in Yorkshire.

It could be that the Whites’ interest in the midfielder returns in the summer, as Marsch looks to further make his mark at Elland Road.

[freshpress-quiz id=“383507″]

The Latest: Hay discusses possibility of Aaronson to Leeds

Writing for The Athletic, Hay claimed that a move to Leeds for Aaronson could easily materialise for three key reasons, with the Whites planning to try their luck with him again. The reporter stated:

“The intention is, or certainly was, to bid again for Aaronson. He’s interested in the move, he’s played under Jesse Marsch before and Salzburg are likely to be more open to bids in the summer than they were in January.”

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/latest-leeds-united-news-39/” title=”Latest Leeds United news!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

The Verdict: Ideal midfield addition

On the face of it, Aaronson looks like an ideal player to come in and make Leeds stronger in the middle of the park, bringing more guile to that area of the pitch.

Along with averaging 1.8 tackles per game in the Champions League this season, he has also scored 12 goals and registered 15 assists throughout his time with Salzburg, showing what an effective all-round footballer he can be.

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The fact that Marsch is now in charge surely only increases the chances of Aaronson joining him at Elland Road, with the American compatriots knowing each other well from their mutual time at Salzburg.

In other news, Fabrizio Romano has revealed a key Leeds transfer update. Read more here.

As Antonio Conte looks to rebuild this Tottenham squad in his own image in the coming months, the Italian will no doubt be keeping a close eye on some of the club’s brightest young academy prospects.

Marcel Lavinier is surely someone who will be at the forefront of his mind given the position he plays for the club’s U21s: right-back.

Conte has been desperately searching for a solution to his right wing-back woes from the moment that he came in, with Emerson initially handed the reins before Matt Doherty came back in from the cold to nail down the spot in recent weeks.

With Emerson hardly proving value for money and even being linked with an exit from the club, the Spurs boss will be keen for reinforcements in that position.

Indeed, according to The Times, Conte was keen to sign a new right wing-back in the January transfer window as he felt the Brazilian did not fit the profile he needs in the final third.

In Lavinier though, Spurs could finally an in-house answer to their problems.

The 21-year-old was part of Spurs’ 25-man squad for the UEFA Europa Conference League and has the kind of sheer pace and directness that marks him out compared to the likes of Emerson and Doherty.

The Daily Mail noted: “Lavinier loves to get forward and is very direct – often looking up and aiming to ping balls into the area, but he’s an equally competent defender.

“His confidence is boosted by how comfortable he is on the ball – he’s a decent finisher for a defender and has considerable technique, making him a great option as an attacking full-back.”

Lavinier left Premier League rivals Chelsea for north London a couple of years ago despite impressing for their academy sides, having contributed three goals and eight assists across the U18 and U21 squads.

Indeed, a player profile piece done by Octagon Soccer on the 6 foot 1 starlet noted that Lavinier “is a versatile and dynamic defender who is comfortable playing on the right or the centre of defence”, and it’s his ability to play as a full-back that should surely have Conte sit up and take notice.

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This season has seen the versatile youngster make 17 appearances at Premier League 2 level for Spurs, notching four assists, including having stints playing at right-back, left-back and in holding midfield too – one of those assists coming in the Lilywhites’ last fixture against Leicester just a couple of weeks ago.

Lavinier’s breakthrough into the first-team would allow the Spurs manager to finally axe the “horrendous” Emerson and bring through an exciting Hotspur Way gem.

AND in other news – Paratici masterclass: Spurs now eyeing 6 ft “phenomenon”, he’s perfect for Conte