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Flocking to ExWHUemployee’s tweet after West Ham’s last gasp 1-0 victory over Fulham last night, plenty of Hammers heaped praise on defensive star Aaron Cresswell for his showing against their London neighbours – with the player seemingly reborn as part of a back three under David Moyes. 

Cresswell, who played the full 90 minutes and helped Moyes’ side to keep a clean sheet, has now attracted plaudits for his most recent display combined with the upturn in form since converting to centre-back.

Indeed, in reply to ExWHUemployee’s take, plenty of supporters heralded the Englishman as ‘unreal’ and ‘top class’ – going on to say they’re ‘so glad’ he has found a role which suits him and the Irons.

Some fans also think dropping him for the next game would be ‘utter madness’ from Moyes’ perspective, find all of their best verdicts from Twitter here.

Hammers lavish Cresswell with praise

In other news: West Ham fans didn’t feel the same about this ‘clown’, find out more here. 

According to an update courtesy of ESPN, Tottenham are one of a number of clubs ‘interested’ in snapping up Schalke midfield star Weston McKennie – with chairman Daniel Levy having ‘monitored’ the USA international over the last few months alongside Newcastle United, Leicester City, Everton, Chelsea and Southampton. 

McKennie, at just 21-years-old, has already totalled 19 international caps for his country and featured regularly for the Bundesliga giants throughout 2019/2020 – scoring three goals and averaging an 80.9% pass accuracy in midfield according to WhoScored.

The youngster, as a result, is being monitored by top Premier League sides ahead of the looming 2020/2021 campaign which starts as early as mid-September.

As per ESPN, Southampton currently lead the race for his signature, with McKennie potentially seen as a replacement for new Tottenham signing Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg.

However, this report also states that Spurs have shown an ‘interest’ recently – and ex-Lilywhites forward Darren Bent has labelled him a ‘very Spursy signing’ when commenting on the links last month (Football Insider).

Valued at £20 million, the American could certainly fall under Levy’s tightened budget this summer, even with Hojbjerg secured, and there appears to be a plethora of reasons to re-enter the transfer race.

Ex-Premier League boss David Wagner hailed McKennie as an ‘outstanding talent’ and claimed he could go on to become ‘one of the best midfielders’ in the German top flight (Bundesliga).

Bent also called it a ‘very doable’ signing from Tottenham’s perspective, and given manager Jose Mourinho’s goal of qualifying for the Champions League next season, he could need all the help he can get.

Lilywhites, would you be happy signing McKennie? Join the discussion by commenting below…

It seems like Everton are just one step away from getting the deal for James Rodriguez officially over the line. The latest reports on that front have all but confirmed that Real Madrid and the Toffees have mostly agreed on everything so the Colombian should come to Goodison Park pretty soon.

Of course, Carlo Ancelotti is the architect of this transfer. After all, the two have a long-lasting relationship and have worked together both in La Liga and at Bayern Munich later on.

Now, they could reunite for the third time, only this time, it would be in the Premier League. The Spanish football expert Graham Hunter talked to Sky Sports about this potential transfer and he seems to be convinced Rodriguez is the right man for the Toffees.

Here’s what he said about the deal: “The idea of playing at Everton is something he would welcome. He was due to leave Real Madrid at the beginning of last season but it was blocked and he was angry. He’s ready to play and still thinks he’s world-class. If Carlo Ancelotti can get him, he’s the type of footballer that the Goodison faithful will be yearning to see regularly.”

Those might be some big claims from Hunter but Rodriguez was once lauded as one of the best talents on the planet. Of course, at Real Madrid and under Zinedine Zidane, he saw his role slowly but surely diminish and it is a good time for them to part ways.

Verdict

Even though Everton don’t necessarily need huge reinforcements in that particular area of the pitch where the Colombian operates, this deal does seem too good to pass up.

Rodriguez still has plenty to give on the top level and Ancelotti is certainly getting a brilliant player that can help them out in the upcoming Premier League campaign.

With many rumours linking Bertrand Traore to Crystal Palace recently, it suggests that the Eagles are in the market for an attacker, and many of their fans have reacted to the latest update in this ongoing saga.

Earlier in the week, Foot Mercato suggested that the Eagles have made an enquiry about the availability of the Lyon ace and could look to use Mamadou Sakho in some sort of swap deal. Sakho is of heavy interest to Lyon, who have been looking to make a deal with Palace for the last couple of months, per L’Equipe via GetFootballNewsFrance.

Fresh reports suggest that Crystal Palace could be willing to pay in excess of £22m for Traore, as BuzzSport has claimed that the Lyon forward could be set to come to the Premier League.

It wouldn’t be his first time in the Premier League as the winger played for Chelsea in the past. He didn’t get much of a go at the Blues but did managed to score four goals in his 16 appearances, per Transfermarkt. Also, at just 24, it could be the perfect time for him to come back and show that he can make it in the English top flight.

Here is what these Palace fans had to say following the update:

Palace fans, what are your thoughts on this transfer update? Comment below to have your say!

Sunderland have been joined by League One rivals Ipswich Town in the race to make a summer move for Danny Graham.

As Black Cats boss Phil Parkinson looks to bounce back following a poor league finish in the League One table and a failure to gain promotion to the Championship, numerous transfer rumours are starting to emerge.

One area in particular that Parkinson could look to improve is in attack having seen the likes of Charlie Wyke and Will Grigg struggle to find the back of the net on a consistent basis last season.

Linked with a potential move for Sydney FC striker Adam Le Fondre, the Wearsiders are also looking towards former Watford, Swansea, and Blackburn man Graham.

Graham, valued at £428,000 by Transfermarkt, is available on a free transfer having recently left Blackburn, ending a four-and-a-half year stay at Ewood Park.

Joining Sunderland with interest in the 34-year-old striker are Ipswich, who like Sunderland, will be keen to improve on missing out on the chance to gain promotion last term.

East Anglian Daily Times report the news, claiming Paul Lambert is keen on the striker who has amassed 169 goals during his career in English football.

Graham would be a good addition for either Sunderland or Ipswich but he may have a better offer on the table given his experience.

Deciding between Ipswich and Sunderland does not hand the striker too many differences, but what could tempt him to join either, is the task of gaining promotion.

Where do you think Danny Graham will play football next season? Let us know in the comments section below…

This article is part of Football FanCast’s Opinion series, which provides analysis, insight and opinion on any issue within the beautiful game, from Paul Pogba’s haircuts to League Two relegation battles…

In his first ever Premier League start, Gabriel Martinelli delivered emphatically as he helped Arsenal register an impressive victory against West Ham on Monday night.

The Brazilian had been in scintillating form for the Gunners in the cup competitions, proving himself to be a prolific goal-scorer in both the Europa League and Carabao Cup, scoring seven in six games respectively. Despite his form, the 18-year-old had not yet made his mark in the top-flight, featuring seven times without finding the back of the net – his total amount of game-time limited to just 96 minutes.

But amidst the Gunners’ win-less run of nine games, interim head coach Freddie Ljungberg turned to the 18-year-old from the off against the Hammers. And the starlet vindicated his manager’s decision. In a performance brimming with energy and desire, Martinelli epitomised everything that was good about Arsenal. The north London side came into the clash on the back of a dire sequence of results, and needed someone to galvanise them, and their summer signing provided them with that.

Whilst he scored the all-important equaliser to drag Arsenal back into the contest, his work off-the-ball arguably set the tone for the night. As per Sofascore, he won a team-high three tackles despite operating on the left-wing, often tracking back with intensity and chasing down his opponent to simply help out Kieran Tierney or Sead Kolasinac. The £7.2m-rated ace also won an impressive five ground duels, and those defensive numbers are a testament to the sheer herculean effort he gave.

Can you name all of these obscure Arsenal signings? Give it a go now!

With Alexandre Lacazette struggling for consistency and form – he has scored just five times this season and even came under criticism from sections of the Gunners support despite finding the back of the net against Brighton – Martinelli showed that he is more than ready to fill his shoes. Whilst the former may be the bigger name, the latter’s relentless display means Ljungberg’s hand has been forced. There simply cannot be any reason for him to be dropped anytime soon.

Meanwhile, Arsenal appointing this recently sacked manager would not be Unai Emery part two.

Newcastle United fans may breathe a slight sign of relief as the Daily Mail have reported that the prospective takeover in the northeast would not be affected by the possible relegation from the Premier League this season.

Indeed, the Tyneside club are relatively comfortable in 13th place in the table at the moment on 35 points, eight above the dreaded drop zone with nine games left to play. Whilst the Magpies could see themselves as reasonably safe currently, it is still a mathematical possibility that they could eventually be relegated.

However, if the worst case scenario was to happen, then it would perhaps not be all doom and gloom at St. James’ Park, as the proposed deal between Mike Ashley and Amanda Staveley’s Saudi Arabia-led consortium would reportedly not be affected by this situation.

The Daily Mail understands that the £300m bid does not include any clauses which relate to the possibility of relegation or, equally, European qualification. As per the report, the terms of the buyout were struck in early April and are locked in at £300m, with a non-refundable £17m deposit having already been paid to Ashley.

There is also the possibility of the agreed price taking on added value, were Steve Bruce to lead his team to FA Cup glory and continental competition for the 2020/21 season.

However, according to the Daily Mail, the only two things that can now scupper the takeover are the Premier League blocking it or, if it is approved, the buyers not producing the money. This can be seen as another encouraging sign towards the deal finally being completed.

Geordies, will the Premier League block the takeover or are you confident that it will go through? Comment below with your views!

West Bromwich Albion fans have been gushing over an unlikely figure this season.

Kyle Bartley has started and featured the length of every single Championship game this term, and it appears the impact of his new boss Slaven Bilic, a former centre-back himself, has been integral to his turnaround in form.

The 28-year-old ranks as the third-best player in the Baggies squad by WhoScored, which is quite impressive considering the exploits of their enigmatic attacking midfield trio of Grady Diangana, Matheus Pereira and Matty Phillips.

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Many members of the Hawthorns faithful have taken to social media to give their reviews on Bartley’s season so far – the colossus currently ranks inside the top ten in the Championship this season for average aerial duels won and fewest times dribbled past per game, also via WhoScored.

One supporter claimed the 6 foot 4 defender was twice the player of last season, believing he has been more confident in his ability while another stated that Bartley had been proving his doubters wrong after copping a lot of flak in the past.

‘Man mountain,’ ‘rock,’ and ‘top drawer’ were just a few phrases to sum up his performances this term, and one further fan pondered whether he is worthy of an England call up.

Here’s the best of the reaction:

Meanwhile, Baggies boss Slaven Bilic thinks he has pinpointed the very reason behind Bartley’s turnaround in form… 

This article is part of Football FanCast’s Opinion series, which provides analysis, insight and opinion on any issue within the beautiful game, from Paul Pogba’s haircuts to League Two relegation battles…

Well, this isn’t the start Freddie Ljungberg would have imagined when he took over as interim head coach of Arsenal. The Swede revealed that he is keen to put smiles back on faces, but unfortunately for him, the frowns have gotten longer. Two games into his fledgling tenure, and no wins, with a draw at Norwich followed up by a truly dismal defeat at home to Brighton.

On Monday night, the Gunners take on another London-based team who are struggling for both confidence and results in West Ham. Manuel Pellegrini’s side have just 16 points to their name in the Premier League and have already conceded 25 goals, whilst they have just one win in their previous nine games across all competitions (albeit that sole victory coming against Chelsea).

The Hammers represent the perfect opportunity for Ljungberg to get the ball rolling, and he must be unafraid to throw the kitchen sink at them. And so below is a look at the kind of line-up the Invincibles hero should think of starting.

Perhaps the only man who comes out of Ljungberg’s opening two games in charge with any credit, is Bernd Leno. The Germany international has arguably stopped the Gunners getting humiliated against both Norwich and Brighton, making a total of 13 saves, with ten of them coming from efforts taken inside the box. In front of him, the Arsenal boss has used both Shkodran Mustafi and Sokratis to partner David Luiz, but one man who has to figure in that conversation is Calum Chambers.

The former Southampton man has been a reliable presence when playing out of position at right-back, averaging a 6.79 match rating in the Premier League. At full-back, Kieran Tierney’s cameo against Brighton may be an indication that he is now fully fit and ready to start once more.

In midfield, Lucas Torreira, who was criticised by sections of the Arsenal support for his performance on Thursday night, could drop to the bench with Matteo Guendouzi returning to the starting line-up. Ljungberg’s biggest chance to really shake things up is further forward, and he has a chance to really stamp his authority.

Despite his goal, Alexandre Lacazette has looked out-of-sorts all season, netting just five times all season, whilst Joe Willock was another player who suffered the wrath of Gunners fans after the Brighton game. If Ljungberg asserts his dominance and drops the duo, then that could mean a chance for the likes of Gabriel Martinelli and Nicolas Pepe to make their claims for a starting role in the future.

It’s a potential line-up brimming with attacking intent and promise, and that is exactly the kind of approach Ljungberg needs to take.

Meanwhile, Freddie Ljungberg is repeating this one key mistake that Unai Emery used to make.

Many Southampton fans were left impressed by Jack Stephens’ performance against Manchester City on Saturday, and praising the centre-half’s display on social media.Stephens had not started a Premier League game since the Saints’ opening day defeat at Burnley, but returned to the fold in the south coast side’s devastating 9-0 beating to Leicester City as a half-time change for Danny Ings.The Torpoint-born centre-half also featured in the opening line-up against Manchester City in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday night, and maintained his role for the Premier League trip to the Etihad Stadium on Saturday.Stephens’ latest performance started promisingly when he blocked an early Kevin De Bruyne effort, and would mirror his afternoon by denying Sergio Aguero from finding the back of the net in the 84th-minute.Alex McCarthy, replacing a benched Angus Gunn, would be beaten twice, though, with Aguero and Kyle Walker firing past the 29-year-old to overturn James Ward-Prowse’s 13th-minute opening strike.Despite the Sky Blues’ goals, Stephens impressed many Southampton fans, as he displayed a performance that suggested he might have turned a corner from the questionable displays they felt he had previously produced.Stephens recorded the second-most clearances at the Etihad with 15 to Jannik Vestergaard’s 17, as well as a joint-game high two interceptions and was successful with one of his two recorded tackles, per WhoScored data.The £7.2million-rated defender also won each of his four aerial duels, and completed more passes than all Southampton players bar Nathan Redmond, Oriol Romeu and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg.Here are some of the messages shared on his performance…