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West Ham United have enjoyed considerable success under the tutelage of David Moyes, and certainly owe a lot to the veteran Scottish manager, having risen to European stature over the past two campaigns.

Granted, progress has fallen by the wayside this term, and the Hammers languish near the nadir of the Premier League after 22 matches, just two places and two points above Everton in 18th place, but there have certainly been the highest of highs to counteract the perils that plague the outfit at present.

But after confidently winning their Europa Conference League group, West Ham await the results of the first knockout phase in the competition as they prepare for their opposition, sights fixed on a surge towards what would be a monumental European triumph, should they succeed.

Did Olivier Giroud nearly join West Ham?

Moyes will be confident in his side’s ability to rectify the wrongs and end the season on a high, but he might cast a rueful gaze back to the transfer activity of 20/21 when assessing his team’s prospects of success, both domestically and in Europe, when a certain record-breaking French talisman slipped through Iron fingers.

Olivier Giroud, formerly of Arsenal and, more recently, Chelsea, departed Stamford Bridge for AC Milan in the summer of 2021, mere months after West Ham’s swoop for the veteran striker fell wide of the mark.

Did West Ham miss a trick with Giroud?

The roaring success of the past few years will have swiftly dissipated any dark clouds that followed the failed transfer to sign Giroud, with last season’s run to the Europa League semi-final an indication that the Hammers were on the up.

However, his abundant pedigree could have been just what Moyes needed, with his physicality and towering presence the perfect magnet to draw in defenders and create pockets of space for the likes of Jarrod Bowen and Said Benrahma to weave into.

And his experience, indeed a winner of the World Cup and Champions League among many other major honours, could have been the catalyst to ensuring the club overcame adversity against Eintracht Frankfurt, eventual Europa League champions, in the bitter disappointment of the penultimate stage.

Since the failed bid, the Hammers have spent £35.5m on Gianluca Scamacca and now £15m for Danny Ings, and with Giroud reportedly costing Milan just £855k, the deal certainly could’ve been one of the shrewdest, most prudent buys in recent West Ham history.

The latter, Ings, fell out of favour under Unai Emery at Aston Villa, starting only on two occasions in the league since the Spanish manager’s debut against Manchester United, and given that the fee paid dwarfs what Milan parted with for the illustrious Giroud, there might be a sense of resentment over the predicament – that could have been averted – that resulted in the requirement for a new forward.

Giroud is not only an imposing and physical forward threat, but an exquisite master of ball control, selfless, and a wise reader of the game, one of the more abundant footballing intellects on the major stage.

The World champion, hailed as “intelligent” and “exceptional” by Gary Lineker, is France’s all-time top goalscorer, plundering 53 goals from 120 appearances and breaking Thierry Henry’s record at the 2022 World Cup, and the storm that is his attacking calibre is showing no sign of abating, despite his twilight age.

The 36-year-old has scored 262 goals and supplied 91 assists at club level over the duration of his professional career, and despite his age, has landed 35 direct contributions from 67 appearances for the Rossoneri, including 11 goals this season.

Moyes would have dearly benefitted from a signing of Giroud’s ilk, and while £15m has been splashed on Ings to combat the club’s concerning position in the Premier League, one can’t help but feel the impact won’t be quite as profound, had Giroud donned the claret shirt.

90min journalist Graeme Bailey has claimed that Chelsea defender Kalidou Koulibaly could be leaving the club this summer.

The Lowdown: Summer signing

The Blues signed Koulibaly from Napoli for £33m, with Sky Sports reporting that the player earns around £8.2m a year.

In 14 league appearances, the Senegalese defender has kept just three clean sheets and won 55% of his overall duels for Graham Potter’s side this season.

He’s already picked up a red card in his first Premier League season with the west London outfit, with the 31-year-old picking up a couple of yellows in his third appearance for the club against Leeds United.

And his first-team place is now arguably under threat following the arrival of Benoit Badiashile last month.

The Latest: Bailey makes exit claim

Speaking on the Talking Transfers podcast, Bailey claimed that a number of Chelsea players could be sold next summer, including Koulibaly.

He stated: “There’s going to be an awful lot of players leaving this summer, there really is. There’s going to be a huge number of players going through the exit door, from what we’re hearing.

“Pulisic, Loftus-Cheek, Gallagher, Hudson-Odoi, Aubameyang, Mendy – all potentially out. An interesting name who I’m told will almost definitely be leaving is Koulibaly, who only arrived last summer.

“And he probably won’t be the only one of the Boehly era who goes early doors.”

The Verdict: Time to sell

We believe that it’s time for Chelsea to sell Koulibaly as he’s simply not done the job he was brought in to do.

As a defender, his job will have been to tighten up the backline and help the Blues launch a title challenge – or at least secure a spot in the top four.

However, Chelsea haven’t delivered on that and have been extremely underwhelming this season. We can’t see them getting any form of European football, the way they’re going.

Jamie O’Hara of TalkSport tore into the defender earlier this season, labelling him as ‘miles off it’ and ‘bang-average’. Some Blues fans have also not been impressed with what they’ve seen when it comes to the performances of their summer signing.

In our view, Koulibaly should look for a move back to Italy, as he knows the league well and it is where he helped build his reputation to begin with.

Journalist Florian Plettenberg has been speaking about Leeds United’s interest in Weston McKennie live on Sky Sports.

The Lowdown: Midfield looking to be improved

After the departure of Mateusz Klich for D.C. United, it appeared that Leeds were in need of a new midfield body to ensure Jesse Marsch had sufficient depth heading into the second half of the season.

Now it looks as though things are starting to kick into gear with less than a week left of the transfer window, as reports have started to emerge around a potential deal for Juventus’ McKennie.

The Italian giants are facing mounting off-field issues which could see McKennie search for a mid-season exit, and given the strong American contingent already at Elland Road, it would likely be an appealing move for the midfielder.

The Latest: McKennie open to joining Leeds

Speaking live on The Transfer Show, German football expert Plettenberg claimed that McKennie is ready for the next step in his career amid Leeds’ interest.

He said: “He is a transfer target of Leeds and he is open to joining Leeds, he is open to making the next step – and maybe you know – he has the same agency as Aaronson has and Aaronson is a player of Leeds United.

“We hear a price tag of around €30-40m [that] Juventus is demanding for Weston McKennie.”

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The Verdict: Marsch to receive further backing

It would certainly be a major coup for Leeds if they could attract someone who’s been playing in the Champions League this season and played every single game for his nation at the World Cup earlier in the winter.

Especially given that Leeds are in the thick of a relegation battle, it would be a statement of intent from the board to lure someone such as McKennie to Elland Road and may well hint at the 49ers edging closer to their takeover of the club by bringing in yet another American.

McKennie has been hailed as ‘dangerous’ by American legend Clint Dempsey after he netted in the Champions League for Juventus earlier this season, showing he can perform on the big stage, and with Fabrizio Romano claiming personal terms wouldn’t be an issue, it’s a potentially exciting deal for Leeds.

As with any transfer window, rumours always persist surrounding the future of Harry Kane at Tottenham Hotspur.

The England talisman is starved of the silverware that his goalscoring exploits and talismanic nature deserves but he’s a Lilywhite at heart.

That said, no one would ever blame him for leaving, should that day ever arrive – and he’s got plenty of suitors.

CBS Sports reporter Ben Jacobs recently provided a huge update on the situation to Caught Offside.

Bayern Munich and Real Madrid are two interested parties from abroad but there’s a belief that the 29-year-old will want to remain in the Premier League, to which the reliable journalist said:

“I think at the moment he does want to re-sign with Spurs. But if that changes, I think Manchester United and Chelsea could come into the conversation.

“The Chelsea ownership are huge admirers of Harry Kane, but that doesn’t mean he’ll be bought or sold.”

If Kane were ever to leave north London, then it doesn’t appear as if Spurs would be well prepared. However, there is a young striker making waves in the youth setup in Will Lankshear.

Despite being only 17 and potentially behind Troy Parrott and Dane Scarlett in the pecking order, the free-scoring forward could well be Kane’s heir apparent instead.

Indeed, the former Sheffield United gem has been called up by manager Antonio Conte to first-team training on a few occasions, so the Italian head coach has clearly already been impressed by his potential.

After being prolific for the youth setup at Bramall Lane, the promising teenager has already found the net seven times across 11 appearances, including a hat-trick against West Ham U18s and a goal against Sporting CP in the UEFA Youth League.

Such form has seen him dubbed a “complete finisher” and “phenomenal” by insider John Wenham to Football Insider.

The “highly-rated” Lankshear – in the words of Sky Sports reporter Lyall Thomas – could therefore be the heir to Kane’s throne at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and given the fact that he’s already here, having cost as little as £2.5m, he’ll save chairman Daniel Levy millions in future transfer windows.

It’s surely only a matter of time before the “hotshot” – as described by journalist Nathan Hemmingham – is in and around Kane on a daily basis as his advice could be invaluable as Spurs look to find his true long-term successor.

AND in other news, Conte could finally land his £48m “Rolls-Royce” by ditching £62k-p/w Spurs “liability”…

Tottenham Hotspur have been linked with a move to bring Memphis Depay to north London in the January transfer window.

That’s according to a report by the Daily Mail, who claim that Barcelona have offered Fabio Paratici the chance to sign the centre-forward this winter, with an earlier report by Spanish publication AS (via Sport Witness) claiming that the LaLiga side would be willing to let the 28-year-old leave the club for as a little as €5m (£4.4m).

This is because of the Catalan side’s dire financial situation, with Barca needing to first offload players in order to bring in new signings of their own in the January market, with Chelsea also reported to be considering a move for the Netherlands international – whose current contract is set to expire next summer – in the coming weeks.

On Depay’s side, after refusing to leave the Camp Nou in the summer, it is suggested that the striker is now more open to the idea of a move away from Barcelona this winter, something that could potentially open the door for Paratici to finally make a concrete move for the Dutchman ahead of the second half of the 2022/23 Premier League campaign.

Absolute steal

While it is true that Depay has somewhat fallen down Xavi Hernández’s attacking pecking order at Barcelona this season – having started just two games in all competitions thus far in 2022/23 – it is nevertheless undeniable that, should Paratici get a £4.4m deal over the line for the 28-year-old in January, it would represent an absolute steal for the Italian sporting director.

Indeed, over his 28 LaLiga appearances last term, the £17.5m-rated talent was in sensational form going forwards, bagging 12 goals, providing two assists and creating five big chances for his teammates, in addition to taking an average of 2.2 shots, making 1.6 key passes and completing 1.6 dribbles per game.

These returns saw the £172k-per-week attacker who Liam Canning labelled “unreal” average an exceptional Sofascore match rating of 7.26, not only ranking him as Barcelona’s fourth-best performer in the league but also as the joint 10th-best player in the Spanish top-flight as a whole.

Furthermore, with the 86-cap international boasting extremely impressive positional versatility – being able to operate from attacking midfield, as a support striker, on either wing and as an out-and-out centre-forward – Depay would quite easily fit into either of Antonio Conte’s preferred 3-4-3 or 3-5-2 tactical set-ups at Spurs.

As such, considering his deadly ability in the final third, his ability to play in a number of different roles and the fact he looks to be available for a fee that is roughly £13m under his current market valuation, it would indeed appear as if Paratici’s potential capture of the 28-year-old would represent a real steal for the 50-year-old and Tottenham this winter.

QPR have been credited with an interest in Brighton striker Deniz Undav recently and the German could be a big upgrade on Lyndon Dykes at Loftus Road.

According to Football League World, the Hoops are one of several second-tier sides including Sunderland, Burnley, Coventry City, Blackburn Rovers and Norwich to register an interest in signing Undav next month.

While the Hoops have been embroiled in a managerial saga, recently appointing Neil Critchley, but it seems clear that the west London side needs some new additions in January if they still have ambitions of promotion this season.The 26-year-old has struggled for game time with the Seagulls, playing just 172 minutes in total with eight substitute appearances in the Premier League, although he did score on his one start against Forest Green in the League Cup.However, his performances in Belgium last season certainly suggest that he can be a huge threat in the final third, as he would contribute a hugely impressive 25 goals and ten assists in just 33 league appearances for Royale Union Saint-Gilloise.Dykes and Chris Willock are currently tied as the top scorers in QPR’s side this season with just six to their name, which suggests that the Hoops need a more natural goalscorer if they want to push themselves back up the table, and Undav could definitely be the man for the job, as he certainly backs himself to find the net on a regular basis.Upon his arrival at Brighton, the striker said:“I will not say a number [of goals], I will just try and score maybe not 26 but a little bit less. I can score inside the box, outside the box, I can score from the middle line, I can score from everywhere. I have no typical type of goal. I try to score with my head, with the left foot, right foot, with my shoulder, with everything.”If Undav can rediscover the form he showed last season with Royale Union Saint-Gilloise then he would surely prove to be a big hit in the Championship, and arguably an upgrade on Dykes.Albeit in an arguably poorer standard league, when compared to Dykes this season, last season Undav would average far more shots (3.8 vs 2.1), key passes (two vs 0.5) and overall passes (27.3 vs 16.6) than the Scotland international.Thus, not only is he more potent but his creativity bodes well for the rest of the team too. Indeed, Critchley must now certainly look to bring Undav in on loan, as he could fire them back up the Championship table.

Former BBC pundit Noel Whelan has claimed that Wolves manager Julen Lopetegui’s comments on Raul Jimenez going to the World Cup are ‘ridiculous’.

The Lowdown: Lopetegui ‘worried’

As quoted by The Daily Mail, Lopetegui claimed that he is ‘worried’ about Jimenez, and that the Midlands club are more ‘important’ than the World Cup for the Mexico international.

Jimenez has only made four senior appearances so far this season for the Molineux outfit because of injury (featured in both group games for Mexico at the FIFA World Cup in Qatar so far.

The Latest: Lopetegui comments ‘ridiculous’

Speaking to Football Insider, Whelan has claimed that Lopetegui’s comments are ‘very unfair’, and that it is ‘ridiculous’ to ask Jimenez to compromise when he has the chance to play at a World Cup:

“I think it’s very unfair from Lopetegui.

“If anything, playing at the World Cup will help him come back fitter and stronger.

“You can’t ask a player to compromise playing on that stage, it’s ridiculous.

“He might not get another opportunity to do it. Jimenez is a great striker, and he’ll want to be part of it.

“I see this as a real benefit for Wolves and Jimenez. He can come back sharp and hungry after being out of action for so long.”

The Verdict: Both sides to the argument…

On one side, you can sympathise with Lopetegui, a new manager at the helm who wants his key players fully fit for when they return to domestic football after the World Cup.

The Wanderers are bottom of the Premier League table on just 10 points, and have scored the fewest goals in the division with eight.

With the likes of Sasa Kalajdzic and Pedro Neto out injured long-term, Lopetegui needs Jimenez to be fit and firing in front of goal, as the striker has been prolific before in an Old Gold shirt.

On the other side, the World Cup only comes every four years, and Jimenez will be 35 by the time the next one comes. He has now won 99 caps for Mexico, and has the chance to win a landmark 100th if he features in their final group game against Saudi Arabia.

If he did not go to the tournament as perhaps Lopetegui would have wished, given his injury history, he may not have had a chance to reach that milestone.

Celtic striker Giorgios Giakoumakis might not ‘want to sign’ a new contract with the Premiership champions amid a lack of game-time, according to former Hoops marksman Frank McAvennie.

The Lowdown: Negotiations ongoing

The Greek forward arrived at Parkhead from VVV Venlo in 2021 but has found minutes hard to come by this season , having made just four league starts under Ange Postecoglou.

Sky Sports reporter Lyall Thomas recently revealed that the Bhoys are holding discussions with the 27-year-old regarding an improved contract, even though his current deal is not set to expire until 2026.

The Latest: McAvennie’s comments

However, speaking to Football Insider, McAvennie suggested that Giakoumakis may not want to put pen to paper at Celtic if he wants to be a guaranteed starter every week.

The 62-year-old said: “I think it would be good to keep Giakoumakis. I do [not] know whether or not he will want to sign.

“He wants to play all the time, I think he is the kind of guy who wants to play every week. I do like him but I think the manager is going to address that, I think he has to address it.”

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The Verdict: More minutes deserved

Postecoglou clearly isn’t starting Giakoumakis regularly enough, and there’s reason to believe that the 27-year-old should get the nod from the off more regularly given his record in the final third.

Described as ‘dangerous’ by journalist Josh Bunting, the forward has eight goals and one assist to his name in 19 appearances across all competitions this season, and he currently averages 2.5 shots per league game, the joint-most of any Hoops player.

Celtic are already seven points clear of arch-rivals Rangers at the top of the league table so there isn’t any great risk in rotating the squad, which could in turn present Giakoumakis with more frequent opportunites moving forward.

Scottish Premiership champions Celtic may have already seen their Champions League hopes dashed, but the Old Firm outfit still have plenty to play for tonight as they prepare to take on Shakhtar Donetsk at Parkhead.

Title-winning coach Ange Postecoglou has stated heading into the match that it is simply a “must-win” game for his side, with the Hoops still having an outside chance of securing a place in the Europa League in the New Year.

With four points separating the Glasgow giants and their upcoming opponents, it is now win or bust for the hosts tonight, with anything other than three points seeing them finish bottom of the group.

The omens are arguably against the Bhoys, though, having lost each of their last seven home games in the competition, as they look to avoid becoming the first team in the tournament’s history to lose eight in a row on their own patch.

Ahead of that vital meeting, here’s how Football FanCast predicts that the home side will line up…

Postecoglou has revealed that he will once again be without Carl Starfelt and Jota due to injury, despite the pair edging closer to a return, although midfielder David Turnbull is seemingly back in contention.

With that in mind, we predict that there will be four changes from the side which edged past Hearts at the weekend, with one notable alteration set to see Saturday’s match-winning hero Greg Taylor slot in ahead of Alexandro Bernabei, with the latter having struggled at Tynecastle.

On the other flank, Josip Juranovic will likely reclaim his place ahead of Anthony Ralston, while the continued absence of the aforementioned Starfelt should see Moritz Jenz partner Cameron Carter-Vickers at centre-back, despite the pair having both given away penalties against the Jambos.

The midfield trio will likely stay the same as skipper Callum McGregor remains on the treatment table, while in-form hero James Forrest – who has four goals in his last two league games – should keep his place on the right flank.

Further tactical tweaks could well be made in the forward line. Usual starter Kyogo Furuhashi is set to replace Giorgos Giakoumakis through the middle despite the Greece international having netted four goals in his last three top-flight outings, while summer signing Sead Haksabanovic could also return on the left flank.

The “dangerous” asset, as described by journalist Sean Martin, had impressed with his cameo appearance when the two teams met in Warsaw last month, having looked “very lively” according to journalist Josh Bunting.

West Ham United face Wolverhampton Wanderers in this evening’s Premier League clash, with both teams struggling to make their mark in the top flight so far this season.

David Moyes’ side have won just once in the league this term, with their European form failing to translate into domestic success. Wolves haven’t been much better, again winning just one match, scoring just three goals in their seven outings.

The fixture represents a great opportunity for West Ham, with Lage facing a defensive conundrum due to Nathan Collins being suspended, Moyes should be ready to unleash one of his big summer arrivals.

 He’d dominate Wolves

Gianluca Scamacca arrived at West Ham in the summer for a fee of £35.5m, however, the £90k-per-week Italian hasn’t quite hit the ground running domestically.

The striker hasn’t scored in the league for West Ham this season, but his European form will surely have given Moyes a glimpse of just what he can bring to the team. The 23-year-old has netted three goals in four continental appearances and he should be unleashed against Wolves this evening in place of Michail Antonio.

Antonio boasts a decent SofaScore rating of 6.81 this term, but he has scored just one league goal in seven appearances and it could be time for Scamacca to lead the line domestically.

With Lage having to either drastically change his formation or deploy someone with no minutes to their name this season in Toti or Yerson Mosquera, the Italian could take full advantage and dominate the Old Golds’ uncertain defence.

Journalist Sam Tabuteau described Scamacca as the “real deal” recently and Moyes ought to give him just a second league start against Wolves.

The striker has completed 67% of his dribble attempts while also winning 56% of his aerial duels in his five Premier League appearances this term, and despite scoring no goals, he can offer other qualities in leading the West Ham attack.

Moyes has the chance to build some momentum this evening with a victory at home, but it will rely on his team selection and whether or not they can exploit a shaky Wolves defence.