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David Moyes is right to try and sell Andriy Yarmolenko this summer amid claims that West Ham United are in talks with Dynamo Kyiv over such a move.

What’s the word?

According to Pedro Almeida, Dynamo Kyiv are keen to be reunited with the 31-year-old and want to welcome the forward back to the Ukrainian Premier League at the end of the season.

Yarmolenko played 340 games for the Ukrainian club between 2007 and 2017, before joining Borussia Dortmund, where he only lasted one year. West Ham bought him one season after his arrival at Signal Iduna Park for £17.5m and awarded the winger a four-year contract, which is set to enter its final 12 months this June.

The 31-year-old could now make a return to the club where he made a name for himself, with West Ham claimed to be in active negotiations with Dynamo Kyiv over a potential deal. Yarmolenko has seen his future in claret and blue be cast into doubt over recent months, with reports earlier in the year suggesting that bids of between £5m and £6m would be considered.

The Hammers are thought to have accepted that a sizable hit on the fee paid to Borussia Dortmund will need to be taken in order to move Yarmolenko on at the end of the season.

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Should West Ham sell Yarmolenko?

It remains to be seen what terms Dynamo Kyiv are able to offer West Ham for Yarmolenko’s services, but Moyes is absolutely right to make the winger available for a transfer ahead of the Ukraine international entering the final year of his Irons contract.

Yarmolenko has been a consistent injury risk for the Hammers since his arrival in 2018, having missed 57 games and counting across all competitions due to various issues including Achilles, back, abductor and knee ligament damage.

The forward returned to training prior to the March international break but is yet to feature in one of Moyes’ matchday squads since, and he has only started eight first team fixtures – one in the Premier League – over 21 appearances thus far this term.

Those eight starts still account for more than a third of Yarmolenko’s career opening calls in claret and blue, having started just 23 matches in all competitions across his 53 appearances over the past three seasons.

West Ham are paying out a lot of money for Yarmolenko to frequently occupy a seat on the bench when not in the treatment room, with the forward – who Moyes lauds as “a very talented player” – the Irons’ top earner on a £115,000-a-week contract, per Spotrac.

That salary has seen West Ham hand over £16.4m in wages over Yarmolenko’s 143 weeks at the London Stadium thus far, which – added with the £17.5m paid to Dortmund – equates to £1.5m for each start or £640,000 per appearance.

Yarmolenko has simply been stealing a living at West Ham, who need to call time on his spell at the club this summer. It just remains to be seen how much they can recoup from Dynamo Kyiv, or whether another suitor may be willing to show an interest.

AND in other news, David Moyes eyes a summer reunion with £75k-p/w enforcer who looked “like he’s on roller-skates” in 2020…

It’s easy to see why Nigel Adkins took the Charlton Athletic job.

The vastly-experienced 56-year-old has a proven track record in the lower leagues of English football and would’ve leapt at the opportunity to save them from their freefall.

He arguably made his name at Southampton, where he led the south coast outfit to back-to-back promotions from League One to the Premier League, handing them a shot at the big time after a seven-year absence.

There are plenty of similarities between that Saints side and the Addicks now; former top-flight teams dwindling in the third tier, foreign owners prepared to stump up the cash to save the club, and a fanbase to fit a 27,000-seater stadium.

But could Adkins take inspiration from a side that won promotion a decade ago? He’s certainly well-equipped to…

On the Chalkboard

In Preston loanee Jayden Stockley, the Charlton manager could find his next Rickie Lambert – a powerful striker fit to lead the line at this level.

The 27-year-old talisman has very much had a comparable career to that of the Saints legend, prior to their arrivals at their respective clubs, both were well-travelled.

Lambert jumped from club to club in the lower leagues, playing for the likes of Blackpool, Macclesfield Town, Stockport County and Bristol Rovers before finding his feet at St Mary’s.

Stockley has played for 14 different clubs, thanks largely to boyhood club AFC Bournemouth shipping him out on loan every year.

Both stand at 6 foot 2, and are known for their target man ability. Indeed, WhoScored list the £810k-rated forward as a threat from set-pieces whilst a whopping 6.3 aerial duels won across League One and the Championship only reinforces that thinking.

No other Addicks star is managing to win as many battles in the air as Stockley (9.4). Speaking about his strength, former teammate Sean Maguire once said: “He’s a fantastic player. The guy can hold up a house. He’s strong and his hold-up play is one of the best I’ve played with.”

This sort of ability should see Stockley fit in a range of systems and tactics – two-up top? one-man? He should be able to do it all. Just like Lambert at the Saints.

Adkins could be onto a winner if he draws inspiration from his old side, and the five-goal loan star must be at the centre of it all up top.

AND in other news, Forget Famewo: Charlton ace who lost possession 21x vs AFCW has already badly let Adkins down…

David Moyes can convince Jesse Lingard to stay at West Ham beyond his loan deal after the key factor behind a potential return to Manchester United was revealed.

What’s the word?

According to ESPN, Lingard will only return to Old Trafford at the end of the season if Ole Gunnar Solskjaer can guarantee the England international a regular role in his plans.

Lingard was given just three appearances by the Red Devils boss this season before sealing a temporary switch to the London Stadium in January, where Gareth Southgate believes he has been “excellent”.

The 28-year-old has scored five goals and been credited with three assists in seven Premier League games in claret and blue, and has only failed to influence the scoring in one of his outings under Moyes to date.

West Ham are keen to work on negotiating a permanent transfer for the 27-cap dynamo, who was recalled to the England set-up last month after a two-year hiatus, but are expected to face a wealth of competition.

The Red Devils will have a decision to make on Lingard’s future come the end of the season with the midfielder due to enter the final year of his contract in June, so will either have to present the academy product with new terms or listen to offers.

It is not considered likely that the £13.5m-rated Lingard will gain his desired minutes at Old Trafford in the No. 10 role he has thrived in for West Ham, with Bruno Fernandes the favoured option under Solskjaer.

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Manchester United denied the Irons a £15m option to purchase Lingard in their loan agreement for the £100,000-per-week playmaker, believing that a strong run of form could see his value exceed £20m.

A boost for Moyes and West Ham

Lingard’s alleged stance on his Manchester United future will come as a huge boost for West Ham in the east London outfit’s efforts to retain the England international, as Moyes can use his position to the Hammers’ advantage.

Lingard would face a real challenge to displace Fernandes at Manchester United were he to return to Old Trafford, with the Portuguese proving to be one of the best playmakers currently in the Premier League.

Only Tottenham Hotspur striker Harry Kane (13) and Manchester City maestro Kevin de Bruyne (11) have provided more assists in the top-flight this term than Fernandes (10), who additionally ranks first for total number of key passes (82), per SofaScore.

Fernandes has created six more goal-scoring opportunities than any other player in the division to date, while his vision has led to a league-high 17 big chances for the Red Devils to score.

Moyes would be able to use that to show Lingard why he would have to accept a back-up role at Old Trafford next season if he were to head back, despite the 28-year-old proving his credentials while at West Ham.

Only Aaron Cresswell (1.52) and Vladimir Coufal (1.28) have averaged a higher number of key passes per game for West Ham in the top-flight this term than Lingard (1.14), who has also provided the third-most big chances created (0.29) per game.

With claims that Lingard is West Ham’s outright top-target for the summer market, ESPN’s report may give Moyes all the ammunition he needs to convince the playmaker to stick around at the London Stadium long-term.

AND in other news, West Ham are in a three-way Premier League battle for a 6 ft 6 titan with “all the attributes”…

After making his return from injury on Sunday night, it’s fair to say that Matty Cash didn’t enjoy the greatest of games in Aston Villa’s 2-0 defeat to Tottenham.

The former Nottingham Forest star had been out of action for Dean Smith’s side for several games due to injury, with veteran defender Ahmed Elmohamady coming in for him.

After being named as an unnamed substitute last time out against Newcastle, Cash was given the nod to make his first appearance in a Villa shirt since his injury, but things just didn’t go to plan.

As well as being involved in the controversial decision to award Harry Kane a penalty in the second half, the right-back just seemed to lose his composure as the game wore on, perhaps more to do with his match fitness levels more than anything else.

As per Sofascore, he lost possession a whopping 29 times on the night, by far the most of any player on the pitch, and a telling sign of how he just couldn’t get his normal game going – his season average has seen him concede possession 14.4 times per match in the Premier League.

As well as his wastefulness on the ball, Cash also attempted no dribbles, provided no key passes and delivered no crosses either – offensively, the full-back was just a complete non-entity and couldn’t link up with Bertrand Traore at all.

Writing in his post-match player ratings for the Birmingham Mail, Ashley Preece admitted: “Back in for his first start since tweaking his hamstring at Brighton. Cash started brightly and was aggressive in the challenge against the likes of Lucas and Reguilon.

“However, his performance dipped off significantly in the second half and it was Cash’s clumsy challenge which put this fixture to bed as his trailing leg caught Kane in the box for the penalty. His aggressive nature and willingness for the cause were both welcome but, like most, he wasn’t on his usual game.”

With Elmohamady set to turn 34 later this year, and reports already indicating that Smith is preparing to let him go, there’s a real lack of genuine quality and competition to challenge Cash at right-back either when he’s out injured, or if he’s in bad form.

It’s exactly why the Villa boss will be worried about Cash’s display against Spurs, and will simply be hoping that it was a minor blip in what has otherwise been an impressive debut campaign at Villa Park for the former Forest full-back.

Meanwhile, this Villa man was woeful against Spurs…

Marcel Brands should urge Carlo Ancelotti to tread cautiously amid rumoured plans to hand Joshua King a long-term contract at Everton.

What’s the word?

According to Football Insider, the Toffees will look to retain King beyond the initial six-month deal penned upon his arrival as a latch-ditch signing on Deadline Day last month.

Everton are claimed to have paid AFC Bournemouth £2m to take over the final stretch of his £45,000-per-week contract, as the Cherries sought to secure a nominal fee for a player who would otherwise have been a free agent in the summer.

King’s long-term future remains in doubt having only joined the Blues on a short-term deal, though the Merseyside outfit have long been claimed to have an option to retain the Norway international.

Retaining King could see Everton’s deal with Bournemouth rise to as much as £5m, and that is under consideration as he’s been impressing coaches – including Ancelotti – at Finch Farm.

King is yet to start a fixture or score for Everton, but has made five substitute outings and has featured for a total of 67 minutes over his Premier League appearances to date.

Should Everton retain King?

Having Ancelotti’s backing after leaving a favourable impression on the Italian tactician and his coaching staff will go a long way toward King securing a long-term future at Everton.

Ancelotti stated upon the forward’s arrival that he hoped the Blues would keep the 29-year-old beyond the end of the season, but noted that his time at Goodison Park was effectively a loan deal and a chance to impress after Cenk Tosun joined Besiktas in a temporary switch.

King, too, voiced hope of a long life in royal blue having enjoyed his first few weeks on Merseyside, even though chances to feature have been thin and far between.

“This squad and club are reaching and climbing and building something,” he said last month. “I am eager to prove myself and to try to give the boss a reason to pick me.

“I am focusing on working hard and trying to reach my top form as quickly as possible. Then we will see what happens in the summer. I am loving it and, of course, would love to stay but it has to be right for the club and for me.”

But as chances to feature have been so infrequent thus far, even while Ancelotti was without Everton’s top-scorer Dominic Calvert-Lewin due to a hamstring injury, Brands should urge caution and not rush into tying King down with a long-term deal so soon.

The £10m-rated dynamo, who former Bournemouth boss Eddie Howe lauded as the “complete package”, is yet to prove himself on the pitch, and it is there – rather than in training – where King must show that he deserves a long-term contract.

Currently, he is yet to bring much to the table when on the field and he needs to prove why he deserves to be retained by netting goals and/or providing assists in the coming months.

AND in other news, Everton are tracking a prolific 15-goal winger backed to reach another level…

According to Give Me Sport, Glasgow Rangers are interested in Middlesbrough striker Britt Assombalonga.

Gers eye Assombalonga

Assombalonga currently plays his football for Middlesbrough in the Championship. His contract at the club is set to run out at the end of the season (Transfermarkt).

As such, the Ibrox outfit are said to be eager to take him north of the border on a free transfer.

Potential bargain

Assombalonga has scored goals at a steady rate throughout his career. He has netted at least 10 strikes in seven different campaigns, and has a record of 131 goals in 344 matches since making his debut (Transfermarkt). Boro even paid £15m in 2017 to sign him (BBC) – that was, and still is, a club-record fee for the north-east outfit.

Unfortunately, in more recent times, he has struggled to hit the same heights. This term, he has managed just five goals in 29 matches in the English second tier and was even stripped of the club captaincy by Neil Warnock  (Teesside Live). However, he is clearly a player with plenty of talent, and perhaps a change of scenery could do him the world of good. On a free transfer, this could well be a bargain signing for Ross Wilson and co – especially after Alfredo Morelos recently shared his desire to move to the Premier League (Radio Caracol).

In other news, Rangers fans slam this Union Bears statement.

Speaking exclusively with Football FanCast, former West Ham United striker Marlon Harewood backed David Moyes to utilise Tomas Soucek in efforts to sign Slavia Prague striker Abdallah Sima.

The Irons have been credited with interest in the 19-year-old marksman, but face competition from Premier League big-hitters Arsenal and Manchester United and Serie A giants Juventus.

Sima has scored 14 goals in 21 games this season, after making the step up to Jindrich Trpisovsky’s first-team with strikes to his name in the Fortuna Liga and Europa League.

Slavia have been expected to rebuff any approaches in January and look to cash-in on Sima come the summer, after rejecting offers worth €10m (£9m) during the last transfer window, but would not refuse bids of €50m (£44.5m).

Harewood would not judge Sima on the fee Slavia President Jaroslav Tvrdik touted, but rather bend the ear of 6 ft 4 Moyes favourite Soucek after the midfielder’s time at Slavia Prague.

“The best person to ask would be Soucek. If he’s played with him, he would know straight away and he can explain to him what it’s going to take to [make it in England],” Harewood told FFC.

“He’s been playing with him for quite a while at his previous club, so it’d be good, he knows what he’s about. And if he says: ‘Yes, he’s the one that’s going to help us build and do really well for seasons to come’, then I think he’ll be the best person to ask that question.

“But his ratio seems really good. The money, nowadays, it’s hard to judge a player on a price tag.”

Sima made his Slavia first-team debut after Soucek joined West Ham in a permanent £19m transfer this summer, but the Irons’ star midfielder has previously waxed lyrical over the Senegalese teen.

“I’m excited about him. His goals are very much similar to what I’ve been scoring. I’m glad that such a player was found, but it’s not just about that. He shows one-on-one qualities, finishing, just a typical winger,” Soucek told CT Sport.

“I have to say that the guys or the media around West Ham know about him. I would only be happy if another player from Slavia came, but it is still far away. He’s still a young player and he has to prove it. But a lot of people know about him and notice him. Only good for him.”

Soucek’s love is well placed, with Sima scoring twice against Ligue 1 side OGC Nice in the Europa League earlier this season, and finding the back of the net twice in the Fortuna Liga derby against rivals AC Sparta Prague.

Whether West Ham move to sign Sima this month remains to be seen, though Moyes’ side are certainly in the market for a striker after Sebastien Haller’s £20m move to AFC Ajax.

AND in other news, West Ham are considering a £15.5m-rated striker without a goal since October to replace Seb Haller…

Manchester City are reportedly considering a January move for Rochdale winger Kwadwo Baah, and the 18-year-old could prove to be a superb addition for the future.

What’s the word?

According to journalist Mike McGrath on Twitter, City have approached Dale for Baah, who is attracting interest from plenty of sides, whilst any potential deal for the teenager would likely see him return to the League One side on loan for the rest of the season.

Fellow journalist Chris Fitzgerald has also suggested that City have submitted a bid for the 18-year-old, so perhaps we could see him make the move to the Etihad before the end of the transfer window.

Would he be a good signing?

Baah first established himself in the Dale first-team as a 16-year-old and has gone on to make 27 appearances for the club, contributing three goals and two assists.

All of those goals and assists have come this season in League One, with the teenager having become a regular in Brian Barry-Murphy’s side in recent weeks.

His first professional goal was one to remember, as he smashed a shot into the top corner in the 5-0 win against Wigan Athletic in December, which was perhaps when bigger teams started to take notice of the youngster.

He then followed that up with two more superb goals in the 4-4 draw with Charlton Athletic recently, with the first an unbelievable finish on the run, whilst the second was a testament to the winger’s pace, power, and finishing ability.

Manager Barry-Murphy was full of praise for the youngster after his goal and performance in the win against Wigan, saying:

“He’s a very special talent, he’s going to attract the headlines – and rightly so because he’s a very dangerous player.”

It is no surprise, therefore, that he is attracting interest from Europe, with The Athletic claiming that the likes of Bayern Munich and Juventus are also looking into signing him.

However, if City can steal the march on those sides and sign him this month, then he could certainly prove to be a great player for the Citizens in the future, if he can live up to his potential.

It wouldn’t cost Txiki Begiristain too much to bring him, due to Baah’s contract being up in the summer, as well as Dale struggling financially, so this looks like a deal that City should definitely try and complete before the window shuts.

And, in other news… Txiki can sign Pep’s next Walker at City with swoop for “fearless” £18m-rated speedster

Some Everton fans have been lauding a transfer update involving a potential swoop for West Ham United star Felipe Anderson.

As per TEAMtalk, the Goodison Park faithful are considering a move for the Brazil international as Carlo Ancelotti is looking for a possible replacement for Bernard, of whom the Italian boss is preparing for his exit from the Merseyside club to AS Roma.

While he has fallen out of favour at the Hammers, having been shipped off on loan to FC Porto for the 2020/21 term, he could still be a good signing for the Toffees.

The 27-year-old has a vast amount of experience playing in the Premier League, scoring 10 goals and making a further eight assists in 63 games over the last three consecutive terms (Transfermarkt).

If Bernard were to go, the winger could be his ideal replacement.

Everton fan reaction to Anderson link

These Toffees supporters lauded the transfer update on Twitter:

“If he’s not on mad wages then yes! Could be an exceptional signing if Carlo can get him to his best”

Credit: @rimmerefc

“You know what, I’d take that, I still rate him”

Credit: @RyanG78_

“If it’s a straight choice between him and Bernard then I’d take him. New challenge/motivation may be the move he needs. Bernard is just woeful”

Credit: @AlexOBr82171506

“Be a great signing!”

Credit: @Tomwalk62023010

“If this actually means Bernard leaves the club, get the deal done asap”

Credit: @johngale_

“It’s a yes from me”

Credit: @Paul1878W

In other news, find out who some Blues want to keep after news emerged here!

Journalist Alan Nixon has recently issued an update about Rangers’ interest in Preston North End’s Ben Davies.

While Football Insider had recently stated that Rangers had made a ‘significant’ offer to sign Davies on a pre-contract basis in the summer, Nixon has claimed the complete opposite about the Preston defender and his links with a move to Ibrox.

Rangers yet to make Davies offer

Alan Nixon tweeted about Rangers’ interest in Davies when a fan asked him about the player’s situation. He revealed “there’s no Rangers pre contract offer for Davies”, despite claims from Football Insider that an offer has been made.

It has also been stated that Rangers are competing with their Old Firm rivals and English clubs for Davies’ signature.

Davies has made 16 Championship appearances for Preston this season, coming up with one assist so far. All of his appearances have come from the centre-back position this season (as per Transfermarkt).

The 25-year-old is currently valued at £2.16m by Transfermarkt and he has been described as a player who is comfortable on the ball and confident in the air.

Davies could be a good signing for Rangers

With Nikola Katic injured and George Edmundson seemingly on the way out, Steven Gerrard only has three centre-back options in the team – Leon Balogun, Filip Helander and Conor Goldson.

Davies would add depth and ability to that position and his versatility – he can play either centre-back role or at left-back – would also be an extra reason why the Ibrox side would benefit from signing him.

In other news, Rangers are eyeing another Championship star – read more here.