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Sunderland and manager Tony Mowbray have suffered a new injury blow to a "key player" ahead of this evening’s Championship clash with Watford.

What’s the latest Sunderland injury news?

The Black Cats have been in fine form of late, winning four of their last five to climb up into the Championship playoff places. A comfortable 3-0 victory last time out against Sheffield Wednesday was the latest positive display, with a home meeting with the Hornets next on the agenda.

However, it isn’t all good news out of The Stadium of Light, though, with a new injury concern coming to light. Reliable Sunderland reporter Scott Wilson of The Northern Echo shared an injury update ahead of the meeting with Watford following Mowbray’s pre-match press conference.

It was stated that Aji Alese, Dennis Cirkin, Bradley Dack and Pierre Ekwah, players currently sidelined, will remain out of the next two games prior to the international break, whereas Mowbray has had to change his team up for tonight’s meeting due to a new injury blow to a ‘key player’.

“Without telling you everything, we’ve had to do some tactical changes today. You’ll see the team when it comes out, but there’s a big difference with the injury that’s been picked up.

“The challenges are always there. We have picked up an injury to a pretty key player in the way we play, but let’s just push on and see if we can keep the fluency of the team going.”

Who have been Sunderland’s best players this season?

A number of Sunderland players have impressed so far this season, with five of the squad averaging a WhoScored match rating greater than 7/10. Two of those are Dack and Ekwah, both injured, but the club’s standout performer so far has been winger Jack Clarke. The 22-year-old has scored seven goals in nine Championship games, averaging a 7.79 match rating. He is actually ranked as the top Championship player by WhoScored, whereas Dan Neil and Dan Ballard are also ranked over 7/10.

Therefore, Sunderland supporters will be hoping that the injury isn’t to Clarke, Neil or Ballard, as they have been key to the club’s success in the early stages of the season. Mowbray clearly wants to keep the update quiet for now, so it’ll be interesting to see the team news later tonight. After the meeting with Watford, Sunderland then host Middlesbrough before the international break, where on the other side, Mowbray will hopefully have a number of players back.

West Ham United have notoriously blundered on the attacking front in the transfer market over the years. That's not to say that the Hammers have never got it right, but there's an undeniable sequence of misfires over the past decade or so.

Before David Moyes' second managerial appointment, the Hammers had neglected their potential for some time and struggled to break free of the shackles of midtable since returning from the second tier in 2012, finishing seventh in 2015/16 but ignominiously knocked out in the Europa League play-off round by Romanian side Astra Giurgiu the following Autumn.

Since 2019/20 – when Moyes took the helm with the club plagued by a relegation battle – West Ham have finished sixth and seventh in the Premier League before enduring a tougher term last year and finishing 14th – embroiled in the threat of the relegation battle before some more promising form in the closing months.

And while the spark was not at its brightest on the domestic front, United compensated for their woes with glory on the continental stage, winning the Europa Conference League.

The newfound success looks set to be sustained, with the signings made since the Scottish manager's arrival cementing this praisable stature and strength, capable of disrupting the established giants of the division.

That being said, there indeed have been some real howlers on the transfer front over the years.

Who are West Ham's worst signings?

West Ham have endured some forgettable movements transfer-wise over the past decade, with notable forwards to have failed to hit the mark including the likes of Simeone Zaza – who signed on a £5m loan deal that was not made permanent – and Jordan Hugill, who made just three appearances.

More recently, Moyes completed a £35.5m deal to sign exciting Italian forward Gianluca Scamacca in 2022 to continue the meteoric rise over the past few years.

Scamacca would score three times in the Conference League proper after netting twice in the qualifiers, important in the trophy-winning campaign, but was criticised for his "miserable" demeanour on English shores – as said by pundit Chris Sutton – and failed to impress in the Premier League, fleeing back to his homeland in the summer.

There are many, many more, but the recent exploits have seemingly turned a corner for the club, eradicating the regularity of failed moves, and ending blunders of the highest order for strikers such as Albian Ajeti, who might just be the bottom of the barrel across recent years.

How much did West Ham sign Albian Ajeti for?

West Ham completed the signing of Swiss international Ajeti for a reported fee of £8m in 2019, which was deemed prudent at the time for a player who, aged 22, had earned seven caps for his nation and had posted 43 goals from 96 outings for Basel.

It was in addition to the club-record £45m acquisition of Sebastien Haller from German side Eintracht Frankfurt, who joined with a weight of expectation but failed to deliver as promised, scoring just ten goals from 48 matches in the English top-flight.

Ajeti was supposed to be an apt understudy proficient enough to shine when called upon and offer the club value in rotation, but he only succeeded in languishing and barely made a mark before departing more than a little hot under the collar.

How did Albian Ajeti perform for West Ham?

Ajeti was signed at the start of the season that Moyes joined at the midpoint, and while he had recorded two goals and assists apiece in just a few outings for Basel before making the move to England, he would fall heavily by the wayside at the London Stadium.

Indeed, the 11-cap Switzerland ace only managed 12 appearances for West Ham across the entirety of the 2019/20 campaign and finished the term without a single goal to his name, since branded "lazy" by pundit Frank McAvennie.

Such scathing rebuke is probably justified given that he averaged just 0.3 shots and 3.3 touches per game across his nine outings in the Premier League, as per Sofascore, and while he only averaged 17 minutes per match, this is more than enough time to have demonstrated more robust qualities and movements on the pitch.

So bad was the Swiss striker that he even underperformed Ashley Fletcher, who arrived as a promising talent but only yielded one goal from 20 appearances before moving on.

Fletcher's time at the side was not the most prolific by any stretch of the imagination, but given that he was sold to Middlesbrough for £6.5m after joining from Manchester United on a free transfer, the club actually struck gold in moving him on for a lucrative fee.

Ajeti's signing epitomised the lacklustre recruitment that inhibited West Ham's aspirations of enjoying European journeys and lasting success away from the mire at the bottom of the league table.

The slightest tincture of positivity that can be taken from his forgettable spell in east London lies in the fact that the Irons were able to recoup £5m for his non-existent services, selling him to Scottish giants Celtic – then led by Neil Lennon – just one year after his arrival.

Ajeti took a significant pay cut from the £60k-per-week salary that he was on with West Ham, but if he had hopes of resurrecting his career with the Hoops, he was brutally mistaken.

Where is Albian Ajeti now?

After making 48 displays with the Hoops and scoring just nine goals, Ajeti – now 26-years-old – was signed by Turkish Super Lig outfit Gaziantep for a paltry £500k, which signifies a 94% decrease from the fee paid by West Ham just four years ago.

So poor was Ajeti at Celtic that McAvennie was even led to exclaim that it was "unbelievable" that he was earning a wage at Celtic Park at all.

In Turkey this season, Ajeti has so far only played two league matches and been utilised from the bench on both occasions, though he did manage to find the back of the net against Istanbulspor on his debut.

While he was never the most expensive of signings, Ajeti's signature really did illustrate the woes at West Ham before Moyes arrived and instilled confidence and security that has now blossomed into something to transcend anything the club could have imagined under the veteran manager's stewardship.

Manchester United are in the midst of a catastrophic start to the season at Old Trafford and things could get worse before they get better, according to Sky Germany journalist Florian Schmidt-Sommerfeld.

What's the latest news involving Manchester United?

On Wednesday evening, Manchester United were defeated 4-3 away to Bayern Munich in the Champions League and flattered to deceive in the encounter despite mounting a late fightback, as per BBC Sport.

Red Devils' goalkeeper Andre Onana made a mistake that led to Leroy Sane giving his side the lead in the tie and took the unusual step of bravely fronting up to the media to apologise for his error, stating to TNT Sports: "It's difficult to lose this way because in the beginning we started very good. After my mistake we lost control of the game. It's a difficult situation for us, for me especially because I'm the one who let the team down. Because of me we didn't win but we just have to move on. This is the life of the goalkeeper."

Manchester United have now lost three consecutive matches under Erik Ten Hag and pressure is mounting on his side to improve results amid a backdrop of negative sentiment off the field at Old Trafford. England international Jadon Sancho has hit the headlines recently due to his public spat with the Dutchman, which has yet to lead to a resolution that will see him return to first-team action.

Further fall-out has resulted from his absence, with Sancho seen playing the video game EA Sports 24 as his teammates were preparing to face off against Bayern Munich. Next up for Manchester United is an away clash against Burnley at Turf Moor on Saturday night as they aim to recover from their recent slump in form to rise up the Premier League table.

What has Florian Schmidt-Sommerfeld said about Manchester United?

Writing for Sky Germany, via Sport Witness, Schmidt-Sommerfeld has aired some of his thoughts on the current situation at Manchester United and harbours anxiety that things at Old Trafford could "quickly" get even worse if they do not improve results on the pitch.

The Sky reporter has ripped into United boss Ten Hag, labelling him a "shambles" and indicating that his side's start to life in 2023/24 is not just down to misfortune with injuries. The journalist did however state he doesn't know "what the medical department actually does" given the mounting list of players in the treatment room.

In conversation with beIN SPORTS via The Daily Mail, ex-Liverpool player Jason McAteer has claimed that Manchester United have lost their fear factor and he has also questioned their identity as a side.

Ripping into several first-team players, McAteer stated: "They don't have the players who want to put the hard yards in when its get tough. Fernandes, is he going to roll his sleeves up as a captain? No. Antony, Rashford, Martial? (Martial) They can't even get him fit and he doesn't even want to play."

Looking ahead, it remains to be seen if Manchester United can rediscover the resilience that they showed last term or whether their recent stagnation is more than just a minor cause for concern.

While Washington Sundar, Vijay Shankar, and Manish Pandey have impressed for India, Mahmudullah and Mushfiqur Rahim have shepherded tricky chases for Bangladesh

The Preview by Mohammad Isam17-Mar-2018Big PictureFrom being a one-sided affair, the India-Bangladesh clash has become a more tightly fought contest. Having won three of their four matches in the Nidahas Trophy, India go into the final as favourites. This despite the absence of several key players, including captain Virat Kohli and MS Dhoni. India, however, will have to be wary of Bangladesh’s ‘tenacity’, as wicketkeeper-batsman Dinesh Karthik said on the eve of the final.Most T20s come down to which team copes better with pressure. While Bangladesh have relied on their senior batsmen to bail them out, India have banked on youth. That their stand-in captain Rohit Sharma has also hit form bodes well for the side. Suresh Raina, Dinesh Karthik, and Manish Pandey have made cameos but the lower-middle order, which is largely untested is a cause for concern. If the chase gets tough, can Vijay Shankar and Washington Sundar step up with the bat?The two allrounders, however, have been impressive with the ball and have complemented quick Shardul Thakur and legspinner Yuzvendra Chahal.Bangladesh’s batting has revolved around Mushfiqur Rahim and Mahmudullah, who both shepherded successful chases against Sri Lanka and put the hosts out of the tri-series. Tamim Iqbal and Liton Das have shown flashes of brilliance but the pressure continues to mount on Soumya Sarkar and Sabbir Rahman.Bangladesh’s bowling, meanwhile, has been a mixed bag. Mustafizur Rahman is their leading wicket-taker with six wickets but it is Rubel Hossain who has looked more threatening. Offspinner Mehidy Hasan, on the other hand, has managed only one wicket in 15 overs.Form guideIndia WWWLW (last five completed matches, most recent first)
Bangladesh WLWLLIn the spotlightWashington Sundar will be looking forward to keep up his fine form in the Nidahas Trophy. He hasn’t conceded more than 28 runs in a game, and has troubled Bangladesh in the Powerplay.Mustafizur Rahman started well against Sri Lanka on Friday but lost his lines and lengths in the end overs. India will still be wary of him, given his variations can he quite hard to pick.Pitch and conditionsThe chasing side has won all but one match in this tournament. A pitch favourable for batting is expected, again, and there is a chance that evening showers could interrupt play.Stats and trivia Mahmudullah is four runs short of completing 1000 in T20 internationals. He will be the fourth Bangladesh batsman to the milestone after Tamim Iqbal, Shakib Al Hasan and Mushfiqur Rahim. Washington Sundar, the highest wicket-taker in the tournament with seven wickets, has conceded only eight fours and three sixes in his 16 overs, of which 11 were bowled in the Powerplay. His economy rate in the tournament is 5.87. Mustafizur Rahman has taken six wickets, but has conceded the most runs in the tournament, having given away 156. His economy rate is 9.75.Quotes”I don’t know much about the wicket, but if the dew settles it’s much easier for the team that is chasing. If there’s no dew then it’s going to be a great game. If the wicket is slow and it’s going to turn, it will be a challenge.”
“It is an important match but it is only just another match. We will go out there to win.”

Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsNew Zealand hurtled to a profoundly commanding position in the first seven sessions of the Wellington Test, but the opposition began to resist on the third day. West Indies were still a long way back – 172 in arrears with two second-innings wickets already spent. But thanks to Kraigg Brathwaite’s fortitude, a spark from Kieran Powell, and a little flash from Shimron Hetmyer, their hopes of making something out of this match are not yet extinguished. Brathwaite remained at the crease on 79, with Shai Hope for company.But perhaps this was always going to be a batting day – the Basin Reserve pitch tends to flatten dramatically as matches wear on. In the morning, Tom Blundell had progressed from an overnight 57 not out to triple figures, becoming the first wicketkeeper-batsman to make a debut Test century since Matt Prior in 2007.What was remarkable was that he scored 52 of his eventual 107 not out in the company of Trent Boult – the pair putting on an unbeaten stand of 78 for the last wicket. Soon after Blundell reached his century, New Zealand declared on 520 for 9, taking a 386-run advantage into the second innings.Few might have expected West Indies to claim momentum as dramatically as they did after lunch, however. If one aspect of play epitomised the vigour they brought to those sessions, it was their bristling confidence when facing their tormentor from the first dig: Neil Wagner. On day one, Wagner had collected 7 for 39 in 14 overs, as batsmen almost raced each other back to the pavilion.On Sunday, Wagner again deployed his familiar lifters from around the wicket, but suddenly, the West Indies top order was almost disdainful of the tactic, pulling, hacking, and cracking him through the leg side throughout the afternoon and evening sessions. Wagner was left nursing figures of 0 for 89 from 15 overs by stumps, having suffered 14 fours and two sixes. Unable himself to make a breakthrough, Trent Boult was also visibly frustrated by the closing stages of the day.Getty Images

That it is around their senior opener that West Indies’ resistance built was unsurprising. Brathwaite did as Brathwaite does, leaving judiciously, defending solidly, and awaiting the bad balls to dispatch to the fence. His two early boundaries were the result of wayward leg-side deliveries that he simply nudged fine. He was a little more ambitious in the evening session, even running at Mitchell Santner to launch him over the deep midwicket boundary.His patience and assuredness at the start of the innings allowed Powell to take risks at the other end. It was Powell who began the assault on Wagner by hitting two sixes and a four off consecutive Wagner balls. Having survived a close lbw shout off Boult early in his innings – a not-out decision that would have been overturned had New Zealand reviewed – Powell went on to make 40 off 55 balls before losing concentration and giving Matt Henry a simple return catch.Hetmyer’s 66 was sprightly and attractive, as he and Brathwaite combined for a second-wicket stand worth 94. Having been reprieved via a batting review on seven, Hetmyer took to playing Wagner with particular aplomb, driving and pulling imperiously. He didn’t always keep his shots on the ground, but found empty space whenever he went aerial, once lofting Boult for a straight six with sublime timing. That Boult over, the 42nd of the innings, also featured two Hetmyer fours: down the ground, and over midwicket.Like for Powell, it was a misjudgement of Henry’s pace that brought his wicket, after the tea break. Attempting to turn Henry towards the leg side, Hetmyer succeeded only in sending a leading edge to extra cover.Hope and Brathwaite ensured there were no further wickets before the end of the day by showing a little reticence as stumps drew near, but the bad balls were still punished. All up, day three saw 287 runs scored for the fall of just two wickets. New Zealand will hope to get early breakthroughs on day four, to ensure the match does not progress to a fifth day, but if West Indies bat as they have so far in the innings, victory will have to be hard-won, for New Zealand.

Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsDwayne Bravo’s celebrations were catchy as ever•Randy Brooks – CPL T20 / Getty

Comilla Victorians inflicted a collapse on Chittagong Vikings, before an efficient chase took them to an eight-wicket win. Mohammad Saifuddin and Dwayne Bravo starred with the ball for Comilla, before Jos Buttler scored 48 to help them chase 144.Chittagong would rue giving away a good start, having reached 91 for 1 in the 10th over, but hardly making any noise in the final half of the innings – making only 52 runs and losing six wickets.After Buttler had set up Comilla’s chase, Marlon Samuels and Imrul Kayes finished the job with efficiency as the Chittagong bowlers couldn’t quite force the issue.Soumya’s reverse-sweep headlines fast startLuke Ronchi had struck a six off the first ball of the third over but when Soumya timed his reverse-sweep to perfection, Comilla knew they were in trouble. The left-hander had been in woeful form for much of Bangladesh’s tour of South Africa, except for the two T20Is at the end.The switch-hit was followed by Ronchi striking Al-Amin Hossain for consecutive fours in the next over. He then went on to hit twin sixes off Dwayne Bravo, the first one a fantastic piece of timing despite being beaten by the slower ball. Soumya struck two more fours in the sixth over before Ronchi fell for 40 in the same over, having struck three sixes and four fours in his 21-ball knock.Dilshan Munaweera tried to keep up the pace while Comilla also erred in the field. Having dropped Ronchi when he was on nine in the second over, Al-Amin’s movement at deep midwicket was astounding as he didn’t get under a Soumya mis-hit. He signalled that it was the sun but he was wearing a cap; Bravo, the bowler, was unhappy. Chittagong reached 91 for 1 after 10 overs, with one eye on a 200-plus score.A stuttering collapseComilla’s fightback began in the 12th over, when Munaweera needlessly scooped one to Marlon Samuels at short fine leg. Saifuddin then got into the game with two consecutive wickets in the 14th over. Sarkar missed a paddle sweep to be bowled before Anamul Haque was caught at long-on for three. After three more wickets fell, Sikandar Raza struck two fours in the last over – there were three in the last 10 overs – to take them past the 140-mark.Buttler gets underwayLiton Das and Jos Buttler let fly from the second over of the 144-run chase, hitting a flurry of fours and sixes. Liton struck Shuvo for a four through the covers and a swept six over fine-leg. Taskin Ahmed was hit through point over mid-on for a four and six respectively by Buttler. Sunzamul Islam was given the triple treatment – a four through midwicket, a blast over long-on for a six and a chip over midwicket for another four.Subashis Roy trapped Liton leg-before in the fifth over, after which Buttler and Imrul Kayes added 57 runs for the second wicket. Buttler was caught behind off Subashis too, after making a 42-ball 48 with three fours and two sixes.A well-orchestrated finishSamuels and Kayes, didn’t allow any more hiccups in the Comilla chase, adding the remaining 44 runs in just 3.4 overs. Samuels struck four boundaries and a six in his unbeaten 18-ball 35, while Kayes struck a four and a six in his 31-ball 33. Comilla won with 16 balls to spare.What they said“Sometimes it happens when you have 80-odd runs and you are going ten an over, you starting thinking ahead to 200-plus. I think in the coming games we need to be very careful about that in the middle overs, even if we are playing a T20 game. We need to be sensible.”

Former India captain Sourav Ganguly believes MS Dhoni needs to change his batting approach in Twenty20s to be successful. Ganguly also said Dhoni still has a lot of one-day cricket left in him, but he was more concerned about the wicketkeeper-batsman’s record in T20s. Ganguly’s blunt appraisal followed strong words of support Dhoni received from coach Ravi Shastri and captain Virat Kohli last week.However, Ganguly felt the pair needed to tell India’s senior-most player to express himself more freely if they were to derive the most out of Dhoni’s batting. “His record in T20I is not that good compared to ODIs,” Ganguly said in Kolkata on Sunday. “I hope Kohli and the team management will speak to him separately. He has immense ability. If he approaches T20Is differently, then he will be successful. I think he should keep playing one-day cricket, but he has to play differently in T20Is. He has to play T20Is freely. It depends on the selectors and how they would like to play him.”Dhoni’s place in the T20 team became the topic of discussion after India’s 40-run loss in the second T20I against New Zealand in Rajkot. His 37-ball 49 raised questions as it elevated the required run rate in India’s chase of 197, even as Kohli struck a more aggressive 65 off 42 on a flat pitch. It prompted former players, most notably VVS Laxman, Dhoni’s former India team-mate, to question his strike rate and inability to hit big shots.Even as the debate has raged on about his future, Dhoni remained unruffled. In his first reaction, Dhoni refrained from responding to criticism, brushing it off gently while launching his first cricket academy overseas. “Everybody has views in life and it should be respected,” Dhoni said in Dubai on Saturday. “I have always felt that sport is one way of learning about life. How you deal with disappointments, how you are supposed to come in front of people when you have either you have won or lost a game. At the same time, how you stand up to criticism, and how you have an open mind about learning and improving yourself.”Dhoni stressed he was still inspired to play for the country and his hunger to perform had not diminished. “Representing the country is the best motivation for me. We play cricket for only a span of time. We play for one year to 15 years, some play for 20 years. But in a lifespan, say you live for 70 years, 10-15 years is nothing.”The only thing I can say is that I am representing my country. My biggest motivation is being part of the Indian cricket team. I have always believed that the process is more important than the result. At the end of the day when the match gets over, if I look into the mirror and say to myself that I have tried my best, then I am satisfied.”

Liverpool are set to make a third bid for Southampton midfielder Romeo Lavia this summer, according to a fresh update from journalist Sacha Tavolieri.

How old is Romeo Lavia?

The 19-year-old has emerged as arguably the Reds' main summer transfer target since the end of last season, with two bids for him already rejected by Saints. With Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai arriving earlier in the window, the main focus now seems to be on acquiring the Belgian's signature.

Lavia is a big transfer target for a club of Liverpool's stature, which says a lot about what an exciting young talent he is, having enjoyed an impressive first season at St Mary's after joining on a permanent basis from Manchester City last summer.

Read the latest Liverpool transfer news HERE…

The midfielder started 26 games in the Premier League in 2022/23, standing out despite his side eventually being relegated to the Championship, and it would now be a big surprise if he was still a Saints player when the current transfer window closes at the end of August.

Are Liverpool set to sign Romeo Lavia?

Taking to Twitter, Tavolieri stated that he expects Liverpool to table a third offer for Lavia, as they finally look to break Southampton's resolve:

"Liverpool FC ready to make a third & ultimate offer for Romeo Lavia. I understand the bid will meet the £40m transfer fee expectations by Saints FC + add-ons. Player’s side just waiting for LFC to activate but informed the club his desire to join the Reds.

"There’s a feeling that Klopp’s team are the only squad able to do such offer at that moment. Dialogue remains opens as Southampton FC won’t let leave his biggest sale of the year with the financial impact of a relegation. Deal still ON."

At this point, it would be a shock if Lavia didn't move to Liverpool this summer, with Saints seemingly only holding out for a big fee, and the Reds likely to match the amount desired at some point.

The Belgium international could be a fantastic signing and a perfect replacement for Fabinho in the No.6 role, even if he is still a very inexperienced player learning his trade. He has shown that he can more than hold his own against top-flight players, outperforming older teammates at Southampton, and there is no reason why he can't hit the ground running.

Lavia's class is highlighted by what City manager Pep Guardiola has said about him in the past, with the Spaniard talking him up and justifying why it made sense for him leave:

"I am really impressed with what Romeo has done and is doing. We had, and we have, an incredible opinion about him. We thought to keep him, but maybe he would not (get) enough minutes like he has in Southampton."

It would be unfair to expect Lavia to play with the maturity of Fabinho every week, given his age, but his ability to cover ground, make tackles and keep the ball ticking over could be an invaluable addition to Liverpool's summer midfield rebuild, in what has been a massive change in the middle of the park.

West Ham United are in advanced talks over a deal for Chelsea midfielder Conor Gallagher, with the Irons likely to shell out a fee in the region of €35m (£30M), according to Sky Sports reporter Florian Plettenberg.

What's the latest West Ham transfer news?

West Ham have now made it clear they would be interested in signing Bayern Munich midfielder Leon Goretzka, however the German has no desire to leave the Bundesliga champions this summer, so David Moyes may have to turn his attentions elsewhere.

According to Plettenberg, the Hammers have four other central midfield targets on their list, including Edson Alvarez, Sofyan Amrabat, Denis Zakaria and Gallagher, with a move for at least one of those players considered likely.

Speaking specifically about the Irons' pursuit of the Chelsea midfielder, the Sky Sports reporter said: "Talks are already well advanced with Gallagher. The fee would be between 25 and 35 million euros. At least one of the five candidates mentioned should come."

New Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino is said to be an admirer of the Englishman, so it remains to be seen whether he is willing to sanction his departure this summer, and West Ham may face fierce competition for his signature from other Premier League clubs.

Tottenham Hotspur are keen on the 23-year-old, while Newcastle United and Brighton & Hove Albion are also thought to have him on their wanted list.

Given that the Hammers are in advanced talks to sign the England international, however, it appears as though they could be one of the clubs best-placed to secure his signature.

How good is Conor Gallagher?

It would be fair to say the Cobham academy graduate did not make the impression he would have liked to across 35 Premier League appearances last season, registering a total of just three goals and one assist.

However, during his time with Crystal Palace, when the central midfielder received much more regular game time, he managed to record eight goals and three assists in all competitions.

Not only has the Epsom-born midfielder demonstrated he has a lot to give in an attacking sense, he is also more than happy to pitch in defensively, ranking in the 96th percentile for blocks per 90 in the past year, when compared to his positional peers.

Football Scout Jacek Kulig has lauded the Chelsea ace as a "warrior", while Jermaine Jenas has praised him for his attacking prowess, saying: “I think he is a game-changer aswell Conor Gallagher. He’s the type of player that you bring on and he has an impact on the game. He presses, gets himself in the box and creates chances."

The midfielder has proven himself in the Premier League, but he is unlikely to receive much game time as he would like at Chelsea, given the Blues' heavy spending last season, bringing in Enzo Fernandez for a fee of €121m (£104m).

As such, it makes sense for Gallagher to seek pastures new at this stage of his career, and he could be a solid addition to Moyes' squad.

Callum Hudson-Odoi "could be the next player to leave Chelsea" this summer after genuine interest from Saudi and European clubs make a move possible, claims transfers expert Fabrizio Romano.

Is Callum Hudson-Odoi leaving Chelsea?

Stamford Bridge has once again become a hub of transfer activity this summer, as it seems to every year. Only this time, the focus has been on selling players, with a swath of first-team players leaving the club for other European destinations like Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Premier League rivals like Kai Havertz, or the burgeoning Saudi Pro League like N'Golo Kante.

Despite the club starting to switch focus towards incomings now, with the arrival of youngster Nicolas Jackson, the firesale of Blues players doesn't look to be coming to a halt anytime soon, with the next star to depart west London potentially being Cobham graduate Hudson-Odoi.

The 22-year-old winger has been with the Pensioners since age eight, but after a poor few years with the club, followed by an even worse loan spell to Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen, his time as a Chelsea player looks to be well and truly over.

Several clubs have been linked to the player, once described as "special" by Frank Lampard, with at least two clubs from the Saudi Pro League holding a genuine interest in him, per The Athletic.

Closer to home, he has attracted interest from a few Premier League clubs so far, with Steve Cooper's Nottingham Forest and Marco Silva's Fulham said to be the two most interested parties in his services, whereas European royalty AC Milan are also monitoring the player, per The Athletic.

Of all the options available to the Wandsworth-born winger, his priority is to remain in Europe, be that by joining a team on the continent or joining another Premier League side; he isn't keen on a move to the Middle East, per transfers expert Fabrizio Romano.

He explained the situation on his YouTube channel, saying:

"Hudson-Odoi has decided to leave Chelsea, he wants a permanent move, wants to try something different to also have a different kind of challenge in his career. So discussions are ongoing.

"He had some approaches from Saudi, but the priority is European clubs, and this is why his agents are working on some solutions in Italy for Hudson-Odoi, who could be the next player to leave Chelsea."

Would Callum Hudson-Odoi be a good signing?

There is no denying that, at this point, Hudson-Odoi is not performing anywhere near the level required to play for a Champions League-level side, nor has he really been anywhere near that level for a good few years either.

That said, before suffering a series of injury setbacks between 2019 and 2022, he showed glimpses of world-class potential for the Blues, so much so that German giants Bayern Munich wanted the then 19-year-old on loan with an option to buy for £70m in 2020.

His underlying numbers also suggest that there is still something to work with for whoever ends up as his manager next season.

According to FBref, who compare players in a similar position across Europe's top five leagues, Hudson-Odoi sits in the top 10% of wingers for pass completions, the top 13% for progressive carries, the top16% for progressive passes, and the top 24% for successful take-ons, all per 90.

Whether it ends up being Fulham, Forest, or another club from the continent, signing Hudson-Odoi will certainly be a gamble, but if he can fulfil even a fraction of the enormous potential so many believed he once had, it could be a gamble with massive upside.