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The East Ham working men’s club will soon be consigned to the history books, with work having started to turn it into a five-story residential building.

An agreement was reached in March for the works to happen, as reported by The Newham Recorder, however, this has not done much to ease the sense of loss West Ham United fans are feeling.

The club was an important part of the matchday experience for many during West Ham’s time at Upton Park, so there were plenty of fans who have been left disappointed:

Following the start of the works, many fans have been reminiscing about their time spent at the Boleyn Ground and the working men’s club.

This seems to act as yet another reminder of the history that has been taken from them and the club since the move to London Stadium.

A selection of Twitter reaction to the update, including posts from reminiscing West Ham fans, can be seen 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…

Against Wolves on Sunday, Ezri Konsa stepped into Aston Villa’s starting XI for the first time in the Premier League since joining in a £12m deal from Brentford, and the centre-back’s assured performance can unquestionably be viewed as a source of optimism if Bjorn Engels is expected to be out for an extended period.

Konsa being named in Dean Smith’s first-choice XI may have come as a surprise to some given an injury to Engels had not been alluded to in any pre-match discussion, but the 22-year-old has done no harm to his already growing reputation in B6 following an impressive display.

The debutant won 100% of his aerial duels in the fixture, whilst also making five recoveries – the joint-highest of any Villa defender alongside Tyrone Mings.

In total, Konsa’s combination of crosses, blocks and interceptions (CBI) totalled four – only behind Mings from Villa’s defensive options, highlighting the centre-back’s impressive display whilst starting for the first time in the league.

With a pass success rate of 82%, the defender also showed his capability on the ball – a vital element of Smith’s philosophy to play out from the back and incorporate both Villa’s attack and defence in their overall play.

Although the former Brentford player was unable to ensure his side gained a clean-sheet, injuries to Jed Steer rocked Villa’s plans from the outset at Molineux, and there can be no doubting that alongside the injury to captain Jack Grealish, Smith was unable to field a first-choice XI for the West Midlands clash.

But despite that, Konsa’s performance was unquestionably a positive element of an otherwise disappointing defeat, and should Engels’ absence from Villa’s starting line-up continue, both Smith and the Villa faithful can be assured that their £12m man is more than capable of stepping up to the plate.

Manchester United are reportedly keeping a close eye on a pair of German superstars as they look to catapult themselves back up towards the top of English football and challenge for the Premier League again.

Manchester United's summer business under scrutiny

Despite spending significant sums over the summer, Erik ten Hag is under massive pressure and Manchester United are 14th in the Premier League, having scored just five goals in their seven games so far. It comes in the wake of a summer in which the club once again backed the Dutch manager, shelling out £180m on five new players headlined by the arrivals of Manuel Ugarte from PSG and Leny Yoro from Lille.

Despite the heavy spending, United’s CEO Omar Berrada has suggested that the Red Devils won’t be able to challenge for the title until 2028.

“It’s not a 10-year plan. The fans would run out of patience if it was a 10-year plan. But it’s certainly a three-year plan to get there”, he revealed.

“To think that we’re going to be playing football as good as Manchester City played against Real Madrid last season by next year is not sensible. And if we give people false expectations, then they will get disappointed. So the key thing is our trajectory, so that people can see that we’re making progress.

“I think it’s the club’s 150-year anniversary in 2028… if our trajectory is leading to a very good place in that sort of timeframe then we’d be very happy with that.”

Despite the realistic rather than optimistic goal, the club will still be aiming to recruit the best talent in world football to Old Trafford, and now are reportedly monitoring a potentially massive double deal.

Manchester United plot De Ligt & Mazraoui repeat

That comes as Sky Sports journalist Florian Plettenberg has revealed that Manchester United are once again looking to snatch unwanted stars from Bayern Munich. This summer, the Red Devils shelled out around 60m euros to bring Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui to Old Trafford from Bavaria, and are now looking to repeat the trick for two of their former title-winning teammates.

Talks back on as Man Utd in contact with "exceptional" Ten Hag replacement

He could be the man to finally return Man Utd to the top table in Europe.

1 ByBen Browning Oct 15, 2024

That comes in the shape of Leroy Sané, who is out of contract at the end of the season as things stand, as well as out-of-favour midfielder Leon Goretzka, who has featured just once in the Bundesliga under Vincent Kompany this season and was publicly dubbed unwanted over the summer.

The report claims that the club are “monitoring” the duo, and that Goretzka is an “interesting candidate” for a potential winter move, while former City winger Sané is free to enter negotiations over a free transfer in the same window.

It is added that both are keen to stay at Bayern as things stand, but with Goretzka unfavoured by Kompany and Sané likely to have to take a pay cut to do so, that could change quickly.

When fit, the Germany winger has been a key man for Bayern, with Jamal Musiala dubbing him “one of the best wingers in the world” earlier in the year. Even if both he and Goretzka were to come cheaply, their wages would be another stumbling block, with the pair taking home a combined £612k per week at the Allianz Arena.

With both earning around £300,000 a week, it would put them among Manchester United’s highest earners were they to be paid the same in the northwest.

Manchester United’s highest earners

Player

Wage per week

Casemiro

£350,000

Bruno Fernandes

£300,000

Marcus Rashford

£300,000

Mason Mount

£250,000

Antony

£200,000

There is the added complication of European football, with United not currently on course to be playing Conference League football next season, let alone the Champions League football that the pair have become accustomed to.

Pulling off a deal for either would be a major coup, but given the recent history of big signings at Old Trafford, it would be another suggestion that nothing new has been learned by Sir Jim Ratcliffe and co.

Manchester United have held talks with a “genius” manager to replace Erik ten Hag and have had an instant reply, according to a report.

Man Utd hold meeting over Ten Hag future

The Red Devils have made their worst start to a Premier League season under Ten Hag, eclipsing the unwelcome record broken during the 2023/24 campaign after seven games. Just two victories have come United’s way during that time, an opening day win against Fulham and a 3-0 win at Southampton, with defeats to Brighton, Liverpool and Tottenham.

Man Utd vs Brentford

October 19

Fenerbahce vs Man Utd

October 24

West Ham vs Man Utd

October 27

Man Utd vs Leicester City

October 30

Man Utd vs Chelsea

November 3

As a result, pressure has been building on Ten Hag, and Sir Jim Ratcliffe was questioned on Ten Hag’s future recently, telling the BBC: “I don’t want to answer that question. I like Erik. I think he’s a very good coach but at the end of the day, it’s not my call, it’s the management team that’s running Manchester United that have to decide how best we run the team in many different respects.

“They’ve not been there a long time, so they need to take stock and make some sensible decisions. Our objective is very clear – we want to take Manchester United back to where it should be, and it’s not there yet, obviously – that’s very clear.”

Man Utd believe they'll sign £10m-a-year target even if they sack Ten Hag

Man Utd have their eye on a player they would like to sign whether Ten Hag stays or leaves.

ByBrett Worthington Oct 9, 2024

During the international break, Man Utd chiefs held a meeting to discuss Ten Hag’s future among other Old Trafford topics. The Times say that after six hours, the Dutchman avoided the sack and will continue as boss for the time being.

However, a new report has shared contact between Man Utd and a serious target who seemingly could have replaced Ten Hag.

Man Utd hold talks with Inter Milan's Simone Inzaghi

One manager who has been linked with Man Utd is Inter Milan’s Simone Inzaghi. Reports in recent weeks and months have claimed that he is a firm target and was liked by Ratcliffe as a possible Ten Hag successor.

Now, according to reports from FC Inter News, Man Utd held talks with Inzaghi just last month, although the 3-5-2 style manager declined the approach from the Red Devils.

The report states that Inzaghi has had interest from Chelsea and Liverpool earlier in the year and has now had a phone call with Man Utd but he is looking ‘to continue to win trophies in Italy, aiming to do well in the Champions League’.

Inzaghi, dubbed a “genius” by Thierry Henry, politely said “no thank you” to Man Utd, according to the report, who said it would have been crazy to swap jobs so early into the season. Whether or not Man Utd return for Inzaghi in. the future remains to be seen, but for now, Ten Hag survives.

“I’ve not really been practicing them, just been messing about after training and stuff,” were the words of Cole Palmer after he casually scored four goals against Brighton, including one stunning free-kick.

Oh how good it was. The Chelsea star is a phenomenon and one who seemingly takes no notice of just how good he is.

You don’t practise free-kicks, Cole? Rubbish. That was right out of the top drawer. It was right out of the locker of someone who stays behind after training and sinks free-kick after free-kick right into the top bins.

He’s hilarious really. Palmer gives off this persona that’s actually quite refreshing in the modern day. It’s not robotic, it’s not a load of media trained garbage. It’s just Cole being Cole.

Last season he was only second to Erling Haaland in the Premier League’s scoring charts and he’s attempting to give the Norwegian another run of his money this season.

In six league outings, he already has half a dozen goals and you can bet he’ll score plenty more between now and the end of the campaign.

Cole Palmer's performance vs Brighton in numbers

Seven shots, four goals. That’s all that matters, right? This was a clinic in how to find the net from the Englishman who put in a performance that shocked the rest of the country.

We shouldn’t be surprised by his performance levels anymore but this was ludicrous stuff as the Chelsea star helped Enzo Maresca’s side on their way to another victory.

Slowly but surely, this Blues side are now starting to find their groove and they look like a very difficult team to stop.

Maresca’s men are the division’s top scorers with 15 goals and are now cementing themselves as real contenders to seal a top four berth come the end of the campaign. Given the mess that the Italian inherited, not many had them there at the start of the season.

But, truth be told, they have an amazing squad. They have amazing depth and to be quite frank, they should be one of the highest scorers in the Premier League.

Minutes played

90

Goals

4

Expected goals (xG)

2.41

Touches

46

Accurate passes

17/25 (68%)

Key passes

4

Crosses

1/4

Long balls

6/7

Shots on target

5

Shots off target

2

Duels won

3/5

Tackles

1

With Palmer in tow, they are showing that. The way he took all of his goals was remarkable. The free-kick was the pick of the bunch.

He cooly tucked away his first which was laid on a plate by Nicolas Jackson before firing home a penalty for the second. The third was ridiculous. A free-kick from range had power, it had dip and it had curl to take it away from Bart Verbruggen in the Brighton net.

His fourth was taken excellently too, running onto a Jadon Sancho ball inside the area before firing home at the near post. Is there anything this man cannot do? Seemingly not.

Chelsea have signed plenty of players over the last few years but he is undoubtedly the very best. Scarily, they could have another Palmer on the way.

Chelsea's next Cole Palmer

Does the name Kendry Paez ring any bells? If you’re of a Chelsea persuasion it should do.

Back in June 2023 it was confirmed that the Blues had reached an agreement with Independiente del Valle to sign a 16-year-old Paez for a fee in the region of £17.2m.

He cannot legally move to Stamford Bridge before he turns 18 so it won’t be before 2025 that we see him in Chelsea colours.

That said, he’s already begun to make quite the stir back in his homeland of Ecuador, scoring seven goals and supplying five assists as a teenager throughout the domestic 2024 season to date.

In The Pipeline

Football FanCast's In the Pipeline series aims to uncover the very best youth players in world football.

The “insane” talent – as described by content creator Alex Goldberg – has already played for his nation too, earning 15 caps at such a tender age in which he’s found the net twice.

This is a special talent and one who possesses Palmer-like qualities. An attacking midfielder by trade, the 17-year-old can also play on the right-hand side. Crucially, like Chelsea’s current main man, he’s also left footed.

A further look at the numbers will tell you just how good this young kid is. He ranks within the top 1% of positionally similar players in leagues similar to the top-flight of Ecuadorian football for assists per 90 minutes (0.37), as well as sitting in the top 3% for progressive carries per 90 (3.34) and the best 6% for succesful take-ons per 90 (1.48).

If we compare those numbers to Palmer, the England international makes 3.74 progressive carries and completes 1.60 take-ons. So, in that regard they’re pretty similar. When it comes to chance creation, Palmer registers 0.45 assists per 90, so again they’re quite close in that category too.

A dazzling dribbler capable of magical moments, including the goal below, it’s terrifying to think that Chelsea have another Palmer-esque talent on their way to the Bridge.

The Blues have focused their efforts on recruiting the very best young players around and in talents like Paez and Estevao Willian there is no sign of Maresca’s squad getting any worse.

Chelsea's 8/10 star was just as unplayable as Palmer vs Brighton

He completed six dribbles and won 7 duels

ByJoe Nuttall Sep 28, 2024

Glasgow Rangers have already made six signings this summer as Michael Beale aims to significantly overhaul the Ibrox side before the new campaign begins next month and there could yet be a seventh arrival in the coming weeks…

When will Jose Cifuentes arrive at Rangers?

It feels as though the interest from Rangers regarding a move for Jose Cifuentes has gone on forever, yet it was only back in April when the Light Blues first registered their interest in the dynamic Ecuadorian midfielder, who is out of contract at the end of the year.

Beale appears keen to bring him to Glasgow ahead of the 2023/24 season, which would involve paying a fee to Los Angeles FC and this has now been revealed.

According to The Scottish Sun, the Ibrox side have been locked in talks with LAFC across the previous week and it is believed that the Gers will have to fork out around £1.2m in order to secure his signature this summer as opposed to waiting until January to sign him for nothing.

Having already spent £3m on Sam Lammers and £4.5m to sign Cyriel Dessers, Beale appears to have the financial backing of the board and the money should be spent to sign the 24-year-old sooner rather than later.

What could Jose Cifuentes offer Rangers?

The midfielder has been in wonderful form for the MLS side since the start of the 2022 season, scoring eight goals and registering ten assists, and he played a key role in LAFC securing the MLS Cup last term, showcasing his importance to the side.

With Beale slowly rejuvenating the squad, there will likely be many departures in the coming weeks in order to make way for the new arrivals, and one player who looks certain to leave is Glen Kamara.

The Finnish midfielder has been at Ibrox since 2019, however, Besiktas are ready to take him on loan for next season and Cifuentes would certainly be a major upgrade on the 27-year-old.

Kamara stuttered through an underwhelming 2022/23 season, ranking as just the 23rd best player in the squad for league performances as per Sofascore, while also finishing outside the top ten for accurate passes per game, tackles per game and successful dribbles per game as he failed to have a positive influence on the side.

In contrast, Cifuentes ranked as the sixth-best player in the LAFC squad during their successful 2022 season and finished in the top ten for accurate passes per game, tackles per game and successful dribbles per game, ranking as high as third for the latter two metrics as he emerged as one of the finest players in the squad.

There is no doubt the players are heading in opposite trajectories, with the Ecuadorian dynamo ready for a move to Europe to showcase his abilities in the Champions League, while Kamara doesn’t fit into Beale’s system and is likely to be moved on.

South American football expert Tim Vickery lavished praise upon him back in 2019 following his exploits at the U20 World Cup, saying: "He was the beating heart of that side and I think he’s a terrific midfielder. He’s strong, he’s got quality, he’s got a good engine – he’s one of the best all-round midfielders, potentially, that I’ve seen come out of South America in a while.”

Glowing praise indeed and Beale should be paying the paltry £1.2m as soon as possible to bring him to Scotland.

Chelsea "really, really like" AC Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan and are interested in bringing the player to the Premier League, but the deal itself is "really tough" to get done, claims journalist Ben Jacobs.

Chelsea transfer news – what's the latest on Mike Maignan?

The Blues have been having something of a fire sale in recent weeks, with players like N'Golo Kante and Kalidou Koulibaly joining the Saudi Pro League, whilst Mason Mount and Kai Havertz have moved to Manchester United and Arsenal, respectively.

Among the players bidding farewell to Stamford Bridge is Champions League-winning goalkeeper Edouard Mendy, who has also opted to join the Middle East's burgeoning super league, joining Al-Ahli.

That move has left Kepa Arrizablaga as the club's undisputed number one, but based on recent reports, it appears that the club does not have the most faith in the Spaniard.

According to the Telegraph, Chelsea are 'considering a move' for the French international, despite manager Mauricio Pochettino's 'willingness to start the season with Kepa.'

If the Blues are serious about securing the keeper's signature, they will have to stump up some serious cash, as transfers expert Fabrizio Romano revealed earlier this month that Milan have priced their player at over €55m.

What has journalist Ben Jacobs said about Mike Maignan to Chelsea?

Jacobs explained that the interest and admiration from the West London club is genuine.

Speaking to Football FanCast, he said: "Mike Maignan is someone that Chelsea really, really like, but it's a really tough deal to do with Milan."

Would Mike Maignan be a good signing for Chelsea?

While Kepa has certainly improved for Chelsea over the last 18 months, Maigan would be a brilliant signing for the Blues and a real step up in terms of quality.

According to WhoScored, Milan's shot-stopping extraordinaire had a brilliant season in Serie A last year, averaging a rating of 6.64 across his 22 games.

The Cayenne-born "monster" – as described by journalist Robin Bairner – looks even more impressive when you look at his underlying numbers.

According to FBref, who compare players in a similar position across Europe's top five leagues, the Frenchman is in the top 8% for saved penalty kicks, the top 11% for goals against, and the top 22% for clean.

If that wasn't enough FBref also considers both Alisson and Ederson to be within the five most similar goalkeepers to Maignan, hardly bad company to keep.

If Chelsea can, they certainly should get this deal done, even if AC Milan want a king's ransom.

Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino has numerous issues to deal with as his first day on the job approaches this weekend, the future of striker Romelu Lukaku being one of them.

While that decision may well be above his paygrade, with Todd Boehly very much taking a hands-on approach since becoming chairman last year, Pochettino will no doubt have a say in whether Lukaku has a part to play following his return from a loan spell with Inter Milan.

What is the latest with Romelu Lukaku's Chelsea future?

The Telegraph reports that further talks between Lukaku and Chelsea are planned for this week, and that it is in everyone's interest to find a solution sooner rather than later.

It is suggested that it is unlikely Lukaku will play any part in Chelsea's tour of the United States next month, but finding a club willing to sign him permanently – the Belgian is said to have ruled out the option of joining a Saudi club – is proving difficult.

However, a solution may soon be found as Juventus have supposedly shown an interest in signing Lukaku to replace Dusan Vlahovic, who could in turn head in the opposite direction to Stamford Bridge.

The Belgian's second stint in the capital has been nothing short of a nightmare, with an angry public interview in 2021 seeing him subsequently loaned out ever since.

Could Chelsea swap Romelu Lukaku for Dusan Vlahovic?

The intricacies of any deal are unclear at this stage, such as one club handing over a fee in part exchange, but the transfer could well make sense for both clubs.

Given his value of £52m by Football Observatory, it is likely to be Chelsea reaching for their chequebook rather than Juve.

On the face of it, there is very little between the two players when it comes to how they performed in Serie A last season. Vlahovic scored ten goals in 27 games for Juve, while Lukaku netted the same number across 25 outings for Inter.

Vlahovic's goals came from fewer shots, scoring at a rate of 0.16 goals per shot, as per FBref, compared to 0.12 for Lukaku. Those similarities continue in terms of passes completed (71.6% and 68.6% respectively) and also aerial duels won (36 v 39).

What Vlahovic provides that Lukaku does not, however, is some added balance in the final third. For example, the Serbia international won 0.28 tackles per 90 minutes last season, which is an increase on Lukaku's 0.05. That is the same case in terms of blocks: 0.47 compared to 0.16.

Once described as a "monster" by Italian football expert Carlo Garganese, there is no denying that Vlahovic's goalscoring figures have steadily declined, from 0.82 per game at Fiorentina in the first half of the 2021-22 season, to 0.59 after joining Juve later that campaign and finally to 0.47 last term.

But in a team stacked full of attacking gems, such as Mykhailo Mudryk and new signing Christopher Nkunku to name just a couple of players, it may well be that a move to Stamford Bridge unlocks the potential Vlahovic has only been able to show glimmers of in Turin.

Rangers are attempting to seal the signing of Cremonese striker Cyriel Dessers as manager Michael Beale personally works behind the scenes, according to reports.

Who will join Rangers this summer?

The Gers resume action mid-way through July when they take on Premier League side Newcastle United in a friendly, the first of three next month, with Beale also preparing for games against Hamburg and Hoffenheim.

Scottish Premiership action resumes on 5th August, giving Rangers over a month to strengthen in key areas and keep adding quality to Beale's roster.

The Teddy Bears had to watch on as Old Firm rivals Celtic clinched a domestic treble, and with their previously successful manager Brendan Rodgers returning to Parkhead, Rangers need to be fully prepared.

Beale, despite the lack of a sporting director, has already seen Jack Butland, Dujon Sterling, Kieran Dowell and Sam Lammers come arrive in that order.

Spending just £3 million in the process, with all of it going on Lammers from Atalanta, Rangers have tackled this transfer market with gusto thus far.

However, they're not finished there, as a report from The Herald details the latest on their activities behind-the-scenes at Ibrox.

According to the outlet, and senior Gers reporter Christopher Jack, Beale personally been driving their window so far – identifying targets himself and personally building the relationships necessary to get them over the line.

Following the confirmed arrivals, it is believed Rangers work is "ongoing" to "secure" striker Dessers from Cremonese – and discussions have been held for other players in recent days.

The Glasgow giants are attempting to keep up their market momentum and certainly won't rest on their laurels, with Ecuador international Jose Cifuentes still on their radar.

Nottingham Forest defender Jonathan Panzo is being targeted as well, though a move is not thought to be imminent at this stage.

Who is Cyriel Dessers?

The 28-year-old was one of Cremonese's most potent threats over the 2022/23 Serie B season, averaging more attempts at goal per 90 than any of his teammates (WhoScored).

Dessers scored six goals and added a further two assists overall, with former Heracles technical director Tim Gilissen heaping praise on the forward after he left them back in 2020.

"Cyriel has shown that being a professional footballer means more than just football," said Giliseen.

"He is an exemplary professional and enjoyed participating in many social projects. He has shown what impact this has in the area and was an ambassador for Heracles Almelo."

Newcastle United have been strongly linked with Nicolo Barella this summer and now a new update has emerged on the club's pursuit of the player.

What's the latest on Newcastle's interest in Nicolo Barella?

The Independent's chief football writer Miguel Delaney reported that Newcastle have been in ongoing negotiations to sign the Inter Milan midfielder this summer.

As per an article written for the publication, Delaney revealed that the Magpies are currently £30m off the Italian club's valuation of £80m and will need to compete with Liverpool who are also keen to secure a deal for the talented Serie A star this summer.

That said, any deal could now be off the cards with the Toon turning their attention to Sandro Tonali, who they are believed to be close to signing.

Would Barella be a good fit for Newcastle?

There is no doubt that Eddie Howe will be thrilled with the rapid progress and development his team has made over the last 18 months, however, with Champions League football secured it will be important to bolster key positions and add quality depth in the squad.

As a result, the signing of not just Tonali, but also Barella would be an ambitious move for the club in their pursuit to compete at the highest level both domestically and in Europe next season and his presence in the team could have a positive impact on his fellow midfielders at St James' Park.

The 26-year-old would offer an incredible wealth of experience in European football to Howe next season, with 34 appearances, five goals and two assists in both the Europa League and Champions League over his career so far and most recently reached the final in Istanbul against Manchester City earlier this month.

Barella – hailed a "monster" by writer Carlo Garganese – ranks in the top 19% of his positional peers in the top five European leagues for progressive passes, progressive carries, shot-creating actions and non-penalty goals, making him the perfect profile of player to link up with Joelinton.

The Brazilian ace was a revelation in both his midfield role and on the left-flank last term – scoring six goals, registering one assist and creating four big chances, so by combining his keen eye for attacking opportunities with Barella's ability to progress the ball into dangerous areas of the pitch, it could make Joelinton unplayable next season.

With that being said, it would be a no-brainer for the club's hierarchy to sanction the move for the Inter sensation this summer as his Champions League experience and clear talent in midfield could put Newcastle in a great position to compete more than comfortably throughout 2022/23.