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West Ham United are reportedly interested in a move for Clermont striker Mohamed Bayo, as manager David Moyes seeks a new centre-forward recruit.

What’s the word?

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, transfer insider Dean Jones has revealed that the 24-year-old is now their “best hope” of signing a striker this summer, with the Hammers still yet to replace club-record flop Sebastian Haller – who departed for Ajax back in January 2021.

Amid reports that the east Londoners are keen on the Guinea international, Jones has shared his verdict on the current situation: “It might be more sensible because they will get better value.

“At the moment it’s sounding like Bayo is their best hope, it’s expected they’re going to be doing a lot of shopping in France this summer, they feel that is the market to be tapping into, so that’s the bracket they’re looking at.”

There had been reports back in September that the London Stadium outfit were interested in making a £10m move for the 6 foot 2 marksman, although no deal came to fruition despite further links in the winter window.

Next Diafra Sakho?

With Michail Antonio currently the only senior recognised centre-forward in Moyes’ squad, the expectation had been that the club would prioritise a new number nine this summer, with a high-profile addition likely to be what supporters are craving.

A move for Bayo, however, may not quite be the solution that the West Ham faithful are hoping for, with the French-born gem something of an unknown quantity, having only spent one season in a top division in his career thus far.

That solitary season in Ligue 1 came in the most recent campaign and while he did manage to bag an impressive 14 league goals – having hit 22 league goals in the second division the year prior – there will no doubt be concerns about his lack of top-level experience.

Having previously been believed to be eyeing a deal for Liverpool-bound Darwin Nunez back in January, turning to a relative budget option in Bayo would appear something of a step down to some, with it hard to see how the £10.8m-rated hotshot can be the man to help the Irons kick on again next term.

Such a deal would also evoke memories of the club’s £3.5m signing of Diafra Sakho back in 2014, with the striker also trading France for England after joining from Ligue 2 side Metz in 2014, having never featured in a top division prior to his move to Upton Park.

That lack of experience mattered little initially as the Senegal international made a flying start to life with the Hammers, becoming only the second player to net in his first six Premier League games.

Unsurprisingly, he could not maintain that rampant start as he scored just four more league goals in that debut campaign, eventually going on to net just 24 goals in total across all competitions over the next three-and-a-half years, before departing for Rennes in 2018.

While far from the worst centre-forward addition of the GSB era – with Sakho’s impact having been better than most – his inability to sustain that early form showcased just how demanding life in the Premier League can be, with his lack of top-flight knowledge no doubt hampering his progress.

Although Bayo has been described as a real “handful” by journalist Andy Brassell, it is hard to see him being able to make the kind of impact that is needed for Moyes’ men, with the Sakho situation proving that transfer gambles don’t always pay off.

Of course, the Clermont man may spring a surprise if he does join the Hammers this summer, although for most supporters there will be a nagging feeling that he isn’t of the standard required.

IN other news, “A chance…”: Ex drops exciting West Ham transfer claim, supporters will be buzzing

Journalist Pete O’Rourke has reacted to reports claiming that Leeds United are interested in signing Napoli striker Dries Mertens this summer. 

The lowdown: Leeds interested in Mertens

This comes after the Whites were linked with an audacious attempt to bring the 35-year-old to Elland Road, according to a report from Belgian outlet Voetbal Flitsen.

It has been claimed that Leeds, Crystal Palace and mega-rich Newcastle United are all keen on bringing Mertens to the Premier League.

The veteran is the Serie A club’s record goalscorer with 148 in 397 appearances, and the thought of the experienced Belgian arriving in Yorkshire would certainly excite one intrigued onlooker…

The latest: O’Rourke on Mertens

Speaking to GiveMeSport, O’Rourke has suggested that bringing the 104-cap Belgium international to Leeds would be a significant move from the club.

He said: “If they could get somebody like him in, it’d be a massive statement signing from Leeds United. I think it’ll be a hard deal to do, but the opportunity to play in the Premier League is something that maybe appeals to Mertens at this stage of his career.”

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The verdict: No-brainer

Mertens is perhaps no longer at the peak of his one-time incredible powers, but given his capabilities of playing as a centre-forward or in the trequartista role, signing him as a soon-to-be free transfer would be a superb piece of business from Victor Orta.

Despite his advancing years, the Belgian was hailed by journalist Josh Bunting for a ‘world class’ strike in a stunning 8.50-rated display against Lazio in November (Sofascore), with two goals, two successful dribbles and a 100% passing accuracy on the night.

Mertens scored 13 times and provided two assists from 37 appearances across all competitions in 2021/22, proof of a continued ability to thrive at the elite level, which would be a huge boost to Jesse Marsch’s ranks as the American seeks quality cover for Patrick Bamford after an injury-hit campaign for the 28-year-old.

In other news: Leeds now won’t sign ‘superb’ midfielder despite Phil Hay revealing talks

Sharing some Tottenham Hotspur transfer news, journalist Dean Jones has lifted the lid on a Clement Lenglet belief from inside the club.

The Lowdown: Conte eyes new centre-back…

Spurs head coach Antonio Conte has already been backed with the double-signing of Ivan Perisic and Fraser Forster on Bosman deals ahead of what will be a very interesting 2022/2023 Premier League season.

Next on the agenda, it is believed that a left-sided central defender is high on Conte’s list of priorities and there is no shortage of names being linked with a north London move.

Josko Gvardiol, Pau Torres, Marc Guehi, Gleison Bremer, Stefan De Vrij and Lenglet have all been under consideration at Spurs with Jones now sharing an update on the latter man.

The Latest: Lilywhites insiders hold Lenglet optimism…

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According to Jones, writing for GiveMeSport, ‘some sources’ inside Spurs believe Barcelona’s ace will emerge as their ‘most attainable’ signing this summer.

It is added that the La Liga giants no longer want Lenglet with the Lilywhites, and by extension transfer chief Fabio Paratici, exploring a loan deal.

However, it is also believed the Frenchman’s wages could be an obstacle.

The Verdict: Make the move?

His salary, as per The Times, is reported to be around the £170,000-per-week mark – potentially too lofty a figure to bring Lenglet in for Conte.

The window has just opened and Spurs have months to weigh who exactly is their best option at centre-half.

Even though Spurs and transfer chief Paratici want business done early, transfers must still be considered with caution and a measured approach, and we’re not so sure paying the big wages in a temporary deal for Lenglet would be worth it.

In other news: Conte offered Tottenham chance to sign ‘perfect’ £55m star! Find out more here.

For a side that has now won it all under Jurgen Klopp in the last seven years or so, Liverpool haven’t actually spent ludicrous amounts of money in one transaction very often, instead opting for options outside of the box, and, in the end, more successful and cheaper players.

And that transfer genius has, in many ways, been one of the greatest keys to their success. That, and the unrelenting conductor behind it all, Jurgen Klopp.

A certain former Aston Villa striker, aside, every player listed below has failed to flop when bought for big money. Of course, that’s not to say every player has been a great revelation, with the jury still up on Naby Keita, for example, but those listed have, at the very least, played a big part in the club’s history.

Some said that Liverpool overpaid for the likes of Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane when they first joined the club, only to be proven wrong months later. The fact is, the recruitment team at Liverpool rarely makes mistakes. Each player signed is brought in to fit Klopp’s system to perfection because, simply put, anything beneath perfection is rarely good enough at Anfield these days.

The Reds have already secured one summer signing ahead of next season, with Fulham’s teenage sensation, Fabio Carvahlo, joining for £7.7m. If the 19-year-old follows in the footsteps of previous summer signings in the red half of Merseyside, then Liverpool fans are in for a treat.

As revealed by TransferMarkt, here are the top 10 most expensive Liverpool transfers of all time.

10) Roberto Firmino – £36.9m (Hoffenheim, 2016)

When Roberto Firmino joined Liverpool under Brendan Rodgers in the summer of 2016, not many knew what to expect. And, in truth, the Brazilian only really started to hit the heights at Anfield when Jurgen Klopp arrived, and introduced the false nine role to the system.

Firmino fit the role like a glove, and hasn’t looked back since. The £36.9m fee looks like a bargain nowadays.

9) Sadio Mane – £37m (Southampton, 2016)

Arguably the first player to reach new heights under Klopp, Sadio Mane rose to stardom in the 16/17 season, and has kept improving year on year, cementing his Liverpool legacy.

Now a legend of the club with countless honours to his name, Mane looks likely to depart Liverpool this summer, according to Fabrizio Romano, after scoring 120 goals in 269 appearances.

8) Mohamed Salah – £37.8m (AS Roma, 2017)

The final of the famous front three on this list, Mohamed Salah is arguably the best of the lot. When signed for £37.8m from Roma in 2017, many believed that Liverpool had overpaid for the winger. A record-breaking 32-goal Premier League season later, however, and the Reds looked like genius’.

When the Egyptian king does depart, whenever that turns out to be, he will go down as one of the greatest players in the Klopp era.

7) Diogo Jota – £40.23m (Wolves, 2020)

Another player many believed that Liverpool overpaid for, Diogo Jota’s success at Liverpool occasionally goes under the radar. The Portugal forward has become a serial goalscorer at Anfield. In 2021/2022, the former Wolverhampton Wanderers man managed 21 goals in all competitions.

It speaks volumes that, whilst Salah and Mane were away at AFCON, Liverpool didn’t struggle for goals with Jota at the fore.

6) Fabinho – £40.5m (AS Monaco, 2018)

Fabinho is one of few names on this list that many actually expected to succeed when signed. He was tipped as the missing piece in many ways and has gone on to become a vital player under Klopp – picking up the ‘lighthouse’ nickname.

Signed alongside Alisson Becker in 2018, the summer of his arrival will go down as one of the most important in Liverpool’s modern-day history.

5) Christian Benteke – £41.85m (Aston Villa, 2015)

Christian Benteke getting a place on this list is proof that not everyone is perfect, especially Liverpool’s recruitment team before Klopp. The big Belgian forward never stood a chance in Klopp’s heavy metal system and was quickly sold to Crystal Palace for £27m.

Benteke did, at the very least, leave the club with a stunning overhead kick against Manchester United to boast about. But, the acrobatics aside, he had a year to forget.

4) Luis Diaz – £42.3m (Porto, 2022)

The latest success story (so far), Luis Diaz arrived in Liverpool in January 2022, before going on to transform the Reds’ season. When he arrived, Liverpool were 14 points behind Manchester City, and looked set for an underwhelming season.

The Colombian’s impact took the title race to the final day, however, as Liverpool narrowly missed out by a point to Man City. Diaz also became the first Colombian to start a Champions League final, in which he was on the losing side against Real Madrid.

£42.3m looks an absolute bargain.

3) Naby Keita – £54m (RB Leipzig, 2018)

This is a difficult one. Can we call Naby Keita a success? Based on the trophies he’s won, yes. But, based on his injury record and general impact, it’d have to be a no. In the 2021/2022 season, he looked like the player that Liverpool hoped to have bought in 2018 for the first time.

Yet, is it too little too late?

When fit, Keita is one of Klopp’s best midfielders, as proven in 21/22. And, if he can stay fit for the majority of what could be left of his time at Anfield, then he could go down as a success story.

For now, however, 116 appearances in four seasons just simply isn’t enough.

2) Alisson Becker – £56.25m (AS Roma, 2018)

When Loris Karius dropped the ball (quite literally), against Real Madrid to cost Liverpool the 2018 Champions League final, it was one mistake too many for Klopp and his ambitions, which needed a new goalkeeper.

So in came Alisson Becker – a goalkeeper that will go down as one of the best that the Premier League has ever seen, come the end of his career. With two Premier League Golden Gloves to his name, and even one goal, it’s fair to say that the £56.25m fee paid in 2018 has been more than justified.

1) Virgil van Dijk – £76.19m (Southampton, 2018)

Topping the list, as some may have predicted, is Virgil van Dijk. And, of course, like the majority in this top 10, many believed that Liverpool overpaid for the Dutchman. As cool as ever, however, Van Dijk quickly proved his doubters wrong.

Now classed as one of the best defenders that the Premier League has seen, Van Dijk may just go down as the greatest signing in Liverpool history. He completely transformed Klopp’s side from nearly-men to serial winners.

It would come as little surprise if Liverpool splash the cash once more this summer, and with great success, too. At the moment, everything the Reds touch seems to turn to gold. And that’s a major credit to Klopp and his coaching staff.

Whether the summer is used towards building for the future or for the season ahead, fully expect Liverpool to push Manchester City all the way in the Premier League title race once more.

Competing with a City side led by Erling Haaland will be difficult, but the Reds will no doubt have their own transfer strategy in mind this summer.

Tottenham Hotspur boss Antonio Conte has already received one almighty boost this summer…

What’s the word?

According to the ever-reliable Dan Kilpatrick of the Evening Standard, talismanic striker Harry Kane is eyeing up a new contract at Spurs and is thought to be very “happy” with the direction the club is going in.

“Harry Kane is happy at Spurs and open to signing a new contract,” the reporter tweeted alongside an accompanying article.

It’s thought that the England international will push for fresh talks when he returns for pre-season training after some time off. He still has two years to run on his current £200k-per-week deal.

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Big boost

This will come as massive news to not just the Lilywhites faithful but also the Italian head coach.

Speculation over Kane’s future has always been a sticking point in recent times, having failed to join Manchester City during last summer’s window. Meanwhile, Liverpool have now also been mooted with interest in the Spurs striker.

The £90m-rated forward, who turns 29 in July, would surely be seeing out his career in north London should he sign a fourth long-term extension.

Spurs recently announced a £150m cash injection from owners, the ENIC Group, so Kane can clearly see there is an ambition to back Conte during the upcoming transfer window, where a left-sided centre-back and a backup or alternative to himself will be high up on the priority list.

Kane ended the season on 17 Premier League goals, despite only finding the net once before his arrival in November. He hit 27 across all competitions, as per Transfermarkt.

“I am happy. I am happy for him because we are talking about a world-class striker,” Conte claimed after their rampant 5-1 win over Newcastle United last month.

“He deserves the best because he’s a great worker, hard worker. This is not normal because usually the players that have talent many times don’t like to work hard because they have talent.

“In my career I didn’t have great talent [so] for this reason I worked hard. What I liked about him from the first time was his ability. He was a big example for his team-mates.”

That glowing endorsement alone goes to show exactly why the 52-year-old manager will be absolutely delighted by Kilpatrick’s big reveal. Heading into next season, in the Champions League too, Conte will be bolstered by having his main man committed for the long run.

AND in other news, Paratici now plotting Spurs bid for “deadly” £21m talent, he’d be “perfect” for Conte…

Wolverhampton Wanderers starlet Morgan Gibbs-White has attracted interest from European giants AC Milan after a successful loan spell at Championship club Sheffield United.

What’s the word?

That is according to a report from Birmingham Live which claimed that the midfielder has hinted he would be open to a permanent move away from Molineux, although with the Blades’ failure to escape the Championship, it is unlikely that he would sign for the Yorkshire club permanently.

The Athletic reported that Gibbs-White’s stock has risen immeasurably and, as a result, Milan have enquired about the 22-year-old. The Staffordshire native fits into the Serie A leaders’ recent policy of signing young stars with vast potential.

Tim Spiers, who penned that piece for The Athletic, stated that Lage likes the player and wanted him back in January, but game-time at Wolves could be an issue for someone who has played 3,084 minutes of football this season for Sheffield United.

Lage facing disaster over Gibbs-White

Gibbs-White, who has been described as a “catalyst” by Laurie Whitwell, has lit up England’s second tier, finishing the campaign with 16 throughout his senior career thus far.

His loan spell with the Blades has been prosperous and has now seen his stock rise to the point where Serie A giants and title favourites Milan are interested in the 22-year-old.

Lage will have been relieved that Sheffield United did not achieve their goal of Premier League promotion, because if they did, he would have faced a tough battle to keep the youngster, who has enjoyed his time in south Yorkshire.

However, they might still face that challenge, and it’s no surprise as to why Milan are looking at the 22-year-old. His 12 goals and 10 assists would make him the Rossoneri’s top scorer and creator if he had replicated those numbers at San Siro this season, whilst his 16 big chances created this term would also see him rank top among Stefano Pioli’s squad.

Milan are missing an out-and-out creator in the engine room, with left-back Theo Hernandez setting up the most chances with 49.

That is something Wolves also lack, having created just 38 big chances this season, with their most established creator being Joao Moutinho with 38 standard chances created. Gibbs-White beats both Hernandez’s and Moutinho’s totals with 55 chances created.

Both Milan and Wolves will feel they need him, but Lage will need to give the starlet some assurances if he wants to avoid a summer transfer disaster, as the 22-year-old will surely not be short of offers in the summer.

In other news: Wolves can find Marcal heir in 19-year-old “who owns the left-flank”, Lage surely ecstatic

Everton secured their Premier League status on Thursday in what was a monumental night for the club.

A stunning 3-2 comeback victory over Crystal Palace staves off relegation and will give Frank Lampard the opportunity to build his own squad in the summer transfer window.

The Toffees could end their dismal league campaign with a win against Arsenal in Sunday’s concluding match of the campaign, and Lampard has been given a big boost ahead of the clash at the Emirates Stadium.

Gunners midfielder Thomas Partey has been ruled out of the game, with Mikel Arteta and his medical staff not willing to risk any further complications by including him for the final match of the season.

The Ghanaian has been sidelined for Arsenal since sustaining a thigh injury in the 3-0 defeat to Crystal Palace in early April.

With an average rating of 6.96 on WhoScored, Partey ranks second among the Arsenal squad, despite him featuring in only 24 league matches for Arteta’s side.

Compared to his positional peers in the top five European leagues, the Ghana midfielder ranks in the 96th percentile for total shots (2.04 per 90) and the 88th percentile for dribbles completed (1.88). These statistics would suggest that Everton will be quite glad that they aren’t facing the 28-year-old this weekend.

It’s no coincidence that Arsenal have only won four matches out of the eight for which Partey has now been missing, losing the other four, and they are at severe risk of missing out on Champions League qualification yet again.

Lampard will be relaxed knowing that top-flight safety has been achieved, but a win against the north London side will end the season on a positive. It might seem that bit more attainable with their opponents deprived of one of their top performers from the 2021/22 campaign.

AND in other news, Forget Richarlison: Everton “nightmare” with 17 duels won was their real star against Palace

Aston Villa have joined the chase for Rangers star Joe Aribo, alongside other Premier League sides ahead of the summer transfer window, with Johan Lange ready to make his move.

What’s the word?

That’s according to the Sun, who report that Villa have joined Brentford and Crystal Palace in the race for the Nigeria international.

The midfielder could be signed for a bargain price of just £10m this summer due to his Rangers contract expiring at the end of next season, and with no word on an extension, the side could cash in.

Steven Gerrard will love Aribo at Villa

Aribo could be tempted to reunite with former coach Steven Gerrard at Villa in the summer as it was the Englishman who signed the 25-year-old from Charlton and turned him into one of the finest players in Scotland.

If last season was almost a breakout campaign for the player, then this season is where he has matured, leading Rangers to both the Scottish Cup and Europa League finals.

With eight goals and ten assists in all competitions this season, Aribo would be a fine addition to the Villa squad as Gerrard aims to lead them into the European spots next season.

His versatility is also a massive strength, with Gerrard stating that Aribo could “play anywhere” previously then it would be a big advantage for Villa.

The midfielder’s form perhaps tailed off slightly once he returned from the Africa Cup of Nations following the early exit for Nigeria, but there is no doubt when he is on form, he is one of the Ibrox side’s greatest assets.

With Gerrard already bolstering his squad with the permanent deal for Philippe Coutinho last week, the onus will be on to keep adding strength in depth. With many fringe players seemingly heading on their way out of the club, it’s imperative that the manager improves.

Aribo for £10m? It’s a steal.

AND in other news, Lange plotting Villa swoop for “fearless” 87-goal monster, he’s even better than Watkins

Crystal Palace have made some terrible signings over the previous few years, with the likes of Emmanuel Adebayor and Shola Ameobi draining the club’s vital resources with very little end product, but it is perhaps a player that they didn’t sign which will be the greatest cause of regret.

Back in 2014, the Eagles had the chance to sign Virgil van Dijk, who was then at Celtic, for a measly £6m before Southampton pounced and grabbed the opportunity to bring the defender to the Premier League.

Neil Warnock, who was the manager at Selhurst Park at that time, has confirmed the story and expressed his misfortune at missing out on the player. The 73-year-old admitted: “We could have bought him at Palace for £6million but my chief scout told me he was too slow. I think he’s still in a job as well!”

The Dutchman joined Liverpool in 2018 as the Merseyside club spent a massive £75m to sign the defender, and it hasn’t worked out too badly for him or the Reds since then.

He has won pretty much every major honour with the club apart from the FA Cup (which could be added to his CV this weekend) and he has gone from strength to strength, more than paying back the money that Liverpool spent on him.

It is an interesting sliding doors moment for Palace, and although they have retained their Premier League status ever since promotion in 2013, having Van Dijk in the team may have given them a better chance of stabilising themselves in the top half or even pushing for Europe.

Former England striker Darren Bent has dubbed the 30-year-old “world-class”, and Van Dijk is arguably the best defender on the planet at this moment in time.

Warnock had a wonderful managerial career which took him to Sheffield United, Cardiff City and Palace among many others, but he might sometimes wake up in a cold sweat wondering what might have been if he had Van Dijk in his squad at Selhurst Park.

AND in other news, “Agreement close…”: David Ornstein drops huge Palace update that Eagles supporters will love

Frank Lampard could be heading for his first big Everton disaster in the coming months, and we’re not talking about the immediate threat of relegation.

It’s no secret that the Toffees have had a horrendous season, and even remaining in the Premier League for next year surely won’t appease the fans as urgent change is needed on the pitch to get them back to where they belong.

With Lampard looking to strengthen, the onus might be on him to focus more on the players whose contracts are due to expire, with Yerry Mina being the obvious choice to tie down to a long-term deal.

The £18m-rated centre back has only played 12 times in the league this season, but Everton have lost just four of those matches, compared to the other 15 defeats without his presence in the team.

The Colombian has had his injury problems, but whenever he has featured, he has largely been excellent, with former Toffees player Don Hutchison describing him as a “rock” against Chelsea in the 1-0 victory last weekend.

Over his 12 league matches this season, Mina is in the 90th percentile for both blocks (2.20 per 90) and aerials won (3.95) among positional peers in Europe’s top five leagues, showing just how much of an asset he has been during his limited game-time in the current campaign.

His performance against Chelsea gathered further praise from journalist Patrick Boyland, who claimed that Mina was “a joy to behold”, and Lampard should be putting plans in motion to keep the Colombian at the club on a long-term deal.

This could, of course, depend on Everton’s Premier League status next season. Mina should be playing at a higher level, and relegation to the Championship could mean the end for the 27-year-old as an Everton player.

AND in other news, Lampard must brutally axe “clumsy” £120k-p/w Everton dud, he’s bleeding them dry