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After being called into the starting line up against Everton just minutes before kick-off, after usual number one choice Lukasz Fabianski had suffered an injury in the warm-up, stand-in shot-stopper Darren Randolph has opened up over his first Premier League appearance of the season (West Ham United). 

Randolph, who put in a solid display as West Ham snatched a 1-0 victory at Goodison Park, with Tomas Soucek clinching a late winner for the Irons, was inserted at the very last second as David Moyes called upon the barely-seen ace when Fabianski was injured warming up.

Despite his lack of match action, Randolph looked assured with little sign of rustiness – explaining to the club’s official website that he was ready to answer when he was surprisingly called upon.

Brought in as a reinforcement last season from Middlesbrough, re-signing for the Hammers in a £4 million deal, many supporters have hailed the ‘very smart signing’ after his showing against Everton.

Flocking to his message, here’s what Irons had to say.

West Ham fans praise Randolph

“Fantastic keeper. If we’d have never let him go, last season would have gone very very differently.”

Credit: @LocksmithDuude

“Very smart signing”

Credit: @StephenTJourno

“You did a great job mate”

Credit: @SESmotorsport

“Loved seeing him in goal again.”

Credit: @JOSHLOVESAYS

“Love this guy. A reliable back up who never complains”

Credit: @mattggibbons

“Darren Randolph is a more than abled understudy to Fabianski- would be number one choice at majority of other teams in the league. Seems to be the model professional – never complains about game time and when called upon very rarely lets West Ham down. Solid clean sheet yesterday.”

Credit: @WestHamJoshV

In other news: West Ham fans want GSB to swoop for this ‘class signing’, find out more here.

The Dutchman was instrumental as Liverpool came from behind to win their first friendly of pre-season against the German side

Liverpool looked shaky at times, but were clinical enough in front of goal to dispatch German second-division side Karlsruher 3-2 as their new season preparations got underway. While new signings Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister made their debuts, it was Cody Gakpo who was instrumental for the Reds, as he orchestrated their eventual comeback.

Darwin Nunez opened the scoring with a calm left-footed finish less than five minutes into the game. The hosts pulled one back midway through the first half, with former Germany international Lars Stindl smashing a spectacular volley home off the underside of the bar.

Liverpool made 10 changes at the break, with Gakpo, Mac Allister and Diogo Jota all introduced. And after conceding early in the half, Jurgen Klopp's side settled in. Gakpo grabbed the equaliser, pivoting and finishing from close range. And Jota provided a late winner, weaving through the defence from Gakpo's pass and slotting home in second-half stoppage time. He made it a brace less than a minute later, putting the game beyond reach just before the final whistle.

GOAL looks at what we learned during the clash at BBBank Wildpark…

• Nunez still hasn't found his best position

  Klopp experimented with Nunez as both a central striker and left winger over the course of last season, and the Uruguayan repaid his faith with a healthy goal tally from both positions. Still, Klopp couldn't seem to decide where exactly Nunez functioned best.

  And the same issues cropped up here again. Nunez played 45 minutes as a No.9, and couldn't quite get his movement right. He was often caught drifting wide, or running in behind too early. He did enough to score, though, taking his goal well off an instinctive poke from Salah.

  Nevertheless, there will be stiff competition for attacking places at Anfield this year, and Nunez needs to make the most of every moment. Goals are hard to argue with, but this performance was far from convincing.

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  Midfield Trent is here to stay

  Alexander-Arnold impressed after switching to an inverted right-back spot last year, effectively playing as a centre-midfielder for the last two months of the season. And he went one further here, holding down a midfield spot from the first minute — an indication of a change that seems to be here to stay.

  He was once again comfortable in the role. When Alexander-Arnold was on the ball, Liverpool seemed a far more settled team, with the England international spraying passes around with ease.

  There will be questions about the exact configuration of this side on a weekly basis. With Thiago and Stefan Bajcetic out, this could have been something of a forced switch. Still, the fact that he started there suggests that the days of Alexander-Arnold as a traditional right-back are very much in the past.

• Doak deserves a shot

  Ben Doak was forced into the line-up halfway through last season. He caught the eye in a handful of cameos, causing problems with his pace and trickery on the right. And the Scot showed promise again here, buzzing around and running at defenders.

  He provided a handful of fizzed crosses in front of goal, and will feel that he deserved a penalty after being bundled over in the box midway through the second half. There will undoubtedly be some calls for the teenager to be sent out on loan in the coming weeks. First-team opportunities might be limited, and with the likes of Harvey Elliott and Curtis Jones vying for minutes of their own, there might not be a clear pathway.

  But Doak has a window of opportunity here. And with Salah set to play for Egypt in the AFCON in January, the Reds will need goals off the right. Doak could be the man to provide them.

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• Mac Allister is a natural fit

  A critique often levelled at Liverpool's recruitment department is they never really brought in a versatile midfielder to replace Gini Wijnaldum. The Dutchman played all three midfield positions during his five-year stint at Anfield and hardly missed a game. He was an unsung hero of sorts, the kind of player Liverpool haven't managed to sign since.

  And in Mac Allister, Liverpool might just have found their man. He wasn't necessarily glamourous on the ball, but he pressed diligently, won a few tackles, and produced a fine assist for Jota's second.

  He looked like a smart addition when purchased from Brighton in late June. If he continues to perform at this level — or, ideally for Liverpool, improve — the Reds might finally have their replacement.

Leeds are eyeing a summer swoop for Chelsea starlet Conor Gallagher, who could offer the dynamism that Marcelo Bielsa’s side desperately need in midfield.

What’s the story?

The Whites have enjoyed an impressive return to the Premier League this season, finding themselves well away from the relegation places, and even looking up at the top-flight’s big six.

Now, journalist Alan Nixon has claimed that Bielsa have tracked Gallagher closely this campaign as he looks to strengthen his squad ahead of the new season.

Nixon added that the likes of Crystal Palace and Newcastle are also said to be interested, although the midfielder is keen to fight for his place at Stamford Bridge.

Bielsa’s midfield general

Despite not making much of an impression just yet at Stamford Bridge, Gallagher has earned some rave reviews in his numerous loan spells elsewhere, with Charlton boss Lee Bowyer even labelling the £26m-rated midfielder a “jewel” that was “impossible to replace.”

And during his loan spell at Championship side Swansea last summer, Sky Sports pundit Keith Andrews waxed lyrical about the kind of style of player Gallagher has become.

He said: “But the one thing he has got is a fantastic engine, much like Lee Bowyer or Frank Lampard – it’s amazing, the resemblances between those two in their younger years particularly. But for me, he’s a classic No 8; he has an unbelievable energy, he does the ugly side of the game, but you have to let him off the leash and let him get forward.”

At his current loan club West Brom, club captain Jake Livermore, has also been quick to praise him, saying: “His energy levels and quality in training every day is a steal for us and I’m tipping him to be a top, top player.”

Having a more adventurous, and dynamic midfielder like Gallagher, who can break into the box and offer goals from midfield, would be the perfect compliment to Kalvin Phillips, who could just sit back and dictate the play.

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Bielsa’s side have really lacked a goal-scoring midfielder this season, with Mateusz Klich’s two their highest scorer from the middle of the park so far.

In Gallagher, the Whites could sign someone who offers that extra bit of energy and attacking instinct from midfield, a player who could take some of the goalscoring burden off Patrick Bamford, and also share the creative load with Phillips too.

Meanwhile, Bielsa could light up Elland Road with this £26m-rated magician who’s “something special”…

Former Everton star Michael Ball has told Football FanCast that he hopes Everton and Farhad Moshiri make a tidy profit on Moise Kean if he does move to PSG on a permanent basis in the summer transfer window.

The 21-year-old moved on loan to PSG at the start of the season and has enjoyed an excellent spell in Ligue 1.

In total, Kean has scored 18 goals in all competitions in 35 games, and has become a regular under manager Mauricio Pochettino.

Kean struggled during his time at Everton and made just 37 appearances following his £25.1m move from Juventus, scoring a mere four goals.

Ball believes that the deal was an excellent one, especially given that there was no sell-on clause included in the deal, meaning Juve won’t be owed anything if he does move to PSG permanently.

Reports have suggested that the French club are keen on a move, with The Times reporting that he will cost around £45m to sign this summer, a price that would mark a profit of £20m.

Speaking exclusively to FFC, Ball says he is hopeful that any money banked will be reinvested into the squad.

He said: “Everton got a great deal when they brought him to the club, there was no sell-on fee, and I thought that was great business.

“You just hoped he would have hit the ground running, unfortunately it hasn’t worked out for him. Whether the Premier League doesn’t suit him right now, at this moment in time, but I think Everton, with the amount of money they spent, there’s going to be pressures from the financial situation to bolster the squad.

“If the money comes in for Moise Kean, hopefully Everton will make a profit on that and use it to the best of their ability.”

Fans of Southampton have taken to Twitter in order to criticise the performance of Saints winger, Moussa Djenepo, in the club’s recent defeat against Tottenham Hotspur.

Despite having taken the lead through an excellent Danny Ings header, Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side ultimately could not hold on, as a second-half strike by Gareth Bale and a 90th-minute penalty from Heung-Min Son saw Spurs take all three points from the fixture, with the game finishing 2-1.

In terms of Southampton’s performers on the night, despite only playing 23 minutes as a second-half substitute, Djenepo’s SofaScore match rating of 5.6 ranked him as by far the club’s worst player against Spurs – something that is likely down to the fact the 22-year-old was the culprit who gave away the late penalty.

And, in reaction to Djenepo’s display, fans of Southampton flocked to Twitter to share their thoughts on the winger’s performance, with many appearing far from happy with what they saw from the £11.7 million-rated man.

So, what exactly did these Southampton fans have to say in reaction to Moussa Djenepo’s performance?

“Bringing Djenepo on added nothing. Just the addition of a liability. As usual.”

@benino76

“Djenepo plays like he has won a competition to be a footballer. Dreadful player.”

@jamesalexwhite7

“Djenepo does not fulfil a role as a footballer on the pitch. In possession, he’s nothing more than a passing outlet and out of possession, he’s a liability. Nowhere near Premier League quality.”

@sfcJoe_

“Djenepo for me is way off it, Championship player at best! Walcott, well off it. We’re bang in trouble unless there is a massive change in the summer.”

@MikeyDavis7

“Our usual poor 2nd half performance along with a silly foul from Djenepo cost us big time tonight.”

@Stephen35571589

“Am I alone in thinking Djenepo just runs around like a headless chicken most of the time?”

@steve76m

In other news: ‘Not something to be proud of’, ‘Gutless’ – These Saints fans rage at club’s ‘shambolic’ update – find out more here!

David Moyes will hope to see West Ham United get back to winning ways against Wolverhampton Wanderers on Monday night, but will have to do so without Declan Rice.

The midfielder has been ruled out of the Irons’ trip to Molineux with a knee injury sustained during England’s win over Poland last week, and faces four to six weeks in the treatment room.

Mark Noble will be expected to start in place of Rice as the only central midfield cover available to Moyes, as West Ham go in search of a first away win over Wolves since August 2009.

Noble is unlikely to be the sole change from the side that let slip a three-goal lead over Arsenal last month. So, with that in mind, here’s a potential line-up that Moyes may field…

West Ham are winless in their last two Premier League games after allowing Arsenal to come from three down to snatch a point last time out, but beat Wolves 4-0 at the London Stadium back in September.

Wolves have struggled for consistency all season and will host the Irons after two draws and two defeats in their last four top-flight fixtures. But Nuno Espirito Santo will likely hope that Noble starting in place of Rice will now aid their efforts for a first win since February.

Noble has only started four Premier League games thus far this term, which have seen his east London outfit draw once and lose three times – most recently against Manchester United when overran in the engine room by the likes of Mason Greenwood.

Along with Rice, Moyes will be without Angelo Ogbonna and Andriy Yarmolenko at Molineux, but is expected to have Arthur Masuaku back in his matchday squad for the first time since December following knee surgery.

“Arthur is back playing. He played a reserve game a week or so ago, so he’s back around the squad, but whether he is fully match-fit yet, we have to question it,” Moyes said on Friday.

[snack-amp-story url=”https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/the-latest-west-ham-news-and-views-2″ title=”The latest West Ham news and views!”]

“Yarmolenko is not ready yet. He went to see a specialist about his medial knee ligament injury again which we don’t think is too bad, but we’re not quite convinced with it.

“Angelo Ogbonna is making good progress but he’s not ready at this moment in time, so we’ve got a few knocks and niggles like everybody else, but we’ve also got a few players getting closer to returning to match fitness as well.”

One player who Moyes could unleash against Wolves that was unavailable at home to Arsenal is Pablo Fornals, as the £16m-rated Spaniard is said to have overcome a groin injury and has been touted to replace Said Benrahma in the starting line-up.

Fornals had started his last three Premier League appearances and assisted Jesse Lingard’s game-winning goal at home to Tottenham Hotspur in February, while Benrahma remains without a goal for West Ham across all competitions.

Michail Antonio, Lingard and Jarrod Bowen would each expect to start in attack alongside Fornals if Benrahma is axed, while Tomas Soucek will line up alongside Noble in midfield.

Ogbonna’s continued absence will likely see Moyes name an unchanged backline of Aaron Cresswell, Issa Diop, Craig Dawson and Vladimir Coufal in front of Lukasz Fabianski in goal.

AND in other news, West Ham trail a Premier League rival for a five-goal, seven-assist star once labelled an “exciting prospect”…

Celtic’s hunt for a new manager has been gathering pace in recent weeks but we are still no closer to seeing a new man in the dugout at Parkhead.

What’s the word?

There have been plenty of twists and turns in Celtic’s search for a new boss lately. Jesse Marsch revealed it was an honour to be linked with the vacancy before it was claimed a day later that he definitely wouldn’t be going to Glasgow in the summer.

However, there has now been another twist in the hunt for Chris Wilder.

The 53-year-old left Sheffield United a few weeks ago and has since been linked with the Celtic hot seat.

An unfortunate sticking point has now emerged in their ploy to bring him to Paradise. According to The Scottish Sun, Wilder would lose a large chunk of his Blades pay-off if he returns to football in the immediate future.

That’s because as part of his settlement package, he will continue to be paid by Sheffield United for the next six months.

Those payments, however, would become smaller if he finds a new job.

Desmond tearing his hair out

If Celtic’s majority shareholder Dermot Desmond was seeking a quick resolution, he will probably not find one in Wilder.

This should come as a bitter blow to the Hoops’ chances for the rest of the season. Morale has hardly improved under John Kennedy who has only won one of his three matches since being placed in interim charge.

The Bhoys have a chance of winning the Scottish FA Cup but they will find it hard to succeed if they don’t find a new manager in the immediate future.

Of course, Desmond could look towards appointing a new permanent manager in the summer but by that point, further damage may have been done at Parkhead.

Earlier this week, FFC suggested that Wilder should be at the top of Celtic’s shopping list. He was hailed a “messiah” for the things he did at Bramall Lane, taking the Blades from a League One side to a team who finished in the top half of the Premier League last term.

[snack-amp-story url=”https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/latest-celtic-manager-and-transfer-news-boupendza-mcgeady-marsch-mccarthy” title=”Latest Celtic manager and transfer news!”]

With Marsch being ruled out of the running and now a stumbling point emerging with Wilder, life isn’t getting any easier for Desmond.

It has been an arduous season for not only the football club but also for him. After all, Desmond has had his role at the top of Celtic’s hierarchy questioned by supporters who are urging him to sell his shares.

Fail to appoint the right manager and those cries will only get louder.

AND in other news, 80% duels lost: £14k-p/w Celtic dud has been “unacceptable” this term, he needs to go…

David Sullivan must fund a move for West Ham United to sign Adam Armstrong this summer after Kevin Campbell lauded the potential impact of the Blackburn Rovers striker.

What’s the word?

While speaking with Football Insider, the former Arsenal attacker urged West Ham to secure Armstrong’s services in the next transfer window.

David Moyes has been carrying out personal checks on the forward as he eyes his Sebastien Haller’s replacement, but the Irons are currently reluctant to pay Blackburn’s £25m asking price, according to The Sun.

Campbell rates Armstrong highly and believes that the 24-year-old would be a nightmare for Premier League defenders through his dynamic movement.

Armstrong has been in terrific form in the Championship this season despite Blackburn’s plight, with only Ivan Toney (28) and Teemu Pukki (22) scoring more often than the 19-goal frontman, but in promotion-chasing sides.

Campbell has urged West Ham to capitalise on Blackburn’s willingness to listen to offers for Armstrong to add depth behind Michail Antonio, with Brighton recently joining the race and Newcastle reportedly ready to re-sign their academy product.

“The squad strength isn’t quite there at West Ham. Antonio is a great player but if he needs a rest, there isn’t really someone who can come in and be that guy,” Campbell said. “Moyes is limited with who he can pick up top.

“Armstrong has had a good season and I think will be a good signing for West Ham and they should probably make that move before he goes somewhere else. He’s a handful. Small strikers are a nightmare for centre-halves because centre-halves are almost always tall.”

Should West Ham sign Blackburn’s Armstrong?

West Ham’s apparent reluctance to pay Blackburn’s £25m asking price could see the London Stadium natives miss out on signing the club’s alleged top striker target, with interest in Armstrong continually building.

Brighton are thought to be increasingly keen on Armstrong as he represents a more natural finisher than any of Graham Potter’s current options, is young and English, and have several players that they could include in a swap deal.

Newcastle have a huge advantage in any race to sign the 24-year-old, too, having included a 40% sell-on clause in the £2m deal which saw Armstrong move to Ewood Park in 2018, which has seen Blackburn set the Toon their own £16m asking price.

West Ham must sign a striker in the off-season after Moyes opted against investing the £20m from Haller’s exit in January, and could land a second Antonio type in Armstrong.

In a similar way to how Campbell lauds the 24-year-old for being a lively problem for opposition defences, former Liverpool striker John Aldridge has praised Antonio for his ability to give those on the other side a nightmare.

“Antonio is a handful up front and has caused us problems before, so the back four will be tested again as he’ll put himself about big time,” Aldridge noted in his column for the Liverpool Echo in October.

Armstrong has earned his admirers in a Blackburn side 16 points down on the Championship play-off places, with Rovers’ run of one win in 12 league games failing to detract top-flight suitors.

West Ham would surely rue missing out and seeing that talent flourish for a rival club in the Premier League next season, so Sullivan must dig deep and fund a move.

AND in other news, West Ham have set their sights on a “competitive beast” who won’t cost David Sullivan a penny…

Since Victor Orta joined Leeds United he has got the vast majority of his recruitment spot on.

Under Marcelo Bielsa, you need a very particular type of player, someone who’s willing to work hard and press from the front. They have to withstand his meticulous training ideas and his intense murder ball sessions.

Fail that, and you’ll be out the door quicker than you can say Thorp Arch. Jean-Kevin Augustin found that out the hard way.

Signed on loan from RB Leipzig in January 2020, he played just 48 minutes before departing Yorkshire with not even much of a farewell.

However, as Orta will tell you himself, there are plenty in this Leeds squad that appear to be tailor-made in a lab for Bielsa. One of them has been Patrick Bamford.

The striker has attracted his fair share of criticism during his time at Elland Road but this term he’s been a revelation, scoring 13 Premier League goals. To emphasise that achievement, Bamford had netted just once at this level before promotion last year.

One of the players who helped him get to such a promising level at Leeds was Kemar Roofe. The duo played in tandem during the 2018/19 campaign and brought the best out of each other.

Bamford was the player to make things stick up top, acting as a support act for other players. Roofe, meanwhile, was the striker who’d get in behind and stretch the defence.

Indeed, since he departed for Anderlecht in the summer of 2019, Leeds haven’t really had a player capable of doing the same. They tried to replace him with Eddie Nketiah but he never got a chance to prove himself, being recalled to Arsenal after half a season.

Leeds have been a breath of fresh air to the top-flight this term but you can’t help but think they need just a little more pizzazz in the final third. One man who could give them that is Ivan Toney.

The Brentford sensation was linked with a move to the Whites last week and if he arrives, he could replicate what Roofe gave so willingly to Bielsa’s side.

Speaking about the former Leeds man in February 2019, Eddie Gray typified the Rangers’ striker’s qualities expertly. This came after the forward suffered a cruel injury: “It’s a blow for a number of reasons (the injury), goalscoring obviously. He’s lead the line well, but he’s got that little bit of pace. It is something we [Leeds] have not got in abundance. Real pace. I’m talking about, like Norwich pace.”

Indeed, Leeds still lack a bit of speed. Raphinha has added to that but despite their free-flowing capabilities, few in the squad can blow a defender away.

Toney could do that, however. He has had a breathtaking season in the Championship, scoring a haul of 26 goals in 34 outings.

He has pace, and pivotally for Bielsa, can defend from the front. Peterborough owner Barry Fry said before he left for the Bees: “He’s turned into a tremendous all-round footballer. It’s important to remember Ivan is not just an exceptional goal-scoring forward, he’s also an outstanding defender.”

Indeed, those sentiments have also been delivered by Brentford boss Thomas Frank: “Ivan is a special, special player,” he began.

“He showed top positioning in the box, which is what we work with him on, but also he read cleverly (where to go) off the shoulder of the second central defender and showed perfect timing to get in front of him – and then a one-touch, perfect finish, just fantastic,” Frank added.

Playing off the shoulder and picking up little pockets of space is incredibly similar to Roofe. Put Toney’s clinical goal-scoring ability into the equation and you have a far more fearsome proposition.

Frank concluded: “But it is also his work ethic which is so important. Defending from the number nine backwards is key for me and there is so much more about him that he brings to the squad.”

With that in mind, the 24-year-old feels like the perfect man for Bielsa. If they can steal a march on other suitors for Toney’s signature, he would be a first-class signing.

AND in other news, Leeds have their perfect Pablo heir in rarely-seen 19 y/o, he’s a “great talent”…

David Moyes must rue West Ham United not signing long-term target Franck Kessie in 2020, as the Premier League side now face a £43m price tag to land the AC Milan midfielder.

What’s the word?

According to Gazzetta dello Sport, via Milan Live, the San Siro outfit plan to lock Kessie down with a new contract, as the Ivory Coast international is an increasingly important pillar of Stefano Pioli’s side.

Kessie is considered to be the leader of the Rossoneri and has only missed one of AC’s 26 Serie A fixtures this season, starting 24, while enjoying his best campaign in front of goal yet.

The 24-year-old has found the back of the net nine times and provided three assists to date, eclipsing the seven-goal haul achieved over 34 games in the 2018/19 term and creating the same volume of chances for his red-and-black shirted teammates.

But Kessie’s performances have not gone unnoticed across the continent, with West Ham plus London rivals Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur frequently showing an interest in the £69,000-per-week powerhouse.

The Premier League trio would also now face heightened competition if they look to launch efforts to sign Kessie at the end of the season with Real Madrid keen, but any side is likely to be met with a €50m (£43m) asking price.

Milan are very much loath to losing the 44-cap international, and it is added that they plan to extend his contract through to 2026 with his current terms set to expire next year.

A huge blunder by West Ham

News of Milan slapping a €50m valuation on Kessie will come as a hammer blow to West Ham in their long-running hope of bringing the midfield enforcer to the London Stadium.

It also makes the Irons’ decision not to sign the 6ft beast last summer a huge blunder, as reports by TEAMtalk claimed Kessie was on offer for around £25m and that the asking price had been set before the coronavirus pandemic changed the footballing landscape.

That valuation was backed up by reports by Calciomercato, via Football-Italia, later in the year, after they claimed that AC rebuffed Gennaro Gattuso’s intent to be reunited with Kessie at SSC Napoli through a €30m (£25.5m) asking rice.

West Ham would have likely faced competition from Arsenal and Wolverhampton Wanderers, too, with the Molineux outfit also linked, but may have struck a deal with Milan for £18m less than they could now be obliged to pay if they still want the player.

It obviously remains to be seen if the Hammers are now willing to step forward and meet the Rossoneri’s demands, which would see Moyes acquire an engine room component lauded by those he works with.

“He never gets tired, he has an incredible energy,” Ismael Bennacer told MilanTV, via quotes by Football-Italia, earlier in the year. “We must take advantage of it.”

AND in other news, David Moyes has confirmed his intent for West Ham to sign a £42k-p/w brute this summer…