Nottingham Forest recently announced the signing of Claudio Yacob on a free transfer after the Argentinian midfielder left West Brom at the end of last season and plenty of Reds fans on Twitter were excited by the deal.

Yacob spent six years at the Hawthorns, making 175 appearances before the club were relegated from the Premier League last season and his contract was not renewed by new Baggies boss Darren Moore.

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The defensively minded midfielder has three caps for Argentina and becomes Forest boss Aitor Karanka’s 16th signing of an incredible summer of overhaul at the City Ground which has also seen 21 players leave the club either on a permanent or temporary basis.

While some fans worried about the number of midfielders now in the squad, others were excited by the competition for places that it would bring and many believed that Yacob could turn out to be the best of the bunch. Check out the best tweets in reaction to the signing below.

So, Forest fans, who was your best signing of the summer? Let us know by voting in our poll below.

Alberto Moreno is not the most loved figure at Liverpool due to his poor displays on the pitch.

Throughout his four-year spell at Anfield, the Spaniard has been inconsistent, particularly defensively.

In the 2016-17 season, Moreno suffered a major blow when his left-back spot was taken by midfielder James Milner.

In the following summer, Andrew Robertson was bought by manager Jurgen Klopp from Hull City and after taking time to find his stride, the Scotland international made the position his own.

There are no indications that Robertson will be losing his first-team spot any time soon, which pours doubt over Moreno’s future.

According to Mundo Deportivo, Barcelona are considering a shock swoop for the Liverpool outcast as they require cover in the left-back area.

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Having said that, Klopp’s options will be limited if Moreno moves on and it could be his biggest mistake in years if he goes, but would it be best for both parties if he does?

Let us know by voting below.

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According to Corriere dello Sport, via Sport Witness, Arsenal are amongst the top European clubs interested in securing Hector Herrera’s signature should he become a free agent at the end of the season.

What’s the story?

The Mexico international midfielder is currently in the final year of his contract with Porto, and unless new terms are agreed, he will be able to depart the club as a free agent come the summer.

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Having won the Portuguese top flight title for the first time in his career last time out, and at 28-years-old, now could be the perfect time for Herrera to take the next step in his career. His consistently good form since arriving at Porto, coupled with his soon-to-be free agent status, ensures that he will attract the attention of many top sides.

Should the dynamic midfielder become available, Arsenal ought to be ready to do all they can to bring him to the Emirates Stadium.

Ideal for Emery

Herrera is a player made for the Premier League and would be a perfect fit in Unai Emery’s side. His battling, relentless style makes him ideally suited for the Spanish manager’s hard, high-pressing system.

As a powerful box-to-box operator, Herrera is exactly the kind of player the Gunners could soon find themselves missing too. With Aaron Ramsey himself heading towards the expiry of his contract and Mohamed Elneny so far seemingly not a part of Emery’s plans, a player in Herrera’s mould could soon be at the top of the North London club’s shopping list.

With a Transfermarkt valuation of £18 million, landing the midfielder for nothing would be a major coup, not to mention a huge step forward in Emery’s process of building an Arsenal team in his own image. 

West Ham supporters have been in fine voice in recent times after seeing their side back up their first Premier League victory of the season last weekend with a hard-fought draw on Sunday.

Manuel Pellegrini’s men went into their meeting with London rivals Chelsea at the London Stadium off the back of easing past Everton 3-1 at Goodison Park the week before, thus securing their first win of the campaign at the fifth attempt. And while they weren’t able to make it back-to-back successes on Sunday, they deservedly secured a 0-0 draw from the visit of Maurizio Sarri’s Blues, in turn ending the 2017 league champions’ 100% start to the season.

As such, there have been many satisfied Hammers fans up and down the country in recent times, although some are unlikely to be too pleased with the current situation surrounding the future of Declan Rice, what with contract talks seemingly not progressing.

And defender Pablo Zabaleta has had his say on the situation, stating that the 19-year-old could become ‘one of the greatest players for West Ham’, and that as such the club must ‘think about his situation’.

And the 33-year-old is absolutely right to suggest that the Hammers have to sort his future out, as failing to do so could see the East London outfit make one of their worst mistakes in years.

Ultimately, Rice has burst onto the scene in the last few years since making his senior debut for the club at the end of the 2016/17 season, with the versatile starlet going on to make 26 Premier League appearances last term in the Hammers’ run to 13th place in the table.

And while he was substituted at half time in their opening weekend 4-0 defeat at Liverpool last month, the 19-year-old has played as big a part as anyone in their recent upturn in form, dominating the midfield expertly in their win at Everton before giving Chelsea no room at all in the middle of the park last time out – thus, he has a very bright future ahead of him.

Clearly, even at the tender age of 19, Rice looks set to play a key part under Pellegrini this season if recent performances are anything to go by, which makes the youngster’s future even more exciting given he could indeed become a star at the London Stadium – potentially a great as Zabaleta notes.

But with his contract set to expire at the end of the current season, the Hammers board simply must act to tie the 19-year-old down to a new deal – reports suggest that top Premier League clubs are already keeping tabs on the Republic of Ireland Under-21 international.

Failure to do so would not only see Rice leave the club next summer for very little, but it would also see West Ham lose not only a star for the future, but an integral part of their squad now – regardless of the amount of money spent during the summer, the 19-year-old appears to be just as important as anyone to this team.

As such, Zabaleta is absolutely right to suggest that the club need to tie Rice down to a new deal, as at present they are at risk of making a terrible mistake in losing the 19-year-old in the near future.

West Ham fans… what do you think? Let us know!

On Wednesday, Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool team will go head-to-head with Napoli at the Stadio San Paolo in their second Group C match of their Champions League campaign.

The Reds already have three points in the bag after defeating group favourites Paris Saint-Germain 3-2 at Anfield.

The opponents in Naples are a completely different animal, but Liverpool have enough quality in their team to get a favourable result.

Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane are one of the deadliest attacks in Europe when on top form, while the midfield is bursting with personnel.

Virgil van Dijk has calmed Liverpool’s defensive woes and they now have a world-class goalkeeper in Brazil’s number one Alisson.

The last time that the Reds took on Napoli away was in 2010 when Roy Hodgson was in charge.

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No disrespect to the players involved, but collectively their quality did not much the current squad at Klopp’s disposal.

In the October 2010 Europa League tie, which ended in a goalless draw, Liverpool lined up with Pepe Reina in between the sticks.

Paul Konchesky, Jamie Carragher, Martin Skrtel and Martin Kelly lined the back four, with Christian Poulsen, Jonjo Shelvey and Jay Spearing in midfield.

Milan Jovanovic and Ryan Babel occupied the wings with David N’Gog leading the line.

Liverpool fans have had plenty to say about the difference in quality.

Sheffield Wednesday climbed into the playoff places on Sunday with a 2-1 win away at Bristol City, and Owls fans on Twitter were buzzing with the performance of Lucas Joao.

The 25-year-old netted both of Wednesday’s goals in just two second-half minutes after the hour-mark, after the home side had had the better of the opening stages.

Joao didn’t start the game for Jos Luhukay’s side but was sent on in the 18th minute for striker Steven Fletcher after the 31-year-old, who has been in fine form recently, was taken off with an injury.

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The Portuguese striker has two caps for his country and although his finishing is often questioned, against Bristol City he took both of his goals brilliantly.

With 10 minutes to go, Matty Taylor halved Wednesday’s advantage from the penalty spot after Callum O’Dowda was fouled, but Luhukay’s side held out to record an impressive away victory. Check out some of the best tweets in reaction to Joao’s performance below.

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With such illustrious playmaking talent in front of him in Manchester City’s midfield, sometimes its easy to forget how important a player Fernandinho is for Pep Guardiola’s side.

But then comes a game like at Anfield on Sunday when technical flair isn’t quite so prevalent, or at the very least not quite so potent, and the Brazil international suddenly emerges as a composed, calculated and quite simply crucial figure amid a tense ninety minutes.

In possession, Fernandinho has always been a pivotal linkup between defence and midfield, but it was his qualities and cuteness off the ball that made such a difference against a Liverpool team that netted seven times during City’s two visits to Merseyside last season.

He kept the Reds’ usually rampant attack at bay with three tackles, three interceptions, four clearances and perhaps most impressively of all considering he wasn’t booked, four fouls.

It was that maturity which helped City through a game at a ground that has caused them so many problems down the years, and clinch an away point against the only team in the Premier League with a genuine psychological edge over them.

But due to turn 34 before the end of the season, Fernandinho’s gritty performance also highlights the biggest long-term issue Guardiola’s team currently faces – eventually replacing such a pivotal figure.

Fred was pinpointed as his successor in January but never arrived, now plying his trade with Manchester United instead, and Jorginho received the same label last summer, only for Chelsea to beat City to his services instead after appointing Maurizio Sarri.

Fernandinho’s performance on Sunday provided a crucial reminder of how detrimental those misses in the transfer market could prove to be for the Etihad Stadium outfit. In terms of experience, ability and suitability to Guardiola’s system, there really aren’t that many obvious alternatives out there right now.

According to a recent report from The Sun, Antonio Valencia could be set for a move away in the not-too-distant future. The 33-year-old currently plays his football at Premier League heavyweights Manchester United and has done so since leaving Wigan Athletic back in 2009, in which time the defender has appeared over 300 times for the Red Devils, helping them win several trophies in the process.

Yet reports suggest that a clause on his current contract, due to end in the summer, enables Valencia to sign a pre-contract agreement as early as March, which is news that should be of keen interest to Crystal Palace manager Roy Hodgson, as the right back would be the perfect mentor for young Eagles star Aaron Wan-Bissaka.

The Breakdown

Ultimately, Wan-Bissaka has enjoyed quite the rise in the last few years after coming up through the youth ranks at Selhurst Park, with the 20-year-old appearing seven times in the Premier League for the London-based outfit last season, before becoming a first team regular under Hodgson this term.

The England Under-21 international has started seven of their eight league games this time round and missed the other one only as a result of the red card he picked up against Liverpool the match previous, with the right back showcasing his qualities both offensively, grabbing an assist in their opening weekend win at Fulham, and indeed defensively, helping the Eagles to three clean sheets.

In fact, other than talisman Wilfried Zaha, it’s arguable that Wan-Bissaka has been Palace’s most impressive performer in the early stages of the campaign, but at the tender age of 20, there is still a long way for the young defender to go in his career, and learning from someone who has been there and done it in the Premier League can only help – £7.2 million-rated Valencia (as per Transfermarkt) could be that man.

The 33-year-old may well be entering the twilight of his career, but he has been a stalwart at Old Trafford in the last nine years, appearing 335 times in all competitions for the Red Devils, helping them win two Premier League titles as well as a whole host of other trophies.

And in becoming a full back during his time at the club, having initially joined as a winger back in 2009, Valencia himself has learned how to adapt his game and get the best out of it as a right back, with the defender winning the club’s Player of the Season award back in 2012 such were his efforts in that position.

Thus, who better to mentor Wan-Bissaka through his Premier League adventure than Valencia, who in recent years has been arguably one of the best right backs in the division both offensively and indeed defensively, and someone who several United managers have trusted to do a job down the right-hand-side.

Ultimately, Palace’s Wan-Bissaka has an extremely bright future ahead of him in the game, and bringing someone like Valencia to Selhurst Park, who of course is still plenty good enough to compete for a first team spot, can only be good for the 20-year-old in his bid to become the best player he can possibly be.

Palace fans… what do you think? Let us know!

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Arsenal face competition from Lyon and Real Madrid in the hunt for Porto midfielder Hector Herrera, according to O Jogo via CalcioMercato.

What’s the word?

Unai Emery’s Arsenal are flying high after nine consecutive victories across all competitions prior to the international break but there is still plenty of work to do, particularly as the club prepare for a major departure in 2019.

Aaron Ramsey looks set to leave the Emirates Stadium after a breakdown in contract negotiations and Arsenal are in the hunt for a replacement, with Emery seemingly setting his sights on Porto’s Mexico international Hector Herrera.

However, according to O Jogo via CalcioMercato, Arsenal will face competition in the market for the 28-year-old from Real Madrid and Lyon who are both interested in a player who will become a free agent at the end of the season.

A deal worth pursuing?

Arsenal may well be in the hunt for a new midfielder as they prepare to lose Ramsey, potentially as early as January, but Herrera is not a signing who would adequately replace the Wales international for a number of reasons.

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Firstly, the Mexico ace is a different sort of player to Ramsey and would be more likely to compete with the likes of Lucas Torreira, Granit Xhaka and Matteo Guendouzi for a deeper role in Arsenal’s midfield but perhaps the most important fact is that he is not a signing who would inspire the fans.

Ramsey has a cult-hero status at the Emirates Stadium after scoring two FA Cup final-winning goals for Arsenal in recent campaigns and a bigger name is needed to counter the blow that the Gunners will experience once the former Cardiff City man brings an end to his decade in North London.

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Real Madrid currently sit seventh in the La Liga standings after nine games and are four points below leaders Barcelona, who they meet for El Clasico on Sunday. Julen Lopetegui has underachieved since his controversial arrival in the summer and looks set to be sacked, with former Chelsea bosses Antonio Conte and Jose Mourinho potential successors.

Thibaut Courtois, who moved to Santiago Bernabeu from Stamford Bridge in the summer after refusing to sign a new contract with the Blues, has been in terrible form for Los Blancos. The 6 foot 6 custodian has let in eight goals in seven games and kept only two clean sheets, prompting Chelsea fans to troll him extensively.

According to El Pais (via the Express), the lanky Belgian launched into a rant at the prospect of a reunion with Conte or Mourinho, in which he said: “I left London to not have to go through something like that again and now it turns out that Conte comes, and if not, Mourinho”.

Chelsea fans react to their former ‘keeper’s plight on Twitter…

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