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Tottenham Hotspur talks to sign Bayer Leverkusen defender Edmond Tapsoba will take place in these next few days, according to reliable journalist Fabrizio Romano.

Who will join Spurs this summer?

Spurs are set to bolster their squad this summer as chairman Daniel Levy, buoyed by the incoming new manager Ange Postecoglou, looks to this transfer window for upgrades.

A major overhaul is possible too with Hugo Lloris, Ivan Perisic, Davinson Sanchez, Ryan Sessegnon, Eric Dier and Ben Davies’ futures all hanging in the balance. Meanwwhile, Spurs could also attempt to sell Giovani Lo Celso, Sergio Reguilon, Tanguy Ndombele and Harry Winks (The Telegraph).

Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg is another player who could make way and free up space for Postecoglou signings before the start of 2023/2024.

In terms of who they could be, Spurs are reliably believed to be closing in on Lloris’ successor, with Empoli goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario set to undergo a medical this weekend ahead of his proposed move.

Tottenham are also chasing a central defender, with Fulham’s Tosin Adarabioyo among the targets. However, Tapsoba appears to be taking centre stage, as some reports suggest he is likely to join if an official approach is made.

If that is indeed the case, reliable reporter Romano may have good news for Spurs supporters, as it is now expected that the north Londoners will imminently open formal talks.

The Burkina Faso international is apparently top of their transfer list, and in the next few days, negotiations over his signing will commence.

What’s been said about Edmond Tapsoba?

Commentator Mark Lovell is among Tapsoba’s biggest fans, calling him “top quality” all the way back in 2020, and it’s safe to say the defender has maintained that form as a consistent starter for Leverkusen right now.

Meanwhile, at international level, Tapsoba has been described as “fundamental” in past seasons by journalist Bruno Alemany.

Both the World XI coach and captain Faf du Plessis were effusive in their praise for the experiences they had in Lahore, and the security measures in place

Danyal Rasool16-Sep-2017World XI captain Faf du Plessis spoke movingly about his experience in Pakistan; the generosity of the people of Pakistan and seeing how much the series meant to them was the standout features of the tour, he said. Though the visitors were defeated by 33 runs in the 3rd T20I to lose the series 2-1, it was clear from the way du Plessis and team coach Andy Flower spoke at the press conference that the goodwill that has emanated from this tour will not be sullied by the outcome.But in a move that is even more likely to endear the World XI to Pakistani hearts, du Plessis jokingly praised Lahore’s cuisine as his fondest memory of the tour. Lahoris take their food seriously, and it looked like du Plessis had found out why.”The food was very good, top-drawer food. But seriously, I just loved seeing the emotions on people’s faces, that’s something that stood out for me, how much it meant for the people of Pakistan. That goes way beyond what you do on the cricket field,” he said. “You look around the field and every person says thank you very much for coming, and you see the generosity comes from a deep place in their hearts. That’s the most special thing to be a part of.”Flower thanked Pakistan’s people for their hospitality and said it had made the World XI feel right at home. “We’ve been extremely well looked after, we go home on Saturday with memories that I hope the boys will cherish for the rest of their lives,” Flower said. “This tour is another reminder of the fact that cricket transcends boundaries. The way Pakistani people and the crowd, particularly at this ground, cheered for us at the end of the second game which we won, and beat their national side, they made us feel right at home.”We had said that this was more than just the cricket tour, the public showed their appreciation and the players interacted with the crowds atthe hotel and at the ground, and the security agency proved that they can provide a safe and secure environment. I really hope this tour will inspire the young people in Pakistan; they’ve seen some of the best players across the world live in action and this might be the beginning of the cricketing journey of the next Hashim Amla or Faf du Plessis. One thing which I think we should all remember is that these are baby steps and I’m sure that Pakistan board will take one safe and steady step at a time.”Faf du Plessis swivels after failing to time a pull•AFPDu Plessis also echoed Flower’s thoughts about the importance of not getting carried away with one tour. “It’s really important you take each thing one at a time and plan specifically for every tour,” he said. “So whatever is the next step, [you need to put in] the same amount of energy and time and resources to make sure that it is planned as smoothly as this was. If you do out all those things, then definitely another step, another step, another step, to hopefully bring cricket back into Pakistan.”With five South African players part of the visitors’ playing XI for each of the three games, there was speculation about the possibility of SouthAfrica coming to Pakistan for a tour, but du Plessis has repeatedly batted away suggestions that something of the sort is in the works. At the first press conference after landing in Lahore, he said he would have retired by the time South Africa seriously consider touring Pakistan next; now, he spoke of how a South Africa tour of Pakistan was not something in his control.”That won’t be my decision. I can just relate my experiences over here, but there will have to be a complete different set of things put in place for South Africa to come and tour here. What I can say is the fact that we’ve been in Lahore here now and we did feel safe. I’m sure if there was an opportunity to come here and they saw all the procedures that are put in place and the feedback we as a players give, then that could be option.”

There was plenty of love for Gio Reyna as he embarked on a surprise new chapter in his career with a loan move to Nottingham Forest.

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Reyna joins Forest in loan switchUSMT star seeks minutes after Dortmund strugglesPulisic and Bellingham among well wishersGetty ImagesWHAT HAPPENED?

There was plenty of love for Gio Reyna as he embarked on a surprise new chapter in his career with a loan move to Nottingham Forest.

The 21-year-old sealed a loan deal to Nuno Espirito Santo's side until the end of the season having been restricted to just 280 minutes of Bundesliga action this season after falling out of favour at Borussia Dortmund.

Sitting just two points above the relegation zone and with a potential points deduction hanging over them, Forest will be hoping that Reyna will provide a spark to fire them to safety.

AdvertisementWHAT GIO REYNA SAID

Posting a picture of himself arriving at a deserted City Ground, Reyna posted: "So excited to be here! Can’t wait to get started! Let’s gooo."

Quick to reply were Pulisic with a motivational "Let's get it bro."

Former Dortmund team-mate Bellingham chimed in with a simple: "Brother," alongside a heart emoji.

Timothy Weah, Matt Miazga and Folarin Balogun all wished their USMNT team-mate good luck with the move.

GettyTHE BIGGER PICTURE

In what's turned out to be a quiet winter transfer window, Reyna's switch is one of the more intriguing moves. Whether the American can find the continuity he craves at a club where ambitious recruitment has seen vast numbers of players arrive and leave in the past number of windows remains to be seen. If Reyna can dovetail effectively with the talented Morgan Gibbs-White and Anthony Elanga then Forest may have pulled off something of a coup. If not, they are under no obligation to sign the player on a permanent basis.

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DID YOU KNOW?

Reyna can seek advice on life in the Premier League from a familiar source. His father Claudio enjoyed six seasons in the English top flight after joining Sunderland in 2001. After two years on Wearside he moved on to Manchester City before returning to his native New Jersey.

As a result, one demerit point has been added to each player’s disciplinary records

ESPNcricinfo staff28-Jan-2018Bangladesh captain Mashrafe Mortaza has been fined 20% of his match fee while Sri Lanka opener Danushka Gunathilaka has been officially reprimanded for breaching Level 1 of the ICC Code of Conduct during the tri-series final in Mirpur on Saturday.Both players breached Article 2.1.7 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which relates to “using language, actions or gestures which disparage or which could provoke an aggressive reaction from a batsman upon his/her dismissal during an International Match.”As a result, one demerit point has been added to each player’s disciplinary records. Both players admitted their offences and accepted the sanctions proposed by match referee David Boon.The Mashrafe incident occured in the sixth over of Sri Lanka’s innings when the Bangladesh captain dismissed Kusal Mendis and yelled while running close to him during a send off in a “manner that could have provoked an aggressive reaction,” according to the ICC release.The incident involving Gunathilaka happened in the sixth over of the chase when Tamim Iqbal was dismissed by Dushmantha Chameera and Gunathilaka gave the batsman a send-off when he was walking towards the dressing room.It was Gunathilaka’s first offence while Mashrafe was sanctioned for the second time since the introduction of the revised Code in September 2016. Mashrafe had received one demerit point during the home ODIs against England in October 2016 and now has a total of two demerit points.

Fulham are chasing both Chelsea winger Callum Hudson-Odoi and Everton forward Demarai Gray, according to reports.

Who will Fulham sign?

The Whites, having already signed centre-back Calvin Bassey and Mexico international striker Raul Jimenez this summer, are attempting to strengthen their ranks further before deadline day.

Fulham enjoyed a solid first full campaign back in the top flight under Marco Silva, finishing in mid-table and even above arch west London rivals Chelsea, who endured a nightmare season.

They even contested for Europe, but if they're to build upon that success, more new signing are needed after the captures of Bassey and Jimenez.

Last season's star striker, Aleksandar Mitrovic, is reliably believed to be pushing for a Fulham exit with Silva even commenting on the saga amid his links to Saudi Arabia.

"It's not the ideal situation, I have to tell you. Not because he received an offer, it's the situation about himself," Silva told reporters last month.

"As you know, he's not going to play tomorrow, he didn't play last Wednesday. He's not working properly with his team mates and when I say this is not the ideal scenario, this is the situation.

"When it's out of my control as a manager, this is not something that concerns me, but I would like to have a different scenario in that situation … Sometimes you have individual decisions that is for them to take care of."

Meanwhile, another Fulham star who could move to the Middle East is Willian, despite him signing a new contract recently, as Al Shabab push hard for his signature.

The need for a new winger may have intensified as a result, with both Hudson-Odoi and Gray linked to Craven Cottage moves in recent weeks.

The BBC have backed Fulham talks to sign the latter player, while Hudson-Odoi is believed to be a firm transfer target as well.

According to The Daily Mail and journalist Simon Jones, it appears Silva's side are targeting both players simultaneously. Indeed, according to their information, Fulham are "chasing" Hudson-Odoi and Gray this summer, but with deadline day in just over three weeks, they may need to hurry.

Not much else is said beyond that, but it looks as if Fulham supporters could expect more activity before the window closes.

How good is Callum Hudson-Odoi?

While Hudson-Odoi struggled to make his impact on loan at Leverkusen, we believe he has more potential to thrive at Fulham than Gray, namely due to his younger age.

The £180,000-per-week Chelsea forward, 22, has far more years ahead of him than Everton's attacker (27), with legends of the game having also tipped him to be huge.

“I know what a player he is," said former Chelsea boss Frank Lampard to the media in 2019.

"He can be an incredible player and he has improvement to make and I want to work with him to do it. But for that he needs to stay longer at the club and of course that then goes to a decision between him and the club itself. I can see him being a huge player for us.”

Meanwhile Gray, for his part, has been called "unbelievable" by former Man United defender Rio Ferdinand.

Nottingham Forest are reportedly interested in Ligue 1 ace Habib Diallo, as Steve Cooper gets to work on strengthening his side ahead of the 2023/24 campaign.

The Reds left it late to confirm their survival in their return season to the Premier League, with the need for added quality fundamental this summer should they wish to extend their stay in the top tier.

Who wants to sign Habib Diallo?

As reported by TEAMtalk last week, Forest have joined West Ham United and Brentford in the battle for Strasbourg forward Habib Diallo.

The report claimed that despite interest from the other sides, the Tricky Trees are preparing the ‘first move’, with a ‘proven goalscorer’ a priority for Cooper this transfer window.

A separate report suggested that the Ligue 1 side would want a fee in the region of £20m for their striker.

How good is Habib Diallo?

In 37 Ligue 1 appearances last season, the Senegalese gem netted 20 goals for Strasbourg, marking himself as one of the most threatening forwards in a league packed with star talent.

The 28-year-old outscored names such as Lionel Messi and Neymar last term in the league, averaging a goal every 144 minutes to assert himself as a reliable marksman.

For Forest, adding a forward of star quality is integral this summer, with the club's top scorer last term being Taiwo Awoniyi who netted ten goals in the Premier League for the Garibaldi.

While the striker showed a lot of promise at the City Ground, the squad must integrate an upgrade in quality in order to avoid another relegation scrap next term.

Lauded as “powerful and quick” by one recruitment analyst, Diallo could be the perfect acquisition for Cooper to chase. Indeed, he is a player that could bolster the side’s form in the final third, and promote those around him.

One player that could benefit from the introduction of the Strasbourg star is Morgan Gibbs-White, who shone as one of Forest’s top creators last term, registering eight assists in an impressive first season at the club.

The Englishman could take his game to the next level by having a more lethal outlet ahead of him, with Diallo being the ideal target man to aim for in the final third.

Averaging 1.91 key passes and 0.46 through balls per 90 in the Premier League last campaign, the former Wolves man has the ability to be the dream provider for a striker with a range of methods of distribution.

Highlighted as a ‘striker in the purest sense of the word’ by scouting site Total Football Analysis, the 28-year-old's main strengths lie in his pace, off-the-ball movement and physical presence.

Placing his clinical nature aside, the striker could be a valued addition for Gibbs-White in terms of him returning the favour of the 23-year-old’s creativity.

Total Football Analysis regards the player as being a figure that can ‘create space for his partners’ with his hold-up play, making him a potentially strong asset for Forest’s approach in the final third.

Cooper could add more than just a goal-scoring threat to his squad by capturing Diallo, as he could potentially take Gibbs-White's own numbers to the next level.

After beating a host of big names to the 2023 women's award, the Madrid CFF star's career looks set to explode in the coming years

The 2023 Women’s World Cup belonged to Spain, who beat England 1-0 in the final in Sydney back in August – but, in another way, it also belonged to Africa. For the first time in tournament history, despite off-pitch obstacles suggesting that the odds were against them, three African nations made it through to the last 16 of the competition.

For Morocco, it was a reward for the excellent work the federation has done investing in women's football, following up the team's run to the final of a home Women's Africa Cup of Nations in 2022. But for Nigeria and South Africa, it was a message sent to their federations that they deserve that investment and made many ponder what both nations could achieve with more. After all, eventual finalists England needed a penalty shootout to beat an impressive Nigeria side, while South Africa posed the Netherlands plenty of problems and created tons of chances despite the final result being a 2-0 win for the Dutch.

There was history for Zambia, too, the Copper Queens completing the quartet of nations representing Africa in Australia and New Zealand. Pooled in an extremely tough group in which eventual champions Spain only finished second, behind a Japan team that thrashed them 4-0, Zambia couldn’t secure their spot in the knockout rounds but they did secure a first ever Women’s World Cup win, on their tournament debut.

The team’s 3-1 win over Costa Rica was a memorable one for a team packed with talent, the Copper Queens backing up their fantastic achievement of qualifying for the Olympic women’s football tournament in 2021 with even more history at another huge international event.

With a third-placed finish secured at WAFCON last year, too, it’s clear that this team is one with a very bright future, the average age of their World Cup squad coming in at just over 23 years. From China-based superstar Barbra Banda to talented midfielder Grace Chanda, there are so many quality players to note in this team and prime among them is Racheal Kundananji, this year’s GOAL50 women’s winner and the first ever GOAL50 winner, men’s or women’s, from Africa.

GettySlowly but surely

Kundananji’s rise to the top of the women’s game, with her catching everyone’s eye last season thanks to a remarkable 25 goals in just 29 league games in Spain, didn’t come overnight. Having shone in Zambia’s domestic league as a teenager, the forward caught the eye of Kazakhstani club BIIK Kazygurt during a national team camp and was soon on her way to Europe.

Though boasting one of Europe’s lower-profile leagues, playing in Kazakhstan was that first step towards where she is today and it gave her a taste of the UEFA Women’s Champions League, too, with Kundananji scoring four goals in 11 appearances in the competition.

“The coach believed in me that I could improve, especially in front of goal,” she recalled earlier this year, in an interview with . “They believed in me and gave me a chance. When I received the contract, I was very happy. It has been my dream to play in Europe and that was a big motivation for me. When I went to Kazakhstan, I worked so hard to improve myself in every way. I know I’m not perfect, but I’m trying to perfect myself. From the day I moved there to where I am now, I’m just trying to perfect myself. No one is perfect, no one is the best they can be, but I work hard every day to make sure I can do the best I can.”

Kundananji’s hard work paid off when, in 2021, she was spotted by Spanish side Eibar and earned a move to one of Europe’s biggest leagues. Again, it wasn’t easy when she got there. The club was battling relegation and would eventually succumb to that fate – but the Zambian forward’s eight goals in 21 appearances for a struggling team meant she would get a chance to stick around in the top tier…

AdvertisementGettyMarvellous in Madrid

A move to the Spanish capital beckoned in the summer of 2022 when Madrid CFF, an independent women’s club, came calling. Given the team is not attached to a successful (and rich) men's side, things are not easy for Madrid CFF. Indeed, it was long thought that the club would be taken over by Real Madrid when Los Blancos eventually decided to get involved in the women's game. However, that wouldn't prove to be the case. Real targeted another independent club, CD Tacon, and Madrid CFF have continued to impress over the years.

The club has been in the top tier in Spain ever since promotion as champions of the second division in 2017 and they have had some memorable campaigns, most notably the 2020-21 season, in which they registered a seventh-placed finish in the league and reached the semi-finals of the Copa de la Reina.

But, having finished 13th the following year, Kundananji’s arrival ahead of the 2022-23 campaign would eventually propel them to a best-ever place of fifth, the Zambian star netting 25 times in 29 Liga F outings. Only Alba Redondo, the Spain international at Levante, bettered those numbers, scoring 27 to win the Golden Boot.

GettyA joy to watch

To watch Kundananji play is to watch someone who absolutely loves what she does. The delight with which she races into her trademark knee slide celebration never fails to put a smile on your face – and it is something we have seen plenty of since she moved to Madrid.

As well as being blessed with great pace, Kundananji has a fantastic understanding of the game, great awareness and an enviable ability to use both feet. It means she's capable of scoring such a variety of goals – be they tap-ins that showcase her great instincts, technically stunning strikes or composed finishes when there is only the goalkeeper to beat.

The 23-year-old can just about do it all and she does it with infectious energy, your eye drawn to her ability to constantly be a threat to the opponent. She is a delight to watch when she is in full flow, and she usually is.

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Giant-killer

Despite spending the 2022-23 season scoring for fun, the final weekend of the Liga F season felt like a big moment for Kundananji. Everyone had seen her numbers and understood what she could do but when Barcelona came to town on May 21, she put an exclamation mark at the end of it all.

The Catalans had won the league on April 30, with four games to spare, and were bidding to make it an invincible season. They had won every single league game on their way to that title and their only dropped points had come two games later, away at Sevilla on May 10. But Madrid weren’t there to simply roll over and let that happen. Instead, two first half goals, within seven minutes of each other, saw Kundananji set her team on their way to a shock victory.

The Zambian star was a serious threat on the counter and complemented her pace with her clinical touch to not only spoil Barca’s chances of an unbeaten season, but to condemn the Spanish – and soon-to-be European – champions to a first league loss in 65 games, ending a streak that had gone on for two years.

Brighton and Hove Albion manager Roberto De Zerbi has denied claims that he told Moises Caicedo he could leave this summer amid links to Chelsea.

What's the latest Moises Caicedo transfer news?

It's no secret that the Ecuador midfielder is much-wanted by the Blues right now and they've actually already made an attempt to sign him.

Indeed, as per Sky Sports, Chelsea tabled a bid of £70m for Caicedo but it was rejected out of hand by the Seagulls as they now value their asset at around £100m – which is in the same bracket as Arsenal's record-signing Declan Rice.

No doubt fans of the West London club will be concerned that they might be priced out of a move but there have been some suggestions that De Zerbi gave his midfielder his word that he would be sold this summer.

Indeed, when the player signed a new four-year contract toward the end of last season Fabrizio Romano reported that De Zerbi told Caicedo: "Stay here with us until the end of the season, and we will sell you in the summer."

The journalist added: "This was the plan, this was promised to the player."

However, now refuting these claims, the Brighton manager has insisted that no such promise was made.

Indeed, De Zerbi recently explained to the press the club's current stance, saying: “At the moment Moises is a Brighton player. I spoke with Tony Bloom and he told me if the conditions don’t change, Moises stays with us.

“For me it should be great news because it is difficult to find another player like Moises.”

He then denied talk of there being a verbal agreement to let his midfielder for a certain price, saying: “It is not true. I am coach, not owner, I’m not a sporting director. I’m only a coach. Believe me, it is difficult to be a coach.”

What did De Zerbi say about Colwill and Caicedo?

These claims from the Brighton boss will likely annoy many Chelsea fans who may feel as though this potential summer transfer is slipping through their fingers.

To make things worse, De Zerbi probably then upset even more Blues supporters when he suggested that Caicedo may even play for the Seagulls with their very own Levi Colwill next season.

The Chelsea defender spent last term on loan down on the south coast and is still wanted by Brighton, and they've already had a £30m bid rejected with Mauricio Pochettino keen on keeping him around.

De Zerbi also proposed a possible swap deal as a compromise. In full, he said: “There are two questions. Not only about Caicedo, also about Colwill, and maybe it can be [a swap].

“I would like to play with Caicedo and Colwill together but at the moment I can only speak about Caicedo as Colwill is not one of my players.”

It remains to be seen where the two players end up at the end of the transfer market but at the moment it feels as though any outcome could end up happening.

Perhaps both will stay put at their current clubs, perhaps both will play under De Zerbi for the Seagulls next term, and perhaps both will end up with Pochettino at Chelsea.

Cristiano Ronaldo might have been troublesome for some managers, but former Juventus boss Andrea Pirlo is definitely not one of them.

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Pirlo managed Ronaldo from August 2020 to May 2021Won Coppa Italia together at TurinItalian hailed Ronaldo for his dedication and professionalismWHAT HAPPENED?

The 44-year-old manager was in charge of Juventus from August 2020 to May 2021 when he got to work closely with the Portuguese talisman. Ronaldo fired on all cylinders in that campaign, scoring 36 goals in 44 appearances and guiding the Bianconeri to the Coppa Italia title as well.

AdvertisementWHAT PIRLO SAID ABOUT RONALDO

Reminiscing on his Juve days as a manager, Pirlo told Radio Serie A what it was like to coachthe all-time great: "Training Ronaldo makes you understand how to become number one in the world. He’s an exemplary professional in every aspect: from how he eats, how he recovers, to how he trains.”

Getty ImagesTHE BIGGER PICTURE

While Ronaldo was hailed as a hero in Turin, his second coming at Manchester United ended on a bitter note as he had to prematurely terminate his contract with the Red Devils following an explosive interview with Piers Morgan where he took aim at manager Erik ten Hag and also at the club's hierarchy. After the 2022 World Cup he joined Saudi Arabian outfit Al-Nassr and has been in prolific form in front of goal, scoring 24 goals from 26 appearancesthis season.

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GettyWHAT NEXT FOR RONALDO?

Ronaldo's stint at the Allianz Arena saw him score 101 goals for the Serie A giantsthrough 134 appearances. And apart from the Coppa Italia triumph he also delivered two league titles. Even at 38, he is going strong with Al-Nassr and will be back in action against Al-Riyadh in the Saudi Pro League.

West Ham United can be forgiven for being distracted by negotiations with Arsenal over a payment structure for £105m midfielder Declan Rice, but David Moyes' side are at risk of being left short come the start of the new Premier League season.

What new players have West Ham bought?

With five weeks to go until their trip to Bournemouth to kick off the 2023-24 season, West Ham have yet to make any signings this window.

That will surely frustrate manager Moyes, who will be fully aware that his squad is in need of freshening up, with May's Europa Conference League triumph papering over the cracks of a poor Premier League season.

A new central midfielder is top of Moyes' list of targets – or indeed a couple if a like-for-like Rice replacement cannot be found – with Ajax's Edson Alvarez, Manchester United's Scott McTominay and Everton's Amadou Onana all rumoured targets.

According to The Guardian, West Ham also hold an interest in Bristol City's Alex Scott, who is on the radar of fellow Premier League side Wolverhampton Wanderers.

How much is Bristol City's Alex Scott worth?

Scott may have spent his senior career to date in the Championship, yet he is reportedly worth at least £20m to Bristol City due to the fact he has two years to run on his Ashton Gate contract.

Despite being just 19 years old, Scott already has 81 Championship appearances under his belt, having been a regular for the Robins over the past two campaigns.

The teenage midfielder rose to prominence earlier this year after impressing Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola in an FA Cup tie, with the Catalan describing him as an "unbelievable player".

As pointed out by football talent scout Jacek Kulig after Scott was named the Championship's Young Player of the Year, he has a "big future ahead" of him.

Scott cannot be expected to slot straight in and take over the role of Rice, of course. Then again, who could?

Instead, the Guernsey native can provide some versatility for Moyes, given he featured in defensive midfield, central midfield, attacking midfield and on both flanks last season, as per WhoScored.

Versatile he may be, but it is as a pure central midfielder that Scott thrives. The Englishman ranks in the top 11% of all midfielders in the eight competitions most similar to the Championship for progressive carries (2.34 per 90 minutes), as per FBref, and in the top 16% for successful take-ons (1.22).

In that aforementioned FA Cup tie with Man City last season, which Bristol City lost 3-0, Scott's five dribbles were the joint-most of any player on the field, level with opponent Phil Foden – quite the company.

As per WhoScored, Scott's pass accuracy of 83.3% that day was also the third-most of any Robins player to attempt 10 passes or more, which is made all the more impressive when you factor in he was playing as an attacking midfielder.

Scott is not exactly a hidden gem, which explains his price tag, but he could be a very smart option for West Ham to kick off their transfer business in the post-Declan Rice era.