Many West Ham United fans are praising former player Scott Parker after the club tweeted out throwback images of him in a Hammers kit.
The central defensive midfielder made 129 appearances for the East London side, managing to pick up 12 goals and 11 assists along the way, per Transfermarkt, from 2007 to 2011.
He also picked up the Football Writers Association Player of the Year award whilst at the Irons after the 2010/11 campaign, via BBC Sport. It is fair to say the ex-player had a great career as he also won the Premier League and the League Cup with Chelsea in 2005, per Transfermarkt.
However it might be quite surprising that the player still receives such love from West Ham supporters, considering he left the club for bitter rivals Tottenham Hotspur in August 2011 for £5.18 million.
At the age of 39, Parker is now retired, however he has not stopped working within the football world as he manages Championship side Fulham and currently has them sitting third in the league during his first full season in charge, per BBC Sport.
Here is what fans had to say following the tweet:
West Ham fans, is Parker still a legend in your eyes? Comment below!
This article is part of Football FanCast’s Pundit View series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent quotes from journalists, pundits, players and managers…
Nobody truly knows what’s happening with QSI’s potential investment in Leeds United.
One week it’s on, the next it’s off. It’s tough to figure out what’s actually happening from the outside, but one man who may have a firmer grasp on what’s going on is Phil Hay.
The Athletic’s Leeds United correspondent has a wealth of connections at the club, and his latest tweet on this subject indicates that things may be happening in the background that we don’t yet know about.
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What’s been said then?
The journalist responded to a fan after L’Equipe put out an article about the Qataris’ potential investment in Leeds.
“[There’s] Loads of smoke from both sides. It’s not going to be a surprise if it happens at some stage.” Hay tweeted.
We mastered the trick in the video below in 8 attempts… could you do better?
Could be happening
This may indicate that something is happening in the background that we may not know about.
We know that Hay has sources, and we also know that he is one of the most trusted journalists by the higher-ups at the club.
Just look at the Amazon Prime documentary about Leeds’ 2018/19 season for evidence of that.
Hay and two other journalists were the first people told by Angus Kinnear that Marcelo Bielsa would be staying on for an extra season, so it’s possible that he’s spoken to someone at the club who has told him what the current situation is with QSI.
For the Scot to say that this wouldn’t surprise him shows that it may actually be moving in the right direction in terms of it actually happening, and that should excite every Leeds supporter.
Radrizzani has stated in the past that investment from QSI could put them on par with Manchester City while the investors themselves have unveiled their ambitions to potentially take them back to the Premier League.
Liverpool star Andrew Robertson took to Twitter on Thursday night to congratulate Celtic on their last-gasp Europa League win over Lazio.The Scottish champions looked to be heading for an away draw until a sloppy pass in stoppage time saw them launch a 94th-minute sweeping counter that ended with substitute Olivier Ntcham chipping the ball into the net.And after the final whistle, Robertson was quick to pay homage to Celtic on Twitter – giving his verdict on the scoreline accompanied by an applauding emoji and the famous Celtic clover.The Glasgow-born left-back is a boyhood Celtic fan and played for their youth sides until 2009, when he made the switch to Queen’s Park.And it seems Robertson still holds allegiance to his former club, having expressed his delight with a win that has sealed Celtic’s qualification to the knockout rounds of the Europa League.Here’s a look at the Liverpool man’s message…
Arsenal are reportedly desperate to stop a £110,000-per-week star from leaving for a league-winning side, and it is believed the Gunners will "do everything" to keep him at the Emirates Stadium.
Arsenal prepare for Tottenham clash with weakened squad
Following their 1-1 draw against Brighton the weekend before last – Arsenal's first dropped points of the season – manager Mikel Arteta will be very keen to return to winning ways as soon as possible.
Officials dispatched as Real Madrid consider signing £100m Arsenal star
The Galacticos are very fond of him.
3 ByEmilio Galantini Sep 8, 2024
Unfortunately for the Spaniard, Arsenal face two of their toughest fixtures of the season after this international break – as the Gunners gear up for away trips to Tottenham and Premier League title rivals Man City.
Star midfielder Declan Rice will miss their looming north London derby this weekend after being sent off for two bookable offences against Brighton, while summer signing Mikel Merino is out for nearly two months after fracturing his shoulder in training.
Takehiro Tomiyasu is a doubt for Arsenal's trip to Spurs as well, and there is another big worry over club captain Martin Odegaard. The Norway star was injured on international duty this week, twisting his ankle in a 2-1 win against Austria, with Odegaard pictured returning to Arsenal on crutches as he awaits medical assessment.
Arteta is facing a real selection headache for Tottenham. The tactician has already been forced to make concessions in regard to his favoured eleven, with Arteta planning to drop Kai Havertz into midfield and play Raheem Sterling as a false-nine.
Now that Odegaard is a doubt for Arsenal this weekend, Arteta will be thankful he didn't let Thomas Partey leave in the summer window, despite the Ghanaian's repeated links to a move away.
The same can certainly be said of Jorginho, who was awarded a contract extension earlier this year.
Arsenal desperate to stop Jorginho leaving for Galatasaray
With the Turkish transfer window open till Friday, Süper Lig champions Galatasaray are thought to be registering an interest in the £110,000-per-week midfielder.
The Italy international was a regular towards the back end of last season, so much so that Arsenal decided to keep him in north London for an additional year, rather than let him leave for free in the summer.
Jorginho's new contract runs until 2025, but Arsenal have the option to extend it by an additional year. Given the number of absences and suspensions in Arteta's squad, Arsenal are desperate to keep hold of Jorginho amid interest from Galatasaray, and will "do everything" to rebuff offers for the 32-year-old.
"Jorgi is a very strategic player," said former Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel. "He knows what to do in possession, he can imagine what is going to happen one or two passes ahead and he knows where to help out in short distances and longer distances.
"He knows when to switch the play and not to switch the play. He has a good sense of rhythm. He organises the environment around him and that allows him to show his true abilities in controlling the rhythm of a game.
"As well as this, he is relentless in defence. He wants to help everywhere on the pitch. He has a huge ability to run a lot for the team. Maybe he lacks the high speeds, but he compensates with a lot of work-rate and anticipation in his defensive work."
Nottingham Forest are among the Premier League clubs to have been keeping a watchful eye on a promising young player, according to a new report.
The Reds were very busy during the summer transfer window, and that has helped them make a strong start to the new Premier League campaign, as they are unbeaten in the opening three games, and they will be looking to extend that when they face Liverpool on Saturday.
Nottingham Forest struck gold on star who's worth more than Elanga & CHO
He was wanted by a PL rival this summer
ByJoe Nuttall Sep 9, 2024 Nottingham Forest transfer news
The Premier League side brought in 11 players over the course of the summer, as they try to have a squad that is capable of not only avoiding relegation but pushing toward mid-table security. But Forest’s summer could have been even busier, as they did have their eye on other additions.
Elliot Anderson
Newcastle
Morato
Benfica
Nikola Milenkovic
Fiorentina
Ramon Sosa
CA Talleres
David Carmo
FC Porto
Jota Silva
Vit. Guimaraes
Marko Stamenic
Red Star
Calos Miguel
Corinthians
Eric da Silva Moreira
FC St. Pauli
James Ward-Prowse
West Ham
Alex Moreno
Aston Villa
One player Forest were said to be keen on was Flamengo striker Pedro, seeing a bid rejected for the player late in the window. The Reds may have now dodged a bullet with that addition, as Pedro has suffered an ACL rupture during a training session on international duty with Brazil. He is now expected to be out of action for many months, and while Forest were keen on signing him, it may be one that they are glad they didn’t get over the line.
Meanwhile, it was reported last week that Nottingham Forest are planning new contract talks with Morgan Gibbs-White. Talks between the club and the player are expected to “progress” during the season, and if a new deal was agreed, it would take him to the top of the club’s pay scale.
Newcastle United and Aston Villa were said to have made “tentative” enquiries for the player during the summer, but he has remained at the City Ground, and now talks are expected to accelerate over a new deal.
Nottingham Forest cast eyes over teenage defender
According to Football Scotland, relayed by Inside Futbol, Nottingham Forest have sent scouts to monitor Ayr United’s Dylan Watret. The report states that Forest were among the clubs from the Premier League to watch the right-back in his recent outing against Raith Rovers in the Scottish Challenge Cup.
The 17-year-old came through the academy at Ayr United, while he spent the second half of last season on loan at East Sterling, where he played eight times.
The defender made his debut for Ayr in the 2022/23 season, as he played in the SFA Cup, the Scottish Championship, and the Viaplay Cup. He has followed that up by playing seven times for the Scottish side in this 2024/25 campaign, scoring one goal and recording one assist in three league games.
As well as Forest keeping an eye on Watret, Arsenal are also said to have had scouts at the Scottish club's recent game, while there were also representatives from sides in the Scottish Premiership.
West Ham United needed a reset after David Moyes' reign came to an end before the summer. Julen Lopetegui was welcomed in his place as the London club's first head coach – as opposed to manager – emphasising the structural shift that is in line with much of modern football.
Technical director Tim Steidten has certainly succeeded in a show of ambition, with over £120m paid for a list of new first-teamers: Niclas Fullkrug has joined as the side's new centre-forward; last year's Championship MVP Crysencio Summerville adds electricity to the left flank; Max Kilman and Jean-Clair Todibo have signed to shore up the leaky backline.
West Ham head coach Julen Lopetegui
That's not an exhaustive list but the east Londoners still need a bit more fizz in attack; after losing their Premier League opener 2-1 on home turf against Aston Villa, such concerns have been heightened, and an exciting addition is being targetted.
Who West Ham could still sign
Lopetegui is keen on landing a new midfielder to improve the fluency and attacking impetus. According to a recent report from The Guardian, Paris Saint-Germain's Carlos Soler has been earmarked as the perfect addition.
Given that Soler, a fine playmaker with an eye for goal, would join on a loan spell with an obligation to buy, there could be shades of Jesse Lingard about the potential deal, with the former England international enjoying a cult-status spell of success at the club.
Before such exciting thoughts can be realised, though, Steidten needs to engineer a couple of departures, and failure to do so would end the pursuit.
Who West Ham could sell
The most obvious player to free from the books would be Danny Ings, who is one of the highest earners while having scored only four goals across 53 appearances.
1.
Jarrod Bowen
£150k-per-week
2.
Lucas Paqueta
£150k-per-week
3.
Danny Ings
£125k-per-week
3.
Kurt Zouma
£125k-per-week
5.
Alphonse Areola
£120k-per-week
Ings, who is 32 years old, has entered the final year of his Irons contract and is being pushed toward the exit. The transfer window invariably heats up at the final stage and he could definitely be plying his trade elsewhere come September.
James Ward-Prowse has also been linked with a surprise exit, one year on from his £30m transfer from Southampton. The Times have named the free-kick specialist one of the most likely to be sold, and Soler would be a more dynamic and fully-packaged replacement.
Why West Ham have to get the deal done
Ward-Prowse enjoyed a decent campaign with West Ham, scoring seven goals and supplying 12 assists across all competitions, but while his set-piece ability is top-notch, he has faced criticism for his overall performances.
Soler, conversely, has been described as the "complete midfielder" by former Valencia player Curro Torres in the past, for his influence across the park speaks of a skillset that would survive the rigours of the Premier League.
Goals scored
0.17
Top 13%
Assists made
0.17
Top 19%
Passes attempted
63.51
Top 19%
Progressive passes
6.10
Top 24%
Touches (att pen)
2.59
Top 7%
Despite only starting 12 Ligue 1 matches last season, the Spaniard maintained a good rate of goals and assists, and with a more important role at the London Stadium, he might even prove to be Lopetegui's own version of the aforementioned Lingard.
Lingard's career form has definitely ebbed and flowed, with the 31-year-old enjoying significant moments of success at Manchester United but also spending plenty of time on the periphery, but inarguably his most potent period came when he joined Moyes' West Ham side on loan.
A deal was struck in January 2021. Moyes reunited with Lingard following his Red Devils days and optimism was perhaps tentative after a protracted period of inactivity under Ole Gunnar Solskjær. Few envisaged what was to come.
Pundit Trevor Sinclair hailed his "outstanding" resurgence as he found his Midas touch and wreaked havoc for the fast-improving Hammers, with his haul crucial for the side's sixth-place Premier League finish and consequent Europa League qualification.
As per Sofascore, Lingard's sojourn in the capital reaped prolific rewards, having bagged nine goals and provided four more across only 16 matches.
Alternating between central striking and wide-flanking roles, the dynamo also completed 84% of his passes and averaged 1.1 key passes per game.
It's for this reason that West Ham might be interested in striking a deal that would repeat the feat. Soler is itching for a chance to restore his status and he will have every confidence that he has the requisite skills to grow into his skin as one of the Premier League club's main men.
Soler, for example, plundered 11 goals and supplied five more assists across the 2021/22 campaign in La Liga, his last before signing for PSG.
george-earthy-jesse-lingard-west-ham-opinion
Valencia's creative star also averaged 1.7 key passes per game and won 54% of his ground duels, backing up Torres' earlier-mentioned claims that he is indeed the 'complete midfielder'.
He would be unlikely to perform in the same kind of advanced position. The 27-year-old is dynamic and positionally pliable, but Lopetegui could recreate the success that his predecessor found – perhaps this time succeeding in tying down the talent in question to a permanent deal.
Therefore, it would appear crucial that Lopetegui gets his wish and lands Soler to add impetus to the midfield. While the squad is well-stocked with talents such as Ward-Prowse, he's seemingly considered expendable and his sale would allow the club to turn a profit while further shaping Lopetegui's design.
West Ham can land instant Summerville competition with £25m signing
Leeds United forward Crysencio Summerville has told chiefs that he wants to leave Elland Road, according to reports in the last 48 hours.
When did Crysencio Summerville join Leeds?
The Dutchman first arrived in Yorkshire back in September 2020 when he joined the U21s from Feyenoord's U19s, before getting promoted to the first-team the following summer, but he’s never quite been able to receive the regular game time he needs.
During the 2022/23 Premier League season, the 21-year-old was only handed 12 starts from 38 games and was viewed as more of a fringe player, so is obviously out of favour when it comes to getting consistent minutes under his belt.
The Whites’ right-sided winger may still have another three years to run on his contract but suffering relegation to the second-tier has seen several big names, including Tyler Adams, Wilfried Gnonto and Jack Harrison, all linked with exits. The young attacker could be another following in their footsteps if the next update is to be believed.
Is Summerville leaving Leeds?
According to Dutch outlet 1908 (via Football League World), Summerville has “informed” Leeds that next season he “does not intend” to play his football in the Championship.
The LS11 academy graduate has already “made his position clear” regarding his future having told the hierarchy that he “will not be with the team” beyond the summer transfer window.
The Elland Road ace is attracting interest from the likes of Everton and former side Feyenoord so he won’t be short of potential suitors should he depart which, at this stage, is looking highly likely.
Leeds United forwardCrysencio Summerville.
Should the 49ers keep or sell Summerville?
Leeds will know that Jesse Marsch, Javi Gracia and Sam Allardyce didn’t favour Summerville enough last season so he wasn’t given a proper chance to show what he’s capable of, but when he was in action, he more than displayed why he should be in the starting squad.
The Wasserman client, who pockets £15k-per-week, posted six goal contributions (four goals and two assists) in 28 Premier League appearances and was his outfit’s fourth best-performing offensive player, highlighting the positive impact he made in such a short space of time.
The Netherlands U21s international, who has the versatility to operate in five various positions across the grass, has also been hailed an “explosive” winger by talent scout Jacek Kulig for his creative flair in the final third, so the 49ers Enterprises should definitely try to retain his services and bring in a manager that will allow him to get a more consistent run in the team next season.
Manchester United could be a potential destination for Juventus striker Dusan Vlahovic if he decides to leave his current employers in the forthcoming transfer window, according to journalist Dean Jones.
What's the latest transfer news involving Dusan Vlahovic?
According to Corriere Torino via The Faithful MUFC, Manchester United are eyeing a move for Vlahovic and would need to pay around €90 million (£77.4 million) to land the Serbia international this summer.
The report states that Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal made proposals to try and land the 23-year-old in the January window; however, nothing came to fruition and he remained at Juventus.
ESPN claimed last month that Chelsea are said to have made an offer of €80 million (£68.8 million) as they look to sign a striker this off-season and Vlahovic is believed to be their preferred striking target at Stamford Bridge.
Vlahovic is unhappy at Juventus and has become a hot topic around Europe as many clubs look to capitalise on the fact Juventus will be plying their trade in the Europa Conference League next term rather than the Champions League, where they would've been situated if it wasn't for a 10-point deduction.
Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, journalist Jones thinks that Vlahovic could end up at Old Trafford this summer as speculation swirls over his future.
Jones said: “The situation around Vlahovic is very interesting. Potentially he’s one of the hottest frontmen on the market this summer – but we also have to consider Juve might change manager and my information is that could well sway his decision to stay if it happens.
“Let’s consider that he does leave Juve, there is good value to be had. Generally, there is a feeling he goes at around €70m, although I was told that he won’t leave for less than €80m (£70m). Even at that price, he holds good value in my eyes and would be worth the pursuit.
“A source in Italy told me he sees Bayern Munich and Manchester United as the two most likely landing spots for him but there are a few other clubs looking at this too so let’s see how it all opens up in the next few days as a decision is looming.”
Would Dusan Vlahovic prove to be a good signing for Manchester United?
Vlahovic, who has been hailed as a "monster", certainly knows where the back of the net is and would add a predatory instinct to a Manchester United side that did endure moments of profligacy in front of goal throughout this campaign.
In 42 appearances within 2022/23, Vlahovic managed to register 14 goals and four assists for Juventus in all competitions, as per Transfermarkt.
Juventus'DusanVlahovicreacts
WhoScored show that the £216k-a-week ace was also a constant problem for opposition defenders to contend with, as he averaged 2.5 shots per match in Serie A.
The Serbia international also showed his capacity to lead the line effectively, successfully carrying out 63 shot-creating actions this season, according to FBRef.
Manchester United need to find a quality striker to add extra goals to their side heading into next term and Vlahovic could help the Red Devils to become genuine Premier League title challengers under Erik Ten Hag if they can get a deal over the line for the striker.
Chelsea target Dusan Vlahovic "could definitely leave" Juventus during the summer transfer window, according to an update from journalist Ben Jacobs.
Is Vlahovic excelling at Juve?
The Blues are on the lookout for a new striker in the next few months, with that area of the pitch proving to be an issue this season. Kai Havertz has often led the line, but is arguably happier in a deeper role, and he topped the west Londoners' Premier League scoring charts with just seven goals.
For that reason, an elite centre forward is needed, in order to make Chelsea more potent in the final third, and Vlahovic has been linked with a move to Stamford Bridge in the recent past. The £215,000-a-week striker scored 10 goals in 22 Serie A starts this season, and while it hasn't been the most productive campaign of his career, he is still a highly thought of young player.
His current Juve deals expires in the summer of 2026, but a fresh update suggests that he could well be on the move long before then.
Juventus' Dusan Vlahovic
Could Chelsea sign Vlahovic this summer?
Speaking to Give Me Sport, Jacobs handed Chelsea a boost, saying that Vlahovic could "definitely" leave his current club for a new challenge this summer:
"I think Chelsea want a traditional number nine and they urgently need goals. Dusan Vlahovic is one player they've tracked for quite some time. The possibility that Vlahovic will leave Juventus hasn't become apparent after the points deduction. It's really been the case for all of 2023, and many suitors feel that there is a real possibility to get Vlahovic at value because he's just not as happy as he was at Fiorentina playing under Max Allegri.
"When you add the fact that Juve, with the points deduction, are not looking likely to get Champions League football, suddenly there is that possibility that somebody could come in. Obviously, we also have to wait and see what the other implications are from the cases against Juventus because there may be more things that impact the football club and their finances. Vlahovic could definitely move somewhere this summer."
Vlahovic could be a brilliant option for Chelsea ahead of next season, having been described as an "extraordinary" player by former Juve midfielder Alessio Tacchinardi in the past.
At 23, he is still a young player who could be a long-term addition, and his tally of 61 goals in 140 appearances in Serie A, as well as 13 in 21 caps for Serbia, speaks volumes about how prolific he can be.
The fact that Juve could be willing to sell is also a clear bonus, so if Mauricio Pochettino likes the look of him, and sees him as a strong and younger alternative to the likes of Victor Osimhen and Harry Kane, the Blues should acquire his signature and make him the focal point of their attack.
Glasgow Rangers head coach Michael Beale is facing a busy few months of transfer business following the conclusion of his side's 2022/23 campaign on Saturday.
The Englishman failed to win a single trophy in his first season in charge of the club, although he did take over from Gio van Bronckhorst during the break for the 2022 World Cup, and could use the window to upgrade his squad.
Earlier this month, the Scottish Sun reported that the Light Blues will listen to offers for Croatian centre-forward Antonio Colak in the summer.
The report claimed that MLS and German sides attempted to sign the ace in the January window and that the striker would be interested in completing a move away from Ibrox if a Bundesliga team is able to agree a deal for his services.
Beale could now brutally ditch the ex-PAOK finisher by securing a deal to sign reported transfer target Jerry Yates from English side Blackpool ahead of next season.
Who is Jerry Yates?
He is a 26-year-old centre-forward who is valued at £4m by his current club, following their relegation from the Championship to League One.
The Englishman enjoyed a strong campaign in the second tier in spite of his side's struggles and eventual drop down to the third division and has shown promise as a goalscorer at that level.
Yates plundered 14 goals in 39 starts for the Tangerines and that was an impressive return when you consider that they only scored 48 times as a team in 46 matches, which means that the ace scored 29.17% of their goals.
Colak, meanwhile, found the back of the net 14 times in 25 outings in the Scottish Premiership. However, Rangers amassed 93 goals in the league and this means that the forward scored 15% of the club's goals in the division.
Rangers striker Antonio Colak.
These statistics suggest that Yates, who was once dubbed "dangerous" by journalist Josh Bunting, could improve his goal tally by playing in a side that can dominate games and score more as a team, as 29.17% of their strikes would roughly work as 27 goals in a side that scores 93 times.
The Blackpool star also created nine 'big chances' for his teammates and displayed his creativity from a number nine position, whereas the Gers dynamo only created three. This indicates that the English gem could offer far more in build-up play by providing the other attackers with opportunities to score.
Therefore, Beale could ruthlessly ditch Colak this summer by signing Yates to take his place as the now-League One marksman could be an upgrade on the 29-year-old.