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West Ham United are reportedly looking ahead to the transfer window for reinforcements this summer.

While the narrative surrounding West Ham on the transfer front has been mainly targeting the future of Declan Rice, the Hammers have been linked with a Premier League attacker, taking some attention from their proposed outgoings.

With his future in doubt and his reluctance to sign a new contract public, Arsenal forward Reiss Nelson is expected to be on the move this summer, with interest from East London reported.

What’s the latest on Reiss Nelson to West Ham United?

As reported by the Daily Mail last month, the 23-year-old has gained interest from a number of clubs both inside and out of the Premier League, including West Ham.

It’s now understood that the Gunners have made three offers for contracts to the young Englishman, with a solution not set to be found with his wishes to have more game time.

The Hale End graduate will leave on a free transfer from the Emirates this summer, with his next destination being monitored by many.

What could Reiss Nelson offer West Ham United?

Having been at the club since the age of nine, Nelson has enjoyed two loan spells since graduating from the academy, representing Hoffenheim in the Bundesliga and Feyenoord in the Eredivisie.

Following his stay in Germany, the winger’s market value hit a high of €12.7m (£11m) – as per FootballTransfers – for his praised performances in which he scored seven Bundesliga goals in 23 appearances.

Praised as having “great pace” and the ability to do “a lot” with the ball by former Hoffenheim manager Julian Nagelsmann, the forward has a bright future ahead of him and would be a worthy addition for West Ham.

While Jarrod Bowen has been strong this season for the majority, scoring 11 goals and assisting eight, introducing a player as hungry as Nelson could spur the 26-year-old on to improve performance and compete for a place.

Despite being a squad player this season in Arsenal’s rising young side, the 23-year-old has made an impact when required, showing his resilience and patience as well as his skill set to provide with little practice.

It’s common for players to drop off performance-wise when not playing frequently, however, Nelson has defied such expectations, with his cameos from the bench ranking him in the top 3% in Europe’s top five leagues for most goals scored per 90, with a massive 0.56 – as per FBref.

Described as having an “elite” mentality by former teammate and fellow Arsenal academy graduate Alex Iwobi, the forward has flourished statistically this season, with FBref comparing him to the likes of Vinicius Junior for his numbers.

The youngster also ranks highly for his work on the ball, averaging 2.63 successful take-ons per 90, placing him in the top 10% for his position in Europe.

The right-winger has a host of potential, as well as experience in playing and competing with a side as bustling with talent as Arsenal’s, making him a forward that could excel at the club and push those around him.

The Afghanistan Cricket Board have named former India batsman Lalchand Rajput as the new head coach of their national team

ESPNcricinfo staff25-Jun-2016The Afghanistan Cricket Board has named former India batsman Lalchand Rajput as the new head coach of their national team. He takes over the position vacated by former Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq in April 2016 and his first assignment is a tour of Scotland, Ireland and the Netherlands in July and August.According to ACB chief executive Shaiqullah Stanikzai, Rajput was chosen ahead of former Pakistan batsman Mohammad Yousuf, former South Africa batsman Herschelle Gibbs and former West Indies fast bowler Corey Collymore. The three of them had applied through their agents while Rajput’s name was recommended by the BCCI.Previous coaching experience and administrative work had given Rajput an edge. He was in charge of the Indian team when they won World T20 in 2007 and for the controversial tour to Australia in 2007-08. Following his retirement after a 17-year playing career, he served as joint honourary secretary of the Mumbai Cricket Association.Rajput is in line for a two-year contract, but that decision would be finalised after the upcoming tour of Europe. Afghanistan play seven ODIs against Scotland and Ireland, and an Intercontinental Cup match against Netherlands.”I am excited to work again with an international team,” Rajput told ESPNcricinfo. “The challenge is to get Afghanistan into the top 10. They also don’t have the Test status and so our goal would be to work towards achieving that in the long term.”It is learnt that the ACB had been in talks with former Sri Lanka fast bowler Chaminda Vaas, but they fell through.Rajput has played two Tests and four ODIs for India, to go along with his 110 matches and 7988 runs in first-class cricket. He has also coached his state side Mumbai in the Ranji Trophy and in the Indian Premier League. Rajput has had successful stints at the helm of India Under-19 and A teams. He was also among the final contenders to take over as India’s full-time head coach. But with Anil Kumble’s appointment on Thursday, Rajput was free to take up the ACB’s offer.

Aston Villa have reportedly held talks with Barcelona over a move for Ferran Torres this summer.

What’s the latest Villa transfer news involving Torres?

Villa look to be in for a busy summer ahead of Unai Emery’s first season in charge, with Mateu Alemany set to come in as director of football from Barcelona to work with the manager in the transfer market. One of Alemany’s first moves could be a raid on his soon-to-be former employers by moving for Torres.

The 23-year-old was linked with a move to Midlands earlier this month, and it seems as if Villa have made an initial move by holding talks over a deal.

Spanish outlet Sport provided an update regarding Torres in the last 48 hours. They claimed that the two clubs have already started negotiations over a deal that could be formalised before the end of June.

Villa’s interest is described as advanced, with any deal costing at least €42m (£36.8m) – a figure which would see the forward become the club’s record signing ahead of Emiliano Buendia. The report adds that both Alemany and Emery know Torres “perfectly” and feel that he can be a “differential footballer” in the Midlands.

One to watch…

Torres, described as "world-class" by Barcelona manager Xavi, has made 67 appearances for the Catalan giants after joining in January 2022. The Spain international has contributed to 22 goals in all competitions and has played all across the frontline this season.

Therefore, he would provide Emery with a versatile attacking option next season and would also offer previous Premier League experience after scoring nine times in 28 top-flight games for Manchester City.

Primarily a right-footed left-winger, Torres has netted an impressive 15 goals in 35 games for Spain, so could be a smart attacking addition to rival main man Ollie Watkins next season. He would be able to play off Watkins out wide or alongside the Englishman in a central role, and with Alemany and Emery clearly keen, it looks as if a move will be one to keep an eye on.

Gloucestershire’s enterprising approach was rewarded on the final afternoon as century-makers Michael Klinger and Jack Taylor powered them to a five wicket win over Worcestershire in the Specsavers County Championship clash at New Road

ECB Reporters Network01-Jun-2016
ScorecardJack Taylor smashed a 71-ball hundred to help Gloucestershire to victory (file photo)•PA PhotosGloucestershire’s enterprising approach was rewarded on the final afternoon as century-makers Michael Klinger and Jack Taylor powered them to a five-wicket win over Worcestershire in the County Championship clash at New Road.The Gloucestershire captain Gareth Roderick had thrown open a game heading towards stalemate on the third day by declaring his side’s first innings 75 runs in arrears. Gloucestershire then proceeded to bowl out Worcestershire for 239 and were left a target of 315 in 70 overs which they reached with more than 10 overs to spare.With the pitch playing true and a short off-side boundary for the right-handers to target, a see-saw game finally tipped in Gloucestershire’s favour as they climbed to third spot in the Division Two table.Klinger, a former Worcestershire player, and Taylor came together in the first over after tea at 141 for 5 and proceeded to flay the home attack.Taylor reached a brilliant hundred off 71 balls with five sixes and 11 fours and finished unbeaten on 107. Klinger completed his ton with the match-winning six off Brett D’Oliveira; he faced 141 balls and hit two sixes and 11 fours. Their stand was worth an unbroken 179 in just 24 overs.Klinger and Taylor’s main concern was the light and play was halted briefly but the players returned and the sixth-wicket pair completed their task.Gloucestershire set out in pursuit of their target immediately after lunch and Worcestershire vice-captain Joe Leach had made the first breakthrough when Chris Dent edged to first slip. Fellow opener Roderick fell to a superb full-length catch by Alexei Kervezee at mid-off off Ed Barnard after he had ran back 20 yards from extra cover.First innings century-maker Graeme van Buuren again looked in good touch before he was undone by a ball of extra bounce from Charlie Morris and was caught behind for 42. Then in the final over before tea, Hamish Marshall took on occasional spinner Kervezee and was caught at mid-on to leave Gloucestershire on 139 for 4 at the interval.Worcestershire’s victory hopes increased in the first over after tea when George Hankins aimed a heave across the line at Leach and was lbw. But Taylor decided counterattacking was the best option and he reached his half century off 38 balls with four sixes and five fours. He also dominated a century stand with Klinger, which came up in just 17 overs.Heavy morning rain delayed the start but play was able to get underway at 11.30am with only the loss of eight overs. Worcestershire resumed on 151 for 5 in their second innings – a lead of 226 – and Ross Whiteley scored a typically robust 53-ball half-century but wickets fell at regular intervals at the other end to Liam Norwell and Craig Miles.Ben Cox was caught behind off Norwell and then Leach perished at deep midwicket off Miles. Miles struck twice in an over as Ed Barnard was caught at cover before a superb leg-side catch by keeper Roderick accounted for first-innings centurion Jack Shantry.Whiteley was last out for 71 from 88 balls with four sixes and seven fours. Miles finished with 5 for 54 – his 10th five wicket haul in first class cricket – and Norwell 4 for 70.

Everton have found themselves in a precarious position in the Premier League this season as they continue their battle for survival at the bottom of the table.

The future is looking incredibly uncertain for the Toffees, who are currently one point deep in the relegation zone, with just four games left to avoid their first-ever drop into the Championship since the Premier League began 31 years ago.

The unstable situation at Goodison Park is not only found in the performances on the pitch, with mounting financial concerns also plaguing the Merseysiders as they are currently under investigation for Financial Fair Play breaches too, only adding to the uncertainty surrounding their future.

As a result, any plans or ideas put forward for the summer transfer window will likely be on hold until the club learns their fate in both their potential financial constraints and top-flight status, which leaves Sean Dyche unable to foresee the future of his squad.

However, the Toffees could be set for a huge boost, with Sport Witness relaying reports from the Netherlands this week that academy graduate Jarrad Branthwaite will return to the club following his phenomenal loan spell at PSV Eindhoven this season, despite rumours circulating in the media that he could be sold on.

How is Jarrad Branthwaite getting on at PSV Eindhoven?

Most Everton supporters will be familiar with the talented centre-back following his explosive Premier League performance where he scored a goal against Chelsea in a draw at Stamford Bridge last season, however, they may not be familiar with the outstanding development and growth he has had over his season-long loan so far in the Eredivisie.

Over 23 league appearances, the £15k-per-week ace – hailed "skilful" by Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti – has scored two goals, kept six clean sheets and won 55% of his duels combined, as well as averaging 3.5 clearances, 1.4 interceptions and 54.2 touches game, proving that he is a huge presence in several areas of the pitch.

The 20-year-old's talents haven't gone unnoticed, with PSV manager Ruud van Nistelrooy signing the praises of Branthwaite and expressing his desire to retain the youngster's services next season:

"We would like [to keep him beyond this season]. He is a great talent. The boy is 20, but he has a future.

"He is good on the ball, can play on the left or the right of centre-back because he is two-footed. He has height and speed, so he is very complete."

Despite Van Nistelrooy's wishes, there is no doubt that Branthwaite would be an incredible asset to Everton next season and should be retained at all costs.

The defender is incredibly well-polished and looks set to burst onto the scene in the top-flight next term, with the potential there to emulate the club's biggest academy in recent years in Ross Barkley.

The club's youth set-up has produced some diamonds in days gone by, most notably Wayne Rooney, but Branthwaite feels like the biggest since Barkley.

Although the Englishman contributed to over 50 goals in Everton colours, he now resides in France at Nice.

There will be a hope that Branthwaite's career will not go in a similar direction but his potential exploits in Merseyside are certain to fill supporters with excitement.

It looks unlikely that Yerry Mina will extend his stay at Goodison Park beyond his contract expiration this summer and, due to becoming an outcast under Dyche, it would be surprising to see Everton commit to a permanent deal for Conor Coady, paving the way perfectly for Branthwaite to become a regular starter.

With that being said, retaining as much talent as possible has to be a priority for Everton, no matter where they find themselves over the coming weeks ahead, Utilising Branthwaite's ability in the back line could considerably improve their defensive performance without the need to spend any money at all.

Arsenal are set to join the race for Lens striker Lois Openda, alongside a number of other Premier League clubs, according to recent reports from Spain.

Will Arsenal sign a striker this summer?

Mikel Arteta is keen on bringing in a new striker this summer, with the manager looking to sign someone to provide competition for Gabriel Jesus, and Arsenal have now set their sights on signing Aston Villa's Ollie Watkins, after his impressive recent form.

Watkins is not the only Premier League striker being eyed by the Gunners, as Dominic Calvert-Lewin is also on the club's radar, with journalist Pete O'Rourke explaining they may want to bring in a more physical centre-forward.

In terms of options from abroad, Lille's Jonathan David has been touted for a move to the Emirates Stadium, while Arsenal also remain among the main contenders to sign Juventus' Dusan Vlahovic, who could be on the move this summer.

According to reports from Spain (via The Sun), the Gunners have now joined the race for Openda, with Arteta keen on signing a back-up option for Jesus, although they are not the only Premier League club interested.

Aston Villa and Leicester City are also named as potential suitors for the forward, with his stock rising after a fantastic season with Lens, so there is likely to be stiff competition for his signature.

The initial report claimed that Arsenal will have enough money to prise the 23-year-old away from Lens, but it is not detailed how much the French club are likely to demand.

Should Arsenal sign Lois Openda?

The Belgian is not as well known as the likes of Calvert-Lewin and Vlahovic, but there are indications he may be a better signing than the latter player, given that he is having a much better season than the Juventus striker.

Hailed as "sensational" by sports writer Robin Bairner, the £13k-per-week marksman has scored a remarkable 17 league goals this season, also registering three assists, while Vlahovic has been out-of-sorts, now without a goal in his last ten Serie A games.

That said, if Arteta is looking for a physical striker, then Openda is not the best option, given that he is 5 foot 8 and has averaged just 0.53 aerials won per 90 in the past year, which ranks him in the ninth percentile compared to his positional peers.

If Arsenal are going to bring in a new forward, then they should bring in someone with a different skill-set to Jesus, so Calvert-Lewin could be an intriguing option, if he is able to put his recent injury problems behind him.

Tottenham Hotspur's chairman Daniel Levy is not believed to be in any rush to come to a conclusion on the club's managerial search.

Who are Spurs looking at to become their next manager?

Spurs have now been without a permanent manager since the sacking of Antonio Conte at the beginning of the month following their draw against Southampton.

However, since his departure, things have not got better for the Lilywhites with the north London side winning just once in controversial fashion against Brighton & Hove Albion.

The humiliating defeat on the weekend to Newcastle United saw Cristian Stellini's time at the helm come to an early end with Ryan Mason now the third manager of the campaign.

But there is a believed list of potential managerial candidates in north London with the likes of Julian Nagelsmann and Vincent Kompany thought to be near the top.

This comes amid the expected appointment of Mauricio Pochettino at Chelsea despite the clamour from Spurs fans for their former manager.

Although it is apparent the Spurs fans are hoping to hear of an appointment soon, it seems the same cannot be said for the Spurs chairman.

Indeed, speaking on the House of Champions YouTube channel, Fabrizio Romano has claimed the 61-year-old is not in a rush to make his decision:

(4:30) "I think, from what I understand, there are five/six candidates to the job. Daniel Levy wants to take some time before he makes the decision."

Who should Spurs appoint?

It was apparent a lot of Spurs fans were keen to see a reunion with Pochettino but that looks likely to be off the cards with his expected appointment at Stamford Bridge.

However, if Chelsea do announce the Argentine as their next boss, it will relieve some of the pressure off Spurs in their own managerial search.

It is believed a lot of the managers on Tottenham's shortlist were also on Todd Boehly's at Chelsea.

Now the Blues are seemingly set to end their manager search, it could provide Spurs with more freedom to operate and discuss with their targets.

However, the fans will not want to see a repeat of 2021 where the search went on for months and ended up settling for Nuno Espirito Santo.

The likes of Nagelsmann and Luis Enrique are there for Spurs, but fans will want to see an appointment made ahead of the summer so the potential new boss will have time to make plans for the transfer window.

Frustration among the fans towards Levy is clear to see and this is an opportunity for him not to pile any more pressure on his shoulders over the coming weeks.

West Ham United managed to put their Premier League woes on the back burner, for the time being anyway, to secure a European semi-final berth for the second year in a row with a 4-1 victory over Gent last night.

With the tie poised at 1-1 heading into the match, David Moyes knew a win would secure West Ham a place in the next round, and they duly delivered. Two goals from Michail Antonio along with a Lucas Paqueta penalty and a stunning goal from Declan Rice were more than enough to dominate the Belgian side.

Antonio continued his fine European form this term, scoring his fourth and fifth goals in the competition this season and he was statistically, the second-best player on the pitch with a Sofascore rating of 8.1/10.

Along with his double, the 33-year-old made two key passes, succeeded with two dribble attempts and posed a genuine attacking threat which Moyes has sorely been lacking in the Premier League this season.

The real hero was Lucas Paqueta however, as the Brazilian ran the show from an attacking midfield slot.

How did Lucas Paqueta perform against Gent?

It looked as though West Ham had secured a real coup when they managed to convince Paqueta that West Ham was the best place for him to flourish and with his vast international experience, he was looked upon to take the club to the next level.

It hasn’t exactly worked out that way, with the attacking midfielder struggling at times to find his rhythm in a season of turmoil, scoring just twice until last night, against the Belgian side however, he enjoyed one of his finest performances in a while.

His 8.3/10 Sofascore rating from the match ranked him as the best player out of either side and along with the penalty he netted, the Brazilian even registered two assists.

The “phenomenal” 25-year-old – as previously dubbed by analyst Alex Barker – delivered an attacking display that many of the West Ham supporters will be wondering how it took him so long to finally deliver on the big stage.

Paqueta managed 71 touches all game as he looked to dictate the play and create opportunities while he also made three key passes and was successful with 80% of his attempted passes.

The former Lyon star also won five duels and succeeded with his only dribble attempt during the encounter as he came to life exactly when Moyes needed him most and the Scot will be hoping this wasn’t some sort of false dawn ahead of a crucial few weeks for the Hammers.

If Paqueta can consistently deliver in the remaining league matches this season, there is no doubt West Ham can maintain their top-flight status.

Everton's offensive woes have been there for all to see this season, with Frank Lampard seemingly having passed on his struggles to successor Sean Dyche.

The former Burnley boss enjoyed an initial upturn in form upon joining, claiming some crucial wins against league leaders Arsenal and Brentford, but they have since lost their last two games; the most recent of which drew ugly scenes at Goodison Park, who were not happy with the manner of their defeat to Fulham.

That crushing blow has left them above the relegation zone only on goal difference, and with a tricky run of fixtures remaining, at the mercy of their competitors to secure survival. It almost feels like the Toffees are reliant on other clubs failing to win, rather than being able to pick up vital points of their own accord.

This can be traced back again to a lack of potency in the final third, as Dyche had to watch his side spurn numerous golden chances before falling behind again last time out.

Up front, there is no reliable source of goals, which explains why their top three scorers for the season are all wingers, with one having left in January.

However, with four goals, Demarai Gray and Dwight McNeil are the lowest-scoring top scorer of any Premier League team. Their standing is hardly a badge of honour.

With the latter being the only real source of goals of late, perhaps the other wide spot could have become available for someone with fresh ideas and youthful energy; someone like Stanley Mills.

Who is Stanley Mills?

Having seen his stock rise dramatically in the last year or so, given his steady integration within the first team, the 19-year-old has seemingly been prepping for a consistent senior football birth for some time now that is yet to emerge.

Just two appearances within the first team is admirable, but given the teenager's form in the Premier League 2, there is no reason why he has not been made a permanent member of Dyche's squad.

After all, the speedster boasts eight goals in just 13 league appearances, having scored a further three in just four EFL Trophy starts.

For comparison, Alex Iwobi and Gray, who would be the competitors for that other wide spot, have a combined goal tally of just five.

Not only that, but the last non-penalty goal either of them scored was back in December.

This marks a stark contrast with the young trickster, who has seemingly modelled his whole game around the pursuit of finding the back of the net. His father, former Leeds United defender Danny Mills, outlined this:

"In the modern game, I think he’s a winger or a No 10, as he can create and has an eye for goal."

With little to lose given the lack of output the alternatives bring, Mills boasts a fine wildcard option who could save Everton's season, should he be given the chance.

Crystal Palace are keen on a move to bring Steve Biko FC striker Adama Bojang to the Premier League, according to reports.

Who is Adama Bojang?

The Gambian is an exciting, up-and-coming talent who has worked his way through the ranks to become a regular feature for his current club. The £650k-valued forward has also started making a name for himself on the international stage, having recently represented his country at the AFCON U20s tournament and is expected to feature at the U20 World Cup later this year.

Recent reports have suggested that the 18-year-old is hoping to put himself in the shop window by delivering a consistent run of strong performances for Gambia’s youth side, and it would appear that his hard work has already paid off, having caught the eye of the Eagles.

According to the Daily Mail, Crystal Palace and Chelsea are the latest clubs to “register an interest” in securing the services of Bojang ahead of the 2023/24 term. Tottenham Hotspur and Nottingham Forest are also name-checked as teams “monitoring” the teenager’s development. The Premier League sides are all “considering” purchasing the striker and sending him straight back out on loan as a result of potential issues arising when it comes to arranging a work permit. Meanwhile, Marseille, Ajax, Royal Antwerp and Napoli are also “in the mix”.

Would Bojang be a good signing for Palace?

Bojang is still very much in the early stages of his development and career as a whole, and would need to gain more senior experience before being considered a member of the first team, but he would almost certainly be an exciting signing for the long-term future at Palace.

The SPOCS Global Sports client scored four goals and provided one assist in six appearances at the AFCON tournament in Egypt where he significantly contributed to his side making it all the way to the final back in March, as per Transfermarkt. Standing at 6 foot 3, the youngster could also be an ideal target man, with his height making him a useful option and focal point to have in the final third when it comes to getting on the end of long balls and set pieces.

Finally, Bojang has been likened to AS Roma and former Chelsea striker Tammy Abraham by talent scout Jacek Kulig, so should he possess similar qualities, he could yet be an extremely positive acquisition at Selhurst Park.